WILDERNESS -- Some government agency approvals for a proposed Hecla mine that would drill under the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness were overturned Tuesday by a federal judge in Missoula Conservation groups have been challenging government decisions that favored developing the Montanore Mine on the grounds that...
FISHING -- Spokane is distinguished to have a wide array of good fishing waters within easy reach in a day, but nothing sets it apart from other would-be great cities more than having a great trout stream running like an angler's artery through town. "I…
MOUNTAIN ACCESS -- Brett Chambers had to exert a little more energy to get his Selkirk Crest fix over this holiday weekend compared with last year. "Hit the Chimney Bowl from Horton Ridge (near Priest Lake)," he reports by email. "Had two walk two miles...
LAKES -- The ocean has red tide, and Lake Pend Oreille has yellow waves of pine pollen. Mary Franzel of the Friends of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness snapped this photo during a flight along the lake and caught the massive bands of pollen formed by…
STATE PARKS -- The body of a 25-year-old Spokane man has been found and a recovery effort is underway after he slipped and fell from a cliff above the 185-foot waterfall in Palouse Falls State Park near Washtucna on Monday afternoon, according to The Spokesman-Review's...
STATE PARKS -- Palouse Falls State Park staff has posted signs warning of the danger in getting too close to steep cliffs around the iconic waterfalls, but it didn't help in the case of a man who slipped and fell on Monday. I fear that...
WILDLIFE -- A Washington Legislature bill directing state departments to look into methods of deterring elk from Interstate 90 in Kittitas County was signed into law last week. The law directs the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Washington State Department of Transportation…
HUNTING – Women and ranchers are making poaching headlines in Nevada this week after an 18-month investigation into big game hunting in northeast Nevada that bagged three convictions on charges ranging from the illegal killing of three trophy elk to interfering with state investigators. Here's…
CLIMBING -- The Royal Columns climbing area on the Oak Creek Wildlife Area in Yakima County has been reopened since being closed in late April after a basalt column collapsed, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Geologists contracted to examine the area…
PUBLIC LANDS -- Contractor work to restore the illegal road bulldozed into the South Hill bluff area in April is continuing through the weekend in a race to get hydroseeding done before weeds take over. Here's the latest update from Avista and the city of...
MOUNTAIN ACCESS -- Skis, splitboards and snowshoes are still required to reach the region's high country this week, that is, if you chose the right roads to avoid closures or washouts. Forest Service offices are so understaffed they're barely making a list of what's open…
WATERSPORTS -- The annual Bigwater Blowout is coming up on the Salmon River near Riggins, Idaho, on June 3. The name is apt, as you'll see in this rapid carnage footage from the past. The event is a great party and spectator sport even if...
FISHING -- A Spokane fly fishing guide is predicting a "buggy" holiday weekend ahead. While that may be a word that alarms campers, it's a rally call for fly fishers. With light winds and temperatures forecast around 80 degrees, Sean Visintainer of Silver Bow Fly…
HUNTING -- Procrastinating big-game hunters in Washington are getting a second chance at entering the 2017 special hunts drawings. The WILD licensing system experienced a system outage on Wednesday from 8:50-10:34 p.m. because of the high customer traffic from hunters who waited until the last…
PADDLING – A series of paddling clinics for canoes, kayaks, sea kayaks and recreational kayaks on flatwater and rivers will get underway this weekend as part of an annual skills program offered by the Spokane Canoe & Kayak Club. These classes are excellent for tuning…
TRAILS -- The John Wayne Pioneer Trail that's within Iron Horse State Park is highlighted in an information-packed series of Washington State Parks blog posts. Looking for a family adventure this summer? This may be the ticket to ride.
FISHING -- Watching a 12-minute fly fishing movie and picking a favorite quote -- that's all that's required to cast your name in the hat for some GREAT prizes, such as two nights of lodging and a day of guided fly fishing with TroutHunter on...
CYCLING -- Bicycling events are cranking up in a big way this week. The Spokane Bicycle Club is inviting the public on free weekday and weekend rides to become familiar with enjoyable local routes during May’s “Bike Anywhere Month.” And the annual 24-Hours Round the...
NATURE -- If that's pine tree sex in the air this morning, it's safe to say the ponderosas around Spokane were on Viagra last night. I didn't even bother to check the pollen count last night after riding my bicycle home from work. My nose,...
BOATING -- Lake Roosevelt is one of seven areas in Washington scheduled for an emphasis patrol targeting drunk boaters. State and local law enforcement agencies will join forces to conduct boating under the influence (BUI) emphasis patrols on waterways from Memorial Day weekend through...
FISHING -- After decades of effort to restore white sturgeon in the Columbia River upstream from Grand Coulee Dam, anglers will finally get a chance to catch and keep some of the huge fish starting Saturday. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced...
SKIING/BIKING -- "For the first time ever, Silver Mountain Resort will be opening (this weekend) for skiing and biking at the same time!" the Kellogg-based managers say in a news release. Yes, skiing and biking on Memorial Day Weekend -- and one day of lifts…
FISHING -- Steelhead fishing could go the way of this year's weak spring chinook seasons and be severely curtailed, according to Columbia River system fish managers. Very low summer returns of steelhead are expected to the Columbia and Snake rivers. The East Oregonian reports the…
BICYCLING -- A bicycle tour of Spokane's newly paved Ben Burr rail trail is scheduled for tonight, May 23 starting at 6 p.m., hosted by the Spokane Bicycle Club. The ride is part of the continuing May events celebrating "Bike Everywhere Month." Meet at Lincoln...
PUBLIC LANDS – The staff of U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, will hold an open house meeting to present information about the Idaho portion of the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness on June 6 at Hope Elementary School Gymnasium, 255 Hope School Rd. in Hope. Information...
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.