Some great gift ideas for outdoor enthusiasts

Only a few weeks remain before Christmas, and for those who have an outdoor lover on their gift list, here are some gifts worth putting under the tree or getting as a stocking stuffer:

The Jet Boil Personal Cooking System ($79.90-$99.95) is an innovative and backpack-friendly cooking system. Unlike the heavy vacuum bottles and clunky stoves, Jetboil's key lies in coupling heat transfer technology with a design that's easy to use. Plus, it boils two cups of water in a couple minutes.

The compact design (15-ounce weight with 32-ounce capacity) makes for easy storage. Each Jetpower Fuel canister provides ample energy to boil 12 liters or 100 cups of water. Details: www.amazon.com.

A cozy book to read near the fireplace on the cold winter nights ahead is Trout Fishing in the Pacific Northwest ($19.99). The book offers anglers more than 300 step-by-step photos that teach important skills and in-depth chapters on trout biology and behavior. The 400-page book is published by Quayside Publishing Group. The book is available at bookstores and online booksellers.

The Tie Boss Brand instant lock-and-release rope system makes raising or tying down loads quick, simple and safe. The design easily allows campers to keep food and other items up and away from critters on the ground; hunters can easily hang their big game from a tree; and bikers can raise their bicycles from the clutter of the garage.

The bolt-through design increases strength and prevents the unit from failing during heavy lifting. Other list of uses include tarp and vehicle tie-downs, hauling, and boating and sailing.

The ¼-inch Tie Boss costs $14.99; the 3/8-inch unit is $19.99; and for the 3/8-inch tie down with the block and tackle assembly goes for $49.99. Details: 877-900-2677 or www.tieboss.com.

SCUBA divers can increase their kick with the Aqua Lung's Slingshot fins ($219). Unlike any other fin on the market, these offer increased power and propulsion as well as comfort and custom-fit settings. These fins help propel submerged divers with little effort, saving energy and lengthening your time spent underwater. Details: www.aqualung.com.

Caught a big fish and want to know how much it weighs? The BERKLEY Digital Fish Scale ($17.96) can get the job done. The extremely accurate, water-resistant functions include a 10-weight memory, average and combined weight feature. An auto-off switch maximizes battery life. It weighs fish up to 50 pounds. Details: www.amazon.com.

The easy to carry Thermarest Trail Lite ($49.95) insulation pad is the perfect creature comfort to put under the sleeping bag for a restful night in the woods. The compact size (weighs 1 pound, 15 ounces; 20x60 inches) makes it easy to bring along on a campout. Details: www.amazon.com.

Part of the 10 essentials to take on a backpacking adventure is a signal mirror, and Coghlan's Sight-Grid Signal Mirror ($12.99) is great for backpacking light, traveling to remote locations, SOS and signaling rescue planes. The shatter-resistant mirror can signal up to 25 miles on a clear day. Plus, it floats in the water. To locate a retailer in your area, go to www.coghlans.com/search/index.php.

Chatting around a campfire is a timeless tradition on camping trips, and Funky Colored Flames ($5.88) by Winlow Products adds a new twist that puts on an impressive colorful light show. The easy to use packet of crystals are environmentally friendly, and is placed directly on top of a campfire. They then start to burn, creating a show of colors that will radiate the fire for about 30 minutes. The small packet is also easier than carrying a Duraflame log on a campout. The product is available at Target or Wal-Mart or online at www.campingworld.com.

The Sitka Nimbus Jacket and Pants ($249 pants and $349 jacket) was the Field & Stream 2008 Best of Best Award winner. The outfit was built for toughness in the outdoors and is made to keep you dry in the wettest of environments. It is designed to keep the water and snow out and your perspiration under control. Details: www.sitkagear.com.

The Gerber Big Rock Camp Knife ($48.00) is the ultimate hunting and all-purpose knife, and is a Bill Harsey design. The full blade comes in a fine edge or serrated, and the ergonomically shaped glass-filled nylon handle uses a Softgrip over mold with textured grip points for maximum comfort and control. The blade length is 4.5 inches. Details: www.gerbergear.com.

Here are three ways to light up the night on your next campout or night hike.

• The Brunton Lamplight LED Flashlight and Lantern ($29.40) is a small but powerful flashlight that can be converted into a lantern by pulling out the telescoping head. The light is redirected 360 degrees, perfect for lighting the tent. One set of AAA batteries gets you 200 hours of light in this compact duo lighting system. Details: www.brunton.com.

• Black & Decker has introduced a new product to make the outdoors more enjoyable. The Bright Bar ($32.96) LED light outshines the competition and provides your campsite with plenty of brightness while using very little power. The LEDs are durable, lasting more than 10,000-hours. Details: www.blackanddecker.com.

• The next time you go camping, backpacking or for late-night walk, don't forget to bring along the Coghlan's LED Micro Lantern ($6.99). The lantern stands two-inches high and weighs a 1 ounce. The lantern is powered with two Lithium batteries, and can provide light for 25 hours. Details: www.campingsurvival.com.

A great way to get some stuff out of the backpack and onto the back of a human's best friend is the REI Adventure Dog Pack ($45). The design moves with dog's body, easing navigation through dense woods and brush. The pack is sculpted, breathable mesh harness holds securely to a dog and the three-point design adapts to various dog shapes. Details: www.rei.com.

The REI Comet Pack for Kids' ($85) is perfect to introduce your youngsters to the outdoors with their first real backpack. With a "rip-and-stick" torso adjustment, the shoulder-strap system easily slides on the pack's frame to fit torsos of varying lengths. It is sized to fit kids ages 6 to 10. Details: www.rei.com.

The REI Taku Jacket ($199) offers the ultimate in versatility, and is lightweight, windproof, waterproof, breathable and most of all comfortable. The top of the hood, shoulders and cuffs are made from a three-layer REI Elements nylon/laminate fabric, offering waterproof, breathable protection. The jacket is windproof to 60 mph. Details: www.rei.com.

Notes

• The Washington Fly Fishing Club beginner fly tying classes are 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 8 at the Mercer Island Convenant Church. The class meets once a week for eight sessions. Cost is $45 ($35 class fee plus $10 for the DVD featuring step-by-step video instruction for all flies tied in class). Details: 206-542-4623 or www.wffc.com.

• The Steelhead University daylong seminar is 8 a.m. Dec. 6 at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Meeting Center, 19802 62nd Ave. So. in Kent.

Instructors include Jack Glass, host of The Outback Angler in Portland; Mike Perusse, a co-host of Northwest Wild Country on KJR Radio; and Vic Carrao, writer and owner of STS Guide Service. Details: www.steelheaduniversity.com.

• The Patty Wagon ski bus to Stevens Pass begins service every Thursday from Jan. 8-Feb. 26. Cost is $191 for the eight weeks or $29 for single trips. Bus starts from 185th and Aurora to Lake Forest Park to Bothell and a last stop in Monroe. Details: 206-546-6717.

• Outdoor Adventure Center is hosting the Deception Pass Dash, a 6-mile kayak race through Deception Pass between Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands, 10 a.m. Dec. 7 at Bowman Bay in Deception Pass State Park. Details: 425-883-9039 or www.outdooradventurecenter.com.

• The Washington Butterfly Association meeting is 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St. in Seattle. Retired wildlife biologist John Davis will discuss learning about Pacific Northwest moths. Details: 206-364-4935 or www.naba.org/Chapters/nabaws.

• A public workshop is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 9 to discuss how annual seasons are set for recreational salmon fisheries by state Fish and Wildlife at the Lacey Community Center, 6729 Pacific Ave. in Lacey. Fisheries staff will talk about legal, technical and policy issues regarding the salmon season-setting process, known as North of Falcon. Details: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/northfalcon/index.htm.

• The Issaquah REI Store is hosting a workshop titled Snowshoeing 101 at 7 p.m. Dec. 9. Learn skills, tips and techniques, and layering technology to keep you warm and comfortable. All ages welcome. No registration required. Details: 425-313-1660.

• The Washington Sea Grant is offering classes on boat engine troubleshooting and maintenance 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 8-11 at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, 42 Water St. in Port Hadlock. Cost is $100, and preregistration is advised. Details: 206-543-1225 or email sfisken@u.washington.edu.

• The Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Mount Rainier National Park is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends and holidays through Dec. 31. The visitor center offers new exhibits, park information, a new park movie, book store and gift shop, as well as food service. Details: 360-569-2211 or www.nps.gov/mora.

• Hatchery steelhead fishing is open on the Upper Columbia River from Rocky Beach Dam to 400 feet below Wells Dam. Daily limit is two hatchery-marked fish, and they must be longer than 20 inches. Fishing will remain open through March 31, but could close sooner. A night closure and selective gear rules apply. Anglers may use single, barbless hooks and knotless nets, motorized vessels and bait are allowed.

• Lake Chelan is open for chinook salmon fishing through Feb. 8. Areas within 400 feet of the mouths of all tributaries are closed. Hatchery-reared summer chinook stocking have been successful to the point to allow fishing. Daily limit is two chinook with a minimum size limit of 15 inches. No catch-record card is needed.

• 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.orgCQ.

• 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.

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