Outdoors Notebook | Chinook hauls by the handful this summer

This summer is turning out to be a very bountiful season for Puget Sound chinook returns, and anglers are still reeling in on the action.

"In general there is a lot of indications right now of strong chinook runs heading into Puget Sound," said Steve Thiesfeld, a state Fish and Wildlife recreational salmon fishing manager.

The inner Elliott Bay king fishery — which was open Fridays to Mondays from July 6 to Aug. 20 — started off on the slow side but ended up waxing the charts.

"It took a while for the fish to show up this summer in Elliott Bay, and the numbers and catches are way better than last year," said Pete Sergeef, a state Fish and Wildlife fish checker who manned the Don Armeni boat ramp in West Seattle. "Overall, I was pretty happy with the season in the bay, and there were some pretty nice-sized fish caught."

Back on July 14, Kathy Goodsell of Woodinville caught a 41-pound king near the grain terminals in Elliott Bay. And Stephanie Du Bois of Redmond caught a 31-pound king near Salty's Restaurant on Aug. 18.

Glenn Aylett of Maple Valley waited until sunset on the last day (Aug. 20) of the bay's fishing season to catch a 34 ½-pound king, which was one of the largest fish caught in the bay this summer next to Goodsell's.

The tribal catches in Elliott Bay were a little below to just about average during their two initial once-a-week fisheries, but last week's final fishery generated a catch of 4,900 chinook. The bulk of chinook were 3-year-olds averaging 14 to 15 pounds.

The chinook run into Lake Washington appears to be one of the best in a long time, and through Aug. 22 around 18,000 fish had returned with a projected run size of 30,000.

"This is an unbelievable run coming back to the lake, and we've never seen anything like this during our 13 years of data," said Mike Mahovlich, a Muckleshoot tribal biologist. "The largest run to the lake occurred in 2001, when 19,000 fish returned."

Mahovlich said the 3-year-old component of chinook returning this summer is very strong, and that bodes well for the 4-year-old fish coming back next year.

The northern and central Puget Sound (Marine Catch Areas 9 and 10) hatchery-marked selective fishery last month left many anglers with cheerful tales.

"We were very happy with the results of the selective fishery, and depending on where you were, fishing was good throughout the entire time," Thiesfeld said.

In southcentral Puget Sound (Area 11), the selective hatchery-marked chinook fishery continues to provide some decent action.

"We are sitting at a mark rate (hatchery chinook with a missing adipose fin) of 73 percent for legal-sized fish, and the test boat has caught their most legal-size fish in the past two weeks, which is right on course for run timing," said Mark Baltzell, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist.

"Last week, the boys in our test fishing boat caught their largest hatchery king to date, which was 40 inches long, off Point Defiance," Baltzell said.

From Aug. 13 to 19, the state Fish and Wildlife test boat fishing in Area 11 caught 14 legal kings, and from Aug. 5 to 12 they caught 19.

The Sekiu-Port Angeles (Areas 5 and 6) selective chinook fishery, which is now closed, also garnered some pretty decent fishing.

"The Area 5 and 6 fisheries were very good, and even though they had a higher catch quota (4,000 fish compared to 3,500 last year) we burned through it fairly quickly," Thiesfeld said.

Other indicators that chinook returns appear to be healthy include good catches by the Puyallup and Nisqually tribes.

Notes

• The Wild Steelhead Coalition Party is 6:30 p.m. Sept. 5 at the University of Washington's Center for Urban Horticulture. The event will include a fly-tying demonstration, raffle, slide show and beer tasting by Hale's Ales in Ballard. Details: www.wildsteelheadcoalition.com.

• The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and Goldendale Observatory is inviting the public to an open house with a free event to see the total eclipse of the moon, which begins at midnight Monday. Tours of the observatory are held Wednesdays through Sundays, 2 to 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight, now through Sept. 30. Details: 509-773-3141 or www.parks.wa.gov.

• The free Salmon Homecoming Celebration is Sept. 7-9 at the Waterfront Park between piers 57 and 59 along Seattle's waterfront.

The celebration integrates culture, environmental awareness, fun and building bridges between communities to increase awareness of the importance of salmon in our lives.

There will be Native American Indian music and dancing, pow wow, environmental booths, environmental career fair, arts and craft vendors, and a salmon barbeque.

Hours: Friday, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

In conjunction with the event there will be a Salmon Homecoming Forum Sept. 17 at Golden Gardens Bathhouse north of Shilshole Bay. Details: www.salmonhomecoming.com.

• The Rainier Mountain Festival is Sept. 15-16 at the Rainier Basecamp on Highway 706 in Ashford.

The free festival will feature noted climbers Jim Whittaker (first American to summit Mount Everest), Ed Viesturs (first American to climb all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks without oxygen), Lou Whittaker (American climbing legend and founder of Rainier Mountaineering Inc.), and more than 15 other climbers who have stood on top of Everest.

The climbers will be hosting films and slide shows, signing books and conducting equipment demonstrations.

Other activities include an equipment and clothing sale, a 5-mile run, alpine games, climbing wall for all ages, barbecue and local brews, live entertainment, raffles, mountaineering travel displays and kids' games. Details: 800-238-5756 or www.rainierfestival.com.

• The workshop coordinated by Washington Outdoor Women, a non-profit program dedicated to teaching women outdoor skills and natural resource stewardship, will be held at the Camp River Ranch in Carnation.

Topics of the classes include archery, basic fishing, fly fishing and tying, canoeing, kayaking, preparing fish and shellfish, big-game hunting basics, map and compass reading, wilderness first aid, survival skills, wildlife identification, outdoor photography and more.

Cost is $225 and includes lodging, meals and use of equipment. A limited number of partial scholarships, provided by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, are available for first-time participants. Details: 425-455-1986 or www.washingtonoutdoorwomen.org.

• Twenty hunters will get a chance to hunt for deer on 6,300 acres of Okanogan County rangelands in the Ninemile Creek area near Oroville, which will open to public hunting for the first time this fall. To apply for the limited hunt, which is done by a random drawing, call 509-754-4624 or 360-902-2515 through Sept. 4.

Five of the special permits will be reserved for bowhunters, five for muzzleloaders and 10 for hunters using modern firearms. Area deer-hunting seasons are Sept. 15-30 for bowhunters, Oct. 6-12 for muzzleloaders and Oct. 13-21 for hunters using modern firearms. The drawing will take place on Sept. 6.

• The Washington Trails Association seeks volunteers for trail maintenance projects Sept. 1-2 at the Franklin Falls Trail in the Snoqualmie Ranger District. Details: 206-625-1367 or www.wta.org.

• Recent repairs along the popular Wonderland Trail in the Mount Rainier backcountry has restored access, and users may apply for permits to hike the entire trail system for the remainder of the season.

Repair work included new steel bridges in three locations. Trail reroutes are also in place in some locations and hikers must will have to walk along the road in the Stevens Canyon area.

Hikers may get their first views of the extensive damage that occurred during last fall's rain and wind storms. Hundreds of volunteers have been working hard this summer to get as many trails open as possible and progress has been good. Hikers should use caution because many trails are still damaged and repair work continues is still on-going throughout Mount Rainier National Park.

Hikers looking to make reservations for the Wonderland Trail: call 360-569-2211.

• A new hiking trail along the Iron Goat Trail is open and follows most of the abandoned Great Northern Railroad line, just west of Stevens Pass Summit.

The upper and lower grades of the system are now connected by a crossover trail between Windy Point and the Iron Goat Interpretive Site.

The Iron Goat Interpretive Site is adjacent to the Stevens Pass Greenway near Milepost 58.3 on U.S. Highway 2, and includes a parking area with restrooms and interpretive exhibits.

The crossover switchback trail is less than a mile long and climbs a bit steeply over 600 feet to connect with the upper grade. After that it is only a quarter-mile hike on the upper grade to the Windy Point Overlook, with views of the upper Tye River Basin.

The abandoned Great Northern Railway grade was built in the early 1890s, and the trail is along a portion that was abandoned in 1929 when the "new" Cascade Tunnel was open. Details: 360-677-2414 or www.irongoat.org.

• The North Cascades Institute and North Cascades National Park are offering free guided canoe trips on Diablo Lake and naturalist-led forest and waterfall hikes. Naturalists and park rangers will conduct the day trips from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 8 and 15 at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center, on Diablo Lake off Hwy. 20. Details: 360-856-5700 ext. 209 or www.ncascades.org/learning_center/visit.

After taking the canoe or hiking trip, head to the Diablo Lake Trail suspension bridge, which has reopened for visitor use after being closed for structural replacement work in mid-April.

The bridge spans the long arm of Diablo Lake that reaches the foot of Ross Dam, and connects the 3.8-mile Diablo Lake Trail with Haul Road and the Ross Dam Trail.

For those who prefer to hike the trail one-way, Seattle City Light offers daily ferry service to the base of Ross Dam at 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Cost is $10. Details: 360-854-7245 or www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/trail-conditions.htm.

• Vehicle access is now allowed to the Cascade Park parking area after temporary repairs were made.

Flooding last winter forced the closure of the Cascade River Road three miles from its end. The road through the repaired area remains rough and narrow so caution is advised. Plans for permanent repairs are set to begin next spring and will be finished by July 1, 2008.

The Cascade Pass Trail is a popular day hike area with great views of peaks and glaciers, including peaks such as Eldorado, Johannesburg, Magic, Mix-up and McGregor.

Overnight stays in the backcountry require a free permit, and can be obtained in person and is issued on a first come first served basis at the Wilderness Information Center in Marblemount. Details: 360-854-7245 or www.nps.gov.

• The Washington Trails Association Hike-A-Thon is now underway through this month. The money raised supports programs to protect and maintain trails in our state.

Hikers will collect pledges from friends, family and co-workers, then log their miles hiked during this month. Participants will also be eligible for prizes. Details: 206-625-1367 or www.wta.org.

• The Cascade Bicycle Club's High Pass Challenge is 7 a.m. Sept. 23 at the Cowlitz River Lodge, 13069 U.S. Highway 12 in Packwood. The course is a 120-mile bicycle route through Gifford Pinchot Wilderness Area and will climb more than 7,500 feet in elevation during the allotted 10-hour time limit.

The course heads up Independence Pass past Spirit Lake to the Windy Ridge Viewpoint. Cost is $75 by Sept. 18 and limited to 500 cyclists. Details: 206-522-3222 or www.cascade.org.

• World Champion freeskier Kit DesLauriers will discuss her adventures in a seminar "7 Continents, 7 Summits, 2 Skis and 1 Buddhist Lama," 7 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Mountaineers Club, 300 Third Avenue West in Seattle. Cost is $12. Details: 206-284-6310 or 206-622-4111 or www.thenorthface.com.

• The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has launched a "Wear It!" life-jacket campaign. The "Be a Survivor!" essay contest entry forms are available at all West Marine stores. Contestants can submit an original story (350 to 700 words) that describes how someone was saved by wearing a life jacket. All entries must be received by Sept. 4. Details: www.safeboatingcampaign.com or www.cgaux.org.

• Anglers can receive rewards for providing information about tagged chinook salmon they catch in areas of the Upper Columbia River. Anglers will be entered in a raffle with a chance to win $50 to $100.

Anglers who catch a salmon fitted with either a jaw or a gill-plate tag are asked to return the tag, along with information about the date and location to: Chris Waldbillig, Fish Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia WA 98501 or call 360-902-2740.

• The Washington Trails Association is hosting an event titled "Families Go Hiking," a series of interactive educational clinics and guided hikes for families.

All hikes begin at 10 a.m.; reservations are required. Dates: Sept. 15, Park Butte-Railroad Grade, exploring nature using your five senses; and Oct. 13, Heather Lake, fabulous fall colors. Details: 206-625-1367 or www.wta.org.

• A free shuttle service to Paradise on Mount Rainier is now operating Friday through Sunday until Labor Day.

The upper parking lot remains closed for construction work at Paradise. Visitors can park west of Paradise at the Cougar Rock Picnic Area or the lot west of Glacier Bridge to board the shuttle, which runs every 30 minutes.

The visitor center will remain open during construction, and dining at the Grill, nature walks and interpretive activities also will be available. There is no lodging at Paradise at the moment, but other options are the National Park Inn at Longmire and in communities outside the park.

The Sunrise area in Mount Rainier National park also has reopened, and offers interpretive programs at the visitor center. The snack bar at the Sunrise Lodge is currently open.

Many roads in the park remain closed due to last year's storm damage, but the Stevens Canyon Road reopened and provides access on the west side to Reflection Lake and on the east side to the Grove of the Patriarchs.

The White River Campground will open June 29. The White River Road to the campground opened last month providing access for climbers. The Mowich Lake Road is planned to open June 29 if snow on the roadway is cleared.

Due to extensive storm damage, the Carbon River Road will not be accessible by vehicles, and only by foot or bicycle. Details: www.nps.gov/mora/ or 360-569-2211.

• The Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall holds numerous outdoors events, including a monthly "Tracking Club," that meets in Sultan on the third Saturday of each month now through May (but not December) from 9 a.m. to noon.

The program is open to naturalists, hunters and people curious about learning to identify, follow and understand stories written in tracks left by animals on the Skykomish River shoreline. Details: 425-788-1301 or www.wildernessawareness.org.

• Alpine Ascents International Inc. will begin offering a variety of guided climbs and instructional programs on Mount Rainier starting next year. The group has scheduled more than 30 expeditions and more than 50 training courses in 14 countries, including the Arctic and Antarctic regions. These expeditions range from six-day training courses in the North Cascades and Alaska to three-month expeditions to Mount Everest to summit climbs and courses on Mount Rainier. Details: 206-378-1927 or www.AlpineAscents.com.

• The Washington Trails Association offers statewide trip reports and trail conditions. Details: www.wta.org.

• The Northwest Fly Anglers offers various public classes through the year. The public also is invited to club meetings on the third Thursday of each month, at the Haller Lake Community Center, 12579 Densmore Ave N., in North Seattle. Details: 206-684-7524.

• The Emerald Sea Dive Club offers year-round activities including the big buddy program and weekly and monthly dives. The club meets on the first Wednesday of every month, 7-9 p.m. at Alfy's Pizza, 4820 196th S.W. in Lynnwood. Details: 425-775-2410 or www.emeraldseadiveclub.org.

• The Seattle Audubon Society offers field trips and classes every month. Details: 206-523-4483 or www.seattleaudubon.org.

• Northend Bassmasters is accepting new members who want to learn more about bass fishing. The group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Crystal Creek Cafe, 22620 Bothell-Everett Highway (Canyon Park) in Bothell. Details: 206-789-4259 or e-mail Gary Millard at glmillard@comcast.net.

• Local Escapes, a local-based travel planner and tour operator, offers a two-night guided exploration of the Olympic Peninsula's rainforest, mountains and coastline.

The personal guided package offers snowshoeing, hiking and other recreational activities. The cost is $950 per person and includes two-night accommodations; transportation; all equipment including snowshoes, poles and raingear; park entrance fees and all meals and refreshments. Details: 877-780-4162 or www.localescapes.com.

• The Washington Audubon Society has unveiled a new section of the Great Washington State Birding Trail to include the Olympic Loop in the Olympic Peninsula.

The new route features more than 200 of Washington's 365 bird species. The trails are usually self-guided driving tours to places where birds are likely to be seen, and some include water routes where visitors can paddle canoes or kayaks. Copies of the trail maps can be ordered at www.wa.audubon.org.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com