Hi Tweets:
Last year I finally got to the Wenas campout. I had thought it would be
super-crowded, and that there might be too much "togetherness". Not so.
The camping area is huge, primitive, and beautiful. We all spread out, and
I did a number of fieldtrips. I had a blast. Here's an article we put in
the Rainier Audubon newsletter this year. It includes some directions.
Hope to see you there. You'll enjoy it.
Yours, Carol Schulz
DesMoines
linusq at att.net
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WENAS CREEK IN E WASHINGTON
Friday, May 24 to Monday May 27, 2002, Memorial Day Weekend
Auduboners and their friends enjoy a variety of natural history and
recreation in a beautiful area that features a fascinating assortment of
spring flora and fauna.
LEADERS: Will meet campers at the campsite.
Join us at the annual Audubon Campout in the Boise Cascade Campground SE of
Ellensburg. The campground has large pine trees, and the nearby creek
provides a
riparian habitat. This wonderful weekend features campfire get-togethers
starting Friday evening. On Sat and Sun up to 16 fieldtrips and programs
per day led by advanced leaders are planned.
Beginner
field trips are also offered. On Monday, there will be morning activites
and a campfire. This huge bird sanctuary and other habitats feature the
special birds of the E WA forests, lakes, mountains, and valleys. East
slope specialties
such as White-headed Woodpeckers, flycatchers, bluebirds, and Calliope
Hummingbirds are in the immediate area. Warblers and other birds are
singing. Gnarly
birders can take long birding hikes into the mountains or drive to nearby
birding sites, and others
can stay in the beautiful
camp area and visit the lake with their families. Kids love the area and
activities too.
MEET: At the camp. Come for the whole weekend, or drop in for part of it.
BRING: Bring your own WATER. Sanicans are provided. Bring all camp
supplies. Hiking boots or sturdy shoes are recommended. Bring binoculars,
and bird, plant, insect, and animal fieldguides if you have them.
DIRECTIONS:
>From I-90, take the 2nd Ellensburg (south Ellensburg) exit (it says
Ellensburg, or Canyon Rd).
Travel back north toward town on the main drag about 1/2 mile. Turn left
(west) on Dammon
Rd. This becomes Umtanum Road and turns to a dusty gravel road. You will
be driving SW from Ellensburg. Watch for Bluebirds and other birds. Drive
18 miles to intersection. Take first road to right which is Audubon Rd (N
Wenas Rd) along Wenas Creek. Do not take Maloy Rd, or go down the paved
Wenas Rd on the left. At this point the road becomes very rough. Drive
slowly if you have low clearance. Drive to a bridge on the left. Cross it,
bear right, and the main dirt road closest to the creek will take you ~ 1/2
mile up to the wide campground w/ the big trees. The tree where we meet is
down near the Creek.
>From Hwy 410 (Chinook Pass), drive east of Chinook Pass to the intersection
w/ Hwy 12. Turn left onto Cleman Drive. (You will be driving around the
town of Naches.) Bear left near Naches onto Longmire Rd, and stay left
until you reach Wenas Road. Turn left on Wenas Rd, and drive NW past Wenas
Reservoir until you get to the intersection. The intersection is approx 11
miles
NW of Naches. Follow directions above.