Cover photo courtesy of Silver Mountain

Sunny spring conditions and frequent March and April storms often deliver some of the best days of the season, so don’t put your gear in storage just yet. End your season in celebratory fashion with a fun spring event or two and plenty of good mountain vibes. Find details and operation schedule updates online. 

49° North Mountain Resort (Chewelah, Wash.) 

• March 6: One complimentary lift ticket for each Toyota vehicle driver for Toyota Free Ski Friday plus party on the deck.  

• March 8: Chewelah Peak Challenge Fat Tire Bike Race, in partnership with North Division Bicycle, includes demo bike (with registration fee) and 7 k race, conditions permitting. 

• March 14: Seafood Boil family-style lunch.  

• March 21: Annual Hawaiian Daze features a full day of competitions including snow golf, scavenger hunt, poker run, costume contest, Slush Cup and more. Proceeds benefit 49’s volunteer ski patrol and mountain host programs. 
  
  

Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park (Spokane, Wash.) 

• March 7: Getting Down to Vizziness, a terrain park two-hour jam session with host and judge Pro Rider Austin Visintainer.  

• March 14: Final night ski includes Wild Mike’s Rail Jam event—a collaboration with Wild Mike’s Pizza, providing $10 off night-ski pizza-box coupons—and Après After Dark Party. 

• March 20: Toyota Free Ski Friday—one complimentary lift ticket for each Toyota vehicle driver; must arrive before 1 p.m. to receive lift ticket from Toyota reps in parking lot of Lodge 2.  

• April 8-12: Youth ages 17 and younger ski free during spring break.  

Schweitzer Mountain Resort (Sandpoint, Idaho) 

• March 21: Celebrate the first-ever Pride On the Mountain event, in partnership with Sandpoint Alliance for Equality (SAFE). Schedule includes Rainbow Ridge Ski Parade and evening drag show. 

• March 27: Discounted lift tickets for annual Community Day. 

• March 28-29: Snow Ghost Banked Slalom competition, in collab with 7B Boardshop. Fundraiser for Bonner County Skatepark Association. 

• April 4: Hillside Hustle rider-choice grassroots events.  

• April 12: Closing day—details TBA online. 
  
  

Silver Mountain Resort (Kellogg, Idaho) 

• March 7: Doug E. Fresh Banked Slalom for snowboarders—11^th annual fundraiser for the Doug Johnson Memorial Fund. Stick around for Ski Bum Prom (costumes encouraged) with night skiing til 6 p.m. and party at Moguls. 

• March 13: Toyota Free Ski Friday.  

• March 14 and April 18: Hang out with Silver Mountain ski patrollers and their avy dogs during Jackass Apres Club nights, 6:30-9:30 p.m., at The Beanery (446 Railroad Ave), less than a mile from base village. 

• March 21: Marchi Gras (not a typo) is like Mardi Gras but at Silver Mountain—bead necklaces provided at the gondola base and New Orleans-inspired food atop the mountain.  

• March 28-29: Silver Cup Ski Race—register online. 

• April 4: Jackass Rain Jam with free day-of registration at Chair 2 Terrain Park (starting at 11:45 a.m.).  

• April 11: Who doesn’t love a Pond Skim?! Silver’s first and only previous event was in 2019, so this is kinda a big deal. No fee to participate. 

• April 18: Leadman Triathlon, presented by Dave Smith GMC, is the annual charity fundraiser adventure tri—ski, bike, run—for teams and individual racers.  

Lookout Pass Ski Area (Mullan, Idaho) 

• March 7: Season Pass Holder Appreciation Day with a parking lot party, 4-6 p.m. 

• March 27: Toyota drivers ski or ride free for Toyota Free Ski Friday. 

• March 29: Lookout’s annual freestyle Rail Jam (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) includes divisions for all ages and skill levels plus prizes. Great spectator event! 

• April 4: Bring your own club to play nine holes on America’s only snow golf course! Free to play for all ages; course open noon-3 p.m. 

• April 5: Easter Egg Hunt while you ride the slopes—all ages with one-egg limit per person. All eggs include candy and prize-winning number opportunity. 

• April 10: Ski/ride free at Lookout Pass for Parker Subaru Experience the Outdoors Day with a free voucher provided in person at Parker Subaru in Coeur d’Alene (limited availability). Bring voucher to the mountain ticket booth to redeem for a free lift ticket valid only for April 10.  

• April 12: Dress festive for Lookout’s annual Hawaiian Luau day, which includes a Cardboard Box Derby where participants use sleds made entirely of cardboard and duct tape.  
  
  

Whitefish Mountain Resort (Whitefish, Mont.) 

• March 14-15: Two-day event and one of the longest-running of its kind in North America, the 27^th annual Nate Chute Banked Slalom & Boardercross Competition raises funds for the Nate Chute Foundation dedicated to youth suicide prevention. 

• March 21: DREAM Adaptive Shred Fest for all abilities includes vertical or adventure challenge event and fundraiser to support adaptive recreation opportunities in Flathead Valley. 

• March 28: Corn Cup Slopestyle—skier and snowboarder freestyle competition.  

• March 28: Sample regional brews at Spring Brewfest and enjoy music and food trucks in the resort village. 

• March 29: Women-only event for all skill levels (includes trans women and non-binary riders) for the Lady Power Park Hour, noncompetitive slopestyle event to build terrain park confidence and community.  

• April 4: Classic Pond Skim competition with cash prize.  

Big White Ski Resort (Kelowna, BC) 

• Tuesdays through March 17: Ski BINGO—Pick up a bingo card from the village and mark off while hitting the slopes, noon-3:30 p.m.  

• Thursdays through March 19: Twinkling Trail in Happy Valley—group walk after paper lantern craft activity.  

• March 21-22: Loose Moose Challenge inspires terrain coverage to find hidden letters to reveal a mystery word for a prize.  

• Fridays through March 27: Tube & Groove at the snow-tubing park and dance party with resort mascot Loose Moose.  

• Saturday nights: Carnivals at Village Centre through March 28 and weekly fireworks shows through April 4. 

• April 5: Easter Egg Hunt throughout the Village on Easter Sunday, 9-10 a.m., with a designated area for kids age 5 and younger. Bigger kids can search for hidden “chicks” to claim for treats.  
  
  

RED Mountain Resort (Rossland, BC) 

• March 14-15: Rattlecat Cup is a two-day banked slalom race, all ages and skill levels. 

• March 22: Park Project Rail Jam is a low-pressure session for all abilities (ages 7+) with a supportive community to promote skill progression. Open to skiers, snowboarders and snowskaters.  

• March 28: Bring your dog to the slopes for the 5^th annual Wiener Take All, a canine race event with prizes. 

• April 4: Slush Cup to go big and win prizes. 

Whitewater Mountain Resort (Nelson, BC) 

• March (every weekend): Spring Music Series—live music performances at the resort village throughout March.  

• March 21-22: Blast Beerfest—celebrate local breweries and cideries with samples in Whitewater’s on-the-snow beer garden; enjoy live music and scenic views of Ymir Peak.  

Former junior high Ski Club member Amy McCaffree now stays on the groomers but still downhill skis with her husband and their two kids, now teenagers, who ski much faster than she ever will again—and she’s okay with that. 

The post Chase the Spring Snow Festivals, Races and Pond Skims Across the Region  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Laura Carey

During an early morning run on July 16, 2025, local runner Sarah Clark Doxey, 48, was struck by a vehicle along the shoulder of South Perry Avenue on Spokane’s South Hill, east of Manito Golf Course. She later died at the hospital. She is survived by her husband, two teenage children and a loving community of fellow runners. 

Sarah was running side-by-side with friend Sara Ambrose, heading south in the northbound lane. Neighborhood runners, cyclists and walkers frequently travel this route. “As a person who runs in the morning all the time, I have never thought about getting hit from behind, because I always run against traffic,” says Ambrose. “The driver must have been going so fast that our minds didn’t register the sound.”  

In a split second, at 5:31 a.m., Ambrose’s left-arm tricep was clipped by the vehicle’s passenger-side mirror before the vehicle crashed into a tree. “Sarah had disappeared,” she recalls. Disoriented, she ran to a nearby home. Then she spotted Sarah, on the road farther ahead, and called 911. Neighbors, golf course maintenance staff and a runner ahead all rushed to the scene to provide aid. Paramedics quickly arrived. 

At the hospital, Ambrose and friend Laura Carey gathered with Sarah’s family. The tragedy was major local news because the 17-year-old driver allegedly fled on foot before being arrested. The unnamed suspect has been criminally charged, and a trial is scheduled for September.  

Ambrose and Carey want Sarah to be remembered as an amazing friend who was passionate about running. (Local news outlets have already covered Sarah’s prominent healthcare career.) “She loved running more than anyone I have met,” says Ambrose. “I was not yet a runner [when we first met in 2013], but Sarah told me that no one cares how fast you are. They only care that you’re showing up, having fun and making connections.” 

Sarah taught Ambrose everything about running, she says. “She shared her confidence, encouragement and her running things, like leggings and water bottles,” recalls Ambrose. “When you spend hours and hours together running, you learn a lot about each other. It truly was like therapy because we could share at a very intense and beautiful level.” She was a get-up-and-go type of person, she adds. “Running was an exercise with a goal. That feeling of accomplishment was really important to her. Running lets you ‘run off your crazy’—a place to put your energy, anxieties, all your worries aside and to focus on yourself.” As her friend looking from the outside, reflects Ambrose, her taking the time for running was central to who she was because we were both busy professionals. “Running was a time to hang out as friends and get our workout in.” 

Sarah especially enjoyed running events. “Any local race, she was happy to do. She loved race day,” says Ambrose. “She had incredible adrenaline on race day and ran faster than she thought she would.”  

Laura Carey says Sarah is the reason she, too, became a runner. “I ran my first half marathon (in 2012) because of her. She was the one that gave me the confidence I needed to know it was possible for me.” Their first road-trip race, in 2016, was the Wine Country Half Marathon in Oregon, which inspired them to plan family vacations around marathons. “We spent years running hundreds of miles together,” says Carey.  

Sarah was an achiever—and running was motivating for her because every workout or race was an achievement, says Ambrose. “She got injured over and over again because she pushed herself to do what she possibly could.” In 2021, Sarah achieved her goal of running a 50k race in St. Regis, Mont. (Carey ran the 30k).  

Most recently, the three friends traveled to Eugene, Oregon, where Sarah ran a half-marathon in April. Ambrose’s last race with Sarah was the Mountain Magic Trail Race at Mount Spokane on June 29. For this fall, Carey and Sarah had already registered for the Big Bear Marathon in California. “It was going to be Sarah’s first since Chicago in 2023,” says Carey. “I don’t know how I’ll run marathons again. Every step reminds me that she’s not here anymore. But I also know I have to, because she wouldn’t want anything less for me.” 

“I want Sarah to be remembered for her joyful miles,” says Ambrose. “She was so happy to be out there with a body that supported her to do all the things she wanted it to. She loved all things about the sport. I’m so lucky to have witnessed it and that she inspired me to start running in the first place.” 

Currently, items memorializing Sarah are displayed at the tree crash site, but her friends would like to create a permanent outdoor memorial, like a plaque by her favorite rock-landscaped water fountain and strawberry patch along South Perry Avenue, not far from where she took her last running steps.  

The post Remembering Spokane Runner Sarah Doxey  appeared first on Out There Venture.

By Amy McCaffree 

Cover photo courtesy of Amy McCaffree

Looking for outdoor community this summer for you and your dog? Your local off-leash dog park is one such place.  

Seriously—where else can Millennials, Gen Z, Gen X and Boomers come and go randomly, mill about and chitchat, and where formal introductions are optional? At the dog park, the only expectations are to clean up after your dog and ensure your dog plays nice, which means respecting and following off-leash park rules. There is unique camaraderie because of a shared value, a love for dogs. Dogs also inspire humans to be more like them: friendly, non-judgmental, carefree, eager to play outdoors.  

As a societal microcosm, a dog park is fascinating. My young dog, Layla, and I started going to dog parks last summer, when she was 6 months old. Visiting our local one is now part of our regular routine. I’ve had more conversations with random Boomer men than ever before, especially on weekday mornings. It’s where I regularly cross paths with people in their 20s-30s. No visit is the same. For me, the wonderful array of breeds and dog personalities is the best part. From corgis and chow chows to huskies and Newfoundlands, dogs are joyfully entertaining. And I consider providing play opportunities for Layla my dog-mom duty. 

Dog Park Etiquette 

Every off-leash park has the same general rules, which can be found online or posted on-site. Mostly common sense and etiquette stuff: only fully-vaccinated dogs allowed, clean up after your dog, no fighting. 

Dog parks are highly stimulating and unpredictable; therefore, drama happens. Dogs well-suited for an off-leash park environment are “typically young (between 6 months and 2 years old), outgoing, love to play, friendly, and forgiving,” says Terry Ann Fernando, creator and host of “The Accidental Bird Dog” podcast. Less suited for the dog-park environment, according to Fernando, are:  

1. Very young puppies (4-6 months old; puppies 16 weeks or younger should not visit). 

2. Shy or aloof dogs, who might act defensive or snappy when surrounded by a group of dogs or simply prefer one-on-one play with a dog friend rather than random new ones. 

3. Adult dogs who have grown out of the playful stage of life, which varies by breed and temperament. Some seniors dogs, age 7+, are still spry and active, while some 4-5 year-olds act grumpy and tired.  

4. Small or fragile breeds, unless in a “small dog” area of an off-leash park—tiny dogs should never be in the same area as big breeds. 

5. Aggressive dogs, without exception. (Even at an off-leash area, owners are liable for their dog’s actions and any injuries or damages to other dogs or people, regardless of the dog’s behavioral history.) 

6. Under-exercised dogs, who have been confined or not walked for a stretch of time—or are infrequent park visitors—can cause trouble when they arrive “like a drunk college student at a frat party,” Fernando says. 

7. Intact males can attract negative attention from neutered males and may also attempt to dominate female dogs; also, female dogs in heat should not visit dog parks.  

It’s recommended that dogs new to off-leash play areas first visit during off-peak times, such as early morning or weekdays before 3 p.m.—same for older or less playful dogs. Be sure to know and understand “dog language” and follow park rules for a positive experience with other park visitors. 

Spokane and North Idaho Dog Parks 

Standard amenities include a double-gate entry/exit system; separate/divided sections for small and large breeds (unless otherwise noted in list below); dog bag dispensers, drinking fountains, benches, shelters and picnic tables; open dawn to dusk (typically). Use this guide to plan a day trip or for road-trip stops along the journey to a summer vacation. (Note: “Dog park” info from Yelp, Google Reviews and BringFido.com is not 100% accurate—a “dog friendly” park doesn’t mean off-leash use is allowed.) 

Spokane County 

• High Bridge Dog Park: 9.3 acres, recently renovated, layout includes three separate fenced play areas with the large area, featuring rugged terrain, best suited for large breeds. 

• South Hill Dog Park: 1.8 acres, opened fall 2024, partially paved and gravel walking path. No separate area for small dogs; no picnic tables or shelter. 

• Riverside Dog Park: triangle-size “pocket” park (.07 acre) created for residents/dog owners of downtown and Browne’s Addition. (Note: As of April 2025, both gate latches were broken, posing a safety risk.) No shelter or tables. 

• Valley Mission Dog Park: Has agility features and dog wash station. 

• Patricia Simonet Laughing Dog Park: Located at Gateway Regional Park, I-90 Stateline exit, managed by SCRAPS. 

• Cheney Dog Park: Opened in summer 2023, corner of Presley Drive & Hwy 904. 

Coeur d’Alene/Kootenai County 

• McEuen Dog Park: Located within McEuen Park. 

• Riverstone Dog Park: Walk-in only, accessible off the Centennial Trail; 0.5 acre; drivers can park at Riverstone Park. 

• Cherry Hill Dog Park: 0.68 acres. 

• Central Bark Dog Park: Located within Northshire Park. 

• Atlas Water Dog Park: ADA-accessible off-leash area within Atlas Park, along the Spokane River, includes a beach and Spokane river access.  

• Croffoot Dog Park: Located in Hayden at Croffoot Park and Sports Complex. 

Sandpoint Area 

• Dog Beach Park: Walk/bike-in only; off-leash beach located off Serenity Lee Trail, south of downtown Sandpoint. 

• Ponderay Pet Safe Dog Park: Located by Panhandle Animal Shelter, fully ADA-accessible with ramps, access points, and pathways; dog agility course. 

• Pine Street Woods: Conservation property, 180 acres, managed by Kaniksu Land Trust; dogs allowed to be off-leash if “within voice control.” 

• Sam Owen Campground (Hope, ID): Off-leash dogs allowed on the rocky beach, adjacent to the day-use area. 

Silver Valley & Missoula, MT 

• Wallace Dog Park: Opened in 2022; solar-powered lights for after dark, covered patio area. 

• Missoula: MRL Park Dog Area, Fort Missoula Regional Sgt. Bozo Dog Park, and Jacobs Island Bark Park.  

Palouse/Whitman County 

• Pullman Pooch Park: Managed by Whitman County Humane Society; $5 day pass or paid membership required. 

• Moscow Dog Park: Located by Humane Society of the Palouse. 

Lewiston/Clarkston 

• Lewiston: Penny’s Memorial Dog Park. 

• Clarkston: Eagle Scout Dog Park and Pippin’s Island Off-Leash Area.  

Did You Know? 

• 66% of American households own at least one pet, predominately a dog. 

• 30% of pet owners are from Millennial Generation (born between 1981 and 1996; currently those age 29-44), followed by Gen X and Baby Boomers (25% each of pet-owner population) and Gen Z (20%). 

Source: American Pet Products Association’s 2025 National Pet Owners Survey 

More Dog Parks in Eastern/Central Washington 

• Moses Lake: Basin Homes Dog Park 

• Wenatchee: Hale Park Off-Leash Area 

• Ellensburg: 2 off-leash areas, Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park and Rotary Park. 

• Walla Walla: Fort Walla Walla Dog Park. 

• Yakima: Randall Park off-leash areas. 

Additional Inland Northwest Off-Leash Areas 

Offering more off-leash dog areas (OLA) is good public relations and marketing for communities. According to the “City of Spokane Dog Park Guidelines,” published in Oct. 2022, the city needs six off-leash dog parks to meet local demand. Standard planning for the people-dog ratio population is 38,000 people or 25,000 dogs per facility. Local survey data was used to project that 90% of Spokane residents are dog owners, with an estimated dog population of 150,000. In a ranked list of similar-sized cities, Boise, Idaho, is #1 for providing 16 dog parks, which equates to use ratio of 9,536 dogs per facility. (In 2022, Spokane’s ratio was over 74,000 dogs per facility.) 

With too few off-leash areas (OLA), dog-owners tend to take matters into their own hands, which results in hiking areas and other public parks becoming de facto off-leash areas—and this causes more problems. Typically, local governments enact and enforce dog-leash laws. In Washington, there is no statewide leash requirement except for one pertaining to state parks; however, there is a law prohibiting “animals at large” off private property. To meet demand for off-leash recreation, SnipSpot.com is a platform for private property owners to become a “host” and dog-owners pay an hourly fee for their dog to run around off-leash. 

Notable Dog Parks in Western Washington/Puget Sound Area Cities 

• Bellingham: Squalicum Creek Park, Fairhaven Dog Park, Arroyo Park, Lake Padden Park Off-Leash Area. 

• Everett: Howarth Park Off Leash Area, Lowell Riverfront Dog Park, Loganberry Lane Dog Park 

• Redmond: Marymoor Park (40-acres). 

• Seatac: Grandview Park (37 acres).  

• Seattle: Jose Rizal Park (Beacon Hill), Genesee Park Off-Leash Area (southeast Seattle), Golden Gardens (Ballard), Magnuson Park (Sand Point). 

• Tacoma: Point Defiance Dog Park, Swan Creek Off-Leash Dog Park. 

Resources: 

my.spokanecity.org/parks/dogs 

https://www.cdaid.org/726/departments/parks/park-list

Amy McCaffree is an OTO senior writer who has been contributing to Out There since 2016. If you see Layla and Amy at a dog park, say hello! Follow her outdoor recreation and #dogmom adventures on Instagram @adventure_amy_spokane or TikTok @pnwadventureamy. 

The post Where Paws Meet People  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Amy McCaffree

By Amy McCaffree  

Nothing against carrots, but spending two hours outside every day is a better way to protect children’s eyesight. With screentime at record highs, the rate of children in the U.S. developing myopia, more commonly known as nearsightedness, has increased by 25% since the 1970s, according to a Sept. 2024 NPR news story by Maria Godoy, published by NPR.  

Optometrists and myopia researchers, backed by studies, conclude that spending one to two hours outside every day significantly decreases the risk of children developing myopia. Bright outdoor light stimulates healthy eye development, and activities that don’t require close-up focus allow eyes to relax. Although myopia can be inherited, lifestyle habits like too much screentime and not enough outdoor time increase the risk. The earlier someone develops myopia, the greater the lifetime risk of macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal detachment and other conditions.  

Outdoor recreation provides breaks from near-focus tasks and helps young, developing eyes practice distance viewing—whether it’s looking far across a lake or at a horizon view. The natural light combined with focusing on faraway distances slows down eye elongation, thereby preventing the rapid eye growth that leads to myopia. 

So, take your kids hiking this summer to destinations with horizon vistas. Because not only is it good for their eyes, but the views also reveal how big and beautiful our Inland Northwest landscape is. Here are 12 destinations, hiking trails and summits to choose from. A few are easy, but many are best suited for ages 10 and up, depending on fitness level and tolerance for hiking. 

SPOKANE COUNTY 

Dishman Hills Conservation Area 

• The Cliffs Trail (Glenrose Unit): Hike Glenrose Trail to The Cliffs Trail and continue on for overlook views of Spokane Valley, Mica Peak and Mount Spokane. 

• Blue Bunch Loop (Glenrose): 0.9-mile trail (doable for preschoolers) with overlook of Moran Prairie and downtown Spokane to the northwest.  

• Nimbus Knob Loop (Camp Caro): Ascends to rocky overlook of Spokane Valley; 3 miles roundtrip. 

• Rocks of Sharon (Iller Creek Unit): 3.3 miles roundtrip from Stevens Creek Trailhead; view of Palouse farmland and faraway Steptoe Butte. 

Antoine Peak Conservation Area: Emerald Necklace Trail is for older youth and strong hikers; 5.7 miles, 780 feet of elevation gain for views of Spokane Valley and surrounding landmarks. 

Mount Spokane State Park: During summer and fall, you can drive the North Summit Road to the historic Vista House, which is the true summit (5,853’).  

THE PALOUSE 

Steptoe Butte: At Steptoe Butte State Park Heritage Site, drive to the 3,612-foot summit and hike around.  

Kamiak Butte: Pine Ridge Trail at Kamiak Butte County Park ascends 900 feet to the 3,641-foot summit; 3.5-miles roundtrip. 

EASTERN WASHINGTON 

Steamboat Rock: Panoramic views from the butte’s 2,250-foot summit via a steep, 6-mile round-trip hike; located at Steamboat Rock State Park. 

NORTH IDAHO 

Schweitzer Mountain Resort: Ride the Great Escape quad-chairlift to the summit ridge for 360-degree views. Return to the village via a round-trip chairlift ride (or you can hike down).  

Mineral Ridge National Recreation Trail: Trailhead at Beauty Bay on Lake Coeur d’Alene’s east side; 3.3 miles roundtrip, 700 feet of elevation gain. 

Scotchman Peak Trail: For teens and adults who can endure a physical challenge, this strenuous 8-mile round-trip hike ascends 3,700 feet of elevation to the highest point in Bonner County.  

(Note: This article isn’t meant to replace medical advice from a certified optometrist or ophthalmologist. Annual pediatric eye exams are recommended to promote lifelong eye health.) 

Amy McCaffree recommends enticing kids and teens to go hiking by bringing along “fun” snacks. For young kids, this could mean motivating with candy, like Skittles or M&Ms, at each switchback—which is how she got her son, then three years old, to hike the trail to Avalanche Lake at Glacier National Park. 

The post Viewpoint Hikes for Kids  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Amy McCaffree

The ADA-accessible Spokane River Centennial Trail in Spokane County provides paved terrain and many trailhead access points with ADA-parking and restrooms that’s ideal for anyone with mobility issues or for a group of family or friends of varied fitness levels and preferred activity (e.g., walk, run or bike) or mileage goals.  

One of the most picturesque trail segments starts from Carlson Road trailhead in Riverside State Park, in Nine Mile, and heads upriver. Situated on a ridge above the riverbank, with a great water view, the trail is partially shaded by the surrounding forest. Moreover, its smoothly-paved-surface is plenty wide for safe, shared use among wheelchairs, bikes, scooters, skates and child strollers. Boomer grandparents—and, really, anyone of any age—with hip, knee or ankle issues can still be included in a trail outing without overdoing it. Others can walk/run or roll faster and farther ahead, and then circle back to meet up with their group at a designated point.  

Five Trail Segments with Trailside Rest-stops & Turn-around Points 

1. Bench #1: Not far from the parking lot, after a gentle downslope, this first bench provides a great view of the river. A short walk is better than none at all—enjoy the trail vibe while reading a book, playing cards or eating snacks.  

2. Deep Creek Interpretive Trail: This spur trail has two access points off the Centennial Trail. Those who want a more challenging hike can take the singletrack trail and meet up with the rest of their group where it rejoins the Centennial Trail.  

3. Bench #2: Continue down the trail toward Deep Creek Canyon to another bench that’s located slightly farther off the Centennial Trail via an open dirt pathway. Hydrate, eat a snack and enjoy the serenity.  

4. Deep Creek Canyon: The entrance to the canyon is one mile from the Carlson Trailhead. Here you’ll find two picnic tables and a trail kiosk map. Hikers can proceed along the sandy-dirt Deep Creek Canyon Trail, away from the Centennial Trail. You don’t have to hike far to see the towering basalt formations, popular with local rock climbers. Non-hikers can enjoy a rest-break at one of the tables.  

5. Deep Creek Bridge & Beach: Visible from the canyon entrance, a bridge crosses over the creek’s confluence with the Spokane River, which is technically known as Nine Mile Reservoir, just upriver from the dam at Nine Mile Falls. From the bridge, you can see canyon basalt towers and a wide river view. Just before the bridge, on the left, a short spur trail leads to a sandy beach. From this landmark, people can proceed farther along the trail for as long or far as desired before turning around.  

Find more info and a digital map of the Centennial Trail at Spokanecentennialtrail.org. 

The post Multi-Generation Centennial Trail Outing  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Amy McCaffree

Most kids really don’t mind how cold the weather is as long as they’re staying dry and warm enough—and they should be able to withstand at least 30 minutes of outdoor activity when dressed appropriately for winter. But there are still a few tricks to creating a lasting positive impression of outdoor winter play and sports.  

“If you want your kids to be outdoorsy, the best way is if you’re out there leading by example,” says Sam Russell, Spokane father of two, ages 8 and 6. He shreds the slopes with his young son and daughter, who both learned to ski starting as toddlers, and he’s a volunteer ski patroller at Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park. He also worked 13 years as a ski and snowboard instructor. “The older I got, the more fair-weather I became. But as a parent, I had to kick that habit because my kids don’t care how cold it is outside—I was like that, too, as a kid.”   

Russell’s second advice tip: “Always try to make it fun. If kids are not having fun, they won’t want to learn (how to ski)”—or do much else when it comes to spending time outdoors. Fun is made easier with these winter wear must-haves: warm base layers, mid-layer, and socks—made from synthetic fabrics or wool (no cotton, which remains cold when wet); waterproof (or water-resistant) coat and boots; and gloves, hat and snow-boots. 

My son, Landon, who learned to ski 12 years ago when he was age 2, says what made it fun for him was “having good equipment and a good teacher.” Also, he says, “I remember you and dad giving me a fruit snack after every run. And I’d want to do it again so I could get another fruit snack.”  

Landon also recalls liking how the Edgie Wedgie (ski tip connector) and safety-harness made it easier to learn and increased his confidence. As for the “good teacher,” my patient husband gets most of that credit; I was the assistant and in charge of fun—packing desirable snacks and hot cocoa. Never feel guilty for enticing kids with a sugary treat—it’s not bribery; it’s essential for everyone’s emotional wellbeing. 

 Russell also advises, “Quit while they’re still having fun. Make the kids leave while they’re still wanting more rather than crying because they’re cold and tired.” You never want an outdoor experience to end with a negative vibe or, worse, misery. This could discourage kids from going again.  

So, to recap how to motivate your kids to spend more time outdoors this winter: Be a role model for your kids. Make it fun. And end the activity while kids are still enjoying themselves—don’t wait until things turn bad.  

3 Ideas to Start Introducing Kids to Winter Outdoor Adventures 

• Snow Tubing: Whether sledding at local hills or at an official tubing hill at a ski mountain, kids of all ages can enjoy this thrilling winter pastime. Mt. Spokane, Silver Mountain, and Schweitzer all offer tubing.   

• Outdoor Ice Skating: Numerica Skate Ribbon at Riverfront Park, Spokane; The Pond presented by STCU, a newly-constructed, nonprofit organization-led, community skating rink just outside of Sandpoint, in Ponderay, Idaho (Skatethepond.com, Niicearena.com); and CDA on Ice, in Coeur d’Alene (open through January 20, 2025; cdaonice.com). 

• Downhill Skiing/Snowboarding: Visit a ski area that has a “surface lift” or “Magic Carpet” (think conveyor belt) for littles just starting out on skis or a snowboard. Easier, and less scary, than a chairlift, this is a great way to introduce downhill fundamentals. Parents can ski, walk or run beside or behind their child as they make their way down a short, gentle slope and back to the lift loading area. 

Amy McCaffree looks forward to lots of snowfall and downhill skiing with her family and would like to introduce her 1-year-old dog to snowshoeing and/or XC skiing this winter. 

The post How to Motivate Your Kids to Love Snow Sports  appeared first on Out There Venture.

By Amy McCaffree 

Furry, four-legged Silver Mountain ski patrol members always arrive for duty excited for the day ahead. Loki and Roger, Silver’s first two certified avalanche rescue dogs, work a set schedule on the mountain, along with their patrol handlers. With days off for mental and physical rest, Loki’s handler, Erica Aamodt, says, “If you asked them, they would probably love to be on the mountain every day.” 

Aamodt, now in her eighth season patrolling at Silver, got Loki in 2018 when he was eight weeks old and trained him to be a “regular” search and rescue (SAR) dog. After all, as a Weimaraner, Loki isn’t the typical breed to become an avy dog.  

“The K9 team leader at the time encouraged me to think about training Loki for avalanche rescue. In my personal life, I enjoyed backcountry skiing and was interested in learning more about avalanche safety and rescue. All of those interests came together when I had the opportunity to start training Loki,” says Aamodt. “Silver Ski Patrol was supportive of the idea, so I started bringing Loki up to [the mountain] where we started learning skills such as riding the chairlift and traveling safely around the mountain. Over the next few years, the program took shape, and we added Roger to the team in 2020.” Loki, now seven years old, is the region’s only all-season certified SAR dog. (He wears sweaters to support his love of snow.) 

Roger, a five-year-old Labrador Retriever, reports for duty with handler Drew Mahan, Silver’s Avalanche Dog Program Director and longtime ski patrol member (now in his 16^th season). “[Avy dogs are] a morale booster for the whole patrol,” says Mahan.  

Some of Mahan’s many director duties and responsibilities include organizing training drills for the dogs and recruiting volunteers to hide in snow caves; overseeing the progress of each dog and handler; collaborating with regional partner programs on training and clinics, including the Northern Rockies Avalanche Canine Rescue group (NRAC); and arranging for Silver’s handlers and dogs to attend training opportunities outside the Inland Northwest, such as the Wasatch Backcountry Rescue Dog School at Alta/Snowbird, in Utah. 

Silver’s youngest avy dog is Cedar, an eighteen-month-old Lab, and her handler is Izzy Davis, who is in her fourth season with Silver Ski Patrol. While working as a lift operator in Breckenridge, Colo., Davis says, “I would see all the dogs and handlers skiing around and knew it was ultimately what I wanted to do. I’ve always had a strong bond with animals and a deep love for skiing, so working with an avalanche dog merged both those interests.” 

As Cedar, Roger, and Loki got established on the mountain, a fourth human member of the training team was Steve Janke. Janke came to Silver Mountain Ski Patrol from Alta, in Utah, after many years working as a patroller and avy dog trainer and handler. Alta is renowned for having the oldest avalanche dog program in the U.S. Although not returning to Silver Ski Patrol this winter, Aamodt says that Janke, as a secondary handler, spent “countless hours passing along his wealth of knowledge.” 

A Day in the Life of an Avy Dog 

A typical duty day for Silver’s avy dogs begins with a gondola ride with their primary handler. After the patrol team’s morning meeting, the dogs will either catch a ride on a snowmobile to their duty station for the day or sometimes ride up a chairlift with their handler.  

“As the dogs move around the mountain, their handlers are constantly thinking of their dogs’ safety. One of the biggest hazards to the dogs are ski and snowboard edges, which can seriously injure a dog if a dog gets sliced by an edge—this is why our handlers ask that guests never approach the dogs or try to call them over,” Aarmodt explains. Avy dogs are off-leash, but wear a red harness marked with a ski patrol white cross and a dog is always accompanied by a ski patrol-handler wearing an official ski patrol red coat. 

“Another long-term hazard is the increased wear and tear on a dog’s shoulders from running down steep terrain. For these two reasons, handlers mitigate these risks as much as possible using safe travel skills such as snowmobiles, skiing gentle terrain while the dogs run, and carrying the dogs down steep and/or crowded terrain.” 

For practice, patrollers dig snow caves to set up training problems. A volunteer will sit or lay inside the cave with a dog toy, the cave opening covered with snow blocks. “Once everything is set up, a handler will give their dog the command to search for human scent under the snow,” says Aarmodt. “As a dog narrows down the source of the scent, they will start digging and will dig down all the way into the snow cave, where their subject is waiting with a toy. As soon as the dog digs into the cave, they get to grab onto the toy and play a game of tug with the subject. To the dogs, this is the best kind of hide and seek game!” 

Patrol duty concludes after the dogs run alongside their handlers as they sweep the mountain and ensure all guests have made it off the mountain safely, Aarmodt says. “Once their uniforms are off, the dogs get some free playtime, and then make their way back down the gondola with their handlers.” 

Certified Snow Dogs 

It takes two to three years for an avalanche rescue dog to become fully certified. “We like to say that we are constantly training our dogs—every interaction we have with them has the opportunity to shape and reinforce behavior,” says Aamodt. “Some days are more focused on obedience and safe traveling skills, and some days are more focused on difficult rescue drills.”  

In addition to being certified ski-mountain avalanche SAR dogs, Loki and Roger are both backcountry certified by NRAC, which is a great benefit to our region because this certification qualifies them to assist with SAR emergencies at any regional ski mountain as well as participate as a canine-handler SAR team when requested by a county sheriff’s office. 

Aamodt’s strong partnership with Loki is what she most enjoys about being a handler. “We’ve done a lot together—riding in helicopters, rappelling from chairlifts, and looking for people under challenging circumstances—and we have a close bond. Most of all, it is the knowledge that our partnership has the potential to save someone’s life someday.” 

Learn more about Silver’s Avalanche Dogs on Instagram @silver_mountain_avy_dogs.  

Amy McCaffree is a Senior Writer for OTO and alpine skis with her husband and their two children. Follow Amy on Instagram @adventure_amy_spokane or TikTok @pnwadventureamy. 

The post The Avalanche Rescue Dogs of Silver Mountain  appeared first on Out There Venture.

From a cover story about what it would be like to go rock climbing on Mars to a first-person account of Sasquatch-hunting in the Blue Mountains, Out There’s Founding Publisher Jon Snyder always aimed to keep magazine content interesting. Even if it “strained from the formula,” he says. “If I couldn’t have fun doing the magazine, I didn’t want to do it.” 

After working for Fantastic Media, editing Star Wars fan magazines, and moving back to his hometown, Snyder realized, “If I wanted to work in magazine publishing (in Spokane), I needed to create my own.” And a topic that was underrepresented in 2004 was outdoor recreation.  

Whenever Snyder met people not originally from the Inland Northwest, he heard the same spiel about why they chose Spokane—the proximity to trails, ski mountains and lakes, and abundant recreation opportunities. But he also observed that business and tourism bigwigs with power were mostly clueless that Spokane was a premiere destination for outdoor recreation. Their mindset didn’t consider “proximity” and “recreation opportunities” as selling points, according to Snyder. He wanted to change that, and thought, “Let’s shine a light on Spokane as an outdoor center, [with] all the [outdoorsy] people doing great things.”  

Early advertising supporters that helped launch “Out There Monthly” (OTM) and its first print issue in September 2004 were Mountain Gear and the Spokane Indians baseball organization. “Mountain Gear owner Paul Fish and I wanted to help the local business community to recognize that Spokane was a great place for outdoor recreation…to help them think of recreation as an asset—and why people should relocate their businesses here, and as a reason to move here,” says Snyder. He also wanted the magazine to highlight our community’s “strong conservation ethic that unites people, across party lines”—from hikers to hunters.  

Readers responded positively—here was a publication providing free, locally-focused, highly-informative guidance about hiking and biking trails, cycling and mountain biking know-how, road-trip destinations, outdoor gear, campgrounds, and much more. The people writing the stories and taking photos were all local people who had genuine personal experience about what they were talking about. Information that had only been available if you bought a hiking guidebook, or extensively searched through websites and blogs, or you knew the right local people to ask, was now easy to access.  

Magazine growth was “slow but steady” in the beginning, says Snyder. He promoted OTM with issue-launch parties and guerilla marketing ideas, like bicycle spoke-cards featuring work by local visual artists. Topics for Snyder’s monthly “From the Editor” column often focused on controversial topics (He liked to rock the boat!), and his writing style was engaging, witty and downright hilarious. He recalls that the first cover-feature that garnered greater attention was a climbing story about local father-son mountaineers John and Jess Roskelly—entitled “Who’s Melting the Himalayas?” and written by Derrick Knowles for the Dec. 2005 issue—with the Roskelleys’ photo on the front page. “That combination, a global issue with a local angle, really resonated with readers,” says Snyder.  

Derrick, current editor-in-chief and co-publisher (more on that later), has had his name in this magazine’s masthead since the beginning. Snyder and Knowles met through a mutual friend and non-profit organizations based out of the Community Building in downtown Spokane. “Derrick was then—as he is now—a lovable dirtbag with a ton of outdoor recreation knowledge,” says Snyder. “I am sure one of our early conversations got me thinking more about outdoor recreation before I started the magazine. He was one of the first people I contacted when I decided to give it a go. He contributed all sorts of great pieces starting with the very first issue.” 

In 2013, after more than 100 issues, Snyder sold the magazine to Derrick and Shallan Knowles, a husband-wife co-publishing team. OTM’s contributors and long-time readers were enthused (and relieved) that the magazine would continue and ownership remain local. Also in 2013, “Outside” magazine finally included Spokane in its annual list of “Best Towns” to live in America, nationally christening the city—like Snyder had long been lobbying for, regularly sending OTM copies to “Outside” editors. Meanwhile, Snyder continued his work as Spokane City Councilman and would be re-elected that year. 

FROM THEN TO NOW 

Now living in Tacoma, Wash., Snyder still champions the outdoors, as well as Spokane, as Director of Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development for the State of Washington. This public policy advisor position was created in 2015 by the State Legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support, according to Snyder.  

“Outdoor recreation is one of the biggest industries in our entire state, and now we have the data and metrics to support that,” says Snyder. “For Spokane’s reputation, in general, it’s still amazing to me how many people dismiss Spokane or don’t even have any curiosity about it. Sometimes I think part of my job is just setting people straight and inserting myself in any policy area concerning Spokane.” 

Snyder understands the complex interconnections between how cities and counties are managed and subsequent recreation quality-of-life indicators. “Outdoor recreation should be considered critical infrastructure. The number one thing that will kill outdoor recreation is sprawl—poorly-planned development,” he says. “Sprawl increases carbon emissions, and climate change will hurt recreation—wildfire smoke, less snow during winter; and [sprawl] destroys habitats and trails for recreation.” 

SPIRIT OF OUT THERE 

“Inclusivity—that’s the spirit of Out There. It’s not a magazine for hard-bodied dudes who climb Rainier. I don’t want anyone to say they’re not an outdoors-person. They just need to find the outdoor experience that’s right for them,” says Snyder. “We need to make sure that we get the message out that outdoor recreation is for everyone—grandparents, immigrants, people who didn’t grow up with these activities. You don’t have to be able-bodied to enjoy outdoor recreation—we need more ADA accessible trails. [Recreation must be] inclusive to all genders, races and backgrounds.” 

 “Out There democratizes that information and makes it less mysterious,” he says. “There will always be people who don’t want to talk about their favorite lakes or climbing routes. We can figure out a way to manage the crowds and the use. But we can’t be telling people that it’s a secret thing that people can’t be part of. Hats off to Derrick and Shallan who have embodied the spirit of the magazine. I couldn’t have sold it two better people.” 

Snyder understands the full big picture—outdoor recreation is both personal leisure and business. “To me, it’s all connected. The next generation, if they haven’t had a chance to go fly fishing or skiing, they are not going to be doing those things and ‘buying into’ [recreation] 20 years from now. And the industry will suffer.” 

PROUD PAPA-PUBLISHER 

“I’m most proud that it still exists and is even better than when I was running it,” says Snyder. “Writers and photographers created a vision that resonated [with readers] and lasted all these years. The enthusiasm of contributors sustained the magazine during challenging financial times. Magazines die all the time. It’s really hard to coalesce around a concept that keeps people excited for 20 years.” Additionally, “If anyone ever tried to try something in the outdoors and enjoyed it because of something they read about in ‘Out There’ then I’m really proud of that,” he says. 

In no particular order, Jon Snyder recalls some of the most memorable stories he published: the OTM cover story about the history of snowboarding (January 2011 issue); Dan Egan’s story about Bigfoot (October 2006); Jess Walter’s hilarious stories for the “Urban Outdoors” column (2006-07); a feature about bike commuters (“Road Warriors: The State of Urban Cycling in Spokane,” March 2007); and an early guide to area lakes.  

Outside of print, OTM’s presence and partnerships within the outdoors community championed environmental stewardship, helped to expand accessibility, and propelled popularity of non-motorized recreation. “It was neat to be involved with the early years of events like Spokane River Clean-Up and Spokefest, and to collaborate with Bloomsday,” says Snyder. 

“I want to thank folks for supporting independent media for 20 years. I’m talking about magazine contributors, and Derrick and Shallan who believed [in and supported Out There’s mission]. My wife, Heidi, who I couldn’t have done anything without. And advertisers—local businesses and business owners believing in this magazine. If we didn’t have the audience or no one cared, if readers didn’t value the outdoors like we did—participating in activities, recreation events, and supporting magazine advertisers—this would have been a short-lived magazine.”  

Thank you, Jon, for the guts to make this local magazine a reality and entrusting us all to keep it going strong. 

Amy McCaffree has been writing for Out There since 2006, after graduating from EWU with a MFA in Creative Writing. Rather than move back to the Puget Sound region, she stayed in Spokane to enjoy a 4-season outdoor recreation lifestyle and raise a family.  

The post Looking Back with Out There Monthly Founder Jon Snyder  appeared first on Out There Venture.

I had been freelance writing for “Northwest Runner” magazine for about five years when I landed my first story for “Out There Monthly” – a cover story about Nordic skiing, for the January 2006 issue. I have been a loyal contributor ever since.  

Writing about the outdoors and living in Spokane are synonymous for me. New story ideas are everywhere. One of my most memorable cover stories I wrote was for the July 2008 issue—publisher Jon Snyder assigned the topic: a guide to regional old-growth forest groves with nearby campground accommodations. A fascinating topic that required me to conduct extensive research with limited sources available at that time. I didn’t grow up in the Inland Northwest, so I only started with a few place names provided by Jon. There was one guidebook about PNW old-growth forest hikes, but it mainly focused on groves in western Washington and the Cascades. I bought and read that book; interviewed forestry experts; and scoured rudimentary U.S. National Forest webpages, news sources, blogs and discussion forums to gather as much detailed information as I could find. After I submitted my final draft to Jon, I told him, “I feel like I just wrote a guidebook.” He replied, “Well….”—and revealed that his grand plan was to maybe eventually, someday, publish guidebooks based off Out There Monthly content.  

I still think of all those old-growth forest groves I wrote about 16 years ago. I’ve since hiked among a few of them with my children and have photos of their tiny bodies standing by giant cedars. With every national forest wildfire, I continue to hope these ancient groves survive. So far, the Roosevelt Grove of Ancient Cedars, near Priest Lake, has been spared, most recently by a 2021 fire. 

Read “Where To Go To See Old Growth Forests in the Inland Northwest: A Tree-Hugging Love Affair” in the online OTO archives or at the magazine’s Issuu.com page. 

Amy McCaffree is an Out There senior writer and has also worked as the managing editor (2010-2012), special sections editor, digital editor, and was “Out There Kids” columnist for many years. She lives in Spokane and enjoys walking/hiking with her dog, gardening, paddling, biking, camping and downhill skiing. Follow her on Insta @adventure_amy_spokane or TikTok @pnwadventureamy. 

The post Writing About Old-Growth Forests appeared first on Out There Venture.