Out & About: Groups to report on state of the trails

OUTROUTES – Efforts to maintain and develop some of the region’s standout trails will be presented at the annual “state of our trails” program organized by the Inland Northwest Trails Coalition ( inlandnorthwesttrails.org/) Thursday, 6 p.m., at Mountain Gear Corporate Headquarters, 6021 E. Mansfield Ave. in Spokane Valley.

Groups and agencies will share information on what’s happening at Mount Spokane and Riverside state parks, Spokane County Parks and Conservation Futures areas, Spokane city parks and the Fish Lake Rail Trail.

Hear updates on area bicycle trails and river trails as well as the effort to secure a “Dream Trail” through the entire Dishman Hills area to the Iller Creek and Rocks of Sharon conservation areas.

The Ferry County Rail Trail Partners will report on the development of their 25-mile route along the Kettle River and Curlew Lake from Republic to the Canada border.

Washington Trails Association members will report on volunteer trail work to improve routes in Iller Creek, Liberty Lake and the Colville National Forest.

Relive fur trader’s Columbia River trip

OUTBOUND – To celebrate the bicentennial of fur trader David Thompson’s journey down the length of the Columbia River, a series of programs is being organized this month at the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area.

More than 100 hardy adventurers will paddle 50-foot voyageur canoes along the route surveyed by Thompson, who penned the first complete maps of the region.

The stops include old fur trading settlements such as Fort Colville, Fort Okanogan, Fort Vancouver and Fort Astoria/Fort George at the mouth of the Columbia.

Events are being planned in communities along the paddlers’ route. Among them:

Friday and Saturday at Kettle Falls Historical Center – Presentation by author/historian Jack Nisbet, canoe races and rides, small fur trade encampment and birch bark canoe building demonstrations.

The George Sibley film “Shadows of David Thompson” will be shown.

All-you-can-eat breakfast, served by the American Legion, starts Saturday, 7 a.m., at the Historical Center. Cost: $4.

Free rides in the voyageur canoes will be offered by The Brigade at:

• Keller Ferry Campground, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. on June 21.

• Spring Canyon Campground, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. on June 22.

Big Rock update

OUTFIELD – The Dream Trail Project through the Dishman Hills as well as the public parking issue – the sheriff’s writing tickets – at the Big Rock Conservation Area north of Stevens Creek Road near Tower Mountain will be discussed by members of the Dishman Hills Alliance in a program Monday, 6:30 p.m. at REI.