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Cascadians News and Events

CASCADIANS' 90TH BIRTHDAY BASH

August 25, 6:30 pm (please note earlier time)
Meyer Auditorium at Living Care Retirement Community, 3801 Summitview Ave

90 YEARS' HISTORY COMES ALIVE!
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With CLAR PRATT as EMCEE!
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ELEANOR HAYWARD will review Cascadian history from old Annuals and from
her own experiences of more than 35 years as a Cascadian.
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JEFF and JOYCE HAGEN will present a PowerPoint of historic photos.
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SUSIE LATTOMUS will display old hiking equipment, old Annuals etc.
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WONDERFUL DOOR PRIZES!!
From Cascadian writers, artists, collectors, chefs, gardeners, etc.
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Music by DARLENE FAY
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Birthday cake and assorted delicious desserts made by Cascadian bakers supreme!!
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Party limited to current and former Cascadians!!
Come celebrate this historic birthday!!
Come share in the fun!!

Yakima Outdoors a Rich Resource
Yakima Outdoors, (http://www.yakimaoutdoors.net) a new and exciting website put together by Cascadian Ted Gamlem, has been generating a lot of visits, and a lot of buzz.
The site hosts an interactive View Outings page in which users can access information about hikes, skiing trips, snowshoe trips, and bike trips submitted by other users. Users can also read and submit current trail and trip reports of their recent outings.
The Forum page offers a venue for folks to share information, plan outings, discuss or swap outdoor equipment, or just offer opinions.
There is also a page with links to other websites and agencies focused on outdoor recreation.
This website is only as informative and current as its user-base. It is designed to be a repository for the experince and rich knowledge base of local outdoors-folk, and must be updated by the submissions of trail-users. Your participation will make Yakima Outdoors a valuable tool for all outdoor enthusiests.

Going Somewhere?
Virginia Nicholson would like to notify any and all Cascadians that if they will be away from Yakima for an extended period of time (such as a snow-bird) please notify the membership chairman so that the newsletters will
be saved for you. Contact Virginia Nicholson at 965-1913.

WHAT IS BACKPACKGEARTEST.ORG?

BackpackGearTest.org is a site where backpackers evaluate new gear in the field over a four month testing period. We report to BackpackGearTest.org in a setting that encourages discussion.
For gear tests, manufacturers provide a set of gear to be evaluated by a broad range of testers. For other evaluations, we provide individual reports on our own gear with which we have had significant field experience. All of our reports are available to hikers seeking to make educated decisions about gear purchases and use, and to manufacturers and retailers seeking research and development feedback, market exposure, and recommendations from third party sources.
There are no fees, charges, or other costs to testers. At the end of the four month test period, the gear is yours to keep.

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?
Visit www.BackpackGearTest.org and click on “How to Become a Tester.”
We are actively looking for new members as we currently do not have enough testers to test all of the gear that manufacturers want to give us!
If you have questions or would like additional information you can contact David Wilkes at amatbrewer@yahoo.com or 509-930-7620.
- David Wilkes

New Yakima Area Outdoor Website
Yakima Outdoors is a new website devoted to outdoor recreation in the Yakima Valley. It is sponsored by a coalition made up of The Cascadians, The Mighty Tieton, and The Nature Conservancy. It can be accessed at http://www.yakimaoutdoors.org
It's a work-in-progress, but it already contains many valuable links to area outdoor information. With your help, we will add many more, and eventually have specific information on hiking, biking, and ski trails, and much more.
The website invites visitors, and I especially invite Cascadians, to contribute thoughts, articles, essays, poems, pictures, and new links. I hope you will all help make this the valuable resource that it has the potential to be. - Ted Gamlem

Gentle Reminder
As our club continues to grow, please remember that the member directory is a private list for club members to use for Cascadian communication. It should not be used for any solicitation or propaganda purposes, respecting the privacy of all our members. Thank you!

Wanted: Leader Liability Sheets
More outings than are listed in the Annual did take place in 2007, but the record sheets were not completed or got lost. Cascadians are urged to turn in those liability sheets so that at year end there is a printed record of outing destinations; which is very useful as years go by and new leaders search for places to go. (Besides, lawyers advise us that we should hang on to those liability sheets for several years – just in case.) ~ Clar Pratt

Winter Requires Extra Precautions in Backcountry
Skiing and snowshoeing are great ways to get out and enjoy the backcountry in winter, but the harsh weather and shorter days do require extra precautions. 1) Always make sure someone knows where you are going. This is true year-round, but especially so in winter. One unprepared night out could be the death of you. 2) Check the avalanche forecast before you leave. The Northwest Avalanche Center website is http://www.nwac.noaa.gov. 3) Avoid avalanche prone areas. Open slopes from 30 to 45 degrees are especially hazardous. 4) Always pack the 13 Essentials and know how to use them. It could be the difference between an uncomfortable night and a funeral casket. 5) Know how to use your map and compass. Winter weather can blot out tracks and recognizable landmarks in a matter of moments. GPS units are great, but cold temperatures can render the batteries useless. Best stick to the classics. 6) Dress correctly. Cotton has no place in the backcountry. Synthetic fleece is lightweight, warm, and won’t absorb much water. Wool has been under development for nearly 4 billion years and is hard to beat. Its warm even if its wet. 7) Make sure your flashlights have good batteries. In fact, bring along an extra set. Nights are long this time of year. 8) Extra clothing and food are part of the 13 Essentials, but you may want to beef these two essentials up in winter. A bit more calorie-rich food and heavier extra clothing are in order. 9) Have fun, but be prepared.

Keep in Touch with Cascadian Forum
Now you can keep in touch with your Cascadian friends, plan hikes, ask directions, seek out hiking destinations, or discuss outdoor topics by signing up as a member of the Cascadians Forum.
Here is how it works. Subscribers to Cascadians Forum send an email message to the forum which will automatically be sent to all other members of the forum. Anyone interested can respond. All subscribers will also get this response.
Its kind of like a conference call via email, and a heck of a lot easier and faster than phoning everyone in the club.
To sign up, simply send a blank email message to: cascadiansforum-subscribe@topica.com
To send a message to everyone on the list, send it to : cascadiansforum@topica.com
To read all the Cascadians Forum messages visit: http://www.topica.com/lists/cascadiansforum/read

Share the Snow, Not the Tracks
Eileen Ray writes to remind us about the importance of snow shoe wearers setting separate tracks from those made by cross country skiers. All of the snow parks in the Mt. Bachelor Oregon area have signs at the trail heads that read, "Share the Snow, Not the Tracks". These signs include photos of side by side snow shoe and XC ski tracks. Skiers expend a lot of energy setting tracks on the way into a destination so that they can kick & glide on the way out. Snow shoes destroy these carefully made tracks, leaving holes at uneven depths which make it difficult and sometimes dangerous for skiers to reuse the tracks. Eileen notes that this has only become a problem in the past few years, with the growing popularity of redesigned/user-friendly snow shoes among novice users.

Sign Up for The Cascadians E-Letter
You can now get your monthly Cascadian Newsletter e-mailed to your home and/or work computer. To sign up for this FREE service, just send a blank e-mail message to:
cascadiannewsletter-subscribe@topica.com
What are you waiting for? Do it TODAY!!

Gentle Reminder - This Time
As mentioned on the liability release sheet that everyone on a Cascadian outing signs, party limit in local wilderness areas is 12 persons. Any group having more than this must break into smaller groups and remain widely separated (20 minute minimum) while in the wilderness (can’t get together at lunch). The Cascadians have been officially reminded by USFS on this requirement, and please do keep in mind that hefty fines do back this up (not to mention the public embarrassment). It is up to outing leaders to determine wilderness boundaries. Use the map! --Clar Pratt

Guye Cabin Available to Cascadians
Are you looking for a quiet, secluded mountain retreat to get away from the hectic pace of Yakivegas? Are you looking for a few comforts after a day of climbing, hiking, skiing, or biking? Do you need a special place to celebrate a birthday, wedding, anniversary, or other special event?
Guye cabin (actually more of a rustic, mountain lodge), located at 3200í on Snoqualmie Pass, with views of Guye Peak, Kendall Peak, Denny Mountain, and Snoqualmie Peak, is owned and operated by the Washington Alpine Club. It has recently undergone renovations, and the Washington Alpine Club wants to make sure that Cascadians know they are welcome to use Guye Cabin at the memberís rate of $10 per night (kids under 13 stay free). This is a long standing agreement that dates back many years.
With 85 bunks, in womenís, menís, and coed dormitories, the cabin can accommodate large groups during weekdays, and on most weekends from May until Christmas. Weekends during ski season is when Guye Cabin is the busiest. (They don't accept large groups on the weekends during ski season). The warm and cozy Fireplace Room is perfect for reading, conversation, or playing games. Guye cabin has an outstanding library of outdoor literature and guides. Kids of all ages will find entertainment. Meal preparation at Guye Cabin is hostel style. The kitchen is stocked with an electric stove, two microwaves, and a complete set of dishes, pots, pans, and cups. Just bring your own food, and prepare it at your leisure.
The Cabin is non-hosted. It is open every weekend in the winter, but during the summer plan on attending scheduled events or get ìsigned offî to open and close the Cabin. To get ìsigned offî you must volunteer at least one day in some capacity for the club. Bunks have mattresses. Guests are asked to provide their own sleeping bags or bedding and pillows. The sleeping areas are not heated, so a 20 degree sleeping bag or better is recommended in the winter. Bring ear plugs if you are a light sleeper.
Guye Cabin is a community establishment. Please be respectful of those around you. Children must be supervised . Pets, smoking, alcoholic beverages, firearms, and amplified sound devices are prohibited. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Everyone must help to keep the cabin and the grounds clean. Most chores only take 15 minutes. Take the trash and recycles home with you.
If individuals, or groups of Cascadians would like more information, or are interested in using historic Guye Cabin please contact Mike Mahanay via email at mikemahanay@gmail.com or 206-933-6801.

Drink Up!
Guest editorial by Ida Rink-Moore
We all know to drink plenty of fluids while hiking during the height of summer, but not everyone is so cautious during the cold months of winter or cool days of spring and autumn. Yet it is just as important to avoid dehydration in cold weather as it is in warm. Skiers, Snowshoers, climbers, and cool-weather hikers are especially prone to dehydration in part because they are unaware of how much water they lose due to sweat. The average person participating in moderate exercise at 32° F can lose up to 4 pounds of sweat per hour. Much of this water is drawn from the blood stream, decreasing its volume, causing the heart to pump faster and harder to keep the thicker blood flowing. This causes the body to feel fatigued and leads to a loss of muscle control and concentration, which in turn can lead to accidents.
In addition, each time you inhale cold air, precious moisture is used to humidify the dry air so it can be used by the lungs. Cold temperatures also trigger a response called cold-induced diuresis, which causes the heart to pump harder, the kidneys to work overtime, and excessive amounts of urine to be produced, further depleting your body of water. Furthermore, a rapid increase in elevation, say from Yakima to White Pass, also can trigger excess urine production.
Dehydration causes the body to pull blood away from the extremities and toward the body's core. This decreases circulation in the digits, making them more vulnerable to frostbite.

Tips for Cold Weather Activities
* Drink 16 to 24 ounces of water more than one hour before outdoor exercise.
* Brink before you are thirsty. Studies suggest you are already 2% dehydrated before you feel thirsty.
* Drink 6 to 10 ounces of fluid every 15 minutes.
* Watch your urine. It should be no darker than a pale yellow.
* Alcohol dehydrates you. Donít drink it until you are safe back home or in the lodge, and then only after you are well rehydrated.
* Contrary to all those sports-drinks ads, water will rehydrate you just fine. Life got along fine on this planet for 3.5 billion years without Gatorade. However, sports drinks are absorbed a tad bit faster, and contain carbohydrates and electrolytes lost during exercise.

Bulletin Board at Meetings
There is a bulletin board erected at our monthly meetings and on it will be posted the multitude of literature, newsletters, and various other mailings we receive from other clubs and agencies. These mailings are free for the taking. Please donít be shy. Take a look-see and grab whatever strikes your fancy.

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