Newsletter of the Issaquahaips Trails Clu Alpinek July • August• September 2005
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Newsletter of the IssaquahAips Trails Clu ALPINEk July • August• September 2005 EAST LAKE SAMMAMISH TRAIL COMING By Doug Simpson The old railroad bed along the east side of Lake Besides crediting Sims and the county council, Sammamish hqs been battled over for years by Kappler also cited the council of the City of adjacent property owners and public use advo- Sammamish. "All the councilmen elected last cates. At last, those seeking public access have fall supported the project—and that was a big prevailed. The eleven-mile route, previously help." open in small sections on either end, will be Qpen in its entirety probably early next year. The interim trail will be gravel, most suitable for hiking, though some bikers will certainly use King County announced recently that it has I it too. Eventually it will probably paved, thus received the nine necessary permits to make the expanding its possible use. - full trail from Redmond to Issaquah a reality; The railroad property was acquired through a Opposition was heavy from local landowners national program called "Rails to Trails" which above the railroad bed who worry for the safely exists to convert old railroad beds to private of their property. "A high level of responsible organizations or local governments for use as use will be critical," Kappler pointed out. "It recreational trails. will take a real volunteer effort, probably from IATC, to monitor the trail." "It's been a long time coming," said Issaquah city councilman David Kappler. "We've talked The trail will be the last link in a continuous about it since the early years of IATC (Kappler trail system from Ballard to Issaquah (40 miles) is a former president of the club). Way back and then along Interstate 90 all the way to then, Harvey Manning said it was coming, and Idaho. Needless to say, the 11-mile stretch has it's finally happened." exceptional water and mountain views. In a recent editorial, the Seattle Times credits Kappler, who has already led hikes on the King County Executive Ron Sims for his existing portion of the trail from Issaquah, looks commitment in time and county funding to forward to leading the first hike sponsored by make it happen, citing his insistent pursuit of the Issaquah Alps Trails Club the length of the the land. "It was a righteous fight and a worthy route. investment," the Times wrote. [I The Apparatus I ___1 0 Whenever possible, please Club Founder use e-mail to contact any Harvey Manning member listed below. President Doug Simpson 392-6660 [email protected] Vice Presidents, Advocacy Steven Drew 392-4432 [email protected] Treasurer The Alpiner is published in Jackie Hughes 641-3815 [email protected] January, April, July, and October. Secretary [email protected] Sally Pedowitz 206-323-2714 lssaquah Alps Trails Club Board of Directors P0 Box 351, lssaquah, WA 9027 Steven Drew 392-4432 [email protected] Website: www.issaquahalps.org Frank Gilliland 603-0454 . [email protected] Melinda Livingstone 392-7455 [email protected] IATC subsists on member donations Rich Johnson 392-0288 . [email protected] only. Please send your tax-deductible Harry Morgan 432-3249 [email protected] contributions to the address above to Ken Konigsmark . 228-4839 [email protected] help sustain our efforts to preserve, Richard Mann• 391-0410 [email protected] protect, and promote the lssaquah Doug Simpson• 392-6660 [email protected] Alps and local environment. Scott Semans 369-1725 [email protected] Articles are welcome, preferably Karen Tom 391-7585 [email protected] via e-mail to: [email protected] Hikes Coordinator Send diskette or hard copy to post Vacant office box number above. Book Sales/Distribution Scott Semans 369-1725 [email protected] Issue deadlines: November 21 for Webmaster January; February 21 for April; May21 Nancy Wagner 415-6427 . [email protected] for July; August 21 for October. The Alpiner Doug Simpson 392-6660 [email protected] Advocates Ken Konigsmark 222-4839 Cougar Mountain: Charles McCrone 392-3466 [email protected] lssaquah/Squak Mountain: Steven Drew 392-4432 [email protected] Tiger Mountain: Larry Hanson 392-2458 [email protected] Grand Ridge: Melinda Livingstone 392-7455 [email protected] Raging River/Preston: Maryanne Tagney Jones• 222-7615 [email protected] Rattlesnake MountainlTaylor Mountain: Ralph Owen' 746-1070 - Chief Ranger/Trail Maintenance Crew Chief - - - Bill Longwell . 222-6775 longwe112msn.com Note: All telephone Volunteer Trail Maintenance Coordinator numbers are area Scott Semans 369-1725 [email protected] code 425 unless Mountains To Sound Creenway otherwise noted. Ken Konigsmark . 222-4839 [email protected] 1 0 July • August • September 2005 3 PRESIDENT'S REPORT By Doug Simpson ROLE OF THE PRESIDENT?. Is the president of the Issaquah Alps Trails Club a facilitator whose sole job is to efficiently coordinate the club's three-pronged programs of hiking, trailwork and advocacy? Or should s/he be an activist who battles wherever the need arises? Is IATC an organization of specialists in the three programs, or is central leadership vital to the club's success? Those are questions I have been struggling with recently. When two of our prongs overlap on an issue, can our specialists resolve the issue satisfactorily? I have found myself in this situation recently and determined to take a strong, decisive action that pleased some club leaders and disappointed others. But, as Harry Truman said, "The buck stops here!" In the IATC's earlier years, there was no such dilemma. Harvey Manning, the club's autocratic and aggres- sive founder, examined all sides of every issue and did what he determined was the right thing to do—full torpedoes ahead! Advocacy roles were paramount in the early years: the club had to establish places to hike, then establish a hiking program to utilize these spaces, then build and maintain the trails over the years. Eventually, advocacy battles became fewer in number (though they still exist, to be sure), the hikes program continued to expand, and maintaining trails became more and more important. In other words, over the 25 years of IATC's existence, a balance has been achieved between the three prongs—a good thing for our thriving organization. As Isee it, myjob isto lookoutfor thQbest interest of all three divisions of the club. When one of them is • slighted, as recently occurred (I am not being specific here, as the issue has at this time been smoothed over), I intend to stand up for that division of the club, even if another squirms a little. The point of all this is that even in a more balanced era of the 21S century, a president still needs to step up and defend his troops, just at the august Mr. Manning did so well for so long. UNSUNG HERO NO. 1 Much has been written about the vast contributions to Northwest .hiking by IATC founder Harvey Man- ning. Other club leaders are well-known to club members, area hikers, and assorted outdoors/wilderness organization leaders, and even politicians—people like Ken Konigsmark, Steven Drew and Bill Longwell. IATC has been fortunate enough over the years to have strong-minded, independent and dedicated leaders. And please remember that these leaders—board members, hike leaders, trail workers, book writers and map designers—receive zero compensation for their time and efforts. Unquestionably, these people deserve more recognition than they can ever receive (though most seek none). One of the club's unsung heroes is well-known in Issaquah, yet few people are aware of all he has done and continues to do for the Issaquah Alps Trails Club. This unsung hero is David Kappler. Dave was a pioneer in the club, so he has been active one way or another for over 25 years. When Manning stepped down after ten years as club president, Dave Kappler was the logical person to succeed himin 1989. He stepped down as president in 1991 when he was elected to a seat on the Issaquah City Council, a post he has held continuously now for he past 15 years. On the Council he has been a dedicated voice of 40 reason for sensible policy, and he certainly does yeoman work on outdoors, recreation and open space issues continued on page 4 4 Issaquah Alps Trails Club continued from page 3 Hikers' Corner Despite the considerable demands of city busi- As I write this article we are completing the hike ness on his time (not to mention his teaching schedule for July, August and September. As you schedule at Issaquah Middle School), Kappler has review the schedule you will see a number of hikes never lost interest and concern for the IATC and along the Mountains-to-Sound corridor in addi- its issues. Though serving on the board would tion to our traditional Issaquah Alps hikes. Since constitute a conflict of interest, he comes to board many of these hikes along the 1-90 corridor are in meetings whenever he is able. He has always been the Alpine Wilderness area with a restriction of a valuable source of information and advice to 12 people per group, hikers need to sign up with the club. He also maintains involvement in the hike leaders before the hike to check on avail- club by regularly leading hikes, mostly on family ability of space. If you need to cancel, please do trails close to Issaquah proper. In the recent Al- it at least one day before the hike. pine Days inaugural in Sammamish, he readily volunteered and led not one, but two hikes that IATC has also modified its guidelines for day. carpooling and sharing of certain expenses.