Out There Outdoors // March-April 2022

Ou t T h er e Snow // ski + Snow boar d + w inte r f u n MARCH-APRIL 2022 // FREE

THE INLAND PACIFIC NORTHWEST GUIDE TO ADVENTURE + TRAVEL + CULTURE

2022 Race, Ride, & Event Guide

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

+

Local Kayaker Runs the Zambezi

People in the Wild

Your Spring Fever Cure MTB ECHO // NIGHT HIKING // UTAH DESERT MUSHROOM HUNTING // TRAIL & RECREATION NEWS

BU BU DGE DGE TT ++ VALU VALU EE ++ LU LU XX UU RY RY PRODUCTS PRODUCTS

OT OT ISISORCHARD ORCHARD SS MOSES MOSESLAKE LAKE SPO SPO KAN KAN EE

1325 1325N NDIDI VVISION ISION ST ST SPO S PO KAN KAN EE SU SU ITE ITE10 10 33

OPEN OPEN DAI DAI LYLY

APEXCAN APEXCAN NABIS NABIS . COM . COM

Warning: Warning: ThisThis product product hashas intoxicating intoxicating effects effects & may & may be habit be habit forming. forming.

Marijuana Marijuana cancan impair impair concentration, concentration, coordination, coordination, & judgment. & judgment.

Do Do not not operate operate a vehicle a vehicle or machinery or machinery under under the the influence influence of this of this drug. drug.

There There maymay be health be health risksrisks associated associated withwith consumption consumption of this of this product. product.

ForFor useuse onlyonly by adults by adults 21 years 21 years or older. or older.

Keep Keep out out of reach of reach of children. of children.

2

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

VISIT SILVERMT.COM FOR PRICING OPTIONS

BUY NOW AND

SKI THE REST OF THIS SEASON FREE!* *NOT VALID ON COMBO PASSES

COMBO SEASON PASSES AVAILABLE LOCATED OFF I-90 IN KELLOGG, ID. 1 HOUR EAST OF SPOKANE silvermt.com • 855.976.0984

MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

3

CONTENTS

Special Sections 28 | Race, Ride & Event Guide 54 | Out There Snow

Steve Faust

Business & Technology Law

Faust Law Firm 25 W. Main, Suite 310 Spokane, WA 99201

tel: (509) 981-6296

54

email: steve@faustlawfirm.com Responsive, cost-effective legal service in the manner of in-house legal counsel with thirty-five years experience in business law.

Features

44 | Running Before It's Gone 48 | Spring Fever

Departments 19 | Health & Fitness 24 | Gear Room

Columns 16 17 18 21 22 23

| | | | | |

The Trailhead Out There Kids Run Wild People in the Wild Everday Cyclist Nature

In Every Issue Spokatopia Trail Run Saturday, July 9, 2022 Camp Sekani Park

5k or 5-Mile options Spokatopia Pass & Bandana Included with Race Registration

Register Now @ Spokatopia.com 4

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

9 10 14 20 62

| | | | |

Intro Dispatches Get Out There Provisions Last Page

COVER PHOTO: AARON THEISEN Long Valley local Kalen Boland takes a hit of Double Shot on the Jug Mountain Ranch trail system outside McCall, Idaho.

Scout Your Way to Adventure

MARCH

17th-20th

Hundreds of outfitters, destinations, and outdoor product vendors

Trophy Territory

Main Stage Entertainment

PRO Seminar Series

PURCHASE TICKETS AT ZIGGY’S OR ONLINE 404 N Havana St #1 Spokane Valley, WA 99212

LEARN MORE ONLINE: Thank you to our sponsors

MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

5

July 9, 2022

camp sekani park

www.spokatopia.com 6

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

Thank you to our Sponsors!

One day. a whole summer's worth of fun!

bike clinics paddle board demos bike shuttles beer garden Live music Bike Races Kids activities MTB Jump Show Group Rides

Get TIckets NOw!

MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

7

MARCH-APRIL 2022 WWW.OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM PUBLISHERS Shallan & Derrick Knowles EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Derrick Knowles

Everyday is Trophy Territory at The General Store!

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Jon Jonckers Lisa Laughlin DIGITAL EDITOR Amy McCaffree SENIOR WRITERS S. Michal Bennett Carol Corbin Adam Gebauer Sarah Hauge Summer Hess Justin Short Aaron Theisen Holly Weiler CONTRIBUTORS David Anderson Jean Arthur Steve Bailey John Eliason Maeve Griffith George Hughbanks Heidi Lasher Rich Leon Robin Lewis Sam Mace Ammi Midstokke Brad Naccarato James Nisbet Brad Northrup Kirby Walke ART + PRODUCTION Jon Jonckers Shallan Knowles

TO REQUEST COPIES CALL 509 / 822 / 0123 AD SALES Derrick Knowles: 509 / 822 / 0123 derrick@outtheremonthly.com OUT THERE OUTDOORS Mailing Address: PO Box #5, Spokane, WA 99210 www.outthereoutdoors.com, 509 / 822 / 0123 Out There Outdoors is published 6 times a year

by Out There Monthly, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. ©Copyright 2022 Out There Monthly, LLC. The views expressed in this magazine reflect those of the writers and advertisers and not necessarily Out There Monthly, LLC. Disclaimer: Many of the activities depicted in this magazine carry a significant risk of personal injury or death. Rock climbing, river rafting, snow sports, kayaking, cycling, canoeing and backcountry activities are inherently dangerous. The owners and contributors to Out There Monthly / Out There Outdoors do not recommend that anyone participate in these activities unless they are experts or seek qualified professional instruction and/or guidance, and are knowledgeable about the risks, and are personally willing to assume all responsibility associated with those risks.

PROUD MEMBER Of

2424 N DIVISION ST, SPOKANE, WA 99207 (509) 444-8005

1330 N. ARGONNE RD SPOKANE VALLEY, WA 99212 (509) 868-0607

GENERALSTORESPOKANE.COM

SOLAR POWERED BY ECO DEPOT

8

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

I N T R O To Leash or Not

SPRING HIKES AT THE STATE PARK WHERE LEASHES ARE NOT OPTIONAL PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES

I HAD NEVER BEEN ONE to harbor strong opinions either way about the dog leash debate. Some days I’d be swayed by the hippie or libertarian “let them run free!” crowd, even though I know leash laws

are meant to protect people, wildlife, and other dogs from harm. In fact, leashes are required by law in public spaces in Spokane County and the City of Spokane.

My agnosticism towards leashing up man’s

best friend abruptly shifted, however, when I experienced first-hand what inevitably happens when dog owners flagrantly disregard leash laws in more crowded public settings. The first incident happened a few years back when I was pinned down by a growling pit bull as I was walking through my own front yard in North Kendall Yards (aka West Central Spokane). Oh how I wish I had a can of bear spray with me that day.

A year or two more passed, and one day while I was out on a run by the river, I was charged by a sizeable, seemingly freeroaming cur that stopped inches from my leg. I froze and that mutt did too, until the apparent owner emerged from the river brush calling happily for their pet. Shaken and fuming, less than five minutes down the trail another off-leash, four-legged menace ran ahead of its owner and lunged in my direction. I like to think of myself as kind of a pacificist, but by then I was longing for elaborate, pain-inflicting weaponry.

Tasers, cross-bows, nunchucks, anything.

Meanwhile, the owner casually called in my direction: “He’s friendly!” Friendly wasn’t the “F” word that growled out of my mouth. And my ire shifted from the apparently affable pup to the delusional, self-absorbed owner who I wanted to punch in the face. Instead I trotted by with fire in my eyes, a racing heart, and a stronger opinion when it comes to leashing dogs.

Since those first close calls with aggressive animals, all within a few blocks of the heavily trafficked Centennial Trail, we joined the hordes of outdoor enthusiasts in bringing a dog into the family during COVID. She is friendly—95 percent of the time—and her favorite thing in the world is to jump up on any unsuspecting human to express her elation at meeting somebody new, which scares the crap out of anyone with a bit of fear of dogs. She also either loves other dogs or will randomly attack them for reasons she keeps to herself. So of course we keep her on a tight leash, even as we frequently encounter other dogs out on popular trails running wild and free with oblivious owners who are in varying degrees of verbal control over their animals.

There really shouldn’t be a dog leash debate in a place like Spokane where there are a ton of people and their pets out walking and biking on public lands, trails, and roads. If you insist on letting your dog run free, make sure it’s out in the boonies away from other people and your buddy stays right by your side. If doing the right thing isn’t enough of a reason for you to leash up your best friend in urban public places, beware that one day your dog may run up against a much bigger and less friendly canine rival like that pit bull in my yard, or worse, a more heavily-armed and less forgiving human than me. // Derrick Knowles, Publisher

START HERE!

BUY 2 MAXXIS TIRES

WE’LL INSTALL THEM FOR

FREE!

SHRED-SPORTS.COM 4505 N Division St 509-325-1620

MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

9

DISPATCHES NORTH SHORE OF LAKE SPOKANE PROTECTED NINE MILE FALLS, WASH.

FOX PRESENTS

UNTAMED

with Filipe DeAndrade

Inland Northwest Land Conservancy and Avista recently finalized a conservation agreement for 526 acres on the north shore of Lake Spokane. This agreement ensures, in perpetuity, that the area will remain forested, protected from development, and a safe home for plants and animals.

This Stevens County area, open to humanpowered recreation with trails, beaches, and boat-in campsites, is home to bobcats, elk, moose, wolves, and dozens of species of waterfowl and birds of prey.

An area reminiscent of the ice age floods,

the property is full of craggy cliffs, basalt rock, and towering ponderosa pine trees.

The Lake Spokane Reservoir, created by the Long Lake Dam, is popular with boaters, anglers, and hikers. This agreement is in addition to permanent conservation agreements between the two organizations on the south shore of Lake Spokane, Sacheen Springs, and a project in progress to protect Avista’s land in the Beacon Hill complex.

For more information about the north shore project, visit InlandNWLand.org or Myavista.com. (Carol Corbin)

WED, MARCH 9, 7PM Photo Credit: Mike Rollins

FOX PRESENTS

IMPROBABLE ASCENT with Paraclimber Maureen “Mo” Beck

Photo Credit: Kris Ugarizza

Presented regionally in partnership with:

509 624 1200 • SPOKANESYMPHONY.ORG • FOXTHEATERSPOKANE.ORG

HEALING BALANCE

M A S S AG E TH ER A P Y specializing in deep tissue &sports massage

Special New Client Offer $5 off 60 minute massage $10 off 90 minute massge

Book Online

www.HealingBalanceMassage.com 503-772-4340 Contact Lynn Short, LMP #60232419 10

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

SENATOR MURRAY, GOVERNOR INSLEE ADVANCE SALMON INITIATIVE SPOKANE, WASH.

WED, MAY 18, 7PM

North American presenting sponsor:

LONG LAKE.// PHOTO: CAROL CORBIN

In 2021, Washington Senator Patty Murray and Governor Jay Inslee acknowledged the serious salmon and steelhead crisis in the Snake River basin and the call for bold action to reverse steep fish declines and preserve the jobs, recreation, communities and orca that depend on them. Murray and Inslee committed to develop a long-term plan to restore Snake River fisheries by August 31, 2022. Scientists, anglers, conservationists and tribes have long advocated for removal of the four lower Snake River dams to bring salmon and steelhead back to healthy numbers.

As a first step this spring, an effort called the Salmon Initiative will begin exploring options for replacing the benefits the dams provide, including energy, irrigation, and barging in collaboration with stakeholders and tribes throughout the region. Salmon advocates hope that this process will include studies that have already been done over the past few years and that the process can create a blueprint for doing what the salmon, steelhead and orca ultimately need—restoration of the lower Snake River.

Murray and Inslee have not committed to a plan that includes dam removal, but salmon advocates hope that with enough public support from people who care about

these iconic fish, the dream of dam removal and salmon and steelhead recovery will be realized. This Initiative represents the best chance Snake River salmon have ever had for recovery. Once the report is released, there will be a public comment period beginning mid-May. By or before July 31, a final report and action plan will be released. Keep up to date on the Initiative at LSRDoptions.org.

With the right economic investments, restoring the lower Snake River and removing dams will be an economic boon for the Inland Northwest and a positive step for our fisheries, recreation, and river towns. Republican Representative Mike Simpson from Idaho put forth a draft plan to do just that a year ago, pledging to invest in our region as part of dam removal. Salmon advocates hope that the Murray-Inslee Initiative can build on that approach.

Coming up April 26, Spokane Falls Trout Unlimited is excited to announce that National Trout Unlimited CEO Chris Wood will be giving a keynote talk in Spokane with a focus on both science and the tremendous economic opportunity dam removal can bring to the Inland Northwest. Details for that event are at Spokanefallstu.org/snake.

(Sam Mace)

LOCAL TEEN GOES TO USA CLIMBING NATIONALS

PHOTO: DAVID ANDERSON

SPOKANE, WASH.

Sixteen-year-old Spokane climber Ethan “Buddy” Anderson pushed through a series of potential setbacks this winter to advance to the USA Climbing Nationals that will be held this July. Buddy’s father David Anderson says his son began climbing at the age of nine and was always an athletic child who took to the sport in an instant.

One of his classmates was on a climbing team and always talked about it, David recalls. “We stopped by the gym one day to check it out, and after an hour I knew this was Buddy’s sport, and we bought a membership that day,” says David. “He went to nationals for the first time six months later. He does things I’ve never dreamed of doing.”

Buddy’s focus has always been on indoor and outdoor bouldering with a goal of World Cup and Olympic competition.

However, after several unrelated injuries, he took a step back from climbing for a couple of years. Rested and invigorated, he collaborated with his coaches Ben Aguilar and Sam Carter at Bloc Yard Bouldering Gym in Spokane to make another run for nationals.

Finishing the regular season this past

winter ranked No.1 in Division 1 (Alaska, Washington, and Oregon), he prepared for the championship series. Shortly after dealing with a bout of COVID, Buddy competed at regional championships in January. Despite his weakened state, he was able to move on in the series. Then, two weeks before the divisional championships in February, a 35-pound weight dropped on and mangled Buddy’s toe. For a moment he thought all his work and dreams had suddenly flown out the window. Fortunately, Buddy was able to heal quickly enough to force his shoes on, fight through the pain, and qualify for nationals with a 5th place finish (only the top six from each division advance to nationals).

Nationals is an annual seven-day event and qualifier for the USA National Team that competes at World Cup and in the Olympics. To get an invitation to the team, a climber must be in the top four.

The last time Buddy went to nationals in 2017 he placed 5th. Nationals includes several climbing disciplines, including sport, speed, and bouldering. Buddy will compete in bouldering with a total of 50 competitors from around the country in each bracket over three days of climbing that include four boulder problems each round with four minutes allotted to complete each problem.

Now almost completely healed, Buddy is hard at work preparing for the national stage. The Spokane climbing and outdoor community has always been there to support and encourage Buddy along the way. Wish him luck if you see him training at Bloc Yard, Wild Walls, or bouldering outdoors when the weather warms.

(Derrick Knowles)

MT. SPOKANE STATE PARK: BEAR CREEK LODGE OLYMPIA, WASH.

Just before the entrance to Mount Spokane State Park, Bear Creek Lodge was once the widest span wooden structure west of the Mississippi. The lodge, completed in 1952, has changed hands many times in subsequent years, adding a tubing hill and campsites to its amenities and facing and recovering from financial challenges. And now it is possible this beautiful local gem could be owned by Washington State Parks.

The Bear Creek facility currently boasts 10 guest quarters, a restaurant and lounge, tubing hill, and campground. It also serves as an event center for corporate retreats, weddings, birthday celebrations, and more.

At the January 2022 WA State Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, commissioners authorized staff to use proceeds from the pending sale of a piece of property in Auburn, Wash., for acquisition of the Bear Creek property.

State Parks also has partial grant funding in-hand through Washington State’s Recreation and Conservation Office. As of February 2022, that amount is $1.9 million. Formal negotiations have not yet begun for either the Auburn or Bear Creek properties at this time, and property appraisals would need to be completed for both properties in order to determine sale and purchase prices.

Assistant Director of Parks Development, Peter Herzog, says, “Acquiring the Bear Creek Lodge property would allow us to create a true entrance to Mt. Spokane State Park. We are excited to explore options to welcome visitors to the park and provide them with easier access to park staff, services, location orientation, and additional information.” State Parks hopes to see both transactions completed by the end of 2022.

(Carol Corbin) MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

11

IT'S TIME FOR

ECO DEPOT

R A L S

DISPATCHES KALISPEL TRIBE RECLAIMS HISTORIC LANDS

SANDPOINT, IDAHO.

In the fall of 2021, William Haberman, managing member of Valiant Idaho, LLC, the owner of The Idaho Club, approached the Kaniksu Land Trust (KLT) about placing a parcel of the company’s land in a conservation agreement, with the goal of protecting the property as open space and natural habitat. The 75-acre Moose Mountain parcel located on the west shore of the Pack River Delta lies within a wildlife travel corridor and sits adjacent to an interconnected system of state and federal lands bordering the Pack River, and it is significantly valuable from a conservation perspective. Considering that the land would never be commercially developed

by The Idaho Club, Haberman suggested donating the land outright to KLT since the organization is in a better position to manage the land for conservation.

However, after many conversations with Ray Entz, the Kalispel Tribe's director of wildlife and terrestrial resources, KLT recognized that the tribe had been working to revive their canoe culture but was limited by a lack of suitable access points. Because the parcel was at one time part of the Kalispel Tribe's native homeland and includes undeveloped access to Pack River, KLT proposed that The Idaho Club gift the parcel to the tribe instead. On December 27, 2021, the Kalispel Tribe was gifted the Pack River Delta property by The Idaho Club, reclaiming a portion of their traditional homeland, which extends roughly from Plains, Mont., westward along the Clark Fork River to Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho, and west along the Pend Oreille River to the border with Washington.

"KLT is honored to have served as a facilitator

in support of this very meaningful gift,” shares Regan Plumb, KLT’s conservation director.

“We recognize the value in returning this wild mountainside to its original caretakers." Land Trusts across the nation are exploring ways of restoring stewardship and access to culturally significant lands by indigenous tribes. This “Land-back” movement is exemplified by projects such as the Esselen Tribe's reclamation of 1,199 acres in Monterey County, California, a 3,200acre land purchase by the Coquille Indian Tribe in Oregon, and the 640-acres in British Columbia that a rancher gifted back to the Esk'etemc First Nation.

For KLT and the Kalispel Tribe, this gift is less about a conservation movement and more about the value of meaningful connections.

"There is strength in partnership. We probably wouldn't have even been aware of the potential of this project if not for our relationship with KLT," Entz acknowledges. The Kalispel Tribe’s interest in this special property goes beyond cultural and conservation value. This gift will help to support development of canoe access and an interpretive site on the Pack River. The general public will benefit from use of this site as well, which will provide safer access than the current pull-off at the Highway 200 bridge over the Pack River. “When we look at a potential land acquisition, we look at it for its different values, like habitat and access. We don’t currently have this kind of access. Most access points are shared with a public boat launch, which isn’t ideal for putting in a canoe,” explains Entz.

For The Idaho Club and William Haberman, the gift yields satisfying returns, knowing that the land will be valued and cared for forever. “We are pleased to have been presented the opportunity to donate a significant portion of The Idaho Club land holdings to the Kalispel Tribe with the professional guidance and encouragement of Kaniksu Land Trust,” says Haberman. What started as a collaboration with KLT, he adds, “resulted in what we believe will be a ‘bestcase’ scenario for the property and critical habitat in and around the Pack River Delta.”

(OTO)

ðLOW INTEREST FINANCING AVAILABLE ðNO WA STATE SALES TAX ð26% FED INCOME TAX CREDIT

LEARN MORE AT ECODEPOTINC.COM

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE KANIKSU LAND TRUST

12

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

CENTENNIAL TRAIL DON KARDONG BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS SPOKANE, WASH.

The Don Kardong Bridge in the University District, connecting the Centennial Trail on the north and south sides of the Spokane River, has long been in need of some love. Named for the Olympic runner and hometown hero, the bridge is a pivotal point on the Centennial Trail. Since bridge upgrades are expensive and timeconsuming, the Friends of the Centennial Trail Coordinating Council has worked for years to make these repairs a reality. And now, thanks to $1.45 million of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds, allocated by the Spokane City Council, this $2.3 million project is out for construction bids.

In addition to the ARP funding, the project will rely on a $726,000 WWRP (Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program) grant from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office and $145,000 from local advocates and conveners, the Friends of the Centennial Trail (FCT). FCT kicked off the project with a $55,000 grant to the Parks Department, starting the conceptual design and ensuring the project was shovel-ready for other funders. WWRP is the largest source of

trail support in the state of Washington and has funded projects throughout eastern Washington, including Dishman Hills, the Spokane River, and other projects on the Centennial Trail. Preliminary work of meeting with stakeholders, reviewing designs, and securing permits had already been done and the vote of city council for the ARP funding closed the financial gap to make this happen.

According to a press release from Spokane Parks & Recreation, repairs will include deck replacement from wood to concrete, some concrete pier repair, replacement of the bridge overlooks and guardrails, installation of a new lighting system, and bollards at each end of the bridge. Work is scheduled to be complete in spring of 2023. The bridge will be closed for renovations, with trail reroutes to be determined by the city.

Upon its completion, runners and cyclists using the bridge will no longer have to choose between rain-slicked wooden decking and rain-slicked diamond-plate steel, and mile 22 will be even more beautiful and rider- and walkerfriendly. (Carol Corbin)

#findi ng

Awesome

REPORT BAD CLIMBING BOLTS ONLINE

SPOKANE, WASH.

The Bower Climbing Coalition (BCC) has made it easier than ever to report a bad bolt or anchor. No longer will you need to message or ring someone in the know. Simply

NELSONKOOTENAYLAKE.COM Ainsworth Hot Springs | Balfour | East Shore | Kaslo Nelson | North Kootenay Lake

photo: Casey Brown

PHOTO: GEORGE HUGHBANKS

navigate to the BCC webpage to report the bolt and your info will be passed to one of the volunteers on the bolting crew. The bolts will be assessed and/or replaced as soon as possible. Please provide as much information as possible regarding the route, bolt, and issue so the team can make the upgrade as needed. BCC is dedicated to the safety of climbers and the climbing areas of the Inland Northwest. While 2020 and 2021 were tough years for many nonprofit organizations, the BCC still managed to organize numerous crag cleanups, funded access and stewardship projects, and continued its work to upgrade bolts and climbing hardware. The best way to support the group’s cause is to become a member and volunteer. (Kirby Walke)

PHOTO: KIRBY WALKE

MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

13

GET OUT THERE

BLACK MOREL // YELLOW MOREL/ FALSE MOREL. PHOTOS BY RICH LEON

GO SPRING MUSHROOM HUNTING

No single wild mushroom has captured the hearts and minds of the American public like the morel. Finding the first one of the season is just as exciting as finding the first buttercup after a long winter. Morel season can start as early as January in California and go into July in the Rocky Mountains as spring marches north. Here in Eastern Washington and North Idaho, the peak time can be anywhere from April into June, depending on temperature and moisture. I have found morels to be very fussy mushrooms. They don't like it hot or cold or too wet. They are almost like a three-year-old child in that regard. I have been in areas where they will do really well one year and then the next year, nothing.

Morels can occur singly or in small

clusters. They can blend in with their surroundings very well. When out looking for these mushrooms, the first one is always the hardest to find. Once the image is burned into your brain, it makes it easier to find other ones.

Keep looking in the area where you found the first one, and you more than likely will find others. It has been said that the best place to look for morels is the year after a forest fire.

That may be true for some areas, but I have found over the years that it is not a 100 percent guarantee of finding them.

When cleaning your morels for either cooking or drying, be sure to cut them in half lengthwise to check for any bugs within the hollow confines of the stem and cap.

You probably won't find any, but it is always better safe than sorry. You don't want any little hitchhikers ruining your meal. Morels

dry really well and retain their rich, full flavor. Slice them in half and put them on a screen in a warm room, use a dehydrator, or even place them outside on a warm sunny day. Once they are fully dried, they can be put in glass jars and their flavor can last for many years.

There is plenty of debate about the number of morels in the genus morcella. The two most common in our area are morcella elata (black morel) and morcella esculenta (yellow morel). We do have a few other ones around, so a good guide book would be helpful to have when you go on your fungus foray into the woods. In early spring, we can also find verpa bohemica (early morel). A verpa looks like a thimble stuck on a finger. This species is not considered to be a true morel since the cap hangs from the apex of the stem,

whereas in a true morel the cap is attached to the stem. Verpa is edible with caution; it should be eaten in moderation and must be well cooked. Verpa usually show up a week to a month before the regular morels.

Before you go out mushroom hunting, make sure you know the difference between the morels and the false morels. That is where a good book will come in very handy.

A great paperback to have for your backpack is “All That The Rain Promises and More,”

by David Arora.

So, you may be wondering, where is the best place to find morels in the Inland Northwest? That is one question you never want to ask a serious mushroom hunter, because they will never tell you their perfect spots, much like an angler or huckleberry picker not wanting to reveal the location

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 14

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

of her secret fishing hole or berry patch.

This mushroom hunter will wish you happy hunting, and remind you to make sure you are 100 percent certain of a mushroom’s identity before you try any wild mushroom.

(Rich Leon) MOUNTAINFILM TOUR IN CDA MARCH 18

Enjoy an evening of inspiring films handpicked from the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, Colorado, at the Archwood Hall in Coeur d’Alene.

Founded in 1979, Mountainfilm is one of the longest-running film festivals in the U.S. The films focus on people, art, stories, and ideas that motivate people to help create a more livable, better world.

Mountainfilm.org. (OTO)

60TH ANNIVERSARY BIG HORN SHOW MARCH 17-20

The Big Horn Show is an annual tradition for seasoned sportsmen and women and a great opportunity for anyone who loves the outdoors and wants to learn more about procuring some of the food we eat through hunting and fishing. Each year, the Big Horn Show packs hundreds of outfitters, travel destination representatives, and hunting, fishing, and outdoor adventurerelated vendors into the Spokane County Fairgrounds, making it the place to learn about fish and wildlife, hunting and fishing techniques, bucket list destinations, and the latest gear.

Established in 1960, the Big Horn Outdoor Adventure Show, sponsored by the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council, is

one of the oldest and longest continually operated sports and recreation shows in the United States and features seminars, demonstrations, and the most current information for outdoor enthusiasts of every kind.

Get tickets at a Ziggy’s locations in Spokane or scan the QR code on the Big Horn Show ad on page 5 of this issue of Out There for online tickets. More info at Bighornshow. com. (Derrick Knowles) TRY TELEMARK SKIING AT 49 DEGREES NORTH

If you have ever wanted to try telemark skiing, or improve your tele skiing with a lesson, 49 Degrees North is offering telemark skiing clinics this spring through March 20. Visit ski49n.com to select a clinic date and reserve your spot. Telemark skiing

is a very athletic and aesthetic discipline that can also improve your overall skiing ability. Telemark skiing, named after the Telemark region of Norway, combines alpine and Nordic skiing, allowing for uphill, downhill, or flatland skiing all on the same gear. With telemark equipment, the heel isn’t locked down, and turns can be made using the signature and often beautiful knee-dropping tele turn or parallel turns. Telemark skiing had a rebirth in the early 1970s, gained popularity through the 1980s, and is now a World Cup Racing sport. If you don’t have your own tele gear, you can rent everything you need at the 49 Degrees North Rental Shop. Explore the free-heel world with a certified Telemark instructor at 49, and, as they say, free your heel, free your mind! (Derrick Knowles)

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

1638 South Blaine Street Moscow, Idaho

CMY

K

nrs.com

RAFTING • KAYAKING • CAMPING • FISHING • SUP MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

15

The Trailhead

Inland NW Trail & Outdoor News By Holly Weiler

YELLOWSTONE TURNS 150

March 1, 2022, is the 150th anniversary of Yellowstone National Park! The park will be marking the occasion via a virtual event to explore the park's history with the Wind River Inter-tribal Gathering. Learn more and sign up at Greateryellowstone. org/blog/2022/gatherings.

SCOTCHMAN PEAKS OUTINGS

Say goodbye to winter with the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness in early March with two trip options to Ross Creek Cedars. Sign up via the Friends website for a cross-country ski tour on March 5 or a snowshoe hike on March 12.

FREE PARK DAYS

Washington State Parks will be holding fee-free days on March 9 (commemoration of Billy Frank Junior's birthday), March 19 (the 108th birthday of Washington State Parks!), and April 22 (Earth Day). Keep in mind that SnoPark season extends through the end of March, and fee-free days do not extend to SnoPark lots. Saturday, April 16 is a fee-free day for the National Parks Service to mark the first day of National Park Week.

NEW NAME & CLOSURES AT PALOUSE FALLS

Designated the official state waterfall of Washington in 2014, Palouse Falls has grown in popularity and has experienced some visitor management issues in recent years. Earlier this spring, the Washington State Parks Commission approved both a land classification change and a new official name of Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site. The Heritage designation recognizes the cultural, historic, and natural significance of the area, and was accompanied by a permanent closure of public access to the area known as Castle Rock, as well as the social trails leading down the cliffs and to the plunge pool.

Overnight camping is also no longer permitted. Public access to the upper viewing area is still allowed during the park's hours of operation.

LOCAL TRAIL PROJECTS

Spring trail projects will begin to ramp up in March! Recreation enthusiasts are asked to remember that if your favorite activity is leaving an indentation of 1" or more in the trail surface, please wait to play until another day. Mud season is very hard on our favorite trails.

16

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

Look for a variety of volunteer opportunities in the spring, with Evergreen East focusing spring efforts of local mountain bikers on new trails within Mica Peak Conservation Area, Liberty Lake Conservation Area, and the Mackenzie Natural Area, along with annual maintenance at Beacon Hill. Washington Trails Association will be focusing efforts on new trails for Etter Ranch at Antoine Peak and the Dishman Hills Conservancy, along with annual maintenance work at Hauser Conservation Area, Antoine Peak, Iller Creek, Stevens Creek, Liberty Lake, and Fishtrap. WTA will also be celebrating International Women's Day with an allwomen project day on March 8.

Inland Northwest Land Conservancy will be offering both trail maintenance days as well tree thinning projects and invasive weed eradication at Waikiki Springs and Rimrock to Riverside. Find signup links on the Out There stewardship volunteer calendar Outthereoutdoors.com/volunteerscheduling.

PALOUSE TO CASCADES TRAIL CROSSING OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER TO OPEN

The Beverly Bridge is set to open this spring, creating a safe crossing for nonmotorized trail users on the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail near Vantage.

The Beverly Bridge dedication will be held Friday, April 8, at 1 p.m. Access the bridge from the Huntzinger Trailhead, with a half mile walk to the ceremony.

NERD OUT ON LOCAL NATURE WITH BIOBLITZ

Join members of the iNaturalist community and have a little friendly science competition by participating in a bioblitz event at the end of April. (Challenge running from April 29 to May 2.) First, download the iNaturalist app if you don't have it already. Then look up the Northern Rocky Mountain Challenge under "projects." The weekend of the event, collect observations from one of the participating areas, which includes Boise, Bonner County, and Boundary County in Idaho; Lincoln County and Red Lodge in Montana; and Pend Oreille County in Washington. The area that has the most participants per capita will win the challenge, plus it's a fun way to explore the flora and fauna of our region. For folks in Spokane County, you can also participate in a bioblitz with Inland Northwest Land Conservancy at Rimrock to Riverside on April 30. //

BACKPACKING AT Z LAKE. // LEFT: FLORENCE LAKE. PHOTOS BY HOLLY WEILER

HIKE OF THE MONTH

Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area, Lincoln County, Wash.

March and April are a time of lingering snowfall in the high country and mud season at mid-elevation, but in the lowlands of the Columbia Plateau it can be the prime time for a spring visit. Flowers emerge early here, and the ephemeral pools that follow snowmelt attract a wide variety of waterfowl and migrating songbirds.

Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area covers 21,000 acres of grasslands and sagebrush just south of Highway 2. A spring hike to Z Lake can be an excellent introduction to this landscape at roughly 3 miles roundtrip. The hike is easy via an old farm road past the remains of a homestead, coming to a dead-end at the southeast shore of Z Lake.

An easy extension is to follow the lakeshore for a short distance on either side.

For a more challenging version of this hike, set compass bearings due west of Z Lake and head cross country toward Florence Lake in the heart of the wildlife area.

There are no formal trails or markers here, although the cross-country route does cross a few farm roads and livestock fences from a previous generation. Map and compass skills required, and binoculars for watching birds in the wetlands strongly encouraged. The hike to Z Lake can be considered easy to moderate. The hike to Florence Lake should be considered difficult due to route finding.

Getting there: On Highway 2 travel 7.2 miles east of Creston, or 13.4 miles west of Davenport. Turn south on Telford Road and travel 9 miles to a small WDFW parking area located on the west side of the road near a pass-through gate. Discover Pass required. (Holly Weiler)

OutThere Kids 5 Spring Rituals for Outdoorsy Families

By Amy McCaffree

FAMILY CAMPING HELPS KIDS TO APPRECIATE THE OUTDOORS AND MAKE RECREATION PART OF THEIR LIFESTYLE. PHOTO: ROBIN LEWIS // RIGHT: SPRING HIKE ALONG THE SPOKANE RIVER. PHOTO: AMY MCCAFFREE

I LOVE ALL FOUR SEASONS. Just when I

think I might finally have a favorite, the calendar turns a page, the Earth keeps spinning, and there’s something new and wonderful around the corner.

I thrive on variety and change, so this time of year I’m eager to enjoy the dependable delights of spring—consecutive sunny days, songbirds, the return of leaves to naked trees, the first green shoots in my perennial garden, robins hunting for worms in my yard, the chitter-chatter of squirrels.

Spring feels like a reset.

No matter how much of a screen-addict, couch-potato, or snow-hater one may have been all winter, spring inspires us to spend more time outdoors. Here are some spring rituals and routines that my kids and I have established over the years that help us celebrate and get ready for the season.

1. Hang out in hammocks. Whether you hang between trees in your backyard or enjoy them at a park, hammocks are a fast-

track to chill time. We have ENO brand, which are easy to set up and have proven to be durable and comfortable. We take our hammocks on camping trips, but otherwise they stay up in our yard from spring through fall.

2. Create a whimsical outdoor living space.

Whether it’s a patio, deck, or balcony, a few changes can create a spring oasis that encourages family members to gather. Lights create a festive ambiance to any space, and kids are intrigued by solar-powered light sets. Add colorful Adirondack chairs, a side table, flowerpots, painted rocks—and voilà.

3. Garden together. Whether it’s seed starting or choosing flowers or vegetable starts from a store and transferring them into the ground or pots of soil, get your children involved in the process. They can be in charge of their own container garden and paint and personalize it to get excited.

Some ideas for kid-friendly plants that work well in the Inland Northwest climate include

strawberries, marigolds, cornflowers/bachelor buttons, Shasta daisies, and coneflowers/ Echinacea. These are simple and inexpensive, and kids can harvest the seeds from spent flowers and spread them around other areas of a garden to watch them bloom the following spring and get in on the entire growing process.

4. Plan camping trips and make reservations. For some campgrounds on public lands, especially with 6-month reservation windows, it may already be too late to get reservations for the dates you want. Plan mid-week trips or make a strategy to snag a first-come/first-serve (FCFS) site for a weekend stay. I usually don’t recommend FCFS, especially when with young kids, but I see many great FCFS campsites remain empty— many with lakefront views. Arrive early and snag one.

5. Play and picnic at a park. Make a big deal out of the first really warm day of spring and visit a park. My family likes Waterfront

Park at Medical Lake. We bring some beach/ sand toys, warm layers (for fast-changing weather conditions, like wind and clouds), and maybe even swimsuits. My kids may only get their legs wet, but that first “hot” spring day, especially after a long winter, feels like summer to us.

This is my short list, but there are many more ways to celebrate spring. Create your own list with whatever works best for your family. For ideas and inspiration, search for stories at OutThereOutdoors. com for recommended lake parks, biking and hiking trails, and other familyfriendly spring recreation. With all the natural beauty and recreation opportunities in the Northwest, there are more ideas than days available. // Amy McCaffree is digital editor and Out There Kids columnist. She looks forward to camping during Memorial Day weekend and her first paddle of the year, with either her kayak or SUP.

MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

17

RUN WILD

Small Tweaks for a Better Running Life WHEN YOU’RE SUPER BUSY or recovering

By Sarah Hauge

CREATE A POST-RUN RITUAL

from mid-winter blahs, small tweaks can make major differences to the quality of your running life—getting you out the door faster, eliminating decision fatigue, and combatting doldrums. Here are a few to try.

Last year, I decided that no matter how I’m feeling, I will always do the same yoga-based stretches after every run. I no longer put this off, mull over skipping it, or actually skip it—I just plop down and start stretching. It’s weirdly gratifying to no longer be debating this same tiny question (“Should I do my stretches today?”) I took my short flow from Instagram’s @ runnersloveyoga.

PLAN YOUR WEEK

Decision fatigue is real. Creating some weekly rhythms can eliminate some of it.

You could decide ahead of time which days are for longer, faster, or hillier runs and which are for easier paces and flatter routes.

Or preplan your routes: for me that might mean Mondays I run southeast of home, Wednesdays I run southwest, Fridays I head north, and Saturdays are a long run free-for-all. Or assign days to cover a mix of terrain, with road workouts, trail runs, and track workouts.

neighborhood coffee shop afterward to pick up a large mocha. The promise of caffeine, coffee, and chocolate is motivating, and my body thanks me, too.

STREAMLINE YOUR FUEL

Sometimes, figuring out what to eat and drink just seems to me like . . . a lot of work.

If you find yourself similarly wandering around hungry, thirsty, and cranky after your workouts, decide on a go-to post-run snack or meal and stick with it.

TREAT YO SELF

To motivate myself to hydrate better, I stock up on bottles of my favorite flavor of kombucha and drink one in the afternoon every day that I run. I always drink water as well, but the kombucha is a) tasty, b) hydrating, and c) something I always look forward to. Win-win-win. On long run days, I walk down the street to my

LAY IT OUT

If you’re a morning runner, lay out your clothes, keys, reflective gear, pre-run snack and beverage the night before. Decide in advance what you’re going to listen to if you like to run with music/podcasts/ audiobooks. Your future self will thank you.

SUPPORT YOURSELF FROM THE BOTTOM UP

Simple swaps can make life way more comfortable. One thing making my running life better is wearing better footwear when I’m not running. When I’m at home, I’ve switched from wearing slippers to pairing my favorite socks (Merino Wool Bombas!) with lightweight, super-supportive foam Birkenstocks. My joints and entire self feel SO GOOD from this switch. ‘Stocks ‘n’ socks for life!

MAKE IT ENTERTAINING

Find something new to listen to. Lately, I’ve been getting most of my nonfiction reading in the form of audiobooks checked out

from the library’s Libby app. (A few top recommendations: Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, What Happened to You by Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry, Think Again by Adam Grant, and Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner.) Whether it’s favorite music, a bingeworthy podcast, or a book you’re midway through, it helps to know you’ve got something good in the queue.

GO MINIMAL

Mix things up by going low-tech—leave your running watch and phone at home and run by feel. Pay more attention to the scenery, listen to the rhythm of your feet, and enjoy running in its simplest form. // Sarah Hauge is a writer and editor who lives in Spokane with her husband and two children. She writes the Run Wild column for each issue of Out There.

GO WHERE THE

ZAGS GO AND GET BACK IN THE GAME

When an injury happens, on or off the court, the team at Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists is here for you.

For immediate treatment by a specialized orthopedic provider, walk in to one of our three Express Clinics, located on North Division at the Y, on the South Hill on 57th, and in Spokane Valley. No appointment necessary.

NWOrthoSpecialists.com | 888-660-2663

The Official Orthopedic Provider of Gonzaga Athletics 18

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

HEALTH & FITNESS

Peloton vs. The Dog

By Heidi Lasher

URBAN HIKING WITH JENNIFER AND HANK. //PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES

I WAS NEVER the home-gym type. I wasn’t even the away-gym type. If there was an option to exercise outside, I took it. In winter, I flew down ski trails, wore spikes on the local trails, and walked the dog down the road after dark. In summer, I rose early for mountain bike rides or trail runs.

I hauled out the canoe, paddle boarded, or swam. My dog got plenty of exercise, and aside from a few dull weeks in winter, I did, too.

But toward the end of 2020, my appetite for outdoor exercise began to wane. All at once, I became intolerant to the cold. My fingers turned white and my toes blistered. I developed a Pavlovian shiver at the thought of exercising outside. I tried going to a gym, but felt uncomfortable breathing en masse.

In January, my husband tore his ACL. Despite my misgivings about home gyms, by the time my husband bought a set of weights, a treadmill off Craigslist, and the pinnacle of modern home-gym equipment—a Peloton—I was there to help him haul the mattress out of the guest room.

Peloton bike sales spiked in unison with COVID cases. In April 2020, when a recordbreaking 23,000 people attended a single live class, the death count in the U.S. reached the same record number. I took my first Peloton class from an instructor who winked at the camera and told me to dig deep. I tried not to fall for the false sense of community, the culture, the pretense of belonging to something that didn’t belong to me. But

I grew to love the predictability of it, the metrics, the certain outcomes. I could choose my own instructors, music preferences, and classes that fit my time budget. I could be in and out of the guest room in 30 minutes—no coat or hat, no drive, no pleasantries at the door. In an age of uncertainty and anxiety, the home gym became my refuge of control.

But for the dog.

Through it all, he followed me to and from the home gym with long, deep sighs. When I tied my shoes, his tail wagged. Then stopped as I entered the guest room. His sad brown eyes lifted when I whipped my cadence into the 100s. His bodily needs became his final bargaining tool, the only way he could get me outside through the dark months of winter.

Eventually, I came to appreciate the effort he made to cheer me on. He celebrated each of my reluctant outdoor steps with twists and leaps. Whenever I decided to take the long route, he rewarded me with exuberant wind sprints. With admirable impatience, he showed me the world I’d forgotten. In January, we found a bull moose in the woods.

In February, we tracked the moon as it arced across the sky in all its phases. By March, I found myself enjoying our walks together; the unpredictability of the weather, the lack of guidance, the uncertain outcomes. The home gym kept me fit in the winter, but I might have forgotten how great, how messy, how terrifying and glorious the world is, but for the dog.

limited edition A delicious natural process coffee from the Dawuhan Village, Bondowoso region of East Java.

This coffee delivers pleasant, sweet aromas, dried fruit flavors, and a delicate floral finish.

LOCAL INDOOR CYCLING CLASSES Need a break from walking the dog alone?

Try one of these local options for indoor cycling.

• • • •

Cyclebar: Two Inland NW locations, on Spokane’s South Hill and Coeur d’Alene.

Tailwind Fitness: Spokane’s South Hill.

The Union Studios: Two Spokane locations, downtown and on the northside.

Elevation Fitness: Spokane’s South Hill.

SPONSORED BY

domacoffee.com MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

19

provisions

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

CRISPY CHICKPEAS & WINTER VEGETABLES

Enjoying seasonal produce is a cinch with this recipe that combines freshly grated carrots, Chioggia beets, winter kale, and nutty pedrosillano garbanzo beans from the Palouse region.

CHICKPEAS

PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES

1 cup dried pedrosillano garbanzo beans from PNW Co-op, soaked overnight ½ tablespoon olive oil ½ teaspoon salt Black pepper

OUTDOOR PARTY WHEN IT’S COLD OUT

SALAD

Hosting an outdoor party when it’s still pretty cold outside should definitely be on your to-do list! Seriously. It really isn’t as difficult (or cold) as it seems and you don’t have to have outdoor heaters to make people comfortable (but, if you have them, even better).

To make party goers comfortable, drape seats with blankets and pillows and pass out hand and feet warmers as party favors and if you have the means. A fire pit makes a wonderful centerpiece. There are several types of LED candles that, placed in the snow, add a magical touch. As for food and drinks, think about the thermos. Today’s thermoses far outreach the days of soup and coffee. Many brands such as Stanley, Hydro Flask, and Yeti have large and extralarge openings to fill with your favorite party foods. Soup is GREAT, but what about curry, pulled pork, or pasta? Other thermoses can hold your pre-mixed cocktails, warm mulled wine or whatever delicious libations you choose.

Lastly, don’t forget the music. Music is readily available on just about every device these days and there are even bluetooth speaker string lights. Now, bundle up, send out those invitations, and start planning your outdoor winter or early spring party. It will definitely be the highlight of the season.

(Alana Livingston)

1 bunch kale from Big Sage Organics 1 small Chioggia beet from Ronnigers Organics 1 medium carrot from Full Bushel Farm 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon olive oil

20

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

DRESSING

½ cup plain yogurt ½ lemon, squeezed 1 clove garlic from Channing Farm, minced 1 tablespoon olive oil Pinch of salt DIRECTIONS

1) Simmer the garbanzo beans for roughly three hours until soft. Remove the liquid and place on a baking sheet with olive oil and bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

2) Strip the kale leaves from the stem and slice the leaves thinly. Place in a salad bowl, sprinkle with salt, and massage 10 times.

3) Grate the beet and carrot. Add to the kale, drizzle with olive oil, and mix together.

4) In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients.

5) Top the salad with garbanzo beans and drizzle with dressing and feast with the seasons!

(Courtesy of the Local Inland Northwest Cooperative, ingredients available at Lincfoods.com)

A NEW DELICIOUS VIEW AT SCHWEITZER

On February 8, 2022, Schweitzer opened the doors to its new boutique, 31-room Humbird hotel, named in honor of the local historic Humbird Lumber Company. Just off the lobby, you’ll also find the newest Schweitzer restaurant: the Crow’s Bench.

Honoring the deep community roots of the area, the Crow’s Bench is named after a row of benches outside the local watering hole in nearby Hope, Idaho, that has been a gathering place for local “crows” for a long time. “[The name] seemed like a really good fit and in keeping with how we all are after a day on the mountain,” says Dig Chrismer, Schweitzer’s Marketing Manager. “We sit around and cackle about our day!” Natural wood graces most of the surfaces in a classic Alpine or Scandinavian lodge style, and wide windows bring the view of the mountain to your table. The dining room seats 50 with 15 seats at the bar where birds of a feather can gather next to the grand fireplace.

The menu is inspired by a range of Alpine cuisines, including Bavarian, French, and German. “In the Alps, cultures overlap, and that’s where the inspiration is coming from,” says Chrismer. “The chef is excellent, and the options are incredible!” The opening menu offers starters like Maultaschen forest mushroom dumplings and Charcuterie. The Elk Carpaccio is made with regional Lake County elk loin. Main courses include Roast Game Hen with a German beer glaze—and, of course, there’s Strudel for dessert.

The twist on the Alpine theme continues with innovative drinks such as Aprs Ski and Bayerische Fizz cocktails and Swiss, French, and German regional wines and beers.

Dining is by reservation only Thursday thru Monday, 4-8pm, with preference given to Humbird guests. (S. Michal Bennett)

PHOTO: S. MICHAL BENNETT

MUDDY WATER FOR A CLEARER MIND

The MUD/WTR story goes something like this. Founder Shane Heath enjoyed drinking coffee, the ritual, the smell, the taste. But eventually, it played havoc with his sleep cycle and his energy and alertness. He decided to quit, but also craved something healthy and tasty to replace coffee. Enter MUD/WTR, a chai-spiced drink powder with 1/7th the caffeine (sourced from black tea) as well as cacao and medicinal mushrooms. It’s “muddy” and thick, but this viscous mix can transform your morning ritual.

My husband and I own a small mobile coffee business, and we recently added MUD/WTR to our morning routine. We had tried a few other brands of mushroom-based coffee alternatives, but each was gritty and simply unappetizing. “They taste like chalk,” my husband Young says.

We’d seen MUD/WTR ads, but when a friend said it was transformational in his life, we ordered a kit that came with sample packets of decaf “:rest” blend and powdered coconut creamer in addition to the “:rise” blend cannister and hand-held electric frother. It’s not coffee or chai but it’s tasty.

We drink it with hot water and hot frothed oat milk, and add more water or milk to any sediment that remains and shake it back up.

Adding MUD/WTR to our mornings has meant more clarity of mind and ability to remain calm throughout the day. Just remember—it’s not coffee and doesn’t claim to be. (S. Michal Bennett)

People in the Wild

A New Mother, an Old Identity, and Nothing Lost By Ammi Midstokke

KATIE AND BABY JUNE DEMONSTRATE THE ART OF BALANCING IDENTITY WITH BREASTFEEDING AND OLD LOVES WITH NEW LOVES. PHOTO: AMMI MIDSTOKKE

Ammi Midstokke’s new “People in the Wild” column aims to observe average humans in their natural habitats, to explore and celebrate all the different reasons and ways we share a common love and stewardship of the outdoors.

KATIE’S COW DOG ejects from her vehicle

like a wayward, spotted torpedo. Katie ignores the dog and moves around her Nissan pickup and camper with the kind of chill that makes you wonder if she’s had lorazepam for breakfast. Or she just gave up coffee to breastfeed. Either way, it is not the neurotic new mom one expects. She looks adventure appropriate: Ski pants, knit hat, buff, bright jacket, braid.

Though she never said as much, one could not help but wonder if she believed she was the exception, like every pregnant woman before her. There is a growing socio-cultural expectation that parenting success is first measured by our ability to continue being exactly as we were before, only with a 15-150 pound, perma-snacking side-kick. Katie initially accepted this challenge. We assume we’ll carry on as usual, that pregnancy will only be a difference in pant size, and that if we buy the right equipment (bouncy chair, ski trailer, breast pump), parenthood will be a matter of … logistics and tiny laundry.

In winters past, Katie’s camper-cabbed truck was not to be found at trafficked trailheads. When the first snow fell in the

mountains, a predictable message was sent out: “I’m breaking up with you until spring.”

Katie has curated her life carefully, like an intentional museum. Each wing has a specific genre, offering a layer of sophistication and depth that only the connoisseurs of that medium might appreciate. There is the backcountry split-boarding wing. There is the corporate bulldog that closes sales deals, attends food fairs, wears designer sweaters in good taste. She’s got a wing full of literature prowess, including topping off her already thorough education with an MFA, because people ought to know what they are talking about when evoking Didion to Dostoevsky.

There is also a catch-all wing for the eclectic parts of her spirit: That time she lived on chicken breast and strawberries, got a spray tan, and danced on stage in glitter shorts for a body competition. The time she told Fischer she’d learn how to ski if they sponsored her (they did). Random ultra marathons she signs up for. Themed parties. Ministering weddings. Bee keeping.

Grape growing. Her resumé shows she’s proficient in everything from French cuisine to mountain bike coaching to barbecue. (In fact, she’s a certified barbecue judge—that is a real thing and worthy of an invitation to any summer party.)

She squirms when the conversation is about her for too many sentences in a row.

One gets the impression she does not do those things to talk about them, but rather

to experience them. She artfully redirects in an upbeat, off-topic inquiry about anybody else. With a vast appetite for and repertoire of experience, it only seemed appropriate that Katie sample her maternal instincts by getting a puppy and then getting pregnant.

As usual, nothing was accidental.

Katie launched into pregnancy with the same optimism we see on Instagram. Even as her skin turned that ashen shade of graygreen reserved for the gestating, she planned a mountaineering excursion. She spent the summer wearing bike shorts, slowing down only when her medical team threatened her with early delivery. And this she still did reluctantly, if not resentfully.

As women, there is pressure to have “belly-only” weight gain during our pregnancies, and our impending buffetbreasts are celebrated (“Oh look, you finally have boobs!”) as a reminder that our barren selves are inadequate. We should stay active and thin as per marketing by brands like GAP who use prosthetic bellies for their maternity wear, because bodies swollen with progesterone and estrogen are unsightly.

Enter baby. Or in Katie’s case, childbirth, where she lost as much blood as an extra in a Tarantino movie, replacing her green with a ghostly white for several weeks. Her postpartum exercise plan was scrapped for a goal of making it around the block without passing out. Had she not been severely anemic, she probably would have been preemptively purchasing race bibs.

What people cannot explain to the expectant mother is the visceral pull of motherhood —the way our bodies have a compulsion to be near our babies. The things we want postpartum are things we could never have imagined. Closing the bathroom door; eating a meal with both hands.

“I thought I would want to be out more,” says Katie. “But I don’t really feel like being four hours away from my infant and out of cell service.” That used to be considered a perfect morning.

When pried about what is hard — are you sleeping, do you miss adult conversation, is your marriage suffering, what really took you by surprise?—Katie curls up her lips and appears as if she’s looking inside her brain for a moment. “I didn’t think breastfeeding would be so hard,” she says. “These titties have never had to work a day in their life.”

We new mothers also learn that the babysitters we were going to rely on— runaway teenagers, free grandmothers, and good-willed friends—are hardly the reliable resources we had so optimistically envisioned. We realize we cannot entrust our offspring to our parents (who probably still dip tea towels in whiskey for babies to suckle) or anyone who has not had advanced infant CPR training or wears anything other than natural fibers washed in Dr. Bronner’s.

Katie’s limbs stretch gracefully above the snow as her skis slide in groomed tracks.

She’s only ten minutes from her house.

Her baby is with a nanny who met the said qualifications and she has come to move her body in a familiar stride. She does not look like she just grew an entire human and expelled it from her body.

Before I can tell her how good she looks, she says, “People are always commenting on ‘how good you look’ when you are postpartum. I don’t want people to acknowledge my body. I like my body. It is doing what it is supposed to be doing.”

She is acknowledging the expectation that our bodies somehow lose all evidence of pregnancy—another measure of successful womanhood. And that her value and life experience is now measured in motherhood, which she should only expose the pleasant parts of.

She exposes it all, answering the door in a bra and knee-high socks. She’s been riding her Peloton while staring at her babbling baby. She is glowing pink and happy, her eyes bright. It looks just the same as when she comes home from the backcountry.

“People say, ‘You’re so fit, you’ll get right back into it,’” she says. “But what if I don’t want to?”

What if we fold motherhood into ourselves, like cinnamon into a dough, and it forever alters our relationship to self, to the outdoors, to how we experience ourselves in the outdoors? And what if that is okay?

What if, God forbid, we changed and we were fulfilled by other things too? In that version, our past is a foundation, not a time to which we are infinitely longing to return.

The gear shit-show that is Katie’s porch is evidence of her commitment to this strategy.

Shoes with cleats, ski boots, dog leashes, jackets, baby carrier. When she talks to her new daughter, June, it is as if to a cohort of common ground. This new entity is no extra—rather, a fold in the dough that will be kneaded into a cohesive family.

What parenthood teaches us about love is that we feel the connection when we bear witness to the wonders of life with those we love. That is, the moments when we regard the other with the same awe and bewilderment and curiosity. When we take our children into the mountains, onto the slopes, against the wind, and share this other pulse of our beating heart. When we experience ourselves and the outdoors through their eyes.

And for a while, those eyes are two feet off the ground and they move really slow. Some changes just make us better.

Ammi Midstokke lives with her family in North Idaho, where she observes outdoorsy people in their natural habitat. She can be contacted at ammimarie@gmail.com.

MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

21

There are 2 great things about March…

EVERYDAY CYCLIST

Smashing the Winter Blues

By Justin Short

Daylight Saving Time & Girl Scout Cookies!

ILLUSTRATION BY JUSTIN SHORT

While supplies last get a FREE box of Girl Scout cookies

with a Full Service Tune!

WE ALL KNOW THE “Dog Days of Summer,” when it’s just about impossible to hop on a bike in the searing heat unless you’re going straight to the swimming hole and then straight to Millwood Brewing Company for a root beer float.

On the flipside, Winter Blues can strike when the fog rolls in, or when rain falls on our precious snow and then immediately freezes, wrecking our favorite ski runs, fat bike, and snowshoe trails. In the same way that reduced exposure to sunlight can aggravate symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder, reduced exposure to Hero Dirt, Cadillac Gravel, and clear roads and bike paths can wreak havoc on our very will to turn pedals.

For many of us, turning pedals is a form of 2-wheeled therapy, and when the supply gets cut off by Old Man Winter, it can be hard to cope with the stress of everyday life.

So, what can we do?

A few hardy souls go out and brave the elements no matter how bad the weather gets, such as Hammer Nutrition sponsored athlete Patty Jo Struve who regularly competes in 100-kilometer and 100-mile fat bike races in the dead of winter. Indoor smart trainer platforms such as Zwift and Peloton are helping the more proactive riders keep fitness up during the winter months. As local Team ODZ endurance rider Thee Mow puts it, “There’s definitely something surreal about 4 a.m. suffering on Zwift, realizing you didn’t wake up in a bivy, you don’t have to clean your chain, oh, and you’re not racing the CrossWashington Mountain Bike Route yet.”

The most drastic remedy to the Winter Blues isn’t available to all of us every year; I call it “Hero Dirt on Demand.” Also known as leaving the snowy Inland Northwest for a change in terrain. Mountain bikers will take weekend road trips to rip west side trails such as Galbraith Mountain in Bellingham,

SPONSORED BY

22

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

Wash. Spokane MTB riders Frank Benish and Melinda Dupree among others made the epic mid-December journey to Arizona for the Dusk Till Dawn Mountain Bike Race. I drooled over their social media posts, wondering if my own far flung winter adventure plans would be cancelled by a new pandemic variant or a snowpocalypse.

In early February, I very luckily found myself dragging a bike through sand in sweltering 84-degree heat in the Everglades when a friend in Coeur d’Alene texted to remind me that I was riding in probably the only part of the country where it wasn’t currently snowing. On February 5, I lined up at the start of the Huracan 300, a 362-mile adventure bikepacking race around central Florida, with what seemed to be hundreds of riders, but probably more like 100, from all over the East Coast, a few from Arizona, Utah and Hawaii, and one goofball from Spokane.

The route traverses at least a half dozen swamps and Florida’s high mountain peaks, the most punishing of which I discovered were absurdly long, flat-as-a-pancake stretches of barely rideable sand. In Florida, SAND is elevation. Let us not forget the 100+ miles of fun flowy singletrack mountain bike trails and several hours worth of bushwhacking through thick, scratchy palmetto scrub underbrush. Oh yes, and a waist-deep river crossing where some nice kayakers were happy to warn me about the 10-foot alligator swimming upstream.

This 45-hour odyssey on two wheels should keep me smiling until well after the peanut butter freeze/thaw cycle is finished in our beloved Inland Northwest.

Justin M Short will be licking his numerous wounds as the weather and riding conditions improve at home in Spokane, but for some strange reason he’s already talking about racing the Huracan 300 again next year.

NATURE

Funding Green Infrastructure By Adam Gebauer

MATURE FOREST IN THE EAGLE CAP. PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES

IT IS NOT OFTEN that we hear good news coming out of Congress, particularly when it comes to conservation, wildlife, and our forest infrastructure, but there have been two recent pieces of legislation worth celebrating. The Great American Outdoors Act signed into law by President Trump and the Bi-Partisan Infrastructure and Jobs

Act recently signed by President Biden are slated to add much needed funds to our public lands.

The Great American Outdoors Act has two key pieces. This act will provide $9.5 billion over five years to pay for the maintenance backlog in our National Parks System. It will also fully fund the

Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to $900 million a year. This fund uses fees and royalties from offshore oil and gas extraction to provide funds and matching grants to federal, state and local governments to acquire or place easements on land for the benefit of all Americans. In the past, Congress has been able to divert most of these funds for other purposes.

So far, the LWCF has helped states and communities conserve over 7 million acres for public uses.

The Bi-partisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act will allocate $1.2 trillion over the next five years for a variety of infrastructure projects. Although the bulk of this will go to much needed traditional infrastructure like roads, bridges, and airports, over $5.6 billion will be going to green infrastructure.

Specifically, there will be $3.4 billion for wildlife risk reduction and $2.1 billion for ecosystem restoration.

The bill will provide $500 million each to a variety of fire management activities including thinning projects, prescribed fires, fuel breaks, and mapping and defending at-risk communities. There are also funds for Community Wildfire Defense Grants and for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration for wildfire prediction,

modeling, and forecasting.

Within the Infrastructure bill is the REPLANT Act (Repair Existing Public Lands by Adding Necessary Trees).

Currently the National Forest System has a $30 million per year cap to plant trees, which has been in place since 1980. With climate change and increased catastrophic wildfires, the Forest Service projects that they would need $183 million per year for 10 years to cover the back log of reforestation needs. The REPLANT Act calls for the planting of 1.2 billion trees over the next 20 years and will provide over 49,000 jobs.

The Forest Service hopes to increase its workforce by 20% through this funding, but they and other lands mangers including Idaho Department of Lands are concerned that they just can’t find the people to fill all these positions. Where once these agencies didn’t have enough money to be fully staffed, now they are worried that they don’t find enough people, so it’s a great time to look at careers in natural resources. // Adam Gebauer writes the Nature column for each issue of Out There. He last wrote about Washington’s spring bear hunt in the Jan/Feb 2022 issue. Find all of his articles online at Outthereoutdoors.com.

MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

23

Spring Forward

Make the Most of Those Longer Days with Our Turbo Levo e-bikes

Scan Here for early-season bike ride recommendations.

GEAR ROOM OSPREY KESTREL 48 BACKPACK

Spokane’s General Store now carries a wide selection of Osprey backpacks, ranging from day packs, multi-day packs, and adventure travel packs to their awesome kid haulers. One Osprey pack that can work for both big day trips and lightweight overnight or multiday backcountry trips is the Kestrel 48. Built tough to sustain abuse from bushwhacking, c a ny o n e e r i n g tight slots, or tool hauling (for you trail builders), it will take what you throw at it. This pack also comes with the standard Osprey feature of an adjustable torso length so you can dial in the right fit and an AirScape back panel to help keep

SEA TO SUMMIT ASCENT 25 DEGREE SLEEPING BAG

The Ascent water-resistanttreated 750-down sleeping bag features zippers on both sides (a half-length zip on one side and a full length one on the other side), letting it morph from a mummy bag on cold nights to an airy, well-ventilated quilt in warmer temps. This bag is roomy and shaped for comfort with a wide PRINCETON TECH VIZZ HEADLAMP

Three Spokane Locations North Spokane

9501 N Newport Hwy

South Hill

3020 S Grand Blvd

Spokane Valley 606 N Sullivan

24HRS A DAY ONLINE SHOPPING @WHEELSPORTBIKES.COM 24

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

your back dry. Other features include a built-in rain cover, fixed top lid with external zippered pocket, under lid zippered mesh pocket, ice tool attachments, an external reservoir sleeve, zippered sleeping bag compartment, removable sleeping pad straps, zippered hipbelt pockets, side zipper access to the main compartment, a fulllength vertical zippered side pocket, and more. Check out a Kestrel or one of several other models of Osprey packs at the General Store on Division Street in Spokane. MSRP: $180.99.

Osprey.com (Derrick Knowles)

A simple, classic design and solidly built, the waterproof, lightweight, and multi brightness settings of the now-even-brighter brand new 550 lumen Vizz make it a no-brainer choice for your next headlamp.

Features include a Maxbright LED for a powerful spot beam, a pair of white Ultrabright LEDs for a flood

hood and oversized draft collar and still keeps the weight down. An internal pocket for your phone or valuables, a quality compression bag, and a mesh storage bag are valuable additions. The bag also zips to several other Sea to Summit bags to create the potential for a twoperson snuggle fest. MSRP: $369.

S eatosummitusa. com (Derrick Knowles)

beam, and two red Ultrabright LEDs for checking maps or completing up-close tasks while preserving night adjusted vision (a great feature for hunters). It also has a locking feature and low battery indicator on the switch. MSRP: $49.99. Princetontec.com (Wil Wheaton)

THERM-A-REST PARSEC 0 DEGREE SLEEPING BAG

This zero-degree bag has retired my long-time winter bag thanks to its highly compressible 800-fill Nikwax Hydrophobic Down™ that apparently absorbs 90% less water and dries three times faster than untreated down.

That means warmer nights out backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, or just winter or early spring camping when sweat and moisture can wreck the warming

capacity of an old-school, untreated down bag. Other cool features include an external zippered pocket, a certified 100% recycled nylon shell, an anti-snag zipper that makes getting in and out easy, a downlined foot pocket for warmer toes, and straps to keep your sleeping pad connected to your bag.

Compression/ storage sack included. MSRP: $489.95 - $569.95.

Thermarest.com (Derrick Knowles)

SEA TO SUMMIT ETHER LIGHT XT EXTREME SLEEPING MAT

I got to try this pad out indoors and am stoked to take it along on a winter fishing and camping trip to Montana the week after this review goes to print.

Sleeping on the cold ground or snow in the winter or shoulder seasons requires a quality pad to stay warm and comfortable.

The Ether Light XT Extreme has four inches of thick, comfy 6.2 R-Value-rated insulation that also features dual-density layers of THERMOLITE® insulation that prevent convective heat loss and internal air movement. This results in true four-season performance. It’s also way light-

er than some of the Rice Krispies-sounding inflatable pads I’ve owned. Inflating it is quick with the included Airstream Pump/ stuff sack that allows you to inflate the pad by squeezing the bag full of air into the pad instead of blowing it up with your mouth. The innards also have antimicrobial treatment to prevent mold growth. Finally, there’s an integrated PillowLock system to keep a Sea to Summit Aeros pillow in its place. By far the best winter/early spring sleeping pad system I’ve tried. MSRP: $199-$229.

Seatosummitusa.com (Derrick Knowles)

BIOLITE ALPENGLOW 500 & 250 LUMEN LANTERNS

Choose from the 500 lumen or smaller 250 lumen version of these beautiful, blazing LED lanterns.

Full of cool features, these lanterns have warm and cool light settings, plus multiple color options, including a multicolor party setting.

Give the lantern a shake in the various lighting options to reveal a bunch more fun settings, including candle flicker, color cycling, and fireworks. It’s plenty pow-

erful with ChromaReal LEDs that create true tones at night for enjoyable nighttime cooking, reading, or camp projects.

The AlpenGlow is USB rechargeable and can also charge your phone or other devices. My only wish for this nearperfect lantern is that it had an integrated charging cord or a place to store the detachable one that comes with it.

MSRP: $59.95-$79.95. Bioliteenergy.com (Derrick Knowles)

O-PEN OZONE-BASED POCKET WATER PURIFIER

no funky taste. Purify 0.5 liters in under one minute. The internal rechargeable battery and USB cable are included, and the O-Pen can purify up to 25 liters per charge. Perfect for hiking, bikepacking, hunting, traveling overseas, or as a backup in your vehicle or camper for emergencies. MSRP: $149. Rovingblue. com (Derrick Knowles)

This pen-sized, 1.2-oz. water filter emits a cloud of ozone gas into a bottle or glass of water that within minutes is safe to drink and free from multiple dangerous waterborn organisms, bacteria, viruses, and cysts, including giardia and crypto. Once any nasties in your water are destroyed, the ozone quickly reverts to oxygen, leaving pure water with WOMEN’S ERGO INFINIUM GORDINI GLOVES

year-old. Best for above-freezing temps or short periods of time in colder temps, these weather-proof gloves have a printed silicon grip on the palm that makes it easy to grab and hold things. An added bonus is a touchscreen capable thumb and index finder pad.

MSRP: $49.99. Gordini.com (Shallan Knowles)

I have cold hands; I swear I don’t make my own heat in my extremities. So, light gloves usually do nothing for me. With a mix of nylon and GORETEX INFINIUM™ WINDSTOPPER® fleece, these gloves took what little heat I usually have in my hands and kept my fingers from freezing, even after a spontaneous snowball fight with my sixAVOALRE RUNNING/ATHLETIC SOCKS

These solidly-constructed, affordable, no-show/ ankle-high running or workout socks come with three pairs per box. Made with moisture-wicking, breathable Coolmax fabric with cushioning and non-slip, anti-skid construction, they are comfortable and functional out on the trail or in the gym.

MSRP: $24.99. Avoalre.net (Wil Wheaton) GREGORY ARRIO 18 DAY PACK

The perfect sized day pack featuring Gregory’s ventilated suspension and breathable shoulder strap system to keep your back and shoulders cool and dry, plus plenty of gear org an i z at i on features so you can find that gear you need quick.

This pack features several external stor-

age pockets, an internal hydration hanger for your water reservoir system, top-loading main storage compartment access, and moulded zipper pulls to make opening zippered compartments with sweaty, cold, or wet fingers easy.

MSRP: $89.95.

Gregor yp acks. com (Wil Wheaton)

Editor’s Note: Unless otherwise stated, product for these reviews was provided by the brand at no cost to the reviewer. Out There strives to only review quality products and provide honest, thoughtful, and entertaining gear reviews, but readers should always do their own research before making a purchase.

MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

25

GEAR ROOM

The DeFeet Story: Some Badass, USA-Made Cycling Socks

SHANE COOPER FOUNDED DEFEET in 1992 as a producer of socks for cyclists. His original DeFeet Aireator sock flipped the traditional cycling sock inside out by putting the durable nylon on the outside and the softer fibers against the skin. Cooper also used Coolmax mesh weave to wick away moisture in key spots. This innovative sock took the cycling world by storm when cyclist Greg LaMond asked DeFeet for a “black sock with a 5-inch cuff to resist the dirt and mud of the Spring Classics.” The company knitted LaMond’s logo into the cuff and their custom socks became sought after.

Today, the DeFeet Aireator is still considered one of the best cycling socks in

the industry. They are also awesome for around town biking. My husband and I have enjoyed the durability and comfort as we operate a very active mobile coffee business on a tricycle. We also often commute by bike and spend a lot of time in the outdoors, and the DeFeet Aireator and Woolie Boolie wool socks keep us warm or cool or both all year long.

DeFeet’s creative designs add spice and color to rides, trails, and everyday wear. My favorite is the women’s 4-inch Unicorn, which features the fanciful creature riding a bicycle through a host of stars. All of the proceeds from DeFeet’s artistic Paul Sherwin Project

socks are donated to said project, which honors the cycling legend Paul Sherwin and “empowers local people in Uganda and across East Africa to drive progress and economic development through education, job skills and personal training, while promoting and protecting the unique culture and environment of their communities.” DeFeet also recently launched an online program where you can design and print your own custom socks, one at a time.

Cooper has always refused to move production overseas, so DeFeet is still entirely sourced and manufactured on this continent. Their merino wool comes from

sheep in the Rocky Mountains and is processed and dyed in North America. Their Eco-blend, Repreve®, is made in North Carolina from recycled plastic bottles.

The company believes in supporting every person who wears their socks, something I recently experienced firsthand. A custom sock we ordered through the Print My Sock program didn’t turn out quite the way we wanted, and Cooper himself emailed us to find out how he could help and facilitate a better experience. I’m obsessed right now with my DeFeet Woolie Boolies, and I know I’ll be wearing DeFeet socks for as long as they continue to make them.

Defeet.com (S. Michal Bennett)

From free powder refills to an inversion on Inspiration to time well spent with friends and family, we’ve got the skiing and all the ingredients to make your good day on the hill a great one.

20% OFF LODGING

LAST CHANCE,

LAST CHAIR *

Available March 21–April 10– Don’t miss the last chair!

BOOK ONLINE AT BOOK.SKIWHITEFISH.COM

USE PROMO CODE: LASTCHAIR22 *Terms & conditions apply.

26

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

WHITEF I S H , M O NTA N A SKIWHITEFISH.COM | 877- SKI- FISH Partially Located on National Forest Lands Photos © GlacierWorld.com & Whitefish Mountain Resort

MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

27

Saturday September 17, 2022

SPOKANE

PHOTO COURTESY OF CDA MARATHON

After two years of races, rides, and other large outdoor events being cancelled because of COVID—and then an era of virtual-only races—large outdoor events and gatherings are returning to community calendars.

It’s been a while since we last published our annual Inland NW Race, Ride & Event Guide (March 2020). It was just before the whole world locked down, and we are excited that things for 2022 are looking different! Runners, mountain bikers, triathletes, road bikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts will have renewed opportunities to train with the motivation and anticipation of a live, in-person event.

Unfortunately, some long-standing events didn’t survive the pandemic, especially smaller events organized by non-profit organizations. We tried our best to find out which events were still alive for 2022, but, for some, specific dates have not been announced by organizers.

Fingers crossed that some of them will continue on.

Registering and financially committing to an event is a great motivator to stick to a personal exercise and fitness routine. Cajole friends or family to join you, and train as a group in the weeks and months to come. Race and ride events also inspire travel to other regions around the Pacific Northwest. Meet locals and make new friends with adventure-minded folks in a new place.

Registration is available now for spring events, and many summer races have a May 1st deadline or price discounts the earlier you register. Check out the race ads in this guide and support them too since they make this guide possible! Now . . . Ready, set, get out there and participate in an event or two!

ROAD RUNNING

St. Paddy’s Five Miler (March 13): Family-friendly event hosted by Bloomsday Road Runners Club takes place at East Valley High School in Spokane Valley. Official Bloomsday second-seed qualifier race.

Shamrock Shuffle (March 13): 7-miler or 5k with live and virtual options hosted by Negative Split (Spokane).

Rapid Rabbit Run (March 20): Live race with virtual option, 3-mile and 5-mile runs with staggered starts. Proceeds benefit East Valley High School’s senior class (Spokane Valley).

Register Today!

HAPPYGIRLSRUN.COM 28

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

Only Fools Run at Midnight 5k (April 2): Run the streets of downtown Medical Lake starting at 11:30 p.m. Organized by Medical Lake Lions Club.

Yakima River Canyon Marathon & Half Marathon (April 2): Point-to-point USATF-certified marathon course with views of the Yakima River Canyon.

Hauser Lake 10k/5k Icebreaker Run (April 3): Bloomsday second-seed qualifier with

PHOTO COURTESY OF NEGATIVE SPLIT

USATF-certified 10k course around the lake in Hauser, Idaho. Fundraiser for the specialneeds rescue dogs at Double J Dog Ranch.

The Split Half Marathon, 10k, & 5k (April 10): Flat scenic course through Kendall Yards, Riverfront Park, and along the Spokane River. Kids’ Challenge also offered. Negative Split event.

Spokane Superhero Fun Run (April 16): Family-friendly, chip-timed 5k and 10k races along the Centennial Trail through Riverfront Park (start/finish at U-District PT). Proceeds benefit CASA Partners, helping children in the foster care system.

Wenatchee Marathon, Half Marathon, & 10k (April 16): USATF-certified, Boston-qualifier course includes the Apple Capital Loop Trail through Wenatchee Confluence State Park.

Walkers welcome.

Jr. Bloomsday (April 16): Race for children in grades 3-7 at Spokane Falls Community College campus.

Spring Dash & Tot Trot (April 23): 5-mile Bloomsday second-seed qualifier race starts at Coeur d’Alene’s McEuen Park; includes Tot Trot (ages 10 and younger). Fundraiser for United Way of North Idaho.

Lilac Bloomsday Run (May 1): 12k for runners, walkers, and wheelchair participants.

In-person event returns, plus a virtual option that includes a new “Bloomsdog” option—do a virtual run with your dog and get fun swag.

Strides for Strong Bones Fun Run/Walk (TBA): 1-, 2-, or 3-mile “Awareness Walk” hosted by Emde Sports in Spokane. Proceeds benefit Washington Osteoporosis Coalition.

Windermere Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k, & 5k (May 15): Flat, point-to-point course along Spokane County’s Centennial Trail. Boston marathon qualifier, hosted by Negative Split. New this year is a 10k option, outdoor expo, and finish line in Riverfront Park.

T9 Mermaid Run 10k, 5k, & virtual (May 21): Hosted by Title 9 and Mermaid Series for women runners and walkers; includes a 1.5-mile Mermaid Dash for girls ages 6-12. Start/ finish at Riverfront Park.

Moses Lake Spring Festival 10k & 5k (May 28): Event based at McCosh Park and Surf n’ Slide Water Park in Moses Lake, Wash.

Coeur d’Alene Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k, & 5k (May 29): Start/finish at McEuen Park in downtown Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Hosted by Negative Split.

Priest Lake Spring Festival Half Marathon, 10k, & 5k (May 29): Run along the lakeshore at beautiful Priest Lake. Event is based in Coolin, Idaho (west side of lake); includes a free 1k Kids’ Dash (with 50 and 600 yard distance options) for ages 8 and younger.

Stache Dash 10k & 5k (June 4): For runners, walkers, and wheelchair participants, based at Plantes Ferry Park Park in Spokane Valley, Wash. Fundraiser for Elevations, a children therapy service-provider for special needs children.

Dad’s Day Dash (June 19): Family-friendly 5-mile run/walk on Father’s Day. Fundraiser for SNAP, a Spokane-based community action agency.

MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

29

PHOTO COURTESY OF NEGATIVE SPLIT

Metaline Falls Bigfoot 5K (June 25): Takes place in the historic town of Metaline Falls in Pend Oreille County, a city along the International Selkirk Loop scenic highway.

Missoula Marathon, Half Marathon, & 5k (June 26): USATF-certified Boston Qualifier marathon course, with wheelchair and handcycle divisions. Includes a kids’ 1-mile untimed fun run. Sign up for the Big 3 Race Challenge, which includes completing a beer run on race weekend.

Spokane to Sandpoint Relay (July 22-23): A 200-mile overnight, 12-person relay team race starting from Mt. Spokane’s summit and running 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.

Wallace Huckleberry Festival 5k Walk/Run (August 20): Family-friendly run in Wallace, Idaho, with optional huckleberry pancake breakfast before or after.

Tase T. Lentil 5k Fun Run (August 20): A USATF-certified race to celebrate the National Lentil Festival Food & Brew Fest in Pullman, Wash.

Newport Autumn Bloom 5k/10k Fun Run (Sept. 17): Takes place at TJ Kelly Park in Newport, Wash.; proceeds benefit Newport Hospital and Health Services Foundation programs.

Run the Dam Half Marathon, 10k, & 5k (Sept. 17): Run across Grand Coulee Dam and along Banks Lake as part of the Harvest Festival in the City of Grand Coulee, Wash.

Deutschesfest 10k/5k Fun Run (Sept. 17-18): German community festival in Odessa, Wash., includes parade, fun run, brats, brews, and more.

Inland Relay (Sept. 24): A brand new 46-mile relay for 2022 created by NXNW Relays.

Grab some friends and take turns running 10 legs through the Channeled Scablands near Cheney to a brewery finish in Spokane.

Leavenworth Marathon & Half Marathon (Oct. 1): Course starts near the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area and goes along dirt roads and trails, including Icicle Canyon Loop and riverfront trails in Leavenworth, Wash.

Jackass Half Marathon & 5K (Oct. 1): Point-to-point course along the paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes from Wallace to Kellogg, Idaho.

Spokane Marathon, Half Marathon, & 10k (Oct. 9): Proceeds from this Boston Marathon Qualifier race benefit local high school cross-country programs. The 10k is a Bloomsday second-seed qualifier.

Monster Dash 5k & Kids’ Fun Run (Oct. 30): Organized by Active4Youth in collaboration with the Spokane Swifts Running Team, this event at Manito Park includes a 5k adult race and kids’ race (ages 12 and younger); jogging strollers and dogs allowed.

Halloween Hustle Half Marathon, 10k, & 5k (Oct. 30): New event in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, organized by Negative Split includes out-and-back creepy courses.

30

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

THE RACE IS ON!

AMERICA’S LARGEST MULTI-SPORT RELAY RACE FROM MT. BAKER TO BELLINGHAM BAY 93 MILES • 7 LEGS • 3-8 RACERS

MAY 29, 2022 REGISTER NOW!

skitosea.com

USE CODE OTO22S50 TO SAVE $50 PER TEAM

TITLE SPONSOR

PHOTO COURTESY OF CDA MARATHON

INLAND NW RUNNER PROFILE: ROBIN MANEES I am a runner, and I have Lupus. My miles are a little harder to come by because of my illness. I need to let my body guide me, or I run the risk of making myself ill. It comes naturally for me to push through pain. It’s hard for me to back off, run less, and rest when my body needs me to. Movement helps me. It’s a difficult balance: should I be resting or should I be moving? I have to constantly be aware of my limits. Lupus compels me to do a lot of things I should do as a runner, like lots of stretching, keeping my nutrition in line, and paying close attention to hydration.

I just finished my third marathon in October and am participating in 2 more this coming year. I never thought in a million years that I’d be training to repeatedly run 26.2 miles! I don’t know what my pain level or energy level will be on race day, but I will always do my best to show up anyway. I will run until it’s too hard, and I will walk until it’s too easy. Unless I pass out or die, I’m going to finish.

In 2022, Robin is signed up to run The Split Half Marathon on April 10th and the Windermere Marathon on May 15th. This Inland NW Runner Profile is sponsored by Negative Split (Nsplit.com).

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

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR OUR OTHER EVENTS THIS YEAR

TOUR DE WHATCOM 22/44/62/100 mile rides July 23, 2022 tourdewhatcom.com

MT. BAKER HILL CLIMB Ascend 4,462 feet in 22 miles September 11, 2022 bakerhillclimb.com

TRAILS TO TAPS 30+ miles / 10 breweries October 16, 2022 trailstotapsrelay.com

MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

31

TRAIL RUNNING Caveman Roar & Pour 5k Trail Fun Run (April 23): Run through the Cave B Winery, in Quincy, Wash., overlooking the Columbia River Gorge. Wine tasting event afterwards.

Yakima Skyline Rim 50K (April 23) & 25K (April 24): Challenging out-and-back course in the high desert of the Yakima River Canyon outside Ellensburg, Wash.

Spokane River Run (April 24): 5k, 10k, 25k, 50k, and 50k team relay race at Riverside State Park; fundraiser for Garfield Elementary A.P.P.L.E. program.

Sunflower Trail Marathon, Half Marathon, & Relay (April 30): Run on single-track trails and gravel roads in Washington’s Methow Valley on a point-to-point course from Mazama to Twisp.

Run Like the Wind Running Festival (May 7): 5k, 10k, or 10-miler along the trails, paths, and roads at the Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility in Ellensburg, Wash.; benefits Kittitas County Search and Rescue.

Priest Lake Spring Festival Half Marathon, 10k, 5k, & Kids’ Dash (May 29): Start/finish at Coolin Community Park at Priest Lake, Idaho; free 1k Kids’ Dash (ages 9 and younger).

Palouse Road Runners Summer Series (TBA): Run club in Moscow, Idaho, hosts a series of races; runners score points based on finishing place. Prizes for top male and female, highest series point totals.

Hiawatha Trail Run (June 12): First event in the “Back to Nature” series organized by Negative Split; includes 10k, 15k, 25k, and 50k timed runs along North Idaho’s Scenic Hiawatha Trail.

Race the Wolf Ultramarathon & Trail Race (June 25-26): Takes place at Schweitzer in Sandpoint, Idaho. Saturday race options include an 8k and—new this year—the Sky Climb, an off-piste, 1 vertical mile “climb” with 1,660+ elevation gain. Sunday includes the 52k ultramarathon and 26k races. Part of The GRIT North Idaho trail run series organized by Priest Lake Multisports.

Spokatopia Trail Run & Trail Running Clinic (July 9): A 5k run on the singletrack trails at Camp Sekani Park at the annual Spokatopia Outdoor Adventure Festival. $25 race fee includes a festival demo pass for bikes and paddlesports, plus a headband. Adult beverage garden and live music all day long.

Kaniksu Trail Runs (June 10-12): Six events over the course of three days in the Colville National Forest at Frater Lake near Ione, Wash., organized by Kaniksu Ultras include a 50-Miler (new course), the Emory Corwine Memorial Ruck Race (ruck team relay and solo option), Sweet 50k, Tall Trees 29k, Herman’s Half-ish, and The Frater Round.

Dig Your Grave (July 30): A rugged, raw and remote 42k single-track run in the Cabinet Mountains. The course is an out and back with significant climbing, minimal aid, and amazing views. Part of The GRIT North Idaho trail run series organized by Priest Lake Multisports.

Tartarus Backyard Ultra (July 30): Hosted by Kaniksu Ultras at Riverside State Park Camp 7; described as a “Last Person Standing” race for runners and “ruckers.”

The “Original” Bare Buns Fun Run (July 31): Clothing-optional 5k trail run/walk at the Kaniksu Ranch Family Nudist Park near Loon Lake, Wash.

Silver Mountain Trail Run (August 21): Second race in Negative Split’s “Back to Nature” series. Ride the gondola at Silver Mountain Resort to the start line for 18k, 9k, and 6k courses.

Smokechaser Race (Sept. 10): 30k and 5-mile courses start from Priest Lake State Park, Lionhead; part of The GRIT North Idaho trail run series organized by Priest Lake Multisports.

Moscow Mountain Madness Half Marathon & 5-Mile (Sept. TBA): Challenging course along technical single-track and logging roads. Hosted by Palouse Road Runners in Moscow, Idaho.

Mt. Spokane Trail Run (Sept. 10): This final event in Negative Split’s “Back to Nature” series has three scenic course options, including a 25k, that start and finish at Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park’s main lodge.

Happy Girls Run Spokane (Sept. 17): Choose from half marathon, 10k or 5k courses through 32

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

NORTH IDAHO TRAIL RUN SERIES: THE GRIT

36 LEGS

12 RUNNERS

TRY THE 6 PACK!

1/2TEAM1/2PRICE

LOOKING TO UP YOUR TRAIL RUNNING GAME this year and gain some bragging rights?

Set yourself a personal challenge with the GRIT Trail Series, which was first completed in 2021. The Grit series, put on by Priest Lake Multisports, has three levels: the Short-Cut, the Long-Cut, and the Grand-Cut. You decide the distance and then register for individual races within that distance. The collection of North Idaho trail and off-road races include Race the Wolf, Priest Lake 50k, Priest Lake Marathon, Priest Lake Half-Marathon, The Smokechaser 30k, and Dig Your Grave Trail Marathon. There’s no additional fee for running in the series, and points are assigned for completion, not your time.

“Our passion for trail running comes from a lifetime of running road races, triathlons, and other endurance events,” says race director Ken Eldore. “Participating in a trail race or off-pavement course means trading the traffic and crowds for fresh mountain air, scenic views, and seeing some occasional wildlife. It’s an enriching experience for those who like to challenge themselves outdoors.”

New to a trail race series? Eldore recommends taking a slower approach to training, incorporating interval training, and building in longer runs. This can help you focus on strength and will minimize the risk of injury. And don’t train or race in road running shoes. Finally, just focus on the finish, not the clock. (S. Michal Bennett)

the beautiful trails of Riverside State Park and along the Spokane River. Legendary swag, great food and cocktails at race end, and a welcoming vibe for women of all fitness levels.

Priest Lake Marathon, Half Marathon, & 50k Ultra Marathon (Oct. 1): Wilderness trail run in the Panhandle National Forest. Walkers welcome, excluding ultra. Part of The GRIT North Idaho trail run series organized by Priest Lake Multisports.

Wild Moose Chase Trail Run (Oct. 16): 25k, 10k, and 5k trail runs at Riverside State Park hosted by Eastern Washington University’s Class of 2021 Doctor of Physical Therapy program students.

Sekani Trail Run 10k & 5k (Oct. 23): Adventure run/hike/walk on trails at Camp Sekani in Spokane; fundraiser for Franklin Elementary School’s A.P.P.L.E. program.

MINI

A SAMPLE

SIZE OF ALL

3 LEGS

THE FUN!

DOWNTOWN TO

MIRABEAU

$90 THROUGH APRIL 30TH

INLAND

R5 RUNNERS E L A1 DAYY

COMING 09.24.22

Fall Flask 10k Race & 5k Fun Run (Nov. TBA): Course is a combination of paved and gravel roads and rolling hills of the Palouse countryside. Hosted by Palouse Road Runners, based in Moscow, Idaho.

WWW.NXNWRELAYS.COM MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

33

4.23.22

DASH SPONSORED BY

ROAD CYCLING Bike Everywhere Challenge (May 1-31): Events and activities (TBA) organized by the Spokane Bicycle Club. Spokanebicycleclub.org.

Lilac Century & Family Fun Ride (May 22): Ride distance options include Century (100 miles), Metric Century (66 miles), 50 miles, 25 miles, 15 miles, and a 12-mile Family Fun Ride on the Children of the Sun Bike Trail. Organized by Spokane Aurora Northwest Rotary Club.

Apple Century Bike Ride (TBA): Tour the Wenatchee Valley area with a 100-, 50-, or 25-mile fully-supported ride. Hosted by Wenatchee Sunrise Rotary Club.

25

Spokane Summer Parkways (June TBA): A four-mile route for bikes, pedestrians, skaters, and other human-powered transportation in the South Hill Manito/Comstock neighborhoods.

INCLUDES RACE T-SHIRT (BY APRIL 5)

Youth: $20 | Tot Trot: $8 McEuen Park | Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Tot Trot for kids | competitors & walkers welcome qualifier for Bloomsday’s second seeding

for more information call 208.667.8112 or visit

www.SpringDashCDA.com

BRACE YOURSELVES... SUMMER IS COMING 20% off CODE: OutThere

Learn more (including how to earn a FREE entry and register at:

snapwa.org/ddd5k

34

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

Register NOW for the Dad's Day Dash 5k!

Sunday, June 19

Manito Park

CHAFE 150 (June 18): Gran Fondo scenic ride—not a race—starting from City Beach in Sandpoint, Idaho, and riding along Lake Pend Oreille into Montana. Route options include 150, 100, 80, 40, or 30 miles, and a family fun ride. Organized by Sandpoint Rotary; all entry fee proceeds support Pend Oreille School District’s autism and after-school reading and literacy program.

Cycle Chelan (June 25): Route for every rider with four options, including Century Challenge (100 miles), new Lake Loop (50 miles), Cycle di Vino (30 miles), or the new Butte Blast—a gravel ride on Chelan Butte, with a 15 or 30 mile option (E-bikes welcome).

Presented by Lake Chelan Rotary Club.

8 Lakes Leg Aches (July 16): Virtual last year; details pending for this year. Choose between 30-, 45-, and 75-mile routes, with the longest one touring around all eight lakes. Proceeds benefit Spokane-based Lutheran Community Services Northwest.

Tour de Whatcom (July 23): Ride distance options include Century (100 miles), Metric Century (62 miles), 44 miles, or 22 miles. Start/finish in downtown Bellingham, Wash., at Boundary Bay Brewery.

Spokane Valley Cycle Celebration (July 31): Organized by ValleyFest, route options include a 10-mile “Family-Friendly” ride, 25-mile “Adventure Ride,” and 50-mile “Hills Around the Valley.”

Tour de Lentil Bike Ride (August TBA): A fundraising event for WSU Cycling Club in conjunction with Pullman’s National Lentil Festival.

SpokeFest (September TBA): Virtual last year; 2022 details TBA. Based in Kendall Yards, event includes Spokane Falls 9-mile Loop, 21-mile River Loop, and a Half Century (50 miles).

Mt. Baker Hill Climb (Sept. 11): 22 miles, with 4,462’ elevation climb, along Mt. Baker Highway. Timed race, but two divisions—Social and Recreational—are for non-competitive racers.

SATURDAY, MAy 7, 2022

a Gravel Ride brought to you by Syringa benefitting Pend

Cyclery Oreille Pedalers

PACKET PICKUP and ON-SITE REGISTRATION AT MATCHWOOD BREWING: Friday, May 6, 4PM-7PM and Saturday, May 7, 8AM-9:30AM

Two Routes: 76-mile two-humper 52-mile one-humper

PRE-RIDE MEETING: Saturday, May 7 9:30AM

RIDE START:

Saturday, May 7 10:00AM

• Post-Ride After-Party at Matchwood Brewing Company featuring craft beer, food, outdoor patio, and family-friendly environment.

• Prizes for top threeAVALANCHE men and women finishers

AVALANCH

• Post-ride raffle

FROM THE TOP OF THE HILL: PHOTO COURTESY OF CLARKSTON RIVERS AND RIDES

AVALANCHE

AVALANCHE AVALANCH

CHAFE 150 RIDE. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SANDPOINT ROTARY

AVALANCHE AVALANCH MORE INFO AND REGISTRATION AT: syringacyclery.com/three-quarter-minus-cykeltur/

Questions: Contact 208.610.9990 or syringacyclery@gmail.com

WaCanId Selkirk Loop Ride (Sept. 12-17): A six-day ride over 370 miles on one of the most scenic routes in the Northern Rockies. Because route includes two international border crossings (between U.S. and Canada), check WaCanId.org for event updates.

CDA Fondo (Sept. 17): Fun ride—not a race—along Lake Coeur d’Alene, organized by Negative Split with new courses. Distance options include Gran Fondo (119 miles), Medio Fondo (91 miles), Centro Fondo (54 miles), Piccolo Fondo (49 miles), and Family Fondo (14 miles).

Coeur d'Fondo (Sept. 19): Ride along Idaho's Scenic Byway (Hwy 97) and finish at downtown Coeur d’Alene’s Oktoberfest; routes include 120-mile Gran Fondo; 90, 50, or 40 miles; or 15-mile Family Fun Ride.

RIM Ride (Sept. 17-18): “Rotary in Motion” 5-mile family bike ride on Saturday, followed by 15, 25, 50, and 100-mile rides on Sunday; hosted by the Rotary Club of Liberty Lake, Wash.

Bike MS—Cycle the Silver Valley (Sept. 24-25): Fundraiser for National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Ride along the paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, starting from Kellogg, Idaho.

Sunday October 23, 2022 MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

35

MOUNTAIN BIKING/ GRAVEL RIDES

Gran Fondo Races—Central Washington (March-Sept): Ephrata (March 20), Goldendale (April 10), Leavenworth (May 29), Ellensburg (June 12), and Winthrop (Sept. 17); organized by Rideviciouscycle.com.

Echo Red to Red XC MTB Race (March 19-20): Course begins in the historic town of Echo, Oregon, with most of it on trails at Echo West Ranch & Vineyard. E-MTB race on March 20.

Washington Student Cycling League—Spring League (March-June): Co-ed mountain biking development program and spring race series for riders in grades 6-12, beginners through advanced, organized by the non-profit Washington Student Cycling League. Schoolbased and composite teams, with high school and middle divisions. Individuals can also participate and compete as Independent Rider. Volunteer coaches are encouraged to start new teams.

Hub-a-Palooza (April 8-10): MTB festival with downhill and enduro races at Beacon Hill/ Camp Sekani in Spokane, hosted by Velo Northwest.

Evergreen East—Classes & Clinics (April-Sept.): Mountain Bike Foundations classes start in April, with sessions during either weekends or weeknights, and some women-only beginner sessions. Freeride Classes also offered at the new Beacon Hill Bike Park in addition to kids’ programs . Classes are located at Camp Sekani unless otherwise noted.

Wednesday MTB Race Series at Riverside State Park (May 6-June 24): For eight consecutive Wednesday evenings this popular annual event features a different weekly race course. Free entry for age 18 and younger.

3/4 Minus Cykeltur (May 7): Timed gravel grinder in Sandpoint, Idaho, hosted by Syringa Cyclery offers two course options, 52 and 76 miles.

Idaho Interscholastic Cycling League (May-October): Race series for youth in grades 6-12.

24 Hours of Riverside (May 28-29): Reintroduction of the popular Memorial Day weekend 24-hour MTB team relay at Riverside State Park—now organized by Co-Race Directors Eric Ewing and Patrick Bulger. Can also compete as a solo rider. Race is noon-Saturday to noon-Sunday. Event also includes “Afraid of the Dark” races and an 8-hour race for those wanting a shorter format.

Mt. Spokane Youth Camps & Programs (summer): Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park will again host summer mountain biking day camps (TBA in April 2022). Last year’s youth mountain-bike camps sold out.

Evergreen East—Youth Camps (June-July): Evergreen East hosts co-ed five-day Dirt Camps for Youth (ages 8-13), including a Girls’ Only session, at Beacon Hill in Spokane, Wash.

North American Enduro Cup (June 10-12): Silver Mountain Bike Park in Kellogg, Idaho, hosts one of the North American races that qualifies for the Enduro World Series.

Registration already sold out for 2022—be a spectator!

Northwest Cup (July 15-17): Silver Mountain Bike Park hosts one of the stops for this race series, for ages 5+.

Blue Goose Chase (July TBA): A free 11-mile family bicycle ride in the Little Pend Oreille (LPO) National Wildlife Refuge, along the gravel auto tour route, to support the non-profit Friends of the LPO. Smoke ‘n’ Fire 400 (September 7): Self-supported approx. 400-mile loop bikepacking ride, with almost 41,000 feet of climbing. Ride begins and ends in Boise, Idaho, at Hyde Park.

Silverroxx Mountain Bike Festival (September 23-25): Hosted by Silver Mountain Resort, this festival includes group downhill and super-d races, plus kids’ events.

The Gravel Flamdangle (Oct. 2): Formerly known as the Dirty Spokanza, Spokane’s premier weird-fest gravel race is going legit this year, complete with permits, insurance and entry fees. Three routes out of the Big Barn Brewery include the 93-mile Major Devastation Route, the 62-mile Minor Devastation Route, and the not-to-be-scoffed-at 32-mile Group W Route. The winner has to buy the tacos!

Inland Northwest Cyclocross Series (Oct.-Nov.): USA Cycling series organized by Emde 36

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

24 HOURS OF RIVERSIDE:

A 24-HOUR CELEBRATION OF THE MOUNTAIN BIKE “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow! What a Ride!’” – Dr. Hunter S. Thompson THE ABOVE QUOTE featured on the 24 Hours of Riverside home page sums up the spirit

behind the revival of this once annual Spokane mountain bike tradition. For a rider who’s never done it before, riding a mountain bike for 24 hours may seem like torture.

But at the end of the 24th hour, the grueling round-and-round becomes a highly gratifying accomplishment. Besides, you don’t have to do it alone if you don’t want to, which is why the vast majority or riders sign up as a team.

On Memorial Day Weekend, May 28-29, 24 Hours of Riverside is reviving the 24-hour bike race that ran for 20 years at Riverside State Park in Spokane. While not the exact same race, new owners Eric Ewing and Patrick Bulger of Nomadz Racing are excited to fill the hole left by the 2019 close of the legendary 24 Hours Round the Clock race. It’s set to be a weekend of bikes, dirt, camping, food, and a whole lot of fun! Solo registrations are available in addition to a variety of team options, and RaceJoy’s GPS-based tracking app will allow you to follow your progress in real time and receive progress alerts for yourself and others. Come honor the legend and enjoy what’s new!

(S. Michal Bennett) Sports includes divisions for women, men, pros, masters, and junior boys and girls at various race venues in eastern Washington.

Diamond Tri Your Best Triathlon (Sept. 10): Event aims to inspire young people to be more physically active. Takes place at the Cowles Scout Reservation in Diamond Lake, Wash.

SuperSprint is for ages 12-15 and includes a 200-yard swim, 6-mile bike, and 1.5-mile trail run. Sprint Tri, ages 16+, is a 400-yard swim, 12-mile bike, and 3-mile trail run. Proceeds benefit Inland Northwest Council, Boy Scouts of America.

Valleyfest 5K/10K Duathlon & Triathlon (Sept. 25): All races start and finish at Plantes Ferry Sports Complex in Spokane Valley, Wash. Duathlon includes 5k run, 11-mile bike, 5k run; Triathlon is boat/bike/run—paddle 1.5 miles (canoe or kayak) on Spokane River, bike 11 miles, run 3 miles. Individual and 2-3 person teams allowed for du and tri events.

MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

37

TRIATHLON/SWIMMING/ PADDLING/WATERSPORTS Leadman Triathlon (April 23): Organized by Kellogg Rotary Club and based at Silver Mountain Resort, this adventure course event for solo or team competitors begins on Kellogg Peak and includes skiing/snowboarding, mountain biking, and running.

Ski to Sea (May 29): A multi-sport relay adventure race with teams of 3-8 people. Starts at Mt. Baker Ski Area and finishes in Bellingham Bay. Includes cross-country and downhill skiing/snowboarding, road and cyclocross biking, canoeing, downhill running, and sea kayaking.

FlowTour Surfing Competition at Silver Rapids Water Park (June 4-5): Silver Mountain Resort hosts a stop on the FLOW Tour, organized by FlowRider.

Medical Lake Trailblazer Tri/Du/5k (June 18): Sprint distance triathlon with 350-meter swim, 12.2-mile bike, and 2.9-mile run; Duathlon with 1mile run, 12.2mile bike, and 2.9mile run; and 5k Fun Run. Teams welcome. Starts from Coney Island Park in Medical Lake, Wash.

Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene (June 26): “Half ” Ironman race based at City Park in downtown Coeur d’Alene includes 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1-mile run.

Spokatopia Watersports Demos (July 9): Try out various paddling watercraft, including kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, or take a kayaking or canoe clinic or group paddle on the Spokane River as part of the Spokatopia Outdoor Adventure Festival at Boulder Beach, off Upriver Drive (northeast Spokane).

Tiger-Tri & Tiger-Du (July 16): Hosted by City of Colville Parks & Recreation and Negative Split—Tri (1k swim, 40k bike, 10k run) and Du (40k bike & 10k run). Starts at Beaver Lodge at Lake Gillette; finish line at Dean Vaagen Memorial Park.

38

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

PHOTO COURTESY OF SKI TO SEA

Long Bridge Swim (August 6): A 1.76-mile swim race across Lake Pend Oreille, aside Sandpoint, Idaho’s iconic Long Bridge.

Tri-Town Float Down Poker Paddle (August 6-7): Paddle the Pend Oreille River from the town of Ione to Metaline Falls, Wash. Win prizes along the way. Organized by North Pend Oreille County Chamber of Commerce to help local veterans and cancer patients.

Swim the Snake (August 13): An open water swim, kayak, or stand-up paddle across the Snake River channel between Lyons Ferry State Park and Lyons Ferry Marina near the town of Starbuck, Wash. Fundraiser for Blue Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Council and local youth summer swim teams.

Coeur d’Alene Triathlon & Duathlon (August 13): Choose between Sprint Tri (500m swim, 13-mile bike, 5k run), Olympic Tri (1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run), or duathlon (5k run, 40k bike, 10k run). Event based at CDA City Park and Beach.

Priest Lake Triathlon (August 27): Choose between a Sprint Off-Road Triathlon or the new Sprint Road Bike Course, which replaces the previous Olympic distance race option.

Compete individually or as a team relay; start/finish near Hill’s Resort.

Valleyfest 5K/10K Duathlon & Triathlon (Sept. 25): All races start and finish at Plantes Ferry Sports Complex in Spokane Valley, Wash. Duathlon includes 5k run, 11-mile bike, 5k run; Triathlon is boat/bike/run—paddle 1.5 miles (canoe or kayak) on Spokane River, bike 11 miles, run 3 miles. Individual and 2-3 person teams allowed for du and tri events.

MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

39

Saturday th July 16 2022

Spokane, WA 30, 45 & 75 Mile Routes

FOR MORE INFO www.lcsnw.org/8lakesride 509.343.5020 cmckee@lcsnw.org Presented by Kaiser Permanente & LCS Northwest to benefit vital programs for children & families

DR. DIANE PAXTON ROGER & KATHY CHASE

40

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SPOKATOPIA

OUTDOORSY EVENTS National Geographic Live!—“Untamed” with Filipe DeAndrade (March 9): Presentation by wildlife filmmaker/photographer and star of Nat Geo’s digital series “Untamed.”

Big Horn Outdoor Adventure Show (March 17-20): Gear and resources for fishing and boating, hunting, backpacking, and shooting sports. Hosted by Inland Northwest Wildlife Council at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center.

Tundra Swan Festival (March 26): See tundra swans and other birds return to the Calispell Lake in Pend Oreille County. Presentations and other festival events take place at Kalispel Casino in Cusick, Wash.

Spokane Bike Swap (April 9): The biggest bike sale event of the year. Buy or sell used bikes and check out biking and outdoor recreation booths at the Spokane Fairgrounds. All proceeds benefit local cycling-related non-profit projects.

Free Flowing Snake River Presentation By Trout Unlimited (April 26): An evening with Trout Unlimited President Chris Wood talking about a path forward to save endangered Snake River salmon and steelhead, sponsored by Spokane Falls Trout Unlimited.

●

August 13, 2022

Tourism support for 2022 Autumn Bloom is provided by City of Newport Hotel/Motel Tax Funds.

MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

41

Join the ride. Make a difference.

JUNE 18, 2022

This one-day bicycle ride with 150-, 100-, 80-, 40- and 25-mile routes is presented on June 18, 2022, by the Sandpoint Rotary Club to benefit the Book Trust program of the Lake Pend Oreille School District and other Rotary community youth service projects. The 150-, 100and 80-mile routes incorporate a newly paved route through Montana, alleviating traffic congestion on the customary routes leading into Clark Fork, Idaho.

FOR ROUTE MAPS, FAQS, NEWS AND REGISTRATION:

CHAFE150.ORG

OUR SPONSORS MAKE IT HAPPEN. WE THANK YOU! PRESENTING SPONSOR:

GOLD SPONSORS:

SILVER SPONSORS:

sandpoint

Living Local

ORGANIZED BY:

42

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

Fac A P R I L 3, 7, 2022 2 019 APRIL Facebook.com/DoubleJDogRanch

5K / 10K National Geographic Live!—“Improbable Ascent” with Maureen Beck (May 18): Presentation by one-handed rock climber and world paraclimbing champion.

Spokatopia Outdoor Adventure Festival (July 9): Learn about Inland NW outdoor recreation groups, parks, businesses, and bike and gear shops and participate in fun outdoor activities at Spokane’s Camp Sekani Park. Event includes live music, bike jump show, bike shuttles, kayak and paddleboard demos, adult beverage garden, and children’s activities.

Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area—Mountain Archery Festival (July 22-24): Ride a chairlift to the summit and walk downhill to access multiple archery courses. Prize drawings and special evening activities. Limited number of RV/tent camping spots available.

Top Pin Archery (July 25-26): Family-friendly archery competition on the backside of Silver Mountain in Kellogg, Idaho, that includes navigating through a course of prop targetanimals.

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

RUN FOR A CAUSE! Join us for this fun, annual 5k/10k run around beautiful Hauser Lake benefiting Double J Dog Ranch, a 501c3 nonprofit sanctuary for dogs with special needs.

T H E U S A T R AC K A N D F I E L D C E R T I F I E D 10 K C O U R S E I S A B L O O M S D AY S E C O N D S E E D Q U A L I F I E R .

S C A N T H E Q R C O D E A N D R E G I S T E R T O D AY

SCAN THE QR CODE AND REGISTER TODAY OR REGISTER ONLINE Animal Eye Clinic of Spokane, INC. PS AT ACTIVE.COM

O R R E G I S T E R O N L I N E AT AC T I V E . C O M MAIN SPONSORS

RUN F

GOLD SPONSORS

Join us for this fun Hauser Lake 5North Brewing Company - Brand bene Guidelin SPONSOREDnonprofit BY sanctua PRIMARY LOGO

PRIMARY COLOR

Cyan Blue HEX #00AEEF CMYK 100-0-0-0 RGB 0-174-239 PANTONE Process C

Red Hex #ED1C24 CMYK 0-100-100RGB 237-28-36 PANTONE Bright Re

NAOMI KAHN AGENCY

THE USA TRAC K IS A BLOOM

LOGO ON DARK BACKGROUND

TERTIARY COLO

Orange Hex #F7941D CMYK 0-50-100-0 RGB 247-148-29 PANTONE 151 C

BLACK LOGO

WHITE LOGO

FONTS

S C A N T H EFUTURA Q R BO C DENMARK REG

OR REGISTER O Facebook.com/DoubleJDogRanch MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

43

RUNNING BEFORE IT’S GONE STEVE BAILEY AND THE ZAMBEZI RIVER

BY JOHN ELIASON

RAPID #7 ON THE ZAMBEZI. // PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE BAILEY

AN IRRESISTIBLE PASSION FOR RIVERS CONJURES LIQUID THUNDER IN STEVE BAILEY’S DREAMS. His whitewater kayaking expertise emerges from thousands of hours ascending

currents, catching eddies, boofing rocks, and dropping into hydro hellholes on flood-stage rivers. Recirculating waters have held him close to breathlessness, and Steve has been trashed in the roils and coils of winter froth. He has surfed the waves of opaque bluedom.

Steve’s helmet cam videos on YouTube betray a stout courage and prowess on big water. He is a calculated risk taker who executes paddle strokes and body shifts that are aligned for joy in pools and drops and falls.

Growing up in Spokane helped prepare Steve for the outdoor adventures he has launched in the far reaches of our watery planet. Despite a raft of commitments to his family, community, and 25-year career in the fire service, when Steve turned 40, he and his wife agreed: He needed to celebrate in a distinctive way. What follows is a sort of return to that distinctive flow.

Q: STEVE, WHAT’S YOUR BACKGROUND AS A KAYAKER?

A: A coworker took me to Liberty Lake to teach me to roll. Then we floated the upper 44

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

Spokane from Barker to Sullivan. The next day we headed to the Alberton Gorge on Montana’s Clark Fork River, where I swam three times. I got beat up a lot, but just had so much fun. Soon after, I found out a high school friend was taking a kayak class at EWU. Then a group of four or five of us met up on the Spokane River, got hooked on the sport, and started going every day. Nobody had solid rolls, but we would help each other out with t-rescues and swims. We couldn't get enough. At one point I think I was putting down close to 150-180 days a year on the water.

Q: HOW DID THE ZAMBEZI SHOW UP ON YOUR RADAR?

A: When I started kayaking in the early 2000s, the Zambezi and Nile kept popping up.

Guys from that area like Steve Fisher and Corran Addison heavily promoted those rivers in their videos and magazine articles. It was powerful water. There are different facets of kayaking: you can do big water, steep creeking, freestyle, river running, park-and-play.

That big stuff was just so much fun. In those first few years, I just decided, one of these

BOATERS ON THE ZAMBEZI BELOW VICTORIA FALLS// PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE BAILEY

days I want to go to the Zambezi or the Nile. On the Nile, there was a dam project. Some of the rapids still exist, but a lot are gone. And the Zambezi is slated to have another dam constructed in the next few years. The rapids are numbered 1-21, and from where the dam construction is planned, it’s going to flood all the way back to No. 5. So when I turned 40 and my wife asked “What do you want to do for your birthday?” I said, “I want to run the Zambezi before it’s gone.”

Q: HOW DID YOU PREPARE?

A: By the time I flew with my boat to Livingstone, Zambia, I had been kayaking extensively for 18 years. At that point, the skill set was there. But to prepare for that powerful brand of whitewater, I boated the Kootenai River in Montana. Some refer to it as the Little Zambezi, or the Montana Zambezi. On days when I couldn’t find other kayakers, my dad would drive the shuttle so I could do 4-5 laps in a day and practice the moves I would need in the Batoka Gorge. In our area, in addition to the Kootenai, we have the Lochsa River, the Salmon, the Snake, Tumwater Canyon on the Wenatchee—all big-water style. That training on rivers within striking distance of Spokane allowed me the confidence to just jump right on the Zam when I got there.

“THE GREAT RIVER”

This river of Steve’s allure has surged with enough volume to carve 1600 miles into the land from the Central African Plateau to the Indian Ocean. Journeying through six countries of south-central Africa, the Zambezi and its wetlands and tributaries count as one of the continent’s most biodiverse ecosystems; the Z also ranks as Africa’s fourth longest river.

Translated from the name given by the indigenous Tonga people, “Zambezi” means “The Great River.”

Steve had read about the famous rapids of the Batoka Gorge and confronted their surface tension in his mind. Soon, they would meet him in swells and crests. The parched lands above and the sheer basalt walls would be forgotten. All Steve had visualized before boarding the plane for Africa would be replaced by the bwoosh and crash and hiss of canyon waters. His plan was to put in below Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, the site of Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage site. On Steve’s descent, Zambia would be river left, Zimbabwe to the right.

Q: HOW WAS YOUR FIRST RUN ON THE ZAMBEZI, PUTTING IN RIGHT BELOW VICTORIA FALLS? A: For me it really was how I wanted my first experience on the Zam to be. I was full of excitement to be there and run the big rapids. My two friends and I met some other kayakers who said they would be willing to show us the lines. The catch was that one of

the rafting company photographers had plans to take photos, so we weren’t going to have time to scout. We had to be willing to just run the rapids, top to bottom, based on verbal beta and reading the river as we went. The first run was pretty cool coming into the top of those because the Zambezi’s pool-to-pool, but with a steep gradient between the pools. So you’d be getting the information on “You need to be just left of center, or moving center,” or, “There’s a big hole over here, another big hole over there…and you don’t want to be there.”

Over the years I have found that I prize not having too much information about a new run.

I really value that raw experience of taking what little I know about a river or rapid and putting it together with what I am seeing and feeling as we scout or drop into the action. Nothing compares to that feeling of the final push off of shore and then eddying out into swift current.

That moment of no return and complete focus on what is in front of you.

Q: HOW CHALLENGING WERE THE RAPIDS?

A: My favorite style of whitewater is big water rivers, and the Zambezi definitely lived up to its reputation with fast and steep rapids. Unfortunately, we caught a drought year. The water level hadn't been that low since sometime back in the late 1990s. The rapids were still sizable but came with an added difficulty of having more obstacles or hydraulics to avoid.

The lower water required making additional moves to navigate the drops. Each had its own dynamic. The trip was over two years ago, but I can still see the line of descent for rapids 1 through 21!

That first lap was about getting to have that raw experience, the second lap was to clean up and memorize all the lines, and all runs after that we focused on playing with different features or perfecting the lines of the more difficult rapids. The final lap saw us paddling down from the traditional takeout to the site of the proposed dam. We wanted to see and experience the full length of the Zambezi before it was too late.

Q: BACK HERE IN SPOKANE, WHY DO YOU CARE IF OTHER PEOPLE ARE RUNNING RIVERS? A: As you can tell, kayaking just really grabbed me, and the boater community has been very welcoming. Some of the more experienced paddlers got me involved in supporting the sport. As I gained experience as a kayaker, it was satisfying to share knowledge on gear, technique, and rivers, to sit in an eddy and give someone a tip that has helped me learn a trick. And then watch them go from flopping over and having to roll, to throwing a big loop or linking a cartwheel. Scouting a big rapid, helping them pick the line, leading them down, and watching the explosion of genuine, happy excitement after nailing the line and catching the bottom eddy.

For people who say, “I always wanted to try that!” if you give them an avenue, they could MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

45

STEVE BAILEY AT VICTORIA FALLS. // PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE BAILEY

really respond. Then that’s another person who might later teach somebody else. The goal is not to get as many people as we can on the river, of course, but we’re trying to encourage the people who truly embrace what’s happening. They in turn help make experiences more enjoyable for other people on a river trip or an afternoon surf session.

Q: HOW ELSE DO YOU GIVE BACK TO THE RIVER RUNNING COMMUNITY? A: I helped establish the new Trailer Park Wave access point and preserve the access at Dead Dog Hole, Barker Bridge, and Sullivan Hole. I was part of the Spokane whitewater park proposal process from the beginning all the way until the project died. Also, it became clear that whitewater kayaking, rafting, and snowboarding were good ways to help returning veterans. Consequently, I have spent years working with the Spokane Veterans Center and the Veterans Community Response group to help provide for those who can benefit from the services and activities.

RUNNING BACK HOME AND INTO THE FUTURE

Outdoor adventure travel has motivated Steve Bailey to juggle shifts and finances. He bids goodbye to family and friends with an awareness that objective dangers await. On the Zambezi, Steve sought a clarity required by Class V whitewater, a boundless sensibility as a visitor to people and places on the edge of survival. He ran 21 rapids (just) in time and came back to the wild waters and community of home with reveries and hallucinations for his next titanic river. // John Eliason started kayaking and rafting rivers in 1993. He lives and writes in Spokane, where he teaches in the English Department at Gonzaga University.

FOR FURTHER READING

“Batoka HES Project” from Zambezi River Authority Zambezira.org/hydroelectric-schemes/batoka-hes-project “Glossary of Basic White Water Kayaking Terms” Mindbodypaddle.com/508/glossary-of-basic-white-water-kayaking-terms/ “Save The Zambezi group” on Facebook Facebook.com/groups/773253773116846 46

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

Coffee Coffee Coffee For For The The For The Adventure Adventure Adventure

Eicay Sourced Eicay Sourced Eicay Sourced

Perfectly Roasted Perfectly Roasted Perfectly Roasted roamroasters.coffee roamroasters.coffee

roamroasters.coffee MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

47

WORT H I T.

Spring FEVER

HEAD SOUTH FOR AN EARLY SPRING

EXPLORING UTAH’S GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE NATIONAL MONUMENT

BY JEAN ARTHUR

F i n d yo u r s pri ng F e v er C ure in Wallowa Co unty

Explore miles of trails, back roads, and historic sites in Hells Canyon.

WallowaCountyChamber.com

48

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

AZURE SKIES, cinnamon cliffs, and blooming desert greet hikers and bikers in Southern Utah each spring when mud seems to define the Pacific Northwest.

With bikes, tents, and good humor, my family and I drove the 800 miles south while snow fringed the alpine regions and entered the desert allure of warm days, fragrant nights, and lots of trails in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, a 1.87-million-acre public resource. We discovered the quiet retreats of Southern Utah many springs ago and return to refresh our love for exploring the Beehive State’s hidden slot canyons, gulches, sandstone arches and spires.

HIKING, BIKING, & SEARCHING CONDORS NEAR ESCALANTE

FOR

We arrived in the community of Escalante where 800 residents farm, ranch, recreate and welcome visitors to eateries, outfitters and lodgings. Situated at 5,800-feet above sea level, Escalante is a good launch for desert adventures. We first stopped at the Bureau of Land Management’s Escalante Interagency Visitor Center to ask for trail suggestions— and California condor sightings. “If you’re lucky enough to see a California condor, you’ll notice a numbered tag on it,” the employee told us. “That’s for research purposes.” This is to help keep track of the 70 condors residing in Utah and Arizona.

The visitor center folks pointed us to a warm-up hike in Willis Creek Narrows Slot Canyon, a 4.8-mile out-and-back in a wash.

At 36 miles west of Escalante, it’s a surprise

hidden among dense pines and Navajo Sandstone. Willis Creek meanders a few inches deep through the canyon among pink and gold sandstone. As we walked, I checked overhead for condors—no luck.

Over the next days, we explored the monument, driving to new spots such as the Grosvenor Arch Day Use Site, which affords several different hikes as well as biking on smooth roads with little traffic.

We tried other trails at our leisure: Coyote Gulch, Devils Garden, Spooky Gulch. My favorite becomes Lower Calf Creek Falls for the amazing 126-foot waterfall just 3.1 miles from the trailhead and the $10/night camping. No hikers seemed to travel the sandy trail through rabbit brush, Gambel oak, juniper and pinyon pines.

Midway into our camp trip, while my family biked the slickrock, I opted for a $12 bathhouse shower at Escalante Outfitters and then waited for my crew to join for pizza and brews. Outfitters sells outdoor gear and much-needed cooler ice. I filled our 5-gallon water jugs and had a cool drink on the porch.

This sweet spot warmed me thanks to friendly folks, desert sun, and yummy treats while I pondered the Anasazi and Fremont people who lived here AD 950-1100 and left rock art decorating the sandstone.

When my family rejoined, we enjoyed a quick meal and headed back to camp for our final night. No condors this trip, but I will return in search of warm days, fragrant nights, and a possible glimpse of one of the largest raptors in the world in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. //

Thinking about LASIK? Time to consider SMILE®!

You have a life to live – SMILE is a revolutionary procedure that helps you live it to the fullest.

SMILE LASER VISION CORRECTION

A few minutes to complete.

A day to recover.

Because your life won’t wait.

SMILE is the state-of-the-art Laser Vision Correction option that’s easy on the eyes, and a smarter choice for better vision.

• Minimally invasive and flapless • Fast recovery time • Over 2.5 million eyes liberated

Schedule your complimentary consultation today!

EmpireEye.com (509) 928-8040 | Spokane Valley (208) 664-9888 | Coeur d’Alene

100s of pendants starting at $19 Includes chain and box!

5-Minutes From Costco - open 7 days a week

12120 N Market St. 509-821-8767 www.etsy.com/shop/MyCrystalStop MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

49

Spring FEVER

ECHO, OREGON,

SINGLETRACK FIND YOUR SPRING FEVER CURE

BY AARON THEISEN

See You At

SPOKATOPIA SATURDAY JULY 9, 2022 WWW.SPOKATOPIA.COM 50

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

“I’M ALWAYS SURPRISED how far people will drive to ride these trails,” the woman walking her dog tells me. She lives down the dirt road; I’ve driven nearly three hours, to the tiny community of Echo, in eastern Oregon, to pedal. But it’s snowing back in Spokane. Here it’s in the mid-40s and dry—downright tropical, and well worth the distance.

Dedicated dirt riders often find themselves getting desperate this time of year, between spring’s false starts and freezethaw cycles. Take a break from researching flights to Vegas and plan a weekend to Echo.

With a population hovering around 700, Echo is aptly named; stand in the middle of Main Street most days and you’re bound to hear nothing but the distant hum of the highway. The zero-stoplight town lies along the Oregon Trail; wagon ruts from that historic route are still visible nearby. Thanks to the owners of Sno Road Winery, riders have the Sno West Ranch and Vineyard trails to savor. And if there’s one thing that wine and wheels share, it’s an appreciation for good dirt.

Loyd and Lois Piercy offered their uncultivated land on either side of Alkali Canyon to the trailbuilding hand of former pro rider Shayne Myers, who began scratching out berms and stacking

wooden features in the sandy sagebrush and bunchgrass a decade ago. Myers, along with his wife Stephanie, owned Echo Bike and Board, which was for a number of years the hub of Echo’s cycling nano-scene.

Today the trail system encompasses around two-dozen miles of rolling, buffed singletrack on rolling, wind-buffed hills.

There’s little in the way of technical challenges, although the narrow, occasionally faint singletrack will provide a good test of lateral balance for those of us who have been doing all our rides on a trainer the last few months.

Riders should start with A Trail, a fivemile loop out of the trailhead parking lot.

A Trail, like all the routes here, is designed to be ridden in either direction depending on your preference for long mellow climbs and short punchy descents or vice versa; however, counter-clockwise ends the ride with big views from basalt outcroppings and some big sweeping berms. Stack on Shayne’s or Shelly’s Trail, or go further afield on B and C trails. Most loops average about two miles, so it’s easy to add or subtract mileage depending on your earlyseason conditioning.

Across the road, the Vineyard Loop circles the vineyard with some moderate exposure on a rocky bluff above the

Umatilla River before closing the loop on the dirt access road. The private landowner occasionally closes the gate, requiring riders to re-trace their route.

Fortunately, the views are just as good in the other direction.

Echo receives about seven inches of precipitation a year, so wet riding is unlikely.

The wind, however, is another matter, especially given the lack of tree cover. Riders should be mindful of rattlesnakes and ticks when things warm up as well. But they are a small price to pay for the feel of soft, sandy soil under the tires when the ground is snowcovered or sloppy back home.

Regardless of your route, finish off with a visit to the Sno Road Winery tasting room back in town and raise a glass to early-season singletrack salvation. The trail system hosts the annual Red to Red XC mountain bike race too. The unofficial kickoff to the dirt racing season in Oregon, Red to Red, which begins and ends on Main Street, effectively doubles the size of Echo for one weekend.

This year’s event is March 19-20. // Aaron Theisen has contributed to a number of mountain bike magazines, including Freehub, Mountain Flyer and Dirt Rag. He wrote about the joys of late-season biking in the November/December issue.

OPPOSITE PAGE:THE MANICURED BERMS OF A LOOP TRAIL MIRROR THE WIND-SCULPTED HILLS OF ITS SURROUNDINGS. // TOP: THE VINEYARD LOOP TRAIL CRUISES ALONG A BASALT BUTTE ABOVE THE UMATILLA RIVER. // RIGHT: ECHO RECEIVES ONLY SEVEN INCHES OF PRECIPITATION ANNUALLY. CHANCES ARE YOU'LL BE RIDING UNDER THE SUN. PHOTOS: AARON THEISEN

MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

51

Spring

Go Run Idaho Trails June 2022

July 2022

FEVER

NIGHT HIKES MAKE THE MOST OF SHORT SPRING DAYS

BY HEIDI LASHER

North Idaho Trail Series Short Cut Long Cut Grand Cut

SMOKECHASER

M A RAT HON

September 2022

October 2022

Congratulations 2021 Finishers!

Long Cut

Grand Cut Erik Lewerentz Dave LaTourette Meleah McNair

Chris Moan

Short Cut Josh Burt Dane Myers Paige Milatz Matthew Cochran

JP Arnaud Amanda Caswell-Burt Andrew Steiner Steve Altfillisch

priestlakerace.com/thegrit · @thegritnorthidaho

SUMMERS IN GRADE SCHOOL, my friend

New! Sprint Road Bike Course

8.27.2022

priestlakerace.com

52

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

Becky and I would occasionally pile blankets and pillows on thin mattresses on our back deck and sleep outside. I remember those nights for the long hours it took—after whispering secrets, adjusting blankets, and listening for danger—to fall asleep. What kept me awake were the stars, those alien suns and planets dotting the night sky. I knew only a few constellations, nothing about black holes, very little about the Milky Way, but I wondered about it all.

So vast the universe. So small my pillow.

The first week this past January, I met a friend for coffee downtown. She told me she was less interested in declaring New Year’s resolutions than in achieving small, low-stakes monthly goals. Smaller chance of failure, she said, taking a sip of coffee. Lit by the brilliance of this idea, I went home and made a list of small things I could do each month to improve my experience of life. Meditation is on the list. Daily gratitude.

Less drinking. More time in the wilderness.

Kissing. Reading a wider array of authors.

And, in homage to my childhood nights sleeping under the stars: going outside after dark for a series of “night hikes.”

“Will you carry a flashlight?” asked my friend. “Probably not,” I said, remembering

my husband’s assertion that our eyes can adjust to the dark given time. And so, on my very first night hike, I groped in utter blackness down the slope by our house, baby-stepping into the winter grass and cursing the wan stars, the unrisen moon, and the man I married. I made it only a few hundred yards before turning back to the well-lit house.

Slowly, night after night, as moon waxed toward fullness, I saw more and more. The outline of the Ponderosa trees, patches of old snow, my neighbor’s fence. I began to hear noises that raised my arm hairs: coyote howls, a rustling in the bushes, someone’s sputtering generator. My eyes craved light.

A neighbor’s porch light, the streetlamp, the glow of downtown Spokane in the distance.

The sky itself changed from inky black to diffuse gray to yellow, depending on the size of the moon, the thickness of the clouds, and the brightness of snow on the ground.

Eventually, I found myself connected to it all, a person walking inside a great universe, breathing it all in.

Night hiking does not require a flashlight, although it can make it easier and safer, or a specific destination, and it can be accomplished in 15 minutes.

But the best hikes are longer, taken with

Spokane UNIQUE

-

HANDMADE

-

USEFUL

www.Spokane-Made.com OPPOSITE PAGE: VIEW OF DOWNTOWN SPOKANE FROM THE CENTENNIAL TRAIL. // RIGHT: THE MONROE STREET BRIDGE AT NIGHT. // FAR RIGHT: THE LIGHT INSIDE THE MONROE STREET TOWER. // BOTTOM: RIVER GAZING AT NIGHT FROM THE BRIDGE. PHOTOS: SHALLAN KNOWLES

a friend, a thermos of cocoa, and plenty of warm layers, when the moon and stars shine in equal measure. Choose a familiar place that feels safe, and give your eyes time to adjust to the dark. You’ll be rewarded with wonder. How vast the universe. How small the world. // Heidi Lasher is a freelance writer and communications consultant.

TIPS FOR NIGHT HIKING IN THE INLAND NW

Hiking after the sun sets is a great way to make the most of short spring days, when hitting the trail before dusk might not be an option. Find night hiking tips and Inland NW night hiking trail recommendations from our 2018 story by Holly Weiler here.

MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

53

OUT THERE SNOW 54

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

OUT THERE SNOW LOCAL RESORTS

SPRING EVENTS & DEALS AT LOCAL RESORTS

BY LISA LAUGHLIN

The snow may be melting in the lowlands with clear signs of spring emerging, but our local mountains still have a snowy scene that’s worth exploring for some spring skiing and snowboarding and some of the most fun events of the season.

ULTIMATE SPRING GEAR DEMO AT MT. SPOKANE

Alpine Haus will be bringing the newest ski and snowboard gear to Mt. Spokane on March 6 for an ultimate demo day that will feature over a dozen brands. It’s the perfect way to start scheming your gear upgrades for the 2022-2023 season! Pre-register for $20 by calling Alpine Haus, or sign up at the Alpine Haus booth behind Lodge 2 on the day-of for $30. To ride lifts during the demo, you will need a season pass or lift ticket. Proceeds from the small day fee are donated to Mt. Spokane Powder Hounds, Spokane’s only adaptive ski and ride program.

BRING A FRIEND THURSDAY SPECIAL AT LOOKOUT PASS

Shredding is better with friends—cash in by bringing a pal to Lookout Pass on any Thursday for the rest of the season and get two lift tickets for just $70. (They don’t even have to be that good of a friend!)

jumps, rails and boxes to natural features all over the mountain. Creativity and fun is the central theme as coaches help build skills with an “outside-in” approach, working on movements in low-consequence environments then taking those skills to the park, where they will also learn park etiquette and how to use different features. Camp runs from noon-3 p.m. for snowboarders and skiers ages 10-15. $99/person; intermediate and beginner groups available.

Contact Snowsports School at skischool@ ski49n.com with questions.

ated territory of Eagle Peak at Lookout Pass any day this spring and be among the first to get the experience before it becomes liftserved next winter. You’ll get 4-5 rides in a Snowcat to the top of Eagle Peak for just $100, or you can make a single run for $30 at 1:30 in the afternoon. Check out OTO writer Brad Naccarato’s recent cat skiing experience on Eagle Peak on page 52 of this issue, then make your reservation at skilookout.com.

SPRING PASS SALE AT SILVER MOUNTAIN RESORT

Silver mountain made several improvements to its beginner and groomed run areas that will see a continued impact next season. Staff installed a brand-new covered, moving carpet to make beginner and tubing rides more enjoyable. They added two PistenBully groomers to their fleet, one of which is a winch cat, which will provide more consistency to future grooming. A new D3 cat with a mulcher helped them improve early-season conditions with brush cutting on steeper runs and glades, which will help them get more terrain open earlier in the 2022-2023 year as well.

Buy your pass for the 2022-2023 season at Silver and ski the rest of the 21/22 season for free! If you know you’re going to invest in next winter, it’s an opportunity you won’t want to miss that will also compel you to take advantage of spring skiing. As marketing associate Siobhan Ebel puts it, “The season’s not over yet! Spring skiing means late-season powder dumps and bluebird days. Time it right and spring skiing can make for some of the best days on the mountain all season.” Added bonus?

This pass sale will get you 4 day tickets to Silver Rapids Indoor Waterpark for just $13/each (usually $39/each). Visit silvermt. com for prices and to purchase.

LADIES’ DAY AT MT. SPOKANE

This event was so successful in February, Mt. Spokane decided to host another Ladies’ Day on March 11. Join other funloving women who want to learn new ski and snowboard skills led by the best female instructors on the mountain. All levels, ages 18+.

FREESTYLE CAMP AT 49 DEGREES NORTH

Kick off spring with a spotlight on freestyle! This one-day camp is all about giving participants the confidence to explore the world of freestyle terrain, from sculpted

LIVE MUSIC ON MT. SPOKANE

Every Friday now through March 11, enjoy live music at Foggy Bottom Lounge on Mt. Spokane. March 11 also coincides with Retro Day on the mountain, so dust off your best oldies and play all day before the Retro Day sunset party. Live music will also be playing on Saturday, March 12, at Mt. Spokane to celebrate the last night of night skiing.

EAGLE PEAK CAT SKIING ADVENTURES

By reservation only, explore the newly cre-

SMOOTH DAYS MOUNTAIN

AHEAD

FOR

SILVER

JAEGER’S PARK PARTY AND HAWAIIAN DAZE AT 49 DEGREES NORTH

“Springtime just brings out the fun . . . warmer temps, soft spring snow, slushy park laps, goggle tans, retro outfits, sunglasses and baseball caps, and lots and lots of smiles,” says Rick Brown, director of skier and rider services at 49 Degrees North. Celebrate spring at Hawaiian Daze, an action-packed Saturday on March 26 including music, BBQ on the deck, a poker run, costume contest, raffle, and the ultimate slope side spectator event—the Slush Cup pond skim! Proceeds support the 49 Degrees North Volunteer Ski Patrol.

Also taking place on the mountain this day is Jaeger’s Park Party, the “anti-competition

FAR LEFT TO RIGHT: MT. SPOKANE LADIES DAY. // SILVER MOUNTAIN MAGIC CARPET // EVENING AT 49 DEGREES NORTH AND 49 DEGREES NORTH HAWAIIAN DAYZ // ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE RESORTS

event of the season” with a day of spring park laps, creative lines, and shredding inspired by the late, local pro snowboard legend Jaeger Bailey.

SKI PATROL RECRUITMENT AT MT. SPOKANE

Becoming a ski patroller means you’ll put in a lot of time and dedication on the mountain, but you’ll also make lifelong friendships and skills. If you’ve ever been interested, check out the recruitment event at Mt. Spokane on March 12. Learn more at Mssp.org/join-us.

ZANY SPRING FUN AT LOOKOUT PASS

From a Hawaiian Luau and BBQ with live music to Lookout’s notorious Cardboard Box Derby, these guys know how to throw a spring ski party. March and early April conditions on Lookout are usually awesome with a deep snowpack and often warmer weather, thanks to its reputation for getting the most snow in Idaho. “People wear a lot less winter clothing, and there are those that don the occasional swimsuit and sunglasses instead of goggles,” says director of marketing Matt Sawyer. “It’s a fun, laidback vibe with beer, games for kids, more smiles and less lift lines.” For a full line-up of spring events, visit skilookout.com.

SKI FREE IF YOU OWN A TOYOTA

It’s a good time to drive a Toyota if you like winter sports and a good deal. On March 11, the driver of any Toyota, Scion, or Lexus will be eligible for free lift tickets at Silver Mountain Resort. Toyota reps will

hand out free lift tickets in the parking lot, so no reservations are required. Toyota Ski Free Days occur at all four of the Ski the NW Rockies resorts — 49 Degrees North on March 4, Mt. Spokane on March 18, and Lookout Pass on March 25. Schweitzer had its event back in January. Check with individual resorts to see whether lift ticket reservations may be required.

49 DEGREES NORTH SPECIAL SPRING PASS

“What makes spring so great on Chewelah Peak? The short answer is everything!” says Brown. “March and April bring some of the most beautiful days of the season.

Mother Nature always seems to have a way of sneaking in a few more pretty great pow days before truly closing the door on winter.” Check it out for yourself with a 2022 Spring Pass that will give unlimited access from March 1 through the close of the 21-22 season ($189 for adults; $169 youth ages 7-17). Anyone who purchases a spring pass will qualify for $100 off a 2022-2023 season pass. All passes go on sale March 1 at ski49n.com.

operation through March 13, then open only Wednesdays-Sundays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

LOOKOUT PASS SPRING PASS SALE

Purchase a 2022-2023 season pass for Lookout and ski all of March and into April for free! Lookout plans to be open through April 17. As Director of Marketing Matt Sawyer says, this season is a fun time to get on the hill, when lots of guests dig costumes out of their closets or show off where they went to school with their college colors or jerseys. “Spring is one BIG send-off party to Ullr the God of Snow, as our way of showing our appreciation for a fun and festive winter season,” says Sawyer. Season pass holders from any other mountain will also get a ½ price lift ticket Monday-Friday for the rest of the season.

Catch some late-season night skiing in March! Every Wednesday-Sunday through March 12 you can shred the mountain under the lights from 3-9 p.m. ($32 for six hours.) Also happening in early March is a sweet two-for-$60 lift deal on Mondays and Tuesdays through March 8. Mt. Spokane will continue its 7-day-a-week daytime

SILVER MOUNTAIN’S LEADMAN TRIATHLON

Too early for tri season? Not if one of the events is skiing! This adventure triathlon is a combo of skiing, biking, and running.

Compete as an individual or team on April 23 and help raise money for local charities.

Registration now open at silvermt.com.

MT. SPOKANE SPRING PASS & ½ SALE

Take advantage of the guaranteed lowest rates for the 2022-2023 season at Mt. Spokane by purchasing your pass now.

You’ll be able to ski the rest of the season free! Renewing pass holders save even more with this deal. For details and to purchase, visit mtspokane.com.

SKI FREE IF YOU OWN A PARKER SUBARU

You’ll be able to score a free lift ticket at Lookout Pass on April 1 if you drive a Parker Subaru. Stop by the Coeur d’Alene store to learn more.

GO BAVARIAN AT 49 DEGREES NORTH

NIGHT SKIING AND LIFT DEALS AT MT. SPOKANE

of the mountain, and sets later in the day, giving us more time to squeeze in those last laps at the end of the day,” says Brown.

Depending on who you ask, this may just be the best race event of the year. This ski/ snowboard race starts on the deck and includes a top-to-bottom GS race course and—the Bavarian twist—timed beer drinking. Enjoy great food, drinks, a golf chipping contest, great costumes, and lots of laughs on April 2, a date that still provides good conditions. “The sun sits higher in the sky, lighting up even more

INVEST IN NEXT WINTER AT 49 DEGREES NORTH

With the addition of the new Northern Spirit High Speed Quad, Washington State’s longest high-speed lift that carries riders from base to the summit in just seven minutes, 49 Degrees North is a great place to be for the 2022-2023 season. The resort plans to expand its operating schedule next season to 7 days a week from the Christmas holiday period until the first week of March to maximize days on the snow. Get your pass now for the lowest price at ski49n. com. //

sponsored by MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

55

OUT THERE SNOW LOCAL RESORTS

A SNEAK PEEK OF LOOKOUT’S EXPANSION

BY BRAD NACCARATO

The 2021-22 season saw some big upgrades for Lookout Pass when the mountain was finally able to permit cat-skiing/riding access to the newly acquired Eagle Peak Expansion. A separate summit, lying westsouthwest of the existing ski area, Eagle Peak and its 14 new runs add a whole new

dimension to the resort’s current 500+ acres of lift-accessed terrain. “We’re essentially doubling in size with the addition of 500 more acres,” says Brian Bressel, Lookout’s General Manager. “We have a little bit more timber to remove, but other than that, we’re on schedule to begin lift installation this

Up to 50% OFF

summer,” he adds.

I got a sneak-peek of what’s to come on Eagle Peak on a late February trip with the resort’s cat skiing program, which will end with the close of this season. We were fortunate to have timed it within a few days of some significant storm activity, and

Eagle Peak did not disappoint! Weaving fresh tracks through deep snow is always pure bliss, but what really stood out about the new expansion were the clean fall-lines and the diversity of terrain. Advanced skiers and snowboarders will delight in the steeper, gladed areas that book-end the main runs, while more novice riders will enjoy the large, rolling intermediate runs that span from top to bottom.

Sitting at 6,150 feet, Eagle Peak’s runs will be accessed by a C-Tech fixed-grip quad chair that the resort has already purchased.

The new chair will load near the bottom of

Coming Spring 22’

30 th

& l ga Re

ON NOW 56

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

LEFT TO RIGHT: UNLOADING THE CAT AT THE TOP OF EAGLE PEAK // MATT LANDHEIM UPPER GLADES EAGLE PEAK. // BRAD N., MATT LANDHEIM, SAM LANDHEIM LOWER EAGLE PEAK. // SKI PATROL SAFETY BRIEFING AT START OF DAY. // PHOTOS: JAMES NISBET

the eastern slope (Montana side), where Timberwolf, Chair 2 currently loads. An additional chair is also in the master plan, giving skilled skiers and riders access to the glades and open bowls that populate the northwest edge of Eagle Peak’s ski boundary.

Working in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, this is the largest acreage expansion in Lookout’s history and has been in the works for over a decade. “We were approved for expansion in 2017 and the land was added to the permit, but it took about six years of planning before that to get

BUY YOUR SPRING PASS TO SKI THE REST OF THE 2022 SEASON

approval,” says Abigail Matalavage, Lookout’s Snow Sports Director. “We operate under a special use permit from the Forest Service, so the land is USFS land, but we own the lifts and facilities,” she adds.

“The terrain has blue and black runs, glades, a few natural areas, and plenty of groomed areas too,” says Matalavage. “Once the new chair 5 is in place, it will offer 1,350 vertical feet for skiers and riders.” It's no secret that Lookout consistently boasts the highest annual snowfall in the region. With totals averaging around 400 inches each winter, Lookout seems to reside inside its

own weather belt that virtually guarantees consistent dumps throughout the season.

But it appears that Lookout’s reputation has reached well beyond the Inland NW, as evidenced by the crowd we shared the cat with that day. A father and son from Utah, which is experiencing an unprecedented snow drought this season, a man from Pennsylvania who was powder hunting out West, and two men from Peru, who were cat skiing for the first time.

With a reputation for big snow and an expansion that will double the total liftaccessed terrain to over 1,000 acres, the

future is bright at the top of Mullan pass.

And while Lookout’s reputation continues to grow, there are a few secrets left that Abigail Matalavage hopes will remain. “I’ve really enjoyed all of the new terrain over on Eagle, but my absolute favorite would have to be a secret (yet to be named) tree-run, right off the very top,” she says. “Shhh don’t tell anybody.” // Brad Naccarato is a Spokane-based freelance writer and Out There contributor since 2012. Chasing snow, waves, trout, sun, dogs, and microbrews keeps him sane.

ski49n.com MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

57

OUT THERE SNOW BACKCOUNTRY

MY FAVORITE SEASON IS NOW

BY KIRBY WALKE

WHEN ASKED, I always say my favorite season is the next. But recently, I sat and thought about this answer. Am I missing the end of each season chasing the next? Is the climbing rack collecting dust too early?

Are the spring lines melting away without my mark? Not this year. My favorite season is now!

PORE M RE O MO R E M

Like so many others, for me November is filled with obsessively watching the snow forecast a month too early. Chasing baseless snow comes next for December. Tiptoeing through avy danger and pow fills much of January and February while glimpsing spring lines. And March, April, and beyond?

This is the crux of my “favorite season is

V

.

W O

S. R E M OO R G

VS

V

N

next” sabotage. It’s easy to miss the best backcountry riding season in spring.

The weekend before this writing in late February was no exception. While swinging my arms in a desperate attempt to gain warmth on the mountain, the clouds parted for a fleeting glimpse of steep lines and couloirs that normally just occupy my winter day dreams. It was not the day to be chasing those lines. A menu of low angle trees and deep snow kept those demons at bay. However, plans were made to return in spring when the sun would shine a bit longer, the avy danger can be lower, and the fight to keep my fingers alive would be a distant memory.

Back at the car, as the day’s effort faded, we continued with spring plans. We discussed the long valley dirt roads that open up slowly and allow deeper, easier access to those distant peaks. We joked about fishing in alpine lakes after harvesting a dream come true line. Muddy boot packs, too much sunscreen, and not enough energy are the time stamps of spring riding. But quickly panic filled my thoughts as I was asked when I was headed to Smith Rock to bask in the sun and prove to myself I am not in climbing shape this early in the year. I relayed the date and thought to myself, did I just do it again?

Did I close the spring touring season before it even opened?

Writing and thinking on this has brought

N FU

.

out two obvious storylines. The first, and very much the most important, is that I am extremely privileged. The regret of missing one way to have fun while transitioning to another is not a luxury that should be taken lightly. While it can cause me stress, that itself is ridiculous. The other, while pulling out my warm season gear can be exciting, it doesn’t mean winter has to occupy that storage space. It just so happens that the climbing rack may want to catch up with the splitboarding gear to swap some stories for a couple months.

Speaking on privilege, don’t ever forget how lucky we are in the Northwest to have options—to pack both sets of gear and to have the ability to choose. We are so lucky to live where we do. During your next best season daydream, try not to close one season before it is over, and maybe also insert a new friend into the scene. The more people we can bring into our dreams the better this world will be.

My new motto for the year? My favorite season is now. See you out there, tired and smiling.

You are as likely to find Kirby Walke descending a backcountry stash, at the crag, on an urban trail, or supporting a local outdoor cause. He last wrote about bridging the rural/urban outdoor recreation divide in the March 2019 issue of Out There.

P

Lookout Pass Ski Area always gives you MORE! MORE Snow, MORE Powder, which means MORE Fun! Plus, SAVE MORE when you purchase your lift tickets in advance at SkiLookout.com/Lift-Tickets EASY DRIVE. Take I-90 to the ID/MT state line Exit 0. Parking lot is 200 yards from I-90.

58

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

SkiLookout.com 208.744.1234

P

SKI BUM ADVICE OUT THERE SNOW

IF SKIS COULD TALK

BY BRAD NORTHRUP

I NEARLY HAD THE POOP scared out of me recently, and, in retrospect, it was well deserved. I had wandered into the garage to engage in the painful monthly activity of “getting things squared away,” which really is nothing more than me just listening to heavy metal and moving crap around to make myself feel better. Anyway, as I stood there contemplating where to start, a raspy, obviously irritated voice called out to me from over where I store my and my better half ’s quivers.

POWDER SKIS: “Hey, buttmunch, when the hell are you going to take me out?

ME (STARTLED): “Who the !@#$ said that?”

POWDER SKIS: “Over here – just want to know when you are going to man up.”

ME: “Oh, right. Yeah, so listen. I know we all had higher expectations this year, but the snow gods are a little behind right now.

So let’s just stay positive and pray for the usual late season storms.”

POWDER SKIS: “Stay positive? Seriously?

There’s like a month left in the season and I’m still sitting here dressed in summer storage wax. WTF?” ME: “I don’t know what to tell ya. La Niña goes that way sometimes. It doesn’t always mean an epic year . . .”

POWDER SKIS: “So now you’re going to throw around some fancy meteorological terms? Screw this, I’m moving in with my cousin in Salt Lake City. At least down in the Wasatch Range I know I will get some time on the hill.”

ME: “Let me help you pack. You do know that I found you on eBay for like $150, right? I’m sure I can find another pair this off-season.”

POWDER SKIS: “That’s a low blow. Pound sand.”

CARVING SKIS: “Hey, can you guys keep it

down? I’ve been on the hill every weekend since December and need some quiet time.”

ME: “Sorry about that, but the powder skis started it.”

POWDER SKIS: “Whatever, dude.”

CARVING SKIS: “What part of quiet don’t you understand? Can’t you see my edges are dull, my bases are dry, and I’ve got rock shots all over? I’m exhausted.”

ME: “Well, at least you are getting used . . ..”

CARVING SKIS: “Yeah, more like used and abused. You could at least throw on some wax after we get home on weekends. But noooo, you just toss me in the corner and go plop your fat backside on the couch. No wonder my edges are rusted.”

ME: “Listen, I will get you into the shop this week for a full tune, including a stone grind. Will that make you happy?”

CARVING SKIS: “Promises, promises.”

POWDER SKIS: “You know what would make me happy? A crapload of snow.”

CARVING SKIS: “No one is talking to you.”

Powder Skis: “Shocker. No one has talked to me in two years.”

CARVING SKIS: “At least you have wax on you.”

POWDER SKIS: “Yeah, lot of good that is doing.”

ROCK SKIS: “You guys have no idea.

Freaking entitled generation.”

POWDER SKIS: “Shut up, Grandpa. No one cares what an old, full-cambered ski thinks, anyway.”

ROCK SKIS: “Sonny, I was ripping turns when you were just the idea of some stoner ski designer. Tell me to shut up again and you’re going find out what real pain tastes like.”

ME: “I’m going to go get a beer.”

Mt. Spokane 2022–23

Season Pass & 1/2 Sale

Purchase now at the very lowest prices and new passholders ski for free for the rest of the 21-22 Winter Season.

RENEWING PASSHOLDERS SAVE EVEN MORE $$!

W W W. M T S P O K A N E . C O M

Brad Northrup is a former ski racer, coach, and ski industry professional. We are pretty sure this conversation was not just in his head.

MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

59

OUT THERE SNOW CULTURE

PIZZA ON THE MOUNTAIN. // PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES

THE LANGUAGE OF SHREDDERS REVISITED

BY LOGAN SIEGFORD

“Dude, did you see that guy just huck his carcass off that booter?”

Since the beginning of both the glorious sports of skiing and snowboarding, all ski bums of new and old keep making up new ski lingo that takes some getting used to. My uncle is the Rossignol rep for the Northwest, and as a kid I frequently made the trip down to Mt. Hood to visit him. He spoke English, but in a different way. His was the language of the ski or snowboard extremist.

I was becoming a shredder at this point, but listening to my uncle made me realize I had just found another route to becoming an even better and more steezy skier: by learning the language.

Earlier this year, I was up skiing Revelstoke when I started talking to a 60-year-old logger

60

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

from Oregon. I asked him if he wanted to take the skier’s left or right chute off the top of the sub-peak at Revy. He said, “What did you just say son?” I had to explain to him that as a snowboarder you face both uphill and downhill, but skiers always face downhill. This interaction was a reminder that the language of skiers and snowboarders is ever-evolving. It made me wonder what I may not even know, and think about a few phrases here that are still common on the mountain today.

Steeze: Amount of style you have.

Shred: Going down difficult terrain as fast and hard as you can.

Park Rat: The skiers and boarders that only go to the Terrain Park.

Nuking/dumping: When it’s snowing cats and dogs.

Jerry: The skiers and boarders that have no idea what they are doing and are charging down the mountain.

Gaper: The distinguished gap between a Jerry’s helmet and goggles; Another term for a newbie.

Snow Bunny: A female skier or boarder that is attractive and shreds harder than most of the people on the mountain.

Pizza: The mechanism that newbie skiers use on the slopes to go down the mountain. In other words, their skis look like a V. Falling Leaf: Snowboarders who can’t turn, so they stay on heel side the whole way down the mountain.

Grom: A little skier or boarder who rips down the mountain.

Après Ski: After skiing actives that usually include drinking.

SKI TERRAIN

NEW SCHOOL SKI LINGO

Jib: Jump or rail feature that is off piste or off the trail.

Send/boost: To hit a jump that throws you as close to the moon as you could possibly go.

Glades: Trees that have been thinned out for skiing.

Chute/Couloir: Tight, steep ski lines that are bound on both sides by trees or rocks.

Moguls: Bumps created by skiers.

Groomer/Corduroy: Result of machines making the snow flat and wavy like a Ruffles chip so the skiing is easier and faster.

Pillow Line: Large boulders when covered with snow can make some epic lines when jumping from rock to rock.

OTHER SKI TERMS

Bluebird: Blue skis and sunny! Break out the sunnies.

Gnarly: Tough terrain. Double black diamond, presumably.

Chatter: What happens to your skis when the ski hill turns into an ice rink and your edges don’t stick.

Side Country: Out of bounds at a resort that may or may not require using the resort’s lifts for access.

Liftie: The employee who puts you on and off the lift.

Tracked Out: When all the fresh snow has been skied on and you can no longer ski that fresh pow. // Logan Siegford is an avid snowboarder, rock climber, and fisherman who grew up in North Idaho. This is his first article for Out There.

Check out more ski lingo from our 2014 article “Talking Like a Skier” by Brad Naccarato.

Your

Endorphin fix comes with the

great scenery -

at no extra charge -

RACE THE WOLF

LONG BRIDGE SWIM

CHAFE 150

Run, Bike or Swim ... Don’t miss these events!

3/4 MINUS CYCLETUR timed gravel grinder // May 7 RACE THE WOLF ultramarathon + trail runs // June 25-26 CHAFE 150 BIKE RIDE gran fondo for 5 distances // June 18 JACEY’S RACE 1k fun run, 5k chip-timed // July 10

VIS ITOR inf ormation www.VisitSandpoint.com 208.263.2161

S2S RELAY team run Spokane to Sandpoint // July 22-23 LONG BRIDGE SWIM 1.76-mile open-water swim // August 6 WACANID RIDE five-day Selkirk Loop ride // September 12-17

ev e n t i n f orma t i on VisitSandpoint.com/run-bike-swim MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

61

LAST PAGE

My Evolution as a Runner as Told in Race Shirts

By Maeve Griffith

1982. I believe that was the year I ran my

first fun run. I’m not sure. I kept all the shirts, but many of them back then didn’t have dates on them. Maybe the organizers thought this would be the first and only time this race would be run. Sometimes, it was.

The Denny’s Grand Slam Fun Run comes to mind. Then there was the Diet Pepsi 10,000 Meter Series, Cheney’s Cowabunga Road Race, The Bar-S Stampede 10K, KDRK’s Run in the Country, Green Bluff ’s Cherry Picker’s Trot, and Medical Lake’s Only Fools Run at Midnight.

Most of these races are no more, but a couple continue. I’ve been holding onto these shirts, some for 40 years. Some, like the

1983 Odessa Deutchesfest Fun Run and the Shadle Park Scot Trot look like a first-time DIY print job. And I love that. The designs have been invented and reinvented; the style and fit have changed; fabric has evolved. My pile of race shirts grew over the years as I underwent my own evolution.

I was a different runner when I started collecting shirts, in more ways than one.

Now I am in my 60s—the kids are raised, I don’t work for anybody, I have a lot of time, and a 10-mile run may be the hardest thing I do all week. So, I am running more than I ever have. Just like the race t-shirts, my body and my mind have also transformed.

About six years ago, I transitioned. I made my body match my mind. The beginning of the decision to do this was hatched at an ultramarathon my wife and I were running in the desert of Southern California.

Through hormone replacement therapy, counseling, and surgeries, I became the person I recognized in the mirror. It was a hard time to go through. And it cost me. It changed many things in my life. My relationships with my family and my friends changed. My transition became a news story because I was the captain of a Spokane fire station. What I was doing, what I did, sucked the air out of so many rooms.

But I kept on running. I ran to work in the morning. Ran home the next morning. It was the constant in my life. I trained for new races. It was really hard. After my transition, I was at least two minutes per mile slower than before. At the Spokane River Run 25k, my now-more-speedier wife became frustrated with my pace. “Really!? You can’t run any faster than this?!” I caught my breath enough to gurgle a “No. I can’t.”

When I hear pundits and politicians talk about how “men” are becoming women just to win races and medals, I have to laugh.

Like so much of their rhetoric about so many things, they couldn’t be more wrong.

These days, I am running farther and farther, seemingly getting slower and slower. And that’s okay. I plod along Spokane’s streets and trails—the same places I have always run.

Sometimes I wonder if anyone recognizes me as that guy who used to run by years ago.

Whatever happened to him?

I know that the way I now look causes some people to wonder at what they’re seeing. I know that being out there, being visible, being active, living my life, running my miles makes a few angry people even more angry. Frankly, that makes me happy.

What runner hasn’t had to (smilingly) put up with angry drivers having a bad day? Maybe

me being out there running gives a few trans people a little hope. I am not going to hide, and if they don’t want to, they don’t have to either. And that makes me happy too.

Now, at the end of the day, after my miles, I put a new, giant quilt around me.

Each panel of the quilt is from one of my old race shirts. A pile of old stuff made into one, new, useful thing. I think about all those runs from decades ago. I think about all the running ahead of me. I feel warm and glad to still be able to run—on the trails, on the ice, on the snow, in the rain, in the heat, on the streets—the same old places I always ran, but now so much better. // An avid hiker and runner, retired fire captain and paramedic Maeve Griffith is the author of a not-very-popular novel and even-less-popular book of poetry. She hosts the weekly KYRS radio program “Out and About.” She lives in Spokane with her wife, Sarah. When she’s not on the trails, she’s either in her garden, or in her studio painting, and is often seen in local theater productions.

"THE PHOTO BEHIND ME IS OF ME AND MY WIFE RUNNING THE SPOKANE RIVER RUN 50K FOR OUR 50TH BIRTHDAYS." // PHOTO AND CAPTION COURTESY OF MAEVE GRIFFITH

© 2022 Eagles Nest Outfitters, Inc.

RESPONSIBLY MADE GEAR THAT YOU CAN TAKE ANYWHERE. The iconic SingleNest and DoubleNest Hammocks you know and love reimagined with bluesign® approved fabric, hammock-specific hardware, new features, and refreshed colorways.

Portable, packable, easy to use, and always adventure-ready.

62

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2022

enonation.com

PRODUCTION 2022 2022 PRODUCTION ORCHESTRA WITHWITH LIVE LIVE ORCHESTRA

hasa avery veryhealing healinginfluence.” influence.”

“It“Ithas —Michael Gaeta, president Gaeta Institution —Michael Gaeta, president of GaetaofInstitution

“Ifcome you come and enjoy a show like it’s this,the it’sbest the thing best thing “If you and enjoy a show like this, to to overcome sad spirit, overcome poor poor healthhealth and aand sadaspirit, and and thathelp will you helpfight you fight the pandemic.”

I thinkI think that will the pandemic.”

Lancaster, of a real estate firm —Phillip —Phillip Lancaster, owner ofowner a real estate firm

life,heart my heart just opened with divine “This“This was awas giftaofgift life,ofmy just opened with divine love. love.

I could feel every my body vibrating the divine I could feel every cell ofcell myofbody vibrating as theasdivine —itjust wasphenomenal. just phenomenal. is a must-see!”

—it was It is aItmust-see!”

Skarda,Vice former Vice President of Institute forTransformation Market Transformation —Pamela—Pamela Skarda, former President of Institute for Market

“Itawas very unique, different “It was verya unique, different show.show.

It can’t be described by someone youit.see it.

It can’t be described by someone unlessunless you see It’s always to watch the of best the best.”

It’s always greatgreat to watch the best theofbest.”

—Rudyfounder Revak, of founder Global Ventures —Rudy Revak, GlobalofVentures Partners Partners

First Interstate the Arts First Interstate CenterCenter for theforArts 12–13 AprilApril 12–13 12 7:30pm TUE TUE APR 12APR 7:30pm 13 7:30pm WED WED APR 13APR 7:30pm $180 $150 $100 $100 $90

TICKETS TICKETS $180

$150 $120 $90 $80

$120 $80

TT

hroughout history artists in almost hroughout history artists in almost everyevery culture looked the divine for inspiration. culture looked to thetodivine for inspiration.

Artmeant was meant to uplift, bringing Art was to uplift, bringing joy tojoy to who created and experienced it. Today, thosethose who created and experienced it. Today, Yun Performing pays homage to this Shen Shen Yun Performing Arts Arts pays homage to this tradition, weaving the wisdom and virtues tradition, weaving the wisdom and virtues of of Chinese civilization ancient legends Chinese civilization with with ancient legends and and modern heroic on stage. modern heroic tales tales on stage.

SHEN brings its audiences a whole SHEN YUNYUN brings to itsto audiences a whole new experience, revealing a China untainted new experience, revealing a China untainted by by communist Be prepared to traverse communist rule. rule.

Be prepared to traverse time time and and and be mesmerized the action, humor, spacespace and be mesmerized by thebyaction, humor, and beauty five millennia. an experience and beauty of fiveofmillennia.

It’s anIt’s experience that that will uplift and touch will uplift your your spiritspirit and touch your your heart.heart.

Tickets Today!

OrderOrder YourYour Tickets Today!

ShenYun.com/Spokane ShenYun.com/Spokane 888.633.6999 | 877.663.7469 888.633.6999 | 877.663.7469 PRESENTED

BY SAN FRANCISCO FALUN BUDDHA STUDY ASSOCIATION PRESENTED

BY SAN FRANCISCO FALUN BUDDHA STUDY ASSOCIATION MARCH-APRIL 2022 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

63

WASHINGTON WINERY since 1998

t o w n s h e n d c e l l a r. c o m