It began 25 years ago, but who's counting

Feb. 13, 1991 was a special day for me. The first weekly outdoors column began on this day with my name on it. Forgive me, as I puff my chest a bit, but 52 columns a year for 25 years comes out to an even 1,300.

The words might come from me, but my closest allies all of these years are you, the readers. The column are often inspired or guided by readers.

In 1990 my writing was centered on a publication in Spokane called The Outdoor Press, with Fred Peterson as the publisher. Fred became my outdoor writing mentor and friend.

Late summer of 1990 found me at the Columbia Basin Herald frond desk talking with the editor. Samples of my columns for the Press were in my hand, but the Herald wasn’t interested in a weekly column.

In late September a call was received from the same editor asking if I wanted to submit five to seven stories for their fall hunting tabloid. Sure, I was game, but could only complete three stories in the one week allowed. Still it was a start.

After the tab was published the editor was again asked about a weekly outdoors column. Again, the answer was no.

The following January a new publisher grabbed the reins at the Herald. He asked about an outdoors column.

“We are in the middle of all these outdoor activities and we don’t have an outdoors column?” he asked. “Do you know anyone who could write one?”

The editor said he knew of such a writer and gave me a call. A meeting between the publisher, editor, advertising manager and me was held. Details were arranged and a start date of Feb, 13, 1991 was determined.

After a few years of writing the column, plus stories for the fall hunting tab and the spring fishing tab, the publisher approached me about writing a different type of column, one which doesn’t fit into any regular newspaper style. I was game and the Bits & Pieces column was born.

We had a few editor turnovers during the first few years of the B&P column. Each new editor had difficulty understanding the column. Comments, such as, “There is no rhyme nor reason to the column,” “It is all mixed up and doesn’t necessarily follow a story line,” were common.

A meeting with the publisher, editor and me became necessary with each editor. In the end the publisher would tell the editor to leave me alone and to let me write the column as I see fit.

Each spring B&P would feature a few items about gardening. The Master Gardener Coordinator called me and asked me to take the Master Gardener Course. The reasoning was: If I was going to write about gardening, I should attend the course, so I did. This action evolved into an annual four-month gardening column.

A need for a weekly hunting and fishing report evolved to cover what was happening throughout the greater Columbia Basin area. My wife, Garnet, and I joined two other writers in supplying readers with up-to-date information about where to go for their outdoor recreation and what people can expect when they step out of the front door.

There is one more column in my sights. Imagine Civil War veteran Hugh Thomas walking into the Basin in 1869. He interacts with established farmers, ranchers, Native Americans and those living in the newly created towns.

This would read as a story/novel/serial with 600 to 800 words moving the story along each week. Look for this new column to begin sometime this year.

Some of my columns sound a repetitive theme. Every year you will read about giving back to the outdoors. Also there will be survival ideas and skills covered in several columns. Such columns are designed to save lives.

Other columns will explore new/old outdoor activities as well. Geo-caching is an example, along with bird watching, camping, hiking, camp cooking and all related ideas.

We will continue to explore the greater Basin through day trips, which continue to be popular ideas. Camping in our travel trailer has provided the source for many a column, even if we camp in our favorite spot; Site 23 at Potholes State Park, which is just 23 miles away from our driveway.

Reader suggestions about column topics are always welcome. Give me a call, send me an e-mail or stop by the campsite when you spot us. We have discovered many friends over the years in this manner. Onward as we begin year 26.