ROCK CLIMBING – A fun-oriented, low-key weekend event to introduce people to the sport of rock climbing is set for July 23-24 at Q’emiln Park in Post Falls. The annual UClimb (www.uclimb.org) sponsored by Mountain Gear recruits professional climbers who teach and encourage beginners to…
NATIONAL PARKS -- A grizzly bear killed a hiker today on a popular trail in the Yellowstone National Park backcountry. It's the first fatal bear mauling in the park since 1986, officials said. Park spokesman Al Nash said it appears the man and his wife…
CANOEING -- Prince William and wife Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, have been muscling their way through the Prince Edward Island portion of their Royal Tour of Canada this week. First they competed against each other in Dragonboat races, digging in with paddles…
SALMON FISHING -- High water and gusty winds hindered the opening weekend of chinook salmon fishing on the upper Columbia River. The Wenatchee World reports the water was rough and fishermen say they’re getting few bites. Glen Sagdal of East Wenatchee said he and a…
RIVER RUNNING -- Two more deaths have been confirmed among whitewater river runners in the Inland Northwest, making 2011 one of the deadliest rafting and kayak seasons in memory. In Montana, a woman in her 60s was killed in a rafting accident on the swollen…
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT — Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter named a 60-year-old Rigby man to the seven-member Idaho Fish and Game Commission, the Associated Press reports Kenny Anderson replaces Cameron Wheeler of Ririe, whose term expired June 30. Among the issues Anderson will help decide is management…
FISHING -- While many river anglers are in a deep funk over the unusually high water, fishermen focused on Lake Rufus Woods been coming home with huge smiles -- and even bigger fish -- for several weeks. Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of fish released…
HIKING -- The Glacier National Park Fund is inviting people to join up with their Friday Hiking Club, which heads out on a great park tail every week, starting this Friday through Sept. 16. The hikes range from 5 miles to 13 miles, easy to…
NATURE -- Turnbull Wildlife Refuge staff and volunteers are leading several tours, walks and activities Saturday to coincide with the annual Jubilee in nearby Cheney. Pre-register with group leaders for details and meeting places. 8 a.m: A two-hour morning walk around the Pine Lakes area…
FLY FISHING -- With the large snow pack and cool temperatures this spring the fishing has been tough and slow to get started on many Montana rivers, including the Clark Fork and Bitterroot. "Due to high, fast and cold water the morning bite is slow…
HIKING -- Deb Hunsicker and Phil Hough know their way around Scotchman Peak northeast of Lake Pend Oreille. As members of the Friends of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness the couple has hiked up the namesake peak numerous times. Their intimacy with the mountain paid off…
NATURE -- Here's an event to make your heart flutter: Youngsters and novices are welcome to join the fun at the Washington Butterfly Association's 12th annual conference, July 15-17, at the Pend Oreille Playhouse in Newport. The schedule includes: Friday evening lecture, "Butterflies and Habitats…
MOUNTAINEERING -- Searchers have found the body of a woman who fell and was missing Saturday while climbing on Mount Baker on northwestern Washington. The Whatcom County sheriff’s office says 34-year-old Sheryl Costello, of Golden, Colo., had reached the summit of the 10,781-foot mountain on…
WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS -- A small black bear was killed the day after a woman was attacked while she was jogging Thursdya near Thomas and Gillette campgrounds east of Colville. As I reported in my blog post on Friday, the 36-year-old woman surprised a bear while…
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- Washington’s fourth documented breeding wolf pack has been confirmed, this one in Kittitas County, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Depatment just announced. Last month, agency biologists caught, attached a radio collar and released an adult female wolf that was lactating, indicating she…
SPORTSMAN PERKS -- It's Hunting and Fishing Day at the Spokane Indians Baseball game tonight at Avista Stadium in Spokane Valley. The tribe takes on the Tri-City Dust Devils at 6:30 p.m. Sportmen with a hunting or fishing licenst pay $5 for a reserved bench…
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT -- Nevermind the Tasers and high-powered weaponry in their vehicles. When law enforcement officers arrived around 6 this morning to deal with three moose on Interstate 90 near Liberty Lake, they were armed with guns you can buy at a toy store. Washington…
RIVER RUNNING -- A 69-year-old Chelan County woman drowned Sunday while on a guided rafting trip on the Wenatchee River. The Wenatchee World says Sharon G. Hughes was one of seven family members and a guide in a raft that hit log jam in the…
HIKING/CLIMBING -- More details are available regarding the death of a 21-year-old Eatonville, Wash., woman who slipped and fell into a crevasse Sunday while hiking and glissading in the Aasgard Pass area (elevation 7,841 feet) of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The woman has been identified…
SALMON FISHING -- Out with his family for their first ocean fishing experience, 8-year-old Jared Clark of Veradale topped all anglers in last week's Ilwaco king salmon derby with the bright beauty he's posing with above. Clark landed the fish on Friday while fishing off…
WILDLIFE -- I posted the notice Friday when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that experts had confirmed a bear photographed by a backpacker in the North Cascades in October was indeed a grizzly. A news report by Craig Welch of the Seattle Times…
NATIONAL PARKS -- Canada's national parks officials are making another stab at generating more revenue from Banff National Park. Parks Canada announced last week that it would consider proposals to offer via ferrata, aerial parks, traction kiting, hang gliding and paragliding in Canada's flagship national…
ANIMALS -- It's a bizarre coincidence, from an animal rights view: Singer and animal advocate Neko Case will be performing at the Bing Crosby Theater on Thursday evening next door to "Kill It and Grill It" right-winger rock guitarist Ted Nugent at The Knitting Factory.
HUNTING/SHOOTING -- Rock guitarist, gun rights advocate, shameless hunter and "Kill It and Grill It," cookbook author Ted Nugent is coming to Spokane for a concert Thursday at The Knitting Factory. What would YOU ask The Nuge about guns or hunting if you had a…
CHARITY OUTDOORS – ROW Adventures will be giving breast cancer research a boost by hosting a one-day benefit raft trip on the Clark Fork River July 31. Proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen breast cancer project in Coeur d’Alene. The event is great for…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.
