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Saturday, March 29th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 07:06:34 pm
Ski season isn’t over yet, but the end is near. Crystal Mountain and Stevens Pass will shut down for the season April 13. White Pass and Alpental switch to weekends after April 13. White Pass will stay open on weekends for the rest of the month. Alpental plans to continue weekend operations until May 4. Summit West and Summit East are Closed. Mission Ridge closes Sunday. Mount Baker goes to weekend operations next week. Snow conditions are still good at Washington’s ski areas, but they say they must close for two reasons. First, they are required to write a closing date into their agreements with the National Forest Service. Second, it’s no longer profitable to stay open because skiers and snowboarders aren’t visiting as much. “It comes down to supply and demand,” said Gwyn Howat of Mount Baker. “There’s plenty of snow but mountain biking, gardening, golf, soccer, baseball and all those spring activities take business away.” Thursday, March 27th, 2008
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 04:49:22 pm
As expected, the Hoh River and the South Fork Hoh River on the Olympic Peninsula will close to all sport fishing April 3 to protect wild steelhead, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced this afternoon. The runs this year have not been as strong as they typically are. The closure will take place at 12:01 a.m. on April 3 and the rivers will not re-open through the remainder of the season. The Olympic National Park also will close portions of the two rivers that lie within the park’s boundary. The closure is needed to meet the wild steelhead spawning escapement goal of 2,400 fish, said Bill Freymond, the state’s regional fish manager. Fishing on the Hoh and South Fork Hoh rivers had been scheduled through April 15. Click here to read the state’s fishing regulations. Click here for information on other fishing opportunities within Olympic National Park.
Posted by Craig Hill @ 01:09:41 pm
If you want to sign up for the American Lung Association's Climb for Clean Air, it's time to do so. Here's a note I received today from Paul Payton of the ALA:
Posted by Craig Hill @ 07:57:18 am
Here is a look at how the laws related to carrying firearms read for the National Park Service and the state of Washington. Supporters of a push to change the park regulations want the rules to be consistent with the state where the park is located. Click here to read today's story about the debate on carrying guns at Mount Rainier National Park. The rules Washington State Constitution
Categories: Jeffrey P. Mayor, Mount Rainier
Wednesday, March 26th, 2008
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 04:46:53 pm
The Capitol State Forest campgrounds, trailheads and trails will reopen to the public beginning April 1, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources just announced. Capitol Forest recreation sites are open April 1 through Oct. 31 annually, providing recreational facilities and trails for many thousands of visitors. Campsites are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors are welcome to stay within the forest for seven days per year.
Categories: Jeffrey P. Mayor, Adventure Guys
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 04:00:22 pm
Our coverage starts on the front page tomorrow. I take a look at the debate on whether to allow people to carry firearms in national parks and how it relates to Mount Rainier National Park. I talked to local NRA members, park staff and hikers for the story. In Adventure, Craig Hill has a great package on places you can take your kids to introdce them to the outdoors. Maybe spring break will be a good time to give these a try. In my column I write about the need for more volunteers as our area's national parks and forests continue to repair damage wrought by storms in 2006 and 2007. Folks, our favorite places to play will need our help in 2008. Craig offers an update on news related to the 2010 Winter Olympic games coming to Vancouver, B.C. Click here to read Craig's 2010 Olympic blog. We also have a preview of the Tacoma Dome Boat show which opens Thursday. Tuesday, March 25th, 2008
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 10:10:41 am
There is now a continuous emission of ash from the new gas vent in Halema`uma`u Crater in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The top of the ash plume, which is currently being blown to the southwest of the crater, reaches from a half mile to one mile above ground level. The amount of lava erupted from the vent was small, but it represents the first lava erupted from anywhere in Halema`uma`u since 1982. Click here for a cool panoramic view of the crater. Sunday, March 23rd, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 08:27:44 am
In today's Soundlife section we caught up with Jordan Hanssen, a UPS grad who is currently pedaling across Australia. This guy - along with his ocean rowing buddies - is truly one of the most impressive gentlemen I've met in my four years covering Puget Sound adventure sports. Hanssen and three friends became the first Americans to row across the North Atlantic in 2006. Next he plans to row from New York to Nome with fellow UPS grad Greg Spooner. Here are some links for following Hanssen's adventures. - Hanssen's blog is loaded with good stories and good writing. He's managed to update it every day during his ride across Australia. Jordan's blog - Here's a link to Jordan's website - bikeperthtosydney.googlepages.com - and his facebook page. - Check out Hanssen's photos from across Australia. Hanssen pics - Look back at the historic row across the North Atlantic by Jordan, Greg Spooner, Dylan LeValley and Brad Vickers. Oarnorthwest.com - Check out Spooner and Hanssen's plans to row across Canada from New York to Nome. NY to Nome Thursday, March 20th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 05:19:53 pm
Help us determine the best ski area in the Northwest by voting for your favorite resort, lodge food, ski run and more. Click below to take the quick survey. Your favorites will featured in 2008-09 Ski preview sections in newspapers across the Northwest. Voters from around the region - Idaho, Washington, Oregon and B.C. - are participating so make sure your favorites are well represented.
Categories: Craig Hill, Skiing/Snowboarding
Wednesday, March 19th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 03:19:28 pm
UPDATE
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 02:02:50 pm
It’s going to be a busy spring in the state’s three major national parks. That was my impression after talking with the three superintendents after a meeting Monday in Seattle. Late this spring we can expect to see the draft environmental impact statement outlining options for the Carbon River Road at Mount Rainier National Park. Superintendent Dave Ubueruaga said it is unlikely any proposal would include rebuilding the road all the way to the Ipsut Creek Campground. Public meetings will be held to discuss the options and take public comment. At Olympic National Park, options for reopening the Dosewallips road should be released in mid April. Acting superintendent Sue McGill said she expects the announcement of a permanent superintendent to be made in May. And the park’s general management plan should be finalized by early summer. At North Cascades National Park, the staff is developing plans to celebrate the park’s 40th anniversary.
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 10:35:15 am
Fishing will be prohibited for a while Friday from Les Davis Pier as scuba divers will clean up the waters surrounding the pier. About 20 volunteers are expected to spend six hours removing everything from broken fishing line to trash. For the safety of the volunteer crew, no fishing will be allowed from the pier between 3-9 p.m. while the clean up is underway. Tuesday, March 18th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 11:53:05 pm
A statement from Mount Rainier on the missing hiker:
Categories: Hiking, Search and Rescue
Posted by Craig Hill @ 09:05:09 am
Just got an e-mail from David Ludwig, the Tacoma man who founded Hope on the Slopes, a 24-hour ski competition/American Cancer Society fundraiser. Here's what he says:
Monday, March 17th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 08:25:16 am
Just got word from the U.S. Ski Team that Phil Mahre's bid to qualify for U.S. Alpine Nationals this year has come up just short. Mahre of Yakima is 50-years-old and won a gold in the 1984 Olympic slalom. He started his comeback last season and impressed a lot of people despite coming up short of his goal. He turned down a special invitation to ski at nationals because he wanted to qualify on his own. Friday, March 14th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 03:11:01 pm
Today 42 athletes – some of whom even know how to ski – will race down one of Crystal Mountain’s steepest runs by parachute. RED BULL BLADE RAID  PHOTO BY JANET JENSEN, THE NEWS TRIBUNE Click on the photo to ski more of Jensen's pictures of this event.
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 01:18:50 pm
Two razor clam digs have been tentatively scheduled for morning tides April 6-9 and April 19-23. The digs will proceed if marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat. If approved, Twin Harbors will be open all nine days. Long Beach would be open April 6-8 and April 19-20. Copalis and Mocrocks would be open April 19-20. Kalaloch Beach is closed for the season. People plaing to take part in the April digs will need new licenses. March 31 marks the end of the current license year. A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Click here for a list of vendors. If you do need a new license, get it before you leave town. “Morning digs are very popular, and no one wants to be standing in line to buy a license at low tide,” said Dan Ayres, state coastal shellfish manager. For those going to Copalis and Mocrocks, another factor to consider is the likelihood of a traffic revision due to continuing work on the Simpson Avenue Bridge on eastbound U.S. 101 in Hoquiam. “This is the only route to those beaches, so people should allow extra travel time to make sure they don’t arrive late,” Ayres said. April 6, 7:23 a.m., -0.7 feet, Long Beach and Twin Harbors only Thursday, March 13th, 2008
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 03:22:41 pm
The final General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for Olympic National Park was released this afternoon. The release culminates nearly seven years of meetings, discussions and planning, said park superintendent Sue McGill. The Final GMP establishes a vision for managing the park for the next 15 to 20 years and aims to protect natural and cultural resources  Drew Perine/The News Tribune file A group of cross country skiers make their way along a ridge with the Olympic Mountains as a backdrop. Key points include: • Maintaining access to existing developed areas, park trails, campgrounds, and facilities. • Allowing for improvements to the downhill ski support facilities at Hurricane Ridge, but with no area expansion. • Seeking additional partnerships to help provide enhanced visitor access and enjoyment (e.g. alternative transit options, expanded interpretive and educational opportunities) and better protection of sensitive resources. • Boundary adjustments through willing selling purchases or land exchanges to incorporate sensitive resource areas within the park. • Continued protection of wilderness resources and cultural resources within wilderness. The Final GMP is a massive 950-page document contained in two volumes. Volume 1 includes the plan alternatives, environmental consequences and extensive background information; Volume 2 contains a summary of public comments and responses to the substantive comments. After the required 30-day no action period, the Final GMP will be forwarded to the National Park Service Pacific West Regional Director for final approval. Click here for an online version of the Final GMP/EIS. Review copies are also available at the Olympic National Park Visitor Interested individuals and groups may request a CD version of the document by calling 360-565-3004. Limited printed copies of the document are also available by request. For more information about the final plan, call the park at 360-565-3004.
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 10:06:31 am
Here is a chance to put your fishing skills to use for a scientific study. Anglers are being invited to put their skills to work in a steelhead-genetics study in the Cowlitz River basin, including some areas typically closed to fishing. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife, along with Friends of the Cowlitz and Tacoma Power, is organizing a hook-and-line fishery to help establish the genetic structure of steelhead populations in several tributaries to the Cowlitz River. An orientation meeting for volunteers will be held at Saturday at 1 p.m. at Tacoma Power's Mayfield office located at the end of Gershick Road, near Mayfield Dam. All volunteer anglers will be required to submit their Wild identification number and their date of birth to sign up for the test fishery. They also must carry a valid Washington fishing license and a valid photo identification on the fishing grounds. The fishery is scheduled from late March through early June in lower Cowlitz River tributaries, focusing on late-winter run natural origin steelhead. Tributaries in the study include the Arkansas/Delameter/Monahan drainage, the Olequa/Stillwater/Campbell drainage and the Ostrander drainage - all of which are closed to steelhead fishing by the general public. Anglers will be required to release any steelhead they catch after a fin tissue sample the size of a paper hole punch is taken from each fish. Anglers can still participate in the study even if they can't make the Saturday meeting. Biologists will be discussing sampling protocols and getting anglers signed up as WDFW volunteers. However, if interested anglers can't make the meeting, they will be welcome throughout the sampling season and the department will have a briefing on the morning of each fishing day. Questions about the test fishery should be directed to Julie Henning, state fish biologist, at 360-864-6133 or hennijah@dfw.wa.gov. Wednesday, March 12th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 04:42:07 pm
The Associated Press just moved this story:
Categories: Adventure Guys
Tuesday, March 11th, 2008
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 09:39:05 am
The coalition created to help Mount Rainier National Park recover from damage done by flooding in November 2006 has been named to receive one of the Department of the Interior’s highest awards. The partnership between Mount Rainier National Park, the Student Conservation Association, the Washington’s Trails Association, the National Parks Conservation Association, Washington’s National Park Fund, and The Mountaineers has won the 2008 Cooperative Conservation Award The award is Interior’s highest award presented to private citizens and organizational partners who support the agency’s mission and demonstrate significant contributions to its programs.  Janet Jensen/The News Tribune Volunteers Megan Thompson, left, and Jean Millian load rocks into a wheel barrow while helping build a new section of the Wonderland Trail between Longmire and Cougar Rock campground, at Mount Rainier National Park, on Sept. 15, 2007. Secretary of the Interior Kempthorne will present the award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on April 21. “This award justly recognizes the commitment of our partners, and the The overall volunteer effort involved 1,724 people who contributed 84,038 hours of service at the park in 2007, an effort valued at almost $1.6 million. Monday, March 10th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 10:27:29 pm
Local mountain climbing guide services planning to lead expeditions on Mount Everest this year got bad news this morning from the Chinese government. The government announced it will not permit non-Chinese climbers from climbing the world's tallest peak this spring. The primary concern seems to be possible protests during a planned attempt to take the Olympic torch to the summit. China hosts the summer games this year. "Mountaineers worldwide are in a state of uproar (including us)," said Erin Simonson of International Mountain Guides, an Ashford-based guide service that leads expeditions on Everest each year. Erin is the wife of IMG co-owner Eric Simonson. IMG and many other guide services have already collected fees for Everest climbs and has already spent much of that money on preparations for climbs, Erin Simonson said. IMG, Alpine Ascents International and Mountain Madness are all local guide companies who lead expeditions on Everest. "The climbing community is looking to American diplomacy to persuade China to relax its concerns and heavy-handed approach," Erin Simonson said. Read more at everestnews.net
Categories: Mountaineering
Posted by Craig Hill @ 10:49:21 am
Just got an e-mail from Dave Ludwig, the Tacoma man who started the cancer fundraiser Hope on the Slopes. Ludwig says the event at Stevens Pass last weekend raised $87,000 for the American Cancer Society. More than 400 people participated in the event where they tried to see how many vertical feet they could ski or snowboard in 24 hours. Some competed as individuals and some competed as teams. Here's a link to a news story done recently by a New York TV station. I competed in the 2006 event, when it was called the Vertical Challenge, and have to say it's one of the coolest events I've ever been around. I went for the skiing challenge but quickly learned it was about much, much more. Here's the story I filed after skiing 120,000 vertical feet in 24 hours:
Thursday, March 6th, 2008
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 10:53:30 am
The U.S. Coast Guard sent out a notice late yesterday that canisters with fumigants used to kill pests in cargo holds of ships have washed up on several beaches along the coast between Ocean Shores and Ozette. The contents of the canisters may pose a health threat to people. Beach goers that find canisters should contact the state Department of Ecology Environmental Hotline at 360-407-6300. Beach goers should not handle the canisters because they contain toxic chemicals. While this weekend's razor clam dig is taking place on beaches south of Ocean Shores, diggers may want to be careful. The Department of Ecology and the Coast Guard are investigating the source of the containers.
Categories: Adventure Guys
Wednesday, March 5th, 2008
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 11:26:26 am
I had a chance to meet Richard Louv last night in Olympia. The author of "Last Child in the Woods" was on hand to help celebrate efforts in Washington to leave no child inside.  Richard Louv was in Olympia last night to help celebrate Washington's efforts to leave no child inside. A couple of items stand out from last nights gathering: There have been 235 applications, totaling $8.9 million, have been submitted for the $1.5 million the Legislature has appropriated to be spent this year on outdoor education. The winning applications are supposed to be announced in early April. A second edition of Louv's book is due out in the next month or so. It will include some new data and information to help parents and communities get children outdoors. It was nice to meet Louv, the man who really brought this issue to light. It is one I have taken to heart, with two young children of my own. I have my memories of great times outdoors, and I want my children to have their own. I'll have more thoughts in an upcoming column. Tuesday, March 4th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 12:34:39 pm
 Jordan Hanssen has been dodging camels and kangaroos as he pedals across Australia. (Photo: Jordan Hanssen) University of Puget Sound grad Jordan Hanssen is biking across Australia. If you are not reading his blog, you are missing out. This guy truly knows how to have an adventure. Here's an entry I found particularly entertaining:
Categories: Cycling
Posted by Craig Hill @ 11:05:21 am
The exchange rate used to soften the sticker shock on $83 Canadian day passes at Whistler Blackcomb. But as of Monday, that lift ticket would cost $83.90 US if the resort had not decided to accept U.S. funds on par with Canadian. |
The Adventure Guys
We admit it. We've got great jobs. How many people get told by their bosses to go out and play? We write about those experiences each Thursday in The News Tribune’s Adventure section. But there's always more to the story. Here, Craig Hill and Jeffrey P. Mayor will share the inside stories on their adventures - including their misadventures - plus post news and answer your questions.
CRAIG HILL Craig Hill is The News Tribune’s injury-prone Adventure writer. After eight years covering college football and basketball, he started writing about adventure sports in 2004. He writes about everything from mountaineering and cycling to skiing and camping. You can reach him at craig.hill@thenewstribune.com 
JEFFREY P. MAYOR Jeffrey P. Mayor has been The News Tribune’s Adventure editor since 2003, and oversees our weekly Adventure section. His coverage focuses on fishing, hunting, Mount Rainier and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. You can reach him at jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com Category
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