From Rock 'n' Roll Seattle marathon organizers:

Here's a link to the course map.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle officially unveiled its race courses today for both the marathon and half marathon events, which are set to run from Tukwila to Seattle on Saturday, June 27, 2009. The courses were formally approved by the City of Seattle Special Events committee last week, and will take in some of the region’s best-known landmarks, charming neighborhoods and urban attractions.

“The Pacific Northwest has an incredibly dynamic running community and we are thrilled that Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle will soon be one of the region’s premiere outdoor events,” said Megan Young, Event Manager. “This is a brand new, world class event that will attract participants from across the country. We wanted a route that highlights the many extraordinary Northwest vistas, which will make this race memorable for all participants.”

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If you are heading up to Paradise this weekend, or any time soon, don’t feed the foxes.

Mount Rainier National Park officials are concerned that some of the Cascade foxes that hang out at Paradise are becoming too habituated to human food.

I talked with Ellen Myers, one of the park’s wildlife biologists, who said the critters are becoming more brazen in their attempts to find food. She said two people had their backpacks “broken into” and food was taken.

Jeffrey P. Mayor/The News Tribune file
This black bear became a nuisance at Paradise last fall in part because it was fed by park visitors. Mount Rainier National Park officials are reminding visitors not to feed wildlife.

Winter campers are being asked to use hard-side containers to hold their food.

Myers said last weekend she had notes handed out to visitors as they entered the park warning them not to feed the wildlife.

A fox had to be killed last year after it was injured. Park officials believe it was hurt when it was hit it by a vehicle while trying to get some food.

If park visitors continue to feed the foxes, park staff will have to use some deterrents to keep the animals out of the area. Myers said rangers at other parks have used Super Soakers to scare off animals. That is not a viable option during the winter, Myers said, but something might have to be done if visitors don’t cooperate.

The state Fish and Wildlife Commission has created an informational brochure outlining its efforts to reach agreement with Oregon on spring fishing seasons on the Columbia River.

The brochure outlines the new joint catch-sharing policy for spring chinook salmon on the lower River. Fisheries managers for both states recently set fishing seasons for March and April. The final allocation of spring chinook between sport and commercial fisheries later in the season remains unresolved.

Click here to download the brochure.