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Friday, May 30th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 04:01:36 pm
University Place's Charlie Hyde, 55, has reached the top of the world and one of mountaineering's most sought after landmarks, an Alpine Ascents International spokesman said. Hyde reached the summit of 29,035-foot Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain, on May 24 with AAI guides, said Gordon Janow of the Seattle-based company. According to the AAI website, Hyde has now climbed the highest peak on each continent. Hyde is off the Mountain, Janow said, and will soon fly back to Tacoma. We'll post more when we are able to speak with Janow. The Seven Summits are:
define the seven continents. Kosciuzko is the heights peak in Australia, but Carstensz Pyramid on New Guinea is the highest peak in Oceania. (Source: 7summits.com)
Categories: Adventure Guys
Posted by Craig Hill @ 09:32:17 am
Local ski resort manager John Kircher has been released from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., after receiving a liver transplant on May 20, Crystal Mountain spokeswoman Tiana Kircher said. He is recovering in his apartment in Rochester with his brother-in-law who donated a portion of his liver. Kircher is doing well according to an e-mail his wife, Kim, sent to friends and family this week. According to the e-mail, Kircher is expected to spend the next two weeks in Rochester while doctors take daily blood tests and adjust his medication. Kircher, 49, is the president of Michigan-based Boyne Resorts’ western operations, which controls Crystal Mountain and the Summit at Snoqualmie. Kircher also oversees operations at Cypress Mountain in Vancouver, B.C. Cypress is a 2010 Winter Olympic venue. Kircher has primary sclerosing cholangitis, a disease that attacks the liver’s bile ducts. The only cure is a transplant. “It’s like having a permanent case of the flu,” Kircher told The News Tribune in January. Kircher contracted the disease in the 1980s during a trip to Africa. Click here to read The News Tribune’s Feb. 11 story on Kircher’s health battle. Thursday, May 29th, 2008
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 11:28:17 am
Two roads will open Friday at Mount Rainier National Park, according to statement issued today by park officials. Stevens Canyon Road, which connects the east and west sides of the park, will open at 8 a.m., the statement said. The road typically opens in time for Memorial Day, but efforts to clear the road were slowed by deep snow and a number of slides. Park officials warned drivers to be aware that a lot of snow still sits on the steep banks lining portions of the road and they should watch for additional rock and snow slides as the snow melts. The White River Road also is opening Friday, from its junction with Highway 410 to the White River Campground. The campground at White River, however, is not expected to open until June 27. Because of how weather conditions at the park can change so quickly, you should check road and weather before leaving for the park. You can do so by calling 360-569-2211 or by visiting the park Web site here.
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 10:32:01 am
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has posted a notice that the North Fork Tieton River will open to fishing on Sunday. Here is the department’s notice:
Wednesday, May 28th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 08:31:31 pm
From Mount St. Helens National Monument:
Categories: Mount St. Helens
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 10:33:44 am
A new exhibit from acclaimed photographer Art Wolfe will highlight critical Northwest wildlife species when it opens June 5 in Seattle. The National Park Conservation Association will host the exhibit at its information center and gallery at 313-A First Ave. S., across the street from Elliott Bay Book Company. The exhibit will include images of the Pacific fisher, the Olympic marmot, chinook salmon, the gray wolf and orcas, according to an association news release. For more than 25 years, the Seattle photographer has been turning his lens on wildlife. Wolfe has taken an estimated one million images in his lifetime and has released over 45 books, said the release. The free exhibit runs from June 5 to Sept. 27. The gallery is open Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It also is open on First Thursday art walks, from 6 to 8 p.m., on June 5, July 3, Aug. 7 and Sept. 4. Click here for more information on Wolfe and his photography. Click here for information on the National Parks Conservation Association.
Categories: Jeffrey P. Mayor, Adventure Guys
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 11:01:46 am
From the Associated Press:
Categories: Search and Rescue, Paddling and rowing
Posted by Craig Hill @ 06:41:37 am
I'm in my tent right now listening to the rain patter on the fly. Memorial Day weekend is over and I camped three days without spending a nickel. Where is that possible, you might ask. A place my kids like to call "Dad is Cheap Campground." Our backyard. It's a perfect place - although I'm not inviting you guys over. Just suggesting camping in your own backyard might be fun and cheap. No driving means no gas. Some other perks: My kids are 7 and 9 so they were just happy being outside. We even roasted marshmallows in the fire pit. Can't tell where you are once you are in the tent anyway. Except, I guess, for the sound of the neighbors warming up their cars. Monday, May 26th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 09:09:00 pm
Dave Hahn, a guide for Ashford's Intermational Mountain Guides and Rainier Mountaineering Inc., summited Mount Everest today becoming the first non-Sherpa to reach the world's highest peak 10 times. IMG director Eric Simonson confirmed the summit today on his company's website, mountainguides.com. Hahn lives in New Mexico, but has guided on Mount Rainier with RMI since 1986. Last year he rescued a climber high on Everest. It was his third rescue on Everest's upper slopes. Hahn, who has climbed Rainier more than 240 times, is also believed to hold the record for most summits of Vinson Massif, the tallest peak in Antarctica. He's climbed the 16,050-foot mountain for the 25th time last year. Hahn guided IMG's fifth team to the top of Everest this month. Also summiting Monday were Dave and Nicky Messner of Taos, New Mexico and Sherpas Samduk Dorje and Phinjo Dorje. It was Phinjo's second summit and the fourth for Samduk.
Categories: Adventure Guys
Posted by Craig Hill @ 08:52:00 pm
Melissa Santos has a good story on our website today:
Categories: Mount Rainier
Sunday, May 25th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 01:06:16 pm
International Mountain Guides put its fourth team on top of the world Friday, according the Ashford company's website. The IMG team of Colorado's Val Hovland, Phunuru Sherpa, Chiropractor Tim Warren, Phinjo sherpa and Passang Sherpa reached the 29,035-foot summit of Mount Everest while two other members of the group turned back just below the South Summit, the website said. The team has now descended to Camp 2 and IMG's fifth team, including Dave Hahn, is ready to climb, according to mountainguides.com.
Categories: Mountaineering, Adventure Guys
Saturday, May 24th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 08:05:43 pm
So they say flat tires come in bunches, but this last week was ridiculous for me. I rode about 100 miles on my road bike and 10 on my mountain bike this past week and got a grand total of 9 flats. Clearly there's something wrong with the back wheel on my bike that I could get five flats in 50 miles this morning even with the use of a tire liner. But, for the life of me, I haven't been able to figure it out yet. I was the butt of about 100 jokes this morning as my riding partners waited for me to change four flats, not including a fifth that went flat before I even got my tire back on the bike. After going through my tubes and one each from riding partners Russ Meyers and Rick Beitelsbacher, I called it a day four miles from the end of the ride. My wife had to drive out to pick me up after I walked 1/3 of a mile barefoot (I hate walking in bike shoes). Of course all of these where on my back wheel, the hardest to change. Ok, so that accounts for five flats. What about the other four? I got two flats riding around my neighborhood with my son. And I got a flat riding my mountain bike on some trails in Puyallup. And to top it all off, a flat on the front passenger side tire of my SUV. Maybe I should stick to walking next week. Friday, May 23rd, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 03:19:24 pm
Justin Merle of Auburn was among a record 75 climbers who summited Mount Everest Thursday, according to the International Mountain Guides' website.
Categories: Adventure Guys
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 02:55:40 pm
I was looking through the newsletter for the state's hunting safety instructors and came across a tidbit about a new phone number for the state's poaching hotline. Should you witness an instance of poaching, you should call 1-877-WDFW-TIP (877-933-9847). The old phone number still appears on some printed materials, but you should use the number above.
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 02:20:29 pm
Hood Canal sport shrimpers will have two more days to fish. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife just announced that a sufficient quota remains to extend the shrimp season two days between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Thursday and May 31. The opening is for all shrimp throughout Hood Canal.
Posted by Craig Hill @ 10:16:53 am
Bob Myrick of the Tacoma Wheelmen's Bicycle Club says his club will host its free Big Wheels Ride all day May 31 on the 1-year-old Scott Pierson Trail, which stretches from Allenmore Public Golf Course across the Narrows Bridge. The purpose of this ride is to celebrate the new trail system and draw attention to the June 2-15 CarLess Commute, Myrick said. Elected officials will be touring the Scott Pierson and Cushman trails during the late morning, Myrick said. Those who live within three miles of the trail are encourage to ride to the event, Myrick said, but there is parking near South 25th and State streets. From here a round trip ride on the trail is about 12 miles.
Categories: Craig Hill, Cycling
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 04:14:57 pm
Tonight at the Tacoma Public Library.
Categories: Mountaineering
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 02:22:39 pm
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission this afternoon adopted the first regulated hunting season on gray wolves in that state’s history The commission, during its May meeting, set a wolf population goal of 518 wolves, and adopted hunting seasons, limits and rules for the 2008 hunting season, according to a press release. The season would open Sept. 15 in the backcountry and on Oct. 1 in all remaining areas, and it owuld run through Dec. 31. The commission would review results in November to consider extending the season if limits are not being met, the release said. A hunter can kill one wolf with a valid 2008 hunting license and wolf tag, the release said. Idaho Fish and Game officials expect to release season and rules brochures to the public in July. I checked with an IFG official and he said out-of-state hunters would be able to take part in the hunt, but he said the process for selling tags has not been set up yet.
Posted by Craig Hill @ 01:18:33 pm
Have you run the Sound to Narrows? Got a good (or painful) memory from Vassault Hill - the final uphill mile of the 12k race? If so I want to hear it. The best stories will be featured in The News Tribune and thenewstribune.com during race week. Please include your first and last name and hometown. Post your story here or e-mail them directly to me at craig.hill@thenewstribune.com. If you'd rather mail them in: Craig Hill Thanks. See you on the hill.
Categories: Craig Hill, Running
Posted by Craig Hill @ 11:10:59 am
Ski area operator John Kircher is doing well after undergoing a liver transplant Tuesday morning, Crystal Mountain spokeswoman Tiana Enger said today. Breathing tubes were removed Wednesday night and ultrasounds show Kircher is doing well, according to an e-mail update sent out by the Kircher family. Kircher is expected to leave the intensive care unit of the Mayo Clinic Minnesota soon. Kircher is president of Michigan-based Boyne Resorts’ western operations, which controls Crystal Mountain and the Summit at Snoqualmie. Kircher also oversees operations at Cypress Mountain in Vancouver, B.C. Cypress is a 2010 Winter Olympic venue. Kircher, 49, got the liver transplant from his brother-in-law, who is already out of the ICU. Kircher has primary sclerosing cholangitis, a disease that attacks the liver’s bile ducts. The only cure is a transplant. Kircher contracted the disease in the 1980s during a trip to Africa. Click here to read The News Tribune’s Feb. 11 story on Kircher’s health battle.
Categories: Adventure Guys, Skiing/Snowboarding
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 10:10:00 am
Rich Landers, my fellow outdoors writer at the The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, passed this story along. Pamela Ramsden might now hold the state record for the largest northern pikeminnow caught. She did so on her first attempt at cashing in on the bounty program while fishing the Snake River.  Photo by Brian Ramsden via The Spokesman-Review Pamela Ramsden of Deer Park caught a potential state record northern pikeminnow in the Snake River on Friday. The 24.4-inch-long fish weighed at 7.91 pounds On Friday, the Deer Park hairstylist was trolling a Rapala near Boyer Park when she hooked and landed the pending state-record pikeminnow. The 24.4-inch-long fish weighed 7.91 pounds, easily exceeding the 7.36-pound record caught in 2000 in Mason Lake northeast of Shelton. Overall, the fishing has been slow because of spring runoff. In five days of fishing, she and her husband, Brian, caught only six pikeminnows to turn in for the initial $4-a-fish reward paid by the Bonneville Power Administration. "And we couldn't get a $4 voucher for the record fish because we wouldn't turn it in," Brian said. "We didn't catch enough fish to pay for the gas this trip, but we might be the only people with an 8-pound pikeminnow mounted on their wall." Click here for more information on the pikeminnow program or call toll-free 1-800-858-9015. Wednesday, May 21st, 2008
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 04:32:19 pm
We've got lots of stories and information in Thursday's Adventure section. Our big story this week is fishing in the Moses Lake area. I recently took a trip to central Washington and write about fishing in Potholes Reservoir and several other waters in the area. It's a great place to fish if you like a variety of fish and fishing. In my column this week I write about the good and the bad from last weekend's reopening of Paradise Inn. In our Mount Rainier notebook, making its season debut, the park has had to delay opening some facilities because of all the snow. And despite the heat last weekend, there was new snow falling at Paradise today. We also have stories about the last clam dig of the season, our Hike of the Week on the Greenwater Lakes Trail and the Weekend Getaway to Twin Harbors Beach State Park.
Posted by Craig Hill @ 01:19:43 pm
All good things must come to an end, even this epic ski season. Alpental will reopen Saturday for three days before shutting down the lifts for the year on Monday night, resort spokesman Guy Lawrence said today. "This is it," Lawrence said. "It's been a great run." The ski area will announce the final weekend opening on Thursday. Alpental and the rest of the Summit at Snoqualmie originally planned to close for the season on May 5. However, record snowfall allowed it to stay open three additional weekends. Crystal Mountain has not determined if it will have a summer opening, but a resort spokeswoman said Tuesday reopening is unlikely. Tuesday, May 20th, 2008
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 01:52:50 pm
The state just sent out a release saying the clam dig set for Saturday has not yet been approved. State health department officials are expected to release domoic acid test results tomorrow. If levels are less than 20 parts per million, the dig will go ahead as planned.
Posted by Craig Hill @ 10:34:39 am
Local ski area operator John Kircher is undergoing a liver transplant today at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, said Crystal Mountain spokeswoman Tiana Enger. Kircher hoped to get a liver transplant in February, but finding a compatible donor took longer than expected. Kircher is the president of Michigan-based Boyne Resorts’ western operations, which controls Crystal Mountain and the Summit at Snoqualmie. Kircher also oversees operations at Cypress Mountain in Vancouver, B.C. Cypress is a 2010 Winter Olympic venue. Kircher, 49, is getting the liver transplant from his brother-in-law. Kircher has primary sclerosing cholangitis, a disease that attacks the liver’s bile ducts. The only cure is a transplant. “It’s like having a permanent case of the flu,” Kircher told The News Tribune in January. Kircher contracted the disease in the 1980s during a trip to Africa. Click here to read The News Tribune’s Feb. 11 story on Kircher’s health battle. Monday, May 19th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 02:40:06 pm
Clearly Indiana Jones is the greatest adventure movie hero of all time. But what about movies about adventure sports. Last year, we asked the Northwest's outdoor elite for their favorite adventure sports movie. The only requirement we gave them was that the movies have a strong adventure sport element. Whether the flick was a documentary or featured James Bond on skis, it didn't matter. This, of course, left room for some serious creativity. Jordan Hanssen, one of four University of Puget Sound grads who rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in 2006, had a list that included "The Princess Bride" ("Fencing, sailing, horseback riding and torture," he said), "Muppet Treasure Island" ("Sailing, swashbuckling and fuzzy critters") and "Casablanca" ("Drinking. Face it, adventure doesn't happen without it"). Surprisingly, none of the other 13 members of our academy recommended these movies. Click below to see the top 10 PLUS their pick for the worst adventure sports movie of all time. Sunday, May 18th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 11:12:26 pm
From the Seattle Sperry Top-Sider National Offshore One Design Regatta:
Categories: Sailing
Thursday, May 15th, 2008
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 04:33:56 pm
According to Pam Newlun, sales manager for Guest Services Inc., there are still a few rooms available for Friday night, the first night Paradise Inn will be open in two seasons. The rooms that are available do not have private bathrooms. Newlun said phones have been ringing off the hook since Monday and said many Saturday nights in July and August are completely booked. If you want to make a reservation, call 360-569-2275. I'll be at the inn Friday and will have a report on opening day in Saturday's paper. Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 10:41:06 pm
Tomorrow morning's Adventure section will feature camping in rentable fire lookouts around Oregon. This is an ideal first backpacking trip for kids. I even pulled my daughter out of school for an early "Take Your Kid to Work" trip to Fivemile Butte Lookout east of Mount Hood.
Tuesday, May 13th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 11:18:08 am
From Mount St. Helens National Monument:
Categories: Craig Hill, Mount St. Helens
Posted by Craig Hill @ 08:23:41 am
Deep snow is making it difficult for climbers to reach the summit of Mount St. Helens this spring. Gary Walker, St. Helens’ lead climbing ranger, says the climb that usually takes 6-12 hours now takes about two days. “Snow is deep and soft. Climbers should be prepared,” Walker said. Last week Walker snowshoed to the Climbers Bivouac, where most hikers start their climb in spring and summer. “I couldn’t even see the outhouse,” Walker said. “That means there is at least 12 feet of snow that needs to melt.” Instead of using the traditional Monitor Ridge route this spring, climbers are starting from the Marble Mountain Snopark. This makes a 9-mile roundtrip climb closer to 15 miles. Walker says climbers should plan to spend the first night near tree line then summit and hike out on the second day. Some climbers are even taking three days to make the trip said Jeanne Bennett of the Mount St. Helens Institute. Traditionally enough snow melts by late May or early June to make the climbing route a manageable day hike. Walker says climbers should expect snow conditions to be about a month behind normal this year. Meaning if you traditionally climb St. Helens in mid June, you might want to wait until the middle of July. Bennett says the institute has sold fewer climbing permits than normal this spring, but could not provide specific numbers. “But more skiers are going up there,” Bennett said. Monday, May 12th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 09:01:22 am
Just got this e-mail from Peter Frenzen of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
Categories: Mount St. Helens
Saturday, May 10th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 09:30:07 am
Prepping for this morning’s 32-mile ride around Puyallup, Orting and Sumner I dropped by REI yesterday to buy a pair of riding tights. I’ve let myself get pretty out of shape this spring, wimping out on riding opportunities because of the cold weather. I figured a pair of riding tights would help fix the problem. Well, according to the clerk at REI – a guy that rides his bike to work – bike tights are out of season. I laughed and he smiled, because we both know the current conditions definitely require cold weather clothing. So instead, he gave me a tip. Wear a pair of polypro long underwear over your bike shorts. As dorky as this sounded, I tried it this morning and it worked well. Not only did I stay warm but I probably saved $100. The big test, however, would be my riding buddies. For a bunch of guys who prance around in spandex they’re not above playing fashion police. No fashion faux pas go unnoticed. It was our first ride together since last year’s STP – minus Kenny Espinoza who reportedly is modeling in Paris - and when we met up I was surprised their wasn’t a single “Capt. Underpants” reference. While Scott Wagar and Russ Meyers tend to be as well dressed as Lance Armstong, I figured Rick Beitelsbacher, the biggest mouth in the group, wouldn’t let it slide considering he bought his Turf King cycling gloves in the Fred Meyer gardening center. Wrong. When the guys figure it out they let me have it. But that’s OK. If it saves me $100 I can take whatever they dish out. Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 11:00:34 pm
Just got this note from Jeff, who left me in charge (big mistake) so he could go fishing in Western Washington.
Posted by Craig Hill @ 07:00:20 pm
 Photo by Lui Kit Wong Each year we get press releases from people who are pedaling across the United States. Usually they're doing this to raise money and awareness for a worthy cause. However, we get so many of these - four to five per year - we can't feature them all. In fact, as amazing as this accomplishment is, it takes something pretty special to get us to feature your trans-America pedal. One trip that definitely qualifies as special will be the centerpiece of tomorrow's News Tribune. The Mortimer family of Gig Harbor will start pedaling 3,900 miles from their home to New York on May 17. So aside from ranging in age from 10 (Chanel) to 53 (Bob), what makes them different? Well, a couple things: 1. They don't really have a cause. They say they're simply spreading a message of courage and hope. 2. Bob Mortimer is a triple amputee. Mortimer lost his legs and left arm in an accident 32 years ago. He will be traveling on a handcycle. Here are some links to more information about the Mortimers:
Monday, May 5th, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 09:23:36 pm
Sometimes everything breaks just right and your calendar looks like this on Cinco de Mayo: 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. - Ski at Alpental to get interviews for ski story.   Noon to 12:45 p.m. - Staff meeting at the Tribune (Man, even on the good days.) 1:15 to 3 p.m. - Meet Kevin Sullivan of Puyallup and Brian Henderson of DuPont at Banner Forest to test ride a new mountain bike for future story. 3:30-6 p.m. - In the office to finish the aforementioned skiing story for tomorrow's paper. (Ok, so the day didn't end on the most exciting note.)
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 12:43:10 pm
Joe Hyer, co-owner of The Alpine Experience in Olympia, sent an e-mail today to report that Friday’s fourth annual Outdoor Life Auction raised a record $25,500. The previous fundraising record was set last year at $22,000. This year’s goal was $25,000, Hyer said.
Categories: Jeffrey P. Mayor, Adventure Guys
Posted by Craig Hill @ 07:19:09 am
Alpental will stay open one more weekend, resort spokeswoman Holly Lippert confirmed this morning. The Snoqualmie Pass ski area originally planned to close for the season today, however greater than normal snow accumulations is allowing the resort to stay open for another week. The Summit at Snoqualmie resort will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 12 and 13. The Summit received 591 inches of snow this season. It averages 444 inches of snow per season. Lift tickets are $5 at Alpental today. Saturday, May 3rd, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 08:15:16 pm
Sunday and Monday are the last two days to ski or ride at Alpental this season. While it still feels like March, conditions can be more dangerous than normal in some areas. The Alpental ski patrol recently issued this warning:
Categories: Skiing/Snowboarding
Posted by Craig Hill @ 08:11:18 pm
Many anglers who've been on a fishing charter out of Westport knew Neddie Rose Farrington, founder and former owner of the Islander Motel, Charters, Restaurant & RV Park. Farrington died Friday at the age of 84. Read more about her in a story from the Aberdeen World.
Categories: Fishing, Adventure Guys
Friday, May 2nd, 2008
Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 02:14:55 pm
Hey anglers, before you head out this weekend, compare your brand preferences with this survey from Southwick Associates. Thursday, May 1st, 2008
Posted by Craig Hill @ 09:19:41 pm
From North Cascades National Park:
Categories: Adventure Guys, North Cascades National Park
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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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