Rich Landers

CHECK IT OUT Distance: 2-1/2 miles Difficulty: Moderate Hiking time: 1-1/2 - 3 hours Season: March through mid-Dec. Maps: USGS Chatcolet, Harrison Info: Heyburn State Park, (208) 686-1308 HIKING TRIP NOTES Access: From U.S. Highway 95 at Plummer, Idaho, drive 6-1/2 miles east on State Highway 5 and turn north at well-signed road toward Chatcolet (between mileposts 6 and 7). Follow paved road north nearly 2 miles - passing Hawleys Landing campground, Plummer Point picnic area and Heyburn State Park headquarters - to Y. Bear right to reach lower trailhead at picnic area. Bear left to reach trailhead at Chatcolet campground. Lower trailhead leads up from south side of upper picnic pavilion to campground entrance. Take upper campground road to main trailhead between campsites 13 and 15. Attractions: Aerobic hike over best preserved portion of original Mullan Road southern section. Built in late 1850s, road ran 624 miles between Fort Benton, Mont., and Walla Walla. Trail gains 1,086 feet in 1-1/4 miles to top of Shoeffler Butte. Good views of St. Joe River mouth and Hidden Lake.

Clothing America's astronauts no longer will wear cotton socks when they walk in space. Cotton is too cold and clammy, they say. After testing more than 30 sock styles and fiber combinations, ILC Dover, the company that makes NASA's multimillion-dollar space suits, chose DuPont's ThermaStat as one of the most effective sock fabrics for warmth, lightness and moisture-wicking properties. The fine filaments help block radiant heat loss, a DuPont spokesman said. NASA will be using over-the-counter Wick Dry and Wick Dry Turbo model socks made by Fox River Mills.

Check it out Distance: 3 miles round trip Difficulty: Moderate Hiking time: 1-3 hours Season: March through mid-Dec. Maps: USGS Chatcolet Indo: Heyburn State Park, (208) 686-1308 Hiking trip notes Access: From U.S. Highway 95 at Plummer, Idaho, drive 6 miles east on State Highway 5 and turn north at well-signed road toward Chatcolet. Follow paved road north 1-1/8 miles to trailhead, passing Hawleys Landing Campground, and bay of wild rice. Park on left just after crossing railroad tracks. Before beginning hike, consider driving 100 yards farther, turning right into Heyburn State Park headquarters to pick up interpretive brochure for Indian Cliffs nature trail (Out of stock until spring). Optional trailhead: Hike can be extended by hiking lakeshore trail that begins at Hawleys Landing and runs 1-1/8-miles to Indian Cliffs trailhead.

Fishing The Snake River is by far the favorite fishing destination for Idaho residents, a survey of 1,000 licensed Idaho anglers showed. Asked to name their favorite standing body of water, respondents pegged Henry's Lake. Fish species most pursued by Idaho residents are, in order of preference, rainbow trout, bass, steelhead, cutthroat trout, crappies, brown trout, kokanee and catfish. The Idaho Fish and Game Department commissioned the survey to help the agency plan future fish-management strategies.

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Big-game hunter's dream book A book released late last year puts a century of big game hunting at a trophy hunter's fingertips. "Trophy Deer and Elk of British Columbia," by Rick Berreth (Antler Publishing, 8205 Malaspina Ave., Prince George, B.C., Canada V2N 4J7, telephone (604) 964-8057, $28.95 ppd.) compiles 355 photos of the province's top mosshorns, plus the stories behind many of the kills.

Shooting More than 6 million shooters reload their own ammunition, according to a National Shooting Sports Foundation survey: More than one-third of hunters reload.

Winter recreation The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has purchased 80 acres at Snoqualmie Pass to create the state's largest official parking area for cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. The property, known as the Crystal Springs Rock Pit, had been leased and operated as a winter parking area for five years. A change of ownership forced closure of the area last year, cutting off access to 42,000 winter users.<

CHECK IT OUT Distance: 5 miles Difficulty: Moderate Paddling time: 2 hours

Fishing Enough chinook salmon were captured in Wolf Lodge Creek to produce the eggs for 30,000 young salmon that will be restocked into Lake Coeur d'Alene next summer. Another 24,000 chinook fingerlings are expected to be produced naturally in the lake, said Jim Davis, Idaho Fish and Game Department fisheries biologist.

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.