New Year’s Day being on a Thursday segues into the — almost –obligatory column regarding the following 364 days.
I always identify a few activities that seemed to get away from me in the previous 12 months and promise to redouble efforts to accomplish them in the coming year.
Three of these involve fishing, one is cross-country skiing, one is hiking related and one is hunting.
Here they are in the chronological order in which I hope to accomplish them:
No. 1 — Ski Hardtime Loop
This is an 11- to 12-mile loop in the upper Wind River area.
It is a nice mix of roads and trails. The route has only a couple of steep spots that get walked if it is icy.
I’ve skied this once before — in May 2008. That was a huge snow year and there were still a couple of feet at the 3,000-foot elevation-loop deep into spring. I’d like to do the loop again. I’m aiming for late February or early March if the snowpack will cooperate.
No. 2 — Late winter walleyes
A decent walleye bite starts in late February to early March in the Columbia River immediately downstream from John Day Dam.
I’ve noted it for years from reading the state departments of Fish and Wildlife angler reports. I even fished it once with members of the Oregon Bass and Panfish Club.
Instead of starting the fishing year in mid-March chasing chinook in the Columbia River, I’m going to get going a few weeks earlier for walleye in the Maryhill area.
I’m ready to try dragging a spinner and nightcrawler in late winter in the Gorge.
It’s not like there are a lot of competing activities in late February and early March.
No. 3 — Hike Quartz Creek trail
Quartz Creek trail No. 5 connects Lewis River trail No. 31 and Boundary trail No. 1 in the heart of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. It’s about 10 miles in one of the least-accessible drainages in the forest. It is a drainage trail, but not really a creek-side trail.
For decades, Quartz Creek trail suffered from lack of maintenance.
But, a few years ago, the Washington Trails Association put Quartz Creek No. 5 on its radar and started organizing work parties. The Forest Service joined the effort and did much of the heavy-duty removal of huge downed trees at the upper end of the trail.
This is a route most easily hiked from the top down. There are some logistical issues involving two vehicles.
This will be a July outing and probably include camping at Lewis River Recreation Area in order to get an early start.
No. 4 — Big year at Buoy 10
In 2014, the week set aside to fish at the mouth of the Columbia River was Aug. 12 to 19. Yeah, I know, that’s too early.
It was not too early to catch some chinook and coho, but was about a week before the very best fishing. A goal was to be finished at Buoy 10 when the season turned mark selective, which two years ago resulted in throwing back four chinook in a day.
I really didn’t think starting a few days earlier than normal would matter. Well it did. Angling was scratchy until about Aug. 16-17.
We caught lots of chinook and coho making day trips in late August and early September, but the week-long outing earlier was a little disappointing.
This week, the lodging reservations are Aug. 19 through 26.
No. 5 — Back to Goose Lake
I used to make intermittent trips for trout at 53-acre Goose Lake in the southern Pinchot. It’s actually more relaxing than chasing salmon and steelhead in the lower Columbia River.
But when my 1978 Ford F-250 died, so did my ability of putting a 12-foot pram in the bed and driving up to Goose Lake, albeit, at 10 miles per gallon. I need to buy a used trailer to haul the pram behind my Toyota Tacoma.
No. 6 — Pheasants again
Twenty years ago, upland bird hunting was decent in Southeast Washington. I was young and I had a tough, birdy golden retriever.
Slowly, the hunting got poor due to changes in agricultural practices and land-use. My second dog was not as good as the first, and my hunting partner died.
In 2013, after a four-year break from hunting, I went for two days along the Snake River and shot four pheasants.
I learned it’s not about hunting so much anymore. It’s about remembering the old days and revisiting the old places. I can stand on the exact spot and relive memories of good times from decades ago.
Dog No. 3 will be 11 this fall. If she’s still in good enough shape, I think I’ll take her and the Remington 1100 on a walk again.
Maybe we’ll even get some pheasants.
Allen Thomas covers hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation topics for The Columbian. He can be reached at 360-735-4555 or at al.thomas@columbian.com. He can be followed on Twitter at @col_outdoors.
