Field Reports: Yellowstone bears out and about

Grizzly bears have been emerging from their dens since as early as Feb. 28, according to Yellowstone National Park rangers.

Bears eventually begin looking for food. This time of year, that often means eating the carcasses of animals that didn’t survive the winter.

Be especially cautious if you happen upon a carcass, said Al Nash, park spokesman, noting that bears tend to be grumpy as they wake from their long winter’s sleep.

Staff and wire reports

MOUNT SPOKANE

Summit relief

Relief is just a snowball’s throw away on the summit of Mount Spokane, thanks to Eagle Scout candidate Michael Knopp, 15.

Knopp raised $10,000 last year to help the state park install a vault toilet near the top of Chair 1 to give patrons of the Vista House winter weekend food service “a place to go.” Previously, the closest restroom was a mile away.

State Parks matched Knopp’s $10,000 and installed the toilet last fall.

Friends of Mt. Spokane

MOUNTAINEERING

Smith Rocks lure AAC to Bend

The who’s who of the climbing world will be in Bend, Ore., for the American Alpine Club’s annual meeting and Mountain Fest March 30-April 1.

“We like to go where there is great climbing nearby, and you can’t beat Smith Rocks,” said AAC President Jim Donini from club headquarters in Golden, Colo.

Featured speakers include Steve House, a Bend local and one of the world’s leading alpinists, plus Tommy Caldwell and Beth Rodden, who free-climbed El Capitan.

In addition to House, Caldwell and Rodden, this year’s clinicians for skills seminars include Lynn Hill, Chris Sharma, Dave Graham, Chris Lindner, Kate Rutherford and Josh Wharton.

Info: www.- AmericanAlpineClub.org.

Rich Landers