AAU basketball underway
Practices are underway for the local AAU basketball program that includes students in grades two through six – and a coach is need for the second/third-grade girls’ team. Registration forms are available at Methow Valley Elementary School. For more information, call 997-2851 or email slc@methownet.com.
National park visitor centers closed
The North Cascades National Park Complex visitor centers at Stehekin and Newhalem are closed for the winter, the park service announced. The Stehekin center will re-open on March 17, 2014, and the Newhalem center will re-open May 3, 2014. The park headquarters visitor center in Sedro-Woolley will be open all winter except for weekends and federal holidays.
The restaurant and North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin Landing will continue to be open during winter ferry dock times and days. For reservations, call (509) 682-4494.
USFS, BLM map prices going up
The price of most hard-copy Pacific Northwest Recreation Series, Wilderness, Ranger District, and Special Area maps will increase Jan. 1, 2014, the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management announced. This is the first price increase in seven years.
The new price for most maps will be $9 for paper and $10 for plastic. Customers can purchase maps online or by phone through the National Forest Store, www.nationalforeststore.com/, online though Discover Your Northwest, www.discovernw.org/, and at Forest Service offices in Oregon and Washington. Most Forest Service offices can now accept credit cards.
Maps are also available at commercial retail outlets, though prices may be higher.
Digital versions of some maps for mobile applications are available through the Avenza map store, www.avenza.com/pdf-maps/store. Digital maps are $4.99 per side.
