Backcountry roads can be the necessary evil of adventure: every recreationist has his or her story of harrowing, white-knuckled mountain driving or late-night tire repair far from the nearest Les Schwab. But sometimes it’s ok to embrace the backcountry drive, not as a means of getting to the destination but as the destination itself. On […]
7 Wild Places — Epic Backcountry Drives & Adventures Along the Way Read More »
The Inland Northwest is home to many fun and unique festivals. Here we’ve highlighted a few interesting festivals celebrating everything from huckleberries and community heritage to original music, beer and wine and the outdoors. While this is certainly not an exhaustive list, it’s a great sampling of the diversity of our Inland Northwest communities and
A Summer Festival for Just About Everyone Read More »
Summer is here. School is out and both kids and grownups are already out in force on bicycles. What rides should you do? Here are a few recommendations to help you choose from the many cycling events available in our part of the country. They range from family friendly to borderline insane, which means there
Summertime Rides around the Inland NW Read More »
A lackluster Northwest winter is rapidly turning to spring, which means the time to hike is now. With hundreds of trail miles waiting to be explored on our local public lands, there is no excuse to stay indoors. When checking out Spokane County’s Conservation Futures properties; state parks; or our surrounding state, BLM and National
Find New Hiking Trails and Camaraderie with Local Hiking Groups Read More »
There are a few outdoor adventures in the Inland Northwest that are available only a couple of times each year. Skiing two feet of fresh powder at a local ski area is one of those, and another is the opportunity to take a whitewater run down Latah Creek. Of course, when Latah does run, “whitewater”
Whitewater Run Down Latah (aka Hangman) Creek Read More »
Onomastics is the study of names, and when we go outdoors, we can’t help but become onomatologists. Names are hardly inconsequential. Each tells a story. Take running events for example. We have names connected to the calendar: Spring Dashes, Turkey Trots, Jingle Bell Runs. And we have names descriptive of the event itself, like the
The Onomastics of the Outdoors Read More »
Bicycle road racing can be just as much fun as it can be discouraging. How so? Going fast is fun, but going fast while everyone else is going faster can be dispiriting. The trick, at least from this beginner’s point of view, is to “get your mind right” and focus on the fun. There are
Road Bike Race Roundup Read More »
OTM: What inspired you to create and start publishing OTM back in 2004? JS: Outdoor activity was clearly on the rise and didn’t seem to be getting the attention it deserved. Oh, and I needed a job. OTM: Were you surprised that Spokane finally made it into Outside magazine’s top 10 outdoor town list? JS:
Interview with OTM Founder Jon Snyder on Spokane’s Future as an Outdoor Town Read More »
THEY MAY CALL THEMSELVES bike clubs, but you could also think of them as support groups. Many of the members were once where you are now and are glad to help you grow into the sport. There are a number of benefits from riding with others. You learn about other routes, become a stronger rider,
Everyday Cyclist: There’s A Bike Club For Everyone Read More »
Outdoor experiences make life worth living, and our area is rich with lakes and mountains to enjoy. While the challenges or the motivations vary, there is no shortage of inspirational landscapes to appreciate. Whether you’re a biker, hiker or paddler, you probably bring along your camera to document your outings. Outdoor photography connects people in
