WILDLIFE -- I received a great letter today from Joe Dufresne regarding the memories evoked by today's Critter Watch column on the us and downs of the albatross nesting on Pacific Island refuges. Dear Mr. Landers; Your article on the albatross today carried me back…
PADDLING -- Typically the Grand Canyon is floated by raft because of the length of time it takes to boat the roadless stretch of the Colorado River. Most trips take 12-21 days to negotiate big whitewater and long stretches of flatwater. All the skills requirements…
CYCLING -- A free session in bicycle maintenance basics will be offered Thursday, 7 p.m.,at the Spokane REI store. The session will demystify important highlights from removing the tire and fixing a flat to keeping the drive train clean and functioning correctly. Pre-register to reserve…
RIVER RUNNING -- At 8 a.m. this morning, a large snag was stuck in the left slot in the Spokane River's notorious Devil's Toenail near the Spokane Rifle Club. "Scout from the road (Aubrey White Parkway)," one rafter said in a whitewter list serve. "Nasty."
DAY HIKING -- Wet spring weather is giving dayhikers extra incentive to hit the trail. Palouse Falls near Washtucna is roaring this week, and nifty trails offer numerous points of view. One not to miss in its brief spring rise to fame is Hog Lake…
RIVER RUNNING -- A Montana man drew a coveted new permit that allows him to pick the ideal flows and perhaps the best fishing period any day of the year to launch a group of rafts down Montana's strictly regulated Smith River. Sean O'Connor of…
PUBLIC LANDS -- Every year, one can find the ruts of tire tracks over soggy forest roads -- as well as trails and even meadows. This wet transition from winter to spring is the most vulnerable time of year for roads, trails and off-trail lands…
FISHING -- Steelhead fishing will close April 1 on the Columbia River from Priest Rapids Dam to Chief Joseph Dam and the Wenatchee, Icicle, Entiat, Methow, Okanogan, and Similkameen rivers, the Washington Fish and Wildlife announced today. Read on for details.
WILDLIFE -- Good news arrived last night from Newman Lake, where my blog item last weekend reported the sad story of a deer with a Halloween bucket stuck on its face. "I can report that the deer is doing fine and the bucket is off!"…
WINTER SPORTS -- Snow continues to fall in the high country, creating a mix of conditions and for backcountry travelers, according to the weekly avalanche advisory just posted by the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center. Generally, avalanche conditions are MODERATE in the region with CONSIDERABLE avalanche…
BIG-GAME HUNTING -- A new law in Montana has made it more difficult to get a guaranteed big-game hunting tag through an outfitter. But in the state's first permit period, all of the available permits WERE NOT SOLD. If you want to hunt Montana in…
OUTFITTERS -- The suicide of a well-liked Middle Fork Salmon River guide last year is spurring the organizaton of a foundation to provide confidential access to mental and physical health care and substance abuse counseling for any of the 2,000 Idaho guides who might need…
CONSERVATION -- Two worthy local outdoor causes are having fun feasts and auctions this weekend: The Centennial Trail's third annual Adventure Auction is Friday at Northern Quest Casino. Info: 624-7188. The Friends of the Centennial Trail donate funds to trail construction. Friends of Turnbull National…
HUNTING -- Idaho is joining the bandwagon of states allowing potential new hunters accompanied by a mentor to try the sport before they pass a state-certified hunter education course. On Tuesday, Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter signed into law House Bill 85, making Idaho the…
PUBLIC LANDS -- The Bureau of Land Management in Idaho is seeking nominations for 22 open positions -- five in North Idaho -- on its four Resource Advisory Councils, which advise the BLM on public land issues. The BLM will consider nominations until May 2.…
CONSERVATION -- Pullman Ducks Unlimited will hold its annual banquet and auction Saturday, March 26, at Banyan’s Restaurant at the Palouse Ridge Golf Course. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m.; dinner served at 7 and live auction at 8. Tickets: Jeremy Lessmann, (509) 330-1822.
FISHING -- The Montana Senate has revisions to the state’s stream access law under substantial opposition from anglers,. the Associated Press reports. Stream access is considered a public right vital to the state's recreational fishing industry. House Bill 309 reopened a simmering dispute over a…
NATIONAL FORESTS -- The U.S. Forest Service held public meetings this week in Missoula, Coeur d'Alene and Seattle to explain the details and intent of the recently proposed draft Planning Rule to be applied to 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands. If put…
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter decided against taking a formal stance on a settlement to allow public hunting of wolves in parts of the Northern Rockies as state representatives headed for court hearing in Missoula today. Otter’s chief lawyer David Hensley says the…
NATIONAL PARKS -- Bear tracks in the snow this week alerted Glacier National Park officials that bears are emerging from hibernation and venturing out looking for food. That means it's time for a refresher on hiking and traveling in bear country. Read on for tips…
NATIONAL FORESTS -- Volunteer Forest Service campground hosts are being sought for the summer season at the historic Snyder Guard Station near the Moyie River, the Bonners Ferry Ranger District says. Applications are being accepted. The hosts should be selected by May 10. "This is…
HUNTING -- "I got a good 7-year-old bird," the camo-clad hunter proudly said when the wildlife biologist asked if he'd had any luck. When Joel Glover asked how the hunter knew the age of the bird, the Alabama biologist got a look of disdain as…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- There's a sense of relief this week among fish and wildlife biologists who manage the specks of National Wildlife Refuge islands west of Hawaii. Wisdom is back. In this Febuary 2011 photo provided by the US Geological Survey, a Laysan albatross, roughly…
FISHING -- My friend, Jim, had been kicking but on Lake Roosevelt kokanee and rainbows last week, as he's done most of the times he's fished the reservoir for years. The fish researcher at the Keller boat ramp check station said the anglers on shore…
RIVERS -- Members of the Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club, pictured above unloading their boats at the popular Spokane River Centennial Trail access at Mission and Flora on Sunday, are working to assure that the access won't be gobbled up by development plans. The access…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.
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