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The May 2016 newsletter is posted with lots of information such as the new UFWA Board membership.  Just go to the Newsletter page to read all the news.

Good Morning Trekkers –

With cooperation of the weather gods, we had a wonderful time exploring the trails and boardwalks at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge last week. I wish I could send out all the incredible photos of birds and sea life that were taken! What a wealth of life in this delta area!

This week there will be a return outing to the Nisqually for Luci, Libby and all others, SILVER or GOLD, who missed the opportunity last week. Plan to meet at NE 50^th & 35^th NE in time to depart at 8 AM. Weather should be good. Very low chance of showers. Bring binoculars (you’ll be glad!), wind protection (it can get chilly out on the boardwalk even with a little wind), and if you’re as optimistic as Luci, bring sunscreen.

SILVER hikers will head over to Dungeness Spit, the longest coastal spit in the United States….. and surely the most glorious! The hardiest can hike all the way out to the lighthouse at the end of the spit. This is 11 miles RT, all beach-walking. Others may wish to hike shorter distances and take their time to poke around the beaches and enjoy the abundant wildlife. The tides and weather should both be very cooperative, but do dress for max. 60 degree weather and possible winds…. and, as above, don’t forget binoculars and sun screen. As this trip takes us over to the Olympic Peninsula and we’ll want generous hiking time, don’t make evening plans that require you to be home early. Some may opt to have dinner en route. We’ll depart from NE 178^th in Lake Forest Park opposite Libby’s drive way. We’ll aim for the 7:55 ferry from Edmonds to Kingston, so arrive at meeting place early enough for a prompt 7:15 departure. Let Leaders know by 5 pm Monday if you plan to go and whether you can drive. Information and trip reports at www.wta.org search for Dungeness Spit.

-Sandy

Five intrepid souls of the UW Faculty Auxiliary (Bernadette, Linda, Kathleen, Barbara and Donna) headed North for some x-country skiing at Silver Star, in the Canadian Okanagan.  Second day was kind of snowy with wind.  They could not quite escape the civilization since the last episode of “Downton Abby” had them spell-bound. .  They skied at both the Sovereign Lakes trail system and the Silver Star trail system.  Weather has been variable – sun, clouds, snow, a little fog.  Lots of new snow up here.

Accommodations in a rented home have been fabulous!  Except for one dinner and lunch, we’ve prepared all of our own meals so we’ve eaten well.  Everything comes to an end, and so they were “dragged back to reality, kicking and screaming” as someone put it

Hi Moviegoers:

Did you find the Chris Rock amusing on the Oscars or was the diversity thing a little heavy handed by the end? Anyway, we will be seeing a non-diverse Oscar winner next Thursday, 10 March at Thornton Creek Cinemas, at 1:30. Arrive a few minutes early and we can walk in together. The Big Short, a biographical drama-comedy based on the 2010 (non-fiction) book by Michael Lewis about the financial crisis of 2007-08 that was triggered by the build up of housing market and bubble.

It was nominated for 5 academy awards and won in the category of best adapted screenplay. Apparently it is an entertaining way to learn a little about the finance world. It got great reviews, of course. Rotten Tomatoes says, “The Big Short approaches a serious, complicated subject with an impressive attention to detail – and manages to deliver a well-acted, scathingly funny indictment of its real-life villains in the bargain.” The ensemble cast of mostly middle aged white guys includes Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, and Brad Pitt, with Marisa Tomei playing the wife.

I am really looking forward to learning a little about the financial crisis in this “drama-comedy”. See you at the Thornton Creek Cinemas.

Hady

February 9 – 12 the Trekkers made their annual X-C ski pilgrimage to the Methow Valley. Twenty-six of us filled North Cascades BaseCamp to the brim, enjoying days of skiing, snowshoeing and relaxing, and evenings of wonderful dinners, great company, reading, conversation and games. We couldn’t have asked for better conditions…. above freezing during the days and 4 feet of perfect snow.  Glorious! Some folks stayed an extra night to take in the very interesting presentation about how re-introduced wolves are getting along in areas of Washington where sheep and cattle graze. (Actually, the sheep and cattle are faring VERY well!)

March 2016 E NEWSLETTER

2016-02-23 hike

Good Morning Trekkers –

Last week’s hikes were terrific! The Gold group went to the Skagit Wildlife Preserve and saw lots of wildlife, indeed. According to Luci, the showstopper was sighting two horned owls in their nest, with a close second being thousands of snow geese feeding in a field. They also spotted herons and two eagles in their nest, as well as many

other birds and evidence of beavers recently at work.   Two photos

attached or check out Donna’s photos at her Dropbox site:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ruj0cec5i6e6g32/AADbgGcgcKX75VO0GP70YUGQa?dl=0

The Silver group explored the Chuckanut Mountain area from the East side, hiking first to Pine Lake where they enjoyed lunch, then Cedar Lake. After circling Cedar Lake they hiked up to overlook areas with views to the Northeast and to the West. Then they dropped back to the main trail junction and made their way up to Raptor Ridge, another lovely viewpoint that sits above an area of enormous rock formations.

This area is very dramatic with its lush forests, deep valleys, lovely lakes and interesting rocks. We didn’t spot as much wildlife as the Gold group, but check out the bear in a cave that we encountered!

GOLD HIKE – Luci says: “We are now going to undertake some elevation gain ready or not. W will be going back to West Tiger Mountain to hike up to the Talus Caves, 3 miles RT with 700 ft. gain. After descending from the caves to the Tradition Plateau, we will meander about on the various trail options to get in some more miles, shooting for 6 miles.”  Meet at NE 50th & 35th NE at 8:15 for an 8:30 departure. We will take the Highpoint Exit 21 on I-90 to get to the trailhead, about

2 miles beyond Issaquah. Discover Pass required. Weather looks good, but bring rain gear, binoculars and poles. E-mail both luciboyle@yahoo.com and suechristian26@gmail.com if you wish to come and let them know f you can drive.

SILVER HIKE – Looks like a great day for a view hike, so let’s head up to Dirty Harry’s Balcony off on I-90. This is a moderate 6 mile RT hike with an elevation gain of 1300 ft. to a rocky ledge with marvelous views across the mountains to the south and east, including McClellan Butte, Bandera Mountain and Mount Washington.  Info. and trail reports at http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/dirty-harrys-balcony  . Meet at 35th NE & NE 50th at 8:45 am for a 9am departure. Please let Barbara know by 5pm Monday if you plan to go and whether you can drive.

Hi! I’ll be in Switzerland until mid-May 2016. Active online and keeping up the hiking club in the Alps

Watch for updates. Here some images from where we will be staying