By Carol Corbin 

Cover photo courtesy of Carol Corbin

Why are there so many people on my trail? Ever had that thought creep in as you’re lacing up your trail runners, clicking into your pedals, or setting off with a fly rod in hand? Out here in the still-wild Inland Northwest, we’ve long enjoyed the quiet thrill of having a trail, a river, or a ridge seemingly to ourselves. No endless parking lot loops, no Instagram-famous switchbacks packed shoulder-to-shoulder—just space, sky, and the rhythm of your own breath. 

But even here, the word’s getting out. And with fewer than 10% of Spokane County’s lands open to the public, we’re already feeling the squeeze. As more people fall in love with this place (and who can blame them?), the pressure on our public lands is growing fast. 

Thankfully, land management agencies—State Parks, County and City Parks, BLM, DNR, US Fish and Wildlife, and WDFW—are working to keep wild places wild and accessible. But they can’t do it alone. They rely on community muscle—from volunteer trail builders with Washington Trails Association and Evergreen East to the stewardship of everyday hikers, bikers, and boaters who treat the land like it’s home. Because it is. 

And that’s where Inland Northwest Land Conservancy comes in. Over the past few years, we’ve rolled up our sleeves for projects that give outdoor lovers more room to roam: linking Riverside State Park to Palisades through Rimrock to Riverside, expanding the trails and terrain of Saltese Uplands, securing access on Beacon Hill, and protecting Waikiki Springs—aka “the Switchbacks”—for hikers, families and river lovers. 

1,000 Acres of Future Public Land and Trails Coming Soon 

Now, we’re stepping into our biggest adventure yet. Last year, the Conservancy acquired Glen Tana—1,000 acres of ponderosa forest, basalt cliffs, and sweeping river views just upstream from Waikiki Springs. Once it’s transferred to Washington State Parks, this land will become part of a major Riverside State Park expansion, opening up miles of new trails and more intimate access into the Little Spokane River Valley. 

While the land is temporarily closed as trail plans are finalized and long-term stewardship gets set, the vision is clear: protect the wildlife-rich heart of Glen Tana while giving people unforgettable ways to explore, recharge, and reconnect. 

A Conservation Dream Realized—With More Work Ahead 

Thanks to hundreds of local outdoor lovers, the capital campaign to secure Glen Tana for future generations is now complete—raising over $4 million to protect this extraordinary landscape. But our work doesn’t stop here. Your continued support fuels projects just like Glen Tana—projects that preserve wild places, expand public access and keep the Inland Northwest wild and welcoming. 

If you love wildflowers underfoot, river bends that reveal herons or moose, quiet singletrack through towering pines or just having one more place to breathe deeply and move freely—your gift today helps make sure there’s always another place like Glen Tana to protect. Support the next conservation success by giving to Inland Northwest Land Conservancy. Big or small, every donation helps keep the trail ahead wide open. 

Glen Tana Isn’t Open to the Public Just Yet 

Join a guided hike to get a sneak-peak of this incredible place 

We know there’s nothing more exciting than new trails, and we thank our community for respecting the private ownership of Glen Tana. Want a sneak peek before State Parks takes over ownership and management? Sign up for a guided hike at InlandNWLand.org/events. Our small but dedicated staff and volunteer crew who work tirelessly to care for this huge and beautiful place thank you for staying on public lands and trails! 

(Sponsored) 

The post Room to Roam along the Little Spokane River  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Explore these summer outdoor music festivals in the Pacific Northwest that you can bikepack to and camp at—or drive and bring your bike for day rides between music sets. For gear and route planning tips, visit Bikepacking.com, a top resource for adventure cyclists.

Kettle River Music Festival – Curlew, Washington (August 1–3, 2025)
BIKE IT: Bikepack from Republic via the Golden Tiger Pathway and Ferry County Rail Trail, or ride sections of the trail system from the festival grounds. More ambitious riders can head up to the Kettle Crest for epic singletrack.
kettlerivermusicfestival.org

Yellow Pine Harmonica Festival – Yellow Pine, Idaho (July 31–August 2, 2025)
BIKE IT: Bikepack from McCall, Idaho, over a steep mountain pass and along the South Fork Salmon River to reach this remote Idaho mountain music festival. For an incredibly scenic day ride or overnighter from the festival, pedal 33 rugged miles to the community of Big Creek for an excellent meal at the Big Creek Lodge near the airstrip. Then ride back or stay at one of the nearby campsites.
yellowpinefestival.org

National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest & Festival – Weiser, Idaho (June 17–21, 2025)
BIKE IT: Bikepack from New Meadows or McCall, Idaho, incorporating the 84-mile-long Weiser River Trail, one of Idaho’s top rail trails. Or, day-ride this scenic route directly from the festival.
fiddlecontest.org

Juniper Jam – Enterprise, Oregon (August 30, 2025)
BIKE IT: Bikepackers looking for an epic challenge can start from Asotin, Washington, or farther south at Heller Bar on the Snake River and ride gravel and two-track trails climbing through the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area to the rim above Hells Canyon—a 100+ mile journey with incredible camping along the way. Less zealous riders can enjoy scenic day rides from the festival on gravel roads into the Zumwalt Prairie and surrounding Wallowa Mountains.
juniperjam.com

Festival at Sandpoint – Sandpoint, Idaho (July 24–27 and July 31–August 3, 2025)
BIKE IT: Create your own custom bikepacking route to Sandpoint, Idaho, mixing trails, gravel, and pavement from your home base. The nearby trails at Pine Street Woods are an easy ride from the festival for day trippers.
festivalatsandpoint.com

The Gorge Amphitheatre – George, Washington (Multiple 2025 Festivals)
Beyond Wonderland (June 20–22)
Watershed Festival (August 1–3)
Bass Canyon Festival (August 15–17)
BIKE IT: Bikepack from Spokane on the Palouse to Cascades Trail to the Gorge Amphitheatre, one of the most iconic outdoor music venues in Washington. Or use the trail for a day ride during your festival weekend.
gorgeamphitheatre.com

Blue Waters Bluegrass Festival – Medical Lake, Washington (August 8–10, 2025)
BIKE IT: Bikepack from Spokane via the Fish Lake Trail and scenic back roads to this lakeside bluegrass festival near Spokane. Explore miles of quiet roads and countryside around Medical Lake between music sets.
bluewatersbluegrass.org

Shambhala Music Festival – Salmo, British Columbia (July 25–28, 2025)
BIKE IT: Bikepack from Spokane and connect with the International Selkirk Loop bike route, then continue on to Salmo for this legendary BC electronic music festival in the Kootenays. Or ride from Nelson, BC, on the Nelson-Salmo Great Northern Trail for outstanding day rides from the festival. Don’t forget your passport!
shambhalamusicfestival.com

The post NW Music Festivals You Can Bikepack To (Or Day Ride From) appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Derrick Knowles

Honestly, the musical genre barely registered when Out There Venture publisher Derrick Knowles invited me and several other riders to bikepack from Spokane to Medical Lake, Washington, for the 2024 Blue Waters Bluegrass Festival in August. It takes very little for me to say “yes” to bikepacking, and since my weekend was free, it was a no-brainer. But the promise of a homegrown, small-town feel with some of the best bluegrass bands around added to the appeal. And I discovered that a music festival has some great perks as a bikepacking destination.

The Blue Waters Bluegrass Festival in Medical Lake, WA, has welcomed musicians and fans from across the U.S. since 2022. World-class bluegrass music is offered at this modest but memorable festival, with camping fees that spoke to my dirtbag heart. The festival’s proximity to Spokane’s urban core promised a pleasant, scenic pedal to buzzing Medical Lake Waterfront Park.

While it would be easy enough to load up the bikes with gear and pedal straight to Medical Lake, there are enough scenic options between downtown Spokane and the lakefront to encourage gravel-centric bikepacking routes through the West Plains and around nearby lakes. Our bikepacking route from Spokane took us south on the Fish Lake Trail, then west through Cheney and Four Lakes, popular areas for gravel biking in Eastern Washington. While spending hours on Ride with GPS finding the best routes isn’t my cup of tea, I’m grateful to have lots of adventure buddies who love this aspect of trip planning and always find interesting, challenging, beautiful routes to take.

Approaching Silver Lake from the east was sobering, as evidence of the 2023 catastrophic wildfires greeted us. Though many homes are being rebuilt, the blackened trees and scorched earth were a stark contrast to the sparkling lake. It’s easy to pedal along, spinning out about the increasing impact that wildfires are having on our beautiful, pedalable home.

With four riders, lots of gear, and plenty of time, we took snack and drink breaks and paused to enjoy wildflowers. I’m assuming the others waited patiently for me to catch up. While much of the weight on my bike was vital camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, festival chair), I needn’t have packed so much food. The best part of bikepacking to a music festival was discovering the diverse food trucks at the venue—an unexpected culinary bonus after a long ride. From Feast World Kitchen’s tofu pad thai to a truck selling hot coffee in the morning, my freeze-dried meals just couldn’t stack up, so they stayed packed away. Since Medical Lake is a delightfully small town with wide streets, it wouldn’t have been hard to pedal into town for a bite or beverage if needed.

Live bluegrass music filled the air all day, from regional acts and local players in the afternoon to national headliners in the evening. The Saturday night headliners, New Dangerfield, were introduced by the festival organizer who calmly assured the audience that in 22 years, they’d never been rained out … even as the inevitable thunderclouds that follow me everywhere gathered on the horizon and rumbled over the rolling hills. My travel companions glared at me as they pulled out their rain jackets. But, I did warn them.

Knowing at least some rain was on the way, our cozy campsite right on the water’s edge was secured with rain flies zipped and bags packed away. We kicked back, enjoyed the music, and watched festival staff and volunteers scramble to right the canopy sheltering the sound system as gusts of wind brought the storm ever closer. The musicians, professional performers, carried on with their set, bringing the audience to their feet with toe-tapping tunes and classic sounds of Appalachia.

Most people camping for the weekend were using trailers and RVs, but those of us sleeping in tents were relieved when Mother Nature left just a few drops and carried the thunder and lightning north instead of raining on our parade. The next morning, as we packed to leave, I was pleased to see musicians young and old gathering at picnic tables and under trees for a series of music workshops—generations sharing their art and carrying on the language of string-based bluegrass for new audiences to discover.

Pedaling away from the bustle of the campground reminded me that bikepacking truly is my favorite way to adventure. The freedom of circumventing crowded parking lots and lines of vehicles, carrying everything I need on my bike, pedaling until I’m tired, then sleeping, then pedaling again, is my perfect adventure. Sharing conversation, suffering, and camaraderie with others turning pedals with (or usually far ahead of) me—there’s just nothing like it.

The 2024 Blue Waters Bluegrass Festival (August 8–10 in Medical Lake, WA) is just one of many bikeable music festivals in the Inland Northwest. The region boasts a lineup of events for various genres, schedules, camping experiences, and price points. These festivals are well-supported, with camping, restrooms, concessions, and other comfort amenities. They offer community and something to look forward to during your miles of pedaling—and they’re typically close enough to “somewhere” that you can access an easy exit strategy if things go sideways.

If bikepacking has been on your “want to try” list, find a fun, local festival, pull whatever bike you have out of the garage for a quick tune-up (at least lube the chain and pump up the tires), throw a tent and a sleeping bag in a backpack or some panniers, and get out there—bikepacking to festivals is the perfect blend of adventure, music, and outdoor culture.

Carol Corbin is looking for ways to monetize the rain that follows her on all her outdoor adventures, having recently achieved international notoriety by breaking an unseasonable dry spell with four days of biking in England.

The post Bikepacking from Spokane to the Blue Waters Bluegrass Festival in Medical Lake appeared first on Out There Venture.

By Carol Corbin 

How do you keep Canadian bacon from curling in the pan? Take away its tiny brooms. To be honest, when I first heard about curling, I thought it was a joke. Throwing a stone across the ice while people sweep the ice to make it go where they want? It sounded like hobbyhorse riding. Or pickleball. 

Okay, now that I have your attention (I know pickleball is a real sport!), let’s talk about this seemingly simple winter activity. Born in Scotland and loved almost as much as hockey by our friends north of the border, curling provides an opportunity for athleticism, strategy, team building and community at a time of year when those things can be difficult to come by.  

Curling is a game played on ice in which players work to slide a large, flat stone across the surface toward a specific mark, or “house,” marked by concentric circles on the ice. One player slides or “throws” the stone and the other players use brooms (modern brooms that look more like sponge-mops) to “sweep” the ice. This sweeping action controls the speed and direction of the stone, helping to guide it to its mark. Points are awarded for the team whose stone or “rock” is closest to the “button,” or the center circle of the house. The name “curling” comes from the movement of the stone on the ice. 

Curling was introduced to the Olympics in 1924 as a “demonstration event,” but much later (in 1998) the event was added as an Olympic event. In 2002, Curling was granted medal status, with the gold medal going to Great Britain for women’s and Norway for men’s. Canadian teams—men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles—routinely dominate the sport, and curling is televised, as far as I can tell from my frequent visits to the province of British Columbia, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on at least one TV in every pub, diner, brewery and living room in Canada. 

Earliest evidence of curling occurred in Scotland with a stone engraved with 1511. Since then, a list of jargon including things like “pebbling the sheet,” the “house, tag line, and button,” and “hacks,” are just a few curling terms of many mystifying references in this sport. As an Inland Northwester, here’s what you need to know about “the roaring game.” (Interestingly, this term refers to the sound of the brooms on the ice, and not the roar of the crowds cheering on their favorite “skip,” aka team captain.) 

While Scotland will always and forever be its birthplace, Canadians have a ratio of one curling rink to every three citizens. Approximately. However, here in the Inland Northwest, despite the active and dedicated Inland Northwest Curling Club, curlers are forced to wait out hockey players for use of their rink, and, while ice is ice, hockey rinks are not the same. With more interest in curling, more players, and more money, this community could have its very own sheets and host everything from weeknight league play to annual “bonspiels,” a gathering of curlers and their families for tournaments, food, libations and community. 

Matt Moore, former president of the INW Curling Club, says he first got interested in curling when he lived in Minnesota. He and his wife began curling for fun but got hooked and immediately joined a league when they moved to Spokane. And as of the winter of 2023, starting each September on Thursday nights, they could be found at Frontier Ice Arena in Coeur d’Alene, brooms in hand (Google “broomgate” for some exciting controversy from the world of curling), throwing, sweeping and listening to calls of the skip to carefully guide the stone to the button. 

Coming to understand the finesse and strategy involved in curling, and the inherent community that comes with bonspiels in the dark of winter, it’s easy to see how this sport takes hold in northern climates such as ours. So, if you’re looking for ways to stay active, connected and warm inside and out this winter, maybe you can give curling a try by joining the local league. Or take up hobbyhorses. Up to you. 

Carol Corbin is trying really hard to understand this unique winter sport under the tutelage of a patient Canadian boyfriend whose participation in not one but two leagues in British Columbia means she gets to watch a lot of curling. 

Sponsored

The post Winter Sweeps: An American’s Take on the Canadian Sport of Curling appeared first on Out There Venture.

Just outside Spokane, cradling the Little Spokane River and surrounding hills, lies a hidden gem—Glen Tana. Most 1,060-acre property, now in the hands of the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy* (INLC), is on track to become one of the most significant conservation success stories in our region. It connects two major recreation areas—Waikiki Springs and Riverside State Park—creating a 20-mile stretch of protected wilderness just minutes from the city. 

Glen Tana has it all: rolling pine forests, rocky outcroppings, and nearly two miles of meandering river. It’s a place where you can hike, run, watch birds, or simply find peace in nature. Soon, thanks to the efforts of INLC, this once-private land will be open for everyone to explore. As Sally Pritchard, chair of the Conservancy’s “It’s In Our Nature” campaign said, “Spokane is privileged to have so many spaces close to downtown where we can hike, run, bike, or just be out in nature.” 

But this project is about more than just recreation—it’s about history, culture, and environmental restoration. The Spokane Tribe of Indians, stewards of this region from time immemorial, is using Glen Tana to revive salmon runs in the Little Spokane River. Over the past two summers, Tribal Fisheries has released more than 150 Chinook salmon into the river, the first time these fish have been here in over a century​. It’s a major step toward bringing this keystone species back to the region, and it’s happening at Glen Tana!* 

The land itself tells a powerful story. For years, developers eyed it for new housing projects, but thanks to the efforts of INLC and a few determined investors, it’s now protected for future generations. “The land helps us define who we are. This project will help heal our community,” said Monica Tonasket, a Spokane Tribal Councilwoman​. That sense of healing and connection is at the heart of the Glen Tana project—it’s about preserving not only the land but also the cultural and ecological heritage of the Inland Northwest. 

Of course, big projects like this don’t come cheap. INLC had to get creative with funding, using state grants, bridge loans, and a lot of community monetary donations to make it happen. And it’s not done yet. INLC is in the middle of a major capital campaign to raise $4 million to cover the costs of buying and maintaining the property. So far, this dedicated community of nature enthusiasts and community-minded conservationists have contributed $3.1M to the overall goal. INLC is calling on everyone—from individuals to businesses and foundations—to chip in and help protect this special place. 

Glen Tana is a once-in-a-forever opportunity. With rapid urban growth in the Spokane area, finding and protecting such a large piece of land so close to the city is rare. As one campaign donor put it, “When we lose land like this, a part of us dies. And once these open spaces are gone, they’re gone.” That’s why this project matters now more than ever. 

The plan for Glen Tana goes beyond conservation—it’s about creating a place where people can reconnect with nature, learn about local wildlife, and honor the area’s cultural history. Whether you’re a hiker, a birdwatcher, or just someone who enjoys being outdoors, Glen Tana will soon be your new favorite spot. 

So, keep an eye on Glen Tana. Soon, it’ll be another one of Spokane’s natural treasures—ready and waiting for your next outdoor adventure. You can sign up for a guided hike of Glen Tana at the events page of INLC (inlandnwland.org/events/). 

Want to get involved? INLC is always looking for more people to join the cause, whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word. You can learn more at InlandNWLand.org or give them a call at (509) 328-2939. Every little bit helps, and together, we can ensure that Glen Tana stays wild and beautiful for generations to come. 

*The Spokane Tribe of Indians purchased 80 acres from INLC in October 2023, using grant money from Bonneville Power. This land will be the site of the Tribe’s fish-rearing facility, supporting ongoing efforts to reintroduce salmon to the Upper Columbia River Basin.

The post More Room to Roam on the Little Spokane River  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Stikky’s “Night Skies” book promised that I would “learn six constellations, four stars, a planet, a galaxy, and how to navigate at night in just one hour.” And their “Tracks” book, in which I expected to learn nothing, since I’ve studied and even taught about scat and tracks for years, promised I would “learn how to identify 14 animals from their tracks, poop, and other signs–in just one hour.” 

There were a few things that made the Stikky format work for me. The information was simple and came with easy-to-read diagrams and photos. After each new concept, diagram, or trait, the past info was restated with a chance to review. There were activities on each page that speak to brains that learn in other ways as well. The books use pneumonic devices, puns, and lots of pictures to illustrate the information being shared. Those activities, especially in the “Night Skies” book, gave a sense of real-world practice to store the information in longer lasting brain centers. 

As confident as I was that the “Tracks” book had nothing new for me, I was delighted to learn the words “plantigrade” and “digitigrade.” I now know how to tell the difference between a coyote track and a dog track. And the difference between raccoon and possum. While some of the photos in the “Tracks” book were hard to make out, the illustrations equated shapes within tracks to shapes you probably learned in geometry.  

I learned the most from the “Starry Skies” book. Stikky, well, made things stick. Each night this week, as I was going to sleep, I drew a star map in my head, reviewing how to find Polaris, Pleiades, and Cassiopeia in the night sky. I felt like I was surrounded by my very own celestial friends. Stikky books are a unique resource for curious learners of any age. Stikky.com. (Carol Corbin) 

The post Stikky Books: “Tracks” and “Night Skies”  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Permethrin, picaradin, DEET, bracelets, candles, lotions, sprays. All I know at 11 p.m. when they whine past my ear and I smack my tentmate in the chest with my headlamp for the fifth time, trying to squash them before they gorge themselves on my blood, is that I. Hate. Mosquitoes.  

My significant other isn’t bothered by mosquitoes. They sometimes bite him, but rarely, and when they do, he says it doesn’t itch. I, on the other hand, am ready to murder someone by the third bite as it swells, gets red, and itches (sometimes for days!). He says it’s because I use bug repellant and he doesn’t, that the chemicals are actually an attractant. But the science seems to indicate that I just smell better. And I’m hotter. To mosquitoes, anyway. 

Mosquitoes are drawn to body heat, exhaled CO2, and kairomones–chemical signals that attract one species to another, for the benefit of the former. These kairomones are sensed using olfactory (smell) receptors. And mosquitoes have olfactory receptors that can sense carbon dioxide, lactic acid, ammonia, organic fatty acids, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, and esters. The combinations of those smells are a strong attractant for them. There are many other factors at play as well, such as one’s number of skin glands, skin pH, metabolic rate, body mass, one’s breathing rate and intensity, as well as the microbes living on one’s skin. 

Figuring out the right solution to protect your flesh, blood, and sanity gets more confusing all the time. After some research, though, here’s my take on the 411 for avoiding these tiny terrorists on your next outdoor adventure. 

Permethrin 

Uses: A spray or wash-in option for clothes, footwear, tents, sleeping bags… any outer fabric that will be joining you on your trip. The treatment will last through several washes and is a staple for international travelers headed to places where malaria is common. Permethrin is the main ingredient used in clothing that is sold touting insect repellency. 

Pros: The treatment can be done ahead of time. Once fabric is treated and dry, there is no odor. It repels not just mosquitoes, but most other bugs as well. It doesn’t typically damage technical fabrics. 

Cons: The spray or wash is toxic to pets when it’s wet. It can be difficult to ensure thorough coverage with the spray and may take more than one treatment. Manufacturers recommend washing permethrin-treated clothing separately from other clothes, since it is designed for outer fabrics and should be kept away from other articles of clothing like underwear. 

Picaridin 

Uses: Picaridin was developed in the 1980s as a less offensive-smelling option to DEET. It is available in sprays, creams, and wipes. It’s touted as a synthetic compound that mimics substances in plants used to produce black pepper. It’s believed that picaridin works by blocking insects’ ability to sense their prey, but it doesn’t kill insects. 

Pros: It’s odorless. Well, not completely (in my opinion), but almost. Very little of it absorbs through the skin. That which makes it through comes out in urine. Picaridin doesn’t damage clothing and lacks the sticky residue of typical bug repellants. 

Cons: It is mildly toxic to fish. Because it has only been approved in the US since the early 2000s, it’s not as readily available as its prime competitor, DEET. And, in my experience . . . it doesn’t work on mosquitoes. 

DEET 

Uses: This tried-and-true anti-bug chemical has been used for years to keep the skeeters at bay. It comes in sprays, creams, and wipes. But not all DEET-bearing products are created equal. Many products splash “DEET” all over their label, but ultimately contain only 30% of the insect-fighting substance, padding the rest with alcohol or additives that try to mask the caustic smell reminiscent of endless summer nights, sticky sleeping bags, and burnt marshmallows. 

Pros: Simply put, mosquitoes hate it. Even Yellowstone mosquitoes. Even Great Lakes mosquitoes. Even (dare I say it?) Alaskan mosquitoes! They sell it everywhere, so when you run out (like on a kid-friendly, overnight bikepacking trip to Harrison on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes), it’s easy to replenish. 

Cons: It stinks! It’s easy to understand why the bugs hate it. No one likes it. No one! And it’s sticky. Once you spray it on, you’re committed to being camp-sticky, and stinky, in a big way until your next shower. It can degrade and discolor technical fabrics. You know, like your tent, your hiking boots, your top-of-the-line zip-off hiking pants, and the promotional logos on your swag freebie sunglasses. Some people also have lingering concerns about potential health risks from using DEET, even though the widely-used product has a long track record as a safe and effective topical mosquito repellent.  

While there are plenty of other bug repellant options on the market, from coils to bracelets, crystals, seances, and the blood of a goat, I’m not going to justify those options with space in this magazine. They don’t work. And while you either love or hate DEET, it’s the one thing that reliably keeps the wicked bloodsuckers away, and the only thing I trust with my delicate porcelain peel. 

Carol Corbin commits the first 5-10 minutes of every overnight stay in a tent to hunting mosquitoes with all available light sources, and once carried the slaughtered carcass of a Yellowstone mosquito on her kayak for a full day, just to deter other would-be bloodsuckers from attacking. 

The post The Buzz on Bug Repellant appeared first on Out There Venture.

In February 2024, a break-in at the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy’s (INLC) gear barn resulted in theft and damage totaling $30,000 in tools and equipment crucial for their conservation work at Waikiki Springs Nature Preserve. This loss disrupted their stewardship activities and community events, impacting both the organization and local wildlife enthusiasts. Upon learning of this setback, Nikki Penna of Clearwater Paper rallied support by securing up to a $20,000 match donation for a crowdfunding campaign. This initiative aims to replace stolen tools and equipment by matching community donations 2:1 through May 2024. Clearwater Paper’s commitment reflects their dedication to supporting local conservation and preserving natural areas like Waikiki Springs. INLC is grateful for the partnership and hopes for community support to reach their funding goal and continue caring for these cherished lands. Donate or learn more at InlandNWLand.org/Clearwater-Paper-Match-Campaign.

The post Clearwater Paper Helps Replace Stolen Conservation Equipment appeared first on Out There Venture.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The post Greenwashing My Gas Guzzler appeared first on Out There Venture.