Local author and former Yakima Herald-Republic weekly columnist Rob Phillips won four more Excellence in Craft awards from the Northwest Outdoors Writers association last week.
Phillips earned a first-place award in the humor category for a column titled "Not all roadside hotels are created equally" and his column was named one of the best columns in any print media. He also received an Excellence in Craft award for a fishing column he wrote on whitefishing last December.
Another EIC award, selected from entries by outdoor communicators from five Western states and three Canadian provinces, recognized Phillips' novel "Trapped in the Cascades," the seventh book in Phillips' Luke McCain mystery series.
Calendar
SATURDAY: The Hard Core Running Club will host its weekend fun run of 3 to 6 miles, with all paces and abilities welcome. Meet at 8 a.m. at the Yakima Greenway's Gleed parking lot.
ALSO SATURDAY: The annual Rattlesnake Hills Wine Run will begin at 9 a.m. at Two Mountain Winery in Zillah and feature additional tastings at Dineen, Bonair, Portteus, VanArnam and Silver Lake. Registration for the 5K is $60 for individuals or $45 per person for teams and $70/$50 for the 10K. For more information and to sign up, go to yakimewinerun.com.
WEDNESDAY: The Hard Core Running Club will host its weekly fun run at Franklin Park at 6 p.m. There will be options for a track workout or running on the streets.
Getting outdoors
TUESDAY: The Cascadians will host an intermediate hike of 5-6 miles at White's Ridge in the Ahtanum State Forest southwest of Yakima with an option to do the full 10-mile loop. This grou does not stop frequently or take lengthy lunches. It is destination style hiking. Drivers need a Discover Pass. Go to cascadians.org/Calendar for more details.
ALSO TUESDAY: The Cascadians will host a hike of 2-3 flat miles at the Toppenish Wildlife Refuge with lunch afterwards at Legends Casino. Drivers need a Discover Pass. Go to cascadians.org/Calendar for more details.
NEXT THURSDAY: The Cascadians will hike 3.5 miles with 1,300 feet of elevation gain at Edgar Rock off of State Route 410. Go to cascadians.org/Calendar for more details.
-- Yakima Herald-Republic