March 2014 by Out There Outdoors

ASSORTED SKIS AND BOOTS

30%OFF

ALL CRAFT & HOT CHILLY’S BASE LAYERS

30%OFF

ALL REGULAR PRICED WAXES & TOOLS

20%OFF

Shop Early for Best Selection Enjoy the final days of winter with Great Gear at Low Prices

30%OFF TUNE-UP TIME! ALL WINTER APPAREL

BEAT THE SPRING RIDE RUSH! Bring your bike in today and be ready for riding weather

BASIC TUNE-UP

ALL TIRES AND TUBES NEW 2014 2013 BIKES ARRIVING DAILY

Cervélo, Scott, QR, Fuji and Orbea.

CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE See Our Bike Maintenance Class Schedule Online

JOIN US FOR OUR

SPRING OPEN HOUSE

%OFF

DURING MARCH

BIKE MAINTENANCE CLASS FOR BEGINNERS Wednesday, March 12th 6:00 PM • Cost $25

April 11th • 5:30–8:30pm Meet the Reps from:

Blue Seventy, Scott, Sram, Zipp, Shimano, Pearl Izumi, Zoot, Orbea, Rolf and many more. Over 20 brands will be represented.

Light Snacks & Great Swag Giveaways!

See whats NEW for 2014.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK 509.922.6080 • 12425 E. TRENT WWW.FITFANATICS.COM SHOP RIDES START 6:00 PM MARCH 13TH

Out There Monthly / March 2014

March 2014

/ Out There Monthly

In This Issue p.5 / From the Editor

MONTHLY

Best of Both Seasons By Derrick Knowles

p.6 / Hike of the month

Out There Monthly / MArch 2014 www.outtheremonthly.com

Steamboat Rock State Park

p.6 / Day Trip

Pend Oreille Swan Festival

We've got

big LOVE

for the bean

By Derrick Knowles

p.7 / Out there news p.9 / Greasy Handshake Good, Better, Best. By Pedal Wrench

p.10 / Gear Room The Atlas Running Snowshoe Outdoor Research Extravert Gloves

p.11 / Running The Year of the Marathon By Erika Prins

p.12 / Destinations

Guatemalan Batzchocola RoastHouse.net

Red Mountain Revealed By Derrick Knowles

p.13 / Everyday cyclist

The Swamp Ride Strikes Back By Hank Greer

p.15 / Outdoor Living

Dial That Backcountry First Aid Kit By Jason Luthy

p.16 / Out There Spotlight

camp.sleep.fun

The Evans Brothers By Ammi Midstokke

p.17 / Sweet Rides 2013 Mt. Spokane Jeep Wrangler

p.18-19 / On The mountain Alpine Skiing/Boarding Special Section

p.20-21 / INW OUTDOOR CAlendar & 6-Month Training Calendar

Publishers

Shallan & Derrick Knowles Editor

Derrick Knowles Visual Editor

Shallan Knowles senior writers

Jon Jonckers, Brad Naccarato, Amy Silbernagel McCaffree Contributing Writers:

Hank Greer, Pedal Wrench, Erika Prins, Jason Luthy, Ammi Midstokke, Brad Northrup, Aaron Theisen, Holly Weiler Contributing photographers: Eric Ashley, Gabriella Makena,

Sky Schillhammer Circulation director

Dezi Nagyfy to request copies caLl

509 / 822 / 0123 Ad Sales

Derrick Knowles: 509 / 822 / 0123 Out There Monthly

Mailing Address: PO Box #5 Spokane, WA 99210 www.outtheremonthly.com, 509 / 822 / 0123 FIND US ON FACEBOOK Out There Monthly is published once a month by Out There Monthly, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. ©Copyright 2014 Out There Monthly, LLC. The views expressed in this magazine reflect those of the writers and advertisers and not necessarily Out There Monthly, LLC. Disclaimer: Many of the activities depicted in this magazine carry a significant risk of personal injury or death. Rock climbing, river rafting, snow sports, kayaking, cycling, canoeing and backcountry activities are inherently dangerous. The owners and contributors to Out There Monthly do not recommend that anyone participate in these activities unless they are experts or seek qualified professional instruction and/or guidance, and are knowledgeable about the risks, and are personally willing to assume all responsibility associated with those risks.

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

PROUD MEMBER OF

p.22-25 / Spring Fever Do it all: Hike, Bike, Run Ski

p.26 / Last Page

From Big to Big Inspiration By Hank Greer -

On the cover:

Jake Grob riding the line between winter and spring at mount spokane state park.

“In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.” ~Mark Twain

// Photo: Skye Schillhammer

selkbagusa.com

Out There Monthly / March 2014

“You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep spring from coming.” ~Pablo Neruda

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” ~Margaret Atwood

From The Editor: Best of Both Seasons Ever since my first spring backpack trip to Utah with EWU’s outdoor program back in college, the month of March has meant, in most good years, that it was time for a spring break trip. From Utah to Hells Canyon and the wilds of Idaho’s Salmon River, spring trips have typically targeted low-elevation, arid regions with miles of remote, rugged trails fit for leaving responsibilities and troubles behind (at least for a week). At some point, spring trips got a little more complex with new outdoor hobbies thrown into the mix. Backpacking alone wasn’t always enough to cure the spring fever itch to get the heck out of town – not when there were also swollen rivers to float, snow to ski, canyons to climb in, and tacky singletrack to ride.

One March, years after spring break had become more of a state of mind than a holiday on the calendar, its pull had us pointing our vehicle south towards Northeast Oregon’s Wallowa County. The Wallowa Mountains, best known for the Eagle Cap Wilderness, offers some exceptional, and sometimes avalanche prone, backcountry ski touring possibilities often well into spring. Of course there’s also the added benefit that those high peaks are right next door to warmer wandering opportunities in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. After a late-night departure, we reached our destination and set up camp for the week in the deserted snow park parking lot at the foot of the Wallowas. We skied untracked powder every day

and felt like we had those legendary mountains to ourselves. We dove deep into the woods to escape our own tracks and climbed peaks for views and steep turns. At night we did our best to keep warm and entertain ourselves in our well-stocked tent village. It was full-on winter, with little hint of spring in the Wallowas that week. We were more than happy with that while it lasted, but when a storm blew in with wailing winds and bitter cold temps, we pulled up camp and bailed for the sun and relative warmth of the canyons. Down there, a short drive into the deepest gorge in North America, real spring was in full swing. We soaked up the warmth and explored the coulees around camp and got re-acquainted with

our lawn chairs along the river. Before we knew it, “spring break” was over. We had nailed that window between winter and spring when it’s possible to live in both seasons without too much travel, but it was time to head home. Down the steep, switchback grade to the Grande Ronde River we drove, straight into the glare of spring squall light. Our wipers thrashed wildly to clear the glass of gropple and sleet, and we barely caught glimpse of the brown blur that flashed in front of us. Fresh from a long winter’s rest, that bear launched across the highway full bore into the woods, leaving winter behind, chasing signs of spring. ------------------------------------------------------derrick knowles, editor editor@outtheremonthly.com

Let me make your home buying or selling experience easy. So you can focus on why you live here! april gleason real estate broker

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED.

april@propertybyprime.com 509.822.9904

A VIBRANT MOUNTAIN TOWN NESTLED AT THE EDGE OF GLACIER NATIONAL PARK.

March 2014

/ Out There Monthly

2014 2015 Sale

Season Pass

HikeOfTheMonth

Steamboat Rock State Park (Banks Lake, North Central WA) From the parking lot, follow the trail up a mild incline to a picnic area at .3 miles, and then turn right up the short, steep screecovered path to Steamboat Rock. Once on top, a loop trail awaits, giving hikers a spectacular view in all directions. Hike it counterclockwise to peer into Devil’s Punchbowl from the top, then take in the views of the boat-in campsites far below – just don’t venture too close to the edge of the cliffs! On spring days, it’s not uncommon to see nesting swallows swooping below the trail’s edge; bring binoculars to watch for raptors soaring through the nearby Banks Lake Wildlife Area. Closer at hand are early spring wildflowers. Early buttercups will eventually give way to balsamroot, lupine, and bitterroot blooms, but keep an eye out for rattlesnakes hiding among the flowers. Steamboat is also home to a large mule deer herd. Travel quietly and watch for movement on the undulating terrain to catch a glimpse of the permanent residents. Dogs must be leashed, and the hike is not recommended for small children. The fee campground is open year-round; a Discover Pass is required.

$289 Youth $199 + Adult

Ski/ ride the rest of this year Waterpark passes and much more

FREE 208.783.1111silvermt.com

//hike of the month and photo by holly weiler

Getting There: From Spokane, take Highway 2 west past Hartline to the intersection with State Route 155, then travel north 15.6 miles and watch for signs for Steamboat Rock State Park on the left (west). Continue 3 miles to the day-use area; the trail is across the road from the parking lot.

DayTrip pend oreille swan festival

Witness the Winged Migration in Your Back Yard // By Derrick Knowles Pend Oreille County is a wild and beautiful corner of Washington with some of the most diverse wildlife of anywhere in the Northwest. Iconic critters like grizzly bears, wolverine, moose, wolves, and, although rare, even caribou roam the scenic, rugged mountains less than two hours north of Spokane. But come this time of year, the spotlight is all on the hundreds of tundra swans that make the Pend Oreille River Valley their migration pit-stop. Each year, the swans migrate thousands of miles between their wintering grounds south of here (places like the Great Salt Lake, California, and the Pacific Coast) to their summer digs in the North American tundra, as far north as the Yukon River. And the spectacle they create – with their large, glowing white bodies; wide, gleaming wings; and haunting honking (think French horn) when they approach or take off from a landing site can be dazzling. When exactly the swans make their appearance, or most abundant display on the Pend Oreille River and area lakes, is up to Mother Nature, notes Susan Harris with the Pend Oreille River Tourism Alliance in Newport, one of the festival organizers. But that prime tundra swan viewing window is typically in the month of March, she says, which is why the festival, which includes an organized tour to swan hotspot Calispel Lake (aka Swan Lake), is set for March 22 this year. “The scouts start show6

Out There Monthly / March 2014

ing up first in January,” Harris says. “And pretty soon the others follow, and it can get pretty noisy there with a few hundred swans and hundreds of geese and ducks.” In past years, the festival has attracted over 100 attendees for the event, which includes a bus ride

Harris notes that it’s a family friendly event with a $5 discount for kids 12 and under (the cost for adults is $10). Following the tour and lunch, the afternoon presentation at the Center will focus on the conservation and wildlife benefits of the 1964 Wilderness Act in honor of its 50th

In past years, the festival has attracted over 100 attendees for the event, which includes a bus ride out to a viewing location on the privately owned Calispel Lake, a sack lunch, and a nature presentation back where the tour begins at the Kalispel Tribal Wellness Center in Usk. out to a viewing location on the privately owned Calispel Lake, a sack lunch, and a nature presentation back where the tour begins at the Kalispel Tribal Wellness Center in Usk. The lake is somewhat of a swan magnet. “The shallow lake dries up each summer,” Harris says. “The swans spend much of their time with their necks down in the water feeding on the dead grass from the previous summer.” Calispel Lake and Pend Oreille River are important resting and feeding stops for swans on their way to breeding grounds far north.

Anniversary and a screening of the film “Forever Wild: Celebrating America’s Wilderness.” For kids who may not appreciate sitting through the film, there are other indoor options. The Camas Wellness Center has three pools including a wading pool that can be used by guests for a day-use fee. Buffalo can also be viewed nearby grazing around the Center’s grounds and are fun to watch. When You Go: Bring binoculars, a camera, weather appropriate clothes, a birding guide if you have one (over

200 species of birds reportedly call Pend Oreille County home for at least part of the year), a hat, and plenty of water. Meet at the Camas Wellness Center at 1981 N. LeClerc Road in Usk, in time for the 10 a.m. bus departure to Calispel Lake (it’s a little under an hour-and-a-half drive from Spokane with a rest stop). The tour will return to the Center for lunch by noon, followed by the presentation. Visit porta-us.com/birding for downloads of the agenda, maps, lodging, a list of things to bring, and birding links. Space is limited so register via PayPal by Friday, March 14, to guarantee your spot. The event is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under and is co-hosted by the Natural Resources Department of the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and the Pend Oreille River Tourism Alliance (PORTA). //

photo Courtesy: PORTA

Out ThereNews Spokane Bike Swap and Expo: Buy, Sell, Learn The Spokane Bike Swap, April 12-13 at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center (9 a.m.3 p.m.), is the place to get great deals on new and used bikes and sell or donate your old bike. And it’s also the place to connect with region’s cycling community, including local bike clubs, shops, and events, and support the swap sponsor, Friends of the Centennial Trail. Selling a bike at the swap is easy. Simply register your bike online beginning in early March at SpokaneBikeSwap.com and then check it in on Friday, April 11 anytime from 3-8 p.m. Come back Sunday after the event ends and pick up your check or unsold bike. “Money can be made and garages can be cleaned out by those who participate in Bike Swap,” explains event co-chair Andy Ignacio. “Consign your bike and see what you can get for it. Bike Swap is an easy way to upgrade to a bike that suits your needs – and, you’re doing our community a favor by offering an affordable bike to buy.” Have a bike to donate? Call 509-720-3228 and volunteers will arrange to pick it up. Last year, 28 bikes were donated. Through the efforts of volunteers Len and Danny Zickler, the bikes were refurbished with new brakes and tires and were added to the bike corral, bringing in nearly $3,000.

“There is great demand for affordable bikes for kids because they outgrow them so quickly,” states volunteer Karen Nielsen. “Bike Swap is an affordable way to get bikes in the hands of children in our community who may not have the opportunity to learn how to ride a bike, unless it’s a good deal and in good shape.” From kids bikes and road bikes to tandems and tri-bikes, great deals await and over 600 bikes are expected for the bike corral. If you can’t find what you’re looking for there, local bike shops will also be on hand with competitively-priced bikes and accessories: Wheel Sport, North Division Bicycle Shop, Fitness Fanatics, Northwest Recumbent Cycles, Bicycle Butler, Elephant Bikes, Terra Sports, Monkey Boy Bicycles, Cool Water Bikes, Pedals2People and more. The Bike Swap is also a great place to learn more from biking events, clubs, destinations and health and fitness providers and trends. “We appreciate the wonderful job everyone does to put the Bike Swap on,” says North Division Bike Shop Manager Brenda Mangine. “It’s no small undertaking. And, we’re having a great time participating. We’re always looking for the next great thing to sell at the Swap.” Learn more at SpokaneBikeSwap.com.

Three Local Teens Qualify for the 2014 USSA Junior National Cross-Country Ski Championships Brett Ford, Lauren Potyk and Ian McCarthy earned spots on the Pacific Northwest Ski Association (PNSA) team that will go to the 2014 USSA Junior National Cross-Country Ski Championships in Stowe, Vermont March 1-8. The announcement was made following the Mt. Spokane Nordic Cup and Junior National Qualifier race at Mt. Spokane on February 16. Brett Ford, 15, was the first to qualify for Junior Nationals at his fifth race in Utah. Brett says “it took a while for it to settle in, and after that, I really didn’t want to think about it, but instead focus on my upcoming races. It was exciting because this was something I had worked towards for two years, and it had been in the back of my mind almost every time I trained.” Lauren Potyk, 14, says “This is my first year and I’m new to all of this. I just want to get some experience under my belt and race hard, regardless of how well I place. It is so surreal to see all of my work finally pay off.” This is the third time that Ian McCarthy, 16,

has qualified for the PNSA team. Ian needed one more qualifying result to make the team as he headed into his last qualifier race. “I was relieved because based on how I felt during the race, I felt like I had qualified,” he says. “I’ve learned that all you can do is race your best and see how the results play out. I was very excited to make it to Junior Nationals after all the work I had put in.” Each year, a series of three JNQ races are hosted in venues across the Pacific Northwest, along with a Super Qualifier race in Soldier Hollow, Utah. The results determine which skiers, ages 14-19, will join the PNSA Junior National team. The qualification process that goes into selecting the team is highly competitive. George Bryant, the Spokane Nordic team coach says “this year the standard is 7 percent back of the average time for the top three skiers; this will give you a qualifying result.” Bryant was also chosen to coach the PNSA team this year at the Junior National Championships.

Learn What it Takes to Backpack with the Spokane Mountaineers

If you’ve never backpacked before or need to refresh your skills, sign up for the Spokane Mountaineer’s Backpack School. The course covers clothing and boot choices, map and compass skills, trip planning, major equipment, first aid, meal preparation, and leave-no-trace practices. By the end of the class, participants will have the knowledge and skills to plan and execute their own backpacking adventures safely. The instructors are friendly and have years of experience on the trail. The class finale will be the

graduation backpack on Memorial Day weekend (May 24-26). In order to participate, students are required to attend six of the seven class sessions, which must include the first aid and map and compass classes. The program includes seven class sessions beginning March 28 and ending with the graduation backpack. The registration deadline is March, 21 and is $40 for current Spokane Mountaineers members. Register early to avoid the class filling up. More info at www.spokanemountaineers.org.

Think Flowers – Plan Ahead for Dishman Hills Buttercup Hike April 12 If you want to see the first flowers of the year, plan ahead to join The Dishman Hills Conservancy’s 48th annual Buttercup Hike on Saturday, April 12. The hike will be led by Michael Hamilton, former DHC President, geologist and naturalist, as well as Executive Director Eric Robison. Hike participants will get the chance to see some of the first spring wild flowers and learn the history and unique conservation value of

Spokane’s Dishman Hills. Hikers can also expect an update on the progress of the exciting project to connect the Natural Area to Glenrose and Iller Creek Conservation Areas. To register, visit www. dishmanhills.org. The hike is from 1-4 p.m. Meet at Camp Caro (625 S. Sargent Rd., Spokane). For More Information call Michael Hamilton at 509-7478147 or Eric Robison at 509-202-0767

Photo opposite: Plenty of bikes to choose from. Photo Courtsey: spokane bike swap. // all smiles: on the way to stowe, vt. Photo Courtesy: spokane nordic Association

EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY PRESENTS alex sanchez william T. vollmann matthew zapruder David abrams chitra divakaruni anthony doerr Linda gregg

April 7-13, 2014 • Spokane, Wa MORE INFO at getlitfestival.org most evenTs are free • Tickets for others may be purchased from ticketswest at 800.325.seat or ticketswest.com March 2014

/ Out There Monthly

up to

% 65

2014-15

Savings

SALE

2014 , 5 y a M 1 . r a M E L SPRING SA SALE

DOWNHILL

6 and Under Youth 7-17 Adult 18-69 College Student ID Required Reserve - ID Req. & e iv ct A y r a Milit Masters 70+

$5 $189 $289 $249 $249 $149

X-COUNTRY

Adult 18+ Downhill Pass h it w 7 -1 7 h t u Yo out Downhill Pass h it w + 18 lt u Ad out Downhill Pass h it w 7 -1 7 h t u Yo with Downhill Pass

Mar. 22

Bavarian Race

USASA Rail Jam

Mar. 29

Oyster Feed

Mar. 2 Mar. 8

USASA Banked Slalom KPND Retro Ski & Board Party

Apr. 7-13 Toyota FreeSki Week Apr. 13

LAST DAY of Lift Operations

Mar. 15

Hawaiian Daze

May 5

Season Pass Sale Ends

Mar. 1

SPRING 2014 EVENTS

$69 $29 $89 $49

Out There Monthly / March 2014

Full Price

$25 $625 $725 $550 $550 $500

Purchase next Seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pass NOW and Ski the Rest of this season FREE!

$99 $59 $119 $79

Order online at

ski49n.com

or call (509) 935.6649

Greasy Handshake Good, Better, Best: What MTB wheel size is right ror you? / By Pedal Wrench If you ride off-road, you have likely been bombarded with every possible opinion on what mountain bike wheel size you should be riding. Allow me to add one more perspective to this debate that will help you be as industry savvy as I claim to be. Let me begin with asking you to consider the nature of the question: Is 26”, 650b/27.5 (650b is the French sizing system equivalent to 27.5”) or 29” the best mountain bike wheel size? Honestly, this is a stupid question that deserves a stupid answer. Bicycle manufacturers and magazines will trip all over themselves to tell you they have the perfect bike for you. But these kinds of claims only stir up disagreement in the name of selling you something that doesn’t exist – there isn’t one bike that does everything. After all, and let’s be honest, we all crave another bike, and the ideal situation may be one 29” bike with 100mm of travel and another with 160mm. But realistically, it’s two different bikes. Was the 26” wheel standard all that awful? Are 29ers that much faster? Is there really a good compromise between the two? You’ve probably heard as many opinions as shops you’ve visited. It could be simply because many employees have yet to ride something other than 26” wheels, or because the brands they offer haven’t jumped on the “tweener” bandwagon. Looking back on the last 15 years of working in the industry, none of my 20 plus coworkers have owned a 650b, and fewer than half had a 29er. Sadly, not all shop employees even own a mountain bike. (We may get some great deals on products, but not all of us make enough to buy multiple bikes.) Try to think of bicycle innovation with this phrase in mind: “One doesn’t know better until one has owned better.” Better for me came about eight years ago when I was given a demo 29er. Although the wheel size has been around for several decades, this was a scary revelation in efficiency and rollability (the ability to roll with increased traction and the lack of resistance). This was early in the major manufacturer’s timeline of bicycle production, so the bike felt like a limo. For all those who still believe the 29er is a lengthy, switchback-sucking slug, you’re flat out wrong. I won’t argue that 29ers feel bigger than your old, narrow bar, 1.95 tire, quill-stem classic. With greater traction, I could climb like never before, and a lower angle of approach made it so much smoother. The 650b/27.5” wheel size has seemed to attract the most opinionated group of mountain bikers. When I first rode 650b (with 5 inches of travel) several years ago, I did a 50-mile ride on it for good measure. It felt great, but I didn’t feel a worthwhile difference between that wheel and a 26 inch. When I talk with cyclists who insist their riding style warrants a wheel larger than 26 inches and smaller than a 29er, my ears perk up. Most seem to defend their decision like they’re still trying to convince themselves. I now make it a habit to ask them about their motivations for buying a 650b, mainly to get them fired up and really thinking about it. There are three main reasons I’ve heard over and over the last couple of years that I can understand: 1) I want to be efficient like a 29er but nimble like a 26 inch; 2) I want more travel than a 29er can offer; 3) I’m not tall enough for a 29er. (Height is only a valid argument if you require a stand-over height lower than an XS 29er frame can offer). So, despite my opinion and experiences, I still think I will continue to suggest that the best solution is to buy different bikes for different styles of riding. Why not? Owning just one more bike won’t kill you. That is until your significant other finds out. //

Contest!

Taking great care of the customer and having fun doing it since 1983. North Division Bicycle Shop • 10503 N Division • 467-BIKE (2453)

WWW.NORTHDIVISION.COM Promote Your Event to Thousands of Outdoors Fanatics Every Month! List Your Race or Outdoor Event in Out There Monthly.

It’s easy to add your event at OutThereMonthly.com to get listed online and considered for the monthly print edition.

Pedal Wrench is an experienced bike mechanic at an undisclosed Inland Northwest bike shop. His column, “Greasy Handshake,” explores the mysterious underworld of the bicycle repair shop. b March 2014

/ Out There Monthly

TheGearRoom Atlas Running Snowshoe // By Ammi Midstokke

Natural Bedroom Sale Savvy Rest Organic Mattresses &Mattress Toppers

Learn More-

schedule an appointment with one of our mattress specialists today!

An Urban Homestead and Natural Living Store info@SunPeopleDryGoods.com

Dec 30: Resolution Run 5K SunPeopleDryGoods.com | 509.368.9378

Ready for the big Race? 221 N. Wall St. 509.624.7654 10208 N. Division 509-468-1786

Out There Monthly / March 2014

“Running snowshoes?” I asked, baffled by the idea of snowshoeing as a “sport” to begin with, I couldn’t imagine running in them. Then a woman pulled out a picture of herself running through my favorite forested trails – trails I hadn’t been able to run in weeks and sorely missed. I was sold before I even strapped a pair on. A week later (and countless hours of research), I was slipping my foot into a pair of the Atlas Run series snowshoe, designed specifically for trail-happy people such as myself. I’d never snowshoed in my life because I have the coordination of drunken Siamese twins. I was pretty sure I’d make it about ten yards before I face-planted in the snow. Much to my surprise, the Atlas shoe was light and dynamic. It did not require lessons or special instructions. I set my foot down and launched into a run in a completely natural stride. They

didn’t overlap as I’d expected. They just let me run. In the snow. Winter will never be the same. The Atlas is famous for its spring loaded binding. The binding is suspended in the lightweight frame of the snowshoe and allows natural mobility of the foot in a running stride in both a front to back and side directions. The strapping system is a lightweight webbing that doesn’t require an engineering degree to get your foot into. The Atlas also comes in a lighter weight race version, because apparently snowshoe racing is not that obscure a sport either. I recommend wearing a hoodie. They kick up some snow along the way, but it doesn’t deter from the incredible quality and design of these snowshoes, nor the great fun they bring! Get them at Mountain Gear or online at atlassnowshoe.com/snowshoes/run. //

OR extravert gloves // By Derrick Knowles

I admit, I chose extended snoring instead of skiing on those plentiful single digit, freezing arse colds this season, but that still left plenty of frosty liftserved and backcountry days sporting my Extravert gloves to give them a satisfactory whirl and eventual two warm thumbs up. I’ve worn through several different pairs of OR gloves over the years, but the water-resistant, wool-blend insulated Extraverts struck the best balance of warmth and freedom of movement that kept my cold-prone fingers from freezing on the lift or sweating on the skin track. Even

after enduring my pawing at the way too sticky side of my ancient climbing skins (a custom glue job that literally peeled apart my last poor pair of ski gloves), the wrapped leather palms not only held up but look almost brand new despite the abuse. I also wore them on winter bike rides on several occasions, and even with the cold wind on my handlebars, my digits were toasty. They’re an all-around, winter and early spring workhorse of a glove made for everything from skiing, hiking, to biking in cold, dry temps and well worth the $65 price tag. outdoorresearch.com/en/mens-extravert-gloves.

Running the year of the marathon Gear to Get You to the Finish Line // By Erika Prins Editor’s note: This is part two in our “Year of the Marathon” series on marathon training that offers practical advice and inspiration to help you complete your long run this year. Find part one and look for follow-ups in the coming months at OutThereMonthly.com. When you’re just starting out, a minor injury or persistent discomfort can make marathon training feel even more daunting. Choosing the right gear can keep you comfortable and moving forward with your running goals. “If you’re not feeling good, you’re not having fun. If you’re not having fun, you’re not going to do it,” says Nate Kinghorn, General Manager of Runner’s Soul. Pricey gear won’t magically enhance your speed or endurance, but chafing and blistering – or worse, injury resulting from problematic footwear – can certainly slow you down. Rather than beeline for the trendy shoe or outfit, take the time to figure out what works best for your body. Local marathoner Rachel Jaten, who won the Portland marathon last year and has qualified for the U.S. marathon Olympic trials twice, doesn’t hesitate on what gear tops the list. “If you’re really going to put money somewhere, I would say put it into your shoes,” she says. “I cannot stress highly enough how going to an actual running store and getting a pair of shoes that fits your feet and your gait and how you land – how important that is.” There’s no one best shoe – every runner’s feet are different. “What makes the best pair of shoes is the right combination of fit and feel for the individual,” Kinghorn says. He notes that most beginning runners’ injuries relate to footwear – shin splints, plantar fasciitis and even stress fractures can result from running long distances in the wrong shoes. To help runners find that perfect shoe, the staff at local running shops look at everything from wear on your existing shoes to the way you walk. “We have an evaluation process to determine how flexible a person’s foot is – learning how the person moves with each step,” Kinghorn says. Any additional details you can provide, like how often and how far you run, helps. Good running shoes average about $115 per pair. It’s a steep price, but a solid pair of kicks only needs to be replaced every 300-500 miles. Once you’ve found a shoe you’d like to stick with, Jaten recommends checking out the sale rack for last year’s style of your favorite. “When the new shoe comes out for the year, the last year’s version is usually 35-40% off.” Next to shoes, Kinghorn says socks can make or break your comfort on a long run. “Our first question when someone comes in with blistering is what kind of socks they’re wearing,” he says. Avoid cotton socks, he warns, but beyond that, sorting out what you like is a matter of preference. Jaten loves compression socks – but she says they don’t boost performance like people originally thought. Their function, for her, is to prevent her legs from moving more than they have to. “Every time your foot lands, all your muscles shake. Just the force of landing is basically a micro-trauma to your leg. The compression keeps everything tighter and firmer,” she says. Jaten notes that they really help on longer runs. “In that 15-20 miles range, if I wear my compression socks, my legs just don’t feel as beat up. And I like to wear them afterwards for recovery as well.” It’s definitely worth investing in some comfort-

able, moisture-wicking clothing for longer runs. “You don’t have to have the latest and greatest as far as what you’re wearing. People are still running in cotton t-shirts and cotton shorts,” says Jaten. “Having good gear that’s wicking and windproof and that kind of stuff makes it more comfortable for sure.” Pay attention to where seams fall when trying clothes on – particularly under the arms and between the legs – to prevent chafing. (It also helps to apply some non-petroleum lubricant like Body Glide to potential chafing spots on long runs.) Jaten wears a Garmin GPS watch to keep track of mileage, calories burned and other metrics. “But that’s not for everyone,” she says. “Some people go out and they don’t want to think about [that].” Kinghorn says buying a foam roller to massage kinks out of his leg muscles made a huge difference with recovery after long runs. Still, he emphasizes that essential running gear can be narrowed down to two items – well, maybe three: “The most important things for somebody to go run are good shoes, good socks, and the willingness to open the door and go run,” he says. “The rest is about comfort.” //

Stephen barbieri finds a puddle on his morning run. Photo: Gabriella Meglasson

Liberty Lake to Riverfront Park Spokane, WA WindermereMarathon.com March 2014

/ Out There Monthly

Destinations Red Mountain Revealed // By Derrick Knowles Red Mountain in Rossland, B.C. has always had a cult-like following of diehard Spokane area skiers who happily drive the extra miles to worship at its prolific powder dumps. At around 2.5 hours north of Spokane, Red is definitely in the semi-reasonable daytrip range. Of course staying a night or three up in Rossland is a much better idea. To make overnight stays even more appealing, Tourism Rossland has recently added a re-purposed 1980’s era bus called the Free Ride Ski Bus that makes hourly loops through town picking up skiers for the ride up to the mountain (for free). For those faithful who have long known Red’s secrets (deep powder, plentiful expert terrain, and expansive tree skiing – all without the crowds), the drive-time has always been worth it. These days, it’s even

and even the New York Times! The secret is definitely out. Red and Rossland are a special, tuckedaway anomaly of a ski hill and ski and bike town combo that doesn’t have to try too hard to be more than the extraordinary place it already is. But the new runs, new lift, sidecountry cat skiing and other improvements have really cranked up the mountain town cred a notch. We are so lucky to live so close. Earlier this winter, in the middle of one of our bluebird sky, high-pressure system snow draughts, we made one of our first ski day trips of the year up to Red to check out all the changes first hand. Although it isn’t something that would have ever occurred to me as an option (even if I’d know they existed), Red set us up with a resort “snow host” to tour us around the mountain

OTM Picks: Red Mountain Resort Lodging: For this trip, we stayed at the Casa Alpina. I’ve stayed there a few times, and the clean, quiet, basic rooms are perfect for a ski trip and come with a mini-fridge and microwave to help you save a little cash with in-room cooking. There’s also a hot tub, and it’s within walking distance of downtown Rossland (and on the Rossland Free Ski Bus route). Happy Hour: I hate to say it, but I’d rather hang out at Rafters Lounge at Red than just about any Spokane pub any day. And I love Spokane and its many wonderful watering holes. High energy patrons, friendly staff, simple and comfortable tables and bar seating in a non-pretentious atmosphere, and everything you could ask from a ski hill bar food and drink menu – Rafters has it covered, and then some. photos clockwise from top right: Looking toward the U.S. // Gord waiting. Again. // Lunch Break at the paradise Lodge // dropping skiers at the top of grey mountain. // All aboard the free ride bus. Photos: Shallan Knowles.

more worth it. With a major expansion of intermediate and advanced terrain and a new lift on Grey Mountain this season, Red has suddenly launched into the pages of prominent ski and outdoor magazines 12

Out There Monthly / March 2014

for the day. What exactly is a snow host? As we learned, it’s a free service provided by the resort to help get more people familiar with the mountain. Believe me, I was skeptical to say the least, but I highly recommend giving a snow host a try if you

haven’t skied Red in a while or want to experience a little local terrain knowledge. Without a snow host, and no powder to obsess over, our day would have likely been spent wandering around the mountain, half-lost half of the time, entranced with skiing the same long, sunny groomer over and over the rest of the time, with plenty of leg resting breaks. But we wanted to get a good sense for the new Grey Mountain terrain, and our snow host Gord Madge knew it and delivered. After a round of friendly introductions, we followed our guide from the lodge through the swarm of kids surrounding a guy dishing out free hot chocolate from a backpack and made our way to the Silverlode Chair for our first ride of the day. On the ride up, we determined that Gord is a super friendly local who definitely has his priorities right: winters split between skiing Red and jaunts to Mexico and summers spent in the Kootenays where he runs a B&B on the Columbia River with his wife. We also determined that this man really loves to ski. We had already kept him waiting at least an hour past first chair, and it was clear the moment he shot off the Motherlode lift at the top of the mountain that he was eager to help us make up for lost time. Gord, who has been skiing Red since well before I was born, proceeded to take us on a non-stop, lift hopping tour we never would have accomplished on our own. From newly cut runs like Long May You Run and Gold Digger off the flanks of Grey Mountain, to long-time classics such as Rino’s Run and Back Trail, he pointed out names of runs, secret passages around cliff bands, hidden routes through the woods and steep offpiste lines. He shared local lore and a few mountain secrets (although I know he saved plenty). His enthusiasm for cranking out more turns, even on a day when all but the most inscrutable, north facing powder stashes were tracked up, was contagious. We never quite knew where Gord would take us next, but a few things were guaranteed after each run: we’d have smiles on our faces, our legs would be burning, and Gord would be waiting for us halfway down the mountain where he’d likely been hanging out for several minutes, already eager for the next run. At one point, after catching up with him, we paused for several minutes to give our legs a break and gape out at the sea of fog (the Kootenay Sea they call it), with distant peaks piercing the crystal blue sky, like we’d already done a half dozen times that day. I’m sure he was staring at us in quiet disbelief while we took another round of photos. His voice brought us back to the ski hill: “You guys really like nature, eh?” We laughed and agreed that yes, we like the outdoors a lot, but really, most of our sight-seeing stops served a sneaky secondary purpose we were sheepish to admit: we wanted another rest! Our last run of the day (a half hour or so before last chair) came too soon, but we were tired and ready for some refreshments at Rafters. I could sense Gord eyeing his watch and noting to himself that there was still time for one last run. “You should go for one more,” we urged him. Of course, always the attending, amiable host, he wouldn’t think of ditching us. A jolly, muscle weary cheers was in order. We finished the day off with a few Okanagan ciders and an avalanche sized pile of nachos at Rafters with Gord and some other friends from Spokane

Red by the Numbers Vertical drop: 2,919 feet Total size: 4,200 acres Lift serviced: 2,682 acres Marked runs: 110 Number of lifts: 7 Longest run: 4.3 miles Average snowfall: 300 inches Base elevation: 3,887 feet Summit elevation: 6,807 feet Miles from Spokane: 128

who we randomly ran into at the bar. When they saw me scribbling away some notes on a napkin for a story the day had inspired, the response was predictable: “Shhhh, don’t tell everyone how good it is up here!”

Everyday Cyclist

Swamp ride strikes back //

Last summer, the FBC held its final ride, and I wrote that I looked forward to riding with whoever tried to fill the space left by its departure. A couple of groups started up in August. One of them is called The Swamp Ride. Bradley Baysinger, the nominal leader, said he wanted to keep a full moon-associated bike ride on the calendar, so he decided to start a new bike club. Kate Burke, David Jones, and Paul Dillon joined in with him. Kate wants the ride to become a place where cyclists can come together to enjoy a fun time. Paul would like to see it become self-sustainable as a group-organized event: “The Swamp Ride has a group of folks biting off different tasks, so it really helps when you have someone calling the establishment, doing the spoke cards, mapping the route, etc.,” he said. And therein lies one difference with The Swamp Ride. It’s a group effort. “Our first couple of rides kind of sucked,” says Baysinger. The group’s lack of experience made for some school-of-hard-knocks lessons. For example,

By Hank Greer

er post-FBC startup. By the way, you can find TuNiBiRi and the Fourth Friday Pub Peddlers by searching for their names on Facebook. Other goals and ideas – and they are open to ideas – include a daytime ride, a civilized version of a critical mass, not becoming cliquish, getting more prizes, establishing a web presence with an easy method for riders to share photos, promote cycling, and get more people to come out for the ride. On this evening, the riders chipped in a donation to get a spoke card. We rolled out a little after 8 and headed into Browne’s Addition. Any self-respecting bike ride going through Browne’s Addition pauses at the roundabout and circles it a few times. So we did. The riders, ages 19 to 59 and layered up to ward off the cold, continued on a tour of the neighborhood, and then we turned towards downtown. Grant Shipley, a familiar face at many local rides, cranked the tunes with a trailer-bound sound system he pulled with his uniquely modified 1961 Schwinn. We followed Riverside,

saddling up for the swamp ride. photo: hank greer

You r

plac

Main, and Howard on our way to Riverfront Park. Along the way we stopped a couple times to let people catch up, which is necessary since the destination is a secret. At the park we circled the Rotary Fountain decorated with cascading lights before going through downtown back towards Browne’s Addition. Wrapping up our 45-minute ride we turned south on Cedar and stopped at the River City Brewing Tap House where we were welcomed by Emily

AV E O V

65%

Any self-respecting bike ride going through Brown’s Addition pauses at the roundabout and circles it a few times. So we did. Schwartz, marketing and sales director. The two minors got their hands stamped and the group filled the place. Everyone received a raffle ticket and one more for each drink they ordered. And we all just hung out and enjoyed ourselves. Later in the evening numbers were called and winners received River City Red glasses. Pretty good for a free bike ride. Check The Swamp Ride’s Facebook page, www. facebook.com/swampride, for news of upcoming rides. If you’ve ever had an idea for a bike ride or if you would like to help out, Bradley, David, Kate, and Paul will welcome your assistance. If not, you’re still welcome to come out for a fun ride, hang out with some cyclists, and maybe have a beer or two. //

Adult Teen Junior

$199 $149 $139

SALE STARTS MARCH 1ST THRU APRIL 30TH

SKI OR RIDE THE BALANCE OF THIS SEASON AND ALL NEXT SEASON! ER ORD ON

LINE

while talking about the ideas the group has for the ride. But that will fade with time as the group establishes itself. They have some interesting ideas. To expand their ranks and include younger cyclists, they go to an all-ages destination. The ride begins at The Swamp Tavern, (1905 W. 5th Avenue, Spokane), which means those under 21 have to wait outside if they show up early for the 8 p.m. departure time. Baysinger and Jones are adamant about not allowing minors to drink at the ride. They also collaborate with other cycling groups. The first Swamp Ride joined up with the TuNiBiRi (Tuesday Night Bike Ride) group. The October/ Halloween ride was held in conjunction with the Fourth Friday Pub Peddlers (sic), which is anoth-

there was a last minute decision to go to a destination that turned out to be closed. Regardless, those showing up for the ride were forgiving, and the consistent attendance reflects plenty of interest. Since the first ride in August, The Swamp Ride has had 20-25 people each time. I caught up with Baysinger and Jones at the January Swamp Ride. Although I resisted making comparisons with the FBC, I found that it couldn’t be helped. Even they were making them

SKIL O S E A SO KO U T. C ON-P OM/ ASS Take I-90 to the Idaho/Montana State Line, Exit 0

skilookout.com 208.744.1301 March 2014

/ Out There Monthly

Out There Monthly / March 2014

Outdoor Living dial that backcountry first aid kit AND DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT // By Jason Luthy Spending time in remote places requires preparation. A portion of that preparation should include gathering medical supplies to be able to respond to emergencies. There isn’t a perfect first aid kit for all situations, making it important to tailor a kit to meet the needs of your trip and group. First aid kits are not a “buy it and forget it” purchase. Items get used, wet, hot, cold, dirty and they expire. Make it a priority to inventory the items in your first aid kit and restock things that are used, worn out or expired. Non-Negotiable Items First aid in remote places is about improvisation, but there are a few items that are hard to improvise effectively. Responding to emergencies can place you in a situation where you come in contact with body substances. Body substance isolation (BSI) is the practice of protecting your exposure from these substances to limit the risk of disease transmission. Non-latex gloves and a CPR mask should be considered mandatory items for even the smallest first aid kit. Acquiring a Kit Buying a commercially made first aid kit is an efficient way to get your first kit. The commercially designed kits use names or numbers to indicate the kit’s intended use. Purchasing a commercial kit allows you to get most of the necessary items along with a carrying case without having

match the conditions that are associated with the activities you’ll be engaging in. Hikers commonly experience blisters and musculoskeletal injuries. A nail clipper in a first aid kit can also can reduce many potential foot issues when on trail runs, day hikes, or backpack trips. Boaters can add a small container of sunscreen and sunglasses to reduce the potential of sunburn from the reflection of the sun on the water.

First aid kits are not a “buy it and forget it” purchase. Items get used, wet, hot, cold, dirty and they expire. to purchase large quantities of each item. As you look at which kit to purchase and maintain, ask yourself the following questions: 1. Who are you traveling with? Do you travel with groups, adults, kids or solo? Traveling with more people results in more opportunities to use the items in your kit. With group travel, consider adding more commonly used items, such as bandages, tape and over-thecounter pain relievers. For trips with adults at risk for heart conditions, make sure that aspirin is in the kit. If kids are on the trip, small things like bandages with cartoon characters or a small toy can go a long way to decrease their stress. Make sure the individuals with any specific medical

conditions have the necessary supplies to meet their medical needs.

4. What level of training do you have with the items in your kit? It doesn’t make sense to carry items in your first aid kit that you don’t know how to use. If there is something in your kit you don’t understand, take time to learn the appropriate use. In addition to your current understanding of medicine, consider adding more knowledge to what you carry in your first aid kit. There are many outdoor education courses out there, including courses to develop your assessment and treatment skills for when the unexpected happens, including courses offered by Longleaf Wilderness Medicine based in Sandpoint. For more information, check out courses in your area at: longleafmedical.com. //

2. How long will you be out? The longer you are planning to be out, the more material you may use. Increase the number of common use items such as bandages, athletic tape, non-latex gloves and over-the-counter medications. The number of these items can be decreased on short day trips. On day trips to remote environments, consider bringing an emergency blanket in case injury lengthens your trip resulting in Jason Luthy is an avid all-season outdoorsman, a certified EMT, co-chair of the Idaho an unexpected overnight. section of the American Alpine Club, and the program director and owner of Longleaf 3. What activities will you be doing? The items carried in a first aid kit should Wilderness Medicine in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Out There Monthly’s 1st Annual

Outdoor Dog Photo Contest! Abbey on the Grande Ronde River!

Ed and his owner Scott on the trail in the Wallowas

Have booties, will hike across deserts.

Almost dry! Time to jump back in!

Damn, Im good lookin!

Round up your best photos of your outdoors loving hound! Full contest details available online and in the April issue. Categories include: Best in Show, Hounds in Action, Water Dogs, Tail on the Trail, & Best with Owners.

Winning pics will be printed in Out There Monthly’s May issue and prizes will be awarded to owners AND pups. Full details at OutThereMonthly.com March 2014

/ Out There Monthly

OutThereSpotlight The Evans Brothers

For the Love of Coffee (and the Great Outdoors) // By Ammi Midstokke

Rick and Randy Evans pull into my driveway on a snowy Thursday afternoon, two dogs ejecting from their vehicles in unbridled enthusiasm for the great outdoors. “I brewed a fresh pot of coffee,” Rick says as he steps onto my front porch and sets down a thermos with a thud. I can tell it’s going to be a good day. I’ve been to Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters in Sandpoint, Idaho more times than I can count. I’m not sure if it’s the atmosphere that invites community, the art on the walls, the smell of beans roasting, or the consistently brewed-to-perfection cup of coffee I’m served by a staff that is as excited about it as I am. It is also a weekday morning hub, where I’m sure to see familiar faces and friends, all of us starting our day with the same friendly conversations and steaming cup of joe.

how ripe it was when picked, and to what temperature it was delicately roasted. When he talks about coffee, his eyes light up. This is not just his business. It’s his heart. Rick gets the same look in his eyes when he talks about the community, in setting up a space where people come to share time and experiences, and in running a business with his brother. Rick is sitting in the snow feeding his dog snowballs. He flashes a toothy grin while listening to Randy, then interrupts him to tell me, “We’re best friends. Even when we lived across the country from each other, we talked on the phone every day.” That’s the spirit that became the foundation of Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters Company in 2009 when they opened shop in the historic Sandpoint granary. They started with roasting, but it wasn’t

They wanted to ski. And ride bikes. They wanted to raise their families, grow roots in Sandpoint, and love what they did. And Randy... well Randy wanted to roast coffee. I knew there was more story to the soul of Evans Brothers, so I sat down with Rick and Randy to find out how Sandpoint became home to one of the finest coffee roasters in the country. Some of the best ideas ever seem to be formulated on chair lifts. Sometimes they’re day-shaping, and other times, they’re life-changing. Rick and Randy were making their way up Chair 6 on Schweitzer one winter day in 2008 when Rick posed the proverbial question most of us can’t answer: What do you want to do with your life? Obviously, they wanted to ski. And ride bikes. They wanted to raise their families, grow roots in Sandpoint, and love what they did. And Randy... well Randy wanted to roast coffee. The way he talks about it, you’d think he was going to heal the world one bean at a time, like an over-caffeinated prophet sharing the healing powers of a good cup of coffee. He’s got the beard to match. He tells me about how he started roasting beans at home, then became an apprentice roaster for a coffee company. He worked his way through the industry on a foundation of learning and loving coffee until he was made head roaster for a company on the West Coast. I have visions of Randy in sandals giving passersby espresso shots so they might pause to appreciate the elevation at which the coffee cherry was grown,

long before the smell of sweet, dark beans drew in customers from the street. Randy’s little sampling espresso machine was soon replaced with a full open-air coffee bar, and now an entire cafe. I ask the brothers what they’re excited about this year. Randy shows me a picture of Rick wearing Bermudas and raking a field in the afternoon sun. Then they tell me a story about traveling to Costa Rica to meet coffee farmers. Not coffee farming conglomerates or large producers: They want farmdirect relationships with small family farms that grow in micro-lots. These are people who have the same passion for their product as the Evans brothers, and the same understanding of balance in life, of valuing community. There’s a familiar smack of hard matter against soft skin, and then an explosion of snow as Rick gets pelted, followed by Randy’s menacing laughter in the background. If ever there was a balance to work and life, the Evans brothers are well on their way to proving that coffee is part of that recipe. // Evans Brothers Coffee is located in downtown Sandpoint’s West Side Granary Arts District. You can also find their coffee at Schweitzer Mountain Resort and at select cafes around the region and beyond. evansbrotherscoffee.com

Evans Brothers Chillin in the snow. // Photo: Fiona Hicks 16

Out There Monthly / March 2014

SweetRides 2013 Mt. Spokane jeep wrangler unlimited The Mt. Spokane Jeep was leased from Dishman Jeep for the season and is outfitted to the nines for a mountain environment. It’s got a 4” lift to get over and through deep snow and 32” knobby tires with Raceline custom wheels.” Says Kristen Whitaker, Marketing Director at Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park. “The LED light bar and PAA lights would light up the entire Bunny Hill if necessary – we’ve actually thought about using them to light up a night event,” says Whitaker. “The back seats fold down super smooth for easy board storage, and – my favorite part – it’s got a great sound system with Sirius satellite radio.” Whitaker notes that everything about it was done locally: “From the graphic design (Market Vision), to the wrap install (Signs for Success), to the photography (Freeride Media), and even the skiers and riders on the rig (Noah Wallace won Mt. Spokane’s Kan Jam several years ago and is now a Top 10 competitor in the national Dew Tour). Dishman could even build you a Jeep just like Mt. Spokane’s – wrap optional.” // Got a sweet ride (Jeep, truck, van, car, RV, motorcycle, bicycle, skateboard, whatever) that’s customized to get you out there to your favorite trailheads, ski hills, campgrounds, put-ins, crags, mountain passes, parks, and other outdoor destinations? Email a photo and brief description to editor@outtheremonthly.com and you and your “sweet ride” could be featured in an upcoming issue of OTM

“I have never worried about getting up and down the mountain in deep snow, ice, or rain. I’ve set trail for other cars to follow in two-foot dumps and helped pull others out of the ditch. That Jeep would rally all the way to the top of the mountain!” --Kristen Whitaker // Photo: Skye Schillhammer

This Year exPerieNCe New adveNTures iN a JeeP!

For As Low As

335

This Could be Your Year of fuN!

Per Month

Based on price of $24,999, 0% down over 84 months at 3.49% plus tax, license,$150 negotiable documentation fee on approved credit. Expires 3/31/14.

7 7 0 0 E . S p r ag u E • S p o k a n E Va l l E y • 5 0 9 . 9 2 4 . 3 2 5 0 • D I S H M a n D o D g E . C o M

March 2014

/ Out There Monthly

On The Mountain | Alpine Skiing /boarding Special Section Reports of Snowboaring’s Demise Highly Exaggerated: Riding at Lookout Pass Thriving By Derrick Knowles

Left: Rail time in one of lookout’s three terrain parks. Right: Shredding Lookout’s Legendary Powder. // Photos Courtesy: Lookout pass ski and recreation area

In the March 2014 issue of “Outside Magazine,” writer and “Mountain Magazine” Editorial Director Marc Peruzzi describes the slow decline of the sport of snowboarding. While snowboarding isn’t on its way out anytime soon, his diagnosis, and the stats he uses to back it up, paint a discouraging picture for the rebel sport that captivated many of us Gen Xers: at many resorts, snowboarding now accounts for less than 15 percent of total revenue and snowboarding gear sales are down 29 percent over the past six years. “Where did all the snowboarders go?” Peruzzi asks. “Many are skiing. Others simply quit,” he concludes. While the decline in participation in snowboarding may be a national trend, snowboarding is alive and well at Lookout Pass, where riders actually rival skiers in number. At least here in the Inland Northwest, and especially at Lookout, now’s not the time to be writing off snowboarding. In fact, Lookout’s Marketing Director and avid rider Chris Barrett makes a compelling case that the one board sport is not only alive and kicking, but potentially poised for a rebound. Barrett, who has been snowboarding for 21 years and says he absolutely loves riding and has never looked back, ticks off a list of his own stats that paint a more rosy picture of the future of snowboarding: The average snowboarder heads up to the mountain more times a year than the average skier, snowboarder numbers have remained steady over the past several years at Lookout, and more recently, Lookout has had so many snowboarders coming through their well-oiled ski school that they had to hire another board coach. “There’s a lot of life and passion in the snowboarding community,” emphasizes Barrett. He is clearly engaged in the sport and community in a personal, passionate way. “Many of the 10 best days of my life have been on a snowboard,” he admits. “If I could snowboard every day for the rest of my life, I’d never get tired of it.”

Barrett reasons that at least some of the national trend away from snowboarding is due to the economic recession and its lingering and exaggerated effects on the less affluent, traditionally Gen X dominated snowboard community that simply can’t afford to make the trip up to the mountain to ride as much as they used to. But with the economy slowly improving, he envisions more snowboarders heading back up to the ski hill when they have a little more coin in their pockets. The real key to the future of snowboarding (and skiing), which Barrett and Lookout Pass know well, is to inspire new generations of riders, which is the main aim of Lookout’s ski school program. Its free ski school is the longest running in the nation, and Barrett boasts that their paid school is set to destroy their previous record for the number of kids who make it through the program. “We are trying to build people into a lifetime with the sport,” he says. He points to Lookout’s EZ-Ski & Ride-1-2-3 program that gives kids quality lessons and turns out a ton of new, shredding boarders and skiers. The popular $99 program, which is open to kids and adults who don’t have previous snowsports experience, includes 3 days of lift tickets, rentals, and lessons. “Snowboarding is so different than skiing,” muses Barrett. “When you get on a board, suddenly you’re strapped to the device and moving sideways, looking to the right and left. It creates different pathways for the brain to function. It improves hand-eye coordination,” he says. “Snowboarding brings out totally different emotions and feelings.” It’s the quality and consistency of the snow at Lookout that Barrett believes keeps so many skiers and boarders coming back for more: “The snow and powder skiing here with the micro climate we have is kind of hard to explain,” he says. Barrett has been snowboarding and has taught lessons at many of the major resorts in the West, yet he swears by the dry, cold temps and reliable snowfall that seems to pound into the Bitterroots around Lookout Pass every winter. “We might get 2 inches one day, 4 the next, and then maybe a foot. It always seems to be fresh up here. We get some of the best conditions the make some of the most fantastic snow. I’ve never been to a place like this. Ever.” //

In the Park

Randy Evans, photo by Doug Marshall

EvansBrothersCoffee.com | 524 Church, Sandpoint | 208-265-5553

Out There Monthly / March 2014

Lookout has put a lot of time, passion, and energy into its three terrain parks (check out some of park manager Chuck Schmidt’s awesome and entertaining park videos at skilookout.com/terrainpark). There are many features, including flat rails, boxes, flat down boxes, pole jams, natural features, and even a 200-gallon propane tank to list a few. Lookout prides itself in providing a friendly environment for anyone who wants to join the fun. Huckleberry Jam on the lower end of Huckleberry Ridge is a beginner-to-intermediate park away from the peanut gallery on the lift, which makes for a chill atmosphere for learning the basics or taking your tricks to the next level. Rolling Thunder is Lookout’s “natural” terrain park on the backside. Every feature is created from trees that were cut down for forest health. The park is set up on rolling terrain with a mini valley running down the middle that merges natural features with man-made creations. Borderline, on the front of the mountain, has some of the most advanced features: a flat railing with rounded edges that zig-zags like a lightning bolt; a 30-foot-long up-flat-down 6” flat railing with rounded edges (which makes it easier to lock on and ride through); a 30-foot-long hand rail modeled after a popular rail in Salt Lake City; and other epic rails and features.

Celebrating the INW Skiing Life | Ski Bum advice: Mountain Etiquette Now that the snow gods have smiled upon us, chances are the local resorts will soon be swamped with hoards of skier and riders, if not today. Powder junkies will be hustling to make first chair; parents will be struggling to manage their kids’ meltdowns; and parking lots, lift lines, and lodge cafeterias will be jam-packed. With all of the chaos, it’s easy to forget our manners. Seems that every season I witness some form of egregious behavior that makes me understand why lions occasionally eat their young, so it might be in everybody’s best interest to bone up on some mountain etiquette do’s and don’ts. Plus, there really is such a thing as mountain karma – mess with it at your own risk. Do: Wave and say “Good Morning” to the teenage kid parking cars in the morning. He/she is probably only making minimum wage, and it took an Act of Congress to get them out of bed. Don’t: Give them the finger and make your own parking spot right up front. Do: Hold the lodge door open for ladies, kids, and middle-aged men who obviously have never worn ski boots. Don’t: Knock down above mentioned people as you charge out of the lodge in order to be first in the lift line. Do: If skiing/riding alone, identify yourself as single when in a long lift line. Don’t: Poach the ski patrol/instructor line, then sneer at those who call you out. Do: Comment on how much fun you are having while standing in line on a busy day. Don’t: Complain how long the lift line is. Seriously dude, a 5-10 minute wait is no big deal. Do: Pick up any trash you come across while on the mountain. Don’t: Toss your Keystone Ice empties off the chair. Do: If you smoke, do so far away from other skiers/riders. If you chew, swallow it. Don’t: Smoke on the chair or spit chewing tobacco off the chair while near other skiers/riders. Copenhagen racing stripes do not look good on any jacket. Do: Help a fellow skier collect their gear after a yard sale. Don’t: Spray them with snow and yell “You suck!” as you ski by. Brad Northrup spent nearly a decade working in the ski industry. He’s guilty of most of the “Don’ts” listed above.

D L INA

! S AY

G Lo v E S Fo R

GoGTGILNEG SAT

STAR

S H E L m E TAT STARTING

$ $

On The Mountain

Skiing Uphill at Mt. Spokane Just Got Easier (and Safer) Interest in uphill travel routes where skiers can skin or hike up resort mountains continues to climb at ski areas throughout North America. In the past, most uphill skiers at resorts were backcountry skiers looking for a workout or better snow conditions when avalanche risks or conditions were bad in the backcountry. That trend seems to be changing, with more alpine skiers buying touring gear to better access resort sidecountry and sneak in some exercise. Many ski resorts have responded by providing designated uphill and often groomed travel routes for skiers. Skiers have been climbing and skiing back down Mount Spokane for years (both within and outside of the resort boundary), but with more skiers heading uphill, it eventually raised some serious safety and liability concerns for Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park, including the potential for hiker/downhill skier collisions and accidents involving after-hours grooming equipment. The Hourglass, No Alibi and Two Face often necessitate the use of a winch grooming system to maintain managed slopes, which could create extreme hazards for anyone who happened to be charging up the mountain unaware. These concerns prompted Mt. Spokane to close the resort to uphill travel and post signs in 2012. That closure raised some skiers’ eyebrows but also led to Mountain Gear and Mt. Spokane working together (with skier input) to develop a safe, designated uphill route and policy over the past year.

The new rules and responsibilities along with a map and description of the B29 route from Lodge 1, including very specific days and times when uphill travel in the resort is allowed, is available on the Mt. Spokane uphill travel policy page at mtspokane.com. Uphill travelers in the patrolled ski area boundary are required to familiarize themselves with the policy and route (which are subject to change). Don’t rely on this article or beta from your buddies; do your part and read up on the policy, make sure you know the exact route and days and times it’s available, and keep tabs on any future changes. Uphill skiers should also check the Mt. Spokane Snow Report and the new information kiosk at Lodge 1 for notices of closures or route changes. Uphill travelers are also subject to the Skier Responsibility Code and other Mt. Spokane rules and policies. Uphill users also need to follow specific parking instructions (details online). Parking prior to ski area operational hours, or on non-operational days, requires the use of a SnoPark Permit. The uphill route begins at Lodge 1 and travels uphill via B-29 and Tea Kettle next to the ski area boundary to the summit and is available for use from 6:30 to 9:10 a.m. on operational days (some exceptions apply). Familiarize yourself with the route and policy online, including rules for nonoperational days (Mondays and Tuesdays except holidays). Route info, rules, and map at: mtspokane.com/uphill-travel-policy. //

WINTER CLEARANCE SALE! SAvINGS oF 50% UPTo 70% to

IS S S O L R U O ! N I A G R U YO S i BooTS

D R A o B W o N S i ENT i EQUIPm TS i JACKE i SKI’S

i GLovES

LY D R A S T IC A LD REDUCE

Prices

TS S i GoGGLE

i HELmE

OFF!

10,000 SQ. FT LoADED To

Sell!

HUG E

MARKDOWNS!

offer Expires 3/23/14.

4505 N. Division St. • 509- 325-1620 March 2014

/ Out There Monthly

OutdoorCalendar Full events calendar at www.outtheremonthly.com CLIMBING

SIXMONTHTRAINING

(Ongoing) Vertical Introduction. When: Tuesdays

and Thursdays 6 – 8 p.m., Saturdays 4 – 6 p.m. Where: Wild Walls 202 W. 2nd Ave. Learn the fundamentals to climb indoors: fitting the harness, knot tying, and proper belay technique. This class (or previous experience and passing belay test) is a prerequisite for top roping. Ages 12+, $35. Info: 509-455-9596.

YOGA RUNNING

BIKING

(April 27) Spokane River Run. When: 7:45 a.m.

(April 12-13) Spokane Bike Swap & Expo.

BIKING

Ranging from 50K to 5K. Right in the midst of Riverside State Park and minutes from downtown Spokane, is a small piece of trail running paradise. Info: www.spokaneriverrun.com

(Ongoing) Belles and Baskets. Whatever style your cycle, join other Spokane women for no-drop rides, treats, and friendship. Info: 509-951-4090, facebook.com/bellesandbaskets.

(May 4) Bloomsday. When: 9 a.m. Lilac Bloomsday Run held in Spokane, features over 50,000 runners, joggers, and walkers. Info: www. bloomsdayrun.org org.

(Ongoing) BOMB Mountain Bike Rides. When:

(June 7-8) The Riverside 24 Hour Relay. Teams of 1 – 12 runners will take turns completing a beautiful, 6-mile loop through Riverside State Park. Athletes can set up their own RV/Tent city. Info: r24relay.com or 208-664-0135.

Varies. Where: Spokane Area. Spokane BOMB (Believers On Mountain Bikes) is a non-denominational Christian group leading rides in the Spokane area April-October. Everyone welcome, helmets required. Info: www.spokanebomb.com

(June 8) Red Devil Challenge Trail Run. When:

CHECK OUT YOUR LOCAL BIKE SHOP FOR WEEKLY RIDES!

9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Where: Wenatchee National Forest. The running trails dissect beautiful glades of Ponderosa pine and grasses; cuts through cooler, darker stands of Douglas Fir with views of the Enchantments, Mission Ridge and other views in the Cascades. Info: runwenatchee.com or 509-378-0051

(Ongoing Saturdays) Indoor Bike Group Ride.

MARATHONS

(First Wednesday-Each Month) Bike Fights. When: 8 p.m. Where: Soulful Soups & Spirits. 60 seconds to ride your heart out on a bike trainer. $10 to enter. Prizes! Info: 509-459-1190.

Where: Terra Sports Bike Shop, Coeur d’Alene. Bring your bike and trainer or rent either. This is a casual group of bike enthusiasts that want to keep the tires rolling thru the winter! Road, Mountain, Hybrid. Everyone welcome. Info: 208-765-5446

Where: Riverside State Park, Spokane. 5K, 10K, 25K and 50K, age divisions. Register online or find more info: www.SpokaneRiverRun.com

(March 22-23) Hub-a-Palooza. Where: Beacon

(May 10) Horse Lake Half Marathon. When: 9

(April 27) Spokane River Run. When: 7:45 a.m.

Hill/Camp Sekani, Spokane. Two races: People’s Enduro and Double Down Hoe Down 6. Racing will be coordinated so riders may participate in both races. Free camping in the Camp Sekani parking lot. Info: www.allgravityseries.com

a.m. - 1 p.m. Where: Horse Lake Reserve in the Wenatchee Foothills. The reserve is known for its wildflowers and stunning views of the North Cascades and the Wenatchee River. Info: runwenatchee.com or 509-387-0051

HIKING / WALKING

(May 25) Coeur d’Alene Marathon. The Coeur

(On-Going) Wed & Sun Hobnailer Hikes. When:

Varies. Where: Varies. Join Hobnailer hiking club for weekly 6-8 mile hikes in the Spokane area. Info: clcspo@msn.com or 509-456-0250

RUNNING (March 23) Mead Marching Madness 5K. When:

10 a.m. to noon. A 5K run/walk for all ages and abilities. The race starts at Mead High School and loops through the neighborhood and finishes back at the high school. Medals will be awarded to the top three male and top three female finishers. Info: MeadMarchingMadness.com or meadmarchingmadness@gmail.com.

TRIATHLONS (March 9) Walla Walla Dirty Duathlon. When: 10

a.m. Where: Bennington Lake. Fun winter/spring event consisting of a 2.7 mile trail run on each end of a challenging 15.4 mile mountain bike ride. The event is open to both individuals and teams.

Out There Monthly / March 2014

(March 27) Tri Jamboree at This Bike Life. When: 3 to 8 p.m. Where: This Bike Life South (507 E. 30th). Food, drinks, swag, and great deals (20-70% off) tri gear! Info: thisbikelife.com

d’Alene Marathon, Half Marathon, and MyHealth 5k fun run. Info: http://www.cdamarathon.com/

(June 1) Windermere Marathon. When: 7 a.m. Full or Half Marathon. Info: http://windermeremarathon.wordpress.com/

(July 6) Negative Split Marathon & 5K Run. When: 6:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Where: Riverfront Park. Running a negative split means to finish the race stronger than you started. Course is fast, flat and scenic. Starts in Riverfront Park and follows the Spokane River. Well supported, chip timed. Proceeds benefit the Spokane Boys and Girls Clubs. Info: nsplit.com or 208-806-1311.

When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Used bikes and accessories are consigned, donated and sold to the public in our Bike Corral; 600 bicycles in 2013! A wide variety of exhibitors sell new bicycles, accessories and promote their products and services – including cycling events, health and wellness programs and recreational non-profits. A wide variety of bicycles are sure to please everyone – including kids, racing, mountain, road, commuter, bmx, tandem, recumbent, cruiser, trailer bikes, buggies and more! Info: SpokaneBikeSwap.com or 509-475-7674

(April 27) Lilac Century Bike Ride. Where:

Spokane Falls Community College. 100-mile ride and 50-mile ride along the west slope of the Spokane River, the Long Lake area, and through the West Plains of Spokane. Start, finish and packet pick-up. Info: www.teamfischbach.com

(May 7- ongoing) Wednesday Night Mountain Bike Races. When: 5 to 8:30 p.m. Where:

Riverside State Park 7 mile airstrip Cold drinks and prizes after every race. Info: nomadzracing. com or 509-879-5119.

(May 17) Tour de Cure to Stop Diabetes.

Where: Northern Quest Resort and Casino. You will recieve great support out on the routes and enjoy all the food, beverages and entertainment the resort has to offer. (May 24-25) 24 Hour Round the Clock Race. The 24-hour event is a team relay mountain bike race, beginning at noon on Saturday and ending at noon on Sunday. Teams compete for medals, prizes and bragging rights. Info: roundandround.com

Triathlons (May 31) Troika Triathlon. When: 8 a.m. to 4

p.m. Where: Medical Lake Park. Sprint Triathlon (1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike, 3 mile run) Half Triathlon (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run). Info: TroikaTriathlon.com.

(July 13) Valley Girl Triathlon. When: 7:45 a.m.

(Ongoing) Intro to flow yoga. When: Mondays 8

p.m. Where: Wild Walls Climbing Gym. Classes are included with membership, or drop in for for single or pass rates.

(Ongoing) Yoga for Back Care. When: 9 a.m. Friday or noon on Monday. Where: North Pines Yoga. A yoga class focused on balance and core work to deliver endurance to your spine. Info www.northpinesyogapilates.com or 509-928-1400.

SKIING, SNOWSHOEING AND WINTER EVENTS (March 1-2) Girls Do Ski. When: all day. Where:

Whitewater Ski Resort, Nelson, B.C. Girls Do Ski is Canada’s leading freeski camp provider for women, specializing in both resort and backcountry camps. Some of the many benefits include empowerment, confidence building, and instruction from certified coaches. Info: SkiWhitewater.com or 250-354-4944.

(March 1) Slopes for Hope Ski-A-Thon. When:

all day. Where: Whitewater Ski Resort, Nelson, B.C. An “Everest-style” ski-a-thon; individuals and teams attempt to ski/snowboard the verticalof Mt. Everet in one day at Whitewater Ski Resort. Teams can come up with names, wear costumes, and challenge their friends to add a bit more excitement. Info: SkiWhitewater.com or 250-354-4944.

(March 8) KPND Bash at 49 Degrees North. When: all day. Where 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort. Bring back the classic looks of spandex and one pieces. Shine down the mountain in your fluorescent gear and be prepared to win great prizes with a costume contest. Info: ski49n.com.

(March 8) Vertical Express for MS. Where:

Schweitzer. Raise money for Can Do MS with a NASTAR race, obstacle course and more! Info: wwwschweitzer.com 208-263-9555.

(March 8) Shred the Love. When: all day. Where: Red Mountain Resort. Shred the Love is a one day Breast Cancer Education & Prevention Program benefit presented by Boarding for Breast Cancer, The North Face, and RED Mountain. 50% of day ticket revenue goes to Boarding for Breast Cancer. Info: Redresort.com.

Where: Liberty Lake. Women’s Only Sprint Distance Triathlon. Individual entry or teams. Volunteers are always welcome. Info: ValleyGirlTri.com

When: 4 p.m. First one to the top and back down wins! Info: Ski49n.com

(August 9) Coeur d’Alene Triathlon. The Coeur d’Alene Triathlon and Duathlon has been one of the most scenic races in the Northwest since 1984. This year marks the 31th anniversary of the race. New last year: Sprint Distance.Info: cdatriathlon.com or 877-782-9232

When: all day. The 49° North Ski Patrol brings you Hawaiian Daze! Enjoy amazing barbecue and Kona beer on the deck. Test your skills on the famous slush cup! Prizes awarded for best costume, greatest wipeout and best run! Info: 509-935-6649 ex 607.

Have an Event You Would Like to List? //

(March 9) 49 Degrees North Epic Hill Climb.

(March 15) 49 Degrees North Hawaiian Daze.

(March 21-22) 24 Hours of Schweitzer. When: all weekend. The sixth Annual “24 Hours of Schweitzer”

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.

OutdoorCalendar

(March 22-23) 49 Degrees North Bavarian Weekend. When: all weekend. Live music, down-

hill ski race, costume contest, and BBQ on the deck! Info: Ski49n.com.

(March 29) Schweitzer Winterfest. When: all

day. Join Schweitzer for Winterfest, an outdoor brew festival! Beers will be on tap at the Schweitzer tent located in the village. The music will be pumping, food will be cooking and we’ll have the Centennial Lounge open on the Taps patio! Info: Schweitzer.com

(March 29) Slush Cup and Hawaiian Day. When:

12:45 to 4 p.m. Where: Mt. Spokane. Sixth annual Slush Cup pond skimming contest on the bunny hill. Prizes for best skim, best costume, & more! It’s also Hawaiian Day, so throw on those flowery shirts, leis, and hula skirts! Info: Mtspokane.com

(March 29) Slush Cup Deck Party. When: all day.

Where: Red Mountain Resort. Info: Redresort.com.

(March 30) Lookout Beach Party Luau. When: all

MAR 2014

is a 24 hour downhill ski event that benefits cystinosis research, a rare and fatal disease that affects only 500 people nationwide. This all day and night fundraiser honors Hank Sturgis of Sandpoint, who has been diagnosed with Cystinosis. Participants will ski as many runs as possible in 24 hours for prizes, bragging rights and most importantly, fundraising for cystinosis research and Hank’s future. Info: 24hoursofschweitzer.org.

(Register by March 21) Spokane Mountaineers Backpacking School. When: 7 classes between

March 28 and Memorial Day weekend. Where: Mountain Gear Corporate Headquarters. This course will cover everything from clothing and boots to major equipment, meal preparation and leave-notrace practices. Registration is open to all Spokane Mountaineers. Info: SpokaneMountaineers.org or 509-838-4974.

(March 31) Hunting for Wild Mushrooms. When: 6 – 8 p.m. Where: UI Extension office, Coeur d’Alene. This program will review basics of mycology to include the lifecycle of fungi, macro identification techniques, and an overview of poisonous and popular edible mushrooms found. Call and register today, as space is limited. Classes are $10 per session. Info: 208-446-1680.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

(March 8) Beginning Bird Watching Classes. When: 9 to 11 a.m. Where: classroom at Turnbull National wildlife Refuge. Cost is $5 per person. Info: www.fotnwr.org or 509-448-0659.

@rivercityred

R CI

TRADE

MARK

day. Where: Lookout Pass. Beach party and Season Pass Holder Appreciation Day. Info: Skilookout. com

OTHER

rivercityred.blogspot.co

• heirloom tables for home or office • handcrafted from locally reclaimed wood • made to last for generations

da re d e s i g n s @ 1819 dare-designs.com 208.660.5479 March 2014

/ Out There Monthly

[ Spring Fever ] Do it all: Hike, Bike, Run, Ski Escape to the desert: Hiking the Lake Creek Trail

In a state with no shortage of classic backpacking and long day hiking options, the Odessa – Lake Creek Trail is unique. At 13 miles one way, the trail offers the only true backcountry experience in eastern Washington’s channeled scablands. Hikers won’t find snow-capped spires or gem-like lakes, but they will find a sprawling sagebrush expanse pitted with pothole ponds, all tucked away into Washington’s breadbasket. Even better, this arid landscape – straight out of a John Ford western – can be hiked virtually year-round, making it a worthwhile destination for winter-weary hikers. The Odessa-Lake Creek Trail navigates a maze of basalt buttes and broad mesas, carved by long coulees – a result of the Lake Missoula Floods some 15,000 to 30,000 years ago. On the western horizon the fluted basalt buttes known as Odessa Towers make an impressive landmark. To the southwest is 136-mile-long Crab Creek, which winds through the heart of the channeled scablands. And all around is the surprising hum of springtime life in the sagebrush steppe, where raptors perch on pioneer fencespots, coyotes trot on the skyline, and rodents – and rattlesnakes –

move underfoot. Spring is the ideal – some might say only – time to hike the Odessa–Lake Creek Trail. Best is early March, when the February doldrums have burned off and tick season has yet to peak. The shallow rocky soils showcase some of springtime’s earliest blooms – sagebrush buttercup and desert parsley.

By Aaron Theisen

Hikers should plan on packing all the water they need; aside from shallow duck-filled ponds near the northern trail terminus, this is a dry hike. It was not always this way: at the halfway point of the hike, the route crosses the dried-out Bobs Lakes drainage, once a reliable spot to cast for perch. Bobs Lakes and their neighbors have

The shallow rocky soils showcase some of springtime’s earliest blooms – sagebrush buttercup and desert parsley. Come later in the spring to see bitterroots daub the otherwise drab ground with pink. Come later in the spring to see bitterroots daub the otherwise drab ground with pink. Even in early spring, begin hiking in the morning on sunny days; frigid mornings can quickly give way to 60-degree days, and the scant shade of basalt boulders near the southern trailhead is the only break from the su you’ll experience all day.

fluctuated with aquifer levels over the years, but increased demand from area agriculture may keep them permanently dry. The Bureau of Reclamation has floated the idea to divert water from Lake Roosevelt to re-fill them, but until then these are lakes in name only. Two trailheads access the Odessa–Lake Creek

Trail. From the southern trailhead on the edge of tiny Odessa, signed singletrack dips over and around hunks of pockmarked basalt. The northern trailhead departs on old roadbed from the back forty of the old Lakeview Ranch, now a BLM property. Leave a shuttle car or mountain bike at one end of the route for a long day hike or quick, dry overnighter. The western rim of Lake Creek Coulee, at the halfway point of the hike, is the best spot to pitch a tent for dramatic views. From your tent flap, take note of the juxtaposition between the panoramic coulees and canyons before you and the sprawling wheatfields on the horizon – a viewpoint unique to backpacking trips in the Evergreen State. Interested in car-camping rather than backpacking? Check out Pacific Lake near the northern trailhead. Although it has dried out like its neighbors, Pacific Lake still has a pleasant campground. Find more info on hiking in the area at wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/odessa-lake-creek-trail.// Aaron Theisen is a Spokane-based outdoors and travel writer.

photos Left to right: AAron theisen // willy bartlett // Ammi Midstokke 22

Out There Monthly / March 2014

ski powder and spring corn: Do it all at silver By Holly Weiler

Run along a river: Spokane River Run By Ammi Midstokke

Sometimes a person gets lucky. The storm clouds obscure the sky on a day the lifts are not running, and a foot of fresh powder falls. The next day dawns clear and happens to coincide with a day off from work or school or other responsibilities.

5:30 AM never looked so dismal. Determined and unaware of the calamity of the outdoors, I had woken up for (yet another) of those Northwest winter runs. The kind where you stand in your closet debating whether you need three or four layers then check your headlamp to make sure the batteries are going to last.

Road for our long cruiser back to the lift, our legs were as leaden as spring slush, but somehow it doesn’t take as long to recover when fresh powder abounds. Back on the lift and without a moment’s hesitation, we agreed that we were doing it again. And again.

Later that spring, we returned for a Silver Saturday – one of those wonderful spring days when the mountain transforms into a giant ski party. Whenever I happen to have this much good fortune, it’s Silver Mountain that’s calling my name. Forget winding, icy mountain roads: the Silver gondola is right off I-90. I can adjust equipment during the ride to the top, and by the time it unloads, I’m ready to go. As quickly as possible, I make my way to chair four. I don’t like to share: I want Wardner Peak. On my best-ski-day-ever, I left home in the dark, picked up a friend en-route, arrived at the gondola before the masses, and was among the first in the lift line. We were willing to work for solitude and first tracks: we made a beeline for the Wardner Peak Traverse. Our reward was completely untracked powder. On the traverse, we trekked through snow that was higher than our boot tops. Even if we hadn’t been a little winded from pushing ourselves across, we would have needed to take that moment to pause at the top of The Meadows to behold the incredible sight. We had a blank canvas. We were probably not worthy, but we were not going to let that stop us. The tracks we set that morning would have been unimpressive to anyone viewing them from afar, but to us while we were skiing, we were in our own ski film. By the time we got to the Assay

We got in three runs that morning before anyone else managed to find “our” run. By then we were so fatigued that we were willing to share. Even so, there were hidden pockets everywhere. After lunch, we booted up Wardner Peak to enjoy the aptly named Sheer Bliss before dropping down to the Silver Basin. Once we were thoroughly exhausted, we made our way back to the lodge to enjoy hot cocoa before reloading the gondola for our return to the parking lot. Later that spring, we returned for a Silver Saturday – one of those wonderful spring days when the mountain transforms into a giant ski party. People were skiing in shorts and t-shirts, there was a band playing outside Mountain Haus Lodge, and plastic lawn chairs were planted firmly in the snow for skiers to sit back and listen while resting tired legs. So often in the Silver Valley this time of year it seems that when deep powder is elusive, there’s always a sunny spring day waiting to take its place. // Holly Weiler is a freelance writer and distance running coach who volunteers her time as co-chair of the Spokane Mountaineers hiking committee and volunteer coordinator for the Friends of Mount Spokane State Park.

in front of the other – in Yaktrax or snowshoes – all winter long. That and all the eggnog I drank. When I show up at the race start in April, it’s more like a celebration of spring running than anything else. Hundreds of trail runners crawl out of hibernation to patter down the trails with wide grins on their faces, like running in shorts

The Spokane River Run has become my token spring race: It’s what gets me out the door and into the dark cold of winter months until spring finally appears. On this particular morning my optimism reigned, and I stepped onto the porch only to find that a surprise blizzard sort of thing had blown in overnight. I say “sort of thing” because it couldn’t really decide if it was torrential rain or heavy snow. I’m not sure if there is a right kind of gear for moisture and ice in all directions, but it would be fair to say that my two layers were far from appropriate. When I find myself running down the road, splashing slush and snow in all directions, flakes melting onto my face and dripping down the back of my neck, I ask myself the same question I do just about every day: “What, in the name of all things holy, am I doing out here?” The answer comes in sweet memories of last April and one of my first races of the season - done in shorts - along the shores of the Spokane River. I remember those winding trails and dodging around trees, the view of the cliffs on the opposite shore, and the joy of running free. It’s a spectacular run, all right here in our backyard. The Spokane River Run has become my token spring race: It’s what gets me out the door and into the dark cold of winter months until spring finally appears. The anticipation of this inauguration of the new season is what keeps me putting one foot

was the best idea yet. I look forward to it all winter long, maybe because I love trails, and certainly because that’s something I’ll have in common with everyone there. The race itself is clearly organized by runners who know what they are doing. The registration is efficient, there is ample parking, and the course is well marked and diverse. They have a great family atmosphere and an inclusive selection of distances (5K, 10K, 25K, and 50K). And because they seem to understand those of us who like to climb things, they’ve included a 25K Fun Run Challenge – a course designed to wake up your winter legs at the very least. If you’re looking for something to motivate you into the darkness, or to get your summer running foundation strong, Spokane River Run is the local adventure to take part in. I’ll be spending the next two months trudging through snow and sleet and rain with a smile on my face. It’s the same smile I’ll be wearing the whole race long. For details or to sign up for the race, visit www. spokaneriverrun.com. // Born and raised in the back woods of North Idaho, Ammi spent the last decade adventuring around the world. She now lives in Sandpoint. March 2014

/ Out There Monthly

tune up your spring ride: new trails, training tips and events

By Brad Naccarato

Clockwise from top right: Ashley Ward Climbing through rays of sun and weeds on Good Behavior trail at beacon hill. Photo: Eric Ashley. // Taking a break with the bees. Photo: Eric Ashley. // Jake Grob Bombs down beacon with his pup on his heels. Photo: Josh Tofsrud. // Ashley Ward, Flying past spring balsam root On her first MTB Ride. Photo: Eric Ashley

Winding through stands of giant ponderosa pines while pebbles and mud scatter in your wake. Gliding over slick rocks as your bike responds to each element of the trail. Bombing aggressively through canyons as you navigate smooth, narrow singletrack. Sound familiar? It’s that time of year again; time when we emerge from our winter caves, squinting up at the bright orb in the sky like a long lost companion; time when we move our skis to the back of the closet and dust off our fat-tired-friend that has been patiently waiting in the garage all winter. Spring is in the air, and it’s time to ride. The warmth and sunshine have a way of pulling us like a tractor beam back to our favorite two-wheel haunts – those little pieces of packed-dirt paradise in the woods. But before you saddle up and click in, read on to get the most out of the spring riding season with trail ideas, training tips, and events you can’t afford to miss. Explore New Trails With every new riding season, there are always fresh trails being built and old trails being redefined. The passionate riders at Evergreen East, the Eastern Washington Chapter of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, have continued to work hard this last year, hosting skills clinics and events to rally the 24

Out There Monthly / March 2014

local mountain biking community, and trail work parties that made significant improvements to several of the region’s most popular riding spots, including the Bluff/High Drive trails, Mount Spokane, and Beacon Hill/Camp Sekani. Maps for the latter two riding areas are available at many Spokane area bike shops. You can keep track of Evergreen’s typically ambitious schedule of trail building, education and advocacy activities at evergreeneast.org. To encourage you to explore some new trails this spring, we wanted to highlight three newer trail systems that you may not have heard of that lose their snow and typically dry out early in the season. While none of them are “epics,” they all provide close-to-town riding with their own special surprises for all levels of riders. Wyakin Park: The group, Friends of Wyakin Park, has been busy busting out singletrack in this densely wooded urban sanctuary for the last three years. For folks living on the North Side of Spokane, it’s hard to beat Wyakin for a quick after-work singletrack fix. Short and sweet, Wyakin is situated on 27 acres of city park land in the Balboa/South Indian Trail neighborhood. “Last September we had a re-dedication of the park following the completion of the trailhead with the installation of a kiosk and entry feature,” says Ted Moon, one of Wyakin Park’s lead ambassadors. From

the trailhead, a wide, mostly rock-lined trail loops through the park for half a mile. Southwest of the trailhead is an area with a few dirt jumps and the start of the singletrack that winds in and out of the ravines until it reaches the northern boundary of the park proper, notes Moon. Directions: Head west on Francis from Maple Street and turn right on Assembly at the multi-street intersection, just as Francis starts to head downhill towards Riverside State Park. Go about a block past the Avista substation on Assembly to the trailhead on your left. Holiday Hills/Saltese Flats: This trail system is part of the Saltese Uplands Conservation Area near Liberty Lake, Wash. This 552-acre area was acquired in 2011 with Conservation Futures funding. A mile south of I-90 about halfway between Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, this property features over seven miles of trails that were built by local real estate developer and mountain biker Mark Pinch (who also helped broker the conservation land deal) and by volunteers including members of the Washington Trails Association. The trail winds in a loop throughout the property, dipping into canyons and climbing ridge tops with views of Liberty Lake, Mica Peak, Mount Spokane, and Saltese Flats. “This is one of my favorite early season rides because it thaws very quickly in the spring,” says Simon Hartt, one of Wheelsport East’s lead mechanics and a year-round mountain biker. Directions: For a map and directions, visit the Spokane County Conservation Futures website at spokanecounty. org/parks/content.aspx?c=2832. Sherwood Forest (Syringa, as the locals call it): Sandpoint has an awesome loop trail system with up to nine miles of riding that has all the elements you would want in a perfect mountain bike trail. That’s probably because it was recently built by the Pend Oreille Pedalers, a local group of bike enthusiasts who work tirelessly to maintain many of the Sandpoint region’s trails. It is important to know that the Sherwood Forest trail system is located entirely on private land that is under a conservation easement with the Kaniksu Land Trust. The landowners are passionate about maintaining “non-motorized” trails and have worked closely with the local bike organizations to create it. For more information about the trail system, stop by Greasy Fingers Bikes and Repair at the corner of 3rd and Pine in Sandpoint and talk to the owner, Brian, who is also the president of the Pend Oreille Pedalers. Directions: The trailhead is located on the west side of Sandpoint at the end of Pine Street. Training Tips For some of you, transitioning from an active ski season means you’re closer to being “bikefit.” But for those of you who spent your winter months surfing Netflix and chugging IPAs, you might consider doing a little pre-season road work here before you go kill it in the mud. Building back your endurance is obviously going to be the most critical element. But if road riding isn’t your cup of tea, jogging, hiking up hills, or stationary biking are all highly aerobic activities that will help build your endurance levels so you can crush those killer climbs without having to do the walk of shame. Gaining a higher level of fitness before you hit the trail means you’re going to have quicker reflexes on the bike, go longer distances, have less ride interruptions, and have a better, more enjoyable ride overall. For a complete pre-season mountain bike workout, check out bikejames.com/strength/off-seasonmountain-bike-training-workout. Spinning classes are also a great way to get

back into biking shape. Gyms like the YMCA, Oz Fitness, Precision Pilates and The Union in Spokane offer spinning classes and The Bike Hub has a “Spin Room” in its Spokane Valley store location. For newbies, or even veterans looking to find mountain bike specific training, Evergreen East offers several skills clinics and women’s specific clinics each year. Their three-hour basic skills class explores the fundamentals of mountain biking. This class features demos by instructors on proper form and control and practice time where the participants are given tips and pointers on how to improve their skills. For gaining confidence and skill as a rider, there really is only one classroom and that’s the trailhead. “The best way to improve as a mountain biker is to just go ride as much as you can with people who are strong riders,” says Kevin Dentler, owner of This Bike Life in Spokane. “Getting comfortable with your bike’s gearing is one of the most challenging pieces for newer riders. Spending lots of time on your bike is the only way to deal with that,” he adds. Starting in April (weather permitting), This Bike Life will be hosting Wednesday evening rides straight from their South Hill location to the High Drive trail system on the South Hill “Bluff.” These rides are open to all levels and are a great opportunity to improve your skills and meet other riders in the area.

Mingle with industry reps from: Enve • Fizik • Ogoi • Mavic • Profile Design • Sugoi

Tri Jamboree Saturday, March 22nd 3pm-8pm

this Bike Life South 507 E 30th Ave

Enjoy food, drinks, free swag, and great deals. Save 20% to 70% on the latest tri gear, plus plenty of chances to win amazing prizes! FREE event! All Felt Tri Bikes on sale!

Fat Tire Events There are many mountain bike events happening throughout the year, but the following three spring events kick off the season in style – and you can’t afford to miss any of them. Hub-a-Palooza: For the competitors out there, this early season event hosts two separate races happening Saturday and Sunday March 22 and 23. The Double Down Hoe Down 6 is a downhillstyle, two-day race on a designated course starting from the top of Spokane’s Beacon Hill. This year, the organizers also added The People’s Enduro race to the mix. This race is a conventional enduro (both downhill and uphill riding), where riders are timed only on the downhill stages. For more information check out allgravityseries.com.

thisbikelife.com

509•413•2529

The Bike Swap: The Spokane Bike Swap is a non-profit event that provides a great venue to buy new and used bicycles and accessories. Similar to a ski swap, anyone can sell their bikes at the event. Local bike shops and other vendors will be at the event as well. This is a one-stop shop to get ready for the bike season. The event takes place April 12-13, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center (404 N. Havana St.). More info at spokanebikeswap.com. 24 Hour Race: The weekend of May 24 and 25, Round and Round Productions hosts its annual event that has become a tradition for many riders in the region. It’s a crazy event to simply go watch and even more fun to participate in. This roundthe-clock, 24 hour event takes place at Spokane’s Riverside State Park and is primarily a team relay mountain bike race (although some riders race all on their own), beginning at noon on Saturday and ending at noon on Sunday. Teams compete for medals, prizes and bragging rights. More info at roundandround.com. // Brad Naccarato got his first Big Wheel at age 5 and has been pursuing the two-wheeled dream ever since. His lack of talent has always been overshadowed by his passion and desire.

March 2014

/ Out There Monthly

Last Page from big to big inspiration

One Woman’s Fitness Transformation // By Hank Greer Many people would be short of breath if they tried to match Dawny Taylor’s brisk pace during her morning “wog” on the Centennial Trail. She calls it wogging because she walks as fast as a lot of people jog. And anyone who didn’t know her before would be surprised to learn that this fast mover used to tip the scales at 415 pounds. Growing up, everyone in Dawny’s family was big. Whether it was passed off as being big boned or a matter of genetics, it was just the way it was. It was considered normal at home, which provided a safe refuge from the teasing and bullying at school. That began to change when she was 29 years old. While stepping over a railroad tie she severely hyperextended her knee. For the first time in her life a medical professional informed Dawny she was morbidly obese. The irony of that particular situation was that although the doctor told Dawny she needed to lose weight, she also had to stay off her feet for three months. Afterwards, despite a custom made brace – which she says she can probably fit both legs into now – and crutches, her weight made it extremely difficult to get around on her weakened knee. Name a diet and Dawny has probably tried it over the years. She knew she was fat, but was accepting of it because, again, that was how her family was. Also she never got on a scale to see how she was doing. A 10 pound loss is not noticeable for someone weighing 400-plus pounds, but since she never got on the scale she had no idea if she was making any progress. Consequently, she’d grow tired of the diet and give up. She felt sorry for herself for a couple of years, and it wasn’t until an aunt gave her some literature about Weight Watchers that she finally decided to take action. Dawny is not quite sure what changed, but something clicked. She joined the organization and learned how to balance her caloric intake. One example she gives is the larger, more fulfilling amount of plain popcorn compared to a bare handful of Doritos. Over the next two years she lost 150 pounds. She says that only after she lost 50 pounds could she actually tell she was losing weight. Some life and job changes followed, and Dawny went back to making poor choices about her food and exercise. She began putting weight back on

while she continued attending her weekly meetings at Weight Watchers. She rationalized her choices during the week and fooled herself into thinking she could just start over at the next meet-

She never got on a scale to see how she was doing. A 10 pound loss is not noticeable for someone weighing 400-plus pounds. ing on Saturday. At the meetings, she always had an excuse, which the group leader recognized as such and always called her on it. But the group could not make Dawny change. She had to do that herself and she knew it. She doesn’t know what happened, but after one meeting she just started sticking with the regimen. She made it through the week and lost five pounds. The results were encouraging. And she started exercising. Sit and Be Fit is an exercise program on public television designed for senior citizens. That’s where Dawny got her fitness start. For most people the exercises would seem so easy as to be

SAT 1st - Tri-City WED 12th - Everett FRI 14th - Tri-City

For Tickets Call 509.535.PUCK 26

Out There Monthly / March 2014

in May 2012, Dawny reached her goal of 155 pounds. She never had surgery to fix her knee, but now she doesn’t need to. She’s much healthier now. She feels better, and she feels better about

Dawny wogging through riverfront park Photo: Hank Greer

MARCH SCHEDULE

www.SPOKANECHIEFS.com

considered ludicrous. For Dawny each session was an intense workout that had sweat running down her face. Her fitness level improved to where she would repeatedly go up and down a set of three

Game Time:

7 PM

steps. She would lay on her stomach, raise her arms and legs into a superman pose, and hold it for an excruciating 10 seconds. That improved to 13 seconds. Then 20. After six months she joined a gym where she would walk on a treadmill for eight minutes at 1 mph. She swam in the pool and did water aerobics because the buoyancy made it easier on her joints. She progressed to working out with weights and getting on the elliptical machine. Then she started walking outside, which turned out to have the most appeal to her. She slowly but regularly shed the pounds, and

herself. Morning wogs, Zumba classes, and weight training pep up her day with what she refers to as an hour of sanity. Dawny has been with Weight Watchers for nine years, and she hates being asked how long it took her to lose 260 pounds. When someone needs to lose that much weight it seems like an impossible goal. But it isn’t if you focus on the little steps that get you there. Dawny tracked her lost weight in five-pound increments, and those little steps added up over time. But she admits it was a struggle for her. She started out strong, slipped, and then bounced back. Although she reached her goal last year, she actually lost far more than 260 pounds because of the times she weakened. Dawny does not consider herself cured. She loves food. She loves to eat. The challenge has been finding ways to make that fit into a healthy lifestyle. That, and wogging, is what she chalks up to her success. //

T IC K E T S starting at

$1 0

REGULAR SEASON FINALE FRIDAY MARCH 14th Sponsored By:

For Tickets Call 509.535.PUCK

Tundra Swan Festival Pend Oreille Valley

Thousands of swans arrive at â&#x20AC;&#x153;Swan Lakeâ&#x20AC;? each year. Be part of the magical migration! Kalispel Tribe Camas Center (Usk, WA) Reserve your spot for $10 | Kids $5. Lunch and bus ride included. www.porta-us.com - PayPal accepted

PASS

Spring Fling

Spring Fling Spring Fling Spring Fling Spring Fling Spring Fling Spring Fling Spring Fling SPring Fling Spring Fling Spring Fling Spring Fling Spring Fling

OTM_MarchAd.indd 1

March 2014

2/6/2014 9:46:49 AM 27 / Out There Monthly

Metolius Session Crash Pad Reg $148.95 CAMP Orbit Wire Express Quickdraw Reg $13.95 SALE $9.97

Black Diamond GridLock Screwgate Cosmetic Seconds Reg $19.95 SALE $16.98 Bluewater 9.9 mm Pulse Dynamic Rope - Standard Reg $195.00 SALE $149.98

Mammut Tripod 2 Helmet Reg $79.95 SALE $49.98

Black Diamond Momentum AL / Women’s Primrose Harness $45.95 LaSportiva Women’s Nago Rock Shoe $99.00

Black Diamond Big Air Package $26.95

Gibbon Classic Slackline Reg $89.95 SALE $68.98

Five Ten Hueco Rock Shoe Reg $149.95 CAMP SALE $109.97 Rox Duffle Bag Reg $49.95 SALE $39.98

Let our experienced staff help you gear up for your next adventure! 2002 N Division, Spokane • 509.325.9000

mountaingear.com/retail

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

facebook.com/MountainGearStore 28

Out There Monthly / March 2014