Bernice and Harold Snyder of Yakima head off to the second green at Westwood.

With nearly 300 days of sunshine in the Yakima Valley there is more than ample opportunity to get in a few days of golf. Lucky for us, we also have plenty of fabulous golf courses right here. Whether you are a casual weekend golfer or a tournament pro, there is a course to suit any skill level. So dust off your plus fours and book your tee-times, Yakima – the greens are calling.

1.

SunTides Golf Course

231 Pence Road

Yakima

509-966-9065

suntidesgolf.com

Be sure to book an early tee-time to this course – it’s a favorite among locals and can fill up fast. The course plays over 5,941 yards, featuring fruit orchards and water hazards against a picturesque backdrop of the nearby Naches River.  Features such as the 18-hole Championship Putting Challenge and frequent tournaments provide golf opportunities for all skill levels.  Be sure to watch for fat marmots and other wildlife that make this course their home.

18 hole, par 70

Best Bite

SunTides Restaurant and Lounge provides parched golfers with a full bar as well as breakfast and lunch options. The casual atmosphere is a perfect accompaniment to selections such as the house favorite, fish and chips.

SunTides Restaurant and Lounge

509-965-5661

2.

Mt. Adams Country Club

1250 Rocky Ford Road

Toppenish

509-865-4440

mtadamsgolf.com

A short drive from Yakima, this well-maintained course with views of Mount Adams and nearby Rattlesnake Hills provides a backdrop for a first-class, yet casual, round of golf.  The manicured course is well known for its tournaments and the fast play of its greens.  Mt. Adams Country Club can also be a terrific place to spend a sunny afternoon. This course is listed as semi-private, and member fees may apply.

18 hole, par 72

Best Bite

Mt. Adams Country Club Lounge serves a full bar six days a week during club hours.  A short-order snack bar is also available for hungry golfers on the go.

Mt. Adams Country Club Lounge

509-865-4440

3.

Westwood West Golf Course

6408 Tieton Drive

Yakima

509-966-0890

Short and sweet, this executive-length course plays over 2,689 yards. Its location makes Westwood a great course for westsiders to relax and hit a bucket of balls after work.

9 hole, par 70

Best Bite

A small snack bar is available on site; however, there are many dining options nearby.  Try Jack-sons Sports bar for casual dining. Their fabulous chicken wings – Hot and Spicy Drummies – are not to miss.

Jack-sons Sports bar

509-966-4340

‎432 South 48th Ave.

Yakima

4.

Apple Tree Golf Course

8804 Occidental Avenue

Yakima

509-966-5877

appletreeresort.com

Rated “One of Washington’s Top 18 Holes” by Washington CEO, this course is best known for its par 3, 17^th hole – an island shaped like an apple.   The lush greens of Apple Tree Golf Course span 6,900 yards through a 100-year-old apple orchard, dotted with water features and other hazards

18 hole, par 72

Best Bite

The newly revamped Apple Tree Grill, located at the clubhouse, serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner, including an extensive list of local wines, beer and cocktails.  Hungry golfers can dine on Valley-inspired dishes such as the Grill’s signature Applewood Smoked Prime Rib.

Apple Tree Grill

509-966-7140

5.

Yakima Elks Golf & Country Club

318 Golf Course Loop

Selah

509-697-7177

yakimaelksgolf.com

Nicely-maintained greens play over 6,360 yards on this course known for its helpful and knowledgeable staff.  Yakima Elks Golf and Country Club is private and open only to Elk members and their guests.

18 hole, par 71

Best Bite

The onsite Yakima Elks Bar and Restaurant features a full bar, as well as lunch and dinner options for Elks members.  A soon-to-be-unveiled menu promises tasty dishes alongside house favorite drinks such as their Bloody Mary Cocktail.

Yakima Elks Bar and Restaurant

509-697-6161

6.

River Ridge Golf Course

Golf Course Loop Road

Selah

509-697-8323

With several water features and flat, easy-to-walk grounds, this 2,130-yard executive-length course can be a fun golf outing.  The casual course is ideal for beginners and families.

9 hole, par 62

Best Bite:

River Ridge Restaurant offers casual dining with a view that overlooks the greens.  A fully-stocked bar and local wine selections are also available.  Golfers rave over their St. Louis Style ribs and “Taco Tuesdays.”

River Ridge Restaurant

509-697-8323

7.

Yakima Country Club

Steve Fou of Yakima practices his putt at SunTides.

500 Country Club Drive

Yakima

509-453-0363

yakimacountryclub.org

Located just three miles east of downtown, this course is nestled within the 117-acre Country Club grounds, overlooking the Yakima Valley.  The beautifully landscaped course plays over 6,500 yards and is known for providing some of the best golf opportunities in the region. The Yakima Country Club is a private course open to members and their guests.

18 hole, par 72

Best Bite:

Whether members choose to dine in the lounge, the outdoor terrace or the formal dining room, they are sure to enjoy a pampered experience.  The Yakima Country Club is known for bending over backwards for its members – meals are no exception.  A full-service bar and an extensive list of wines are expertly paired to accompany customized gourmet meals to any taste.

8.

Fisher Park

823 S 40th Avenue

Yakima

509-575-6075

Despite concerns over a lack of revenue and threats that the city might shut down this local gem of a course, revenue in 2009 was slightly above prior years’ levels, and the park is safe. For now.  Conveniently located across from Eisenhower High School, this 1,354-yard course is family friendly and a great spot for beginners to practice their swing.

9 hole, par 54

Best Bite:

Limited concessions are available on site, but there are many dining options nearby.  In the mood for Greek?  Kabob House serves some of the best gyros in town and is just around the corner.

Kabob House

3609 W. Nob Hill Blvd.

Yakima

509-469-0504

9.

Black Rock Creek Golf Club

31 Ray Road

Sunnyside

509-837-5340

blackrockcreekgc.com

Formerly known as the Lower Valley Golf Club, this 6,657-yard course is filled with enough water hazards, traps and bunkers to keep golfers of all skill levels busy.  Wildlife and waterfowl sightings are frequent occurrences on the well-kept grounds.

18 hole par 72

Best Bite:

Black Rock Creek Grill serves up casual, American-style meals along with beer and wine during operating hours (until about 6pm).  Golfers may want to munch on one of their burgers – a house favorite.

Black Rock Creek Grill

509-837-5305

10.

Cherry Hill Family Fun Center

530 Cherry Hill Road

Granger

509-854-2294

cherryhillrecreation.com/golf.asp

The Cherry Hill golf course was designed to be “family-friendly” affair, and children as young as 5 are encouraged to play alongside adult golfers. The casual course is fun for all ages and skill levels.  Course expansions including a practice putting area are currently in the works.

driving range, pro shop

9 hole, par 60

Best Bite:

Well established as “the” place for pizza in the Lower Valley (Doc’s original location was in Zillah), Doc’s on the Green serves up salads and sandwiches, along with piping hot pizzas like their Master’s – an indulgent combination of canadian bacon, beef, sausage, pepperoni, bacon, mushrooms, olives and onions.  Top off the ‘za with a pitcher of cold beer – a perfect ending to any golf game.

Doc’s on the Green Pizzeria

509-854-2294

cherryhillrecreation.com/pizza.asp

Grace and Jacob Russel play in the pond at the Joyful Garden.

By Robin Beckett

Photos by Patty DiRienzo

It’s not exactly hidden.

Anybody driving on I-82 – and that’s most of us — has passed Exit 34 and the stands of trees and the Jewett Interpretive Center at the Yakima Area Arboretum.  There might be some irony in its location.  We buzz about on the freeway, too busy with our day to pay attention, yet an oasis of calm is right there outside our car windows.

If you haven’t been there, go.  The arboretum is one of Yakima’s gems.

“We actually have one of the nicest arboretums in the Northwest,” said co-executive director Colleen Adams-Schuppe, who shares her position at the helm of the organization with Jheri Ketcham.

Though one might call Adams-Schuppe biased, one trip to what can best be described as the textbook definition of “tranquility” would likely convince anybody of the same.

The Arboretum, established in 1967 by the Central Washington Federation of Garden Clubs, comprises 46 acres between the freeway and the Yakima Greenway. Just like a museum, it is made up of “collections.” Only these collections don’t include paintings or sculptures, but trees, grasses and flowers. The arboretum features more than 1,000 trees, as well as other plant species — and, according to Adams-Schuppe, it also contains what is probably the largest collection of crabapple trees in the U.S.

Visitors to this living museum can view, touch and smell a variety of trees, flowers and grasses at any time of year.  This makes the arboretum not just a pretty place – but a real resource for landscapers.  Adams-Schuppe said that as people become more interested in four-season gardens, there is an increased need to know more about how various flora changes throughout the year.

For instance, say you’re a homeowner who’s landscaping and you don’t know what trees and plants to pick for your yard.  You think you want a dogwood for its spring color, but don’t know what it will look like in fall.  Take a trip to the arboretum to check one out in October.  While you’re there, perhaps you’ll find you like the flowering Viburnum, which attracts migrating birds.  Or maybe the Osage Orange tree, with its fun, green, grapefuit-sized fruits that drop to the ground in fall.

“Kids love it,” said Adams-Schuppe.

Visitors will be able to find something that suits their backyard fancy during any season.  Almost every tree has an identification tag on its south side.

“Plants come in and out of style,” said Adams-Schuppe. “…Just like clothes.” One year it’s the blue spruce, she said, which tends to do really well in the Yakima area.  Though one doesn’t see a lot of those anymore, “They’ll come back in.”

The arboretum’s also a handy place to simply take 30 minutes, pick a bench and let your troubles go.  The expanse of grass and knots of dogwoods, Douglas firs, pear trees, maples and crabapples create a fantasy landscape that seems to go on forever.  Forty-six acres is, after all, a lot of ground to cover.

Special interest gardens dot the area as well, including the Kara Kondo Dryland Garden, made up of plants that are “water-wise,” the Iris Garden, and the Rose Garden, which has a Gazebo, pathways, fountain and small, quiet benches.  Each garden is managed by its own group of volunteers.  With 300 rose bushes in the rose garden alone, that’s a lot of work.

Also not to be missed is the Edward M. Schroeder Wetland Trail, which winds for a third of a mile along the adjacent Greenway, over bridges and among native grasses and wildlife.

The Pagoda at the Joyful Garden.

One thing the public might not expect at the arboretum is the number of classes they host on topics from backyard composting and raising irises to turfgrass and the basics of bonsai.  Most are available at a low cost. For members, some are free.  The arboretum also has classes specifically designed for children.

So whether you’re seeking retreat from the hectic world around us, resources on how to make an own yard your oasis or simply education to make your own thumb greener, the arboretum is a terrific destination…just a off the freeway.

Ahtrees.org

The Yakima Arboretum’s annual plant sale runs 3-7 p.m. Friday, May 7, and continues 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, May 8. This is a great way to find a new-to-the-market selection of trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses and vines for your yard.

The Umtanum Creek Recreation Area Trail begins by crossing the Yakima River on a suspension footbridge.

With blankets of wildflowers beginning to bloom and the smell of sage perfuming the air, spring is a good time to enjoy Yakima’s shrub-steppe landscape. This season why not pull out your hiking boots and go for a stomp? Here are a couple of hikes to help get you started.

Umtanum Creek Canyon

Hike it: The Umtanum Creek Recreation Area is well known for its wildflower displays, and early spring is a great time to see brand-new buds and blooms.  The trail begins by crossing the Yakima River on a suspension footbridge. Hikers can trek through desert canyon wilderness, past gnarled fruit trees and the markings of an old homestead site, while keeping a lookout for wildlife along the way. The trail crosses the creek, passes by an alder grove (watch for bighorn sheep here) and continues about 3 miles before it narrows and becomes overgrown. After a picnic lunch, turn back here rather than attempt to trek through the underbrush.

Why You Should Go: Herds of bighorn sheep and mule deer, birds of all sizes and creek-side beaver activity are common sights along the well-preserved desert canyon. And when in bloom (usually mid to late April), Umtanum spring wildflower displays are some of the best in the state.

Directions: From I-82 Merge onto I-82 W/US-97 N via the exit on the left toward Selah/Ellensburg.  Take the WA-81 N Exit 26, toward WA-823/Selah.  Turn right on State Route 821 at the stop sign, then left at the next stop sign, following the signs for Yakima Canyon. Continue about 8 miles to the Umtanum Recreation Area. A large gravel parking lot will be on the right side of the road.

Permits: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Vehicle Permit. (Permits are valid for one year and can be purchased online at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov for $12.

Cowiche Canyon Trail

Hike it: The wide trail alongside a vibrant streamside ecosystem follows what was once an 1880s railroad line connecting the Tieton foothills to Yakima. Hikers can wander the gentle unpaved route for 3 miles of trestle-bridged creek crossings and stunning rock sculptures before finally turning back.

A jogger enjoys wildflowers along Cowiche Canyon Trail

Why You Should Go: Volunteers for Cowiche Canyon Conservancy have worked hard to develop and maintain trails on the 200-acre Cowiche Canyon preserve area. Thousands of visitors every year enjoy rock formations that would make a geologist drool, vivid wildflower displays and the many birds, marmots and other desert creatures who make this rugged landscape their home. Four trails with several access points create plenty of outdoor options so be sure to allow for time to explore. Located about 6 miles from Yakima, the pristine wilderness — and its nearly 14 total miles of established trails — make a welcome sanctuary for hikers, bikers, and nature lovers alike. www.cowichecanyon.org

Directions: From Yakima, travel west on Summitview Avenue about ten miles to Weikel Road and turn right. Follow Weikel Road for 0.4 miles then turn right at the sign for Cowiche Canyon.

Permits: None

Essentials

1. Dress the part. Sunglasses, bug repellant and sunscreen, comfortable boots, and layered synthetic or wool clothing help keep hikers comfortable and dry in changing environments.
2. Drink it up. Drinking plenty of water during a hike is essential to avoid dehydration or even heat stroke. Plan on carrying at least a liter or two per person – more if hiking during hot weather.
3. Fuel your footsteps. Whether you bring a picnic lunch or just a few snacks, be sure to pack a little more than you plan to eat during your hike.
4. Remember your manners. Pack up trash, take pictures of wildflowers rather than pick them and stay on established trails to keep fragile desert ecosystems intact for the next hikers. And though not yet out in full force, be on the lookout for less-than-desirable wildlife encounters with ticks and rattlesnakes.

Recipe:  Gourmet Trail Mix

Ingredients:
2 cups salted, roasted nuts
1 cup dried blueberries, cherries or apricot
1/4 cup crystalized ginger
1/4 cup pumpkin or sunflower seeds
1 cup dark chocolate pieces
1 cup pretzels

Combine in a large mixing bowl and stir until evenly distributed.

Mt. Stuart photo by Charlie Naismith

By Heather Caro

Rustout is the opposite of burnout.  Burnout is overdoing.  Rustout is underbeing.” From On Purpose by Richard Leider and Stephen Buchholz

Wenatchee native Mark Shipman is, by all accounts, up for a challenge.

An avid outdoorsman, Shipman, 61, lists his adrenaline-infused hobbies the way some people his age list their prescriptions.

Frequently cited by publications such as Northwest Mountaineering Journal and Alpenglow for his feats in mountaineering and paragliding, Shipman also bikes, rock climbs, backcountry skis, Nordic skis, paddles, and is an accomplished ice climber.  And those are just his hobbies.  By day, Shipman is an emergency room physician at Wenatchee Valley Medical Center, which might lead some to believe he seeks out perilous adventure for the thrill.

The idea makes him grimace.

“It’s more about wanting to do things that require careful planning and decision making,” says Shipman.  “I’m the most conservative person as far as risk taking and planning.”

Conservative may not be the first word many would use to describe a man who scales frozen waterfalls cascading down sheer mountain faces.  For fun.

But Shipman’s approach to this calculated risk could be what has perpetuated his lifelong love affair with the outdoors – including the perilous sport of ice climbing.

A climber finds their footing on the weeping wall. Photo by Mark Shipman

“There is something innate in my biology that drives me to it, and I can’t explain it,” says Shipman.  “It’s the mountains that draw me.  If you don’t climb ice you eliminate a large part of alpinism.  You can get to places you would never otherwise see.”

The world of ice climbing is full of extremes.  The sport requires climbers to take huge risks. Apart from the various skills required for the climb, there are additional environmental hazards and inconsistent ice conditions that climbers must contend with.  Nobody knows when an avalanche is coming.  And a mistake can cost somebody’s life.

But, explains Shipman, this is part of the appeal.  The challenge of attempting what he calls a tremendously physical and mental feat – without guarantee of success – is what keeps him coming back to the mountains he loves.

Shipman’s interest in the outdoors began at an early age.  Growing up in the Wenatchee area, his worldview was forever changed after reading the mountaineering classic White Spider, by Heinrich Harrer, at the age of 11.  “I was convinced I was a climber before ever getting up there,” says Shipman.

By the age of 13, Shipman would spend countless hours practicing climbing techniques with friends.  His skills developed quickly, eventually leading him to ice climbing.

Shipman, along with friends in the climbing community, has been credited with discovering and summiting some of the now-classic Washington state ice climbs when the sport was not yet mainstream in the ‘70s and ‘80s.  And though he estimates his first-assent climbs to be “no more than 20 or 30,” he is quick to downplay his contributions.

Photo by Charlie Naismith

“I clearly recognize the complete uselessness of the sport,” says Shipman.  “Anybody who thinks his or her climbing is somehow important to the rest of society in any way, truly misses the point.”

Ice climbing fatalities have claimed more than one of his colleagues; however, Shipman does not hesitate to express his intent to climb as long as he can, in spite of the dangers involved.

“Climbing is like life itself,” Shipman says, with an almost spiritual reverence.  “You need to know when to start out and when to turn back.  You need to know that if you keep plodding away, you will probably succeed.  That if you work at it you will get better – and yet, in the end nothing matters, it’s all folly.  The experience is only valuable to you.”

That seems to be enough to propel Shipman toward his next climb – whatever the peril.  And watching the childlike spark of excitement cross his face as he talks about his adventures, it is hard not to consider that perhaps there is more danger in surrendering to the rote of the day to day.

A player gets ready to hit the ice for practice.

Photos by George May

In recent years, ice hockey has enjoyed a surge of popularity from fans around the globe.  Long-term residents of the Yakima Valley may recall that this attention is not entirely unprecedented on a local level.  Since it began operations in the 1960s, the Yakima Ice Rink has been host to a variety of hockey teams.  During its heyday in the 1970s, its small section of bleachers was often packed to overflowing with hockey fans young and old, and games were broadcast live on the radio.

Debbie Werremeyer, 51, spent her childhood in those stands watching her brothers and father skate.  Coming from a large family where all but one of eight siblings ice-skated-her father, the late Richard “Dick” Patnode served as the first president of Yakima Amateur Hockey Association (YAHA)-you might say hockey ran in Werremeyer’s blood.  So it is no surprise she has devoted a lifetime to the sport.

Growing up, Werremeyer became fast friends with other girls in the hockey stands who shared her interests and background.  Together they dreamed of forming a team of their own.  So when ladies broomball, a low-contact sport played on the ice with rubber shoes in place of skates, was proposed by Yakima Ice Rink members, Werremeyer says their response was:  “That’s lame, we want to play hockey.”

And play they did.  The Yakima Women’s Hockey Team, in association with YAHA, was soon formed, and the girls played together throughout high school.  This was the mid-’70s, a time before many of today’s safety regulations, and the scrappy women’s team played full-check hockey without protective face cages on their helmets.

“We played teams from all over,” recalls Werremeyer holding a faded 1977 team photo of the girls.  “The Seattle SnoKings were especially rough on us, but during the Sweethearts Tournament of ’77, we won.  We beat those guys,” she grins, pointing proudly to the large trophy centered prominently among the girls.

After graduation and inevitable life changes that came with time, marriages and new babies, the team eventually split up.  But Werremeyer and many of the other players never forgot about the team or their mutual love of the game.

Fast forward 20 years to 1999 when Diane Craig and a whole new generation of women’s hockey fans circled the ice week after week at the small Yakima Ice Rink, dreaming of playing for a team of their own.  Craig, also in her 50′s, recalls gazing into the dusty trophy cabinet at the rink and wondering where the 1977 Women’s Team players ended up.

As it turned out, she didn’t have to wonder long.  A member of the ice rink placed a flier advertising free women’s skate night, to flush out potential interest for a new women’s hockey team.  The gimmick worked, and one Sunday Craig found herself in a locker room filled with enough women to form a team, including five of the original members of the 1977 team.  She immediately recognized the faces of her role models, shouting out to much laughter, “You’re the girls from the picture.”

The Sting was officially formed in 1999, and has been making up for lost years together ever since.  During their first season The Sting played at the beginners level and won the majority of their games.  Says Werremeyer, “We were better than we thought we were.”

They quickly moved up to the more challenging intermediate level where they play to this day.  Craig remembers the first few years as particularly grueling, as they improved their skills together.  “I was so sore I couldn’t brush my teeth,” she groans.  But the women persisted and have won many tournaments in the past 10 years, including the 2003 Pacific District Championship.

“The Yakima Sting is a diverse group,” says Dane Perone, who along with Chris Sutherland has been coaching the team since 2008.  Team members range in age from 14 to their mid-50s with more than half the team over 30.  “Some of us grew up on skates while others are coming back (to hockey) or just learning.  We have people that are at a lot of different ability levels.”

The players are quick to point out that there are no differences in rules for men’s or women’s hockey games within the Pacific Northwest Amateur Association.  Laughs Perone, “Off sides is off sides no matter what gender you are.”

Though today’s Amateur Association games are non-contact and do not allow body checks for either men’s or women’s games, some injuries are inevitable.  “There haven’t been any teeth lost,” laughs Werremeyer, “but sometimes we get pretty banged up.”

Unlike the hockey games played in the 1970s, where players often skated without helmets, players today wear a myriad of protective equipment.  The heavy, bulky garb, which together weighs more than 50 lbs., includes a helmet, padded pants, knee/shin pads, socks and garter, a jersey, and of course, skates.  Says Craig, “The protective gear really helps.  You might get stunned, but you’ll be able to get up and get back at it.”

Injuries are avoided as much as possible, laughs Chris Sutherland, 36, since “Come Monday morning, everyone’s got to get back to their day job.”

The women of the Sting balance many roles both on and off the ice.  Seven babies have been born to hockey moms during the time they have been playing together.  Craig remembers joking about pregnancy in the locker room.  “We’d tell them, ‘This is when you have to get pregnant so you won’t miss the season.’”

One player, Leanette Hooper, managed to succeed at this feat, eventually giving birth to three boys without missing a single hockey season in 10 years.  She nursed the babies in the locker room between games.  At varying times over the years, team members have also included a mother-daughter duo and two sets of sisters.

The team may play in an amateur division but their competitiveness is all professional.  “Ultimately we’re here for fun, recreation and a little exercise,” says Sutherland, “but, if you’re going to play, play to win.”  Agrees Werremeyer, “My dad used to always tell us, ‘You’re only as strong as your weakest skater.’  We practice hard because nobody wants to be that weakest link on the team.”

New skaters may not be asked to tournaments their first year, primarily for their own safety, but both the coaches and team members encourage newcomers to their sport.  “The younger they start out the better,” says Sutherland, “But anyone who wants to get out on the ice is welcome, as far as I’m concerned.”

This season, the Sting is scheduled to play in five tournaments, against teams from Spokane, Tri-Cities and Wenatchee, among others.  Within their intermediate division, the Sting is often matched against teams from all over the Northwest, including Canada.  The Canadian teams pose a particular challenge.  Laughs Werremeyer, “We’ve been beaten by little gray-haired ladies up there.”  Rather than shy away from playing the competitive Canadian teams, the Sting welcomes the challenge.  Explains Werremeyer, “You only get better by pushing yourself out of your comfort level, ability-wise.”

But perhaps the greatest adversity to the team above any on-ice scrimmage is its ongoing attempts to secure proper playing facilities.  The Yakima Ice Rink and YAHA are non-profit organizations, and the ice rink is maintained and operated on a volunteer basis.  The facility, which is currently for sale, does not have regulation-size ice, and therefore most tournaments hosted by the Sting must be played at the Toyota Arena in Kennewick.

Someday, members of the Sting as well as the many men, women and kids who share the ice, hope to have a regulation-size rink of their own, so that tournaments can be brought to Yakima.  Until that time the Yakima Ice Rink volunteers continue to invest their own time, money and energy into improving the facility.

This year, with a generous donation from Apple Valley Kiwanis and donated materials from multiple organizations, the volunteers were able to paint, replace fencing and netting around the ice, add new hockey goals and remodel the locker rooms and warm-up room.  New skates and rental gear were provided for the many youth and adult skate lessons held throughout the season.  “We have a great core (of volunteers) who are dedicated and very community minded,” says Sutherland.

Though the countless hours spent both volunteering for the rink and practicing for the team can be difficult at times, the rewards are worth it for the many men and women who participate in Yakima Amateur Hockey Association activities each year.  Because, grins Craig holding the faded 1974 Women’s Team photo, “There’s just something about hockey.”

For more information contact:

Yakima Ice Rink

1700 E Beech St

Yakima, WA 98901-2104

(509) 469-0597

www.yakimaicerink.com