Out & About
Skiers gear up at annual swaps
OUTDEAL – Snow accumulating in the high country is a sure sign that used gear will be coming out of closets for great deals at annual ski- and winter-gear swaps.
The following fundraisers help raise money for area ski patrols:
49 Degrees North Ski Patrol Ski Swap, Northeast Washington Fairgrounds in Colville, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Oct. 23. Register items for sale 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. on Oct. 22 and 8 a.m.-9 p.m. on Oct. 23.
Info: (509) 935-6649; www.ski49n.com/
Mount Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap at Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds in Spokane Valley, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Oct. 30 and 9 a.m.-noon on Oct. 31. Register items for sale from 3 p.m.-9 p.m. on Oct. 29.
Info: www.mssp.org/
Silver Mountain and Lookout Pass ski patrols Winter Swap, Kootenai County Fairgrounds on Government Way in Coeur d’Alene, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Nov. 6. Register items 3 p.m.-8 p.m. on Nov. 5.
Info: www.winterswap.org/
State parks ready for winter season
OUTFIELD – While Mount Spokane is the premier winter sports destination in the Washington State Parks system, more than 80 other state parks remain open daily through the winter.
Four parks open on weekends and holidays during winter and 29 parks are closed until dates in March or April.
Campers may park RVs or pitch tents on a first-come, first-served basis at most state parks open during the “quiet season.” Year-round camping reservations can be made at Cape Disappointment, Deception Pass, Dosewallips, Grayland Beach, Ike Kinswa, Kitsap Memorial, Ocean City, Pacific Beach and Steamboat Rock.
Cabins are available for rent at Bay View, Camano Island, Cama Beach, Kitsap Memorial or Wallace Falls state parks.
Yurts can be rented at Cape Disappointment, Grayland Beach and Seaquest.
Vacation houses are available at Millersylvania, Fort Flagler, Fort Worden or Moran.
Reservations: www.parks.wa.gov; (888) 226-7688.
Reservations for Fort Worden and Fort Townsend state parks, (360) 344-4400.
What we can learn from Muir, Leopold
OUTCLASS – Gonzaga University’s annual “What We Can Learn” free lecture will take on a conservative tone this year.
“What We Can Learn from John Muir and Aldo Leopold,” is the topic to be tackled Thursday, 7 p.m. at Wolff Auditorium, Jepson School of Business.
Speakers: Brian Steverson, professor of business ethics, Jon Isacoff, associate professor of political science and director of environmental studies.
Cycle club leaderless
OUTPEDAL – Chuck Ayers is out as executive director of the Cascade Bicycle Club after overseeing its rapid growth in membership and clout since 1997.
“There has been some tension between the board and Chuck about a variety of management issues,” said Peter Morgan, a board member serving as interim director. Cascade needs a new leader who can double its membership and deal with increased complexity, he said.
At 14,000 members, Cascade is likely the nation’s largest regional bike organization, Morgan said. Besides advocating for bike facilities, it sponsors the Chilly Hilly group ride on Bainbridge Island, the Seattle-to-Portland (STP) Bicycle Classic, and the Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party (RSVP).
Those events and others will continue, the club said.
A search is under way for a new director, who’ll be paid $80,000 to $100,000.