Rainier inholdings are for sale
Private inholdings that have blended into the landscape of national parks are beginning to stand out as the landholders sell to real estate developers, according to the National Parks Conservation Association.
For example, a retreat center has recently been built to foul the natural landscape inside Zion National Park in Utah, because the Park Service didn’t have money to acquire the land when it went on the market, said Sean Smith, NPCA Northwest regional director.
Unless funding is provided by Congress, Mount Rainier National Park may miss a chance to purchase about 800 acres of private timber company lands within park boundaries that are going on the market for about $4.5 million, Smith said.
Mount Rainier is one of 55 national parks with vital land now on the public market.
Details: www.npca.org/ landforsale.
Rich Landers
NATIONAL FORESTS
Biologist leads ‘elk’ hike
The public is invited on a 2-mile nature hike near Sullivan Lake to view an elk spring grazing area, walk through a wildflower meadow and below a waterfall gushing with snowmelt on Saturday.
Mike Borysewicz, Colville National Forest wildlife biologist, will lead the hike from Elk Creek Trailhead starting at 10 a.m. The start is at the Mill Pond Historic Site about 5 miles east of Metaline Falls.
Info: Sullivan Lake Ranger Station, (509) 446-7500.
Rich Landers
NATIONAL FORESTS
Sullivan dam’s future discussed
A proposal to remove the dam that maintains higher water levels at Sullivan Lake will be discussed in a public meeting Wednesday, 5 p.m. at the Box Canyon Dam warehouse, off Highway 31 about 4 miles north of Ione.
The Colville National Forest and Pend Oreille Public Utility District will conduct the meeting, the first of several planned meetings.
Rich Landers
CONSERVATION
Trail volunteers unite at REI
Volunteers from the Spokane Mountaineers, Backcountry Horsemen, Conservation Northwest and the Washington Trails Association will share slides and stories from volunteer trail projects, 7 p.m., Thursday, at REI, 1125 N. Monroe.
Learn how to get involved with other hikers on volunteer trail work parties. Projects will be organized through the summer in the Colville National Forest and Salmo-Priest Wilderness.
Info: Derrick Knowles, (509) 747-1663.
Rich Landers
ADVENTURE RACING
NIChallenge seeks multitaskers
Early registration is open for the NIChallenge, a solo or team event that combines paddling, trekking, mountain biking and orienteering problem solving based this year from an undisclosed site on Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Entry for the May 31 event is $70 per person by May 10 or $80 if paid from May 11-26.
While some adventure races span days or weeks, the NIChallenge is a sprint adventure race incorporating 10 to 15 miles of mountain biking, 4 to 6 miles of trail running and 2 to 5 miles of paddling and basic navigation as well as obstacles to test teamwork and physical and mental skills.
Specifics will not be released until race day to ensure the race’s sense of adventure, said Paul Chivvis, race coordinator.
Info: www.active.com or (208) 769-7809.
Rich Landers