Pat Neal

PAT NEAL: A return to the Queets

Back on this day, Sept. 20, 1890, Private Harry Fisher, a member of Lt. Joseph P. O’Neil’s U.S. Army expedition who had been sent to… Continue reading

PAT NEAL: The sting of bee season

By now, I think we’ve all had it up to here with our seasonal visitors and their in-your-face attitude every time we step outside to… Continue reading

PAT NEAL: The autumn harvest

when the rain and wind wash the dust away and the air smells fresh and clear.… Continue reading

PAT NEAL: Back-to-school drugs

BACK TO SCHOOL. I wonder if any if any three words in the English language can shoot such a bolt of stark terror into my… Continue reading

PAT NEAL: Toki is free at last

It was another tough week in the news. A 57-year-old female orca who had lived in captivity at the Miami Seaquarium since 1970 died last… Continue reading

PAT NEAL: Why I did not go to work today

They say there’s a shortage of folks willing to work in these United States. From what I gathered from talking to numerous European tourists this… Continue reading

PAT NEAL: Real tourists with real questions

Every tourist season brings a new crop of tourists. They have a lot of questions. Where is the bathroom? Where can I dump my garbage?… Continue reading

PAT NEAL: The problem with cougars

IT WAS ANOTHER tough week in the news. An 8-year-old was attacked by a cougar at Lake Angeles, a popular hiking and camping destination in… Continue reading

PAT NEAL: The summertime blues

Summertime is garden time. Growing vegetables is a good way to confront the outrageous price of groceries. Until you figure out how much seed and… Continue reading

PAT NEAL: The new fishing regulations

IT WAS ANOTHER tough week in the news. The good news is the 2023 Washington State Sport Fishing rules came out. The bad news is… Continue reading

Pacific Squadron painting done by Thomas Guptil that now sits in the Clallam County courthouse

PAT NEAL: It’s always been a Navy town

IT WAS GOOD to see the Navy back in town to celebrate the Fourth of July in Port Angeles. More than 1,000 people lined up… Continue reading

Pacific Squadron painting done by Thomas Guptil that now sits in the Clallam County courthouse

PAT NEAL: Bee ware of stings

THESE ARE THE mornings I’ll remember all winter. As the sun rises over the flank of Mount Olympus and the ocean fog retreats to the… Continue reading

PAT NEAL: Berry picking season

when we can walk in the woods and meadows stuffing our gullets with free… Continue reading

PAT NEAL: The longest day

IT’S DAYLIGHT ON the river on the longest day of the year. Being on the river early is a good way to watch the creatures… Continue reading

PAT NEAL: Lessons of the lost

GETTING LOST IN the woods is a proud American tradition that goes back to before the days of Daniel Boone, who said, “I have never… Continue reading

PAT NEAL: Graduates: Dare to imagine

THIS WEEK’S COLUMN is dedicated to all our graduates. We are so proud of you. You are limited only by your imagination. This is a… Continue reading

PAT NEAL: The house of the salmon

FOR SOME, THE new year begins in January. On our rivers, the new year begins with the first sighting of baby salmon emerging from the… Continue reading

PAT NEAL: The anti-vaxxers

BY NOW, I think we’ve all had it up to here with know-it-all newspaper columnists spewing about vaccines. Chances are you’re either for or against… Continue reading

PAT NEAL: The return of fire season

“ALL YOU NEED is three days of hot sun,” the old logger said, “to make the woods dry enough to burn.” By now, we’ve had… Continue reading

PAT NEAL: The green crab crisis

IT WAS ANOTHER tough week in the news. The green crab crisis reared its ugly head. Native to the northeast Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic… Continue reading