By Ammi Midstokke Cover photo courtesy of Chris Ashenbrener On the morning of May 18, 1980, Chris Ashenbrener was pouring concrete on the edge of Lake Pend Oreille, far from his stomping grounds in the Cascade Range. Hours after he began, the sky began snowing ash. Ashenbrener retreated to his tent and watched as confused […]
The Day Mount St. Helens Reopened Read More »
By Jon Jonckers Cover photo courtesy of Jon Jonckers In the heart of downtown Spokane below the Monroe Street Bridge, tucked against the roaring Spokane Falls, is a stunning urban escape that offers both scenic beauty and historical significance. Originally established in the early 1970s as part of the Monroe Street Dam redevelopment in preparation
A Park for All Seasons: Exploring Downtown Spokane’s Huntington Park Read More »
Cover photo courtesy of Lisa Laughlin How does a river city turn natural beauty into everyday well-being? In Spokane, the answer is the Centennial Trail, a paved corridor that links neighborhoods, parks and river views. The route now stretches about 63 miles. It runs roughly 40 miles in Washington, from the Idaho border through Spokane
Keeping Spokane’s River Path Thriving Read More »
For more than 50 years, the Great Burn Conservation Alliance (GBCA) has worked to safeguard the wild character of the Northern Bitterroot Mountains along the Idaho–Montana border. This landscape—known as the Great Burn—spans nearly 2 million acres of roadless, wildlands filled with old-growth cedar, alpine ridges and clean, cool streams. GBCA’s mission is simple but
Protecting the Great Burn Together Read More »
By Marcy Timblin, Kaniksu Land Trust Cover photo courtesy of Kanisku Land Trust When I was a kid, I could wander for miles without seeing a “No Trespassing” sign. Neighbors didn’t mind me and my dog popping out of the woods, and I never thought about “public access.” It was the norm. Of course, not every landowner
When Public Access Is a Gift: Respecting Private Land for Community Use Read More »
By Rick Shaffer, Prime Minister of Historic Wallace, Idaho & North Idaho Bike Trails Cover photo courtesy of Shallan Knowles Ever had that feeling that it’s September (already?!), and you haven’t had your fill of hiking, pedaling, kayaking or huck picking? What the heck happened to summer? Well, you’re in luck. With cooler fall temps
By Ammi Midstokke There was a time in a previous life when I traveled to faraway places, because my only real responsibility was a basil plant I could easily replace. The wide, wild world of Patagonia and the Himalayas and the Alps awaited me, and Greta Thunberg hadn’t yet dismantled the guiltless glamor of air
Cover photo courtesy of Visit Sandpoint When the heat of summer fades and cool mornings settle into the Inland Northwest, it’s prime time to make a weekend escape to beautiful Sandpoint, Idaho. Barely 90 minutes from Spokane, nestled on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille and framed by the Selkirk and Cabinet mountains, Sandpoint can
A Fall Escape to Sandpoint: Three Days of Lake, Mountain & Autumn Magic Read More »
By Lisa Laughlin Cover photo courtesy of Susan McBurney As the closing day of ski season at Mount Bachelor neared in May of 2024, ski friends Rebecca Hurlen Patano and Susan McBurney booked their rooms for Ski Portillo, an iconic resort in Chile. The goal: get on skis during summer and experience legendary terrain in
Portillo and Beyond: Finding Skiers’ Magic in the Andes Read More »
Cover photo courtesy of Lynn Hopwood By Tabitha Gregory Big and brilliant, hot air balloons have long captivated the public’s imagination. The sight of a gentle giant floating above the landscape stops traffic and brings children and parents out of their homes to watch. The longing to be in a balloon, untethered from the earth,
Hot Air Balloon Rides in the Inland Northwest Read More »
