Out There Monthly October 2012

VOL. 9 // NO.2 // OCTOBER 2012

Oct. 28th-30th

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Out There Monthly / October 2012

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Out There Monthly / October 2012

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In This Issue p.7 / From the Editor

MONTHLY

Trail Tourism

By Jon Snyder

www.outtheremonthly.com

p.8 / Out There News New ADA Trail Rules, Pedal The Party Trolley

Out There Monthly / October 2012 Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

Jon Snyder jon@outtheremonthly.com Art Director

Kaitlin Snyder

p.9 / Health & Fitness A Look At The Gluten-Free Craze

By Dr. Bob Lutz

Managing Editor

Amy Silbernagel McCaffree Health & Fitness Editor

Dr. Bob Lutz senior writers

Jon Jonckers, Derrick Knowles

p.10 / Photo of the month And Roadtrip DJ

By Angela & Carver Rasmussen, Emily Ragan & Greg Boniface

Contributing Writers:

Brent Emmingham, Ben Greenfield, Hank Greer, Stan Miller, John Speare, Angela Rasmussen, Annie Szotkowski Distribution Coordinator

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

p.10 / Sustainable Living Single Stream Recycling Is Here

By Annie Szotkowski

p.12 / Roadtrip Oregon’s McKenzie River Mountain Bike Trail

By Brent Emmingham

p.13 / What’s Your Gear?

Erin Jonckers: Hiking Kid

By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

p.14 / Training Tips & My Bike Real Food For Workouts

By Ben Greenfield

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 2012 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.

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p.15 / Everyday cyclist Senior Cycling: It’s Not Too Late

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p.16 / October INLAND NW OUTDOOR CAlendar & 6 Month Training Calendar p.18 / A Wild New Path Day Hikes On The Inland Northwest

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p.22 / Last Page Interview With Mountain Hero John Roskelley

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On the cover: OTM Senior writer Derrick Knowles on the Inland Northwest Trail // Photo by Shallan Knowles.

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Out There Monthly / October 2012

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From the Editor: Trail tourism OUR adventure started underneath a bronze statue of Ronald Reagan. The statue marked the trailhead of the Tammany Trace Trail in Covington, LA. Somehow I managed to lose the trail at the beginning and had to go to a fire station for directions. Then it started to dump rain. The kind of rain that makes you pull over when you’re driving the interstate. I did a rolling stop at a blind intersection, not realizing there was a car to my right doing the same thing. I found out the hard way that the rear brake on my rental bike had been disconnected in transit. Down I went. With skidmarks on my shorts from a near miss, I got up from the wet

EXPERIENCE

Angel Peak

asphalt and had just one thought in my head: this is the perfect vacation.

Like a lot of people I have two jobs, two kids, in a two-career family and never too much extra time. I planned this vacation carefully. I would visit my dad in Louisiana and the two of us would take a 5-day, 1,000-mile roadtrip in search of the best urban bike trails the Southeast US has to offer. I used the National Rails to Trails Conservancy’s TrailLink website to map our route. In addition to Covington we visited Milton, FL, Eufaula, AL, Rome, GA, and Hattiesburg, MS, and a few more.

The trails were amazing. So many ideas I’d love

to steal for our area. And the one thing most of them had in common was continued investment. In Columbus, GA the Chattahoochee Riverwalk trail, which is about the same age as our Centennial Trail, was undergoing a multimillion dollar upgrade. New bridges, new landscaping and massive renovation of historic buildings along the trail were the highlights.

Funny thing is many of these southern towns look pretty much the same from the freeway. A trails is where a town’s character really reveals itself. When you know the trail, you know the town.

Which brings us to the beaver pond. My dad

has been visiting Hattiesburg MS for years on business. But it wasn’t until we biked 12 miles out the LongLeaf Trace Trail (A Rails to Trail Hall of Fame inductee) that we saw this magical spot, filled with turtles and fish and a cornucopia of deciduous trees right beside the trail. I’m now a dedicated trail tourist. Won’t you join me? // ----------------------------------------------------JON SNYDER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF editor@outtheremonthly.com P.S. Check out the online browser edition of OTM at issuu.com. Just search google “Out There Monthly issuu.com.”

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7

Out There News Electric Bike On A Trail?

New ADA Rules For Non-Motorized Trails John Mosley was an avid cyclist before becoming disabled four years ago. He discovered that he could still ride with a battery-assisted e-bike, so he got one and intended to ride it on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. He was disappointed when he saw notices that ban all motorized vehicles except for electric wheelchairs.

He subsequently discovered that changes to Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act, effective March 2011, opened non-motorized trails to “Other Power Driven Mobility Devices” for disabled riders. Examples of OPDMDs include personal assistance mobility devices such as the Segway® and electric bikes. Trails throughout the U.S. are affected, including the Spokane Centennial Trail, North Idaho Centennial Trail, Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes and Route of the Hiawatha.

State and local agencies were given a year to evaluate and modify their policies and limit dimensions, speeds and motor sizes for OPDMDs if needed. They may also ban the devices if they can demonstrate they are harmful to their trails.

The evaluation process is open to the public, but jurisdictions have been slow to roll out their policies.

“Our efforts in this area were derailed while we have gone through the most significant budget reductions we’ve faced as an agency,” says Washington State Parks Assistant Director Mike Sternback, who oversees park operations. His agency intends to introduce a draft policy to park commissioners on Oct. 25 in Vancouver, Wash.

(Look for an agenda one week before the meeting at www.parks.wa.gov/agency/commissionmeetings.)

Idaho passed guidelines last year, to aid various state facilities to develop their own policies. Like all agencies, they need to specify how trails open to OPDMDs will preserve the unique motor-free experience expected by cyclists, skaters and pedestrians while protecting safety, and natural and cultural resources. Policies will have to address how the disabled are to be identified, but the law prohibits staff from questioning anyone they stop about specific health issues.

The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes is co-managed

by Idaho and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. Jason Brown, who chairs the trail commission and manages the tribal recreation program, says he thinks they would like to adopt something in six months to a year.

The City of Coeur d’Alene completed a draft policy for OPDMDs on trails, but adoption stalled after other concerns, such as the recall of elected officials, took center stage.

Meanwhile, Mosley wonders how many disabled people are being discouraged from trail use by signs that still ban all motorized vehicles. “The Feds say they must accommodate people with disabilities. They have a deadline to do it, and they don’t get to say they don’t have time to get around to it,” he says. “The U.S. Attorney General is ready to go to bat for disabled people whose rights are violated by being turned away from these public facilities.”

While they figure it out, he has been riding the trails with a note from his doctor that explains his e-bike is a handicapped vehicle. //

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Out There Monthly / October 2012

By Estar Holmes

John Mosley with his electric bike in idaho. // Photo courtesy john mosley.

The new pedal-powered party trolley in downtown Spokane. // Photos Courtesy of spokane party trolley.

Pedal The Party Trolley

get some

Spokane residents of a certain age remember “cruisin’ Riverside,” but could they have imagined then that their city would one day see a vehicle that seats 16 people with a built-in bar and free fuel? “It’s a blast driving through downtown at top speeds of 8mph,” says Garrett Havens. He has taken four rides and appears to be hooked for life when we discuss his time spent cruising. This mysterious new contraption is the Spokane Party Trolley (SPT). Throughout the month of September, owner Nina Kindem gave out free rides to get the word out about this new “perfect toy for grown-up kids.”

“My favorite part about running this business is the collaborative aspect of supporting downtown places and events, and bringing people together in a way that promotes exercise and clean air and a lot of fun,” says Kindem. “Spokane is a beautiful city with a lot of places to see and visit and with all of the bike enthusiasts and lanes for bike riders, the SPT is a natural fit.”

Ten people power the trolley using their legs to turn the pedals affixed comfortably (and adjustably) at the feet of their bar stool. Two riders can pass on the calorie-burning and sit above the

wheels, and there’s room for three more on the bumper bench. All of the riders face each other and the atmosphere mimics a bar.

During promotional rides, the trolley mostly took eager passengers on pub crawls, but the possibilities for the vehicle are only as limited as the imagination of the riders. Kindem says that “it can be used for all kinds of group events—social mixers, team building, parties, pub crawls, sightseeing, celebrations, business promotions, weddings and parade floats.”

Before launching the business, Kindem scouted pre-set routes without hills and with lots to see and do. She can also set a custom route with a renter who has a concept in mind, and with a trailer to match, the Party Trolley is not limited to downtown adventures. It is also in commission for all seasons if there are riders to brave the weather. // For more information, visit www.spokanepartytrolley.com.

Health andFitness A Look At The Gluten-Free Craze Do You Have Sensitivity? / By Dr. Bob Lutz

ease rates actually rising?”, July 31, 2012).

Now there’s no longer a significant debate about whether gluten sensitivity exists—it does, based upon experts proposing diagnostic criteria. Unfortunately, this hasn’t really helped much.

It’s currently considered a diagnosis made after others have been ruled out, and the method for determining sensitivity is by following an “elimination diet.” This involves eliminating all gluten for a period of two weeks to two months—the longer the better—and then optimally reintroducing it slowly to see if symptoms come back. But elimination diets aren’t very specific—they’re tough to

Gluten-free products are more and more available.

Our friend, Alison, recently opened Boots Bakery and Lounge on Main (www.facebook. com/bootsbakerylounge). She counts many customers following “gluten-free diets” (GFDs, www.mayoclinic.com/health/gluten-free-diet/ My01140) among her regulars, and their numbers have been increasing. Given the growth of the GFD market, I was curious to look more closely into this phenomenon.

Gluten is composite protein made up of two smaller proteins, gliadin and glutelin. It combines with starch to form the endosperm, or food source, of grass seeds, such as wheat, barley and rye. When processed and worked into dough, it’s responsible for the chewiness associated with breads and other grain products.

Gluten, specifically gliadin, is the culprit behind celiac disease. This autoimmune condition attacks the lining of the small intestine and leads to problems with digestion and nutrient absorption. Not that celiac disease is all that common, as it’s estimated that three million people, or about one percent of the population, carry this diagnosis. The reality, however, is that many more probably have it but are undiagnosed. (Average duration between symptom onset and diagnosis is four years.) While there are classic symptoms (diarrhea and bloating), others, such as fatigue, numbness, rashes and weight loss, can be found with many other disorders and may lead to the delay in diagnosis.

Once diagnosed, those with celiac disease need to maintain a lifelong GFD to avoid symptoms. Although it’s known that gliadin causes the problems with celiac disease, what’s not known is whether or not gluten provides an explanation for the symptoms affecting the estimated 18 million people who consider themselves “gluten-sensitive,” or is in any way associated with the variety of diseases some have attributed to it, such as attention deficit disorder, autism and MS. But make no mistake, “Big Food” doesn’t care about causes, as they’re cashing in on what appears to be the latest food fad—with an estimated sales of $7 billion in 2012, according to an online CBS news story (“Gluten-free diet fad: Are celiac dis-

Processing, by eliminating the work of digesting whole foods, dumps gluten directly into the gut in mass quantities. do, and the placebo effect, or the belief that gluten is the cause for the change, can’t easily be ruled out. As authors of a recent editorial in a reputable medical journal wrote, more evidence is needed to prevent a “gluten preoccupation from evolving into the conviction that gluten is toxic for most of the population.”

My take on this lies somewhere in the middle.

There have been too many food fads over the years not to be a bit skeptical. But it’s only natural to look for explanations for symptoms, especially when health professionals can’t provide answers. I like to think about sensitivities at some level being the body’s way of saying “Enough already!” Gluten, through the glut of heavily processed grain-based foods, has become available in everything from breads and pasta to French fries and salad dressings. Processing, by eliminating the work of digesting whole foods, dumps gluten directly into the gut in mass quantities. And if life’s about moderation, not excess, maybe it’s not surprising we’re seeing this increase in food sensitivities.

Rather than offer advice, here is a suggestion.

Consider how much gluten you consume through what you both eat and drink (yes, beer contains some gluten). Americans average 10-40 grams per day (1 slice of white bread is ~3.5 g of gluten; whole wheat bread ~4.8 grams; and a serving of pasta ~6.4 g). If you’re on the high side, cut back and see if it makes a difference. If you’re somewhere in the middle or on the low side, consider going all the way and try an elimination diet, ideally for 6-8 weeks. If better, then consider slowly adding a bit of gluten, choosing unprocessed and whole grain products, and see what happens. But as I cautioned above, this is a very nonspecific approach, and if you strongly believe gluten’s the problem, it will be.

So while there are no quick fixes, don’t jump on the GFD wagon just because it seems like the thing to do—understand what gluten sensitivity is all about and consider Michael Pollan’s simple dietary dictum: “Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” //

Kootenai County Fairgrounds Saturday, November 3 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

WINTER SPORTS EQUIPMENT

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Shop Sat., 9 AM to 3 PM. Admission is $5; under 12 free.

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Lookout Pass & Silver Mountain Ski Patrols We are volunteer, non-profit organizations

18423 N. Green Bluff Rd. Colbert, WA #15 on Green Bluff map Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the end of October or by appointment

(509) 238-4962

Buy Local AND Organic!

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* Elk Vinta g Cruiser R e ide* Novembe r 4, 3PM

Time Bomb (509) 326-6949 711 N. Monroe Spokane, WA

Vintage bikes-Toys-Tiki Books-Records-CDs-Furniture Kustom Kulture-Lowbrow-More! buy, sell, trade • 12 PM -6 PM Tues-Sat OCTober 2012

/ Out There Monthly

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Photo of the Month Emily Ragan & Greg Boniface

“We were wondering if our truck would make it on this back road...then it opened up to this beautiful lake.” Emily Ragan & Greg Boniface. Send your 3 meg. or less, hi-res (200+ dpi) submission with caption to editor@outtheremonthly.com.

Best photos entries will be picked for upcoming issues.

Roadtrip DJ: October ANGELA & CARVER RASMUSSEN mother/son edition When your road trip includes multiple generations, your playlist needs to appeal to a variety of tastes. Finding old songs that stand the test of time and new songs that have a classic appeal can be a challenge. If parents and kids share the same outlook on genre and style, it is fun to expand each other’s musical horizons.

“INTERGALACTIC” / BEASTIE BOYS / THE SOUNDS OF SCIENCE For a song that some parents listened to in high school, the energy and the rhymes are still illin.

“BEEN CAUGHT STEALING” / JANE’S ADDICTION / RITUAL DE LO HABITUAL This old-style rock song could find its way into any modern playlist. The kids aren’t likely to say, “This sounds dated.”

“DOA” / FOO FIGHTERS / IN YOUR HONOR A cross-generational favorite, this song chugs through catchy choruses and heavy riffs that build and build. Mom and dad aren’t going to ask the kids, “What is this noise?”

“ALL THESE THINGS THAT I’VE DONE” / THE KILLERS / HOT FUSS This is the quintessential sing-along song, and the sound could easily have come out of 1980’s alternative rock.

“FAST FUSE” / KASBIAN / WEST RYDER PAUPER LUNATIC ASYLUM From start to finish, the song is loud and fast, keeping everyone’s heads bobbing along with the beat.

It’s a great example of the younger generation sharing new bands that are easily picked up and enjoyed by parents. //

Open

Wednesdays & Saturdays till Oct 31st

come down and search through our great selection of Pumpkins Serving the Spokane Community with more space, great vendors convenient parking and Live Music every Market Featuring Spokane’s finest Local, Natural and Organic: bountiful farm-fresh produce, fresh baked bread & pastries, beef, pork, lamb, poultry, eggs, honey, fruit, and much, much more!

8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

(509) 995-0182 www.spokanefarmersmarket.org We accept: Visa/Mastercard, Food Stamps (EBT), WIC

10

Out There Monthly / October 2012

GoGreen: Sustainable Living NEW Blue Carts are Rolling In

Spokane Switches To Single Stream Recycling / By Annie Szotkowski

Waste management’s new single-stream recycling facility on the west plains in Spokane County. // Photo Courtesy of waste management.

No more required sorting of recyclables— the 18-gallon blue recycling bins supplied by the City of Spokane have upgraded to 64-gallon carts. Recycling was limited to certain plastics, glass and paper—and excluded cardboard boxes and junk mail.

All of that has changed.

The City of Spokane declared Monday, October 1st, the day when curbside recycling will transition to single stream recycling—thanks to the opening of the new SMaRT (Spokane Material and Recycling Technology) recycling center, located at 2902 S. Geiger Blvd, next to the city’s Waste-to-Energy Facility. Waste Management

Single stream recycling means more materials in the cart, more people participating in recycling, and less hassle sorting items. leased land from the Spokane International Airport to build the SMaRT center, which they also own and operate, according to Scott Windsor, the Director of Solid Waste for City of Spokane.

Single stream recycling means more materials in the cart, more people participating in recycling, and less hassle sorting items. Acceptable single stream recycling materials include junk mail, cereal boxes, plastics #1-7, milk cartons, juice boxes, beverage boxes, glass bottles, jars, batteries (in plastic bag and placed on top of cart), and small scrap metal objects like pots, pans and pie tins.

The wider range of recycling materials brings the promise of greater participation. At least, that’s the philosophy behind it.

According to Downtoearth.com, Coeur

d’Alene saw a 100 percent increase in overall participation after single stream carts rolled out in October 2010. Participation before the new system was 27 percent, which then doubled to 54 percent.

The City of Spokane expects to save $936,000 per year on disposal costs and make $400,000 in revenue with the new single stream recycling program. Each ton of material the city recycles equates to a savings of $104 on disposal costs, while earning $22 after selling the recycled materials, according to a city press release. The City of Spokane planned to invest $8 million, as of late August, to fund the recycling conversion project—half of that money was for replacing the old recycling trucks.

The transition to single stream recycling applies to residents within Spokane city’s limits and is being coordinated by the city’s Solid Waste department, while Waste Management coordinates the transition for Spokane Valley residents and those living within Spokane County but outside official city boundaries. Recycling carts will continue to be collected weekly by the City of Spokane, while Waste Management will collect recyclables every other week.

Streamline recycling benefits both the City of Spokane and Spokane County due to convenience and economics. Windsor says that Waste Management agreed to invest in a single stream recycling program for Spokane because of its potential as a hub to receive materials from Central Washington, Western Montana and Idaho.

Billions of Waste Management’s business dollars are invested in landfills. The company needs to invest in a single stream recycling program in an area with a population of one million people to be economically feasible, says Windsor.

(Residents in Washington State’s King and Pierce counties, with Seattle and Tacoma as their respective big-city hubs, have been required to participate in single stream recycling for years; in fact, home garbage bins are considerably smaller than the recycling carts.)

By the numbers, recycled materials, like glass, save volumes compared to transporting everything to the city’s Waste-to-Energy Facility.

For example, it costs $104 per ton to dispose of glass at the facility, according to Windsor, which becomes part of the ash that then is shipped to the regional landfill. When glass is sorted and recycled, however, it costs only $40-50 per ton.

Then it’s sold into another commodity to enter the market place.

After sorting, Waste Management sells recycling as commodities, most often overseas to China. Windsor sees the new recycling program as a cyclical, economic benefit to the community, and as a way for commodities to stay local.

Materials go to the plant to be sorted by physical characteristics, pressed into a bale, and then sold at a marketed value. People interested in paper material, for instance, such as at local newsprint companies, use that new material for reusable purposes. “It’s kind of a free market,” says Windsor.

One of the major concerns of single stream recycling is broken glass, which is inevitable.

When glass is mixed in with the other materials at the recycling center, a concern is that broken glass will cause problems. However, the SMaRT center’s advanced modern technology will minimize the risks.

Windsor also points to local people’s dedication to recycling to diminish the concern of the

single stream system causing more contamination than sorting clean, reusable materials. “Spokane has a pretty competent population, so contamination shouldn’t be a problem,” he says.

Russ Nobbs, owner of Rings & Things jewelry company and a recent inductee into the Washington State Recycling Association Hall of Fame, has been a long-time volunteer recycling coordinator for community events—most notably ArtFest. He looks forward to Spokane’s new recycling facility. “I don’t really care if [recycling is] profitable or not. I care that I take it to someone who can recycle it one way or another,” he says. “Most materials use less energy [to recycle] than just burying it.”

The SMaRT center and the conversion to single stream recycling is expected to use less energy overall and increase efficiency in recycling as residents and business owners now can conveniently recycle a greater quantity and variety of materials. For example, the Waste-to-Energy Facility has the ability to process 275,000 tons of garbage per year, according to Windsor, with an additional 30,000-40,000 tons that bypasses as solid waste destined for a regional landfill. The new SMaRT center reduces the tonnage sent to the landfill and increases the amount of accepted materials to sort and recycle.

So don’t throw away those cereal and cracker boxes, yogurt and sour cream containers—now you’ll be recycling them, and much more. //

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

(Ongoing - October 20) NEW Farmers Market.

When: 9 AM – 1 PM. Where: Main & Astor, downtown Colville, WA. Fresh, local fruits and vegetables in season, bedding plants and garden starts, artisan baked goods, gifts and crafts. 509-738-2089, johnpogar@yahoo.com.

(October 13) The Natural Living Show. When: 10 AM - 6 PM. Where: Spokane Community College Lair. Spokane’s premier consumer show for natural, organic, sustainable and healthy products. This year The Natural Living Show will offer free single admission ($7 value) to participants who donate one used clean cotton bed sheet of any size (higher thread count is preferred, and must be free of paint stains) to be recycled into much needed reusable strip bandages for hospitals in the African Congo.

Info: TheNaturalLivingShow.com.

(October 13) Composting 101 Workshop. When: 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM. Where: Sun People Dry Goods Co, 32 W 2nd Ave, Ste. 200. Free workshop will discuss the best ways to outdoor compost--

covering hot and slow composting techniques, and all the basics. Pre registration required. Info: 509368-9378, sunpeopledrygoods.com.

(October 18) Rain Water Collection 101 Workshop. When: 4 - 5:30 PM. Where: Sun People

Dry Goods Co, 32 W 2nd Ave, Ste. 200. Learn how to assemble, install and generally use a rain barrel to collect rainwater for your garden and beds! $5 Pre-registration required. Info: 509-368-9378, sunpeopledrygoods.com.

(October 20) DIY Bitters & Cocktail Making 101 Workshop. When: 3:30 - 5 PM. Where: Sun People

Dry Goods Co, 32 W 2nd Ave, Ste. 200. Join local foodie and urban homesteader, Sam Mace as she walks you through making your own bitters for cocktails. $12. Pre-registration required. Info: 509368-9378, sunpeopledrygoods.com

(October 27) In Store Q & A: Local Energy Savings Programs. When: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM.

Where: Sun People Dry Goods Co, 32 W 2nd Ave, Ste. 200. Bruce Gage of EcoDepot and Susanne Croft of Sustainable Resources INW will be on-hand to answer questions about energy savings programs.

Info: 509-368-9378, sunpeopledrygoods.com. //

OCTober 2012

/ Out There Monthly

11

Road Trips

THe MCKenzie RivEr Trail

Central Oregon’s Mountain Bike “Trail of the Year” /

By Brent Emmingham A bucket list of mountain bike trails should have the 26-mile McKenzie River Trail (MRT) at the top. Nestled deep in Central Oregon between Sisters and Eugene, it was designated “Trail of the Year” by Bike magazine in 2008. It features a combination of intense intermediate riding and fast, flowy, singletrack that will make any rider on almost any bike smile and beg for more.

Since the trail is never more than a mile from State Highway 126, there are numerous drop-off and pick up locations. Some riders opt for a professional shuttle service— options include Cog Wild (www.cogwild.com), Harbick’s Shuttle Service (phone 541-822-3575) and McKenzie River Mountain Resort Shuttle (www.rivermountainresort.com). Or set up your own shuttle with the help of some buddies.

If you are an experienced rider with the goal of riding the entire trail, it will take 4-5 hours to complete—a little longer if you brought your

Bombing the mckenzie river trail in central oregon. // Photo Brent Emmingham.

Coming mid-October to: Huckleberry’s Super 1, Yokes and Main Market www.roasthouse.net

12

Out There Monthly / October 2012

You’ll see ferns the size of Volkswagens next to delicate wildflowers. family or a camera. You can anticipate seeing some of the most beautiful scenery in the Pacific Northwest.

For the hard-core rider looking to complete the entire distance, the starting point is the Fish Lake parking area. After a gentle first mile, you reach the aptly named Clear Lake.

From here, you have two options: the east side or the west side. The west side of the trail, usually described as the easier one, will take you through a boat launch area and campground, and is likely to be more congested.

The east side, however, is where the fun and challenge really begin. This MRT section bisects at least two noticeable “fingers” of an ancient lava flow. Often visible from Highway 26, the lava contrasts sharply with the dense forest that normally cradles the road. The penalty for failure here is severe—coral-like lava extrusions line the trail, challenging both the rider and the integrity of your tires. Even the short paved trail section that takes the place of the hard-pack requires a fair bit of concentration. There are two thundering waterfalls just south of Clear Lake, the 70-foot Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls. Riders should use caution in this section of trail as blind corners, rider traffic, lava drops and cliffs are aplenty.

At about the six-mile mark, you reach the famous Blue Pool, which is actually Tamolich Falls—where the McKenzie quietly disappears underground and then reappears at the south end as a thundering river. You may encounter hikers and sightseers, who venture here to snap

photos and enjoy picnic lunches.

Blue Pool marks the end of the lava sections and begins the transition to dense forest. This lower trail section is more suitable for families.

A great place to start is Trail Bridge Reservoir, visible from Highway 126. Old growth firs and cedars covered in moss and lichen line the trail. You’ll see ferns the size of Volkswagens next to delicate wildflowers. All the while, the McKenzie River is rarely out of sight. At least a dozen log and rail bridges cross over smaller streams feeding the river and provide opportunity to enjoy the views and catch your breath.

A parking area just across the road from the beautiful McKenzie River Ranger Station marks the end (or turn-around, if you dare) of one of the greatest mountain bike trails in America.

Some riders will relish the challenge of riding up, over and down the lava escarpments.

The MRT has an overall elevation gain/loss of +820/-2,488 feet. Others will endure the lava sections knowing that a solid 18-20 miles of the sweetest singletrack in the nation awaits.

Still others, especially families, can pick several starting points based on the desires and abilities of the group. And this is what makes the MRT so perfect and amazing; it offers riding terrain that will satisfy anyone on two wheels. (An excellent MRT map, and other trails in Central Oregon, is available at www.adventuremaps. net/central-oregon-trail-map.)

Lodging options near the MRT are limited. A good choice is Belknap Hot Springs Lodge and Gardens (www.belknaphotsprings.com), located less than one-quarter mile from the trail.

This large resort offers lodging in the form of lodge rooms, cabins, RV parking and tent sites.

There are upper and lower hot spring pools and a swimming pool at the lodge. If soaking in hot springs after a glorious day of riding is not your thing, the quaint but touristy town of Sisters is located only 40 minutes east on Highways 126/20. There are more accommodations and services in the Sisters area, including Blazin’ Saddles Bike Shop (www.blazinsaddleshub. com), as well as some decent bike trails. And if you make Sisters your base camp, you’ll finish your double skinny latte just in time to make the left turn into the Fish Lake parking area.

For more information, go online to visitmckenzieriver.com or mckenzierivertrail.com. //

WHEN YOU GO From Spokane, head to the Tri-Cities via I-90 to Ritzville, then south on Hwy 395. Take I-82 south across the Oregon border, then go west on I-84 along the Columbia River. At Biggs Junction, head south on Hwy 97 until Redmond, OR, then go west on Hwy 126 to Sisters or continue further west on 126/20 to the town of McKenzie Bridge.

What’s Your Gear: Erin Jonckers (hiking kid)

PHOTO BY JON JONCKERS

‘Bad Bob’ was all it took to convince Erin Jonckers, when she was seven years old, that she liked hiking—the exploration into wilderness and anticipation of surprises. Now ten years old, it was this earliest memory of hiking with her family when the deer she named ‘Bob’ stubbornly and boldly lurked around the family’s campsite to lick salt from their backpacks.

According to Erin’s dad, Jon, an OTM senior writer, “Bad Bob was an ugly old mule deer with several points, a scratched-up shoulder, and one eye was rather foggy. He looked pretty ill, and I didn’t want him near Erin. At first I was throwing snowballs at him, but eventually I needed to throw rocks at him to keep him at bay.”

Rather than be scared, Erin was amused. “He kept doing silly things like eating salt and coming close to us,” she says.

Which is why Erin’s favorite aspect of hiking is “seeing animals and creatures like moose, deer, porcupines and bears.”

Thanks to her parents, Erin has developed a love for the outdoors. “I love seeing new places, and having fun with my dad. We see lots of animals and we have lots of snacks,” she says.

Jon’s secret to getting his daughter hooked on hiking: picking a kid-friendly, totally doable route—which in the beginning means easy flat, short trails—and not adhering to a strict agenda.

Having never used a kid-carrier on the trail, Jon says that for him, “It’s more important that kids go the distance versus picking them up and carrying them.” So if this means that Jonckers family frequently stops to rest or “look at a puddle or a nest,” so be it.

Erin’s favorite place to hike is Riverside State Park. She has also “traveled throughout the Selkirks, the Cabinets, portions of Valhalla Provincial Park [in British Columbia] and select spots in the Cascades,” says Jon. Trail distances are usually 3-5 miles.

Variety is key to keeping kids interested. “I don’t like seeing things twice, like trees. You keep seeing trees over and over and over,” says Erin.

Yeah, that can get dull. So parents can score incentive points with the possibility of scenic views and wildlife encounters.

Although Erin says that the actual hiking part is sometimes not fun—the physical exertion of long-distance walking and elevation gain—she says when it gets tough, “I tell my parents that I need a break, and we find a place where we can sit down.”

To make the journey more fun, Erin looks for animal tracks, hums a song, races her younger brother, or gets her picture taken by her dad. Her favorite trail snacks are Gatorade and beef jerky.

By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Erin’s advice to kids new to hiking is to consider all the possibilities. “Maybe you’ll see a bear or a moose—you never know what to expect,” she says. “If you do need help, ask a grown-up because they’re always going to be right next to you.”

In addition to hiking, Erin enjoys downhill skiing at Mt. Spokane, camping, roasting marshmallows, and just playing games and ‘make-believe’

“I don’t like seeing things twice, like trees. You keep seeing trees over and over and over.” outside.

While Erin carries her own backpack, her parents, of course, are the one who choose and pack her gear. And choosing durable, kid-friendly gear is essential. Jon’s advice to other parents: “Try to shop for the red, green or blue clothes rather than, for example, pink. This way another child can wear it—boy or girl. Always bring extra Smartwool kids socks, and quit trying to figure out how their feet got wet when yours are dry. Also, while space and weight are precious while backpacking, you’re not going to break any speed records with the kids—and their clothes are so small anyway—so take along extra clothes because you would rather bring them and not need them, than need them and not have them.”

Erin says her favorite ‘gear’ item is the stuffed

animal she brings along, but she also likes her headlamp. Here’s her gear list, courtesy of her dad.

------------------------------------------------------HIKING SHOES: Usually tennis shoes. “Erin still outgrows shoes before she wears them out,” says Jon. ------------------------------------------------------SOCKS: Smartwool.

------------------------------------------------------BACKPACK: “For several years, Erin used the Camelbak Scout—perfect size for clothes, water, a headlamp, a couple toys, some snacks, toilet paper and sunscreen. Now she has graduated to the Osprey Jib 35,” he says.

------------------------------------------------------HYDRATION SYSTEM: “Hydration Packs are imperative with kids for three reasons: they can drink at their own pace and their own speed (you don’t have to stop and unscrew a water bottle every hundred yards); they will drink more if they have a hydration pack, which is great if hiking is an uncommon outing; and, lastly, the parent can pull out the hydration bladder and monitor their child’s drinking to make sure they are staying hydrated rather than being uncertain how much was sipped from a bottle.”

------------------------------------------------------PREFERRED CLOTHING: Anything not made of cotton. Sun hat.

------------------------------------------------------HEADLAMP: Black Diamond Wiz Kids.

------------------------------------------------------OTHER ESSENTIAL GEAR: The North Face Cat’s Meow sleeping bag for kids (no longer made) and small 3/4 Exped SynMat sleeping pad. //

it’s cross time

elephantbikes.com OCTober 2012

/ Out There Monthly

13

I

Training Tips

My Bike

Michael Sirott

Real Food Options

Try These Workout Snacks / By Ben Greenfield Ever get tired of sickeningly sweet sports gels, gooey trail mix or commercial sports drinks when you’re on a long hike, run or ride? Here are some of my favorite real food options to keep you rolling.

Chia seed/water mix, 24-32 ounces per hour: Put 1/3 cup of dry chia seeds into a 32-ounce Nalgene bottle, or other water bottle. Fill the Nalgene with water 1/3 of the way and then pour chia seeds into the water. Close the lid tightly and shake the bottle, then open the bottle and fill it with water the rest of the way. Close the lid and shake again. To prevent lumps from forming, shake about every 5 minutes. Add Stevia and lemon if desired for sweetness.

der, 1 c. old-fashioned oats, 1 tbsp. carob powder. Mix the cashew butter and honey in a bowl, and heat for 30 seconds. Add the rest of ingredients and mix together.

Mixture should be crumbly. Press (hard) into a 9x9 pan and refrigerate for 20 minutes. Cut into bars.

Chocolate Almond Butter (“Rollies”), equivalent of 1-2 wraps per hour: Spread 1 tbsp. of almond butter, 1 tsp. honey and 2 tbsp. carob chips or chocolate chips into a wrap, roll up, and chop into bite size pieces. Carry in aluminum foil. //

Ben Greenfield owns EndurancePlanet.com, a top source for endurance training, nutrition and racing advice.

Carob Cashew bars, 2-3/hr: 1 c. cashew butter, 3 tbsp. honey, 1-1/2 c. protein pow-

I love my 2006 Serotta Coeur d’Acier (Heart of Steel) because of its silky smooth cornering, responsiveness out of the saddle, and stability on the fast decents. I’ve never had a better-handling bicycle. Somewhere along the line, I lost the sensation of “bike lust” that many cyclists seem to have. I’m not the rider who enjoys getting a

new bike every season. I’d rather have an old trusty steed than a new toy. This bike has seen thousands of miles of racing and tens of thousands of miles of tooling around. It’s now on its sixth complete drive train, fifth set of wheels, and second paint job. I love this bike. //

2nd Annual REFOREST SPOKANE DAY Volunteers Needed!

October Sale!

30% Off All Fertilizers & Composting Supplies in our Garden Center.

5,000 trees!

Fun for all ages Sign up today

Saturday, October 27th 9 a.m. - Noon The Lands Council needs your help to plant 5,000 Ponderosa Pines in ONE DAY! Planting locations: - Slavin Conservation area [South] - Haynes Conservation area [North] - Campion Park [South] - Whitworth University [North] - Dishman Hills [Valley] Please bring your own shovel, gloves, and one gallon of water.

Coffee, snacks and refreshments provided.

Please sign up to volunteer at

An Urban Homestead and Natural Living Store Mon-Sat 10 to 6 | Closed Sun. SunPeopleDryGoods.com | 509.368.9378 | 32 W. 2nd Ave. 14

Out There Monthly / October 2012

Presented by:

http://tinyurl.com/Reforest2012 or call 509.838.4912

www.LaNdSCOuNCiL.ORg

Everyday Cyclist Senior Cycling

It’s Not Too Late / By Hank Greer Do older people ride bikes? I guess it depends on how you define “older”. I’m in my mid-50s and my 16-year-old daughter always tells me I’m old. And I do ride often. But what about even older people? I can’t answer for all Linda Prussack. // Photo Hank greer.

of them, but a number of them are having fun riding bicycles.

Two years ago, I took some time off to check out some of the weekday rides hosted by the Spokane Bicycle Club. On a Thursday morning road ride, I left Coeur d’Alene Park in Browne’s Addition with ten retired men. At age 53, I was the spring chicken of the group. Five of the men were old enough to be my dad, one of whom was 86. The rest were in their 60s and at least ten years my senior. We headed east on the Centennial Trail and then north to Peone Prairie. The return route included a long climb up Forker Road. All told, we cranked out 40 miles before we sat down for lunch at the end of our ride. Looking back, I remember thinking that I had a great future to look forward to— about 30 more years of bike riding.

With that memory in mind as the genesis for this article, I recently asked around for some older cyclists to ride with me and chat about their cycling experiences with the idea that maybe one person reading this will realize, “I am not too old to ride a bicycle.” A few people took the bait—snacks and drinks were my treat—but only three were able to attend.

Linda Prussack, age 63, Kent Holbrook, 72, and Kay Putnam, 74, met me at Mission Park on a cool, sunny morning. After introductions, I told them my purpose and our destination and asked them to ride at their own pace while I took pictures. After turning onto Upriver Drive, Kay led off and set a just-shy-of-blistering pace. I took a few pictures of my three volunteers while riding alongside and then moved ahead to get some oncoming shots. I essentially had to hit racing speed to get far enough ahead and off my bike for a couple of quick photos. Fortunately, Kent noticed how hard I was working and suggested to Kay that she slow down. (Thank you,

Kent.)

So what makes sexagenarians and septuagenarians ride bicycles? Kay says she has always been athletic, but running and skiing got too hard on her body so she focuses on cycling, which has less impact on the body but is just as healthy. Kent’s past also involved a lot of running and he shared the similar complaint as Kay. Preparing for racing was getting harder every year. He started riding about five years ago and finds it meets his need for speed. He enjoys covering a lot of territory on two wheels. Linda used to ride a bike when she was young and admitted she “let herself go” during her middle-age years.

Four years ago, her daughter took her for a ride and her performance was less than stellar. That motivated Linda to get on the bike more often, lose weight, and get healthier. In the process, she says she rediscovered the fun of the sport. “I realized that at this age I can keep getting better at something.”

How do you get started? The one thing these three didn’t mention is to check with your doctor first, so I’m mentioning it. Cycling is as intense as you make it but if you’re not already physically active then visit with your doctor. Kent advises to get a decent bike. He says you don’t have to get a top-of-the-line bike, but there are plenty

So what makes sexagenarians and septuagenarians ride bicycles? of quality bikes for a reasonable price out there.

Shop around and find one that’s comfortable.

Kay recommends starting out with Spokane Bicycle Club rides (www.spokanebicycleclub. org) because the club’s daytime rides during the work week provide many opportunities for retirees. There’s a ride for every skill and confidence level. Linda set goals for herself and began riding with other groups. She found Belles and Baskets (www.facebook.com/BellesandBaskets) to be a fun women-only group. She now rides with Women on Wheels (www.wowcycling. com/), which is still recreational but more challenging. Linda has had a number of people tell her, “That looks like fun. I wish I could do that too.” She tells them they can. “Have you heard of the Fish Lake Trail? Grab your bike and come with me and we’ll go for a ride.” Her advice is to just do it.

In response, Kent jokes, “But if you want to ride with the geriatrics, come on out with the Spokane Bike Club.”

What’s fun about cycling? For Kay, it’s riding with a group of friends in nice weather and through beautiful scenery. Kent loves the physical exertion. Linda summed it up nicely. “I’m a little kid in a big girl’s body. I love to go outside and play and I can do that on my bike.”

There’s a great motivator—go out and remember what it was like to be a kid. //

Oct 1 Colbert Half Marathon

Oct 29 Pumpkin Pacer Deer Park more info at

www.runnersoul.com

Spokane's only running specialty store.

221 N. Wall St. 509.624.7654

LEGAL SERVICES

Designed to meet the needs of Seniors Medicaid and Long Term Planning Probate • Guardianship • Estate Planning • Wills • Trusts Durable Power of Attorney • Living Wills • Special Needs Trusts

509.325.5222 | mcburnslaw.com

AT T I C U S & B O O R A DL EY ’ S

OCTober 2012

/ Out There Monthly

15

Outdoor Calendar CLIMBING (Ongoing Mondays & Wednesdays) Spider Monkeys Climbing Club. When: 5 – 7 PM. Where:

Wild Walls, 202 W. 2nd Ave. For kids ages 4 – 10 years. Please call ahead. Come climb and meet new friends! Info: 509-455-9596.

(October 16 & 29) Discover Rock Class. When: 6 - 8 PM. Where: Mt. Gear 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: 509-325-9000.

(October 27) Youth Intro To Rock. When: 1 – 3 PM. Where: Mt. Gear 2002 N. Division. Get your child ready for climbing! The class will introduce them to climbing safety, belaying techniques and knots, all taught by a certified instructor. We want to build their confidence so lots of climbing time will be involved. All equipment provided. Ages 7-11. $20. Info: 509-455-9596.

CYCLING (Ongoing) Inland Northwest Cyclocross Series.

Oct 13, Riverside State Park, 7-mile area (start & finish is in the airfield) - Oct 14, Sky Ranch, Moscow, ID – Oct 20, U of I, Sandpoint, ID – Oct 21, Liberty Lake County Park – Oct 27, Stager Farm, Walla Walla, WA – Oct 28, Bennington Lake, Walla Walla, WA. Info: emdesports.com

(Ongoing) WOW Cycling Spokane. WOW is excited that Fall is here! Check our FaceBook page for upcoming rides and activities! Tailwinds to you!

Info: 509-951-6366, wowcycling.com

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

(October 2) Group Health Kids Bike Races.

When: Start times from Noon – 2:30 PM. Where: Mirabeau Park Meadows 13500 E. Mirabeau Pkwy, Spokane Valley. Arrive 30 min. early to check in.

Info: emdesports.com.

(October 6) Tour De Rock and Rough Ride 4000’.

When: 10 AM. Where: 49 degrees north. The mountain course will be a climb up through Sunrise Basin on unpaved roads, then a traverse across the face of the mountain, and finally a fun downhill run back to the lodge. There are many great view points, clean mountain air, refreshments, and support services along the way. There will also be an extended and more advanced course, to the summit, for those who are up for a greater challenge. For the ultimate challenge, Rough Ride 4000’, riders can start in Chewelah at the City Park and ride on pavement to the 49° North Mountain Lodge and from there continue on the unpaved routes. Benefits ski patrol. Info: 509-937-4922, Ski49n.com.

(October 6) Bicycle Ride Mt. Spokane. When:

9 AM-12:30 PM & 1-4:30 PM. Where: Mount Spokane High School 6015 E Mt Spokane Park Dr. SW Parking Lot. Autumn on Mount Spokane 16

Out There Monthly / October 2012

is gorgeous! This bike ride is on a vehicle closed road and mostly downhill. Meet at Mount Spokane High School Southwest Parking lot, and our van will transport you and your bike to the top.

Additional information emailed after registration.

Ages 16+. $19. Info: spokaneparks.org.

ALPINE SKIING, NORDIC SKIING, SNOWSHOEING (October 5) Choose Your Adventure – a ski odyssey. When: 7 PM. Where: Mt. Gear 2002 N.

Division. This is a feature-length ski film that celebrates exotic locations, wild adventures, and the dedicated personalities writing their own stories on snow. We hope you enjoy viewing it as much as we enjoyed capturing it. This year’s movie is such a mixed bag of characters, exotic locations and action that we wanted to get that point across with the title. We’re exploring an abandoned mining town in the Arctic, dropping cliffs with Hugo Harrison in British Columbia, plunging into the Antarctic Ocean in speedos, blasting through deep powder, catching up with some crusty locals in the Wasatch and more. Info: 509-455-9596.

(October 13 - 14) Methow Fall Running and Training Clinic. When: 8 AM. Where: Mazama

Community Center. A one-day running and training clinic on Saturday and a hill climb on Sunday.

Clinic will focus on: Nutrition for athletes and an active lifestyle, strength training that fits your schedule, running technique and key workouts for your regimen. Info: mvsta.com

(October 13) Spread The Shred. When: 7 PM. Where: Garland Theatre. Spread The Shred is a double video premier that raises money for local “at risk” youth to learn how to snowboard at our local mountains. Info: 509-768-9680. papal. lingo1@gmail.com

(October 19-20) Ski Swap. Get your gear for the

year at the Ski Swap at the Northeast Washington Fairgrounds, Colville, WA.

(October 20) Warren Miller’s FLOW STATE. Where: Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox. Flow State is coming to kickoff the winter sports season. Info: 206-937-1842, warrenmiller.com (October 28 – 30) 47th Annual Mt Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap. Info: mtspokane.com

RUNNING (October 6) King of the hill 5k and 1 mile kids run.

When: 10:30 AM. Where: 8500 St. Michaels Rd. Spokane, WA.Go online to register at: active.com/ running/spokane-wa/king-of-the-hill-5k-and-1mile-kids-run-2012. Prizes and raffle. Info: 509599-6448. kingofthehill5krun@gmail.com.

(October 7) “Run for the Angels” for Inland Northwest SIDS Foundation. Sunday, from 4 to 7PM, Coeur d’Alene, ID, Info: 208-557-4371, inwsids.org/about

(October 13) Canfield Mountain Run Series. When: 9 AM – 4 PM. Where: CdA. This racing series event features 3 different categories to choose from depending on skill level and is a completely FREE event. The entire course is on dirt ranger road, and

Submit your event at www.outtheremonthly.com

single track. Info: ironcoreracing.com.

marathon.us.

(October 13) Sekani Trail Run. When: 10 AM- 5k start, 10:30 AM- 10k start. Where: Camp Sekani.

Run/Hike/Walk 100% dirt trails pushing 18-20% grades. The multi-runner and single track trials highlighting natural terrain. Info: 509-625-6546, bit.ly/sekani_2012

(October 28) Monster Dash. When: Race Start 10 AM, Kids 11 AM. Break out your favorite costume (optional), or get creative and make your own, keeping in mind that you will be running in it!

Judging will be held before the race starts. Awards will be given to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place overall male and female 5k finishers, and to top age group finishers. Costume content prizes will be awarded before the race, and age group awards and raffle will be given out during the Awards Ceremony.

(October 14) Spokane Marathon. With the Marathon, Marathon Relay or 10K there are three different ways to enjoy the day. Info: spokane-

SIXMONTHTRAININGCALENDAR CYCLING

Lessons Start. Info: fitfanatics.com.

(Ongoing during October and November) Inland Northwest Cyclocross Series. Hell Yeah!

(December 29) Methow Valley Ski Rodeo/ Loppet. Info: mvsta.com

(November 18) Inland Nortwest Cyclocross Series finals – CdA, ID. Info: www.emdesports.

This race series will provide a low-cost ski racing opportunity for both experienced and new racers ages 6-16. Racers will meet at 5:30 PM on Friday, January 4th, for the first session. Info: schweitzer. com.

Info: emdesports.com

com.

(March 10) Gran Fondo Ephrata. 78 miles of paved and gravel roads. Info: rideviciouscycle. com (April) Frozen Flatlands – Baddlands Cycling’s multi-staged, multi-day annual event. Info: baddlands.org

(January 25) Schweitzer Junior Race Series.

(January 26) Methow Valley Pursuit & Nordic Festival. A variety of Nordic ski events. Info: mvsta.com/methowpursuit

(Ongoing Friday Nights starting in February) Schweitzer Starlight Race Series. 21 and over

RUNNING

only. Info: schweitzer.com

(November 3) Zeitgeist Half Marathon. Boise,

(February 3) Chicks on Sticks. 8km ski event.

ID. Info: zhalfmarathon.com.

(November 22) BRRC Turkey Trot. Info: brrc. net

(December 1) Jingle Bell Run/Walk, 8 AM. Info: www.spokanejinglebellrun.kintera.org

(February) Partners in Pain 5K. Info: brrc.net (May 2012) Lilac Bloomsday Run, the 36th.

Proceeds donated to The Wellness Place in Wenatchee. Info:skileavenworth.com

(February 10) Langlauf 10K Ski Race 35th Annual XC Ski race at Mt Spokane. Info: spokanelanglauf.org

SNOWSHOE (February 2) Schweitzer Snowshoe Stampede Race. A snowshoe race on the Nordic trails. Info:

Info: www.bloomsdayrun.org

schweitzer.com

(May 11) Sunflower Relay and Trail Marathon.

TRIATHALON / MULTI-SPORT / ADVENTURE RACING

Info: mvsta.com

SKIING (November 18) Fall Beast. Snoqualmie, WA. A day-long romp through the best late fall weather and terrain that Western Washington has to offer.

Info: beastrace.com.

(January-March) Nordic Kids. Nordic Ski Lessons for Kids. Info: spokanenordic.org

(April 14) Rage In The Sage Mountain Bike Duathlon. Run 2.5 miles, Bike 10 miles, Run 2.5 miles. Info: 3rrr.org.

EVENTS (November 17-24) Lewis Clark Valley Chamber of Commerce Kendall Subaru Clearwater Snake Steelhead Derby. Info: 509-758-7712, steelheadderby.com //

(December) Fitness Fanatics Nordic Ski

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 (November 4) Qualchan XC 12km. When: 10 AM.

Where: High Drive @ Manito Bvld. Strenuous cross country race on Spokane’s South Hill Bluff.

Part of Bloomsday Road Runners Club’s XC series. $4 DOR only. Info: 509-448-2616, brrc.net

WALKING/HIKING (October 18) Explorer Search & Rescue Orientation.

When: 6:30 PM. Where: Sheriff ’s Training Center at 10319 E. Appleway. Learn what it takes to participate in search and rescue operations in Spokane County. Search for and recover missing persons, evidence, etc. Info: 509-720-8727, scesar. org

(October 20) Vampire Orienteering. When: 6 PM - 7:30 PM. Where: Manito Park. Family friendly Halloween-themed orienteering event. Search Manito Park for control markers while avoiding vampires. Wear a costume and headlamp. $7 per map. Info: 509-939-3543, ewoc.org/events.

(October 23) Overland in the Highest Sierra. When:

7 – 8:30 PM. Where: REI on North Monroe. Local geology instructor Andy Buddington presents the challenges and natural beauty of overland hiking along the 200-mile Sierra High Route in California. Info: rei.com/stores/spokane

ADVENTURE RACING (October 7) Pirate Plunder Adventure Race.

MULTISPORT PADDLING / RIVER SPORTS (Ongoing) Masters Rowing. When: T, TH 6 - 7:30

PM, Sat 7:30 - 9:30 AM, Where: Spokane River near Upriver Dam. Masters rowing practices for experienced rowers and those who have completed Learn to Row. Sculling and sweep rowing.

Recreational and competitive. Fully coached practices. Info: spokanerowing.org.

(October 7) Kayak Horseshoe Lake. When: 9 AM.

Where: Horseshoe Lake Public Boat Launch. This small lake almost dictates that you slow down and enjoy the grace of your sleek kayak passing through the water. You will paddle over to a 50’ foot waterfall that feeds this jewel of a lake.

Directions emailed after registration. Discover Pass Required. $27 ($25 REI member). Info; spokaneparks.org.

(October 22) Anything Worth Doing. When: 7

PM. Where: Corbin Senior Center - 827 West Cleveland Ave. Spokane. Former boatman Jo

ticipate in search and rescue operations in Spokane County. Search for and recover missing persons, evidence, etc. Info: 509-720-8727, scesar.org.

YOGA

– 6 PM. Where: Mt. Gear 2002 N. Division. Come get the best deal on barely used gear and clothing.

Climbing, skiing, water sports and much more have been priced to sell – don’t let this opportunity pass you by! Info: 509-325-9000.

(Ongoing Mondays) Flow Yoga When: 7:15 – 8:30 PM. Where Wild Walls Climbing Gym 202 W. Second Ave. Info: 509-455-9596, wildwalls.com

(Ongoing Wednedys) Intro to Yoga When: 7:15 – 8:15 PM. Where Wild Walls Climbing Gym 202 W.

Second Ave. Info: 509-455-9596, wildwalls.com

(October 20 – December 1) Meditation & Yoga Combo Class. When: 9 – 10:30 AM. Where: Urban

Ashram Yoga Studio 918 S Cedar. Learn the practice of meditation through a meditation-based gentle-stretch yoga class, followed by meditation training designed to achieve a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. Reduce anxiety, stress and negative emotions learning to focus your attention and access inner well-being. Ages 18+. $78. Info: http://spokaneparks.org/.

EVENTS/MOVIES/MISC…

(October 20) Scratch and Ding Sale. When: 10 AM

(October 22) Anything Worth Doing. When: 7 PM. Where: Corbin Senior Center - 827 West Cleveland Ave. Spokane. Former boatman Jo Deurbrouck talks about “Anything Worth Doing,” a true story about the inspiring adventures and tragic misadventures of two men who loved rivers. Info: 509209-3066, sckc.ws.

(October 27) Reforest Spokane Day. When: 9 AM – Noon. Join us as we plant 5,000 Ponderosa Pines with your help. Sign up today! Planting Locations: Slavin Conservation area, Haynes Conservation area, Campion Park, Whitworth University, Dishman Hills. Please bring your own shovel, gloves and one gallon of water. Coffee, snacks and refreshments provided. Info: 509-838-4912, landscouncil.org. //

(October 5) Choose Your Adventure – a ski odyssey. When: 7 PM. Where: Mt. Gear 2002 N. Division. This is a feature-length ski film that celebrates exotic locations, wild adventures, and the dedicated personalities writing their own stories on snow. We hope you enjoy viewing it as much as we enjoyed capturing it. This year’s movie is such a mixed bag of characters, exotic locations and action that we wanted to get that point across with the title. We’re exploring an abandoned mining town in the Arctic, dropping cliffs with Hugo Harrison in British Columbia, plunging into the Antarctic Ocean in speedos, blasting through deep powder, catching up with some crusty locals in the Wasatch and more. Info: 509-455-9596.

(October 11-13) Fleet Feet Spokane Grand Opening.

When: 5 PM - 7 PM. Where: Fleet Feet Spokane, 1303 N Washington. Join us for activities, raffles, runs, and other such fun. There will be daily opportunities so come by and join us! Info: (509) 328-4786, fleetfeetspokane.com/calendar.

(October 13) Spread The Shred. When: 7 PM.

Where: Garland Theatre. Spread The Shred is a double video premier that raises money for local “at risk” youth to learn how to snowboard at our local mountains. Info: 509-768-9680. papal. lingo1@gmail.com.

(October 13) The Natural Living Show. When: 10 AM - 6 PM. Where: Spokane Community College Lair. Spokane’s premier consumer show for natural, organic, sustainable and healthy products. This year The Natural Living Show will offer free single admission ($7 value) to participants who donate one used clean cotton bed sheet of any size (higher thread count is preferred, and must be free of paint stains) to be recycled into much needed reusable strip bandages for hospitals in the African Congo.

Info: TheNaturalLivingShow.com.

(October 18) Explorer Search & Rescue Orientation.

When: 6:30 PM. Where: Sheriff ’s Training Center at 10319 E. Appleway. Learn what it takes to par-

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Where: Fulbright Park, Union Gap, WA. When: First wave starts at 10AM. a 4+ mile obstacle course race that combines ever-changing terrain with 15+ obstacles to test your strength, stamina, and love of mud. You’ll climb over walls up to 12’ high, crawl through a 40’ long mud pit, slide down a 30’ water slide, battle through tires, and face many other challenges all while running through a combination of fields, mud, and sand pits! Info: visityakima.com/pirate-plunder-adventure-race

Deurbrouck talks about “Anything Worth Doing,” a true story about the inspiring adventures and tragic misadventures of two men who loved rivers.

Info: 509-209-3066, sckc.ws

OCT 2012

There will also be food, music, treats and lots of fun to go around. Info: spokaneswifts.com/monsterdash, spokaneswifts@gmail.com.

OCTober 2012

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Day Hikes On The Inland Northwest Trail BY: Derrick Knowles

Chilco Mountain from the south. // photo shallan Knowles.

Hiking the Inland Northwest trail in Idaho. // photo Derrick Knowles.

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Out There Monthly / October 2012

Bernard peak mountain bike ride. // Photo shallan knowles.

The Inland Northwest is a land of contrast.

Within a 2-4 hour drive in different directions from Spokane you can be hiking subalpine peaks in the Rocky Mountains; dodging rattlesnakes in Hells Canyon, the deepest gorge in North America; or walking beneath ancient old-growth cedar trees in a lush temperate rainforest. It’s normal for many of us who live here and love the outdoors to bounce around these very diverse landscapes without giving it too much thought: the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness one weekend, the Columbia Plateau Trail the next; the Imnaha River Trail in Hells Canyon, then maybe Upper Priest River a few weeks later; desert to devil’s club, sagebrush to subalpine fir.

A newly proposed 1,500-mile grand loop hiking route—the Inland Northwest Trail, or INT for short—aims to pay homage to the Inland Empire’s backcountry bounty by linking up these incredibly different places.

It starts in Spokane and makes a giant loop through eastern Washington, northern Idaho, northwest Montana and a slice of northeast

mile or so up to Pear Lake.

From the parking lot, the smooth trail winds through big trees and then dense timber before climbing often steeply up towards Blossom Lake.

The dense canopy doesn’t offer much in the way of views, although the lake basins further up the trail has plenty of sub-alpine scenery. The trail can be hiked all the way to Glidden Ridge above Pear Lake or all the way to Glidden or Cooper Pass if you’re feeling ambitious. In addition to being on the INT route, this hike is along part of the 900 mile-long Idaho Centennial Trail that spans the state from the Nevada border to Canada. More info on that long hike at: http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Idaho_Centennial_Trail -----------------------------------------------------DIRECTIONS: From Spokane, head east on I-90 to the Kingston exit #43 west of Kellogg. Drive north on the CDA River Road (Hwy 9) about 21 miles and take a left onto the Delta-Murray Rd.; continue about 1.7 miles and turn right onto Hwy 9 towards the town of Murray and the Sprag Pole Bar (great place to grab a burger and

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While the I.N.T. could be walked in one longdistance thru-hike over three to five months, tackling the whole 1,500 miles at once is a bit more than most hikers are interested in.

-----------------------------------------------------------------Oregon before making its way back where it started. Meandering through several national forests and seven wilderness areas, the INT uses existing trails and mountain roads to link the entire trail route together. Given the incredibly scenic and varied landscapes the INT passes through, it is a unique addition to existing long-distance trails in the Northwest, like the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and Pacific Northwest Trail (PNT).

While the INT could be walked in one longdistance thru-hike over three to five months, tackling the whole 1,500 miles at once is a bit more than most hikers are interested in. Fortunately, many excellent day hikes along the route are relatively close to Spokane and offer a sampling of trails that link landscapes you may not have realized are so well connected.

The following hikes in the Silver Valley and Lake Pend Oreille areas highlight some of the closest and yet highly wild and scenic trails located less than a two-hour drive from Spokane. Several of them are little known trails that are lightly used and most of them should be hikeable well into the fall. Taking a detailed map, compass and GPS is highly recommended for all of these hikes.

•••••••••••••• 1. Blossom/Pear Lakes Trail #404 at Thompson Pass The relatively easy 6-mile roundtrip hike to Blossom Lake starts at 4,852 foot Thompson Pass, which isn’t all that far from Spokane, but feels (and is) kind of out there in the middle of nowhere—a back road well off the worn path of Interstate travel. The wide parking lot is the staging area for several different hikes.

To the north, across the highway, you have trail #7, which is the Inland Northwest Trail route leading towards the vast and rugged Cabinet Mountain Wilderness. Take a minute and walk up the steep trail above the road to read the interpretive sign explaining the value of the surrounding forests to the elusive Canada lynx. South from the parking lot down a spur road lies the trailhead to Revett Lake, another great hike just off the INT route. Trail #404 to Blossom Lakes heads directly out of the parking lot to the south. It’s about 3 miles up to lower Blossom Lake and then another

beer and check out the free museum). It’s about a 15 or so mile climb up to Thompson Pass on the ID/MT border. Parking and the trailhead are on the right (south side).

•••••••••••••• 2. Cooper Pass Trails to Glidden Ridge and Burke Summit Two trails head from the Cooper Pass area, which is along a dirt road easily accessible out of the Burke/Wallace area. Both trails are part of a scenic, sub-alpine singletrack trail system that spans between Thompson Pass and the trailhead for Trail #133 out of Mullan, ID, which the Inland Northwest Trail route follows.

Cooper Pass is just another access point for day hiking the high country along this ridge system.

Both trail #7 heading north towards Thompson Pass and trail #135 that heads south from Cooper Pass towards I-90 are little visited routes that wind through thick forest and up to open vistas of distant peaks. Trail #7 climbs up to the ridge above Pear and Blossom Lakes with excellent views.

Descending the trail to the lakes or continuing along the ridge towards Granite Peak are both possible. Trail #135 climbs up towards 6,517-foot Burke Summit above Upper Glidden Lake, and eventually meets up with trail #7 and then trail #133 that descends the Little North Fork out of Mullan, ID. Anywhere along the trail with views makes for a good day-hike destination. Hiking distances and difficulty will vary based on how far you decide to walk. Both trails are part of the Idaho Centennial Trail route.

-----------------------------------------------------DIRECTIONS: From Spokane, head east on I-90 and take the Burke exit in Wallace. Head north on Highway 4 past some of North Idaho’s most impressive mining heritage to the end of the pavement just past Burke. Continue on the dirt road to the right of the power sub-station (#7623) paralleling the power lines several miles up to Cooper Pass (it’s about 13 miles from I-90).

Trail #7 is on your left and trail # 135 is a couple hundred yards up the right fork in the road on the left side of the road. Both trails should be signed.

Bernard peak. Photo Shallan Knowles.

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view on the Inland Northwest trail in Idaho. // photo Derrick Knowles.

•••••••••••••• 3. Little North Fork (of the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River), Trail # 133 Finding the trailhead could be the most challenging part of this trip, but your search will be rewarded with unexpected scenery. Once you get there, the trail begins to climb up the gorgeous Little North Fork canyon tucked up in the mountains along I-90 just below Lookout Pass. You have likely driven past this area on the Interstate and may have caught a glimpse of the bare granite slopes in the distance, but it seems that few people are aware of this secret little stash of wild country. Given that there is seemingly no information about this trail online or in any guidebooks, the trail itself is in surprisingly good condition, although a bit steep in sections. The view of the sub-alpine basin up canyon—including granite cliffs, scree slopes and avalanche shoots—is a welcome distraction from the stiff climb up to the ridge. After a junction with Trail #7, you can continue hiking to 6,517-foot Burke Summit or turn around whenever you’ve had enough. The entire length of this trail up to Cooper Pass is part of the INT and Idaho Centennial Trail routes.

------------------------------------------------------DIRECTIONS: This trail can be challenging to find, hence the long-winded directions: from Spokane, head east on I-90 past Wallace and take the third Mullan exit (East Mullan exit #69). Go left at the off-ramp exit over the freeway and then turn right at the stop sign. Pass the Lucky Friday Mine buildings on your left and continue until you reach the fork in the road; turn left, following the sign for the fish hatchery. Stay to the right at the next fork in the road and continue on past Shoshone Park until you arrive at the fish hatchery buildings. Look for a spur road on your left by a green shed and turn left up that road (Forest Service Road #6531). It’s about 2 miles from the 20

Out There Monthly / October 2012

green shed turnoff to the trailhead. Continue straight on #6531 (notice the new mining development activity on the heavily signed private land to your left) until you reach the first major fork in the road under the power lines. Stay left and continue on to the next fork in the road, where you also stay left. Drive a bit further to another

The main trail is easy to follow, although stay to the left at the first fork (on the final climb above the meadow and creek crossing). Another fork leads down to a waterfall and the final fork is a less steep bypass that gets you to the same place.

At the lake, there are plenty of places to kick back and enjoy the splendor or you can continue

------------------------------------------------------------------

You have likely driven past this area on the Interstate, but it seems that few people are aware of this secret little stash of wild country.

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junction with a trailhead marker pointing up hill.

The trail is a couple hundred feet up the steep dead-end road on the right. You can park at this junction or drive down the road on the left where it dead-ends at a campsite with more parking options near the Little North Fork.

•••••••••••••• 4. Stevens Lakes—East Fork Willow Creek Trail #165 This moderately difficult, 5-mile hike to lower Stevens Lake begins on steep, rough road and turns to singletrack after about a mile, many sections of which are steep and rough. The trail passes through interesting and eye catching forest types, from dark groves of older forest, to granite slopes and rock formations, to open meadow and eventually the dramatic sub-alpine basin that holds lower and upper Stevens Lakes.

Even for people who have hiked up to the lower lake before, the picturesque scene looking south over the lake and up towards Stevens Peak (6,800’) can be startling. How could such a gorgeous, idyllic looking wilderness place still exist so close to the maze of roads, logged lands and mining activity along the I-90 corridor below?

on a lightly established trail along the west side of lower Stevens Lake to upper Stevens Lake to the south. The INT route passes this way and continues cross-country up to Stevens Peak and other trails and roads in the St. Joe River drainage towards Avery, ID. Return to your vehicle the same way you came. More info on the amazing Stevens Peak backcountry area and other hikes and nontechnical climbing routes: www.summitpost.org/ stevens-peak/152130 ------------------------------------------------------DIRECTIONS: Follow the directions to the Little North Fork Trail (#133), except at the junction with the sign for Shoshone Park and the fish hatchery pointing to the left, you stay right and drive a short way further until the road crosses back over the freeway and turns from pavement to gravel road at a school bus turnaround.

Continue on the rocky dirt road (about a mile) to a junction with an outhouse and parking area on your left along the multi-use rail trail that looks like a dirt road. Park there and walk across the rail trail/road a couple hundred feet to the south and look for the steep road with an old gate that has “Stevens” etched into it (signs are often van-

dalized so there may not be one). This is where you should start your hike since parking up higher is limited and the road gets worse before the singletrack begins. Consider bringing a map, compass and GPS to make sure you hike up the right road. The road/trailhead to Lone Lake is a few hundred feet to the west and is another great trail to explore.

•••••••••••••• 5. Bernard Peak Trail #14 above Lake Pend Oreille This trail is a well-known and loved mountain bike trail for fat tire riders from Sandpoint to Spokane. The first mile and a half or so is on a gated logging road, but then the beautiful, narrow trail connects Farragut State Park, a network of trails along Lake Pend Oreille, and the summit of Bernard Peak (5,143’).

The trail is popular with mountain bike riders for a reason: the easy grade and untrammeled forest on a smooth trail makes for a relatively easy climb before a fast and flowy return ride back down. But that shouldn’t deter hikers in search of an invigorating hike. Most of the trail has good line-of-site to keep an eye out for descending bikes, but it’s wise to keep your wits about you on this trail. While most of the trail is in the timber with limited views beyond the wall of green, there are a couple places where you can scramble off-trail for views of Lake Pend Oreille below. The total length of the hike from the Twete Rd. trailhead to the summit is about 7 miles one-way. There are some decent views at one of the switchbacks about halfway to the summit, which would make a good turnaround spot. If you make it to the top, peek around tall trees for limited views of the surrounding mountains, including Chilco Mountain to the south.

----------------------------------------------------DIRECTIONS: From Coeur d’Alene, drive north

5 6

1 3

2 4

Inland Northwest Trail Route Highways Day Hikes View of chilco mountain from bernard peak. // photo Shallan Knowles.

LEFT: Map by shallan knowles.

on Hwy 95 to Athol, Idaho. Turn right towards Bayview and Farragut State Park. Drive about four miles to the roundabout and turn right onto Good Hope Road. Continue about half a mile and turn left onto Twete Road. Drive for about 1.5 miles to where road turns sharply right at a ranch entrance. Park in the clearing to the left. Start hiking up the gated dirt road on the north side of the ranch. After about a mile of hiking on the road, ignore the spur trail on the right. A little way further, ignore another spur road to the right. Shortly after, you’ll cross the signed singletrack trail—going left heads down into Farragut State Park and going right heads up to Bernard Peak (head up the trail here). The INT route passes through here and connects to trails in Farragut State Park and the Blacktail Trail area to the north and Chilco Mountain to the south. If you lose your way on the road hike in, look for bike tire tracks to show you the way.

•••••••••••••• 6. Chilco Mountain Trail # 14 (from the north trailhead) Both Chilco and South Chilco mountains are in the 5,600-foot range with several open areas that offer awesome views of Lake Pend Oreille, Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Rathdrum Prairie.

The trail climbs up through a surprisingly wild and remote feeling forest given how close you really are to the greater Spokane/CDA area.

Remnants of old fire lookouts on both South Chilco and Chilco Mountains are worth checking out, along with the expansive views that can include the distant Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains on a clear day. The entire length of the trail is around 7 miles, from end to end, but hiking in from the north trailhead to Chilco Mountain (short spur trail leads to the top) or South Chilco and returning the same way makes

for a pleasant day hike.

----------------------------------------------------DIRECTIONS (to the north Chilco trailhead): From Coeur d’Alene, drive north on Hwy 95 about 15 miles and turn right on Bunco Road and continue about 13 miles (it eventually becomes Forest Service Road #332). The trailhead is on your right at the junction with Rd #385.

•••••••••••••• More Day Hikes along the Inland Northwest Trail There are many more day hikes along the Inland Northwest Trail route that are close to Spokane, including trails in the Priest Lake area, Hells Canyon, Blue Mountains, Salmo Priest area, Cabinet Mountains and the Bitterroot Mountains. Visit www.inwtrail.org for additional day hike suggestions. // Derrick Knowles is a freelance writer and conservationist and the founder of the Inland Northwest Trail (INT). He’s an avid hiker, mountain biker, backcountry skier and hunter who has spent the past several decades hiking and exploring many of the areas along the INT route.

----------------------------------------------------ADDITIONAL RESOURCES • Friends of the Inland Northwest Trail: inwtrail.org or facebook.com/friendsoftheinlandnorthwesttrail • 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest, by Rich Landers (The Mountaineers Books) • Idaho Centennial Trail (ICT) thru-hiker’s journal: Cool trail journal from a 2008 ICT thru-hike with accounts of some sections of trail between Thompson Pass and Mullan, ID, which includes several of the hikes in this article: www.ula-equipment.com/subadventures/ic/post_3.asp

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Last Page

Interview With A Mountain Hero Roskelley Redefines Roskelley / By Jon Jonckers Again and again, John Roskelley redefines what it means to be a Renaissance Man. Throughout his life, he has pushed himself to be a world-renowned mountaineer, an accomplished writer, a noted photographer, a respected civil servant, and a loving husband and father.

Admittedly, one man’s public servant is another man’s bureaucrat—but the fact remains that John Roskelley continues to redefine himself with big dreams and hard work.

Starting two summers ago, John initiated a plan to paddle the length of the Columbia River in several stages. To date, he has paddled more than 900 miles of the 1,243 miles of this iconic river. Last April, Mountaineers Books released an anthology of John’s three mountaineering books.

Roskelley also continues to work on a new home for him and his wife. Whenever his kids are in town, they do a fair amount of outdoor activities such as hiking or rock climbing. He is also running for Spokane County Commissioner.

With a smile, John jokes, “At 63, I’ve reached the top end of my climbing abilities and strength and it’s more or less ‘downhill’ from here.”

Nevertheless, John and his son, Jess, share a rich climbing connection, and John is quick to add, “We have continued to climb together and enjoy the strengths each one of us has. I bring a quiet confidence that Jess finds appealing and different from the emotions his younger partners provide.

He’s become a much better rock climber than me, so we have a tendency to climb more frozen waterfalls [rather than rock] with each other.”

The Roskelley Collection published by the Mountaineers Books continues to receive positive reviews. Since it’s a collection of three books, it isn’t entirely new; however, there are a few new elements such as new photos and some bonus stories. John elaborates, “I left Nanda Devi: The Tragic Expedition and Last Days as they were originally written, but added new photos that had never been used before. For Stories Off The Wall, I added three new chapters detailing climbs I did since that book was published. The new stories include an expedition to Sarmiento in Tierra del Fuego; a climb of Slipstream in Colorado with Jess; and an account of my ascent with Jess up Everest in 2003.”

Since turning his attention to paddling the Columbia, many have asked if he plans to write a book about that experience. John usually shrugs because the question is becoming increasingly common, yet he doesn’t seem excited to recount the entire paddling trip.

“I began my journey to paddle the length of the Columbia River from source to mouth two summers ago because I wanted to know more about the river. We all drive along it and see it at a distance or shoot across it to fish a bay, but there is so much more to this magnificent body of water,” he says. “I’ve learned so much about where this river goes and what it does along its journey. And, of course, so much more about myself, as I’m doing this alone.”

Roskelley continues, “I’ve seen a number of species of wildlife along the river and numerous bird species—eagles, loons, herons, geese, 22

Out There Monthly / October 2012

ducks and everything in-between. On my paddle below Mica Dam to Revelstoke, there seemed to be an osprey or eagle every quarter mile hitting the water after fish. I paddled this section in September and October and I never saw more than one or two boats for close to a hundred miles of paddling. The only sound was that of my oar hitting the water. I did get myself in serious trouble just below Northport at a place called The Dalles. I didn’t know the river, which is flowing free here, narrowed into a rock-walled gorge creating gigantic whirlpools in the front end and as it exits the canyon. I entered into the canyon river left, avoiding the three or four big boateating whirlpools in the center, but as I exited, another equally deep funnel opened up at my bow, whirled my stern down in, sucked me out of my boat, and sent me to the bottom of the river. Since it’s all bubbles, I had to just let the river have its way until it dissipated downriver and cut me loose for the surface.”

“The quality of life we enjoy here in the northwest is a rare and precious commodity.”

Without a doubt, from climbing to trail running to kayaking, few in the Inland Northwest have tested themselves in more outdoor pursuits than John Roskelley. But the question in most people’s mind is how do these dramatic experiences translate to Spokane County Commissioner.

Supporters can say that as a former County Commissioner from 1995 to 2004, Roskelley worked tirelessly for parks, the environment and economic growth that wasn’t biased or self-serving. That’s why he was re-elected twice.

Critics cite that he can be abrasive, unwilling to compromise, and he focuses on pet issues. Once again, one man’s public servant is another man’s bureaucrat.

“Having traveled and lived throughout the world, I know the quality of life we enjoy here in the northwest is a rare and precious commodity—one worth running for political office to preserve. I see too much of that use-it or lose-it, old Wild West mentality, as if open space is still a place for a cattle drive. The Europeans recognized they needed growth management back in the 14th century, but we still have developers who care far more for their pocket book than the community where they live. But I bring so much more to the table.” // The Roskelley Collection is available at Mountain Gear or downloadable as an eBook on the Mountaineers Books website, mountaineersbooks.org. To learn more about Roskelley, visit www.johnroskelley.org.

John roskelley and friend. // photo jon jonckers.

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Out There Monthly / October 2012