Out There Monthly June 2011

UNE 2 V O L .7 // N O.9 // J

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M O N T H LY JUNE 19th, 2011

R E AT I O N C E R R O O D T U G U I D E TO O T S E W H T R O N THE INLAND

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NEWS: SUMMER PARkWAYS ExPANDS PAGE: 8

ROADTRIP: YUMMY FOOD IN SALMO, B.C.

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LAST PAGE: kIDS AND PEAk 7 ADVENTURES PAGE: 26

HEALTH: HOW MANY CALORIES BURNED AT BLOOMSDAY? PAGE: 10

WHAT’S YOUR GEAR? RACHEL TOOR, LONG DISTANCE RUNNING

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In This Issue

wild walls

__________ spokane’s climbing gym & yoga studio

“Families that climb together are 85% less likely to argue at the dinner table.” *

p.6 / From the Editor

By Jon Snyder

www.outtheremonthly.com

p.8 / Out There News Summer Parkways Expands, Bicycle Poker Ride, MTB Skills Class

By Dr. Bob Lutz

p.12 / Sustainable Living Training For Transition

By Taylor Weech

p.14 / Roadtrip Eat And More In Salmo, B.C.

By Ben Greenfield

p.17 / Everyday cyclist Get A “Going Out Bike”

By John Speare

p.18 / Book Reviews

_________

202 W. 2nd Avenue • Spokane, WA 99201

509.455.9596 wildwallsgym@gmail.com www.wildwalls.com

*Seriously? We just made that up.

Dr. Bob Lutz senior writers

Jon Jonckers, Derrick Knowles

Day In The Life Of A Triathlete

Please call for details.

Managing Editor

Health & Fitness Editor

p.16 / Training Tips

Package includes: Climbing Club Rental gear 1 hr. climbing $12 Single Visit $100 10-Punch Pass 45 min in the party room Wed. 6-8 PM Yoga Flow Sun. 6-8 PM Mon. 6-7 PM Climb Team Thurs. 6-7:30 PM Free for members Wed. 7-9 PM $10 guests Sun. 7-9 PM

Kaitlin Snyder

Bloomsday?

By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Birthday Parties/Groups

Jon Snyder jon@outtheremonthly.com

Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Rachel Toor: Distance Running

$16 per person (minimum 4 climbers)

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

How Many Calories Burned At

p.15 / What’s Your Gear?

Spider Monkeys Wed. 5-7 pm $12 Single Visit $74 8-Punch Pass

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2011

Art Director

p.10 / Health & Fitness

By Derrick Knowles

YOUTH & GROUP PROGRAMS

MONTHLY

A Cycling Solution

A History Of Alaska Wilderness and

Contributing Writers:

Janelle Atyeo, Thomas Brown, Ashley Graham, Ben Greenfield, Sarah Hauge, Stan Miller, Corey Passons, Erika Prins, John Speare, Taylor Weech Distribution Coordinator

Barbara Snyder To request issues please call 509 / 534 / 3347 Ad Sales

Bill Bloom: 509 / 999 / 8214 Out There Monthly

Mailing Address: PO Box 559 Spokane, WA 99210 www.outtheremonthly.com, 509 / 534 / 3347 Out There Monthly is published once a month

by Snyderco DBA/Out There Monthly. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. ©Copyright 2011 Snyderco DBA/Out There Monthly.

The views expressed in this magazine reflect those of the writers and advertisers and not necessarily Snyderco DBA/Out There Monthly.

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 Inland Northwest PROUD MEMBER OF

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p.22 / Tri Rockstars Local Athletes Stay Grounded in Spokane And Compete Worldwide

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p.25 / MUSIC Report

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Ashley Bids Farewell With Her Final Column

By Ashley Graham & Corey Passons On the cover: Josh Hadway and Haley Cooper-

p.26 / Last Page

Scott pose on Rimrock Drive in Palisades Park, west Spokane. // Photo Ben Tobin, www.bentography.com

Peak 7 Helps Struggling Teens

By Erika Prins

JUNE 2011

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From the Editor: THE CYCLING SOLUTIOn Americans love wars. Not actual wars but metaphorical wars. There’s the War on Christmas, the War on Workers. I’ve personally fought (and lost) the War on Country Music, the War on Eating Meat, and the War on Short Hair.

(Thank you George Jones, chorizo sausage, and Grandpa Snyder.)

In the Seattle area some people would have you believe there is now a war between modes of transportation. Cars and bikes. At war.

This is silly on so many levels. Right now we are basking in the glow of another year of successful Bike to Work Month events in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. No cars were harmed in these events.

Yet there are a lot of angry folks in America.

They can’t be angry anymore at Saddam, Osama, Nixon or Breznev so they need to focus that energy somewhere, and, lucky for us, some of it lands on cyclists.

Why? Because we are “Not paying our fair share!”

Why should tax dollars go to pay for bike lanes and paths when we cyclists don’t even pay to register our bikes or pay lots of gas tax, they say. Roads are for cars, because that’s who pays for them.

Nonsense. Our roads are paid for by sales tax, property tax, and vehicle tab fees, which everybody pays regardless of how they get to work. I’m going to guess that 99.5% of all Spokane/Coeur d’Alene

cyclists also own cars and pay tab fees. That just leaves gas tax.

If you can leave that bizarre parallel universe for a moment, where consuming less gas is a bad thing, think about this: gas tax pays hardly anything for the upkeep on local roads. Most gas tax goes to big mega-projects like highways where bikes don’t travel.

And most of it doesn’t go to current projects. Most current gas tax goes to paying the debt service on projects that have already been built.

Cyclists pay just as much in taxes, but because they drive less they do much less damage to roads.

Same goes for pedestrians and transit riders. We are just asking for fair transportation choices. We

all use more than one mode. The next time you talk to somebody who is overly driving centric let them know about a magical solution you’ve heard of, one that will reduce congestion, reduce wear and tear on the roads, reduce emissions and might even lower gas prices and health insurance. The best part of the cycling solution is that no one who doesn’t want to, has to ever get on a bike: we just need to make it easier for the ones who do. //

------------------------------------------------------JON SNYDER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF editor@outtheremonthly.com

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4/29/11 10:44 AM

Out There News Summer parkways expands New Days and New Neighborhoods

Summer parkways fun from 2010. // photo Faye Klein

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Out There Monthly / JUNE 2011

Spokane Summer Parkways, which debuted last year, is expanding to three dates in three different neighborhoods this year. Modeled after Bogota, Columbia’s successful program, Spokane Summer Parkways is a free, familyoriented street festival with four miles of city roadways closed to motorized vehicle traffic to make way for bikers, pedestrians, skaters and users of other human-powered transportation.

Each parkway route connects neighborhood parks, and the focus is on recreation, fitness and community.

The first Summer Parkway event is Wednesday, June 22, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, on the South Hill with a four-mile loop route that connects Manito and Comstock parks. This is the only (and first attempt at an) evening parkway event, and the only mid-week one. The next parkway event will be in the North Hill neighborhood on Sunday, July 24, 10:00 am-2:00 pm, and will connect to Franklin Park. And the final one will be in the Northwest Spokane neighborhood on Sunday, August 14, 10 am-2:00 pm. Its route connects with Audubon Park and the Dwight Merkel Sports Complex.

“When you look at the success of [parkway events] in other spaces, it seemed like a good idea to connect green spaces as much as possible, and have it on flat roads [so people can] explore parts of the city that they might otherwise not explore,” says Bill Bender, planning committee co-chair.

Maps of each parkway route are available at the event website, summerparkways.com. Each route was planned in collaboration with Spokane Parks & Recreation, the neighborhood councils and the Spokane Police Department. People can enter and exit the parkway at any point. Summer Parkways is sponsored by the SpokeFest Association (the umbrella organization that also sponsors Spokane Bikes) and City of Spokane Parks & Recreation.

Each event will be unique, based on the participants and what they contribute. “It will be as fun as people make it,” says Bender. Organizers encour-

age people to decorate their bikes, bike trailers, strollers, and bring whatever they can contribute to a festive atmosphere and, perhaps, share with other participants, such as chalk art, games, bubbles, juggling and jump ropes.

“Bring your own stuff…let your imagination run wild and enjoy Spokane,” says Chris Schnug, SpokeFest Association treasurer. Essentially, it’s a create-your-own street festival, and Summer Parkways creates the venue for it.

Local businesses and vendors are also encouraged to participate with an interactive booth or exhibit set up along the parkway (sign-up online).

Some pre-determined activities, according to the committee, will include Zumba, martial arts and activities regarding clean air.

About 130-150 volunteers are needed for each parkway event, according to Bender, to assist at intersections to ensure safety—which means monitoring the barricades and talking with motorists to explain why they can’t use the streets. For example, there are 38 intersections for the South Hill parkway event, and Bender says there will probably be three shifts for volunteers to “sit back and enjoy the show—a parade of people passing by.” Volunteers are also needed to set up and tear down the barricades. City police presence will be at the arterial crossings. (Sign-up at the event website to volunteer.)

Schnug estimates that last year’s two Summer Parkways events attracted about 1,000 people altogether, and she’s hopeful that there will be a much larger turnout this year. “I encourage groups of people and families to write it on their calendars and show up with their enthusiasm,” she says.

“After coming out and participating, people will never be the same.” //

For more information, visit www.summerparkways.com.

Out There News Mountain Bike Clinic At Riverside SP Spokane Mountaineers Want To Teach You Skills

Learn to mountain bike. // photo jEff ferguson.

Even mountain bikers who tear down the hill can learn from slowing down, so says Lisa Giegel, committee member for this year’s Spokane Mountaineers Mountain Bike Clinic on June 11-12.

The two-day weekend clinic at Riverside State Park teaches braking, shifting, anticipation and body position—and a few finishing touches like trail etiquette.

“When [experienced riders] have to do all this little slow speed technique stuff, they get this little bell going off in their head,” says Giegel. The skills riders learn while taking it slow help improve their performance on the trail, where everything happens much faster.

Novice riders have a chance to learn basics in a safe, controlled environment.

Each group of five or six similarly skilled riders works with two instructors for the morning “skills station” sessions. To ensure one-on-one attention for each participant, registration caps at 30.

After the morning sessions on the flat, open old airfield at Riverside State Park, the group heads to the trails for a chance to practice their newly

learned techniques.

Anyone with a mountain bike, helmet, a Spokane Mountaineers membership, and $40 can register. Those who are interested but don’t have a bike should contact the organizers for help tracking down a loaner.

Experienced riders volunteer their time to instruct at a much lower cost to participants, unlike many other bike clinics, which are taught by paid professionals. That helps keep down the cost and make the clinic accessible to a wider range of riders—including, Giegel points out, providing a stronger incentive for women to try the sport.

Women’s participation is a tough sell for co-ed clinics, she says, but the Mountaineers clinic often has as many women riders as men—or more. “It’s very open and encouraging for women to participate in it if they’re a little leery about getting on a mountain bike. It’s a good place to start.” //

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BICYCLE POKER RIDE On June 11 Cool Water Bikes will hold its second annual Poker Ride fundraiser on June 11th. Also in mid-June, the non-profit Christian ministry will move its used bike shop to a new location at 224 S. Howard St. in downtown Spokane.

Poker Ride participants walk or bike along the Centennial Trail, drawing poker cards from stations along the way. The best hands win prizes, and everyone is invited to stay for an after-party with hot dogs for sale, a silent auction, a raffle and kids’ games.

At Cool Water Bikes, homeless teens and young adults can earn a bicycle by working ten hours refurbishing donated bikes. The ministry currently shares a downtown space with Cup of Cool Water, a drop-in center for homeless teenagers.

The “shop” consists of a small room stacked floor to ceiling with parts. Bicycles overflow from the storage room into a narrow hallway.

“Trying to be open to the public has been really difficult because we share space with our dropin center,” says Cool Water Bikes manager Noah Sutherland. “We’ve been really bursting at the seams for space for three years.”

Proceeds from the Poker Ride will help pay

to renovate the new space, which will quadruple the shop’s space and allow for regular hours.

With expanded operations, Sutherland expects the ministry to become self-sustaining and offer paid internships to homeless young adults.

Beyond bike maintenance, interns would learn skills like reporting to work on time and how to assist customers. “We can be somewhat more gracious about that learning process with them, because they’ve never had good role models for that,” Sutherland says.

Finding a donated space proved harder than Sutherland anticipated. It wasn’t until after the organization finally earmarked funds for rent that the future shop space became available—rent free.

He says, “A lot of the pieces that came into place in order to make this happen, I really just have to believe that it’s a miracle.” //

Cool Water Bikes Poker Ride, June 11th, 10 am-2 pm, New Community Church, 1003 E Trent Ave, Suite 140. No entry fee. For information, visit coolwaterbikes.org.

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Health andFitness ®

How Many Calories Were BURNED? Calculating Bloomsday’s Total / By Dr. Bob Lutz

along with a relatively straight-legged gait, running requires you to throw your body forward and upward against gravity. This springing motion on a bent knee calls into play your leg muscles significantly more than walking, not surprisingly requiring significantly more energy.

Back in 2004, researchers found that walking at speeds of 3-4 mph burns roughly half as many calories as running. Interestingly, walking at 5 mph and faster actually burns more calories than running because at these speeds, walking is very inefficient, causing the heart to work harder, increasing oxygen demands, and overall being more work.

It would seem that if humans want to get around quickly, they should run and not walk fast (and besides it looks a little strange).

The 27th Year

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Out There Monthly / JUNE 2011

When you look for events that bring a community together, it’s hard to beat the energy that occurs the first Sunday of every May. The weeks leading up to the first of May saw plenty of people training for the 35th running of Bloomsday, and race day saw more than 51,000 participants coming across the finish line. The weather was outstanding, volunteers were their usual helpful selves, crowds were enthusiastic, and of course, let’s not forget the 35 bands and musicians.

Running along, my mind wandered to what motivated participants. Was it their first Bloomsday, or were they regulars? How many people would continue with their running or walking throughout the rest of the year? Were they running for the finisher t-shirt? What would it take to keep this energy going? While that is a topic for another time, I thought I would look at Bloomsday from a different angle: how many calories did Bloomsday participants burn?

It’s easy to see why walking and running are the most common forms of physical activity— every able-bodied person learns to walk, and running doesn’t require any special instruction or equipment, other than possibly something donning your two feet. An estimated 30 percent of people walk and 7 percent run on an average day.

So given that more than one-third of Americans walk or run on an average day and yet we see America getting fatter yearly, what would it take to get more people regularly active? Again, so much to write about, so little space. Let’s get back to calories. How much energy did Spokane use on Bloomsday?

For years, it was common lore that running and walking burned the same amount of calories, and most runners have probably heard it was roughly 100 calories per mile. Unfortunately, neither of these is really correct, and here’s why. (Let’s revisit freshman physics—aggghh!) Theoretically, the work (W) of walking/running could be calculated by W=1/2 m(v22 –v12), where m is mass and the differences in velocity squared (v2) reflect movement, or the measurement of the rate and direction of change in the position of an object, i.e., you.

Unfortunately, theory isn’t reality, and this “simple” calculation failed to factor in biomechanics. While walking simply propels you forward

total calories burned/mile Running: .75 x body weight (in lbs.)

Walking: .53 x body weight net calories burned/mile Running: .63 x weight Walking: .30 x body weight Of these two equations, although the total calories burned provide a bigger number, the important number is the net, as it accounts for the resting energy used. So the bottom line is that running burns roughly twice the calories as walking.

So let’s look at how Bloomsday is Spokane’s solu-

tion for the obesity epidemic. Ready for a little math (and a disclaimer—I’m hardly an Einstein, so these are rough numbers). Of the 51,260 finishers, 30,910 were women and 20,350 were men. The average finish time was a little over 114 minutes, indicating the average mode of participation was walking at a 4 mph pace. Now for some creativity: for ease of calculations, given my math-skills, I will assume that about equal percentages of participants walked and ran, and that 60 percent of women walked vs. 40 percent of men (sorry, ladies). As of 2008, the estimated average weight of a man was 190 lbs and 160 lbs for a woman.

So, if approx. 3,500 calories are needed to burn a pound of fat, then 8,634 pounds of fat were shed on Bloomsday by burning more than 30 million calories! Not bad for a fun day with thousands of your friends and neighbors.

While it may not be possible to do Bloomsday every day, just walking or running regularly could help address the City’s obesity rate (www.srhd. org/documents/SpokaneCounts/Obesity.pdf).

Imagine what could happen if people found the

An estimated 30 percent of people walk and 7 percent run on an average day. chance to do a “half-Bloomsday” or spend time to regularly walk or run half the average Bloomsday finish time?

As we finally see the weather warming, think about getting out there and doing your part to make Spokane a healthier place. //

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GoGreen: Sustainable Living

What’s A transition Town?

Training For A Changing World / By Taylor Weech

BRUSHING UP ON TRANSITION SKILLS. // Photo anthony summers.

Global climate change, peak oil and economic instability are the issues that will define this era of human history. Critical dialogue about how to address them systemically is absent among our leaders, and the conversation often devolves into what an individual can do to make an impact. The reality is that the solution needs to be far-reaching, comprehensive and coordinated; it requires more effort than simply changing their light bulbs and buying hybrid cars. The pressure applied to a society in transition is also immense and the potential for a total meltdown in the face of oil shortage and environmental havoc does exist.

Despite the inefficiency of national and international climate legislation, there are groups and individuals hard at work to propose real solutions and strategies to tackle the inter-related issues of climate change and peak oil.

“We are communities, a society, a world in transition, and to do that we need a culture of transition [and] the tools for manifesting it,” says Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition movement, on his website. “[Transition] is about where we want to get to, how do we do it and what might it look like.”

The heart of Transition lies with permaculture, the design concept that mimics and works with natural systems to provide for human needs while enriching nature. Hopkins first designed an “Energy Descent Action Plan” for his community, which was adopted and grew into the first official Transition Town in the U.K. He went on to publish “The Transition Handbook” and more books, films and guides for helping a community transition. There are now over 300 official Transition communities all over the world, mostly in the U.K., Canada, Ireland, United States and Australia.

In Spokane, the conversation about the Transition movement has been ongoing for a few years and the Transition Spokane social network site has 106 members who discuss their experiences and share opportunities with other local residents.

12

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2011

Sun People Dry Goods has also been a home for Transition activities in Spokane, hosting a film night every two weeks followed by a discussion on how to apply the lessons and information in the films to our community.

security.

While everyone can benefit from receiving this information and training, Sinisterra hopes that neighborhood leaders specifically will sign up.

“There are lots of nonprofits tackling Transition issues in Spokane,” she says, “but there is not much happening around these issues in the neighborhoods themselves—which is where it needs to happen if it is going to be successful. And, while the City has taken many steps [and] adopted more sustainable practices, this is rarely reflected in the community at-large.”

Re-learning the skills that have been lost to oil-driven industrialization is a crucial step that individuals can take now to begin to transition.

Sun People Dry Goods, WSU Master Gardeners, Sustainable September and many other groups offer skill-building opportunities in gardening, home building, canning and more.

A strength of the Transition Culture movement is its positivity and hands-on focus. “For many people, the realization that certain expectations they have held about their lives may not be viable in ten years can be shocking, to say the least, and often times traumatic,” says Sinisterra.

The Transition Handbook has an entire section devoted to the psychological impacts (referred to

by Hopkins as “Post-Petroleum Stress Disorder”) of grappling with the reality of dramatic cultural

shift. Sinisterra says, “Most of us assume that the American way of life is a given...understanding that the next 20 years could be completely different from the last 20 can be life shattering.”

Transition goes beyond the panic that can understandably ensue from such realizations; rather than advising people to stock up on private fuel stashes and bottled water, Transition Culture focuses relentlessly on building connections within communities and turning a crisis into a “Great Opportunity” to re-imagine one’s way of life.

Transition provides the frame for the work already happening in water stewardship, neighborhood organizing, smart growth, alternative transportation, food security and other sustainability issues being tackled in Spokane. It also helps anyone new to this movement learn how to get involved. //

For more information and registration for the upcoming Training for Transition, visit the Sun People Dry Goods website, sunpeopledrygoods. com. More information is available about the Transition movement at transitionculture. org, and “The Transition Handbook” and other Transition publications are widely available online. Those interested may also join the Ning community for Transition Spokane at transitionspokane.ning.com.

Re-learning the skills that have been lost to oil-driven industrialization is a crucial step that individuals can take.

“Anything that leads toward living a more resilient, sustainable lifestyle can be considered a Transition action,” says Juliet Sinisterra, owner of Sun People. “The primary objective...is to bring neighbors and communities together, to envision a different type of world and what that means, and to come up with shared solutions that can be acted on.”

Sinisterra is also working to bring Training for Transition, facilitated by David Johnson and Richard Kuhnel, to Spokane for those interested in an in-depth, experiential training on applying Transition concepts to their community.

According to the Sun People website, participants will: explore how the Transition process increases community resilience; learn how to summarize the Triple Challenge of Peak Oil, Climate and Economic Instability in ways that move people to positive action; understand and know how to work with obstacles that have prevented our communities from recognizing and positively responding to the challenge of energy transition; experience ways that local social and economic community can be created and strengthened; receive support for becoming a Transition catalyst in your community; and connect with others who are helping your region transition to greater stability and

• Small Classes • Early Mornings • 7 days a week INLAND AIR SPORTS a certified school since 1981 tel. 509 535 8119 inlandair@msn.com

www.spokanehanggliding.com

GoGreen: Sustainable Living SUSTAINABLELIVINGCALENDAR (Ongoing) Spokane Farmers’ Market. When: Sat. & Wed. 8 AM - 1PM. Where: 5th Ave. between Division & Browne. We offer locally produced bedding plants, vegetables, fruits, berries, beef, pork, lamb, chicken, turkey, eggs, cheese and baked goods. Info: 509-995-0182, spokanefarmersmarket.org (June 4) Chicken Keeping 101 Workshop.

When: 2:30 PM - 5 PM. Where: Sun People Dry Goods Co, 32 W 2nd Ave, Ste. 200. Summary of chicken keeping regulations in Spokane area; housing; breed selection; feeding and caring for chickens; raising baby chicks; & egg production. $20 Pre-registration required. Info: 509-368-9378, sunpeopledrygoods.com

When: 9 AM to 6 PM daily. Where: Sun People Dry Goods Co, 32 W 2nd Ave, Ste. 200. Introduction to the Transition Town community engagement model developed by Rob Hopkins in Totnes, United Kingdom to respond to the pressures of climate change. $185. Info: 509-368-9378, sunpeopledrygoods.com

(June 18) Keeping Deer at Bay Workshop.

When: 10 AM - 11 AM. Where: Sun People Dry Goods Co, 32 W 2nd Ave, Ste. 200. Learn about deer habits and how to outwit them. Pat Munts discuss deer resistant plants, repellents and fencing. $15. Pre-registration required. Info: 509-368-9378, sunpeopledrygoods.com

(June 5) Free Film Showing of “An Inconvenient (June 20) Green Business Networking Truth”. When: 3 PM - 5 PM. Where: Sun People Luncheon. When 11:30 AM – 1:15 PM. Where: Dry Goods Co, 32 W 2nd Ave, Ste. 200. Join us for this free showing followed by discussion. Organic, non-GMO popcorn included! Info: 509-368-9378, sunpeopledrygoods.com

(June 11) Eco Expo 2011 When: 10 AM - 4 PM Where: Spokane Community College Lair Building, 1810 N Greene St. Description: Expo

featuring 100+ eco friendly companies, products and services. Including kids play zone, farmers market, local food and live music! FREE!! Rain or Shine! Info: facebook.com/EcoExpo2011 or ecoexpo2011@live.com

(June 11 & 12) Transition Training Workshop.

Spokane Convention Center. Sustainable living needs to be easy in order for it to “stick.” Come hear owner Juliet Sinisterra tell how Sun People Dry Goods Co. is helping Spokane transition to a more sustainable and resilient lifestyle. Guest speaker, followed by group introductions and networking. Info: 509-209-2861, slipspokane.org

(June 25) Green Smoothie Workshop. When: 1 PM - 2 PM. Where: Sun People Dry Goods Co, 32 W 2nd Ave, Ste. 200. Join Isol Sarah Edwards of Chakraw Living Foods. Explore the benefits of green smoothies and learn to make this delightful energy drink! Pre-registation required. Info: 509368-9378, sunpeopledrygoods.com //

Wednesday Market Starts JUne 8th Join us at

5th Avenue between Division & Browne Sleep Safely Natural Rubber & Non-Toxic Mattresses

Serving the Spokane Community with more space, great vendors convenient parking and Live Music every Market fresh baked bread & pastries, beef, pork, lamb, poultry, eggs, honey, fruit, and much much more!

Open Saturdays through October 29th Wednesdays June 8th through October 26th 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

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A locally-owned home & garden store | 32 W. 2nd Ave. #200 Entrance faces Browne Street Visit us online at SunPeopleDryGoods.com

www.spokanefarmersmarket.org We accept: Visa/Mastercard, Food Stamps (EBT), WIC

JUNE 2011

/ Out There Monthly

13

Road Trips

Eat, Play, and Love Your Way Around Salmo, B.C. Stop By The Pepperbox Bistro

/ By Derrick Knowles

Even with gas at nearly four bucks a gallon, it may be worth driving north of the border just for a meal at the Pepperbox Bistro in Salmo, B.C. But, after all, this is the Kootenays, and there are enough year-round outdoor adventures to enjoy within about 30 miles in any direction from downtown Salmo.

Salmo sits just across the border from Metaline Falls but doesn’t have the tourist appeal that Rossland and Nelson do. It could be passed up as another gas and groceries town

An excellent place during the summer to explore subalpine peaks and ridges and old-growth forests on foot.

Mountain biking near salmo, BC. / Photo Derrick knowles.

VisitLincolnCountyWashington.com June 19, 2010 ~ Mt. Spokane High School

Full Century, Half-Century, 25-mile and 12-mile rides New 3-mile Family Ride and walk/ run course Food, raffles, music and entertainment Register at www.cancerpatientcare.org or set up a fundraising page at www.active.com/donate/cancerpatientcare 14

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2011

on the way to somewhere else, but take a little time to look around, and voila, you find the Pepperbox Bistro—an unexpected culinary treat a few blocks off the main drag.

What makes the Pepperbox so good? “We’ve got a unique menu for Salmo or just about anywhere actually,” says owner and chef Steve Ritson. The menu is so full of things that sound so incredibly delicious, that deciding on only one dish is a challenge.

A few items that stick out on the menu include ribs that, according to Steve, “hang over the plate,” bison meat loaf and mashed potatoes, thin crust whole wheat pizzas, locally raised beef burgers and a couple types of homemade veggie burgers, a veggie stuffed portabello mushroom, and, well, too many other wonderful things to list here. Check out the full menu on Steve’s facebook page (search Steve Ritson, Salmo, B.C.) to fully appreciate the depth, breadth and quality of eating options.

The Pepperbox Bistro also mixes things up a couple times a month with themed menu nights, like Chinese on the last Saturday of the month, followed by a Mexican theme 13 days later, and a weekly Sunday brunch spread. Of course, they have a list of local wines and brews from Nelson Brewing Company on tap, as well as appetizers like the poutine (fries with gravy and cheese curd) that will blow your mind.

But it takes more than pulling together a good menu to stand out, and that’s where the Pepperbox really delivers. “We are committed to good for you food with lots of local, organic and homemade ingredients,” says Ritson. “That includes hand made breads, sauces, dressings and desserts. We even make our own ice cream and local orchard fruit toppings.” The quality, care, and thought that goes into each ingredient and dish might make your meal one of the most memorable moments of a Salmo and southern Kootenays roadtrip.

When you’re done with your meal, it’s time

to play and burn all that body fuel. Salmo is strategically located a little over a half hour from endless opportunities to work off the previous night’s appetizers, entrées and desserts. To the north, there is Nelson, and everything from a walk around town to a technical mountain bike ride on your choice of area trails. In winter, the Whitewater ski resort just south of Nelson is well known for its powder dumps and excellent liftassisted terrain, as well as Nordic trails and some of the region’s best backcountry ski spots.

To the west, Rossland is touted as the mountain biking capital of B.C. With such a vast network of bike and foot trails, including the renowned Seven Summits Trail—with over 19 miles of single track (www.imba.com/epics/ seven-summits-trail-epic)—there is a pretty strong case for that claim to fat tire fame. Of course Rossland is also home to Red Mountain’s legendary powder skiing. (For information on additional trails, check out www.rosslandtrails. ca.)

Just south and east of Salmo, Highway 3 climbs several thousand feet to the top of the Salmo-Creston Pass (aka Kootenay Pass). It’s no surprise that being the highest maintained pass in Canada makes for some great wintertime backcountry access, but Stagleap Provincial Park at the top of the pass is also an excellent place during the summer to explore sub-alpine peaks and ridges and old-growth forests on foot.

South of the border, hiking trails in the Salmo Priest Wilderness and nearby Abercrombie Mountain—with their wild, rugged trails and steep climbs—or even a more mellow walk along Sullivan Lake’s Lakeshore Trail will certainly work up an appetite for something more than the local burger joints have to offer.

Back in Salmo, there are several nearby camping options and a couple of motels in town. (And if you’re there when the snow is flying, the mom n’ pop Salmo Ski Hill has super cheap night skiing.) If you can’t find something to love in all of that, well then, keep searching because with fewer people and more public land and trails than we have in the states, southeastern B.C. could easily keep you busy chasing new outdoor adventures for the rest of your life. // WHEN YOU GO To Salmo from Spokane: drive about 3 hours north on the Newport Highway, taking Hwy 211 then Hwy 20 towards Metaline Falls. Cross the border (don’t forget your passport), and then drive Hwy 3 the last dozen or so miles to Salmo.

For more ideas and info, check out www.hellobc.com. The Pepperbox Bistro is open seven days a week, but you should call to check their hours (250-357-9300).

What’s Your Gear: Rachel Toor (Distance Running)

Rachel running. / PHOTO Ben Tobin.

“I love to run on gnarly trails in beautiful places,” says Rachel Toor, who started running 19 years ago, when she turned 30. “I like training to see how hard I can push my body. I like to run with other people and I like to run alone. Now I’m waiting for my dog, Helen, to get old enough so that she can join me on long runs.”

Rachel estimates that she has completed 50-60 marathons and ultra-marathons (50K and 50 mile races) altogether. She also completed the Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race in 2004, which took place over five days; she won the marathon that took place on day three. Locally, she competes in the Spokane and Windermere marathons and the Uncle Joe 50K. And she used to lead marathon pace groups as part of Team Clif

Bar. As for what motivated Rachel to take up the sport, she says it took writing her book, Personal Record: A Love Affair With Running (published in 2008), to answer that question. “Writing the book made me realize what running means to me,” she says. “The short answer is that it’s all about love. The long answer is, well, the book.”

In addition to her non-fiction books, Rachel writes for Runner’s World, Running Times, Trail Runner, and Marathon and Beyond, as well as “other, non-sweaty publications,” she says.

And she works as a creative writing professor at Eastern Washington University. “Because [EWU’s] classes are at night, I write in the mornings and run in the afternoons, usually at the warmest time of the day,” she says. “Much of the thinking I need to do for my work happens during my long slow runs.”

As for Rachel’s training routine, she’s now working with a coach for the first time in many years. “I still treasure my ‘junk miles’,” she says, “but now I’m doing more focused training. But instead of going to the track, which I hate, I do interval sessions of miles or half-miles—or whatever—on the trails or at the dog park using my Garmin [watch].”

One of her most memorable races was running the Bridger Ridge 20 miler—which takes place near Bozeman, Montana—a few summers ago with Bob Hayes, a legendary Montana runner. “The run is harder than a marathon, as much of it is above 9000 feet. The winning times are, in fact, slower than marathon times,” says

By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Rachel. “And the real kicker? Bob Hayes was 82 at the time. He beat the time he ran when he was only 79. And we had a blast.”

When competing in ultras, Rachel typically uses hand-held water bottles. “Although for real-

“Much of the thinking I need to do for my work happens during my long slow runs.” ly long runs, like when I did the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim, I had to take a CamelBak,” she says.

As for her preferred choice of energy snacks, she says, “Because I was sponsored by Clif, I still have a lot of Clif Bars, Clif Shots, Clif Shot Bloks and Clif energy drinks. They seem to last a long time. But during ultras I tend to chow down on Oreos and Chips Ahoy, peanut M&Ms and anything else [race volunteers are] offering that looks good. While pacing a friend for the last forty miles of the Western States 100 miler, I ate the most delicious melted cheese sandwich I’ve ever tasted. At races, you have to be able to go with what they have.

“After a long race or training run, I consider a Subway meatball sub an essential gear item,” she says. “I hydrate with Diet A&W Root Beer before and after races.”

Besides running, Rachel competes in what she describes as, an “insane sport called Ride and Tie, where two people take turns running and riding a horse for 20-40 miles of trail.”

“Other than that, I stay away from water, the bike hurts my butt, and winters are meant for staying inside and reading novels. Basically, I’m just a runner,” she says.

Here is Rachel’s gear list.

-----------------------------------------------------RUNNING SHOES: Montrail trail shoes and Asics 2070 (“or whatever the current number is”). “Yes, I believe in wearing shoes to run,” she says.

-----------------------------------------------------SOCKS: SmartWool; Wrightsocks for marathons.

-----------------------------------------------------WATCH: Polar S625X. “I love it more than anything. I have a chapter in my book about how much I love my watch,” Rachel says. She also uses a Garmin Forerunner 310XT. -----------------------------------------------------CLOTHING: Skirtsports running skirt, Moving Comfort sports bra, Moeben arm warmers, Dirty Girl gaiters, and “whatever shorts, tights and other clothes I get for free from Running Times,” she says. “I’m particularly fond of a pair of Brooks shorts, and the shirt I got from the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco last year.”

-----------------------------------------------------SUNGLASSES: Oakleys //

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JUNE 2011

15 / Out There Monthly 3/1/11 10:13 AM

Training Tips

Powered by

A Day In The Life Of A Triathlete Ways To Sneak In Workouts / By Ben Greenfield

Spokane, WA July 23-24, 2011

I do about 15 triathlons each year, from Sprint to Ironman distance. But with two corporations and a busy family, there are tricks I must use to maintain peak triathlon fitness nearly yearround. Here’s how a day in the life of a triathlete looks: 6 am: Wake, stretch, meditate, cup of coffee, check e-mails. Tip: I listen to the news on an mp3 player while I stretch, rather than reading the newspaper.

8 am-noon: Work with clients. Tip: For every hour I sit, I stand and do 100 jumping jacks.

Noon-1pm: Ride bike to YMCA, swim 30 minutes, ride back to office. Tip: Commuting on the bike is good for the environment and a great way to squeeze in training.

1 pm-5 pm: More e-mails and work. Tip: I have

I

My Bike

a pull-up bar in the door of my office and do three pull-ups every time I walk underneath.

5 pm: Kids wake up from their nap, put them in the stroller for a 30-minute run, come back, lift weights in home gym. Tip: Try to include family in a few workouts a week.

7 pm: Dinner, family time, and tennis with kids. Tip: Late night exercise can inhibit sleep, so try to do your workouts early in the day.

9 pm: Foam roller or ice bath for sore muscles, then prep to repeat next day. Tip: Injury prevention is key to consistent training, and you should do one recovery technique each day (stretching, foam roller, ice bath or massage). // Ben Greenfield has a free fitness blog and podcast at www.bengreenfieldfitnesss.com.

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1halfUclimb.indd 1 Out There Monthly / JUNE 2011

5/11/2011 11:56:52 AM

work now puts about 2,600 miles a year on my bike alone. This means studded tires in the winter! Some of my favorite miles on this bike have been logged with a tag-a-long bike attached to my seat post and, most recently with the addition of our second and third children, with a Chariot bike trailer on the back to make a “road train.” My children mistakenly call my commuter bike my “community bike,” but I love that. //

Everyday Cyclist

WHY PUMP?

http://cyclingspokane.blogspot.com

Get Yourself A G.O.B. It doesn’t matter how many bikes some cyclists have. There is always another bike on the horizon. If you’ve got a racing bike, a mountain bike, a commuter, a tourer, it may be hard to justify yet another bike. So, to help you, we’re going to create another bike category. It’s the

A sweet G.O.B. Rig. // PHOTO JOHN SPEARE.

“going-out bike” (GOB). A going-out bike is different than a commuter, in that it’s much simpler and might have a bit more style. Strictly speaking, any bike will work for a going-out bike—if you narrowly define it as “a bike that allows me to go out.”

But a great going-out bike should be simple in its operation and non-flashy in appearance. Like a great mountain bike allows you to enjoy the trails without thinking about the bike, a going-out bike should get you where you’re going and “just work” when you go out for dinner or to the pub. And like any specialized equipment, there are a few small details that help define a great going-out bike. Here are the essentials: ONE GEAR Thinking about shifting, fixing thrown chains, cross-chaining, mashing gears, hitting the wrong gear on a steep hill—all of these nit-picky issues associated with geared bikes should not be allowed on a going-out bike. One speed is all you need. I suggest a single-speed with freewheel, not a fixie, so you can enjoy downhill coasting. For Spokane hills 60-65 total gear inches is a good range. Even if you live at the top of a hill, you’ll be fine. There is no shame in walking, and since you’re using your bike to get to dinner or to the pub, you can ride those carbs right to the top of the steepest incline. Seriously, you’ll seldom feel stronger than when climbing a hill on a single-speed bike after a carb-rich night out. Furthermore, a single speed also opens the potential for a simple chainguard that can keep the muck off your pants.

GENERATOR LIGHTS This is the big money piece on your going-out bike. Generator lights are a requirement. They are powered by a generator in the front wheel hub.

Advances in LED lighting paired with photo-cell technology make generator lighting a no-brainer for a GOB. When you ride your bike and it’s dark, the lights will just work. You don’t have to remember to turn them on or bring them or deal with batteries or attach them. Generator lighting systems are always attached to your bike. And since the lights are attached with nuts and bolts, they tend to stay put. Do not dismiss the integral nature of a generator lighting system on your

going-out bike.

FENDERS Don’t let a little rain, snow, or slush stand in the way of riding your bike out to dinner with friends.

Fenders are in the generator-lighting category.

As you sit reading this in June, you think, “Meh, fenders—who needs them?” But think about this scenario: you’re out with friends on a nice late fall afternoon. You’ve had a great after-work hang.

It’s time to go home, which is a few uphill miles away. What’s that you see? Is that snowy, sleety rain? Looks cold. You’re wearing jeans and a light jacket.

With fenders, the ride home is tolerable, maybe even fun if you get into it. Without fenders, the ride home is a misery-fest, as cold watery gunk sprays off the front tire directly into your sock, which saturates and drives ice-cold water into your shoe box, where it collects around your freezing toes. And of course there’s the greasyslush that spins off your rear tire onto your back.

Lame. Just put fenders on there! Fenders belong on a proper going-out bike!

ATTACHED BAG OR BASKET Here is where a saddle bag shines. A good going-out bike saddlebag should attach semi-per-

Without fenders, the ride home is a misery-fest, as cold watery gunk sprays off the front tire.

All photos: Jim Meyers

Here’s What Makes A Great “Going Out Bike” / By John Speare

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manently to your bike seat. “Semi-permanently” means that it’s attached with either nuts/bolts or, at a minimum, a complicated and hard-toquickly-detach set of straps and buckles. You should always have a basic set of tire-fixing tools in the saddlebag. Otherwise, it’s great for holding a jacket and a lock.

Another good option here is to zip-tie a big basket to a rear rack. You can dump all sorts of stuff in a basket and cover the top with a bungee net to hold it all in.

THE BIKE There are no hard rules here, but generally, you should seek out a bike style that you are comfortable with and that you love to ride. If you’re a fast drop-bar roadie, then build your goingout bike around an old touring or CX frame. If you’re into taking jumps, find an old mountain bike or a cruiser. Your going-out bike should be inviting. It should have a comfy position. And it should have flat pedals—no clipping in! Ideally, the bike should also not attract attention to itself.

You don’t want to worry too much about locking it out of sight, so it should be homely enough to be left alone. //

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208.667.8969 www.bicyclesales.com JUNE 2011

/ Out There Monthly

17

Book Reviews

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption Laura Hillenbrand, Random House, 2010, 496 pages

The Quiet World: Saving Alaska’s Wilderness Kingdom: 1879-1960 Douglas Brinkley, Harper Collins Books, 2010, 576 pages

In the mid-1950’s, as protection for “Arctic Alaska” loomed, the conservation interests pushing for preservation recognized that, “In the end, the American people would have to demand that Arctic Alaska be saved.” In The Quiet World Douglas Brinkley describes the role beat poets, painters, photographers, film-makers and explorers played in building support in the American public for protecting this place professional biologists and conservation organizations deemed essential for Alaskan wildlife.

Over the last decade, much has been written about opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration. This chapter in the North American conservation movement is well known. The claim: opening ANWR to drilling will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, reduce the price of gasoline, and boost the U.S. economy. The cost: the disruption of a fragile environment that is essential habitat for hundreds of species, most notably the breeding grounds for the Porcupine Caribou herd.

The current struggles are only one page in the lengthy history of preserving Alaska’s primal lands. Brinkley tells the rest of the story.

Beginning with John Muir’s travels to Alaska in 1879-80, and ending with the designation of the 8.9 million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Range by executive order during the Eisenhower administration in December of 1960, Brinkley traces the history of Wilderness preservation in Alaska.

Chronicling the involvement of a large variety of characters, Brinkley views the advance of the environmental movement by examining technical studies and political shenanigans and telling the tales of naturalists. Both an intellectual treatise on environmental philosophy and a technical examination of the interconnection between species and their habitat, The Quiet World links the wide range of views that ultimately led to the creation of 19.2 million acres of protected lands in Northeastern Alaska (the Carter administration expanded the reserve in 1980).

The Quiet World is an enlightening read for anyone wanting to learn the entire story of the scientific, social and political struggles surrounding the preservation of wildness in Alaska. // Stan Miller

18

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2011

Louis Zamperini, the now 94-year-old subject of Laura Hillenbrand’s recent Unbroken, has real-life experiences worthy of a superhero.

After a period of juvenile delinquency in Depression-era California, he channeled his energy into running. He began breaking records and eventually raced in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, with speed so impressive it earned him the notice of Adolf Hitler. When World War II began, Zamperini enlisted in the Army Air Forces, serving as a bombardier on the notorious B-24. After his plane went down over the Pacific during a rescue mission, Zamperini and the pilot survived for nearly seven weeks—an unprecedented length of

Zamperini and the pilot survived for nearly seven weeks—an unprecedented length of time. time—during which they battled starvation and dehydration, mental breakdown and injury, all the while plagued by sharks.

On day 47, they were picked up by the Japanese.

The succeeding sections are the true crux of the book and focus on the years of sadistic treatment Zamperini endured in Japan’s prisoner of war camps, where he and so many others showed nearly incomprehensible resilience in the face of slave labor, near starvation, disease, and unthinkable abuses at the hands of their captors.

Hillenbrand (author of Seabiscuit) writes with an evenness and restraint that pair well with Zamperini’s sensational story. The depth of her research is remarkable; Zamperini alone she interviewed some 75 times. And though his story drives the book, perhaps Hillenbrand’s biggest achievement in Unbroken is how skillfully she has pushed the bounds of Zamperini’s narrative to provide context about the world in which he lived.

Through her the reader learns the ins and outs of the Army Air Forces in the early years of war, sees a sudden reemergence of the anti-Semitism in Berlin that had been carefully downplayed during the 1936 Olympics, and reads the mini profiles of countless other POWs. The book’s inscription reads, “For the wounded and the lost,” a fitting choice given how well Hillenbrand has honored not only the remarkable Zamperini, but also the unbreakable spirits of so many of his generation. // Sarah Hauge

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JUNE 2011

/ Out There Monthly

19

Outdoor Calendar CLIMBING (June 4 & 25) Top Rope Anchors. When 10 - 2 PM. Take your climbing to the next level and outdoors.

You’ll learn how to set up a top rope on bolts, equalize, and evaluate an anchor, plus you’ll climb on your anchors. Must have own harness, shoes and belaying system and be able to belay $40. Info: mountaingear. com/pages/retailstore/retail.asp.

(June 4, 11, 18) Saturday Climbing. When: 1-4 PM.

Where: REI Spokane, 1125 N Monroe. Looking for a family activity on Saturdays? Don’t have any climbing gear? No problem. We provide all the gear you’ll need! Info: 509-328-9900, rei.com/Spokane.

(June 6) Women’s Climb Night. When: 6 - 8 PM.

Where: REI, 1125 N Monroe. Ladies, come out and practice your climbing, agility and balance skills in a safe, encouraging environment. No gear? No problem! We provide all the gear. Info: 509-328-9900, rei. com/spokane

(June 7 & 21) Discover Rock Class. When 6 - 8 PM.

Where: 2002 N. Division. Everything you need to harness up, tie in and belay with confidence. This class is for those who wish to get into climbing, as well as for parents wishing to get their young ones climbing safely. $20. Info: mountaingear.com/pages/ retailstore/retail.asp.

CYCLING (Ongoing) WOW is on Facebook- “WOW Cycling Spokane”. LIKE us and keep up with the WOWs this

summer! See you on the road! Info: 509-951-6366, wowcycling.com

When: 9AM - 4PM. Where: Sunnyside, WA. Enjoy tasting and purchasing some extraordinary wines produced in this area. Fee includes two nights lodging, support vehicle, 7 meals, and guides. Info: 509625-6200, spokaneparks.org

HIKING/BACKPACKING (June 2) Family Geocaching. When: 7 - 8:30 PM.

Where: REI, 1125 N Monroe. Bring your family and learn about this fun, modern treasure hunt!

Hands-on experience will prepare you for your own adventure in Geoching! Register online. Info: 509328-9900, rei.com/Spokane

(June 4) Liberty Lake Park Hike. When: 10 AM.

Where: Meet at public park past boat launch. This shaded environment features cedar trees, ferns, shade loving wildflowers, and possibly some interesting mushrooms. Pack enough water, lunch and snacks for a half day. Info: 509-291-5604 or 509-6385537, nechapterwnps.org

(June 4) Orienteering. When: 10-noon. Where: Lincoln Park, 2400 E 17th. Explore Lincoln Park using a detailed map in a traditional orienteering event sponsored by Eastern Washington Orienteering Club. (There are fees for maps.) Info: 509-235-2779, ewoc.org/events.htm

(June 11-12) Spokane Mountaineers Mountain Bike Skills Clinic. When: 8:30 AM - 4 PM Where:

20

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2011

CYCLING (July 1-4) Northwest Tandem Rally. 4 days of

tandem biking. Info: 509-363-6825

(July 23) Gran Fondo Mt Bike Ride. 10,

17, 35, 50 mile options. Info: .bicycleservice. com/4thJuly

(August 6) 8 Lakes Leg Aches Bike Ride. 15,

(September 24) Wild Moose Chase Trail Run, 5km, 10km, and 25km courses. Info: 509-994-

0616, wildmoosechasetrailrun.com

HIKING (July 9-16) Salmo-Priest Loop Trail Volunteer Vacation. Gypsy Meadows, Sullivan Lake Ranger

District. Info: 206-625-1367, wta.org

(June 16) Family Camping Basics. When: 7 - 8:30

(September 24) Priest Lake Marathon, HalfMarathon and 5K. Info: 208-946-9543, priest-

When: 9 AM. Where: Meet at 5 Mile Rosauers on W. Francis Ave. Hike and learn to take better plant, flower and scenery pictures with cameras. Plenty of things to photograph including wildflowers and scenic views. Info: 509-325-0747, nechapterwnps.org

RUNNING/WALKING (June 5) Adventure Sports Week Road Rush. When: 9 AM. Where: Coeur d Alene. 10k, 10 mile and 1/2 marathon road runs in scen ic Coeur d Alene! Info: 208-664-0135, adventuresportsweek.com

MARATHONS

(June 24-26) Bicycle Yakima Valley Wine Tour.

SIXMONTHTRAININGCALENDAR

(August 6) Troika Triathlon. Medical Lake to Riverfront Park. Info: troikatriathlon.com

(June 13) Mad Dash. When: 8 AM. Where: Farragut

between 8 & 11 AM. Where: Sontag Community Park in Nine Mile Falls. It’s like a scavenger hunt on a mountain bike looking for 24 stations. Ride solo or with a partner. Free lunch served with awards. Info: 509-327-7220, spokanetrailquest.weebly.com

(Ongoing) Learn to Row. When: 6 – 7:30 AM or 6 – 7:30 PM. Where: Spokane River near Upriver Dam. Learn to Row. Basic instruction in sculling and sweep rowing. Eligible to join the Spokane River Rowing Association following completion of course.

No experience needed. Must be 18 and able to swim.

(October 1) CF Cycle for Life. 25 & 65 mile

(June 12) Adventure Sports Week “Beaches to Boulders” Trail Runs. When: 7 AM. Where: Farragut

(June 19) Spokane Trailquest. When: Start anytime

(June 7 & 28) Basic Canoeing. When: 5:30 – 9 PM. Where: Mt. Gear. This class is designed to get you into your canoe and to your destination with as little effort and stress as possible. Class covers boat types, basic and some advanced strokes, appropriate clothing combinations, safety for both self and others, paddles, storage and rigging. $25. Info: mountaingear.com/pages/retailstore/retail.asp:

Meet at Fred Meyer @ Thor/Freya. We will explore and tour various habitats along the south side of the lakes. Everyone needs sturdy shoes, lunch, water, sunscreen & hat. Info: 509-893-3771, nechapterwnps.org

(June 5) Twin Lakes Hike. When: 8 AM. Where:

Riverside State Park. Learn techniques to enhance your cross country riding skills in a controlled environment. All ability levels. $40 plus variable membership dues. Registration deadline: June 8. Info: 509-238-6776 Teresa, spokanemountaineers.org

State Park. Four and eight hour solo or relay team race on an all-new circuit! Cool swag, hospitality and awards! Info: 208-664-0135, www.adventuresportsweek.com

PADDLING

(July 31) Spokane Triathlon. International and Sprint Distance. Info: spokanetriathlon.com

(June 19) Deep Creek Canyon Hike and Photography.

When: 10 AM - 2 PM. Where: New Community Church 1003 E. Trent, Suite 140. Cool Water Bikes’ poker ride and run. Free event. Food will be available for purchase. Silent auction, raffle, and kids’ games!

Info: 509-838-8580, bikes@coolwaterbikes.org

Info: spokanerowing.org

(September 10) Purpleride: Spoke d’ Alene. 4,

(Ongoing) Spokane Bicycle Club. S.B.C. offers eight

(June 11) Cool Water Bikes’ Poker Ride and Run.

0135, adventuresportsweek.com

TRIATHALON

PM. Where: REI, 1125 N Monroe. Learn how to take your family camping where they’ll have fun and you’ll be prepared! Register online for this free online. Info: 509-328-9900, rei.com/Spokane

weekly rides of various lengths and difficulty for members and non-members. Check the web site for ride details. Info: 509-747-5581, spokanebicycleclub.org

30, 45, 75 mile options. Info lcsnw.org/events

cycle, join other Spokane women for no-drop rides, treats, and friendship. Info: 509-951-4090, facebook. com/bellesandbaskets.

(Ongoing) Belles and Baskets. Whatever style your

Submit your event at www.outtheremonthly.com

State Park. 5k, 10k, 9 mile runs on one of the most magnificent trail courses anywhere! Info: 208-6640135, adventuresportsweek.com

(June 12) Deepwater Trail Marathons! When: 7 AM.

Where: Farragut State Park, 1/2 marathon, marathon, 50k and 52 mile trail runs on an AMAZING course! “One of the best trail runs anywhere!” Info: 208-664-0135, adventuresportsweek.com

TRIATHLONS (June 13) The X Triathlon at Adventure Sports Week.

When: 10 AM. Where: Farragut State Park. A 1.5k swim, 22 mile mountain bike and 10 k trail run around beautiful Lake Pend Oreille! Info: 208-664-

15, 37 or 55 miles. Info: purpleride.org

options. Info: washington.cff.org/cycleforlifespokane

MARATHONS

lakerace.com

RUNNING (July 13, 20 & 27) U District Summer Series.

Wednesday’s at 6 PM. 5k run with a 1 mile kids run. Info: 509-458-7686, udistrictpt.com

(July 23) Spokane Indians Pennant Run. Benefits Ronald McDonald House. Info: 509343-6810.

(July 23) Spokenya Run. Help those in Adiedo

Kenya build a new medical clinic. Info: spokenyarun.org

(August 6) Whidbey Island Triathlon (Langley, WA) A great first tri on a scenic course. Info:

whidbeytriathlon.com.

(August 21) West Plains WunderWoman Triathlon. Info: emdesports.com/wunderwom-

an_triathlon/home.html

(August 27) Priest Lake Triathlon. Olympic Road bike and sprint Mt. Bike. Info: priestlakerace.com (September 4) Annual Steve Braun Memorial Triathlon, Orcas Island, WA. Info: friendsofmoran.com

(October 1) Route of the Ultramarathon. Info: 208-664-0135

Hiawatha

PADDLE

(July 31) Bare Buns Fun Run. At Kaniksu Ranch Family Nudist Park. Info: kaniksufamily. com

(August 13) The Dam Paddle. 12 mile paddle

(August 20) The Dirty Dash 10K Mud Run.

ADVENTURE RACING

Riverside State Park. Info: 801-896-DASH, thedirtydash.com

(August 20) Strides for Strong Bones. Info: wastrongbones.org

(August 20) Expedition Idaho Road Run. Info: expeditionidahorace.com

from Metaline Water Park to Boundry Dam. Info: boundrytours.com

(August 14-20) Expedition Idaho! One of the premier expedition length races in the world!

Info: expeditionidahorace.com

ROWING (Summer) Learn to Row. Instruction in sculling and sweep rowing. Info: spokanerowing.org //

Have an Event You Would Like to List? // Please visit www.outtheremonthly.com and click the “Submit Your Event” link. // Events MUST be sent in by the 20th of the month to be listed in the following month’s issue. Please follow the when, where format as seen in the calendar. Ongoing events need to be re-submitted each month.

Outdoor Calendar (June 14 & 16) Whitewater Kayaking Class. When:

(June 8, 15, 22) Raft the Lower Spokane with The Flying Goat. When: 6 PM. Where: Spokane River.

(June 18) Canoe Classic. When 9 AM. Where:

Flow Adventures will be offering a set of Wednesday evening floats. Who says you can’t have any fun in the middle of the week. We will be departing from The Flying Goat at 3318 W. Northwest Blvd. at 6 pm. $25. Info: 509-242-8699, flow-adventures.com.

(June 9) Stand Up Paddle Boarding Basics. When: 7 - 8:30 PM. Where: REI, 1125 N Monroe. Join author and paddler Rob Casey to learn the basics of the latest water sport craze. Find out what’s right for you! Register online. Info: 509-328-9900, rei. com/spokane (June 11) Recreational Kayaking. When: 10 – Noon.

Where: Mt. Gear. Recreational kayaking is all about fun, and we’ll teach you how to get into your boat and to your destination with as little stress as possible. Class covers boat types, basic and some advanced strokes, appropriate clothing combinations, safety for self and others, gear, dry storage, and rigging. Currents and wind also covered. $30.

Info: mountaingear.com/pages/retailstore/retail.asp:

(June 11) Tour Kayaking. When: 1 – 5 PM. Where: Mt. Gear. Tour lakes, coastlines, and islands with a complete set of boat-handling skills. Class covers personal and safety gear, kayak design, getting in and out of your boat, spray skirts, paddles and strokes, bracing, stopping and sweeps, wet exit, self and tandem rescue. After this class, you’re ready for the San Juans! $50. Info: mountaingear.com/pages/ retailstore/retail.asp: (June 11, 23) Spokane River Hometown Throwdown.

When: 5:30 PM. Where: Location depends on river flow. Freestyle Whitewater Kayaking! Learn from other paddlers through friendly competitive format and win free prizes! Check website for details. This is a tentative event date... Info: hydrotherapysessions.blogspot.com

(June 11, 12) River Rafting Trip. When: 9 AM - 1

PM. Where: Lower Spokane River. This half-day trip is filled with rapids, wildlife, and scenery as our guides steer you through Riverside State Park. All equipment provided. Fee $42. Info: 208-773-0539, postfallsidaho.org/prrecreation.html

5:30 - 8 PM. Where: Spokane River. Presented by Hydrology Kayak School. In this Advanced level class the main focus is reading river features and learning how to utilize them. $65. Info: 208-7730539, postfallsidaho.org/prrecreation.html

Spokane River. The Spokane River Canoe Classic has evolved into a great family event for Father’s Day weekend, and over 150 participants and spectators are expected to come out this year. This all-ages, allabilities day is for everyone. There are 2 courses to choose from, with a 6-mile “Citizens” fun course for casual paddlers and a 13-mile “Marathon” course for those interested in testing their endurance. FREE post-race BBQ for registered paddlers! Register early for $20; day-of registration is $25. Info: mountaingear.com/cc/

(June 18, 19, 25, 26) River Rafting Trip. When: 9:30

AM - 1 PM. Where: Upper Spokane River. See our Spokane River as it winds through the Valley. This trip has spectacular scenery and is a great introduction to rafting. Fee $39. Info: 208-773-0539, postfallsidaho.org/prrecreation.html

(June 21) Roll Clinic. When: 5:30 – 8 PM. Where:

TBA. Presented by Hydrology Kayak School. In this clinic we will teach the “C”to”C” roll. $38. Info: 208773-0539, postfallsidaho.org/prrecreation.html

(June 25, 26) Whitewater Rafting Trip. When: 9:30 AM - 3 PM. Where: Cark Fork River, MT. The Clark Fork River has seven boat drenching rapids that will get you wet, make you laugh and delight the whole family. Fee $39. Info: (208) 773-0539, postfallsidaho. org/prrecreation.html

YOGA (May 2 – June 27) Iyengar Yoga 8 -week series for beginners. When: Mon, 9:30 AM or Tues or Thurs

at 6 PM. Where: Sunflower Yoga, 6413 E. 14th Ave. Learn Iyengar yoga with attention to detail, alignment, use of props as needed and teacher adjustments. Gentle and intemediate classes also offered.

Info: 509-535-7369, www.sunfloweryoga.net.

EVENTS/MOVIES/MISC… (June 4) National Trails Day with REI at Fish Lake Trail. When: 9 AM - 12 PM. Where: Fish Lake Trail

Head, 800 S. Milton. Support a great local trail AND pick up your Kids Adventure Journal! Help clean up the Fish Lake Trail and get dirty for the outdoors.

The only painter in Spokane who has completed an Ironman. Now that’s dedication!

Info: 509-328-9900, rei.com/spokane

(June 9) Up on the Roof. When: 6 PM. Where: Isabella’s Rooftop, Saranac Building, 25 W. Main Ave. Up on the Roof is a fundraiser for Unity in the Community. Join us for a silent Auction, a variety of local food, and entertainment. Info: 509-2092625, community-minded.org, tracil@communityminded.org (June 10-12) Spokane Sizzlin’ Summer Softball Bash. When: 8 AM - 9:30 PM. Where: Various

Locations. Brand new adult slow pitch softball tournament. For all information visit spokanesports.org and look under upcoming events or check us out on facebook! Info: 509-893-5445, spokanesports.org

(June 11) Mt. Gear Scuff and Ding Sale. When:

Open Hours. Where: 2002 N. Division. Hundreds of gently used, out of the box, demo and rental products at deeply discounted prices. Camping and climbing gear, clothing, water sports gear and more.

Browse the racks for that perfect find! Info: mountaingear.com/pages/retailstore/retail.asp.

(June 11) Rich Leon’s Nature Photography. When: 1

- 2 PM. Where: REI, 1125 N Monroe. Join local photographer and naturalist Rich Leon to see the Inland Northwest through his eyes. Spectacular views, wild animals and fascinating plants caught on camera.

Info: 509-328-9900, rei.com/spokane

(June 11) Spokane Humane Society 8th Annual Parade of Paws. When: 10 AM. Where: Spokane

Humane Society, 6607 N Havana St. A two or four mile walk to benefit the animals at the Spokane Humane Society waiting for their forever homes.

Info: 509-467-5235, spokanehumanesociety.org

(June 15) HOOT Show. When: 7 - 8:30 PM. Where: REI, 1125 N Monroe. Join the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center for a Hawk & Owl Outreach Talk. See live raptors; support WVOLC by entering REI’s Raffle, $1/ticket. Info: 509-328-9900, rei.com/ Spokane (June 16) State of the Trails - Inland Northwest Trails Coalition. When: 6 PM. Where: Mountain

Gear Corporate Headquarters, 6021 E. Mansfield, Spokane Valley. Come and hear the latest news about trails - city cycling, Fish Lake Trail, Conservation Futures, Dishman Hills Dream Trail, River trails, the Centennial Trail and... Info: 509 624-3150, inlandnorthwesttrails.org

(June 17) Painting a New Path. When: 5 – 8 PM. Where: The Community Building, 35 W. Main St. An art show and sale to support the Alliance for Greater Well-Being, a local non-profit offering wellness programs to under-served populations. Info: 509-263-440, ForGreaterWellBeing.org (June 25) Great American Backyard Campout.

When: All night. Where: Your back yard. Join families nation-wide and camp in your back yard! The National Wildlife Federation encourages you to go outside. Register at backyardcampout.org. Info: 509328-9900, rei.com/family-adventure

OUTDOOR JUNE 2011 CALENDAR

(June 7 & 9) Whitewater Kayaking Class. When: 5:30-8 PM. Where: Spokane River. Presented by Hydrology Kayak School. In this Intermediate level 2-day class you will develop your confidence and skill. All equipment is provided. $65. Info: 208-7730539, postfallsidaho.org/prrecreation.html

(July 1) Wintersport’s Waterski/Wakeboard/Surf Demo. When: 8 A – 5 PM. Where: Newman Lake

Resort & Marina. Demo the new 2011 watersports product form HO/Hyperlite & Liquid force.

Mastercraft will be there too. $30pp, includes lunchlive music and bonfire after. Info: 509-328-2030, www.facebook.com/wintersport.skibikeandboard // JUNE 2011

/ Out There Monthly

21

Tri Rockstars

Staying Grounded in Spokane While Competing Worldwide

BY Sarah Hauge

HALEY COOPER

head cross-country coach at Ferris. Two or three years ago I did a duathlon and loved it. I was hooked. In 2008, I did my first tri. I was terrified of swimming, but someone convinced me to suck it up and try it, so I did. This will be my first year racing professionally.

Triathlon accomplishments • Several top 5 overall finishes at the Ironman distance (four of those at Ironman Coeur d’Alene) • 8th in the ITU (International

Triathlon Union) Long Distance Triathlon World Championships (2010) • Raced in Kona (Ironman World

Championships) the last four years

Triathlon accomplishments One of the things I’m most proud of is just learning how to swim—I was so afraid of it and bad at it. Another accomplishment was the Ironman Lake Stevens 70.3 (Half Ironman). [He finished in 4 hours 15 minutes.] That’s what got me my pro card.

• •

•

30; from Spokane; professional PR (personal record): 9 hours 42 minutes (Ironman Coeur d’Alene, 2010) Doctoral student at EWU (physical therapy); married

How did you get into the sport?

I was living in New Zealand [after college in 2004] and had already done some marathons. I had a bike, and I liked to ride it. I wasn’t much of a swimmer, but they had a women’s-only tri kind of like the Valley Girl here. I did it and got a flat tire during the race. Afterward they were giving away a bike, and I won it. I thought, well, now I

HALEY COOPER

T

riathletes can seem almost superhuman.

The average person often marvels at their ability to swim then bike then run—especially in grueling long races like the Ironman (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run). To succeed

at such feats, elite triathletes (pros) and devoted age groupers (amateurs) often pour hours daily into training. A two-workout day might be considered an “easy” day. And they spend their money on triathlon gear and travel to out-of-state or out-of-country races. Many do all of that while enrolled as full-time students, working a job or two, and spending time with spouses and kids. // The beauty of triathlon, though, is that the sport is open to all. You need not be ready to race an Ironman; anyone can sign up for a race, borrow gear, train a little, and see what happens. Many of today’s pros have their own tales of less-than-stellar beginnings, when their training was inadequate, their gear was poor, and they were terrified of an open-water swim. // The truth is, even the elites are just regular people—most just started out at the bottom and Out There Monthly found seven local tri rockstars—four pros and three amateurs who are tops in their age groups. All are a little bit superhuman and a lot ordinary at the same time.

22

Out There Monthly / JUNE 2011

What are your future goals?

The Half Ironman is my focus right now. As I get older, I’ll progress to the Ironman distance.

------------------------------------------------------------------It’s great to see new people racing for the first time and how empowered they are.

------------------------------------------------------------------have a bike, and I should probably do this sport.

What are some of the challenges you have faced?

I started physical therapy school this year. It’s more time management than I’ve ever had to do before. I’d say the challenge is having the mental energy to compete and to spend that much time doing class work. But my life is pretty conducive to all of this, so I can’t complain too much. I have a supportive family and everything, so I’m lucky.

I would like to eventually qualify for the Half Ironman World Championship.

What advice would you offer a rookie triathlete?

Have fun with it. There are a lot of sprints and Olympic distance races—take your time and enjoy getting into it. Do it because you love it; don’t jump into an Ironman. And find a club or group of people to train with. I’m in a club, TriFusion. There are a lot of local races—like the Medical Lake Trailblazer, WunderWoman, Valley

What is your training regimen?

During Ironman training, it’s about 20 hours per week. During the winter, it’s more like 10-15.

Every week is different in terms of what I’m building for and what race—and what aspect of what race—I’m working on.

What are your future goals?

I really like to do well at Ironman Coeur d’Alene.

It’s my hometown race; I love the course. And I suppose my goal is just to keep improving. I’d really like to go under an hour in the swim, finally, and get my marathon time a little faster. But I’ll probably be saying that until the day I die.

-------------------------------------------JOSH HADWAY • 23; from Spokane; professional • PR: 4 hours 15 minutes (Half Ironman) • Works at Runner’s Soul; student at EWU

How did you get into the sport?

I grew up in a running family—my dad is the

JOSH HADWAY

figured out how to devote the time it takes to do the sport they love. //

What is your training regimen?

I run six days a week, bike six days a week, and swim five days a week. On easy days, I do two workouts a day. On the other days, I do three workouts a day. I start in January with those types of hours.

ANNIE WARNER

and then swam in college. Later I was looking for a way to stay in shape, and my dad had done triathlons. Then I kind of got hooked, I guess.

What is the best thing about triathlon?

I like being able to push myself. I like the healthy lifestyle it leads to. And it’s just a great group of people who do triathlons. It’s great to see new people racing for the first time and how empowered they are.

Girl—where everyone’s really supportive. They have a really relaxed kind of atmosphere.

-------------------------------------------ANNIE WARNER • • •

31; from Spokane; professional PR: under 2 hours (Olympic distance) Works as a swim coach and bookkeeper; married

What is your training regimen?

I usually swim four days a week, probably ride 5-6 times a week (up to 3.5 hours on the bike), run probably 4-5 days a week, various lengths, and do some yoga, lifting and core work.

What are your future goals?

I’ll be going to Memphis [the weekend of May 21-22] to do another Olympic distance in the [5150 Triathlon] series. I’d like to qualify for the championship for that series.

What are some of the challenges of triathlon competition?

Triathlon accomplishments • 1st place in the New Orleans 5150 Olympic distance Triathlon (May 15, 2011) • 3rd in the Rev 3 Costa Rica Olympic Distance race (February 2011) • Won the Triathlon at Pacific Grove and Tinley’s Triathlon (2010)—“Those were coming back from a hip injury, so it was nice to know I could run without pain,” says Warner.

How did you get into the sport?

I grew up swimming for Spokane Area Swimming

KALEN DARLING (3rd from right)

Recycle your food scraps and food-soiled paper?

Eggs-actly!

Now you can add: •

most food scraps

•

cardboard pizza boxes

•

coffee grounds and paper filters

•

egg shells

•

“non-shiny” food-soiled paper

to your Clean Green yard debris

I just got back from Wildflower [a triathlon in California]. It’s hard to know what will happen when you drive 18-20 hours for a race. My bike fell off the rack and was hanging on by a wheel.

My friend has a severe peanut allergy, and there was a peanut in her food, so I had to spend part of the night with her in the E.R. But I placed 9th. I was happy to be in the top 10, so it was a good race.

-------------------------------------------KALEN DARLING •

• •

23; in Spokane since 2009 (previously lived in Hawaii); professional PR: 1 hour 58 minutes (Olympic distance) Recently graduated from Whitworth University (May 2011)

Triathlon accomplishments • Won the U23 division of the USA Triathlon Elite National Championship (2011) How did you get into the sport?

At first, I went to tri competitions as part of a relay—I would do the swimming part or the running part. Eventually I wanted to try one by myself. The first one was a lot of fun, but it was painful. I didn’t do any training. I just went out there and did it on my mom’s old mountain bike.

I think I walked the entire run. The amateur world championship came to Hawaii in 2005, and I started training really hard. When I saw the payoff—I won a silver medal for my age group—I was like, Oh wow, this is cool.

What are some of the challenges you have faced?

My senior year of high school I had a hernia.

The doctor said there was a chance I wouldn’t be

able to exercise again because of nerve damage from the surgery. I overcame that obstacle just by being patient. The summer after that I was able to qualify for my pro card.

What competitions do you have coming up this year?

I’ll probably do around a dozen professional races between now and November. I’ll be traveling quite a bit—Canada; Washington, D.C.; Tunica, Mississippi; New York City; Georgia; Florida; Nevada; South Carolina; possibly Mexico; possibly Korea. Those last two are World Cups—those are the races that get you into the Olympics or that help you qualify for the Olympics. I haven’t qualified for those, so that’s why I say possibly.

What are your future goals?

[Answered just before graduating in May 2011] Because of school, I only really get serious about tris for about three months over the summer. I’m not 100 percent sure of what I’m capable of. My goal is to make triathlon a career and see if I can qualify for the Olympics in 2016.

-------------------------------------------TROY NELSON

• •

•

43; in Spokane since 1994; age grouper PR: 9 hours 45 minutes (Ironman Coeur d’Alene, 2008) Trial Lawyer; married to Eve Nelson, 2 kids

Triathlon accomplishments • 9 hours 45 minutes in Ironman Coeur d’Alene • 9 hours 58 minutes in Kona How did you get into the sport?

It must have been 2005 when Eve dragged me, literally, to Coeur d’Alene to watch the Ironman.

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JUNE 2011

/ Out There Monthly

23

TROY NELSON

What advice would you offer a rookie triathlete?

Find yourself a good bike shop like Fitness Fanatics, maybe hire a swim coach if you don’t know how to swim, and then just sign up before you invest a lot of money. There are lots of great races here in Spokane—the Spokane Triathlon, Valley Girl and WunderWoman. I would encourage a person to sign up with one of the three triathlon teams here (Emde Sports/Fitness Fanatics, Team Blaze or Tri-Fusion). The collective wisdom of being on a team, the encouragement, the training opportunities—that would be money well spent for a person who’s starting out.

EVE NELSON --------------------------------------------

It was the year they had a bunch of blind athletes on the course and I was just like, my gosh, what’s my excuse? If these dudes are out there freakin’ doing this, then what the heck is wrong with me? I remember saying to Eve, “Well, if you’re not signing up for next year, I am!”

How do you balance work, life and triathlon?

Since 2006, Eve and I have alternated years of [training for and competing in] Ironman. This is her year. This is how we do this in our family, having the kids, both of us with full-time jobs: Tomorrow [Saturday] I’ll get up very early and go on my long run. I’ll get home in time for Eve to pack the car—she’s going for a 120-mile bike ride.

Coeur d'Alene & Post Falls Street Atlas

• •

•

44; in Spokane since 1994; age grouper PR: 11 hours (Ironman); 2 hours 15 minutes (Olympic distance) Senior Transportation Planner with the Spokane Regional Transportation Council; married to Troy Nelson, 2 kids

Triathlon accomplishments • Fourth place in the age group nationals (Olympic distance) • Qualifying for and racing in Kona (2009) How did you get into the sport?

I was 37 years old. I had an infant and a toddler at home and I was looking for some peace and quiet.

I borrowed a bike. During the race, I was unable

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Published by: Northwest Maps 10525 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Vly, WA 99206 455-6981 • Fax: 455-7544

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Out There Monthly / JUNE 2011

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What are some of the challenges you have faced?

The hardest part for me is fitting into a day what I need to do. I’m very fortunate to have a spouse who understands it, but it’s a double-edged sword because he needs to train too. The two hours we spend together, we’re either talking about the kids or inhaling food. Planning enough time for family time is an obstacle. That has to get planned out, or it will get missed.

What is your training regimen?

In the off-season, I probably train about ten hours a week. It’s closer to 17-20 hours when I’m in race season. I prefer the Olympic distance and I like half irons. It fits more into your life in terms of training. It’s not quite so excessive.

What is the best thing about triathlon?

Living here in Spokane, there are so many good athletes. It’s a fraternity, because you go out and suffer together when you train. To be around new people who just have an incredible spirit about it is a lot of fun. It’s kind of what keeps you going. I’ve developed some of the best friendships of my life doing this.

What are your future goals?

My goal this year is to try to qualify for Kona again. I don’t know what I’m going to do next year. I just try to take it one year at a time.

ROGER THOMPSON ------------------------------------------• 39; from Spokane; age grouper • PR: 1:53:54 (Olympic distance) • Teacher; married, 2 kids

Triathlon accomplishments • Racing on Team USA in a couple of World Championships • Racing in Kona • Being a member of the TIMEX Multisport Team • Being president of Tri-Fusion (local triathlon club) for five years How did you get into the sport?

I started in multisport in 1989 when I did a few duathlons (run/bike/run) on a team with a friend. In 1997-1998 my wife, Jessi, and I traveled all over the nation racing US Triathlon Series events and other recognized events. I took a hiatus from triathlon until 2003 when

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to shift the entire time. But I was hooked. That was it, one race, and I knew it was for me. That was in Medical Lake, a sprint triathlon.

EVE NELSON

I’ll clean the house, grocery shop, take the kids to do something fun, then get home and make dinner for Eve. And she does that for me when it’s my turn.

Ironman Coeur d’Alene was coming. After “getting through” that event, I started racing more seriously. In 2008, I qualified to race as an elite; 2009 was a very successful season and I planned on hitting 2010 hard. Unfortunately, I was hit by a car in May, and that ended the 2010 triathlon season due to a separated shoulder.

How do you balance work, life and triathlon?

For me, my family is number one. We sit down weekly and see what the family calendar looks like. After we get all the important events filled in, I schedule my training around that. There are times that the training doesn’t happen because my daughter needs extra help with a school project or my wife and I schedule an impromptu coffee date, but there’s no question what I’d choose every time. If I were to miss my daughter’s swim meet to fit in my long ride, I would deeply regret that.

How does this community give to its athletes, and vice versa?

Spokane and the Inland Northwest have been exploding with race opportunities. It’s because of race directors that triathlon is so popular in our area. My hat goes off to the race directors who help promote the sport and give the community the opportunity to participate.

Personally, I have been involved in a leadership role in a non-profit triathlon club called Tri-Fusion (www.tri-fusion.com). Along with leadership of the club, I help to put on free informational clinics about triathlon to members, as well as community sporting events like a 5k run series and a kids’ triathlon each summer. I believe that we, as athletes, have a responsibility to give back to the community. Many people know very little about the sport and are looking for avenues that can give them support. Triathlon is a very lonely sport. But none of us could possibly do it alone. // TRIATHLON GLOSSARY • Triathlon: A sport involving three athletic disciplines in succession, e.g. swimming, cycling and running • Sprint Distance: 750M swim, 20K bike, 5K run (lengths may vary) • Olympic Distance: 1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run • Ironman: 3.8K swim, 180K bike, 42.2K (26.2 miles/marathon) run • Kona: Ironman World Championship, held in Kona, Hawaii • “Professional” or “Elite”: Triathletes have to qualify, based on their performance in specified races, to become “elite” or “professional” • Age grouper: Amateur triathlete

Crushing Rocks: The Music Report A Kiss Farewell

the Park” one more time, roll your eyes and revel in your fandom... for me.

You’re a casual fan and the tickets are too much? Don’t matta, it’ll be awesome. GO! I NEED YOU! Not your speed, you say? Dude, nobody will top KISS this month, but here are some subpar standins at the Knitting Factory: Augustana, June 10; Minus the Bear, June 18; Taking Back Sunday, June 19. And at A Club: Langhorne Slim, June 13 and Starf*cker, June 26.

Now that we’ve got that sorted, there is another important thing I must tell you: this will be my last column for Out There Monthly. I’ve been pounding these out for a couple years now (and before that were alllllll those CD reviews and before that alllllll those music features) and, well, it’s time to try something new, I think. I’m going to miss coming to Spokane and being able to pick up a copy and see my name in print, and most importantly I’ll miss those stories I get to hear from my family about people they happen upon who know just exactly who Crushing Rocks is... the guy at the Rocket Bakery, the girl at the bike shop, my Nana’s physical therapist, Brad. Those are the best! I’ll miss writing about the ups and downs of this crazy little music scene you’ve got, Spokane, but most of all I’ll just... miss that crazy little music scene.

Thank you to Jon for his patience through all the missed deadlines over the past 6 years, thank you to my Mom and Dad for always reporting back with their thoughts each month, thank you to my Grandma for always picking up a copy at the Dollar Store... and thank you to you for reading.

Keep in touch with me on Twitter, @crushingrocks, and stumble your way to my non-

Roadtrip DJ: June COREY PASSONS Spokane native and lead singer/guitarist for the Seattle-based band Spanish for 100 (www.spanishfor100.com)

“DETROIT ROCK CITY” / KISS / DESTROYER Start with this. It will make you feel and drive like an intrepid teenager in a stolen car (not that I would know), and you will need that kind of attitude to get out of a big city unscathed.

“CIRCLE OF HANDS” / URIAH HEEP / DEMONS AND WIZARDS Whether you’re in North Dakota or Central Washington—and concentration is waning—what better mantra-mind-puzzle do you need than a lyric like, “sacrifice, the future has its price / today is only yesterday’s tomorrow”? I mean, c’mon!!!

“THE WORLD GAME” / JOHN DENVER (WITH THE WAILERS) / IT’S ABOUT TIME Eastern Montana…night is falling…pick this track because it is AWESOME and because the profound mystery of how these artists came to be in the same studio will keep you up during the long night ahead.

“RUN SO FAR” / ERIC CLAPTON / JOURNEYMAN If it is morning and you’re tired, you will need the primal anger this very, very bad song evokes.

(Clapton was in Cream?!)

BOLERO BY MAURICE RAVEL / CHICAGO SYMPHONY Finally, as you crest the Cascades, or whatever the last stretch may be before your destination, select the Chicago Symphony’s version of Bolero. Reflect on the miles you have travelled and let the Bolero build as you slowly remember everything you forgot to do before you left. //

sensical blog, TV & Gum Are Awesome, www. tvandgumareawesome.com (yep, it’s just what it sounds like). See you at the fun runs, Spokane! //

CD OF THE MONTH //

Support Urban Forestry Spokane’s Urban Forest belongs to everyone. Let’s ensure we give our next generation a healthy tree canopy and lasting legacy of stewardship.

Fleet Foxes

Helplessness Blues (Subpop) After the excruciatingly long winter we’ve all endured, the new effort from Fleet Foxes (which knocked its way into the No. 4 spot on the Billboard charts upon release) brings with it a hint of spring. This band is so Northwest-y in all that they do, and their music feels like both a warm folk-y wraparound blanket AND a ray of sunlight. Which is just about what we all need around here... every day. The album is bigger and broader than their previous effort, but still familiar and home-y and lovely. Pecknold continues to be one of the most talented folks the Seattle area has to offer (though he just moved to Portland), and by proximity alone, you should be a fan already.

You can support Spokane Urban Forestry by starting or joining a local NeighborWoods group.

You can also include a donation to Urban Forestry on your City utility bill or contribute to Reforest Spokane through the Parks Foundation.

Please Remember

?

Eleven years ago, I chose a KISS concert over a Graham family reunion and haven’t yet lived it down. Thing is, I hadn’t planned it that way. After a series of phone calls on a payphone at EWU while attending Regional History Day (really!), my Uncle Tony and I had secured two lawn tickets for May 28, 2000. We were PUMPED. Then, postponement. Then,worse, a reschedule for the FATEFUL WEEKEND. I remember sitting with my parents in the living room of my childhood home as they told me I was free to make my own choice, knowing they didn’t mean it AT ALL. Still, in the end, I made the choice you’re just not supposed to make...

Skip to 2011. Two family reunions later, the Grahams are getting together at the end of June.

I book my flight, commit to it all and then BAM: KISS tour dates announced! A text from my Uncle Tony that reads only, “We goin’??”! Déjà vu! AHHHHH! Except now I’m not the 16 year old with the choice to make!! I’m the ADULT that KNOWS the choice I must make. SO ALAS, dear reader, I ask of you...

GO SEE KISS FOR ME. They’re coming your way on Friday, June 24 at Spokane Arena and I will be in eastern Oregon. I must live vicariously through you! I want you to sing all the words for me (particularly those of “Detroit Rock City”).

I want you to be semi-grossed out when Gene spews blood during “God of Thunder” for me. I want you to marvel at Paul Stanley as he flies out into the crowd (probably during “Love Gun”) for me. And when the drunk lady next to you asks for the third time what the name of their made-forTV movie was (as she did when I saw them in ‘09), I want you to shout “KISS Meets the Phantom of

/ By Ashley Graham

Don’t Top Trees Tree topping makes your tree more vulnerable to disease, decay, and storm damage. Always hire a certified arborist to keep your trees healthy and strong.

Proper Tree Planting Planting your new tree properly, and in the right place, is an investment in its long life, health, and value. Buy only high-quality, cold-hardy tree species from the best local nurseries.

Call 811 before you dig.

Caringcall for509.363.5495 Street Trees is a Shared Responsibility Property owners are responsible for the health of trees in planting strips that border their property. Planting, pruning or removing trees in a planting strip requires a certified and licensed arborist.

The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

more information go to ForFor more information SpokaneUrbanForestry.org 509.363.5495 JUNE 2011

/ Out There Monthly

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Last Page

Peak 7 offers adventure to struggling teens Faith-Based Outdoor Program Grows Beyond Spokane / By Erika Prins A teenage boy went whitewater rafting down the Spokane River for the first time last month. Right before they hit a rapid, he freaked out and yelled to be let off the raft.

Usually, the raft would continue downriver.

The kid would be expected to play tough. This time, though, the group pulled over to shore. The boy’s guide talked with him about the fear he was experiencing and motivated him to get back into the raft on his own volition.

Before the boy knew it, he was coming on the other end of Bowl and Pitcher with a giant grin on his face. A week later, he—a psychiatric patient diagnosed with schizophrenia and recovering from drug addiction—was back for another run of the river.

“He got out of the river and he was giddy,” says Loran Kerrigan, sponsorship coordinator for Peak 7 Adventures, a Christian non-profit organization that offers outdoor recreation opportunities to young people in challenging circumstances. “At the end, they have accomplished something huge that we take for granted.”

She adds, “That story happens countless times.”

Then she embarks on a story about a kid for whom a backpacking trip with Peak 7 was his first exposure to adults he could trust. In five days, his self-

declared hatred of fathers—due to his own father’s absence—gave way to a strong bond with a guide whose son was also on the trip.

Each story leads to an “a-ha” moment—conquering a fear, learning to trust another person, or finding a connection with God. In some cases, it is as simple as finding a drug that won’t kill them.

“When the river is so high, they get a rush,” says Kerrigan. “It isn’t just a float to enjoy the sun. We want these kids to experience a natural high.”

Although the team’s emphasis on faith is strong, says Kerrigan, that means offering an extra dose of compassion, not forcing the issue. “We meet these kids where they are. We let them talk,” she says.

Peak 7 offers trips to groups from residential treatment facilities, group homes, and other nonprofits serving youth. “Open” trips are available to individuals and families.

Whitewater rafting and backpacking trips for groups of young people comprise the bulk of Peak 7’s wilderness trips, but they also periodically take groups winter camping, rock climbing and kayaking.

At the core of its mission is Peak 7’s commitment to offering wilderness adventures to young people who might not otherwise be able to pay for them. Participation fees cover around 20 per-

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Lakes

Leg Aches

2011 Bike Ride Saturday, August 6th, Spokane, WA

SPOKANE, WA

Info: 509.343.5020 • Registration forms at: www.lcsnw.org/events.html A Benefit Ride for the Sexual Assault & Family Trauma (SAFeT) Response Center, a program of Lutheran Community Services NW OutThere MonthlyOut There Monthly / JUNE 2011 26

Peak 7 teaching kids to climb at minnehaha. // photo courtesy of peak 7

cent of the actual cost of a trip and the rest is paid through donations. Additional scholarships are offered to ensure nobody misses a trip because of lack of money.

Corporate and individual gear donations allow Peak 7 to equip each young person who signs up for a trip. “They’re outfitted from head to toe because they come with nothing. They come with their skater shoes and super big double XL t-shirts,” says Kerrigan.

Now in its fifth season in Spokane, Peak 7 has

Most participants encounter their first outdoor challenge on a Peak 7 trip. shown steady and significant growth. During its first year, in 2006, the organization served 137 teens. The following year, they reached 589. Last year, they took 1,784 kids on wilderness trips.

To add to its growth, the organization opened offices in Seattle and Portland this year. “We had Seattle organizations that wanted to do trips. They met us over in Wenatchee to do rafting trips.” Now Peak 7 has staff in the Seattle area to expand their ability to offer trips to west-side groups.

Peak 7 received the Portland branch as an inkind gift from a non-profit organization called Discovery Outfitters undergoing bankruptcy.

Battling mental illness, abuse, neglect, poverty or drug addiction, most participants encounter their first outdoor challenge on a Peak 7 trip. “So often, the kids drop their pack and say ‘I can’t do this. I’m done, this is so hard,” Kerrigan says.

Aware of the particular backgrounds of the individual participants, Peak 7 guides offer support,

guidance and prayer. Kerrigan says just this—an adult reaching out to them for support—often exceeds the resources available to the teen in his or her daily life. “To be able to trust, for what a lot of these kids’ backgrounds are, is huge.”

That new relationship does not have to end when the trip is over, says Kerrigan. “We have ongoing relationships. The aspect of mentorship is definitely there. Nicole, one of our guides, lives in the West Central neighborhood and sees those kids all the time.”

The Junior Guide program offers young people who were greatly impacted by their initial Peak 7 trip a chance to learn more. “Joe, Jesse and Alexian are junior guides who have been through our programs and who are making the outdoors part of their everyday lives,” says Kerrigan. Now, they help facilitate trips like the ones that first piqued their interest in the outdoors.

“They are given a new perspective on life and it helps them press toward more positive decisions and choices,” says Kerrigan. “Ultimately, nobody can ever take this experience back from them, and they remember.” // HOW TO GET INVOLVED Volunteer: Photography/video, office work, driving, food preparation.

Donate: New or used gear for backpacking, climbing or whitewater rafting; A financial contribution.

Run: Spokane “Dirty Dash”10K on August 20.

Enter promo code “peak7”to donate 20 percent of your race fee to Peak 7 Adventures.

Visit: Monthly open house events; trainings this summer for CPR, Wilderness First Aid, and wilderness instructors; and Peak 7’s Annual Bocce Ball fundraiser on Sept. 18.

For more information about Peak 7 Adventures and dates for upcoming events, visit Peak7.org.

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Recreation Package

Emotion Comet Johnson Outdoor Day Tripper 2 piece paddle NRS Vista PFD Reg $403.90 SALE $349.00

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Out There Monthly / JUNE 2011

mountaingear.com/retail Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am-8 pm, Sat 10 am-6 pm, Sun 11 am-5 pm