Donna in Mountain Hardwear Dry.Q

W.L. Gore offers its lightest, most breathable membrane ever to the market this year, but competitors also offer innovative new products to challenge the king of waterproof breathables. We found some winners among them:

Polartec’s NeoShell membrane moves moisture — or “breathes” — faster and in greater volumes than traditional shells, even in frigid conditions. The membrane is air-permeable so air may flow freely through it, rather than requiring an interior heat to “push” through the membrane as with Gore-Tex breathable products. The Stretch Neo Jacket from gear maker Rab utilizes the Neo-

Shell in a fully waterproof-breathable jacket with a softshell feel. During a hot, wet climb up to Spectacle Lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the Stretch Neo transported sweat so efficiently we briefly worried about its waterproofness. But torrents of rain failed to penetrate, even as perspiration smoothly evaporated through the shell.

The sleek Stretch Neo sports just a few frills — nice zipper-sealed gear pockets to keep gadgets handy but dry and a stowaway hood that proved comfortable when in use and unnoticeable when folded away. It sells for $365. See us.rab.uk.com andwww.polartec.com for more details.

Mountain Hardwear developed a new membrane it calls Dry.Q, using licensed technologies from General Electric, maker of the eVent membrane. Like NeoShell, the Dry.Q membrane is air-permeable.

The best use of the Dry.Q membrane for general outdoor use is in the Mountain Hardwear Drystein jacket. We put this jacket on a few female testers and sent them into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, as well as into the heavy fog and rain of northern British Columbia. They all reported the same thing: Not only does the jacket’s main body block rain while shedding sweat moisture, but the jacket design helps improve its breathability. Taking advantage of the new material’s capabilities, the designers tossed out the old-school use of pit zips and inserted panels of highly breathable stretch material under the arms. That provides great breathability, and improves the wearer’s mobility without compromising weatherproofness. The women’s cut fit testers perfectly, even over modest mid-layers for insulation. The jacket sells for $425. For more information: www.mountainhardwear.com.

Finally, the W.L. Gore company refuses to rest on its laurels, and this fall brings the lightest, most breathable Gore-Tex product ever. Gore-Tex Active Shell technology pairs an ultrathin Gore-Tex membrane to a featherweight face fabric to create sleek, lightweight jackets designed for high-energy aerobic activities in all weather conditions. Vancouver, B.C.-based Arc’Teryx uses Active Shell in its Beta FL jacket. By stripping off all unnecessary features, such as pockets (just two chest pockets remain) and pit zips — no need for them given the breathability — the Beta FL meets the featherweight requirements of minimalist hikers, as proven by our fast-packing testers during an outing to Ingalls Lake. The jacket tips the scales at a mere 11.4 ounces. $450.

With two or three perfectly functional rain jackets in the closet, we go out and buy the latest and great.

When the newest fly fish rod comes out, promising to improve your cast by 10 yards, and your accuracy by 10 percent, we go buy it.

If a new stove promises to be 0.3 ounces lighter than our current stove while cutting our boil time by 30 seconds, we gotta have it.

With resources becoming ever more scarce, and our economy on the rocks, rampant consumerism is a problem. We buy too damned much stuff we don’t need and don’t use the stuff we have for its complete lifespan. I’m sorry to say that, at least in the outdoor market, I’m a big part of the problem. For the last 20 years, I’ve reviewed the latest and greatest outdoor products and through a variety of publications, encouraged you to buy them all.

I do believe I offer a valuable service in providing honest reviews based on substantial field testing. But I also have come to accept the fact I need to be talking about durability and longevity of products, too. A Polartec softshell jacket can last for years – decades even, depending on the type of use – and the gear maker’s should be touting that fact. Same with Gore-Tex, Schoeller and Primaloft products. But even more importantly, I should be touting that fact – and so should all my colleagues.

I know I’m not alone in this belief. Earlier this year I enjoy an evening out with Todd and Shannon Walton and this topic was one of many we discussed. They’ve both been leaders in the PR side of the Outdoor Industry and they both expressed strong interest in encouraging “durability marketing.”

I’ve also discussed this with folks from other PR agencies, from manufacturers and from retailers. While these businesses need new retail sales to stay afloat, they all realize there is an environmental and moral imperative to reducing the “throw-away” culture we currently have in place.

With all this percolating through my mind for the past several months, I was pleasantly shocked to see a unique ad in New York Times on Black Friday – the most rampant day of consumerism in America. Patagonia ran a prominent ad in the NYT today, telling consumers, “Don’t Buy this Jacket.”

Patagonia's NY Times ad

Their ad content speaks for itself:

“Black Friday, and the culture of consumption it reflects, puts the economy of natural systems that support all life firmly in the red. We’re now using the resources of one-and-a-half planets on our one and only planet.

Because Patagonia wants to be in business for a good long time – and leave a world inhabitable for our kids – we want to do the opposite of every other business today. We ask you to buy less and to reflect before you spend a dime on this jacket or anything else.”

For most businesses, running an ad of this kind would result in immediate firings within the ad department. For Patagonia, it’s just a continuation of an on-going program of reducing waste and overconsumption.

The Patagonia Common Threads Initiative encourages Patagonia customers to repair, re-use and eventually recycle their products before buying something new. They offer incentives, aid, and lots of educational material to make this happen. See details here.

Other companies are doing similar things on a smaller scale, and I want to step up and promise to do my part, too. So while I will continue to review and recommend new products, I will also offer information on how to make your existing products last longer. I’ll present stories on restoring old gear to like-new condition. I’ll provide information on where you can recycle – rather than just throw away –truly worn out gear. And I’ll try to focus my recommendations of new gear on products that will last for years, decades or even generations.

Adventures NW

The recent news that the Seattle Times has slashed its outdoor section budget and eliminated my column initially came as a blow to me. But now I see it as an opportunity. I’ve allowed my blog to be stagnant. No more.

Adventures Northwest will be a voice for responsible consumerism. We will follow Patagonia’s lead and encourage careful choices for outdoors enthusiasts. I will review gear that works, but will also – when appropriate – pull no punches when describing gear that fails to meet our standards.

We all have too much shit. It’s time glean the wheat from the chafe. It’s time to get rid of the shit and stick with only the quality gear that will keep us warm, dry, safe and happy.

Halfway up the ridge leading to Skyline Lake near Stevens Pass, a heavy snowdrift sat as a near-vertical 4-foot wall in our path. Climbers would simply kick the toe of their boots deep into the face of the drift, plunge their ax in and climb the small wall of snow.

But what about snowshoers? Turns out, web-footed snow hikers should do the same thing. Our group, mostly novices, easily climbed up and over the drift to continue on up to the ridgetop.

When you’re on snowshoes and you encounter steep ascents, going straight up usually proves to be the safest and most effective means of getting up the obstacle. In fact, you should use that kick-step move perfected by alpine climbers.

Simply pretend you don’t have snowshoes on: Kick the toe of your boot through the toe-hole in the front of the snowshoe, plunge your trekking pole in next to your boot, and climb up. By driving your toe straight into the snow-face, you force the snowshoe’s forward crampons into the snow as deeply as possible, while also giving you as firm a foothold as possible.

Keep your kick-steps close together and always have three points of contact (both hands on well-planted poles, and one foot kicked in, for instance) firmly on the snow.

If you can walk …

The common refrain when introducing someone new to the world of snowshoeing is, “If you can walk, you can walk on snowshoes.” That statement fails to address the many nuances of snowshoeing, though. As detailed above, there are many scenarios where simply being able to walk won’t help you much.

In addition to going up, going down poses potential problems — especially steep slopes. Watching even experienced snowshoers slipping and tumbling down from Mount Rainier’s Panorama Point proved this point.

What’s the problem? Walkers generally descend steep slopes by keeping their weight slightly back, so if they fall, they fall on their well-padded bums.

Get your weight back during a snowshoe descent, though, and those snowshoes easily become miniature toboggans on your feet, especially in soft snow or on snowshoes without substantial rear traction.

For a safer descent on snowshoes, flex your knees and slightly bend at the waist like a skier, keeping your weight centered over the balls of your feet. This puts all your weight over the snowshoe’s crampon teeth and gives you the flexibility to respond to any slipping or sliding without simply falling.

You should also reach out in front with your trekking poles on each downward stride to help guide and brace you. If you have adjustable poles, extend them out to greater length so you have better reach downhill.

Crossing hills

Adjustable poles can also be a great benefit when traversing (i.e. going across) a steep hillside. Lengthen the downhill pole and shorten the uphill one so your hands are parallel in front of you. That helps keep you balanced, and makes for easier walking.

As you traverse, focus on keeping your snowshoes pointing straight forward in the direction you want to travel, and keeping your feet centered on the snowshoe deck.

The tendency is to let the snowshoe tails swing downhill but that allows slipping, and makes you work much harder than you need to.

Finally, there will come a time in every snowshoer’s experience when you’ll hit a dead end, at which point you’ll either need to turn around or back up.

Either option poses problems, though, as snowshoe tails tend to drag on a tight turn, or drop and dig in when trying to move backward. Somehow you need to keep those tails up and the snowshoes tight to your foot. But how?

The easiest means of backing up, or turning 180 degrees in close quarters, is to simply use your trekking poles to push down on the toe of the snowshoe, thus lifting the tail. You can now step back without burying the tails and tumbling over.

Safety first

Before heading out to try these techniques, though, there’s the most important action to perform: Evaluate the avalanche conditions of your chosen destination.

Fortunately, this can be done quickly and easily thanks to the Northwest Avalanche Center.

Every time you plan to venture out into the snowy mountains, first log into the center’s website,www.nwac.us, or call them at 206-526-6677, to get the latest updates on snow conditions and dangers.

Additionally, you should know the warning signs of avalanche conditions. The danger of avalanche is found anywhere there is a slope with snow on it. Sometimes the danger is minimal, sometimes a slide is inevitable, and frequently you won’t be able to tell the difference by looking at the hillside. Knowledge of current snow conditions, recent weather patterns, and future weather forecasts are all necessary to help you understand and evaluate the avalanche danger on a given day, in a given area. All avalanches start with unstable snow-snow that isn’t bonded to the hillside. Avalanches are of two primary types: slab avalanches occur when large solid sections of snow break away at once, and loose snow avalanches occur when unattached snow crystals slide down a slope, dislodging more and more snow as they go.

A quick study of the slope ahead of you can reveal clues to avalanche potential. First, estimate the steepness of the slope. Avalanches are most common on a slope of 30 to 45 degrees, but they can and do release on slopes as gentle as 25 degrees or as steep as 65 or more degrees. Second, take note of the profile of the slope. A slope with a convex profile-that is, it bulges out a bit-is more likely to slide than a concave slope. Third, look at the exposure of the slope. A north-facing slope may be slower to stabilize than other slopes because it doesn’t receive as much direct sunlight, and therefore the snow doesn’t settle and compact as quickly. A leeward slope tends to become wind-loaded with unstable snow more often than a windward slope, since a windward slope generally has less snow, and what is there is more compacted by the wind.

Wind is a major contributor to avalanche hazards, and the higher and more prolonged the wind, the greater the threat of avalanche.

Other visible clues to avalanche danger include the following:

• Sticky snow, which indicates the surface snow is warmer than the snow below.
• Evidence of recent avalanches. If you see a slope that has apparently slid in the last 24 hours or so, consider it a good indication that snow conditions are unstable.
• Hollow drumming or “whomping” sounds coming from the snow underfoot indicate slab conditions, and a high potential for release.
• Rime ice on trees. This build-up of ice and frost suggests there were high winds during a recent storm, and therefore chances are good that leeward slopes are highly wind-loaded and likely to slide.
• Broken limbs and/or snow plastered to the uphill side of trees shows past avalanche occurrence. A slope that slides once will slide again after the next storm.

Understanding and recognizing these signs isn’t all there is to know about avoiding avalanche danger. This discussion simply serves as a brief primer on the subject. More detailed information is readily available in a number of excellent books, including The ABCs of Avalanche Safetyby E. R. LaChapelle (The Mountaineers Books, 1985).

Despite this growing affinity for dogs as pets, canines on trails continue to be a contentious issue. Some hikers feel domestic dogs have no place in the wilderness, citing cases of dogs attacking or molesting other hikers, harassing wildlife, and fouling trails and campsites. Yet, as with any trail user group, a small segment of the group creates the problems. With some care, understanding, and education, dogs can be tremendous trail users.

♦ Hiking with Dogs Clinic ♦

FRIDAY, JULY 22^nd

6pm-8pm

It’s A Dog’s  World Training and Agility Center

16024 60^th. Street E., Sumner, WA 98390

The key is education not only for the dogs and the dog owners but also for the general hiking public who will surely, at some time or another, encounter dogs on trails. People with sentiments against dogs on trails will successfully push for dog bans if dog owners continue to let their canines run freely up the trails, chasing wildlife (which, depending on the species pursued, could be a state or federal offense, punishable by sizable fines and/or jail time for dog owners) and harassing other hikers. And any unwanted approach of a hiker by a dog can be considered harassment.

Yet hikers create a dangerous precedent when they start advocating for the ban of some users—even canine trail users—merely because some of those users are behaving badly. With dogs already banned from some trails, trail “purists” are setting their sights on other bothersome uses. There are calls to outlaw trail runners on some trails, to ban certain styles of climbing (e.g., eliminate the use of fixed anchors anywhere in designated wilderness, and limit the amount of chalk used on big wall routes), and to severely limit the number of day hikers in some wildernesses.

The question is whether dogs are harmful to the natural environment, and the answer clearly is “no more so than hikers.” Just as there are responsible and irresponsible hikers, there are responsible and irresponsible dog owners. Dogs who are well controlled by their owners and picked up after by their owners can be among the least intrusive types of trail users. Animals restrained by leash or by good training stay on the trail, and they do no damage to the hard-packed tread (at least, far less than their two-legged friends). They don’t trample vegetation at campsites (to the degree humans tend to do). They are no more of a threat to water quality than other hikers (dogs should be led at least 200 feet from water sources when they need to defecate, and their waste should be buried—in other words, dogs should adhere to the same guidelines as humans). Done right, dogs can actually help hikers see more wildlife with less impact to those wild critters.

That has been my own experience hiking with dogs. A well-trained dog—one who doesn’t bark, who stays at heel or walks calmly on a short (less than ten feet) leash, and who obeys my vocal and hand-signal commands—increases my wildlife viewing opportunities substantially. That is, after all, why many dog breeds were created: to increase the likelihood of seeing animals during a hunt.

That’s not to say dog owners should just rush out and hit the trail. Indeed, some wild areas are off limits by regulation to dogs, such as national parks and monuments. Know the land management rules before you set out. The hikes in this book were chosen because dogs are allowed. However, trail regulations and trail conditions can change. Hikers should contact the land manager before every hike to find out the current regulation status and condition of the route. But what I would like to focus upon here are special considerations that dog owners must always bear in mind when traveling with their four-legged friends. Hiking in the Cascades is one of the most enjoyable pursuits you’ll ever experience, but it can also be one of the most deadly. All that beautiful, natural wilderness poses great danger to ill-prepared and unsuspecting hikers and their canines. A stroll through a sunny wildflower meadow at 6000 feet in the North Cascades can become a nightmare struggle through a slippery, sodden field of mud in a matter of moments. Thunderstorms can develop and blow in with little or no advance warning.

Hikers who plan to spend a day on the trail may twist an ankle while crossing a talus slope and end up having to the spend the night, waiting while someone makes the long hike out, summons medical personnel, and then leads them back to you. Dogs many sprain a knee or elbow, tear a pad, encounter a porcupine, or fall off a ledge.

The key to having an enjoyable and safe hike is being prepared—both you and the dog—not just for the conditions you expect to encounter but for the unexpected conditions, as well.

The high-pitched buzz of rapidly beating insect wings just millimeters from your ear rates second on the annoyance scale, coming in only just behind the incessant itching that results from being bitten by the blood-suckers.

Fortunately, you can beat back the biters. A host of products provide solid options for repelling mosquitoes, black flies, and no-see-ums and the like. Some even repel ticks and chiggers.

Area-wide Airborne Protection

A host of products promise to rid a broad area of pesky bugs, but we found only one that comes close to upholding that promise. The ThermaCell Lantern (www.mosquitorepellent.com) does what citronella candles and sonic blasters can’t: repel mosquitoes and most flies from a reasonably large area around camp. The ThermaCell Lantern sports 8 LEDs that provide nice evening illumination around camp, but more important, it also provides a cloud of Allethrin to push back the bugs. Like permethrin, the synthetic chemical allethrin mimics a naturally occurring insect repellent found in chrysanthemums. Unlike permethrin, allethrin works as an airborne compound, create a ‘force field’ against mosquitoes and black flies. The EPA has endorsed its use, and the U.S. Army protects its troop bases in heavily infested areas with similar devices.

Four AA-batteries power the lighting component of the ThermaCell Outdoor Lantern, while a small butane-fired heater releases the allethrin from a replaceable pad atop the lantern. We found the Lantern created a buffer extending about 10 feet away – effectively creating a 20-foot diameter ‘bug-free zone’ – though even a slight breeze will effect that. Therefore it’s important to always have the lantern located upwind of your outdoor living small.

Effective DEET-tails for Skin Products

Countless research studies conclude that the most effective skin-applied insect repellent is DEET. The U.S. Army first developed this repellent option for troops serving in the Pacific during World War II. The war ended before receiving final approval for use by combat troops, but it went to U.S. Marines stationed in the South Pacific in 1946. Civilians got their first DEET-based repellents in 1957.

DEET, which not only repels mosquitoes but works against biting flies, gnats, chiggers, ticks and no-see-ums as well, comes in a variety of forms. Pure 100% DEET is an oily yellow substance that is best applied as a spray-on ­– trying to apply as a rub-on treatment usually results in uneven coverage with lots of product left on your hands. While 100% concentrations is most effective for the longest time, lower concentrations generally work as well with less mess and fuss – they’ll just require a reapplication or two in the course of a day. Note, too, that heavy sweating (such as when hiking) can flush even the high-percentage versions away, thus requiring reapplication.

Our testers dubbed 3M’s Ultrathon (www.3m.com) lotion their preferred DEET-based repellent. The 34.5% concentration in Ultrathon provided up to 10 hours of repellency in most cases (the marketing literature claims 12 hours). Meanwhile the lotion-base of the product feels light and non-oily on the skin. Part of that smooth texture comes from the micro-encapsulation of the DEET. Rather than being freely suspended in the lotion, the oily DEET is encapsulated and those micro-capsules break down on your skin over time, slowly releasing the DEET throughout the day. In effect, the lotion reapplies itself for you.

Even though DEET has more than 60 years of research behind it to verify its low health risks, it should be used carefully. Because DEET acts as a solvent – just get a little 100% concentration on some plastic to verify that! – it can exacerbate existing skin problems. No DEET products should not be used on any broken or damaged skin, nor should it be applied where chafing may occur. For instance, it should not be applied under clothing, which may scour the solvent into the skin during physical activities.

Use of DEET on children can be done safely, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends DEET concentrations of less than 10% be used by children between 2 and 12 years of age, and nothing more than 30% for kids 12 years and older. The OFF! Family Care repellent line (www.off.com) proved popular with testers with kids. The OFF! FamilyCare Insect Repellent IV employs a 7% DEET solution in a pump-spray bottle that makes application on squirming kids easy and effective.

(to be continued)

Presented by

Kathy Wendt, DVM

Dan A. Nelson, Author

Sophie, Labrador Retriever 

FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2011
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
It’s A Dog’s  World Training and Agility Center
16024 60^th. Street E., Sumner, WA 98390

Before hitting the trails with your dogs, you need to think about more than just where to go. Join us at It’s A Dog’s World Training and Agility Center to learn how to find dog-friendly routes but also how to stay safe while enjoying the wild country. You’ll learn how to properly prepare your dog (and yourself) for the physical exertions of mountain hiking. We’ll provide information on trail stewardship so you can help ensure our forest trails are kept open to dogs. And we’ll show you some of the gear and techniques that will make your hikes more enjoyable for you and dogs.  … Dogs may attend this clinic …

Dr. Kathy Wendt founded Sumner Veterinary Hospital in 1983. In 2000 she launched It’s a Dog’s World, a world-class training and agility center on the campus of Sumner Veterinary Hospital. She lives in the Tacoma-area with her husband and their four dogs: Gidget, Wiki, Bug and Flirt. Dr. Wendt has a passion for competing in agility and hiking the beautiful NW with her dogs.

Dan A. Nelson created the best-selling “Best Hikes with Dogs” guidebook series for The Mountaineers Books, and with his yellow lab, Parka, he authored its first title, “Best Hikes with Dogs: Western Washington.” Today, Dan and another young lab, Sophie, continue to research new hiking routes while he works as a contributor to The Seattle Times, BACKPACKER magazine and Mens Journal magazine. He specializes in northwest destinations and outdoor equipment reviews. He is also author or editor of several other outdoor guidebooks, published by The Mountaineers Books.

$5.00 suggested donation per person

A selection of Ruffwear dog backpacks will be available to try on while learning to properly fit your dog. These packs will be available for sale at the conclusion of the evening with all sales proceeds, as well as the other donations, going to:

• Tacoma Mountain Rescue – the leading backcountry SAR group in Washington, and it’s K9 SAR partner,

German Shepherd Search Dogs of Washington. (Note: they encourage all breeds to participate these days.)

Lots of hikers, hunters, skiers and snowshoers lose their way in the woods each year, but only a few are truly lost.  There is a world of difference between being lost and simply not knowing exactly where you are.

For instance, frequently hunters and hikers who venture off-trail don’t know exactly where they are. The very nature of their sports requires them to the leave the well-trod trails behind and venture out into the unknown. But just because they can’t pinpoint their exactly location, doesn’t mean they are lost. At the same time, a novice hiker who missed a trail junction, can feel lost and confused even when standing on a well-maintained backcountry trail.

“Everyone will react differently to various situations,” said Tim Williams, chairman of Seattle Mountain Rescue. “But once they are ‘lost’ and in need of assistance, there are some simply, common things anyone should do.”

First off, Williams says, stop where you are. Have a  snack and something to drink, and calmly check your map, consider your options, and figure out what needs to be done.

The difference between not knowing exactly where you are and being lost generally comes down to this: panic. As anxiety and panic creeps into the mind, rationale thought fades away, and this is when bad decisions are made.

“Typically, it’s not one bad decision,” William notes. “It’s incremental. Little mistakes that build on one another until you are find yourself in trouble.”

So, according to wilderness survival experts, the first rule of “staying found” is staying calm.

“Its important to stay calm,” said Tim Williams, chairman of Seattle Mountain Rescue. “Once you get that uncomfortable feeling that you don’t know where you are, stop and assess your situation.”

If you truly are lost, stay put, Williams emphatically said. “Find yourself some shelter from the elements, but stay in one place. It is much easier for us (Search and Rescue) to find a stationary object than a moving target.”

The hiker lost in the North Cascades in late September violated this rule, trying to hike out. She reportedly left notes along her path, but later seemed to have changed her mind, so while her notes said she was traveling down valley, she later decided to change direction and hike uphill. Searchers found some of her notes, and later found her. But her rescue could have been much quicker if she had stayed at the location of her first note!

Williams said the important things folks can do to insure quick rescue should they get into trouble include:

• Leave a detailed itinerary with someone before heading out.This should include such details as: the trailhead you plan to use, the destination of your hike and your estimated time of return. It should also include some possible contingency plans. For instance:
  • Though you may expect to back at home by 6 p.m., you might explain that seasonal conditions could prevent you from getting back to your car until after that time, so you shouldn’t be reported missing immediately – wait until morning.
  • Road and trail conditions may force you to choose a different route. Have your secondary plans detailed in your notes as well, so searchers will have a second – or even third – trail to check should your vehicle not be found at the first trailhead.
• Be Prepared. Any dayhike, snowshoe trip, or even out-of-bounds ski trip can easily turn into an overnight adventure. Be prepared to spend the night, if not in comfort, at least in safety. An emergency blanket, a light source, extra food and water, and extra warm clothes can help you get through an emergency overnight bivouac safely.
• Stay Put. Once you are sure you are lost or in need of help to get out, stay put. It is much easier for searchers to find a stationary target than a moving on. If you are in a group, stay together! Separating just doubles the work the searchers will need to do get you all safely off the mountain.
• Carry a Cell phone and GPS,but don’t rely solely on them.
  • Cell phone coverage is spotty at best in the mountains. If you do get a signal, it is vital you be able to tell the responding agency (usually the county sheriff’s department) your location, and a GPS can provide pinpoint locations for the searchers to use. Note, however, Williams’ warning: “If you do get through to 9-1-1 and initiate a rescue, it will likely be several hours at least before those folks get to you, so you need to be prepared for a long stay regardless.”
• Mark your location. A brightly colored tarp or jacket (bright orange is best) can stand out against the dark landscape of the forest. If you are traveling in snow, Williams suggests carrying a couple packages or cherry or strawberry flavored Kool-Aid. If lost, find an open area and sprinkled powdered drink sparingly over the snow in an X shape – the color will bleed out into the snow, creating a bright red marker that can be seen from helicopters.
  • High tech solutions are available to help mark your location. See sidebar.

Everyone who plan the possibly of getting lost or stuck out overnight (or longer) but they should also plan ahead to avoid the need for rescue in the first place. Some of the things they can do:

• Carry and know how to use a map and compass. These items should be used during your hike or snowshoe outing so you are familiar with the area you are passing through. In this way, it will be easier to navigate out should you become disoriented later.
• Carry and use a GPS device. Familiarize yourself with the unit’s operation before heading out. This is one “high tech” solution Williams endorses, he said. IF you mark the location of the trailhead before starting your hike, its easy to use the “track back” feature that’s built into the device to find your way back to your car from any location.
• Familiarize yourself with the area before heading out. If you don’t know the specific region you plan to travel, study maps before heading out, and if possible, talk with the Forest Service rangers or other users to get specifics about trails and possible navigation hazards/difficulties.

My work as a Communications Expert (?) with the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency provided the perfect opportunity for me to escape south into the sunshine this month. The annual National Air Quality Conference (NAQC) – hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA) – was held in San Diego last week. For the 6th straight year, I was invited to present at the conference, this time instructing my communications colleagues on the importance of utilizing Social Media / New Media tools such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and agency blogging platforms in their outreach plans.

Despite my having to endure several days in hotel conference rooms, I did enjoy the four day event and I think I persuade some of my national colleagues to join me in the online world of communications.

But more importantly, at least in terms of my mental health, I was able to escape the confines of the city at the conclusion of the conference and spend some quality time exploring the deserts to the east. Specifically, the Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Donna joined me for the adventures, and thanks to the rains that plagued me in San Diego early in the week, the desert was awash in wildlflower blooms by the time we arrived there on Friday.

Below you’ll see some of the wonderful country we found in the canyons west of Borrego Springs and southeast of Earthquake Valley.

[Show as slideshow]

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Venus has been the star of our cosmic show to date. Prominent in the morning sky, Venus shines bright even as the sun starts to rise.  This week, look for it in the morning, pre-dawn (though as late as 7 or 7:30 a.m.) in the SE sky, above the moon. Right now the moon is a growing crescent but as it gets fuller and brighter, Venus will dim a little though will still be a bright morning “star.”

The cosmic climax this month will come on December 20^th. That night – Solstice Eve – will be a lunar highlight. Beginning at about 10 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time), you’ll see a lunar eclipse. At 11:40 p.m., the eclipse will enter totality (Moon completely in the Earth’s umbra – primary shadow) and that will last until almost 1 a.m. While in totality, the moon stays visible, but is painted a deep red, like a mountain in deep alpenglow.

If you can, get away from the city lights to view this — during totality, even the dimmest stars around the moon get brighter and more vibrant. It’s a pretty cool experience that kids especially will LOVE.

More information here

Seeing Shannon Meshke blast down the slope, I marveled at the fact this was just her second time on a snowboard.

Shannon, a 16-year-old skateboard enthusiast from Puyallup, embraced the opportunity to jump into the snow last winter. “I love it. There’s so much around here to do; I want to get out and do more stuff like this.”

That’s exactly what a lot of folks want to hear. Several nonprofit wilderness advocacy groups, as well as outdoor industry associations, have launched initiatives to get more young people interested and involved in outdoor recreation.

Shannon focused on snowboarding as her snow sport of choice for a couple of reasons. First, as a skateboarder, she was already comfortable on a single board. Snowboarding also has more a youthful edge — many of her friends were riders.

To get started, she enrolled in a half-day lesson at the Crystal Mountain Snow Sports School. Instructor Curtis Yanasak took a half-dozen would-be snowboarders, aged 16 to 40, under his wing and within just a few minutes had them standing and skating on their boards. Within the first half-hour, they were carefully maneuvering down a short hillside and soon were heading up the lifts for some careful descents on the beginner slopes.

“The basics of snowboarding can be learned quickly,” Yanasak said. “It doesn’t take long before you can safely and easily get down the hill. From that point, it’s a simple matter of practice — working on technique and building skills to get better and be able to tackle more challenging terrain.”

Shannon proved this point rather quickly. After her inaugural lesson, and some tentative free riding later that day, she joined my partner, Donna Meshke (Shannon’s aunt), and me for a full day of snow play. Shannon confidently opted to head straight for the upper runs at Crystal as soon as we arrived. Playing it a little safe, we skipped Rainier Express and instead headed up Forest Queen lift, so we could warm up on moderate blue runs. I underestimated the enthusiasm of a teenager.

Fast learner

After exiting the lift, I skied a few hundred yards down the slope to set up for pictures, only to find Shannon flying down the slope past me. I had to turn and tuck to catch her and then speed downslope to get far enough ahead to get a handful of pictures as she raced by in a blur.

Back at the base of Forest Queen, Shannon was all smiles. “This is great!” she gushed. “I definitely want to keep doing this!”

A few more fast runs on the moderate slopes and we headed for the summit. The Rainier Express lift brought out a bit of Shannon’s novice status as she nervously surveyed the steep slopes under the lift. But she was entranced by the views of Rainier from the ridge summit at the top of the lift, and her confidence returned as she started carving down the steep blue Little Shot run.

“Wow, that was fun, but tiring,” she said.

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Snowboarding and Skiing at Crystal Mtn with Shannon and Donna. New gear field testing

Another upper-mountain run followed lunch, but the long descent started to zap the neophyte boarder’s energy. We spent a few more hours on the mellow runs accessed by Forest Queen before calling it a day. Shannon, though tired, was happy and eager for a repeat.

Shannon said she has no desire to try skiing. Snowboarding, she said, just “fits” her better. That’s understandable, said Crystal Mountain instructor Yanasak.

Yanasak and his boss, Sean Bold — director of Crystal’s Snow Sports School — agree that learning to ski generally has a little longer learning curve than does learning to snowboard.

“Skiing requires a bit more effort and skills development to acquire that initial level of comfort and security,” Bold said. Still, with good instruction, new skiers can be out carving up the slopes their first day, too.

A new skier

Case in point: Seattle outdoor blogger (rockclimbergirl.com) and accomplished climbing enthusiast Sara Lingafelter took her first ski lesson last winter. “A lot of my friends and colleagues ski, but it’s just something I had never done,” Lingafelter said. “It always just terrified me. I’m a scaredy cat. In mountaineering, I have a fairly controlled safety system so I feel more secure. Skiing just seemed uncontrolled.”

But Lingafelter said she embraced alpine skiing, with the ultimate goal of being comfortable expanding into backcountry skiing so she can take her enjoyment of wilderness exploration into the winter months.

“I loved my first experience skiing,” she said. “I am eager to get back out for more lessons.”

The two young women chose different paths for their outdoor experiences, but their goal was the same: to experience and enjoy the varied outdoor opportunities of the Washington Cascades.

With that in mind, Shannon enjoyed her first backpacking experience this past summer, and plans to jump into snowshoeing this month.

Lingafelter said she, too, plans to take up snowshoeing so she can explore the backcountry this winter while developing her skiing skills.

“I want to start doing more seasonally appropriate activities while enjoying our Northwest environments. I love being out there, doing anything, as long as I can enjoy our wonderful mountains.”