Work on a temporary bridge over Benham Creek on Forest Road 25, south of Randle means the road is closed just south of Iron Creek during the construction. Gifford Pinchot National Forest visitors should be prepared to encounter dump truck traffic on Forest Roads 76, 28 and 23.

Here is the rest of the news release:

The temporary bridge should be in place and open to traffic by late-June. This will allow for access to the east side of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and the popular Windy Ridge view point.

“While the flooding in the fall of 2008 wasn’t as widespread as the
previous two years, Forest Road 25 and Forest Road 54 took the brunt of the damage,” said Ron Freeman, Public Services Staff Officer for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. “We truly appreciate the work Federal Highways Administration is doing to help us reopen Forest Road 25 and other key Forest roads.”

Visitors to the Cispus Learning Center should be alert to heavy truck traffic that will be hauling material in the vicinity of the Center. Hauling will occur Monday thru Thursday during daylight hours.

Material is being hauled from the Benham Creek slide to a disposal site to an area located on Forest Road 2300100.

The Forest has started work with Federal Highways on design and replacement of the bridge over Benham Creek. Completion of the permanent bridge is scheduled for 2010.

During the past winter several Forest roads, including roads 21, 25 and 54, experienced landslides and storm damage.

Click here for updates on weather and road conditions.

For current Forest road information, please contact Gifford Pinchot
National Forest offices. The Forest Headquarters in Vancouver can be
reached at 360-891-5000; Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Headquarters in Amboy can be reached at 360-449-7800, and Mount Adams Ranger District in Trout Lake can be reached at 509-395-3400.

So we launched a new project this morning: Rainier 110.

This is year marks the 110th anniversary of Mount Rainier National Park and we will commemorate the anniversary by hiking 110 miles in the park this summer.

I've got 16.9 miles down so far, which almost all of the trails that aren't covered with snow. In fact, a couple of those mile were over the snow.

There are five waterfalls that can be reached fairly easily right now. And they worth the trip right now because they are raging as the snow melts.

Here are pics from my hike last week:

CHENUIS FALLS

IPSUT FALLS

RANGER FALLS

CARTER FALLS

MAD CAP FALLS

Two loops of Cougar Rock Campground at Mount Rainier National Park will be open to the public Friday. The warm weather has melted out almost 25 parking pads and tent sites in loops A and C, said acting superintendent Randy King in statement just released.

Campsites for recreational vehicles such as trailers, campers and motorhomes are extremely limited at this time.

The remaining loops, including the group sites are still covered with snow. Cougar Rock typically opens by Memorial Day weekend, but the slow winter melt out delayed this year’s opening.

At Ohanapecosh Campground, loops A, B, C and D opened for the Memorial Day weekend. Loop D still has no running water at this time.

The White River Campground is scheduled to open on June 26.

Camping fees at Cougar Rock and Ohanapecosh are $12 and $15 per site and at White River $12.

Between June 25 and Sept. 6 Cougar Rock and Ohanapecosh campsites can be reserved in advance. The nightly fee during the reservation period is $15 per site. For reservations, call toll free 1-877-444-6777. White River Campground is operated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Dave Hahn, an Ashford-based mountain guide, extended his record for trips to the top of Mount Everest on Friday night by summiting the 29,035-foot-high peak for the 11th time.
No non-Sherpa climber has climbed the mountain more.
Hahn has guided for Rainier Mountaineering Inc. since 1986 and has participated in climbing expeditions all over the world.

He also holds the record for climbing Antarctica’s highest peak, Vinson Massif, with 25 summits.

Saturday the party he led to the summit included RMI guides Melissa Arnot and Seth Waterfall and cameraman Kent Harvey.
This was the second RMI group and fourth expedition led by local guide services to reach the summit. Ashford’s

International Mountain Guides has place 30 climbers on the summit this month.

The Everest climbing season is now winding up and guides services successfully removed their gear from the mountain before a storm arrived, according to IMG expedition leader Eric Simonson’s blog.

From Rainier Mountaineering Inc.:

Rainier Mountaineering, Inc.(RMI) announced today that at 6:00 am, Nepal time, RMI's second team of climbers reached the highest point on earth, Mt. Everest, at 29,035'. The summit team was led by Dave Hahn. Joining Dave are two accomplished RMI Guides Melissa Arnot and Seth Waterfall, and cameraman Kent Harvey.

RMI Guide Dave Hahn has climbed Everest an astounding eleven times, and holds the record for the most ascents by any non-Sherpa climber. A guide with Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. since 1986, he has received prestigious awards for rescue work. In 2001, he was named Denali Pro Mountaineer of the Year for his aid on Denali. That same year, the American Alpine Club gave him the David A. Sowles Memorial Award for his involvement in a rescue on Mt. Everest. During the winter months, Dave works as a ski patroller in Taos, New Mexico.

The RMI Everest Expedition is led by Peter Whittaker. Team members on the first summit bid included Peter Whittaker, Ed Viesturs, Gerry Moffatt, Jake Norton, and John Griber. All five successfully reached the summit of Mt. Everest on May 19, 2009. The first team will wait at Everest Basecamp until the second team is safely off the mountain. Peter Whittaker, son of acclaimed mountaineer Lou Whittaker and nephew of Jim Whittaker, who was the first American to climb Mt. Everest in 1963, led the first summit team. Ed Viesturs, the only American to summit all fourteen 8000-meter peaks without bottled oxygen, reached the summit of Mt. Everest for his seventh time.

International Mountain Guides of Ashford placed 11 more climbers on the summit of Mount Everest last night raising its total for the season to 26.

Among those making the summit was local climber Justin Merle who has climbed Mount Rainier more than 100 times including a round trip to the summit that took just 4 hours, 49 minutes, 35 seconds last July.

This was Merle's third Everest summit.

Here's a list of the IMG climbing party members that made the 29,035-foot summit.

1. Ms. Petya Stanimirova Kolcheva (Bulgaria)
2. Ms. Mei Ying (Joanne) Soo (Singapore)
3. Ms. Peh Gee Lee (Singapore)
4. Mr. Jonathan Michael Shae (USA)
5. Mr. Justin Reese Merle (USA)
6. Mr. Kamen Marinov Kolchev (Bulgaria)
7. Mr. Danuru Sherpa of Khumjung VDC Ward #9 Phortse, Solukhumbu—this is his 7th Everest summit
8. Mr. Nima Karma Sherpa of Khumjung VDC Ward #9 Phortse, Solukhumbu—this is his 3rd Everest summit
9. Mr. Phinjo Sherpa of Khumjung VDC Ward #9 Phortse, Solukhumbu—this is his 5th Everest summit
10. Mr. Pasang Rinji Sherpa of of Khumjung VDC Ward #9 Phortse, Solukhumbu—this is his 3rd Everest summit
11. Mr. Datenji Sherpa of of Khumjung VDC Ward #9 Phortse, Solukhumbu—this is his 5th Everest summit

OK, so we have a 3-day weekend. Finally a weekend long enough to hit the Olympic Peninsula.

The Hood Canal Bridge is still out meaning you’ll have to take the long way to visit Port Townsend, Port Angeles or most of Olympic National Park. But I made the trip last week to play at Port Townsend and go sailing at Sequim Bay and it’s well worth the extra driving. Plus the drive is gorgeous.

If you go, here are a few tips.

1. Slow down in Hoodsport. There was a cop perched at the intersection of Highway 101 and Highway 119 both Saturday and Sunday.

2. Don’t go via Whidbey Island. Taking the ferries from Mukilteo to Whidbey Island and then Port Townsend is a fun way to reach the peninsula. But with the bridge the reservation list for the Keystone-Port Townsend ferry seems to be booked each day. You’ll likely have to wait two hours or more for the ride. It’s quicker to drive.

3. Camp. Last weekend I swung by several state parks on Highway 101 and they all seemed to have amble extra sites despite the great weather. By contrast, a ranger at South Whidbey State Park told us all of the campsites on the island were booked last weekend.

Two Toutle River tributaries to open for hatchery steelhead, with selective gear rules in effect through early June. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced a short while ago that the lower portions of the South Fork Toutle and Green rivers will open to fishing for hatchery steelhead on Saturday.

Here is the rest of the release:

Location: South Fork Toutle River from the mouth to the 4700 Road Bridge. Green River from the mouth to 400 feet below the water intake at the upper end of the hatchery.

Daily limits: Daily limit is two hatchery steelhead. Minimum size is 20 inches. Wild steelhead and all other game fish (including trout) must be released.

Other information: Under permanent rules, the entire South Fork Toutle River and the Green River from the mouth to the 2800 Road Bridge will open to fishing for hatchery steelhead beginning the first Saturday in June.

Under permanent rules, all tributaries to the South Fork Toutle and Green rivers remain closed to all fishing.

Selective gear rules will be in effect through June 5 to minimize potential handling of smolts and/or wild winter run steelhead that may be still present.

Reason for action: Hatchery summer run steelhead are released into the South Fork Toutle and Green rivers. These fish are not needed for broodstock. With the mainstem Columbia sport fishery closed for steelhead until further notice but no later than June 16, this could also result in more fish returning to these Toutle River tributaries.

The state Department of Fish and Wildife earlier today announced salmon fishing on the Icicle River in Chelan County will open Friday.

Anglers will be able to fish for chinook salmon through July 31.

Here si the rest of the release:

Location: Icicle River, from the closure signs located 800 feet upstream of the mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Barrier Dam.

Daily limit: Daily limit two salmon, minimum size 12 inches.

Reason for action: In-season run analyses predict that about 5,000 salmon are currently enroute to the Icicle River. Although upper Columbia River spring chinook have been listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, the salmon returning to the Icicle River are not listed under the ESA. About 1,000 salmon are needed to meet hatchery broodstock. The 2009 return ensures that the hatchery will meet its escapement needs; the remaining fish will be available for harvest.

Other Information: Night closure will be in effect. Release fish with one or more holes (round, approximately 1/2 inch in diameter) punched in the tail of the fish (caudal fin). These fish are part of a study and have been anesthetized; the FDA requires a 21-day ban on consumption of these fish.

The 2009 opener is later than previous years due to a delayed salmon run. Listed steelhead spawning activity on the Icicle River also appears to be late. The delayed opener will ensure that the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery will be able to collect the needed salmon for broodstock and that most steelhead have finished spawning and cleared the river prior to the season opener.

Too late for this week's Adventure section, we got this news release from the staff at Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

Here is the release:

Despite snow, all campgrounds on the forest will be open except for Denny Creek, Middle Fork and Tinkham in the Snoqualmie Ranger District, and Miller River Group in the Skykomish Ranger District. Low elevation areas such as Denny Creek and trails along the Mountain Loop are still under snow.

“Deep snow is still found at many popular recreation sites, roads and trails around the forest,” said Gary Paull, trails and wilderness specialist for the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. “Visitors should exercise caution when hiking and camping in the forest. Keep aware of your surroundings, hot sun may weaken large snow cornices on mountain ridges causing them to collapse and start a slide,” he said. Snow covered trails can cause confusion and hikers can get lost, added Paull.

Here are links for additional information:

Accessibility of trails and roads affected by storm damage

Current trail and road conditions

Reserve a campground on the National Recreation Reservation System

Find a forest campsite and check availability

For campground questions call Rhonda Dow at 360-691-1841.

Local ranger districts or public service centers provide more information on hiking, camping and animal habitat:

Snoqualmie Ranger District
North Bend Office
Mon-Sat, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Closed Sunday.
425-888-1421

Snoqualmie Pass Visitor Information Center
Fri-Mon, 8:30 a.m.– 3 p.m. Closed until June.
425-434-6111

Enumclaw Public Service Center
Mon-Sat, 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Closed Sunday.
360-825-6585

Mt. Baker Ranger District
Mon-Sun, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
360-856-5700 ext. 515

Glacier Public Service Center
Fri-Mon 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
360-599-2714

Skykomish Ranger District
Mon-Sat 8 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. Closed Sundays and Holidays.
360-677-2414

Darrington Ranger District
Mon-Sat, 8 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. Closed Sundays and Holidays.
360-436-1155

Verlot Public Service Center
Thu-Mon, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
360-691-7791

The Washington State Department of Transportation has announced that Highway 410 over Chinook Pass will open Friay at noon.

Efforts to reopen the road, which began April 20, have been hampered by new snowfall and the increased avalanche danger brought on by the new snow.

Washington State Department of Transportation
An early May storm dropped 21 inches of snow in seven days slowing efforts to clear Highway 410 over Chinook Pass.

Opening of the pass, at 5,430 feet, opens access to the park's east side from the north and south.

Park visitors will not, however, be able to drive from the east side to the Paradise area. A large slide has damaged the Stevens Canyon Road near Box Canyon. Crews are expected to begin repairs in that area next month, but the work is expected to take until mid August.

Sure, it’s pretty cool being the captain of a tall ship.

But for Josh Berger it’s not enough. He also wants to teach people about the environment.

“That’s what I like about the Adventuress,” Berger said. “I get to do both. It’s perfect.”

The Adventuress, a 133-foot, two-masted schooner, bills itself as “Puget Sound’s Environmental Tall Ship.”

The 96-year-old ship arrived in Tacoma on Wednesday afternoon and will stay in Commencement Bay until May 27 so its 15-member crew can teach youth about sailing, the history of the ship and Puget Sound.

On Sunday the ship will be open to the public for free tours from 9 a.m. to noon. At 1 p.m. the Adventuress will set sail for a 3-hour cruise. Tickets for the public sail are $40 for adults and $20 for those 18 and younger.

As Berger piloted the Adventuress out of Bainbridge Island’s Eagle Harbor for a public sail on May 17 he described the ship as a microcosm of Puget Sound.

“When we are all on board it’s easy to see how our actions impact each other and the ship,” Berger said. “… Living here our actions impact the sound.”

Berger, a graduate of The Evergreen State College, and his crew use the comparison to teach environmental responsibility to kids.

In a small compartment on the port side of the ship the crew keeps several living sea creatures including a sea star and a sea anemone. As the Adventuress sails the sound the crew give kids a hands-on lesson about what’s living in the waters below them.

The Adventuress isn’t just a classroom it’s one of 24 National Historic Monuments in Washington.

“It is sailing history,” said Wendy Sonnemann, a volunteer spokeswoman for Sound Experience.

=> Read more!

Here is the latest update from Mount Rainier National Park regarding facility openings in time for Memorial Day weekend:

OHANAPECOSH CAMPGROUND: Loops A, B, and C at will open to the public at noon Friday. If maintenance crews are able to get the remainder of more than 100 trees that fell in the campground during the winter cleaned up, Loop D may open as well, said acting superintendent Randy King. If Loop D opens it will not have restrooms or water available.

OHANAPECOSH VISITOR CENTER: Opens at noon Friday.

COUGAR ROCK CAMPGROUND: Will not be open in time for the weekend. Two to three feet of snow remains on the ground, covering campsites.

STEVENS CANYON ROAD: From the west side of the park will be open to
Reflection Lakes and from the east side to the Grove of the Patriarchs.
During efforts to reopen the road, additional damage was discovered betweenBox Canyon and Backbone Ridge, King said. Once park crews
repair this area, visitors will be able to drive as far as Backbone Ridge from the west.
The major storm damage repairs on Stevens Canyon, at milepost 14.1, will begin in June with expected completion by mid-August. The road will remain closed to through traffic until the repair is done.

WHITE RIVER ROAD: The road to the White River Campground will open Friday. There will be no water available. The campground is scheduled to open June 26.

CARBON RIVER ROAD: Open to hikers only due to storm damage.

CHINOOK PASS: Although the state tries to have Highway 410 open over the 5,430 foot pass, crews have only recently started clearning the snow. The latest update from the Washington State Department of Transportation says ”it is still too early to predict an opening date.”

FACILITIES CURRENTLY OPEN: Include Paradise Inn, National Park Inn and General Store, the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center, Longmire Museum and Paradise Guide House.

It seems that the greenhouse staff at Mount Rainier National Park has a plethora of plants this spring.

John Titland, volunteer coordinator for Mount Rainier National Park Associates, sent an e-mail regarding the group’s July 18 work party.

Volunteers had originally been scheduled to remove exotic plants under the direction of the park’s restoration staff. However, Titland said, they have been asked to do planting at Paradise instead.

Apparently because of construction work and early snowfall last fall, the restoration staff was unable to use all the plants raised at the greenhouse as planned at Paradise. When work was halted, there were still 56,000 greenhouse plants remaining to be planted.

These plants were maintained over the winter and are once again ready to be planted. Because of space constraints at the greenhouse, in part because of the 100,000 plants being grown for this fall’s traditional planting season, park staff will be conducting an early summer planting in July to finish the revegetation around the new Jackson Visitor Center.

If you are interested in volunteering with the associates, contact Titland at volunteer@mount-rainier.org. To volunteer directly through the park, go to rainiervolunteers.blogspot.com.

International Mountain Guides placed 15 people on the top of Mount Everest last night. The group include astronaut Scott Parazynski and Spokane resident Dawes Eddy, 66, who is believed to be the oldest American to climb the 29,035-foot peak. Here's a link to a Spokesman Review article on Eddy.

The Discovery Channel is documenting IMG's season on Everest. A second IMG team is heading to the summit right now.

Here's a list of the summiters I pulled from the IMG website:

1. Mr. Scott Edward Parazynski (USA)
2. Mr. E Dawes Eddy III (USA)
3. Ms. Zhen Zhen (Jane) Lee (Singapore)
4. Ms. Li Hui Lee (Singapore)
5. Ms. Yin Xuan (Esther) Tan (Singapore)
6. Mr. Michael Aaron Hamill (USA)
7. Mr. Edmund Philip Wardle (UK ) (Tigress Productions / Discovery producer, cameraman)
8. Mr. Danuru Sherpa of Khumjung VDC Ward #9 Phortse, Solukhumbu — this is his 11th Everest Summit
9. Mr. Panuru Sherpa of Khumjung VDC Ward #9 Phortse, Solukhumbu — this is his 8th Everest Summit
10. Mr. Mingma Chhiring Sherpa of Khumjung VDC Ward #9 Phortse, Solukhumbu — this is his 8th Everest Summit
11. Mr. Kancha Nuru Sherpa of Khumjung VDC Ward #9 Phortse, Solukhumbu — this is his 2nd Everest Summit
12. Mr. Ang Chhiring Sherpa of Khumjung VDC ward #8 Pangboche, Solukhumbu — this is his 9th Everest Summit
13. Mr. Sanduk Dorjee Tamang of Khumjung VDC ward #7 Pangboche, Solukhumbu — this is his 4th Everest Summit
14. Mr. Kancha Nuru Sherpa of Khumjung VDC ward #8 Pangboche, Solukhumbu — this is his 1st Everest Summit
15. Mr. Jamling Bhote of Hattiya VDC Ward #1, Sankhuwasaba — this is his 4th Everest Summit

I just checked the WSDOT Web page for an update on Chinook Pass.

The update, posted just a few minutes ago, says Highway 410 remains closed as crews try to clear snow from the roadway.

"Our traditional goal has been to open the pass for Memorial Day Weekend, but since we just started clearing the pass, it is still too early to predict an opening date. Updates will be provided as conditions change," the posting said.

For a few minutes Monday night America’s history on the 29,035-foot summit of Mount Everest was bookended by one family.

Peter Whittaker, co-owner of Ashford-based Rainier Mountaineering, Inc., reached the top of the world’s highest peak at 7:15 p.m. (PDT) becoming the second member of his famous climbing family to accomplish the feat. His uncle, Jim Whittaker, was the first American to summit Everest in 1963.

At 8:05 p.m. Ed Viesturs, also climbing with the RMI group, reached the summit for the seventh time. Viesturs is the only American to climb every 8,000-meter peak in the world.

The team is now working its way down the mountain. The second RMI group is scheduled to attempt the summit May 24.
Dave Hahn, who has reached the summit a non-Sherpa record 10 times, is part of the second group.

A group of climbers from International Mountain Guides, also based in Ashford, was pushing toward the summit Tuesday evening.

I’m blogging from Keystone right now as I wait in line with my son for the Keystone-Port Townsend ferry. Here’s a recommendation for anybody trying to make this run between now and the end of June. Make a reservation at least one week in advance.

I talked with a kayak outfitter this morning in Langley who said he’s been told reservations are filling a week in advance. He ended up getting stuck in Port Townsend recently.

The run is the easiest way to get to the Olympic Peninsula from any point north of Seattle. So with the Hood Canal Bridge closed through June for construction demand is through the roof. Making matters worse, the state ferry service is using a smaller ferry it borrowed from Pierce County. The Steilacoom II used to make the run from Steilacoom to Anderson Island.

Standby isn’t totally out of the question. We’ve been told we have a good shot at the 4:30 ferry. It’s 2:23 right now. A long wait, but we get to play on the beach for a couple hours. And that beats a long drive almost any day.

To make reservations:
Visit wsdot.wa.gov/ferries
Call 877-595-4222
Or from your cell dial 511

Also visit the website for info on a special Edmonds to Port Towsend run on the weekends.

Cayuse Pass has finally reopened on Highway 123 on the east side of Mount Rainier National Park.

The 4,675-foot pass was scheduled to reopen twice before but was postponed by a snowstorm that increased the avalanche danger.

The Transportation Department told the AP the roadway opened today at noon.

The department also said nearby Chinook Pass on Highway 410 at 5,430 feet remains closed by spring snow and may not reopen until after Memorial Day weekend.

I know it might not be practical for local pheasant hunters to make it to this meeting, but I thought you would be intested in what the state is thinking.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has scheduled a public meeting Wednesday in Mount Vernon to discuss potential pheasant release sites in Skagit and northern Snohomish counties.

The public meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland St. During the meeting, WDFW staff will give a presentation on public and private lands identified by the department as possible sites to release pheasants for recreational hunting.

WDFW is seeking new areas to release the birds because restoration projects on the Skagit Wildlife Area’s Headquarters and Leque Island units will soon return those areas to estuaries, said Lora Leschner, regional wildlife program manager. Both restoration projects are scheduled to be completed later this summer.

"Once the restoration projects are complete, those sites on the wildlife area will no longer be suitable for pheasant releases," said Leschner. "But we are looking at several alternative sites where we might be able to relocate our pheasant release operations."

Restoration projects on the Skagit Wildlife Area are intended to restore important habitat for wildlife and fish, particularly salmon. WDFW owns and manages the entire 16,700-acre Skagit Wildlife Area to preserve habitat for fish and wildlife, and provide a site for outdoor recreation.

On Leque Island, about 110 acres of the Stillaguamish estuary is being restored. At the Headquarters Unit, the Wiley Slough project is designed to restore 160 acres of estuarine salmon habitat that was diked and drained to create farmland.

To address concerns about lands lost to hunting, WDFW has been working with a coalition of hunters, recreationists, farmers and other landowners to secure hunter access to private lands in the area.

Click here for more information on the Skagit Wildlife Area.

This was released yesterday while I was at Mayfield Lake "researching" a story on people who fish for tiger muskie. Any way, here is the news release:

Time is running short for hunters planning to apply for special hunting permits for fall deer, elk, mountain goat, moose, bighorn sheep and turkey seasons.

This year’s application deadline is midnight May 20, nearly a month earlier than in past years. Permit winners will be selected by random drawing, with the results available by the end of June, said Dave Ware, game manager for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

"Hunters told us they wanted us to conduct the drawing earlier in the year, so they would have more time to make their hunting plans," Ware said. "That makes sense, but hunters have to make sure they meet the earlier application deadline."

Hunters selected to receive special permits qualify to hunt in areas and at times of the year that may not be available to those with only general hunting licenses.

Application instructions and details on special-permit hunts are described in the 2009-10 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations pamphlet, available at WDFW offices, license vendors or online by clicking here.

Before applying for a special-hunt permit, hunters must purchase an application and any necessary hunting licenses and transport tags on line, by phone, or from a licensed dealer for each species they wish to hunt. The cost for each application is $5.50 for residents, $55.00 for non-residents, and $3.30 for youth under 16 years of age.

Ware reminds hunters to update their mailing address in the system when purchasing their special hunting permit applications and licenses. Each year, hundreds of special hunting permits are returned due to invalid addresses.

All applications must be submitted via a toll-free telephone number (1-877-945-3492) or WDFW’s Web site. Paper applications will not be accepted.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has closed the Columbia River access site near George (Grant County) because it is unsafe for launching trailered boats.

The Sunland Estates water access site, about eight miles west of George on the Grant County side of the river, is closed indefinitely while launch repair or replacement is assessed and project funding is sought.

The concrete-plank boat launch is currently in such poor condition that attempts to launch trailered boats are hazardous, said Terrie Preston, northcentral region lands agent based in Ephrata in a news release. The department plans to conduct a work assessment and seek the funding and federal permits needed to restore the launch, she said.

There are, according to the release, several alternative public access sites in the area:

-- WDFW’s Old Vantage Highway access site east of Vantage on the Grant County side of the river.

-- Washington State Parks Wanapum Recreation Area southwest of Vantage on the Kittitas County side of the river.

-- Crescent Bar Recreation Area southwest of Quincy on the Grant County side of the river.

-- WDFW’s Buckshot access site southwest of Mattawa on the Grant County side of the river.

-- WDFW’s Vernita access site east of Priest Rapids Dam on the Grant County side of the river.

From Mount Rainier NP:

The Washington State Department of Transportation has announced they expect to open State Routes 123/410 over Cayuse Pass within Mount Rainier National Park on Friday, May 15 at noon. The pass had been scheduled to open on Tuesday, May 12, however a late season snowstorm delayed the opening.

Once this roadway is open, the public will be able to travel from the southern boundary of Mount Rainier National Park via State Route 12 to State Route 123 north over Cayuse Pass to State Route 410 to the park’s north boundary near Crystal Mountain. WSDOT anticipates State Route 410 east from Chinook Pass to Yakima will open by the Memorial Day weekend, barring any snow removal delays.

The lower Columbia River will stay closed to steelhead fishing until further notice to protect upriver spring chinook salmon, fishery managers from Washington and Oregon announced this afternoon. Managers are keeping the fishery closed to avoid incidental catches of spring chinook.

The announcement delays the hatchery steelhead fishery, scheduled to open Saturday. from the Interstate 5 Bridge downriver to the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line a few miles east of Astoria.

The steelhead closure could extend as late as June 16, unless returns of upriver spring chinook begin to pick up, said Cindy LeFleur, state Columbia River policy coordinator, in a news release. The closure will not affect the shad fishery, which will open downstream from Bonneville Dam on Saturday.

Here is the rest of the release:

"For the second straight year, returns of upriver spring chinook have fallen short of expectations," LeFleur said. "It’s disappointing that we have to delay the steelhead fishery, but we need to do everything we can to conserve wild chinook salmon still in the river."

LeFleur said the delay in the steelhead fishery was triggered by an updated run forecast for upriver spring chinook, which indicates that only about half as many fish will return this year as originally expected. While the pre-season forecast predicted a run of nearly 300,000 chinook, the current estimate anticipates a return of 120,000 to 150,000 fish.

The spring chinook fishery in the lower Columbia River has been closed since mid-April, under a new agreement between Washington and Oregon that delays a larger portion of the season in case the run falls short of expectations. Columbia River anglers have also been required to release any spring chinook they catch above Bonneville Dam since May 1.

"This year’s spring chinook fishery was designed to be conservative, due in large part to the unpredictability of the run in recent years," LeFleur said. "Last year, we counted a high number of immature jack salmon, which suggested a strong return of adult fish this year. But the adult chinook just haven’t materialized in the numbers expected."

LeFleur said the action to delay the steelhead fishery is specifically designed to protect wild upriver spring chinook, which are listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). Although all anglers are required to release any wild chinook salmon they intercept in the Columbia River, some of those fish die from the encounter.

"We conduct these fisheries under strict federal limits on incidental mortality rates," LeFleur said. "When the run size is lower than expected, there is very little margin for error."

While the opening date for the steelhead fishery remains uncertain, LeFleur said the season will not get started later than June 16, when most spring chinook salmon have returned to hatcheries or spawning areas.

"At that point, the focus switches to summer chinook," she said. "We really hope those runs are more encouraging than this year’s spring chinook returns."

For updates on the lower Columbia River steelhead season, LeFleur recommends that steelhead anglers check WDFW’s Web site -- click here -- or call the Fishing Hotline (360-902-2500).

Two quick items for you guys:

- First, off Whistler's Mountain Bike park opens Saturday. Don't forget your skis because you can still ski this time of year too.

- Second, something went haywire last night putting together The News Tribune's SoundLife section. If you started reading my story on tips for keeping you smoothies healthy, you may have noticed that most of the story is missing from the paper. Not sure what happened, but if you want some tips for choosing smoothies that won't sabotage your diet check out the FULL STORY here.

Click below to read the announcement from Whistler Blackcomb.

=> Read more!

Recreational shrimp fishers get one more day on Saturday to fish on Hood Canal, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced.

Here is the rest of the news release:

Marine Area 12 will be open for shrimp fishing May 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The four-day Hood Canal season was originally scheduled to be open May 2-13, on Saturdays and Wednesdays only.

"Enough quota remains in Hood Canal to offer shrimpers some more time on the water," said Mark O’Toole, state fish biologist.Since the opener, shrimpers have pulled in 57,500 pounds of prawns from Hood Canal. The 2009 quota for the area is 85,000 pounds.

Other areas of Puget Sound also opened for recreational shrimp fishing May 2, but most quickly reached their quota, causing early closures, O’Toole said.

Areas closed to spot shrimp fishing include marine areas 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, Skagit Bay), 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) and 11 (Vashon Island/Tacoma). The Discovery Bay Shrimp District in Marine Area 6 near Port Townsend remains closed to both spot and non-spot shrimp fishing.

The northern and central portions of Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) will close at 9 p.m. Friday. The southern portion of Marine Area 7 will close at 9 p.m. Saturday.

Marine areas 7, 8, 9 and 11 will remain closed until June 1 when the non-spot shrimp season opens.

Waters still open to spot shrimp fishing include marine areas 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu), 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) and 13 (south Puget Sound).

Click here for more information on shrimp seasons and rules or call the WDFW shellfish hotline at 1-866-880-5431.

I just got this note from WSDOT via the folks at Mount Rainier National Park:

"I know you have heard this before, so here we go. Once again unless Mother Nature disagrees, we will attempt opening Highway 123 Cayuse Pass at noon Friday," wrote Vernon L Riley, assistant superintendent for Area 4 in Kent.

The pass was supposed to open last Friday, but 2 feet of snow delayed those plans. Another 6 inches of the white stuff delayed Tuesday's planned opening.

From the Associated Press:

Six inches of new snow on Cayuse Pass Tuesday morning forced the Transportation Department to put off plans to open the pass at noon.

With more snow and cold weather in the forecast, the department postponed the opening until it's safe from avalanche danger. Crews hope to open the pass in time for the Memorial Day weekend.

Cayuse Pass is on Highway 123 in Mount Rainier National Park. Nearby Chinook Pass on Highway 410 also is closed.

Snow also hit Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass, and for a brief time Tuesday morning chains were required. Eastbound traffic was blocked for nearly six hours by a boulder that rolled into the roadway.

Up to 8 inches of snow are forecast Tuesday on the west slopes of the Cascades.

From Mount Rainier National Park:

Mount Rainier National Park Acting Superintendent Randy King advises that State Route 123 and State Route 410 over Cayuse Pass (north-south) will open to the public on Tuesday, May 12 at noon. This road has been closed since December 18. Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crews are finishing up spring snow removal operations and Mount Rainier staff is placing signs in preparation for the opening and the beginning of the 2009 visitor season. State Route 410 east over Chinook Pass remains closed. WSDOT crews continue to remove snow from this section of the road and anticipate it will open by Memorial Day weekend.

=> Read more!

The state late Friday announced changes in rules regarding keeping spring chinook on the Lewis and Kalama rivers. The changes take effect today. Here are the rules, according to releases from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife:

Lewis River

Action: Lewis River anglers must release all spring chinook.

Effective dates by location: Today through July 31.

Location: Mainstem Lewis from mouth to mouth of East Fork; North Fork Lewis from mouth of East Fork to overhead powerlines below Merwin Dam

Reason for action: Pre-season, only 2,200 adult spring chinook were forecasted to return to the Lewis system this year. The hatchery adult sport daily limit was previously reduced to one fish under emergency regulation. To date, only a few dozen hatchery adult spring chinook have entered the traps on the Lewis. The hatchery escapement goal is 1,250. Based upon recent year return timing, the goal may not be met even with a reduced daily limit.

Other information: Creel sampling surveys have shown light catches and no evidence of large numbers of fish holding in the river. Hatchery returns will continue to be closely monitored.

Both the mainstem and North Fork Lewis remain open to fishing for hatchery steelhead.

Kalama River

Action: Kalama River anglers must release all spring chinook.

Effective dates: Today through July 31.

Location: From boundary markers at the mouth to the upper salmon hatchery.

Reason for action: Pre-season, only 900 adult spring chinook were forecasted to return to the Kalama River this year. The hatchery adult sport daily limit was previously reduced to one fish under emergency regulation.

Through May 6, just two hatchery adult spring chinook had returned to the salmon hatchery. The hatchery brood stock goal is 500 fish. Based upon recent year return timing, the goal may not be met even with a reduced daily limit.

Other information: Creel sampling surveys have shown light catches and no evidence of large numbers of fish holding in the river. Hatchery returns will continue to be closely monitored.

The lower Kalama remains open to the retention of hatchery steelhead.

From Clean Water Classic Operations and Logistics:

Over the weekend of May 15-17, Westport, WA will welcome back the Surfrider Foundation for this year’s 8th annual Clean Water Classic—the largest surf contest in the Pacific Northwest. The event is a benefit for the Pacific Northwest chapters of the Surfrider Foundation and in the past has been awarded the Surfrider Foundation Chapter Event of the Year. The Classic is proud to announce Global Surf Industries (GSI) as the returning main sponsor for 2009. GSI President Mark Kelly describes one of the new twists for the 2009 event: “GSI will be launching a wild new surfboard design at the CWC this year. The Meyerhoffer, by Modern, is a surfboard that has been designed in conjunction with world renowned designer Thomas Meyerhoffer.” Check the preliminary information out on the board at www.surfindustries.com/modern. Thomas will be attending the Classic and GSI will be running a one design competition using this board. “We are all looking forward to the event. This is the third year we have been the title sponsor and just love being immersed in the surfing community of the Pacific Northwest,” said Kelly.

=> Read more!

The "middle reach" of the Yakima River will open May 16 to recreational fishing for hatchery spring chinook salmon. Fishing will be allowed through June 30.

The opening covers the stretch of river from the Interstate 82 bridge at Union Gap upstream to the Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge approximately 500 feet downstream of Roza Dam.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife and Yakama Nation fishery managers are predicting a return of between 10,000 and 15,900 adult spring chinook to the river, said a department news release. Of this number, 56 percent are predicted to be hatchery salmon originating from the Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project research hatchery at Cle Elum.

The co-managers estimate only 20 percent will be wild Naches River chinook, the weaker of the two non-hatchery stocks returning to the Yakima basin, and not supplemented by hatchery production, the release said. Only 24 percent of the run is expected to be naturally produced upper Yakima River fish needed for Cle Elum Hatchery broodstock and natural spawning above Roza Dam.

During this salmon fishery, the upper "closed water" boundary line is moved upstream to the railroad bridge downstream of Roza Dam to provide additional opportunity to harvest hatchery chinook. Retention of trout (size 12 to 20 inches with a daily limit of two) and other game fish is prohibited until the new, statewide river season opener on June 6. Fishing for steelhead remains closed.

The daily limit for salmon is two hatchery chinook. The minimum size is 12 inches. Hatchery salmon are identified by a missing adipose fin and a healed scar in the location of the missing fin. Wild salmon must be immediately released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.

Anglers can use only one single-point, barbless hook with a hook gap from point to shank of 3/4 inch or less. The use of bait is allowed. A night closure in effect for all species.

The snow conditions at Paradise are improving, but heavy snowfall earlier this week has delayed the opening of two passes on the park's east side.

Park spokeswoman Donna Rahier said the Washington State Department of Transportation had planned to open Cayuse and Chinook passes today, but 2 feet of snow will likely delay the opening for a week. She said the last report from the state indicated the plan was to open the passes on May 15, weather permitting.

In this Web cam view from the Jackson Visitor Center, you can see crews are busy clearing snow from the parking lot. But some folks are going to be surprised when they come back to their vehicles.

At Paradise, the snow levels have risen 21 inches since Monday, with 168 inches on the ground this morning.

At Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge Road is open and conditions have improved at the visitor center. There are still 80 inches of snow on the ground, however.

The snow continues to pile up at Paradise. After getting about 15 inches by noon Wednesday, another 8 inches has fallen since then. And now the snow is being whipped around by winds blowing 17 mph with gusts up to 33 mph.

Meanwhile, snow delayed today's opening of Hurricane Ridge Road a Olympic National Park. According to the park's Web site, the road was to open at 10:30 a.m. as crews were trying to clear off 4 inches of new snow. The report said upper portions of the road are extremely icy and snow-covered.

With a view a sweeping view of Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, Mount Hood and a massive lava dome, there are few place scenic plays than the crater rim of Mount St. Helens to take mom on her special day.

In fact, climbing to the 8,365-foot high rim has become a Mother’s Day tradition in the local skiing community.
The tradition is for the climbers to wear dresses – even the guys – and then ski down all in honor of their moms.

“We’ve received a lot of calls,” said Jeanne Bennett, executive director of the Mount St. Helens Institute. “But so far (as of April 28) only 35 people have signed up.”

Bennett says the small sign-up is likely because the most direct climbing route (10 miles and 5,000 vertical feet round trip) can’t be reached by car because of snow.

Climbers will use the winter route from Marblemount Snow Park adding making the hike about 13 miles and 6,000 vertical feet.

“I’ve never done it,” Bennett said, “but it sounds like a lot of fun.”

The event is not organized so you’re climbing party will be responsible for itself. National forest officials remind climbers not to get too close to the crater rim because of the massive cornice that could easily give way.

Bennett says don’t worry if you can’t find a dress for the climb.

“Dressing in drag is up to the individual,” Bennett said. “You don’t have to do it if you don’t want.”

A climbing permit costs $22 and can be ordered online at mshinstitute.org.

If you liked that, try . . .

Rock climbing: So you think your mom’s too old to learn new tricks. Not true. Tacoma’s Edgeworks Climbing is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday and is will to teach anybody who’s willing to try. One employee said they’ve had climbers in their 80s scaling the walls.
Routes range from easy to tough enough to challenge even the fittest moms. No Mother’s Day discounts. A day pass is $15. An extra $8 will cover the gear rental (shoes, harness, belay device and chalk bag). Edgeworks-climbing.com

Canoe Spanaway Lake: If your mom like to fish or just relaxing on the water, the Spanaway Park Boat House offers several options. You can explore Spanaway Lake by paddle boat or canoe for $6 per hour or by row boat for $4.25 per hour. All rentals require a $10 refundable deposit. 253-531-0555

Foothills Trail: The Foothills Trail runs 15 miles from Puyallup to South Prairie offering a slight uphill grade going toward South Prairie. The trail is flat enough for mom’s of all ages to enjoy a nice stroll or a casual bike ride. For hardcore mom’s you can easily tack on some hilly riding on the roads (particularly Tubbs Road) south of South Prairie.
For the most scenic section of the trail park in Orting follow the trail southeast. Piercecountytrails.org

(PHOTO BY PETER HALEY, The News Tribune)

From Mount Rainier National Park:

Mount Rainier National Park recently received notice that they have been awarded a 2009 National Park Service Youth Partnerships Program (YPP) grant in the amount of $23,105. Earlier this year, the park’s Education Program received a second-year grant in the amount of $80,000 from the US-Japan Foundation to fund continued work on the multi-year Mount Rainier–Mount Fuji Sister Mountain Curriculum Development Project (Sister Mountain Project). These grants will enable the park to expand and build on last summer’s very successful pilot Teacher-Ranger-Teacher (TRT) Program as well as continue international curriculum development and host the first international Sister Mountain Teacher Exchange Workshop.

=> Read more!

Staffers are recommending Olympic National Forest use an .84-mile reroute to reopen the Dosewallips Road.

Forest Supervisor Dale Hom announced Wednesday the reroute is the preferred alternative of four options considered for the project, but no final decision has been made.

The preferred option, Alternative C in the draft environmental impact statement, would build the reroute along the hill slope above and to the north of the washout. Retaining walls, reinforced fills and other measures to minimize clearing and excavation would be used.

"This alternative will restore access to recreational facilities and respond to the National Park Service's interest to maintain the very few vehicular access routes into the national park,” Hom said in a prepared statement.

“Ninety-five percent of Olympic National Park is designated wilderness and accessible only by trail. It’s very important to our mission that we maintain vehicle access into the remaining five percent of the park so that visitors of all abilities and ages have the chance to experience Olympic,” said Karen Gustin, Olympic National Park superintendent, in a statement.

A large section of the Dosewallips Road (Forest Service Road 2610) washed out in a 2002 storm, cutting off access to the park’s Dosewallips recreation facilities and the forest’s Elkhorn Campground. Dosewallips is one of only two developed areas on the east side of the park that can be reached by vehicle.

The draft environmental impact statement, describing the alternatives, was released in June 2008. The selection of a preferred alternative, required by the National Environmental Policy Act, is needed to continue the project analysis process.

Forest officials expect to have the final environmental impact statement and record of decision prepared by the end of the year.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife said it raised $15,032 for winter elk feeding at its first auction of shed elk antlers at the Oak Creek Wildlife Area in Yakima County.

About 1,275 pounds of antlers were sold at the Saturday auction, attended by about 150 people. Most of the shed antlers were picked up by department staff and volunteers from the Oak Creek winter feeding stations over the last several years; some came from other areas of the state. The highest single sale of $550 was made on a set of eight-point elk antlers from the Hanford area, said a department news release.

Here is the rest of the release:

The auction was conducted with the help of WDFW staff, Wildlife Education Corps volunteers and a professional auctioneer from Tieton.

John McGowan, WDFW Oak Creek manager, said the funds raised will cover about 18 percent of the hay cost for an average, 80-day, winter elk feeding season.

About 3,500 to 4,000 elk are fed each winter at several sites on the 47,200-acre wildlife area. Oak Creek was originally purchased in 1943 to provide a home for the growing Yakima elk herd seeking food in nearby agricultural areas. Winter feeding began about 1968 to keep elk on the public land and avoid damage complaints and payments.

More than 100,000 visitors to Oak Creek view the elk at the headquarters feeding site each winter.

WDFW may conduct more antler auctions at 3-to-5-year intervals as more shed antlers are collected from winter feeding sites.

Seven years after a dramatic rescue on Mount Rainier that included a helicopter crash, two local men were finally honored this morning in Washington D.C. for their heroics.
Climbing legend Dave Hahn received the Citizen’s Award for Bravery and Mount Rainier climbing ranger Chris Olson received the Valor Award from the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Ken Salazar, secretary of the interior, presented the awards.

So, what, took so long?

“The simple explanation is they were never nominated until now,” said Chuck Young, Rainier’s chief ranger. “… But the passage of time definitely does not diminish this.”

The men were finally nominated after Phill Michael of Edmonton won the Citizen’s Award for Bravery last year for rescuing two ill-equipped climbers on Rainier’s Muir Snowfield in 2007.

“Afterward Mike Gauthier (former chief of the Rainier climbing ranger program) relayed to me some of the rescues that took place here in the past,” said Young, who has worked at Rainier since 2006.

After hearing the stories, Young and Gauthier nominated several people for various rescues.

A panel in Washington D.C. picked Hahn and Olson for the awards.

On June 25, 2002, a climber was injured by a falling rock on the challenging Liberty Ridge route. As the helicopter approached the glacier below the ridge with Hahn and Olson it crashed.

Olson was struck by part of an engine that broke through the roof of the chopper. He was covered in oil, but was able to help Hahn rescue the pilot. The climbers then ascended the ridge with rangers who were already on site and rescued the climber.

“The efforts these two individuals took to complete the rescue of the critically injured climber during the 2002 climbing season was nothing short of extraordinary,” Young said in a prepared statement. “… Even after surviving the crash of the helicopter … and helping with the rescue of the injured pilot, they continued on with their mission to successfully complete the rescue at an extremely hazardous area of the mountain.”

Hahn was unable to attend the ceremony because he is currently guiding climbers on Mount Everest. Hahn, who guides for Ashford companies Rainier Mountaineering Inc. and International Mountain Guides, holds the U.S. record with 10 Everest summits.

The Valor Award is presented to Department of the Interior employees and the Citizen's Award for Bravery is for private citizens who risk their lives to save other people.

In June, Mount Rainier National Park will announce to its staff that the climbing program has won a safety award from the Department of the Interior. The award will be shared with the Rainier guide services and Tacoma Mountain Rescue.

While spring showers add vigor to new flower blossoms and budding tree leaves here in the lowlands, it looks more like winter at higher elevations.

This is the Webcam view looking east from the Jackson Visitor Center at Mount Rainier National Park.

The Paradise area at Mount Rainier National Park has received more than 12 inches of snow in the last 24 hours, according to weather station telemetry. The latest reading shows there are now 160 inches on the ground.

That is good news for folks who may want to ski, board or snowshoe in some fresh snow, but I'm sure it makes life difficult for those folks trying to get the Paradise Inn ready to open for the season. The inn is scheduled to reopen on May 15.

Dave Hahn and Chris Olson were honored today in Washington D.C. for their part in a 2002 rescue. Hahn won the Citizen's Award for Bravery and Mount Rainier climbing ranger Chris Olson received the Valor Award from the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Hahn could not attend the ceremony because he is climbing on Mount Everest.

Here's the story we did on the rescue in 2002:

BY SKIP CARD and STEFANO ESPOSITO
The News Tribune

When the rescue helicopter lost its tail rotor, yanking it off Mount Rainier's Carbon Glacier and sending it spinning madly, mountain guide Dave Hahn could only hang on and hope.

"It started spinning faster and harder, and it was obvious we were going down," Hahn said a day after Tuesday's accident. "There was a moment or two when I thought I was dead."

In the end, Hahn walked away without a scratch.

Also unhurt were the chartered helicopter's pilot, whose name was not released, and climbing ranger Chris Olson, who ducked his head moments before the craft's transmission crashed through the roof.

Details of the high-altitude accident emerged Wednesday as shaken participants gave eyewitness accounts, investigators prepared to study the cause of the crash and crews planned to lift the wreckage off the mountain.

The crash of the single-engine Bell Jet Ranger helicopter occurred as a second set of rescuers hurried to the aid of Jesse Whitcomb, a Pennsylvania teenager who had been hit in the head by a falling boulder while climbing Mount Rainier's Liberty Ridge.

Pages: 1 2 3 4

Here's our story from Phill Michael's 2007 rescue on Rainier. He was the first person involved in a rescue on Rainier to win the Citizen's Award for Bravery.

His award inspired park officials to nominated past rescues for the honor.

BY CRAIG HILL
The News Tribune

Phill Michael couldn't see much as whiteout conditions descended on Mount Rainier on Sept. 16, 2007. He also had no idea what he heard in the distance was about to make him a hero.

As Michael descended from the summit to the Muir Snowfield he heard the voices of two ill-equipped hikers.

"I heard a woman saying 'We should have brought a better map,' " Michael said, "and a man who was vomiting and saying 'We are going to die.' "

The hikers might have been right had they not run into Michael. He built a shelter, and the three waited out the conditions for two and a half days before walking to safety.

On Tuesday, Michael will be in Washington, D.C., to receive the Citizens Award for Bravery from the Department of the Interior. The department presents the award annually to citizens who perform heroic acts in the face of danger.

Michael was nominated for the award by officials at Mount Rainier National Park.

"I don't really think of myself as a hero," Michael said. "I don't need an award, but if they're going to offer it to me, I guess I'll accept it."

Michael almost wasn't there to perform the rescue.

In 2003, he needed open-heart surgery to correct aortic valve disease that would have prevented him from leading an active lifestyle.

He's made the most of life since the surgery, making his own wine, kayaking, taking long-distance motorcycle trips and climbing mountains. He plans to start a quest to climb the highest summit on each continent next week when he leaves for Alaska to climb Denali.

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The state just announced that recreational shrimp fishing will close in all waters of Marine Areas 9 and 10, which include the Edmonds and Seattle area shrimp fishing grounds, at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Species affected: All shrimp

Reason for action: The recreational spot shrimp quota has been reached in both areas.

Other information: If sufficient quota remains after Wednesday, Marine Area 10 (or a portion thereof) could reopen for one day later this month.

Local shrimping: Marine Area 11 (from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to the northern tip of Vsahon Island) is closed.

From Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument:

The Johnston Ridge Observatory will reopen for the season on Sunday, May 17. The visitor center will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through October. Admission to Johnston Ridge and Coldwater Lake is $8 per person, kids 15 and under are free.

The reopening of State Route 504 and Johnston Ridge will restore access to a monument that has been largely inaccessible due to roads blocked by snow.
Visitors will be able to gaze into the crater and view North America’s youngest glacier and learn how the landscape was reshaped by the 1980 eruption. The visitor center offers live seismographs, geologic exhibits, 16-minute eruption movie, ranger-talks, and bookstore.

=> Read more!

Hurricane Ridge Road at Olympic National Park is scheduled to open for the summer season Thursday. If the weather allows, the road will be open seven days a week and 24 hours a day from May 7 through Nov. 1.

Nearly 90 inches of snow still blankets Hurricane Ridge however, and snow showers are predicted this week, so visitors should call the park’s Road and Weather Hotline at 360-565-3131 or stop by the Olympic National Park Visitor Center for current information about road and weather conditions. The visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Travelers need to be aware that the Hood Canal Bridge is closed for another five-plus weeks. They will need to find an alternative route around the closure.

Hurricane Ridge is located 17 miles south of Port Angeles at an elevation of 5,242 feet.

Click here for information about visiting Hurricane Ridge. You can find it within the “Plan Your Visit” section.

Razor clam fans may get two more days of digging this season.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife said if marine toxin tests are favorable, Long Beach and Twin Harbors will open Saturday and Sunday, while Copalis and Mocrocks will open Saturday only. Kalaloch Beach remains closed.

The final decision will be announced once test results show whether the clams are safe to eat.

The following digs are tentatively scheduled on morning tides, with no digging allowed after noon.

The low tide times are: Saturday, 7:23 a.m., -1.2 feet, and Sunday, 8:02 a.m., -1.2 feet.

Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager, said the department was able to offer one more dig because there are sufficient clams remaining in the total allowable catch for those beaches.

The Mount St. Helens Institute has announced that Bill Nye, the Science Guy, will be on hand May 16 to help celebrate the season opening of the Johnston Ridge Observatory at Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

Nye’s appearance is part of “It’s a Blast: Volcano Science in Your Backyard!” Acitivities will be held throughout the day. Nye is scheduled to give a presenation from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. There also will be guided walks, presentations by monument scientists and a silent auction.

Tickets are $10 per person, children 8 and under are free, or $35 per person for admission that includes the Nye presentation. Proceeds will support the new “Feel the Pulse of an Active Volcano” exhibit which is in development and will be introduced in May 2010.

Click here for tickets.

As promised in this morning's News Tribune here is a 16-week training guide provided by Tacoma City Marathon organizer Paul Morrison.

16-week Marathon Training Guide

Here's a link to one of the most inspirational stories from today's Tacoma City Marathon.

- Team "Pray for Kay"

From the NFS:

Pilchuck Mountain Road is closed at Heather Lake trailhead, Forest Service Road milepost 1.5, blocking access to Mt. Pilchuck Trail. Although clear at the gate, snow blocks the road a mile further up, causing vehicles to get stuck. Snow also covers the trail, putting hikers at risk for getting lost.