| Coming Up This Weekend in the Wenatchee Valley |
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Greetings!
If you're on the lookout for something to do or see this weekend in and around the Wenatchee Valley...take a look!
I'm sure you'll find something to suit you and your family. | |
* 14-Year Old Babe Ruth State Tournament
* Chelan Man Triathlon
* Saddle Rock Dedication |
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We're trying to learn more about what you think of Wenatchee. Take a moment and fill out our survey and have a chance at winning a weekend getaway to the Wenatchee Valley. Results of the survey will be used in ongoing marketing efforts of the area and for customer relations improvements at area attractions.
Remember last week when we said we'd have another survey for LOCALS? Well, here it is. Just click and answer 6 quick questions to help us plan for Wenatchee's tourism future. |
7 teams battling for state crown at Peshastin Sports Complex and Cashmere High School |
Lakeside Park
*Long Course, 7am
*Olympic Course, 7:30am
*10K, 8:35am
*Half-Marathon, 8:35am
Nature walk at 8:30am, Dedication & Ceremony at 10am |
Lakeside Park
*Sprint Course, 8am
*Try-A-Tri, 8:20am
*Splash 'n Dash, 12pm |
| Brag Board, Sports News & Information |
 | | Photo Courtesy: Jim De Ford |
Wild Ride at Thunder Swamp
(East Wenatchee, WA)...There were a lot of stiff necks and wide eyes following the first race at Thunder Swamp last weekend. Over 1,000 people turned out to witness a wild ride for the 2nd-ever United States Sprint Boat Racing Association's event at the East Wenatchee course.
On the day, several boats were damaged and occupants bruised from wild flips and crashes. Even though Dan Morrison flipped his Wicked boat (pictured above), he came back and won the Super Boat class. Other winners included Paul Gahr in the A-400 class and Eric Werner in the Super Modifieds.
Fans in attendance had plenty to "ohh and ahh" about with the boats flying around and out of the channelled course. On top of that, the weather was perfect with a light breeze, sunshine and temperatures hovering near 80-degrees. Thunder Swamp featured additional food vendors located closer to fan seating sections than the inaugural race in 2010. The Sprint Boats next head to Albany, Oregon July 23rd and will return to Thunder Swamp August 13th. For more information, go to www.thunderswamp.com or www.ussbaracing.com.
Wine Now Available at Visitors Center
(Wenatchee, WA)...Visitors to Wenatchee that want a taste of wine before touring the actual wineries can do so downtown. The Wenatchee Valley Visitors Bureau now features selections of eight wineries throughout the Wenatchee Valley with its new wine bar.
Visitors can purchase a 1, 2 or 4 ounce pour and keep the commemorative glass. In addition, bottles of the varietals are also available for purchase. Participating wineries include: Chateau Faire Le Pont; Crayella Cellars; Horan Estates; Jones of Washington; Malaga Springs; Snowdrift; St. Laurent; and Stemilt Creek.
The Visitors Center is located at 5 S. Wenatchee Avenue (corner of Palouse & Wenatchee Ave.) and is open 10am-5pm Monday-Saturday (and soon to be until 6pm). |
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We Welcome a New Sponsor to the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council Newsletter!
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| Wenatchee Outdoors Trip of the Week - Andy Dappen | |
Sage Hills & Horse Lake Reserve
Current Conditions as of July 10, 2011. The lower trails in the Sage Hills are getting toasted, especially on the southern exposures but most trails are in good shape. Some older flowers persist (yarrow and a few lupines) and, in a few places, mariposa lilies form an unlikely patch of purple amidst the brown grasses. Up on the Horse Lake Reserve owned by the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust, the grasses are still green and the flowers get thick as you reach the 3,000-foot level. From this elevation to the summit of Twin Peaks (about 4,600 feet), it's like walking in May rather than July. Conditions are unusually green and colorful for this time of July. Here are some recent pictures of the area -- get out and enjoy it before the heat wave of late July and August hits.
Photo above: Looking across the Horse Lake Reserve toward Badger Mountain and the Waterville Plateau. Photo below: buckwheat and Twin Peaks.
Photo above: Views of the Columbia River and Wenatchee from the upper reaches of the Horse Lake Reserve. Photo below: Mt. Tibbetts from the Horse Lake Reserve.
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| The "Fishin' Magician" Dave Graybill's Weekly Report |
 | | Dave Graybill's nieces Katie and Rachel with a Rufus Woods Triploid |
There are some nice bright, big salmon being taken on the upper Columbia River in the vicinity of Wenatchee, but fishing is still better at Wanapum. However, that is about to change. The dam counts show a sharp increase in the number of summer runs that have now passed over Rock Island Dam. River flows remain high, but there are sure a lot more fish in the fishable water. The biggest crowds of anglers continue to be found on Rufus Woods Reservoir. Fishing parties can be seen going on along the shore at prominent points and boats are gathered at popular spots on the water. The lower net pens and the Nespelem Bar are two of the busiest areas on the reservoir, but fish are being taken from the top to the bottom of Rufus Woods. Anglers chasing walleye and bass are having a great time on Banks Lake, Lake Roosevelt and Potholes Reservoir. I found the fishing very slow at Evergreen Reservoir. The water is still too cool for the smallmouth and largemouth bass bite to really take off. It is usually very good by 4th of July, but everything is late this year. It should like up soon, though.
The Icicle Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited is kicking off summer trout fishing with their annual Kids Trout Derby at the Juvenile Pond on Blackbird Island in Leavenworth. The event will take place on Saturday, July 23rd, starting at 8 a.m. There is a new twist to the derby this year, according to Jeff Phippen, organizer of the event. All kids ten years of age and under are invited to register in a drawing to win a ten-speed bike, valued at over $350.00. There will be lots of other prizes awarded at the event, too. This is a "bring your own tackle" affair, but there will be volunteers on hand to make sure everyone has a great opportunity to catch trout. The pond is loaded with fish, so be sure to bring along a cooler to keep your fish in good shape for a fish fry later. The Trout Unlimited Kids Trout Derby helps celebrate a great project by their chapter, the Chelan PUD and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Blackbird Island Pond is used as an acclimation pond for juvenile steelhead in the spring. When the steelhead smolt, and leave to migrate downstream, the pond is then used as a juvenile fishing pond through the summer months.
--Dave Graybill can be heard on radio stations throughout
the Pacific Northwest, seen locally on KWCC TV and
read his articles in The Nickel Ads each week |
| Weekly Lake Chelan Report from Anton Jones of Darrell and Dads |
 | | 7/6/11 - Andrew Lumpe of Seattle Pacific U with the big fish of the year so far, a 22 pounder. |
What continues red hot is trolling for big Lake Trout on the Lake Chelan "Bar" early in the morning. We are still trolling for those Mackinaw in depths of 120 to 150 feet on the Bar just out from the Mill Bay boat launch. The uplake half of that piece of structure has been absolutely loaded with quality fish the past few weeks. I thought the previous reporting period was the absolute peak for numbers and big fish, but we have continued to have banner days. We have had consistent success pulling T4 and U20 flatfish in Purple Glow at 1.2 to 1.5 mph. Mack's Lures Cha Cha Squidders in glow colors with a purple blade also worked fine. Additionally Silver Horde's Ace Hi Fly in glow colors baited with a strip of Northern Pikeminnow also worked great. Although early and late in the day are best, we have continued to catch nice numbers of fish throughout the day.
Fishing a chunk of laker entrails from the dock can be an entertaining way to catch Northern Pikeminnow that you in turn can use to catch lakers. The great circle of life at work.
The dam counts for our Upper Columbia reservoirs are finally showing that some numbers of Chinook Salmon are finally getting here. I still don't know what is going to happen for a sockeye season.
Your fishing tip of the week is to prepare spare fishing rigs at home instead of waiting until you are on the water. Your fishing time is so precious, it's a shame to waste it bobbing around retying. Have spare leaders prettied. Rig spare rod and reel set ups so when you lose line or terminal gear you can get right back in action. That will make it a fishing trip instead of a long slow boat ride.
Your kids tip of the week is to employ those kids to keep them involved, engaged and out of trouble. You've got to trust them to handle gear. You can have them serve water. I have them use their young eyes as lookouts for woody debris here on Chelan. Use your imagination. It's a very productive management tool.
Your safety tips of the week are to remember to stay hydrated and watch out for that woody debris. With the lake level having finally achieved full pool, there are some big busting logs out there to you're your day. Summer in Chelan! Another day in paradise!
--Anton Jones Operates Darrell and Dads Family Guide Service
in Manson, WA. Go to www.darrellanddads.com for more. |
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Sincerely,
Eric Granstrom
Wenatchee Valley Sports Council
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