March 2019 / Out There Outdoors

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Frame geometry, wheel size, and suspension for mountain bikes have all undergone a sea change in the past decade, yet while flow, loam, and enduro are new buzzwords we’ve all had a bit of a blindspot to the revolutions in hydration technology. This year we’re seeing more low-riding lumbar reservoirs— Dakine cleverly uses them in their Hot Laps 5 L waist bag and half of their hydration backpack line— that offer new levels of on-trail agility. Additionally, bite-valves and kink-free tubing deliver more thirstquenching flow, and reservoir “reversibility” is a welcome maintenance feature turning the moldy science experiments of the past into the paradigm of clean drinking. The brand leading the innovation charge is HydraPak and this season is no different with a complete revamp of their flagship Shape-Shift reservoir. Their entire lineup has innovative, fresh features and an upgrade will leave you feeling like you did when you finally ditched your dusty old trail bike for a new 29er.

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the dishman hills conservancy

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CONTENTS

FEATURES

26 | State of Our Trails 30 | Spokane's Desert Outback

The Wild heart oF spokane Join us in celeBrating protecting over 3000-acres in the dishman hills.

Thursday april 4Th

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30 SPECIAL SECTIONS 32 | Inland NW Race, Ride, & Event Guide 43 | On The Mountain Ski/Snowboard Section

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18 | Gear Room 22 | Biking 24 | Nature

COLUMNS 14 | Run Wild 16 | Out There Kids 21 | Eatology

20 IN EVERY ISSUE 7 | Intro 8

| Dispatches

12 | Hike of the Month

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17 | Health & Fitness 20 | Provisions

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53 | Outdoor Calendar 54 | Last Page

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WITH OVER 100 EVENTS THIS SPRING, SUMMER, AND FALL, OUR 3RD ANNUAL GUIDE FOR ROAD AND TRAIL RUNNING, CYCLING, MOUNTAIN BIKING, TRIATHLONS, AND OTHER OUTDOORSY EVENTS HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

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Explore Wallace’s small-town hospitality and over a dozen unique restaurants, breweries, and bars.

Wallace Area Events March 1-March 17:

April 14:

Live theater at the Sixth Street Melodrama & Theater featuring “Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play.”

March 2:

Boyd Hill Snowskate Banked Slalom contest at Lookout Pass.

March 2:

Hawaiian Luau, Cardboard Box Derby, & Coco Nut Bowling at Lookout Pass.

April 20:

Wallace Craft Beer Pub Crawl. Enjoy some of the Northwest’s finest craft beers at each of Wallace’s 16 watering holes.

Season Pass Holder Spaghetti Fest—Free food for Lookout Pass season pass holders.

April 21:

Annual Pond Skimming Competition at Lookout Pass.

March 13:

KREM TV Free Ski Food Drive at Lookout Pass.

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MARCH 2019 WWW.OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM PUBLISHERS

Shallan & Derrick Knowles EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Derrick Knowles MANAGING EDITOR

Summer Hess ASSOCIATE EDITOR/DIGITAL MANAGER

Lisa Laughlin ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Jon Jonckers SPECIAL SECTION EDITOR

Amy Silbernagel McCaffree DIGITAL EDITOR

Siobhan Ebel COPY EDITOR

Andrew Butler CONTRIBUTORS

S. Michal Bennett Bradley Bleck Tim Connor John D’Onofrio Adam Gebauer Sarah Hauge Summer Hess Jon Jonckers Pat Kennedy Derrick Knowles Shallan Knowles Bryan MacDonald Amy S. McCaffree Ammi Midstokke Brad Northrup Sara Talley Aaron Theisen Jennifer Walke Kirby Walke Holly Weiler Dan Wilson

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Mailing Address: PO Box #5 Spokane, WA 99210 www.outthereoutdoors.com, 509 / 822 / 0123 Out There Outdoors is published 10 times a year by Out There Monthly, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. ©Copyright 2019 Out There Monthly, LLC. The views expressed in this magazine reflect those of the writers and advertisers and not necessarily Out There Monthly, LLC.

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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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ON THE COVER: SPOKANE HIKER MACKENSIE ROCKSTROM AND HER DOG ROO ENJOY AN EARLY-SEASON STROLL AT SALTESE UPLANDS CONSERVATION AREA IN LIBERTY LAKE.

Photo: Aaron Theisen 6

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

Intro: Shoulder Season Celebration SHOULDER SEASONS get a bad rap. Skiers and boarders fantasize about early-winter’s powder stashes, climbers wait for the rock to stop seeping, mountain bikers cheer on the sun as they wait for trails to dry out, and hikers grow weary of the muck and slush. But the in-between seasons offer us the chance to slow down, reflect on our last round of adventures, and set our sights on new ones.

I’m using the shoulder season to celebrate 10 years in Washington and 10 years of these springtime scenes: snowmelt feeding the chaotic spray of a flood-stage Spokane River; wet feet darting about on sloppy trails; and days upon days of rain settling in, followed by the first flicker of sun as the clouds part.

In this 10th spring I’m feeling especially thankful for the way the Inland Northwest has welcomed

and challenged me. I’ve been inspired by a hardy stock of people who move between sage steppe and foothills, from river valleys to crags and high places.

In the suburbs of Philadelphia where I was raised, snow was just one more impediment to arriving to work on time, and only my wealthiest friends skied on the weekends. And in the summer, most people weren’t out hiking, backpacking, or camping—they were lying in the sand next to hundreds of other people on the Jersey shore.

Before moving to the Inland Northwest, I never could have imagined turning my yard into a chaotic, food-bearing garden. I never thought about skiing—let alone slapping skins on my skis and walking up the nearby hills. Homeowners associations dictated the appearance of people’s lawns, and the tolls, traffic, and general busyness kept most of

us on a tight leash close to city limits. There was order and efficiency, but not a lot of wildness and freedom.

In this 10th year here in the Inland Northwest I’m making some changes too. I’ve transitioned from the foothills of the Selkirk Mountains to the foothills of the Cascades, from the tributary of the Spokane River to its outflow into the mighty Columbia. I’m excited to witness the unfolding of a Central Washington spring and to deepen my roots out West.

It’s easy to imagine being here another 10 years.

The Columbia Plateau has taken hold of my inner landscape, and for that I am thankful. Here, with easier access to so many trails, my identity is less individualistic and more collective. I live in a region where there’s enough people recreating and explor-

ing to sustain a magazine that celebrates what we all love: getting outside, moving the body, and experiencing the natural beauty outside the front door or miles down a Forest Service road. Together we are stewards of public lands and co-conspirators in caring for our natural resources—be they parks, rivers, lakes, trails systems, or wilderness areas.

As residents of the Inland Northwest, we know what to do with shoulder seasons. If we wait for the snow to melt, for the sidewalks to dry, for the sun to finally hover at that coveted, universally pleasurable 73 degrees, we’ll only have a couple of weeks outside each year. We know how to gear up, get dirty, and have fun, no matter the season.

Thank you all for teaching me that. // SUMMER HESS, MANAGING EDITOR

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Dispatches GET LIT! OUTDOOR WRITING EVENTS— SPOKANE, WASH.

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rafting PHOTO: JON JONCKERS

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from mountain biking to rafting, we have an adventure that is bound to take your breath away year-round!

CENTENNIAL TRAIL PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST DATA— SPOKANE, WASH.

Data and numbers drive the majority of our public-land decisions these days. Near the end of 2015, the Washington State Department of Transportation installed an EcoCounter on the freshly paved section of the Centennial Trail in Kendall Yards to measure the user-type and popularity of the trail. For many reasons, this ‘newer’ section has received a lot of attention. Some say it’s the fabulous views of the city, while others say it’s because Riverfront Park is tough to navigate during the recent construction. In any case, the specific annual numbers of trail users in Kendall Yards, according to WSDOT's Eastern Region Active Transportation Coordinator, are clear and concise: this is very popular trail! (Jon Jonckers) Year Pedestrians 2018 177,758 2017 151,327 2016 149,203

Cyclists 78,159 66,700 84,484

Get Lit!, Spokane’s springtime literary festival (April 22-28), will feature events focusing on outdoor or environmental writing this year. Like to sink into a good book after a long day on the trail? The Out There Outdoors April Backcountry Booty contest will feature a grab bag of bookish delights from Get Lit!, including books from festival outdoor/environmental writers and other outdoor swag. Check OTO and Get Lit’s Facebook page for details.

In partnership with Out There Outdoors and The Spokesman Review, Get Lit! will also hold an April outdoor/environmental prose writing contest.

Each publication will select and publish a winning piece. Entries should be exceptional nonfiction up to 750 words with an outdoor or environmental theme. Submission is free and open to all. Contest details coming soon on Getlit.submittable.com.

Entries due May 15.

The Get Lit! Craft Class “The Outdoor Writer’s Tool Kit” will be held Saturday, April 27 from 3:15-5:15 p.m. The Craft Class cost is $30 or $20 with student ID. Eli Francovich of The Spokesman Review and Summer Hess of Out There Outdoors will introduce essential tools and techniques for the nonfiction outdoor/environmental writer, including selecting topics, adding color and life through details, pitching ideas, conducting interviews, and structuring articles. Hess and Francovich will also judge the writing contest. (Entrants, consider enrolling in the workshop!) Tickets will be available in March via Tickets West. Check Getlitfestival.org for information.

Get Lit! festival readings on Tuesday, April 23 will feature writers whose work touches on environmental or outdoor themes, including Melissa Kwasny, Joe Wilkins, Jennifer Boyden, Paul Lindholdt, Summer Hess, and Keetje Kuipers.

Details and a full schedule will be online soon.

(Summer Hess)

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO START THE JOURNEY TOWARD A MORE COMFORTABLE RIDE

PHOTO: COURTESY OF NO MAN'S LAND

NO MAN’S LAND FILM FESTIVAL—SPOKANE, WASH.

A diverse line up of inspiring films celebrating the full scope of woman-identified athletes and adventurers is coming to Spokane once again March 1. The No Man’s Land Film Festival seeks to “undefine” what it means to be a woman in adventure, sport, and film. Hosted by Eastern Washington University and EPIC Adventures, the event will take place at the EWU Center on the Spokane Campus (668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Spokane). Tickets are $2.50 for community members and FREE for EWU students.

Tickets will be available at the door but should be purchased in advance by visiting the EPIC front desk in Cheney or by calling 509-359-4014. Doors open at 6 p.m., and films will run from 7-8:45 p.m. Attendees can also engage with community organizations such as the Outdoor Women's Alliance and the Inland Northwest Adaptive Initiative. The evening will conclude with a 30-minute panel discussion with Allison Roskelley—Adidas TERREX ambassador and mountain athlete—and Lindsay Morgan-Chutas—the former director of the Spokane Mountaineers Mountain School and program leader for the Spokane Conservation District. At Spokane’s inaugural hosting of the event last year, EPIC sold 90% of its ticket inventory and expects to sell out the event this year. (Summer Hess)

PHOTO: COURTESY OF WALLACE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SENATE PASSES PUBLIC LANDS PACKAGE— WASHINGTON D.C.

Thanks to Senators Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington state, and Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, the Natural Resources Management Act has passed the Senate. This is a major victory for public lands, as well as both political parties, and it has significant influence over many parts of the Pacific Northwest.

The most important success is the bill would permanently preserve a pillar of conservation, the recently lapsed Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). If approved, the bill would represent a rare, bipartisan compromise that bolsters public lands for every single user group including hunters, hikers, bikers, boaters and land managers. In addition to the LCWF, many measures would affect Washington State, including preventing new mining activities on roughly 340,000 acres of federal land in the Methow Valley, creating a volcano early warning system with a 24/7 national volcano watch office, and creating programs to explore new technologies for fighting wildfires like drones and GPS tracking. The House of Representatives is expected to take up a version of this bill soon, beginning in the House Natural Resources Committee. (Jon Jonckers)

EXCAVATOR MAROONED IN THE ENCHANTMENTS — LEAVENWORTH, WASH.

Aging dams deep in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness sparked a crisis that is continuing to unfold. Last year, officials from the Icicle and Peshastin Irrigation Districts discovered that the crumbling Eightmile Dam could be overwhelmed with spring runoff.

Many wilderness dams are aging, and due to climate change, more precipitation is falling as rain instead of snow, which erodes the snowpack and accelerates spring runoff. To make matters worse, a 2017 forest fire (Jack Creek wildfire) torched the terrain around Eightmile Lake, making the ground less stable and less erosion resistant.

Fast forward a few months, dam managers spent nearly six-figures to helicopter an excavator to the lake in order to make necessary repairs to the dam, and avoid disaster. According to Evan Bush of the Seattle Times, “Now the excavator, marooned amid a dispute over how to get it out, is a symbol itself of the water problems deep in Pacific Northwest wilderness.”

The Enchantments are among the most popular hiking areas in the Northwest, but seven little-known dams were built long before Congress designated it a wilderness area. Many of these dams are vital tools for managing water needs for Leavenworth, including drinking water, agriculture, and the fish hatchery. Few people even recall the dam was higher before it was damaged in a 1990 flood. At this point, nobody has suitable answers for removing the excavator because it is forbidden from driving through the wilderness, even if the terrain allowed it, and agencies don’t have an extra $100,000 to remove it by helicopter. For now, the excavator just sits by the lake, wrapped in black plastic. (Jon Jonckers)

WILL CRAWL FOR CRAFT BEER— WALLACE, IDAHO

The folks in Idaho’s historic mining town of Wallace will use any excuse for a celebration.

For instance, this is the place they had a funeral for a stop light, a parade for a tombstone, and a national press conference for a man-hole cover.

So in 2016 when the State of Idaho decreed each April to be Craft Beer Month, Wallace ran with the idea. The town now has a Craft Beer Pub Crawl featuring dozens of unique brews from all over the Northwest in its dozen-plus National Register of Historic Places watering holes.

This year the festival happens to fall on Saturday April 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (For those who partake in other substances, that date is “4/20”.)

Organizers are now nailing down different craft brewers to participate. Last year they had breweries from Bend, Boise, Pullman, Helena, McCall, Spokane, Victor, Moscow, Seattle, Portland and more, along with the Silver Valley local microbrewers Wallace Brewing, North Idaho Mountain Brew, and Radio Brewing.

There are a couple of things that make this festival unique. Unlike other brewfests where revelers are in a gated area, festival goers, known as Wallace Crawlers, are encouraged to wander through the picturesque downtown, where each of the dozen plus venues is within walking distance of each other.

That wandering is made even easier courtesy of the Sierra Silver Mine Tour. The tour’s fleet of trolleys makes circular trips through the town for the whole five hour length of the festival. Some of the bars also offer designated drivers.

Wallace also has a “Red Solo Cup Rule.” Here’s the Wallace rule: you won’t get busted for an “open container” in town as long as your beverage of choice is lounging in a Red Solo Cup. It’s a special understanding city fathers have for the town’s multiple festivals and history of being a hard working and hard living mining town. As Dolores Arnold, a late beloved local madam explained of the Wallace perspective on life, living, and the pursuit of happiness: “You’d don’t have to follow all the laws, but you do have to follow the rules.”

For their $15.00 ticket, festivalgoers get three free 4 oz. pours at the check-in, a commemorative 16 oz. Wallace Crawl glass, Venues and Menus guide to all the beers being offered at all the participating taverns, plus discounts on featured beers. The festival is bookended by two other local events. That morning is the 19th Annual Leadman Triathlon in Kellogg, and Wallace Fight Night USA Boxing Sanctioned matches are being held that evening upstairs in the Wallace Elks Lodge. Plus several of the venues are planning live music, games, and polls for the most popular craft beers into the night. Look for details, including a PayPal button to purchase tickets, a complete brews list, and more on the Wallace Chamber website (www.wallaceidahochamber.com), and Wallace Craft Beer Pub Crawl and Wallace Idaho Chamber Facebook pages. Or call 208 753-7151 with questions. (OTO) MARCH 2019 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

9

Dispatches

PHOTO: AARON THEISEN

HISTORY OF SKIING ON MOUNT SPOKANE —SPOKANE, WASH.

Since 1913, outdoor enthusiasts around the Spokane region have been learning to ski, building facilities for skiers, and creating events that showcase the sport of skiing. Spokane has never developed a significant reputation as a destination ski town; however, almost everyone agrees that the Mt. Spokane Ski & Recreation Area is a jewel and that the skiing is affordable and super convenient. A new book titled “Spokane’s History of Skiing” underscores the rich ski history in Eastern Washington as well as the ongoing community involvement to promote skiing.

Spokane was the first in the state to build a ski jump, start a ski club, build a rope tow, start a ski patrol, and build a chairlift. These achievements alone illustrate the pioneering spirit for skiing in the area.

Spokane’s Riblet Tramway Company installed an old mining ore tramway on Mount Spokane in 1946. This is the birth of the claim that Mount Spokane is home to the world’s first double chairlift, and it served an hourly capacity of roughly 550 skiers. Sadly, it only operated for three years.

Author Cris Currie is among the founding members of the Mount Spokane State Park Advisory Committee, and he is the only president of the Friends of Mt. Spokane State Park since 1998. His service to the beloved park testifies to his investment in this public treasure, and his award-winning book, “Spokane’s History of Skiing,” showcases a special era in the Inland Northwest. Currie writes, “It is ironic that skiing’s popularity took off in the U.S. during the Great Depression…. Our mountain has always had some of the lowest lift ticket, rental, and ski school prices for comparable areas in the nation, and its ski swap has been one of the largest. Washington’s Sno-Park system has arguably created the most efficient and lowest cost Nordic skiing in North America.”

According to the Mount Spokane State Park Users Guide (also written by Currie), in 1927, after the area exceeded 1,500 acres, the Mount Spokane Natural Park was dedicated as Mount Spokane State Park.

In 1952, with the state park cresting 24,000 acres, a master plan was proposed, which designated all of Mount Spokane for downhill skiing. In 1965, another master plan was developed to include 11,592 acres, and the plan specified only 958 acres for general recreation. In 1977, the Mount Spokane Commission staff coordinated with local recreation user groups and created a trail plan on the main mountain as well as the satellite peaks. This is the genesis and layout for all of the user group areas, both winter and summer, in the current park.

From a distance, Mount Spokane looks like an overturned salad bowl. But from the Vista House at the summit, skiers and riders can certainly appreciate the varied terrain, steep runs, and the jaw-dropping view overlooking a sea of clouds. The history of skiing in the region has been happening for over a century, and if you’re a Mount Spokane skier or rider, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of “Spokane’s History of Skiing.” Not only does the book benefit the Friends of Mount Spokane State Park, it’s an important archive revealing all of the challenges and achievements of the Inland Northwest ski and snowboard community.

(Jon Jonckers)

A TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN WES JONES —BAYVIEW, IDAHO

In February, the Inland Northwest said goodbye to an extraordinary soul who left quite an impression on many of us who play and live on and near Lake Pend Oreille: Captain Wes Jones. This is my tribute to a man who showed me wonders of nature on the lake, shared his poetry, and brought more color into my life.

The loss of you runs deep and cold like the waters you loved to chase and pace through rain, sun, wind, snow.

The lake drinks our tears as we seek to reconcile your leaving us with our lustrous memories of a man who wove words and wildness and wonder into everything he did. (S. Michal Bennett) Editor’s note: You can read S. Michal Bennett’s 2017 article about Captain Wes Jones and the Lake Pend Oreille water shuttle service he ran with his 22-foot Duckworth he dubbed “The Liquid Limo” at Outthereoutdoors.com.

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

PHOTO: JOEL RINER

Did your ride end like this?

FRIENDS OF BADGER MOUNTAIN RECEIVE $300,000 GIFT — TRI-CITIES, WASH. In January, Scott Sax, president of Washington Closure Hanford, presented a check for $300,761 to the Friends of Badger Mountain. The funds are earmarked to improve the network of ridgeline trails overlooking the Tri-Cities and connect Little Badger Mountain with Badger Mountain. Friends of Badger Mountain aim to use the donation to purchase three parcels of land in Westcliffe Heights, a hilltop subdivision now under construction. Badger Mountain is one of a series of basalt ridges in south central Washington, and the mountain sees roughly 200,000 visitors per year since the trails opened in 2005. The gift honors the employees of the former Hanford contractor for their significant achievements to clean up the nuclear reservation along the Columbia River.

With a little luck, the new trails should be open in the fall of 2020. (Jon Jonckers)

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LAWSUIT LAUNCHED TO PROTECT MOUNTAIN CARIBOU — NORTH IDAHO

Conservation groups issued a formal notice in February of their intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to finalize endangered species protections and designate critical habitat for Southern Mountain caribou. Andrea Santarsiere, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, says “If we’re going to get America’s beloved reindeer back, they need the strong protections of the Endangered Species Act.” The southern Selkirk herd of caribou, which formerly crossed the border between British Columbia and Idaho, has been protected as endangered under the Endangered Species Act since 1983. In 2014 the Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the herd is actually part of a larger population known as the Southern Mountain caribou, which includes a number of herds in Canada, and proposed protecting them as threatened. (They are listed as endangered in Canada.) The Service, however, never finalized protection for Southern Mountain caribou.

Late last year Canada brought the last animals from the southern Selkirk herd into captivity, marking the loss of all caribou from the lower 48 states. It is hoped the captive animals will breed and eventually be released back into the wild, but conservation groups maintain that the caribou need protection of their habitat for any such release to be successful. Like many boreal species, caribou once had a broad range in the lower 48, including the northern Rockies in Washington, Idaho and Montana, the upper Midwest, and the northeast.

By 1983, when they were protected under the Endangered Species Act, caribou were limited to just the northern Rockies and declining fast. In the 1990s the Fish and Wildlife Service augmented the Selkirk herd with caribou from Canada, which helped the population grow to more than 100 animals. But that effort didn’t continue, and the Selkirk herd began to decline.

In 2011, following a petition and litigation from conservation groups, the Service proposed designating more than 375,000 acres of critical habitat for caribou in Idaho and Washington. The proposal was consistent with the recovery plan for the southern Selkirk herd, which identified a slightly larger area as necessary for recovery. In 2012, however, the Service finalized a designation that only included only about 30,000 acres. This massive cut in critical habitat was successfully challenged by conservation groups, but the Service has yet to issue a new critical habitat designation. (OTO)

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SMARTPHONE APP TO AID RAPTOR CONSERVATION— BOISE, IDAHO

For the last five years, the Boise, Idaho, based Peregrine Fund has collaborated with researchers in Africa on a pilot project called the African Raptor Databank, allowing users to upload data about raptors in real time. The data gathered by the pilot program has already significantly slowed the decline of six vulture species in Africa by up to 90 percent and led to a global response to vulture declines.

Now The Peregrine Fund is expanding the databank worldwide. Dubbed the Global Raptor Impact Network (GRIN), the tool will enable scientists around the world to keep up with the incredible rate of change to our planet and the increasing number of species in need of urgent conservation action.

“The data will reveal declines as they occur and predict trouble spots before they happen instead of years after the fact,” says Dr. Richard Watson, President and CEO of The Peregrine Fund. “GRIN will prioritize conservation actions on behalf of formerly little-known or completely unrecognized species.”

With support from the Murdock Trust, GRIN will soon be available to biologists and experienced bird watchers around the world. They can connect to GRIN via an app on their smartphones and tablets, or through The Peregrine Fund's GRIN website, to instantly upload data as it is collected for the 500+ species of raptors around the world.

The ultimate goal is to prevent future extinction of raptor species.

Founded in 1975, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust provides grants to organizations and universities in the Northwest. The Trust continued its commitment to conserve and protect the diverse collection of species that make their home in the Pacific Northwest, as well as around the globe, with a $350,000 grant to The Peregrine Fund in support of the nonprofit's innovative raptor research program. More info at Peregrinefund.org. (OTO) MARCH 2019 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

11

HikeOfTheMonth CHIEF JOSEPH STATE WILDLIFE AREA Southeast Washington // By Holly Weiler

PROPERTY BOUNDARY AND THE GRANDE RONDE RIVER FAR BELOW, 4-O RANCH. // PHOTO: HOLLY WEILER

BY MARCH THE 4-O RANCH unit of the Chief

Joseph State Wildlife Area is easing into spring mode. Green grass is returning to the open slopes and visitors can expect to see wildflowers, even as the mountains to the north are still open to skiing and snowshoeing.

The larger Chief Joseph Wildlife Area totals over 25,000 acres of public lands in the southeast corner of Washington. The 4-O Ranch is the newest of four units that comprise the area, purchased for its excellent wildlife habitat in 2016. The entire unit totals 10,500 acres, so use this description as a starting point for further exploration within the greater landscape.

Aside from a sneak preview of the advent of spring, the chance to view wildlife is a major draw for the area. Seeing fauna is never a guarantee, but I find I nearly always spot multiple ungulates on spring visits to the southeast corner. Be sure to bring binoculars when visiting and have them handy even during the drive to the trailhead. Although I did not see them within the wildlife area on my visit, I did see numerous bighorn sheep while driving along the Grande Ronde River on my way to hike.

Once on trail, I found myself in the midst of a slow elk migration up the ridge. They appeared in small groups of 5-10 animals, walking slowly up the same old farm road I was using. Around almost every bend additional small groups would join the procession, until I finally reached a prominent vista and realized I was easily seeing over 100 animals. I'd originally been excited to see buttercups, but it was

far more interesting to take part in an elk parade!

If you go, be sure to visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) website first to print an access map for the area. From the parking lot, hikers will need to cross the road and climb over a fence to access the property (note the green WDFW signs on the fence; if you reach Cougar Gulch Road you've gone too far to the west). The "trail" is actually an old farm road that winds its way to a viewpoint that offers an excellent vantage above the Grande Ronde River. From the highpoint, use map and compass to set off on further explorations away from the farm road, or retrace the path to return to the valley floor.

ROUND-TRIP DISTANCE: 4 miles RATING: Moderate ELEVATION gain: 1,500 feet GETTING THERE: From Spokane drive south to

Lewiston/Clarkston, then proceed on Highway 129 to Asotin. Pass Anatone and Field Spring State Park, proceeding to Grande Ronde River Road. Turn west toward Troy, Ore., and proceed approximately 4 miles. Park in the WDFW Grande Ronde River access site on the left, then cross the road to access the 4-O Ranch Property (note the green WDFW signs along the fence). Discover Pass required.

Holly Weiler writes the Hike of the Month column in every issue of Out There.

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

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MARCH 2019 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

13

RunWild FEEL GOOD FEET

// By Sarah Hauge

NOT ALL THAT LONG AGO, I wrote in the pages of

“Out There” that I had been wearing a single pair of green Superfeet running inserts for the better part of a decade. Admitting that they were many times past their manufacturer-advised lifespan I wrote something like, “I’m sure they’re no longer helping, but they don’t seem to be hurting.”

I added that I intended to carry on with them, indefinitely.

I didn’t get into it at the time, but the same was true of my shoes, a model of Asics I’ve been running in as long as I can remember (though they

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have been replaced regularly along the way). When it comes to running, I like to keep costs low and—in contrast to the rest of my inner life—overthinking minimal. I stick with what works, and everything seemed to be working.

However. I’ve been able to increase my mileage lately (a perk of this not-very-wintery winter) and in doing so I’ve noticed some achiness in my knees.

Over the past few years I’ve done a good job—or at least a better-than-I-used-to job—of cross-training and stretching, which has seemingly compensated for previous muscle imbalances and tightness.

Because of this, I felt pretty sure the culprit was my gear.

I decided to go in for a Fit ID 3D foot scan and assessment at Fleet Feet. By a happy coincidence a friend of mine, Micah Estelle, was working the day I stopped in, and he took me through the process.

The first step is a quick (seconds long) biometric scan of your bare feet, then a walk across the floor while the specialist studies your gait. You also chat about your running behavior—trails versus road, what you’re training for, that sort of thing. Then, according to the results of the scan, the walk evaluation, and the conversation, you try on some shoes.

My scan showed, among other things, feet of similar length, narrower-than-average heels, a low instep, and a right foot that has a larger ball girth and width than the left. Micah noted (from studying how I walk) that I pronate—meaning that when I walk or run, more weight goes on the inside edge of my foot.

With all of that in mind he brought out a few pairs of shoes to try. One was my current model of Asics; the others were Brooks, Karhus (Fleet Feet’s house brand), and Hokas. I tried on each pair, noted how they felt, and then did side-by-side comparisons (one brand on left foot, one brand on right). I was encouraged to walk around the store or run outside to get a full sense of what was working.

Micah also had me test a pair of baseline green Superfeet against a pair of Superfeet Run Comfort women’s insoles, which are designed to better fit women’s feet, with features including a slimmer heel and arch length, as well as dual comfort foam.

It took about two seconds before I realized the Run Comforts were vastly better. My feet sort of swam, I suddenly realized, in the green Superfeet.

These felt like they were made for me, almost tailored to my foot. There was no question: I was buying a pair.

When it came to shoes, Brooks Adrenaline was the winner. Compared with my previous mainstays (Asics Gel Kayano), I felt I was hitting the ground more lightly and that the structure of the shoe was propelling me gently forward.

The Fit ID itself is free; you pay for shoes or other items. For me it took about 35 minutes, including trying on shoes, etc. Even my accompanying 5-year-old seemed to find it relatively painless (it didn’t hurt that she scored a peppermint from Indaba, which shares space with Fleet Feet’s Kendall Yards location).

The Brooks are coming in the mail soon via free shipping (the color I wanted wasn’t in stock), but the new Superfeet have already accompanied me on several outings, instantly and profoundly improving my running life. Before, I’d have said my feet felt fine. No complaints. But now my feet actively feel good. It turns out that this makes a very noticeable difference—my feet are happier and I, in turn, am also happier. Who knew?

Maybe there’s something to be said for occasionally updating your gear, after all. // Writer’s Note: Fleet Feet Spokane is an Out There Outdoors advertiser, but the whim to go in for a Fit ID was entirely my own, and no items were gifted for the story.

Sarah Hauge lives in Spokane with her husband and two daughters, where she works as a writer and editor. She’s hoping to pull off the new-toher feat of back-to-back half marathons this May (Windermere and Coeur d’Alene).

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15

++++

10 SPRING STAYCATIONS // By Amy S. McCaffree FIND OF A GEOCACHE. // LEFT: FINDING A GEOCACHE IN MANITO PARK, PHOTOS BY SARA TALLEY

STAYING HOME THIS SPRING BREAK? Keep kids physically active with local outdoor adventures—some can even be educational. Here are 10 ideas, either free or low-cost, for planning your spring staycation.

1. CAT TALES ZOOLOGICAL PARK & WILDLIFE CENTER: As close to a zoo as we get in the

moose and white-tailed deer. Free admission.

4. CONSERVATION AREAS: Choose from 16 desig-

nated areas in Spokane County, such as Feryn Ranch, a farming homestead with restored prairie and wetland habitat, in the foothills of Mount Spokane State Park. Find maps at spokanecounty.org.

Inland Northwest, Cat Tales is a non-profit organization providing rescue sanctuary for exotic and endangered felines and large carnivores, including Siberian, Bengal, and white tigers; black bears; bobcats; coyotes; and cougars. Located in Mead, Wash., off Newport Highway, it’s open Tuesday-Sunday.

5. RIVERFRONT PARK: The skate ribbon’s clos-

2. FISH HATCHERY & STORY TRAIL: The Washington State Fish and Wildlife hatchery in northwest Spokane is open daily year-round, 7 a.m.-4 p.m., for self-guided tours (free). A short drive away nearby is Saint George’s School and its quarter-mile Story Trail. Visitors are welcome year-round, dawn to dusk, when the school’s main gate is open. Other regional fish hatcheries are in Kettle Falls, Ford, and Moses Lake, Washington. In north Idaho, the Cabinet Gorge Fish Hatchery near the town of Clark Fork is open daily to the public, while the hatchery in Sagle (referred to as the Sandpoint hatchery) is only open for visitors during summer.

6. WILD WALLS CLIMBING GYM: Monday

3. NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES (NWF) & IDAHO WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS (WMA): You can hike, snowshoe, cross-country

ski or take an auto tour (if roads are open) at Little Pend Oreille NWR near Colville, Kootenai NWR near Bonners Ferry, or Turnbull NWR near Cheney. Turnbull charges an entry free March-October. Also near Bonners Ferry are Boundary Creek and McArthur Lake Wildlife Management Areas, where you’re likely to see

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

KIDS ++ d’Alene, you can seek out diverse waterfowl and shorebirds at Tubbs Hill, Independence Beach and NIC Beach, Silver Beach and Higgins Point, and Cougar Bay. At Fernan Lake there’s a Great Blue Heron rookery and bald eagle nest. Learn more about Idaho birding trail locations at idfg. idaho.gov.

9. GEOCACHING: Take your kids scavenger hunting with a GPS. Learn how at Geocaching. com, where you will also find a database of caches, with thousands in the Spokane area.

Cache Cave, a retail store specializing in this recreation hobby, is another great resource that also has a website at cache-advance.com.

“Our family loves exploring and being outdoors, and geocaching allows us to explore areas we may not have explored otherwise,”

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says Spokane mom Sara Talley. The Talley’s favorite searches have been at Dishman Hills Natural Area, Stevens Creek trailhead, and Manito Park.

10. LET TERBOXING: Similar to geocaching,

it’s more of a mystery hunt using narrative search descriptions and clues instead of GPS coordinates. Hidden boxes contain a logbook, and instead of trading treasures—like in geocaching—there’s an ink-stamping system for keeping track of who finds what. Learn more at letterboxing.org, and see the database of nearly 200 regional letterboxes. // Amy McCaffree is Out There’s special section editor and enjoys spring skiing with her husband and their two children.

ing day is March 3 and will re-open for rollerblading, skating, and scootering in April. The SkyRide and Looff Carrousel continue operating daily. And the Sunday Funday series continues this spring, with free activities for children and families, such as crafts and sidewalk games.

and Wednesday evenings, 5-7 p.m., is the Spider Monkeys class for beginning climbers ages 4-10.

They also have a new 2,000-square-foot bouldering expansion.

7. SPRING SKIING: Enjoy free skiing all spring

break at 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort from April 1-7. To celebrate, all the resorts are hosting fun events: Hawaiian Dayz at 49° North (March 23) and Hawaiian Day & Annual Pond Skim Competition at Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park (March 30); Spring Carnival with pond skim at Silver Mountain Resort (March 30); Schpring Finale at Schweitzer Mountain Resort (April 6-7) with pond skim, cardboard box derby, and Ponderay Rotary Club Duck Derby; Spring Fling with cardboard box derby & coconut bowling at Lookout Pass (April 14).

8. BIRD WATCHING IN IDAHO: During March

and April at Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area near Fairfield, you can see sandhill cranes, snowy egrets, redhead ducks, and many more species. At Lake Coeur

KID-FRIENDLY MARCH EVENTS • Wild Skills Junior Ski Patrol with SheJumps! at Schweitzer Mountain Resort, March 3. Girls ages 8-17 (intermediate to expert skiers/snowboarders) can learn mountain safety and first aid from ski patrollers.

• Marchigras at Silver Mountain Resort, March 9—night skiing and tubing session (5-7 p.m.).

• 5th Grade Passport Family Weekend at 49 Degrees North, March 10.

• KREM TV Free Ski Food Drive at Lookout Pass, March 13.

• Washington State Parks 105th Birthday: free admission to Riverside and Mount Spokane State Parks, March 19.

• Family Fun Day and Military Ski Free Day at Mt. Spokane, March 23.

• KREM’s Tom Sherry Free2Ski Day at Mt. Spokane, March 24.

Health&Fitness EXTREME KNITTING

What to Do When You Can't Do What You Want // By Ammi Midstokke

INJURY IS A KIND of life-altering, identity-questioning state to live in. It’s like being in a parallel universe where you’re a less bad-ass version of your normal self.

I typically begin with a cycle akin to those of mourning: denial, bargaining, anger, and theoretically acceptance should show up sometime, too. I hang out in denial until an MRI or a protruding bone prove me wrong. The phase that I like most is bargaining.

This is where, when my right leg is laid up, I make fantastic goals for other parts of my body.

I’m going to be the best bar arm wrestling broad on this side of the Snake River. Sometimes I am

going to break world records in pull-ups (or just my own record of 1). Whatever I do, it sure as hell is not going to be something lame like rest and recover.

Last year, I managed to separate most of my hamstring tendon attachment from the bone.

This is why we don’t see a lot of Nor wegian sprinters. It is not our forte. I responded to suggestions for rehab by acquiring a rowing machine. Not even a Norwegian could trip on one of those. I set myself some lofty rowing goals until the excruciating, sleepless nights became unbearable.

Trying to keep up with the old version of myself—the version that didn’t hobble or chew on ibuprofen, the version that hadn’t turned 40 yet—I beat up all my other limbs to maintain some connection to my former self. Then those parts of my body started hurting, too.

The frustration grew. I drink bone broth daily. I don’t drink alcohol or eat sugar. I get eight hours of sleep most nights. How could my body fail me like

this!? You’ve all been there. What else could I do?

Nothing.

I could do nothing for a change. I could take a moment to recognize that the capacity to heal relies on rest, not arguably masochistic endeavors of a different kind.

So I read Jon Kabat-Zinn’s book about being in the moment and not being defined by our pain or limitations. And then I made a list of all the rad things I never have time to do because the Great Outdoors or some new Personal Best is calling me.

I bought myself a banjo and started taking lessons. My family is less excited about this than I am.

I signed up for another one of those advanced educational courses I’m always thinking I should do. I started working on a book. And I may be knitting an entire set of ranch house draperies. My house is oddly clean and organized. The laundry isn’t full of sweaty socks. I wonder if this is what retirement is for some people.

I’m a little disgusted with my new affection for crafting books, recipe blogs, and Appalachian music history. Despite my embarrassment at having a Pinterest account, I’m beginning to see that taking a break from trying to improve my outsides is giving me an opportunity to improve my insides.

In my experience, personal growth is most comfortable when the user is unaware that it is happening.

With all that new knowledge of self, when my body does recover, I’ll finally be able to play banjo around the alpine summit campfire for all my friends. Who will all be wearing handmade beanies. // Ammi Midstokke can put chains on any vehicle from any position in any weather. When it becomes an Olympic sport, she will compete internationally if it fits her nap schedule. Last month, she wrote about eating cake for dinner.

DO’S AND DON’TS OF THE MAIMED DO:

• Whatever your doctor or medical professionals tell you.

• Consume lots of good, nourishing foods like bone broth, foods high in anti-oxidants, clean proteins, and water!

• Rest and remember: Bodies heal. You just have to let them.

• Focus on some fun alternative activities you’ve been missing out on—like knitting!

DON’T:

• Drink alcohol. It’s inflammatory and a depressant—probably not a great combination for someone with a sad injury.

• Drown your sorrows in ice cream or donuts. Sugar is also pro-inflammatory and empty calories. If you have to grow a new limb, do you want it to be made out of a double fudge sundae or some lean, grass-fed steak (or sprouted legumes if you’re a hippie)?

• Do too much, too soon. It’s just discouraging to have your healing slow down and feel like you’re perpetually sidelined. Get comfortable knitting.

MARCH 2019 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

17

GearRoom GSI OUTDOORS SANTOKU KNIFE SET

In Japanese, Santoku means "three virtues." The GSI Outdoors Santoku Knife Set includes three knives, and they’re perfect for camping, the beach, or backyard cooking.

While some people might use a grubby pocket knife for backcountry cooking, the Santoku set features clean, compact, stainless steel blades perfectly

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rockered for cutting, and the ergonomic, rubber handles provide a secure grip. Better still, protective knife sheaths ensure safe handling and preserve each blade's sharpness. The set also includes a genius folding cutting board and a microfiber cleaning cloth. Bon appétit. MSRP: $34.95. Gsioutdoors.com. (Jon Jonckers)

AR BASE SHIELD PROTECTIVE BIB FOR DOGS

Developed by Spokanebased Ascent Recreation, the AR Base Shield provides underbelly protection for your snow- and brush-loving hound. Some dogs are more energetic and enthusiastic about thrashing through the wilds than others, and injury of some of the most sensitive pooch parts on a canine undercarriage are inevitable. Without the right protection, crusty snow, ice, thorns, burrs, sharp sticks and brush can all jab, slash, EXPED AIRPILLOW UL

Weighing just 2 ounces, the Exped AirPillow UL might change your backcountry sleep experience. This brilliant pillow features a durable, flat-valve for inflation and deflation. The airfilled pillow is super adjustable for side and back sleepers, but its greatest feature is the anti-slip GripSkin

and scratch your precious pup. The AR Base Shield provides critical underbelly protection with a soft, wicking inner lining; built-in harness and leash attachment; snowreleasing flap to prevent ice build-up; and optional top coat for added warmth and protection. The single-buckle system is easy to put on and take off, and the outer shell is durable and water repellent. MSRP: $65.99 and up. Ascentrecreation.com.

(Derrick Knowles) hone yc omb - p atte r n coating. Two eyelets can be used to attach the pillow to your sleeping pad, and the pillow also easily fits inside the hoods of most sleeping bags.

Bring it along for the best backcountry sleep. MSRP: $29-$39.

Exped.com. (Jon Jonckers)

OSPREY TRANSPORTER 40

It’s a duffle. It’s a backpack. It’s a tough, compact travel tote that you can carry over your shoulder, wear on your back, and easily slip into airplane overhead bins or gear-stuffed car trunks. First place winner of the prestigious 2018 Carryology Best Travel Luggage category, the Transporter 40 features dual sided TPU coating, burly hardware, stiff body fabric,

overlapping zipper rain flaps that keep whatever you stuff inside protected from the elements. For trips that start and end at an airport, the 40-liter capacity gives you the opportunity to take less and feel liberated from the burden of schlepping unnecessary gear and clothing halfway around the country, or world, and back. MSRP: $110. Osprey.com.

(Derrick Knowles)

BRIDGEDALE HIKE ULTRA LIGHT T2 SOCK

An elegant blend of Washington apples, strawberry purEE, and a touch of SYRAH grapes.

AVAILABLE this spring AT LOCAL RETAILERS AND the ONE TREE CIDER HOUSE.

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

ONETREEHARDCIDER.COM

With a foot or more of frozen snow still on the ground around the Inland Northwest post Groundhog Day this year, we had to test the new 2019 Bridgedale hiking socks with 10-14 mile indoor “hikes” setting up and working at the Spokane Great Outdoors & Bike Expo February 23-24. “What a difference good socks make,” one of our testers trying out the women’s T2 said with

a sigh at the end of a day of relentless indoor walking. The Ultra Light T2 sock integrates soft Coolmax technology yarns that draws moisture away from the skin to keep the feet cool and dry in hot conditions with enough insulation to keep feet warm when the temperature drops. MSRP: $19.99 boot height; $14.99 ankle height.

Bridgedale.com/usa. (Derrick Knowles)

MARCH 2019 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

19

Provisions

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

PHOTO: COURTESY OF PRARIE DOG PET MERCANTILE

FEEDING PUP DURING AND AFTER A HIKE PHOTO: S. MICHAL BENNET

PHOTO: BYRAN HEER

APERITIF: YOUR PUP NEEDS TRAIL FOOD, TOO

By S. Michal Bennett DO YOU HIKE, mountain bike, or run trails with

your pup? If so, trail nutrition means more to you than an energy bar, gorp, and a hydration pack. It also means taking care of your furry friend’s sustenance. This is no walk in the park.

First, depending on the distance of your trek and whether your dog is on or off leash, you must increase its caloric intake. If you go simple with kibble, choose a high quality, high-energy formula.

Then squeeze half a pack of Justin’s peanut butter on top for a boost.

Second, if going the distance, the long distance, pack light and nutrient dense. Freeze dried foods are one easy option, but can affect your pup’s teeth over time. Doggie meal replacement bars, like TurboPup and RUFF BAR, are light, space saving and nutrient dense. You can also make your own (check out Mother Earth News’ Meal Replacement Bars Recipe), or bring foods that double as human and canine snacks. “Human” foods like sugar-free jerky, oatmeal peanut butter balls, apples, and cheese are all good for both you and your furry friend. Toss thinly-sliced carrots with some minced ginger and coconut oil, bake at 350 degrees until crisp, and enjoy this delicious lightweight treat with your dog.

Finally, if you are a consistent hiker or run trails with your dog more than once a week, invest in a collapsible doggie bowl and consider adding a suitable doggie multivitamin to his or her diet. Just be sure to peruse the ingredients first and choose one without a lot of fillers and definitely no added sugar.

Here’s to keeping our friends happy and healthy.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF BEET & BASIL

BEET & BASIL AT THE CREEK

(Sandpoint, Idaho) Since its launch in 2016, Beet & Basil has quickly gained popularity as a unique food truck in Sandpoint, offering flavorful cuisine from around the world. In 2017 the owners established a permanent location on Sandpoint’s main strip in what used to be the Inn at Sand Creek.

From their celebrated banh mi sandwich to a variety of noodle bowls, seared salmon, rotating soups and salads, and a diverse selection of small and shared plates, their dishes take you from Korea, to Japan, China, Vietnam, Peru, Cuba, and home again. There is nothing bland on this menu. Each dish is full of rich flavor, balanced spice, and delicate complexity.

While I’ve enjoyed street tacos and salads from the Beet & Basil truck in the past, sitting down at their fully-stocked bar with a glass of wine was an elevated B&B experience. We ordered small plates so we could sample a range of foods. The grilled garlic butter naan was soft and toasty at the same time, and the curry dipping sauce made it delectably perfect. The lamb empanadas were balanced melody of rich filling and light pastry. I often enjoy the Japanese spice togarashi on ramen and other Japanese foods, but Beet & Basil makes its own version for a “blackened” fried Brussels sprouts. I do make a delicious pan of fried Brussels sprouts at home, but they have never tasted as satisfying and irresistible as these. This place is a refreshing change from the abundance of pub food, albeit good pub food, that permeates North Idaho. (S. Michal Bennett)

MATCHWOOD BREWING COMPANY

(Sandpoint, Idaho) The growth and renovation of Sandpoint’s Granary Arts District over the past few years was largely amplified by the addition of Matchwood Brewing in October 2018. Owners Kennden Culp and Andrea Marcoccio have been brewing for six years and aim to foster community connection, create a family-friendly atmosphere, and serve approachable English and American handcrafted ales.

Their beers are certainly approachable, with a little something for every palate within a modest 6-tap selection. The Sparkling Ale is clean, balanced, and easy to drink on a hot or cold day. On the other side of the spectrum, the Seasonal English Winter Beer is lusciously malty and toasty, perfect for an evening around a winter bonfire. Everything in between is solid with a Matchwood signature edge to it, which means delightful and easy to drink.

Enjoy a pint, fill a growler, or grab a crowler for the hill.

In the corner of the spacious, timber and metal-crusted taproom sits Matchwood’s Eatery. The menu features fresh salads made with regionallysourced ingredients, burgers, sandwiches, mac and cheese bites, and one of the best soft pretzels I’ve had in a long time—and I’m not really a pretzel person. Warning: the house-made stone mustard will clear your sinuses! But the best thing on the menu is the pasty. These savory hand pies are buttery pillows of pastry dough filled with decadent goodness, like browned skirt steak, root vegetables and gravy, or sage pork sausage bangers and mashed potatoes.

Vegetarian and gluten free options are available.

(S. Michal Bennett)

Dakota Eckenroth knows that owners love to let dogs off-leash, and she also knows how challenging it is to maintain the connection with their pets with all the additional stimuli in an outdoor environment. “It’s a humbling experience to lose to a tree or bush,” she says. That’s why she and the rest of the Prairie Dog Pet Mercantile-team bring nutritious canine snacks on hikes. Treats entice dogs to pay attention to their humans and provide calories and nourishment in the midst physical activity.

Eckenroth recommends Ziwi Peak dog food out of New Zealand as a good treat for active dogs. It’s too expensive for most people to feed their pets as a regular meal, but it can serve as a complete and balanced snack made from 90% organ meat.

Steve’s Real Food is a made-in-the-Pacific-Northwest option. This company’s freeze-dried raw foods are lightweight and nutrient dense, and they don’t attract the same attention from bees and wasps as wet food.

Nutrition is an extra-important consideration when dogs are out with you for high mileage or long hours. Eckenroth suggests adding distance to your hikes or trail runs at small increments. “If you go too far with a growing puppy or senior, it can make for a difficult for recovery,” she says. To aid in recovery, she recommends Glacier Peaks Holistics, which offers Inflapotion, a 100 percent organic herbal remedy that relieves aches, pains, and inflammation.

For people who want to get better at hiking with their four-legged friends, Prairie Dog Pet Mercantile’s Amy Barker offers classes that teach owners and dogs better trail manners so they can enjoy their time together and be safer in the great outdoors. The class is hosted at four different trails over four weeks. Call 509-443-9663 for more information.

(Summer Hess)

SERVING BREAKFAST LUNCH & DINNER 7 DAYS A WEEK 521 E. HOLLAND #20 509-413-1739 20

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

Eatology THANK YOU FOR THE ORGASMS // By Ammi Midstokke

BY ALL ACCOUNTS, including Darwin’s, you

probably should not be alive. Never in the 4.5 billion year history of our planet has any species been so incredibly self-destructive, obtuse, and downright moronic. For example, I have never seen a giraffe smoke.

Despite plagues, floods, locusts, and terms like “shelf-stable” and “Crisco,” our species has managed to prevail. And, arguably, thrive. If we aren’t thriving, we are at least still procreating most effectively.

This is made possible by a few complex, intricate, and potentially magic systems in the remarkably adaptable human body, many of them subsisting on just Netflix and mocha Frappucinos.

We fuel our bodies with processed foods, stimulants, sugars, and bizarre levels of those “Stress B

Complex” supplements we take. We ask it to perform 10-hour workdays on five hours of sleep. We take antibiotics instead of naps when we are sick. (“Don’t worry body. You just keep working, and I’ll take care of the infection for you.”) We run marathons, ski 100 days, wake up early to get our laps in at the pool, ride centuries on the weekend, go to CrossFit, and feed off adrenaline for “fun” because, somehow, our fight or flight instinct is now a hobby. Survival mechanisms were never so trendy as they are today.

Then, exhausted from the challenge of keeping up with our expectations, we compare ourselves with others on social media, read the horrors of the news, and go to sleep for a few restless hours so we can wake up, chug coffee, and do it all over again.

Every day, your body willingly participates. In fact,

it works hard to impress you, like a neglected middle child, hopeful that if it just sets a new PR, you’ll give it a damn day off. Or maybe even some praise.

Worse than the chronic abuse is our chronic dissatisfaction. Even as my single-mom friend is telling me about completing her yoga training, kicking ass at some boxing class, and then getting promoted at her senior management position in the medical industry, she is complaining about the double chin in a photograph.

“What’s happened to me?” she asks as she stretches her neck out and pulls the skin back with a disappointed frown.

A young man in my clinic, strong and able, healthy and intelligent, tells me he wants to gain muscle. I ask what his body is not capable of that this extra muscle will facilitate. Is there a competition? A task that requires more strength? Eating to gain unnatural weight becomes an expensive chore.

“I just feel like I should have more muscle,” he says.

Even while our bodies maintain the miracle of homeostasis, we’ve got nothing better to do than criticize the bejesus out of it. Our thighs are too big,

our cellulite too prolific, our breasts too saggy, our chests too narrow, our bellies too round. And don’t get me started on faces and hair.

How about we take a minute to thank these fleshy vessels for what they give us? For the orgasms? The sense of taste? The places they take us in the mountains and trees? How about we send them messages of gratitude, pride, and amazement instead of telling them they are never, ever going to be thin, strong, fast, or resilient enough?

If you hear the voice in your head complaining about a made-up inadequacy of your body, imagine it was another person. What would you tell someone who said that to you? Like a drunk cousin at a wedding, you’d politely escort that toxic mofo out the side door. Do that. // Ammi Midstokke can put chains on any vehicle from any position in any weather. When it becomes an Olympic sport, she will compete internationally if it fits her nap schedule. Last month, she wrote about eating cake for dinner.

NEW “ASK AMMI: ADVICE FOR ANYONE ON ANYTHING” COLUMN AT OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

If you enjoy Ammi Mistokke’s “Eatology” column in print issues of Out There, don’t miss her new online-only “Ask Ammi: Advice for Anyone on Anything” column. Send Ammi your nutrition, health, outdoor fitness, or other random advice question at ammi@twobirdsnutrition.com. This month Ammi takes on a question about hidden sugars in foods. Check out the latest “Ask Ammi” columns at Outthereoutdoors.com/?s=ask+ammi.

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21

Biking ON THE ROAD AGAIN // By Bradley Bleck

EARLY SPRING VIEW FROM THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE // PHOTO: BRADLEY BLECK

WHETHER YOUR WINTER has been spent on the

snow or a stationary trainer, in a yoga studio or gym, maybe even on the couch, the arrival of spring just might spark your inner-cyclist.

But roadsides strewn with winter’s debris might dampen that spark, leading you to wonder if the open road is ready for you. Fortunately for cyclists in the Inland Northwest, most multi-use trails are relatively free of debris and waiting on you and yours. Once you are ready to ride (see sidebar), here are some options for getting on the road.

SPOKANE AREA RIDES

MA END Y S 5 TH

The Fish Lake Trail (FLT) is close to downtown Spokane with trailhead parking near the intersection of Sunset Highway and Government Way. The FLT has an imperceptible uphill grade along its nine miles, flanked by basalt outcroppings, farmland, and stands of ponderosa before ending near Queen Lucas Lake. The ride back is primarily downhill, so you’ll go and feel faster.

Washington’s Centennial Trail is largely flat from the top of Doomsday Hill to the stateline. Riding to Mission Park through Kendall Yards, Riverfront Park, and the Gonzaga campus provides an urban experience with opportunities for refreshments.

From Mission Park to the stateline, the trail follows the river. To avoid traffic, use the trailheads near the Valley YMCA, Plante Ferry Park, or the stateline.

Riverside State Park offers a 15-mile loop between Seven Mile and T.J. Meenach Bridge.

On the north side of the river, much of the route is through Riverside State Park with light traffic.

The only city road is from T.J. Meenach to the Aubrey L.White Parkway entrance. The south side of the river is all gently undulating Centennial Trail. Riding clockwise avoids the one steep climb.

Discovery Pass required if parking in the park.

NORTH IDAHO RIDES

Riverstone Park in Coeur d’Alene offers opportunities for pre-and-post ride refreshments

when riding Idaho’s Centennial Trail. Twelve miles east is the Spokane River at the stateline.

The trail parallels the interstate to Post Falls, with potentially confusing twists and turns from Post Falls west. Less confusing and more inviting is the route west to the North Idaho College campus and then downtown to Higgins Point, about one hill and six miles east. Much of the ride is through neighborhoods and along scenic East Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive.

Sandpoint is home to the Dover and Serenity Lee trails and the Sandpoint Byway. The byway trail begins near City Beach and follows Sand Creek north to Ponderay. Serenity Lee Trail starts near Long Bridge, crossing the lake toward Sagle, just over five miles south. The trail to Dover is about three miles, ending just outside Dover city limits. The Dover Bay development provides riding through meadows and lightly forested tracts with river views. The best food and drink are in Sandpoint.

The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes offers incredible scenery. Avoid starting in either Plummer or Mullan to avoid sustained climbs (six miles from Heyburn to Plummer or eight miles from Wallace to Mullan). Crossing the confluence of Lake Chatcolet and Lake Coeur d’Alene provides expansive views of both lakes. Between Harrison and Wallace, trailheads are about every five miles.

Food and drink is readily available at Harrison (mile 15), Rose Lake (about a mile off the trail at mile 34), Enaville (mile 47), Kellogg (mile 54), and Wallace (mile 65). // Bradley last wrote about Zwift and indoor cycling for the January/February OutThere. When not teaching English classes at Spokane Falls, he’s spending time with family and doing what he can to prepare for the coming cycling season.

GETTING READY FOR SPRING BIKE RIDES Two things can derail an early season bike ride: an unkempt bike and the wrong clothes. If you can, have your local bike shop tune your bike, preparing the tires, brakes, shifting, drivetrain, and the remaining essentials for safety and optimal performance. Expect to pay $60 to $80. Some offer safety checks for about $40. Clothing is a greater challenge. With often unpredictable weather, cyclists need to be prepared to start in the sun and warm then finish in the rain and cold. The general rule is that when the temp is over 60 degress, shorts are fine, but do what’s comfortable. Many prefer a long-sleeved jersey, adding a vest or windbreaker or rain jacket depending upon the weather forecast. Shoe or toe covers, along with lighter, full-fingered gloves, keep the extremities warmer.

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Nature VERNAL POOLS // The Habitat of Spring

By Adam Gebauer

SPRING AT TURNBULL. PHOTOS: SHALLAN KNOWLES

SPRING IS THE TIME to look for fleeting vernal pools. These habitats are teeming with aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals—especially with the amphibians that rely on these pools for their life cycles.

Vernal pools are unique and temporary habitats that form in the spring when shallow depressions

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

fill with snowmelt and rainwater. As the temperatures rise and the sun shines, the surface water evaporates but the soil will hold moisture longer than the surrounding landscape.

These ephemeral wetlands are the perfect habitat for bugs and amphibians that need water for part of their life cycle and prefer to do their reproductive

work without the pressure of predatory fish. The lack of fish in vernal pools is a key characteristic of these habitats.

Vernal pools are relatively small—100 to 1,000 square feet— but serve several key ecological functions. Not only are they important habitats for numerous species, they also help to reduce flooding during spring snow melt and rain storms. Being low on the landscape, they can collect runoff pollution and help clean the water before it seeps into our ground water.

Eastern Washington’s climate and geography is ripe for the formation of these temporary wetlands.

The majority of our precipitation falls in the winter months and then evaporates during the hot, dry summer. The channeled scablands and the underlying layer of basalt in our area allow for numerous shallow depressions where water can collect, creating vital habitat for aquatic species in an otherwise dry landscape.

There are many clues to the location of vernal pools. In the drier sage steppe, landscape vegetation will be denser and greener later in the season.

Sometimes you will find dried films of algae or salt rings as the water evaporates. In early spring, one of the best clues to the location of vernal pools is the sound of frogs, especially the calls from the Pacific tree frog (Pseudacris regilla).

Both the presence of frogs and salamanders are a sign of a healthy environment. Many species of amphibians spend their youth in and around wetlands like vernal pools, hatching from eggs, swimming around as tadpoles, and

finally growing legs to venture out onto dry land.

During these formative times, amphibians breath through their skin and are particularly susceptible to pollutants that can be washed into vernal pools from upland environments.

Hiking along the Palisades Park trail in early spring, you will hear the chorus of the small, greygreen Pacific tree frogs. The males of this species use their call to stake out territory in vernal pools while they wait for a female to choose a mate. The females will then attach eggs to shallow underwater sticks or rocks. The proposal to turn 100 acres between Palisades City Park and Riverside State Park into the Rimrock to Riverside corridor will surely protect several vernal pools.

Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge has copious vernal pools in the early spring. The aptly named biscuit and swale prairie alternates between raised mounds of deep soil and shallow hardpan depressions. Keep a look out for long-toed salamanders, clams, fairy shrimp, cattails, and sedges.

The presence of vernal pools is a sure sign that spring has arrived and the region is teaming with life again. Sometimes, the ephemeral, the temporary, and the vanishing are the most worthy outdoor objectives. // Adam Gebauer just took a break from teaching skiing and harassing wildlife to do some ski touring and ice climbing in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. He recently wrote about winter wildlife tracking in the January issue.

Biking WINTER RIDING ON THE TRAIL OF THE COEUR D'ALENES //

LEFT: MARK CHECKS PROGRESS ALONG THE TRAIL. PHOTO: DERRICK KNOWLES. // OVER BRIDGES, OVER SNOW. PHOTO: MARK SCHNEIDER

TRANQUILLY PEDALING the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene’s through steadily falling snow in serene mountain scenery, snowpack silencing even the knobbiest tires, is a relaxing way to while away a winter day or two. There really is no off-season for riding North Idaho’s iconic 72-mile paved-path rail trail, as long as you come prepared.

To ensure the experience is more fun than fraught, consider trail conditions and weather on whatever length of the trail between Plummer and Mullan you want to explore. Knowing where you want to ride will help with your bike selection and gear decisions. A road bike and puffy might be your best bet one year in January, or you may need a fat bike or mountain bike and t-shirt in April that same season. The weather and conditions along the trail can be quite different and unpredictable, especially on the higher elevation, eastern end of the trail near Wallace.

PEDALING THROUGH A WILDLIFE-RICH WINTER WONDERLAND

If you’re lucky like we four fat bikers were on an early February trip from Harrison to Kellogg, a few inches of dry, lightly compacted snow made for an enjoyable ride with negligible elevation change. We had plenty of time and daylight for gawking at the chain lake-and-wetland-studded scenery and abundant wildlife, including bald eagles, hawks, quail, coyotes, otters, geese, deer, and moose.

We didn’t see another human out on the quiet, snow-covered stretch of trail between Harrison and Enaville but were repeatedly greeted by startled mobs of geese and awed by the serene beauty of the Coeur d’Alene River and silence of the winter wonderland all around us. It’s easy to explore outand-back sections of this highly-scenic part of the trail from Enaville, Cataldo, and other trailheads further west toward Harrison.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SECTION OF TRAIL FOR THE CONDITIONS

Near the numerous trailheads, frozen footprints and ski tracks comprised the paved trail’s only technical challenges during our winter ride, but with deeper snow, pedaling even with a fat bike would be more difficult between the wildest stretch of trail between Harrison and Enaville.

The asphalt trail surface is plowed in places during

the winter months from Enaville east to Wallace, potentially affording access for riders without fat tire bikes looking for shorter rides. Snowmobiles are allowed on the section between Wallace and Mullan, making that stretch of the trail a great, scenic option for riders on fat bikes if other parts of the trail are buried in snow. Unless the part of trail you want to ride is snow-free, a fat bike is your best option to be able to ride where you want.

(If you don’t own a fat bike, several bike shops in Spokane and the Coeur d’Alene area rent them.)

WEATHER & GEAR

An occasional tussle with temperamental mountain weather is to be expected along the trail anytime between November and March. No matter the forecast, be ready for snow, rain, cold temperatures, and wind to compliment the scenery and solitude. A waterproof shell, hat, and weather-resistant gloves are a must. An adage tells us to dress for the second mile when exercising outdoors. On the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene’s, dress for the first, last, and every mile in between. Use your technical, synthetic layers. Carry a pump, flat tire repair equipment, bike lights, plenty of food and water, and a cell phone for emergencies.

Fortunately for the ill-prepared, there are several

cozy spots to thaw your toes and sip a beverage or enjoy a warm snack in the towns along the trail or at the end of your ride.

EXPLORE THE TRAIL FROM A WINTER BASE CAMP

Whether you choose to take on an epic stretch of the 72-mile Trail of the Coeur d’Alene’s in one day or ride a few of the more scenic sections over a few days, having the right lodging base camp will make the trip that much more enjoyable.

And you can arrange a shuttle for your ride from many hotels along the trail, saving you time and gas. Find options at Visitnorthidaho.com/activity/ trail-of-the-coeur-dalenes.

PLANNING YOUR RIDE

Explore the different sections of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, order a trail map, and plan your winter ride with the help of the Friends of the Coeur d’Alene Trail website: Friendsofcdatrails.org. // Editor’s note: An online version of this article that includes links to trip-planning resources is available at Outthereoutdoors.com and was sponsored in part by Visit North Idaho.

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25

State

of Our

Trails

By Holly Weiler

TRAIL VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: JOHN & MADISON MCARTHUR Yes, trailwork is hard work, but to illustrate how accessible it can be, check out the father-daughter duo of John and Madison McArthur. Both are multi-sport athletes who are active volunteers with several groups. Madison, age 10, is already a two-year veteran of trail projects.

When asked about their favorite aspect of trailwork and what keeps them coming back, Madison notes, "I volunteer because I like to help my community, visit wildlife, and because of the wonderful, hardworking, kind people I work with." Madison adds, "I love assembling rocks to make bridges and retaining walls because it's like a puzzle, and I love logic and math. I also like clearing trails of brush because of the wide selection of tools I get to handle." Madison has been known to try out every single tool on a trailwork party in order to learn about each one.

Her dad loves trail building too, but his favorite part is watching Madison’s expertise and passion grow. “Being able to see my daughter work with tools and the pride she takes in trail projects makes me an unbelievably proud parent."

Madison knows that trailwork can be accomplished at her own pace, and that's why her favorite location is Mount Spokane, "because whenever I got tired, I would just sit down and eat some huckleberries!"

Want to get involved? Local groups will be utilizing a new tool to share volunteer opportunities this summer. Find it at Outthereoutdoors.com/volunteer-scheduling.

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

NEW TRAILS IN FAMILIAR PLACES

Looking for a new trail to hike, ride, or run? Try one of these new or newish Inland Northwest trails.

CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT: RUNNING AT BIG ROCK. PHOTO; JON JONCKERS // FATHER AND DAUGHTER TRAIL WORK TEAM. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN MCARTHUR // ANTOINE PEAK SUNSET. PHOTO PAUL KNOWLES // ANTOINE PEAK SUMMIT. PHOTO: PAUL KNOWLES // SAMANTHA SILVAS HIKING THE LIBERTY LAKE CEDAR GROVE. PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES

RECREATIONAL TRAILS in the Inland Northwest are constantly undergoing upgrades, thanks to local volunteers who tackle both new and ongoing projects in our region. Months or even years before recreationists see new trail construction, upgrades to existing trails, or even annual maintenance, dedicated representatives from local organizations are meeting with land managers. Together, they identify priorities, draft plans, and pledge volunteer service hours in support of grants for projects that eventually become our beloved trails.

SPOKANE COUNTY PARKS

Spokane County Parks' Conservation Futures Program tops the list for new recreation opportunities in our region. The county website reflects numbers from the not-so-distant past, 2016, citing 31 acquisitions and 7,700 acres of public land.

Flash forward to today and the list has grown to 49 acquisitions totaling over 8,875 acres. Most notable among these is Mica Peak Conservation Area and its new trailhead south of the Spokane Valley, along with an additional parcel that will span the distance from Belmont Road to Liberty Lake Regional Park. Mica Peak had an existing system of old logging roads when Spokane County Parks acquired the property, but that trail network is being augmented by new single track, which begun in 2018 and is still under construction. This summer will find volunteers with Washington Trails Association (WTA) hard at work on a multiuse trail to prominent vistas near the top of the conservation area, while Evergreen East builds a downhill-only flow trail through the middle section of the property. Evergreen is also busy with a new, family-friendly skills park at Beacon Hill, expected to be ready in late spring.

Other Spokane County Parks additions are so new the trail plans haven't been written yet. Last spring, the Dishman Hills Conservancy acquired the Flying L Ranch. Eventually the Philips Creek trailhead from this south Spokane Valley property will connect to existing trails at Glenrose; watch for a public planning meeting in early March.

More recently, the conservancy acquired property near the Stevens Creek trailhead, which will create new loop options on the lower portion of Rocks of Sharon. The county is also in the process of acquiring an addition to Antoine Peak that will eventually result in the possibility of a third trailhead access

point in the Spokane Valley and new trail connections leading to the summit.

WASHINGTON STATE PARKS

Mount Spokane State Park also has projects in various stages of the permitting process. The mountain bike community will soon be able to enjoy the upper portion of trail 190, which received the green light for construction in 2018. Evergreen East will be leading the effort to complete this downhill-only trail from the summit to trail 131.

WTA projects still a year or two out in the permitting process include a new snowshoe bridge on trail 110 and a new multi-use trail connecting from the lower Mount Kit Carson Loop Road to the Day Mountain trailhead near Green Bluff. Meanwhile, the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy is working in tandem with Riverside State Park to secure a connection between Riverside and Palisades Parks.

NORTHEAST WASHINGTON

Although it's still very early in the planning process, a new trail may be coming to Department of Natural Resources (DNR) property just southwest of Colville. Local volunteers have been working with the DNR to draft a plan that could ultimately result in up to 25 miles of new multi-use single track with views of both the Columbia River to the west and the Colville Valley to the east.

Just north of Newport, the Kalispel Tribe's Indian Creek Community Forest is set to open to the public later this year. Trailwork on a half-mile interpretive trail is already complete, with additional work planned this spring. A long-term goal of the project is to eventually connect the Community Forest to the nearby Geophysical Trail System for year-round recreational opportunities from its SnoPark lot.

SANDPOINT, IDAHO

The Kaniksu Land Trust (KLT) is in the process of acquiring the land that will eventually become the Pine Street Woods Community Forest. With a target closing date of late winter 2019, KLT hopes to develop approximately 5 miles of non-motorized trails as early as fall of this year. KLT has a longterm goal of working with the Sandpoint Nordic Club to provide groomed Nordic ski trails on the property.

Also based in Sandpoint, the Trail Mix

• Evergreen East's Short Draw at Saltese Uplands near Liberty Lake, Wash., creates options for either shorter loops or longer figure eights as it bisects the center of the conservation area.

• WTA completed work on the Split Creek Trail at Liberty Lake in 2017 and is currently in the process of upgrading the failing bridge at the Cedar Grove.

• McKenzie Conservation Area near Newman Lake, Wash., is home to the new Vision Quest Trail, constructed by the Spokane Mountaineers in partnership with the Newman Lake Property Owners Association. This trail adds a new 1.5-mile loop to the existing trail system.

• Completed by WTA volunteers in spring of 2018, Antoine Peak's west side meadow trail and summit connector provide single-track options for visitors from the busier west trailhead in Spokane Valley. These followed a 2017 project from the east trailhead to improve the overly-steep and heavily-eroded trail up Canfield Gulch and connecting trail to the summit.

• Now several years in the making, the Fishtrap Loop west of Cheney, Wash., is expected to be complete in 2019. This area has received spring and fall attention by WTA since 2014 and has also hosted several National Public Lands Day group projects.

• The Northeast Washington Trailblazers (NEWTs) have been hard at work expanding the trails at Sherman Creek Wildlife Area near Kettle Falls with an expansion of the existing trails to both the north and the south of Mellenberger Bridge.

• When a major bridge collapsed along the North Fork Trail near the Salmo Priest Wilderness in the Colville National Forest, the trail was marked as closed for several years. Eventually the Forest Service approved a reroute around the wetland in order to avoid a more difficult bridge replacement. WTA crews partnered with the Pacific Northwest Trails Association and received pack support from the Northeast Washington Chapter of Backcountry Horsemen on a two-year project that wrapped up in 2018.

UPDATES & UPGRADES TO EXISTING TRAILS

Add these recently renovated trails to your spring and summer adventure list or revisit them to admire the handiwork on your favorite trails.

• Taylor Ridge, a connector trail on the north end of the Kettle Crest that had been unmaintained since the late 1990s, had fallen into such disrepair that it was nearly impossible to follow.

Concerned volunteers joined together to form the NEWTs in order to lobby for reopening the trail. They received permission to perform necessary maintenance last summer, which is now nearly complete. Once open for use, this trail will once again become a popular hiking and mountain biking route.

• Glenrose trails in the Dishman Hills have seen improvements thanks to the Spokane Mountaineers. Minor trail reroutes have eliminated several overly steep problem spots. What's more, the conservation area on the east side of Spokane’s South Hill has a new paved parking lot.

• WTA tackled the perennially eroded problem spot of Mount Spokane's Trail 104 by rebuilding several switchbacks and adding crib steps to the steepest section at the top of this short connector trail in a cedar grove.

• Mount Spokane's Trail 130 has received improvements from Bald Knob Campground to Day Mountain, and the connecting trail 160 to Mt. Kit Carson has also been rerouted to improve the trail grade. Still in the permitting process is a proposed reroute of trail 131 from the parking lot to Bald Knob, improving trail grade to prevent erosion and improve line-of-sight, as well as moving the trail outside the ski area for improved winter access.

• Both WTA and the Spokane Mountaineers have helped repair fire-damaged trails on the Knothead Loop in the Little Spokane River Natural Area. The Mountaineers have also worked to repair fire-damaged trails in the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness in southeast Washington.

• Evergreen East was busy repairing fire-damaged sections of trails at Beacon in the fall of 2018, along with annual maintenance projects.

• Evergreen also assisted the Friends of the Bluff to realign trails on High Drive Bluff that strayed onto private property.

• Washington State Parks has been making surface improvements to the Palouse to Cascades Trail (formerly the John Wayne Trail) by working to remove large ballast rock near Malden and Rosalia.

• Lake City Trail Builders completed additions and improvements to Blue Creek Bay's trail system east of Coeur d’Alene. Rehabilitation work on the steepest sections resulted in six new switchbacks and a new half-mile of trail to create an improved user experience as well as a more sustainable trail. The group also rerouted trails on Farragut State Park's Bernard Peak south of Sandpoint.

MARCH 2019 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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Committee helped develop the Bonner County Trails Plan, adopted in June 2016. The plan includes a wide variety of multi-use trails throughout the county. A priority project already underway is the Watershed Crest Trail, connecting Baldy Mountain near Schweitzer Mountain Resort to Sandpoint. The local Pend Oreille Pedalers bike club has already begun work on portions of the trail that have been approved, and the Trail Mix Committee is continuing work on the necessary trail easements and permissions to complete the planned 11-mile route.

Just east of Sandpoint, the Friends of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness is continuing ongoing maintenance projects and also beginning survey work in partnership with the Forest Service to reroute portions of the Goat Mountain Trail to improve trail conditions. The group is also continuing its successful Goat Ambassador program, which seeks to protect both recreationists and the area's iconic mountain goats through trail user education on keeping a safe distance from wildlife.

COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO

The Lake City Trail Alliance (LCTA) are embarking on a new private/public partnership to enhance recreational access to Canfield Mountain's popular trail system through new trail construction on adjacent private property (with the property owner's blessing). Additionally, LCTA is wrapping up work on a new pump track for the City of Coeur d'Alene, as well as beginning work on a new bike skills area and flow trail near the North Idaho College campus. LCTA will also be working on the Caribou Ridge National Recreation Trail near Mount Coeur d'Alene.

NORTH IDAHO

Idaho Trails Association (ITA) is expanding its work throughout the state, with 44 projects planned for 2019 (up from 33 projects in 2018).

ITA's north Idaho work extends from Priest Lake and Bonners Ferry trails to the St. Joe River Area, a new project location for the group. ITA is also launching a youth volunteer program in 2019. In addition to general trail maintenance, ITA plans to provide some key reroutes to the Kootenai River Walk Trail near Bonners Ferry, as well as installation of a new board walk on the Priest Lake Beach Trail.

USER GROUPS & SHARING TRAILS

The majority of non-motorized trail systems in the Inland Northwest are multi-use. This means that feet, tires, and hooves might be simultaneously sharing the trail. Be a good representative for your favorite activity by knowing the rules that guide multi-use trails.

• Equestrians: Everyone yields trail to equestrian users. Best practice is to start with hello, and then keep talking to make sure the horse knows it's dealing with a human and not a predator. Dismount if you're on a bike, and typically move off-trail to the downhill side to allow the horse to pass.

• Bikers: Bike traffic yields to those who are on foot. Best practice is to stop and move to the side.

• Hikers/Runners: For foot traffic, descending yields to ascending. When passing from behind, all users groups should call out to make sure their presence is known.

When enjoying trails with a dog, research the rules before you go. Dogs are not permitted in designated natural areas within state parks. A leash law applies to all Washington State parks as well as all trails within Spokane County. Other areas may allow well-trained dogs to be under voice control. Be prepared to pack out all doggie deposits. // Holly Weiler has been sharing the trails since she was 12 but didn't realize she could build them, too, until she was in her early 20s. Now she's spent nearly a full year's worth of days building trails with local nonprofit organizations. She writes the Hike of the Month for each issue of Out There.

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

TOP TO BOTTOM: CANFIELD MOUNTAIN REPAIRS. PHOTO COURTESY OF LCTA // PUMP TRACK CONSTRUCTION. PHOTO COURTESY OF LCTA. // BERM BUILDING FOR THE CDA PUMP TRACK. PHOTO COURTESY OF LCTA. // PRIEST LAKE BEACH TRAIL. PHOTO: DERRICK KNOWLES. TOP RIGHT: SALTESE FLATS RIDING. PHOTO: DAN WILSON

SPOKANE PUBLIC LIBRARY

OLMSTED 2.0 DESIGNING THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC LANDS IN THE INLAND NW The Inland Northwest Land Conservancy (INLC) is leading a region-wide collaborative effort to build on Spokane’s already strong commitment to parks, conservation, and outdoor recreation through a project called Olmsted 2.0. Olmsted 2.0 brings together city, county, nonprofit, business, and community stakeholders to plan for more public lands and public access.

The project gets its name from Omlsted Brothers Landscape Architects, the urban planning firm behind Spokane’s generous allotment of public parks, sports fields, and parkways at the turn of the 20th century.

While this name reinforces the project’s commitment to conserving land and public access in the face of rapid growth, it has an updated twist of connecting existing public lands and building connectivity into future strategic plans. The Olmsted brothers recognized that access to public lands is an important aspect of the public’s health and wellbeing. Olmsted 2.0 integrates scientific research into this historic vision by emphasizing the importance of connectivity for the vitality of local ecosystems. The project integrates contemporary practices in natural resource management, such as the importance of wildlife corridors in maintaining ecological processes and promoting genetic diversity.

Olmsted 2.0 also expands on the original vision by calling more community stakeholders to the table emphasizing the processes used to make decisions about the commons. That’s why one of their strategic priorities is convening the public—including, but not limited to: state and local agencies, land managers, business partners, real estate developers, civic organizations, advocacy groups, policy makers, and land and conservation alliances. They are committed to relying on collective knowledge, resources, passion, and expertise to inform the group’s strategy and shared goals.

“This is an opportunity to dream big, create an aspirational vision, and align our efforts to protect natural lands for the benefit of us all,” says Dave Shaub, executive director of the INLW. He urges members of the community to get involved. “In the coming year we will be inviting individuals, user groups, and organizations to provide input about how they interact with public conservation lands, which lands they would like to see protected, and how trails and other infrastructure can be developed to provide appropriate access to those places.

If you are interested in learning more or participating in these efforts, please contact the Community Conservation Program Manager at INLC, Todd Dunfield, at tdunfield@inlandnwland.org or 509 328-2939. (Summer Hess)

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savortoothpaleo.com MARCH 2019 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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Spokane’s Desert Outback HIKING ROCK CREEK’S LONG AGO LAVA CURTAIN BY TIM CONNOR FIFTY MILES SOUTHWEST of Spokane, a nameless dirt road veers into a rugged valley that could easily be a movie set for a Big Sky western. The sprawling former sheep ranch into which the road spills straddles Rock Creek for eight miles.

Countless crags and buttes form horizons that seem to pull on the sky from every direction. This sun and starlit rangeland is not a secret reserved for the modest numbers of hunters and hikers and horse riders who’ve discovered the place. But it’s almost that.

Near a parking and camping area on the east bank of the creek, a trailhead invites you to walk southward, toward the Blue Mountains. The path passes beneath basaltic cliffs and skirts vernal ponds. Within an hour or so, you’ll come to Towell Falls, a braided cascade on Rock Creek not far from where the stream joins the Palouse River.

Aside from the old ranch buildings near the trailhead, there’s little to connect you to anything other than nature. The nearest cheeseburger is well over the horizons.

What’s easy to see is more than enough to make this a must-visit destination. But two years ago, the U.S. Geological Services quietly added another. It’s a freakish revelation tucked within the pages of a report whose title is nearly as long as this sentence.

It turns out the Escure reach of Rock Creek is home to a volcanic rift that, 15 million years ago, pumped a veritable sea of lava all the way to The Dalles, Oregon, more than 100 miles to the west.

The rift itself is not so rare. Indeed, there are literally thousands of so-called feeder dikes throughout eastern Washington and northeastern Oregon that became the source for the hundreds of layers of basalt that cover most of the Inland Northwest.

What’s rare is that on a hillside above Rock Creek, within a short walk from the parking area, are thick deposits of volcanic “spatter.” These are piles of once-molten rock that literally got blasted high into the air as lava from the so-called Roza basalt flow came oozing out the Rock Creek feeder dike below the hillside. It is much lighter than the basalt and often embedded with pumice. You can find it by heading upstream on the east bank of the 30

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

creek (in the opposite direction of the main trail) for about a half-mile. When you see a small, wooden shelter, start climbing to your right. Though much of spatter is rusty brown, some of the larger deposits are conveniently and distinctly red or blue.

Though it’s not mandatory, it’s probably worth a few moments just to exercise your imagination, to try to picture the skyward-shooting curtains of glowing lava (just like the ethereal scenes from the vents on Hawaii’s Big Island last year) that delivered the spatter.

Getting to Escure Ranch From Spokane, take I-90 west to the town of Sprague, exit 245. Turn left at the stop sign onto Highway 23, traveling south for 12.2 miles to Davis Rd. Turn right onto Davis Rd. At 4 miles there is a "Y," stay to the right continuing south for 3 miles to Jordan Knott Rd. Turn left onto Jordan Knott Rd. and travel for 2.1 miles to the Rock Creek BLM public land access. Follow the BLM access road until it ends, about 2 miles. A parking area is available near Rock Creek. //

Tim Connor is a national award-winning journalist, activist and photographer. Among other outdoor pursuits, he swims approximately 100 miles a year in the Spokane River. His most recent contribution was an article last May on Northrup Canyon in upper Grand Coulee.

TOP: ROCK CREEK AT ESCURE RANCH TRAILHEAD. // LEFT: VIEW FROM BASALT BUTTE ABOVE ESCURE RANCH TRAIL. // TOP THIS COLUMN: "SPATTER" PILE ABOVE ROCK CREEK. // BOTTOM THIS COLUMN: EAST BRAID AT TOWELL FALLS. // TOP RIGHT COLUMN: ESCURE RANCH STRUCTURES. // MIDDLE RIGHT COLUMN: SPOKANE'S SHAWNA SAMPSON ATOP A BUTTE AT ESCURE VALLEY. // RIGHT BOTTOM: ARROWLEAF BALSAMROOT

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BY AMY S. MCCAFFREE

HAUSER LAKE ICEBREAKER RUN

With over 100 events this spring, summer, and fall, our third annual guide for road and trail running, cycling, mountain biking, triathlons, and other outdoorsy events has something for everyone—no matter your age or ability, or whether you’re a weekend warrior or hard-core competitor. Find an event right for you or your family, register, and then commit to an exercise or training routine. Many events support local non-profit organizations and charitable causes, which provide even more feel-good reasons for participating. See you at the starting line!

ROAD RUNNING SNAKE RIVER CANYON HALF MARATHON (MARCH 2): Organized by the Palouse Road

Runners, the flat, out-and-back, USATFcertified course begins/ends at Wawawai Landing, near Pullman.

RACE UP THE SNAKE (MARCH 2): Run the scenic trail up Rattlesnake Mountain Recreation Preserve near Benton City, Washington, on either the 11K or 4K routes.

YAKIMA RIVER CANYON MARATHON & HALFMARATHON (MARCH 30): This point-to-point

USATF-certified marathon course offers spectacular views of the Yakima River Canyon.

course that includes the Apple Capital Loop Trail through Wenatchee Confluence State Park.

SPRING DASH & TOT TROT (APRIL 27): This

5-mile Bloomsday second-seed qualifier race along a beautiful course through downtown Coeur d’Alene, starts at McEuen Park, and raises funds for United Way of North Idaho; Tot Trot (untimed) for kids age 10 and younger.

POOCH & PAL RUN AND WALK (MAY 4): This pet-

friendly event at Columbia Point Marina Park in Richland, Washington, includes a 5K and 1-mile course (strollers welcome).

NEGATIVE SPLIT HALF MARATHON, 10K, AND 5K (APRIL 7): The annual Hunger Run, organized by

LILAC BLOOMSDAY RUN (MAY 5): This iconic 12k race attracts runners and walkers of all ages and abilities, as well as elite racers from all over the world competing for prize money. This year’s official charity is Second Harvest.

2nd Harvest and Union Gospel Mission, has now merged with Negative Split. Race event based in Kendall Yards.

HAUSER LAKE ICEBREAKER 5K & 10K RUN (APRIL 7): USATF-certified 10K course is a Bloomsday

second-seed qualifier. Event is the largest annual fundraiser for Double J Dog Ranch at Hauser Lake. Runners and walkers with strollers and dogs are welcome.

PALOUSE 100K RELAY & SOLO RUN (APRIL 7):

Organized by the Palouse Road Runners club and sponsored by Pullman Regional Hospital, choose OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

WENATCHEE MARATHON, HALF MARATHON, & 10K (APRIL 20): A Boston-qualifier, mostly-flat

SPOKANE SUPERHERO FUN RUN (MARCH 30): Family fun-run 5K and 10K races along

the Centennial Trail through Riverfront Park.

Proceeds benefit CASA Partners, helping abused and neglected children in the foster care system.

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among four race divisions: 100K ultra relay, 100K 10-person relay, 100K 5-person relay, and 100K solo.

WINDERMERE MARATHON & HALF-MARATHON (MAY 19): This popular Negative Split race event

features a flat and fast, Boston Marathon qualifying course along the Spokane River.

COEUR D’ALENE MARATHON, HALF MARATHON, 10K & 5K RUN/WALK (MAY 26): Now organized by

Negative Split, there is a new marathon course this year (no longer a Boston qualifier), plus a new 10K race. Strollers allowed for the 5K.

DAD’S DAY DASH 5K (JUNE 16): Celebrate Father’s Day on a 5K run or walk in and around Spokane’s

ADVENTURE IN BELLINGHAM, WA

MISSOULA MARATHON

NEGATIVE SPLIT

RUN 2 ROCK (SEPT. TBA): A new event produced

by Negative Split, this Friday-Saturday event combines yoga, half marathon and 10K race distances, with a music festival.

SANDPOINT SCENIC HALF MARATHON & 10K (SEPT. 16): Start/finish at City Beach in Sandpoint,

Idaho, on a course with panoramic views of Lake Pend Oreille and the surrounding mountains.

NEWPORT AUTUMN BLOOM 5K/10K FUN RUN (SEPT. 21): Takes place at TJ Kelly Park in SPRING DASH

Manito Park and help raise funds for SNAP, a nonprofit organization helping low-income Spokane County residents with energy assistance, small business loans, housing, and home repairs.

SUMMER FUN RUN SERIES (JULY 9, 16, 23): 5K

fun runs with 1-mile run option for kids, organized by U-District PT in Spokane and Negative Split. Free registration for ages 18 and younger; jogging strollers allowed.

STRIDES FOR STRONG BONES FUN RUN/WALK (JULY 20): Run or walk a 3- or 6-mile course at

Medical Lake’s Waterfront Park with proceeds benefitting the Washington Osteoporosis Coalition.

SPOKENYA 7K RUN/WALK FOR CLEAN WATER (JULY 20): Fundraiser for Spring of Hope

International, to support clean water projects in rural Kenya. Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome. Starts/finishes at Life Center church in northwest Spokane.

MISSOULA MARATHON & HALF MARATHON (JULY 28-30): USATF-certified Boston Marathon

qualifier course; event also includes a 5K and kids marathon with 1.2-mile untimed fun run.

SPOKANE TO SANDPOINT RELAY (AUG.16-17):

Starting from the summit of Mt. Spokane, down to the Spokane River, along the Centennial Trail to Coeur d’Alene, and then north to the finish line at Sandpoint’s City Beach, this 200-mile overnight relay race is a thrilling adventure.

TASE T. LENTIL 5K FUN RUN (AUG. 16): A

USATF-certified race to celebrate the National Lentil Festival Food & Brew Fest in Pullman.

Newport; proceeds benefit Newport Hospital and Health Services Foundation programs.

RUN THE DAM HALF MARATHON, 10K, & 5K (SEPT. 21): Run across the largest concrete struc-

ture in North America, beginning on the east side of Grand Coulee Dam, then along Banks Lake before finishing at North Dam Park, for the local Harvest Festival.

NUMERICA HAPPY GIRLS RUN SPOKANE - HALF MARATHON, 10K, & 5K (SEPT. 21): Known for

its fun, festive, and encouraging vibe, women of all ages and abilities will love this run through Riverside State Park.

LEAVENWORTH OKTOBERFEST MARATHON & HALF-MARATHON (OCT. 5): Beautiful course near

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the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area includes a mix of asphalt, dirt roads, and trails. USATFcertification makes it a Boston Marathon qualifier.

SPOKANE MARATHON, HALF MARATHON, MARATHON RELAY, & 10K (OCT. 13): A Boston

Marathon qualifying race that’s a scenic tour around Spokane. Proceeds benefit local high school cross-country programs.

HAYDEN LAKE MARATHON, HALF MARATHON, & QUARTER-MARATHON (OCT. 19): Start/finish at

Honeysuckle Beach, in North Idaho. Full marathon goes completely around the lake.

MONSTER DASH 5K & KIDS’ FUN RUN (OCT. 27):

Organized by Active4Youth in collaboration with the Spokane Swifts Running Team, this event at Manito Park, on Spokane’s South Hill, includes a 5K adult race and kids race (ages 12 and younger), plus costume contests. Jogging strollers and dogs allowed.

5k Races & Runs with Jogging Strollers (and Dogs*) Want to run or walk with your little one or best friend? Try these kid-and-pooch-friendly events.

• Negative Split 5k (April 7)

• Hauser Lake Icebreaker 5k & 10k (April 7) – *Dogs (on leash) welcome!

• Pooch & Pal Run and Walk (May 4) *Dogs!

• 5k run/walk at Coeur d’Alene Marathon event (May 26)

• Summer Fun Run Series with U-District PT (July 9, 16, 23)

• Monster Dash 5k & Kids’ Fun Run (Oct. 27) – *Dogs!

• Bonus - 7k, Spokenya Run/Walk for Clean Water (July 20) (ASM)

Get Simple Box • Basecamp Bellingham • Kind Bars • 790 KGMI • Boundary Bay Brewery Bellingham Herald • Whatcom County • City of Bellingham • Port of Bellingham Sanitary Service Company • Birch Equipment • Seeking Health • Towneplace Suites Springhill Suites • Coast Mountain Culture Ski to Sea is presented by Whatcom Events, a local non-profit organization.

Made possible in part by a Tourism Grant from Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham.

MARCH 2019 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

33

2019 Newport Autumn Bloom 5K & 10K Run

RUN THE DIRT. PHOTO: // JON JONCKERS

Newport Hospital & Health Services Foundation fe

ourli y r o f

#run

TRAIL RUNNING

10 K is a Second Seed Qualifier for Bloomsday 2020!

Tourism support for 2019 Autumn Bloom is provided by City of Newport Hotel/Motel Tax Funds.

September 21, 2019 T.J. Kelly Park 9AM l

(Corner of 1st St. and Washington Ave.)

Newport, WA

Register online at RaceRoster.com or download registration form at NewportHospitalAndHealth.org Pre-registration Deadline: 9/16/2019

On-site Registration: 7:30AM - 8:30AM

Race Contact: Lori Stratton, Foundation Assistant (509) 447-7928, ext. 4373 NHHSFoundation@nhhsqualitycare.org

CAVEMAN ROAR & POUR 5K TRAIL FUN RUN (MARCH 16): Run through the vineyard overlook-

ing the Columbia River Gorge before the wine tasting event at Cave B Estate Winery in Quincy.

Includes Carol’s Cabernet Loop Kid’s Run.

O’GRADY’S ST. PADDY’S 5K RUN (MARCH 17): A timed 5K on trails surrounding the

Sleeping Lady Resort along Icicle Creek near Leavenworth. Irish food and drink celebration after the run.

in the Methow Valley. Point-to-point course ends in Twisp; hosted by Methow Trails.

PRIEST LAKE MARATHON, HALF-MARATHON, 50K & 5K FAMILY FUN RUN (MAY 11): Celebrate

Mother’s Day with a wilderness trail run through the Panhandle National Forest.

TRAIL MANIACS FARRAGUT TRAIL RUN (MAY 18):

New this year is a start/finish from Scott’s Field at Farragut State Park; weekend event includes a 5K, 10K, 25K, and free kids race.

YAKIMA SKYLINE RIM 50K (APRIL 20) & 25K (APRIL 21): Challenging out-and-back course in

PRIEST LAKE SPRING FESTIVAL RUN (MAY 26):

the high desert of the Yakima River Canyon outside Ellensburg, near the Umtanum Creek Recreation Area.

Half-marathon and 10K and 5K fun run/walk, starting in Coolin, Idaho, near the Inn at Priest Lake.

RUN LIKE THE WIND RUNNING FESTIVAL (APRIL 27): Choose the 5K, 10K, or half marathon, all

TOM ROGERS MEMORIAL RUN FOR THE HILLS (JUNE 1): Celebrate National Trails Day with

along the trails, paths, and roads around the turbines at the Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility in Ellensburg, benefitting Kittitas County Search and Rescue.

SPOKANE RIVER RUN (APRIL 28): Race features

a 5K, 10K, 25K, 50K, and 50K team relay race on courses through Riverside State Park near Spokane. Proceeds benefit the Garfield Elementary A.P.P.L.E. program.

Dishman Hills Conservancy and a 5-mile (8K) run starting from Camp Caro in Dishman Hills Natural Area in Spokane Valley.

HERRON HALF MARATHON, 10K, & 5K (JUNE 9):

Trail race based at Herron Park in Kalispell, Mont., showcases the Foy’s to Blacktail Trail system.

Includes a 1k kid’s race.

KANIKSU 50-MILE EMORY CORWINE MEMORIAL RUCK RACE & TALL TREES 18-MILE (JUNE 8):

SNAKE RIVER ISLAND HOP (APRIL 27): USATF-

Three events in one day in the Colville National Forest at Frater Lake near Ione, organized by Kaniksu Ultra. For the Ruck Race, teams of up to five participants, or solo runners, complete legs carrying 25-35 pound backpacks.

TRAIL MANIACS LIBERTY LAKE TRAIL RUN (APRIL 20): 8-mile loop course features single-

ULTIMATE FITNESS RUN (JUNE 15): Navigate a challenging 5-mile obstacle course run at Mt. Spokane State Park, organized by Core Fit. Competitive division includes a more challenging 1-2 mile sprint course challenge, in addition to the 5-mile one. Event includes a kids’ race. Partial proceeds benefit Team St. Luke’s.

sanctioned 100K ultra marathon (with a 50K option) begins near Pasco, and goes along the mostly-gravel Columbia Plateau Trail—ideal for beginning ultra-runners.

track, switchbacks, waterfalls, and bridges near Liberty Lake.

SUNFLOWER TRAIL MARATHON, HALF MARATHON, & RELAY (MAY 4): Run on single-

track trails and gravel roads, starting in Mazama,

Raising Kids Who Love to Run WHEN YOUNG KIDS are just starting to show interest in running with mom or dad, you have the

unique opportunity to help plant the seeds for a lifelong love.

Build Up Gradually. My first “official” run with my then-4-year-old was about half-mile to a nearby park. It was fun, but it was too far: by the time we got there, she was done. So, we sat and picked tiny daisies from the grass for a while before—slowly—walking home. My advice: start small. Try a short outing around the block, jogging one side and walking the next. While you’re already at the park, run together across the blacktop, pause to hit the slides, then jog to the swings. Mixing walking and running is a smart way to gradually build endurance.

Keep an eye on your child’s energy level. Offer water when needed. If your child wants to push hard for a bit, great. If they want to rest, great. Both of you will be happier if you let go of your usual workout agenda and match your pace and priorities to theirs.

Have Fun! Kids who have fun while being active will want to be active more often. Play “I Spy” along the way. Give lots of high fives. My preschooler loves to celebrate how far we’ve gone, peeking back (at the bottom of a hill, a rock outcropping, a funny dog) and making note of how far away we are now. Be genuine with your encouragement—“We are getting stronger!” or “You are doing a great job of listening to your body and taking breaks when you need them!” And don’t forget to give yourself a little praise as well. You’re not just building stronger bodies, but your relationship, too. (Sarah Hauge)

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

MOUNTAIN MAGIC 5/10/25K TRAIL RUN (JUNE 22): New this year is the addition of a 5K loop for

this early-summer run on the single-track Nordic trails in Mount Spokane State Park.

MT. SPOKANE VERTICAL CHALLENGE (JULY 13):

A redesigned race “for your suffering pleasure,” according to the Trail Maniacs website, with new courses for the 50K challenge, 26K challenge, and 25K fun run at Mt. Spokane State Park; (10K route is unchanged). Event includes free kids race.

SPOKATOPIA TRAIL RUN & TRAIL RUNNING CLINIC (JULY 14): Free, fun, “around-3-mile” run

at Spokane’s Camp Sekani Park. Free “yoga for everyone” session after the trail run—all part of the 2-day Spokatopia Outdoor Adventure Festival.

MUD FACTOR 5K OBSTACLE RUN (JULY 27 & JULY 28): National Mud Run series includes a 5K

and Kids 3K (ages 4-13 to participate with their families) with cargo climbs, water slides, and mud crawls. Event locations: July 27, Airway Heights, Wash.; July 28, Richland.

THE “ORIGINAL” BARE BUNS FUN RUN (JULY 28):

Earn bragging rights if you dare to bare it all at this annual clothing-optional, 5K trail run at Kaniksu Ranch Family Nudist Park, near Loon Lake.

7 SUMMITS MTB VS. TRAIL RUNNERS (AUG. 10):

Organized by Trail Maniacs, this simultaneous 53-mile ultra trail run and mountain bike ride

follows a grueling, mountainous point-to-point course with 13,900 feet total elevation gain. Race has a 50%+ DNF rate, with only nine finishers last year, and an average finish time of just over 10 hours.

SMOKECHASER RACE (SEPT. 7): Choose from a 30K or 5-mile race, starting from the Lionhead section of Priest Lake State Park; organized by Priest Lake Multisports.

MOSCOW MOUNTAIN MADNESS 5-MILE & HALF MARATHON (SEPT. 8): Hosted by the Palouse

Road Runners club in Moscow, Idaho, race directors eliminated the 50K ultra from this annual event to better focus on the others.

SEKANI 5K & 10K TRAIL RUN (SEPT. 29):

Adventure run/hike/walk on trails at Camp Sekani in Spokane. Event includes a free Kids’ 1K run, and proceeds benefit Franklin Elementary School’s A.P.P.L.E. program.

WILD MOOSE CHASE TRAIL RUN (SEPT. 28):

Hosted by the students in Eastern Washington University’s Class of 2021 Doctor of Physical Therapy program, the run starts from Mount Spokane State Park’s Selkirk Lodge.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE 50K TRAIL RUN (OCT. 26): Explore Riverside State Park on a multi-looped

course with 2,470 feet elevation gain, and enjoy homemade chocolate-chip cookies at the finish.

RUN FOR FOR A CAUSE! RUN Join us for this fun, annual 5k/10k run around beautiful Hauser Lake Benefitting:

Facebook.com/DoubleJDogRanch

10k is a Bloomsday Second Seed Qualifying Race USA Track & Field Certified Course

SPRING DASH TOT TROT IN COEUR D'ALENE, PHOTO COURTESY OF UNITED WAY OF NORTH IDAHO

Doing It For A Cause

Spring Dash Helps North Idaho Families EVERY APRIL, United Way of North Idaho (UWNI) hosts its Spring Dash in Coeur d’Alene. Last year, there were 875 participants and this year’s goal is to have over 1,000 runners and walkers.

“Spring Dash helps with our two primary focus areas: our Community Care Fund and our Community Understanding projects,” says Mark Tucker, executive director of United Way of North Idaho. “The Community Care Fund currently provides grant funding to approximately 20 nonprofit programs each year. These programs support education, financial stability, and health-related activities in the five northern counties. Our Community Understanding work are collaborations, conversations, and research to ensure our resources are utilized where needed most.”

According to a recent study, with United Ways of the Pacific Northwest, “41% of north Idaho households are struggling to make ends meet,” says Tucker. “[T]here is a significant portion of our population who are employed but living paycheck to paycheck.” United Way combats this problem with its grassroots ALICE Project (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), that seeks to redefine financial hardship in order to help inform policy solutions.

“The local Community ALICE Task Force focuses on a range of system changes that both support ALICE in the short term and become more financially secure in the long term. One way is by focusing on early childhood care and education,” says Keri Stark, Director of Community Impact.

UWNI’s Ready for Kindergarten program, now in its fifth year, has expanded to include families in the Coeur d’Alene Library community and childcare professionals, in addition to those already being served in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, and Lakeland (Rathdrum) School Districts. More than 140 families are helped annually through this program.

“At UWNI, we feel ensuring children enter school ready to learn and succeed in school is the best way to break generational poverty,” says Tucker. “However, if children are hungry or unhealthy, they won’t be able to focus enough to stay in school, so a long-term approach for family stability is imperative.” (ASM)

SCAN AND REGISTER NOW

M

Or register at Active.com

MARCH 2019 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

35

DASH 37th Annual

Saturday, AprinlPa2rk7,,CD2A019 McEue

REGISTER!! ash aho.org/SpringD 3 Id h rt o fN o y a W d Unite ash to 5050 or Text: SpringD t Trot: $8 | Youth: $20 | To ot: $10 5 $2 t: ul Ad : RD EARLY BI $25 | Tot Tr ult: $30 | Youth: Ad 9: /1 14 4/ R TE AF

E L U D E H C S Y A RACE D BLOOMSDAY SECOND SEEDING

T START 9:00AM: TOT TRO RT 9:30AM: RACE STA CEREMONY 10:45AM: AWARDS

CYCLING LILAC CENTURY (APRIL 28): Now taking place in

April, rather than late May, this 26th annual event gives all its proceeds to local charities supported by the Spokane Aurora Northwest Rotary Club.

Ride options include: century (100 miles), metric century (66 miles), 50-mile ride, 25-mile ride, and 15-mile ride and family ride. All routes start/finish at Spokane Falls Community College.

BIKE EVERYWHERE CHALLENGE (MAY 1-31):

To celebrate Bike Everywhere Month, Spokane Bicycle Club hosts special events and rides to encourage cycling for both transportation and recreation. Events and activities include the Bloomsday Bike Corral on race day, group rides on local bike paths and trails, flat-fixing clinic, and other events (spokanebikes.org). Record your biking mileage at lovetoride.net/washington.

KIDICAL MASS (MAY 11): A family-friendly 3-mile

neighborhood ride (using anything that rolls) starting from Chief Garry Park, in west Spokane, near Spokane Community College. Sponsored by Summer Parkways and Christ the King Church.

SPOKANE BIKE TO WORK WEEK (MAY 13-17):

Spokane Bicycle Club hosts events all week, including Monday morning pancake breakfast; Tuesday morning energizer stations around the city; Ride of Silence; and Friday’s celebration of Bike to Work Day. Full event details at spokanebikes.org.

APPLE CENTURY BIKE RIDE (JUNE 2): Tour Wenatchee, the “Apple Capital of the World,” with 100, 50, and 25-mile routes to help local Sunrise Rotary Club's charitable projects.

CHAFE 150 (JUNE 15): A popular Gran Fondo

scenic ride (not a race) starting from Sandpoint’s City Beach and going along Lake Pend Oreille into Montana’s Cabinet Mountain river valleys. In addition to the 150-mile route, there are 5 other options: 100, 80, 40, and 30-mile routes, and a family fun ride. Organized by Sandpoint Rotary, all money collected from entry fees goes directly to the Pend Oreille School District’s program serving children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

SUMMER PARKWAYS (JUNE 20): Now in its 10th year, this summer solstice family-friendly community event is for cyclists, runners, walkers, skaters, and anyone else with human-powered recreation to enjoy a 4-mile loop in the Manito and Comstock neighborhoods. Streets are closed from 6-9 p.m.; event includes free kids’ activities and business and vendor booths.

8 LAKES LEG ACHES (JUNE 22): A new, earlier date this year for a popular ride. Choose among 30, 45, 36

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

and 75-mile routes, with the longest one touring around all 8 Lakes along the course through the Channeled Scablands west of Spokane. Proceeds benefit Spokane-based Lutheran Community Services Northwest.

SILVER VALLEY RIDE TO DEFEAT ALS (JUNE 22):

Starting in Kingston, Idaho, from the Enaville Trailhead of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, participants age 12+ ride solo or as part of a team to raise funds to fight Lou Gehrig’s disease. Children age 11 and younger can participate on a tandem bike, tag-along bike, or bike trailer.

CENTURY CHALLENGE & CYCLE DE VINE (JUNE 22): Scenic course through orchards and vineyards

surrounding Lake Chelan, Wash. Choose the 100mile ride (includes 9,600 feet elevation gain) or the 30-mile tour of the Lake Chelan Valley.

TOUR DE WHATCOM (JULY 20): Explore the beau-

tiful landscape of Whatcom County, in northwest Washington, with a ride distance to suit your style.

Options include 22 or 44 miles, metric century (62 miles), or century ride. Start/finish in downtown Bellingham.

SPOKANE VALLEY CYCLE CELEBRATION (JULY 28): ValleyFest organizes three rides for all ages,

including a 10-mile Family-Friendly Ride, 25-mile Adventure, and 50-mile Hills Around the Valley Ride. All begin at the Centennial Trail Mirabeau North trailhead. Free for riders age 12 and younger.

BLAZING SADDLES BIKE RIDE (AUGUST 3):

Explore the low-traffic and highly-scenic Colville, area countryside with a 40 (the “Colville Loop”), 62, or 100-mile ride. This fully-supported ride kicks off in Colville, and utilizes some of the best road biking routes in the Northwest.

TOUR DE LENTIL BIKE RIDE (AUGUST 16-17): A

fundraiser for WSU Cycling Club, held in conjunction with Pullman’s National Lentil Festival, this ride features 50, 100, and 150km routes through the Palouse.

SPOKEFEST (SEPTEMBER 8): Based in Spokane’s

Kendall Yards neighborhood, this 12th annual bicycling event includes 3 ride routes: Spokane Falls 9-mile Loop, 21-mile River Loop, and a Half Century (50 miles). SpokeFair includes interactive booths and vendors.

MT. BAKER HILL CLIMB (SEPT. 8): A timed race,

with two non-competitive divisions (social and recreational), cyclists will grind up 4,098’ in 22 miles along Mt. Baker Highway.

WACANID SELKIRK LOOP RIDE (SEPT. 9-14): One

of the most scenic routes in the Northern Rockies,

RUN FOR THE HILLS Saturday, June 1 2019 GLOBAL KIDICAL MASSIVE RIDE // PHOTOS: JERRY WIDING

encircling the Selkirk Mountains of Washington, Canada, and Idaho, the 6-day ride covers 370 miles.

miles along the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes; start/ finish at Silver Mountain Resort.

GLOBAL KIDICAL MASSIVE (SEPT. 14): Local chil-

GLOBAL KIDICAL MASSIVE RIDE. // PHOTO: JERRY WIDING

dren will join thousands worldwide on this day. In Spokane, the family-friendly ride begins at 1 p.m. at Spark Central in Kendall Yards and follows a 3-mile route through the neighborhood and along the Centennial Trail.

BIKE MS, CYCLE SILVER VALLEY (SEPT. 14-15):

This fundraiser for the National MS Society offers a 1 or 2-day journey with looping routes of 20-100

RIM RIDE (SEPT. 15-16): “Rotary in Motion” 5-mile family bike ride on Saturday, hosted by the Rotary Club of Liberty Lake, Wash., followed by 15, 25, 50, and 100-mile rides on Sunday.

Trails Day events from 9 am to 4 pm Includes family fun, nature walks, and information from trail & conservation organizations.

Run registration $20, t-shirt +15 Register at dishmanhills.org/events

COEUR D'FONDO (SEPT. 21): Course includes

Idaho's Scenic Byway (Hwy 97) and finishes at downtown Coeur d’Alene’s Oktoberfest. Options include: 120-mile Gran Fondo; 90, 50, or 40 miles; or the 15-mile Family Fun Ride.

8 AM Check-in Camp Caro Lodge

PHOTO; BRYAN MACDONALD. COURTESY OF WASHINGTON STUDENT CYCLING LEAGUE

Two-Wheel Teaching

NE Washington Youth MTB Teams “MOUNTAIN BIKING is the vehicle we use to help kids grow into healthy, empowered adults, through positive outdoor experiences,” says Lisa Miller, executive director of the Washington Student Cycling League, which offers a statewide team mountain biking program for student-athletes in grades 6-12.

Currently, the league’s northeast Washington region has 100 student-athletes and 8 co-ed teams, for both middle school and high-school levels—6 teams from Spokane and 2 teams from Coeur d’Alene (bordering states can participate).

The regional teams are currently “composites, versus school-based teams, in order to build up enough of a student-athlete community,” says Miller. “We want to bring mountain biking out of the fringes and into the mainstream so we can spawn more collegiate teams and scholarships.”

The league is an all-inclusive team environment, welcoming all fitness, skill, and ability levels.

Scholarships, community partnerships, and coaching networks help students acquire mountain bikes and other gear. Miller says the league is also developing an “earn-a-bike program.”

“The kids we try to reach, and the ones we draw to our program, are non-mainstream sports students. With lot of other sports, you can’t join a team unless you have been playing since you were young,” she says. “We want to reach those kids because [they’re who] might otherwise not be getting outdoor activity.”

The league hosts four competitive events, which are all optional. “We strive to have fun and create lifelong cyclists,” says Miller. “We like to say that ‘Lessons learned on a bike are lessons learned in life,’ and ‘not all classrooms have four walls.’

“One of the most awesome things about what we’re doing is that though it’s a youth program, it’s also a family program. We’re getting a high-level of participation from parents…getting parents off the couch as well as students.”

For more information, visit Washingtonleague.org. (Editor’s Note: More volunteer coaches are needed for this program.) (ASM)

SPOKANE VALLEY 2019

MARCH 2019 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

37

FRANK ON DEVIL'S DOWN. // PHOTO: COURTESY OF ROUND & ROUND

MOUNTAIN BIKING GRAN FONDO EPHRATA (MARCH 17): Ride 50 or 80 miles along primitive back roads in central Washington, with 2,700’+ elevation gain.

HILLY NILLY GRAVEL SERIES (MARCH 17, APRIL 28, MAY 5, JUNE 9): Organized by Trek Bicycle

Store in Coeur d’Alene and Vertical Earth, this free, no-support, 20-40+ mile ride series takes place on hilly courses, with a mix of paved and gravel roads.

All rides begin at 10 a.m. from Michael D’s Eatery (Sherman Ave) in Coeur d’Alene.

HUB-A-PALOOZA DOWNHILL & ENDURO (MARCH 29-31): This popular 3-day mountain bike festi-

val takes place at Spokane’s Beacon Hill (Camp Sekani). Kick off your race season with events all weekend long, including the AGS Enduro (formerly People’s Enduro) and Double Down Hoe Down. Limited on-site camping is available while it lasts.

WASHINGTON STUDENT CYCLING LEAGUE (MARCH-JUNE): A mountain biking development

program for riders in grades 6-12, organized by the non-profit Washington Student Cycling League, that partners with schools and community groups and volunteer coaches. Includes practice rides and a spring race series.

GRAN FONDO GOLDENDALE (APRIL 14): Serious

climbing—up to 6,300’—with views and rolling terrain along a 90- or 45-mile route in southcentral Wash.

BIKE HUB TWO WHEEL TRANSIT TEN HOUR (APRIL 20): This 3rd annual event at Camp Sekani

in Spokane provides a similar course as previous years—9.2 miles (per lap) and about 1,400 feet of total elevation gain. Compete to complete the most laps in 10 hours; participate as a solo rider or with a team (2-5 riders). New this year is a justfor-fun timed downhill section.

BEEZLEY BURN (APRIL 27): Based in Ephrata,

Wash., race 8-mile laps (1-3 laps depending on race category). Event includes a free Kids’ Race.

WEDNESDAY MTB RACE SERIES AT RIVERSIDE STATE PARK (MAY 1-JUNE 26): For nine con-

secutive Wednesday evenings, this popular annual event organized by Nomadz Racing keeps it fun and simple. Each week features a different race course, typically 7-11 miles per lap. Free entry for riders age 17 and younger.

LEMANS START // PHOTO: COURTESY OF ROUND & ROUND

Happy Trails The Final Year for Spokane’s 24 Hour MTB Race “ACROSS THE COUNTRY, 24-hour races have been disappearing, so we feel lucky to have kept our

event alive as long as we have,” says Wendy Zupan, co-owner of Round and Round Productions, with Gino Lisiecki. Declining participation numbers and retiring key volunteers were some of the reasons for their decision.

“At its peak in 2011, our event hosted almost 900 participants, and last year we were down to 462. The decision to end a much-loved effort by Gino and myself was not easy, but…we agreed that the 20th anniversary of the event was a good time to say ‘Happy Trails,’ which is the theme of this year’s race,” she says.

“We have seen tremendous early registration so far this year, definitely due to the fact that it’s our last run—at least that is my impression. I suspect that we’ll probably see upwards of 700 racers, maybe more…we have had more early registrations at this time of year than in our entire past history, so all things point to a good turnout.” (ASM) 38

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

coupon, which will be handed out at the museum before the start.

GRAN FONDO LEAVENWORTH (MAY 19): A challenging, rugged 87-mile

course, for experienced riders only, along paved and Forest Service roads and over mountain passes (9,400’ of elevation gain) around Leavenworth, Wash.

ROUND AND ROUND 24-HOUR MTB RACE (MAY 25-26): Relay teams and solo riders complete laps

BLUE GOOSE CHASE (JULY TBA): A free

11-mile family bicycle ride in the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge, along the gravel auto tour route, to support the non-profit Friends of the LPO.

on a 13-mile course in Riverside State Park—there will also be a kids’ race. Last chance to participate because this 20th annual event is the very last one!

7 SUMMITS MTB VS. TRAIL RUNNERS (AUGUST 10): Organized by Trail Maniacs; see event details

NICA ADVENTURE CAMPS & RACE SERIES IDAHO INTERSCHOLASTIC CYCLING LEAGUE (MAY-OCTOBER): Mountain bike league for youth

NELSON FAT TIRE FESTIVAL (AUGUST TBA):

BAVARIAN BIKE AND BREWS (JUNE 1): Rigorous

SILVERROXX MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL (SEPTEMBER 21-23): Silver Mountain Resort hosts

in grades 6-12 has overnight camp opportunities and league race series.

8-mile loop, with 1,780’ elevation gain per lap, at Gibbs Organic Farm in Leavenworth, Wash.

5 IN JULY AT FARRAGUT STATE PARK (JULY 3, 10, 17, 24, 31): Wednesday evening timed, single-track

race series at Farragut State Park, in Athol, Idaho, starting at 6:30 p.m. from Tower’s Picnic Area.

Different bike shops host each week, including Trek Bicycle Store in Coeur d’Alene, Two Wheeler Dealer, Vertical Earth, and Coeur d’Alene Bike Co. New weekly courses, 8-9 miles/lap; riders age 18 and younger are free, and there’s also a weekly 2-mile kids ride (with parents). Fundraiser for Lake City Trail Alliance and Kootenai County Mountain Bike School Team.

SPOKATOPIA OUTDOOR ADVENTURE FESTIVAL MTB DEMO (JULY 13-14): Now a 2-day festival,

in the Trail Running section.

A 4-day festival in Nelson, B.C., organized

by Nelson Cycling Club, that showcases the best downhill and cross-country trails of this mountain-biking mecca.

this 3-day mountain bike festival, which includes group downhill and super-d races, and kids’ events such as Excelsior Cycle’s Silver Kids Race and Kids & Kickstands Ride.

GRAN FONDO WINTHROP (SEPT. 21): A challeng-

ing, mountainous 90-mile ride with more than 10,000’ of climbing, in north-central Wash.; event includes 45-mile Medio Fondo.

RIDE THE REACTOR (SEPT. 21): A 15-mile ride, organized by Bike Tri-Cities, that starts/ends at B Reactor National Historic Landmark in Hanford, Wash.

MOUNT SPOKANE ENDURO & DOWNHILL (SEPT. 27-29): Racing will take place on the best trails

that Mount Spokane has to offer. Choose from a 3-5 stage enduro or “Full Pull” top-to-bottom downhill race.

don’t miss one of the biggest bike demo events in the Northwest with shops and reps offering a chance to test the latest mountain bikes on Camp Sekani Park single-track. Road bikes, e-bikes, gravel bikes and other bikes will be on display, for sale, and demo. Live music and beer garden benefitting Evergreen East and other activities all weekend long.

5 SUMMITS OF GRAVEL (SEPT. 29): A new event organized by Trek Bicycle Store in Coeur d’Alene, this point-to-point, self-supported, 60+ mile gravel grinder begins in Coeur d’Alene and ends at Farragut State Park.

GRAN FONDO ELLENSBURG (JUNE 16): A new

FALL HOODOO GRAVEL CLASSIC (OCTOBER 6):

event in central Washington, organized by Vicious Cycle, choose a 50-mile or 90-mile course with 7,500’ of climbing.

RIDE THE PASSES (JULY 21): Now in its second year, the approximately 60-mile “Epic Gravel Loop” self-supported ride, organized by Trek Bicycle Store in Coeur d’Alene, starts/finishes at the Northern Pacific Railroad Museum in Wallace, Idaho. Course goes over Lookout Pass, then along the Hiawatha Trail to Pearson and over Moon Pass before returning to Wallace. Though this event is free, there is a Hiawatha permit fee—only $10 with discount

24 Hours ROUND the CLOCK

Mountain Bike Race Happy Trails

JOIN Us for our 20th Annual and Final Event A 24 hour Mt Bike race for relay teams or solos • Relay Teams - 2 to 10 people • Solos - single speed or geared / go it alone

MAY 25-26

Riverside State Park Airstrip at 7 mile ▪ Spokane REGISTER SOON! We Expect this Event to SELL OUT!

Another new, free shop-ride event from Trek Bicycle Store in Coeur d’Alene, this 40+ mile, selfsupported gravel adventure ride starts in Bayview, Idaho, and travels through the Hoodoo Creek Valley before looping back.

INLAND NORTHWEST CYCLOCROSS SERIES (OCT.-NOV.): This USA Cycling series organized

by Emde Sports includes divisions for women, men, pros, masters, and junior boys and girls at race venues in Coeur d’Alene, Pullman, Potlatch, Walla Walla, Mead (Walter’s Fruit Ranch), and Riverside State Park. Dates TBA.

®

REGISTER TODAY: ROUNDANDROUND.COM

Mountain Bike Races & Programs for Kids & Teens

Get the whole family out riding with these rides, races, and mountain biking programs.

• Washington Student Cycling League, grades 6-12 (March-June) • Beezley Burn (April 27) • Wednesday MTB Race Series at Riverside State Park (May 1-June 26) • Round and Round 24-Hour MTB Race (May 25-26) • 5 in July Mountain Bike Series at Farragut State Park (July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31) • NICA Adventure Camps & Race Series—Idaho Interscholastic Cycling League, grades 6-12 (May-October) • Silverroxx Mountain Bike Festival (Sept. 21-23) • Inland Northwest Cyclocross Series (Oct.-Nov.) (ASM)

WA YOUTH MTB LEAGUE // PHOTO: JOHN SPEARE

MARCH 2019 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

39

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Proceeds also support Sandpoint Rotary community programs.

Six routes, great break stops, full rider support, and an epic community after-ride party. Come ride and make a difference!

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TRIATHLON/ MULTISPORT LEADMAN TRIATHLON (APRIL 20): Organized

by Kellogg Rotary Club, and based at Silver Mountain Resort, this adventure course event for solo or team competitors begins on Kellogg Peak and includes skiing/snowboarding, mountain biking, and running.

SKI TO SEA (MAY 26): A multi-sport relay adven-

ture race for teams of 3-8 people starts at Mt. Baker Ski Area and finishes in Bellingham Bay— includes cross-country and downhill skiing/snowboarding, road and cyclocross biking, canoeing, downhill running, and sea kayaking.

TROIKA TRIATHLON (JUNE 1): This popular event

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

VALLEY GIRL TRIATHLON & DUATHLON (JULY 21): A popular women-only event at Medical

Lake’s Waterfront Park that includes sprint and Olympic distance triathlons and a duathlon.

Register as a relay team or individual.

TIGER TRI & TIGER-DU (JULY 20): Organized by Negative Split and based in Colville, Wash., event includes 1k swim at Lake Gillette, 40k bike, and 10k run. Duathlon added this year (40k bike and 10k run).

at Medical Lake’s Waterfront Park includes an Olympic course, collegiate Olympic course, sprint course, duathlon (5k run/40k bike/10k run), aquabike (1.5k swim/40k bike), and half distance triathlon.

PRIEST LAKE TRIATHLON (AUGUST 24): Choose

MOSES LAKE TRI: FOR THE HEALTH OF IT! (JUNE 8): Olympic, Sprint, and USAT Retro distances,

This event in Plains, Mont., includes an 8-mile run, 8-mile kayak paddle down the Clark Fork River, and 15-mile mountain bike; complete solo or with a team (also a “lite” version). Organized by the Clark Fork Valley Hospital Foundation.

plus a Duathlon, for solo participants or 2-3 person relay teams—all at Blue Heron Park in Moses Lake, Wash., and organized by BuDu Racing.

40

TOP: CANOE LEG. PHOTO: JOHN D'ONOFRIO // ABOVE: ALPINE RUN. PHOTO: PAT KENNEDY. // LEFT: CROSS COUNTRY LEG: PHOTO: PAT KENNEDY. (ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF SKI TO SEA)

between an Olympic distance triathlon or a sprint mountain bike distance; start/finish near Hill’s Resort.

CLARK FORK ADVENTURE CHALLENGE (SEPT. 15):

saturday July 20, 2019

WATERSPORTS/ SWIMMING SPOKATOPIA OUTDOOR ADVENTURE FESTIVAL WATERSPORTS DEMO (JULY 13-14): Try a wide

range of paddleboards, kayaks, canoes and other watersports equipment at Boulder Beach on the Spokane River or sign up for a clinic to have a guide show you the ropes. All part of the Spokatopia festival with live music, bike demos, and other outdoor activities all weekend long.

TRI TOWN FLOAT DOWN POKER PADDLE (JULY 20-21): Paddle the Pend Oreille River from Ione to

Metaline Falls in northeast Wash., and win prizes along the way—organized by the North Pend Oreille County Chamber of Commerce to help local veterans and cancer patients.

OUTDOORSY EVENTS BIG HORN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE SHOW (MARCH 21-24): Gear and resources for fishing and boating,

hunting, backpacking, and shooting sports. Takes place at Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds; proceeds benefit Inland Northwest Wildlife Council and conservation projects. Free admission for kids age 6 and younger.

NORTHWEST PET EXPO (MARCH 30): A pet lover’s paradise at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center. Check out vendors, animals, and activities.

SPOKANE BIKE SWAP (APRIL 13): Shop for new and used bikes, from road, mountain bike, and around-town cruisers at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center. Or sell bikes you’re no longer riding.

Free events organized by the regional U.S. Youth Disc Golf Association. Dates & Locations: April 30, Greenacres Parks, Spokane Valley; May 1, Comstock Park, Spokane South Hill; May 2, Loma Vista Park, north Spokane.

LONG BRIDGE SWIM (AUGUST 3): A 1.76-mile

SPOKATOPIA OUTDOOR ADVENTURE FESTIVAL (JULY 13-14): Try different outdoor activities and

swim race across Lake Pend Oreille, along Sandpoint, Idaho’s iconic Long Bridge.

SWIM THE SNAKE (AUGUST 10): Swim across the

Snake River channel between Lyons Ferry State Park and Lyons Ferry Marina, in the town of Starbuck, Wash. (southwest of Pullman). Or paddle a kayak or SUP for this .7-mile event. Fundraiser for Blue Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Council and local youth summer swim teams.

Tiger

Tiger-Tri

Tiger-Du

Colville, Washington

# swim 1.5K bike 40K run 10K

www.tigertri.com

DISC GOLF FAMILY FIELD TRIPS (APRIL-MAY):

PADDLE, SPLASH, AND PLAY (JULY 20): A free

kid and family event at Riverside State Park’s Nine Mile Recreation Area, hosted by the Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club, to experience various paddling sports and equipment.

TRI Harder DU

gear, including mountain biking, kayaking, paddleboarding, trail running, rock climbing, slacklining, e-bikes, rapelling, and more. Live music, a beer garden, bike stunts, kids’ activities, food, camping, and more for all ages and abilities.

Editor’s Note: Did we miss your favorite race, ride, or outdoors event? Email amy@outtheremonthly.com and we will do our best to include you next year.

Bigger & Better Spokatopia Outdoor Adventure Festival Expands to 2 Days OUR REGION’S BIGGEST OUTDOOR adventure festival, Spokatopia, is expanding to a two-day event in 2019. Mark your calendars (and ready your camping gear) for July 13-14. Located at Camp Sekani Park in Spokane, Wash., the festival celebrates all that is good in summer outdoor recreation.

Spokatopia has become one of the biggest bike demo events in the Northwest but the bike-centric event also includes a wide range of outdoor activities and festivities for all ages and abilities, including live music and a beer garden benefitting Evergreen East’s efforts to maintain and protect our region’s mountain bike trails.

At Boulder Beach on the Spokane River, festival-goers can take watersport lessons and demo paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, sailboats, and more, in an effort to achieve what Spokatopia has always been about: getting people outdoors.

New-this-year events include a stand-up paddleboard race, an evening outdoor recreation movie played in the meadow, expanded live music schedule, and a family-friendly campout that’s open to the public (space is limited so reserve early once it’s available).

As in the previous four festival years, there will be a large focus on trying out the latest brands in mountain bikes. Regional bike shops will be among the 60+ outdoor exhibitors waiting to help you get rolling on your next adventure. Spokatopia will also include food trucks, electric-assist bikes for dirt and pavement to try out, a mountain bike jump show, free yoga class, hammock garden, REI outdoor skills clinics, bouldering and rock climbing, children’s Strider bikes, a kids’ game area, slacklining, and a 3-mile trail run and trail running clinic.

And of course, Out There Outdoors will again host the Great Gear Giveaway, with more than $5,000 in outdoor gear prizes. See you at Spokatopia! More info at Spokatopia.com. (Lisa Laughlin)

MARCH 2019 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

41

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ON THE MOUNTAIN

SKI/SNOWBOARD SECTION

HEARD ON THE LIFT

QUEEN OF VERT

JAM 4 CANS

APRÈS: HOT TODDY SHOWDOWN SKI IDAHO

SPRING SKIING!

sponsored in part by

PHOTO: AARON THEISEN

MARCH 2019 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

43

ON THE MOUNTAIN LOCAL RESORTS

SEASON PASS SHREDDERS

BY SARAH HAUGE DOUG DIAL (MT. SPOKANE)

Doug Dial was a recent transplant from California in 1977 when he first skied at Mt. Spokane. He’d relocated to the Inland Northwest, built a house in the nearby foothills, and was motivated to purchase a season pass. His first winter as a Spokanite was less than glamorous. “Yeah, I froze to death,” he says. But he aimed practically: “My goal was, every year, to ski enough to pay off the pass,” he says. “Now I ski 60 to 70 times a year.”

Doug taught his two children to ski and is currently teaching his 5-year-old granddaughter. “I always wanted to be a family that skied, to have an activity in the winter to do things together,” he says.

Mt. Spokane, he says, is a community. “The friends you meet up there and ski with all winter, you get to know their families, you watch their kids grow up, they see your kids grow up and things,” he says.

At Mt. Spokane, Doug is primarily known by his nickname, Coach, and for his signature greeting, “Yeeeeeee!” He says, “People will walk through the lodge, and I’ll ‘Yeeeeeee!’ at them and they’ll know it’s Coach.” He’s had a front-row seat through the years for things like the addition of the chair on the backside. “With the new chair up there, it’s like we went from a little mountain to a big mountain. It’s just been amazing,” he says.

He’s been around long enough to both appreciate the present and reminisce on the past, like years ago when, on clear nights after Chair 1 was shut down prior to night skiing, he and friends skied over to poach the fresh groomers there. “They had a groomer at the time named Wayne, and Wayne hated that,” he says with a laugh. Then there are happenings that became family legend, like the time he and his son came in first in a linguine eating/ski race decades ago.

It’s been wonderful, Doug says, “year after year, watching everything evolve and grow.”

“I’ve aged with the mountain.”

KIM ALLEN (49 DEGREES NORTH)

“We got hooked, actually, as adults,” Kim Allen says of herself and her husband, A.J., who started skiing and snowboarding about nine years ago.

Parents at the time of three children (they now have five), they decided to hit the mountain and learn together.

“We thought this was going to be a great way for us to be together as a family,” she says. Just as they’d

sponsored by 44

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

hoped, the whole family has grown a love for the mountain and downhill sports together. “The boys board and the girls ski,” Kim says.

Living in Usk, Washington, made nearby 49 Degrees North an obvious destination for snow sports. It’s not only convenient; they just like the atmosphere. “It’s sort of a small town on a big mountain,” Kim says. She’s been impressed by the quality of instruction for both kids and adults. The lessons are “really, really fantastic,” she says.

With kids ranging in age from five to 18, the diversity of the terrain is part of what keeps them coming back to 49. It’s “an all-ages, all-skier type mountain,” Kim says, with everything from “your average groomers,” to cliffs where her older kids can work on flips and jumps, to the terrain park, to the kid-friendly animal trail that winds around the bunny hill. “There’s always someplace on the mountain where you can find something that you love,” Kim says.

Kim is also involved in a new effort to start a Monday women’s ski group. Women meet at Boomtown Bar, then spend the next few hours together. “This is our first year doing it. It’s collecting momentum,” Kim says. All women are welcome to check it out. “My idea,” she says, “is the more, the merrier.”

ROY SELF (LOOKOUT PASS)

“Last year was the first year I ever skied Lookout,” says Roy Self. Roy and his wife, Nancy, had recently gotten back into skiing after a hiatus of many years, since the ‘80s. “[Lookout] had a promotion at the end of the season where they were offering free skiing. We thought, you know what? We’re going to go up and give it a try,” Roy says.

The Selfs liked what they experienced: a well-run mountain with good terrain and “a nice, family vibe.”

They especially liked that it gets a lot of snow, resulting in a longer ski season, while still being a pretty quick hop along I-90 from their home in Spokane.

This year, the Selfs had skied Lookout about a dozen times by mid-January. They’ve also skied at many other Northwest resorts. “We have so many ski areas in our backyard,” Self says. “We’ve skied them all.” They’ve got the Ski Northwest Rockies app on their phones and check it daily, spontaneously hitting the slopes when conditions look too good to pass up.

Though they like to sample everything, Lookout has been an ideal home base. The Selfs have enjoyed

LEFT: ALLEN FAMILY.. // MIDDLE: KITTI WITHYCOMBE AT SILVER MOUNTAIN. // DOUG DIAL AND GRANDDAUGHTER GABBY. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF SKIERS

the community there and have felt the support of the staff. Roy recalls a time this winter when he and Nancy were on a black diamond run they’d never skied before. The snow had been in great shape until “we got to this spot where it really starts to fall off,” he says. The drop-off was so icy they were concerned, not wanting to take the risk of falling on the hard, sketchy surface. “About that time a gal from the ski patrol showed up,” Roy remembers.

“She was being really, really cautious for the same reason.” She skied cautiously on ahead, and he and

LOCAL RESORT SPRING SEASON PASS

SALES

ROY AND NANCY SELF. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROY SELF.

SPRING IS THE BEST TIME of the year to buy

your season pass if you get yours before the end of annual spring season pass sales. Each of the four Ski the NW Rockies affiliated resorts—49 Degrees North, Mt. Spokane, Silver Mountain, and Lookout Pass—will be announcing their spring pass sale deadlines in March. Check their websites and don’t miss the chance to save hundreds of dollars on skiing or boarding all next winter!

Nancy “sort of skidded through the worst part” after that. The ski patroller waited at the bottom to make sure he and Nancy had gotten through safely before moving on. “I felt really good about that,” he says.

After lying dormant for so many years, Roy and Nancy’s love of skiing now provokes some goodhearted teasing from those who know them well.

“Amongst our kids it’s kind of a running joke,” Roy says. “‘Are you out skiing again? You’re kidding me!’”

KITTI WITHYCOMBE (SILVER MOUNTAIN)

How long has Kitti Withycombe been on skis?

“Literally my whole life,” she says. “My mom skied with me when she was pregnant. My dad put me in the backpack after that. I’ve been officially on skis since I was two and a half.”

Skiing has always been a big part of the Withycombe family life—which includes Kitti, her two brothers, and her parents. They’ve spent time at all of the local mountains, but have been season passholders at Silver for 17 consecutive years. With the family based in Coeur d’Alene—Kitti is now in Missoula, working full-time—it’s an easy place for the family to reconnect on the weekends. “When you get to the bottom of the gondola, it’s just kind of stress-free from there,” she says.

At Silver, Kitti says there’s something for everyone, from more seasoned skiers to people like her boyfriend, a beginner whom Kitti gifted a Silver season pass this year.

In years past, Kitti worked as a ski instructor at Silver, then getting in 120 days a season. Now with a day job, she’s back to hitting the slopes on the weekends like she did growing up. “I’m doing the snow dance, praying we’ll get some more powder,” she says of her hopes for the rest of the season. “I am looking forward to skiing the powder and ripping down Shady Lady, getting some face shots,” she says with a laugh.

Kitti loves the break Silver gives from the more congested everyday life. “You get up top and you’re just so far back in the mountains on that hill.

You really feel like you’re out in the wilderness,” she says, noting that Silver has some of the most incredible tree skiing in the Northwest. Her favorite time to be there is around 3:45 or 4:00 p.m., “when the sun is starting to set and you’re skiing Silver Belt and you get that alpenglow on the hill.”

“That’s pretty magical.”//

LOCAL RESORTS ON THE MOUNTAIN CYRUS AND JASON BENNETCH AT 49. // MIDDLE: AUTHOR AND JOSH MILLS AT LOOKOUT PASS. // RIGHT: ANDY FUZAK AND AUTHOR AT SILVER MOUNTAIN. ALL PHOTOS BY ADAM GEBAUER

HEARD ON THE LIFT

BY ADAM GEBAUER MY MISSION WAS to visit four mountain resorts

in one week to get the inside scoop from the riders themselves. This deadline was partially selfimposed, thanks to meeting submission deadlines and fitting it in with my other winter gigs—one of which is teaching skiing and snowboarding at Mt. Spokane. But I like to set up challenges and figure out the logistics; plus, I got to check out some old haunts.

First I had to come up with some more inventive questions that were different from my go-to ski lesson questions: What is your favorite animal? Do you have any pets? If you could be any animal, what would it be? I might have an animal theme going.

So I set forth to chat with the menagerie of people in their home habitat: the woodland creatures carving between the trees; the park rats grinding off rails; the raccoon parents using every available opposable appendage to hold boots, skis, poles, and daily provisions while ushering their kids through the parking lot; the playful otters at ski school; and the hooting owls of the ski patrol.

I asked the same set of questions to all my new lift friends. Not all of them answered every question, but they revealed enough information for me to better understand oddities and similarities among the native species of mountain riders.

1. How long have you been riding this resort?

2. What is your favorite run?

3. What do you like about this resort?

4. If you could name a ski run, what would that name be?

5. What is your favorite after-riding beverage?

6. What is the least amount of clothes you have skied/boarded in?

49 DEGREES NORTH

Tim Dotson from Chewelah has been riding 49 since the 70s. He was an instructor in the mid 90s and now has family and friends that bring their RVs for extended staying and riding.

Favorite run: New Prospect

Favorite thing about 49: “The terrain, runs follow the fall line.”

After-riding beverage: Molson Least amount of clothing: Jeans and a T-shirt Bonus question: When asked about the condo and the Angle Peak expansion, Tim said, “As long as 49 keeps that hometown mountain feel….”

Jason Bennetch has been patrolling at 49 for four years and riding there with his family for seven.

When he is not patrolling or riding with his wife and 5-year-old, he is sneaking away to find a fresh tree stash or straight lining runs to try and beat his speed record.

Favorite run: Peacemaker Favorite thing about 49: Never seems crowded.

Naming a run: “Lost Glade or something with glade.”

After-riding beverage: Ranger IPA Least amount of clothing: Board shorts, no shirt.

Bonus question: If Jason could change anything about 49 it would be to add high-speed lifts so he could ride more and sit less.

Cyrus Bennetch, my 5-year-old shredding buddy, lives across the street from 49 and rips black diamonds like someone much older.

Favorite run: Rice Krispie Run (whatever run gets him to a rice krispie treat).

Naming a run: “Dub, no wait, Rice Krispie Run!” After-riding beverage: Gatorade Bonus question: I am still not sure what Dub meant because Cyrus doesn’t know what Dub music is yet, but I never got the chance to ask him.

He was too focused on Rice Krispie treats to talk about much else.

SILVER MOUNTAIN RESORT

Kyle Person is visiting from the flatlands of Minnesota where they have to put ski hills on manmade hills (retired garbage dumps). He came to Silver on a great powder day for his first time riding there.

How long at Silver: First time ever.

Favorite run: “Blues!”

Favorite thing about Silver: Not crowded and cheaper than other resorts.

After-riding beverage: Coors Light Least clothing: “You’re looking at it.”

Kathryn West was showing Kyle the moderate terrain on Silver Mountain on a powder day.

How long at Silver: One season Favorite run: Wardner Peak, boot packing.

Favorite thing about Silver: Great terrain and it’s not crowded.

Name a Run: “Steep and Deep” After-riding beverage: “Nice fresh beer, doesn’t matter the variety.”

Least clothing: T-shirt Andy Fuzak is a great example of a woodland creature, always finding the freshest powder tucked in the trees and alders. He might show up to the lift with a few twigs or even a nest tucked in his beard.

How long at Silver: 20 years, since he was 8 years old.

Favorite thing about Silver: “Steeper than where I usually ride.”

Favorite run: North Face Glades After-riding beverage: “Yellow beer,” meaning cheap beer.

Least clothing: Shorts and t-shirt MT. SPOKANE

Tom MacLeod has been riding the ‘Kan long enough to see a lot of changes. He originally wasn’t in favor of the new lift and runs, shown by the “no red chair” sticker on his skis, but he has changed his tune and likes the improvements on the mountain.

How long at Mt. Spokane: “1979, not long enough.”

Favorite run: “I don’t know the names, I just head for the best snow.”

Favorite thing about Mt. Spokane: It is close.

Naming a run: Hour Glass After-riding beverage: “Water. I prefer beer but at my age it puts me to sleep.”

Least clothing: Short sleeves Erik McLaughlin likes to rock the park on his snowboard when he is not trying to master skis or

teaching lessons.

How long at Mt. Spokane: 4 or 5 years Favorite run: Park Laps and the Bar Run (can’t reveal its location but you can guess where it ends).

Favorite thing: Great community. Ski school is like a family.

Naming a run: “Heaven’s Descent” After-riding beverage: “Nip of whiskey or an energy drink to get the flow going.”

Least clothing: “T-Shirt and shorts, hoping for just shorts.”

LOOKOUT PASS

Spencer Wade loves the vibe at Lookout, especially since his wife could take three lessons and then get a pass.

How long at Lookout: Second year but first time this year.

Favorite run: “Whatever is fastest!”

Favorite thing about Lookout: Beers at the Loft, which is never crowded.

Naming a run: “Pow Town” After-riding beverage: Nice stout or shot ski with friends.

Least clothing: “Losing layers by the minute” when it is a warm, bluebird day.

Lastly, I jumped on the lift with Josh Mills, unbeknownst to me a fellow OTO contributor who writes occasionally about fly fishing. He currently works for iHeart Media and says Lookout puts a smile on his face.

How long at Lookout: 15-20 years Favorite run: “Groomer, I’m getting older but I like to go fast because I like to do as many runs as possible.”

Favorite thing: “Family friendly, ski school has been great with my kids.”

Naming a run: “Hold On. If you are going to go for it you might as well send it.”

After-riding beverage: Whatever IPA is on tap.

Least clothing: Under Armour long sleeve. //

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MARCH 2019 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

45

ON THE MOUNTAIN FLASHBACK

BALD MOUNTAIN. // PHOTO: AARON THEISEN

LOST SKI HILLS OF NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO

BY AARON THEISEN

AMIDST THE CLEAR-CUTS of the Camas Prairie in north-central Idaho, where Lewis and Clark staved off starvation and loggers hauled away millions of acres of straight-backed white pine, cries of the demise of small ski hills go ignored.

BALD MOUNTAIN SKI AREA

At the end of pavement and not on the way to anything, Pierce, Idaho, population 508, seems an unlikely ski town. But at Bald Mountain Ski Area, lift tickets are still 20 bucks, coffee a dollar. The lodge has the feel of a church basement: moms tying up birthday balloons, octogenarians rolling Yahtzee (“too much snow to ski today”), timbermen in chambray work shirts and suspenders. Gloves and helmets exhale steam next to an old wood stove while, outside, kids tumble off the tow rope. It’s hard to say whether this is even the way skiing used to be, but it’s at least the way we dream it was, a ‘60sera retro ski sign come to life.

Bald Mountain is one of three small ski areas on the Camas Prairie, a vast plateau bounded by the Clearwater, Snake, and Salmon rivers. Situated in the Clearwater Mountains, on the outskirts of the Bitterroots, Bald receives about one hundred inches of snowfall a year—around double that of its Camas Prairie neighbors. Snow stacks up on the 14 named runs here; four-wheel drive is a necessity to reach the low-slung base lodge.

SNOWHAVEN

If Bald Mountain has the feel of a backwoodsman’s cabin, Snowhaven—near Grangeville— feels like a municipal park. In fact, it’s operated by the city as a self-sustaining enterprise. Considering day passes are only $19, that’s no small feat.

Snowhaven itself is small, though. You can stand on one edge of the ski area and see the entirety of the 40-acre tenure. A single T-bar deposits skiers at the top of a half-dozen immaculately groomed runs, which are a mix of greens and confidencebolstering blues. Near the small base lodge, a tubing hill sees nearly as much traffic as the T-bar. The crowd skews toward the school aged; many parents stay in the lodge, surrounded by backpacks and sack lunches, able to watch their groms from the window.

COTTONWOOD BUTTE

If Cottonwood Butte, 15 miles northwest of Grangeville, seems an unlikely spot for skiing, consider this: the road to the base area passes a convent and a prison. A ski hill fits as well as anything else. And locals have a good sense of humor about the arrangement. The prison inspired the ski hill’s “Escape to Cottonwood Butte” logo and the “Wanted” board inside the lodge, where visitors can get their mug shot taken, complete with prison uniform.

The ski area receives about four feet of snow in a good year; although at a similar elevation to Mount Spokane, Cottonwood Butte gets warmed by the weather of Hells Canyon just to the west. Fortunately, the grassy Douglas-fir parkland comprising the butte can get by with relatively little coverage, and there are powder stashes to be had off-piste amongst the glades and surprisingly steep rock gardens VOLUNTEERS RUN THE HILL

A member of the ski hill’s board might run the T-bar one day and the grill the next; for insurance purposes, the local Lion’s Club covers a rental shop employee’s salary. “If someone bought this ski hill and tried to run it like a business, it would fail,” says board member Loretta Riener. It’s only open weekends, sometimes not at all if the weather doesn’t cooperate. But it’s the sort of place where locals can drop their kids off with lunch money in their ski jacket on the way to a weekend work shift, and students from WSU come down to try on skis for the first time. You might get a free ski wax or snowboard lesson; a staff member will definitely know your name by the end of the day.

Little ski hills like those on the Camas Prairie may lack the allure of big-mountain resorts. But for locals, they are a community institution, a place for families and first-timers to learn to ski without being priced out of the sport. For everyone else, they are a glimpse into skiing’s past—and, if the busloads of schoolkids arriving for ski lessons are any indication, maybe its future too. // Aaron Theisen is the author of “Day Hiking Glacier National Park and Western Montana.” He wrote about Wallace, Idaho, for the January/February issue.

CAMAS PRAIRIE ACCOMMODATIONS Bald Mountain Food: Pioneer Inn Lodging: The Outback 46

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

Snowhaven Food: Oscar’s Restaurant and Lounge Lodging: Super 8 Grangeville

Cottonwood Butte Food: Trestle Brewing Company Lodging: Inn at St. Gertrude

SKI BUM ADVICE ON THE MOUNTAIN

SLOPESIDE WITH THE BARE MINIMUM. // PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES

STUFF I'M NOT DOING THIS SPRING

BY BRAD NORTHRUP THE DAYS ARE GETTING LONGER, the skies have parted, and the sun has returned to grace us poor, pale folks of the Pacific Northwest who have endured another long winter. Ok, that’s a bit much since the reason many of us live here is because of the opportunities winter brings. But I digress.

March means that spring skiing and riding is on like Donkey Kong, and for that I am grateful. Or at least I pretend to be. In any event, few things bring a smile to my face like spending a day on the slopes, basking in the warmth of the great yellow sphere in the sky. Spring in the mountains is kinda like having a huge piece of coconut cream pie after a steak dinner. Sure, you savored the main course, but man, the dessert just made it all better. In case you’re not following along here, winter is the steak, and spring is the dessert. We good? Now that we got that clear, here are some things I will not be doing on the slopes this spring, no matter how awesome they may be in theory.

SKIING SHIRTLESS IN CUT-OFFS: Every year I wit-

ness at least a few dudes pulling this off, and yes, I’m a bit jealous. However, the fact remains that bare skin and course, granular spring snow that has the texture of gravel do not mix well when one falls. Plus, it really pisses off ski patrol when they have to go clean up the blood trail you just left down the middle of the run. More importantly, I have a very respectable jelly roll around my midsection thanks to a special winter diet of Jelly Bellys and oatmeal stout, and no one really needs to see it spilling out of the top of a pair of cut-off

501’s. And I mean no one.

SUNGLASSES AND NO HELMET: Feeling the wind

in your hair while you elegantly schuss your way down the hill in your Ray-Bans sounds great, right? Wrong. See, my problem, or at least one of them, is the fact that I enjoy skiing fast. Now this wouldn’t be a problem except for the fact that, as an ex-racer with the scars to prove it, I don’t always make what my better half describes as “good decisions” when it comes to speed. Wait, she actually says that about other stuff too. Never mind. You get the point. Taking a fall at any speed could really mess up your shades.

SPRING POWDER IN THE AFTERNOON: Seems like every year I get suckered into going into the trees or some other off-piste house of horrors late in the afternoon just because someone fed me tall tales such as, “It’s soft, springy and super fun!” or “In the shade of the trees is where the cold snow dwells.” There’s also the jab, “Your knees are shot anyway, so what’s the harm?” And every year I find myself hunched over halfway down the run, soaked in sweat because its 45 degrees, wheezing, and my legs feeling like they were on fire as the consistency of the snow was akin to wet concrete.

Would squeezing into a pair of denim cut-offs help at least to cool me off? Asking for a friend. //

Brad Northrup is a former ski racer, coach, and ski industry professional. We seriously doubt he will make good decisions this spring.

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MARCH 2019 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

47

ON THE MOUNTAIN PROFILES

SUSAN ARMSTRONG AND HER FAMOUS BUTT FLAP. // PHOTO: SUMMER HESS

THE VERTICAL QUEEN OF WHITEFISH MOUNTAIN RESORT

BY SUMMER HESS

FOR HER WARM-UP RUN, Susan Armstrong shoots

MA END Y S 5 TH

down Swift Creek and speeds toward Heaven. Her demeanor is relaxed and easy, but she’s fast. Her yellow coat and orange helmet glow like a tiny torch at the bottom of the run by the time I’ve made three turns through the hard-packed snow.

I become very familiar with the back of her head

and her butt flap, which keeps her warm during the 20-ish times she will ride the lifts this day—and every day—of the 2018/19 season at Montana’s Whitefish Mountain Resort.

Not to dwell too much on that butt flap, but it’s pretty special. She had it embroidered with her vertical totals since she started skiing in earnest about

four years ago. Last year’s tally stretches across the black, waterproof fabric in a bright purple stitch: 4,059,637 feet, which was enough to earn her the informal title of the first-ever “vertical queen” of Whitefish. Every year prior the honor has been bestowed upon a “king.”

This year the vertical queen is in third place, and I ask if she’s trying to win bragging rights again.

“No, I’m not. I’m just trying to enjoy my season,” she says. Which just so happened to be her approach when she won the title last year.

A lot of people don’t accrue as much vertical in a killer snow year, like 2017/18, since it takes longer to search out stashes of powder than it does to bomb groomers. This was the case for Armstrong, who was just trying to ski her butt flap off.

Armstrong frames her accomplishment as circumstantial. “I really wasn’t trying to win last year until I guess I went for it after there were a lot of deaths in tree wells in different places throughout the whole Northwest, and my husband asked me to stay out of the trees. When he did that I thought well, since I gotta ski groomers, I might as well go for it.” So partway through last season she set her sights on upping her vertical game and started adding a few more laps each day.

About her impressive feat, this winter sports athlete is humble. “Part of the reason I won last year is because both Frank and Fred had to go out of town for their mothers’ birthday parties,” says Armstrong, referring to the top contenders for the title last year and again this year. Frank’s mom was turning 90 and Fred’s 100. Armstrong, who still has around six years to go before she qualifies for the senior discount, had the home-court advantage, so to speak, since, “My mother lives here.”

Riley Polumbus, who manages PR for Whitefish Mountain Resort, explains how easy the mountain makes it for skiers and riders to keep tabs on themselves and each other using the vertical tracker

function on the resort’s website. “It’s a cool metric that shows people’s dedication in terms of hours….

It shows how much this community loves winter, loves to ski, and loves this mountain.”

As a result, vertical has become part of the Whitefish culture. People can compete with friends and family or compare how much they’ve skied year to year. Polumbus says, “Even if you’re not in the competition, it’s fun to track yourself. I can see my vertical over the last eight years and follow my buddies, the mayor of Whitefish, or the CEO of Whitefish [Resort].”

She adds, “Our total pass-holder vertical shows we have a diehard skiing community, and these retired folks are helping up that amount.”

Armstrong is among them. She served four years in the Air Force before continuing her career as a civil servant while continuing in the reserves. Now she lives in Whitefish and skis her way through retirement.

On the day I try to keep up with Armstrong, she laps the mountain with a dedicated crew of ski bums. Some could be her kids, and others are seniors or super seniors who are over 70 and ski for free. They don’t always wait for each other, but they’re usually good for a wave or a heckle.

When asked what she’ll do when the snow melts and the lifts start hauling mountain bikers instead of skiers, she says, “I’ll probably run a couple of marathons.” Last year she ran five.

I turn her loose after our third run and watch her disappear into a white spray of creamy turns. She seems at once exceptional and totally badass to me, while also representing just one of many scrappy and hard-charging characters who cruise the flanks of Whitefish Mountain Resort for 120+ days each winter season. // Summer Hess is the managing editor of Out There Outdoors. She wrote about backcountry touring in the Wallowas last issue.

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

APRÈS ON THE MOUNTAIN whiskey. The name hot toddy can be a catch-all name for drinks mixed with hot water, honey, lemon, liquor, and sometimes teas or spices.

This beverage is meant to cure whatever ails you.

The honey and lemon help soothe the sore throat from whooping in the woods all day. The warming heat of whiskey opens up the airway, allowing you to breathe in more of the fresh mountain air.

And just holding the glass brings life back to cold fingers.

Now I may be partial to a pocket beer or thermos for those long days ski touring, but it wasn’t too hard to make the trip to five ski resort bars to sample this warming elixir. I like mine to have a nice balance of lemon tart and sweetness with a forward note of smoky, effervescent whiskey. When I make them at home, I add a cinnamon stick or a dash of nutmeg.

To help with an unbiased review, I asked for well whiskey and brought along a friend.

49 DEGREES NORTH

HOT TODDY TIME. // PHOTO: ADAM GEBAUER

HOT TODDY SHOWDOWN

BY ADAM GEBAUER

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE a hot beverage in your

hand after a day of making turns at your favorite mountain, and a hot beverage with a whiskey, like a hot toddy, is even better.

The toddy originated in Scotland and Ireland where it was traditionally consumed before retiring for the night in cold and wet seasons. If Scotland and Ireland know two things, it’s cold weather and

Ordering the toddy at the Boom Town Bar turned into an exercise in perseverance, more for the bartender than for me. She diligently opened at least six single-serving packets of honey for our two drinks. The toddy had a generous pour of Canadian whiskey that added good warmth to an already hot drink. My drinking companion enjoyed sitting out on the patio watching his son finish ski lessons. His opinion: “Well, I like anything with whiskey.”

MT. SPOKANE

The Foggy Bottom is not a full-service bar, but they do have wine-based cocktail mixes to help satisfy your mixed-drink needs. My bartender muddled a number of lemon wedges into a mason jar. Just looking at the size of the glass I knew I was in for it. The wine-based whiskey gave the slight-

est hint of whiskey flavor but not quite the lung feel. This toddy was like sipping a nice hot country tea. My drinking companion chose to go for an IPA. His opinion: “Why break tradition; besides, whiskey isn’t my thing.”

SCHWEITZER

I settled up to the bar at the new Sky House summit lodge with some friends after they dropped their 5 year old off for a play date on the magic carpet. The bartender mixed our toddies in Irish coffee glasses using Potters whiskey, which added a nice caramel undertone to the drink. Having never had a toddy before, my drinking companion thought it a little sweet for her palate and asked for extra lemon slices.

SILVER MOUNTAIN

Walking into the open, welcoming space of Mogul’s Lounge after too many tree laps was a welcome reprieve, especially after we got our hot toddies and rested our weary legs. Mogul’s poured the fittingly-titled Idaho Gold Canadian Whiskey with muddled lemons and just the right amount of honey. Now it may have been my powder-addled brain, but this toddy tasted the closest to my homemade recipe, and it was the least expensive.

LOOKOUT PASS

Sometimes Ullur smiles down at you, and sometimes this Norse god of snow says you have had enough. My visit to Lookout was on a beautiful bluebird day, complete with German brats and a St. Paul’s at lunch. But right before the last run to the Loft Pub, a knee got tweaked and instead of a hot toddy there was a visit to ski patrol. This leaves an objective for another day when deadlines are not looming and a toddy can be sipped at leisure. //

MARCH 2019 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

49

ON THE MOUNTAIN TRAVEL

FUN RUNS AT BRUNDAGE. // BELOW: THE ACTIVITY BARN. PHOTOS: AARON THEISEN

MCCALL IS CALLING

BY AARON THEISEN YOU CAN TELL A LOT about a ski resort by its snow

report. In an industry in which the “all-time, all the time” hype can border on frantic, the snow report at Brundage Mountain Resort, near McCall, Idaho, exudes no-nonsense honesty.

As April Whitney, the resort’s director of PR, told me on a recent visit, "during less-than-ideal conditions region wide you can only fool people once.” The report? “Today is a day for die-hards only.” Although McCall crawls with weekend revelers from Boise, only two hours away, Brundage and its ski-area neighbors answer to the locals at the end of the ski day. That said, it’s easy to trust the reputation of Brundage, which boasts Idaho’s best snow.

Topping out at 7,640 feet in arid west-central Idaho, Brundage benefits from high, dry powder.

And the naturally open terrain at this elevation creates wide-open meadows and whitebark pine glades. At 1,920 acres, Brundage is big—and that doesn’t include the 420 acres of unpatrolled, liftserved side-country that’s an easy scoot from the top of the Bluebird Express quad.

Locals revere the steep, protected trees of Northwest Passage and Hidden Valley, in the black and double-black territory on the north side of the resort. But on-piste skiers have dozens of options, too, with long, highway-wide blue groomers like Alpine and Main Street. On the backside, Lakeview Bowl tends to hold protected powder on its short blues and blacks; it’s a good bet when the obvious front-side lines get tracked out.

South of McCall, Tamarack Resort is the ski area that almost wasn’t. An ambitious development—at the time, the first purpose-built luxury ski resort in decades—stalled out during the housing crash of 2007. Creditors went so far as to repossess one of the chairlifts, and for several seasons the remaining chairlifts sat idle. But homeowners recently purchased the resort from creditors and,

like its namesake tree, Tamarack has come back to life—and back to basics. Scaffolding still encases the skeletons of unfinished lodging, and the resort’s services still reside in “temporary” modular structures. But the high-speed quads spin again, and the skiing is excellent.

From the top of the Summit Express quad at 7,700 feet, it’s 2,800 feet of quad-burning vertical to the base area. Not that there’s any need to return to the base until the end of the day: there’s plenty of half-lap action at the top, with the cornice drops of Me First and After You depositing skiers into steep snowy bowls, and the glades of Reasons to Quit providing reasons to eek out another run.

As the racing coach told me, at a bar stacked with staff one quiet Sunday night, “I’ve been at Tamarack for five weeks, and it’s been the best five weeks of skiing of my life.” That’s high praise in a continentspanning coaching career, but it’s not entirely hyperbole: weeks into a region-wide dry spell, I’m still able to find untracked powder. “Stashes” isn’t even the right word—these are right out in the open for the taking. Aspen glades frame Lake Cascade below as I schuss trees solo. This is country-club skiing without the country club.

Like any good cross-town rivalry, Brundage and Tamarack both have their vocal partisans. Your best bet? Ski both. But save time for an afternoon or evening at their junior neighbor, the Little Ski Hill.

On weekday afternoons, the line for the single T-bar at this community-operated hill between Brundage and McCall swells to Sun Valley proportions, courtesy of the school buses shuttling after-school ski lessons. Tweens drop into the terrain park at the top of the “mountain”, carrying on a tradition that’s produced an outsized share of Olympians.

Here at Little Ski Hill, like at its bigger kin, you can trust the locals. //

WHEN YOU GO LOCATED ON THE SHORE of Lake Cascade, McCall caters to tourists year-round and has accommodations suitable for the swankiest of travelers to ski bums.

Before skiing, stop at the popular Fogglifter Café for coffee and Eggs Benedict. For those accustomed to eating snacks out of their ski-jacket pocket: locals swear by the burritos and biscuits and gravy (in handy to-go cups) at the Old Town Market inside the Shell gas station.

The small size of the Brundage base-area lodge belies the quality of accommodations inside.

Of-age guests should grab a window seat in the Upper Lot Pub, which boasts the best peoplewatching on the mountain, both indoors and out.

At Tamarack, guests at the Lodge at Osprey Meadows get two Tamarack Passports per night, good for services from overnight hot waxes to snowshoe and Nordic ski rentals. For aprés, stretch out at Seven Devils Pub, in the base area, with buffalo cauliflower and craft brews.

50

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH 2019

EVENTS ON THE MOUNTAIN

COURTESY OF JAM 4 CANS.

17 REASONS TO HEAD TO THE HILLS

BY SUMMER HESS

DON’T START LONGING for the end of winter just yet. 20 percent of your best skiing and riding happens in this unruly month, and local resorts are gearing up with all kind of shenanigans to celebrate that perfect time of year when the sun starts to warm us AND we get to have fun on the slopes.

Here’s a run down of the March events around the Inland Northwest to be psyched about.

March 13 KREM TV FREE SKI FOOD DRIVE @ Lookout Pass. Bring 4 cans of food and receive a free lift ticket.

March 16-17 FAMILY NORDIC WEEKEND @ 49 Degrees North. Kids under 18 receive free trail pass and equipment rental.

March 2 LAST CHANCE FOR NIGHT SKIING @ Mt. Spokane.

March 17 ST. PATRICK'S DAY @ Silver Mountain.

Irish-themed drink and food specials like $4 Guinness cans and corned beef.

March 2 SNOWSHOE TOUR @ 49 Degrees North.

Beautiful scenery and healthful exercise followed by a tasty lunch in the yurt.

March 23-30 HAWAIIAN DAYS @ Mt. Spokane.

Prizes and live music. Includes Family Fun Day on March 23. Bring your sunscreen!

March 2 Annual Season Pass Holder SPAGHETTI FEAST @ Lookout Pass.

March 23 FAMILY FUN DAY @ Mt. Spokane with obstacle course and fun prizes for kiddos.

March 2 BOYD HILL SNOWSKATE BANKED SLALOM @ Lookout Pass.

March 23 2400 FEET OF SCHWEITZER. Ski 2400 feet for Cystonosis research. Also, WOMEN’S CAT SKIING with Selkirk Powder Guides.

March 3 WILD SKILLS JUNIOR SKI PATROL @ Schweitzer. Young girls will learn mountain safety and first aid with ski patrol.

March 9 PAW AND POLE @ 49 Degrees North.

Race on the snow with your dog and raise money for a good cause.

March 9 MARCHI GRAS @ Silver Mountain. Enjoy night skiing with $15 lift tickets, a loaded balloon drop with prizes and live music.

March 10 5TH GRADE PASSPORT FAMILY WEEKEND @ 49 Degrees North.

March 24 GONE TO THE DOGS AND SKIJOR DAY @ 49 Degrees North. Dogs allowed on lower trail system all day when accompanied by their human with a pass.

March 30 SPRING CARNIVAL @ Silver Mountain with pond skim, toboggan relay, BBQ, and outdoor music. // Summer Hess is the managing editor for Out There Outdoors. She wrote about ski touring in the Wallowas in the Jan./Feb. double issue.

10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF JAM 4 CANS JAM 4 CANS IS A PREMIER INLAND NORTHWEST RAIL JAM series that offers progressive features for all competitors. This non-profit rail jam series is open to skiers and snowboarders who want to come together and raise awareness for local food banks. Over the past nine years the group has collected thousands of pounds of food and thousands of dollars.

The final event of the series is Jam 4 Cans Urban in Post Falls, Idaho, on March 30 from 6-10 p.m. at Summit Northwest Ministries. Members of the original riding crew from the inaugural event will make an appearance, including celebrity guest pro Noah Wallace. Riders and spectators alike will be eligible to win swag and gear from local sponsors like The Ski Shack, Spokane Alpine Haus, Pistole, and Shred Sports Outlet along with national sponsors like Liberty Skis, Phunkshun Wear, and REI. Urban jams are very accessible to the general public and tend to draw a fun and boisterous crowd. Volunteers haul 100 yards of snow from Lookout Pass and bring in food, vendors, and bouncy houses for kids. There are also giant instant replay screens at indoor and outdoor viewing locations around the venue.

In 2018, the event collected 1,000 pounds of food at the Post Falls jam, and organizers are hoping to double their donations this year.

As the event gains moment, organizers are working on a documentary and hope to attract support from more sponsors as they share their story. They want to challenge a generation of skiers and snowboarders across the country to make a positive impact in their communities, as well as inspire progression and spread stoke. More info at Jam4cans.com.

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OutdoorCalendar RUNNING

BIKING

receive a free lift ticket.

(March 2) Snake River Canyon Half Marathon.

(March 17) Gran Fondo Ephrata. Where: Ephrata, Wash. Ride 50 or 80 miles along primitive back roads with over 2,700 feet of elevation gain. Info: Rideviciouscycle.com.

(March 16-17) Family Nordic Weekend. Where:

Where: Wawawai Canyon, Wash., near Pullman.

A flat, paved out-and-back course along the Snake River. Info: Palouseroadrunners.org

(March 17) St Paddy’s 5 Miler. Where: Spokane

(March 17) Hilly Nilly Gravel Series.

(March 23) 2400 Feet of Schweitzer. Where: Schweitzer Mountain Resort. Ski 2,400 feet for cystonosis research. Info: Schweitzer.com

(March 17) O’Grady’s St Paddy’s 5K Run & Walk. Where: Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort, Leavenworth, Wash. The 5K will utilize an out-andback course, starting and finishing at Sleeping Lady.

Afterwards, there will be a post-race party (beer, food and other refreshments) at O’Grady’s Pantry. Info: Runwenatchee.com

(March 24) Rapid Rabbit Run. East Valley High School, Spokane Valley. 3 or 5 mile run to benefit the Senior All-Knighter Class of 2019.

(March 30) Spokane SuperHero Fun Run. Where: U-District PT, Spokane. 5K & 10K options along the Centennial Trail through Riverfront Park.

Warm up for Bloomsday or come out and walk with the kids! All proceeds support CASA Partners. Info: SpokaneSuperhero@gmail.com

(March 30) 41st Annual Only Fools Run at Midnight Run. Where: 3.5-mile run to benefit the Medical Lake Lions Club’s sight and hearing programs begins at midnight. Info: Databarevents.com/ foolsrun

Where: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Free, no support 20-40 mile pavement/gravel ride. The first in a series of four rides. Info: Trekcda.com

(March 29-31) Hub-A-Palooza.

Where: Camp Sekani Park, Spokane. A three day mountain bike festival, including enduro and downhill races. Info: Velo-northwest.com

WINTER SPORTS (March 9) Paw and Pole. Where: 49 Degrees North. Race on the snow with your pooch for a good cause.

(March 9) Marchigras.

Where: Silver Mountain Resort. Night skiing with $15 lift tickets, prizes, and live music. Info: Silvermt.com

(March 10) Spokane Nordic Challenge 20/30/50k Loppet. Where: Mount Spokane State Park. The Spokane Nordic Challenge Loppet has options for 20, 30 or 50 kilometer distances. "Loppet" is the traditional term for a long-distance cross country ski event that can be either recreational or competitive. Info: Spokanenordic.org/challenge

(March 13) KREM TV Free Ski Food Drive.

49 Degrees North. Cross-country skiing for the whole family. Kids under 18 get a free trail pass and equipment rentals. Info: Ski49n.com

(March 23-30) Hawaiian Days.

Where: Mt. Spokane. Prizes, live music, and spring skiing and riding. Info: Mtspokane.com

(March 30) Jam for Cans Urban.

Where: Summit Northwest Ministries, Post Falls, Idaho.

Non-profit rail jam series in support of local food banks. Info: Jam4cans.com

OTHER (March 1) No Man’s Land Film Festival.

Where: EWU Center on the Spokane Campus.

When: 7 p.m. The No Man’s Land Film Festival seeks to “undefine” what it means to be a woman in adventure, sport, and film. Followed by a panel discussion of women in the outdoors community.

Info: Nomanslandfilmfestival.org

(March 21-24) Big Horn Outdoor Adventure Show. Where: Spokane County Fair & Expo Center.

Explore exhibitors, seminars, and entertainment featuring hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities.

Info: Bighornshow.com

Where: Lookout Pass. Bring 4 cans of food and

SIX MONTH EVENTCALENDAR RUNNING (April 7) Hauser Lake 10K Icebreaker Run. Where: Hauser Lake, Idaho. The Ice Breaker run is an annual 10k race the first Sunday in April. It is an official Bloomsday Second Seed race benefits special needs dogs at the Double J Dog Ranch. Info: Facebook.com/hauserlake10kicebreakerrun

(April 7) Negative Split Half Marathon, 10K, & 5K. Where: Kendall Yards, Spokane. Negative Split’s signature race is the best way to kick off your running season. Boasting three great distances and scenic courses, this race is full of energy and swag!

Info: Negativesplit

(April 28) Spokane River Run. Where: Riverside State Park. Annual trail run held through beautiful pine forest along the Spokane River. Courses range from 50k to 5k. Info: SpokaneRiverRun.com (May 5) Lilac Bloomsday Run. Where: Downtown Spokane. Spokane’s most famous 12K fun run. Info: BloomsdayRun.org

(May 19) Windermere Marathon & Half Marathon. Where: Centennial Trail, Spokane. A fast, flat course with scenic views of the beautiful Spokane River. Info: Nsplit.com/windermere

(May 26) Coeur d'Alene Marathon.

Where: McEuen Park. The Coeur d’Alene Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5k fun run offers one of the most spectacular events in the country in scenic Coeur d’Alene. Info: Nsplit.com/cdamarathon

BIKING (April 13) Spokane Bike Swap & Expo. Where: Spokane County Fair and Expo Center. The region’s largest bike consignment sale. Sell or buy all types, sizes, and price of bikes for adults and children. Info: Spokanebikeswap.com (April 20) 10 Hour MTB Race.

Where: Camp Sekani Park, Spokane. This race includes lots of climbing on early-season dirt conditions along an approximately 9.5-mile course. Info: VeloNorthwest.com

(April 28) Lilac Century Bike Ride.

Where: Spokane. This annual spring ride offers five different scenic and challenging tours with something for all levels of riders and a baked-potato feed at the finish.

Event proceeds benefit local Rotary Club charitable projects. Info: Lilaccentury.com

(May 13-17) Spokane Bike to Work Week.

Where: Spokane. Spokane Bicycle Club hosts events all week, including a pancake breakfast, energizer

stations, a Ride of Silence, and Friday's celebration of Bike to Work Day. Info: Spokanebikes.org

(May 25-26) 24 Hour MTB Race.

Where: Riverside State Park, Spokane. The last year for this long-running mountain biking tradition. Riders pedal from noon Saturday to noon on Sunday, racing around the clock in teams of 2-10 people or as individuals. Camping and food included. Info: Roundandround.com

OTHER (April 20) Leadman Triathlon.

Where: Silver Mountain Resort. Ski or snowboard for 1 mile, then transition to a mountain bike for a 7-11 mile ride on a downhill dirt course, followed by a 4-5 mile run to the finish line at the Gondola Village. Enter solo or in a team. Info: Silvermt.com.

(July 13-14) Spokatopia Outdoor Adventure Festival. Where: Camp Sekani Park/Boulder Beach, Spokane. Two days this year, at Spokatopia you can try outdoor activities like paddleboarding, kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking and more. Spokatopia is the biggest bike and water sports demo event of the year.

Live music, beer garden, slacklining, rappelling, kids’ games and climbing wall, and other entertainment and activities. Cost: free general admission; some activities cost between $5-$50. Info: Spokatopia.com

THE BIKE SHOP THAT COMES TO YOU

Community College. This Bloomsday Road Runners Club classic is a springtime tradition with a fast, flat course. Info: Brrc.net

BOOK ONLINE VELOFIX.COM

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Last Page SIT ON THE BUMPER AND RAISE YOUR GLASS // By Kirby Walke

SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO TAKE THE LEAP FOR THE RIGHT LINE. // PHOTO: JENNIFER WALKE

AFTER A HILLY RUN into the Cabinet Mountains,

I was sitting in a roadside bar over a plate of pancakes and corned beef hash. Still in a daze and still in my running shorts, I was clearly not a regular.

Eager to see why I was there, the gentleman to my left and the bartender asked what I had planned for the day. After a quick discussion, hand gesturing, and a cleverly-laid-out salt shaker and coffee stirrer map, I told them I had already tagged a peak that morning and was making my way back home. A pause ensued. Then, just as it usually goes, we shared a breakfast of tales and our love

affair with the surrounding landscape.

While finishing my coffee, I realized that our stories were the same. The “regulars” and I may have differed in that they were chasing elk and I was chasing time, but our experiences in the mountains were nearly identical. We all commented on the morning light, the high meadows, and the streams that provide the best solution to bringing far too little water. This was not a new experience, and I was happy that, once again, a conversation allowed us to be more than strangers.

I have seen this play out numerous times.

Whether it is sitting on the bumper at a trailhead or asking for directions while buying food at the local gas station, barriers break down when we engage each other about our passion to play outside. Too often we define ourselves by the exact pursuit rather than the underlying desire. Maybe the mode of travel is different or the end goal varied, but the desire to escape into a singular focus in the mountains is the same.

What does that mean? Well, take me for example. I use a lot of different modes to explore. But often I find it hard to love all those activities at the same time. Thus, I start to define and shrink myself into my current desire, when in actuality my identity and my reason for exploring are much larger than that.

Expand this from inside one’s head to the outdoor community at large, and we start to have a problem. As we become more and more specialized, are we losing what bands us together? Are we losing the ability to relate to others who enjoy the mountains?

While reading Kelly Cordes’ book “The Tower,” I came across a conversation between an American writer/climber and an Italian alpinist. They were discussing the ethos of a recent alpine pursuit.

Through their translator they note: “This is a demonstration that although you live in different countries with different history, education, everything, and you also might disagree about several things…there is also something so near, that makes you absolutely people who understand each other.”

Then they raise their glasses for a toast.

This is not the most poetic line I have read. It did, however, clearly state what I was thinking and feeling. Perhaps the problem is not becoming more

specialized in our pursuits but that we spend less time with our other mountain friends. Bouncing ideas off each other in person and friendly waves between strangers along the dirt roads are becoming lore.

There may be a simple solution, and it lies in the one place we are all forced to spend a little time: trailheads. These dirt pull-offs give us the opportunity to connect and to see how our fellow outdoor enthusiasts express their love for the mountains.

Here, it’s possible that a conversation will turn a stranger to a friend.

I’ll admit it; I am that person who asks how your day was in the parking lot even though you are clearly avoiding eye contact and packing quickly.

Maybe it is my Southern upbringing or just my curiosity. And it is not entirely selfless. I want to be inspired by more than just my adventures; I want to be inspired by yours, too. This breaks down my bubble of being a sport climber today, cross-country skier tomorrow, or ultra-runner come spring.

These conversations ease the awkwardness and create the community that we already have but that sometimes needs stoking.

So just like the Italian and American raised their glasses, I ask you to do the same. Sit on your bumper a few extra minutes. Ask not only the other Subaru drivers in the parking lot what they are up to, but the beat-up trucks and mini vans, too. // Kirby Walke strives to move through the mountains at all speeds: sometimes fast, sometimes slow, and most enjoyably with his wife and two daughters.

You can find him curled up at many a trailhead after leaving it all out in the mountains. This is Kirby's first article in Out There.

2.01 *OAC. APY = Annual Percentage Yield. Rates accurate as of 2/14/19 and subject to change. Requirements to earn stated APY = must open both the Tether savings and Tether checking account, agree to receive eStatements, maintain a minimum balance of $50 in Tether Savings and make minimum deposit of $50 to the Tether savings each month. Stated APY paid on balances up to $15,000 in the Tether savings account. Insured by NCUA.

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