Located in the sweet spot between the Cascades and the Rockies, Mountain Gear became the most distinguished outdoor gear shop in the Inland Northwest after opening its doors in 1983. Sadly, their doors are closing for the last time in the coming weeks, and it’s time to celebrate how much Mountain Gear contributed to the […]
First Ascents: A Tribute to Mountain Gear Read More »
Before my kids will have figured out their Halloween costumes, I’ll know what they’ll be wearing the first day it snows. For my family, October isn’t just about soccer games and raking leaves; we also have our annual ski gear ritual. My kids will semi-patiently try on all of their last-season alpine gear, from head
The Snowy Mountains Are Calling Read More »
Picture a majestic mountain lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains, only 4 miles from a trailhead. Too good to be true? It’s not. But Rachel Lake isn’t a secret—it’s one of the most popular destinations in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Still, you can beat the crowds (and avoid the mosquitoes) if you hike this alpine gem
Fall Day Hike: Central Cascade’s Rachel Lake Read More »
Smoke billowed in patches from Hall Mountain on the east side of Sullivan Lake in the Colville National Forest when my family arrived for our camping stay over Labor Day weekend 2017. Since the Noisy Creek Fire had been declared contained, we didn’t expect to actually see fire when we arrived. After dark, we saw
Beyond Smokey Bear: Teaching Kids About Wildfires Read More »
When I moved to Wenatchee Valley from Eugene, Ore. in 1989, I recall being floored by the lack of trails in a place with such astounding beauty and recreational potential. Along the Columbia River, which flows between the cities of Wenatchee and East Wenatchee, the first few miles of what would become the 18-mile Apple
For Trail Running Variety, Head to Wenatchee Read More »
Take out a map of Spokane—a real, physical map. Put an X over every brewery in the Spokane city limits. Now, connect those dots. What do you see? It depends on how you connect the dots, and it’s open to some personal interpretation. But if you do it just right, I swear you can spell
The Great Spokane Beer Chase Read More »
Whether it’s building a tiny home or repurposing a used van, thinking outside the norm is enabling Inland Northwesterners to live the lives they want and have the adventures they crave. Several of them share their stories of how adventure rigs and scaled-back living situations have changed their lives for the better. Maddie Seipp—2003 Volkswagen
Adventure Homes on Wheels: Tiny Homes, Custom Vans, and More Read More »
Washington, D.C.—The Great American Rail Trail is a proposed 3,700-mile route that would stretch through 12 states, from Washington to Maryland, passing close to Spokane and through the Idaho Panhandle. The Washington segment plans to use the existing Cascades to Palouse State Park Trail, formerly known as the John Wayne Pioneer Trail and Iron Horse
Great American Rail Trail Preferred Route Announced Read More »
Looking for a new trail to hike, ride, or run? Try one of these new or newish Inland Northwest trails. Evergreen East’s Short Draw at Saltese Uplands near Liberty Lake, Wash., creates options for either shorter loops or longer figure eights as it bisects the center of the conservation area. WTA completed work on the
New & Upgraded Spokane Area Trails Read More »
The state of recreation is strong. And we’ve got to do something about climate change, or we’ll lose out on investments in access and infrastructure. Those are the headlines from a conversation about the state of recreation with Jon Snyder, the first Policy Advisor on Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development in the state of Washington
The State of Outdoor Recreation Read More »
