Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 31, 1994 TAG: 9411120032
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
1 For many skiers in the Roanoke Valley, the kickoff of the season is the annual Roanoke Ski Club show. The event is scheduled 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday at the Holiday Inn Tanglewood.
The show will feature exhibitors representing ski resorts, retail stores and travel agencies. There will be refreshments, and it's all free, for members and nonmembers alike.
The show affords an excellent time to join the club, which is an organization that features discount group trips to resorts, and even more. The organization recently received recognition from the National Ski Club for its summer outings, which keep interest high during the non-ski season.
\ Time to talk about your forest
5 The Jefferson National Forest has scheduled its annual public involvement conference Saturday at the supervisor's office, 5162 Valleypointe Parkway. The hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The meeting is scheduled to emphasize one-on-one interaction discussions on forest plans and projects, said Joy Berg, the supervisor. Rangers will be in attendance to discuss upcoming projects in their districts.
\ Hunters need 16 Saturdays
7 Too bad November doesn't have 16 Saturdays. Even then, hunters probably wouldn't have enough time to take advantage of all the opportunities available. This is the month that the big guns are uncased: The early muzzleloading season opens Nov. 7 for a two-week run. Then comes the general firearms deer season, on Nov. 21. Turkey and rabbit hunting begin Nov. 7; quail season opens Nov. 14. There's even a short run of the duck season, Nov. 23-26.
The best way to keep up with it all is to pick up one of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries hunting law digests, available from license agents.
\ Tie a fly and cast a line
11 If you are a fly fisherman and happen to be in Northern Virginia on Nov. 11 and 12, stop by the Mid-Atlantic Council of the Federation of Fly Fisheries show at Tysons Corner. The annual event features fly casting, fly tying, fishing seminars, 30 tackle vendors and book signings at the Tysons Park West Hotel. The hours are 1 to 10 p.m. Nov. 11 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m on Nov. 12. There is a $5 admission. A banquet and auction will be held the evening of Nov. 12. Banquet reservations are required, call Frank Thompson, 301-534-5555.
\ Time for bluefish to blitz
24 One day, the autumn surf along the Outer Banks of North Carolina appears to quicken and suddenly there are bluefish everywhere. Jumbo blues. Hundreds of them, enough to smash your lure on nearly every cast.
This is the dream of every surf-caster, but the big question: When will it occur?
You never can tell for certain, but traditionally Thanksgiving weekend has been about as reliable as anytime.
Anglers who hit it right can enjoy what appears to be a lifetime of action in a matter of minutes. Or it can be just the opposite. Last fall, for example, was pretty sorry. Could that mean anglers are due a bluefish blitz?
\ Walking off turkey and taters
27 Maybe members of the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club didn't plan it this way, but the Nov. 27 club hike is rated "very strenuous with bushwacking" That means you pretty well have to make your own trail as you go. What better way to shed some of the calories consumed Thanksgiving Day?
The hike begins at 9 a.m., and the leaders are Mike Haynie, 929-5000 and Dick Clark, 989-7053.
If the "very strenuous" rating scares you, the club has a five-mile, moderate hike scheduled the same day on Flat Top Mountain at 1 p.m. The leaders are Malcolm and Jimmie Black, 929-4369, and Lin Neill, 343-0344.
by CNB