For years I ignored the lonely Blue Mountains in favor of forever heading north for hiking and backpacking fun. Fortunately, I recently came to my senses: the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness in the Blues is no farther than many of my favorite trails to the north, and since some of the trails are at lower elevation, they […]
Wenaha River Trail (Blue Mountains, Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness) Read More »
Take a Wild Walk and Learn About the Inland Northwest’s Winged Wonders When my friend Howard called and told me that he had signed my family and his up for a butterfly hike, I wasn’t sure what to think. I’d read Robert Michael Pyle books, and I’d been on my share of birding trips, so
Hiking with Butterflies Read More »
“Pronunciation question: Does ‘Iller’ Creek rhyme with ‘miller’ or ‘miler’?” That’s the unassuming question I posted on Facebook last fall, and it was the moment I learned where my active outdoor friends and my grammar geek friends overlap – and sharply disagree. Confession: Until adulthood, I thought “awry” was pronounced “AW-ree.” I thought “frigate” was
The R in Washington is Silent Read More »
For thousands of years people have enjoyed the little peninsula upstream from the confluence of Latah Creek and the Spokane River. The name “People’s Park” says a lot about the long history of this place that separates the Spokane River from the downstream reach of Latah Creek (also known as Hangman Creek). People’s Park is
People’s Park: An Oasis of Nature Near Downtown Spokane Read More »
When Roast House Coffee commits to a cause, they go all in. Community involvement and engaging in significant causes sit at the top of Roast House’s to-do list, and they’re never crossed out. Free The Snake coffee benefits Save Our Wild Salmon, and it’s aimed at helping restore the lower Snake River canyons to bring
Roast House Coffee’s Free the Snake Blend Read More »
The Northwest Collegiate Climbing Circuit (NC3) is the largest bouldering competition for college students in the country. Every year students from Idaho, Oregon, and Washington compete in a series of competitions around the Pacific Northwest. On January 30, Eastern Washington University will be hosting the Climbtastic Voyage, the second competition in the NC3 series. Students
Winter Climbing Comps Come to EWU and Wild Walls Read More »
Whether competing in races, riding for exercise and recreation, or using a bike for transportation, women have consistently been outnumbered by men. That has been gradually changing for the better. These days, I see a greater number of women at cycling events. And the women-only bike events are successfully getting more ladies involved. But there’s
Women on Wheels: Closing the Local Cycling Gender Gap One Bike Shop at a Time Read More »
Finding Early Season Turns from B.C. and Mt. Hood to Local Bitterroot Snow Magnet Lookout Pass The end of August is when the jonesing starts for me. It’s typically right after I receive the first ski magazine subscription for the season. You dissect every page, inspect every photo with a fine tooth comb and this,
1977 was a big year for club member John Roskelley, who, along with non-members Galen Rowell, Kim Schmitz and Dennis Henzel, attempted and succeeded to climb the Middle Trango Tower in Pakistan. Notable new club members this year included Rich and Meredith Landers, as well as Rich’s long-time adventure companion, friend and fellow conservationist Dick
Looking Back at the Spokane Mountaineers (1977 to 1985) Read More »
As craft brewing continues to grow and refine across the country, the art of hard cider making is also experiencing a resurgence. At North Idaho Cider, the second cidery to open in North Idaho, Greg and Mara Thorhaug are bringing a blend of cider fermenting traditions and new, experimental American cider styles to the Inland
North Idaho Cider (review) Read More »
