General Updates
Brad Retires and Jim Arrives
After an incredibly productive (as detailed in my skiing history book) and stressful 16 year tenure as Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park’s general manager, Brad McQuarrie and his wife Brenda are finally getting their much deserved time off. When last heard from they were living on a boat, heading north out of Portland. Jim van Loben Sells became the new GM in July with a new management team. Jim is also the owner of Arbor Crest Winery, but has gradually shifted management of the winery to others so he can devote full time to his other great love of skiing. Apparently, his new job happened suddenly and unexpectedly, but so far, he is loving it! He is also now an ex-officio member of the Friends Group and is excited to be formally working with it. Here’s a toast to the continued productivity of the Friends Group!
New Park Vehicle
After the park’s ATV and trail bike were stolen, staff received a brand new side-by-side this summer. It’s perfect for getting around on park trails and transporting tools, supplies, and even injured hikers, according to park aide Dana Tague. Dana and his wife Pam started as volunteer campground hosts 3 years ago and later became summer park aides. Last September they permanently moved to Arizona, and they will really be missed! This winter, tracks were purchased for the vehicle with the help of a Winter Rec. grant. According to Ranger Jerry, having a heated cab makes cutting trees on the Nordic trails way more comfortable!
Lodge Area Expansion Proposal
Lodge Area Expansion Proposal Last February, six years of planning for a new building to replace the Selkirk Lodge were wrapped up. After the total estimated cost of the construction, which included a new parking lot and horse camp, was revealed in November at $24,455,000, the project was deemed infeasible. The Friends Group had been involved in the planning process, but was only invited in after consultants had been hired, and initial plans for a new multi-story lodge at Junction 1, a 30-station biathlon range on Brian’s Hill, a parking lot on the Linder Ridge Road, and 5K of 9m wide racing trails had been made. Once the initial plan was rejected, Brian Patnode, the new parks planner assigned to the project after Richard Brown, led a stakeholders group through a needs assessment process culminating in the above mentioned infeasible proposal. Then, 16 days after the final stakeholder’s meeting, the Friends Group submitted an alternative plan, to be accomplished in separate stages that we believe better fits the need. The first stage would be to build the additional parking lot and horse camp as previously envisioned. The second stage is to build a 30’ X 40’ addition onto the west end of the Selkirk Lodge for more event space and then a new equipment storage garage behind the lodge. The third stage would include another, twostory addition onto the east end for expanded restrooms, a rental concession, ski patrol, and storage. Finally, a heated race timing shack would be built up near the present learning area, which would be expanded for race starts and finishes.
After receiving the proposal, Brian divided it into a scoping phase for 2021-23 that would reassess the needs and the potential for expanding the lodge to meet them, and a construction phase for 2023-25. He requested about $5M in the capital budget, but it did not make it into the governor’s budget, so the project is at a standstill. Brian did however, recently express interest in working with the Friends Group and other volunteers to add more architectural and construction detail to the proposal to increase its chances of future funding.
Trail Plan to be Updated
State Parks has applied for a $200,000 RCO grant to update the park’s trail plan produced by the AC and FG in 2010. If the grant is approved, Parks plans to hire technical consultants for assistance. Whether approved or not, the FG is planning to spend the next year working on its own recommended revision.
New Directors
At this month’s annual meeting, Mary Ann Sullivan, Duane Crockett, Don Story, Carol Corbin, and Sean Harrington were newly elected to the FG Board. They are filling the positions vacated by Ray Downard, Phil Kramer, Steve Sparks, Shelley Tschida, and Cris Currie. Re-elected were Dean Meakin, George Momany, Holly Weiler, John Nelson, and Darrell Soyars as VP. They will join President Jeff Gibson, Treasurer Ken Carmichael, Secretary Mike Henneberry, Anita Boyden, and Chris Conley. The Board extends a hearty welcome to its new members and sincere thanks for the many hours of service donated by those who are leaving.