Chinook Salmon Spawning

August is the month for spawning Spring Chinook Salmon at Winthrop National Fish Hatchery, WA.  The hatchery has a very nice spawning facility that includes a viewing window where visitors can see the salmon that have returned to spawned (about 6,000 this year), information about the spawning process and a viewing window where visitors can observe the spawning process.  (NOTE:  Some graphic images below)

 

Salmon in canal waiting to go up the fish ladder

Fish Ladder

Salmon in holding tank

 

Preparations at the spawning building and preparing the egg trays 

 

 

The hatchery manager checking to see if the fish is "ripe" 

 

Harvesting Eggs-each female has as many as 4,000 eggs

 

Milking the males for sperm

 

Samples of various tissues and organs are taken from the fish

 

 Eggs and sperm are taken to the main hatchery building where the eggs are fertilized, rinsed and placed in trays where they will stay for about 6 months

 

 

 

Fires near Winthrop

On July 14th lightning started fires in the Methow Valley (Winthrop at northern end).  Several fires joined and the area became known as the Carlton Complex Fire.  As of August 5 the fire wass over 255,00 acres and 90% contained.  At one point, the Fire Camp at the Winthrop High School had about 3,100 fire fighters and related personnel. Power lines and poles were burned for several miles and we were without electricity for about a week (4:30 pm July 17- noon July 25). There has also been other smaller fires in the area. At one point we were under level 1 evacuation, but that has been lifted.  Depending on the direction of the wind determines how much smoke we have.  Exciting times!!

Wind Storm in Winthrop, WA

Around 2:30 pm on Saturday, August 2 a severe wind storm came through Winthrop.  Several trees were downed and some roads were closed.  We lost power for about 8 hours.  At the hatchery a very large cottonwood tree (30" diameter and 30-40 ft tall) was blown down.  It came very close to hitting the power lines.  Also a heavy bench was blown from one side of the trout pond to the other.  Fortunately no damage was done at the hatchery.

Notice one of the hatchery staff in the middle of the branches

Bench at trout pond

 

Wind broke the top out of one of the tress at a residence on the hatchery property-no damage

 

Canada Trip

The end of July we enjoyed a three day loop trip into Canada.  We crossed the border both times at Osoyoos, BC.  The Okanagan Valley continues from Washington into Canada in this area.  It is famous for its fruits, vegetables, and wineries.

 

Downtown Osoyoos, BC

Revelstoke National Park, BC, Canada

 

The two major area to the park are the Nels Nelson Historic Ski Jump and the Meadows in the Sky Area. 

Nels Nelson Historic Ski Jump area

 

The Meadows in the Sky Parkway is a steep, hard-surfaced mountain road with sixteen switchbacks.  At the top is a historic fire lookout, pretty flowers and spectacular views in every direction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glacier National Park, BC

We visited the Rogers Pass Historic District



Spectacular scenery at every turn