By Holly Weiler
Cover photo courtesy of Holly Weiler
FREE, OUTDOOR-THEMED ENTERTAINMENT
Mark your calendar for three upcoming fee-free days on land managed by Washington State Parks. Discover Pass fees will be waived on March 9 to mark Billy Frank Jr.’s birthday, March 19 to mark the anniversary of the establishment of Washington State Parks and April 22 to celebrate Earth Day.
While the new Glen Tana property is still in the process of being acquired by Washington State Parks, the only way to see the property is to join one of the organized hikes hosted by Inland Northwest Land Conservancy. Another opportunity will be offered March 15, exploring both Glen Tana and the adjacent Waikiki Springs property. Advance registration is required.
At the edge of Bonaparte Lake in the Okanogan Highlands is the Bonaparte Meadows peat bog, a rare alkaline fen and the largest in our region. As part of the Okanogan Land Trust’s OkaKnowledgy Speaker Series, three guest speakers will share what they know about Bonaparte Meadows’ ecology, botany, human history and restoration efforts March 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the PUD Auditorium in Okanogan, Wash. Watch the Okanogan Land Trust website for more information, including field trips to Bonaparte Meadows later in the year.
Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness will mark the Vernal Equinox with a ski or snowshoe outing to Spar Lake on March 21. This full-day adventure is a nearly 10-mile round-trip ski or snowshoe, with the best equipment determined by the weather in the days leading up to the event. For those looking for an easier outing, check out the Hiking 101 talk and hike to Cascade Falls on April 4, an event designed for those who are new to hiking. See the Friends website for more information and to sign up.
Chelan-Douglas Land Trust is teaming up with the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society for the third annual Pets and People Outdoors event at Jacobson Preserve on April 4 from 10 a.m. to noon. This event is free, and no registration is required. It will include a marked walking route for people and their pets, along with training stations, veterinarians and vendor booths. Donations are welcome.
The annual Wenas Campout, hosted by the Wenas Chapter of the Audubon Society, will be held May 29 to June 1. This year marks the 61st annual gathering. The event is hosted at the Hazel Wolf Bird Sanctuary at Wenas Creek Campground between Ellensburg and Yakima. The campground is managed by the Department of Natural Resources and requires a Discover Pass but no additional fees. Come learn about birds, blooms and bugs during this family-friendly event that is open to all, with the Wenas Chapter hosting hikes during the day and informational campfire chats in the evenings.
FUNDRAISERS AND EVENTS
If you know how to Nordic ski and have an athletic dog but have yet to attempt skijoring, you are missing out. Spokane Nordic will host its annual BarkerBeiner Skijor Race on March 8. The event is a fundraiser for Spokane Nordic with multiple race options, and for overachievers there is the option to compete in two events. There are special divisions for seniors (humans age 60 or older or dogs age 10 or older), juniors (humans under 16), and a less competitive “guess your finish time” fun skijor, with no watches allowed. If you’d love to see the action but don’t feel quite ready to race, the event also welcomes additional volunteers.
Wenatchee River Institute will host its fifth annual Trashion Show on April 24 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Leavenworth. Those who wish to design a fine trashion ensemble in one of the four categories (adult, middle and high school youth, elementary youth or family) will need to register in advance. No registration is needed to attend the show, so pack a picnic basket and a camp chair and come see the creative trashion designs.
STEWARDSHIP, CONSERVATION & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Spring is the time to start planning summer camping and backpacking trips, which means it is the perfect time to check the websites of our region’s nonprofits to see the assortment of backcountry volunteer opportunities that combine hiking and backpacking with volunteer service. The only thing better than planning a hiking or backpacking trip to follow the hard work of a trail crew is to join that trail crew. Washington Trails Association’s trips are already live for registration through March, and many trips still have openings. Idaho Trails Association’s trips open for registration March 1, and Wild Montana’s trips open March 2. Additionally, Chelan-Douglas Land Trust will host a “Trail Talk” on March 10 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Wenatchee Valley Museum, where staff will share information about past and upcoming trail projects.
Mark your calendar for the annual Earth Day River Cleanup hosted by Spokane Riverkeeper on April 18. Focusing on the section of river running between High Bridge Park and People’s Park, this event averages around 9,000 pounds of trash collected annually, preventing that trash from winding up in the Spokane River and points downstream. The cleanup runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with trash bags and gloves provided. Register on the Spokane Riverkeeper website.
