Cover photo courtesy of Lara Gricar

My 900-square-foot garden has been generating fruit, vegetables and an insane amount of weeds for 15 years. When it comes to preserving that bounty, I like to get creative. Especially in the fall. My favorite companion on this adventure has been a book: Not Your Mama’s Canning Book: Modern Canned Goods and What to Make with Them by Rebecca Lindamood. During tomato season, my teenagers insist I make the Tikka Masala. 

Tikka Masala Sauce  

(adapted from “Not Your Mama’s Canning Book,” yields 6 pints) 

1 Tbsp olive oil // 3 large onions // 12 garlic cloves, peeled and minced // 2 tsp kosher salt // 3 Tbsp garam masala // 6-inch piece of ginger, peeled and grated // 3 jalapeño peppers, stems and seeds removed, minced // 12 cups peeled and diced tomatoes 

Sauté the garlic and onions in olive oil on medium heat. Sprinkle in the garam masala and stir until fragrant. Add the ginger and peppers. Cook 1 minute. Add tomatoes and stir, raising heat to medium-high. Bring to a low boil. Scrape sides and bottom regularly to avoid scorching. Drop heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. 

Ladle into pint jars, leaving 1-inch headspace. Use a chopstick to release any air bubbles. Moisten a paper towel with vinegar and wipe the rims of the jars before placing on the lids. Process in a pressure canner at 10 pounds pressure for 30 minutes. Let canner come back to atmospheric pressure naturally, then transfer jars to a towel-lined rack to cool for 24 hours. Store in a cool, dry place for up to one year. 

If you don’t have a pressure canner (I don’t), split the mixture into six freezer-safe containers and freeze. Use within six to nine months. 

This makes for an easy dinner: Sauté chicken (or your protein of choice) and any veggies you desire. (I love adding sweet onion, red bell pepper, and garbanzo beans.) Add 1 pint of preserved tikka masala sauce and 1 cup of heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk. Serve over basmati rice. Pro Tip: Put the canned sauce in the blender (or use an immersion blender) before adding the cream for a smooth and yummy result. For bonus points, add frozen peas, chopped dill, and cilantro to the rice. 

Kale, 3-in-1 Pears, and Apple Pie Filling 

We all need easy preserving options in fall. I blanch kale and freeze it for an easy addition to soups and pastas. My other low-maintenance favorite is to mash peeled pears with a little lemon juice and grated ginger into a crockpot. Cook it down to make a pear butter you can enjoy all winter! An immersion blender used at the end makes it extra creamy. 

Here are two other options that require a little more effort, but the results are mouthwatering! Preserve fall pears by making three-in-one pears (also in Lindamood’s book). This simple recipe combines making dark ginger pear syrup, pears, and pear juice into one session. All three are canned using the standard boiling-water bath technique. If apple pie filling calls to you, use the recipe from the National Center for Home Food Preservation. It has one-quart and seven-quart recipe options.  

Fall is delicious for its abundant social time, amazing hiking and biking under yellowing larch trees, and so much good, fresh food. Canning and freezing means that the garden goodness can be enjoyed all winter, and I love that it makes meals easier once that sweet snow begins to fall.  

Crystal Atamian is a writer and science editor who is looking forward to skiing, winter bonfires, and vanilla ice cream topped with pears in dark ginger syrup. She has written about bear safety, fishing with kids, and the impact of budget cuts on avalanche forecasting in the West in recent issues of Out There. 

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By Crystal Atamian

Trails near Camp Caro look very different lately since Spokane County Parks has been thinning the forest (smaller trees less than 8 inches in diameter). The goal is to clear out the underbrush and prune lower limbs to create a more open environment consistent with the historical fire tolerant ecology. The benefits are reduced fire risk; healthier trees that do not have to compete for limited water; and improved visibility for trail users, which can prevent unwanted encounters with wildlife and other people. 

Ruth Gifford, executive director of the Dishman Hills Conservancy emphasized the importance of safety awareness during this process. “Do not go into areas where there are orange fences,” she says. Heavy equipment can throw wood and debris long distances, and workers wearing hearing protection may not see or hear people nearby. She also urges visitors to leave orange flagging in place, as it marks boundaries. Removing it could cause equipment to encroach on unintended areas. 

The fuels reduction work will continue to be visually impactful for a while, says Gifford, adding that the end goal is well worth it. “The result is that the forest will be more open than in the past. It’s shocking now, but the appearance will continue to improve season to season, year to year.” This new openness will aim to keep wildfires on the ground, improve access for firefighters, and reduce the intensity of the fire, protecting the critical ecology. 

Dishman Hills is managed jointly by Spokane County, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Dishman Hills Conservancy. With fires in and around the area becoming more frequent — including the Cimmaron Fire in September 2024 — Spokane County has created a Wildfire Mitigation Coalition comprised of fire districts and land managers all over the county to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in an all-lands collaborative approach.  

Gifford encouraged visitors to explore Dishman Hills’ other 22 miles of trails and four additional trailheads for the time being. From the Camp Caro entrance at East 8th Avenue and South Edgerton Road, visitors can still safely access the Ponds Loop, Eagle Peak, and Nimbus Knob trails. Other trail closures will continue for several months, with work near the Glenrose trailhead expected to begin in late winter and spring. 

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The US Forest Service is facing a budget-limited future in the upcoming year now that supplemental funding provided via the Inflation Reeducation Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is ending. The result is a hiring freeze in effect for all seasonal employees within the Forest Service for fiscal year 2025, which starts Oct. 1. This will have an outsized impact on winter recreation in western states. The agency operates 14 Avalanche Centers across the West, and many avalanche forecasters are seasonal employees. These centers are critical to public safety, and without full staff they will not be able to provide the same level of service. “We can’t get the same amount of work done with fewer employees,” said USFS Chief Randy Moore in a recent article on Winterwildlands.org.  

Fewer staff to provide as many field observations, snowpack assessments, and daily forecasts means less information that is crucial for backcountry skiers, snowboarders, and snowmobilers to make safe decisions. In some areas, partner organizations like the Teton Backcountry Alliance are working to help fill the gap, but many positions in places like Bridger-Teton National Forest and Inyo National Forest will go unfilled. 

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center (IPAC) in Ponderay, Idaho, is operated by the USFS and offers avalanche safety courses in Idaho and eastern Washington. Director Christopher Bilbrey said IPAC staffing has been structured such that they rely more on full-time staff than seasonal employees. He feels lucky: IPAC operates as a partnership between the USFS and the non-profit Friends of the IPAC. “The Friends strong and continued operational support funds one part-time forecaster, and two part-time field technicians [who are] sheltered from the current USFS budget-staffing issues,” says Bilbrey. 

“While IPAC may not be feeling the direct effects now,” continued Bilbrey, “this will likely impact the program’s ability to increase staffing to meet the growing needs of more forecast days across North Idaho and western Montana — where backcountry use has seen a big increase over the last five to 10 years, including consistent fatalities.” 

Seasonal employees are vital to USFS operations in their roles as avalanche forecasters, trail crews, science researchers, backcountry rangers (for snow, rivers, climbing, etc.), and firefighters. Although firefighters are not included in the hiring freeze, the predicted cost of fire prevention and suppression has spiked dramatically in the last year. Add this to existing budget cuts and the overall effect on winter Forest Service operations becomes even more grim. The public can help by asking their representatives and the Forest Service to exempt avalanche foresters from the FY25 hiring restrictions, especially for positions in the areas of health and safety where partner funding is available. Winter recreationists can also make sure they are well educated on avalanche safety if they plan on heading into the backcountry. 

The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) is the standard for avalanche training. In the Spokane area, AIARE courses are offered through IPAC. They offer Level 1 and Level 2 recreation level classes, both motorized and non-motorized options, and rescue and skills level courses. Visit www.idahopanhandleavalanche.org to register. For trainings in the Cascades, check out The Mountaineers course offerings at www.mountaineers.org. Schweitzer also offers Transceiver Sundays where you can get hands-on practice with your personal transceiver at the beacon park with a lift ticket (www.schweitzer.com).

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

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

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

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

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

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May 20–21: Cascadia Dirt Cup, Post Canyon, Hood River, Ore.

June 10–11: Cascadia Dirt Cup, Tiger Mountain, Issaquah, Wash.

June 16–18: North American Enduro Cup, Silver Mountain, Kellogg, Idaho

June 23–25: Northwest Cup, Tamarack Bike Park, Donnelly, Idaho

June 30–July 2: Northwest Cup, Whitefish Resort, Mont.

July 15–16: Cascadia Dirt Cup, Galbraith MT Enduro, Bellingham, Wash.

July 29–30: Cascadia Dirt Cup, North Slope, Olympia, Wash.

Aug. 4–6: Northwest Cup, Silver Mountain, Kellogg, Idaho

Aug. 12: Summer Classic Team Enduro, Olympia, Wash.

Aug. 26–27: Cascadia Dirt Cup, Raging River, Snoqualmie, Wash.

Sept. 8–10: Northwest Cup Final, Stevens Pass, Wash.

Sept. 22–24: Silveroxx MTB festival, Silver Mountain, Kellogg, Idaho

If you are new to mountain biking or just like keeping it simple and local, check out the Wednesday Night Mountain Bike Series up at Riverside State Park. All about keeping it fun and simple, this series runs from May 3 to June 28 at the 7-mile airstrip and is open to all levels. Registration can be found at https://raceroster.com/events/2023/73112/wednesday-night-mountain-bike-race-series. //

Crystal Atamian is a writer and science editor in Spokane.

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Although last year was her first year competing at the elite level, this local superstar is no stranger to international races. She competed in the World Championships for the first time in 2020, and again in 2021. On the national stage, Erickson won first place at the Junior National Championships in 2021 with a time that put her in third place for pro women.

Even though she does her winter training in Bellingham, Erickson claims Silver Mountain as her home course. “The bike community in Coeur D’Alene and Spokane is so kind and supportive,” says Erickson.

Community is a key component for Erickson. She credits family as her biggest inspiration in this sport. “Riding with my family is really what got me into the sport, because it made it less intimidating. Racing downhill is really a mental challenge and requires a lot of focus. My family really made it feel fun.” Her mom, dad, and younger sister are downhill racers as well.

Erickson would love to see more women involved in mountain biking. In summer 2022 she hosted two women’s rides at Silver Mountain, sponsored by e*thirteen. “A lot of people showed up who had never been mountain biking before and they really liked it,” Erickson says. “We broke into two groups (beginner and intermediate) and then met up at the end to do a lap.”

Silver Mountain has expanded their green courses over the last year, which means more opportunities for new riders that many people don’t know about. “I think a lot of women feel intimidated by the courses at Silver,” says Erickson. “But I think this is a great opportunity to create community and help women get over that and get them interested in the sport.”

Erickson recalls a similar event she attended in 2016 at Silver, organized by USA Pro Women’s Cycling star and Inland Northwest local Jaime Reese, “It’s really about having fun and trying to improve. Silver Mountain is a great place to start.”

The 20-year-old has hopes of ascending the podium again as national champion. She has excelled as a DH racer and hopes to expand further into enduro racing. In fact, she’ll be competing in the Enduro National Downhill Series in Tennessee at the end of May in addition to the Northwest Cup series.

Ultimately, her favorite part is always the beginning of the race: “Right after I leave the gate, all the race-day nerves go away, and I can put all my energy on getting down the hill.” To follow Erickson’s racing this season, check out her Instagram account @ellabea_

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Recently, instructor Jessica Haffner led events that began with short, invigorating hikes that culminate in a yoga and meditation class in either a secluded meadow or at a panoramic viewpoint. The recent September event started at the Dishman Hills Glenrose Trailhead and the latest October Yoga In the Wild class began with a hike from the Steven’s Creek Trailhead on the south side of the Iller Creek Conservation Area.

Eclipse Power Yoga also hosts retreats and backpacking adventures to practice yoga, meditate, hike, and explore the outdoors. The most recent trip was to the North Cascades. In July 2023, the trip will be to Stehekin, Wash., at Lake Chelan.

Upcoming events combining yoga and the outdoors can be found at Eclipsepoweryoga.com.

Eclipse “Yoga In the Wild” in Spokane County, Wash. // Photo courtesy Eclipse Power Yoga.

Find more yoga stories in the OTO archives.

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Chuck Bartlebaugh of Missoula, Mont., based nonprofit Be Bear Aware says there is an easy equation to remember when you’re recreating outside—whether it’s in town or in the trees, WILDLIFE + DISTANCE = SAFETY.

Black bears aren’t just in remote areas. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) removed a bear one block south of I-90 just two years ago. Biologist Carrie Lowe points out that “if they can show up there, they can show up anywhere.”

Just last summer, a black bear in a residential backyard in Spokane’s South Hill neighborhood, who took refuge in a tree, was caught by WDFW and released back into the wild.

Bears are often reported in areas like Dishman Hills and Nine Mile Falls, but Bartlebaugh’s favorite story is about the bear that settled down and was sleeping under the Red Wagon slide in Riverfront Park (the bear was moved without incident).

Live safe in bear country: Secure outdoor garbage. Bears can wander into residential areas when there are attractants. // Photos: Shutterstock.

Learn How to Be Bear Aware

Be Bear Aware was founded by Bartlebaugh in 1976, and since then the Montana-based organization has produced some of the best bear education materials.

They also offer courses in how to deploy bear spray in varying attack situations, and how to handle encounters with bears, cougar, moose, rattlesnakes, and other wildlife. Trainings cover how to use bear spray to deter an attack from a surprised bear as well as encounters where there’s more distance.

Always, the primary goal is to learn how to maintain distance and avoid an encounter in the first place. The key is learning what bear sign looks like: bark smoothed from rubbing, hair or scratches on trees, shredded stumps. What does bear scat look like? Google it with your family: it’s a fun way to start the conversation.

Bears are attracted to smells, so store food, fishing tackle, harvested fish or game, and even your toothpaste in a bear resistant container or inside a locked vehicle if you are out overnight. Whether you are hiking, camping, or mountain biking, make sure to carry bear spray, and have it in a place where you can reach it easily.

Bikers move fast through the landscape and need to pay special attention to being aware of any strong smells (bear, or dead animal that a bear might feed on). Bartlebaugh recommends calling out in a way that is non-threatening and human sounding—music will not do the trick, voices will.

Bartlebaugh also has specific suggestions for people in residential areas. “It’s all common sense. Clear the brush away from the house so you have a good view (this helps with fire danger too). Garbage needs to go out only on pick-up day, and if you can, get a bear-resistant container for trash. Also, get rid of attractants like fruit that’s fallen from fruit trees.”

WDFW Biologist Carrie Lowe says that rural residents with backyard chickens need to be especially aware because the birds are attractive to bears. She emphasizes that as Spokane continues to grow, “more houses are on the outskirts of bear country. Anyone should expect to potentially see a bear where they live.”

Bartlebaugh also noted that wildlife feeding and people’s desire to get up close and interact with wildlife is a big problem and the primary reason behind most human–wildlife conflicts. “We need to learn to enjoy wildlife for what they are and not what they will do for donuts.” A culture of respect and avoidance is key, not just for bears, but for all wildlife.

Another warning, brought up by both Lowe and Bartlebaugh, was to always keep your dog on leash in wild areas. Bears rarely attack humans, but according to Lowe, a large percentage of those attacks are when a dog is off leash and the bear chases the dog back to the owner. This is also an issue with moose, who are known to get aggressive with dogs.

Use Bear Spray the Right Way

Be Bear Aware recommends that you carry an EPA-approved bear spray cannister that will spray for at least seven seconds and travel at least 30 feet. Knowing that distance and how far your cannister will spray matters. Importantly, the group states in their trainings that how you deploy bear spray is determined by the bear’s agitation level and how far away the bear is. (Learn more: “Bear Spray Science.”)

In addition to courses on bear encounters and how to deploy bear spray, Be Bear Aware has developed a Train-the-Trainer program where anyone can take the course and then learn to become a trainer themselves. This program has expanded in Montana and is being introduced here in eastern Washington.

For more information, contact Be Bear Aware at bearinfo@cfwi.org or call 406-239-2315.

Find more stories about bears and other North American wildlife in the OTO archives.

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Bear biologist Carrie Hunt, founder of Wind River Bear Institute (WRBI), conducted experiments with bear repellant deterrents at the University of Montana in the 1980s, for her master’s in science degree. She found some potential in personal defense and military pepper sprays, but there were drawbacks. Her research indicated that the ingredients and the delivery method are what makes a spray more effective.

Hunt’s study led Bill Pounds to develop a concentrated formula that could be dispersed in a cone-shaped cloud that did not require precise aiming, but could simply be directed downward in front of a charging bear. This helps compensate for the effects of wind, rain, and cold. (Pounds went on to found Counter Assault and to manufacture and market bear spray.)

Bear spray has six times as much spray and is much more pressurized than pepper spray. The contents are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and each can has a registration number on the label.

Improperly stored trash can attract bears (left); Photo: Shutterstock // Chuck Bartlebaugh demonstrates how to deploy bear spray during a training session. // Photo courtesy Be Bear Aware.

Capsaicin and related capsaicinoids are the active ingredients in bear spray; claims of 10%, 20%, or 30% Oleoresin Capsaicin are not indicative of the amount of active capsaicin and capsaicinoids in a spray. This and the spray pattern are what make bear spray so effective.

If it’s not EPA registered, it will not work the same in a bear encounter. Make sure to look before you buy.

The recommendation based on Hunt’s study is to spray for seven seconds, 30 feet in front of you. The minimum sized can registered by the EPA is 225 grams (7.9 oz.); smaller cans may not have sufficient spray duration to deter a charging bear.

Chuck Bartlebaugh of Be Bear Aware said it’s important to ensure that you bring enough bear spray with you; you’ll want enough to deter an aggressive bear and still have some for the hike out. Visit the Be Bear Aware Campaign website to learn about staying safe in bear country and how to deploy bear spray.

Find more stories about bears and other North American wildlife in the OTO archives.

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