In the event the Mayan's are wrong and this isn't my last blog post of all time - we look forward to all 2013 will bring.  We are in the process of setting goals and objectives for the coming year and with your help we will continue the work of improving habitat for wildlife and creating a place that humans can live in harmony with nature.

Keep us in mind as you make your year-end charitable contributions and let me say "Thank You" to all of you that have and will continue to donate to the work of the Hoh River Trust.

Happy Holidays and a safe and prosperous New Year from all of us at the Hoh River Trust.

For those in the Seattle area it's hard to argue with a nearly record setting dry summer, though few would complain about it.  Those suffering record high temperatures and drought conditions in the mid-nation likely would love to see that come to an end.

For me, though certainly not a climate changer denier, nothing highlights this for me better than my annual fly fishing trip to Missoula, Montana with my buddies.  Over 10 years ago we began showing up in Missoula in mid to late September in search of big trout.  Confident that the on-set of fall would bring cooler water temps; cold, crisp mornings and hopefully cloudy, rainy days that would see fish up and munching on mayfly hatches.

Each of the last four years we have pushed the date further and further down the calendar with this year finding us in Missoula the first weekend in October.  Over the past four years we have arrived in Missoula to find 80+ degree temperatures and no rain fall or cloud cover - so by pushing to October we were certain we would find the elusive on-set of Montana Fall.  (My wife finds the fly fishermen's pursuit of lousy weather to be a bit odd, to say the least.)

But this year really emphasized how climate change is affecting us in the West.  I landed in Seattle to a perfectly clear and warm day.  My brother picked me up and we drove through the smoke filled Kittitas Valley as on-going fires burned in Central Washington; through the smoky Idaho Panhandle and on into the smoke filled Missoula area as the lack of rain and Red Flag conditions persisted throughout the West.

In all of the years I have fished the Missoula area I can not recall seeing the Clark Fork, Bitterroot and Blackfoot Rivers this low.  We fished in the Western Montana sunshine in 70+ degree days as Fall had still not truly arrived.  Low water and warm temperatures made fishing slow as the bugs still weren't showing up enmass and the fish, unconvinced of the onset of Winter were lackadaisical in their feeding efforts.  But as they say, "the worst day fishing is better than the best day at work".

The end of that week found me back in Seattle for a Board Meeting of the Hoh River Trust.  The topic came up as the Hoh Valley as a climate change 'sanctuary', which was an intriguing thought for me.  Though certainly not immune to the affects of climate change as those of you that live in the West End know, this year found lower rainfall amounts and low river levels as well.  But imagine our efforts to "Preserve a Last Great American River" might have even farther reaching effects - like being a climate change 'sanctuary'.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the topic.

I have been thinking a lot about our opportunity to make an impact as we watch the heartland of our nation suffer through catastrophic drought.  A concept that may seem a million miles away from the lush and perpetually wet Hoh River valley.  But I imagine soon we all will feel the impact in food prices and shortages.  Which makes me think about our insatiable demand for animal protein-but that's a post for another time.

It makes me so grateful for our band of HRT supporters and for the on-going work you enable us to perform.  It may not seem like a lot, but years of habitat recovery and stream restoration WILL pay off in the long run.

If you haven't done so already please join our mailing list so you can get our regular updates on the projects we have underway.  I think you will find it interesting and see how your contributions will make a lasting difference.

As so we begin the HRT Blog with a bit of hesitation, wondering if this will be just another bit of digital noise that gets filtered to the bit bucket. We hope not.

As you know, the Hoh River and Valley is dynamic and living and each day we wake to find something new, different and sometimes worth blogging about.  If you have been to the Hoh you know the magic and beauty of the Valley and you know the dynamic nature of this great river.  If you have been connected to the HRT you know about the many projects we embark on each year to improve and restore the river corridor.

We hope this blog gives you one more touch point to stay connected to the river and the Trust and we hope that through this venue you can share your stories of what the Hoh River means to you.

Jim