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.