Field reports: Cascade rivers primed to run
Whitewater rafters and kayakers are gearing up for an epic season as the region’s mountains are ripe with snow – up to as much as 172 percent of normal in portions of the Cascades.
All that snow will eventually melt and muscle down tiny creeks, bigger streams and then to the great whitewater rivers of the Northwest, such as the Wenatchee, Skykomish and Snoqualmie in Washington and the Deschutes and Rogue in Oregon.
Major runoff usually starts in mid-May and runs through June, but the torrents could start earlier or later, said Brent Bower, National Weather Service hydrologist.
“We’ve had a lot of people calling,” said Christina Delostrinos of Seattle-based Blue Sky Outfitters, which runs whitewater trips on the Methow, Skagit, Tieton and White Salmon rivers as well as the Wenatchee, where the snowpack is 150 percent of average. “It’s definitely going to be a great year.”
The Olympian
ADVENTURE RACING
Primal Quest on
Federal land managers have given the go-ahead for Primal Quest Montana, a 500-mile adventure- endurance race beginning in late June.
Competitors will traverse southwestern Montana mountain peaks, rivers and backcountry by foot, mountain bike and boat.
The event runs day and night and could include as many as 90 four-person teams. The entry fee for a four-person team with two support people is $12,500.
The race will start June 23 at Big Sky Resort, and end back in Big Sky on July 2. In between, the teams will cross the Tobacco Root, Madison, Gallatin, Bridger, Bangtail and Crazy mountains and will race on the Yellowstone and Gallatin rivers.
“Top teams from around the world are expected to finish the race in five days, while some are not expected to finish at all,” according to a Gallatin National Forest news release.
U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management managers agreed to allow teams to use route-finding skills to traverse certain sections of the Gallatin and Beaverhead-Deer Lodge national forests and BLM land in the course of the competition.
Associated Press
SHOOTING
Funds for clubs
Shooting groups have until June 30 to apply for federally funded grants that can be used to to help construct, maintain or expand public shooting ranges in Washington.
About $50,000 in grants will be coordinated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The state’s shooting program was established in 2002 to help non-profit shooting ranges with proceeds from a federal excise tax on archery equipment and firearms.
Washington has more than 165 ranges with safe environments for shooting, agency officials said.
Info: (360) 902-8111, or online at wdfw.wa.gov/enf/huntered/ shootingranges.htm.
Rich Landers