80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KINDER TRESPASS: EVER HEARD OF IT?

The Kinder Path
Photo: Katy Walters

By Eugene Lewins and Jamie Anderson

Does it really matter if you go for a hike today?

On the 24th of April, 1932, a group of English working men went for a hike and changed the history of public access in Britain. As the Selma Bus Boycott is celebrated in the American civil rights narrative, so the Kinder Scout Mass Trespass is looked back on in Britain. Risking their own safety, they went up against forces barring access to what had for many centuries been public land.

TIE THE KNOT WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE

This is not an alpine butterfly!

Memorizing and carefully practicing your climbing knots is so 2012.  Why bother with all that extra effort when generations of knot tying expertise from around the world can be stored on your smartphone, waiting to unfold in full-color 3-D animations?  Of course, we're joking!  You still need to practice and memorize your knots, but now you can learn new knots anywhere with these handy apps for iPhone and Andriod.    

Knots 3D

Animated Knots by Grog

THE NEXT BIG SPORT CLIMBING DESTINATION: BOZEMAN?

You may think of Bozeman, Montana as a mecca for winter sports enthusiasts, and rightly so. But if Kris Zigich and Evan Mathews have their way, the prime rock climbing of south central Montana is about to become a not-so-well-kept secret. Under the masthead of Cruxin' Productions, Zigich and Mathews have issued a feature-length film highlighting the superb variety of climbing (and climbers) to be found in Gallatin Canyon, Natural Bridge, Chestnut Mountain, Allenspur, and Bear Canyon -- all a short drive from the thriving mini-opolis of Bozeman.  This summer, instead of queuing up for the shady lines at Leavenworth and Smith, it might be time to head for the Big Sky Country.

 

 

WEDNESDAY MT. TABOR RAMBLES ARE BACK ON!

Hey hikers, for those of you on the east side, join Mazamas hike leader Meg Linza on her Wednesday evening Mt. Tabor walks, leaving from the Mazamas Mountaineering Center promptly at 6pm. Bring layers, good walking shoes, water, friends and good cheer! No sign up necessary, cost is $2 for the under 55-ers, $1 for those 55 and better.

What: Mount Tabor Wednesday Rambles
When: Each Wednesday starting 6pm
Where: Mazamas Mountaineering Center, 527 SE 43rd Ave, Portland OR 97215

APRIL 15 -- A SPECIAL DAY FOR MAZAMAS

Mazamas Climb Card

That's right!  April 15 is the earliest day you can apply for a Mazamas climb.

Good news for 2013!  Starting this year, you can order your climb cards online.  Just follow this link.

Climb cards postmarked before April 15 won't be considered.  The earlier you send out your applications (after the 15th, that is) the better your chances of getting on a climb, so now's the time to get your hands on some blank climb cards.





In case you're new to the Mazamas climb application process, or just need a refresher, here's a small collection of links to help you out.

Getting Started With Mazamas Climbing - Complete Info for Newbies!

Tips for Getting On Climbs

Summer Climb Schedule

Google Map of All Mazamas Climbs

SMITH ROCK SPRING THING -- May 11, 2013

2012 Spring Thing Trail Work

Are you a Smith Rock user?  Maybe this year it's time for you to give something back to this local rock climbing jewel by participating in the 2013 Spring Thing, a one-day chance for all friends of Smith Rock to join with park rangers for improvement projects all around the park.

Last year's Spring Thing volunteers completed the retaining walls at the base of Cinnamon Slab, built new steps to the Dihedrals, constructed 100 new steps on Misery Ridge and did cruicial trail work at Monkey Face, Spiderman’s Buttress, Front Side, Phoenix Buttress and Aggro Gully.  Pretty impressive, right?

The 2013 Spring Thing will be held on May 11th. Register at 8am and end your day at 5pm with a dinner, auction, and raffle. "Parking passes, breakfast snacks, water, sunscreen, work gloves, tools and supplies and dinner are provided for all volunteers."

If you can't come on the 11th to do the hard labor, you can still help out by donating cash, materials, tools, or items for the auction.

For details please follow this link.

ROCK CLIMBING PRODIGIES FOR 2013

The mighty Hörst men

In February, Smith Rock's iconic Scarface (5.14a) was climbed by a 13-year-old.  First put up in 1988 by Scott Franklin, and the first 5.14 ever established by an American, Scarface is the third 5.14 climbed by Drew Ruana.  You can watch a video of Drew sending Scarface here.

In March, 10-year-old Jonathan Hörst climbed a 5.14a in Red River Gorge, KY.  Jonathan, son of the famed trainer Eric Hörst, climbed God's Own Stone.  Jonathan is not the first 10-year-old to climb God's Own Stone, but he may be the first 10-year-old boy.  Last year, Brooke Raboutou also climbed this route, as did Jonathan's older brother Cameron Hörst, who climbed it at the ripe old age of 11.

Earlier this month Kai Lightner, age 13, climbed a series of 5.14 routes in the Red.  Follow this link to see a video of Kai sending Southern Smoke.

VIDEO OF THE MONTH

The Mazamas Blog celebrates the extraordinary climbing and hiking videos being made these days by club members. If you or a Mazama you know have a video you'd like to share, submit a link to the video, along with a short description, to mazamasonline@gmail.com. Each month, we will feature one video as Video of the Month.

This month's winner is Andrew Holman's outstanding piece entitled "Climb and Shoot."

UPDATE ON FRENCHES DOME LOGGING PLAN

On October 29 of last year, we reported on a new Forest Service plan to log a two thousand acre section of the ZigZag National Forest.  The "Horseshoe Sale" was directly adjacent to a number of highly valued trails and important recreation sites, including the Frenches Dome climbing area.

Forest Service watchdog group BARK recently announced that the Horseshoe Sale has been withdrawn.  According to Alex Brown, BARK's executive director, the sale "was withdrawn faster than any sale in Mt. Hood's history -- a testament to the disconnect between the Forest Service's timber program and the public's expectations for our forests."

You can view the original article by following this link.

EARLY OPENING FOR NORTH CASCADES HIGHWAY

According to a recent press release from the Washington State Department of Transportation, the North Cascades Highway is expected to be open around the first of May. The clearing project will begin on March 25 -- about the same time it began last year -- but unusually low snowpack in the area means the project will be completed more quickly. In 2012 the road was opened May 10.

 From the press release:

Snow depths at the summit of Washington Pass measured about 5 feet compared to 7.5 feet last year, while snow was 5.5 feet deep at Rainy Pass compared to 8 feet last year. Snow piles in the Liberty Bell avalanche zone ranged from 25 to almost 40 feet compared to 35 to nearly 60 feet in 2012.

You can learn more details about this year's snow study, as well as a few statistics from previous winters, by visiting the press release at this link.

FROM THE BULLETIN ARCHIVES -- CLIMBING AT A CLASSIC PACE

[From: June 2012 Mazama Bulletin]

By Ray Sheldon

It seems that nothing is new in the Mazamas. We usually find out that an idea is already a part our history. So I’ll open this story on “Classic Climbs” by saying, the first I heard of an age-oriented climb designation was when Hal Nichols led an “Old Timers” climb of Middle Sister on July 6, 1996. His over-55 leadership continued and in 1997 he led a group up Broken Top. Stan Enevoldsen was the assistant on both of those climbs.

GLACIER REPHOTO DATABASE: MOUNT HOOD

White River Glacier

In 2012, supported by funding from a Mazamas research grant, PSU geologist Hassan Basagic visited numerous mountains in the Pacific Northwest in order to duplicate glacier photographs originally recorded early in the 20th century. He is now compiling those images for his Glacier Repeat Photography Database, a website which "seeks to summarize the existing glacier repeat photographic record throughout the American West."

Mr. Basagic's first set of images are taken from the glaciers of Mount Hood.

Walking in the footsteps of renowned American geophysicist H.F. Reid and W.A. Langille, Basagic repositioned his camera precisely in the "photographic stations" used by these scientists over 110 years ago. The result is a juxtaposition of images representing a century of glacier retreat with unique clarity and precision.

"Read more" below for a collection of Mr. Basagic's images and commentary.  Click images to enlarge.  All photos courtesy Hassan Basagic.

MAZAMAS LIBRARY BOOK SALE

The Mazamas Library is currently making space in its archives for expanding its outstanding collection of mountaineering, hiking, climbing and adventure books.  We are clearing out some unneeded volumes, many of which contain outstanding photography and historical value.  If you are interested in collecting books of this type, please follow this link to the Ebay sale page. 

ICE CLIMBING WORLD CUP 2013

The video quality is terrible but the climbing is superb as Maxim Tomilov wins the men's final at Rabenstien, Italy.  Click "mute" and enjoy!



Maxim Tomilov's Climb at the ICWC in Rabenstein, Italy from Aaron Montgomery on Vimeo.

MAZAMAS AND OUTDOOR ALLIANCE WEIGH IN ON BLM LAND USE POLICY

The Bureau of Land Management, with the help of the Outdoor Alliance and Mazamas in Portland, organized a public workshop on February 5, 2013 to collect data about outdoor recreation throughout Western Oregon. Bringing together an overwhelming crowd of more than 200 people, the event gathered much-needed information to aid the BLM's Resource Management Planning (RMP) by actually mapping the role, value, importance and demand for outdoor recreation.

The workshop was the final event in a series of four held throughout Oregon. The data collected will be used to make decisions about management on 2.5 million acres of existing and future recreation areas in Western Oregon as well as the demand for the development of new opportunities for the next twenty years. The OA and Mazamas were honored to be part of a federal government initiative to let the voices of the recreation community be heard. The BLM's RMP workshops were innovative in reaching out to recreationalists before the writing of plans and should be applied throughout the U.S.