Outdoors Notebook: O'Connor center opens in Idaho

Outdoorsman and writer Jack O'Connor inspired readers of Outdoor Life Magazine for many decades with his exotic worldwide hunting escapades and firearm expertise.

O'Connor was born in Arizona in 1902, and taught English at the University of Arizona. He wrote his first article for Outdoor Life in May of 1934 — a conservation piece titled: "Arizona's Antelope Problem," and went on to become its firearm columnist in 1941.

In 1945, he resigned from the university and began a full-time career as a writer for Outdoor Life. His hunting travels not only took him across North America, but on exotic safaris in Africa and India.

He moved to Lewiston, Idaho in 1948, and lived there until he passed away in 1978.

Yesterday, in his honor, on a scenic hilltop in Idaho's Hells Gate State Park overlooking the Snake River, was the grand opening of the Jack O'Connor Hunting Heritage & Education Center.

The center is located by an area where thousands of visitors pass on their way to the popular outdoor recreation area in the Lewis-Clark Valley.

The center's purpose is to:

• Serve as a memorial to legacy of Jack O'Connor, displaying his collection of trophy animal heads, writings, guns and related tokens of his life.

• Promote and perpetuate America's hunting heritage.

• Educate the public about the important role hunting plays in modern resource management.

• Educate future generations of Americans about safe and ethical hunting.

The Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation and the non-profit Jack O'Connor Hunting Heritage & Education Corporation have partnered to make the center a reality.

For those who would like to visit the center it is located at 5600 Hells Gate Road in Lewiston, Idaho. Details: 208-743-5043 or www.jack-oconnor.org.

Word on crab

State Fish and Wildlife would like Dungeness crab fishers in Hood Canal to keep an eye out for bright green tags inserted into the underside of the shell.

Since April, state Fish and Wildlife and the Skokomish Tribe have been tagging and releasing Dungeness crab in Hood Canal at Lynch Cove, Tahuya, Annas Bay, Lilliwaup, and Scenic Beach.

"This tagging study is part of a research project designed to gain a better understanding of crab movement in relation to low dissolved oxygen events in southern Hood Canal," said Therese Cain, a state Fish and Wildlife crab biologist.

Sport or tribal fishers who catch a crab bearing the distinctive green tag are asked to call 866-859-8439, and report the tag number along with the date, location, and depth of capture.

"Latitude and longitude coordinates are particularly helpful. However, if those coordinates are not available, distance and direction from the nearest landmark are valuable information", Cain said.

Fishers are free to keep tagged, legal-sized male crab during open periods, but are asked to report the tag information. Tags should not be removed from crab — such as female, softshell or undersized crab — that cannot legally be retained and must be returned to the water.

Notes

• The Puget Sound Anglers of Lake Washington meeting is 7 p.m. June 8 at the Mercer Island Fire Hall, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. David Powell and Rich Elliott will discuss catching halibut and lingcod from a small boat. Details: 425-823-0704.

• The Northend Bassmasters meeting is 7 p.m. June 6 at the Crystal Creek Cafe, 22620 Bothell-Everett Highway (Canyon Park) in Bothell. Speaker is Steve Jackson with state Fish and Wildlife. Details: 206-789-4259 or e-mail Gary Millard at glmillard@comcast.net.

• The Sierra Club's South King County Group invites members, friends and prospective members to a potluck picnic at 6 p.m. June 14 at Gary Grant Park along the Soos Creek Trail. Bring a dish to share and enjoy a nature walk along the newly opened north section of the trail. Details: 253-852-8394 or e-mail nancy_streiffert@hotmail.com.

• The Sno-King chapter of Puget Sound Anglers is hosting a free Anglers Expo 6:30 p.m. June 8 at the South County Senior Center, 220 Railroad Ave. in Edmonds. There will be displays of fishing gear and tackle, fully rigged boats, barbecue, casting competition, raffle and seminars. Details: 425-493-1737 or www.psasnoking.com.

• The West Point Light Station in Discovery Park will be open to the public June 10. This is the first time the West Point Light Station it has been open to the public in 15 years. The lighthouse building itself and one of the other buildings on site will be open. Discovery Park staff will be available from noon to 4 p.m. to answer questions. Details: 206-386-9110 or e-mail Anne Bentley at anne.bentley@seattle.gov.

• The South King County Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers is hosting a free presentation 7 p.m. June 21 at Des Moines Masonic Hall, 2208 S. 223rd St., with Jeff Boyer of Salmon University, who is an expert on marine electronics. Details: 253-833-1440 or www.Pugetsoundanglers.net.

• The Salish Lodge & Spa in the Snoqualmie Valley is offering a variety of activities this summer for the outdoor enthusiast including hiking, biking, whitewater rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, horseback riding and fly-fishing.

Another unique outdoor activity available is Geocoaching, a digital scavenger hunt using GPS units and coordinates. Teams embark searching for hidden "caches' or treasures in the mountain trails within a one-mile radius of the lodge. Each adventure takes one-and-a-half to three hours. Details: 800-272-5474 or www.salishlodge.com.

• Crystal Mountain Resoirt is offering some summer travel packages including sunset dinners and scenic chairlift rides.

The Chinook Express and Rainier Express lifts will run on weekends and Labor Day from July 1-Sept. 4. The lifts will operate 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with the last ride up at 3 p.m.

Chairlift access for mountain bikes is off-limits, but biking is allowed on the trails. Trail and wildflower guides are available at the Right Angle Sports Shop.

A BBQ lunch will be available from 10:30 a.m.-3:30.p.m. at the Summit House.

There will be two nightly seating for Sunset Dinners. Cost is $59 per person, and includes a soup or salad, entrée, select non-alcoholic beverages, tax, tip and chairlift ride to and from dinner. Details: 360-663-2265 or www.skicrystal.com.

• The recreational non-spot [coonstripe and pink] shrimp fishery opened this past week in Marine Catch Areas 8-1, 8-2, 9 and 11 [Deception Pass, Everett area, northern Puget Sound and south-central Puget Sound.

There is a 150-foot maximum fishing depth restriction. Port Townsend Shrimp District is also open south of a line from Walan Point to Kala Point. Discovery Bay Shrimp District is open south of a line from Tukey Point to Contractors Point. The north/central portion of Marine Area 7 [see state Fish and Wildlife regulation pamphlet of Web site for boundary locations] is open with a 200 foot maximum fishing depth restriction.

Any spot shrimp caught must be returned immediately to the water unharmed. The maximum fishing depth restrictions protect spot shrimp while still allowing the opportunity to fish for non-spot shrimp. Details: http://wdfw.wa.gov.

• The Ilwaco Charter Boat Association is hosting a Father/Daughter/Son Fishing Derby now through summer when the sturgeon and salmon fisheries closes. There is no entry fee and is open to all sport fishers. Anglers must register by 11 a.m. on the day they are fishing. Anyone on a charter boat from the port will be considered as registered for the event. Details: 360-642-3495.

• The Adventure Cycling Association, North America's largest cycling organization is celebrating its 30-year birthday at a Summer Solstice 6 p.m.-9 p.m. June 21 at the King County KOA Campground in Kent.

The Puget Sound celebration allows veteran and beginning cyclists to learn the latest about bicycling and bicycle travel.

Festivities include a barbecue dinner, Bikecentennial movie booth, thematic tables, photo booth, adventure stories, party gifts, personal stories about the life-changing dimension of bike travel and a cake cutting ceremony.

There is an optional bike ride at 3 p.m. organized by the Tacoma Wheelmans Bicycle Club. Cost is $35 and $20 for children under age 12. Details: 800-755-2453, ext. 235 or www.adventurecycling.org.

• Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville is offering summer camps from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $30 per child with morning snack included.

Next: July 13: Wild Wetlands for ages 8-10; July 27: Art in the Wild for ages 10-12; and Aug. 10: Animal Adventures for ages 6-8.

There will also be overnight family camps titled: "S'mores and Snores," on July 22-23, July 29-30, Aug. 5-6 and Aug. 12-13. Cost is $40 adults, and $22 children ages 3-12. Details: 360-832-6117 or www.nwtrek.org.

• The Urban Bird Nest Tour is 7 a.m.-2 p.m. June 17 at the Discovery Park Visitors Center, 3801 West Government Way in Seattle. Vans will transport participants to southwest Seattle.

Join City of Seattle naturalists and visit osprey nests, bald eagle nests, purple martin nests and more wildlife homes. Cost is $20. The program is for people 12 years-old-and-older. Pre-registration is required. Details: 206-386-4236.

• The Northshore Chapter of Trout Unlimited is hosting a free Kids' Fishing Pond Event 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 17-18 at Biringer Farm in Marysville. Open all kids under age 16 who are with an adult.

• The Trek Tri-Island Kickoff meeting is 6:30 p.m. June 13 at the Queen Anne Community Center, 1901 First Avenue West in Seattle.

Come find out about the three-day 135-mile bicycle ride on Sept. 16-18 from Seattle to San Juan Islands ending in Victoria, B.C., which is hosted by the American Lung Association of Washington. Details: 206-441-5100 or www.alaw.org.

• Join in this summer on the Washington Trails Association Wildland Discovery Hike Series. Next: June 10, Dosewallips River Road in Hood Canal; June 25, Cathedral Rock at Stevens Pass; July 7-9, Mad River Hiking Weekend; July 29, Family Hike to Wallace Falls; Aug. 19, Tongue Mountain in Gifford Pinchot National Forest; Aug. 26, North Fork Skykomish to Dishpan Gap; Sept. 8, Dark Divide Hikes on banks of Lewis River; Sept. 16, William O' Douglas to Snow Mountain ranch; and Sept. 24, Park Butte near Mt. Baker. Details: 206-625-1367 or www.wta.org.

• The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group is offering Adventure Day Camps July 11-14 for fourth and fifth graders; and an Adventure Overnight Camp Aug. 15-18 for sixth to ninth graders.

Learn about wild salmon issues from historical perspectives, current trends and salmon physiology through exploration activities, games, art and journaling. Details: 360-275-3575.

• The Southwest Washington Anglers' Sturgeon Derby is June 17 on the Lower Columbia estuary. The derby is open for boat and bank anglers. Weigh-in starts 11 a.m. at the Chinook boat ramp. Cost is $30. Entrants receive a derby t-shirt and spaghetti dinner. Details: 360-896-2208.

• Anglers, campers and other outdoor recreationists can once again access the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area in northern Okanogan County, where flooding closed roads recently.

County road crews repaired damage to Sinlahekin Road from the wildlife area headquarters south of Loomis to just north of Blue Lake. The road offers access to Conner Lake and Reflection Pond.

Only cartop boats, canoes and kayaks are allowed at Ford Lake, and camping is available on the west side. The campground and trailer boat launch on the east side remains closed.

The south end of the wildlife area was not damaged by the flood and the roads remain open from Pine Creek or Conconully Reservoir.

The warm weather caused the snowpack to melt away quickly thus flooding rivers and streams in the area.

• Lynnwood Parks and Recreation Department is offering a family kayaking and camping trip July 22-23 to the San Juan Islands. Children must be 10 or older to participate. The campout will be at San Juan County Park and guides will dish out gourmet foods. Cost is $250 for Lynnwood residents, or $10 more for non-residents. Details: 425-771-4030 or www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us/Parks.

• The Mukilteo Yacht Club is hosting a boat cruise July 7-9 to the Port of Poulsbo Marina. Hors d'oeuvres will be shared on the dock at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at the Bayside Broiler. Other activities include a possible visit to Heronswood Nursery, a scavenger hunt and a potluck dinner. Register by June 23. Details: 360-403-0820.

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville has a number of special activities scheduled this month. TodayJune 4 is a Wildlife Art Show featuring artist Terry Isaac, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; June 18 is a Father's Day Barbecue from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; and June 24-25 is the Slug Fest. Details: 360-832-7166 or www.nwtrek.org.

• A bike ride with the theme "Get Back Into Bicycling," hosted by Cascade Bike Club and the Northshore Senior Cyclists, is 9:30 a.m. June 14 from Magnuson Park in Seattle.

The ride is designed for people who have not ridden a bike in some time and are thinking about getting back into biking. Helpers will assess your bike's condition, make simple adjustments and lead a flat practice ride at an easy pace. Details: 206-522-1470 or www.cascade.org.

• The Mountains to Sound Relay is June 25 at Snoqualmie Pass and finishes 100 miles later at Shilshole Bay in Seattle.

Five- and two-member teams as well as solo entries in the Ironman competition will participate in mountain biking and road biking, canoe-kayaking and half-marathon events. The event is limited to 300 teams comprising 1,525 racers, plus 25 Ironmen and 25 pair teams. Details: www.MountainsToSound.com.

• The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust has started trail-maintenance projects and are looking for volunteers. Work is needed for trails on Tiger Mountain, Squak Mountain, Rattlesnake Mountain, Mount Si, and in the South and Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Basins. Volunteers are needed on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through June 24. Details: 206-812-0122 or www.mtsgreenway.org.

• Outdoor Odysseys in Friday Harbor is offering a limited number of women-only sea kayaking tours in the San Juan Islands from June through September. Choose from two types of sea kayaking tours, both led by women guides — a three-day camping tour or a three-day bed & breakfast tour. Cost is $475 for camping tour and $749 for B&B tour. Details: 206-361-0717 or www.outdoorodysseys.com.

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