Get Ready for Summer Gear Guide A Publication of Washington Trails Association | wta.org Your Guide to Backpacking Trip Planning, Gear Selection, Trail Etiquette and More! May+Jun 2013 Grizzlies in the Kettles William O. Douglas Trail May+Jun 2013 34 16 50 2013 Gear Guide » NW Explorer Get ready for summer backpacking with these selections from WT's gear team. Top backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, Backpacking for Beginners cookwear, boots and apparel. » p.26 You've day hiked all over the state, but you've never strapped on one of those big packs and taken the NW Weekend: Dayton, WA » Aaron Theisen leap into overnight backpacking. Here's 10 pages of Head for the Blue Mountains and sample the local trails, introductory advice and how-to tips—from choosing the history and flavor of southeast Washington. »p.34 right pack and meal planning to choosing a campsite and Epic Trails: William O. Douglas » David Hagen storing your food—all to help get you out in the wilds From Yakima's shrub-steppe to Mount Rainier's old growth, longer and farther than ever before. » p.16 hike Washington's newest long-distance trail. » p.50 The 2-person MSR Nook Tent, perfect News+Views Trail Mix for quick weekends or backcountry treks. See more in this issue's gear Trail Talk » Tales from the Trail » Craig Romano guide on page 26. Triple Crown hiker Brian Lewis » p.7 Grizzlies in Washington's Kettle Range, and recalling past encounters » p.37 Hiking News » New park coming to Whatcom Co. » p.8 Nature Nook » Tami Asars Stehekin Road project plans » p.8 Birds, beasts and blooms in the NW: Red- bellied sapsucker, pika and bitterroot » p.38 Volcano awareness month » p.10 Snapshot » Paul Raymaker Cool, free photography apps to capture WTA at Work your hike on your smartphone » p.39 Trail Work » Janice Van Cleve Puncheon building: where and how » p.12 Trail Eats » Sarah Kirkconnell Easy-prep breakfast, lunch and dinner for Action for Trails » Jonathan Guzzo your next backpacking outing » p.40 Sharing the trails » p.14 Hike It » Youth & Family » Krista Dooley Eight great trails for first-time backpackers— Desert hiking in spring » p.15 and good for day hiking too! » p.41 2 Washington Trails | May+Jun 2013 | wta.org Guest Contributors TAMI ASARS is a writer, photographer and career hiker. She has spent her lifetime exploring PAUL RAYmaKER is a geologist who the trails and backcountry in Washington, from discovered nature photography while spending a the Olympic Coast to the Okanogan, and all summer in the mountains of Colorado. Since then, points in between. In addition to working on her he hasn’t put his camera down. Nature photography second Washington hiking guidebook, Tami is a is now Paul’s passion, his goal being to show others regular contributor to Washington Trails' hiking the beauty that surrounds us, and encouraging and nature sections. Tami lives in North Bend others to care for their environment. Despite having with her husband and their dog Summit. recently moved from Seattle to St. Louis Park, MN, Paul is still a regular contributor to Washington Trails. JOHN FLOBERG serves as executive director of the Washington State Parks CraiG ROmaNO grew up in rural New Foundation. Originally hailing from NYC, Hampshire, where he bonded with the natural Washington’s peaks, coastlines, rivers and vast world. He is the author of nine books, including the open spaces called to him. He is forever grateful new Day Hiking Eastern Washington, Backpacking to call this place his home; for the subalpine Washington, and Columbia Highlands: Exploring meadows, the hulking giant trees and for more Washington’s Last Frontier, which was recognized adventures to be had than in a lifetime of in 2010 as a Washington Reads book for its wanderings. John is in his happy place. contribution to the state’s cultural heritage. He lives with his wife Heather in Skagit County. DAVID HAGEN was born and raised in Seattle. As a child of long-time Seattle Mountaineers, he's CHERYL TALBERT is an avid hiker and been hiking and backpacking in the Cascades for backpacker who loves extended high-country his entire life; in the Columbia Basin for almost 35 treks in the U.S. West and abroad. A retired years. He became interested in photography in forester, she lives in Issaquah with her husband the 1970s and is largely self-taught. David serves and dogs, and ventures often with The on the board of directors of the Cowiche Canyon Mountaineers on hikes, backpacks, snowshoes Conservancy; he was also president for a time. Now and long-distance treks. As a nutrition expert, retired, he lives in Yakima. Cheryl teaches Mountaineers classes on backpacking food planning and preparation. DR. ROANNE ROUSE HOUCK, N.D. is a licensed naturopathic physician specializing in AarON THEisEN is a Spokane-based free- optimal health with expertise in sport nutrition and lance writer and photographer specializing in mountain health. She is a graduate of the National the wild places of the Inland Northwest. Among College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, OR. Aaron’s many hats, he is the editor of the Friends Dr. Houck owns The Main Street Clinic in Gunnison, of the Columbia Highlands website, works with CO, and is the founder and president of Acli-Mate the Washington Native Plant Society and is one Natural Sports Drinks. Dr. Houck lives in Gunnison of Washington Trails' top regional contributors, where she enjoys being outdoors with her family. in addition to his primary job as a stay-at-home father to his young son. Join the WT Team! Cover Shot Are you an avid Washington hiker? Do you Craig Romano captured this shot submit trip reports or blog about your from Liberty Cap on the way to High adventures to share with others? Can you Pass deep within the Glacier Peak take a pretty good photo too? Then you Wilderness. Craig recalls how it was should consider becoming a Washington Trails early morning and the sun radiantly regional correspondent. defined Glacier Peak, Washington’s forgotten volcano, as well as offered a Our team of statewide “hiking pros” are the nice perspective upon the headwaters ones that create much of the great content of the Suiattle River. In his photo, Craig you read about in the pages of Washington captured two backpackers from the Trails and see on wta.org, all to help hikers Czech Republic who were on a multi- get out and enjoy the best that Washington’s day trip into the Neepequa Valley. According to Craig, “It was one of the wild areas have to offer. most visually stunning and physically For more information on how you can exhilarating backpacking trips that any become a Washington Trails regional of us had ever done.” correspondent email [email protected]. Washington Trails | May+Jun 2013 | wta.org 3 Washington Trails Association Staff Picks: Where was your first overnight backpacking trip? Board of Directors President WENDY WHEELER JACOBS – Goldmyer Hot Springs, WA VP, Advocacy STEPHEN TAN – Mount Mansfield, NH VP, Board Development CRAIG MCKIBBEN – Lena Lake, WA VP, Communications & Tech ROB SHURTLEFF – Dardanelle Pass, CA VP, Finance DOUG BRECKEL – Glacier Nat'l Park, MT MAY 15 2013 VP, Fundraising STEVE PAYNE – Lena Lake, WA Secretary CAROLE BIANQUIS – Massif Central, France ANDREA BAINES*, LISA BLACK** – Necklace Valley, WA*, Enchanted Valley, WA** PERRY BURKHART*, JEFF CHAPMAN** – Enchanted Valley, WA*, Green Mountains, NH** AMY CSINK*, TODD DUNFIELD** – Loyalsock Trail, PA*, Valle Vidal, NM** LAURIE HARTSHORN*, DAMIEN MURPHY** – Perdernales Falls, TX*, Larch Hill, Ireland** BILL POPE*, KATE ROGERS**, ADAM RYND – Rachel Lake, WA*, Shawnee State Park, OH** Photo by Aida Lee Gordon Lee Aida by Photo wta.org/givebig Staff Executive Director KAREN DAUBERT – Denny Creek, WA Share hikes, get trail news and join the Advocacy Director JONATHAN GUZZO – Temperance River, MN conversation at wta.org. Bookkeeper Ilona Fauver – North Cascades, WA Communications Director SUSAN ELDERKIN – Teton Crest, WY facebook.com/ Development Director REBECCA LAVIGNE – West Coast Trail, B.C. washingtonhikers Development Manager LISA UNSOELD-CHANG – Enchanted Rock, TX pinterest.com/ Dev. & Comm. Assistant LUCY SHIRLEY – Porcupine Mountains, MI wtahikers Digital Content Manager LOREN DRUMMOND – Grand Gulch, UT Editor & Art Director ELI BOSCHETTO – Sturtevant Falls, CA Engagement Manager KINDRA RAMOS – Burney Falls, CA Washington Trails Association is a volunteer-driven Field Programs Manager ALAN CARTER MORTIMER – Mount Marcy, NY nonprofit membership organization working to preserve, enhance Field Programs Manager TIM VAN BEEK – Sauk Lake, WA and promote hiking opportunities in Washington state through Finance & Admin. Manager DEB HEMINGWAY collaboration, education, advocacy and trail maintenance. Membership Manager KARA CHIN – Third Beach, WA WTA was founded by Louise B. Marshall (1915–2005). Ira Spring NW Regional Manager ARLEN BOGAARDS – Thunder Creek, WA (1918–2003) was its primary supporter. Greg Ball (1944–2004) Office Administrator KIM BROWN – Ozette, WA founded the volunteer trail maintenance Program Assistant SARAH RICH – Smoky Mountains, TN program. Their spirit continues today Puget Sound Regional Crew Leader Zachary McBride – Appalachian Trail, PA through contributions from thousands of SW Regional Manager RYAN OJERIO – Pictured Rocks, MN WTA members and volunteers. Volunteer Coordinator JULIE CASSATA – Appalachian Trail, GA–ME Washington Trails Association Youth Programs Manager KRISTA DOOLEY – Grand Staircase/Escalante, UT 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 Youth Programs Specialist ALEXA LINDAUER – White Mountains, NH Seattle, WA 98104 • (206) 625-1367 wta.org Washington Trails Volunteers Copy Editors JIM CAVIN, REBECCA KETTWIG Washington Trails Vol. 49, Issue 3 Proofer MITZI SUGAR – Sturtevant Falls, CA Gear Team LYNETTE ALBER, JAIME HALE Owner & Publisher KRISTEN SAPOWICZ, JOHN SOLTYS WASHINGTON TRAILS ASSOCIATION Regional Correspondents TAMI ASARS Washington Trails (ISSN 1534-6366) is published bimonthly by the NATHAN & JER BARNES, KIMBERLY CRAIG Washington Trails Association, 705 Second Ave, KELSIE DONLEYCOTT, DAWN ERICKSON Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98104.