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Stories tagged: national forests
Sun., July 16, 2017, 5:25 a.m.
Out & About: Seniors to pay more for federal lands pass
Congress passed legislation in December that will significantly ramp up the cost of a federal pass that gets citizens age 62 and older into federal recreation sites where entry fees …
UPDATED: Sat., April 1, 2017, 3:50 p.m.
Field Reports: More help needed to maintain national forest trails
The Forest Service is letting the public suggest trail systems that should receive priority for maintenance in an era of bare-bones trail budgets.
Tue., Feb. 14, 2017
Past opinions provide perspective
Looking Back reviews opinions published in The Spokesman-Review during this week in history. National forests, Feb. 18, 1906
Sun., Feb. 5, 2017, 4:30 a.m.
Transferring federal land: an old idea that still offends the masses
Having a beef with the federal government is as old as the USA. So is the associated idealism and greed that’s helping fuel the current campaigns to transfer federal public …
Fri., Feb. 3, 2017, 10 a.m.
Forest Service on hold for hiring seasons firefighters, trail crews
Federal workers scrambled last week to interpret how President Donald Trump’s hiring freeze of civilian employees might affect seasonal firefighters and other part-time employees such as trail crews.
Sun., Dec. 4, 2016, 4:22 a.m.
Destroyed Little Snowy Top lookout provided shelter, memories to many
The cabin stood tall in the wilderness of northeastern Washington to combat wildfires and shelter visitors for 84 years.
Sun., Oct. 30, 2016, 2:33 a.m.
Field Reports: Colville National Forest looking to fill 50 seasonal jobs
The Colville National Forest is looking to fill 50 seasonal jobs in northeast Washington for next summer. Forest officials are going so far as to hold workshops to help applicants …
Sat., July 16, 2016, 3:51 p.m.
Hells Canyon boating fee proposal caught public off guard
The citizen’s council with the power to decide if a Hells Canyon river fee should move forward learned about the proposal more than 18 months before the general public.
Sat., June 25, 2016, 4:58 p.m.
Colville Forest plan will ration recreation on 1.1 million acres
Something is at stake for everyone from mountain bikers to loggers in the 1.1 million-acre Colville National Forest as the July 5 deadline approaches for public comment on the draft …
Wed., May 25, 2016, 7 p.m.
Landers: Most forest recreation areas open for holiday with some restrictions
Most of the region’s public lands campgrounds are opening just in time for the Memorial Day weekend – the unofficial opening of the camping season. However, some roads and trails …
Sat., April 9, 2016
Expected bumper crop of mushrooms spells new rules, permits
Inland Northwest national forests swept by 2015 wildfires are gearing up with rules, permits and educational pamphlets as officials expect a spring rush of mushroom gatherers. A bumper crop of …
Sat., April 2, 2016, 3:38 p.m.
Field reports: Nez Perce working to reintroduce condors to Hells Canyon
BIRDS – Idaho’s Nez Perce Tribe has been awarded a $200,000 federal grant to pursue reintroducing California condors in Hells Canyon. The Nez Perce grant is a share of nearly …
Wed., March 16, 2016, 4:44 p.m.
Rich Landers: Pet dogs caught up in Idaho’s wolf-control effort
Mary Franzel and her pets almost made it through Idaho’s 2015-16 wolf trapping season unscathed. On Friday, the Clark Fork resident was cross-country skiing north of town on Lightning Creek …
Wed., March 9, 2016, 2:39 p.m.
National forest road hazards spring up in wake of 2015 fires
Landslides occurring on the region’s national forests are prompting warnings from Forest Service officials that anyone traveling in the snow-free areas of low-elevation mountains should have an exit plan.
Sat., Feb. 20, 2016, 4:12 p.m.
Mount Hood’s Timberline Trail to fully reopen in 2017
One of the most spectacular trails in the United States – and perhaps the most iconic pathway in Oregon – is scheduled to reopen in full by the summer of …
Sat., Feb. 13, 2016, 4:40 p.m.
Fire-related closures affect winter recreation
Wildfires
Sat., Jan. 2, 2016, 3:50 p.m.
Field reports: State laws ban hunter harassment
Field reports: State laws ban hunter harassment
Wed., Dec. 2, 2015, 3:38 p.m.
Motorized users sue Kootenai Forest for more access to proposed wilderness areas
Snowmobile clubs and advocacy groups from Montana and Idaho are suing the U.S. Forest Service and its plan that bars motorized access in certain protected areas of the 2.2 million …
UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 9, 2015, 11:16 p.m.
Fourth-graders can get free Christmas trees from national forests
Fourth-grade students are eligible for a free Christmas tree permit from local national forests as part of an initiative to get children outdoors.
Sun., Aug. 9, 2015, 12:04 a.m.
Spokane Mountaineers celebrate centennial with 100 miler in Pasayten
A 100-mile backpacking trip is a good start for sizing up a wilderness area as well as understanding what makes a century-old outdoors club tick. The Spokane Mountaineers, celebrating their …
Sun., July 5, 2015
Field reports: WATV lawsuit filed as forests open routes
ORV-ING – Six routes for wheeled ATVs (WATVs) were opened June 26 across the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. However, on Thursday a lawsuit was filed seeking to bar street-ready all-terrain vehicles …
Sun., July 5, 2015
Out & About: National forests hurdle language barrier
OUTSPOKEN – A pilot “on demand” phone interpretation service to enhance public service to non-native English speakers has been announced by the Pacific Northwest Region of the USDA Forest Service …
Thu., May 21, 2015
Recreationists will find summer-like conditions for holiday outings
Campers, hikers, boaters and anglers should be thinking of the 2015 Memorial Day holiday weekend as taking place in mid-to-late June rather than this Saturday through Monday. The region’s snowpack …
Sun., May 3, 2015, 9:47 p.m.
Lake Chelan hikers earn sweet reward in 18-mile trek to Stehekin
Stehekin is a Northwest classic backcountry destination at the end of Lake Chelan, accessible by boat and floatplane and, most deliciously, by foot. Hikers who tough out an 18-mile trail …
Sun., May 3, 2015
Out & About: Mudders trash restored national forest meadow
OUTLAW – Colville National Forest officers are looking for tips in the case of a four-wheel-drive vehicle that left deep marks in a restored meadow this month. After the meadow …
Thu., April 9, 2015
Montana trail managers and rangers travel long distances to measure remote snow sites
Snow courses, which are spread throughout the Montana’s mountain ranges, are one tool the Natural Resources Conservation Service uses to measure snowpack and predict stream flows. Many of the state’s …
Wed., March 25, 2015
Bonner County board backs Scotchman Peaks wilderness proposal
Bonner County commissioners unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday calling for the U.S. Congress to designate the Idaho portion of the Scotchman Peaks as a wilderness. “The Scotchmans is a …
Thu., March 5, 2015
In brief: National Forest officials advise caution as roads open early
A skimpy snowpack is opening roads in the region’s national forests earlier than normal, but it’s not judicious to drive up every seemingly open road. In some cases, it’s illegal, …
Sun., Feb. 15, 2015
Some outdoor trips require advance planning
Winter is the season for thinking ahead to summer adventures that require a special permit or reservations. Campers seeking to stay at popular national park or national forest cabins, lookouts …
Thu., Jan. 29, 2015
Landers: Over-snow vehicle rule seeks backcountry balance
Snowmobiles and other over-snow vehicles eventually will be allowed to ride only on roads, trails and areas specifically designated for their use, according to a rule being adopted by the …