Kitsap Sun from Bremerton, Washington • 43

Page 3 Sunday ebruary 7 1993 Hike The Month They didn't name Mt Walker that for nothing MOUNTWALKER Highway 101 2370 ft Mount Walker Trail Mount Walker Road By Seabury Blair Jr Outdoors Writer equipment One of the advantages to this hike in heavy winters is that the trailhead is accessible almost any time Plows keep Highway 101 open at Walker Pass in any conditions the trailhead at 750 feet above sea level is usually snow free The road begins on the south picnic area on the north summit of 2 730 foot Mount Walker Look southwest to snowclad Mount Constance west to on the trail for a roundtrip hike of four miles and 4000 vertical feet or walk both directons on the road for an eight mile 4000 vertical foot hike OR THE KIDS Youngsters probably appreciate the view as much but they might enjoy trying to spot the Quilcene school you drove by on the way up rom the south summit they might i nave run trving to spot me Kingdome or the Hood Canal Bridge from the north summit perhaps they can see the smokestack at Port Townsend On those cold snowy weekends they might be able to sled or ski even on the lower sections of the road the road on the north side of the mountain will hold the white stuff weeks after big dumps of snow in the lowlands GOING ARTHER This walk is a day hike only although those who cany overnight gear and a stove might find no better sunset and sunrise in all of West Sound find an outhouse in the parking area at the north summit (2 stars on the Don Paulson Scale) which might make an excellent place to pitch the tent Carry water or melt snow if it is available Runoff creeks about a mile below the summit would be a good source for water provided it is boiled or filtered THE TRAIL 6 miles round trip Dayhike Elevation gain 1980 feet Allow 35 hours Motorized vehicles prohibited Cany water GETTING THERE Hikers from Bremerton and northern locations can take Highway 104 across Hood Canal Bridge to the Quilcene cutoff road ollow it to Quilcene and Highway 101 and take Highway 101 south to the top of Walker Pass Turn left onto the Walker Pass Road (orest Service 2730) and park to the side of the road The road is gated about 100 feet from the highway Hikers who live in the southern parts of West Sound might get to the trailhead by taking Highways 3 and 106 around Hood Canal to Potlatch then driving north on Highway 101 rom Bremerton the Dosewallips River bridge on Highway 101 is about equal distance driving north or south THE HIKE 00 Parking area 40 North summit Mount Walker 60 Parking area On a crisp winter day you beat the view from the Son graphic by John McCanfy walk to the summit A logging show is scheduled to get under way sometime this winter so if you hike on the weekdays Mount Townsend and north to watch out for trucks and Mount Baker and the wild British Columbia Coast Range Or walk the extra half mile over to the south summit where get views of Hood Canal Puget Sound and Mounts Rainier and Adams The Mount Walker Road 2730 is closed until spring so have a quiet and gentle four mile side of the mountain and spirals I all the way around the peak as it climbs Thus hikers walking up the road this month are likely to encounter snow on the north side of the mountain aboutthree miles up the road In warmer winters past the road and summit have been snow free throughout the winter Carry or wear your gaiters and if the summit is your goal likely be wading the last mile in about a foot of snow But the north summit is a sunny open spot and unless a blizzard find the picnic tablessnow free I On reaching the summit of Mount Walker follow the road to the left to the north summit where you will pick up the Mount Walker Trail 894 This trail returns you to the road about 400 feet above the parking area i The trail is steep with about 16 switchbacks back down to the road While you walked up the road gaining about 2000 feet in four miles you lose that 2000 feet down the trail in half that distance But one advantage to the trail is that it drops down the south side of Mount Walker That means that while the road on the north side of the mountain could have as much as a foot of snow on it the trail will probably be snow free If you want more exercise than get from the road and trail try walking both directions Illi I XXjI swm 'll i 1 'W 'x''' XX I a km Three new versions of short skis being introduced By Janet Nelson NY Times News Service This season short skis which have always had a faddish appeal because of their ease in turning and their adaptability for hot dogging are making a comeback Three new versions are being introduced at Eastern ski areas One model now in limited production is the Gauer 360 named for its inventor Richard Gauer and its ability to be used in making 360 degree maneuvers The skis are made of foam iiyected polyethylene are 80 centimeters (315 inches) long and are turned up at the tip and the tail They are thick and heavy weighing three and a half pounds about the same as traditional 195 centimeter skis and have metal edges In a test run I found them to be easy to manage and after a couple of runs I could ski backward do 360s and dance with a partner Because of the weight and metal edges I could also do regular skiing maneuvers and ski fast even though the skis have no sidecut or flex The Gauers have been in development and testing for about eight years and a few skiers who have become skilled on them formed the US Ski Dancing Association After watching a more accomplished couple dance together on them I asked in jest when their act would become an Olympic sport They said an application had already been sent to Olympic officials The Gauer 360s are available to test at the Campgaw ski area in Mahwah NJ and can be purchased by mail for $195 plus $100 for a Look L50 binding or more information call (201) 209 7669 Big oot skis by comparison are feather light but also much less stable than the Gauers They are 63 centimeters (25 inches) long made of fiberglass with a polyethylene core are wide at the tip and tail and come with a simple wire bail binding at the toe and a snap down spring at the heel of the boot The Big oots swiveled easily but were skittish on flat terrain and unstable on rough snow To stay balanced and stable on them a lot of edging is needed but it was easy to do because of their severe sidecut These edging arid balancing requirements make the Big oot ideal for teaching skiing according to Ron Shepard an instructor at Ski Windham NY use them as an aid for teaching high intermediates and even racers" he said a carryover to skiing because you need to find a balance point and they force you to learn to use the edges Because they are light to carry people have also taken the Big oot skis on orienteering treks using heavy mountaineering boots instead of ski boots The Big oots cost $179 and are available at ski shops or more information call (716) 632 7335 The third version SnowRunners are actually not skis but ski boots with smooth soles They are a bit more difficult to master Knees must be bent and weight must be kept well back the latter instruction contrary to everything you leant on traditional skis The knee part was easy the weight part was difficult and because balance is absolutely critical I fell forward as I slid down a chair lift ramp They are steered from the heels which is tricky but of course all that is needed in an emergency is to step to the side for security The funny part was walking or running across flat spots on the slopes The price is $24995 linformation (800) 752 8366.