3/2 What’s Happening

XC ski-snowboard event set Saturday

A second cross-country ski and snowshoe jamboree — a repeat of the one put on in December by the Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Council — will be held Saturday at the White Pass Nordic Center.

The jamboree, for people who want to learn how to or simply improve their technique with cross-country skis or snowshoes, will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Because the Cascadians are helping finance the event, White Pass’ already-reduced $8 trail-pass price for jamboree participants will be cut by yet another $2 per participant, making passes just $6 (half the normal price).

For more information, call Ted Gamlem at 509-697-5051 or Mike Gunderson at 509-972-2615.

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Open house to focus on prescribed burns

Hoping to inform the public about why and when controlled burns will be used this year to minimize forest fuels on Wenatchee National Forest lands in the Cascade foothills west of Yakima, the Naches Ranger District will host a “prescribed burning” open house next Tuesday at the ranger station in Naches.

Fire specialists will be available at the event from 2 to 7 p.m. at the ranger station (10237 Highway 12) to explain the reasoning behind the prescribed burning process and answer the public’s questions.

Last year, smoke from one of the district’s largest-ever prescribed burning projects generated complaints and concerns from area residents and the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency.

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Mule deer banquet planned for March 13

Live and silent auctions, raffles, games and a “brag board” will be among the attractions on Saturday, March 13, when the Yakima Chapter of the Mule Deer Foundation hold its 14th annual fundraising banquet at the Yakima Convention Center.

Among the prizes to be given away will be 10 rifles, a shotgun, a muzzleloader and a pistol, while kids’ auction items will receive a ticket for a chance to win a youth rifle.

Attendees are invited to bring photographs of their own successful hunts, regardless of the prey, to put up on the “brag board,” with all those bringing photos receiving a chance for a random prize drawing. (Photos will be returned at the end of the evening.)

Banquet tickets are $65 for a single (includes one yearly membership and one meal), $95 for a couple (one membership, two meals), and meal-only tickets for life members are $30 adults, $20 ages 13 to 17, and $15 for 12 and under. A “family pack” ($90) includes dinner for two adults and one membership, with each child ticket going for an additional $15 (ages 3 to 12) or $20 (13 to 17); the family pack must include at least one child.

For more information, call Robin Simmons at 509-653-2847 or Tara Mize at 509-653-2025.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m. with dinner starting at 6.

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Ellensburg shooters top button series

Jeff Mitchell of Ellensburg started the day off with the first of numerous 25×25 rounds Sunday as Ellensburg shooters captured four of five buttons in the ninth week of the Yakima Valley Sportsmen trap club’s 10-week Button Shoot at the Pomona range.

Mitchell and Ken Sanden took the two buttons in the men’s division, while Dave Thacker and Norm Baird took the buttons in the senior class. The long Yakima shooter to take a button was Dakotah Eims in the juniors.

With Mitchell, Ken Smith, Dale Klingele, Rick White and Tom Schmitt also posting 25-target rounds, Yakima’s score in the state Telephonic competition was 100×100.

This Saturday the lcub will hold a non-registered 50-bird shoot, with 50 16-yard, 50 handicap and 25 pairs of doubles. Cash payout will be on a modified Lewis system. Signup is at 9 a.m. with shooting at 10.

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BIRD ALERT

Perhaps the most regular species found at Hanford, it appears that the Say’s phoebe is also a pretty predictable insectivore (insect-eater) arriving on the last week of February for several years now. This week they did not disappoint, arriving on the Hanford site this past Monday.

Visitors to Whitcomb Island in Benton County were thrilled last week by the spectacular view of 2,000 snow geese flying overhead in the fog. The birders also observed Canada geese and some greater white-fronted geese, northern shrike, savannah sparrows, a whopping 10 golden-crowned sparrows and 24 other species.

Birders searching the Horse Heaven Hills were treated to quite a flight show as a mature golden eagle was being pursued by 10 common ravens. Also noted were rough-legged hawk, rock wren and lots of horned lark.

A morning hike turned up thousands of robins feasting on unpicked vineyard grapes and old apple trees at the south base of Rattlesnake Ridge near Wapato. There was a report of a lone turkey vulture observed gliding over South Naches Road in Naches.

Six Yakima Audubon members birded the McNary National Wildlife refuge and racked up a respectable 45 species, including 1,000 or more Canada geese, cackling geese, greater white-fronted geese, American widgeon, northern shovler,  green-wing teal, over 500 northern pintail, both common and Barrow’s goldeneye, bufflehead, wood duck, both lesser and greater scaup. They also noted three herring gulls and horned and western grebe.

Please call your bird sightings into the Yakima Valley Audubon phone line at 509-248-1963.

— Kerry L. Turley

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AROUND AND ABOUT

NO TWIG IN MARCH: There won’t be a March meeting of the Trails and Wilderness Interest Group at the Naches Ranger Station. The next TWIG meeting at Naches will be April 6.

TRAIL CONDITIONS: With the recent warming trend and some periodic rain in the higher elevations, trail conditions aren’t too great in many areas. The North Fork Tieton and Pleasant Valley Loop trails have 20 inches and less of snow, and what’s there is very hard — OK for snowshoeing, not so great for cross-country skiers. According to groomers, though, grooming those trails would lead to a rapid meltoff.

The lack of snow at lower elevations, though, has most Sno-Parks void of any snow and most roads leading out of them bare. Because of the lack of snow, groomers have stopped grooming Spring Creek off State Route 410, Soup Creek, Rattlesnake and the Tieton Airstrip.

WINTER LOGGING: Winter logging operations are underway in the Wildcat area off Forest Service Road 1306, which will be cleared to its junction with the 1362 road. Users should pay particular attention to signs and truck traffic, especially during mid-week. The 1702 road is opened to four-wheel vehicle traffic only, while the Rock Creek Sno-Park has been moved to the upper Sno-Park location because of ongoing logging operations. The 1701 is open to motorized vehicles, but drivers should be watchful for logging truck traffic on the road.

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ON THE CALENDAR

TODAY: The Cascadians’ Tuesday group meets at 8 a.m. at the 40th Avenue Bi-Mart parking lot for carpooling to whatever hike or ski/snowshoe trek the trip leader has determined is a good one for weather and trail conditions. Come prepared with proper clothing, lunch and lots of water.

THURSDAY: The Cascadians’ Pokies group will go to the Central Washington University “Chimposium,” and will follow that with a walking tour of the campus. For meeting time and place, call Nancy Hein at 509-698-3547.