Outdoors

Fly fishing

A blue heron takes off from a set of lily pads at Fernan Lake on Friday in this photo by Mark Hendrickson.

There is a mythical land beyond the invisible boundaries of our neighborhood, a place where rules don’t apply and lawlessness is the sweet reward of those who plow their own roads and take their own trash to the dump. It’s a place where red tape is unheard of, Tyvek counts as siding, and nobody is coming to see if your Grassed Infiltration Area meets volume requirements.

The Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation, a partner of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, has launched a new program to introduce young people to Idaho’s wilderness.

BILLINGS – Anglers seeking big trout in Yellowstone National Park should mark their calendars for the Memorial Day weekend.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is taking public comment on a draft policy that guides its use of science in making decisions. 

Hunters will have a little more time to apply for special permits this year.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK – Imagine the cyclist clad in brightly colored skin-tight shorts and top, helmeted head held low, legs pumping hard into the headwind as they pedal up a steep hill near Norris Geyser Basin.

Despite this winter’s paltry performance, there’s still some snow left in the mountains to melt, and river lovers are watching it closely.

SEATTLE – RAMROD is back on: The 40th annual Ride Around Mount Rainier in One Day endurance cycling event will circle Mount Rainier National Park on Sept. 4.

Fly fishing

My grandmother liked clocks. In fact, I’d say she had a sort of fascination with timekeeping, as if it was responsible for her productivity or a marker of her success.

From staff reports

An osprey plucks a trout from Fernan Lake in this April 12 photo by Mark Stoeser.

Washington officials are looking for public input on their proposal for new cougar hunting regulations.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission finds itself deeply divided over predator hunting rules for the second time in recent years.

It wasn’t a long walk, but it was a rewarding one.

The golden rule of wildflower etiquette is the three words kids don’t want to hear: “Look, don’t touch.”

SALEM – The name is perfect, even while it dramatically undersells this geologic wonder in remote southeast Oregon.