Rich Landers

Bag of water enough to supply camp for day.

Americans have a constitutional right to be stupid, and a small faction of hunters is out to prove it. Last year, a Gray's Harbor hunter challenged a citation for violating the state's rule requiring hunters to wear fluorescent orange clothing during some hunting seasons. The judge ruled in his favor, saying the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission didn't have the specific powers to enact the law.

About 9 million pink salmon are expected to migrate through the Strait of San Juan de Fuca. Photo by Rich Landers/The Spokesman-Review

Check it out Distance: 5-1/2 miles Difficulty: Mostly easy Paddling time: 1-1/2 - 2-1/2 hours Season: Year-round Maps: USGS - Dartford, Nine Mile Falls Info: Riverside State Park, 456-3964

Climbing Jim Bridwell, a 30-year veteran of rock and mountain climbing, is scheduled to be in Spokane to present a slide show on the evolution of big wall climbing.

When it comes to teaching the basics of firearms safety to young hunters, the National Rifle Association is out of the mainstream. The NRA, once the national authority on firearms education, recently told the Idaho Fish and Game Department that it no longer would provide the instruction manual for the state's hunter education courses. Dan Papp, the state's hunter education coordinator, said he'd have to come up with $15,000 to make up the difference.

Conservation Whether you provide cover for songbirds or forage for elk, a clean stream for trout or a nest site for geese, the Spokane Chapter of Safari Club International wants you to enter its second annual Wildlife Enhancement award competition.

Fishing About 120 volunteers, including a fleet of 30 fishing boats and several pontoon boats, are scheduled to meet at Banks Lake Saturday to treat 50 disabled and disadvantaged children to a day of fishing. The Cast For Kids Foundation is joining the Washington State BASS federation to put on the fourth annual event featuring children from Spokane Shriners Hospital. Each child will receive a fishing ensemble complete with rod, reel, tackle box and barbecue at Steamboat Rock State Park.

Camping Access to the Selkirk Mountains' popular Roman Nose Lakes camping and hiking area will be closed for several weeks for major construction and improvements to the area, according to the Bonners Ferry Ranger District. When work is completed, recreation at the area will change. A camping spur is being built with three standard sites and one group site.

CHECK IT OUT Distance: 7 miles round trip Difficulty: Difficult Hiking time: 3-6 hours Season: July through Oct. Maps: USGS Scotchman Peak, Clark Fork plus Kaniksu National Forest Info: Sandpoint Ranger District, (208) 263-5111

Nicolin Gray

Aylmer Pass in Alberta's Ghost River Wilrdness.

The Selkirk-Priest Basin Association this week added $1,000 to the reward for tips that solve a North Idaho grizzly bear poaching case. Combined rewards of up to $4,500 being offered for information leading to the arrest of the persons responsible for killing a grizzly in the Selkirk Mountains northwest of Bonners Ferry in May. The carcass of the 95-pound yearling female grizzly was found concealed in brush along a Forest Service road after the spring black bear hunting season, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents said. The grizzly is federally protected as a threatened species.

CHECK IT OUT Distance: 8 miles round trip Difficulty: Moderately difficult Riding time: 1-3 hours

National forests Topics ranging from wildflowers to weeds will be topics for free slide shows presented by Colville National Forest experts next month.

Jerry Hickman

Camping Beginning tonight, the Sullivan Lake campground and boat launch will be closed for renovation, Colville National Forest officials say. About 38 of the 48 campsites at the north end of the lake are scheduled to reopen on Aug. 8. Meanwhile, the Mill Pond and Noisy Creek campgrounds remain open. However, the road between the north and south ends of the lake is closed for construction daily from 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Info: (509) 446-7500.

Risk is the difference between a trip and an adventure. Risk makes for a tighter grip on the paddle, louder roars in the rapids, brighter flashes in the thunder, broader smiles on the summit, bigger teeth on the griz. And better stories at the end of the trail.

Two Idaho anglers who resisted the tradition of pitching non-game fish into the bushes have secured a moment of fame in the state record book. Tyler Nimke of Harrison became the first Idaho angler to submit a large-scale sucker for the record listings last spring. The 4-pound, 11-ounce fish was caught in Lake Coeur d'Alene's Squaw Bay.

Check it out Distance: 6-1/2 miles round trip Difficulty: Moderate Hiking time: 2-1/2 - 4-1/2 hours Season: March through Nov. Maps: USGS - Dartford Info: Riverside State Park, 456-3964 Hiking trip notes Access: West trailhead parking is at Indian Painted Rocks parking area just north of Little Spokane River on Rutter Parkway. To reach east trailhead, drive west from Mill Road 1-1/2 miles on Waikiki and take sharp left at sign toward St. George's School. Drive 200 yards to trailhead sign and parking area on left. Attractions: Exceptional wildlife habitat and chance of seeing variety of songbirds, hawks, owls, waterfowl, whitetailed deer and other critters. Trail gives higher overlook of Little Spokane River than trail heading west from Indian Painted Rocks. However, this route also includes two steep sections - price one pays for views. Comments: From east trailhead, route climbs immediately up more than a dozen switchbacks before contouring hillside above St. George's School

CHECK IT OUT Distance: 8-1/2 miles round trip Difficulty: Mostly easy Riding time: 1-1/2 - 3 hours Season: April through October Maps: USGS Bayview, Farragut State Park Map available at park headquarters Info: Farragut State Park, (208) 683-2425

Beargrass permits made more money for one district than wood cutting. Photo by Rich Landers/The Spokesman-Review

Dave Gordon

Boating Next time a sheriff's deputy boards your boat and finds you don't have proper life jackets, he may give you a loan instead of a ticket. Health Districts in Asotin, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens and Whitman counties have used federal funding to distribute dozens of high-quality life jackets to their sheriff's departments to help spread the word about the number one way to prevent boating deaths.