Field Reports: Two local events for multi-taskers
Endurance athletes enthralled with running, paddling and biking in one day can indulge in upcoming local sprint-type “adventure” events.
“Monday is the deadline to register for the third annual NIChallenge adventure race on May 5. Participants must form teams of two or four and use maps and clues to navigate a 3-4 hour secret course on foot, bikes and kayaks.
Cost: $75 per person ($25 for NIC students).
Info: www.nic.edu/activities; (208) 769-7809.
“Spokane’s Big Adventure Race is set for June 16 based out of Nine Mile Resort on Lake Spokane. The event has categories ranging from solo to various team mixes as participants run, paddle, road bike and mountain bike on set courses.
Cost: $75 per person.
Info: www.roundandround.com.
Rich Landers
NATIONAL PARKS
Rainier access opening
A major Mount Rainier National Park entrance road, damaged by flooding last fall, should be open to the public by Saturday, the National Park Service says.
The Nisqually Road, the park’s main year-round corridor, and the link to Paradise, will open even as repairs to the park continue. At least four sections of the road were damaged or obliterated in severe floods last November.
The total cost for repairs could approach $100 million, Park Service Director Mary Bomar said in testimony to a House Appropriations subcommittee.
Bomar called damage from the storm unprecedented and said the full extent may not be known until the snow melts.
More than 18 inches of rain fell in the park in less than 36 hours in early November, touching off floods that swept away roads, campgrounds and trails.
Associated Press
FISHING
Roosevelt gift fish
Linda Westerguard of Otis Orchards won a $200 gift certificate in the April prize drawing for anglers who turn in research tags from fish caught in Lake Roosevelt, while another 33 anglers won prizes ranging from $25 to $100.
The winning anglers came from as far east as Mullan, Idaho, to as far away as Lompoc, Calif.
This was the 10th of the twice-a-year tag drawings funded by agencies and supported by Sportsmans Warehouse. Since the last drawing in October, anglers turned in 878 tags, said researcher Holly McLellan of the Eastern Washington University fisheries Research Lab.
Info: (509) 359-7498, www.lrf.org.
Rich Landers
FISHING
Angling event for kids
Saturday is the big day for Washington Fishing Kids at Clear Lake. For a small fee, kids 5-14 get to go fishing in trout-stocked water and then keep the rod and reel.
Preregistration required. Call (509) 477-2166.
Rich Landers
CONSERVATION
Wildlands show at GU
A free slide show about wild country from the east slope of the Cascades through the Columbia Plateau and Kettle River Range to the Selkirk Mountains will be presented Wednesday, 7 p.m., at Gonzaga University’s Jepson Center, Wolff Auditorium.
Craig Romano will present stories and images from his just-released book, “Columbia Highlands: Exploring Washington’s Last Frontier.”
Rich Landers
FISHING
Bighorn trout threatened
A water dispute is threatening the fishery in Montana’s Bighorn River, which many fly fishers consider to be the best trout stream in the West.
Despite objections from Montana officials seeking the release of more water into the Bighorn River, Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal insists the federal government maintain upstream storage in the Bighorn Lake National Recreation area.
The Bureau of Reclamation intends to release 1,500 cubic feet of water per second from Yellowtail Dam. Montana officials say at least 2,000 cfs is needed for a healthy trout spawn.
“Drought has become a part of living in the West,” the governor said. “All states are affected and all stakeholders should be expected to share in the burden.”
Staff and wire reports