Ft Lewis, WA area

[ksu_chainsaw]

I am looking for stuff that soldiers would be interested in during a 4 day pass within 50 miles of the Ft Lewis, WA area.  We are up here now but cant leave post for a couple more weeks.  I am just trying to find stuff that would interest a large variety of people.

Thanks

Charles

[StorminN]

How about fishing?

The ocean salmon fishing is really good right now, especially for coho salmon. From Fort Lewis, you would probably want to fish out of Westport. I fished out of La Push last weekend, and it was really, really good. We had 120 salmon to the boat (and a couple times that lost) and kept 12 keepers, 8-12lbs and were back at the dock by 9:45am. Four of us went through 18 dozen herring.

There are many charter boats in Westport, they even have a Westport charter boat association. If it were my money, I'd go with Phil on the Ultimate.

-Norm.

[Ironwood]

For folks who like the mountains and snow, you can do a day hike up the snow field that leads up the camp that climber sleep at on the safest route up Mt. Rainer. FYI, Take a cheap plastic sled and an ice axe to slow you down, the slope is "moderate". Just be aware of the weather, as you can get "socked" in fairly fast and not be able to see ANYTHING. I dont remeber the name of the Lodge, that you depart from, but it is the National Park one that is famous rustic construction.

           Ironwood

[StorminN]

I think you're talking about the Paradise Lodge?... good recommendation. The camp on the mountain is Camp Muir...

-N.

[Ironwood]

You got it, been 20 years or so.  ;D , just watch out for the fog rolliing in on ya.

Ironwood

[DanG]

It has been well over forty years since I was at Ft. Lewis, and I was only there for a day or two.  However, I invested the last couple of days of my leave time before reporting, to renting a car and seeing some of the area.  I've sure never regretted doing that, and it would be my recommendation.  It would be pretty cheap entertainment too, if two or more got together on the car rental.  There's a lot to see within 50 miles of Ft. Lewis! 8) 8)

BTW, as a soldier just out of training, the LAST cottonpickin' thing I wanted to do was go camping or hiking! : :D :D :D

[Ironwood]

DanG,

Depends on your MOS.

AND, some of the BEST single ladies are outdoor types, not afaid to get their hands dirty ;D ;) get sweaty, or dive in and have fun. Besides vs. a "bar" you'll be able to hear yourself talk to them.  :

         Ironwood

[DanG]

True, true, and true, but a soldier in transit with two days on his hands doesn't usually have a lot of camping gear with him.  Some will go for the bars, no matter where they are.  I'm not saying that camping on the slopes of Mt. Ranier isn't a wonderful thing to do, but it isn't something you can throw together in a couple of days when you have nothing, and very little money.  Finding a suitable chick that wants to go camping isn't something you're likely to do overnight, either.  Renting a car and seeing some sights that you've never seen the like of before is readily doable.

[Ironwood]

I guess I was reminceing, I met several while on a day hike up from Paradise Lodge to Camp Muir, I was thinking THEY must have had the tent :D ;D

       Ironwood

[01crewcab]

You could spend a whole day at the Pike Place market in Seattle. Although you'd probably run into  the more organic type girls. Westport is a little outside of your 50mile limit.

[Ironwood]

And a few gay barbers, been there (twice) and the first time, fresh out of the Service and looking up an old girl friend (Seattle firefighter), stopped to get a haircut,...............WRONG. I felt like I had crashed into the Ray Stevens haircut song. Got out of there QUICK :D. Last time I was w/ my wifey and 2 year old. Got a half gallon of milk for our cookies and said boy this is GOOD milk (like the farm milk direct from the stainless vat in the milk house), wife says "look at the lable Einstein" I drank a bunch of 1/2 and 1/2 ;D Two trips there, two good stories.

Ironwood

[01crewcab]

And a few gay barbers, been there (twice) and the first time, fresh out of the Service and looking up an old girl friend (Seattle firefighter), stopped to get a haircut,...............WRONG. I felt like I had crashed into the Ray Stevens haircut song. Got out of there QUICK :D. Last time I was w/ my wifey and 2 year old. Got a half gallon of milk for our cookies and said boy this is GOOD milk (like the farm milk direct from the stainless vat in the milk house), wife says "look at the lable Einstein" I drank a bunch of 1/2 and 1/2 ;D Two trips there, two good stories.

Ironwood

Well like a lot of places Seattle has it's share of "alternative lifestyle" folk : ;D

[Ironwood]

-Yeah, dont mind'em, just don't eye me up like a slab-o-meat  : which was how that was beginning to play out. Once you have a few young'uns in tow w/ the wifey those folks tend to get the message.

For me "alternator lifestyle" just means I just keep a spare alternator behind the seat because the truck seems to go thru one every other year or so, and I dont want to be stranded along the road somewhere :D ;D

Ironwood

[CLL]

Can go to the drag strip, I did years ago while taking my infantry training there.

[gemniii]

Can go to the drag strip, I did years ago while taking my infantry training there.

There you go again - a drag strip!
Enough with the alternator lifestyles!

My recommendations - Engine House Number 9 in Tacoma.
Climb the northeast flank of Rainier, come in at Sunrise, go to Sherman - BRING ROPE!  CLIMBING ROPE! Also an ice axe, caribiners etc. but do it REAL soon. winter is setting in.
The Needle
Visit the post Forester and  some of the forest areas on post - There's one section that's like a temperate rain forest.
Engine House Number 9, get your name on the wall.
Stand at the west corner of Gray and wait for Rainier to reappear.  Depending on weather that could take a month.