Eastoberfest returns to Spokane this fall with a full day of racing and community celebration on the mountain bike trails around Beacon Hill. Hosted by Evergreen East, the 2025 event takes place Sunday, Oct. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Minnehaha Park. This multi-stage enduro will showcase both new and classic trails, giving riders of all levels a chance to test their downhill riding skills. Categories are available for expert, sport, beginner, and junior riders, along with dedicated e-bike divisions.

Registration costs $60 for Evergreen members, $75 for nonmembers, and $30 for juniors, with proceeds going directly to support local trail building and maintenance. Online registration closes Oct. 10 at 11:59 p.m., and no day-of registration will be offered. Registration includes a shirt, swag, a food truck coupon, entry into a prize drawing, and a post-race beverage. Race organizers are recruiting volunteers to help keep the event running smoothly, so sign up if you don’t want to race but can lend a hand. Eastoberfest has become a fall tradition for the region’s mountain biking community. Register at Evergreeneast.org. (OTO) 

The post Eastoberfest Enduro Returns to Beacon Hill Spokane appeared first on Out There Venture.

New to this fall’s recreation line-up, “The GRIND,” a gravel circuit race, is coming to Riverside State Park. The start and finish are at the Seven Mile Airstrip, home of the successful 24-Hour MTB and Wednesday night MTB races. This race is a collective brainstorming effort from the mountain bike community and the Riverside State Park Foundation (RSPF) and will serve as the nonprofit’s yearly fundraising event.  

The course will be a familiar one to frequent Riverside riders. The 11-mile loop traverses wide-open two-track trails and a few sections of singletrack, making it fast and non-technical with some climbing that will be perfect for mountain, gravel, cyclocross, or hybrid bikes with a bit of tread. RSPF board member and longtime Spokane cycling event organizer Gino Lisiecki is spearheading the race. “Gravel is very popular right now and this will be a fun, spectator-friendly event with the loop format featuring 66-mile (6 laps), 44-mile (4 laps), and 22-mile (2 lap) options,” he says, allowing racers to choose the distance that’s right for their fitness level.   

The race will feature chip timing, custom pint glasses, Bicycle Butler support at the start, and finish-line chili and snacks. The cooler Autumn weather should make it a great day of cycling and fundraising for the many park projects and programs RSPF helps make possible each year. Camping will be available at the venue for an additional fee when registering for the race. Register for The GRIND at Riversidestateparkfoundation.org.  

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The Mountain Magic Trail Run June 29, 2025

By Brad Thiessen

The Mt Spokane Nordic ski trails make Mountain Magic uniquely runnable and challenging for all levels of runner.

I created the Mountain Magic trail run, held on June 29^th  this year, on the Mt. Spokane Nordic (cross-country) ski trails eight years ago, but the roots go back 25+ years.

I started running reluctantly when I moved back to my childhood home city of Edmonton, Alberta, after college. It was a way to work off the gut I had grown from a year of eating a free pizza a day as a Pizza Hut server. I was surprised to find I actually enjoyed it.

When my wife and I moved to a new house a couple of years later, I discovered that the trails that wound through a nearby ravine were a much more satisfying option than pavement. The up-and-down motivated me to push harder and threading my way among the trees made me relaxed and brighter even when I was exhausted.

Then we moved to the flat desert of Central California. The next seven years were filled with tedious runs on a grid of pavement. The traffic lights every half mile gave me a chance to heave in the most polluted air in the U.S.

So moving to Spokane in 2005 was a rebirth, a chance to really dig into running again. The Centennial Trail was one thing, but discovering the Dishman Hills Natural Area at Camp Caro transformed my running life. The trails weren’t as rolling as the ones back in Edmonton but they were higher, longer and more challenging.

Nordic (cross-country) skiing on Mt. Spokane came a few years later. I fell in love with the area, and Nordic skiing, almost instantly. Then I ran those trails in summers for the first time and was blown away. For me it was like the fun of my first runs in Edmonton combined with the rewarding challenge of the Dishman Hills trails rolled up into the ideal running experience. I found myself getting into the zone where it was just my legs, the ground, the trees and the sunshine. With some lung- and quad-busting sections thrown in along the way. After I got cancer in 2015, running there became a refuge and a source of healing.

You see, when I run trails, I want to be able to actually run most of them, not spend half the time power-walking. I’ve entered a few races and gone on many runs that had steep uphills for large sections where you have no choice but to power-walk, and you find yourself heaving and light-headed and cursing your poor judgement, wondering how you could think this would be a fun way to spend your morning. These kinds of runs are satisfying to look back on, but for me they just don’t have the same thrill in the moment. They don’t get me in the zone.

That’s why I created the Mountain Magic Trail Run—so I can share my love of running those trails with OTHERS who get that same kind of joy and satisfaction as I do.

It’s also why I added a 5k option the second year—if your main  running experience is the weekly 5k at running club, this is your chance to give dirt a try and get that same feeling of the friendly running community at the same time.

Since the first Mountain Magic run 8 years ago, a lot of things have changed—tweaking the routes, trying a marathon (won’t happen again!), adding a 35k to the 10k and 25k options, and giving out medals this year.

To top it off, Athletic Brewing is supplying a selection of their award-winning non-alcoholic beer for free this year. Trail runners love craft beer, but it’s illegal to serve alcohol on State Parks land so this is something I’ve dreamt of for years!

Some things haven’t changed, like the awesome positive vibe of the trail running community, the full meal afterward and of course the amazing setting.

Now I want you to have the chance to experience this magical event. Head over to MountainMagicRun.com and register today. It’s the trail running party to kick off your summer—runnable, challenging and magical!

The post The Birth of a Magical Trail Run on Mount Spokane appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Chafe 150

Growing up in the Midwest in the early ‘90s on a gravel road meant I was regularly riding gravel decades before it became the fastest-growing cycling market. My bike these days, a Giant Boulder from Spokane’s Spoke-N-Sport, was outfitted with wider tires, a front shock, and multiple gearing options—perfect for the variable terrain out my front door. Gravel riding has definitely become mainstream, with Le Tour de France even incorporating a few gravel sections into the multi-day stage race. And warmer spring and summer days mean now is the perfect time to transition from tarmac or soggy single-track to gravel for a variety of reasons. 

Opportunity: Regardless of where you live in the Inland Northwest, you’re likely closer to gravel roads than you may realize, with rural and forest roads serving as great places to start. Endless miles of quiet road await, with the added benefit of lower-traffic and fewer distracted drivers.  

Comfort: If you’ve ridden a 21-23mm tire on your road bike, switching to a 38-44mm gravel tire is pure joy. When paired with a tubeless setup and moderate tire pressures, the result is heavenly comfort that absorbs bumps, road chatter, and more. Many gravel-specific bikes also feature relaxed frame geometry, enhancing comfort and posture while in the saddle. 

Resiliency: Riding gravel often means leaving the comforts of the city behind. Environmental exposure, unpredictable road surfaces (e.g. washboards anyone?), and longer, isolated stretches challenge both physical and mental preparedness. While this may sound daunting, these conditions provide a unique opportunity to callus the mind and body.  

Training Tips for Gravel Riding and Racing 

Gravel riding also demands specific training adaptations. John Wehrer, a Spokane sports physical therapist and performance coach, highlights the importance of trunk and upper-body strength to endure uneven terrain. Dr. Wehrer emphasizes that the first time you ride a washboard section or encounter loose gravel you’ll appreciate how important developing grip strength is. (Want to improve grip and trunk strength? Try this: Grab a set of kettlebells or dumbbells that are moderately heavy, completing a slow-motion thigh-high march for 40-45 seconds continuously.) 

After the gravel bug bites, you may want to explore local races like the Idaho Panhandle Gravel Series in North Idaho, hosted by Charles Mortensen and Sammy Berryman. Despite evolving race formats and distances, one thing has remained constant—the challenge of gravel combined with significant elevation gain. To prepare for these races, it’s important to build aerobic fitness and muscular strength in your quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. (Example training ride: Start with a 20-minute easier effort; next, complete 3-4 sets of 5- to 10-minute moderate effort at 60-65 RPM cadence followed by equal recovery after each set; finish with a 20-minute easy ride.) 

Your transition to gravel should also include a fueling strategy that supports the demands of training and racing. Bottles and hydration bladders both work and support longer duration rides (personally, I use both). However, the key message is this: regularly eat and drink. Bonking due to under-fueling is no fun! And if you enter a gravel race, the aid stations are more party zones than traditional fuel stops.  

With the unending gravel roads offered in the Inland Northwest, and the unique training demands of gravel cycling, an unmatched sense of freedom and excitement await. Regardless of how you arrive to the gravel scene, you’ll be welcomed with adventure, challenge, and camaraderie. All that’s left is to prepare your body, refine your skills, and ensure adequate fueling to support your journey from the first gravel mile to your next finish line.  

Joel Sattgast is an outdoor enthusiast who loves sharing in adventures with his family. When not exploring, he’s a physical therapist, running/triathlon coach, and EWU DPT faculty. 

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By Ken Eldore 

Cover photo courtesy of Race the Wolf Marathon and Half Marathon

I’ve used goal setting as an athlete, from PRs in a 5k to finishing an Ironman, starting and developing a business, coaching, teaching, and directing race events. If you have never used a goal setting process or you’re refining the one you’ve got, here are my top five goal setting priorities to help get you to your next best finish line! 

1. DREAM BIG AND OBSESS ON A VISION 

One of my favorite movies, which was filmed in Spokane, Wash., is “Vision Quest” with Mathew Modine who plays the lead character Louden Swain. Louden is a high school wrestler and has a “Vision Quest” to win the championship wrestling title by beating the current champ Shute. Throughout the movie, Louden shows us he is passionately obsessed with winning the title and there are few scenes he isn’t talking about, dreaming about, and thinking about his goal. Be like Louden and create your vision! 

2. DREAM BIG, BUT PLAN SMALL  

Nothing can crush success more than thinking we will achieve our vision in one shot. Dreaming big about our vision gets us excited, but we have to plan small steps to get there. Breaking down the big goal into a list of little goals creates a real pathway to achievement, builds excitement, and gives us short, realistic things to achieve. Think of accomplishing your dream goal as a set of stairs with the big goal at the top of the stairs. Starting at the bottom, we set a goal for each step, work toward it, accomplish it, and then move to the next step. For example, if your goal is to run a 50 miler and you have only run a 10k distance, the first step toward your goal might be to run a few half-marathons, the second step might be a 25k, then a marathon, then a 50k, and finally a 50 miler. As you accomplish each step, be sure to celebrate how awesome you are! 

3. COUNT THE COSTS AND HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY 

Are you willing to pay the price to make it happen? Achievement is based on putting in the work and by what we prioritize. First, are we willing to make decisions like putting the phone and social media away to get in that long bike ride, run, or trip to the gym? Are we willing to say no to an impromptu invitation for pizza and a movie with friends so we can get our laps in at the pool? Your future you will be grateful for the amazing feeling of accomplishment. It is also important to build flexibility into your goal planning for the unknown, like keeping a free day or a light training day that you can make up later. Plan for the unexpected, like a family member who really needs you, or when the boss asks you to help out a little more. Family and careers are part of helping us get to our goal. 

4. PUT YOUR GOALS IN WRITING 

Put the power of the pen to work! Writing down your goals and identifying what each of your stair step goals will be is a contract with yourself. Write down your final goal and each of your stair step goals. Then, write the name of your next goal on a sticky note or a notecard and post it somewhere you will see it every day. Don’t list the whole goal, just a one-name reminder of the goal. For example, if your goal is to break the two-hour barrier of a Half Marathon, have a notecard you will see every morning that says 1:59:59. This works! 

5. ACCEPT FAILURE AS PROGRESS 

At least in pop culture history, Thomas Alva Edison was reported to have said “I didn’t fail 1,000 times, I just found 1,000 ways that won’t work.” This is a mindset! We will all fail at accomplishing goals. The difference between feeling success and failure is our mindset. Expect and accept missing a goal, regroup, dust yourself off, plan again, and keep moving forward! 

If you’re ready for your next great race day feeling, write those race day goals down, make a stair step of smaller goals to get there, and hang that notecard up for tomorrow morning’s inspiration. Whatever your race day goal is, dream big, make a plan, and we’ll see you at your next great finish line! 

The post The Race Ahead  appeared first on Out There Venture.

After the 5k, runners can explore the Bigfoot Festival’s sasquatch-themed activities, food, music, vendors, art and presentations by some of the most well-known Bigfoot researchers out there. More info at Mfbigfoot.com.  

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By Justin Short 

Cover photo courtesy of Justin Short

A few years back, a friend found an interesting bikepacking route out of Coeur d’Alene on the North Idaho Bikepacking page (Facebook? Web? Yellow? I didn’t ask). I was immediately intrigued because The Idaho Panhandle Ramble, or “PanRam” as we’ve come to call it, promised to scratch my “going places I’ve never been” itch in a big way. At 320 miles with 30,000+ feet of climbing, this ride is YUUUGE, but not so huge that we couldn’t knock it out over our three-day weekends that magically coincided in mid-July. 

Our plan was to ride two big days and one easy day. There would be no easy day. When it was all said and done, my mind was blown. This thing needs to become a showcase bikepacking event for the Inland Northwest, I thought, so I tracked down and spoke with route designer Eric Deady and told him just that.  

My first impression of PanRam was that a normal person would want to ride this route. Let me qualify that by saying that I meant a “special” kind of normal. I mean, there aren’t any cliffs to rock climb up with a loaded bike, or unrideable mountains of fist-sized boulders to stumble over for six hours, or even any river crossings teeming with alligators. However, you will be climbing 3,000 feet in the first 20 miles, mostly on rocky double track blown out by summer moto traffic.  

The gravel is comparatively nice after that, but the elevation profile is off the hook all the way through, so you’ll want to be ready for that. I’m also referring to a normality that includes laying down and splashing about in every creek, pond, lake, or occasional horse trough to cool off. It also goes without saying that our “normal” PanRam candidate will be filtering water from streams and filling every bottle, and perhaps even pockets, with ice anytime that’s available… which isn’t often.  

The inaugural PanRam grand depart was then organized and set for mid-July in 2023. Fifteen riders registered and eight actually showed up, which ain’t a bad turnout for this kind of thing when it’s blistering hot and people are having weddings and trips to “the lake” sprung on them. The weather was definitely hot for 2023, but this route is pretty forgiving with plentiful water sources, tree cover, and creek-dunking opportunities. I rode out the first 50 miles with my friends, camped for the night and rode home for work the next morning, wishing I could be out there for the whole shenanigan once again. 

PanRam is not billed as an official race, but more of a bikepacking odyssey, so it’s not governed by the usual rules of unsupported ultra-distance bikepacking races, which prohibit receiving outside support of any kind. Nonetheless, you can count on a small handful of goofballs attempting to set the Fastest Known Time, or “FKT” as it’s called in bikepacking circles. The first person to do this was none other than John Stamstad who came out for an ITT (individual time trial). That’s what we call it when a rider makes an official run on a route outside of a grand depart event. And when John rides your route, it’s like having Babe Ruth play your baseball field. It gets noticed. One could say he’s been an influential figure in the ultra-endurance mountain biking world. Among other things too numerous to mention, he was the first person to race pace the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from Canada to Mexico, basically turning the 2,700-mile Tour Divide into the Tour de France of the bikepacking world that it is now. He was also the first rider to solo a 24-hour mountain bike race when he entered a four-man team under four different iterations of his own name because he was told by the race organizers that soloing was too hard. (On a side note: I’m soloing the 24 Hours of Riverside MTB race this year, soooo thanks, John!)  

I honestly don’t know if it was John’s influence that got PanRam listed as a featured route on bikepacking.com or if it was entirely Eric Deady’s efforts. Either way, the word is out and 75 riders signed up for the 2024 edition of PanRam, this time set for mid June to avoid the mid-summer heat. Of those 75 riders, 35 actually showed up for the grand depart. Once again, these are solid numbers, and there were riders from the west side of the Cascades, Montana, and British Columbia. I didn’t know everyone there, and that’s getting rare these days. Outside of the grand departs, there have been hundreds of riders who’ve experienced PanRam at this point.  

So where does PanRam go, anyway? The route begins and ends at the moose by the lake. Which moose? Well, you had to do some hunting if you showed up at a moose statue on Lake Coeur d’Alene that didn’t have a bunch of bikepackers gathered around it. From there the route heads northeast with, as previously mentioned, some serious climbing. But the grade and gravel both mellow out significantly on the way to Magee Air Strip, as a lush green valley opens with Tepee Creek snaking through the meadow below. You can stop to relax in the AC at the Starbucks outside of TSA at the air strip, or at least that’s how we refer to the little wading pool in the creek under the bridge before the 8-mile climb up Spyglass Peak. It’s a charming spot for a break and highly recommended during the heat of the day.  

Somewhere out there on a high exposed ridge, I caught a glimpse of Silver Mountain in the distance, just long enough to wonder if I had really seen it. And that’s something that really inspires me about traveling through these mountains: seeing prominent peeks from hither-to unexperienced perspectives. The route heads south over more mountains to the first resupply point in Pritchard where you can count on a huckleberry milkshake to get you over Dobson Pass into Wallace, Idaho, if you’re not stopping to camp. There’s also some excellent barbecue there, and you might not want to miss that.  

In an official race, staying with a friend on the route is a big no-no, but PanRam, as we have said, is not a race, so I was free to crash with a couple riders at my friend Emma’s house in Wallace. I had joked with Eric about making Emma’s house a mandatory stopover for all riders on PanRam without telling Emma, but only half joking. That would really take this event up a notch.  

After Wallace was Moon Pass, which had a huge landslide last year, requiring a re-route. There were a couple options, and I chose to ride over Mullan Pass, dipping into Montana to take the Route of the Hiawatha, which is always a delight. Farther down the dusty trail, there’s an opportunity to stop for ice cream at the fly-fishing shop in Avery. Say hi to owner Dan Mottern, he’s a rider and one hell of a runner, having participated in the Boston Marathon a good 10 times.  

The route rolls out of Avery farther south, climbing through Fishhook Creek Canyon where tall craggy rock formations reach for the sky out of the densely green cedar groves that cover the steep canyon walls, offering a bit of comforting shade. The next segment over the Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area is where I ran out of water in mid-July. There was a big surprise waiting for all of us in mid-June, though, in the form of a 12-mile snow traverse that took six hours to clear. My friend George and I dragged it at night, witnessing a moonrise that left us in rapturous spasms of awe that I will carry for the rest of my days. It’s a long way from there back to the moose with many more mountain vistas, and spectacular jaw-dropping moments, as well as the obligatory bushwhacking section called The Maze that always leaves folks wondering if they’ve lost their way. It got me thoroughly confused both times I’ve “ridden” it, and it definitely will again this year.  

Eric Deady’s inspiration behind PanRam was to give riders the flavor of the remoteness of North Idaho with small town charm and easy resupply: “It’s a way to connect with friends and build memories, and discover yourself and the Idaho Panhandle along the route.”  

PanRam is not an easy ride by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s definitely worth the effort, and there’s no reason not to con a friend into driving a sag wagon out to some of the prime camping spots along the way to lighten your load. The 2025 grand depart will begin on June 20. For more information go to lifeonbikes.com/panram-bikepacking-route-1 and we’ll see you Out There! 

Out There Venture contributor Justin Short has ridden PanRam twice, if the article didn’t make that abundantly clear . . . but that’s not nearly as many times as he’s planning to ride it.  

The post The Idaho Panhandle Ramble   appeared first on Out There Venture.

Tandem cycling enthusiasts, mark your calendars and grab your captain or stoker—it’s time for the 2025 Northwest Tandem Rally (NWTR), happing this year in Spokane Valley July 4-6. This year’s NWTR, hosted by Valleyfest and Spokane Valley Cycle Celebration, promises a full weekend of scenic rides and tandem bike community. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or new to the scene, you won’t want to miss this gathering of tandem riders from across the region. 

The festivities revolve around the weekend’s rides, which range from short, leisurely loops to longer, challenging routes through Spokane Valley’s rolling hills and scenic backroads. All rides include options for varying abilities and are supported. Rides will start early (7:30 a.m.) due to the potential for hot weather. Full details on rides will be posted by June 1 at Cyclecelebration.com/nwtr. Register early to lock in custom-designed jerseys from Primal Wear. The 2025 NWTR is more than just a ride; it’s a chance to connect with the tandem bike community and forge friendships and connections across the Northwest and beyond. 

The post The 2025 Northwest Tandem Rally Comes to Spokane Valley  appeared first on Out There Venture.

The Idaho Panhandle Gravel Series returns in 2025 with an intriguing format change for the ¾ Minus Cykeltur and a new event. The ¾ Minus Cykeltur is on May 3, the Monarch Grind follows on June 28, and the new event, Aether’s Traverse, concludes the series on August 16. 

The format change for the ¾ Minus Cykeltur allows for an event that is more accessible and social for recreational or competitive riders who are not quite yet in the racing mode for this early-season event. Rather than logging a time for the entire ride, participants will be timed on certain segments and results will be based on the cumulative record of these segments. This format allows participants the option to ride casually and stop to enjoy the aid station offerings while still testing themselves on the timed segments if they like. The best aid station wins a coveted rotating trophy. 

Aether’s Traverse will replace the Chafe 150 gravel routes in the series. (The Chafe 150 road and gravel rides are still happening on June 14, they are just not part of the Panhandle Gravel Series this year.) In Greek Mythology, Aether represents the primordial god of light and the bright, pure air of the highest and purest reach of the cosmos. Aether’s 35-mile route edges westward from Sandpoint, passing over the southern reaches of the Selkirk Range into the Priest River drainage and winding back around, climbing 6,300 feet up to the Selkirk Crest from the west and topping out at Schweitzer’s Sky House. With the exception of two short sections of asphalt, the route is entirely on gravel roads. A chairlift ride will take riders down to Schweitzer Village from the Sky House for the post-ride party. 

Also new for 2025 is a change of start/finish venue for the Monarch Grind. The start and finish will be at Clark Fork High School in Clark Fork, Idaho, cutting out about 9 miles of mostly flat road from the route. The post-ride celebration and meal will be at the Squeeze Inn, Clark Fork’s gem of a restaurant. To register for the series or an individual event, visit www.panhandlegravel.com. (OTO) 

The post IDAHO PANHANDLE GRAVEL SERIES 2025  appeared first on Out There Venture.