BY CRAIG HILL
The News Tribune

Tacoma is set to get a second indoor venue for rock climbers by the middle of October.

Vertical World, the state’s largest rock gym chain, plans to open a bouldering gym at 102 South 24th Street in the building previously occupied by Action Business Furniture.

The bouldering facility will not have roped-climbing and will be part of the company’s manufacturing facility, said Vertical World owner Rich Johnston.

“This kind of came through the back door,” said Johnston. “We were just looking at putting our wall manufacturing in Tacoma.”

Johnston wanted to move the facility in order to accommodate Ryan Spence, his wall-building specialist. Spence lives in Tacoma and was tired of commuting to Seattle, Johnston said.

The 8,000-square-foot building in Tacoma is four times larger than its current manufacturing site in Seattle and larger than Johnston needed.

“So, we said, let’s open a bouldering gym,” Johnston said.

In addition to operating rock gyms in Bremerton, Redmond, Seattle and Everett, Vertical World manufactures climbing walls for schools and other climbing gyms. Vertical World built the climbing wall for the set of MTV’s 1998 show “The Real World: Seattle” as well as Tacoma’s short-lived Thrill-Zone Extreme Sports Center.

Vertical World opened in 1989 in Seattle and claims to be the country’s first rock gym.

Vertical World will be Tacoma’s second climbing gym.
Edgeworks has been the mainstay of the Tacoma rock gym scene since 2004 when Tod Bloxham opened the 9,500-square-foot gym at 6102 N. Ninth St.

Edgeworks offers a bouldering area but also has climbing walls for roped climbing.

“I don’t want to cannibalize his business,” Johnston said of Edgeworks. “A bouldering gym is pretty limited. He’s a roped gym with full programs for schools. This is more for the bouldering crowd.”

Johnston said construction of the bouldering facility should go smoothly considering it’s in the same building as the manufacturing plant.

“No shipping,” Johnston said. “He (Spence) just has to walk a few feet.”

Rates and an exact opening date have not been set, but Johnston said the facilities progress will be updated on his website, verticalworld.com

I was out of town on assignment last week, but wanted to post this notice on the closure of salmon fishing in Marine Area 1. It's the lone downside to a season of great fishing in the area.

Action: Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) closes to salmon fishing.

Effective dates: 12:01 a.m. Tuesday

Species affected: All salmon

Location: Marine Area 1 from Leadbetter Point to Cape Falcon Oregon.

Reasons for action: The salmon quota for Marine Area 1 will have been taken.

Other Information: Marine areas 2, 3, 4, and Buoy 10 will remain open.

From North Cascades NP:

The Cascade River Road in North Cascades National Park will close to vehicular traffic at Hard Creek Bridge (MP 12.7) beginning on Sept. 1. The road will be open September 5-7 during the holiday weekend. The road will be closed again on September 8 through project completion in mid-October. Any cars left up-valley of the construction will not be able to exit Cascade River Road until the project is complete.

Foot or bicycle traffic may be allowed, but may encounter delays and must obey direction provided by construction crews to ensure their safety through the construction zone.

FHWA will be closing the road to accommodate bridge installation and permanent road repairs. The Cascade River Road provides access to Johannesburg Camp and the Cascade Pass Trail.

For additional information about the Cascade Pass Trail, call 360-854-7245 or visit http://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/cascade-pass-trail.htm

All overnight stays in the backcountry require a free permit, which must be obtained in person and is issued on a first come first served basis.

Mount Rainier National Park officials are warning hikers and climbers that the Muir Snowfield has melted out early this season adding additional challenges to the route to Camp Muir.

According to a statement released by the park today there is exposed bare glacier ice and crevasses above 8,200 feet on the route. The steep slope - 25-30 degrees in some areas could make the route slippery and hazardous.

According to the park's statement, "There have been numerous cases this year of slips that have caused fairly severe abrasions. Also this year, the exposed ice from 9,500 feet to 10,100 feet has opened up crevasses that require skill and care in safely picking out circuitous routes which avoid the open cracks in the ice. Over the years, people have found themselves injured by falling in the crevasses or left dangling above them."

If you are planning to hike to Camp Muir, park officials recommend doing the following:

- Get the latest route conditions at the Climbing Information Center in Paradise (360-569-6009) or the Wilderness Information Center in Longmire (360-569-HIKE, 360-569-4453).

- Carry and use crampons and an ice axe.

- Cover all skin with durable full-length pants and long-sleeve shirts.

- Download the Muir Route Bearing Sheet.

- Carry a map, GPS, and compass, and know how to use them. Track your route on the way up, trackback on the descent.

- Travel to Camp Muir with someone.

- The only anchors that work in the glacier ice are ice screws, should you choose to belay over the crevasses with a short section of rope.

- Get up-to-date forecasts and prepare for cold, wet weather.

The state Fish and Wildlife Commission plans to select a new director for the Department of Fish and Wildlife when it meets Sept. 11-12 in Olympia.

The commission, after interviewing six candidates Wednesday and Thursday, after narrowed the field to two finalists, a commission news release said.

The finalists' references and backgrounds will be checked over the next couple of weeks, according to commission chairwoman Miranda Wecker.

Former director Jeff Koenings resigned last December after serving for a decade. Since then, Phil Anderson has served as interim director.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to hold public meetings next week to discuss green-dot road management on several central Washington wildlife areas. Since the meetings will take place before the next Adventure section prints, I posted the info here:

Green-dot road systems are those where only roads marked by circular green reflectors are open to motor vehicles.

Department wildlife area managers Condi Confer, Shana Winegeart and Pete Lopushinksy are seeking input on proposals to change the number of green-dot roads on the Wenas and Colockum wildlife areas, and on acreage in the Skookumchuck and Parke Creek areas of the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area.

Wildlife area citizen advisory groups and several sportsmen's organizations have been reviewing the proposals that will be discussed in the public meetings.

The meetings, which all begin at 6 p.m., will take place:

Tuesday: In Ellensburg, at the Hal Holmes Center, 209 N. Ruby Street
Wednesday: In Selah, at the Selah Civic Center, 216 S. First St.
Thursday: In Wenatchee, at the Campus Theater in Wells Hall on the Wenatchee Valley College Campus, 1300 Fifth St.

Final green-dot road plans and maps will be completed in time for roads to be posted for the beginning of hunting seasons.

Here is a roundup of wildfires on national park land in Washington. The information comes from the National Park Service’s “Morning Report”:

North Cascades

About 646 acres are currently burning in the North Cascades National Park Complex. The largest fires being managed for resource benefit are: The Panther Creek Fire (220 acres), Elija Fire (353 acres), and the Brush Creek Fire (66 acres) in the Moon Complex. Fires being managed with suppression tactics include: The Cascade Fire (2 acres) in the Panther Complex near Ruby Mountain and the four fires in the Crapper Complex (2.7 acres total) near the Newhalem Creek.

Twelve fires, ranging in size from a single tree to 350 acres, have been burning in the North Cascades National Park Complex since late June. All 12fires were started by lightning. Five of these fires are being managed with suppression tactics to protect the public, and infrastructure in the area. The other seven fires are being managed for resource benefits.
Full containtainment is expected by Oct. 1

Olympic

Fire managers observed minimal fire activity when they flew over the Heatwave Complex fires on Tuesday. Five fires in the Heatwave Complex continue to creep and smolder. Constance fire (started July 11, 438 acres) still showing active smoke on Tuesday less than 5 percent of the perimeter is active. The 10 Mile fire (June 13, 492 acres) increased fire and smoke activity observed was observed Tuesday on the west side of the fire where it continues to burn downslope along the Duckabush River. Approximately 10 to 15 percent of the perimeter is active. Buckinghorse fire (July 29, 324 acres) is still showing active smoke. Approximately 1 percent of the perimeter is active. Knife Fire (July 29, 140 acres) is still showing active smoke, approximately 1 percent of the perimeter is active. Solduc fire (July 29, 4 acres), no visible smoke.

Seven additional fires remain inactive, all are 0.1 acres in size: Dose (July 11), Second Column, Five Ridge (July 28), Morganroth (July 29), Long (July 29), Wilder One (July 29) and Wilder Two.
Full containment is not expected until the end of the fire season

Mount Rainier

Two small fires on the report earlier this month were not listed in this morning's report.

Hurricane Ridge Road will reopen today at 2 p.m. according to statement released moments ago by Olympic National Park.

Click below to read the statement.

=> Read more!

Hurricane Ridge Road remains closed through at least noon today as the park continues dealing with a slow rockfall onto the road.

“The amount of rocks falling into the road decreased today, and our crew has begun improvements to the existing rock berm at the base of the rockfall chute,” said Sue McGill, Olympic National Park deputy superintendent, said Tuesday in a news release. “Staff will continue to closely monitor the situation and hope to complete improvements to the berm early (today). If all goes as planned, we hope to be able to open the road sometime (this) afternoon.”

The rockfall originates on a steep slope high above the road and follows a winter avalanche chute about nine miles south of Port Angeles and four miles above the Heart o’the Hills entrance station, said the park news release.

The Hurricane Ridge Road was closed on Sunday after rangers observed a continuous and steady stream of falling rocks and gravel on both Saturday and Sunday. Rocks have continued to fall since then.

Members of the park maintenance staff flew over the site Tuesday and were able to better observe the summit and upper slope of the rockfall chute. A Federal Highway Administration engineering geologist also visited the site Tuesday. Based on their observations, short-term improvements will be made to the existing rock barrier along the roadway, while long term plans can be made.

Click here for updates on the road's status or call the Olympic National Park Visitor Center at 360-565-3130 or the recorded Road and Weather Hotline at 360-565-3131.

Hurricane Ridge Road is closed today because of a slow but continuous rockfall onto the road,Olympic National Park officials said. If necessary, the road may remain closed longer, but park staff are currently assessing the situation and studying alternatives for reopening the road as soon as it is safe to do so.

"With a steady stream of gravel mixed with large rocks rolling and bouncing onto the road, safety concerns dictate this temporary closure," said Sue McGill, deputy park superintendent, in a news release.

The slide, which followed a winter avalanche chute, is located just
above the road's third and highest tunnel, about nine miles south of Port
Angeles, and originates on a steep slope high above the road. Falling
rocks were observed on Saturday, continuing through the day on Sunday and
leading rangers to close the road Sunday afternoon.

Park staff is working with the Federal Highway Administration to assess the situation and will fly over the site today to better inspect the summit and upper slope of the rockfall chute.

For information about alternative destinations within the park, people may go to the park Web site or call the Olympic National Park Visitor Center at 360-565-3130. The recorded Road and Weather Hotline is updated throughout the day with changes and can be reached by calling 360-565-3131.

The state Fish and Wildlife Commission is schedule to interview Wednesday and Thursday candidates for the department director position.

There are six candidates being interviewed. The candidate names and personal information are confidential, according to a commission spokeswoman.

The six were recommended by the state Department of Personnel as the top qualifiers based on the job recruitment announcement and job description approved by the commission a few months ago.

According to the notice from the commission’s office, the public is not permitted to attend the interviews, which will be conducted during executive session.

The public portions of this meeting will be recorded and the audio will be posted on the Internet by the day after adjournment. To listen to the audio afterwards, visit www.wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings.html.

The commission began its search for a new director earlier this summer, after the Legislature met and finalized budgets. Phil Anderson has been serving as the interim director since Jeff Koenings stepped down last December.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission met earlier today and set harvest limits for that state's first public wolf hunting season to begin later this fall.

I know a lot of South Sound residents like to hunt in Idaho, so I thought I would pass along the news release that was just sent out:

Fish and Game models indicate Idaho now has at least 1,000 wolves. The population increases at a rate of about 20 percent a year, without hunting.

The commissioners adopted a strategy that would help meet the state’s wolf population objective, as outlined in the 2008 Idaho Wolf Population Management Plan.

Hunters will be allowed to take up to 220 wolves this fall and winter. Wolf tags go on sale at 10 a.m. Aug. 24, at all license vendors. A resident tag costs $11.75, and a nonresident tag costs $186.

One of the commission’s top considerations is retaining state management of Idaho’s growing wolf population. Idaho has an approved wolf management plan, developed with public involvement. The plan was approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and found acceptable by a federal judge.

The commissioners’ decision is consistent with the population goals set out in the plan.

In 1995 and 1996, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service introduced 35 wolves to central Idaho. Since then they have increased in numbers and expanded their distribution.

Fish and Game has a responsibility to manage those wolves in balance with their prey and their habitat – just as the agency manages other fish and wildlife species. As with other species, hunting seasons on wolves would be part of managing the population.

A wolf hunting season gives Idaho Fish and Game an opportunity to learn how public hunting fits into managing wolves. As Fish and Game learns how effective regulated hunting is, seasons can be adjusted in areas where wolves are causing unacceptable problems for big game herds or domestic livestock.

Wolf managers will use the harvest limits the same way already used effectively with other species that Fish and Game manages. When limits are reached, the season ends.

The commissioners set harvest limits for each of the state’s 12 wolf management zones. When the limit is reached in a zone, the season would close in that zone.

Commissioners want to manage the wolf population toward the 2005 level of 520 wolves through regulated hunting (five-times higher than the federal recovery goal). The 2005 wolf population figure was used as a target number because wolf conflicts both with wildlife and livestock increased significantly that year.

Wolves in Idaho and Montana were removed from the endangered species list in May and have been managed under state law since then. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s rule delisting wolves, however, faces challenges in federal court. The outcome of those challenges could affect Idaho wolf hunting season.

Two Webcams have been set up to monitor the Langille Fire on the Cowlitz Ranger District in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Click here to see the images.

Camera 1 is located 7 miles north of the Langille Fire. Camera 2 is located 2 ½ miles to the southwest of the fire.

According to the Web site, the cameras let fire managers keep an eye on strategic areas that are difficult to access by foot and expensive to monitor by helicopter. Managers can pan/tilt/zoom the cameras to look closely at features of interest.

The Web site also includes a photo gallery from the fire.

Well, the new record single-day steelhead tally at Bonneville Dam didn't last long.

In fact, we've seen records set on three consecutive days this week, according to the state's Joe Hymer. He said 34,054 fish were counted at Bonneville Dam Thursday, topping record counts set Tuesday and Wednesday. The previous record before this week was 14,432 fish on Aug. 3, 2001.

The count on Wednesday was 28,314 steelhead and 18,671 on Tuesday.

The pre-season forecast was 352,000 upriver summer run steelhead.

He also said the first pink of the season was counted on Thursday.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is stepping up enforcement patrols and considering additional restrictions in the Strait of Juan de Fuca after discovering numerous anglers have breaking regulations designed to protect wild salmon.

Fishing for chinook in marine areas 5 (Sekiu) and 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) closed Aug. 7. However, state fish samplers and enforcement officers have encountered dozens of anglers with chinook, said Pat Pattillo, salmon policy coordinator for the department.

"We closed chinook retention in marine areas 5 and 6 early to avoid further impacts to wild chinook salmon," Pattillo said in a news release. "If compliance in those two marine areas doesn't improve, we'll be forced to consider additional restrictions to protect wild salmon."

Currently, marine areas 5 and 6 are open seven days a week for hatchery coho and pink salmon. Hatchery chinook retention in the two marine areas ended nine days earlier than scheduled because anglers had caught and released more wild chinook than were forecast in the pre-season estimates.

Pattillo said a number of anglers recently have been checked at the docks with undersized chinook they misidentified as pink salmon. He encourages anglers to release salmon they can't positively identify.

You can click here for descriptions of each salmon species or find them pages 72 and 73 of the "Fishing in Washington" sport fishing rules pamphlet.

Anglers also can ask the department's dockside fish samplers for a salmon identification card before heading out on the water.

"Anglers are responsible for correctly identifying their catch, so it's important that they take the time to learn the differences between each salmon species before going fishing," said Mike Cenci, deputy chief of enforcement, in the release. "People who fail to learn the difference - or simply ignore the rules – are jeopardizing the resource and putting fishing seasons at risk for everyone."

I had the incorrect date for the astronomy program at Mount Rainier. Ranger Mike Punches will give his presentation at 9 p.m. Friday, followed by viewing through telescopes provided by members of the Tacoma Astronomical Society.

Here is a corrected version of the story:

Friday will be a night of celestial treats, if the weather cooperates, and Mount Rainier National Park will be one of the best places to be.

The evening will begin with the program “Stargazing at Paradise.” Ranger Michael Punches will start with a 30-minute presentation in the lobby of the Paradise Inn at 9 p.m. Afterwards, visitors can join members of the Tacoma Astronomy Society for stargazing through telescopes in front of the Jackson Visitor Center.

As an added bonus, the program coincides with the Perseids meteor shower. While the shower peaked Wednesday, there still will be plenty to see, said Michael Bakich, senior editor of Astronomy magazine.

“If there were no moon, you would see 60 to 80 an hour (at the peak),” Bakich said. “On (Friday) there will be 35 to 40 an hour.”

Whether at the park or at some other dark location, Bakich said the best viewing will be before the moon rises around 1 a.m. He said to look about halfway up the sky to the east.

Bakich also cautioned observers ers not to get frustrated if you miss a meteor.

“If you miss one, wait a couple of minutes and you’ll see one,” he said. “The Perseids are pretty cool, many of them leave smoke trails. Even if you miss it, but people are still pointing, look where they’re pointing and you can see the smoke trail.”

The fun won’t stop with the meteor shower. Jupiter will be in opposition with the sun, meaning it will be its biggest and brightest since October 1999.

While the gas giant will rise at sunset, the best viewing will be after 10 p.m., when it rises above the lower atmosphere in the southeast sky.

If that doesn’t sound like enough, you can start your sky viewing in the early hours of Saturday.

That is when the moon will pass in front of the Pleiades star cluster, Bakich said. The event will start around 1 a.m. and lasts about three hours. The Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters, is one of the brightest star clusters in the night sky.

“The best way to view it is through binoculars or a telescope with a fairly wide field of view,” he said.

Here is Chester Allen's previous story on the pink salmon run that ran on July 9.

Prepare for the pinks
An estimated 5.1 million pink salmon will soon return to the Puget Sound area. Here's what you need to know if you plan to catch some.

Western Washington anglers are on the verge of a salmon-soaked summer.

By Chester Allen
The Olympian

An estimated 5.1 million pink salmon will return to Puget Sound - and Puget Sound rivers. Huge schools of pink salmon, which average 3 to 5 pounds, will begin swarming into Puget Sound within the next few weeks.

Angling for bright pinks in Puget Sound saltwater should be hot from Redondo south to Browns Point at the mouth of Commencement Bay starting in August.

This run of pinks, which return to Washington rivers every other year, is 2 million more than the now-legendary run of 2007.

The fishing should be hot, said Steve Thiesfeld, state Department of Fish and Wildlife Puget Sound salmon manager.

"The sheer volume of fish is incredible," Thiesfeld said. "That's why people like pink salmon - the idea of going out and catching many fish during an outing is fun, and it's a great time to take children out salmon fishing."

=> Read more!

Joe Hymer of the State Department of Fish and Wildlife just sent out this note about the steelhead count at Bonneville Dam:

"Unless someone had fat fingers, there is a new record daily count of steelhead at Bonneville Dam – 18,671 fish yesterday! The previous record that I could find back to when counts began in 1938 was 14,432 fish on August 3, 2001."

So far this year, 196,041 steelhead have been counted at the dam. Of those, 79,050 have been wild fish.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Here is a Webcam image from Bonneville Dam showing fish migrating through the fish ladder.

Lake Wenatchee will closes for sockeye salmon fishing one hour after official sunset Tuesday, the state just announced.

Sockeye mortality, both substantial and unexpected, has occurred during migration up the Wenatchee River due to high water temperatures. As a result, sufficient numbers of sockeye are not available to continue the Lake Wenatchee sport-fishing season.

To date, anglers have harvested 2,040 sockeye from Lake Wenatchee, according to a news release. The remaining fish will be allowed to escape capture and spawn, ensuring fish for the future.

An icefall is being blamed for the death of a well known Colorado climber early Sunday at North Cascades National Park, according to a news release just sent out.

Craig Luebben, 49, of Golden, Colo., and Guillermo Benegas of Sandy, Utah, were beginning the Torment-Forbidden Traverse, which is an alpine rock ridge traverse connecting the two peak summits. The climb begins with an ascent of Mount Torment.

Having ascended most of the Taboo Glacier on approach to Mount Torment’s southeast face, the two climbers were negotiating a huge gap between two sections of ice called a bergshrund. When Luebben moved onto the upper section of glacier, a 100-foot tall, 20-foot wide and 10-foot deep piece of ice broke off taking Luebben with it.

While a single cam device held his fall, Luebben still fell approximately 40 feet and was critically injured by falling ice. Pieces of ice also hit Benegas, but he was able to position Luebben on a ledge and scramble to a location where he could call 911 with a cell phone.

National Park Service rangers were transported to the scene by via helicopter and preceded with a recovery and rescue of the two climbers.

Luebben was a well known and accomplished climber, Everest guide and author, having first ascents in Yosemite, Rocky Mountain, Zion and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Parks.

From Olympic National Park:

The spread of Olympic National Park’s five active fires has slowed due to cooler, moister weather, but extended dry periods and predicted warmer fall weather could produce fire behavior similar to what was observed previously.

“While fire spread is currently minimal, we are continuously assessing conditions and weather forecasts. We will alter our strategies as needed,”
said Incident Commander Roy Hall.

Fire officials will hold a public meeting at the Brinnon Community Center on Friday evening, August 7, at 6:00 p.m. and will present information about future expectations, weather predictions, and fire effects on the forest ecosystem.

The majority of the Heatwave Complex Fires are located in inaccessible areas of Olympic National Park and the Olympic National Forest. None of the fires currently pose immediate threats to life, safety, and property. They are being managed in order to maximize the ecological benefit of naturally occurring wildfire. Firefighters and helicopters continue work on the Constance fire to prevent spread to the east.

Within the fires, burn severity is not uniform. There are some patches of forest where the overstory is burned, some slightly affected and some apparently unaffected at this time. Naturally occurring fire is vital to maintaining ecological diversity throughout the Park. Fire plays an important natural role by releasing nutrients that stimulate new plant growth and create a mosaic of diversity in vegetation communities.

The Dosewallips Road/Trail is CLOSED at the Olympic National Forest’s Elkhorn Campground due to the Constance Fire because the fire is releasing burning logs and debris downslope onto the road/trail. This closure includes the Lake Constance Trail, The Main Fork Dosewallips to Greywolf Pass Junction, West Fork Dosewallips to Honeymoon Meadows, and Constance Pass/Home Lake access from Boulder Shelter Camp (USFS) on the Upper Dungeness.

The Duckabush Trail is CLOSED from the trailhead to the LaCrosse Pass junction due to the Tenmile Fire.

There is currently an open FIRE BAN throughout the park (stoves permitted).
The only exceptions are at the coast, where all open fires must be placed below the high tide line; and in fire rings in frontcountry campgrounds.

For folks who like to fish in Marine Area 1, the state just sent this out:

Action: Open recreational fishing for halibut in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco).

Effective date: Open 12:01 a.m. Aug. 7, 2009 until quota has been reached. Open only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Species affected: Pacific halibut.

Location: Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)

Reason for action: This rule conforms to federal action taken by Pacific Fishery Management Council. There is sufficient recreational quota to provide for these fishing days.

Other Information: Retention of bottomfish except sablefish and Pacific cod, is prohibited when halibut are onboard the vessel. Recreational halibut fishing is closed in all other marine areas with the exception of the northern nearshore area, located between Grays Harbor and the Queets River in Marine Area 2 (Westport/Ocean Shores). That area will remain open to halibut fishing Thursdays through Sundays until the remaining quota is taken.

No other bottom fish may be retained or landed - except sablefish and Pacific cod - if halibut are onboard the vessel.

From the Associated Press:

Note that of Washington's 9.2 million acres of national forest, 2 million are designated roadless areas.

BY MATTHEW DALY
The Associated Press

A federal appeals court Wednesday blocked road construction in more than 50 million acres of pristine national forests.

The decision by a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstates a 2001 rule put in place by President Bill Clinton just before he left office that prohibited commercial logging, mining and other development on 58.5 million acres of national forest in 38 states and Puerto Rico. A subsequent Bush administration rule had cleared the way for more commercial activity there.

=> Read more!

The state has announced that anglers in Marine Areas 5 and 6 will be requires to release chinook salmon. The rule change takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday.

The state said the reason for the change was wild fish mortalities have exceeded pre-season expectations in the two areas, Sekiu and Port Angeles.

Salmon fishing will remain open for hatchery coho and pink salmon. The daily limit is two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon. All chinook and chum salmon must be released, and all wild coho salmon must be released.

The staff at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge continue to offer free interpretive programs on Saturdays and Sundays.

The programs include discussions of the plants and birds at the refuge, talks about the history of the area, nature and wildlife photography clinics and a slideshow on the national wildlife refuge system.

The guided walks depart from the visitor center flag pole, and talks are held in the visitor center auditorium. Walking trails are smooth and level. There is no charge for programs, but the $3 per family refuge entrance fee still applies. The programs last one to two hours.

The refuge is located off Interstate 5 at Exit 114. The refuge is open from sunrise to sunset. For more information, contact Jackie LaRue at (360) 753-9467 or jackie_larue@fws.gov.

Program Details

Quiet Beauty: the Plants of Nisqually NWR is an easy hike exploring the plants of the Refuge.

Take Flight: the Birds of Nisqually NWR is an easy hike focusing on the sights and sounds of the birds on the Refuge (beginner/intermediate level birding walk).

The Wonder of Nisqually is an easy hike exploring both flora and fauna around the Refuge.

Historic Nisqually walks are about the influential human history that occurred within the Refuge boundary: the controversial Medicine Creek Treaty and/or the long-standing, landscape altering farm history that started with the Brown Farm days. Program may be an easy walk or a slide show, dependant on the presenter.

Introduction to Nature and Wildlife Photography is an easy hike that will explore the Refuge through the lens of your camera. An amateur nature/wildlife photographer and Refuge volunteer will lead this general introduction photography walk.

America’s National Wildlife Refuge System is a slideshow presentation.

Here are the remaining programs:

AUGUST

Saturday, August 8, 8:00 am Take Flight
Sunday, August 9, 10:00 am Wonder of Nisqually

Saturday, August 15, 8:30 am Take Flight
Sunday, August 16, 1:00 pm Historic Nisqually: Medicine Creek Treaty (outdoor walk)

Saturday, August 22, 11:00 am Historic Nisqually: Medicine Creek Treaty (outdoor walk)
Sunday, August 23, 10:00 am Wonder of Nisqually

Saturday, August 29, 10:00 am Wonder of Nisqually
Sunday, August 30, 1:00 pm America’s National Wildlife Refuge System

SEPTEMBER
Saturday, September 5, 8:30 am Take Flight
Sunday, September 6, 1:00 pm America’s National Wildlife Refuge System

Saturday, September 12, 1:00 pm Historic Nisqually: The Farming Days (indoor
presentation)
Sunday, September 13, 8:00 am Introduction to Nature and Wildlife Photography

Saturday September 19, 11:00 am Historic Nisqually: Medicine Creek Treaty (outdoor walk)
Sunday, September 20, 1:00 pm Quiet Beauty

Saturday, September 26, 10:00 am-4:00 pm Nisqually Watershed Festival
Sunday, September 27, 1:00 pm Wonder of Nisqually

The state just announced the recreational hatchery chinook fishery in marine areas 5 and 6, Sekiu and eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca, will end at the end of the day Thursday. Anglers can still keep pink and hatchery coho salmon.

The two marine areas are closing nine days earlier than scheduled.

The decision was based on conservation concerns for wild chinook, which must be released if encountered by anglers, said Pat Pattillo, salmon policy coordinator for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, in a news release.

"With a very successful fishing season for hatchery chinook this year, anglers have caught and released more wild chinook than were forecast in the pre-season estimates," Pattillo said in the release. "We want to make sure we meet our conservation goals and avoid impacts to wild chinook."

Although the chinook fishery is winding down, anglers can continue to fish for pink and hatchery coho, which are starting to hit their peak, Pattillo said.

Salmon fishing in the two areas is open seven days a week for hatchery coho and pink salmon. The daily limit is two salmon, plus anglers may keep two additional pink salmon. All wild chinook and wild coho must be released. All chum must be released.

This was released a couple of hours ago by Olympic National Park:

Despite an onshore flow of cooler marine air in the lowlands of the Olympic Peninsula, very dry conditions continue in the upper elevations of Olympic National Park. Eight firefighters are now assigned to the Ten Mile Fire which straddles the Duckabush Trail on the southeast slopes of the Olympic Mountains.

Upslope winds accelerated spread of the Ten Mile fire; by the end of the day on Saturday, the fire was approximately 150 acres in size.

To protect visitor safety, Olympic National Park officials closed the Duckabush Trail from the La Crosse Pass trail junction to the park boundary. This adds to trail closures already in effect in the Dosewallips drainage where the Constance Fire continues to expand to the west.

Click "Trail Conditions" here for current information on all trail closures or call the park’s Wilderness Information Center at (360) 565-3100.

In addition to suppression activities on the Ten Mile Fire, on Sunday, 10 firefighters and two helicopters worked on the east and south sides of the Constance Fire, and one helicopter focused on mapping perimeters of the Heatwave Complex of fires.

Updated acreage information on all of the fires will be available here on Monday.

An interagency Type II fire team is enroute to the park and will assume
management oversight for the Heatwave Fire Complex on Tuesday,augmenting the park firefighting team, and enabling other park staff to return to their normal duties.

Superintendent Karen Gustin noted that “conditions are changing daily, and we appreciate the public’s understanding during this time. Do not hesitate to access the Web for current information.”