Rich Landers

Check it out Distance: 2 miles round trip Difficulty: easy Hiking time: 1 hour Season: March through December Maps: USGS Spokane NW, Spokane NE Info: Spokane City Parks and Recreation, 625-6200 Hiking trip notes Access: Trailhead is in Spokane at Liberty Park picnic area, corner of Third and Perry. From Interstate 90 westbound, take Second Street exit. From I-90 eastbound, take Altamont exit.

Wildlife enforcement Wildlife enforcement agents are overwhelmed by the staggering number of moose poaching cases in Eastern Washington and North Idaho this fall. "It's incredible; absolutely bizarre," said Steve Agte, Panhandle enforcement chief for the Idaho Fish and Game Department. "We had 14 moose poaching cases in the Panhandle last year, but this year since elk season opened we've confirmed 22 cases and the number may be 25." The Washington Fish and Wildlife Department confirmed two more illegally killed moose in the Thompson Creek drainage east of Mount Spokane last weekend.

Backcountry skiing As usual, Stagleap Provincial Park on the pass between Salmo and Creston, British Columbia, provided the first easy access to snow deep enough for cross-country skiing.

Conservation The estate of a recently deceased conservationist has contributed $5,000 to boost the fund-raising effort for preserving 170 acres of the Tower Mountain area known as the Rocks of Sharon. However, the Dishman Hills Natural Area Association says the public cannot become complacent. "We cannot count on gifts of this size, though more may be forthcoming," said club member Tom Rogers. The private conservation group has purchased the property, but still owes $146,604. The group, which took the lead in the 1960s to purchase and preserve the Dishman Hills Natural Area, accepts tax-deductible donations and collects recyclable materials in order to pay the quarterly land payments of $6,467. Info: DHNAA, P.O. Box 14141, Spokane, WA 99214-0141.

CHECK IT OUT Distance: 7 miles Difficulty: Easy Paddling time: 2-3 hours Season: March through November Maps: USGS St. Maries Info: U.S. Geological Survey water resources office in Sandpoint, (208) 263-4123 PADDLING TRIP NOTES Access: In St. Maries, Idaho, go to corner of First and College streets at west end of town (just behind IGA grocery store). To reach take-out site, head southeast 1 mile on Highway 3 (College Street becomes Highway 3) to sportsmen's fishing access on west side of road. Leave shuttle vehicle here and backtrack to First and College streets. To reach put-in site, head south on First Street (behind IGA store). Follow main paved road as it winds and eventually turns to rough gravel and parallels railway. Put-in is 5-3/4 miles from First and College streets, just past fourth crossing of railway and outcropping of basalt rock columns. Park on west side of road and carry boats to river unless you have high-clearance vehicle for rough rail crossing to riverside parking area.

Even though there's virtually no organized financial opposition to Washington's Referendum 45, supporters say they won't rest until the votes are cast Nov. 7. "We're finding that most people don't know much about about the Fish and Wildlife Commission, but once they do, they support the referendum," said Bob Panther, executive director of the Spokane-based Inland Northwest Wildlife Council.

CHECK IT OUT Distance: 2-1/2 miles Difficulty: Mostly easy Hiking time: 1 hour Season: March through November Maps: Dishman Hills Natural Area available at Northwest Map and Travel Service Info: Spokane County Parks and Recreation, 465-4730 HIKING TRIP NOTES Access: From Argonne Road in the Spokane Valley, drive west on Sprague Avenue 1/4 mile and turn south onto Sargent Road. Go straight on Sargent 1/4 mile, over short graveled stretch, to parking area at Camp Caro. Attractions: Public natural area managed by Spokane County Parks Department is excellent destination for families or anyone else who wants quick hiking fix minutes from city chaos. Route is particularly splendid during April and May, when wildflowers are prolific, or in October, when hills are brilliant with autumn colors. Camp Caro has large grassy play area with playground equipment and restrooms. Comments: Hills abound with flowers such as grass widows and arrowleaf balsamroot in April. Serviceberry blooms in May followed by wild rose, ocean spray and a who's-who of the native plants that once flourished throughout the area.

Lynn Hill

Hunting The Washington Fish and Wildlife Department is seeking suggestions for possible adjustments to hunting seasons and bag limits for 1996-1999.

Skiing The annual Ski and Snowboard Swap, sponsored by the Mount Spokane Ski Patrol, opens next weekend for the 31st year. Register items for sale on Friday, 3 p.m.-9 p.m. at Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds. The swap runs Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m.-noon. Info: 535-0102.

Centennial Trail The Friends of the Centennial Trail recently moved their office to the Peyton Building at 10 N. Post St., Suite 649. The group continues to seek volunteers to adopt portions of the trail for maintenance as well as raise money for trail improvements through donations and sale of Miracle Mile medallions. Info: 624-7188.

CHECK IT OUT Distance: 16 miles Difficulty: Easy Driving time: 30 minutes

Rock climbing Spokane's first major indoor rock-climbing event - with categories for everyone from kids to advanced rock jocks - is set for Oct. 28 at Wild Walls Climbing Gym, 202 W. Second. Competitors in the six categories will tackle routes ranging from easy for the kids under 9 years old to difficult for the advanced climbers. Climbers will earn points for reaching the top of different routes.

Hiking Fall is a brilliant season for backpacking, but it's also the hunting season. While accidental shootings are extremely rare during hunting seasons, there's no sense taking a chance of momentarily resembling a portion of a game animal in the dark woods.

The future of bighorn sheep got a boost from the Montana Supreme Court recently. The court ruled that the state Department of Lands could not permit private landowners to run domestic sheep on public land without preparing an environmental analysis of the impacts the practice might have on wild bighorn sheep.

Wildlife management Human encounters with cougars continue to occur far above historic levels, Washington Fish and Wildlife Department officials say.

Habitat The Pennsylvania-based Ruffed Grouse Society has pumped $17,000 into three Washington habitat projects aimed at boosting the feathered rocket population. Since 1985, the society has improved habitat at 300 sites in 24 states and five provinces The most recent project in Washington involved improving aspen regeneration and protecting forest waterways on 140 acres in the Cox Meadow area of the Okanogan National Forest. Other state projects have been in Stevens and Ferry counties. Info: (608) 788-1786.

Wildlife refuges Hunters who want to take a break during the midday lull Saturday can stop at headquarters and have their say about the future of the Little Pend Oreille Wildlife National Wildlife Refuge. "We know it's the opening day of deer season, but we thought hunters might want to take a break between noon and 3 p.m. and stop in," said Lisa Langelier, refuge manager. The refuge, which is geared primarily as habitat for white-tailed deer, is beginning to draw up a management plan. The public will be asked for comments on proposals for such things as restricting motor vehicles on some roads and expanding refuge priorities to include species other than whitetails. To reach the refuge from Colville, head east on Highway 20 about six miles and turn south on Artman-Gibson Road. Follow signs about seven miles to the headquarters. A public meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Oct. 17, at Colville High School.

CHECK IT OUT Distance: 13 miles Difficulty: Moderate Riding time: 2 - 3 hours Season: Late June through mid-October Maps: Spokane County Recreation Map by Northwest Map and Travel Service.> Info: Mount Spokane State Park, 456-4169. MOUNTAIN BIKING TRIP NOTES Access: From U.S. Highway 2 north of Spokane, head east on State Route 206 (Mount Spokane Park Drive) 15 miles to park entrance, which is just past Kirk's Lodge. Continue uphill 3-1/2 miles to junction with Summit Road. Trailhead is in large parking area at right. Attractions: Loop trip goes around Mount Spokane, with good combination of scenic views along with uphills and downhills on reasonable grades. Route follows dirt road, double track trail or pavement, easily negotiated by mountain bikers of all skill levels. Only reason it's ranked "moderate" instead of "easy" is the fitness level required to handle two sustained climbs. Go through lightly visited north side of park. Cross small streams. Coast through old-growth forest and huckleberry stands. Tremendous wildflower displays in summer followed by brilliant fall colors in early October. Comments: Best times to ride are early in morning or late in afternoon for solitude and opportunity to see wildlife. Park opens 6:30 a.m. to dusk.

Wildlife refuges The Spokane Chapter of the National Audubon Society is seeking volunteers for a work party at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge Saturday. The project coincides with National Wildlife Refuge Week. Since the first wildlife refuge was established by Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, the National Refuge System has grown to 92 million acres at more than 500 refuge sites. They range from a half acre to 20 million acres. Refuges nearest to this area include Turnbull near Cheney, Little Pend Oreille east of Colville, Columbia near Othello, Umatilla and McNary near the Tri-Cities, Kootenai near Bonners Ferry and the Lee Metcalf and National Bison Range in Western Montana. Volunteers for the Turnbull project will meet at the refuge at 9 a.m. to begin planting trees along Pine Creek. Info: 455-4462.

Two weeks ago, five Spokane men flew to Alaska for the fly fishing trip of their dreams. From Anchorage, they flew to Kodiak, where a float plane greeted them like clockwork for the shuttle to the Karluk River. They were hooking 18-pound silver salmon, 8-pound Dolly Varden and ocean-bright steelhead within an hour.

Members of the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council aren't planting trees and shrubs for wildlife habitat this fall. Instead, the wildlife conservation group is planting yard signs asking voters to approve state Referendum 45. The Spokane-based group of about 1,000 members has taken the lead in a statewide measure designed to remove politics from fish and wildlife management.

Hiking A revised second-edition guidebook to the Pacific Northwest Trail is available on diskette, making it easier to keep up with new developments in the 1,100-mile route from Glacier National Park to the Olympic Peninsula. The trail follows designated trails, roads and corridors over the Continental Divide, through the Purcell and Selkirk mountains, across the Salmo-Priest Wilderness, Kettle Range and Columbia River, into the Pasayten Wilderness, North Cascades National Park and through Puget Sound before ending at the wilderness beaches of Olympic National Park. The guide is available for $15 postpaid from Pacific Northwest Trail Association, P.O. Box 1048, Seattle, WA 98111-1048.

Jolene Unsoeld