Back in 1914 a woman named Ora Maxwell was a librarian at the downtown Spokane Public Library, and on nice nights she would walk home after work. One night a co-worker asked if she could walk with her. This was the beginning of something big. Somewhere along the way, an idea of more interesting and […]
The Early Years of the Spokane Mountaineers (1915-1935) Read More »
The Methow Valley’s skiing, scenery, and extensive trail system has been getting attention in recent years well beyond the Pacific Northwest for being the nation’s largest cross-country ski area. For good reason too. 120 miles of well-groomed, peaceful Nordic trails with a growing network of fat bike and snowshoe trails nestled in the majestic North
Winthrop Winter Wonderland: Ski, Bike, Snowshoe Read More »
My husband Young and I moved to North Idaho from Colorado six years ago, and sometimes I find myself missing that Rocky Mountain purple mountain majesty. But this summer, I discovered a place in North Central Washington that satisfied that longing: the Methow Valley. On a sunny day in June, Young and I set out
Methow Valley Road Trip: Eat, Drink, Explore, Sleep, Repeat Read More »
Backcountry alpine lakes are the summer equivalent of a hidden powder stash: highly coveted, accessible for only a short part of the year, and all the more special for the human-powered effort required to find them. To outsiders, the Inland Northwest is not known for its alpine lakes; the Central and North Cascades to the
15 Backcountry Lake Hikes Worth the Walk Read More »
There’s no shortage of options when it comes to planning out a summer full of adventure here in the Inland Northwest. With recommendations for families, casual adventurers, and those in search of more hardcore challenges to push their limits, there’s a trip and a place in here for anyone who loves the outdoors. Visit someplace
Welcome to the first round of Out There Monthly’s new “Locking Horns” department. Here we will be giving passionate advocates for different approaches to various recreation and natural resource issues a chance to go head-to-head with words meant to inform and persuade Inland Northwest outdoor enthusiasts. This first Locking Horns segment is dedicated to the
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
Fly Fishing Washington’s Methow River There are still a few places in the world that nearly bring tears to your eyes, no matter how many times you have been there. For those of us here in the Pacific Northwest, such a place exists right in our own backyard. Originating deep in the heart of the
The Jewel of the American Alps Read More »
Backpacking for a bachelor party? Rob Kennedy did just that with a trip to Hells Canyon with some buddies before getting married on August 27th this summer. “Nothing went as planned,” he says about the trip, but “there was an awesome river crossing. Some rafters hooked us up with smoothies, and we caught fish in
What’s Your Gear? Rob Kennedy: Backpacking Read More »
Day Hiking Central Cascades Craig Romano, photography by Alan L. Bauer The Mountaineers Books, 2009, 348 pages Craig Romano is a guidebook writer whom I trust. I haven’t yet been disappointed with two other of his books, Best Hikes with Dogs: Inland Northwest and Day Hiking North Cascades. I’m originally a west-side girl—that’s right, from
