The Dishman Hills Conservancy stands in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, Black Americans, and People of Color. We believe that standing against racism and injustice is essential in creating a community where people and nature can thrive.
We invite you to check out the following resources and join the conversation with us:
Rambleraven Gear Trader is located at 3220 N. Division, Spokane, WA.
DHC has joined Rambleraven’s Consign for a Cause program! You can now support DHC by consigning your clean, gently-used outdoor gear, clothing, and footwear. Proceeds from each sale will go to DHC to support our mission to Connect and Protect the Dishman Hills. If you have extra gear, consider stopping by Rambleraven and be sure to mention us. Curbside pickup is available. For additional details, check out their website at Rambleraven.com. To read about other ways you can support DHC, CLICK HERE. If you would like to learn about how your business or organization can partner with DHC, contact Jeff Lambert, Executive Director, at ED@DishmanHills.org.
Tribute by Jeff Lambert, Executive Director
Bill Fix passed away after 94 wonderful years. The man was a giant in the community. he quietly developed many community projects in housing, education, conservation, and recreation. He specialized in growing nonprofit endowments and financing charitable work.
He visited the Rocks of Sharon regularly in the 1950s – 70s as a climbing leader for Spokane Mountaineers. He was influential for a generation of world-class climbers including DHC president, Chris Kopczynski.
Bill and his wife Harriet had deep commitments to conservation. The Johnston-Fix Foundation has been instrumental in funding land acquisitions in the Hills since 1966. We mourn Bill’s passing but honor his devoted work to protect the Wild Heart of Spokane for everyone.
Photo by Colin Mulvany, The Spokesman-Review
Spokane County started the Phillips Creek Trailhead construction in mid-May and plans to open the new trailhead this summer. The DHC nominated the Flying L Ranch in 2016 and the County purchased the 179-acre property in 2018 using Conservation Futures monies.
The County Commissioners authorized the use of the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) monies to pay for 92% of the trailhead cost and Conservation Futures funds for the rest. By using REET monies, more funds in the Conservation Futures program are available other projects.
The trailhead parking will be paved, with 20 parking spots and room for expansion. DHC’s Art Zack was instrumental in Spokane County’s decision to incorporate webcams in this and other trailheads to provide security and as a way to check parking availability before driving to the trailhead. CLICK HERE to check out trailhead webcams!
The County approved a trail system designed by Lynn Smith of the Spokane Mountaineers. DHC advocated for a trail system that minimizes trespassing, connects to the existing Glenrose trails, and protects sensitive habitat. Many volunteers are helping build the new trail. The Spokane Mountaineers, Washington Trails Association, Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, and DHC all helped with the trail work.
Until the trailhead is open, please stay away. Check out our MAPS page to see other trailheads that are currently open for your enjoyment.
To make a donation to DHC in support of trail building and maintenance, visit our DONATE NOW page.
We all love our furry friends, and the Dishman Hills is a great place for you and them to get outside. Take a picture of your dog or pet on a leash in the Dishman Hills and send it to us! Submit your photos by emailing it to our Outreach Director at isobel@dishmanhills.org, tagging us on Facebook with @DishmanHillsConservancy, tagging us on Instagram with @DishmanHills, or by sending us a direct message! We will feature the best (and cutest!) photos on our social media. For more information about the dogs-on-a-leash rule in Spokane County see https://www.spokanecounty.org/590/Pet-Laws
Grab your binoculars and go birding in the Dishman Hills. What kind of birds could you spot? How many? Use the resources posted on our website at (link) to identify them. Send us your final count and your best birding picture for a chance to be featured on our social media pages and website!
Submit your photos by tagging us @DishmanHillsConservancy (Facebook), @DishmanHills (Instagram), sending us a direct message, or by emailing it to our Outreach Director at Isobel@DishmanHills.org. Check back on Sunday to see all the entries!
For help identifying birds in the field, download this mobile app from the Cornell Lab or Ornithology: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/
More Resources (Links):
NWNature.net
WABirder.com
For Weekly Challenge #2, we asked our community to look for hearts in nature in celebration of the #WildHeartOfSpokane. Here are some of our favorite submissions from Diane Delanoy, Braedon Folsom, Lisa Giegel, Stephanie Hill, Genie Schmidt, George & Susan Stratman, Charly Wight, Notorius, and the Badasserys Hiking Team. Thanks to everyone who submitted photos! Hover your mouse over photos to read the captions or click to enlarge.
Weekly Challenge #3: Neighborhood Clean Up
In honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22nd, we are challenging you to go around your neighborhood, nearest park, or the Dishman Hills and pick up and properly dispose of any trash you see. You can simply walk around and pick up trash where you see it, or focus on a smaller area and clean it up. Every little bit helps!
This beautiful weather we’ve been experiencing recently has encouraged lots more people to get outside, but unfortunately, that also means that we are having a bigger impact on our natural areas. A big part of our mission at DHC is stewardship, and we want to encourage everyone to join us in that goal. Let’s be good stewards of the land and keep our neighborhoods and natural areas free of litter!
Post a picture of the cleaned area, a selfie, or a nature photo of where you cleaned and tag us with @DishmanHillsConservancy (Facebook), @DishmanHills (Instagram), or email it to elijah@dishmanhills.org. Your photos will be posted at the end of the week, so check back then!
