Out & About

OUTFIELD

Moose on the loose

More than a trickle of moose are swimming across the Snake River and wandering into Oregon.

The Idaho moose population climbed from 500 in 1947 to 20,000 last year, and spinoff animals are finding good, little-used habitat in northeastern Oregon areas such as Elgin.

In August, a motorist collided with a year-old cow on Interstate 84 near Meacham. That’s a bad sign for motorists. In Maine, where 29,000 moose roam, transportation officials reported 3,365 vehicle crashes involving moose between 1999 and 2003.

But it’s a good sign that Oregon’s first moose hunting season could be just a few years down the road.

OUTCLIMB

Peak talent in Stock

Joe Stock, one of America’s top ski mountaineers, will be in Spokane to present a slide program on this spring’s first ski traverse of Alaska’s Neacola Mountains, a heavily glaciated version of the North Cascades. The free program starts 7 p.m. Wednesday at Mountain Gear, 2002 N. Division.

The Anchorage resident and his partners, Andrew Wexler and Dylan Taylor, snagged about 57,000 vertical feet, including first descents down puckering couloirs, during the 100-mile traverse.

Info: 325-9000.

OUTDO

Help spiff up Spokane River

What: 4th annual Spokane River Clean-Up

When: Saturday, registration 9 a.m.-10 a.m.; cleanup 10 a.m.-noon; followed by food, vendors, door prizes and music, noon-3 p.m.

Where: Based at High Bridge Park.

Who: Volunteers will meet and break into groups for cleanup. Partnering sponsors include Kendall Yards, Avista Utilities, Friends of the Falls and City of Spokane.

Details: Last year, 525 volunteers removed more than 9 tons of litter from the riverbanks. Parking limited. Carpool or use alternative transportation if possible. A bike corral will be staffed.

Preregister online at www.gonzaga.edu/river-rsvp

Info: www.spokaneriverfest.org

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 Oct. 8

* Today

8:35 p.m. 7:30 a.m.

Monday

9:30 p.m. 8:10 a.m.

Tuesday

10:25 p.m. 8:50 a.m.

Wednesday

11:15 p.m. 9:30 a.m.

Thursday

12:05 a.m. 10:20 a.m.

Friday

12:05 a.m. 10:50 a.m.

Saturday

1:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m.

Next Sunday

1:50 a.m. 12:10 p.m.