Recollecting Washington’s landscapes
Tim Steury’s article “Mountains and Rivers and Prairies Without End—Recollecting Washington’s Landscapes” is a great read for this student of all he writes about.
But the narration also brought back fond memories of places and people significant to me. As a WSC freshman in 1956 I hitched a ride with Ed Claplanhoo, who was a senior at that time, from our farm near Port Ludlow back to Pullman after the between semester’s break.
Then in 1988 my wife Louise (Morse), WSC ’59, and I took a class in anthropology of the North Cascades taught by Bob Mierendorf. To get to Stehekin, where Bob taught the class, we hiked over Cascade Pass and caught the bus to town at Cottonwood. Bob affirmed our knowing that removing people from wilderness is as ridiculous as removing bear, deer, or any other species that has been a significant part of the natural history of this landscape.
Washington State Magazine continues to be one of my favorite reads.
Richard Guthrie ’61 DVM
Thoroughly enjoyed Tim Steury’s article in the Spring 2014 edition of Washington State Magazine, “Mountains and Rivers and Prairies Without End.” I was wondering if the article was available online. Seems like it would lend itself to an ever growing blog, where readers could input their own experiences. It may become a wonderful travelogue, giving endless possibilities for exploring the state.
I have some very fond memories of my own travels in the state. My family is from the Northwest, with my grandmother’s family moving to the Yakima valley around the beginning of the 20th century. Dad grew up in Grandview and graduated from WSU in ’39. He worked in Alaska during the war, and moved back to the DC area in ’48, but every 3–4 years we would drive back out to the NW to visit with his family, and my mom’s family in Idaho. Then I attended WSU ’64–’68, moved to the Navajo Reservation in the SW to use my education degree, and returned to the Renton area in ’80–’81. Since then I have been back to Washington a few times for brief visits with my family.
Reading your article has brought back many good thoughts of those times and travels, and I am sure other readers have had similar recollections. And I would guess more than one of us would be interested in contributing to a shared tale-telling time. I bet it could provide some very intriguing stories about some of the out of the way places, as well as the better known locations in this great state. Just a thought… .
Fred Danes ’68
Editor: The article is indeed online at wsm.wsu.edu where each issue can be found in its entirety along with additional material. We also have a place online where you can tell intriguing stories—Our Story, which chronicles WSU history, and myStory, where you can share personal experiences.
It is a shame that Prof. Andrefsky decided to discuss Marmes Rock Shelter (Spr. 2014 issue, pp. 24–25). This site was excavated by WSU personnel (I was there as the second season crew chief), but the research on the excavated collection was never carried out. Stored at WSU, the collection deteriorated over the years to that point that most of it (records and artifacts) have disappeared. At this point, there is nothing about Marmes for anyone to be proud of. WSU dropped the ball on that one—big time. Why bring it up?
Roger Nance ’66 MA
Editor’s note: We checked with Bill Andrefsky and the WSU Museum of Anthropology and have learned that yes, the immediate follow up to the Marmes excavations was problematic. But in 1995, the Army Corps of Engineers financed a rehabilitation of the collection and located and catalogued 14,826 individual artifacts, project records, and many floral and faunal remains. In the ensuing years, several studies of the collection have resulted in significant publications, says Mary Collins, who recently retired as the museum’s director. Andrefsky, whose tenure at WSU started in the 1990s, long after the Marmes excavation, notes that anthropologist Brent Hicks, working for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, has edited a complete overview of the collection which is available through WSU Press.
Road trips
Having retired in southern Arizona, I am going to frame the Spring 2014 cover as a great reminder of the many road trips I have taken over the years by myself or with family and friends. Enjoyed the last article about the hills of WSU. Brought to mind the somewhat clandestine use of cafeteria trays to slide down the SE Nevada Street hill from Waller Hall to the dorm complex.
Irene Tichelaar Silverman ’68
Thank you, Tim Steury
A very sincere thank you to [former] editor Tim Steury for his relentless commitment to telling the compelling stories of WSU and residents of our state. I have long appreciated the subject and focus of his articles and issue themes. Of course I have my favorites, but Tim has brought many important stories to light during his career and has made the Washington State Magazine something to savor and share. Thank you for so much Tim, and I hope you find a way to keep telling your stories.
Anne Schwartz ’78
Covered old ground
I read with relish “A True Story Fraught with Peril” in the Spring 2014 issue of Washington State Magazine. Although it was fascinating, the article unfortunately covered little new ground for me.
The final class I took for my DDP bachelor’s degree in humanities was Geology 210, in spring 2010. I’d been dreading taking a science class, so antithetical to my concentrations in English and history. However, as I researched what lies beneath Walla Walla Valley and the rest of the Columbia Plateau I found the class to be a revelation. I learned a vast amount about the Missoula Floods, the various basalt flows and the original land that lurks beneath these.
Thanks for the enjoyable refresher course.
Brenden Koch ’10
Kudos
My husband and I want to thank you for putting out such a wonderful magazine. Your articles are high quality and keep us informed on what is happening around our state. Your articles cover a wide range of topics and keep us up-to-date on the latest research. I recently was surveyed and a lot of the questions dealt with my knowledge of agriculture in our state. The surveyor was surprised at how much I knew!
Our whole family enjoys reading this magazine.
Keep up the good work!
Elaine ’88 & Dale ’87 Kvamme
Walked a little taller
I was saddened to learn of Dr. Terrell’s passing. I have a fond memory of him to share with you.
During my freshman year (1981), I was walking along the mall near Todd Hall. It was early morning, overcast, drizzling, and nobody was out except for one man walking toward me. As he came closer, I recognized him…Holy smokes, it’s the President! What is he doing out here this early?
Much to my surprise he walked straight up to me and said “good morning!” We introduced ourselves, had a brief chat, then continued on our way. Three years later in almost the exact same situation … Early morning, drizzling, few people around … Here comes Dr. Terrell. Once again, he walks straight for me, but this time he says “good morning Wes, how are you?” How on Earth did he remember my name? I was stunned. There are thousands of students at this school, we met only that once for a matter of seconds and he remembered me! Who does that? I walked a little taller that day and I will never forget Dr. Terrell.
Wes Wilkerson ’85
Correction
The story “Dose of Reason” (Spring 2014) should have noted that a series of three shots of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine could prevent 70 percent (not 90 percent) of all cervical cancer. A newer version, which is in the licensing process with the Food and Drug Administration, will prevent 90 percent.
@WSUDiscovery
Richard Daugherty dies at 91; archaeologist studied Makah tribe site http://fw.to/AAGeFNh via @latimes
A viscous goo promises to solve that pesky burning-battery problem we keep hearing about. http://ow.ly/tmoeH via @Gizmodo
Nothing says unwieldy quite like a grizzly bear in an MRI machine. http://ow.ly/sHGaj
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