Out There Outdoors // March-April 2021

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Spokane MASKS

CONTENTS

Feature SITS HIGH ON THE NOSE 18 | Live & Virtual Races, Runs, & Rides TO PREVENT GLASSES FROM FOGGING

COMFORTABLE EAR STRAPS FOR ALL DAY WEAR 20

Special Sections

20 | Adventure & Travel Planning Guide 30 | On The Mountain Ski & Snowboard Section

Departments TUCKS FAR ENOUGH UNDER THE CHIN TO STAY PUT WHILE TALKING

MADE IN SPOKANE COMFORTABLE TWO OR THREE LAYERS HIGH QUALITY COTTON SpokaneMasks.com 4

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16 | Provisions 38 | Fishing

Columns

12 | Hike of the Month 13 | Nature 14 | Run Wild 15 | Everyday Cyclist 17 | Out There Kids

In Every Issue 7 | Intro 8 | Dispatches 39 | Last Page COVER Jake Hagadone and Nicole Black hiking along the shoreline of Lake Pend Oreille.

Photo: Woods Wheatcroft

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Shallan & Derrick Knowles EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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Carol Corbin J. Foster Fanning Adam Gabauer Bart Haggin Sarah Hauge Jon Jonckers Derrick Knowles Shallan Knowles Powder Matt Amy McCaffree Ammi Midstokke Brad Northrup Justin Short Suzanne Tabert Aaron Theisen Holly Weiler Woods Wheatcroft ART + PRODUCTION

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I N T R O A Path Forward for Inland NW Salmon stopped to check out Selway Falls. At the base of the impressive falls, a couple of guys who later introduced themselves as Nez Perce Tribal members were down near the water fishing. Within a couple minutes, one of them pulled a massive salmon out of the water. He stood there along the river with mist from the falls rising behind him as he held the fish up.

“A wild fish for a wild Indian,” he said grinning. That moment, with the roaring sound of the falls pounding in our ears, I felt hopeful, like a wild salmon renaissance was afoot.

Those incredible experiences were over two decades ago and the plight of Northwest salmon has tragically gotten worse.

In 2019, fewer than 4,000 wild spring chinook salmon made their way back to Idaho from the Pacific. For historical context, millions of wild fish once returned in good years. It’s realities like these that can make the situation for salmon feel hopeless at times. How could we have let such an amazing animal, such an incredible cultural and economic resource, nearly come to an THE AUTHOR STEELHEAD FISHING ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER. // PHOTO: JEFF HOLMES

ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE outdoor

experiences of my life involved dual chance encounters with salmon hundreds of miles from the ocean. It was the late 90s, and a few friends and I were on a rambling summer trip to raft, hike, camp and generally explore the wilds of Central Idaho. Headed up the Selway River one afternoon, we skidded to a stop along the narrow gravel road after catching the sight of salmon slowly making their way upstream. I’d never seen anything like that before in the Idaho mountains, and we all stood there watching them in awe.

A few miles later, still buzzing from that rare encounter with a Northwest icon, we

end here in what was once a rich, vibrant inland salmon and steelhead fishing region?

The looming prospect of extinction is an epic moral failure of our time.

Every once in a while there is a bit of news though that shines rays of hope for the future. One of those moments materialized when Idaho Representative Mike Simpson recently announced a proposal for a Columbia Basin Fund that could keep salmon from going extinct. Surprising to many, the Idaho Republican’s plan calls for breaching the four lower Snake River dams in Eastern Washington. Scientists believe those dams are the biggest cause behind dwindling salmon and steelhead runs in the Snake River basin that includes pristine rivers in Idaho, NE Oregon and SE Washington.

It would also ensure that energy, transportation, and agricultural priorities—as well as local community development projects throughout the region—were funded through $34 billion in thoughtful infrastructure investments. It includes funds for upper Columbia River fish passage as well.

Part of the deal, which was crafted after 300 meetings with a wide range of stakeholders over three years—would also take away conservation groups’ ability to file the lawsuits they’ve been using to leverage salmon protections for the next 35 years. A lull in litigation, Simpson insists, would give a wide range of interests more certainty when mak-

ing long-term economic, management, and investment decisions. It’s not a perfect first draft and improvements should and can be made. But Simpson’s comprehensive proposal just might be the magic mix that ends the salmon wars with a happy ending instead of extinction.

So far Simpson’s plan has support from interests with serious skin in the game, from tribes and conservationists to electric utilities and shippers. For many, Simpson’s efforts seem to be a better solution than the status quo that has spent billions of dollars on salmon recovery and management efforts while fish numbers continue to decline.

When the Lower Snake River dams were built, there were winners and losers, and day-to-day life and business as usual changed for the good or bad for a lot of people and communities. Simpson’s efforts could flip that dynamic around by making sure we do the right thing by saving salmon for the future without leaving impacted communities and interests behind. Check out his proposal at Simpson.house.gov. Call and email your U.S. Senators and Representatives from Washington, Idaho, and Oregon and urge them to get behind this once-in-a-lifetime proposal to save Inland Northwest salmon while we still can. // DERRICK KNOWLES, PUBLISHER

MARCH-APRIL 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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The pandemic may have shut down last year’s Tundra Swan Festival in Pend Oreille County, but the annual migration of tundra swans that makes an annual stop in Pend Oreille Valley waterbodies carried on as usual, although with fewer human observers. This year the Tundra Swan Festival in Cusick, Wash., is back on March 20, 2021, and is a great opportunity to view these spectacular birds with other likeminded people. A medium-distance migrant, tundra swans may travel from as far

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When your boots crunch through the dirt, or your tires race over a technical section of trail, or you catch a glimpse of an eagle in the trees, do you wonder how that land is available for your enjoyment? As recreators, it’s all too common that we take land for granted—thinking it has always been, and always will be, available for our use.

Think of areas like the Little Spokane River, Beacon Hill, Liberty Lake Regional Park, Palisades Park, Iller Creek, and Saltese Uplands. What do these local areas have in common? Besides providing beautiful destinations for enjoyment of the outdoors, they are all home to pieces of land that experienced widespread use before they were open to the public. In recent years, securing public access in commonly used but privately owned areas has gotten a lot of attention with projects like “Make Beacon Public.”

Organizations like Evergreen East, Spokane County, Washington State Parks, and other entities work hard to protect places that have become meaningful to our recreation community. One of the unsung heroes of this work is Inland Northwest Land Conservancy. INLC has worked to bring about land deals that protect things like the cedar forest on the Liberty Lake Loop, the kiosk area at the head of the Iller Creek Trail, access to Avista-owned property on Beacon Hill, and most recently, Waikiki Springs Nature Preserve on the Little Spokane River.

INLC needs your help to raise $500,000 to protect more land that is currently (illegally) being trafficked by well-meaning but likely oblivious recreational users. These 55 acres (about 42 football fields) are adjacent to the Saltese Uplands Conservation Area, where usage has increased 48% over the past two years, reflecting rapid residential growth in Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake. Located on Henry Road, the Uplands are home to dozens of species of birds and native plants. Across the street, Spokane County Environmental Services is restoring the historic wetlands of the Saltese Flats and working on a proposed nature education center nearby.

The land to be purchased by INLC and retained for public enjoyment is prime for residential development. If you’ve ever watched the sunset from the water tower at the top of the hill, or gazed down into the valley at Liberty Lake or at Mica Peak in the distance, you know how that view would change with houses butted up against the hillside. Protecting land and water for the health and future of our community, the natural world, and the climate is at the center of INLC’s work.

Ensuring that the Inland Northwest remains a beautiful, adventurous, and easily accessible place should be at the center for all of us who love to play outside. (Carol Corbin)

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2021

CUSICK, WASH.

away as New Mexico, the California coast, and Colorado River, or as near as southern Idaho. The event includes presentations, workshops, information booths, artisan vendors, a bus shuttle to Calispel Lake for wildlife viewing, and a hot buffet lunch at the Camas Center for Community Wellness in Cusick. This event does sell out so book your $15 ticket, $10 shuttle pass, and lunch ($15) early. More info at Porta.us/tundraswanfestival (OTO)

CLIMBING PERMIT CHANGES FOR MOUNT ST. HELENS CASTLE ROCK, WASH.

Outdoor recreation areas around the Pacific Northwest have been extremely crowded during the pandemic. Last summer, the Forest Service and county sheriff ’s offices began towing cars parked illegally near trailheads on Mount Hood, Mount Adams, and other day-use areas around the region.

In an effort to reduce crowds on Mount St Helens, from April 1 to May 14, the Forest Service will reduce the number of available permits from 500 to 300 per day, according to an agency news release. The Forest Service will also increase the number of permits issued between May 15 and Oct. 31, from 100 to 110 per day, though it will not be enough to offset the reduction. In total, nearly 7,000 fewer permits will be issued this year.

The reduction is due to the need to minimize resource damage, maintain a quality visitor experience, and increase safety during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by reducing crowding along the route during the primary climbing season. Although going from issuing 500 to 300 permits per day may seem like a lot, in the past they typically only sold the full 500 permits when the weather was sunny and nice. Many of the 500-person quota went unsold due to poor weather. This 300-person quota helps rein in the crowds on the sunniest of days when crowding is a problem, especially last year. More importantly, this is an improvement over the permit availability last year, when the Forest Service cancelled all permits for the 500-person days due to pandemic restrictions.

Although strenuous, the ascent up Mount St. Helens is considered a nontechnical climb, suitable for hikers in good physical condition who are comfortable scrambling on steep, rugged terrain. All climbing permits are sold online at Recreation.gov. (Jon Jonckers)

SICK BIRDS PROMPT CALL FOR FEEDING BAN SPOKANE, WASH.

Continued reports of sick or dead birds at backyard feeders across Washington and other Northwest states are prompting the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to recommend people continue to leave their wild bird feeders down or to take extra steps to maintain them. “You can help to stop the spread of salmonellosis by discontinuing backyard bird feeding until at least April 1 to encourage birds to disperse and forage naturally,” says WDFW veterinarian Dr. Kristin Mansfield.

The department first asked residents to remove or clean feeders in February in response to a die-off of finches, such as pine siskins, as well as other songbirds.

Salmonellosis, a common and usually fatal bird disease caused by the salmonella bacteria is to blame. When birds flock together in large numbers at feeders, they can transmit the disease through droppings and saliva.

The first signs that a bird may have salmonellosis is often a seemingly tame bird on or near a feeder. Birds infected with salmonella become very lethargic, fluff out their feathers, and are easy to approach. Unfortunately, at this point there is very little people can do to treat them. The best course it to leave these birds alone and report them (as well as any dead birds) via WDFW’s online reporting tool.

WDFW explains that discontinuing feeding of wild birds will not leave them without food supplies during the winter and spring months. "Birds use natural food sources yearround, even while also using backyard bird feeders, so they should be fine without the feeders for another month," Mansfield says.

If people do not choose to remove bird feeders, please clean them daily by first rinsing well with warm soapy water, then dunking in a solution of nine parts water and one part bleach. Finish by rinsing and drying before refilling. Also please reduce the number of feeders to a number you can clean daily, as well as using feeders that accommodate fewer birds (such as tubes rather than platforms) and spreading out feeder locations.

Keep the ground below bird feeders clean by raking or shoveling up feces and seed casings and turn over or cover bird baths so birds cannot access them.

It is possible, although uncommon, for salmonella bacteria to transfer from birds to humans through direct contact with infected birds, droppings, or through domestic cats that catch sick birds. When handling birds, bird feeders, or bird baths, it is best to wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly afterward. (OTO)

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DISPATCHES LAND CONSERVANCY CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY SPOKANE, WASH.

Rolling out this month with new art by Josh Quick.

Proceeds from La Bicicletta coffee support our love for the cycling community.

Since its founding, the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy has protected more than 22,000 acres in public and private areas throughout Spokane and Kootenai counties.

Today, more than 90% of households in these counties are within view of an INLC project area. The organization’s mission, connecting people to nature by conserving lands and waters essential to life in the Inland Northwest, drives the group’s passion to continually improve this region’s quality of life.

Back in February of 1991, founding board members of the Inland Northwest Land Trust (later renamed the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy) filed incorporation papers with the state of Washington. Thirty years later, more than a third of the organization’s expenses are funded through individual giving. Hundreds of engaged members make this critical protection of local lands and waters possible. From humble beginnings of concerned citizens around a kitchen table, the Conservancy now partners with businesses, landowners and managers, government agencies, and community members to preserve the natural beauty of our home.

Recent successful projects include the acquisition of Waikiki Springs Nature Preserve in north Spokane. INLC also collaborates with the Restoration Partnership to protect land along the highly polluted Coeur d’Alene River corridor. Last but not least, INLC purchased land between Palisades Park and Riverside State Park, in the Rimrock to Riverside project area, until it can move into public ownership, creating a protected 11-mile wildlife and recreation corridor on Spokane’s west side.

“The Conservancy holds and monitors 62 permanent conservation easements in partnership with private landowners, has completed 40 projects with partnering agencies, and manages three nature preserves,” says executive director Dave Schaub. “Our plates are full with more than a dozen new projects to complete in the coming years. Together these individual narratives weave together to form an evolving tapestry of protected habitat and lasting community benefit, making a difference you can see.” Learn more and consider becoming a member at InlandNWLand.org. (Jon Jonckers)

Ride on, friends!

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NEW SCHWEITZER HOTEL TO OPEN FOR 2021/22 SKI SEASON SANDPOINT, IDAHO

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2021

Since breaking ground in the spring of 2019, Schweitzer Mountain Resort has been working to complete a new hotel project in the village. The 66,580 square foot, 31-unit hotel complex will be a ski-in, ski-out property that will provide essential arrival services and slopeside accommodations for Schweitzer's year-round guests.

In tribute to the area’s logging history, Schweitzer has chosen to name the new hotel after the Humbird Lumber Company, once the economic lifeblood of the Sandpoint area. “In the early 1900s, the Humbird Lumber Company provided steady employment and an all-encompassing community for its workers,” explains Schweitzer CEO and President, Tom Chasse. “The mill transformed Sandpoint from a male dominated logging settlement of 400 people to

a bustling small town of 3,500 brimming with families. The spirit of Sandpoint and Schweitzer is rooted in the foundations laid by these persevering characters and our new hotel celebrates that history.”

Humbird, designed by Portland based SkyLab Architecture, will feature cross laminated timber (CLT), board formed concrete, and large expanses of glass permitting the natural views to frame the experience in each guest room and in the 50-seat restaurant and bar. “The addition of Humbird will enable us to address the lack of accommodations on the mountain,” Chasse adds. “It’s challenging at best to find a room over weekends and holidays so the additional units will help ease that lodging crunch.” Schweitzer anticipates Humbird being available for guests during the 2021/22 winter season. (OTO)

REMAPPING A LOST THRU-HIKE IN NORTHEAST OREGON JOSEPH, OREGON

The Blue Mountains Trail, a work in progress for decades, has evolved into a 566mile point-to-point long-distance trail with a spiral shape connecting its two ends, Wallowa Lake State Park near Joseph and John Day. Like most thru hikes, this one is still a work in progress. The trail traverses some challenging terrain, including canyons choked with debris following recent burns, unmaintained trails overgrown with salmonberry, Ceanothus, blackberry, and poison ivy, and a section that was flooded out in early 2020. It may take years to solve these challenges, so alternate routes provide safe walking passage for hikers wishing to avoid these pitfalls.

The trail also has a new champion that is helping make an improved route more accessible. The Greater Hells Canyon Council (GHCC) has announced that the conservation organization is prioritizing the development of the Blue Mountains Trail in order to change how the recreation infrastructure of the region is maintained and to engage more people to utilize and appreciate the beauty of these landscapes. The group also hopes that more hikers using the trail will translate into more people getting involved in conservation efforts in the incredibly beautiful and unique landscapes and ecosystems of the greater Hells Canyon region.

GHCC is picking back up where the Blue Mountains Heritage Trail left off, a monumental lift by longtime conservationist and Hells Canyon Preservation Council (GHCC’s former name) board member Loren Hughes, who began working on the idea in the late 1970s. The current route covers seven wilderness areas of northeast Oregon, including the Eagle Cap Wilderness, the Elkhorn Crest section of the North Fork John Day Wilderness, and the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. It crosses the summit ridges of the subranges composing the Blues: the Wallowas, Elkhorns, Greenhorns and Strawberries. It descends to the Snake River

in the heart of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. And it requires no new trails to be built and limits both road walks and bushwhacks. And it connects hikers to some of northeast Oregon’s most inviting and recreation-minded communities.

Also referred to as the Greater Hells Canyon Region, the Blue Mountains are a unique region composed of multiple ecoregions. The mountains and valleys of the Blues connect the Rockies, Cascades, and Great Basin, and with a small human population density, they serve as a critical wildlife corridor. This poorly-understood corner of Oregon has pockets of overwhelmed recreation destinations, while many true wilderness trails are now neglected.

Last October, volunteer hikers Whitney “Allgood” La Ruffa from Portland-based Six Moon Designs, Naomi “The Punisher” Hudetz from Treeline Review and Mike “Iron Mike” Unger, were the first thru hikers to successfully complete a 588-mile version of the new trail route and provide valuable feedback to GHCC. Learn more about their journey and findings here: https://youtu.be/ WTXYm-zKywk “As one of the first thru hikers of the new Blue Mountains Trail, I am thrilled that Six Moon Designs is the first business partner with GHCC to move things forward for future hikers on this amazing trail, said Whitney La Ruffa, Six Moon Designs VP of Marketing and Sales. “Our love of exploring wild places and our company’s deep ties to Oregon make this the perfect project for us to support, and we’re looking forward to doing more trail work with GHCC this summer.”

For more information and to sign up for trail news and updates, visit Hellscanyon. org/blue-mountains-trail. More resources, including maps and trail guides, will be published to the website in the coming months.

(OTO)

HELP NEEDED TO RESTORE HABITAT AFTER WILDFIRE DAVENPORT, WASH.

Last year’s Labor Day Whitney fire took a toll on the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area (SLWA) in Lincoln County, a popular birding spot, as well as the entire area and nearby communities. Of major concern to biologists and conservationists is the impact the extremely hot burning and widespread fire had on the SLWA’s critical habitat for two species of prairie grouse—sharp-tailed and greater sage grouse—both threatened species. The area is also important habitat for several species of shrub-steppe ecosystem birds.

Spokane Audubon Society is stepping up by raising funds to pay for planting of grasses and forbs on and near this important wildlife area. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) estimates at least $30,000 in forb restoration on the wildlife area is needed, so every dollar helps. You can donate any amount to this effort, either by a check payable to Spokane Audubon mailed to P.O. Box 9820, Spokane, WA. 99209, or online by credit card at PHOTO COURTESY OF KIM THORBURN Audubonspokane.org. (OTO) MARCH-APRIL 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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Hike of the Month

Kamiak Butte Whitman County, Wash.

By Holly Weiler

VIEW OF THE PALOUSE FROM KAMIAK BUTTE. PHOTO: HOLLY WEILER

tallest point and one of four county parks within Whitman County, with its rocky outcroppings rising high above the surrounding Palouse farmland. It is additionally noteworthy for being designated a National Natural Landmark (NNL), along with nearby Steptoe Butte State Park. Both parks are considered western outliers of the Coeur d'Alene Mountains, a portion of the Bitterroot Range.

The NNL program is managed by the Department of the Interior and the National Parks Service. According to the Parks Service, National Natural Landmarks receive their designation for being among the "'best' examples of a type of biological community or geologic feature in its biophysiographic province....gauged primarily on illustrative value and condition of the resource." So not only does this 298-acre park boast a nice 5-mile trail system, the hike is an opportunity to experience one of the best examples of the geologic forces that shaped the Palouse.

The butte itself was formed between 1.47-1.40 billion years ago during the Precambrian period. The rocky outcroppings of Kamiak Butte consist primarily of quartzite, towering over surrounding basalt, and much younger glacial loess deposits of windblown silt that form the Palouse farmland below.

Viewed from a distance, Kamiak Butte is a treed oasis standing out in the fairly uniform farmland. It can be a place to spot some of the earliest spring wildflowers in March and April, although early season visitors should KAMIAK BUTTE IS THE SECOND

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2021

also be prepared for potentially snowy and icy conditions in shady spots as well as higher on the trail system, as the butte's summit reaches 3,641 feet in elevation.

The park is open for day use and has four picnic shelters available. It also features a first-come, first-served campground with eight campsites for only $15/night. Arguably the best way to experience the trail system is to stay the night and plan to enjoy sunset and sunrise from the top.

ROUND-TRIP DISTANCE: 3.5 miles and up RATING: Moderate ELEVATION GAIN: 950 feet or more MAP: Print the map and hiking brochure at

Whitmancounty.org

GETTING THERE: From Pullman, Wash., head north on Highway 27 for 11 miles and turn left onto Clear Creek Road. Look for Fugate Road (#5100) on your left after half a mile. Drive another half mile to the park entrance on the left.

SUPPORT LOCAL TRAILS: Watch for upcoming opportunities to volunteer on local trails by checking wta.org/volunteer and sorting to "Eastern Washington" under the region tab. Group size limits are dependant upon current Covid-19 guidelines.

Holly Weiler will no doubt be posting pictures of some of the first spring wildflowers of the season on social media. A professional trail fixer and builder, she writes the “Hike of the Month” for each issue of Out There.

NATURE

Close Encounter of the Pileated Kind

By Adam Gebauer

IF YOU SPEND ENOUGH TIME in natural

areas you will probably have a chance encounter with wildlife, where you share an intimate moment in the life of that species.

I recently had an impactful meet up, or near literal impact, with the largest woodpecker in North America. While skiing along a cat track at Mt. Spokane, I disturbed a pileated woodpecker off its tree. It emerged inches from my face and proceeded to fly about five feet in front of me for a few hundred feet. I got an up-close view of its iconic red Mohawk and white striped head and could watch the distinctive flight of a few strong wing beats followed by a glide.

With the probable extinction of the ivory bill woodpecker in the Southeast, the pileated is the largest of the woodpeckers in North America, similar in size to crows.

They have a distinctive “mocking laughter” call reminiscent of the cartoon character Woody the Woodpecker. The name pileated actually refers to the red crest that runs along its head. Males can be distinguished from females by a red mustache stripe behind their beaks.

Woodpeckers use their powerful beaks to hammer holes in trees in search of insects, and the drumming noise also stakes out their territory. Pileated woodpeckers will bore deep into the trunk of a tree in search of carpenter ants and beetle larvae, their holes differing from other woodpeckers by their rectangle shape. They will excavate cavities in dead standing trees called snags that are big enough to lay eggs and rear young. When the pileateds move out other animals such as squirrels, owls, and ducks use these cavities, making some of these snags apartments for numerous animals.

It is easy to wonder how these birds don’t end up rattling their brains with all

that pounding. Recent studies have found that these birds can transfer up to 99% of the pecking force away from the head and into the body. Studying these birds has even helped in research to reduce head trauma in humans.

Many woodpeckers also have incredible long tongues with sticky bards that help them rake ants and insects out of crevices in the trees. Sometimes these tongues are so long that the muscle wraps around the outside of the skull and terminates in a nostril. Pileateds, however, have relatively short tongues. This is partly because their powerful beaks can penetrate deeper into a tree than many other woodpeckers.

Watching a woodpecker fly from tree to tree it is easy to be amazed how they can land directly on the vertical surface of a tree trunk. Woodpeckers use their strong stiff tail feathers like a kickstand that allows them to stand on vertical trunks while they hammer away in search of food.

Pileated woodpeckers range across a large territory east of the Rockies to the north and south, but west of the Rockies they are found mostly in mature northern forests. Their presence indicates a healthy forest habitat with a mix of mature and standing dead trees with little human disturbance.

In many western Native American tribes the presence of a woodpecker is a sign of friendship and happiness. Certainly for me it truly was a happy experience to be gliding through the woods on skis at the same speed as my new, winged pileated friend. // Adam Gebauer has had many chance wildlife encounters this winter while learning to skijor with his recently adopted dogs.

He last wrote about following snowshoe hare tracks.

BIRDING BOARD GAME Seasoned birders with a life list or anyone who wants to know more about their backyard avian visitors should check out Wingspan, a new bird-themed board game. The combination of amazing artwork and integrated species traits gives you a chance to learn about birds while trying to build a bigger flock than your buddies (Stonemaiergames.com.)

VENTILATED BACKPACKING PACKS

MARCH-APRIL 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

13

RUN WILD

The Rythmic Restoration of Walking

By Sarah Hauge

PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES

AS YOU PROBABLY ASSUMED (this being a running column and all), I am a runner.

To me running is everything I’ve written: a barometer that measures my wellness, a means of bonding, how I explore the world and challenge myself, perhaps even my life partner.

But there’s something I love just as much: walking. Whereas with running part of the appeal is the challenge—the work of it— walking is the slowed-down, relaxed version, where I feel stress unfurl. It dissipates the soreness and stiffness that linger from sitting too long or running too hard, giving both my body and my mind space to meander.

During the pandemic, walking became a habit I craved: a chance to move, leave the house (!!), and be alone (!!!). I sought out

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leisurely evening walks, brisk strolls to the mailbox, laps around the block with my kids, gently curving uphill hikes. At peak lockdown I found myself going for walks as many as three times a day.

What is it about walking that’s so appealing, and how can walking benefit runners? I asked these questions of Jonathan Hook, physical therapist and Whitworth University’s Director of Clinical Education.

First, it’s akin to running, but gentler.

With its very similar movement patterns but overall less impact, “running is very much an extension of walking,” Hook says.

Compared to jogging, which exerts as much as 1.6 times the force on the body at the same speed (Hook cites Lohman, 2011), running is easier on the body, making it ideal for recov-

ery. “In walking you still get the dynamic rhythmic activity involving the major muscle groups without the same level of pounding and risk of training error that lead to injury.”

“Prolonged bouts of strenuous exercise can…lead to overuse injury,” Hook says.

“Beyond that, overtraining can negatively impact the immune system or cause chronic inflammation” (Mikkelsen, 2017). And including low-impact activities helps with general health.

When we think of our overall health, it’s important to consider more than physical strength or endurance. “Walking can be a great low risk or ‘recovery’ form of exercise that can also positively affect mood states such as anxiety, stress, and depression,” Hook says. “The body of literature continues to grow showing how many forms of exercise have positive effects on multiple systems, including decreased risk for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, and increased mood, life-satisfaction, and cognitive performance” (Bailey, 2018).

There’s also plenty of anecdotal evidence to support a regular walking habit. “I think there is a reason that many of the most brilliant minds were walkers,” says Hook, listing among them Thoreau, Kierkegaard, and

Nietzsche.

That mind-body connection reminds me of the novels formative to my youth (Austen, the Brontës, L.M. Montgomery), where scene after scene took place during long walks on tree-lined lanes and windswept moors. More recently I’ve been intrigued by the walking habits of David Sedaris and poet Mary Oliver, both of whom built hours of it into their everyday lives (which essayist Sedaris has written about to hilarious effect).

Hook, a runner, likes the counterbalance of walking for reasons similar to mine. “For me, walking puts me in a completely different mindset. I find myself more likely to be present, aware, prayerful, reflective, etc…

As a physical therapist or movement system expert, there is something beautiful and rhythmic about walking that is restorative.”

Running and walking feel to me like two sides of a coin: pushing on the gas vs. coasting, the clenched muscle vs. the active release, a free and creative mind vs. a burst of conscious effort. I wouldn’t want one without the other. // Sarah Hauge writes Out There’s “Run Wild” column. She wrote about strategies for loving winter running in the last issue.

EVERYDAY CYCLIST

Tales from Bike Town

By Justin Short

I had the devilmay-care attitude of a Santa Cruz bike messenger, and when I was riding down a hill with a ditch for a shoulder, I took the lane.

This was standard procedure back in “Californy.” If you don’t feel safe, take the lane. In the 40 miles from dad’s farm into town I got passed by three dump trucks on d ow n h i l l bl i n d ILLUSTRATION: JUSTIN SHORT turns. They skidded IT WAS THE WILD WEST, or rather it was to a stop in the middle of the road, drivers Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I had been living jumping out swinging. in southern California for a couple of years Since then, Pittsburgh has become a BIKE when I went home to visit family. I hopped TOWN. I don’t know what came first there, on my dad’s Auto Bike for a ride into town, the bike infrastructure or the bike culture. In a bike somehow worse than a department Portland, it was the culture. When I moved store BSO (bicycle shaped object) because there in 1999, I encountered the most courit had an automatic drive train designed teous drivers I’ve ever seen. All the while, specifically to skip your feet off the pedals. the safe and useful infrastructure for cyclists

began to blossom over the next dozen years.

It seemed the opposite in Denver. In 1995 there were bike super highways going everywhere. We would ride all day and see only a handful of people on bikes. Now the bike paths there are filled with riders, and you’ve got to be ready for crowd control to ride them.

What to say about Spokane? I believe it’s on the brink. Last year’s uptick in new and returning riders saw parks filled with whole families riding bikes, and our cycling community at large here is inviting and encouraging enough that we will likely retain some of those smiling faces, if the dearth of useful bike infrastructure doesn’t scare them off.

With a little luck and a few thousand calls and emails of support to our elected officials in support of any positive developments for cyclists, Spokane could see better bike infrastructure and more riders out there in the near future.

An example at the federal level, Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer, founder and co-chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus, has introduced a bill that would give up to $1,500 in tax credits to anyone buying an electric bicycle. The bill, known as the Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstart for the Environment or E-BIKE Act, would provide a tax credit of 30% of the cost of an e-bike (up to $8,000). The idea here is that e-bikes

help make bike commuting more attainable for more people, and a substantial tax credit will encourage more people to purchase an e-bike and start driving less and riding more.

Boosting our numbers of utilitarian riders can only help drive the necessity of expanding the bike infrastructure we have here. I got sloshed by a wall of slush on a recent morning’s commute down a snow-packed Broadway through “trucker town,” a stretch of road that is terrifying to ride in the dead of summer. There are a handful of riders in town who won’t be deterred by that sort of thing, but we won’t retain any new riders who have to commute through places like that.

Just maybe, though, parents riding to work or to Trader Joe’s for groceries without a safe route will recognize that their own children don’t have safe routes to walk or bike to school either. Call your own or other influential representatives to push for support of Blumenauer’s bill. The Inland Northwest deserves more smiling faces with bugs in their teeth. Let’s give them safe places to ride, wherever they’re going. // Justin M. Short is a trucker and bike commuter. You may see him out there turning pedals in the winter’s snow and muck of spring as he prepares for the CrossWashington Mountain Bike Race in May.

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provisions

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

NEW LOCAL CRAFT BREWERY BOX

HOMEMADE DEHYDRATED MEALS

Dehydrating your own backpacking meals can be fun and cost-effective compared to purchasing ready-made freeze-dried meals.

It can also be a great wintertime activity while planning your trips for next season.

There are plenty of recipes online, but I have been experimenting with green chile stew, squash stew, and chili.

There are some things to keep in mind when preparing and storing your dehydrated meals. Cut your veggies into small chunks so they dry evenly and won’t take long to rehydrate. Do not use oils when cooking.

If you are adding meat, cook it separately and rinse it well to remove all the fat. You can add broth or soy sauce when cooking your veggies, which adds flavor but nothing that might spoil. Use the fruit leather sheets in your food dehydrator to hold any moist foods. Check online for drying times for your model of dehydrator, then after the food is completely dry, divide into servings and add about ¼ cup of instant rice or whatever quick-cooking noodles you want to use.

When packing the meals, I also add a scoop of dehydrated or keto butter, adding back fats and flavor. You have lots of storage options: Ziplock bags, mason jars, or mylar bags similar to freeze dried meals. Mylar bags allow you to add boiling water directly.

These meals will be shelf stable for a few months or over a year in the freezer and can deployed for a quick meal any night.

(Adam Gebauer)

SPICY HOT CHOCOLATE

Even though temperatures are slowly rising, it can still be chilly outside. A chocolate beverage is always welcome for hydration and energy, and one with warming spices gives you the comfort you need to enjoy your time in the great outdoors.

Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups whole milk 1/2 cup almond milk (For dairy free, use 2 cups total of nut milk of choice) 1-2 tablespoons cocoa powder 2-3 teaspoons maple syrup or honey 1/2 teaspoon chaga mushroom powder 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon cloves 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg Directions: Heat the milk until steaming, but not boiling. Whisk in the cocoa powder then stir in the rest of the herbs and spices. Pour into your thermos or flask and off you go on your adventure. Feel free to adjust the amounts of cocoa powder and maple syrup or honey to suit personal taste preferences.

(Suzanne Tabert)

VOODOO RANGER IMPERIAL IPA

According to the New Belgium Brewing website, the Voodoo Ranger family is brewed with trendsetting hop and malt varieties—and served with a side of sarcasm. The Imperial IPA receives rave reviews, and it’s one of their top sellers.

This is the brewery’s heavy weight champion for IPA flavor and strong 9% ABV. Imperial IPAs (also referred to as Double IPAs) are a stronger, very hoppy variant of IPAs that typically have alcohol content above 7.5% by volume. New Belgium blends delta, bravo, centennial, cascade, calypso, and mosaic hops and brews a dark, smoky beer. It’s smooth, and tasty, and really inexpensive compared to any other Imperial IPAs. When poured into a glass, one can easily pick up the hop aroma, with pine and floral notes, and a hint of citrus peel.

If the Imperial IPA is a little too strong, give some of the other sarcastic Voodoo Rangers a try. Considering New Belgium recently added a Hazy Imperial IPA to the list of award-winning beers, NBB is taking its brewing innovations to the next level.

(Jon Jonckers)

Most people know Spokane-based local food hub LINC Foods for its LINC Boxes.

When you sign up for a LINC Box service, depending on the season, you receive weekly or bi-weekly boxes of seasonal, sustainably grown produce and other artisan foods from farmers and producers from around the Spokane region and Northwest.

Last spring in the midst of the pandemic lockdown, LINC launched a new way to connect people with locally-produced food. The LINC Market is an online grocery shopping service with a focus on a wide range of local, sustainable foods. Shoppers can then pick up their orders at one of several locations around the Spokane area.

New this year, to the cheers of Inland Northwest craft beer lovers, LINC is adding a Brewery Box, a curated local craft beer subscription. While the details were still being worked out as of late February, LINC crop promotions director Michelle Youngblom already had an excellent line-up of participating brewers: Single Hill Brewing, The Grain Shed, YaYa Brewing, Lumberbeard Brewing, Paramour Brewing, Whistle Punk, and potentially Big Barn Brewing and Paradise Creek. “The Brewery Box will be offered solo as a Brewer's Selection Variety, as well as an add-on to the LINC Box,” says Youngblom. LINC is also hoping to add local brews to the offerings available for online purchase through the LINC Market this spring.

LINC is also planning to expand its pickup locations this year and possibly add home delivery options for both the LINC Box and Brewery Box. (Derrick Knowles)

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OutThere Kids 8 Spirit-Boosting Spring Hikes for Kids

By Amy McCaffree

SPENDING TIME IMMERSED in nature is eas-

ily accomplished with a long or short hike.

Being in a forest or exploring a lake shoreline are stress-reducing, morale-boosting activities that help stabilize emotions and provide mental clarity.

According to the Child Mind Institute, “In natural environments, we practice an effortless type of attention known as soft fascination that creates feelings of pleasure, not fatigue.” This is why hiking in a wild setting away from traffic and urban distractions works better to reduce stress and fatigue.

Try these Inland Northwest hikes that can be tailored for different hiking abilities. Explore a new trail and find some unplugged, wild serenity this spring.

SPOKANE AREA

• McKenzie Conservation Area: Explore the 2-mile, self-guided Geology Walking Tour, which includes Turtle Rock, at this conservation area near Newman Lake.

Spokanecounty.org.

• James T. Slavin Conservation Area: Easy, flat trails here will inspire kids to run and explore this area southwest of the city, off Highway 195. Explore rolling pastures, grassy meadows and wetlands, lake and pond shorelines, and pine and fir forest.

Look for wildflowers, waterfowl, and other wildlife. Spokanecounty.org.

• High Drive Bluff: Located on the west edge of Spokane’s South Hill, this designated natural area features ponderosa pine forests and bunchgrass meadows.

Three trails that are good for kids are Polly Judd, Murungu’s, and Ponderosa— each one traverses the steep hillside without too much elevation loss and gain.

All are accessible from the trailhead at S. Cedar Street & 29th Ave. There are another five trailheads, including Polly Judd Park

which has a playground. Use the map from Friendsofthebluff.org.

• Dishman Hills: Pond Loop Trail and Deep Ravine Loop Trail are two easy hiking routes, recommended by Spokane mom and OTO contributor Carol Corbin. Basalt rock and water features will engage kids’ interest and curiosity. Start from Camp Caro, where there is a kiosk trail map, restrooms, and playground. Dishmanhills.org.

COEUR D’ALENE

• Blue Creek Recreation Site: Located within Wallace Forest Conservation Area, this site is managed by U.S. Bureau of Land Management and has nearly 5 miles of trails with two trailheads. For hiking with young children, start from the day use/ picnic area to hike out and back along the Blue Trail. Or start hiking on the Blue Trail from the trailhead on Yellowstone Trail Road. Some trails may still be closed in March 2021 because of an ongoing forest management project. Blm.gov.

• Fernan Lake Natural Area: Hiking trails on Potlatch Hill are still a work-in-progress, but so far there are three short loops.

More info at Cdaid.org/731.

SANDPOINT

HA NDMA DE - FA I R T R A D E - L O C A L

• Pend d’ Oreille Bay Trail: Recommended

by Sandpoint mom and OTO contributor Ammi Midstokke, this flat, out-and-back 3-mile trail—simply called Bay Trail by locals—travels along Lake Pend Oreille from City Beach. Pobtrail.org.

• Mineral Point Trail: Midstokke also recommends this popular national forest trail south of Sandpoint for scenic views of Lake Pend Oreille. The point-to-point Mineral Point Trail #82 is 2.1 miles with the southern trailhead at Green Bay Campground.

Fs.usda.gov. //

5 TIPS FOR SPRING HIKES WITH KIDS 1. PLAN AHEAD. Check websites and trail reports to be sure that there aren’t any trail

closures.

2. DRESS FOR THE WEATHER. Check the weather report and stay warm, dry, and

comfortable, especially with outerwear, insulating socks, and waterproof footwear.

3. EXPECT MUD. Even if it hasn’t rained or snowed recently, forested trails can still be muddy or even have patches of snow or ice. Stay on trails to avoid widening them.

4. TRAVEL PREPARED. Bring water bottles, snacks/lunch, first-aid kit, TP roll and plastic bags to pack-out any waste or trash. Depending on the weather, bring warm hats, extra gloves or socks (or even an entire change of clothes for kids), and handwarmer packets. Bring along a paper or digital trail map and make sure your cell phone is charged for emergencies.

5. KEEP A FLEXIBLE MINDSET. Kids don’t want a sufferfest. They want to meander and explore; pick up sticks and rocks; look for insects and wildlife tracks; and don’t really care about the view or final destination.

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LIVE & VIRTUAL RACES, RUNS, & Spokane & North Idaho

IF YOU’VE BEEN MISSING runs or rides with other humans this past year, things are looking up for 2021. While many races, fun runs, and rides are still only offering virtual events (that can still be completed with your own friends or family), there are quite a few live events with some level of COVID safety mitigation planned this year. Sign up for one or more and get outside, be safe, and run, walk, and ride together!

ROAD RUNNING

St. Paddy’s Five Miler (March 20): Spokane run with multiple start wave options over a single morning. Includes live and virtual race options.

Spring Dash & Tot Trot (April 17-30): The 5-mile race is virtual for 2021 and will raise funds via United Way of Idaho for those in our communities who are: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE).

Tot Trot (ages 10 and younger).

Negative Split Half Marathon, 10k, and 5k (April 18): New flatter course through Kendall Yards, Riverfront Park, and along the Spokane River. Multiple wave live start and virtual options.

Lilac Bloomsday Run (April 30-May 9): 12k for runners, walkers, and wheelchair participants. Worldwide virtual race.

Windermere Marathon, Half Marathon, & 5k (May 16): Organized by Negative Split, the flat, net negative course along the Centennial Trail is a Boston marathon qualifier. Multiple wave live start and virtual race options.

Coeur d’Alene Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k & 5k (May 30): Organized by Negative Split, event is based at McEuen Park 18

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2021

and course goes along the North Idaho Centennial Trail. Multiple wave live start and virtual race options.

Priest Lake Spring Festival Run (May 30): Celebrate spring at Priest Lake with half marathon, 10k, 5k, and Kids Dash distances on a mix of pavement and compact gravel.

Race starts in Coolin, ID. Wenatchee Valley Trail Run Series (May 8, June 5): Organized by RunWenatchee, this race series includes Horse Lake Trail Runs (25K, 10m, 5m); and Red Devil Challenge Trail Runs (50K, 25K, 10K).

Dad’s Day Dash (June 18-20): Event benefits SNAP, a Spokane-based community action agency, and includes a 5k or 1-mile events in celebration of Father’s Day. Multiple wave live start 6/20 and virtual race options.

Spokane to Sandpoint Relay (August 20-21): A 200-mile overnight, 12-person relay team race starting at Green Bluff, 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.

Newport Autumn Bloom 5k/10k Fun Run (Sept. TBA): TJ Kelly Park Newport, Wash.; proceeds benefit Newport Hospital and Health Services Foundation programs.

Deutschesfest 5k/10k Fun Run (Sept. 18): Celebrate Odessa, Washington’s tribute to everything German by burning off some brats and beer.

Numerica Happy Girls Run Spokane - Half Marathon, 10k, & 5k (Sept. 18): For women of all ages and abilities, based at Spokane’s Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute.

Sandpoint Scenic Half Marathon & 10k (Sept. 19): This race gets its name for a reason, with a start/finish at City Beach in beautiful Sandpoint, Idaho. 5k kids run.

Hayden Lake Marathon (Oct. 16): Start/ finish at Hayden Lake’s Honeysuckle Beach; full marathon goes completely around the lake on hilly, challenging forest roads.

TRAIL RUNNING

Elementary School’s A.P.P.L.E. program.

Planning for live, may change to virtual.

ROAD CYCLING

Lilac Century Family Fun Bike Ride and Ride/5K Run event (May 16): Five tour lengths for all levels of riders. Proceeds benefit local charities supported by the Spokane Aurora Northwest Rotary Club.

Start/finish at Creekside Elementary School, in Mead, Wash.

Spokane River Run (April 16-25): Recognized in the Trail Runner’s Trophy Series, this race features a 5K, 10K, 25K, 25K Challenge, 50K and 50K team relay race. Fundraiser for Garfield Elementary A.P.P.L.E. program. All races are virtual in 2021.

8 Lakes Leg Aches (May 30-June 5): Virtual event in 2021. Route option is rider’s choice, from around the block, rural roads, favorite trail, your living room on a trainer, or one of the 8 Lakes routes. Proceeds benefit Spokane-based Lutheran Community Services Northwest.

Kaniksu 50-Mile / Emory Corwine Memorial Ruck Race / Tall Trees 29k (June 12): Three events in one day in the Colville National Forest at Frater Lake near Ione, Wash.

Silver Valley Ride to Defeat ALS (June 19): Virtual event. Ride solo or with a team to raise funds to fight Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Mountain Magic 5k, 10k, & 25k Trail Run and Mountain Magic Trail Marathon (June 26): Mt. Spokane State Park’s Nordic ski trails; funds benefit OutLive, a Spokanebased organization that helps cancer survivors become more active outdoors.

Race the Wolf 52k, 26k, & 8k (June 27): Includes single-track and off-piste climbs at Schweitzer Mountain Resort.

Smokechaser Race (Sept. 11): 30k and 5-mile course starts from Priest Lake State Park, Lionhead; organized by Priest Lake Multisports.

Sekani Trail Run 5k & 10k (Sept. 26): Adventure run/hike/walk on trails at Camp Sekani in Spokane; fundraiser for Franklin

Spokane Valley Cycle Celebration (July 25): 10-mile Family-Friendly Ride, 25-mile Adventure, and 50-mile Hills Around the Valley Ride; free registration for ages 12 and younger. North Centennial Trailhead, Spokane Valley. Benefits Valleyfest Children’s; Foundation.

CHAFE 150 (Sept. 11): Popular Gran Fondo scenic ride that starts from Sandpoint’s City Beach and goes along Lake Pend Oreille into Montana’s Cabinet Mountain river valleys. Route mileage options: 150, 100, 80, 40, or 25-mile routes. Organized by Sandpoint Rotary supporting Pend Oreille School District’s literacy program.

RIM Ride (Sept. TBD): “Rotary in Motion” 5-mile family bike ride on Saturday, fol-

& RIDES IN 2021

PRE-PANDEMIC PHOTOS COURTESY OF NEGATIVE SPLIT

lowed by 15, 25, 50, and 100-mile rides on Sunday; hosted by the Rotary Club of Liberty Lake, Wash.

Emde Sports includes divisions for women, men, pros, masters, and junior boys and girls at various race venues.

MOUNTAIN BIKING/GRAVEL GRINDERS

MULTISPORT/WATERSPORTS

Hilly Nilly Gravel Series (TBA): Free, nosupport, 20-40+ mile ride series on hilly courses, with a mix of paved and gravel roads. Organized by Trek Bicycle Store and Vertical Earth in Coeur d’Alene.

Hub-a-Palooza (April 16-18): Three-day mountain bike festival at Beacon Hill/Camp Sekani in Spokane, hosted by Velo Northwest; includes downhill races, four-stage Enduro race, and e-bike race categories.

North American Enduro Cup (June 11-13 or Sept. 24-26): Silver Mountain Bike Park in Kellogg, Idaho, qualifies for the Enduro World Series. 6 race stages and 6,000+ feet of climbing. 2021: New trails, race categories to include e-bikes on pro/expert course, more amateur age categories, cutoff times, and finish line festivities.

Mountain Bike Race Series at Farragut State Park (July 7, 14, 21, 28): Wednesday evening single-track race series at Farragut State Park, in Athol, Idaho, features different weekly courses, benefits Youth Mountain Bike Teams.

Ride the Passes (July TBA): Self-supported amazingly scenic, 60-mile ride goes over Lookout Pass, then along the Hiawatha Trail to Pearson and over Moon Pass before returning to Wallace. Organized by Trek Bicycle Store in Coeur d’Alene.

Inland Northwest Cyclocross Series (Oct.Nov.): USA Cycling series organized by

Leadman Triathlon (April 17): 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.

Troika Triathlon (May 29): Medical Lake’s Waterfront Park.

Long Bridge Swim (August 7): A 1.76-mile swim race across Lake Pend Oreille, along Sandpoint, Idaho’s iconic Long Bridge.

Priest River Sprints (August TBA): Paddling and rowing sprints (1k, 500m), relay race, and demonstrations. All experience levels.

Priest River Recreation Area (Mudhole).

Organized by the Pend Oreille Rowing and Paddling Association.

Priest Lake Triathlon (August 28): Swim, bike, run at Priest Lake; start/finish near Hill’s Resort.

Valleyfest Multi-Sport Sunday (Sept. 26): Enjoy some of the most scenic stretches of the Centennial Trail and Spokane River on a 5k or 10k run, duathlon, or triathlon in Spokane Valley. (OTO) //

Refresh Your Ride

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Editor’s Note: Did we miss your favorite race, ride, or outdoors event? Email derrick@outtheremonthly.com and we will do our best to include it next year in an expanded 2022 Inland NW Race, Ride & Event Guide.

MARCH-APRIL 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

19

Adventure & Travel Planning Guide Summer 2021

by Derrick Knowles

SOME PEOPLE ARE NATURAL PLANNERS.

I have friends who already have campground and hotel reservations nine months out. On the other hand, there are people like my family that wait until the last minute to see what the weather and life brings before committing to a trip location and focus.

In the COVID-19 pandemic era, with a rush on everything outdoors from gear, bikes, and camping spots, planning is more important than ever—especially if your vacation schedule isn’t as flexible as you’d like it to be. Use these planning tips to help you make the most of your spring and summer adventures.

MAKE RESERVATIONS EARLY

Many Forest Service, state park, and national park campgrounds get booked up, especially on weekends, months or weeks in advance. If you really want to spend time at a specific place or campground this summer, do your research and make a reservation as soon as possible.

GO MID-WEEK AND AVOID HOLIDAYS

Last summer and fall we were still able to find tent sites and even some small RV sites that were plenty big for our camper van only a week in advance, but they were all mid-week. If PEWEE FALLS. // PHOTO: CAROL CORBIN.

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2021

you want the flexibility to choose your destination based on the weather, smoke, and other personal reasons, skip the weekends.

There are also many primitive Forest Service and other campgrounds around the Inland Northwest that have few to no services other than pit toilets and maybe water that are firstcome-first-served. To snag one of these sites for the weekend, take off a day or two early to beat the weekend rush.

RESEARCH YOUR DESTINATION WELL

You might be stuck where you’re at without other camping or lodging options once you get where you’re going thanks to increased travel, so do your research before committing. If you’re looking for peace and quiet, you might not want to visit a mountain town the same weekend as a major motorcycle rally. Check local chamber of commerce websites for any planned events you may want to be a part of and others you may want to miss. Doing your research may also turn up other surprises. Last year we found out that a landslide would be blocking visitors from a nearby city for months, making one of our favorite riverside campgrounds less crowded and more appealing than usual.

STRAY OFF THE BEATEN PATH

If you’re looking to avoid packed campgrounds and mountain towns this summer, explore someplace further off the beaten path that still has some of the amenities you’re looking for. The longer the backroad or rough road drive from a major population center, the better your odds of leaving crowds behind. That strategy may not work, however, if your destination happens to be a Blue-Ribbon trout stream or as a “world class” outdoor destination for one or more outdoor sports.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Check things like weather reports, active wildfires, wildfire smoke conditions, possible road construction and/or road closures, river flows, fishing regulations, and COVID restrictions for wherever your road trip may lead you. Adjust your plans or come prepared for the conditions.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: BE FLEXIBLE AND CREATIVE WHEN YOU FORGET YOUR TENT POLES . // TAKE TIME TO CHECK OUT THE VIEW // MARSHMALLOWS AND BIKES . PHOTOS: CAROL CORBIN // FERRY COUNTY RAIL TRAIL. PHOTO COURTESY OF BOBBY WHITTAKER

BE FLEXIBLE

Trying to get into Yellowstone last summer on a last-minute whim heading back from Utah, we experienced startling traffic and packed streets in Jackson, Wyoming, before finding out at the park gate that all campsites in the park were taken. Plan B: we drove our van around for an hour or so looking for a place outside the park to camp on national forest land and discovered hordes of campers, vans, and car-campers packed into every pullout and dispersed camping area. Most everyone was hiding in their vehicles from the swarms of mosquitos too. Time for plan C. Escape. After a stop at a Jackson grocery store for provisions, we headed up and over Teton Pass and arrived at the pleasantly uncrowded Grand Targhee Resort camping area around midnight.

Being flexible is often better than being miserable. If your trip isn’t turning out like you hoped, come up with a plan B, or C, and D if necessary.

BE AWARE OF COVID-RELATED RESTRICTIONS OR LACK-THERE-OF

COVID restrictions, policies, and cultural norms will likely continue to vary across state lines in the Northwest this summer. Follow each state or community’s rules and be prepared for different mask requirements that may range from people being required to wear masks at an outdoor event in one state and no mask requirement for a packed pub in a neighboring state. Be safe, follow the rules, and know your own personal comfort level with the COVID policies where you’re headed.

KNOW THE TRAIL CONDITIONS AND WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE ALLOWED

Before taking your mountain bikes on a four-hour drive, make sure the trails you plan to ride are both open to bikes (Wilderness Areas and some other public lands trails don’t allow bikes) and that they’ve been maintained recently. Lugging your bike over endless downed trees can get old really quick. Accurate trail information can be difficult to find online for many areas, especially if you’re venturing into more remote places. Checking with local trail clubs, if they exist, and asking questions on those groups’ social media pages can turn up valuable beta.

Otherwise, calling days or weeks in advance to reach someone at the public lands agency that manages the trails you’re interested can be very helpful. Be sure to speak with someone who works in recreation or trails and has recent information on trail conditions. Even after doing your homework, you may find some surprises once you get out there.

Case in point, two summers back, in preparation for a 75-mile hike across an infrequentlyvisited section of the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness, I got ahold of a knowledgable person from the local Forest Service ranger district who told me he was pretty sure the long list of trail numbers I had just rattled off had mostly been cleared in the past five years or so. Two days into the hike, after completely losing the trail for an hour or more and then climbing over hundreds of downed trees through the most intense thunder storms I’ve ever walked in, we determined there were some miscommunications. Likely my bad. Oops.

To add insult to injury, our backup, backup plan of hitching a ride to our car from someone on what had been a popular sightseeing and berry picking road a decade back didn’t pan

out. After walking another 20 miles on that road without seeing a soul, we found out why: the road had been gated and closed for several years due to a massive washout. At least it was only a few more miles of walking on the Selway River back to our car!

KNOW YOUR LIMITS AND THOSE OF YOUR TRAVEL MATES

Choosing a destination for a weekend adventure getaway or longer trip should always take into consideration the abilities and tolerance to any unique environmental conditions you’re likely to encounter. For instance, camping out in the shade-and-water-scarce eastern Oregon desert might not be the best destination for a group that includes children or other heat-sensitive individuals. Picking reasonable outdoor recreation activities that will be enjoyed by your adventure pod is also critical for a successful trip. Your idea of a mostlyflat, easy hike might seem insane to the rest of your crew after a few miles.

BOOK ACTIVITIES IN ADVANCE

If you’re planning to participate in an activity, whether it’s a zip line tour, gondola ride, Route of the Hiawatha pass, riding at a bike park, river rafting trip, mine tour, or other guided, supported, or bookable activity, look online or call in advance to see if you can reserve your adventure.

32 Spring & Summer Inland NW Trip Ideas When planning a trip, from an action-packed weekend to a longer getaway, the choice of where to go often depends on your group’s needs and desires. The place you really want to visit, let’s say the Leavenworth area, may not be the best choice because it’s a holiday weekend and every hotel room, campground, and place to park a camper or pitch a tent near town is occupied. Or maybe you really, really want to go trail running in Hells Canyon, but it’s mid-August and it will be a rattlesnake infested inferno that your heat stroke-prone husband might not enjoy. It’s good to be clear with yourself and those traveling with you whether your intent is to visit a specific place or enjoy a specific activity, like swimming, hiking, or singletrack mountain biking, and adjust your plans to the season and conditions.

The point here is, don’t let your zealous push to get to a specific place or do a particular activity blind you from the fact that it may be the wrong month, weekend, or place to experience what you’re really after. Here are some Inland Northwest trip ideas with some general direction on what you can expect and when it’s best to visit, without giving away all the secrets that you will benefit from discovering on your own!

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North Idaho SILVER VALLEY

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When you drive east on I-90 from Spokane through North Idaho, the Silver Valley extends between Fourth of July and Lookout passes and includes the towns of Kellogg and Wallace.

Best For: Mountain biking, hiking, mining history, fishing, rails-to-trails biking, and scenic drives.

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Lodging/Camping: Wallace and Kellogg have the largest, most modern hotels, and there are several historic lodging options in Wallace as well. Silver Mountain Resort’s Morning Star Lodge has vacation condos that include access to the resort’s huge indoor waterpark. Camping options include private RV resorts and dispersed camping on nearby public lands, as well as several popular Forest Service campgrounds along the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River.

Top Picks 1. SVR Bike Park: New mountain bike

trails and jumps above Wallace could open as early as April 30 at SVR Bike Park. At least at first, there will be a cap on the number of riders each day as things get dialed, says bike park spokesman Mitchell Bryan. “We want it to have the feel of riding with a group of your friends but with all of the benefits of a professional bike park.”

Right out of the gate the park will include shuttled access to an expert jumpline, a 1.9 mile intermediate-to-expert downhill race trail, a 1.9-mile beginner-to-expert flow trail, and an airbag for jump practice.

Construction will continue come spring,

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with a pump track and more trails in progress. More info at Svrgas.com.

2. Route of the Hiawatha: Mountain

biking the 15-mile Route of the Hiawatha near Lookout Pass is a ride through stunning beauty and of historical significance.

Ride through the Bitterroot Mountains on an old railroad line with 10 train tunnels and seven impressive trestles.

3. Silver Mountain Resort: Mountain biking, hiking, and scenic gondola rides are offered all summer long at Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg. The downhill mountain bike trails are the big draw here, attracting expert riders from across North America, but there are beginner and intermediate trails too to fit just about any rider’s ability level. In past years Silver has also offered lessons for riders looking to build their downhill skills.

4. Historic Wallace: Check out the North Idaho mining history out of downtown Wallace where you’ll find historic buildings, museums, mine and historic site tours, and more in one of a handful of cities entirely listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Don’t miss hiking the nearby Pulaski interpretive trail, and be sure to sample the town’s excellent breweries, restaurants, and pubs.

5. Silver Streak Zip Line Tours: Fly down a mountain at Silver Streak Zip Line Tours above the town of Wallace. Choose from two different courses and 11 separate zips for some high-flying, fast-paced action.

OPPOSITE PAGE:BEAUTY BAY VIEWS AT TIMBERLINE ADVENTURES. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN LEE. TOP LEFT: CABINET MOUNTAINS DERRICK KNOWLES // TOP RIGHT: SVR BIKE PARK. PHOTO: MITCHELL BRYAN // THIS PHOTO: FARRAGUT SWIM AREA. PHOTO: AMY MCCAFFREE.

6. Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes: Ride sections of the 73-mile, mostly-flat, paved bike trail that traverses parts of Lake Coeur d’Alene, the Coeur d’Alene River, and the forested mountains of the Idaho Panhandle.

LAKE PEND OREILLE Idaho’s longest and deepest lake, Lake Pend Oreille, dominates the North Idaho landscape around Sandpoint, Idaho. The lake offers unbeatable water sports activities, with over 200 miles of shoreline, and the surrounding mountains provide lake views and miles of hiking and biking trails.

Best For: Swimming, paddling, boating, and hiking/mountain biking trails, as well as arts, culture, and excellent restaurants in Sandpoint.

Lodging/Camping: Find a wide range of lodging options in and around Sandpoint, along with plentiful public campgrounds a short drive from town. If other options are booked or you’re looking for a more rustic camping experience, look for free, dispersed campsites along Forest Service roads that lead to hiking trailheads.

Top Picks 1. Sandpoint City Beach: A popular

stretch of public sand on the lake only a few minutes-walk from downtown, this 6-acre park includes protected swimming areas

and grassy picnicking spots. Note that dogs are not allowed.

2. Hike & Bike: There are several trail

systems for mountain biking and hiking around Sandpoint. Try local-favorite and close-to-town trails at the Syringa Trails system. Check out Pendoreillepedalers.org or Trailforks for more options and maps.

3. MTB Schweitzer: Lift-assisted mountain bike trails at Schweitzer Mountain connect with The Little Sand Creek Basin trails below the resort to create a 25-mile trail network. Schweitzer also offers scenic chairlift rides, summertime dining, and hiking trails. New trails are always in the works, so return and ride often.

4. High Country Hiking: There are

enough hikes in the wild and rugged Selkirk and Cabinet mountain ranges, which create the dramatic backdrop to Lake Pend Oreille, to fill a guidebook. Try day hikes in the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness or choose the right trail from one of several real guidebooks.

5. Farragut State Park: Hike, bike, and

enjoy the lake at Farragut State Park south of Sandpoint. This huge 4,000-acre park has six campgrounds, rental cabins, and over 40 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Enjoy lake and beach access with excellent swimming spots.

LOLO PASS/CLEARWATER COUNTRY 40 miles southwest of Missoula, Mont., Highway 12 climbs over 5,233 foot Lolo Pass in the Bitterroot Range. Heading west from that high point, the highway follows the Lochsa and Clearwater rivers to Lewiston, Idaho, passing through a magnificent spread of public lands with seemingly endless trails and roadside historic sites.

Best For: Whitewater rafting and kayaking, hiking, camping, backpacking, summertime swimming, back road drives, wildlife viewing, history, and fishing.

Lodging/Camping: Literally surrounded by wilderness, there are few lodging options along the Highway 12 corridor, but the ones you’ll find are quite unique and enjoyable. Rent a rustic cabin at Lochsa Lodge near Lolo Pass and high-mountain hiking trails. Or head down to lower elevations near the confluence of the Selway and Lochsa rivers to find newer, larger cabins and glamping tents at River Dance Lodge or cabins, RV sites, and camping options at Three Rivers Resort. There are several public campgrounds on the Lochsa and Selway rivers and endless, free dispersed camping opportunities along Forest Service roads.

Top Picks 1. Whitewater Rafting: Rafting the wild

Lochsa River during peak flows, typically

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THIS PAGE: TOP: MARY KATE GRIFFITH FILTERS WATER IN THE HIGH COUNTRY OF NORTH IDAHO. PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES// PHOTO COURTESY OF TIMBERLINE ADVENTURES

in May and early June, is a recreation rite of passage for Inland Northwest outdoors lovers. The rapids are no joke, so book a trip with an outfitter if you don’t have class IV whitewater skills.

2. Wilderness Hiking: Hike the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness to find solitude in this vast and beautiful national treasure.

With over a million acres of land and nearly 2,000 miles of trails, it’s not hard to find the right trail. Many trails receive spotty maintenance, so try trailheads close to the highway or out of the Wilderness Gateway Campground. Phone the Forest Service for more trail info.

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RV PADS

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CABINS

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TRAILS

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MEETING HALLS

3. Selway River Falls: Drive to Selway

Falls on the Selway River to gawk at the cascade’s beauty and then go for a hike.

The Falls are most dramatic in May and June but is a beautiful sight to behold anytime. Later in the summer, there are plenty of beaches and swimming spots downriver. Hikes nearby include the Selway River Trail, a mellow, meandering trail that follows the Selway River into designated wilderness (rattlesnakes can be plentiful), and the Meadow Creek Trail that climbs gently for the first three miles up a major tributary of the Selway (a more rattlesnake-free hike).

4. Historic Sights: Anyone interested in 24

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Native American and early U.S. history will enjoy exploring the miles of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail and Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail that parallels parts of US Highway 12. The Nez Perce National Historical Park near Lewiston with its visitor center, museum, and several historic sites is a must-see too.

SALMON RIVER CANYONS The Salmon River or “River of No Return” carves through the largest block of designated wilderness in the lower 48 states and is largely inaccessible to all but permitted whitewater boaters and hardcore hikers and horse packers. Downstream surrounding the town of Riggins, Idaho, is another story. Opportunities for road-side access to the river canyons abound.

Best For: Whitewater rafting and kayaking, river paddleboarding, swimming, spring hiking, gravel riding, and fishing.

Lodging/Camping: Riggins has a number of motels and hotels as well as plenty of restaurants, stores, and other amenities.

Informal camping can be found at strips of riverside public land along the Salmon up and downstream from Riggins. There are fewer developed campgrounds with RV access and services along the Big Salmon Road east of Riggins; however, RV accommodations and camping can be found at

TOP: BART RAYNIAK ON THE SALMON RIVER. // LEFT: CAROL CORBIN CRACKING EGGS. // STRETCH OF IDAHO TROPICAL BEACH. PHOTOS: SHALLAN KNOWLES

several RV parks in and around town.

spotty so go prepared.

Top Picks 1. Whitewater Rafting: Go whitewater

3. Wilderness Hiking: Hike the near-

rafting or kayaking on day-trip sections of the Salmon up and downstream from Riggins. If you don’t have experience boating potentially challenging class III whitewater, sign up for a guided trip. The whitewater is bigger, colder, and more thrilling in late spring and early summer and more mellow yet technical in the summer, when the blasting summer heat and refreshing river make for a magical mix of whitewater thrills, relaxing floaty sections, and endless swimming holes.

2. Gravel Riding: Grab your gravel grind-

er or mountain bike and ride some of the epic gravel roads around Riggins. Most of the rides are out-and-back and call for relentless climbing, although a more mellow and stunning option is to try Allison Creek Road or French Creek off of the Big Salmon Road or Slate Creek Road north of Riggins off of Hwy 95. For an epic 34-mile roundtrip gravel ride that climbs around 5,500 feet, head up the Seven Devils Road just south of Riggins. Once you reach the road’s end at Windy Saddle, it’s all downhill from there. Riders in a hurry to make it back to town or camp for happy hour can also arrange a shuttle to the top for a one-way descent. Local drivers may not be accustomed to cyclists and cell coverage is

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by Gospel Hump Wilderness, a mostly summer-only option, or find spring-andsummer hiking along trails in the Rapid River south of Riggins. The Seven Devils Mountains offer excellent summer hiking, although lakes along the classic 27-mile loop have become increasingly crowded. To avoid camp congestions, choose tent sites away from lakes when backpacking, dayhike sections of the loop from the trailhead, or hike the whole 27-mile loop in one long, challenging day hike.

4. Fire Lookout Hike: Take the short hike to Heaven’s Gate Lookout in the Seven Devils Mountains. At 8,429 feet, the views are stunning. The lookout has been staffed during the summer in past years and is accessible once the snow is gone from the 17-mile-long Seven Devils Road to the Windy Saddle Trailhead. Continue walking on the Boise Trail past the lookout to extend your hike.

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5. River Chilling: Find your own spread

of tropical-looking riverside summer beach along Hwy 95 north of Riggins or along the Big Salmon Road and enjoy excellent swimming and beach lounging come midsummer when river flows drop and the heat feels like a hairdryer on high.

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WASHINGTON

KETTLE RIVER COUNTRY

The Kettle River crosses the U.S./Canadian border several times as it flows 175-miles from its headwaters in southeast British Columbia to the Columbia River. Nearby towns of Republic, Curlew, and Kettle Falls offer tourist sites and amenities, while the river and neighboring Kettle River Range mountains provide all-season outdoor recreation and solitude.

Best For: Hiking, mountain biking, swimming, river tubing, rail-trail riding, and scenic highway drives.

Lodging/Camping: Find charming, Old West-themed hotels in downtown Republic or budget motels in Kettle Falls. With a bit of searching you can find cabins for rent, and there is no shortage of developed RV parks and campgrounds, free primitive camping areas with limited services, and dispersed campsites off Forest Service roads throughout Ferry County.

Top Picks 1. Kettle Crest Hiking: Hiking in the

most Ferry County Rail Trail trailhead.

3. River Floating: Floating the Kettle

River in a tube or kayak upstream from Curlew or downstream from the tiny town of Orient on the eastside of the Kettle Range is the best thing to do in Northeast Washington on a scorching summer day.

Especially on the eastside, tubing is only safe once river flows drop mid-to-late summer. Check Americanwhitewater.org for more info and ask locals for best, legal putin and take-out spots.

4. Mountain Biking: Mountain biking

the Kettles’ mostly advanced and sometimes technical trails with loads of climbing draw a passionate, fit bunch of riders. One of the few easier (but still challenging) rides that can even be shuttled is the recently reopened Taylor Ridge Trail accessed off of Boulder Pass. Taylor can be ridden out and back from the lower trailhead to the Crest (around 20 miles with a ton of climbing) or shuttled for an easier one-way ride from the upper trailhead that still has at least 1,000 feet of climbing. Check trail conditions before going.

Kettle Range Mountains ranges from short day hikes like the Sherman Peak Loop and Columbia Mountain Loop off of Sherman Pass to multi-day backpacking trips on the Kettle Crest. High-country hiking in earlyto-mid summer on the Crest can treat hikers to dramatic displays of wildflowers and sagebrush with few other hikers the farther you stray from the trailheads.

5. Stonerose Fossil Site: Anyone interested in fossils should definitely spend some time splitting rocks to find real, 49-million-year-old fossils at the Stonerose Interpretive Center and Eocene Fossil Site in Republic. The center is typically open starting in April.

2. Rail Trail Riding: The crushed-rock

PEND OREILLE RIVER

surface of the hill-free Ferry County Rail Trail near Republic makes for an enjoyable ride for all ages and abilities. While the trail runs 25 miles from near the town of Republic to the Canadian border, parts of the trail are still being re-surfaced, which means most riders will want to take on shorter out-and-back sections of improved trail. To extend your ride from town, pedal the Golden Tiger Pathway to the southern-

The Pend Oreille River runs west from Lake Pend Oreille before turning north through Northeast Washington on its 130mile run to the Columbia River in British Columbia. Boaters, paddlers, and wildlife flock to the river that has both reservoircreated slackwater sections and below-dam current. To the east, the Selkirk Mountains create a gorgeous, scenic backdrop to the river valley.

OPPOSITE PAGE: KETTLE CREST. JON JONCKERS. // THIS PHOTO: KETTLE CREST. JON JONCKERS // BELOW LEFT: STONEROSE FOSSILS. PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES // BELOW: KETTLE RIVER FLOATING . PHOTO: J. FOSTER FANNING

Best For: Paddling, boating, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, camping, scenic drives, history, wilderness, and wildlife viewing.

Lodging/Camping: You can find motel lodging in many of the small towns north of Newport, but for a unique, historic experience, check out the 110-year-old Washington Hotel in Metaline Falls that offers 14 rooms with shared bathrooms down the hall. For RV and developed tent camping, try the new Kalispel RV Resort owned by the Kalispel Tribe of Indians in Cusick. There are several Forest Service campgrounds along the river and at Sullivan Lake and plentiful free camping off of nearby national forest roads.

Top Picks 1. Water Trail Paddling: Paddle sections

of the Pend Oreille River Water Trail for an up-close, human-powered tour of the river. The water trail covers 70 miles of the Pend Oreille River from Oldtown, Idaho, to

Boundary Dam near the Canadian border.

The trail outlines a designated route for small boats, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards to travel down the river that includes information on access areas, points of interest, picnic stops, and campsites.

2. Salmo Priest Hikes: Take a hike in the

Salmo Priest Wilderness in the far northeastern corner of Washington. Several trails traverse subalpine ridgelines with views of Priest Lake while others wind through the fern and moss-covered ancient cedar forest of this inland temperate rainforest. This is grizzly bear country so be bear aware, keep a clean camp, and carry bear spray.

3. Hike, Bike, Swim: Sullivan Lake at the north end of Pend Oreille County is no secret but you should have plenty of elbow room on a hike on the Lakeshore Trail or mountain bike ride on the Noisy Creek Trail. There are plenty of other trails to choose from nearby too. Wash off the

LEAVE NO TRACE During last summer’s huge increase in use of public lands, many of our favorite places took a beating from inconsiderate outdoor recreationists. Let’s do better this summer by doubling down on our own Leave No Trace practices and politely reminding others to do the same. And we should all carry extra garbage bags with us wherever we go to pick up the inevitable trash that’s left behind.

1. Pack out all your trash and any left by others.

2. Respect wildlife and don’t feed them.

3. Don’t harsh on the mellow vibe of other nature lovers.

4. Never leave human waste or toilet paper on the ground. Learn how to bury your waste properly (away from water), pack it all out, or find a restroom.

5. Don’t collect or disturb native plants or other interesting bits of the natural world.

6. Limit campfires to conserve downed wood and lower chances of burning the place up.

7. Plan ahead to avoid emergency violation of Leave No Trace principles. This could happen, for instance, if you forget your stove fuel, forcing you to cook over a campfire where it’s not allowed.

8. Camp and travel on designated paths and campsites to avoid hacking and tromping your own way through virgin forest or desert.

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LEFT: LAKE ROOSEVELT FLOTILLA. PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES. // NEAR THE BOUNDARY DAM. CAROL CORBIN

sweat with a swim in the lake at one of the two public beaches at each end of the lake.

4. Historic Sites: There are several his-

toric sites to see along the Pend Oreille River. The Pend Oreille River Manresa Grotto north of Usk on the Kalispel Reservation, is one of the tribe’s most sacred places. The caves there are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and can be explored via several short paths. In downtown Newport, the Pend Oreille County Historical Society and Museum with its intact pioneer cabins, an old train depot turned gift shop, and replica fire lookout is worth checking out. North in the historic mining town of Metaline Falls, just strolling through town is a walk back in time. Check out the Cutter Theater, Washington Hotel (that still welcomes guests), and several other historic buildings.

5. Fishing: The Pend Oreille River itself can offer excellent shore and boat fishing, and there are several lakes scattered about the mountains above the river valley that are also worthy of casting a line from shore or paddlecraft. Try Bead Lake, Sullivan Lake, or some of the smaller lakes to the east of the river. Note that some have gear and motor restrictions.

LAKE ROOSEVELT The 150-mile-long Lake Roosevelt, a reservoir created by the impoundment of the Columbia River in 1941 after the construction of Grand Coulee Dam, sprawls across Northeast Washington. From arid sagelands to pine and fir forests, the lakes scenic diversity and cultural significance is best explored by motorboat or paddlecraft.

Best For: Boating, paddling, swimming, fishing, and hiking.

ZIPLINE ADVENTURE!

Lodging/Camping: Two Rivers Resort at the confluence of the Spokane and Columbia rivers has an RV park and cabins for rent and there are VRBO options along the lake.

Camping is where it’s at on Lake Roosevelt though. The National Park Service manages several campgrounds, and many enjoy the excellent boat-accessed campsites. Or consider going in on a houseboat rental with friends or family for an experience of a lifetime.

Top Picks 1. Fort Spokane Camping, History and Hiking: Mix history and lake life at

Fort Spokane. Spend the day or reserve an RV or tent campsite and spend your days swimming, paddling, boating, and exploring the historical significance of this beautiful, pine-forested place. Visit the historic Fort Spokane Visitor Center and Museum to learn about the native tribes that gathered here for thousands of years to fish for

salmon and the more recent history of the U.S. Army’s incursions into the area in the late 1800s. There are also three trails to explore: the easy Sentinel Trail, strenuous Bluff Trail, and moderate Beach Trail.

2. Boating & Paddling: Lake Roosevelt has 22 public boat launches where you can launch a wide range of boats, from kayaks to ski boats, as well as several private marinas. If you don’t own your own boat, you can rent one from Lake Roosevelt Adventures for a day of touring, water skiing/wakeboarding, tubing, fishing, or swimming. There is also free first-comefirst-served camping along the lakeshore at designated boat-in campsites and other areas that are at least a half-mile from developed areas (be familiar with National Park Service rules for boat-in camping on Lake Roosevelt). Strong paddlers with the right gear can also paddle to a beach camp.

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When you don’t have time for a full out-of-town trip or you just need a quick adventure fix, try a variation on one of these local gems.

1. Hike or MTB a New Trail: Maybe the trail isn’t exactly new, but just new to you. Nothing beats the delight of exploring an unfamiliar place and encountering unexpected wonders over the next hill. If you’re running out of new-to-you trails, check out the super new Flying L Trail in the Dishman Hills in Spokane Valley or the hiking and biking trails out of the Mica Peak Conservation Area, both in Spokane Valley.

2. Bikepack the Centennial Trail: Ride one-way between Spokane and Coeur d’Alene on the Centennial Trail and end your ride at a swimming spot, park, or pub before staying the night at a nearby hotel, campground, or RV park. Then ride back home the next day.

3. BBQ Ride to the Bowl & Pitcher: Pack up the kids, rally your buddies, and load up the paniers with the makings of a barbecue-to-go on your bikes. Ride from your house or from a Centennial Trail trailhead to Riverside State Park’s Bowl & Pitcher where they have public barbecue grills in the picnic day-use area. For a closer, more urban adventure, ride to Coeur d’Alene Park in Browne’s Addition in Spokane and take over one of the grills there.

4. Go Birding: Thanks to humanity’s ongoing missteps when it comes to letting enough of nature live wild and free, bird populations across the planet and in our

own backyard are declining in frightening numbers. See how many new bird species you can identify by hiking Spokane Conservation Futures natural area trails or exploring other wild areas nearby. Find birding resources and learn more about getting involved in bird conservation locally and nationally at Audubon.org.

5. Fly Through the Trees above Lake Coeur d’Alene: Try ziplining close to

home at Timberline Adventures in Coeur d’ Alene. Experience seven exhilarating zip lines, two sweet sky bridges, and two autobelays against lake and mountain views.

Glide from tree to tree as you fly up to 400 feet above the trees. Timberline also offers a full zip line tour and lunch on the deck of a treehouse and a s’more-themed zip tour complete with sunset views.

6. Start a DIY Trash Cleanup: I first met Out There’s Everyday Cyclist columnist Justin Short wandering around a natural area down by the Spokane River several years ago. He was picking up trash on his own because it needed to be done. I was walking to a pub for a beer. I still feel guilty that I didn’t stop and help him out whenever I think about that. Damn that beer tasted good though. But really there’s no reason we can’t do both this spring and summer. Rally a few friends for a weekly or monthly DIY trash pick-up through a park

or natural area you love and finish at an outdoor patio for a drink well earned.

7. Bag a Nearby Summit: For summit views, hike to the top of Mount Spokane from one of the trails at the bottom of the mountain near the state park entrance for a long day hike with climbing galore. Closer to Coeur d’Alene and with fewer miles and less climbing is the out-and-back hike to North or South Chilco Mountain (or both). In Spokane Valley, trails up to Antoine Peak offer public lands access to great views of the valley that can be squeezed in after work.

8. Go Boating on Lake Coeur d’Alene:

If you’re interested in getting into boating but don’t have your own boat just yet, head out on one of Fun Unlimited’s rental boats. Options include several types of motorboats moored at Templin’s Resort in Post Falls.

9. Learn New Constellations: Find a nearby place where the sky is dark enough to gaze at the stars and learn new constellations. Download a star gazing app for a game-changing identification experience. Look for shooting stars, satellites, and UFOs too.

10. Ride the Fish Lake Trail: Ride the paved Fish Lake Trail near downtown Spokane. With a little bit of road riding, you can pedal all the way to Fish Lake for a dip or afternoon bike-fishing session. Or

continue on along the Columbia Plateau Trail through Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge as far as you dare to go. Wide, fat bike tires are standard equipment for riding the loose, ballast rock surfaces west of the Martin Road Trailhead near the town of Sprague.

11. Paddleboard, Kayak, or Go Tubing Downtown Spokane: Once river flows

drop and summertime temps rise, rent paddleboards or kayaks from Fun Unlimited at the Division Street put in (open all summer) and explore the calm waters upstream. If you live close enough, you can even ride your bike on the Centennial Trail to get to the put-in to go paddleboarding.

Or go tubing or kayaking on the mostly mellow whitewater below the falls from the put-in at Peaceful Valley or at People’s Park.

You can rent tubes and procure a shuttle from FLOW Adventures to simplify things.

Be sure to get off the river at the take-out at T.J. Meenach Bridge to avoid potentially dangerous rapids downstream.

12. Create Your Own MTB Epic:

Recruit a few friends and make your own 50-mile or century-distance mountain bike ride on trails and roads in and around Riverside State Park in Spokane or Canfield Mountain or Caribou Ridge area trails near Coeur d’Alene. That post-ride tailgate will never feel better. // (Derrick Knowles)

Lincoln County has 4.6 persons per Square Mile

That leaves a lot of room for YOU! Explore Washington’s largest lake and much more - within an hour of Spokane!

www.LakeRooseveltAndMore.com MARCH-APRIL 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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ON THE MOUNTAIN RESORT NEWS

LOCAL RESORT HAPPENINGS & SPRING DEALS SPONSORED BY SKI THE NW ROCKIES ASSOCIATION RESORTS

49 DEGREES NORTH TO INSTALL LONGEST LIFT IN WASHINGTON

Chewelah, Washington’s, 49 Degrees North recently announced some exciting news: a spring 2021 construction start on a new Doppelmayr high speed quad chairlift that will replace the existing Chair 1 (Bonanza).

“With a ride time of just six-and-halfminutes, the new lift will cut transport time to less than half of what it is currently,” says director of skier and rider services Rick Brown. The new lift will transport guests up the mountain much faster, which means “less time sitting on a chairlift and more time skiing or snowboarding,” he adds. The high-speed quad will also provide easier loading and unloading for all guests.

An undertaking of this magnitude has been years in the making, explains general manager Eric Bakken. “We want to thank our guests for their continued support and enthusiasm throughout the years and look forward to continuing to provide truly memorable mountain experiences for all.

We would also like to thank the U.S. Forest Service for their support and partnership in making this vision a reality,” adds Bakken.

Doppelmayr is the largest supplier and installer of chairlifts worldwide and operates production plants as well as sales and service centers in 50 countries. To date, they have built more than 15,100 installations for customers in 96 nations. 49’s new 900 HP lift will be the longest in Washington State at 6,644 feet, over a mile and a quarter in

sponsored by

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2021

length, and is planned to be ready by the start of the 2021/22 season. Follow the progress of this exciting project on social media.

WOMEN’S SKI/SNOWBOARD CLINICS AT 49 & MT. SPOKANE

kids up to age 12. The kids’ treasure hunt will include one treasure chest hidden on or near a green slope, one chest hidden on or near a blue slope, and one hidden along a black slope. Details at Skilookout.com.

Women skiers and riders have two options in March to participate in highly popular women-only skills clinics. On March 15 at 49 Degrees North, the Mastering the Mountain Series/Women’s Ski & Ride Club offers intermediate or advanced skiers and snowboarders the chance to build on skills with other women in a positive environment. The clinic runs 11:30 a.m.1:30 p.m. and the cost is $59, with registration required by calling 509.935.6649 (x610). Mt. Spokane is hosting its second women’s group clinic (the first one sold out) on Friday March 12. Led by the best female instructors on the mountain, the day includes three hours of instruction, morning coffee, lunch, and great door prizes. Participants are grouped by skill level in small pods. The cost is $79, with skiers and snowboarders welcome (equipment not included). Pre-registration online is required.

TOYOTA SKI FREE FRIDAYS HAPPENING IN MARCH

ST. PADDY’S DAY CHEERS & KIDS TREASURE HUNT

Toyota representatives will be in the parking lot at each resort for each event under a Toyota tent and will be handing out lift tickets to only one person per eligible vehicle, which would be the driver. No funny stuff, Lebowski.

Wear your green and enjoy a pint in the pub to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Lookout Pass March 17, and then help your kids find a pot of gold at the treasure hunt for

If you own a Toyota, Scion, or Lexus, head to these local mountains on the designated Ski Free Friday for that particular resort and you’ll score a free lift ticket for the day (one ticket for drivers only). Tickets are limited so reserve yours in advance online and follow each resort’s policy for turning your reservation into a lift ticket.

• March 5 at Silver Mountain. Look for representatives from Toyota in the parking lot to claim your free ticket.

• March 12 at Mt. Spokane. Bring proof of your lift ticket reservation with you and look for the Toyota representatives near Lodge 1 to claim your lift ticket before 1 p.m.

• March 19 at Lookout Pass. Show up in your Toyota, Lexus, or Scion and get one free lift ticket for you (the driver) for the day.

Look for the Toyota tent in the parking lot.

SPRING SEASON PASS SURPRISES

Mt. Spokane’s spring pass sale gives earlybirds the lowest price on season passes of the year until May 31. And if you’re a current passholder renewing for another year, you save $40 off of these prices: adult (18-59), $449; youth (7-17), $349; senior (60-69), $349; super senior (70-79), $309; midweek, $349. Mt. Spokane is also kicking off a Pass + Five deal that includes five lift tickets for the current season for new passholders.

Silver Mountain’s pass sale starts March 1, offering new passholders the opportunity to ski the rest of this season for free with their pass purchase. Silver is also now part of the Powder Alliance, and the resort is offering three free tickets at 17 other participating resorts (plus lodging deals) with the purchase of a Silver Mountain season pass (excludes midweek, ride only, and kids under 6).

At Lookout Pass, your 21/22 season pass purchase in March lets you ski or ride through the end of the season plus all next winter. With a massive snowpack, Lookout hopes to stay open through the third weekend of April too. Get the lowest price of the year on a season pass during the spring pass sale that lasts through April 30, 2021: adult (18-61), $319; youth (7-17), $239; senior (62-69), $239; super senior (70-79), $179, and midweek (non-holiday), $249. Lookout’s 21/22 season passes are available for pickup and to start using anytime in March 2021.

FROM LEFT: ARTISTIC RENDERING OF THE NEW LIFT AT 49 DEGREES NORTH. // SKI LOOKOUT WITH ANY PASS. PHOTO: AARON THEISEN. // LEADMAN TRI. PHOTO: JIM BOLSER. // CHAIR 2 AT MT SPOKANE COULD GET REPLACED.PHOTO: BOB LEGASA.

Spring skiers and riders are rejoicing at the news that 49 Degrees North is launching a new Spring Pass alongside the resort’s usual season pass and relatively new combo pass that covers 49 and Silver Mountain.

The Spring Pass, only $149 for adults and $129 for youth, is available March 1 and is valid for all days of operation through the end of the 2021 season, April 11. There is also the option to upgrade and apply the full cost of the Spring Pass to a 21/22 season pass (upgrade by April 11 for full credit or $100 off a season pass purchase after April 11). All new 21/22 season passholders that purchase their pass this spring will also score a free Spring Pass good for the remainder of this season. 21/22 season pass prices during the spring sale are $429 for adults or $299 for youth through May 4. Check out pricing for other pass categories online.

BANKED SLALOM SNOWBOARD RACE AT SILVER MARCH 6

Come race your snowboard through a banked slalom course in Silver’s terrain park. The 6th annual Doug E Fresh Banked Slalom race is a benefit for the Doug Johnson Memorial Fund. Doug was a loving father of 4 children and a fixture of the Inland Northwest ski and bike industry.

His early passing has left a void in the local mountain culture, so this event is to remember and celebrate Doug's way of life.

A Snowboard-only race against the clock through a hand-built banked course, this jam-format event gives contestants two timed runs each, with the fastest time counted. The beer garden at the bottom of the course is once again sponsored by Grand Teton Brewing.

MT. SPOKANE REQUESTS FUNDS TO REPLACE AGING CHAIRLIFTS

Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard park has submitted a request for state funding to replace the 65-year-old chair 1 and 50-yearold chair 2 at Mt. Spokane. Escalating maintenance and repair costs have exceeded $500,000 in the past three years, creating a major financial burden, and lift shutdowns have also become a more frequent occurrence. The solution proposed

by the mountain is to replace both lifts with triple passenger lifts that would add 1/3 more capacity. Moving more people more safely up the mountain with fewer interruptions would be a huge upgrade, says Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park general manager Jim van Löben Sels. The first of the lift replacements could, if all goes well with funding and construction, potentially be operational by the beginning of the 2021/22 season, he says.

The proposal for replacing chairs 1 and 2 at Mt. Spokane also raises the exciting possibility of bringing lift-assisted mountain biking to the mountain. Replacing the lifts “will be a community asset that will also help us move into more summertime operations and expand our ability to serve the mountain biking and hiking communities and offer a wedding program on the mountain as well,” explains van Löben Sels. “It will really make us much more viable because we can transport bikes up on these new lifts in the summer,” which, van Löben Sels adds, will also help cut down on traffic from people driving to the top of the mountain.

USE YOUR PASS FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE TO SKI LOOKOUT HALF PRICE

If you have a valid season pass to any other ski resort in the country, including Icon, Epic, Powder Alliance, and others, you can use it to score a half price adult or youth lift ticket at Lookout Pass this spring. This awesome offer is valid midweek in March and any day in April. No reservations are required, just show up at the ticket window with your valid season pass from another ski area.

SNOWSKATES TO DESCEND ON LOOKOUT PASS & SILVER MOUNTAIN

Snowskaters will ride Rolling Thunder, the winding natural halfpipe at Lookout Pass, for the 7th Annual Boyd Hill SortaNatural Banked Slalom competition March 6. A 20-year-old invention native to the Inland Northwest, the snowskate is a hybrid skateboard/snowboard that has two decks and no bindings, with the addition of a leash.

The boards emulate the flow of skateboarding but on snow.

In 2009, Bryce Rich and Todd Delyea saw the need for a local snowskate manufacturer, so they partnered with TJ Sneva of Sneva Manufacturing in Spokane to build the first Boyd Hill Snowskates (boydhill.com). The annual two-day event showcases Lookout and Silver, promotes the sport, and features the Boyd Hill brand. “In snowboarding,” says Rich, “banked slaloms are legendary events.

We wanted the coolest banked slalom that made sense for snowskating.”

And the terrain park at Lookout is the perfect place for the event, says resort marketing manager Matt Sawyer. “Rolling Thunder is a long, winding natural halfpipe leftover from the mining days in this area. When it fills with snow, it creates an awesome banked slalom course, which is key for this fun and memorable event.”

On March 7, snowskaters can then head down to Silver Mountain for Monday Fun Day where they can ride the course from the Doug E. Fresh Banked Slalom event the day before. Snowboarders and skate boarders are particularly drawn to snowskating, but because of its easy technique and simple design, the sport is a great fit for anyone. Spectators are also encouraged.

“It’s a spectacle, that’s for sure,” chuckles Rich. Register at boydhill.com and check it out on Facebook and Instagram. (S. Michal Bennett) SKI OR RIDE, BIKE, & RUN AT SILVER’S LEADMAN TRIATHLON APRIL 17

The 17th Leadman triathlon is happening April 17. Leadman is an exciting individual or team competition for those who prefer a rowdy adventure course and might be a bit softer than the traditional Ironman athlete.

Ski/board, bike, and run your way to the finish line at Silver Mountain Resort’s Gondola Village. Come on out for a real thrill or to just enjoy the festivities of Leadman day at Silver. 100% of the net event proceeds benefit community projects sponsored by the Kellogg Rotary Club.

SPRING SKIING FOR A GOOD CAUSE AT 49

Close the season out with spring skiing and riding for a good cause at 49 Degrees North. Spring Week is a chance to head up

to the mountain for a great price, with tickets only $30 for adults and $20 for youth with a donation of one food item to benefit the Chewelah Food Bank. More details at Ski49n.com.

HAWAIIAN BBQ & CARDBOARD BOXES INVADE LOOKOUT

As Lookout Pass gets ready to send winter season downstream, what they are billing as a “responsible spring rally party” will get underway on the back deck April 11.

Jimmy Buffett tunes will be blasting and barbeque and cold brews will be up for grabs as competitors and spectators get ready for the Cardboard Box Derby at 2 p.m. To participate, make something you or your kids can slide down a short section of trail on using only cardboard, duct tape, paint, and markers and get ready to slide down the mountain and pray your contraption holds together longer than the others. Awards will be handed out for the most unique and best theme. Details at Skilookout.com.

MT. SPOKANE BIDS TO BRING BEAR CREEK LODGE INTO PUBLIC HANDS

The historic Bear Creek Lodge just outside the state park boundary on the way up to Mt. Spokane could become an iconic park gateway if a state funding proposal and partnership by Mt. Spokane and Washington State Parks gains traction. The lodge could be improved to serve as a needed location for providing state park administrative services such as Discover Pass purchase requests. An updated lodge could also provide the type of guest services the ski area can deliver, such as food and beverage services and event space opportunities, says Mt. Spokane general manager Jim van Löben Sels. “This would be an incredible addition to Mount Spokane State Park if the funding comes through,” he says. Adding Bear Creek Lodge as part of the state park would bring an additional 106 acres to the park, including the lodge and tubing park, parking space, and opportunities to enhance trail access opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and other recreational user groups in the future. // MARCH-APRIL 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

31

ON THE MOUNTAIN MOUNTAIN CULTURE

Commitment to powder days.

WHITEF ISH MOUNTAIN RESORT

OH CANADA! BORDER CLOSURES DELVER A LOCALS-ONLY SHRED FEST IN THE KOOTENAYS IT’S BEEN A LONG YEAR, especially if

you’re a fan of the fantastic singletrack, snow, and culture found in abundance in our provincial neighbour to the north.

Being cut off from the B.C. Kootenays during this pandemic has been a major, sometimes surreal bummer to say the least. Anyone else been daydreaming about sneaking across the border to Kootenay Pass on skis?

I’ve also spent an unusual amount of time this winter wondering how the skiing life is transpiring at some of my favourite places

W H I T E F I S H , M O N TA N A

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In the ‘30s local skiers discovered good skiing on the “big mountain” north of town. Since then we’ve been committed to a life of good times,

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2021

Photos © GlacierWorld.com

MEET POWDER MATT “Powder” Matt Mostellar lived in his car for 63 days one winter so he could ski every day. When he isn't backcountry skiing, hitting long trails, or drinking craft coffee in Kimberley, B.C, he shares stories through major media outlets to inspire people to get their own goodness outside. He is a passionate advocate of ways to seek a deeper good in life and greater community value through more time in nature. To that end he is the co-founder of the #TimeOut and #DisconnecttoConnect movement as well as the co-creator of #MappyHour Canada, which inspires people to get outside.

Where did the Powder Matt handle come from? Years ago while ski touring with a group of friends, one of them said they were done for the day. One of Matt’s buddies turned to that guy and said “well, you got to get the flake-face “Powder Matt” convinced it’s time to go.” And the name stuck like powder snow in a winter beard.

Powder Matt has spent the pandemic living in Kimberley, B.C. “We love this place,” he says. “It’s a real community of passionfilled outdoor lovers. We had lived here before and returned pre-COVID to be back in the mountains with trails and forest out the back door. And it’s six minutes from the ski runs.” (DK)

north of the border. Like what’s a powder day at RED or WH2O like without us Americans crowding up the lift lines, filling condos and hotel rooms, and engaging in unusually loud après? What’s the scene like up at Kootenay Pass?

Since illegally skiing into Canada for a first-hand story was out of the question, we tapped Kimberley, B.C. local and self-proclaimed ski bum “Powder Matt” to share some words about the pandemic skiing life along B.C.’s Powder Highway.

(Derrick Knowles)

TOP PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES // THIS PHOTO: POWDER MATT. // BELOW: POWDER MATT

SHREDDING THE KOOTENAYS IN THE COVID-ERA

BY POWDER MATT Headlights popping around the buildingsized snowbanks, as the early herd arrives.

Locals, mostly from Nelson, arrive for the first laps of the day. It’s the Kootenay Pass coffee hour rush—unload gear and savour the powder-ticipation. A busyish, local feel where you see some you know, or friends of your powder friends, and it feels good.

Not too rushed like Teton Pass rush hour.

So cool that so many new peeps are taking avy courses, spending extra time to learn about gear, and going out with experienced friends. Everyone shared the snow joy of many days of freshies in January. A simple art, letting nature craft and define memories.

Starting and ending with ritual. The West Kootenays called. Food still rules in Nelson where they’re taking ‘to go’ food to a higher level. With travel restrictions in place and mostly adhered to, it was local freshies at RED and Whitewater. To join the white circus, one had to start early, get your joe quickly, and hopefully find that coveted parking spot. So many locals took to schussing here, and with COVID, everyone drove in their own car, complete with a household bubble.

So car space became a premium.

Old school après happened in the parking lot too since most stayed away from the day lodge. Tailgates down, growlers out, people re-parked to social distance guidelines, tunes blaring. It was déjà vu, back to the 70s and 80s we went. Flakes fresh, vertical slayed, everyone local and old school.

PANDEMIC DEEP THOUGHTS FROM THE POWDER HIGHWAY

We won’t ever forget this great ‘reset.’ While there have been plenty of tragic outcomes to focus on, the pandemic has also helped us realize we have the opportunity to dream.

And what better place to begin dreaming than being surrounded by powder? Using your imagination and, (when it’s safe to do so) making it a reality, is sorely needed now more than ever. It can provide a deeper sense of freedom for our souls.

There’s also an opportunity here to reflect on the power of powder. Together, we can still celebrate the little things. Caring for each other and being humble is why this place up north makes me realize it is such a good place to be, or in your case, dreaming about (for now).

RESILIENCE IS SO GOOD. Here along the

Powder Highway of British Columbia, there’s a mega snowfall amount each year.

The peaks are so big they protrude through the clouds, mountain faces rugged and pock marked. The trees in places are thicker than frozen peanut butter—yeah, we stand by that bold statement. You could say that if you ski tour here, you work for it.

You can’t give up. With over 70 feet of snow falling in places along this road, you also need to learn, listen, and adapt in order to travel safely.

ALWAYS FRIENDS. Contrary to what some

say, ‘no friends on a powder day’ is a highly dangerous mantra. Friends are so vital in all we do, especially outdoor time. Not only do we depend on friends for safety, like extraction from tree wells or the shovel of life when incidents occur, MARCH-APRIL 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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ON THE MOUNTAIN BC, CONTINUED

FROM LEFT: OVERTIME BEER WORKS KIMBERLEY BC // CAN YOU SAY BIG? KICKING HORSE BC // WELCOME TO KIMBERLEY. PHOTOS: POWDER MATT

but they also celebrate those turns along with us. They’re right by your side, or at least tagging along, for those long laps of over 4,000 feet of fall line and thighburning fun, like the ones at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, B.C. So go ahead and let ’er buck with the best of ‘em. But most importantly, always remember to give back. Give back to those who matter in your life and, just as vital, surprise and delight those you don’t know. Acts of kindness are always welcome, as are the massive smiles they send your way in return.

COUCH SURFING. Ski bums share; not just their couch, but also a round of local craft

beers for old and new friends after a long day on the slopes. When you scan the local brew house, like Fernie Brewing Co, search out that Lone Wolf IPA in the crowd and make them feel part of your pack. Offer up and toast a glass in true ski bum style by taking care of others and taking turns together.

BE OPEN. I am so grateful and fortunate to

call this powder paradise home, but not everyone can live and play in a wild place, with the largest concentration of ski touring lodges, cabins, ski areas, heli and cat ski operations in North America. It is truly off the charts, but there are people, all types and all ethnic backgrounds, that may not

be able to or don’t have the opportunity to explore such places. So, if you can, share this sport, give others a chance to experience the benefits of outdoor time and nature.

LIVE SIMPLE. Maybe this one goes without

saying in the COVID days of conserving toilet paper, but this is the spark that can help us make worldwide changes that benefit everyone. When I roll into Kimberley, B.C., my day instantly becomes brighter knowing that this little community built the largest municipal solar power installation in Canada. What’s more? This whole town is crazy about biking all year long for play and work. And to top that

LOCATED IN KELLOGG, IDAHO JUST 1 HOUR EAST OF SPOKANE

SEASON PASSES ON SALE NOW 34

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2021

all off? It has one of North American’s first pedestrian-only, no-car main streets in a mountain town. We can all find simple ways to use less, reduce our carbon footprint, and live more simply to ensure these same bike trails and ski runs will be around for generations.

BE A DO-GOODER. Do-gooders should be

everywhere now, especially as we rally to help others come back from COVID and take massive steps to get goodness back in our everyday lives. So volunteer, deliver meals, get active in your local environmental cause and become more involved by doing something every day that leads to positive change. //

ARTIFACTS ON THE MOUNTAIN

HAND-ME-DOWN SKI BOOKS

BY DERRICK KNOWLES

THIS WINTER, a pile of books from the 70s and 80s that cover a range of skiing topics, from ski racing, and ski maintenance to ski technique, landed in my possession. A mutual friend (thanks Petey) connected me with Ted Rupp, an accomplished Inland Northwest skier, who was ready to pass the books on to someone else who would appreciate them.

Over the years I’ve become a casual collector of classic outdoors-themed literature

and guidebooks. I enjoy so many things about books like these. From the images that paint a picture of the outdoor life that transpired before modern gear and in many cases before I was born to the word choice and literary style used to explain technical outdoor skills.

So while I don’t intend to put the books’ teachings to a ton of practical use—even though I’m sure once I dig into them I will learn a few things—I was grateful to have

them. There has to be some useful tips in “How to Ski The New French Way,” 80sera “Ski Maintenance and Repair” by Seth Masia, or “How the Racers Ski.” And there are no doubt plenty of laughs waiting on the pages of “Here Come the Skiers,” a book of ski cartoons by the late Seattle artist Bob Cram. But above all for me, the allure of books like these is the historic glimpse they offer into ski culture from another era.

Rupp learned to ski in junior high at the now defunct North-South Ski Bowl near St. Maries, Idaho. “I pretty much taught myself to ski by watching the college students that taught there and imitating what I saw them doing,” he says. By the late 60s and 70s, Rupp was a ski instructor at Breckenridge, where his mentors included the likes of ski legends Trygve Berge and Stein Erickson. Later Rupp taught at Steamboat and eventually Schweitzer.

The ski books, which he picked up at book stores or ordered through the mail from ski magazines, were primarily a resource of techniques and jargon that he used to hone his teaching skills and check himself to see if what he was doing was what the authors were describing. Back in Rupp’s ski instructor days, people who were serious about skiing either had instruction books or at least read them and were familiar with the contents, he says. “As I recall, the main thing

that was happening in skiing at that time is that my earlier gear had required the use of counter rotation in a turn so that the skier was looking downhill toward the inside shoulder, which was pointed at the tip of the skis.”

Rupp bought his first pair of skis for $30 around 1965, a set of laminated wood boards with P-Tex bases and screw on sectional edges. Henke had just started making buckle boots in the 50s, says Rupp, and the era of leather lace boots was on its way out.

Books like these, he says, came out to adjust to stiffer boots that allowed for more side-toside angulation at the hips and a more square posture looking down the hill.

"Ski the New French Way" and "Teach Yourself to Ski" both emphasized “a more square-and-balanced stance on the skis.”

Warren Witherell's book, “How the Racers Ski,” was “useful when I was teaching in that it helped with diagnosing student problems and helping to correct any issues they may have had.”

Ski equipment has continued to evolve in recent decades, making the sport more accessible to anyone who wants to learn.

Yet the importance of expert advice and instruction when it comes to learning to ski or improving on one’s skills, whether it’s gleaned from a book, online videos, or an in-person lesson, remains invaluable. //

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35

ON THE MOUNTAIN PROFILE PHOTO COURTESY OF FRED NOWLAND

SPOKANE SKI INDUSTRY ICON: FRED NOWLAND

BY BRAD NORTHRUP

THERE ARE VERY FEW true skiing icons in the Spokane area, but Fred Nowland is definitely one of them. A fixture of the ski industry for 36 years, chances are better than average that you have come across Fred at some point—whether it was in one of the various shops that he worked at over the years or perhaps at one of the local ski resorts. Possessing a gregarious personality

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2021

and distinctive laugh, you likely heard him before you saw him.

Nowland started out skiing in the late 1970s, when he and some buddies scrounged up some gear from local thrift stores and hit the hills at Manito Park. And like many kids of that generation, there was hooky-bobbing behind older friends’ cars.

“We mounted our own stuff, but since we

had no idea what we were doing, the screws went right through the bases. And we really didn’t care,” says Nowland. He “officially” started skiing at Mt. Spokane in 1985, taking advantage of $5 night skiing lift tickets and the ski bus that shuttled excited teenagers to the hill. “It didn’t matter how cold or wet it was, we would ski until last chair at 10 p.m. or until the lift operators kicked us off the hill.”

That same year, Nowland began working in the local ski industry, gaining a job at Sunset Sports Center, which later became Herman’s Sporting Goods. “One of my buddies got me a job as a rental dog, which later turned into ski tuning a year later.” By 1990, Nowland was the head ski tuner at the legendary Lou-Lou’s Ski Chalet, a position he held until the shop closed permanently in 2002.

During the summer months, Nowland ran the Rossignol Test Center at Mt. Hood, working with athletes from the US Ski Team and other national teams that trained on the Palmer Glacier. After Lou-Lou’s closed in 2002, he took his skills to the Spokane Alpine Haus on the South Hill, where he remains to this day. Over a 36-year span, Nowland figures he has touched somewhere around 175,000 pairs of skis.

After all of those years in the industry, you would think he would have seen it all. But, alas, the strangest thing Nowland

witnessed didn’t occur until this season. “A guy was interested in buying some skis, and asked if the marked price was for each ski or for the pair,” he says. “I was dumbfounded by the fact that I had never heard someone ask that before.”

When not in the shop, Nowland spends his weekends at 49 Degrees North, where he serves as a mountain host, directing guests and assisting ski patrol when needed. “I love doing it,” he says. “I mean, it keeps me on the hill and forces me to go skiing, even on those days when I really don’t feel like it.” His perfect day on the mountain consists of no wind, full sun, and firm corduroy groomers, and his favorite run is Dreamline, which drops directly below the Sunrise Basin quad.

“I kinda like the limelight of skiing that run—you gotta bring your A-game when you know people are watching from the chair.”

Despite three-and-a-half-decades of experience and a reputation as one of the finest ski tuners in the industry, Nowland has somehow managed to keep it all in perspective. “I started out getting stuck working all day in a basement with no windows, and 36 years later, I’m still working in a basement with no windows—guess it could be worse.”

Brad Northrup is a former alpine race coach, ski industry professional, and long-time contributor to Out There Outdoors.

SKI BUM ADVICE ON THE MOUNTAIN

ABOVE LEFT: BIG WHITE HAS BIG APPIES. PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES // RIGHT TOP: LODGE FOOD. // BOTTOM RIGHT: NEW FRIENDS. // BOTTOM LEFT: TAILGATE TIME. PHOTOS AARON THEISEN

STUFF I MISSED THIS SEASON

BY BRAD NORTHRUP

WITH THE END OF THE SEASON nearly upon us, methinks this might be a good time to look back and be thankful that we even had the opportunity to enjoy the mountains at all this year. Heck, there were several resorts in Europe that never opened due the pandemic. Adding insult to injury was the fact that the EU finally banned neon one-pieces. Anyway, at the end of the day, we had good snowpack, the chairs were spinning, and cold beer could still be had.

While I am happy it all came together, there were a few things that I really missed this year.

and you got yourself one hell of a day. This year, however, was different. The bars were closed, though you could still purchase liquid courage for consumption in controlled areas outside. That said, I quickly discovered that the walk from the bar across a slick deck in ski boots can be challenging while carrying shots. This certainly had nothing to do with the fact that my balance ain’t what it used to be as I approach the big 50. As a side note, nothing really gets the smell of spilled Jagermeister out of your pants.

LODGE TABLE COMBAT

APRÈS SKI BEVERAGES

Nothing, and I mean nothing, completes a great day on snow like throwing back a few adult beverages with your crew in the bar, especially if they are buying. Mix in a little karaoke of Pearl Jam’s Even Flow,

During a “normal” season, one of my favorite people-watching venues is the lodge at lunch time. Few places so poignantly depict the true horror of humanity like a steamy lodge packed with sweaty teenagers, crying kids, and semi-intoxicated middle-

aged adults who still think they are in their twenties. As bad as that may sound, I really missed seeing it. I missed watching little Billy chucking a full Cup-O-Noodles at his sister while mom just gazed longingly at the peaceful slopes just beyond her reach. I missed watching the game the table lurkers played, waiting in the periphery to pounce on an open table the second it became available. And I really missed the poor dads who got stuck in the lodge babysitting on a powder day, greeting every grinning, snow-encrusted skier who entered with a 1,000 yard stare that seemingly looked right through their souls. I feel ya bro—I’ve been there.

this year when I ventured to the hill alone.

I really missed being told how I should look into getting new skis cuz mine are “too skinny,” or being enlightened on the location of the best powder runs, even though I know the mountain like the back of my hand. I missed the smell of my unknown chairlift partner’s cigarette smoke that always seemed to drift right into me no matter which way the wind was blowing. Though the stench of an unfiltered Marlboro does work wonderfully to cover up the sickly smell of Kentucky sour mash whiskey breath.

Yeah, I’m hoping we get back to normal next year. //

STRANGERS ON THE CHAIR

I really didn’t think I would miss the idle chatter with strangers on the chairlift, but, and I hate to admit it, I did on those days

Brad Northrup is a former ski racer, coach, and ski bum. The CDC has recommended that you should stay as far away from him as possible.

MARCH-APRIL 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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FISHING

2021 Fly Fishing Film Tour

Coming to a Living Room Near You

PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE FLY FISHING FILM TOUR

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past year the 15th annual Fly Fishing Film Tour is going virtual. While local anglers won’t be gathering in a downtown Spokane theater together to watch the films, that doesn’t mean you and a few of your fishing buddies can’t safely watch it together from the comfort of your living room.

This year’s festival comes through with unforgettable storytelling that spans the globe. Featured films range from the Guyana rainforest to Utah’s Flaming Gorge. Also included is a legendary tale of MLK Jr. and his connection to the Bahamas told by one of Bimini’s best bonefish guides.

This year’s Fly Fishing Film Tour is streaming March 10 through April 4 and will include the same unforgettable storytelling, camaraderie, and premium giveaways (including free trips with over $85,000 in prizes to win for attending) that you’ve experienced at live screenings in years past.

Film tour promoters insist this year’s films are arguably the most well-rounded collection ever. The 15th annual F3T is rich with stories of conservation, adventure, and stunning cinematography.

Follow along as a Russian Oligarch burns down poaching camps in order to clean up a remote river in the Russian far east to better protect the gigantic duckeating taimen that lurk in “River Tigers.”

And buckle up as Ryan Kelly takes you on

a deeply personal ride in Wyoming as he navigates the Flaming Gorge after a diagnosis of life-altering disease. Shift gears with the team from Meat Eater and guide/ shop owner Tim Landwehr as they rip lips in Wisconsin and highlight a world-class smallmouth bass fishery. Travel back in time with filmmaker Shannon Vandivier and Bahamian guide Ansil as they reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.’s lasting social impact and his passion for flats fishing in the Bahamas. And these are just some of the stories in this year’s tour.

Ticket buyers will also be given the unique opportunity to upgrade their Fly Fishing Film Tour ticket purchase to an “Active Pass” annual membership that includes streaming access to this year’s films plus unlimited access to many online articles, movies, and other content and perks from a collection of outdoor brands (Backpacker, SKI, Climbing Magazine, Warren Miller films and more).

The Active Pass includes pretty cool things like access to the Warren Miller film library with 47 films dating back to 1961; a one-year print magazine subscription to a choice of SKI, Backpacker, or Beta MTB; and access to events, courses, training plans with over 1,000 workouts.

The event is streaming March 10 through April 4 and you can snag tickets and watch the F3T “Stoke Reel” to get psyched for the films at Flyfilmtour.com. (OTO) //

A Perfect Day

LAST PAGE

By Bart Haggin

BART HAGGIN SKIING AT MT. SPOKANE. // PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR

CHRISTMAS EVE 2015 was to be a choice

day on Mt. Spokane. Several inches of fresh snow from an overnight storm, on top of the accumulation from days of snowy weather, promised top-of-the-line conditions. Yet in spite of our excitement, it turned out that the road to the mountain had been closed by the DOT because of downed trees and dropped power lines.

We had to drive to the signs to prove it to ourselves though. Surely they could open up the road to the mountain post haste. No! And the line of cars waiting to go up was a sight to behold. Our hopes were dashed and it was “iffy” for the next day.

On Christmas morning we called the mountain and checked the website early.

Things didn’t look good. My wife Lindell decided to take our dog, Nina, out for a three mile walk about 7:30, and I stayed home and read the paper and kept calling the mountain. Eventually I switched to the website, frustrated by phoning. It turned out the road would be opened at 9:15! Lindell was back now, and I shouted the good news to her.

After a rushed breakfast we jumped into the car and drove as fast as prudently possible out onto the slick roads to go SKIING! One catch. Others had the same idea. The long lineup of cars was barely moving when we got there. We inched ahead, seldom going over 20 mph in our slowest ascent to the ski area we’d ever had. The minutes dragged on, but in spite of our worry that going up the steep sections that slowly might be chancy, we got there with blue sky and sunshine.

Only a few wispy clouds drifted across the trackless terrain!

We charged up to the lodge from the parking lot and jerked our skis out of the locker.

The boots had never seemed to take so long to get on our feet before! After a quick “pit stop” we were on chair 3 and on our way to the day of dreams. We jumped off the chair and went straight to work. I was a bit too enthusiastic about the deep snow and “spun out” quite quickly. I am a very aggressive skier and follow the rule “No falls, no balls” so I got right up, and we were on our way.

It is hard to describe the feeling that you get from being knee deep in untracked powder snow to a “civilian.” Others have done that much better than I am capable of doing, but it is a sensation like no other.

The resistance is different than what you find at lesser depths or on a packed slope.

The feeling of almost weightlessness settles you into a world of wonder and drives you to try to experience it with all the speed you can handle. To say you float along is a gross understatement!

Most of the time I ski on the cutting edge of control because it is such an exciting place to be. When you know you are cheating gravity and obstacles, you know that this is your time and place. This is what joy is made of. This is the time to savor and breath in the moment for the next turn into skier heaven.

Then you realize that this is not an endless sensation. Your legs tell you!

Skiing in powder is not a relaxed walk in the park. Even at slower speeds it is demanding of strength and endurance. Maybe the

young and the restless are able to make it from top to bottom without stopping under these conditions, but more mature devotees enjoy respites to stop and drink in what has been done and gather courage for the next “thrust” into the beckoning downhill. The drive is to get down so you can start over while the untracked snow is still available.

The chairlift takes you up all too slowly!

Now it really helps to enjoy all this better if you don’t ski alone. You enjoy it so much more when you are able to express joyful feelings as you experience slightly different slices of the same pie. Stopping and looking down those steep runs is always a bonding experience that never grows old. I am so fortunate to have all that in my life partner.

When Lindell and I first got together one of the first questions she asked me was, “Will you teach me to ski”? Indeed I would! It was a real labor of love and she took to it like the proverbial duck. The first time getting off the chairlift at 49 Degrees North was almost a disaster, but she is a “gamer” and a marvelous and graceful powder skier in her 70s.

That Christmas Day she glided down the steepest terrain on Mt. Spokane with as much élan as the best of the younger set but maybe not quite as fast. However, when we ski together in deep snow, whenever I stop she is, usually, at my elbow, just uphill from me. And that is how it was on run after run that day.

We dashed over to Chair 2 from our start on the Nastar run and were well on our way for the “perfect day.” The run down the chair line is somewhat rolling with two pretty

steep pitches. Without very much traffic we were able to find all consuming, mostly untracked paths for several laps. Christmas day helped make this possible because, in spite of the magnetic attraction of the current conditions, the day has built in limitations for a big crowd. While Mt. Spokane can get tracked up fairly quickly, there were fewer skiers to do it that day.

We almost wore ourselves out under Chair 2, but the lift had mechanical problems.

Rather than wait for them to fix it we rushed over to Chair 3 and then scooted over to 1 on the lower cat track. Chair 1 is our preferred area on a day like that day. We figured by then it would be mostly tracked up but we still found some good stuff left. The legs were calling to us now though. We stayed for two more runs before it was time to bail. And it was a relief to go back on Rulon Run which was well groomed.

It was a day of days for the two of us, and we never had a more enjoyable and exciting time with our clothes on! It truly was one of best days of my life. I call it a perfect day.

At age 84, Bart Haggin still runs an average of 1,400 miles per year and skis 30-plus days each season. He has been a certified ski instructor with the Professional Ski Instructors of America for over 60 years. He emailed right before we went to print with this exuberant report on his latest epic ski day: “Number 1 has never been better! Like an Olympic downhill run! Got up to 58 mph on the first run and 48 mph on a later run…

Great day! Gorgeous!”

MARCH-APRIL 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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