Out & About

OUTFIELD

Earth Day 2007

Today is Earth Day, founded in 1970 by Sen. Gaylord Nelson, D-Wis., About 20 million people nationwide mobilized to actively support environmentalism in the first event.

In the following decade, nearly 70 million acres were designated wilderness in a national Wilderness Preservation System that now totals 107 million acres in 44 states.

Great Earth Day reads:

“A Sand County Almanac (1949), by Aldo Leopold.

“Encounters with the Archdruid (1977), by John McPhee.

Major Earth Day issues:

“Water. “Sprawl. “Invasive species. “Overpopulation. “Global warming.

OUTRIDE

Hot to trot

Equestrians from around the region will be joining the Methow Valley Backcountry Horsemen (and women and kids) for the 23rd Spring Ride Friday through Sunday from a base camp near Twisp.

Enjoy the trails, the Dutch oven potluck and coffee around the fire for one of the oldest continuing horse rides in Washington.

Preregister: (509) 997-4802 or www.mvbch.com.

OUTBIRD

Learn to I.D. birds

What: Bird identification class.

When: 6:30 p.m. April 30 and May 2 with field trip May 5.

Who: Particularly for novice birders, taught by Spokane Audubon Society instructors.

Where: West Valley Outdoor Learning Center, 8706 E. Upriver Dr.

Preregister by Friday: Call Gary Blevins, 533-3661, e-mail garyb@spokanefalls.edu.

OUTFLOW

Lake experts talk

Enough with the guesswork on future Lake Roosevelt levels. Get the scoop from officials on Grand Coulee Dam operations and Columbia River water management, Thursday, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Ramada Inn at Spokane Airport.

RSVP, Lake Roosevelt Forum, (509) 535-7084; info@lrf.org.

OUTLOOK

Best fishing times

Lunar tables from the U.S. Naval Observatory. Be fishing at least one hour before and one hour after peak times. Applies to all time zones. (* indicates best days.)

Through April 29

* Today

6:20 p.m., 6:45 a.m.

* Monday

7:15 p.m., 7:35 a.m.

Tuesday

8 p.m., 8:20 a.m.

Wednesday

8:45 p.m., 9:05 a.m.

Thursday

9:30 p.m., 9:50 a.m.

Friday

10:10 p.m., 10:25 a.m.

Saturday

10:45 p.m., 11:05 a.m.

Next Sunday

11:25 p.m., 11:45 a.m.

See the Hunting-Fishing Report

every Friday in Sports