The Mystery of the Ringer Chairlift Carrier In 1938, a young German ski racer named Karl Ringer was touring the United States with a youth group when he learned about the world’s first chair lifts that had been installed at Sun Valley, Idaho. He must have sensed an opportunity, because a few years later, […]
Artifacts: 49 Degrees North Read More »
The four Ski the Northwest Rockies-affiliated ski resorts within 90 minutes of Spokane all possess their own character and champions: Silver Mountain Resort, with deep Silver Valley powder at the end of a scenic thirty-minute gondola ride; laid-back Lookout Pass on the Idaho/Montana border, with its bountiful Bitterroots powder and backcountry access; Mt. Spokane’s reliable
Signature Ski Runs: A Guide to Local Resort Must-Ski Trails Read More »
Lindell Haggin, an avid birder and Spokane Audubon Society treasurer, narrows the scope of her bird-watching to her North Spokane backyard during the cold months. “A lot of people don’t realize how many birds are around. I’ll get up to 10 species, even in the winter,” she says. A feeder, heated bird bath, and specially
Winter Birding: More Exciting Than It Sounds Read More »
The Northwest Avalanche Center is a collaboration between the U.S. Forest Service Northwest Avalanche Center and the non-profit Northwest Avalanche Center. It provides mountain weather and avalanche forecasting along with free intro to avalanche awareness classes. (Nwac.us) The Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center, which works with Idaho Parks and Recreation, provides current advisories. It offers free
Avalanche Education Resources Read More »
The yurt, an often portable, round tent that has been used as a home in Central Asia for at least 3,000 years, is slowly becoming not only a more common dwelling structure in North America, but also a unique and diverse place to stay while on the road or vacationing in a scenic spot. Yurt
Four Northwest Yurts for Winter Adventuring Read More »
Silver Mountain Resort recently announced that ownership of the North Idaho resort is changing hands. The new owners from the Seattle area are extremely excited and passionate about the resort, the region and the incredible potential for both. Tryg Fortun, manager of Eclectic, LLC, has been skiing the mountain for many years now. “This is
Silver Mountain Resort Changes Hands Read More »
You don’t always need to travel far for a taste of adventure during the snowy months. There’s something about a blanket of powder over even a semi-urban landscape that can make a walk through Spokane’s Riverfront Park or down along the Spokane River on quieter sections of the Centennial Trail feel like you’re in the
10 Local Winter Adventures Read More »
Last March I walked up to the counter at Mountain Gear with a few pieces of backpacking gear and chatted briefly with the store’s assistant manager Mark Beattie about our outdoor plans for the weekend. Since a warm front had moved through and nuked the powder I had originally hoped to be skiing, I explained
Mountain Mugs: Mountain Gear’s Mark Beattie Explains Why There is No Bad Ski Day Read More »
As we head into winter in the Inland Northwest, many of us are gearing up for winter activities, and for many seasoned and aspiring backcountry skiers and snowboarders, that means getting in shape and practicing with their gear. For those in the Spokane area, we have a great, sanctioned resource at our local ski hill
Skiing Uphill: Rules to Follow if You Plan to Ski or Snowshoe up Mt. Spokane this Winter Read More »
How much gear does an outdoor family need to have fun and stay comfortable outside all year long without breaking the bank and focusing too much on flashy things? These five items top our list. 1) Dedicated play clothes: Equip children with a stash of used clothing for rugged outdoor playtime, including stained shirts, worn-knee
Five Must-Have Items for Year-Round Outdoor Families Read More »
