ROSENDO GUERRERO
About: Guerrero formed Sportsmen for the Preservation of our Rivers and Streams, a group that led cleanup efforts on the Puyallup, Skykomish and Skagit rivers. Plans to clean along the Cowlitz River were thwarted by river flows that were too high.
What he did: His effort resulted in more than 80 volunteers showing up Oct. 3, and in four hours, removing more than a ton of trash, debris and litter from the banks of the Puyallup River.
What’s next: Guerrero has a full slate of cleanups planned. He said plans for the Puyallup cleanup in 2010 will include spots in Sumner and Orting. He also is talking with the Puyallup Watershed Council that wants to do a cleanup every quarter.
But his efforts won’t stop there. He recently joined Tacoma chapter of Trout Unlimited. They are working with People for Puget Sound and Citizens for a Healthy Bay to get high school students to consider the environment as a topic for their senior project. “We want to get the kids involved in their community and their environment,” he said.
“It really has been overwhelming,” Guerrero said of the response. “Just seeing those kids out there (on the Skykomish) puts a warm feeling in your heart. These kids cared enough to come out on a Saturday when it was pouring down rain made it all worthwhile.”
Jeffrey P. Mayor, The News Tribune
PHIL ANDERSON
Who: Director of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
About: Anderson, 59, a former Westport charter boat skipper, sportfishing advocate and expert in the annual mix of politics, biology and economics that drives the Northwest’s salmon fishing season process, joined the department in 1994. Anderson worked his way up to assistant director of the department and became interim director when Dr. Jeff Koenings resigned in December 2008.
What he did in 2009: Anderson guided Fish and Wildlife through delicate budget negotiations with the Legislature and Gov. Chris Gregoire. Anderson proposed some fee increases for anglers and hunters to raise money and avoid even deeper staff and program cuts.
The state general fund allocation for Fish and Wildlife was cut from $110 million to $ 81 million for the 2009-2011 budget. Fish and Wildlife lost 163 positions.
Anderson says services were cut, but the agency is positioned to protect fish and wildlife, manage fishing and hunting seasons and participate in salmon recovery efforts.
Anderson is gained a reputation as a open leader who keeps people informed — and vital people in the field.
“We’re trying to keep boots on the ground,” Anderson said.
What’s up in 2010: More budget struggles for state government means more budget negotiations for the department – and Anderson.
“We’re not done yet,” Anderson said of budget cuts. Anderson said hunters and anglers are, for the most part, accepting increases in license and user fees to keep Fish and Wildlife programs alive.
Chester Allen, The Olympian
ED BARNEY, FEDERAL WAY
About: Barney, a member of the Federal Way school board, had rheumatic fever as a child and a heart murmur until he was 13. His doctors didn’t clear him to run until he was in high school. He’s been running ever since.
This year: While 10,000 cyclists rode the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic in July, Barney, 55, was the only participant to run the route. He took four days to run 185 miles, averaging about 10 minutes per mile.
“The toughest part was jogging into Portland,” Barney said. “I just wanted to be done.”
Barney trained for the event by taking long runs several nights each week after work for two months before the STP.
“I’d come home and go on a three- or four-hour run and not think anything about it,” Barney said.
Barney’s motivation for the run was to raise money for the Federal Way elementary track program. The track season costs the district $16,000. Barney’s run raised about $3,500.
What’s next: “I felt lousy when it was over, and I thought I’d never do it again,” Barney said.
“But a few months ago, I looked at pictures from the run and I thought I could do it again.” So, next summer Barney will run again for the same cause. This time he plans to run 140 miles in four days from Blaine to Federal Way.
Craig Hill, The News Tribune
ELIZABETH LUNNEY
Who: Executive director of the Washington Trails Association, a trails advocacy group.
This year: She announced earlier in 2009 plans to step down, after leading the group since 1998.
“It’s exclusively a personal decision. Leading WTA has been a great experience,” Lunney said. “But I have a 2-year-old son motivating me to rechannel my life’s priorities.”
What they did: Among the WTA’s accomplishments while Lunney was the helm include doubling membership to 8,000 people; doubling the number of hours volunteered for trail maintenance projects, valued at more than $1 million a year; and establishing a youth program that has introduced 500 young volunteers a year to hiking and trail maintenance.
Looking back at her time with the group, Lunney said, “I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to work with people like (trail advocate) Ira Spring and Greg Ball (who started the group’s volunteer trail maintenance program). It’s a little sad that people coming into the organization today don’t have the opportunity to get to know those two.”
She also said she was pleased to see the group grow while staying true to its volunteer roots.
But there is work that remains undone, such as working to get the State Legislature to fully fund the Department of Natural Resources’ recreation program.
Lunney said she will most remember seeing volunteers working on trails, seeing people out hiking.
“Being able to live and breathe that for 10 years has been fabulous.”
What’s next: Lunney will continue to work with the WTA until a new director is hired, something she does not expect to happen until January or February. But even after the transition, Lunney said she plans to don her hard hat and help out on trail projects.
Jeffrey P. Mayor, The News Tribune
RAINIER-BASED CLIMBERS
It seems like every year climbers who hone their craft on Mount Rainier make news around the world. This year was no exception.
Once again local climbing guides made history – or at least reenacted it – on the other side of the world and climbing rangers won a prestigious award.
Here’s a look at some of the highlights:
Dave Hahn: Hahn has spent more time on top of the world than any non-sherpa. The Ashford-based guide extended his record for most climbs to the summit of 29,035-foot Mount Everest to 11. Hahn has guided for Rainier Mountaineering Inc. since 1986 and has also guided on Everest for Ashford’s International Mountain Guides. Hahn also holds the record for climbing Antarctica’s highest peak. He has summited Vinson Massif 25 times.
Ed Viesturs and Peter Whittaker: Viesturs, who lives on Bainbridge Island and guides for RMI, climbed Everest again in May with his friend Whittaker.
Viesturs reached the summit for the seventh time, second only to Hahn among local climbers. Whittaker, co-owner of RMI, was the second member of his famous climbing family to reach the summit of Everest. In 1963, his uncle, Jim Whittaker, was the first American to reach the top of Everest. RMI’s May expedition – it’s second on Everest – put nine climbers on the summit.
Additionally, IMG’s 2009 expedition put 30 climbers on the summit including guides Michael Hamill and Justin Merle and a film crew from the Discovery Channel. IMG has led 209 climbers up Everest since 1991.
Hahn (again) and the climbing rangers: We’re not done mentioning Hahn’s accomplishments for the year.
In May, Hahn and climbing ranger Chris Olson were finally honored by the U.S. Department of the Interior for their harrowing 2002 rescue on Mount Rainier. They survived a helicopter crash on the way to the scene, but pulled themselves from the wreckage and completed the rescue.
Hahn received the Citizen’s Award for Bravery and Olson received the Valor Award. The Valor Award is presented to Interior employees, and the Citizen’s Award is for private citizens who risk their lives to save other people. Hahn could not attend the ceremony because he was climbing Everest.
Mount Rainier National Park’s climbing program also was honored in 2009 with the Andrew Clark Hecht Public Safety Achievement Award. This is the park service’s highest honor for public safety. Climbing search and rescues decreased from 1.14 per 1,000 climbers from 1998-2005 to 0.49 from 2006-08. Fatalities have dropped from 0.18 per 1,000 climbers from ’98 to ’05 to none in the past three years.
The climbing rangers, guide services (RMI, IMG and Seattle’s Alpine Ascents), Mindy Roberts of the Tacoma Mountaineers and University of Wisconsin cartography student Sarah Ferrare were all cited in the honor.
Craig Hill, The News Tribune
