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 »
Cocktails are the new wine, a culinary vehicle to experience the complexity of our planet. Their ingredients are often derived from potent botanicals, thus a great use for wild edibles. Ecologically, cocktails are a way to sample native plants without decimating them – a sprig opposed to a plateful. And, that brings us to cow
Leaf, Root, Fungi, Fruit: Cow Parsnip Read More »
New to town or have you always wanted to get to get to know the Lake Roosevelt area more? Join REI and the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area to “Find Your Park” and discover the best spots to recreate locally along with the first-hand knowledge you will need to enjoy your time on the trails.
Every summer there comes a point when the dry and dusty trails around the Inland Northwest lose the appeal they once had in the spring. Berms are blown out, punishing brake bumps have formed and the rising dust makes riding with friends a health risk. It’s at this time that I start searching for good
B.C. MTB Road Trip: Silver Star Bike Park Read More »
NOTE: THE ENTIRE KETTLE CREST AREA OF THE COLVILLE NATIONAL FOREST HAS BEEN CLOSED DUE TO WILDFIRE ACTIVITY! Although I highly recommend completing the full length of the Kettle Crest, this shorter out-and-back sampler takes visitors to the Crest’s highest summit in a more manageable 6-mile, round-trip distance. The route includes the historic Old Stage
Hike of the Month: Copper Butte (Kettle Range, NE Washington) Read More »
For the past 20 years, this mountain town nestled in the lush and rugged Selkirk Mountains has been holding a festival in honor of an avid cyclist who helped shape the mountain bike community it thrives on. Cameron Alexander was a pioneer of epic, gnarly mountain biking, and his love of the sport helped inspire
Occasionally people ask me my favorite outdoor activity. It can be hard to narrow it down, considering the assorted skis stashed in odd corners of my house, the pile of backpacks on the floor, the snowshoes hidden behind my couch and the kayak and mountain bike in the basement. Still, for more than two-thirds of
Kettle Crest DIY Ultra: All It Takes is You Read More »
John Muir said “Going to the mountains is going home.” If you can relate, there is no shortage of places in the greater Inland Northwest that should feel like home. This is OTM’s second annual “Backcountry” issue, so a cover story highlighting a few wild, mountainous places that you can drive through, with drool-inducing views
The Mountains Are Calling Read More »
This Booty has been found! Congratulations to the winners! Play the OTM Backcountry Booty scavenger hunt contest and you get to explore different trails around the region and possibly win gift certificates for cool outdoor gear and other prizes. Here’s how it works: 1. We hide a booty certificate, that’s good for whatever prizes
Backcountry Booty: OTM’s Centennial Trail Mile 34 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 »
