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 »
If you’re physically fit, you can hike the three highest mountains of Eastern Washington. I’ve hiked them multiple times and have also done the 50 highest in order to complete the guide book “Hiking the 50 Highest Mountains of Eastern Washington”, which came out in 2003. It has since gone out of print, but you
Hike the Three Highest Peaks in Eastern Washington 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 »
Back in my educator days, our leadership class headed up an annual, week-long project—Teacher Appreciation Week. One of those activities was to produce large posters to be taped to respective classroom doors. The words would express love and appreciation, and the middle school artists produced some very creative caricatures and other visual depictions related to
I Have an Amazing Stoker Read More »
The stunning peaks of the Lizard Range that tower over the town of Fernie, B.C., are a sight to behold, and hiking up into them is an unforgettable experience. The area around Island Lake Lodge, a swath of private wilderness lands with a lodge, restaurant, and miles of well-maintained trails, offers a range of hikes
High-Country Hikes in Fernie’s Lizard Range 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
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 »
