Field Reports
FISHERIES
Chinook come back
A fish species declared officially extinct in Washington’s Okanogan River drainage returned recently to provide – for the first time in roughly 80 years – table fare for Colville Tribal members at a hastily organized first-salmon ceremony.
About a dozen spring chinook salmon have made their way up the Columbia River this year, taken a turn up the Okanagon and swam into Omak Creek and onto the Colville Indian Reservation.
One was taken by the traditional spearing method on June 23 as 11 chinooks had their upstream run blocked by a fish trap.
Each of the 250 people attending the June 24 ceremony got a taste of the 11-pound springer, as well as from 11 surplus salmon from the Entiat hatchery.
“We pretty much had members there from all 12 tribes,” said Joe Peone, fish and wildlife director for the Colville Confederated Tribes. “There were a lot of excited people.”
Salmon were blocked from returning to reservation waters by Columbia River dams. The fish returning to the Okanogan drainage are the product of chinook raised in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Winthrop National Fish Hatchery and released from Omak Creek acclimation ponds in 2001 and 2002.
After the ceremonial fish was speared, fishery officials opened the trap with hopes that the other 10 spring chinook would swim upstream and spawn.
“It’s a start,” Peone said.
Columbia River Bulletin
WILDFLOWERS
Bountiful beargrass
A stunning bloom of beargrass is underway in portions of Mount Spokane State Park.
Drive up the summit road to the Beauty Mountain campground and picnic area. Then hike across the road and out on Trail 130 for a botanical treat.
Rich Landers
MOUNTAIN BIKING
NORBA needs volunteers
You don’t have to be a world-class athlete to get in the heart of the action at the NORBA National Championships Thursday through Sunday at Schweitzer Mountain Resort.
Volunteers are still needed to help keep the high-profile event running smoothly.
Info: (208) 255-3081 or e-mail activityinfo@schweitzer.com.
Rich Landers
OUTDOORS
Nature writers retreat
Gary Ferguson, Tim McNulty and Scott Russell Sanders will lead the seventh annual Nature Writing Retreat: The Ties of People to Place Aug. 24-28 in North Cascades National Park.
The event will be held at the new North Cascades Environmental Learning Center on Diablo Lake.
Sanders, a creative writing professor at Indiana University, has written novels and story collections “Wilderness Plots,” “The Invisible Company” and “Terrarium.”
Ferguson, a Montana freelancer for 18 years, has written “Shouting the Sky,” “Walking Down the Wild,” “Through the Woods” and “Hawks Rest,” as well as numerous articles for magazines such as Outside.
McNulty, a writer and naturalist from the Olympic Peninsula, has published poetry and natural history books such as “The Art of Nature,” “Washington’s Wild Rivers” and “Olympic National Park.”
For information and registration, contact the North Cascades Institute, (360) 856-5700 ext. 209, or www.ncascads.org.
Rich Landers
HIKING
Brush engulfs trails
With some exceptions, a light snow years has left less than normal downfall on the region’s trails, Forest Services officials said.
“But that’s being offset by the exceptionally wet weather in May and June,” said John Jeresek, trail maintenance coordinator for the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness out of Libby.
“We’ve had some intense storms that have caused a lot of erosion. And now that the weather has warmed, the brush is growing gangbusters.”
Rich Landers
HIKING/BIKING
Launch from Silver
The Gondola Village in Kellogg is becoming a summer gathering place for people looking for company as well as hiking and biking exercise for a wide range of abilities.
Some sort of activity, often led by a volunteer host, kicks off from the gondola, including:
Mondays: The Slow Spokes ride bikes at a leisurely pace.
Tuesday: Broadswalk, a female-oriented leisurely hiking group, but males are welcome.
Wednesday: Crotch Rocket Roadless Ride, self-guided activity designed for faster riders on road bikes.
Thursday: Roll and Stroll, lets participants of various abilities head off to walk and bike.
Friday: Cog Wild Hammer Riders, for experienced downhill mountain bikers who purchase a gondola ticket and ride “the hammer.”
The Friday downhillers must meet to load on the gondola before 6 p.m. The other activities meet at 7 p.m.
Info: (208) 783-1123 or (208) 682-4595.
Rich Landers
ROUTE OF HIAWATHA
Record visits at trail
So far this season, a record number of bicyclists from around the world have visted the Route of the Hiawatha mountain biking and hiking trail on the Montana-Idaho border, officials said last week.
Spectacular weather over the Memorial Day and 4th of July holiday weekends have helped support a 20 percent increase in trail visits since the season opened May 21.
Shuttle services and the bike rental shop at Lookout Pass Ski Area have recorded reservations across the country from San Diego to North Carolina, and as far away as Belgium and New Zealand.
The 15-mile rail-trail features seven towering trestles and 10 tunnels, including the 1.7-mile St. Paul Pass Tunnel.
Rich Landers
NATIONAL FORESTS
Lookouts refurbished
Two national forest fire lookouts that are available for rent have recently been refurbished by the Bonners Ferry Ranger District.
Shorty Peak, a hike-in lookout northwest of Bonners Ferry and Deer Creek, a drive-up lookout north of Moyie Springs, have been upgraded. Cost: $25-$35 a night.
Info: (208) 267-5561
Rich Landers