Out & About

Beasts a burden for fisheries

OUTLAW – While road hunters are an issue in modern days, anglers apparently have had their issues with mixing their sport with transportation.

Around 1917, Idaho enacted laws making it illegal to fish from the back of an animal. Any animal.

According to the 1920 Idaho Fish and Game Rules, “It is unlawful … to fish for trout from the back of any animal, or to travel up or down any stream on back of animal while fishing for trout.”

This restriction no longer appears in the fishing rules pamphlet rules, but “chasing fish up or downstream in any manner” is still illegal.

Sea kayakers cruise in orca waters

OUTPADDLE – Rich Landers, Spokesman-Review outdoors editor, and Terry Prichard of Sea Kayak Adventures will present a free multimedia program about the thrills of paddling expeditions in the whale waters of Baja and Vancouver Island.

When: Monday, 7 p.m.

Where: Corbin Community Center, 827 W. Cleveland Ave., sponsored by Spokane Canoe & Kayak Club.

National forest ripe for Christmas trees

OUTDO – Transform your annual Christmas tree hunt into an educational adventure by joining Chris Loggers, Colville National Forest wildlife biologist, on his annual tree “ID” and harvesting field trip Dec. 5 starting at 10 a.m., based out of the Beaver Lodge on Highway 20 about 25 miles east of Colville.

The field trip is free, but anyone hunting a Christmas tree in a national forest must have a $5 permit, available at Beaver Lodge, Forest Service offices or at the BLM office in Spokane Valley.

Preregister: (509) 684-7000 or go online at http://www.fs.fed.us/ r6/colville. Click “Contact Us,” then click “comment form.” Type “Christmas tree” on the subject line. Include number of people attending, number of tree permits needed and how you heard about the trip.

Maps will be handed out, or request them in advance by e-mail: cloggers@fs.fed.us.

Raising the bar for hiking trips

OUTDISTANCE - Andrew Skurka is planning a 2010 backpacking expedition that’s big even by Alaska standards.

The 28-year-old Massachusetts-born adventurer is gearing up for a 4,500-mile loop around Alaska and the Yukon.

Don’t write him off. Skurka already has trekked more than 23,000 miles since 2002, including long-distance hiking firsts – the 6,875-mile Great Western Loop and the 7,778-mile Sea-to-Sea Route.

Skurka has been recognized as Adventurer of the Year by National Geographic Adventure.

Check it out: www.andrewskurka.com.