A major land conservation effort has added 2,135 acres of sagebrush steppe and Columbia River shoreline to Washington’s Big Bend Wildlife Area in Douglas County. Western Rivers Conservancy (WRC) recently transferred Big Bend Ranch—a property featuring 1.5 miles of river frontage—to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) for permanent protection and public access. Located 14 miles northwest of Grand Coulee, the ranch’s basalt cliffs, rolling hills and wetland spring habitat support a variety of wildlife, including the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, one of Washington’s most imperiled bird species. The property also fronts Rufus Woods Lake, a 51-mile reservoir between Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph dams that retains flowing current and supports kokanee and rainbow trout. 

“Conserving these places is critical for upland game birds and other wildlife, and it gives people more opportunity to experience what remains of the Columbia Plateau’s sagebrush-steppe,” said Jessica Inwood, Washington project manager for WRC. With the addition of Big Bend Ranch, the Big Bend Wildlife Area now totals about 24,000 acres of protected public land. The expansion opens new opportunities for hunting, hiking, mountain biking and wildlife viewing on one of the Upper Columbia’s most scenic and ecologically significant stretches. 

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Just outside Spokane, cradling the Little Spokane River and surrounding hills, lies a hidden gem—Glen Tana. Most 1,060-acre property, now in the hands of the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy* (INLC), is on track to become one of the most significant conservation success stories in our region. It connects two major recreation areas—Waikiki Springs and Riverside State Park—creating a 20-mile stretch of protected wilderness just minutes from the city. 

Glen Tana has it all: rolling pine forests, rocky outcroppings, and nearly two miles of meandering river. It’s a place where you can hike, run, watch birds, or simply find peace in nature. Soon, thanks to the efforts of INLC, this once-private land will be open for everyone to explore. As Sally Pritchard, chair of the Conservancy’s “It’s In Our Nature” campaign said, “Spokane is privileged to have so many spaces close to downtown where we can hike, run, bike, or just be out in nature.” 

But this project is about more than just recreation—it’s about history, culture, and environmental restoration. The Spokane Tribe of Indians, stewards of this region from time immemorial, is using Glen Tana to revive salmon runs in the Little Spokane River. Over the past two summers, Tribal Fisheries has released more than 150 Chinook salmon into the river, the first time these fish have been here in over a century​. It’s a major step toward bringing this keystone species back to the region, and it’s happening at Glen Tana!* 

The land itself tells a powerful story. For years, developers eyed it for new housing projects, but thanks to the efforts of INLC and a few determined investors, it’s now protected for future generations. “The land helps us define who we are. This project will help heal our community,” said Monica Tonasket, a Spokane Tribal Councilwoman​. That sense of healing and connection is at the heart of the Glen Tana project—it’s about preserving not only the land but also the cultural and ecological heritage of the Inland Northwest. 

Of course, big projects like this don’t come cheap. INLC had to get creative with funding, using state grants, bridge loans, and a lot of community monetary donations to make it happen. And it’s not done yet. INLC is in the middle of a major capital campaign to raise $4 million to cover the costs of buying and maintaining the property. So far, this dedicated community of nature enthusiasts and community-minded conservationists have contributed $3.1M to the overall goal. INLC is calling on everyone—from individuals to businesses and foundations—to chip in and help protect this special place. 

Glen Tana is a once-in-a-forever opportunity. With rapid urban growth in the Spokane area, finding and protecting such a large piece of land so close to the city is rare. As one campaign donor put it, “When we lose land like this, a part of us dies. And once these open spaces are gone, they’re gone.” That’s why this project matters now more than ever. 

The plan for Glen Tana goes beyond conservation—it’s about creating a place where people can reconnect with nature, learn about local wildlife, and honor the area’s cultural history. Whether you’re a hiker, a birdwatcher, or just someone who enjoys being outdoors, Glen Tana will soon be your new favorite spot. 

So, keep an eye on Glen Tana. Soon, it’ll be another one of Spokane’s natural treasures—ready and waiting for your next outdoor adventure. You can sign up for a guided hike of Glen Tana at the events page of INLC (inlandnwland.org/events/). 

Want to get involved? INLC is always looking for more people to join the cause, whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word. You can learn more at InlandNWLand.org or give them a call at (509) 328-2939. Every little bit helps, and together, we can ensure that Glen Tana stays wild and beautiful for generations to come. 

*The Spokane Tribe of Indians purchased 80 acres from INLC in October 2023, using grant money from Bonneville Power. This land will be the site of the Tribe’s fish-rearing facility, supporting ongoing efforts to reintroduce salmon to the Upper Columbia River Basin.

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By Adam Gebauer 

When I was asked to write about the progress the five tribal nations of the Upper Columbia have made over the last 20 years in supporting fish, wildlife, and forests in this region, I knew it was going to be a daunting task. For well over a decade now, I have been working alongside the natural resource departments of these tribes on small subsets of these issues and have seen firsthand the vast breadth and depth of projects that each tribe has tackled. Their projects range from work to rehabilitate land directly on their reservation, working within their traditional territories (including Canada), to working collaboratively to restore salmon across their historic range.  

Over the last 20 years, these tribes have bolstered their natural resource programs and created plans to support habitat protection on their reservations. The Spokane Tribe, for example, has a land management plan that supports wildlife habitat, including designating areas for restoration, areas of no timber harvest, and places to limit development. They have also set water quality standards accepted by the EPA to maintain fishable, drinkable, and swimmable levels in all water leaving and entering the reservation.   

A goal of the 12 tribes of the Colville Reservation is to reintroduce the full subset of wildlife species that existed before western colonization. This is not only to allow these species to fulfill their ecological niche but also to provide tribal members opportunities for subsistence hunting. Along with the Yakama Nation, the Colville has introduced pronghorn to shrub steppe habitat. These populations have moved off the respective reservations and are breeding and occupying habitat throughout Central Washington. The Colville also reintroduced big horn sheep, are working to establish a breeding population of lynx along the Kettle Crest, and have recently released wood bison onto the reservation.  

The Couer d’Alene Tribe has taken a lead role in the management of Lake Coeur d’Alene.  Along with water quality issues, they have showed proof of concept that invasive northern pike suppression leads to increased trout populations. They have acquired land for habitat protection and restoration, including purchasing and/or trade of around 15 miles of the headwaters of Hangman Creek. Recently, the tribe purchased land in Spokane along Hangman where they plan to have a rearing area for chinook salmon. 

The Kootenai Tribe on the Idaho Panhandle are working to restore 55 miles of riparian habitat along the Kootenai River system. They have been working to increase populations of endangered Kootenai white sturgeon and burbot, a popular sport fish. In 2017, they built a hatchery that supports both fish—the first burbot hatchery in the nation—and in January 2019 burbot fishing opportunities were open to the public.  

The Kalispel Tribe has acquired and is working to restore an additional 5,000 acres of wildlife habitat and has restored the hydrologic floodplain processes to 3,000 acres within their traditional lands of the Pend Oreille waterways. They are working with the managing agencies for three dams along the Pend Oreille River — Boundary, Box, and Albeni Falls — to install fish passage. Two of these projects are in place and the Albeni project will be under bid in 2025. They are also working with different agencies including Seattle City Light, Pend Oreille County Public Utilities, the Colville National Forest, Trout Unlimited, and even The Lands Council (my employer) to restore habitat for the threatened bull trout and endemic cutthroat trout across the watershed. To bolster habitat for these fish, they installed a cold-water syphon at Sullivan Lake, which has lowered the temperature of Sullivan Creek by an average 6 degrees Celsius. They are also trying to replicate this to lower the temperature of Priest River.  

The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and the Kalispel Tribe have a small land mass, so as much as they work on their reservation lands, they also conduct much of their habitat work on public lands within their ancestral territory. Both tribes have been working with Canadian agencies, including the Arrow Lakes Society, to restore the Selkirk Mountain Caribou herd to its historic range into the Southern Selkirks. They are also active on the interagency grizzly bear recovery task force, trying to restore genetically viable populations of this key species to the Selkirk and Yaak recovery zones. 

Both the Colville and the Kalispel have leveraged the Tribal Forest Protection Act (TFPA) to conduct projects on the Colville National Forest. The Colville Tribe engaged in the Sanpoil project in Ferry County to reduce wildfire potential along the reservation boundary. The Kalispel was integral in the Trail Project, which spans six watersheds in Pend Oreille County and focuses on forest health, wildfire fuels reduction close to population centers, and improved recreation. Along with conducting prescribed burns on their forest land, the five nations are also reestablishing the practice of cultural burning, which, along with supporting forest health, can have specific objectives such as increasing huckleberry habitat or camas fields. 

One of the most culturally significant and biggest lifts is the reintroduction of salmon to their historic waterways in the upper Columbia River above Chief Joesph and Grand Coulee Dams. The nations, particularly the Coeur d’Alene, Spokane, and Colville, are in the second of three phases of a decades-long fight to bring salmon back. The current phase is studying the habitat suitability of the spring Chinook in their natal waters as well as the reservoir of Lake Roosevelt. Tribes are looking at the ability of these fish to spawn successfully in main stem and tributary waters.  The tribes have released adult fish into streams such as the Sanpoil, Little Spokane, Hangman, and the Spokane and have found that these fish have been able to create redds (fish nests) in the sand and gravel. Another part of the study is looking at movement and survival of juvenile fish within Lake Roosevelt and through the dams, to the ocean and hopefully back again. These young fish need cold, swift, oxygen-rich water to make it to the ocean, and the reservoirs behind the dams make this challenging. One of the key aspects of this project is determining ways to bring salmon back while maintaining the current hydroelectric operation of the Columbia and Spokane Rivers. 

This is only a small subset of all the work that these tribes have been able to accomplish in our region over the las 20 years.  They are the forefront of actions to make our landscapes more climate resilient, habitats healthier, and waters cleaner. As is often quoted in tribal culture, they are looking seven generations in the past and seven generations into the future. 

Adam Gebauer has been slipping and sliding in some local creeks while helping the Spokane Tribe collect data on trout and future salmon habitat. He is passing miles on the trails while enjoying the fall colors. 

The post Regional Tribes Take the Lead on Fish, Wildlife, & Habitat Restoration Across Their Ancestral Lands  appeared first on Out There Venture.

By James P. Johnson  

I noticed Fernie on a map while road-tripping through southeastern British Columbia more than a decade ago. I decided to head that way and become more Fernie-aware. 

About a half-dozen visits later, my Fernie-awareness has really increased. Hiking is my favorite activity. Whatever yours, chances are good you’ll find matches on the long list of things to do there. 

An impressive attribute Fernie has got going is prettiness. The Rocky Mountain peaks surrounding town cause me to pause often to gaze. The same happens downtown among the century-old brick buildings. The rampant beauty causes my pre-hike, coffeeshop stop to turn into extended lingering. A stroll through downtown ensues. When I arrive at the trailhead, a late finish to my hike is likely.  

Another attribute that earns Fernie gold stars are hikes starting in town or at the outskirts. For an ardent peripatetic as myself, leaving the car parked and walking to the trailhead is satisfying. 

An October summit of Mt. Fernie, (7,251 ft./5 miles roundtrip), on the north side of town was my first hike here. A snow shower hit as I reached the upper slopes. Staying low against wind and blinding snow on the summit’s narrow ridge, I had no idea how long my plunge would be if I went over the edge. I hiked Mt. Fernie again on my next visit. The drop-off was a moderately steep slope. I was never in danger of falling. 

Finding more adventure than expected became a theme on my Fernie hikes. At Island Lake, a resort with mountainous terrain open to hikers, I was attracted off trail to a rocky summit requiring steep scrambling. Nearing the top, it began to rain. Slick rock would mean big trouble. Abandoning my quest, I descended methodically and cautiously. I’ve never been so relieved getting off a rock face. 

My visits to Fernie are more than hiking up mountains. On a warm July day, I strolled through town with no purpose but to look at things. At a bike shop, a couple and their two elementary-age children looked excited as they took possession of rental bicycles. It brought a smile to me. 

I walked the paved trail that follows the Elk River from one end of town to the other. There are lots of trails through and around Fernie, both gentle and the rugged, mountainous kind, and lots of people on bicycles using them. No one was fishing the Elk River for which it’s known; however, an intermittent procession of people on tubes and rafts floated past. 

My walk ended at the the visitors’ centre, also the trailhead for 7,851-ft. Mt. Proctor, a 12-mile, loop hike with 4,600 feet of elevation gain. The centre guide questioned my late start. Acknowledging such, I resisted boasting that I’ve earned kudos for dealing with late starts. 

Even with map in hand, the network of trails caused a wrong turn. I backtracked, then took a longer than necessary route to access the Mt. Proctor Trail. Eventually I got into spectacular high country, and, hiking a long, rocky ridge, arrived at the summit. Two things captured my attention—the setting with many rugged peaks, and a picnic table just below the summit. 

On my hike down, recent heavy rain had washed out a long section of trail. If it reappeared on the periphery, cutting away from the wash out, and I missed it, I’d be stranded in the woods for the night. I was pleased to spot it and arrive at the visitors’ centre at dusk. 

Evenings in Fernie, I visit places I’ve strolled past earlier. I once felt truly Canadian ordering local beer at a pub and getting drawn into a curling competition on the TVs. After conversation with a couple from Medicine Hat at a Japanese restaurant, the server informed me the departed couple paid my check. A free meal is great. The downside—not being able to express appreciation. 

The first time I hiked Three Sisters (9,147 ft.), I ho-hummed the descriptions’s suggestion to check out the cave. Forty-five minutes into the hike, I was flabbergasted. Bisaro Cave is huge and spectacular. 

Three Sisters is a 13-mile roundtrip hike with 4,750 ft. of elevation gain. The access road is rough and a high-clearance vehicle is necessary for the last two kilometers. I parked at the lot for low-clearance cars, adding three miles to the total. Hiking it again last summer, I encountered newly-made camping spots for backpackers near the tree line and plenty of people using them.  

Like other hikes, the Three Sisters came with bonus adventure. Passing through a stand of stunted trees at high elevation, a grouse stayed put despite my presence, something I’ve experienced numerous times. I snapped photos as he paced circuitously, getting closer. Then he rushed me. I jumped and hopped, trying to outmaneuver him. It turned into a scuffle. Twice I landed a solid kick. Creating a gap between us, I outran him, even as he continued chasing. 

Despite all my visits to Fernie, there are summits and lowlands I’ve yet to explore. The beauty of the mountainous terrain and the pleasantness and offerings of the downtown business district makes for a satisfying road trip each time. It’s no mystery Fernie has become one of my preferred destinations. My adventures have created memorable moments. Defending myself from a hiker-hating spruce grouse is perhaps the most unique.  

James P. Johnson is the author of “Spokane and Coeur d’Alene Freshwater Shark Attacks.” He wrote about his streak of witnessing total solar eclipses in the last issue of Out There.  

The post Backcountry Hiking Fernie, B.C. appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy Cutboard Studios

The Spokane River tumbles powerfully through the heart of the Spokane metro. It’s a small section of the river, which threads 111 miles from Lake Coeur d’Alene to Lake Roosevelt, but the location is a metaphor for how we should view the river: central to the health of our region, people, wildlife and culture.

When I began to call Spokane home, I wondered what the river’s problems were, what challenges it faced, and what we were trying to do better. This spring, I followed my curiosity. I took my first whitewater rafting trip, interviewed staff of the Spokane Riverkeeper, and talked to local conservation groups and tribes. Whether you’re a river novice, like I was, or well-versed in the river’s issues, I hope my journey will illuminate the many ways you might get to know the river better.

~

On an overcast day in June, I met up with FLOW Adventures for a guided whitewater trip on the Spokane. Our launch site was Redband Park, appropriately named after the native trout I’d recently learned about. From there, we could see the towering structures of downtown, even though we were about to paddle Class III rapids.

We received a safety briefing from our raft guide Joe Nollete, a bearded, experienced guide in his 50s, and our safety boater Ty, who was in his early 20s and still earning his river hours. That morning, I was one of seven passengers who donned PFDs provided by FLOW, grabbed a paddle, and stepped onto a bright blue raft.

Where the water was calm, we practiced our paddling. Our first assignment was to avoid the pilings of the Sandifur bridge. Nollete instructed our movements — left side back, right side forward; all forward; take a rest. We seemed to earn a passing grade. My goal, as a river newbie, was to stay on the raft.

After the bridge, we cruised past brush-lined riverbanks, maneuvering once or twice to stay clear of “strainers,” which were downed trees or branches extending into the river. The reason it is called a strainer is that it will treat your body like a noodle, Nollete told us. “Which would not be good,” he clarified.

The mood of our group was light, knowing we were under Nollete’s savvy watch. He outlined features you might only see from the seat of a raft, like brick-red rock on the riverbank. It was, indeed, brick, he told us—rubble from buildings that was dumped into the river long ago.

“If someone had a lot of ambition, they could build a house out of that,” Nollete joked as we drifted by. But the bricks were evidence of how we treated the river at the onset of industrialization in Spokane: a dumping ground for everything.

~

Before my whitewater trip, I spoke with Jule Schultz, the Waterkeeper at the Spokane Riverkeeper organization, who told me that 35,000 pounds of trash had already been removed from the river this year. It was May. This was a staggering and excellent thing—that trash was out of the river for good, since it had been collected before the water level rose.

The Spokane Riverkeeper is a nonprofit dedicated to keeping the Spokane River fishable and swimmable. If we want to talk pollution, though, trash is really just an aesthetic pollutant. To cover the bigger offenders like heavy metals (lead, arsenic, and zinc from old mining operations), phosphorus and nitrogen (related to loss of riparian habitat and agricultural operations), PCBs, and temperature, I spoke with Katelyn Scott, an attorney and the Water Protector for the Spokane Riverkeeper.

One of Scott’s roles is to hold polluters accountable by making sure they follow their discharge permits. The state regulates over 60 chemical pollutants, and they go into the same water that supports our wildlife. The discharge permits set limits on the amount of pollution that is legally and regularly dumped into the river. One mission of the Spokane Riverkeeper is to get those allowed pollution levels down as low as possible.

When I spoke to Scott in May, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had just released the final draft of a PCB cleanup plan for the Spokane River, which was looking positive in Scott’s eyes because the EPA was using the Spokane Tribe’s standard for pollution, which is the lowest in the basin. (The tribal standard is 1.3 picograms, while the state level remains at 7 picograms.)

Another river pollutant is 6PPD, a rubber-stabilizing chemical that comes off car tires. Scott is encouraging the state to do more studies on 6PPD and its effect on salmon and trout so we can set limits and create healthier habitat for the return of salmon.

6PPD gets into the river when it washes in with stormwater, which also carries in things like fertilizer and road salts. In Spokane, we have a combined stormwater and sewage treatment system. This is good because it takes our stormwater and treats it; it’s bad because when there’s too much input, like after a heavy rainstorm, the system overflows, which means raw sewage is alsodischarged into the river.

Before you swear off swimming, know that sewage and stormwater treatment is getting better. The City of Spokane recently installed 25 Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) tanks, which will accommodate the system overflow for decades and help keep untreated sewage out of the river.

~

The water we rafted on looked clear without the sun’s refraction. When I twisted over the side of the raft, I could see large boulders at the river’s floor. I was finding more time to look around on this whitewater journey than I’d anticipated. As we floated through a calm bend known as the “big eddy,” our group admired a bald eagle perched on a tree snag.

If I’m being honest, I wasn’t impressed with our synchronized paddling. Our left side was weak. Nollete assured us that our paddling was akin to the role of an engine; we were the power, and he could maneuver us with the long oars from his raised seat at the back of the raft. Still, as we approached the roar of our first big rapids at Bowl and Pitcher, I was apprehensive.  

I had viewed this feature many times from the swinging bridge, heart racing as I stared down at the wild torrent of water. As we drifted toward the first set, Nollete instructed, “all forward.” People on both sides began to paddle. Then he started yelling, “dig, dig, dig!,” which meant we were not paddling hard enough.

The next thing he yelled, as we neared the biggest wave of the rapid, probably makes the top-five list of things I do not want to hear my whitewater guide yelling: “We are not where we want to be!”

~

The redband trout population is not where we want it to be. The salmon, even less so.

The Spokane River used to have almost a million anadromous fish, fish like steelhead and Chinook salmon that migrated to the sea and back to our river to spawn. Local tribes historically relied on the life-source of the river’s salmon for subsistence fishing and trading with other tribes. In the last 100 years, a combination of pollution, grazing and dams extirpated the Spokane salmon population and left land-locked redband trout, remnants of the steelhead population.

With native salmon gone, we look at redband trout as a sentinel species to judge the health of the river. Data shows a startling decline: in 1984, the Spokane Valley fishery had 3,840 fish per mile. Now, in surveys of that same stretch, there are 60 fish per mile. The trout are suffering, so a major question Schultz asks in his role is at the Riverkeeper is, why?

Schultz has a few obvious thoughts: invasive species like pike, which got a voracious foothold in too-warm waters; destruction of riparian zones, which allows sediment and farm chemicals to decrease the oxygen available to fish; segmentation of the river from dams, which contributes to temperature pollution; and metal pollution killing off available food, as macro invertebrates (the bugs the fish favor) are highly sensitive to metals.

The fisheries in the valley and near downtown are catch-and-release only, due to the toxins in the river and lack of fish. You’ll find fish consumption advisories due to PCB levels, and we’re only beginning to test for PFAS.

It’s not all doom and gloom though, Shultz assured me. The trout numbers are better downstream at 300 fish per mile, where the water is cooler thanks to aquifer input. While he would rate our recreational fishery health as “difficult,” there are still enough trout for recreational fishing.

Downriver of the Nine Mile Dam and in Lake Spokane, the numbers are even higher. You can catch and eat fish, especially the non-native species like walleye, perch and bass. Still, when I was on the river with Nollete, he said his rule of thumb was to eat fish from the river no more than two times a week.

~

We hit the first big wave at Bowl and Pitcher with the side of our raft.

When it became likely that I might get kicked out of the raft, I started to paddle like there was no tomorrow. That kick of adrenaline meant I missed most of the scenic view of the bridge I’d been looking forward to, instead focused on jamming my toes under the raft supports for a literal foothold as water washed aboard. Our group got wet—wet enough to gain a laugh from our safety boater, Ty, who rolled easily ahead of us—but I’m happy to report all seven of us remained in the boat.

After our big grins wore off, the river calmed, and we once again drifted without paddling. We had a few minutes before the next river feature, known as Devil’s Toenail. As we reset, I trailed my hand down in the river. Though we approached the summer solstice, it was still cold to the touch.

~

I mentioned earlier that temperature was a pollutant. It’s pretty simple: fish need cold water to live. When flow levels drop, river temperatures warm.

During the the hottest summer months, in our arid climate, we dump a lot of water on our lawns. Tack on more frequent drought years, and this becomes a big problem for the river. Meaning it’s a problem for us.

In 2019, the average household in Spokane was using 587 gallons of water a day in the summer. To lend some context, our average annual consumption is 235 gallons, and that number is almost triple the national average of 82 gallons. While this data is a few years old, the message remains clear — our summer water usage is out of control. And it is hurting our river.

In 2022, predecessor Riverkeeper Jerry White petitioned for the City of Spokane to adopt a water conservation program that would give guidelines and incentives for responsible outdoor water use. It would also encourage the city to hold large water facilities accountable for their water usage. The ordinance went into effect that year, but it’s been slow to take.

In order to prevent super-low flows in our river, we need to conserve water year-round, not just when it’s hot outside. But most of us don’t seethe damage of low flow. We just turn on the sprinklers. One of Shultz’s goals is to increase public engagement with the river’s water levels. If he had his way, we’d project the river flow year-round on the downtown clock tower.

Managing your water is perhaps the easiest way to become a riverkeeper yourself. Scour the city’s webpage on the Water Wise program to learn about the water conservation ordinance, effective June-October, which includes outdoor watering schedules by house address. You’ll also find opportunities for rebates for water-saving items like smart sprinklers, high-efficiency toilets, and replacing your lawn with drought-tolerant plants.

“We have a huge impact on the river, and we can change it,” says Shultz. 

The river is powerful, but its water is not infinite.

~

“It sounds like there’s a jet . . . but there’s not,” says Nollete, which cues our group into our approach of Devil’s Toenail. The rapid looked as gnarly as its name. I was holding my breath again.

To our group’s paddling credit, we hit the waves nose-first this time. With Nollete instructing us precisely on when to paddle or rest, on the left or the right, the Devil’s Toenail turned out to be a series of big, fun bumps. After the rapids, we reached flat water on the river. It was an experience of contrast, of rough water and sudden stillness. This river had multiple personalities.

The experience of Devil’s Toenail reminded me of something Scott had told me: “That river is so powerful, but it will also share its power with you if you’re willing to listen and sit with it for a while.”

It is just as important to listen to one another as we work toward river health and restoration.

~

Our responsibility to curb our water use dovetails into an important conservation topic: the restoration of salmon. To satisfy the rights of local tribes to take fish, we need salmon to come back to harvestable levels. And we need healthy flow levels to do that.

The prospect of returning salmon is a cultural point. I spoke with Caj Matheson, a member of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe who works as the Natural Resources Director and serves on the tribal council, about the historical importance of the Spokane River and its salmon to his people.

The river has always been sacred and life-sustaining, often personified in the tribe’s oral stories, and its salmon were critical to the tribe’s nutrition and survival. Several generations ago, traveling to harvest salmon nurtured relationships with other tribes like the Spokane. Matheson says salmon season was a time when the tribes would intermarry and partake in things like gambling, foot races, and horse or swimming races.

“You can just imagine the absolute festive atmosphere that was involved in getting together with these other tribes to capture salmon. It was really without measure. There was an emotional and spiritual thing that salmon really provided for the tribes in bringing us all together in a celebratory way,” says Matheson.

The Upper Columbia United Tribes, led by the Coeur d’Alene, Colville, and Spokane tribes, are in phase two of testing the feasibility of permanent, full-scale salmon reintroduction. This spring, in the Spokane River and other blocked areas of the Upper Columbia, they released 2,000 yearling Chinook salmon tagged with acoustic transmitters and 120,000 implanted with PIT tags. Phase two includes tracking the spawning locations of these fish. It also requires doing things like physically driving the fish in trucks to portage around dams and place them in their historic waterways.

Conor Giorgi, who is the Anadromous Project Manager for the Spokane Tribal Fisheries, says the salmon are doing just what they’re supposed to: finding places to reproduce. “We take that as confirmation of the habitat assessments (phase one) we did a number of years ago. We are seeing the next generation come out of the Spokane,” says Giorgi.  

In September of 2023, the tribes signed a settlement agreement with the federal government to fully fund phase two reintroduction efforts. It’s positive news, but it’s still a long game to play. Tribes are evaluating how well fish perform in habitats, what they can expect from those populations, and designing and installing interim fish passage systems at all five dams. This will take the next 20 years to complete, says Giorgi. With a salmon’s lifecycle at six years, collecting data just takes time.  

“When you think about salmon coming back, our hope is that all those things get restored back to our people. All this spiritual fullness, the health, the vibrancy that it can bring is something that we’re really looking forward to,” says Matheson. 

Meanwhile, the river faces ever-evolving demands from climate and people. But, as Shultz put it, “We now have a rallying cry here: we need a healthy river for these fish.”

~

So, what can you do? Get to know the river. Sign up with the Riverkeeper to study mercury levels in crayfish this July; participate in a river clean-up; take samples to test turbidity (water clarity) in Hangman Creek; or just get onto one of the many river beaches and enjoy being by, on, or in the river.

To aid anglers and recreationists alike, Shultz has installed real-time temperature sensors along the river. Fishermen seek cold waters where fish thrive; groups looking to float in a tube in July and August want a warm stretch of river. Find water temperature data for Harvard Road, Peaceful Valley and the Little Spokane River at Spokaneriverkeeper.org/water-temperature.

If you study where to go, the river can be a great place for fishing, paddling, swimming and tubing in summer months. Find an interactive map of the Spokane River, which lists launch sites and amenities, at Spokaneriver.net/watertrail. Always wear a PFD on the water and enlist a guide if you’re out of your comfort zone. Silver Bow Fly Shop and Fly Fish Spokane lead fly fishing trips, while FLOW Adventures handles logistics with tube rentals and shuttle service.

“Start by just dipping your feet in,” says Shultz. “Literally and figuratively.” Because we protect the things we know and love.

~

Just before our raft reached the take-out point at Plese Flats, where we would catch a FLOW shuttle back to Redband Park, someone spotted the brown pelt of a coyote. We watched as it picked its way up the hill from the river, weaving through bunches of purple lupine toward the Centennial Trail. We talked about how this place still felt wild, even if it wasn’t as wild as we wanted or needed it to be.

Lisa Laughlin is the managing editor of Out There Venture and has an MFA in Creative Nonfiction. She lives, writes, runs and paddleboards in Spokane.

The post Reflections On a River appeared first on Out There Venture.

Drumheller Springs is a 12-acre park with historic tribal significance near Ash Street, just north of downtown Spokane. While the park has undergone recent restorative efforts from the Upper Columbia United Tribes, it now faces a dense, adjacent development project. Directly across the street (50 feet) from the park there is a slated proposal (Ash-Place Townhomes) to bring 21 townhomes to only 1.3 acres of land.  

“We believe this will open the door to other, larger developments, encroaching on the native history, nature, and wonder that is Drumheller Springs,” says concerned citizen Michele Flynn. Starting in 2025, the City of Spokane is also slated to reassess the buffer zones around the park. The city owns several lots on the southeast end of the park that could ultimately be developed if buffer zones are removed. Flynn says that with new zoning, density, and building code changes in the city, Drumheller Springs is at risk.  

“Once its natural resources are gone—water, plants and wildlife—it will be gone forever. And none of us should forget the history of the native peoples and their historical relationship with Drumheller Springs,” says Flynn. (Out There writer Nick Thomas wrote a comprehensive article on the park in 2016, titled “The Best Spokane City Park You’ve Never Heard Of: Drumheller Springs.” Find it at outthereoutdoors.com.) 

The Audubon-Downriver Neighborhood Council has prepared statements for the upcoming Hearing Examiner meeting, which will be scheduled in coming weeks as project owners submit additional information to their initial application. The neighborhood council plans to ask the hearing examiner to consider limiting the scope of the allowed development to better match neighborhood character and to consider traffic and pedestrian safety concerns.  

“How we choose to navigate these issues as our city struggles with the balance of development and nature will have radiating impacts on how far ‘out there’ we find our ‘outdoors,’” says Dennis Flynn, a neighborhood council member. 

Get involved in neighborhood meetings and find more information, including a map of the proposed project, at Concernedcompanions.com/Ash/. (Lisa Laughlin)  

The post Development Threats to Drumheller Springs Park appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy Shallan Knowles

Don’t let summer pass you by: use this roundup of things to do in the mountains, lakes, rivers, trails, and small towns around our beautiful corner of the Northwest. 

1. Attend the Fur Trade Festival May 18 at the Kettle Falls Historical Center. Take a step back in time while enjoying a living history encampment and learn about the Pacific Northwest fur trade from reenactors discussing how traders lived, trapped, hunted, dressed, and communicated in the 1800s. 

2. Rent a boat from Carefree Boat Club of North Idaho and go tubing, water skiing, or wake surfing. 

3. Tube, kayak, or raft the mellow rapids of the lower Spokane River below downtown Spokane once the river level drops and the water warms up, typically in late June or early July. Be sure to end your trip at the TJ Meenach Bridge area to avoid large, more dangerous rapids downstream. Simplify your float by booking a shuttle and renting tubes from FLOW Adventures (509-242-8699). 

4. Take a good book on a walk to a public park or natural area near you and relax and read from a real paper book or copy of Out There. 

5. Ride or hike part of the Ferry County Rail Trail near Republic in Northeast Washington, then hit Curlew State Park for a swim. 

6. Use public transit to go on a hike from your house. Get creative with the hiking and bus routes to pull off an all-day wander.   

7. Paddle Echo Bay near Farragut State Park on Lake Pend Oreille and bring a spotting scope or binoculars to look for the resident mountain goats that are sometimes spotted on and around Bernard Peak. 

8. Run in your birthday suit (or fully clothed) at the clothing-optional Bare Buns Fun Run July 28. This annual tradition happens at the Kaniksu Ranch north of Spokane near Deer Lake.  

9. Hike the 4-mile roundtrip Similkameen Trail near Oroville, Wash., a beautiful rail-trail with amazing scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities. 

10. Round up some friends and take turns riding mountain bikes together at Spokane’s Riverside State Park for 24 hours at the 24 Hours of Riverside event May 25. 

11. Ride the bike park at Big White Resort near Kelowna, B.C., and then taste wine in B.C.’s renowned Okanagan Valley on your way back to the states. 

12. Take advantage of the some of the hottest or smokiest days of the summer to escape indoors to build on your rock-climbing skills at the Coeur Climbing Company gym in Post Falls. 

13. Spend a day giving back to the trails you love by joining a trail maintenance or construction project by one of our region’s many trail organizations. Locally, the Washington Trails Association, Evergreen East, Pend Oreille Pedalers, Idaho Trails Association, and Lake City Trails Alliance each organize trail projects all summer long that need volunteers. There are many other regional trails organizations that work in Inland Northwest wilderness and backcountry areas.  

14. Ride the new Cancourse mountain bike trails in Coeur d’Alene. 

15. Get over your fear of jumping out of a plane and sign up for a tandem skydiving trip with Skydive West Plains west of Spokane. 

16. Enjoy the traffic-free streets on Spokane’s South Hill near Manito Park for an evening of biking, walking, or rolling without watching for cars thanks to Summer Parkways, held June 18 from 6-9 p.m. 

17. Ride the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes out of Wallace, Idaho, then enjoy a cold beverage and meal at City Limits Pub a few blocks from the trail. 

18. Try mountain bikes, catch shuttles to the top of the Camp Sekani trails, watch a MTB jump show, and enjoy adult beverages June 14-15 at the Spokatopia Outdoor Adventure Festival at Camp Sekani Park. Or participate in the Spokatopia Poker Ride for the chance to win prizes (June 15).  

19. Go road biking on one of the many scenic, low-traffic back road routes around Colville, Wash. 

20. Book a rafting trip on the Clark Fork River in Montana with ROW Adventures. The fun class III rapids and plentiful swimming opportunities make for a great day trip from Spokane or North Idaho.  

21. Hunt for bigfoot in Northeast Washington then Run the Bigfoot 5K and check out the Metaline Falls Bigfoot Festival June 15-16. 

22. Take a yoga class from Harmony Yoga in Spokane (check out their ad in this issue of Out There for deals). 

23. Pedal a “RailRider” on retired railroad tracks along the Pend Oreille River near Metaline Falls, Wash. 

24. Book a multi-day rafting adventure on Idaho’s Salmon River with a local outfitter like FLOW Adventures. 

25. Park near the entrance to the 42,000-acre Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge near Colville, Wash., and ride your bike on the 10-mile auto tour loop, making stops at interpretive sites or for short hikes. 

26. Visit an Inland Northwest old-growth forest grove, like the Ross Creek or Hobo cedar groves. Find an online guide at Outthereoutdoors.com/where-to-go-to-see-old-growth-forest-in-the-inland-northwest 

27. Bike to a farmers’ market in a neighborhood near you and go shopping for fresh, local food. 

28. Ride your bike from one of the Riverside State Park trailheads to Long Lake at the Nine Mile Recreation Area and go swimming or fishing. Campsites are available if you want to make it a bikepacking overnighter. 

29. Hike the 7 miles of trails at Pend Oreille County Park between Spokane and Sandpoint off of Highway 2. 

30. Surf the world’s largest standing wave at Lakeside Surf in Chelan. Whether you are an ocean surfer, river surfer, wake surfer, or have never surfed before, you’ll love getting out on this thrilling river-style wave. Book sessions in advance online. 

31. Walk or bike the Children of the Sun Trail, a new paved path that parallels Spokane’s in-progress north-south freeway. 

32. Buy a copy of the Washington State Birding Trail Palouse to Pines map from Audubon Washington and explore some of the best bird habitat in our area, documenting and learning about different species of birds as you go. 

33. Plan a bike tour on the low-traffic back roads of Eastern Oregon, like the 130-mile loop route through the Pained Hills and John Day Fossil Beds. Find info and other route options at Visiteasternoregon.com 

34. Connect as many trails as you can in the Dishman Hills Conservancy in Spokane Valley to create an epic day hike.  

35. After work, head to Post Falls to hike the trails in Post Falls Community Forest and then have a picnic dinner at Q’emiln Park or a pint at one of the breweries in town. 

36. Hike Kamiak Butte, an island of forest in the Palouse near Pullman. 

37. Raft some of the best whitewater in America on Idaho’s Lochsa River in May during peak runoff. These class IV and class III rapids are best experienced with a seasoned rafting outfitter like ROW Adventures. 

38. Take a mountain bike road trip to Moscow and spend a day or two riding the trails at Moscow Mountain. 

39. Learn to sail on a local lake by renting a boat with other sailing friends or taking a lesson. Fun to Sail offers sailing lessons for all abilities (Funtosail.com). 

40. Spend a few days riding the many new mountain bike trails around the Sandpoint, Idaho, area, staying in town or at a nearby campground. Find trail info at Pendoreillepedalers.org. 

41. Roadtrip the International Selkirk Loop that connects scenic byways and unique small towns in Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia, Canada. 

42. Rent a campervan from Gusto Vans in Spokane Valley and live the van life for a weekend or longer while exploring iconic Northwest parks and public lands. 

43. Take a kid or anyone with accessibility or disability requirements needs fishing at Post Falls Park Pond near Post Falls, Idaho. Fish easily from a bridge, shore, or fishing platforms with great odds for catching fish at this well-stocked pond. 

44. Rally friends to pedal down old train tracks on a pedal-powered rail bike in northeast Washington with NPOV Lions Railriders. Make a reservation at Lionsrailriders.com. 

45. Ride the new giant swing coming to Zipwallace near Wallace, Idaho, along with the superman zipline, and then stay the night in one of the new rental yurts!  

46. Take a mountain biking trip to Nelson, B.C. and ride trails in the Morning Mountain and Kokanee Creek Provincial Park areas then hit the hot springs at Ainsworth. 

47. Run wild on the Mountain Magic 5/10/25K Trail Run at Mount Spokane State Park on June 30.  

48. Get up early and do yoga while the sun rises in a public park or natural area. 

49. Backpack to an alpine lake you’ve never been to before. Find plenty of options in Rich Lander’s classic guidebook “100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest.” 

50. Ride the Silver Mountain gondola in Kellogg, Idaho, to mountain bike or hike around the huge trail network at Silver Mountain Bike Park.  

51. Walk or run the Dad’s Day Dash with dad on Fathers’ Day at Spokane’s Riverfront Park, June 16. 

52. Visit 20 parks in the Spokane area to hike, bike, play or participate in other fun activities as part of the Greater Spokane Parks Challenge. Once you sign up and finish the challenge, you’ll be entered to win raffle prizes, including cash and gift cards. Scan the QR to download the app on page xx of this issue to get started. 

53. Spend part of a day exploring the challenges in Mica Moon’s aerial park with bridges, tight ropes, and more in Liberty Lake, Wash.  

54. Kayak or go tubing on a calm stretch of Idaho’s St. Joe River.  

55. Mountain bike the Empire Trails that includes new trails near Spirit Lake, Idaho.  

56. Go ziplining with Timberline Adventures in Coeur d’Alene and experience seven zip lines and two sky bridges, and then have lunch in a tree house.  

57. Hike one of the many trails on Mount Spokane and hunt for huckleberries. 

58. Kayak in a glass-bottom boat on Wallowa Lake near Joseph, Ore., to experience the underwater environment in a whole new way. You can rent kayaks or sign up for a tour, including a night tour with lighted kayaks that illuminate the fish, boulders, and lake bottom for a magical paddling experience. Info at Jopaddle.com 

59. Canoe or kayak a stretch of the Pend Oreille River Water Trail in northeast Wash.  

60. Ride the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes from Plummer to Harrison, Idaho, and go swimming at the beach.  

61. Ride the Wallowa Lake Tramway, a 3,700’ gondola ride to the peak of Mt. Howard in the Wallowa Mountains near Joseph, Ore. 

62. Ride the IMBA Epic Seven Summits mountain bike trail in Rossland, B.C. 

63. Sign your kids up for an indoor climbing camp at Wild Walls Climbing Gym in downtown Spokane. 

64. Bike to the Townshend Cellar tasting room in downtown Spokane to try some of their wines and get a “Wowler” wine growler filled to go.  

65. Explore some of the sites along the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail. 

66. Try kiteboarding or wing foiling on the Columbia River near Hood River, Ore.   

67. Ride your bike to one of Spokane’s smallest and coolest bars, The Baby Bar, downtown behind Neato Burrito. 

68. Run or walk the 5k at the Wallace Huckleberry Festival on Sunday, Aug. 18. 

69. Ride the 15-mile Route of the Hiawatha Trail, named “America’s Crown Jewel of the Rails to Trails.”  

70. Treat the family to a trip to Slide Waters water park at Lake Chelan in central Washington. There’s a lazy river, body slides, tube slides, surfing on the Lakeside Surf wave, downhill racer slides and more all with incredible views of the lake and mountains. 

71. Go fishing or paddling at Fish Lake Regional Park, near Cheney, Wash.  

72. Camp on Idaho’s Salmon River near Riggins, Idaho, or stay in town and go on a whitewater rafting day trip and enjoy the local nightlife in this cool river town.   

73. Go kayaking or boating on Lake Roosevelt and picnic on one of its many sandy, primitive beaches.  

74. Forage for wild berries, mushrooms, and plants that you know or use a guidebook to help you discover new ones.  

75. Hike or bike the Columbia Plateau Trail State Park through Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge from trailheads near Cheney, Wash. 

76. Go camping and tube the Touchet River at Lewis and Clark Trail State Park, near Dayton, Washington.  

77. Canoe or kayak the Little Spokane River. Use the Spokane Parks & Recreation weekend shuttle service (reservations recommended). 

78. Hunt for fossils by breaking open rocks at the Stonerose Fossil Site in the small town of Republic in northeast Washington (stonerosefossil.org) then check out the super cool interpretive center and go for a bike ride or walk on the Golden Tiger Pathway that starts in town. This is a great family outing! 

79. Spend a few days swimming and chilling on the city beaches in Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint.  

80. Take a wildflower day hike on the Kettle Crest in late June, starting from Sherman Pass and hiking north toward Columbia Mountain. 

Learn About the Places Where We Play 

Join one of these educational nature outings hosted by the Spokane County Library District, including some outings led by Out There Venture writers! Unless otherwise noted, outings are for adults and registration is required. More info and sign up at Scld.org. 

81. Nature Journaling Hike: Glenrose Trail (June 13, 8–10:30 a.m.) 

Take an invigorating hike on the Glenrose trail in the Dishman Hills Natural Area with a break for a nature journaling exercise. This hike is moderately difficult along a 5.5-mile loop with an elevation gain of 1,500 feet. Led by Out There contributor Heidi Lasher.  

82. History Hike: Mt. Spokane State Park (July 9, 8–10:30 a.m.) 

Explore the upper elevations of Mount Spokane State Park and discover park history at Bald Knob Campground, the site of the Civilian Conservation Corps’ spike camp, and Cook’s Cabin Woodshed. This trail hike over uneven terrain is a 3.5-mile loop with an elevation gain of 400 feet is led by Holly Weiler, Out There contributor and board member of the Friends of Mt. Spokane State Park.  

83. Medicinal & Edible Plants Hike: Liberty Lake Regional Park (Aug. 20, 8–10:30 a.m.) 

Explore the trails at Liberty Lake Regional Park and learn about the medicinal and edible plants that grow wild along the route as well as tips for locating them. This hike is led by Karie Lee Knoke, Out There contributor and contestant on the TV series Alone.  

84. Hiking Safely Near Bears Presentation (June 12 & June 25) 

Learn how to recreate safely in bear country by taking the right precautions, plus learn grizzly and black bear identification, basic bear biology and phenology, and how to respond if you encounter a bear in the field, from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Matt Brinkman (Cheney Library June 12, 6:30 p.m. and North Spokane Library June 25, 6:30 p.m.). 

85. Medical Lake Geo-Walk & Water Sampling: Waterfront Park (Aug. 21, 5-7 p.m.) 

Walk 3 miles along the trail around Medical Lake with Chad Pritchard, professor of Geology at EWU, and learn about the lake’s history and natural science and help gather water samples for stormwater research and pick up trash along the way (tween and teen friendly).  

The post Summer Bucket List appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Nigel Davies

We celebrate finish lines, savoring those recovery walks over the Monroe Street Bridge every first Sunday of May after our city’s most iconic race. We joyfully refill water bottles on July 4^th at the summit bathrooms on top of Mount Spokane. In those endorphin-rich moments, we tend to be wrapped up in our own experience, but twist the lens a bit and a deeper sort of grandeur comes thundering into view, from time immemorial right into the middle of your day.

Those Bloomsday runners slow-walking across the bridge? They’re suspended on cement and aggregate overlooking the Spokane River as it cascades over Miocene basalt flows. The cyclists on top of our home-town mountain? They’re all firmly planted on the Cretaceous granite roof of Spokane. Finish lines make nice caps for adventures. However, I encourage you to slow down en-route and think of the materials your tires over-lap, your heel strikes happen upon, and your eyes distractedly wander toward. The course of a day out is quite literally dictated by geology.  

Our Vertical Topography

The landscapes of the Inland Northwest have been rather dramatically sculpted. Want flat adventures? Take a trip to Florida. While it’s possible to “hammer the flats” locally, some topographic impediment always punctuates Spokane activities. Take, for example, Bloomsday’s one-kilometer Doomsday Hill. Lifting famously from the otherwise level course, this 5% incline and 50-meter vertical rise, flanked by soft sand and gravel, is the stretch that will zap your legs on the Lilac City’s 12k spring jaunt. Or consider a pedal up Spokane’s White Road, where 17% ramps painfully deliver you from the downthrown side of the Latah fault in Hangman Valley to the hanging wall of the West Plains. Activities in the Inland Northwest invariably get geo-twisted into unintended vertical.

Boring Basalt? Look Again   

Finding the top and bottom of a basalt flow is the first challenge. Start by looking at a local cliff face cut either by flood waters or human activity, and find a wavy horizontal freehand drawing running through the earth. You’re looking at a cross-section of ancient lumpy lava flows. Around 16 million years ago, long linear cracks in the Earth’s surface (North-Northwest oriented fissures) intermittently spewed lava, stacking layer after layer of lumpy basalt flows and filling the Columbia Basin up to 1,500 meters deep. The basalt that rests between these many old flows was crumbly, weathered, broken and pitted full of trapped gas pockets. Incidentally, these intra-flow openings store aquifer waters, so say, “Thank you, basalt” next time you fill bottles anywhere in the Columbia Plateau Aquifer System.  

Columnar basalt jointing is the favorite texture of Inland Northwest landscape architects (see every welcome sign in Spokane). The mostly hexagonal cooling cracks occur in the centers of basalt flows. Water content and cooling rate dictate the size and scope of these cracks in a process similar to drying and cracking lake muds. East of the airport, the basalt flows have some of the best exposures regardless of DOT drilling and blasting (figure 1).  A scenic option is Towel Falls at Escure Ranch where Rock Creek flows over the hexagons and down the vertical joints.   

Pillows of Basalt  

Where lava flows directly into water, get ready for a violently boiled muddy milkshake with crunchy pillow cookies. Thousand-year pauses between lava flows from the aforementioned North-Northwest fissures allowed basalt hummocks and lumps to fill with water and sediment. But subsequent lava flows stirred the pot, baking pond-side vegetation in a process called charcoalization (figure 2). Upon hitting the water, lava cooled rapidly into irregular bulbous rounds surrounded by tan-colored steam-churned sediment (called hyaloclastite), and commonly contained obsidian. Called “pillows,” these rounds have cooling rinds and cracked exteriors. A short hike down Deep Creek Canyon in Riverside State Park (figure 3) provides an excellent opportunity to discover countless pillows and 25-meter thick Latah exposure, as well as a premier climbing spot for those upwardly inclined. Along one of my favorite road bike rides, the 70-mile Rock Lake Loop south from Cheney, an eye-catching delta front of pillows can be found just west of Malden (figure 4).  

What Makes One Trail so Different from Another

Hosting the Silver Valley, the Belt Supergroup is a big geologic deal in the Inland Northwest. It’s one of the best exposed examples of Mesoproterozoic rocks (1.5 billion-years-old) on the planet. The belt, made up largely of lightly baked (metamorphosed) fine-grained sedimentary rocks, often presents itself in massive exposed strata—see Glacier National Park. The belt is huge, covering 200,000 square kilometers across Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and some parts of Washington. The Caribou Ridge trails on the eastern shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene are an adrenaline-filled outing belt. Short sections of double off-camber tilled weathered bedding planes (called dip slopes) cascade riders and hikers alike toward the cliff edge. Stay safe when it rains.

While the belt flattens in places, it is commonly deformed locally (figure 6). The 15-kilometer-thick package of weathered paleo North America has been torqued, twisted, intruded and tectonically deformed for the past 300 million years as Washington assembled. Along exposed sections of alpine ridge tops, it fractures and weathers to slabby, clinky scree fields, known as felsenmeer. Trails through these high-elevation quartzites are often wobbly underfoot (“that one moves”), but they also form paved pathways up to Scotchman Peak (figure 6). The same freeze-thaw cycle that created wobbling metasedimentary slabs generated blockfields that dominate the uppermost exposures of Mount Spokane, where 100-million-year-old granites with giant, blocky, white feldspars lead into trail 140’s and 290’s upper reaches.    

The Inland Northwest landscape is tough, like its people. To survive a series of Ice Age mega-floods, you better be robust. Rocky Mountain granites and quartzites stand up to that test. Those tooth-rattling, speed-sucking, boulder and cobble fields commonly found at Wednesday Night Mountain Bike Races in Riverside State Park remain constant. The Missoula Flood waters that ripped west into today’s Riverside State Park between 18-14,000 years ago initially widened the basalt cliffs only to subsequently fill in the void with multiple terraces of silt, sand, and resistant boulders as transport capacity diminished. For those who attempt the 50k/25k/10k/5k Spokane River Run in the spring: wishing you strong ankles as you skip atop well-traveled metamorphosed basin and plutonic remnants.   

Ever Changing Trails  

When encountering flowing water on a trail, most folks just walk or pedal around it and keep going. It’s unusual to think of the puddles as a way to experience geologic processes. Along the Fish Lake Trail, for example, the Cheney Fracture Zone breaks and fractures those lumpy basalt flows of the Columbia Basin, creating sediment fans that push swollen March streams trail-ward, wetting riders’ backs with rooster tails less than a mile from its Cheney conclusion. Additional impediments (figure 2) exist where soft Latah crumbles, dropping meters-tall basalt columns onto the trail, again diverting water path-ward and wetting panniers. Take care cornering post-storm, as high energy waters on Dover Road will spill their gravely contents onto Coulee Hite; similarly, Upper Terrace cascades runoff sediment onto Rockwood Blvd. (figure 7) 

Plan Your Own Geology Adventure

The Inland Northwest is packed with geological wonder. Use all the bikes, shoes, boats, gear and even vehicles to get out and observe unique angles and speeds of passing geology. Check the resources in the sidebar to learn more about unique features of our local landscapes. You’ll be amazed at what is revealed when you exchange your finish line moment for the geology adventure en-route.

When displaced from teaching geoscience at EWU, Nigel can be found racing road, announcing cyclocross and aiding youth mountain biking while telling stories about rocks to whomever will listen. Upcoming gravel adventures loom large; from the Midnight Century to Rebecca’s Private Idaho, you can find Nigel “training” on dirt climbs or relaxing post ride with a recovery beverage. 

The post The Geology of Our Adventures appeared first on Out There Venture.

When in 2016 the federal agencies released the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the effects of the 14 federally operated dams on the Columbia River Basin, numerous tribes, state and regional entities recommended that the agencies consider salmon reintroduction in the Upper Columbia as an alternative in the final EIS. When not included, the STOI and CDA sued the federal government, challenging their compliance with the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Protection Act, and the Northwest Power Act.

Salmon and steelhead are anadromous fish, meaning they start and end their life cycle in fresh water but travel to the ocean. Chinook salmon can spend three to five years in the ocean, greatly increasing in size. For thousands of years, these fish were the mainstay of the diet of the tribes of the Upper Columbia—making up 60-75 percent of their diet. It was also a currency; they would trade dried salmon for buffalo with plains tribes. Tribes would meet peacefully to harvest salmon, trade, and celebrate. It is estimated that the tribes of the Upper Columbia would harvest 6.8 million pounds annually. Salmon are still a crucial part of the culture of the tribes, and they have been working tirelessly to bring them back.

The construction of Grand Coulee and then Chief Joesph Dams blocked access to 700 miles of Chinook and 1,600 miles of steelhead habitat in the Upper Columbia. But numbers began to decline even before the construction of the dam with the implementation of fish wheels and canneries starting in the 1880s. At their peak, these operations harvested 42 million pounds of fish annually.

“This makes it real,” Conor Gorgi, the anadromous fish biologist for STOI, stated excitedly regarding the latest administration announcement. He and the tribes have been scraping by for funds for the seven years he has worked for the tribes. But the tribes have been striving for decades to get these culturally and ecologically important fish back to their historic range.

According to Laura Robinson, UCUT’s Policy Analyst, “the funds will help implement UCUT’s Phase 2 Implementation Plan, which includes studying salmon behavior, migration, and survival through the blocked area and applying that information to inform the design, testing and building of interim fish passage solutions at the dams in the upper Columbia; developing fish acclimation facilities for each of the tribes; monitoring and evaluating the program which will feed our adaptive management framework; and increasing tribal capacity for implementation.”

Through their initial salmon releases in waterways such as Hangman Creek, Sanpoil River, and, in Conor’s case, the Little Spokane River, he has seen the ecological importance of this keystone species starting to return. Conor has seen Redband trout actively feeding behind spawning Chinook. He has documented carcasses being scavenged where those marine-derived nutrients, particularly nitrogen, will distribute once again into the inland forests. With this fund, Conor “sees a real path forward” and the tribes can make substantial progress to seeing populations of salmon return to the Upper Columbia watershed. //

Adam keeps thinking about doing lunges in preparation for ski season.  He’ll keep thinking about it until spring.

Cover photo courtesy Adam Gebauer

The post Regional Tribes’ Salmon Recovery Efforts Funded appeared first on Out There Venture.

^{This post is sponsored by these West Koot Route Partners}

The West Koot Route connects over a dozen communities in the West Kootenay Region of southeast British Columbia just a few hours north of Spokane. The towns and small cities are as diverse and rich with character as the mountain- and lake-filled wild landscapes that make up this rugged corner of the Northwest. All of those mountains mean an abundance of outdoor winter adventures are possible without the crowds you’d expect in the states. Load up your boards, bikes, skinny skis and snowshoes and hit the road for a magical time north of the border!

Rossland

The closest destination on the West Koot Route to the Spokane area, the historic mining town of Rossland, is a real-deal ski bum town and the home to the renowned powder grounds of RED Mountain Resort. With its nearly 3,000 feet of vertical and massive 3,850 acres of terrain, RED is comparable size-wise to some of the biggest resorts in North America, just way more real and uncrowded! Ski off five different peaks, score $10 in-bounds cat skiing runs, chow down at Canada’s only snowbound taco truck, and soak up some suds and high-energy vibes at Rafters Bar, once rated the #1 après ski spot in the world by Powder Magazine. With 300” average annual snowfall, fresh snow is often in the cards, but just in case, Big Red Cats serves up mind-blowing glade and tree skiing on 20,000 acres of backcountry terrain.

While RED has a growing list of excellent lodging options and a few places to eat and imbibe after a day of powder slashing, Rossland, a few-minutes drive from the resort, offers plenty of lodging, provisions, and nightlife options. Once you’re settled in for your stay, everything a well-rounded ski town needs is within walking distance, or, in the case of getting to and from RED, a quick ride on the Rossland Ski Bus. Places to rest your head range from budget to comfort-focused rooms. The historic downtown harbors an eclectic array of restaurants, bars, cafes, ski and gear shops and liquor and grocery stores.

Given that Rossland locals are as passionate about biking as they are about snow riding, it’s no surprise that Rossland is also a ski town with a fat biking problem. Largely viewed as something to do between powder dumps just a few years ago, riding the miles of groomed snowy singletrack around Rossland has of late become a draw of its own for fatty-rollin’ out-of-towners.

If Nordic is your winter sport of choice, Black Jack Ski Club across the highway from RED features 50k of groomed trails for classic and skate skiing, including 2.5k of lit trails for night skiing. Or, a few miles up the highway at Strawberry Pass, ski tour or snowshoe in to one of 12 funky yet functional day-use cabins for lunch or a snack around a wood stove fire. Visit Tourism Rossland at Tourismrossland.com for more info and winter adventure inspiration.

Castlegar

A choose your own adventure town that’s close to just about everything you could want to do outside in the winter. Back in the day, I wouldn’t think twice about bouncing around from one adventure to the next and sleeping wherever just to wake up, move on, and do it all over again in a new place. But these days, often with my family in tow, I’ve grown to appreciate settling in to a place and not having to pack and unpack more than necessary. Castlegar, a small city located at the confluence of the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers, is the perfect home base for multi-day winter adventures in the Kootenays.

Conveniently located a short drive from two legendary BC ski resorts—RED Mountain (35 minutes) and Whitewater (55 minutes)—you can stay put and watch and wait for the weather to play out before committing to one or the other. If the conditions aren’t cooperating, there are endless backcountry skiing and splitboarding options close by.

For those looking for a serene glide through the forest, there are also excellent Nordic trails close to town. The Castlegar Nordic Ski Club grooms 52-kilometres worth of trails at the Paulson Cross Country Ski Trail system located 20 miles from downtown.

The expansive snowmobile terrain is also a big draw. There are several zones around Castlegar with groomed and ungroomed snowmobile routes ranging from beginner-friendly forest roads to more advanced steep slopes and open, ungroomed meadows. The Castlegar Snowmobile Association maintains several warming cabins and grooms over 70k of trails around Castlegar in the Norns, Ladybird and Goose Creek areas.

Back in town, Castlegar has everything you’ll need for the perfect winter getaway, including a wide range of lodging and restaurant options. Part of the unique draw of Castlegar is the beautiful and friendly small-town setting, and compared to urban areas in the U.S., the pace of life in this often-sunny river town is more laid back.

Make the time to walk the downtown streets after a day of outdoor adventures and check out the dozens of impressive sculptures on the Castlegar sculpture walk. (Castlegar is known as the sculpture capital of Canada!) There are several other winter walking trails around town too. Or take the kids sledding (aka tobogganing) at one of the local hills or ice skating at the outdoor skating rink. Find more trip planning info at Destinationcastlegar.com.

Arrow Lakes & Slocan Valley

The expansive wildness that I love about the B.C. Kootenays quickly becomes even more intense as you drive north from Nelson or Castlegar into the Slocan Valley. Mountains and water frame your view and the epic ski terrain that flies by your window as you drive north includes the makings of fairy tale ski resorts, yet this mostly pristine country largely remains the playground of backcountry enthusiasts.

One could earn their turns climbing up and sliding down world-class terrain through endless pow on day trips in these mountains all winter long, but the big draw for many skiers and snowboarders who come from all over the world is the concentration of helicopter and snowcat-accessed backcountry huts and lodges. From these cozy mountain oases, guests get access to remote, truly world-class ski touring terrain or heli-accessed adventures. Trips range from multi-day guided and fully-catered all-inclusive packages as well as DIY adventures. Once you and your crew are all set up in one of the many lodges or huts spread out in the surrounding Monashee and Selkirk mountains, days are filled with ski touring or heli-skiing legendary powder that can range from extreme alpine terrain more suited for advanced skiers and snowboarders to naturally gladed slopes that can be enjoyed by a wider range of abilities.

More off the radar but definitely worth a visit for any aficionado of smaller community ski hills, the Summit Lake Ski and Snowboard Area is the perfect laid-back winter adventure destination for any mixed group or family looking to play in the snow their own way at their own pace. Located 16k southeast of Nakusp, Summit Lake offers old-school T-Bar access to 30-acres of slopes. Plus, there’s a day lodge, rental shop, and night skiing on Friday nights.

After all of that time sliding through deep snow, nothing beats a soak in hot mineral water. 35k north of Nakusp, Halcyon Hot Springs Resort takes soaking to the next level. The pools, with gorgeous Upper Arrow Lake and Monashee Mountain views, are the perfect relaxation reset with cabin and cottage lodging options scattered in the surrounding forest. Plan to eat at the on-site restaurant Alcédo for what may be the best restaurant at a hot springs resort anywhere.

Nakusp Hot Springs, 16k east of Nakusp, offers an amazing community soaking experience at this non-profit-run pool. Properly soaked with mood-enhancing minerals, you should be plenty relaxed and ready to fit right in with the laid-back vibe of the local lakeside communities of Nakusp, New Denver, or wherever you’re staying in the valley. Explore the Arrow Lakes and Slocan Valley area online and find more trip-planning resources at Arrowslocan.com.

Nelson and Kootenay Lake Region

Out of all of the stops along a winter tour of the West Koot Route, Nelson offers the most urban cultural amenities, from craft dining and imbibing choices to boutique and mom and pop shopping, arts (check out the self-guided mural tour), and health and wellness experiences including yoga, spas, retreats and more. Even though Nelson has a more small-city feel and doesn’t have a ski resort on its doorstep, don’t get the wrong idea: this magical and historic community surrounded by mountains and overlooking Kootenay Lake is a skiers’ town.

Whitewater Ski Resort is just down the highway, a short scenic drive that will take just enough time to finish a large cup of local’s-choice Oso Negro coffee. Whitewater is a no-frills resort that’s all about the skiing and riding with 2,000 feet of vert and over 3,000 acres of terrain that happens to get some of the most snow in the pow-blessed Kootenays (40 feet average annually). While Whitewater proudly proclaims the mountain’s lack of cell service, the resort continues to invest in the quality of the skiing and snowboarding experience, adding a new quad chairlift for the upcoming 23/24 season. Whitewater is also your destination for resort-access to extensive out-of-bounds backcountry terrain. While the boundaries between resort and backcountry are well defined, the Whitewater culture is one that embraces the pursuit of powder in all of its forms inbounds or out. It also must be mentioned that any trip to Whitewater wouldn’t be complete without eating at least once at one of the excellent eateries that serve food that’s so good the resort has its own cookbook!

A little-known fact: the Nelson area has another claim to skiing fame. It’s the cat skiing capital of world! Backed up by having more cat skiing operations in one place than anywhere else on this massive planet, guests can expect powder run after run with day-long vertical drops of up to 18,000 feet or more.  

A half hour north of Nelson, Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort—with public pool soaking sessions, a horseshoe cave, lodging that includes expanded soaking hours, and fantastic dining options—is a welcome oasis in the snowy Selkirk Mountains. If you’re looking to stretch your legs before a soak, head another 15 minutes north to the village of Kaslo, a snowshoer’s paradise with miles of trails winding their way up the Kaslo River from town. Find more info at Nelsonkootenaylake.com.

Start planning your north-of-the-border winter getaway along the West Koot Route at Westkootroute.com.

Cover photo by Kari Medig courtesy of Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism

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