NATIONAL FORESTS -- Expect to see scattered pillars of smoke emerging from selected areas of the region's national forests in the next six weeks. It's the "prescribed fire season," as forest managers and wildlife managers team to mimic Mother Nature's way of rejuvenating wildlife habitat.…
SKIING -- It was a great Silver Saturday at Silver Mountain, with tons of snow and enough sunshine to comfortably eat the BBQ outside. Even a few bikini tops blooming in the sudden change to spring weather.
OUTDOORS ON TV -- The last two episodes of fascinating six-film wildlfie series will show Sunday, 8 p.m., on the Discovery Channel. Human Planet is the first BBC/Discovery Channel production to focus solely on human behavior and it's profound relationship with nature. The makers of…
WILDLIFE– An Oregon state researcher has confirmed wolverine tracks in the Eagle Cap Wilderness, the first documentation of the species in Wallowa County. According to the Columbia Basin Bulletin, Oregon Fish and Wildlife Department researcher Audrey Magoun found the wolverine tracks in the snow on…
POST SEASON SKIING -- "Spring may be on the minds of many folks in the Spokane area, but the weather in the mountains of northeast Washington has been anything but spring-like," according to Brad Northrup of 49 Degrees North. He sent this message and the…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- The snow that blanketed the region east of Liberty Lake this morning didn't do much to cool the heat of passion underway among game birds. The mating season is in full swing for wild turkeys, quail and pheasants. I caught this ringneck…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- A startling report has been filed by a birdwatcher surveying species recently at the Little Pend Oreille Wildlife Refuge east of Colville. Although Mike Munts of Arco, Idaho, observed nearly 50 species in two days at the refuge, one observation was remarkable.…
NATIONAL PARKS -- Winter has retained its grip on Glacier National Park this week, stalling efforts to clear Going to the Sun Road and turning back cyclists looking for vehicle free riding. Storms dumped 8 inches of snow in West Glacier and 18 inches in…
FISHING -- The 2011 Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Season, which pays anglers a bounty of up to $8 a fish, will run May 1-Sept. 30 on the Columbia River from the mouth to the Tri-Cities and up the Snake to Lewiston. Earn a bonus of…
PUBLIC LANDS -- Driven by the need to fund state parks, The Washington Legislature Thursday approved a new Discover Pass, which visitors will need to drive into state parks, state DNR lands and state wildlife areas. The bill, SB 5622, goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire…
FISHING -- Personal pontoon boats have launched anglers into a new realm of freedom and efficiency on lakes and stream. But after hearing reports of accidents and many close calls, the Spokane Fly Fishers has organized a Pontoon Boat Safety Class that involves a classroom…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- As spring migrants continune to arrive in our region, so has a list of helpful thoughts from the American Bird Conservancy. Here's the ABC's top 10 things people can do to aid or protect declining birds in their homes and yards. 10.…
RIVER RUNNING -- The April 1 blowout of Black Creek is still blocking the main Salmon River with a logjam this week, and has also formed a big new rapid that’s raised the river level high enough to totally obliterate Salmon Falls, a major rapid…
SALMON FISHING -- Anglers in the Columbia Gorge reservoirs will get seven additional days to fish for a lagging spring chinook salmon run. Washington and Oregon officials on Wednesday added April 25-May 1 to the fishing season for the Columbia between Bonneville Dam and the…
RIVERS -- Spring is dawning for river runners and anglers on Idaho's St. Joe River. Here's a road and access report from Terry Miller, who scouted it out with his vehicle and kayak Monday. The road is clear on Marble Creek to past the "class…
TOURNAMENT FISHING -- The 2011 Washington State Walleye Circuit includes five tournaments with cash prizes coordinated by NorthWest Walleyes: May 7-8: Rod Meseberg Spring Walleye Classic at Potholes Reservoir. May 21-22: Bil Wallys/Vally Marine Spring Walleye Classic at BanksLake. June 4-5: MosesLakeWalleye Classic. June 25-26:…
OUTDOORS -- Joel Connelly of Seattlepi.com wrote this commentary today, contrasting Three Cups of Tea author Greg Mortenson's efforts to build schools in Central Asia with the style of another famous climber -- Sir Edmund Hillary. Read my earlier post with links to Mortenson's response…
FAMILIES OUTDOORS -- If you're lucky enough to still have kids around the house, don't let another season go buy without building some sort of outdoor family tradition: Something they can count on year after year, whether it's in person or in their memories. Something…
HIKING -- While wildflowers are just getting brave enough to emerge, the Columbia Basin, as usual has a jump on the much of the region. Here's a report from John Echelbarger, who hiked Sunday at Steamboat Rock State Park on Banks Lake. "There was a…
OUTDOORS -- Greg Mortenson, the climber, philanthropist and author of Three Cups of Tea, has finally come forward to comment on the charges made agaist him Sunday by 60 Minutes and fellow author and climber Jon Krakauer. Mortenson's interview to address the world-wide buzz about…
HIKING -- Two people I know own dogs who recently encountered the defense mechanism of a porcupine along the South Hill bluff trails below High Drive. Let's think about this: Vet visit to remove quills, $150. Leash, $7. Go figure.
HIKING -- The list of area hiking clubs that ran with my Sunday Outdoors feature on hiking clubs left out one with some history, said Rosalyn Clark of Sandpoint. The Bonner County Monday Hikers have been heating their heels on roads and trails every Monday…
SKIING -- The Idaho Panhandle National Forests has scheduled a meeting today to discuss the proposed Lookout Pass Ski Area expansion. The meeting is set for 5 p.m. at the Forest Service office in Smelterville, Idaho. The Forest Service and Lookout Pass Ski Area are…
INVASIVE SPECIES – Sandpoint-area residents are organizing this week to pounce on an new unwanted aquatic invader to Lake Pend Oreille. A public work party to stop the spread of flowering rush will begin Saturday, 1 p.m., at Sandpoint City Beach. Like other aquatic invasive…
WINTER TRAVEL -- The lifts are closed for the season, but snowshoers and backcountry skiers are finding good reasons to hit the slopes at Mount Spokane. State Park manager Steve Christensen took time yesterday to snowshoe to the mountain summit over a couple inches of…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.
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