It had been five years since I’d hiked to the lake. It was a modest alpine lake in the northeast Cascades, tucked in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness, an area of public land that had accrued meaning for my family through years of trips and storytelling. The area had experienced a wildfire in my absence. The […]
For the Love of a Place Read More »
How the Inland Northwest’s lakes are unique worldwide The deep, clear lakes scattered around the Spokane region provide fascinating evidence of the unique geologic history of the Inland Northwest. The stories they carry are rich enough for myth or legend: massive ice sheets, lost glaciers, churning floods, and fresh flows of groundwater from underground rivers
A float for reband trout on the Spokane River Ethan began casting with City Hall still in view. On the oars, Marc gazed at the downtown skyline and maneuvered the raft so I could get a good photo. “It’s pretty rare to have this kind of fishing within city limits,” he said. Ethan nodded, watching
Fly Fishing Home Waters Read More »
A Tour of Southeast British Columbia’s Wild Lakes, Backcountry, and Mountain Towns Planning time away from daily life’s demands and executing a great road trip can be stressful and a lot of work. But a truly excellent trip can quickly and completely obliterate anxious feelings from unfinished work you inevitably leave behind. This past May,
The West Koot Route: A Family Road Trip in Southeast British Columbia Read More »
My kids were toddlers when I pitched the idea of an “Outdoor Family” story to Out There’s publishers. That was nearly 10 years ago, and the precursor to this Out There Kids column, which aims to inspire and motivate families to explore the great outdoors, especially with young children. It was easier then, in retrospect,
5 Ideas to Motivate Teens to Love the Outdoors Read More »
Schweitzer is an anomaly in several ways. It’s one of the few large Western U.S. ski areas that sits entirely on private land, rather than public Forest Service acres. It also features one of the best lake backdrops, second only to Tahoe resorts. With its first public chairlift opening in 1963, Schweitzer also has deep
Alterra Mountain Company Acquires Schweitzer Read More »
I’ve hit the backcountry more than I have in years this summer. From camping amidst yarrow and wild strawberries in the Okanogan National Forest to biking the Route of the Hiawatha through steep, pine-filled hills, I have been reminded of the incredible variety of terrain in our region. I’ve also been running the trails close
Learning on the Trail Read More »
The first guidebook in my personal collection was a copy of Rich Landers’ 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest, purchased circa 2001, when hiking and backpacking were brand new sports to me. That initial copy was from a late printing of the 1987 book, and when the second edition came out in 2003 I wasted
Summer Picks from “100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest” Read More »
“An unspoiled river is a very rare thing in this Nation today.” – Former President Lyndon B. Johnson upon signing the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, 1968 It’s been almost two decades since I made North Idaho my home, and, from day one, I noticed people speaking fondly of the St. Joe River and the
A Whitewater Adventure on North Idaho’s St. Joe River Read More »
When you think of adventures in British Columbia, particularly the Kootenays, kayaking, swimming, tubing, or just kicking back on a beach might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Yet B.C. offers up amazing water-based activities for locals and visitors alike. Nelson and Kootenay Lake This bustling outdoor-centric mountain town also sports a
Water Adventures in the Alpine Read More »
