Outdoors Notebook -- Memorial Set For Fischer, Fallen Climber

Friends and colleagues of West Seattle climber Scott Fischer will gather at a public memorial ceremony June 8 at Camp Long.

Fischer, a respected local climber and internationally known mountain guide, died May 11 on Mount Everest. He was caught below the summit in a fierce storm that also claimed Douglas Hansen of Renton and six other climbers on the world's highest peak.

Friends and family members are organizing the memorial, which will begin at 3:30 p.m. at Camp Long, 5200 35th Ave. S.W. in West Seattle.

Update from base camp

Some good news finally emanated from the Himalayas late last week, when Seattle's Ed Viesturs and members of his summit party reached the summit of Everest and returned safely to the South Col. A base camp spokeswoman for Viesturs' team, which is filming an IMAX movie on the mountain, told Outside Online that Viesturs, David Breashears and five other climbers summited Thursday. Also summiting last week was Seattle climber and author Jon Krakauer.

Frequent updates from Everest base camp are posted on Outside Online. The address is http://outside.starwave.com/ outside/online/

Notes

-- Sand and drift logs brought ashore during the winter and spring are covering more than half the Rialto Beach parking area in Olympic National Park.

In order to manage expected overcrowding from a lack of parking, the remaining 58 parking spaces will be for day users only. Overnight users will park in an open area, adjacent to the Dickey River Bridge, which is one mile from the beach.

Buses, RVs and trailers will not be allowed to park because of the lack of turnaround space. Parking for larger vehicles is available near the ranger station, which is two miles from the beach.

-- The Hood Canal recreational shrimp-pot season's final two dates are Wednesday and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Daily limit is the first 80 spot shrimp caught per person, and heads may be removed on the water. One shrimp pot per person, with a maximum of four pots per boat. Also prospects are excellent for Dungeness crabs using star traps or ring nets only.

-- State Fish and Wildlife has planted many western Washington lakes with a wide variety of trout to provide good fishing this holiday weekend and into next month.

Clark County: Klineline (West) 3,020 rainbows and 2,800 browns; Battleground 2,500 eastern brooks and 2,500 rainbows. Cowlitz County: Horseshoe 3,168 rainbows; Kress 6,150 rainbows. Klickitat County: Spearfish 2,000 rainbows; Horsethief 3,500 rainbows. Lewis County: Mineral 3,960 browns. Skamania County: Goose 3,000 browns. Mason County (rainbows average a quarter pound each): Aldrich 500; Devereaux 2,000; Maggie 1,000; Nahwatzel 5,000; Phillips 5,000; Robbins 500; Spencer 5,000; Tiger 5,000. Thurston County (rainbows average a quarter pound each): Hicks 5,000; Long 5,000; McIntosh 2,000; Munn 1,000; Offutt 5,000; Pattison 5,000; Summit 5,000; St. Clair 5,000. Jefferson County (rainbows average a quarter pound): Ludlow 750; Sandy Shore 2,500.

-- Mountain biking season opens this holiday weekend at the Ski Acres Mountain Bike and Hiking Center at Snoqualmie Pass. Trails for all levels of biking ability.

The Center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the Silver Fir chairlift offering access to the upper trails 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and every holiday through Labor Day.

Upcoming events: June 2, Military Appreciation Day; July 13, Jimmy Huega's Mountain Bike Express; Aug. 10-11, Pacific Crest Cup American Mountain Bike Challenge. For details, call (206) 232-8182.

-- In the Olympic Peninsula region, the Hoh River from the mouth to south fork will be closed for salmon on Mondays and Tuesdays after June 1; also the daily catch limit drops from two to one adult salmon from the mouth to Morgan's Crossing boat launch, but the limit remains six salmon daily. Salmon under 12 inches must be released.

-- Thirty volunteers will help state Fish and Wildlife monitor breeding peregrine falcons nesting in the Cascade Mountain Range this summer. Peregrine falcons are an endangered species in Washington.

-- King County Parks Department and the Issaquah Alps Trails Club will conduct a variety of hikes and walks at the "Return To Newcastle," June 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For details, call (206) 296-4171.

-- Wild Salmon 8K run and 3 mile walk, June 2, 9:30 a.m., at Everett Marina Village. Cost is $15 per person in advance, and $20 on day of race. Proceeds benefit the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance. For details, call (206) 522-7711.

Notes compiled by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times staff.