December 6, 2012 Buzz: Outdoors News Shorts
Gift idea: Discover Pass
There’s good news for Washington residents who are thinking about purchasing a Discover Pass as a holiday gift for their outdoor-loving family and friends. Now, people who purchase the pass online will have the option of choosing the start date of the annual pass. At the time of purchase, the buyer can activate the pass immediately or on any day within one year of the purchase date. So if you know your brother-in-law won’t be venturing out into state parks until after the spring thaw, you can still give him the pass this holiday season and but he doesn’t have to activate it until he is actually ready to head outside.
>> Click here to purchase online
Coming soon: Lift-accessed mountain biking at Timberline Lodge
It’s good news for Northwest mountain bikers. After a two-year comment period, the U.S. Forest Service has approved plans for construction of a mountain bike park at the Timberline Lodge and Ski Area in Oregon. The plan has been hotly debated by environmentalists and mountain bikers. The Forest Service is confident that the park, developed by the same group that built the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, will be consistent with the Mt. Hood Forest Plan. This project will open up the mountain to four-season recreation in a huge new way. Look for resort lifts to take riders up to the top of a 17-mile mountain bike trail system, crossing both ski trails and forested areas.
Icicle Inn Winner Announced!
Congratulations to Steve Banks, of Port Orchard, Wash. who was the grand prize winner of two nights at the Icicle Inn in Leavenworth! Steve’s name was pulled from the hundreds who entered the Outdoors NW contest this fall. Steve and his family entered the contest at the recent Jingle Bell Run in Port Orchard where the whole family (Steve, Linda and son Brayden) ran the race. Thanks for entering, Steve. We know you will enjoy your time in Leavenworth!
