Immortalizing Harvey Manning

Harvey Manning arguably did more for hikers in Washington than just about anyone. The kindly curmudgeon, who spoke up for trails and wild places in his 100 Hikes guidebook series, helped generate support for the creation of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and North Cascades National Park. He also helped publicize and protect Cougar Mountain and the Mountains to Sound Greenway in the Cascades foothills. When Harvey passed away in 2006, the Northwest lost a witty and tenacious advocate for wild country.

Harvey will get a little bit of immortalization, according to a recent Seattle Times article. The city of Issaquah and the Issaquah Alps Trails Club are working together to have an artist create a bronze statue of Harvey, to be put on display in Issaquah. The project will cost approximately $60,000 and the IATC reports that about 80 percent of the funds have been raised. "We've had some significant individual contributions," IATC president Doug Simpson told me recently, "including a five thousand dollar donation from an old schoolmate of Harvey's."

The two sculptors selected were Sara Johani and her husband Tom Jay, who live in Chimacum, WA. The IATC hopes to have the sculpture unveiled in May 2009 in time for the club's 30th anniversary.

Donations for the project can be sent to: Harvey Manning Statue; Issaquah Alps Trails Club; PO Box 351; Issaquah, WA 98027.

Photo by Larry Hanson.