Ken rolls across the parking lot in full armor. He looks like some kind of garage sale version of a super hero, covered in dust and grit. He pulls his helmet off to reveal a childlike grin and accompanying excitement. “Which trails did you ride?” he asks as we look over the newly released maps […]
Roman Nose Lakes is a very nice, easy hike high in the American Selkirks west of Bonners Ferry, Idaho. The 1.5 mile hike only gains 310 feet, while visiting three lakes. The hike I’m about to describe is an alternative that still takes in the lakes, but also summits Roman Nose Peak. From the trailhead
Selkirk Mountain High: Roman Nose Peak via Whisker Ridge Read More »
This month of transition between summer and fall is the perfect time to plan a visit to Grassy Top in the Colville National Forest (assuming there are no wildfires burning nearby). One could potentially find lingering wildflowers or enjoy a few last huckleberries, but shorter days bring cooler temperatures and changing colors to this high-country
Grassy Top Mountain (Selkirk Mountains, NE Washington) Read More »
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 »
With hundreds of wildfires burning around the Pacific Northwest, including thousands of acres in Eastern Washington and North Idaho, the skies around Spokane look apocalyptic today. Fire fighters have died, homes have burned, communities have been evacuated, roads and huge swaths of public lands have been closed. While wildfires are a natural part of our
Inland Northwest Wildfire Resources for Outdoor Recreationists Read More »
Panhandle National Forest offers family-friendly camping and river tubing away from the more popular, crowded Inland Northwest recreation hubs.
Family Camping & Tubing On the Coeur d’Alene River Read More »
When a friend asked me to take a few days off to race the Kootenay Sufferfest mountain bike race, I laughed at him. Suffering should be something you get paid to do, not something you pay for, I thought. It turns out I was dead wrong. After some convincing on his part, I found myself
Kootenay SufferFest — A Little Bit of Suffering & a Whole Lot of Fun (Sept. 5-7, 2015) Read More »
The Northwest has hundreds of lakes ranging from tiny alpine tarns to giant pools that sprawl for miles through the mountains. The region’s many diverse lakes each have their own unique feel and personality. While public land and access is limited at some, others like Priest Lake, nestled in the Selkirk Mountains, are a near
The Best of Priest Lake: Hikes, Resorts, Paddling, Fishing, and More Read More »
I bought my first stand up paddleboard about six years ago when the sport was really starting to take off. Knowing what I know now about stand up paddleboarding, or SUP, I spent an embarrassingly small amount of money on that first board that I hauled out of Costco. I remember thinking at the time
A Tale of Two SUP Races — Choosing the Right Paddleboard Can Make all the Difference Read More »
If you haven’t already heard, there’s been a new buzz in the air in the mountain biking scene that has to do with backcountry adventuring on your bike called bikepacking. The concept isn’t new. Cyclists have been touring and camping off of road bikes for almost a century. The only difference here is that bikepacking
Backpacking with Your Bike Read More »
