Snow-goers boosted by services, clinics
OUTGOING – Support is on its way for getting into the growing winter sports of snowshoeing and skijoring. Following is a list of area services and clinics geared to getting you out on the snow.
• Mount Spokane rentals – Through the winter season, a new snowshoe and nordic ski rental service is available at Mount Spokane State Park nordic ski area next to Selkirk Lodge and the Mount Spokane nordic ski trails.
• Fitness Fanatics has a trailer full of gear to rent, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursdays-Mondays during the winter season. Washington Sno-Park permits also are available as well as skijoring harnesses.
Rent gear in advance by calling the Spokane Valley store, (509) 922-6080.
• REI Snowshoeing Basics – Tuesday, 7 p.m., free primer on snowshoeing, covering gear selection and where to go, at the Spokane REI store. Preregister a rei.com/spokane.
• REI Skijoring Basics – Thursday, 7 p.m., learn about skijoring, a winter sport in which a person wearing skis is drawn dog-sled style over snow by one or more dogs. Preregister a rei.com/spokane.
• Spokane Nordic Winterfest, Sunday. Spokane Nordic is celebrating cross-country skiing, skijoring and other winter sports at Mount Spokane’s Cross-Country Ski Park. Sign up for activities at spokanenordic.org.
• Snowshoeing 101 clinic – Jan. 16, 6 p.m. at Mountain Gear retail store, 2002 N. Division. Info: (509) 325-9000.
• Snowshoe rental deal – Jan. 17-19, Mountain Gear is offering a 50 percent discount on snowshoe rentals for the Martin Luther King holiday weekend, (509) 325-9000.
• Women’s Souper Bowl – Feb. 1, the 10th annual snowshoeing and nordic skiing event at Mount Spokane State Park will benefit the Women and Children’s Free Restaurant. Snowshoes, guided treks, prizes and a fabulous lunch provided. Preregister: souperbowlspokane.org.
• Spokane Langlauf – Feb. 8, the 37th annual 10-kilometer cross-country skiing event for skiers of all ages and levels at Mount Spokane State Park. Langlauf is the largest citizens race in the region and offers food and thousands of dollars worth of prizes in post-race drawings. Sign up: spokanelanglauf.org.
Year review errata
OUTCORRECT – Three corrections to the 2014 Outdoors in Review report published on Dec. 28:
• Pheasant Valley Preserve near LaCrosse, Washington’s oldest game bird shooting preserve, is operating year-round for hunting pen-raised pheasants and sporting clays, (509) 549-3603.
• A Washington state record walleye of 20.32 pounds was caught in the Columbia River by John Grubenhoff.
• Washington boaters born on or after Jan. 1, 1955, must hold a boater safety card in order to operate a power boat.