Washington Trail Blazers

Autobiography

Ken James McLeod

I was born in Seattle, Wa. in 1952, graduated from Roosevelt High, served in the U.S. Army Signal Corp overseas (Vietnam Era Vet), and attended Bellevue and Shoreline Community Colleges. A past pres. of the Steelhead Trout Club of Wa. and member since 1978, a member of the Trail Blazers Club since 1979 (Alpine Lakes fish stockers), a member of the Snohomish Sportsmen's Assc., an associate member of the Ruffed Grouse Society, as well as an annual participant at the Old Timers Outdoorsman Reunion. Involved in outdoor/sportsman issues and enhancement projects as well as serving on a number of relating committees, and have chaired countless meetings. A columnist for the Reel News from 1993-1999 (Puget Sound Anglers publication). I enjoy all types of fishing, hunting, bird dogs, outdoor photography, writing, wildlife watching, backpacking, giving outdoor related slide shows, an accomplished fly tyer and a shotgun shell reloader.

Honors

• elected pres. Steelhead Trout Club of Wa. 1989-1990, 1995-1999.
• elected sec./treasure Steelhead Trout Club 1980, 1988-1989, 1993-1994, 1996-1999.
• Steelhead Trout Club Conservation Award 1994
• Steelhead Trout Club Inspirational Award 1991 and 1999.
• Howard Creek Steelhead Club Smolt Imprint Pond Chairman 1990-2000
• Sportsfishing Summit Alliance Team in Snohomish, Wa. 1993
• Deer Creek/Nfk Stillaquamish River Fly Fishers Policy Committee 1996-1997
• Attended Save Reiter Pond Committee meetings in conjunction with WDFW 1999.
• Snohomish Sportsmen's Coho Salmon Fry Enhancement Projects
• Sportsmen's Show Kids Fishing Ponds and Kids Fishing Derby's.
• Stream & Lake Access Clean Ups
• WDFW Organization of the Year 1997.....Trail Blazers Club (member)
• American Fly Fishing Museum Exhibit 1982

Publications/Credits

Salmon Trout Steelheader magazine, Fly Tyer, Sportsfishing Forum, Pack & Paddle, The Reel News, Gun Dog. Anacortas Art Gallery, Darrington Wildflower Festival, Greenwood Art Gallery, Crown Hill Sea First Bank Exhibit, Sears Interior Design Art Exhibit, Snohomish Library Arts Gallery Exhibit.

Historical Family Note

The McLeod family has been living in Western Washington state for 5 generations. Ken's grandfather (Ken McLeod) is considered the Founding Father of the State Game Dept. that began in 1933 (now the Wa. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife), he wrote most of Int.#62 which created the Dept. by then the peoples vote. He was given a special WDFW award in 1984 recognizing his achievements for that. In 1985, he was awarded a Special Achievment Conservation Award by the National Wildlife Federation at their 50th Year Banquet in Seattle. He was also a charter member of many sportsmen related organizations such as: Wa. State Sportsmen's Council, King County Outdoor Sports Council, the Poggie Club, and the Wa. Fly Fishing Club. He is noted as being a pioneer of steelhead fly fishing techniques using both floating and sinking fly lines. Ken's dad, George W. McLeod, is a noted fly casting champion as well as a NW venerated fly tyer and fly fisherman, long-time steelheader, and hunter.

On Being A Trail Blazer

My first knowledge of the club came from reading the Ben Paris Hunting & Fishing Guides of the 1940s and ' 50s, that my grandfather edited. Many of Yadon's fish stocking articles appeared in those issues. In the late 1960s, I corresponded with Ernie Wolcott, author of Lakes of Washington, and who was also a friend of my grandfather's, to find out more info about the club and of high lake fishing. Ernie wrote to me several times, even though my grandfather told me don't bother him by writing letters, those letters he wrote I wished I'd saved, as they were priceless! At any rate, Ernie furthered my aspirations of high lakes and going into the mountains, and was kind enough to share some info - Cowbell Lake giants. Soon as summer came, about 1967, when I joined REI as well, I set forth hiking the high country with friends and on some trips my Uncle Don. My father and I fished and hunted together, but rarely went hiking into high lakes, although he had made many high lake trips prior to WW II. I tried unsuccessfully to narrow down the Trail Blazer meeting place for many years off and on. Then in 1978, Jim Smith a Steelhead Trout Club friend who was a Trail Blazer invited me to a meeting. During those early meetings, I recall fellows like Charlie Lund, Cecil S., Jack Mathewson, George Kniert, and Jim Mighell were fellows who welcomed me. And then, there were still some real old timers around like: Charlie Yadon and Hank Hoff, guys I held in awe. When I became a member in 1979 (about a year of attending meetings and showing interest) I was perhaps the youngest fellow in the club. Now, my son helps me on some trips.

My first sponsored stocking trips were into the Mt. Pilchuck and Bald Mtn area lakes, some of which I still try to maintain today like the Bathtubs. Many of those earlier missions were done with friend and past pres. Martin Jensen, a guy I sponsored into the club. As the years went by, I continued sponsoring lakes, but generally only ones I had direct personal knowledge on, ones I had surveyed myself many times. And, I grew to love the Alpine Country even more often and even alone, I just like to wander with camera in hand.

Over the years, being a Trail Blazer has meant many things to me, mostly though, I've met some wonderful friends. I thoroughly enjoy all the meetings as well as the different characters that inhabit them. And as the photo board coordinator for the club, I really enjoyed putting together all the donations. Life certainly wouldn't be the same without belonging to the Trail Blazers, at least for me. Lastly, Steve White's "well said quote" from the 1999 Annual frontispiece says it all about how I feel towards the club "It has been a heartfelt joy to visit some of the more remote spots with people who know how to get there, understand the dangers and precautions involved, and who know how to celebrate once they have accomplished their goal."

Favorite Alpine Areas: Mt. Pilchuck, Three Fingers Mtn., Olympics, Glacier Peak Wilderness. Lakes Named : Bear Tracks; Picture Tub, Camp Tub, Big Blue Tub, Little Blue Tub, Beaver Ponds Named: Nightshade, Pa's Pot, Bud's Pot

And No, I never saw any Bigfoot! (but I think I heard some...)

Ken J. McLeod

McPilchuckblazer