Out There Outdoors // August 2018

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AUGUST 2018 // FREE

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

Weekend

warrior

bike packing Urban Outdoors:

Spokane poetry Walks

5 Hikes

backcountry

Last Page: Adventuring with kids

EAting well in the wilderness YOGA in the backcountry

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BACKCOUNTRY

PURSUITS

WAYS WE LOVE THE WILD

DID YOU KNOW? The General Store has been around since 1946. What was once a small surplus store is now the best department store in Spokane, WA, and it is still locally owned by the same family. When I ask people what The General Store is, they often say a sporting goods store, a hardware store or a discount store. I also hear, if you can’t find it anywhere else that is the place to try. The General Store is actually much more than those things. In addition to being an ACE Hardware store, The General Store has an amazing apparel department with top brands like Carhartt, Under Armour, Columbia, Merrell and more, and an Automotive department that is full of knowledgeable staff that sells speed and custom parts for imports and domestics as well as everyday replacement parts. Not to mention the Sporting Goods department that is massive and full of camping gear, fishing, kayaks, disc golf and more. The General Store also works with many local charities in the area. If you want to support a local store that carries the best products and supports the local community The General Store should be your first stop every time. The General Store is located at 2424 N Division. – John Snowshovel

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Dehydrated Food Yeti Mug Dome Tent

Machete

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AUGUST 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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CONTENTS

FEATURES

20 | Five Favorite Backcountry Hikes 24 | Two Wheelin’ Weekend Warriors

Seating

29 | Backcountry Pursuits

CrazyCreek.com

#sitthere

29 DEPARTMENTS 15 | Running 16 | Provisions 18 | Health & Fitness 19 | Health & Fitness 22 | Gear Room 26 | Nature 27 | Urban Outdoors

COLUMNS

18

12 | Everyday Cyclist

IN EVERY ISSUE

14 | Out There Kids 17 | Eatology

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| Intro

23 | Leaf, Root, Fungi, Fruit

8

| Dispatches

10 | Hike of the Month 32 | Outdoor Calendar 34 | Last Page

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SHAGGY PARASOLS ARE SIMILAR IN FLAVOR TO PORTABELLAS BUT ARE MORE CONCENTRATED, WITH A NUTTY MINERAL CHARACTER...

AUGUST 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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AUGUST 2018 WWW.OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM PUBLISHERS

Shallan & Derrick Knowles EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Derrick Knowles MANAGING EDITOR

Summer Hess ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Jon Jonckers SPECIAL SECTION EDITOR

Amy Silbernagel McCaffree DIGITAL EDITORS

Siobhan Ebel Lisa Laughlin COPY EDITOR

Andrew Butler CONTRIBUTORS

S. Michal Bennett Kelly Chadwick Madison Ellington Emily Erickson Adam Gebauer Bart George Kayla Haas Sarah Hauge Summer Hess Scott Hotaling Matt Jeffries Meredith Jeffries Jon Jonckers Katie Kern Derrick Knowles Shallan Knowles Lisa Laughlin Mike Lithgow Rachael Mallon Amy S. McCaffree Ammi Midstokke Eric Neufeld Keith Quien Mandy Schenkemeyer Justin Skay Suzanne Tabert Brad Thiessen Holly Weiler Woods Wheatcroft Wil Wheaton Rebecca White ART + PRODUCTION

Jon Jonckers Shallan Knowles Jordan Lemm Mary Beth McHenry TO REQUEST COPIES CALL

509 / 822 / 0123 AD SALES

Derrick Knowles: 509 / 822 / 0123 derrick@outtheremonthly.com OUT THERE OUTDOORS

Store Hours 10:00-7:00 Monday-Friday 10:00-6:00 Saturday 10:00-5:00 Sunday

(509) 309-2174 Spokane Valley (509) 328-4786 Spokane

Fleet Feet Spokane 1315 W Summit Parkway - Spokane 13910 E Indiana Ave, Suite C Spokane, WA 99201

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Mailing Address: PO Box #5 Spokane, WA 99210 www.outthereoutdoors.com, 509 / 822 / 0123 Out There Outdoors is published 10 times a year by Out There Monthly, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. ©Copyright 2018 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 expertsor seek qualified professional instruction and/or guidance, and are knowledgeable about the risks, and are personally willing to assume all responsibility associated with those risks.

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

ON THE COVER: NICOLE BLACK AND SUZANNE WALDRUP HEADING TO CAMP NEAR CLIFF LAKE IN THE CABINET MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS, MT.

Photo: Woods Wheatcroft 6

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / AUGUST 2018

Intro: Backcountry Pursuits FOR MANY OF US it’s impossible to see a cairn and not feel a tinge of relief.

Whether impressively symmetrical or precariously balanced, these stacks of rocks comfort us into thinking that we are going the right way. They give us a feeling of balance and persistence in an otherwise off-kilter world.

This is especially true in a place like Aasgard Pass in Washington’s Alpine Lakes Wilderness, which gains roughly 2,000 feet of elevation over less than a mile. The pass is a shaky mash up of scree, boulders, and hidden streams. It is also the exact kind of place where I usually strain my eyes and hope for a cairn.

Something was wrong, though, on my first

of what would be many descents off Aasgard Pass. I stumbled back and forth, trying to follow the primitive signs. They were not linear or suggestive of any particular direction. In fact, they lead nowhere and everywhere at the same time, tantalizing my tired body with a false hope of an easier way.

After half an hour of inefficiently shifting to-and-fro over the mountain pass, I did something that would normally make me feel ashamed. I paused on the steep descent, took aim, and swatted at a small tower of rocks with my hiking boot. The release was surprisingly familiar. Kicking over my first cairn felt as good as removing a splinter or yanking a weed out by its roots.

On that challenging but popular trail, cairns felt more like graffiti than a wayfinding device. They seemed like a way to replicate a Zen board on Pinterest, or a manner of incarnating a stranger’s Instagram feed. I’m sure some of those cairns were stacked with intention; however, it seemed like many more people followed suit because they wanted to look cool, because they were mimicking the crowd, or because it felt good to leave their mark on a place.

Building cairns where they don’t belong has always seemed to me an obvious violation of Leave No Trace principles. Or maybe it’s not so obvious. Maybe it shows the challenging dilemma of managing shared spaces. One

person’s meaningful participation in an outdoors experience may be another’s reminder of disruptive human impact.

In this year’s backcountry issue, we invite contributors to explore the diverse ways people work and recreate in the beautiful, remote regions of the Inland Northwest. Anglers, hikers, scientists, hunters, and firefighters have unique yet similar reasons for being outdoors.

Like a well-placed cairn, their perspectives highlight important considerations for playing, learning, and subsisting in harmony with the natural world. // SUMMER HESS, MANAGING EDITOR

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Dispatches WHAT’S BREWING AT MCEUEN? ALES FOR THE TRAIL AUG. 11

Don’t miss the Ales for the Trail event at the newly renovated McEuen Park in downtown Coeur d’Alene August 11. Over 25 local brewers are participating, as well as hard ciders like Summit Cider and North Idaho Cider. Live music will fill the park, courtesy of The Rub. And all of the proceeds for this event go to the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation.

The first 400 people to register will receive a keepsake commemorative mug, so buy your tickets

in advance online (or at the event) and bring your ID. The North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation helps preserve and develop the Idaho section of the Centennial Trail and promotes non-motorized trail connectivity throughout North Idaho. The foundation formed in 1990 and helps oversee the trail maintenance and assists with the long-term care and capital improvements on the trail. Ales for the Trail is a major contribution to the NICTF, so drink up and support your trail! Alesforthetrail. org. (Jon Jonckers)

PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST DEATHS ON THE RISE IN WASHINGTON NEW WASHINGTON Department of Transportation report, called the “Gray Notebook,� shows pedestrian and cyclist deaths doubled statewide in the past four years. 22 percent of the total traffic fatalities in Washington in 2017 involved cyclists or pedestrians. The DOT has a selfimposed deadline of 2030 to reach Target Zero, or zero fatalities and serious injuries. However, this recent study revealed that distracted drivers are not the biggest threat; between 2013 and 2017, 48

A

percent of pedestrians and 43 percent of bicyclists killed were impaired by drugs or alcohol. Neither WSDOT nor the Gray Notebook commission could say for certain what’s causing the uptick; however, Washington’s distracted driving law, which outlaws the use of electronic devices while behind the wheel in most cases, only took effect in July 2017. WSDOT expects to see a decline in deaths and injuries in the coming years. (Jon Jonckers)

YES, YOUR PADDLEBOARD CAN HARBOR AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES IF IT FLOATS, it’s a boat and must be checked for aquatic invasive species at check stations around Washington State, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Aquatic invasive species, says WDFW, includes well-known ones like Eurasian water milfoil and zebra mussels as well as lesser-known invasives that pose an ongoing threat to Washington’s environment and economy. Invasive species can damage irrigation and water systems, clog hydroelectric dam intakes,

The trail should lead to the mountains, not to your carpets.

TILE & GROUT

UPHOLSTERY

ODORS

(509) 92-CLEAN zerorezspokane.com

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / AUGUST 2018

reduce fishing opportunities, and out-compete native plants and animals. Penalties for transporting aquatic invasive species in Washington include up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $5,000. Inspections are required for all motorized and non-motorized watercraft, including paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, as well as other boats, during the boating season at check stations.

More info at Wdfw.wa.gov/ais. (Derrick Knowles)

SUMMER IS PRIME TIME TO VISIT SCHWEITZER WHILE SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN Resort is pri-

marily known as a winter playground, the mountain also offers plenty of summer recreation. Ski trails transform into opportunities for downhill mountain biking, cross-country biking, or hiking with a view. “Searching out those elusive huckleberries while taking in the views of Lake Pend Oreille is a perfect way to pass a summer day,� says marketing manager Dig Chrismer. The resort village is open daily in summer, and offers trampoline jumping, zip lining, wall climbing, and sluicing from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. You can also catch a scenic chairlift ride to the summit and Sky House full-service restaurant and bar for awesome views.

Chrismer says the view coming down the mountain is an unforgettable experience for skiers and riders who are used to only riding the chairlift up the mountain.

Schweitzer also puts on several popular

events throughout the summer, including the Huckleberry Color Fun Run and Walk August 5. With a 5k and 2.5k option, Chrismer calls it a must-do family event. You’ll receive a t-shirt, sunglasses, powder pack for the post-race village color toss, a gourmet hotdog with huckleberry and veggie embellishments, and a complimentary full-day scenic foot passenger chairlift ticket.

Schweitzer’s Fall Fest (August 31-Sept. 3) is in its 27th year of bringing live music and craft beer to the mountain. This Labor Day celebration will have free live music every day, with regional wine and over 75 micro-brews and ciders. Kids can enjoy a soda tent, where they can mix their own flavors. This event marks the last weekend of Schweitzer’s summer operations, so be sure to visit the resort in all of its summer glory before then! Schweitzer.com. (Lisa Laughlin)

SUMMER ‘18SERIES

NORTH IDAHO’S LONGEST TRAIL RACE TO BENEFIT VETERANS AS THE SUN RISES on August 4 in the Cabinet

Mountains, dozens of runners will lace up their shoes and strap on their loaded packs as they prepare to complete the Dig Your Grave 100k, the longest trail running race in North Idaho history.

The 100 kilometer race will take runners from Hope, Idaho, to Round Top Mountain, along the rocky ridge to Moose Lake, up the summit of Pend Oreille Mountain, and down Trestle Creek Road to the finish. The race boasts over 15,000 feet of total elevation gain, and with its rugged nature and limited aid stations, requires runners

to sufficiently support themselves along the truly grueling course. Race director and Hope resident Mike Ehredt created the course to highlight the beauty of the region he lives and runs on a regular basis. As a proud supporter of veterans’ causes, Ehredt is donating a portion of each race entry to the “Band of Runners,” an organization that “empowers veterans and their surviving family members by sharing the community of trail running and the physical and psychological benefits running in nature provides.” Learn more at www. run7b.com. (Emily Erickson)

SPOKANE RIVER CENTENNIAL TRAIL SURVEY Friends of the Centennial Trail (FCT) assists in the maintenance and development of the Spokane River Centennial Trail and adjacent trails through advocacy and safety. Currently, the FCT has introduced an online survey to help update Centennial Trail wayfinding, along with safety signs and asphalt

THE NON-PROFIT GROUP

markings. Right now, this trail is the backbone for all of Eastern Washington’s trails and boasts 2.5 million users annually and ranks #3 in the Spokane Trip Advisor’s attractions. Visit the FCT Facebook page to participate in this survey focused on safety and signs for the Spokane River Centennial Trail. (Jon Jonckers)

EXCLUSIVELY AT AUGUST 3

MOUNTAIN GEAR CELEBRATES 35 YEARS WITH BIGGEST SALE OF THE YEAR OVER THREE DECADES ago, long before some of

the popular outdoor gear brands we wear and use today even existed, Spokane resident Paul Fish designed a better backpack, and soon he was making them by hand out of his living room. It wasn’t long before he opened his own outdoor gear shop, Mountain Gear, to supply the region’s growing number of backpackers, climbers, and skiers with quality outdoor gear. As business boomed, Fish expanded to include mail-order and online shopping options that made the Mountain Gear brand well-known to outdoor enthusiasts across the U.S. Still owned locally with a retail store with plenty of easy-access parking at 2002 North Division,

Mountain Gear is celebrating its biggest sale of the year and 35 years in business with its annual anniversary sale, August 8-12. This year’s 35th Anniversary Sale features some of the best prices of the year, says retail sales manager John Schwartz, including up to 60% off on Keen footwear, summer apparel, and other select gear, as well as sweet deals on backpacking, climbing, and paddle sports gear; clothing; and even some ski gear. “The deals will be great,” says Schwartz, “but it’s in-store only so you need to come down to the retail store to check it all out.” For details call 509325-9000. (Derrick Knowles)

AUGUST 10

SANDPOINT SCENIC HALF LIVES UP TO ITS NAME THE SANDPOINT SCENIC Half Marathon is named such for a reason—you’ll find stunning views of Lake Pend Oreille. You’ll also find plenty of post-race drink, food, and recreation, and your race fees will support local Sandpoint businesses.

“The race start and finish line is at our iconic City Beach, offering a panoramic view of Lake Pend Oreille,” says Kristin Carlson of Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce. “Both the 10k and half go across the Long Bridge, allowing runners to experience Sandpoint’s true beauty.”

The annual event held September 16 this year marks the 10-year anniversary for this race. Race coordinators have hinted at some special anniversary swag and activities, and runners can expect to receive a t-shirt, finisher’s medal, and awards for top finishers. “It’s about more than just the

beauty,” says Scenic Half participant Andy Groat.

He describes the course as a gorgeous out-and-back without significant elevation gain, but he keeps coming back for the sense of community. “It’s a very doable race, whether you’re hyper competitive or 13 miles seems terrifying,” he says. “Because it’s an early fall race, it accommodates all levels of runners who have set goals over the season.”

The race brings in over 700 runners from across the country, creating a fun vibe to explore the culture of Sandpoint. After your run, be sure to visit the downtown shopping district’s unique Cedar Bridge marketplace. You’ll also have access to great restaurants, local breweries and wine, live music, and post-race swimming at the beach. Scenichalf. com. (Lisa Laughlin)

AUGUST 17

SWIM (OR PADDLE) THE SNAKE DOES THE THOUGHT OF swimming or paddling across the wide, open waters of the Snake River south of Spokane sound like a fun challenge? Your chance to give it a try with a bunch of other swimmers and paddlers with safety boat support and river traffic management comes August 11 at the 6th annual Swim the Snake event. Held at Lyons Ferry State Park at the confluence of the Palouse and Snake rivers and the Lyons Ferry Marina across the river, Swim the Snake is an annu-

al fundraiser for the Blue Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Council and youth summer swim programs in Pomeroy and Dayton. The paddleboard/kayak leg begins at 11 a.m. at the Lyons Ferry Marina and the swimming event starts at 11:30 a.m. at Lyons Ferry State park.

The event includes team and solo options, and all swimmers and paddlers must wear a numbered swimming cap. More info at Swimthesnakedotorg. wordpress.com. (Derrick Knowles)

111 S. MADISON ST. SPOKANE, WA

ONETREEHARDCIDER.COM AUGUST 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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HikeOfTheMonth MUD LAKE LOOP

Lolo National Forest // By Holly Weiler

UNNAMED WATERFALL ON WEST FORK INDIAN CREEK. // PHOTO: HOLLY WEILER

CLEARWATER CROSSING is one of the best start-

ing locations for a variety of trips into the proposed Great Burn Wilderness. Located just over the Montana border, several of the trails connect to one another and can be combined to form loop trips of varying distances. For one of the lessfrequently traveled routes, try the Mud Lake Loop, where hikers can enjoy both deep forest canopy and open mountain ridges—plus dip toes into an alpine lake at 6,216 feet—before returning to the starting point on a connecting trail.

Don’t bother putting on boots at the trailhead, as the hike starts with a crossing of Fish Creek.

Unfortunately, the old wooden swinging bridge that used to test hikers’ bravery while keeping their feet dry didn’t survive a 2015 wildfire. By August the waters have generally receded enough to make the crossing manageable, but water-crossing sandals along with trekking poles for extra balance will come in handy for this hike.

The first three miles gently ascend Fish Creek via trail 101. At the first trail junction with trail 110, bear right and continue on 101. At the second junction with trail 104 on the left, note the return trail to complete the loop, and continue up 101, which begins to climb in earnest. Continue past connecting trail 510 on the right, but at trail 121 turn left to ascend the Middle Fork Indian Creek Trail. Ignore all trail mileage markers along the way or face certain disappointment, as the trail has been rerouted at some point in the recent past, and the mileage signs all reflect an earlier era. Try to count the one blessing that the old trails must have been far more steep to have such mileage numbers attached to them.

At approximately 8 miles the trail crosses the west fork of Indian Creek at an unnamed waterfall that is a worthy destination by itself. From the waterfall it’s approximately 3 miles to Mud Lake, located on the Montana side of border but so close to the Idaho/Montana Stateline Trail that it’s a worthwhile side hike to touch the Idaho border.

Note the upper part of trail 104 intersecting on the left upon the final approach to the lake, as this is the return trail.

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Mud Lake has several nice campsites with views of the lake and the crest of the Bitterroots serving as the backdrop. After a night or two of camping, retrace the first section of the route to the trail intersection noted on the approach to the lake, and descend via trail 104. Be sure to fill up water bottles first, as this trail is dry until it reconnects with trail 101. Whereas the hike in is deeply forested and follows a creek, the hike out follows an open ridge for most of the descent. This is an outstanding place to watch for wildlife and also offers fantastic views of the surrounding mountains. It includes a little more climbing, followed by a steep descent where hikers will be happier with trekking poles to help save knees.

At the bottom of the descent, the trail requires two last major stream crossings, first at the point where the trail intersects 101, and finally upon the return to Clearwater Crossing. Clearwater Crossing serves as a free, first-come, first-served rustic campground in addition to a trailhead, which makes it a nice place to camp at the beginning or end of a backpack trip, or a good location to try shorter versions of the trails as part of a car-camping weekend instead of a backpack trip.

ROUND-TRIP DISTANCE: Approximately 25 miles RATING: Difficult MAP: Lolo National Forest Map GETTING THERE:

Travel I-90 eastbound into Montana and take Fish Creek Exit #66. Follow Fish Creek Road #343 south of I-90 to West Fork Fish Creek Road #7750.

Proceed on 7750 to its end at Clearwater Crossing trailhead and campground.

GIVE BACK TO YOUR TRAILS: Join the Washington Trails Association for a Back Country Response Team work party and backpacking trip in the Colville National Forest August 9-12. //

Holly Weiler is a hiker, backpacker, trail runner, and skier. She writes the Hike of the Month column for Out There.

AUGUST 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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EverydayCyclist YOUR BEST BIKE FIT // By Justin Skay

ONE OF BRICE ERICKSON’S CUSTOMERS ON HIS FIT CYCLE, WATCHING REAL TIME SADDLE PRESSURE MAPPING DATA AT HIS SHOP IN PULLMAN. THIS INFORMATION WILL BE USED TO SELECT ONE OF THE 200 PLUS SEATS AVAILABLE THERE. // PHOTO: JUSTIN SKAY

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IF YOU’VE ALREADY had the pleasure of having your body’s geometry matched to your favorite people-powered two-wheeler, then you know the gains from a good bike fit: increased power, comfort, and stamina. A serious session with an experienced bike fitter can mean more efficient miles with less fatigue, and those aches you refuse to call pain will dissipate and extend your saddle time.

If you have aspirations of using these long summer days to race, then a bike fit might already be part of your plan. Whatever your biking goals, from long, sometimes-strenuous tours, to preventing injuries or mitigating discomfort, to beating your buddy (or nemesis) in the bike stage of your next triathlon, mating musculoskeletal structure to your machine of choice will help you achieve them.

To aid your ambitions, we are fortunate to have a true guru in Pullman, Wash. Brice Erickson of B&L Bicycles is an expert in the field of fitting, finding his place in the late ‘80s among the first in what remains a small field of people who know that most of us lack the luck to fit in a suit off the rack. There are currently around 150 people worldwide who perform the level of adaptation of bike to body that Erickson does. In the early days of custom fitting, he worked closely with another of the discipline’s pioneers and legendary progenitor of cyclocross, Michael Sylvester, who found bike fit through yoga as a means of coping with multiple serious injuries and continuing to satisfy his passion for active speed.

Walking into Erickson’s brightly lit shop, peering past shiny new rides, I was taken in by his collection of antique bicycles. Many were clearly some of his first, others were family heirlooms, some beautiful collectibles, each a partial testament to the fervor of their owner.

From our preliminary interview, through extensive function and flexibility tests, I found him drawing me in to his somewhat nerdy world of miniscule bike fitting details. “Age, muscle imbalance, injuries, or sitting at a computer, all will affect your fit over time,” Erickson claimed, as he cen-

tered a pressure mapping device on my seat. This was new; I’ve had several bike fit sessions, and had never seen this process before going to B&L. Pedals, handlebars, and seat share the load of a rider. The pressure mapping system would tell him where mine was hurting me.

“You must have a high tolerance for pain,” he wagered, looking at the data from the device, which showed too much spiky red for comfort. All bodies are different, none are symmetrical, and we can’t always see those differences readily, which makes the pressure-mapping system a key data source. It was true that my saddle was increasingly painful as the gel inserts broke down. Plus, my fit was changing, and my knee was letting me know.

I had chosen a classic Brooks saddle to replace my aging Terry, which a friend had dubbed “the emasculator.” After testing with a broken-in Brooks, Brice determined that a new one would work for me. Once all the data had been evaluated, and the ideal fit for my riding goals achieved, he added a longer stem and tweaked handlebar and saddle positions until we were both satisfied that I could take a long ride with comfort.

I was dropped off for a test on the way back to Spokane. The final 25 miles into town on the Centennial Trail felt far too short: a good sign, but a longer trial felt necessary. So, a day later, I went on a four-day tour around the eastern shore of Lake Pend Oreille. Initially I fought the new fit, muscle memory taking me back to bad habits painfully ingrained over many miles. Once I relaxed and focused on keeping my head up, the new position provided precisely what the best bike fits will: increased efficiency and the ability to sit for hours on long climbs. // Justin Skay finally understands that fit and form make function, they help you ride farther, and that pain isn’t required to turn pedals. He last wrote a perfunctory self-introduction in his first Everyday Cyclist column in the June issue.

Spotlight

TRASH, CAMPS, & THE SPOKANE RIVER // By Derrick Knowles

TRASH & CAMP UPSTREAM OF THE DON KARDONG BRIDGE. PHOTO: KEITH QUIEN

THE SPOKANE RIVER is an urban treasure that

many lifetime locals are still discovering along with astounded newcomers who are blown away that there is a swimmable, floatable, and fishable river of such beauty with trails along it right within city limits. A wide range of wildlife, including native trout, deer, beaver, otter, coyote, eagles, osprey, and other animals also make their home in and along the river. Yet, sadly, our river, both upstream and downstream from Riverfront Park, is being abused and it’s getting worse as summer drags on. Illegal camps, many with accompanying piles of trash, needles, fire pits, bottles, toilet paper, and human excrement, have become a serious threat to the health of the river, our urban public lands, and public safety.

Despite a new city ordinance that makes camping on public lands within the city limits a criminal misdemeanor, the number of illegal camps along the river near downtown Spokane has skyrocketed since the ordinance passed a few months back. The law is intended to limit the impact such camps have on the river and natural areas and also increase outreach to the homeless and offer them help finding shelter and other services. Enforcement of the ordinance is also suspended when the city’s homeless shelters fill up.

There’s no doubt that this issue—a complex combination of economic disparity, lack of proper services and shelter for those in need, undiagnosed or untreated mental health issues, substance abuse, domestic abuse, and other societal problems—is emotionally and politically charged. Protecting the river and taking better care of the growing number of people in need in our community who are suffering are intricately linked, and we need to do whatever we can to make meaningful progress on both fronts.

The Spokane Riverkeeper, a non-profit group that helps safeguard the river, emphasizes the complexity of the issue and need for a holistic approach.

“Like many other service providers in our community, the Spokane Riverkeeper is responding to the issue of homelessness along the Spokane River,” says Spokane Riverkeeper Jerry White Jr. “More folks on the riverbanks creates more impacts—litter, sewage and a host of other issues that affect the river and river-users. For us, it is important not to oversimplify the problem, nor judge the homeless

who are often very powerless in this situation. In these times, many folks are one medical crisis away from living outdoors.” According to White, the Riverkeeper’s response has been to double down on riverside litter pick up and continue outreach to the homeless, which includes taking SNAP and other social service providers down the river by boat to help access camps and conduct needed outreach to homeless people along the river.

If you are out along the river and see a camp or trash on Spokane city park land, Carl Strong, the assistant divisions manager for park operations, says calling 311, the My Spokane city customer service hotline, is an important first step. When a report is made, Strong explains, a neighborhood resource officer, once they are free from other more pressing law enforcement duties, will post a notice that campers have 48 hours to remove property.

Social services will then attempt to make contact and assist individuals with finding shelter and other resources before parks staff, often accompanied by a police officer, go in and remove trash that’s left behind. The biggest bottleneck in this process right now, says Strong, is not having a dedicated staff to get out on the ground to post notices at camps once they are reported. “More staff for the clean-up work would also really help,” he says.

The outdoor recreation community, including river and trail users, should also do their part. Always take note of the location of camps and trash on city park land along the river, which includes much of the undeveloped land downstream from the Spokane Falls to the TJ Meenach Bridge, and call 311 to file a report. With the increase in camping and campfires in the area, wildfires have also been on the rise. Anyone who encounters campfires, brush fires, obvious drug activity, or violent or threatening behavior anywhere in the city should immediately call 911. We should all also consider lending a hand to those in need by volunteering with or making a donation to an organization that helps the homeless and other people in need in our community. // Derrick Knowles is Out There Outdoors co-publisher and a regular Spokane River floater and riverside trail walker, runner, mountain biker, and trash gatherer.

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13

KIDS +++

++++

NAVIGATING THE BACKCOUNTRY WITH KIDS // By Amy S. McCaffree

LEFT: WHITE FAMILY BACKPACKING IN HOODOO CANYON. THIS PHOTO: BACKPACKING IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS // PHOTOS COURTESY OF REBECCA WHITE

BEAVER FEVER, iodine tablets, “Cathole” dig-

ging, bear-proof containers—these are just a few aspects of backcountry adventuring, where you can enjoy exceptional landscape beauty and natural serenity with your children. To better understand how to start planning, here are some ideas and recommendations.

Begin with a “backcountry lite” experience, or seeking out enough primitive wilderness without totally roughing it. This includes staying at remote and rustic National Forest Service campgrounds accessible by car. You have no cell service and are many miles from the closest small town, yet you have potable water and vault toilets.

Another way to teach children about the rigors and requirements of backcountry travel is with day hikes. Kids can carry their own small pack with supplies, learn map and compass-reading skills, and practice Leave No Trace principles, including sanitation guidelines. Hiking round-trip in a day and returning to a campground, hotel, or returning home, is a significant accomplishment.

For any hike, always carry the “Ten Essentials,” which includes 10 gear categories: navigation, sun protection, insulation, illumination, first-aid supplies, fire, repair kit and tools, nutrition, hydration, and emergency shelter.

Accidents happen and the power of nature can foil plans.

When your family seems ready for an overnight backpacking trip, begin with a one or two-night

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / AUGUST 2018

itinerary to a kid-friendly destination, such as a lake. Experts say that a child’s pack should weigh no more than 10-15% of his or her bodyweight.

Find packing list ideas in guidebooks and from Washington Trails Association’s website (wta.org).

My friend and fellow Spokane mother Rebecca White recommends bringing special treats. For her kids, she packs M&Ms, freeze-dried astronaut ice cream, and tinfoil S’mores. Also, she packs extra

clothes that remain behind in the car at the trailhead—“so you know everyone has a clean set when you’re done,” White says. She and her husband, Chris, first took their two children backpacking when the kids were about 10 years old. She recommends destinations like Plowboy Campground at Upper Priest Lake, which provides vault toilets. The 3-mile Navigation Trail is flat and easy, or you can boat in.

AUGUST FAMILY & KID EVENTS AUGUST 1-21: MOBILE REC AT SPOKANE CITY PARKS includes games and activities for elementary-aged youth at select parks (free). Visit my.spokane.city.org/recreation for locations and schedule.

AUGUST 1-29: REI’S WEDNESDAYS IN THE WOODS programs at Riverside State Park Bowl &

Pitcher Amphitheater. Outdoor Ethics (Aug. 1); Kayaking Spokane (Aug. 8); HOOT Show, with West Valley Outdoor Learning Center’s birds of prey (Aug. 15); Camp Gear Shake-Down (Aug. 22); Smackout Pack Live Concert (Aug. 29); 6:30-8:00 p.m.

AUGUST 4: FREE SWIM & MOVIE. “Cars 3” at the Spokane County Northside & Southside Aquatic

Facilities.

AUGUST 10: MOVIE IN THE PARK. “Despicable Me 3” at Valley Mission Park in Spokane Valley (free); show is at sunset, after an hour of children’s activities.

AUGUST 17-18: NATIONAL LENTIL FESTIVAL in Pullman, Wash., includes Lentil Land Kids’ area,

food court, and concerts.

AUGUST 17-18: HUCKLEBERRY FESTIVAL in Wallace, Idaho. Live music and children’s games.

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Parents Joal and Elizabeth Lee, from Pullman, chose Upper Priest as their family’s first backcountry destination. “Our daughters were 5 years old, 2 years old, and 6 weeks old [at the time],” says Joal.

“Elizabeth was able to carry a fully-loaded backpack while pushing our baby in a jogging stroller.”

Accompanied by another family, Joal and the other dad canoed to the campsite with most of the gear.

“It went really well, though, thinking back on it, I wouldn’t recommend taking a child that young.

Even if a person is well-prepared, there is a lot that can quickly go wrong with infants,” he says.

The Lee family has since experienced three more backpacking trips, including to the Seven Devils in Idaho and the Eagle Cap Wilderness in northeast Oregon, where they summited the 9,572-foot Eagle Cap peak. “The farthest we’ve backpacked in a single day is 8 miles,” says Lee. In the backcountry, be sure you’re prepared to respond to serious injuries. Consider registering for Wilderness First Aid or a Wilderness First Responder course, both offered locally by Peak 7 Adventures. There’s also the more comprehensive Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) course designed

by National Ski Patrol. For families living in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon, an annual Life Flight network membership is a wise financial and peace-of-mind investment should emergency air transport ever be needed.

To reduce heavy gear requirements, families can hike to a backcountry cabin or yurt. To reduce hiking mileage, consider traveling by boat to a backcountry destination, such as a cruise across Lake Chelan to Stehikin Village, a gateway to North Cascades National Park. There are four primitive wilderness campgrounds (permit required) located 0.5-5 miles from the boat landing. In Glacier National Park, Glacier Park Boat Company provides trips across lakes where you can then hike to backcountry campsites. Local guidebook writers Harvey and Abby McAllister have published family guides to Glacier, Yellowstone, and Utah’s Big Five National Parks—all part of the Adventuring with Kids series from Mountaineers Books.

Another good resource is “Babes in the Woods: Hiking, Camping & Boating with Babies & Young Children” by Jennifer Aist.

As Amelia Earhart famously said, “Adventure is worthwhile in itself ”—especially when that adventure is in a thick forest, along a quiet trail, or near an alpine lake with spectacular star-gazing views. // Amy McCaffree is Out There’s special section editor. Her all-time favorite backpacking trip was in Glacier National Park’s Belly River area.

Running

RUNNING HELLS CANYON // By Emily Erickson

JAMIE TERRY RUNNING NEXT TO RIVER VIEWS. // PHOTO: EMILY ERICKSON

THE ERRATIC BUZZ of my alarm at 5 a.m. stirred

me from sleep. As I scrambled after my phone through a jumbled mess of pillows and blankets, I remembered in a jolt of excitement, “It’s a runventure morning!”

I unlocked my phone with visions of the day ahead: running the sections of the Going to the Sun Road that were currently closed to car traffic. My head buzzed in anticipation. Opening my weather app, I pulled up Glacier National Park and read, “High of 32 degrees, low visibility, and wind gusts up to 40 mph.” Shit.

Simultaneously calling my partner in crime,

Jamie Terry, and concocting a new plan, I swapped the Montana map we planned to use for the day for one of central Idaho. From Sandpoint, we determined it’d be roughly 5 hours to Hell . . . Hells Canyon, that is.

The scenery outside our car windows changed from the North Idaho sub-alpine to rolling, grassy meadows, then suddenly to vast, desert-like crags; we had little idea of how indicative those changes would be of the trail to come.

Winding through the Nez Perce National Forest down into the canyon, we were slowed by breathtaking vistas and the local pasturing cows

meandering down the middle of the road.

Finally slipping through the last signs of civilization—with the small town of White Bird, Idaho over an hour behind us—we rolled into the gravel parking lot at the base of the Snake River Trail trailhead. We jumped around in a music-less dancing frenzy to shake the 5 hours of travel from our bones, and proceeded to gear up for the day ahead.

As the trail was an out-and-back in the thick of the Hells Canyon Wilderness, we were extra thoughtful in our preparation. We loaded our running packs with more water than we would possibly need, stowed away high-calorie dense food in addition to our normal nutrition, and zipped an extra layer of clothing into the bottom of our bags.

Jamie double-checked that her small, emergency first aid kit was filled with Bandaids, tape, antibiotic cream, sunscreen, and a beacon, and I added bear spray and a small switchblade to the pockets on my pack straps.

Reading the signage at the base of the trail, we took note of the dangers specific to the region, including poison ivy and rattlesnakes, and discussed the appropriate strategies on the chance of any encounters.

Feeling adequately prepared, we began our runventure with a trot deep into the canyon. As the gravel trail thinned into single track, a grand valley opened before us, and the Snake River flowed powerfully between walls of rock.

We spent the next seven miles in absolute elation on a trail we couldn’t have improved if we tried. It shifted seamlessly from purple flower-lined rollers, to jagged, technical climbs, and from grand, exposed, cliff edges to dense, enclosed canopies. It was a trail runner’s dream.

As we reached our halfway point, we checked in on our hydration and nutrition along the water’s

edge, stuffing bites of nut butter covered bananas into our smiling faces and taking sips of salted coconut water between squeals of excitement.

We began our climb back up the switchbacks along the canyon wall, and felt our muscles strain against the stiffness from our break. The sun lowered, and the afternoon began its shift toward evening.

With three miles to go, I toed the edge of a particularly steep edge, letting my eyes focus on the grass lining the space between me and a swift plummet to the river. Suddenly, the green of the grass was joined by black and white slithering stripes, and I lept in fear. “SNAKE!” I warned Jamie. She hopped over the gopher snake effortlessly, and once at a safe distance doubled over in laughter at my reaction. Leaping was sort of the strategy, I guess.

We finished our run with a soak in the river, washing the salt off our faces with the crisp water.

Finally, we closed our car doors, leaned out our windows, and shouted, “HELLS YEAH!” It was the perfect ending to a day of spontaneity, preparedness, grandeur and friendship. Hells yeah, indeed.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Backcountry travel in Hells Canyon in the summer can be brutally hot, waterless, and dangerous. For better, safer results, wait for cooler, more favorable fall or spring conditions (like the author did) and always check with the Forest Service on the status of trails you plan to tackle, since many trails in the canyon are rapidly deteriorating. //

Emily Erickson is a Sandpoint-based freelance writer, trail runner, snowboarder, and mountain adventurer with a flair for hopping in alpine lakes and taking too many left turns.

AUGUST 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

15

Provisions

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

COOKING DINNER NEAR A BACKCOUNTRY LAKE. // PHOTO: WOODS WHEATCROFT

APERITIF: EATING WELL IN THE BACKCOUNTRY

BY S. MICHAL BENNETT

WHEN I WAS 17, I signed up for a 5-day backpacking trip into the wilds of the Colorado Rockies.

The first day out, the guides passed around baggies of “gorp”, an energy-inducing homemade trail mix. By mid-afternoon, we started to feel the weight of our packs and the emptiness in our bellies, but our guides refused to tell us what was for dinner. Instead, they led us in yet another round of “Hey, Hey, We’re The Monkees.”

We arrived at the first night’s campsite well before sunset and immediately began pitching our tents. A couple of the staff had arrived before us and built a fire, where several Dutch ovens steamed among the already glowing coals. After taking care of chores and necessities, and singing a few more songs, the cast iron came out of the fire just as the sun was setting. My trail leader pulled off the first lid with a flourish, releasing a waft of baked bread, sizzling sausage, and melting cheese. I learned that night about all the wondrous foods you can make with a bag of biscuit mix, some clean water, and a few sturdy ingredients. I have been seeking out efficient and convenient ways to eat well and healthy on the trail ever since.

Delicious backcountry cooking is much more involved than setting up a propane grill next to an RV. You have to think of weight, keeping ingredients cold, prep capabilities on the trail, nutritional value, portion size, and access to water. Here are a few basics to keep in mind when packing food for the trail.

• Buy a dehydrator.

• Don’t be afraid of incorporating instant powders into dishes.

• Bring an insulated cup and bowl.

• If traveling where there’s cold water, store cold foods in a waterproof bag, firmly tie-up and sub merged in the water until needed.

• Mix and match good fats, sturdy proteins, colorful veggies, and quick-cooking grains.

• Pack good coffee.

• Invest in a great portable water filter.

• ALWAYS pack out what you pack in. Keep our wild places clean!

• Lastly, save something special for the last night when you just want anything but gorp.

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THIS BOOK RISES TO THE TOP. // PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES PHOTO COURTESY OF ALES FOR THE TRAIL

DRINK SOME ALES FOR THE CENTENNIAL TRAIL

I still remember the very first Ales for the Trail in 2012. The venue was the parking lot at the now closed Beachouse Bar & Grill on Lake Coeur d’Alene Drive, right on the Centennial Trail. It was a hot day next to the cool water, and no one knew what to expect. I worked for a sponsor and vendor, and I remember the scramble when more and more and more people showed up to enjoy the beer, music, and impeccable weather.

The next year, this craft beer festival to benefit the North Idaho Centennial Trail moved to the newly opened McEuen Park. They expanded their brewery and drink offerings, opened a VIP lounge, and established The Rub as their annual music headliner. Over the years, I have watched this lively community event grow, adapt, and refine, and I am excited take part in everything it is offering this year.

The vendor line up will include 19 local, regional, state, and Northwest breweries, two local ciders, and North Idaho food vendors like Taco Works, Rants & Raves BBQ, The Wurst Guy, and Mangia Pizza Catering. After a few years of enduring the searing heat emanating from the dockside concrete patio in McEuen, the event will be moving to the park’s covered Avista Pavilion and the coolness of the surrounding grass. As always, this is a bike-friendly event with discount tickets at the gate for riding your bike to the park, as well as a large bike corral with a valet tag system so that someone doesn’t walk off with your bike.

Once again, the popular band The Rub will be providing the audio entertainment, and Numerica Credit Union is this year’s presenting sponsor. All proceeds benefit the North Idaho Centennial Trail, making regular trail maintenance of this amazing community trail possible. Get your tickets at Alesforthetrail.org or ride down to the event on August 11, from 2-8 p.m. (S. Michal Bennett)

BACKCOUNTRY COOKING IN 10 MINUTES

Dorcas Miller’s book “Backcountry Cooking: From Pack to Plate in 10 Minutes” doesn’t have full-page, mouth-watering food photos, but it does have an immense amount of practical, vetted, and diverse information, wisdom, and recipes for all backcountry adventurers.

In the Introduction, Miller asks a question that sets the foundation for the entire book: “What kind of cook are you?” She offers three classifications of “an ascetic, a pragmatist, or a gourmand.” Each chapter and recipe takes all three approaches into consideration, and every dish can be adapted for home, picnic, and weekend campground outings.

The first thing that I learned from this book is how many quality foods you can get in powdered form. Sure, I knew about powdered dairy products, and dry packets of gravies, sauces, and hot drinks.

Orange powder, coconut cream powder, and powdered vegetable shortening were new and fascinating discoveries. Miller deftly incorporates these, as well as freeze-dried and dehydrated foods, into the recipes, alongside canned and fresh ingredients.

There are even whole sections on how to dehydrate your own foods, and substitutions for alternating fresh and dry ingredients in your meals.

Miller’s voice, style, and approach are relatable, simple, and functional. Each chapter opens with a rich quote from an outdoor living, camping, or backpacking book. The pages are peppered with “Hot Tips” of backcountry trends, challenges, trail tips, and fun stories from “trail-wise cooks” and “trail denizens.” The layout makes it easy to flip back through and find memorable tidbits. And the recipes provide information to help you pre-prep, track your caloric intake, and gauge your pack food weight.

We all have our own trail styles, tricks, and foods that are unique to us, and this book can help you adapt the foods you love for all your outdoor adventures. (S. Michal Bennett)

KALE CHIPS

REFUELING YOUR HIKE

It’s said that the journey matters more than the destination. Staying fueled is an important part of a safe and enjoyable journey. When choosing food for a hike or outing, the key is to keep the food items simple, nutritious, calorie dense, and lightweight.

Many people are aware of the need for protein to keep the muscles working. Humans also need macro-minerals such as magnesium, calcium, manganese, and potassium. These directly help to maintain normal nerve and muscle function.

Magnesium and manganese help regulate blood glucose levels. Kale chips are packed with some of these necessary nutrients.

RECIPE: DRIED KALE CHIPS 5-6 cups of freshly-washed kale 3/4 cup sesame tahini 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar 1/4 cup shoyu or tamari 2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice 1 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon garlic granules Pat kale dry and tear into chip sized pieces. Blend all ingredients in a blender— except for kale—until smooth. Pour over kale in a bowl and stir until each piece is well saturated. Place in a dehydrator and dry at 115 degrees until crispy. This protein-wealthy treat is so tasty, you’ll want to include it on every hike. Substitute any nut butter of choice instead of sesame tahini. Think peanut, almond, cashew, or sunflower seed butters. (Suzanne Tabert) //

Eatology

COOK YOUR OWN DAMN DINNER // By Ammi Midstokke

JUST ABOUT ANYTHING GOES INTO A LETTUCE LEAF.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE assume that, because I am high vegetable content, protein, healthy fats, fibers. a nutritionist, I spend my evenings dicing kale and Tools required: A butter knife for the mayo. The sweet potatoes to make a wild game stew while plate is optional. If I don’t want to cook, I probably sipping on home-brewed kombucha. It is one don’t want to wash dishes. of my great struggles with authenticity to admit My more luxurious choice is a cheese and crackthat, after a day of telling people how to prepare ers tray, only I eat the vegan cheese. It has no nutriamazing, nutritious meals, I am often over it by tional value to speak of, but makes the dairy-intoldinnertime. erant feel slightly less sad about their lives. Slightly.

Because I am a nutritionist, though, I don’t drive I grab a box of nut and seed crackers, and some through the Taco Bell. Once, my mom asked me kind of great thing to put on top: hummus, roasted to for a patient of hers. My mom is a midwife, the eggplant dip perhaps, or that Bitchin’ Sauce that is woman was bearing down to give birth, and she truly bitchin’. I grab some turkey, ham, or salami needed a taco. The political fallout should someone from the deli. Then I think about the vegetables: see my car was too much for me to bear. I wore carrots, cucumber slices, or kohlrabi. It takes less huge sunglasses and took my mom’s minivan, then than five minutes to spread that smorgasbord on a plate and call it a meal. Tools: A plate big enough had flashbacks of those 69-cent burritos that got for all the love, and something to cut the veggies. me through college.

And maybe red wine—that seems like a nice addiLuckily for me, I actually like to cook. On my tion. less food-oriented days, it is highly likely I will go home and dice kale and sweet potatoes, although My other favorite is lettuce wrap anything. Tuna I’ve recently discovered a long-brew kombucha salad lettuce wrap. Taco meat lettuce wrap. Leftover that has 5.6 percent alcohol in it, which is probably what I am actually sipping.

Cooking from scratch can be intimidating. Also, it’s summer, and it is as hot as a menopausal witch out there. No one really wants to bake a casserole. Not cooking a four-course meal from scratch does not mean we need to revert to frozen pizza or chips and salsa for dinner. Some of my favorite meals are the fastest, and especially those that are simple enough that I can pulled-pork lettuce wrap. Baked tofu lettuce wrap. tell my kid to make them (see: hotdogs).

You really can’t go wrong. Place meat thing in a I ran into a patient at the store the other day, leaf of romaine, add some kind of flavor, shove systematically into pie hole. One can get rather both of us staring at the hot bar with all the fancy hippie food cooked for us like we had gone to some ethnic with this, because I think Romaine grows alternative college cafeteria. Nothing looked good. all over the world. I’ve been known to have merely guacamole and salsa in my leaf, because that’s all I We weren’t standing there because we wanted to had in the fridge. cook. We blinked at each other, me trying to hide We don’t have to cook everything from scratch the only two things in my basket (a bottle of red or fork up the dollars for some chemical industry wine and a boozy kombucha) and him trying to hide the cookie in his hand. food at the drive through. Not having time does “I’m not on the clock,” I say, half for him, and not mean compromising on your health or the needs of your body. There’s a happy medium in half for me. We commiserate about the options and there that meets your nutritional requirements, how nothing looks good, then dive into the possibilities of our favorite fast dinners that require tastes good, and leaves you time for the things you’d almost zero effort. rather do tonight. // First, I tell him about my love of chipotle mayonnaise or the vegan version they make. This is probAmmi Midstokke is an adventure nutritionist and ably the crux of most of my summer meals. I like to writer. In September, she’ll be hosting a sea kayaBUYcabbage LOCleaf, ALsmother Huckleberry’s | Pilgrim’s take a purple it with chipotle| Main king Market and nutrition retreat inMarket the San Juans with Breakwater Expeditions.

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Health&Fitness BACKCOUNTRY YOGA // By Mandy Schenkemeyer

Yoga and nature are a perfect pair.

Imagine the peacefulness of a gentle yoga class paired with the tranquility of a trickling stream, a fresh breeze, and the chirping of birds. It all sounds pretty idyllic, but did you lug your food and shelter 12 miles into the mountains for that little slice of heaven? If that’s the case, yoga in the backcountry will help your body recover from the hike, too. Try these five poses for the ultimate backcountry yoga session.

THUNDERBOLT VARIATION

Your feet have worked hard; show them some love! This simple variation will stretch the bottoms of your feet. Start by kneeling down and tucking your toes.

Rest onto your heels. That’s all there is to it!

TONE IT DOWN: Remove pressure from your feet by staying upright instead of down on your heels. You can even lean forward and rest your hands or forearms on the ground to release weight.

REVOLVED TRIANGLE

Hiking can tighten your IT band, the tissue that runs down the outside of your upper leg, and no one likes a tight IT band. Stand with feet hip-distance apart.

Step your left foot forward with toes pointing straight ahead. Shift your back foot so your toes point out slightly. Keep your hips facing forward. Move into the twist by first hinging at the hips and extending your arms out in front of you.

As you slowly twist to place your right hand on the ground, rotate your torso and keep your chest open. Your left hand can extend toward the sky or stay on your left hip. If the ground isn’t within reach, use a sturdy water bottle as an arm extender rather than straining into a closed chest and hunched shoulders.

TONE IT DOWN: This pose can be intense! A forward fold with legs crossed can provide a similar sensation for your IT band. Cross your left leg behind your right, hinge at the hips, and fold forward while keeping your spine long.

CAT-COW FLOW

Even the best-fitted pack can feel heavy on your shoulders and back after enough miles. The classic cat-cow flow creates movement all the way up and down the spine for a comfortable release. As you exhale, round your back, draw your belly button toward your spine, and relax your head and neck. On your inhale, arch your back to draw your tailbone and the crown of your head toward the sky.

TONE IT DOWN: Seated cat-cow can provide a similar movement without the knee and wrist pressure. Sit in a comfortable cross-legged position. On your exhale, round your upper back as you reach forward. Inhale and draw your shoulder blades together with arms extended to your sides to open your chest.

CRESCENT LUNGE

A basic lunge does wonders for stretching the quad and hip flexors. Many of us are familiar with this shape, so take these pointers into consideration. Be sure to line up your joints: your knee should be above your ankle or slightly behind it, but never ahead of your toes. A backbend is a sweet bonus to lengthen the sides of your torso and add some movement for your shoulders. Otherwise, you can place your hands at heart center in a prayer mudra and keep your torso upright.

TONE IT DOWN: Take a knee! A low lunge, just like the one above but with the back knee on the ground, is a great alternative.

PIGEON

This one can be tricky if you have tight hips—be patient! From down dog, bring your right leg forward to rest on the ground with your knee bent and your toes tucked close to your left hip. It’s important to keep your hips level, especially if you extend forward into a resting variation. Don’t forget to switch sides!

TONE IT DOWN: A reclining figure four stretch will give you the same effect. Start by lying on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the ground. Bring your right ankle to cross over top of your left thigh. // This is Mandy’s first article in Out There, you can follow her adventures @mudita_outdoors.

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Health&Fitness ROLLERBLADING IS BACK // By Lisa Laughlin

INLINE SKATING—sometimes incorrectly general-

ized as Rollerblading, which is actually a brand of skates—had its heyday in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, but it died out like bright blue eye shadow and teased hair. What’s curious about the sport—like the recent resurrection of choker necklaces and high-waist jeans—is that it may be the new cool thing again.

Robin DeRuwe, owner of sporting goods store Fitness Fanatics in Spokane Valley, has seen the rise, fall, and recent comeback of the sport.

DeRuwe was an avid inline skater in the ‘80s and watched the trend of inline skates come in and out of her store. What remains to be defined—as with many pop culture trends—is why it’s coming back now. DeRuwe’s guess is that many people who are now parents have memories of inline skating and want to bring it back for the next generation.

DeRuwe had a pair of clip-on roller skates when she was a kid. She began inline skating in the late ‘80s to train for her winter love of skate-style crosscountry skiing. She found that she loved the fast and flowy feel of being on skates.

The late ‘80s were good for inline skates in

Spokane too—the Centennial Trail was built, creating a smooth pavement haven. “When the trail was built, inline skating just boomed like crazy. And then it kind of crashed. For a few years there, no one was skating. We [Fitness Fanatics] got out of the skate market. I was hardly on my skates anymore. It was just kind of like a fad that went away,” explains DeRuwe.

The first invention of roller skates was a 3-wheeled inline version, patented by M. Petitbled

in Paris, France, in 1819. The Petitbled skate featured three inline wheels, a wood plate, and a leather strap to attach to the foot. Wheels were available in wood, metal, or ivory.

We’ve come a long way since then, and since the ‘80s. Inline skates now have bigger wheels to handle rocks, and a better boot design. “Inline skating is a great cross-training tool for a lot of athletes, and they kind of forget about it,” says DeRuwe. “It’s more fun that going to the gym and doing all those

SKATE FOR FREE AT RIVERFRONT PARK’S SKATE RIBBON You may have seen ice skaters at the Skate Ribbon in downtown Spokane’s Riverfront Park this winter, but its official summer use is for wheels. Admission is free if you bring your own skates, scooter, or skateboard. The Skate Ribbon is open from 5 a.m. to midnight every day, and you can rent gear from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (an hour-long skate rental is $6.50). Helmets are required by law, and are a good idea anyway, and you should have wrist guards, knee pads, and elbow pads.

These safety guards are available for free at the skate rental counter. Kids under 15 require adult supervision, and everyone should wear closed-toed shoes. You can reserve a birthday party on the Ribbon, or grab a hotdog, pizza, frozen lemonade, and more at the connecting Sky Ribbon Café. Skate to your heart’s content!

things you need to do to build supporting muscles.”

Especially if you ‘blade with carbide-tipped poles, as DeRuwe did in the ‘80s, to get an upper and lowerbody workout. Depending on your intensity, skating can be equivalent in exercise to running or cycling.

“Most people are just going to go skating, but you get a great abs workout, and you don’t have to do a bunch of sit ups because you’re really using your whole body as you’re skating,” she says.

Fitness Fanatics is once again selling inline skates locally, and parents can even find specific adjustable skates that will cater to growing kids.

The Centennial Trail, Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, and Fish Lake Trail all make for great paved skating options. For the best experience, make sure you’re fitted with a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards. // Lisa Laughlin is Out There’s digital editor and a regular contributor. She was never coordinated enough to inline skate, but she has memories of roller-skating to ‘90s music and eating food-dye bright Slushies.

AUGUST 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

19

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ON THE TRAIL TO KOKANEE GLACIER CABIN. PHOTO: KAYLA HAAS. BLOSSOM LAKE. PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES. ON THE RIDGE OVERLOOKING UPPER STEVENS LAKE. PHOTO: KAYLA HAAS. DRONE PICTURE OF INDIAN CREEK COMMUNITY FOREST. PHOTO: KALISPEL NATURAL RESOURCE DEPARTMENT.

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WE ASKED A FEW OF THE WRITERS AND PEOPLE WE PROFILED IN THIS ISSUE’S “BACKCOUNTRY PURSUITS” FEATURE TO SHARE A FEW OF THEIR FAVORITE BACKCOUNTRY SPOTS. GRAB YOUR BOOTS, BACKPACK, FLY ROD, NATIVE PLANT GUIDE, OR BIRDING BINOCULARS AND ENJOY! (OTO)

Revett Lake Trail #9

Recommended by hiker and angler Heather Hodson LOCATION: Bitterroot Mountains in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest DISTANCE ROUND-TRIP: 4 miles LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: Easy to intermediate (500 feet of elevation gain) This popular, well-used trail is great for children, dogs, and novice hikers and backpackers. After hiking through a mix of forest and open talus, and a log-bridge crossing Cascade Creek, you arrive at this subalpine lake below Granite Peak (6,814 feet). Enjoy the Cascade Gulch waterfall, fishing, and camping at primitive sites. (Amy S. McCaffree)

Indian Creek Community Forest

Recommend by forest ecologist Adam Gebauer LOCATION: Indian Creek Community Forest, Kalispel Tribe, 9 miles north of Newport, Wash.

DISTANCE ROUND-TRIP: 1/2 mile LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: Easy The Kalispel Tribe, along with local partners, are developing plans for the 400-acre Indian Creek Community Forest adjacent to the shores of the Pend Oreille River.

Although not a super remote backcountry area, it is a great, wild place to explore for families and hikers of all abilities. This site is dedicated to education, research, and low impact recreation. One of the first pieces of this project that is open to the public is a short trail system. This trail winds through mature mixed conifers with great views overlooking the Pend Oreille River. Interactive and interpretative signage will soon be installed that will include Salish names of plants and animals and information about forest ecology. There are plans for many educational activities at this site including recreational tree climbing, stargazing, nature skills, archery, and more. (Adam Gebauer)

Stevens Lake

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / AUGUST 2018

BLOSSOM LAKE

5 FAVORITE BACKCOUNTRY HIKES

Recommended by backcountry hiker Kayla Haas LOCATION: Bitterroot Mountains near Mullan, Idaho DISTANCE ROUND-TRIP: 4+ miles LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: Moderate to difficult depending on fitness level Don’t be fooled by the relatively short mileage to get to the lower lake; this hike gains 1,600 feet with an initial grade of 8 percent! After passing a waterfall, prepare for the final push across a boulder field to lower Stevens Lake. After 2 miles of 20

STEVENS LAKE

burning legs, many hikers don’t continue beyond lower Stevens. If you still have some gas in your tank, then keep heading up to upper Stevens; it’s worth it. From the upper lake, enjoy solitude and stunning views of jagged peaks. If your legs and lungs are still feeling strong, then you can scramble up goat paths or crosscountry and bag Stevens Peak, which is the highest peak in the western range of the Bitterroots. (Kayla Haas)

Blossom Lakes Trail (#404)

Recommended by hiker and angler Heather Hodson LOCATION: Lolo National Forest at the Idaho-Montana State Line DISTANCE ROUND-TRIP: 6 miles (to lower Blossom Lake) LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: Intermediate to difficult (1,141 feet of elevation gain) Beginning from the same trailhead as Revett Lake, the trail—which begins on the Idaho side of the state line—is bordered by occasional patches of huckleberry bushes. It begins easy but becomes more challenging as you hike from Idaho into Montana. You get to Prospect Creek and then arrive at lower Blossom Lake. There are primitive campsites on the northeast side. You can also hike further to visit Upper Blossom Lake and Pear Lake. (Amy S. McCaffree)

Kokanee Glacier Cabin

Recommended by backcountry hiker Kayla Haas LOCATION: Selkirk Mountains; Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park, Nelson, British Columbia, Canada DISTANCE ROUND-TRIP: Approximately 10.5 miles LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: Moderate This trail meanders through an alpine wonderland. The trail gets the majority of the 1,300 feet of elevation gain and the only lackluster views out of the way within the first 1-2 miles. The trail and views begin to open up as you make your way across cascading waterfalls from the summer melt of Kokanee Glacier. Take in 360-degree mountain views as you admire wildflowers and crystal clear streams in alpine meadows. Listen to songbirds as you rest on the edge of one of the many alpine lakes, but watch out for aggressive, foodconditioned marmots. Enjoy your lunch on the deck of the Kokanee Glacier Cabin located on the north side of Kaslo Lake.

This alpine “hut” is a multi-story cabin that sleeps 20 in the summer and is a popular winter destination for backcountry skiers. Live in backcountry luxury with a full kitchen, electricity, and flushing toilets. You can extend your stay by reserving a bunk in the cabin or pitching a tent in the nearby Kaslo Lake campground. Also, like many Provincial Parks in Canada, dogs are not allowed. Even if you’re only hiking for the day, make sure to use the chicken wire available at the trailhead as the resident porcupines love to gnaw on brake lines. (Kayla Haas) //

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silvermt.com 855.976.0984 Lisa is a leader with a record of working across the aisle to get things done. > Led the creation of a new medical school and teaching health center. > Secured investments including the Fox Theater, University District Gateway Bridge, Sandifur Bridge, Fish Lake Trail, Centennial Trail at Mirabeau Point, and more. > Passed the Cooper Jones Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Education Act.

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Tired of burning through bags of cooler ice on long road trips and backcountry camping adventures? The CSI Black Ice Fridge/Freezer runs off of your vehicle’s 12V accessory outlet for cooling or freezing whatever fresh or frozen goodies and beverages you can fit into it.

This beast holds 84 12oz cans to be exact. Low

power consumption and built in battery protection ensures your vehicle’s battery won’t drain and leave you stranded out in BFE. And it comes with an AC adapter to pre-cool before heading out. Check one out at Spokane’s General Store on Division Street (in the automotive department).

MSRP: $399. Csiaccessories. com. (Derrick Knowles)

BIG AGNES COPPER BACKPACKING TENT

summer, and other than a missing tent stake and a faint smell of marshmallow, this spacious, strong, and wellventilated tent held its own and continues to provide reliable, comfortable, weather-andchild-proof shelter that sets up in minutes. At 2lbs, 12oz, my son and I are itching to get it out for a night or two in the Selkirk Mountain backcountry before the snow flies. Check for a sale price on this tent at Spokane’s Mountain Gear. MSRP: $449.95.

Bigagnes.com. (Derrick Knowles)

SPUR

I gave this crazy-light, 2-person backpacking tent hell this spring and summer. Actually, my 3-year-old did. And it still sets up like new with no major wounds in a flash. Its inaugural outing included a good toddler thrashing from my son after he woke up to the warm Arizona sunshine with s’more still stuck to his face.

He tested the strength of the poles, walls, and zippers again car camping at Spirit Lake this HYDRAPAK STASH COLLAPSIBLE WATER BOTTLE

There are a lot of different water bottle and hydration bag options out there, but when weight and space are an issue out on the trail, HydraPak rises above the rest with ultra-light, durable, and collapsible water storage containers that won’t add dead weight or bulk to your pack. The Stash (in 1 liter or 750 ml sizes) is the perfect go-to bottle for staying hydrated on ENO RELAY MESSENGER TOTE

Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO) sparked the hammocking movement 20 years ago with its line of bright, light, and durable hammocks and easy-to-set up suspension systems. The popular outdoor brand keeps innovating with stylish and purposeful products for outdoor lovers and urban adventurers like the ENO Pack Series line of packs, bags, and totes. The Relay Messenger BLACK DIAMOND MOMENTUM CLIMBING SHOES

When Black Diamond announced a line of climbing shoes, I admit I was skeptical. However, the well-known and trusted company is good at what it does. I took the Momentum model out for various climbing sessions, and it is a great entry-level shoe, with good edging performance, and a comfortable fit. The soles are on the flatter side of the climbing shoe spectrum, which makes them great for both beginner climbers, and climbers looking for a comfortable all-day shoe.

HYDRAPAK EXPEDITION 8L WATER STORAGE BLADDER

Never worry about rationing water at camp again with this high-volume, collapsible, BPA-free, beast of a water storage bag. It has a wide mouth for easy pouring and is water filter compatible (the Katadyn Vario screws directly on to the top). A flexible web22

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / AUGUST 2018

2-PERSON

everyday adventures and longer treks into the mountains. These bottles are 50% lighter than solid water bottles, are super strong, hold their shape well when full, and collapse down nearly to the size of a hockey puck when drained.

And they come in several bright colors (green, orange, or blue) or grey. Pick one up at REI. MSRP: $20-$25. Hydrapak.com. (Wil Wheaton) Tote is loaded with enough features and style that make them fit for the trails, urban rides, all-day festivals, yoga sessions, or just hanging out wherever you may wander.

These bags are tricked-out with a large, zippered opening, four spacious pockets, and an exterior yoga mat sleeve. MSRP: $27.95.

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(Wil Wheaton) Whether I was in the gym or out on steep basalt, the edging capabilities of the toe box made me think I was wearing a high performance shoe. The soft knit upper meant the shoe fit to my foot well and helped keep my feet cool while climbing in the summer heat. I recommend going a half to full size up if you have wide feet. Buy a pair from Spokane’s own outdoor gear shop Mountain Gear online or stop by the retail store on Division Street. MSRP: $79.95.

Blackdiamondequipment.com.

(Madison Ellington) bing handle makes for easy carrying and hanging in camp, and it includes a dispensing tap that makes filling personal cups, bottles, and cook pots super simple. Find the Expedition 8L and other HydraPak hydration products at REI and stay hydrated this summer. MSRP: $60.

Hydrapak.com. (Wil Wheaton) //

Leaf, Root, Fungi, Fruit Shaggy Parasols // By Kelly Chadwick

SHAGGY PARASOLS. // PHOTO: KELLY CHADWICK

THE COLOR BLUE isn’t in the Bible. Research sug-

gests we didn’t recognize it as a color back then. I believe the world is filled with elements that are self-evident but unseen until something triggers our awareness.

This is how I feel about shaggy parasols, a large, omnipresent, and delicious mushroom growing wild and vigorously in our gardens and lawns.

One would think, based on the trendiness of foraging, homesteading, and cooking fresh local ingredients, that our community would be aware of such a resource. But we are not, in spite of them surrounding us from late spring to early fall. Like when you buy a car and suddenly the brand seems everywhere, learn this species and you will begin finding it.

Shaggy parasols are the common name of three similar and safe species in the genus of Chlorophyllum: one east of the Cascades, Chlorophyllum rachodes, and the west side sports the other two. Like many urban mushrooms, they are saprophytes, helping break down organic matter in the soil. In the forest, more fungi are in a mutually beneficial relationship with trees. Shaggy parasols usually grow in scattered groups but can also be found individually or in a ring. They generally return once or twice a year to the same area.

If you come across a portabella-sized white mushroom in your yard with thick scales on the cap, a ring on the stem and bulbous base, it’s probably C. rachodes. To be sure, cut the stem in half and, in addition to being hollow, it will quickly turn carrot orange. There is one poisonous member in the group, but conveniently it lives outside the Pacific Northwest.

Shaggy parasols are similar in flavor to portabellas but are more concentrated, with a nutty mineral character, making them perfect for classic mushroom dishes from pizza to pasta to stroganoff.

Half of the calls I receive to identify fungi during the warmer months are asking about C. rachodes.

If your yard is a healthy ecosystem rich with mulch and plants and free of fungicides, this backyard treasure will most likely show up. It’s virtually a weed, and weeds—along with insects and invasive species—should be staples of our diet so we can continue to multiply without obliterating the natural world.

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IDENTIFYING ATTRIBUTES: Large white cap with

shaggy darker scales on top and gills that don’t attach to the stipe. A smooth, ringed, orangestaining (the key to easy recognition) hollow stem rises from a bulbous base.

LOOK-ALIKES: No other big white mushrooms in the city will stain carrot orange when cut.

CULINARY ATTRIBUTES: Delicious, rich mush-

room flavor that is comparable to a portabella but more potent. Goes great in stuffings, with grains, and grilled on a sandwich. The stems are fibrous and better diced or minced before cooking.

WINE PAIRINGS: Red Burgundy (produced in

France). //

Kelly Chadwick is a snowboarder, hiker, bicyclist, and occasional backpacker. His last article for Out There highlighted spring kings.

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AUGUST 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

23

Two-Wheelin’ Weekend Warriors Bikepacking North Idaho’s Chilco Mountain // By Summer Hess VIEWS FROM THE MOUNTAIN // PHOTO: SUMMER HESS CAMP. HOT-N-READY. Photo Op. End of Single Track. No Bake Cookies. This is how my buddy Tyler Adams labeled the Google Map pins that outlined my first bikepacking trip, which wound us up and around North Idaho’s 5,600-foot Chilco Mountain.

We staged our trip in the parking lot of Two Wheeler Dealer in Hayden, Idaho, where Tyler and Gabe Reese—two of four total riding companions— both work. Tyler is a mid-30’s climber-turned-bikeenthusiast who recently started nursing school.

His tattoos depict Calvin and Hobbes and a huge elephant on his lower leg, which was designed by a Spanish friend he met while living in Korea. Gabe is a 15-year-old trumpeter who performs in local symphonies. It was also his first time bikepacking, but clearly not his first time riding trails.

At 6 p.m. on a Saturday, right after the guys got off work, Gabe’s mom shuttled us up Bunco Road to the trailhead for Chilco Mountain. The climb starts immediately out of the parking lot, and there is no warm-up grade—at least for a beginner. The National Forest (NF) road rises, until it gets even steeper and saunters to the summit via dozens of calf and quad-busting switchbacks. We hoped to make camp by sunset or shortly after.

The first leg of the journey up NF 209 was classic North Idaho. ATVs and massive trucks blazed by us. Some people slowed down, while others aimed to feed us their dust. Gabe and Tyler cranked a bit ahead of me on their gravel grinders, and I settled into the lowest gear on my borrowed fat bike. The sun hovered just above tree line for what seemed like hours, as it does on long summer days, and shined a dusky light on the creeks and forest below us.

The heftier part of the trail gains roughly 1,500 feet over 1.8 miles. I was pretty sure I was going to make it, but I also knew it was going to hurt. My small bit of confidence came not from my innate riding abilities, but from my willingness to dismount my steed and push. Going slow was better than not going at all, and I had no illusions of grandeur for my first time out. I just hoped the grunt work and sweat would translate into some fun the next morning.

One thing that helped everyone keep climbing was how tuned in Tyler was to our bikes. He frequently dropped behind the group to do a quick inspection of our set ups, and then pedaled to catch up. “Your back bag is rubbing your tire,” he says to me about halfway up the NF road. I braked, and he showed me how to tighten the bottom of my rear seat bag. A short time later he asks Gabe if his seat was too low. “I’m not sure,” he replies, and they paused for a minor tweak. Gabe clearly knew a lot about bikes already, but I think both of us learned something from Tyler’s attention to detail: Small adjustments make a big difference over time; suffering should come from hills that demand hard 24

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / AUGUST 2018

MY SMALL BIT OF CONFIDENCE CAME NOT FROM MY INNATE RIDING ABILITIES, BUT FROM MY WILLINGNESS TO DISMOUNT MY STEED AND PUSH. work of your muscles, not from how your body is positioned over your bike.

Tyler also checked in to make sure we were hydrated and regularly snacking. Playing the role of a cooler, older, and wiser brother, he was as tuned in to his own experience on the ride as he was into ours. This thoughtfulness makes people feel cared about, but I also think it plays another important role on a bikepacking—or any long distance— trip.

Attention to the small things over which you have some control has a placebo effect: now that your bike or body is working more efficiently, you start betting on yourself that you can do this.

Soon it was time to put those adjustments to the test, and we started climbing in earnest via singletrack switchbacks. I pedaled as smoothly and calmly as I could, but I frequently lost momentum, teetered sideways, and resigned to push myself up hill. Sweat started pooling in my arms and lower back. Then it leaked into my eyes and down my neck and legs. Finally, I was working so hard that my entire body felt like a giant heart beat. As I hopped on and off the bike, depending on the steepness of the trail, I started daydreaming about the Little Caesars pizza the fourth member of our team—Matt Jones—had strapped to his front rack.

Fortunately, we had timed the uphill work perfectly and reaped the first of our rewards. The sun had barely set over town as we arrived at camp just below the summit. The sunset glowed in dense layers of vibrant color, ranging from shades of reddish-pink to midnight blue at the zenith. We left our bikes at camp and hiked quickly up the talus slopes to the south summit. Matt led the way with our Hot-N-Ready pizza, and I think we would have followed him anywhere. We crowded around the oily cardboard box and each grabbed a slice. The salty, fatty food lit up all the pleasure centers of my brain, and I felt like everything was suddenly right in the world. The last touch of light was sinking close to the horizon as we gazed toward Canada and Montana, and down at Hayden from where we had just come.

Once back at camp, we snacked on a few more provisions before stashing them out of reach from resident varmints. I rolled out my sleeping pad and

bivvy bag and crawled inside. Trying to go small and light, I had ditched the sleeping bag in favor of a down jacket and a pair of leggings: a bone chilling mistake that I will make sure to correct on my next trip.

As it goes with climbing any mountain, after we woke up, much of the work was still before us. We enjoyed the first rays of sun, knowing soon the heat would beat down and melt sunscreen into our eyes.

We sipped a few shots of instant coffee, packed up camp, and pedaled rolling hills for the first part of the morning, taking advantage of the scenic views by pausing for our photo op. Then, as we descended the north side of the mountain via Hayden Creek, the rollers gave way to steeper singletrack again.

I experimented with the position of my body to counter the weight of my bags. I also learned how to balance with the pedals parallel to each other to better absorb the uneven terrain, how to pump rather than ride the brakes, and how fast I could go without totally losing control.

By the time I was starting to get the hang of it, we reached the end of singletrack. The most challenging part of the ride came next, when we had to ride the National Forest road then pavement to drop Gabe off at his house before riding the final stretch back to Two Wheeler Dealer. The last few miles were the longest slog, as the sun blasted off the hilly pavement, and my legs felt heavy, even on the easier terrain.

I know cruising down the steep slopes was supposed to be my favorite part of the trip. But despite the thrill of speed, and how heavenly the rushing breeze felt on a hot day, the downhill is not seared into my memory as clearly as the final pin on our map: No Bake Cookies, with milk and a side of chicken noodle soup. //

DESCENDING CHILCO MOUNTAIN // PHOTO: SUMMER HESS

HOW TO GEAR UP FOR BIKEPACKING Go to a local shop like Two Wheeler Dealer that has employees who bike pack. There you will find a wealth of information about what kinds of bikes will best fit your objectives. Buying a bike or gear from a local shop means you get the exact product you want the first time that’s fitted to you and your riding style. Here’s what I used on my first bikepacking adventure: ■ Specialized Fatboy fat bike: The mountain bike’s chiller, bulkier, yet burlier brother.

The bike handled rocks, washouts, and water bars like a boss.

■ Specialized bags: My bike was fitted with a Burra Burra Framepack, the Burra Burra Stabilizer Seatpack 10, a Handlebar Stabilizer Harness, and the Burra Burra Drypack that fit in the handlebar harness.

Clearly a tremendous amount of R&D has gone into these lightweight, waterproof, low-profile bags, and half the fun of the trip is strategizing what to bring and how to puzzle piece it into the bags.

■ Basic, light-weight camping gear (unfortnately minus a sleeping bag).

■ Gloves and helmet.

■ Two easily-accessible water bottles and a 2- liter bladder.

■ Plenty of salty and sugary snacks, instant coffee, and a Mountain House.

Summer Hess is the managing editor of Out There Outdoors. She last wrote about running the Amica Seattle Marathon in July.

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Come join kindred souls in the spotlight competitions of the year at the Scenic Half Marathon and the Long Bridge Swim.

So much to do, so little summer left… check out all of the possibilities at VisitSandpoint.com.

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Schweitzer Huckleberry Color Fun Run 2.5k & 5k Family runs • August 5

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / AUGUST 2018

MY PARTNER JOHN and I were planning to camp at Ingraham Flats, a nice bench on the Ingraham Glacier at 11,000 feet, just above Mount Rainier’s Camp Muir. We hoped to get a head start on the crowds eyeing the Disappointment Cleaver, Rainier’s busiest climbing route, the following morning.

It was getting late—almost time for a headlamp.

We stopped to put on a layer and that’s when I saw them. Worms. On the glacier. I said something insightful to John, like “Dude, what are all these worms!?” John grew up in Tacoma and was a seasoned Northwest climber. He laughed at my surprise. “Those are ice worms.” Squatting down, I picked up some snow for a closer look. The ice worms wriggled around, seemingly unperturbed.

I was smitten. John said he thought they only lived in glaciers (he was right) and that they ate “watermelon snow,” which is a common name for the green algae that blooms on glaciers and snowfields in summer (right again).

If you spend enough time on glaciers in the Northwest, you’ll encounter ice worms, too.

Formally Mesenchytraeus solifugus, ice worms are the only worm on Earth known to complete its entire life cycle in ice. And ice worms don’t just tolerate their icy world; they thrive in it. Back-ofthe-envelope estimates of ice worm abundances on a single glacier can venture into the billions.

Ice worms are small—you could fit several on a dime—but they are easy to spot, thanks to their brown pigmentation. Being dark on a very white, reflective surface seems like a bad idea since any predator could spot them easily, like rosy finches do. We biologists think it’s a UV protectant, and more pigment means less UV damage. Human skin tones have evolved in the same way.

Ice worms can be found on coastal glaciers from the Sisters in Oregon to the Chugach Range of Alaska. This distribution is somewhat puz-

zling, however, because while there are plenty of interior glaciers, none have ice worms. It turns out, this may be because ice worms aren’t just cold-adapted; they are stenothermal, which is a fancy way of saying they only tolerate a very narrow range of temperatures.

If you pick up an ice worm with your bare hand, it will essentially melt before long. But, somewhat ironically, ice worms can also freeze to death if they get too cold. A recent study showed that ice worms do not inhabit glaciers where over-winter temperatures at the previous summer ice surface fall below -7 degrees Celsius. This lack of extreme cold tolerance is likely the key factor limiting ice worms from colonizing inland glaciers, where less insulating snow and colder temperatures make conditions untenable.

Looking back, I owe a lot to these little worms.

When I first encountered an ice worm, I was young, excited, and close to finishing a degree in Zoology.

But I didn’t know what I wanted to do next. Ice worms were my gateway to a world of life on alpine glaciers, an icy biome with more questions than answers. As climate change proceeds and glaciers recede all over the world, one looming impact of deglaciation is the concurrent loss of their icy inhabitants.

So next time you find yourself on a glacier on a calm, summer evening, have a look around for your squirming, ice-loving hosts. They might change your life. Or, if you don’t happen to be an impressionable kid like I was, ice worms will at least give you a new perspective on the life inhabiting one of Earth’s most extreme biomes. // A former Mount Rainier climbing ranger turned alpine biologist, Scott Hotaling studies climate change in mountain ecosystems. You can learn more about his research at www.coldgenomes.com or follow him on Twitter: @mtn_science.

THE LIVING SNOW PROJECT

February 23-24

@ the Spokane Convention Center

The goal of the Living Snow Project is to better understand the distribution, abundance, and diversity of snow algae (often called “watermelon snow”) in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

The LSP is based in the laboratory of Dr. Robin Kodner at Western Washington University but it’s a unique project because it is driven by the outdoor community. As a “citizen scientist,” you sign up to become a project volunteer and the Living Snow team will send you a sampling kit with instructions. Then when you’re out mountaineering, hiking, or skiing, and you see snow algae, you sample it according to the project directions and return the sample to Dr. Kodner’s research group for analysis. To learn more, register as a volunteer, or to make a donation to the project, please visit Livingsnow.com.

UrbanOutdoors SPOKANE’S WALKING OR BIKING POETRY TOUR // By Amy S. McCaffree

FEET SELFIE ON THE MONROE STREET BRIDGE. PHOTO: AMY S. MCCAFFREE

A NEW WAY TO EXPLORE Spokane is with a

self-guided walking or biking tour of the “I am a Town” poetry art installations. With 13 stops to choose from, using the Google Maps route provided by the non-profit organization Spokane Arts, you can link waypoints together.

Most are located in the downtown vicinity, with two others on Spokane’s South Hill and another in the West Central neighborhood.

Poet Laura Read initiated the “I am a Town” project when she served as the city’s poet laureate from October 2016 to November 2017. During this time, she taught poetry workshops at Spark Central based on the same theme. “One of the goals for the project was to make poetry an actual part of our landscape, thus making poetry more accessible to everyone,” says Read. Spokane Arts administers the poet laureate program, and a Community Building Foundation $2,000 grant provided funding for supplies and design work. After 13 poems were selected (out of 60 submissions)—each one connected to a different physical space or landmark in the city—excerpts of each poem were handcrafted into professionally designed wooden stencils with unique lettering. Thanks to help from many volunteers throughout the process, all the poems were placed at their locations in June, using the stencils and washable chalk paint.

“To install the poems, we needed to secure a lot of permissions, so we are grateful to the City of Spokane, the Parks department, and each of the individual business and property owners who agreed to host a temporary poem on their property. We plan to re-install the poems as necessary through the end of summer, in case of rainstorms or poems accidentally getting washed away,” says Melissa Huggins, Spokane Arts executive director.

“It’s such a lovely feeling to be surprised in your own city, especially by a fragment of poetry in an unexpected place. I love that a person walking or cycling by can read the few lines stenciled on the sidewalk and then seek out the full poem later, and they may be surprised all over again by the direction the full-length poem takes.” The Google Maps route and all the poems in their entirety are online at Spokanearts.org.

One way to begin your poetry walking or biking tour is to start at The Nest outdoor plaza in Kendall Yards, located off Summit Parkway. Find the first poem here, then head to the Monroe Street

Bridge. You’ll find the next poem at the northwest end of the bridge. Continue east and cross Monroe to Riverfront Park, or turn around and get on the Centennial Trail so you don’t miss the view of the falls framed by the Monroe Street Bridge.

Next stop is Veteran’s Court Lookout in Riverfront Park—off the trail under the bridge. The poem is located near the railing overlooking the river. From here, head south of the river to find four poems located in the blocks between Lincoln and Browne Streets. This includes stops at the Crescent, nYne Bar & Bistro, Neato Burrito’s Baby Bar, and The Otis. If you return to Kendall Yards from the Otis, via Monroe Street Bridge, the route for these seven poems is a nearly 3-mile loop.

For a longer tour, find the poem along Maple Street under I-90 and another outside The Elk in Browne’s Addition—these two stops add just under 2 more miles to your route, for a large loop total of approximately 4.5 miles back to Kendall Yards.

But you can start your tour wherever you’d like, creating your own urban trail adventure. Take time to enjoy a drink or meal at one of the bars. And as an artsy bonus, combine poetry with a tour of 10 featured public art displays in Kendall Yards and along the Centennial Trail, since you’re already in the neighborhood. (Find the art walk map at kendallyards.com.)

As for the sidewalk poetry, this tour should be done more than once and not just during summer.

“In the late fall, for selected poems—depending on location—we’ll replace the bright, colorful chalk spray paint with water-activated paint, which means the poem will be invisible until it rains or someone pours water on it. Seattle and other cities have similar hidden poetry installations that only reveal themselves when water is applied,” says Huggins. “I think that will make the sense of discovering a poem even greater if, for example, you’re waiting at a bus stop, it begins to rain, and suddenly a poem appears on the sidewalk at your feet.” //

Weiser River Trail Tour

Amy McCaffree, Out There’s special section editor and Out There Kids columnist, has been writing for OTO since 2006. She also writes poetry, with works published in Whitworth’s Rock & Sling literary journal and local anthologies, including Railtown Almanac, Lilac City Fairytales, and Spokane Writes.

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BACKCOUNTRY

SUMMER LOVIN’

PURSUITS 5 WAYS TO LOVE AND LIVE THE WILDS So much of the Pacific Northwest’s public lands and backcountry are located east of the Cascades. With the help of five outdoor enthusiasts, some who make their living out in the woods, we explore the diverse ways people work and play across the Inland Northwest’s vast wildlands. Their stories offer behind-thescenes insights into the wild places we love, and we hope they will inspire you to get out and explore more of the region’s world-class mountains, forests, trails, and waterways. (OTO)

BRIDGER RIDGE // BOTTOM: KAYLA’S MOM ON BRIDGER RIDGE. // PHOTOS: KAYLA HAAS

COMING BACK FROM BACKCOUNTRY TRAUMA

Last August, my parents and I were attempting to hike the Bridger Ridge from Fairy Lake to the College “M” in Bozeman, which included nearly 21 miles across rugged and exposed terrain with 6,800 feet of elevation gain and 9,500 feet of elevation loss. It’s not a trek for the faint of heart, and after much planning and preparation, this was our fourth attempt.

We were nervous, but prepared. Even so, early in the hike—just as we were finding our rhythm— disaster struck. Literally. As we crossed through a narrow scree-covered bowl, a group of mountain goats about 900 feet above us dislodged a rock. My mom was struck in the leg with a jagged bowlingball sized cannonball. The impact was so intense it resulted in massive avulsion of her leg. My dad immediately tended to my mom’s injury, and I called 911. Nearly four hours later my mom was short-hauled off the ridge in a vinyl bag attached to a 100-foot rope hanging from the bottom of the Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter. She was patched up with 11 internal stitches and 23 staples, and I am happy to report that she’s on the road to a full recovery with one hell of a story.

But I’m left brewing over some tough questions: how do you come back from a backcountry trauma, when the injury is more than just physical? The accident gained national attention, which garnered us supporters and haters. How do you get back out there when so many online critics say you should stay home?

I hate to reduce my experience to cliché, but I found the silver lining and got back on the horse.

It was that simple. I was open to learning and try-

ing again. I kept hiking, camping, and backpacking with a new sense of confidence. Like any life lesson, I believe that what you take away from the lesson is what matters. A backcountry crisis offers profound lessons in survival and grit. Witnessing a traumatic and gory injury coupled with being a part of the rescue effort offered an invaluable opportunity to keep a cool head during crisis. However, the biggest lesson I learned from this experience was true empathy.

The accident could have unfolded in a million other ways that would have be much more severe. If that rock hit my mom’s pack or torso, it would have certainly knocked her off of the side of the mountain, resulting in more trauma and a high probability of death. If the rock hit her in the head, it would have surely killed her instantly and gruesomely. I also imagined myself in my mom’s position; if the rock had hit me, would I have been able to keep my calm? My mom, in a bewildering display of control, stayed calm and focused on her breathing. She never lost her composure and never shed a tear. I was embarrassed when I realized I might have been the exact opposite. I could have been a nightmare patient, hysterically screaming for help but so fearful that I wouldn’t let anyone close enough to actually help me.

Shifting my morbid game of “what if ” from victim to responder, I imagined myself in my dad’s position as he hastily kicked toeholds in the steep, scree-covered hillside to tend to my mom. He is a trained and experienced first responder. He knew exactly what to do and took action before my mom and I could even process the situation fully. If my dad had been injured, would I even have known what to do? Would I have been able to keep a level

head and act quickly?

Thankfully, my parents have taught my brother and me what it means to be self-reliant—especially in the wilderness. I had always hoped that when called upon, I would tap into an inner strength. On that fateful Sunday in August, I showed up with a cool temperament, wisdom, and grit.

I truly believe there is an opportunity to learn and grow from every experience in your life—good or bad—and it is up to you to be open and forgiving enough to see the lesson. It would have been easy to curse the goats putting the blame on them. It would have been easy to turn in my hiking boots and try less arduous and tame hobbies. I could have let fear take the wheel and hightail it back to my comfort zone. But then again, comfort zones are boring and void of wisdom from lessons learned. To this end, I will to stick with being an explorer of the wilderness and my mind. (Kayla Haas)

RASPBERRY, STRAWBERRY, BUTTERSCOTCH

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BACKCOUNTRY PURSUITS, CONT. PROTECTING AND HUNTING THE WILD

As a kid in rural Iowa, Bart George had the same pastimes as many of his friends: hunting for deer and turkeys, roaming in the woods, fishing in the pond. Fascinated with animals, George would often bring them home to study, “rescuing” everything from raccoons to turtles. He had a makeshift menagerie filled with cages and terrariums—whatever he could put together “on a shoestring”—and creatures were always escaping.

name, but it attracts outdoors lovers of all stripes: paddlers, hikers, mountain bikers, and likeminded others who agree with the message of conservation.

The current political climate has given the group a membership boost, as concerned outdoorspeople respond to the threat of privatizing big pieces of national forest and other public land. In the last couple of years in particular, “we’ve really found an audience,” says George.

George has an affinity with the outdoors generally, spending time with his wife hiking and in other

CASTING FROM DRIFTWOOD. BOTTOM: CUTTHROAT. PHOTOS: ERIC NEUFELD

OFF THE GRID ANGLING

Clear water flowing over rocks and between boulders, leaves rustling, perhaps a merganser swimming by with her chicks. Miles from civilization, wilderness beckons those with fly rods. Whether hiking only a couple miles or much further through forest and talus slopes to a backcountry destination, Heather Hodson enjoys seeking faraway places.

“I try to get off the grid as often as possible. I’m not always hiking into different locations, but I do try to drive to rivers that are far away and not as popular as some of the local rivers,” says Hodson, who started fly-fishing a decade ago. Venturing into the backcountry depends less on your actual flyfishing expertise, she says, and more on how comfortable and experienced someone is with traveling off the beaten path.

“As you drive up a river you might see an angler at every pullout on the road. I’d bet money that those anglers don’t venture too far away from that location,” she says. “The further you can get off the beaten path and explore, the more likely you’re going to find some willing fish who do not get an artificial fly thrown at them multiple times a day.”

As river levels drop and water clears, fish develop better senses. “You’re less likely to fool a fish the more times that they are hooked or have been

fished,” she says. “An angler may have better luck if they are casting towards fish that are less educated.”

Hodson founded Spokane Women on the Fly four years ago to share passion and knowledge of the sport with women of all ages and abilities, through group events, classes, and guided trips. “I prefer to fish with other anglers. Fly-fishing to me is so much more than just about the fish. I love the camaraderie and friendships that I’ve developed through Spokane Women on the Fly and choose to share my experience with others,” she says. Though at first the sport may feel intimidating, Hodson says don’t be afraid to fail. “It took me an entire year to catch my first fish on the fly. I had no clue what I was doing.” It wasn’t until Hodson found a few mentors and took a fly fishing level one class that she got better and started to catch fish. “Time on the water is truly the only way to get better.”

Hodson points out that for anglers or anyone looking to recharge their batteries on a quiet stretch of water, the Inland Northwest is truly blessed. She rattles off the names of iconic fly fishing rivers and notes that we have 50 lakes within 50 miles of Spokane. “Most you can drive to and there are still a few hidden gems that you can hike into and not see another angler.” (Amy S. McCaffree)

TOP: BART AND A HOUND (RADAR) AT PRIEST LAKE. // PHOTO: KATIE KERN BOTTOM: MATT SCOTT AND BART GEORGE PACKING TWO BULL ELK OUT OF THE FRANK CHURCH WILDERNESS AREA IN 2017. // PHOTO: BART GEORGE RIGHT: BART GEORGE WITH A BULL ELK IN THE FRANK CHURCH WILDERNESS AREA, // PHOTO: MIKE LITHGOW

Fast forward a few decades and that kid has grown up to become a wildlife biologist for the Kalispel Tribe, doing mostly field-based work in northeast Washington like surveying wildlife, doing grizzly bear and cougar research, and setting up game cameras. Fittingly, his work also requires—now, with significantly more skill and better equipment—capturing animals for the purposes of scientific study.

A lifelong hunter, George is also the co-chair of the Washington chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. “I’m lucky that I chose a career that sort of dovetails with hunting and fishing activities,” he says. Backcountry Hunters and Anglers has a mission that focuses heavily on the “backcountry” part, with a membership that’s passionate about conserving public lands: forests, lakes and streams, prairies, and mountains. As George puts it, it’s about “protecting big, connected landscapes.

That’s what’s going to support the species that we care about now and into the future.”

“Hunters and anglers” is part of the group’s 30

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active pursuits. Hunting, though, has a unique, primal appeal. “It’s a very different thing when you go into the woods with the idea that you’re hunting,” he says. The pace changes. The awareness turns up.

The focus is different. “You have to slow down, pay attention, listening to everything, watching—it’s a fun way to spend a day for sure.”

George finds that there are some common misconceptions about hunting, one being that success comes easily. Statistics vary by region and weapon type, but in Washington as few as one in 20 hunters may kill an elk, says George. For deer the odds are closer to one in four. Another misconception is that hunters are just looking for more trophies for their collections. That may be the case for some, but for George and others like him the appeal is more closely tied to a basic necessity: food. “We’re out there trying to get our year’s supply of meat,” he says. “My family enjoys it. It’s healthy, organic, good meat”—and local to boot. If he’s fortunate enough to get a deer or an elk, that’s what his family will be eating.

Hunting, as George describes it, is holistic. It’s not just about the kill, or having fresh, local game to eat, or time in the woods; it’s all of it coming together. “I think it’s more about the experience than the harvest or the kill,” he says.

George hunts regularly in Northeast Washington and in the panhandle of Idaho (he’s understandably loath to give away anything more specific than that), packing in gear to spend a week in the woods.

“We’re almost always camping, getting as far away from the road or trailhead as we can,” he says of himself and his companions. Sometimes they haul gear in backpacks, sometimes they’ll use mules, sometimes they’ll bring it in on mountain bikes.

Part of their ethos includes avoiding technology such as drones and ATVs that others may use as hunting tools. “It’s a backcountry experience free from technology,” he says.

Though he and his backcountry hunting buddies try to leave behind civilization to hunt, they sometimes do come across other people—and when that happens, it’s almost always a happy connection.

“That’s one of the funny things,” he says. “I kind of joke about how we try to get away from people as far as we can when we’re hunting. But almost without exception, if we bump into someone in the backcountry, it’s someone we could be friends with.

They’re generally likeminded folks.” (Sarah Hauge) CHECKING AMPHIBIAN TRAPS. // PHOTO: ADAM GEBAUER

IN THE FIELD WITH A RESTORATION ECOLOGIST

As a field biologist, restoration ecologist, and wildlife biologist, I spend much of my time in the backcountry looking at the small scale in order to gain a better picture of the large scale. Many of my days are spent bending over a meter of ground or transect tape, characterizing the vegetation (sapling, shrub, forbs, grass), and then moving on to the next sampling plot. Or, I walk trap lines in order to monitor or radio collar small rodents, in an effort to better understand habitat health.

In the last few years, I have specifically been working in the field of restoration ecology. This is the complex process of “restoring” a piece of land to something similar to its natural function. Examples of this are turning an old hay field into a diverse prairie, enhancing timber stands to support more deer and elk browse, or planting riparian trees and shrubs to help stabilize banks and shade streams.

I have learned a few things over the years. For example, as much as humans try, we are pretty poor at replicating natural disturbance. Natural disturbances are important for various ecosystems as a method to reset the clock. Natural cycles of fires and floods help to clear land, redistribute nutrients, open new habitats, and provide for different plant and animal communities.

I have also learned that to continue to have healthy and productive landscapes to work, live, and recreate in, we need to put greater efforts into conservation and restoration. Conservation of wilderness and natural ecosystems gives us a reference for how environments function properly.

Restoration allows us to restore ecosystem function such as flood retention, nutrient cycling, and diverse wildlife and plant habitats, as well as providing more lands for hunting, fishing, backpacking, mountain biking, trail running, and bird watching.

Although I witness the effects of our use on the backcountry landscape, I also get to watch it recover from these uses. I have chased radio-collared grouse in the woods of New England and prairies of eastern New Mexico in order to determine population numbers and habitat use. I have walked into a holding pen for Mexican gray wolf reintroduction to bandage a cut paw on a huge, scared wolf. I have seen timber harvest done with wildlife habitat in mind that led to an abundance of native shrubs and wildflowers.

Much of my field days are spent hunched over, but I have to stretch and look up every once in a while. This is when I get to watch the day pass over the landscape. In the morning there is much activity: the birds are flying and feeding their young, and I usually scare up a faun or lone doe. In the heat of the afternoon, many of the songbirds are still, but the ground squirrels are whistling at my approach, and the occasional eagle soars by with its chittering to its young. As the light fades, nighthawks and bats take flight and the occasional coyote calls among the hills. Being lucky enough to have a job that gets me out in the backcountry, most days I can ignore the mosquitoes, ticks, and 100 degrees. At the end of the day, I can set up my hammock at the edge of a timber harvest, write an article, and watch the landscape slowly fade into night. (Adam Gebauer)

PHOTO COURTESY OF KURTIS ROBINSON.

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH A WILDLANDS FIREFIGHTER

Kurtis Robinson is not someone who sits back and watches life happen. That’s true in his work as president of the Spokane chapter of the NAACP and in his involvement on a number of other community-minded and social justice-focused organizations (Better Health Together, the Revive Center for Returning Citizens, Smart Justice Spokane, and Just Lead Washington—to name a few). It’s certainly also true of his work as a wildlands firefighter.

It was 2007 when the Manilla Creek fire crested down the hill toward his home on the Colville Reservation in northeast Washington. “I sat on my lawn with a garden hose and called the tribal fire department,” Robinson says. The advice was ambiguous: either evacuate—or stay home. “I decided that just wasn’t a good enough answer for me, and I would never be that helpless again,” he says.

That’s when he decided to get trained with the Colville Tribe and went to work as a wildlands firefighter in 2009. In 2017 he completed the West Plains Fire Academy, and this year he completed the Western Washington Interagency Wildland Fire Training Academy. Today he’s an engine boss and an incident commander with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, fighting regional wildfires from May through October. “At a certain point it just gets in your blood,” he says.

Typically, when a fire “goes off,” it’s identified by either a backcountry fire lookout tower, a call-in, an airplane, or, more rarely, a satellite. From there the situation is assessed. In some remote Forest Service and National Park Service wilderness and backcountry areas, wildfires may be monitored and allowed to burn to let this important natural process play out in ecosystems that benefit from and depend on fire to remain healthy. Fires near roads, homes, and communities, on the other hand, typically see an aggressive fire-fighting response.

Once the fire has been assessed, the fastest, most effective resources will be called in to quickly address the situation, Robinson says. These resources include smoke jumpers, hotshot crews (teams trained to battle the most intense, hottest fires), or Helitack (“helicopter-delivered fire resources”).

Then other levels of crew, like Robinson’s, roll in with their additional equipment. “There will be a base camp or staging area. We’ll meet up. Depending on the intensity [of the situation] we’ll…hop out and get right to work,” he says. They wear gear including flame-resistant Nomex clothing, fireproof helmets, wildland firefighter-approved boots, safety goggles, gloves, and Nomex shrouds.

This fire season Robinson has been on the move and dispatched from Forks, Washington, to Yakima, Spokane, and Colville. “Basically, doing what we call ‘chasing fire,’” he says. Wildland firefighters carry along with them individual tents and mats for sleeping, though sometimes they’ll be put up in a space like a school gymnasium.

Sometimes Robinson and his colleagues arrive on the scene to deal with intense flames. Other times, “it’s in mop-up stage; we’re just going around to make sure everything’s out.” Unsurprisingly, a huge amount of flexibility is required. “At any point you could drive all day and work all night, or drive all day and turn around and work the next day,” he says.

“The other day we ran for, oh gosh, about 24 hours straight,” says Robinson. He and his crew were traveling from pre-positioning (essentially a staging area) to a fire, and then on to another fire, where they took on the night shift to give the firefighters already on the scene some rest.

Much of the work Robinson and his colleagues do, whether it’s putting out small fires near town or out in the middle of nowhere, goes under the radar. “People don’t really understand how many fires they don’t hear about, because there are just a bazillion of them that never make the news, that never make social media. We’re already on them and putting them out before they get that big. That’s kind of the gig,” he says. Frequently there are “one-acre, two-acre fires that could and would have gotten out of control had we not been there doing what we do.”

“Frankly most of the stuff we’re encountering these days is human-caused,” he says. “[For me] the question of whether we impact our environment has been answered.”

There are practical prevention steps we should all be taking to reduce fire risk, he says. A few easy ones Robinson mentions: make sure campfires are put completely out. Don’t flick cigarette butts out the car window. Have a spare tire. The last step may seem strange, but he says the scenario plays out all too often: driver gets a flat, keeps driving, the wheel turning on the asphalt creates sparks, sparks light paper-dry grass, a brush fire starts.

For Robinson, his commitments and involvements are all interrelated: social justice, the environment, and the need to think about how our choices impact our forests and future generations. “That’s why I am so poured out into all of this,” he says. “I absolutely believe that we can do better, and that we need to.”

(Sarah Hauge) // AUGUST 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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OutdoorCalendar RUNNING

BIKING

OTHER

(August 4) Dig Your Grave Trail Race. Where:

(August 4) Blazing Saddles Bike Ride.

(August 9) Kid’s Off-Road Triathlon. Where: Camp Dart-Lo, Spokane. A great first triathlon for kids of any age includes a lap swim in the outdoor pool with length dependent on age and skills (flotation devices welcome), a mile bike ride on a gravel road through the woods, and a ¾ miletrail run. Info: Campfireinc.org

Hope, Idaho. This is a solo or relay team event covering 100k in one day on a point to point course. Info: Run7b.com

(August 5) Huckleberry Color Fun Run & Walk.

THERAPEUTIC RECREATION Specialized and adaptive recreational activities for individuals with disabilities: •

Splash Down

•

Paddleboard lessons

•

Wallowa Lake Camping

•

Scottish Highland Games

•

Craft & cooking classes

•

Spokane Indians Baseball

•

Bicycling & hiking outings

SpokaneParks.org

Where: Schweitzer Mountain Resort. Run or walk through the forest and get covered with color tossed by the forest urchins. This is a great family event and is marked for 5k and 2.5k participants. Info: Schweitzer.com

(August 18) Tase T Lentil 5K Fun Run. Where: Pullman, Wash. Enjoy the food, music, and other festivities of the National Lentil Festival and a 5k fun run or walk. Info: Lentilfest.com (August 31-September 3) 26th Annual Fall Fest at Schweitzer. Where: Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Sandpoint. Four days of live bands, regional wines, and over 75 regional micro-brews and ciders.

For the kids there is a soda tent where they can mix their own flavors and create wild concoctions. This is the final weekend of summer operations and the chairlift will be open for sightseeing, hiking, mountain biking, or visiting the Sky House restaurant and bar at the top of the mountain. Info: Schweitzer.com

Where: Colville, Wash. 40, 62, and 100-mile road biking routes through the beautiful Colville Valley countryside. Enjoy the beer garden, food, music and more as part of Colville’s Rendezvous Days.

Info: Blazing100.org

(August 12) Wallace-Hiawatha Ride The Passes Adventure Loop Ride. Where: Wallace, Idaho. A mountain bike ride starting in Wallace around 8 a.m. that heads over Lookout Pass, through the Route of the Hiawatha Trail, then up and over Moon Pass and back to Wallace (approximately 57 miles with over 5,800 feet of climbing). 17 tunnels and trestles to make the ride amazing and scenic.

Info: 208-667-8969

(August 18) 8 Lakes Leg Aches. Where: Spokane.

One of the best organized rides in Eastern Washington explores the beautiful scenery surrounding Spokane, West Plains, Medical Lake and Cheney. Routes are clearly marked and include food stops, medical and mechanical support. Proceeds benefit the programs of Lutheran Community Services Northwest. Info: Lcsnw. org/8-lakes-bike-ride

(August 11) Swim the Snake. Where: Lyons Ferry, Wash. A open-water swimming and paddling event on the Snake River and a non-competitive 33.3 mile bike ride from Waitsburg Fairgrounds to Lyons Ferry Marina. Info: swimthesnake.org (August 11) Paddle, Splash, & Play. Where: Nine Mile Recreation Area, Lake Spokane, Wash. A free kids’ event where kids can try different water sports in a supervised setting. Info: Sckc.ws/events (August 11) Ales for the Trail. Where: McEuen Park, Coeur d’Alene. Enjoy great Northwest craft beer, live music by The Rub, and support the North Idaho Centennial Trail Info: Alesforthetrail.org

(August 18) Silver Mountain Resort Brewsfest.

Where: Kellogg, Idaho. Take a scenic ride up North America’s longest gondola to the mountaintop venue with over 40 beers and live music. Info: Silvermt.com

Alice Busch, 509.625.6245

SIX MONTH EVENTCALENDAR RUNNING (September 15) Bellingham Traverse.

Where: Bellingham, Wash. A fun relay race that celebrates the journey of wild salmon. Solo, tandem, and relay teams to run, bike and paddle through Bellingham’s scenic parks, winding trails, and open waterways.

Info: Bellinghamtraverse.com

(September 15) Newport Autumn Bloom.

Where: Newport, Wash. This fall fun run includes two distances starting at T.J. Kelly Park, a 5k and 10k, which is a Bloomsday 2nd seed qualifier. The event benefits the Newport Hospital and Health Services Foundation. Info: NewportHospitalandHealth.org

(September 16) Sandpoint Scenic Half & 10k. Where: Sandpoint, Idaho. With a route across Sandpoints’ iconic Long Bridge, offering panoramic views of Lake Pend Oreille and the surrounding mountains, this race is an established, fun, and professionally managed event. Info: Sandpointchamber.com

(September 22) Spokane 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

(September 23) Valleyfest Multi-Sport Day 5&10k Run. Where: Spokane Valley, Wash. The We offer hundreds of camps and classes—plus four golf courses, six aquatic centers, 17 splash

Valleyfest annual races start and finish at the Plantes Ferry with a course that runs west past the Plantes Ferry obelisk to the Island Trail Head, then over the Spokane River on the Denny Ashlock Bridge and along the Centennial Trail. Info: Valleyfest.org.

pads and more than 80 parks.

(September 30) Sekani Trail Run. Where: Camp Sekani Park, Spokane. The 10th annual event includes 32

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a free kids 1k, plus a 5k and 10k run/walk on forested singletrack above the Spokane River. Info: Sekanitrailrun.com

(October 6) New Hope Fund Run.

Where: New Hope Resource Center, Colbert, Wash. A 5k fun run/ walk through the Summerwood Neighborhood that helps people in need in North Spokane County with things like financial support for certain prescriptions, emergency vehicle repair, utility shut-off notices, vouchers for gasoline, housing assistance, food and clothing needs, and more. There is no registration for this race but donations are accepted. Info: Newhopefundrun.wpengine.com

at Spark Central in Kendall Yards to begin the ride at 1 p.m. Info: Summerparkways.com

(September 22-24) Silveroxx Mountain Bike Festival. Where: Silver Mountain Resort, Kellogg, Idaho. With events for every rider type, including a night ride, ladies day, kids races, downhill race, super-d (top to bottom) race, best trick, minibike dh, minibike keg slalom, bunny hop contest, and outdoor movies, the Silveroxx Mountain Bike Festival is one of the biggest mountain bike events in the Northwest.

Info: Silvermt.com

OTHER

BIKING

(September 23) Valleyfest Multi-Sport Day Triathlon. Where: Spokane Valley, Wash. The Valleyfest

(September 9) 11th Annual SpokeFest. Where:

annual triathlon with a boat leg instead of a swim, includes a 1.5 mile canoe or kayak, an 11 mile bike ride, and a 3-mile run all through some of Spokane Valley’s most scenic places. Info: Valleyfest.org

Kendall Yards, Spokane. SpokeFest, the Inland Northwest’s largest bicycling event, invites anyone interested in riding a bicycle, including families, to come enjoy one of several different length group rides. The routes are carefully chosen to be interesting, beautiful and challenging, but not so challenging that first-timers can’t make it. The routes are easier with training, but it is not required. Biking-related exhibitors, bike shops, food, music, and a kid’s Strider bike demo area make for a fun, festive atmosphere for all. Info: Spokefest.org

(September 15) Global Kidical Massive. Where: Kendall Yards, Spokane. Just like a regular Kidical Mass, a fun, safe bike ride especially for kids, but on this special day Spokane joins thousands of kids all over the planet for a worldwide “Kidical Mass” bike ride. This free, family-friendly afternoon bike ride of about 3 miles heads out from Spark Central through Kendall Yards and back on the Centennial Trail. Meet

(September 23) Valleyfest Multi-Sport Day Duathlon. Where: Spokane Valley, Wash. The Valleyfest annual duathlon includes a 5k run, 11 mile bike ride, and one last 5k run. Info: Valleyfest.org

(February 23-24) 3rd Annual Spokane Great Outdoors & Bike Expo. Where: Spokane Convention Center. Check out all types of bikes from local shops and reps, and find deals on bikes, paddle sports gear, and other outdoor equipment. Check out outdoor adventure travel destinations and clubs from around the region; enter to win thousands of dollars of outdoor gear prizes; and learn new outdoor skills, try gear, and enjoy free backcountry snacks at the REI Campground. Plenty of kids’ activities, including a climbing wall, make this a fabulous family event. Info: SpokaneOutdoorExpo.com

AUGUST 2018 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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Last Page MOTHERHOOD AND THE CLIMBER’S LIFE // By Meredith Jeffries

CALEB’S FIRST ICE CLIMB IN NORTH IDAHO. // PHOTO:MATT JEFFRIES

BEFORE BECOMING A MOM, I didn’t like to think about the possibility of taking a break from rock climbing goals and pushing my limits, or staying at home to take care of a baby while my husband climbed ever-higher mountains without me.

Before I became pregnant, my expectation was to continue to get outside after having a child; but, as driven as I am, and as supportive as my husband is, I also knew I would change.

My son is now 18 months old. Certainly in the first throes of motherhood I recall a few uninvited

external voices that made me nervous about how to balance motherhood and an outdoor life. While the strength and influence of such voices varies in different communities, I know I’m not alone.

A lot of women hear that if we are moms, we are going to have to sit it out when it comes to adventure. We hear how dangerous or inconvenient it is to include our kids in being outside, or that our changed bodies and new priorities will keep us otherwise occupied. Even if a woman has silenced the voice saying that she will be too busy or too out of

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shape after giving birth to get back on the rock, another voice might whisper that the effort of dragging kids up a mountain is too much to overcome.

I even believed that I’d lose acceptance or respect in my mountaineering community if I stayed away from climbing too long.

Friends who are moms and climbers have told me their own version of a similar story. But we agree that despite the changes that come with kids, we still have a need for our outdoor life and to bring our children along with us. Those things have a stronger pull than any hang-ups those external voices could utter.

I asked a friend, Lindsey, who has an 18-monthold daughter, Olivia, what has changed in her relationship to the outdoors. “We can’t just go climbing with only the two of us (referring to her husband, John) without a third person. There are a lot fewer after-work-weekday-climbs, but we still go. And, we have amazing climbing partners [who help with Olivia] when we’re out.”

Of course getting out to climb is not always free of challenge. She says sometimes on a weekend she and her husband bring their daughter to a crag, and they might only get a couple of routes in before they have to head home for nap times or other needs.

Still, together, the family has accomplished an 18 -mile backpacking trip in the Enchantments, and plenty more. Lindsey says taking Olivia with them is creating a strong sense of family and trust in each other. She hopes it will help her daughter build confidence and joy in the outdoors too. When she is out with her daughter, the goals are not as “epic” as they used to be, but she “experiences the little things more,” and says it’s always worth the effort.

Another friend, Jen, has a 3-year-old, an almost

2-year-old, and another one on the way. She says she gets out to run and hike but has found some challenges with backpacking and climbing. While her kids love being outside, when they were younger they were not happy in backpacks or long car rides to get to climbs.

For a while she and her husband wondered if they were “doing it wrong.” But they make it work. Sticking to local, short hikes with their kids and getting out on runs by herself has been her way of connecting with her outdoor life.

For me, a poignant moment with Caleb happened just this spring. We had been stuck inside for almost two weeks with a cold. I couldn’t stand being in the house anymore so I strapped Caleb to my back and headed down a trail behind our neighborhood that leads to the Spokane River.

I could hear him babbling along as we walked, and when I glanced over my shoulder I could see him reaching out to touch flowers or gangly weeds.

Then, he stopped babbling as we saw a robin fly above us and perch on a branch nearby. In almost a whisper, he uttered “bir..bir…” in what may have been his first word in which he truly knew the meaning.

These days have been quieter physically since my son was born, but I have been struck by how grateful I feel when I’m climbing, hiking, or running. I’m more aware of spontaneous beauty and the people I’m with—the things that called me outside in the first place, even if it takes more planning, even if I don’t always get as far as I could on my own. // Meredith Jeffries is a writer, climber, hiker, and mom. Most days, you can catch her around Spokane on the trail, or with her nose in a book. This is her first article for Out There.

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