2007 IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Not-so-straight shooter

Aiming early for the sportsman’s vote, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (above) joined the National Rifle Association as a lifetime member and later described himself this spring as a “lifelong hunter.”

The former Massachusetts governor’s campaign staff later acknowledged that he had been on just two hunting trips — one when he was 15 and the other just last year.

Said Romney, “I’m not a big-game hunter. I’ve made that very clear. I’ve always been a rodent and rabbit hunter. Small varmints, if you will.”

Sounds like good practice for targeting primary candidates.

Zumbo’s misfire

Jim Zumbo, hunting editor for Outdoor Life Magazine, was fired for expressing his disapproval of assault-style semi-automatic rifles for use in hunting. Zumbo was later “rehabilitated” in an AR-15 shooting session (above) with rocker gun-nut Ted Nugent.

Making tracks on skinny skis

Cross country skiers had new tracks to try at 49 Degress North Ski Area, as well as a new warming yurt (above).

At Mount Spokane, nordic skiers worked out a deal with Inland Empire Paper Co. this summer to add nearly 10 kilometers of new trails connecting with the 25K trail system within Mount Spokane State Park.

The new trails formerly were open to snowmobilers. However, some snowmobilers had worn out their welcome on private timber company land by ignoring signs and going off trail, where they inflicted damage to the tops of trees poking through the snow.

Senior summitters

Everest senior: In May, retired schoolteacher Katsusuke Yanagisawa (above) became the oldest person to reach Mount Everest’s 29,035-foot summit – at 71. He beat the previous record set last year by Japanese compatriot Takao Arayama, who was 70.

McKinley senior: Michio Kumamoto of Japan celebrated his 76th birthday on June 17 and then, on June 29, became the oldest person to summit Mount McKinley. He was climbing with three companions, the youngest of whom was 61. Five climbers died on the mountain.

Rainier senior: Bill Painter, 84, climbed to the summit of Mount Rainier, Washington’s highest peak, in July, completing his sixth ascent of the 14,411-foot peak since he turned 76.