While it’s true that waterfall hikes are more spectacular in the full flow of early spring, their cooling properties can be better appreciated on a hot summer day. This hike begins by crossing an open hillside with a good view of nearby Hall Mountain, and includes a little over 500 feet of elevation gain. That’s […]
Elk Creek Falls and Mill Pond, Colville National Forest Read More »
The Muppet mushroom is my name for Albatrellus ellisii, officially called greening goat’s foot. A title that would drive off all but the most daring from eating it. This is probably why, in my 25 years of studying fungi, no one had ever mentioned its edibility. David Arora, the author of “Mushrooms Demystified” and other
This month of transition between summer and fall is the perfect time to plan a visit to Grassy Top in the Colville National Forest (assuming there are no wildfires burning nearby). One could potentially find lingering wildflowers or enjoy a few last huckleberries, but shorter days bring cooler temperatures and changing colors to this high-country
Grassy Top Mountain (Selkirk Mountains, NE Washington) Read More »
Backcountry roads can be the necessary evil of adventure: every recreationist has his or her story of harrowing, white-knuckled mountain driving or late-night tire repair far from the nearest Les Schwab. But sometimes it’s ok to embrace the backcountry drive, not as a means of getting to the destination but as the destination itself. On
7 Wild Places — Epic Backcountry Drives & Adventures Along the Way Read More »
If you haven’t already heard, there’s been a new buzz in the air in the mountain biking scene that has to do with backcountry adventuring on your bike called bikepacking. The concept isn’t new. Cyclists have been touring and camping off of road bikes for almost a century. The only difference here is that bikepacking
Backpacking with Your Bike Read More »
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act with a visit to the Salmo Priest Wilderness in the Colville National Forest. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended to access this hike, where the bumpy Forest Service road takes care of most of the climbing. From the trailhead (at 6,220 feet) set off across the open ridge
Hike of the Month: Crowell Ridge (Salmo Priest Wilderness ) Read More »
Guide to hiking and exploring historic fire lookouts in the mountains of Eastern Washington and North Idaho, and resources to learn more.
Explore Fire Lookouts in the Inland NW Read More »
The list was befitting the items needed for a 13-year-old’s sleepover: Oreos. Glow sticks. A life-size cardboard cutout of Twilight star Robert Pattinson. In actuality, these were some of the things packed by my best friends and myself (all, ahem, in our late twenties and early thirties) for our annual “Friendship Reunion” camping trip last
The Case for Car Camping: 3 Reasons To Love It Read More »
Even with gas at nearly four bucks a gallon, it may be worth driving north of the border just for a meal at the Pepperbox Bistro in Salmo, B.C. But, after all, this is the Kootenays, and there are enough year-round outdoor adventures to enjoy within about 30 miles in any direction from downtown Salmo.
Roadtrip: Eat, Play And Love In Salmo, BC Read More »
Autumn is the season best savored perhaps by creative writers, bird watchers and carefree nature lovers. Nineteenth-century writer William Cullen Bryant referred to this season as “the year’s last, loveliest smile,” and novelist Albert Camus said, “Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower.” Crisp mornings with frost, clothed in layers for
Three Great Treks For Fall Colors Read More »
