White Pine Needle, 2018 White Pine Group, Northeast Iowa Sierra Club (Howard, Winneshiek, Allamakee, Fayette, Clayton, Delaware,

Dubuque, & Jackson Counties.) The Needle prods us to

“Explore, Enjoy and Protect” the Northeast Iowa Environment.

Volume 38, No. 1] 1/19/18 White Pine Hollow, Luxemburg

In this 2018 White Pine Needle:

*EXCOM Election; *Our Events Calendar:

*Program/Meetings & Outings; *Other Events;

*2017 Turkey Dinner Fundraiser Report;

*Backbone Cabin Outing: Feb. 16-18, 2018;

*2018 Fundraiser Dinner: Nov. 3, Swiss Valley;

*Membership Report; *Outing/Event photos.

*Project AWARE, July 9-13, Maquoketa River!

Post events of interest onto your wall, electronic,

or other scheduling calendar. In that regard:

Two 2018 Sierra Club Wilderness Wall and 8

Engagement Calendars available 563-582-2580.

Participatory Camaraderie inspires and motivates

ACTION. As Sierra Club founder John Muir

implored, “The battle we have fought, and are still

fighting . . . is a part of the eternal conflict between

right and wrong, and we cannot expect to see the end

of it.” (Jan., 1896) Keep up the good fight! Needle Publication and Distribution.

Only this full-year Needle and an Autumn Update are

distributed to ALL members via mail or email. Other incidental

Updates are distributed only by email. If you received this by

mail and are okay with receiving full-color, email delivery, send

an email to raworm@msn.com including

your name and full mailing address including Zip Code.

Turkey Dinner Fundraiser

2017 Report

Turkey Dinner Fundraiser on Oct. 21, 2017.

Thanks to all 54 who attended and contributed to our

Fundraiser Dinner and all who purchased calendars.

Income added at least $1299 to our Group treasury.

Expenses included $200 food; $30 First Congregational

Church. Additional calendar sales since the Dinner are

still continuing with $70 waiting to be submitted.

Current treasury balance will be $2427.83 after that

submission occurs and after the recent payment of

$48.15 for 20 Keep Dubuque County Clean and Green

stickers and $50 for a table at the January 20 Bald

Eagle Watch. $75 was earlier contributed to the 2017

Project AWARE.

Special “THANKS” go to all the contributors:

Cash Donors: at least Larry Troester, Ron Myrom, Jim

Ryan, Dave Weitz, Gary and Butchie Thompson,

Gerald Gordon, Deborah Bishop, Joe Tolari; Jane

Worm (in kind), Anonymous.

Roasting turkeys: Jane Worm (2); and Charlie

Winterwood. Desserts: at least Mike Muir, Mary

Green, Jim Fahrion, Ellen O’Connell, Sheila Schultz,

Larry Troester contingent, Mary Green, Ellen

O’Connell, Ann Ernst, Jane Worm.

Garden Potatoes: Cindy Recker. Mashed Potato

preparation: Mike Muir. Dressing: Kevin Kane.

Cranberries: Jane Worm, Margreet Ryan. Milk: Ann

Ernst. Door Prizes: at least Dick and Jane Worm,

Cindy Recker, Charlie Winterwood, Larry Troester,

Gerda Hartman, White Pine Group. Jane purchased 3

turkeys, sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables, apple juice,

crackers, and dinner rolls.

Dinner Chair, Jane Worm, THANKS all those who

helped: Room set-up (Buck Schultz); kitchen help

with food preparation and serving; and afterward

washing tableware and cleaning the social room (at

least Cindy Recker, Mary Green, Fritz Kruger, Carol

McClenahan, Ellen O’Connell). Dick Worm

appreciated the help with table storage and carrying

kitchen and display materials to the van. (If we missed

anyone, KNOW that your assistance, though

undocumented, WAS appreciated!

Door prizes included: 4, 1-lb. packages of bison burger,

4 River Museum passes, potatoes, and MORE!

Bald Eagle Watch, January 20, 2018 P.2 White Pine Group’s table will be aligned with Keep Dubuque

County Clean and Green and the Dubuque Metropolitan Area

Solid Waste Agency. Last year’s table set-up looked like this:

This year we are promoting the placement of Keep Dubuque

County Clean and Green (KDCCG) stickers onto recycle bins

at Dubuque county parks, businesses, churches, schools and/or

wherever such a bin may exist. To get the project underway,

our Group has locally purchased 20, 6” diameter stickers. 30

RECYCLE stickers and 10, 8” diameter KDCCG stickers have

also been purchased by a donor to be used wherever may be

appropriate. Application as bumper stickers is also an option.

Additional purchases of stickers

may be made if the project warrants.

Anyone with an idea for placement is welcome to contact us.

MARKER RECYCLING Jackson County Conservation is encouraging the recycling of

used markers that no longer work! Any brand, any type, any

condition. Please leave lids on.

Drop markers off at the Hurstville Interpretive Center

anytime during normal business hours. Phone 563-652-3783.

The markers will be sent to Crayola’s ColorCycle program

where they are repurposed into fuel.

FULL MOON RECYCLED, JANUARY 31. January has a Blue Moon (2nd Full Moon in a month.) It will

also be a Super Moon (close to Earth.) The morning of Jan. 31

will end with the beginning of a Lunar Eclipse. Lunar trifecta!

Hurstville Interpretive Center, 6:30-7:15 AM. Coffee & treats.

16th Annual Project AWARE, July 9-13 The first Project AWARE (A Watershed Awareness

River Expedition) was on the Maquoketa River in 2003.

It was a week-long (June 1-7), rainy, and cool initiation

to an Iowa DNR’s river clean-up and monitoring

project. AWARE returns to our region’s Maquoketa

River this year during a shorter and warmer time frame!

The 63-mile expedition will begin in our Delaware

County’s Manchester and end at our Jackson County’s

Royertown Access (County Y-34), with a fling in Jones

County in between. Four nights of camping with

evening programs: Manchester’s Schram Park,

Hopkinton’s historical Lenox College Campus, Pictured

Rocks United Methodist Camp and Retreat Center near

Monticello, and Eden Valley Park near Baldwin.

Monday’s short afternoon will be 4.4 miles from

Schram Park to Bailey’s Ford Park. Tuesday will be

only 9.5 miles from the new, Delhi Dam to Dunlap

Park near Hopkinton, but may have the greatest amount

of debris still lingering after the dam failure on July

24, 2010. Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mileages will

substantially pick up the pace: 19.4 miles and 21.0

miles. The final half day will be 8.5 miles.

A planning meeting on Feb. 28 in Monticello will

deal with many of the behind the scenes matters

including: How best to deal with trash between Delhi

Dam and Dunlap Park; shuttles and parking; catering;

educational program options; portable toilets and

trailer; landowner letters; trash and recycling logistics;

sponsorships and grants; alternative plans if river is

deemed unsafe; outreach; media; daily maps; AWARE

equipment. A project of this scope is no walk in the

park!

Our White Pine Group has been a “River Rescue”

level Sponsor ($100-$499) for four of the Projects and

will consider such sponsorship again this year.

Individuals can be sponsors. www.iowadnr.gov/aware.

The “FOREVER” AWARE activist and most

recently Project AWARE Coordinator, Lynette Seigley,

is retiring from the DNR, January 18, but will maintain

volunteer involvement. Therefore, direct questions to

Nate Hoogeveen, Iowa DNR River Programs

Coordinator (nate.hoogeveen@dnr.iowa.gov)

515-725-2991. Nate authored PADDLING IOWA.

With at least 2 of our then White Pine Group

members on the 2003 AWARE, we have had at least

two up to four or five members on each of the 15

AWARE’s and should have a similar count this year.

Local Contact: Dick Worm, 2018 Planning Committee.

The January 23 meeting program will be about

AWARE and a canoe trip down the Maquoketa River

from Backbone State Park to US 52 in May of 2009, so

includes paddling the length of Lake Delhi!

2018 White Pine Calendar (Page 3)

Explore, Enjoy, and Protect with White Pine Group

This listing includes White Pine Group Program/

Meetings and Outings and other events of Sierra

interest. For questions about details or cancellations,

or to RSVP for an outing, CONTACT Newsletter

Editor, Dick Worm, (563-582-2580;

raworm@msn.com); or the outing CONTACT. Program/Meetings are held at the former parsonage

for St. Peter Lutheran Church, 3200 Asbury Rd.,

Dubuque. The walk-in, ground-level meeting room

is at the back of the home on the right when entering

the church parking lot. Meet/Greet at 7PM.

Program: 7:15. Adjourn business by 8:45 PM.

OUTINGS: Participants sign a liability waiver. ---------------------------------------------------------------

WINTER: Jan., Feb., March, 2018. .

January 20 (Sat.), “Bald Eagle Watch”, Grand River Center,

500 Bell St, Port of Dubuque; 9 AM – 4:30 PM.

White Pine Group will have (or had) a table aligned with

Keep Dubuque County Clean and Green and the Dubuque

Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency. Explore, Enjoy,

and Protect exhibit: Outings, Recycling, and danger of

trash to birds.

***Jan. 23 (Tues): White Pine Program/Meeting.

Program: “Canoe Trip down the Maquoketa River,

Backbone to US 52, May 15-25, 2009.” Camping along the

way at Wildlife and County parks, and on sand bars. Picked up

and portaged trash! Project AWARE 2018, Maquoketa River

& sponsorship described. EXCOM election/appointments.

(3200 Asbury Road, parsonage back door.) 7 PM.

January 27 (Sat): Swiss Valley Nature Center, 7 PM.

“Candlelit Night Hike.” Wonders of winter nighttime on a

naturalist led hike lit by moonlight and candles. If want to

rent a pair of snowshoes for $3, call ahead. 563-556-6745.

February 16-18 (Fri-Sun): “Backbone State

Park Cabin Outing.” 4 PM Fri. to Noon Sun. White Pine Group: Cabin A (Owl Nest). Full-kitchen,

bathroom, shower, 2 bedrooms, listed capacity of 7.

Share indoor and outdoor activity and a Sat. evening

potluck dinner with Cedar-Wapsie Group based in

Cedar Rapids. Snow shoe, x-country ski, hike, crevice

slide, table games and socializing camaraderie.

Treks can begin from the cabins near the lake and

carpooling take us to more remote access points. Cabin

A overnight accommodations include 2 bedrooms, each

with a double bed; one fold down futon, and floor space

in the large living room area (and porch!) Each private

bedroom for 2, preferably, is $25 @:1 night; $40 @

for 2 nights. The cost for open area usage (futon, floor,

porch) is $20/person for one night; $30/person for 2

nights. First reserved/first served is the reservation

policy for accommodations. A Saturday, day-use fee

of $5/person is charged for non-overnighters. Meet at

Cabin A by 8:30 AM to enjoy a day-outing! RSVP

helpful. (Cabin A rental is $184.50.) Other cabins

MAY be available: Reservations (877-427-2757) or

later by concessionaire booking (563-933-2273).

Overnight participants provide their own towels,

toiletries, bedding/sleeping bag, and mattress pad/cot

for floor space. Hand sanitizer & soap, hand towels, and

a night-light will be provided in the bathroom, but a

head-lamp or flashlight is helpful. Soup Friday night

will be available along with snack contributions by

participants. Meals (Sat/Sun breakfasts & lunches can

be partially potluck with sharing) and beverages are of

personal provision. Saturday night’s potluck will

most likely be in Cedar Wapsie’s more spacious,

Deluxe, 2-story Cabin 11, a lot further past Cabin A and

after curving to the right past Cabins 9 and 10. The

potluck encourages provision of a main course item,

salad, or dessert. (2 pudding pies WILL be there.)

Pistachio strawberry/blueberry Crevice slide

Cookware, silverware, plates, bowls, small cups,

kitchen sink washing/drying supplies, and additional

potluck tables and chairs will be available. A personal

mug/cup is recommended. Slippers or house shoes are

suggested for use after leaving boots on rugs by the

front door. Only the South Gate into the park is

open in the winter (via Dundee), and via which the

cabins are accessed after a quick right turn to go

past the beach. CONTACT (raworm@msn.com).

Home: 563-582-2580; Cell: 563-590-2557. A park

map and directions can be provided.

2018 White Pine Calendar (Cont.) (p. 4) Backbone Cabin Outing (Cont.)

Cabin A, Owl’s Nest Lake from Porch Kitchen/Dining

Living Rm/Futon Potluck Dining/Game Table

Potluck Pots Scenes: 2016/2017 Porch Tenting!

.

***Feb. 27 (Tues): White Pine Program/Meeting.

Program: “The Watershed Game.” Developed by MN Sea

Grant & MN Land-Grant Extension, Univ. MN, the large

Board game uses role-playing to increase awareness of how

land use practices and natural events impact water quality and

ways individuals and communities can implement management

strategies to mitigate the negative impact of nutrient pollution

and sediment (Tamara Prenosil).

7 PM meet and greet, 7:15 Program. 3200 Asbury Rd.

March 9-11 (Fri-Sun): “Canoecopia”, Alliant Energy

Center, Madison, WI. (1919 Alliant Energy Center Way,

Madison, WI 53713.) GREAT exhibits, programs, &

paddlesport vendors. Many outfitters and organizations.

Fri. 4-9; Sat. 9-6; Sun. 10-5. $15/day; $25 weekend.

Parking $7/day. Logistics: I got a wristband for just

Friday for $13. I will probably leave by 1 PM if anyone

would care to ride along. The parking is expensive!!

CONTACT: Dick: 563-582-2580; 563-590-2557.

www.canoecopia.com or google “Canoecopia 2018”.

Maquoketa River sand bar blockage, trash portage 5/09 ^

March 17 (Sat) OUTING: White Pine Hollow.

Meet to carpool from Dubuque at Menard’s Parking

Lot, just inside the entrance from US 20 west of

Dubuque, 9 AM. OR, meet at the south entrance via

White Pine Lane, 2 miles west of Luxemburg off IA

Rt. 3 at 10 AM. Bring a lunch and beverage. High

topped boots will aid potential stream crossings. If

SNOWY, dress accordingly (snowshoes?) or check

for possible cancellation. (Prior to the parking area,

there is a steep north-facing descent on the lane,

which could be walked.) PLAN is to explore a cave

entrance and reach a cascade area before possibly

exploring the main valley. We will PLAN to exit by

2-3 PM. CONTACT: Dick Worm. 563-582-2580.

Cell: 563-590-2557. An RSVP helps with

expected participation. raworm@msn.com .

An OUTING at White Pine Hollow, for which our

Group in named, has become a nearly annual trek.

March 20: First Day of Spring.

April, May, June ***March 28 (Tues): White Pine Program/Meeting, Program: “Cuba Multisport Tour” Cubunbound. 7 days.

Alaine and Bill Jamison. “This carefully designed tour

blends peaceful countryside excursions with

authentic cultural encounters as you bike, kayak,

and hike through Cuba.” Visit colonial Havana,

the Bay of Pigs, Trinidad, and Santa Clara. Colonial

plazas and palaces, in a staggering array of disrepair

and renovation, tell stories of a colonial past still

merged with the dynamic present.

7 PM, 3200 Asbury Rd., to right near back of the

church parking lot to back door of adjoining house.

(Alaine usually brings treats at their programs!)

Find Havana, Trinidad, and Santa Clara on this map!

2018 CALENDAR OF EVENTS: (Page 5)

***Instead of for an April White Pine Meeting,

attendance is encouraged at some film during the

April 19-22 (Thurs –Sun) Julien Dubuque

International Film Festival. Julienfilmfest.com

Celebrate John Muir’s, 4/21 birthday and Earth Day, 4/22

with a bag of popcorn while appreciating a film that presents

an environmental or conservation message? Supporting an

independent film-maker’s documentary efforts would be in

step with John Muir’s declaration that “Pure science is a most

unmarketable commodity… Conspicuous, energetic, unmixed

materialism rules supreme in all classes.” (1869). Thursday’s

attendance to all films is, or has been, free due to the grace of

a Festival sponsor! Tickets or even an All-Access Pass can be

purchased on line or at the Julien Hotel as the Festival dates

approach. While a detailed program or Pocket Guide is not

yet available, there are usually a good variety of excellent

Documentary, Short Films in blocks, Feature, Kids/Family,

and International Films that have a significant environmental

theme. Simply googling Julien Dubuque International Film

Festival would be a good way to start. Read, watch, and

listen to the local media for details and inspiration!

April 21: John Muir Birthday

Born in Dunbar, Scotland where there is a Muir Home

museum and other features in his honor. A John Muir Way

(trail) extends across Scotland from Dunbar on the east coast

to the west coast where he boarded a ship to the United States.

Those attractions MAY be included in a British Isles program

that MAY develop as an option for the Turkey Dinner Fund-

raiser, November 3, 2018, at the Swiss Valley Nature Center,

Dubuque County. (Never too many fund raiser reminders!!)

*April 28 (Sat): OUTING at Bixby State Park, Edgewood.

Meet at Heritage Pond, just north of Dubuque off US

52/IA3 at 9 AM to carpool. OR, at Bixby Park via the sign in

Edgewood by 10 AM. CONTACT: Charlie Winterwood

(563-588-2783). Bring snacks or a lunch.

Edgewood sign Shelter Ice Cave Spring

Valley obstacle Valley Bridge to “Steamboat Rock”

*May 19 (Sat): Larry Troester Property and

Environs OUTING. Meet at Pearls in Bernard at 8

AM for breakfast, OR at 9 AM to car pool or otherwise

travel to the outing location. Wild flowers will be a

focus as well as the rugged terrain in the general area of

Lytle’s Creek Wildlife Area, I believe! Bernard is

located southwest of Dubuque. From US 151, turn onto

Twelve Mile Road, then on south on Y31 to Bernard.

CONTACT: Larry Troester, 563-451-4189, for

assured details!! (I may be off to the SHTA Hike Fest.)

***May 22 (Tues): White Pine Program/Meeting.

Program: “The 2017 Project AWARE on the Upper

Cedar River, July 10-14.”. This 15th Annual AWARE

began on the Minnesota border and ended near Nashua.

Jim Fahrion and Dick Worm, Project AWARE 12-year

veterans, will describe what it’s like to mess with debris

in Iowa’s rivers…and to attend evening programs along

the way. Catered meals are also a delight, usually!

(7 PM, 3200 Asbury Road, behind home at the right.)

*June 2 (Sat): National Trails Day Service Work at

Mines of Spain OUTING. Meet at EB Lyons

Interpretive Center at 8:30 AM. Scheduling conflicts

didn’t allow the usual Catfish Creek Clean-Up in late

April/early May so this outing will substitute for that.

The specific sort of work to be done is not yet

determined. Plan for most anything. CONTACT Dick

Worm to get onto a list of volunteers to be reached once

the nature of the project is determined. 563-582-2580.

June 9 or 16: We may be able to schedule a service

work project for a Dubuque County Park. Again,

CONTACT Needle Editor Dick Worm if you would be

willing and able to help with such a project on either of

those Saturdays. Volunteers would be contacted if such

a service work project develops. 563-582-2580. In any

case, enjoy the remaining days of Spring.

June 23 (Sat): Summer Solstice Night Hike and Bon

Fire OUTING at Dick and Jane Worm’s Echo

Valley Pond / Faraway Farm. The waxing Gibbous

Moon should help light the trails for strolling along the

Mississippi River Bluff, through the woodlands, and

around the prairie settings before a Bon Fire for

campfire treats either on the bluff or at the pond.

Overnight primitive camping on the bluff or at the

pond is also an option. Gather by 7:30 PM to begin the

evening’s hike, or come earlier to set-up a tent before

dark and/or for a swim or fishing. Gate will be open

all day. Insect repellant is always a good idea!! An

RSVP helps with participant expectation planning.

CONTACT: Dick Worm (563) 582-2580 or 590-2557.

2018 Calendar of Events (Cont.) (Page 6)

. July, August, September, 2018

July 9-13: The 16th Annual Project AWARE 2018.

Maquoketa River….Delaware, Jones, and Jackson Counties.

See page 3. For participation details or just to get insight

into the workings of a Project AWARE, CONTACT,

Dick Worm 563-582-2580; and/or Jim Fahrion 563-556-2878

raworrm@msn.com; jlfahrion@gmail.com.

And/or go to WWW.IOWADNR.GOV/AWARE

Scenes from the 2017 Upper Cedar, Project AWARE:

August 6-19 or 20: A LOCO Folks Colorado Trip Offer:

Aug. 8: Creede Repertory Theater productions

1:30 “9 - 5”; 7:30 “Barefoot in the Park”

Aug. 9: 1:30 “The Wizard of Oz.” Drive 180 miles to

Belford, Oxford, Missouri 14’ers Trailhead

Aug.10: Backpack from 9,640 ft; Camp: 11,600-12,400 ft.

Aug. 11-12: Climb Belford/Oxford and Missouri 14’ers.

Aug. 13: Backpack over Elkhead Pass 13,220 ft; Camp

by Pine Creek near Bedrock Falls at 11,200 ft.

Aug. 14: Climb 14’ers Mt Harvard & maybe Mt. Columbia

Aug. 15-16: Backtrack over Elkhead Pass to Missouri

Gulch Trailhead where the trek began.

Aug. 17: To Creede.. 7:30 “Guadalupe in the Guest Room”

Aug. 18-19: 1:30 “Miss Holmes” ! Drive back to Iowa.

CONTACT: Dick Worm 563-582-2580 raworm@msn.com.

August 26 (Sat): White Pine Group Autumn Planning Potluck/Cook-Out Picnic” at

Dick & Jane Worm’s Echo Valley Pond. Hiking

Mississippi River bluff, woodland, and prairie trails;

pond swims, canoeing, fishing; & camping are options.

Meet: 11:30 AM for noon picnic/bonfire/charcoal grill..

The Autumn Schedule is developed at this picnic.

Program & Outing suggestions are always welcome.

Down the hill from 3680 Echo Hills Dr., Bellevue, IA,

52031. Cross Cattle guard. Continue straight on down.

CONTACT: 563-582-2580 or 563-590-2557.

SEPTEMBER: ALL members will receive an

Autumn Update Needle, Volume 38, No. 2. Sept. 25: Program/Meeting: Program TBA.

Sept. 27 – Oct. 7. Kekekabic Trail from west end,

again. If at first you do not succeed, try, try again!

Another LOCO Folks Trip offer:

9/27: Drive to Ely MN, Camp at NF campground.

9/28: Pick up Permit needed for Sept. 28-30. CANOE

past Burnt Island in Snowbank Lake to Wilderness Bay

portage to Parent Lake. Canoe across Parent Lake to

“Peninsula” campsite on the Snowbank Lake Trail.

9/29: Backpack 0.3 miles to the Kekekabic Trail then

west on the Kek 6.3 miles past Drum Lake to camp at

either Moiyaka or Medas Lake: U.S. quietest campsites.

9/30: BP 7.8 mi. past rapids of the Thomas River on an

obscure trail with no decent water. Camp at Strup Lake.

10/1: BP 4.7 mi. to Harness Lake Camp past a spur

trail down to Kekekabic Lake. If time and conditions

are okay, do that 1.2 mi. round trip spur, as a day-hike.

10/2: Day-Hike 4.2 mi. to Agamok River gorge

(reached from the east in 2016) past greenstone Twin

Peaks and over the highest point on the Kek (1950 ft.)

that has one of the best overlooks. Return to camp after

an 8.4 mile round trip.

10/3: BP the 4.7 miles back to Harness Lake. If had not

done the 1.2 round trip spur to Kekekabic Lake, try it

this time making this a 5.4 mile day.

10/4: BP the now familiar 7.8 miles back to camp at

maybe the other of the Moiyaka/Medas Lake quiet duo.

10/5: BP the 6.6 miles back to the Parent Lake Camp.

Retrieve the stashed canoe and bear canister of food.

10/6: Canoe, portage and canoe back to the Snowbank

Lake Canoe Landing. NF Campground may now be

closed. Maybe do a motel a stay in Ely. Or, depending

on time of day (determined by the nature of the portage)

just might drive all the way home…..

10/7: But, driving home today would be more logical!

Well, THAT’S the PLAN. But, last year’s was

nearly the same and that didn’t work due to a wrong

turn at an early junction & major downfall of trees on

that spur. Kek itself seemed better cleared. Que Sera.

White Pine Needle 2018 Calendar p. 7

OLD GUY WHO LIKES TO GET HIGH

The October 6, 2017, Dubuque Telegraph Herald article posted in the

column to the right started out with, I believe, an intention by the writer to

describe ways by which the White Pine Group has made environmental

contributions to NE Iowa. As the interview progressed, he seemed to

conclude, due to a lack of much active, leadership involvement by our

members, that our project of distributing the welcoming turtle statues to

Nature Centers around northeast Iowa and some monetary contributions to

other projects in the area might not be enough of a story. As I described our

Group outings and then the national club’s outing programs, my

involvement as a leader of national outings for 9 summers, and my other

adventures such as backpacking the John Muir Trail in California, his

questioning turned more toward those sorts of experiences. So, in spite of

his having taken some photos of me beside the turtle statue that Jane and I

purchased for our Benglari Center down the hill, the direction of the article

morphed into what was eventually printed.

A photographer contacted me for a photo session at the Mines of Spain

and the writer did a couple more follow-up interviews by phone. This all

took place not long before our 2017 Turkey Dinner Fundraiser, so I was

happy to see that the article gave the Dinner some coverage along with

general commentary about our Group and how the Club’s membership has

climbed since the last presidential election (a climb which for our White

Pine Group, anyway, sad to say, has seen a DECLINE over the past couple

of months). The writer had also connected with our Group Chair, Charlie

Winterwood, for some of that input. I have enlarged that part of the article

for easier reading here.

As I replied to a friend’s email in which he graciously referred to the

“Nice article in today’s TH of (my) hiking adventures,” I mentioned to him

how the direction of that article had taken “a different twist.” Which, of

course, led me off onto a discussion of the “different twist” direction that

my just completed Kekekabic Trail adventure had taken.

THE KEKEKABIC TRAIL TWIST

“My Kekekabic Trail assault this past week also took “a different twist”

which in retrospect was, very likely, a GOOD happenstance due to morning

rain delays, high water beaver dam overflows, and tougher than expected

trail conditions due to up-rooted downfall and broken off tree-tops. I had

managed to misinterpret a trail junction on my very first day, so when

somewhat befuddled after that and another swampy foray on a dead-end,

flagged route, I had created my own campsite that first night in what turned

out to be “slimy slug city” next to a beave pond.

“Then, by the end of the shortened, still “off-track” second day, I was

already a full day behind on what by then was recognized as the intended

route. Due to the nature of this “off-route” spur trail that I had struggled

through Ninja Warrior style with a full backpack that second day, ending

up, thankfully, at an unexpected, very nice, lake-shore campsite, I simply

hunkered down there for five nights and spent what averaged out to be two

full days clearing trail on that 0.3 mile spur trail. Due to thinking of such a

possible case in advance, I was able to use a bigger folding saw than the

Army Swiss knife saw I had used and broken off the previous year.

“I also did a couple of exploratory hikes that I thoroughly enjoyed. One

had me climbing up and along a bluff near camp. The other was “joyful”

due to having already done so much small limb and slash debris removal

from the 63 trees that had fallen across the spur trail. (8 were then duck or

crawl under logs; 55 were step, straddle or climb over logs.) That hike let

me explore further along the better cleared, actual, Kekekabic Trail and to

another less obstructed spur trail campsite (which I NOW plan to reach by

canoe for another assault on the Kekekabic Trail this coming Fall.)

“Then, via my better cleared spur trail, I retraced the beaver dam and

stream crossing, 6-mile route, now with higher water levels due to a full

night of rain, back to the Trailhead at 3:15 PM a day early. Ever Onward!”

EXCOM ELECTION BALLOT: Vote NOW for 2. Send to Jane Worm,

3680 Echo Hills Dr., Bellevue, IA 52031 by January 30 (postmarked by

Jan. 27) or bring the ballot to the Jan. 23 White Pine Group meeting at 7

PM. Include your complete return address on the mailed envelope for

verification of Single or Joint membership. Use or copy this form OR just

mail no more than 2 printed names. Each Joint membership has two votes.

Print Write-ins. Sierra Club requires grassroots elections, rare among

national conservation groups. NE Iowa could use more enviro activists. ___ ___: Dave Hanson. Rural Masonville. Backbone Cabin Outing

enthusiast who also pretty regularly attends other outings and EXCOM

meetings in Dubuque.

Write-in: _______________________ _________________________

Write-in: _______________________ _________________________

2017 Membership: *Total Adds: 242 Memberships / 278 members.

(White Pine Grp.) Total Drops: 172 Memberships / 200 members.

1/17/18 Total: 475 Memberships; 557 Members. Net +70 / +78 :-/

*Some Adds are Reinstated Drops who renewed. Thanks!

PLANET EARTH THANKS ALL LONG-TIME & CURRENT MEMBERS.

White Pine Group, N.E. Iowa Sierra Club

“The Needle” Newsletter Editor 2018 Needle

Richard Worm January - August

3680 Echo Hills Dr. Volume 38, #1

Bellevue, IA 52031-9557

2018 Calendar of Program/Meetings & Outings

2018 EXCOM Selection Opportunity

Backbone Cabin Outing, Feb. 16-18, 2018

2018 Fundraiser Dinner, Nov. 3, 2018. Swiss Valley

Mark Your 2018 Scheduling Calendar

EXPLORE ENJOY

PROTECT

White Pine Group, N.E. Iowa EXCOM (2017 *Expires)

Chair: Charlie Winterwood, 563-588-2783 cwinterwood@yahoo.com

Member/Newsletter: Dick Worm, 563-582-2580 raworm@msn.com

*Robert “Buck” Schultz, Dubuque, schultzx3@aol.com

*Dave Hansen: Masonville, dhansen187@gmail.com

Jim Fahrion, 563-556-2878 jlfahrion@gmail.com

Appointed:

Fundraiser/Sec: Jane Worm, 563-582-2580 jworm924@msn.com

Treasurer: Mike Muir

Conservation: Gretel Winterwood Publicity: (open)

Action: www.sierraclub.org/sierra-club-email/insider

AUTUMN OCT, NOV, DEC, 2018

Until receiving the Autumn Update, here are some

expected Autumn dates to save on your calendar now:

Nov. 3: Fundraiser Dinner. Volunteers Make It Work!

Program: TBA (Kekekabic or British Isles or…?)

Nov. 17: Waxing Quarter Moon night hike. TBA

Nov. 27: Program/Meeting. Program TBA

Dec. 22: “Welcome to Winter” Sunset Outing TBA

Occasional other Updates will be by email only.

Also, www.facebook.com/whitepinegroup will often

have updates, outing photos, & other event details.

For more general and political topics:

www.facebook.com/richardworm35

On the emailed, full-color, newsletter you can zoom

in to enlarge photos for better clarity and detail.

Serra Club Membership:

For a New Member brochure contact Dick Worm; or

membership brochures are in the SIERRA magazine; or

go to: www.sierraclub.org.

Membership renewal notices come from the national

headquarters. No $$ from national dues go to Local Groups.

Mailing labels on Sierra Club mailings include membership

expiration date reminders: 1018 (Oct., 2018) ;

On magazine labels: J/A18 = final issue July/August, 2018.

S = Single; J = Joint memberships.

“3707” is the Identification Code for our White Pine Group.

A “Wilderness Guardian” membership of at least $10/month

reduces the amount of the Sierra Club, $ seeking, junk mail.

Like us at: www.facebook.com/whitepinegroup

Your membership is vital to carrying out Sierra

Club goals…which are seriously challenged by the

current U.S. Congress & President. Jeepers!!