Washington Outdoor Adventure Journal

Snohomish Delta - Otter Island

2008-06-29T16:38:00.000-07:00

For a quick little guide training Steve, Theresa, Kiwi, Adrienne and I spent a morning paddling Snohomish Delta, Steamboat Slew and Otter Island. Once again the weather and company was perfect. This is an area that I have to spend more time. Lots of options and a real wilderness feel for how close to the city it is. A real nice place to paddle.

John Day Bass Fishing 6/22-28/08

2008-06-26T16:24:00.000-07:00

For what must be the first time my Dad, my brothers, Scott, Mike and myself along with a bunch of hulagins got out on a trip together. We had incedible weather, highs in the low 80's and lows in the 50's. The river was higher than we had seen in the past but the fishing was still quite good on the surface with most Bass hanging in slower water than the past. Lots of bass down there even a few small ones :)

Condor Buttress - Condoraphine Addiction

2008-05-11T16:11:00.000-07:00

Adrienne, Steph and I got up to Bath Tub Dome on May 11th to climb Condoraphimine Addiction. We found cold conditions with snow squalls and strong winds. In the end the weather let up and other than the wind the day turned out quite nice. We all enjoyed the climbing and found the route worthy of all the hype. Bring your slab shoes and brush up on your friction climbing before heading up that way.

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

2008-04-27T21:53:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-26T21:37:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-25T21:24:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-24T21:15:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-19T18:27:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-01T19:56:00.000-07:00

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.

Real Big Avalanche Cycle - 2/9/08

2008-02-09T19:41:00.000-08:00

This week we have been going threw a huge avalanche cycle in the Cascades. Snoqualmie, White and Stevens Pass have all been closed due to large slides cover the roads and we even had a house destroyed by a slide in the Kayler Glen development. The road cut on River Road slid last night covering the whole road with anywhere from 2 to 6 feet of debree. I spoke with Jim our naibor and said that in all the years his family has lived on Muletail Flats (something like 50 years) that slope hasn't slid.

Dirty Face Ski Tour - 1/9/08

2008-01-09T18:51:00.000-08:00

Drew, Steph, Mike, Adrienne and I finally got out to ski Dirty Face near Lake Wenatchee. After a bit of driving around scoping the parking situation we settled on parking in the Lake View area and sliding between a few houses on our way up the east shoulder of Dirt Face. About 3 hours of skinning threw old growth trees and trying to avoid avalanche run out zones and we were on the summit ridge. I cant believe the weather station works. The whole station was rime covered and nearly berried. A quick survey of the summit while trying not to be blown off the ridge found us quickly running for the cover of trees before turning fall line and skiing the eastern most avalanche path. We did a bit of ski cutting in the starting zone then skied one at a time to some cover on a small but broad ridge with a few trees. I couldn't help my self and continued on past the group, stopping just long enough for Mike to catch me before we hit the big pinch and work the remainder of the path as a group. What a great ski. Something like 4,000 feet of open bowls and stellar position. Next time I'd like to check out the ribs that run from the summit and provide access to both the right and left run outs.

Arrowhead Ski Tour - 1/8/08

2008-01-08T07:24:00.000-08:00

Once again Steph, Adrienne, Mike, Drew and myself got out to do a little ski touring on Arrowhead. With the DOT closing the usual parking spot for Arrowhead last year we had to do some looking around and planning to pull this one off. After meeting in the Nordic Center parking lot we decided on rolling the dice and using a small pull out just down from the railroad bridge. We ran across the road and scampered up the cut bank then quickly disappeared into what felt like a Christmas tree farm. A little work and some good route finding by Drew and we were on the old logging road access. We quickly made our way up the road and cut into the trees before the road crossed directly under the lower bowl. A quick contour around the the west edge of the bowl and we started to really climb. Steep, steep trees lead us to the ridge separating Arrowhead and Jim Hill. We turned east and found our selves on the summit of Arrowhead under relatively clear sky's and enjoying views of the Chiwakums. The snow stability wasn't very good as we started picking our way fall line right down towards the large rock feature I think the peak is named after. Good safe ski technique and we all enjoyed the glades without incident. Next time I think I'd like to ski the skiers left glades, maybe not as steep but they look more open. Below the upper glades we skied into the lower bowl we had avoided on the way up then followed the logging road to where we had seen a snow filled gully that lead us almost all the way to the railroad bridge. Next time I'll go to the bridge and find this gully for the easy way up.

Solstice Tree's Ski Tour - 12/21/08

2007-12-21T18:35:00.000-08:00

Mike, Pete, Drew, Adrienne, and I got out for a little steep and deep pow skiing. Drew took us to one of his favorite storm skiing spots, Solstice Tree's. About and hour and half of skinning threw large old growth we started to trend right towards the ridge. Drew said that there was good skiing to be had in both directions but right had slopes that were a little easier to control pre-ski. After topping out on the ridge under warm mid winter sun we packed up and let Pete get ahead for a quick photo opp. We found great fall line skiing threw open glades on the right side of a steep open face then trended left into the avalanche run-out zone. Deep, deep, deep about covers it.

Klebe Multi Sport - 6/24-29/07

2007-06-30T21:56:00.000-07:00

Mike and Cindy Klebe came out from Iowa at the end of June to check out what the Washington hype was all about. We figured a 6-Day Multi-Sport Adventure was the perfect way to show them. Their trip started with an overnight paddle to Blake Island where calm waters, descent weather and abundant wildlife started things off on a good note. They were rewarded with cold beers and good food at Tides Tavern in downtown Gig Harbor where Mt Rainier gave them a spectacular sunset show from their seats out on the deck. After a cozy night at the Maritime Inn, we headed to Exit 38 off the I-90 corridor for a day of rock climbing, where Mike and Cindy each led their first climb. From there we continued east and stayed in the quaint town of Cle Elum at a charming bed and breakfast that has converted old cabooses into playful, unique rooms. The food was amazing and the owners were gracious in making sure everyone felt welcome and at home. The following morning we were off for a day of hiking and drove from Cle Elum up the picturesque valley of the Teenaway River. A 5-mile hike up the drainage brought us to Ingalls Pass, where we were rewarded with stunning, dramatic views of Mt Stewart. A couple of climbers on the rocky faces of Ingalls Peak kept us entertained as we watched their progression through Cindy’s binoculars. Tired legs were given a chance to relax the next day with a fly-fishing float down the Yakima River. The all-day excursion landed them a couple of blue-ribbon trout. We headed north from the tranquil waters of the Yakima to the churning current of the Wenatchee where we contracted with River Riders for a day of white water rafting. A good old fashion BBQ, big waves, and water bucket fights provided the perfect ending to their Washington adventure. Like so many others who visit this great state, they left understanding what all the hype was about.

Chiwawa Range Womens Recon - 6/21-24/07

2007-06-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

Women’s Recon – Adrienne, Stephanie, Marissa and Lindsey
I have been in a male-dominated field for the past 10 years and while all of my experiences with the opposite sex have been good ones, they just aren’t quite like an “estro-fest”. So, when one of my fellow ski patrollers said she was looking to get out with some girlfriends, I jumped at the opportunity to explore some new terrain with a few ladies. Our trip took us from the headwaters of the Chiwawa River, up and over the gentle terrain of Chiwawa Mtn, up and around the massive slopes of Fortress Mtn and along the avalanche run-out zones of the Buck Creek drainage. We slogged through snow (lots of it), drank “hottie totties” (whiskey and hot chocolate) while piled in a single tent (with the dog), shared stories (no male bashing, we promise), and enjoyed the solitude of an early season hike (how come no one else was out hiking in knee deep slush?). Our trip was a success and I feel fortunate to have strong women that I can play, explore and push myself with. Oh, and thanks to the men who understand that every now and then us girls just need an “estro-fest”.

John Day Bass Fishing - 6/17-20/07

2007-06-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

A whole slew of us, including my Dad and brother Scott got down to the John Day to do a little Bass fishing for 4 days. We meet up at the Condon Hotel for dinner on Saturday night an unfortunately their restaurant was closed so we ate Buffalo buggers in the lounge, tied some flies and called it a night. After a great breakfest across the street we made it to the put in at Twikingham and rigged boats. 3 days of "rigging lips" great food, great company, and great weather and took out at upper Clarno. A few memorable moments would be: Ted "bumping" the wall at Homestead Rapid, Stars around camp, my dad landing a rainbow trout just above Burnt Ranch Rapid, very little wind, Mike Arness hooking an 8 inch bass and having a huge bass eat his 8 incher, and of coarse Mike Deshamaker hooking a huge carp.

Yakima River Fly Fishing - 6/15/07

2007-06-16T12:31:00.000-07:00

Lindsey, Tylor, George and I got out and fished the Yakima yesterday. We had comfortable temps in the 60's, light winds, and overcast skies that brought out the PMD's. We consistently moved fish all morning but unfortunetly didn't land many fish over 10" Great company and real nice dry fly fishing.

Cutts Island Kayaking & Problem Solving with Radiance Capital - 6/5/06

2007-06-06T16:36:00.000-07:00

Adrienne and I had Meryl Newman the crew at Radiance Capital out for day of kayaking and problem solving at Cutts Island. We all met up at the Horsehead bay boat launch, packed boats then played a quick game of find your partner before leaving the bay. The wind started blowing out of the southwest as we left the shelter of the harbor but we quickly made a pit stop / bathroom break then made our way to Cutts Island. After everyone did the walk around the island and Adrienne and I set up lunch and a few activities we dove into Chipolte and Turkey Wraps. To prevent everyone from falling into a food coma we played a game of circle tag then tied every ones hands together in a circle and had them set up one of our tents. A quick debrief and we were off for the return paddle into small whitecap seas.

Tacoma, Gig Harbor area guided kayaking

Olympic Wilderness Coast Backpacking & Kayaking - 5/25-27/07

2007-05-28T15:49:00.000-07:00

Adrienne, Kiwi, and I have just returned from our first Olympic Wilderness Coast kayaking and backpacking trip. We when out a few days early to run the Ozette Loop and do a bit of kayaking. We had relatively fair weather for May, where we only saw light rain and a little drizzle over the five days.

We meet Patricia, and Linda on Friday had a little lunch then got out on Ozette Lake for a quick paddle down to Schaefer Point where we took a break. The wind died as we approached camp and we enjoyed a quiet evening around the campfire. After breakfast the next morning we broke camp and headed for Sand Point where we took a break then turned north and made our way past the rugged coast of rocky headlands and tide pools. We made camp near Wedding Rocks, checked out the petroglyphs, filtered water and returned to camp. After a short game of Yatzee we spent a few hours combing tide pools for starfish, hermit crabs, and sea urchins. We enjoyed dinner while the sun made a fifteen minute appearance just before setting into the sea. After a windy night the morning brought clearing skies the rain showers as continued north to Cape Alava where we ditch packs and continued north along the sandy beaches. Returning south we picked up our pack and made the short return hike threw the bogs and forest.

A great trip, thanks ladies.

For more information on this trip visit - Olympic Wilderness Coast Kayaking & Backpacking

Yakima River Fly Fishing Report - 5/17/07

2007-05-18T08:35:00.000-07:00

I got over and fished the Yakima yesterday with my Dad and four of our friends. Fishing is really slow right now. Water visibility has dropped to just a couple of feet the water has risen another 1,000 cfs. We had relatively strong winds that built all day until it was blowing whitecaps down river. My Dad managed to hook and land one nice 13 to 14 inch rainbow, his first, on a Elk Hair Caddis while we flowed around a large eddie. Other than that fish, a few strikes and one other hookup we didn't have much luck.

5,000+ CFS
50 to 53 degree water
Mid 70's air temp

Guided Yakima River Fly Fishing

Mt. Biking, Kayaking & Climbing - 5/13-16/07 in Colorado

2007-05-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

Ok I know this is my Washington Outdoor Journal but Adrienne and I went to Colorado to visit some good friends and we got a chance to get out and play outside so in an effort to remember all this fun I thought I'd write it down here.

While Adrienne and Betsey went for a run, Dave and I rode mt. bikes in the hills above Boulder CO. After a couple of laps and a few stops for some photos, Dave and I rode down Boulder Canyon stopping to check out the creeking potential along the way. The following day we took a drive threw the Front Range then stopped to do some kayaking at Meadow Park and the Bear Hole in Lyons. This was Dave's first time on a river in a kayak but he had know problems picking it up. In fact, by the end of the day he was sticking his nose int he play wave/hole and getting some great surfs. On our last day in town we woke to clear skies and warm temps. We quickly packed up our stuff and headed for the First Flatiron. A quick hike and we were well established in the east gully working our way up gullies and rock ribs until we gained the North Ridge. We followed the North Ridge route over towers, spires, and knife edge ridges to the summit and great views. It would have been fun to stay on the summit for awhile but Adrienne and I had to catch a flight in less than two hours so it was off to the races on the descent.

Yakima River Fly Fishing Report - 5/11-12/07

2007-05-13T11:38:00.000-07:00

Adam and Kent Hitch joined me for a few days of fishing on the Yakima this weekend. We saw flows jump dramatically prior to us arriving on Friday morning. This really cooled the river down and pushed fish to the edges of the strong flow. We saw a few March Browns flying mid day and then found fish feeding on the first large blooms of caddis in the late evening. Challenging fishing to say the least, but persistence payed off and we ended up with a few nice fish to hand, along with quite a few other players. Once flows stabilize we should be in there for great caddis fishing.

4,000+ CFS
47 - 51 degree water temps
Clear skies on Friday with overcast windy skies on Sat.

Yakima River Fly Fishing Report -5/5/07

2007-05-06T16:47:00.000-07:00

Ted and I headed over and fished the Yakima River yesterday. Clear skies, relatively light winds until late in the day and cool overnight temps combined to make for real good fishing. We saw a few very small may flies as we put on the river around 11am then quickly started seeing caddis and march browns. Once again we had no luck on the nymph but had great fishing on the dry and emerger. I tested out a new emerger pattern that I came up with and had real good results. Looks like the Mothers Day Caddis hatch is just around the corner. Once we get some warmer weather in the lowlands along with higher temps overnight in the passes and we will be in there.

2900 cfrs
47 deg water in the morning then rose to 50 by early evening

Guided Yakima River Fly Fishing

Yakima River Fly Fishing Report – 4/30/07

2007-04-30T21:27:00.000-07:00

Ned and I got over to the Yakima River today. We had a great time floating and fishing the lower farmlands. We meet up in North Bend, dropped a car then made it to the river around 10:30. We saw a few small mayflies early, a lot of dark mothers day caddis by mid day then a real strong hatch of March Browns by early afternoon. We had no luck on nymphing but caught quite a few fish with a dry as an indicator and an emerger. We mostly fished Elkhair caddis, various March Brown Adults and a variation on the BWO WD-40 without a bead.

3,500 cfs
49 degree water temp
65 degree air temp

Guided Yakima River Fly Fishing

Mt. Pilchuck Ski Tour – 4/23/07

2007-04-24T21:00:00.000-07:00

Adrienne, Kat, Caroline, and I skied Mt. Pilchuck today. We made it to the trail head around 9:30 after a hour and half drive from Kirkland. We skinned and boot packed for about an hour and a half before we topped out at the fire lookout. A quick lunch and then we skied Gun Sight the south east facing gully about a hundred yards east of the summit. A quick boot to the saddle and then we skied Ice Cream Ridge and the old slopes of the ski area back to our car. A fun half day tour.

Mt. Ruth and Hannegan Peak - 4/18-21/07

2007-04-22T18:31:00.000-07:00

Adrienne, Caroline, and Kat have been doing "estro fests" for 3 years know. This year she invited me and encouraged me to invite a friend. I excepted her invitation and invited Chris. Adrienne and I spent some time dreaming up a trip and eventually settled on skiing Mt. Challenger from Hannegan Pass. After assembling everyone and the necessary equipment we set out for Bellingham and the Hannegan trail head. Within less than a mile after turning of HWY 542 we encountered our first challenge, a tree over the road. A little probing in the mud and some eye balling the size of the van and the clearance below the log and we decided to give it a go. Chris eased the van under the log while I directed. With less than an inch we succeeded in slipping beneath the log then continued what would have been a long two more miles until we encountered snow on the road at around 3,200 feet. A somewhat quick gear explosion in the mixed snow and rain and then we were skinning up the road towards the trail head and the pass. We moved slowly under heavy packs but meandered on all the while knowing we had just set out on what was to be a very long trek. The sun made an appearance not long after passing the trail head and I even felt so warm as to ski in shorts for a quick time. We past some young climbers returning from an attempted on Mt. Sefit then proceeded up valley. After passing threw the long Ruth Creek valley we climbed steeply to Hannegan Pass under failing light and snow. We made camp on a small plato near trees on the northwest side of pass then settled in for the night. Clear skies and a warming trend greeted us the following morning as we broke camp and headed down the Chilliwack River drainage towards the base of Easy Ridge, Mt Watcom and eventually Mt. Challenger. After only a few miles we encountered Hells Gorge. Hear we made a steep decent into a canyon, crossed a small snow bridge and boot packed our way up what was to be only the first of two gorges that make up Hells Gorge. Hear after Adrienne and Caroline spent some time scouting a way around the second gorge we had a group pow wow and came to the consensus that we were moving to slowly to reach Mt. Challenger and return on our planned itinerary. With a bit of impromptu trip planning we settled on a route up between the two gorges to the ridge between point 6701 and Hannegan Peak. We ascended threw the rest of the early afternoon until we nearly topped out on the ridge then made camp in a hollow at about 6000 ft. where we enjoyed the late afternoon sun as it set behind the Skagit Range. The following morning was very cold as the sun had not crested the ridge above our camp until well into breakfast. After rounding up all of our stuff we continued up the ridge to great views of the Picket Range. We skied west down the ridge towards Hannegan Peak as the snow softened to the consistency of mash potatoes then a slushy. After a short, steep, exposed, climb of the east ridge we gained the summit of Hannegan Peak then paused for a few photos. A quick ski to Hannegan Pass and we had lunch while pondering our next move. We decided on camping high on a saddle just north of Ruth Mt. after racing under hanging cornices and steep rock under a small sub peak. Cool camp as we deemed it was just that very "cool" but also very cold. Here we dug and enjoyed amazing views after the winds died down in the evening. The next morning we found high overcast skies and what looked to be an impending front on our door steep. We anxiously waited in hopes the snow would soften then packed camp to avoid having the ravens pick threw our stuff before heading up Mt. Ruth. After only and hour of skinning we reached the summit and where greeted with breath taking views of the Nooksack Cirque, Pickets, Icey Peak and the rest of the surrounding Cascade peaks. Again a few photos and we were off skiing amazingly good boot top cold snow nearly all the way to camp. In fact the snow was so good the ladies convinced Chris and I and to head back up our recently installed skin track for another glory lap. We returned to camp packed our bags a day earlier than planned and return the six miles down the Ruth Creek to waiting beer and salty chips. A great trip albeit not what we had planned on.

Fish Lake Fishing - 4/16/07

2007-04-22T18:27:00.000-07:00

I ran away Monday morning to do a bit of fishing out at Fish Lake. I found calm water a few other fishermen and biting fish. A lot of fun in a great peaceful environment. I cant say enough about this great lake.

Natapoc Ridge Hike - 4/14/07

2007-04-14T18:19:00.000-07:00

Adrienne and I went for a quick hike up Natapoc Ridge in the failing light of a spring day. Strong winds have wreaked havoc on the forest and brought down countless trees of all sizes. Amongst this amazing display of natural power stands the other side of nature, the daisy.

Chiwaukum Mt's / Scottish Lakes - 3/27-28/07

2007-03-29T17:40:00.000-07:00

The Stevens Pass Patrol made a trip up to Scottish Lakes and the Chiwaukums as reward for completing our trainings. After getting a snowmobile ride in, enjoying a happy hour and waiting for the second wave of patrolers to show up, we made our way up Wild Bill Hill and continued up and over McCue Ridge to ski into the Chiwaukum Creek drainage. We make a few laps, checked out a few slopes and enjoyed good early season corn skiing. After returning to Scottish Lakes High Camp, Adrienne and I made dinner for the crew before slipping into the wood fired hot tub and sauna for a quick soak. The next morning we all packed up and divided into two groups, a group headed into the alpine of the Chiwaukum Range and a group heading out to the cars via Coulter Creek. Adrienne and I went with the alpine group as we quickly made our way past lake Julius then lake Ethel as we climbed to the lip of Pine Creek Cirque. After topping out the group divided once again as Adrienne and I skied spring corn back to lake Ethel via a short saddle off peak 6602. The rest of the group continued down Pine Creek Cirque via a steep couloir that dropped them back to a waiting car. We climbed back to High Camp then exited via Coulter Creek to our car.

Moonlight Bowl after work - 3/01/07

2007-03-01T12:07:00.000-08:00

After a great day of work Stevens Pass, Adrienne and I headed across the street for a evening tour to Moonlight Bowl. We moved relatively fast under failing light up the switch backs of Skyline Ridge. I stopped and snapped off a few shots of Adrienne as the sun disappeared behind windy ridge. We slogged threw deep snow with a variable sun crust until topping out on the bowl as the sun disappeared. We raced down variable snow threw treeline and ended up on the PCT under moonlight.

Would-a, Mt. Josephine, Floordalee ski tour - 2/27/07

2007-02-27T11:20:00.000-08:00

Mike Deshamaker and I spent the better part of a day plundering knee deep late season pow! We rode Hogsback then Tye Mill at the Stevens Pass ski area then dropped the backside into Mill Valley. After about an hour of swooshing up hill we were standing on top of the north facing bowls of Should-a, Would-a, and Could-a. We did a little ski cutting and then dropped with big smiles into Would-a. After reaching the bottom of the basin we turned east and started heading to the Burn. Being that neither of us had been there we turned around when whiteout obscured our view as we reached the north ridge of Mt. Josephine. We then decided to continue up the ridge and skied steep trees back to the Should-a, Would-a, Could-a basin. With very little time left to catch the last chair out of Mill Valley we sprinted for the final glory of Floordalee. Knee deep and cold the entry shot of Floordalee was amazing. This may have been the best pow run of the year!

Rock Mountain Ski Tour- 2/13/07

2007-02-16T05:35:00.000-08:00

Steph, Adrienne, Drew and I enjoyed a day up high today. With motivation from Steph and Drew, Adrienne and I packed what gear we had (mostly work gear, thanks Stevens Pass) the night before and tried to get to sleep early. We had breakfast, drove and got going around 8:30 am. At first we were climbing threw dense forest on a hard crust from melt freeze the week earlier. The crust made for quick travel once everyone had their ski crampons in working order. We climbed at healthy 1,000 ft/hour with a quick stop for a bite to eat overlooking the clouds below in the Nason Creek drainage. Not long after our refreshing bite, we were in the alpine overlooking large sparsely treed slopes with prominent avalanche gullies as exits. We continued up the ridge until whiteout barred any further prudent travel about 400ft from the summit. A tea break and again we were moving, but down this time. We skied east back down our ascent ridge then dropped northeast into what looked to be a frozen lake. Another quick skin to the east and we dropped south threw open glades into a very prominent drainage that pinched down to less than 100ft wide. Here we found large amounts of avalanche debris including broken branches and mangled trees. A quick down climb of rotten snow near a waterfall and a little adventure skiing and we were back on the road. A great day.

Avalanche Level II Training 1/07

2007-02-07T20:38:00.000-08:00

Adrienne & I recently took a Level II Avalanche Course, which focused on the tools and techniques that are used to analyze snow stability and avalanche hazard. The course was spread out over a 5-week period, allowing us to document and observe how the snowpack changes over time. We were fortunate to be able to travel in a variety of locations to understand how weather, terrain and location can dramatically affect the snowpack. This course is part of an ongoing effort to expand our knowledge and experience in the backcountry and is a stepping-stone to a Level III Avalanche Forecasting Certification and a Level I Teaching Certification.

Backcountry Skiing Washington 11/06 - 12/06

2007-01-01T13:03:00.000-08:00

Washington's winter is here. I can't believe where the time goes. It's been some time since I've posted an up date and now that winter is here I'm sure to be more on it. Well its really winter in the Washington Cascades. Around the Stevens Pass are we have almost 90" of snow on the ground at 4000' and the skiing has been great. My brother Mike was in town and Adrienne and I got out with him to do a little ski touring, face shots anyone? Happy New Year!

Yakima River Fly Fishing - 10/15/06

2006-10-16T16:12:00.000-07:00

Sherry and Bill joined me for a day float on the Yakima yesterday. We meet at 10am ran shuttle then jumped on the river between rain showers. The begin of the float we didn’t have many bugs around and fishing was slow. By noon the river temp was around 52 Degrees and mayflies were coming off in increasing numbers by the minute. At one point we were having trouble differentiating our offering from the vast number of naturals. Of course trout were liberally feeding threw ought the water column but we found our best luck fishing Mahogany Duns in the 12-14 size range. Thanks a great day in the rain, Sherry and Bill.

Yakima River Fly Fishing

Wilderness First Responder & CPR Course - 10/3-12/06

2006-10-13T11:45:00.000-07:00

We (John and Adrienne) took part in a 10-day WFR & CPR course at the Environmental Learning Center near Deception Pass. The course was taught by Wilderness Medical Institute and focused on how to deal with medical situations in the backcountry. We were quite fortunate to have two great instructors, Dan & Daniel who made taking their course a second time interesting, informative, practical and well worth the effort.

Our 10-day WFR & CPR course covered a broad range of topics including medical legal issues, patient assessment & basic life support and CPR then traumatic injuries such as head, chest, spinal, and musculoskeletal injuries along with shock and environmental injuries like frostbite, heat exhaustion, altitude illness, lightning, and diving emergencies.

We then moved on to covered medical emergencies such as cardiac, respiratory, and neurological emergencies, diabetes, allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, poisoning, abdominal illness, male and female gender illnesses and injuries, and then finished up communicable diseases, first aid kits, and drug kits.

Throughout the course practical scenarios with other participants occurred nearly 5 times a day allowing for hands on practice with all of our medical skills and decision-making.

All in all this is one of the best courses any one who regularly spends time in the outdoors could take. Makes you think, does your partner have medical training?

Deception Pass Full Moon Kayaking - 10/7/06

2006-10-08T18:33:00.000-07:00

John and Diane joined Adrienne and I for a evening of kayaking under a full moon at Deception Pass. Well the moon cooperated but the clouds didn't. We unfortunately didn't get to see the moon rise but we were treated to some amazing views of moon and clouds as the night went on. We also happened upon a really large purple jellyfish with tentacles at least three feet in length along with a countless number of Great Blue Heron. Not another boat on the water. Where were you?

Visit Anew Outdoors - Deception Pass Kayaking for more kayaking info.

Merritt Lake Hiking & Fishing - 9/28/06

2006-10-02T15:41:00.000-07:00

Adrienne and I took some time off today to explore Merritt lake and Nason Ridge. We took it slow in the morning but made it to the trail head by about 10am. The trail quickly climbed out of the parking lot threw old growth pine and vine maple. We paused for a few photo's of the turning leaves then continued on to the lake. We arrived at Merritt lake around lunch, quickly eat a little then strung up the fly rods. My first cast brought a fish to the surface which I hooked but was unable to land. Not more than a few cast later I landed my first golden trout. A real snakie thing probably because the obvious over population of fish. If your looking for catch and keep fishing experience this would be high on my list.

Snohomish River Salmon Fishing - 9/24/06

2006-09-24T22:12:00.000-07:00

I spent a few hours casting spoons on the Snohomish River today to no avail. The only fish I saw caught was by the harbor seal that seemed to gloat every time he looked my way. Although I didn't catch anything I did enjoy standing on the sunny bank listening to the Seahawks pound the Giants while casting between passing boats.

Girl Scouts Adventure Race - 9/23/06

2006-09-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

“You can do it!”

The young girl took a deep breath, her legs slightly shaking as she tried to find a comfortable stance at the top of the 30-foot rock wall. Her small hands gripped tightly around the nylon rope as she prepared to lower herself to her anxious teammates down below.

“Do you have any questions?” John asked as he prepared to detach her from the safety line. Her head shook side to side, as if trying to speak right now was a little more than she could muster. “On rappel,” John yelled to her teammates down below.

The first few tentative feet were awkward and slow. “Straighten your legs and sit in your harness,” John encouragingly yelled down from his perch above. She took a minute to get resituated, shuffling her feet up the vertical rock wall while her hands searched for a more secure spot on the rope. Another deep breath and she was off. At first, the rope slid through the belay device in short, sporadic bursts causing a slight bounce as she went along. However, as she hit the halfway point something changed; the rope went through a little smoother, her feet seemed a little sturdier, her hands loosened there grip and a smile began to spread across her face.

High-pitched cheers echoed in the canyon walls as soon as her feet hit solid ground. There was barely time for hugs as the girls helped her unclip from the rope so they could move onto the next event in this all-day adventure race.

As I collected the climbing gear to hand out to the next team, I watched the girls transition from this event back to their mountain bikes. “Don’t forget your helmet,” one girl reminded. “I think I have the answer to the puzzle,” another girl shouted. “Can I have a bite of your granola bar,” asked another. I was impressed as I watched these young girls work together and take care of each other to accomplish the race. Although the rappel was one of the more individual events, each girl contributed in some way or another. Whether it was being back-up safety or yelling words of encouragement or simply putting aside their own desire to do the rappel for the benefit of the rest of their team, each girl played a part in getting the team entire team across the finish line.

Watching the girls ride away, I thought “I hope these girls got as much out of doing the event as we did out of watching it.” All I know is I am looking forward to next year!

Yakima River Fly Fishing - 9/17/06

2006-09-17T19:55:00.000-07:00

Ted and I fished the Yakima from Irene Rinhart Park to Bighorn on Sunday the 17th. We moved fish on drys along with nymphs in a variety of water. A lot of fish have moved up into the rifiles and were taking mayflys with reckless abandon. As the day wore on we started seeing small caddis along the banks so we focused our attention on the surface with Elk Hair Caddis in size 12 -16. We had nearly no wind and mostly cloudy skis, perfect for fishing. Thanks Ted.

Yakima River Fly Fishing

Yakima River Fly Fishing - 9/16/06

2006-09-16T16:04:00.000-07:00

Tracie, Brain, and Gary joined me for a great day of fishing on the Yakima River. We floated from Irene Rinhart Park to Bighorn under mostly sunny skies with relatively light winds. We spent the early part of the float covering the basics of fly fishing tecknique then turned our attention to the BWO hatch that was heating up. We saw a lot of fish taking small nymphes like the WD-40 and Phesant tails. Not long after the nymphing got going we started trying the surface with adults and found a few fish willing to move. Tracie hooked a really nice fish around lunch and after almost five minutes of battling it came unpinned at our feet. Thanks for the float.

Yakima River Fly Fishing

Methow river fly fishing - 9/11-15/06

2006-09-16T15:54:00.000-07:00

Adrienne and I spend a few days on the Methow river for our mini-moon fly fishing. We really spent most of our time watching moves and sleeping in but did get out and fish a few days. We say vary few fish our first evening but the wind was blowing so we didn't spend much time fighting it. Then next morning we headed to Winthrop to do some shopping then spent a few hours fishing just above Twisp. The BWO hatch was coming off pretty strong and we both ended up with quite a few fish to hand. Really fun.

Trout Fishing at Fish Lake - 9/7/06

2006-09-07T15:51:00.000-07:00

After climbing in the Tumwater the bachelor moved on to fishing at Fish Lake. We rented a few pontoon boats and headed to the north shore. We didn't end up catching anything but a buzz.

Castle Rock Climbing in Tumwater Canyon - 9/7/06

2006-09-07T15:39:00.000-07:00

I gathered up a bunch of friend for a morning on climbing at Castle Rock in Tumwater Canyon for my bachelor Party. We all ended up atop Jello Tower hanging out, enjoying the views and company. Maybe not your typical climbing trip but still more fun than is legal.

Climbing and Repelling at Deception Crags - 8/31/06

2006-09-01T13:42:00.000-07:00

Amy, Randy, and I meet up on Thursday to scope out a climbing and repelling sight for a Girl Scout adventure race called The Hunt for the Golden Eaglet. I had a sight in mind and we discussed the details on the quick 10 minute or so hike in. After a little rigging and some more logistical discussion we did a little repelling then move on to the good stuff, climbing. It was a beautifully warm sunny day in the woods as we all romped our way up a local slab. Thanks for the pizza and good time guys.

Blake Island Kayaking with the Herrons - 8/29-30/06

2006-08-30T22:32:00.000-07:00

With a less then ideal forecast for late August, Verna and Tom Herron joined me for what looked to be a wet 2 day trip to Blake Island. After loading boats we pushed off the beach and paddled east along the Key Peninsula north shore towards Manchester. After 30 minutes or so we turned north and set our sites on Blake's west spit. Half way threw setting up camp I realized I forgot the tent poles and would paddling a little more than expected. After a short walk we enjoyed a quick lunch then Verna and Tom were off for hike. I on the other hand was off for the tent poles back at Southworth. Strong winds blew all afternoon and slowed my return to camp as white-caps crashed on the beach. Back in camp I fixed dinner which we all enjoyed as the last light feel behind the clouds surrounding the Olympic Mt. Range. Darkness brought out the raccoons and a real nice buck that I followed up the trail to the water fountain. Tom enjoyed a run while breakfast was prepared the following morning. Afterwards we packed boats then paddle north around the island returning to Southworth around 1 pm. So much for the forecast a rain as we only saw a few drops overnight. Well it is August after all.

For more info on Blake Island Kayaking visit Anew Outdoors.

Blake Island Kayaking - 8/27/06

2006-08-28T12:49:00.000-07:00

Cheryl, Shelly, Wendy, Karyn, and Kim joined me for a day of kayaking around Blake Island. Everyone enjoyed the calm water as we paddled from Southworth to the west spit of Blake Island. We stopped walked the nearly perfect sand beach, looked for beach glass and paused for a few photos. A quick paddle and we arrived at Tillicum Village where we picnicked under the shade of a large tree. After lunch we toured village art and then walked a quick nature trail near by. Boat traffic and building winds made for a short but exciting exit to the harbor as we started for home. All in all, another great Blake Island kayak day trip. Thanks ladies.

For more info on Blake Island visit Anew Outdoors - Blake Island Kayaking

Huckleberry Picking 8/26/06

2006-08-26T19:58:00.000-07:00

Huckleberry season is here. Dennis, Lonnie, and I spent about 3 hours picking huckleberries today. At about 4,000 feet the bushes were as full as any of us have ever seen . By the time we had to go we had rounded up over 2 gallons of some of the largest sweetest berries Washington has to offer. If you're into berries, the time is now!

Little Si Rock Climbing 8/23/06

2006-08-24T17:04:00.000-07:00

Marine air and a light mist welcomed me as I arrive in North Bend for a day of climbing with Mike and Emily at Washington's Little Si. We warmed up top roping at the British Aisles center stone moved over to Black Stone and climbed Human Foot rated 5.8 as the sun began to show itself. We ended our day climbing what I feel is one of the best 5.9 routes in the state under clear blue skies. What a great day!

Stuart Island 4 Day Kayaking 8/13-16/06

2006-08-17T14:11:00.000-07:00

Patty, Kim, Marie, and Rene joined me for a Stuart Island 4 day kayaking trip under blue skies. We meet Sunday morning drank coffee and caught up on current events on the ferry ride to Friday Harbor. A short drive and we arrived at Roche Harbor then packed boats with anxiety to leave the hustle and bustle behind. We crossed Spieden Channel as the ebb currents began to grow then took a quick snack and water break in the lee currents of Sentinel Island. Passing threw John's Passage we admired the kelp beds and glassy blue water on our way to Prevost Harbor and our camp for the next 3 nights.

Monday we enjoyed coffee and zucchini quiche for breakfast as sun rose over Mt. Baker and the distant North Cascades. We then jumped in the kayaks and circumnavigated Stuart Island clockwise passing Reid Harbor on our way to the steep cliffs of southwest Stuart Island. We made good time riding currents to the stunning beauty of Turn Point lighthouse where we faced a short spell of paddling against the current. After arriving back in camp we enjoyed a snack then early dinner before making the 3 mile hike to Turn Point lighthouse to catch sunset.

Tuesday we paddle the north side of John's Island to the Ripple Island National Wildlife Refuge where harbor seals bobbed in the currents. We return to camp early and I enjoyed a quick nap in the shade. After diner we enjoyed the warmth of fire as we scraped clean the dutch oven full of berry cobbler.

Wednesday we broke down camp, packed boats and made our way back threw John's pass as winds blew out of the west. After reaching Spieden Bluff and waiting on the Victoria Clipper the winds began to die. We lazily crossed Spieden Channel and arrived back in Roche Harbor for lunch and good byes. Thanks ladies.

Skykomish Fly Fishing 8/11/06

2006-08-12T11:58:00.000-07:00

I fished the upper Sky last night and hooked into a few nice trout. Unfortunately I didn't hook any Steelhead but I did see one pushing up. I also found some really nice water with public access but I'm not telling where...

Ned Fest - Methow and Twisp Rivers 8/4-6/06

2006-08-07T11:56:00.000-07:00

My friend Ned is getting married this August so our friend Troy put on a bachler party for him up in the Methow. We fished the Twisp on Friday night and caught a few dinks then had dinner and a drink at the Twisp River pub while listening to live music. Saturday we floated the Methow and picked up a few more fish on the surface. Sunday we again fished the Twisp and this time 3 of us landed nice 12"+ fish out of this small creek. Quite a hoot!

Skykomish River Steelhead 8/2-3/06

2006-08-03T11:52:00.000-07:00

I met up with Mike and fished the Sky Wednesday night and Thursday. Mike hooked and landed a small steelie on Wed. night skating a muddler and I hooked one on Thursday morning doing the same. There is definitely quite a few fish in the river this year.

Skagit Delta Kayaking 7/31

2006-07-31T12:33:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Adrienne! We awoke early to explore Skagit Delta on a high tide. As we reached the put-in the fog cleared and we were treated to breath taking views of eagles, blue heron, and winding channels. There was to much area to take it all in on a 8ft high tide but I'm sure we will be back.

Cutts Island Evening Kayaking 7/29/06

2006-07-29T12:23:00.000-07:00

Andrei, Lori and I spend a gorgeous evening out at Cutts island this evening. We started our paddle from Horsehead Bay swung by Kopachuck State Park then continued on to Cutts Island were we stopped for Strawberries, yogurt, and brown sugar, yum! The evening clouds made for striking rays of light as we return to Horsehead Bay. A real nice evening.

Cutts Island Kayaking

Deception Pass Kayaking 7/28/06

2006-07-28T12:13:00.000-07:00

Spent the day out at Deception Pass today with Andy and Drew Baker. We had a real nice paddle starting out of Cornet Bay. We headed east to Jones Island, Skagit Island then back west threw Canoe Pass on our way to lunch at Burrows Bay Point where we saw a coyote on the beach. After lunch we paddle around Deception Island then headed for Deception Pass and our return to Cornett Bay. The weather started and ended a bit foggy but the wind was relatively light and currents were mild. Another great Deception Pass kayaking trip.

Deception Pass Kayaking

Gritty Girls Ross Lake Kayaking 7/23-26/06

2006-07-27T11:28:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, July 23rd Anew Outdoors set off on Ross Lake with eight adventurous ladies for the annual 4-Day Gritty Girls paddle. Blue skies and warm temps greeted us in the morning as we launched onto Diablo Lake on our way to catch the Ross Dam shuttle. A short ride up and over the dam found us in the warm crystal blue waters of Ross Lake, where we were able to reap the benefits of a little wind by hoisting our tent fly in order to sail into Big Beaver campground. Motivation was high the following morning as people crawled out of their tents to find another beautiful day. We spent the day paddling to places like, Devils Creek Gorge, Rainbow Point, and Big Beaver Creek. Day three was spent relaxing around camp, swimming in the lake, paddling to May Creek and eating our fair share of food. We woke early on the last day to glassy water, making the return paddle to Colonial Creek Campground a breeze. Thanks Ladies for another Gritty year!

Ross Lake Kayaking

Skate Creek Fly Fishing 7/11/06

2006-07-11T11:48:00.000-07:00

Fished Skate Creek with Adrienne today. Cant tell you how many fish we caught. Lets just say a lot. Mostly fished the surface but tired of dinks so I started swinging stone fly nymphs. Ended up catching a real nice 12" fish as the sun went behind the trees. Once again this creek producing some wonderful days of fishing, to bad there is so much trash on the banks. Next year I'm hopping to organize a fish and clean weekend.

Mt. Rainier Climb 7/8-10/06

2006-07-10T11:33:00.000-07:00

I attempted to climb Mt. Rainier with Adrienne, my uncle David, and cousin Chris this weekend. The weather was quite hot as we climbing the Muir Snow Field and arrived at camp somewhat late. Sunday we spent practicing rope work, crampons, and self arrests. Early Monday morning we awoke to clouds building over the summit and strong winds. We moved relatively fast all the way to the top of Disappointment Cleaver than stopped only to get really realy cold. Once moving we all warmed up and settled in to the track carved by so many before us. Thanks RMI. We once again stopped to take a quick break at 13,000 Ft just before a large crevas crossing where we turned around. We moved slowly back down our track stopping at the top of the cleaver, Ingraham Flats, and Camp Muir on our return to Paradise. This trip was a lot of fun and a great learning experience. Next time.

Independence Paddle 7/4-5/06

2006-07-06T11:19:00.000-07:00

Its the Forth of July! We spent this 4th and I'm sure many to come out at Blake Island State Park. The views of fireworks all around was perfect. The sandy spit made for great views of the Seattle fireworks shows along with comfortable seating. I cant think of a better way to safely enjoy the 4th. No driving, no made rush to get to so and so's house, just good food, good people, and great views.

Blake Island Kayaking

John Day River Bass Fishing 6/24-28/06

2006-06-29T11:06:00.000-07:00

The John Day this year was perfect, weather, camping, fishing, everything. We all met up at Hotel Condon on Saturday night the 24th for Gin & Tonics and the OSU Beavers baseball game. We had dinner in the restaurant drank wine and told lies. Early the next morning we met for breakfast across the street then drove to the Twikingham bridge, our put-in. We then rigged boats and started catching Small Mouth Bass. Gravel bar swimming highlighted of our first night camp as everyone settled into our daily routine. The John Day River canyon once again proved to be an extremely warm and inviting place as we spent the next 3 days floating, fishing, eating, and drinking our way into our little slice of heaven.

Middle Fork & Main Salmon 6/10-21/06

2006-06-22T10:55:00.000-07:00

I just got done with a amazing 2 week river trip. 17 of us enjoyed high water, clear skies, and good company. We camped at some great camps but I think I enjoyed Upper Marble the most. How could you not. It had a outstanding play wave less than 100 yards down stream. Of coarse the white sand beaches and hot springs are a highlights but nearly flipping as I got bumped sideways at the lip of Velvet Falls ranked right up there. If you haven't been on either of these trips, do it. Do it now.

Yakima River Fly Fishing 6-3-06

2006-06-03T10:44:00.000-07:00

I fished the Yakima today. Fishing was consistent all day. We saw fish both nymphing and on drys. Light winds and partly cloudy skis made for another classic Yakima River day.

Yakima River Fly Fishing 5-12-06

2006-05-12T10:39:00.000-07:00

I fished the Yakima River with Mike Arness and my father. Weather was great, fishing just got better as the sun left the water. We saw a lot of caddis action in the shadows. A really nice day on the Yakima.