I’ll be honest. I didn’t even know where Whitefish was when I considered going there. Somewhere on the Montana side of the border for this geographically inept traveler. I live on a scale of forestry maps, apparently. But on a Friday night, with my Outback loaded full of ski gear, almonds, and a weekend staple […]
Whitefish in a Weekend: One More Place I Want to Live Read More »
What’s the most important practice when it comes to backcountry safety? In brief, good judgment, which in turn comes from education and experience. Jason Luthy strongly recommends that before you set out on a sidecountry or backcountry jaunt, even if it’s just something like heading out of bounds at your local ski resort, you should
Backcountry Safety: An Interview with Longleaf Wilderness Medicine Owner Jason Luthy Read More »
“It’s a balmy 11 degrees Fahrenheit down in the valley,” Brian tells me over the phone. I’ve been on the mountain skiing in wind chills that would strike fear into the heart of Shackleton, and though I haven’t counted my fingers yet, I’m pretty sure my nose is gone. “I’m coming down,” I tell him
I remember the first time I saw a fat bike at a bike shop in Spokane about two and a half years ago. I asked about it and was told it was great for riding on sand at a beach. I looked at the price: $1,700. I picked it up and felt how heavy it
Fat Biking 101: Your Guide to Snowbiking in the Inland Northwest Read More »
If Schweitzer has a spirit, you will find it deep among trees obscured by fog. It is there, in powder drifts that have retained their perfect looseness when the groomers have long since turned crusty. If Schweitzer has a spirit, you can see it toasted in the village, in the chaotic dining halls and crowded,
Spirit of a Mountain: Reflections on Skiing and Being Schweitzer Read More »
I stopped making formal new year’s resolutions (at least out loud) a long time ago, but I can’t deny that about this time each year I make promises to myself that I usually don’t keep. In the last issue of OTM, Brad Northrup recounted a button-busting incident that occurred while trying to squeeze unsuccessfully into
Editorial: New Year’s Resolutions Read More »
Christmas is right around the corner, and if you’re still looking for the right gift for that “outdoorsy” type on your list, never fear. We have put together a list of some of the hottest holiday outdoor adventure gift ideas that you can find at local shops throughout the Inland Northwest. We’ve included a wide
Outdoor Adventure Holiday Gift Guide – Gear Giving Ideas from Local Shops Read More »
The fall shoulder season with its shorter, often wetter and colder days, is prime time for bike rides to your neighborhood pub or longer adventures to drinking establishments a bit further afield. Creative routes, including forays through parks and other urban wilds with sections of singletrack thrown in, can make the ride much more fun
Will Bike for Beer Read More »
Your Guide to Indoor Fun and Fitness for the Fall Shoulder Season Resist the urge to hibernate during the colder, grayer “shoulder season.” Perhaps easier said than done. After all, it’s often too ______ (fill-in-the-blank with current nasty weather condition) for ________ (whatever you most like to do outside). And there’s not enough snow in
Cyclocross is a unique sport. Essentially you redline your body’s tachometer at the start, keep it redlined, and try not to blow up before it’s over. And yet you don’t have to because you can take it as seriously as you want. The racing is as intense as you make it. That’s important because for
Cyclocross Heckling Read More »
