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Dec03

Ellensburg Daily Record: Take a Hike: Preserving the Yakima Canyon

by Dick Ambrose, contributing columnist

November 30, 2012

Not long ago we drove through Yakima Canyon and I couldn’t help thinking about why we enjoy living here.

The beautiful valley with its rich soil, surrounded by rolling hills and mountains with views of Mount Stuart and friends. And nearby is arguably the most scenic and uniquely spectacular canyon in the universe as we know it.

So it makes sense to preserve it to the best of our ability for our continued enjoyment and for the enjoyment of our grandchildren and future generations.

As we drove through the canyon the colors were startling. The reds and oranges of the shrubs riverside, the golden leaves of cottonwoods and aspens, the black basalt cliffs, and the tan grasses, with the liquid light of the river running through it — a more beautiful scene we could not imagine.

Wildlife

We spotted some bighorn sheep as we drove along and some deer on the hillside. A bald eagle was perched on a branch of a large ponderosa pine. “Wishermen” wading and floating the river were casting flies to where they were sure lie a fat, hungry rainbow trout.

We passed Umtanum Creek where a bridge crosses the river. From there a trail heads into the Umtanum Canyon. It is broad at the entrance and narrows as you go deeper.

A mile from the river you can see remnants of an old homestead, where apple, pear and walnut trees still produce their fruit. In the spring look for lilacs and flowering quince that still bloom at the site. Beavers on the job are always attempting to reroute the creek. Sometimes in the process they drown the trail in places.

We then passed the other major trailhead which goes straight up the hill to the east from the highway, presenting would-be hikers with good exercise and great views of the Kittitas Valley and the canyon below.

There are many other excellent hiking opportunities in the canyon. It is no wonder that Ellensburg residents take out-of-town guests to marvel at the beauty in our own backyard.

Continue reading the story.

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Jul12

I blame it on the neighbors! Snowmobiling in the Teanaway Valley

By Tracy Rooney

Hiking, biking, lift assisted and backcountry skiing are very familiar recreation activities for me. But snowmobiles? I kept saying I wasn’t a motorhead. I thought they were somewhat noisy and stinky. Not so much now — but certainly ten years ago before the riders’ desires for less intrusive snow machines made their wishes known. Hey, the snowmobile manufactures knew what was good for business, so they figured it out too. Less stink, less noise. It was no longer just about the adrenaline of horsepower but a broader form of winter recreation that could be shared by young and old alike.

Anyway, being a weekender in a valley that seemed like ground zero for snowmobiling and with my desire to get to know my neighbors better, I bought some used snowmobiles. It’s a ten year old decision that makes me grin every time I think about it.

As a newbie, I knew that I needed to get some “ride time” in before adventuring out with my then seven- and nine-year-old kids and somewhat skeptical wife. The neighbors were only happy to oblige and off I went. I had covered a lot of the local territory by foot and bike, but knew that winter conditions would be more challenging and unforgiving. What I hadn’t thought about was the distances that could be covered in a relatively short amount of time with snow blanketing the ground. It soon became clear to me that my list of favorite valley viewpoints was about to expand! I also quickly found out that snowmobiling wasn’t a sit down, passive sport. Just like in skiing, new skills would be required to get from point a to b. If you got your snowmobile stuck, it wasn’t as easy as just flopping over and pointing down the hill like you do when downhill skiing. But it was all good fun!

The extensive network of groomed logging roads in the valley is impressive. These well-defined trails made “doubling up” on each sled with a kid a great way to explore and build up confidence to check out new trails and vistas. Soon my garage seemed to have shrunk as we each had our own snowmobile and an expanded winter play area. While the colors of fall are hard to beat, the stark winter landscapes are even better.

At first reluctant to get involved in snowmobiling, I’m now one of the valley’s biggest enthusiasts. My initial concern regarding snowmobile interference with wildlife has been replaced with awe as I check out the tracks of the many animals that move around the valley in the winter via the groomed trail system. Having seen the combination of deer, elk, coyote, rabbit and now even wolf tracks on a trail is truly an amazing sight!

I’m also more relaxed with the knowledge that snowmobiling does not have to be in conflict with skiing and snowshoeing. It’s an awfully big valley. In our North Fork neighborhood the snowmobilers are often called upon to “break trail” for others who prefer the non-mechanized form of winter transport. And we gladly do so!

As a family, we all look forward to those annual sunny Teanaway holiday snow outings and the view of the Stuarts from Teanaway Butte, Red Top and other local landmarks. And as a neighborhood activity, I’ve been rewarded with a common bond that has led to a lifetime of close Teanaway friendships.

Snowmobiling has become a shared neighborhood activity. In the fall we gather to “brush out” trails. Once snow has fallen, and the risk of errant vehicles on the closed logging roads has passed, we get the gates unlocked and opened for winter fun. It’s truly an activity that spans generations. While he’s an anomaly, one of my riding buddies is in his late eighties!

The Yakima Basin Integrated Plan presents a rare opportunity for elected officials, recreational enthusiasts and conservationists to seek out common ground. Yes, as a snowmobiler and mountain biker, I’m reluctant to see thousands of acres of riding area closed by an expanded wilderness area. But as a realist, I’m very enthused with the prospect of also having what is currently more than 46 thousand acres of private timberlands removed from the prospect of residential development and forever protected for recreational use, expanded habit areas and continued use as a “community forest” with sound logging and grazing practices. It sounds like a fair trade off for “no access, private property” signs being something that my children and their children will not have to encounter in our extensive Teanaway backyard!

It’s all about finding common ground, tradeoffs that make sense and working towards goals that will benefit many for generations to come! The Integrated Plan has a lot in it for many. I’m in. I hope you are!

Tracy Rooney is a Teanaway Valley resident and active member of the Teanaway Snowmobile Club. You can view a map of groomed snowmobile trails in the area. Email richardlow5@gmail.com for more information about the Teanaway Snowmobile Club.

Posted by admin in Snowmobiling, Uncategorized, What to Do

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May25

Rejuvenation in Teanaway country

By Andrea Imler, The Wilderness Society

Until last Saturday, I hadn’t been out on a hike in months. Typing those words is foreign to me, a hiking addict, but they are true. I spent the winter and spring training for road bike racing season, for once determined to focus on a single athletic activity. The hustle and bustle of living in Seattle – loud sirens, constant connection to technology and the concrete jungle were getting to me. I needed to mix things up. I needed a hike. Teanaway Country was calling my name.

The alarm went off and I sprang out of bed. The sun was shining, birds were singing and I was going hiking. What better way to kick off the weekend? My boyfriend and I ate breakfast quickly, grabbed our pre-packed backpacks and headed out the door.

Less than two hours later we parked at the Yellow Hill trailhead in the Teanaway. Ahh, the Teanaway. The Teanaway is one of my favorite places in the North Cascades. I’m not sure what it is about the Teanaway, but I love it. Perhaps it’s the unofficial motto: “It’s always sunny in the Teanaway!” Or maybe it’s the pine trees or the fact that its home to some amazing rocks, rare flowers and one of Washington state’s rare wolf packs. Perhaps it’s simply because it’s Teanaway Country – it draws you in.

The Teanaway has certainly drawn me in. I’ve hiked up sixteen peaks, some formally named like Navaho Peak, while others not officially labeled on a map. My feet have walked well over a hundred miles in the Teanaway, to sparkling blue alpine lakes and through snowmelt-swollen creeks. And I’ve slept under the stars there countless times.

A few hours later we reached our destination, the top of Yellow Hill. Well, not exactly the top. The summit of Yellow Hill is covered in trees. We made our way down the adjoining ridge and were treated with an expansive view of the surrounding Teanaway peaks. We sat down on a rock outcropping, ate our lunches and enjoyed the feeling that we were the only people around for miles. I felt rejuvenated.

Interested in doing this hike? Check out Washington Trails Association’s Hiking Guide entry about Yellow Hill and Elbow Peak. Note: as of posting this blog, consistent snow began at 4800′ on the trail, which is about a mile from the top of Yellow Hill.

Posted by admin in Hiking, What to Do

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May17

Lower Yakima River opens for hatchery spring chinook

By Michael Garrity, American Rivers

May 16th was the opening of salmon fishing on the lower Yakima River.

Thanks to some recent years with good snowpacks, decent river flows and excellent ocean conditions, this year’s salmon fishing season is projected to be a relatively good one, with over 5,000 hatchery spring chinook and over 6,000 wild spring chinook (wild spring chinook must be released if caught – they’re wild if they still have adipose fins) expected to make it back to the Cle Elum hatchery or spawning grounds in the basin’s rivers and streams.

Yet this year’s salmon run will provide only the slightest hint of the kind of salmon runs a restored Yakima River can support. The fish passage, floodplain restoration, and flow improvements provided by the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan will allow for an estimated average of over 20,000 spring chinook to return to the Yakima. During good ocean and runoff cycles like this year, spring chinook runs in excess of 70,000 are predicted. The Yakima Plan will also restore fishable numbers of steelhead, coho, fall and summer chinook, and what may prove to be the largest sockeye run in the lower 48 with an estimated average of nearly 200,000 sockeye making it back to spawning grounds. At the same time, the plan will improve flow and habitat conditions for the Yakima’s renowned Blue Ribbon rainbow trout fishery.

For more information on fishing for hatchery spring chinook, check out recent articles by the Yakima Herald-Republic and Seattle Times.

Posted by admin in Fishing, What to Do

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May09

Cycling the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway

By Leigh Pate
Leigh Pate is a cyclist, writer and photographer in Seattle, WA
www.LeighPate.com

The laughter and happy chatter rolled up the canyon walls. I looked down below at the black inner tubes that held reclining, bathing suit clad families and teens as they floated and flirted down the Yakima River curving below. I was navigating the canyon on a more sweat-inducing bicycle, rolling along the two-lane road built along the canyon cliffs that followed the river.

Despite having to work harder than the kids cooling off below, I was enjoying myself every bit as much. I sailed south though basalt cliff walls and golden-green sage fields spotted with clumps of brilliant yellow-flowered balsamroot, appreciating the gorgeous scenery, the welcome warmth and sunshine and the deceiving tailwind that made me feel like I could ride for days.

The Yakima River Canyon Byway that connects Ellensburg and Yakima through a beautiful canyon is a cyclist’s dream. The route we chose was a simple 50 mile out and back starting at Helen McCabe Park two miles south of Ellensburg on Canyon Road and heading south 25 miles to the town of Selah for a lunch break. We retraced our route back up the canyon into the same headwind that pushed us forward earlier, admiring the views we missed from the new direction as we worked our way north and a much slower pace.

The canyon is full of reasons to stop and explore. Boat launches and some of the campgrounds tempt for canoeing, rafting, tubing or having a quick swim to cool down. The Yakima River is a designated Blue Ribbon Trout Fishery and is a premier destination for fly-fishing and the only Blue Ribbon designated River in Washington. There are hiking and mountain biking trails accessible along the way into the wilderness to the west of the river. And bighorn sheep, raptors and other wildlife can be seen from the saddle outside the heat of the day.

Watch for the Beck Memorial, named after Central Washington University professor who researched the geologic history of the area, as well as interpretive signs that describe the geologic history of lava flows, basalt cliffs, the formation of the Cascade mountains and the Yakima River’s meandering progress to cut this beautiful canyon out of volcanic rock.

Tent and RV campgrounds make this area an easy destination for a weekend, with plenty of time to explore and play beyond the road on the bike. This ride is excellent as a spring or fall ride for “west of the mountains” riders wanting to train out of the rain. It can be shortened to be suitable for all levels of riders and families assuming basic bike handling skills to handle a two-lane road with low to moderate traffic and enough leg strength for some moderate climbing. Strong riders can extend the ride to Yakima via the Greenway Trail and into the hills and wineries beyond.

Details:
Location: Yakima River Canyon Road is SR 821. From Ellensburg take exit 109 from I-90. The town of Selah can be reached by following route 823 another 3 miles after Canyon Road ends into town. In Selah ask for directions to the Yakima Greenway trail or download a map from the link below if you wish to go on into Yakima. While there is some access to water and restrooms at the campgrounds along the way, riders should bring water, electrolytes and food.

Helpful links:
Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway

Discover Selah: Yakima River Canyon

Yakima Greenway Path

Visit Kittitas: Helen McCabe State Park

If a supported ride when the road has been closed to traffic is more your speed, check out the Your Canyon for a Day Bike Tour (May 20, 2012)