Despite the fun and sense of adventure that comes with these activities, they are not risk free. Living an outdoor lifestyle can lead people into situations that are stressful, physically and mentally challenging, and even life threatening. Talk among outdoorsy people often includes tips on how to eat better, find better trails, or train more efficiently. But how often are the topics of mental health and meditation included in such conversations?  

Just as athletes train their bodies, they should also consider training their minds. This becomes especially important for high-risk activities where hard decisions must be made quickly. What happens if a climber drops a belay device or if a hiker wanders off route? The ability to calm down and focus in situations like these is critical. Through meditation, the ability to calm anxious thoughts and be present in the moment can be cultivated. Meditation is a tool to be utilized and takes practice to learn; just like anything else, it gets easier over time.    

Talking with a meditation teacher makes the practice seem more adoptable and not so overwhelming. Susan Jane Hall has been practicing yoga and meditation for over 20 years. She teaches at Spokane Yoga Shala and recently started teaching at Harmony Yoga. Trained in classical and modern meditation techniques, she explains the science behind meditation, which has been proven to train brain waves into balancing themselves over time. 

According to Hall there are five different brain states: delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma. In stressful and anxiety producing situations, the brain goes into a beta state, but enhanced mental and physical clarity come from alpha and theta states. With a regular meditation practice, the brain can learn to spend more time in alpha or theta states, which is where anyone caught in a difficult situation wants to be.  

During meditation, awareness goes to the sensation of inhaling and exhaling. This quiets the mind and teaches people how to focus on directing their thoughts. According to some sources, meditation lowers blood pressure, helps with insomnia, manages anxiety, and fosters self-awareness and confidence. As Hall says, the breath sustains. When people meditate and focus on their breathing, their brain waves slow down. Awareness comes back to the body and its physical surroundings.  

Hall says that stretching or exercising before mediation can better prepare the body and mind for a deeper meditation. A good first step into a meditation practice might be to try a walking meditation. Simply going for a walk and paying attention to the sound of every footstep begins to train the mind to quiet down. Meditating for 15-20 minutes every day is ideal. This builds up the brain’s ability to stay in alpha or theta states for longer periods of time; it’s kind of like training a muscle to build stamina. Even if 15-20 minutes a day can’t be managed, any amount of meditation will be beneficial. The idea is that with a regular practice, people can learn to calm themselves down in moments where clarity and focus are needed. Eventually, it might only take someone a few deep breaths to center themselves again.  

Slowly the topics of mental health and meditation are making their way into conversations about what it takes to live a well-rounded outdoor lifestyle. Giving the brain the ability to function optimally through meditation will help guide outdoor mindsets to a better place—a place where people have more confidence in themselves and their lifestyles.

The post Meditation Meets Recreation appeared first on Out There Venture.

With over fifty granite crags within ten miles of town, there’s a reason people travel from all over the country to climb here. Due to its overall popularity and close proximity to Seattle, Spokane, and Wenatchee, Leavenworth gets busy, especially on weekends. Although Leavenworth has superb roadside climbing, even the most sociable climbers would probably admit that a little solace would be nice. With some extra effort and determination, it’s possible to find moderate bouldering, sport, and trad routes with less of a crowd.     

Bouldering

There are over a thousand boulder problems to climb in Leavenworth, but many of them go unexplored as popular areas like Mad Meadows, Swiftwater, and Forest Land see all the attention. Though such areas are worth visiting, there are boulder problems strewn up and down Icicle Canyon, Tumwater Canyon, and Mountain Home Road that offer climbing just as good but with far less people.   

In Icicle Creek Canyon, seclusion is more likely to be found farther up the canyon. Nine miles up the road is Egg Rock, which offers classic moderates like Smoke Stack Lightnin’ V2, Weather Report V3, and Dark Hollow V6. Although it’s close to the road, it has a remote feeling and is far enough away that it typically won’t be crowded. 

In Tumwater Canyon, Driftwood Boulder is off the beaten path and the perfect place to tick off Clipped Wings, Gooseneck, Driftwood, and Bubbleslab, which are rated V0, V1, V2, and V4 respectively. For more guidance on how to find less crowded bouldering options in Leavenworth, pick up a copy of “Leavenworth Bouldering” by Kelly H. Sheridan, an essential companion to bouldering in the area.   

Sport and Traditional Climbing

There’s nothing quite like getting into the flow and fun of climbing a moderate multi-pitch route, and Condorphamine Addiction on the Condor Buttress offers just that. Though the approach has been known to be tricky and time consuming, the seven pitches of well-bolted 5.10b sport climbing are worth it. 

Value Village is a beautiful granite crag that takes about two to three hours to hike into. It’s well worth trekking in and gaining over 2,800 feet of elevation to climb the classic routes Full Boar and Pulled Pork. A 5.11a/b splitter crack route, Full Boar can’t be missed, and just as fun is the steep and knob-studded 5.10a Pulled Pork. 

One of the most popular crags in Leavenworth, Snow Creek Wall, is lined with classics. The approach is long enough (about forty five minutes) to deter some people, but the routes are likely to be favorites regardless. Snow Creek Wall has mostly trad routes ranging from 5.8-5.11.  Outer Space is iconic: six pitches of 5.9 with excellent crack climbing. Orbit offers four pitches of 5.8+ climbing, is almost as loved as Outer Space, and has a superb finger crack system running through the hardest part of the route. 

The Pearly Gates Crag is full of crack and slab climbing. Located in Icicle Canyon about forty minutes worth of hiking from Snow Creek Lot, this is the place for easy single pitch trad and bolted slab climbing. Whether the preferred method of climbing is bouldering, sport, or trad, Leavenworth has it all. As with any climbing endeavor, nothing substitutes for a written guidebook, so pick up a copy of “Leavenworth Rock” by Viktor Kramar for a comprehensive and more detailed list of all the climbing in the area. Forest Service passes are often required for parking, so be sure to check beforehand, and no matter where you’re coming from, don’t forget to grab a post-send beer; it wouldn’t be a proper trip to Leavenworth without one.

The post Leavenworth Climbing: Off the Beaten Path appeared first on Out There Venture.

Located in Riverside State Park outside of Nine Mile Falls, McLellan is an ever-developing crag of granite. Whether it’s climbing, swimming, or both, McLellan waits with open arms. There are two parking options upon arrival: the upper and lower lot. Although some people have had problems with car break ins, this issue can easily be avoided by leaving nothing in a vehicle as incentive, and bringing a Discover Pass ensures a ticket-free day. Parking in the lower lot will put the Pack Rat Cave on the left, an overhanging collection of a couple 5.10’s, 5.11’s, and a 5.13 thrown in for fun.

Most of the bouldering is located closer to the upper lot, farther away from the water. Following the road/jeep trail out of the parking lot will lead to Long Lake and The Cove (Hummel’s Cove), a favorite swimming spot and the best place for cliff jumping at McLellan, for those looking for an extra dose of summer fun.

The mosquitos in the area have a reputation for being relentless, and if the bug repellent you pack along for the day just isn’t cutting it, then Long Lake isn’t far away. Checkout Snake Slab on the way to the water, which even has some options for trad climbers, and if the handful of easy-going routes here below 5.10 still aren’t cutting it, then a cool dip is just a few minutes away.

On the other side of Spokane, barely into Idaho, lies Q’emiln Park. Just off of Exit 5 in Post Falls, it’s easy to find: simply look for the beach and the climbing will follow. Once inside the parking lot (a small fee is required), look for the Q’emiln Park Trail System sign and head west to easily approach the numerous walls of the area. The great thing about climbing at Post Falls is the abundance of moderate climbs. There’s something special about being able to hop on 5.9s and 5.10s over and over again, without having to pack gear around to different walls.

Post Wall is closest to the river, while Death Fall Wall and Lower Ledge Wall take second and third. Post Wall has everything from 5.7 – 5.10.c, and is an ideal spot for those looking to set up top rope systems.

Death Fall Wall has a little more to offer from its overhanging nature, and anyone looking for a solid 5.11 will be content here. For the sun-loving climber there’s Lower Ledge Wall. Baked by warm rays all day, anyone who spends time climbing the 5.7’s – 5.11’s at this crag will be ready for a cool dip.

When the heat finally becomes too much, and fingertips burn from crimping on sharp granite, Q’emiln Park’s beach is the perfect stop. Soft sand and cool water aside, the park has picnic tables, three covered pavilions, and plenty of grass to lounge around on. Once the faint powder of chalk has been washed away from dirty hands by the Spokane River, why not sling a hammock between two trees? Slowly nodding off with every heavy blink, the weight of tired muscles will lift away. There is almost nothing better.

[Feature photo “Sarah Moeser climbing in the Pack Rat Cave at McLellan” by Jon Jonckers.]

Read more climbing stories in the OTO archives.

The post Best Summertime Crags for Swimming & Climbing appeared first on Out There Venture.

Quite simply put, Banks Lake is beautiful, and there’s no better time to explore its crags than in the spring. With many climbs facing south, catching rays of sunshine is easy in March, April, and May. Most climbs can be hiked into, while some can be approached by boat or canoe, making Banks Lake a unique climbing destination. In terms of climbing style, most of the climbing is either vertical or slab, with routes ranging in length from one to five pitches.

But what makes Banks Lake so special? Many members of the climbing community would say that Banks Lake has the best collection of 5.9s and 5.10s in the state. With five designated climbing areas that offer variance in both difficulty and climbing style, there is no shortage of routes to choose from.

Highway Rock is most aptly described as a massive piece of granite. Towering at 300 feet, it has more than 70 climbs that face southeast, southwest, northwest, and north, which makes it easy to chase the welcome rays of springtime sun. As this area and Northrup Canyon lie on state park land, bring a Discover Pass. Golf Course Rocks is an almost-perfect granite outcropping that houses nearly a dozen routes, most ranging in difficulty from 5.7-5.10d.

Northrup Canyon is highly recommended by Rick La Belle, author of the guidebook “Rock Climbs of Central Washington.” La Belle has done most of the development in the area from 1996-2005, and says Picnic Table Rock at Northrup Canyon is the go-to crag for first time visitors. With a wide variety of climbs ranging in difficulty from 5.6-5.13, Picnic Table Rock will not disappoint. La Belle recommends Dr. Ceuse, 5.10 as one of the must-do classics in the area. Those with a fondness for slab climbing should head to Gibraltar Rock, another crag at Northrup Canyon, to climb How Homer Got His Groove Back—a 13-bolt 5.10b slab with plenty of crimps to go around.

For those climbers searching for even more adventure, reaching the Peninsula requires four-wheel-drive and a rugged hike in. A better approach is to canoe or boat two miles across Banks Lake from the State Park boat ramp to the Peninsula’s numerous crags. Many climbers will canoe across and camp on the beach, making for an unforgettable multi-day trip. All of the climbs at the Peninsula are south-facing, which means warm climbing in the spring. Post-Modern Wall at the Peninsula has both single and multi-pitch routes, but the real exposure and five-pitch routes come from the Orange Walls.

A copy of “Rock Climbs of Central Washington,” some climbing gear, a good partner, and an eye out for poison ivy and rattlesnakes are all that’s needed for a successful day of cragging. With spring comes renewed enthusiasm, and Banks Lake is the perfect destination for climbers looking to start the season off strong.

Originally published as “Chasing Spring at Banks Lake” in the April 2018 issue.

[Feature photo: Sara Moeser climbs high above Banks Lake. // Jon Jonckers]

The post Rock Climbing at Banks Lake appeared first on Out There Venture.