The formal process of removing the Elwha Rivers dams begins Thursday, with a party in Port Angeles, WA sponsored by the Lower Elwha Tribe, National Park Service and American Rivers advocates amongst others. Patagonia's Yvon Chouinard speaks on Thurs eve (open to the public http://celebrateelwha.com). No confirmation on rumor of Neil Young appearance.

But there is something to remember amdist the OP lovefest...

"You look at the size of the tankers, and you see the narrowness of the turns, and you think, how in hell is this ever going to happen without an accident at some point?"

Mention grassrooots and environment in the same sentence these days, and the mind fills with images of fresh-faced-naive-as-hell-20-something liberal arts students handing out flyers downtown in Hip City, USA.

Nassau Group on flats of Andros South

Pipeline competition no good for fish.

Longtime Dean and Sustut guide Paulie, aka Squig, has a theory about steelhead holding in fast current, rolling and jumping when they return to freshwater. "They remember what's it's like to be kids. After all that time in the ocean, they just want to have fun and play."

Zee German and I had suspicions about the third member of our traveling squad, "The Kid." A notorious chinook fiend who trained for years on the Kanektok and honed his craft on tidal rivers of the Northwest. Suspicions confirmed: The Kid is indeed the much rumored "Dean Carp Whisperer of the Kimsquit".