Subject: Wenas Creek-Mem'l. Day Wkend.
Date: May 19 17:22:37 2003
From: Lynn Schulz - linusq at worldnet.att.net


Hi Tweets:
I finally got to the Wenas campout two years ago. 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.
There is a schedule of field trips and activities available on the
Wenas Website, http://www.nwlink.com/cyrus/wenas.html
The schedule had not been updated from last year, but field trips will
be similar this year. But there are some new ones planned such as one
by Michael Hobbs that sounds quite gnarly. Charlie Wright will also
be leading a trip. And I'll be teaching a Beginner Class w/ field
trip (please excuse a little self-serving publicity). I have a nice
schedule of THIS year's activities that I got from Rose Wakeman, one
of the organizers. The final schedule might be modified slightly from
it. It's an attachment and you can ask me off-list to send it to you.
In the meantime, maybe the new schedule will be posted at their
website soon.
Hope to see you at Wenas. You'll probably get a very-big bird list
(or botany list, or butterfly list, or insects, or herps, or bats....)
You'll enjoy it.
Yours, Carol Schulz
DesMoines
linusq at att.net
---------------
WENAS CREEK IN E WASHINGTON
Friday, May 23 to Monday May 26, 2003, 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. [I have been there this spring (Apr 2003). The
road is rough in spots, but city cars will make it all right if they
drive slow. There were no washouts when I was there and the road
appeared to be maintained.]
>From Hwy 410 (Chinook Pass), drive east of Chinook Pass to the
intersection
w/ Hwy 12. Turn left onto Cleman Drive near Naches. (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.
[Another note: Chinook Pass is supposed to be open, but there was
snow this past weekend even on Snoqualmie Pass. Check the weather
reports.]