WHILE AMPLE SNOWFALL is in the forecast for Hurricane Ridge, organizers of the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Area said operations were not likely to begin this weekend in a post Wednesday at hurricaneridge.com.
If the snow continues to fall in abundance, as predicted, operations could start up Saturday, Dec. 19.
But an outlet to whet the appetite of snow seekers does exist — and no, I’m not talking about a trek to ski or snowboard at Mount Baker.
Instead, the Backcountry Film Festival makes its annual return to Port Angeles’ Metta Room, 132 E. Front St., on Saturday.
Nine backcountry skiing and snowboarding films will be shown at the event, which begins at 7 p.m.
Admission is $10 for adults, children 12 and younger $7.
Proceeds benefit the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club.
Nine short films will be shown. They are:
■ “Japan by Van” offers a trip to the head-deep powder of the Shirakawa backcountry.
■ “Shared Lines” tells the story of the Vermont Backcountry Alliance.
■ “Shifting Ice” is about an all-women team on a journey of scientific exploration.
■ “The Weight of Winter” is a short profile of three skiers venturing into a massive storm at Hokkaido, Japan.
■ “I Love Splitboarding” showcases splitboards, a snowboard that can separate into two ski-like parts and be used with climbing skins to ascend slopes.
■ “55 Hours in Mexico” chronicles an epic weekend for three adventurers in Mexico.
■ “Always Above Us” lets climbing legends Conrad Anker and Kris Erickson tell a tale of life, loss and perseverance as they negotiate Montana’s most famous mixed climbing route.
■ “Connections” allows the Dynafit team to share the story of the simple “low tech” binding design that changed the face of backcountry skiing.
■ “The Forecaster” profiles expert avalanche forecaster Drew Hardesty.
Last gasp of season
Ward Norden, owner of Snapper Tackle Company and a former fishery biologist who lives in Quilcene, reminded me that late-season muzzleloader and archery deer and elk season wraps Tuesday.
“I am still out here and working the clearcut for ‘El Grande,’ [a] black-tail buck,” Norden said.
“My wife filled her tag with a very small spike buck a couple days ago, but I am still looking for the buck that has eluded me all season, early and late muzzleloader season, even though I see his tracks and girlfriends daily.
“This is why a trophy black-tail buck is considered one of the toughest trophies in North America.”
Ducks on the ponds
Norden said there are plenty of ducks on area waterways but weather is wrecking opportunities.
“The windows when it has been safe to be out on the water have been small,” Norden said.
Typically there’s a stretch of cooler, dry weather in December, and Warden is hoping that will change the luck for waterfowl hunters.
East Jefferson fishing
Fishing prospects are not great in East Jefferson County, as one could imagine with the prodigious precipitation in recent weeks.
“Fishing in Hood Canal is getting tougher daily with the flooded rivers rapidly turning much of the canal muddy,” Norden said.
“Lake Leland has risen about 3 feet and the water is still in the high 30s [degrees], so trout can charitably be said to be lethargic.”
Commission in PT
The state’s Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet in Port Townsend today and Saturday.
The meetings will be held at the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St., starting at 8 a.m. today and 8:30 a.m. Saturday.
Today’s public comment period begins at 8:15 a.m.
The most important agenda item concerns decisions on proposed changes to sport fishing regulations.
State Department of Fish and Wildlife staff will seek approval from the Commission on rules changes for the 2016-17 fishing season.
This includes prohibiting wild steelhead and rainbow trout harvest on many North Olympic Peninsula rivers.
Send photos, stories
Have a photograph, a fishing or hunting report, an anecdote about an outdoors experience or a tip on gear or technique?
Send it to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
