People purchasing a new Discover Pass can now choose the start date for the annual pass.

The new option is available to customers who buy the pass online at discoverpass.wa.gov or in person at retailers who sell recreational licenses through the Washington Interactive Licensing Database system.

Retail vendor locations are listed on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website at wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/vendors.

At the time of purchase, the buyer can activate the pass immediately or on any day within one year of the purchase date.

The option was passed into law earlier this year to allow greater flexibility to outdoor recreation enthusiasts, including those who want to give the pass as a gift.

The pass is required on motor vehicles accessing state parks and other state-managed recreation lands.

October visits

Mount Rainier

October 2012: 59,049

October 2011: 66,499

Difference: -11.2 percent

Year-to-date 2012: 1,004,043

Year-to-date 2011: 986,448

Difference: 1.8 percent

The arrival of rain and early snow could be reasons why the number of recreational visits in October fell more than 10 percent compared with the same month in 2011. It also was the lowest October count in more than 30 years, based on National Park Service records going back to 1979. The number of visits to the Carbon River entrance and Mowich Lake were down 54.2 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

Olympic

October 2012: 165,809

October 2011: 194,130

Difference: -14.6 percent

Year-to-date 2012: 2,629,063

Year-to-date 2011: 2,796,036

Difference: -6 percent

Significant drops in the number of visitors at the Hoh (45.6 percent) and Lake Crescent (24.5 percent) district contributed to the decline in October. Last month’s count is the lowest for October in more than five years.

Nationwide

October 2012: 23,193,578

October 2011: 24,192,153

Difference: -4.13 percent

Year-to-date 2012: 255,143,297

Year-to-date 2011: 249,689,886

Difference: 2.18 percent