The idea seems so simple: If you are going through the trouble and expense to generate heat for one purpose, but end up with more than you need, use that excess for something else. Namely, electricity.

Simple in concept, but more difficult to implement – until now. The idea of “Combined Heat and Power” (CHP) generation has taken off at all levels these days.

In my role as the communications manager for a clean air agency, I’ve watched several wood-and paper-products facilities work to convert their old wood-fired boilers – used historically to provide the necessary heat in their industrial processes – into CHP operation. The excess steam from their boilers now powers turbines and generates electricity. Some of that will be used onsite to reduce production costs and the extra will be sold off to utility companies, helping meet societal needs for electrical power at minimal cost.

This trend toward full-use of produced heat/steam has swept the nation. The State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network (SEE Action) reports that 4,100 facilities nationwide generate more than 82 gigawatts (GW) of electricity through the CHP process. Previously, the energy used to generate that electricity was simply lost through wasted heat production. The total electricity generation could rise by another 130 GW if other existing facilities converted to CHP processes.

So industrial sources big and small are finally learning to fully utilize the ‘energy’ in their facilities. The result is power where previously there was just waste.

In my role as an outdoor journalist, I’ve experienced the same occurrence in backcountry camps.

Last year, BioLite  offered backcountry campers a way to cook their meals while simultaneously powering and recharging their electronic devices. The BioLite Campstove burns wood scraps – twigs, branches, bark, etc. – to heat your cookset, while also turning a thermo-turbine to create electricity to charge an internal battery. A USB port than dumps the charge into your electronic gear.

The system works remarkably well. A small portion of the generated electricity powers a small fan that acts as a bellows to pump oxygen into the fire for maximum efficiency in the combustion. That creates a hot cook surface that boils a liter of water in less than 4 minutes (using very dry fir and pine wood – plan on longer boil times if using scraps like twigs, bark and wet wood).

That high-heat also helped re-animated a dead-battery iPod in less than 10 minutes and had the battery recharged enough to play for a few more hours after just a half-hour of charge. We’ve also the BioLite to recharge camera batteries, GPS receivers and iPhones.

And though we’ve yet to use it, BioLite designers recently unveiled a new accessory: An add-on grill surface. So now you can grill burgers and hotdogs, while powering your MP3s.

The BioLite sells for $129. www.biolitestove.com

Looking back at the best products of 2012, we realized we needed to make sure they all got the attention they deserve. So we’re breaking up the “Best Of” story into a series of stories. Today, we explore the Best Personal Watercraft of 2012 for active outdoors enthusiasts.  

Bellyak Frequency – The Full-Body Boat

Whitewater kayaking requires a synchronized dance of hip-shifts, shoulder rolls and arm strokes. It takes years to perfect the dance. But there is an easier way to get into the river. “The intuitive nature of riding our boats makes for a very quick learning curve,” said Adam Masters, creator of the Bellyak boat. “I’ve taken people with little or no experience down rivers that would’ve taken weeks of instruction for them to experience in a kayak. “

The Bellyak Frequency, a lay-on-top kayak. Imagine riding a sled down a snowy slope – riding the Bellyak is similar. Lay in the recessed body channel and us your hands as paddles and stabilizers as you lean the boat through turns. Stable and secure in modest white water, the molded plastic and fiberglass Bellyak offers a shorter learning curve than traditional kayaks. Plus, said Masters, “being face level with the water gives the user the feeling of flying.” $749. www.bellyak.com

Creek Company Voyager: A boat for all seasons

Personal-sized water craft make it possible for those of us who primarily wade-fish to get out on the water, and The Creek Company just made that option easier. Their new frameless pontoon boat, the Voyager, quickly inflates into an 8-foot pontoon raft that keeps you completely out of the water – though you can use kick-fins to propel it if you want – even on modestly fast rivers. When not in use, it packs into a large suitcase-sized case for ease storage and transport. The complete boat and accessory package weighs just over 28 pounds.

We tested on the Voyager on several western Washington lakes and I found it very nimble and maneuverable both with the included oars and with the option kick-fins. It easily supported by 225 pounds along with my 65-pound yellow lab (it’s rated to 400 pounds capacity) with no loss in nimbleness.

The Voyager’s inflatable seat provides comfortable support for easy cruising, but when used on a day-long stretch of the Yakima River’s Lower Canyon, I wished for a bit more rigid structure toward the end of the day. The long stretches of rowing proved a bit tiresome with the always-flexing seatback.

The Creek Company Voyager seems ideally suited for the avid wading angler who wants to occasional get afloat for some still-water fishing. Its lightweight portable nature and big cargo capacity make it perfect for both out-of-the-way storage and fast and easy transport. Using the included two-way foot pump, we could inflate and rig up the raft in less than 8 minutes. $599. www.creekcompany.com

If you have an outdoors enthusiast on your gift list, you may need help since this unusual breed generally  has strange ideas of what makes a good gift.

Honestly, finding the perfect gift for a backcountry traveler can be a laborious chore. In the interest of serving our faithful readers, we once again took it upon ourselves to tackle this thankless job for you. After months of poring over catalogues, testing out demo units and prodding countless items, we’ve found the following gift ideas. We are sure these will please your favorite wild country enthusiast.

Eton FRX3 radio & auxiliary power source

We live in an electrical world, with powered products dominating much of our daily lives. So when the power goes out we are lost – unless we have a back-up source. The Eton FRX3 provides a simple way to create power for small electronic devices (iPhones, iPods, cell phones, etc.) while also giving us a news and entertainment source: good old-fashioned radio. With AM, FM and NOAA Weather bands, the FRX3 keeps the powerless informed and entertained until the power lines are reconnected and the lights go back on.

As importantly, the FRX3 boasts a rechargeable battery that can be connected to other electronic devices via USB port. That battery can be charged with standard AC charger when you have electricity available, but when the power is out, you can charge by way of a fold-out hand-crank or a small solar panel atop the unit. Don’t plan to power your laptop with this device, though we found it did provide a slow trickle charge to devices as power-hungry as an iPad. But it’s ideal for smartphones and MP3 players. $60. www.etoncorp.com

Stio Hardscrabble Jacket

Though the brand is new, the man behind the brand has a well-earned reputation for innovation and quality in apparel design. Stephen Sullivan, one of the masterminds of the original Cloudveil, launched Stio this fall with a small but impressive line of products. Our favorite piece is the Hardscrabble Jacket which blends technical outdoor fabrics and insulation with stylish design and a comfortable fit.

The four-way stretch softshell face of the Hardscrabble repels rain and snow, while allowing great mobility. A thin layer of Primaloft One insulates well in moderately cold conditions – we’ve worn it in the dry cold of eastern Idaho and the wet-cold of western Washington and found it well suited to each.

The design favors the classic look of a workman’s jacket (think Carhartt) but somewhat cleaner and more stylish. The Hardscrabble fits equally well in an upscale urban setting and in a dirt-bag outdoor adventure. Whether you call it an urban-adventure jacket or a functional fashion piece, you’ll love its performance, style and great fit. $195. www.stio.com

Leatherman Piranha slim tool

The next generation of multitools cuts the clutter while maximizing the tools. Leatherman – the creators of the multitool category – offer the Piranha as an alternative to heavy, bulky folding tools. Carved from a single piece of steel, the Piranha sports multiples sizes of open-end wrenches, Phillips and standard screwdriver bits, a bottle opener, a pry tool and a scraper. It also meets all TSA requirements for safe air travel so you can tote this in your carryon when heading out for adventures far afield. $35. www.leatherman.com

Sierra Designs Gnar down jacket

By utilizing DriDown in the lightweight Gnar jacket, Sierra Designs eliminated the one big negative of down: it sucks when wet. After significant use in the always-wet Olympic National Park rainforests, the Gnar made believers of us. The hydrophobic polymer coating on each feather in DriDown keeps the fibers lofty and insulating even when saturated. The puffy style Gnar provides a snug, yet comfortable fit. Deep hand-warmer pockets and thumbholes in the cuffs round out the warming features of this lightweight insulation piece. $229. Sierradesigns.com

Redington Topo fly fishing kit

The art of angling with a fly seems complex and difficult to some, but Redington helps potential anglers cut through those concerns with this ‘grab and go’ kit. The Topo package includes a very nice medium-action fly rod, reel, line (backing, fly line and leaders), a small box of flies and even a nipper to clean up our knots.

The Topo rod, a 9-foot 5-weight, proved ideal for novice anglers looking to learn and then perfect their casting actions while pursuing trout. The four-piece design and reel-attached rod case makes it easy to carry the combo kit while traveling and even backpacking. Indeed, the Topo kit is a perfect option for backpackers looking to add fishing to their backcountry adventures. The six included dry flies are perfect trout patterns for a wide variety of water.

The Topo truly is a grab-and-go fly fishing kit perfect for any novice angler. Grab one for spouse and each of your kids and they’ll learn to love your hiking adventures even more this year. $200. www.redington.com

Highgear Anglers Watch

In fishing, all too often, timing is key. The difference between fishing and catching frequently comes down to availability of when you go. The Highgear Angler watch provides vital information about sunrise, sunset and tidal changes to help you hit the water at the right time to capitalize on feeding fish.

What’s more, the watch’s computer processes that data to create suggested Peak Fishing times throughout the day to help ensure your success. The Angler also offers standard timepiece functions, a digital compass and a waterproof housing. $100. www.highgear.com

Bellyak Frequency Body Boat

Everyone likes to play in the water, but many potential kayakers turn away because of the ‘locked-in’ concept of the spray skirt over a tight interior chamber. “People have a natural fear of being trapped,” said Adam Masters. So he created the Bellyak Frequency, a lay-on-top kayak steered by hand and body motion. Stable and secure in modest white water, the Bellyak offers a shorter learning curve than traditional kayaks. Plus, said Masters, “being face level with the water gives the user the feeling of flying.” $749. www.bellyak.com

BioLite Wood-fire co-generation camp stove

Make your stove do double duty, an idea many industrial facilities are also copying. The BioLite burns wood scraps – twigs, branches, bark, etc. – to heat your cookset, while also turning a thermo-turbine to create electricity to charge an internal battery.

A USB port than dumps the charge into your electronic gear. (Large industry calls this ‘co-gen’ production – heat for their primary purpose of steam for their heat and machinery, and electricity for sale to utilities). The system works remarkably well, both in creating a hot cook surface that boils a liter of water in less than 4 minutes (using very dry fir and pine wood – plan on longer boil times if using scraps like twigs, bark and wet wood). It also re-animated a dead-battery iPod in less than 10 minutes and had the battery recharged enough to play for a few more hours after just a half-hour of charge.  $129. www.biolitestove.com

Think ski vacation, and places like Sun Valley, Aspen, Steamboat Springs and Park City come to mind.

Think a bit more, though, and those dreams evaporate quickly as you start to add up the expenses. Airfare for the family, lodging in a resort town, lift tickets a premiere ski area, meals out morning, noon and night. Ka-ching!

Fortunately, there are other options. You can have a great ski vacation without breaking the bank – and without leaving the State of Washington. For Puget Sound residents, a few hours drive puts you in some remarkable ski country, with affordable lodging, unique ski terrain, and new environments to explore.

The Cascades draw most of the attention of skiers in Washington, but the small mountain ranges east of the Cascades offer skiers things they won’t find in the Cascades. Like true dry, fluffy powder and lift ticket prices that won’t totally bust our budget. Toss in top-notch lodging and you have the makings of a great in-state vacation. Take note, though, that the Cascade resorts do have that their east-side counterparts are lacking: lift lines! So you better get in shape, because you won’t be spending a lot of time resting up while waiting for the lifts!

WHERE TO GO

Mission Ridge, Wenatchee:

Remarkably, one of the true gems of Washington skiing is frequently maligned by Seattle-area skiers. Perhaps because it is a blue-collar resort in the heart of redneck country. Whatever the reason, the fact is that Mission Ridge just outside Wenatchee frequently has some of the best snow in the state, with a abundance of terrain.

Mission Ridge Summit Shack. Photo courtesy of Mission Ridge.

We took a merry band of skiers and snowboarders to Mission in January to check out the resort. None of the half-dozen snow-hounds had ever visited this little day resort, yet every one of them pledged to go back – and soon!

Colorado-native Chris “Bacon-Boy” Bloomquist started skiing in the early 70s, is a master on both alpine and telemark gear and has worked at resorts ranging from Vail to Grand Targhee. Yet he declared the Mission snow was as fine and powdery as anything he experienced at the big Rocky Mountain resorts. “The snow is great, the terrain is varied and fun, and there’s no crowds!” This was during a holiday weekend, and at most, the lifts had 15-20 people waiting to board at any one time. “One of the best days I’ve had on skis in decades.”

When compared to typical ski destination resorts, Mission Ridge is tiny.  Yet the area has 36 designated runs spread over 2,000 acres of terrain, and a wide variety of tree-skiing options to be explored. The lifts service 2,200 vertical feet of mountain, with one high speed quad running to the summit for maximum service to the steepest and deepest runs.

Mission Ridge sits just 15 minutes outside Wenatchee. This “small town” city boasts a number of  modestly-priced hotels, ranging from the basic to the ritzy.  Many offer skier packages that including lodging, breakfast and lift tickets at Mission. The city also offers the finest authentic Mexican dinners in the state, at El Sol on North Wenatchee Avenue and Casa Tapatia on Grant Avenue in East Wenatchee.

Getting There: From Seattle, head east about 135 miles on US Highway 2 over Stevens Pass to Wenatchee. Continue southwest through town, following the signs to Missions Ridge. The resort is just 12 miles past the Wenatchee city limits. www.missionridge.com

Mt. Spokane, Spokane

Mount Spokane, just 30 miles away from downtown Spokane, offers crisp, deep, dry snow yet still boasts an unusually high number of sunny days each winter.  The resort offers more than 45 designated runs, serviced by 5 double chairs, with 2,000 vertical feet of terrain to explore.

Though somewhat bigger than Mission, Mount Spokane still offers the small-town feel of a day-use ski area. On long weekends, the crowds can be a bit denser as the students from Gonzaga, Eastern and WSU (Pullman is just two hours away) flock to the slopes. Yet the small resort has enough area to spread the crowds, keep lift lines short – if not non-existent – and the snow fresh and light throughout the day.

We found the area a joy to explore, with a relatively high percentage of challenging Black Diamond runs for the thrill-seekers among us. The mountain also sports a snowboarders paradise in the form of an elaborate terrain park that includes rails, half-pipes, tree jibs and a number of jumps. Finally, there’s a healthy stash of trees and free-terrain for unregulated skiing and riding.

Come nightfall, Spokane offers a wealth of lodging and dining options – it is the second largest city in the state, after all. You can easily find the accommodations that match your budget.

Getting There: Head east about 300 miles on Interstate 90. Once in Spokane, turn north on Highway 395, then east on Highway 206. The mountain sits just 28 miles northeast of Spokane.  www.mtspokane.com

Ski Bluewood, Dayton

If Mount Spokane feels small, and Mission Ridge tiny, Ski Bluewood is downright miniscule – by destination resort standards! This little pocket of powder, though, is a skiers paradise provided you don’t need huge couloirs, massive mountains, enormous crowds, and rockin’ night life to make your ski fantasies come true. Bluewood has the highest base in the state at 4,545 feet above ski level, and with its location in the far southeast corner of Washington, it gets nothing but light, dry powder on its slopes. Just 24 runs and two lifts await you here, so you can shred the mountaintop to bottom, side-to-side in a long weekend. But that’s okay. It’s made as a day resort, and its frequent powdery snowfalls keep things fresh and lively.  The mountain is tree-covered top to bottom, but the forest is mostly ponderosa pine and larch so you’ll find lots of wide glades and narrow chutes to explore between the groomers.

For the widest variety of lodging options, head to Walla Walla, but 45 miles from the ski area, or settle for one of the two or three hotels in the small town of Dayton, just 15 miles from the ski resort. Dayton (population: 2,500) also offers the only 4-star French restaurant in Eastern Washington – the Patit Creek.

Getting There: Head east on Interstate 90 to Ellensburg, then veer southeast on I-82, passing through Yakima to Richland. Turn north on Highway 12 and follow it to Walla Walla and onto Dayton. Turn left on 4^th Avenue in Dayton and drive 15 miles to the end of the road.

The era of fast action fly rods really began with Sage some 25 years ago. Now, the company has launched a new era of slower but incredibly accurate rods. The Sage Circa sets a new rhythm for fly casters.

Since the mid-1980s, the Bainbridge Island company has moved the world for fly fishing progressively forward toward faster line speeds and stiffer graphite rods. Sage’s current premiere rod, The One, is arguable the fastest, farthest-casting rod available. It is also remarkably accurate, lightweight and comfortable to cast.  (Full review here).  Clearly, Sage has perfected the fast action design.

The new Sage Circa, though, proves they also know how to dance to a different rhythm. 

Unlike that bamboo – and definitely unlike any other graphite or fiberglass slow-action rod I’ve fished with – the Circa also provides incredible casting power and – most notably – accuracy. Using the 8-foot 9-inch, 5-weight version of the rod, I found I could push 50 feet of line without too much effort. And the Circa’s use of the same ‘Konnetic’ composite technology as is used in the One series means the lateral ‘vibration’ of the rod is minimized to the point of being eliminated. In short, the casting stroke moves the line exactly where you want it without the side-to-side motion that can spoil accuracy.

Best of all, though, this slow action rod presents small dry flies with barely a ripple on the water. The flies drop so gently, I sometimes had trouble following the presentation of the smallest of the midges we cast during testing.  For dry fly work on short to mid-distance casts, I found myself loving this rod. I fact, I much preferred it in those situations to my Sage One or Orvis Helios 2 (another fantastic fast-action rod – see here).

The Circa didn’t fair as well in my tests when slinging nymphs, especially weighted nymph combos (I was mostly using a San Juan worm – prince-nymph rig under a bubble indicator). It also gave me a little pause when trying to cast big dry-dropper combos. I found the heavier multiple point presentations were a bit sloppier. I caught fish but by partner convincingly out-fished me with her old Z-Axis set-up (of course, she frequently out-fishes me, but my presentation definitely wasn’t up to par in this situation). But with a single dry, whether it was #8 stone or a #20 midge, the Circa proved ideal. Truly, a rod in a class of its own.

Physically, the Circa also stands apart from any other rod on the market. The rod blank is slim – at the grip, the 5-weight rod blank is about the size upper third of a standard fast action graphite rod. Colored a deep moss green (nearly identical to the color of Sage’s just-retired Z-Axis rods), with a half-wells grip and Vera wood reel seat, the Circa looks crisp and clean rather than flashy – just what you’d expect from a rod with such a precise, deliberate casting action.

Sage offers the Circa in 2-weight through 5-weight in 7-foot-9-inch and 8-foot-9-inch lengths. Prices range from $745 to $775. www.sageflyfish.com

 When gearing up for a hiking adventure, savvy backpackers know that finding gear that does double duty helps trim off a lot of pack weight.

A great new brand from Washington state took that idea and created a brilliant new two-in-one product for hikers who like to enjoy angling during their adventures. The Fikkes Fly Hiker serves as a stout trekking pole during your hike into your favorite backcountry lake or river. Once at the water, the trekking pole breaks down to reveal a fly rod lurking inside. In mere moments, you can be rigged and reeling in wily trout!

The Fly Hiker’s trekking configuration proved stout enough for use by a 6’2” 225-pound hiker during several long slogs into alpine lakes in Washington’s Cascade Range. The cork grip sits comfortably and firmly in hand even when sweating. We used the aluminum pole alone and with the reel attached and found that, while the reel didn’t really detract too much from the use of the Fly Hikers as a trekking pole, it did put the reel at risk on rough, rocky routes. We found it easier to keep the reel stashed in a backpack until you were ready to convert to fishing mode.

The trekking pole adjusts from 45 to 60 inches in length, making it useful for just about any hiker – our testers included myself (the 6’2” hiker mentioned above) as well as a few women standing just 5’5”.  All felt comfortable hiking with the pole.

To change to fishing mode, remove the pole’s handle and the lower shaft of the trekking pole. Remove the two rod sections from inside the middle trekking pole shaft. Insert the lower trekking pole shaft into the end of the handle, and the two rod sections into that lower shaft to create an 8-foot tip-flex rod. We tested the 6-weight version and found the rod more than adequate for casting both big streams and tiny dry flies on those high lakes. The stiff butt section helps give power to the rod – which is especially helpful in the windy conditions that often occur on these lakes.

The Fly Hiker will never be considered a daily-use fly rod by serious fly fishers, but for the avid hiker who wants to experience backcountry fishing, or for the avid angler who wants to keep their gear load as minimal as possible, the Fly Hiker is a phenomenal find.

The Fikkes Fly Hiker comes in 3-weight and 6-weight configurations, and there’s also a new Spin Hiker for those who before to throw gear instead of tossing flies.

The Fly Hiker sells for $399.99 while the Spin Hiker goes for $199.99. www.fikkes.com

This is my first (and only) “lazy blogger” post – I’m using an unedited press release to share news about the happenings around one of my favorite parts of Washington: the high central Columbia Basin. Yes, I love that sagebrush country, and not just because it is awash in quality wine!

Eastern Washington has a lot to offer outdoor recreationists and this list of events proves it also has a lot to offer those who prefer more ‘social’ activities than solitary hiking and fishing. Read on and remember – the upper Yakima River is open and fishable year-round. Red wine and trout makes for a great weekend any time of the year!

FESTIVE FALL EVENTS IN WASHINGTON’S YAKIMA VALLEY

• WHO:Yakima Valley Visitors & Convention Bureau
• WHAT: Festive fall events including a Balloon Rally, Ale Festival, HalloWine and many more
• WHEN: September through December 2012; full details are below
• WHERE: Various locations throughout the Yakima Valley
• DETAILS: Event information, including location and ticket prices, is listed below. For more information visit www.visityakima.com.

Skewered Apple BBQ Championship, Saturday, Sept. 8 – Sunday, Sept. 9

Hosted by Tree Top, this open competition invites aspiring grill masters from the West and Canada to compete for up to $25,000 in prize money. Those who are not participating will enjoy cooking demonstrations, live music, beer and wine garden, and much more. Hours for the event are 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $10 for two days; children 12 and under are free. All events are located at Tree Top, 220 E 2^nd Ave., Selah. For more information, please visit www.skeweredapple.com.

Apple & Pumpkin Festival at Bill’s Berry Farm, Saturdays; Sept. 22 – Oct. 20

Bring the family out to the farm for free fall fun between 10 a.m.-5 p.m. every Saturday from September 22 to October 20. All ages will enjoy a hay ride to the orchard to pick crisp apples right off the tree or visit the pumpkin patch and pick your own pumpkin. Squeeze your own apple cider on our presses or purchase it already pressed. Relish the beautiful fall days with a family picnic and live music, and laugh with the children as they ride the Barnyard Train. Apples, pumpkins, fall decor and fresh veggies available by the pound and the box. For information and a map to the farm, located at 3674 N. County Line Rd. in Grandview, visit www.billsberryfarm.com.

The Great Prosser Balloon Rally, Friday, Sept. 28 – Sunday, Sept. 30

More than 35 hot air balloons will brighten the Yakima Valley sky; some lucky spectators might even be asked to assist the pilots. The weekend-long event features Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Launches from the Prosser Washington Airport, a Harvest Festival, a Farmers market and a Street Painting Festival. Visitors can also enjoy Night Glow on Saturday at dusk at Fiker Stadium, gates open at 5:30 p.m. During Night Glow, hot air balloons will be anchored and illuminated from within against the beautiful starry sky creating a breathtaking scene. Balloon Rally memorabilia will also be on sale throughout the weekend including Rally Caps, T-shirts, Night Glow Sweatshirts, and more. Admission and parking are free. For more information, visit www.prosserballoonrally.org or call (509) 786-3177.

Annual Kiwanis Wine Country Trek Saturday, Sept. 29 – Sunday, Sept. 30

A scenic two-day, 120-mile bike ride, round-trip from Yakima to Prosser, through vineyards, hop fields and orchards.  Start time from Yakima on Saturday is 8:00 a.m. returning Sunday at 6 p.m. Registration is $135 per cyclist with all proceeds going to Kiwanis community and youth service projects. This event coincides with the Hot Air Balloon Festival and the Harvest Festival in Prosser. Registration includes our famous gourmet dinner, the balloon glow, overnight camping (indoor and outdoor) in Prosser, Sunday morning breakfast, baggage transportation and break stops. For information, visit www.kiwaniswinecountrytrek.com or call 509-786-8973.

Ninth Annual Fresh Hop Ale Festival, Saturday, Oct. 6

Celebrate the Yakima Valley hop crop – which contributes 77 percent of the total U.S. hop crop – with fans of fine craft beer in downtown Yakima for the Ninth Annual Fresh Hop Ale Festival. Ale Festival goers can enjoy selections from numerous participating breweries in addition to brewing demonstrations, a cigar tent, food from local restaurants, live music and street dancing. The Festival begins at 5 p.m. and will continue until 10 p.m. Ticket prices are $30 if purchased in advance and $35 at the gate. All proceeds benefit Allied Arts of Yakima Valley which coordinates art programs, classes and events for the community. Pre-sale ($30) tickets are on sale at local businesses around the Yakima Valley during regular business hours through noon on Friday October 5. Plenty of tickets will also be available for $35 at the gate. Ticket price includes a commemorative beer glass and $6 scrip (used instead of cash for beer and wine, but note that food is cash only and that the event is 21+ only. ID is required for entry. For more information, visit www.freshhopalefestival.com or call (509) 966-0930.

Pirate Plunder Adventure Race, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012

The 2012 year marks the first installment of the Pirate Plunder Adventure Race which is a 4+ mile obstacle course race that combines ever-changing terrain with 15+ obstacles to test your strength, stamina, and love of mud. You’ll climb over walls up to 12’ high, crawl through a 40’ long mud pit, slide down a 30’ water slide, battle through tires, and face many other challenges all while running through a combination of fields, mud, and sand pits! Once completed, participants are greeted with a cold beverage, live music, and great food! This race is a great way to get you, your friends, and family away from the TV, off the couch, and covered in mud, so come on out and see if you’re worthy of the name “Pirate” or are you just another “Scallywag” in line to “Walk the Plank”!  The 2012 race day will be Sunday, October 7th, at Fullbright Park in Union Gap.  www.pirateplunderrace.com.

HalloWine in the Rattlesnake Hills, Saturday, October 27 

Chills, thrills and wine – enjoy Halloween the Yakima winery way. The wineries in Rattlesnake Hills will feature artist-carved pumpkins, harvest soups, chocolate, costumed staff, new releases and great deals on wine. Treats in the form of special discounts on wine will be awarded to guests who wear festive costumes. Wineries along the haunted trail are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.rattlesnakehills.org or call (509) 965-4521.

Dia de Los Muertos at Mighty Tieton, Saturday, October 28 – Sunday, November 11

Tieton Arts and Humanities invites you to a celebration of community y los muertos! The exhibition features a traditional sand painting by Fulgencio Lazo, seminars on the sacred traditions, and traditional altars. Sunday, October 28^th, from 12-5pm, is the afternoon festival featuring arts and crafts activities, food, and music in honor of the dead. The exhibit will be open Friday-Sunday 12-3pm and by appointment.  For information, call 509-847-3034.

Thanksgiving in Wine Country, Friday, November 23 and Saturday, November 24

Give thanks for Washington wine country and the fruits of the Yakima Valley this Thanksgiving. More than 50 participating wineries will offer food and wine pairings during the holiday weekend. Experience a variety of specialty food and wine parings, library tastings, and tours not available to the public. Premiere Passes are available for $30 online or $35 at the door. To purchase a pass, visit www.wineyakimavalley.org or call (509) 965-5201.

Lighted Farm Implement Parade, Saturday, December 1

Enjoy the Northwest’s 24 year-old lighted parade in beautiful Sunnyside. Named one of A&E Television Networks’ ‘Top 10’ lighted Christmas Parades in the America, the Lighted Farm Implement Parade features dazzling displays of more than 50 farm implements, vehicles, and floats covered with decorative lights. The Parade pays tribute to the agricultural heritage of the area with themed displays featuring scenes from the heartland of the Northwest. The parade starts at 6 p.m. in downtown Sunnyside. For more information, call (509) 837-5939.

About Yakima Valley, Wash

Located in south central Washington, the Yakima Valley is the oldest, largest and most diverse wine growing region in Washington State, producing nearly half of the state’s wine grapes. With more than 70 wineries, in addition to acres of rolling vineyards, orchards and hop fields the valley is considered to be the epicenter of Washington’s wine and agricultural regions.  This regional abundance invites visitors to indulge in farm fresh meals paired with local wines and to sample one-of-a-kind delicacies like Chukar Cherries, locally grown dried cherries and Aprés Vin, grape seed oils made from wine pomace. Located two to three hours from Seattle, Spokane or Portland, the sun-soaked valley is also rich in cultural heritage and outdoor recreation including fly-fishing, river-rafting, hiking and biking.  

Bank anglers frequently envy the ability of boaters to cover more water during their angling adventures. But they never envy them the hassle of having to trailer and tow those vessels to and from the lakes and rivers.

Personal-sized water craft make it possible for those of us who primarily wade-fish to get out on the water ourselves, but the options have typically been to sit in the water via a ‘float tube’ or have a cumbersome pontoon boat that needs a trailer or large truck.

Enter The Creek Company. This boat builder from Colorado unveiled their new frameless pontoon boat this year. The Voyager packs into a large suitcase-sized case when not in use for ease storage and transport. The complete boat and accessory package weighs just over 28 pounds.

When ready to fish, though, it quickly inflates into an 8-foot pontoon raft that keeps you completely out of the water – though you can use kick-fins to propel it if you want – even on modestly fast rivers.

We tested on the Voyager on several western Washington lakes and I found it very nimble and maneuverable both with the included oars and with the optional kick-fins. It easily supported my 225 pounds along with my 65-pound yellow lab (it’s rated to 400 pounds capacity) with no loss in nimbleness.

The Voyager’s inflatable seat provides comfortable support for easy cruising, but when used on a day-long stretch of the Yakima River’s Lower Canyon, I wished for a bit more rigid structure toward the end of the day. The long stretches of rowing proved a bit tiresome with the always-flexing seatback.

We encountered no durability issues, though we would recommend regular visual inspections between outings, especially when used on faster moving water (we don’t recommend using it in anything more than a low class II). The boat features a 30-guage PVC bladder system within a puncture-resistant PVC outer shell.

The boat’s best use, we found, was as a lake craft from which we could easily toss dry flies in towards shore or drag nymphs and streamers through the depths. The $600 price tag runs a bit more than some lower-quality belly boats and personal pontoons, but is well below the cost of a full-on whitewater raft.

The Creek Company Voyager seems ideally suited for the avid wading angler who wants to occasionally get afloat for some still-water fishing. Its lightweight portable nature and big cargo capacity make it perfect for out-of-the-way storage and easy transport as well as serious use on the water. Using the included two-way foot pump, we could inflate and rig up the raft in less than 8 minutes.

www.creekcompany.com

A couple of the Nelson brothers try to gather annually far up the North Fork Clearwater valley for a week of camping, fishing and catching up.

This year, our folks joined Jim, Donna and me for the first few days before they had to depart suddenly when mom decided she wanted a root canal procedure done on a tooth (her own, fortunately for the rest of us). A few days later, our oldest brother Kevin came in, bringing his wife Kathy and sons Jeremy and Jesse as well as Jim’s wife Sue.

Donna, Jim and I caught plenty of cutthroat, and a few rainbows, during the week, with Donna and Jim pulling in the largest — a couple slab-sided fish the length of their forearms. All fish were caught on dry flies, with stimulators and royal wulffs proving the most effective patterns. I was able match hatches once or twice when small hatches of PMDs came off, but generally attractors worked better than any attempts to match naturals.

When the clan from Boise (recently relocated from Omaha) arrived, Jeremy and Jesse also tried their hand with the fly rod. Both showed good skills, though by day 2 of their stay Jesse had switched to spinning gear.

After this outstanding fish-rich week, I’ve renewed my love of the North Idaho wilderness. Whats more, my nephews seem ready to continue angling with a fly, and Mom has recovered quickly from her dental surgery.

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One of the hallmarks of great backcountry gear is its ability to fulfill several different needs. After all, when everything you carry everything on your back, weight matters. So multitasking tools win out over single-purpose items.

The Gerber Steady takes multitasking multitools to a new level – literally. The addition of a swing-out camera mount arm, and two stabilizing legs, turns the standard multitool into a mini tripod. The camera mount screws into any ¼” tripod mount hole on your camera, but Gerber also includes a cell phone adapter (a strong suction cup) so you can stabilize your smart phone camera, too. This worked wonderfully with both our iPhone 4 and an old flip-style phone. We even mounted a fairly heavy Canon 40D with a 28-135mm zoom lens and found it stable and secure.

The tool components of the Steady multitool include two knife blades (straight and serrated), screwdrivers (Phillips and flat), bottle opener, wire cutters, and pliers.

Photographers of all levels will want this as their go-to multitool anytime they head for the backcountry. $64; 5.8 oz; www.gerbergear.com