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 »
As my colleague pointed out, “It’s good to write about wolves; everyone is interested because everyone has an opinion.” Wolves were functionally extinct in Washington from the 1930’s until the first breeding pair showed up in 2008. This season, wolves have dispersed into new territory on the westside, edging them closer to the state’s recovery
State of Washington State’s Wolves 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!
OUTDOORSY EVENTS CONSERVATION & STEWARDSHIP OPPORTUNITIES at wildfire preparedness in your own backyard with a Firewise Risk Assessment, free for Spokane County residents through the Spokane Conservation District (Spokanecd.org/departments/forestry-department/firewise/). Those located outside Spokane County should check with their area’s Department of Natural Resources or other agencies for similar opportunities.
Inland NW Trail & Outdoor News 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 »
Standing at a wooden podium with the chill of a November wind driving across the fairway of the Hangman Valley golf course near Spokane, I reflected on how the past three years of hard work and sacrifice had just come to an end. The choice to get to bed early instead of hanging out late
Taking on the GRIT Running Series Challenge Read More »
The high water floating/rafting season runs from the first week of June through the first week of July. Travel time from the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area ranges from 2.5-3.5 hours depending on the route you take. Where to Go: What to Bring
Rafting and Floating the St. Joe River Read More »
