We were working late on this October/November double issue of Out There from our home office when an after-dark knock on the front door rattled us away from our computers with some bad news. In our always exciting corner of the city, just across the river from downtown Spokane, late night visits are rarely a […]
The Finch Arboretum is a 10-star public park on a four-star scale. No doubt, Manito Park, Riverfront Park and the Dishman Hills Conservancy are also jewels in the crown of Spokane’s public spaces. But the Finch Arboretum boasts the greatest diversity of plant life in the city and many of the most iconic trees in
Finding Fall Colors at Finch Arboretum Read More »
Every summer there comes a point when the dry and dusty trails around the Inland Northwest lose the appeal they once had in the spring. Berms are blown out, punishing brake bumps have formed and the rising dust makes riding with friends a health risk. It’s at this time that I start searching for good
B.C. MTB Road Trip: Silver Star Bike Park Read More »
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invites the public to a workshop to discuss several management planning topics for Riverside State Park in Spokane County. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at Lakeside Middle School Auditorium, 6169 Highway 291, Nine Mile Falls. (Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/kPP5E). State Parks staff will present key
Public Meeting to Discuss Riverside State Park Recreation Planning (June 25) Read More »
Play the OTM Backcountry Booty scavenger hunt contest and you get to explore different trails around the region and possibly win gift certificates for cool outdoor gear and other prizes from local businesses like Mountain Gear, River City Brewing and others. Here’s how it works: 1. We hide a booty certificate, that’s good for whatever
Backcountry Booty: Riverside State Park Read More »
A lackluster Northwest winter is rapidly turning to spring, which means the time to hike is now. With hundreds of trail miles waiting to be explored on our local public lands, there is no excuse to stay indoors. When checking out Spokane County’s Conservation Futures properties; state parks; or our surrounding state, BLM and National
Find New Hiking Trails and Camaraderie with Local Hiking Groups Read More »
Off the record, a handful of ski patrollers I spoke with admit that they’ve noticed an increase in that “funny smell you occasionally notice” on the ski lifts. But none of the patrollers I interviewed could say for certain that marijuana use has increased at their respective ski and snowboard parks this season after recreational
Marijuana in the Mountains: How Are Washington Ski Resorts Handling Legalization? Read More »
Just as a grizzly bear finds a dry den to wait out winter, the same can be said for our local climbing community. With the onset of foul weather, many Spokane area climbers seek refuge at Wild Walls. And so I wondered, with an influx in demand, who sets all those flashy new routes week
Every Winter, Climbers Flock to Indoor Gyms–But Who Puts Up All Those New Routes? Read More »
My roots in the Crown of the Continent go as deep as my first wobbly steps on Earth. My folks came to the heart of the Crown with hope for a better life for themselves and their children. A handful of photos of the bob Marshall Wilderness in a 1985 issue of National Geographic sparked
With the first flakes of the ski season already behind us, and plenty more likely to fall in the coming month, resorts around the greater Inland Northwest are gearing up for what should be another solid season of powder days and sunny groomers (with a few variable, overcast days to keep it real, of course).
