Flight leads to new insight

My usual MO on an airplane is to board with an overly ambitious pile of reading material and hope against hope that I can finally, finally quiet the reproachful stack of Very Important Information rapidly overtaking my bedside table.

On a recent flight to New York, I set out with just such a crazy dream.

But alas, I had the great misfortune to find myself seated next to a perfectly delightful, interesting man. Not only that, he’s the project leader for the Hanford Reach National Monument and the Saddle Mountain Wildlife Refuge – a topic ideally suited for this very column.

So I bring it to you. And I hope you’re happy.

You may be surprised to learn – as I was – that Hanford doesn’t just refer to a government debacle for which we’re still paying. In fact, the 51-mile-long Hanford Reach is this country’s longest free-flowing stretch of the Columbia River not affected by tides.

(That’s what they say in their brochure, anyway. I don’t know why, exactly, we need to segregate portions of rivers according to tidal influences or lack thereof, but then again I’m not a river biologist. And please don’t write in to explain it to me.) Since the river channel has never been dredged, it retains the characteristics of an undammed river, such as gravel bars, oxbow ponds, backwater sloughs and a great diversity of fish.

And the surrounding 195,000 acres, located near the Tri Cities, comprise some of the state’s last remaining shrub-steppe habitat. Its sagebrush, bunch grass and riparian areas support a remarkable array of wildlife, including 40 mammal, 246 bird, 11 reptile and more than 1,500 invertebrate species.

You’re welcome to set out looking for them, but you’ll do so more or less on your own. The monument refuses to succumb to commercialism, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a scone, commemorative shot glass, bathroom or other critical visitor amenities.

But if you’re an intrepid sort, you can still explore nature’s handiwork to your heart’s content in three of the monument’s five administrative areas.

The Wahluke Unit boasts hundreds of species of native plants, some of which can be found nowhere else in the world. The Wahluke Lakes sit near the center of the unit, which allows hunting, fishing, hiking and limited bicycle use.

The Columbia River Corridor Unit includes 16 river islands and 25,000 acres along the riverbank, making it a good spot for canoeing or kayaking. You can also boat in the McGee Ranch/Riverlands Unit, and perhaps more importantly, you can avail yourself of a Washington Department of Transportation rest stop nearby.

The last two units – the Fitzner/Eberhardt Arid Lands Ecology Reserve and Saddle Mountain – are limited to approved ecological research and environmental education activities. So if you’ve been thinking about conducting a few tests, here’s your big chance.

To run your experiment past the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which manages the monument with the U.S. Department of Energy, call (509) 371-1801 or visit www.fws.gov/hanfordreach.

The Web site includes a discussion of the monument’s history, a dramatic tale of Native American camps, political intrigue and atomic bombs.

Bulb flash

My husband, bless his heart, does not consider garlic a form of seasoning. Rather, it is a major feature of the meal, served in portions equal to, say, your baked potato or green salad.

You can imagine, then, how excited he will be to learn about the World’s Ninth Annual Elephant Garlic Festival, slated for Aug. 11-13 in North Plains, Ore.

Apparently, the good people of North Plains decided back in 1989 that in order to compete in the cutthroat marketplace of community celebrations, they needed a festival of their own.

So for a few years, they limped along with plain old North Plains Day.

Then they went looking for a theme, a hook you can’t ignore.

And this is what they came up with. Garlic.

Maybe the Ground Cumin Festival was already taken.

Nevertheless, they’ve made the best of the situation, and you can expect an extravaganza of music, arts and crafts, a car show, food, beer, wine and more. And by more, I mean cloggers.

There’s a schedule at www.funstinks.com. Or call (503) 647-2619 with your questions.

Regional events

•Ukee Days, July 28-30, Ucluelet, B.C. Logging sports, a salmon barbecue, kids activities and more highlight this “Life on the Edge” celebration on Vancouver Island’s West Coast. (www.ucluelet.ca/ 250-726-4772)

•Pacific Northwest Scottish Highlands Games and Clan Gathering, July 29-30, Enumclaw, Wash. It’s just what you’d expect: pipe bands, drums, kilts, Celtic arts, country dancing, athletic events, the kirkin’ o’ the tartan, food and more. (www.sshga.org/ 206-522-2541)

•Quilt Show, Aug. 3-5, Eureka, Mont. Famous quilt teachers (I’ll take their word for that) Mickey Lawler and Libby Lehman will offer workshops, followed by the outdoor show on Saturday. (www.eurekaquiltshow.com/ 406-297-3677)

•Fresh Paint Festival of Artists at Work, Aug. 19-20, Everett. Watch while artists draw, paint, sculpt, photograph and in other ways capture Everett’s waterfront. They’ll have music and food, too. (www.artscouncilofsnoco.org /425-257-8380)