Trail Mix

Originally published Tuesday, March 26, 2002

Waterproof coastal charts available

OLYMPIA -- Just in time for boating season, more than 90 waterproof coastal charts with Global Positioning System waypoints noted are available from a Massachusetts company.

The charts from Maptech of Amesbury, Mass., cover both coasts, including Puget Sound waters.

The 6-by-12-inch "flip fold" charts can be used in any weather by sailboaters, fishing boats or sea kayakers.

The charts include boat launches; submerged wrecks and other sites for fishing and diving; fishing spots; and course and distance calculations.

For information, visit www.maptech.com or call 888-839-5551.

Books

Anyone planning an extended backpacking vacation might find this book helpful.

"Backpacking Washington," ($16.95, Wilderness Press) by Doug Lorain, is a guide to some of Washington's best backcountry trails.

It covers trips from three days to two weeks, including descriptions of scenery, popularity, difficulty, mileage, elevation gain, length of trail and shuttle distance. Lorain includes advice and tips, such as creek crossings, water availability, side trips and weather warnings.

The 256 pages cover 25 extended hikes -- maps included -- on the wild beaches of the Olympic Peninsula, the interior Pasayten Wilderness, Mount Rainier's Wonderland Trail, the volcanic landscape of Mount St. Helens and the lesser known Salmo-Priest Wilderness.

Outdoor events

- Bike ride: The Capital Bicycle Club will sponsor a 20- to 30-mile social ride, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday from Rochester. The ride heads north along the west side of the Black River to Littlerock and then south to Grand Mound. For directions to the start, call 360-273-8020.

- Book signing: Backpacking guidebook author Doug Lorain will make a slide presentation and sign copies of "Backpacking Washington" at 7 p.m. Friday at Orca Books in downtown Olympia. Lorain also will do a slide presentation at The Olympia Center for the Olympia Mountaineers at 6 p.m. Thursday.

- Birding: The Black Hills Audubon Society will sponsor a family program on birds' nests and eggs from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the Olympia Timberland Library and Thursday at the Lacey Timberland Library.

- Meeting: The Olympia Chapter of Trout Unlimited meets Wednesday. Liar's Drift starts at 6:30 p.m. followed at 7 by a social meeting in the Columbian Hall at 6794 Martin Way. The meeting will feature a presentation by Janet Schimpf of Montesano on fly tying and the most popular flies used locally.

Want your event listed on the Outdoors page? Call outdoors reporter N.S. Nokkentved at 754-5445.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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