Just more than three weeks remain until Christmas, and Santa's gift bag is filled to the rim with lots of goodies for the outdoor enthusiast on your shopping list.
Sitting by a warm fire with a good book is the perfect gift. Here are some suggestions:
• The ideal book to wow the diehard steelhead angler on your list is "A Passion For Steelhead," by Dec Hogan ($59.95, Wild River Press). This 319-page book has marvelous photographs, big colorful pictures of flies, pencil sketches of casting and offers readers detailed insights on how and where to catch steelhead. Hogan was a fly-fishing guide for 15 years on the Skagit River, and the Grand Ronde and Deschutes Rivers in Oregon. Details: 425-486-3638 or www.wildriverpress.com.
• The revised and enlarged 416-page "Washington State Fishing Guide" ($29.95, TNS Communications) by Terry Sheely offers in-depth information to fish anywhere in the Evergreen State. The book details and shows more than 2,500 fishing spots, and identifies all the species that lurk in our local waters. Details: www.amazon.com or many local tackle shops, including G.I. Joes and Outdoor Emporium in Seattle.
• "No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks" ($23.95, Broadway Books) by Ed Viesturs, a Seattle mountaineer, with David Roberts, is the memoir of Viesturs' journey to climb the tallest peaks in the world without the aid of oxygen. Details: www.randomhouse.com.
• Bass lovers will enjoy Monte Burke's book "Sowbelly: The Obsessive Quest for the World Record Largemouth Bass" ($23.95, Dutton a member of the Penguin Group). The book details the frustrating quest that many anglers face of breaking George Washington Perry's record largemouth bass that weighed 22 pounds, 4 ounces in 1932. Burke has written articles for Field & Stream and writes for Forbes. Details: www.penguin.com.
• The colorfully illustrated book "River Girls: Flyfishing for Young Women" ($20, Johnson Books) by author Cecilia Kleinkauf, is the first introduction flyfishing book using the real-life experiences of four young women. Details: www.johnsonbooks.com or www.rivergirlsflyfishing.com.
REI is always a good shopping venue that has plenty of gifts for that geared-up person on your list. All items are available at most REI stores or www.rei.com.
• The Fall Line Hydration Ski Pack ($89) is designed for skiers and snowboarders, and features a premier Nalgene CXC system with anti-microbial two-liter reservoir and hose. Skis or a snowboard can be easily attached to the pack. There are also places to hold supplies, shovel, sunglasses or MP3 player that includes a headphone cable portal.
• The waterproof Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx Handheld GPS Unit ($499.95) won the Outside Magazine 2006 Gear of the Year Award. This navigational workhorse guides you to your destination with a crisp, sunlight-readable color display. The SiRFstar receiver provides rapid first fix and is sensitive enough to acquire signals in urban canyons and under dense foliage.
• Decorate the Christmas tree with REI GSI Santa Ornaments ($11). The outdoor-themed ornaments depict Santa backpacking, canoeing, climbing, camping, hiking with his dog, sea kayaking and even snoozing.
• Stay warm this winter in a Wooly One Jacket ($169-$179), which is made of a natural and synthetic fabric that features a durable, smooth outer face bonded to a warm fleece inner face. The jacket is breathable and wind-resistant.
Some other great ideas to fill out your wish list:
• The durable and lightweight Grilliput ($29.99) is an easy and convenient way to barbeque on the go without lugging around a large grill. It is ideal for camping and fits neatly into a backpack. For added convenience, the UCO Compact Firebowl ($12.99) is designed to not only contain a campfire and protect the outdoors, but also serves as a container for charcoal or wood used for fuel. Details: www.campmor.comor 888-CAMPMOR.
• The Light My Fire Outdoor Meal Kit ($24) is a portable, multifunctional and spill-proof mess kit that makes it easy to prepare and clean up while on a backpacking trip. The Spork ($3), a spoon-fork-knife combo, and Spill-Proof Cup ($6) can also be purchased separately. Details: www.lightmyfireusa.comor 888-297-6062.
• The TrekPod ($84.99-$139.99) is a unique multi-purpose outdoor tool, which is a combination of a lightweight, height-adjustable walking/hiking staff with a fully integrated tripod for cameras, optical devices, photo lights and any other tripod mountable device. Details: www.trek-tech.com.
• The new Therm-a-Rest ToughSkin Mattress ($99.99-$119.95) is a lightweight, puncture resistant self-inflating mattress with a closed-cell foam combine to offer a warmer and more durable camping pad. The air-holding seal is protected by a bottom layer of closed-cell foam, allowing these mattresses to be extremely puncture-resistant and providing protection from thorns and sharp rocks.
• Add a Therm-a-Rest compressible pillow ($24.95-$29.95), which is an ultra-soft expandable pillow that offers comfort for your head. Details: www.thermarest.com/locator.aspx.
• The MSR PocketRocket canister stove and Titan Kettle ($79.95) is lighter than any other stove/pot combo on the market, and weighs a mere 7.3 ounces. The fast boil whips up two cups of water in just 2.25 minutes. The stove and 4-ounce MSR IsoPro fuel canister (sold separately) fit neatly inside the canister to save space. The Windclip windshield protects flame in light winds. Details:www.msrgear.com/dealer_locator.
• The ThermoHAWK Touchless Thermometer ($39.95) is small enough to fit in a fishing tackle box to be used to locate temperature changes on a lake to find optimal temperatures. It also can be used while hiking or cross-country skiing or to use while cooking during camping trips. It can be purchased at www.Q3i.com, www.basscomputers.com, www.amazon.com or www.44tools.com.
• Dremel Tools has the new 300 Series Kit ($49-$69), in which anglers can make simple custom fishing lures from kitchen spoons. It is an easy four-step process that makes a nice slow-retrieving fishing spoon. Three other items needed to make the lure include an EZ Lock Starter Kit ($14.99); 932 Aluminum Oxide Grinding Stone ($2.99); and 423 E Polishing Cloth ($3.99). Details: www.dremel.com or 800-437-3635.
• The Aquapac ($15-$120) is an affordable gift for anyone who enjoys the outdoors and wants to keep their cellphone, MP3 player, camera, Ipod, GPS device, walkie-talkies and other valuables dry. Details: www.AquapacUSA.com.
• The youth Arctic Bear ($55) and women's Snowden ($75) Kamik Boots will keep your toes warm and dry during the cold winter months ahead. Details: www.kamik.comor www.zappos.com.
• UnderArmour offers some clothing to keep the moisture out and the warmth in. The ColdGear Chase Mock long-sleeve shirt ($59.99) and the Performance Fleece Zip Jacket ($74.99) offer lightweight breathable protection from the cold. Details: www.underarmour.com.
Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com
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