Echo Ridge Loppet (CANCELLED)
2022-02-05
Unfortunately the 2022 Echo Ridge Loppet is cancelled due to Covid. The Echo Ridge Loppet is an opportunity to bring together a group of skiers and celebrate Nordic skiing. The Lake Chelan Nordic Club decided to cancel the Loppet due to rapidly increasing Covid infections both locally and statewide and our inability to screen participants and enforce Covid safety measures.
Mark your calendar for the 2022 Echo Ridge Loppet! The Lake Chelan Nordic Club has it scheduled for February 5th, 2022!
For more information click here.

Guided Snowshoe Hike at Lake Wen. State Park!
2022-02-05 13:00 - 15:00, 2022-02-12 13:00 - 15:00, 2022-02-19 13:00 - 15:00, 2022-02-26 13:00 - 15:00 UTC
Lake Wenatchee State Park- Leavenworth, WA
Every Saturday in January and February, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Join us at Lake Wenatchee State Park north entrance every Saturday in January & February at 1pm as park staff guide you on a 1.3 mile snowshoe hike through scenery along the Wenatchee River, the shore of Lake Wenatchee, and surrounding forest. Participants can enjoy a well-packed route through parts of our park that are not always accessible in summer. Expect some historical talking points, nature interpretation, and views of Nason Ridge, Dirty Face, and South Beach. No snowshoes? No problem! Call the park ahead of time to rent a pair. A Sno-Park pass is required to park.
More info: contact the state park (509) 763-3101

The Geology of Yellowstone Country
2022-02-08 19:00 - 20:30
The Wenatchee Valley Erratics, Ice Age Floods Institute’s next Zoom program will be on Tuesday, February 8 at 7:00 PM. Dr. Rob Thomas, Regents Professor of Geology at the University of Montana, will discuss “The Geology of Yellowstone Country”
The Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field is one of the largest, most violent volcanic regions on earth. Over the last 17 million years, the “Yellowstone hot spot” has left a track of volcanic scars and deposits as the North American plate slowly moves southwest across this giant source of heat. To understand the geology of the Yellowstone region, however, we must understand the geologic history of Yellowstone Country from the beginning. So, in this presentation we will explore not only the active volcanic center, but also the 4 billion years of geologic history that preceded it.
Dr. Thomas co-authored the second editions of “Roadside Geology of Yellowstone Country” (2011) and “Roadside Geology of Montana” (2020).
ZOOM link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84812873290?pwd=[REDACTED]

Snowshoe Stroll at W.R.I.
2022-02-10 10:00 - 12:00, 2022-02-17 10:00 - 12:00, 2022-02-24 10:00 - 12:00
Thursdays in January & February, 10am-12pm
Join the Wenatchee River Institute for a two-hour snowshoe stroll with our knowledgeable naturalists. Walk with us through Waterfront Park as the land turns white and the temperatures drop. You will learn about the natural and cultural history of Leavenworth with many scenic views along the way! What signs do we see along the trail that tell us what animals were there? How do the plants and animals survive winter? All skill levels are welcome (all walks are beginner level) and snowshoes are provided. Registration is required!
More information and registration: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/education-programs/community-programs/seasonal-nature-walks.html

Scenes & Stories from the Angle of Repose
2022-02-10 19:00 - 20:00
Location: Riverfront Rock Gym

The RRG presentation series is back! Join us on February 10th as @charleyvoorhis takes us on a journey of how he enjoys wild places, all the while capturing them from behind the lense.

If you want to give a presentation to your awesome community down here at the gym, please email jake@riverfrontrockgym.com!

For more information click here.

Snowshoe Strolls at the Hatchery
2022-02-11 13:00 - 15:00, 2022-02-18 13:00 - 15:00, 2022-02-25 13:00 - 15:00
Fridays in January & February, 1pm-3pm
Saturdays in January & February, 10am-12pm AND 1pm-3pm
Starting from the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, join Wenatchee River Institute naturalist guides on a one-mile snowshoe trail along beautiful Icicle Creek. We will learn about native wildlife and ecology along the way. What signs do we see along the trail that tell us what animals were there? How do the plants and animals survive winter? Even if this is your first time on snowshoes, come along and enjoy this fun outdoor winter program! Bring your enthusiasm for the wonders of winter and nature, and make sure to dress in warm layers. All skill levels are welcome with snowshoes, gaiters and poles provided. Registration is required!
More information and registration: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/education-programs/community-programs/seasonal-nature-walks.html

Watercolor Mountains in Monochrome
2022-02-12 11:00 - 13:30
Hosted by the North Cascades Institute
Cost-$50
Virtual Workshop
Watercolors are a beautifully unpredictable medium. In this two-hour workshop environmental artist and writer Claire Giordano will show us how to create a beautiful North Cascades mountain scene from start to finish.
From making expressive skies to sharing her shortcut techniques for painting trees and rock, Claire breaks down the complexities of watercolor into fun and easy to follow steps that embrace the natural tendencies of the medium. And, by utilizing the unique beauty of a single pigment of color, she invites us to explore the stunning ways watercolor can capture light and shadow.
For more information and to register for this event, click here.

An Eve w/ Marcela-Her Research on Small Seabirds
2022-02-16 19:00 - 20:00
Red Barn Event: An Evening with Marcela Todd Zaragoza – Her Research on Small Seabirds
Wednesday, February 16th 7-8pm, Virtual
Join us for an evening with Marcela, learning about the research and science work she was doing before joining WRI as a Field Educator! Marcela worked with the Quantitative Conservation Lab at the University of Washington working to conduct research and collect data on Scripps’s Murrelets (a small seabird) reproduction. Check the website for more detail and information to connect virtually: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/event-calendar.html/event/2022/02/16/red-barn-event-an-evening-with-marcela-todd-zaragoza-her-research-on-small-seabirds/369119

Rails & Ales
2022-02-25 17:00 - 19:00
Event by Badger Mountain Brewing and Visit Wenatchee Valley

Location: Downtown Wenatchee on Orondo between Wenatchee Avenue and Columbia

One of Wenatchee Valley’s most legendary events, Rails and Ales Presented by Numerica Credit Union is back for year seven! We’re closing down Orondo Ave and bringing the mountain to you.
Enjoy an epic evening of skiing, snowboarding, music, and fun in the heart of downtown Wenatchee. Come watch some of the best skiers and snowboarders in the state throwdown in this rail jam contest.
There will be two beer gardens this year (21+ only) to enjoy some amazing local brews and watch the action. Badger Mountain Brewing will manage the large beer garden for the 7th year and Wenatchee Valley Brewing will manage the second beer garden sponsored by Goodfellow bros.
Stay for live music from Massey Ferguson in the Badger Mountain Brewing beer garden after the rail jam.
Don’t let the title fool you – this is an awesome event for the whole family to enjoy.
$1000 goes to first place in each of our four categories for ski and snowboard. Athletes can sign up by emailing marketing@missionridge.com.
Event Details
• Cash prizes for event competitors
• Live Music from Massey Ferguson at the Badger Mountain Brewing outdoor beer garden after the rail jam
• Amazing food from Burch Mountain BBQ and Blue Skies Food Shack
• Interested in competing? Contact Mission Ridge by emailing marketing@missionridge.com.
A huge thank you goes to our Title Sponsor Numerica Credit Union! Their extra support this year allows us to make the event even bigger.
A special thanks to all the sponsors who make this event possible: Visit Wenatchee, Badger Mountain Brewing, Mission Ridge, Goodfellow Bros., CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen), Selland Construction, Wenatchee Valley Brewing, KW3, Route Line, Arlberg Sports, Lifeline Ambulance, Midtown Ventures, Cascade Subaru, Weinstein Beverage, Mela Coffee Roasting Co., Lithic Skis, HEAD SKIS

For more information click here.

Fun with Twigs: Plant ID in the Winter
2022-02-26 10:00 - 12:00
This event is hosted by Wenatchee River Institute
Saturday, February 26th 10am-12pm @ WRI
During the winter months, deciduous woody shrubs and trees without flowers and leaves still hold clues to their identity. Join Washington Native Plant Society members for a stroll along the Wenatchee River to learn some new identification skills. We will observe and differentiate maple, dogwood, snowberry, cottonwood, and other woody shrubs and trees. Immerse yourself in twig terminology as you examine leaf scars, bud scales and other anatomical features. The walk will begin at Wenatchee River Institute for a basic introduction to twig anatomy/terminology and instructions on using a dichotomous key.
This is a FREE workshop, but registration is still required: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/event-calendar.html/event/2022/02/26/fun-with-twigs-plant-id-in-the-winter/362315

Friends of Horan Bird Walks
2022-03-02 07:30 - 10:00
Event by North Central Washington Audubon Society

Location: Walla Walla Point Park

The Friends of Horan bird walk takes place the first Wednesday of each month. There is no registration required for these walks. Just show up, be prepared for the weather and, walk about 2.5 miles on easy, gravel trails. Each of the walks begins at 07:30 and ends by 10:00. It is fine to leave the walk early if you have limited time. The walks begin at the north-most parking lot in Walla Walla Point Park near the restrooms. Parking does not require a Discovery Pass and is free (thank you Chelan PUD).
Every walk follows a protocol to visit several sites and the bird sightings are entered into eBird. This ensures that bird use in the Horan area and in Walla Walla Point Park are consistently documented.

Fun with Twigs: Plant ID in the Winter
2022-03-02 10:00 - 12:00
This event is hosted by Wenatchee River Institute
Wednesday, March 2nd 10am-12pm @ WRI
During the winter months, deciduous woody shrubs and trees without flowers and leaves still hold clues to their identity. Join Washington Native Plant Society members for a stroll along the Wenatchee River to learn some new identification skills. We will observe and differentiate maple, dogwood, snowberry, cottonwood, and other woody shrubs and trees. Immerse yourself in twig terminology as you examine leaf scars, bud scales and other anatomical features. The walk will begin at Wenatchee River Institute for a basic introduction to twig anatomy/terminology and instructions on using a dichotomous key.
This is a FREE workshop, but registration is still required: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/event-calendar.html/event/2022/03/02/fun-with-twigs-plant-id-in-the-winter/362316

Envir. Film & Speaker Series: Expedition Reclamation
2022-03-03 19:00 - 21:00
Chelan-Douglas Land Trust is the sponsor for the premiere of the film, “Expedition Reclamation” presented by The Brave Space Project, as part of the Environmental Film and Speaker Series on Thursday, March 3 at 7 PM. This short documentary seeks to redefine “outdoorsy” and reclaim belonging in the outdoors for Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color by highlighting their joyful, resilient, and transformative relationships to outdoor recreation. Join us virtually to hear from co-directors, Erin Joy Nash and Chelsea Murphy, as they and their team present the film and a panel conversation with those who contributed their stories in the film.
Please register to attend this event virtually.

Birding E. Wenatchee's Porters Pond
2022-03-05 08:00 - 10:00
Event by North Central Washington Audubon Society

Location: Apple Capital Loop Trail

Join Joe Veverka and Tucker Jonas for a couple of hours of birding at Porter’s Pond in East Wenatchee. We will meet at the Apple Capital Loop Trail-19th St Trailhead at 8:00 am and walk along the Apple Capital Loop Trail and side trails looking for waterfowl and grebes on the river. We expect to find several species of waterfowl as well as wintering sparrows and perhaps even some early arriving violet-green swallows. Walking should be fairly easy not exceeding 2 miles at a birder’s pace. Bring binoculars, good shoes, plenty of water, and snacks. Don’t forget a camera. All skill levels are welcome. If you have any questions email Joe Veverka at joe_veverka@yahoo.com

The History of Climbing in Leavenworth
2022-03-08 18:30 - 20:00
Red Barn Event: The History of Climbing in Leavenworth
Tuesday, March 8th 7-8pm @ Red Barn, WRI
Join WRI and local climber, Jim Phillips for an evening of local climbing history! Jim has climbed around Leavenworth for over 50 years and will be discussing his experiences, history and mysteries, pitons and people, guidebooks and services, Enchantments then and now, and his observations of changes since the 1960s. This is a FREE event with a donation basket at the door. Doors open at 6:30pm for a community social with beer and wine available for purchase.
Please check the website for any updates on the event: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/event-calendar.html/event/2022/03/08/red-barn-event-the-history-of-climbing-in-leavenworth/367386.

Discover Pass Free Day!
2022-03-09
Washington State Parks has designated the free days in 2022 when visitors will not need a Discover Pass to park at state parks and on recreation lands managed by Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
Wednesday, March 9 is Billy Frank Jr.’s birthday.
Billy Frank Jr. (1931-2014) was an environmental activist and former chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. His lifelong dedication to protecting endangered salmon and restoring justice for the Nisqually Tribe helped shape Washington’s environmental laws and expanded treaty rights for Native Americans nationwide. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.
“Billy Frank Jr. Day is a day to be outside giving back to Mother Earth,” said Frank’s son, Nisqually Chairman Willie Frank III. “I do believe my dad wouldn’t want us to take the day off. He would want us to be out replanting trees or cleaning up the riverbanks. This is a day for the state of Washington to feel a little bit of Billy Magic.”
For more information click here.

Monthly eBird Survey
2022-03-09 08:00 - 09:30
Monthly eBird Surveys at WRI (Wenatchee River Institute)
Beginning Wednesday, March 9th (and go throughout the year) from 8-9:30am @ WRI
Join WRI’s knowledgeable naturalists on a birding survey around the WRI Campus! eBird is the largest biodiversity-related community science project in the world. We will be utilizing it to record our observations of local wild birds. You will conduct four 15-minute stationary bird counts for an hour of birding. Total walking distance is ½ mile, over a gravel path with two moderate hills. All skill levels are welcome!
To learn more about our monthly eBird walks, visit: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/education-programs/community-programs/seasonal-nature-walks.html

Consciousness of Place and People
2022-03-09 17:30 - 19:00
This event is hosted by the North Cascades Institute
Instructor: Tom Hulst
Location: Anywhere you would like as the event is an online format.
Class Tution: $10
We relate to our earthly home in many different ways and for just as many reasons. Planet Earth can be felt as a place of refuge, or a challenge, a fount of inspiration and even a threat to us. We can offer it care and appreciation, as well as neglect and harm. We humans can aspire to form a reciprocity — or a relationship of kinship — to it. In other words, we can strive to respect and interact with our home planet, getting what we need without overtaxing it.
This new online program offers an opportunity to take an interdisciplinary look at our concepts of place. We’ll explore the perspectives of numerous figures, from conservationists to poets to indigenous scholars, as we learn about the many varied ways people have reaffirmed their connection to nature. We will also have an opportunity for a facilitated discussion about our own sense of belonging to the earth.
We welcome Tom Hulst to our virtual platform. He is the past president and board member of E3 Washington, currently teaching at Tacoma Community College and passionate about education and the natural world. Tom is a regular columnist for the Public Administration Times (the PA Times), the voice of the field of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA).
The Institute is excited to host this multifaceted virtual program that will engage, inform, challenge and hopefully enhance our perspectives on the possibilities of our relationship with our home planet.
For more information and to register click here.

Sailing Around Vancouver Island
2022-03-10 19:00 - 20:00
Red Barn Event: Sailing Around Vancouver Island
Thursday, March 10th 7-8pm @ Red Barn, WRI
Join Wenatchee Valley local, Mike Cecka for an evening photographic recap of his 46-day sailing adventure! Departing from the Oak Harbor marina, their route took them around the nearly 300-mile long island, passing through the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands, up the Strait of Georgia and more. They saw many wildlife along the way, too! For more detail and updates, check the website: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/event-calendar.html/event/2022/03/10/red-barn-event-sailing-around-vancouver-island/368133

How to Climb the Nose in a Day
2022-03-10 19:00 - 20:30
How to Climb the Nose in a Day or How to Climb the Nose in a Few Days
Hosted by Riverfront Rock Gym
Located at 1319 Walla Walla Avenue
Featuring John Plotz
Date: March 10th
Time: 7pm
Come down next Thursday at 7pm to learn all the tips and tricks from John Plotz for climbing EL Capitan!
For more information click here.

Lowell Skoog Presents Written in the Snows
2022-03-12 19:30 - 20:30
Hosted by Riverfront Rock Gym in Wenatchee
Date/Time: Saturday March 12 at 7:30pm
Lowell Skoog is something of a NW backcountry skiing legend — both for his historical knowledge of regional backcountry skiing scene but also for some of the ambitious backcountry ski tours he has pioneered (e.g., The Isolation Traverse, the Picket Range Traverse) and was first to do during the snowy months on skis.
Legendary northwest skiing historian Lowell Skoog takes a deep dive into Northwest ski culture through
stories and photographs in his new book Written in the Snows-Across Time on Skis in the Pacific Northwest.
Written in the Snows is AVAILABLE NOW!
In Written in the Snows, renowned local ski historian Lowell Skoog presents a definitive and visually rich history of the past century of Northwest ski culture, from stirring and colorful stories of wilderness exploration to the evolution of gear and technique. He traces the development of skiing in Washington
from the late 1800s to the present, covering the beginning of ski resorts and competitions, the importance of wild places in the Cascades and Olympic mountains (with a side trip to Oregon’s Mt. Hood,), and the friluftsliv, or open-air living spirit, of backcountry skiing.
Skoog addresses how skiing has been shaped by larger social trends, including immigration, the Great Depression, war, economic growth, conservation, and the media. In turn, Northwest skiers have affected their regions in ways that transcend the sport, producing local legends like Milnor Roberts, Olga Bolstad, Hans Otto Giese, Bill Maxwell, and more. While weaving his own impressions and experiences into the larger history, Skoog shows that skiing is far more than mere sport or recreation.
• Century of Northwest wilderness skiing stories by noted expert
• 150 black-and-white and color photographs
• Celebrates the friluftsliv, or open-air living spirit, of backcountry skiing
As a skier, climber, writer, and photographer, Lowell Skoog has been a keen observer of
Northwest mountaineering since the 1970s. He is the creator of the Alpenglow Gallery and
founder of the Northwest Mountaineering Journal, websites that celebrate local mountain
culture, and he was a key member of the team that launched the Washington State Ski and
Snowboard Museum. Skoog is the chairman of the Mountaineers History and Library committee. He lives in Seattle.

Footprints on Snow-7 Brave Women Who Shaped the History of the NW Mnts.
2022-03-14 19:00 - 20:00
Red Barn Event: Footprints on Snow – Seven Brave Women Who Shaped the History of the Northwest Mountains
Monday, March 14th 7-8pm @ Red Barn, WRI
Join WRI for an evening with author, Joan Burton to hear about her book, Footprints on Snow and the stories of seven amazing women of the Pacific Northwest. These women were explorers, climbers, and conservationists and helped shape the history of the Northwest Mountains. For more detail and updates, check the website: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/event-calendar.html/event/2022/03/14/red-barn-event-footprints-on-snow-seven-brave-women-who-shaped-the-history-of-the-northwest-mountains/368480.

Gear Repair Cafe
2022-03-17 17:00 - 20:00
Save the Date! And your old and broken gear. Waste Loop and @colchuckconsignment are partnering again for a Gear Repair Cafe on Thursday March 17th from 5-8pm.

Do you have outdoor gear that needs fixing? What about skills or tools that could help fix things? Or do you want to learn some new DIY repair skills? Gear Repair Cafes are a chance to keep old and broken gear and garments out of the landfill by fixing or upcycling them. Materials and tools will be available but please bring any extras you have that could fix your gear or someone else’s! This free community event is all about helping each other out and building community while keeping our gear functioning and out of the landfill.

Educational demos will be happening throughout the night on topics such as:

-Patching and zippers 101
-Changing a bike flat
-Drysuit gasket repair
-Proper seasonal storage for skis

If you’d like to volunteer as a fixer for this event please send us a dm or email at contact@wasteloop.org
For more information click here.
