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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Out & About

Sandpoint kayaker Jim Payne poses with his kayak during a September solo on the Connecticut River. Courtesy of Jim Payne (Courtesy of Jim Payne)

Auctions offer impressive trips

OUTBID – Join sturgeon researchers, catch ground squirrels, stock mountain trout lakes, go with river guides on the Salmon River or fishing guides on a North Idaho stream.

These and other outdoor trips and equipment are being offered by two different Idaho-based fundraising auctions.

•The Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s annual On-line Trip Auction benefits Watchable Wildlife programs. The auction is under way; bidding ends next Sunday at 8 p.m.

Details: ifwfauction.cmarket.com

•Idaho Outfitter and Guides Association 2010 Outdoor Adventure Auction is accepting online bids before the live auction beginning March 6 at the Coeur d’Alene Casino. A portion of the proceeds benefit The Children’s Village in Coeur d’Alene.

Details: proxybid.com and click on Charity and Benefit.

Info: Barbara Judge, (208) 245-4002.

Vehicles take toll on park bears

OUTCRY –About 23 black bears are killed each year in Canada’s Rocky Mountain national parks even though no hunting is allowed, according to a Parks Canada report.

The largest source of deaths is the Trans-Canada Highway, which slices through the heart of major parks such as Banff.

Highways led to 53 percent of the bear deaths, followed by 28 percent along the national railways.

A total of 477 black bear mortalities were recorded between 1990 and 2009 in all of Canada’s mountain national parks, including Glacier, Revelstoke, Waterton and Jasper.

Speed zones and better handling of garbage have let to a decline of bear mortalities in Jasper National Park in the past 20 years, officials said.

Fencing and underpasses for wildlife are helping reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions in Banff.

Black bear numbers remain healthy in the region’s parks, they said.

Lookout ski race has ups and downs

OUTDO –The two-lap Up-Down Ski Race is set for Saturday, 10 a.m., at Lookout Pass.

Info: (208) 769-7809; nic.edu/op.

River adventure told by paddler

What: Free slide program featuring month-long 373-mile solo paddling adventure in September down the Connecticut River.

Who: By Jim Payne of Sandpoint, sponsored by Spokane Canoe & Kayak Club.

When: Monday, 7 p.m.

Where: Corbin Community Center, 827 W. Cleveland.

Details: Payne is author of “One Inch Above he Water: Running Away on America’s Rivers,” which tells of his experiences on rural and not-so-rural stretches of the Columbia, Potomac, Hudson, St. Lawrence, Mississippi rivers and other waterways.