Field Reports
RIVER RUNNING
Riggins BigWater Blowout
Whitewater rafting, Dutch oven cooking, a rafting gear swap, movies and music are set for the 6th annual BigWater Blowout Saturday on the Salmon River based out of Riggins, Idaho.
Licensed guides will take visitors through thrilling rapids from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and experienced boaters are encouraged to bring their own equipment, too. Shuttles are free.
Prices are up a little from previous years, but outfitters will be offering cheap whitewater runs for about $20 and options for longer daytrips.
Rafting participants must be at least 16 and those under 18 must have a parent’s signature.
Info: (208) 628-3778 or www.rigginsidaho.com.
Rich Landers
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Mudders head for Red
A dynamic group of mountain biking instructors is teaming with Red Resort’s new bike park for portions of their mountain biking camps that start next weekend and run into September near Rossland, British Columbia.
After running successful camps last year, an expanded schedule of women-only and coed camps are scheduled for riders 13 and older.
The DevineRIDE Freeride Camps were founded last year by Cindy Devine, former world downhill mountain bike champion, and Kirsty Exner, world extreme skiing medalist and competition biker.
This year, Red Resort will be the stage for the Freeride DH Mountain Bike Camps hosted by DevineRIDE and their experienced team of talented fat-tire stars.
The weekend camps focus on developing skills with lift-assisted riding and technical seminars, plus plenty of time for socializing.
“There are trails for all abilities and there will also be a skill development area to help riders learn to ride skinnies, do jumps, ride the steeps and go fast,” said Exner.
The first women-only camps are June 3-5 and June 24-26, with a coed camp set for July 15-17.
Camp costs start at $209 (Canadian). For info on other scheduled camps and pre-registration, call Red Resort, (877) 969-7669 (toll free) or email reservations@redresort.com.
Another source of bike camp info is Rossland Recreation, (250) 362-7191, e-mail recreation@rossland.com.
Rich Landers
HUNTING
Hunter course openings
While many of the Spokane area’s summer hunter education courses are already filled, a few classes still have vacancies.
All first-time hunters born after Jan. 1, 1972, must complete a certified hunter education course before they can buy a Washington license.
Classes with openings as of last week included those starting on June 14, July 19, Aug. 16 and Sept. 13. Each of these six-session classes is held at Sharp Shooting Indoor Range, 1200 N. Freya.
Pre-registration is required. Call Tom Higgins, 327-7896.
Also check the Internet at http://wdfw.wa.gov. Click on “Hunting” and look for the link to “2005 Hunter Education Classes.”
Rich Landers
WATERFOWL CONSERVATION
DU holds festival
Hear some of the best waterfowl callers in the West, enter dogs in retriever games, turn the kids loose in some ducky activities and check out the latest decoys and equipment for waterfowl hunting at the Ducks Unlimited Washington Waterfowl Festival, June 4-5, at Benton County Fairgrounds.
A special shotgun target shooting exhibition will be performed by Tom Knapp, who’s listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for throwing and breaking 10 clay targets with 10 individual shots before they hit the ground.
For details about the waterfowl festival at the Tri-Cities, contact Ben Tanke, (509) 628-3110 or www.wawaterfowlfestival.org.
Rich Landers
NATIONAL TRAILS DAY
Help at PDO Park
Volunteers are needed Saturday to put finishing touches on seven miles of trails as part of the remarkable revival of Pend Oreille County Park.
The 440-acre park and campground, off U.S. Highway 2 south of Newport, had been neglected for years until Pend Oreille County groups, the Backcountry Horsemen and Pacific Northwest Trails Association members rolled up their sleeves and got to work two years ago.
“The park is completely cleaned up, the bathrooms are painted, everything’s up and running and we even have free hot showers for campers,” said James Francis, the host who lives at the park. Camping fees are $10; day use is free.
On Saturday, starting at 9 a.m., Francis will help work groups to put finishing touches on trails in honor of National Trails Day.
“Most of the work has been done, but the trails should look real good when we get done,” he said, noting that several business have provided prizes for volunteers and every helper will get a National Tails Day T-shirt. “Tell people to bring gloves and a lunch and maybe some pruners.”
The park is 22 miles north of Spokane.
Info: James Francis, (509) 292-0121.
Rich Landers
NATIONAL FORESTS
Vandalism irks supervisor
Just a year into his stint as Colville National Forest supervisor, Rick Brazell is puzzled by the rash of vandalism on public property.
“When public property is ruined, not only does the neighborhood lose property, in this case, some of its public playgrounds, but the actions take their toll in the form of a loss of security,” he said. “People ask, ‘Where will the delinquents hit next? Will my favorite spot be destroyed? Whose dollars will pay for repairs?’ “
With budgets decreasing, public land managers are barely able to maintain recreational facilities and services at respectable levels,” he said. “Senseless property destruction further exacerbates the situation.”
Brazell is pleading for more volunteers to help make up for budget cuts and staff reductions the forest is just beginning to endure. There’s barely enough money to keep campgrounds open much less pick up the litter of slobs.
“Perhaps a club or family would like to adopt a recreation area for litter cleanup similar to the adopt-a-highway litter cleanup program,” he said.
Rich Landers
FISHING
Bighorn Lake finally filling
Bighorn Lake along the Montana-Wyoming border is expected to fill for the first time in years, officials said Monday.
Heavy spring rans are filing the lake at the rate of 2 feet a day, potentially allowing the National Park Service to open campgrounds closed five years ago.
Releases from Yellowtail Dam into the Bighorn River may gradually reach the optimum level for the famous rainbow trout stream.
Associated Press