Field Reports
WILDERNESS
Hike the Salmo-Priest
Members of the Kettle Range Conservation Group and Northwest Ecosystem Alliance are inviting the public on a hike through unprotected wild areas in northeastern Washington adjacent to the Salmo-Priest Wilderness Area on Sept. 11.
The hike is scheduled to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act and the 20th Anniversary of the Salmo-Priest Wilderness. The groups are campaigning to get roadless lowland areas added to the wilderness.
Hiking options include the Halliday and Red Bluff Trails, as well as side excursions up to the Salmo-Priest Wilderness Area boundary below Crowell Ridge.
Hikers should be prepared for a moderate to difficult hike of about 8-10 miles. A carpool from Spokane will depart from Lewis and Clark High School at 7:45 a.m.
Pre-register by contacting Derrick Knowles, 747-1663 or dknowles@kettlerange.org.
Rich Landers
OUTDOOR COURSES
Birds, geology and more
Fascinating fall outdoor classes are scheduled for the public through the Institute for Extended Learning brand of the Spokane Community Colleges. Among them:
•Birds of Eastern Washington with Spokane birder Maurice Vial, Sept. 21-25, includes two evening classroom sessions at Shadle Park High School and a Saturday field trip. Cost: $49.
•Miocene Safari, Sept. 25, an entertaining and insightful look at the geological origins of the area in a field trip to Riverside State Park’s Deep Creek Canyon with local geologist Michael Hamilton. Cost: $23.
•Mushroom identification field trip, Oct. 9, with Lynda Foreman, an Spokane fungi fanatic for 23 years.
•Recreational vehicle basic training course is Sept. 28 and an RV maintenance courses is set for Nov. 3. Cost: $17 each.
•Kayaking trips to local lakes are scheduled throughout September.
All the courses are limited in size and require pre-registration by calling 279-6000.
Rich Landers
SEA KAYAKING
Learn from experts
Expert paddling instructors, expedition veterans and kayak manufacturers will converge at Port Townsend Sept. 17-19 for the 21st annual West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium.
The event is the year’s best chance to tap into the buzz, basics and trends of sea kayaking.
Based at Ford Worden State Park, the symposium features numerous activities, such as:
•On-water instruction, ranging from beginning paddle strokes to advanced skills with equipment provided.
•Classes and presentations on a wide variety of subjects, including navigation, fitness, cooking, safety, boatbuilding and adventures.
•Special events including contests, barbecues, music and dancing, and the cardboard kayak race.
In addition, more than 30 manufacturers will be spread out on a beach with their latest products for participants to try out or purchase.
Pre-registration and lodging information are available at www.wcsks.org.
Rich Landers
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
Koenings at open house
Jeff Koenings, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife director, will be in Spokane and Pateros this week to hold open house meetings on fish and wildlife issues.
Koenings will be accompanied by other department managers to explain and take comments on issues such as fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, habitat protection and enforcement.
The open houses are informal and no presentations are scheduled, officials said.
The meetings are set for:
•Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., at the Pateros School Library, 344 W. Beach St. in Pateros. Featured topics include upper Columbia River area steelhead and salmon fishing seasons.
•Thursday, 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. at the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council meeting room, 6116 N. Market St. in Spokane.
“I encourage anyone with an interest in our state’s fish and wildlife resources to take the time and attend one of the open houses,” Koenings said. “They provide an excellent forum to informally discuss issues in-depth and become better familiar with department personnel.”
Rich Landers
FISHING
Angling for access
A group of sportsmen is pushing for more places to launch a boat, cast a fly or picnic along an 80-mile stretch of the Yellowstone River.
The dozen public access sites dot the river’s banks in Yellowstone County, but opportunities to get on the river are on the decline because of vandalism, channel shifting by the free-flowing river and growing landowner concerns.
But getting more access isn’t simple. “There is no such thing as easy or straightforward about developing river access sites,” said Jim Darling, regional fisheries manager for Montana’s Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
It took about six years, for example, to get a new boat ramp on the south bank of the river between Billings and Laurel this year, while legal research and environmental studies often bog down other potential sites. Creating public access isn’t cheap either. Buying a site usually costs about $100,000, said Harvey Nyberg, FWP’s regional supervisor.
Associated Press