Folksy Outdoor News

Outdoor reading

“Pack and Paddle,” the regional hiking and kayaking-canoeing magazine published by Ann Marshall and Lee McKee of Port Orchard, Wash., lacks the polish of the slickies like “Backpacker” and “Outside.” But that is part of its charm.

Outdoor legends come alive in P&P.

The October issue included a letter from a younger hiker who encountered Harvey Manning on the trail. Manning - for those of you who have lived on Mars for the last three decades - is the author of what must be several thousand trail guides and was the first edition editor of the mountaineering classic “Freedom of the Hills.”

What makes it interesting is that Manning wrote a reply where both his great sense of humor and cantankerous spirit is obvious. Well-known outdoors folk appear on P&P pages all the time, folks like Dee Molenaar of Port Orchard.

Then there’s the “Backcountry News” section, which always has delightful trail descriptions of walks you’ve done or plan to do someday.

As interesting and entertaining as the letters and trail reports are, P and P always seems to introduce issues outdoorsfolk are always arguing about. One ongoing issue is about the worth and usefulness of high-tech gadgets such as two-way radios or cellular phones in the wilderness.

The most recent letter in P and P is from a climber on Mount Rainier who says he could have used a cellular phone or radio to tell rangers NOT to mount a costly rescue operation. The climbers were in good health and not in trouble, but because they were overdue, a search was conducted.

Another issue frequently discussed is the proposed re-introduction of grizzly bears in the North Cascades.

Info: (360) 871-1862.