April 2016 by Out There Outdoors

EVERYDAY CYCLIST | KIDS FISHING DAY | HIKE OF THE MONTH APRIL 2016 // FREE

THE INLAND NW GUIDE TO OUTDOOR ADVENTURE, TRAVEL AND THE OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE

On the Run:

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Local Runners in the National Spotlight

8Races

Spring

Outdoorsy Summer Camps

Butterfly Hikes URBAN OUTDOORS HAWK SPOTTING

Riding The Great Divide

Family Outdoors Guide

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ARE YOU INTERESTED IN PRESERVING YOUR PIECE OF SPOKANE COUNTY OR KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE?

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SPOKANE FALLS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Spokane County Parks, Recreation & Golf Department is accepting new property nominations February 1st through April 30th, 2016 to be considered by the Conservation Futures Program and potential future purchase at fair market value. For more information about the Conservation Futures Program, how we buy land, and how you can nominate your property for consideration, visit: www. spokanecounty.org/parks or call (509) 477-2188.

• First century ride of the season

• Course is monitored

• 15, 25, 50, 66, 100 miles

• Rest stops along the course

• All levels of riders are welcome

• End of ride baked potato feed

There is also a tri-athlete secured bike corral for anyone interested in participating in a 5K run. Proceeds support Local and International Rotary Projects Google Lilac Century Ride for more information. Register @ ACTIVE.COM • Info at NorthDivision.com april 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

gsi_2016_Camper_OutThereMonthly_4.2016_r.1.pdf 1 3/4/2016 1:37:46 PM

COntents

Features

15 | Choose Your Own Adventure with the Spokane to Sandpoint Relay 36 | The Inland NW Running Scene Takes Off Local runners shine a national spotlight on Spokane 44 | Three Amigos Take on the Continental Divide Riding from New Mexico to Canada

36 Special Sections 21 | Inland NW Family Outdoors Guide

departments 16 | Outdoor Living 18 | Hiking 19 | Out There Spotlight

35 | Running 38 | Gear Room 40 | Fishing

in every issue

43 | Running

| From the Editor

| Out There News & Events

46 | Running

columns 34 | Leaf Root Fungi Fruit

Edible Petals When you eat a flower, you are becoming intimate with the personality of the plant. april 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

MONTHLY

Out There Monthly / april 2016 www.outtheremonthly.com Publishers

Shallan & Derrick Knowles Editor

Derrick Knowles senior writers

Jon Jonckers Brad Naccarato Amy Silbernagel McCaffree Contributing Writers:

Jon Jonckers Bea Lackaff Nick Thomas Janelle McCabe Holly Weiler Hank Greer Erika Prins Sarah Hauge Crystal Atamian Beth Mort Jeff Lambert Amy Silbernagel McCaffree Wil Wheaton Aaron Theisen Brad Naccarato Ammi Midstokke Dave Dutro S. Michal Bennett Liza Mattana Contributing photographers:

Jaime Rees Charlie Gurche Aaron Theisen Kelly Masjoan Shallan Knowles Special projects coordinator

Janelle McCabe Art + Production

Art Director - Shallan Knowles Contributing Designer - Brad Naccarato Intern/Online contributor

Siobhan Ebel to request copies caLl

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Mailing Address: PO Box #5 Spokane, WA 99210 www.outtheremonthly.com, 509 / 822 / 0123 FIND US ON FACEBOOK Out There Monthly is published once a month by Out There Monthly, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. ©Copyright 2016 Out There Monthly, LLC. The views expressed in this magazine reflect those of the writers and advertisers and not necessarily Out There Monthly, LLC.

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Disclaimer: Many of the activities depicted in this magazine carry a significant risk of personal injury or death. Rock climbing, river rafting, snow sports, kayaking, cycling, canoeing and backcountry activities are inherently dangerous. The owners and contributors to Out There Monthly do not recommend that anyone participate in these activities unless they are experts or seek qualified professional instruction and/or guidance, and are knowledgeable about the risks, and are personally willing to assume all responsibility associated with those risks.

Printed on 50% recycled paper with soy based inks in the Spokane Valley PROUD MEMBER Of

On The Cover: allyson cochrane runs to stay fit for her hiking and climbing ambitions. she’s currently training for the 2016 coeur d’alene half marathon.

Photo: Jon Jonckers

From The Editor- Caution: Pine Needles May be Sharper than They Appear Our 11-month old son bounced happily in his pack as we hiked along the Bluff. I have spent countless hours biking the trails off of Spokane’s South Hill over the years, but hiking them with an extra 25 pounds of squirming, babbling baby strapped to my chest is a relatively new and surprisingly pleasant experience. My buddy Kyle and his nearly 1-year old son are cruising along the trail in front of me, and being two dudes with babies walking around in the woods we get plenty of looks and smiles along the way. One lady seems downright shocked to see us, proclaiming loudly that we are the best dads ever. Kyle and I chuckle because we can’t imagine anything we would rather be doing

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with our kids on a pleasant spring day. After walking for 2 or 3 miles, we were all ready for a break. Snacks and drinks down the hatch, we let the kids crawl around on the blanket of pine needles, sticks, buttercups and grasses on a bluff above Latah Creek. Robbins chirped, a hawk floated above us and a few hikers and mountain bikers passed by as we lounged along the trail. The little guys were stoked to be out of their packs and free to roam around on hands and knees. And it wasn’t until it was time to start hiking again that I saw the little red dots on my son’s feet and knees. He showed no pain and didn’t seem to notice the pine-needle pricks that dotted his soft skin like a rash, but I knew his

mother would. In some ways, being a parent who gets their kid outside as much as possible is easy. You just load them up with all the stuff they might need for the day and go. It may take more planning, a larger backpack and more awareness of things like creek-side cliffs, sun exposure, choking hazards like pinecones and rocks and, evidently, even sharp natural objects like pine needles, but it doesn’t need to be overly complicated. For the past two years OTM has published a Family Winter Sports Guide in the fall, and we are excited to add a Spring/Summer Family Outdoors Guide to the mix as part of the April issue. There is no complete guide-

book to outdoor parenting, but we included plenty of tips, ideas and inspiration to hopefully make getting kids outside fun and a little easier. Don’t have kids? Pass a copy on to other parents you know who might appreciate it. Modern kids and families face plenty of challenges, and while nature isn’t a panacea, learning to love the outdoors at a young age may be some of the best medicine we can pass on to future generations. //

Derrick Knowles, Editor editor@outtheremonthly.com

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Out ThereNews&Events

Washington’s New Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development Policy Advisor Reports on His First Few Weeks on the Job Jon Snyder ranks high on the list of pas-

@MAN I TO TAP H O US E MA N I TO T AP H O USE .C O M

sionate, community-minded Northwest outdoor enthusiasts. He founded Out There Monthly, and his record on the Spokane City Council continually revealed his dedication to pedestrians, cyclists and outdoor recreation and conservation. On January 12, he took on a new role as the first-ever Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development Policy Advisor to Governor Jay Inslee. The position was created as part of a recreation package that also funded the No Child Left Inside program for the first time in recent years. About his first few weeks, Snyder says he spent much of the time engaged in, “Hardcore outreach. Meeting with lots of people and organizations, especially outdoor areas that I am less familiar with. That could be anything from golf to fly fishing to target shooting, even recreational gold panning. I have some ideas I would like to pursue, but I am convinced there are a lot of good outdoor recreation ideas out there that I may not be aware of. I just need to find them.” Snyder works directly with Inslee to support and promote initiatives to guide outdoor recreation stakeholders in Washington. Few states have a similar advisor, but there’s a good chance this position will grow in other states. Currently, the outdoor

recreation economy in Washington supports more than 200,000 jobs, and the public lands are the No. 1 attraction for tourism dollars. Regarding any differences between the outdoor enthusiasts on the east side compared to the west side of Washington, Snyder said, “Not really any difference at all. But the west side outdoor enthusiasts I have met have generally been more politically aware and politically active. They understand how elected officials can sometimes make or break recreation opportunities. The east side of the state can be at a real disadvantage being so far from the political process. I want to help change that.” In the near future, Snyder will be researching topics surrounding the John Wayne Trail. Also, dozens of organizations have applied for No Child Left Inside grants that will be awarded this spring. Chelan County is looking at doing a comprehensive study of how outdoor recreation impacts its economy. Figuring out a wildfire funding policy on the state and federal level is another huge project. Lastly, the British Columbia provincial government is considering creating a big new national park just north of the border near Osoyoos. It’s an exciting time to be an outdoor recreation policy advisor for a state governor. (Jon Jonckers)

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40th Semi-annual Compost Fair at Finch Arboretum (Saturday, April 30) This year’s Compost Fair, hosted by the Spokane Master Composters/Recyclers, will be part of the City of Spokane’s Arbor Day Celebration. The event starts at 11 a.m. and attendees must arrive by 1:30 p.m. to complete all of the compost fair activities before the event ends at 2 p.m. Participants will learn how to make compost out of the “clean green” materials that result from spring yard work, as well as the types of food scraps that can be included in a backyard compost pile. Activity stations will provide hands-on experience and lots of information on the

materials that can be composted, types of bins to use, and how to build and turn a pile. Compost is excellent material to recycle back into yards and gardens. The fair is free and open to everyone. Participants who live within the Spokane County Regional Solid Waste System area can receive a free plastic compost bin after completing the activity stations. There is a limit of one bin per household, and proof of residence is required. The bins are provided through grant funds from the Washington Department of Ecology. Spokanecountysolidwaste.org.

Progress for the John Wayne Trail The efforts of two elected officials from

JOIN THE UPRISING. TASTE THE GLUTINY. NEWBELGIUM.COM OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

Washington’s 9th Legislative District to quietly close a major part of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail last year ironically may have given the trail a publicity and funding boost. With public attention directed towards the trail like never before, the State Legislature recently allocated $100,000 for weed control, reversing 35 years of neglect along the 300-mile John Wayne Pioneer Trail. Even in rural communities near the trail, more people are getting involved to support the trail. At Washington State Parks Department public meetings in Cheney and Ellensburg in March, 60-70 people attended each meeting, with the vast majority of attendees being trail supporters. Even with trail’s newfound fame, JWT supporters need to remain active and engaged, say trail advocates. The parks department 12-person Citizen Advisory Committee (composed of landowners and trail users) is meeting two more times (April and May) before the committee will present findings in July, with the main issues under consideration being trailheads, trestle repair and securing gaps along the trail. The process will come to a head in 2017 when the Legislature will decide the fate of the trail. The Tekoa Trail and Trestle Association, one of

the primary groups that has been rallying support for the trail, urges all Washingtonian citizens to support the recent state park’s funding request of $3-6 million independent of any grants that could come in. “Although we are very excited about the possibility of grant funding, 9th District Senator Schoesler opposes any funding for the trail, and Senate Republican Caucus members are supporting him,” says Ted Blaszak, President of the Tekoa Trail and Trestle Association. “We need to get the message to them that politics should play no part in the parks budget. Write your legislators.” Despite opposition from a few legislators, citizens from around the state continue to organize for the trail like never before. A total of 17 cities and towns have passed resolutions in support of the JWPT. A working group of elected officials is also forming with a vision to connect the JWPT to the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes and Route of Hiawatha in Idaho and Montana. This would be the longest Rail-Trail in North America by far and would have tremendous recreation and economic development value for the entire region. Keep up to date and join the conversation on the Tekoa Trail and Trestle Association’s Facebook page or at Johnwaynepioneertrail.org. (Nick Thomas and Derrick Knowles)

SaddleSore 24 Fundraiser for Cup of Cool Water (May 12)

Local athlete Jeremy Anglin has a heart for both

endurance sports and Cup of Cool Water, a faithbased nonprofit organization in downtown Spokane that helps youth who are homeless. He’s decided to combine these two passions and do some good in the process. SaddleSore 24 is a one-man 24-hour bike ride fundraiser for Cup of Cool Water. The 24-hour bike ride will happen all in one location: on a stationary bike trainer located in front of River Park Square. The event will take place from noon on Thursday, May 12 until noon on Friday, May 13. Anglin is inviting local businesses, organizations, churches and individuals to sponsor an hour of his 24-hour bike ride. During their 60 minutes, hourly sponsors can use the on-site microphone to cross-promote their organization, give away promotional items, provide family-friendly entertainment, conduct a simultaneous social media campaign, or spotlight team and community members. Before, during and after the

SaddleSore 24 event, Anglin will promote sponsoring organizations throughout his social media platforms, which reach 1,500 people across the Inland Northwest. 100% of the money he raises will benefit Cup of Cool Water. Sponsorship levels range from $100 to $750 per hour. Anglin has been involved with Cup of Cool Water for about 10 years. One day, he and some friends from church made 50 burritos, loaded their backpacks with them, met at Cup of Cool Water, and then delivered the burritos on their bikes to street youth. Since that night, he has supported Cup of Cool Water in several ways. “I have a passion for our youth,” he says. “It breaks my heart to see a teenager who feels like there is no hope. Love provides hope, and CCW provides that love to these kids every day.” For more information, visit Saddlesore24.org or www.facebook.com/saddlesore24. (Janelle McCabe)

New Centennial Beer Chase 50-Mile Running Relay (October 1)

Cascade Relays, which also puts on the Spokane

to Sandpoint Relay, is launching the Centennial Beer Chase, a 50-mile, one-day, six-person running relay that showcases the best of the Inland Northwest’s craft brewery scene. Organizers expect more than 500 runners to turn out this fall for a weekend of running and beer tasting. The Centennial Beer Chase builds on the success of Cascade Relays other three events – Cascade Lakes Relay, Spokane to Sandpoint, and CBC’s sister race, Bend Beer Chase. The beer chase series offers shorter relay experiences for runners and craft beer-lovers. With a team of six runners, each runner can expect to run approximately 8-9 miles, split between two legs. The Centennial Beer Chase showcases 20 breweries between Coeur d’Alene and Spokane. The course begins in Coeur d’Alene, running mostly on the Centennial Trail and diving off 1-2 miles from the trail for exchange points – most of which are located at breweries. Participants will finish the relay at the Spokane

Convention Center, where teams have the option to visit downtown Spokane breweries before enjoying the outdoor brewfest, live music, and local food vendors. Breweries will be providing runners a sample of their beer along with games and prizes at each exchange point. The finish line brewfest will have a featured beer from each of the breweries visited along the way. One-day relays are growing in popularity among the running community. Relays give runners the opportunity to participate in a team sport, as opposed to most running events, which are an individual endeavor. One-day relays require less planning and logistics compared to the classic overnight relay, which spans two full days. The Centennial Beer Chase is the first beer race of its kind to happen in Washington and Idaho. Registration for the Centennial Beer Chase will be open in early May. Centennialbeerchase.com. (OTM)

Spokane will soon have its own version of the Bend Beer Chase. Hello Centennial Beer Chase! Photo courtesy of Cascade Relays

continues on page 11 april 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

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Wenaha River Trail

(Blue Mountains, Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness) // By Holly Weiler

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Thanks to last summer’s wildfire, expect better-than-usual wildflowers on the Wenaha this spring. // Photo: Holly Weiler

For years I ignored the lonely Blue Mountains in favor of forever heading north for hiking and backpacking fun. Fortunately, I recently came to my senses: the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness in the Blues is no farther than many of my favorite trails to the north, and since some of the trails are at lower elevation, they are accessible even as the Selkirks and Kettle Range are covered in snow. If you’re ready for a spring backpack trip or day hike, the Wenaha is the way to go. My favorite early-season trail to the south is the Wenaha River Trail. Getting there involves winding along highways while crossing three state lines, yet the trailhead is only a little over 3 hours away. Once there, the spring flowers have a month or so jump on anything around Spokane, and the trail is ready for snow-free travel as early as March most years. The trail is also a wildlife magnet as the hill sides green up while the higher elevations are still covered in snow. It’s common to see both mule deer and whitetail, along with bighorn sheep and even elk grazing the verdant slopes just above water’s edge. Those who have visited the Wenaha River Trail in the past are likely to be surprised by changes brought about in the wake of the 2015 wildfire season. The Grizzly Bear Complex fire shut the entire Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness Area down a portion of last summer, and the fire burned hot along the Wenaha River Trail all the way to the town of Troy, less than a mile from the trailhead, where backfires were lit to save the town. As the trail meanders along the Wenaha River, it crosses some areas that burned lightly and other areas that experienced nearly a 100 percent kill-rate for even the largest, most fire-resistant trees. Still, there are already signs of nature’s renewal process, and the 2016 wildflowers should be spectacular. The biggest fire-related consequence to hikers, backpackers and backcountry horsemen is the loss of the sturdy footbridge at Crooked Creek, approximately 6.5 miles from the trailhead and about a half mile inside the wilderness boundary. By late spring to early summer, it may be possible to safely ford the river. Don’t count on an easy crossing until the higher elevation snow has melted. If you’re looking for a longer hike, head up the Crooked Creek Trail, where several more snow-free miles can be found. This side trip allows visitors to walk back into Washington, with a sign marking the state line approximately 2.5 miles above the old bridge site. Otherwise, the former bridge is a good turnaround point. Round trip distance is about 13 miles. Getting there: Take Highway 195 south to Lewiston, then 129 south through Asotin and Anatone. Continue into Oregon, turning west on the Grand Ronde River Road just before crossing the river. Follow the river upstream as you continue to the small community of Troy. Turn right at the stop sign at Bartlett Road on the edge of Troy. Continue approximately a half mile uphill to the small trailhead and parking area for the Wenaha River Trail. //

Join the Washington Trails Association for a day of trail work on the Knothead Trail in Riverside State Park on April 27. Sign up at wta.org/volunteer Get Out & Hike More— Play Out There Monthly’s Backcountry Booty Contest & Win a pair of oboz footwear

Want to get out and explore different trails around the region? Play the OTM Backcountry Booty scavenger hunt contest and you could win gift certificates for cool outdoor gear and other prizes while you’re out hiking. Here’s how it works: 1. We hide a booty certificate that’s good for whatever prizes are up for grabs and name the general location. 2. You watch for clues and photos on Facebook and at OutThereMonthly.com and keep looking until someone finds the booty!

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OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

OB OZ OU TTH ER E MAG A ZI N E 5 .12 5 X 12 .2 5 continued from page 9.

Bloomsday Offers a New App To help promote and celebrate its 40th anni-

versary, May 1, Bloomsday launched a new app that has everything a participant in Bloomsday needs to know, including event schedules, course maps, getting around, runner tracking, results, and social media sharing. Even if you have run or walked a dozen or more times, it’s nice to see the Bloomsday weather history as well as check the FAQ section for race weekend details. The app is free for Apple and Android devices. Best of all, the app proves once more that Bloomsday is a forwardthinking, international event that aims for the best Northwest community experience every May. No doubt that’s why it’s been so successful for four decades and counting. (Jon Jonckers)

Photo: Jon Jonckers

Spokane Bike Swap One Day Only This Year (April 9) Northwest Recumbent Cycles, Bike Hub, Coeur d’Alene Bike Co., Monkey Boy Bicycles, This Bike Life, Two Wheel Transit and Streamline Bikes. Outgrown or want to upgrade your bike? The bike swap is a perfect opportunity to get rid of those bikes you don’t use anymore and make some money. To sell a bike, register it online at www. SpokaneBikeSwap.com and check it in on Friday, April 8 from 3-8 p.m. Come back Saturday after the bike swap ends between 6-7 p.m. and pick up your check or unsold bike. Admission is $5 per person (free for kids 12 and under), plus there is free parking. Bike fittings and bike maintenance classes will also be offered at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Bike swap is the place to be to get pedaling this spring. Learn more at www. SpokaneBikeSwap.com. (OTM)

Photo courtesy of Spokane Bike Swap and Expo

Challenge Yourself to Get in Better Shape This Summer with the Team OTM Challenge Sign up for the Team OTM Challenge by May to

challenge yourself to complete at least one running or bike riding event each month for six months (May through October). You’ll have dozens of races and less competitive fun runs and rides to choose from, and as a Team OTM Challenge participant, you’ll receive generous registration discounts of up to 30% off each event (which means you’ll easily make back your program registration fee). So far the participating races (over 30) include individual and relay run and bike events, both on

and off road. There’s also a kick-off party at No-Li Brewhouse April 6 and an end-of season wrap-up party where you’ll score free beer and swag along with a Team OTM tech shirt. While you can sign up on your own, there’s also a 4-person team category that will allow you and three friends to save on Team OTM Challenge registration. Sign up anytime in April or May, although there is a discount for signing up before the kick-off party April 6. Info: Outtheremonthly.com/team-otmchallenge. (OTM)

Reel Paddling Film Festival (April 13) Rapid Media’s Reel Paddling Film Festival show-

cases the world’s best paddling films to audiences in Canada, the United States and around the world. The festival inspires more people to explore rivers, lakes and oceans, push physical and emotional extremes, embrace the lifestyle and appreciate the heritage of the wild places we paddle. Doors for the Spokane festival showing open at 6 p.m. April

13 at the Mountain Gear Corporate Headquarters (6021 E Mansfield Ave.). Retro kayaking videos will play until 7 p.m. when the film festival begins. Come early to socialize and drink River City Red beer and wine with your friends. The event is limited to 100 people, so buy your $10 tickets early at Mountain Gear’s retail store. Facebook.com/ events/487635498099597

11 MILES IN, YOUR FEET ARE SCREAMING,

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

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that kids and the entire family can enjoy. Don’t miss the 5th annual Spokane Bike Swap at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, April 9. Bike swap is a great place to shop for kids bikes, and this year kids 14 and under who buy a bike in the “bike corral” where all of the used bikes are lined up will receive a free Bell helmet while supplies last. Last year over 200 helmets were given away and kids’ bikes start as low as $25. From kids bikes and road bikes to tandems and tri-bikes, great deals await on the more than 900 used bikes that are expected. If you don’t find the used bike you’re looking for, 11 local bike shops will be on hand with competitively-priced bikes and accessories including Fitness Fanatics, Bicycle Butler, Wheel Sport, North Division Bicycle Shop,

M EN’ S FI REB RAN D II Bd r y / EA RT H /

Bicycling is a great, healthy outdoor activity

TRUE TO THE TRAIL

april 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

Everyday Cyclist Biking Betties

Mountain Bike Group Gets More Women Riders Out on Area Trails // By Hank Greer

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All smiles out on the trail with the Biking Betties. // Photos courtesy of Jaime Rees

Jaime Rees handles her mountain bike like a professional

downhill mountain bike racer. Because she is one. Penny Schwyn is a certified mountain bike coach who loves to ride in remote backcountry. When you meet them, you won’t see any swagger or braggadocio. But when they ride, their skills speak volumes. More importantly, these founders of the Biking Betties of the Inland Northwest are passionate about cycling and trail riding. And if you’re a woman who wonders, even just a little bit, if riding on trails is right for you, then the Biking Betties group is the perfect place to start. How did the Biking Betties get started? Rees and Schwyn formed the group in 2014. Rees had become a Liv Ambassador through The Bike Hub bike shop, and the group rides were a way for her to organize events for ladies and biking. Schwyn is a board member and coach with Evergreen East, the eastern chapter of the nonprofit Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, whose mission is to cultivate mountain biking opportunities in our area. Two years later, the Biking Betties membership on Facebook is over 400. At this year’s kickoff meeting in February, Rees addressed the new members in attendance. “Don’t think of us as a downhill group. Don’t think of us as a racing group. We’re here to ride and have fun. It’s not like when you ride with the guys and you’re the last one and they’re waiting for you and then as soon as you catch up they say, ‘Okay, let’s go.’” That spirit was appreciated by newcomers I spoke with at the kickoff meeting. Melissa Verwest has been riding mountain bikes for quite some time and took up downhill racing last year. She’s looking for other women to ride with and she wants to improve her skills. Kelly Kohlman’s cycling experience includes road and mountain biking with the majority of it on the road. She wants to improve her mountain biking skills, increase her confidence and ride with other women. Rachel Todd has been riding trails on her own for a couple of years. This group was a great find for her

because she, too, has been looking for other women to ride with. What kind of rides do they do? Rees described the rides at Camp Sekani off Upriver Drive: “At the beginning of our Biking Betties time, going to Beacon was a little dangerous because a lot of the Betties were scared of it, that we were going to go down something big or scary or have to go off big jumps. But the Evergreen East trail crew has done an absolutely fantastic job with the hill, and it has turned into one of our favorite spots. The Betties have become much more confident, and they want to learn how to go over some of the gnarly stuff: the rock rolls, jumps, wedges, wood. An outing at Sekani can entail a lot of things, but we really spend a good portion of our time socializing and enjoying the trail system that has been created for us. Ladies of all levels of riding can now join us, and they have a blast progressing in their riding abilities.” Schwyn describes a typical Mount Spokane ride. “We meet at the bottom and sort out our shuttle [ride to the top]. We’ll then find out everyone’s comfort level as we have a few different routes we can ride depending on the group. We always have a leader and sweeper and wait at all the junctions. Sometimes we do on-the-fly plan revisions to accommodate the group, and it is common for us to split the group for easier or harder trails. We try to make it really fun for gals who have never been up there before,” Schwyn says. Rides are held at many locations in Washington and Idaho, so the ladies can learn the trails and return to ride with friends on their own. If the rides aren’t enough, there’s more. The Biking Betties host basic maintenance classes and bike-fitting workshops, which are supported by Chris Andreasen at The Bike Hub. The group promotes classes held by Evergreen East and encourages the ladies to help Evergreen East maintain the trails they ride on. You can figuratively catch up with the Biking Betties by pointing your browser to www.bikingbetties.com. You can literally catch up just by showing up with your bike. Bring a helmet, water bottle and a healthy dose of enthusiasm. //

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Choose Your Own Adventure with the Spokane to Sandpoint Relay By Derrick Knowles, Erika Prins, Janelle McCabe and Sarah Hauge

passed over her precious jar of cold brew. Yes, I wrote her into my will. My last leg, an 8-mile stretch of gravel road, began in the wee hours of the morning. The sun began to rise just as I reached a stunning lake view. The gorgeous view gave my tired body the boost it needed to finish strong. It was my first S2S, and I came ill-prepared, but my teammates had my back. One lent me a belt for my number. Another packed Wet Wipes to share. We shuffled our lineup to make sure everyone could finish without burning out. We helped each other in other strange ways, like stretching each other and sharing lube. That’s how you run 200 miles. Derrick Knowles: The six runners in my van didn’t have the most auspicious start. Our second runner had to bail with an injury at the top of Doomsday Hill. Our third runner ran extra hard in the scorching heat to make up for lost time after getting off course, and he nearly collapsed from the heat and dehydration at the end of that leg. Thanks to help from the S2S medical team and his determination, he recovered and rallied to finish his remaining race legs. Despite the apocalyptic-looking weather that afternoon and evening, which included August heat, crazy winds and blowing dust that turned the sky an ominous blood red, our fortunes improved as the race went on. See Sarah Hauge’s account of our 11-person team’s fortunes below — she was in the other van with the crazy-fast runners who kept my van’s breaks so short that we started conspiring to slow them down. At the finish line at Sandpoint City Beach Park, we enjoyed the break from the road and the surprise of finishing far earlier than expected. (It was almost too early in the morning for post-race beers. Almost.) Without a doubt, running S2S was one of the highlights of my summer.

Top: S2S Team Spirit at its best. Photo: Derrick Knowles // Top right: Never know what you’ll see next. Photo: Derrick Knowles // Bottom left: Stretching out in the middle of nowhere. Photo: Janelle McCabe // Bottom right: Harry Neff coming in fast at the Bowl & Pitcher.

Last year, six of us from Out There Monthly

signed up for the Spokane to Sandpoint Relay, and we all came away from the experience stoked to do it again in 2016. Relays, especially ones like S2S that involve teammates driving to and from many exchange points along a beautiful 200-mile course in sometimes cramped vans for over 24 hours, make for some unique, memorable experiences. Sarah Hauge and I were on the same team (Team Out There) but in different vans, and OTM contributors Janelle McCabe and Erika Prins were on a second Spokane to Sandpoint Relay team (Team Bolts). Our experiences were all so different that it makes S2S sound a lot like a choose-your-ownadventure book. You can run fast or slow; plan out every logistic or wing it; approach it with stoic seriousness or like a wild, sleepless, all-night party. And even then you never know what adventures await along the 200-mile path to that finish line arch. (Derrick Knowles)

Janelle McCabe: I love relays. The group planning and training, the collective suffering and celebrating, and the continuous motion of the event amount to much more than a start line, slapbracelet baton, and finish line. I had participated on triathlon, marathon, and trail-running relays before, but last summer was my first experience with the 200-mile Spokane to Sandpoint race, and it only expanded my fondness of the format. I was the captain of a team of 12 amazing, proud-

ly Type-A women (go Bolts!). We held meetings in February and March to divide responsibilities: van rental, t-shirt design and procurement, event contests and leg assignments. We also gathered for a pre-race BBQ in August. Most large teams drive two big vehicles to transport the runners, and as a Van 1 member, I got to enjoy the early dawn Mount Spokane starting line and subsequent descent into town. Many of our team members were also S2S newbies, and we didn’t realize how seriously the other, more seasoned teams would take their fun and shenanigans. Right away, our vans were tagged by rival teams with magnets, erasable markers, balloons, candy, stickers, colored chalk, noisemakers – any playground item or prank was fair game. When we finally made first contact with our Van 2 teammates at Sontag Park in Nine Mile Falls and handed them the baton, we already knew what they were about to learn: This is a special race. Over the next several hours, we tailgated and leapfrogged our way through the heat, wind, and dust storms while our time-trial contestant, Rachel Jaten, was the first-place woman with her lightningfast 6:13 pace. Over to Coeur d’Alene and up to Sandpoint, we at last welcomed our final leg runner by linking arms red-rover-style and then running across the finish line as a team. In similar unison and with identical enthusiasm, we raced (well, hobbled) over to the beer tent, oblivious to the universal body odor but keenly aware of the nearly 31 hours

that had passed since we started. When I finally crashed on my own bed, it was with equal parts relief, happiness and nostalgia. Erika Prins: Mutual suffering accelerates the

formation of deep bonds of friendship, as someone wise probably once said. Most people on my team were strangers to me, but they immediately embraced me as part of the crew and offered me anti-chafing lube. I joined up with our all-woman team after work on Friday. The team had already hoofed it to Spokane Valley, so they were thrilled to add a fresh set of gams to the mix. After my first two legs – 8 miles in the Valley and Liberty Lake with one runner in between – I loaded into the van to wait for my next turn. Running felt better than sitting in the van. I shifted between every pretzel shape I could to stretch out an achy right leg. Our van of women and all the other teams following their runners cheered and hollered to encourage us. Even other runners seemed as if they were on my team – cheering me on and sending silent “we could totally be sleeping right now” solidarity vibes my way. The moment of panic came before my final leg, when I realized that nobody who sells coffee in Middle-of-Nowhere, Idaho, opens at 4 a.m. The ceaseless leg cramping I could handle. The no sleeping was no big deal. But no coffee? I was a wreck. Within minutes of total meltdown, my sweet teammate took notice of my despair (crankiness) and

Sarah Hauge: Leading up to Spokane to Sandpoint I was anxious. This would be my first team relay and my first overnight race; plus, several of the people I was about to spend 30+ hours crammed in a van with were strangers. Would we all get along? Would I have access to enough coffee? How would my body handle the lack of sleep and the heat and the short turnaround between the three legs I was about to run? There was no need to worry. Spokane to Sandpoint is all about teamwork, and my teammates were not only incredibly talented runners but also supportive and encouraging humans (as I was slower than most of them, this was huge). We shared leg massagers and toiletries and snacks, goofily cheering for each other by forming human tunnels for each leg’s runner to race through. There were moments of awe, such as watching our teammate Will run a double leg in the middle of the night to cover for an injured runner, cheerfully cranking out an unexpected 12-miler at sub-6-minute pace in the dark. There were beautiful moments, such as wading in the frigid Spokane River at Mirabeau Park to calm raging muscles. Later, high winds rolled in and created an eerie, apocalyptic haze of dust and smoke, whipping much-needed directional signs off the racecourse. There were surreal sections, such as the 9 miles I ran somewhere in Idaho, able to see only as far as my headlamp illuminated, with our team’s van cruising alongside me, blasting – per my sleep-deprived request – Beyonce’s “Love on Top.” It wasn’t glamorous. We slept, very briefly, with dozens of other runners in a noisy high school hallway. There was gastrointestinal distress. We exchanged sweaty safety gear without a second thought. We ate badly, slept badly, and smelled terrible, but we ran hard and finished far better than we’d anticipated (our team, to our great surprise, took third!). The race was a reminder to me that when you let down your guard and take risks, weird and wonderful things can happen. It was exactly what I needed. Learn more about the Spokane to Sandpoint Relay at Spokanetosandpoint.com. // april 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

OutdoorLiving No Space, No Problem

Starting an Urban Garden // By Crystal Atamian

This could be your backyard come August. // Photos: Shallan Knowles

Spring Compost Fair & Arbor Day Celebration

Saturday, April 30, 2016 11 am-2 pm John A. Finch Arboretum Spokane County residents from jurisdictions participating in the County’s Regional Solid Waste System may take home a free compost bin. Limit one per household. Bins provided by a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology. Please arrive no later than 1:30 pm and bring proof of residency.

For more information call the Recycling Information Line 625-6580 or go to www.spokanecountysolidwaste.org Spokane County Solid Waste Partial funding provided by WA State Dept of Ecology. 16

OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

The urban agriculture and urban farming movements have taken off. Some use vacant lots to start community gardens for personal use or food bank donations, while others grow their own food in response to growing concern over industrial agriculture. Figuring out what, when and where to plant can be an intimidating task. Two helpful resources in the Spokane area are the Spokane County Library and the Spokane Master Gardeners. Each spring the Spokane County Library and the Master Gardeners team up to offer classes on everything from container gardening and preserving the harvest to keeping out those pesky deer. Check out a seed library. In 2015, the Otis

Orchards Library branch started a program where patrons can borrow a variety of lendable seeds. Library cardholders check out a packet of seeds on the condition that they return new seeds from those plants the following year. The program was such a success that new seed libraries are being established at the branches in Deer Park and Medical Lake. In conjunction with the new seed libraries, the Master Gardeners offers a series of how-to classes. For more information, visit the Spokane County Library District website: Scld. org/take-and-give-seed-library-2016 Think vertically. If you have the space, raised

beds are an efficient option. They make weeding and planting easier while maintaining soil temperature. Many gardeners use wooden boards to create a box for planting, but you can also use rocks, sand bags, bricks or cinder clocks. Pallet gardens are growing in popularity, but beware that while some pallets are heat-treated, others are fumigated with methyl bromide to prevent insects. Make sure that the materials you use do not contain chemicals you don’t want in your food. Get creative. Even the smallest patch of ground (10 inches by 3 or 4 feet) paired with a sturdy trellis or ladder-like frame can be productive for plants like cucumbers, snap peas, pole beans, squash, pumpkins and tomatoes. Pieces of rain gutter (with ends) attached to a wooden board can be secured to a wall to create vertical plant boxes that are great for strawberries, herbs and lettuce. Stacking pots, with larger ones holding smaller ones in the middle, ziggurat-style, can create an attractive tower for edibles like nasturtiums, thyme, oregano and chives.

The most important thing is to get creative, get planting, and learn more from people who are passionate about gardening. With microclimates that can vary from house to house, it’s important to observe the light in your planting space and experiment. Play with it, have fun and enjoy the harvest! //

Eat the Best Vegetables Your Dollars Can Buy with a CSA Box

Now is the time to sign up for community-supported agriculture, or CSA. Patronizing a CSA farm is a fantastic way to connect with one of our amazing local farmers. Signing up for a CSA is an easy subscription process. Upfront, you pay a farmer to grow all your veggies for the season (typically May through September) and you get a beautiful box of produce each week. CSA farms may vary slightly on weekly volume and price but are generally comparable. If the upfront cost seems expensive, calculate the cost each week and compare that to what you spend at the grocery store. The difference in quality between farm-grown or store-bought produce will blow your mind. Some CSAs require you to pick up your veggies at their farms, while others have drop-off locations or other delivery options. Personally, I love to pick up veggies at the farm. A quick walk on the farm and a chat with growers are such pleasures. If you have kids, it can be a fun family trip too. If you are worried about missing pick-ups due to vacations, talk with your farmer and learn about their policy, or connect with a friend or neighbor to collect your produce when you are away. Which farm should you choose? I am always amazed at the number of small farms that encircle Spokane County. Inquire at your favorite farmers’ market or check out the list of farms on the Spokane LINC Foods website at www.Lincfoods.com/linc-farmers. There is great value in the commitment to supporting local growers, but even greater is the value in feeding yourself and your family incredible produce. (Beth Mort)

HYDRATION, TRANSFORMED Introducing the extremely durable, ultra-light and leakproof Stash water bottle. 100% BPA free, easy to clean and packs down to less than a quarter of the filled size.

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Hiking Hiking with Butterflies

Take a Wild Walk and Learn About the Inland Northwest’s Winged Wonders // By Crystal Atamian

REady for a

Challenge? Six Months Six or more races One Fun Challenge!

MAJOR RACE DISCOUNTS TECH SHIRT - KILLER SWAG KICK-OFF PARTYat Windermere Marathon, Happy Girls Run, Trail Maniacs Races, Troika Triathlon, Priest Lake Marathon, Dad’s Day Dash 5k, Valley Girl Triathlon, CHAFE 150, Priest Lake Spring Run, Foothills Scenic Five, Kaniksu Ultra 50 & Ruck Race, Tiger Triathlon, Rathdrum Adventure Race, Up Chuck Challenge 5k, Bare Buns Fun Run 5k, Spokane to Sandpoint Relay, Priest Lake Triathlon, Wunder Woman Triathlon, Kootenay Sufferfest, Sekani Trail Run 5 & 10k, and more!

Starts May 2016 You In? OutThereMonthly.com/Team-otm-challenge

OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

Catch, admire and release these little beauties. // Photo: Crystal Atamian

When my friend Howard called and told me that he had signed my family and his up for a butterfly hike, I wasn’t sure what to think. I’d read Robert Michael Pyle books, and I’d been on my share of birding trips, so I figured I was game for this. But to be honest, I felt totally unprepared. Was there gear I was supposed to bring? I didn’t own any butterfly guidebooks, and our only butterfly net was a cheesy one from the dollar store. Beyond snacks and water, what did I need for my 3- and 8-year-old kids to have a productive hike that didn’t end in whining and complaining? The answer turned out to be an open mind and a desire to learn. John Baumann took care of the rest. Baumann is president of the Washington Butterfly Association and an amazing lepidopterist. We arrived at the trailhead for the Mt. Kit Carson hike feeling like novices, and we left that afternoon

laughing and planning a time when we could buy a butterfly net and do this again. Over the course of the afternoon, we saw swallowtails and parnassians, sulphurs and fritillaries. I watched my daughter sit with an elegant day moth perched on her fingers for almost 20 minutes; the fascination in her eyes became something I will never forget. Even my 3-year-old son was able to look at his fill of butterflies up close in the small bug jar before releasing them back into the air. Baumann and the members of the Washington Butterfly Association were so welcoming that the kids have jumped at any chance to go on a butterfly walk since then. If you like to hike and are interested in the natural world, pack up your backpack and water bottle and check out one of these events. It’s always a good idea to contact the trip leader ahead of time if possible. //

Spring and Summer Butterfly Events Finding Inland Northwest Butterflies: The Community Colleges of Spokane Act 2 pro-

gram offers this class for adults ages 55+ at the Spokane Falls Community College Magnuson Building. Tuesday and Thursday mornings, May 3-12. This class will also be offered in July. Register online: Sccel.spokane.edu/ACT-2.aspx

Butterfly Class and Field Trip: The City of Spokane Parks and Recreation will offer a class at

Finch Arboretum on May 19 and a walk on May 21. One adult may come with two children ages 6–17. Learn how to identify butterflies and use a net, and learn about new local species discoveries. Register at the City of Spokane Parks and Recreation website: My.spokanecity.org/recreation/ outdoor

Dishman Hills Butterfly Lecture and Walk: Hosted by the Dishman Hills Conservancy

and Inland Northwest Land Conservancy, John Baumann will give a short instructional lecture and butterfly identification talk followed by a walk up the trail at Iller Creek on June 4. All ages welcome. Visit the Dishman Hills Conservancy website for meeting time and details: Dishmanhills.org

Fourth of July Butterfly Count: Akin to the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, this event will take place at the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge on July 9. All ages welcome. Meet at the headquarters outside Colville. Visit the Washington Butterfly Association website for meeting time and trip leader contact information: Wabutterflyassoc.org Washington Butterfly Association Annual Conference: The WBA 2016 Conference

will take place on Mount Howard in the Wallowa Mountains of Oregon on August 5–8. The WBA offers scholarships to kids ages 10-17 (along with one parent) that include a one-year WBA membership, conference registration, accommodations and round-trip mileage. Regular registration is $90. Apply for the scholarship on the WBA website: Wabutterflyassoc.org/youth-scholarshipsconference-8-5-8-7

OutThereSpotlight Dishman Hills Celebrates 50 Years of Community Support // By Jeff Lambert The Dishman Hills Conservancy (DHC) was founded 50 years ago to acquire land for recreation and conservation. Tom Rogers had the vision, and the community enthusiastically followed him. No county or state money was available, so DHC received a loan from the Nature Conservancy in 1967 to buy the first 80 acres in the Dishman Hills Natural Area. Many organizations including the Kiwanis, Hobnailers, Rotary Clubs, Spokane Garden Clubs and the Audubon Society were prominent supporters. Ina Johnston donated $30,000 that, along with a state grant, was used as a match for a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant to buy another 124 acres. The Redeemer Lutheran Church donated the Camp Caro land, stating that the community should be able “to enjoy the blessings of the Creator’s handiwork.” DHC raised more funds by leading hikes, running auctions, hosting bake sales, encouraging memorials and organizing recycling campaigns. President Richard Nixon sent a letter stating that “efforts of the people in your area to establish a nature preserve in the Dishman Hills near Spokane has come to my attention, and I want to commend you for your vision and dedication.” The community came together in a perfect demonstration of private and public partnership. The pattern of the Spokane community supporting the Dishman Hills had been established. Many volunteered time, money and energy to protect forever the wildlife habitat. Likewise, the community has benefited greatly from the nearby access to recreation and education.

The wild heart of Spokane looking pretty good. // Photo: Charlie Gurche courtesy of Dishman Hills Conservancy

In the 1995 Management Plan, the vision of a broad conservation corridor “to maintain the mammalian fauna” was endorsed by DHC, Spokane County and the Washington Department of Natural Resources. The proposed corridor would extend south to the Rocks of Sharon and Tower Mountain. DHC continued to lead by acquiring

270 acres in the Rocks of Sharon area. The Iller Creek Unit of the Dishman Hills was acquired over several years starting in the 1990s with the help of a state grant. The adjoining DHC-owned conservation land demonstrated local support. The Iller Creek and Stevens Creek Trailheads now provide access to almost 1,200 acres with extensive wildlife

habitat and recreational trails. More recently, the Glenrose Unit was acquired by Spokane County in 2012 with financial support from the DHC. The DHC worked with the Glenrose community to advocate for transfer of an important 160-acre parcel from Washington state to Spokane County. The transfer is scheduled to be complete this spring. Much of what we have preserved today is due to the hard work of many people, organizations and agencies that shared the DHC’s vision to save our natural heritage. Many have volunteered for stewardship projects. The Washington Trails Association and the Spokane Mountaineers have volunteered to build most of the trails. This 50th year bears great promise as the DHC brings forward Conservation Futures nominations and seeks to protect habitat through acquisition and easements to connect and conserve the Dishman Hills, the wild heart of Spokane. There are hundreds of acres of land to be conserved and connected to the existing areas. The DHC expects to make significant progress in 2016 in protecting habitat and adding to the conservation corridor. The community’s support for spectacular additions to the Dishman Hills is necessary. The DHC’s 50th Year Celebration Dinner will be on Friday, April 15. It is open to the public. Attendees will celebrate five decades of land conservation, enjoy good food and music, laugh at throwback vintage clothing from 1966 and be inspired to continue protecting the wild heart of Spokane. Register at DishmanHills.org. //

april 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

Outdoor

camps

for kids

hike it baby kids fishing day Cultivating

adventure Special Pullout Section Produced by:

Family Friendly

Campgrounds

favorite family bike rides 7 Summertime

adventures april 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

About the Inland NW Spring/Summer Family Outdoors Guide The Inland Northwest may be one of the best places in North America to raise kids and explore the natural world and outdoor recreation opportunities as a family. Relatively uncrowded trails, lakes, rivers, campgrounds and natural areas are everywhere, from our urban backyards to backcountry public lands an hour or two away. We have canyons, mountains, parks and mountain towns that offer a lifetime of adventure for little ones, but it’s up to

PLAY BACKCOUNTRY

BOOTY

us to show them the way. Whether you have kids or grandchildren, nephews or nieces, or friends or neighbors with children, please share our first Inland NW Family Outdoors Guide and help spread your love of the great outdoors with the next generation of hikers, cyclists, campers, climbers, paddlers, runners, nature lovers, outdoor athletes and adventure seekers. (Derrick Knowles) //

COntents

Feature

30 | 7 Summertime Family Adventures. Adventures for everyone in the family. From the super adventerous to the fun seeking.

and win OUTDOOR SWAG!

BACKCOUNTRY BOOTY Congratulations, you have found the backcountry booty! This certificate entitles you to: Bike Tune-up from AND

23 | An Adventure State of Mind 24 | Outdoor Camps for Kids 26 | Favorite Family Bike Rides

The North Face Hot Shot Day Pack from:

#1: Post a photo of yourself finding the booty on the Out There Monthly Facebook page. #2: Bring this certificate into Mountain Gear at 2002 N. Division to redem for your new pack. #3: Take the Wheel Sport certificate and your bike to Wheel Sport South to get a tune-up. THANKS FOR PLAYING!

28 | Hike it Baby 29 | Kids Fishing Day 32 | Family Friendly Campgrounds

Like us on Facebook to play Out There Monthly’s ultimate outdoor adventure scavenger hunt. Look for outdoor swag package clues to find the hidden location at a regional park or recreation area. Then get out there and find the booty! Facebook.com/OutThereMonthly

30 On the cover: Owen blasting down the trail. He’s a pro camper and trail lover. Cover photo: Aaron Theisen 22

OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

Cultivating an Adventure State of Mind Even as a little girl I loved adventures and never minded getting muddy. Growing up on a small farm, I had lots of open space for choosing adventures – from riding down a grassy hill on my banana-seat bike and climbing a stack of hay bales to feeding cows and catching tadpoles. My fondest childhood memories are nature and recreation experiences – playing with my dogs, camping with my family, observing alpenglow on Mt. Rainier from my backyard. Now I get to plan outdoor adventures with my son and daughter. As they grow older, we venture further from home with our bikes, trekking poles and camping gear, and parenting outdoors gets easier in some respects – instead of diapers, we now pack more gear. At nearly 6 and 4 years old, my children are independent, confident hikers and bikers. As they continue to grow older and bigger and further develop their skills, our adventure options only expand. But all this adventure planning and doing can be exhausting and frustrating. On some camping trips, my kids get grumpy and start fighting each other and don’t follow directions, and my husband and I wish we were anywhere but in the woods without access to television, a box of toys and private bedrooms. Sometimes while on family bike rides, one kid will whine most of the way or have to go to the bathroom miles down a trail after refusing to use the facilities at the trailhead. We’ve eaten breakfasts and dinners in our tent to escape aggressive bees. I’ve mistakenly left a kid’s underwear at home for a week-long camping trip. I may have even said, in exasperation, “We are never going camping again.” In fact, most days of the week, my kids and I aren’t blissfully hiking trails and catching butterflies in the wilderness. It’s tempting to let my kids bingewatch PBS and call it good. Super Mom is a myth

I’ve stopped chasing. Recently, a sunny afternoon inspired me to take my son and daughter on an exploration near the Spokane River. Along with our dog, we started at People’s Park, crossed Sandifur Bridge and followed the trail to where it intersects with the Centennial Trail. We came upon a rock pile and my kids immediately starting climbing all over it, finding “cool rocks” and telling stories – about how one looked like a volcano rock and another like a dinosaur rock with a fossil texture. I didn’t need to craft some game to engage their interest. I didn’t need to hover nearby to ensure their safety or tell them where to walk or what to touch. All I had to do was be present with them. And I realized two things: a simple adventure is better than none at all, and my kids were already nature explorers. Over the years, through our shared experiences at parks, in forests and on trails, they had acquired adventurous spirits and became “nature kids.” The process, still ongoing, is easier than I ever imagined it to be. I may not be able to give my kids a farm and endless time to play on acres of land, but I can help create just as meaningful outdoor memories. Spending time together in nature strengthens family bonds and helps them appreciate their own curiosity, physical strength and capabilities as they practice courage and creativity. 20 years from now, when my children reminisce about growing up, I hope our family’s outdoor adventures are their treasured highlights – where they learned to be more brave, helpful, kind, grateful and loving while trying new things, getting muddy and overcoming challenges. I’m still learning how to cultivate and guide my outdoor family. With each attempt, while practicing patience and grace, our adventures get easier. Foremost, I try to remember that my children simply need my undivided attention

The author out there sharing outdoor love with the next generation. // Photo: Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

and love. Time spent in nature with children is never wasted. You don’t have to know how to pitch a tent, own name-brand gear or plan epic

adventures – you simply need to have fun outside, playing and exploring together as a family. // (Amy Silbernagel McCaffree)

april 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

SKYHAWKS YOUTH SPORTS SUMMER CAMPS FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-12

Outdoor Camps for Kids Spring and Summer Camps and Outdoor By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree and Derrick Knowles

www.skyhawks.com

www.supertotsports.com

Into the wild. Photos courtesy of Twin Eagles Wilderness Adventure Camps

Kids enjoy learning about nature and science and participating in outdoor sports and recreation. They thrive in the outdoors, whether it’s trekking along a trail with friends, playing soccer or exploring a lake shoreline with their scientific eyes. These spring and summer camps, events and programs for children and families will keep your little ones outside and active all summer long. Wild Walls Climbing Camps

Wild Walls Climbing Camps are designed to offer both new and experienced climbers ages 8 to 14 the tools they need to climb to their fullest potential, all while having loads of fun. Camp participants will spend the week covering a broad variety of skills from basic climbing, to belaying, to climbing-specific games and techniques. No experience is necessary, just an interest in climbing (most kids love to climb trees, rocks, walls, whatever). Climbing is excellent exercise for kids of all ages and helps them develop strength and better control over their bodies and minds. Camps run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following weeks: June 20-24, June 27 - July 1, July 11-15, and July 18-22. Wildwalls.com Twin Eagles Wilderness School

Children learn wilderness survival skills, animal tracking, natural shelter building, foraging, traditional archery and much more through various overnight and day camp programs provided by this Sandpoint-based wilderness school. This spring, Twin Eagles is offering a weekend teen rendezvous (April 15-17) for ages 13-18, and mother-daughter (April 22-24) and father-son (May 27-30) wilderness weekend retreats, for children ages 7-12. Twin Eagles’ summer camp programs include themed day camps for ages 6-13 in both Sandpoint and Spokane, and overnight outdoor adventure camps for ages 10-18. With a one-tofive staff to camper ratio, children and teens enjoy personalized attention with adult mentors as they 24

OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

explore, learn and develop deeper connections with nature. Twineagles.org Skyhawks Youth Sports Camps

More than 30 years ago, Skyhawks had the vision that every child should experience the joy and benefits of sports. Skyhawks youth sports camps are committed to providing a safe, fun and skillbased experience for kids between the ages of 3 and 12. What started as a regional soccer program here in the Pacific Northwest has evolved into a youth sports program that offers 12 different sports camps and programs, including traditional weeklong summer day camps covering multiple sports and activities, including swimming, crosscountry, basketball, baseball, soccer, golf, lacrosse, flag football and other offerings. Skyhawks.com Camp Spalding

Located on 500 wooded acres by Davis Lake at the foot of the Selkirk Mountain Range, near Newport, Wash., this Christian camp offers a specialized Pioneer Camp with different sessions for various school-age groups, starting with second grade. Different from Spalding’s regular program, Pioneer campers sleep in an authentic 18’ Sioux tipi, cook meals over an open campfire, and hike to an overnight campsite. Camp Spalding’s full summer of programming also offers a “Mom, Dad, & Me Overnight” for children entering grades K-2 (June 17-18), an all-ages Family Camp (August 17-21), as well as 3-6 night camps for different developmental ages: Discovery (three nights, children entering grades 2-4), Junior (six nights, grades 5-6), junior high and senior high. Overnight accommodations include the Clearwater Lodge or cabins. Campspalding.org West Valley Outdoor Learning Center

WVOLC offers programs related to the center’s bird sanctuary and other on-site animals, including a bird-sketching class, summer camps in July,

Programs for Children and Families // What summer should be. Photos courtesy of Camp Spalding

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summEr Camps FirE By FriCTion naTural shElTErs animal TraCking sTEalTh & invisiBiliTy wild EdiBlE planTs EarTh sToriEs, songs

TakE your piCk: wildErnEss survival day Camps JEdi Training day Camps naTurE ninJas day Camps naTurE advEnTurErs day Camps

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kids & TEEns agEs 6 - 18 sandpoinT, spokanE, & priEsT rivEr www.TwinEagles.org · (208) 265-3685 and two program events for REI’s “Wednesdays in the Woods” at Riverside State Park (June 29, birds; July 15, reptiles). Beginning June 20, the center will present “Tortoise and Hare” programs for City of Spokane branch libraries for children to learn about animal adaptations and visit with a live 30-year-old, 50+ pound tortoise. On July 8, the center’s “Builders Quest” -themed open house will offer activities for children to build beaver dams, spider webs and bird nests. Olc.wvsd.org Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area Activities

America’s National Park Service turns 100 this year. To celebrate, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area is hosting several special events this summer, including a free Junior Ranger Day Camp in June; “Ranger on the Porch” activities at Fort Spokane Visitor Center every Sunday to learn historical skills such as paper making, gold panning and pine needle basket weaving (JuneAugust); ranger-led canoe trips; and astronomy programs, July 1-3. A big NPS centennial celebration will be held on August 25 and will include living history interpreters, Spokane and Colville tribes’ cultural displays and tours of Fort Spokane. Nps.gov Peak 7 Adventures

Based in Spokane, Peak 7 is a faith-based nonprofit organization that offers guided outdoor trips for families and youth, such as family rafting trips on the Grand Ronde or Clark Fork rivers (age 13+) and a three-day father-son rafting and camping trip (age 8+) on the Deschutes River in Oregon. There is also a junior guide program (ages 15-18) and five day North Cascades backpacking trip (ages 13-18), as well as a new eight week excursion-based Bower Adventure Course (ages 15-18) that begins June 20. Peak7.org

Kootenai Environmental Alliance

“Trees for the Earth” Earth Day celebration for the community takes place on Sunday, April 24, 12-3 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library (702 E. Front Avenue). KEA’s Art of Nature summer day camp for 2nd-6th graders, July 11-15, combines art, science and nature adventures. Kealliance.org

H IN KE, WAS D AV IS L A

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Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture

A variety of adventure, natural science, and art camps are offered for children in grades 1-6 over the course of seven weeks, starting June 20 and ending August 12. Campers will enjoy outdoor activities on the museum’s five-acre campus and surrounding neighborhood, and some camp sessions include a field trip to Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. Northwestmuseum.org WSU Cougar Kids Camp

“Cougar Survivor” is the theme for July 5-8 at this day camp based on the Washington State University campus in Pullman. Children entering grades 3-6 will learn Leave No Trace principles, campsite setup and outdoor cooking and compass and map navigation. Cougarkids.wsu.edu/cougarkids-camp Camp Lutherhaven

A variety of outdoor-centric programs are offered by this Christian camping organization at its three properties. At Camp Lutherhaven on Lake Coeur d’Alene, there are two unique opportunities: Pioneers and Lutherhaven Villages camp sessions, where children sleep overnight at either the mountaintop Homestead Village or the Treehouse Village. At Shoshone Mountain Retreat, there is an all-ages Family Camp (July 15-17) and Kindercamp. At Shoshone Creek Ranch Camp, kids who like horses and riding can enjoy a western dude ranch experience. Lutherhaven.com. //

2016

Favorite Family Bike Rides

These Inland NW Trails Are Great for Kids

Bicycles. The perfect campground getaround vehicle for kids and adults. Photo: Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Biking as a family has never been easier. From bike trailers that hold two children and toddler bal-

ance bikes to trail-a-bikes and child-bike seats, there are creative combinations to ensure that each family member has a safe seat for the journey. More than great exercise, biking is a lifelong skill that teaches children about responsibility, independence and healthy habits. Always take along essential supplies – including a tire pump, patch kit, water bottles, snacks and bike lights –when you and your family head out to explore these fantastic bike paths. Centennial Trail

As the most well-known paved pathway in Spokane – with numerous access points along its 37.5-mile span, from the Washington-Idaho state line to Nine Mile Falls – this primarily flat trail along the Spokane River is a great choice for families. spokanecentennialtrail.org North Idaho Centennial Trail

Extends 24 miles from the Washington-Idaho state border and the Centennial Trail to Coeur d’Alene. nictf.org Prairie Trail

The Prairie Trail in Coeur d’Alene is a 4-mile spur trail off the North Idaho Centennial Trail, making it a quintessential family bike path. Two kid-friendly access points include Riverstone Park (1805 Tilford Lane) and Ramsey Park (3525 N. Ramsey Road). Both provide restrooms and playgrounds. As you follow Prairie Trail northwest through town, it becomes more rural and scenic, eventually ending at Huetter Road. Long Bridge Trail

Long Bridge, at Sandpoint’s U.S. Highway 95 south entrance, includes a right-of-way for bikers and pedestrians that parallels the highway and is separated by a concrete barrier. After crossing the 2-mile bridge, continue biking along Bottle Bay Road around the lake’s south shoreline. A parking lot to access the trail is located in downtown

Sandpoint, one block east of 1st Avenue and Superior Street. Fish Lake Trail

With trailhead access only minutes from downtown Spokane, Fish Lake Trail is popular and well-used. The trailhead is off S. Milton Circle, one block south of where Sunset Highway intersects with Government Way. Restrooms and a water fountain are available. After heading south for a few miles, adjacent to Highway 195, the trail becomes more woodsy and scenic as it veers west toward Cheney. 7.4 miles of paved trail are open to the public. Columbia Plateau Trail State Park

Access points can be found near Cheney for this historic trail, though only 23 miles are currently open for public use between Cheney and Lincoln County. 4.75 miles pass through Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. A Discover Pass is required for parking. Parks.state.wa.us/490/Columbia-Plateau-Trail Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes

This rustic yet scenic 72-mile paved trail extends from Mullan, Idaho, southwest to Plummer. Family-friendly access points for the trail are located in Kellogg and Wallace, as well as Heyburn State Park where the trail crosses the historic Chatcolet Bridge, which marks the southern end of Lake Coeur d’Alene. The trail follows the lake shoreline through Harrison, where you can stop

Family Bike Events • May 21: Kidical Mass at Chief Garry Park- 1 p.m. summerparkways.com/kidical-mass • June 21: Spokane Summer Parkways- Manito and Comstock neighborhoods, 6-9 p.m. summerparkways.com • July 9: Spokatopia Outdoor Adventure Festival- at Camp Sekani Park, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. spokatopia.com • September 11: SpokeFest- Kendall Yards. spokefest.org • September 17: Kidical Massive- 3-mile scenic ride starting in Kendall Yards, 1 p.m.

OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

Kids of All Ages // By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Trailside break in the pines. // Photo: Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

and enjoy ice cream from the Creamery & Fudge Factory. Pack along all the water your family needs – water is unavailable at trailheads, though you can refill your bottles at bike-friendly businesses in small towns along the trail route. Pay attention to posted warnings along the trail advising visitors to not touch any rocks or dirt along the trail that might be contaminated with heavy metals from past mining activities in the area. Friendsofcdatrails.org Hiawatha Trail

Named a “Hall of Fame” trail by the Rail-to-Trail Conservancy, the historic 15-mile Route of the Hiawatha runs along the crest of the Bitterroot Mountains. It opens May 28 for the season (daily,

from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and is operated by the Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area. Starting at the East Portal trailhead, enjoy riding downhill the entire way, at a 2 percent grade or less, while passing through 10 train tunnels and riding over seven awe-inspiring trestles. The totally dark yet straight Taft Tunnel (1.66 miles) is an adventurous highlight – bike-lights and helmets are required and warm clothing layers are recommended, as the tunnel is cold even during hot summer days. Trail passes are available at Lookout Pass lodge (children age 5 and younger are free). Bike rentals are also available from the Lookout Pass lodge. You can also purchase a shuttle pass that provides your family and your bikes a bus ride back to where you started. Ridethehiawatha.com //

Finding the right children’s bike helmet When it’s time to shop for bike helmets for your kids, keep in mind that local bike shops sell

higher quality helmets than retail chain stores. “All helmets are regulated by the government, but certain helmets are safer than others,” says Brenda Mangine, owner of North Division Bike Shop. A good child’s bike helmet, she says, is adjustable like an adult helmet with side latch flip-locks, with retention systems on the back of the helmet so that the helmet shapes to the head. “Bell makes an inexpensive brand of helmet for big-box stores – they don’t have a retention system or locking straps,” says Mangine. Children’s helmets are sized in centimeters according to head circumference at the widest part of a child’s head. Here are some of the best options in the $30-$40 range that you can find at many local bike shops: • Bell: Zipper, 47-53cm; Sidetrack, 50-54cm. Bontrager: Solstice for age 7+ (comes with visor), 48-55cm. • • Giro (pronounced “jeer-oh”): Me2 for infants, 48-52cm; Rodeo for age 2-5 approx., 50-55cm; Scamp, two sizes, 45-49cm and 49-53cm; and Raze, 50-57cm. • Specialized: Small Fry, comes in a toddler size, 47-52 cm, and child, 50-55 cm; Align (universal adult helmet), 54-62 cm. april 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

Hike it Baby! Inspiring Families to Explore Nature on Local Trails // By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Never play above or below a dam. When boating or swimming this summer, play it safe. Call or visit avistautilities.com/waterflow ahead of time to learn about anticipated current water levels. Washington: 509-495-8043, or Idaho: 208-769-1357. We just want you to be safe.

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Kings of the mountain on an early spring Hike it Baby hike. // Photo: Shallan Knowles

“Hike it Baby was one of those things in my life that I didn’t know was missing until I found it,” says Spokane mom Carrie Dorrell. Along with her daughter, now two years old, she goes hiking three to five times a week with fellow members of the Spokane branch of Hike It Baby (HiB), a nonprofit organization based in Portland with more than 200 branches across the country. “My daughter can hike over 2 miles of real trail all on her own, and usually keeps up with most adults. This group keeps me healthy, not only physically, but mentally. It is wonderful having this group of women to talk to with no judgment about the difficulties, joys or unexpected moments of parenting, and it is so refreshing to know we are not alone in this crazy adventure called parenting,” says Dorrell, who recently gave birth to her second daughter and continued hiking throughout her pregnancy. The Spokane branch of HiB was formed in 2014 by MaryBeth Bryant after she heard about the organization from a friend in California. “Hike it Baby has taught me to slow down with my child and let him have unstructured time in nature,” says Bryant about her 2 year-old son. “If we want our kids to embrace nature, we have to let them embrace it in their way. I’ve learned its okay to make it 100 feet down a trail, spend an hour playing on the rocks, then head back home. The trail will be there tomorrow. Allowing myself to slow down and rediscover nature through [my son’s] eyes has been a humbling process. I feel like this particular lesson has been so crucial in shaping who my child is and how he engages the world around him.”

HiB is not just for moms and their babies and toddlers, though. A broad age-range of adults and children are represented, from expectant mothers to parents of high schoolers, Bryant says. “We also have lots of grandparents, aunts, uncles and other caregivers join us.” Today, there are about 1,900 families who are involved in the Spokane HiB branch and about 500 families with the Coeur d’Alene branch. Hike It Baby is open to anyone with children, regardless of hiking experience or fitness level. “We truly have something for every level – leisurely paced ‘urban strolls’ that are stroller-friendly, walks where your kids get to set the pace and explore the world around them, and trail hikes to explore some of the best areas of Spokane,” she says. “We never leave anyone behind. We always finish together. It’s so humbling to see how everyone steps up to support and help one another.” Hike it Baby-Spokane can sometimes have over 25 group hikes each week during spring, summer and fall, Bryant says, and in the winter there are usually 5-15 hiking events. “Don’t be afraid of being too out of shape, or not having the right equipment, just get out there and try it out,” Dorrell says. “There will always be someone there waiting with you in case you need to change a diaper, feed a baby, deal with a toddler tantrum, or if you just need to catch your breath.” While free to join, before arriving for your first HiB event, all new members are asked to sign and submit an online waiver available at Hikeitbaby. com. Keep up on scheduled hikes through the local HiB Facebook group. //

Family-Friendly Outdoor Recreation Groups • •

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Spokane Mountaineers: This local branch of the national organization offers dues-paying members group activities such as hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, biking, paddling and more. Spokanemountaineers.org Washington Trails Association: Join other volunteers on projects to improve public trails at parks and public lands around the region. Day work parties are open to ages 10+ (some physical requirements apply). Wta.org/volunteer/volunteering Dishman Hills Conservancy: Volunteers are needed for service day events, adopt-a-trail projects and more. Dishmanhills.org No Child Left Inside (Inland Northwest): Based on the national movement, this is a local coalition of parents and community members who are committed to providing local children environmental education opportunities and outdoor recreation and nature-based activities year-round. Facebook.com/groups/NoChildLeftInside.InlandNW Every Kid in a Park: This national program provides free entrance to national parks, forest land and more for children in fourth-grade (through August 31, 2016). For parks and sites that charge per-person entrance fees, a pass admits all children in a group/family who are under age 16 and up to three adults for free. Everykidinapark.gov

Fishing Kids fishing day reels in fun for all // By Crystal Atamian

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the local food bank. Osbourne said that the purpose of the event is to get kids outside and to provide them with the tools to do so. There are seven net pens off the docks and the larger beach area. Personal floatation devices are provided, and all children are required to wear a PDF when out on the dock. Osbourne emphasized that the event is all about the kids having fun and being safe. There are approximately 6,000 rainbow trout of various sizes for the kids to catch. The organizers expect about 800 people to attend the event, though they are capable of accepting registration for 1,000

No fishing experience is required on the part of the child or the adult who comes with them... reel, all the bait you need, and a cool T-shirt. Each participant can catch up to three rainbow trout, and no license is needed to fish as part of the event. The best part is that volunteers are there to help, so no fishing experience is required on the part of the child or the adult who comes with them. WDFW Fisheries Biologist Randall Osbourne said that the volunteer staff onsite, all of whom are anglers and many of whom are also biologists, often will pay extra attention to participants who are having trouble and help them along. If a rod breaks, the event staff will replace it so the person can keep on fishing. There is a cleaning station where the fish will be cleaned for free. You can take them home to enjoy your catch, or you can leave the fish in a cooler next to the cleaning station and donate them to

participants. Most participants are new but some come back year after year. The event is made possible by numerous local organizations and individuals, with all funding coming from donations and volunteer efforts. In the past, the Kalispel Tribe has provided a generous amount of support, as have the volunteers who return year after year. Fairchild AFB has been generous about allowing event organizers to use the location each year. Paid registration is due by April 20. A registration form can be obtained from the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife website (Wdfw. wa.gov/fishing/kids/events.html), or you can pick one up at the WDFW Regional office at 2315 N. Discovery Place in Spokane Valley. //

www.NationalParksWithKids.com

If there ever were an event that is solely about supporting a new generation of anglers, the Clear Lake Annual Kids Fishing Event is it. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife teams up every year with local organizations to host this remarkable event that encourages kids to enjoy the outdoors. This event epitomizes everything that is positive about outdoor recreation and the groups in our area that support it. It is well worth checking out. This year’s event will take place on May 7 at the Fairchild Air Force Base Clear Lake Recreation Area. The $10 registration gets you a Zebco rod and

Salmon River Tours 1-888-893-2820 Guide books written with kids in mind, to help you plan an epic family vacation.

Even if mom and dad have never landed a fish in their lives, Kids Fishing Day will introduce little ones to the wonders of the aquatic world by teaching them how to fish. // Photos courtesy of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

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7 Summertime Adventures for the Whole Family // By Wil Wheaton

Left: Cooling off at the Fernie Waterpark. Photo courtesy of Tourism Fernie. // Right: Passengers enjoying an Idaho river jet boat tour.

#1 Experience a River of No Return Jet Boat Tour

Experience Idaho’s famed Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness and the wild Salmon River on a 1-3 day jet boat tour out of Riggins, Idaho this spring or summer. The tours are a safe and fun way for families to visit the river canyons and remote wilderness beaches to hike, fish, swim, sightsee, view wildlife and relax. Overnight tours include all-inclusive accommodations at either China Bar Lodge or Mackay Bar Lodge. Half-day tours are also available. More info: 1-888-892-2820 or at Salmonrivertour.com and Mackaybarlodge.com.

#2 One-Stop Family Fun in Fernie, B.C. A little over four hours north of Spokane, Fernie, British Columbia, may be the ultimate summertime destination for outdoors-loving families. The exceptionally scenic mountain town situated in the dramatic Canadian Rockies has developed a well-earned reputation as mountain biking meca (so bring the bikes), but the town and surrounding mountains also offer a wide range of inexpensive and often free family-orientated recreation opportunities and outdoor activities. Being an old mining town, Fernie has a lot of engaging history. The Fernie Museum is a great place to start exploring the town’s past. James White Park sits right on the picturesque Elk River and is

home to the Fernie Frisbee Golf course, which is free. Easy, signed family nature and hiking trails are located in the nearby Mount Fernie Provincial Park, and Fernie Alpine Resort has chairlift rides and hiking and biking trails. Kids fishing adventures, river floats, Arts Station tours, dirt jump and skate park trips, the Fernie Waterpark and Aquatic Centre, or family biking along the dike in James White Park are just some of the fun family times to be had in Fernie. Everything is in close proximity to town, allowing for low-stress mini-adventures from your hotel or campground between naps and mealtimes. Tourismfernie.com

#3 Go Hiking and Bird Watching in Leavenworth The central Cascade mountain town of Leavenworth is a hiking family’s dream. Explore the trails in the Icicle Creek Canyon area (including some challenging options), the Icicle River Nature Trail near the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery or the forested riverbank trails of Enchantment Park and Waterfront Park’s Blackbird Island close to downtown. The Sleeping Lady Resort also hosts free Saturday morning bird walks with Heather Murphy, a local wildlife biologist, nature journalist and artist. Over the past 25 years she has recorded 109 species of birds in the Sleeping Lady area, which is documented in the Citizen Science eBird program at Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The tours run May 7 and 21 as well as

the first and third Saturdays in June and September. Don’t forget binoculars! Sleepinglady.com

#4 Spokatopia Outdoor Adventure Festival (July 9 2016)

Introduce your kids to outdoor recreation activities like stand up paddleboarding, rock climbing, kayaking, geo-caching, slacklining, canoeing or disc golf at the Spokatopia Outdoor Adventure Festival at Camp Sekani Park along the Spokane River. There will also be over 40 outdoor-lifestyle oriented exhibitors to visit, with many of them offering demos, samples and other activities. Kids will also enjoy watching mountain bikers fly through the air at the Spokatopia Jump Jam and listening to live music all day long. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and general admission is $5 per person (5 and under are free). Some clinics and activities cost extra and require advance registration (most sold out last year). Camp Sekani is located between downtown Spokane and Spokane Valley on Upriver Drive. Info and outdoor activity registration at Spokatopia.com.

#5 Fly Through the Trees with Mica Moon Zip Tours

Last summer Mica Moon started offering zipline and canopy tours in the mountains above Liberty Lake between Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. The 2.5

hour tours include eight ziplines, seven tree-top platforms, two short hikes and a UTV 4x4 ride up the mountain to start off the tour. The course threads through scenic forest, over a mountain stream and near historic moonshine camps. The season kicks off in April and runs all summer long. Micamoon.com.

#6 Take a National Park Family Vacation

2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, and what better way to celebrate and take advantage of many special anniversary events and activities than to plan a national park vacation this summer. Several of the nation’s most popular parks, including Glacier, North Cascades and Yellowstone, are an easy day’s drive from Spokane and can make a memorable family trip, especially with the right planning and information. Spokane couple Harley and Abby McAllister are a self-described adventurous husband and wife duo who drag their four kids outside as often as they can. After visiting Yellowstone National Park several times and having struggled to find quality information geared towards visiting national parks with kids, they decided to write a guidebook to help other families plan a Yellowstone trip. Their book, “Yellowstone National Park with Kids” (available from Amazon.com) includes travel tips, top sights, fun adventures, a section on backpacking with kids, a guide to the geysers and

Rafting the Elk Canyon

Small Town Charm. Big Mountain Adventure.

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sample trip itineraries. The information in the book is divided by regions of the park so that all of a day’s planned activities can be organized by location, enabling you to make the most of your time in the park. The McAllisters have a second book, “Utah’s Big 5 National Parks with Kids,” which covers Arches, Bryce, Zion, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef. Learn more about the books and the McAllister’s family adventures at Our4outdoors. com and about national parks at Nps.gov.

#7 Spend the Day at Silverwood Theme Park

Silverwood is the Northwest’s largest theme park, located in a fairly rural area in North Idaho. The park features over 200 acres of fun and

over 70 rides, slides, shows and attractions. You can experience world-class coasters, hair-raising attractions, kiddie adventures, a 1915 steam engine train, live award-winning entertainment, restaurants and more. Visitors can also cool off at Boulder Beach Water Park with two massive wave pools, thrilling water slides, children’s water features and an endless lazy river. New to Boulder Beach for 2016 is a 400 foot-long slide standing nearly 60 feet tall. The new mat racing water slide will feature 6 side-by-side racing lanes for kids to compete against one another. Admission covers both Silverwood and the Boulder Beach Water Park. Silverwood operates seasonally from May through October just minutes north of Coeur d’Alene. For more information and the best price on tickets, visit Silverwoodthemepark.com or call 208-683-3400. Top: The best day of the summer. Photo courtesy of Silverwood Theme Park Bottom: Endless adventures at Spokatopia.

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Spokane Parks and Recreation Outdoor Programs for All Ages Spokane Parks and Recreation has offered outdoor recreation activities and programs since 1989, and many of them are perfect for kids and families. Explore Spokane’s plentiful outdoor recreation opportunities with a guided group of like-minded parents. Spokane Parks and Recreation offers affordable hiking, biking, paddling, rafting, climbing and other adventures, and for many of them equipment, instruction and guidance is included in the trip. Here is a sampling of some of the adventures and camps being offered this year. Details and the full list of spring and summer activities at Spokanecity.org/recreation/outdoor. • • • •

• •

Paddleboarding at Fish Lake (ages 8+): Learn the basics of stand up paddleboarding on the peaceful, smooth waters of Fish Lake near Cheney. All equipment and group instruction provided. June 29 and July 26 (6-8 p.m.). $19 per person. Introduction to Rock Climbing (ages 8+): Instructors teach basic climbing techniques at Minnehaha Climbing Area. Rappel, climb, belay and practice climbing skills during this 5-hour course. July 23 (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.). $42 per person. Spokane River Rafting & BBQ (ages 5+): Wiley E Waters river guides will take you down the Lower Spokane River through fun class II and III rapids. Enjoy wildlife sightings, beautiful scenery and a post-trip BBQ. All equipment included. July 3 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). $55 per person. Family Kayaking on the Little Spokane River (ages 8+): Paddle tandem sit-on-top kayaks on the meandering, mellow waters of the crystal-clear Little Spokane River as it flows through a pinestudded natural area teeming with wildlife. Equipment provided. Multiple summer trip dates. $29 per person. Prehistoric Camp (ages 6-11): Kids will learn about paleontology and animals that inhabited the planet millions of years ago – including dinosaurs, fish, amphibians and birds – at the Corbin Arts Center. August 8-12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $124 per child. Archery Introduction (ages 5+): Learn the basics of archery in a beautiful, safe setting with the skilled professionals from Evergreen Archery Club (near Palisades Park in Spokane). June 4 and August 6 (9 a.m. to noon). $29 per person.

Stay inspired by nature.

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Family Friendly Campgrounds North Idaho & Eastern Washington camping fun // By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Camping days stretch long for children to immerse themselves in nature and enjoy time free of schedules and technology. Camping is as transformative as it is fun. Make one of these Inland Northwest campgrounds the new happiest place on earth for your kids this summer. Sam Owen Campground

Located near Hope, Idaho, this semi-rustic campground sits on a peninsula of Panhandle National Forest land on the northeast side of Lake Pend Oreille. One of the best amenities is the dogfriendly beach. (There is another beach where dogs are not allowed.) While the bathrooms don’t have showers – only flush toilets and sinks – when you’re swimming every day, who cares? Bring blow-up floatables and kayaks or stand-up paddleboards and enjoy the ocean-like expanse of Idaho’s largest and deepest lake and the wilderness views across the water. Don’t miss: Sunset view from the beach or dock. Watch out for: Black bears – keep a clean campsite and secure your food. Recreation.gov

Edgewater Campground

This rustic campground within the Colville National Forest provides a base camp for exploring north Pend Oreille County. Situated on a 2,000foot bluff of the Pend Oreille River’s east bank, Edgewater Campground provides opportunities for hiking, boating and fishing. In July, September and October, the North Pend Oreille Valley Lions Club hosts scenic 90-minute train rides that will make everyone in your family feel young at heart (Lionstrainrides.com). Don’t miss: Visiting Box Canyon, Boundary Dam Vista House or Gardner Cave at Crawford State Park Heritage Site near the Canadian border (tours available Memorial Day through Labor Day). Look for: Wildlife – you might see moose, deer, elk, bears and many species of birds and other wildlife. Recreation.gov

RAFT

Located 37 miles south of Coeur d’Alene, between the towns of Plummer and St. Maries, Idaho, Heyburn is the oldest state park in the Pacific Northwest. It encompasses over 5,000 acres and includes waterfront on Lake Chatcolet and Benewah Lake – two small lakes located south of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Choose from three campgrounds within the park. There are also rental cabins and cottages available. Amenities include a marina and boat launch, docks, playground and restrooms with showers. Rocky Point Marina rents canoes, kayaks, paddleboats and rowboats. Don’t miss: Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes for biking or walking. Watch out for: Mosquitoes. Parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/heyburn

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Travel Time and Location: A seemingly short road trip can morph into one that takes twice

as long when traveling with young children. This can complicate your entire schedule, especially with meals and recreation. Other important considerations when camping with kids include access to grocery stores and urgent care clinics near your final destination. Reservation Options: There is no greater disappointment than getting to a campground only to learn that all the sites are full. It’s best to choose one that allows you to reserve a campsite online or by phone; many popular campgrounds fill up during the summer, especially on weekends. Bathrooms: Flush toilets vs. vault toilets? Hygiene routines can make or break a camping trip. Warm showers are nice but not always essential. Vault toilets are not too bad, despite their ominous descriptor. Safety: Campgrounds aren’t childproof; there are always inherent risks. Establish and communicate physical and behavioral boundaries for your children, and get to know your campsite neighbors. Camping provides practice in fresh-air parenting – giving your kids freedom to explore and experience appropriate risk-taking, like climbing and jumping off big rocks. Recreation Opportunities: Pick a campground that offers activities you know your kids enjoy, like swimming and biking, and ones you want them to try, such as fishing and geocaching.

SOAK

Farragut State Park

Located at the southern end of Lake Pend Oreille near Athol, Idaho, 20 miles north of Coeur d’Alene, Farragut is a long-standing summer camping tradition for many Inland Northwest families. This 4,000-acre park, converted from a World War II naval training station, has four campgrounds. Whitetail is the primary one for tent camping and is geared toward families with its playground suitable for small children. The small lakefront town of Bayview and Silverwood Theme Park and Boulder Beach Water Park are both only minutes away, in opposite directions. Don’t miss: Playing at one of the three disc golf courses and touring the Museum at the Brig. Watch out for: Crowds at Beaver Bay Beach. Parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/farragut Riverside State Park

Tips for fun family camping

Beaver Creek Campground

Located near Nordman, Idaho, off Highway 57 about 90 miles northwest of Spokane, this rustic campground is on Priest Lake’s northwest shore. This U.S. Forest Service campground is known for being well-maintained with clean vault toilets. Kids will enjoy riding their bikes around the campground loops, swimming, playing at the beach and hiking in the woods. Don’t miss: Hiking or mountain biking either the northbound Navigation Trail or southbound Lakeshore Trail. Bonus adventure: Hanna Flat Cedar Grove Interpretative Trail to see 200- to 800-year-old western white pine and western red cedar trees. Fs.usda.gov and recreation.gov

Heyburn State Park

Washington’s second-largest state park is a short drive from Spokane’s urban core. There are four campgrounds within its 14,000 acres, the most well-known being the Bowl and Pitcher campground. It offers tent and RV campsites. There are also the Equestrian, Nine Mile Recreation Area and Lake Spokane campgrounds, the latter having 11 primitive campsites and two boat-in only sites. Don’t miss: Mountain biking or hiking the park’s trails, especially in the Deep Creek Canyon area. Look for: Wildlife, including osprey birds and their nests in trees along the Spokane River. Parks. state.wa.us/573/Riverside. // Camping with kiddos can be fun. Photos: Aaron Theisen

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Many wildflowers smell good and taste good too // Photo: Shallan Knowles

Spring’s anticipation leads to delusional of floral with a vegetal edge, yet there are excepexpectations of woodland bounty before the tions. Violets are sweet, borage tastes like cucumber, ground has thawed. Foragers and chefs start calltrumpet bluebells are fishy and lilacs are lemony. ing in March inquiring about items for seasonal Hollyhocks are bland unless dried but bold in menus and pantries. If they left the comfort of appearance. There are crunchy flowers like orchids their kitchen for a walk in the woods, they’d see and nauseatingly perfumy ones like the shampooonly a few shoots pushing up through the duff in flavored water lily. On the trail, also look for birch lower elevations. However, one exception is flowcatkins, cattail, chickweed, currant flowers, Indian ers. Early in the spring, plants begin to bloom, paintbrush and hawthorn to start. long before their fruits and sometimes greenery Before running out to frolic and feast in the emerge. underbrush, remember that identification is critical. Last summer at a gathering I was served flourHaving grown up around Green Gulch Farm, which supplied produce to Greens Restaurant in less chocolate cake with a beautiful blue infloresSan Francisco, I found flowers on my plate from cence adorning the top. I put the whole sprig in early childhood. By the 80s they were a staple of my mouth, chewed, swallowed and was instantly nouveau cuisine and by the 90s a multitude of spestruck with a strong sense of danger. Standing up, I exclaimed to the host, “What was that flower on cies were being used in kitchens across the country. Most of these were the cake?” “I don’t cultivated. So it wasn’t know, s omething until hiking on Mt. from the garden,” she Petals won’t provide measurable Spokane several years said. “Flowers you put ago as the forest woke on food are supposed nourishment; they’re like a kiss, from hibernation that to be edible!” I repriI thought to try a wild manded. One of the children strawberry blossom. Its fleeting and precious. When you eat delicateness and levity at the table asked, “is going to die?” was a profound cona flower, you are becoming intimate Kelly And, then it came to trast to the starkness and gravity of winter. me: larkspur. Larkspur with the personality of the plant. is not something you Later in the season I want to eat. I called sampled thimbleberry a doctor friend who flowers and violets, then roses, and soon anything I knew was safe. agreed it would be better not to have it in my body. Petals won’t provide measurable nourishment; So the porcelain god was worshipped and the only they’re like a kiss, fleeting and precious. When you symptom was a tingly numbness on my tongue. eat a flower, you are becoming intimate with the That is your cautionary tale before embarking on personality of the plant. The blossom is the most the new pastime of petal nibbling. important anatomical feature for identification — General Rules: Harvest fresh looking flowers its way of saying “this is who I am.” Petals evolved in the morning. Some need preparation like roses, whose white bases are bitter, or large flowers, from leaves to attract pollinators, which led to an whose stamens and pistils are distasteful. Avoid explosion of shapes and colors along with myriad buds. Be sure of your ID to species or genus in new plants and insects. some cases. The common preparation of flowers is on salads and desserts or as a garnish. However, there are Culinary Attributes: Use quickly to capture subtle essence. Visually striking as a garcountless applications. Use flowers of elderberry nish, in salads, on desserts or floating in drinks. in liquor, yarrow for tea, lilacs infused in honey, Concentrate in jams, syrups, vinegars or wine. locust in fritters, roses for jelly, dandelions into Mix in spreads, marinades and dressings. Dry and wine, and chicory for a bitter endive-like element. sprinkle as an herb. // You can consume milkweed fried, salsify pickled and lilies stuffed. The flavors are generally versions

Running Running on veg

A Growing Community of Runners Are Making Their Miles Meat-free // By Erika Prins

Crushing the Dirty Dash meat free. // Photo courtesy of Selina Starno. Catra Corbett out on the trail. // Photo courtesy of Catra Corbett

Catra Corbett has run upward of 120 races of over 100 miles each. She’s one of only a handful of people in the world to have broken the hundred 100-miler barrier – and she runs all those miles mostly on fruit, nuts and plant-based protein shakes. When she started 20 years ago, Corbett says, people simply didn’t think it was possible to run ultras as a vegan. Now, she’s part of a growing community of endurance athletes who celebrate their meatless mileage. The super-fit 51-year-old with shoulderto-toe tattoos exudes toughness – and she’s even tougher than she looks: Corbett overcame a drug and alcohol addiction after landing in jail for selling meth. Immersing herself in clean eating gave her a new focus. “I was doing toxic stuff putting these harmful chemicals in my body,” she says. Veganism represented a fresh start – one where she took care of herself. Sober, Corbett found herself battling new demons. “Nobody tells you you’re going to go through a huge depression. You’re going to gain some weight,” she says. Corbett didn’t set out to become an ultra runner, but then again, she doesn’t do anything halfway. A jog around her neighborhood quickly became competing in marathons. Running increasingly longer distances gave her something to work toward, helping her heal once again. “I know I’m supposed to be here for a reason,” she says of overcoming her depression, which at one point led to a suicide attempt. “Getting to inspire other people. I try to do that on a daily basis.” And she does. Tony DeStefano, who has always been a runner, read Corbett’s story online after becoming a vegetarian himself 5 years ago. He follows her blog for inspiration in his own endurance training pursuits as a meatless runner. Last summer, DeStefano founded Spokane Veggie Runners, a weekly running group that meets at vegan restaurant Boots Bakery & Lounge in downtown Spokane. “You don’t have to be vegetarian or vegan to join,” he says. In fact, he’d like for the group to be welcoming to everyone. “I think

sometimes people are scared. They don’t even want to bring it up because they’re afraid to be judged.” Spokane runner and Ironman finisher Selina Starno frequently wears a “No Meat Athlete” shirt at social runs, so she’s pretty much a walking billboard. “A lot of people approach me and they ask me questions about being a vegetarian,” she says. Though they’re usually positive and encouraging, many people find the prospect of trying vegetarianism for themselves daunting. “I think a lot of people are afraid of cutting out meat because it’s the biggest thing on their plate,” Starno says. So, she recommends taking it slowly, either trying it for just certain days of the week or substituting just one meat dish with a vegetarian version. “You can give up things in parts, like maybe start with fish.” A not-so-healthy vegetarian since childhood, Starno was overweight when she began running in high school. “I finally got motivated enough to take short walks around the neighborhood – and then those walks turned into runs,” she says. “I lost 80 pounds.” Now that she runs 3 to 4 times a week, swims and bikes, Starno crafts her diet to fuel her active lifestyle. For protein, which she tracks carefully, she eats nuts, tofu, leafy greens, Greek yogurt, broccoli and protein shakes. Corbett, too, was admittedly a “crappy vegan” when she started. Now, her diet fuels a healthy and full life. She eats raw, mostly fruit and nuts, during the week and adds soy-free meat substitutes on the weekend. Gels, almond butter packets and recovery vegan protein shakes give her the extra boost she needs for long runs. This summer, Corbett plans to run across the United States on a six-person team, four of whom are vegan and all of whom have battled mental illness or addiction and want to raise awareness. “It’s hard to get clean and sober or hard to get away from an eating disorder or get away from the mental illness you’re struggling with if you can’t talk openly about it,” Corbett says. She’s careful, though, about telling others what path they should take. Veganism and running work for her, but everyone’s different, she says. // april 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

The Inland Northwest Running Scene Takes Off Local Runners Shine a National Spotlight on Spokane By Jon Jonckers

Ben in the Selkirks of North Idaho near Harrison Lake. // Photo: Jon Jonckers

The running community in Spokane region has never been stronger than it is right now. Throughout 2015 and into 2016, the running achievements in the Inland Northwest continue to gain national recognition. Even better, these running performances span every age, gender and running surface. For starters, Gunhild Swanson became an ultrarunning celebrity when she finished the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run at age 70 – with only SIX seconds to spare before the 30-hour cutoff. The YouTube video of her finish blew up, and she has since been featured in several articles and even appears in the trail running movie “This Is Your Day” starring running legends Rob Krar and Caroline Boller. Swanson is quick to point out that she doesn’t want to be known for “finishing last.” The 100.2 miles in 2015 was Swanson’s third finish at Western States; her personal best is 25:40:28, set in 2005 at the age of 60. Nevertheless, UltraRunning Magazine awarded Swanson with the Female Age Group Performance of the Year. She received 147 votes compared to the runner-up, who received only 62 votes. Swanson is unstoppable, and she is currently training hard to return to Western States this summer.

Spokane runners Ben and Rachel Bucklin will also be at the starting line of Western States this year. Rachel will be pacing her husband, and they both have achieved notoriety at the 100-mile distance. Ben Bucklin finished the San Diego 100 miler in 17:44. He placed second overall but first in the Solo (unsupported) Division. Meanwhile, Rachel Bucklin landed on the 2015 Top 100-Mile Females when she burned up the Rio Del Lago race in 20:42. For those interested in something shorter than

awarded a special second-place medal for the Masters Age-Graded performance. An age-graded performance uses an international achievement percentile to offset the bias for gender or age compared to the world record. Even without a calculator, every local runner who has run with Carl will tell you that he is a tactical race genius and nearly impossible to pass. Last but not least, Spokane marathoner Rachel Jaten just competed in the 2016 U.S. Olympic

she is one of the most respected marathon runners in the Northwest. Without a doubt, these runners will each tell you they are only as fast as their support group. They each have a fire inside, but none of them run or train in a vacuum. The local running community bolsters the runners around it, and anyone can see this first hand if they show up for a Thursday night Flying Irish run or attend one of the awesome Trail Maniac races. From North Central’s unmatched

The brutal L.A. marathon course included 84 sharp turns – the hardest marathon trials race to date.

OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

100 miles, you might consider running with Carl Combs. At age 50, he rarely runs more than 5km or 10km races. His average pace is well under 6 minutes per mile, and he just took first place in his age group at the National USATF Cross Country Championships in Bend, Oregon. He was also

Marathon Trials in Los Angeles. The brutal L.A. marathon course included 84 sharp turns – the hardest marathon trials race to date. At the start, Jaten was not ranked in the top 100 runners, but she proved everyone wrong when she finished 48th. Clearly, she can compete on the national stage, and

consecutive Cross Country State Championships to the Gonzaga Women’s Conference Championship to the 40th anniversary of Bloomsday to the neverending growth of the local running clubs, it’s a great time to be a runner in the Inland Northwest.

Local Running Celebrities Share Their Biggest Challenges, Running Heroes and Favorite Trails, Races and Gear By Jon Jonckers

Carl Combs // Photo: Jon Jonckers

CARL COMBS

8km Master’s Championships at Brea, CA, first 50+; also first 50+ at Bend, OR National XC Championships. Best Local Run

Running on incredible trails with kids and coaches at NW Montana Running Camp (previously named Flathead Lake Distance Running Camp). Favorite Local Race

So many great ones! Bloomsday is the easy answer, given the huge number of people involved and everything that goes along with it. Close seconds: Hot Summer Nights 5km series, St Paddy’s 5, Partners-In-Pain, Trail Maniacs State Park Series, Festival of Miles, Cheney Turkey Trot, Hauser Lake 10km. Running Weakness

My weakness is limited time to train, which requires focused effort to squeeze as much “quality” training in as possible.

Rachel Bucklin // Photo: Jon Jonckers

Gunhild Swanson // Photo: Jon Jonckers

folks being pushed in wheelchairs surrounded by friends and family. Running Weakness

Speed. In early spring I start weekly track workouts with the Bloomsday Roadrunners Club at the SCC track, plus tempo runs on roads. Local Inspiration

a race that gets everyone out the door. Running Weakness

My running weakness is trying to run every planned workout exactly how it is written. I’m learning to listen for when to back off or have a workout based more on effort and feel rather than a set pace when needed.

and probably the best view of the Palouse you’ll see from anywhere make it such a unique and beautiful run. There’s also the added attraction of watching the rock climbers on Big Rock, and you never know when you might end up face-to-nose with a moose. Favorite Local Race

Sylvia Quinn, age 79, and proud of it. She’s my friend, running partner and travel companion. She’s a Bloomsday Perennial, with the most age group wins of anyone ever. She was the Bloomsday race director back when the race reached its peak at 60,000 runners, and she challenges me to run hard on every training run we do together.

Local Inspiration

Don Kardong. I love his story and I love what he’s done for running in our community. My other favorite local runner isn’t just one person, but the people for whom running does not come easily or naturally, yet they’re out there putting in the miles and hopefully enjoying what Spokane has to offer.

My favorite local race is the Spokane River Run 50k. The first half of the race runs through Deep Creek and the huge towers of basalt I’ve heard called the “Moon Rocks,” which are my favorite parts of the park. Soon after coming out of Deep Creek, you climb to one of the best overlooks in the area with expansive views of the Spokane River, the surrounding mountains and downtown.

Go-to Gear

Running Weakness

My trusty Garmin, particularly while running on trails. Its “back to start” feature helps me find my way when I explore unfamiliar trails, just to see where they might lead.

Brooks Launch shoes – they’re simple and lightweight and I can run on the road or trails in them.

RACHEL BUCKLIN

One of the Top 100 Female Ultrarunners in 2015.

Local Inspiration

Wanting to overdo it is my kryptonite. I would run twice a day every day if my body would allow it, but I’ve gone through a couple of years of nagging injury, and I am starting to learn that too much of a good thing can be bad for you. Cross training and strength training are an important part of a running routine.

This lady right here in Cheney. Joan Hisaw inspires me not only by just being a runner (she did heat up the track in her day), but also by her genuine love for people through the sport of running.

Best Local Run

Go-to Gear

Spokane River Run. It is a good community event and they do a great job putting on the race. It is also a fun family event with several different distances from 5km to 50km.

I’m inspired by the Spokane running community as a whole. Spokane is a great town to be a runner. For what they’ve done for the community, Mike and Heidi Bresson inspire me. Thousands of kids get to run cross-country thanks to the Bressons’ vision and dedication to building the Active for Youth program.

GUNHILD SWANSON

Running Weakness

Go-to Gear

Steven’s Creek/Iller Creek. It is beautiful, easy to access and challenging. Favorite Local Race

There’s something about cranking a race cap down low that makes me feel faster than I really am

Hills. This year I have to become a stronger hiker and hill runner. I have been doing hill repeats on the High Drive bluff, and I am trying to add more total vertical each week. I run steep, long climbs and make sure I include several climbs on each of my runs.

Inspiring finish at Western States, multiple age group records at national ultramarathons. Best Local Run

Riverside State Park from either the Fort Wright Cemetery trailhead or the equestrian area. It offers the most variety for running with the paved Centennial Trail for fun running with friends and great views as well as challenging singletrack. Favorite Local Race

That has to be Bloomsday. I sign up twice for a double treat. First time around pushes me to run my hardest for a good finish time. Then I grab my second number and start over again. This time I get to experience the very heart and soul of Bloomsday. It’s not all about the invited elite runners, nor the fierce open, masters and age-group competition, but about the family groups including children in strollers or babies in backpacks, the friends who challenge themselves to train and walk or run this one race every year, and the

Rachel Jaten // Photo: Jon Jonckers

RACHEL JATEN

Multiple marathon wins and two-time U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials competitor. Best Local Run

Riverside State Park...so far. I still have so much to explore. I love trail running and it’s great being by the water in the trees. Favorite Local Race

My favorite local race is Bloomsday. I love that we bring in nationally ranked and international athletes to compete in our city. I also love that it’s

Local Inspiration

I never leave home without strapping on my Suunto Ambit. I am obsessed with Strava and tracking my mileage and vertical gain compared to my Spokane Distance Project teammates and other runners I follow. //

Local Inspiration

Gunhild Swanson. She is redefining the limits of age in ultrarunning. Go-to Gear

I am a new convert to Hoka shoes, but I still love my Brooks Ravenas.

BEN BUCKLIN

Amazing ability to finish on the podium of nearly every ultramarathon he runs. Best Local Run

The Big Rock and Rocks of Sharon outcroppings, views of the Valley and Selkirk Mountains,

Ben bucklin // Photo: Jon Jonckers april 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

224 S Howard St. - Spokane 509-838-8580 www.coolwaterbikes.org bikes@coolwaterbikes.org

Spokane’s full-service non-profit bicycle shop

refurbishing used bicycles and offering hope to youth who are homeless

GearRoom Spring Running & Walking Gear Lorpen Technical Running and Hiking Socks

ment your feet can give a pair of hiking socks. I also tried the T2 Multisport Ultralight that features a Coolmax, Nylon and Lycra construction on several cold, wet runs and had a similar experience. My feet always stayed warm and dry enough that I could focus on other things (like not slipping on icy sections of the Centennial Trail). Finally, it’s been warm enough this spring that I was able to slip into the T3 Ultra-Light Trail Running Sock that features three separate layers of fibers meant to work together for comfort, support, and moisture management (Tencel, Coolmax and Nylon/Lycra). These short, thin socks are feather light yet durable and don’t slip down your foot or bunch up. Probably the best praise I can heap on Lorpen’s finely-crafted socks is the fact that not a single sock has gone MIA, which in our house says a lot about how much a pair of technical socks are loved. Lorpennorthamerica.com (Derrick Knowles)

Thule Chariot Cheetah 2 Multi-Sport Trailer/ Stroller

ing a quarter sun shade that usually protects his little head from getting too sun blasted, along with a full sun shade and plastic pull-down top that makes the whole carriage compartment wind, sun and pretty much waterproof (we haven’t stayed out long enough in a downpour to thoroughly test this). We also added an infant sling, which allows most babies under 1 year to start rolling just about right out of the womb. With the beverage cup holder add-on (very important), the large mesh storage compartment behind the seat, the cocoon-like carriage with side-windows so baby can watch the world go by, the bright green color and obviously highend components and burly-looking build, the Thule Chariot Cheetah 2 turns heads out on the trail for good reason; It’s smart, light-weight, functional, good looking and pretty much an allaround badass kid carrying, multi-sport machine ($589 MSRP, not including conversion kits and other ad-ons). Find them at Mountain Gear or at Thule.com. (Derrick Knowles)

After I started running more regularly a few years back, my sock drawer has slowly been filling with new, colorful running socks of different styles and thickness. I’ve been buying whatever socks were on the shelf at my local running shop, which meant I wasn’t familiar with Lorpen (a Spanish company that specializes in technical socks) until they sent us a few pair to try out. Lorpen is no one-trick pony. They make specific socks for just about any outdoor pursuit you can imagine: running, hiking, biking, winter sports, hunting and multi-sports. I gave the T2 Men’s Light Hiker hell on a fastpaced 30-mile walk in Hells Canyon that often felt like a trail run, and the Merino wool with 10% Lycra construction with enough cushioning and mesh venting for breathability meant that I didn’t think about my socks on the trip at all, which to me is about the best endorse-

Having something to push the wee one around in those first few months of parenthood was a gift, even if it was a cheap and simple big-box store stroller. We were so happy to get our sleepdeprived selves outside for daily walks that we didn’t think twice about what we were pushing him along in. Then autumn hit, with colder temps, wind, rain and eventually winter snow. It was time for a stroller upgrade. We settled on Thule, a brand that is known among active parents for offering “strollers” that convert Transformer like into bike trailers, jogging strollers, pull-behind ski sleds and more. We purchased the Chariot Cheetah 2, with the jogging stroller and bike trailer conversion kits, and it kept us strolling and jogging with the little guy in comfort all fall and winter long. The thing rolls like a champ, and has two brakes (front hand brake on the handlebar and a foot-pedal rear brake). It also has several slick answers to various weather conditions, includ38

OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

New Balance 870 Women’s Running Shoes

I’ve never been a runner, so it wasn’t a total surprise that my first 5K at the Spokane Happy Girls Run last summer left me with a sore right ankle. The first question my PT friend asked was about my s h o e s . I found them at Costco for a screaming deal, I told him. “Yeah, that’s your problem,” he said without even looking at my foot. He recommended a local running shop where people are trained to fit you with the right shoe. The sales person at Fleet Feet downtown Spokane helped me choose five different Patagonia R1 Hoody with Polygiene Odor Resistant Treatment

The Patagonia R1 Hoody (MSRP $159) is one of my all-time favorite outdoor garments and a great choice for winter and early spring runs, especially longer outings that may range from running to walking. It’s warm but insanely breathable and ventable with a super-deep chest zipper to stave off overheating. And then there’s the hood when the sun disappears and a chill spreads over your sweaty noggin. I intentionally soaked the R1 with sweat over three days of heavy use, which normally transforms my base layers from technical workhorses to biological weapons, but it didn’t seem to faze the Polartec fabric. No familiar stench. No gasping for fresh

shoes based on my running style and preference for pavement with the occasional foray onto trails. After running down the block in each pair one after another, I decided on the New Balance 870 V4 with super feet insoles. The new shoes felt stable and bouncy, like I wanted to run. Goodbye ankle pain. I learned that getting a “good deal” on running shoes at a big box store or online isn’t always such a good deal after all. And now I have a bright pair of wellfitting running shoes by the front door reminding me to get moving. (Shallan Knowles)

air as your head writhes towards the light that represents fresh air when you put it on way too many days since its last washing. I could barely smell the thing even after it festered damp in my pack before ushering it to the wash machine. How is this possible? The miracle of Polygiene odor control technology. Polygiene is a silver saltbased, naturally occurring anti-bacterial agent that prevents nasty gear smell by inhibiting bacteria growth. The treatment lasts a lifetime and, according to the company, is safe on your skin. You can find Polygiene treated outdoor apparel from Patagonia and dozens of other major brands including Adidas, Arc’Teryx, Ahtleta, La Sportiva, Polartec and many others. Polygiene.com (Derrick Knowles)

Let’s Run Together for Stong, Healthy Kids! Presented by Lutheran Community Services Northwest Presenting Sponsor

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Local gear Spotlight GSI Pinnacle Canister Stove

In the vast field of backpacking stoves, it all boils down to price and weight. The formulas for heat efficiency, gas mixture and boil time are not standardized from one manufacturer to the next. But everyone can easily see the GSI Pinnacle weighs less and costs less than the MSR Micro Rocket and the Snow Peak Giga Power. It’s also more compact, and it nests within the awardwinning GSI Ultralight cookware. The stainless

steel pot supports fold in a unique way, and the stove actually takes up less space in your pack than most headlamps. Admittedly, it’s a canister stove, so it’s prudent to bring along a backup canister, which negates some of the weight and space savings. I tested the Pinnacle multiple times, and I even let my kids use it, and we all agreed it’s the best stove we have used for my coffee in the morning and their hot chocolate at night. (Jon Jonckers)

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Fishing A Desert Oasis for Early Season Anglers // By Brad Naccarato I’m driving westbound on I-90 into the heart

of eastern Washington’s channeled scablands, and it’s hard to envision trout fishing. Nothing here resembles the traditional “trouty” waters I grew up with. Basalt outcrops throughout the arid plains represent the only topography here in a treeless landscape that seems to have no business supporting aquatic life. But the land somehow gives rise to one the most legendary fishing streams in the region: a desert oasis known as Crab Creek. Crab Creek is the longest ephemeral stream in North America, snaking its way through 163 miles of eastern Washington, yet the creek is relatively unknown to many. It’s not what many worldly fly fishermen would consider a destination stream. It doesn’t pass the eye test when compared to fabled places like Idaho’s scenic Kelly Creek. But what Crab lacks in traditional mountain trout stream scenery, it makes up for with its abundance of fish. The secret to Crab’s abundance of both water and fish is the fact that it’s fed entirely by springs that fluctuate above and below ground. The large size of the drainage is no indication of the stream’s volume, however. It isn’t much more than a trickle in many sections, with its average width being the length of your fly rod. At the Tokio exit, just shy of Ritzville, I descend into a hidden valley that seems no different from everything that surrounds me. Skeptically checking my directions, I continue as the road takes a couple of sharp turns, abruptly dropping me one last time – and suddenly I see it: a lush sliver of life with tall green grasses surrounding a medium-sized creek that meanders as far as the eye can see. Crab Creek’s duality can confuse the uniniti-

Trout stalking at Crab Creek. Photo: Brad Naccarato

ated. The creek might reveal itself as a picturesque run through a rimrock canyon. Meanwhile, downstream you may find only a dry creek bed. Local hydrology can also be affected by weather or heavy irrigation withdrawal and runoff. In spite of all this, Crab’s underground resources make it a consistent place to fish even when other streams are bloated by spring runoff. Dropping a small bead-head nymph off the end

Friday Night: Dance to DJ Excellence Saturday 2pm: Hash Run/ 7pm Live Music: The Angela Marie Project Sunday 9am: The 32nd Running of the Original Bare Buns Fun Run

OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

of a 7-foot tippet, I work a small back-eddy while attempting a stealthy approach by hiding behind the waist-high brush – the only cover around – that borders the creek. I’m amazed by the depth in some places as the water clarity fluctuates between chocolate milk hues and crystal clear runs. A small nibble arrives, followed by a big tug. I set the hook and a large fish shoots downstream. Fortunately, the small space affords little room for the fish to oper-

ate, and within minutes I land and release my first Crab Creek fish, a well-fed redband rainbow trout with brilliant coloring from head to tail. “What makes Crab so amazing is the abundance of food it offers to the fish,” says Pat Way, owner of Orvis/Northwest Outfitters in Coeur d’Alene. “The healthy redband and brown trout here grow rapidly. With less than average fishing pressure, most fish fall into the 16- to 18-inch range, with fish hooked regularly over 20 inches,” says Way. “And of course the creek valley is spectacular with waterfalls, basalt cliffs and tons of wildflowers early in the year,” he adds. You can fish Crab anytime, but the best time is mid-February through late June. While subsurface fishing with nymphs and streamers is the most productive, you can occasionally find some top-water action with small mayflies and midges. However, Crab Creek is a wild trout fishery where stealth and well-placed casts are crucial to success. New fly fishers may find it to be a challenging destination for this reason. Crab Creek is 60 minutes west of Spokane and is most easily accessed via I-90’s Tokio exit 231. Upstream from where the creek and Rocky Ford Road North intersect, there are roughly 5 miles of perfect desert spring creek, stretching across a Bureau of Land Management parcel that ends where the creek is crossed by the Harrington-Tokio Road. While this BLM parcel is open to the public, the majority of the steam runs through private ranchlands that typically don’t offer public access. For more information about fly selection and current fishing reports, contact Pat Way at Orvis/Northwest Outfitters in Coeur d’Alene at 208-667-2707. //

Food&Fuel

All That and More

How Bone Broth Can Save Your Relationship // By Ammi Midstokke

to 5/1/ 16

Body all busted up? drink your bone broth. // Photo: ammi midstokke

Unless you’ve been living in a media vortex or

have no friends, you’ve probably been hearing the raves about bone broth. The claims of its magical powers range from solving impossible math equations to growing entire new limbs. Probably it cures cancer too but, according to my Facebook feed, weed still has the monopoly on that. What people don’t commonly know about bone broth is that is can actually save your relationship. We provide you with this case study: “My leg is broken,” says my now precariouslyteetering-on-the-edge-ofrelationship boyfriend over the phone. I’m sitting in my office buried under a pile of charts as high as my chin while making a list of places to look for boxes and making a mental note to not forget to pick my kid up from karate. We are moving in a week, and my house looks like an explosion of bubble wrap and the cardboard slum sprawl of homeless elves. My to-do list is longer than a line of Trump protesters. In short, I do not have time for this. “I thought you were going to pick up the moving trailer today,” I say, because apparently I also don’t have time for sympathy. “I went skiing first.” Now in a normal relationship, that statement right there might have made heads roll, but we’re outdoorsy people. There is always time and justification for another ski/ride/run/climb. Though the parties involved would appreciate it if said priority shifters would not break their shit when skirting responsibilities. The reality is that we people who like to play hard are going to break ourselves. Thus, knowing how you can heal as quickly and

thoroughly as possible should be as important as knowing your wilderness first aid. In a perfect world of broken bones, we’re looking at a 6-week recovery. But if you don’t take care of yourself (see: using broken thing too much, pretending it isn’t broken, trying to cook your girlfriend dinner from a bar stool because you feel guilty), the healing process is delayed. And if you’re really rough (cocktails and ice cream), you can even

The reality is that we people who like to play hard are going to break ourselves. Thus, knowing how you can heal as quickly and thoroughly as possible should be as important as knowing your wilderness first aid.

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interrupt the process or cause further damage. The secret to quick recovery at our house – and we’re used to needing to recover from things – is bone broth. We also stop drinking alcohol and eating any sugars to aid in the reduction of inflammation. What’s so great about bone broth? It’s loaded with chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine, and a variety of amino acids that aid in joint lubrication and reduction of inflammation. It is rich in calcium and other minerals needed to rebuild and maintain tissue health. In addition, it is known to support the growth of specific immune cells. Any time your person gets hurt out there being awesome, you simply begin administering a cup or so of bone broth daily. Because the more quickly they recover, the more quickly they can be back outside playing with you. Or at least unpacking boxes. //

/ How to make your own bone broth / Bone broth is a term typically used to refer to broth made from bones and joints of animals (sometimes called bone stock). The bones (a beef knuckle joint, chicken carcass, etc.) are cooked at low temperature with a dash of apple cider vinegar to leach the minerals and tissue components into the broth. Before you get grossed out, it just tastes like a cup of broth. Add salt and spices to make it delightful. We infuse ours with sage and thyme or add lime and chili afterward for a little kick. How to make your broth: Roast a chicken. Eat it. Put the bones in a big pot and cover them with water. Add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and some salt. Bring to a vigorous boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 24 hours. Strain out the stuff. Pour the broth in jars. Voila! Your own incredible broth is ready just like that!

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Explore Local Trails and Win Cool Outdoor Prizes with Out There Monthly’s Backcountry Booty Contest Do you like hiking and exploring recreation areas and trails you’ve never visited before? Do you like treasure hunts for cool prizes? Play Out There Monthly’s free Backcountry Booty contest and you get to explore different trails around the region and possibly win gift certificates for cool outdoor gear and other prizes. Here’s how it works: 1. We hide a booty certificate that’s good for

whatever prizes are up for grabs – like a backpack from Mountain Gear or a Season Pass from 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort – along a trail somewhere in a park or recreation area in the greater Spokane region.

2. We name the general location and offer up a few clues and photos on Out There Monthly’s Facebook page and the Out There Monthly website contest page. 3. We keep giving out clues on Facebook and OTM’s website until someone finds the booty and wins! 4. Winners post a victory photo on OTM’s Facebook page to confirm that it’s been found, and then we let them know where to pick up the prize(s).

The contest has been around for almost two years and has been getting more popular with each new booty prize announcement. People out hunting for the booty often report meeting other players out on the trail, and the contest has been a fun thing for many families to do together outside. The booty bags have been found hanging in trees and in other more obscure locations along, but not necessarily within sight, of trails in several local recreation areas, including Palisades Park, the Dishman Hills Natural Area, Riverside State Park, Mt. Spokane State Park and other areas. The prizes just keep getting better too. Some of the most popular prizes so far have been a $400 value Nelson, B.C., getaway package courtesy of Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism; an Eno Double Nest Hammock and suspension system ($100 value); and a pair of Black Diamond Trekking Poles and a Black Diamond Ion Headlamp courtesy of Mountain Gear and a K9 Sky-Trak portable, packable dog run kit sponsored by K9 Sky-Trak ($175 total value). Sure to be one of the most popular Backcountry Booty prizes ever, in the month of April, a voucher for an $800 value 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort adult season pass for the 2016/2017 season will be hidden somewhere out there. How do you keep from missing the opportunity to hunt for a Backcountry Booty prize? Make sure you have “liked” Out There Monthly’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/OutThereMonthly) and be sure to check it often to keep up on new booty packages and clues, especially since posts from pages you like don’t always show up in your Facebook newsfeed. You can also check the contest page at www.Outtheremonthly.com/category/ backcountry-booty to review all the clues for whatever booty is still out there and learn more about the prizes and sponsors. 42

OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

“Thank you for this super fun time. I have to tell you that I’ve suffered from some depression due to the loss of a family member and have done absolutely nothing for several months until a couple weeks ago when I heard about the Backcountry Booty treasure hunt. Liberty Lake is so beautiful and peaceful, and I kept meeting people who were also treasure hunting and often would actually take a breather just to chat. This treasure hunt has brought me back to life; I think I have some catching up to do on my Iron Man training for 2016! Booty hunting really brings the community together, thank you for impementing this awesome idea.” -Backcountry Booty Player

Backcountry Booty winners rejoice!

Out There Monthly created the contest to encourage more people to get outside and enjoy our region’s amazing trails and recreation and conservation areas and appreciate nature. Look for some amazing prizes up for grabs this year and share the love of hiking and trails with someone new this summer! // (OTM)

Running

SATURDAY

Run Wild

MAY 21, 2016

The Making of a Trail Maniac // By Dave Dutro Dutro doing what he loves. // photo courtesy of trail maniacs

Why run trails? I have lived in the Northwest since 1982, but I actually didn’t start running until 2007 because it was required for a triathlon I wanted to do. I liked mountain biking and road biking, and I used to race mountain bikes back in the ‘90s. I just didn’t like running. It hurt, it was boring and it made time stand still. I had never found the “runner’s high” that everyone talked about. In the beginning of my triathlon training, I neglected my training runs, opting to bike or swim instead. I started with sprint triathlons and worked my way up to the Ironman distance. Of course I don’t recommend that you EVER avoid training runs, especially if you are training for a long distance triathlon. Training for an Ironman is time consuming, and you have to be selfish with your time. But after devoting all of that time to my triathlon training, I found that running got easier for me. I don’t know if that was because my fitness level improved or because it was something different from biking or swimming. Maybe it was just

the simplicity of running. Whatever the reason, I am grateful that I developed such a deep passion for running. After finishing Ironman, I needed something different. In 2011 I was exposed to trail running and I have never looked back. A friend of mine suggested that I enter the Orcas Island 25K trail run with him. So the last weekend in January, we got a group together and headed over to the San Juan Islands. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I registered for this race, and at the time it was probably one of the hardest things I had ever completed. The Orcas Island 25K starts out with a relatively flat first 6 miles and then turns into a 2-mile climb up a powerline “trail.” There really is no running on this section whatsoever, more like hiking and stopping to catch your breath followed by more hiking. After the powerline trail, you climb switchbacks and finish on top of Mount Constitution, and then you kind-of get to descend back to the finish line in Moran State Park. The scenery of this beautiful course plus the hanging out and drinking beer afterward created a life-changing experience for me. I had no idea that running could be so difficult yet so rewarding and visually stimulating. Since that first race in 2011, I have finished trail runs from 5 miles to 50k distances, and I am currently training for my first 100-mile trail run. The Inland Northwest has so many beautiful trails and state parks to offer, and I felt the need to bring the camaraderie of trail running here. In 2012 I started Trail Maniacs. This year we are offering 10 races that include the popular State Park Series, a ladiesonly yoga and trail running retreat and our Trail Maniac Club runs. I am following my passion and working full time for Trail Maniacs (with the help and support of my lovely wife). One of the most rewarding things about following this passion of mine is the friendships that I have formed by trail running. I always say that going to a Trail Maniacs race is like going to a family reunion, but you get to hang out with people you like. I can’t wait to see what 2016 brings! //

Dave Dutro is an avid trail runner, mountain biker, hiker and the co-founder of the Trail Maniacs trail running club (Trailmaniacs.com). Look for more words from Dave in his new trail running column “Run Wild” in upcoming issues of Out There Monthly.

This Is Your Day (Film Review) An “Official Selection” at the Danish Adventure Film Festival in 2015, this emotional documentary follows three runners as they train for and then tackle the 100-mile Western States Endurance Run in Auburn, California. The Western States Endurance Run is the world’s oldest and most prestigious 100-mile trail race. Following the historic Western States Trail, runners start near the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, climb more than 18,000 feet and descend nearly 23,000 feet to the finish. According to the event’s website, “runners experience the majestic high country beauty of Emigrant Pass and the Granite Chief Wilderness, the crucible of the canyons of the California gold country, a memorable crossing of the ice-cold waters of the main stem of the Middle Fork of the American River, and, during the latter stages, the historic reddish-brown-colored trails that led gold-seeking prospectors and homesteading pilgrims alike to the welcoming arms of Auburn.” Filmmaker Myles Smythe superbly captures varying aspects of this alluring, arduous and rewarding terrain as he follows the eventual 2015 champion, Rob Krar, as well as veteran long-distance runner and publisher of UltraRunning Magazine, Karl Hoagland, and relative newcomer to running and racing Caroline Boller. Each runner has their own reasons and motives for tackling this extreme race. Throughout the film, they repeatedly demonstrate the indomitable will of the mind, the powerful capabilities of the human body and the value of relationship. They are unique individuals who have singular training techniques and running styles. However, they all have one thing in common: the love and hands-on support of family and friends. Smythe weaves the stories of runners, spouses, parents, children and friends into a stimulating journey that leaves every viewer inspired to find the courage and strength to cross the seemingly unconquerable finish lines in their own lives. Thisisyourdayfilm.com. (S. Michal Bennett)

The Lands Council’s 21st Annual

april showers Auction & Dinner

Saturday, April 16th at 5:00 pm The Davenport Grand Hotel For reservations, go to www.landscouncil.org or call (509) 838-4912. april 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

The Inland Northwest is beautiful... explore by bike!

Three Amigos Take on the Continental Divide Riding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from New Mexico to Canada

By Hank Greer

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route offers

Bike closeouts • Helmet closeouts • Shoe closeouts

Under New Management

OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

up to 200,000 feet of elevation gain over a distance of 2,745 miles. It roughly follows the Continental Divide, crossing it back and forth about 30 times, from Banff, Alberta, to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. When Garry Kehr, former president of the Spokane Bicycle Club, read an article about the Great Divide route in December 2013, he thought riding the route was something he needed to do. Yeah, some people are like that. We all should be. Kehr recruited two like-minded cycling souls, Paul Brunton and Jamie Sutherlin, to join him. With ages ranging from 62 to 68 and not an iota of mountain biking experience among them, one might ask, “Why?” An adventure of a lifetime, that’s why. These roadies studied up on bikes, camping gear and the route. They bought bikes and outfitted themselves. They picked the brains of a couple of locals, Rich Shauvin and Chip Andrus, who gladly shared their Great Divide experiences. And they decided 2015 was the year they would set out. Kehr, Brunton and Sutherlin gradually increased the distance and the weight they carried on their training rides. But to shake down their gear and test the waters of the bike packing pool, Andrus dispatched them to the Quilomene Wildlife Area in Central Washington. Quilomene is harsh, hot and steep. Just the thing for testing your gear, your mettle and your companion compatibility level. “If you’re still talking to each other when you come out of Quilomene, you can do the Great Divide,” Andrus told them. The three men came through with flying colors, which is not surprising if you’ve ever met them. They are unassuming, self-deprecating, and so easy going that you immediately feel comfortable around them. They stow their egos in the bottom of their panniers. At some point, somebody referred to the group as the Three Amigos and the name stuck. Although Kehr was the instigator, he and Brunton credit Sutherlin as the leader. Sutherlin did the planning and navigating, and with many years’ experience fighting wildfires, he shepherded them through the lightning and thunderstorms they encountered. To minimize the high likelihood of riding and walking through mud in New Mexico, they decided to ride from south to north. New Mexico receives more rain in July and August, so on June 18, they left the U.S.-Mexico border and headed north across the hot desert. All told, the three men rode 2,289 miles to the Canada border and climbed a total of 147,000 feet. They had seven flat tires, one of which happened when a tube on Kehr’s bike exploded loud enough that Sutherlin and Brunton, who were some distance ahead, heard it. But because it was the Fourth of July, they chalked the sound up to fireworks. Eventually a passing four-wheeler told them about Kehr’s flat, so they turned around to go help him out. The greatest distance that they traveled in one day was 122 miles. Their hottest day was 106 degrees. The most water that they consumed in one day was 9 liters. They crossed paths with other riders, including many who were doing the Tour Divide race. They

Riding the Divide. Photos courtesy of the Three Amigos

ValleyGirl TRIATHLON July 10, Sunday Liberty Lake, WA www.valleygirltri.com

TRIATHL chatted with Josh Kato, the eventual winner (by 18 minutes!), who they found calmly sitting against a sign post and eating a snack as if he had nothing better to do. They also met Billy and Lina Rice, a father-and-daughter team who were racing on a tandem bike right after Billy had ridden the course solo from south to north. The experiences and stories of the Three Amigos are many. But honestly, riding the Great Divide route is about more than overcoming hardship. Yes, the Three Amigos endured heat, cold, steep

Testing your mettle is the price of admission to the wilderness and experience of nature’s raw beauty. Whether the view is of flowering cacti, a red-orange sunset, a crystal-clear starlit sky, or mountains standing like sentinels in the distance, it fills you with awe and gives you a sense of yourself and your place in the universe.

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climbs, wind and rain. They experienced the kind of mud that gums up your bike so badly that you have to drag it after you. But testing your mettle is the price of admission to the wilderness and experience of nature’s raw beauty. Whether the view is of flowering cacti, a red-orange sunset, a crystal-clear starlit sky, or mountains standing like sentinels in the distance, it fills you with awe and gives you a sense of yourself and your place in the universe. Afterward, the memory is a sanctuary you can return to while walking through winter’s grit on the sidewalk or waiting in line at the checkout stand. You’ll get a wistful look on your face and someone will ask, “Why are you smiling?” You could explain, but they wouldn’t understand because, like hammer and anvil strikes, an adventure like this forges a unique bond among those who have shared the trek. “No reason,” you’ll answer. I asked Kehr, Brunton and Sutherlin why the Great Divide route is important. Brunton answered first. Kehr and Sutherlin let his answer speak for them. “The GDMBR is a place to quiet your mind from the constant tickle of world events over which we have no control, and to think deeply on things that truly matter: friendship, family, nature, and to seek our own place in the larger scheme of things,” Brunton says. “Even now, as short-sighted men strive to rip apart the fabric of public lands, it is incumbent upon those of us who care to stand up for public places as best we can.” So what adventure lies in your future?// april 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

Running Great Spring Races for Rookies

From 5Ks to Fairly-Flat Marathons // By Erika Prins

The finish line at the Windermere Marathon. Photo courtesy of the Windermere Marathon

The Inland Northwest offers a ton of running

races each year: trail runs, glow-in-the dark runs, obstacle courses and plenty of old-fashioned road races. If you’re ready to race but not sure where to start, look for a race that allows you to focus on putting one foot in front of the other and keeps additional challenges – like hills, terrain or mud pits – to a minimum. At just a hair over 3 miles long, the 5K makes a great gateway to racing. New runners can experience the excitement of a competition, get some swag and enjoy the after-party without facing a daunting mileage challenge. The Inland Northwest suffers no shortage of 5K events, most either familyfriendly “fun runs” or shorter versions of a main event like a marathon or half. Even if you’re training for a longer run, with adequate preparation, you can rock it the first time around.

2016 Trail Runs Idaho / E. Washington 4/9/16 Bruneau Dunes State Park 5/7/16 Farragut* 5/21/16 Liberty Lake 6/11/16 Heyburn* 7/16/16 Castle Rocks State Park 7/23/16 Mt. Spokane* 8/13/16 Jackass Hill Climb 8/26-28 Women’s Yoga Retreat 10/8/16 Riverside* 10/29/16 Halloween at Hell’s Gate*

Negative Split Half Marathon, 10K & 5K // April 10

Running a “negative split” means finishing stronger than you started. No pressure – the name is a metaphor for life, not a requirement for the race. If you’ve trained for your foray into racing around central Spokane, Negative Split may just follow your regular routes through Kendall Yards, Browne’s Addition, Peaceful Valley, Riverfront Park and along the river. Nsplit.com Bloomsday 12K // May 1

*State Park Series

www.trailmaniacs.com Dec 30: Resolution Run 5K

If anything makes a tough 7.47-mile course easier, it’s 50,000 very excited people, some of whom are wearing tutus. Bloomsday’s popularity means it draws all kinds of participants – runners, walkers, run-walkers, shufflers and everything in between – all out there to see what they’re made of. Whoever

you are, you’ll fit right in. Bloomsdayrun.org Sweet Feet 5K Fun Run // May 30

Founded as a senior project last year by local student Elizabeth McNally, the Sweet Feet 5K benefits McNally’s alma mater, On Track Academy. The course loops through the Hillyard neighborhood with no major hills and ends at HarmonShipley Park with a family-friendly celebration. Sweetfeet5k.com Windermere Marathon & Half // June 5

When you take on 26.2 miles, or 13.1 miles for that matter, all seasoned marathoners will probably give you this advice: Make finishing your only goal the first time around. That means letting go of a time goal. It’s also wise to choose a course with few extra challenges. Windermere Marathon fits the bill with a fairly flat, scenic and uncomplicated route you can even practice on training runs: After a 7-mile loop through Liberty Lake neighborhoods, the marathon course follows the Centennial Trail from Liberty Lake to downtown Spokane. The half starts at Mirabeau Park in Spokane Valley. The elevation drops 200 feet over the full course, which ends in Riverfront Park with a beer garden, food and music. Windermeremarathon.com. Title 9K & 5K // June 11

This all-woman jaunt through downtown Spokane and the U-District makes for a perfect step up from a first 5K. The small race attracts a range of women, from elite to stroller-pushing – and even the occasional, admirable elite-pace stroller pusher. Hosted by Title Nine, a women’s athletic clothing retailer, the event’s swag and t-shirts are on point. Titlenine.com //

Try These Other Spring 5Ks and 5 Milers Trail Maniacs State Park Series

All of the Trail Maniacs running club State Park series trail runs include 5-mile options and are a great way to ease into trail running. Try the Farragut State Park race May 7 or Heyburn State Park run on June 11. This popular series continues all summer long. Trailmaniacs.com/sps

NEGATIVE SPLIT HALF MARATHON, 10K & 5K- 4/10 BRRC RECYCLE FUN RUN - 4/20 221 N. Wall St. 509.624.7654 10208 N. Division 509-468-1786 46

OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

Priest Lake Spring Festival Run (May 29)

Choose between half marathon and 10k and 5k distances (and a free kid’s dash). Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong since you’ll be running on a mix of pavement and gravel through the forest surrounding Priest Lake. Priestlakerace.com June Bug Fun Run (June 4)

A three or five mile run or walk along the Spokane River near Spokane Community College. All proceeds benefit Lutheran Community Services NW’s work to care for abused and neglected children in our community. Lcsnw.org/junebugrun (OTM)

UrbanOutdoors The Cooper’s Hawks of Comstock Park // By Liza Mattana By the time you read this, the family of Cooper’s Hawks at Comstock Park have been basking in warmer climes for some time. “Snowbirds” like some Spokanites, Cooper’s hawks prefer California or Mexico in the fall and winter. My husband and I observed five of them for about a month. We were so taken by their antics that we invited friends and neighbors to join us on our visits. The hawks are active in the early morning or evenings like most diurnal animals. When we were birdwatching, our upturned faces and pointed fingers gained the attention of dog-walkers and picnickers who frequent the park. The people who took notice seem equally smitten with the hawks. Had we not settled down one evening last summer on a metal bench in the northwest corner of the park to enjoy the quiet, we would have missed the juveniles entirely. As we sat and spaced out, enjoying the solitude, one Cooper’s hawk, then another, followed by two more, flew down from a ponderosa pine. One cautious sibling stayed in the tree and watched us. It never ventured down. The juveniles, once gathered on the grass, pounced on pinecones and jumped on sticks littering the ground. The hawks romped, chasing each other around the tree base, and jumped on one another’s backs. The young hawks reminded me of kittens play-fighting: claws out, but no intent to harm. Cooper’s hawks (also called chicken hawks, quail hawks and big blue darters) hunt small birds in flight, but they will also chase mammals like squirrels and marmots on the ground. They are agile, athletic birds with command of both land and air – a double threat. The first night we observed them, we paid attention to their noises, their hawk

call, like a high-pitched whistle. The Cooper’s hawk Cooper’s hawks are easy to idenof Comstock Park. Photo courtesy of tify because they are so large, crowKelly Masjoan sized, with spotted breasts and barred, white-tipped tails. Early on while we watched them, they called to each other frequently, call-and-response style, with only a few seconds between. As the hawks matured and spread throughout the neighborhood, they continued to call to each other but eventually checked in less often or not at all. After our first night of discovery, my husband and I came prepared with our binoculars. We knew what to listen for and were ready to look and find the hawks again. I was nervous when we arrived the second night. Would they be out with so many people around? Would we be able to find them? The picnic area hosted a couple of birthday parties and several barbeque dinners. Kids ran around. Toddlers screamed. Frisbees flew. But soon after we arrived, we heard their calls. Turns out, when the park is noisy and crowded, the hawks keep to the air. When it’s quiet, and observers don’t get (I say fortunate because I’m fascinated by their too close, they take to the turf, testing their ground abilities. Hunting and killing are just part of their skills and, of course, playing. That second night, amazingness). I saw a flurry of hawks overhead and we saw the juveniles only in the treetops. But we heard excited cries telling of their captured prey. were fortunate to see one catch and eat a small bird. We witnessed the small bird’s capture but weren’t

totally sure of what we were seeing. The hawks were too fast for us to track. At first, I thought the hawks were play-fighting in the air with each other. I even worried about one hawk getting hurt as it was sitting on a branch with its wings held out away from its body. But the binoculars revealed a different story –one juvenile was eating, its wings held out to protect its meal from thieves. If you look and listen, you can find Cooper’s hawks in mixed forests and urban areas like city parks and golf courses. They tend to fly in a flapflap-glide pattern. They swoop and dart with precision. Once they catch their prey, they squeeze it to death, rather than eating it alive. Likely, this is more practical than a kind act. My favorite moment of watching this family of Cooper’s hawks was on an evening when the winds brought smoke from the Chelan and Wenatchee wild fires. It was hot that early August, and the few people at the park were looking for a cool place to rest. The birds, also hoping to cool down, flew across Post Street to a sprinkler. There, they frolicked in the water, sticking their tail feathers in, flapping their wings and letting the cold water relieve the heat. They reminded me of children, happy to forget the heat and enjoy the simple summer fun. Watching these birds makes me feel like a kid too, enjoying the moment, sitting quietly in the park and wondering about the nature of things in the world around me. For more information about how to identify Cooper’s hawks, visit: Birding.about.com/ od/Identify-Bird-Families/ss/Coopers-HawkIdentification.htm. //

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OutdoorCalendar BIKING

Where: Moran Prarie Grange. When: 9 a.m. Proceedes benefit the Moran Prarie Grange. Enjoy an easy walk or run. Cost: $20 Info: moranprairiegrange.org/

(April 16) The Lands Council April Showers Auction & Dinner. Where: Davenport Grand Hotel.

(April 17) Spokane River Run.

Where: INB Performing Arts Center. When: 7 p.m. National Geographic Live! Presented speaker series with climber and adventurer Cedar Wright. Info: Events.nationalgeographic.com/event-series/spokane-speaker-series

(April 16) Run for the Grange.

(April 2 & 27) Beginner Bike Maintenance Class. Where: Fitness Fanatics, Spokane Valley. When: 10 a.m. Learn basic bike maintenance, have fun and feel better prepared for your rides. Call or register online to reserve your spot. Cost: $20. Info: Fitfanatics.com

(April 9) Spokane Bike Swap & Expo.

Where: Spokane County Fair & Expo Center. When: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. One day only this year. Choose from hundreds of used and new bikes and check out over 50 exhibitors, including most local bike shops. Cost: $5, children 12 and under free. Info: Spokanebikeswap.com

(April 24) Lilac Century Bike Ride.

Where: Spokane Falls Community College. 23rd annual ride presented by Spokane Aurora Northwest Rotary Club as a benefit for Rotary projects. 15, 25, 50, 66 and 100 mile distances along a monitored course with rest stops and an end-of-ride baked potato feed. This is the first century of the season. Info: Northdivision.com

RUNNING (April 2) Hunger Run. Where: Mirabeau Meadows, Spokane Valley. When: 9 a.m. Get active and fight hunger all at the same time. Timed 5k run and walk presented by Second Harvest and Union Gospel Mission. Info: Thehungerrun.org

(April 3) Hauser Lake 10K Ice Breaker Fun Run. Where: Hauser Lake, ID. When: 10 a.m. Bloomsday Second Seed Qualifier. Race benefits special needs dogs. Info: DoubleJDogRanch.org

SMMUNITY RADIO PRESENTS: R Y K CO R AI THIN OW! DEMOCRACY N

Where: Riverside State Park. Annual trail run held through beautiful pine forest along the Spokane River. Courses range from 50K to 5K. Info: SpokaneRiverRun.com

(April 17) 3rd Annual Spring Dash.

Where:: McEuen Park, Coeur d’Alene. When: 9 a.m. Five mile run, qualifier for Bloomsday’s second seeding. Tottrot for kids. Cost: $25. Info: unitedwayofnorthidaho. org/springdash

(April 24) Cats Run Wild 2K, 5K or 8K. When 2 p.m. All proceedes benefit the athletic programs at Mt. Spokane High School. Info: familyid.com/programs/ cats-run-wild-fun-run-2016-registration

OTHER (April 11-17) Get Lit! Festival. Where: Spokane. A weeklong celebration of reading and writing offering events for literature lovers of all ages, including readings and lectures, interviews, workshops, panel discussions, poetry slams for children, teens, and college students, writing contests, book signings and more. Info: Getlitfestival.org (April 13) Reel Paddling Film Festival.

Where: Mountain Gear Corporate Headquarters (6021 E Mansfield Ave.) The festival showcases the world’s best paddling films and inspires more people to explore rivers, lakes and oceans, push physical and emotional extremes, embrace the lifestyle and appreciate the heritage of the wild places we paddle. The event is limited to 100 people. $10 tickets available at Mountain Gear’s retail store.

(April 14) Inland Northwest Backpacking Basics. Where: REI. When: 7 -8:30 p.m. Learn how to choose a pack, select proper clothing and footwear. Important information about trail etiquette and Leave NoTrace principles. Info: REI.com/spokane

(April 15) Dishman Hills Conservancy’s 50th Celebration. Where: Barrister Winery, Spokane. Dinner, music and a silent auction. Info: Dishmanhills. org

S COVERING R A E Y Y T N E W T MENTS THE MOVE ERICA CHANGING AM ODMAN WITH AMY GO & CLARK LEWIS L AUDITORIUM O O H C S HIGH .) (521 W. 4TH AVE

0 PM MAY 4 AT 7:0 WEDNESDAY, WITH ID R STUDENTS PTION WITH AMY FO $5 • ON ADMISSI NT RECE $15 GENERALAVAILABLE FOR PRE-EVE AND RESERVED SEAT. OK TS BO KE ED TIC LIMITED $100 INCLUDES AN AUTOGRAPH GOODMAN. AT THE DOOR KYRS.ORG OR ! RS AVAILABLE AT TICKETS ARE L PROCEEDS BENEFIT KYKYRS.ORG AL OR 012 7-3 N AT 509-74 INFORMATIO PRODUCTION, CLARK FILM TION, BY LEWIS & SPONSORED UNITY BUILDING FOUNDAFUND VE SSI COMM RE OG IERI PR SMITH-BARB

OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

Landscouncil.org

(April 19) Sufferfest 2 with Cedar Wright.

(April 20) OTM Outdoor Dog Photo Contest Deadline. Round up the best photos of your outdoors loving hound doing their thing outside in the great Inland NW. Prizes sponsored by Ruffwear. Photo submissions must be received by April 20, 2016. Info: Outtheremonthly.com

(April 21) Find Your Park: Grand Canyon National Park. Where: REI Spokane. When: 7-8:30 p.m. Prepare for an array of outdoor adventures, including hiking, backpacking, canyoneering and rafting. Registration required. Info: REi.com

(April 22) Free State Parks Day. Where: any state park. When: All Day. All residents are offered access to any state park without needing a Discover Pass. Info: Riverside State Park. (April 28) Wild & Scenic Film Festival. Where: Garland Theater, Spokane. The festival will feature several prominent river films along with fun shorts covering other themes and topics as a benefit for the Spokane Riverkeeper. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the films start at 7. Tickets are $12 online and $15 at the door. Info: Facebook.com/SpokaneRiverkeeper (April 30) Spring Compost Fair & Arbor Day Celebration. Where: Finch Arboretum, Spokane. When: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Learn how to compost yard and food waste and take home a free plastic compost bin if you are a county resident with proof of residency. Arrive by 1:30 to complete the program. Info: Spokanecountysolidwaste.org

(April 30) Conservation Futures Program Nomination Deadline. Spokane County Parks, Recreation and Golf Department is accepting new property nominations to be considered by the Conservation Futures Program until April 30. Info: Spokanecounty.org/parks

OutdoorCalendar Full events calendar at www.outtheremonthly.com RUNNING

available. Cost: $7. Info:sespokanecountyfair.com

(May 1) Lilac Bloomsday Run. Where: Downtown

(October 15) Chocolate Chip Cookie 50K Trail Run. Where: Riverside State Park Equestrian Area.

Spokane. Spokane’s most famous 12K fun run. Info: BloomsdayRun.org

(May 7) Trail Maniacs State Park Series #1. Where: Farragut State Park, Idaho. 5 mile and half marathon trail runs. Camping, food, community and lots of fun. Info: Trailmaniacs.com

(May 15-August 15) Dishman Hills Conservancy 50 for 50 Challenge. Where: Dishman Hills, Spokane. Hike or run 50 miles in three months in the Dishman Hills solo or as a family. Info: Dishman50for50.org

(May 21) Liberty Lake Trail Run. Where: Liberty Lake Regional Park, WA. 8-mile trail run loop near Liberty Lake that features waterfalls, a creek bed, bridges, singletrack and switchbacks with canopied cedar groves. Info: Trailmaniacs.com

(May 29) Spring Festival Run.

Where: Priest Lake. Half-marathon, 10K and 5K options. Info: Priestlakerace.com

(June 4) June Bug Fun Run.

Where: Spokane Community College. 3-and 5-mile distances on a scenic course along the Spokane River to benefit Lutheran Community Services Northwest’s efforts to ensure strong, healthy kids. Info: Lcsnw.org/junebugrun

(June 5) Windermere Marathon. Where: When: 7 a.m. Full and half marathons are scenic and fast. Info: WindermereMarathon.com

(July 9) Up Chuck Challenge Trail Run. Where: Camp Sekani Park, Spokane. Start off your day at the Spokatopia Outdoor Adventure Festival with a 5 or 3k run along the Up Chuck Trail to the top of Beacon Hill. Info: Spokatopia.com/up-chuck-challenge-trailrun.

(June 18) Kaniksu 50 & Emory Corwine Memorial Ruck Race. Where: Colville National

TRIATHLONS (May 21) Troika Triathlon. Where: Medical Lake. Options include Olympic Course, Long Course and Sprint Course. Info: TroikaTriathlon.com

(July 10) Valley Girl Tri. Where: Liberty Lake. This popular women’s sprint distance triathlon includes a 1/3 mile swim, 12 mile bike ride and 3 mile run. Finishing in beautiful Pavillion Park with activities for the entire family. Info: Valleygirltri.com (July 16) Tiger Triathlon.

Where: Colville, Washington. 1k swim, 40k ride and an 8k run that showcases some of Northeast Washington’s scenic landscapes. Info: Tigertri.com

(August 7) Wunder Woman Triathlon.

Where: Medical Lake. A women’s only triathlon featuring both sprint and Olympic distance races. Individuals or relay team entries, featuring a post-race recovery lounge, great shirts, custom finishing medals and a great venue at Waterfront Park. Info: Wunderwomantriathlon.com

BIKING (May 4, 11, 18 & 25) Wednesday Night MTB Series. Where: Riverside State Park. When: 6:30 p.m. Race or just ride for fun and enjoy post-ride cold beverages. A new course every week. Cost: $20. Info: Nomadzracing.com

Riverside State Park, 7 Mile Airstrip. Relay mountain bike race can be completed as a team or solos. Info: Roundandround.com

(June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29) Wednesday Night MTB Series. Where: Riverside State Park. When: 6:30 p.m. Race or just ride for fun and enjoy post-ride cold beverages. A new course every week. Cost: $20. Info: Nomadzracing.com

(June 18) CHAFE 150 Gran Fondo.

Where: Sandpoint. 150, 80 and 30-mile fully supported ride routes along Lake Pend Oreille. Info: Chafe150.org

(July 31) Spokane Valley Cycle Celebration. Where: Spokane Valley. Choose from 10, 25 or 50 mile rides through the best parts of the valley. After party celebration to help riders refuel and rehydrate. Info: Cyclecelebration.com

(June 18) CHAFE 150 Gran Fondo. Where: Sandpoint. 150, 80 and 30-mile fully supported ride routes along Lake Pend Oreille. Info: Chafe150.org

(July 9) Strider Cup Race Spokane.

Where: Riverfront Park. When: 8 a.m. Open to children of all sizes and skill level. Info: striderbikes.com/blog/ strider-racing/item/5641-spokanejuly9th

OTHER (July 9) Spokatopia Outdoor Adventure Festival. Where: Camp Sekani Park, Spokane. Try paddleboarding, kayaking, climbing, geocaching, canoeing, disc golf and other outdoor activities and demo bikes and other outdoor gear. Over 40 exhibitors, live music and beer garden. Info: Spokatopia.com

Have an Event You Would Like to List? Please visit www.outtheremonthly.com and click “Add Event” under the “Outdoor Calendar” tab to get your events listed online and considered for the monthly print magazine calendar. To be considered for the print calendar, events MUST be entered by the 20th of the month to be listed in the following month’s issue. Please follow the instructions for submitting an event using the web form.

(July 31) Bare Buns Fun Run. Where: Deer Lake, WA. 32nd annual clothing optional 5k at the Kaniksu Ranch Family Nudist Park. Info: Kaniksufamily.com

Doors open @ 6pm - starts @7pm River City Red & Wine (cash) Limited to 1st 100 people - buy early Great Door Prizes!

(August 26-27) Spokane to Sandpoint Relay. 200 mile relay from Mt. Spokane to Sandpoint City Beach along some of the most scenic trails and lightly-travelled roads in the Northwest. Info: Cascaderelays.com

Wednesday April 13th 7pm Mt Gear Corp 6021 E Mansfield Ave $10 @ Mt Gear retail

(September 24) Happy Girls Run.

Where: Spokane. Women’s half marathon, 10k and 5k runs with great post-race festivities and fabulous goody bags. Info: Happygirlsrun.com

WORLD TOUR 2016

SCKC SPOKANE CANOE & KAYAK CLUB

(September 24) Harvest Hustle 5K. Where: Rockford, WA. When: 7:45 Same day registration

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

Forest. A 50-mile trail race and a relay race where 5 participants each complete one of 5 legs carrying a minimum 35lb ruck for men and 25lb ruck for women. Info: Kaniksu50.com

Rolling river run with short hills, rocks and open praire. Double track, single track, forest service roads, and even a little gravel and pavement. Info: ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=32772

(May 28-29) 24 Hours Round the Clock. Where:

APRIL 2016

SIXMONTH TRAININGCALENDAR

reelpaddlingfilmfestival.com

april 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

Last Page The ladybugs of bockman peak // By Mikell Bova The gentle gray walls of the South Couloir of Bockman Peak, southwest of Libby, Montana, provide just enough protection from the sun so the peak can hold snow late into the ski season. This is where I find myself in late May, heading straight up the couloir with ski boots on my feet. I stumble out of the couloir to find the snow is mostly burned off the ridge that connects Snowshoe and Bockman Peaks. Walking on chossy granite in ski boots, I continue toward the high point, and the summit rocks come into focus. The slate-colored rocks provide a sharp contrast to the snow’s whiteness and the short, green white pines growing near the top. Specks of red begin to appear as the ridgeline flattens and the peak nears. The rocks appear to be covered in red lichen. Yet upon further inspection, it is apparent that the rocks are not covered in lichen but hundreds of ladybugs. I have stumbled upon convergent ladybugs coming out of diapause. The convergent ladybug (Hippodamia convergens) is a beetle renowned for its peak-bagging abilities. Every fall, many of this species migrate by the thousands to the upper reaches of tall mountains. This event marks the first stages of a 9-month hibernation process called diapause, where ladybugs form large colonies to maintain body temperatures, conserve resources and facilitate reproduction. The convergent ladybug, as its name suggests, builds large colonies in locations hidden from predators: under rocks and leaves and on mountain tops. Summit ladybugs will become covered by feet of snow, which will serve to

insulate them from harsh winter conditions by sustaining a temperature right above freezing and protecting them from the elements. As the daylight increases and temperatures begin to rise, these beetles will come out of diapause, mate and move on to lower elevations in search of aphids.

appetite for the insect makes it an ideal biological pest control for many farmers wary of using insecticides. But I haven’t climbed up to the top of Bockman Peak to cash in on an agricultural goldmine. I am here to ski. I bid farewell to my hundreds of new friends and slide away from the 8,174-foot summit, traversing back down the south face until the slope begins its funnel into the South Couloir of Bockman Peak. The South Couloir offers a 2,200-foot descent

I haven’t climbed up to the top of Bockman Peak to cash in on an agricultural goldmine. I am here to ski. The convergent ladybugs are fierce predators. While this beetle can survive on nectar and pollen alone, aphids are vital for its reproductive cycle. Females will not lay eggs if there is not an abundant supply of aphids. Both adults and larvae gorge themselves on aphids, consuming 30 to 50 aphids a day as adults. Aphids are one of the most damaging pests on crops in temperate regions, so the ladybug’s massive

Convergent lady bugs converging on the summit of Bockman Peak. // Photo: Mikell Bova

Sale Ends 4/30/16

before the couloir turns into a waterfall and stream that pours into Leigh Lake. The cliff that the ski line divides extends from the snow at a 50-degree angle, giving the couloir more of a gully feeling than a true walled-in chute. Still it is an eye-pleasing and long ski line. The slope of the run begins in the upper 30s on the top of the run and then mellows out to a somewhat consistent slope angle in the upper 20 to lower 30 degrees as the walls of the couloir narrow, leaving a strip of snow only 15 feet across. The length of the run, aesthetic nature, beautiful location and easy access from Leigh Lake make it an Inland Northwest classic. //

2016/17 Season Pass

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OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

Young Adult

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april 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

Full-service shop, rentals, demos, classes and an experienced staff! For a complete list of class descriptions, events and information, contact us: 2002 N Division, Spokane • 509.325.9000 • mountaingear.com/retail

Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am-8 pm, Sat 10 am-6 pm, Sun 11 am-5 pm

UPCOMING EVENTS WE’RE SPONSORING: Wednesday April 13, 7:00 pm

SUFFERFEST 2 with CEDAR WRIGHT Tuesday April 19, 7:00 pm

Tickets available at Mountain Gear

Discount tickets available at Mountain Gear

Spokane River Run Sunday April 17, 6:00 pm 5 different races ranging from 5k to 50k For more info or to register: spokaneriverrun.com

Thursday April 28, 6:00 pm Tickets available at facebook.com/events/819695761486130

Gear up for your next trail run!

Salomon Women’s Wings Pro 2 $139.95

The North Face Bounce-B-Gone Bra $32.00

Ibex Pulse Short $84.95

Patagonia Men’s & Women’s Houdini Jacket $99.00

Black Diamond Sprinter Headlamp $79.95

Altra Men’s & Women’s Lone Peak 2.5 Trail Running Shoe $120.00 52

OutThereMonthly.com / april 2016

Altra Olympus 2.0 Trail Running Shoe $145.00

Marmot Women’s Jump Start Capri $57.95

The North Face MA Graphic Reaxion Amp Crew $25.00

Garmin Vivosmart Activity Tracker Reg $189.99 SALE $119.97

Smartwool Men’s & Women’s PhD Run Ultra Light Micro Socks $15.95

Osprey Rev 1.5 Hydration Pack $69.95