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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Saturday, August 16, 2008 Tragedy on the trail prompts safety reminder By Sharon Wootton Herald Columnist 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.

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