RIVERS -- Anyone affected by the Columbia River and what goes on around it -- that's virtually everyone in this region -- should take note of a 13-episode TV documentary that will begin at 5 p.m., April 1, on PBS. “Way of the Columbia,” produced...
TRAILS -- On Sunday, a slick trap was waiting for unsuspecting backcountry snowshoers headed into the Sno-Park lot at the top of Sherman Pass. "We thought we were in trouble as soon as we turned off Highway 20 and headed onto the access road," said...
TRAILS -- With several area steams above flood stage, portions of the Spokane River Centennial Trail are under water. Examples are the inundated section west of Barker Road Bridge (above), with the Spokane River flowing over the trail near Flora Road (second photo above). The…
FISHING -- Managers of Dworshak and Clearwater hatcheries at Ahsahka hope they are choosing the better of two poor choices by releasing spring chinook smolts today to take advantage of reduced flows from Dworshak Dam and lower levels of harmful dissolved gas. But officials at…
FISHING -- Oregon's curious departure from agreeing with Washington on restricting Columbia River gillnetting appears to be retreating from a hard line. This is brighter news for salmon and sport fishermen. Details are in this report by By Andrew Theen of The Oregonian/Oregon Live: PORTLAND,...
HIKING -- Only a few snow patches persist. The scablands are soggy after a record winter for precipitation. Potholes and seasonal wetlands are brimming with water, inviting waterfowl by the thousands. Wildflowers are sprouting by the millions. Happy spring.
FISHING -- The cap of winter ice has disappeared from Hog Canyon Lake in the past 10 days, opening the winter trout lake to the casts of ... hardly anyone. Since the access road washed out in mid-February, the gate to the lake's public access…
WATERSPORTS -- The mood of the Spokane River changes dramatically through the seasons, and no one knows that more intimately than a kayaker. In this short video, Spokane paddler Brian Jamieson starts with a clip of paddling through the Bowl and Pitcher rapids at fall...
TRAILS -- Washington Trails Association, the voice for hikers in Washington state, is looking to add to its Board of Directors with representation from the Spokane area. This is an honor for our region to be welcomed under the wing of a group that has...
SPORTSMEN SHOWS -- Kids were having a blast at the Big Horn Outdoor Adventure Show today at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center. They were catching fish, seeing live bears, punching the bullseyes out of targets with air rifles at the Sportsman's Shooting Gallery,…
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- Gray wolves continued their steady increase in population and range in Washington last year despite the deaths of at least 14 animals, according to a 25-page annual report on the endangered species’ recovery. The state’s minimum estimated wolf population increased by about...
CONSERVATION -- Sportsman's groups are doing the hard work of gaining members and raising funds for all sorts of worthy projects, ranging from giving terminally ill kids a shot at fishing or hunting to improving critical habitat for mule deer and ducks. Here are some...
PUBLIC LANDS -- The Sandpoint Ranger District has issued temporary closures on several Forest Service roads in Bonner County because of thawing and excessive moisture, according an agency media release. "The road closure is to prevent damage to soft roadbeds on Butler Creek Road #230...
RIVERS -- The Spokane River will be getting some TLC in a volunteer cleanup on Saturday and you're invited to join the effort. The Spokane Riverkeeper, Rivercity Brewing and Numerica Credit Union are sponsoring the litter clean-up along the shores of the Spokane River to…
ENVIRONMENT -- I took a lot of grief and criticism in October from around the world, perhaps not totally undeserved, for promoting an obituary for the Great Barrier Reef. This week, the science journal Nature and The New York Times are suggesting the notion isn't…
WILDLIFE -- White-nose syndrome has been confirmed in Nebraska, the 30th state to document the devastating fungal disease that affects hibernating bats. The U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin confirmed white-nose syndrome in three bats from the Cass County mine, including...
WATERSPORTS -- Mother Nature blessed Idaho with deep snow in the mountains this winter, ranging from 98 percent to 180 percent of normal statewide, setting up what could be an outstanding year for fishing and whitewater boating on Idaho’s world-class rivers. The first trips of...
SHOOTING -- Turning aside objections from gun owners, legal experts and nine state attorneys general, a federal judge has given final approval to a landmark class action settlement involving some 7.5 million allegedly defective Remington guns, CNBC reports this morning. The ruling allows the owners...
WILDLIFE – Federal officials said they have approved Idaho’s wildlife conservation plan that allows the state to seek federal money to bolster mainly nongame species and avoid potential listings under the Endangered Species Act, according to the Associated Press. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service…
HUNTING – Every now and then a TV hunting show presents an episode that's especially worthwhile to watch, especially if you don't care for poachers. Two Kentucky men who appeared on a cable television hunting show have been fined nearly $31,000 and have lost their…
WILDERNESS -- The Juniper Dunes Wilderness east of Pasco has the dubious distinction of being adjacent to an OHV riding area in the soft sands of the Columbia Basin. The wilderness is managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Dust clouds and whining of…
FISHING -- Fishermen marvel at steelhead, and so do grade school kids. This video, captured by a fifth grader, shares the wide-eyed joy of a kid witnessing a fish coming to life. Students at Webster Elementary in Lewiston, Idaho, are able to study this spectacle...
CONSERVATION –The Spokane Valley Chapter of Ducks Unlimited will hold its 12th annual fundraising dinner to benefit wetlands conservation in the Pacific Northwest. The event will start at 5 p.m. on March 25 at the Eagles Lodge in Spokane Valley. "This fun, family friendly event…
THREATENED SPECIES -- The public is being given more time to comment on four options for restoring grizzly bears to the North Cascades in Washington. The National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have extended the public comment period regarding the proposed alternatives…
WILDLIFE -- Heading into their breeding season, wild turkeys are going to be notably conspicuous in South Hill neighborhoods well into May. Expect traffic slowdowns as toms strut in the streets and chase off contenders for the affections of nearby hens. You could be considered…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.
| Dec. 2017 | Nov. 2017 | Oct. 2017 | Sept. 2017 |
| Aug. 2017 | July 2017 | June 2017 | May 2017 |
| April 2017 | March 2017 | Feb. 2017 | Jan. 2017 |
