LEADER APPRECIATION WEEKEND GREAT SUCCESS

Almost forty Trails Club Leaders gathered at Tyee on March 1 for the Appreciation Weekend. Virginia Larson, Mary Ellen Andre, Michael and Yvonne Parker provided food fit for a cruise ship. We spend time socializing and also exchanging information to help us as leaders. After dinner Susan Saul handed out awards in thanks for those who have provided leadership in this club. Doug Lorain, the writer of many guidebooks, showed us his wonderful slides which included local areas, special spots in Washington and Oregon along the PCT, and slides of the Washington Sawtooth/Chelan Wilderness area where the TC will hold it's 2008 Alpine Outing. On Sunday morning we woke up to 9 inches of new snow and sunshine. The weekend truly showed us how special our friends in this club are.

Club Records

URGENT MESSAGE ? TO ALL MEMBERS

Are you storing ANY documents or records for the club? We are working to gather it all into one place so a professional archivist can help us determine what we should be keeping and for how long. We do not want to lose our history. Please contact Virginia Larson at 503-750-9316 or 360-263-3541 or Admin@trailsclub.org asap!

Virginia G Larson
Administrative Assistant
Trails Club of Oregon

2007 Awards

At the annual banquet on April 13, 2008, the Trails Club presented its annual awards.
The winners were:

Henry Waespe Distinguished Service Award: Fern Anderson

Mary Lou Green High Miler Award: Linda Conrad

Una Davies High Traveler Award: Linda Conrad

All Oregon PCT Award: Ken Becker

NEW AWARD PROPOSED; NAME SUGGESTIONS WANTED

The TCO Board is considering a proposal to establish a new annual award. This award would recognize TCO activity leaders with an annual award to be presented at the banquet. The Board is asking the membership for suggestions for a name for this award and any other ideas about how the winner should be determined. Should the award be for leading the most activities in the year, or should it be not for a single year's achievement but for a record of activity leadership over many years?
Please send your suggestions to Trip Trustee Diana Forester at (503) 288-7782 or diana_forester@msn.com.

McKenzie River Trip

June 27-29. 2008

Hike, fish, kayak, whitewater raft, soak in the mineral springs pools and enjoy the gardens and landscaped grounds at Belknap Hot Springs Resort on the gorgeous McKenzie River. There are some tent and RV sites remaining. Lodging prices are $54.50 total for 1-2 people ($16 each additional person) in tent sites; $65.40 total for 1-2 people ($16 each additional person) in RV sites. Additional fees include a $2 pp (members) or $4 (nonmembers) TCO activity fee and shared meal costs of approximately $9-10. Two breakfasts and a campfire dinner will be cooked for those interested. A $20 deposit is required to hold your lodging reservation. The balance of your lodging fee is due JUNE 10th. Both checks should be made out to TCO. Check out the resort website at www.belknaphotsprings.com for photos/info.

Contact Vicki Wood to reserve your spot or for more information: (503) 659-1423 or vw48@comcast.net

Peru Trekking with the Mazamas

April 28 to May 25, 2008

The Mazamas are inviting TC members on an outing to Peru. This will be a twenty six day outing with two treks totaling 15 days included. While the pace will be gentle, participants will hike four to seven hours per day at elevations varying from 3,000 feet to 15,500 feet. Dates will be April 28, 2008 through May 25, 2008 and cost will be between $4,400 and $5,00 excluding travel to Peru.
Mazamas members, $5.00 per day outing fee, non members, $10
Contact Ellen Gradison at 541-829-0484 if interested

Trails Club Naturalist Hikes

As part of the new mid-week hike series, the Trails Club of Oregon would like to begin offering an occasional naturalist hike. These hikes will go at a slower pace as we look at and work to identify birds, plants, wildflowers, mushrooms, and any other things we see in nature that we are curious about. We would like to get an idea of the interest of our membership in this type of hike.
If this sounds like an activity that you would enjoy participating in, please email Laurie Skinner at mlskinner2@comcast.net.

These hikes will be for both the beginner and more experienced naturalists. Those with more experience will share with those just learning. If you have special interest in and knowledge about an aspect of the natural world and would consider leading a hike, we would like to hear from you.

June 6-9 (Thurs-Mon)OUTBACK RAMBLE II
Filled, If interested please call or email to be placed on Standby list.

This year we will explore the John Day Fossil Beds, hike the Painted Hills, visit the Kam Way Chung Museum in John Day and the Railroad Depot Museum in Prairie City, check out the restored Gold Dredge in Sumpter. You will have the choice of taking the old steam train down Sumpter Valley or hiking (Class C) to the 8,300' lookout on Mt. Ireland. After three nights of camping and "picnicking" on the ground, we will attack the Haines Steak House then finish the Ramble Monday morning at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center which, by itself, is worth a trip to Baker City. We will drive approx. 750 miles. Limited to 12 to 15 participants. Make reservations early so we can arrange carpool. Merrill Newman (503) 646-3829 or email: onemi.2go@verizon.net.

Tyee & Nesika Work Trips for 08

MID-WEEK HIKES

Watch for the Trails Club's new Mid-Week Hikes (and crosscountry ski and snowshoe trips) starting in January. We'll kick off this new Trails Club activity with the traditional New Year's Day hike to Nesika Lodge on Tuesday, January 1, 2008. Thereafter, we will have a mid-week trip on either Tuesday or Wednesday of every week.

Eleven members met and put together the initial program for January and February; nine people stepped forward as volunteer leaders to get the activity started. Trips will include hikes in the Coast Range and the Gorge, a couple of urban/suburban hikes, a snowshoe hike, and a "naturalists" hike where we'll take time to look at the birds as we go. Look for the schedule and trip descriptions in future Blazers.

More leaders are always welcome for both the mid-week and the weekend hikes. Get the trip you want to the place you want on the day you want, walking at your pace, by being the leader! Contact Trips Chair Diana Forester at 503-288-7782 for more information and to volunteer.

BACKPACK LEADERS NEEDED

I am still looking for some Backpacking Hike Leaders who just want to lead some weekend backpack hikes. All Class Levels are needed from Class A to C. These hikes can be close to home, short distance or longer distance. I would really like to fill up our backpacking calendar this year so we have plenty of choices to choose from. Please contact me and let me know what you would like to lead. I know we have a lot of Trails Club Leaders out there that could share their knowledge, experience and favorite hikes with others. I would like to encourage people to lead also lead a few "first timers backpacking" trips for those club members who have never gone, and would like the experience. Hope to hear from all those excellent hike leaders!
Please contact me if interested, Lisa Conrad: lmclady31408@yahoo.com

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?

The History Committee has received many donations of loose photographs and slides over the years. Too often, they were not clearly labeled to identify the people in the photographs, the location, or the date when the photograph was taken. Without better identifying information, the pictures have little historical value for the Trails Club.

The History Committee is asking long-time members of the Trails Club for help. We need someone to organize a gathering of long-time members (who might even be in the photographs themselves!), possibly at Rose Villa, to go through the photographs and slides and help us determine what to keep and what should be thrown away. A slide projector will be provided to look at the images on a screen. This could be a fun social event!

If you are interested in being involved, please contact History Committee Chair June Smelser at (503) 668-4060 or junesmelser@yahoo.com

First Aid for Activity Leaders

There is enough interest to set up a first aid class for trip leaders this spring. There were a number of leaders who expressed interest at the Appreciation Weekend and I am sure that there are others out there. Northwest Responders can provide an 8 hour class in May but I need to know who wants the class as soon as possible to set this up. The class will provide basic first aid and CPR as well as additional information on first aid kits, dealing with hyper and hypothermia, allergic reactions, and other help when you can not just call 911 and expect a paramedic within a few minutes. The Trails Club would like all persons who lead any trips (hike, backpack, bike, kayak, and outings) both in town and out of town to have at least basic first aid and CPR.
Call Diana Forester at 503-288-7782 or email me at diana_forester@msn.com as soon as possible.

2008 Alpine Outing

Okanogon National Forest, Sawtooth Range

First Week Aug 3-10
Second Week Aug 10-17
Both weeks full - Alternates only

Alpine Outing Trip documents:

• Trip Instructions
• Trip Roster
• What To Bring
• Emergency Contact Form
• Release Form

Nancy Overpeck's 70th Birthday Party

April 20 (Sun) 1-4

Nancy O is having a birthday ending in zero. Let's make this a special day for her. Come celebrate with Nancy on Sunday April 20th between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Rose Villa Fellowship Hall. 13505 SE River Rd. Milwaukie.
Sponsored by friends and family. R.S.V.P. with Callista Dunn by April 9th Phone (503) 330-7344 or email Kissta9@aol.com.

Board Meetings

The Trails Club Board of Trustees meets every second Tuesday of the month At Rose Villa. All members are welcome to attend board meetings. Committee chairs are encouraged to attend.

Blazer Contact Info.:

Blazer Newsletter:
Send write-ups to:
Fendall Winston
blazer@trailsclub.org
fax: 503-695-5387

Please use the following format:

Trails Club of Oregon's Web site:
Send pictures, new events or corrections for www.trailsclub.org or webmaster@trailsclub.org

Special Info:

Gentle Reminders
Meeting Places