There's a new way to safely watch and count endangered fish species like salmon and steelhead on the North Fork of the Santiam River.

The best part is that the fish never know that they're on TV!

KGW's Outdoor Reporter, Grant McOmie, recently visited the remote location where technology is improving salmon's chances at survival.

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As far back as anyone can remember, Bennett Dam, on the North Fork of the Santiam River, has harmed more salmon that it has ever helped.

Steve Mamoyac, a biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, told KGW how the poor condition of the dam's adjacent fish ladder hampered the fish:

"We'd come in each day, get down in the fish ladder next to the dam with our nets and muscle power. Basically, we'd identify them by species and then chase them around and catch them. It was labor intensive, hard on the fish and left a whole lot to be desired."

The Bennett Dam fish ladder was old, the concrete was crumbling and in 2006 it was time for it to go.

Today, it is a much different, and a much easier system on the adult fish that swim around Bennett Dam.

The City of Salem and ODFW paid $2.2 million for the new fish passage system.

Today, Mamoyac calls it a "freeway for fish" by comparison to the old:

"This type of structure is absolutely critical to the health and welfare of the fish that use the upper Santiam River basin."

But, until recently, the new ladder had a serious drawback!

Since the Santiam River's spring Chinook and winter steelhead runs are protected under the Endangered Species Act, each fish of each species must be counted and identified.

Steve's solution to the problem sounded simple enough - but it required planning, money and no small amount of ingenuity.

He put the fish on TV!

It's a high tech solution to an age-old fish management problem of how to count the fish without handling and stressing them with too much physical contact.

His plan required a camera, lights and a digital recorder.

The equipment that Mamoyac assembled at the fish ladder provided a unique installation challenge last spring.

After all, the watertight steel chamber weighed 5,000 pounds and required a crane and a crew to hoist and push into position inside the fish ladder.

It is all powered by deep-cell marine type batteries that are charged by a propane generator - a perfect combination of gear for use in a remote location in the middle of nowhere.

Now, Mamoyac can count and identify the salmon on site or in his office, 80 miles away in Salem, with a simple keystroke.

"The digital recorder is special. It eliminates all of the dead space, so what we're left with are just images of fish and each one with its own unique time stamp too."

Consider it a salmon mug shot - but these fish are free to go and there's more:

"Ideally, if we could make it available to the public through the Internet," noted Mamoyac, "and offer it to people to watch in real time. Wow! That would be the ultimate!"

It is a time of seasonal change when the weather can "turn on a dime" from fair skies to wet, windy and downright crummy.

But on those wonderful "blue hole" days when the sun plays a peak-a-boo game with coastal visitors, Grant McOmie takes advantage of every opportunity for a new adventure.

He recently enjoyed a big payoff for his efforts as he learned the tactics and techniques for catching the Oregon seafood delicacy called Dungeness Crab in this week's "Grant's Getaway."

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When you're lucky enough to go fishing with a good friend who knows the water well, you're sure to learn something new.

That's especially true when the Columbia River us under your keel and carries you toward new adventure.

Steve Fick first explored the Columbia River estuary as a kid, so he knows his way around the vast waterway where the river meets the sea.

He and his longtime friend, Jim Dickson, intended to teach this greenhorn how to catch his supper from the sea.

For Fick, the first lesson is simple enough: always wear a PFD (Personal Flotation Device.) He insisted it's a personal lesson in life and safety:

"You always wear it Grant, because if you fall overboard, particularly with heavy rain gear on, it's very difficult to survive. The water is always cold and can sap your strength in a matter of minutes."

We left the snug harbor at Hammond, Oregon and slowly motored the short distance downriver to an area just off Clatsop Beach.

Fick had prepared five large crab traps with varied baits - a strategy he often used so to "see what the crabs prefer."

Sometimes he'll use turkey legs, chicken wings, shad or salmon carcasses - even a can of tuna for crab bait. Anyone say, "lunchtime?"

"Oh yes, a can of tuna fish is perfect bait, exclaimed Fick. "All you do is perforate the can so that the scent comes out - you can also buy canned sardines or mackerel too - both work well. As long as they have a high oil content, it seems to fish well - the scent is what draws the crab into the pot."

Each Oregon crabber must carry an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Shellfish License. Each crabber is allowed to use up to three crab traps.

We timed our trip to fish our traps the last hour of the incoming tide and through the high slack period, (that's often the best crabbing time.)

Steve said it's the safest time to crab in the estuary:

"There is no reason to be out here on the ebb tide - that's the out-going tide.
It can be the most dangerous part of the tide cycle and this river can change so fast. You just don't take chances out here."

Fick said that each trap should "soak" for 15-20 minutes - that allows enough time for the crabs to locate the bait and enter the trap.

Each crabber is allowed a dozen male crabs apiece, and in Oregon they must be five and three-quarters (5¾) inches across the back.

Females are protected to preserve the breeding population of crabs. A crab gauge or other measuring device is essential gear since some crabs miss the mark by only a hair's length.

Jim and I pulled in the last of the five traps. "Oh, man look at that, I screamed. "It's mother load and I think they're all legal."

Steve showed me how to safely hold each crab so not to get pinched.

"Watch me Grant - see how I place my thumb on the underside and my other four fingers across the back. You can hold it safely and not get pinched. This is a dandy crab. That's great!"

Within a half hour, we had landed and checked each of our traps and we were fortunate to retain 18 legal Dungeness crabs; plenty to go around our small but hearty crew.

As much fun as it was to catch these crabs, the best part was yet to come when Steve motored back to the dock in Astoria and we carried our crustaceans up to his shop to learn the proper way to cook our crabs.

Fick dropped a pound of salt into ten gallons of boiling water and then placed each crab into the pot. The crabs must cook approximately twenty minutes.

While we waited, I chatted with Oregon Fish and Wildlife Shellfish Manager, Matt Hunter.

He explained that the crabbing in the Columbia River estuary had been exceptional this year.

"We're seeing darn near a limit per person and when we don't see a limit it's because of weather or that people just don't want their dozen crabs."

The reason for this year's remarkable catch rate?

"Well, the crabs molted in early summer so they're coming off the molt and they're hungry and looking for food. At this time of year there's plenty of food: baitfish die offs, natural salmon spawning events so there is plenty of available to them."

As we chilled our catch on ice, I asked Fick what he enjoyed most about the adventure that's just off his front door step:

"Oh, it's simple and everyone can be involved in it. It's easy to catch a dozen crabs per person with lots of action for kids. And - you never really know until you pull the pot up what you got...you know and that is fun!"

Outdoor Tip of the Week

It is a lot of fun to catch Dungeness Crabs and all of Oregon's estuaries offer wonderful opportunities for a day's adventure.

If you wish to visit Astoria and try your luck in the Columbia River estuary, consider the adventure just a part of a longer overnight coastal stay.

If you do, consider Ft Steven's State Park your base camp for the weekend adventure.

The trails and campgrounds at Ft Steven's are quiet at this time of year.

The summer crowds have disappeared and the beaches, Coffenbury Lake and the wetland areas are all yours to explore.

Ft Steven's Park Manager, Mike Stein, explained:

"People are looking to get away from the larger crowds and we specialize in that at this time of year. We've got over 4,000 acres to spread across, plus miles of beachfront and 9 miles of paved trail, plus another 7 miles of nature trail."

If you lack a trailer or an RV, no need to worry, Ft Steven's boasts 15 YURTS that make the camping easy.

"Yurts are wonderful camping opportunities, explained Stein. They offer a domed platform with canvas sides and top. They have furniture in them: a futon sofa and a bunk bed. They've proven to be very popular because they reach out to the visiting public that's unable or lacks the time to invest in a tent or RV."

It is time well spent at Ft Steven's State Park. Stein noted that during the Fall season, it's a parkland all yours to explore:

"That real sense of solitude is what draws people here and keeps them coming back regularly."

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS "GRANT'S GETAWAY."

If there is a "Shangri-La" on Oregon's coastline, Grant McOmie says that he may have found it along the Southern Oregon Coast near Coos Bay.

He promises that if you make the journey, you'll discover an off-the-beaten path location with unique sights and sounds that will make you smile.

Perhaps the journey will inspire you to take a closer look at the South Slough Estuarine Research Preserve in this week's "Grant's Getaway."

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Once you travel the Cape Arago Highway that skirts a lonesome and lovely section of the Southern Oregon coast, it will become a roadway once taken you'll never want to leave!

It leads you past so many intriguing sights that you may well wonder, "Why have I never come this way before.""

Fourteen miles southwest of Coos Bay, drop in at Sunset Bay State Park and meet Oregon State Park's Manger, Preson Phillips, who told me: "It's one of those trails that just keeps beckoning you on - it's just a matter of how much you want to hike or do at the time."

Make time to wander Sunset Bay State Park, a jewel of a campground that offers 139 sites for tent, trailer or R.V. - plus eight yurts.

People who come to camp enjoy a spectacular beachfront that seems framed for the movies - it has been a special destination park since 1942.

If you own a spirit of adventure, you'll no doubt relish the hiking trail that leads little more than a mile to nearby Cape Arago State Park.

Many visitiors are surprised to find a front row seat of sorts - a wooden balcony that overlooks Shell Island.

Marty Giles, who owns an eco-tourism business called, "Wavecrest Discoveries" is often on hand to explain the behavior of hundreds of seals and seal lions that just plain loaf across the rocky island and Simpson Reef.

"Shell Island is a fine place for them to haul out and rest for awhile. There are four different seals and sea lions that haul out here and rest. You really need to come on up and see this show."

You will want to make time to come five miles further up the Seven Devils Road to visit a piece of Oregon coastal paradise that's been preserved since 1974.

The South Slough Estuarine Research Preserve offers a visitor center that introduces you to the area with varied multi-media and hands on exhibits.

Together, the displays put you in touch with a rare piece of Oregon coastal environment according to the center's Deborah Rudd:

"It is undisturbed, it is not developed and you do have more interaction with wildlife here. It's quiet! It's peaceful! And you can picture what life was like many years ago across this southern branch of greater Coos Bay."

There's more than 5,000 acres in South Slough Preserve - approximately 1,000 of that is the slough itself and the remainder is protected upland forest or marshland.

There is plenty of elbow room to explore at South Slough Preserve and there are plenty of trails that take you out and about.

One of my favorite is called the Hidden Creek Trail - a little over a mile in length that offers a wonderful wooden boardwalk that takes you out over a wetland area where the freshwater creek meets the sea.

In addition, there are many stunning views along the trail, including those from atop a two level deck that looks across a marsh area to the Winchester Arm of the slough.

The preserve is open throughout the calendar year, but South Slough Education Director, Tom Gaskill, says some seasons offer unique surprises for the hearty traveler.

"I'm a birder, so for me this time of year in Fall is the beginning of the most exciting part of the season. We have flocks of waterfowl that pass through here and a lot of the over wintering forest birds too - there are many species that we never see here during the summer, so it's exciting in the winter months to see some of these migratory species that spend summers in Alaska and Canada but they're here for the winter."

"It is a beautiful place whatever season you come to visit," added Rudd.
"You will be amazed and it will be worth your effort to come find us."

Outdoor Tip of the Week

I am always on the lookout for fish and wildlife viewing opportunities that are worth a stop for a longer visit.

Right now, there's a spectacular show for those in the know, but it's a stop whose prime time is passing as Oregon's fall salmon runs hit their peak thru November.

Hatchery personnel across much of western Oregon are up to their elbows this time of year with thousands of Coho salmon that have returned to dozens of Oregon hatcheries.

Sandy River Hatchery Manager Ken Bourne hasn't seen anything like it in 34 years with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

"It definitely has the makings of being a huge run because we've handled almost 7,000 fish to date and we're nowhere near the normal peak of the return. We're going to be swamped with salmon in another week or two."

Biologists say abundant food in the ocean is the secret behind this year's record-setting return of a million-plus Coho salmon to Oregon rivers and streams.

State hatcheries offer visitors some of the best viewing opportunities in the small creeks that flow through the hatchery grounds.

ODFW's Sandy River Hatchery, Trask Hatchery, Big Creek Hatchery, North Fork Nehalem Hatchery and Bonneville Hatchery are just a few of the state-run salmon facilities that enjoy visitors stopping in to watch the salmon show. Each hatchery is open daily.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS GRANT'S GETAWAY.

There's a new way to explore Oregon and this one is really for the birds!

But it's designed for people - especially folks who like to explore new destinations where half the fun is in the getting there.

The first "Willamette Valley Birding Trail" is a new partnership between varied birding groups and Travel Oregon.

It offers people a chance to explore 130 legitimate birding sites in a region that is home to 70 percent of the state's population.

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Joel Geier and I recently met at W Finley Refuge where he told me that variety is the spice of his birding life along the new Willamette Birding Trail.

"They're such fascinating creatures; they're feathered and for me, they have a little more variety than mammals."

Geier knows his birding game well! After all, he's a longtime member of the Oregon Field Ornithologists. His organization along with several others including Travel Oregon joined to identify 130 birding trails in the Willamette Valley.

"We've set it up as 12 different loops in the valley so that if you live in one of the communities in the valley, you can go out on a weekend and visit a loop that includes 10 or 12 different sites."

It's easy to locate a trail online. A click of your mouse takes you inside one of the dozen different loops where you'll find directions to the sites plus photos of the species that you'll see along the way.

"On each of those loops," noted Geier, "There will be sites that you never thought about visiting before and you'll be surprised that they are pretty special places."

Sallie Gentry and Molly Monroe agree that the new Homer Campbell Memorial Boardwalk at William Finley Wildlife Refuge near Corvallis is one of those special places where you can go birding.

"The boardwalk is on pretty level, even terrain and there are two benches along that they can rest if they get tired," said Gentry.

It's an astonishing trail that is wheelchair accessible along 1700 feet of elevated boardwalk that leads to an observation blind that overlooks a small pond that attracts many different birds.

"It is a magnet for wildlife," noted Monroe. "We'll have thousands upon thousands of ducks and geese and swans here within the next few months."

Gentry added, "We're kind of a little known secret right now, but I think we're going to become more well known because there are such excellent wildlife viewing opportunities here and you can get relatively close without disturbing the wildlife."

Not only wintering waterfowl, but also raptor species like bald eagles make the Finley Refuge their winter homes.

"It's one of the easiest birds for most people to identify so it's fun for them.
Often, you just look out on a tree line of snags and say, 'Oh, there's an eagle perched right there.' Eagles are good because they're well known by most people and they're recovery from near extinction is such a success story."

If you're eager to learn more about birding, but you're not sure how to get started, Gentry said that there is good news for the casual first time visitor this Fall season.

"Many people come here and don't realize the wealth of birds that they may find on the refuge and so lack some basic tools. We've developed "family kits" that include everything one would need here. Check out binoculars or a field guide, take it with them out on the hike or drive the auto-route and just bring them back at the end of the day. It's really a great deal!

All agree that wildlife viewing along the new Willamette Birding Trail is just the ticket to see Oregon from a different point of view.

"Oh, I think it's a huge deal," exclaimed Monroe. "Birding is a growing pastime - and it is one that brings a lot of enjoyment to a large variety of people of all ages."

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS "GRANT'S GETAWAY."

Despite the wild and wet weather of the past few weeks October is prime time for "King Fishing."

King Chinook Salmon, that is!

There is a simple reason that they are called "Kings." - after all, the big fish can tip the scales at fifty pounds or more.

Despite downpours and sea squalls, Grant McOmie recently joined a fishing party on Tillamook Bay where they tried their luck for the king of the salmon.

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If you're eager to catch a "King," you arrive at the Garibaldi docks an hour before sunrise.

A longtime Oregon fishing guide, John Krauthoefer, (Firefighter's Guide Service, 503-812-1414,) told our huddled group of anglers: "It's the early bird who gets the worm, men! This has become such a popular fishery that if you wait and go late, you might miss the bite."

Krauthoefer added that it had been a long salmon fishing season.

I knew exactly what he meant because we had joined John on two earlier salmon fishing trips.

Our first adventure was in July - on the ocean - where the summer Coho salmon bite was awesome.

We joined John again in September when the Coho and Chinook season slipped into high gear at "Buoy 10" on the Columbia River.

Now, in mid-October thousands of salmon are migrating through dozens of estuaries like Tillamook Bay and swimming into their home rivers.

As we motored out of the marina, Krauthoefer noted that it had been a wet and wild weather week and that several big storms had pumped up a huge ocean.

As we approached the ocean, we watched huge swells rise and fall - sometimes fishing boats would briefly vanish as the swells passed by.

The bar was closed - no one would be heading out onto the ocean today.

Birt Hansen, a longtime fishing partner, had joined John and me on Tillamook Bay where scores of other anglers had also gathered - we were excited, anxious and ready for action.

After all, low tide was about to turn to flood and it might serve up the biggest of all the salmon species called "King."

"It's a perfect tide for fishing out along the jetty," noted Krauthoefer. "There's a small exchange. What those fish do is smell that that out-going Tillamook water and because the current isn't very strong and they'll come in against that tide - we'll fish the slack and fish into the flooding tide."

John quickly baited up the rods and reels with plug cut herring.

John's a big believer that a plug-cut herring makes the best bait when fishing for Chinook. He makes a bevel cut with his razor sharp knife just behind the herring's head to make the bait spin when it's trolled in the water.

He explained: "This is their (salmon) natural feed out in the ocean and they'll eat it like candy. You just have to get it in front of one. That's the big trick. So just slowly drop down it down to the bottom. When you hit the bottom, bring it back up about 2,3 cranks of the reel."

We dropped our lines over the side and John began a slow troll with the tide.

As the tide turned to flood, signs of salmon life began to appear as nearby anglers hooked up.

It happened to us too!

"Get him, get him," Krauthoefer yelled.

Suddenly, I had my hands full with a hard charging king that had decided to head back to sea.

Krauthoefer put his motor in gear and followed the salmon.

With a wry smile, he noted, "They're strong and full of muscle and they let you know that they're on the other end of the line."

After a twenty-minute tug of war, the gleaming 20-pound salmon came to the net and it was scooped aboard.

"A beauty! That's really a pretty one and they don't get any nicer than that," noted Krauthoefer. "The only thing nicer is we got to get the gear back in the water and get some more."

John added that a big ocean, coupled with a forecast of more squalls and storms; anglers must be on guard against a dreaded fishing disease:

"Don't get salmonitis!" he said with a chuckle. "That's a disease where you get so focused on fishing that you forget about your surroundings. This area of the bar can be dangerous. You can get in trouble if you don't pay attention at all times. Things change out here very quickly."

It can be a tremendous challenge to fish along the jetty - where the swells and the waves and the tide can combine to change conditions in a heartbeat.

We wore our inflatable PFD's (Personal Flotation Devices) at all times.

John would not give us - or any of his passengers - any choice.

For him, the angler's safety is personal.

"These are self-inflating vests and we wear them all day in my boats. I had a friend drown a few years ago and if he'd had one on, he'd be alive today. They're very comfortable and you don't even know you've got them on."

Sport-anglers catch more than 12,000 King salmon on the bar, the bay and the five rivers that flow into the bay on their way to the sea.

So, special rules are in place to protect the Kings from over harvest. An angler can keep one King per day and five per season from Tillamook Bay or its rivers. In addition, anglers can also keep a hatchery Coho salmon.

Our luck soon changed too!

John's rod doubled down from another fresh king salmon.

"Oh, just let him run if he wants to run," noted Hansen. "That fish was in the ocean five minutes ago so it's full of fight."

The battle was on as another twenty-pound King charged down to the bottom.

After twenty minutes, the shimmering silver Chinook came to the net and I lifted it aboard.

"That's as pretty a king as the last," noted Krauthoefer. "What a beauty and it's funny; after you've fished for years and years, your knees still shake when the fish is in the boat. It's a great experience."

While Birt Hansen enjoys the fishing, he admitted that there are other reasons to go fishing for kings in Tillamook Bay.

"The attraction to me is really the outdoors - just watching nature around you - birds and the other different wildlife that live here. Plus, the smell and sounds of the bay and nearby ocean - all of it creates lifetime memories."

It is always a challenge to catch a big salmon, but now that I had landed a dandy, twenty-pound chrome bright salmon, what to do with the catch?

A visit to Debbie D's Smoked Meats in Tillamook provided the answer and plenty of good advice on how to care for the catch.

First, owner, Debbie Downie showed me the easiest way to filet a big fish. She has filleted a thousand salmon the past thirteen years at her homegrown business in Tillamook. She's a pro with a distinct honor:

"I've never cut myself," she offered with a smile. "Knock on wood, but it's never happened. "

Her technique and expertise is based on tip number one: a sharp knife that makes the job smooth as silk.

"I cut the fins off because when you go to filet it, your knife can get caught in that and then you get a little wow in the meat. I leave the "collar," on - that's the hard plate that extends from the pectoral fins up the sides of the fish; the collar gives you a good hand grip to hold on to."

Then she smoothly slid her knife - tight to the backbone - down the length of the entire salmon, flipped the fish over and repeated the same cut on the other side.

"And there is no waste on that at all," she added.

As I looked over the with two gorgeous, crimson filets, she offered tip number two - smoke only red-meated fish rather than salmon that are past their prime.

She reached into a nearby tub of filets and pulled out a flesh colored salmon fillet, "This is one that was in the river - and look here, you can see how dark the skin is. The flesh is soft and there will be little flavor. People come in and think we can smoke and brine it back to health. I'd say, 'Oh no, this is sturgeon, she added with a laugh."

As I watched her cut the salmon in to smaller chunks, I asked the accomplished pro, "When you go home at night do you dream of fish faces?"

"I do, I do," she noted with a laugh.

Debbie Downie proceeded to show how she makes a liquid brine. She started with 6 pounds of brown sugar, which she crumpled up with her hands.

"Here's a tip," she offered. "This has to be really, really fine - no clumps allowed."

Then she added 2 ounces of granulated onion followed by a quart of soy sauce.

She thoroughly mixed the soy with the sugar and onion and added, "The soy contains all the salt I need to make the brine, so I don't add anymore salt. You could also add granulated garlic at this point. Another option is to add sodium nitrite - that's a color preservative - about a half an ounce for this amount of brine."

Debbie guided us to her nearby massive smoker and opened the door. Smoke - she prefers alder wood for salmon smoking - poured out of the doorway - inside was a huge rack of finished product. Or nearly finished, that is!

"First, it's time to vacuum," she noted.

Debbie is a big believer that vacuum packing the product extends the shelf life of your smoked fish:

"Oh absolutely! Getting the air out is really the main thing because the air will freeze around your product and that's what makes it dry out and that's where you get your freezer burn."

Her finished products attract customers from across the region by folks who've discovered Debbie D's secret for salmon smoking success: "You have to really take care of your salmon. Treat it with respect and care and you'll be rewarded with a great treat."

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS "GRANT'S GETAWAY."

This week's "Grant's Getaway" offers a unique adventure for folks searching for just the right place to enjoy the beauty and wonder of the fall season.

You'll enjoy hiking trails, crimson-colored fall leaves and spawning salmon in an educational backdrop at an overlooked recreation area not far from Portland.

You'll want to bring your camera to capture the steady stream of color along the Salmon River that flows through the Wildwood Recreation Area near Welches, Oregon.

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Many parts of the Cascade Mountains demand a slower pace. You simply see more when you leave busy campgrounds behind and let quieter, wilder moments surround you.

Those moments are easy to come by down the many trails inside the Wildwood Recreation Site near Welches, Oregon.

A site that may have you wondering, "How is it I've never heard of this place or visited it before?"

After all, the Salmon River is born from glaciers atop Mt Hood and it is Oregon's last undimmed river that flows unhindered from the mountains to the sea.

It cuts a beeline through more than five hundred acres of designated public recreation land at Wildwood.

Adam Milnor, a BLM Recreation Specialist, said that most people are in a big hurry to reach Mt Hood or Central Oregon and simply overlook Wildwood.

"Mt Hood beckons to everyone who lives in the Portland area and that's understandable; it's a hugely popular draw. But - it's also a mistake not to pull in and see what this site has to offer. We have such a great place for families to introduce their children to the outdoors with a rushing river, salmon and fantastic trees in a beautiful forest."

The trails that wind through Wildwood are marvelous opportunities to explore the parkland.

The Wildwood Wetlands Trail is a one-mile loop of gravel and paved footpaths plus an elevated boardwalk that give you access to the heart of a vast wetland area where many different wildlife species live.

Observation decks extend into the wetland at a number of locations and allow closer inspection.

Don't be surprised while hiking the boardwalk to see blue herons, mallards, teals, turtles, or any number of small songbirds.

Pay special attention to the many interpretive signs that describe the wetland habitat and the critters that live there.

"A wetland eco-system is something you have to really see up close to get really fascinated with it. Building this structure really allows you to really get up close and personal to it in a way that you wouldn't otherwise."

There are more than 1,000 feet to the boardwalk on the Wildwood Wetlands Trail that was built four feet off the ground to keep hiker's feet dry and limit access onto the sensitive wetlands.

Beginning in mid-October, the boardwalk area explodes to life with a colorful show of brilliant reds, oranges and yellows from vine maple, big leaf maple trees and alder trees.

The Cascade Streamwatch Trail is a barrier-free and paved, three-quarter-mile trail adjacent to the Wild and Scenic Salmon River. Interpretive displays describe points of interest.

The most remarkable highlight of this trail is a stream-profile viewing chamber where you gain an underwater "fish-eye" view of a small stream and salmon habitat.

The chamber--ten years in the making--drops twelve feet below the water surface and allows you to see through two large windows more than twelve feet across and seven feet high where 'baby' salmon live.

I enjoy just watching the behavior of the three- to four-inch salmon fry and how they use logs, branches, and even rocks to hide. As a bug floats on the current, a fish jets out and picks it off, then retreats back to its shelter.

"We love the fish and we want to protect the fish," noted Donna Hansen, Wildwood Park Ranger. "If visitors go to the river and they come at the right time of year, they actually get to see fish too. The salmon spawn throughout the Salmon River from October through November. People like to see that."

The park is open from 8:00 A.M. to sunset from mid-May to early November. However, during the off-season, you may park at the gate and access Wildwood and Cascade Streamwatch by foot, walking the entrance road to the trailhead or other facilities.

Fall has arrived and for many people that signals the start of Oregon's fall hunting seasons.

This week, Grant McOmie discovers that women who have always wanted to try their hands at hunting have a new way to learn about one of Oregon's premier recreational pursuits.

He recently traveled to the EE Wilson Wildlife Area near Corvallis, Oregon to learn that there's a new class in session and he says, "Fellas, this one is for women only!"

WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION.

When you go hunting for pheasant, be ready to put in your time and lots of energy - often you are pushing through thick, waist high grass.

On the EE Wilson Wildlife Area near Corvallis, newcomer Kelly Ruboin is on her toes because the pheasant can launch themselves skyward in a heartbeat.

Kelly joined accomplished hunter Mark Steele, and his hunting dog, "Neela," for an afternoon in the field.

Mark is a volunteer guide who gave his hunting services over for a special day designed for women only.

In fact, two-dozen women gathered on the wildlife area to learn what upland bird hunting's all about.

"Ok, Kelly," coached Steele. "Walk right down into this field - a bird could be sitting out there fifty yards or so - if I was a pheasant this is where I'd be hidin 'out."

Ruboin, like many of the other women, has never done anything like this before. But that's okay because she's taking a class to learn how it's done.

The EE Wilson Wildlife Area Pheasant Hunt is part of a unique Outdoor Skills program sponsored by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and it is called "Becoming An Outdoors Woman."

The class was too good a deal for Kelly to pass up. For twenty-five dollars each woman learned hands on gun safety, hunting techniques, proper clothing, plus how to shoot and hit what they aim at.

Kelly said that her interest in the class was simple, "I'd never done it before and it's just fascinating. I'd love to learn more about it because I've family members who hunt. If I could learn, maybe I could go with them."

Michelle Dennehy, a public affairs spokesperson for the state wildlife agency, agreed and said she was attending the class - not as staff, but had taken the day off from work to participate as a student:

"These classes are designed for people like us - people that are new to the sport, a little bit nervous about handling a shotgun and don't want to be rushed or pushed or anything like that."

Experienced instructors from ODFW offered lectures on firearms and led the students through a number of exercises in proper gun handling and safety.

They helped to build confidence in the newcomers with an atmosphere of trust that paid off with relaxation and fun.

Betty Rose Richardson agreed with the theme and said, " I love it! There's so much opportunity for hunting and fishing in Oregon's outdoors and this class is wonderful."

That is a message that ODFW would like more women to hear!

You see, the agency sells approximately 300,000 hunting licenses and tags each year and women make up just 16 percent of the total.

Rick Hargrave, ODFW spokesperson, said they hope to change that percentage with specific classes that encourage women to participate:

"What our outdoor skills program does is plant that seed of interest - if it leads to hunting or fishing, that's great - but if it leads to getting their families outdoors more often that's even better too."

EE Wilson offers nearly 1800 acres for hunters, fishers, hikers and cyclists to explore throughout the year.

Mike Moore, the wildlife area manager, said that the site was a military training facility during World War II and that today that means side benefits for the visitor.

"Well, we're so accessible," he said. "The road system that was left behind after the Army created easy access for people who want to ride bikes, ride horses and it's also really A.D.A.-friendly. People who require a wheelchair find it a lot easier to get around here than some of the other public wildlife areas."

Today, the area offers wetlands for wildlife, a stocked fishing pond to cast lures and a wildlife exhibit area where you can see many of Oregon's upland birds on display.

Back out in the hunting area, Ruboin was on high alert and ready for her shot at a pheasant. She walked the field with "Neela" out front and on point.

Suddenly, two birds erupted from the grass, Ruboin tracked one of the birds as it flew to her left and away - she fired, but it was a clean miss!

Yet, she turned and smiled - full of enthusiasm: "That was great!, she shouted. "This has been so educational even though I didn't get a pheasant.
At least I got a shot off. It's so much fun! I'll be back too."

This week's "Grant's Getaway" discovers that mountain bike riding is king of the outdoor recreation scene in one corner of Polk County.

Grant McOmie has discovered a paradise for mountain bike riders who seek the challenge of steep forested trails and the thrill of thirty foot jumps in mid-air at a unique destination called Black Rock Mountain.

WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION.

Some say it's the speed, others say it's the jumps, while few argue that there are risks, all agree that mountain biking can offer a true adrenalin rush.

And why wouldn't it? Speeding down a narrow forested trail - weaving left and right so to stay on the right track, but with jarring bumps and jumps that shake, rattle and roll you along.

Suddenly, a five foot tall dirt berm appears out of nowhere and tests your agility as you fly airborne high above the ground.

It's the rush of speed and the test of stamina that mountain bike riders find when they travel to one of the hottest locales in Oregon.

It's called "Free Riding" and it's on a little piece of cycling heaven where riders catch "big air" across 500 acres of Oregon State Forest at Black Rock Mountain in Polk County.

The volunteer organization that makes it all work is called the Black Rock Mountain Bike Association or "BRMBA" for short.

Rich Bontrager, the association president, told me that the group is now seven years old and fifteen hundred members strong.

He noted that it all started with a simple dream: "I think we all need to help get people off the couch and out in the forest ... to see that there's other stuff out here than the city pavement or a computer game - it's that sort of thing that draws folks - something new and different and exciting."

It all begins with designing the features that riders seek at Black Rock; features that include ramps, jumps and berms - that are approved by the Oregon Department of Forestry under the "Adopt A Trail" program and then built by the club members.

The trail designers can also name the varied projects and include such imaginative names like "Sunday Stroll," "Grannie's Kitchen" and "Bonzai Downhill."

BRMBA members are at Black Rock each day to care for the site and make certain that it's not abused.

Bontrager noted that the concept of a mountain bike destination play area is a first on the Oregon State Forest: "Forest managers take a look at our proposals and make sure the ideas won't create an environmental hazard or be too close to a watershed."

BRMBA member, Todd Glascow, a longtime rider, said that "feature" ideas are really born of the experiences that riders have as they take on trails across the United States.

"Oh yes - we ride other areas, see other things and incorporate them into our own ideas and then take a spin on it. While some material is bought and some donated, a good majority of the wood that we use is fallen timber found in the forest."

Bontrager agreed and added, "If we do move some dirt we try to cover it back up a little bit so that it can re-naturalize or re-forest itself and look natural again. Once we're done with these structures, we'll actually lay them back out so they decompose in the forest."

Some of the runs are so steep that riders can reach speeds of 40 mile per hour, so each rider covers up from head to toe with plastic and neoprene rubber protection that they call "armor."

The bikes that they ride are specially designed to take punishing workouts across the forest - aluminum framed bikes with heavy-duty front and rear air shocks and disc brakes are common and the bikes can reach $5,000 or more.

Wade Youngblood said that beginners can get started for far less: "The used market is good way to break into the sport - a good used bike goes for about a thousand dollars. If you buy new, you're looking at four to six thousand for a top of the line bike."

Wade's father, Owen Youngblood, said that the affordability of the sport drew him to share the outdoor experience with his son - plus, there's been a bonus: he's lost twenty pounds since he started riding at Black Rock two years ago.

"It's always fun to ride with someone who's better than you are because that will push you to the next step...and that's why I enjoy riding with my son - he's typically in the lead and I do my best to catch him."

Whether catching big air or enjoying the freedom that comes from speeding down a forest trail on two wheels, the riders agree that there's something for every level of experience at Black Rock Mountain.

"You're out here in the trees and you're away from everything else," noted Glascow. "You're far away from the daily grind. You can have a stressful day or stressful week and you come out here and ride a bike - it's all gone!"

Other Trails to Explore:

Adventure of a different sort waits for bike riders who visit Stub Stewart State Park in Washington County.

In fact, new construction on "free ride" trails with features similar to those you will find at Black Rock are currently under construction at Stewart - in addition to the 17 miles of hiking and biking trails that already exist. Look for the opening of the initial "mountain bike only" trails later this Fall.

Don't forget to check out Ride Oregon either! It's a wonderful resource - a bike riding clearing house of sorts - that can put you on the right track to other mountain bike trails across the state.

You might consider a mountain bike adventure at "Black Rock Mountain" a part of your entry in a unique travel contest. It's called the Oregon 150 Challenge and it offers a unique dream vacation as a grand prize.

Is it time for you to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday city life?

Perhaps to unwind on a backcountry byway that will take you into a chapter of Oregon history?

Grant McOmie recently followed a rural trail to adventure that he says is guaranteed to restore your soul on a relaxing drive through the Covered Bridges of Linn County.

WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION.

I am a big fan of Oregon's little roads; you know, the ones without numbers.

Linn County has a few and sometimes these roadways let you set your clock back too - on a journey into unexpected bliss!

Bill Cockrell, President of the Covered Bridge Society of Oregon, recently joined me for an afternoon tour across Linn County to see and admire some of the county's historic covered bridges.

"You think of a Covered Bridge," noted Bill, "and you think of horses and buggies! You just want to relive that period of a hundred years ago...when times were slower. A romantic time, even if it is our minds - may not have been true, but it sure feels like it."

It feels like a Huck Finn sort-of -world at Shimanek Covered Bridge - a gorgeous beauty decked out in "Navajo Red" colored paint and it spans Thomas Creek.

It is one of eight covered bridges in Linn County according to Cockrell, who said that most of the covered bridges were built in the 1930's when big timber was abundant and cheaper to build.

"That 'Navajo Red' is the only one in Linn County of that color," added Cockerell. "While inside this bridge it is painted white - that white on the inside, plus light coming through the louvered windows makes for better visibility and so it is safer."

Safety is important these days because traffic roars past at a shattering pace - a far cry from slower days of the past century.

Still, there are other covered bridges that are off the beaten path and hint of bygone times.

For example, Hannah Covered Bridge is picture-postcard perfect!

This stunning whitewashed covered bridge was built in 1936 and offers a bit of a Norman Rockwell kind of American moment.

Cockrell said, "People just love this type of bridge because you can look out of it - you can see the fishermen downstream or people swimming too It really is nearly like walking across any uncovered bridge."

Hannah Bridge may have you wondering, why did they cover the bridges in the first place?

CocKrell said it was simple economics!

"An uncovered bridge will last eight, ten years tops. But a covered bridge with a cedar roof could last forty or fifty years with proper maintenance."

As you will also discover, there is plenty of water running under the Covered Bridges of Linn County, so don't be surprised if you end up at ODFW's Roaring River Hatchery.

This is a place that raises real whoppers - the kind with fins.

Seventy percent of Oregon's catchable hatchery trout are raised at Roaring River Hatchery.

Tim Schamber, the Roaring River Hatchery Manager, provided a tour and explained the state's program:

"The fun part of my job is making them aware and getting people involved in what we do here. So we try for interactive displays and exhibits...we try to put as much energy as possible toward that type of education."

Last winter, we showed viewers how that energy was put into action when we visited a Visitor Friendly Hatchery and then a classroom full of enthusiastic students at Banks Elementary School.

You see, Roaring River Hatchery donates 100,000 trout eggs to hundreds of Oregon classrooms where the youngsters raise the eggs into baby fish.

It's a successful and unique environmental education program called "Eggs to Fry."

Not far from the Roaring River Hatchery, you'll enjoy a chance to relax at Larwood Wayside - only site in the state where a river flows into a creek.

It's called Crabtree Creek and it is where you will find Larwood Covered Bridge and it was built seventy years ago.

Bill said that he believes the Covered Bridges of Linn County will last even longer.

"I think they're here to stay - for another hundred years at least. I sure hope so!"

He also noted that Oregon has more (49 authentic) Covered Bridges than anywhere else in the country, so it is something all Oregonians should be proud of and get out to see and enjoy.

You might consider a tour through "The Covered Bridges of Linn County" a part of your entry in a unique travel contest. It's called the Oregon 150 Challenge and it offers a unique dream vacation as a grand prize.

Oregon's forests are famous for varied outdoor recreation opportunities that tens of thousands of people enjoy each year.

Grant McOmie went the extra mile for this week's "Grant's Getaway" when he visited an Oregon forest, but saw it from a different point of view.

He climbed a real giant; a giant, old growth Doug fir tree that reached hundreds of feet tall.

It's an adventure that required the right equipment, experienced guides and no small amount of nerve.

WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION.

High above the Willamette Valley in the Willamette National Forest, follow the roadway that traces a trail along Fall River, near Lowell, Oregon and you could discover adventure that's guaranteed to take you to new heights.

I met a group of climbers along this roadway near Fall Creek Reservoir.

As I discovered, they were a small corp of climbers that was a breed apart from typical rock or mountain climbers.

While these folks use much the same gear and included harnesses, ropes, mechanical ascenders and even helmets.

But this hearty collection of people who joined two guides with the Eugene-based Pacific Tree Climbing Institute don't climb tall mountains, rather they ascend Oregon's tallest trees.

Jason Seppa, co-owner of PTCI and a lead guide in my adventure, coolly showed each newcomer the correct way to wear a harness and how to handle the ascenders; the main mode of movement up the giant trees.

He also advised us why wearing our helmets was so critical:

"If you hear someone shout 'Headache!" - Well, headache means something is coming down - maybe a little branch, or somebody's dropped their water bottle. Sometimes that can happen, so wear it at all times."

The team had gathered to climb three of the tallest giants in the forest.

Trees that had been nicknamed "The Three Musketeers" because the trio of 600 year-old Doug fir had grown so closely together.

Robb Miron, Seppa's partner in the company, explained the advantages of climbing big old trees: "They are really climber-friendly with a lot of limbs and a lot of architecture. When you're up in them, it's the kind of a feeling that you get being inside a grove of trees."

PTCI operates under a special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service and their climbing techniques and equipment do not damage the trees.

Seppa and Miron called it "eco-friendly" climbing as they teach both newcomers and experienced alike on how to reach for the tallest heights of the trees without hurting the trees they climb.

They employ the same equipment and skills the two had learned as full time arborists in Eugene, Oregon.

Jason explained: "People see all of these ropes (each climber has his own dedicated line that's been secured in the top of the tree) going up into space and don't really know where the ropes end - it's quite mind blowing for the person to see as they walk up to the tree."

The trained arborists turned their attention to recreation climbing six years ago and agreed that the forest has much to offer people.

Usually, that begins by overcoming any doubts or fears of heights.

After all, the goal is to climb perhaps 250 feet or more above the ground.

"It's interesting," noted Miron. "You get up into the canopy and you can't see the ground anymore but it's almost like the height gets easier for many people. You are so focused on what's in front of you - the tree itself and then the physical act of climbing, you don't really think about the height."

Ah, the climbing technique! Now that does take some time to master.

First, it required a "jug" or thrust with my left hand that was holding onto one of the mechanical ascenders. That move was quickly followed by a solid stand up move on my two feet that were resting in two looped straps that were attached to the ascenders. With my right hand in another ascender, I picked up the excess rope and tighten the line.

That procedure was repeated over and over as I made my way up the tree.

But I felt a bit like an inchworm as I watched more experienced climbers take to the task with relative ease.

No doubt about it, I was the slow poke in this group of climbers!

Approximately halfway up the tree - at nearly 150 feet - Seppa and Miron had set up a tree camp of sorts with half a dozen "tree boats."

Tree boats are fabric hammocks, approximately seven feet long - that were tied off onto nearby branches. The hammocks provided a "rest stop" as you could lie down or sit down inside of one - before moving further up the tree.

I discovered they also provided a well-earned rest. I was flat out bushed by my efforts. I felt I earned my rest in a tree boat.

I wondered allowed if I had established a new PTCI record for taking so long to get but halfway up the giant tree.

"Oh no, not at all," noted Seppa with a smile. "Each person takes his or her own time - there's no rush at all."

He added that men are often in too big of a hurry and miss the sights along the way, while women often prove better climbers than their male partners.

"Oh yes," he noted. "Women bring a lot better climbing technique to this than the men. More fluid and less muscling - guys like to muscle things up while women have more finesse and seem to sneak right up nice and smooth."

Once climbers reached the end of the line, approximately 280-feet off the ground, the payoff was nothing short of spectacular.

There was a genuine rush of energy and excitement at the accomplishment and the unmatched view of the surrounding forest.

"A sea of green," said Seppa. "As far as the eye can see - nothing but tree tops. It's quite cool."

Rob Miron noted that the view close at hand was equally impressive too: "Oh my, so much vegetation that you'd never expect - salal, ferns and mosses and lichens - a real variety of flora that you can never appreciate on the ground because you wouldn't know that it even exists way up here."

When it was time for us to return back to ground, mechanical descenders made the journey down incredibly easy.

I simply held on to the rope in one hand and the device in the other and with a quick release, I gently slid down the rope at a controlled speed.

I decided that it was much more fun going down the tree than it was going up.

Miron estimated that he'd led many hundreds of clients up into bog old trees over the years.

People really like climbing The Three Musketeers and everyone he has ever taken up has a new-found respect for the giants of the forest

"Oh, it's the sense of accomplishment, the sense of doing something that they never thought they could do. And then it's the closeness that you feel with nature. Basically, anyone that comes with us on one of these trips is amazed one way or another."

You might consider "Climbing An Oregon Giant" a part of your entry in a unique travel contest. It's called the Oregon 150 Challenge and it offers a unique dream vacation as a grand prize.

Oregon offers a treasure trove of interesting places and fun activities that can reveal much about our region's past.

In fact, one Eastern Oregon town offers fascinating lessons in "pre-history," that - with a bit of imagination and some handiwork - can transport you to a quite different Oregon.

In Fossil, Oregon all you need are some simple tools, keen eyes and curiosity to learn more about the state - as you dig into Oregon's past.

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Eastern Oregon's gigantic landscape holds on to memories - old homestead sites - where families once worked the land and carved out their livelihoods across the high desert.

Time has passed most of them by and what often remains today are small reminders in a big country that are worth a pause to consider.

Fossil, Oregon is worth more than a pause! Especially if you enjoy history, like to get your hands dirty and really dig buried treasures!

"You take a rock, crack it open - and there's a fossil or two," noted Wheeler School District Superintendent, Brad Sperry. "It's that simple! Our entire area contains fossils. So, it's really a matter of how much work and time you wish to spend digging then slicing open shale rocks that determines the quality of the fossil that you collect."

It's a much different slice of outdoor life for the visitors who stroll through the back gates at Fossil's Wheeler High School - pass under the goal posts of the school's football field and then take a step back in Oregon history.

It's the only public fossil dig area in Oregon that offers surprises with each handful of dirt and rock that you turn over.

Sperry added that the area has been known to the locals for years: "Oh yes, it's been kind of a local secret, the community has known of it and they come up and kick around in the rocks to pick up a fossil or two. About eight years ago, we were discovered and today, there are even websites dedicated to the Fossil Field - lots of folks come to visit."

Today, the fossils that you dig reveal a much different scene in this part of Eastern Oregon.

In fact, 30 million years ago the region was more akin to today's Oregon Coast Range Forest - a temperate rain forest with ancient firs and cedars and ferns and even prehistoric insects. All were covered and trapped by ancient mudflows born of volcanic eruptions that were a common geologic feature in this part of Oregon.

All of it adds up to a stark contrast to the high desert sage and juniper country that surrounds Fossil in the 21st century.

Just down the street, the new Paleo Lands Institute will teach you much about the fossils that you collect.

The Institute enjoyed it's grand opening this past summer and Anne Mitchell, the Institute's Director, said the PLI provides a new way to look at the high desert.

"Many people come out to Fossil and say, 'I want to dig up a fossil.' Now, when they actually get here, they start learning about the fossil's context in history. Our center was designed to be sort of a hands-on, get a little dirty and comfortable with ancient history location and I think it helps people see that history is real and not just something to read about in books."

Sperry noted that fossil digging isn't free - the district appreciates a small donation - and he emphasizes that there's little need to take more than a handful of the fossils. He'd rather see more people coming back again and again instead of loading up by the bucketful.

He also said that simple tools, like a hammer and chisel - plus, a bucket - are all you need to get started.

"It's all about kids and families and the excitement of finding fossils and realizing they're 30 million years old. It is like Christmas morning and seeing what Santa brought you. Well, take the rocks, crack them open and it's Christmas time. You never know what you're going to find."

You might consider your visit to "Dig Into Oregon's Past" a part of your entry in a unique travel contest. It's called the Oregon 150 Challenge and it offers a unique dream vacation as a grand prize.

Grant McOmie heads for the big, broad Columbia River in this week's Grant's Getaways to follow a silver rush - a silvery rush of salmon swimming up the river past a sports fishing mecca called "Buoy 10."

It's a trip full of tips, tactics and techniques to catch salmon safely on a stretch of river infamously called "the deadliest river bar in the world" for its number of shipwrecks, capsizes and deadly accidents.

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On the Astoria dock at a coal black 4-am, it was hard to say "Good Morning" to my fellow anglers who had gathered - with their lunches, thermoses, rods and reels in hand - to enjoy a daylong fishing adventure.

After all, shimmering stars and a sliver of a gleaming moon held tightly onto night.

But barking sea lions and an inch of daylight squeezing just above the eastern horizon said otherwise.

So did our guide, John Krauthoefer (Firefighter's Guide Service: 503-812-1414,) who told our small group, "Daylight boys - won't be long - so let's button things down, snap up the PFD's and get moving."

We boarded his 25-foot fishing boat and began to slowly motor across the broad-shouldered Columbia, with high hopes for a successful salmon fishing trip.

Despite the early call out, we were bolstered by Krauthoefer's enthusiastic promise of good fishing ahead:

"We're going to start down by the bridge in front of Youngs Bay and try to catch a Chinook and then go out and catch some Coho by Buoy 10. There's a ton of Coho out there this year, so let's go catch fish."

Our fishing guide had been boating across these waters since a teen - more than forty years ago.

But as sunrise brightened our downriver journey John stopped the boat, stared into a stark white wall of fog - and muttered: "Fog comin' in. We may have a problem."

We believed him!

Daylight revealed that a dense fog bank had taken over the lower river.

If we wished to pass through it, we had better be prepared.

"My GPS (Global Positioning System) tells me that there's a green buoy right there - and if you peer into the fog, you can see we're just coming up on it."

I wondered aloud about the fishermen who didn't have GPS on their boats.

He quickly and firmly noted, "Stay on the dock until the fog clears. You're much safer - it's not worth a fish to risk your life - it really isn't."

We slowly trolled and kept eye on the boat's GPS screen, which showed our position in relation to the shipping channel and the surrounding shorelines.

This part of the Columbia River is a busy stretch for inbound and outbound ships.

We certainly did not want to get caught in the middle of it on a busy morning of ship traffic.

All too quickly, John's second sense told him something was just not right.

"Ok - reel in - we're going to move," he ordered.

He wasted little time and moved us a few hundred yards further away from the shipping lane.

It was a good thing!

We heard the ship before we saw it.

And what we saw was gigantic - a massive, two hundred foot long shadow of a ship that moved across the area we had just been trolling our baits.

I looked at my fishing partner, Trey Carskadon, who shared the same obvious expression of relief - then he smiled.

But John was more than a little angry: "That ship is moving in thirty feet of water - well outside the main shipping channel. He's right on the edge - Boys, that was close!"

Carskadon added, "You can just get absolutely turned around in this kind of a fog, so GPS certainly is a must, but even a compass would help. Plus, you better know how to use it. It's essential equipment and I wouldn't come out here without it."

Carskadon is the chairman of the Oregon State Marine Board and he is a boating safety expert when it comes to the fickle Columbia River.

He told me that even in summer, the river conditions often change in a heartbeat:

"Right now the danger is obviously with the fog, but when the wind comes up and you have a lot river traffic out here, it can get downright dangerous. People assume it's like a lake out here, most days it's anything but that."

That much was certain and we'd just experience a good lesson of that fact - but there was another certainty on the river this fine August morning: the river is full of fish.

"Oh, it's a big Coho," yells John as Trey's rod doubled down and the line screamed off the reel.

"A nice one," noted Carskadon. "Feels all of ten or twelve pounds. A nice hatchery fish too."

He could tell is was a hatchery Coho salmon because it was missing its adipose fin, a small half moon shaped fin that's located behind the dorsal fin.

The adipose fin is clipped off all hatchery salmon babies at the hatchery where each fish is raised.

"I think it's barbeque time at the Carskadon's," noted Krauthoefer with a laugh.

Trey smiled and then I grinned with admiration for the gleaming salmon as it slipped into the net.

It has been a remarkable Coho fishing season for the ocean anglers and now, those who travel to fish the Columbia River estuary.

More than a million Coho salmon are forecast to pass through the estuary over the next six to eight weeks.

In fact, right now the angling daily limit is two salmon, but beginning September 1 the limit rises to three Coho salmon a day.

Krauthoefer said there are a variety of baits and lures that anglers use to catch Coho - he prefers a plug cut herring on a diver-flasher rig that's put out 30 feet behind the boat.

Not all of the Coho that anglers catch from the Columbia are hatchery fish.

Many are wild fish that must be released back into the river.

John said there's a "right way" to do that.

"First, don't ever bring them in the boat and don't ever lift them out of the water. Don't just dump them out of your net either. If you can, try to get hold of them by the tail and let them swim out of your hand. If you just dump them out, they often die because they're so tired from the fight, so let the fish rest in your hand and then open your hand so they swim right off."

As the fog evaporated with the warmer morning, the flooding tide built and hundreds of anglers converged at the famous river marker called "Buoy 10."

But boat wakes, a strong push of current and a rising wind meant that it was a bit like fishing in washing machine - and you want to definitely avoid the spin cycle.

"People get what I call 'Salmonitis,' explained Krauthoefer. "That is, they'll get a fish on and they lose total track of what's going on around them. You really need to be aware of where your boat is at in relation to other people. Don't assume that the other guy is going to steer out of your way."

"There's another fish," he yelled as my fishing rod throbbed down and then back up and then down once more. This time it stayed down.

I quickly wrestled it from the rod hold and then held on for dear life as the line screamed out of the bait casting reel.

"What have you got there Mr. McOmie" asked the grinning Krauthoefer - knowing full well that my fish was a huge Chinook salmon.

"Oh, something really big with fins on it, John," was all I could muster for an answer.

After a moment, we saw the chrome-sided fish gleam under the surface, just ten yards from the boat.

"Oh, isn't that a beauty? That's a fin clipped hatchery king - and it's big."

The fish ran and I reeled at each break in the heart pounding action.

I tried to keep the fish close by the boat, never allowing slack line to develop from the fish's erratic yet hard charging bursts, first toward and then away from the boat.

After fifteen minutes, John dipped the large net under the salmon.

That is a beautiful fish," said our guide. "Isn't that that something special; just look at the way the sun hits the sides of that salmon."

It was a gorgeous upriver bright Chinook - bound for the Columbia River's upper stretches - hundreds of miles from the estuary.

As the flood tide rose, the fish bite became more frequent and soon we had our limits of fish.

It was a day to remember - one that began on a dance with danger and eventually provided lasting memories and valuable lessons too.

Exciting times in the Oregon outdoors!

For more information on purchasing an Oregon Angling License and locate an Oregon Fishing Guide.

You might even consider making the "Buoy 10" adventure a part of your entry in a unique travel contest. It's called the Oregon 150 Challenge and it offers a unique dream vacation as a grand prize.

If mid-summer heat waves get you down, perhaps it's time for a cool retreat!

This week's Grant's Getaway promises a refreshing escape as Grant goes aboard a small boat on a huge river.

He says it's the sort of adventure that may leave you feeling a million miles away from the city hubbub and noise in a sea kayak on the Columbia River.

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Trying something new and risky takes courage, but if you're convinced that it's right for you, the risk can often pay off with unique adventures.

Safety is everything when Steve Gibons, owner of Scappoose Bay Kayaking, gathers paddlers together on the dock at Scappoose Bay Marina.

Chris McOmie and I joined Steve, his wife, Bonnie, and a half dozen other adventurers for a daylong kayaking excursion.

The first step: we slid into the cozy confines of the small cockpits of a smooth sided 14-foot long tandem sea kayak.

We listened intently as Steve explained a basic rule of kayak recreation: First, a reassuring fact: more people tip over at the dock than any other place on the water - either getting in or out."

Many of our fellow paddlers were like us - relative newcomers to the recreation and to this stretch of Multnomah Channel at Scappoose Bay.

It's a place where tide and weather can change in a heartbeat.

But on this gentle summer's day, the bay and the nearby Columbia River were smooth and calm, so no need for us to worry.

Instead, we used our time to practice the basic forward and reverse paddle strokes that Steve taught us - paddle strokes that we would soon put to good use.

"We're going to paddle out of Scappoose Bay and down the channel," explained Gibons, the lead guide for our afternoon paddle trip: "Our ultimate goal will be the northern end of Sauvie Island and a beautiful little area called Cunningham Slough. Remember, this is not an Olympic event - it's all about taking our time and enjoying the wildlife that's in the bay itself."

Finding a comfort zone on the glassy water came easy on a day that was filled with summer's glory - clear skies, a gentle breeze and outgoing tide to ease our downriver journey.

More importantly, our small group of paddlers seemed to have the river all to ourselves on a stretch of Columbia River backwater that's largely overlooked by most folks.

Steve explained that summertime low water conditions kept the motorboat crowd off this area of water:

"Since sea kayaks draw only four inches of water, we have easy access into tiny bays and sloughs - it provides a unique opportunity to see many different wildlife species like herons, eagles, osprey and black tail deer."

Bonnie Gibons is also a partner in the decade-old kayak rental and touring company.

She explained: "Unless you get out into nature, you can't experience it. Kayaking is the best way to experience wildlife because we are so quiet and can slowly paddle our way up close."

Fellow paddler, Randy Wiltgen, agreed and offered that there are hundreds of miles of watery trails across the Portland area - plus, many more miles along the coast - protected from wind and bad weather:

"You often feel like you're a million miles away from people and yet you're not! And you see so much that you never see from shore - so many wildlife species allow you to get really close. It's exciting!"

It is certainly that - and much more - a time and place where nature's touch restores your soul.

Oregon's rivers fascinate us!

They offer cool, restful moments along their shady shorelines and that's the basis for this week's Grant's Getaways.

Grant McOmie visits a river that runs through the heart of Central Oregon and is prized for it's fishing, camping and unique outdoor adventures.

Plus, you can watch the Metolius River come to life!

WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION

Early morning light, when the air is cool and clear, high cascade peaks like Mt Jefferson are a marvel.

That's especially true near Camp Sherman where the Metolius River bubbles from the ground to curl and wind along an 8600-acre river corridor.

It is so special a place that it's been protected as one of America's Wild and Scenic Rivers since 1988.

In nearby Sisters, Oregon, the folks who live and work in Central Oregon like it that way.

That includes Jeff Perin, local fishing guide and owner of The Fly Fisher's Place.

Perin is often found creating hand tied imitations of nature's creations and said "artistry and utility go hand in hand" for one of the hottest recreation activities around:

"What I think is really cool about fly fishing is that regardless of where you are in the sport, how much gear you have or don't have - it's still the same sport and everybody can do it. Plus, it's so beautiful here and we have so much great water - at any given time in Central Oregon, there's always some place to go fishing."

Jeff often goes to the Metolius River near Wizard Falls, a rough and tumble stretch broken by moments of calm water.

Perin has cast into the Metolius for more than 26 seasons and he loves to cast flies to tempt wild trout to bite.

But the trout are not "easy pickings" - In fact, Perin said it's one of the best "cat and mouse games" in Oregon; a fine compliment to the river's character:

"You don't have spring creeks like this in too many places where the water just bubbles out of the ground at 50 degrees and here we are on a 90-degree day and we're fishing in cold, clean water. It is such a special place."

It is so special a place that the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has operated the nearby Wizard Falls Hatchery since 1947.

Manager Steve Hamburger says 45-degree water is the reason; it's the perfect water for raising trout.

More than four million trout are raised at Wizard Falls Hatchery for release into scores of lakes and ponds across Oregon.

Visitors come from all over the state too and stroll the 35-acre hatchery grounds that are more akin to a park land than a fish hatchery.

Nearby campgrounds make the living easy too.

There are ten U.S. Forest Service Campgrounds along the Metolius River that offer a place to stay and relax.

There are no hook ups, phones or TV at these campgrounds, it's self-contained camping without fancy conveniences.

Hamburger said that seems to be okay with the campers who return to the Metolius River area season after season.

"They came here when they were kids and now they have kids so bringing their youngsters out and it carries on from generation to generation.
They really do enjoy that and the kids love it."

As Jeff Perin said, "This belongs to everyone in Oregon and they should all come see it, enjoy it and be proud of it - it's that special a place."

The Metolius River may run through the heart of Central Oregon, but along it's way it also builds lasting outdoor memories in the hearts of the people who visit each year.

Central Oregon's Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway is a path once taken, you'll never want to leave, but ---you might try a summer detour!

I did just that at Sparks Lake, 25 miles west of Bend, and I found adventure on the water with Wanderlust Tours.

Jeff Gartzke was the guide for an afternoon canoe paddle across Sparks Lake.

I joined an enthusiastic group of folks, each sporting mile-wide smiles, PFD's and had their paddles in hand. Each was eager and ready to go aboard canoes to see the lake from a different point of view.

Gartzke noted that flat-water paddling is an easy activity that requires a short amount of practice time, especially on Sparks Lake:

"Sparks Lake is one of about 12 lakes that we have to choose from for our afternoon paddle trips. It is well over a mile in length from north to south and people are impressed by the scenery - it's as photo-friendly as central Oregon's high lakes can get."

At 5400 feet in elevation, Sparks Lake is perfectly suited to a canoe adventure with awesome views of South Sister, Broken Top and Mount Bachelor.

Sparks Lake was formed more than ten thousand years ago when lava blocked the Deschutes River. In fact, a narrow channel -- defined by volcanic rock shorelines -- connects two halves of Sparks Lake. The lake covers approximately 400 acres and it is no more than ten feet deep.

We paddled, we smiled and we laughed as we toured the lake. After a couple of hours we arrived at a sprawling sandy beach.

The site offered plenty of elbowroom for a shore side lunch and a cold brew to go with the expansive view of the lake and the surrounding mountains.

It was a stunning setting not lost on our fellow paddlers, including local resident Mike Sawyer:

"Oh - love it" he noted. "This lake is one of the reasons I live in nearby Bend and I enjoy coming out here as often as I can. I hike, ski and boat - it's a wonderful place to live, work and play."

Gargzka smiled and agreed - he offered that the contrast of the rugged rock, broken by the soft, colorful beauty of the shoreline's wildflowers draws him back to Sparks Lake each week.

"It's a true testament - a true trial - to find something in central Oregon that isn't volcanic in origin; it's volcanic all around you. Any rise in the landscape, any hill around you is volcanic in one form or another and the scale of it all makes my work a dream job. This is my office right here. Can't beat it!"

I completely agree and cannot wait for my next paddling tour into the high cascade country of Central Oregon.

You might consider making your High Cascade Canoe Paddle on Sparks Lake with Wanderlust Tours, part of your entry in a unique travel contest. It's called the Oregon 150 Challenge and it offers a dream vacation as a grand prize.