Outdoors
Waterfalls of the West
MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) — Niagara Falls, located on the border of New York and Ontario, is probably North America’s most famous waterfall.
But there are plenty of waterfalls out West worth visiting as the weather warms up. The April issue of Sunset magazine —http://www.sunsetmagazine.com — recommends 10 of them. Note that while some are a short walk from a parking lot, others require a well-planned hike. They are:
n Havasu Falls, Supai, Ariz., on the Havasupai Indian Reservation. Reaching these falls requires hiking 10 miles and getting the necessary trail permit several months in advance; http://www.havasupaitribe.com.
n ‘Akaka Falls, Big Island, near Hilo, Hawaii. The falls are located on a half-mile loop in a state park and stretch 400 feet; http://www.hawaii.gov.
n Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo., best seen from Upper Falls Viewpoint and Artist Point; http://www.nps.gov/yell.
n Yosemite, Bridalveil, Vernal and Nevada Falls in California’s Yosemite National Park; http:// www.nps.gov/yose.
n Multnomah Falls, about a half-hour drive from Portland, Ore. The water falls some 500 feet into a pool, then cascades to another drop under an arching stone footbridge. Hike 1.2 miles to the top, or dine in a restaurant in a lodge at the base near the visitor center for the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area; http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia.
n Rifle Falls State Park in Colorado. Walk just 100 yards from the parking area at the trailhead, or take the half-mile trail to the top; http://www.parks.state. co.us/parks/riflefalls.
n Snoqualmie Falls in Washington, about 30 miles from Seattle. Watch them from a gazebo or from the dining room at Salish Lodge & Spa; http://www. snoqualmiefalls.com.
n Seven Falls, Colorado Springs, Colo. This series of seven waterfalls is reached via 224 steep steps, or take an elevator that runs through 14 stories worth of granite to the top; http://www.sevenfalls.com.
n North Falls at Silver Falls State Park, North Silver Creek, Ore. Watch the falls from a viewing cavern; http://www.oregonstateparks.org.
n Whiskeytown Falls, Redding, Calif. The 1.7-mile trail is not for couch potatoes, dropping and climbing a total of 1,000 feet along hills to the falls’ base; http://www.nps.gov/whis.
- Outdoors
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- Doris Mildred Emmons
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Just as fun, less polluting: new boats help keep waterways green
If you hop in a boat this summer to take in a bit of nature, consider this: A few hours in a motorboat could be as polluting as tens of thousands of miles in a car.
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'Best Remudas' deserves an award all it’s own
Jim Jennings put his quarter horse expertise to work in his new book, “Best Remudas, Quality Quarter Horses.”American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) annually presents the Best Remuda Award.
Jennings’ book showcases these award-winning ranches in moving detail.
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Waterfalls of the West
MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) — Niagara Falls, located on the border of New York and Ontario, is probably North America’s most famous waterfall.
But there are plenty of waterfalls out West worth visiting as the weather warms up. The April issue of Sunset magazine —http://www.sunsetmagazine.com — recommends 10 of them. Note that while some are a short walk from a parking lot, others require a well-planned hike.
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Budget cuts mean job losses for wildlife refuges
WASHINGTON — Faced with a $2.5 billion budget shortfall, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is eliminating hundreds of jobs, cutting back programs and leaving more than 200 national wildlife refuges unstaffed.
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Instead of candy, give a manatee this Easter
Helping to save endangered manatees has become a very popular gift alternative at Easter and other special occasions throughout the year.
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Will Texas’ Big Thicket wilderness give up the elusive ivory-billed woodpecker?
BIG THICKET NATIONAL PRESERVE — Corinne Campbell stuffs her gear in waterproof sacks and stuffs them and herself into a tiny circular cutout that marks the seat in her green kayak.
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Winter nights great for creating
These cold and dark months can bring out the closet artisan in even the most ham-handed, color-blind of us.
While there’s still some cold weather fishing looming, right now I find myself more dedicated to making new toys for the year’s coming adventures.
Hardly artwork, my creations are really implements for some future hunting adventure.
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Anglers, hunters still paying for conservation
When I lived in South Texas, I used to hunt a bit with a sometimes-taxidermist who wrote the book on free rides.
He could never take his own vehicle but never contributed to fill the tank with gas. Never remembered to bring lunch, but was quick to “share” what the rest of us had brought. Never remembered a cooler, but always had the first and last drink.
He loved the trips, but never could see to pay his way.
Come to think of it, I’m not sure why we kept taking him along!
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Tough quail season ends with whimper
“Sadie! Over!”
For the 200th time, the willing Shorthair switched directions and circled back to the right, probing each weedy pocket of brush, still looking for the bobwhite quail we’d hoped to find.
And hope was fading fast.
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