I had the chance to fish for a little bit while east of the mountains — so I hit the Yakima River in Cle Elum.
Even with flows are 2,400 cfs, the river seemed high and there wasn’t much slack water for fish to hold in.
I did find one spot and had a couple trout bump my fly, but I couldn’t hook them.
I talked to a couple of guides who were taking their craft out at the west end of town and they said the fishing was a little slower than it has been
…Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is holding free interpretive programs on Saturdays and Sundays through the end of September.
The programs include presentations on the plants and birds that inhabit the refuge, as well as other that ook at the refuge’s human history. There also will beprograms on nature and wildlife photography.
The guided walks depart from the visitor center flag pole, and talks will be held in the center’s auditorium. There is no charge for programs, but $3 per family refuge entrance fee still applies. The programs usually last one to two hours. There will be no program
…Several construction and repair projects along Olympic National Park roads will improve visitor access and safety. But while the work is being done, visitors should expect some delays and temporary closures.
Here is the news release the park just sent out:
…"These road repair projects are needed to maintain safe access to the park," said Olympic National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin. "We recognize that the timing of these projects may present an inconvenience to our visitors, but these projects can only be successfully completed during the warm, dry months of summer."
Hoh Rain Forest
The paved
I spent a little time with Ken Campbell from Azimuth Expeditions at Owen Beach the other day. He had a few Stand Up Paddle boards down there and was letting people try them out. Looked like a blast!
Joe
State Department of Transportation crews are working this week to clear a large landslide that has shut off access to Mowich Lake in Mount Rainier National Park.
The slide is blocking Highway 165 from milepost 1.0 to 1.5, said a department spokeswoman.
She said the department hopes to have one lane of the road open by July 1.
UPDATE From North Cascades National Park:
…A missing hiker was found on Sunday afternoon in North Cascades National Park when he walked out of the backcountry under his own power after six nights in the Cascade Pass area of the park.
Mark Albrecht, a 22-year old resident of Everett, was reported missing on Thursday, June 18, when he did not return to work or check in with family.
National Park Service staff was notified late Friday that the missing hiker had planned to hike somewhere in the North Cascades range. NPS staff initiated a search and found
I was out of the office when the announcement was made Friday. Gov. Chris Gregoire has named David Jennings, Rollie Schmitten and Dr. Brad Smith to the Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Here is the news release:
…"I am pleased to welcome these exceptional members to the Fish and Wildlife Commission," Gregoire said. "I know each brings the specialized knowledge necessary to best protect our natural habitat and wildlife. I am also confident that these commissioners will work diligently to select the most qualified person to lead the department."
Jennings lives in Olympia and
The Lake Washington sockeye salmon counts at the Ballard Locks have started. The count began Friday. When I checked this morning, there were 1,332 sockeye counted as of Sunday (the most recent day’s count posted).
According to a state Department of Fish and Wildlife, the pre-season forecast for the 2009 sockeye return is about 19,300. That is well below the 350,000 fish needed before sport and Tribal fishing seasons will be opened.
Sockeye have been counted each year since 1972 as they enter freshwater at the locks. The count, now done by the Muckleshoot Tribe, runs from the
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