Outlook dim for Alpine Lakes additions this session

www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/11/18/18greenwire-outlook-dim-for-lame-duck-omnibus-lands-packag-24392.html?scp=1&sq=omnibus&st=cse
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Local News | Eagles make Skagit River a year-round rafting site | Seattle Times Newspaper

Here's a great example of how an area's economy can transition from resource extraction to eco-tourism, for sustainable year-round benefits:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013529878_apwaskagitrivereagles2ndld.html

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Banded Glacier a new alpine lake | From a Glaciers Perspective

http://glacierchange.wordpress.com/2010/11/23/banded-glacier-a-new-alpine-lake/

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Betty Manning steps down as editor of TWC

N3C announces with regret that Betty Manning, The Wild Cascades journal editor, is stepping down! She and Harvey Manning pioneered Cascades conservation. We've convinced her to stay on in an emeritus role for the next few issues. But wish us luck without her! There's only ONE of you, Betty! THANK YOU!! Anyone with memories of Betty, post them here as comments for the next issue's feature on her legendary career. 


Here she is, pictured with the other members of our editorial committee who will SOMEHOW have to take over a lot of her role in future issues! 

L-R: John Edwards, Betty Manning, Tom Hammond, Pat 
Hutson, Rick McGuire, Phil Fenner

She did agree to play an "emerius" role for a while longer...

We discussed some possible changes to the format of the journal, and one change in particular involved soliciting more writing from the general N3C membership and the public. So please consider writing something for us -- a trip you took, your opinion of any ongoing environmental issue affecting the North Cascades, or some art or photography or poetry you'd like to share in The Wild Cascades! Just email: ncccinfo@northcascades.org

Additional Public Meetings Scheduled for Draft Stehekin River Plan (U.S. National Park Service)

http://www.nps.gov/noca/parknews/additional-public-meetings-scheduled.htm

TWC Summer/Fall 2010 issue - now online!

The journal of the North Cascades Conservation Council, our parent org --> some adventure, plenty of advocacy and a bit of outrage!

• President’s Report — Marc Bardsley
• A special contribution to the NCCC would help
• Saving the Cascades with social media — Philip Fenner
• Forest Service proposes Illabot road decommissioning — Rick McGuire
• Viewpoint: Into the wilds with iceaxe, cellphone and GPS — John S. Edwards
• American Alps Biodiversity Report released — Jim Davis
• Researching biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics in our American Alps — Phillip Zalesky
• More news from Reiter Forest — Karl Forsgaard
• Finney AMA Plan disappoints — Rick McGuire
• Margaret Miller returns to Cascade Pass — Tom Hammond
• Joe Miller — American Hero — Tom Hammond
• Suggested Revegetation Practices — Margaret M. Miller and Joseph W. Miller, prepared for the National Park Service June, 1977
• Bumping Lake ancient forest — One of a kind — Brock Evans
• North Cascades Glacier Climate Project — Tom Hammond
• Stehekin road tour with Senator Cantwell — Jim Davis
• PCT border crossing warning — Richard M. Graham, Jr., U.S. Border Patrol
• Books and video available
• NCCC membership application

Veterans Day photo album

I'd add to my thoughts on and thanks to Veterans with this:

http://picasaweb.google.com/tphammond/SourceLake101111VeteransDay#

These images feature some great interplay between atmosphere and land form, the conditions and low-angle sun made for some spectacular lighting/easy photos. Read the captions--they tell the story.

Water is everything. It's molecular structure resonates throughout all of us. I so enjoy being immersed in Water!

Veteran's Day Freedom

N3C's Tom Hammond writes:

"I'm into numbers. In computer talk, today is 101111. Next year will be 111111. Any way you cut it, I am keenly aware of two holidays and try to celebrate freedom as only the Hills can provide--freedom in part paid for by the service of so many people here and gone, near and far. Memorial Day and Veteran's Day may mean war movies to some, but to others, they mean a chance for peace and quiet, effort and reflection.
"I went to a place I haven't been in eight years, the headwaters of the Snoqualmie River--the South Fork to be exact. This cirque--below Chair Peak and The Tooth. with Snoqualmie Peak on the North, is about a mile from a major ski resort. Fortunately, there was just enough snow to keep the crowds at bay (there're no skiers yet, but scores of hikers, as I found out on my hike down--a word to be said for an early start). Anyway, I went up there to pay my respects and celebrate the efforts of so many, and the fate and blessings which have delivered me to a life in the most advanced nation on the planet (still). Within an hour's drive of two million people, I enjoyed a sometimes sunny, sometimes socked in world of delight, the first snows of winter (the second actually, the first melted off), thankful for the opportunity.
"We live in a very special place, not just the United States, but the Pacific Northwest. There is something to be said for taking care of our headwaters--this is what the good life is all about. I know many veterans who would agree with me, and many, many more who have no concept of this place. I thank them all just the same."

North Cascades Youth Leadership Conference

What: High school youth who have participated in environmental programs through the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and North Cascades National Park will meet to enhance leadership and communications skills, connect with service learning opportunities, and learn about natural resource career opportunities with regional service organizations.  

When: Nov. 12, 2:30-8:30 p.m., Nov. 13, 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Nov. 14, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Who: Total of about 50 youth, North Cascades Institute, Student Conservation Association, International District Housing Alliance, National Park Service and US Forest Service

Where: North Cascades Environmental Learning Center at the North Cascades National Park

Directions: North Cascades Environmental Learning Center is located approximately 65 miles east of Burlington, Wash. (Exit #230 on I-5). You’ll travel east on Highway 20 through Sedro-Woolley, Concrete, Marblemount and Newhalem to milepost 127. Turn left onto Diablo Dam Road and proceed over the dam approximately one mile to the Learning Center.

Contact: Coordinate in advance with Amy Brown, 360.854.2582, abrown@ncascades.org

What N3C is working on

NCCC (The North Cascades Conservation Council) is working on more numerous, promising, and important issues than at any time in its past 51 years. Fortunately, we have a talented board of directors vitally interested in each and every issue.

The classic N3C logo, a sketch of Glacier Peak from Image Lake.

The Glacier Peak Wilderness was one of the first major accomplishments of N3C.

The following would be included among these issues:

• Promoting expansion of North Cascades National Park with the American Alps Legacy Project.
• Leading efforts to establish/add to three new Wilderness Areas (Seven Rivers, Alpine Lakes additions, Mt. Baker Wilderness additions).
• In the forefront of efforts to support wildlife conservation with keystone issues being to retain the small number of gray wolves coming into eastern Washington and to protect hte few grizzly bears in the northeast Cascade Mountains.
• Promote environmentally sound motorized recreational use in wild areas, where irresponsible use is threatening fish and wildlife habitat.
• Taking step to stop damaging timber sales, protect old growth trees and pushing to remove unnecessary roads.

All the above issues require your support! Join us by going to our new member page: http://www.northcascades.org/signup.html

YOUR membership in N3C entitles you to receive our journal The Wild Cascades, by mail before it's available to the public on the web, and to a 20% discount on the purchase of our book Wilderness Alps: Conservation and Conflict in Washington's North Cascades, by Harvey Manning and N3C (http://www.northcascades.org/book.html).

N3C maintains very low overhead, with no office, and only the salary of a part-time Executive Director. So your contribution goes straight to where it's most needed.

But most of all, your membership supports our efforts to save an enduring legacy of the American landscape, second to none.

To protect and preserve the North Cascades' scenic, scientific, recreational, wildlife and wilderness values.

Eastside Audubon signs-on!

"Eastside Audubon board voted last night in favor of signing on to the American
Alps Legacy project. We ... definitely support your efforts. We also put an article about your project in our November newsletter which will be coming out soon.

Best of luck to you and thank you for all of the work you are doing!"

-Cindy Balbuena
Eastside Audubon President

http://www.eastsideaudubon.org/