I took a few hours this afternoon to walk around the 2012 edition of the Washington Sportsmen’s Show.

Here are four things that caught my attention as I wandered among outfitter booths, demonstration tanks and manufacturer displays.

Get involved: Even as you look for a deal on a hunt or fishing rod, you can help out. A number of groups are on hand that do good work and could use your financial support. Among them is Outdoors For All, a group that takes special needs children on hunting trips. In their second year, the group is taking five kids on …

Read more »

State Parks will hold an informational meeting Thursday to discuss the plan to remove diseased trees at Kopachuck State Park. The plan includes the removal of trees diseased with laminated root rot and the sale of timber not usable by the park.

The park’s campground has been closed since May 23 when park staffers became concerned about the health of the trees towering over many of the park’s 41 individual campsites After studying the trees in the park, an arbor crew from the state Department of Natural Resources found that about 80 percent of the Douglas firs were affected by …

Read more »

From the Washington Department of Natural Resources:

Washington State Parks and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announce changes in requirements to visiting winter recreation areas in Washington state. The changes affect whether a Sno-Park permit or a Discover Pass will be required to access state-managed winter recreation areas and Sno-Parks.

 

Visitors who have a current seasonal Sno-Park permit will not need to purchase a Discover Pass to visit a designated Sno-Park area between November 1 and March 31 for winter recreation activities. The seasonalSno-Park permit is $40. A one-day Sno-Park permit is $20. Some non-motorized Sno-Parks require a Special Groomed Trail sticker

…

Read more »

Gifford Pinchot National Forest officials just announced they have increased the fire warning level. The impact on the general public will be minimal, however.

Forest officials said the Industrial Fire Precaution Level has moved from Level I to Level II, increasing restrictions for work on the Forest.

The only effect on the general public is a restriction on the use of chainsaws. The new restriction means chainsaws may not be run from 1-8 p.m.

The Gifford Pinchot National Forest fire danger rating is now at moderate.

Camp fires should be completely extinguished before departing camp at any time. Keep a …

Read more »

The Washington Department of Natural Resources announced today the reopening Snow Cabin Campground in Ahtahum State Forest near Yakima. The DNR says the new Discover Pass is the reason for the reopening.

Here’s the statement from the DNR:

One month after the state launched the Discover Pass on July 1, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reopened Snow Cabin Campground in the Ahtanum State Forest. DNR closed the campground in 2009 after experiencing a nearly 50-percent cut to its recreation funding. The same year, DNR also closed or reduced services to about two dozen recreation facilities, trailheads, and

…

Read more »

Mowich Lake Road in the northwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park will open to the public on Friday.

In average snow years, the road would have been opened by the Fourth of July weekend.

This year, however, has been far from normal. Three to four feet of snow remain in the area, but the parking lot is clear and some picnic tables are melted out, said a park news release.

Forest Service Road 25, on the east side of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, is expected to open Thursday.

That will allow Forest Service crews to turn their attention to Road 99 that provides access to east-side monument attractions such Windy
Ridge, Meta Lake and Norway Pass Trailhead.

“In my 21 years on this Forest, this is the latest opening we’ve ever had,” Public Services Manager Ron Freeman said in a news release. “We are excited to finally get people into the Forest and Monument. Now if summer would just show, we’d really be happy.”

Late season …

Read more »

Despite the snow that continues to fall at higher elevations – they had 3 inches of new snow at Paradise Wednesday – Cougar Rock Campground at Mount Rainier National Park will open Friday at noon.

“There is still snow on the ground in the campground, so campers should be aware that while they may have a cleared spot to park their vehicle, they should expect to have to dig out their picnic tables and a space for tents in many of the sites,” said Chief Ranger Chuck Young.

Potable water, restrooms and other facilities are up and running, he added. …

Read more »