HIKING
Easy: Up to 5 miles and 1000 ft elevation gain. Intermediate: Up to 10 miles and 1500 ft elevation gain. Advanced: More than 10 miles and 1500 ft elevation gain.

Hike Planning Meeting
Host: Maurine Peck
Date: March 5 (Fri) at 7:00PM
Location: 107 N. 22nd Ave., Yakima
Dessert will be served. Bring your ideas.

Saturday Hikes

Feb 27 (Sat) Oak Creek Road Easy Hike
Leader: Claudia Christie 388-9307
Meet: 9 am 40th Ave BiMart
This is a easy hike to see bald eagles, sheep, deer, and elk. If the elk are still at the feeding station we will ride the feeding truck at 2 pm. Bring lunch, water, and camera. Call Claudia

March 27 (Sat) David's Winter (or is it Spring?) Walk # 5
Leader: David Hagen, 965-3697
Meet: 8:30AM at 40th Ave Bi-Mart
David's Winter Walks are usually easy-intermediate to easy-advanced hikes (i.e. possible steep pitches, elevation gain of 2000' or so, &/or travel over scree & talus) with a leisurely lunch. The destination is usually decided by the leader on his way to the Bi-Mart and is determined by the weather & the leader's whim. Come prepared for cool, windy, & wet weather.

March 27 (Sat) Winter/Spring Easy Hikes
Leader: Claudia Christie 388-9307
Destination TBD. Call Claudia.

SUNDAY HIKES

None scheduled at this time.

TUESDAY HIKERS: Meet at 40th Ave Bi-Mart June - Sept. at 7:30 am and Oct - May at 8:00 AM. Upper-easy to Advanced trips. Usually a “fast” and “slower” group. Switches to skiing and snowshoeing when snow arrives. For a complete schedule of hikes, pick up a yellow Dayhike Schedule at a regular monthly meeting.

Note to all Pokies:
Check the H-R OUTDOORS section, now on TUESDAYS for last minute changes in the CURRENT week’s hike.

Another Note to All Pokies:
The Super (alternate) Pokies are a separate group and generally plan outings via e-mail. Regular Pokies can find the Pokies outing schedule in this newsletter and in the H-R Tuesday Outdoors section. Call the leader or Jean Crawford for possible changes.

POKIES SEMIANNUAL PLANNING MEETING
High Noon-Monday, February 22, 2010
Mary Shinn will again host The Pokies Summitview Country Clubhouse, 101 N. 48th Avenue
WE WILL PLAN 23 HIKES FOR SIX MONTHS, APRIL-SEPT.
Bring calendars, lunch sandwich, ideas. Cookies, coffee provided.
Please sign up with Jeanne Crawford at 966-8608.
EVERY POKIE CAN LEAD A HIKE. EVERY HIKE NEEDS A LEADER and ASSISTANT

Feb 25 Yet another “ski/snowshoe somewhere"
Leaders: Jackie and Jim Hertel, 469-4458
Meet: 9 am 40th Av BiMart
With Newsletter deadline almost two months before this date, it's hard to plan for sure. Check the H-R Outdoors Feb 23 and call the leaders for sure.

March 4 Chimposium, CWU Campus
SPECIAL ENTRY FEE: $8.50
Leader: Nancy Hein, 698-3547
Meet: 9 am 40th Ave BiMart
Nancy has arranged a special Pokies visit to the Chimposium from 10:50 am to 12 noon, followed by a student-led tour of the campus. Then lunch at the new Student Union Building; bring your own or buy lunch and drink there. Must call Nancy!

March 11 Snow Mountain Ranch
Leaders: Eulalie and Roger Short, 469-9906
Meet: 9 am Summitview Shopko
An early spring destination with varying hikes, including the newly marked Wildflower Trail. Bring lunch, water, poles. Binoculars are also a good idea. Call the Shorts!!

March 18 Cowiche Uplands/Wildflowers Spring Search
Leader: Mary Belzer, 966-7921
Meet: 9 am Summitview Shopko
By mid-March the grass widows and yellow bells should be coming up. We'll look for early blooms in this favorite close-to-town spot. Bring lunch, water, wear boots for possible mud, and hope for sun. Call Mary for up-to-the-minute info.

March 25 Horsetail, Ponytail and Oneonta Falls, Columbia River Gorge, OR.
Leader: Claudia Christie, 388-9307.
Meet: 7:30 am SW corner Valley Mall parking area. Lower Valley hikers at Branding Iron, Toppenish, 8 am.
This is an ALL DAY trip to plunging waterfalls, shady forest and newly opened historic Oneonta Tunnel. Variable hike lengths. Driving distance about 150 miles one way. Bring lunch, water, snacks, flower books and cameras. More information on this hike at the planning meeting Feb. 22. Must call Claudia.

NOTE TO NON-SNOW-BUNNY POKIES: For alternate hikes-Greenway or Randall Park-call Jeanne Crawford, 966-8608, or Eulalie Short, 469-9906. .

Thanks to Bob Mittelstaedt who took over Mary Sublett's planned snowshoe/ski trip to Cowiche Canyon on January 7 when Mary ended up with jury duty. Actually, because the Canyon was icy and not right for snow stuff, that group joined the non-snow-bunnies on the Greenway, hiking from the south end of the path.

For alternate trips/hikes on snowshoe/ski days throughout the season, call Jeanne Crawford (966-8608), or Eulalie Short (469-9906).

BACKPACKING
Participants must be properly equipped with 13 essentials, food, proper clothing, shelter, etc. Contact leaders well ahead of the trip or you may be turned down.  Car poolers expected to share expenses. Map key: GT = Green Trails; FS = Forest Service; USGS = U.S. Geologic Survey.

Check back next spring/summer!

CLIMBING
Participants must be properly equipped with 13 essentials, food, proper clothing, shelter, etc. Helmets are required on all Cascadian climbs. Most climbs require completion of Basic Climbing Course or equivalent experience, and knowledge of rope handling, knots, ice axe and crampon use, and general glacier travel. Contact leaders well ahead of the trip or you may be turned down.  Good physical conditioning required. Car poolers expected to share expenses. Map key: GT = Green Trails; FS = Forest Service; USGS = U.S. Geologic Survey.

Basic Climbing Class starts at YVCC in mid May. Taught by Central Washington Mountain Rescue. See our Classes page for details.

Climbing Chairman position open. The Cascadians are currently without a climbing chairman. If interested contact a board member.

Skiing; please remember to call the leader a day or two before to sign up, get meeting time, location and any other needed info.

Feb 27 (Sat) intermediate
Leader; Ted Gamlen, 697-5051
Destination to be determined as the time gets closer.

Feb 27 (Sat) David's Saturday Snowshoe # 4
Leader: David Hagen, 965-3697
Meet: 8:30 AM at 40th Ave Bi-Mart
David's Saturday Snowshoes are easy to intermediate outings. The destination for this outing had not been determined at press time, but will be dependent on snow & road conditions. Come prepared for cold, windy, & wet weather. The 13 Essentials are mandatory!

Feb 27-28 Gold Hill Cabin
Contact: Clar Pratt 453-8228
One last year the cabin is reserved to see if any Cascadians are interested in going up there. Two miles ski/snowshoe in. Large cabin with old wood stove, common sleeping space, indoor toilet and running water, but no showers! A "group" outing. If interested call Clar and leave a message. For more details contact Clar or any other Cascadian who has been there.

March 13 (Sat) David's Saturday Snowshoe # 5
Leader: David Hagen, 965-3697
Meet: 8:30 AM at 40th Ave Bi-Mart
David's Saturday Snowshoes are easy to intermediate outings. The destination for this outing had not been determined at press time, but will be dependent on snow & road conditions. Come prepared for cold, windy, & wet weather. The 13 Essentials are mandatory!

Tuesday Skiers: Meet at 40th Avenue BiMart at 8:00 AM Tuesdays. Destination determined at the meeting place by participants.

BICYCLING
Participants must be properly equipped with  food, water,  proper clothing, repair kits, and a spare inner tube. Helmets are required on all Cascadian bike rides. Rated as Easy - up to 15 miles, fairly level; Intermediate - 15 to 40 miles, moderate terrain; Advanced - over 40 miles, steep/hilly terrain.

Many rides are being planned online using the Cascadians Forum.

http://www.topica.com/lists/cascadiansforum/read