MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY, hopefully readers have had an enjoyable time exchanging presents and enjoying time with family.
But don’t settle in for that long winter’s nap quite yet, there’s some outdoors information to pass along.
There’s no chance of a white Christmas in the populated area’s of the North Olympic Peninsula, but a 17-mile drive from Port Angeles up to Hurricane Ridge will offer plenty of reasonably fresh powder.
Tuesday’s pouring rain in the North Olympic Peninsula lowlands translated to five or six inches of snow up at the Ridge.
That’s not nearly enough to get the rope tow or the pommel lift up and running, but enough to make the drive worthwhile, especially if you have guests in town and wish to impress them with the scenic vistas.
Sledding, snowshoeing and backcountry skiing, are all options, and this is enough snow for diehard snowboarders to try a few runs.
Just remember to carry chains for your vehicle at all times and drive slowly both on the way up, but especially on the trip back down.
Clam season opens
Next up, a holiday gift in the form of an early opening to the sport clamming season at Dosewallips State Park along the Hood Canal in Brinnon.
The sport clam digging season will open on New Year’s Day.
Surveys by the state Department of Wildlife indicate that the clam population on this beach has greatly increased and can support a year-round season in 2015.
Clam season delayed
Unfortunately, the news isn’t quite as good over at Fort Flagler State Park on Marrowstone Island.
Clam and oyster harvesting has been delayed to May 15 after state surveys indicate the clam population on this beach decreased, and the state share of clams was overharvested in 2014, requiring a shorter season in 2015.
Nature giveth, people taketh, and it’s fun to put “th” on the ends of words.
Blackmouth derby
Tickets are on sale for the Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby that will be held on Feb. 20-22, a change from past seasons when it was held during Presidents Day Weekend.
The derby covers more than 500 square miles of saltwater, with five weigh stations set up to check fish and a $10,000 prize for the largest hatchery chinook.
“There just isn’t a better way to spend a weekend in February than fishing on the Olympic Peninsula,” Dan Tatum, the derby’s outgoing president, said.
I’d agree, but there’s a certain Super Bowl set for Sunday, Feb. 1 that intrigues me more and more with each Seahawks victory.
Tickets cost $40 with sales ending Feb. 18, and no tickets will be sold during the derby.
The awards ceremony will be held at the Gardiner boat launch at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22.
Wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour hampered contestants in last year’s derby and cut down on catch totals.
Anglers weighed-in 171 fish over six pounds, and the average weight was 8.6 pounds.
First place went to Larry Quesnell of Mt. Vernon with a 15.4 pound chinook; second was Jay Campbell of Port Townsend at 15.25; and Geoffrey Cobb of Port Angeles was third with a 14.25.
The derby is part of the Northwest Salmon Derby Series hosted by the Northwest Marine Trade Association.
Derby ticket holders are automatically entered in the NMTA’s end-of-year grand prize boat drawing.
It’s a pretty sweet boat, too.
For more information, visit www.GardinerSalmonDerby.org.
Crabbing closing
Puget Sound marine areas currently open for recreational winter crabbing will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, after which all sport crabbers licensed to fish for crab in the Sound will have until Feb. 1 to report their winter catch.
State fishing rules require that all sport crabbers with winter catch record cards submit catch reports for the winter season to Fish and Wildlife by Feb. 1 — even if they did not catch any crab.
With the end of the winter crab season coming on Wednesday, all Puget Sound marine areas will be closed to recreational crabbing until summer 2015.
Sport crabbers should be aware that if they fail to submit a winter catch report, they will receive a $10 fine when they purchase their 2015 crab endorsement, said Rich Childers, shellfish policy lead for the state.
“By submitting their catch data, crabbers play an important role in managing the Puget Sound crab fishery,” Childers said.
“We need to hear from everyone who was issued a winter catch card — including from those who didn’t catch any crab.”
To submit catch reports, send catch record cards to Fish and Wildlife by mail to WDFW CRC Unit, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091 or report online at The online reporting system will be available Jan. 1-Feb. 1 at tinyurl.com/PDN-CrabReport.
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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.
