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 »
Did you know that Mount Spokane is Washington State’s largest state park? With four seasons of recreation, including hiking, mountain biking, Nordic and downhill skiing, horseback riding, snowshoeing, foraging, and more, this popular area is loved by recreators all over the region. And now, the Friends of Mount Spokane and Washington State Parks are delighted
New Trail Map for Mount Spokane Read More »
Shortly after getting off-route on a backcountry backpacking trip in northcentral Idaho, I heard about Topo Maps+, a backcountry navigation and mapping app developed by 45-year-old Spokanite Stephen Johnson. Talking with him, I learned that the Topo Maps+ app was built to be a simple navigation solution for people like me who would rather be
Local Backcountry Navigation and Mapping App Read More »
Antoine Peak’s Etter Ranch It’s not often I have an opportunity to promote a trail so new that it doesn’t have a name yet, but, due to the efforts of many volunteers working with crew leaders from Washington Trails Association, the new, westside connection trail out of Etter Ranch is now ready to receive visitors!
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 »
In 2022, America’s national parks had over 213 million visitors. Closer to home, Glacier National Park had over 2.9 million visitors. That popularity has led to a reservation system for bringing cars into the park. Given that popularity, how might we enjoy what national parks afford without finding ourselves cheek by jowl with fellow travelers?
The Road Less Traveled to Waterton Lakes Read More »
Rolling out of Midway, B.C., on fully loaded bikes in the pouring rain might make one think that things can’t get worse, but the Kettle Valley Rail Trail (KVRT) had more surprises for us along the way. As the two soggy riders we met at our jumping off point, who’d bailed because of mud and
Bikepacking the Kettle Valley Rail Trail Read More »
As one of the birthplaces of freeride mountain biking, the Kootenays of southeast British Columbia have accumulated decades of world-class trails on seemingly any slope that can hold them. But trail builders here continue to find new zones and touch up classic Kootenays tracks. The riding riches in the old mining-turned-mountain towns of this region—Nelson,
New Kootenay Singletrack Read More »
Coeur d’Alene couple fill niche with quality, insulated van window covers. For a long time, Coeur d’Alene locals Dave and Kelly Dutro made a name for themselves by sharing their passion for trails through Trail Maniacs (trailmaniacs.com). But This Van Life, their vehicle window cover business, has quietly taken over a corner of the outdoor
Inland Northwest bike races and rides offer plenty of chances to get out and ride with your pedaling peeps. If you recall from our last issue, the daunting task of identifying Spokane as a proper bike town was meticulously defined and decided. Sure, there are things that our community and region could work on, but,
