No matter how long it’s been since I’ve been in my kayak, or how far life has drawn me away from the river, when winter begins to melt out of the mountains, I am lured back. I start watching the river levels. My paddle gear gets shuffled from the back of the garage towards the […]
Early Season Kayaking Read More »
For the 13,000 or so years before Frenchman Coulee became a wildly popular destination for Northwest rock climbers, a striking formation of basalt spires stood as a graceful monument to the astonishing power of water and ice. The massive pillars are still here. It’s just that on any warm day, and many cold ones as
The Feathers: In a Timeless Cataract at Frenchman Coulee the Future Clings to the Past Read More »
Spokane REI employee Tim “Tribhu” Plaza to Share Triple Crown Journey at 2018 Expo There is an elite group of long-distance hikers known as Triple Crowners. To become a designated Triple Crown hiker, you must successfully thru-hike each of the three longest trails in the United States: the Appalachian Trail (AT), the Pacific Crest Trail
Lessons from a Triple Crown Hiker Read More »
Saying the Hoskinson family enjoys skiing is an understatement—skiing runs in their blood. Father Paul, brothers Evan and Robert, and Robert’s son Anders make up the triple generation ski family. They welcomed me into their home, eager to share ski stories and careful not to give away too many mountain secrets. These transplants from the
The Hoskinson Family Read More »
You may not see them if you’re skiing the groomers; but, venture off-piste at night, and you might catch a glimpse of these cryptic, cold-loving arthropods. Scientifically, these insects are classified within the Order Notoptera and the Family grylloblatidae. These elongate, flightless insects are specially adapted to living in cold climates, living beneath the snow
Cryptic, Cold-Loving Ice Crawlers Read More »
Our annual gift guide leans heavily towards things and experiences you can buy here locally from a real person at a real shop. We include gift ideas for the gear geeks that are inevitably on your list, as well as a wide range of cool and unique items for the less outdoorsy people you’ll no
Inland NW Local Holiday Gift Guide Read More »
Unity, Oregon, was deserted, except for the lone old man on the porch of a ramshackle building who tipped his hat in my direction as I passed by with a terrible screeching under the hood. I turned my camping gear-packed rig around pronto, struggling with the sudden loss of power steering that accompanied the burning
The Pacific Northwest has been setting precipitation records since last October, leaving normally dry trails muddy and damaged by erosion. Avoid those trails, and seek out a trail where water is the main attraction. As the largest undammed waterfall in Montana, Kootenai Falls is well worth a visit in any season; however, the spring run-off
Like almond butter and dark chocolate, or balsamroot and mountain bike tire tracks, rivers and mountains complement each other, and the results of their couplings are waterfalls. Waterfalls are nature’s money shots. First you hear the trickle or rush or roar from a distance. Then you feel the ground responding to the collision between water
4 Waterfall Hikes: Where Mountains and Rivers Collide Read More »
Located in the sweet spot between the Cascades and the Selkirk mountains, Spokane’s surrounding region hosts thousands of acres of public lands with hundreds of miles of trails. Resting on the edge of the arid Columbia River Basin, the stable climate almost permits year-round trail running. Spokane County features the two largest State Parks in
Run Wild, Spokane: The Makings of a Trail Running Town Read More »
