Out & About

OUTSKI

Cross country skiers in the groove

Nordic skiers are greeting the snow with activities ranging from beginner lessons to moonlight outings:

Free XC lessons for members of the Spokane Mountaineers and the Spokane Nordic Ski Education Foundation, Dec. 13 for indoor session and Dec. 17 for outdoor session at Mount Spokane. Covers beginner classic and skating and intermediate skating. Preregister: (509) 926-5484.

Moonlight ski and dinner, Dec. 9, at Mount Spokane, arranged by Spokane Parks and Recreation. Cost: $25 or $29 with rental equipment. Preregister by Monday, (509) 625-6200 or www.spokaneparks.org.

Fourth of July Pass ski tour, Dec. 10, also arranged by Spokane Parks and Recreation, Cost: $20 or $27 with rental equipment, includes transportation. Preregister by Monday.

OUTFISH

Winter lakes open

While skiers are flocking to the mountains, trout anglers can keep a lower profile and catch rainbows at several Eastern Washington “winter season” lakes that opened Friday.

Tops in this area is Hog Canyon Lake, just off the I-90 Fishtrap Exit. Fish the open waters when you can, or wait for a good, solid stretch of freezing weather and drop a line through a hole in the ice.

The fishery at Fourth of July Lake, a Sprague-area perennial favorite for larger rainbows, appears to be hurting this year, biologists say.

OUTMEDIA

Woodcutter’s bible

Book: “The Backyard Lumberjack,” by Frank Philbrick and Stephen Philbrick (Storey, $19).

If your favorite wood-gatherer is getting a new ax or chainsaw this winter, make him read this book FIRST.

This is an excellent guide to safely felling, bucking, splitting and even art of stacking and burning wood.

OUTDO

Mount Spokane planning

Even if you missed the workshop last week, you can go online to review and comment on master planning proposals for 13,000-acre Mount Spokane State Park.

Proposals include potential changes to alpine and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, summer trail use and overnight accommodations, plus impacts to wildlife habitat. Check it out: www.parks.wa.gov/plans/ mtspokane or call (360) 902-8610.

OUTLOOK

Best fishing times

Lunar tables from the U.S. Naval Observatory list peak fishing times. Be fishing at least one hour before and one hour after given times. Applies to all time zones.

(* indicates best days.)

Through Dec. 10

Today

— 11:05 p.m.

Monday

12:05 a.m., 12:35 p.m.

Tuesday

— 12:40 p.m.

Wednesday

1:10 a.m. 1:40 p.m.

Thursday

2:10 a.m., 2:40 p.m.

Friday

3:05 a.m., 3:30 p.m.

Saturday

3:55 a.m., 4:15 p.m.

* Next Sunday

4:40 a.m., 5:05 p.m.