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Buzz - Newsbriefs - 11/05 |
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Cooper Spur Expansion Halted - For Now
Resort’s designation as Wilderness depends on Congress
Many Oregon residents are sleeping easier now that a longtime battle over the protection of Mount Hood’s northeast face has been settled.
Since the summer of 2001, concerned citizens have kept a watchful eye on Meadows North, LCC, an affiliate of Mount Hood Meadows Development Company, after the company purchased the 1,400-acre Cooper Spur Ski Area on the northeast side of Mount Hood. Intending to turn the family resort into a destination ski area, Meadows’ hoped to build an 18-hole golf course, four chair lifts and a base village complete with condominiums, hotels, restaurants, shops and an ice-skating rink.
A year later, in response to a controversial land trade between Mount Hood Meadows and Hood River County, area residents – supported by the Friends of Mount Hood, the Sierra Club and the Mazamas – formed the Hood River Valley Residents Committee (HRVR). In the contested swap, Meadows received 640 acres of land adjacent to the Inn at Cooper Spur and nearby federal forestland for just over $1 million – approximately $325 per acre of land plus sales from timber.
The HRVR filed a lawsuit against the two parties, claiming that the trade was illegal according to the Oregon Revised Statutes, which require that the land be exchanged for “equal value” and be in the “public interest.”
But in August – after 14 months of organized mediation – the groups came to a compromise. Meadows agreed not to pursue further development at Cooper Spur if they can instead build 480 housing units on U.S. Forest Service property near Government Camp – land that is already zoned for that purpose.
The HRCR has agreed not to contest Meadows’ Government Camp expansion, but wants to see the Cooper Spur Ski Area and adjacent lands on the north side of Mount Hood designated as a federal Wilderness Area. It’s now up to Congress to approve of the plan, including Meadows’ expansion at Government Camp.
In September, Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski urged Oregon’s congressional delegation to approve the agreement, which would protect the north side of Mount Hood from future development. The bill, however, has not yet been introduced in the House and most
likely won’t be until January of 2006, according to Dave Riley, general manager of Mount Hood Meadows.
For more information, see www.friendsofmounthood.org/cspur.htm and www.oregon.sierraclub.org. |
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Spare Bike Parts Get a Second Chance
Resource Revival, based in Portland, Ore., has teamed up with local cycling shops to turn unwanted bicycle chains, gears and wheels into useful products – saving store owners disposal costs and easing the burden on local landfills.
The company offers free pick-up of unwanted bike parts at bike shops in 10 western states, including Oregon and Washington. The parts then become recycled gifts and home furnishings, such as wine racks, clocks and picture frames.
Recycling expert Graham Bergh started the company after discovering that the average bike shop throws away about a 1,000 inner tubes a year. With over 7,000 bike shops in the U.S. alone, Resource Revival is his solution to the problem.
So don’t let your own old bike parts rust in your garage or in a landfill. Inquire at your local bike shop about donating to Resource Revival, and if they don’t already participate, encourage them to do so.
For more information, contact Resource Revival at (800) 866-8823 or visit
www.resourcerevival.com. See www.OutdoorsNW.com for participating bike shops. |
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Hit the Beach
By Scott Marlow
While die-hard outdoor enthusiasts pursue recreational opportunities despite the Northwest’s inclement weather, fair-weather athletes often seek indoor activities to satisfy their craving for exercise until spring returns.
This winter, Seattle residents can hit the beach without leaving the city thanks to North Beach Volleyball, the Northwest’s first and only indoor sand volleyball gym. Located at Seattle’s Warren G. Magnuson Park, the 5,800-square-foot facility will stage leagues, tournaments, clinics and drop-in sessions year-round.
Co-owners Willie Moneda and Dan Billharz teamed up in February, partnering with North Beach Volleyball, Canada’s largest indoor beach facility, to bring the growing sport to Seattle.
“Volleyball caters to a wide variety of fitness levels, and it is such a fun and social sport,” Billharz says.
In addition to organized leagues and events, the indoor beach courts are available for private practices and other rentals.
For more information on volleyball, visit www.SeattleVolleyball.net or www.sandboxsports.net.
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Reach for Higher Ground
Latest Warren Miller film is a seasonal right of passage
Legendary extreme-ski cinematographer, 80-year-old Warren Miller, will impress wide-eyed and powder-crazed fans once again with the release of his newest feature-length film, Higher Ground. See page 28 for a complete schedule of Northwest shows.
Year after year, ski bums from Portland, Maine to Portland, Ore., retire their flip-flops and greet the ski season with a healthy dose of Miller entertainment. They go for the complimentary lift tickets and other free schwag, to catch up with old ski buddies and for the chance to meet one of the movie’s many celebrities, but mostly – like loyal Rocky Horror Picture Show fans – they come for the show.
Higher Ground, as with past Miller films, features some of the world’s most talented and intrepid skiers and snowboarders. Audiences are swept away to steep, remote slopes in Alaska, Colorado, Switzerland, France and others.
The filmmaker, who lives on Orcas Island, Wash., has received numerous accolades for his films, has published many books and continues to write a syndicated column called “Warren’s World.”
To learn more about Warren Miller, see www.warrenmiller.com. |
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A player from Seattle Sockeye jumps to catch a disc during the Ultimate Players Association Regional Tournament, Oct. 1-2. Five teams from the Pacific NW will head to Sarasota, Fla.,Oct. 27-30 to compete for National titles: Whor$hak (Mixed - Portland), Schwa (Mixed - Seattle), Shazam (Mixed - Seattle), Riot (Women’s - Seattle), Sockeye (Open – Seattle) and Furious George (Open - B.C. Canada).
For more info see: http://club2005.upa.org/ |
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Ultra Woman
Local runner becomes youngest Grand Slam recipient
Some people think she’s a glutton for punishment, but Krissy Moehl Sybrowsky just simply loves a good, 100-mile run. This summer, the Ellensburg, Wash., resident and trail running guru put her mind and body to the test, completing not only one, but four of the country’s toughest 100-mile races – the Vermont 100, Western States 100, Leadville 100 and the Wasatch 100 – in three months.
In doing so, Sybrowsky, 27, became one of only 164 people – and the second fastest woman – to complete what is known as the ultrarunning Grand Slam.
“You really have to love running to do this,” she said. “You need to be able to get a second wind – and a third wind.”
The Bellingham, Wash., native was a member of the University of Washington’s track team but did not start running ultras (any race over 26.2 miles) until 2000, when she trained and won the Chuckanut 50k in Bellingham at the age of 22. In less than five years, she has become one of the country’s top female long-distance competitors.
This summer, Krissy completed all four Grand Slam races among the top five female finishers, and came in first place at the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run. She reached trails exceeding 12,000 feet during her quest for the finish line, running in the dark and carrying only water, energy gels and bars – oh, and the occasional avocado.
What’s next for Sybrowsky? “I’m recovering from physical and mental burnout,” she said. Right now, her knees can’t take more than an hour of running, so she’s biking more and taking short runs with her new Australian Shepherd – so that they are both ready for next spring’s ultrarunning season.
Krissy lives in Ellensburg with her husband Brandon, who is also an ultrarunner.
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