Heraldnet.com
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2009 3:19 am
LocalNorthwestNation & WorldPoliticsSpecial ReportsPhotosColumnistsMultimedia 
Blog
The Mudrakers
Dark Days Challenge: Week 3, turkey soup
Your town news
Support Groups
Judyrae Kruse
Reader recipes and more from Food columnist Judyrae Kruse.
•Latest: How to make steamed bread
Sharon Wootton
Sharon Wootton writes about outdoor activities.
•Latest: Some hummingbirds stay through the winter
Latest gallery

Christmas Parlor Tour
December 9. 2009 (13 photos)
[More Herald photos]
 
WEEK IN REVIEW
Wednesday
Gregoire unveils budget with deep cuts, will pr...
Sultan brothers plead guilty in death of rival ...
Bikini coffee stands to be regulated as adult e...
Tuesday


Arlington brothers’ fight led to death, p...
Burn ban issued in Snohomish County
Woman found dead at Bothell house fire
Monday


Pearl Harbor's voices of the past
Taxes needed to close state's growing deficit?
Grant could help county's residents all be heal...
Sunday


Swine flu lingers, making traditional flu seaso...
Two vie to serve as Snohomish County prosecutor
Families get an early gift: free Christmas trees
Saturday


Gift charity draws Snohomish County families in...
Fears over commercial air service at Paine Fiel...
Donated safe gives Marysville museum a mystery
Friday


From behind bars, pal tells Colton Harris-Moore...
Commercial airlines would cause few problems at...
Fund set up to benefit children of couple kille...
Thursday


5 die of swine flu in Snohomish County
Red Cross honors acts of heroism, many by ordin...
Barista clothing rules delayed by County Council
 

ADVERTISEMENT

Living   Print This Article  Email This Page  Subscribe Now! facebook digg reddit del.icio.us fark stumble

 
ADVERTISEMENT
 
CONTACT THE HERALD
Melanie Munk, Features Editor
munk@heraldnet.com
 
Published: Saturday, August 16, 2008

Tragedy on the trail prompts safety reminder

Hunting, a death, snow, an interactive map, a new field guide and birds are all part of a busy August.

Yes, the odds of a hiker being killed by a hunter are very, very small, but as we recently had hammered home by the death of a hiker who was mistaken for a bear by a 14-year-old hunter, the risk is there.

To minimize the chances, wear bright clothing to make yourself more visible. Leave the animal-colored clothing home. Feel free to be a little noisy to let hunters hear you. They won't necessarily appreciate the noise (it might scare away game) but after that shooting death, forgive hikers for being a little edgy.

If shots are fired, shout out so hikers know you're there. If they've hit their targets, noise won't matter. If they've missed, shouts won't matter.



Snowpack: The snow level in the western Cascades and on north-facing slopes is still pretty heavy, and even snow patches require caution. When in doubt, call a ranger for updated information.



Interactive map: The Wenatchee Valley Sports Council has launched a new online map featuring the best camping, fishing and golfing destinations within a one-hour drive from Wenatchee. To take a look, go to www.wenatcheevalley.org/sports/camp_fish_golf.html.



Nature walks: Learn about wildlife and ecosystems by attending an interpretive program. Ranger-led 90-minute nature walks to Gold Creek Pond in the Gold Creek Valley just east of Snoqualmie Pass summit will lead to discussions about resident bull trout, beaver and the nature of invasive plants and animals. The trail accommodates all ages and is ADA-accessible. The walks will follow a one-mile paved loop with no climbing involved.

Tours are 10 a.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 14. Call 425-434-6111, Thursday through Monday, for reservations and information. A $10 donation per person is requested to offset the cost of the program.

Interpretive offerings are also held at Heather Meadows at Mount Baker. Originals songs are performed by local musicians at noon Aug. 23 to explore the human history of Baker. At 1 p.m. the same day, take a guided plant walk around Bagley Lakes.

For more information, call the Glacier Public Service Center, 360-599-2714.

Lock and carry: Vehicle break-ins have been a persistent problem in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. If you can't pack it on your hike, at least store the valuables out of sight.

Bridge open: The Agnes Creek footbridge on the Agnes Creek Trail, about a half-mile from the trail head, is open to hikers and stock. The trail is in the Stehekin Valley of Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.

Go birding: Join a Pilchuck Audubon Society birding outing. Upcoming trips include Chinook Pass and Highway 410 on Aug. 19 for gray jays, Vaux's swifts and mountain chickadees (Virginia Clark, 360-435-3750). Or head to birding spots around Anacortes on Aug. 26 (Art Wait, 360-563-0181). Fifty species were seen here in August 2007.

On the book shelf: Roger Tory Peterson has entered the 21st century with the "Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America" ($26, Houghton Mifflin). It's part of the celebration of what would have been the 100th birthday of the inventor of the modern field guide.

The new book will be released on his birth date, Aug. 28. It combines two previous books (Eastern and Western versions) for the first time, with about 40 new paintings, some of them digitally enhanced to reflect current knowledge. The guide includes all-new range maps and updated species account rewritten to cover Canada, too. There's a field guide first -- access to three hours of video podcasts.

At 61/4 x 91/4 inches and 2.6 pounds, the guide requires a backpack for the field. But the larger size allows plenty of room for bigger illustrations and detail.

Happy birthday, Roger.

Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.

1. Teen dies after Granite Falls crash
2. Bikini coffee stands to be regulated as adult entertainment
3. Sultan brothers plead guilty in death of rival gang member
4. Body found after house catches fire north of Bothell
5. Gregoire unveils budget with deep cuts, will press for tax hikes
6. Grief and gratitude expressed for four slain officers
7. Two teenagers hurt in crash near Granite Falls
8. Friends and family honor Clearview couple who loved always
9. Roe appointed interim county prosecutor
10. Arlington's budget is ‘bare bones'
Enterprise Newspaper Snohomish County Business Journal
Zambian woman thanks students for their help
Food banks see rise in use
‘Making Spirits Bright’ in Edmonds
Wolfpack takes aim at state
Seahawks help students smile
95 and still volunteering
Sno-King joined by local TV king
Veterans back for Wildcats
Lynnwood seeks to plug $2 million budget gap
The Enterprise Online Newspaper


FREE 6 lb. Pad w/
40yd Carpet Purchase

$2.99 Chili Dog
$3.99 Fish Burger

Nutcracker
Family Packs Available

$5 Off
Stylecut

75% OFF
Many Items. Hurry!

Buy 1 Dinner Entree
Get 2nd 50% Off

20% Off Dinner
Up to $75 Value!

Special Rebate Offers!
Plus Additional 30% OFF!

Over 1 Million Lights
Lights of Christmas

$95 Dryer Vent Cleaning!
$99 Whole House Duct Cleaning!

Buy 1 Get 1 FREE
Lube Oil Filter

Holiday Specials
up to 25% off!

25% off Bath & Groom
New Customers

20% Off Re-Upholstery
or Custom Furniture!

Oil - Snohomish County
Low Prices - Fill Now!

Holiday Getaway
$99 dbl Occupancy

15% Off
All Repairs!

Always Free
Transmission Diagnostic

$2 OFF
at Box Office

Over 1 Million Lights
Lights of Christmas
Warm Beach Camp
Top Cars
Top Homes

ADVERTISEMENT