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BLM LAND USE POLICY – NOW’S YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

The Bureau of Land Management controls two and a half million acres of public land in western Oregon.

Right now, the BLM is preparing to revise its management plans for the area, and they invite you to weigh in with information about what you like to do on public lands, and where you like to do it.

As the Outdoor Alliance puts it in a recent press release, “Instead of just commenting on a plan after it’s written, this time we get to inform the BLM’s thinking before they write the plan.”

The BLM is providing a variety of ways for you to make your voice heard in the process.  Continue reading to get the details and a variety of web links to get you started.

There are many ways for you to get involved in the BLM’s revision of its Resource Management Plans (RMPs) for western Oregon:
  • Join the stakeholder list for this planning effort by emailing BLM_OR_RMPs_WesternOregon@blm.gov
  • At this link you can provide information about your use of public lands.
  • Fill out this questionnaire to provide your opinions about “suitability requirements for wild and scenic rivers.” 

Interested in something a little more face-to-face? Plan to attend one of these upcoming workshops:

  • January 29th, Medford, OR 
  • January 30th, Roseburg, OR 
  • January 31st, Eugene, OR 
  • February 5th, Portland, OR [at Mazamas Mountaineering Center]
You can find all these details, and a lot more, by visiting the BLM page: RMPs for Western Oregon. 
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NEW FEATURE: MAZAMAS VIDEO OF THE MONTH

The Mazama 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 your video here along with a short description.  Each month, we will feature one video as Video of the Month.

To kick things off, check out this excellent photo compilation created by member Steve Hinkle of his recent Forbidden Peak climb.

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“THE MOUNTAIN RUNNERS” — THE STORY OF THE MOUNT BAKER MARATHON

Photo courtesy Whatcom Museum Photo Archives

The year was 1911 and Bellingham, Washington, was a sleepy little town in the shadow of Mount Baker, on the northern shores of Puget Sound. Logging and fishing were the economic mainstays but, as the leaders of the Mount Baker Club, a local business organization, saw it, the town needed something more.  Thus begins “The Toughest Race You’ve Ever Heard Of,” a recent article in Trail Runner Magazine that tells the unlikely story of the Mount Baker Marathon: “America’s first mountain adventure race.”

The Mount Baker Marathon took place from 1911 to 1913, and constituted the city of Bellingham’s most audacious public relations stunt in its competition for tourist dollars against the just-created Mount Rainier National Park.  It is the subject of a recent documentary, The Mountain Runners that is currently taking the film world by storm.

The Mountain Runners will be showing on January 24 at the Northwest Film Center in downtown Portland.  You can purchase tickets at their website.

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MAZAMAS WINTER DISCOUNTS PILE UP AT OMC

Skier

Between Friday January 4 and Sunday January 20, Mazamas should expect a heavy accumulation of exclusive deals at Oregon Mountain Community.  You’ll need a shovel for all the money you save — show your proof of membership and get up to 35% off on a long list of discounted items and brands.  Read on for a complete list of discounts and details about the sale.

Mazama Winter Deals
Discounts

Available from January 4th – 20th, 2013 
Deals are available in store only.  Stock on hand only, no special orders.
You will receive your discount or the sale price, whichever is greater.
Please show Mazama membership card to get the discounts. 

  • Snowshoes from Atlas, Tubbs and MSR 25% off retail 
  • All Sock Brands 30% off retail 
  • Patagonia clothing 30% off retail 
  • Mountain Hardwear clothing 30% off retail 
  • Mountain Hardwear tents (not 4 season) 30% off retail 
  • Marmot clothing 30% off retail 
  • The North Face clothing 30% off retail 
  • Madshus, Fischer, Voile ski products 25% off retail 
  • Mammut, BCA, Ortovox Avy Beacons 25% off retail 
  • G3, Black Diamond, BCA shovels & probes 25% off retail 
  • Black Diamond Gloves 30% off retail 
  • Outdoor Research Accessories 30% off retail 
  • All Icebreaker and Ibex 30% off retail 
  • All baselayers 30% off retail 
  • Steripen 30% off retail 
  • Optimus stoves 30% off retail 
  • All books 20% off retail 
  • Freeze dried food 35% off retail 
  • Shakes, energy bars 20% off retail
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CLIMBING AS AN OLYMPIC SPORT

Sport lead climbing is on the short list for the 2020 Olympics. According to Climbing Magazine, the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) met in Switzerland with the International Olympic Committee Program Commission on December 19 to make its final pitch for inclusion.  Sport lead climbing is in competition with six other sports: baseball/softball, karate, roller sports, squash, wakeboarding, and wushu.  A decision on the matter is expected in September 2013.

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AVALANCHE BEACON RECALL

Ortovox is recalling its new 3+ avalanche transceiver because in recent testing, some of the devices from a group shipped to vendors after October 17, 2012 “switched to transmission mode unintentionally after 120 seconds in search mode.” If you own an Ortovox 3+, follow this link to check your device’s serial number. Recalled devices will be inspected and given any needed upgrades.

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WINTER CLIMBING!

[From the December 2011 Mazama Bulletin]

Welcome to our winter climb season! Here at the Mazamas, winter climbs run from December 1 to April 30. The good news is that, during the winter, the mountains have fewer climbers and more snow. The bad news is that the weather tends to be much less predictable and avalanche danger much greater. Therefore, the Mazamas conduct winter climbs a little differently from those that take place during the summer.
First of all, in order to accommodate the impromptu nature of Winter Climbs, as in “Hey, the weather looks good next Wednesday. Let’s go!” the Climb Application procedure is more flexible:

  • View the climbs that leaders intend to lead in the upcoming months under Winter Climb Schedule on the Web site at this link.
  • Choose the climb(s) you are interested in.
  • Contact the leader for each climb that you would like to apply for. You may want to e-mail the climb leader a copy of your climb resume, along with a personal note highlighting some of the reasons why you would be an exceptional candidate for a spot on this particular climb.
  • Wait for a call/e-mail from the leader letting you know when a climb is planned, or check out the schedule online.
  • If you think there is an opportunity to climb, dropping a friendly note asking if they have any plans for upcoming climbs may be a good way to keep yourself in the loop.
  • Dropping a friendly note every week is a good way to get yourself perceived as a little jumpy and not an exceptional candidate for a spot on this particular climb.
  • If you are available for the climb, let the climb leader know.
  • The climb leader should then send you a climb prospectus.
  • Arrive promptly at the appointed meeting place.
  • Bring a properly completed climb card with you to the climb (no stamp necessary).
  • Bring batteries for the transceiver. Unless told otherwise, bring both AA and AAA just to be safe, as different transceivers take different batteries.

Because of increased avalanche danger during the winter climbing season, climb leaders will provide shovels, avalanche probes and transceivers for the climb team. If you own these tools, please bring them and let the climb leader know that you have them. Climb leaders will NOT provide batteries. [Note that grading of climbs is increased for winter.]