Heather’s Choice meals and snacks started under this premise, when the namesake founder was trying to prepare for her first rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. Educated at Western Washington University with a degree in evolutionary nutrition, and having been raised on organic food in Alaska, she got busy on her dehydrator and spent months exploring delicious and healthy food options.

The results are worth investigating. Best-selling options include Smoked Sockeye Salmon Chowder, Dark Chocolate Chili with Grass Fed Bison, Blueberry Cinnamon Breakfast, and African Peanut Stew suitable for vegans. In the snack category, there is a wide range of flavor offerings for what they term “Packaroons,” or flavorful and compact Macaroons that pack 150 calories per ounce, or 320 calories per package. Meals are packaged as one serving per ounce and average 600 calories per serving while weighing just four ounces. Simply add boiling water to the pouch, wait the allotted time, and enjoy your meal from the bag with little clean up. You’ve probably done this before—but not with salmon and bison!

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With that in mind, here are some lunch options that are calorie dense, easy to make, won’t get crushed in your pack, and won’t break the bank.

Start with a tortilla. Depending on size and brand, these can be anywhere from 90-120 calories each. Option one is for peanut butter (100 calories per tablespoon) with M&M’s added. These little chocolate nuggets are about three calories each. Option two uses Nutella (also 100 calories per tablespoon) with crispy bacon bits added. Bacon averages 43 calories per 8-ounce slice.

A third option is worth mentioning, albeit not for backpacking. If you are car camping, or raft camping and have a means for keeping things cold, think about a Caesar chicken wrap. Pre-cooked strips of chicken are available at any grocery store. Then add cut romaine lettuce, shredded parmesan, dressing, and even some croutons. We love these wraps served cold on a hot evening while rafting, and we’ll bet you’ll love them as an easy to prep travel meal as well. 

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The Grande Ronde River

The Grande Ronde is located in the extreme northeast corner of Oregon, and actually flows into Washington before emptying into the Snake River a short ways upstream from Lewiston and Clarkston. The rafting section of the river is 38 miles long and very scenic, and at normal flows it can easily be floated in two to three days with enough time to drive home the last day. It has a few fun rapids that pose little danger, and it has wilderness-like qualities because most of it flows through an area with no roads. This means you are likely to see some wildlife as you float along. In fact the last time our family went, we saw bald eagles carrying fish and attacking a flock of Canada geese. We even glimpsed a mountain goat that was surprisingly close to the river. Watch out for rattlesnakes that can make an appearance on beaches and in camp.

The Grande Ronde flows through the Blue Mountains in an area of mixed conifers. The river canyon is fairly dry, and it has plenty of benches of Ponderosa pine that make great camp spots. The river has a few class II rapids and one class III called Red or House Rock, which is probably the shortest and most straightforward class III I’ve ever encountered. It’s easy to spot due to the house-sized rock that narrows the channel and creates the rapid, and a quick scout will show you how to navigate it safely to the left of the boulder. At normal flows none of these rapids would flip a proper whitewater raft, but during spring run-off you will need expert skills to stay safe.

The John Day River

The John Day River is in north central Oregon, so it has more of a high desert landscape. The rafting section is below the mountains, so there is less of a gradient and fewer rapids. There are more put-in options on this river, so the length can vary from 35 to 48 miles. If you take out at the Clarno bridge, you will really never encounter a rapid that is more than a class II, so this is truly a beginner river. What you will experience, however, is plenty of rolling scenery and an incredible abundance of smallmouth bass.

If the Grande Ronde is more about scenery and remote camping, then the John Day is more about fishing. We are not expert bass fisherman, but we still caught a tremendous number of smallmouths on our first float down this river. The John Day does pass through some agricultural areas with quite a bit of private land—so finding camp spots can be a little trickier—but the BLM river map makes it quite clear where you can and can’t stay with designated camp spots clearly marked.

Both of these rivers offer a great introduction to multi-day rafting with unique features. They are family friendly and ready made for memorable adventures. More information on both rivers can be found by searching the www.americanwhitewater.org site. Both rivers are administered by the Bureau of Land Management, which offers float guides for each river. Contact the Prineville, Ore., office of the BLM for the John Day, and the Baker, Ore., field office for the Grande Ronde.

Planning Information

The Grande Ronde river trip actually begins on the Minam River at Minam State Park, which joins the main river 10 miles downstream. The takeout is 38 miles downstream from the start at the Powwatka bridge, located about 7 miles upstream of Troy, Ore. Car shuttles can be arranged through the Minam Store.

The typical John Day float trip starts at Service Creek and ends at the Clarno Bridge 48 miles downstream. You can also shave 13 miles off the trip by starting at the Twickenham boat launch. Car shuttles can be arranged with the Service Creek Stage Stop.

Recommended flows on both rivers are from 1,000 cfs to 6,000 cfs. Google search “USGS Grande Ronde at Troy” or “USGS John Day at Service Creek” for flow information. Above 6,000 feet is not recommended for beginning rafters. Both of these rivers run free of dams, so it is important to check flows as they will vary substantially depending on warm weather, which causes snow melt up high, and rain.

All river camping trips are strictly pack-in, pack-out when it comes to waste—including human waste. You will need a portable toilet that can withstand the rigors of a raft trip, a fire pan if you want a campfire, dry bags for clothing and camping gear, a dry box for cooking gear, and a cooler for food. All of these will be secured to the frame on the raft, and the required gear can be rented from Eastern Washington University’s Epic Outdoors program in Cheney or from the University of Idaho’s Outdoor Program office in Moscow.

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Not convinced fishing Washington’s high lakes is worth the reward? Check out this article by Harley McAllister for reasons to fish Washington’s high country.

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So, when I learned about Washington’s high-country fishing opportunities, the chance to combine hiking with good fishing instantly caught my attention. Here is the promise of pristine lakes nestled into some of the most scenic backcountry the Cascades have to offer. Some of these lakes have an overabundance of trout and are accessible by trail at a distance that is challenging but nonetheless doable.

There are a good number of lakes in the Cascades that are stocked with trout periodically, but not all of them have enough nutrients to support the population. The result is that some of these lakes have excess fish, whose growth is stunted due to overpopulation. Therefore, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) actually encourages anglers to catch plenty of fish and keep them in their creel for eating. The fish are the perfect size for the frying pan, and who wouldn’t trade a fresh, wild trout meal for the freeze-dried fare that is so common on backpacking excursions?

Normally a lake with so many fish would quickly get pressured back to mediocrity by an influx of anglers, but the fact that these lakes are a few miles from the end of the road keeps them from being over-exploited. There are some at distances that make them feasible for day hikes, and others are in more remote (and beautiful) locations that beg for an overnight campout on their shores. Another great feature is that different lakes are stocked with different species of trout, so you have the opportunity to catch cutthroat, rainbow, brook, or even the elusive golden trout—depending on where you go.

This past summer I planned a weekend excursion to one of the lakes with my 12-year-old son. Wanting to start easy, we found a campground near the trailhead and car camped, then started for the lake the following morning. It was a little over 2 miles into a beautiful alpine basin where we were surrounded by towering mountains and a little bit of smoke from the fires that were burning about 20 miles to the north.

When we reached the lake, we could already see trout rising to eat the small insects that were hatching off the surface. We rigged up our rods and caught a nice number of pan-sized trout over the next couple hours. After a picnic lunch and some good conversation in a beautiful setting, we headed back down the trail with a few fish and a lot of memories.

For resources on fishing Washington’s high lakes check out this article by Harley McAllister.

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The running leg is flat and parallels a busy road for much of it, so it’s probably the least inspiring leg. The race then transitions to road biking through the rolling agricultural areas of eastern Yakima and includes a surprising number of hills as you climb to the mountain bike start. This segment courses around a hilly pasture that is surprisingly rocky and technical for the first portion, and then ends with a gravel road that follows an irrigation ditch. Dropping down to the Yakima River, there is a 3-mile section of water that includes some small riffles that challenges some of the sea kayaks. The kayak pulls out near the city park where it all began, and the trail running section courses through the riparian areas below the high water mark of the river. There isn’t much elevation change, but a range of natural obstacles such as sand, cobble, and trees do complicate the course.

Our family found this to be a fun event, and if you enjoy the activities represented, then you should, too.

[Feature photo: “Quick celebrations at the transition point from mountain bike to kayak” by Harley McAllister]

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One possible remedy to this situation is a Spring Break road trip to Southern Utah’s National Parks. Sometimes called the “Mighty 5” or the “Big 5,” they include Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion. You might think all desert parks would look the same, but you’d be mistaken—each has a very unique geology and attractions and stands on it own as a wonderful destination.

Better yet, spring temperatures will be more moderate and the crowds will be much smaller than in the summer. Come April 1, don’t you think hiking on a dry trail in 71-degree weather will feel pretty good? If you want to investigate further, here is an overview of some options for each park.

Arches National Park

Located just outside the city limits of Moab, Utah, this park has a number of good trails of varying levels of challenge. My favorite is the Devil’s Garden in the northern end of the park, which takes you past a wide array of the arches for which this park is named. The iconic Delicate Arch is located in the eastern part of the park, and the best views can only be earned by hiking 3 miles round-trip.

Canyonlands National Park

This park is just a short drive from Moab and Arches National Park. It can be tricky to plan for because the mighty Colorado and Green Rivers—the watercourses that carved these amazing canyon formations—divide it into three districts. The Island in the Sky district is closest to Moab and offers numerous day hikes and some longer options if that’s what you are looking for. There are shorter hikes to various overlooks like Upheaval Dome, Grand View, and Mesa Arch, but if you want a little more distance, a number of trails descend the west side of the rim down to the Green River. For the hardier travelers, the Needles and Maze districts offer some true solitude in some of the roughest and most remote territory to be found; however, make sure you bring plenty of water into this foreboding country.

Capitol Reef

This park is named for a long geologic formation resembling an underwater reef. It is a bit less frequented—especially in the southern portion (accessed from the Nottam-Bullfrog Road) where the adventurous will find Headquarters Canyon and several other slot canyons. If you stay closer to the central part of the park, day hiking options abound and provide a lot of great sights. My favorite is Cohab Canyon, with Hickman Arch and Grand Wash as close seconds. If you are looking for overnight backpacking options, you might be better served visiting the other parks.

Bryce Canyon

A surprising fact about Bryce Canyon is that it is actually quite high in elevation, in the range of 8-9,000 feet. Come April, you may still have some snow lingering at these elevations, but that will make for more spectacular photographs as the white contrasts with the vivid oranges, reds, and yellows of the hoodoo formations. Day hikes abound in this park for all ability levels, and you must try the Queen’s Garden to Navajo Loop trail combination that takes you right through the heart of the hoodoo formations. Longer hikes and backpacking options are available by hiking north-south under the rim of the mesa. The colorful hoodoo formations in this park contrast the pine forests and provide one of the must stunning visual displays you will ever see.

Zion

Zion offers many excellent opportunities for day hikes with breathtaking views. It also boasts a premier canyoneering experience on a trail called “The Narrows” where you are essentially hiking up a shallow canyon stream for miles and miles. The vast majority of the hikes start along the main road that goes along the Virgin River corridor. The Parks Service requires you to use their shuttle system to access this area during busy times. While originally skeptical, I came to appreciate this arrangement because they do a fine job, and you never have to wait too long. Check out Emerald Pools, Hidden Canyon, and Angel’s Landing—if you aren’t afraid of heights! There are also fun areas to explore off the East Entrance road if you don’t mind going off trail a bit.

Tips for Planning Your Next Utah Hiking Trip

• Be sure to check out each park’s website and click on “Plan Your Visit.”
• Water can be scarce in all of these parks, so bring hydration packs or water bottles for the trail.
• The showers might not be turned on at some campgrounds this early— bring wipes, sponge bathe, or find a hotel.
• The town of Moab hosts a 4×4 Easter Jeep Safari from 3/24-4/1. The 4x4s won’t be in the parks, but they’ll be out and about on the abundant BLM land.

Feature photo: The Vast reaches of Canyonlands. // Harley McAllister

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Thinking back over the past few years, I can remember rafting down the Salmon River Gorge with a troop of Boy Scouts and introducing them to the world of multi-day rafting on BLM land. I can recall my two oldest sons catching their first trout on a fly in the Challis National Forest. I can remember squeezing through the narrow, tortured, yet exquisitely beautiful slot canyons of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Some of my sons learned to raft on the Grande Ronde of Oregon, which was designated a National Wild and Scenic River to preserve its natural qualities. Many a camping or hiking trip has been conducted solely on the vast tracts of our National Forests, and a lot of the protein we feed our family has come from national wildlife refuges and designated wilderness areas scattered throughout the West.

Before the advent of the United States and its system of public land access, such pleasures were reserved mostly for kings and noblemen. The idea of reserving vast tracks of land for the enjoyment and pleasure of all citizens is an idea that is fundamentally American, and it is a legacy that has been handed to us by men like Theodore Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot, John Muir, and their peers. In some other parts of the world, only the wealthy have access to wild places. Here we own over 600 million acres in the public estate, with some in every state. The vast majority of it is out west, but it still belongs to every citizen of these United States. Anyone can hike, camp, backpack, hunt, fish, bike, horseback ride, and raft in these areas, and every citizen of the United States, no matter how modest of means, is now landed gentry. They are wealthy landowners, titleholders to the largest piece of public real estate in the world.

Unfortunately, there are movements afoot to diminish, discard, sell or transfer these lands to private interests or land boards. Yet, by the mandate of state constitutions, these land boards do not manage lands for multiple use or for conservation; rather, they must manage for maximum return on investment. Most state lands were granted by the federal government at the time of statehood, and track records with these lands is a sad tale. The nonprofit conservation organization Backcountry Hunters & Anglers reports that Colorado has sold 1.6 million acres of land originally granted to it at the time of statehood. Idaho has sold 1.2 million and continues to auction land today. New Mexico has disposed of 4 million acres that once belonged to its citizens, and Oregon and Utah have disposed of 2.6 and 4.1 million acres respectively. Nevada has the worst track record, selling off over 99% of its original holdings. These places are closed off forever.

Our public lands are a rich natural heritage handed down to us by visionary Americans of generations past. They are held in trust by the citizens of the United States for the benefit of the common person and managed for wise multiple use. Adversaries deftly refer to them as “federal lands” to direct attention away from the truth that they are, in fact, public lands—owned by you and me for the improvement of our quality of life. If we want to ensure that our children and future generations of Americans will have access to these lands to enjoy and benefit from them, then we need to be diligent in protecting them from the latest land grab schemes in whatever form they appear.

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Steelhead are not your typical lake fish, but a last-minute lawsuit in 2015 prevented the release of hatchery raised steelhead smolts in Western Washington rivers, so biologists had to act quickly to find these fish a home. As a result, some 250,000 juvenile steelhead were released in Rock Lake, and the result has been some pretty fantastic fishing. Because they are landlocked fish, they are no longer considered steelhead but are treated as trout in your freshwater catch limit. That first summer, it was easy to catch the 7-9 inch fish by throwing spinners from the bank at the public access point on the south end of the lake.

We returned the following spring of 2016, and by this point the fish had grown to a very respectable 11-14 inches and were still very plentiful. Lacking a proper fishing boat, I rowed our whitewater raft out onto the lake and used my arms for a trolling motor!  The fish didn’t mind, and they continued to attack brown and metal colored spinners and spoons regularly. A subsequent trip later that summer was a bit more humbling, however, as we ended a pretty full day with just two fish. Speaking with others who had experienced more success I learned the reason why. Because the weather was warmer, by this point in the season the fish were found deeper in the water—at about 30 feet—while we had been trolling the surface.

If you are like me and don’t have a good fishing boat, then Rock Lake will present some challenges. The public land is limited to a small area near the boat ramp, and the lake in this area is quite shallow – not good as the warmer weather comes. If you do have a small craft, be cautious heading out as strong winds can whip up the whitecaps in no time. Also, some rock formations just under the surface of the water on the east side of the lake can give unsuspecting boaters a nasty surprise, so pay attention and be safe.

Fishing 101: How to Catch Fish at Spokane Area Lakes

If you are researching for places close to Spokane to fish with or without a boat, be sure to check out the resources on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website (wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/Washington). The website has been updated to allow searching for access sites by county and by species of fish, and they also provide a schedule of when local lakes will be stocked and with how many fish. There are also a number of videos that will teach you basic fishing techniques and another “Fishing 101” section with tips on methods, knots, equipment, and cleaning your fish. When it comes to finding the right lake, here are a few lakes close to Spokane that provide decent access to shore fishing.

• Long Lake, also known as Lake Spokane, is the dammed section of the Spokane River downstream from the city of Spokane. As you drive along Highway 291 northwest of Spokane, pass the town of Tumtum where you will find a number of turnouts that provide public access to the water.
• West Medical Lake is located near the town of Medical Lake west of Spokane and close to Cheney. This lake is one of the best producers of trout on opening weekend, but the fishing stays solid for a long time due to the large amount of stocked fish. There is also good bank access.
• Silver Lake, Newman Lake, and Liberty Lake all have good numbers of fish and also have public fishing platforms that get you closer to the action.

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