IATC History Chapter 36 (2016): Lenard, Anderson, Dunphy are New Leaders
January – March: Kappler Ends 5-Year Tenure
In his last “Report” as IATC president, Dave Kappler cited valuable assets new board members Kirk Lenard and Tom Anderson bring to the club. He also noted the retirement of King County Councilman Larry Phillips after his years of valuable service and support.
Betty Manning passed on September 1 at age 91. She was, of course, Harvey’s wife. But Kappler praised her “amazing insight and knowledge not only for IATC, but the North Cascades Conservation Council. She was a strong advocate for conservation and her accomplishments are far greater than most of us know.” he wrote.
A feature article cited the life and career of 88-year old Betty Culbert, an IATC member since 1980 as an active hiker and hike leader and a good supportive friend of Harvey Manning. “My life would have been a lot different if I hadn’t joined IATC,” she stated.
The Trust for Public Land conserved an 800 acre forested parcel surrounding the Middle Fork Road. It is “the gateway to dozens of trails, picnic sites and river access points and an important piece for wildlife habitat.”
Rachel Hopkins reported that the club’s Facebook program yielded nearly 500 new members, 68% new female followers and 50% in the 30-50 age range, with 90% from the Issaquah area.
John Johnson’s article on the old Precipice Trail provided a history of the trail and its importance on Cougar Mountain, while bemoaning the trail’s loss due to private property issues.
April – June: Lenard Elected President
Elected IATC president on January 28, Kirt Lenard, the club’s eighth president since 1979, will work on the club’s budget process and seek to establish an endowment fund. Outgoing president Dave Kappler noted Lenard’s commitment to the club’s mission and his management skills. Lenard cited the need for broader input and participation from club members.
Kappler “stepped down” to become IATC’s vice=president for advocacy, and Doug Simpson, Jackie Hughes and Kathleen Petty were re-elected to the Executive Board at the annual meeting. New board members elected were Tom Anderson and David Dunphy.
Karen Daubert, Executive Director of the Washington Trails Association, spoke at the board meeting. She noted that WTA improved 180 trails in 2015 with 140,000 volunteer hours. She outlined future projects and cited the importance of its partnership with IATC. “We need each other,” she stated. In its 50-year history, WTA “has maintained or protected 600 trails, utilizing 26,000 volunteers with 1.1 million hours of trail work.”
The issue included two feature stories about members. One was about the Mechler family, pioneers Yvonne and Tom Mechler, who preceded the club itself by participating in Harvey Manning’s “Day of Three Thunderstorms” on Cougar Mountain on May 5, 1979. They were also at the meeting two weeks later where plans for the club—and it name--were developed. Tom was on the Board of Directors the first five years and Yvonne edited the Alpiner, a name Tom suggested. Son Matt, hiking often in his youth, became Issaquah’s Open Space Steward.
The other story featured Marjorie James, then 70, and her progress in hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. She hoped to hike all 2,650 miles of the trail by her 75th birthday.
July – September: Hazenites Win Scholarships
IATC’s scholarship program, the Bill Longwell Memorial Scholarship, had its first two places go to students from Hazen High School, where Longwell was a long-time English teacher. The $1000 first prize went to David Vaisar and the $500 second place to Cassandra Slaugh. Excerpts from their essays appear at the end of this article.
Joe Toynbee, jack-of-all-trades for IATC, retired from club participation after 35 years. Called the “Energizer Bunny” by Ken Konigsmark, Toynbee estimated being on 7,000 hikes, leading 500-600 of them for about 27,000 hiking miles. Besides hikes, Joe was one of the Weed Whackers group of trail workers, helped organize the club’s hiking program and for years wrote the “Hiker’s Corner” column.
Steve Williams explained three changes at the Cougar Mountain park. First, the Clay Pit is no longer in use and is free to become an open meadow with wetland parks; second, seven interpretive signs were added to the Coal Creek area; and third, the Anti-Aircraft Ridge Trail was renamed the Harvey Manning Trail.
New board member Gail Folkins’ book “Light in the Trees” was excerpted, describing her experiences as a youth hiking the trails on Squak Mountain, where she grew up.
Two more early club members, Ted and Ann Leiber, recently passed. Steve Williams wrote a tribute about their contributions to Cougar Mountain.
Following are excerpts from the essays by scholarship winners: David Vaisar, first place winner, planned to attend the University of Washington to major in molecular biology. He wrote: “I realized that nature is a place where I can separate myself from the rest of the world and think in a relaxed and undisturbed state of mind.” On a hike with IATC’s George Potter at Teneriffe Falls, they went “through a maze of little trails and then made their way to complete solitude and eventually to the magnificent falls. . .”
Cassandra Slaugh, second place winner bound for Brigham Young University, wrote: “Recently, I gained a new appreciation for both breathing the fresh air and the effort behind the fresh-cut trail.” On a trail work project, “I perceive a sense of daring among the workers. No job was too difficult for any individual or that could not be shared by the group.”
October – December: More Manning Honors
IATC founder and icon Harvey Manning was honored June 29 at a ceremony announcing the renaming of the Anti-Aircraft Peak Trailhead to the Harvey Manning Trailhead and the Anti-Aircraft Ridge Trail to the Harvey Manning Trail. Many prominent political leaders including Larry Phillips, Randy Revelle and Reagan Dunn, all significant promoters of the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, were on hand for the dedication.
Advocacy Vice-President David Kappler reported on ongoing acquisitions and trail projects, including the Highlands, trail connections on both sides of SR-900 and Tiger Mountain access points.
After over a dozen years of service, Jackie Hughes stepped down as club treasurer. President Kirk Lenard and Monica Poinescu were handling the club’s finances temporarily.
Club presence on social media, especially Facebook, has been growing under the leadership of George Potter and Tom Anderson.
IATC lost another historic member with the June 8 passing of Ron Howatson. Howatson was a key member of the legendary Weed Whackers group ad led hikes, notably of the 16-mile Tiger Mountain Trail.
New Hike leaders in 2016 were Tom Anderson, Gail Folkins, Kirt Lenard and Cornelia Remy.