A.A.C., Cascade Section. The Cascade Section had an active year in 1979. Our Activities Committee organized a slide show by the well- known British climber Chris Bonington with over 700 people attending. A scheduled slide and movie presentation by Austrian Peter Habeler unfortunately was cancelled at the last minute owing to his illness.
On-going activities during the spring included a continuation of the plan to replace old bolt belay and rappel anchors at Peshastin Pinnacles with new heavy-duty bolts. Peshastin Pinnacles is one of Washington’s best high-angle rock climbing areas and is used heavily in the spring and fall by climbers from the northwestern United States and Canada. Other spring activities included a pot-luck dinner and slides of the American Women’s Himalayan Expedition to Annapurna I by Joan Firey.
In November Steve Swenson presented slides of his ascents of the Aiguille du Triolet, Les Droites, and the Grandes Jorasses in the Alps. At the annual banquet on December 7 special recognition was given to section members Jim Henriot, Lynn Buchanan, Ruth Mendenhall, Howard Stansbury, and Sean Rice for their contributions of time and energy to Club endeavors. The new chairman, John Mendenhall, was introduced, and a program of slides of the alpine-style ascent of Nuptse in the Nepal Himalaya was presented by Georges Bettembourg, followed by the film, Free Climb. Over 90 members and guests were in attendance.
The Cascade Section Endowment Fund Committee succeeded in raising more than $5000 during 1979, to bring total donations to more than $12,000 with 42% of the members participating. The Cascade Section currently has 203 members, with many planning future climbs in Alaska, South America, and the Himalaya.
Clark Gerhardt, Chairman