Allen Thomas bridged many worlds.

Fishing, hunting, hiking, skiing and camping, “Woodsy” knew the ins and outs of all these Northwest outdoor pastimes.

But beyond that knowledge was his knack for connecting with the people who lived in those worlds. It’s why Thomas was so successful as The Columbian’s Outdoors writer for four decades.

In covering his beat, Thomas often engaged with people that seemingly had nothing in common.

They were politically conservative hunting and fishing enthusiasts — people he lovingly referred to as “the Bubbas.” They were liberal-leaning members of hiking and conservation groups. It didn’t matter to Thomas, who tapped into their passions with equal interest and curiosity.

After all, those seemingly different people had a lot in common. They all loved the n

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