Open fire ban in Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park has adopted a ban on all open fires in the wilderness backcountry until further notice. Campfires will be permitted only in established fire grates at front-country campgrounds. Along the coastal area of the park, campfires will be permitted only along the beach, below the high tide line, except between Yellow Banks and Wedding Rocks.

Meet and greet mountain climbers Ed Viesturs and Veikka Gustafsson, 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7 at the REI Store, 222 Yale Avenue North in Seattle.

Both climbers recently summited Annapura, capping Ed's Project Endeavor 8000, to become the first American and the sixth person to summit all 14 8,000-meter peaks without oxygen.

At 7 p.m., Ed will host a presentation at Seattle Town Hall, 8th Avenue and Seneca. Cost is $15, and tickets are available at all REI stores. Details: 206-223-1944.

Safety issues have prompted the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Ranger District to close the Ranger Creek area (including the airstrip) to certain types of vehicles. The area is west of Highway 410, about 28 miles southeast of Enumclaw in Pierce County.

The closure was necessary to prevent accidents or injuries between light aircraft and motorized vehicles. A safety fence will be built around the runway to control vehicle access.

Vehicles have been using the runway to drag race, and the aircraft parking area has been damaged. Violators could receive up to a $5,000 fine.

Campers will be allowed in street-legal motorized vehicles on designated access roads to campsites in the Ranger Creek area. Access will remain open to the Sun Top recreation area.

Alternate off-road riding areas include the Evans Creek area south of Wilkeson, and the Carbon River area. More off-road vehicle areas are located by Highway 410 east in the Wenatchee National Forest. Details: www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/.

Huckleberries are in full bloom in the Cascade and Olympic mountain high country now through September.

Look for the juicy, purple berries along bushes in open meadows, lakesides or former lake beds above the 2,000-foot elevation. Wildlife are known to congregate around huckleberry patches, and hikers and campers are advised to keep their eyes open for black bears.

Good berry spots recommended by the Washington Trails Association include: Tonga Ridge trail in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness off Highway 2 just past Skykomish; Windy Pass along the Pacific Crest Trail south of Snoqualmie Pass; Kendall Katwalk on the Pacific Crest Trail north of Snoqualmie Pass; Mount Dickerman (a 8.5-mile round-trip trail) in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest off Mountain Loop Highway; Park Butte/Schriebers Meadow in the Mount Baker National Recreation Area; Juniper Ridge in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest; Bird Mountain (a 10-mile) Loop in the Indian Heaven Wilderness of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest; and Shredroof Divide in the Salmo Priest Wilderness of the Colville National Forest.

The Washington Butterfly Association is sponsoring a field trip to Mount Townsend near Quilcene in Jefferson County on Saturday. Guests must sign up in advance. Cost is $5, plus carpooling fees. Details: www.naba.org/chapters/nabaws/.

Compiled by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times staff reporter. He can be reached at 206-464-8780; e-mail: outdoorsnotes@seattletimes.com; fax: 206-464-3255; address: P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111.