From Whistler Blackcomb:

World-renowned environmental activist and lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will deliver the keynote address in Whistler at the 20-year anniversary celebration for the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE).

Kennedy, named one of Time Magazine’s Heroes for the Planet,
will discuss the role that natural resources play in work, health and identity.

=> Read more!

The U.S. Geological Survey is raising the rates it charges for various maps, effective March 1, the agency announced late Monday.

Here is the rest of the news release:

The price for the USGS Primary Series topographic quadrangle maps (7.5 minute -- 1:24,000, 1:25,000, 1:20,000 scales; 7.5 x 15 minute -- 1:25,000 scale; Alaska 1:63,360 scale) will increase from $6 to $8 per sheet.

The price for most other USGS map titles and scales, including 1:100,000-scale series, 1:250,000-scale series and smaller scale topographic maps, will increase from $7 to $9 per sheet.

Geologic quadrangles and thematic map prices will vary from $9 to $80 per title, depending on the number of sheets and/or whether the product is produced by print-on-demand. Print-on-demand thematic products may be priced at $5 per square foot.

The price for National Earthquake Information Center maps will increase from $10 to $12 per sheet.

Prices for select large format maps will vary by size.

Click here for prices for specific map titles.

Washington will receive almost $15 million this year for wildlife and sport fish restoration programs.

The funds are part of the more than $740.9 million that will be distributed nationwide by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to fund fish and wildlife conservation, boater access to public waters, and hunter and aquatic education. Nationally, nearly $336 million will go to wildlife restoration and the fish restoration apportionment will be more than $404 million.

The announcement was made earlier today by the Department of the Interior.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife will receive more than $8.3 million for fish restoration projects and almost $6.6 million for wildlife projects.

The money comes from excise taxes and import duties paid by outdoor recreationists on sporting firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, sportfishing equipment, electric outboard motors, and fuel taxes attributable to motorboats and small engines, said an Interior department news release.

Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act funding is available to states, commonwealths, and territories through a formula based on land area, including inland waters and the number of paid hunting license holders, the release said. Since the program began, funding has helped wildlife agencies certify more than 9 million participants in hunter education, according to the service.

The Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act uses a similar formula to distribute funds raised through excise taxes and import duties on sport fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels and pleasure boats. Program funds over the years have helped with the stocking of more than 6.8 billion fish and the renovation or improvement of 6,400-boat access sites.

Three local curling teams are just a few days away from earning a spot in the 2010 Olympics.

Only the winners of the men's and women's trials in Broomfield, Colo., qualify.

Follow the action on our Olympics blog.

From Rock 'n' Roll Seattle marathon organizers:

Here's a link to the course map.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle officially unveiled its race courses today for both the marathon and half marathon events, which are set to run from Tukwila to Seattle on Saturday, June 27, 2009. The courses were formally approved by the City of Seattle Special Events committee last week, and will take in some of the region’s best-known landmarks, charming neighborhoods and urban attractions.

“The Pacific Northwest has an incredibly dynamic running community and we are thrilled that Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle will soon be one of the region’s premiere outdoor events,” said Megan Young, Event Manager. “This is a brand new, world class event that will attract participants from across the country. We wanted a route that highlights the many extraordinary Northwest vistas, which will make this race memorable for all participants.”

=> Read more!

If you are heading up to Paradise this weekend, or any time soon, don’t feed the foxes.

Mount Rainier National Park officials are concerned that some of the Cascade foxes that hang out at Paradise are becoming too habituated to human food.

I talked with Ellen Myers, one of the park’s wildlife biologists, who said the critters are becoming more brazen in their attempts to find food. She said two people had their backpacks “broken into” and food was taken.

Jeffrey P. Mayor/The News Tribune file
This black bear became a nuisance at Paradise last fall in part because it was fed by park visitors. Mount Rainier National Park officials are reminding visitors not to feed wildlife.

Winter campers are being asked to use hard-side containers to hold their food.

Myers said last weekend she had notes handed out to visitors as they entered the park warning them not to feed the wildlife.

A fox had to be killed last year after it was injured. Park officials believe it was hurt when it was hit it by a vehicle while trying to get some food.

If park visitors continue to feed the foxes, park staff will have to use some deterrents to keep the animals out of the area. Myers said rangers at other parks have used Super Soakers to scare off animals. That is not a viable option during the winter, Myers said, but something might have to be done if visitors don’t cooperate.

The state Fish and Wildlife Commission has created an informational brochure outlining its efforts to reach agreement with Oregon on spring fishing seasons on the Columbia River.

The brochure outlines the new joint catch-sharing policy for spring chinook salmon on the lower River. Fisheries managers for both states recently set fishing seasons for March and April. The final allocation of spring chinook between sport and commercial fisheries later in the season remains unresolved.

Click here to download the brochure.

From the National Park Service:

Mount Rainier National Park will conduct a test of the Geohazard Warning Siren at the Nisqually Entrance on Saturday, February 28, 2009, at 12:00, noon. The park is testing the new system and attempting to familiarize visitors, local residents and staff with the siren in the event of an actual geohazard.

=> Read more!

Our photo editor, Jeremy Harrison, is compiling daily slide shows from the Tour of France (Yes, Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis are both in the race). The tour wraps up Sunday.

Levi Leipheimer of Montana won the last two tours and is teaming with Armstrong on Team Astana this year.

Check out the pics here:

http://www.thenewstribune.com/static/photo/sportsgallery/sports.html

The lack of fresh snow in the last few weeks has been a mixed blessing for winter visitors to Mount Rainier National Park.

It means they’ve had weekday access to Paradise but there was been little fresh powder in which they can play, ski or snowboard.

After a slide took out part of one lane of the road to Paradise on Glacier Hill, park staff announced weekday openings of the road would be limited to those days when conditions are “near perfect.”

It seems as if conditions have been good, if not near perfect, much of the time since the road reopened.

I spoke Wednesday with acting superintendent Randy King about the road situation. He said there has been only one weekday in which the road wasn’t open.

He said drivers have been doing a good job of going through the damaged areas without backing up traffic in areas prone to avalanches.

Even with the road being open much of the past month, winter park visitation is down significantly, said chief ranger Chuck Young.

Checking park stats, I found that January’s recreation visits total was 14,765, down 32.31 percent from 2008. December visitation was 13,929, down 39.15 percent from December 2007.

State fishery managers have scheduled three days of razor clam digs in late March, with two digs scheduled for April.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife will open four beaches for clam digging if the state Department of Health certifies that razor clam samples tested for marine toxins are safe to eat.

If clams are safe to eat, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks will open March 27-29, while Long Beach and Copalis will be open March 28-29. With low tides occuring in the morning, all digging on those beaches must be completed by noon.

In April, Twin Harbors would be open April 10-12 and April 25-27. Long Beach and Twin Harbors would be open April 11-12 and April 25-27. Copalis and Mocrocks would be open just April 26-27.

It appears there will be no digging this season at Kalaloch, said the state’s coastal shellfish manager Day Ayres. The beach was closed last season because the population there was extremely low. The numbers at Kalaloch rebounded for this season, but the clams were too small to harvest.

Ayres said recent test digs showed the clams have not grown to harvestable size.

The spring digs are taking place even though thousands of diggers came out for the February opener.

"The weather really cooperated during February’s opener and most people got their limits," Ayres said in a prepared statement. "Even better, we have sufficient clams left to offer folks more digging opportunities this spring."

Ayres said more digs will likely be announced following the April digs.

"There’s a good chance we’ll have enough clams to offer additional digging opportunities on some beaches in May," he said in the release.

Here are the low tide times for the proposed digs:

March 27, 7:49 a.m. 0 feet; March 28, 8:29 a.m. -0.4 feet; and March 29, 9:12 a.m. -0.6 feet.

April 10, 7:45 a.m., -0.7 feet; April 11, 8:25 a.m., -0.7 feet; and April 12, 9:05 a.m., -0.5 feet.

April 25, 7:27 a.m., -1.3 feet; April 26, 8:10 a.m., -1.6 feet; and April 27, 8:55 a.m., -1.7 feet.

The state Department Fish and Wildlife late Wednesday announced a fishing rule change for the daily limit for salmon in Deep River in Wahkiakum County. Here is the rest of the news release:

The limit may not include more than one adult hatchery chinook salmon during those days when the adjacent Columbia River waters are open to retention of salmon.

Effective date: March 1 through April 30

Species affected: Salmon

Location: Deep River from the mouth to town bridge.

Reason for action: Makes the salmon daily limit the same in Deep River as in the adjacent mainstem Columbia River during those days when the Columbia River (in the area below the Hayden Island west tower powerlines) is open to retention of salmon.

Additional information: Waters of the Columbia River adjacent to Deep Creek stretch from the west power lines on Hayden Island downstream to Buoy 10. Those waters are open to salmon retention seven days per week from March 1-15. From March 16 through April 18, salmon retention will be limited to three days per week, Thursdays through Saturdays.

All other permanent regulations apply.

An increase in the clam population because of natural recruitment and enhancement by the state will allow digging at Dosewallips State Park to open a month earlier.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced late Wednesday that the sport clam fishing at the park will open March 1. The season, open for all clams, will run through Oct. 31. Last season, digging at the park didn’t open until April 1.

Department employees have augmented the natural population with additional Manila clams, said an agency news release.

The park is located in Jefferson County on the west side of Hood Canal, just north of Brinnon.

Seahawks coach Jim Mora love the Cable Line Trail at Tiger Mountain for his workouts. It's a challenge, for sure, but if you want something tougher in the same area try Mailbox Peak.
I hiked the trail a few years back while I was training for Mount Rainier. Here's my account. Find trail info at the end of the story.

Not since the days of the Pony Express has checking the mail been such a workout.

To get to the two mailboxes on the summit of Mailbox Peak, you’ll have to climb 4,000 feet in just 2.9 miles. Of all the training hills around North Bend, this is the steepest.

It’s also significantly less popular than neighboring Mount Si, which is exactly why we picked this 4,842-foot peak for our workout.

We are here for the same reason so many hikers use the easily assessable steep hikes along Interstate 90. We are training for something bigger - Mount Rainier.

In less than a month eight of us will depart the Paradise parking lot on a two-day climb to the summit. It will be the first attempt at Rainier for six of us.

There is no better way to train for hauling a loaded pack up a mountain than hauling a loaded pack up a mountain.

=> Read more!

Dead Confederate, a Georgia alternative rock band, is taking a break from its West Coast swing to hit the slopes at Stevens Pass on Friday.

The band will play in the base area at noon. They play in Seattle on Thursday afternoon and perform in Sacramento on Saturday.

Dead Confederate’s most popular song is “The Rat.”

The group’s performance is part of an all-day promotion at the state’s second most popular ski area.

The promotion includes 2-for-1 lift tickets according to Stevenspass.com.

To get the lift ticket deal you must bring an empty Vitaminwater bottle to the ski area. The ski area opens at 9 a.m. An adult lift ticket is $62.

Jon Knechtel and Ron Strickland are anxiously watching the political maneuvering around S. 22, the omnibus public lands management bill awaiting a vote in the House.

If approved and signed by President Obama, the legislation would add the Pacific Northwest Trail to the National Scenic Trail system. Approved by the Senate on Jan. 15, the bill awaits final action by the House.

The 1,200-mile trail crosses three national parks and seven national forests as it runs from the Chief Mountain border crossing just east of Glacier National Park in Montana to the Pacific Ocean at Cape Alava on the Olympic Peninsula.

Knechtel is directly involved as the director of trail management and acting executive director of the Pacific Northwest Trail Association. Strickland began the push to create the trail more than 40 years ago.

“I’m keeping crossed every part of my body that’s possible to cross,” Knechtel said from the association's office in Sedro-Woolley.

“I like to say not if but when, but I’ve been saying that for decades,” Strickland said from his home in Bedford, Mass.

A vote may come as soon as Monday, Strickland said.

The legislation contains about 160 items regarding programs and activities in the interior and agriculture departments. Both men fear Republican efforts to add amendments will be successful. If the House passes the legislation with amendments, it would have to go to a House-Senate conference committee to work out differences.

“If that happens it goes back to committee and a lot of these things will die,” Knechtel said.

Strickland became enamored with hiking the region in the summer of 1968 when he hiked the Pacific Crest Trail from Snoqualmie Pass to the Canadian border. Two years later he hiked east to west across the state’s northern tier.

“That got me going on the idea of doing an Appalachian Trail-like course, of developing a trail from the Continental Divide to the Pacific Ocean,” Strickland said. “I thought it would be a showcase of what was once the Oregon Territory.”

In 1984 he wrote a guidebook about the trail -- some of which still follows roads -- and did another in 2001.

Knechtel joined the association’s board in 2001 and went to work for the group in 2003. He has been active in developing the group’s volunteer and education programs. Last year, members, volunteers and students donated 21,000 hours of work to association projects.

“I know the association will be OK because of our volunteer projects,” he said. “But if this goes through, we’ll be really busy.”

Click here to learn more about the Pacific Northwest Trail and the assciation.

Thanks to better weather and earlier low tides, the razor clam dig earlier this month was one of the best of the season.

“There we 49,800 digger trips over the weekend (Feb. 6-8),” said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. “It was a big crowd and great digging.”

The digger counts and success rate during previous winter digs have been kept low because of poor weather, high surf conditions and low tides occuring at night.

There is a silver lining to the poor early dig results. It means the state still has clams to be dug under its quota for the season, which could translate into more late winter and spring digging.

Ayres said an announcement about additional digs should be made next week.

Washington and Oregon have finally reached agreement on spring chinook salmon fishing seasons for the lower Columbia River.

The two states reached a deal Wednesday to set seasons through April.

Here are the details, from a news release from the state Department of Fish and Wildllfe:

Anglers will be able to fish for spring chinook salmon from the mouth of the Columbia River to Bonneville Dam through mid-April under initial seasons adopted by fishery managers from Washington and Oregon.

Anticipating a strong run of spring chinook to the upper Columbia River and improved returns to the Willamette, the two states agreed to provide significantly more days of fishing - particularly below Hayden Island - than last year.

According to the pre-season forecast, nearly 300,000 upriver spring chinook are expected to enter the Columbia River this year, which would make this year's return the third highest since 1977.

An additional 37,000 "springers" are also expected to return to the Willamette River, up from 27,000 last year.

"This is shaping up to be a very good year for spring chinook fishing in the Columbia River," said Cindy LeFleur, Columbia River policy coordinator for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. "The first fish have just begun to arrive, and we hope to see a lot more of them in the months ahead."

Below Hayden Island, the new season provides 30 days of spring chinook fishing in March and April, compared to just 12 days last year. During those two months, anglers also will have 39 days - up from 36 days last year - to catch and retain spring chinook from Hayden Island upriver to Bonneville Dam.

LeFleur noted that the fishery could extend beyond April, but that late-season regulations have not been set because of differences between the fish and wildlife commissions of Washington and Oregon over how to allocate the catch.

In March and April, Columbia River anglers will be able to fish for spring chinook salmon at the following locations and times:

-- West power lines on Hayden Island downstream to Buoy 10: Seven days per week from March 1-15. Beginning March 16 through April 18, fishing will be limited to three days per week, Thursdays through Saturdays.

-- West power lines on Hayden Island to Bonneville Dam: Seven days per week from March 1-22. Beginning March 23 through April 22, fishing will be limited to four days per week, Wednesday through Saturday.

-- Tower Island power lines above Bonneville Dam to McNary Dam: Seven days per week from March 16 through April 30. The Washington and Oregon bank fishery will also be open from Bonneville Dam upstream to the Tower Island power lines.

Until March 1, the spring chinook fishing is open under regulations described in the 2008-09 Fishing in Washington rule pamphlet. Anglers fishing for spring chinook salmon may also retain shad and hatchery steelhead, as outlined in the rule pamphlet.

In all areas, anglers are required to release any chinook salmon not clearly marked as a hatchery-reared fish, since a portion of the wild upriver spring chinook run is protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. Unmarked steelhead must also be released. Hatchery fish can be identified by a clipped adipose fin with a healed scar.

Under a new rule approved by the Washington commission, anglers fishing below McNary Dam may retain two hatchery-reared adult salmon or steelhead (or one of each) per day. However, only one adult chinook salmon may be retained per day downstream from Bonneville Dam.

LeFleur noted that standing rules limit incidental mortality of wild spring chinook intercepted and released in all state fisheries - recreational and commercial - to 2.2 percent of the total run.

"It's essential that anglers observe the rules requiring the release of wild salmon and steelhead," LeFleur said. "Our ability to continue these fisheries depends on it."

Believe it or not, the Winter Olympics start one year from tonight in Vancouver and Whistler.

So if you want to keep up on the games, we've got the place for you: The Winter Olympics Blog. Our Blog started in 2006 and was one of the first on the subject.

Here are some highlights:

- Patrick Deneen of Cle Elum has emerged as one of the stars of the U.S. freestyle ski team.

- Catching up with two-time Olympian Scott Macartney, a Crystal Mountain native who is recovering from injury once again.

- Bree Schaaf of Bremerton has successfully made the transition from skeleton to bobsled.

- Q&A with Lindsey Vonn, who is compiling the best career in U.S. women's alpine history.

Are you looking for a fun outdoors getaway for you and your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day? If so, consider a day trip to the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge in Sequim.

The refuge hosts a large number of bald eagles and one of the largest concentrations of wintering black brant populations in the lower 48 states, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Also this time of year, the refuge is a temporary home to the red-breasted merganser, the red-throated loon and the red head duck.

You also can watch Pacific harbor seals playing just off shore or go for a walk along famed Dungeness Spit. For the adventurous, the 10 mile round trip hike to the lighthouse takes 4 to 6 hours.

After your visit, you can head into Port Angeles for dinner. If your date is a fan of the Twilight series of books, consider making a reservation at Bella Italia. You can order the same mushroom raviloi that Bella ordered in the first book.

Click here to learn more about the refuge.

I have visited dozens of national parks in the United States and Canada. But I have to admit my international travels, limited to Norway, Mexico and Guatemala, have not included any national parks.

That’s one reason I was intrigued by the press release sent this morning by the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees.

The 700-member coalition released a list of 10 of the best foreign national parks, stretching from Australia, Africa, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

After you read the list, add your nominations for best foreign national park in the comment section.

Here is the rest of the press release:

CNPSR member Don Goldman, former park planner in the old Southwest Region of the National Park Service, said: “Several years ago, in anticipation of family winter vacation time, the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees rounded up its members’ recollections of the most memorable U.S. national park areas they had worked in or visited. When the nominations came in, the selection process was like picking from among the loveliest flowers in the field. As we had to acknowledge, it was a highly subjective selection process. But our intention was to encourage Americans to visit their national parks; not just our favorites, but whichever ones they could get to. This year, the coalition’s 700 members have suggestions for your vacation trips abroad. We who have spent our lives working in and with national parks not only visit our own, but make an effort to see other countries’ national parks, too.”

CNPSR member Rick Smith, former superintendent of Carlsbad Caverns said, “Most Americans know that Yellowstone was our first national park, but it was also the world’s first national park. The idea of a national park was new with Yellowstone, but it was soon adopted by many countries, one of the best ideas our country gave the world. Just as we did, those countries have expanded the original concept to a great variety of parks and reserves. Today, marvelous parks are to be found all over the world.”

Coalition members usually can’t stay away from such places on foreign vacations. Smith explained: “We plan many of our overseas trips around the national parks or protected areas we can visit in other countries.” Some NPS retirees even had the opportunity, when on temporary training or work assignments with foreign countries or as Peace Corps Volunteers, to work in and contribute to those countries’ national parks.

The following 10 foreign national parks are among the outstanding places CNPSR members recommended. Where it was necessary to break ties, the park chosen in the end was included to provide for maximum geographic diversity:

1. TONGARIRO N.P., New Zealand. This is one of the North Island’s three World Heritage Sites. It features volcanic peaks (one of which is active) and is still home to many Maoris, who donated the park to New Zealand in 1887, when it became the world’s fourth national park. The Maoris are very outgoing in displaying their culture to visitors.

2. KAKADU N.P., Northern Territory, Australia. This World Heritage Site is jointly managed by the Aborigines and the Australian government. It has magnificent vistas, great waterfalls, stunning displays of Aboriginal rock art, and is habitat to an awesome predator, the estuarine (saltwater) crocodile.

3. SNOWDONIA N.P., Wales, Great Britain. Snowdonia is a lovely mountain park, with Mount Snowdon, which is comprised of slate, rising to 3560 feet. While this park is not geologically or scenically spectacular compared with many mountain parks, it is spectacular in its own right, due in part to its peaceful nature.

4. KRUGER N.P., South Africa. This is perhaps the most impressive wildlife viewing area in the world. Millions of acres of habitat and little development give visitors an opportunity to see many large African mammals and magnificent birds. It is one of the few places where wildlife is in charge – they wander free and the visitors are controlled.

5. TIKAL N.P., Guatemala. This World Heritage Site contains the spectacular ruins of a Maya settlement from around 250–900 AD. The towering ruins of temples, one 70 meters tall, rising from the jungle that surrounds them, are mute testimony to the architectural genius of the Maya. As many as 90,000 people lived in Tikal at its zenith, but strife with neighboring towns and environmental stress caused its abandonment beginning in the 10th century. Of course, the Maya never left; they are there today, and a thrill of a visit is to see it with a Maya guide.

6. IGUAZU N.P., Argentina. This park protects one of the most spectacular natural landscapes in Argentina and Brazil, Iguazu Falls and the surrounding subtropical forest. The falls are 70 meters high, but even more impressive is their width: the river at the falls is 1500 meters wide. A thrilling experience is the short boat ride and walk along the catwalks to the most striking of the hundreds of falls, Garganta del Diablo, the Devil’s Throat. The roar itself is an unforgettable experience.

7. SAGARMANTHA N.P., Nepal. The park includes Mount Everest, among other prominent mountains. It has distinctive wildlife and small picturesque Sherpa villages with their gumpas (monasteries).

8. MADAIN SALEY NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK, Saudi Arabia. This region, the Biblical Midian, is mostly undulating desert, interspersed with huge rocky outcrops and lush oases. Here, between 500 B.C. and 100 A.D., the Nabatean people created 125 monumental cut-rock tombs and facades, edifices up to 130 feet tall, that are standing today in a remarkable state of preservation.

9. PLITVICE LAKES N.P., Croatia. Plitvice Lakes National Park is located in inland Croatia, about halfway between Zagreb and Split. In moderately mountainous terrain, the park features water – small lakes and streams and beautiful waterfalls everywhere. Because of the geology of the area, travertine is evident in most of the water features, giving them distinctive blue-green colors and exceptionally clear water. There are a number of excellent short and moderate hiking trails with quiet, non-polluting electric ferries connecting some of the trails by way of the lakes. Because of the vegetation, fall “color season” is especially spectacular.

10. HORTOBAGY N.P., Hungary. This park is located on the “puszta,” or great Hungarian plains. It was the country’s first national park. It also is a biosphere reserve and a World Heritage Site. The plains and wetlands reflect two millennia of human occupation and have supported agrarian life for centuries. It has several endangered bird species and is a refuge for the Przewalski horse and migratory waterfowl. Culturally, it preserves and interprets traditional Hungarian folkways, such as the nomadic herding culture of the puszta.

Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon will hold a Columbia River Compact hearing Wednesday to set the March and April seasons for spring chinook fisheries.

The public meeting will begin at 10 a.m. at Longview City Hall, 1525 Broadway, Longview.

The meeting comes after the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission altered its approach to the two-month stalemate with Oregon over spring chinook salmon allocations for Columbia River sport and commercial fisheries.

At its meeting Friday, the commission voted unanimously to allow the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to work with Oregon to adopt sport and commercial fishing seasons for Columbia River spring chinook in March and April.

But the commission held the May and June portion of those fisheries in abeyance due to the disagreement with the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission over catch-sharing policies, said a release from the department.

Spring chinook salmon have already started entering the Columbia River, but the bulk of the run does not arrive until March and April.

Here is the rest of the news release:

"Time is running short to get fishing seasons in place for sport and commercial fisheries," said Washington Commissioner Jerry Gutzwiler. "This approach will allow us to move forward with the season-setting process, without abandoning our principles."

Those principles were outlined by the Columbia River Fish Working Group, which included commission members, fishery managers and citizen advisors from both Washington and Oregon. A key provision of the group's recommendations was a catch-sharing model for spring chinook that would allocate 65 percent of the limited impacts on wild fish to the sport fishery and 35 percent to the commercial fishery.

But the Oregon commission voted to adopt a base allocation of 55 percent sport/45 percent commercial, then modified it to 60 percent sport/40 percent commercial.

"Our disagreement with Oregon isn't just about an allocation formula for spring chinook fisheries," Gutzwiler said. "It's about the integrity of the decision-making process. The two states created the Columbia River Fish Working Group to help us find common ground on these issues, and we're not going to just turn our backs on that joint, four-month effort."

I got some guff from readers last fall when I picked Cypress Mountain as having the best views of any ski area in the Northwest. I skied at Cypress recently while covering the Freestyle World Cup. I took these photos from the top of the hill. I rest my case.

Our man at the Statehouse, Joe Turner earlier today posted a list of boards and commissions that face the ax, following a press coference by Gov. Chris Gregoire.

I just quickly went through the list to see what impacts there would be on outdoor agencies.

First the good news, depending on your perspective. the governor plans to keep the Fish and Wildlife and State Parks commissions.

Here are the boards facing elmination:

Boards and commissions that would be eliminated by executive order:
State Salmon and Steelhead Council

Board and commissions that would be eliminated with the approval of the Legislature:
Firearms Range Advisory Committee
Parks Centennial Advisory Committee

Those listed in the Eliminate Boards and Commissions Bill:
Migratory Waterfowl Art Commission
Nonhighway & Off-Road Vehicle Activities Advisory Committee
Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group Advisory Board

Those subject to agency review:
Game Management Advisory Council

Click here for the complete list from Joe.

I got this notice from Cabela's Thursday, too late for the Adventure section but I wanted to pass it along to all you hunters out there.

Shotgun Shell Reloading Seminar

When: Saturday and Sunday, 2-3 p.m.

Location: Second floor near Optics Counter and Reloading Equipment

Description: Cabela's outfitter Jack Hiatt will lead a free introduction to reloading class. All equipment and accessories will be provided at no cost. Hiatt will demonstrate the basics of reloading and provide for limited hands-on assistance with reloading equipment. Class limit is 10 students. Sign up at Optics Counter in the Hunting Department.

I finally got to ride the new Peak2Peak gondola that links Whistler and Blackomb mountains today. Taking the suggestion of a couple of local guys, I waited for one of the silver gondolas. Unlike the larger red gondolas, the silver ones have glass bottoms.

Here's a look at the trees through the floor of the gondola.

Olympic National Park is seeking comment on its plan to rehabilitate the Boulder Creek trail and former car campground. The park is proposing to restore a 2.2-mile section of the old Boulder Creek Road and rehabilitate the Boulder Creek campground.

The road was built in the early 1900s and provided vehicle access to the former Olympic Hot Springs Resort and automobile campground. The road was closed to vehicle traffic and converted to trail use in 1982 because of slope failure and serious erosion, said a park news release.

Since then, the Boulder Creek trail has remained a population hiking route for visitors to the Olympic Hot Springs area and wilderness hikers, the release said.

Since its conversion to trail, the old roadway has deteriorated considerably. Several drainages have culverts that have been washed out or plugged with debris and sections of asphalt have been washed away, the release said.

The park is proposing to rehabilitate the trail for foot and stock use by removing the deteriorating asphalt and culverts and replacing
bridges. The proposal also includes rehabilitating the Boulder Creek
campground to prevent continuing damage to the park’s resources by removing the asphalt, designating campsites and revegetating the areas around campsites, the release said.

The National Park Service is preparing an Environmental Assessment for this proposal. It is expected to be released this summer.

Comments may also be sent, no later than March 9, by:
Mail: Superintendent – Boulder Creek Rehabilitation, Olympic National Park, 600 E. Park Ave., Port Angeles, WA 98362
Fax: 360-565-3015
Online: Click here

For more information about this project, go to parkplanning.nps.gov or call the park at 360-565-3004.

The sport clam and oyster fishing seasons at Frye Cove County Park are closed until further notice, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife just announced.

The park is located in Thurston County on Eld Inlet.

The news release from the state said Thurston County Parks and Recreation Department has closed the park and associated tidelands to all public access, forcing the closure of clam and oyster digging.

Dan Mazur will lead five free mountaineering presentations this month in Pierce County. Here's the announcement he's circulating:

Come on out in February for 5 FREE Himalaya mountain film and slide shows in Pierce County, in and around Tacoma. The speaker is yours truly, Dan Mazur.

I am known for leading Greg Mortenson's "Three Cups of Tea" expedition to K2 and the rescue of Lincoln Hall from just below the summit of Everest, where our small team gave up its summit atttempt to rescue the fallen climber and the story was featured on NBC television 'Today' and 'Dateline' show with Matt Lauer and in a 5 page Sunday magazine article in the Seattle Times.

The exciting slide-DVD shows feature Dan telling lively and fascinating stories about climbing Mount Everest and helping poor families living in the foothills of Everest get better education, healthcare, and environmental protection, and are very suitable and entertaining for families, kids, adults, women, men, and every kind of person of all ages. During and after the talk we will engage in lots of questions and discussions with the audience. Our audiences for the January talks had loads of interesting questions and insights and a fine time was had by all!

Here are the dates. Details below.
February 8, Monday, Orting, 7 pm
February 10, Tuesday, Summit, 7 pm
February 11, Wednesday, Buckley, 6:30 pm
February, 12, Thursday, Longbranch, 7 pm
February 14, Saturday, Eatonville, 1 pm

=> Read more!

Clam diggers can clean off their shovels and tubes, find their licenses and pack a cooler, the next razor clam dig starts Friday. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife gave the go ahead this morning.

Three evening digs are scheduled at Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks Friday through Sunday, while Long Beach will be open Saturday and Sunday.

The department authorized the digs after a series of marine toxin tests conducted by the state Department of Health confirmed the clams are safe to eat.

As long as the weather cooperates, the weekend should be good for clam digging, Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager, said in a prepared statement. "There are plenty of clams and the low tides are early enough for folks to dig during daylight hours."

Digging will be allowed only between noon and midnight. Ayres said the best time to dig is an hour or two before low tide. The low tide times are: Friday, 3:55 p.m., -0.1 feet; Saturday, 4:50 p.m., -0.4 feet; and Sunday, 5:39 p.m., -0.6 feet.

Kalaloch Beach in Olympic National Park is closed but may open this spring if the clam population grows to harvestable size.

Harvesters keep no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 they dig, regardless of size or condition. Each digger's clams must be kept in a separate container.

A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2008 Washington state annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination license is still valid. Another option is a razor-clam only license available in annual or three-day only versions.

Click here for descriptions of the various licensing options.

Some new deals at Crystal Mountain this month:

In an effort to help skiers and riders feel less of a pinch during this tough economic time, Crystal Mountain has come up with a Ski Ride Stimulus Plan including some specials during the month of February.

$40 LIFT TICKETS ON MONDAYS DURING FEBRUARY:

Crystal Mountain is offering $40 lift tickets online for Mondays in February, excluding President's day. The $40 lift tickets are available online only and will not be available at the ticket window.

-Offer valid Mondays in February only.
-Not valid Monday, February 16, 2009.
-Not valid with any other promotion.
-Offer ends February 23, 2009

FREE LIFT TICKET WHEN YOU BRING UP A BEGINNER FOR A LESSON PACKAGE:

Also during the month of February, if someone brings a beginner skier or snowboarder to Crystal midweek and signs them up for a full-day First Time Group Lesson Package or the EZ Ski/Ride 1-2-3 Package and they'll receive a FREE all-mountain lift ticket to use the same day!

First Time Group Lesson Package $122 (full-day package offered at the half-day price)
Includes equipment, Discovery lift ticket a full-day* lesson.
*5 hours: 10am-12:30pm, 1 hour break for lunch, 1:30-4pm (check-in at the sales desk by 9:30am)

EZ Ski/Ride 1-2-3 Package $155 ($25 off the regular price)
We provide you with everything you need: your equipment, group instruction and lift tickets. Your first visit includes one 5-hour lesson, equipment rentals and a Discovery lift ticket to learn the basics. You'll then return for two additional 2 1/2 hour follow-up lessons, equipment rentals and all-mountain lift tickets to help you hone your skills.

-One free lift ticket issued per package purchased.
-Lift ticket not valid on any other day.
-Not valid with any other promotions.
-Offer valid midweek only. Not valid Monday, February 16, 2009.

Having grown up in Ohio, I was thoroughly immersed into the legend and fame of Punxsutawney Phil. Every Ground Hog's Day, we would eagerly await Phil's forecast for the length of the remaining winter.

According to German superstition, if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2 — the Christian holiday of Candlemas — winter will last another six weeks, according to an AP story. If no shadow is seen, legend says, spring will come early.

At some point, Ohio jumped on to the Ground Hog's Day bandwagon with Buckeye Chuck. But Phil was and is the most famous of ground hog weathermen.

I was thinking of that on my way to work this morning, when I thought the South Sound deserved its own winter prognosticator. I thought Paradise Pete, the Cascade fox. just might do. OK, I admit they don't hibernate, but given the amount of snow at Paradise, those animals that do hibernate in the Paradise area are going to be sleeping for a long while.

Any way, had Paradise Pete poked his nose out of his den this morning, he would have seen his shadow, based on the Web cams. So it seems like we'll have six more weeks of winter.

As for Punxsutawney Phil, it was decided that he, too, saw his shadow this morning.