Carl Combs 8km Master’s Championships at Brea, CA, first 50+; also first 50+ at Bend, OR National XC Championships. Best Local Run Running on incredible trails with kids and coaches at NW Montana Running Camp (previously named Flathead Lake Distance Running Camp). Favorite Local Race So many great ones! Bloomsday is the easy answer, given […]
“Pronunciation question: Does ‘Iller’ Creek rhyme with ‘miller’ or ‘miler’?” That’s the unassuming question I posted on Facebook last fall, and it was the moment I learned where my active outdoor friends and my grammar geek friends overlap – and sharply disagree. Confession: Until adulthood, I thought “awry” was pronounced “AW-ree.” I thought “frigate” was
The R in Washington is Silent Read More »
I am a long-time road biker, and I have an obsession for hills, which makes living in Spokane something akin to a kid in a candy store. Steep hills immediately prompt three questions for me: 1) Can I make it up this son-of-a-buck without stopping? 2) What is the slope/grade of this incline? 3)
10 Spokane-Area Hills to Climb Before You Die! Read More »
If you missed the Dirty Dash and are looking for another opportunity to run, have fun and get dirty for a good cause (this mud run benefits Northwest wounded veterans), Webb’s Slough in St. John south of Spokane has you covered. The Few, The Proud, The Muddy can be experienced as a one-day 5k fun
The Few, The Proud, The Muddy! (Sept. 12) 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 »
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 »
A stop on the Audubon Society’s Palouse to Pines Loop, this 164-acre Conservation Futures property is a good place to acquire an appreciation for bird watching. Identified as a migration corridor for 108 bird species, visitors should bring a bird book or download a good identification app to help determine what one is seeing. Don’t
Hike of the Month: Feryn Ranch Conservation Area (Spokane County Parks) Read More »
Like some people, wildlife get winter-weary too. Fortunately there are plenty of opportunities for both to bask in the warming temperatures of early spring. A transition zone between the Cascades and Rocky Mountains, eastern Washington’s low-elevation wetlands, rivers and forests provide the perfect habitat for a rich array of plant and animal life, including some
Spring Wildlife Hikes Read More »
