Rock Mt., Mt. Howard, Mastiff Ski Traverse - 4/27/08

Drew called Saturday morning while I was rigging rods on the Yakima River and asked if I was up for a ski tour on Sunday. After a little pep talk with myself I agreed. We meet at Hatchery Creek with our eyes on Big Jim. A quick drive up the road and we found trees down and patchy snow that we weren't into dealing with, so we changed plans and headed for the Rock Mt. area. Drew mentioned the Rock-Howard-Mastiff traverse as one idea. I agreed not fully understanding what this meant. We found travel quite easy as we ascended the South Ridge of Rock Mt. Patchy snow near the road led to good boot packing as we climbed. After reaching the point at which the ridge angle eases up we started skinning and a few stops ladder we were standing on top of Rock. A quick ski down to the lake and we started skinning east up a small ridge separating Rock from Howard. A 700 ft northeast facing bowl led us to the South Face of Howard and a 900 ft skin later we stood on top of Howard. A great ski to the northeast and we were standing under Mastiff. We took a break then made the easy traverse to the summit of Mastiff where we found a very tempting ski to Lost Lake. It turned out to temping and we skied northeast again nearly 1,400 ft to Lost Lake. A somewhat confusing skin to the south up a gully I had been down in the summer and I was hitting the wall. Drew helped solve the confusion of where to go and we continued to the summit ridge north of Merrit Lake where we finally could take the skins off for the day. A very pleasant ski down the ridge (stay ridge proper) and we were on the Merrit Lake trail head road. A little polling and we on the side of Hwy 2 hitching to the truck. Maybe the best ski traverse I've ever done and its in our back yard, very, very cool.

Yakima River Fly Fishing - 4/26/08

Ned, Dawn and I fished the Upper Canyon on Saturday. Once again fishing was pretty predictable with the focus being on the March Brown in the early afternoon. The water clarity was still quite good but the Tenaway was on the rise. We had very little luck (one whitefish) until 2pm when I landed a real nice Cut/Bow on a March Brown dry I had tied the day before. We pushed on after landing my fish looking for more feeding fish. Not to far down stream I spotted rising fish and I position the boat for Ned to get at them. Ned pricked one smaller fish and while he was changing up his pattern another larger fish started feeding just up river. One cast short of the mark then a perfect cast and Ned had another great fish on. He played him for a few minutes then I missed him with the net (sorry Ned.) A little fight later and he came unpinned. A great fight with a great fish. Blue Wings started coming off relatively thick and we changed up the rigs. Ned long distance released a few smaller fish while on the fly to end a warm Yakima River day.

Yakima River Fly Fishing - 4/25/08

Friday Rene joined me for a float on the Yakima River. After fishing yesterday I knew that we needed to be on good water around 1pm so we took our time and positioned ourselves within the pack of boats so that we would hit what I'm calling March Brown Riffle at 1pm. Fishing was slow threw the morning but I was able to hook one on a double bead Kaufmans Stone in green. Well what do you know, 1pm and the March Brown started coming off and the fish responded. I landed a few missed a lot and fished to a specific feeding fish for at least a half hour only to miss him on one take. Fun none the less. Started to see a few Blue Wings come off in the late afternoon but fishing slowed quickly after the March Brown hatch.

Yakima River Fly Fishing - 4/24/08

I ran over to the Yakima to catch some March Brown Mayfly action before the river blew up with the upcoming heat of the weekend. I didn't have anyone to fish with on Thursday the 24th so I moved slow all morning and didn't make it to the put in until 12:30. I rushed to get the boat in the water knowing that the hatch couldn't be far off. I push hard on the oars to make the first good riffle while keeping my eyes open for little brown sailboats in the riffles. After pulling in and rigging a dry fly setup I went about rigging the rest of the days rods. While doing so I looked up to see the March Brown hatch starting strong. I dove for my rod and ran up river. Not more that 5 casts later I was moving fish and within the hour I had landed 3 and missed countless more. After the hatch finished off the fishing went dead so I pushed on for the take out. A great day on the Yakima again.

Yakima River Fly Fishing - 4/19/08

I fished the Yakima with Aaron Opp today. Not a whole lot going on. We floated from Rinhart to Bighorn with no results. Water temps are still quite cold and very little bug life to be seen. Gin clear water didn't help much. Next time....

Redneck Rando Rally - 4/1/08

To finish off March mustache madness we figured we should do something over the top. Well we did and it was such a hit that it sounds like its going to be an annual thing, "The Redneck Rando Rally." About 12 of us lined up in front of the ski patrol a-frame to try our hand at a little redneckin. The shotgun went off and it was an all out dash for your gear then a beer in the hole, but don't cross the 3rd line until you had finished that beer. About a 1,000 feet of skinning brought you to a decision on which shooting station you wanted to go to, the radio tour or the diving board. Shoot your 5 clays at each station, drink another beer and then cross the finish line back at the a-frame. Pete own, of coarse but I wont the "I can shoot shit" award for hitting 7 of 10 clays, 5 of 5 at the diving board. Lots of fun. I cant wait until next year.