Michael Wright

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Sports >  Outdoors

Fundraising fills grooming budget shortfall for Mount Spokane State Park

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 6, 2024

An expected budget shortfall for snow grooming operations at Mount Spokane State Park has been solved thanks to fundraising efforts by local wintersports enthusiasts.

Sports >  Outdoors

Nordic Hut keeps cross country ski rentals alive at Mount Spokane State Park

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 6, 2024

Off to the side of the Selkirk Lodge at Mount Spokane State Park, there’s a white semi-trailer full of Nordic skis, boots, poles and snowshoes waiting for someone to try them out.

Sports >  Outdoors

Survey asks people how they use the Lower Snake River

Thu., Dec. 5, 2024

State and federal officials want to know how you play in the Lower Snake River corridor.

Sports >  Outdoors

Outdoor recreation’s economic impact grows again

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 29, 2024

Outdoor recreation’s impact on the national economy grew again in 2023, marking three consecutive years of growth.

Sports >  Outdoors

Michael Wright: Just go outside

Thu., Nov. 28, 2024

If fighting the crowds at stores on the day after Thanksgiving isn’t your thing, there’s always a better option available.

Sports >  Outdoors

Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park to open Friday

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 25, 2024

Chairlifts will be up and running at Spokane’s backyard ski hill this weekend.

Sports >  Outdoors

First tracks: Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center hires first full-time director

UPDATED: Sun., Nov. 24, 2024

Avalanche forecasting isn’t really an office job.

Sports >  Outdoors

49 Degrees North announces opening date

UPDATED: Sat., Nov. 16, 2024

Washington’s second-largest ski area has announced its opening day.

Sports >  Outdoors

Washington confirms second case of chronic wasting disease

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 20, 2024

Another case of chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in Washington, wildlife officials said Friday.

Sports >  Outdoors

Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge to expand fall turkey hunting

Thu., Nov. 14, 2024

Federal officials are expanding fall turkey hunting at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, adding acreage to the reservation-only hunting program in its second year.

Sports >  Outdoors

Let it snow: Spokane-area ski hills ready for winter

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 11, 2024

It’s always a good sign when a chairlift starts running before the midpoint of November.

Sports >  Outdoors

Lookout Pass Ski Area to open Friday

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 7, 2024

Skiers and snowboarders already have a reason to rejoice.

Sports >  Outdoors

Northern pike kept in check in northeast Washington

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 4, 2024

An unwanted piscatorial predator is becoming less common in northeast Washington.

Sports >  Outdoors

For the birds: Restoration project at Swanson Lakes aimed at helping struggling sharp-tailed grouse population

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 25, 2024

LINCOLN COUNTY – Not far from the shores of Z Lake, amid the tan grasslands of the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area, there’s an enclosure that looks out of place.

Sports >  Outdoors

Washington DNR’s statewide recreation plan sets goals, highlights budget woes

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 24, 2024

A plan meant to guide recreation management on 5.6 million acres of public land in Washington is out for public review.

Sports >  Outdoors

Steelhead season returns to the Methow River

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 18, 2024

It’s been a busy week for Lance Rider.

Sports >  Outdoors

Forest Service freezes hiring of some seasonal employees

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 18, 2024

A freeze on hiring some seasonal employees across the U.S. Forest Service will have local impacts, but the agency has taken steps to protect some positions from going dark.

Sports >  Outdoors

Washington man travels to more than 400 National Park Service sites

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 17, 2024

A couple of decades ago, Garland Frankfurth was in a store in Yellowstone National Park when he noticed a booklet for sale.

Sports >  Outdoors

Michael Wright: Skating flies and the nature of logic on the Grande Ronde River

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 11, 2024

There’s no reason a steelhead should eat a fly that skitters across the surface of a river. Actually, there’s no reason steelhead should eat flies at all.

Sports >  Outdoors

Check stations, self service kiosks to open for CWD ahead of general hunting season

Thu., Oct. 10, 2024

Check stations and self-service kiosks will be available for hunters in Eastern Washington this weekend to get their animals tested for chronic wasting disease.

Sports >  Outdoors

North Idaho snowmobile plan on hold

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 8, 2024

A plan governing snowmobile use on public lands in North Idaho that was to be in effect this winter is on hold as federal officials examine its impact on wolverines.

Sports >  Outdoors

Two more deer positive for CWD in North Idaho; prevalence low for now

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 2, 2024

Two more deer have tested positive for chronic wasting disease in the Idaho Panhandle, but wildlife officials are hopeful they’ve caught the outbreak in time to limit its spread.

Sports >  Outdoors

A path forward: Collaborative forms to craft public lands legislation for North Idaho

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 27, 2024

SANDPOINT – Idaho is home to some of the country’s most spectacular wilderness areas.

Sports >  Outdoors

‘A gentle wilderness’: How a bear hunt led to the push to protect the Salmo-Priest Wilderness

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 27, 2024

SALMO PRIEST WILDERNESS – Sullivan Creek Road begins east of Metaline Falls and follows its eponymous creek for miles. When the road turns north, the climbing starts. It winds high into the Selkirk Mountains and dead ends on a ridge close to Salmo Mountain. Then there are no more roads.

Sports >  Outdoors

To the woods: Washington’s forest grouse season opens Sunday

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 13, 2024

The season of long walks with a shotgun is upon us.