2015 Outdoors: Spotlight

2015 SPOTLIGHT

Hike It Baby, a social media-based group of parents looking for a supportive social family hiking experience, stands out as the area’s fastest-growing outdoor organization.

After hearing about hikeitbaby.com launched in Oregon, MaryBeth Bryant started the Spokane chapter in November 2014. A year later, Hike It Baby Spokane has 1,600 followers that organize hikes for parents with babes in backpack carriers or strollers.

“Now we have so many people, we’re scheduling at least five walks a week, with something for everyone,” she said. “I enjoy hiking by myself, but this is like having a new community of like-minded moms and dads – and grandparents. We all want to get outdoors with our kids.”

REI stores remain closed on Black Friday, one of the biggest shopping days of the year, so employees could be outdoors.

Google Trekker debuts in Spokane area, with local volunteers backpacking the high-tech digital imaging device along some of the area’s signature routes and trails. Google will eventually provide panoramic Street View images of the off-road scenery for anyone with Internet access to explore.

A Montana grizzly that had been trapped, collared for research and released northwest of Noxon wandered to the Coeur d’Alene River area north of Interstate 90, where grizzly bears have been nearly absent for decades. The 2-year-old male was dodging fires and searching for food scarce from drought. Idaho wildlife officials feared for its safety and tried unsuccessfully to trap and relocate it.

Sure enough, even though the grizzly had generated numerous sightings, photos, videos and widespread publicity during its month in the Silver Valley, it was illegally killed by black bear hunters on Sept. 30 near Wallace. Dan Tesky, of Silverton, and a 14-year-old boy each were cited by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game for misdemeanor unlawful taking of a protected bear. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.