Out There Monthly June 2015 by Out There Outdoors

SUMMER FESTIVALS | RIVER TUBING | SPOKATOPIA JUNE 2015 // FREE

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

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Jump Into Summer Ultimate Summer Adventure Guide Hiking & Camping in the Kettle River Range Running Around Smith Rock Dog Friendly Breweries Road Biking Rossland Exploring Mining History in Wallace Pend Oreille Road Trip Kimberly B.C.’s MTB Secret

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AR E G / BIKES

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June 3rd • Cool Prizes from Fitness Fanatics June 5th • 6:00 PM Meet Jeremy Wilson from Cervelo.

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BIKES

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Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015

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Cycle the Silver Valley 2014

JUNE 2015

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In This Issue p.5 / From the Editor

MONTHLY

Ultimate Summer Adventure

p.6-7 / Out There News

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015 www.outtheremonthly.com

p.8 / Hike of the month p.9 / Running Running Around Smith Rock

p.10 / Outdoor Living

Publishers

Shallan & Derrick Knowles

Editor

Derrick Knowles

Run and Ride for a Cause senior writers

p.12 / Out there kids Biking Fish Lake Trail

p.13 / everyday cyclist Wednesday Night Mountain Bike Races

p.14 / Fishing

Selecting the Right Fly Rod

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p.15 / Out There Spotlight Spokane Mountaineers

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Summer Rides Around the Inland NW

p.18 / biking

How Bike Friendly is Coeur d’Alene?

p.19 / Health & Fitness Going Planless

Jon Jonckers Brad Naccarato Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Contributing Writers:

S. Michal Bennett Chic Burge Hank Greer Bea Lackaff Katie LeBlanc Janelle McCabe Ammi Midstokke Brad Northrup Taylor Rogers Aaron Theisen Holly Weiler

Contributing photographers:

Ben Gavelda Jon Jonckers Derrick Knowles Shallan Knowles Skye Schillhammer Aaron Theisen

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p.21/ Jump into summerThe Ultimate Summer Adventure GUide

©Copyright 2015 Out There Monthly, LLC. The views expressed in this magazine reflect those of the writers and advertisers and not necessarily Out There Monthly, LLC. Disclaimer: Many of the activities depicted in this magazine carry a significant risk of personal injury or death. Rock climbing, river rafting, snow sports, kayaking, cycling, canoeing and backcountry activities are inherently dangerous. The owners and contributors to Out There Monthly do not recommend that anyone participate in these activities unless they are experts or seek qualified professional instruction and/or guidance, and areknowledgeable about the risks, and are personally willing to assume all responsibility associated with those risks.

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On the cover: Living the ultimate summer on the Salmon River, Idaho. Nothing beats the freedom of air, water, sun and wilderness.

Photo: aaron theisen

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015

From The Editor: Ultimate Summer Adventure Adventure is one of those words that can mean very different things to different people. What would your “ultimate summer adventure” look like? Hopefully we’ve at least touched on a few local outing and travel ideas that fit your definition. Is a weekend of camping at Swan Lake in northeast Washington’s Ferry County with a meandering day hike up Thirteenmile Canyon up your alley, or is an epic mountain bike trip to Rossland, B.C., or a tour of historical mining sites in Wallace, Idaho, more your style? Either way, it’s often the flow of the trip – the quality of the experience, your ability to relax and enjoy it and the people you’re with – and not necessarily the destination or a specific

accomplishment that makes the most lasting memories. In her story “Planless: A Journey Back to Loving What You Loved,” on page 19, OTM contributor Ammi Midstokke recounts a phase in life when she poured too much of her vital life energy into training and preparing for the next competitive bike or foot race. Then one year, training for the next big race became enough of a burden that it lost its appeal and she took a different path with a focus on micro-adventures: unstructured daily rides, runs and crag sessions that were more about the experiences than some other final, over-planned end. She felt better and that shift of approach, which included added

cross-training as a natural byproduct of doing whatever outdoors activities sounded the most fun each day, had the additional benefit of giving her a performance boost in the next race she signed up for. Allowing for unplanned time, combined with the ability to discover or cultivate the adventure and wild magic in the simplest of summertime experiences, could be the thing that’s been missing from your summers. Over-filling a summer bucket list with too many trips, barbecues and calendar commitments can become a burden that stresses us out as much as that pasty guy who never gets outside because he works too much, fretting over the shadow of

the bosses’ iron fist. Try taking the time from your planned trips, training regimen and race schedule to squeeze in some under-structured time on the trails, beaches, rapids and mountains right in your own backyard and learn to enjoy the simplest, most basic outdoor experiences again. You know, the kind of everyday outings that most likely inspired you to fill up the garage or corner of your basement with so many boats, bikes, skis, tents, sleeping bags, fly rods, running shoes and race medals in the first place. // Derrick Knowles, Editor editor@outtheremonthly.com

START YOUR KIDS ON THE RIGHT PATH If want your kids to share your passion for the outdoors, give them gear that works like yours. We build every Osprey youth pack with the comfort and reliability that will provide your little adventurers with quality experiences they’ll carry for a lifetime. To find out more about Jet 18 & Jet 12 visit ospreypacks.com PHOTO / DAN HOLZ

Dec 30: Resolution Run 5K Try Stand Up Paddle Boarding This Summer!

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Out ThereNews River Access Improvements in the Works

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Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015

The Aubrey White Spokane River Water Trail access below TJ Meenach Bridge by the city’s sewage treatment plant will be getting a facelift thanks to a grant from the Inland Northwest Community Foundation. The restoration of the river access site will make getting down to the river safer and easier and will fix erosion problems on the existing road. Currently, the access is a steep, rutted-out lane that creates both safety issues and environmental degradation. The project will restore the lane and

make improvements to avoid erosion and redirect storm water. In addition, volunteers will install native plants and help keep the area clean. A kiosk and interpretive signage will also be installed. “As popularity of Spokane River paddling, tubing and angling grows below downtown, restoring this site has been a high priority of both the conservation and recreation communities,” says Andy Dunau, Executive Director of the Spokane River Forum. (OTM)

REI Trail Day at Riverside State Park to Open Trail Corridor for Mountain Bikers

Join Riverside State Park and REI on June 14, from 1-4:30 p.m. (registration at 12:30) to rehabilitate Trail 100, a critical access corridor that runs through the Riverside State Park Equestrian Area. This trail offers spectacular views of the Spokane River and downtown. Trail 100 is also the only singletrack thoroughfare from TJ Meenach Bridge to the Bowl & Pitcher area, and it has been technically off-limits to bikes. In order to keep mountain bike traffic off of other trails in the equestrian area and maintain trail connections that mountain bikers and hikers can use between downtown Spokane and the Bowl & Pitcher, Trail 100 will officially be designated a multi-use trail, making it open to mountain bikes once this service project work has been completed. This is a significant change that will benefit the growing number of riders who are looking to bike from downtown area neighborhoods into Riverside State Park on existing trails. Thanks in part to an on-going grant from REI

Spokane, this program will be directed by the park’s full-time Volunteer Coordinator, Danny Murphy. Since stepping into the position in February, Murphy has already facilitated over 3,300 hours of volunteer work with more than 500 volunteers in the 14,000-plus-acre park. Volunteer crews will be doing myriad trail work including brushing, widening tread, reinforcing eroded areas and cleaning up garbage and debris. Volunteers will also place signs to alert users to the new trail rules allowing bikes as well as appropriate trail etiquette. Approximately half a mile of trail is in need of serious repair. Meet at Trail 100, parking at the Centennial Trail Military Cemetery Trailhead. The first 130 volunteers to register (and attend) will receive a limited-edition REI Stewardship t-shirt. Riverside State Park Foundation will provide food at a celebration at the end of the work day. More info and register on-line at: http://goo.gl/forms/s2FTGfggj0. (OTM)

Specialized and Pivot Mountain Bike Demos at Camp Sekani Wheel Sport mountain bike demos are coming to Camp Sekani in Spokane in June. Even if you’re not planning on buying a new bike anytime soon, checking out the latest technology by taking a demo bike for a spin is a great way to get a feel for what’s going to be the right bike for you once you decide to pull the trigger and upgrade your old ride. Specialized will be at Camp Sekani Saturday, June 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with some of the new 2016 Stumpjumpers that have been dubbed “the best trail bike ever”

by people in the industry who know more than we do. Not a Stumpy guy/gal? Specialized will have other mountain bike models for you to try out too. Then on Thursday, June 25, Wheel Sport is also bringing Pivot demo bikes to town also at Camp Sekani, including some of Pivot’s top sellers like the highly regarded Mach 6, Mach 4, Mach 429 and the new Les Fat, a carbon frame fat bike that’s adjustable for different tire sizes. Bring your drivers’ license, riding gear and your own pedals (if you want). (OTM)

Mountain Bikers Push for Trail Improvements The Mt. Coeur d’Alene/Caribou Ridge area is one of the best areas to mountain bike around Coeur d’Alene, and with a few improvements and classification changes that could easily be allowed by the Forest Service, the quality of riding would be greatly enhanced. Local mountain bikers are circulating a petition at bike shops in Coeur d’Alene and Spokane requesting the Forest Service to re-classify several sections of existing old roads as “non-motorized” to help

alleviate user traffic and conflicts and provide a greater degree of solitude for bikers and hikers already using the trails and old roads. The petition also requests that the Forest Service enter into a maintenance agreement with the Lake City Trail Builder’s Association to help make the oldroads-to-trails re-classification feasible. If you would like to see improvements to the Mt. Coeur d’Alene/Caribou Ridge trail system, stop by your local bike shop and sign the petition. (OTM)

WA Law supports Recreation and Youth On May 13, Governor Jay Inslee signed SB 5843 into law, which appoints a senior policy advisor to promote and increase opportunities for outdoor recreation in Washington State. For the first time, the recreation industry will be included as an advisor in the governor’s office to generate economic activity from our public lands and state park resources. This elevates outdoor recreation to the same level as health care, labor and transportation, which have similar positions in the governor’s office. According to the Washington Trails Association website: “Our public lands and waters are a proven economic powerhouse worth $21.6 billion a year.” Whether or not the dollar figure is entirely accurate, this appointment comes at a critical time when many of the state parks are on life support, and the state budget for promoting tourism is at an all-time low. The No Child Left Inside program is another component of the same law. No Child Left Inside

was co-sponsored in the legislature by Sen. Kevin Ranker (D-Orcas Island) and Sen. Linda Evans Parlette (R-Wenatchee), and it aims to get kids all across Washington State off their couches and into nature, learning, playing, and exploring through outdoor education and recreation programs. No Child Left Inside prioritizes programs serving children with limited resources, and encourages support for initiatives that enlist veterans in implementation of these programs. At the heart of this law, the new senior policy advisor and the No Child Left Inside program work together to promote the environment, encourage recreation, support our youth, and bolster the economy. In fact, No Child Left Inside has inspired federal legislation of the same name precisely because governments at all levels understand that investing in outdoor opportunities for kids, opportunities that reduce nature deficit disorder, benefits everyone. (Jon Jonckers)

Silver Mountain Voted No. 1 Bike Park Riders from around the region voted Silver Mountain as the “Top Bike Park in the Northwest” in 2014 in the second annual Best Bike Parks survey conducted by MTBparks.com. “We are excited to have earned the top spot in our region,” says Willy Bartlett, Silver Mountain’s Marketing Coordinator and an avid rider. “We have come a long way in the last two years, but we see this as the foundation for our future plans. We have been working hard to ensure that Silver Mountain Bike Park continues to grow and encourages riders of all abilities to try out lift-served mountain biking.” In 2014, Silver Mountain Bike Park built three new trails and continued to rebuild its existing network, bringing trails up to modern bike park

standards. With improvements like new rental bikes, ladies rides, a fun downhill race series and fresh trails, mountain bikers have been traveling from great distances to get a taste of what’s new in Idaho’s Silver Valley. Improvements in the works for 2015 include expanding to seven-day-a-week operations, adding mountain bike instruction, hosting a race in the Northwest’s biggest downhill series and continuing to expand on the 35 trails that already exist. Riders will want to check out Snaggletooth, a new trail built this spring, as well as the rebuilt upper Hammer. The opening of summer operations is set for June 6. Silvermt. com/ // (OTM)

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JUNE 2015

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Kaniksu Ranch Family Nudist Park Since 1937

Safe Family Fun in a beautiful and serene mountain setting. Special events through the summer. We offer Bocce, Pickleball, Sand Volleyball, Shuf�leboard and more. Hiking and Biking on miles of forest trails. Enjoy the pool, sauna and hot tub. A treat of a retreat! July 24-26 The "Original” Bare Buns Fun Run Weekend. Dances Friday and Saturday. Friday -DJ Dance, Saturday, dance to The Angela Marie Project! 31st "Original" Bare Buns Fun Run Sunday at 9:30 a.m..

HikeOfTheMonth

Knothead Trail (Little Spokane River Natural Area) // Hike of the Month and photos by Holly Weiler

Enjoy Nude Recreation Week with Surf and Turf Weekend July 11, Join us to break the World Record Skinny Dip (surf) Stay for a special surf and turf dinner, then dance to a live band (turf). Just 40 miles north of Spokane, call (509) 233-8202 for more information or reservations for rooms or camping. ⦁ Rooms in the Lodge ⦁ Weekend activities ⦁ Over 70 newly expanded RV and Campsites

Website: www.KaniksuFamily.com • (509)233-8202

Go Beyond the Bucket 2nd Annual

Silver Valley Ride to Defeat ALS 06.27.15

The views up on the Knothead Trail stretch for miles.

Many volunteer hours have gone into the transformation of this scenic trail, still a work in progress, but drastically improved through the efforts of REI service day in June 2014 and multiple Washington Trails Association work parties. Hike it now to catch the spring wildflowers and see the handiwork of hundreds of volunteers and bring binoculars to watch either moose or kayakers on the Little Spokane River far below. To get the most mileage from a visit, start at the Indian Painted Rocks Trailhead. Follow the river downstream to intersect the Knothead Trail, then power up the hill (crossing the road at a marked intersection) to gain elevation and get to the best views. Approximately a quarter mile after crossing the road, be sure to bear right on the singletrack trail, part of the 2014 reroute, to stay on the trail and keep off private property. The newest addition is approximately .5 mile from the start of the reroute, currently an out-and-back spur trail to two scenic vistas above the Little Spokane River. If you come back to hike it again in 2016, you will see how the spur will extend to a small loop, returning to the Knothead farther up-trail. Following one’s return from the spur trail, continue uphill to complete the long loop (for a total of eight miles), which eventually contours to the crest of the hill and drops down the next valley to return to the trailhead. For a shorter hike, try this as an out-and-back from the small trailhead just off Highway 291, which cuts the overall mileage to the upper overlook and back to a manageable (yet hilly) three-or-so-mile hike. The Little Spokane River Natural Area is closed to mountain bikes and dogs, so best to enjoy this one as a hike or trail run. Getting there: From Spokane, use either the Knothead Trailhead from the intersection of Highway 291 and N. River Park Lane, or the Indian Painted Rocks Trailhead from Rutter Parkway. On crowded weekends, consider using the boat takeout parking lot off Highway 291, which will add a short road hike. Discover Pass required. Give Back to Our Trails! Trail Work Party of the Month: National Trails Day at Liberty Lake Regional Park, June 6, providing much-needed maintenance to a trail built in the 1970s but nearly abandoned due to lack of repairs. Sign up online at Wta.org/volunteer/east.

Take the Next Challenge: 27.2 or 42.6 miles along the gorgeous Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, Kingston, Idaho

register and ride for those who can’t at RideALS.org Join the Ride for Someone Else’s Life. Together, we’ll fight Lou Gehrig’s disease. The ALS Association’s Evergreen Chapter offers compassionate care to over 400 ALS patients in Washington, Idaho, Montana & Alaska.

NothiNg Less. Cure ALs. facebook.com/silverValleyALsride rideALs.org #BeyondtheBucket

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015

Presented by:

Running Running Around Smith Rock

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By Ammi Midstokke

tweight ecial ligh with its sp d u lo C n nd offers : The O ty foam a t, gravity ero-Gravi Z m Take tha o fr ty will just built ® ffs. Gravi system is ve take-o si lo xp CloudTec e d gs an soft landin g.com incredibly n-runnin o it. ith w e liv have to

The author taking a break from the road to run around Smith.

Sometimes the best way to approach climbing is by not doing it at all. Most people don’t end up at the iconic landmark of Smith Rock to not climb though. The parking lot is full of cars with bumper stickers as pledges of climbing radness. Various congregations of couples and groups move out like infantry in brighter backpacks and approach shoes, cams clanking at their sides. What Smith Rock also has is a trail network that, if you can run the mile it takes to get past the crowds, is a playground for runners and mountain bikers. Particularly if you have a love of switchbacks and views of the Cascade Range. Before I ever started climbing, I was the kind of runner who would stop at the base of random geological formations because they had a top, and running to the top of things just seemed like a good idea. Likely, this is how I actually took up climbing (and GPS navigation). It is also how I discovered Smith for its many other wonders. Recently I was driving from California to Idaho and somehow this time I noticed Smith Rock has a top. Recalling that I had running shoes (and a couple of bikes and skis and camping gear) in my car, I stopped to explore. Getting lost before spending the day on the road seemed like a good idea. It wasn’t climbing season, so I was pretty much the only car in the lot. I tied my shoes, looked at a trail map, and pitter-pattered my way down the canyon. It’s hard to get lost on a rock sticking out of the middle of a high desert. There are a few different routes you can take on Smith once you cross the river, rock formations towering over you. The aptly named Misery Hill takes you straight over the top of the rocks in a series of jagged switchbacks. It is instant gratification as the view exponentially improves with each

step, the rock and Crooked River unfolding below you. Upon summiting, you’ll be staring out at the peaks of the Cascades, from Bachelor to Hood, likely mocking your ascent from a distance. Then you drop down the back side, winding your way down the terrain and toward the familiar climbing routes of Monkey Face. If you’re not a climber, you’ll wonder why people climb that sort of thing and how. If you are a climber, you’ll just wonder how. The trail hugs the shore of the river, quietly meandering through the canyon, making a complete circle in just under five miles. If you haven’t gained enough elevation, there’s always the quick jaunt out of the canyon to threaten cardiac arrest. Which can also be achieved by taking the long route – an eight mile loop that climbs out of and over the canyon up Burma Road. The views: Spectacular, once you’re done vomiting on your shoes. Apparently this 16% grade is also bikeable by some and great access to more trails (and climbing routes) behind Smith. This longer route is almost always devoid of traffic. On busy days and the weekends, I have seen people beyond the summit, but often the few miles of pristine dirt trails down to the river are an escape from the common crowds on the front. Occasionally, a grinning biker will whiz by and you’ll want to high-five them like you’re sharing the undiscovered secrets of Smith. Running here has become my roadside attraction over the years, certainly my favorite rest stop in the West. Now sometimes I show up there with my climbing gear too, but never without my shoes. Running along the river in the morning light offers a perspective you don’t get with your face four inches from the rock. And after all, isn’t getting out all about getting new perspective? //

Available Only at:

SPOKANE

JUNE 2015

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COOL WATER BIKES’ Saturday June 6, 2015 10am-2pm Start/Finish at Gonzaga University Near Law School

Outdoor Living A fun bike ride on the Centennial Trail for the whole family to enjoy!

An event to share the story of a beloved youth and to raise funds for

[a full-service, non-profit bike shop, empowering youth who are homeless to become wholehearted followers of Christ and exit street life.]

224 S. Howard St. 509.838.8580 bikes@coolwaterbikes.org

coolwaterbikes.org

Run and ride for a cause There are a lot of ride, race and fun run options out there, but here are three choices for the month of June that support local causes that give you and your friends and family a great way to race or ride for a reason!

Silver Valley Ride to Defeat ALS (June 27)

The Ride: A 42- or 27-mile out-and-back bike ride along the incredibly scenic Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes through North Idaho’s Silver Valley. The Cause: The ride benefits the ALS Association’s Evergreen Chapter and efforts to fight Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS). This deadly disease affects the motor neurons in a person’s brain and spinal cord and can affect anyone. Gradually, a person is robbed of the ability to walk, speak, eat and eventually breathe. Ride Details: Held on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes – one of the most spectacular trails in the western U.S., – this one-day cycling event fundraiser covers an incredibly scenic, enjoyable and well-supported course through the historic Silver Valley. Expect crewed rest stops, SAG support and a safety team. People living with ALS and their caregivers are encouraged to join the event (the trail is open to those with mobility disabilities using wheelchairs and mobility scooters). You can sign up on your own, join an existing team (details online) or form your own team. Registration is $50 ($60 on ride day), and the ALS Association encourages every rider to help raise a minimum donation of $250 that will go directly toward the ALS Association to help achieve its vision of a world without ALS (additional fundraising is encouraged, but not required). The ride kicks off Saturday morning at the Enaville Snake Pit Resort, with a continental breakfast. The 42.6 mile route starts at 9:45 a.m. and the 27.2 route gets going at 10 a.m. Both courses are out-and-back, with several restrooms and refreshment-filled rest stops along the way. A buffet BBQ lunch will be served with beverages back at the Snake Pit Resort between noon and 2 p.m., and there will be a raffle and a silent auction with some nice items up for bid. More info: Rideals.org.

Dad’s Day Dash 5K (June 21)

The Race: A 5k run or walk through gorgeous Manito Park on Spokane’s South Hill. The Dad’s Day Dash is a great way for fathers and sons to celebrate Fathers’ Day for a good cause. This Bloomsday second seed qualifier features a course that works its way past blooming landmarks like the Lilac Garden, Rose Hill and Nishinomiya Japanese Garden. The Cause: Dad’s Day Dash supports SNAP’s efforts to outrun poverty. SNAP is Spokane County’s nonprofit community action agency featuring over 30 programs designed to provide low-income residents with increased stability, from energy assistance and home repair to micro-enterprise lending and foreclosure prevention. Race Details: This benefit for SNAP’s local poverty prevention work made the move from Plantes Ferry Park to Manito Park on Fathers’ Day (June21) this year. With a history that goes back over a century, Manito Park is one of the region’s postcard-worthy venues. Starting 10

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015

near the park’s lower picnic shelter at 9 a.m., this chipped and timed race features a course that tours the park’s many scenic corners and award prizes to the top three male and female placers, as well as the top three teams in the corporate challenge. The corporate challenge offers groups of four runners from local companies to vie for the lowest overall time. Runners bring home a t-shirt and get to enjoy complimentary post-race food and prizes from local businesses for their $25 registration ($20 without a shirt). SNAP helps close to 45,000 people each year. “This is one way we can work to outrun poverty,” says SNAP CEO Julie Honekamp. “Those who sponsor and participate in this event are supporting programs that bring education, resources and encouragement to our less-fortunate neighbors.” Chase Bank is the underwriter for the race and the list of other sponsors includes: Across the Line Timing, American Family Insurance, Children’s Choice Dentistry, Fleet Feet, Gus Johnson Ford, Inland Power & Light, Itron, Mainstream Electric, RE/MAX of Spokane and Yoke’s. Prizes will be provided by Fleet Feet, the Spokane Club, Chipotle, Picabu Neighborhood Bistro, Rocket Bakery, the Spokane Symphony, Trailhead at Liberty Lake Golf Course, Mountain Gear, the Spokane Shock, the Spokane Indians, Divine’s Automotive and Towing, The Scoop, U-District Physical Therapy, Indaba Coffee and HUB Sports Center. To sign up, go to www.active. com or call (509)456-7111, ext. 242.

Race-2-Place: 5k & 10k Run for a Reason (June 13)

The Race: The 5th Annual Race-2-Place is a fun, scenic out-and-back 5k or 10k run along the shores of the Spokane River on the Centennial Trail in Spokane Valley. The Cause: A benefit for families whose lives have been affected by childhood cancer. Proceeds go to Parker’s Place, a camp for families who have lost a child to terminal illness, and Camp Goodtimes at Camp Reed, which offers children affected by childhood cancer a cost-free week of summer camp. Race Details: The race starts at Mirabeau Park Trailhead in Spokane Valley on Saturday, June 13 at 9 a.m. Runners get to choose between the 5k or 10k out-and-back along the Centennial Trail. Registration is $25 for the 5k, $30 for the 10k and $15 for age 13 and under for the 5k. All of the dollars raised go directly to charity. How did Race-2-Place begin? For six years Parker Brown fought a courageous battle against leukemia. Parker passed away on December 20, 2009, at the tender age of 8. To honor his legacy and his remarkable life, his family had a vision: create a camp for families who have suffered the loss of a child to terminal illness or tragedy. A Camp called Parker’s Place. Each year Race-2-Place donates proceeds from the run to Parker’s Place and one other childhood cancer organization (this year it’s Camp Goodtimes at Camp Reed). Come out and support a great cause on a beautiful trail. Sponsors that help make the event possible include Amicus Federal Credit Union, Les Schwab, Copenhaver Construction, and SCAFCO. More info: Race2place.org. // (OTM)

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JUNE 2015

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Kids

Biking Fish Lake Trail-Easy and Fun Family Adventure // By amy silbernagel mccaffree From speedy cyclists to kids on trikes; from dog walkers and runners to inline-skaters and recreational bikers of every kind, including tandem and recumbent bikers and even a guy whose rear basket held two content Chihuahuas – it’s never a dull day on Fish Lake Trail. As awareness and popularity of the trail has increased, it has become a community recreational gathering place, where people of all ages, shapes, sizes and speeds can freely enjoy the smooth, flat path. Shaded and tranquil, it is an ideal choice for families. The trailhead is located in southwest Spokane near the intersection of Sunset Highway and Government Way, one block south on S. Milton Circle. Parking, restrooms, water fountains, a garbage can and kiosk with a trail map makes it easy for families to prepare for their ride. The restrooms are open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, according to Spokane’s Director of Park Operations Tony Madunich. During the rest of the year a porta-potty is available. The beginning of the trail is a transportation trifecta of planes, trains and cars that children will enjoy. Kids can watch I-90 traffic whizz below them while trains rumble by on the elevated rail lines and airplanes fly to and from the nearby airport. Once a Union Pacific rail line and now owned by the City of Spokane, planning for this rails-to-

trails project initially began in the early 1990s. After a multi-year process that involved the city and the Washington State Department of Transportation, the initial 4.4 miles of trail were paved in 2009. Tell your children about the rail corridor’s history. Photos and information are posted on the trailhead’s kiosk board. For the first few miles, the trail heads south before veering west and paralleling the CheneySpokane Road. Only 7.4 miles of the trail are currently paved, ending at Scribner Road rather than the actual Fish Lake. For now, the remaining distance of the trail is closed to the public. Once it is completed, the trail’s point-to-point distance will be 10.8 miles all the way to Fish Lake. “My best advice for families is to try and get

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Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015

beyond the first mile or so and away from the traffic noise of Highway 195 so you can enjoy the rural setting so close to downtown Spokane,” says Fish Lake Trail advocate Dan Schaffer. “It is still the city’s plan to continue the trail over the rail lines to Fish Lake where it will connect with the Columbia Plateau Trail to Cheney and beyond.” Small wooden posts serve as mile markers. Benches and pull-over shoulders serve as rest areas. Pack snacks and plenty of water, and enjoy the scenery. It’s good to teach your children trail etiquette too. Move to single-file when passing or while being passed by other trail users, when possible. When passing another trail user, always pass on the left and give a warning before you do so – call out “on your left” or ring a bike bell like riders

do in Europe. Be sure to pack out your garbage. Regarding safety and shared use with cycling groups, the trail is a narrow, multi-use corridor, so slower groups should be conscious of this fact and not spread out across the width of the trail, but try to stay to one side or the other, advises Schaffer. “My guess is that the faster cyclists are more likely to be on the trail from 7-9 a.m., including weekends. It is in [a family’s] best interest to avoid busy times so that they can enjoy a relatively unobstructed ride.” Also, help your children be mindful of the trail’s steep banks. Yellow warning signs are posted. Personally, though my family has visited the trail numerous times, we’ve only gone as far as the five-mile mark – which is a tremendous feat for my son who rode the entire 10-mile trip, to commemorate his fifth birthday. That day my threeyear-old daughter rode our family’s trail-a-bike that was attached to my seat post. It was a blissful adventure that took less than 75 minutes. My kids were proud of their achievements – their longest bike ride ever. My husband and I were equally proud, happy and relieved that no one got hurt or even whined. Biking Fish Lake Trail was an easy way to spend a fun afternoon together. More importantly, my kids left asking when we’ll return. //

Everyday Cyclist

Wed. Night Mountain Bike Races Keep Rolling June through July // By Hank Greer

Racing the balsam root at Riverside. Photo: Hank Greer

I don’t know which is more fun, cyclocross racing or mountain bike racing. It’s a toss-up for a late bloomer like me, but it doesn’t matter because they take place during different seasons. Spring is mountain bike racing, so break out whatever size or style of bike you have and come out every Wednesday evening through June and July. We’re already halfway through the Wednesday Mountain Bike Race series Eric Ewing hosts at Riverside State Park (they continue until the end of June), but there’s still plenty of racing left. A different local bike shop sponsors each race, which can mean free food and/or drink for riders, paid race fees for juniors and prizes. There’s a mid-season party after the races on June 3 and an end-of-season party after the last race on June 24. Race categories are divided by age. The junior divisions consist of 15-17 and 14 and under. Adults under 40 are scored separately from those over 40, quite likely to minimize the embarrassment for the younger ones. (Yes, I’m 40-plus.) Racers also have the option of doing one or two laps. I highly recommend you get your money’s worth and do two. The routes are different each week and the laps run anywhere from 6-10 miles. You get to have some fun, flush out some of that work stress and learn some of the trails in a jewel of a park that’s barely 20 minutes from downtown Spokane. Registration starts at 5 p.m. and the racing starts at 6:30. It’s $20 per race for adults and $10 for 17 and under. You must have a Discover Pass for your vehicle ($30 per year or $10 a day) since this is a state park. The terrain is moderate with a combination of double and singletrack trails that beginners and the more experienced will enjoy. This is the 10th year of the series, and Ewing says this will be the first year that he enters a race and lets someone else keep score. Go Eric! When the Wednesday Night Mountain Bike Race series finishes up at the end of June, the Five in July series at Farragut State Park between Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint begins. Bicycle Sales and Service of

Coeur d’Alene and Two Wheeler Dealer in Hayden sponsor the races, which they use to raise money for the North Idaho College men’s soccer team. The soccer players help at registration, and they flip burgers and serve them up after each race. The entry fee, which includes the after-race meal, and all donations go to the soccer program. There are players on the team from Spokane, Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene. (The team made it to the NWAC finals last year.) The Five in July races are held every Wednesday in July at Farragut State Park by the tall water tower across from the Park Headquarters. (Follow the signs.) The course is approximately 8 miles long and about 90 percent singletrack. Again, you have the option of one or two laps. There’s a voice in your head saying, “Do two laps. Do two laps.” Listen to that voice. It’s the voice that wants you to have the most fun. The cost is $20 a night or you can enter all five for $80 on the first night. You also need an Idaho State Park pass, which is $40 for the year or $5 each day. (You can buy one at registration.) The two-lap race begins at 6:30 p.m. and the single-lap racers start 10 minutes later. A few minutes after that, there’s a free race for kids ages 12 and under. Their race is about two miles long. The terrain at Farragut is very moderate and perfect for beginners and experts alike. The courses are much more winding singletrack than Riverside, and they vary every week. Five in July has five-member team divisions along with single racers, and the women have the most competitive teams. The first three score by their position, and then the other two try to finish ahead of their competitors. The scoring is like cross-country running where the low score wins. At the end of the races, the kids get some swag from the bike shops each week, and the adult category winners get a little something as well. Awards and mealtime are wrapped up by 8:30 p.m. This is a family-oriented event that offers everybody in the car an opportunity to have a race story to tell on the way home. It looks like your next nine Wednesdays are booked up, right? See you at the races. //

There’s a voice in your head saying, “Do two laps. Do two laps.” Listen to that voice. It’s the voice that wants you to have the most fun.

JUNE 2015

/ Out There Monthly

Play it safe above and below a dam At Avista, we want you to enjoy recreation activities on area reservoirs and waterways. But remember, waters near a dam can pose serious hidden dangers to boaters and swimmers. Sudden water discharges from spillways and turbines can also be hazardous.

Fishing Selecting the Right Fly Rod // By Brad Northrup

To protect yourself near a dam, follow these safety tips: • Obey all posted warning and closure signs. • Never cross the boater safety cable above a dam. Strong currents could pull you through an open spill-gate or into an intake area. • Be alert for debris, obstructions and partially submerged objects. • Never ﬁsh, swim, play or anchor your boat in the area above or below a dam. • Look out for overhead bridges, cables and power lines. • Always wear a lifejacket and safety whistle when on the water. River time. Photo: Derrick Knowles

For Spokane River, Lake Spokane and Lake Coeur d’Alene flow and elevation changes for the coming week, visit: avistautilities.com/waterflow or call 509-495-8043 (Washington) 208-769-1357 (Idaho).

Whether you are a novice fly fisherman or a seasoned veteran of trout stalking, the act of buying a new fly rod can be overwhelming at times. The options are truly endless, and there are so many brands and models on the market that you sometimes might wish you had stuck with bait fishing (man, sometimes I really miss the days of corn and marshmallows). The good news is that selecting a new fly rod comes down to a simple question: What are you going to do with it? I Can Only Afford One Rod (aka My Wife/Husband Does the Books) So you like to fish lakes and rivers and have the authorization to buy ONE rod only this year? No worries, my friend. Look no further than a 9-foot, 5 or 6 weight. If you are targeting larger fish on a consistent basis (5 pounds on up), I would suggest leaning towards the 6 weight. But by and large, no matter where you are in the country, a 9-foot, 5 weight is a great all-around rod for fishing lakes and rivers. It is long enough to cast and mend on larger waters, and has the backbone to punch through the wind or play most fish. If you only get to pick one rod, this would be it. I know, you are probably thinking, “So what brand, smart guy?” That answer depends on price and brand loyalty. If you are new to the sport, don’t spend a ton on your first rod. That comes later, after you get addicted worse than a meth freak. For the more experienced casters out there, you know what you like. Go to your local shop, string one up, and throw. Give Me Streams or Give Me Death If you are in need (or want) of a rod for fishing streams and creeks, I would take a good look at anything from a 7 ½ foot 1 weight up to an 8 or 8 ½ foot 3 weight. If this is your only stream rod, I would go with an 8 foot 2 weight as that type of rod is very versatile in most small water situations. I believe a few manufacturers are still building two-piece stream rods, but I would sug-

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015

gest that you buy a four-piece as it can be stashed in a day pack. Some of the best streams out there are only accessible by hiking in or bushwhacking, so having a four-piece rod is almost necessary. Again, go to your local shop and cast a few models to find the one that feels the best to you. The Super Bowl of Fly Fishing Fly fishing for steelhead is perhaps the most challenging and rewarding recreational activity on the planet (okay, so I am a little biased here), and it takes a pretty serious stick to play and land a 7-15 pound sea-run rainbow. If you do have the opportunity to throw for steelies on a regular basis, I would definitely suggest looking into a Spey rod. Used properly, a Spey rod can cover an incredible amount of water, requires far less effort on the part of the caster, and allows you to stay out all day throwing big, heavy flies. A 13’ 6” 7 or 8 weight is perfect for nearly every steelhead or salmon river in the United States. There is a learning curve to properly cast a Spey rod, but once you get it, you will never want to cast a single handed 8 weight again. My dear old dad throws a Spey rod with the best of them, and at 73 years old, he usually out fishes and outlasts me on the river during steelhead season. Support Your Local Fly Shop You most likely noticed that I didn’t shamelessly pitch any brands in this article, mainly because every fly fisherman I know has a preference based on his/her casting style and ability. I happen to love Sage (there…my one plug), but one of my good fishing buddies won’t throw anything but a Winston. The bottom line is that you get what you pay for, and good fly rods usually come with a lifetime warranty, so if you break it, the company will replace it for free. It really doesn’t matter what type of fly rod you are in the market for, just make sure to go down to your local fly shop and pick the brains of the pros. Get their opinion, have them string up a couple and go throw! //

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Club members who become honored members of the Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol that year are Ken Henderson, Don Johnson, Opal Dale, Helen Stowell, Lydia Savudoff, Roy Thoma, Stan Bauer and Gene Gibbs. The idea of a Spokane Mountaineers yearbook is launched, and a call for articles and photos is requested. First ascents include the north face of Chimney Rock led by Wendal Morgan, and the north wall of Roman Nose led by Don Bergman. Member Dorothy Ferrier turned heads when she introduced women’s shorts as appropriate women’s hiking garb. And the biggest news of 1964 was the passage of the 1964 Wilderness Act. In this declaration, the Cabinet Mountain Primitive Area became the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness. This wilderness has been visited for years by club members and was such an important range that it was part of the original 1964 Wilderness Bill. The first mention of John Roskelley appeared in the 1965 club newsletter, the Kinnikinnick, early in the year. New members this year included Chris Kopczynski and Marion Krauss. Membership grew by 16 to reach 166. Chimney Rock saw its first ascent of the East Face by Ed Cooper and Dave Hiser, which took two days to complete. John Roskelley and Chris Kopczynski did the same route shortly after in a mere three hours. That year 13 mountaineers also climbed the difficult east face of Snowshoe Peak in the newly designated Cabinet Mountain Wilderness. // This is #4 in a series of Spokane Mountaineers historical highlights. Learn more about the club and its events and outings as members celebrate 100 years at www.spokanemountaineers.org. (Chic Burge)

Trails of the

A special meeting of the club was called to liquidate the lodge and property. Property taxes this year were a staggering $3.80 per year. Mabel Gould was in on the exodus of members that left the club to form the Hobnailers hiking club because of disagreements over the lodge and Mount Spokane property issue. (Although in 1964 Mabel rejoined the club.) Club membership took a drop in 1952 with the Hobnailers split, leaving 76 members. The year 1953 brought night skiing to the Mountaineers property on Mount Spokane, which the club decided to keep. The total cost of the Mount Spokane lodge to date was $3,009.46, and the club membership grew by one, reaching a total of 77 members. The club also bought its first nylon rope for climbing, and after 12 years, club members climb Chimney Rock again. The summit party consists of Ken Henderson, Bob Pfeiffer and Bill Fix. The 1956 summer outing is held at Cascade Pass in the North Cascades. Climbs include Sahale and Magic Peaks. The first ascent of Glory Mountain (7,300 feet) by Dick Whirmore and Bill Fix also took place during this summer outing. Also that year, the first successful ascent of Mount Shuksan by the Spokane Mountaineers is completed. A special showing by Dee Mollenaar on K2, Fred Beckey on Everest, and Ralph Nelson on Mt. Kilimanjaro is held with the assistance of the Spokane Mountaineers. The club buys one manila and one nylon rope, while 35 students from Gonzaga take the club’s mountaineering school. The summer outing of 1958 is held at Moraine Lake in Banff National Park. Eighteen attend at a cost of $40 per person for the all-inclusive trip.

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Biking Summertime Rides around the Inland NW By Hank Greer

Summer is quickly approaching. School will be out and both kids and grownups will be out on bicycles. What rides should you do? Here are a few recommendations to help you choose from the many cycling events available in our part of the country. They range from family friendly to borderline insane, which means there is something for everyone. I Made The Grade (June 13, Clarkston, Wash.) This is one of the best bicycle climbs in the country. Ride 18 miles and climb over 2,000 feet up the Old Spiral Highway leading out of Clarkston. This ride is designed as a ride of accomplishment rather than a race. Prideofclarkston.com/#!__imade-the-grade. Spokane Summer Parkways (June 18, 6-9 p.m., Spokane) This is a four-mile loop restricted to nonmotorized traffic connecting Manito Park and Comstock Park. It’s a perfect outing for your children, especially if they’re on a bike. This neighborhood gets into the party. Look for lemonade and baked goods stands. Summerparkways.com.

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Jedermann Gran Fondo (July 25, Cheney, Wash.) This is a timed recreational ride, which means the medal you receive is based on your finish time and not on how you finish compared to everyone else. There are 30-, 66-, and 100-mile routes and a new 12-hour challenge for individuals or teams. Emdesports.com/life-at-camp.html. Silver Valley Ride to Defeat ALS (June 27, Kingston, Idaho) Ride 27.2 or 42.6 miles along the spectacular trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, one of the most beautiful road bike rides in North America. Every participant can count on support from start to finish with crewed rest stops, SAG vehicle and a safety team. The ride is a fundraiser that supports efforts to fight Lou Gehrig’s disease. Rideals.org. 8 Lakes Leg Aches (August 1, Spokane) Proceeds benefit the Sexual Assault and Family Trauma Response Center. You can ride 15, 30, 45 or 75 miles. All routes include snack stops and SAG support. Food and ice cream await you at the finish. Lcsnw.org/8LakesRide. The Midnight Century (August 1-2, Spokane) This is an unofficial, unsanctioned and unsupported ride. It’s all on you. The ride begins at 11:59 p.m. at The Elk Public House in Browne’s Addition. The nearly 100-mile loop is roughly half pavement and half gravel with some challenging climbs and a couple of pretty rough patches. Finishing gets your name on the web site results page and maybe some sort of printed commemorative item 6-8 months later. And bragging rights. Midnightcentury.com. Tour De Lentil (August 22, Pullman, Wash.) The Tour de Lentil offers a 50k, 100k and 150k bike ride (not a race) through the scenic Palouse. This is held in conjunction with the

National Lentil Festival. The ride is a fundraiser for the WSU Cycling Club. Lentilfest.com/ activities/100k-bike-ride. Spokefest (September 13, Spokane) This is Spokane’s signature social cycling event. About 2,000 riders take part and then join the party in Riverfront Park after the ride. There’s a one-mile loop and Bike Safety Rodeo for children in the park. Everyone else chooses from 9-, 21-, and 50-mile routes. Water and food stations are along the way. There’s a lot of bicycle traffic, but that’s a good thing. Ride safe and have fun. Spokefest.org. Huckleberry 100 (September 19, Kalispell, Mont.) You have four routes to choose from: 100 miles, 50 miles, 25 miles and a 12 mile out-and-back family ride. From historic Kalispell, you visit gorgeous Bigfork on the shores of Flathead Lake and then wind your way towards Whitefish. (Don’t let the skull and crossbones logo scare you off.) Save $10 with early registration. Finish to plenty of food at the Bikes and Berries Fest. Huckleberry100.com. Blazing Saddles (September 19, Colville, Wash.) The Rotary Club of Colville claims to host the best ride in the Pacific Northwest. I think they’re on to something. Route options include 20, 40, 65, and 100 miles. They stagger the start times so most people finish around the same time so you can finish at Blazing Spoons, also known as the Inland Northwest International Chili Cook-off, in the fairgrounds where your ride wristband gets you free entry. Blazingsaddles9.wix.com/blazing100. Bike MS: Cycle the Silver Valley (September 19-20, Kellogg, Idaho) Enjoy a “Rails to Trails” ride almost entirely off roadways as you cruise through the ancestral lands of the Coeur d’Alene nation. Multiple daily route options appeal to every experience level of rider. Look forward to fully-stocked rest stops and a Saturday evening beer garden at the finish at Silver Mountain Resort. Every mile pedaled and dollar raised helps people affected by MS. Call to register: 800-344-4867 Opt. 2. Coeur d’Fondo (September 26, Coeur d’Alene) Last year, about 1,000 riders ventured out on routes of 15, 37, 47, 84 and 108 miles. The 37and 47-mile routes include a boat ride. Finisher medals are awarded for the 84 and 108-mile rides. Registrants in all except the 15-mile family ride also gain entry into Coeur d’Alene’s Grand Oktoberfest. Cdagranfondo.com. Rivers & Ridges Rotary Ride (September 26, Clarkston, Wash.) This Rotary Club of Clarkston ride explores the Nez Perce/Snake River country around Clarkston on a road bike. Ride over major rivers, through the Palouse and back. Try the 25-, 50-, or 100 -mile distances or the family friendly ride. Enjoy food, music, beer and wine at Riverfest at Granite Lake Park after the ride. Riversandridgesride. org. //

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Biking How Bike Friendly is Coeur d’Alene?

The CDA Bike Lane Dilemma // By S. Michal Bennett

Riverside State Park – Seven Mile Airstrip* *

Each race still only

17 & U

Keeping things moving in CDA. Photo courtesy of Bike CDA

nder o

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Each evening is sponsored by a local bike shop. Each shop has donated great prizes to be given away randomly at the end of ‘their’ evening. FREE cold refreshments will also be provided at the end of each race.

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JUNE 24 (Series Final) The Bike Hub End-of-Series Party (June 24 after the races) Cool Water Bikes

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Douglas, Eden, Phillips, DeRuyter and Stanyer, P.S. For more information, call (509) 879-5119 or email info@nomadzracing.com 18

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015

Coeur d’Alene is well known for the 39 miles of pedestrian and bicycle trails that showcase the beauty of the lake and offer closeto-home recreation for the whole family. These paths, including the Centennial Trail, contribute immensely to CDA’s “Bicycle Friendly Community” moniker. For a city of this size bustling with outdoor activity, however, 18.5 miles of bike lanes and 5.75 miles of “Share the Road” routes are quite limited. As a bike commuter in Coeur d’Alene, I am grateful for the bike lanes and routes that are available, but I often wish there were more and that the lanes were wider and cleaner (i.e. safer). A growing number of community members are even more concerned than I am about the condition of CDA’s bike routes. “I tend to think that I have a ‘Chicken Little’ mentality, screaming that the sky is falling,” says John Kelly, Director of BikeCDA, a community-based organization that is working to bring bicycle education, awareness and advocacy to the city. “We have a lot of tell-tale signs that a disaster is about to occur.” He states this in the wake of the first cyclist killed in a fatal crash in Walla Walla, Wash., in February. Now, the City of Walla Walla is sitting down with anyone who might help impact their bike community to discuss ways to ensure this never happens again. When considering the safety and mobility of pedestrians, cyclists, and motorized vehicles all on the same streets, many cities are turning to The Vision Zero Initiative, a Swedish approach to road safety thinking (Visionzeroinitiative.com). It is the perspective that “no loss of life is acceptable” and is based on the simple fact that the road system needs to keep us moving, but it must also be designed to protect us – all of us. Kelly puts it this way: “You don’t want to create an environment where one user is going to feel uncomfortable in his area and hop up into somebody else’s area.” CDA’s bike system is stuck in the 20th century, but more and more people are turning to cycling for fitness, sustainability and economic reasons. “If we want to lure young, entrepreneurial 20-somethings to Coeur d’Alene,” says Kelly, “we need to catch up with the times.” The clock is ticking, and the Parks Department, City Planning and the Ped/Bike Committee are subjected to a

lack of funding and disjointed communication and education when it comes to recognizing the need for protected and standardized bike lanes. Nevertheless, this spring, as the city moves to repaint street lines for the year, they will be measuring all bike lanes and evaluating their compliance with city guidelines. Also, there are a handful of proposed lanes listed on its website (Cdaid.org). “A few have been added every year,” says Monte McCully, CDA Trails Coordinator, “but I’d like to accelerate that. With a mayor who is really behind biking, that may be possible.” If You Bike in CDA, Get Involved If you live or ride in Coeur d’Alene, you can make a difference. First, Coeur d’Alene’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public, and they encourage public participation. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. Secondly, BikeCDA offers many opportunities to become involved in all aspects of the Coeur d’Alene bike community, from bike events to city planning updates and bike education. BikeCDA holds Bike Talks at Calypsos coffee in downtown CDA the first Saturday of each month at 8:30 a.m. (Note: June’s Bike Talk has been moved to the Roots Pursuit event on June 6 – see the OTM online calendar for details.) Third, BikeCDA can help you certify your business as a Bicycle Friendly Business through the League of American Bicyclists. Go to bikeleague. org/business for more information or contact BikeCDA (Bikecda.com). Finally, the City of Coeur d’Alene has recently released a proposal for bike lane development on East Sherman Ave. It will be holding two public comment sessions to discuss this plan: June 3 at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library and June 18 at the Harding Family Center. Check out BikeCDA’s Facebook page for up-to-date information on times and specifics. To learn more about CDA’s cycling laws, events and trail/bike lane systems, go to Bikecda.com or the city’s trails page. Keep your eyes open, helmet on and lights flashing as we strive to share the streets and ride safer in the Lake City. //

Health&Fitness going Planless

A Journey Back to Loving What You Loved // By Ammi Midstokke

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12 Hr. Road Challenge individuals and teams

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custom medals for 12 hr. challengers and 100 mile finishers

Running Beacon’s sweet singletrack and loving it. Photo: Jon Jonckers

When I first started doing crazy things like running marathons, I felt compelled to have plans. I would buy books on training, obsessively surf the “Runner’s World” website, compare tables and results, keep journals, log miles and test shoes. I talked about my plans, my methods, and the impossibility that I could ever do anything on a Saturday night because Sunday was Long Run Day. I lost a lot of friends. Over the years training became a sort of burden. Speed day made me want to fake illness. Long run/ ride planning would consume my week. I would feel immense guilt if I missed a run or changed my schedule. Four months of training and one missed Wednesday, and I’d spend my taper weeks certain of failure. Sometimes I met my race goals, other times I didn’t. I had a perfect training record for the Dublin Marathon and bonked so hard I threatened to eat someone’s baby on the sidelines. The commitment of a race (rather, committing to training for a race) lost appeal. Sometimes even running did. Then one season I decided not to race at all. I didn’t want any pressure. I was tired of stressing about whether I’d trained enough. I was tired of not being able to drink at people’s damn barbecues. Not that anyone was inviting me anymore. The very first morning of my no-more-beingtied-to-a-plan life, I woke up and had an urge to run. It was a beautiful spring morning, the kind where the green is almost surreal. I strapped on my shoes and hit the trail. Usually my head conversation went like this: Am I going fast enough? Too fast? Too slow? This feels hard. I don’t know if I can do seven more miles like this. But on that morning, none of that mattered. I was in the moment, breathing the morning air. I took a trail without knowing how much longer or shorter it would make my route. I ran until I felt like I wanted to run home. And I loved it. I loved running.

I was running because I wanted to, not because I had to. Some days I would go out and feel like running fast. Some days I would get lost and run far. Some days I rode my bike. Some days I climbed. I didn’t feel like I had athletic infidelity if I felt like diverging. Something else happened too: I did not get any weird, nagging injuries. The variety of sport and the ability to listen to my body’s need for rest or recovery meant that I actually did recover. The end of the season came. I hadn’t worn a watch, logged a run or given a crap about any of it for months. Late in September some friends asked me if I was running the local trail half. I noted that I had not trained for it and signing up for a race untrained was generally a bad idea. They used the whole “it’s a fundraiser, good-cause, runningkarma” argument, and I decided to show up the next Sunday morning. It felt like any other fun morning trail run, only with bigger crowds. I wore the same smile I’d been wearing all summer. I ran according to my comfort level (which was sometimes more comfortable than others). And I crossed the finish line with my fastest time. I didn’t even know until they called me to the podium, an added benefit as I can always use a new water bottle and stick of chafing cream. Now I sometimes plan to race. I know that if I am going to run a marathon, I probably want to get lost in the woods at least once a week. But these days I worry less about performance, time, distance, and enjoy the reality that my daily excursions are micro-adventures where I discover everything from new trails to new truths. The next time you’re wondering what plan best suits an upcoming race, consider going planless. Let go of expectation and goals. Leave your watch at home. Listen to your body. Breathe. You might just find yourself falling in love again. //

But these days I worry less about performance, time, distance, and enjoy the reality that my daily excursions are micro-adventures where I discover everything from new trails to new truths.

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JUNE 2015

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Yoke’s

Spokatopia.com along the Spokane River at Camp Sekani Park. Outdoor like stand up paddleboarding, kayaking, disc golf, rock climbing, mountain biking; learn about and try other freeride bike stunts and local brews. A fun outdoor adventure without music, a mountain bike jump park, slacklining, and a local brews beer garden.

general Camp Sekani area: • Paddleboarding • SUP yoga • Kayaking • Geocaching • • Disc Golf • Canoeing and Kayaking • Rock Climbing Intro Class • Cycling on the Centennial Trail • Mountain Biking • Trail Running and Hiking subject to change

Spokatopia.com

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015

Jump Into Summer

Ultimate Summer Adventure Guide This year’s “Ultimate Summer Adventure Guide” is a whole lot bigger, with more ideas for getting out there on summer road trips, laid-back local outings, outdoor festivals and wild adventures to the most rugged corners of the Northwest. We’ve included cool lodging and campgrounds, zipline tours, tubing and paddleboard trips, mellow hikes and rides, epic mountain bike destinations, historic sites and fun mountain town festivals to help you fill your summertime bucket list.

Flying high. Photo courtesy of Taylor Rogers and West Plains Skydiving JUNE 2015

/ Out There Monthly

Come Play in Pend Oreille!

Soar Above the

Trees Take on These 5 Ziplines

It’s all down from here. Photo courtesy of Schweitzer Mountain Resort.

You don’t need to travel to Costa Rica or Hawaii to fly through the air on an adrenaline packed zipline tour; they are popping up all over the greater Inland Northwest, including new tours in Nelson, B.C., Wallace, Idaho, and the super close-to-home Mica Moon Zip Tours above Liberty Lake and Spokane Valley. These five zips offer some of the best cable-fueled thrills in the Northwest.

Step back in time Ride our restored antique train Tour millennia-old Gardner Cave Watch tundra swans herald spring Paddle the Pend Oreille River Camp in the wilderness

WWW.PORTA-US.COM 22

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015

Mica Moon Zip Tours (Liberty Lake, Wash.) This new zipline and canopy tour sits above the Liberty Lake area in the mountains of Mica Peak. Taking its name from the area’s reputation as a once-upon-a-time moonshine hotspot, the Mica Moon Zip Tours began offering zipline canopy tours on around 300 acres of private forest this May. The tours include the thrills of a traditional zipline along with a historical experience with a visit to remnants of old moonshine camps. The two-and-a-half-hour tours will eventually include as many as eight zips up to 75 feet above the forest floor that will send guests flying through the air over the trees at up to 45 mph, plus two hikes, seven tree top platforms, and a UTV 4x4 ride to and from the tour. The longest zip is in the 1,500 foot range, with exceptional views along the way. Mica Moon prides itself in connecting with both families looking for a bonding experience and thrill seekers. “We want our guests to feel that they had a truly amazing time, and in the process, learned as much about themselves as they did the secrets hidden in our backyard wilderness,” says co-owner Rik Stewart. Guests check in at the Mica Moon Zip Tours office at the Liberty Lake Portal building (23403 E. Mission Ave., Suite 100) before hopping into a van shuttle to the base of the mountain for the final off-road vehicle ride to the start of the tour. Micamoon.com. Kokanee Mountain Zipline (Nelson, B.C.) Located near Nelson, B.C., between Kokanee Creek Provincial Park and Kokanee Glacier Mountain Park, this new zipline tour, which is currently in the construction phase with a mid-July, 2015 planned opening, will include six ziplines with a total of 1.5 kilometers of ziplines. The longest zip will run 2,300 feet at speeds up to 100 kilometers per hour. The tour will also include four elevated platforms suspended in the trees at heights of up to 55 feet and a short

hike between two of the lines. The fully guided tours will take two hours. Guests will soar above the trees with stunning views of the Nelson/ Kootenay region’s mountains and forested canyons. Zipkokanee.com. Silver Streak Zipline Tours (Wallace, Idaho) Ride a zipline 2,000 feet above the Silver Valley. Silver Streak offers two separate zipline courses with a total of 10 zips on 250 acres of private mountainside. Tours started in 2012, with a second course following in 2013. The West Course has six zips, including heights over 300 feet. The East Course has four zips, including the longest zip “Big Daddy,” which is 1,800 feet long and reaches speeds over 55 mph. The East Course also has two dual zip lines, which lets you ride beside a partner, and a “super hero” zip where you can ride face first. Plan ahead as many weekends sell out in advance. Reservations are required. Silverstreakziplinetours.com. Schweitzer Mountain Resort (Sandpoint, Idaho) Schweitzer’s zipline stretches over 700 feet down the mountain. You’ll start your ride just outside the village, cruise through the air towards Lake Pend Oreille, and finish up just below the Musical Carpet. Enjoy an adventurous ride, great views of the lake and tons of fun with friends. The dual zipline feature allows two people to go down side-by-side so you can ride beside your friends from top to bottom. Open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. beginning June 26, rides are $12 each or $35 for an unlimited pass. Schweitzer.com. Whitefish Mountain Resort (Whitefish, Mont.) Soar hundreds of feet above the trees on Montana’s longest zipline tour with big views out towards Glacier National Park. WMR has a total of 1.7 miles of zipline action on either five or seven zip tours, with speeds that can reach 50 mph. The longest lines span 1,900 feet over the valley floor. The zipline features were built with natural materials when possible, which enhances the beautiful surroundings and makes for a wild feeling ride all around. Side-by-side zipping is available on all lines. Reservations are strongly recommended (call 406-862-2900) once summer operations open June 20. More info: Skiwhitefish. com/summer/zip-line-tours. // (OTM)

Camping

in the “Kootenays” Tucked between the forested slope of the Slocan Range of the Selkirk Mountains and the broad sandy beaches of Kootenay Lake, Kokanee Creek Provincial Park boasts three campgrounds surrounding the steep, cedar- and hemlock-shaded canyon of Kokanee Creek. A popular day-use and camping destination 20 minutes from Nelson, B.C., Kokanee Creek encompasses nearly two miles of beachfront, providing plenty of room for play. An important spawning spot for its namesake salmon, Kokanee Creek is flush with the red-backed fish in late summer; kids and adults can marvel at the upstream migration in several natural and man-made spawning channels. Birds, attracted to the salmon and to the lush riparian environment, flock to Kokanee Creek too. Bring binoculars to scope birds on the broad sandspit where the creek enters Kootenay Lake. Getting There: From Nelson, B.C., drive east on Highway 3A 19km (12 miles) to the provincial park entrance on the right. Env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/ parkpgs/kokanee_crk. // (Aaron Theisen) Camping along Kokanee Creek is a dream. Photo: Aaron Theisen

Mountain

Bike

Nelson’s

North Shore Nelson Cycling Club describes the North Shore trail system, which you can ride to in a few minutes from your plush campsite at the Kokanee Creek Campground, like this: “The north shore of Kootenay Lake’s West Arm covers a large variety of terrain with impressive slab lines everywhere that range from fun to insane.” While there are a few trails that probably won’t scare the begeezus out of most intermediate riders on trail bikes, it’s best to show up at the North Shore with enough bike and brawn to tackle some intense, real-deal Kootenay dirt. You can pedal up the provincial park road across the highway from the campground to access sessionable trails via spur roads or run a vehicle shuttle. Either way, if you haven’t been here before or don’t come with a local who knows these woods and trails, you’ll definitely want to pick up a copy of the “Nelson Mountain Bike Guide,” or risk wasting time looking around for poorly marked (yet expertly built) trails and praying that you’re not lost. The latest version of the guide includes maps and an update of almost 40 new trails and a total of 105 mapped and described trails. Pick up a copy in Nelson at Gerick Cycle. More info: Gericks.com. // (Derrick Knowles) colville chamber ad:Layout 1

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Nelson’s North Shore trails are a delight for those who know where to find them. Photo: Skye Schillhammer

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Colville

Just under 4 hours SE of Spokane

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Check here for RV Parks and Accommodations in the Colville Area. www.colville.com FISHING OPPORTUNITIES ON LAKES AND RIVERS IN THE COLVILLE AREA: 65 Lakes on the Colville National Forest: www.fs.usda.gov/activity/colville/recreation/fishing

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986 South Main St, Ste. B Colville, WA 99114 (509) 684-5973 www.colville.com

JUNE 2015

/ Out There Monthly

A Summer

Festival for Just About

Everyone The Inland Northwest is home to many fun and unique festivals. Here we’ve highlighted a few interesting festivals celebrating everything from huckleberries and community heritage to original music, beer and wine and the outdoors. While this is certainly not an exhaustive list, it’s a great sampling of the diversity of our Inland Northwest communities and culture! Spokatopia Outdoor Adventure Festival (July 11, Spokane) Taking place at Camp Sekani Park along the Spokane River, this outdoor adventure festival is an outdoor sports sampler and has something for everyone. You can try all sorts of activities such as stand up paddleboarding, kayaking, disc golf, rock climbing, mountain biking, slacklining, and demo bikes and try other outdoor oriented products and gear at dozens of exhibitor booths. Entertainment includes live music, a local brews beer garden, a mountain bike jump jam and more to come. The Up Chuck Challenge trail run to the top of Beacon Hill kicks things off at 9:30 in the morning ($20). Cost: adults $5 for general admission, kids under 5 free. There is an added cost to try many of the outdoor sports, with pre-registration recommended. More info and registration details at Spokatopia.com. Kootenai Highland Gathering Celtic Games (July 17-19, Libby, Mont.) Nestled along the banks of the Kootenay River, The Kootenai Highland Gathering Celtic Games is a competition open to all, with games suited for everyone from teens to national competitors. Spectators are welcome and participants should register early, but all can enjoy the live music, vendors, and contests, including a caber toss, sheaf toss, light and heavy weight over bar, bramar stone, hammer throw, nice legs contest and more. Camping and cabin rentals are available. Cost: adults $8, seniors/military $5, kids under 10 free. Facebook.com/kootenai.highlanders. Schweitzer Mountain Music Festival (July 18, Sandpoint, Idaho) More than a music festival, the Schweitzer Mountain Music Festival is all about mixing music in the outdoors with trail running, BBQ and wine. The day starts off with a 3.5- or 10-mile trail run ($20-$45) at 10 a.m., with wine tasting beginning at 11. You purchase a glass and tokens to be spent at “Wine Alley” comprised of 20 Northwest and regional wineries and 80 different wines. Three different bands serenade you throughout day as you enjoy Wine Alley, BBQ, vendor sales and other outdoor activities including zip lining, biking, disc golf, a climbing wall and more. Cost: $5-$27 (depending on how much/what you drink). Schweitzer.com. Testicle Festival (July 29-August 2, Clinton, Mont.) Touted as one of the “Nation’s Hottest Parties,” this is a strictly 21-and-over festivity centered around enjoying a Montana delicacy: Rocky Mountain Oysters. Being a basic free-for-all, everyone is welcome to this contest-filled beer bash. Go expecting craziness and a loose adherence to rules. The festival draws as many as 3,000 people some years. Contests include the ball contest, the ball eating contest, the undie 500, best tattoo, Miss TestyFest, Mr. Fun Buns, nicest arms, and wet t-shirt and undies contests. General admission: $17. Testyfesty.com. Downtown Street Fair, Art on the Green, and Taste of Coeur d’Alene (July 31-August 2, Coeur d’Alene) You get three events in one this weekend! The Downtown Street Fair, Art on the Green, and Taste of Coeur d’Alene are all on the same weekend, turning downtown Coeur d’Alene into one big, bustling summer festival! Over 200 vendors of all kinds line Sherman Avenue from 7th Street to 1st. Continue on through City Park as it turns into Taste of Coeur d’Alene with all kinds of different food vendors. The key is to not miss Art on the Green on the campus of North Idaho College. While separate from the other two fairs by a few blocks, it is well worth going to, as the quality of vendors is generally better. Free admission. More info: Cdachamber.com and Artonthegreencda. com. Festival at Sandpoint (August 6-16, Sandpoint) The 33rd annual Festival at Sandpoint takes place on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille in Sandpoint. The festival touts its “eclectic music under the stars” with artists such as Ziggy Marley, The Devil Makes Three and Trampled By Turtles lined up for this year. The music selection is indeed diverse, sporting the Spokane Symphony, jazz pianist Vadim Neselovskyi, and even a family concert for only $6. Tickets: $37-$60 per night or all eight nights for $230. Festivalatsandpoint.com.

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015

Wallace Huckleberry Festival (August 14-15, Wallace, Idaho) Previously known as the Heritage Festival, the Wallace Huckleberry Heritage Festival, or simply HuckFest, the 30th annual Huckleberry Festival celebrates the heritage of Wallace and, of course, the delicious mountain huckleberry. You’re sure to see vendors, live music and huckleberries in various forms, but other than that, the specific events change year-to-year. Traditionally, events included the Huckleberry Pancake Breakfast on Saturday morning, a 5K walk/run, an Election of Huckleberry Sheriff and Huckleberry Hound, kid’s activities and a pie eating contest. Free admission. More info: Wallace-id.com/heritage.html or call 208753-7151. 27th Annual National Lentil Festival (August 21-22, Pullman, Wash.) The Palouse region of Washington and Idaho produces a quarter of the lentils in the United States, and this popular and award-winning festival is a celebration of that rich, legume-filled heritage. Events include the crowning of the “Lil’ Lentil King and Queen” and the Lentil Family of the Year, as well as kid’s activities, live music, a 5K fun run, a lentil pancake breakfast, 3-on-3 hoop classic, co-ed softball tournament, a parade and lots of lentil chili. Free admission. Lentilfest.com. Juniper Jam Music Festival (September 5, Enterprise, Ore.) The sweetest little music festival in Eastern Oregon is back at the Wallowa County Fairgrounds in Enterprise. This fun-filled day of music on two stages runs from 1 p.m. until about 10. Festival-goers will enjoy folk, country, Americana, alternative and blues, as well as great food and drink, plus children’s activities. Musical acts this year include Jelly Bread, Simon Tucker Group, Marshall McLean Band, Mama Doll and many more! Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Juniperjam.com. // (Taylor Rogers)

Rivers beckon when the dry heat of summer begins to drain your energy. Tubing a river is the quintessential relaxing activity – simply sit back and enjoy the scenery. Play it safe, though. A well-fitting, properlyadjusted Coast Guard-approved Type III-V personal flotation device (PFD) should be worn by everyone tubing on moving water, regardless of age. While not a Washington State law, it is one in Spokane County – the county’s Sheriff ’s Office Marine Patrol Unit issues citations to violators. Spokane River: Peaceful Valley to TJ Meenach During the low flow season, a few flat-water and Class I rapid sections of the Spokane River can be found between established put-in and takeout locations. When providing your own equipment and shuttle transportation, one of the more popular tube-worthy stretches is from near the Sandifur Bridge in the Peaceful Valley neighborhood – downriver of the Monroe Street Dam – to the TJ Meenach Bridge. A tranquil, two-hour float here offers some of the most scenic views from the river as well as the opportunity for wildlife sightings. For a truly carefree float on this river stretch, let FLOW Adventures do the work for you. For $20, this Spokane-based outfitter provides you with a rental tube and PFD as well as shuttle service from the TJ Meenach Bridge to the put-in spot at the Sandifur Bridge. Starting daily from July 6 through September (as conditions permit), a shuttle departs hourly from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 pm. For more information, visit www.flow-adventures. com. Tubing reservations are required on weekends by calling 509-242-8699.

River Tubing Ultimate Summer Fun on the

Spokane and Wenatchee Rivers

takes about two hours to float the 1.5 miles between Leavenworth and Peshastin. Another outfitter is Osprey Rafting, which provides shuttle service from its take-out point on Blackbird Island. If you want to do-it-yourself with your own gear, you can float the route that many locals do. Put in at Blackbird Island – following trails accessible only by foot or bike – or start even further upriver at Enchantment Park, which connects to the island by bridge. Take out at Waterfront Park, and walk the paved and dirt trails back to the beginning for another round if you want. For more information about river tubing near Leavenworth, visit leavenworth.org/experience/ river-tubing.

River Tubing Safety

Floating down the Spokane—a summertime tradition. Photo courtesy of FLOW Adventures

Upper Spokane River Closer to Idaho, do-it-yourself tubers can find Class I rapids during the summer from Stateline to Harvard Road (a 3.5 mile stretch). In Spokane Valley, Mirabeau to Plante’s Ferry (1 mile) and Plante’s Ferry to Boulder Beach (4.5 miles) provide flat-water sections with a few minor rapids. For more specific descriptions of these and other sections of the Spokane River, including precautions to be aware of, visit www.spokaneriver.net/watertrail/category/rafting-sections. You can check the river’s current discharge level (water flow) conditions before you set out. Calculated by cubic feet per second (cfs), this information is found online at waterdata.usgs.

gov – use the search tools to search by state and find the Spokane River. Wenatchee River Another popular tubing river is the Wenatchee River on the east slope of the Washington Cascades, with Class I sections near the tourist town of Leavenworth. Local outfitters provide rental equipment and tubing shuttle services during July and August; however, this summer, it’s expected that tubing services will begin June 26. Leavenworth Outdoor Center’s tubing launch point is upriver from its downtown office; they even rent tubes for dogs. Excursions with River Rider

Pay attention to these safety precautions from King County’s river safety web page when planning your float trip: always tell someone your route and when and where you expect to put in and take out; have a back-up plan for emergency contact if your trip is cut short; never float a river alone; bring along at least one paddle for your group, in case a rescue is needed; and bring along a dry bag with food, water and warm clothes. Wear a PFD. Washington rivers are cold, and adults wearing a PFD can more safely assist a child in distress. It’s generally recommended that only children age five and older go river tubing, depending on the river conditions and a child’s abilities. A parent should always remain within arm’s length of a child. Take plenty of drinking water with you. Stay hydrated and wear sunblock – tubing is slow, and you’ll be parched and sunburned if you don’t plan ahead. // (Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

JUNE 2015

/ Out There Monthly

Spokane

Staycation You don’t have to look or travel too far for adventure if you live in “near nature, near perfect” Spokane. There is a summer’s worth of outdoor fun out there without ever stepping across the county line. Here are a few outing ideas. Paddle the Little Spokane River (shuttle included) Floating the Little Spokane River is a close-tohome classic that may leave you a little disoriented mid-way through the trip, wondering what wild corner of the Earth you’ve been magically transported to, as ducks, herons and other waterloving birds bust loose from lush riparian greenery; deer and moose stare at you in wonder from shore; and your eyes glaze over from gazing too long into the crystal clear water and listening to the gentle, trance-inducing murmurs of flowing water and chirping songbirds. Why haven’t you paddled this slice of moving nature bliss lately? Now you don’t even have the excuse of not wanting to set up your own shuttle. Spokane Parks and Recreation offers summertime shuttle service on the Little Spokane for you and your canoe, kayak or SUP transportation from the 9 Mile Take Out (where you leave your vehicle) to the put-in at St. Georges (which makes for a 6-mile float). Shuttles run on Saturdays hourly from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. between July 4 and September 5. You can show up anytime throughout the day and pay on-site with a check or credit/ debit card (sorry, no cash). Pre-register at spokaneparks.org or call 509- 363-5418 for more info. No inner tubes, rafts, dogs or alcohol are allowed on the river or in the shuttle vehicles and PFDs (life jackets) are required by law. Youth 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to use the shuttle service. Don’t forget your Discover Pass for your personal vehicle and don’t disturb or harass the birds and other wildlife that live in and along the river. For more information about the float, check out the book “Paddling Washington.” If you need a canoe or kayak, you can buy and rent them at Mountain Gear (2002 N Division, Spokane). (Derrick Knowles) What SUP? Try Stand Up Paddleboarding The sport of stand up paddleboarding on lakes and rivers has exploded in popularity through-

Summer Adventure Close to Home

Man meets moose on the Little Spokane River. Photo courtesy of Spokane Parks and Recreation

out the Northwest. Now you can try paddleboarding with rental equipment and in some cases lessons at one of several area lakes before investing in your own equipment. Throughout the summer, Spokane Parks and Recreation will be renting stand up paddleboards every Sunday between July 5 and September 6 from 12-6 p.m. at Liberty Lake County Park. Rental boards, which come with a PFD and paddle, cost $15 per hour and are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Youth 17 and under must paddle with a paid parent or guardian. (Pay on-site with a check or credit/debit card only.) Personal trainer and massage therapist Darcy Staudinger also offers stand up paddleboard rentals, classes, parties and even SUP yoga at several locations, including Medical Lake, Bear Lake, Liberty Lake and the Little Spokane River. Contact her to set up a rental or lesson session at 509-4877815 or at darcyspersonaltraining@comcast.net. Spokane Parks and Recreation is also offering evening paddleboarding trips on the flat-water

stretch of the Spokane River upstream from downtown Spokane on several nights this summer. Paddleboards and equipment are included along with instruction. The trips start and end at either the McKinstry or the soon-to-be-opened Convention Center Spokane Water Trail access and run from 6-8 p.m. Dates include July 7, July 28, August 4, and August 18. Call 509-625-6200 for more info or to register. (Derrick Knowles) Bike the Best of Spokane Valley (July 26, 2015) Cycle Celebration, part of ValleyFest, is an opportunity to ride with friends and family on a set 10-mile family ride, 25-mile adventure ride or 50-mile challenge (that takes you on some of the Valley’s best hills). Rides follow a safe and scenic course through Spokane Valley with a highlight being the smooth, gorgeous riding along the Centennial Trail. Cycle Celebration kicks off at the North Centennial Trailhead across from the Mirabeau Meadows Park on Sunday morning,

July 26. Registration includes a t-shirt, rest stop refreshments and an after-party to celebrate and help you rehydrate and refuel. Registration, maps and more info: Cyclecelebration.com. (Derrick Knowles) Explore Mount Spokane State Park At nearly 14,000 acres, Mount Spokane State Park is a wild oasis full of recreation possibilities right on Spokane’s doorstep. There are miles of hiking and biking trails and dozens of picnic spots, viewpoints, hidden huckleberry patches, historical landmarks, wildlife-watching opportunities and scenic drives about 40 minutes from the city. Just in time for summer, “Mount Spokane State Park—A User’s Guide” is now available, and, after 10 years in the making, it is well worth the wait. The new guide is a handsome, well-organized, 150-page book that will launch you on all kinds of fun in Washington’s second largest state park. Whether you’re looking for a butterfly picnic, thoughtful exploration of natural history or historic sites, a trail guide for a lonely hike around the mountain or a hearty winter “skijor,” this book will get you there and back. The guide is compiled and written by Cris Currie, president of the nonprofit group Friends of Mount Spokane State Park, and colleagues (Gray Dog Press). With abundant maps and pictures, this guide will help you find a hike that fits your ambitions; it’s also a great resource for identifying many birds and butterflies, the geology of the mountain or the history of sites and facilities you can visit. It also reviews the park’s arduous planning and management history and rationale which took years, but allowed stakeholders to meet and work things out in a process that has now become a national model for park land classification and public involvement. “Mount Spokane State Park–A User’s Guide” hit the bookstores in April 2015. To buy a copy AND say “thanks” to the Friends of Mount Spokane volunteers who work hard to promote our expanded enjoyment and responsible use of the mountain, stop by Bear Creek Lodge, Fitness Fanatics, Mountain Gear or the Mount Spokane or Riverside State Park offices. Those locations will donate 60% of the price back to “The Friends” group – a win for you and our favorite backyard mountain! (Bea Lackaff) //

Lake Roosevelt... Jump into some SERIOUS fun!

m 26

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015

www.VisitLincolnCountyWashington.com

A good place to be

fired up and rollin’. It would be all too easy to yap about our friendly trails... so lets get started. There’s hundreds of kms. of super-flowy, creamy, rollickingly wicked riding for everyone, except posers. They’re simple to get around and smack dab inbetween campfire country and the mountain resort. Well, that’s enough yap. Probably should just come check it out for yourself. See ya soon!

JUNE 2015

/ Out There Monthly

Get Out on Your

Bike

for Some

Northeast Washington

Hiking/Camping Road Trip

Gran Fondo

Fun

Let me be your concierge for a Northeast Washington hiking weekend this summer that includes hiking Thirteen Mile Trail, an overnight car-camping stay at Swan Lake and a visit to the frontier-like town of Republic, Wash. You will make lifelong memories.

With summer on your doorstep, it’s time to get out on your bike and explore some scenic, bike friendly roads in our area. While you can always go out for a spin on backroads by yourself, gran fondos offer the perfect opportunity to enjoy these roads with other riders. Fondos are mass participation cycling events that have enjoyed incredible popularity in Europe for decades and are beginning to gain momentum in our area as well. Dirt fondos or “gravel grinders” are also becoming a popular form of these events. With fondos, you can make it a pseudo race or a fun ride with your friends. It’s both a cycling event and a cultural cycling experience with post ride celebrations and rider camaraderie being two important characteristics of these events. Many cyclists ride for the reward of just making it to the finish line, while others simply want to test their limits and challenge their friends. Here are two regional gran fondos to put on your calendar this summer. Jedermann Gran Fondo Bike Ride and 12 Hr. Road Challenge (July 25) In its fourth year, the Jedermann, or as some call it “everyone’s great ride,” offers distance options of 30, 66 and 100 miles. This year EMDE Sports has also added a 12 Hour Challenge for both individuals and teams. The start and finish of the JGF is in cycling-friendly Cheney, Wash. The ride is 100% asphalt, so a road machine is going to be your optimal choice. Post-ride food provided by Zentropa Pizza and the EMDE Sports free pancake breakfast are part of the fun. Participants can enjoy complimentary pint glasses, a beer garden, live music, and t-shirts at the end of the race with custom medals for all 100-mile and 12 Hour Challenge riders. These roads are awesome for cycling and relatively traffic free. Starting (and finishing) in Cheney allows you to visit roads that are further west and less frequently ridden, passing through the communities of Sprague, Harrington, Edwall and Cheney. The 12 Hr. Challenge offers both individuals and two- or four-person teams the chance to challenge themselves for a bit longer haul. More info: Emdesports.com. Coeur d’Fondo (September 26) Experience beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene and the forest, roads and scenery along Idaho’s Scenic Byway with the company and energy of a community of riders. The route continues along Highway 97, passing through the towns of Harrison and St. Maries before finishing back in Coeur d’Alene at the fall Oktoberfest in downtown Coeur d’Alene. Distances include the Gran Fondo (108 miles), Medio Fondo (84 miles), Centro Fondo (47 miles, comes with a cruise aboard the Mish-an-Nock from Coeur d’Alene to the ride start at Harrison), Piccolo Fondo (37 miles, including a cruise on the Mish-an-Nock back to Oktoberfest in Coeur d’Alene after riding to Harrison), and the Family Fun Ride (15 miles). Coeur d’ Fondo is a fundraiser for the Centennial Trail Foundation, a nonprofit organization that uses all funding for the continued maintenance and expansion of the North Idaho Centennial Trail. Cdagranfondo.com. // (OTM) 28

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015

Swan Lake Campground From Republic, drive Route 21 south for approximately seven miles to Scatter Creek Road on your right. This road takes you to Swan Lake Campground, a free and family-friendly Forest Service site. A trail winds along the lake, offering ample opportunities for fishing and swimming. A large grassy area and docks in the water make this campsite especially fun for kids. Swan Lake is a quaint location filled with occasionally vocal loons. If this campground is full when you arrive, check out several other nearby Forest Service Campgrounds, including Long Lake, Ferry Lake, Ten Mile, and Thirteen Mile. Thirteen Mile Trail Six miles further south on Route 21 from the Swan Lake turnoff, you will pass Ten Mile Campground before arriving at the Thirteen Mile trailhead on your left. Let your feet take you as far as you want to go, as the trail is a 16-mile roundtrip hike with views going in both directions. The first mile displays a rich eyeful of tall canyon walls and soothing sounds from the creek below. The trail climbs through an open understory with wildflowers, rocky ledges, meadows and ponderosa pines. Water along the way will dry up as summer progresses, and keep your eyes open for rattlesnakes. Experience Republic’s Old West Culture After your hike, head north for a little Old West culture in Republic. The historic gold mining town also offers a look at history with Eocene fossil digs through the Stonerose Interpretive Center (Stonerosefossil.org). The Old West looking downtown includes unique local shops worth checking out. Refresh yourself at Republic Brewing Company with award winning craft beer in an artistically accessorized historic building. The brewery is alive with individuals as genuine as the hills they came from. // (Katie LeBlanc)

Doesn’t get any better than hipster hiking up Thirteen mile Canyon. Photo: Aaron Theisen

The Pacific Northwest Trail Runs Through It The Pacific Northwest Scenic Trail (known as the PNT) is a long distance path which starts at Glacier National Park and winds through the northern reaches of Montana, Idaho, and Washington to its end at the Pacific Ocean. Covering the most wild and scenic regions of each state, sections of the PNT cross through the Salmo-Priest Wilderness and the Kettle River Range in northeast Washington. The National Forest Service and the Pacific Northwest Trail Association are partners in developing a plan for the PNT which includes route completion, creating optimal user experiences, and connecting hikers to communities along the way. Learn more about the PNT at www.fs.usda.gov/ pnt. Satisfy the desire which has accompanied humanity since the beginning of our time, walking the path of nature.

Navigating Northeast Washington Trails Just Got Easier I moved to Colville from the State of Maine in the dark and sight unseen. Driving 395 and leaving the Spokane lights behind, night gave way to vast valleys and shadowy contours of a fullbodied landscape with hills and larger peaks further north. In the weeks prior to my journey westward, I was consumed by studying online topo maps, the Colville National Forest Service website and images of 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort. It soon became apparent that good trail maps for the region were hard to come by. I found that Northeast Washington hides a variety of trails less traveled. Sure, the Kettle River Range is a well-known classic graced by 7,000 foot peaks, yet several of the 21 trails along the range are (seemingly) rarely used. To the east lie the Selkirk Mountains and the Salmo-Priest Wilderness. These wild places provide space to spread your wings away from the crowds of other popular hiking destinations. Finding trail maps and information for this region is getting easier. A new website containing maps for trails in Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties is a unique resource which also provides trail access points, descriptions and brief histories of the region. Local historian and map developer Joe Barreca has created Google interactive trail maps that can be accessed via mobile devices, within satellite range and independent of cell service. This amenity is especially helpful in rural areas where cell phone service is not always an option. The website is live, but is under construction and is scheduled to be completed by July 1. To view and download northeast Washington trail maps and photos, visit NeWashingtonTrails.com. // (Katie LeBlanc)

The greater Spokane area is centrally located for quick access to some of North America’s best mountain bike trails, including some of the best of the best within a 2.5-hour drive north in Rossland, B.C. For mountain bikers looking to build skills, expand horizons and experience new trails that will blow your mind, there is no better place to ride. Contrary to the hardcore, Seven Summits image that may come to mind, Rossland has a diversity of beginner, intermediate and advanced trails that opens up opportunities for mixed groups of riders with differing ability levels to enjoy a mountain bike trip together knowing that they can split up or ride together. The famed Seven Summits Trail, the 22-milelong IMBA Epic that most people think of when they think of Rossland, is just the tip of the local riding iceberg. Which means that the vast majority of trails, well over 100 miles worth, are mostly lesser-known, highly rated trails that locals and visitors from around the world rave about. While you can always pop into the local bike shop (Revolution Cycles) for a map and trail recommendations, hoping your map reading skills and the local trail rating standards don’t lead you astray, Rossland has a super friendly and helpful bike community, which includes a number of services directed towards out-of-towners, from shuttling to bike coaching, tours and clinics that are designed to orient riders to the vast local trail network and help them build skills to match the terrain. Mountain Bike Shuttles Traditionally, most shuttle requests around Rossland have been for the Seven Summits Trail; however, if you take the time to talk with the guides at Mountain Shuttle/Kootenay Mountain Bike Coaching, they will turn you on to many other lesser-known, and, some would say, more fun trails that locals and a growing number of visitors shuttle on a regular basis. Try the Seven Summits Hangover tour, which includes four hours of shuttled downhill riding. Perfect for the day after a punishing Seven Summits ride. Also ask them about rooms at the bike-friendly Red Shutter Inn for $69 per night. They have other good deals and packages too. Details at Mountainshuttle.ca or 250-362-0080. Ladies Mountain Bike Weekend (June 13-14) Join the super friendly and knowledgeable people at Kootenay Mountain Bike Coaching and BettyGoHard for a two-day women’s mountain bike weekend that focuses on building bike skills and confidence. The camp includes shuttleassisted, coached rides combined with skill prac-

Rossland, B.C.

Mountain Biking Shuttles, Clinics, Tours and Killer Deals

women face when taking on new challenges as we are women and men that have faced our own fears and obstacles,” says co-owner and head coach Natasha Lockey. Both Natasha and her husband Ian Lockey bring unique experiences to their work. Ian is a standing paraplegic who competed in Sochi as part of the Canadian National Para-Snowboard Team. His experiences make him well-positioned to break things down from both a physical and mental perspective, enabling riders in their clinics to push through frustrations and succeed. Cost is $265 (Canadian). They also offer custom clinic packages for four or more women if you can’t make the June 13-14 weekend and want to set something up for you and your friends. More info: Kootenaymountainbiking. com. Private MTB Lessons for Men, Women, Groups and Couples Mountain biking is great fun, and the better you are, the more fun it is. Private lessons help build confidence, increase skills and reduce fears. “The best athletes in the world have coaches,” says Natasha Lockey. “We all have differing levels of skills and develop differently, and as we improve we will pick up some great skills and some not so great skills. Doing the same thing badly over and over is not going to make you better. You will just be better at doing it badly.” For beginners, a lesson can help avoid many of the most common mistakes and bad habits that a lot of bikers have, she says. Lessons also help new riders get their body position and balance set up right and assist with a firm understanding of gears and brakes and how to use them efficiently. Private lessons can also be great for couples and helps avoid uncomfortable situations where one rider in the relationship is trying to teach the other and give advice. For experienced riders, lessons can be a great way to get past the plateau, become stronger, be more efficient and have more fun, she says. “Fine tuning the small skills and having an expert set of eyes will enable you to get closer to riding like a pro, and the pros always look like they are having so much fun!”

tice to help dial in your biking. BettyGoHard, a women’s progressive action sports community, is focused on taking the intimidation out of outdoor sports and inspiring women to push their limits. “We have a unique understanding of the fears and obstacles that

TOP: Rossland, B.C., didn’t get branded the mountain bike capital of Canada for nothing. BOTTOM: Take some riding pointers from Kootenay Mountain Bike Coaching and you could do this. Photos: Ben Gavelda. Courtesy of Kootenay Mountain Bike Coaching.

Ladies Yoga and Biking Retreat (September 12-13) This weekend for intermediate to advanced riders includes mountain biking, yoga, great food, good company and fantastic Rossland trails. “We will spend the weekend balancing between building your confidence and skills on the bike with the flow of your yoga practice,” says Natasha. From beginner to seasoned yogis, everyone will benefit from these sessions, she says. More info: Kootenaymountainbiking.com. //

JUNE 2015

/ Out There Monthly

Summer Starts Early

in Hiking, Biking, Nature Loving

Kimberley, B.C.

singletrack is a great way for even novice riders to enjoy this beautiful park. After a late start to the day thanks to a summer thunderstorm, we set off from the Kimberley Nordic Area trailhead to check out as much of the park as our lungs and legs could handle. We pedaled parts of Magic Line, Romantic Ridge, past the Duck Pond (where crashing and splashing hooves signaled elk or moose), ditched the bikes for a hike up to a view point looking out over the St. Mary River valley, and then slowly climbed our way along the Trapline and Centennial doubletrack trails back to where we started. With several trailheads right out of town and a maze of beautiful hiking and biking trails for just about everybody, the Kimberley Nature Park is the ideal family, large group or couples getaway that combines Canadian alpine town amenities (like fun pubs, friendly patrons and good food) with a unique bike or hike in the Purcell Mountains. Just be sure to stop by the visitors center at the central plaza next to the parking lot behind the downtown pedestrian area to pick up a map and get the latest trail info, as new trails are often being developed and re-built, and there are really so many trails that it definitely can get confusing without the official trail map (directions and more visitor info here: Tourismkimberley.com). Magic Line MTB Trail If you’re looking for a fun, flowly trail built with today’s mountain bikers in mind, the newly built Magic Line Loop is an 8K cross-country trail with great views and fast, flowy sections of well-made singletrack to reward you for the occasional steep climbs. Access Magic Line from the Nordic Area trailhead. Round the Mountain Biking/Hiking Route Above town by Kimberley Alpine Resort, the Round the Mountain Trail is a 20K local favorite mountain bike route that circles North Star Mountain. Combining dirt roads, challenging singletrack, excellent views and beautiful forest, Round the Mountain is more popular with mountain bikers but makes an excellent, long day-hike too. The undulating trail works its way around the mountain through beautiful forest broken up by expansive, scenic vistas. Access for Round the Mountain is at the Kimberley Nordic Centre.

Trails on the edge of town. Photos courtesy of Tourism Kimberley and Shallan Knowles.

I had always wondered what Kimberley, B.C. was like in the summer. Well-known and heaped with praise by skiers for its Purcell Mountain powder in the winter, rumors of a giant park crisscrossed with kilometers of midelevation, edge-of-town xc mountain bike and hiking trails peaked my curiosity enough to pay a visit last June. What we found was a 2,000 acre ecological and recreational delight by the name of Kimberley Nature Park. Kimberley Nature Park One of the largest municipal parks in Canada, Kimberley’s own little wilderness offers over 100 kilometers of trails suitable for a wide range of riders and walkers. Since the park sits much lower than many of B.C.’s high-country parks 30

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015

and trail systems, Kimberley Nature Park can be snow-free and ready to hike and ride by late spring and early summer, making it a great, long-weekend mountain getaway before the peak summer season. The park’s trails wind their way through a beautiful, natural area crawling with black bears, elk, birds and other wild animals and native flowers and plants. Wide expanses of quiet, green forest, occasional rocky viewpoints and serene ponds and wetlands – just minutes from a cold beer and appetizer plate in easygoing Kimberley – reward hikers and mountain bikers of all ability levels who set out from one of several trailheads. We rolled into town knowing nothing about the trails around town and left after a day of exploring and hanging with the locals at the Pedal & Tap pub ready to return for

a second trip to check out the more challenging trails, like Round the Mountain, that we didn’t have time for. The park’s trail network is a patchwork of easyto-moderate singletrack and double track (some of which are part of the winter Nordic trail network) and sections of more challenging blue and black level singletrack with roots, rocks and sections of steep climbing that eventually give way to fast, rolling descents and smooth, cruisy sections. With such a diversity of trail options, it’s an ideal place for couples or groups with mixed ability levels to mountain bike together. Following the trail map to stay on the double track and easier

Round the Mountain Outdoor Race Festival (June 21) Hosted by the Kootenay Orienteering Club, the Kimberley Trails Society and the Kootenay Freewheelers’ Cycling Club, the annual Round the Mountain Festival showcases Kimberley’s beautiful and diverse trail network including the Round The Mountain Route. Participants can choose from a variety of seven hiking, running and mountain biking challenges around North Star Mountain. The festival also includes kids’ races, live music and food and beverages in a friendly community setting. All events start and finish at the Kimberley Nordic Centre. Roundthemountain.ca. OTM’s Kimberley Picks: Where to Stay, Eat, Drink Save your post-ride/hike loonies for the Pedal & Tap, a bike-themed pub on the central plaza in downtown Kimberley. The food and beverage selection hit the spot after a long day on the trail, and the conversation with the downto-earth locals was priceless. Pedalandtap.com. The Trickle Creek Lodge is the place to stay for exceptionally comfortable accommodations at the base of the ski resort and within biking and hiking distance of the Nature Park and Round the Mountain trails. Tricklecreeklodge.com. //

Go Skydiving There’s No Excuse Not To Wind and adrenaline whipped around my body as I watched, helpless, as my girlfriend jumped out of our plane and into.... Nothing. 12,500 feet of nothing between her and the ground. I was sure she was scared. I was scared. But I soon forgot about that as I found myself at the door looking down. I shivered. Partly due to the cold of the air at that altitude, but mostly because of what I was about to do – jump out of a perfectly good plane. Thankfully, I was shoved out by Rogers, my Tandem Master, without more time to consider my decision. For the first few indistinguishable moments, terror took hold of me and I screamed. I had told myself I wouldn’t, but there I was, screaming like a banshee. A terrified, irrational, animalistic and purely instinctual banshee. But then the adrenaline kicked in. I loved it. I yelled at the fast approaching ground, daring it to come and get me. Even though the fear had passed, rational thought had yet to return. After what seemed like forever, Rogers pulled the parachute and we jolted to a more reasonable speed and I had time to form rational thoughts. I took in the exquisite view of the patchwork of farmland that makes up eastern Washington. He let me steer the parachute, occasionally going into a terrifying yet exhilarating downward spiral. Eventually we landed softly on our butts, right on the patch of green grass we had aimed for next to the airplane hangar that acts as the headquarters for West Plains Skydiving. I couldn’t believe how easy it had been to have this experience. “We really

The author doing his field research for this article. Photo courtesy of Taylor Rogers and West Plains Skydiving.

take care of just about everything for you,” says Kara Kruse, the scheduling manager and a member of the founding family of West Plains Skydiving. And that’s no lie; all you do is show up and get harnessed. “Then we get you in a plane, take you up to 13,000 feet, and kick you out!” She laughs. The cost of the experience is only $205 (plus tax) on a Thursday or Monday, and $225 (plus tax) on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. That, a waiver, and 10 minutes of instruction was all it took to jump out of a plane with a certified instructor. After 15 minutes in a small plane, you get 45-55 seconds of freefall for 6,000 feet and several minutes floating down to earth with the best view of eastern Washington that money can buy. Safety wise, Kruse says that as long as you’re at least 18 and generally in good health, they can take you skydiving. There are some basic health considerations which you can find on their site, but you don’t have to be a Spartan to skydive. West Plains have taken jumpers who are paraplegic, claustrophobic, terrified of heights.... You name it. Even a 92-year-old woman who had to have the photographer hold her teeth before the jump! “There’s really no good excuse not to go,” Kruse says. “Skydiving multiple times isn’t for everybody,” she acknowledges. “But jumping once with a highly certified, trained instructor, really is,” and I cannot agree more. Everyone should try it at least once. Whatever you’re doing, stop it now, and go to skydivewestplains.com or call Kara at 509-838-JUMP to schedule your trip for sometime this summer. You won’t regret it. // (Taylor Rogers)

10 TUNNELS & 7 SKY HIGH TRESTLES ALL DOWNHILL, SHUT TLE BACK TO THE TOP USA TODAY TOP TEN PICK RAILS TO TRAILS HALL OF FAME

Tickets, bikes & tag-a-long rentals, and picnic lunches available at Lookout Pass Ski Area

#RidetheHiawatha

/ridethehiawatha

@ridethehiawatha

Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area operates the Route of the Hiawatha under a special use permit from the USFS

JUNE 2015

/ Out There Monthly

Mica Moon’s New Zipline Tour is a Local

MUST DO!

The marquee #7 zip “Point of No Return” will be the most fun you’ll ever have soaring 400’ over a canyon. At over a quarter of a mile in length, this zip is a complete adventure in its own right.

10 Ways to

Explore

Sandpoint

The first 6 zip lines can’t be missed either. They include panoramic views of the Spokane valley, corridors threaded through the forest intimate co canopy, and abundant wildlife. The last zip “White Lightning” reaches speeds of up to 50 mph!

$75 Youth Pass (7-15yrs old) Senior Pass $75 (65yrs old & up) $96 Adult Pass (16-64yrs old) Season Pass $300

Book Now at Micamoon.com or call (509) 587-4020

Huckleberry Tent

& Breakfast A Rustic Retreat They have cozy beds. They have homecooked breakfasts. But this sweet spot just south of Clark Fork, Idaho, isn’t what you’d expect from a bed and breakfast. Huckleberry Tent & Breakfast is a camping experience that takes you beyond tents and campfires and offers a unique, upscale outdoor adventure, just minutes from Sandpoint, national forest and Lake Pend d’Oreille. Owners Timothy and Christine Dick moved to the Clark Fork area 20 years ago and lived in a tent themselves while building their solar-powered homestead and farm. After settling in and starting a family, they were inspired to open their own rustic retreat by the country’s first wall-tent B&B at MaryJanesFarm in Moscow, Idaho. They began with their Nona site, which was where they had initially established residence. The Cedars and Mountain View sites came soon after. Although my husband and I visited early in the season, the weather was perfect for camping. Small logoed signs guided us along the dirt road and right up to the Dick’s homestead porch. We were greeted by Christine, her daughter Mary and an enormous tom turkey marching around the yard. Soon, we were depositing our bags in the Nona bedroom, a heavy canvas tent fixed atop a sturdy wooden platform. Inside was a comfortable iron frame bed piled high with pillows, quilts and a down com32

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015

forter. A small table in the corner displayed a few board games, and the wood stove warmed us when we went to bed. Like the other two sites, Nona also features a screened kitchen, complete with camp oven, cookware, water pump and every cooking convenience. We also discovered a can of s’mores ingredients. A pristine, stink-free outhouse, roomy camp shower, and Bear Creek Canvas 2-person tent for kids or guests completed the tidy site. We cooked dinner on the stove and sipped wine at the outdoor fire pit, before falling asleep to the sounds of crickets and tree frogs. The next morning, pancakes, scrambled eggs fresh from the barn, sausage links, homemade huckleberry jam and the Dick’s famous apple cider were served on the homestead porch. We walked off the goodness with a tour of the spacious, just sprouting garden and a trek to the beaver pond. As we followed the walking path back to our site, I felt grateful for the brief reprieve from persistent cell phones and constant traffic, and I started planning our return. Note: Due to the early arrival of warm weather this year, open campfires may not be allowed at the T&B later in the summer. More info: 208-2660155 or Huckleberrytentandbreakfast.com. // (S. Michal Bennett)

The Local’s Guide Because Sandpoint happens to be flanked by the Selkirks and the Cabinets, and folded into the curves of Lake Pend Oreille and the river, and because it’s rather postcard perfect, this little town fills up with visitors in the summer and winter. The thing about coming to visit a new town is that it’s hard to feel at home and find all the sweet spots when you’re just here for a week or two. In gratitude for all the visitors and how they expose us to fashion sense beyond our borders (you may have noted, we need it), here’s a list of what to enjoy when you’re here. 1. Mountain. We have some mountains and if you like trails to hike or bike, good views, and quick access, one of our favorite local options is Schweitzer Mountain Resort. This kid-friendly location is just a 25-minute drive from downtown. Take your bike, your hiking boots, your kids, your camera and zipline, let the lift schlepp your bike to the top, hike around and discover the huckleberries. Send your friends envy-inducing pictures. 2. Gold Hill Trail #3. A 15-minute drive from town (south across the Long Bridge, left on Bottle Bay Road, then 4-ish miles to the trailhead, you can’t miss it), this trail winds its way up the side of Gold Hill with a few sneak peeks at the view. It’s less than 3 miles to the top where you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic of the river, the town, the Selkirks, the lake, and everything else we love about being here. It’s a safe and trafficked trail and great for kids. If you’re a biker, the 51-corner descent is an absolute delight. 3. Mickinnick Trail. Just five minutes from town, this steep trail zig-zags up the mountain with the first great views of the Cabinets appearing in a half mile. Although this trail is steep, it offers bench views early in the hike so you can take littles along for big visual rewards without a lot of distance. 4. Water. Sandpoint is surrounded by water that is loved and protected by the locals. Our deep, clean lake gets allseason use from kayakers, fat bikers on ice, brave spring water skiers, and paddle boarders alike. There are too many places to swim to list.

5. Sandcreek and the Inlet. The creek that flows through Sandpoint is a favorite mellow kayak route. You can follow it inland from the city beach (rentals can be found downtown at several locations) and see wildlife of all sorts. 6. The City Beach. A perfect way to spend the day with kids and friends, the sandy beach front is great for splashing, picnics, playgrounds, cruising on your skates, or taking naps on the lawn. There’s always a game of volleyball you can join, tennis courts, and basketball courts. And the backdrop: an expansive stretch of mountains across the lake. 7. Town. For a little town, there’s a lot going on outdoors. From our efforts to support bike commuting to our town trail systems, it’s pretty easy to access the outdoors within city limits. 8. The Pend Oreille Bay Trail. This 1.5 mile section of shoreline trail begins near the city beach and follows the lake toward the northeast. Isolated from roads, pleasantly wide and flat, it’s a great place for kids to bike, dogs to be walked (don’t forget your doggy bag), or anyone to escape the city feel without a drive. 9. The Sand Creek Trail. Just before the City Beach, this new bike path follows the creek inland, connecting Sandpoint to Ponderay. There are steps down to the water where people enjoy the sunshine and children play. The path connects to the Cedar Street Bridge if you want to loop through town and get ice cream on your way. 10. The Dover Trail: This paved bike trail goes from 5th Avenue due west toward Dover, where it turns into an optional dirt and raised wooden path through wetlands along the Pend Oreille River. The flat trail is great for families or the geographically curious. Many of us ride out to Dover to enjoy dinner on the decks of The Dish (their cocktails are a treat too) and roll home at night fall. Regardless of your sport, marital status, or the size of your family, if you like to get outside, Sandpoint offers many great options with few logistics. And if you exhaust these ideas, just ask anyone at the coffee shop for more…. It’s called the Great Northwest for a reason. Explore more of Sandpoint online at Visitsandpoint.com. //

Exploring

Wallace Idaho’s Mining Heritage

A sprawling complex of beautiful, historic buildings and surprisingly bustling streets nestled into the steep mountain hillsides of North Idaho’s Bitterroot Mountains, Wallace Idaho, is a momentary neck-craning distraction for most Interstate 90 travelers driving through the Silver Valley. Too bad for them, since this authentic, resilient community has successfully tapped a gold mine balance between functioning mining town and “New West” recreation and tourism hub. There are excellent breweries, restaurants, old-time taverns and a super cool wine bar. The whole town is on the National Register of Historic Places and the Mining Museum is a great glimpse back at the town’s rich and rowdy past. And there are endless ways to get out and explore the mountains, ranging from hiking trails, zipline tours, cycling paved paths, and biking the world-famous Hiawatha Trail. For history buffs who like to stretch their legs a bit, this family-friendly tour is a great way to spend a day in the “Center of the Universe.”

from the early gold rush days to the more recent period of world-record silver production. Artifacts, models, photographs, paintings and displays of mining activity and techniques take you back in time and deep into the history of one of the most lucrative mining districts in the U.S. Many of the exhibits are inside a timbered mine to enhance the experience. Exhibits include a large three-dimensional model of the largest silver producing mine in the world – the Sunshine Mine. A documentary video on area history is included with the admission fee. The museum is open daily all summer long, opening at 10 a.m. in May, June and September; 10 a.m. in July and August; and closing at 5 p.m. each day. It’s located at 509 Bank Street. More info: 208-556-1592. Out on the Town in Wallace: OTM’s Picks Stop by the City Limits Pub & North Idaho Mountain Brewery tucked away in a historic brick building just north of the Interstate. They brew their own excellent craft beer and serve up tasty meals and appetizers in a friendly, comfortable atmosphere. This is the place to stop in Wallace after a day of skiing Lookout, hiking Stevens Peak, biking the Hiawatha, kayaking the South Fork or touring historical mining sites. Location: 108 Nine Mile Road, Wallace. Info: 208-556-1885. For a good night’s sleep in clean, comfortable, well-lit rooms within walking distance of Wallace restaurants, bars and breweries, the Wallace Inn is the place to stay. It has an indoor swimming pool and the staff has a love for the recreational wonders of the Silver Valley and can help you out with trail and travel advice (Thewallaceinn. com). The Wallace Visitor Center, just off the Interstate, is also an excellent source for maps and other useful information about the area’s historical and recreational attractions. Wallaceidahochamber.com. // (Derrick Knowles)

Hiking the Historic Pulaski Trail Until 2003, the Pulaski Tunnel Trail, which leads to the abandoned mine where “Big Ed” Pulaski saved nearly all of his 45-man firefighting crew from being burned alive by the Great Fire of 1910 (by guiding them into and barricading the mine), had been reclaimed by the forest and was lost to hikers and the history-conscious community, except for a couple of historic markers at the trailhead. Thanks to the efforts of local volunteers in recent years, the trail was cleared and reconstructed with five bridges, four boardwalks and more than a dozen interpretive signs that tell the story of the people, trees and one big old fire that give this path through the woods such historic significance. The 2-mile trail, which begins at a well-marked trailhead about a mile south of Wallace, offers a cool, beautiful walk through the forest along Placer Creek and by a few small waterfalls. It’s only about an 800 foot elevation gain uphill to the old mine and the end of the trail. It takes most hikers about two or three hours to complete the entire hike. Both the trail and the mine are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Getting There: The trail begins at a well-marked trailhead about a one mile south of Wallace on Forest Service Road 456. The Wallace District Mining Museum The Wallace District Mining Museum tells the story of the local mining industry in Northern Idaho

The Pulaski Trail is a goldmine of Silver Valley history. Courtesy of the Historic Wallace Chamber of Commerce

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Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015

Fernie, B.C.’s Biggest Biking

Weekend of the Year

If you own a mountain bike, and have been thinking about a trip up to Fernie, this is the weekend to do it. June 27-29 is the opening weekend for the Fernie Alpine Resort Bike Park; the weekend of Fernie’s biggest all-mountain stage race, a 3-day bike race called the Fernie 3; and the dates of the multi-day community celebration of all things cycling, hiking, running and trail related known as the Roll & Sole Trails Festival. Despite all the events and activities packed into one weekend, when we rolled into town on Friday last year, we were still able to find a room (reservations are highly recommended though!), and the trails around town and up at the resort bike park were still uncrowded even as the town was buzzing with bike-inspired energy and commotion. Fernie 3 All-Mountain Bike Race Fernie’s biggest cross-country all-mountain bike race, the Fernie 3, features three days of riding the epic trails surrounding town. This three-day stage race caters to new and experienced racers with a focus on fun and providing racers with the best singletrack experience including exhilarating climbs and epic flowy downhills on an all-mountain course of trails built by mountain bikers for mountain biking. The distances for the 3-day stage race will be moderate with an average of 35k per day with attainable climbs. The popular one-day category (June 27) is a great option for those who want to mix it up with one day of racing and the rest of the weekend to explore other rides and recreational options. There are also several kids’ races. If you’re relatively new to riding in Fernie, signing up for the Fernie 3 is a great way to get to know the trails, as the three-day course covers many of the premium local trails. Taking on the Fernie 3 also comes with these race perks: a sharp-looking Fernie 3 race jersey, finishers t-shirt, professional timing, start/finish/and mid-way aid stations, local hospitality with food and beverages at the finish each day, and a day-three awards celebration and banquet. Cost in Canadian dollars (keeping in mind that the exchange rate is in our favor): $399 for all 3 days, $199 for the single day option, and $50 for the youth U16 and U13 races. More info and registration: Fernie.com/ transrockies/fernie-3. Roll and Sole Trails Festival Celebrating all things summer-trail-related in Fernie, the Roll and Sole Trails Festival is a weekend of biking, hiking, running and fun events and challenges for all ages and abilities. Visitors are encouraged to get involved in the action and antics by signing up for fun, lighthearted competitions like the bike toss (sort of self-explanatory) or slow bike race (where riders compete to finish the short course the slowest). But just hanging out in the peanut gallery on the main drag watching it all go down is pretty entertaining too. We showed up just in time to watch a contest that had riders (kids and adult versions) racing down the street in slow motion as they struggled to keep forward momentum

Promises Fun for Everyone (June 27-29)

The ultimate Fernie MTB weekend. Photos courtesy of Tourism Fernie and Shallan Knowles.

up with a log strung behind them. The festival also includes biking and hiking trail tours for different levels of riders and hikers, which is an awesome option for out-of-towners looking to dial in a slice of the Fernie trail network with the help of friendly locals eager to share their favorites. Roll and Sole also includes a downtown beverage garden and live entertainment and music. Tourismfernie.com/ events/roll-sole-trails-festival. Fernie Alpine Resort/Bike Park Opening Weekend June 27 will be opening day of summertime operations at Fernie Alpine Resort and its lift-access Bike Park, which means the lifts will be running and the trails, from wide machine-made flowing trails for beginner and intermediate riders to challenging steep and technical trails for experts, will be buffed and ready for another season. With 37 lift-access trails to choose from, there are trails for all abilities. The Fernie Alpine Resort Bike Park is considered one of the best in Canada, with new trail additions and improvements happening all the time. Bike rentals are available too. For non-bikers in the group, the resort’s zipline, aerial park, chairlift rides and hiking trails will also be open as well. Tourismfernie. com/activities/mountain-biking/fernie-bike-park. //

Bikes, dogs, beer: Sadly, something’s gotta give. I just finished a big triathlon last weekend, so we choose the dog over the bikes, giving my legs a rest and making Milo’s tail thump in triumph. We’re camping our way down central Oregon in search of great beer and confirmation that Bend is as dog-friendly as they say. However, traveling a region known as much for its great bike riding as its hospitality toward dogs makes me wish more than once that Milo could travel on two wheels. Nonetheless, we head for the beer capital of the Northwest, and about 10 miles past the Washington-Oregon border, I realize that I left my ID at home. I’ll have to charm bartenders and brewers with my sob story about not drinking a lick during the four months leading up to my big race and see how much they empathize. “Dog Fancy Magazine” named Bend the most dog-friendly city in North America in 2012, and we’re eager to see how a city earns its top-dog status. That night, Bend welcomes us with a gorgeous dry electrical show that lasts well past our bedtime. Close enough to noon the next day, we start at 10 Barrels Brewery, which has a dog-friendly outdoor patio and a tasty menu and brew list. The family at the next table gives us a whole list of dogfriendly places to visit while their curly headed 3-year-old spoils Milo with rubs and bites of her grilled cheese sandwich. Crux Fermentation Project serves its own and others’ brews at a warehouse-style building with an adjacent dog-friendly patio and lawn perfect for Frisbee and corn hole. As we enjoy the beer sampler and beer-boiled pretzels, a thunderstorm rolls right over the top of us – the nearest lightning strike is a couple hundred feet away, and we actually hear the sizzle-buzz sound when it strikes.

Bend, Oregon Where

Beer-lovers and

Dog-lovers Unite

The ensuing rain makes us wonder how securely we buttoned down our campsite, but then we order another beer with an “it’s out of our hands now” shrug. Because we’re tourists, we shamelessly buy a sealed pint of Dog Grog (something good for our dog leftover from the beer-making process, our server explains) for Milo as we close

The dog days of summer in Bend. Hounds can hang on the patio, but they can’t drink the beer. Photo: Janelle McCabe

our tab. Bend is indeed dog-friendly. But it’s also just plain friendly, in a genuine way, not in a “we have a friendly image to cultivate” way. People regu-

larly initiate conversation with us, often just using Milo as a way to engage. Almost every shop has a doggie dish of water set out by the front door, and almost every non-food-serving establishment invites us to bring him into their store when they see us hesitate at the threshold. At Cascade Lakes Brewing Company, we enjoy another dog-friendly patio and dog-petting staff. But by now, even my husband admits that he may be experiencing IPA fatigue. After a plate of fried oysters, we head back to our campsite, which has dried out in the mid-summer sun. Bend boasts a few off-leash dog parks; we visit the Pine Nursery Park, which includes 160 acres of multiple-use areas: bike paths (a unicyclist is owning them this morning), tennis courts and a natural area and pond. The 14-acre off-leash dog area is not your vacant lot of scrub brush-turneddog park. It’s a huge network of paths, trees, hills and dales that make Milo smile from ear to ear as he chases rock chucks back into their holes. The last stops on our beer tour are the famous Deschutes Brewery that started it all in Bend in 1998, and McMenamins Old St. Francis School, which isn’t technically a Bend brewery but is in a cool old restored Catholic schoolhouse turned movie theater, so we do our part to support historic building preservation. Both breweries have dog-friendly patio seating, which we’ve grown to expect in this town. We pass by a real estate office in the pedestrianfriendly downtown and catch ourselves checking out for-sale flyers and starting our sentences with, “if we lived here....” We’re approached and mistaken as locals by other visitors and locals, which we take as high praise. The only grudge I have against Bend as it fades in our rear-view mirror is the way it turned our would-be mishap into a non-issue: I wasn’t ID’d once. // (Janelle McCabe)

JUNE 2015

/ Out There Monthly

I consider myself a pretty strong rider. But, despite their best efforts, the trio of Canadian cyclists who have volunteered to show me the highlights of road biking in the West Kootenay region of southern B.C. area are casually kicking my ass. The small alpine community of Rossland is one of the highest-elevation towns in Canada, and, although it’s better known for world-class mountain biking, its road-cycling aficionados have plenty to celebrate: low-traffic roads, a nice mix of mellow valley and strenuous mountain pavement and phenomenal scenery in the heart of the Canadian Kootenays. My Canadian hosts were too polite to point it out, but the same terrain that breeds fearless freeriders also shapes steel-calved climbers. These three rides showcase the best this beautiful region only a few hours north of Spokane has to offer the skinny-tireand-spandex crowd. Waneta / Columbia Gardens Local cycling clubs revere this network of cycling routes along the Columbia and Pend Oreille rivers. But the scenic and mostly flat riding suits beginners too. Starting in the tiny community of Waneta east of Trail along the border, trace the contours of the Columbia River along the virtually flat Waneta highway. Strong climbers should continue out to Seven Mile Dam southeast of Waneta, where a 1.5-mile granny-gear ascent rewards riders with spectacular scenery along the Pend Oreille River. Or, for a rolling route through idyllic farmland, follow Columbia Gardens Road out toward Fruitvale. Combine the two for a showcase of the west Kootenays’ best riding. Come autumn, larch enliven the steep hillsides above the river while the reds

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015

The West

Kootenays on Two wheels

Looking for near empty roads to ride? Head north. Photo: Aaron Theisen

and oranges of orchard trees grace Columbia Gardens Road. Nancy Greene Lake Locals looking to escape the summertime heat of

the valleys head to tiny Nancy Greene Provincial Park 17 miles north of Rossland. The namesake lake at the centerpiece of the park makes for a great dip at the midpoint of a moderately difficult 34-mile out-and-back. From Rossland, cycle

north out of town on wide-shouldered Highway 3B, the steep forested flanks of the Rossland Range (Seven Summits Trail country) on your left and a sweeping panorama of the Columbia River valley between Trail and Castlegar. The climbing isn’t steep but it is steady up to the crest of 5,000-foot Strawberry Pass. From there it’s a quick descent to the subalpine setting of the provincial park. Pack a swimsuit and picnic lunch. Silvery Slocan Route On cyclists’ life-lists should be the 280-mile International Selkirk Loop. The loop, which encompasses southern British Columbia, northeast Washington and northern Idaho, boasts valley-bottom riding past glacier-carved lakes and the lofty peaks of the Selkirks, with a hefty dose of history on the side. Riders looking for a shorter itinerary can sample the Silvery Slocan portion of the loop on an 80-mile roundtrip from Slocan Park to New Denver. From Slocan Junction between Castlegar and Nelson, ride winding Highway 6 along the slow-meandering Slocan River, shaded with cottonwoods and surrounded by small farms. Pass through the funky artists’ enclave of Winlaw and climb above Slocan Lake on the eastern edge of Valhalla Provincial Park’s lofty peaks. Descend to Sandon and New Denver, with their rich mining history and small-town charm on the shores of Slocan Lake. Narrow, winding pavement demands concentration, so plan for plenty of stops to properly enjoy the views, some of the best in the Kootenays. More info: Revolution Cycles in Rossland (Revolutioncycles.ca) or Gerick Cycle in Nelson (Gericks.com). // (Aaron Theisen)

Pend Oreille

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Take a trip back in time in Pend Oreille County. Photo: Aaron Theisen

Come summer, the mountains of the Inland Northwest offer a surfeit of high-elevation locations to escape the heat. But the forested foothills and meandering Pend Oreille River in northeast Washington’s Pend Oreille County offer a quick, quiet getaway for seekers of shade, historical landmarks, empty trails and roadside adventure. Pend Oreille River Manresa Grotto North of Usk on the Kalispel Reservation, a sign reading simply that “A beautiful grotto exists” marks the entrance to one of the tribe’s most sacred places. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and open to the public, the natural cave system at Manresa Grotto was the site of early Catholic missionary efforts in the region. A gentle path no more than 100 yards long approaches the main cave, where rows of flat rocks arranged as seats face a simple altar of mortared rock. Explorers can wander the myriad side paths to access smaller caves, all with peeka-boo views of the Pend Oreille River. Unusual patterns of divots and dimples in the walls give evidence to the caves’ creation millennia ago, when wind-driven waves coming off a glacial lake in the Pend Oreille Valley carved concavities into the soft rock. More recently, decades of illbred visitors have carved their names, but please refrain from damaging this special place. Camas Center for Community Wellness/Bison Watching Nearby, in the town of Usk, the Kalispel Tribe’s Camas Center for Community Wellness is an impressive testament to the relative small reservation’s investment in the community. Members of the public can purchase day passes for access to the four swimming pools, which can be a nice change of pace on a multi-day family camping trip, especially when foul weather rolls in. Also, just to the south of the center lies the tribe’s herd of around 100 bison that graze on about 600 acres between the highway and the river. The bison provide many resources for the tribe and make for a fun road-side “wildlife” watching stop. Heading south from Usk, drive back toward Newport on LeClerc Road. This backroad alternative to Highway 20 passes among lilypad-bedecked

Bike Shuttle

Guiding & Coaching

ponds and the pine-dotted foothills of exposed rock that comprise the southernmost Selkirks. Bead Lake Hiking/Picnic Stop For a mountain lake feel minutes from the river, turn off LeClerc Road toward Bead Lake. Although it sits at just shy of 3,000 feet in elevation, Bead Lake boasts a rocky, alpinelike shoreline much different from its brushy, low-elevation lake kin. Singletrack traces the northeast side of the deceptively long shoreline – the lake is Pend Oreille County’s second largest – with few ups and downs and near-constant views. The trail eventually climbs well above the lake for an 11-mile out-and-back, but with no single must-see destination, the hike makes for an ideal kid- and dog-friendly stroll; wander as little or as long as you like. Several undeveloped campsites invite picnicking in the shade of tall cedars. If you bring bikes, it also makes for an excellent mountain bike ride with loop options using forest service road. Historic Stop in Downtown Newport Further south in downtown Newport is the final stop for this road trip: the Pend Oreille County Historical Society and Museum. An old train depot houses the gift shop and displays of old photos and pioneer wares, but it’s the more than half a dozen intact pioneer cabins, several of which visitors can enter, that set the museum apart. Kids especially will enjoy the Claire Howe Schoolhouse, complete with student desks, a blackboard and books. Adults will duck into the Settler’s Cabin and Hunter’s Cabin and wonder if they could survive in dwellings that put today’s tiny-house movement to shame. A replica of a fire lookout tower constructed using Forest Service blueprints stands sentinel over the grounds, which are constantly growing with additions to the museum’s holdings. For a final cooldown, cross the street from the museum to Owen’s Grocery, Deli & Soda Fountain. The expansive, airy interior seems transported from a bygone decade, complete with jars of dime-store candy on the long wooden bar. Owen’s makes its own ice cream; huckleberry is hard to pass up. // (Aaron Theisen)

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River of No Return

A float trip down the Salmon River is calling your name. Photo: Aaron Theisen

Early explorers called it the “River of No Return”: central Idaho’s Salmon River flows 425 untamed miles through the continent’s second-deepest canyon in the largest unroaded area in the lower 48 states, the Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness. Today, it’s the setting for the Northwest’s premier multi-day float journey, a five-day, 93-mile cruise among seemingly impassable canyons. Along with navigating some impressive class-II and –III rapids, rafters can scope for the abundant bighorn sheep and other wildlife that cling to life on the canyon walls, soak in a natural hot springs, search for Native American pictographs and explore the homesteads of the hardy explorers who came before. Last summer I made it down the river on a fully-outfitted trip with Riggins-based Mountain River Outfitters. Guides captain the rafts, set up camp and cook gourmet meals – leaving guests free to play beach volleyball, cast a line in blue-ribbon trout waters, or simply bask in the warm water and white-sand beaches that have earned the Salmon the new nickname “the Riviera of the West.” More wilderness cruise or floating guest ranch than rough-it experience, a guided trip down the Salmon will inspire modern-day explorers to return again and again. Idahoriver.com. // (Aaron Theisen) JUNE 2015

/ Out There Monthly

OutdoorCalendar Full events calendar at www.outtheremonthly.com

SIX MONTH TRAININGCALENDAR RUNNING (July 10-12) Missoula Marathon. When: 6 a.m. The weekend includes a half marathon, a 5K and kids activities. The course is flat, fast and USATF certified. It’s a point to point run with a scenic route throught the countryside and finishing in historic downtown Missoula. Info: MissoulaMarathon.org (July 11) Let’s Climb a Mountain. Where: Spokane.

A challenging 34.5 mile solo and team realay from the Clock Tower in Riverfront Park to the top of Mt. Spokane. Info: LetsClimbAMountain.com

(July 14) Spokane Title 9K Run. Where: Riverfront Park, Spokane. When: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. The Spokane Title 9K is back! Come join us at Riverfront Park for a beautiful run for women and kids. Run/walk the traditional Title 9K or the 5K distance. Expo, DJ, activities for kids and great goodies! Info: Titlenine.com/images/t9k/2015/spokane_info.jsp (July 18) Schweitzer Mountain Trail Run. Where: Schweitzer Mountain Resort. When: 10

a.m. Challenging and beautiful trails on Schweitzer Mountain Resort. Enjoy awesome singletrack with lake and mountain views. Post-race Mountain Music Festival at 2 p.m. Family friendly, with activities including chairlift rides, ziplines hiking, biking and huckleberry picking. Info: Smtrailrun.com

(August 14-15) Spokane to Sandpoint Relay. Where: start atop Mt. Spokane and run to the finish in Sandpoint, Idaho. When: 6 a.m. This run winds through 60 miles of world-class Centennial Trail, 80 miles adjacent to waterfront, through two National Forests and ends at a beautiful beach. Info: SpokaneToSandpoint.com

(September 26) Priest Lake Marathon. Where:

Priest Lake, Idaho. Run on dirt forest roads along the lakeshore of pristine Priest Lake, through groves of lush forest and old-growth cedars, and enjoy big views of the Selkirk Mountains. Choose from marathon, half-marathon, 25K or 50K courses. Info: Priestlakerace.com

(October 11) Spokane Marathon. Where: Downtown Spokane. An Inland NW classic, it sports a dreamy course that meanders its way through Spokane’s historic neighborhoods and scenic haunts whiol never straying too far from the Spokane River. Info: Spokanemarathon.us.

Triathlons (July 12) Valley Girl Triathlon. Where: Liberty

Lake, Wash. When: 7:45 a.m. Women’s only sprint distance triathlon. Info: ValleyGirlTri.com

(July 18) Tiger Tri. Where: Colville, Wash. Start at Lake Gillette for a 1K swim, then bike 40K along scenic Highway 20 to the Colville High School, and finish the race with an 8K run along Rotary Trail. Not ready to take on all three? Get your friends together and form a team. Info: Tigertri. com (July 18) Race the River. Where: Coeur d’Alene. When: 7 a.m. The race starts with a .5 mile swim with the current of the Spokane River, transition at the Riverstone complex for a 11.25 mile bike ride and run 3.1 miles through the city park. Info: RaceTheRiver.com (August 16) West Plains WunderWoman Triathlon. Where: Waterfront Park, Medical Lake. When: 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. All women’s triathlon with both Sprint and Olympic Distances. Individuals and relay teams available. Cost: $90. Info: EmdeSports.com

(September 5-7) Kootenay Sufferfest. Where: Kaslo/New Denver/Nakusp, B.C. Trail run, xc mountain bike, cyclocross and duathlon races through the spectacular B.C. Kootenays! Races for beginners to true-blue marathon athletes, includ-

Have an Event You Would Like to List?

ing 6k, 12k, 25k and 50k trail runs; 15k, 40k and 100k mountain bike races; 20k and 40k cyclocross races, and a duathlon (adult and junior categories). Kids races include a 2.5k run and 2.5k bike! Info: Kaslosufferfest.com

BIKING (July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29) Five in July. Where: Farragut State Park, Idaho. When 6:30 - 9 p.m. One and two lap mountain bike race options where each lap is approximately 8.5 miles. BBQ and refreshments included after racing. Info: BicycleService.com

RUNNING (June 6) June Bug Fun Run. Where: Spokane

Community College. When: 9 a.m. Run together for strong, healthy kids with proceeds benefitting Lutheran Community Services Northwest. 3-and-5 mile options. Info: Lcsnw.org/junebugrun

(June 6) Rosalia Step N Toe Run. Rosalia, Wash. When: 8-10 a.m. Come enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Palouse. There are two distances to choose from: 3.1 or 7.1 miles. Cost: $30. Info: Stepntoerun. wix.com/rosaliastepntoerun (June 7) Windermere Marathon and Half Marathon. Where: Liberty Lake. When: 7 a.m. Fully

supported and a Boston Marathon Qualifier. Info: WindermereMarathon.com

(July 2-6) Northwest Tandem Rally. Where: Bellingham, Wash. Two fully supported days with fiverest stops enroute including lunches, and two self-supported days on popular routes in and around town. Info: nwtr.org/2015

(June 30) Race-2-Place 5K & 10K Run for a reason. Where: Spokane Valley. Fun and scenic

(July 15-19) RedSpoke. Where: Redmond, Wash., to Spokane. 300-mile-bicycle tour across Washington State. Fully supported. Info: RedSpoke.org

(June 20) Justin C Haeger 10 Miler. Where:

(July 25) Jedermann Gran Fondo Bike Ride. Where: Cheney, Wash. When 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. This cycling event features 30-66-and 100-mile distance options and a 12-Hour Challenge (teams and individuals). Featuring medals for 100-mile and 12-hour finishers, T Shirts, pint glasses, post ride meals, food stops, pancake feed and post ride live music and celebrations. Info: ValleyGirlTri.com

(July 26) Spokane Valley Cycle Celebration. Where: Mirabeau Meadows Park, Spokane Valley. Spend the day with family and friends enjoying the scenic beauty in and around Spokane Valley on your choice of a 10-mile, 25-mile or 50-mile bike ride. Info: Cyclecelebration.com

OTHER (July 11) Spokatopia Outdoor Adventure Festival. Where: Camp Sekani/Beacon Hill, Spokane Valley. When: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. A one-day outdoor adventure festival along the Spokane River. Outdoor enthusiasts and their families can try outdoor activities like stand up paddleboarding, kayaking, disc golf, rock climbing, mountain biking; learn about and try other outdoor activities, products and gear at vendor booths; and enjoy fun, creative entertainment including music, a MTB jump jam and local brews. Info: Spokatopia.com (July 24-26) Northwest YogaFest. Where: Eureka Center, Sagle, Idaho. Yoga classes from varying backgrounds, speakers, music, and organic foods. Cost: $300. Info: eureka-institute.org (August 1) Long Bridge Swim. Where: Sandpoint. When: 8 a.m. This open swim is 1.76 miles across Lake Pend Oreille. Info: LongBridgeSwim.org

out-and-back on the Centennial Trial. A benefit for families whose lives have been affected by childhood cancer. Info: Race2Place.org

Spokane Falls Community College. When: 8 - 10 a.m. This is a 3.1-and 10-mile race raising awareness about prescription drug abuse in our community. Info: jchtenmiler.com.

(June 21) Dad’s Day Dash 5K. Where: Manito

Park, Spokane. When: 9 a.m. 3rd annual 5K run benefitting SNAP, Spokane’s only non-profit community action agency. Info: 509-456-7111

(June 27) Kaniksu 50 & Emory Corwine Memorial Ruck Race. Where: Frater Lake, Wash. When: 6:12

a.m. A 50-mile point to point Endurance Run and Memorial Relay Ruck Race held in the Lower Selkirk Mountain Range in the Colville National Forest. Info: kaniksu50.com

(June 27) Padden Triathlon. Where: Lake Padden Park, Bellingham, Wash. Sprint and super sprint distances. Info: cob.org/races

BIKING (June 6) Woodrat 25er. Where: Priest Lake. When: 10 a.m. A mix of double track and singletrack riding on the Panhandle National Forest near Priest Lake. 25-mile endurance race or 12-mile division of intermediate to advanced riding. Info: PriestLakeRace. com (June 6) Skeeter Skoot. Where: Gonzaga University. When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You ride to stations along the Centennial Trail any time between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Each time you pass a station, stop and draw a card from the deck. You must stop at least five times to get a full hand. The bike ride will be a minimum of 12 miles and a maximum of 22 miles. Prizes awarded for the best (and worst) hands. Info: CoolWaterBikes.com (June 18) Summer Parkways Spokane. Where:

Manito/Comstock Neighborhoods, Spokane. When: 6-9 p.m. Family, fitness, and fun is the theme at this annual summer solstice community event, Spokane’s biggest block party. Streets are closed to

Please visit www.outtheremonthly.com and click “Add Event” under the “Outdoor Calendar” tab to get your events listed online and considered for the monthly print magazine calendar. To be considered for the print calendar, events MUST be entered by the 20th of the month to be listed in the following month’s issue. Please follow the instructions for submitting an event using the web form. 38

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2015

OutdoorCalendar (June 20) Chafe 150 Grand Fondo. Where: Sandpoint. The 150-mile ride starts and finishes in beautiful Sandpoint, Idaho, on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille after winding into Montana through lush river valleys of the Cabinet Mountains. Six fully stocked rest stops, extensive SAG support, epic afterride party and all for a great cause! CHAFE 150 raises money for children on the Autism Spectrum in the Lake Pend Oreille School District. 80-and 30-mile options also available. Info: CHAFE150.org (June 27) Silver Valley Ride to Defeat ALS. Where: Snake Pit Resort, Kingston, Idaho. Picturesque and memorable one-day ride on the paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes in North Idaho. Fully supported. 28-or 43-mile option. Lunch provided. Benefits ALS Association Evergreen Chapter. Cost: $50. Info: rideals.org (June 27-29) Fernie 3 All-Mountain Stage Mountain Bike Race. Where: Fernie, B.C. Fernie’s

biggest cross-country mountain bike race featuring three days of riding epic singletrack trails. The distances for the three-day stage race will be moderate with an average of 35k per day with attainable climbs and epic, flowy downhills. There’s also a one-day category on June 27. Info: Tourismfernie.com

TRIATHLONS (June 13) Palouse River Duathlon. Where: Palouse,

Wash. When: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Enjoy the beauty and challenge of the Palouse with a 2-mile run, 10-mile bike and another 2-mile run. Challenging multisurface course of pavement and gravel. Cost: $35. Info: Visitpalouse.com/duathlon

(June 20) The Amazing Burton Triathlon and Relay Race. Where: Burton, B.C. Paddle, mountain

bike and trail run in the beautiful Arrow Lakes country north of Nelson and Nakusp. Short and long course options. Info: Kaslosufferfest.com

Hiking/Nature

1-4:30 p.m. Help rehabilitate Trail 100, a critical access corridor that runs through the Riverside State Park. This trail will become a multi-use trail offering spectacular views of the Spokane River and downtown area. It will connect Riverside State Park’s Bowl and Pitcher area with downtown Spokane. Info: REI. com/Spokane

(June 18) Family Camping Basics. Where: REI

Spokane. When: 7-8:30 p.m. Have you wanted to try camping with your family but don’t know how to get started? Learn what you need to take your first (or second or third) camping trip. The basics will be covered, including how to be warm, dry and comfortable; camping gear and equipment necessities; ideas for fun activities; and great local areas to give it a try. Cost: free. Info: REI.com/Spokane

(June 26) Scotchman Peak Trail #65 Realignment

of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness in the task of realigning the lower mile of Scotchman Peak Trail #65, a huge step in making the user experience on this trail more enjoyable, with better views and a more manageable, erosion-resistant slope for hikers. This is a six-day project. Tools and training will be provided. Info: Scotchmanpeaks.org

(June 27) Tour Reardan’s Audubon Lake. Where:

Reardan, Wash. Join Inland Northwest Land Trust at the newly purchased Deep Creek Preserve. This 151-acre parcel is adjacent to the WDFW Reardan Audubon Lake Preserve. An expert from the Ice Age Floods Institute will be on hand to show you how the mega-floods sculpted this landscape. Info: Inlandnwlandtrust.org

(June 29-July 2) Teen Outdoor Adventure Day Camp. Where: Riverside State Park, Bowl and

Pitcher. When: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Outdoor fun for ages 12-16. Teambuilding, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, stand up paddleboarding, biking, community conservation projects and more! Cost: $175. Info: Spokaneparks.org

WATERSPORTS (June 6) Big Water Blowout. Where: Riggins,

Idaho. This is an action-packed, family fun event with experienced outfitters and guides offering discounted raft trips all day. Come paddle HUGE rapids and enjoy the magnificent scenery and wildlife in the second deepest gorge in North America. Info: Bigwaterblowout.com

(June 13) Solo/Tandem Moving Water Canoe Clinic. Where: Spokane River. This Spokane Canoe & Kayak Club clinic will help paddlers develop the skills to run class l and ll rivers, develop an appreciation for safety on the river and learn basic river rescue skills. Cost: $55. Info: Sckc.ws

(June 27) Beginning Whitewater Kayak Class. Where: Spokane River. This Spokane Canoe & Kayak Club two-day class is for boaters just beginning whitewater kayaking or for those who want a refresher course before they hit the raging rivers this summer. Cost: $55. Info: Sckc.ws

(June 27-28) Hauser Lake Slalom, Wakeboard & Wakesurf Competition. Where: Dinki Di’s Hauser

Lake Resort. Compete in this wake, wake surf and ski event or come watch and enjoy the lake and camping.Info: Intleague.com/idaho

other (June 19-20) Silver Mountain Archery Shoot. Where: Silver Mountain Resort, Kellogg, Idaho. Two-Day Competitive and Non-Competitive brackets. Adult, youth, cub and pee-wee classes. Awards and money dots for 2-day shooters. Silent Auction, Vendor Booths and Raffles. Info: ArcheryEvents. com/event.cfm?id=2200.

(June 20) The Timber Beast 2015 Disc Golf Tournament. Where: Troy, Montana. This 10th annual

disc golf tourney is located at the Timber Beast Disc Golf Course. Info: facebook.com/timberbeastdiscgolfcourse.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

(June 14) Trail Day with Riverside State Park & REI. Where: Riverside State Park, Spokane. When:

Kickoff. Where: Clark Fork, Idaho.Join The Friends

JUNE 2015

motorized vehicles and opened up to bikes, pedestrians, skaters and other human-powered transportation. Cost: free. Info: Summerparkways.com

Kaniksu Ranch Family Nudist Park

31st RUNNING

July 26, 2015 9:30 AM Special Event Pricing! Newly improved Camping and RV sites Two Dances! Friday night DJ: EXCELLENCE IN ENTERTAINMENT Saturday night dance: THE ANGELA MARIE PROJECT For entries: www.kaniksufamily.com Questions: BBFR5K@gmail.com 509-327-6833 (327-NUDE)

You’ve always wanted to! JUNE 2015

/ Out There Monthly

zyz y OTM OUTDOOR DOG PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS!