Out There Outdoors // April 2018

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

Kids Belong Outside

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Family Outdoors Guide

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CONTENTS

FEATURES

24 | Road Racing in the Inland NW-Rebound or Recession?

27 | Hangman Creek Nature Path 42 | Why Run?

SPECIAL SECTIONS

31 | Inland NW Family Outdoors Guide

31

DEPARTMENTS 15 | Running for Beginners 16 | Watersports 19 | Climbing

NEW HAPPIER HOUR $5 SNACKS $4 LOCAL BEERS $5 WINE

20 | Spotlight 21 | Running 22 | Outdoor Living 23 | Gear Room 26 | Running Ultras 28 | Provisions 29 | Health & Fitness 44 | Nature

COLUMNS

28

13 | Eatology 14 | Everyday Cyclist

IN EVERY ISSUE

18 | Leaf, Root, Fungi, Fruit

7 | Intro 8 | Dispatches 12 | Hike of the Month 45 | Outdoor Calendar 46 | Last Page @M AN ITOTAPHO USE MAN ITO T APHO US E.CO M

19

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APRIL 2018 WWW.OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM PUBLISHERS

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S. Michal Bennett Bradley Bleck Kelly Chadwick Chris Clentano Adam Gebauer Hank Greer Sarah Hauge Lunell Haught Diane Hidgem Jessy Humann Jon Jonckers Derrick Knowles Shallan Knowles Lisa Laughlin Tim Lesser Amy S. McCaffree Ammi Midstokke Joel Oscarson Sarah Oscarson Erik Prichard Alex Renner Erika Prins Simonds Justin Skay Suzanne Tabert Nick Thomas Holly Weiler Jason Wilmoth ART + PRODUCTION

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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 expertsor 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.

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ON THE COVER: LONG DISTANCE RUNNER BRANDON BENEFIELD TRAINING BY THE SPOKANE RIVER IN RIVERSIDE STATE PARK. Photo: Jon Jonckers 6

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / APRIL 2018

Intro: Crane Time SOME PEOPLE SEE the word crane and think migration; others think construction. Springtime brings about a lot of changes, not just seasonal changes with wildlife and nature but incremental progress for parks, conservation areas, and community paths too. The urban core of Spokane currently hosts several large cranes for major projects, including a few downtown buildings plus the renovation of Riverfront Park and the new U-District pedestrian bridge.

A few years back, during the Kendall Yards Centennial Trail construction phase, I brought my young son down to ride on the pavement one day ahead of the ribbon-cutting ceremony. While he was riding along, and I was snapping a few photos, I remembered how my dad introduced me to the Centennial Trail in Riverfront Park, and we planned to ride to the Idaho border together back in 1990.

Incremental changes have transformed this paved community trail dramatically, and I predict we will see even more cranes and construction in the coming years along the 40 miles of the Spokane River Centennial Trail to renovate the Don Kardong Bridge, connect to the Children of the Sun Trail, and for other trail projects.

Ultimately, the ripple effects of an ever-improving Centennial Trail extend to the Fish Lake Trail, the Ben Burr Trail, multiple connections around Liberty Lake, and across the state line where the Centennial Trail continues as the 23-mile-long North Idaho Centennial Trail. None of these trails are perfect; however, they give back more than they take away. Whereas some naysayers might resist urban trails, multiple studies conclude that paved non-motorized paths reduce crime, raise property values, and reduce traffic by providing commuter alter-

natives. Everybody wins.

This issue of Out There highlights two outdoor themes, running and family outdoor activities, that may not seem to have a lot in common. Paved urban paths like the Centennial Trail, Fish Lake Trail, and others, however, provide safe, accessible places for both runners and families to get outside right in their own backyard. Kids can ride without traffic or stoplights. Moms jogging with strollers and families walking or biking with small children can cruise along the Spokane River with additional safety. The running clubs and anyone training for Bloomsday or other races benefit from these trails too. In case you haven’t noticed, many charity runs, walks, and bike rides for local causes take place along part of one of these trails, as do major events like SpokeFest, the Windermere Marathon,

Negative Split races, Coeur d’Alene Marathon, and the Lilac Century family bike ride.

According to a “Trails for All Americans” report, published by American Trails, “Americans are seeking trail opportunities as never before. No longer are trails only for the ‘rugged individualists’ pursuing a solitary trek through breathtaking wilderness…users include young people and senior citizens, families, individuals and organized groups, people with disabilities and the physically fit.” This report published in 1990 makes a great case that these trails are for everybody to enjoy. While I couldn’t agree more, the work to complete, connect, and expand the Inland Northwest’s world-class paved trail system is ongoing and will need our support for years to come. // JON JONCKERS, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

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Dispatches NEWS BEACON HILL BIKE PARK & PUMP TRACK MOVES FORWARD

THE EXTENSIVE mountain bike trail network at Spokane’s Camp Sekani Park and Beacon Hill will soon see the addition of a professionallydesigned mountain bike skills-building area and pump track, thanks to years of work on the part of volunteers with Evergreen East. The project has been in the works for over a decade, and with recent approval of the plan by Spokane Parks & Recreation, a team of professional builders from Evergreen East Mountain Bike Alliance based out of the Seattle area should have shovels in the dirt by early April. Completion of the skills area is expected to take five weeks and another two or three weeks for the pump track, says Evergreen East’s operations manager David Goode.

The Beacon Hill Bike Park and Pump Track will be built past the jumps at the east end of Camp Sekani Park. The park will include a total overhaul of the existing skills-building features, including improvements to the three existing wooden drops where riders can build their skills and confidence to take on bigger drops, massive improvements to the trail rock garden, a re-build of the existing progressive jump lines with a third one added, and making the whole skills park better-connected and more intuitive for all levels of riders. Goode says the goal for the skills area is to help riders develop their skills

to be able to take on other trails and jumps around Camp Sekani and Beacon Hill.

The 4,500 square foot pump track—a packeddirt, continuous circuit of rollers, banked turns, and jumps best ridden with a “pumping” motion that builds momentum—will sit at the center of the bike park skills area. The pump track will weave in and out of the pines, giving it a natural feel, says Goode. “It will be perfect for everyone from kids on Strider bikes to experts.” While there isn’t another park in the Northwest that will be as large and professionally built as the one in the works for Spokane, says Goode, the one at Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park near Seattle is the closest example of what riders can expect.

For those who want to support the bike park, Evergreen East is hosting a fundraiser premier of the mountain bike film “The Moment,” which documents the rise of the freeride movement, on April 15 from 5-8:30 p.m. at the Washington Cracker Company Building downtown Spokane.

Tickets are $5 and funds raised at the event from ticket sales, auction items, donations, and beverage proceeds will help cover the projected $40-50k cost of the new bike park. More info and tickets are available at Evergreeneast.org. (Derrick Knowles)

CAPITAL BUDGET FUNDS TRAIL AND RECREATION PROJECTS ON JANUARY 19, the Washington Legislature

finally passed a capital budget, approving funding for state park projects across the state. The legislature should have passed a capital budget last year, but failed to do so because of gridlock on a policy issue. According to the Washington Trails Association, the impacts of the legislature not passing a capital budget last year were significant.

Without a capital budget in 2017, many projects to maintain existing recreation opportunities, as well as projects to create new recreation opportunities were left unfunded. Washington State Parks was

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WE LOVE OUR TRAILS. // PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES

forced to cut staff, further reducing its ability to maintain infrastructure and services.

All things considered, Washington State Parks received a budget of $53 million. Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program is the largest source of funding for bike and ski trails in Washington, and WWRP is also a critical funding source for hiking trails and walking paths.

Important capital projects that will be funded include stalled projects, maintenance projects, and a multitude of statewide campsite projects. (Jon Jonckers)

NATIONAL FOREST RECREATION BENEFITS LOCAL COMMUNITIES WASHINGTON NATIONAL FORESTS receive over 6.3 million visits each year, according to a recent report by the USDA Forest Service. Visitors spend approximately $290 million annually in communities near national forests. This spending supports over 2,100 year-long jobs in Washington, many in rural communities, and approximately $81 million in labor income for businesses and employees. National forests benefit communities across the Pacific Northwest in countless ways, from economic benefits, recreation opportunities, clean drinking water, habitat for fish and wildlife, and much more.

In the Pacific Northwest, hiking/walking (25% of visits), downhill skiing/snowboarding (16% of visits) and viewing natural features (14% of visits) are the most common recreation activities. About half of these visits come from those who live within 60 miles of the forest boundary. Visitors from outside the local area spend between three and five nights away from home engaging in recreation activities and spending money in the area where they are staying.

The 70-plus page report can be read at Fs.fed.us/ pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr961.pdf. (Jon Jonckers)

WASHINGTON BIKE SUMMIT REGISTRATION OPEN REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for the Washington

Bike Summit, to be held at Spokane Falls Community College April 29 and 30. This conference is aimed at community leaders, advocates, and professionals in transportation, public health, education, and tourism, as well as anyone else interested in cycling. The conference usually

draws between 150-200 people to the statewidefocused bike conference. The Washington State Department of Transportation sponsors the conference to make technical training available to staff and partners from around the state. Cascade. org. (Jon Jonckers)

CASCADE DESIGNS FOUNDER RESIGNS CASCADE DESIGNS, Inc., announced that com-

pany founder and chairman of the board John Burroughs will be leaving his post after 46 years of Northwest company leadership. Burroughs, 82, an accomplished mountaineer and world traveler, founded Seattle-based Cascade Designs in 1972 and has led the company to include a collection of award-winning Washington-based brands includ-

ing Therm-A-Rest, Mountain Safety Research (MSR), Platypus, SealLine and PackTowl. Current company president, David Burroughs, will take on his father’s position as the new chairman of the board. David has been with Cascade Designs for 14 years where he worked as VP, and strategic business development, before becoming president in 2016. (Jon Jonckers)

EVENTS 2 WHEEL 10 HOUR MTB RACE TAKE TWO “HEY, CAN YOU DO A LAP?” My distressed team-

mate’s frantic request tumbled down the hill ahead of him, and I knew something was wrong with his bike. Disoriented and tearing a half-eaten bar from my mouth, I hopped atop my fat-tired Ice Cream Truck without asking questions and set out on a second, early lap in the inaugural 2 Wheel 10 Hour race last April.

Hosted by The Bike Hub at Spokane’s Camp Sekani Park, the race, which is back for a second year on Saturday, April 28, challenges solo riders and teams of up to five to ride a rigorous 9.2-mile course with 1,600 feet of elevation gain per lap for 10 hours straight. The race gives riders entering the more demanding 24 Hours Round the Clock mountain bike race at Riverside State Park over Memorial Weekend a warm-up and also provides a single-day format for those who can’t pull off a whole weekend of racing.

Midway into our fastest teammate’s second lap on his ancient Stumpjumper, our partner with the bike mechanical returned with his reserve machine, a hardtail fat bike, and his two beloved pugs, Higgins and Toby. Two members of our team were now riding lumbering behemoths more suited to snow and sand than the hard-packed dirt on Beacon Hill. Despite these handicaps, and the confusing mechanical interlude, we won the threeperson team division. The pugs, on the podium’s top step, couldn’t have cared less.

Camping is available on Friday and Saturday nights and may be advisable due to the prompt 8 a.m. Le Mans-style start on race day. Solo riders or relay teams of up to five are permitted, but those with more than three members must be coed. Sign up at Velo-northwest.com/2wheel10hour. (Justin Skay)

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Dispatches EVENTS, CONT. ROCK THE EARTH—EARTH DAY CRAG CLEAN-UP SPEND EARTH DAY morning starting at 8 a.m.

April 22 cleaning up your favorite Spokane area climbing crag (Mini, Cliff, Mirabeau, Dishman, or Deep Creek), followed by some climbing after the work is wrapped up. Bring gloves, work clothes, and water for the clean-up and your climbing gear for some fun. Then head down to the Rock The Earth after party at the Washington Cracker Company Building down-

town Spokane for a climbing presentation, live music by Marshall Mclean, and good food and drink. Everyone is welcome at the after-party, even if you can’t make it to the clean-up. Thank the Bower Climbing Coalition, a Spokane non-profit that repairs and replaces hardware at local climbing areas, for putting this all on. Learn more at Bowerclimbingcoalition.com. (Derrick Knowles)

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BAUER CLIMBING COALITION

SPOKANE RIVER RUN THE SPOKANE RIVER RUN held each year on the

trails at Riverside State Park is one of the oldest trail runs in the Northwest and a Spokane area tradition for many runners. It’s also one of the few all-volunteer-staffed races where all proceeds benefit non-profit causes, in this case the Garfield Elementary APPLE program. For many Spokane area runners, the Spokane River Run provides motivation to run all winter long. “We are blessed with unpredictable winters here in the Inland Northwest, and I have been using this event as training motivation for the last five years,” said

2017 racer and Trail Maniacs founder Dave Dutro.

With four solo distances (5k, 10k, 25k, 50k), a 25k “challenge” course, and a 50k team option, there is a distance for all ages and ability levels, and all of them tour through beautiful sections of Riverside State Park. All of the race options begin and end at the large Seven-Mile airstrip area, giving the event an inclusive, family-friendly grassroots race vibe.

Finishers typically receive useful swag and enjoy excellent post-race food. Mark your calendar for April 22 and sign up at Spokaneriverrun.com.

(Derrick Knowles)

BUY, SELL, OR DONATE A BIKE AT SPOKANE BIKE SWAP THIS YEAR’S Spokane Bike Swap & Expo is

Try awesome outdoor activities Sign up early Online at spokatopia.com

happening Saturday, April 14, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, with proceeds benefitting a new non-profit, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Northwest. If you are looking for a used bike, there are typically over 1,000 bikes of all types and sizes to choose from, plus over 60 exhibitors including most area bike shops with new bikes and gear for sale. If you’re interested in selling your bike, bike con-

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FIND YOUR NEXT RIDE AT THE SPOKANE BIKE SWAP. // PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / APRIL 2018

signment check-in is on Friday, April 13. You can also donate quality, used bikes. Even if you’re not in the market for a bike, the event is a great way to connect with the local biking community; learn about races, rides and events; take advantage of bike fitting provided by REI or join a bike maintenance class put on by The Bike Hub. Admission is $5 per person, and children 12 and under are free.

Spokanebikeswap.com. (Derrick Knowles)

CHANGE YOUR STORY: WINDERMERE MARATHON SET FOR MAY 20 THE WINDERMERE MARATHON, produced by

Negative Split, put a spotlight this year on individual runner stories in social media to engage and motivate new and veteran runners to start training for the half or full marathon distance and come out to see new elements of the race as it continues to grow. “We love our runners and hearing their stories. Look for a very special and motivational mile along the course that will really bring this to a point and highlight this year’s theme,” says race director Ryan Hite.

The course along the Centennial Trail and Spokane River offers stellar views and a mostly flat course. “This is truly a great race for all runners, from the newbie looking for a flat course to the veteran trying to PR,” says Hite. Also new this year is a finisher’s medal that connects magnetically to the finisher’s medal from the Negative Split Half Marathon on April 8. The two medals line up to create a continuous image of a classic Spokane scene. At Windermere, finishers can also bank on some great swag. Participants will receive sling bags and a long-sleeved, quarter zip tech shirt with thumb holes in addition to the 4-inch medal.

Hite says Negative Split was very excited when Windermere asked them to produce the Windermere Marathon, which has become a sta-

ple in the Spokane running scene. “We wanted to see that tradition continue,” he says, adding that it was a natural fit to combine with the Negative Split series, which includes 5k, 10k, and half marathon distances.

The Windermere Marathon distance will provide 13 aid stations containing gels, chews, sports drinks, water, and Vaseline for chaffing areas, should runners need it. The half marathon distance will include seven of the same aid stations.

The race will have a small expo prior to the event at Fleet Feet’s new store in Kendall Yards. In addition to creating an awesome runner experience out on the course, Hite says the expo will provide retail and participant experience items such as free social media photos, an inspiration wall to write on, and space for motivational sign making.

In addition to a scenic, flat, and fast course that’s certified as a Boston qualifier, racers can look forward to an awesome finish line party. The course provides a net negative elevation gain, with the last two miles threading around Mission Park and Gonzaga University. Visit the race website to learn more about the course, registration, and opportunities to volunteer. Follow the Windermere Marathon on Facebook for current race updates and inspirational runner stories. (Lisa Laughlin)

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WHAT’S NEW FOR BLOOMSDAY 2018 YEAR AFTER YEAR, Bloomsday continues to ele-

vate their kingdom above all other timed road races. 2018 is no different. For starters, there’s a new addition to the Bloomsday medals inspired by scenes along the course, an image anyone who’s done Bloomsday should recognize. The 2018 medal is a rendering of the VULTURE at the top of Doomsday Hill, dutifully performed each year since 1987 by Bill Robinson. For the eighth year, souvenir medals can be purchased during online registration or at the Bloomsday trade show.

Bloomsday has also streamlined their app that

allows family and friends to use live tracking to locate participants. The app still does everything the app did last year: allowing instant access to the latest on event schedules, course maps, getting around, what to do in Spokane, results, social sharing and more. But the app is enhanced for alerts and tracking. Last but not least, Bloomsday has also created several Snapchat geofilters. From the start line to the finish line and everywhere in-between, participants will be able to add filters to their snaps.

Bloomsdayrun.org. (Jon Jonckers)

cascaderelays.com APRIL 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

11

HikeOfTheMonth MCLELLAN CONSERVATION AREA Spokane County Parks // By Holly Weiler

Just Under 4 Hours SE of Spokane

FAMILY HIKING // PHOTO: HOLLY WEILER

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Spokane River, McLellan Conservation Area offers early season accessibility and relatively easy hiking. Early April wildflowers will likely include buttercup, prairie star, and grasswidow, all gradually giving way to arrowleaf balsamroot and phlox by the end of the month. With its forested core and riparian habitat along the river, the property is a good place to watch for wildlife and especially birds (please keep dogs on leash). The Conservation Area is 410 acres, and is adjacent to Department of Natural Resources property for additional exploration.

Hikes here take advantage of old logging roads, so the trails are mostly double track. There is an unmaintained singletrack trail just west of the parking lot and trailhead kiosk that leads down toward the river and gives a short loop option.

Otherwise, the trails are best hiked as out-and-back routes, covering both the open forestland at the upper reaches of the Conservation Area, and also offering a few opportunities to access the Spokane River along the lower portion of the trail. Near the water on the eastern side of the peninsula are the remains of an old cabin.

This is a good destination for those accompanied by small hikers, with great visibility through the trees and many interesting rocks and trees to see. Pack a picnic to enjoy near the river, and

perhaps a good field guide to the various birds, bugs, and plants one can expect to find in the area.

While it is even possible to bring a rugged child’s stroller on the trails here, keep in mind that the parking lot is at the high point on the trail system.

A hike to the shoreline is well worth the time and the views, but will require a climb back up at the end, with roughly 300 feet elevation gain.

DISTANCE: Up to 5.5 miles round-trip RATING: Easy to moderate Getting There: From Nine Mile Road/SR 291, turn west onto Charles Road. Proceed 5 miles, then turn right on N. South Bank Road.

Continue 6 miles, then turn right on McLellan Lane. The parking area and trail kiosk is at the end of the road. //

GIVE BACK TO YOUR TRAILS: JOIN WASHINGTON TRAILS ASSOCIATION FOR SPRING TRIPS TO FISHTRAP LAKE; REGISTER AT WTA.ORG/VOLUNTEER.

Holly Weiler is a hiker, backpacker, trail runner, and skier. She wrote about winter cabin trips in the January issue.

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Eatology

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

ARE WE CARB LOADING OR BINGE EATING // By Ammi Midstokke

I REMEMBER DECADES AGO when I first started running and someone told me about a pre-race spaghetti dinner. I knew I’d found my sport. It appealed to my Norwegian heritage (eat, pillage, eat) and my love of all things pasta.

However, we humans in general have an ability to take a good thing (coffee) and turn it into a catastrophe (Frappucinos). Carb loading is no different. We have pre-race noodle parties, prerace bagels, and then we’re sucking down gels and Clifbars while we nervously dance at the starting line. But does it improve our performance?

The idea behind carbo-loading is to increase the glycogen stores in the liver so that we can maintain blood sugar levels throughout an event, depending on its length. Not surprisingly, one effect of this consumption is weight gain. It can make your race shorts a little snugger—especially if you carb load on Bailey’s Irish Cream. I’ve tried this, mind you, and it is not recommended.

At one point in time, some researchers recommend that we deplete our glycogen stores first, then spend 3-6 days consuming doughnuts or otherwise to fill up our livers. These days, most carb loading is done a day or two before the race without the depletion phase as studies have shown that it has similar benefit with slightly less bloat.

Or we can actually consume carbohydrates during the event. As you might have noticed, many of us are doing both. In fact, before an event, I have some subconscious fear that all the food will be gone from the planet at the moment I cross the finish line, and so I spend the days and hours before

an event nervously stuffing all food things into my pie hole.

It might even be pie. I’m probably doing it while I sort out my gels, bananas, sweet potatoes, fried chicken, and various other food sources I plan on carrying during the event.

Although it’s hard to fathom, this is why I’m not the only human to gain weight during a marathon.

Not everyone can handle the digestion of food during an event. If you’re one of these people, carb loading specific to your event might be a great way to increase your glycogen stores without increasing your trips to the toilet.

When we’re fueling on the go, the simple carbohydrates seem to be most tolerable, and the general recommendation is about 200 calories per hour of sustained effort.

You’ll burn more than that, but your liver will be making some glucose too— just not fast enough to sustain blood sugar levels without support.

I’m a human who prefers real food on a run, although I like those gummy gel things too because it’s like having candy without the guilt. I’ve also taken to fruit and chia gels with electrolytes and optional caffeine. The chia provides Omega 3s, which helps manage inflammation. And there’s always the trusted banana and cookies. If we’re going to be out logging the miles, there might as well be some cookies in it for us.

The rules usually change if you’re on a bike or doing a less intense activity. I can eat bacon and eggs while riding, and I once got my rear end handed to me by a woman who was eating pizza slices while she passed me. Running seems to be a little harder on our guts and I see fewer folk out there eating pulled pork at trail run aid stations.

The next time you’re prepping for an event, do the math and figure out how many carbs you’ll actually need. Maybe you have the perfect reason for a sweet potato feast in the days leading to it.

Or maybe you find that treats along the course are what works best for you. Whatever you do, pack a few extra calories with you just in case. The only thing that might be worse than runner’s trots is hitting the wall. // When Ammi Midstokke is not chasing her first love (trails), she is preaching her second (food) as a Nutritional Therapist. She wrote about hormones in March.

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EverydayCyclist

RIDING AROUND, NOT ACROSS, THE COUNTRY // By Hank Greer

LEFT: KATHY GREER AFTER WRAPPING UP AN OVERNIGHTER AT THE BOWL AND PITCHER // RIGHT: HANK GREER IS STRIVING FOR VISIBILITY DURING HIS BIKE TOUR // PHOTOS: KATHY AND HANK GREER

I’VE ALWAYS SOUGHT OUT unique things to do throughout my life. There are an infinite number of experiences available to us, and I’ve pursued my fair share of them. I’m now at a point in my life where I can dedicate more time to new experiences, so I’m going away for a while.

For many years my wife Kathy and I have talked about riding our bikes across the country. I recently retired from my job, and I proposed to Kathy that instead of riding across the country, we ride around the country for a year or so and visit the 48 states. She thought that was crazy, but she also liked the idea. We agreed we should do this while we physically can so now is the time. We’re not spring chickens, but our

activity levels belie our ages. So in May, Kathy and I will load up our panniers and hit the road.

It’s what I would call a loosely well-planned adventure. We’ll meander across the northern states and end up in Maine in September of this year.

From there we go down the East Coast and arrive in Florida in December. We’ll spend the winter of 2019 crossing the southern part of the country until we get to San Diego. Then, during the spring and early summer, we’ll cross the middle of the country and end up in Chicago. (Oh, the humidity!) From Chicago we’ll take the train to Klamath Falls, Ore., where we cross off the last of the 48 contiguous states while riding up to the Olympic Peninsula.

The final leg will include crossing our home state— at least, that’s the plan as of this writing.

While this may sound romantic and cool, we have no illusions about how difficult this will be. In addition, being together 24/7 isn’t something we’re used to, so there may be a time or two when we’ll need to ride 100 yards apart. But then we’ll do what we’ve done for over 37 years and talk it out. We know there will be hardships, but we will also be there for each other.

Realistically, physically-easy days will be few and far between if we’re planning to average 50 miles a day; however, the challenges presented by the unknowns add excitement, and they also present the chance to make memories as we overcome them.

Kathy and I understand our plans are subject to change depending on life events, weather, etc.—hence the loosely well-planned nature of this adventure. We don’t want to have to be anywhere on time. And we’ll take it a day at a time and adjust as needed. One change has already come up: one of our sons is getting married in November. Yes, we will be there—I’m officiating—and we’ll figure it out when the time comes. // Hank Greer is an avid cyclist. He’s written a number of Everyday Cyclist columns over the past six years.

Last September he shared his Oregon outback bike adventure.

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / APRIL 2018

Running STICK WITH IT!

Trail Running Advice // By Erik Prichard

AVOID RUNNING WHEN INJURED

Regardless of your pain threshold, pay attention if you feel discomfort or pain when walking or moving up or downs stairs. If pain worsens when running, consider stopping and walking back. You never want to have to change your running form to keep something from hurting since it will likely cause another injury elsewhere. As your tendons and ligaments adjust to the new stress of impact, they will have to constantly adapt and rebuild.

Allowing your body to recover while not “pushing through” an injury is the only way to help your body obtain this. If you allow yourself to be patient during this process, injuries are less likely.

RECOVERY IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE RUN

RUN, THEN WALK, THEN RUN, THEN WALK. JUST KEEP MOVING! // PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES

SPOKANE SITS IN A PLUSH POCKET of the

Northwest surrounded by over 100 miles of singletrack trails all within a short drive (or run) from downtown. And given the fact that the city sits at the cusp of the Channeled Scablands, nearly all trails have a reasonable grade suitable for trail running. But before you set out sprinting through the woods on your first trail run, it’s a good idea to keep these few tips in mind.

BE PATIENT

In this day and age of instant coffee, instant oatmeal, and Instagram, patience is becoming a

lost art. Speeding down the trail while staring at your Garmin watch and trying to keep a certain pace is a perfect recipe for injury. People who spend more time cycling and swimming are especially injury prone since their cardiovascular systems are tuned but their musculoskeletal systems aren’t prepared for the consistent impact of running. Whatever your background, take it slow when starting out. Tell yourself you’re going for a fast hike and not a trail run.

Soak in the beauty of the forest and work on getting your heart rate up slightly with some short running efforts.

Often overlooked, yet critical in your journey to becoming a trail runner, proper rest and recovery is the only way for your body to rebuild and absorb the training you’re now giving it. Foam rollers are one of the best tools for injury prevention. Roll out your glutes, hamstrings, IT bands, groins, quads, calves and hip flexors. It will be uncomfortable at first, but in a short amount of time, rolling will be something you look forward to doing before and after each run, as well as on rest days.

CONSISTENCY IS KEY

More important than the length of your runs is the consistency of them. Especially when starting out, giving your body lots of small doses of running impact will help it to adapt properly to longer runs in the future. Rather than doing a big run, getting injured, and trying to heal the injury, keep your first few months worth of training mostly easy with lots of fast hiking between running efforts. Your real goal is to stay

healthy enough to do it again the next day or the day after that.

HILLS ARE YOUR FRIEND

Training on moderate inclines is the best way to build strength while minimizing musculoskeletal impact.

Find some moderate uphill grades near you and embrace them. Call them home. Incorporate them in your training runs even if all you can muster is a hiking pace. Believe it or not, those dreadful climbs will actually become enjoyable.

SET A GOAL

Whatever your motivation for becoming a trail runner, it’s good to have a realistic goal that you’re working towards. It will help pull you out of bed on those early mornings, and give you a visual for what you’d like to get out of your training. A great place to start is the 5k (3.1mi) distance at the Spokane River Run, held April 22 at Riverside State Park. This is the perfect race to get yourself excited about the sport and perhaps meet some like-minded running friends.

With time, trail running can be an integral part of your healthy lifestyle—a chance to commune with nature and a way to create space in this busy, distracted world we live in. Unlike cycling and swimming, there are very few places where you cannot run. All you need is a pair of shoes and an adventurous spirit. // Erik Prichard was born and raised on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. He loves Spokane and strives to help make it an even more vibrant and active city. He wrote about trekking poles and thru-hiking the AT in December.

APRIL 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

15

Watersports EARLY SEASON KAYAKING // By Jason Wilmoth

PHOTOS: CHRIS CELENTANO

NO MATTER HOW LONG it’s been since I’ve been in my kayak, or how far life has drawn me away from the river, when winter begins to melt out of the mountains, I am lured back. I start watching the river levels. My paddle gear gets shuffled

from the back of the garage towards the front in anticipation. I patch that tear in the neck gasket of my drysuit because I know I’ll be cold, and I wait.

I suffered my first spring. I paddled every Class II creek I could find wearing a secondhand semi-

CONNECT WITH THE PADDLING COMMUNITY

There are several paddling groups in the area such as the Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club, and I’ve never met a kayaker who wasn’t willing to help someone new to the sport. Give it a try, but take it slow, go with others, and be safe. The Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club is dedicated to promoting safe and fun paddling of all types (canoes, kayaks, rafts and paddle boards), and the club welcomes all paddlers of non-motorized craft. In addition to monthly meetings with educational programs, the club hosts Wednesday evening whitewater paddling outings, as well as several flat-water outings and clinics for boaters to sharpen their skills. Learn more at www.sckc.ws.

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / APRIL 2018

dry top and some wetsuit pants, praying that I wouldn’t have to swim out of my kayak. But I did.

I remember doing jumping jacks on a beach downstream of Avery on the St. Joe River, trying desperately to warm myself enough so that I was able to get back in my boat and continue downstream.

That spring I seriously considered trying something else. Eventually, though, I found myself paddling with people who knew what they were doing.

They had drysuits. They stayed warm. When I bought my first drysuit, everything changed. That’s when I really learned to kayak. When spring circled back around the following year, I was prepared.

The mountains of North Idaho are full of whitewater that only comes out to play during spring, and kayakers will do whatever they have to do to get their fix. They’ve been biding their time all winter, patiently waiting for the sun to gather enough strength to pull old man winter out of the mountains.

Bribe some snowmobilers to drag a bunch of boats to the put-in? Done it. Hike a few miles up a creek through knee deep snow pulling kayaks behind us like sled-dogs? Done it. Bury a truck up to the axles in snow and decide to dig it out AFTER paddling? Done it.

When you slide off the shore and paddle out into a spring-swollen creek, the world changes. Work.

Bills. Busted furnaces. They all slip underneath the waves to be replaced by the thud of boulders rolling along the creek bottom beneath you, turning your plastic kayak into a drum. Or, life’s worries are eclipsed by avalanche chutes terminating in crystal blue ice walls, towering over your head as you paddle past.

There are some creeks that exemplify this more than others—creeks that run milky blue, as if they

had drained straight from the underbelly of a glacier. Pondering the return of spring from your kayak while cresting waves grown tall by melting snow is unlike anything else I’ve experienced.

As spring advances, even creeks that usually trickle out of the mountains become torrents.

The prospects for adventure multiply, and so does the danger. Swelling waters move fallen trees and debris, sometimes causing logjams. There’s nothing more gut wrenching than coming around a blind corner on a raging creek and seeing a tree across the channel in front of you.

Whitewater kayaking is full of risk. If you are thinking about trying it for the first time I congratulate you, then ask you to seriously consider whether you would enjoy finding yourself knocked upside down and backwards in whitewater, holding your breath, while your face freezes as you try to roll back upright. If so, I promise you will glow at the end of an epic day of whitewater.

Spring always seems slow to come, then leaves quickly. As it vanishes, so do the paddling opportunities on many of the creeks flowing out of our mountains. Paddlers begin trekking west towards Hood River, or to the slopes of the Cascades to chase their whitewater dreams. Others head back into the mountains to pursue other sports such as rock climbing or mountain biking. Next spring, though, they will be back watching the river levels rise and eagerly planning the first run of the season. // Jason Wilmoth has been chasing adventure and solitude in the mountains and rivers of the Inland Northwest for almost 20 years through whitewater kayaking, climbing, and hiking. He wrote about rockhounding in March.

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17

Leaf, Root, Fungi, Fruit Opportunistic Hunting // By Kelly Chadwick

I CALLED MY PAL RICK, a farmer, for direction on what to do next. I was standing before a dead ruffed grouse. He told me to stand on the wings and pull out the torso. I argued that one should use all parts of the bird, but he overcame my idealism. I put the bird in the fridge to rest a few days, as instructed. That Friday my girlfriend and I sat down to sample this delicate creature. She is a vegetarian but considered the sacrifice dignified enough to make an exception. It was seared in coconut oil and Celtic salt and served with aged white burgundy. We thanked the bird for its life and the earth for the salad, sprouted broccoli, and Central Food bread. Tasting the first bite, our eyes widened. The fowl was remarkable in flavor and texture.

In the 90s, I was developing a wholesale wild mushroom business. Our primary forager was a man named Doc who lived by Priest Lake and survived off trapping, huckleberries, and mushrooms. When large animals were hit on the highway, the game warden would get word to him. One year, after a moose collided with a truck, Doc gave me a shoulder, the best meat I’d ever had.

Another acquaintance, Jimmy, who grew up hunting, eventually decided road kill was a more respectful way to get his wild game. He lived on a rural highway near a body of water.

Every weekday morning, friends headed to work going both directions would alert him to any fresh kills. Over the years he harvested and shared an enormous amount of venison this way.

Often the meat is too damaged to salvage, bruising quickly and soaking up stress hormones if the animal takes time to die. However, Jimmy emphasizes, “If a rib punctures the lung, they bleed out naturally, or a head hit can do less damage than a 30 caliber.” One time he drove by the river in winter as a buck broke through the ice and struggled to get free. “I’m a killer, but don’t like to see animals suffer.” He went into the water and wrestled the panicked deer out, but it died of exhaustion by the time they reached shore. As he dragged the carcass

up to the highway knee deep in snow, a state trooper pulled over and said, “You are breaking the law.”

“Yes I am.” Jimmy responded in a characteristically humble way. “I would be breaking a bigger law if I let the deer stay out there and die.” The officer smiled and left.

Laws in Washington have recently changed. As of July 2016, one can harvest road kill legally in our state as long as the entire mess is cleaned up and the animal isn’t killed on purpose. Anyone who takes possession of a deer or elk carcass must also obtain a free, printable permit from Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife within 24 hours and keep a hardcopy of the signed and dated permit with the meat. I also checked in with WDFW and was informed it’s not allowed to kill an animal because it’s wounded. Afraid of rotten meet? Worry not. You’ll know if it’s rotten, say the seasoned col-

ONE YEAR, AFTER A MOOSE COLLIDED WITH A TRUCK, DOC GAVE ME A SHOULDER, THE BEST MEAT I’D EVER HAD.

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / APRIL 2018

lectors. Smell the meat, make sure there are no old wounds, and cut out bruised areas.

Another examples of opportunistic hunting are snails. Have you ever considered collecting snails from our region’s lakes? In spite of their being large, juicy and prolific, few folks eat them. They will be my next foraging experiment. // Kelly Chadwick grew up wandering the outdoors, which led to a lifelong passion for the natural sciences. He wrote about fairy clubs in October.

Climbing

B OW E R C L I M B I N G C OA L I T I O N P R E S E N T S

CHASING SPRING AT BANKS LAKE // By Jessy Humann

E A R T H DAY C R AG C L E A N U P 2 0 1 8

TOP: SARAH MOESER CLIMBS HIGH ABOVE BANKS LAKE. PHOTO: JON JONCKERS // BOTTOM: CANOE ACCESS MAKES BANKS LAKE A FAVORITE AMONG CLIMBERS // PHOTO: COURTESY OF EPIC ADVENTURES AT EWU.

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FOR MOST CLIMBERS, springtime means eagerly

heading to the nearest crag to chase away the winter blues. Although short drives are appealing, adding a small amount of driving time can yield even more diverse climbing destinations. Only 2 hours west of Spokane, near Grand Coulee, lies Banks Lake. An overflow reservoir used to generate power at Grand Coulee, the lake is surrounded by granite outcroppings ranging up to 500 feet high.

Quite simply put, Banks Lake is beautiful, and there’s no better time to explore its crags than in the spring. With many climbs facing south, catching rays of sunshine is easy in March, April, and May. Most climbs can be hiked into, while some can be approached by boat or canoe, making Banks Lake a unique climbing destination. In terms of climbing style, most of the climbing is either vertical or slab, with routes ranging in length from one to five pitches.

But what makes Banks Lake so special? Many members of the climbing community would say that Banks Lake has the best collection of 5.9s and 5.10s in the state. With five designated climbing areas that offer variance in both difficulty and climbing style, there is no shortage of routes to choose from.

Highway Rock is most aptly described as a massive piece of granite. Towering at 300 feet, it has more than 70 climbs that face southeast, southwest, northwest, and north, which makes it easy to chase the welcome rays of springtime sun. As this area and Northrup Canyon lie on state park land, bring a Discover Pass. Golf Course Rocks is an almost-perfect granite outcropping that houses nearly a dozen routes, most ranging in difficulty from 5.7-5.10d.

Northrup Canyon is highly recommended by Rick La Belle, author of the guidebook “Rock

Climbs of Central Washington.” La Belle has done most of the development in the area from 19962005, and says Picnic Table Rock at Northrup Canyon is the go-to crag for first time visitors. With a wide variety of climbs ranging in difficulty from 5.6-5.13, Picnic Table Rock will not disappoint. La Belle recommends Dr. Ceuse, 5.10 as one of the must-do classics in the area. Those with a fondness for slab climbing should head to Gibraltar Rock, another crag at Northrup Canyon, to climb How Homer Got His Groove Back—a 13-bolt 5.10b slab with plenty of crimps to go around.

For those climbers searching for even more adventure, reaching the Peninsula requires fourwheel-drive and a rugged hike in. A better approach is to canoe or boat two miles across Banks Lake from the State Park boat ramp to the Peninsula’s numerous crags. Many climbers will canoe across and camp on the beach, making for an unforgettable multi-day trip. All of the climbs at the Peninsula are south-facing, which means warm climbing in the spring. Post-Modern Wall at the Peninsula has both single and multi-pitch routes, but the real exposure and five-pitch routes come from the Orange Walls.

A copy of “Rock Climbs of Central Washington,” some climbing gear, a good partner, and an eye out for poison ivy and rattlesnakes are all that’s needed for a successful day of cragging. With spring comes renewed enthusiasm, and Banks Lake is the perfect destination for climbers looking to start the season off strong. // Jessy Humann’s outdoor pursuits are focused on climbing and hiking; she hopes to expand her knowledge beyond sport climbing and to hike longer trails.

This is her first article in Out There Outdoors.

Paddle boarding + SUP Yoga Kayaking + Geo-caching + Rafting Disc Golf + Canoeing + Rock Climbing

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Spotlight THANK YOU RANGER STEVE // By Amy S. McCaffree

PHOTO: JON JONCKERS

FEW PEOPLE can claim that confronting a mama

black bear while mountain biking, seeing a bull moose press its nose against your window, and writing a traffic ticket are all part of a day’s work.

Steve Christensen recalls wildlife encounters with nonchalance, as just a few of his many interesting experiences throughout his long career as a Washington State park ranger. Retired since last June, Christensen was manager of Mount Spokane State Park, his third state park assignment during his career, for more than 16 years.

His achievements at the park over the years include establishing the Quartz Mountain Fire Lookout as a rental facility, restoring the Vista House, adding interpretation features to the park, and installing upgraded vault toilets, which visitors definitely appreciate. More highlights include all the successful search and rescue missions, during both winter and summer, and the time he spent listening to park visitors share their stories about exciting wildlife encounters.

But most significant is how Christensen improved the trails.

“Mount Spokane is all about trails,” he says, and improving and expanding the Nordic ski facilities is one of his greatest achievements. This project included acquiring a cross-country trail groomer and adding miles of Nordic trails as well as trailhead markers. His other related success was expanding the mountain bike trail network.

“One of my biggest issues when I arrived was that there were lots of erosion problems,” he says.

“Naturally, I loved doing the trail assessment in the spring time. I would mountain bike or run all the trails…[and] see what needed to be fixed…Some rangers thought that was goof-off time for me, but I was working.”

Improving the existing trails and adding new ones were huge endeavors, but Christensen is quick to explain that he didn’t do it alone. “Everything at Mount Spokane involves volunteers….You couldn’t operate Spokane as effectively if you didn’t utilize all the volunteers. I think we have a strength there that is probably one of the tops in the state in terms

of all the different user groups that support the state park…We couldn’t have done it without them.” In fact, he cites public investment in the park as one of the reasons for its success. As a result, “Mount Spokane has always been considered one of the ‘icon parks’— a crucial one that needed to stay open…it will be standing when others may not.”

Another part of Christensen’s legacy is a decade of ski patrolling. Although he excels at downhill, telemark, and cross-country skiing, he’s mainly a Nordic patroller. “The majority of time that I patrolled I was in my ranger outfit. If I had to go out to an injury, I would also identify myself as a ski patroller,” he says. “I wanted others to see me as a ranger first, doing what they’re doing, and a ski patroller second.” Now that he’s retired, he wears

I WOULD MOUNTAIN BIKE OR RUN ALL THE TRAILS AND SEE WHAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED. SOME RANGERS THOUGHT THAT WAS GOOF-OFF TIME FOR ME, BUT I WAS WORKING.

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / APRIL 2018

his red patrol vest rather than a ranger uniform.

His current lifestyle isn’t any less active than his working years—although it does leave time for more diverse activities such as road and mountain biking, kayaking, sailing, fly-fishing, swimming with his grandchildren, and gardening. He is also a volunteer scoutmaster and a cross-country ski and snowshoe instructor for Spokane Parks & Recreation. Christensen considers himself lucky— noting that, even in retirement, “I get paid to do the things I love.”// Amy S. McCaffree is Special Section Editor and the Out There Kids columnist. She wrote about recommended reading for outdoor families last issue.

Running CELEBRATE SPRING WITH THE COEUR D’ALENE MARATHON

RIDE WITH PURPOSE.

// By Lisa Laughlin

Come ride the most beautiful Gran Fondo in America! Choose between 150, 80 or 30 mile routes. Great for all riders of all skill levels! Six fully stocked breaks, professional SAG and lakeside after-ride party! Riders raise funds to support students in the Lake Pend Oreille School District on the Autism Spectrum.

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WWW.CHAFE150.ORG WHAT BETTER WAY to sweat through a marathon than to run near clear lake water and breathe the crisp scent of pine trees? You’ll find these scenic elements and more at the Coeur d’Alene Marathon event Memorial Day weekend, where you can run or walk a 5k, half marathon, or full marathon distance.

“It’s a great way to celebrate that winter is over,” says Todd Dunfield, Executive Director of the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation. A big reason that the Coeur d’Alene Marathon can offer its rich Pacific Northwest vibe is because the race is run on the Centennial Trail, a paved trail that curves with the lake through pine trees and subtle hills.

“The course is absolutely gorgeous. I’ve been on a lot of marathon courses, from Boston to Missoula, and our course blows it away in my opinion,” says race director Scott Ward. While this is Ward’s first year organizing the race, he’s run the Coeur d’Alene Marathon 10 times.

Ward is also a regular user of the Centennial Trail, which race proceeds go to support. Most years before running the Coeur d’Alene Marathon, Ward rode his bike from his home in north Spokane to the starting line—just an easy 45-mile warm up. The only challenge Ward cites is the year he encountered a moose on his way to the race. Despite an unexpected adrenaline kick on that particular morning, Ward has seen the many benefits the trail has brought to the region.

“The trail has added so much to the recreational lifestyle of this area,” Ward says. “People can walk their dog, take their kids out, or go down to the river. I believe the trail opened up the recreation of the river and brought it to a focal point.”

That such a scenic race would support a trail that gives scenic access seems a natural connection. It’s one reason the Coeur d’Alene Marathon makes for a great family event—while you take the morning to run, any non-runners you have in tow can walk the Centennial or hike wooded lakeside trails on Tubbs Hill, which has an access point at the race’s finish line. There’s also nearby beach access to the lake, and activities such as kayaking, paddle boarding,

or taking a seaplane ride.

“Where else can you stay at a world-class resort or bed and breakfast, get up early and run a race, and then take your family to Silverwood for the day?” says Dunfield.

The race course, which is USATF-sanctioned and a Boston qualifier, is relatively flat with a hill to add some character. It’s a great way to clear out any winter training cobwebs while supporting the maintenance and expansion of the non-motorized Centennial Trail.

“It’s a Pacific Northwest race,” says Dunfield.

“We get the outliers from people who are doing 50 races in 50 states, but it’s mostly local people who can drive over to do a spring marathon with a flat course and good swag.”

The race’s mantra is “Today is your day,” but Ward says the race environment is catered more toward celebrating your long-distance accomplishment with family and friends.

“We encourage family to get involved in the finish line and enjoy the moment,” says Ward. Runners can count on a fun finish at the edge of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Race volunteers announce runner’s names as they cross the finish line, and racers receive professionally-designed finisher’s medals. Music plays as runners hobble to the finish line beer garden.

After soaking up your finish line glory, head over to the Cosmic Cowboy for gourmet, farm-to-table dishes including the organic Power Salad, burgers with grass-fed PNW beef patties, and locallysourced huckleberry cheesecake. Ward also recommends tucking into the gyros at The Olympia or heading to Sweet Lou’s for a good craft beer.

The marathon is capped at 1,500 runners and has a price jump on May 2nd, so be sure to register for this gem of a race before then. Visit Cdamarathon. com for more information on packet pick up, course maps, the Youth 5k to Marathon event, and volunteer shifts. // Lisa Laughlin is a long-distance runner who has recently discovered trail running. She wrote about the Missoula Marathon in the March issue.

16

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Garland Theater Spokane, WA 6 pm Social 7 pm Films

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BY: Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club - OutThere Monthly Voltric Electric , Inc. & Spokane Solar Spokane Parks & Rec - Save Our Wild Salmon APRIL 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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Spring Compost Fair & Arbor Day Celebration

OutdoorLiving LOW-TECH BACKYARD GARDENING WITH HUGELKULTUR BEDS // By Nick Thomas

Saturday, April 28, 2018 11 am-2 pm John A. Finch Arboretum Learn how to compost at home from Master Composter/Recyclers

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 625-6580 or go to www.spokanecountysolidwaste.org Partial funding provided by WA State Dept of Ecology.

HUGELKULTUR MEANS “hill culture” in German. It is literally a raised bed filled primarily with wood.

The wood attracts fungi and bacteria that slowly break it down. Also, known as Hugelmounds, or simply “Hugels,” these low-tech raised beds capture water, sequester carbon, generate heat, release nutrients, and encourage deep root growth.

This is all very beneficial in our region with snowy winters, cool springs and hot, dry summers. Furthermore, they become more beneficial over time, with a projected productivity of 20 to 30 years, depending on the wood. Then they can simply be rebuilt. Also, at that point, pat yourself on the back because you’ve been gardening for three decades!

Convention says to dig a trench 1-3 feet deep, 3-4 feet wide, and fill and pile the trench with wood (branches and even whole logs) as high as you want to go (up to 5-6 feet), and then cover the wood with nitrogen-rich compost and finally soil. If you’re working alone like I was, well, good luck. Initially, I had grand visions of a fifty foot serpentine Hugelmound. The reality of my Perry District soil is that my shovel resounded in hardpan barely 2 feet down.

My neighbor across the street told me it’s an ancient river bed. Halfway through, I was tempted to give up and take a long nap in my woodgrave, but I still had to mound the debris up as high as possible.

Due to some back pain, and failing to choose the best, sunniest, most parallel-to-the-wind location, I decided to allow my first hugelmound to top out at a pathetic two feet, after factoring in the eventual subsiding. I crossed my fingers, and hoped the depth of the trench would make up for the height.

It’s amazing how much wood disappears under a seemingly small pit.

Since decaying wood hogs nitrogen until it rots, you can add grass clippings, hay, and manure. Some sources even encouraged gardeners to pee on the wood to jump start the process. Avoid wood chips in the interior, although mulching on top is fine.

Make use of yard debris instead of sending it off in a compost bin. I mixed in “green manure,” leaves, hay, grass clippings, and aged manure. Also, don’t forget to pack a few inches of soil around all the logs; a straight up woodpile won’t easily break down. Additionally, consider that big air pockets make perfect dens for rascals like mice, voles, and marmots.

To keep steep mounds from falling down, pin or “nail” it together with grasses, strawberries, or other ground cover. When it comes to the right plants for hugelkultur, the rules are hazy, but popular choices include squash, beans, peas, sun chokes, comfrey, zucchini, kale, strawberries, berries, bush tomato’s and even sunflowers. Essentially, try everything!

Diversify, and don’t worry about over seeding.

Whatever is best suited will survive and thrive; what’s not suitable will not grow. If you have fresh

THESE LOW-TECH RAISED BEDS CAPTURE WATER, SEQUESTER CARBON, GENERATE HEAT, RELEASE NUTRIENTS, AND ENCOURAGE DEEP ROOT GROWTH.

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / APRIL 2018

logs in your hugelmound, try to inoculate them with gourmet mushroom spawn. I infused mine with shitake dowels.

Some people claim immediate improvements with seeds planted in hugelbeds, but the general consensus is things will really take off after year three or four. Either way, the reward for all this backbreaking labor (or back strengthening, depending on your point of view) is a raised bed that will provide a major surplus for decades, making my few days of grunt work well worth it. Happy Hugeling! // Nick Thomas wrote about building a cattle panel greenhouse in the May 2017 issue.

GearRoom SHOULDER SEASON GEAR LEKI TRAIL VARIO RUNNING/HIKING POLES

These adjustable, light weight carbon poles with a “SpeedLock” system for fast, on-the-move length adjustment are a different beast than the trekking poles you likely use for fast hiking or mountain running. If the beat-up adjustable poles I’ve relied on for backpacking over the past decade are a tough old black bear, these Leki Trail Vario poles are a hard-charging grizzly bear that will have you flying through the mountains like an endorphin-crazed bruin.

With the exception of a few long hikes that included sections of running with trekking poles to speed things up a bit, I’ve never used poles for trail running. Testing these feather-light Lekis out on some soggy, spring Palisades Park trails, the initial awkwardness of

running with poles soon faded as I developed a pole plant rhythm that worked for me and the terrain.

An unexpected bonus, I was suddenly cruising with an amped-up swiftness that put my usual plodding pace to shame. I figured part of my sudden affinity for speed was due to the added stability the poles provide in difficult terrain—I was leaping over logs and puddles and hopping around basalt boulders like a jack rabbit. But the poling action also propelled me along the trail at a faster clip. The “Shark” strap system attached to the cork grips securely connects your hands to the poles for comfortable, powerful poling, and the carbide pole tips instill confidence that each plant will land and stay where it’s supposed to. MSRP: $219.95. Leki.com/us/trailrunning (Derrick Knowles)

MONTBELL THERMAWRAP VEST

I’ve never been much of a vest guy. When it comes to spending money on technical outdoor apparel, I generally prefer more garment per dollar in the form of arm-warming sleeves. The Montbell Thermawrap vest opened my eyes to the unique applications of a light and compact synthetic-fill vest, especially in the spring and fall when weather may call for added warmth where a full jacket would be too much. It’s also the perfect mid layer to keep in your pack for when the wind picks up or the sun disappears and the chills creep up on you. The Thermawrap is a versatile, breathable piece that comes with two zippered hand pockets, two interior drop-in pockets, and one zippered chest pocket. MSRP: $139.

Montbell.us (Derrick Knowles) OBOZ SAPPHIRE MID WOMEN’S HIKING BOOTS

After wearing ankle-high hiking boots in college, I swore I would never wear them again. Heavy and clunky, I felt freed when I gave them away. Fast forward 20 years and after struggling to find a pair of hiking boots that don’t make me want to chop off my feet after a few miles, I finally discovered the Oboz Sapphire Mid waterproof hiking boots. I wore them around the house the first day and they were so light, I actually forgot they were on my feet. Soon after the first breaking in day, they became my go-to shoes for hikes and winter errand running around town. They are easy to get on, and the laces don’t catch in the opposite

boot’s eyelets, an infuriating and dangerous tripping hazard I’ve experienced with other boots.

My feet are always warm and dry while sloshing around, and the ankle and foot support doesn’t require you to sacrifice comfort, foot flex, or your natural walking motion. After a successful and comfortable fall and winter test drive, I’m looking forward to taking on some longer hikes and a few backpacking trips with my family this summer without having to think about my feet.

The Sapphire Mid boots are stylish too—athletic, yet still feminine in dark blue with pink accents.

MSRP: $160. Obozfootwear.com (Shallan Knowles)

RUN GUM

I like running with gum. I helps distract my mouth from muttering obscenities on steep hills or after passing trash along urban trails, and, more importantly, it helps combat an annoying dry mouth. So I was keen to give Run Gum a try to see how the calorie-free energy boost from caffeine, taurine, and b-vitamins compared to my usual corner store mint gum du jour. Created by Olympian Nick Symmonds, Run Gum is a great addition to any runner’s bag of tricks to combat fatigue on a run or fading motivation to get out the door in the first place. MSRP: $22.49 per 12-pack box. Rungum.com (Derrick Knowles) BIG AGNES PORCUPINE HOODED PULLOVER

Cold, damp shoulder season conditions can demand a complex combination of layers to stay warm and dry while hiking, biking, or ski touring.

Or you can bring along the Big Agnes Porcupine Hooded Pullover with PrimaLoft insulation and leave the rest behind. It blocks wind in the front, stretches and breathes in the back panel, offers a deep chest zipper that allows for on-the-go temperature control, and has a warm hood that zips up to your chin when things get crazy. Riding back home from a party one cold, drizzly March night into a steady head-wind, I didn’t make it far

before stopping on the side of the road to throw on my Porcupine Pullover. The rest of the ride was a dream—just enough warmth without sweating out. I had the urge to keep on riding and riding into the night. But, alas, domestic duties called.

While I appreciate the trim fit and light-weight, simple design features, side pockets for warming up cold hands while you wait for a stoplight to turn green or your ski partner to finish fumbling with his beacon, would be worth the bit of extra zipper weight. MSRP: $239.95 but on sale recently for as low as $119.98. Bigagnes.com (Derrick Knowles)

828w8h8e8e8l8 18088H8o8u8r8 presented by

april 28th 10 Hour - Mountain bike race

spokane wa

Saturday april 28th from 8am to 6pm 9.5 miles per lap at beacon hill registration at www.velo-northwest.com/2wheel-10hour/ APRIL 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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ROAD RACING IN THE INLAND NORTHWEST

REBOUND OR RECESSION?

By Bradley Bleck

BICYCLE ROAD RACING has entered the virtual

world with Strava, and MapMyRide; it is also firmly entrenched in virtual reality with the likes of Zwift, where cyclists ride, train, and compete with others from across the globe—all without leaving the cold comfort of the basement, garage, or wherever they setup their indoor trainer. Could these digital tools and social media be contributing to the road-racing slump in the Inland Northwest and beyond?

One longtime leader in the Spokane cycling community, Marla Emde, points to the rise in Strava and Zwift as one of the many drags on road racing. “There’s more of it than people want to admit,” she says. “But it’s not surprising with the upcoming generation. People don’t need to race anymore.”

Some skip racing from the fear of crashing, with work and family on the line. For such riders, chasing personal bests on Strava or racing on Zwift provides a competitive outlet without the risk. Renee Compton of Zuster Cycling says that, with the likes of Zwift, riders can “have it all. There are group workouts, rides and races that provide the social connection.”

Along with the perceived drag of social media, road racing isn’t bringing in new riders, while aging racers find new pursuits. “There’s an abundance of ways to challenge one’s self,” says Michael Sirott, another longtime supporter of cycling in the Inland Northwest. “There are so many other organized rides that fall short of being organized races, such as Grand Fondos, the Zwift phenomena, and unsanctioned group rides. People are definitely interested in riding bikes and being competitive, and they ‘race’ all of these competitively. However, these rides seem to involve less commitment [than] sanctioned races.”

A desire to compete as part of a team, and to see who is best, is a motive for many of the cyclists who commune via the Inland Northwest Road Racing Facebook page. They are an enthusiastic

SILVER ANNIVERSARY LILAC CENTURY RIDE (MAY 20)

The Lilac Century is Spokane’s traditional kick off to organized cycling. It’s the ride’s silver anniversary—that’s 25 years in a row! The event has been moved from late April—always an iffy proposition for cycling in the area—to May 20, all but guaranteeing a warmer start and a more pleasant event. Ride options include a 101-mile route that snakes its way toward Reardan via Long Lake Dam from the Spokane Falls campus and several shorter distances, including a family ride. The 50-mile route traverses much of the 4 Mound area, with a challenging Charles Road climb, and the 25-mile route is an out and back on the Centennial Trail. There is also a 15-mile family ride on the Fish Lake Trail that is far from the traffic with fewer hills. Triathletes can add on a 5k run and all participants can finish their day with a baked potato feed. Proceeds from the ride benefit local Rotary Club community projects and charities. //

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / APRIL 2018

lot. Vanessa Johnson and Chris Armstrong point to the strong bond found on teams. Pat O’Neil says road racing can show how far one really has to go in terms of physical and mental toughness. Jed Barden says “Charity rides and the like are not competitions and thus are not races. Racing is for people who want to enjoy the sporting aspect.” The downside of it is that, according to Sirott, “You can’t show up to race out of shape because out on the road, you’ll end up by yourself, and that’s no fun.”

When it comes to bringing riders into the racing fold, Washington State Bicycle Association President Gina Kavesh says, “We have to remember what it is like to be beginners. We can’t throw up barriers or worry about whether our kits are all matchy-matchy.” Kavesh sees the potential for grassroots growth in the number of participants and the number of events. She says, “Teams and clubs are critical in their outreach. They can organically create community by getting cyclists to join for the social aspect and encourage participation in events.”

Others point to the lack of an event-like atmosphere such as that found at mountain and cyclocross events. Compton says “Road racing is not social, and we are a social animal. With mountain and cross, racers can have fun if they are dropped.

There is a race within the race with those just in front of or behind you. And when you are done, you can watch your friends race.”

ROAD BIKING SAFETY CONCERNS

Still, putting too much of road racing’s declining popularity on the likes of Zwift and Strava overlooks some real and perceived safety concerns.

“Parents are iffy about putting their kids on the road,” was a common refrain echoed by Emde and Kavesh. Whether racing or riding, Kavesh says the number one priority is safe roads and safe routes for all users and uses. Zuster is an invitation-only team because some inexperienced riders were jeopardizing the safety of others.

Compton said that road racing seems riskier— particularly to women—when there are few other women. Racing for women is being promoted

through Northwest Collegiate Cycling and the Pacific Northwest Women’s Series. The seven PNWS events between March 10 and April 22 are open to USAC licensed women riders who will compete with their collegiate counterparts. While there is a need for more women racers, there is also a definite need for both sexes to support scheduled races.

THE FUTURE OF INLAND NW ROAD RACING

The mainstay of the local road-racing season has been the long-running Cooper Jones Memorial Twilight Series, a collection of circuit races at Spokane County Raceway and races on county roads. The Twilight series began in 1989, but declining participation led to it nearly folding after the 2017 season. Baddlands is putting on just four events at Spokane County Raceway this season.

Last year, there were 12 scheduled, with two on the open road. Alex Renner, a mainstay in Spokane’s road cycling scene and president of Baddlands Cycling Club (of which this writer is a member), says in the past, “There were 28 races a year. Now we’re just trying to get people to show up.”

Ted Chauvin, a local racer and WSBA Vice President, says Baddlands stepping away as the

region’s primary event promoter could be good.

“Local racers have been spoiled,” he says. “There was no need to plan on any particular event. There was always next Tuesday.” Chauvin hopes that the limited schedule will prompt more racers to treat the Twilight Series as the opportunity it is. “First and foremost,” he says, “racers need to race. No picking and choosing. We can’t wait for the next thing.”

Despite this decline, new opportunities to race are also emerging through riders like Justin Wagner, a member of a global club that began on Zwift called TeamODZ. With over a dozen local members, TeamODZ will host the WSBA Senior and Masters Road Championship on the Liberty Road course on July 29. The following day the WSBA Master Criterium Championships will be held in Post Falls.

Chauvin is hoping for strong attendance at both events, including from west side racers. If racers don’t show up for these events, says Chauvin, “Then we know we have a problem that goes beyond the regular ebb and flow.”

Spokane and eastern Washington are prime territory for a road racing resurgence, which is one of the reasons this year’s Masters championships will

OPPOSITE PAGE: BADDLANDS MEMBERS PRACTICING PACELINE RIDING AS PART OF RACE PREPARATION. // PHOTO: TIM LESSER TOP : BADDLANDS RACERS JOEY REEGAN AND ALEX RENNER FLANKED BY RIDERS FROM EMDE SPORTS, TWO WHEELER DEALER, AND OTHER CLUBS. // PHOTO BY BRADLEY BLECK BELOW: BADDLANDS MEMBERS AT ANNUAL WALLA WALLA TRAINING CAMP. // PHOTO: ALEX RENNER

BLUE OMNIUM WHITMAN COLLEGE AND NORTHWEST COLLEGIATE CYCLING CONFERENCE WALLA WALLA, WA

April 7: Road Race and Team Time Trial April 8: Criterium (USAC Women Riders Invited) 2018 NWCCC CHAMPIONSHIP

April 21: Road Races, Pullman, WA April 22: Criterium, Moscow, ID (USAC Women Riders Invited)

be held here. Sirott says, “We have a lot of rural roads that are good to race on.” Another reason eastern Washington and Spokane may become more attractive is that roads on the west side are becoming more congested and surrounded by subdivisions and traffic.

But, with every supporter who steps up, there are challenges. One is a shortage of race officials.

“We used to have 11 officials in our club. Not one person had to do all the work. Now it’s just two,” Renner says. “We are limited as to who we have in the area for officiating.”

Beyond officiating, there are logistical challenges. When it comes to volunteers, Renner says, “Drivers have to provide VIN numbers and driving records to be certified as safe drivers. Officials must take courses to spot abuse. These are all good, but they cost money.” This is on top of working with city and county officials to permit the use of roads, paying for porta-potties, and sending some of the entry money to United States Cycling Association for insurance and other fees. Renner says of those stepping up to promote events, “I just hope they don’t get burned out when they learn how much is involved in putting on a good race.“ Renner emphasizes that this is the year that could determine the future of the local racing scene. “If they want to continue to road race, [or] at least have Baddlands put stuff on, we just need to see more people.”

So, all of you Zwifters, Strava Hunters, and other denizens of social media, and those of you looking to put your fitness to a test beyond charity rides and fondos, harken to the words of Dan Lloyd, Global Cycling Network presenter: “Somewhere there are things called races, where you race against other people at the same time, on the same roads, to see who’s best.” Join a club, learn to ride in the pack, get out there and give it a go. You’ll be glad you did, even if you’re not the best. // When not teaching English classes at Spokane Falls Community College, Bradley Bleck may well be riding one of his bikes, maybe with Baddlands teammates, or enjoying the trails of the South Hill’s Bluff with his wife, leashed dogs, or fat bike.

His most recent OTO story last fall looked at the local cyclocross scene.

TOUR OF WALLA WALLA STAGE RACE WALLA WALLA, WA

April 20: Time Trial April 21: Road Race all but Category 4 and 5 men and Category 4 and 5 women April 22: Road Race all categories COOPER JONES MEMORIAL BADDLANDS TWILIGHT SERIES, SPOKANE COUNTY RACEWAY

May 1: 5 p.m.

TOUR DE BLOOM STAGE RACE WENATCHEE, WA

May 4: Road Race 11 a.m.

May 5: Hill Climb 10 a.m.; Twilight Criterium 2:30 p.m.

May 6: Road Race 9 a.m.

24 hour mountain bike race

INLAND NW ROAD RACING SCHEDULE

19th annual May 26˜27, 2018

Still crazy after all these years!

24-Hours Round the Clock

24-HOUR MTN BIKE RACE A team relay mountain bike race, from noon on Saturday until noon on Sunday • Relay Teams - up to 10 people • Solos - go it alone.

• NEW this year, Bike Shop Teams up to 10 people.

MAY 26-27

Riverside State Park ▪ Spokane

RONDE VAN PALOUSE SPANGLE, WA

May 12: Road Race 11 a.m.

COOPER JONES MEMORIAL BADDLANDS TWILIGHT SERIES SPOKANE COUNTY RACEWAY

May 22: 5 p.m.

®

REGISTER TODAY: ROUNDANDROUND.COM

SPOKANE FESTIVAL OF SPEED SPOKANE COUNTY RACEWAY

June 2: Criterium 5 p.m.

COOPER JONES MEMORIAL BADDLANDS TWILIGHT SERIES SPOKANE COUNTY RACEWAY

June 12: 5 p.m.

COOPER JONES MEMORIAL BADDLANDS TWILIGHT SERIES SPOKANE COUNTY RACEWAY

June 26: 5 p.m.

LIBERTY ROAD RACE P/B TEAMODZ/WSBA SENIORS AND MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS SPANGLE, WA

July 28: Road Race RIVERBEND CRITERIUM/WSBA MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP POST FALLS, ID

Building Great Wheels Daily

July 29: 10 a.m.

APRIL 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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KELLOGG, ID

HASSLE FREE BUYING

Running

RUN LIKE BIGFOOT IS CHASING YOU // By Sarah Oscarson

CROSSING THROUGH THE STARK BLAST ZONE. // PHOTO: JOEL OSCARSON

ENTER SOLO OR AS A TWO OR THREE PERSON TEAM!

I GLANCED AROUND at the runners attending the pre-race meeting for the 2017 Bigfoot 100 k ultramarathon and realized, grimly, that I was way out of my league. These were veterans: rugged, experienced, and stoic as race director Candice Burt described the various hazards that we would encounter the next day. I, however, was trying to dislodge my heart from the back of my throat.

Snowfields lingered in the high country, Bigfoot was on the lam, and now—did I hear that correctly over the sound of my own hyperventilation—there would be a middle-of-the-night river crossing with embankments so steep and loose we would need to use fixed ropes? That tidbit was NOT in the runner’s manual! And this news coming after only two weeks prior to learning that the course had been altered due to snow-blocked roads, which would add six additional miles and an extra 1,000 feet of vertical ascent. And now, apparently, I would need to channel my inner Tarzan.

In all fairness, the Destination Trail crew faced a difficult decision in altering the course last-minute, and they did an unbelievable job making the changes seamless. The course was well-marked, the five aid stations were supremely stocked (I’m talking quesadillas and hot bacon here, people), and time was added to the overall cutoff to compensate for the extra mileage.

While the safety meeting had left me a bit rattled, the next morning I felt determined to go out and kick some butt. My pre-race nerves morphed into jolts of excitement. I couldn’t wait to experience the wild, unpredictable adventure that ultrarunning embodies, and to challenge my mental and physical limits. I had trained hard and smart, and I had a strategy for anything that might come my way.

The gun went off and I began my exploration of the rugged course, which circumnavigated Mt. St. Helens and looped through the desolation zone of the 1980 eruption. I imagined myself on

the moon’s surface as I traversed vast stretches of treeless pumice fields and gazed into the volcano’s crater. Rambling through the Mount Margaret Backcountry, I was rewarded with incredible vistas of hanging lakes, with Hood, Adams, and Rainier gracing the background. The terrain was tough and technical, with lava boulder fields, deep desert-like ash and sand, and 28,606 feet of elevation change over 68 miles. It all made for a monumental challenge.

Ultimately, I handled every blow that the Bigfoot dealt me: unrelenting July heat, lack of shade, shoes full of ash, blisters, GI issues, and heat rash. I pulled out of every negative spiral I fell into. In fact, if there’s one takeaway that I would pass along to firsttimers, it would be to prepare for the worst. It may sound cynical, but due to the sheer distance and time involved in completing an ultra, anything can happen on race day. Create contingency goals, plan for things to go awry, and carry essential supplies and first aid in your pack.

Shortly after sunrise, lured by the enticing aroma of breakfast burritos wafting from the finish line, I shuffled through my final paces and nabbed my handcrafted finisher medal. With the support of my amazing husband and friend who paced me through the night miles, I ran for 22 hours and 44 minutes and had the absolute time of my life.

Oh, and my favorite part? Fording the Toutle River using those dreaded fixed ropes.

If this sounds like the perfect challenge for you, the 2018 race will take place on August 10. There’s also 20, 40, and for you crazies, 200-mile options.

Details can be found at Bigfoot200.com. // Sarah will try to heed her own advice this August as she attempts the Cascade Crest 100-mile ultramarathon. She last wrote about solo bike touring in June 2017.

ULTRARUNNING TRAINING & RACING TIPS

Train the course. Study the race course in advance and incorporate challenging elements, such as river crossings, long grueling ascents/descents, high altitude, and snow into your training.

Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition. You’ve heard it a million times but it’s oh-so-critical. Experiment during training and find foods and drinks that you can consume while running, especially on an upset stomach.

Break it down. Visualizing the total mileage of an ultra can feel overwhelming. Break it down into smaller distances by using aid stations as landmarks, and only focus on one segment at a time.

Just keep moving. Run, walk, crawl, limp…do whatever it takes. Prolonged stops, while sometimes necessary, will cause muscles to stiffen and motivation to wan. Plus, the clock’s a-tickin!

EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS APRIL 10 26

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / APRIL 2018

Climb aboard the ultra-coaster. In training and on race day there will be exquisite highs and devastating lows. Learning to coast on through is the key to ultrarunning enlightenment. When things get tough, remember why you’re doing this, and try to enjoy the crazy ride. //

Creek

{ Nature Path }

BY LUNELL HAUGHT & DERRICK KNOWLES

its confluence just downstream from downtown Spokane. The creek flows through several sections of public park land close to the city as it winds its way below the South Hill Bluff before uniting with the Spokane River. While public access along the creek is currently limited to a few sections, local residents and outdoor recreation and nature enthusiasts are working to make this urban natural area more accessible to the public, while improving native plant and animal habitat.

That effort, the Hangman Creek Nature Path Project, is working to link seven neighborhoods, as well as the South Hill Bluff Trails, Fish Lake Trail, and the Centennial Trail, in a combination of dirt nature trails and paved paths. There are plans for at least one water-access point on Hangman Creek as well. Such a project had been discussed for years and was finally added to the Spokane County Trails Plan in 2014. Since then, the Washington Association of the American Society of Landscape Architects facilitated a two-day planning charrette last October with a technical assistance grant from the National Parks Service. The grant was secured thanks to a collaboration among Spokane residents, the Inland Northwest Trails and Conservation Coalition, and the City of Spokane Parks Department.

A Hangman Creek concept plan will be available for comment sometime this year. For more information visit My.spokanecity.org/projects/latah-hangman-valley-trail. Interested in helping out? Join a stewardship planning session for Hangman Creek on April 7, 14, or 21. Contact dmcollins1962@gmail. com for more information.

origin

Hangman

HANGMAN CREEK (ALSO KNOWN AS LATAH CREEK) is a major tributary of the Spokane River with

PUBLIC OUTINGS TO EXPLORE THE HANGMAN CREEK AREA Join a themed amble (a hike of less than a mile) along Hangman Creek with experts who will talk about the birds, fish, other wildlife and plants, geology, recreation opportunities, and other unique features of the area. Meeting details for these spring outings will be sent after you register. The cost is $10 per session, or $5 for parents with children under 16 and therapeutic recreation participants/companions.

• For the Fling of it-Learn Disc Golf (April 3, 5:30-7:30 p.m.)

Ron Wendle, architect by day, discman by evening

• Why this Plant is ‘Native’ (April 17, 5:30-7:30 p.m.)

Daniel Collins, arborist and project consultant for the Hangman Creek Nature Path Project

piers in Hangman Creek; these supported a large railroad trestle until Expo ‘74. In a recent charrette planning process, landscape architects recommended repurposing these for a pedestrian crossing into High Bridge Park and a paved linkage with the Fish Lake Trail.

PEOPLE’S PARK TO 11TH STREET BRIDGE AT HIGH BRIDGE PARK (1.5 MILES)

This section is primarily on existing sidewalks.

With some residents allowing creek access, you may want to check out the demonstration nature path on 16th and Chestnut, just west of Kop Construction. Wentel Grant Park, just down the road, will be the site of plantings in April.

The mouth of the Hangman Creek through High Bridge and People’s Park is mile “0” for the Hangman Nature Path project. This section of the project area includes the confluence of the creek with the Spokane River to US Highway 195 and Hatch Road. The vision for this area is the product of a community planning effort that takes advantage of currently used social trails (created by people making their own short cuts), as well as access to additional public lands and the private property of willing owners. Two easy loops can be traveled now, either individually or together. You can explore the first loop by leaving the parking lot at Riverside/West Clarke (there’s a bus stop there) and circling on the paths through People’s Park.

There is also a paved connection with the Sandifur Memorial Bridge which links the path to the West Central neighborhood and Kendall Yards.

If you want a longer walk or ride, take the section in High Bridge Park, just across the street from the People’s Park vehicle lot. You can loop through the disc golf course on an unpaved road, cross over the 11th street bridge at the edge of Vinegar Flats, and return on the east side. There is a path connecting High Bridge to Browne’s Addition, up the hill, if you want to add a workout to your stroll.

As you walk the People’s Park loop coming towards Riverside Drive, look over the concrete

•Scales, Tails, and Gills (May 1, 5:30-7:30 p.m.)

Laura Ackerman, herpetologist

•What? This was all under water? Ice Age Floods (May 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m.)

Michael Hamilton, Ice Age Flood Institute • It IS a Bird!-Birds of Hangman Creek (May 29, 5:30-7:30 p.m.)

Jon Isacoff, expert birder when not teaching environmental studies

VINEGAR FLATS

FARM AND GARDEN

This city neighborhood is zoned for agriculture, a unique situation, and includes greenhouses, retail garden stores, and small organic farming. It goes to about river mile 3.

QUALCHAN

The creek runs through the Qualchan golf course, about miles 4 through 6. This section may include connections through or around the course, and linkages to the Bluff Trails. Access to this section of the proposed pathway is currently limited to golfers; however, this area can be viewed from trails on the South Hill Bluff.

HANGMAN CONSERVATION

The final section of the proposed Hangman Creek Nature Path includes Campion Park, which is an undeveloped area along Hangman Creek just north of Hatch Road that is a favorite with wildlife, dogs, and hikers. It offers grand views of the many geologic features of the creek. //

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SECTIONS OF HANGMAN CREEK NATURE PATH YOU CAN VISIT NOW

Fortunately you don’t have to wait to start exploring this amazing urban natural area until the Hangman Creek Nature Path is completed. Hike or bike through these public park and neighborhood sections to get a feel for the landscape’s beauty and unique geology and the potential for the planned pathway.

• Geology of Hangman Creek (June 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m.)

Nigel Davies, geologist

• Sketching Nature (June 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m.)

Don Walls, graphic designer turned sketchman Register for all of these outings with Spokane Parks & Recreation at https://online.activecommunities.com/spokaneparks/Activities/ ActivitiesDetails.asp?ProcessWait=N&aid=2483

HOW DO YOU SEE IT? // PHOTO: LUNELL HAUGHT

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Provisions

(n.) food, drink, or equipment, especially for a journey.

SO GOOD, AND GOOD FOR YOU. // PHOTO: SUZANNE TABERT

HERBAL BONBONS RECIPE

SHARED HARVEST COMMUNITY GARDEN. // PHOTO: COURTESY OF SHARED HARVEST

Get the medicine to the people in a way that they’ll enjoy taking it is my motto. These herbal bonbons are simple to make, appetizing, and healthy to boot!

Aperitif: co m m u n ity ga r d en s

By S. Michal Bennett SPRING IS FULLY UPON US. The nurseries are bursting with pretty little green things, making us anxious to plant something and see it grow.

But not all of us have the space, the dirt, or the resources to build a garden at home. Why not get out and join a community of gardeners making an impact in your neighborhood?

Community gardens bring wonderful opportunities to our cities. First, they provide productive green spaces in the midst of the bustle of urban life. They also give people, who may not be able to otherwise, the space, capability, and, sometimes even, the education they need to grow food. Most community gardens also give back to those in need or the people they live alongside through a nonprofit endeavor.

In the Inland Northwest, these gardens are set up in a couple of ways. Some, like the Shared Harvest Community Garden in Coeur d’Alene, charge a small fee (typically $15-$30) for a raised bed, and allow you to plant, manage, and harvest that bed as you see fit.

The Spokane area features 33 community gardens, all listed at spokangardens.org. The Coeur d’Alene/Post Falls area has an additional five gardens. While you’re at it, look into the “Plant a Row for the Hungry” program. That way, as you start to enjoy your garden’s abundance, you can maximize the pleasure of good by sharing it.

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BETTER THAN HOTWINGS. // PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES

BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER AT MANITO TAP HOUSE

A new menu at one of your go-to eateries can go either way. Your favorite item may disappear, along with your patronage, or new innovative dishes can freshen things up and keep you coming back for more. When Manito Tap House recently ushered in a new menu, we were cautiously optimistic that the green-certified, made-fromscratch Spokane gastropub with a cult-like following would nail it. Luckily many popular items on the menu live on, and one of many new surprises, the Buffalo Cauliflower ($10), turned out to be one of the most delicious things I’ve eaten in Spokane.

Vegetarian and gluten-free friendly, this crispyon-the-outside, tender inside buttermilk-fried pile of cauliflower bites are basted in not-too-spicy buffalo sauce, coated in cotija cheese, and served with bleu cheese for dipping. While it’s listed as a snack on the menu (along with other tasty things like empanadas, pigs in a blanket, and chicken & dumplings), you won’t want to share, so make it a meal with a salad and cup of Moroccan lamb stew.

(Derrick Knowles)

7-8 dates 1/3 cup nut or seed butter of choice 1/3 cup oats—powdered in a coffee grinder 1/3 cup ground coconut 3 Tbsp. powdered dried herbs 2 Tbsp. local honey 1 lb. melted chocolate chips 1 Tbsp. creamed coconut 1 drop lavender, orange, ginger, or peppermint essential oil (optional, 1 drop only!)

Mix all ingredients in the first group in a food processor into a thick paste. Roll into small balls and dip in the melted chocolate, coconut, and essential oil mixture. Sprinkle with toasted coconut and a pinch of Himalayan mineral salt. Each batch makes about 20 bonbons and freezes well up to a month.

INGREDIENT SUGGESTIONS: Try crushed cacao nibs, raisins or figs. Or use almond flour or flax powder instead of oats. Roll the bonbons in powdered baker’s chocolate and sesame seeds.

The point is to make it fun and tasty, herbal and healthy. For the powdered herbs, contemplate these options: Powered-up energy—nettle and bee pollen; cleansing—roasted dandelion root and psyllium husks; stress and anxiety relief—hawthorn, lavender, and rose; cough and cold relief— mullein and ginger root. (Suzanne Tabert)

RAMBLING RED BY THE CAMPFIRE AT WEST OVAL LAKE. // PHOTO: LISA LAUGHLIN

OUTDOOR VINO

Sure, flasks are fine. And these days it’s easy to find those nifty stainless-steel canisters that hold an entire bottle of wine. There are even bladders made for wine carrying. Outdoor Vino has them all beat with its line of wines specifically for outdoor travel. While the names of these wines hint at their outdoor design, the bottle is where it’s at: each wine bottle is made of shatter-proof, BPAfree plastic, making for a bottle that’s one-sixth the weight of a traditional glass bottle. The production of Outdoor Vino bottles is also eco-friendly compared to glass bottle production. The bottles are screw-top, so you won’t have to pack a corkscrew.

Outdoor Vino has four wine options: Wanderlust White (a white blend with tasting notes of pink grapefruit, cantaloupe, and orange), Rambling Red (a blend of Cabernet and Merlot), Sundress Sweet (flavors of honeysuckle, pear, and apricot), or Picnic Table Pink (a rosé with notes of strawberry and melon).

Outdoor Vino’s goal is to make wine more accessible in the outdoor places you love. The lightweight bottles fit easily in the side pocket of a hiking pack or the rack of a bicycle. They’re great for beaches, mountain ridges, or backyard dinners. They’re also a good option for kayak or paddle board adventures, as the bottles float.

The wine for Outdoor Vino comes from the award-winning Naked Winery, based in Oregon.

Their website (outdoorvino.com) makes for easy ordering, and each bottle is just $18. If it turns out you’re not a fan of the wine, the plastic screw-top design makes for easy washing and re-use, so you can bring your favorite wine on your next outdoor adventure. The company additionally offers outdoor-friendly wine amenities such as silicone “Happy Camper” glasses to take places that don’t allow glass. Cheers! (Lisa Laughlin)

Health&Fitness RUNNING INJURY PREVENTION // By Sarah Hauge

Travis, whether with a foam roller, stick roller, or a visit to a licensed massage therapist. “Whatever it takes to really go in and break up that muscle tissue,” Travis says. “Without massage, just stretching is kind of like pulling on a knotted shoelace.”

OVERSTRIDING

ILLUSTRATION: ERIKA PRINS SIMONDS

AS THE BEST TIME of the year to run approaches (spring at last!), it’s also the time when runningrelated injuries crop up. I’m talking about you, iliotibial-band syndrome, shin splints, and runner’s knee. By approaching training with care, though, many of these injuries can be avoided.

TOO MUCH RUNNING, NOT ENOUGH CROSSTRAINING AND RECOVERY

Overuse—too many miles, too little rest—is a common contributor to injury. Runners are “either doing too much too fast, or they’re training for long distances and they’re not really taking care of themselves afterward with massage and stretch, which are massively important,” says Casey Travis, general manager at running store Fleet Feet.

With all of the repetitive motion, Travis says,

runners “end up having these real strength imbalances. Cross-training, whether it’s strengthening our core muscles or addressing balance issues, is hugely important.”

Gluteus medius weakness is common among runners, says Lanaia Severino, a physical therapist with B&B Physical Therapy. To strengthen these muscles, she recommends side-lying hip abductions with a monster band to start, progressing to side planks with contralateral (opposite side) hip abduction, and then, once that’s mastered, upright strengthening with an emphasis on pelvic stability.

“Oftentimes runners are so weak in the hip abductors, they have to start with modified side planks and can only perform a few repetitions,” she says.

Hand in hand with cross-training and strengthening should be stretching and massage, says

Each runner has their own unique biomechanics.

But there is one thing that can positively impact virtually all of them, Severino says: proper stride.

Overstriding, when the foot lands ahead of body mass, exerts more impact force on the body and can lead to injury. A shorter stride means landing on the midfoot and lessening this force.

A good goal is 90 strides per side per minute.

Count your strides per foot per minute. If the result is less than 90, gradually pick up the pace. “The adjustment has to be done really slowly,” Severino cautions, working with a metronome app as a guide. “Depending on where they start, I might just add 2-3 strides [per side] per minute for the first week or two and bump it up slowly until we get to 90 strides per minute.” It may feel awkward at first, but with practice the stride will become natural—and your injury-free body will thank you.

ABRUPT TRANSITIONS

Too much added mileage over a short period can be tough on the body. If you’re looking to build mileage, follow a training plan—Travis recommends choosing one that offers gradual mileage increases and includes designated rest days for the body to recover and rebuild. The old guideline

of not increasing mileage by more than 10% per week holds true.

Another culprit: changing running surfaces.

Contrary to a commonly-held belief that pavement is bad and trails are good, “we don’t really see a higher incident of injury depending on the running surface,” Severino says. What does often lead to injury are drastic, sudden differences. Variety is good—different surfaces challenge the body in different ways—but if you always train on dirt trails and then do an 18-miler on concrete, don’t be surprised if injuries follow.

NOT LISTENING TO YOUR BODY

“Pain or discomfort are not uncommon while running,” Severino says. “If we expected runners to stop and take six weeks off from training with every ache or pain, there wouldn’t be many runners out there.” A good rule of thumb is to pay attention to the type and duration of the discomfort. If it alters your form, does not allow you to complete your planned workout, or doesn’t go away within 3-4 weeks, it’s time to stop running and follow up with a qualified healthcare provider, Severino says. “Rest is important—but so is figuring out what the cause is so that symptoms don’t return when you return to running.”// Sarah Hauge will be running Bloomsday this May and hopes to try a new-to-her half marathon this summer. She wrote the Run Wild column in the March issue.

Introducing new Turkey Dinner!

Enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving Dinner anywhere, anytime.

www.MountainHouse.com

APRIL 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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Welcome to Out There’s 3rd annual guide to the region’s best outdoor activities and events for family fun and summertime adventure. If you’re looking for a unique summer camp for your child or teenager, and trusted recommendations for regional campgrounds, hiking trails, and which outdoor events not to miss, this guide is your go-to resource. – Amy S. McCaffree

Amy S. McCaffree is the Out There Outdoors special section editor and Out There Kids columnist. In spring and summer, she enjoys camping, biking, kayaking, hiking, and swimming with her husband and their two children.

Created by:

PHOTO: COURTESY OF SAINT GEORGES SCHOOL

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10 Family Summertime Adventures 5. GO FISHING: Williams Lake, near Cheney, Wash., is annually stocked with rainbow and cutthroat trout. Launch your own non-motorized boat from the state water access site (wdfw.wa.gov, Discover Pass required), or fish from the dock at Klink’s Resort (klinksresort.com).

6. BIKE THE ROUTE OF THE HIAWATHA: Add this iconic ride on your to-do list, because it really is epic and something nearly everyone can do. Along the crest of the Bitterroot Mountains, at the IdahoMontana border, this scenic, gravel wilderness trail travels through 10 train tunnels and over seven trestles. Learn historical facts and stories about the trail’s railroad days as you journey. Be prepared for a rough and bumpy, no-restrooms-available route. Use a mountain bike, and bring your own first-aid and bike-repair kits. Although there are trail marshals, you’re pretty much on your own. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Hiawatha re-opens May 26 for the season. Trail permits are required; shuttle passes recommended. Ridethehiawatha.com 7. PADDLE THE LITTLE SPOKANE RIVER: Canoe or kayak (rent or use your own gear) and use Spokane

ANOTHER SUMMER ADVENTURE THAT’S FAMILY FRIENDLY: PADDLE THE SPOKANE RIVER WITH FUN UNLIMITED RENTALS. THEY MAKE IT EASY. TAKE A PICNIC TO ENJOY WHLE YOU FLOAT BACK. // PHOTO: DERRICK KNOWLES

1. TUBE THE SPOKANE RIVER: Experience an urban river adventure with thrilling class I-II rapids.

It’s easy with FLOW Adventures, which provides big tubes, PFDs, and shuttle transport (flowadventures.com). Rent a cooler tube for cold beverages and snacks during your 2-hour float trip, and be sure to wear strap-on water sandals. If you choose to do-it-yourself, always wear a life-jacket (required by law, for all ages) and wait until early July when water levels are typically lower—check flow status at waterdata.usgs.gov.

2. ZIPLINE THROUGH THE TREES: Enjoy super high adventure with Mica Moon Zipline Tour in Liberty

Lake, Wash. (micamoon.com) or Timberline Adventures in Coeur d’Alene (ziptimberline.com). Suitable for children ages 7+.

3. EXPLORE A CAVE: Crawford State Park Heritage Site near Metaline Falls, Wash., offers free guided

tours of Gardner Cave. Take a short hike to the U.S.-Canada border—no passport required!

4. TOUR AN UNDERGROUND MINE: Learn how miners worked in the 1880s during a guided tour of

Crystal Gold Mine in Kellogg, Idaho (goldmine-idaho.com).

Parks & Recreation’s low-cost shuttle service to take you from the Nine Mile take-out site (Discover Pass required) to the St. George’s school put-in. New this summer: shuttle service will be offered both Saturdays and Sundays, June 30-Sept. 2, 2018. Pre-register at spokaneparks.org, or show up and pay with credit/debit or check (no cash). Spokaneparks.org

8. EXPLORE THE LEWIS & CLARK HISTORICAL TRAIL: National Register Sites, day-use state parks and

campgrounds, and official water trails provide lots of adventure opportunities (nps.gov). In Idaho, visit the Nez Perce National Historical Park’s Weippe Prairie and Canoe Camp. In Washington, camp at Lewis & Clark Trail State Park near Dayton, Wash., or hike and swim at Sacajawea Historical State Park, near Pasco, Wash.

9. HIKE AT MT. SPOKANE STATE PARK: Choose your own adventure among the miles of trails, using a

detailed park map to plan your route. (Trail guide: mountspokane.org; detailed map: parks.state.wa.us.)

An easy plan is to hike around Bald Knob Campground or the summit area, including the Vista House and the alpine ski trails or Upper Trail 140. Bring a bucket for huckleberry picking. Other easy routes are Entrance Loop Trail (1.5 miles) and Burping Brook Loop (3 miles). Watch out for moose!

10. CAMP AT LAKE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL RECREATION AREA: There are 15 campgrounds at this 130-

mile long lake, which was formed out of the Columbia River with the construction of Grand Coulee Dam. All of them have boat launches but only a few have swimming beaches, including Kettle Falls, Evans, Fort Spokane, and Spring Canyon Campgrounds. Bring your paddling gear or motorized-boat, fishing supplies, and explore. Nps.gov. (Amy S. McCaffree) //

Dishman Hills–the Wild Heart Of Spokane 52 nd Anniversary Celebration Dinner Saturday, April 14, 6-9:00 PM Barrister Winery Join us for Progress on the Wild Heart Silent & Live Auctions Catering by Beacon Hill Live Music Guest Speaker Rich Landers Be a sponsor, volunteer, or donate auction items. Contact Jeff Lambert at ed@dishmanhills.org or 509.999.5100.

C G

Go to www.DishmanHills.org for nature walks and hikes.

Annual Buttercup Hike

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C r e m m u S n e Youth and Te summer camping experience er.

Saturday, April 7 Morning hike time: 9:00 AM-Noon Afternoon hike time: 1-4:00 PM Register online

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9) 233-2 Call today (50 t and conference retrea Also offering facilities.

best hiking trails for kids & strollers route; trailhead restrooms and water fountain; trail markers and benches; and location minutes from downtown Spokane, no wonder this trail is popular with all types of users. Be aware of cyclists and runners, and stay to the right. Explore out and back as far as you like. Stroller friendly.

COLUMBIA PLATEAU TRAIL STATE PARK: The BOWL AND PITCHER IS PERFECT FOR TODDLER-LED HIKING. // PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES

WASHINGTON

BOWL & PITCHER LOOP / TRAIL #25, RIVERSIDE STATE PARK: After crossing the swinging bridge

and going up the steps, turn downriver (right) onto trail #25. Down the steep bank, the river rages wild—enjoy it only with eyes from the safety of the trail. Venture further to see Devil’s Toenail, a huge rock formation jutting out from the middle of the river. After another trail marker, take the next junction to return back where you started (trail #211). Altogether, this makes for a 1.7 mile loop. If with a stroller, take trail #211 downriver, which is wider and has a gentle grade.

SPOKANE RIVER TRAIL #100: Trailhead begins off the Centennial Trail around mile 27.5 near the T.J. Meenach Bridge. This forested stretch of land is managed by Riverside State Park, and there’s a parking lot located at the bottom of N. Pettet Drive (no pass required) across the river from the trail (walk across the bridge and down to the trail). Everyone will enjoy this scenic dirt trail, especially in spring when Arrowleaf Balsamroot flowers are blooming. After about 2 miles, you’ll reach a large river bend, which makes a great destination and turn-around point. In summer, when the river is low, a beach appears at this eddy.

LITTLE SPOKANE RIVER NATURAL AREA: The

Spokane River Trail begins at Indian Painted Rocks. (Avoid the Knothead Trail loop, which is steep and long.) The Waikiki Springs Trail is suitable for strollers but not beyond the river.

Discover Pass required for trailhead parking.

closest trailhead to Spokane is located near Fish Lake County Park (Discover Pass required). You can also access a paved 4.75-mile section through Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge from a second trailhead near Cheney on the Cheney-Spangle Road. Stroller-friendly.

PINE RIDGE TRAIL, KAMIAK BUTTE: Though

BEN BURR TRAIL: A 1-mile trail that connects

technically a “steptoe,” this 3,641’ geological feature—the second highest point in Whitman County—provides great views of the surrounding Palouse. Trailhead is at Kamiak Butte County Park, near Colfax and Pullman.

SPOKANE FINCH ARBORETUM: Lots of easy dirt paths to explore and allow toddlers and young kids to wander. Stroller friendly.

IDAHO

Liberty and Underhill city parks, in Spokane’s east-central area. Stroller friendly.

PEOPLE’S PARK & CENTENNIAL TRAIL: Located

on a peninsula at the confluence of Latah Creek and the Spokane River, People’s Park is only minutes from downtown Spokane but feels miles away. Numerous trails crisscross the wooded area, and you can take Sandifur Bridge (a pedestrian bridge) to access more trails on the north side of the Spokane River. Follow the paved switchback trail uphill to the Centennial Trail. (Although it’s generally a safe park during daytime, be cautious of garbage hazards and possible transient camps.)

FISH LAKE TRAIL: With its tree-lined, shaded, flat

PRIEST LAKE-LAKESHORE TRAIL: The rolling grade of this smooth, wide trail makes it a wilderness paradise for kids. Located in the Panhandle National Forest along the northwest side of Priest Lake, the south trailhead is near the town of Nordman, and the north trailhead is at Beaver Creek Campground (7.25 trail miles away), which has a great day-use swimming beach.

DEEP CREEK & CHICKADEE TRAILS, KOOTENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE: Both of these flat

trails provide opportunities to spot the over 200 bird species and 45 animal species in the area.

Deep Creek Trail is just over 4 miles round-trip, while the paved Chickadee Trail is only 1,000-feet

long. Stop by refuge headquarters to pick up a Refuge Explorer Day Pack and animal track cards for children. Stroller-friendly.

TRAPPER’S TRAIL, ROUND LAKE STATE PARK:

This 1.8-mile forested trail takes you around the lake and through the marsh. Look for skunk cabbage, beaver dens, and a resident moose.

Parksandrecreation.idaho.gov BEAVER BAY SHORELINE LOOP TRAIL, FARRAGUT STATE PARK: This 4-mile loop along Lake Pend

Oreille connects with the Beaver Bay Beach swimming area. Additional kid-friendly trails within the park are Squirrel Cache Nature Trail and Willow Lakeview Trail.

LAKESHORE LOOP & PLUMMER CREEK TRAILS, HEYBURN STATE PARK: Lakeshore Loop is an

easy 1.3-mile trail that links Hawley’s Landing Campground to Plummer Creek Trail—an easy, half-mile trail along the creek’s marshland (look for signs of beavers). (Amy S. McCaffree)

More hike details and trailhead directions are available from Washington Trails Association (wta.org) and Washington State Parks (parks.state.wa.us). // LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLES FOR KIDS

• • • • • • • •

Know Before You Go Choose The Right Path Trash Your Trash Leave What You Find Be Careful With Fire Respect Wildlife Be Kind To Other Visitors Learn more at: www.LNT.org.

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outdoorsy summer camps WANT YOUR KID TO ENJOY DIRTY HANDS AND KNEES AS THEY EXPERIENCE CHALLENGES AND EXCITEMENT IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS? HERE’S OUR ANNUAL LIST OF REGIONAL SUMMER CAMPS THAT PROVIDE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVENTURE AND HANDS-ON LEARNING ABOUT NATURE, SCIENCE, AND OUTDOOR SKILLS – WITH SOMETHING FOR EVERY CHILD, ANY AGE, AND EVERY FAMILY. ART OF NATURE DAY CAMP

Kootenai Environmental Alliance’s annual camp in July combines art, science, and nature adventures for children, grades 2-6. This summer’s theme is “Underwater Adventure” and focuses on fish habitat and biology. Kealliance.org

primitive camping sites and two daily meals. Daily registration also available. Between the Rivers is based in Valley, Wash., north of Deer Park.

Betweentheriversgathering.com

BETWEEN THE RIVERS GATHERING

The Bloc Yard Bouldering Gym, a family-friendly climbing space located in north Spokane, offers 5-day indoor climbing camps for ages 6-17.

Bouldering doesn’t require ropes or climbing equipment other than climbing shoes, and walls are no higher than 15 feet. Camp includes lessons about climbing technique, safety, and etiquette, and kids get a free t-shirt and pizza party at the end. Blocyardgym.com

At this 6th annual Primitive Skills & SelfSufficiency Workshop, parents and children can attend a week-long experience, May 28-June 2, with hands-on daily classes to learn wilderness survival, primitive, and homesteading skills, among other related subjects. Kids program is provided, and when families register for the full event, children under age 8 are free. Includes

BLOC YARD CLIMBING DAY CAMP

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CAMP SWEYOLAKAN

CAMP SPALDING

Camp Fire Inland Northwest’s secluded Camp Sweyolakan (Swe-o-la-kan) on Lake Coeur d’Alene—accessible only by boat—offers a variety of overnight camp sessions. Options include Outbacker Day Camp (grades 1-6), and a “You and Me Kid Family Camp.” Recreation and activities include canoeing, kayaking, fishing, low and high ropes challenge courses, archery, and STEM activities. Science and nature-based education includes learning about forestry, native fish species, how to clean and cook fish, and outdoor skills like campfire building and cooking.

American Red Cross swim lessons are also available. Campfireinc.org

Camp Spalding, located at Davis Lake near Newport, Wash., offers a unique Pioneer Camp, where kids sleep in authentic 18’ Sioux tepees, cook meals over campfire, and hike to an overnight campsite. Sessions are offered for different age groups (grades 2-4, 5-6, 7-8, and 9-12).

Spalding, a Presbyterian-affiliated Christian camp, hosts other camp sessions where kids stay in cabins and eat in the dining hall. All campers enjoy nature program and waterfront activities, such as canoeing, along with other recreation options such as horseback riding, rock climb rappelling, archery, and more. Family sessions include a “Mom, Dad, & Me Overnight” in June (children

LEFT TO RIGHT: SUMMER STAFF LEADING GAMES AT CAMP SPALDING. // CAMPFIRE COOKING // READY FOR A CAMPOUT UNDER THE STARS AT CAMP FOUR ECHOS // TOP: ST. GEORGES SCHOOL ADVENTURE CAMP. // BOTTOM: EXPLORING MONKEY ISLAND AT CAMP SPALDING. // RIGHT: CAMP GIFFORD

entering grades K-2) and an all-ages 4-night Family Camp in August. Campspalding.org CAMP FOUR ECHOES

It’s all about G.I.R.L. Power – “Go-Getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader” – at this beautiful resident camp along Lake Coeur d’Alene in Worley, Idaho. Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho offers a full summer of programs for girls entering 1st-12th grades. (Troop membership is not required.) Activities include waterfront recreation like kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and windsurfing; nature exploration, hiking, biking, and outdoor skill-building; and STEM activities. For grades 10-12, there are leadership

camps and counselor-in-training opportunities.

There are also 3-day weekend Family Camps in May and August, and a “Just the 2 of Us” camp for a girl to attend with mom, dad, grandma, or aunt, etc. At Camp Four Echoes, girls will enjoy staying in whimsically-named campsite sections, such as Teepees in Sky Meadows, Treehouses in Smugglers Cove, and Cabins in the Singing Pines & Sherwood Forest. Gsewni.org CAMP GIFFORD

At The Salvation Army’s camp at Deer Lake, campers stay active with swimming, paddling, fishing, hiking, archery, climbing, and zip-lining.

Discovery camp sessions are for children ages

BENEFITS OF AN OVERNIGHT CAMP EXPERIENCE

“A QUALITY CAMP provides awesomely-fun summer camp adventures in…a safe, supervised outdoor setting where kids can experience a degree of independence away from home, allowing them to gain confidence that they have what it takes to successfully navigate their world,” says Andy Sonneland, executive director of Camp Spalding. Preparing for his 27th summer as director (he was also once a young camper and summer staffer at Camp Spalding), Sonneland personally knows how spending a week at camp “will be among your son or daughter’s fondest childhood memories.”

In particular as a Christian (Presbyterian) camp, he says that because Spalding campers and collegeaged staff talk daily about life from a standpoint of faith, Spalding is where many campers feel like they truly belong. “Peers and staff come to know and genuinely care about them.”

CAMP It’s a Girl Thing

Registration is open for summer 2018! gsewni.org 509-747-8091

You don’t have to be a Girl Scout to attend camp... you just have to be a girl!

APRIL 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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outdoorsy summer camps

NOW

K-5 G N I LL O R N E

7-12, while teens, 13-17 years old, experience the Camp Cougar wilderness program, which provides age-appropriate challenges and adventures. Located just a 15-minute walk away from Gifford’s main camp, Camp Cougar resembles a primitive site (no electricity or running water) but includes cabins, bathrooms, and a dining hall. Campers learn wilderness, camping, and survival skills, and about flora and fauna identification and foraging. Swimming, paddling, and high and low ropes course activities are also included. campgifford.org DART-LO DAY CAMP

Camp Fire’s 51-acre forested camp along the Little Spokane River offers nature-based outdoor fun for children ages 3-18. Recreation includes swimming in an outdoor pool, low ropes challenge course, and archery. Campers are also provided environmental education and activities to learn about leadership and team-building. American Red Cross swim lessons are also available. Transportation is provided to and from camp from locations around Spokane and Spokane Valley, or parents can personally drop-off and pick-up. Extended hours are also available. Campfireinc.org GIRL SCOUTS DAY CAMP

At the regional Girl Scouts program center, near downtown Spokane, day camps are offered from June 18 through August 24 for girls, ages 5-17. Different sessions include STEM activities and swimming, and learning about survival skills, geology, physics, and much more. Gsewni.org IDAHO DISCOVERIES DAY CAMP

Since

1980

Hosted by Kootenai Environmental Alliance, “Meet the Mammals” is the theme for campers (ages 4-10) as they explore forest, field, and wetland habitats at Fernan Family Farm in Coeur d’Alene. Kealliance.org KEENS POND TO PINES

Based in Ellensburg, Wash., the Kittitas Environmental Education Network (KEEN) is offering 9 weeks of summer day camps for 1st-9th graders – plus a half-day preschool camp – at Helen McCabe State Park.

Each week offers a different theme, such as Survivor Kid, Outsider Art, Dirty Jobs, and Junior Ranger.

Ycic.org LUTHERHAVEN

ited d e r c c ard A o B A ards d W n a t s c demi a c fied A i t h r e g c Hi e rs stat e h c a e side! t u All t o g n learni e k a t We

618 N. Sullivan Rd. Spokane Valley, WA /pioneerschoolspokane | pioneerschool.com | 509.922.7818

A variety of outdoor-centric programs, for all ages, are offered by this Christian camping organization at its three properties. At Camp Lutherhaven on Lake Coeur d’Alene, recreation includes watersports on the lake, a climbing tower, zip line, mini golf, low ropes course, and more. At Shoshone Creek Ranch Camp, kids who like horses and riding can enjoy a western dude ranch experience. And at Shoshone Mountain Retreat, kids will swim, hike, float down the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River, and ride horses.

Lutherhaven.com SPOKANE PARKS & RECREATION OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CAMPS

Spokane Parks & Recreation offers day camps for youth and teens, ages 8+, with sessions organized according to recreation focus: hiking and paddling, rock climbing, horseback riding, and disc golf. Some camp options provide a mix of activities like rafting, rock climbing, and learning outdoor survival skills.

Spokanecity.org PEAK 7 ADVENTURES

Experienced outdoor teens, 15-19 years old, who are ready for a hardcore challenge can apply to join the Bower Adventure Course (BAC) – a 50+ day outdoor expedition leadership program to learn backpacking and mountaineering skills, experience rock climbing and whitewater rafting, and become certified in Wilderness Medicine. Based in Spokane, Peak 7 also offers Junior Guide Training (ages 15-18) and a

We create active learners in all seasons through skiing, ice skating, hiking, camping, biking, and more!

Making plans for

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Lake Roosevelt LakeRooseveltandMore.com

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / APRIL 2018

PHOTO COURTESY OF GIRL SCOUTS

ENCOURAGING GIRLS TO EXPLORE THE GREAT OUTDOORS GIRLS ARE ALREADY DRAWN to the outdoors, and today’s modern girls want “more high-adventure experiences,” says Nicole Wood, director of marketing and philanthropy for Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington & Northern Idaho. Whether it’s rock climbing or backpacking, she says, “Girls’inclusive programming works in a way that co-ed doesn’t, especially when girls are in the [selfconscious] pre-teen phase. It provides a safe place that frees girls to take risks, learn leadership skills, gain confidence in themselves, and feel powerful and strong and able to be themselves. They’re not afraid when they’re with an all-girls group…and they’re not competing with boys” for activity time and opportunities.

These skills carry over to their school and classroom experiences and “prepares them for adulthood,” according to Wood. Courageous outdoor girls become brave women who continue those active pursuits.

In addition, with near epidemic levels of obesity and diabetes in youth nationwide, Wood says that “Addressing these health issues is critical—promoting body positive images and making sure girls are healthy and safe. Outdoor programming offers a fun way for girls to be healthy and fit.”

SEEK YOUR

ADVENTURE WHO SAYS CAMP IS JUST FOR KIDS?

Year Round Fun for Everyone!

Join us for a specialty camp or book your group for a unique event!

WOMENS WEEKEND | April 27-29 A weekend just for women to Relax & Renew

FAMILY CAMP | August 23-26 The perfect opportunity for families to reconnect.

Our relaxed schedule allows your family to experience the very best Camp Reed has to offer.

GAME TIME FOR YOUNG CAMPERS AT CAMP SPALDING. // PHOTO: AMY MCCAFFREE

TEAMS, RETREATS & RENTALS

5-day North Cascades National Park backpacking trip. Peak 7 also helps families and youth groups plan an unique, personalized adventure trip – such as rafting (April-August; min. 12 people, age 5+), rock climbing (April-October, age 8+), or backpacking (May-August). They also provide multi-day rafting trips that includes camping. Peak7.org

Building teams and creating unique retreat events is what we do best! Let our highly trained facilitators and staff help design your dream Adventure!

SELKIRK OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP & EDUCATION (S.O.L.E.)

Based in Sandpoint, Idaho, this non-profit organization offers in-depth, hands-on Junior Naturalist day camps at Round Lake State Park—Nature Detective (ages 4-6+) and Nature Explorers (ages 7-10+).

Transportation provided from Sandpoint to and from camp. These outdoor science camps balance experiential education with outdoor free-play, with daily theme lessons. For ages 14-17, there is S.O.L.E. Teen Trek—6-7 day backcountry expeditions to Montana’s Cabinet Mountains and Idaho’s Upper Priest Lake, with different trips for males and females. Participants learn outdoor travel and living skills, as well as leadership. The experience culminates with a service-project. Soleexperiences.org

YMCA CAMP REED! Voted the best camp for kids year after year -- and adults TOO!

YMCA CAMP REED

For Info: ymcaspokane.org | 509 777 9622

SAINT GEORGE’S ADVENTURE, SCIENCE, AND SOCCER CAMPS

Saint George’s School, located along the Little Spokane River in north Spokane, offers an Adventure Camp (3rd-5th grade) that includes hiking, rock climbing, geocaching, kayaking, fort building, and more.

A “Rock, Dirt & Mud!” Camp (grades K-3) focuses on dirt-science with hands-on learning activities and rock art. Science Camp is designed to be fun yet rigorous as campers (grades 3-6) use field- and lab-based scientific methods to learn about organisms, biological communities, current issues about local wildlife and plants, and more. There’s a 6th-12th grade Soccer Camp as well as a session for children in grades 2-6 that includes fun activities like tie-dyeing shirts and making ice cream, in addition to soccer instruction and skill development. Sgs.org TWIN EAGLES WILDERNESS ADVENTURE CAMPS

Based in Sandpoint, Idaho, Twin Eagles Wilderness School specializes in helping children connect with nature, develop self-awareness, and participate in a strong community. Guided by adult mentors, campers experience nature-based activities and wilderness and adventure challenges, and learn survival skills, such as foraging, wildlife tracking, natural shelter building, making fire by friction, and much more. Day camp sessions (ages 6-13) in Spokane and Sandpoint (plus 1 session in Coeur d’Alene) are offered according to three different themes: Nature Adventurers, Wilderness Survival, and Nature Ninjas. Overnight camps (ages 10-18; 5-6 nights) include challenging activities such as nighttime scout games, wilderness survival camp-outs, and archery games. Older teens can experience wilderness survival solos. This spring, the Father-Son Wilderness retreat, for boys age 7-12, is May 4-7. Twineagles.org WEST VALLEY OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER

Learn about animal adaptations, nature’s engineers, and how birds fly during a June 25-28 day camp for ages 7-13. Kids can come for one day or all four. Olc.wvsd.org WILD WALLS INDOOR CLIMBING CAMP

Youth ages 9-14 will experience bouldering, top roping, knot typing, belaying, ascending, rappelling, slacklining, and crate stacking at day camps hosted by Wild Walls Climbing Gym, in downtown Spokane.

Wildwalls.com WSU COUGAR KIDS CAMP

Sponsored by Washington State University (Pullman campus), in partnership with the Outdoors Program, children entering grades 3-6 can experience morning, afternoon, or al-day camp sessions. One of the weekly themes is “Nature Unleashed Week.” Optional overnight adventures include a camping trip in June, among other choices. Urec.wsu.edu YMCA CAMP REED

Located at Fan Lake, north of Spokane in Pend Oreille County, this wilderness-setting camp offers 2-night mini (entering grades 1-2 in the fall) and traditional camps (grades 3-9). Campers stay in rustic cabins and enjoy waterfront activities such as canoeing, hiking, mountain biking, climbing wall, a ropes course, and more. Horse camps and trail rides are also available. Older campers also get to experience an overnight camp-out under the stars. There are also 2-week Counselor in Training (CIT) programs for teens entering 10th grade. The second CIT week is a 200-mile bike trip to North Idaho with overnight stays at lake locations. There are also a Junior Counselor program (grades 11-12) and a Family Camp in August. Ymcaspokane.org. // (Amy S. McCaffree)

REGISTER ONLINE AT:

2018

CAMPSPALDING.ORG APRIL 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

37

outdoor events MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY AERIAL ADVENTURE PARK AND SUMMER TUBING AT WHITEFISH MOUNTAIN RESORT

Experience an aerial adventure in the trees with five courses that will challenge and delight the whole family. Cross cable bridges, climb rope ladders, swing on a trapeze and more while safely secured with a full-body harness. The park is a great activity for families with over 60 obstacles ranging from easy to difficult.

If you’re looking for something closer to the ground, Whitefish Mountain Resort is adding tubing as a summer activity option this year. Ride the Big Easy Carpet to the top of the hill and then fly down a 300-foot slippery surface while bouncing and spinning over bumps and rolls to the bottom. And then do it again and again. Packages are available that also include scenic chairlift rides, the Alpine Slide, and other activities. Summer attractions open Memorial Day weekend—Saturday and Sunday only—and then weekends through June 10 followed by daily operations June 16 through September 3. Skiwhitefish.com RIDE THE ROUTE OF THE HIAWATHA

Biking the 15-mile-long Route of the Hiawatha through the Bitterroot Mountains near Lookout Pass may be the highlight of your family’s summer. By taking advantage of the bus shuttles, the entire ride through 10 train tunnels (including the 1.66-mile-long Taft Tunnel) and over seven trestles is all downhill. Trail passes, shuttle tickets, and mountain bike rentals with lights are available at Lookout Pass Ski Area just off I-90 on the Idaho-Montana state line. The trail is open daily starting May 26 (projected opening) through September 23. Ridethehiawatha.com RIDE THE ZIP LINE AT SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN RESORT

Schweitzer’s dual 700-foot zip line feature allows two people to blast down the mountain side-by-side while enjoying beautiful lake views together. One ride is $12 or an Ultimate Fun Pass includes unlimited zip line and foot-passenger lift rides as well as access to the climbing wall, Trampoline Jumper, and Sluice Box for the day for $35 (riders must be at least 8 years old). Open daily June 22 through September 3, 2018 (weather permitting).

Schweitzer.com TRAIL WORK SUMMER VACATIONS

Washington Trails Association offers “Youth Volunteer Vacations” for teenagers, ages 14-18. These week-long trips develop outdoor and leadership skills while building and maintaining hiking trails as a team. (Students earn a Northwest Forest Pass, and service hours can be applied to school requirements.) Destination options include Sullivan Lake in northeast Washington, North and Central Cascades, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier’s Wonderland Trail, and the Olympic Peninsula—including an all-girls trip to Lake Crescent. Wta.org SILVER MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK

With over 35 singletrack trails and the Chair 3 Zone that offers shorter, less committing trails, Silver Mountain Bike Park is a great place for families to mountain bike together or break out onto different trails that match the skill level of varying abilities. Clearly marked trails, free trail maps, rental bikes and gear, and instructors for hire make Silver a welcoming place for any level of rider. Trails at Silver are rated just like ski runs, with green runs for easiest, blue for difficult, black for more difficult, and double black for experts only. The newly rebuilt Crescent Trail offers an incredible beginner experience with a wider path, corners that can be ridden flat or on the berm above, and a mellow enough grade to let riders get comfortable on their bike. This is the perfect place to start, and it’s designed so that new riders can ride with more experienced partners and everyone will have a great time. Silver Mountain recommends giving Payday a try after Crescent, which is just as wide, but loses elevation a little faster and is designed to have riders take advantage of the berms more with greater terrain variety. Silvermt.com (OTO) 38

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / APRIL 2018

PHOTO COURTESY OF WHITEFISH MOUNTAIN RESORT. // CRAIG MOORE GLACIERWORLD.COM.

SPOKANE BIKE SWAP & EXPO (APRIL 14): Find a new bike for your kid (or yourself) at the region’s largest bike consignment sale—Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Spokanebikeswap.com WASHINGTON STATE PARKS FREE ADMISSION DAYS (SELECT DATES, APRIL-SEPT): No Discover Pass required on April 14 (Spring Day), April 22 (Earth Day), June 2 (National Trails Day), June 9 (National Get Outdoors Day), June 10 (Fishing Day), August 25 (National Park Service 102nd Birthday), and Sept. 22 (National Public Lands Day).

NATIONAL PARK WEEK FREE ADMISSION DAY (APRIL 21): No entrance fees at select national monuments, historical parks, recreational areas, and national parks, including Glacier and Yellowstone national parks in Montana, and Mount Rainier and Olympic national parks in Washington. (Sept. 22 is the next free admission day.)

EARTH DAY FAIR (APRIL 22): Live music, yoga, arts and crafts, and more at the Coeur d’Alene

Library and McEuen Park, noon-4 p.m., hosted by the Kootenai Environmental Alliance.

SPRING DASH 5-MILE KIDS RUN & TOT TROT (APRIL 22): Run alongside your child on a beauti-

ful course through downtown Coeur d’Alene, starting from McEuen Park. Free to participate in the quarter-mile Tot Trot. Unitedwayofnorthidaho.org

SPOKANE KIDS FISHING DAY (MAY 5): The 4th annual Spokane Kid’s Fishing Day at Clear Lake (west of Spokane near Cheney) is sponsored by the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council, Kalispel Tribe of Indians, Neis Family Memorial, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Each participant gets to fish with help from seasoned anglers and take home a t-shirt and a rod and reel, included in the $10 per child cost (free for all current and former Ronald McDonald House kids and their families). Wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/youth.html LILAC BLOOMSDAY RUN (MAY 6): Run or walk with your kids or push them in a stroller. There are many delights along the 12k course, such as live music, friendly volunteers, and Otter Pops for sale. If your kid can walk around Disneyland all day, he or she can do Bloomsday. Bloomsdayrun. org GLOW FOR HUNGER (MAY 11): A pre-race party and evening 1-mile kid’s run, at Spokane’s Joe

Albi Stadium, to support Northwest Harvest. Parents are free with registered child. Nsplit.com

KIDICAL MASS (MAY 12): Family 3-mile bike ride through Spokane’s Chief Garry neighbor-

hood, 1-3 p.m., starting from Chief Garry Park. Decorated bikes are encouraged.

LILAC CENTURY FAMILY FUN RIDE (MAY 20): The 25th annual Lilac Century Bike Ride

includes 15- and 22- mile rides that have been redesigned to be even more family friendly. The new courses are nearly flat and the 15-mile course avoids road traffic altogether. Both routes follow the paved Fish Lake Trail from the trailhead near Sunset Hill to Scribner Road and back.

The 22 mile route is the same as the 15 mile route with the addition of a 3.2 mile section from Spokane Falls Community College along Government Way past the cemeteries and returning the same way. Enjoy a bake potato feed with other riders of all ages at the end of the event.

All proceeds benefit local charities supported by the Spokane Aurora Northwest Rotary Club.

Lilaccentury.com

WEDNESDAY NIGHT MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE SERIES AT RIVERSIDE (MAY & JUNE): Kids age

17 and younger, all levels and abilities, participate for free at this loosely-described “race” series at Riverside State Park. Ride one or two laps, as fast or as casual as you want, along a 7-11 mile course (new one each week). Meets Wednesday evenings at the park’s 7 Mile Area (“old airstrip”).

Weekly registration starts at 5 p.m.; racing starts at 6:30.

WEDNESDAYS IN THE WOODS AT RIVERSIDE STATE PARK (JUNE-AUGUST): Starting Wednesday, June 13, REI’s Spokane store will host educational, interactive presentations by guest speakers at the Bowl & Pitcher outdoor amphitheater every Wednesday throughout the summer.

Topics include regional wildlife (moose, cougars, and bears), camp cooking, Leave No Trace, kayaking, and reptiles and birds of prey featuring experts from West Valley Outdoor Learning Center. Rei.com/Learn FREE FAMILY NIGHT OUT AT CAMP DART-LO (JUNE 15): 5:30-8 p.m. at Camp Fire’s day camp

property along the Little Spokane River.

SUMMER PARKWAYS (JUNE 21): Pedal, walk, jog, scooter, roller-blade, or skateboard along a 4-mile

car-free route through the Manito and Comstock neighborhoods. Activities include a kid scavenger hunt, goodies, and games provided by local business and organization booths along the route. 6-9 p.m.

Summerparkways.com

SPOKATOPIA OUTDOOR ADVENTURE FESTIVAL (JULY 7): This outdoor recreation festival at Camp Sekani Park and Boulder Beach on the Spokane River is the place to try new outdoor activities and bikes and enjoy kids activities and live music from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Free general admission. Spokatopia.com SUMMER FUN RUN SERIES (JULY 11, 18, 25): Youth age 18 and younger participate for free in 5k fun runs (also a 1-mile run option) organized by U-District PT and Negative Split.

TOYOTA TUESDAYS AT SILVERWOOD (JULY 17 & JULY 24): Pack the family up in any Toyota and save on a day enjoying the rides, waves, and attractions at Silverwood Theme Park. The driver of any Toyota gets in free with a voucher that can be picked up at your local Inland Northwest Toyota Dealer starting June 1 (one voucher for the driver only).

SPOKENYA 7K RUN/WALK FOR CLEAN WATER (JULY 21): Course begins and ends at Life Center’s park-

ing lot for this Spring of Hope International fundraiser, to support its clean water efforts in rural Kenya.

Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome. During the last quarter-mile, participants can experience carrying a 5-gallon bucket of water on their heads to finish the course (smaller buckets available for kids). Race includes the CAL Cup competition—$1,000 prize awarded to the high school with the most points, based on participation numbers (students, coaches, alumni, faculty, or staff) and fastest finish times (ages 14-18).

SPOKANE VALLEY CYCLE CELEBRATION (JULY 29): Includes a 10-mile ride, beginning at the Mirabeau North trailhead for the Centennial Trail, as part of ValleyFest.

HUCKLEBERRY COLOR FUN RUN & WALK (AUGUST 5): Run or walk a 5k or 2.5k course through the

forest around Schweitzer Mountain Resort and get all colored up. All participants receive a t-shirt, sunglasses, a powder pack for the color toss, and a full-day scenic foot passenger lift ticket to the top of the mountain good for August 6. Schweitzer.com

PADDLE, SPLASH, AND PLAY (AUGUST 11): Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club hosts its annual free kids’ event at Nine Mile Recreation Area, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Discover Pass required). Bring your PFDs and paddle with your kids while trying out canoes, stand-up paddle boards, and all types of kayaks, including sea, whitewater, inflatable, and recreational. Sckc.ws SPOKEFEST (SEPTEMBER 9): Includes a family-friendly 9-mile course option and free Strider balance

bike demos. Spokefest.org

GLOBAL KIDICAL MASSIVE (SEPTEMBER 15): Family bike ride of about 3 miles along the Centennial Trail, 1-3 p.m., starting at Kendall Yards. Meet at Spark Central.

SEKANI KIDS’ 1K, 5K, & 10K TRAIL RUN (SEPTEMBER 30): Free 1k adventure run/hike/walk along dirt trails at Camp Sekani Park. Proceeds from the 5/10k runs benefit Franklin Elementary school’s APPLE program. Sekanitrailrun.com NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY (SEPTEMBER 30): Free admission to Turnbull National Wildlife

Refuge to celebrate National Public Lands Day. // (Amy S. McCaffree)

4TH ANNUAL

SPOKATOPIA OUTDOOR ADVENTURE FESTIVAL

(JULY 7)

SPOKATOPIA IS A ONE-DAY outdoor recreation festival where adults and kids can explore all kinds of outdoor activities, clubs and organizations, and outdoor gear and bikes in a fun, family-friendly setting. Try all types of bikes, stand-up paddleboards, and kayaks; sign up for an adventure clinic with Spokane Parks & Recreation and learn a new activity like rock climbing, canoeing, paddleboarding, kayaking, geocaching, and more; enjoy live music and over 50 outdoor-oriented exhibitors; enter to win awesome outdoor gear prizes given away each hour; watch mountain bike stunts and give rock climbing on a bouldering wall, slacklining, and other free kids’ activities a try; or show up for a free morning yoga class for everyone from beginners to expert. Ride your bike to the festival as a family along the Centennial Trail from one of the park and bike locations nearby and take advantage of a free, secure bike corral. Spokatopia runs from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at Camp Sekani Park and Boulder Beach on the Spokane River along E. Upriver Drive. General admission and many activities are free but some guided activities and demos have a cost. Learn more at Spokatopia.com (OTO) APRIL 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

39

SUMMER FUN at

15 top family campgrounds

SAINT GEORGE’S!

Our award-winning teachers have created an incredible variety of one-week day camps to make learning fun all summer long!

Adventure Camp

Grades 3-5, June 11-15

Rocks, Dirt & Mud! Grades K-3, June 18-22

Science Camp

Grades 3-6, June 25-29 ...and more athletic, arts, and academic camps June through August!

www.sgs.org/summer for information on all SGS Summer Camps and online Registration.

Call 509-464-8815 for details.

2929 W. Waikiki Rd., Spokane 99208 SPOKANE’S INDEPENDENT COLLEGE-PREPARATORY DAY SCHOOL FOR GRADES K–12

A quintessential summer activity, camping allows kids all-day, hands-on adventure. Use this alphabetical list of recommended public campgrounds around the Inland Northwest to plan your summer camping excursions.

1. ALBENI COVE: A small rustic campground located near Oldtown, Idaho, along the Pend Oreille River, near Albeni Falls Dam (overseen by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). Enjoy mountain views, fishing, and wildlife. Recreation.gov

8. HEYBURN STATE PARK: Located near Plummer, Idaho, choose from three campgrounds. Bring gear to enjoy paddling or boating in Chatcolet and Benewah Lakes, hiking, biking, and fishing.

Bike the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, and visit the playgrounds—one each at Chatcolet boat launch and Rocky Point Beach.

2. BANNACK STATE PARK: On the way to

9. INDIAN CREEK: One of three campgrounds

Yellowstone National Park, near Dillon, Montana, is “Old West” Bannack—the state’s best preserved ghost town and site of a 1862 gold rush. The campground, along Grasshopper Creek, which includes a rental tipi, is just down the road from this National Historic Landmark. Stateparks. mt.gov

3. BEAVER CREEK: Priest Lake, big beach, and national forest backcountry where you can hike or bike or paddle the Thorofare to reach Upper Priest Lake.

4. BIG ARM STATE PARK: Enjoy Montana’s

Flathead Lake, the West’s largest natural freshwater lake. This park offers three rental yurts, and is on the way to Glacier National Park. Stateparks. mt.gov

5. CHARBONNEAU PARK: Located along Lake Sacajawea in Walla Walla County, east of Pasco, Wash on the Snake River, this day-use park and campground is overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and includes a playground and marina. Usace.army.mil 6. EAST SULLIVAN LAKE: A rustic campground

The cleanest clean you have ever seen.

Works on all glass or plastic surfaces.

Fills in scratches, provides amazing anti-fog protection, and last a long time.

Great for goggles, glasses, scopes, binoculars, helmets, car window, mirrors, phones, etc.

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LEFT: EAST SULLIVAN LAKE CAMPGROUND. // MIDDLE: KIT PRICE CAMPGROUND. // RIGHT: BEAVER CREEK BEDTIME ROUTINE. PHOTOS: AMY MCCAFFREE.

with a big beach and access to Colville National Forest hiking trails. Located near Metaline Falls, Wash., it’s close to Crawford State Park and Box Canyon and Boundary Dams for day trip outings.

7. FORT SPOKANE: Most beloved for boating and fishing opportunities, this campground is near the confluence with the Spokane River.

Visit the historic Fort Spokane Visitor Center and Museum. Nps.gov

within Priest Lake State Park, situated along the lake’s east shoreline, families enjoy the sandy beach, sport courts, and rental cabin options.

10. KIT PRICE: River tubing and fly-fishing families revere this quiet, rustic campground along the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River, in the Panhandle National Forest.

11. PIONEER PARK: Close to Newport, Wash., this Colville National Forest campground along the Pend Oreille River boasts good fishing and the Pioneer Park Heritage Trail.

12. RIVERSIDE STATE PARK: Choose from three family campgrounds—Bowl & Pitcher, Nine Mile Recreation Area, and Lake Spokane’s primitive campsites. Enjoy hiking, mountain biking, paddling, fly-fishing, and rock climbing in the area.

Be sure to visit the Spokane House Interpretive Center at Nine Mile Falls.

13. ROUND LAKE STATE PARK: Included on

Reserve America’s 2009 list of Top 100 Family Campgrounds, you’ll find a quiet fishing lake and hiking trails at this campground southwest of Sandpoint.

14. SAM OWEN: Situated within the Panhandle

National Forest along Lake Pend Oreille near Hope, Idaho, families enjoy stunning lake views and a dog-friendly beach.

15. WHITETAIL: This campground in Farragut State Park, near Athol, Idaho, is popular because of its playground and access to Lake Pend Oreille, and close proximity to Silverwood Theme Park. // (Amy S. McCaffree)

5 FAMILY CAMPING GEAR FAVORITES Above and beyond the essentials, bring these pieces of camping gear along on your next trip to make your overnight out in nature more fun and comfortable.

1. LED lanterns and headlamps: Lanterns light up large spaces (including the interior of a dark restroom), and headlamps provide hands-free convenience. Most have at least three light modes: high, low, and night-vision red. Equip each child so he/she can be more independent after dark.

2. Hammock: Good for napping, reading, and swinging, a lightweight hammock delights both kids and adults.

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / APRIL 2018

3. Water sandals: Rocky shorelines with jagged or slippery rocks require safe, comfortable, waterproof, strap-on footwear. Keep flip-flops for hanging out at the campsite.

4. Handheld two-way radios: Older kids can experience more free-range independence with a walkie-talkie as they bike or walk around a campground. At remote campgrounds without cell service, these allow family groups and friends to stay in contact.

5. Portable charger: If you plan to use your phone for its camera and apps, like a GPS, throughout a multi-day trip, you’ll need to re-charge your battery. Which is difficult at a rustic campground with no electricity. You could use your vehicle charger, or bring along a small portable charger or solar charger with built-in USB ports to keep your phone, two-way radios, and any other devices ready to use.

Nature Schooled EDUCATION AND CHILD CARE OPTIONS THAT EMBRACE THE OUTDOORS

July 7th

Camp Sekani on the Spokane River RIVER OUTTING. // PHOTO COURTESY OF PIONEER SCHOOL

Spokane area parents have some great education and child care options that regularly offer time out in nature and outdoor recreation activities.

PIONEER SCHOOL

Grades K-5, max class size of 16 students.

Pioneerschool.com Pioneer School is an accredited, non-profit educational organization with high academic standards that’s all about getting kids into the world for unique experiences. Students go biking on the Centennial Trail, roller skate, and ice skate. They cross-country ski at Mount Spokane and downhill ski at Schweitzer. They have jump rope day and hike at Dishman Hills. The school also takes annual week-long camping trips with 4th and 5th grade students and a week-long trip to Yellowstone National Park every other year.

“We believe children learn and grow by being out in nature. Students who are physically active are more focused in class and ready to learn,” says Betty Burley-Wolf, founder and current director at Pioneer. “Our thematic style of learning involves field trips to places like the Gardner Caves for geology or the Turnbull Wildlife Refuge for birds.

Each topic involves multiple field trips to enhance classroom learning.”

Emily Jack, parent of two Pioneer students, says that Pioneer’s learning atmosphere greatly improved her children’s education after she removed them from a stressful traditional school environment. “I love that our kids get out into the world, experiencing the community in all its diversity and beauty, and learning to be respectful of public spaces, other cultures, and the natural world.”

WINDSONG SCHOOL

Parent-child class for ages birth-3; preschool; mixed-age kindergarten; and grades 1,2,3,5 and 6 (for 2018-2019 school year).

Spokanewindsongschool.org A Waldorf education school, Windsong works to “educate toward freedom.” Part of that freedom is outdoor time; all early childhood classes begin the day outdoors with a nature walk, and have at least one hour of outdoor time during the school day. At Windsong, outdoor time is seen as a vital component in the daily rhythm of the students.

“Our culture is fast and anxious, and being in nature calms the nervous system,” says Windsong kindergarten teacher Dr. Lauren Bergstedt. “Nature also provides an endless playscape for children as it shifts through the seasons and with the weather.

Rain, mud, snow, sun, and wind each provide a different opportunity for the senses and for play.”

SAINT GEORGE’S OUTDOOR CLUB

Saint George’s is an independent, college-preparatory day school for grades K-12. Sgs.org.

Saint George’s offers a variety of outdoor experiences to various ranges of students. The outdoor club offers classroom and elective opportunities, from weekend trips to climbing the school’s indoor rock wall. Last summer, students went sea kayaking and backpacking in Alaska. Director of outdoor adventure Melanie Mildrew says she offers a new

trip every summer. Two past adventures included climbing Mount Baker and covering 100 miles in the Bob Marshall Wilderness on foot and in pack rafts. Trips this summer include rock climbing at Skaha in British Columbia, camping at Steamboat Rock, and a spring break climbing trip to Smith Rocks. “Students need to get out of cell range to decompress and recharge,” says Mildrew. “The goal of the outdoor program is to educate young people so they’re equipped with the knowledge and skills to recreate…while being aware of the environment and ecology.”

9AM-6PM

Free admission

Biggest Bike Demo Dem & Sale

Event of the Summer.

WEST VALLEY OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER

Connecting students of all ages to nature through experiential learning. Olc.wvsd.org Programs include habitat/conservation, birds, water, and miscellaneous programs such as wilderness preparedness, fossils, and tree rings. Kids explore these concepts in tactile and interactive ways such as STEM-friendly, bird-themed scavenger hunts or creating an edible aquifer out of ice cream and candy. Monthly “Open House” opportunities are available to the public.

HARVARD PARK CHILDREN’S LEARNING CENTER

2.5 years and older. Harvardparkpreschool.com Harvard Park offers preschool and before and after school care with daily outside play time, regardless of weather. Weekly field trips and cooking projects enhance what children learn in the classroom and out on the large, park-like playground. Full and part-time summer camp programs include science experiments, weekly field trips, water play time, and activities such as chef challenges, gardening, and boat building experiments.

Try awesome outdoor activities Sign up early Online at spokatopia.com

mountain bike Shuttles

50+ exhibitors

Beer Garden Mountain Bike Jump show Paddle Board Demos

Live Music

Paddle boarding + SUP Yoga Kayaking + Geo-caching + Rafting Disc Golf + Canoeing + Rock Climbing

NORTH WALL SCHOOLS

3 months-6th grade. Northwallschools.com All classes have scheduled outdoor time on the school’s 2.5 acres with zones for different ages and a zip line, tree fort, organic garden, and nature trail with over 75 varieties of signed plants. There’s also a k-6 summer program with weekly field trips and regular after-school enrichment programs such as Fit for Bloomsday.

TINKERGARTEN CLASSES

Ages 18 months to 8 years old. Tinkergarten.com Students experience outdoor activity-based classes lead by local Tinkergarten Leaders at Manito Park, John A. Finch Arboretum, Dishman Hills, Mirabeau Point Park, and elsewhere.

TWIN EAGLES WILDERNESS SCHOOL

Preschoolers and ages 4-6. Twineagles.org The Twin Eagles forest kindergarten program in the Spokane area meets one Sunday per month from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., October through May. Activities include gathering seasonal foraged foods, crafting toys from nature, and other outdoor learning. // (Lisa Laughlin) APRIL 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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WHY RUN? 4 SPOKANE RUNNERS SHARE THEIR MOTIVATIONS

WHY DO YOU RUN? You could ask 100 runners that question and get 100 different answers: to get stronger, for mental clarity, to get the dog out of the house, for the endorphins—the list stretches on and on. A few local runners shared how running has been a part of their own stories: a longtime competitor and coach, a beginner who runs with her dog, a cancer survivor-turned-Ironman, and a young person finding her groove. Their lives are as unique as they are, but they agree on one thing: running has left them better off than they were before.

JACKIE KAPS

When Jackie Kaps started running in 2011, she was fulfilling a promise she’d made to her dying mother. She’d spent six years providing care for her parents, and before her mother passed away, she asked Jackie what was going to happen to her.

“I said, I’m gonna get off of the couch, start running, stop smoking, get healthy,” Kaps says. She did exactly that, breaking her smoking habit—a pack and a half a day for 35 years—and registering for races, first Bloomsday and then the Windermere half marathon.

Running didn’t come easily. “I didn’t know you needed to learn to run,” Kaps says. Wanting to train better, she joined No Boundaries, a beginning training program offered by running store Fleet Feet Spokane. “You’d run for a minute and walk two for an interval of four,” she says. It was difficult, but she completed the program just before receiving a life-changing call from her doctor: she had stage two breast cancer.

For some, that would have been an excuse to slow down, but Jackie kept training. In 2013, she ran the Jingle Bell Run after two rounds of chemo.

“I was bald as a cue ball,” she says. “My hemoglobin was so low it’s amazing I was walking, let alone running.”

“When you’re diagnosed with cancer, your world revolves around treatment and the disease process,” she says. “Running gives you a different focus. It makes me feel whole and healthy. Cancer takes a lot away from you. Running gives it back. Whether it’s a quiet, early morning run or a group event like Bloomsday, it adds beauty back into my world.”

After chemo, a double mastectomy, and reconstructive surgery, Kaps set her sights on the triathlon. Her first was Wonder Woman, in 2015. “It was the very first time I had tried to bike, swim and run all at the same time,” she says. “I fell twice. I wrecked my bike.”

Undaunted, she pursued even bigger challenges.

In 2017, she finished the Portland Marathon and Ironman Arizona. Her current goal is completing the Coeur d’Alene Ironman, a feat she’s attempted twice but hasn’t accomplished, getting cut off on the course the last two years.

Some might find that discouraging, but Kaps knows better. As she told her running coach after her last attempt in Coeur d’Alene, she may not have finished, “but I’ve come farther than I’ve ever come before in my life.”

KEN BELL

For Ken Bell, one race changed everything. He was a 14-year-old in the 1960s, growing up in the tiny community of Tonasket, Washington, when the track coach needed someone to race the mile.

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Bell had never run farther than 400 meters but said he’d try. He remembers going into “that one race, not knowing what I was doing. I got done and everybody was like, ‘Oh my gosh.’” His time was 4:43. Ken’s now 67, and he’s been running, and coaching running, ever since.

After high school, where he was the state’s Class A 2-mile champion in 1969 and 1970, Kansas State offered him an athletic scholarship for running.

Later, after teaching for a couple of years, running friends including Don Kardong encouraged him to race in Europe. What was meant to be a short stint abroad turned into a successful running career and three decades of teaching and coaching running on military bases in England. He raced all over Europe between 1977 and 2007, in “everything from the marathon on down.”

Bell retired to Spokane and began volunteering with the Ferris cross-country team alongside coach Mike Hadway. In 2013 he applied to coach crosscountry at Rogers. As a youth, he trained there with famed coach Tracy Walters, one of the people who had been “such a big influence on my running life,” he says. He’s been at Rogers ever since.

Bell’s had many notable achievements—if asked, he’ll talk about his 4:05 record for the mile, his 8:43 for the 2-mile—but that’s not what makes him proudest. “My biggest accomplishments are the athletes I’ve coached,” he says. “All of those guys are my kids.” At Rogers, he celebrates the diversity of the student body. In the warm-up, students will count in their native languages, one in Russian, another in Swahili, one in Erdu. “I’m always teasing, ‘We’re the United Nations,’” he says.

Bell talks about the incredible work ethic he’s seen among students, some of whom are taking AP classes and holding down jobs in addition to competing in team sports. Bell helps them meet goals and shave off time, knowing that with a little success on the track or the cross-country course, new opportunities might follow. Running could be the ticket to college, just like it was for him. One race can mean a lot. “I mean, that just opened up everything,” he says.

KATE HELLENTHAL

“I lost that ‘being active’ part of my life for a while,” says Kate Hellenthal, 27. A native Spokanite who was active in sports growing up—skiing, volleyball, basketball—she quit after a series of injuries.

Running has changed all that.

Last year, while she was living in Brooklyn, Hellenthal was impressed when a friend signed up for a half marathon. “Watching the work she put into it was inspiring and motivating,” Hellenthal says. So she started running, often with her dog, Alfie. When Hellenthal moved back to Spokane this

past year, she started signing up for races—the Sunday Sundae, the Spokane Half Marathon, and the Jingle Bell Run. She’s got plans for a spring half marathon and a 10k.

Racing, she says, helps her stay motivated as she builds toward her goal of completing a marathon in 2019.

Running gives Hellenthal something other sports didn’t. “It clears out the clutter that lives in your brain all day long,” she says. “There is something about the solitude combined with physical activity that has really affected me.”

Having lived away for 10 years, running is reacquainting her with her hometown. “Running has definitely helped me see more of it and explore more of it,” she says. The challenge is fitting it into her schedule. As a kindergarten teacher with Spokane Schools’ new Spanish immersion program, Hellenthal is on her feet all day and already up plenty early. Sometimes after-school runs are about all she has time for. Luckily, Alfie—an “extremely active dog”—is always ready to go. “Running has strengthened our bond,” she says. “We have to read each other and respond to each other, especially on our long runs.”

Hellenthal loves the transformation she’s felt this year.

“I feel incredible,” she says. “My legs and lungs feel so strong—a relatively new feeling for me, considering I have exercise-induced asthma and have had pneumonia seven or eight times. I’ve lost weight, and I look and feel healthier than I have in a long time. It’s been a really nice feeling, to combine physical and mental/emotional strength.”

LAUREN WEST

Lauren West has many talents. She’s a bass guitarist.

She plays soccer and basketball and climbs at Bloc Yard Bouldering Gym with her younger sister. She likes painting, and mountain bike racing, and backpacking, and cross-country skiing. But when she gets home and wants to shake off the stress of the day, running is this 12-yearold’s go-to activity.

“If I get back from school and I’m like, I’ve got to get my head out of this, I’ll go. I’ll just leave,” West says. She’ll either head out with a parent or her dogs, Hank and George. When she’s running, “I don’t think about school,” she says. “I just focus on right, left, right, left.”

Running has always been part of West’s life. As a toddler she was pushed along by her mom in a jogging stroller.

Lauren did her first race in Leavenworth when she was about 5.

As time has passed, she’s gotten stronger. She’s faster than her family members now. Her endurance has increased, and so have her running accomplishments.

On her first Bloomsday, in first grade, she ran 2 of the 7.5 miles. The next year she ran half the course. In 2017 she ran the whole thing. She runs cross-country, and qualified for All-City this fall. “I was really proud of that one,” she says.

West has plans this spring to run Rapid Rabbit and Bloomsday (she hopes to finish in under an hour), and a trail half marathon this summer. She wants to run a 6:30 mile. She also has a personal goal: “I’d like to beat my friend Darius,” she says. “He’s always ahead of me.”

Long-term ambition? Running in the Olympics. At 12, it’s impossible to know exactly what the future holds, but running has already shown West that it’s worth it.

“It makes me happy once I’m done,” she says. “I feel completed.”// Sarah Hauge will be running Bloomsday this May and hopes to try a new-to-her half marathon this summer. She wrote the Run Wild column in the March issue.

BY SARAH HAUGE HOW HAS THE INLAND NORTHWEST RUNNING SCENE CHANGED?

By Amy S. McCaffree A lot has changed in the Inland Northwest running scene since the first Bloomsday in 1977. To paint a picture of some of those more recent changes, we asked a few runners who are active in the local scene to share their perspectives.

Heather Lefriec: Coach for the Spokane Swifts Running Team and former collegiate runner for Gonzaga University “The number of runners and race participants have increased dramatically over the last 5 to 10 years due to an increased number of running clubs and training groups, with people joining because these provide a sense of community, belonging, and camaraderie. There are more races that not only provide challenge and competition but that are also fun. More recently, I think there has been a significant effort to promote events to runners of all speeds and abilities, which is awesome because running is a sport and lifestyle everyone can do—all you really need is a pair of running shoes and some determination.” .

Ryan Hite: Founder/owner of Negative Split (running and fitness event production company) and Windermere Marathon Race Director “Today, running trends are toward fitness, community, and fun events. We have seen a large emergence of running groups, small studio fitness gyms, and other running communities that have leveraged social and community aspects to engage runners. I think this alone changes the racing scene. Races have to be more than just a run today. Races have to be an event that engages the community and the social side of running. Yes, there is still a need for competition, PRs, timing, and elite runners, but it goes beyond that now. Races are a highlight point for many and a celebration of accomplishment with friends. People want to have a memorable experience that lasts.”

Eric Ewing: Race timer for 15 years, owner of Nomadz Racing Service “Every single time someone wants to do a fundraiser, they decide to have a 5k or 10k.

There are so many races now, and only so many race dollars to go around…[that] it has watered down everyone’s events. Race directors have to work twice as hard getting racers to come to their events. The volunteer base also starts to dwindle. [We] need to free up the race calendar.” //

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: KATE HELLENTHAL // JACKIE KAPS // KEN BELL ROGERS // LAUREN WEST// MIDDLE: RUNNING GEAR PHOTOS: JON JONCKERS

APRIL 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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Nature LITTLE SPOKANE RIVER BAT CONDO IS A CONSERVATION SUCCESS // By Adam Gebauer

THE BAT CONDO DURING CONSTRUCTION IN 2008. // COURTESY OF WA DEPT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

THE FIRST TIME I remember interacting with bats

was as a young child in New Jersey. I was watching these dark whirling critters dive and circle in the sky as I waited for 4th of July fireworks. Out

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of the dark a man walked up and explained that these were bats and if you throw small rocks or acorns up in their paths, they would dive and seemingly change from quick dark blurs to—for

a brief moment—furry mammals with quick, membranous wings. I was hooked! From then on I took any opportunity to see these intriguing mammals; from seeing roosts of cat-sized flying foxes in Australia, to counting bats in abandoned mines for the Forest Service, to watching tens of thousands of bats tornado out of lava tubes in New Mexico. And now, I have the chance to see bat condos on the Little Spokane.

In 2004 Mike Weaver bought his grandparents’ house near the Little Spokane River and soon found out that he and his family were not the only residents. On summer evenings bats joined the Weavers, flying around their living room. They called a biologist to help assess the situation and soon realized they had a colony of approximately 10,000 Yuma myotis bats (Myotis yumanesis) living in their attic!

After wading through knee-deep bat guano in their attic, the Weavers decided to find a new home for their bat neighbors and restore their 1800s-era house. After searching around and help from Mike Weavers’ uncle, they were able to find a federal grant to fund a project to relocate the bats. As with much federal funding it took a few years to come through. During this time the Weavers tried to plug any access points into the house that they could find and place bat boxes near the house to entice the bats to take up residence there.

When funding finally arrived, the Weavers, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council constructed a bat condominium complex, designed for the extended bat family—all 10,000 members of the roost. Its dimensions are 8x8x8 feet, and it is raised up on 8-foot stilts where the many internal plywood baffles have been roughed up so the bats can cling to it upside down while they sleep. There is even a kid’s zone, an open area where pups can practice

flying in a protected area. With all the tight internal walls there is over 5,500 square feet of roosting area.

Condo management is taken care of by volunteers with the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council who clean and paint the bats’ home on a regular basis. WDFW has done several population surveys and during each count they find more bats utilizing the condo. According to Michael Atamian, regional biologist with WDFW, there were approximately 2,600 individuals in 2013 and during the last count in 2016 there were 4,500.

The bats only use condo during the warm months to rear their pups. Once the weather changes, they migrate to their winter hibernating spot. Interestingly, little is known about the winter habits of bats in this region. What is known is that White Nose Syndrome has reached Washington State. White Nose Syndrome is a fungus that infects and kills bats during hibernation. It has been affecting winter hibernation sites on the East Coast for a number of years and has recently been discovered in King County. This is a concern to regional biologist and, as part of their effort to study bat populations, WDFW will be conducting yearly population counts on the Weaver’s bat condo.

After the bats relocated from the Weavers’ attic, the Weavers were able to clean out their attic, live undisturbed during the summer, and put their home on the Spokane County historic registry. This is a great example of how private property owners, wildlife managers, and conservation groups can work together to conserve both cultural resources and provide habitat for wildlife. // When Adam Gebauer is not teaching skiing or summiting a mountain, he is wrangling his herd of goats and running Syringa Ecological Consulting.

He wrote about ski buses in the last issue of OTO.

OutdoorCalendar (April 7) Hunger Run. Where: Plante’s Ferry Park, Spokane. 5K or 10K race benefiting Second Harvest and the Union Gospel Mission. Info: TheHungerRun. org.

(April 8) Negative Split Half Marathon, 10K, & 5K. Where: Kendall Yards, Spokane. Negative Split’s signature race is the best way to kick off your running season. Boasting three great distances and scenic courses, this race is full of energy and swag!

Info: Nsplit.com

(April 8) Hauser Lake 10K Icebreaker Run. Where: Hauser Lake, Idaho. The Ice Breaker run is an annual 10k race the first Sunday in April. It is an official Bloomsday Second Seed race that benefits special needs dogs at the Double J Dog Ranch. Info: Facebook.com/hauserlake10kicebreakerrun

(April 22) Spokane River Run. 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 22) Spring Dash 5k & Kids Run. Where: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Enjoy a beautiful course through downtown Coeur d’Alene, starting from McEuen Park to Sanders Beach and then along Lake Coeur d’Alene Drive. This race is a Bloomsday second-seed qualifier. Info: Unitedwayofnorthidaho.org

(April 28) Trail Maniacs Liberty Lake Trail Run. Where: Liberty Lake, Wash. An 8-mile loop run that features waterfalls, a creek bed, bridges, singletrack, and switchbacks with canopied cedar groves. Info: Trailmaniacs.com

BIKING (April 14) Spokane Bike Swap & Expo. Where: Spokane County Fair and Expo Center. The region’s largest bike consignment sale. Sell or buy all types, sizes, and price of bikes for adults and children. Info: Spokanebikeswap.com

(April 28) 10 Hour MTB Race.

Where: Camp Sekani Park, Spokane. Returning for a second year, this race includes lots of climbing on early-season dirt conditions along an approximately 9.5-mile course. Info: Thebikehub.com

OTHER (April 21) Leadman Triathlon. Where: Silver Mountain Resort. Ski or snowboard for 1 mile, then transition to a mountain bike for a 7-11 mile ride on a downhill dirt course, followed by a 4-5 mile run to the finish line at the Gondola Village. Enter solo or in a team. Info: Silvermt.com.

(April 26) 4th Annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival. Where: Garland Theater, Spokane. Some of the best outdoor adventure and conservation films of the year. Proceeds benefit the Spokane River conservation efforts of the Spokane Riverkeeper. Info: Spokaneriverkeeper.org

SIX MONTH EVENTCALENDAR RUNNING (May 6) Lilac Bloomsday Run.

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

Each team decides how many laps each rider does on the 14-mile course. Camping, a pancake breakfast, post-race pasta party, and more included. Info: Roundandround.com

(July 9) Valley Girl Triathlon. Where: Medical Lake. When: 7:45 a.m. Women’s sprint distance triathlon. Info: www.valleygirltri.com

(June 16) CHAFE 150.

Swim Gillette Lake, ride the mostly downhill course down Tiger Pass through the Colville National Forest, and finish with a run on Rotary Trail to Colville. Info: Tigertri.com

fast, flat course with scenic views of the beautiful Spokane River. Info: Nsplit.com/windermere

Where: Sandpoint. The route for this Gran Fondo scenic ride travels along Lake Pend Oreille and into Montana and the Cabinet Mountain river valleys. Choose from 30, 80, or 150 miles. Info: Chafe150.org

(June 17) Dad’s Day Dash 5k. Celebrate Father’s

(July 7) Spokatopia Bike Demo Day.

(May 20) Windermere Marathon & Half Marathon. Where: Centennial Trail, Spokane. A

Day on a 5k run or walk in and around Spokane’s Manito Park and help raise funds for SNAP, a nonprofit organization helping low-income Spokane County residents with energy assistance, small business loans, housing, and home repairs. Info: Snapwa.org

BIKING (May 12) Kidical Mass. Where: Chief Garry Neighborhood, Spokane. Kids of all ages and their parents can enjoy this fun, safe ride of about 3 miles. All types of bikes, trailers, tandems, trikes, and anything else that rolls are welcome. Info: Summerparkways.com (May 14-18) Spokane Bike to Work Week.

Spokane Bicycle Club kicks off this annual event with a pancake breakfast on Monday morning. Other events and activities are planned all week long. Info: Spokanebikes.org

(May 20) Lilac Century Bike Ride.

Where: Spokane. This annual spring ride offers five different scenic and challenging tours with something for all levels of riders and a baked-potato feed at the finish.

Event proceeds benefit local Rotary Club charitable projects. Info: Lilaccentury.com

(May 26-27) 24 Hour MTB Race.

Where: Riverside State Park, Spokane. Riders pedal from noon Saturday to noon on Sunday, racing around the clock in teams of 2-10 people or as individuals.

Where: Camp Sekani Park, Spokane. Spokatopia is the biggest bike demo event of the year, and it’s part of a bigger outdoor adventure festival. Try the latest mountain, road, fat, and e-bikes from local bike shops and brand reps from around the Northwest on Beacon Hill singletrack or the paved Centennial Trail. Take part in group rides, shuttles to the top of Sekani downhill trails, and enjoy live music and a beer garden that benefits Evergreen East, the local chapter of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance.

Info: Spokatopia.com

(July 7-8) Coeur d’Alene Enduro. Where: Canfield Mountain, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The inaugural event is a two-day, camp-style mountain bike race on Canfield Mountain, Coeur d’Alene’s local trail system. The CDA Enduro is the Inland Northwest’s newest addition to the popular enduro race scene.

Canfield Mountain is easily accessible from the heart of town, but the trails themselves have the feel of a backcountry adventure. You’ll camp near the trailhead for two full days of earning your turns on rowdy singletrack (including one never-ridden, completely blind stage), and be rewarded with a bonfire, beverages, a dinner for the racers, and a few more surprises to write home about. Cost: $135. Info: Cdaenduro.com

MULTISPORT

(July 21) Tiger Triathlon. Where: Colville, Wash.

OTHER (May 5) Clear Lake Kids Fishing Day. Where: Clear Lake, Medical Lake, Wash. Held at the Fairchild Recreation Area at Clear Lake west of Spokane, up to 1,000 kids ages 5-14 get to fish for rainbow trout and take home a t-shirt and a rod and reel. All gear and bait are provided. Numerous volunteers are available to assist the young anglers with baiting hooks, casting, and catching fish. Fish cleaning is also provided free of charge, and families have the option of donating their day’s catch to a local food bank. Info: Wdfw. wa.gov/fishing/kids/events

(May 5-6) Wilderness First Aid Course. Where: University of Idaho, Moscow. Learn the skills needed to safely deal with emergencies in the backcountry.

Taught by Desert Mountain Medicine. Info: Uidaho. edu/outdoorprogram (July 7) Spokatopia Outdoor Adventure Festival. Where: Camp Sekani Park/Boulder Beach, Spokane. Try outdoor activities like paddleboarding, kayaking, rock climbing, bouldering, slacklining, mountain biking and more. Spokatopia is the biggest bike and water sports demo event of the year. Try the latest mountain, road, fat, and e-bikes as well as paddleboards, kayaks, and other water craft. Live music, beer garden, and other entertainment and activities.

Cost: free general admission; some activities cost between $10-$20. Info: Spokatopia.com

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(May 20) Troika Triathlon. Where: Medical Lake.

Options include Olympic course, long course and sprint course. Info: TroikaTriathlon.com APRIL 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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Last Page TRAIL TRIALS // By Lisa Laughlin

TRAIL RUNNING BUDDIES ON MOUNT SPOKANE. // PHOTO: LISA LAUGHLIN

I WAS NEW to trail running. Before I moved to Spokane, my race of choice was a smooth, flat half marathon. My familiar turf was a paved activity trail or wide gravel road. When I was invited on

my first trail run through Riverside State Park, I was eager to show that I could hold my own.

My running friends suggested that I join them for a slow 20 miler. On that first run, I forgot to

bring food or water. I do not know how this grave oversight occurred, but by mile eight I was accepting bits of granola bar from my running partners who had been offering to share food since mile five.

I considered this a serious faux pas; I thought an important mark of trail running was to be as selfreliant as possible.

I agreed to go on a second trail run. The views through the park, after all, had been stunning. We glimpsed the clear, rushing river through pines as we toed along dirt paths. On that second run, I remembered to pack food and water. I thought, Now I’m good to go; I know how to be a trail runner. I soon tripped and fell while running with a hip strap full of water bottles. My running partners picked the bottles out of nearby bushes as I dusted off my knees.

The instances were adding up. Trail running was trying to teach me something about a new type of outdoor recreation, and how to approach the outdoors with others.

In early October, I lined up for a 10k on Mount Spokane. I’d never done a trail race, and that morning I wasn’t feeling up for it. I’d been battling a cold, and though I’d stuffed cough drops and tissues into my running pack, it was one of those days I felt I’d be happier not lacing up. I stood at the start line that morning fully expecting to tune out the other runners once the race started. I planned to shun the camaraderie I was typically fond of in a running atmosphere. I wanted to go internal, to suffer through it on my own.

I found that internal solace, for a while. There were moments in the race when I heard only my own muffled steps and hard breathing. The bright flags on trail corners were the only indication that I was doing something with other humans involved.

In the last half mile of the race, I passed an older woman and abruptly fell. I had fallen before while running; until that moment, I had considered my ankles to be fairly flexible. This was different. I was down, hard. I wasn’t just kneeling. I was on my butt, grasping my ankle, eyes getting weepy from pain.

The older woman I’d wordlessly passed a few moments earlier witnessed the event. She crouched down next to me on the trail and asked if I could put any weight on my foot. I told her it was okay—that I’d be fine, that she should go on, that I was ruining her time so close to the finish line.

The woman wouldn’t leave, despite my prompting. She put her shoulder up under my arm and helped me walk uphill with a badly sprained ankle to a race volunteer we’d passed. She left only after she was sure I was taken care of.

Before that race, trail running had given me the feeling of being a badass in a way that road running had not. It’s a euphoric feeling, after all, to run to the top of a mountain and know you used your own two legs to get there.

But what I learned on Mount Spokane that day was that part of trail running was helping others when they were down. It was less important to be self-sufficient than it was to tune in to others.

The camaraderie of running was even more crucial when running through the wilderness; it was never something to turn away from with pride or self-pity. It was something, like bringing food and water, that I should have recognized from the start.

Trail running was about surviving together rather than holding one’s own. // Lisa Laughlin is a long-distance runner who also enjoys paddle boarding. She wrote about the Missoula Marathon in the March issue.

5K Run, 10K Run & Half Marathon

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S E P T. 2 2 N D Great post-race festivities & fabulous goody bags

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Outdoor Research Men’s Echo Hoody $64.95 Women’s Echo Hoody $58.95

Spokane’s full-service outdoor shop • Rentals, demos, and an experienced staff!

2002 N Division, Spokane • 509.325.9000 • mountaingear.com

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

La Sportiva Women’s Wildcat 2.0 $155.00 Ultimate Directions Fastdraw 10 Bottle Reg $17.95 SALE $10.98

We’ve got the gear, clothing & footwear for all your outdoor adventures!

UPCOMING EVENTS WE’RE SPONSORING:

Smartwool Women’s PhD Run Light Elite Micro $17.95 Men’s PhD Run Ultra Light Low Cut $15.95 Patagonia Men’s & Women’s Houdini Jacket $99.00

Ultimate Directions Women’s Race Vesta 4.0 $114.95

Topo Women’s Athletic Ultrafly Trail Runner $120.00 Men’s MT-2 Trail Runner $100.00 The North Face Women’s Fanorak $78.95 Ultimate Directions Fastpack 15 $119.95

Buff Original Buff $19.95

Topo Terraventure Trail Runner $110.00

Patagonia Men’s & Women’s Cap Daily Graphic Tee $39.00 Outdoor Research Helium Pants $118.95 48

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / APRIL 2018

Spokane River Run

Sunday April 22 Register at: spokaneriverrun.com Early packet pickup at Mountain Gear 2002 N. Division, Spokane, WA April 20, 4 - 7pm; April 21, 3 - 6pm Featuring beautiful and challenging courses running through Spokane’s Riverside State Park, this is one of the oldest trail runs in the Northwest.

Recognized in the Trail Runner’s Trophy Series, the race features 5K, 10K, 25K, 50K and 50K team relay races.

The Spokane River Run is the primary fundraiser for the Garfield APPLE program.

Wild & Scenic Film Festival

Thursday April 26 · Garland Theater Tickets $15 – Available at Mountain Gear 2002 N. Division, Spokane, WA