Rich Landers

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Sports >  Outdoors

Rich Landers: $16 million stream restoration project benefits fish, and hikers too

UPDATED: Sun., Aug. 16, 2020

The newest trail project on the Colville National Forest near Sullivan Lake offers hikers a trip down memory lane. Each step leads to lessons ranging from industrialization to ecosystem recovery, with the occasional deer or bear sighting along the way.

Sports >  Outdoors

2017: The year outdoors

Sun., Dec. 31, 2017

A lot of ground was covered in the Great Outdoors in 2017, but no one accomplished a more skillful feat than rock-jock Alex Honnold.

Sports >  Outdoors

Outdoor Writing Contest 2017 winners announced

Sat., Dec. 23, 2017

A story by Sydney Lyman, a junior at Mead High School, has been judged the best of 111 entries to win The Spokesman-Review’s 2017 Outdoor Writing Contest for high school students.

Sports >  Outdoors

Wimpy fly rod lands whopper fish at Rocky Ford Creek

Thu., Dec. 21, 2017

Don Childress, a Sandpoint angler says an old, soft, fiberglass rod was the ticket to landing the Central Washington trout of a lifetime out of Rocky Ford Creek this month.

News >  Spokane

Record eagle count at Lake Coeur d’Alene

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 20, 2017

A new record for bald eagles was set Wednesday during their annual gathering at Lake Coeur d’Alene to feed on spawning kokanee.

Sports >  Outdoors

Rich Landers’ Outdoors Blog evolves; S-R’s Eli Francovich takes over

Tue., Dec. 5, 2017

TRANSITIONS -- The Outdoors Blog is evolving. After nearly 41 years as Outdoors editor at The Spokesman-Review, Rich Landers has officially retired. He will continue writing occasionally as an Outdoors correspondent, but the reins of the department and Outdoor coverage have been handed to the...

Sports >  Outdoors

Volunteers gather lichen to help save critically endangered mountain caribou

Sun., Dec. 3, 2017

Volunteers in North Idaho are lichen their role in saving the most critically endangered animals in North America.

Sports >  Outdoors

Magazine taps Spokane as ‘Next American Ski Town’

Fri., Dec. 1, 2017

The December issue of Powder Magazine lists Spokane as one of four up and coming ‘Ski Towns’ as opposed to the storied locales of Jackson, Telluride, Mammoth and Sun Valley.

Sports >  Outdoors

It’s a record! Surge of bald eagles flocks to Lake Coeur d’Alene

Thu., Nov. 30, 2017

WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Bald eagles by the hundreds this week have smashed the record for their annual gathering at Lake Coeur d'Alene to feed on spawning kokanee. A record 314 bald eagles was counted today in the survey of the eagle season by Carrie Hugo,...

Sports >  Outdoors

Wildlife recreation grant proposals screened by volunteers

Wed., Nov. 29, 2017

Wildlife recreation grant proposals screened by volunteers

Sports >  Outdoors

Powder lists Spokane as ‘Next American Ski Town’ because it’s affordable

Tue., Nov. 28, 2017

WINTERSPORTS -- The December issue of Powder Magazine lists Spokane as one of four up and coming 'Ski Towns' as opposed to the storied locales of Jackson, Telluride, Mammoth and Sun Valley. The reason: You don't have to be freakin' filthy rich in order to...

Sports >  Outdoors

Old School: Elk hunter Jim Kujala gets the job done

Sun., Nov. 26, 2017

Classically clad from head to toe in wool – shirt, pant, hat and gloves – the hunter is as quiet as a cougar slipping through the undergrowth in the timber. Six-foot-two and lean as a herd bull after a tough winter, Jim Kujala seems to feel, breath and think like an elk.

Sports >  Outdoors

Snowy owl brightens Lincoln County landscape

Sat., Nov. 25, 2017

WILDLIFE WATCHING -- With no snow on the ground, a white snowy owl stands out in the Lincoln County landscape on Saturday. Snowy owls are arctic birds that come south as far as the northern tier of states to hunt rodents during winter. They're stunning...

Sports >  Outdoors

Rich Landers: ‘Environmentalists’ eventually forced out of their closets

Thu., Nov. 23, 2017

What would you do if something threatened your favorite mountain? While most people don’t do much more than complain and feel sorry for themselves when facing demise off something so special or even essential in their lives, a few are inspired to take action.

Sports >  Outdoors

Colville Forest reopens Sullivan Creek Road closed by wild fires

Wed., Nov. 22, 2017

Colville Forest reopens Sullivan Creek Road closed by wild fires

Sports >  Outdoors

State Parks access free on Black Friday; no pass required

Wed., Nov. 22, 2017

PARKS -- Washington State Parks are offering their own sort of deal for Black Friday -- free access. Entrance fees and Discover Pass requirements for vehicles will be waived on the day after Thanksgiving. The passes cost $10 a day or $30 for a year....

Sports >  Outdoors

Court blocks sheep grazing in eastern Idaho to protect bighorn sheep

Tue., Nov. 21, 2017

Court blocks sheep grazing in eastern Idaho to protect bighorn sheep

Sports >  Outdoors

Bald eagles boom! Gathering quadruples in a week at Lake Coeur d’Alene

Tue., Nov. 21, 2017

Bald eagles boom! Gathering quadruples in a week at Lake Coeur d'Alene

Sports >  Outdoors

Washington restricts import of big game carcasses from Montana after CWD confirmed

Tue., Nov. 21, 2017

HUNTING -- The discovery of chronic wasting disease in free-ranging deer in Montana this fall means restrictions for sportsmen who come from CWD-free states to hunt deer, elk or moose there. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has filed an emergency rule that adds...

Sports >  Outdoors

Citizens advise fish, wildlife agency on generating revenue

Mon., Nov. 20, 2017

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT -- Two people from Spokane have been appointed to a 20-member advisory committee to help the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife a with strategic planning, development of legislative proposals and future budget requests. David Cloe of the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council and...

Sports >  Outdoors

Management of steelhead fishing guides discussed at meetings

Mon., Nov. 20, 2017

FISHING -- The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has scheduled public meetings in a step toward revising management of the state's salmon and steelhead fishing guide industry. All meetings are scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: East Wenatchee: Nov. 20, Douglas County PUD...

Sports >  Outdoors

Fire ravages Boggan’s Oasis, iconic Grande Ronde River cafe and pit stop

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 20, 2017

Boggan’s Oasis, an iconic cafe and fishing staging area on the Grande Ronde at SR 129 near Anatone, Wash., burned to the ground during the night into this morning.

Sports >  Outdoors

Fire ravages Boggan’s Oasis, iconic Grande Ronde River cafe and pit stop

Sun., Nov. 19, 2017

RIVERS -- Boggan's Oasis, an iconic cafe and fishing staging area on the Grande Ronde at SR 129 near Anatone, Wash., burned to the ground during the night into this morning. No injuries reported. For decades, Boggan's has served as a base for getting fishing...

Sports >  Outdoors

Elk hunter beats long odds to tag six-point bull

Sun., Nov. 19, 2017

Bagging a 6-by-6 point bull elk is a struggle against high odds for anyone in Washington. In the case of Stan Mrzygod, it was essentially a miracle.

Sports >  Outdoors

Points system bittersweet boost to big-game permit drawing odds

Sun., Nov. 19, 2017

Since 1996, Washington has employed a