Out & About

OUTCRY

Needing protection

Forty-four species of fish and wildlife—from the bald eagle to the Western pond turtle—are currently listed for protection in Washington as state endangered, threatened or sensitive species. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has approved 107 other species as candidates for listing.

OUTSEE

Bifocal multi-tasking

Two years ago, we reviewed Ono’s new bifocal polaraized sunglasses. Now we’re hearing that they’re useful for more than just seeing fish underwater and tying small flies onto hair-thin tippets.

Backpackers appreciate them when they have to read maps, boaters can read their dashboard electronics.

Check it out: www.onostrading company.com.

OUTMEDIA

Love story complete with peaks, valleys

Book: “Together on top of the World,” by Phil and Susan Ershler (Warner, $24.99).

A Seattle couple have produced an unusual mountaineering book in that it finds as much drama and determination in their lives at sea level as it does on the slopes of Mount Everest.

Phil Ershler, 55, one of the premier American mountaineers of his generation, and Susan Berger, 51, climbed the tallest mountain on each of the seven continents. They dealt with Ershler’s cancer and Crohn’s diseases and got married along the way.

Ershler, a Himalayan climbing veteran and a longtime guide on Mount Rainier — he has climbed it 425 times — brought expertise, caring and experience to the climbs. Berger (now also Ershler), who was selling telecommunications equipment for Fortune 500 when they met, brought enthusiasm, the excitement of learning something new and fresh eyes to mountain adventures.

“I had no idea any of this would happen when I met Phil,” she said. “I never had hiked or climbed. I did it at first so I could understand what he did for a living. I never had owned a passport.”

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 July 15, 2007

* Today

7:35 a.m. 8:00 p.m.

Monday

8:30 a.m. 8:55 p.m.

Tuesday

9:25 a.m. 9:55 p.m.

Wednesday

10:25 a.m. 11 p.m.

* Thursday

11:30 a.m. 12 p.m.

* Friday

12:30 p.m. 1 a.m.

Saturday

1:30 p.m. 1:55 a.m.

Next Sunday

2:25 p.m. 2:50 a.m.

See the Hunting-Fishing Report every Friday in Sports