Rich Landers: Spring takes its time

Pity the scattered arrowleaf balsamroots bold enough to open their showy yellow blooms on south-facing bluffs and scablands last weekend.

By Monday morning, the wildflowers were drooping under yet another chill of snow and ice in a metaphor for nearly every springtime outdoor pursuit.

While I’m thinking of it, has anyone invented a snow blower with a pine-needle raking attachment?

With fishing, river running, hiking and spring hunting seasons trying to get started, here’s the latest report for winter-weary outdoor fun-seekers going into what’s forecast to be a more seasonal spring weekend:

Anglers won’t find trout in all the usual places when Washington’s lowland lake season opens on Saturday.

About 20 lakes in northeastern Washington won’t be stocked until after the opener because they were still ice-covered or access roads were plugged with snow.

Although most of them have carryover fish from last year, the lakes yet to receive spring plants of catchable-size trout include:

“Stevens County – Elbow, Meadow, Peppoon, Summit.

“Ferry County – Davis, Ferry, Long, Renner, Swan, Trout.

“Pend Oreille County – Browns, Caldwell, Carl’s, Little Lost, Muskegon, Mystic, Noname, Petit, Skookums, Yocum.

Lakes in the Spokane area have been stocked and are ready to go, although the fish size may be smaller than last year for lack of warm water and prime feeding conditions.

River runners are champing at their oar locks for what could be one of the best whitewater seasons in years. However, the weather is putting a chill on traditional trip scheduling.

The Northwest Whitewater Association’s weekend group trip to Idaho’s Lochsa River has been postponed for the second time because snow is falling rather than melting in the mountains, and the river is too low.

A nifty online resource for last-minute decisions on whether to proceed with a scheduled whitewater trip is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency’s River Forecast Center, which gives 14-day projections on river levels based on snow pack analysis and weather predictions.

“Check it out: www.nwrfc.noaa.gov.

The good news: Barring a huge, fast runoff, the region-wide delay in spring river conditions could extend the whitewater season into the much more pleasant summer months.

For example, the floating season that usually ends by the first week of June on Oregon’s North Fork John Day River likely will extend toward the end of June, said Barbara McCormick, Umatilla National Forest river ranger.

Turkey hunters might need snowshoes to walk into traditional spring hunting areas in large portions of northeastern Washington. The snow has been hard and crusty this week, but warm weekend temps will soften the snow and make walking difficult.

A winter-white camo sheet for the lower half of your body would be a good option to consider in some areas.

Boaters heading for the big reservoirs, such as Lake Roosevelt and Dworshak, will find launching options reduced as water levels are lowered to make room for the expected big rush of runoff.

At Dworshak, the water level is so low the Dent boat ramp has been closed until further notice. Big Eddy has the only boat ramp in operation on the reservoir.

Lake Roosevelt should be down around 1,233 feet this weekend heading for an expected low of about 1,229 by the end of the month.

At that point, Spring Canyon and Seven Bays would be the only certain launch points, with Keller Ferry being right on the edge.

Serious bicyclists have been saying to heck with it and riding in whatever conditions the weather delivers. This weekend should bring out a colorful spectacle of riders on county roads.

Want a barometer of the region’s interest in cycling? More than 120 people showed up Tuesday for the first of three public meetings on formulating Spokane’s Master Bike Plan.

The second meeting is today, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., at West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt.

Read all about it and fill out the bike plan survey online at www.spokaneplanning.org/ master_bike_plan.htm.

Bear hunters throughout much of the region are in limbo. With snow still plugging many forest roads, this might be a good weekend to sleep in, along with many of the bears.

A Whitefish hunter has been cited for shooting a grizzly bear during Montana’s spring black bear hunt. While grizzly bears generally are out and about, few black bears were out of their dens last week, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials said.

Wildflower enthusiasts should have their breakthrough in this weekend’s warmer weather.

In areas where balsamroots were just barely peaking through the ground last week, they sensed last weekend’s warmth and erupted 2 or 3 inches from the ground in 24 hours, only to halt in the cold-shouldered turn of Monday’s cold as though they were in a cruel game of “red light, green light.”

They should get a go for the season on Saturday.

Wildflowers already were blooming last weekend at lowland natural areas such as Tubbs Hill in Coeur d’Alene.

A special wildflower walk at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge has been scheduled for Saturday by Spokane Parks and Recreation. Cost: $17 or $10 for youths younger than 16. Preregister by Friday noon, 625-6200 or www.spokaneparks.org.