Rich Landers

Wildlife research Volunteers are needed to survey rare pygmy rabbits in Central Washington, the state Fish and Wildlife Department says. Volunteers can sign up for one or more days, but they must attend a training session before participating. Surveys, which involve extensive walking, will be conducted daily Sept. 28-Oct. 11 from 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Sagebrush Flats area west of Ephrata. Training sessions are scheduled at the department's regional office in Ephrata for Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 28 at 7 a.m., Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 5 at 7 a.m.. Peggy Bartels, wildlife biologist, said she needs at least three volunteers each day. Info: (509) 754-4624.

Backcountry almanac

Hunting Proposals that would significantly alter the way game is hunted in Washington will be discussed this month in statewide public meetings. Proposals gleaned by citizen comments and a telephone survey of 700 hunters include:

National parks Glacier National Park is winding down for the season. The Lake McDonald Lodge will close Sept. 26. The visitor center at Logan Pass will close Sept. 30. Apgar Visitor Center will be open weekends November through April. All campgrounds will be closed by Oct. 21.

CHECK IT OUT Distance: 6 miles Difficulty: Difficult Hiking time: 4-7 hours Season: Late June through October

Nordic skiing Construction has begun on a cross-country ski trail that would link existing trails in Mount Spokane State Park to form a loop around Quartz Mountain. With some luck from the weather, the trail could be finished for this winter, said Pete Wood, state park manager.

Hunting The Spokane Rifle Club once again will open its range to the public so hunters can zero-in their rifles before the general hunting seasons. Non-members are invited to the range Sept. 21-Oct. 11, except Mondays and Tuesdays, from 8 a.m.5 p.m. The club is at the junction of Aubrey White Parkway and Rifle Club Road along the Spokane River downstream from the Bowl and Pitcher.

Fisheries A graduate student's passion for steelheading hooked him into doing serious research on the sea-going salmonid. Carl Ostberg, who is earning a master's degree at Washington State University, discovered distinct genetic variations among Washington's West Side steelhead.

Mountain biking Motorcycle use on a stretch of trail featured recently in Classic Trips in the Inland Northwest could be a dangerous surprise to mountain bikers, says Esther McDonald, vice president of the Panhandle Trail Riders Assoc. The "Silver Hill Mountain Bike Tour" (Outdoors, Aug. 25) begins on trails used exclusively by mountain bikers and heads into a stretch of trail that is frequently used by motorcyclists and ATVers, McDonald said. "From the Big Pine Saddle Junction south, the mountain bikers will be leaving the security and safety of their exclusive bicycle trail system," she said. "The mountain bikers need to know they will encounter motorcycle traffic. McDonald said she's particularly concerned with Trail 111, which is well-maintained by the Trail Riders. The trail encourages downhill speed that might be dangerous should a mountain biker cross paths with a motorcyclists speeding uphill.

Check it out Distance: 15 miles round trip Difficulty: Moderate Riding time: 2-5 hours Season: Late May through mid-November Maps: Kaniksu National Forest map available from Priest Lake Ranger Station, or USGS Bonners Ferry 1:100,000 Scale metric topo. Info: Priest Lake Ranger Station, (208) 442-2512 Mountain biking trip notes Access: From Priest River, Idaho, drive 37 miles north on Highway 57 to Nordman. Bear right on paved Forest Road 1339 toward Reeder Bay. Pass Reeder Bay Campground. From Ledgewood picnic area, continue 1-1/2 miles and turn right (east) at sign for Lakeshore Trail. Gravel road leads short way to trailhead parking area. Attractions: Superbly designed and groomed out-and-back trail along Priest Lake almost as fun in each direction. Route on Panhandle National Forest land combines dozens of short climbs and descents for ride that never gets boring. Trail skirts close to clear Priest Lake waters occasionally, then ducks into deep, dark forest. Trail gives access to numerous beaches and campsites available by foot, bike or boat. Water, camping, beach and toilets available at turnaround point near Beaver Creek Campground.

State parks The Mount Spokane State Park Advisory Committee needs volunteers to fill two open positions to help guide recreational planning and development. Meetings with other area representatives of local recreation user groups are held once a month, said Cris Currie, committee chairman. Position one is for an at-large member who can represent a community organization. Position two is for a member to represent passive summer recreation such as walking, camping and sightseeing. Info: Peter Wood, Mount Spokane State Park, 26107 N. Mount Spokane Park Dr., Mead, WA, 99021, telephone 456-4169.

CHECK IT OUT Distance: 12 miles Difficulty: Moderate Paddling time: 5 hours or overnight Season: March through December

Hiking A spring rock slide that blocked Trout Creek Road, a popular access for hikers heading to trails along the Selkirk Crest, was cleared last week, the Bonners Ferry Ranger District reports. However, several roads in the St. Joe and Clearwater regions of northcentral Idaho are still blocked by washouts caused by spring floods.

Climbing Spokane alpinist John Roskelley is scheduled to lead a climbing clinic and charity climb of Liberty Bell Mountain in the North Cascades this fall to raise money for a mountaineering visitor center. The climb of Liberty Bell Mountain on Sept. 22 will be limited to the first 15 people who pay a $300 donation, said Tom Kimbrell, spokesman for a non-profit group called Friends of Washington Pass. The groups is spearheading the visitor center project, as well as developing trails at the pass along the North Cascades Highway. The public is invited to watch and learn from Roskelley and other skilled climbers, including Chris Kopczynski of Spokane plus Jim Wickwire and Greg Child of Seattle. The free climbing clinic is the morning of Sept. 21 at the Mazama Mountaineering building in Mazama. That afternoon, guides will teach rappelling at the Washington Pass Overlook for a $30 donation. The featured climbers will mingle with the public at a climbing celebration at the Mazama Mountaineering center the evening of Sept. 21, Kimbrell said. Info: (509) 996-2640 or 996-2219.

Check it out Distance: 24 miles Difficulty: Moderately difficult Riding time: 2-1/2 - 5 hours Season: Mid-June throught October Maps: Trail map available at Silver Mountain Gondola Info: Loulou's of North Idaho (208) 783-1123 Mountain biking trip notes: Access: At Kellogg, exit Interstate 90 at the McDonald's Restaurant sign and head south a short way to the Silver Mountain Gondola terminal. Attractions: You and your bike gain 3,280 feet in elevation with ease of $10 gondola ride to great views of Silver Valley and St. Joe, Coeur d'Alene and Bitterroot Mountains. Ride delightful recently completed single-track along high ridges where trail can be littered with tracks of deer, elk, black bear and grouse. Some challenging hills round out high-country experience before route plunges downhill on good single-track and roads back to Kellogg. Comments: Gondola usually runs late May through early October, although only on weekends early and late in season. For schedule and prices, call (208) 783-1111.

Water will attract many birds even better than a bird feeder. Photo by Rich Landers/The Spokesman-Review

(photo of Western Tanager flashcard)

Hiking One of the most noteworthy waterfalls in the Okanogan National Forest is on Cedar Creek northwest of Winthrop. A 45-minute hike on a fairly flat Trail No. 476 to Cedar Falls leads through a forest timbered with ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, aspen and cedar.

CHECK IT OUT Distance: 9 to 10 miles Difficulty: Mostly easy Paddline time: 4 - 6 hours

Wildlife A free workshop dealing with reducing conflicts between people and bears is set for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Priest Lake Ranger Station. Pre-registration is required. Info: (208) 267-4085.

Conservation A new breed of destructive huckleberry pickers is emerging in the region's forests. Some impatient berry pickers are stripping leaves as well as berries off huckleberry bushes. Sometimes, they're even clipping the branches off the plants to glean the berries latter, according to a Clearwater National Forest press release. Incorrect use of the rake-like commercially made berry pickers and rough hand-picking damages huckleberry bushes, forest officials say. This will affect future berry production.

Check it out Distance: 3-1/2 miles Difficulty: Moderate Hiking time: 2-3 hours Season: June through October Maps USGS Spades Mountain, Bayview, plus Coeur d'Alene National Forest map available from Fernan Ranger Station Info: Fernan Ranger Station, (208)769-3000

Mountain biking The Route of the Hiawatha, a premier mountain biking attraction that includes the two-mile Taft Tunnel on the Montana-Idaho border, is closed until improvements can be made. But bikers willing to put in a day's work can get an exclusive opportunity to ride the tunnel and the 13 miles of trail on the Idaho side.

Finished parachute Adams dry fly.