Out There Outdoors / March-April 2024

THE INLAND PACIFIC NORTHWEST GUIDE TO ADVENTURE + TRAVEL + CULTURE

WHETHER YOU’RE HIKING, RELAXING AT THE BEACH, STARGAZING, ATTENDING OUTDOOR FESTIVALS, OR ENJOYING WATER SPORTS, THERE’S A PERFECT STRAIN FOR YOU.

SPOKANE OTIS ORCHARDS MOSES LAKE

MUNCHIE

FINALLY

WARNING: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Cannabis can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

Mega

Schweitzer Schpring Finale - April 13-14 MarchFourth

April 27-May 5

Schpring Finale

MarchFourth Band

K&K Derby

2024 BIGHORN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE SHOW

Out There Advertiser Spotlight: DOMA Coffee

Have you ever had a cup of coffee so great, it began to seem like something more than just coffee? We get it. At DOMA Coffee Roasting Company, we think of craft coffee as a journey, possibly one capable of true enlightenment. We're on the search for the perfect coffee.

Do we expect to find perfection? Not really. Perfection is an illusion. But there’s something beautiful in the searching. Like looking for the perfect summer, the perfect loaf of sourdough bread, or the perfect trail. The good news? The more searching we do, the more awesome coffee you get to drink.

Journeys are about people. At the heart of it, so is coffee. As we open ourselves up to epic learning, we work hard to roast notable craft coffee, the stuff loved by grandmas and coffee geeks alike, the cup of coffee you can’t help but get lost in for a while. Turns out, there’s a roast setting for that.

What lights you up? What keeps you searching? That’s what we want DOMA Coffee to inspire in you. We use our business to cheer on fellow humans in their journey to do good in the world. We support artists and local cyclists. We bike, hike, ski, party and value fresh water and fresh air. We give to the Spokane Riverkeeper, Kootenai Environmental Alliance, Zion National Park and Protect Our Winters. We work to buy much of our coffee direct trade, which makes life better for everyone.

For us, coffee is life. Because the search for good coffee is the search for a good life. We'd love to share a taste of it with you.

Visit the expanded DOMA Coffee Lab in Post Falls, Idaho, to find fresh-roasted craft coffee, the aforementioned coffee geeks (no grandmas guaranteed), our favorite coffee brewing gear, really cool DOMA merch, and more. The DOMA Cafè is set to open this spring in Coeur d’Alene. Drop by when you want to talk coffee. Your journey awaits. Domacoffee.com. 6240 E. Seltice Way, Unit A, Post Falls, Idaho. 208.667.1267 //

Q: Which race, ride or event are you looking forward to in 2024?

Derrick: The Beacon Bomber MTB race at Spokatopia (June 14)

Carol: My fourth Jackass Half Marathon (Kellogg, Idaho, Oct. 5)

Sarah: The Negative Split Half Marathon (Spokane, Wash., April 14)

Olivia: The Spokane River Run (April 14)

Crystal: Happy Girls Run 10k (Sisters, Ore., Oct. 26.)

Justin: The Why Tri, Spokane’s most nihilistic triathlon!

INTRO A Case for Reading the Weather

I DIDN’T RECREATE AS A KID, per se, but I did spend a lot of time outside looking at things. I was in central Washington, where the sky took precedence in the swallowing, expansive way it does in a high desert. As I wandered, I learned weather signs. Tigerstriped clouds meant wind. Tall clouds held the energy of rain. There are scientific names for those clouds, but I learned their form through observation. It settled deeper in my bones than Latin.

Noticing the weather has an obvious benefit, especially during spring in the Inland Northwest, when we receive more than one type of weather in a day (or an hour). Studying the weather can also be a life-saving skill in the backcountry, as Karie Lee Knoke writes in her Primitive Skills column in this issue. I still remember the first mountain squall that caught me off-guard in late spring, how I’d noticed the color in the clouds but didn’t understand the incredible

speed and aggression with which mountain clouds could tumble over a pass. Luckily, my group had just packed camp and we hiked out as a freezing snow/hail mix pelted us.

Beyond knowing when to carry a raincoat, reading the weather can prime you for a skill we all could work to sharpen: the skill of noticing. When we seek less noisy environments for an escape (the trails, lakes and mountains we’re so fond of), we’re often still absorbed in the recreation—a pace, a path, our gear or taking photos. I am not immune to this. But when I do notice things outside of myself, I remember it’s a discipline worth practicing.

When you set out on a ride or walk, there’s a lot of good and bad to observe. Wildflowers and neglected dog poop. Spring rain and microplastics. The way the sun glints off a piece of trash in a field. There’s a certain amount of negative capability we all maintain—we can hold two conflicting ideas or images at once without going insane—but responsible recreation includes noticing the friction.

Sometimes (maybe often) it takes others to help us notice. While working on this issue, I received an email from someone about a section of natural land that was up for sale in an area with high pressure for development. It took me by surprise, not

only because I’ve worked for this magazine and considered myself familiar with local trails, but because the area was less than one mile from my home. I’d noticed the nearby prairie springing apartment complexes rather than lupine, but I didn’t know about this land that might benefit from community action. Which is why noticing is a never-ending task. The places we live and recreate, no matter how well-protected, remain opportunities to define sustainable recreation, prioritize wildlife and work for cleaner water.

So, this spring, look at the clouds—and look at your local rivers, conservation areas, and bike lanes. Take a walk in an urban natural area (we list four worth checking out in our feature on page 26). Consider the wildlife there. Research local land disputes and share your voice. Sign up for a river clean up. Get to know a Washington State Park on an upcoming fee-free day (March 9, March 19, or April 22). Go micro, or macro, by looking at the geology in our region—a physical record of history, decay, evolution and our role in it—with our feature on page 50. Look closely, because the places we recreate are changing as fast as the climate, and they’re going to require people who notice to save them. //

Lisa Laughlin, Managing Editor

CLOUDS THREATEN RAIN ON A SPRING TRAIL RUN. // PHOTO: LISA LAUGHLIN

SPOKANE, WASH.

At a time when many brick-and-mortar ski shops in the country are going out of businesses, Spokane Alpine Haus owners Rachel and Drew Harding say they’re excited to be in the position to open a second shop this fall. Their business has outgrown the capacity of their long-time South Hill location, and opening a second shop will help them better meet customer demand.

With a planned grand opening in October, the new Alpine Haus outpost just north of downtown near the AudubonDownriver Neighborhood will feature the same quality winter sports equipment and apparel, season lease and equipment rentals, and custom boot fitting and customer service as the South Hill store. The new digs at 2215 W Northwest Blvd. will include a 6,000-foot space that was most recently a Chase Bank branch.

After looking for the right spot for their new shop in multiple locations in north

MILLWOOD, WASH

After 35 years in business, long-time Spokane Valley-based supplier of Nordic ski gear, bikes, and other fitness gear, Fitness Fanatics, will permanently close. Owner Robin DeRuwe made the announcement, which was met with sadness by many in the Spokane outdoors community, in late February. “It’s time to explore a new chapter and get out from behind the desk to spend more time doing the one thing I have enjoyed offering to our customers, A Life Lived Outdoors,” says DeRuwe.

Fitness Fanatics opened its doors in a non-descript building on East Trent back in 1989, selling a wide array of in-line skates that offered a perfect fit for the proximity to the Centennial Trail and the fast-growing sport of inline skating. As the business evolved, the addition of Nordic ski equipment plus bikes and gear for cycling enthusiast and triathletes made Fitness Fanatics one of the premier shops for top-of-the-line gear and expertise. Fitness Fanatics has enjoyed a

Spokane, the Hardings say they finally settled on the building on Northwest Blvd., which they purchased in December, because they liked the neighborhood feel and location. “The more time we spent in the neighborhood, the more we realized how amazing it is. It’s an active area, close to trails and parks,” says Rachel. As well as close to new and existing customers on the northside and west of Spokane. “We saw a need for the new store when customers were coming in and telling us how far they drove. Nobody else does what we do with our season lease program that makes it affordable for families to ski together.”

The Hardings, who took ownership over Spokane Alpine Haus in 2015, aren’t planning any changes to the South Hill location and are excited to grow with Spokane in the years ahead. Stay tuned for planned softopening events at the new shop in September or pay them a visit at 2925 S Regal St. on the South Hill. (Derrick Knowles)

long-standing relationship with the Nordic ski and triathlon communities and DeRuwe has been an avid supporter of events and organizations that create awareness for all the things Spokane has to offer these groups and their participants.

Running a retail business for 35 years has been very demanding and enjoyable, says DeRuwe, with the best part being the lasting friendships created. While she looks forward to traveling to many of the places her customers have shared with her through stories and photos, she says, “I will miss this amazing family of people and connecting them to great gear.” DeRuwe plans to stay in the community and looks forward to staying connected to those friends for a shared ride or enjoying the first snowfall on the Nordic trails.

Fitness Fanatics will offer clearance pricing on all equipment, gear and apparel starting March 1, with plans to officially close the shop’s doors on March 31. (OTO)

CUSTOM BOOT FITTING AT SPOKANE ALPINE HAUS

NEW PORTION OF TROLLEY TRAIL, PARK LAND, ACQUIRED

SPOKANE, WASH.

In January, an additional section of the Trolley Trail was purchased by City of Spokane Parks and Recreation thanks to the County Conservation Futures program administered by Spokane County Parks. But it was first thanks to local Molly Marshall, who submitted the application for acquisition. She is one of several who are passionate about preserving the trail, and this additional 3.8 acres in the GrandviewThorpe Neighborhood is one step closer to the goal of a fully public-owned Trolley Trail.

The Trolley Trail is part of an old rail bed designed for an electric trolley that ran from

Spokane to Medical Lake in the early 1900s. The recently-acquired land, willingly sold by a private landowner, locks down an addition al 1,000 feet of the historic trail so it will be open to the public for the foreseeable future. Visit blog posts from January at Spokanecity. org for a map highlighting the specific area of purchase. The new property can be accessed via the 18th Street right-of-way off south C Street in the Grandview neighborhood. On this trail, pine trees tower, wildlife thrives, and you can catch hillsides full of arrowleaf balsamroot by mid-spring. Find the official Trolley Trail trailhead off S. Assembly Road. (OTO)

THE UNDECIDED FATE OF THE WESTWOOD NATURAL AREA

SPOKANE, WASH.

A local 190-acre natural area, known as the Westwood Natural Area or Thorpe Property, is currently up for sale by the State of Washington. In a neighborhood that is already shadowed by a proposed 3,500 development units with inadequate infrastructure for the load, natural areas such as this hang in the balance. The City of Spokane recently applied to acquire the Westwood Natural Area through a program called Trust Land Transfer, to be

approved or denied by the Department of Natural Resources, but there remains pressure and intense interest from private capital for the property. Local Phil Larkin, who frequents the natural area, says the views rival those of Palisades Park, with large trees gracing meadows and a crown of basalt outcroppings. Visit friendsofwest wood.org for a map on how to access this natural area with a 1-mile trail and how to voice support for the continuation of this natural area.

VIEW OF DOWNTOWN

FROM THE NEW TROLLY

TRAIL PARCEL. // PHOTO:

LISA LAUGHLIN

Start the riding season with a fresh ride

DISPATCHES

NEW PARKOUR GYM OPENS

SPOKANE VALLEY, WASH.

Spring Bike Sale Spring Bike Sale

Krete Academy introduces an opportunity for parkour enthusiasts in Spokane with the city's first exclusively-indoors parkour gym. Unlike the conventional outdoor setting for parkour activities, this facility provides a controlled environment for practitioners to refine their skills or embark on a new journey. Classes catering to diverse age groups, from preschool to adults, are conducted in a secure indoor space conducive to learning the intricacies of parkour, also known as freerunning.

In this setting, participants not only enhance their physical and mental fitness, but acquire fundamental skills applicable to various facets of daily life. Krete Academy offers classes throughout the week, accommodating individuals of all skill levels and conveniently structured around school hours. Additionally, supervised open gym

times provide participants with the freedom to hone their skills using specialized equipment, with no pre-registration required.

Complementing their class offerings, Krete Academy extends its services to camps, clinics and the unique experience of hosting birthday parties. Looking ahead, the academy aspires to introduce parkour competitions, supporting the parkour community in the Pacific Northwest.

While outdoor practice remains an integral part of the parkour experience, Krete Academy ensures that enthusiasts can continue refining their skills regardless of the weather conditions. Whether seeking a fulfilling winter activity or nurturing a lifelong dream of urban athleticism, Krete Academy can help. Experience their unique offerings firsthand with complimentary trial classes available to all.

(Alana Livingston)

RECCO TECHNOLOGY ADDED TO SPOKANE REGIONAL AIR SUPPORT

March 15 through April 30th

March 15 through April 30th

Spokane Regional Air Support Unit (SRASU) is now equipped with RECCO technology to help quickly locate people who are lost, injured or victims of an avalanche or similar emergency. SRASU recently received a RECCO helicopter detector, provided at no cost by RECCO, and was trained in its use.

The way the technology helps Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel find you is simple. When deployed during an emergency, SRASU can activate the RECCO detector, which sends a directional radar signal that is reflected back to the flight crew by a RECCO rescue reflector embedded or attached to the lost or injured person’s clothing or gear. It makes any person wearing clothing with RECCO technology searchable from the air by search and rescue personnel, allowing them to find and help you faster if you get lost outdoors or caught in an avalanche.

This detected signal will lead right to your location. RECCO reflectors don’t require batteries or power, they’re very affordable, and they’re very accurate. The technology has saved countless lives including skiers, backpackers, hunters, snowmobilers, mountaineers and snowshoers.

Spokane County’s SRASU is the 8th deployment of the RECCO helicopter detector in the United States. SRASU will fill the gap between Snohomish County in Washington and Flathead County in Montana, which also have the capability to deploy a RECCO helicopter detector.

However, for this technology to help rescue teams find you in an emergency, you must be wearing clothing with one or more RECCO reflectors. You can find gear with RECCO reflectors such as backpacks, boots, helmets, jackets, and pants from your favorite local outdoor gear or ski shop. (Jon Jonckers)

PARKOUR

AIRFLARE RESCUE SYSTEM IN USE AT ALL LOCAL SKI AREAS

SPOKANE, WASH.

AirFlare, the app that turns your smartphone into an outdoors rescue locator, is now in use by ski patrol at all five ski areas within a 2-hour drive of Spokane. Mt. Spokane and 49° North recently signed on as AirFlare partners, joining early adopters Lookout Pass, Silver Mountain, and Schweitzer. The result is a robust safety net for skiers and snowboarders exploring eastern Washington and North Idaho ski areas.

"It's simple now," AirFlare inventor, founder, and CEO Eliot Gillum says. "No matter which mountain is your favorite, faster than riding a single lift, you can install AirFlare on your phone, protect yourself, and bring comfort to those who care about you. We started AirFlare to leverage the power of the smartphone into saving lives, improve outcomes, and bring peace of mind. Today, smartphones are everywhere and we hope residents and visitors will be as eager to share our vision as these resorts to ensure the entire Inland Northwest has the latest in safety technology. "Ski patrollers from its Inland Northwest resort partners concur. "We have used AirFlare for three seasons and love the platform," says John Batchelder, paid patrol director at Lookout Pass. "The real-time training and support have been excellent. We have used AirFlare to pinpoint the location of guests, both in and out of bounds."

He says Lookout Pass has used AirFlare in two ways specifically to assist guests. "One is to get our staff to the guest's location and the other is to communicate with a mobile guest how they should proceed to make it back to the area or a pickup point," Batchelder explains. "The latter method allows us to monitor the progress and keep staff at their posts until direct contact and pickup is appropriate. We are grateful for this wonderful tool."

Angie Nylund, senior ski patroller/ training coordinator at Schweitzer, agrees. "AirFlare has proven to be an indispensable asset for Schweitzer, significantly improving our operations," Nylund says. "We utilize it not only to locate lost individuals in the backcountry but also to pinpoint injured skiers within our ski area boundary. Thanks to AirFlare, our search times have seen a remarkable reduction, allowing us to offer our guests a superior experience. The ability to find injured skiers on the first runthrough has not only saved considerable time but has also optimized the allocation of resources."

Last winter AirFlare helped save the life of an Idaho skier who got lost in the fog at Soldier Mountain in southern Idaho at the end of the day and wound up out of bounds. She phoned the resort's front office to report herself lost and a staff member sent her a text

message with a hyperlink to the AirFlare app, which she was able to download. With the help of AirFlare, ski patrollers pinpointed her on the map and broke trail through at least two feet of fresh, wet snow for nearly two hours to get her out.

"Mishaps can happen to anyone at any time—sometimes it's weather, lack of preparedness, or just bad luck," Gillum says. "But AirFlare is serious protection that everyone can have on them all the time.

Research shows more than 90 percent of people bring their phone on outdoor activities." According to Gillum, the core functionality of AirFlare's smartphone app, which is designed for strong, spotty, or zero connectivity, makes the phone instantly locatable by rescuers via even a fleeting Internet connection. In addition, the company offers rescuers their proprietary detector hardware that uses WiFi and Bluetooth to find a phone from up to 1k away. Friends and family can also use the app to check in via the same Internet-based technology as rescuers.

For rescuers, Gillum says AirFlare is a powerful toolset that makes them more efficient and effective at locating and assisting people in need of help. A web- or app-based console allows rescuers to initiate searches for AirFlare users or send an SMS message to non-AirFlare users allowing manual location transmission.

AirFlare co-founder Denis Lee said that upon hearing about AirFlare, many people mistakenly compare it to traditional specialpurpose locator devices. "We prefer to think of AirFlare as a base level of protection that everyone can have, complementing and strongly encouraging situationally appropriate tools," he says. "From avalanche beacons to satellite emergency notification devices, all are unique in their utility, training, and costs. Just as a craftsperson wouldn't leave a screwdriver at home because they're carrying a hammer, we believe everyone should always have all the right tools for the job. AirFlare is the protection everyone can have all the time."

The applications go far beyond ski areas, according to Lee. "Virtually anyone who adventures in the outdoors can benefit from using AirFlare," Lee says. "You can even use it to find your friends at music festivals and theme parks. In all those environments, cellular service is often less than perfect and AirFlare's unique technology shines."

AirFlare offers many valuable features for free as well as subscription options with more features. Some ski areas offer it free to season passholders. Visit Airflare.com for a list of participating mountains and other details. Users can download AirFlare on the Apple App Store or Google Play. (OTO)

EVERYDAY CYCLIST Bike Moments

By Justin Short

REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE KIDS, and you’d meet another kid? It was as though, “Hey, I’m a kid. You’re a kid. Let’s go play!” And then you’d play all day until it was dark and your mom would yell out the door that it was time to come home. “But it’s not even dark,” you’d say, “it’s adult dark!” I think bikes give us permission to be in touch with our inner little kid like that. That might be why it’s so easy to make friends with other riders.

Recently, I was walking around Kalispell, Montana, and popped into the bike shop on a whim. I handed a guy some Gravel Braintrust stickers, and he said, “Hey, you’re Seth Truu’s buddy, aren’t you?” Seth had been touring through our region last year and stayed with us for a week before continuing on. Next thing you know, the guy at the bike shop was rummaging around in the back to find a shop bike for me to join them on that night’s group ride. Before I knew it, we were zooming around in the woods on bikes, had a fire by the river, saw a dead cow, one guy crashed and popped his finger like a ketchup packet, and we stayed out until we would have heard mom calling. That’s a bike moment right there.

Over post-ride burgers and fizzy beverages, I was invited to an annual invitational fat bike overnighter from Kalispell to the town of Hot Springs, Montana, that was coming up in a few weeks, called the Chili Cino. You

can always count on at least one or two goofballs in our cycling community to join an adventure of this sort, so on the appointed day, Anthony and I found ourselves loading bikes on Sarah’s truck at an absurd hour for the 4-hour drive to Kalispell.

We arrived at the start of the ride, where 50 or so fat bikers were chomping at the bit to get rolling. I said hi to a few friends and they shoved off down the snowy trail a good half hour before we were ready to roll, but roll we soon did. I left my tires at a firm pressure for snow, but still rather soft for the bare pavement we found ourselves riding on when the bike lane ended a mile later. The road climbed gradually, meandering up a very picturesque and ever-narrowing valley. Our trio soon arrived at the top of the snowy pass, piling on layers and zipping zippers for a bone-chilling 9-mile descent to the valley floor 2,000 feet below. My hands froze solid up to my armpits, but there was a feed zone with chili and chicken soup just a few rolling miles ahead and we were all thawed out by the time we got there. We were last out of the feed zone, but I later got to ride with my new friend David who was riding with his teenage daughter. These multigenerational teams always warm the cockles of my heart. The last hill came and went, and we found ourselves meandering around town. One of the riders was setting up his tent in a campground next to our hotel. “This nut

job is camping in this weather,” I thought quietly. Little did I know this was the one and only Eric Deady, organizer of the Winter Bikepacking Seminar mentioned in the last issue’s EDC column.

Hot Springs is a bizarre place, to put it mildly. If you’ve never been there, imaging an entire town where everyone is so relaxed they’re almost completely non-functional. There used to be a woman who walked through the streets with a cordless phone shouting people’s names, because there’s no phone signal there and that’s how you reach people in Hot Springs. She tracked me down one night.

Syme’s Hotel was the destination for a good hot soak; stories of the weird legends of Hot Springs were shared in the “lobster pot,” the hottest of the soaking pools there. The revelry continued at a party house where bathrobe-bedecked bikers laughed with one another while enjoying more chili and fizzy beverages, and I got to watch my friends make new friends too. Tales were told about the year it was -40°f at the start, and 34 people showed up to ride in that stuff hoping it would warm up to zero by noon. It didn’t. And that’s the most memorable Chili Cino for those goofballs. Myself, I only considered this nonsense because of the relatively mild weather forecast. “The temperature usually hovers around 5° for this thing,” one of the regulars informed me.

Having soaked, socialized, and snoozed, the next order of business was breakfast. One of the gang from the lobster pot had said, “Syme’s Hotel has a great breakfast if you keep your metabolism high and your expectations low.” Once again, Syme’s was overrun with bikers, most of whom had already gone for a morning soak, and breakfast there was the final magical ingredient in my recovery from the 50-mile slog over the mountain the day before. I only had to do it one more time in the opposite direction, and I would feel strangely better than before. A colder, snowier mountain was waiting for us in the distance, making our return trip pleasantly winter wonderland’ier.

As one bike moment bleeds into the next, I was whirling around the mosh pit at the Dropkick Murphys show at Spokane Tribe Casino in February, when I bumped into Edwin, a dude I had met at the previously re-mentioned Winter Bikepacking Seminar, and plans were made to get lost in the woods on bikes until we hear mom calling. It never ends. //

OTO writer Justin Short formed the Gravel Braintrust to knit together the greater cycling community. If you encounter him somewhere OUT THERE, he’ll probably give you one of the aforementioned stickers. Hopefully the website will be up by the time you read this.

LEFT TO RIGHT: RIDERS RIDER’ING, CHILI CINO 2024 // HOT SPRINGS PRO TEAM KIT. // A PROPER CALVIN & HOBBES NIGHT ON BIKES //. PHOTOS: JUSTIN SHORT

Hiking Mineral Ridge in North Idaho

By James P. Johnson

THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS to like Coeur d’Alene—among them, a couple of enjoy-

able, well-known, lakeside hikes. Tubbs Hill, with a main trail that follows the lake

shore and is mostly flat, begins next to the Coeur d’Alene Resort downtown. But lesstrafficked Mineral Ridge, which demands a little more effort, is a good choice for an appealing, elevated view of Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Mineral Ridge is so named because at one time it was thought to have viable mineral deposits. The search left prospectors empty handed, paving the way for construction of this pleasant trail in 1963, later deemed good enough to be designated a National Recreation Trail in 1982.

The trailhead has a roomy, paved parking lot on Beauty Bay at the east end of the lake. Its proximity to Coeur d’Alene, the great view from the top, and the well-maintained trail (gently-sloped, considering it goes to the top of a ridge), makes it a popular spot, especially on weekends, though generally less busy than Tubbs Hill and only a 15-minute drive from Coeur d’Alene.

The loop trail is 3.3 miles round trip, and you’ll gain about 700 feet of elevation. There used to be a summit sign-in log at the high point, but the log has long been discontinued. The shelter that housed it is still there though. Should a rain shower suddenly materialize, it’s a good place to keep dry.

After reaching the high point, the trail

follows the ridgeline, slowly descending toward the west end. You’ll pass a prospecting pit along the way, dug many years ago in a search of evidence of minerals. When you reach the end of the ridge, the trail begins switchbacking down the steep slope. At this spot, thanks to sparse tree cover, great views of Lake Coeur d’Alene and points beyond can be had. This is the best place for a group photo, a selfie, or to just stare and say to yourself, “Wowza! This is really beautiful.”

More evidence of mineral exploration includes an abandoned prospecting tunnel you can visit by taking a marked spur trail on the upper half of the ridge that’ll add 5 to 10 minutes to your hike. The prospecting tunnel is short and not hazardous.

With a high point under 3,000 feet, there’s no accumulation of snowpack as there is higher up in the mountains, thus the trail is usually clear of snow by early spring. If you’re a high maintenance hiker (meaning you demand a trailhead with a grassy play area, a sheltered picnic table for your posthike bag of chips, and bathrooms), you’ll be delighted with the amenities. //

James P. Johnson has hiked Mineral Ridge many times and has yet to tire of the scenery.

MINERAL RIDGE VIEWPOINT OVER LAKE COEUR D'ALENE. // PHOTO BY JAMES P. JOHNSON

The Trailhead Inland NW Trail & Outdoor News

By Holly Weiler

FREE OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT

•Upcoming fee-free days for Washington State Parks include March 9 (Billy Frank Junior’s birthday), March 19 (celebrate the 111th birthday of Washington State Parks!) and April 22 (Earth Day). A Discover Pass is not required for park entry on these dates.

•National Park Week will be held April 20-28, with April 20 additionally being a fee-free day at National Parks.

•Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness will host Hiking 101 for beginners on March 23, followed by a strenuous full moon snowshoe trek to Star Peak on March 24.

FUNDRAISERS & EVENTS

•Spokane Nordic will close out the ski season with a long distance Loppet on March 3 followed by the popular BarkerBeiner skijor race on March 10. The Loppet includes distances of 20, 30 and 50k. The skijor race pairs skier and best friend(s), with one- and two-dog events and multiple distance options. The skijor races can also be a great spectator activity!

•Bower Climbing Coalition will be hosting the Reel Rock 17 film at the Washington Cracker Company Building in Spokane on March 5. The nonprofit will also host an Earth Day crag clean-up at Minnehaha on April 22.

•Okanogan Highlands Alliance will be offering three Friday evening programs in their Highland Wonders series. Each event features a fundraiser dinner starting at 5:15 p.m. followed by a free presentation at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Cultural Center in Tonasket. Topics include Partnering with Beavers on March 8, Native Bees and Other Pollinators on March 29, and Common Loons on April 26.

• Screenings of the Wild and Scenic Film Festival will be held at the historic Panida Theatre in Sandpoint on March 22, with

proceeds to benefit Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, and on April 25 at Spokane’s Garland Theater, presented by Spokane Riverkeeper.

CONSERVATION, STEWARDSHIP & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

•The American Hiking Society offers Volunteer Vacation stewardship opportunities across the country. Join a local crew at Turnbull Wildlife Refuge, April 14-20, or at Little Pend Oreille Wildlife Refuge, April 21-27.

•Hells Canyon Recreation Collaborative will be hosting an Earth Day weekend volunteer trail maintenance project in Hells Canyon, April 19-22. HCRC projects are typically jetboat-supported and may work on either the Idaho or Oregon side of the Snake River. Additional trips will be offered throughout the season, so be sure to sign up for the email list if interested in helping trails within the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.

•Washington Trails Association will be transitioning from snowshoe projects in early March to annual maintenance projects in Spokane County Parks in April. The first Backcountry Response Team trip is scheduled at Indian Creek Community Forest, April 26-28. As a front-country location, this is an excellent introduction to multi-day trail work trips!

•Several other stewardship organizations have spring schedules that will go live in early March, with projects that will fill quickly! Be sure to check websites for Idaho Trail Association, Wild Montana, Pacific Northwest Trail Association, Wallowa Mountains-Hells Canyon Trails Association, and the Blues Crew for additional spring stewardship opportunities. //

Holly Weiler is the Eastern Washington Region Senior Coordinator for Washington Trails Association and enjoys exploring nearby trails in all seasons.

HIKE OF THE MONTH LAKEVIEW RANCH (ODESSA, WASH. )

FLUCTUATING LEVELS in the local water table may create conditions where very little lake is visible at Lakeview Ranch, but this stark shrub-steppe ecosystem is always worth a visit and can be especially lovely in the spring. The trailhead and starting location for this hike is at the old farm site just west of Pacific Lake, which is worth the extra side trip to the former boat launch in the event the water is high; some years the water level remains so low that the docks are high and dry, however. Maps will indicate Walter Lake next to the trailhead, although it is frequently a shallow pool. It makes fishing poor in the area, but birds still flock to the wetlands and spring wildflowers make an early appearance.

From the trailhead, hike difficulty and distance can be choose-your-ownadventure. Old farm roads create an easy version out-and-back hike, where the recommended route is to continue west past Walter Lake until intersecting a doubletrack trail that continues either north or south. For the easiest hike with the least elevation gain, head north and turn around when ready. For a slightly longer hike, turn south toward Bobs Lake where the trail descends into a coulee. For extra challenge, the area around Bobs Lake is a great place to explore off-trail for those experienced with route-finding. Look up Delzer Falls on the map and go check if it’s flowing or explore the rocky outcroppings above the lake. This hike can also be extended into a backpack trip, as the trail south of Bobs Lake continues to the outskirts of Odessa at Crab Creek.

Maps: from BLM: Blm.gov/visit/pacific-lake-recreation-site-lakeview-ranch

Getting There: From Odessa, go north on SR21 for 6.1 miles. Turn left onto Lakeview Ranch Loop North and continue 1.9 miles to the parking area for Lakeview Ranch, located on the west side of the road.

CLEANING UP MINNEHAHA. // PHOTOS COURTESY OF BOWER CLIMBING COALITION

RUN WILD

The Benefits of a Dynamic Warm-Up

By Sarah Hauge

IT’S COMMON KNOWLEDGE that runners should warm up . . . and it’s common knowledge that they often don’t take the time. I asked Rebecca Thompson, an orthopedic physical therapist at Physical Therapy Associates who also specializes in pelvic health, about the benefits of a dynamic warm-up and how the average runner can work one into their routine. (Interview has been edited and condensed.)

SH: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR RUNNERS TO TAKE THE TIME TO WARM UP?

RT: Warming up is all about getting blood flow to the muscles and good synovial

fluid in the joints before repetitively loading them in a run. We have to move those joints repetitively and progressively, instead of just jumping into a run cold. Running is a complex, high-impact movement. If we take the extra time to move our bodies in multiple directions (side to side, front to back, rotation), then our joints and muscles should have more freedom of movement when the running starts.

To think broadly, we want to warm up all the systems—circulatory and respiratory, nervous system, muscles, bones, fascia, etc. We have three planes of movement that are constantly working together. The sagittal plane (front-to-back movement), frontal (side-to-side movement), and coronal (rotational movement).

WHAT TYPE OF DYNAMIC WARM-UP BENEFITS RUNNERS?

Running is predominantly a front-to-back

(sagittal plane) movement with a ton of accessory rotation. Many running injuries come from overuse of muscles that work primarily in the sagittal plane (i.e. quads and hamstrings) and weakness of the smaller muscles of the pelvis, core, and feet that are responsible for rotation and stability. I’m oversimplifying here, but only to make the point that we want to generate blood flow and synovial fluid to as much of the body as possible during the dynamic warm-up. This might mean starting with a simple low-impact cardio activity like walking or low-resistance biking, then progressing into dynamic stretches like active lateral lunges, walking lunges with a twist, upper body side bends, forward/back kicks, ankle mobility, or bounding calf raises.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A DYNAMIC WARM-UP?

The research continues to build on the positive impact a dynamic warm-up can have for runners. Even a five-minute dynamic warm-up can improve running economy and VO2Max, which is an important predictor of aerobic endurance. These improvements can have a positive impact on running form, endurance, or speed. A dynamic warm-up can also be an impor-

tant contributor to injury prevention.

THOMPSON SAYS A DYNAMIC WARM-UP LIKE THE FOLLOWING WOULD BENEFIT MOST RUNNERS:

Step 1: Light Cardio Warm-Up: 5 minutes. Choose from walking, low resistance biking, elliptical, or very light jogging. If you’ve already come off of more activity and your cardio system is warm, jump into dynamic stretching.

Step 2: Dynamic Stretching: 5 minutes. Pick a spot where you can take roughly 10-15 big steps. Do a lap of walking lunges with upper body twists, then a lap of lateral walking lunges, then another lap of butt kickers and marches with hugging alternate knees to the chest. Then do some in-place dynamic stretches like hip circles or overhead reaches with side bends. Remember, these are just a few of the options to get the body moving in all three planes of movement. The list is endless. Have fun with it and keep it short and sweet. //

Sarah Hauge is a writer, grant writer, and editor who lives in Spokane with her husband and two children. She is looking forward to running the Negative Split Half Marathon in April.

The Tag-Along Kid

By Bri Loveall

I sincerely believe that for the child, and for the parent seeking to guide him, it is not half so important to know as to feel. – Rachel Carson

YESTERDAY, AS I HELPED MY ALMOST fiveyear-old son into his snow gear before donning my own, I marveled at the fact that I even knew how to be outside. That concept, the notion of “knowing how to be outside,” might seem ridiculous, especially in a region as diverse as ours. The reality is that most of us can point to a few people (more if you were fortunate) who taught you, somewhere throughout your life, how to enjoy being outside.

When I was still an angsty teenager, I befriended a girl who would not only become my best friend, but whose family would usher me into their own. I was the tagalong kid with a chaotic and unpredictable home life who craved normalcy and didn’t know where to look for it.

I’m not sure my friend knew what she was signing up for the first weekend we went skiing together after I’d lied and said I knew how to ski. That day up on the mountain, in gear my best friends’ parents had loaned me, my friend patiently taught me how to ski. I crashed, tipped, tripped, slipped, and popped out of my skis at almost every attempted turn. By lunchtime, we had just barely completed one run. In the ski lodge I sat dejected, sure this newfound friendship was already over and that I would never be invited anywhere ever again.

Instead, my friend slid a sandwich over to me, one she and her family had made that morning, and asked me if I was having fun. I began apologizing profusely, telling her she didn’t have to stick with me after lunch, but she just shrugged and reminded me that we all start somewhere.

After that weekend, my friend and her family became a constant in my life. They

often paid for my lift tickets (something my family couldn’t afford), packed my lunches, and loaned me whatever gear I needed. I learned not just how to ski, but how to have fun even when I was cold and wet and tired. Later in the year, they took me to their family’s lake cabin where we tubed at ridiculously fast paces behind their boat before it broke down and my friend and I had to swim it home. It was some of the most fun I’d ever had.

It wasn’t that anyone went out of the way to quote me Rachel Carson or Ralph Waldo Emerson while strolling through the woods at dusk. The funny thing about learning is that we often don’t realize when it’s happening. When I look back on those early years when I was the tag along kid who always needed a ride, or sleeping bag, or extra gloves, I realize I wasn’t just learning how to ski or camp, but that nature was a constant I could rely on.

My friend’s family went out of their way to love and include me in their outdoors adventures. I might have learned to love the natural world without their help, but I doubt it. Never underestimate the power of bringing someone along for an adventure, whether it be a niece or nephew, a coworker who’s never hiked Antoine Peak before, or your own kid’s angsty teenage friend.

Now, I slide into my own snowpants, putting on my gloves before my jacket and laughing at a memory of my friend teaching me to do the same. And then my son and I head outside to play. //

Bri Loveall is spending her time reading, drinking tea, and making plans for the summer.

provisions

(n.)

food, drink, or equipment, especially for a journey.

SPRING ONION AND LENTIL SALAD

INGREDIENTS

Lentils

1 cup black beluga lentils from Palouse Brand // 1 bay leaf // 1 Tbsp. olive oil // ½ tsp. oregano // ½ tsp. rosemary // ½ tsp. parsley

Spring Onion Mixture

1 Tbsp. olive oil // 1 spring onion from Royal Produce, sliced thinly with head and greens kept separate // 1 stem green garlic from Channing Farm, minced with head and greens kept separate // 3 Tbsp. lemon juice // ½ on the vine tomato, diced // Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Lentils: Bring the lentils to a boil in 4 cups of water. Add bay leaf, oregano and herbs. Reduce to medium heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes until tender but not mushy. Drain out excess water.

2. Spring Onion Mixture: On medium low heat, sauté the sliced onion and garlic with olive oil, leaving the greens set aside. Once translucent, add the lemon juice and remove from heat. Stir in the onion and garlic greens and tomato.

3. In a large serving bowl, gently fold together the lentils and the spring onion mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste, and more olive oil and lemon juice as needed. Enjoy! (recipe and photo Courtesy of LINC Foods — The Local Inland Northwest Cooperative @ lincfoods.com.)

FILLO’S WALKING TAMALES + BUSHKA’S KITCHEN MEALS

While March winds and April showers abound, local trailwork crews are tackling trail maintenance needs as fast as the snow recedes. This cold and wet season is not a fun time to take a lingering lunch break nor do the prep work required for a fancy backpacking dinner. As I lead early-season trail crews, I’m frequently eating lunch on my feet and then getting back to work as quickly as possible before I become chilled. Later, I look for a just-add-hot-water dinner so I can go to bed at hiker midnight (just past sunset!) on backcountry trips.

Enter Fillo’s Walking Tamales as my preferred trailwork lunch for cold weather. As the name implies, this is a lunch that can easily be enjoyed while on the move. My favorite version is the Bean Salsa Habanero since I love a spicy meal on a cold day, coming in at 260 calories per bar with an ingredients list that is 100% pronounceable, containing no preservatives. Everything in the Fillo’s line is vegetarian and gluten-free, and those looking for less spice may enjoy the mild Bean Salsa Verde.

Come dinnertime, my go-to brand of freeze-dried meals is Bushka’s Kitchen. The Hunter’s Pie is my favorite, featuring ground venison and mashed potatoes with carrots and peas. The pouch serves one at 780 calories and contains less sodium than most freeze-dried meal options. I find it takes a little longer than the three-minute wait time indicated on the package instructions for the meal to rehydrate, but it is always still nice and hot when it’s time to chow down, even on the coldest of spring nights. Vegan and vegetarian options are also available. Find them at Hyperspud Sports in Moscow or through Garage Grown Gear online. (Holly Weiler)

TAILWIND CHOCOLATE RECOVERY MIX

My husband was the one who brought this post-run fuel into our home, and I’ll admit at first sip I wrinkled my nose. It tasted like salty chocolate milk. I later realized this was because I hadn’t just sweat. Because, do you know what sounds fantastic after a hard run that isn’t going to sound good to someone just standing there in the kitchen? Salty chocolate milk. You other runners know what I mean.

I hit the trails hard last season and came to rely on Tailwind for recovery fuel. It became as essential in my pre-run prep as my hydration pack. Though I consumed adequate fuel while running on the trail in the form of chews and real food, I kept a shaker bottle full of Tailwind in my car to drink as soon as I left the trailhead. Tailwind reliably gave me the feeling of its namesake: a tailwind that helped me coast into whatever postrun demands I’d face with an active lifestyle.

Here’s why Tailwind works for me, and why I’d recommend it: it’s a complete protein with carbs and electrolytes. And it’s easy. Tailwind is based on organic rice protein and supplemented with the nine essential amino acids. The electrolyte lineup includes the heavy-hitters sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. It’s dairy-free and vegan with double the protein of chocolate milk. Salty tinge aside, it tastes above and beyond the chalky-tasting whey proteins I’ve tried. Add water to Tailwind recovery mix, shake or stir, and keep kicking butt off the trail. Try a single pack or buy the big bag at Spokane REI or online at Tailwindnutrition. com. With 15 servings a bag, you pay $2.66 per use, which is a decent price to pay for the power against a post-run crash.

(Lisa Laughlin)

FEAST WORLD KITCHEN CULTIVATES COMMUNITY

Imagine trying food from Afghanistan, Brazil, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Jordan, Mexico, Rwanda, or Syria after your next outdoor adventure in the Inland Northwest. It may sound like it requires travel, but, thanks to Feast World Kitchen, you'll only have to get to downtown Spokane.

Every Wednesday through Sunday, Feast World Kitchen features a different chef partner who cooks food from their country of origin. The result is delicious food, endless variety, cooks who learn the trade and improve their lives, and patrons who learn more about the world.

The goal of the program is to help refugees and immigrants learn the restaurant business, earn income from their food sales, and build community. As the founders say, “Food has a wonderful way of bringing people together and breaking down barriers.” The restaurant also features a program called Table Time, where refugees and immigrants can get help with resume building, paperwork, English practice, and other practical support.

The restaurant at 3rd and Cedar in Spokane has dine-in options, or you can order online for pickup (pre-order is recommended). The menu is posted every Monday by 5:30pm for the upcoming week’s rotation of chefs. Inland Curry is frequently in the lineup on Thursdays with mouth-watering Indian food.

Feast World Kitchen encourages dinner pickup at around 4:30 p.m., which makes it a great option to order online (Feastworldkitchen.org) before a fullday bike or kayak adventure at Riverfront park and then pick up on your way home. Spokane needs more global cuisine, and the joy and deliciousness spread by this organization is a great reason to come to the table.

(Crystal

Atamian / photo: courtesy of Feast)

The Common Raven

By Adam Gebauer

THERE ARE ONLY a handful of critters that share the wintery wonderland of our mountains with intrepid snowshoers, crosscountry skiers, and downhill sliders. Earlier this season, friends saw a small heard of elk under the lift at 49 Degrees North, likely moving to lower elevations. Moose love to mess up the freshly groomed ski deck on the Mount Spokane Nordic trails. On a rare occasion, you can see a white ermine crossing a snow field or the wing prints from an owl’s nocturnal hunting. But probably the most gregarious high elevation dweller is the common raven, Corvus corax.

Ravens are one of the largest members of the Corvid family—highly intelligent birds that include jays, crows and magpies. They are also the most widely spread corvid, occupying almost every environment in the northern hemisphere from deserts and forests to high-elevation mountains. It is common to confuse crows and ravens. Along with being larger, ravens have a thicker bill with a distinct feather tuft over the base, and their tails are wedge- or diamond-shaped.

Ravens are excellent at surviving cold temperatures. They have high metabolisms, and to keep that furnace burning they have become incredibly good at finding food. They have excellent eyesight for finding those calories and can use their chisel-like bill to chip away at frozen food. They also have specialized feathers over their nostrils that help reduce water loss through breathing.

These birds can live up to 23 years in the wild and are social animals, congregating in groups when they are young. You can often see them engaging in play at these ages— playing keep away, locking talons and spinning, and sliding down a snowpack for fun (that last one sounds familiar). As they age, they are usually seen in their mate pairs.

These glossy black birds are incredibly intelligent. Recent studies have compared the intelligence of a 4-month-old raven

to be equal to adult apes. They found that young ravens can grasp quantities, understand causation, and show social learning on par with the formerly studied apes. There are plenty of YouTube videos of ravens solving complex multi-part puzzles in order to find food. Ravens have even been found to demonstrate the capacity to communicate about objects that are distant in space or time. This has helped them be incredibly successful in acquiring their omnivorous diet.

Over my years of teaching skiing and snowboarding and trying to entertain kids on a 7-minute chairlift ride, I have perfected one guttural raven call, but ravens can have 15 to 30 different kinds of vocalization that are used for social interaction. Like other corvids, they can also mimic sounds from their environment, including human sounds.

I experienced their smarts and tenacity firsthand on my first trip to Mt. Baker. These birds would watch where we would bury our food bags under rock or snow. No matter how hard we tried to fool them—digging false holes, flagging a few feet away from cached food—they would find the exact spot where our precious calories were stored.

This intelligence is probably what has led them to be featured in lore across the world, from Odin’s ravens, Hugin and Munin, to creation stories of many Native American tribes. For Pacific Northwest tribes, ravens are thought of as tricksters, keepers of secrets, gluttonous creatures, and there is a story of the raven bringing the sun and stars to the people.

It is the raven’s ability to adapt to so many environments and their gregarious nature that has connected with people across the globe.

“Beautiful Wounds” by Timothy Connor (Nature Photography/Natural History, 2022)

WHEN I SAW this hardcover book on the store shelf, there was no doubt I’d buy it. Eastern Washington’s landscape and the floods that ravaged it during the last ice age intrigues me, and I’ve seen the results while hiking thousands of miles over the years. So many places I’ve visited are pictured in the book.

I recognized the author’s name, a Spokane journalist with a long history of writing about Northwest topics, including in Out There. He details the huge resistance to geologist Harlan Bretz’s explanation of massive floods being responsible for the channeled scablands of Eastern Washington. Bretz’s theories were not met with mere disagreement—he was excoriated, and a dark cloud was placed over him by geologists and scholars. It took years for his theories to be recognized as truths. Connor also explains how physical features of our landscape, first detailed by Bretz, were created by the floodwaters.

Connor also details his personal crisis which eventually led to the book. One morning his wife informed him she wanted a divorce. Not long after the excruciating process, he fell in love again, only to be sat down and told by his new love that she was marrying another man. A dark period followed in tandem with a truth he’d been covering up—fear of being alone without a romantic partner. Resolving to work on himself, he sought therapy by exploring Washington’s scablands.

These compelling narratives make a nice pairing to the many, full-page photographs of our unique landscape. (James P. Johnson)

“World of Wonders” by Aimee Nezhukumatathil (Memoir/Nature, 2020)

WHEN I’M BEST ENGAGED in nature, I’m being curious. I look at things closely: How light sifts through trees. The water line of the river. The way a bee excavates a tulip.

Nezhukumatathil’s memoir, “World of Wonders: in Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments,” inspires me to continue doing just that—noticing the small wonders of our natural world and pondering what they may offer to ground or enlighten us. This book has fast-paced, beautiful language, reflective of Nezhukumatathil’s curiosity and pleasure in sharing what she has learned. It’s a short, contagious read.

Organized in a collection of essays, each titled after a unique flora or fauna, Nezhukumatathil uses close examination of nature as a literary jumping point to examine herself. These essays move with her in time and place, anchoring each narrative with a wonder of the world—from the vampire squid to the cara cara orange—as she explores her childhood as a minority in Kansas and Arizona and her adult years in the colder climates of New York and Ohio.

The sentences in this book are lyrical and engaging, with descriptions of plants and animals so specific I found myself nodding while reading: yes, it’s exactly like that; thank you for capturing that in words. Nezhukumatathil weaves vivid, firstperson scenes with a second-person instructive, often ditching commas in favor of the impact: “If while you are scuba diving a ribbon eel happens to wriggle and flick its way over to you, you might not even see it—its underbelly is perfectly camouflaged against the refracted sky above.” The jump to second person is just one technique she uses to broaden her personal narrative to remind us that there are many small wonders around us, if you give them your attention. It is a worthy thing to seek being astonished. (Lisa

Laughlin)

“Into the Woods: A Five-Act Journey Into Story” by John

Yorke (Nonfiction, 2015)

DESPITE STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS for this book, I was hesitant to pick it up due to my minimal interest in cinema and screenwriting. However, Yorke’s narration offers an intriguing scaffolding, which illustrates structural patterns inherent within engaging storytelling—the alchemy of story.

Yorke expands upon how and why we immerse ourselves in compelling stories, weaving in additional insights from psychology, sociology, cultural myths, folklore and historical contexts. The result is an often-harmonious rhythm that flows through the pages, much like the rhythmic gait of a trail run or the flow of a Northwest river.

Applying Yorke's patterns to the stories I've encountered— personally and professionally—revealed an intriguing exploration into the ‘why’ behind narrative creation. Are stories merely a personal power play, a means of finding structure amidst chaos, or a medium for reflection and growth? Or perhaps they serve to offer a momentary escape into a reality where the boundaries between fact and fiction blur, mirroring the temporary escape offered by outdoor adventures.

While some sections leaned heavily on cinema and related media for illustrations, Yorke skillfully invites readers to reflect on their own stories. In doing so, he illuminates how stories act as conduits for passing down wisdom, values and life experiences—a parallel to how outdoor enthusiasts share trail conditions, camping hacks and tales of exploration. While not a conventional outdoor read, "Into the Woods" unexpectedly proved to be a compelling journey with broad application.

(Joel Sattgast)

Reading Between the Waves

By Ammi Midstokke

IF YOU’VE EVER MET A SURFER , you know they can be pricks. Allan Weisbecker was no exception, though one might argue he’d earned the right to be territorial and pretentious, no matter where on the ocean he happened to be surfing. Weisbecker began surfing in 1965, rode with the legends, saw and surfed swells everywhere from the coasts of Africa to Alaska to New York. And when he wrote about it, it wasn’t just the description of a tube, but the remarkable and nuanced social system of the surfer.

There are athletes who love a sport with a ferocity and passion that can only be perceived as obnoxious, and an expertise and elitism that is alienating. Sometimes they write books, and in our burgeoning or established love of the thing, we read them only to discover they are better at their sport than sharing it. (Or in the case of Lance Armstrong, better at deceit.)

But Weisbecker’s 2001 book “In Search of Captain Zero” is one of those rare treasures when someone is capable of nerding-out on a topic applicable to few, while weaving in the raw humanity of a story that resonates with all. If you aren’t a surfer already, you’ll want to be one by the end. You’ll also know far more about wave science and the graceful intuition of the dedicated wave rider than you thought possible. Unless you’re already a serious surfer and it is the affirming prose of your people.

In 1996, Weisbecker sold his home and belongings (purchased primarily from leftover cash from his drug-running days and a few writing gigs for the likes of shows like “Miami Vice”) and headed to Mexico. In search of a lifelong friend whose cryptic postcards and eventual silence seemed out of character, Weisbecker makes his way down the coast of Baja, to Mexico, and onward to Costa Rica.

Parts of you will want to sell your house, unapologetically abandon relationships, and be a vagabond in a camper. You’ll pine for that best dog you once owned (or grieve the mortality of the one you do own). You’ll feel

with tangible discomfort those times you made poor choices you were too old for, be it staying up late, riding your bike too fast, or dabbling in narcotics. You’ll recall with a measure of regret all the times you isolated yourself when you wanted connection.

These are the stories we should read and the stories we should tell. They are only white-washed enough to see how fragile the author’s ego is, and thus how precisely human they are. They tell of the erosion of once-invincible friendships, the contentment and reprieve offered by nature, and why both might compel us to greatness or grossness.

In a world where our lives have become as fragmented as our smart-phone-addled attention spans, there is something refreshing in imagining a life spent in a pursuit as singular as surfing, or carpentry, or sushi preparation, or through hiking. It takes a special mind, likely one deserving of a diagnosis, to cast aside the expectations of society and dedicate ourselves to a purpose. It is both a gift and a curse.

Yet it is precisely these people who push the edges and boundaries of what we are capable of as individuals, who pioneer crafts and hone skills we are replacing with the digitalized expertise of a three-minute YouTube tutorial. They are an animal going extinct along with all the learning they have to offer.

W�I Talk About Running.”

Now I’m not suggesting anyone ever bludgeon themselves through Murakami’s “What I Talk About When

But a few of these remarkable people take the time to share their unique human experience with such vulnerability, give us a glimpse into the ticking of their minds beyond their obsession, and remind us that maybe we have more in common than we realize. //

Ammi Midstokke tried surfing once and nearly got her ass beat by a forty-something Santa Cruz local for “stealing a wave” that she unwillingly succumbed to in an attempt to not be pulverized by Mother Nature. She has not forgiven the surfing community.

Water/sewer/power�

No worrying about full tanks or� running out of water.�

Families, hermits, hikers, bik-� ers, urban refugees welcome.�

US

Sit on the patio by the fire and� star gaze.�

Killer mountain biking out the� back door.�

Kayak/fish in the lake.�

GEAR ROOM

FORLOH SOLAIR UPF LONG-SLEEVE HOODED SHIRT

This warm-weather sun hoodie will keep you outside in the sunshine doing the things you love longer with its 50+ UPF rating. FORLOH uses a fabric for this shirt that has cooling minerals built into the fibers and it has efficient moisture-wicking abilities. Made for outdoor sports, the shirt also employs antimicrobial scent control properties that will hopefully keep you smelling better than your fishing or rafting buddies. MSRP: $99. Forloh.com (Wil Wheaton)

PLATYPUS QUICKDRAW WATER FILTER

This lightweight and compact filland-squeeze water filter is perfect to stash in a hiking or mountain biking pack for quick and easy streamside hydration. Also makes a good emergency backup if a quick outdoor outing turns into an unplanned all-day or overnight epic. It provides plenty of filtration capacity for longer backpacking or bikepacking trips too. Fill the reservoir with untreated water and squeeze to filter fresh water into a Platypus bottle or reservoir. The system weighs just 3.3 oz., filters up to three liters per minute, and can be easily cleaned by backflushing. MSRP: $49.95. Platy.com/filtration (Derrick Knowles)

MSR HUBBA HUBBA 2 TENT

My first MSR Hubba Hubba tent was a hand-me-down single-person version that a thru-hiker friend of mine named Hike On graciously gifted to me. The most beloved tent I’ve ever owned, it was my all-season companion for years, from snowy ski missions in the Kettle Range to surf beaches in Mexico and many other amazing places in

this new MSR Hubba Hubba 2, the roomier two-heartbeat version.

between. I was sad to eventually pass it on to another friend to make room for newer (and, as I would find out, lesser quality) tents I’d acquired for review. Thankfully the gear gods eventually blessed me with

SEA TO SUMMIT MESH STUFF SACK SET

A great stuff sack solution for car, van or RV campers who are fond of organizing gear but struggle to remember what’s in a given sack. These mesh sacks allow you to see what you’ve stowed without having to dig through random bags, and they offer excellent breathability for wet or damp winter sports or water sports gear that you

can hang for easy, organized drying. Sets of three are available in 3L, 5L, 8L or 5L, 8L, 13L and are color-coded by size. The tear-proof drawcord throat with two hypalon pull-tabs make them easy to open and close, but also super strong. MSRP: $39.9544.95. Seatosummit.com (Derrick Knowles)

SEA TO SUMMIT HANGING TOILETRY BAG

Strangely, this toiletry organizer is one of the coolest pieces of outdoor gear I’ve encountered in a while. On camping trips and traveling with my family, personal hygiene items always seem to migrate from whatever bags they started out in to some bizarre locations throughout our van and camp. I’m hoping this organizer helps us keep our bathroom items more contained and organized.

SEA TO SUMMIT ULTRA-SIL DRY DAY PACK

The thing I love most about these tents is the comfort built into the design, from plenty of headroom to its side-opening with roomy vestibule for inclement weather cooking or comfortable lounging in bed with a coffee while watching the sun rise. Even lighter than before, the mesh and solid fabric construction provides protection from the weather and privacy with all the venting you could hope for from a tent. While my first Hubba Hubba existed in the era before ubiquitous smartphones, today’s tent sports tech-friendly pockets with cable ports at the corners and a spacious overhead gear loft. Rumor has it MSR has a Hubba Hubba bikepacking tent now too! MSRP: $549.95. Msrgear.com (Derrick Knowles)

This incredible, ultra-light pack fits into a stuff sack that’s smaller than a breakfast burrito, making it the ultimate packable solution for carrying things that need to keep dry. Stash it in your RV or car for any time a pack would come in handy; take it on humanpowered grocery runs; or load it up with towels, clothes and other provisions for watersports outings. It’s the perfect tool for minimalist adventure travel too. The pack has a 22-liter capacity and is made from siliconized non-PFC CORDURA® fabric. A double hypalon roll-top ensures a good seal. There’s also an external compression lacing system for stowing wet gear, extra clothes or sandals. MSRP: $64.95. Seatosummit.com (Derrick Knowles)

If you’re looking for a waterproof footwear alternative to hiking boots for your daily spring outings around town, the new ATOM waterproof shoe is worth a look. It’s got the style and feel of a sneaker with solid cushion and support, but won’t leave you with soggy, frozen feet after

The water-resistant Ultra-Sil fabric bag unzips and hangs up with a hook, where you can access two zipped mesh pockets, a third open mesh pocket, and a larger storage space at the bottom that also has a small flip-out mirror. There’s another zippered pocket on the back. It’s available in small and large sizes. MSRP: $44.95-$49.95. Seatosummit. com (Derrick Knowles)

splashing through parking lots or down rainy streets or sidewalks. A great choice as a work shoe for jobs that include time outdoors, as well as for neighborhood walks, footpowered errands, or as a workout shoe. MSRP: $180. Kurufootwear.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 gear and provide honest, thoughtful, and entertaining gear reviews, but readers should always do their own research.

KURU ATOM WATERPROOF SHOE

Primitive Skills

Why the Weather?

By Karie Lee Knoke

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED why we incessantly talk about the weather? Yes, climate change is a topic of heated discussion around the world (no pun intended), but I’m referring to the typical conversation that has been occurring for generations prior to the threats of climate change.

Typically, a conversation will start with “Hi! How are you?” and inevitably someone will start talking about the weather. And then, the contest begins. Who has the best or worst weather, and how amazing or difficult it is for them, as if competing for who wins the Golden Award for the Best Bragging Rights for their Glorified or Miserable situation. We are funny humans in that way.

On the other hand, there are folks who believe that talking about the weather is mundane. It’s a surface level conversation that doesn’t really get into the deeper ways of being or the meaning of life. From that perspective, why would we care about the weather? That may be true, but the reality is, you need to feel safe before you can go spiritual, and having good calm weather will enhance your experience. You wouldn’t be meditating during a hurricane!

In today’s world of climate-controlled environments, our homes, cars, offices, restaurants, stores and even our work-out facilities have enabled us to become isolated from the outdoors. So much that many of us now rely on multiple weather apps on our phones to tell us what the weather is doing on an hourly basis.

The fact is, the weather is an integral part of our survival instincts, carried forward by our ancestors. What they did every day was determined by the weather, not by a time piece. If it was raining, they’d stay indoors. If it was nice out, they’d gather, fish and hunt. Good weather days were to prepare

for the upcoming long, snowy winter nights. Everything was indicative of the weather.

Our ancestors relied on all of their senses to predict the weather. Feeling the prevailing winds as it touched the skin of their face. Scanning the horizon for threatening clouds. Smelling the aroma of must of an incoming rainstorm. Feeling the heaviness of the humidity in their bones and watching animal behavior. If the animals were hunkered down, they knew to heed the warning signs and hunker down as well.

During my time on the TV show ALONE in Labrador, Canada, the connection with my landscape was so strong that I could accurately predict the weather, just by using my awareness skills, watching the weather patterns and animal behavior.

The moon cycles are also great tools for predicting weather. The moon controls the ebb flows of the tidal waters, as well as the blood in our body. Full moons bring on more intense weather, while new moons have less gravitational pull and thus bring on weak and variable weather systems.

The production directors of ALONE were puzzled when I clearly stated “You just wait! Three days before the next full moon, there is going to be a big winter storm!” I made this prediction a month ahead of time. On the day before this alleged storm, you see me making my cobb oven and finishing the front wall of my shelter. I worked until 10 o’clock that night even though the weather was still and calm, because I knew from my gut instincts that something was brewing on the horizon. The next three days were spent in my shelter, safely eating my last squirrel, with all my firewood collected, thriving, and enduring the storm. I finally emerged from the safety of my shelter, to find almost two feet of snow.

I had one obnoxious squirrel, incredibly close to my shelter, that constantly chirped. I chose not to hunt him, because he was my alarm system. If he was out running around gathering food, I knew that the other animals would be out, and it was a good time to hunt. On days where he was nowhere to be seen and silent, I knew that I needed to prepare for an incoming storm.

It’s through connection with your landscape, knowing your clouds, tuning into the subtle signs of nature, and trusting your senses and intuition that you can come to understand how our ancestors survived in the wilderness.

So, why do we talk about the weather? It is vital to our survival, and we can’t ignore it. The global weather events of climate change have proven that we are not immune to dramatic weather events, no matter what we do to protect ourselves. We cannot lose these skills of awareness and ignore the weather outside.

Review those school teachings of reading the clouds and you too can learn how to predict the weather by observing your landscape. The next time you’re trying to decide whether to go for a bike ride or go skiing, look up and check out your environment before looking at your phone. Challenge yourself! See how accurate you can be in predicting your weather. //

Karie Lee Knoke is a wilderness/primitive skills instructor and founder of Sacred Cedars Wilderness School. She was a contestant on the reality survival TV show, Alone Season 9, on the History Channel. Go to www.karieleeknoke.com for more information, or follow her on Facebook @SacredCedarsWildernessSchool or Instagram @karie_lee_knoke.

A THUNDERHEAD RISES IN THE INLAND NORTHWEST. RIGHT: CLOUD SHADOW. // PHOTOS: KARIE LEE KNOKE

WAY OUT THERE Chasing Down a Total Solar Eclipse

By James P. Johnson

DANIELLE DENHAM THEPDXPHOTOGRAPHER.COM

before is a good indicator of extreme naïveté.

I backtracked a few miles, pulled to the roadside and pitched a tent in the woods. The next morning, the mood was jovial. One guy went up and down the road offering free viewing glasses for anyone who’d forgotten theirs. Then the marvel began that induced awe, wonder and deep celestial thoughts.

I monitored the moon as it slowly covered the sun, which took an hour and thirteen minutes. Even with a large portion covered, our sun’s so bright that the landscape still seemed nominally illuminated.

ON APRIL 8, a total solar eclipse will cross the U.S. from Texas to New England. My streak of witnessing totality of every solar eclipse in the contiguous U.S. for the past 45 years may end.

My claim is true, but hyperbolic. I haven’t been criss-crossing the country catching bunches of total eclipses—it’s just the third one on the mainland in the last 45 years. Since they’re fairly rare, making an effort to see one is worth considering.

My streak is possible simply because the last two passed through the Northwest. As a student at WSU in Pullman in 1979, clouds and heavy rain obscured a total solar eclipse, and the experience was less than profound. I documented it by taking a photo of my roommate standing on our covered deck holding a clock and acting puzzled that it was dark.

It was a long time until the next one. In August 2017, I drove through sparsely populated Eastern Oregon to a lonely junction and turned onto a dusty road that climbed from a sagebrush-covered valley into forested highlands. Nearing a campground I thought would be neglected and littleused, there was a lot of traffic. Vehicles were parked at the side of the road in many places. I arrived at the bustling campground and asked a couple of guys, whose accents made me think they’d come from England, about campsites. They said the last one was taken a week ago. Thinking I could snag a campsite in the middle of the path of totality the day

About 20 minutes before totality, brightness finally lessened noticeably. It was such an odd thing; mid-day, sunny weather with a dark tint to it. I imagined a planet somewhere in the universe, so distant from its sun that light intensity is similarly diminished. I’m glad it’s not our normal condition.

Then, the great climax—the last 7-10 seconds when what brightness there is dims rapidly. There’s no comparable experience. The entire lit landscape shut down to total darkness in less than ten seconds. It was freaky, bizarre. It boggled my mind.

Whoops of excitement rang out. The dark disk with a bright halo hung for two minutes and two seconds. Then the sun peeked out and began regaining its celestial supremacy.

The uncovering was anti-climactic, and I left before it was complete. A long, slowmoving line of cars made the journey home a few hours more than normal. I momentarily questioned if the trip had been worth it. Yes, it had been!

Currently, I don’t have plans to travel south or east to experience totality in 2024, so I’ll have to content myself with Spokane’s 38% maximum partial eclipse. Though my streak may end, I’m cheered that the next total eclipse will be nearby again, in western Canada and Montana. There’s a downside though: we’ve got a 20-year wait. It’s in August of 2044. For information on this year’s event, Googling “solar eclipse 2024” brings up a bunch of websites. I’ve found NASA.gov is excellent. //

James P. Johnson is the author of “Spokane and Coeur d’Alene Freshwater Shark Attacks.” He wrote about tomato preservation in Out There last fall.

The Gut of the Matter

Making sense of gut health and why it matters

By Ammi Midstokke

OF ALL THE LOVE POEMS EVER WRITTEN, they all seemed to focus on the heart, as if this singular organ was more than a glorified pump. Even Rumi failed to get lyrical about the intestines, despite their sinewy silken lining, their miraculous membranes of blood vessels, the rhythmic undulation of cilia, their constant gurgle and grumble a song in itself. While there are still few poems on the matter, definitely the media is inundated with talk of the gut.

The information the scientific world is pumping out at breakneck speed has our heads spinning. How many probiotics do we need? (Some.) Will Akkermansia make us thinner? (No.) Should we ferment our own vegetables? (If we have time and want our house to smell like bubbling cabbage.) What is rewilding the gut? (Basically, eat-

ing dirt.)

It’s hard to know what is right for your gut and why it matters. We’ll break it down to some basics here:

Why gut health matters: Those smart scientists have found thousands of links between the microbiome (the incredible system of bacteria, fungus, parasites, friendlies and unfriendlies) in our intestines and our body functions. Some strains protect us from UV rays. Others aid in the metabolism of B vitamins. Others are key in manufacturing serotonin—that happy, calming hormone we’re all desperate for this time of year. Scientists have found gut health to impact blood sugar regulation, mental health, hormones, cancer risk, inflammatory disease, immunity, skin health and more. The bottom line is that a healthy gut promotes a healthy body.

What makes a healthy gut: The environment and the bacteria colonies. When we do things that change the gastrointestinal (GI) environment, it can promote the growth of problematic bacteria while reducing the number of good bacteria. For the most

part, a GI tract with good variety will maintain balance and eradicate the riffraff on its own. But long-term bad habits or illness can tip the scales and make it hard to feel right again.

The primary culprits: Diets high in sugar, processed foods, or alcohol are the clear culprits. They promote inflammation that changes which bacteria thrive, turning your gut into a dive bar of seedy characters and a few late-night survivors of a bachelorette party. Other disruptors are antibiotics, in particular long-term or repetitive use. Fake sugars like aspartame are also known gutdisruptors, as is stress, poor sleep, and the grand-daddy of them all, smoking. This refers to all smoking, including marijuana.

The best supportive habits for a healthy gut: Not surprisingly, the same prescription for optimal weight, cardiac health, mental health, bone health, healthy cholesterol, cancer prevention … or just health is the same: Eat whole foods and plenty of vegetables. Whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes are loaded with fiber that promotes digestion and “good” bacteria

growth. Vegetables and leafy greens, especially those from a garden or farmers’ market, are covered in soil-based organisms that bring variety to our biomes. Fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir and sauerkraut are loaded with essential strains of bacteria like lactobacillus.

Knowing what is right for your own gut depends on your health history and your diet. If you’ve taken a lot of antibiotics, chances are your balance is a bit off. You may benefit from a broad-spectrum probiotic. If you’ve been eating a lot of processed foods and sugar, you’ll benefit from focusing on whole foods and a fiber-rich diet for a while. If you’re a data nerd and don’t mind pooping in a box once, many companies are offering stool analysis and “individualized” probiotics. (The quotes merely imply they are individualized to your current gut bacteria, but not your genetic makeup, your diet, or your medical history.)

And, as always, the same advice stands: Eat more vegetables. //

Ammi Midstokke has been a functional nutritionist for a decade, saving the world one vegetable at a time.

THINK SPRING

4 HIKES IN LOCAL NATURAL AREAS

By Olivia Dugenet

They don’t call it spring fever for nothing. When the big, dark Inland Northwest winter finally melts away and the whole world is green and growing, anything seems possible. Every step outside into the sweet, mild air feels like a celebration. Rain? Shine? It doesn’t matter. It’s a perfect time to get outside and explore some of our diverse local natural areas.

If you’re already experiencing gratitude for this season of abundance, why not add a note of thanks for the natural areas themselves? They all exist because sometime, somewhere, a group of people got together and worked hard to preserve these spaces before they were cordoned off and carved up into housing subdivisions. It is important to remember that we have a choice in how our communities are built. As anthropologist David Graeber once put it, “the ultimate hidden truth of the world is that it is something that we make, and could just as easily make differently.”

Here are four local hikes to appreciate the work that has been done to preserve some of our region’s natural areas.

PINE STREET WOODS (SANDPOINT, IDAHO)

Sandpoint, Idaho understands community. With support from Kaniksu Land Trust, the people of Sandpoint raised $2.1 million to save a beloved forest from imminent development. Now called Pine Street Woods, this fully protected 180-acre “forest for all” opened in 2019 and is open to everyone.

“What’s so great about Pine Street Woods is that it’s only about 10 minutes from downtown Sandpoint, but it feels really wild,” says Marcy Timblin, Director of Communications for Kaniksu Land Trust (KLT), adding that even with its feeling of remoteness, it’s very safe. She points out that all the trails are loop trails, so no one gets lost.

Pine Street Woods was originally part of an old homestead owned by the Weisz family, who held the 160-acre property for KLT while the organization raised money for the purchase. Another conservation-minded private owner, L.E. Krause, donated an adjacent 20-acre parcel.

The Pine Street Woods are strategically

located adjacent to several other important pieces of land. The names Syringa Trail System and Sherwood Forest are used interchangeably to refer to the same privately-owned property. The owners have a conservation easement with KLT in a joint commitment to protect the land. VTT (Veló Tout Terrain), operated by Pend Oreille Pedalers, is a relatively new mountain bike trail system that connects with the Syringa Trail System/Sherwood Forest and Pine Street Woods. The private owners of another adjoining piece of land, Greta’s Segway, generously keep their trails open to the public. Together, this patchwork of properties forms a large and diverse area full of trails, forests and meadows.

“When you’re up there,” says Timblin, “it feels like it goes on and on forever.” Trails are available for all ability levels, from longer, more challenging hikes to walks that are accessible to wheelchairs, walkers and strollers.

This year, KLT opened the adjoining Sled Hill property. This privately owned land served as Sandpoint’s primary ski hill before Schweitzer opened in 1963 and has been a favorite sledding spot for decades. If hiking trails are still snow-packed in early spring, bring a sled instead. Visit kaniksu. org to join group hikes or connect with the friendly Sandpoint hiking community.

LEFT: POST FALLS COMMUNITY FOREST. PHOTO COURTESY OF POST FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE // ABOVE: PINE STREET WOODS, COURTESY OF KANIKSU LAND TRUST. // RIGHT: HAYNES ESTATE CONSERVATION AREA. PHOTO: ALANA LIVINGSTON. // OPPOSITE PAGE LEFT: REARDAN AUDUBON LAKE.

PHOTO: OLIVIA DUGENET.

CHILDREN OF THE SUN TRAIL EXPANDS SOUTHWARD

I walked the newly opened stretch of the Children of the Sun Trail on a sunny afternoon from Hillyard’s Columbia Avenue to Cleveland Avenue in the Minnehaha neighborhood. Traffic hummed along Market Street while the still-dormant section of the North-South Corridor slept like a concrete giant.

The impact of an urban trail is most apparent when experienced in person. I saw people jogging. There were people on bikes. My dog made friends with an adorable Doxen and neighbors smiled at us and waved. There’s no doubt that the trail adds a new dimension to the neighborhood.

The trail itself is the result of years of strategic placemaking efforts and community outreach. The new stretch, which opened last December, now includes a full 7 miles of protected paved pathway from the trail’s endpoint in North Spokane’s Wandermere neighborhood to its temporary stopping point. When completed, the Children of the Sun Trail will run the length of the North Spokane Corridor. The trail will ultimately connect to the Ben Burr Trail

and the Centennial Trail, creating the first pedestrian and bike path with safe access from Spokane County’s northern reaches to downtown and, via the Centennial Trail, all the way to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

It also makes a safe passage from multiple residential neighborhoods to bustling Hillyard businesses. Families can walk to dinner or to the grocery store. Cyclists can use it as a direct route nearly all the way to Minnehaha Park and the Beacon Hill mountain bike trail system. The Washington State Department of Transportation has created something good.

It’s not a perfect world. While the path brings all the benefits of an urban trail, it also brings with it a whole freeway that now dominates these once quiet neighborhoods. As I walked the path, two people illegally raced by on a motorcycle and quad respectively, and litter has piled up along the edges of the trail. It will take some love and energy from the community to keep the trail safe and clean, and it will be worth it. (Olivia Dugenet)

Directions: Drive west from Sandpoint on W. Pine Street. Pass the Selkirk School and Upland Drive. The Pine Street Woods access road is ¼ mile past the intersection of Pine Street and Hunt Lane on the left side of the road. Please respect posted speed limit and parking guidelines.

POST FALLS COMMUNITY FOREST (POST FALLS, IDAHO)

Post Falls Community Forest is a true hidden gem. This 500-acre natural area just east of the Washington-Idaho border is easily accessible from I-90 and adjacent to the 78-acre Q’emlin (pronounced “kamee-lin") Park and swimming area. The riverside preserve offers excellent hiking and rock-climbing opportunities. Several well-marked loop trails cover a range of terrain. The 2.9-mile Upper Falls Loop trail offers beautiful river views and options for birding or fishing. The 5.2-mile Post Falls Community Forest Q’emlin Park loop is moderately challenging with a bit of scrambling involved.

This community forest exists thanks to work that started more than 30 years ago. Today, after long-term collaboration from the Bureau of Land Management, Avista Utilities, the Post Falls Parks Department, the Post Falls Water Reclamation Division, and several private property owners, this broad swath of wild land along the Spokane

River is permanently protected and available for the public to enjoy.

Directions: To get there via I-90, take the Spokane Street exit at Post Falls and travel south on Spokane Street to Q’emlin Park. As an alternative (with no seasonal parking fees), continue 3.2 miles south on West Riverview Drive to the Post Falls Community Forest Trailhead. The City of Post Falls asks that visitors park in designated lots only and take care not to block fire and emergency lanes.

REARDAN AUDUBON LAKE (REARDAN, IDAHO)

Just 22 miles from Spokane, in the small town of Reardan, Audubon Lake is a lifeline for many species of birds during their spring migrations. Buffleheads, canvasbacks and northern pintails. Black-necked stilts, American avocets and northern shovelers. These are just a few of the winged travelers that rely on the 277 acres that encompass the lake, its surrounding wetlands, grasslands and other landscape features that provide vital habitat.

Back in the early 2000s, when the lakeside property was up for sale and slated for development as a lakeside housing subdivision, The Inland Northwest Land Conservancy and Spokane Audubon Society understood the damaging impact that would have on

wildlife habitat and secured an option to buy the land. These organizations joined with Ducks Unlimited, the City of Reardan and the Reardan Chamber of Commerce to preserve the ecosystem and responsibly develop it as a wildlife viewing area.

Reardan Audubon Lake is now officially part of Audubon Washington’s “Palouse to Pines Loop,” which includes 51 spots around the Inland Northwest to view 215 out of Washington’s 346 annually recorded bird species.

There’s a lot of research to suggest that birdwatching, or even just listening to birds, brings stress relief and other mental health benefits. There’s a bit of a learning curve involved, though. If you’re new to birdwatching or would like to get started, check out Audubonspokane.org for free field trips and other fun and welcoming educational opportunities. You can find more information about Reardan Audubon Lake at Inlandnwland.org.

Directions: From Hwy 2 at the City of Reardan, go north on Hwy 231 three blocks to the SW corner of the property on the east side of Hwy 231.

HAYNES ESTATE CONSERVATION AREA, NORTH SPOKANE (SPOKANE, WASH.) Edward and Eloise Haynes bought property on the banks of the Little Spokane River in

1950. The undeveloped land, which served as an important wildlife habitat, stayed in the family for generations. When the cost of property taxes became difficult to manage, the owner considered developing the land as a housing subdivision, but neighbors and conservation experts recognized an opportunity to protect wildlife while also maintaining access to a beautiful community green space.

The Inland Northwest Land Conservancy, with support from the Friends of the Little Spokane River Valley, joined with the Haynes family to find an alternative. Through that effort, the Spokane County Conservation Futures Program secured the property in 2001. The Haynes family established a generous endowment to help maintain and care for the land. Today, the 97-acre Haynes Estate Conservation Area in north Spokane offers several short, well-marked loop trails for hiking, running, mountain biking and horseback riding. The beautiful half-mile stretch of river shoreline is a good place to take a fishing pole too.

Directions: At the North Spokane Y, take a slight right onto Highway 2. After 3.5 miles, turn right onto E. Farwell Road. Take the first left onto Shady Slope Drive for 1.5 miles, then turn left onto Leona St., which ends at the parking area. //

SANDRA BILBREY AND GRANT ON THE NEWEST SECTION OF THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN TRAIL. // PHOTO : BOBBY WHITTAKER

BRRC RECYCLE FUN RUN, 4 MILES (APRIL 10): This run benefits Bloomsday Road Runners Club’s volunteer program. Race starts near the Fish Lake Trail trailhead. Bring gently used shoes and clothing to donate to local high school athletes.

BY SARAH HAUGE

Ready to run, bike, paddle, swim and have some new adventures in the upcoming race season? The 2024 calendar is packed with chances to test your mettle individually or as a team in outdoor races, runs and rides. Some dates are still TBA, and a few races have shuttered. Check race websites to confirm details and sign up. We’ll see you out there!

ROAD RUNNING

SNAKE RIVER HALF MARATHON (MARCH 2): A flat, paved, out-and-back course along the Snake River outside of Pullman, Wash., put on by the Palouse Road Runners. USATF certified.

ST. PADDY’S FIVE MILER (MARCH 10): This family-friendly event is hosted by Bloomsday Road Runners Club at Spokane Community College and is an official Bloomsday secondseed qualifier race. “Lucky Leprechaun Jig” (free) hosted for kids 6 and under.

SHAMROCK SHUFFLE (MARCH 17): An early spring half marathon, 10k and 5k, put on by Negative Split. All distances wind through Riverfront Park; virtual options also available.

RAPID RABBIT RUN (MARCH 24): 3-mile & 5-mile runs (virtual options). Proceeds benefit East Valley High School’s senior class (Spokane Valley). The 5-miler is a Bloomsday second-seed qualifier race.

ONLY FOOLS RUN AT MIDNIGHT 5K (TBA; APRIL 1): 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 6): Point-to-point USATF-certified marathon course with views of the Yakima River Canyon.

THE TA TA DASH, 5K AND 10K (APRIL 7): Starts in Riverfront Park. This inaugural event is put on by Beyond Pink, which aims to help with efforts to prevent and screen for breast cancer. Kids’ ⅓ mile race also held.

THE SPLIT HALF MARATHON, 10K & 5K (APRIL 14): Flat, scenic course through Kendall Yards, Riverfront Park, and along the Spokane River. Kids’ Challenge also offered. Negative Split event.

JR. BLOOMSDAY (APRIL 14): Fun annual race for children in grades 3-7 at Spokane Falls Community College campus, with an awesome prize pack for participants. The course is just over 1 mile.

HAUSER LAKE 10K/5K ICEBREAKER RUN (APRIL 20): Bloomsday second-seed qualifier with USATF-certified 10k course around the lake in Hauser, Idaho. Fundraiser for the specialneeds rescue dogs at Double J Dog Ranch. Dogs and walkers welcome.

WENATCHEE MARATHON, HALF MARATHON , 10K & 5K (APRIL 20): USATF-certified, with a Boston-qualifier marathon. Asphalt trails follow the Columbia River and offer views of the Cascades.

RUN THE RIVER MARATHON, RELAY, HALF MARATHON & 5K (APRIL 20): Beginning at Columbia Park in Kennewick, Wash., this paved course offers views of parks, the Columbia River and surrounding hills. 4-person marathon relay option available.

SPRING DASH & TOT TROT (APRIL 27): 5k, 10k and half marathon distances; the 10k is a Bloomsday second-seed qualifier. All distances start at Coeur d’Alene’s McEuen Park. Untimed Tot Trot offered for kids 10 and younger. Fundraiser for United Way of North Idaho.

LILAC BLOOMSDAY RUN (MAY 5): Spokane’s hallmark road race! Challenging, fun 12k for runners, walkers and wheelchair participants. A virtual option is available.

LONG BRIDGE HALF MARATHON, 10K, & 5K (MAY 11): This Sandpoint, Idaho, race on paved roads and trails includes over 3 miles of running over beautiful Lake Pend Oreille with a start at Sandpoint City Beach Park.

T9 MERMAID RUN 10K, 5K & AND 10-MILE RUN (MAY 18): Hosted by Title 9, the Mermaid Series is a celebration of women’s movement. There’s also a 1.5-mile Mermaid Dash for kids ages 6-12. Start/finish at Riverfront Park.

THE BOULEVARD RACE. PHOTO: MYK CRAWFORD

2023 PODIUM

THE GRAND CUT

Jason Edwards

Jason Sto els

Dave La Tourette

Kaleb Voigt

Evan Schlabach

Kathleen Leonard

Benjamin Price

THE LONG CUT

Scott Boekenoogen

Natalie Nelson

Kyle Reijm

THE SHORT CUT

Genny Hoyle

Carrie Myers

Natalie Gross

Chris Clemens

Thomas McChesney

Joshua Johnson

Marya Oakes

Michael Haig

Melodie Viafranco

Sara Wilson

Amy Johnson

Danielle Wilson

Holly Dane

Run for the Dogs

The Hauser Lake Icebreaker Run

By Chris Maccini

LOOKING TO GET TUNED UP for Bloomsday while raising money for a good cause?

The Hauser Lake Icebreaker Run is a 10K and 5K road race which benefits the Double J Dog Ranch, a 503c nonprofit sanctuary for dogs with special needs.

This year, the event is on Saturday, April 20, two weeks before Bloomsday, making it the perfect shakedown before the region’s biggest race. It’s also an official seeding race for Bloomsday and is a USA Track and Field certified event.

According to Cristene Justus, founder and Director of the Double J Dog Ranch, The Hauser Lake Icebreaker Run originated as a Rathdrum Parks and Recreation event over 30 years ago. It’s an annual celebration of spring and the course circumnavigates the (hopefully) ice-free shores of Hauser Lake, located just across the Idaho border east of Spokane.

Justus and the Double J Dog Ranch took over the event from the Rathdrum Parks Department in 2015, and it’s now the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year. Because Double J Dog Ranch is entirely volunteer run, 100 percent of all the race proceeds go toward benefitting the special needs dogs under their care.

Funds are used to pay for essentials like food and medical care. The Double J Dog Ranch is currently home to 12 “senior citizen” dogs who are permanent residents. They also typically have several younger dogs at any given time who are available for adoption, most of whom have limited vision, hearing, or other special medical needs.

Under Justus’s direction, the Icebreaker Run has grown in popularity, and now

boasts over 700 annual participants. “Not only is it probably the most beautiful course in our area because the course goes around the lake,” Justus says. “But it's a pretty fast course. It’s pretty flat. There are a few inclines, but people like it because it is fast.”

It’s not just the race that people enjoy. Justus and the rest of the volunteers who host the event make a concerted effort to encourage people to hang around after they finish the run for the festive atmosphere. “We have food trucks and a beer garden,” Justus says. “This year, we're going to have a mimosa bar. StretchLab will be there this year doing stretching for the runners. Every year we're kind of adding something additional to keep people around for a while.”

And, of course, the race is dog-friendly. Runners—or walkers—are welcome to bring their well-behaved dogs with them onto the course. However, dogs and their owners are required to start at the back of the pack. The race is chip-timed though, so no need to fret over your starting position.

Race details and online registration can be found at the “Hauser Lake 5k/10k Icebreaker Run” Facebook page. Sameday registration is also available beginning at 8 a.m., race starts at 10 a.m. More information about the Double J Dog Ranch is at Doublejdogranch.org.

HAUSER LAKE ICE BREAKER RUN

ONE HEART 5K AND FUN RUN (TBA): Held at Spokane’s Manito Park; this race is organized by One Heart, a nonprofit that works to meet the needs of kids in lower income and atrisk neighborhoods.

WINDERMERE MARATHON, HALF MARATHON, 10K & 5K (MAY 19): Flat, point-to-point course along Spokane County’s Centennial Trail. Boston marathon qualifier, hosted by Negative Split. Kids’ challenge and fun run available.

RACE TO REMEMBER 5K (MAY 25): This race to fight senior hunger is held at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane; proceeds benefit Second Harvest Food Bank.

COEUR D’ALENE MARATHON, HALF MARATHON, 10K & 5K (MAY 26): Scenic race with a start/finish at McEuen Park in downtown Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Hosted by Negative Split. Kids’ challenge and 1-mile run available.

PRIEST LAKE SPRING FUN RUN, 10K & 5K (MAY 26): Run along the lakeshore at beautiful Priest Lake. Kids’ dash offered.

STACHE DASH HALF MARATHON, 10K, 5K AND KIDS’ RACE (JUNE 8): For runners, walkers and wheelchair participants, based at Plantes Ferry Park in Spokane Valley. Fundraiser for Elevations, a children’s therapy service-provider for children with special needs.

NEWPORT AUTUMN BLOOM

JACKASS HALF MARATHON

SPOKANE RIVER RUN

METALINE FALLS BIGFOOT 5K (JUNE 15): Takes place in the historic town of Metaline Falls in Pend Oreille County, with a course that includes mountain views and follows along the Pend Oreille River before finishing at Busta Park.

DAD’S DAY DASH (JUNE 16): Family-friendly 5k run/1-mile walk on Father’s Day. Fundraiser for SNAP, a Spokane-based community action agency.

MISSOULA MARATHON, HALF MARATHON, 5K AND KIDS’ “MARATHON” (JUNE 28-30): A can’t-miss course, with wheelchair and handcycle divisions and events happening throughout the weekend, like a 3.1-mile Beer Run and a kids’ 1-mile untimed fun run.

CHERRY PICKER’S TROT AND PIT SPIT (JULY 18): This annual event, held at Green Bluff, welcomes walkers and runners for a 4-mile course on paved roads through orchard country, plus an impressive pit spit competition.

SPOKENYA RUN/WALK 7K (JULY 20): A race designed to raise money for clean water acts in rural Kenya.

WALLACE HUCKLEBERRY FESTIVAL 5K WALK/RUN (AUG. 18): Family-friendly run in Wallace, Idaho, with vendors, music, and optional huckleberry pancake breakfast before or after. Strollers and leashed dogs welcome.

TASE T. LENTIL 5K FUN RUN (TBA): This 5k race is part of the National Lentil Festival in Pullman, Wash.

NEWPORT AUTUMN BLOOM 5K/10K FUN RUN (SEPT. 21): Proceeds benefit Newport Hospital’s Healthy Kids Snack Bag Program and Reach Out and Read.

RUN THE DAM HALF MARATHON, 10K & 5K (SEPT. 21): Run across Grand Coulee Dam and along Banks Lake as part of the Run the Dam Festival in Grand Coulee, Wash.

BOULEVARD RACE (SEPT. 22): This is the second year for the 4-mile race benefiting the Community Cancer Fund. Run or walk the streets of downtown Spokane on this fun (and relatively flat!) course.

DEUTSCHESFEST 10K/5K FUN RUN (TBA): German community festival in Odessa, Wash., includes a parade, fun run, brats, brews and more.

LEAVENWORTH MARATHON & HALF MARATHON (OCT. 5): 2024 is the 20-year anniversary of this Boston Qualifier race! Starts near the Alpine

Lakes Wilderness Area and follows along dirt roads and trails, including Icicle Canyon Loop and riverfront trails in Leavenworth, Wash.

JACKASS HALF MARATHON, 5K AND KIDS’ RUN (OCT. 5): Point-to-point, mostly downhill course along the paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes from Wallace to Kellogg, Idaho. The kid’s “half marathon” is a non-timed, non-competitive race that is a combination of logging miles on your own, then finishing the last 1.1 mile on the day of the race.

HAYDEN LAKE HALF MARATHON, QUARTER MARATHON & 5K (OCT. 12): All distances start from the Honeysuckle Beach boat launch and offer gorgeous lake views. Virtual option available.

SPOKANE MARATHON, HALF MARATHON & 10K (OCT. 13): Proceeds from this Boston Marathon qualifier race benefit local high school cross-country programs. The 10k is a Bloomsday second-seed qualifier.

TRAILS TO TAPS RELAY (OCT. 13): Run with your friends around Bellingham, Wash., with 8 stops at breweries and cideries and a route that covers 35 miles of trails, roads, and parks. Leg lengths range between 3 and 6 miles.

MONSTER DASH 5K KIDS’ FUN RUN (OCTOBER; DATE TBA): Organized by Active4Youth in collaboration with the Spokane Swifts Running Team, this event at Manito Park includes a 5k adult race and kids’ races (ages 12 and younger) of 3 lengths: 1 mile, half mile, and quarter mile; jogging strollers and dogs allowed.

SOCKTOBERDASH 10K AND 5K (TBA): Run supports Teen and Kid Closet’s mission to raise money for Spokane teens and kids in need. Participants donate new packages of socks and underwear. Participants can win prizes for wearing the best, worst or most unique socks.

HALLOWEEN HUSTLE HAUNTED HALF, TERRIFYING 10K, & FREAKY 5K (OCT. 27): Spooky event in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, organized by Negative Split includes out-and-back creepy courses and prizes for best costumes.

HAYDEN LAKE HALF MARATHON

Bare BUns fun run

TRAIL RUNNING

BADGER MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE 100-MILE, 100K, 50-MILE, 55K & 15K (MARCH 22-23): This race offers expansive views of the Columbia Basin. Proceeds support WTA, Friends of Badger Mountain, Girls on the Run, and Team in Training, which benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Register by March 18. USATF sanctioned event.

ANCIENT LAKES 50-MILE, 50K, 25K & 10K (APRIL 6-7): Experience the unique desert scape of the Ancient Lakes area near Quincy, Wash., with this single-track run that includes a scenic waterfall.

CAVEMAN ROAR & POUR 5K TRAIL FUN RUN (APRIL 20): Run through the Cave B Winery in Quincy, Wash., overlooking the Columbia River Gorge, for the 10th year of this event (caveman/cavewoman costumes encouraged). Wine tasting afterward.

YAKIMA SKYLINE RIM 50K (APRIL 20, TENTATIVE DATE): Challenging out-and-back course in the high desert of the Yakima River Canyon outside Ellensburg, Wash., with stunning views and 9,200 feet of elevation gain.

SPOKANE RIVER RUN (APRIL 21): 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 & TEAM RELAY (APRIL 27): Run on single-track trails and gravel roads in Washington’s Methow Valley on a point-to-point, flower-carpeted course from Mazama to Twisp.

RUN LIKE THE WIND RUNNING FESTIVAL (APRIL 28): 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. Challenging, rewarding race with lots of wind.

PRIEST LAKE SPRING FUN RUN 5K, 10K & KIDS’ DASH (MAY 26): Part of Priest Lake’s Spring Festival. Start/finish at Coolin Community Park at Priest Lake, Idaho; free 1k Kids’ Dash (ages 10 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.

TREY NICHOLS, founder and physical therapist at Northwest Mobile Physical Therapy, has first-hand experience of the pains that can occur when you do an activity you’re not fully trained for. After having knee pain from running, and trying the typical treatments of rest, new shoes, ibuprofen, stretching and taping, he realized the pain wasn’t going away until he trained his body for the specific load that running requires.

“I thought I was strong from running and biking a lot,” says Nichols, “but it wasn’t until I got serious about getting my legs stronger with weights and resistance training that my knee pain went away and stayed away.”

From that experience, Nichols was inspired to create the “Run Ready” program at NW Mobile PT to help other runners get stronger. The program is customizable, for new to experienced runners to those who have nagging pains or just want to prevent injury. Sessions focus on hip and ankle/foot strength and stability; core and shoulder strength and stability; and plyometrics.

When you examine the movement of running, it’s a single-leg sport, so the exercises are geared toward strengthening that motion. “Our joke is that unless you run

like a frog or kangaroo, you’ve got to train like you perform—and that’s on one leg,” says Nichols.

The Run Ready PT program can help runners run their best and feel their best while doing it. One patient came to Nichols because he couldn’t reach his hands above his head without pain shooting down his leg, and after a few months was able to complete the obstacles of a Spartan Race and finished pain-free. Another was an experienced marathoner who had hip and pelvis issue that were leading to repeated injuries and had tried other PT approaches; after the Run Ready program, he was able to put in 26 weeks of training and complete his first-ever 100k race, stating he was healthy and strong for the first time in years.

This year, the Run Ready program can also cater to hikers and backpackers as they prepare for hiking season. NW Mobile PT values individual fitness goals and provides wellness tools to stay healthy, active and pain-free. NW Mobile PT has two locations at wellness centers in the Spokane area and can also come to your home with their mobile unit. Visit Nwmobilept.com for more and look for one of two free Run Ready workshops on March 19 or 26. (Lisa Laughlin)

along technical single-track and logging roads. Hosted by Palouse Road Runners in Moscow, Idaho.

WILD MOOSE CHASE TRAIL RUN (OCT. 13) 25k, 10k and 5k trail runs at Riverside State Park hosted by Eastern Washington University’s PT program.

SEKANI TRAIL RUN 10K, 5K AND 1K KIDS’ RUN (OCT. 20): Adventure run/hike/walk on trails at Camp Sekani Park in Spokane; this annual fall trail run is a fundraiser for Franklin Elementary School’s A.P.P.L.E. program.

FALL FLASH 10K RACE, 5K FUN RUN, 1K KIDS’ RUN (NOV. 2): 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.

ROAD CYCLING

BIKE EVERYWHERE CHALLENGE (MAY; TBA): Events and activities typically include a Bloomsday bike corral, a pancake breakfast in Riverfront Park, and energizer stations for morning commuters. Organized by the Spokane Bicycle Club. Spokanebicycleclub.org.

LILAC CENTURY & GRAVEL FLAMDANGLE (MAY 19): A variety of road ride distances: 25k, 50k, 66k and 100 miles, plus the 32-mile Lilac Gravel Flamdangle. Organized by Spokane Aurora Northwest Rotary Club. Races start at Big Barn Brewing in Green Bluff.

CHAFE 150 (JUNE 15): 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, 80, 55, 40 or 25 miles, and a family fun ride. The addition of a 75-mile gravel route is also the second event in the Idaho Panhandle Gravel Series. Organized by

Sandpoint Rotary; proceeds support a literacy program benefitting Pend Oreille School District students.

SPOKANE SUMMER PARKWAYS (JUNE 18): A four-mile route for bikes, pedestrians, skaters, and other human-powered transportation in the South Hill Manito/Comstock neighborhoods. Family-friendly event with fun, snacks and entertainment along the way.

CYCLE CHELAN (JUNE 22): There’s a route for every rider with four options of varying difficulty, including the Metric Century Challenge (100 km, with 4,000 feet of elevation gain), Lake Loop (45 miles), Cycle di Vino (30 miles), or the Butte Blast (38 miles of gravel/pavement). E-bikes welcome. Presented by Lake Chelan Rotary Club.

8 LAKES LEG ACHES (TBA): Choose between 15-, 30-, 45-, and 75-mile routes that enjoy the scenery of west Spokane, Cheney and Medical Lake, with the longest route touring around all eight lakes. Proceeds benefit Spokane-based Lutheran Community Services Northwest.

TOUR DE WHATCOM (JULY 20): Ride distance options include Century (100 miles), Metric Century (62 miles), 44 miles, or 22 miles. Scenic course, with start/finish in downtown Bellingham, Wash.

SPOKANE VALLEY CYCLE CELEBRATION (JULY 28): Organized by Valleyfest, ride options include a 10-mile “Family-Friendly” loop, 25-mile “Adventure Ride,” and the 50-mile “Hills Around the Valley.”

RIM RIDE (SEPT. 7-8): “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.

WACANID SELKIRK LOOP RIDE (SEPT. 9-14): A six-day ride over 395 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.

MT. BAKER HILL CLIMB (SEPT. 15) : 22 miles, with 4,462 feet of elevation climb, along Mt. Baker Highway, one of the most scenic paved roads in the country. There are three divisions—social, recreational and competitive.

$10,000

CDA FONDO (TBA): This race along Lake Coeur d’Alene offers multiple distance options including Gran Fondo (116 miles), Medio Fondo (86 miles), Centro Fondo (47 miles), Piccolo Fondo (36 miles), and Family Fondo (14 miles), as well as e-bike options.

KOOTENAI RIVER RIDE (TBA): Pedal along the Kootenai River and through the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge and experience some of North Idaho’s most scenic countryside on a 16k, 60k or 100k ride.

MOUNTAIN BIKING/GRAVEL RIDES

ECHO RED TO RED XC MTB RACE (MARCH 16): Cross-country mountain bike race begins in the historic town of Echo, Oregon, with most of it on trails at Echo West Ranch & Vineyard.

HILLY NILLY GRAVEL SERIES (3RD SUNDAYS, MARCH 17-JUNE 16): Self-supported free group rides each 3rd Sunday in the months of March, April, May, and June. Course and starting point out of the Coeur d’Alene area posted a week ahead at Facebook (dates subject to change).

GRAN FONDO RACES—CENTRAL WASHINGTON (APRIL AND MAY): Gran Fondo Ephrata (April 7) and Gran Fondo Leavenworth (May 19). Organized by Rideviciouscycle.com.

WASHINGTON STUDENT CYCLING LEAGUE—SPRING LEAGUE (SPRING): Co-ed mountain biking development program and spring race series for riders in grades 6-12, beginners through advanced, organized by the nonprofit Washington Student Cycling League. School-based and composite teams, with high school and middle divisions. Individuals

Burning Man Meets Bike Fair at 24 Hours of Riverside

By Ammi Midstokke

NOTHING WELCOMES IN the cycling season like riding your bike for 24 hours in an event that is something like Burning Man meets Bike Fair (replacing the illicit drugs of the former with the electrolyte mixtures of the latter). For the long Memorial Weekend, Riverside State Park turns into a veritable village of cyclists and their support crews, pop-up pavilions, bells and whistles, hoots and hollers, and hopefully a few taco trucks, as participants pedal their way around a 15-ish-mile lap from noon to noon.

While many ride in teams, there are those courageous souls who solo this ride, and those who ride fat bikes and fixies and every other category of insanity available (though I don’t believe I’ve seen a unicycle out there yet).

The course is a mix of single track and gravel path with a few small rock gardens to keep one spry in the wee hours of the

morning. It’s a ridable, fast loop that passes by the camp twice (convenient for motivational bystanders and pitstops), winds through the beautiful floral spring forests of Riverside, and skirts the edge of the river. In other words: It never gets dull, even if one wishes their pain would. This event feels more like a weekend of riding with friends old and new than a bike race. Family teams are known to be eating pancakes on a sofa on Sunday morning while they wait for their rider to come in. Riding comrades are high-fiving each other as they roll through camp, a burrito in their other fist. And inevitably, someone will have some techno music and coffee available at 3 a.m. for the weary. Which is where you’ll find me, with a vat of vaseline mixed with lidocaine, before hopping back on the bike for another grinning lap. Visit 24hoursofriverside.com to register and learn more.

can also participate and compete as an independent rider. Volunteer coaches are encouraged to start new teams.

HUB-A-PALOOZA (APRIL 5-7): A three-day mountain bike festival with downhill and enduro races at Beacon Hill/Camp Sekani in Spokane, hosted by Velo Northwest.

EVERGREEN EAST—CLASSES & CLINICS (APRIL-OCT.): Mountain Bike Foundations classes start in April, with sessions offered both weekends and weeknights. Options include beginner, intermediate, freeride, technical descending, jumps classes, women-only classes, and private lessons. Classes are located at Camp Sekani unless otherwise noted. Scholarships available.

WEDNESDAY MTB RACE SERIES AT RIVERSIDE STATE PARK (MAY 1-JUNE 26): For nine consecutive Wednesday evenings, this popular annual event features a different race course each week. Free entry for age 18 and younger.

3/4 MINUS CYKELTUR (MAY 4): The ¾ Minus Cykeltur is a gravel gran fondo: a 52-mile route on asphalt and gravel roads and a 75-mile route on asphalt, gravel and some dirt singletrack trail. Followed by a party and award ceremony at Matchwood Brewing with food, drink and live music. This is the first stage of the Idaho Panhandle Gravel Series.

IDAHO INTERSCHOLASTIC CYCLING LEAGUE (MAY-OCTOBER): Race series for youth in grades 6-12.

THE LILAC GRAVEL FLAMDANGLE & LILAC CENTURY (MAY 19): A 32-mile gravel ride, with half the course on unpaved/gravel surfaces. Start and Finish at Green Bluff’s Big Barn Brewery. Part of the Lilac Century.

24 HOURS OF RIVERSIDE (MAY 25-26): Popular Memorial Day weekend 24-hour MTB team relay at Riverside State Park with racing and camping. Can also compete as a solo rider. Race is Saturday to Sunday, with a kids’ bike parade Saturday evening.

MT. SPOKANE YOUTH CAMPS & PROGRAMS (SUMMER; DATES TBA): Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park will again host summer mountain biking day camps for all levels, from beginner to advanced. These four-day camps run Monday-Thursday.

EVERGREEN EAST—YOUTH CAMPS (JUNE-JULY): Evergreen East hosts five-day Dirt Camps for Youth (ages 8-13) at Beacon Hill in Spokane, Wash. Options include co-ed beginner camps, intermediate camps, an all-girls camp, and an advanced skills camp. Scholarships available, as well as bikes and helmets for kids who do not have them.

SPOKATOPIA MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL

Join Us on the River.

Spring Calendar of Events

Apr 20 Earth Day River Clean Up

Apr 25 10th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival

June 8 Expo River Clean Up, details to come

Nov 7 Spoken River 2024, details to come

New Climb for the Cure Gravel and MTB Race/Ride

By Bradley Bleck

WENDY RAMSEY WAS A FIGHTER, battling chronic lymphocytic leukemia for 18 years before being struck down by Richter Syndrome, where CLL becomes a typically fatal lymphoma. Part of her fight involved raising awareness and submitting herself to experimental treatments to spare others a similar fate. Wendy’s fight continues with Climb for the Cure’s inaugural ride and race up Mount Spokane on June 15.

As Wendy’s husband Duane puts it, “We found a real need for a formal gravel bike race in the Pacific Northwest, and we are motivated to fundraise for blood cancer research, so we are putting the two together.”

Starting at East Valley High School in Spokane Valley, Climb for the Cure participants will race or ride to the top of Mount Spokane on a mix of paved and gravel roads. The route covers 29 miles with 5,500 feet of climbing. Despite it not being for the faint of heart, leg or lung, organizer Duane Ramsey emphasizes that everyone is welcome, that Climb for the Cure is as much a ride, albeit challenging, as it is a race. Any style of bike is allowed as long as it is not motorized.

The event is a hill-climb time trial with a rolling start. Riders start between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. and chip timing will track elapsed times. From the high school, it’s every rider for themselves as they power their way along Bigelow Gulch Road through Green Bluff to North Day Mount Spokane Road and the Kit Carson Trail before hitting the peak on North Summit Road. Although there will be aid stations and mobile support patrolling the course,

every rider should be ready to handle minor mechanicals and to keep themselves hydrated and fueled. For a safer event, state park officials will close North Summit Road to auto traffic.

What’s a gravel race without an afterparty? Participants will regroup at the Selkirk Lodge for the afterparty—think friendship, food and drink—and the awards ceremony. Free shuttle service will be available to take riders back to East Valley. Riders may also ride back or arrange their own transportation. And as if doing good by supporting cancer research isn’t enough, prizes will total $10,000. There will be $500 for first in each category, $300 for second, and $200 for third place. The fastest male and female rider will each take home another $500. There are six categories, three each for male and female riders: 16 to 40 years, 41 to 60, and 61 on up.

One purpose of the event is to have fun while highlighting the great gravel riding in the Spokane area. Perhaps more important is the proceeds will support research for treatment of lesser-known blood cancers. “Many diseases attack such a small number of people that research funds are harder to come by,” says Duane. The Wendy Foundation and the Climb for the Cure aim to support research on these diseases by providing funds to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Because the focus is on supporting cancer research, one Climb for the Cure goal is for sponsorships to cover event expenses so all entry fees go directly to Dana-Farber in support of their research mission.

More information can be found at climbforthecure.org.

SUE LAUER MAKES THE TURN ONTO KIT CARSON. // PHOTO BY BRADLEY BLECK

SPOKATOPIA MTB FESTIVAL (JUNE 14-15): New dates for Spokatopia 2024 that include a new Friday evening xc mountain bike race to the top of Beacon Hill and a family-friendly Saturday poker ride with prizes. This annual celebration of mountain biking includes bike demos, uphill shuttles, clinics, live music and brews, kids’ camps, a bike jump show and more!

CLIMB FOR THE CURE (JUNE 15): A new Spokane gravel and mountain bike race that starts at East Valley High School and ends at the top of Mount Spokane, a 29.5-mile ride with an ascent of 5,450 ft. This first-year event is designed to raise awareness and money for the work being conducted by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

NORTH AMERICAN ENDURO CUP (JUNE 15-16): Silver Mountain Bike Park in Kellogg, Idaho, hosts one of the North American races that qualifies for the Enduro World Series. Many race categories and levels of difficulty; no beginner category.

MONARCH GRIND (JUNE 29): This gravel gran fondo starts and ends just outside of Clark Fork, Idaho, and loops behind the green Monarch Mountains, iconic peaks overlooking Lake Pend Oreille. This 70-mile ride has a lot of climbing and elevation changes on forest service roads. This is part of the Idaho Panhandle Gravel Series.

THE LAST BEST RIDE (JULY 28): Ride the gravel backroads of Whitefish, Mont., with challenging terrain and stunning views on a short or long course, TBA.

NORTHWEST CUP (AUG. 2-4) Silver Mountain Bike Park hosts one of the stops for this seven-race series across the Northwest.

SMOKE ‘N’ FIRE 400 (SEPT. 4): 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. No registration fee.

SILVERROXX MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL (TBA): Hosted by Silver Mountain Resort, this festival includes group downhill and super-d races, plus kids’ events.

THE NIGHT SHIFT CYCLOCROSS RACE SERIES (TBA): Wednesday night cyclocross race series in Riverside State Park typically held in September.

THE LEADMAN AT SILVER MOUNTAIN

SILVER SPONSORS:

THE BIG HORN SHOW

TRIATHLON/WATERSPORTS/MULTISPORTS

LEADMAN TRIATHLON (APRIL 20): Organized by Kellogg Rotary Club and based at Silver Mountain Resort, this adventure course event for solo or team competitors begins on Kellogg Peak and includes skiing/snowboarding, mountain biking and running.

SKI TO SEA (MAY 26): A multi-sport relay adventure race with teams of 3-8 people. Starts at Mt. Baker Ski Area and finishes in Bellingham Bay. Legs include: cross-country ski, downhill ski/snowboard, running, road bike, canoe, cyclocross bike and sea kayak.

MEDICAL LAKE TRAILBLAZER TRI/DU/5K (JUNE 15): Sprint distance triathlon with 350meter swim, 12.2-mile bike, and 2.9-mile run; Duathlon with 1-mile run, 12.2-mile bike, and 2.9-mile run; and 5k Fun Run. Teams welcome. Starts from Coney Island Park in Medical Lake, Wash.

IRONMAN 70.3 COEUR D’ALENE (JUNE 23): Half Ironman race based at City Park in downtown Coeur d’Alene includes 1.2-mile lake swim, 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run.

HAYDEN SPRINT TRIATHLON (JULY 13): Swim, run and bike solo in this sprint triathlon, or register with a team of two or three to compete in the relay.

LONG BRIDGE SWIM (AUG. 3): A 1.76-mile swim race across Lake Pend Oreille, aside the Sandpoint, Idaho, iconic Long Bridge.

PORPA SPRINTS (AUG. 3): A day of non-motorized watercraft fun with races for all ages and abilities at the Priest River Recreation Area (Mudhole) in Priest, River, ID.

POST FALLS SPRINT TRIATHLON/DUATHLON (AUG. 4): 0.5k swim, 19k bike, and 5k run in Post Falls, Idaho.

COEUR D’ALENE TRIATHLON (AUG. 10): Three registration options for this Coeur d’Alene event: Olympic triathlon (swim 1.5k, bike 40k, run 10k), scenic sprint triathlon (swim 0.5k, bike 20k, run 5k), or duathlon (run 5k, bike 40k, run 10k).

TRI-TOWN FLOAT DOWN POKER PADDLE (TBA): Paddle the Pend Oreille River from the town of Ione to Metaline Falls, Wash. Event tentative; check Facebook for details.

SWIM THE SNAKE (TBA): 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.

PRIEST LAKE TRIATHLON (AUG. 24): Choose between a sprint off-road triathlon or the sprint road bike course. Compete individually or as a team; start/finish near Hill’s Resort.

JEN MCKENNA PADDLE AND RUN (SEPT. 7): Kayak 1.6 miles (start at Higgens Point),

then run 4 miles along the Centennial Trail in this Coeur d’Alene Event that honors Jen McKenna, who died of complications from cystic fibrosis. Proceeds from the event will be donated to All Heart Infusion of Spokane and Coeur d’Alene and to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association.

DIAMOND TRI YOUR BEST TRIATHLON (SEPT. 7): Event aims to inspire young people to be more physically active. Takes place at the Cowles Scout Reservation in Diamond Lake, Wash. SuperSprint, ages 11+, includes a 200-yard swim, 6-mile bike, and 1.5-mile trail run. Sprint Tri, ages 18+, is a 400-yard swim, 12-mile bike, and 3-mile trail run. New for 2024: Olympic Tri, ages 18+: 1,600-yard swim, 23-mile bike, 6-mile trail run. Proceeds benefit Inland Northwest Council, Boy Scouts of America.

HI 5K CHARITY RUN, 5K AND WHEELCHAIR 5K (SEPT. 9): Course starts at Gonzaga, goes through Riverfront Park, and ends back at Gonzaga. Donations support ParaSport Spokane, providing training, recreational, and competitive opportunities for youth and adults with physical disabilities.

VALLEYFEST 5K/10K RUN, DUATHLON & TRIATHLON (SEPT. 22): 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 the Spokane River, bike 11 miles, run 3 miles. Individual and 2-3 person teams allowed for du and tri events. The 5k and 10k runs are Bloomsday second seed qualifiers.

OUTDOORSY EVENTS

BIG HORN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE SHOW (MARCH 14-17): 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.

SPOKANE BIKE SWAP (APRIL 20): 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.

WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL (APRIL 25): The 10th annual festival of films that celebrate the natural world and those who protect it at Spokane’s Garland Theater is a fundraiser for Spokane Riverkeeper.

TOP PIN ARCHERY (JULY 13-14): Family-friendly archery competition on the backside of Silver Mountain in Kellogg, Idaho.

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

SPOKANE BIKE SWAP

The Inaugural Monarch Grind Re-Cap

By Sammy Berryman

IN TOTAL, THE MONARCH GRIND is a 70-mile race that starts at 2,000 ft. of elevation in the town of Clark Fork, Idaho. It is the final event of a three-part race series held in North Idaho and the brainchild of Charles Mortensen, the owner of Sandpoint’s Syringa Cyclery. Riders make their way through the small town, across the royal blue river; past lush, sunlit fields; and climb 5,167 ft. into the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.

While averaging 300+ watts up the easier of the two climbs that make up the event, the realization of what you have really gotten into hits. The event is sadistic. Pure torment. Questionably not gravel. And, yet—it’s one of the most stunning courses out there. What follows is my first-hand account from taking part in the inaugural 2023 Monarch Grind. As someone who considers themselves adventurous, fit, and doesn’t mind sitting in the pain cave, this race was everything I wanted and nothing I expected.

As soon as the gun went off, it felt like we were in our own, intimate Tour de France. Pend Oreille Pedalers volunteers Tyler Kee and Steve Sanchez led us out on their motorbikes for three fast, flat miles on gravel. A peloton of 10-12 riders formed as we made our way to the bottom of the first climb averaging 20 mph for the first 10 miles.

All hell broke loose as we approached the first climb. A pack of five to six men broke away up the suffer fest of a hill that lasted eight miles and averaged a 7.2% grade. No surprise here, my 1x11 BMC aluminum bike maxed out on a section graded at 10% and I found myself walking until it was back to a reasonable 7% grade. (Prior to this, I wouldn’t have deemed 7% reasonable.)

Like a mirage in the distance, our first aid station appeared at the top the climb. It was packed with cookies, bananas, mandarins, chips, Asian pears, water, mini bottles of Coke, and happy volunteers. My dad, Mike Berryman, and I reached the aid station side by side and were greeted by my husband and our golden retriever, Dudley.

After topping off our water bottles, we began the first decent back down to 2,100 ft. The relief that came with descending was short-lived. The next 45 minutes required one to ride like a mountain biker in power position: out of the saddle, bent arms, and bowed legs. Realizing I had given up too much time at the aid station, my tactic was to grip it and rip it. (I was later called a descending maniac by my Strava idol, Beth Stoner, who was also racing.)

Waiting at the bottom was a short, flat section of gravel lined with gorgeous forestry that provided shade as the morning began to heat up. By this time, I had dropped my dad and a few other riders at the top, in large part thanks to all of the mountain biking I’d done over the summer. Two women caught me as we began the second major climb of the day. The biggie-uppie, as I like to call it. They were on mountain bikes and had a few more gears available, which I was longing for. My Garmin GPS alerted that there were a couple of 13-15% climbs coming up. Surely, it was mistaken, I thought.

Over the next two hours, Valerie, Charlene and I hopscotched our way past one and another up the biggie-uppie. Some small chat was had and I got off of my bike countless times to push while eating a peanut butter and honey sandwich and laughing at the thought that this was turning into a duathlon. Valerie

made an impressive push to the top and wasn’t seen again until the finish line. Taking her place was Galen, who had just signed up for the race the week prior thanks to a link his brother had flicked him. Our new threesome stayed within eyesight of each other until finally reaching the top of the climb—a false top, as we quickly found out.

For the next hour, Charlene and I took turns leading as we pulled away from Galen and navigated the rocky cobbles of the false flat. Sandy sections became a relief to the build up of pressure I began feeling in my hands, arms and shoulders. We reached a peak elevation of 5,167 ft. and began an undulating decent past the same aid station we stopped at on the way up.

Once again, I got into power position and somehow dropped Charlene. Assuming she stopped at the aid station, it was apparent that, soon enough, she would whizz by on her glorious suspension as we made our way back down to 2,000 ft.—and she did.

The palms of my hands were screaming at each washy section of gravel. It got so bad that I began making noises like a 5-year-old who wasn’t getting their way. I found myself talking out loud switching between “Nooo no no no” to “You’re okay, you can do this” while gyrating down the hill.

The hopscotch continued for the next 40 minutes when Charlene made a blazing pass toward the bottom of the decent that said “I’m going to beat you.” I was gutted, but knew that we were finishing the same way we started—fast, smooth and flat. My gravel bike was much better suited to this, so all I had to do was make sure the fuel tank had some energy left to make it.

When signing up for this race, I told myself that finishing would be a success. This was the first bike race I’d ever done, and I was doing it for fun, right? But now, there was a chance to place second. I popped my one and only Maurten caffeine gel and slurped down some water while glancing at the herd of cows on my right and peeking across the shimmering blue water to the finish line on the left. Narrowing in on Charlene, an animalistic instinct came over me—it was time to strike. Switching into a big gear, I lunged out of the saddle as my bike braided the ground beneath me. For the next 35 minutes, every pedal stroke counted.

Emotion crept up from the pit of my stomach into my throat while blazing through town on smooth tarmac before taking a righthand turn onto the final miles of gravel. Somehow, I was about to finish this insanely tough mental and physical feat. This was the feeling I was looking for. This is the reason we enter into races and take on challenges we’re unsure of—it’s the best feeling in the world. It’s what keeps us coming back time and time again.

A huge, grimy, sweat-encrusted grin engulfed my face as I crossed the finish line as second female overall. Holy shit. I had done it. After a cold beer and jump in the pond, I made the decision that I would do the race again next year. Only, this time, on a bike that had some suspension and another gear or two.

2024 will be the second year the Monarch Gravel Grind takes place on Sept. 16 as part of the Idaho Panhandle Gravel Series. Other events include the 3/4 Minus Cykeltur (May 4) and Chafe 150 (June 15). If you’re interested in learning more or want to sign up for the event, you can do so at SyringaCyclery.com. //

Sammy Berryman is a sport obsessed Portland, Ore. native who recently found solitude in Sandpoint. You can find her perched upon her pedestal educating those about media coverage, equity, and accessibility for women in alternative sport. She created the website Yeahthegals.com to inspire confidence in women in outdoor recreation.

TOP: BENY AMBAUEN, SAMMY BERRYMAN, AND MIKE BERRYMAN STOPPING FOR A QUICK BITE OF FOOD AT THE AID STATION.

ABOVE: ANDREW KEE, AGE 70, MIDWAY THROUGH THE MONARCH GRAVEL GRIND

BELOW: STUNNING VIEWS OVERLOOKING LAKE PEND OREILLE FROM THE RACE COURSE

PHOTOS: SAMMY BERRYMAN

SQUAMISH, B.C.

A Tale of Ecotourism, Indigenous Heritage and Natural Wonder

BY ALANA LIVINGSTON

Tucked halfway between Vancouver, British Columbia, and the world-renowned Whistler lies a little piece of heaven called Squamish. This coastal town, situated at the northern tip of the Howe Sound Fjord, not only embodies the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest but boasts a strong commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable adventure.

Squamish, a 7-8 hour drive from the Spokane area, is often referred to as the "outdoor recreation capital of Canada" and has become a prime destination where nature's grandeur, exhilarating outdoor activities, and a dedicated preservation of unique ecosystems harmoniously converge. The indigenous name for Squamish is Skwxwú7mesh, meaning "Mother of Wind" and "people of sacred water."

This name is quite fitting, considering the impressive array of water-based recreation available. From kayaking, rafting, paddling, and boating to scuba diving, Squamish offers an outstanding experience for water enthusiasts. What sets Squamish apart, though, is its consistent wind patterns, making it a top destination for kiteboarding, wing foiling, and sailing. Off the water, Squamish is home to world-class trails for hiking and biking, rock climbing, a healthy wildlife population, and offers opportunity for extreme sports like base jumping and high lining. When you arrive, the challenge lies in choosing which activities to take part in.

Squamish has a rich tapestry of ecological wonders that lend to its important stance in ecotourism. My recent trip to Squamish allowed me to experience the area in a multitude of ways, gaining a better understanding of the past, present and future culture of this area. Engaging in activities from air, land and water offered a full spectrum of education and absolute immersion into this wonderful place. For the first time in my life, when my trip had come to an end, I found myself not ready to leave, and already planning my return before I even left the airport.

Throughout my visit, one thing became abundantly clear: the people of Squamish are deeply connected to the outdoor activities that have made this town famous. It's a place where a vibrant energy permeates every corner, where everyone I encountered seemed to have a story about how they moved to Squamish in pursuit of the outdoor lifestyle it offers. Here are a few of the excellent opportunities you can pursue on your own trip to Squamish.

RIDE WITH A THRIVING MOUNTAIN BIKING COMMUNITY

Squamish is a premier destination for mountain bikers, with hundreds of miles of singletrack to satisfy every skill level. It offers everything from hair-raising downhill descents to gentle cruises along the water’s edge. The advent of e-bikes has further expanded the possi-

bilities for athletes and tourists here. Blazing Saddles Adventure, a company co-owned by the "godfather of freeride mountain biking films," Christian Begin, offers high-quality e-bikes that allow riders to experience multiple ecosystems in one afternoon.

On my trip last September, I rented an e-bike and headed out on a tour with Blazing Saddles. We started our ride in the city and within moments we were surrounded by lush plant life and the sounds of a babbling creek. During my ride, I was fortunate to witness the salmon spawning, a beautiful phenomenon that our guide and coowner, Brent, shared with us. He also provided insight on the local indigenous culture, native plants, historical uses and wildlife practices, offering a full engagement with our surroundings. Witnessing a mama black bear and three cubs swimming across the river added to the sense of importance in protecting the area’s wild character. In just a few hours, I was able to experience trails surrounded by glorious mountains, abundant rainforest and the vast expanse of the estuary. In addition to offering fun and educational tours, Blazing Saddles Adventure is committed to wildlife habitat preservation.

EXPLORE ON A STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD

Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) provides an opportunity to explore the waterways throughout Squamish, whether in the network of rivers that run through the surrounding mountains or along the coastline of Howe Sound. This unique vantage point offers a different mindset on the landscape and its commanding presence.

My SUP tour with Norman Hann Expeditions provided me so much more than I expected. Hann, somewhat of a local legend, had moved to the area (like many) motivated by the outdoors and became deeply rooted in the place. His passion for the heritage, environment and the preservation of the area lead to his business, creating film documentaries and an overall revolutionary movement for education, awareness and conservation through SUP.

Our tour was led by Eduardo, a guide who also shares a deep connection with the environment and the First Nations Community. Eduardo speaks passionately in their efforts to include the First Nations Community into their SUP experiences and build awareness surrounding all that Squamish stands for and provides. Paddling from a channel on the edge of town towards Howe Sound, we saw salmon making their journey from the sound to spawning grounds and back, along with river otters, seals and bald eagles. Eduardo also highlighted the challenges marine life has faced due to toxins from the nearby Britannia Mine. The ongoing cleanup efforts have led to the return of many sea creatures to the area, fostering a deeper appreciation for the land, the water and the abundant life it supports.

CONTINUE YOUR ADVENTURE ALONG THE BC ALE TRAIL

Boasting an impressive list of 21 self-guided ale adventures throughout British Columbia, the BC Ale Trail also includes craft community partners (ciders and distilleries), tours, attractions and accommodations. Be sure to check out some of the Squamish offerings and don’t forget to download the app for info and awards!

HOWE SOUND BREWING CO: The pioneer brewery of Squamish and Historic Hotel. Howe Sound is the ideal home base for your adventure, surrounded by views of the infamous Stawamus Chief Mountain, with a large, rustic brewpub that is family- and dog-friendly with delicious food and brews.

A-FRAME BREWING: The owners of this brewery were inspired by many memories and experiences shared with loved ones on the lake and in their family cabin. This inclusive and welcoming brewery offers fantastic low-alcohol (and regular brews) that leave you with plenty of energy left for the day’s adventures.

BACKCOUNTRY BREWING: Amazing food, fantastic beer and an ambience you’ll never want to leave. Not to mention some of the most hilarious beer names and labels you’ve ever seen.

RAINCITY DISTILLERY: Traditional artisanal methods used to produce unique spirits with influences from Europe and Asia. Enjoy beautifully crafted cocktails alongside equally delicious dumplings.

CLIFFSIDE CIDER: Take in a great view of “The Chief” on the patio while partaking in freshly made cider, each with very unique blends and flavors. (Alana Livingston)

TOP LEFT OPPOSITE PAGE: ATOP THE SEA TO SKY GONDOLA RIDE FROM THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE LOOKING AT THE SKY PILOT EATERY. // ABOVE: SUP TOUR WITH NORMAN HANN EXPEDITIONS AT THE MOUTH OF THE HOWE SOUND OFTEN

REFERRED TO AS THE "WHITE WALL" // PHOTOS: ALANA LIVINGSTON

TOP RIGHT: A-FRAME BREWING CO IN SQUAMISH. PHOTO: BC ALE TRAIL

LEFT: AMAZING FOOD AND BREWS FROM BACKCOUNTRY BREWERY// PHOTO: ALANA LIVINGSTON

CHOOSE YOUR OWN HIKING ADVENTURE

Squamish boasts an abundance of hiking trails, with options accessible from various points in and around town. Whether it's the Smoke Bluff Loop or the Estuary Trail near downtown or the challenging ascent of Stawamus Chief Mountain, there are hikes for all skill levels. "The Chief" offers breathtaking views and a cardiovascular workout with several staircases and steep inclines. Hikers can spend the day exploring the three separate peaks of The Chief or a few hours to hike one peak. Be warned, in addition to several steep stairs to climb, hikers will become more like climbers at several points as you near the peaks. There are even routes that offer “via ferrata” options. Via Ferrata refers to steel cables or rungs that mountain climbers secure lines to limit any falls. Whether you choose to use the alternative thrill-seeking routes, you will need to climb at some point to take in the views.

Another popular option is the Sea to Summit Trail, providing opportunities to explore the

summit of Mount Habrich with hikes that include waterfalls, creeks and a suspension bridge. The Summit is home to the Sea to Sky Gondola, the highest accessible viewpoint of the Howe Sound. The Summit also provides a place to eat, drink and take in the surroundings from wrap-around patios and several viewing platforms. It is worth mentioning you can hike up the summit trail and ride the gondola down for $20 (price can vary) if you’re short on time or just too tired to continue.

A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW: AERIAL TOUR S

Aerial tours provide a unique perspective, showcasing the vastness and interconnectedness of the natural surroundings. My fortunate experience with Sea to Sky Air allowed me to grasp the fragility of the region. From a Cessna plane, I could see the spectrum of ecosystems sprawled below me, where lush coastal rainforests meet pristine fjords reflecting

towering mountain ranges, valleys, and glaciers that remain rugged and isolated. The only footsteps present there belong to wildlife and some daring voyagers.

As I gazed out of the plane's window, I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of respon sibility to protect this incredible landscape. It was a reminder that the natural world we were exploring is delicate, and our interactions with it needed to be respectful and sustainable. This sentiment is not only shared by the residents of Squamish, but by the numerous adventure companies that call this place home, making it a great ecotourism destination.

Squamish encapsulates the marriage of adventure, respect for indigenous heritage, and the sacred duty to protect an unparalleled natural playground. It serves as a reminder that our explorations should be conducted with thoughtfulness for the environment, the local culture and economy, and the future adventurers who will follow in our footsteps.

As my time in Squamish came to an end, I realized the heartfelt impact this town and its people had on me. It's a place where the call of the wild is answered with open arms and where the commitment to preserve the environment is a shared responsibility. Squamish is a testament to the balance of humanity and nature. I can’t wait to return. //

Alana is forever changed after visiting Squamish and plans to return as often as possible, trying all the hiking, biking and water adventures it offers.

FAR LEFT: COURTESY OF BC ALE TRAIL MIDDLE: VIEW FROM THE CESSNA PLANE ON THE SEA TO SKY AIR TOUR

THIS PHOTO: THE AUTHOR WITH THE PILOT FROM SEA TO SKY AIR

The by nigel davies

Geology ofOur Adventures

WE CELEBRATE FINISH LINES , savoring those recovery walks over the Monroe Street Bridge every first Sunday of May after our city’s most iconic race. We joyfully refill water bottles on July 4th at the summit bathrooms on top of Mount Spokane. In those endorphin-rich moments, we tend to be wrapped up in our own experience, but twist the lens a bit and a deeper sort of grandeur comes thundering into view, from time immemorial right into the middle of your day.

Those Bloomsday runners slow-walking across the bridge? They’re suspended on cement and aggregate overlooking the Spokane River as it cascades over Miocene basalt flows. The cyclists on top of our hometown mountain? They’re all firmly planted on the Cretaceous granite roof of Spokane. Finish lines make nice caps for adventures.

the Latah fault in Hangman Valley to the hanging wall of the West Plains. Activities in the Inland Northwest invariably get geotwisted into unintended vertical.

BORING BASALT? LOOK AGAIN

Finding the top and bottom of a basalt flow is the first challenge. Start by looking at a local cliff face cut either by flood waters or human activity, and find a wavy horizontal freehand drawing running through the earth. You’re looking at a cross-section of ancient lumpy lava flows. Around 16 million years ago, long linear cracks in the Earth’s surface (North-Northwest oriented fissures) intermittently spewed lava, stacking layer after layer of lumpy basalt flows and filling the Columbia Basin up to 1,500 meters deep. The basalt that rests between these many old flows was crum-

milkshake with crunchy pillow cookies. Thousand-year pauses between lava flows from the aforementioned North-Northwest fissures allowed basalt hummocks and lumps to fill with water and sediment. But subsequent lava flows stirred the pot, baking pond-side vegetation in a process called charcoalization (figure 2). Upon hitting the water, lava cooled rapidly into irregular bulbous rounds surrounded by tan-colored steam-churned sediment (called hyaloclastite), and commonly contained obsidian. Called “pillows,” these rounds have cooling rinds and cracked exteriors. A short hike down Deep Creek Canyon in Riverside State Park (figure 3) provides an excellent opportunity to discover countless pillows and 25-meter thick Latah exposure, as well as a premier climbing spot for those upwardly inclined. Along one of my favor-

ite road bike rides, the 70-mile Rock Lake Loop south from Cheney, an eye-catching delta front of pillows can be found just west of Malden (figure 4).

WHAT MAKES ONE TRAIL SO DIFFERENT FROM ANOTHER

Hosting the Silver Valley, the Belt Supergroup is a big geologic deal in the Inland Northwest. It’s one of the best exposed examples of Mesoproterozoic rocks (1.5 billion-years-old) on the planet. The belt, made up largely of lightly baked (metamorphosed) fine-grained sedimentary rocks, often presents itself in massive exposed strata—see Glacier National Park. The belt is huge, covering 200,000 square kilometers across Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and some parts of Washington. The

continued on page 52

However, I encourage you to slow down enroute and think of the materials your tires over-lap, your heel strikes happen upon, and your eyes distractedly wander toward. The course of a day out is quite literally dictated by geology.

OUR VERTICAL TOPOGRAPHY

The landscapes of the Inland Northwest have been rather dramatically sculpted. Want flat adventures? Take a trip to Florida. While it’s possible to “hammer the flats” locally, some topographic impediment always punctuates Spokane activities. Take, for example, Bloomsday’s one-kilometer Doomsday Hill. Lifting famously from the otherwise level course, this 5% incline and 50-meter vertical rise, flanked by soft sand and gravel, is the stretch that will zap your legs on the Lilac City’s 12k spring jaunt. Or consider a pedal up Spokane’s White Road, where 17% ramps painfully deliver you from the downthrown side of

bly, weathered, broken and pitted full of trapped gas pockets. Incidentally, these intra-flow openings store aquifer waters, so say, “Thank you, basalt” next time you fill bottles anywhere in the Columbia Plateau Aquifer System.

Columnar basalt jointing is the favorite texture of Inland Northwest landscape architects (see every welcome sign in Spokane). The mostly hexagonal cooling cracks occur in the centers of basalt flows. Water content and cooling rate dictate the size and scope of these cracks in a process similar to drying and cracking lake muds. East of the airport, the basalt flows have some of the best exposures regardless of DOT drilling and blasting (figure 1). A scenic option is Towel Falls at Escure Ranch where Rock Creek flows over the hexagons and down the vertical joints.

PILLOWS

OF BASALT

Where lava flows directly into water, get ready for a violently boiled muddy

Geology Resources for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Explore these tools that geologist Nigel Davies suggests to further understand the geology of your adventure while you are out recreating in our region.

• Explore the state’s geology organized by regional “cards,” further organized by geological sites of interest, at WA DNR 100: Wa100.dnr.wa.gov

• Purchase the paperback “Washington Rocks! A guide to geologic sites in the Evergreen State” from Mountain Press, which includes colored photos and instructive diagrams, from your local bookstore.

• Scroll around Rockd/Macrostrat Macrostrat.org, a platform for geological data.

• Read Spokane County geological field studies and reports on Willow Lake Natural Area, the McKenzie Conservation Area, Antoine Peak, and Saltese Uplands Conservation Area under the Research tab at Spokanecounty.org

• Dig deeper at Earth-Science Reviews on Science Direct: O’Conner et al 2020 The Missoula and Bonneville floods—A review of ice-age megafloods in the Columbia River basin 2020 Doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103181

EWU HISTORIAN LARRY CEBULA POINTING TO CHARCOALIZED TREE IN LATAH FORMATION BAKED BY BASALT.

FIGURE 2

PHOTO: NIGEL DAVIES

DEEP CREEK PILLOWS WITH STUDENT FIGURE 3

PHOTO: NIGEL DAVIES

FISH LAKE TRAIL WITH TOPPLED COLUMN FIGURE 2

PHOTO: NIGEL DAVIES

Caribou Ridge trails on the eastern shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene are an adrenalinefilled outing belt. Short sections of double off-camber tilled weathered bedding planes (called dip slopes) cascade riders and hikers alike toward the cliff edge. Stay safe when it rains.

While the belt flattens in places, it is commonly deformed locally (figure 5). The 15-kilometer-thick package of weathered paleo North America has been torqued, twisted, intruded and tectonically deformed for the past 300 million years as Washington assembled. Along exposed sections of alpine ridge tops, it fractures and weathers to slabby, clinky scree fields, known as felsenmeer. Trails through these high-elevation quartzites are often wobbly underfoot (“that one moves”), but they also form paved pathways up to Scotchman Peak (figure 6). The same freeze-thaw cycle that created wobbling metasedimentary slabs generated blockfields that dominate the uppermost exposures of Mount Spokane, where 100-million-year-old granites with giant, blocky, white feldspars lead into trail 140’s and 290’s upper reaches.

The Inland Northwest landscape is tough, like its people. To survive a series of Ice Age mega-floods, you better be robust. Rocky Mountain granites and quartzites stand up to that test. Those tooth-rattling, speedsucking, boulder and cobble fields commonly found at Wednesday Night Mountain Bike Races in Riverside State Park remain constant. The Missoula Flood waters that ripped west into today’s Riverside State Park between 18-14,000 years ago initially widened the basalt cliffs only to subsequently fill in the void with multiple terraces of silt, sand, and resistant boulders as transport capacity diminished. For those who attempt the 50k/25k/10k/5k Spokane River Run in the spring: wishing you strong ankles as you skip atop well-traveled metamorphosed basin and plutonic remnants.

EVER CHANGING TRAILS

When encountering flowing water on a trail, most folks just walk or pedal around it and keep going. It’s unusual to think of the puddles as a way to experience geologic processes. Along the Fish Lake Trail, for example, the Cheney Fracture Zone breaks and fractures those lumpy basalt flows of the Columbia Basin, creating sediment fans that push swollen March streams trailward, wetting riders’ backs with rooster tails less than a mile from its Cheney conclusion. Additional impediments (figure 2) exist where soft Latah crumbles, dropping meters-tall basalt columns onto the trail, again diverting water path-ward and wetting panniers. Take care cornering post-storm, as high energy waters on Dover Road will spill their gravely contents onto Coulee Hite; similarly, Upper Terrace cascades runoff sediment onto Rockwood Blvd. (figure 7)

PLAN YOUR OWN GEOLOGY ADVENTURE

The Inland Northwest is packed with geological wonder. Use all the bikes, shoes, boats, gear and even vehicles to get out and observe unique angles and speeds of passing geology. Check the resources in the sidebar to learn more about unique features of our local landscapes. You’ll be amazed at what is revealed when you exchange your finish line moment for the geology adventure en-route. //

When displaced from teaching geoscience at EWU, Nigel can be found racing road, announcing cyclocross and aiding youth mountain biking while telling stories about rocks to whomever will listen. Upcoming gravel adventures loom large; from the Midnight Century to Rebecca’s Private Idaho, you can find Nigel “training” on dirt climbs or relaxing post ride with a recovery beverage.

FOLDED WALLACE FORMATION JUST EAST OF

WALLACE ON THE TRAIL OF THE COEUR D’ALENE’S

FIGURE 5

PHOTO: NIGEL DAVIES

COARSE GRAVEL RUNOFF MOBILIZED DURING HIGH FLOW FIGURE 7

PHOTO: NIGEL DAVIES

SCOTCHMAN

geology trip & adventure ideas

OUR REGION IS RICH for geologic exploration, but it helps to know what you’re looking at before you go. Plan a hike or road trip by visiting the Ice Age Floods Institute website at Iafi.org. The website’s Ice Age Floods Interactive Map includes photos and short descriptions from numerous sites in the Pacific Northwest so you can explore ice age features with some backstory. Watch the ice age flood educational videos for a rundown of the history of the floods and the evidence left behind today. You can narrow your search on this website by chapters to find an upcoming event local to you. Click on “Places to Go, Things to Do” under the explore tab for recommendations on landmarks, how to get there, and why they’re significant, like the Ginko Petrified Forest State Park.

The National Parks Service also offers a great resource to map your own geology trip with its Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail on its website (Nps.gov), a trove of features running through Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Before you go, make a mix of features you want to hit and stop at physical resources like the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum in Oregon to learn more in person.

For a fun geology adventure challenge, hike, bike, and visit as many of the geologic sites that author Nigel Davies references in his article as you can! (OTO)

MALDEN PILLOW BASALTS ON ROCK LAKE LOOP FIGURE 4

PHOTO: NIGEL DAVIES

LOOKING AT THE VIEW FROM INSIDE LENORE LAKE CAVES // PHOTO COURTESY OF LISA LAUGHLIN

OUT THERE SNOW

SPRING NEWS & UPDATES AT LOCAL RESORTS

KEEPING THE LIFTS SPINNING FOR SPRING

This season progressed with lots of ups and downs, but as of late February Spokane area resorts have kept a surprisingly-solid snowpack given what the weather threw at us. Local mountains worked hard and adapted to make the best of a challenging situation with this season’s lower-thannormal snowpack, and late-season storms could still bring some of the best skiing and riding of the season come March.

Despite the lingering early-season conditions across the region, 49 Degrees North was pleased to never change hours or shut down due to lack of snow, says 49 Degrees North marketing director Sarah Walker. “We kept open and gave folks the option to ski/ board [during] the early conditions,” she says. Several mid-season dumps graced 49 with some great ski days too, and the mountain plans to remain open through March or early April, with a specific closing date TBD.

Even with below average snow totals for the 2023-24 season, Silver Mountain marketing director Gus Colburn says that Mother Nature still “brought some great snowstorms, with multiple days over 12" of fresh powder.” Silver’s planned closing date is April 20. Though limited compared to some other years, “We have plenty of snow for tubers and skiers to get out and make lasting memories on the slopes,” Colburn says.

At Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park, general manager Jim Van Loben Sels says despite needing to pivot some plans this season, his team has done a tremendous

job keeping the mountain open. “We had to get creative with operations,” he says—from hauling snow to keep the learning area open and lift operators shoveling snow to maintain safety on chairlift ramps to modifying multi-week lesson program dates. A fortunate dump of snow just before mid-February helped everything stay open too. Through it all, Van Loben Sels prioritized keeping staff morale high and it shows. Mt. Spokane plans to stay open until April 7.

For Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area— with a base elevation of 4,500’—marketing director Matt Sawyer says, “Despite it being a challenging winter, we’ve received more snow than other mountains in the region. [We’re] currently anticipating over 220” of total snow accumulation this season.” Lookout Pass plans to remain open until April 14.

LOCAL RESORT ROCK STARS

Especially in a challenging year like the 2023/24 season, we owe the employees who keep our favorite local mountains serving up the snowy fun extra recognition. Here are a few of the people who have kept the spirit of winter we love up and running this season.

49 Degrees North: Lift mechanic Joshua Beckley goes above and beyond his regular work duties by taking photos of terrain conditions, from the summit and all over the mountain. “This not only gives folks something pretty to look at, but gives us

all real-time conditions,” says marketing director Sarah Walker.

Lookout Pass: Liftie Lilianna is a standout employee at Lookout. “She’s constant energy—always happy, smiling, greeting people,” says marketing director Matt Sawyer. Sawyer also commends Lookout Pass Ski Patrol, especially because of an amazing life-saving outcome this season for a very serious event. “A guest suffered a heart attack on the slopes while skiing, and our patrol stepped in. They say it’s only a 6-7% chance of survival [for this type of incident], but our patrollers were able to revive the person with an AED and then continue respiration for 40 minutes before being able to transport the skier to a hospital.”

Mt. Spokane: Night manager Stephen Roys, who has been on staff since 2008, knows how to get things done, says general manager Jim Van Loben Sels. “Stephen has lots of energy. He’s great with customers, fully engaged and he loves it out here,” says Van Loben Sels. Roys also does year-round lift maintenance for Mt. Spokane.

Silver Mountain: “An employee who has gone above and beyond this season is the Noah's Canteen new restaurant manager LaNae Hendrickson,” says Gus Colborn, marketing director for Silver. “Not only is she doing a fantastic job at the restaurant and banquets, but she is fully embracing the advantages of working at a ski resort.”

Hendrickson, who was a Silver lift operator last season, says this is only her third year skiing. Colburn commends her for making time to improve her ski skills by hitting the slopes before the restaurant opens and using her days off to ski too. “I have really grown to love the community and sense of belonging that Silver Mountain provides,” she says.

ENJOY THE NEW DAY LODGE AT LOOKOUT PASS

Lookout Pass increased its indoor seating availability by 43% with the late-December opening of its new Day Lodge—a 50’x96’ Sprung structure overlooking the Peak 1 Quad, with views of the Idaho and Montana mountain faces. Beverage and entertainment amenities include gourmet sandwiches, indulgent desserts, two largescreen TVs and comfy couches.

SEASON PASSES FOR 2024-25: SALES BEGIN IN MARCH

Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park’s “Spring Pass & ½ Sale” begins March 1, 2024. Get the lowest rates for next season and ski free for the rest of this season. Same

perk applies to Lookout Pass, with March 4 as the start date for next season’s season passes, featuring the same rates as last year. Visit Skinwrockies.com for an easy starting point to learn more about each of the four Ski the NW Rockies affiliated mountains’ deals.

SKI/RIDE FOR FREE ON YOUR BIRTHDAY AT LOOKOUT PASS

For all you March and April babies, plan your birthday party at Lookout Pass! Anyone can get a free lift ticket on their birthday, for use that day. Simply bring your driver’s license or photo I.D. and/or birth certificate and show it at the ticket window.

FAMILY NORDIC WEEKEND AT 49 DEGREES NORTH

Great opportunity for families new to cross-country skiing! Visit the Nordic Ski Area at 49 Degrees North on St. Patrick’s Day Weekend, March 16-17. Kids under age 18 receive a free trail pass and equipment rental, when accompanied by a parent/guardian. (Event date dependent on the latest snow conditions, so check Ski49n.

com before you leave home.)

SILVER MOUNTAIN RESORT DEAL FOR BEGINNERS

Silver’s “Easy Ski or Ride 1-2-3 package” (ages 13+) includes gear rental, lift ticket, and lesson for any three days of your choice (excludes holiday periods). Cost is $219; purchased by calling ticketing at 208.783.1111 x8221. “We’ve been lucky enough to keep snow on our beginner hill to make learning enjoyable; plus, our indoor waterpark is a great way to get rid of any lingering soreness after a day of skiing or boarding,” says marketing director Gus Colburn.

FREEDOM PASS FOR MT. SPOKANE SEASON PASSHOLDERS

Did you know that Mt. Spokane season passholders get “Freedom Pass” perks? As a partnering ski organization, season-passholders can get three free ski days at any of the 20+ mountains within the Freedom Pass network, with no blackout dates. Full details, including a list of network members, can be found at Skifreedompass.com and Mtspokane.com/partner-mountains.

Mt. Spokane passholders also get reciprocal benefits within a network of non-profit ski-park organizations across the country and in Canada.

UPHILL ACCESS AT LOOKOUT PASS AND MT. SPOKANE

Want to earn your turns? Both Mt. Spokane and Lookout Pass allow uphill human travel, with restrictions. At Lookout Pass, skiers can skin up only in the semi-developed Eagle Peak Expansion Area, and only if they have a current day-ticket or are a 2023/24 season passholder. Access is also only allowed when there is ski patrol coverage, generally 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (No uphill access on trails serviced by chairs 1, 2, 3 or 4.) Outside the patrol-coverage hours, uphill access is prohibited due to snow-grooming operations. Review all current uphill access information and policies at Skilookout.com.

Mt. Spokane continues to allow uphill access starting from Lodge 1—full details, policies, and restrictions at Mtspokane. com. (Amy McCaffree)

sponsored by

SUNRISE TRICKS AT MT. SPOKANE. // BLUEBIRD DAY AT LOOKOUT PASS. // PATROLLING WITH THE MOON AT 49 DEGREES NORTH. PHOTO: MATT MASCOL // LANAE HENDRICKSON ENJOYING WORK PERKS AT SILVER. // PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE RESORTS

BY AMY MCCAFFREE

AVALANCHES ARE UNIQUE among natural disasters; as Jeff Thompson, director of Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center (IPAC), puts it, people are the ones that create an avalanche 90 percent of the time. While inbounds downhill skiing and snowboarding on steeper runs can on very rare occasion include avalanche risk depending on current snowpack layers, backcountry touring (and side-country, adjacent to ski-area boundaries) is the most hazardous during certain snow and weather conditions.

“The nature of our sport, a lot of the time, is that it wants to lure us into the ‘dragon’s lair.’ And avalanches, unfortunately, occur at the places that attract us. We have a tendency as human beings to test theories and figure it out on our own; but with avalanches that could be a really bad decision,” says Thompson.

As IPAC director, Thompson forecasts avalanche risk and investigates regional avalanche events involving survivors and fatality victims. He is also a ski patroller and avalanche rescue dog trainer at Schweitzer. Throughout his career as an avalanche forecaster, both in Colorado and North Idaho, Thompson says people caught in slides are typically a mix of those “who are very knowledgeable and others who have no idea about what they don’t know.”

The 2023-2024 low snow year has created spatial variability in the snowpack, which has increased avalanche risk on our Inland Northwest slopes, Thompson says. “There is danger in spotty locations, like in certain windswept locations, and it comes in different forms, even on the same terrain and during a week time span. We haven’t had a lot of good skiing and snowboarding this year, so excitement can lead to a trap for bad decision-making.”

As a backcountry skier himself for the past 30 years, Thompson says he has experienced “the retreat game,” where he has reassessed his situation and decided not to proceed. Once you’re in the backcountry, unless you’re dealing with a life-saving situation, calling for help isn’t a viable option when you realize you’re in avalanche-prone terrain, because a search and rescue team isn’t going to put themselves in harm’s way.

If you’re out there and decide not to proceed, “re-trace your steps,” Thompson advises. “You got to that point safely, on the

route you traveled, so the best decision is to go back the same way—even if it’s uphill and hard travel—rather than flirt with the 50/50 chance of proceeding and a bad situation happening. You don’t always know if you made the right call, but at least you get home and have an opportunity to go out again.”

AVALANCHE SAFETY EDUCATION & AWARENESS

Avalanche safety education courses teach about the different ways that snow deposits on the mountain and how to “read” terrain in order to personally determine the safest backcountry touring routes, according to Thompson. But taking a class is just the start. To better your avalanche awareness, venture outdoors with others who are more experienced and stay updated on current avalanche conditions from official forecast reports, such as the detailed reports published twice a week on the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center website (Idahopanhandleavalanche. org) every Tuesday and Friday by 7 a.m.

Some of Thompson’s forecast reports include details like “low frequency, high consequence.” It’s lucky situations, he says, when backcountry skiers “get away with things,” which can skew one’s personal risk acceptance. Which is why Thompson says it’s important that after returning home safely, all snow recreationists—whether skiing/riding, snowshoeing, or snowmobiling—should realistically assess their latest experience and ask themselves, “Did I actually make good decisions, or did I get away with something today—and, for whatever reason, snow didn’t slide that day.”

At the same time, he says, “We shouldn’t blame people that get themselves in trouble. We need to learn from others’ mistakes and be honest with ourselves. There is lots of decision-making that happens in these situations, and hindsight is always 20/20.”

Thompson cautions against becoming complacent, especially with familiar places. “Every line is safe to ski at some point—but not every time. It’s a patience game—a waiting game—and it takes experience to learn that,” he says. Most avalanche courses happen early winter, so plan ahead and visit the IPAC website for more information and check the online calendar in fall 2024 to register for a course. //

Explore

ADVANCED YOUTH SKIERS CAN GET AMPED AT SILVER

BY AMY MCCAFFREE

AS A TODDLER, ZANE LARSON didn’t really have a choice when he clicked into his first set of skis. He grew up at Winter Park Resort in Colorado, where his mom worked as a ski instructor and his dad and uncle were ski patrollers. “By the time I was 6, I was in my first group program at Winter Park. And from there, joined the freestyle developmental mogul program, and stayed with [freestyle moguls] my entire competi-

tive ski career,” he says.

In his teens, Larson was a competitive freestyle skier, and by age 14 he qualified to represent the U.S. on the North American Cup Tour (NORAM), which he describes as “a circuit tour a step below the World Cup, consisting of American, Canadian, Australian, and Japanese alpine athletes.”

Larson competed for three seasons, 20112014, until significant injuries led him to

“retire” from mogul competition.

Larson then started his coaching career with the Winter Park Freestyle Mogul Team, which he did for nine years before moving to Spokane with his wife in spring 2022. In order to become part of the local ski community, he signed-up for Silver Mountain Ski Patrol’s Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) course and spent his first Inland NW winter as a patrol candidate.

When he heard from Inland NW ski parents and fellow patrollers that the local ski community could use more youth programs, Larson began strategizing: How do we create a competitive culture to encourage kids to keep skiing and remain part of the community? And not just train for one discipline— train to become a lifelong skier?

Larson learned that our region also needed something for those kids who aged out of racing programs or didn’t want to travel for competitions, he explains. So he created a new branch of Silver Mountain Ski Racing Team for advanced skiers, ages 11-15. The goals for the new All-Mountain Program (AMP) are to progress each skier’s technical ski performance and body mechanics as well as comfortability and ability with jumps, trees, cliffs, bumps, and speed in varying conditions. “We focus on putting athletes in the right place at the right time to excel their ability and love for skiing,” says coach Larson.

To join AMP, one must be able to ski the whole mountain unassisted as an advanced skier. Training is every Saturday, skiing with Larson all over the mountain "to hone-in on new skillsets and better themselves as allaround skiers,” he says.

For this inaugural season, AMP has nine registered athletes, with the option to race in the Silver Cup, March 24-25, 2024, at Silver Mountain. Parents/guardians of advanced skiers, ages 11-15, interested in joining AMP next year can contact Larson to arrange a half-day (9 a.m.-noon) drop-in session this season on March 2, 9, or 16, to meet coaches and demonstrate their abilities. “It’s not tryout,” Larson says, “just a free, casual meeting to help determine if an athlete would be a good fit for the program.”

“It can be scary for parents to see their kids ski faster than before or go off jumps,” says Larson. “But the premise [for AMP] is that kids will want to go out and do these things on their own or with their friends. So learning in a controlled environment with professional coaches and proper training, AMP athletes will be able to do all the daredevil stunts they want to try in a safe way.” Reach out to Larson for more info at Zane.Larson95@ gmail.com or call/text (303) 903-5877. //

Amy McCaffree has been adventuring around the Inland Northwest for 20 years and writing for Out There since 2016.

ZANE LARSON (FAR LEFT, WEARING BLACK HELMET AND LIGHT-COLORED JACKET) WITH HIS AMP SKI ATHLETES AT SILVER MOUNTAIN, ALONG WITH GUEST COACH U.S. OLYMPIAN AND SKI TEAM MEMBER CASEY ANDRINGA (RIGHT, BLUE CAMP SKI TEAM JACKET). // PHOTO BY SERENA MCPHERSON, COURTESY OF ZANE LARSON

I’ve been donning a brain bucket for many years, and I really do appreciate the added sense of safety and warmth it provides and encourage others to wear one. But once the temps hit the mid-40s, I do not enjoy the trickles of sweat that somehow seep into my eyes. Pro tip: salt and contact lenses do not mix well. Now, I don’t have the hairline to go commando, but there is something

hardcore skiers or riders sipping barley pop on the deck in the middle of January, and I have nothing but respect for them. But not this cowboy. No my friends, beers on the lodge deck should be reserved for March and April, when the sun is glaring down and everyone is all grins. If you choose to forgo the hat and sunglasses, it is perfectly acceptable to just wear your goggles to shield your eyes. Does that look kinda

CELEBRATE SPRING ON THE MOUNTAIN AT THESE EVENTS

BY HOLLY WEILER

DON’T LET THE LURE of greening grass in the lower elevations distract from the fun events happening at area resorts during the transition period of spring skiing. After a slow start to the ski season in the region, these end-of-season events provide maximum fun to enjoy what’s often some of the best snow of the season before it melts.

49° NORTH MOUNTAIN RESORT (Chewelah, Wash.)

• March 3: It’s not all skiing and snowboarding—come try Fat Tire Bike Day with demos, rentals, and a fat tire race.

• March 23: It’s Hawaiian Daze, the biggest and best event of the season with proceeds benefiting the ski patrol. Enjoy live music, a pond skim, costume contest, silent auction, scavenger hunt, and so much more!

• March 23-24: Telebration Weekend time for celebrating all things tele! Register for a telemark ski clinic or private lesson and try some demo equipment and watch a tele ski movie.

• March 30: Jaeger’s Park Party is an anticompetition fundraiser event, honoring the legacy of local pro snowboarder Jaeger Bailey, gone too soon. Event registration

benefits suicide awareness and prevention. Prizes throughout the day.

MT. SPOKANE SKI & SNOWBOARD PARK (Spokane, Wash.)

• Every Wednesday through Saturday, ending on March 16: Night skiing under the lights until 9 p.m., with live music each Friday.

• March 30: Family-friendly Easter egg hunt, free for kids (lift ticket required). Who knew the Easter bunny was a snowshoe hare?

• April 3-7: Kids ski for free during spring break, with discounted group lessons available for $25.

• April 6: As the season draws to a close, celebrate with Aloha Day on the mountain, concluding with the pond skim (weather dependent).

SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN RESORT (Sandpoint, Idaho)

• Every Sunday through April 14: What’s more fun than mountain safety? Join ski patrol for weekly Transceiver Sundays. Bring your beacon and meet at the clock tower at 10 a.m. to go through a tutorial and do some beacon practice.

• March 2: It’s Mega Demo Day during daylight hours, plus the rescheduled fireworks show after dark! Demo day requires preregistration. The torchlight parade and fireworks show is free to watch, with festivities beginning at 5 p.m. and the main fireworks display at 6:15 p.m.

• April 6-7: The Schpring Finale weekend will feature a Cardboard Box Derby and a fundraiser for the Ponderay Rotary Club. Additional events will be added as the date draws near.

SILVER MOUNTAIN RESORT (Kellogg, Idaho)

• March 2: Ski the night away at Ski Bum Prom Night! Be sure to dig through the back of the closet (or the nearest thrift store rack) to find the best retro ski gear and enjoy a night of skiing under the lights until 6 p.m., with live music in Moguls from 6-8 p.m. A raffle prize fundraiser will conclude the event.

• March 16: Celebrate Mardi Gras with bead necklaces and a New Orleans-inspired menu in the lodge, along with live music from 1-4 p.m.

• April 20: Don’t miss the Leadman Triathlon

fundraiser to mark the transition from ski season to summer! Compete solo or as part of a team in this exciting ski/snowboard, mountain bike, and run from the ski area to gondola village.

LOOKOUT PASS SKI AREA (Mullan, Idaho)

• March 2: Come to compete or watch the “Sorta Natural SnowSkate Banked Slalom” in the Rolling Thunder Terrain Park. A SnowSkate is a snowboard-meets-skateboard with no bindings.

• March 17: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on the mountain by wearing green and stopping by the Summit Shack where chocolate chip ice cream will be the daily special!

• March 24: Girls on Shred is offering a friendly and supportive group experience for youth and marginalized genders to enjoy snow sports! Demo equipment will be available to participants, along with a donation box ready to accept community support! //

Holly Weiler is a longtime contributor and writes The Trailhead column in each issue of Out There.

SPRING SKIING FUN AT INLAND NW MOUNTAINS

Greenwashing My Gas Guzzler

By Carol Corbin

AS I SQUIRT WD-40 into my hitch-mounted bike rack for the n’th time, the ludicrousness of transporting a vehicle (my bike) on another vehicle (my gas-guzzling SUV) strikes me again. It always does. Bikes were developed as a means of transportation. And I have purchased an expensive, heavy, complex means of transporting my bikes hundreds of miles from my garage, just to go for a bike ride. Shaking my head, I remind myself, “You know, you can just, like, get on and pedal the thing from here to somewhere else and back again, and you’ve gone on a bike ride.”

I tell myself stories about why I love the outdoors and why I bike, run, hike, camp and paddle in urban environments and wilderness. I tell myself I am an advocate for nature and wildlife, that I believe deeply in nature’s power to build and nurture healthy humans and thriving systems. And at the same time, I participate in activities that degrade soil and cause erosion, that disrupt wildlife migration corridors, and destroy vegetation. While I’m certain I live every day as a walking conundrum in many areas, this is the one that troubles me the most.

It’s no secret that human presence in nature can be, and often is, highly disruptive. In 2006, as part of my master’s program, I took a trip to a cave in western Tennessee along with about a dozen other master’s students and three professors. The entrance to the cave was on private property and access was limited (in theory) by those the property owner chose to allow on his land. The caving community tends to be tight-lipped and many caves like this are known only to a select few. Cave ecosystems are often delicate, ancient, and highly susceptible to catastrophic damage when humans are introduced to the system.

This cave was no exception. As we crawled through caverns, slid down rock faces, and snaked on our bellies through tight passageways, our instructor told us about another group of spelunkers who’d visited the cave years before. One of their number had taken a fall, breaking his leg. His companions managed to transport him into a large cavern with a small opening to the outside world at the top. Rescuers determined the only way to get him out was to come in through that small opening.

No one had ever come in or out of the cave that way because of its size, and because it sat atop a delicate ecosystem that had existed undisturbed on the cave floor for tens of thousands of years. The rescue would be catastrophic to that micro-system. As we stood at the edge of the cavern, we could see deep ruts in the floor, created by the rescue team. A clear indication that the delicate, ancient ecosystem would never be the same. A stark and permanent reminder that humans had been there. Even though I visited that cave almost 20 years ago, I still remember the feeling of sadness and loss that came over me. The destruction of this intricate, balanced, ages-old system by one human mishap.

For many (if not all) of us, time in nature is non-negotiable. We have to go outside! Our lives depend upon it. But at the risk of sucking all the air out of the room, the bottom line is this: justifying outside activities might just be a way of greenwashing our environmental impact. Burning fossil fuels and buying a new wardrobe every year to climb mountains or participate in my next running event isn’t virtuous; it’s selfish. I do it for me. And once I can be honest about that, I can start to make more sustainable choices.

Now, I can ask myself, “What is the

essence of the experience I want to have?” Is it peace and solitude? Physical challenge? Beautiful views? Time with friends? Then, I try to find ways I can reduce the impact of that experience. Can I invite my friends to carpool? Can I leave earlier and ride my bike to the rendezvous point instead of driving? Can I content myself with a camp lantern and a blanket, instead of building a fire? Can I route my run through nearby farmland and leave from my front door, instead of driving to a trailhead? Can I build a bikepacking loop in the Idaho Panhandle instead of hauling my bike to Ireland?

I’ve discovered that when I take the time to make mindful outdoor choices, not only do I reduce my impact, but I find myself more aware of and grateful for the experience I do have. The thoughtful process of existing as a part of the world, and not a consumer of it, pays dividends every time. //

Carol Corbin has embraced the indoor stationary bicycle this winter, hiding from the gray and looking forward to early spring running weather and sunshine! She's also betting the first buttercups of the season will be spotted on the Palisades bluff in Spokane.