Inlander 11/12/2020 by The Inlander

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EDITOR’S NOTE

ith COVID-19 surging across America and a dark winter staring us in the face, we will need to discover new ways of making the best of it. Fresh air is a good start, and you’ll find plenty of it atop our region’s mountains. Learn more about what resorts are doing to safely welcome back visitors in this week’s SNOWLANDER guide (page 21). Also this week: Restaurants are preparing for a holiday season unlike any before (page 40), Spokane’s movie theaters are lighting up the big screen again (page 44) and musicians are discovering the unexpected charms of recording in quarantine (page 46). Oh, and in what feels like a lifetime ago, we had an election last week (page 16). — JACOB H. FRIES, Editor

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COMMENT STAFF DIRECTORY PHONE: 509-325-0634 Ted S. McGregor Jr. (tedm@inlander.com)

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BEST SHOWS OR FILMS YOU’VE STREAMED LATELY?

PUBLISHER

ELIZABETH MARLIN: I watched all of Downton Abbey. I just really need some escapism where people are relentlessly civil to each other.

J. Jeremy McGregor (x224) GENERAL MANAGER

EDITORIAL

ELAINE FULTON: Yellowstone with Kevin Costner. It’s on Amazon but is really good; set in Gallatin Valley in Montana. Developers vs. ranchers vs. Indian casinos… Lots of drama.

Jacob H. Fries (x261) EDITOR

Dan Nailen (x239) MANAGING EDITOR/ARTS & CULTURE Chey Scott (x225) FOOD & LISTINGS EDITOR Nathan Weinbender (x250) FILM & MUSIC EDITOR

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Normally, we ask our question of the week of people we randomly encounter on the street. But with the coronavirus pandemic, we instead asked our followers on social media to share their thoughts.

SHERRY HAAS: The Trial of the Chicago 7. Great movie. LAURIE BOND SALTZMAN: Down to Earth. Excellent, positive documentary series about ways countries are working to save the planet. PAT PARTOVI: I am enjoying Heartland. It’s a family show with lots of horses and beautiful scenery.

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BROCK JOHNSON: I’m in the process of watching the Game On mini documentary series about the history of video games, and I’ve recently streamed the new Unsolved Mysteries series and the beginning episodes of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. I also recently watched Enola Holmes.

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BRITTANY MILLER: The Queen’s Gambit is super good. NICHOLE STAFFORD: Ratched. I finished that in a 48-hour time frame. JOLENE DELYEA BALDWIN: Movies: Love Guaranteed, How Do You Know, I Am Woman — all good, wholesome movies. RIC MEYER: The Mandalorian season 2 just came out.

RACHELE NICHOLS: Unsolved Mysteries on Netflix!!! CHRIS ADAMSON: Wentworth. Omg, I’m on the edge of my seat half the time… awesome show! BRIGETTE COLE: The Queen’s Gambit, The Medici, The Story of God with Morgan Freeman (Netflix), The Three Musketeers (BBC or Amazon), Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC), Red Dwarf (BBC). ELIZABETH ANNE: Somebody Feed Phil! Perfect food/travel show when you are wishing other countries were allowing Americans in. n

Now on Inlander.com: National and international stories from the New York Times to go with the fresh, local news we deliver every day NOVEMBER 12, 2020 INLANDER 5

COMMENT | ELECTION 2020

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Sorry, No Blue Wave

Perhaps Joe Biden’s grab bag of liberal policy proposals scared conservatives enough to tamp down what was supposed to be a wipeout

ideas for everyone on your list!

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nce the dust settles, and after all legitimate votes have been counted, America’s democratic system will survive. This past election cycle offers several lessons for both Republicans and Democrats. Democrats have seemingly failed to gain support (and likely lost some voters) by promoting more liberal policies, including components of the Green New Deal, repealing the 2018 Trump tax cuts, proposing radical ideas like packing the Supreme Court and adding states (D.C. and Puerto Rico). At the very least, Democrats should carefully reconsider their platform before continuing to push America leftward. Joe Biden

and Kamala Harris should look for opportunities to bring a rebirth of compromise — particularly if Republicans end up maintaining control of the Senate. If a Biden-Harris administration does push for more radical leftist policies, it may result in a more obvious rejection of these policies in 2022 Senate and House races, while opening the 2024 presidential race to a moderate Republican candidate. Several of my traditionally conservative col-

WARHOL

leagues had high hopes for a blue wave that would send a clear message to the Republican Party: They need to rebuild after the wake of destruction left by President Donald Trump. However, this election, with seemingly disappointing results for Democrats in both the House and the Senate, seem to give credence to the idea that Trump’s support flows deeper with the 70 million or so Americans who voted for him. I suspect that many of these votes were not in support of President Trump’s rhetoric and demeanor, but a recognition of many of his policies.

imilar to his 2016 campaign, President Trump ran in 2020 on a more positive platform, promoting the idea that America is indeed a great country and should focus on ideas that perpetuate that greatness. Alternatively, Biden and Harris were more concerned about America’s flaws by highlighting the continued existence of systemic racism and insisting that cases of inequity can only be resolved through “equality of outcome” solutions.

“There’s no arguing that the most obvious losers were the various pollsters, pundits and talking heads.” During the final presidential debate, Biden also repeatedly held President Trump responsible for every death caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and alerted Americans of an impending “dark winter.” Most Americans seemed to recognize that the Trump administration’s response was far from perfect — particularly with regard to the president’s rhetoric and irresponsible disagreements with respected health officials. However, Americans also recognize the high death tolls in many other countries LETTERS that make it hard to assume Send comments to that a different administration editor@inlander.com. could have had a significant impact on the overall death toll. Aside from plans to convince governors to implement statewide mask mandates and requiring masks on federal property, Joe Biden’s overall strategy to tackle the pandemic will not substantially deviate from the course we’re on. This is why his messaging on this topic was entirely focused on criticizing actions of the current administration. This theme seemed to ring true throughout the campaign: take the opposite side of any policies proposed by the Trump administration, whether they are good or bad.

nlike Barack Obama’s historic 2008 campaign, which ran on a positive message of “hope” and “change,” Biden embraced some extremely progressive ideas, while offering no clear destination on where he planned to take the country. This is a large reason why Democrats were disappointed when they realized Tuesday that the “blue wave” was a mirage. But there’s no arguing that the most obvious losers were the various pollsters, pundits and talking heads who largely predicted the Democrats would handily take the presidency, gain seats in the House and retake the Senate. Pollsters will need to revamp their methods for future elections if they are to maintain any credibility. After Jan. 20, 2021, there is an opportunity to return to compromise between the two parties that have led to so many historic and beneficial policies of the past, including the Civil Rights Act (1964), the Medicare and Medicaid acts (1965) and the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (1996). America welcomes a return to civility and a rejection of rancor and division. Joe Biden can get us in the mood for change if he’ll be true to his post-election rhetoric. Donald Trump also has an opportunity to allow for a smooth transition to help heal our nation. n George Nethercutt represented the 5th District of Washington as a Republican in Congress from 1995-2005.

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EDUCATION

LEARNING AS THEY GO

In Spokane Public Schools, kindergartners and first-graders are currently back for in-person learning. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

Schools in the Inland Northwest haven’t caused major COVID-19 outbreaks — but experts still urge for slow reopening BY WILSON CRISCIONE

his summer, as schools weighed the risks of opening classrooms for in-person learning, the science wasn’t clear on how COVID-19 might spread in a room full of children. There was little gleaned from the way school openings played out in other countries, and local schools were reluctant to put the safety of students and teachers at risk. It was, as Spokane’s then-health officer Bob Lutz put it, a “natural experiment.” And if schools opened prematurely, it could cause surging cases, packed hospitals and more death. Some local school districts, like Mead and Coeur d’Alene Public Schools, opened anyway. And three months later, that worst-case-scenario is well underway. Cases are surging. Kootenai Health hospital is packed. And COVID-19 deaths are rising. But here’s the thing: There’s little evidence that schools have anything to do with it. Students and staff

8 INLANDER NOVEMBER 12, 2020

may be getting COVID-19 elsewhere in the community, but rarely inside school buildings, health officials say. “We have seen COVID-19 introduced into schools, but one thing that’s reassuring in our data is that we’re not seeing large, explosive outbreaks when COVID-19 is introduced into the school,” says Kathy Lofy, Washington state’s health officer. “The safety measures that we have outlined for all schools in Washington appear to be very effective. And I think that’s really promising data.” That thinking is backed by a new report, Testing the Waters: Is It Time to Go Back to School?, released by the Bellevue-based Institute for Disease Modeling last week. The report, which used a model based on King County schools, found that in-person learning without countermeasures — without grouping students, screening for symptoms, contact tracing and masks — could add “significant COVID-19 burden,” with an expected 45 percent of teachers and 33 percent of students expected to get

infected over three months. With those countermeasures, however, school can be “highly effective in reducing school-based transmission,” with just 2 percent or less of students, teachers and staff expected to get the virus. As the report suggests, local school districts like Spokane Public Schools and Central Valley School Districts are indeed testing the waters on in-person school by phasing in younger grades over the span of weeks. Yet it remains unclear when middle and high school students may return to class. And that’s partly because questions remain over how to isolate students without disrupting in-person instruction, and whether high levels of community spread will ruin plans to open schools up again. “Our plan is to follow the guidelines, and to be slow and methodical to make sure we’re keeping staff and students safe, starting with a digestible bite,” says Heather Bybee, director of curriculum for Spokane Public Schools. ...continued on page 13

NOVEMBER 12, 2020 INLANDER 9

dining • shopping • culture Businesses are working hard to serve customers and stay safe: Support them and you support our region’s recovery.

“I rely on the shape of the face as well as cheek and jawlines,” she says, “so it’s very challenging working on clients with masks on. We’re also not able to book as many clients at one time, which has made it hard to keep up with demand.” However, pandemic setbacks have encouraged her to develop promising new outlets for her line of SPOcan T-shirts, bags, keychains and other swag. Along with offering home delivery and curbside pickup, she’s developing a website where customers can place orders for SPOcan merchandise. That will continue to help supplement her core business. “Throughout all this, we’ve been fortunate to have complete support from our clients — from prepaying for their appointments months in advance to buying gift certificates and even tipping very generously,” Boysen says. “Many of our clients are grateful for the chance to come back to the salon for self-care.” Cao has seen similar showings of support from her clients at 7 Wonders. On top of that, they’ve been placing orders for Aveda hair, skin and body care products through the spa’s website, which brings in a small affiliate commis-

7 WONDERS SPA OWNER ANN CAO

Beauty Behind the Masks For the 7 Wonders spa in Spokane Valley, the impact of COVID-19 has been a mixed bag. There are the obvious negative effects, of course: The constant worry over maintaining a safe, sanitized environment. The limits on the number of simultaneous customers on account of social distancing. The difficulty in delivering their usual friendly, face-to-face service when wearing masks. “We like really close and personal contact. When you’re wearing a lot of PPE [personal protective equipment], you’re not creating a relaxing environment,” says 7 Wonders owner Ann Cao. “COVID has been affecting the way we do business tremendously.” And yet drawbacks aren’t the only effect the pandemic has had. For one thing, it’s helped the spa make the shift from phone-based appointments to more convenient online and app-based booking. “We were looking to move from basic phone calls and

trying to promote online booking for a long time. But we didn’t get a lot of traffic from online booking. Since COVID, people are using the internet more. It kind of took care of itself,” she says. Cao’s salon management software also added a new feature called the Pocket Salon app. It’s a free download for both Android and iPhone users, and it allows customers to interact with 7 Wonders right from their smartphones. “A lot of our clients, even if they’re not tech-savvy, can make payments from their phone now or rebook the same service with the same service provider. They can even send messages. It’s a lot more efficient. We’re probably the only salon in Spokane Valley that has this app, and our customers love it.” At Dept. Z Salon in downtown Spokane, owner Zoe Boysen has looked for ways to keep her customers safe while also maintaining the level of service they expect.

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TRACKING THE VIRUS IN SCHOOLS

In September, Coeur d’Alene Public Schools began with a hybrid learning model. Students attended in-person a couple days per week, but stayed home on other days. There were some positive cases identified among students and staff, but no transmission of the virus within the school. Then, the school district decided to open for in-person instruction. Within a week, the infection rate rose in the school just as it rose in the North Idaho community. Dozens of students or staff members tested positive. Hundreds more had to quarantine because they were considered a “close contact” of a positive case. School was open, yet many students had to stay home anyway. Still, as of last week, the school district believes it has had less than five in-school transmissions out of more than 120 positive test results, says spokesman Scott Maben. The number of students who had to quarantine, however, has been an issue, despite the district’s belief that they’ve helped prevent larger clusters of cases in school, he says. “There’s no doubt that having students in quarantine is disruptive to the educational mission,” he says. “We do worry about students falling behind, even as teachers endeavor to keep quarantine students engaged in remote learning.” That’s not a problem that more testing will necessarily solve. A negative test alone isn’t enough to automatically bring a student in quarantine back. Coeur d’Alene, for example, was requiring students to quarantine for 14 days regardless — though the district recently added an early return option if a student gets a negative test and meets other criteria. But school districts in Spokane won’t get someone out of quarantine due solely to a negative test if they were a close contact of a confirmed case.

“What we see in the classroom is pretty structured and good in preventing COVID-19.” Also, as the “Testing the Waters” report indicates, diagnostic testing is less valuable than other preventive measures in preventing infections in schools. If there’s a low infection rate, false positive rapid tests will outnumber true positives, the report says. Testing is valuable at reducing the spread, however, when schools get to a point of being a “significant source of infections,” it says. A better way to reduce the amount of students who must quarantine is by doing better case investigations, says Mark Springer, epidemiologist with the Spokane Regional Health District. If there are two students who have COVID-19 in the same classroom, for example, that might cause the entire class to quarantine if it’s unknown where their infection came from. But if case investigators find out that both got COVID from somewhere outside the school, he says, you may not need everyone to quarantine. The health district along with the school districts themselves have helped with contact tracing efforts. “With a good contact investigation and tracing efforts, you can minimize quarantining in

schools,” Springer says. Case investigations, however, are much more difficult to do in secondary schools, where students may be in six different classrooms with different students throughout the day. In elementary school, a person with COVID-19 may only cause a few students sitting around them to quarantine. “But in secondary, that may involve 25 students based on one person who’s positive,” Springer says. The classrooms are not necessarily the main concern in spreading COVID, however. It’s other parts of the school, he says. “What we see in the classroom is pretty structured and good in preventing COVID-19,” Springer says. “But it’s once we get out of the classroom — hallways, lunches, socializing where you can’t control social distancing — where you have potential of transmission occurring.”

SEEING THEM SOON?

In Spokane, health officials signed off on Spokane Public Schools’ plan to bring back kindergarten through second grade. Kindergartners are already back, and first-graders came back this week. The plan is to bring back second-graders by Nov. 30. The Central Valley School District has moved a bit faster, having already brought back kindergartners through third-graders. Locally, however, infection rates are higher than they’ve ever been. On Saturday, Spokane racked up a record 348 new COVID-19 cases, and the virus shows no signs of slowing down here or across the country. Last week, Lacy Fehrenbach, deputy secretary for COVID response with the Washington Department of Health, said it’s “not the ideal time” to be expanding learning. But the good news, she says, is that schools elsewhere have brought students back when rates were higher than they are in Washington, and it didn’t seem to make a dramatic difference on the safety of in-person learning. The rise in school cases, in other words, may be a symptom of rising rates broadly — but not the cause of it. Springer says there has been some talk about speeding up school reopening efforts within the health district. (Those talks took place before Lutz, Spokane’s health officer, was fired last week.) It’s a school district decision, but Spokane Public Schools has leaned on the health district for guidance. The next few weeks may be crucial in determining the ability for more students to come back. If schools show they are able to manage positive cases, that can inspire more confidence in other students coming back — particularly in elementary grades. “I think you will see schools move to elementary kids and look at hybrid options,” Springer says. “And then they will feel more confident and pursue what it’s going to take to open up more fully.” But families will have to be patient. “We’re taking it one step at a time, being as methodical and deliberate as possible and reaching out with health partners who will say when is the right time,” says Bybee, with Spokane Public Schools. “As a nation, we’re learning more and more. So it’s really hard to predict.” n

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he City Council passed two long-in-the-works reforms on Monday night. The first handed the Spokane Police Department the ability to use drones in a wide variety of police work, including photographing crime scenes, searching for missing people, tailing fugitives, providing tactical intel and identifying reported illegal encampments. The cops would still have to get warrants when necessary. The council voted for the drone bill, with two exceptions: It was another example of where the most far-right and the most far-left councilmembers — Mike Fagan and Kate Burke — found themselves united together in opposition, with the unlikely duo raising concerns about citizen input and civil liberties.

HEADINT-BRIEFS

The Washington Supreme court unanimously struck down the death penalty last week, ruling that it is “imposed in an ARBITRARY AND RACIALLY BIASED manner.”

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NOVEMBER 12, 2020 INLANDER 13

NEWS | DIGEST

ON INLANDER.COM

COVID OUTBREAK Seventeen people at the FAMILY PROMISE OPEN DOORS shelter, including 15 guests and two staff members, have tested positive for COVID-19 since last week, according to Joe Ader, Family Promise of Spokane executive director. The youngest person to test positive is a 1-year-old, and the oldest is an adult in their 30s, Ader says. “Family Promise tries to be up front and transparent and truthful about everything we’re dealing with, so that’s why we wanted to get this information out to the public as soon as possible,” Ader tells the Inlander. In a press release, Family Promise says “other local congregate shelters have also experienced positive COVID cases at their respective sites.” Ader would not disclose which other shelters may have had positive cases. (WILSON CRISCIONE)

FEATURING NATIONAL NEWS FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES

THE DOCTOR IS OUT The Spokane Regional Health District Board of Health voted 8-4 to terminate health officer DR. BOB LUTZ on Nov. 5 after a multi-hour special meeting. The special meeting was called so district administrator Amelia Clark could make her case for firing Lutz, with whom she’s had internal personnel issues. She felt he should be fired despite agreeing with those on the health board that there were no issues with Lutz’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic or performance of his duties as health officer. Meanwhile, in a show of solidarity with Dr. Lutz, 121 Health District employees have submitted a vote of no confidence in Clark. And on Monday, the Washington State Board of Health voted to conduct a preliminary investigation into Clark’s termination of Lutz. (SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL)

SPRING BALL Last week, Big Sky officials announced the spring FOOTBALL SCHEDULE. Eastern Washington University will kick off its truncated spring season Feb. 27 with a visit to Portland State, with other games coming against Montana in Cheney (March 6), at UC Davis (March 13), at home against Idaho (March 27), at Montana State (April 3), and at home against Cal Poly (April 10) and the Eags’ former head coach Beau Baldwin. The University of Idaho will open Feb. 27 in Moscow against Northern Colorado, and follow it up with games at Idaho State (March 6), at home against Portland State (March 13), at EWU (March 27), at home against Montana April 3 and closing the season on the road at Southern Utah (April 10). (DAN NAILEN)

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BED CHECK The city of Spokane says it is developing a new website that will give daily updates to police and to the public on AVAILABLE BED SPACE at local homeless shelters. The Spokane Police Department unveiled plans for the new webpage last week during the Spokane City Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Public Safety and Community Health Committee meeting. During that meeting, council members brought up an Inlander article from October that revealed instances where police enforced laws against camping, sitting or lying in public spaces despite no shelter being available for the homeless people being cited. In several citations since last November, police appeared to reference shelter space as being available when it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, and a couple of times suggested that local parks would suffice as adequate shelter space. (WILSON CRISCIONE)

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NEWS | ELECTION 2020

Change at the Top While Biden will take the White House, incumbents prevail in Washington and Idaho races BY SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL AND FROM INLANDER STAFF REPORTS

ith election anticipation high this year, voters around the country turned out in record numbers, with many voting by mail for the

first time. Spokane County saw more than 293,000 ballots returned or about 81 percent voter turnout this election, compared to the roughly 239,000 returned in 2016 that marked about 78 percent turnout that year. Kootenai County also saw huge turnout, with more than 87 percent of registered voters casting ballots. With so many voting by mail for the first time due to the pandemic, the country had to practice the patience

16 INLANDER NOVEMBER 12, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee easily won re-election against Republican opponent Loren Culp. that Washington state voters have learned over the last decade or so, understanding that mail-in ballots sometimes take a few days after the election to get counted. Some states didn’t allow election officials to start counting those ballots until the next day. The presidential election was the main driver for the large turnout, and while a little more than 50 percent of voters in Spokane County and nearly 70 percent in Kootenai County voted for Republican President Donald Trump, it took days to learn who the next president would be due to close counts in swing states. Finally, by Saturday morning, it was clear that Democrat Joe Biden was the president-elect, making his running mate Kamala Harris the first woman and first woman of color who will serve as vice president. Harris, wearing a white suit hearkening to the attire of the suffragettes who fought for women’s right to vote, noted the importance of setting an example for children of all backgrounds. She gave a nod to the hard work of women, particularly Black women, in working to secure civil rights for all. “While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last,” Harris said during her speech in Delaware. “Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.” Biden, meanwhile, said he would work to represent all Americans, regardless of whether they elected him. Citing an often-quoted Bible passage about there being a season for everything, Biden said now is the time to heal.

WASHINGTON GOVERNOR PHOTO

“I will work to be a president who seeks not to divide, but unify,” Biden said. “I won’t see red states and

“While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last.” blue states, I will always see the United States.” Even as people started their workweek, however, Trump had refused to concede the election, saying he’d keep fighting in court.

WASHINGTON, SPOKANE COUNTY

As of the votes tabulated by Nov. 9, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee easily won re-election against Republican opponent Loren Culp, who had a steady showing in Eastern Washington but only won 42.79 percent of the vote to Inslee’s 56.88 percent. Inslee earned praise locally and nationally early on for his swift shutdown orders to slow the spread of COVID-19 and for keeping Washington’s death rate low, compared to other states. He took his re-election as a win for science, both endorsing his approach to COVID and climate change. The three Democratic incumbents who represent the city of Spokane in DISTRICT 3 of the state Legislature easily won re-election. Sen. Andy Billig (58.07 percent) beat challenger Dave Lucas (41.63 percent), Rep. Marcus

Riccelli (60.36 percent) beat challenger Laura Carder (39.27 percent), and Rep. Timm Ormsby (62.49 percent) beat challenger Bob Apple (37 percent). Meanwhile, the Spokane Valley/Liberty Lake DISTRICT 4 has had an outsized amount of attention over the last year after outgoing Rep. Matt Shea was ousted from the State Republican Caucus after he was found to have “participated in an act of domestic terrorism against the United States” by independent investigators hired by state lawmakers. Shea opted not to run for re-election, opening up his seat for his allies to run. Indeed, Republican Rep. Bob McCaslin, who was already serving the district’s other seat in the state House, ran for and was voted into Shea’s old seat, besting challenger Lori Feagan with 60.24 percent of the vote. McCaslin hasn’t stirred up nearly LETTERS as much attention as Shea durSend comments to ing his time in the Legislature, editor@inlander.com. although he has a similar voting record. Republican and former Spokane County Treasurer Rob Chase, who has long defended Shea and is an ally, took over McCaslin’s old seat, getting 61.95 percent of the vote to Democratic challenger Lance Gurel’s 37.72 percent. Incumbent Republican state Sen. Mike Padden (62.48 percent) also beat challenger John Roskelley (37.37 percent). In DISTRICT 6, covering west Spokane County, Republican incumbents also came out on top. Rep. Mike Volz (51.88 percent) beat challenger Zack Zappone (47.89 percent). Voters also weren’t deterred by Rep. Jenny Graham’s outburst this fall, when she called an Inlander writer a “c---sucker” and a “lying piece of shit” for accurately reporting that she had been sharing sites that spread conspiracies. Despite making negative headlines around the country in media outlets from the Fox TV station in Seattle to the Washington Post, Graham handily won (54.21 percent) against challenger Tom McGarry (45.54 percent).

IDAHO

Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (62.58 percent) won re-election against Democrat Paulette Jordan (33.28 percent), a Coeur d’Alene Tribe member who previously made an unsuccessful bid for state governor. “We were called to a battle where we were outnumbered and outgunned, and we still showed up,” Jordan wrote on her official election Twitter account. “That’s courage, that’s leadership, that’s love. This movement is not going anywhere. You’ve shown me that.” Risch has served as senator since 2009, and was previously Idaho’s lieutenant governor and served a short term as governor from 2006 to 2007 when then-Gov. Dirk Kempthorne left during the last year of his term to become U.S. secretary of interior. Idaho’s First District also re-elected Republican U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher (67.76 percent) over opponent Rudy Soto (28.65 percent).

REFERENDUM 90

Washington voters passed Referendum 90 with 58 percent voting to approve the measure that implements a law passed by the Legislature this year to require comprehensive sexual education in all school districts. Parents in some areas had expressed concerns about the content of that education for the youngest children, but proponents assured people that parents can still opt their child out, districts will still choose which curricula they use, and all lessons will be age-appropriate.

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Washington voters, meanwhile, rejected an effort to allow the state to invest money from the Long-Term Care Services and Supports Trust Account in stocks or other investments in order to grow that fund. The measure failed to pass with 54.17 percent of voters rejecting it. The measure would have amended the state constitution to allow for that type of investing. n

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Samantha Bares’ El Nuevo Coco (left) and Carlos Llobet Montealegre’s La Cegua

MODERN MONSTERS VISUAL ARTS

New online show from EWU art gallery explores myths and legends from Latin America and the Carribean BY LAUREN GILMORE 18 INLANDER NOVEMBER 12, 2020

ounds can be deceiving. Ask the victims of the Whistler, a Latin American folklore figure who stalks his prey while whistling the same seven notes. When the Whistler sounds close by, he’s actually at a safe distance. The fainter the whistle, the closer the danger. The Whistler is local artist and educator Reinaldo Gil Zambrano’s favorite legend. “It’s about a guy who was cursed by his grandfather after killing his dad, and he becomes a ghost. He walks around carrying a sack of all his dad’s bones. If you hear the whistle really far away, then you need to be aware of that because the creature is close to you and will take your soul away,” Zambrano says. “He follows guys who are womanizers, so it’s a metaphor that you need to respect your partners and respect women. I like the story because of the sound of his whistling. When you hear it, it gives you chills.” This week, Zambrano joins Manuel Guerra — artist, founder of Horned Toad Prints and lecturer at the University of Texas at El

Paso — in presenting a new digital art show dedicated to creatures like the Whistler. The exhibit, hosted by the EWU Gallery of Art, is called Carpeta Gráfica: Cuentos, Mitos, y Leyendas De América Latína y El Caribe (translation: Graphic Portfolio: Tales, Myths, and Legends from Latin America and the Caribbean). As the title suggests, the show is a collection of prints focused on reimagining traditional mythologies. “We wanted to feature these old legends in a more contemporary way using printmakers,” Zambrano says. “So Manuel Guerra and I put out an open call for printmakers working in Latin America and the U.S., and then selected the artwork.” Zambrano is drawn to folklore for its potential to build bridges between people. “I grew up in Venezuela, and I knew about these stories because they were passed down from grandparents to grandchildren,” he says. “But then I would hear a similar story in Costa Rica, and then a different version in Colombia.” ...continued on page 20

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CULTURE | VISUAL ARTS

How to use

“MODERN MONSTERS,” CONTINUED...

THIS

He became fascinated with the idea of archetypes, and how they would remain similar across language differences and socioeconomic settings. With this show, he is seeking to highlight the ability of printmaking to unite communities despite borders. The exhibit was originally intended to debut at the SGC International in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but COVID-19 pushed the curators to adapt a digital format. For Zambrano, this has brought pros and cons. “You don’t really get a sense of the scale,” he says. Still, despite challenges to hosting the show this way, it’s also brought opportunities that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. “There’s an ability for engagement beyond the region because people are able to see and access it through their computers. I’ve been surprised by the number of people engaged in the exhibit,” he says. “All this was organized through the internet and social media. Social media really can be used to bring people together, despite all the negatives.” Nancy Hathaway, studio artist and EWU art professor, has been working to digitize the prints. “I decided to re-create that white space of the gallery for the artwork, so I created a separate website that links from our regular website that just hosts the shows, so there isn’t anything else

Yayael’s Bones and the origin of the sea by Matthew J. Egan there. It’s set up like it would be if you went to a regular gallery space.” It’s fitting that the prints are being adapted for a digital space, since much of the collection highlights traditional folklore’s relevance in contemporary life. For instance, artist Samantha Bares reimagines the masculine, authoritarian figure of El Cocuy (The Boogeyman) as an ICE agent emerging from a child’s closet. “Most of them revolve around the sto-

ries we are told as children — slightly frightening fables that are meant as tales of caution,” Hathway says. “But there are others that move outside of that. One talks about a fable in which when a small child becomes injured there’s a particular song that’s sung to help with the healing process.” The prints were produced using a variety of techniques, showcasing the versatility of the printmaking form. “I’m excited for this show because of its diversity and because it’s given us an opportunity to show works from artists across the country,” she says. “It’s great to have something that comes from cultural perspectives other than the mainstream, white American perspective that you often get in galleries.” This exhibit is part of a larger umbrella project, the Spokane Print Fest, which will feature several other galleries, online events and workshops throughout the month. In this time of isolation, sharing art digitally reminds us that we’re all a little bit like (hopefully less-haunting versions of) the Whistler. Even when our communities sound distant, they’re closer than we think. n Carpeta Gráfica: Cuentos, Mitos, y Leyendas De América Latína y El Caribe • Nov 12 - Jan 15 • Free • Online; details at ewu. edu/cale/art/gallery

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MOUNTAIN PEOPLE

THE CATSKIING CANADA POSSE

Two pairs of brothers, all die-hard skiers, turn their passion for the slopes into a business making world-class ski photography BY BOB LEGASA

“I

t’s a bit like hunting for unicorns or something like it. I literally take thousands of shots and there’s only going to be a handful that really spark and say… ‘This is what it means to be powder skiing.’” Those are the words of professional ski action photographer Geoff Holman talking about getting that trophy shot. I was able to spend a few days watching Geoff work his photo magic on a catskiing trip to Keefer Lake Lodge last January. Geoff and his brother, John, grew up skiing at Big White Ski Resort just outside Kelowna, British Columbia. Through skiing, they met a couple of other die-hard skiers, Todd Avison and Adam Benson, who had the same passion for

skiing as they did. For many years this group of four could be found ripping up the runs and backcountry around Big White. Their backgrounds and passion for skiing inspired them to start a side business, Catskiing Canada, which caters to the marketing and promotion of catskiing in Canada. Todd’s background is in marketing and web development; now mix in Geoff’s profession of photography, and you have a recipe for creating web content, branding and marketing assets for ski-related clientele. Together this group of four creates and captures some mind-blowing ski imagery that is highly utilized and recognized in the snowsports world via websites, print and social media platforms. ...continued on next page

The gang’s all here!

GEOFF HOLMAN PHOTO

CONTENTS

REGION RESORTS WINTER EVENTS LAST RUN

26 34 35

ON THE COVER: MT. SPOKANE SKI & SNOWBOARD PARK BOB LEGASA PHOTO

NOVEMBER 12, 2020 INLANDER 23

MOUNTAIN PEOPLE “THE CATSKIING CANADA POSSE,” CONTINUED... “It’s pretty cool because Catskiing Canada kind of ties in really well with what we do. This is 100 percent a dream job for me,” Todd says with a big smile. “We work with a number of catskiing operations, and it’s always interesting. Everyone has a different vision for what their business is, but I think that’s one of the things we’ve really done really well with is really understanding the business and understanding the clients that are coming to ski,” he continues. “These operations, their clientele aren’t typically hucking backflips off big cliffs. They’re more interested in a really awesome powder turn, so that’s what we try to focus on. We try to show what inspires clients to come to these operations.”

“These operations, their clientele aren’t typically hucking backflips off big cliffs. They’re more interested in a really awesome powder turn, so that’s what we try to focus on. We try to show what inspires clients to come to these operations.”

his group of four can be found throughout the winter capturing fractions of a second on snow-covered mountains. Geoff and the crew have perfected the use of a strobe light, which can turn a dark and dreary day into something spectacular. Personally, I think this is Geoff’s signature as I have seen lots of these shots but Geoff’s always draw me in closer.

24 INLANDER NOVEMBER 12, 2020

Adam Benson skiing at Keefer Lake Lodge.

GEOFF HOLMAN PHOTO

MOUNTAIN PEOPLE Geoff shoots the pictures, but they all work as a team perfecting this recipe to capture these moments. Geoff’s younger brother John says, “One of our special things, we bring our own light to the mountain, and we work together to get multiple light sources on a single subject. We light it from behind; we light it from the side. We all take turns holding lights and being the model.” Geoff has been recognized internationally for his skill, as hundreds of his images have been featured in brochures, billboards, websites and magazines around the world, and he’s even nailed down every photographer’s dream: a few magazine cover shots as well. Geoff humbly says, “A lot of my stuff does end up in magazines, and I’ve been fortunate enough to get a couple of covers. I’ve had cover shots on Ski Canada numerous FOR MORE times, SKI magazine in the States, catskiingcanada.ca Snow Magazine in the UK a couple geoffholman.ca of times as well.” With this type of exposure, it’s no wonder catskiing operations and ski resorts like working with this crew. They know they’re going to get a big bang for their buck and a solid return on their investment. Geoff’s backpack and his front load pack are filled with an avalanche airbag and safety gear, several lenses, and a couple of camera bodies. Nowadays Geoff hardly even notices the 25-35 pounds of gear strapped to his body. He says jokingly, “It feels weird when I’m not skiing with it.” With a camera that can shoot 14 frames a second, it’s pretty easy for Geoff to fill up a few memory cards. “If it’s sunny, I’ll easily shoot over 2,000 images,” Geoff says. “It’s a lot of frames, and a lot of them are not spectacular,

Goeff Holman in his element. but it’s a bit of the editing skill and choosing which ones are going to be the special ones.”

liding around with camera gear and lights in deep snow on brutal cold days seems like a lot of hard work, but it is what this team lives for. Adam Benson, who is a full-time firefighter in Kelowna, had this to say: “One of my favorite things about what we get to do with the catskiing and stuff like that: I get to ski with my best friends in some incredible terrain. We get to do these trips of a lifetime and get to make all these fun photos. It’s just a dream come true every time I go out there with my friends.” I ask Geoff what’s the best part of his job. “I think it’s getting out with my friends, the camaraderie, and I like the stoke,” he says. “So we’ve kind of found our way, our kind of niche if

COURTESY GEOFF HOLMAN

you will, in the ski industry,” adds Todd, or as I call him, “Cover Boy.” Todd has been featured on over 10 skiing magazine covers around the world. “I’ve been on a few covers, which is, um, pretty good for the ego,” he says jokingly. “Now my wife, she’s like, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, another cover.’ Um, but I still get pretty stoked about it.” For this tight group of buddies, it’s really about being able to do something that they love to do and being able to do it with your friends. I ask John if there’s ever any friendly rivalry between them on the hill. Laughing, John says, “Absolutely. I mean, it’s a bit of a competition among the guys. We all do our best to get the best shot of the trip. It’s rewarding.” How many covers have you been on? “None,” John admits. “It’s all Todd. Well, wait, I’m sorry, I was on the phone book.” n

NOVEMBER 12, 2020 INLANDER 25

REGIONAL RESORTS

BIG WHITE SKI RESORT PHOTO

26 INLANDER NOVEMBER 12, 2020

REGIONAL RESORTS

RESORTS OF THE

NORTHWEST 48 mountains right in our backyard

BY ALEX SAKARIASSEN

EDITOR’S NOTE

Non-essential travel between Canada and the U.S. is restricted at least until Nov. 21, but not knowing what the season may hold, we have included Canadian resorts in this list.

49 DEGREES NORTH

Chewelah, Washington • ski49n.com 1,851 vertical feet • 82 runs Sheltered below the treed peaks of Chewelah and Angel, 49 Degrees North offers everything a rider needs to forget about the hustle and bustle for a while. Duck into the trees for some of that desert-dried powder or work the knees through a steep mogul field, all without sacrificing that family-friendly feel that makes winter so welcome. The resort’s 2,325 skiable acres (ideal for social distancing) get pummeled with an average of 301 inches of snow each year. The mountain doesn’t anticipate COVIDrelated limits on ticket sales, but riders should check the site for the latest.

ANTHONY LAKES

North Powder, Oregon • anthonylakes.com 900 vertical feet • 21 runs Powder days are serious business, but skiing should always lean toward levity. That’s exactly the kind of vibe Oregon’s Anthony Lakes cultivates. Why else would the mountain’s triple chair bear a chuckle-inducing name like The Rock Garden? Just don’t let the joke fool you. Anthony Lakes averages 300 inches of snow a season, and it’s the kind of snow that really puts the “light” in “light-hearted.” With COVID-19 in mind, day passes will be limited this season and available only online. The mountain is requiring that riders wear face masks at all times this season.

APEX MOUNTAIN RESORT Penticton, British Columbia • apexresort.com 2,000 vertical feet • 80 runs Nestled among a swath of tempting peaks south-central British Columbia, Apex Mountain Resort is the kind of chute-shooting, bowl-charging experience riders yearn for. The resort’s upper glades abound with crisp, dry powder

— as much as 20 feet of it each season — and a wealth of well-groomed blues lower down give skiers and snowboarders a chance to rip some high-speed turns. For those desiring maximum social distance, Apex Mountain is surrounded by more than 12,000 acres of backcountry terrain. Strict limits on international travel into Canada persist, so riders from the U.S. should check the latest COVID-19 news before hatching plans.

BIG SKY

Big Sky, Montana • bigskyresort.com 4,350 vertical feet • 300 runs Few rides in the Northern Rockies are as storied or breath-catching as the Lone Peak Tram. Big Sky Resort’s iconic lift opens onto a summit riddled with chutes and steep, hanging snowfields. Lower down, Big Sky’s sprawling network of lifts offer snowsports enthusiasts access to 5,850 acres of mixed terrain across four mountains, all of it covered by an average of 400 inches of snow annually. Facial coverings will be mandatory this season, and the village has been reconfigured to keep that vital après-ski vibe alive. Big Sky doesn’t anticipate imposing skier limits, but is encouraging folks to book online to ensure access.

BIG WHITE SKI RESORT

Kelowna, British Columbia • bigwhite.com 2,550 vertical feet • 119 runs Can you really call it winter without snow? At Big White Ski Resort, the question is totally moot, as the mountain’s 2,765 skiable acres attract up to 25 feet of blower powder every season. Carveable groomers, treed glades, chargeable steeps — Big White has something for every skier in the family. A number of services have been suspended this season, including on-mountain shuttles and day care, the tubing hill and night skiing, and day tickets must be purchased online in advance. But upgrades in the

village mean continued opportunities to dine or warm up with a drink. For U.S. riders looking to venture out this year, Canada’s international travel restrictions apply here too.

BLACKTAIL

Lakeside, Montana • blacktailmountain.com 1,440 vertical feet • 24 runs Perched high above western Montana’s iconic Flathead Lake, Blacktail Mountain is the kind of fun, upside-down ski area that breeds lasting family memories. A day here starts with a drive to the summit, where the lodge and a view of the distant Mission Mountains greet riders before their snowy descent to the bottom of one of the area’s three lifts. Shred powder-laden glades or coast along corduroyed groomers all day, then catch a lift back to the summit for a hot drink and the drive home. Blacktail is offering rental reservations and online ticket purchases this year, so be sure to plan ahead.

BLUEWOOD

Dayton, Washington • bluewood.com 1,125 vertical feet • 24 runs Tucked within southeastern Washington’s Umatilla National Forest, Bluewood packs a lot of punch in its 400 skiable acres. Treed slopes, terrain parks and groomers fed with an annual average of 300 inches of powder are there for the shredding at one of the lowest day-pass rates around. And true to its family-oriented atmosphere, Bluewood is taking strides to keep riders safe this season, launching a new website this fall to make online reservations for passes and rentals easier. For those rethinking their plans to ski this season, the area is also allowing 2020/21 season pass holders to roll their purchase into the following season — just one more nod to Bluewood’s riders-comefirst philosophy. ...continued on next page

NOVEMBER 12, 2020 INLANDER 27

REGIONAL RESORTS

Crystal Mountain is about 85 miles southeast of Seattle.

BRIDGER BOWL

Bozeman, Montana • bridgerbowl.com 2,700 vertical feet • 75 runs From the vaunted steeps off Schlasman’s to the boxes and rails in the lower terrain park, Bridger Bowl has carved out a reputation for catering to every whim a skier or snowboarder might have. Hidden powder stashes and glimpses of a new tantalizing chute lurk around each turn, opportunities made all the tastier by Bridger’s 350 inches of average snowfall. COVID-19 has prompted the mountain to limit skier visits and implement a day-pass reservation system this season, so be sure to plan ahead and check the mountain’s website for the latest intel.

BRUNDAGE MOUNTAIN RESORT

McCall, Idaho • brundage.com 1,921 vertical feet • 51 runs At Brundage, winter is all about skiing between the lines. The resort, located on the Payette National Forest near McCall, Idaho, encourages riders to explore the snowfields and glades between its runs, where 320 inches of average annual snowfall translates to long stretches of untracked powder. Among its various responses to the

28 INLANDER NOVEMBER 12, 2020

pandemic, Brundage has opted to run its Centennial Triple all week long to better disperse the crowds and to redirect its guest WiFi system to cover outdoor areas rather than indoor ones. Food and beverages will still be available, but major events such as Brundage’s Pray for Snow party have all been canceled this season.

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

Crystal Mountain, Washington • crystalmountainresort.com 3,100 vertical feet • 85 runs Crystal Mountain Resort drapes across a ring of snowy peaks southeast of Seattle, its quiltwork of hanging bowls, steep chutes and snaking groomers stretched out below the towering backdrop of Mount Rainier. An expansive network of 11 lifts grant access to 2,300 skiable acres, all of it blanketed each season with an average of 486 inches of powder. This winter will see expanded outdoor seating in the village, mobile purchase capability for food and beverages, and a number of new midweek pass deals. Crystal has also announced a daily limit on skier visits to avoid congestion, and day tickets will only be sold online, so be sure to check the resort’s website before hitting the road.

DISCOVERY

Anaconda, Montana • skidiscovery.com 2,388 vertical feet • 67 runs Variety is key when it comes to skiing. Variety with a view? Well, that’s Discovery Ski Area in a nutshell. From the summit of western Montana’s Rumsey Mountain, riders can soak in a vista that includes the nearby Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness and Georgetown Lake, then take the plunge into a 2,200-acres playground of powder-choked chutes and legburning groomers. “Disco,” as the locals call it, has opted not to open its lodge for indoor seating or dining this year, but the mountain’s outdoor grill will be slinging burgers, and riders can order limited food items for outdoor consumption. In other words, as Disco puts it, think of your vehicle as your base lodge this season.

FAIRMONT

Fairmont, British Columbia • fairmonthotsprings.com 1,000 vertical feet • 12 runs Fairmont Hot Springs Resort stands as proof that big things come in small packages. The mountain’s terrain runs the gamut from steep treed alleys to long lazy groomers, and the Hang ’em High Terrain Park gives freestylers

plenty of opportunity to hone their rail-shredding, jump-stomping game. Face coverings and social distancing are mandatory in indoor settings, but guests can feel free to drop their masks after slipping into the resort’s trademark hot pools. Since Fairmont is in British Columbia, Canadian restrictions on international travel do apply.

FERNIE ALPINE RESORT

Fernie, British Columbia • skifernie.com 3,550 vertical feet • 142 runs plus 5 alpine bowls It’s not unusual to hear riders across the region rave about Fernie. Five shreddable bowls and a wealth of steep ridge runs get hammered with an annual average of 30 feet of snow, making for some truly memorable descents. The resort’s vibrant village scene will look a bit different this season with revised capacity and increased distance between diners, and skier limits mean visitors will have to purchase lift tickets online ahead of arrival. Skiers and snowboarders from the U.S. should check for up-to-date info on Canada’s international travel restrictions prior to hatching their plans.

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT PHOTO

KICKING HORSE

Golden, British Columbia • kickinghorseresort.com 4,314 vertical feet • 120 runs Kicking Horse bills itself as Canada’s champagne powder capital, but the abundance hardly stops at the resort’s 20 feet of annual average snowfall. The peaks and ridges populating Kicking Horse’s 3,400 skiable acres offer one hair-raising run after another, and a teeming base village guarantees plenty of good eats and refreshing drinks at the end of each leg-burning day. Après-ski culture is slated to be a masked-and-distanced affair this season. Lift tickets will be sold exclusively online as well, and given the resort’s location, Canadian restrictions on international travel apply.

KIMBERLEY ALPINE RESORT

Kimberley, British Columbia • skikimberley.com 2,465 vertical feet • 80 runs Groomer lovers and tree skiers alike will feel right at home on Kimberley’s slopes. The resort’s 1,800 skiable acres contain plenty of corduroy and sheltered powder stashes for any eager rider, not to mention the longest lit run in North America. Kimberley is

implementing a score of new safety measures to combat the pandemic this season, including reduced capacities both on the hill and in the resort’s facilities. Tickets will be sold exclusively online, and U.S. skiers and snowboarders should be aware that Canadian international travel restrictions apply.

LAKE LOUISE

Lake Louise, Alberta • skilouise.com 3,250 vertical feet • 143 runs Skiers and snowboarders are constantly aspiring to shred new heights. And it doesn’t get much higher than the top of the world, which just happens to be the name of Lake Louise’s backside lift. Beyond its bullwheel, riders will find a dizzying array of chutes fed by an annual average of 179 inches of powder snow. Elsewhere on the resort’s 4,200 acres, those looking for mellower terrain can have their pick of glades, bowls and winding groomers. Social distancing is the name of the game this season, and visitors will be expected to wear face masks indoors and in lift lines. As Lake Louise lies north of the border, Canadian restrictions on international travel will apply.

LOOKOUT PASS SKI AREA

Mullan, Idaho • skilookout.com 1,150 vertical feet • 35 runs The early end to last season left many riders without a chance to check out Lookout Pass’ new frontside quad. Shredding the area’s 540 acres of groomers and glades has never been easier or speedier, and with a La Niña winter in the forecast, Lookout’s 400 inches of annual average snowfall may turn out to be a conservative estimate. Lookout doesn’t anticipate any restrictions on skier visits this year, but face coverings will be a must and the mountain is encouraging visitors to purchase tickets and make lesson reservations online before heading up I-90.

LOST TRAIL POWDER MOUNTAIN

Sula, Montana • losttrail.com 1,800 vertical feet • 60 runs If you can’t find first tracks at Lost Trail Powder Mountain, well, you’re just not looking hard enough. Skiers and boarders from Montana and Idaho rave about these slopes largely due to an annual average snowfall of 325 inches. Mellow glades and rolling groomers abound on Lost Trail’s 1,800 acres, and if you want to add some steeps to your deeps, a ride down Hollywood Bowl will have the whole crew whooping.

This year will see indoor capacity limits and requirements for face coverings in all indoor spaces, ticket and lift lines, and during lessons. So far Lost Trail has not announced plans to limit on-hill capacity.

LOUP LOUP SKI BOWL

Okanogan, Washington • skitheloup.com 1,240 vertical feet • 10 runs Don’t let Little Buck Mountain’s name fool you. This modest area cut from the pines of Washington’s Cascade Range has more than enough black diamonds to keep thrill-seekers happy this winter. The nonprofit behind Loup Loup Ski Bowl spent the summer expanding capacity in the new lodge as well, making social distancing easier for all riders during the 2020/21 season. Face masks must be worn in all indoors spaces and on lifts, and a day on the area’s 7 miles of groomed luge trails will require reservations made in advance.

MISSION RIDGE

Wenatchee, Washington • missionridge.com 2,250 vertical feet • 36 runs Famed for the lingering wreckage of a crashed B-24 bomber from 1944, Mission Ridge is the kind of mountain dripping with history. For snowsports enthusiasts, it’s dripping with potential, too, from the steep treed chutes off its summit to the powder stashes lurking above its maze of groomers. Located just 12 miles from Wenatchee, Mission Ridge offers a total of 2,000 skiable acres. This season, advanced planning is key as the resort may be limiting day-ticket availability on peak days and indoor dining spaces will be subject to restricted capacity.

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MOUNT BACHELOR

Bend, Oregon • mtbachelor.com 3,365 vertical feet • 101 runs Riders will find summit descents aplenty at Mount Bachelor, as the mountain’s snow-covered flanks are shreddable in literally every direction. Below the treeline, snaking groomers and powdered glades hit with an annual average of 462 inches of snowfall offer a range of options for all skill levels, and it’s all just a 22-mile drive from the cozy town of Bend. Mount Bachelor is taking the pandemic seriously too, with a new online parking reservation system and touchless purchasing across the mountain. Visitors will be expected to boot-up at their vehicles this season, and when it comes to indoor dining, capacity is going to be limited. ...continued on next page

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NOVEMBER 12, 2020 INLANDER 29

REGIONAL RESORTS MOUNT BAKER

Glacier, Washington • mtbaker.us 1,500 vertical feet • 32 runs Nestled just outside the rugged Mount Baker Wilderness, Mount Baker Ski Area offers an ideal blend of intermediate skiing and expert-only terrain. Powdery bowls, lazy groomers and steep, exposed faces populate the mountain’s 1,000 skiable acres, and are blanketed in a whopping 688 inches of average annual snowfall. With the pandemic in mind, Mount Baker has decided to operate seven days a week for the entire season, and will be rolling out revised on-mountain menus featuring more grab-andgo food options. The area is cautiously informing potential visitors that skier restrictions may become necessary on select days, at which point an online reservation system will be implemented, so check Mount Baker’s website for the latest.

BALDY MOUNTAIN RESORT

Oliver, British Columbia • skibaldy.com 1,300 vertical feet • 35 runs When desert air meets the high alpine region above British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, expect blower pow and lots of it. The slopes of Baldy Mountain get an average of 25 feet

of snowfall per season, turning its glades, groomers and three miles of Nordic trails into a winter sports enthusiast’s paradise. Baldy doesn’t anticipate skier restrictions yet, but masks and social distancing are strongly encouraged and storage lockers will be closed to guests this season. Dining and drinking areas will be at reduced capacity and day ticket sales have been moved to Baldy’s outdoor kiosk. U.S. riders be aware, Canadian restrictions on international travel apply.

MOUNT HOOD MEADOWS

Parkdale, Oregon • skihood.com 2,777 vertical feet • 85 runs Situated below the craggy summit of Mount Hood, riders will find a 2,150-acre playground boasting snowy chutes, steep headwalls and a literal maze of snaking groomers. Mount Hood Meadows gets hit with an average of 430 inches of snow annually, and a bevy of backcountry cliffs and glades lie just beyond the resort’s gates for those daring and prepared enough to venture out. This season, masks will be required in all indoor spaces, in lift lines and on lifts. Mount Hood Meadows is also implementing a dynamic online ticketing system to

Red Mountain boasts 119 runs. control the number of skiers on its slopes, so be sure to purchase yours in advance. Same goes for rentals and adult lessons.

MOUNT HOOD SKIBOWL

Government Camp, Oregon • skibowl.com 1,500 vertical feet • 69 runs Just a hop and a skip from Mount Hood itself, Mount Hood Skibowl offers a mix of beginner and intermediate terrain ideal for families who prefer to ride together, plus plenty of steep faces and terrain park features

should anyone feel the need to slip away for a trickier descent. The resort attracts 300 inches of annual snowfall on average, and has 36 lit runs for those who simply can’t stand to call it a day at sunset. All ticket sales and rentals will be conducted online this season. Mount Hood Skibowl is encouraging riders to boot-up and lunch at their vehicles too, though mountain amenities will offer some grab-and-go food options.

MOUNT NORQUAY

Banff, Alberta • banffnorquay.com 1,650 vertical feet • 60 runs

RED MOUNTAIN RESORT PHOTO

One glimpse of the rocky cliffs looming above Mount Norquay is enough to get any skier or snowboarder drooling. The resort’s 190 acres, set in the heart of Banff National Park, feature a diverse array of groomers, treed gullies and mogul fields. Mount Norquay doesn’t anticipate skier limits yet, but is requiring all day tickets be purchased online. The area will also have a greeting station with health checks and signage, and riders will have to mask-up in lift lines and on lifts. For those in the U.S., check for updates on Canada’s international travel restrictions before hatching plans.

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REGIONAL RESORTS MT. SPOKANE SKI & SNOWBOARD PARK

Mead, Washington • mtspokane.com 2,000 vertical feet • 52 runs Located just 28 miles from downtown, Mount Spokane is literally Spokane’s winter backyard. Area riders know all too well the wealth of groomers, powdery bowls and terrain park features the mountain’s 1,704 acres have to offer. Mount Spokane will be loading its lifts 10 minutes early this season, but plans to limit day-pass sales on peak weekends and holidays. Indoor capacity will be reduced as well, so bear in mind this won’t be the winter for extended lodge hangs.

NAKISKA

Kananaskis, Alberta • skinakiska.com 2,412 vertical feet • 71 runs If it’s monster lines you’re looking for, look no further than Nakiska’s Monster Glades, a tidy collection of blues and blacks that wind through snow-laden trees along the mountain’s boundary. Elsewhere on Nakiska’s 1,021 acres, riders will find steep descents and long rolling groomers as well as a rail park and a ski/boarder-cross course. Social distancing and masks will be required across the resort this winter, and day passes will only be available online to accommodate limited on-hill

capacity. Since Nakiska happens to be in Alberta, U.S. riders need to check the latest info on Canada’s international travel restrictions.

PANORAMA MOUNTAIN

Panorama, British Columbia • panoramaresort.com 4,265 vertical feet • 133 runs Whether you’re posting to TikTok or rocking it old-school on Instagram, it’s hard to argue with a backdrop like Panorama Mountain. Heck, it’s there in the name, right? With 2,975 skiable acres, there’s more here than a rider could possibly shred in a single day, especially if they get sucked into making steep-and-deep laps in Taynton Bowl or carving long, fast turns on Founder’s Ridge. Lift tickets have to be purchased online or by phone this season, and face coverings are mandatory across the resort. All indoor dining and drinking establishments will be subject to reduced capacity. Canadian restrictions on international travel apply.

PHOENIX

Grand Forks, British Columbia • skiphoenix.com 800 vertical feet • 15 runs Billed as the “best little mountain in BC,” Phoenix offers a 15-run assortment of tasty snow-laden trees

and speedy groomers all accessible by T-bar and rope tow. The mountain, overseen and operated by the nonprofit Phoenix Mountain Alpine Ski Society, is geared toward a community mindset and a passion for shredding the average 350 inches of powder that falls here annually. Phoenix has yet to announce any changes for the coming season but is slated to open. Check the website for up-to-date info and be aware that Canadian restrictions on international travel apply.

RED MOUNTAIN

Rossland, British Columbia • redresort.com 2,919 vertical feet • 119 runs Anything goes on the flanks of Granite Mountain in winter, where riders at RED Mountain Resort can shred a full 360 degrees of chutes, glades and ridge runs off the peak’s summit. Nearby Grey Mountain offers a similar peak-to-plunge experience, while Red Mountain proper serves up a densely packed assortment of steep glades and narrow gullies. All told, the resort has 3,850 acres of endlessly skiable terrain fed with an annual average of 300 inches of snow. No one will be permitted on the mountain without a face mask this season, gear cannot be stored in the lodge, and there won’t

be an indoor area to boot up. Canada’s international travel restrictions apply.

REVELSTOKE MOUNTAIN

Revelstoke, British Columbia • revelstokemountainresort.com 5,620 vertical feet • 75 runs Tucked below the craggy point of Mount Mackenzie, Revelstoke Mountain Resort boasts a complex web of snaking greens, blues and blacks, plus a healthy helping of powdery bowls, steep chutes and stoke-inducing glades. As if the terrain wasn’t gnarly enough, the resort racks up more than 34 feet of snow on average per season. Tickets at Revelstoke must be purchased online this winter. Masks will be required, and seating will be reduced in common areas and restaurants. Heads up, Revelstoke is in BC, so international travel restrictions apply.

SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN RESORT

Sandpoint, Idaho • schweitzer.com 2,400 vertical feet • 99 runs For more than 50 years, Schweitzer has been keeping on top of the winter experience. New lifts, tree thinning, terrain parks full of jumps and rails — seems like every season, the mountain’s made some subtle

change on its 2,900 acres to please the glade skiers, the jibbers and the family units. This year, the coronavirus pandemic has made that commitment trickier, necessitating online-only ticket sales and daily rider limits. It’s doubtful, however, that steps such as reduced indoor capacity and face mask requirements will do much to dampen the experience folks flock to Schweitzer for season after season.

SILVER MOUNTAIN

Kellogg, Idaho • silvermt.com 2,200 vertical feet • 73 runs Laid out between the twin peaks of Wardner and Kellogg, Silver Mountain Resort’s 1,600 acres combine everything from gently winding ridge runs to steep plummets into snowy glades. The slopes are located exactly one gondola ride from Interstate 90, and seasons here tend to run long with 340 inches of annual average snowfall. Lift tickets will be limited on weekends and holidays and must be purchased online for those days, and face coverings will be required on the gondola and in all indoor spaces. For those planning to hit the resort’s indoor waterpark, staff will take temperatures of everyone entering the facility. ...continued on next page

NOVEMBER 12, 2020 INLANDER 31

REGIONAL RESORTS

Whitefish Mountain Resort is known for its iconic snow ghosts.

SILVER STAR MOUNTAIN

Vernon, British Columbia • skisilverstar.com 2,500 vertical feet • 132 runs Silver Star Mountain sprawls across 3,282 acres of British Columbian forest, its spiderweb of steep treed alleys and long corduroy avenues stretching out above a colorful, Western-style village. Snow piles up here to the tune of 23 feet per season on average, all of it as crisp and dry as a New Year’s Eve toast. Pandemic-related changes include a resort-wide face mask mandate, an online parking reservation system and day-specific limits on ticket sales. Night skiing will not be available this season, and Canadian restrictions on international travel apply.

SITZMARK SKI AREA

Havillah, Washington • skisilverstar.com 650 vertical feet • 10 runs As great as the resort-style steep-anddeep experience is, sometimes skiers and snowboarders crave the familiar, unassuming embrace of a Momand-Pop winter. That’s exactly what Sitzmark Ski Area has to offer, with 80 acres of straight snowbound fun in the Okanogan Highlands accessible from a single double chair. The area hasn’t

32 INLANDER NOVEMBER 12, 2020

updated its Facebook feed with any COVID-19 news yet, and weekends can be a weather-dependent affair here, so be sure to check the latest updates before you go.

SNOQUALMIE PASS

Snoqualmie Pass, Washington • summitatsnoqualmie.com 2,280 vertical feet • 62 runs Nicknamed “Seattle’s Home Mountain,” Snoqualmie Pass unfurls in several stages along Interstate 90 some 54 miles east of the Emerald City. Some of its lifts, such as Summit Central and Summit West, cater heavily to the family experience with mixed intermediate and advanced terrain. Alpental ups the game for the expert rider with glades, powder bowls and a hair-raising summit descent aptly named Adrenalin. Lift tickets will be limited on peak days this season. Face masks will be required indoors and anywhere outside where social distancing isn’t possible. Snoqualmie will also only be accepting cashless transactions.

SNOWBOWL SKI

Missoula, Montana • montanasnowbowl.com 2,600 vertical feet • 48 runs Snowbowl’s slogan, “The Whole Point

of Winter,” is something of a local mantra in the Missoula area. The area is just a 12-mile drive from downtown, and enthusiasm over last year’s unveiling of the long-anticipated TV Mountain expansion will doubtless carry over into the coming season. Face masks will be required in all indoor spaces, and Snowbowl is taking steps to expedite the ticket sale process, though it does not anticipate any skier limits.

STEVENS PASS

Skykomish, Washington • stevenspass.com 1,800 vertical feet • 52 runs Stretched across 1,125 acres in the heart of Washington’s Cascades, Stevens Pass is a bowl rider’s paradise. Powder fields of various sizes, fed by 460 inches of average annual snowfall, dot the area’s front and back sides, while treed chutes and headwalls await the more steep-minded in the shadow of Cowboy Mountain. Stevens Pass is taking a different approach to access this season, allowing season pass holders to reserve days and holding off on lift ticket sales through the early season. Face masks will be required across the mountain, and Stevens Pass is only accepting cashless transactions.

SUN VALLEY RESORT

Ketchum, Idaho • sunvalley.com 3,400 vertical feet • 121 runs Over the past 80 years, Sun Valley’s slopes have drawn a host of notable celebrities including Ernest Hemingway, Marilyn Monroe and the ski industry’s own Warren Miller. It’s not hard to see why, with the resort’s 2,054 acres offering a mashup of long corduroy descents and steep open bowls. Riders this season will be required to wear face masks at the resort and throughout the town of Sun Valley below. The resort doesn’t anticipate limits on skier capacity, but is prepared to implement an online reservation system for peak days to manage crowds.

SUNSHINE VILLAGE

Banff, Alberta • skibanff.com 3,514 vertical feet • 137 runs One of Banff’s famed “Big 3,” Sunshine Village encapsulates three mountains straddling the Alberta/ British Columbia border. A total of 3,358 skiable acres includes long groomers, open powder fields and a series of expert-only, hike-to chutes off Goat’s Eye Mountain. Given its vast terrain, Sunshine Village has no plans to limit ticket sales this season. The resort has also set up three new

WHITEFISH MOUNTAIN RESORT PHOTO

temporary lodge structures and two temporary washrooms to help with indoor capacity reductions and ease social distancing.

TAMARACK

Tamarack, Idaho • tamarackidaho.com 2,800 vertical feet • 50 runs Overlooking the pristine waters of Idaho’s Lake Cascade, Tamarack Resort is a top-to-bottom thrillride for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels. Harrowing steeps give way to long winding groomers, with plenty of trees to duck into for the occasional face shot. Powderhounds can also access a bevy of off-area bowls boasting an annual average of 300 inches of snow. The resort has made a number of changes during the pandemic, including adding several in-village dining options with reduced capacity and rolling out a no-contact ticket purchase and pickup system. Tamarack has cautioned that there may be day-pass limits on certain holidays and peak weekends to avoid on-hill crowding.

TIMBERLINE

Timberline Lodge, Oregon • timberlinelodge.com 3,690 vertical feet • 41 runs Located just around the corner from

Mount Hood Meadows, Oregon’s iconic Timberline Lodge unlocks some 1,145 acres of skiable terrain in winter including tree-lined groomers, robust terrain park features and steep, open descents off Mount Hood’s upper reaches. Timberline has commissioned its third-generation Pucci lift this season to further disburse riders, and if necessary, the mountain will begin managing on-hill capacity with an online reservation system and mandatory COVID questionnaire. Guests will be expected to wear masks indoors and on lifts. Timberline’s plans also call for private lessons only this season, and a checkpoint will be operating on Timberline Road to provide visitors the latest info.

TURNER MOUNTAIN

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WHITEFISH MOUNTAIN RESORT

Whitefish, Montana • skiwhitefish.com 2,353 vertical feet • 113 runs Storied among Montana riders for its iconic snow ghosts, Whitefish Mountain Resort is a powder lover’s version of heaven. Backside descents through the trees and frontside shred sessions through Ptarmigan Bowl will have the whole crew barking like hounds. A view into the western edge of Glacier National Park is the cherry on the sundae. Riders will be required to wear masks indoors and in lift lines, and the resort has opted against singles lines this season. No limits on ticket sales are anticipated yet, but advanced bookings are recommended.

WHITEWATER SKI RESORT

Nelson, British Columbia • skiwhitewater.com 2,044 vertical feet • 82 runs From the treed steeps of Glory Ridge and Summit to the beginnercentric fare of the Silver King Chair, Whitewater has something for every skier or boarder in the family. And a healthy dollop of powder — 40 feet on average per season — makes the resort’s terrain all the more shreddable. Day passes must be purchased in advance this season, and face masks are required across the resort. Riders have been asked to limit their time in the lodge and a spot in Whitewater’s famed bar will only be available with a reservation. Canadian restrictions on international travel apply. n

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Whistler, British Columbia • whistlerblackcomb.com 5,280 vertical feet • 200+ runs There’s going big with your winter, and then there’s Whistler/Blackcomb. The resort boasts a staggering 8,171 acres of prime skiing and boarding, from mazes of mellow corduroy to jaw-dropping chutes and hanging powder bowls. Those with a transceiver and a zest for adventure can springboard into British Columbia’s Garibaldi National Park for a day or two of backcountry thrills. Face coverings and cashless transactions are the rules at Whistler/Blackcomb this season, and all pass sales are subject to an online reservation system. Seating at restaurants has been spaced out, with reduced capacity, to ensure proper social distancing. Canadian restrictions on international travel apply.

Naches, Washington • skiwhitepass.com 2,050 vertical feet • 45 runs Draped across a pair of mountains on the northeastern edge of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, White Pass is a 1,402-acre feast of familyfriendly riding and big mountain thrills. Its glades, groomers and headwalls get hammered with an annual average of 400 inches of snow, and 11 miles of adjacent Nordic trails add extra oomph to the winter experience. Face masks will be required at all times this season, and staff will undergo daily health checks to keep everyone safe. White Pass doesn’t plan to limit day-ticket sales yet, but acknowledges that may become necessary and has opted not to sell multiday ticket products this season. The mountain also encourages riders to use their vehicles as a day lodge, since access to facilities will be limited.

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Libby, Montana • skiturner.com 2,110 vertical feet • 22 runs Last season’s early closure was a bummer for anyone with plans to shred the best-kept secret in western Montana. But that’s just more reason to slip Turner Mountain into the 2020/21 datebook. With a single chair accessing a host of gentle blues and powder-filled blacks on the Kootenai National Forest, riders here are sure to appreciate the efforts of the nonprofit Kootenai Winter Sports Ski Education Foundation that operates it all. While Turner hasn’t announced any COVID-specific plans yet, the ability to rent the mountain on non-operating days could be just the ticket for riders looking for maximum social distance on the slopes.

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NOVEMBER 12, 2020 INLANDER 33

WINTER EVENTS NOVEMBER

SARS SKI SWAP (VIRTUAL) Due to Idaho’s recent move back into Phase 3 of the state’s COVID-19 reopening plan, this year’s swap has been canceled and is instead moving to an online marketplace where local families can buy and sell youth skiing equipment. Details at sars.net TRI-CITIES WINTER PARKING LOT SALE Snow-sport lovers in southeastern Washington can get ready for the season at this annual event offering new and gently used equipment, gear and clothing. This year’s event is a one-day parking lot sale to allow for social distancing. Sat, Nov. 14 from 11 am-3 pm. At Scott’s Cycle and Sports Kennewick, 704 S. Ely St., Kennewick. theskiswap.com (522-1443) THANKSJIBBING Head to 49 Degrees North for its first terrain park event of the season, with more details to be announced soon via social media and the mountain’s email newsletter. Sat, Nov. 21. 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort, 3311 Flowery Trail Rd., Chewelah. Ski49n. com (935-6649) BIG WHITE OPENING WEEKEND Head north of the border to celebrate both the start of the ski season (Nov. 26-29) and the holidays as the resort turns on its colorful lights during a socially distanced, resort-wide celebration (Saturday, Nov. 28); details TBA. Nov. 26-28. Big White Ski Resort, 5315 Big White Rd., Kelowna, B.C. bigwhite.com (250-765-3101) SCHWEITZER OPENING DAY The mountain kicks off the 2020-21 winter season, weather permitting. Check in closer to this date for the latest weather and operations updates. Fri, Nov. 27. Schweitzer Mountain Resort, 10000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd., Sandpoint, Idaho. schweitzer.com (208-263-9555)

DECEMBER

OPENING DAY AT MT. SPOKANE Conditions permitting, the ski and snowboard park will open the first weekend of December. Sat, Dec. 5 from 9 am-4 pm. Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park, 29500 N. Mt. Spokane Park Dr., Mead. Details and updates at mtspokane.com (238-2220) TWILIGHT SKIING AT SCHWEITZER Enjoy after-dark skiing and riding in the Stomping Grounds Terrain Park and the beginner terrain off Musical Chairs. Offered daily Dec. 26-31; FriSat nights from Jan. 1-March 6 as well as Sun, Jan. 17 and Sun, Feb. 14. Passes ($20) valid from 3-7 pm. Schweitzer

34 INLANDER NOVEMBER 12, 2020

Mountain Resort, 10000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd., Sandpoint, Idaho. schweitzer.com (208-263-9555) SNOWSHOE TOUR OF MT. SPOKANE Learn the basics of snowshoeing during a guided hike on snowshoe trails around Mt. Spokane State Park. Pretrip information is emailed after registration. Tickets include snowshoes, instruction, walking poles and guides. Ages 13+. Dec. 19 and 20 from 10 amnoon ($25/session; a Sno-Park Pass and transportation are participants’ responsibility for these two sessions). Also offered Dec. 27, Jan. 1, Jan. 10 and Jan. 18 from 9 am-1 pm, ($29/session; transportation for these sessions is provided from Yoke’s Fresh Market at 14202 N. Market St.). Register at spokanerec.org (625-6200) SKI WITH SANTA Enjoy a few runs with the big guy before he takes to the skies to deliver gifts this holiday season. More details to come; this event is subject to change due to current health and safety precautions. Dec. 23-24. Schweitzer Mountain Resort, 10000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd., Sandpoint, Idaho. schweitzer.com (208-263-9555) YOUTH WINTER ADVENTURES Kids (ages 9-12) can learn to crosscountry ski and snowshoe at Mt. Spokane State Park, as well as spend time building snow caves and searching for animal tracks. Transportation, snowshoes, skiing equipment, trail passes and instruction provided. Bring a sack lunch. Offered Dec. 29-30 from 9 am-4 pm. $99. Departs each morning from the Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook St. Register at spokanerec.org (625-6200)

JANUARY

LEARN TO SKI & SNOWBOARD MONTH AT 49 Commit to learning something new this month and get outdoors on a snowboard or a pair of skis. Details TBA. Events set to occur Jan. 1-31. 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort, 3311 Flowery Trail Rd., Chewelah. Ski49n. com (935-6649) CROSS-COUNTRY SKI LESSONS (49 DEGREES NORTH) Learn to cross-country ski and tour the trails of the 49 Degrees North Nordic Area with the mountain’s certified ski instructors. Ticket includes equipment, trail pass and instruction (students must provide their own transportation to the mountain this year). Additional information to be emailed after registration. Ages 13+. Offered Jan. 3, Jan. 30, Feb. 21 and March 7 from 10 am-2 pm. $53. Register at spokanerec. org (625-6200)

Weather permitting, Schweitzer’s opening day is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 27. LADIES-ONLY CLINIC With three different days to choose from this season, women can enjoy a fun-filled day on the mountain led by Mt. Spokane’s best women instructors. Open to all skills, with groups divided by ability to allow all participants to learn and have fun at their pace. Lunch is provided, and the day ends with door prizes and drinks. Offered Fridays, Jan. 8, Feb. 12 and March 12 from 8:30 am-2 pm. $79-$140/session. Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park, 29500 N. Mt. Spokane Park Dr., Mead. mtspokane.com (238-2220) NORTHERN LIGHTS FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR Spend the MLK weekend at Schweitzer and enjoy this annual fireworks display in the village. (Event is subject to change due to current safety and health precautions.) Sat, Jan. 16. Schweitzer Mountain Resort, 10000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd., Sandpoint, Idaho. schweitzer.com (208-263-9555) TOYOTA SKI FREE FRIDAY Visitors who head to Schweitzer in their Toyota, Scion or Lexus vehicle are eligible to receive one free adult lift ticket for use that day. Fri, Jan. 22. Schweitzer Mountain Resort, 10000

Schweitzer Mountain Rd., Sandpoint, Idaho. schweitzer.com (208-263-9555) MOONLIGHT SNOWSHOE HIKE Quietly explore the meadows and woods around Mt. Spokane. Guides, transportation (departs from Mead Yoke’s Fresh Market, 14202 N. Market St.), headlamps, walking poles and snowshoes are all provided. Additional information to be emailed after registration. Ages 16+. Offered Jan. 23, Feb. 26 and March 26 from 6-9 pm. $29. Register at spokanerec.org (625-6200) SNOWSHOE TOUR OF 49 DEGREES NORTH Tour the trails of Chewelah Peak and learn tips for better control and more fun on your snowshoes. Lunch is included after this trek, and your registration fee includes equipment rentals, trail pass and lunch. Pre-trip information to be emailed after registration. Transportation is participants’ responsibility for this event. Ages 15+. Offered Jan. 23, Feb. 20, March 6 and March 20 from 10 am-4 pm. $43/session. Register at spokanerec.org (625-6200)

FEBRUARY

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI TOUR WITH FRIENDS OF MT. SPOKANE Learn about the mountain from

SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN RESORT PHOTO

Friends of Mt. Spokane member and local expert Chris Currie, who has published two books on the park and the history of skiing in the region. This guided interpretive tour on the crosscountry ski trails is not a lesson, and is thus for experienced hikers. Tickets include equipment rental. Ages 13+. Sun, Feb. 7 from 9 am-3 pm. $35. Register at spokanerec.org (625-6200) LET IT GLOW FIREWORKS SHOW Spend the long Presidents Day weekend at the mountain and enjoy a Sunday night fireworks show in the village. Sun, Feb. 14. (Event subject to change due to health and safety precautions.) Schweitzer Mountain Resort, 10000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd., Sandpoint, Idaho. schweitzer.com (208-263-9555) TOYOTA SKI FREE FRIDAY Drive any Toyota vehicle to Mt. Spokane and receive a free lift ticket, courtesy of Toyota. As you pull into the parking lot, you’ll be handed one free adult direct-to-lift ticket. All other passenger lift tickets ($29-$67) must be purchased online in advance. Fri, Feb. 26 from 9 am-9 pm. Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park, 29500 N. Mt. Spokane Park Dr., Mead. mtspokane. com (238-2220) n

LAST RUN

PANDEMIC WINTER ’Tis the season to get creative

BY ALEX SAKARIASSEN

he distant dusting of snow on the upper reaches of the Rattlesnake wilderness slowly fades from view as the sun sets. Lights spring to life in the valley below, and taking the cue, I switch on my headlamp. My calves barely register the elevation gained with every step, a sure sign the months of regular hiking will pay off big this winter. “I’m thinking I might get a splitboard this year,” my friend and longtime skiing companion Emily says as we pick our way up the darkening trail, her French bulldog Wallace bounding along ahead of us. “I have a feeling it’s going to be nuts with lodges and everything.” “Yeah, might be smart to hit the backcountry more,” I reply. “Just hit Lolo Pass a ton.” As we continue discussing the coming ski season, I find myself getting excited. It’s a strange, almost foreign feeling after months of pandemic life. But already Emily and I have hatched a plan to scrounge up a projector for an outdoor Warren Miller movie screening later in the month. Other friends have floated the idea of targeting fairweather days for on-area skiing and tailgating as an alternative to the usual lodge hangs. Mix in a few backcountry days and I can’t help but think this season is going to further prove the old adage right: Necessity is the mother of invention. Over the past few months, ski areas across the Pacific Northwest have rolled out their plans for dealing with COVID-19. And the common theme seems to be that riders this winter should be looking to their vehicles as their day lodge. Why not? A decent chunk of the skiing public already boots up in the parking lot anyway, and the use of a truck or Subaru as winter HQ has

Consider giving backcountry skiing a go this year.

worked well for backcountry enthusiasts for a long time. Heck, one of my fondest skiing memories came on a sunny June day on southern Montana’s Beartooth Plateau when two co-workers and I lapped the Gardiner Headwall. After our first run, we hitched a ride back to our cars in the flatbed of a pickup, then spent a while sharing beers with strangers and gazing out at the view. Skiing is a sport that breeds community. Sure, we shouldn’t be congregating in crowds this year or palling around too closely with strangers. But most of us already have our winter pods established, and perhaps our first full pandemic winter is a chance to build even crazier memories with them. We can trick out our new mobile day lodges with chairs, coolers, good music and portable grills. We can swap old stories and forge new ones. We can ride together even on those powder days when normally, according to the skier’s creed, there’s no such thing as friends. We can, for just a day, keep each others’ spirits high even as we hike up our buffs to contain this blasted thing. At the end of our hike, as Wallace plops at my feet near the trailhead begging for one last ear-scratch, I wonder how many people will be taking the backcountry leap this year as a direct result of the pandemic. I wonder what other ingenious ways riders are planning to get their winter kicks without threatening public health. As considerate and vigilant as we all still need to be, somehow those questions start to alleviate the anxieties of the past year, replacing them momentarily with a feeling I always get above a glade after a big snowstorm: the recognition of unexpected possibilities. n

NOVEMBER 12, 2020 INLANDER 35

ONE MILLION NOT A SINGLE SHAREHOLDER.

MORE THAN JUST MONEY

36 INLANDER NOVEMBER 12, 2020

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CULTURE | DIGEST

MEMORIES OF MANDERLEY Trivia time: What’s the only Alfred Hitchcock film to win the Oscar for best picture? If you answered 1940’s Rebecca, you’re right on the money. That adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s gothic novel was haunting and atmospheric, and seemed like it couldn’t be improved upon. Now a new version on Netflix takes all the menace and poetry of the original and replaces it with flat, uninvolving melodrama. This new take stars the reliable Lily James as the new bride of a brooding millionaire (a woefully miscast Armie Hammer), living in a creepy estate and haunted by the specter of his previous wife. 2020 Rebecca is not a good movie, but it might make for an interesting academic exercise: Turn it into a double feature with the Hitchcock original and compare-contrast. (NATHAN WEINBENDER)

The Many Hauntings of Mike Flanagan

BY LAUREN GILMORE

here are books that are heavy on subtext, and then there’s... Henry James. If you’ve ever read The Turn of the Screw, you probably walked away from it ready to Google what happened but not even knowing the right search terms. (Asking for an ending to be explained is all fine and good and Googleable, but what if you’re not even sure the story did end?) Taking as his source material an author who seems to only write subtext, Mike Flanagan had his work cut out for him with his new Netflix series The Haunting of Bly Manor. Of course, this isn’t Flanagan’s first time working backwards from the shadows of popular horror fiction to the material shapes that he imagines must have cast them. He took on Gerald’s Game, arguably Stephen King’s most elusive novel, and Shirley Jackson’s

THE BUZZ BIN

THIS WEEK’S PLAYLIST Some noteworthy new music hits online and in stores Nov. 13. To wit: AC/DC, PWR/UP. I’m going to hazard a guess the Aussie rockers’ latest sounds pretty much like their first 15 albums. That’s not a complaint. LAMBCHOP, Trip. Each member of the band picked a song for this covers set that includes tunes popularized by the Supremes, George Jones and Wilco. CHRIS STAPLETON, Starting Over. What else do you do after becoming the biggest new star in country music? (DAN NAILEN)

The Haunting of Hill House. Even when he’s not working with direct source material from authors, he’s producing narratives that center on novelist protagonists, like he does in Hush. With Bly, Flanagan answers almost every question James’ work asks. Where James left looming doubts, Flanagan fills in character backstories, causes of death, direct dialogue. This works better here than it did with Hill House, because in that case, he didn’t so much probe questions as he applied white-out to established answers and rewrote wishful thinking in a thick layer of Sharpie on top. Still, if you are looking for a direct adaptation, it’s best to adjust your expectations. Flanagan takes from James’s work like a palette of watercolors: loosely and liberally. When the new colors blur with routine conventions that follow the filmmaker from project to project, the shade must be experienced as its own separate, free-standing creation. Experienced, also, like a watercolor painting: moody and sprawling and likely to make you cry as much as it makes you jump. In the opening credits, portraits of the cast members are shown, first accurately, and then with their eyes erased. From here on out, the show straddles the boundaries of visibility, tangibility and linearity. In this sense, the series remains true to the spirit of The Turn of the Screw. As much as the plot is saturated with explanations that would be alien within Henry James’s ambiguity, it maintains an undercurrent of mystery, longing and disgust that will be familiar to fans of his work. For the best experience, unfocus your eyes. Resist the urge to locate an outline that might not exist, an answer you might not really want to understand. n

BABY YODA’S BACK With only two episodes of the second season out so far on Disney+ (and a third this week), The Mandalorian kicked things off by recapturing viewers’ attention with big, scary monsters and plenty of action. A surprise side role by Timothy Olyphant? Score! Many-legged ice beasts that could compete with the worst of Harry Potter’s Forbidden Forest? Yep. Still, with only 8 episodes expected, we’re still waiting to see how successful Mando might be on his quest: Bringing that bright-eyed little Baby Yoda to his people. (SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL)

BIG VIBES The Internet meme machine has blessed us again. @CatVibesTo on Twitter is the latest and greatest meme maker you need to follow, right meow. Based around an up-close gif of a totally chillin’ white cat’s head bobbing to the beat, each new dank meme mashes up the vibin’ feline to bob in time with various songs. Highlights range from a perfectly synced nod to The Mandalorian theme to major pop hits, video game soundtracks, and even fellow meme legend Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up.” (CHEY SCOTT)

START THE CLOCK We don’t get enough heroines like Beth Harmon in The Queen’s Gambit, now streaming on Netflix. Uncompromisingly brilliant and obsessive, Harmon ascends from the orphanage basement where she learned to play chess to the heights of world fame. The show draws a stirring portrait of women’s experiences in a patriarchal, 1960s America. Refreshingly, it disrupts the romanticization of the individual genius in favor of community, found families and the complex impact of race, gender and class on intellectual achievement and mental instability. (LAUREN GILMORE)

NOVEMBER 12, 2020 INLANDER 37

CULTURE | BOOK REVIEW

Recovering Reality Author Cassandra Tate’s Unsettled Ground reveals the true, complex story behind the Whitman massacre BY MINDY CAMERON

his book review serves as a postscript to the recent Inlander issue that examined the bloody history of racism in the Inland Northwest due to the incursion of Confederacy loyalists after the Civil War. The story told in Unsettled Ground: The Whitman Massacre and Its Shifting Legacy in the American West begins three decades earlier when Marcus Whitman came west to scout locations for a Presbyterian mission. In this book by Cassandra Tate, the author tells the well-known story of the tragic fate Cassandra Tate of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and seven others — five men and two teenage boys. But she then steps back from the gruesome killing to dissect with deep research the story, the people and the place where cultures collided with deadly results. The result is a highly readable, myth-busting, fact-based story of what happened, and more important, why it happened. Tate, a former journalist who worked for papers in the Northwest before earning a PhD in history at the University of Washington in 1995, has written a convincing tale of misery and ultimate failure of the mission. Not one Native was converted to Christianity, and the mission became a supply stop for emigrants on the Oregon Trail with dreams of settling in Oregon Country. The wouldbe settlers were oblivious to the fact they were overtaking vast lands that had provided sustenance to the Natives for centuries. Tate details one wagon train: “One hundred twenty wagons, at least eight hundred and possibly as many as one thousand emigrants, and from three thousand to five thousand horses, mules, oxen and cattle.” It was September 1843. “The watching Cayuse must have been stunned,” she writes. Borrowing an analogy from another historian, she compares the wagon train to the equivalent of more than seventy-five thousand western Natives marching through Boston on their way to settle in Cape Cod. Unsettled Ground falls squarely within the his-

38 INLANDER NOVEMBER 12, 2020

torical currents of the day. Tate describes in detail the Whitman statue in the National Statuary Hall that is one of two statues representing Washington state. “The statue embodies Whitman’s place in the mythology of the West, not the realities of his life,” she writes. “It is a fanciful depiction.” Equally as important as the factual history of Whitman is the nuanced understanding Tate brings to the Cayuse, the Native tribe upon whose land the mission was placed. It was Cayuse tribal members who attacked and killed Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and seven others at the mission. To say there were cultural differences vastly understates the reality. Christian missionaries and Indigenous people of the West had nothing in common. The Cayuse were openly social, giving gifts and moving freely among one another’s lodges. The Whitmans built fences, locked their doors and had no gifts to give. The missionaries had a rigid belief system; the Cayuse, Tate writes, “were religious synthesizers willing to graft new ideas onto old beliefs.” Distrust grew when measles caused numerous deaths among the Cayuse, mostly children, but relatively few among white settlers. Cayuse suspected Whitman, who was a doctor, of poisoning the Indians. Tate weaves all of this into the historical backdrop of earlier explorers of the West and the competitive forces that emerged — Great Britain vs. the United States, French Canadian Catholics vs. American Protestants. Tate describes Oregon Country as “a landscape of competition.” She draws the story on this broad canvas but remains firmly affixed to the Whitman story. In doing so she has used history to create a new and approachable tale of a story many of us thought we knew but discover here all that we did not know. It’s a tale for all who love the West, its history and its truths. n Unsettled Ground hits bookstores on Nov. 17.

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Get up to 7x points on ever y $1 spent Black Friday week, November 25-30, with your STCU Premier Rewards World Mastercard at qualified online stores and major department and electronics stores. (6x points at tire stores!) Then get 4x points on any day in November and December. Apply at stcu.org/bonus or call us at (509) 326-1954.*

Purchases at qualifying stores only. See stcu.org/bonuspoints before you shop. Bonus points promotion runs November 1 through December 31, 2020, and is limited to $2,500 in qualifying purchases, or 17,500 bonus points per rewards credit card account. No limit on the amount of standard earned points allowed. Reward points typically awarded within three business days after your qualifying transaction posts to your account. Earned points on purchases never expire, with at least one purchase every 24 months. Bonus points expire one year from date awarded. All loans subject to approval. Happy holidays!

HOLIDAYS

RETHINKING THANKSGIVING

Beverly’s is one local spot offering Thanksgiving treats. COEUR D’ALENE RESORT PHOTO

Area restaurants shift plans for dine-in holiday service, with many also offering pre-orders for dishes to take home BY CHEY SCOTT

any families are choosing not to gather around the table with loved ones near and far this Thanksgiving, but to help make up for some of what they’ll miss, plenty of local restaurants have upped their Turkey Day games. Some spots known for serving lavish, all-you-caneat holiday buffets have shifted plans to serve ala carte menus of hearty entrees and seasonal sides both for small dine-in parties and for customers to take home. Households planning to leave the cooking to someone else this

40 INLANDER NOVEMBER 12, 2020

year shouldn’t wait too long to place orders or make reservations. At Spokane Valley’s Max at Mirabeau, the restaurant inside the Mirabeau Park Hotel and Convention Center, the usual all-day Thanksgiving buffet has transitioned to seating parties of six or less (per state regulations) throughout the day. “In the past, we were famous for our buffet, but with COVID we can’t exactly do that anymore,” says hotel marketing manager Troy DeLatte. “We’re still going to

try and create the same kind of theme; a warm, homeaway-from-home, just minus the buffet style.” The hotel’s Thanksgiving breakfast service starts early, at 6 am, and runs until the dinner menu begins at 11 am, with seatings running to 10 pm. For dinner, DeLatte says guests will be able to choose from six starters (soups and salads) and six entrees — salmon, prawn scampi, peppercorn steak, porterhouse pork chop, prime rib and a traditional turkey dinner — with sides like stuffing and mashed potatoes included. A separate menu is

offered for children 12 and under, priced from $13-$20. Sides, starters and the dessert bar are included with each entree, from $47-$55. Autumn-themed cocktails are also available. DeLatte says so far the restaurant has about 25 percent of its tables for Thanksgiving booked. Parties larger than six are welcome, but will be seated at separate, nearby tables. He expects the same dine-in format for the restaurant’s Christmas dinner service. Families who head to Max at Mirabeau for Thanksgiving this year are in for another special treat. The hotel is hosting the new Northwest Winterfest holiday display, featuring illuminated lanterns in the same style as those seen during the Chinese Lantern Festival in Riverfront Park in 2015 and 2016. DeLatte says the lantern displays will be up in the hotel’s main entrance by Thanksgiving Day and on display until Jan. 2.

hile North Idaho restaurants are under different and slightly looser restrictions for dine-in service than those in Washington, one of the region’s most popular venues for Thanksgiving celebrations, the Coeur d’Alene Resort, has likewise altered its plans to keep everyone safe. Since the resort opened in 1986, its Dockside restaurant has served a traditional Thanksgiving dinner buffet each year, says Rick Powers, food and beverage director for Hagadone Hospitality. It won’t for the first time in 2020, but that doesn’t mean dinner’s entirely canceled. “With so many changes and difficulties for families through the past year, we strived to strike a balance between gourmet delights and the comforts of classic holiday meals,” Powers says. “Our chefs were inspired by the intimacy of family dinner without sacrificing the fine dining experience.” Dockside is serving a three-course dinner with five entree options, bookended by a salad course and dessert. ...continued on next page

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FOOD | HOLIDAYS

MORE THANKSGIVING OPTIONS TT’S OLD IRON BREWERY & BARBECUE Two pre-order meal packages are available: the Lil’ Bit of Thanksgiving serves 4-6 ($75) and Big Ol’ Thanksgiving serves 8-10 ($150). Both include smoked, sliced turkey and ham, caramelized yams, green bean casserole and rolls. Four-pack crowlers of the Brewsters Banquet Pilsner ($14) and SoVal Scotch Ale ($16) are also available. Order at ttsbrewerybbq.com.

Peppercorn steak is one of six entree options for Max at Mirabeau’s Thanksgiving dinner.

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

“RETHINKING THANKSGIVING,” CONTINUED... Meanwhile, at Beverly’s, an ala carte Thanksgiving menu features classic favorites including roasted turkey, slow-roasted prime rib and ahi tuna, and all the sides to go with. Guests who order the turkey option will also leave with a special leftovers box to enjoy later, Powers says. While Dockside’s annual buffet is on pause, Powers says the resort has still been able to work in a “Grand Buffet” at its conference center, where all food will be served by culinary staff, versus self-serve stations, and with guest tables spaced out for social distancing. A new option for guests this year is the resort’s fully cooked, take-away Thanksgiving

42 INLANDER NOVEMBER 12, 2020

dinner. Pre-orders for those meals can be made by phone (800-365-8338), and will be available for pickup the morning of Nov. 26. “We’re serving traditional Thanksgiving comforts, prepared by our award-winning chefs, all to be enjoyed at home so that families can spend more time catching up, watching the game and enjoying each other’s company,” Powers says. “All they have to do is call ahead, set the table and pick up their feast.” Resort guests are encouraged to make reservations for any on-site dining options, and to pre-order their take-home dinners, as early as possible. Menus and other details for the Coeur d’Alene Resort’s Thanksgiving meals are available at cdaresort.com. n

OUTLAW BARBECUE Take-and-bake Thanksgiving packs are available for pre-order through Nov. 18. Each pack ($100) feeds up to six people and comes with smoked turkey, ham, sides and rolls. Pies can be added for $20 each. Details on Facebook: Outlaw BBQ & Catering Market; call 475-1106. 1898 PUBLIC HOUSE On-site Thanksgiving dinner is served from 11 am to 6 pm. Each entree comes with a starter, sides and dessert, served family-style. Choose from a turkey ($45) or prime rib dinner ($60); kids meals (ages 6-12) are $22.50. Some items may be available to go. Reservations and details at kalispelgolf.com.

SHAWN O’DONNELL’S AMERICAN GRILL & IRISH PUB Family meals ($100; feeds 5-6) for pickup are available for pre-orders, along with drinks, cocktail kits and dessert. Dine-in seating starts at 11 am for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner; $23 for adults and $13 for kids. Details at shawnodonnells.com; call 326-7251 for reservations. THE GRAIN SHED Pre-orders for baked goods and sides include pies, holiday rolls, bread pudding, bread loaves, stuffing, roasted veggies, cranberry sauce, and the Grain Shed’s Purple Egyptian Barley beer. Pre-orders are available for pickup Nov. 24-25. Order at thegrainshed.coop. SMOKERIDGE BARBECUE Two different family-size feast packages are offered at $85 and $155, along with smoked meats whole or by the pound, including turkey, brisket, pulled pork, house-made German sausage and ribs. Sides and desserts are also available ala carte. Full menu at facebook.com/smokeridgebarbecue; call 710-3426.

FOOD | TO-GO BOX

Expanding Eastward Cascadia Public House is opening a second location; applications now open for Spokane County hospitality grant BY CHEY SCOTT

ven amid a global pandemic, growth in the region’s food scene continues at a surprising pace. The latest expansion news comes from Cascadia Public House, the Northwest-style, veggie-friendly pub in Spokane’s Five Mile neighborhood. Cascadia’s owners recently announced plans to add a second location in the recently vacated former home of Geno’s pub in the Logan neighborhood. Cascadia co-owner Jordan Smith expects the new spot to open in early 2021. “We weren’t really, honestly, looking to open a new spot,” Smith says. “It was something we thought about doing post pandemic, but [the landlord] came to us with the opportunity to get into that space, so we all talked about it and thought it would be a good opportunity for us, and the model and brand could fill a hole in the Gonzaga area.” Smith says the plan is to serve the same gastropub menu of burgers, sandwiches and vegan/ vegetarian-friendly eats at both spots. He notes that the newly acquired location is about the same size as the Five Mile restaurant, which has been performing well despite pandemic restrictions, with a large percentage of orders placed for to-go or delivery.

some of those funds set aside to create the Spokane County Hospitality Relief Grant program. The window to apply is open until Monday, Nov. 16 at 5 pm. Groups overseeing the process aim to start distributing funds by Dec. 7. Interested businesses should visit spokanehospitalitygrant.com. Spokane County businesses can apply for a grant of up to $20,000 to help cover losses and expenses incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including extra costs to operate in compliance with face-covering, sanitation and physical-distancing mandates. A business must have been established before March 1, 2020, have 249 or fewer employees as of that date, and show they’ve experienced a negative financial impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

wedonthaveone.com

NOVEMBER TH TH 13 - 28

NEW MENU BY CHEF ADAM HEGSTED DEBUTS AT COEUR D’ALENE CASINO

It’s been a homecoming of sorts for regional chef and restaurateur Adam Hegsted to be back inside the Coeur d’Alene Casino kitchen. The award-winning chef, who cut his teeth at the casino before branching out to establish his Eat Good Group restaurants, recently partnered with its culinary team to re-envision the menu of Chinook restaurant. The steakhouse-style eatery has also shortened its name from Chinook Steak, Pasta & Spirits to the more concise Chinook. “We kept a lot of the favorite items, and added a few others, going to local and seasonal products and making things from scratch,” Hegsted says. He also brought back a few favorites from his days as Coeur d’Alene Casino’s executive chef, from 2008 to 2013, including a hearty bison stew. “There were a couple iterations when I was gone, so we just brought it Cascadia co-ownerJustin Oliveri. JENNIFER DEBARROS PHOTO back to what it was before, root veggies In related news, Smith says Cascadia’s fiveand bison,” the chef says. man ownership team has also decided to merge The casino’s partnership with Hegsted is with sister restaurant RÜT Bar & Kitchen to ongoing; he’ll continue to consult and help craft form the new restaurant group, Our Common new seasonal menus throughout the year. Collective. RÜT was formerly operated by “Adam has done exceptionally well and has Cascadia co-owner Justin Oliveri and chef Josh businesses in Coeur d’Alene and Spokane that Lorenzen, who is taking on the role of executive built a name for him, and we wanted to take adchef for the collective. vantage of his positive reputation in our commu“We have other plans for more moves we nities,” explains Yvette Matt, the casino’s director want to make in the restaurant game, so we were of marketing. “If we could co-brand with him, excited to team up together,” Smith says. the fans he built outside the casino could come down and enjoy his food, giving them another reason to come out and visit instead of just coming to gamble.” Late last month, Spokane County commissioners With the new menu, Chinook has also transivoted to allocate up to $10.8 million of the countioned to a more casual service format, versus its ty’s remaining $40 million in federal CARES previous vibe as a fine dining-leaning steakhouse. Act funds to support struggling businesses in the To that end, menu prices have also been slightly hospitality, arts and entertainment sectors. reduced. A grand reopening of the re-envisioned Businesses can fill out applications to receive restaurant is set for Nov. 17. n

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR SPOKANE COUNTY’S COVID-19 HOSPITALITY GRANT

We practice kindness because it’s naturally delicious.

Pick up your passport and map at any participating locations! NOVEMBER 12, 2020 INLANDER 43

THE ROAD BACK

THE BIG PICTURE After months of dark screens, Spokane movie theaters begin projecting again

BY NATHAN WEINBENDER

44 INLANDER NOVEMBER 12, 2020

t seems like an eternity ago, but one of the first signs that the coronavirus pandemic was getting serious came from Hollywood. In March, MGM announced that their new James Bond adventure, No Time to Die, was being pushed from April to November. Then the release date of Fast & Furious 9 was delayed for a whole year. Then it was A Quiet Place Part II, then Black Widow. More delays followed. Theaters around the country closed their doors. And everyone waited. While theaters around the country started reopening in late summer on a stateby-state basis — including in Idaho, where the Riverstone Regal Cinemas and Hayden Cinemas began welcoming customers again — Washington screens remained dark. Those restrictions were only loosened in October, finally allowing movie theaters to reopen with limited capacities, and several Spokane theaters jumped at the chance to kick their projectors back on. One of them is the Magic Lantern Theater, an off-and-on staple of downtown Spokane that specializes in indie and foreign films, although the road to reopening has been a bit challenging. In the months that the theater has been dark, Magic Lantern manager Joe Sheehan says he and his three-person crew have given the screening rooms a deep clean, cleared out storage rooms and disposed of old equipment. The indie theater has just two auditoriums, one with 100 seats and another with 35, and the smaller of the two will now be made available for private parties: Groups of up to eight people can rent it and screen the film of their choice, for $99. “People can bring in their own DVD or BluRay, and we’ll screen that for them,” Sheehan says. “Down the road, we’ll be able to offer new movies when we can get our hands on some stuff.” Sheehan is currently working out issues with the digital projector in the larger auditorium, so films aren’t being screened for the ticket-buying public right now. But once that theater is back in operation, it will have a capacity of 25 people, and Sheehan says the staff will be placing black fabric over the remaining seats to encourage social distancing. Customers will also be encouraged not to loiter in the lobby, where 6-foot distance markers will be placed on the floor, but the theater will still be selling concessions, as well as beer and wine. “We’re going to adapt,” Sheehan says. “As we go, as we learn more, we’ll make adjustments on the fly and figure out what works and what doesn’t. I don’t think going to the movies is going away. But the whole structure of how they’re distributed and how theaters operate is completely blown up right now.”

he standard process of major movie distribution has been immutable for years now: A film hits first-run

theaters, then second-run and discount says he has 33 employees back at work, theaters, then makes its way to video-onmany of whom are returning from predemand services and home video. A few pandemic days. Both Village Centre and new titles, including the long-delayed X-Men AMC have implemented similar safety offshoot The New Mutants and Christopher protocols: Masks are required of customers Nolan’s mindbender Tenet, have been and staff in all common areas, as well as in released exclusively in theaters this summer, the theater unless customers are eating or but most of the year’s big properties are drinking. Plexiglass shields have also been either indefinitely delayed or have been installed at concession counters. released directly to streaming platforms in Village Centre is currently showing the the last few months. handful of films that have been released in It’s that latter development that has the second half of 2020, including the horsignaled the most radical shift in the release ror film Come Play and the family comedy model, and it has some theater owners unThe War with Grandpa. Escareño says the derstandably wary. The Garland Theater, theater has reduced concession prices and the historic second-run cinema that first will also be screening classics like National opened in 1945, has opted not to reopen, Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation at discounted citing not only a lack of new titles but the resurging number of COVID-19 cases in Spokane. “We hear that people don’t want to risk going to the movies yet,” the theater wrote on its Facebook page last week, noting that they don’t want to spend money Magic Lantern manager Joe Sheehan (left) and social-distancing measures. YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS to reopen only for a worsening pandemic to shut them down again. ticket prices. Still, he hopes Hollywood’s “Since Hollywood is not creating or already sparse release schedule stays in releasing new films, we don’t have any new place: Wonder Woman 1984 is still slated for movies to choose from,” the message reads. a Christmas Day theatrical release, and sevThose concerns aren’t unfounded. eral Oscar hopefuls should hit big screens Regal Cinemas, one of the country’s largest in the coming months. theater chains, had a difficult time keeping “We are hoping that that content that customers coming through their doors, is slated to be open stays on,” he says. “I’m and ended up closing all of its operating actively always watching movies. I’ll watch locations in October (including the one anything, but not being able to watch it on in Coeur d’Alene) for an undetermined the big screen — I think [that] was the major amount of time. draw.” But that doesn’t mean there’s not an “[Going to the movies] is such a comaudience for theatrical films right now. The munal experience, or it can be completely 20-screen AMC location in River Park solitary,” Lantern manager Sheehan says. Square has reopened, showing a mix of “I like going to the movies by myself, but I titles both new and old: Last weekend’s also really like going with other people and showings included the new Kevin Costnerthen having a bite or a drink afterwards and Diane Lane drama Let Him Go alongside having a discussion about it. That’s why older fare like The Hunt for Red October and I like working here, having conversations Toy Story. (They also announced private with people that come out of the movie. I rentals ranging from $99 to $149 to watch miss talking about the art and entertainnew films or old favorites.) ment of it.” The Pullman-based theater chain VilEscareño says his customers are clearly lage Centre Cinemas has also opened its in the same boat in missing the big-screen Wandermere location. The theater was experience, and in the two weeks that selling bags of popcorn in the parking lot Village Centre has been open again, he’s throughout the summer to bring in revenue, already seen a number of regulars who and it’s finally back to showing movies haven’t been to the movies in months. again after eight months of inactivity. “When we were open this weekend, The theater has 14 auditoriums, it kind of hit me,” he says. “It was really ranging from about 100 seats to nearly exciting seeing people in my theater again. 300, and all of them are in operation at 25 Just seeing all the old faces — even with the percent capacity. Armando Escareño, the mask on, you can still tell it’s them, bringWandermere location’s general manager, ing life back into the theater.” n

NOVEMBER 12, 2020 INLANDER 45

RECORDING

Home Sweet Home Local musicians talk the unusual challenges and unexpected charms of recording in quarantine BY NATHAN WEINBENDER

usicians have always been enterprising types, and as the closure of the state’s music venues stretches into its ninth month, they’ve found alternate routes to make money from making music — live stream concerts, socially distanced outdoor shows and releasing new music onto platforms like Bandcamp and Soundcloud. The Inlander chatted to a few local artists who have recently dropped new projects, all of which were recorded under our unusual circumstances, and they spoke about the weirdness of putting out new music in a pandemic.

THE DILRODS

Atari Ferrari’s Matthew Hughes has recorded alone in his home studio during the pandemic. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

46 INLANDER NOVEMBER 12, 2020

Imagine you’re starting a new band — practicing every week, assembling a solid setlist of material and really finding your rhythm. And imagine you’re finally ready to get in front of a crowd and book some live shows, but then a global pandemic puts a stop to in-person entertainment. That’s exactly what happened with the Dilrods, a brand new Spokane punk band that plays the sort of raucous, tightly controlled thrash-rock that flourished in L.A. in the late ’70s and early ’80s. The trio — which has given itself the Ramones-esque stage names of Bobby, Dean and Jacob Rod — came together in October when bassist Bobby Rod put out feelers for local musi-

cians via Craigslist. After meeting guitarist Dean Rod and bonding over their love of vintage punk, and after going through a series of drummers, they finally added Jacob Rod to the mix on the skins. And that’s when the COVID-19 lockdowns took hold. The band took a break, picking up weekly practices after isolating themselves. “I was writing a ton, and Dean had a bunch of material,” Bobby Rod says. “We already had a dozen or more songs ready to go. We knew live [shows] weren’t going to happen, at least for a while. We shifted gears pretty quickly to, ‘Let’s record.’” The trio eventually hit local Rainbow Trout Studios, producing a five-song EP called Spare the Rod in August. They say the record likely wouldn’t exist if the pandemic hadn’t forced them to find a creative outlet beyond live gigs. “We did it in reverse,” Dean Rod says. “We didn’t go play shows and get the material dialed in, and then go record it. … We’ve just spent that much more time with the material. Now when we go play, it’s gonna be nice because it’s not the first time we’ve ever really laid into it.” The band is preparing to release Spare the Rod on 12-inch vinyl later this year (it’s currently streaming on Spotify and Bandcamp) and are already planning to go back into the studio to record a second collection of new material. Since you can’t replicate the feeling of an actual rowdy punk rock show via livestream, you might have to wait awhile to see the Dilrods in action. “It’s got to be shoulder to shoulder, spit flying, sweat flying,” Bobby Rod says. “That’s the kind of show we need to be doing, and I don’t think it’s going to happen for at least a year. We’re pent up and ready to unleash.”

ATARI FERRARI

Matthew Hughes seems to be producing new music all the time, writing and recording in his apartment living room, surrounded by vinyl and rock ’n’ roll memorabilia. So when COVID-19 put an end to live performances, the singer-songwriter went into his standard mode of churning out songs on his own. There’s one big reason for Hughes’ prolific output, beyond the basic need for creativity: Selling albums is his primary source of income right now. “It’s been scary. Since March, I’ve been living off savings,” Hughes says. “I asked for online donations a couple times doing live performances, and that got me a couple hundred dollars.” With his long-running solo project Automatic Shoes, Hughes produced a 15-track LP in April called No More Heroes, which was followed in October by another full-length album, this one a collection of songs by his hero, T. Rex frontman Marc Bolan. In between were a handful of cover songs and new singles from Atari Ferrari, the five-piece rock band that Hughes fronts (they’re set to drop their third studio album in early 2021). Working on music has consumed him since the pandemic arrived, and it’s pretty easy when you’re surrounded by instruments and equipment and all your sonic influences. “I don’t have anything else to do,” Hughes says. “There are guitars everywhere and microphones [set] up, and so basically the instinct is, ‘What are you recording today?’”

Hughes says he hasn’t played with the full lineup of Atari Ferrari since February, although they have been recording new material in piecemeal fashion, and a smaller configuration of the band performed last weekend as part of a livestream concert. That hasn’t stopped him from producing perfectly polished pop songs and even accompanying music videos, and in a lot of cases, he’s doing it as a one-man band. He hopes that go-forit method inspires other artists who might be in a similarly isolated situation. And if he makes a few bucks along the way, even better. “I feel like I have the opportunity to present the ability to remain positive, despite certain odds against me,” Hughes says. “And if I’m able to put that into music, and present [it] to people, then that might be beneficial in a time like this.”

EXPERIENCE THE SEASON! SHOPPING • DINING • HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

DEATHLINES

It’s one of those games that you might bust out at a party when conversation begins to lull, wherein a group of people creates a Frankensteined story one word at a time. A new musical project called Deathlines has applied that same concept to the process of recording, with songs that are pieced together by musicians working in a vacuum. Norman Robbins, frontman and songwriter of BaLonely, is one of the musicians behind Deathlines, and he says the idea started with his bandmate Adam Smith. They’d tried to get the project off the ground last year, but it wasn’t until the pandemic forced everyone into isolation that Deathlines finally took off. A project both collaborative and solitary made a lot more sense during a lockdown. The lineup is rounded out by Robbins’ friend and collaborator Jason Cross, as well as members of the local band Pit — not only Adam and Alex Smith but Ben Jennings, Carter Bastian and Sam Bolt. The process of putting together a Deathlines song works like this: Each of the seven members starts with a single piece of the puzzle — maybe it’ll be a guitar riff or a sung chorus, or a particularly catchy keyboard line — and then it gets sent off to the next person. True to the project’s name, there is a deadline of three days wherein you add your part to the song and pass it on again. After seven rotations, the song is finally done. “You have three days to come up with something and not get in your head too much about it,” Robbins says, “just trying not to spend a long time worrying about the creative process.” The Deathlines album, titled Season 1, was uploaded to Bandcamp on Halloween, and features seven tracks (one for each musician in the group) that run the gamut of sounds. “There’s one song that sounds like an instrumental hip-hop song,” Robbins explains. “There’s one song that’s like a dance-pop song. There’s one song that sounds like the opening to a James Bond [movie].” Because of its deliberately piecemeal construction, Season 1 is perhaps not the most cohesive album ever recorded. But that’s sort of the point: Listening to it, you can practically hear the songs forming as they unspool. “It’s not complete nonsense, but it definitely goes to some crazy places,” Robbins says. “It turned into one of the coolest projects I’ve ever been a part of. I’m really, really happy with how it sounds.” n

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FILM NEXT OF KIN

Oscar season is going to look a little different in 2020, but the current climate won’t stop prestige movies from coming out in the remaining weeks of the year. One of the biggest of 2020’s awards heavyweights is Ron Howard’s Hillbilly Elegy, a dramatization of the bestselling memoir by J.D. Vance, who explored his Appalachian roots when he returned to his rural Ohio hometown after graduating from Yale. That book and its author have been the subject of controversy over the years — not only have critics knocked its depiction of the American South as simplistic, but Vance himself is an avowed nationalist — so expect this film version of Hillbilly Elegy to be the subject of much conversation, particularly for its Oscar-bait performances by Amy Adams and Glenn Close. The film premieres on Netflix Nov. 24, but you can see it a couple weeks early — and on the big screen — at the Panida in Sandpoint. — NATHAN WEINBENDER Hillbilly Elegy • Starting Wed, Nov. 11 at 5:30 pm; show times vary • $6-$9 • Panida Theater • 300 N. First, Sandpoint • panida.org • 208-263-9191

THEATER ONLINE ON CAMPUS

While there’s no replacing the magic of seeing a play as part of a live audience, the show, as they say, must go on! And go on online, thanks to the capabilities of Zoom being embraced by the theater programs of local colleges. EWU’s program presents via Zoom She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms, a story of a girl who discovers her dead sister’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook and finds herself on an adventure full of joyful discovery and action in a virtual world of her sister’s making. Playwright Qui Nguyen has crafted what seems to be an ideal play for a virtual production, even if that wasn’t his original intention. — DAN NAILEN She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms • Fri-Sat, Nov. 13-14 and Nov. 20-21 at 7:30 pm • Pay what you can • Online; details ewu.edu/ theatre

48 INLANDER NOVEMBER 12, 2020

WORDS LET THE SUN SHINE

The Sacrifice of Darkness is a sci-fi allegory that imagines a future where the sun has been extinguished, and the son of the man responsible for that catastrophe tries to shake his status as a social pariah to bring light back to the world. It’s a graphic novel adaptation of a short story by bestselling author Roxane Gay; she coscripted this new take on her tale, and is participating in a virtual event hosted by Auntie’s Bookstore, reading from the new book and discussing its issues of race, ecology and economic disparity. A purchase of the graphic novel, published on Oct. 27, functions as a ticket to the event, which also features The Sacrifice of Darkness co-writer Tracy Lynne Oliver and illustrator Rebecca Kirby. — NATHAN WEINBENDER The Sacrifice of Darkness discussion with Roxane Gay, Tracy Lynne Oliver and Rebecca Kirby • Sat, Nov. 14 at 7 pm • $25 (book purchase as ticket) • auntiesbooks.com/event

Imported wine... Imported beer... Imported radio...

NOVEMBER 12, 2020 INLANDER 49

EVENTS | CALENDAR

What can you give this week? VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Health Committee Volunteers -

PARTNERING FOR PROGRESS

Partnering for Progress is calling for volunteers for our Health Committee. If you have a passion for health and the willingness to donate a few hours of your time each month to improving the well-being of malnourished infants and children in Kopanga, Kenya, we need you. If you have experience in nutrition, lactation, education, Excel/data collection, or just a general love for helping babies, please consider joining one of our monthly, virtual, no-commitment meetings to see if we may be a good fit. partneringforprogress.org/volunteer

Chaperone Shoppers Needed - THE SALVATION ARMY The Salvation Army needs volunteers to help children shop for new winter clothes and shoes Nov. 12 and 14 at JC Penney at Northtown Mall. These Clothe a Child events will help 100 local children. There are two volunteer shifts each day. On Nov. 12 the first shift is 1:45-3:30 pm, and the second shift is 3:45-5:30 pm. On Nov. 14 volunteers are needed 10-11:30 am and 11:45-1:30 pm. To register for one or both days, please contact Joshua Schulz, volunteer and event coordinator, at Joshua.Schulz@usw.salvationarmy. org, or 329-2721. spokane.salvationarmy.org

Kitchen Assistants Wanted -

WOMEN & CHILDREN’S FREE RESTAURANT

Do you love to cook? Use your skills to feed women and children by assisting the chef and culinary team at the Women & Children’s Free Restaurant. Tasks may include, but aren’t limited to food preparation, light cooking, packaging prepared meals, washing dishes and some kitchen cleanup. To volunteer, fill out a simple form online or contact volunteer services manager Jessica Gebhardt at volunteer@wcfrspokane.org or by calling 324-1995 Ext. 300. wcfrspokane.org/volunteer-openings

FESTIVAL DIGITAL JAM SESSIONS

If you’ve been to the Spokane Fall Folk Festival in previous years, then you may be despairing that you’ll miss out on the invigorating, community uplift you’ve come to expect from the festival. Fortunately, the same resilience and innovation that is integral to the many traditional cultures featured at the festival have propelled the Spokane Folklore Society to adapt a safe, virtual format for this year’s program, the festival’s 25th. On Nov. 14, tune in to Spokane Public Radio (KPBX 91.1 FM) from 11 am-1 pm, or the next day from 1-3 pm, for a retrospective of previous festival broadcasting, spanning 20002019. Then, check the festival’s website and Facebook page for prerecorded performances of this year’s applicants and a virtual version of the marketplace, where you can shop for unique items from an array of vendors. — LAUREN GILMORE Spokane Fall Folk Festival • Nov. 14-Dec. 30 • Free or by donation • Online; details at spokanefolkfestival.org

EVENTS/BENEFITS Wishes & Wine - WISHING STAR FOUNDATION This year, Wishes & Wine is going virtual. Please join Wishing Star for an evening full of prizes, music and more. The silent and live auction items will be available for bidding a few days before the actual event begins on Sat., Dec. 5 at 6:30 pm. The first 150 to register will be entered into a prize drawing. Proceeds help fund the wishes of children battling terminal, medically complicated and life-threatening conditions. wishingstar.org/wishes-wine

Wish List Items Needed Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital

Action figures, Matchbox cars, nail polish, coloring books (children and teen versions), Crayola* crayons, colored pencils and markers, card games such as Uno. Sacred Heart has an updated wish list on Amazon, and items are sent directly to the hospital. Please note, many of the children staying at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital have compromised immune systems, so all of the items on the wish list must be new to meet sanitation requirements. *Crayola brand products are preferred, as they are nontoxic.

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