Out & About: Davis sets record on Appalachian Trail

OUTHIKE – Striding along at a rate of nearly two marathons a day, Jennifer Pharr Davis last Sunday set an unofficial record for the fastest assisted hike of the entire Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Mount Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia.

She saw 36 bears, moose, porcupines and every sunrise and sunset during an epic 2,180-mile journey that lasted 46 days, 11 hours and 20 minutes.

Davis’ friends and her husband, fellow hiking enthusiast Brew Davis (at left in photo), supported her effort so she could trek equipped with a daypack or less.

She went through five pairs of hybrid hiking and running shoes while averaging about 47 miles a day, breaking the previous record set by a man six years ago by just more than 24 hours.

And she suffered nearly a week of dysentery in the early portion of her trek, giving a new twist to “the trots.”

Spokane lands fly fishers in 2012

OUTCAST – “It’s official!” said Spokane fly fisher Len Zickler. “Spokane has been selected as the site for the July 10-14, 2012, Federation of Fly Fishers Fly Fishing Fair. 

“Local fly fishing clubs will be teaming with Gonzaga University and the Spokane Sports Commission for the event,” he said, noting that other sponsors are starting to line up.

For decades the “fair” had been known as the group’s annual “conclave.”

Zickler said the event is likely to attract “2,000 participants from all over the United States and from international locations as well.”

Five days of activities will include an Expo for visitors to watch world-class fly tiers and angling vendors, as well a women’s fly angling workshop and a youth fishing camp. 

The Spokane conclave will follow this year’s big event in West Yellowstone, Wyo., where the 46th annual Fly Fishing Fair will be held Aug. 31-Sept. 3.

Info: email lzickler@ahbl.com.

OUTPADDLE – Most boaters know by now that Idaho requires a $7 invasive species sticker on all power boats as well as on all non-motorized kayaks, canoes and inflatables longer than 10 feet.

But some boaters don’t know that the sticker is transferrable to different paddle boats in a boater’s personal fleet.

That’s why boaters who purchase their stickers at Northwest River Supply in Moscow get their stickers encased, for no extra charge, in plastic with a zip-tie.