Apr
05 2012
FEATURE
Spring in Walla Walla offers the chance for a mid-semester adventure. Whether you prefer to indulge in local food and drink, explore hiking trails or take an OP sea kayaking trip, opportunities outside the Whitman bubble abound.
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spring day tripping ILLUSTRATIONS BY JOHNSON
Milton-Freewater inspires flavorful trip by KELSEY KENNEDY Feature Editor
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he town of Milton-Freewater, Ore.—affectionately known among locals as “Muddy-Frogwater” for its ubiquitous frog imagery—is within easy reach of Whitties looking for a day trip off campus. Just 10 miles south of Whitman, Milton-Freewater’s location in the Walla Walla Valley Wine Appellation attracts many tourists to the area for tastings. However, the town’s appeal extends far beyond grapes. The Blue Mountain Cider Company, one of the most celebrated attractions in the area, offers a change of pace from winery visits with its variety of ciders made exclusively from apples grown in the Walla Walla Valley. “Cider is not as filling as beer and it’s something different . . . there’s something for everyone,” said Nancy Cazele, one of the coowners of the fa m i ly-r u n c o m p a n y. T h e company offers sweet, dry and cherry varieties of cider yearround, and special seasonal flavors in spring and summer. Peach cider, the company’s most popular springtime flavor, will be available at tastings starting on the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance’s spring release weekend, May 4-6. The Blue Mountain Cider Company is open for visitors 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Monday-Saturday. For the more food-motivated taster, Milton-Freewater’s chocolate shop Petit Noirs is the perfect place to indulge in a myriad of unique truffle flavors, including pumpkin white chocolate, rhubarb ginger, Pendleton whiskey hazelnut praline and rosemary pink peppercorn. Petit Noirs owner Lan Wong attributes this mix of sweet and savory flavors to inspiration from the natu-
ral environment of the area. “Our inspiration comes from wines and fresh produce grown around here,” she said. Petit Noirs prides itself on making chocolates with high concentrations of cacao (at least 64 percent in dark chocolate and 35 percent in milk chocolate) that are free from preservatives and artificial flavoring. According to Wong, the shop offers “a little of everything for everyone,” accommodating all budgets. Wong’s homemade nougats are a steal at $1.50 and truffle boxes start at $15. The Petit Noirs tasting room is open 11 a.m.5 p.m. on Thursday-Sunday. Only a couple miles down Highway 11 is Clay in Motion, an art studio specializing in handdecorated traditional American pottery. Clay in Motion owners Bob and Corina Neher focus on creating pottery that is functional, lead-free and dishwasher-, oven- and microwave-safe. Their biggest selling item, the original hand-warmer mug, is a practical and affordable purchase for students (only $18), glazed with color combinat ions inspired by nature such as “ocean tide” and “desert sand.” The Clay in Motion studio, gift shop and espresso stand are conveniently located in the same complex on the east side of Highway 11. In addition to pottery, the Art in Motion gallery houses other crafted goods including blown glass and artisan jewelry. The studio and shops are open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sundays. After a day of shopping and visiting tasting rooms, day trippers to Milton-Freewater can go back in time in the comfort of their own cars at the local drivein movie theater. As of press time, the current shows at the drivein were “The Hunger Games” and “One for the Money.” Tickets are $6 per person and information about upcoming shows and showtimes is available at ht t p://m-fdriveintheat re.com /
Hikers, cyclists offer advice on local trails by KINSEY WHITE Staff Reporter
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s the spring season ushers itself gracefully into Walla Walla, the beauty of the city itself and the surrounding natural world become more readily available for seasonal recreational activities. The possibilities for individual spring recreation, such as hiking and biking, abound. For students interested in biking, cycling team members freshman Eli Robinson and senior David Hancock suggest the Mill Creek Road Trail, a 28-mile trip that follows Isaacs all the way out of town. Robinson also suggests a trip to Harris Park, which is south through Milton-Freewater and then east out of town. The Harris Park trip is up to 50 miles roundtrip, but promises gorgeous views. For more adventurous bikers, Robinson recommends a 90mile roundtrip trail, south from Walla Walla through Milton-Freewater, continuing south to Weston, turning onto highway 204, and climbing until you reach a tollgate. Although extremely long, the climbing aspect of this trail is both an amazing workout and well worth it to see the view. “For a shorter ride, you can head out to lower Waitsfield from Clin-
ton by crossing the highway and loop back on middle Waitsfield via a right turn on Valley Grove. That ride is about 16 miles, and is great around sunset! For quicker adventures, taking the Mill Creek trail up to Bennington Lake is always nice,” said Hancock. For students who enjoy pounding the ground rather than biking, Walla Walla offers an abundance of hiking trails within the Umatilla National Forest. To find a complete list of trails in all four ranger districts of the Umatilla, you can visit the Walla Walla Ranger Station, located at 1415 W. Rose St. One of the four ranger districts of this area is called the Walla Walla, which consists of 19 different trails open to hiking and biking. “I think hiking is an amazing way to spend time off campus,” said first-year Ali Danko. “Walla Walla is really pretty. I feel like a lot of people consider [this town] to be underestimated because it’s so flat. However, when you hike, you get to appreciate the scenery that is actually around us.” An easier trail from this area is called the Jubilee Lake National
Novices welcome on spring OP excursions by SUSANNA BOWERS Staff Reporter
L Waitsburg offers slice of small town life by SAM ADLER Staff Reporter
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s Walla Walla feeling a bit old-hat, yet you’re still yearning for a slice of small town Americana? Look no further than Waitsburg, Wash. “Waitsburg? I didn’t know there was anything to do in Waitsburg!” Well, you were wrong! Located just 20 miles east of our fair college town, the town of Waitsburg offers enough attractions to thoroughly titillate the culture glands of you and your day-tripping companions. For a history lesson, visit the Bruce Memorial Museum, restored by the Waitsburg Historical Society, and featured on the National Register for Historical Places. Built in 1883—less than two decades after Waitsburg’s founding—this once lived-in Victorian mansion now stands in all of its restored beauty as both a monument to the
past and as an educational tool. Feeling a bit down, and the SAD light in the Counseling Center is just not doing it for you? Try some aromatherapy by visiting Lavender’s-R-Us, Waitsburg’s u-pick lavender field and lavender gift shop. Deck yourself out with lavender swag, or, if you want, just stop long enough so that you can leave smelling like soap. And if all your fragrancewafting has left you feeling a bit peckish, avail yourself of Waitsburg’s local culinary fare. Jimgermanbar—named for its owner, Jim German—serves up a host of Euro-inflected small plates. And, if you are of a lawful drinking age, sip on some of German’s cocktails, which have carved out an ardent following due to their seasonal ingredients and expert execution. Still hungry? For another dining experience, head across the street to the Whoopemump Hollow Café, which dishes up
Recr e a tion Trail, which is 2.6 miles in length, but only tips in at a maximum of an 8 percent grade, lowering its overall difficulty. For Whitties seeking a more difficult trail head, the 9.8mile North Fork Umatilla Trail offers a challenge. This climb consists of a 5.8-mile-long climb along the south slope of the Coyote Ridge. Finally, for the most challenging of hikes in the Umatilla, one can try the Umatilla Rim Trail. Beginning at the Buck Creek Trail head and ending at the Blue Mountain trail, this trail takes one over 2,000 feet upwards in elevation over 7.5 miles. In the first 1.5 miles alone, the hiker gains 1,900 feet of elevation. Although difficult, this trail promises a panoramic view off of Buck Mountain that is well worth the climb.
southern comfort food Tuesday through Sunday, and has reached the status of a Waitsburg institution not only through its solid takes on Southern classics, but through its lively, friendly atmosphere. Now how about some wheat? Stop by L&B Kitchens, Waitsburg’s local purveyor of wheat products. Yet be warned: This is not your everyday purveyor of wheat meals and flours, as L&B Kitchens specializes in the purveyance of the nutritious whole grain wheat berry. Boil them, mash them and stick them in a stew; these unctuous and succulent morsels are the perfect way to savor a last taste of Waitsburg, as well as the perfect addition to soups, chilis and salads. So take a package to go, so that upon your return, you may prove to your disbelieving peers that you experienced the fun, one-of-a-kind urban tapestry that is Waitsburg, Wash. And before I forget: Pass the wheat berries, please!
ooking to stay active this spring with some fun outdoor activities? Whitman’s Outdoor Program, as well as many other clubs on campus, is offering several opportunities this season. Sign-ups for Outdoor Program excursions began at the Winter Activities Fair, but there are still spots open for certain destinations at the rental shop on a first-come, firstserved basis. Acc or d ing to Stuart Chapin, the assistant d i r ec tor of the outdoor program, the most popular trips in the spring tend to be backpacking and sea kayaking. The one backpacking trip already has a long waiting list, but it is not too late to sign up for sea kayaking or some of the other opportunities. “Check out the whitewater rafting,” said Chapin. “We still have space, and it’s really fun. The scenery at the Grande Ronde is as good as you can get!” Chapin raves about this location, claiming he saw ten bald eagles when he visited over break. This trip, among many others the OP offers, is especially geared toward beginners. “The OP’s job is to provide intensive instruction to entry-level participants. If they want more, they should go to the whitewater club, climbing club or any of the other outdoor clubs on campus,” said Chapin. “If you are competent outdoors
and in snow, the mountaineering trips are open. If you are belay-certified, the climbing trips are open, and everyone is encouraged to come to the competitions,” said junior Jack Lazar. The Sweet Onion Crank climbing competition is coming up on April 28, which is a great way to get a taste of the climbing community without even having to leave campus. “I think the climbing club isn’t so much of a club as it is climbing people, and climbing people are [really] cool,” said Lazar. He described the amazing friends he has made and the fantastic times he has had on trips with this supportive group of people, and encourages everyone to try it out. If you don’t feel ready t o take on an excursion quite that long, consider a simple biking trip to a nearby location such as Bennington Lake. “The OP bike shop has recently come into a lot of bikes, which will be for sale over the next six months,” said Lish Riley, the rental shop manager. If even that seems too daunting a prospect, there are great options right here on campus for students to stay active. “The open kayak is for people who want to stay on campus to just see if they like it,” said Chapin. Other fun activities like the climbing wall are also free, and can give students an idea of whether they would enjoy a longer trip. For more information about outdoor programs, visit the rental shop in the Reid basement.