Catch a Fish and Climb a Mountain Through YVCC

Yakima Valley Community College (YVCC) offers the chance to take advantage of Mother Nature here in the great Northwest. It starts in the classroom and ends on the mountainsides, and rivers and steams of Washington.

 Let’s talk Fly Fishing! YVCC has it covered.

Intermediate fly-fishing is taught Thursdays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. May 3, to May 31. Fees include an $80 lab fee payable to YVCC at registration, plus a $20 usage fee to be paid during class. This class includes two field trips and is a continuation of beginning fly-fishing, and intermediate fly-fishing. It will cover what flies to use, when and where to fish, moving water, and still water. Students must supply their own fly-fishing gear. If you have questions, email fairbanksoutfitters@nwinfo.net or call (509) 457-3474. This class is offered as a self-support, community service, noncredit course.

Starting next week on April 23, is the Basic Mountaineer class offered Mondays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This class runs until June 23 and fees include a $15 lab fee due to YVCC at registration and a suggested donation of $150 to Central Washington Mountain Rescue, payable the first evening of class. There are five evening classes at YVCC (April 23 to May 21, 2012). The rest will be taught on site, outdoors. This course will cover basic equipment, risk and hazard evaluation, physiological needs of climbers, basic rock climbing through easy fifth class, how to set up a top rope system, safe methods of snow and glacier travel, and crevasse rescue techniques. For further information, email bmc@cwmr.org, write to Central Washington Mountain Rescue, PO Box 2663, Yakima, WA 98907, or call (509) 574-4720. This class is offered as a self-support, community service, noncredit course. Prerequisite: Minimum age of 18. Required: general physical fitness (ability to carry a pack with overnight gear three miles uphill over uneven rocky and snowy terrain), personal gear such as pack and appropriate clothing, transportation to field sessions, reading from text, participation in class and field sessions, and a possible overnight.