Rich Landers

World Wide Web The list of outdoor offerings accessible over the Internet continues to grow. A sampling: Get detailed information about any of the nation's national parks at http://www.nps.gov.

Mount Spokane Volunteers are needed to fill two openings on the Mount Spokane State Park Advisory Committee. The committee advises state officials on development and management at the park.

Birdwatching The region's birdwatching hotspot this week could be Freezout Lake wildlife area near Great Falls, Mont., where hundreds of thousands of snow geese typically descend in late March. The birds are on their migration from California to the arctic. Info: (406) 467-2646.

Wildlife For 20 years International Film Festival in Missoula has worked to set a standard for films that influence public thinking on wildlife from classrooms to television.

Penny Schwyn can get your outdoor gear in gear. Photo by Rich Landers/The Spokesman-Review

Climbing Photos, prose, poetry and journal excerpts regarding rock climbing, ice climbing and mountaineering are being solicited for the 1998 Women Climbing Engagement Calendar. The volunteer project, which began in 1992, donates profits to programs for women's outdoor leadership. Contributors are not paid, but will receive credit and a free calendar. Send materials to Women Climbers Northwest, Calendar Submissions, P.O. Box 31223, Seattle, WA 98103-1223.

Wildlife conservation Sportsmen are rallying this spring to raise money for projects to boost a variety of wildlife. Pheasants Forever's Spokane and North Idaho Chapter will have its banquet and auction April 5, 5 p.m., Spokane Valley Red Lion. Tickets $50 for singles and $75 for couples. Info: J.J. Johnson, 326-2622. National Wild Turkey Federation's Inland Empire Chapter has set its fund-raising banquet for April 12, 5:30 p.m. at the Spokane Community College Lair. Tickets $50 for singles, $75 for couples. Info: Larry Walker, 467-5444. Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's Spokane Chapter will celebrate it's 10th annual banquet April 26th at the Ridpath Hotel. Tickets $48 for singles and $70 for couples. Info: Steve Shining, 328-3507.

Backpacking schools Two Spokane clubs are taking registration for comprehensive backpacking courses that begin next month. Both courses cover clothing, equipment, food preparation, first-aid, wilderness etiquette and other important backpacking basics. The Backpacking Club has scheduled eight indoor classes on Fridays, 7 p.m.-10 p.m., April 4-May 23, at a South Hill school. Conditioning hikes are scheduled on weekends and some evenings as well as special activities such as map and compass exercises and practice campouts. The course concludes with a three-day Memorial Day weekend backpack to the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness. Cost: $20 plus $20 textbook plus club membership. Discounts for couples and families. Pre-registration required. Info: 467-8099. The Spokane Mountaineers have set seven indoor sessions on Fridays, 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m., April 11-May 23. Indoor sessions will be held at the Corbin Community Center, 827 W. Cleveland. A weekend shake-down campout is included as well as a Saturday map-and-compass field trip. The course concludes with a three-day trip. Cost: $20 plus club membership. Pre-registration required (838-4974).

Quick-draw artist Bob Munden and his wife Becky.

Wildlife watching Naturalists will explain marine ecosystems and help spot the variety of birds on boat excursions to Protection Island, a national wildlife refuge near Port Townsend. The three-hour trips aboard a 55-foot motor yacht will run Saturdays from March 22 to April 26. Cost is $35. The trips leave at 1 p.m. from the Point Hudson Marina in Port Townsend. Reservations are suggested. Call (360) 385-5582 or e-mail at ptmsc@olympus.net.

Check it out Distance: 4 miles roundtrip Difficulty: Moderately difficult Skiing time: 3-1/2-6 hours Season: Dec. through early March Maps: USGS Mullan Info: Wallace Ranger District, (208) 752-1221 Skiing trip notes Access: From Interstate 90, take Exit 68 at Mullan, Idaho. From main road through town, turn south and cross under freeway on Copper Street. Turn left on Montana and right on Cemetery Road. Leave vehicle just below cemetery at small plowed turnout near end of Boulder Creek Road. Attractions: If you're not deterred by 2-1/2-hour uphill slog, and narrow bobsled-run return trip, this tour leads to excellent views and great, open and timbered telemarking slopes. Tour can be extended about 2 miles round-trip from West Willow Peak to even better views at Stevens Peak, where one can look north over Stevens Lakes, eastward at glistening Mission Mountains, westward to groomed runs of Silver Mountain and south over sea of lesser peaks and ridges. Area not quite as accessible to snowmobiles as areas farther east at Lookout Pass.

Check it out Distance: 11 miles Difficulty: Moderate Paddling time: 2 - 4 hours Season: Virtually year-round Maps: USGS Winthrop, Blue Buck Mountain, Twisp East Info: USGS Water Resources Office in Spokane, 353-2633 Paddling trip notes Access: Put-in: Entering Winthrop, WA, from south on State Highway 20, cross bridge over Methow River. Immediately turn right and down to put-in area on east side of river near gauging station. Alternate put-in upstream from Winthrop at Red Barn and community park. Take-out: On Highway 20, drive 8-1/2 miles south from Winthrop to Twisp. Just south of bridge over Twisp River, turn east between Road House Diner and Chevron service station (called Twisp Avenue, but no street signs), and drive to second stop sign. Turn left into Twisp Community Park. Scout best spot for take-out.

Backcountry skiing North Idaho's first helicopter skiing outfitters have all the permits necessary to start flying from the Coeur d'Alene area next season. Peak Adventures snowcat skiing and snowboarding outfitters of Cataldo, Idaho, are testing helicopter landing and pickup areas this month in the mountains south of the Silver Valley. "We want to have everything in order before we start booking trips," said Terri Rengstorff, who runs Peak Adventures with Steve Matthews. Meanwhile, the couple continues to run snowcat skiing trips. A weekend of skiing, complete with guides, transportation and lunch, costs $315. Backcountry skiers who have camping gear can book the snowcat for overnight trips. Info: Peak Adventures, P.O. Box 50, Cataldo, ID 83810, telephone (208) 682-3200.

Fishing Anglers and educators willing to share fishing expertise and teaching skills are invited to a training session in Spokane for volunteer angler education instructors. The Washington Fish and Wildlife Department will conduct the free session beginning at 7 p.m.

Backpacking The Forest Service this week began taking overnight permit reservations for travel in the Enchantments portion of the popular Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Only hikers with reservations can camp in this scenic area June 15-Oct. 15. While most of the permits are available by reservation, 25 percent of the daily quota will be available in a lottery drawing to be held each day during the reservation period.

Check it out Distance: 5 miles Difficulty: Moderate Skiing time: 1-2 hours Season: December through early March Maps: Colville National Forest map Info: Colville Ranger District, (509) 684-7010

CHECK IT OUT Distance: 75 miles Difficulty: Moderate Riding time: 3 hours Season: Dec. through March Maps: Fernan and Wallace district snowmobile trails (Kootenai and Shoshone counties) Info: Fernan Ranger District, (208) 456-3694; Wallace Ranger District, (208) 752-1221 SNOWMOBILING TRIP NOTES Access: From Interstate 90 west of Kellogg, take Kingston Exit 43. Head north 5-1/2 miles on Coeur d'Alene River Road, passing Enaville Resort. Turn left at sign toward Bumblebee Campground. Cross bridge over Coeur d'Alene River and continue straight across Old River Road. Depending on snow conditions, trailhead could be here or up Forest Road 209 about 3 miles at Bumblebee Campground. Attractions: Excellent groomed trail system, passes icefalls, follows snowbound streams of upper Coeur d'Alene River system. Route passes Cascade Lodge, offering fuel, food and lodging accessible only by snowmobile. Lodge grooms link to Lookout Ridge, high-point of tour and good open play area. Route also passes historic Forest Service ranger station at Magee. Wintering deer, elk, moose common sights.

The value of bighorn sheep tags offered at an auction by Washington, Oregon and Idaho dropped dramatically this year, owing in part to the disease that ravaged the trophy bighorn herd along the Snake River last winter. The permits were among 15 wild sheep tags from 13 Western states and Alberta in an annual auction that raised $1.4 million for wild sheep conservation.

Sporting clays A series of six sporting clays events with eight classes for shooters of all experience levels begins today at ranges northwest of Spokane. The events will alternate between Landt Farms and Winterhawk Ranch sporting clays ranges, both of which are roughly near Nine Mile Falls. Shooters can compete in any one event, or go for the goal of making high overall champion in a class. The schedule begins today at Winterhawk. Other events are at Landt Farms March 29, Winterhawk April 20, Landt Farms May 18, Winterhawk June 21 and Landt Farms June 22. Info: Winterhawk, 276-5150, or Landt Farms, 466-4036.

National wildlife refuges The season for entrance fees will begin Saturday at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge south of Cheney. The $3 daily fee per vehicle to be charged this season is an increase of $1 from last year. Season passes are available for $12. Passage also is allowed for anyone with a valid $15 federal migratory waterfowl stamp. Info: 235-4723.

Wildlife conservation Goose hunts in Washington to dream hunts in Africa - even a birthday party for kids - are on the auction block for the Safari Club International fund-raising banquet Saturday at Cavanaugh's Inn at the Park. The Wildlife Conservation Dinner is the local chapter's major yearly effort to fund a long list of projects including wildlife habitat restoration, junior hunter programs and assistance for wildlife biology research. Tickets cost $25. Call Scott Justice, 276-8267 or Edythe Coyle, 466-3899.

Bicycling The greater Seattle Bicycle Expo, the largest consumer bicycle show in the United States, is set for Feb. 15-16 in the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. The show features more than 150 exhibitors plus demonstrations and lectures on everything from bicycle commuting to indoor cyclocross and adventure touring.

CHECK IT OUT Distance: 7-1/2 miles Difficulty: Moderate Skiing time: 2-1/2 - 3-1/2 hours Season: Mid-December through mid-March

Backcountry travel A professionally taught 16-hour wilderness first aid course is scheduled in Spokane March 21-21 through the city Parks and Recreation Department. The course is designed for people who spend time in remote areas where dialing 911 is not an emergency option.