Field reports: Popular Forest Service trailheads blocked for road repairs

FORESTS – Road work will restrict access starting this week to popular fall destinations in the region’s national forests.

The Roman Nose trailhead in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests will be affected by construction on Forest Service Road 1007 over Caribou Pass. The route will be closed Tuesday-Friday. It will reopen next weekend and close again Oct. 7-11.

Info: Bonners Ferry Ranger District, (208) 267-5561.

Access to Abercrombie and Sherlock mountains on the Colville National Forest will subject to delays Tuesday-Dec. 1 on:

• Road 8000 (Sherlock Peak)

• Road 8300 (Abercrombie)

• Road 8070 (Silver Creek)

• Road 8075 (Windy Ridge)

• Road 8109 (Gladstone).

Info: Three Rivers Ranger Station at (509) 738-7700.

Pend Oreille trail funding secured

TRAILS – A nonprofit group has raised $400,000 to secure a key piece of Lake Pend Oreille waterfront for a trail near Sandpoint.

Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail president Jon Sayler said the group has raised the money needed to buy a parcel that joins three other parcels being secured by the cities of Sandpoint and Ponderay.

Sayler said the purchases, opening more than a mile and a half of shoreline trail to the public, are the first phase of the trail project.

Local man honored for elk conservation

HABITAT – Rance Block of Liberty Lake was honored this week for protecting wildlife habitat and sportsmen’s access to the outdoors, especially in Eastern Washington. 

Block was presented the Joan Thomas Award by the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition.

During 20 years with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Block had a direct hand in protecting more than 130,000 acres of wildlife habitat in six western states.

Clearwater steelhead forecast reduced, again

FISHING – The forecast for B-run steelhead – the bigger fish bound primarily for Idaho’s Clearwater River – has been downgraded for the second consecutive week, prompting fisheries officials to consider reducing bag limits for the catch-and-keep season opening Oct. 15.

Fisheries managers from the federal government and Northwest states and tribes say only 15,000 B-run steelhead, including 3,700 wild fish, will return at least as far as Bonneville Dam.

Ladies Day at Cabela’s

OUTDO – Women will be treated to prizes, free seminars on handguns, an intro to archery and other events plus discounts on purchases during the Ladies Day Out promotion Saturday at the Post Falls Cabela’s store.

Five half-hour seminars that begin at 10 a.m., include jerky and fudge making.