A.A.C., Cascade Section. 1987 marked another glorious year of mountaineering in the Pacific Northwest. Yakima, east of the Cascade crest, recorded 100 days without rain. Had it not been for the serious implications of the fine, stable weather, i.e. extreme forest fire hazard and a negative impact on our water resources, our summer would have been totally carefree! Leaving the rain gear at home, our members compiled an impressive list of new routes and ascents in our local mountains. In addition, Cascade Section members participated on expeditions to nearly every continent on the globe.

Our 1987 activities started with our annual banquet, attended by 150 members and guests. This capacity crowd enjoyed a wonderful presentation on the American K2 North Ridge Expedition by former Cascade Section Chairman, Steve Swenson. Additional programs in 1987 included participation in The Mountain Summit held at Mount Rainier, 33 Years of World Mountaineering by Doug Scott, the Seattle/Tashkent Mountaineering Exchange presented by Bill Sumner and Matt Kearns, and an 80th Birthday Celebration potluck for mountaineering legend and Honorary A.A.C. member Ome Daiber.

The Section co-sponsored the Seattle/Tashkent Mountaineering Exchange that climbed in the Tien Shan and Sindon Ranges of the U.S.S.R. during June and July. This team of Northwest climbers included Cascade Section members Bill Sumner, Matt Kearns and Jim Phillips. They made ascents of many summits in these ranges including Ak-su and Mount Sindon. Many of these peaks were basically unexplored by Westerners. This was the only exchange having A.A.C. involvement that actually went to the Soviet Union in 1987. The Section is proud to have been a part of this activity and is heavily involved with the hosting of Tashkent climbers in the Pacific Northwest in 1988.

Other Section activities centered around access problems associated with lowland rock-climbing areas in the state, conservation issues, and volunteer trail maintenance projects. The Peshastin Pinnacles, a popular sandstone area near Leavenworth, remains closed to climbing. The Section is working with a local Congressman to introduce a bill next year to acquire the Pinnacles and turn the properties over to the Forest Service. Several Section members testified on behalf of the Section at a local hearing on the long-term management of the North Cascades National Park. The Section continued its maintenance of the Mount Pugh trail, which had been abandoned by the Forest Service a couple of years ago. This trail is a popular conditioner and viewpoint in the Central Cascades. Nearly 100 man-hours were spent on it in 1987. Eight newsletters were published in an effort to maintain a high level of communication within the Section and with Club headquarters. The Section added 20 new members in 1987.

Our goals for 1988 are to continue our high level of communication within the Section; maintain our number of annual Section activities, both social and project-oriented; and to continue to solicit support from and improve our relationship with the national Club.

Donald J. Goodman, Chairman