Getting Ready for Another Epic Season Dreams of 10,000 foot days still haunt me, even though I’ve been more likely to bonk or cramp up after climbing less than half that on backcountry ski tours these past few busy years. So I’m writing this in part to motivate and inspire myself to set bigger goals, […]
Backcountry Fundamentals Read More »
Montana’s front country hiking becomes backcountry quickly, which makes it easy to get away from crowds. Although a week or more is preferred for a grand-quest into a wilderness area, a weekend warrior can easily find their piece of trail magic in the dramatic and less traveled spaces outside Glacier National Park. With 27 million
Hiking Northwest Montana’s Backcountry Read More »
People need experiences in nature, and runners truly value new scenery to beat-feet. Early summer is the best time to run in Montana’s Glacier Country; foliage blooms, trails dry out, waterfalls surge, and tall, snowy peaks offer a grand show. An adventurer’s paradise, Glacier is sure to earn first-place in a runners’ heart. So many
Trail Running on the Eastside of Glacier National Park Read More »
A century of commercial trapping, habitat loss, and unregulated hunting eradicated grizzlies from 98% of their original range in the contiguous U.S. Here in the Northwest, records from the Hudson Bay Company show that nearly 4,000 grizzly bear hides were shipped from trading posts in the North Cascades in a 35-year span. Despite these grim
North Cascade Grizzly Bears Could Get a Boost Read More »
Jon Snyder, former Spokane City Councilman and Out There Monthly founder, has served as Washington State’s Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development Policy Advisor for over a year now, and I recently caught up with him over a ginger beer at the Elliot Book Company Cafe in Seattle. As we chatted, a softball league played in
The Value of Recreation: a Conversation with Jon Snyder Read More »
The look on Mat’s face told me everything I didn’t want to know. I could feel the blood running down my neck into my shirt, and when I turned my head to look down at my skis, the blood in the snow proved this wasn’t a minor fall. Still, that look of horror on my
The Van Gogh Ski Crash Read More »
Mike Meru’s flight into Spokane was late as the snow fell hard. Concern about the flight quickly faded during the drive to Revelstoke, B.C., which is a seven-hour drive in the best conditions. Meru, a splitboarder from Salt Lake City, was joining me to attend the Canuck Splitfest. Splitboarders from all over the world attend
Rogers Pass Splitboarding : Touring Legendary Terrain Near Revelstoke, B.C. Read More »
The first time I slept in a snow cave, I admit I was cheating. I was with a large group at a small cabin, and when I found a ready-made snow cave just off the footpath that night, I couldn’t help but think it sounded nicer than claiming a small bit of floor space inside
How Not to Build a Snow Cave Read More »
It’s no wonder that snowshoeing is the fastest growing winter sport. As one snowshoe joke puts it, anyone can learn how to do it in 10 easy steps: Put on snowshoes and take 10 steps. Now you’re an expert! It may only take 10 steps to master, but there are several safety concerns that accompany
Five Favorite Inland NW Snowshoe Hikes Read More »
As we head into winter in the Inland Northwest, many of us are gearing up for winter activities, and for many seasoned and aspiring backcountry skiers and snowboarders, that means getting in shape and practicing with their gear. For those in the Spokane area, we have a great, sanctioned resource at our local ski hill
Skiing Uphill: Rules to Follow if You Plan to Ski or Snowshoe up Mt. Spokane this Winter Read More »
