Out There Monthly-August 2016

BACKCOUNTRY ISSUE | IDAHO HIKES | STAYING HYDRATED

Spotlight: BEHIND THE LENS WITH

WOODS WHEATCROFT

Wilderness PADDLEBOARDING

Backcountry

Etiquette Hiking the wildlands

barefoot

u-pick farms

4

Local Long-distance

hikers

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COntents

Features 20 | Sup Wild

28 | Long-Distance Hikers

28 departments 13 | Hiking 14 | Climbing 15 | Health & Fitness 17 | Buzz Bin 18 | Gear Room 19 | Backcountry 22 | Hiking 23 | Out There Spotlight 24 | Outdoor Living 30 | Race Report 31 | Food & Fuel

10 in every issue

14 columns 12 | Everyday Cyclist 25 | Run Wild 26 | Leaf, Root, Fungi, Fruit

26

7

| From the Editor

8

| Out There News & Events

10 | Hike of the Month 16 | Out There Kids 27 | Urban Outdoors 32 | Outdoor Calendar 34 | Last Page

“Like foraging for mushrooms or hunting for Easter eggs, collecting berries triggers our ancient endorphin dropper, which keeps dripping as you pluck the neverenough morsels from the plant.�

AUGUST 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

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Out There Monthly / AUGUST 2016

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Publishers

Shallan & Derrick Knowles Editor-in-chief

Derrick Knowles Managing Editor

Janelle McCabe Kids/family section editor

Amy Silbernagel McCaffree Copy Editor

Andrew Butler Contributing Writers:

S. Michal Bennett Katie Botkin Chic Burge Kelly Chadwick Tim Cunninghamm Dave Dutro Elena Gardner Summer Hess Jon Jonckers Janelle McCabe Ammi Midstokke Karen Nielsen Skye Schillhammer Paul Shenkenberger Erika Prins Simonds Holly Weiler Wil Wheaton Contributing photographers:

Paul Knowles Shallan Knowles Mark Simonds Special projects coordinator

Janelle McCabe INTERN

Elena Gardner Art + Production

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

Siobhan Ebel to request copies caLl

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Derrick Knowles: 509 / 822 / 0123 derrick@outtheremonthly.com Out There Monthly

Mailing Address: PO Box #5 Spokane, WA 99210 www.outtheremonthly.com, 509 / 822 / 0123 FIND US ON FACEBOOK Out There Monthly is published once a month by Out There Monthly, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher.

Never play above or below a dam.

©Copyright 2016 Out There Monthly, LLC. The views expressed in this magazine reflect those of the writers and advertisers and not necessarily Out There Monthly, LLC. Disclaimer: Many of the activities depicted in this magazine carry a significant risk of personal injury or death.

Rock climbing, river rafting, snow sports, kayaking, cycling, canoeing and backcountry activities are inherently dangerous. The owners and contributors to Out There Monthly do not recommend that anyone participate in these activities unless they are experts or seek qualified professional instruction and/or guidance, and are knowledgeable about the risks, and are personally willing to assume all responsibility associated with those risks.

When boating or swimming this summer, please remember to play it safe. Call or visit avistautilities.com/waterflow ahead of time to learn about Spokane river flows and water levels on Lake Coeur d’Alene and Lake Spokane.

Washington: 509-495-8043, or Idaho: 208-769-1357.

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Jeremy takes his dog Kona for a paddleboard tour around Beehive Lake in the Selkirk Mountains.

Photo: Skye Schillhammer

From The Editor: Being Wild People who spend a lot of time outside, espe-

cially in more wild places, tend to have a particular look about them when they return to the civilized world. While putting the finishing touches on the August “Backcountry” issue, I caught up with regular OTM contributor and Spokane freelance writer/photographer Aaron Theisen, a friend who I rarely see these days because he’s been practically living in the Montana wilderness. Over the last two months, he had been out hiking and camping in the backcountry for about 40 days.

When we met at a watering hole to catch up, his voice was often so quiet, like someone who had grown accustomed to whispering in the presence of wild animals they didn’t want to spook, that I had trouble hearing him. He seemed more casual

than usual too, like time was someone else’s concern, a burden that keeps the rest of us shuffling along inconsequentially. Those days of backcountry Montana living had also rubbed off on his appearance; if it wasn’t for the hipsteresque hiking garb, he could have be mistaken for a street-corner transient.

It’s easy to envy people who get to spend so much time out in the woods that a far-off surfer gaze and peaceful demeanor seem as natural as their feral appearance, but Aaron isn’t just burning through a trust fund while trying to find himself in the Montana wilds; he’s working on a new hiking guidebook. His second title with the Mountaineers Books, “Day Hiking Glacier National Park and Western Montana,” is due out

sometime in the spring of 2018, and this summer he will continue his “field research” of the over 125 hikes that will end up in the book.

We talked about wildlife he’s seen on the trail (bear, moose, etc.) and how many people he’d run into out there (not many). And since I had yet to venture into the alpine backcountry myself this season, I wanted to hear about the coolest experience he’d had this summer. “I did a bushwhack hike in Glacier National Park that was a strenuous off-trail route,” he tells me. “The destination was these lakes that only a handful of people visit each year. It’s pretty amazing that places like this still exist in a park that gets up to 4 million visitors a year.”

That was a comforting reminder that there are

still plenty of places around the Northwest, even in popular National Parks, where a person can disappear for a few days without bumping into another soul. You just may have to work a little harder for it. If you’re looking for new backcountry places to visit, from drives to fire lookouts and views, multi-day wilderness backpacks, easy day hikes, or epic backcountry mountain bike rides, check out OutThereMonthly.com for more ideas and inspiration than you can fit into a dozen summers. //

Derrick Knowles, Editor editor@outtheremonthly.com

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FRESH AIR

Out ThereNews&Events

Centennial Trail Grows with Trail Extension For nearly 25 years, the Centennial Trail ran

from Higgins Point on Coeur d’Alene Lake to Nine Mile Falls Dam. Thanks to generous donations from Avista and the Friends of the Centennial Trail, Washington State Parks was recently able to extend the trail 1.7 miles further from Sontag Park to the Nine Mile Recreation Area at Long Lake.

Loreen McFaul, Executive Director for the Friends of the Centennial Trail, noted how incredible it is to have the Centennial Trail “bookended” by two beautiful lakes and to run parallel with the Spokane River for over 60 miles. “In its 25th year as the region’s recreational trail backbone, the Centennial Trail keeps improving, thanks to the dedicated support of so many community-focused entities.”

Funding for the extension included $100,000 contribution from Avista and $20,000 from the Friends of the Centennial Trail. Washington State Parks contractors completed the extension shortly after the Fourth of July weekend. Adopt-A-Mile partners such as Avista, Itron, and OpenEye fuel the maintenance and advocacy for the trail, and the newest Adopt-A-Mile partner for this extension is RBC Wealth Management.

Overall, this remote section links the Nine Mile Falls community with Riverside State Park, and it provides additional recreation opportunities for anyone camping at the Long Lake campsite. Even better, Nine Mile Falls Elementary gains a fresh asphalt ribbon right next to their playground. (Jon Jonckers)

Conservation Futures Preliminary Ranking The Conservation Futures Program, which

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seeks to acquire and preserve Spokane County’s open spaces and recreation areas, accepts property nominations every 5-6 years in order for property to be considered for acquisition by Spokane County. 38 nominations were received in 2016.

A public meeting was then held earlier this summer to take comment on the nominations; over 120 people attended to listen and give testimony about specific pieces of land. The nominations were then carefully reviewed, toured, evaluated, and formulated into a preliminary ranking list by the Land Evaluation Committee (LEC). The list was then released on July 13.

Staff will now delve into the top 15 properties on the preliminary ranked list to make sure that the

LEC has all the necessary information they need to make a final recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners, meaning the list has time to be tweaked as needed. “This step is to ensure that the properties at the top of this list are as they have been represented,” says Paul Knowles with Spokane County Parks, who says they also need to make sure there are no legal, financial or other hurdles to public access, ownership and long-term management. The list will then guide the acquisition of future lands made by the county for the next 5-6 years. The preliminary ranked list can be found on the Conservation Futures website under “2016 Conservation Futures Program Documents.”

Spokanecounty.org. (Elena Gardner)

3rd Annual

849 Port Way

Cyclists of all ages and levels encouraged to participate!

Experience 7-, 15- 25- or 50 mile rides along the Snake River. OR test your legs & lungs on a 100-mile ride through Appaloosa country to historic Spalding Park, and then climb 2,000 feet to the rolling Palouse.

Ride includes maps, snacks/water stops & celebratory meal at finish.

The ride is part of RIVERFEST which will be going on during and after the ride.

SAT. OCT. 1, 2016

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OutThereMonthly.com / AUGUST 2016

Exploring the wonders of Conservation Futures-worthy lands. Photo courtesy of Paul Knowles

Pacific Crest Trail Hike to Raise Funds for Parkinson’s Research Pass To Pass is a hike and a fundraiser for Parkinson’s disease research and awareness by including Parkinson’s people on the Washington State section of the Pacific Crest Trail southbound from Stevens Pass to Snoqualmie. Participants will include a mix of hikers with Parkinson’s and support hikers with additional mule support completing the hike from August 20-28, 2016. The team of 12 participants will average 9.25 miles with approximately 2,000 elevation gain per day

for a total of 72 miles. The hiker team’s goal is to increase Parkinson’s awareness and show there is hope for future medical advances. As many as one million Americans live with Parkinson’s disease, and approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s each year. The goal of the hike is to raise $45,000 for Parkinson’s disease charities. To support the effort or for more information visit Passtopass.org. (OTM) //

New Group Forms in Response to Alpine Lakes Wilderness Resource Damage New and significant resource damage to the

Enchantment Lakes basin recently spurred the creation of a new group, Friends of Enchantments, to help protect the fragile, iconic landscape in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the Cascades.

The Friends of Enchantments formed after several long-time backpackers in the area were stunned in the fall of 2015 with the amount of trail damage from the previous year. The damage, accompanying a spike in day use, includes widened trails, steep cuts across switchback corners, and new side trails off and along the main through-trail, sometimes three paths side-by-side and at least one sandy swath dozens of feet wide.

“The Enchantment Lakes basin urgently needs protection for the same reasons Congress passed the Alpine Lakes Area Management Act 40 years ago and overnight permits were required nearly 30 years ago: fragility and popularity,” says Greg Shannon, who has visited the Enchantments since 1979 and is among those who started the group.

The act noted that the Enchantments is a unique area of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and directed the management of the area to take into account “its especially fragile beauty, its ease of accessibility, its unusual attractiveness, and its resultant heavy recreational usage.” Despite the existing protections for the area that include permits being required for overnight trips, a ban on fires, cairn marked main trails, vault toilets being set up in some places, and

dogs being prohibited, the group says use and the impacts have continued to increase, especially in recent years with more hikers and trail runners doing the entire 18-mile traverse in a single day. Last fall, Shannon says one backpacker from Spokane noted he’d counted 240 hikers on his way in from the Snow Lakes trailhead before he quit counting that October Sunday. This was after the backpacker waited several hours for a place to park at the overflowing trailhead. Day users going into the Enchantments are required to fill out a permit at the trailheads. A chart provided to the Friends of Enchantments from the United States Forest Service shows triple the number of self-issued permits since 2013.

Educational efforts, such as signage, trailhead naturalists, and backcountry volunteers are among the activities being discussed in a partnership between the Friends of Enchantments and the Forest Service to deal with increased impacts. But the Friends of Enchantments also emphasize the number of users must continue to be addressed.

People interested in supporting the Friends’ efforts to protect this fragile landscape, including how to join as a member during this 40th anniversary of the Alpine Lakes Area Management Act and to volunteer for activities such as trailhead naturalists, should contact enchantmentfriends@gmail.com or connect with the group on Facebook. (OTM)

Mountain Gear Aloha Summer Paddle Event (August 10) Hawaiian-themed barbecue at 7:30 p.m. after paddling. It all gets started at the McKinstry Building river access at 850 E. Spokane Falls Boulevard.

Register in advance at Brownpapertickets.com/ event/2567880. Call Mountain Gear at 509-3259000 for more info or to reserve a boat rental.

(OTM)

DAY & SUNDA TUR Y8 SA

AM

BR U SER NCH V WE EK ED EN DS

W AT

Mt. Spokane Road Under Construction culvert at a creek crossing will be replaced to pre-

The main access to Mount Spokane State Park

is undergoing major reconstruction this summer and will be closed to public motor vehicle access through October 7. While inconvenient, park advocates note that the closure is both necessary and timely, as it needs to happen before weather prohibits road work when the winter season hits.

“We should be glad that the state is willing to devote so much time and money to our beloved park and its road that is so important to our recreational lives,” says Chris Currie, President of Friends of Mt. Spokane State Park. “How to manage the road for traffic during construction for maximum safety, quality and cost effectiveness is a decision that the contractor makes, not the park manager.”

The project is intended to make the road safer and last longer. Approximately 2,000 feet of road will be removed and replaced. In addition, a box

vent the road from washing out and improve fish passage. A snowmobile parking lot will also be resurfaced.

What does this mean for visitors? The park will still be fully open from 6:30 a.m. to dusk every day this summer. Visitors will still have hiking, biking, and equestrian access to Mount Spokane State Park’s trails, campgrounds, and restrooms.

Free parking will be available in an area adjacent to Bear Creek Lodge, with nearby access to trails 140 and 120. Volunteers with approved projects, condo owners, and staff will still be allowed up and down the road on a scheduled basis. For more information, call the State Parks Eastern Region Headquarters Office at 509-238-4258, or visit Mountspokane.org. To support state public lands, purchase an annual Discover Pass at discoverpass. wa.gov. (Elena Gardner) The view from the top of Mt. Spokane may be harder to get to this summer, but it’s still totally worth it! // Photo: Shallan Knowles

W. TH

OM E.C

THE MENU

W

M - 2P

S EE

Gear staff for an evening of paddling canoes, kayaks and stand up paddleboards on the scenic, lakelike waters of the Spokane River just upstream from downtown Spokane on Wednesday, August 10 at 6 p.m. Bring your own boat or you can also rent the watercraft of your choice from Mountain Gear (reservations encouraged). Enjoy a

AN

Join other flatwater paddlers and Mountain

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HikeOfTheMonth

ElK Creek Falls and Mill POnd Colville National Forest // By Holly Weiler

Ride youR Gardner Cave near the Canadian border makes for a cool summertime “hike.” // Photos: Holly Weiler

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You guessed it; Elk Creek Falls. Photo: Holly Weiler

While it’s true that waterfall hikes are more spectacular in the full flow of early spring, their cooling

properties can be better appreciated on a hot summer day. This hike begins by crossing an open hillside with a good view of nearby Hall Mountain, and includes a little over 500 feet of elevation gain. That’s by no means a substantial climb, but it is enough to warm a hiker up. That makes it all more rewarding to arrive at the bridge over Elk Creek, de facto viewing platform for the falls, where even in midsummer it’s usually possible to feel the cooling mist created by the waterfall.

This hike is excellent for families. Bring your favorite wildflower guide, or better yet, insect identification guide, to keep young hikers entertained. There is great diversity in the trees along the route as well, where Douglas fir and ponderosa pine can be seen alongside white pine on the drier portions of the trail, and where cedars thrive along Elk Creek.

The trail continues past the waterfall and descends at a gentle grade, creating a 2-mile loop hike that deposits hikers near Mill Pond. Signs point the way to the trailhead parking area, but if the roundtrip distance is too short, there’s the option to extend the hike on the Mill Pond Historic Site Trail, the location of a problem-ridden log-flume project that was later used as a footpath by local residents and 1930s CCC crews. The trail includes interpretive signage and a historic cabin, but the highlight (or should that be lowlight?) is the former site of the multiperson, open-air outhouse, capable of seating five flume workers simultaneously. Fortunately for modern hikers, the privy at the trailhead only seats one at a time.

This is a fine dayhike that’s easily turned into a fantastic camping weekend. Mill Pond has a small fee campground, nearby Sullivan Lake boasts campgrounds at both its north and south ends, and there are a limited number of free dispersed camping sites along Sullivan Creek. Round-trip distance: up to 3 miles.

Holly Weiler is an avid trail runner, backpacker, and hiker. She is the race director for the Foothills Scenic Five fun run every June that supports a scholarship fund and community events.

GETTING THERE: From Spokane, take U.S. Highway 2 north. Just past the Pend Oreille County line, turn northwest for WA-211 toward Usk. Just before Usk, join Highway 20 north to Tiger, following the Pend Oreille River. Just before Ione, turn east on Sullivan Lake Road, continuing past the lake and ranger station to Mill Pond; turn west. Trailhead parking is located above Mill Pond, and the Elk Creek trail crosses Sullivan Lake Road before climbing to the falls. //

Give Back to Our Trails: Join a Washington Trails Association trail work party on August 17 at Mount Spokane State Park. Sign up at wta.org/volunteer/east.

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EXPLORE THE KOOTENAYS with

Everyday Cyclist SWEAT

// By Erika Prins Simonds

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Many people struggle to wrap their minds around the logistics of bike commuting to work — and it often boils down to dealing with sweat.

Commuting by bike makes your entire day better.

It wakes up your brain, gets your metabolism going, and helps you focus all day. But the fact remains that it’s awkward to walk into a meeting sweaty, or to run into a co-worker first thing in the morning and try to have a conversation with big, salty droplets running into your eyeballs.

I sweat in places other people can’t even conceive of sweating. My knees sweat. The insides of my elbows. My shins. Being mortified by every bead of sweat on my face, pit stain, and clammy handshake held me back from being healthy and active until my early 20s. Once I did the math, it became obvious to me that letting our cultural weirdness about sweat define my life simply wasn’t an option: I was unhappy, unhealthy, and stressed. Plus, I didn’t have a car and needed to get to work.

It’s okay to sweat. It’s okay for people to see other people sweat. Unfortunately, that’s not how everyone sees it — and that’s a problem. Many would-be bike commuters genuinely worry about how showing up for work sweaty will impact their job. As long as we’re allowing stigmatization of people with moist underarms — and hands, foreheads, knees, hair, unmentionables, etc. — we’re also stigmatizing the active lifestyles that produce energetic, focused, and healthy employees.

According to WebMD, my number one source for medical advice and hypochondriacal panic attacks, sweating is good and natural, even if you sweat more than your body really needs you to.

Excessive sweating is called hyperhidrosis. Though it’s nice to know my perpetual underarm glow is regarded as a medical issue, it mostly seems like a weird cultural norm, one with a gendered double standard. It’s somewhat more acceptable in many situations for guys to be sweaty and even a little stinky. I think it’s pretty sexy to have a functional

autonomic nervous system, whoever you are. We sweat to stay cool. I mean, it’s right there: Sweating makes you cool!

Now that I’m much more zen about my tendency to perspire, my strategy for dealing with walking into a room sweaty after bike commuting (or, you know, doing anything but lying perfectly still in a dark, cool room) is just that: I deal with it. I own a lot of black shirts and clinical strength antiperspirant with the maximum amount of deadly chemicals in it. In the winter, I wear vests instead of jackets. Sometimes I carry my helmet into the meeting or office with me to silently signal that I’m sweaty ‘cause I’m saving the damn planet. I do what it takes to make sure I feel comfortable, which mostly means I make sure embarrassing spots like armpits and nether regions don’t show sweat. And I don’t let it stop me from doing me.

An informal Facebook survey of my bike-commuting friends indicated that most of them bring a change of clothes for work and deodorant if their commute is more than a few easy miles. Some use showers at work and just get ready there instead of at home. Others shower before work, get sweaty, then quickly freshen up at work if they’re feeling clammy. Neesha Schrom, who works at Spokane Public Radio, takes it to the next level. “Keep some distance from coworkers. Avoid enclosed spaces,” she advises. Those are excellent life choices whether or not you’ve been sweating, really.

I’ve been fortunate and intentional about working at places that support active employees. But I’m fairly convinced if I didn’t, nobody would even notice I had a thin layer of dried sweat covering my entire body unless I told them. Because like Neesha says, who really gets that close to their coworkers? // Erika Prins Simonds bicycles as her primary mode of transportation. She wrote about foragers and foodies in July. You can find more of her writing at erikaprins.com.

Hiking Exploring local creeks Sustainably // By Katie Botkin The Inland Northwest is nothing if not rich in

Barefoot creek hiking in North Idaho. Photo: Katie Botkin

you’re going full canyoneering with ropes, harnesses, and carabineers, which is a different subject).

Minimalist immersion stream hiking also requires high air temperatures as well as personal strength and flexibility. You need to be capable of any number of physical demands depending on the stream, but good balance and strong swimming (and wad-

ing) skills are crucial. Being reasonably adept at bouldering and broad jumping can also come in handy.

Earlier this summer, two friends and I went out to do some barefoot stream hiking, only to discover that the stream we had in mind was far too strong to traverse. We hiked the banks barefoot and numbed our feet in only a few seconds of exposure. When

we made it back to our 1990s Mitsubishi Montero, we discovered the battery was dead because we’d left the lights on. Being saved by another car was unlikely — nobody else had ventured out to our remote location during the hours we’d spent there, so we put the vehicle in neutral and coasted partway down the primitive road. This worked for a few miles, until we had to get out and push the car over some flat spaces — a tricky proposition if you’re so into minimalist hiking that you’ve brought no shoes and the gravel is rugged. We abandoned the car and hiked (still barefoot) until we encountered a truck, whereupon we hitched a ride and got the car jumped. The moral of the story is that, particularly if you’re going minimalist, you need to have some back-up gear in your car — and it’s always a good idea to check that your lights are off before hiking for several hours.

Safety is paramount with strong currents and slippery rocks, so always take a partner. And always proceed with caution: these situations can get bad with one wrong step. Hypothermia presents a serious risk with snowmelt, particularly if the trek goes later into the day. However, careful planning and common sense can lead to many rewarding hours of stream exploration that is easy on both the environment and the feet. // Katie Botkin is the managing editor of MultiLingual magazine, which ships to 87 countries. She frequently does international travel and adventure writing, and enjoys rock climbing and snowboarding. She wrote about the Coldsmoke Powder Festival in our January/February issue.

P H OTO: Je f f B roc k meyer

wi t h R o mi Kr ist l & Ja c k H essler

water — Priest Lake, Pend Oreille, Coeur d’Alene, the Kootenay — and they rely on the tributaries running from the mountains to feed them. The health of mountain streams has direct consequences on whatever and whoever plays in the runoff. Stream health can make or break whatever food is grown using that water, and it can potentially destroy the downstream insects and smaller creatures pollinating crops. While stream health is based on the larger ecosystem surrounding it for miles, humans can help to strengthen, rather than deteriorate, the health of mountain streams.

Barefoot hiking with little to no gear is a wonderful way to keep yourself aware of this balance.

When you’re barefoot, you watch where you’re going and what you’re stepping on, leaving the terrain almost entirely unchanged. When you aren’t wearing shoes, you’re unlikely to crash through things. Rocks in streams can play a major role in sheltering fish and other aquatic wildlife, and exploring streams barefoot means you’re less prone to kick or move rocks, and hence less prone to destroy some creature’s home.

Keeping your gear to a minimum means you’re less likely to leave snack wrappers behind or forget your bottle of insect repellant — both of which can get washed into streams and kill things. Minimal gear also allows you to move more lightly and easily, swimming through pools or crawling over rocks unhampered by excess.

The particular skills of hiking up streams and canyons or navigating waterfalls and currents require this kind of minimalistic approach (unless

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Climbing Four Traits Climbers Develop in the Northwest That Can Come in Handy Across the Globe // By Summer Hess I hiked up the steep trail to the top of a volcanic

canyon in northern Chile to fetch water, which flowed through a slim canal to the village 10 kilometers downstream. The buzz of altitude and midday desert sun slowed me down, and it was so dry that my sweat evaporated before it could cool me. Another climber, mostly naked and standing in the stream, was pouring water on his head with the same kind of five-liter bottles I intended to refill. The cold water laced down his back and plastered his long hair to his head, and he looked ecstatic as he washed away the grit and heat.

The next day when I returned for the same errand, I met a woman from the village who wore a cardigan, skirt, wool tights, and a hat tied to her head with a coarse ribbon. Only the dark skin of her hands was exposed to the sun. She approached me and said, “Senorita, could you tell everyone that the water is only for drinking?” I said that I would and I apologized, even though I had not been caught bathing in the stream. I realized that camping for weeks in the canyon without formal permission was one thing, but I also saw that we disrespected one of the Atacama Desert’s greatest miracles — the fresh water flowing from the Andes to the ancient towns.

Since this moment years ago, I have been much more aware of the historical and political contexts of the regions where I climb, not to mention localized approaches to land management and development. Fortunately, climbing in the Northwest offers the opportunity to learn many important aspects about the cultural implications of climbing before ever leaving the country.

1. Respect local ethics. As Spokane-based climber and developer George Hughbanks pointed out to me this year, “In the Portland area brushing moss off rock is seen as sacrilege, while in Spokane if you don’t thoroughly clean a route it is seen as lazy.”

Noticing and respecting the diversity of localized development can nurture your ability to pay attention to your surroundings and help you become a respectful global citizen when climbing abroad.

A practice of observation and awareness can help you infer cultural practices. It’s how I learned, for

example, that water is more than a vital resource; for many people in the world, its significance resonates on a spiritual level. Here’s another bonus: paying attention not only informs cultural sensitivity, but it can also save your life in the hills.

2. Be honest about your abilities. The ubiquity of climbing gyms and climbing films featuring ripped men and women doing hard projects have made us more obsessed with the rating of a climb. However, climbers who have sampled grades from many different crags and mountain ranges know that ratings are highly subjective. It took me several years of climbing in the Cascades to understand my abilities and tolerance for risk in different environments.

Fortunately, Washington boasts opportunities to experience many styles of climbing and disparities in rating systems.

3. Don’t expect a bail out. While official statistics are difficult to find, dozens of international hikers and climbers are rescued from perilous but often preventable situations across the New Zealand wilderness each year. In May I spoke with a staff member from Egmont National Park, home to the popular Taranaki Volcano, who said that search and rescue had been dispatched eight times in April alone. This kind of demand takes a serious toll on the small but dedicated and highly qualified team of volunteers who often put their lives on the line.

4. Be ready to interpret sparse beta. Some of the routes in Fred Becky’s Cascade Alpine Climbs are a good introduction to climbing with limited information, but in many parts of the world you can expect much less. Even the New Zealand Alpine Club’s route database, which is the most comprehensive in that country, has very limited information about most of the frequented climbs in the Southern Alps. This is not for a lack of will or resources; the kiwis are keen to keep climbing an adventure, and over-narrating routes is not their style. // Summer Hess is a writing instructor at Eastern Washington University and manages special projects for the Community Building. She profiled swimmer Susan Hales in March.

Dream globally, climb locally. // Photos: Summer Hess

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Health& Fitness The Hydration Equation

// By Tim Cunninghamm & Karen Nielsen

evening hydration. // Photo: Derrick Knowles

There is a common misconception that hydration is only about how much water you drink.

While water is a key part of hydration, the true equation is water + electrolytes = hydration. In the midst of this outdoor season, it’s a good time to take a fresh look at your hydration strategy.

Electrolytes are mineral salts that direct the flow of water throughout the body for nourishment, removing waste and providing the electrical conduction for our muscles, nerves and brain. The four primary salts are sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, supported by the four secondary salts phosphorus, sulfur, bicarbonate and chloride.

Together they promote healthy blood pressure and circulation and protect against physical and mental fatigue, cramping, and infection.

‘Hydrated’ seems an inadequate term to describe the wide-ranging b e n e f it s of water and electrolytes. The goal of good hydration is to attain the right proportion of water and electrolytes to fit the demands of your body and lifestyle, which makes the hydration equation very personal.

A healthy body does a good job of managing electrolytes if it has access to the eight mineral salts along with adequate fluid intake. Drinking enough water daily is the first step, but too much water dilutes electrolytes, creating electrolyte deficiencies. Electrolyte deficiencies and imbalances can also occur due to one’s diet, activity level, illness, injury or medication side effects. Signs your hydration equation is off? Unquenchable thirst, muscle cramps, high or low blood pressure, dry skin, cold feet or hands, constipation, excessive sweating or not sweating even in hot conditions.

A smart way to approach optimal hydration is to work at it daily to build a reservoir of fluids and electrolytes to draw from when you get geared up to play or compete. Consider adding an electrolyte

replacement drink or supplement if your hydration equation needs help and choose an electrolyte replacement with as many of the eight electrolyte salts as possible. At a minimum, be sure it has sodium, potassium and magnesium. Remember, electrolytes work best together. Choosing just one – say to help with muscle cramping – usually involves guessing and not getting the best results. Cramping could mean a magnesium, potassium, calcium or sodium deficiency, so using a full-spectrum electrolyte supplement can help take the guesswork out of which electrolyte your body needs.

Pay special attention to the sodium-to-potassium ratio when shopping for electrolytes. Classic sports drinks are designed to replenish sodium lost from sweating and typically have twice as much sodium

The benefits of adequate hydration may be more far-reaching than you ever imagined. as potassium. Sports drinks are best used only on days when strenuous activity is planned because the high sodium-to-potassium ratio can create problems with blood pressure and could make you more dehydrated. For daily use, find an electrolyte replacement with more potassium than sodium.

The benefits of adequate hydration may be more far-reaching than you ever imagined. If you have signs your hydration equation is off, work on adding water + electrolytes every day for a while and see if you get better, more consistent performance and energy to play longer and recover faster. // Tim Cunninghamm and Karen Nielsen own and manage SENSEable Supplements, a Spokane-based company that makes Lyte Balance Electrolyte Concentrate. Learn more about Lyte Balance at senseablesupplements.com.

AUGUST 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

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Kids

trip planning strategies for the national parks // amy silbernagel mccaffree A kid-friendly way to experience wilderness is by visiting a national park. Harley and Abby McAllister of Spokane Valley travel extensively to national parks with their four sons, ages 4 through 15. Last year, they compiled their research and experiences to publish two guidebooks, “Yellowstone National Park with Kids” and the other about Utah’s five national parks. Each includes suggested itineraries, recommended activities, and hiking trail descriptions for creating an epic family vacation. (Their guides are currently available as ebooks from Amazon’s Kindle store, and a new one about Glacier National Park will debut this fall.) “We want our kids and other people’s kids to see the value that exists in the national park system – nowhere else on earth does something like that exist,” says Harley. “If children don’t love it and protect it [in the future], then no one else will,” says Abby.

The McAllisters have learned important planning strategies for visiting any national park. “You want to make your time there efficient. Some of these parks are so big – if you’re not careful you can spend too much time in the car driving,” says Harley.

Choose destinations that offer plenty of handson interaction. “Get your kids immersed in nature.

They are more interested in being able to see, touch, and feel the outdoors rather than seeing a big vista,” says Harley. Plan excursions that include a stream or lake or wildlife.

Once you decide which natural attractions to

Harley McAllister and sons backpacking in Yellowstone National Park. // Photo courtesy of Harley and Abby McAllister.

visit, cluster them together on daily itineraries and choose convenient lodging based on what your family will see and do each day. Camping in the national park is the most economical option. To reduce travel stress, the McAllisters recommend reservations for your first night, and then selecting first-come/first-serve campsites later in your trip.

Schedule a kid-friendly pace. Arrive at trailheads or other destinations by 9 am to avoid crowds. “Do less things but do them well. Move at a pace where it allows kids to stop at what interests them and ask questions,” says Harley.

“Our kids’ favorite memories are always the experiences they have, never the scenery by itself.

Even our 15-year-old son wants to stop and look into the creek and observe the smooth rocks,” says Abby. “That’s what we’ve found to be important as parents – making sure we have time for that in our agenda.”

As for experiencing the backcountry, they say it “doesn’t always require that you’re that many miles away from the main entrance. We look for trails that have very little elevation gain, and there are a lot of backcountry trails like that,” says Abby.

In Yellowstone NP, they recommend the Midway Geyser Basin area for backpacking and include a chapter in their guidebook about it. For Glacier NP, they recommend the Many Glacier area, which offers a “less arduous way to get into the backcountry,” says Abby, with a two-part boat tour – two lakes connected by a hike (glacierparkboats.com).

The Two Medicine area also has easy-to-access lakes and kid-friendly hikes.

As for the visitor center, they recommend waiting until the end of your trip to visit the exhibits. It’s more interesting for children once they can incorporate their experiential memories and questions and “connect the knowledge.”

Last, keep your specific plans a secret from your children, Harley says, “so they have that sense of anticipation and then surprise and discovery” once your family arrives.

For more information about Harley and Abby McAllister’s guidebooks, visit our4outdoors.com.

Planning a national park trip? Admission is free to all national parks August 25-28 this summer.//

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BuzzBin Brewing, as well as a humorous jab at Spokane’s great running community.

Kristen Silver, Operations Manager at Orlison, says, “We knew we wanted it to be something that had local meaning and with the long running tradition here in Spokane, a running-themed beer became our number one goal. The brewery has a group of runners, so we started throwing out names and Shin Splints just stuck. Not only did it make us laugh, it is something that every runner has dealt with at one point or another, so it’s recognizable.”

Traditionally, Orlison focused on lagers, so the IPA is a mild departure from their family of beers. Inspired by the German tradition of the Reinheitsgebot, the Shin Splints is brewed using Pale, Munich, and Vienna Malts, giving it a subtle ‘fresh bread’ characteristic. The addition of Perle and Amarillo hops creates notes of spicy grapefruit without a tart aftertaste. The 65 IBU is fairly modest among Spokane IPAs, and the 5.3 ABV ensures it’s not too strong to have a couple Shin Splints following a training run on the Centennial Trail.

After its initial unveiling of the beer at the Orlison taproom, the Shin Splints IPA made an appearance at the Flying Irish running club for four weeks. More than one runner has noted that the runner on the can looks a little like Gordy Ansleigh, famous for creating the Western States 100 mile Endurance Run. For a brewery founded on the motto Brew No Evil, I believe everyone would agree this is the only Shin Splints anyone would ever want. Orlisonbrewing.com (Jon Jonckers)

Photo: Jon Jonckers

Orlison Brewing Shin Splints IPA

Shin splints is a catch-all term for lower leg pain that occurs below the knee either on the front outside part of the leg or the inside of the leg.

These splints are the bane of many runners, and they often plague beginning runners who do not build their training mileage gradually enough.

Shin Splints IPA is the newest beer from Orlison

Caramel Cinnamon by One Tree Hard Cider

It tastes like a caramel apple at the Spokane Fairgrounds without the sticky mess. Perhaps One Tree Hard Cider was aiming for an apple pie flavor, but the caramel in the hard cider overwhelms

the cinnamon. Altogether, it’s sweet and delicious, and it tastes great with a backyard barbecue meal.

Washington apples rate among the best in the world, and it’s only natural that One Tree Hard Cider would capitalize on the local crop.

Co-founder Grant Barnes says, “We buy apples from all over the Yakima Valley. Most importantly, everything comes from real fruit, no extracts or syrups.”

The Caramel Cinnamon has been a favorite from the start, and it’s in constant rotation at the One Tree headquarters. Initially, One Tree was trying to create a mulled cider taste, yet similar to apple pie. The first few batches were a big hit with friends and family. They had fun making an actual caramel sauce and adding it to the recipe. Barnes recalls it took about ten to fifteen batches to get the recipe to where it is now. Now this cider has an ever-growing fan base, and it’s among the most successful ciders in the Northwest.

When asked about the One Tree name, Barnes smiles and says, “This is terrible. My wife says I should come up with a clever story for this. I knew I wanted to make this a hard-cider business in its early stages, but it lacked a name or brand. I had maybe fifteen other names kicking around. During a nice summer day mowing the lawn, I stared at the one tree in our backyard. It’s not even an apple tree!

But it’s a really nice tree, and I blurted out One Tree.

While lacking in story, we believe that it stands for real cider and nothing artificial.”

One Tree is committed to taking hard cider in new directions, and everyone agrees they’re a great alternative from bitter or hoppy craft beers. After you try the Caramel Cinnamon cider, make sure you try One Tree’s Cranberry and Lemon Basil ciders. Find out more at Onetreehardcider.com.

(Jon Jonckers) //

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AUGUST 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

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GearRoom Summertime Backcountry Gear Montbell Superior Down Jacket

Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 Single-Person Tent

Tucked into a corner of every alpine-seeking backpacker or climber’s rucksack should be a well-made, ultra-light and highly compressible down puffy like this one. Made for high elevation treks with nights that can and do get quite cold, weighing in at just over 7 ounces, this feather-packed sweater will chase away summertime mountain chills and downright freezing fall and early winter weather at camp, out on the trail, or at home in the city.

Weighing in at 7.3 ounces, the 800 fill down, DWR treated jacket has two zippered hand pockets with hem adjustment cords. MSRP: $139. Montbell.us. (Derrick Knowles)

It was difficult to retire my old single-person tent that had performed flawlessly on countless trips from the B.C. backcountry to Mexico surf breaks, but the Fly Creek UL tent from Big Agnes made the transition easier than expected.

The lightweight, solo, mostly freestanding tent packs up tight, has a 2lb, 4oz trail weight, is fast and easy to set up, has a spacious vestibule, vents extremely well and so far has withstood a spring and summer’s worth of repeated packing and pitching in all sorts of conditions without any noticeable wear and tear. Don’t expect

EnerPlex Kickr IV Portable Solar Charger & Jumpr Slate 5K Power Bank

On two different mountain bike trips to Bend, Oregon, in recent years, our lost-out-in-thewoods camp vibe was disrupted by a dead car battery thanks to our bad habit of playing car stereo tunes and charging phones from cigarette lighter chargers for way too long. Nothing delays a morning bike ride like having to hike down a rough and rutted forest road looking for a friendly stranger who is willing to follow you back to some remote campsite to jump your car battery. Depending on how long it’s been since you’ve shaved and showered, it can take some time. This year thanks to the Kickr IV portable, foldable solar charger, which we hung from sun-exposed trees or spread out on vehicle windshields, and the Jumpr Slate 5K power bank, we were able to quickly charge phones and play tunes (from a set of ENO speakers), without risking a dead battery at a remote, trailside campsite miles from town. When clouds rolled in and slowed our sun-charging capacity or when we needed to charge more than one device at the same time, we kept the super light and slim Jumpr Slate power bank charged with the solar charger and ready to

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top off low-battery gadgets. Together these two EnerPlex devices make the perfect backcountry charging solution.

The compact and extremely light (.6 pound) Kickr IV solar charger powers up USB devices at the same rate as a wall outlet.

It’s water resistant and can withstand backcountry abuse, making it the perfect companion for keeping your phone/ camera charged on backpacking trips and from middle-ofnowhere dispersed campsites. Originally designed for the military, it’s made right here in the U.S. in Colorado.

MSRP: $99.99. Goenerplex. com The Jumpr Slate 5K serves as a backup battery that extends the life of smartphones by 200300%. It comes with USB output and micro-USB input options and has a tethered lightning cable for fast phone charging even while you have it hooked up to the Kickr IV solar charger. It’s compatible with Apple, Samsung and Android devices and charges tablets, action cameras, GPS units, MP3 players and more. MSRP: $54.99. Goenerplex.com. (Derrick Knowles)

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a lot of bells and whistles in this ultra-light package; there’s only one mesh pocket and no gear loft, although loft loops are included for a gear loft add-on option. My favorite thing about this tent, other than the fact that you barely notice the weight on your back, is how much elbow room it has for a single-person tent.

There’s plenty of space for your pack, trail hound, or even a significant other if the two of you don’t mind getting extra cozy. MSRP: $319.95. Bigagnes.com.

(Derrick Knowles)

Thule Versant 70L Men’s Backpacking Pack

Known more for its bike and roof racks and strollers and bike trailers, Thule’s Versant backpack is a high-quality, thoughtfully designed gear hauler for multi-day trips that manages to keep the pack weight down to 4.19 pounds even with plenty of welcome options. The pack is fully customizable with an adjustable hipbelt and torso, which means you can tweak as necessary to get that perfect fit. Built with tough Cordura fabric with easy access pockets and a lid that converts into a sling, the pack also has some innovative options, including click-on hipbelt add-ons like a waterproof roll-top pocket for storing phones, cameras or GPS units or additional water bottle holder.

Avex Freeflow Auto-Sealing Water Bottle

Carry 34 ounces of water that will never spill or leak with this auto-sealing water bottle. Perfect for riding in your vehicle’s cup holder for quick on-the-road sips or tucking into a pack or stroller stash compartment, water starts to flow only after you push the release button and tip the bottle to drink. It comes with a two-finger carrying handle and a cover to keep unwanted chunks from fowling the spout. It’s shatterproof and has a wide bottle mouth making cleaning easy. MSRP: $16.99. Avexoutdoor. com. (Wil Wheaton)

For keeping gear dry, the StormGuard system combines a partial rain cover with a waterproof bottom liner to create a fully weatherproof bag. Even with the rain cover on, the angled side pockets make reaching your water bottles easy without stopping.

There are two attachment loops for hiking poles or ice axes and a front “shoveit” pocket that’s the perfect place to stash or grab ditched layers. If you are willing to carry a few more ounces of pack weight in exchange for added comfort and convenience on the trail, this pack is worth every penny. MSRP: $279.95. Thule.com/en-us/us.

(Wil Wheaton)

Backcountry An Alimentary Discussion About Backcountry Etiquette // By Paul Shenkenberger

Bad backcountry karma.

Please leave no trace!

No, that title isn’t a misspelling of “elementa-

ry.” I use “alimentary” because I am talking about consuming nutrition (eating and digesting) and the last stage associated with this process (eliminating). This is not exactly a savory subject (well, it may have been when you first ate, but it wasn’t later), but it is an important one.

Nobody likes to visit a camp in the backcountry, or any area for that matter, that is spoiled and ruined by poor elimination practices. Do I seem to be beating around the bush a little? I better be careful because I might find something I don’t want to find out there. I am talking about poop, doo-doo, rey-rey, #2, brown trout, crap.

Human waste can, and has, spoiled many popular spots in the backcountry. Even in remote areas, a couple of careless individuals can ruin the next party’s experience, if not the whole trip, by failing to take care of human waste properly.

Recently, a foreign climber visited a popular crag that had unimproved camping nearby. The visitor was walking in with a friend, and the trail went downhill on the last approach to the camping area. They were about 100 yards from camp when the visitor exclaimed, “Oh, look at the wonderful white lilies in that field! You Americans have such a beautiful country!”

Lilies?

No, it was toilet paper marking each “deposit” left behind, and the visitor went from impressed to appalled in fewer than 50 yards. Respect those who will follow so they can enjoy our great land too.

Leave No Trace is a great organization that has widely accepted guidelines, called the Seven Principles, on all aspects of reducing or eliminating our impact on the backcountry spaces we visit.

Principle Three explains how to dispose of waste properly, including how to dig a cathole, build a latrine, and dispose of toilet paper and feminine hygiene products. Nothing ruins a day faster than stepping in (or worse) someone’s poorly handled

Nothing ruins a day faster than stepping in someone’s poorly handled poop. poop. You are responsible for how you handle your own excrement – both solids and liquids -- when in the backcountry. To learn more about the Seven Principles, visit lnt.org/learn/seven-principlesoverview. // Eidtors Note: A variation of this article originally appeared on the Mountain Gear blog “The Mountain Blog.”

AUGUST 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

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SUP Wild Paddleboarding the Idaho Backcountry

By Skye Schillhammer

Top: Views from the middle of the lake.

Middle left to right: Packing it all in // a well deserved rest // There’s more than one way to ride a sup. Bottom: light packs = less fun. // photos: Skye Schillhammer.

It wasn’t until the night before the trip that I started to think about the feasibility of what I had planned. My girlfriend Carly and I were organizing our gear and starting to load our packs. Inside went the normal items: tent, sleeping bags, pads, and food. The big challenge was fitting two inflatable stand up paddleboards onto my pack. With the straps at their max length, I struggled to click each buckle. Once they were latched, I stepped away feeling accomplished. Then I tried picking it up. I managed to hoist it onto the couch and slip my arms into each strap. With a big exhale, I stood up. The pack was almost 90 pounds and 4 feet wide. It largely overshadowed my 5-foot-10, 150-pound frame. Observing this spectacle, Carly asked, “Why are you doing this?” It was a simple question that only the trip ahead could resolve.

If you’ve ever hiked to an alpine lake, you have experienced the serene landscape and stunning quietness only rivaled by a Bob Ross painting.

Every summer I add as many new alpine lakes to my weekends as possible, looking for fresh views and a new favorite spot. I was looking for a change of perspective. Paddleboarding is a new sport for me, and I instantly connected with the soulful vibe and sleek glide of the stand up paddleboard.

Paddleboarding can transform a noisy place, such 20

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as the downtown stretch of the Spokane River, into a lush and peaceful experience. What would it be like to combine the relaxing essence of SUP with the alpine experience?

The hike to Beehive Lake in the Selkirk Mountains starts with a steady grade as you climb out of the Pack River valley, and it doesn’t let up until you see water. At mile 3, fatigue was setting in, and I was beginning to question the trip. Those thoughts were quickly cast away as we navigated from cairn to cairn along the granite slabs for the last mile of trail. Adrenaline kicked in as the anticipation for the lake overpowered my shaking legs. The first glimpse of the lake revealed perfect crystal sparkles reflecting off the water, with snow lining the slopes leading up to Twin Peaks above.

We quickly locked down a tent site and inflated the paddleboards.

The crisp, clear water looked inviting, but it hit with a cold, sharp sting as our feet stepped into the shallow water. I pulled myself onto the board and paddled out. My tired legs struggled to find balance.

I had become accustomed to the heavy weight from my pack, so the weightless glide across the water couldn’t have been a bigger relief. Circumnavigating the lake, the paddleboard provides an intimate perspective. Below, the fish scatter with the dip of each

paddle stroke. Ahead, 7,500-foot peaks rise into the sky. Behind, the reflection of trees ripple at the outlet of Beehive Lake.

Unlike hiking through a forest, being on the water provided open space that gave perspective to our surroundings. The answer to Carly’s question now became clear. Hiking in with paddleboards was a struggle, but it provided complete immersion into the scenery. I wasn’t just a set of eyes viewing it from the sidelines, I was in the landscape. Changing my viewpoint was as painless as a single stroke. Bright boulders of granite and green larches swiftly passed.

The ability to move this easily without any impact, excessive effort, or discomfort was unimaginable before this point. My normal routine when arriving at a lake is to drop the pack and take off for the highest peak I can see. While I still love summiting mountains, the tranquility of experiencing the lake via paddleboard was remarkable and worth every step.

The right gear can make or break a trip like this. I rented two paddleboards from Stillwater Outdoors in Spokane. They make their paddleboards for people looking to adventure beyond the end of the road. The paddleboards come in a backpack with everything you need for a float, making it easy and quick if you plan to take them out on a day hike.

Don’t venture farther than you have before without paddleboards, because the boards add weight and increase the exhaustion level. Consider taking them for a trial day hike before committing to an overnight trek. Lastly, consider the probability that you will become hooked and find yourself purchasing a board in the near future. I know I will. // Skye Schillhammer is a freelance photographer and bike shop employee at the Bike Hub in downtown Spokane. He wrote about how to jump a bike in May.

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Hiking Exploring the american selkirks // By Chic Burge

High-country views in North Idaho’s Selkirk Mountains.

Photo: Chic Burge

When people think of vacationing in North Idaho, they often think of the big lakes. But stretching from Mica Peak to the north are the Selkirk Mountains, a range that provides many opportunities for vacation adventures.

The American Selkirks are bordered on the west

by Priest Lake, and the east by the Purcell Trench near Bonners Ferry. Within its boundaries are dozens of high-country lakes and peaks nearing 7,600 feet. The S e l k i r k s’ foundation is granite.

In m any places, the granite slabs look like onion skin. Most of the lakes are lined in white granite that contrasts dramatically with the deep blue water.

The crown jewel of the American Selkirks is the

Selkirk Crest (see hike description below). The crest is easily accessible above many high-country lakes.

Another jewel is Chimney Rock, a monolith that sticks out high on the crest and is easily visible from Priest Lake. The climbing area at Chimney Rock draws elite climbers from all over the world. The shortest high-country lake hike is to Hunt Lake, on the Priest Lake side. At just 1 mile and 635 feet of elevation gain, this lake takes you into some of the

The Selkirk Mountains provide many opportunities for vacation adventures. most spectacular backcountry in North Idaho. On the northeast end of the Selkirks is Long Canyon.

At 35 miles long, it is the largest drainage in Idaho that has never been logged. Along Long Canyon

Creek are several pristine, old-growth forests and mountains as high as 5,833 feet above the creek.

Peaks and lakes that any family can access include Harrison Lake, Pyramid Ball Lakes, Mt. Roothaan, Roman Nose Lakes and Peak (lower Roman Nose Lake is ADA accessible), and Trout Lake. For hardy hikers and climbers, West Fork Lake, Peak and Old Lookout, Harrison Peak, Beehive Lakes, Fisher Peak, and Chimney Rock are places not to be missed. Camp sites at Priest Lake on the west side and Sandpoint on the east offer nice base camps with many amenities. Here is a closer look at a spectacular hike to experience on your next Selkirk vacation.

The Selkirk Crest High Country Loop Hike

This day hike involves three different trails, each to their own destination, that can all be looped together. Consider driving up the night before and staying at the Beehive Trailhead to get an alpine start. This way, you don’t have to walk up to the

Harrison Lake trailhead after the loop hike. The Harrison Lake trail is about 2.5 miles long and gains about 1,435 vertical feet.

Just before you reach Harrison Lake, you break out of the timber onto Selkirk granite. Follow the cairns up to the lake. Enjoy yourself here with your first lunch and possibly a short nap on the rocks. As you photograph the lake, notice the far back ridge.

There are two low notches on the ridge line. The second lowest notch is your goal. Walk around the left (or south) side of the lake and slowly gain elevation among the rocks. As you round the bottom of a small forest, cut straight up to the second lowest notch. Don’t power your way up. Just carefully play in the rocks to the notch. Above on your left (or south) is Peak 7033. Locate the “trail” heading up to it. As you climb, look around at the terrain.

After a photo op on 7033, head south down the Selkirk Crest. In the distance are Chimney Rock and Mount Roothaan. Continue for two more Sawtooth summits. The south face of the route down the third summit is not climbable. Enjoy your summit and walk back to your last low point along the crest. There are several safe routes down to the high meadows. Notice the sounds of gurgling water under your feet. South of the meadows you will see Little Harrison Lake next to a cliff. Wander the meadows to the southeast corner and sunbathe in the flat, white granite. The whole lake is lined with rolled granite. Take your time here and enjoy the view of the Sisters from below. Although the next hike is steep, it’s short. The view from the divide ridge is beautiful. From here, drop off the opposite side and head to Upper Beehive Lake. Take a moment to enjoy the lake. Eat your second lunch, then point your boots downhill. In 4.4 miles, you will be at your car. I’ve never measured this route, but I estimate that it’s near 15 miles and about 4,500 feet of elevation change.

Getting There Head north from Sandpoint to Samuel for about 10.5 miles and turn left (or west) onto the Pack River Road #231 just before the gas station. In 19 miles, watch for the Beehive Trailhead signs to the left. There is enough room to car camp here. If you have more than one car, you can shave off 1 mile by driving to the Harrison Lake Trailhead in the morning. //

Chic Burge lives to ski, but he also fills his time biking, kayaking, taking beautiful photos, and hiking. He wrote about Loulou’s Ski Museum for our January/February issue.

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OutThereSpotlight a camera, a pair of running shoes and an eye for the unexpected // By Jon Jonckers

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trail running in Cabinet Mountain Wilderness. // photo: Suzanne Hemmy Waldrup

Woods Wheatcroft’s photography belongs

in its own category. While he primarily shoots lifestyle pictures, his success at capturing an oddball moment remains unmatched, and it’s proven to be a great formula for this Sandpoint-based photographer. His work is frequently found in Northwest guidebooks, travel magazines, outdoor clothing catalogs, and recent covers of Out There Monthly. Like many photographers, his style favors his interests, yet he’s never shied away from getting tough shots or elaborate photos. While North Idaho is overflowing with talented and skillful outdoor photographers, few have crossed over into so many other aspects like Woods Wheatcroft.

Initially, Wheatcroft drew inspiration from Patagonia and Black Diamond catalogs, and he won a handful of photo contests. But in order to grow, Wheatcroft knew he needed to learn from the best, so he tried to emulate Galen Rowell, Art Wolfe, and Andy Anderson. “Galen Rowell was a huge influence in my early career,” Wheatcroft explains.

“I wrote a college thesis on him and John Muir. I also attended Galen’s workshop in Berkeley. The workshop was all done on E-6 slide film. Images were processed overnight from the previous day and then we reviewed. Times have sure changed.”

While digital cameras have changed the photography community enormously, they haven’t changed the pursuit of great images or the composition skills required to take award-winning or commercially successful photographs. Even now, Wheatcroft occasionally collaborates with other photographers when they have suitable assignments. While discussing a photo shoot with Ray J. Gadd, Wheatcroft said, “We all see the world differently. It’s really about finding your own vision and finding creative ways to influence one another.”

Over the years, Wheatcroft worked with several agencies, and he’s been lucky enough to work with many great athletes. He has photographed NFL players in Miami, he’s traveled to Baffin Island for a prominent U.K. clothing company, and he’s a featured photographer at Aurora stock photos.

He readily admits he doesn’t gravitate to chasing high-profile or sponsored athletes; instead he looks

to maintain a balance between his outdoor pursuits and his photography. “I shoot lifestyle and athletic people -- people who are naturally talented and engage in a certain sport. Just real people doing real activities. I actually favor running and runners. I love to ski but I don’t always love bringing a camera with me. I have become way more selective the older I get to consciously decide when to bring a camera and when to leave it at home.”

Blending lifestyle photography with an outdoor lifestyle might appear to be a dream job on the surface, but it still requires a lot of hustle. Whenever Wheatcroft is approached for advice, he tries to deliver the same wisdom: “Shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot. One of the only ways I see to hone your style is to practice, and for photographers that means shooting. A lot. A style will eventually rise to the top of the pile.”

Wheatcroft’s website features six simple galleries: Personality, Form, Play, Light, Energy and Travel. Rarely does an image fit neatly into a single category, but these gallery titles illustrate how Wheatcroft compiles his selections and reveals them to the public. Nearly all of them are outdoor images with a wild area of settings and circumstances. Collectively, Wheatcroft shines a light on the fun and silly times we all enjoy at the lake, on the trail, or high in the mountains.

Wheatcroft is humble enough to point out many other gifted photographers in the Inland Northwest. He’s pleased with his work so far, but like so many other finicky artists, he’s always looking to improve. The Pend Oreille vistas and the craggy Selkirk mountains are more than a setting; they’re ongoing contributors, and they help him learn more about capturing the light. His imagery is an extension of his lifestyle and the activities that bring joy to his life. Visit his website at www.woodswheatcroft.com. //

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Jon Jonckers serves on the board for the Friends of the Centennial Trail and is also an assistant cross country coach at Shadle Park High School. He is the co-author of “Climbing the Rocks of Sharon,” available at Mountain Gear.

AUGUST 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

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Idaho eight years ago, we had no idea how much food grows in this verdant corner of the United States. Although we now have a thriving bucket garden in our driveway, we find that there are considerable limitations to what we can produce ourselves. So occasionally we will go and pick the fruit of someone else’s labor.

U-pick farms are prolific throughout the Inland Northwest and afford plenty of produce-picking opportunities throughout the spring, summer, and fall. From berries and herbs to pumpkins and apples, pickers pay notably lower prices than they would at grocery stores while supporting their local growers and embarking on unique outdoor adventures suitable for the whole family. And the flavor of freshly picked produce is a wonder you will want to experience over and over again.

Agriculture has always been an important element of the Inland Northwest’s economy – think of the abundance of grains, fruits, vegetables, and more that is produced in the Palouse. According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, most of the farms in North Idaho, Spokane County, and north of Spokane are small – 10-50 acres. While local food movements and urban agriculture have increased the demand and appreciation for small farms, it is still a constant struggle to make a venture of this size profitable.

Two of the chief agricultural expenses that we pay the price for at the supermarket are labor and transportation. When you go to a farm and participate in the daily or seasonal harvest routines, you save the farmer time and money and create space

in your own budget for other things. You also rub shoulders with the growers, pay them directly, and go home confident that you are putting healthy food on the table.

Green Bluff Growers, an association of more than 30 small family farms and food stands on the outskirts of North Spokane, is probably the most well-known pick-your-own-produce area in the Inland Northwest. Green Bluff also presents fruit festivals, live music, breweries, hayrides, corn mazes, and farm-made foods throughout the year.

But it’s not the only place to pick around here.

You can pick berries at The Hughes Farm in Post Falls, where they also raise beef to sell. In Coeur d’Alene, you can take the family to harvest tomatoes and peppers at Promised Land Family Farm in August, or pumpkins at Prairie Home Farm in the fall. Ask the vendors at your farmer’s market if they have u-pick days. Additionally, Rathdrum, Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry, and St. Maries all have little patches of foodie heaven where you can experience farming traditions and share in the harvest.

(Download the Idaho U-Pick Directory at treasurevalleyfoodcoalition.org.)

Whether you choose to forage in the wild, take advantage of friends’ gardens and fruit trees, or take a trip to a local farm, you will not regret getting out even one weekend this summer to savor the bounty flourishing right where we live. // S. Michal Bennett is a freelance writer, poet, and blogger based in Coeur d’Alene. She wrote about motor boat rentals in July. Read more of Michal’s writing at www.shortandtasty.blogspot.com.

Running RACE DAY EXPECTATIONS // By Dave Dutro

DUATHLON

Race-day smile. Check! // Photo courtesy of Dave Dutro.

In my last column, I wrote about my anxiety

as I trained though injuries for my first 100-mile race at Bryce Canyon, Utah. Despite my injuries, I vowed to show up to the start line and do my best. I wish I could say that I finished the race, but unfortunately I dropped out at mile 75. I am disappointed to say the least, and I feel like I gave it my best effort; but like anybody who has spent months training for a huge athletic accomplishment only to drop on race day, I have a lot of self-doubt. I am moving forward and trying not to second-guess my decision. I had some unexpected issues on race day, but I learned a lot about myself for my next big adventure.

Despite having to drop out, I had a lot of fun at this well-organized race, and I’m proud of all of the local people who also showed up at the start line to chase after their goals; plenty of them finished their race. Travelling to Bryce Canyon, camping with runners and their families, and receiving the support of such a large group at a race this far from home were the best parts of the adventure. An incredible bond is formed when you suffer through an event with 20 other like-minded athletes (or deranged maniacs).

Bryce Canyon is an amazing course. It was wellmarked, the volunteers were wonderful, the weather was beautiful, and the aid stations were wellstocked. I cannot fathom the planning and minute details involved with putting on a long-distance event this big. I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed the out-and-back course. I loved having the opportunity to see all of the runners on their way back and being able to check in with our group out on the trail. It was a huge emotional lift, almost as much as seeing my crew at the aid stations.

The 100-mile distance makes ultra-runners stand out from the other nut jobs who like to run trails. Yes, the 100 miler is still on my radar. I don’t know exactly when I will train for my next one or where it will be, but I am compelled to prove to myself that I can overcome this challenge. I already miss the long training hours; I am almost ready to sign up for another race. But not quite. //

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Dave Dutro is an avid trail runner, mountain biker, hiker, and co-founder of the Trail Maniacs. Read about Trail Maniacs events and activities at www. trailmaniacs.com.

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AUGUST 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

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Leaf, Root, Fungi, Fruit Bunchberries // by Kelly Chadwick

Beautiful bunchberries. // Photo Credit Neelix at English Wikipedia

Finding and picking fruit is instinctively rewarding, even intoxicating. Like foraging for mushrooms or hunting for Easter eggs, collecting berries triggers our ancient endorphin dropper, which keeps dripping as you pluck the neverenough morsels from the plant. About 20 wild, edible berries are found in the Inland Northwest.

Some are delicious such as thimbleberries. Many are bland, bitter, or pithy. A few inhabit the middle ground: fun to eat but not delectable. Among these is the bunchberry, Cornus canadensis. If you are expecting a juicy huckleberry, disappointment will follow, but change your perspective to that of a forager/survivalist and they are pretty darn good. The softly sweet flavor is alluring yet hard to pinpoint; the yellow flesh is mealy but with little crunchy seeds that add satisfying texture. The fruit is adored by myriad animals. As blogger Paghat points out, this is probably the reason the berries have also been called squirrel berries, pigeon berries, crowberries, grouse berries, and bear berries.

Bunchberries grow in patches from spreading rhizomes around moist, shady spots in mixed conifer forests. They are part of the dogwood genus, related to the shrubs that line our rivers and flowering trees adorning our yards, yet are a diminutive herbaceous plant just hovering inches over the duff.

The flowers and leaves are similar in size and shape to their big relatives, some of whose fruit is also edible. Instead of growing tall, they have developed a trebuchet-like stamen that can shoot pollen into the air to be carried away by wind or embedded in passing insects. A 10,000 frames-per-second camera is required to catch the elastic launch.

Bunchberries are easily identified once familiar. The plant has a whirl of six leaves below four white bracts (leaves disguised as petals) around a

small bouquet of miniscule white and green flowers. The berries start appearing in early summer and continue untill fall, depending on location -an important mast for migrating birds and hikers when other species have already passed. In addition to being eaten, the seeds can be collected and used to propagate in your garden.

Enjoy the scarlet berries as a trailside snack or garnish or mixed in jams and pies due to high pectin content. Dried, add them to trail mix. A couple years ago, Santé featured bunchberries at a wine dinner in demi-glace and to bespeckle the plates.

The leaves are consumed fresh or cooked, fitting into my category of “dinosaur food,” i.e., leafy, wild, and bit fibery. Many tribes gathered the berries for food and numerous medicinal purposes with an emphasis on treating colds and pediatric applications including colic and bedwetting. Today they are largely overlooked except by a small number of curious foragers and hikers.

Identifying Attributes: Found in colonies low to the ground. Six pointed oval leaves with distinct veins form in a whirl, two of which are often bigger and opposing. When flowering it’s similar to a dogwood tree blossom.

Cautionary Points: This is a fairly distinctive plant, yet be sure of identification before eating, as you always should be.

Culinary Attributes: Soft and sweet with crunchy seeds, though lacking juiciness. Best eaten as a snack or dried but can be reduced in sauces and spreads or used as garnish. Pectin vehicle. // Kelly Chadwick is an arborist and owner of Spirit Pruners. He grew up wandering the outdoors, which led to a lifelong passion for the natural sciences. He wrote about puffball mushrooms in June.

#GOLAKEROOSEVELT

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OutThereMonthly.com / AUGUST 2016

UrbanOutdoors Getting Cardio When the Air Quality is Bad // By Erika Prins Simonds Good air. Bad air. Photos courtesy of Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency

Those midsummer blood-red sunsets in Spokane carry bittersweet beauty — they’re usually a sign of high levels of fine smoke or dust particles. During those times, and throughout the summer, experts recommend checking the air quality when planning an outdoor workout. Skipping workouts during the hot summer months isn’t the answer. Poor air quality can increase the risk of health problems that, in turn, exercise helps prevent, so it’s worth figuring out how to get in that cardio sesh.

Not only do we inhale more air while exercising, but we’re also more likely to breathe through the mouth, which means fine particulates bypass the natural air filter of the nasal passage. Those particles can cause long-term damage to the heart and lungs.

In Spokane, those fine particles come primarily from wood burning, motor vehicles and diesel engines and a small amount from commercial and industrial operations. Ground-level ozone (the main ingredient in smog) also peaks during the summer months – it is formed photo-chemically when vapors from vehicle refueling and commercial and consumer products like paints and solvents react in the heat and sunlight. Fine particles and ground-level ozone are monitored and concentrations are converted to a user-friendly scale called the Air Quality Index. The AQI has color-coded categories ranging from “good” to “hazardous.” The

AQI is updated hourly at www.spokanecleanair. org/current-air-quality.

Heidi Peterson has that link on speed-dial. As an athletic trainer for North Central High School’s athletes, she refers to the air quality before each practice and adjusts workouts if necessary. “Last year when [the AQI value] was at its peak was right when we started with high school sports,” she says. “We were monitoring the air quality. That’s the most important thing: to know what the air quality is on a given day.” Students with asthma or other respiratory problems did indoor workouts, while students with healthy lungs did abbreviated versions of their regular outdoor workouts on days with more moderate pollution levels. Most school sports events and practices are postponed when the AQI is in the orange category (101-150).

According to the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency, an orange category AQI of 101-150 is considered unhealthy for some, and rigorous outdoor activity may worsen conditions. For those with concerns or questions about their health, checking with a healthcare provide is the best bet before exercising outdoors whenever the AQI is higher than the moderate level (51-100). During last summer’s wildfires, the Spokane area had five “red” days where the air quality was considered unhealthy for everyone.

Working out during rush hour can also mean exposure to more vehicle emissions. To avoid

everyday pollution, avoid roads, urban areas, and outdoor smoking areas, says Dr. Edward Laskowski, co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center. People with existing medical concerns including asthma, diabetes, heart or lung conditions, or lower respiratory disease should take extra care to avoid inhaling polluted air.

“If you already have an issue, your threshold should be lower. You definitely want to be in filtered air, which is inside,” says Peterson. Taking aerobic classes at a fitness center, running on the treadmill, using the stair climber or even doing repetitions of the staircase at work can substitute for a regular outdoor workout, she says. When the

air quality is good, exercising outdoors is still the best option unless health conditions require extra caution. “Nothing replicates the actual movement that you’re going to be doing [in a race],” Peterson says. “If you’re doing a trail race, you need to train on trails.”

Air Quality Resources

• Current air quality for the Spokane Region: Spokanecleanair.org/current-air-quality • AQI guide with health recommendations for schools, coaches and event coordinators: www. srhd.org and www.spokanecleanair.org

ALTERNATIVES FOR OUTDOOR WORKOUTS

When the sky is looking particularly apocalyptic, try these alternatives to your regular outdoor workout.

1. Same workout, but shorter. Heidi Peterson, athletic trainer at North Central High School, reduces student athletes’ hour-long workout to 45 minutes when the AQI is at a level that puts any students at risk.

2. Hit the gym. The treadmill has its perks: Blast Missy Elliot or your favorite podcast without the safety concerns of blocking out noise during an outdoor run. Mixing up a treadmill run with stair climber intervals will work a few of those muscles you’d be feeling after a hilly run.

3. Take a class. Indoor cardio is slightly less miserable with friends. Sign up for a spin class — or work those glutes like never before at barre class.

4. Get thrifty. Joining a gym might not be worth it if you generally prefer to play outside.

Find a torturous set of stairs at work, school, or a nearby office complex. Spend that gym sign-up fee money on an indoor bike trainer and catch up on Game of Thrones while you spin your wheels. Save on exercise class fees by inviting a buddy to do workout videos with you in your living room. //

AUGUST 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

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Four Local Long-Distance Hikers and Their Unique Experiences on National Scenic Trails

By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree If you’ve ever dreamed of taking on one of North America’s long-distance hiking trails, one of the best things you can do to prepare is learn from others who have walked before you. These four Inland Northwest-based hikers offer a glimpse of life out on the trail that may inspire you to hit the trail yourself one day.

LAURA TALAGA, AGE 32 Trails: “Triple Crown” - Appalachian Trail, 2007

(March 2-Sept. 20); Pacific Crest Trail, 2013 (April 25-Sept. 14); Continental Divide Trail, 2015 (April 25-Sept. 6, flip-flop). Trail name: Beads.

“I had a lot of backpacking experience growing up [near the AT in northeast Pennsylvania], and in college I was an outdoor education instructor. So I thought I knew what I was doing,” Talaga says about her thru-hike along the Appalachian Trail (AT) as a new college grad, accompanied by her partner and her dog. “I started out with a 45-pound pack. But throughout the entire AT, I started shedding gear and found out what I really needed.”

Talaga moved to Chewelah, Washington, in October 2012 for her dream job, and the following year completed her solo thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). “That’s when I moved from a more traditional approach to what I call ‘comfortably light.’ My base weight is more like 15 to 20 pounds,” she says. In addition to working in Chewelah, Talaga is head veterinarian for the Spokane Humane Society. Each of her hikes were fundraisers for animal rescue organizations.

Hiking solo, she says, was “liberating but also made me address my fears…decision making is a different experience. I felt vulnerable. It was challenging to trust my instincts and decisions.” On the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), while hiking northbound into Colorado and confronting dangerous snow conditions, Talaga chose to leave the 28

OutThereMonthly.com / AUGUST 2016

trail and go around the snow while other hikers continued. She headed to Wyoming’s Great Divide Basin, and then “flip-flopped” by hiking the CDT southbound from the Canadian border – a “decision I was proud of – listening to my gut, rather than going with the crowd,” she says.

Food: “I like the nutrition of having my own fruits and veggies. I dehydrate food from my garden and the farmer’s market. [While long-distance hiking] I don’t cook.” She used to carry a stove and fuel, but then found it easier and more lightweight to “just rehydrate things.” She enjoys the simplicity: she puts food in a jar with cold water and carries it as she hikes to eat throughout the day – cold oatmeal, veggie hummus, coconut curry couscous, ramen noodles with spicy peanut sauce, and veggies. “I eat a Snickers bar before bed because I have been eating healthy all day,” she says.

Advice: “You don’t know what you can’t do until you try. There is no purpose in waiting,” she says.

“I am not some spectacular athletic person.” Other than being reasonably fit, she says it’s not really possible to train for a long-distance hike. She hikes no more than 10 miles a day during the first week and then slowly increases daily mileage.

What she’s learned: “Perspective for all aspects of life. All things do pass. If today you’re uncomfortable, tomorrow you might not be. You realize how small and insignificant your problems are in the world.”

TIM PLAZA, AGE 38 Trails: “Triple Crown” - Appalachian Trail, 2012

(March 11-July 1); Pacific Crest Trail, 2013 (May 6-Aug. 30); and Continental Divide Trail, 2015 (May 20-Sept. 1). All solo thru-hikes. Trail name: Tribhu (“tree-boo”).

For the AT, Plaza’s first backpacking trip ever, his pack weighed 30 to 35 pounds. After moving from the East Coast to Portland, Oregon, with plans to hike the PCT, he invested in ultralight gear, for a base weight of eight pounds, and 18 to 23 pounds with food and water. His high-mileage hiking pace is fast. “I love going four miles an hour for 16 hours a day,” he says.

“I’m incredibly low-maintenance. I don’t need a lot of luxury items, and food is the same way. I have always been of the mindset that because of the amount of exercise I’m doing, I can get away with eating some unhealthy food,” he says. He purchased the “highest calorie, highest fat, lightest, most convenient foods available” from grocery stores and gas station mini-marts along the way. For the PCT, he only sent himself a few resupply boxes, and he used a stove to prepare simple meals. After the PCT, Plaza began working for REI. He moved to Spokane in 2015, transferring to the Spokane store where he’s a sales manager and outdoor instructor.

Flip-flopping on the CDT: When Plaza arrived in Colorado on June 20 after a month of hiking through New Mexico, there was 275 percent of snowpack due to late-May snow. “I attempted

Opposite page top clockwise: Laura Talaga // Tim Plaza tops Mt. Elbert // Tim Plaza overlooking a ravine // Lauren Deland waking up near the windmills // Lauren Deland getting water from a high mountain lake. // Bottom: Laura and her companion overlooking the valley Top of this page clockwise: Lauren Deland patching up a fellow hiker // the largest water crossing so far // morning light on camp // trail signs are handy // travis and lauren display ridgeline smiles // water signs of trail angels // the easiest way over the canyon. Bottom of page: water features all photos courtesy of the hikers.

40 miles in three days, and it was the scariest three days of my life – avalanches, shelves of snowpack breaking away near me,” he says. So he “flipped” to Waterton Lake in Glacier National Park and hiked southbound to where he left the trail in Colorado.

Why he loves the backcountry: “The connection with nature…something resets and evens out [in the brain] when you’re away from human noise and surrounded by nature,” says Plaza, who has college degrees in psychology and has worked as a therapist. “I’m just a completely different person than I was in 2011 – ever aware of my ego -because of all that time for reflection. [Being in the wilderness] is probably the best form of therapy that I’ve ever experienced.”

Advice: Talk to other long-distance or section hikers, and get properly fitted for a backpack and footwear. Most of all, “Don’t think of it as one long trip. It’s a series of three- to 10-day backpacking trips all strung together. It’s like any long-term goal in life: if you break it down, it’s attainable.”

“I felt vulnerable. It was challenging to trust my instincts and decisions.”

LAUREN DELAND AND TRAVIS NICHOLS, BOTH AGE 34 Trail: Currently hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, started on April 23; projected to finish on Sept.

22, 2016. Follow their progress at fivemonthstonowhere.com. For this story, they were interviewed by email and phone while in Mammoth Lakes, California.

“We’re not backpackers,” admits Deland. “Hiking was always the way to go do something else.” Their primary pursuits include backcountry skiing, rock climbing, and trail running. But hiking the PCT was percolating as an idea for a few years – “a trip that would challenge us, make us grow,” DeLand says. DeLand and Nichols celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary on the PCT on June 20.

For a couple that first met in a Wilderness First Aid course at Eastern Washington University, hiking 2,633.5 miles together is just another outdoor adventure. “It’s all about the journey,” says Nichols. After Nichols was granted leave from his job with the Spokane Regional Health District, he and DeLand began an intense five-week period of preparation. (Nichols also works as a buyer for Mountain Gear and DeLand is a massage therapist.)

Goals and strategies: “Our goal for the first day was no blisters. The goal for the second day was no blisters, not dehydrated. The goal for the third day was no blisters, not dehydrated, and no sunburns. Repeat. This strategy worked well and got us through the desert that is Southern California,”

writes Nichols and DeLand in an email. “The most important motto is ‘hike your own hike.’ We hike late while most hike early. We sleep more and walk faster than our peers. We camp high and dry while others camp low with plenty of water. Every time we have made our own decision, it has worked for us. The lesson is to listen to your body and the trail and to make the decisions that are right for you.”

Backpacks: DeLand’s and Nichols’ base weights are 21 and 18 pounds respectively, with an average of 40 and 56 pounds with food and water.

(They’ve chosen to carry comfort items to improve sleep.) They arrive in towns every five to seven days to pick up resupply boxes, and they take “zero days” as needed – rest days with no hiking mileage.

Food: “One of the guiding principles of our trip was personal health. We are focused on a no-added-sugar, real-food diet. We are eating rehydrated chia seeds for breakfast, dried fruits and nuts for snacks, tuna for lunch, and grain and rehydrated vegetables for dinners. We are grateful for the quality sustained energy. Both of us have lost about 16 pounds and stabilized in weight, although our bodies are still reshaping to adapt to the demands of constant movement.”

Leave no trace: “We appreciate more how even the softest forms of recreational use, especially trail building and hiking, have a significant impact on wilderness. It is foolish to think that anything humans leave our fingerprints on is still in its original form. There is no reason to ever leave

toilet paper in a wild space, even under eight inches of top soil. We have become disgusted by the high level of impact from human waste disposal at cherished camping areas.”

Challenges: “I’m enjoying it more than I thought I would,” says DeLand. “It’s a mental game out here. I had prepared for this to be a sufferfest, thinking I would be sore and miserable most of the time. But once we got into it, I realized it was easier than I thought it would be.” DeLand was diagnosed with chronic fatigue 14 years ago. “I’m thrilled with the results I’ve achieved [on the PCT]. Pushing my body to its limits has been extremely rewarding for me,” she says, including hiking up to 20 miles a day and summiting Mt. Whitney. “The biggest issue I have with chronic fatigue is that I still need a lot of sleep – 11 to 12 hours a night. We have to travel a faster speed and take fewer breaks so we make the same miles [as other hikers].” Nichols states, “We’re at a point now where it’s not too hard physically to get back on the trail. We’ve found that if we spend too many days recovering, we get used to the modern conveniences, like fresh water. It’s more of a mental thing than physical.” //

AUGUST 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

29

Come See Us!

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Through October

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8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

5th Avenue between Division and Browne

RaceReport

Coeur d’Alene Triathlon and Duathlon + WunderWoman Triathlon // By Janelle McCabe West Plains WunderWoman Triathlon (August 7)

Looking for a team-building activity for my female colleagues several years ago, I suggested that we form three-person relay teams to compete in the annual WunderWoman Triathlon. Twenty-four ladies signed up, and it was the first triathlon for nearly all of us. Throughout the summer, we swam, biked, and ran together and separately to prepare for the event. I was the designated cyclist on my team, but a couple weeks before the race, I went over the top of my handlebars and broke my wrist. My team’s runner and I switched places at the last minute, and we all had a blast.

Marla Emde, Race Director and Co-Owner of Emde Sports, notes that almost 40 percent of WunderWoman participants each year are firsttime triathletes. “For many, our sprint-distance triathlons are perfect. Women can still work, spend time with their family, gain fitness, and not have a huge time commitment toward training like some of the longer triathlons,” Emde says.

WunderWoman begins and ends at Waterfront Park in Medical Lake. There’s plenty of space, both for the the transition area between each of the three disciplines and also for the families and friends who arrive to cheer and spectate. There are two distances

to choose from: sprint and Olympic. Because of its small size and lack of motor boats, Medical Lake usually offers a smooth, warm swim. On the bike course, athletes ride through the mostly flat plains to the south, encountering few technical turns; in fact, the most challenging part about the bike course can be the wind that often sweeps across the plains. The run course sends athletes around the perimeter of Medical Lake on a combination of paved trail and residential roads, finishing back at Waterfront Park. The entire course is well-marked and marshalled by volunteers. The festivities continue after the finish line. “After women cross the finish line,” Emde says, “we’ve got an athletes-only Racer Recovery Lounge with free massages, stretching options, refreshments, and a rose for each participant. We’ll have even more pamperings this year,” she teases.

“My hope is that the ladies enjoy triathlon or one of the disciplines involved with triathlon (running, cycling or swimming) for a lifetime,” Emde says. “If we were able to introduce them to the sport, educate them along the way, and make it a positive experience for them, then we’ve done our job well. For many, it has been a life-changing experience.” Visit wunderwomantriathlon.com for more information.

Before Ironman, there was the CDA Triathlon.

Coeur d’Alene Triathlon and Duathlon (August 13)

䰀䄀䐀䤀䔀匀Ⰰ 圀䔀 䠀䄀嘀䔀 䄀 一䤀䜀䠀吀 䘀伀刀 夀伀唀⸀ 䔀瘀攀爀礀 䴀漀渀搀愀礀 渀椀最栀琀 昀爀漀洀 㐀ⴀ㄀ 瀀洀 ␀㈀㔀 䤀渀琀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀 䌀氀愀猀猀 ⠀㘀ⴀ㠀瀀洀Ⰰ 椀渀挀氀甀搀攀猀 刀攀渀琀愀氀 ☀ ㄀ 圀攀攀欀 吀爀椀愀氀 䴀攀洀戀攀爀猀栀椀瀀℀⤀ ␀㄀ 䐀愀礀 倀愀猀猀攀猀 ⬀ ␀㈀ 䜀攀愀爀 刀攀渀琀愀氀 嘀椀猀椀琀 圀椀氀搀圀愀氀氀猀⸀挀漀洀 漀爀 挀愀氀氀 ⠀㔀 㤀⤀ 㐀㔀㔀ⴀ㤀㔀㤀㘀 昀漀爀 洀漀爀攀 椀渀昀漀 愀渀搀 瀀爀攀爀攀最椀猀琀爀愀琀椀漀渀℀ 30

OutThereMonthly.com / AUGUST 2016

Decades before Ironman pulled into town, Coeur d’Alene started hosting an annual Olympicdistance triathlon called The Scenic Challenge.

The event remains notorious for its hilly bike course that some might call punishing while others might call glorious. In recent years, the event’s organizers have added two popular options: a sprint-distance triathlon and a duathlon. My first experience at this event was on a relay team (an option only available for the Olympic-distance triathlon). Part of the fun of a team is choosing the team name, and our team, “Are We There Yet?”, took first in our division. A couple years later, I did the event by myself, eager to discover if the bike course would feel punishing or glorious when sandwiched between a swim and a run.

This race is staged at Coeur d’Alene City Park, providing a nice, wide beach for both athletes and spectators. The large size of the lake and the exposed nature of the beach make it difficult to forecast how smooth, choppy, warm, or cold the water will be. Swimmers enter the water with their age groups spaced five minutes apart. The bike course is where the race earns the “scenic” element of its nickname as it travels east along CdA

Lake Drive to the turnaround at Higgins Point.

Shortly thereafter, athletes doing the Olympic distance or duathlon peel off and up (and up, and up) Yellowstone Trail, while sprint-distance athletes backtrack toward the transition area at City Park.

On Yellowstone Trail, Bonnell, and Mullan Trail roads, athletes discover the “challenge” element of the event’s nickname; the inclines require granny gears and possibly out-of-the-saddle pedaling. The payoff is the long, screaming descent back to CdA Lake Drive and then the flat ride back into town.

The out-and-back run course for all three events goes northwest on the Centennial Trail (which is mostly flat but offers little shade), finishing back at City Park.

There’s more than one reason this event has thrived since its inaugural race in 1984. It is wellorganized and supported by the community, and the weather is reliably good at this time of year. You have to earn the glorious views, though! Visit cdatriathlon.com for more information. // Janelle McCabe is a Jill-of-some-trades, master-ofnone who writes about the Inland Northwest outdoor and active community. She wrote about how not to climb a mountain in July.

Kaniksu Ranch Family Nudist Park

Food&Fuel

To Booze or Not to Booze, That is the Question // By Ammi Midstokke

Since 1939

Safe, Wholesome and Healthful Enjoyment

Relax by the pool, enjoy Bocce, Pickleball, Volleyball, Shuf�leboard.

Hiking or Biking on miles of mountain trails.

Where a weekend is like a week off!

Home of the “Original” Bare Buns Fun Run

Six months ago, I decided to stop drinking alcohol for a year. Surprisingly, this was not inspired by a DUI, drunk dialing an ex-boyfriend, or one of those hangovers that has me queasy at the thought of tequila. It was a health choice and a sociological experiment.

It is a conversation I have in my clinic over and over and over again: “Do I have to give up drinking?” What surprises me most about this is how worried we are about the thought of that, as if simply not consuming alcohol will change the quality of our lives for the worse. What will we drink with dinner? What will we do with our friends? What do we do after a bike ride? There are, of course, those matters of the high sugar content, the empty calories, immune suppression, inflammatory qualities, and the fact that alcohol is a depressant. So if alcohol is so bad for us, why do most of us drink it rather regularly?

Alcohol is both an excitatory and inhibitory substance, so while it slows your brain down, it upregulates your dopamine receptors (those pleasure centers that make us think we’re a lot funnier than we are). The result is that it relaxes us and brings us joy. That doesn’t sound like a bad thing at all. We get conflicted when we read that drinking a glass of red wine is like an hour at the gym (scientific journalism at its worst) and that it is loaded with antioxidants. So are blueberries. While there are some properties to s ome alcohol that can be beneficial, we can get those from much healthier sources. The reality is this: The physiological benefits of drinking alcohol will never outweigh the negatives. Period. Should we stop drinking? Yes. And no. Here’s what I’ve learned in six months of sobriety: 1. There is really no replacement for a welltimed Moscow Mule in the summer. Honestly, I miss them.

2. I wake up with clarity and energy nearly every day. Without an alarm. And I always recognize the

person next to me (which I am sure he appreciates since he’s been there for a while now).

3. I socialize significantly less at night. This means most of my socializing happens out on the trail and most of my recovery happens in the evening. I make use of daylight hours and evening hours are for resting, eating, and settling into my home and family. This might sound boring, and to my 20-year-old self it would be. But that girl had her turn already and she took a long one.

4. I spend less money. Or in theory I would if I had not replaced red wine with an artisan kombucha habit.

5. I recover amazingly well from my sports adventures. No lingering swelling or soreness. It’s amazing.

6. The conversations I have with my social circle are authentic, important, and rewarding. This isn’t to say we all want to go deep when we hang out.

However, I greatly appreciate the meatiness of my interactions when I’m not lubricated and can pronounce words like glyphosate and hyperbilirubinemia without snorting wine out my nose.

Everyone should try to give up alcohol (the same goes for coffee) for a while every year. Maybe it’s just a month, maybe two. It’s a great break for your liver and your pocket book and it provides a little perspective. I don’t want to give up alcohol for the rest of my life. But like all things in life, we need

Safe Family Fun in a beautiful and serene mountain setting.

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Hiking and Biking on miles of forest trails.

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If alcohol is so bad for us, why do most of us drink it rather regularly? balance. As far as I am concerned, the occasional cocktail can be a healthy part of that. Experiencing joy is good for our bodies. Just makes sure you find other sources for it too. // Ammi Midstokke is a nutritional therapist in Sandpoint. She confesses that she totally drank half a glass of wine after her 24-hour mountain bike race. And no, she’s not starting over. Read more of her writing at www.twobirdsnutrition.com.

AUGUST 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

31

INDEPENDENT LOCAL

OutdoorCalendar RUNNING (August 1-5) Glutes in the Koots.

Where: Sol Mountain Lodge, B.C. A week of premier trail running in British Columbia’s Monashee Mountains with Canadian adventure athlete Jen Segger. Info: www. glutesinthekoots.com

(August 6) Strides for Strong Bones 3 Mile Fun Run. Where: Medical Lake. This 3 mile fun-

music and perspectives

run/walk is presented by the non-profit Washington Osteoporosis Coalition. All proceeds go to WOC for education and screenings within our community and throughout Washington. Register with or without a t-shirt and donations are happily accepted and appreciated. Post event expo features free heel scans and a chance to chat one-on-one with medical professionals regarding strong bones and bone health. Cost: $15-25. Info: Wastrongbones.org

(August 7) “Dig Your Grave” Trail Marathon.

Where: Hope, Idaho. When: 6:55 a.m. Run in the beautiful Cabinet Mountains, limit 50 runners. Cost: $50 Info: www.goatevents.com

(August 13) Dam Days Fun Run.

Where: Nine Mile Falls, WA. When: 9 a.m. 5K with an 80’s flair.

Info: damdays.com/run

(August 26-28) Women’s Yoga/Trail Run Retreat. Where: McCall, Idaho. This ladies only retreat will include morning yoga sessions with a certified yoga instructor, and options for a guided 3-5 mile beginner trail run and a 12 mile intermediate

AUGUST 2016

trail run (Loon Lake) on Saturday. Sunday will begin with a restorative yoga session and a recovery run for everyone through Ponderosa State Park. Your entry fee includes yoga, guided trail runs, breakfast, lunch and snacks. Info: Trailmaniacs.com

(August 26-27) Spokane to Sandpoint Relay.

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

TRIATHLONS (August 7) WunderWoman Triathlon.

Where: Medical Lake, Wash. A women’s-only triathlon featuring both sprint and Olympic distance races.

Individuals or relay team entries, featuring a postrace recovery lounge, great shirts, custom finishing medals and a great venue at Waterfront Park. Info: Wunderwomantriathlon.com

(August 27) Priest Lake Triathlon. Where: Priest Lake, Idaho. Swim, bike and run magnificent Priest Lake. Info: Priestlakerace.com/events/triathlon

BIKING (August 6) 8 Lake Leg Aches. Where: Group Health Corporate Office, Spokane. When: 7 a.m.

Choose from 15, 30 45 or 75 mile routes. Info: lcsnw. org/unebugrun

Have an Event You Would Like to List?

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

(August 26-28) Silver Race Series.

Where: Silver Mountain Resort, Kellogg, Idaho. Shimano USA & Vertical Earth present the 2016 Silver Race Series. Returning for its third year the SRS will feature two distinct mini-series, a 3 race downhill series and a 3 race Super-D Series. These mountain bike races have a category for everyone and a variety of courses to challenge all ability levels. Info: Silvermt. com

WATERSPORTS (August 6) Paddle, Splash and Play. Where: Nine Mile Recreation Area, Riverside State Park. When: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Adults and children can try out different kinds of paddle craft for free, with volunteers on site to provide instruction and ensure the safety of those out on the water. Try sit-on-top kayaks, whitewater kayaks, paddle boards and a 22ft Voyager canoe which seats up to eight at a time. Info: Sckc.ws (August 13) Pend Oreille Poker Paddle. Where: Pioneer Park Boat Launch, Newport, Wash. Paddle the boat or custom watercraft of your choice and build up your poker hand. This is the 35th anniversary of this fun, Pend Oreille County tradition. Info: Porpokerpaddle.com (August 20) Pack River Delta Paddle.

Where: Pack River, Sandpoint, Idaho. Join Idaho Conservation League volunteer Kathy Cousins for an awesome day of paddling around the amazing Pack River Delta in Lake Pend Oreille. This delta is home to a thriving population of native plants, birds, and other animals. Participants must provide their own kayak and have a valid 2016 Invasive Species Sticker.

Space is limited. Info: Idahoconservation.org

OTHER (August 3) Hike and Fish Trout and Big Fisher Lakes. Where: Selkirk Mountains near Sandpoint.

Join Idaho Conservation Leagues Nathan Faggard for an epic adventure into the Selkirk Mountains. The group will be hiking into two incredibly breathtaking lakes and fishing at both. Participants need a valid 2016 fishing license as well as their own fishing gear and equipment. Info: Idahoconservation.org

(August 10) SheJumps Into Fly Fishing. Where: Mirabeau Park, Spokane Valley. Join SheJumps for an amazing fly fishing clinic. Learn to fly fish with some of the top fisherwomen in town. Heather Hodson, founder of Spokane Women on the Fly, is teaching this two-hour Fly Fishing Introduction Class with the hands-on help and expert instruction of the ladies of Spokane Women on the Fly. Cost: $15. Info: a.twohig@shejumps.org

(August 27) Newport Biayakathon. Where: Newport, WA. This bike and kayak race raises awareness for youth substance abuse prevention. The Biayakathon was created with the non-running multi-sport athlete in mind. This exciting race features a kayak and bike portion, hence the name. It is approximately an eight mile race; six miles on the bike and two miles on the river. Cost: $30. Info: Biayakathon.weebly.com

32

OutThereMonthly.com / AUGUST 2016

OutdoorCalendar

Full events calendar at www.outtheremonthly.com

SIXMONTH TRAININGCALENDAR RUNNING (September 3-5) Kootenay Sufferfest.

Where: Kaslo, B.C. 50, 25, 12, and 6k trail runs. 100KM, 40KM, 15KM rides. Suffercross, Duathlons and Junior Duathlons. Info: Kootenaysufferfest.com

(September 10) The 3rd Annual Riggins Salmon Run. Where: Riggins, Idaho. This is a family-friendly event offering multiple distances including a Kids Fun Run for children ages 3-6 years, as well as a half marathon, 10k and 5k distances. Runners will complete an out-and-back course retrieving a special token at the turn around aid station. The finish line for all distances will be at Riggins City Park where runners and their families can enjoy live music, food and drinks. Info:rigginssalmonrun.com

(September 10) Lake Chelan Marathon, Half & 10K. Where: Chelan, Washington. This RunWenatchee-produced race is considered by many to be one of Washington’s premier destination events because of the sights and amenities at Lake Chelan.

It is a point-to-point course. Runners are transported from Manson to the start lines by shuttle.

The event is a USA Track & Field certified race. Info: Adventurewenatchee.com.

(September 18) Scenic Half Marathon. Where: Sandpoint. With a route across Sandpoint’s iconic Long Bridge, offering panoramic views of Lake Pend Oreille and the surrounding mountains, the Scenic Half Marathon attracts hundreds of runners from all across the country. Info: Scenichalf.com

(September 24) Priest Lake Marathon. Where: Priest Lake, Idaho. An off-pavement running adventure through the Panhandle National Forest. The scenery of a trail race, but on drivable dirt forest road with full course support like a road race. All runners beginner to elite love this course for its scenic trail run-like experience. Info: Priestlakerace.com

(September 24) Happy Girls Run. Where: Spokane. Women’s half marathon, 10k and 5k runs with great post-race festivities and fabulous goody bags. Info: Happygirlsrun.com

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

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

(October 15) Oktoberfest Trail Runs. Where: Leavenworth. The Oktoberfest Trail Runs (10-mile and 8K, plus a kids’ race) are held on Wenatchee National Forest lands near Leavenworth, with the start and finish occurring at the Leavenworth ski hill facility. The event is held during the community’s famous Oktoberfest celebration. Info: Runwenatchee.com (October 16) Sekani Trail Run.

Where: Camp Sekani, Spokane. The 8th annual trail run is a 5k/10k event (plus a free Kids’ 1k) with 100% dirt trails and fabulous course challenges with 700 feet of elevation gain for the 10k run! The trails run above the Spokane River and provide great views of the City of Spokane and surrounding areas. Proceeds benefit Franklin Elementary’s APPLE program. Info: Sekanitrailrun.com

WATERSPORTS (September 24) Head of the Pend Oreille Regatta. A weekend of activities in Priest River, Idaho, starts with a Friday evening row-by and 1K sprint race along with a family BBQ at the Priest River Yacht Club. On Saturday morning there will be a 5k head race on the beautiful Pend Oreille and Priest Rivers. Info: HOPregatta.org

TRIATHLONS/MULTI-SPORT (September 10) Rathdrum Adventure Race.

Where: Rathdrum, Idaho. The premier “alternative” triathlon in North Idaho. Mountain bike Rathdrum Mountain or along a beautiful path, kayak Twin Lakes, and then run the trails back to Rathdrum’s charming City Park. There is a long and short course and you can compete as an individual or as a team.

Info: Rathdrumadventurerace.org

BIKING (September 3-5) Kootenay Sufferfest. Where: New Denver, B.C. Both a test of fortitude and a family-friendly event with something for everyone. 100, 40, and 15K xc mountain bike races and the Marin Denim Crit. Info: Kootenaysufferfest.com (September 10) Ovando Gran Fondo.

Where: Ovando, MT. When: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Fifth annual offroad ride. Fully supported 55-mile ride through some of Western Montana’s most scenic landscapes on dirt roads. Info: missoulasymphony.org/ride

(September 11) SpokeFest.

Where: Riverfront Park, Spokane. When: 8:30 a.m. Various distance rides for all ages of riders through Spokane. Helmets required. Info: Spokefest.com

(September 17) Blazing Saddles Bike Ride.

Where: Colville, Wash. This is a fully-supported ride with rest and food stops as well as mechanical and medical sweeps throughout the course. There are four different courses along northeast Washington’s famed road biking routes: 20-mile, 40-mile, a metric century, and a century. The ride benefits Colville Rotary projects.

Info: Blazing100.org

21st ANNIVERSARY

FAT

TIRE

FEST

2016 AUGUST 25-28 A 4-day festival celebrating our love of bikes in beautiful British Columbia.

Featuring pump track races, drag races, poker ride, shuttle runs, kids races and an epic enduro race! Plus the Roots, Rocks and Rhythm party.

Lots of fun, cool prizes and legendary mountain bike trails await.

What's stopping you?

nelsonfattire.com

(September 18) Rotary in Motion “RIM” Ride.

Where: Liberty Lake, Wash. Enjoy a scenic ride of 15, 25, 50 or 100 miles through beautiful areas of Liberty Lake, Post Falls, Green Bluff and Spokane Valley.

Cyclists of all ages and ability levels are welcome.

Routes will be clearly marked, with food stops, and medical and mechanical support. Proceeds from this ride support various Rotary Club and community outreach projects. Info: Rotaryinmotion.com

(October 1) Rivers and Ridges Ride. Where: Clarkston, Wash. The Rotary Club of Clarkston invites cyclists to come explore the area on a road bike on routes over major rivers, through the famous Palouse and back. The ride includes three familyfriendly courses (7 14, and 25 mile) as well as challenging half century and full century routes. Info: Riversandridgesride.org

(September 24) Harvest Hustle 5K. Where: Rockford, Wash. When: 7:45 Same day registration available. Cost: $7. Info:sespokanecountyfair.com (October 1) Run Like a Girl Half Marathon and 10K. Where: Bellingham, WA. When: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

This non-competitive event for those who just want to have fun. Go as far as you feel comfortable, no pressure to finish. Go as fast or as slow as you like.

Experience the chocolate mile and other suprises along the way. One of a kind hand-made medals at the finish line. Info: whatcomymca.org

(October 15) Hayden Lake Marathon.

Where: Hayden Lake, Idaho. Enjoy breathtaking views while running past golf courses, lakes, horse pastures, farms, and North Idaho forests. The full marathon, half and quarter distances all start and finish at Hayden Lake’s Honeysuckle Beach. Info: Haydenlakemarathon.org

AUGUST 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

33

Last Page HONEYMOON CAMPING // By Erika Prins Simonds Most campsites do not offer pillow menus.

Pillow menus make me feel like a queen. And no matter how many Clorox wipes I employ, I can never really get those crusty picnic tables clean. For these and many other reasons, I haven’t camped much. But as my new husband Mark and I planned our honeymoon and future travel together, I came around to the obvious: Camping is the ticket — and a really cheap ticket, at that — to getting out of town as often as possible. Mark’s and my best soul-sharing always seems to happen on the road. In two years’ worth of road trip conversations, we’ve discovered we share a major bucket-list item: to see everything.

Seems doable, right? Bad news for pillow menus, though. If we’re going to travel as often as possible, it needs to be cheap. And so, I embarked on the noble quest of embracing unsanitary picnic tables, dirt behind my ears, and (cringe) campsite toilets.

We planned our honeymoon road trip to alternate camping nights and hotel stays, easing me into the world where pay-by-the-minute showers are a luxury. We set up a travel wedding registry at a website called Traveler’s Joy and another for camping gear at REI. As we headed toward the Oregon Coast, we decided at the last minute to take the long way through Mount Hood, where we found a campsite at Trillium Lake in the Reader’s Digest “Most Scenic Drives in America” book we’d checked out from the library. (Having a non-internet resource came in handy more than once.)

We were abundantly prepared, perhaps to the point of overkill. We had dehydrated meals and just about a full kitchen in miniature form. I packed all

Cheers to honeymoon camping! Photo: Mark Simonds

the toiletries necessary to run a day spa. We had games to play by citronella candlelight. Mark, who is 6 feet 2 inches tall, can stand up and stretch his arms out inside our humongous tent. There was no pillow menu, but we were hardly roughin’ it.

On our 2-mile bike ride around Lake Trillium the next morning, we spotted a couple of salamanders (or very salamander-looking fish), a blue heron standing next to the lake, and three bald eagles — two adults and one juvenile — hunting. From our travel log: “The other people watching said [the

eagles] were two parents teaching their kid to fly.

‘He’s not so good with the landings yet,’ one of them said. The path felt like something out of ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ with wooden trails where the ground got marshy and humongous plants to go with the humongous trees.”

A few days later, we stayed at Patrick’s Point just north of Eureka, California, along the coast.

Our gruff, probably inebriated campsite neighbor barked, “You’re doing it wrong!” as we set up our tent, which didn’t do much for my rookie camper

self-esteem. Nonetheless, setting up camp went twice as fast this time around and we had time to hike down to the tide pools before sunset. Though sucking it up and embracing camping started as a practical move to make travel more feasible, the nights we spent camping — and the mornings of exploring the surrounding areas — were the most memorable of our honeymoon.

Trillium Lake Campground, OR: This tuckedaway campground lies just before Government Camp at Mount Hood. Campsites right along Trillium Lake and a boat launch nearby make for a serene, long weekend fishing trip. Follow the 2-mile trail along the lake to see the marshy wetland critters, take a swim at the public beach, and catch spectacular views of the mountain. More information at recreation.gov.

Patrick’s Point State Park, CA: A short detour from Highway 101, Patrick’s Point is a mashup of the redwood country and craggy coastal vistas that draw travelers to the area. Unlike some of the other wooded campsites along the 101, the air is crisp and cool at Patrick’s Point thanks to the proximity of the ocean. Make your way from the point down to the water during low tide to explore abundant tide pools and search for agates along the sandy beach. Sea lions sun themselves on the further-out rocks in the mornings — kind of a California version of a rooster alarm clock — and whales make an occasional appearance. Find more information at parks.ca.gov. // Erika Prins Simonds writes our Everyday Cyclist column. You can find more of her writing at erikaprins.com.

S AT U R D AY SEPT. 24TH

SPOKANE

Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Runs

Great post-race festivities & fabulous goody bags | Register at WWW.HAPPYGIRLSRUN.COM

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OutThereMonthly.com / AUGUST 2016

THE PERFECT FIT IS HERE performance fit

all widths and sizes of the 880v5 & 860v6

available only at:

THE BIKE SHOP THAT COMES TO YOU SERVICE PACKAGES STARTING FROM

69

$

1 2 3

BOOK ONLINE WE SHOW UP GET RIDING

BOOK YOUR SERVICE AT:

velofix.com AUGUST 2016 / OutThereMonthly.com

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Full-service shop, rentals, demos, classes and an experienced staff!

For a complete list of class descriptions, events and information, contact us: 2002 N Division, Spokane • 509.325.9000 • mountaingear.com/retail Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am-8 pm, Sat 10 am-6 pm, Sun 11 am-5 pm

Scarpa Origin Rock Shoe $89.00

PADDLING • BACKPACKING • CLIMBING

Bluewater 10.2 Eliminator Rope Reg $197.00 SALE $149.98

La Sportiva Men’s & Women’s Trango TRK GTX $219.95

Black Diamond Men’s Momentum Women’s Primrose Harness Package Reg $99.95 SALE $74.94

No matter your outside adventure, we have you covered.

Marmot Tungsten 3 Tent Reg $259.00 SALE $189.94 Black Diamond Alpine Ergo Cork Trekking Poles Reg $149.95 SALE $99.98 Osprey Men’s Volt Women’s Viva $179.95 Boardworks Jetty SUP Package Reg $699.00 SALE $569.96

Perception Sound 9.5 Kayak $409.00

Tickets on Sale Now!

NRS Vista PFD $79.95

Don’t forget – We rent Boards, Kayaks & Canoes!

2016 Canoe, Kayak & Stand Up Paddle Board Event & Hawaiian themed BBQ Wednesday August 10 - McKinstry Building 850 E Spokane Falls Blvd

Aquabound Stingray Paddle $89.95 Castle Lake, White Clouds Wilderness, ID 36

OutThereMonthly.com / AUGUST 2016

Register at brownpapertickets.com/event/2567880 Jim Rueckel