My family took more trips here in the Inland Northwest, exploring “new” places right under our noses. Attendance at farmers’ markets spiked and local food box subscriptions sold out. We barbecued, gathered around bonfires with friends and neighbors, and talked to strangers in the park down the street.

We remembered how important it is to shop from local businesses, not only to keep money in our community, but because those entrepreneurs are our friends and neighbors. We hunted for used bikes and outdoor gear online and at shops like Rambleraven Gear Trader because the supply chain on many things had gone berserk.

Shop, ski, bike, and adventure locally in the Northwest! PHOTOS (left-right): Rambleraven Gear Trader has gear and provides bike maintenance services. // Photo courtesy Rambleraven Gear Trader; A flannel-lined Spokane Mask for COVID-era skiing. // Photo: Amy McCaffree; Hometown tea towel sold at Atticus Coffee & Gifts. // Photo courtesy Atticus Coffee; We love our Spokane bike shops, like Wheel Sport. // Photo courtesy Wheel Sport Bicycles.

Slowly, many of us really began living local more than ever before. Although it’s yet to be seen, if we manage to hold on to some of those local connections in the years to come, the pandemic, despite its many tragic and terrible outcomes, will have had a silver lining for community involvement.

I, for one, will always look back on life over these past two years with at least some fondness. For the first time in my adult life, I felt connected to my community and neighbors in a deep, meaningful way. The degree to which our successes, failures, and fate have always been linked was made real before my eyes.

When COVID lockdowns first hit and the economy tumbled, many Out There advertisers began to cancel one after another. Who could blame them? People were scared and commerce slowed to a trickle.

We thought for a while that the end of OTO was near and feared for our future. For a week or so, we had a lot of time on our hands. We took long family walks through the neighborhood with our new shelter dog Fernie, named after a favorite place north of the border we could no longer visit. We stockpiled food and cooked elaborate meals, took up long-neglected house projects, and I even dusted off the old banjo.

Then, as suddenly as COVID had smacked us down, we were busier than ever with no time to worry about what would come next. When we couldn’t find a comfortable, quality facemask weeks before they became commonplace, my wife and Out There co-publisher Shallan launched Spokane Masks, selling local, incredibly comfortable hand-made masks in all sorts of stylish fabrics.

Thanks to friends and family who bought them at first, and then, after some great publicity in local media, a broader swath of the community that chose her quality local masks over cheap, mass-produced alternatives, we were living and breathing masks and barely keeping up on orders.            

A year and a half later, some things are getting back to normal and other aspects of life will never be the same. For us, mask sales have slowed to a trickle, but what started as a niche pandemic business has evolved into Spokane Made (spokanemade.com), an online store that sells a wide range of local, hand-made goods, from paperless paper towels to market totes and more.

Out There has bounced back too, and although we are publishing fewer issues these days, this is the biggest issue we have put out in two and a half years. As we go about our lives now, we are more keenly focused on shopping local and supporting local businesses than ever before, and we hope you are too.

In that spirit, this issue features our annual Local Holiday Gift Guide, which highlights nearly 100 gift ideas from local businesses, and other great gift ideas featured in the advertisements that make Out There Venture possible. You know what to do. Give them your love. Our community and the quality of life for all of us depends on it.

The quintessential Northwest outdoor adventurer, Derrick Knowles grew up in the Spokane area, graduated from Eastern Washington University, once worked for Conservation Northwest, and is now Out There Venture co-publisher and editor-in-chief. He co-edited with EWU professor and writer Paul Lindholdt the non-fiction anthology “Holding Common Ground: The Individual and Public Lands in the American West” (EWU Press, 2005).

The post Living Local & Other Silver Linings of the Covid-Era appeared first on Out There Venture.

All of that came to a screeching halt in November when Larsen contracted COVID-19. She was ravaged by symptoms. “I thought I was going to die three times,” she says. “I told my husband and taught him how to do CPR.” Thankfully, that wasn’t necessary, though life has been far from normal ever since.

Her husband became “the cook, the cleaner, the shopper,” she says. “It took me six weeks to drive, six weeks to leave the house.” At one point, “it took me an hour and a half or two hours to eat breakfast,” Larsen says. “An hour to get up the stairs.” More than six months later, the acute phase has passed but many of her symptoms have not gone away.

Larsen is a “long-hauler,” someone who is still experiencing symptoms weeks or even months after the first onset of COVID-19. She’s far from alone. The exact numbers of those who have “long Covid” are hard to pinpoint; one recent survey in the UK (ons.gov.uk) shows that 13.7% of participants continued to experience symptoms 5 or more weeks after the assumed time of infection.

Larsen is a “long-hauler,” someone who is still experiencing symptoms weeks or even months after the first onset of COVID-19. She’s far from alone.

Larsen, a native Australian, knows many others in Spokane and around the world who are also long haulers. “One of my best friends—she’s an athlete—she is six weeks ahead of me.”

Larsen suffers from POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) and dysautonomia—an issue with the regulation of the blood flow that can affect heart rate, blood pressure, and cause brain fog, among other symptoms. Since November she’s dealt with inflammation, anxiety, balance problems, hair loss, an impaired sense of smell and taste, and relentless fatigue.

She’s had to focus on taking care of herself—switching units and going part time in her career as a nurse so she can work shorter shifts, cutting out formerly favorite foods that are known to increase inflammation, and easing way, way back on the activities she loves.

Rather than the 5-miles-per-hour hikes she used to do, she’s slowly worked her way up to walking one mile a day. She’s done one, one-mile bike ride. “My mountain bike and my road bike have been sitting in the garage looking at me, just looking. I’ve had to come up with ways to cope.” The key to remaining optimistic, she says, is focusing on how far she’s come, not how far she has to go.

“I don’t want sympathy. I don’t need it,” she says. “I’ve realized it’s more about connection, friendship, generosity.” Her husband has been “amazing.” Friends have brought her dinner. She’s also made vital connections through the Survivor Corps group on Facebook.

Larsen has realized that with long-haul COVID—as those who’ve suffered from chronic illness and injury have long known—it can be very difficult to communicate to others what you’re going through. There are no quick fixes. Sometimes people don’t understand, or they expect friends or family to snap out of their ailments and go back to normal. “People who don’t believe you…that is detrimentally insulting,” she says.

“It’s important to connect with people who get you, but who aren’t going to drain you,” she says. It’s also important to accept your own body’s relationship with its illness. “A very good person told me, ‘don’t try to dominate COVID, accommodate COVID.’ I’m living with this and I’m coming at peace with this. That’s very important. I’m fighting.”

Larsen hopes that a couple of years out from her positive COVID diagnosis she’ll be back to her normal level of health and fitness, but she knows it’s going to take many small steps along the way. She’s trying to embrace that. Growing up, Larsen’s mom always told her to stop and smell the roses. “It took me 45 years on this earth to do so. Slow down. Don’t rush. I am learning, and it takes a whole attitude adjustment, but slow it down.”

Recovery is happening at its own pace. In the meantime, Larsen is doing her best to lean on her community and accept things as they come. “Set healthy boundaries and take care of yourself,” Larsen advises anyone else going through a similar struggle. “You have one life.”

Originally published as “Local Outdoor Athlete Ravaged By COVID Symptoms Maintains Hopeful Outlook” in the July-August 2021 issue.

Sarah Hauge is a writer and editor who lives in Spokane with her husband and children. She wrote about walking and running every street of Spokane in the last issue of Out There.

To read more stories and other content coverage about COVID-19, visit the OTO archives.

The post Spokane Athlete Ravaged By Long-Haul COVID Maintains Hopeful Outlook appeared first on Out There Venture.

Make Reservations Early

Many Forest Service, state park, and national park campgrounds get booked up, especially on weekends, months or weeks in advance. If you really want to spend time at a specific place or campground this summer, do your research and make a reservation as soon as possible.

Go Mid-week and Avoid Holidays

Last summer and fall we were still able to find tent sites and even some small RV sites that were plenty big for our camper van only a week in advance, but they were all mid-week. If you want the flexibility to choose your destination based on the weather, smoke, and other personal reasons, skip the weekends.

There are also many primitive Forest Service and other campgrounds around the Inland Northwest that have few to no services other than pit toilets and maybe water that are first-come-first-served. To snag one of these sites for the weekend, take off a day or two early to beat the weekend rush.

Research Your Destination Well

You might be stuck where you’re at without other camping or lodging options once you get where you’re going thanks to increased travel, so do your research before committing. If you’re looking for peace and quiet, you might not want to visit a mountain town the same weekend as a major motorcycle rally. Check local chamber of commerce websites for any planned events you may want to be a part of and others you may want to miss. Doing your research may also turn up other surprises. Last year we found out that a landslide would be blocking visitors from a nearby city for months, making one of our favorite riverside campgrounds less crowded and more appealing than usual.

Stray Off the Beaten Path

If you’re looking to avoid packed campgrounds and mountain towns this summer, explore someplace further off the beaten path that still has some of the amenities you’re looking for. The longer the backroad or rough road drive from a major population center, the better your odds of leaving crowds behind. That strategy may not work, however, if your destination happens to be a Blue-Ribbon trout stream or as a “world class” outdoor destination for one or more outdoor sports.

Know Before You Go

Check things like weather reports, active wildfires, wildfire smoke conditions, possible road construction and/or road closures, river flows, fishing regulations, and COVID restrictions for wherever your road trip may lead you. Adjust your plans or come prepared for the conditions.

Be Flexible

Trying to get into Yellowstone last summer on a last-minute whim heading back from Utah, we experienced startling traffic and packed streets in Jackson, Wyoming, before finding out at the park gate that all campsites in the park were taken.

Plan B: we drove our van around for an hour or so looking for a place outside the park to camp on national forest land and discovered hordes of campers, vans, and car-campers packed into every pullout and dispersed camping area. Most everyone was hiding in their vehicles from the swarms of mosquitos too. Time for plan C. Escape. After a stop at a Jackson grocery store for provisions, we headed up and over Teton Pass and arrived at the pleasantly uncrowded Grand Targhee Resort camping area around midnight.

Being flexible is often better than being miserable. If your trip isn’t turning out like you hoped, come up with a plan B, or C, and D if necessary.

Be Aware of COVID-Related Restrictions or Lack-there-of

COVID restrictions, policies, and cultural norms will likely continue to vary across state lines in the Northwest this summer. Follow each state or community’s rules and be prepared for different mask requirements that may range from people being required to wear masks at an outdoor event in one state and no mask requirement for a packed pub in a neighboring state. Be safe, follow the rules, and know your own personal comfort level with the COVID policies where you’re headed.

Know the Trail Conditions and What Activities Are Allowed

Before taking your mountain bikes on a four-hour drive, make sure the trails you plan to ride are both open to bikes (Wilderness Areas and some other public lands trails don’t allow bikes) and that they’ve been maintained recently. Lugging your bike over endless downed trees can get old really quick. Accurate trail information can be difficult to find online for many areas, especially if you’re venturing into more remote places. Checking with local trail clubs, if they exist, and asking questions on those groups’ social media pages can turn up valuable beta.

Otherwise, calling days or weeks in advance to reach someone at the public lands agency that manages the trails you’re interested can be very helpful. Be sure to speak with someone who works in recreation or trails and has recent information on trail conditions. Even after doing your homework, you may find some surprises once you get out there.

Case in point, two summers back, in preparation for a 75-mile hike across an infrequently-visited section of the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness, I got ahold of a knowledgeable person from the local Forest Service ranger district who told me he was pretty sure the long list of trail numbers I had just rattled off had mostly been cleared in the past five years or so. Two days into the hike, after completely losing the trail for an hour or more and then climbing over hundreds of downed trees through the most intense thunderstorms I’ve ever walked in, we determined there were some miscommunications. Likely my bad. Oops.

To add insult to injury, our backup, backup plan of hitching a ride to our car from someone on what had been a popular sightseeing and berry picking road a decade back didn’t pan out. After walking another 20 miles on that road without seeing a soul, we found out why: the road had been gated and closed for several years due to a massive washout. At least it was only a few more miles of walking on the Selway River back to our car!

Know Your Limits and Those of Your Travel Mates

Choosing a destination for a weekend adventure getaway or longer trip should always take into consideration the abilities and tolerance to any unique environmental conditions you’re likely to encounter. For instance, camping out in the shade-and-water-scarce eastern Oregon desert might not be the best destination for a group that includes children or other heat-sensitive individuals.

Picking reasonable outdoor recreation activities that will be enjoyed by your adventure pod is also critical for a successful trip. Your idea of a mostly-flat, easy hike might seem insane to the rest of your crew after a few miles.

Book Activities in Advance

If you’re planning to participate in an activity, whether it’s a zip line tour, gondola ride, Route of the Hiawatha pass, riding at a bike park, river rafting trip, mine tour, or other guided, supported, or bookable activity, look online or call in advance to see if you can reserve your adventure.

Originally published as “Adventure & Travel Planning Guide – Summer 2021” in the March-April 2021 issue.

[Feature photo: View of Peewee Falls while kayaking the Pend Oreille River, photo by Carol Corbin.]

The post 10 Travel Planning Tips for Summer 2021 appeared first on Out There Venture.

A neck gaiter has always been one of my ski-gear staples, so a mask for the mountain was not a high priority at first. I figured a simple, washable cotton one for the lodge would be all I needed. I was wrong.

Opening day at Mt. Spokane in early December 2020 was a surprisingly mild, bluebird day. After a couple runs, I was already feeling too warm for the fleece gaiter around my neck. So I swapped my gaiter for a cotton mask to wear in the lift line. But before too long, that thin cotton mask, from Old Navy, was too wet and cold to be comfortable, much less functional.

Condensation from aerobic breathing quickly made my mask damp after only a few runs. In a mountain environment, cold cotton kills; in this case, it was “killing” my ski vibe with its yucky, sticky, coldness on my nose, mouth, and chin. I went through a few different masks that first Covid-era ski-day, replacing a wet one for a dry one until it was time to leave.

The solution to outdoor winter comfort is the double-layer flannel-lined mask, professionally hand sewn in Spokane, by Spokane Masks. I tried the “Black Diamond + Flannel” style ($12.50, SpokaneMasks.com). High-quality quilters 100% cotton comprises the outer layer, and the inner layer is cotton flannel. The unique design provides a nice, comfortable breathing pocket, along with a good seal along the bridge of my nose and upper cheeks. (Note: There isn’t a nose-bridge piece inside the mask.)

The flannel fabric doesn’t feel cold like regular cotton when damp. The breathing pocket traps warm air, which I found comforting against my face as I stood in lift lines. I was pleased that it easily could be pulled over my nose and tucked under my ski goggles—something my ski gaiter definitely can’t do.

Spokane Masks’ spandex ear loops are soft, never irritating, and can be adjusted with a little tugging to stretch as needed for a proper fit. My hook earrings have never been snagged or tangled by the ear loops. I advise putting on a mask before your ski helmet.

On ski runs, I would pull the mask under my chin whenever I needed to take deeper breaths or a water-bottle break. When the back of my neck started to chill, I put on my North Face fleece gaiter, kept on my flannel-lined Spokane Mask, and used my gaiter as an outer layer.

Now, I’ve gone skiing a few times wearing my flannel-lined Spokane Mask, both solo and under my gaiter while skiing, as well as for going inside the ski lodge. I especially like being able to pull the mask over my nose, in a snug yet comfortable way that doesn’t fog up my goggles—a fit that my gaiter is unable to provide.

Spokane Masks’ small size fits me well, as it does for my son, who’s almost 11 years old—which means we can interchangeably wear all our Spokane Masks inventory. My 9-year-old daughter’s face best fits into the kids size, and my husband wears a large.

I have a few flannel-lined Spokane Masks so I can always have a clean, dry one ready to wear, whether I’m on the ski mountain or walking my dog around my neighborhood. And come spring skiing, I’ll be even more happy that I have flannel-lined Spokane Masks and can leave my gaiter in the car.

After nearly a year of masking, it’s second nature for my family and me. Wearing a high-quality cloth mask that’s also comfortable and stylish makes the routine easier and enjoyable. Which is what we all need, because the reality is: we’ll be needing masks for years to come in our post-Covid world.

Spokane Masks are available for purchase online or at local retail locations in Spokane: Kizuri, Rocket Market, and REI’s Spokane store.

Amy McCaffree has been writing for Out There since 2006, and is the Out There Kids columnist. She enjoys alpine skiing, hiking, camping, biking, kayaking, and stand-up paddling.

The post Gear Review: Flannel Spokane Masks appeared first on Out There Venture.

Thankfully we live in an amazing part of the country with plenty of close-to-home opportunities to get outside in nature. Stepping out into the fresh air can boost all-natural mood-enhancing chemicals in our bodies. Just being in nature, even without strenuous exercise, can be a healthy distraction from life’s troubles. Bundle up, safely grab a loved one or two, and get out there and embrace this COVID winter armed with this list of favorite winter pastimes from some of our region’s most passionate devotees of the great outdoors.

Daniel Shaw, Coeur Climbing Company Climbing Gym Co-Owner

Fat Biking All Over. “I usually ride the trails of Canfield Mountain (Cave Trail 4 usually being the best), but 4th of July pass, Saltese Flats, Liberty Lake, and Farragut are also good. Some of these trails are groomed for fat biking but I usually just ride in preexisting tracks or fresh snow.”

Ice Climbing. “Ice climbing is fickle around here but can be guaranteed to be in all winter in Hyalite Canyon near Bozeman, Mont., and Banff, Canada (which is off limits to us Americans this season because of COVID).  I also love Banks Lake ice climbs, but they are rarely in good condition. I can keep up my ice climbing strength by dry tooling in my basement.”

Running Tubbs. “My wife and I run 3-6 days a week, and we are never kept indoors due to weather. Our favorite run is from our house around Tubbs Hill and back. We have rubber band studded spikes to help with traction.” 

Playing in the Snow with the Kids. “We usually sled, ice skate, and play in the snow with the kids all winter long. I have three boys: Payson 11, Nolan 9, and Naty 7 who love Fernan Saddle and Fernan Lake for all those activities.”

Jane Huang, Greasy Fingers Bikes N’ Repair Bike Shop

North Idaho Fat Biking. “Section 16 in Bonners Ferry or Indian Creek at Priest Lake are great.” Huang also likes to fat bike Round Lake State Park and the Selkirk Recreation District Trails near Sandpoint, and she lists snowshoeing the trails at Round Lake to pack the trails in for fat biking as another favorite winter pastime.

Ice Skating around Sandpoint. Huang is keeping her fingers crossed for solid ice on North Idaho lakes for some wild ice skating this winter. She also banking on Bonners Ferry opening a rink at the fairgrounds like in past years. (Editor’s Note: Skate rink did open in Dec. 2020.)

Derrick Knowles, Out There Venture Publisher

Walking Errands. “I often plan walks to the grocery store or post office with my 5-year-old son. It’s about a mile from our house to our neighborhood grocery store and a little farther to the post office. We usually pack up snacks, drinks, and lots of warm layers in our Thule stroller which we also use to haul groceries and my son when he gets tired of walking and playing along the way. It’s a great way for us to get exercise, spend time together outdoors, and check a chore off the list.”

Justin Short, Truck Driver & Out There Contributor

Editing Adventure Videos. “Honestly, I really enjoy a little downtime sitting in front of a crackling fire with a dog in my lap, sipping tea, and editing video of previous adventures. I have to keep up on the Gravel Braintrust YouTube channel in case that trucking thing doesn’t work out.”

Getting Fat Bike Air. “The snow has to be juuust right, but there’s nothing like ripping my favorite jump lines at Beacon Hill on Wheelie Nelson, my trusty fat bike.”

Planning a Winter Suffer Fest. “The idea of an almost 200-mile gravel loop from Spokane down to Steptoe Butte through the Palouse in the blistering heat of summer sounds nothing less than daunting. So why not ride it in the dead of winter?” And so the Mt. Doom Fun Ride was born. 

Zach McCall, Inland Northwest Winter Fishing Fanatic

Fishing Rock Lake. “Rock is my favorite lake to fish in the winter and is known for producing large German brown and rainbow trout.” Trout are typically the most active fish in the winter, says McCall, although he notes that anglers can also hook largemouth bass, perch, or crappie. “Some of the best fishing in this lake is done by boat, but don’t let that stop you from fishing the bank at the launch. I have caught my fair share of fish right there with my feet on dry land.”

Ice Fishing 4th of July Lake. This lake near Sprague, Wash., is one of the area’s true winter-only fishing lakes, says McCall.  “4th of July Lake opens the day after Thanksgiving and stays open until March 31.” When the lake isn’t frozen, there are plenty of shore fishing possibilities that can be accessed by hiking one of several trails from the parking lot, says McCall. “When frozen there is full lake access for those willing to brave the elements to fish through the ice.”

Fishing Long Lake (aka Lake Spokane). “This lake is possibly one of the most overlooked bodies of water for winter fishing in the area.” There are several areas along the lake anglers can access from shore, says McCall. Winter boat access is also possible using the Spokane House launch (water level permitting) or the Willow Bay Resort (when open), he says. “Rainbow trout are the most common catch in the winter, but it is not unheard of to hook a northern pike, walleye, or smallmouth bass.” 

Holly Weiler, Trail Advocate & Out There Contributor

Hike Somewhere New. A recent new hike for Weiler involved checking out the Hauser Conservation Area, but, she says, “it’s easily replicated by picking some place that’s within a 30-45-minute drive and checking it out for the first time.”

Hiking & Fishing Lake Roosevelt. Weiler likes winter fishing from the shore on Lake Roosevelt, which she says is usually very good, but whenever it’s not, she switches gears. “I quit fishing early and hike along the shoreline with a trash bag and pick up a bunch of trash. There are usually bald eagles, too, and once there was even a family of otters near my favorite fishing spot (which is, of course, a secret).”

Hike in the Snow with a Pair of Hoks. “They’re awesome,” says Weiler about the ski/snowshoe hybrid created by Altai Skis based in northeast Washington. “Once we have enough snow on the ground, playing with my Hoks is one of my favorite things to do.”

Ice Skating on a Pond or Lake. “I used to have a goal to pick up a new sport every year. One that I’ve been trying to pick up but haven’t been able to pull off yet is ice skating on a frozen lake. I need to have the perfect weather window to make it happen, but I picked up a pair of used hockey skates at a thrift store a couple years ago, and I’m waiting for nice solid ice without too much snow on top. Probably someplace like Hog Lake or 4th of July.”

Hike the High Desert. “If I ever get tired of playing in the snow, I head to the desert for some winter hiking or backpacking instead. There are places I’d never go in the middle of summer that are pretty awesome for mid-winter.” Check out the book “Best Desert Hikes: Washington” for hike recommendations.

Katie Wiseman, Outdoors Ambassador & REI Spokane Employee

Snowshoe with a Slide Back Down. For a fun twist on snowshoeing, Wiseman suggests taking “a pow surfer or sled with you on your snowshoe adventure. You can hike up and sled down.” Make sure you can carry your snowshoes on a backpack, she warns. Wiseman recommends exploring areas off of I-90 between 4^th of July Pass and Lookout Pass in North Idaho away from potential avalanche terrain.

Picnic in the Snow. “Bring a shovel and dig out a place to eat and cook. Sit on an insulated pad and enjoy the quiet.” You can go all out with favorite warm and tasty dishes, says Wiseman. Just don’t forget your headlamp and backup batteries.

Play Frisbee Golf in the Snow. Round up some discs and some friends and “be prepared to snowshoe or posthole and bring extra warm gloves,” says Wiseman.

Dig Chrismer, Schweitzer Mountain Resort Marketing Manager

Go Skiing. “Granted, I am seriously biased, but skiing frees my mind. While I’m out there, I’m not thinking about my finances or what’s for dinner or how on Earth I’m going to help my kids get their homework done. I’m just skiing, breathing the cold air, looking at those beautiful glades, enjoying the feel of the snow. One can forget for a little bit and just enjoy. That’s such a gift.” 

Wandering Sandpoint’s Public Lands Trails. Chrismer has high praise for the Syringa and Pine Street Woods trail systems. “There are some really cool sculptures tucked into the woods on the Syringa Trails near Sandpoint, and I love being able to go say hi to them when walking in the woods. The concept of ‘shinrin-yoku’ or forest bathing is just what we all need this winter, and a stop at the windchimes really makes my soul feel good.”

Skate Skiing at Schweitzer. Trying something totally new, in her case skate skiing at Schweitzer, is a great way to shake things up this winter, says Chrismer. “Our Nordic trails happen to go uphill, both ways, and that’s a great challenge! Not being a particularly gifted Nordic skier, trying something new this winter has been a blast. I fall down, I go too fast, I laugh, I sweat, and I see another side to one of my favorite places. It’s really been good to open myself up to something new right now. I’m very grateful for that.”

Jeff Lambert, Executive Director of the Dishman Hills Conservancy

Hike Spokane’s Slavin Conservation Area. “The Slavin Ranch is a favorite for hiking during winter. It is close to town with an easy drive, the trails are relatively flat and wide, and waterfowl are always there for viewing,” says Lambert, who especially recommends this hike during winter evenings because the trail is easy to follow without a headlamp. Lambert also suggests trails on the nearby Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge for similar wildlife viewing and hiking opportunities.

Hike Rocks of Sharon. “A sunny day after a snowfall means the Rocks of Sharon and pine trees will be adorned with white coats shimmering in the sun.” The trail in the Dishman Hills Conservation Area in Spokane Valley climbs steadily and snowshoes or, more likely, micro spikes, might be needed, says Lambert. “The view over the Palouse is spectacular with striated fields…and Steptoe Butte poking up in the distance. And you might see a moose.”

Cross-country Ski at Mount Spokane. The Nordic trails at Mount Spokane State Park offer some of the best cross-country ski trails in the Northwest, says Lambert. “Extensive trails mean physical distancing is easy. Even on a busy day, the trails seem uncrowded.”

Stroll along the Spokane River. “A walk along the swirling Spokane River is a boost to the morale. The walk on the Centennial Trail from Riverfront Park east takes one past Gonzaga and the No-Li Brewery if one is inclined to grab a beer or food.”

Brenda Christensen, Two Wheeler Dealer Co-Owner

Winter Biking Farragut State Park. “Cycling has become a year-round activity for me. My mountain bike gets the most use although once we get a base of snow I’ll start using my fat bike more.  Farragut offers great beginner-to-intermediate mountain bike trails, says Christensen, and when there is enough snow they have groomed and marked XC ski and fat bike trails, as well as snowshoe and hiking trails too.

Work Out at Home. “I try to stay on top of my strength training at home,” says Christensen, whose home gym setup includes three different size weights, an exercise ball, and a mat. “When getting outside just isn’t an option, I also use my indoor trainer,” she says. “I have training DVDs that offer about an hour of focused training and have also been testing out a few of the training apps. Rouvy has been my favorite so far.”  

Ammi Midstokke, Nutritionist & Out There Contributor

Under-the-Stars Sledding. “Night-time sledding parties down our wicked driveway—a 1/4 mile luge run-of-death that requires a helmet, a headlamp, and a cocktail of courage and stupidity. We make a fire pit at the top, put some hot chocolate in a few thermoses, and fire up the ATV to drag survivors back up the hill. The best part is the laughter and hysterical screams that echo down the hill, forever etched in my memory like some of the scars on my forehead.”

Snowshoeing to the Summit of Schweitzer. The path from the Firehouse to the top “is usually well-worn, and it winds through a Narnia of trees before creeping out of the tree-line to the exposed snow drifts of the ridge,” says Midstokke. “At the very top, we see skiers floating by. This is also a favorite of Freya the Brown Dog.” Be sure to heed any private property signs you might encounter along this route and respect the ski area boundary line.

Fat Bike Sandpoint Trails. Midstokke raves about the fat biking trails at Syringa and Pine Street Woods in Sandpoint. “The collaborative efforts that have gone into these beautiful networks of trails is remarkable. The trails wind through hundreds of acres of wooded lands and offer every kind of view one would hope for, just the right amount of traffic (a hello from time to time, usually some friendly person you know), and lots of happy dogs. I particularly love the quiet pace of fat biking in fresh snow and the way it’s so magical. Also, crashing hurts less.”

Adam Gebauer, Biologist & Out There Contributor

Ski in the Middle of Nowhere. “When conditions are right, backcountry skiing is one of my favorite outdoor activities. It combines the fun of finding untracked lines with a great workout and plenty of time to watch the day unfold around you.” There are many great backcountry skiing and splitboarding spots in the Inland Northwest, but like great fishing holes, most backcountry powder stashes are best left vaguely defined to help protect what makes them so special.

Urban Dog Walks. “Dog snow romps are an accessible activity that let you say hi to your neighbors who are out strolling or shoveling their driveway. It is a COVID-safe activity too where we can see faces and engage with our neighbors.”

Carol Corbin, Outdoors Junkie & Public Land Advocate

Pretend It’s Summer. “I do the same things in the winter that I do in the summer,” says Corbin, just with the requisite winter gear to make those activities more fun, safe, and comfortable.

Desert Bike Packing. “Another thing is heading out to the desert if you’re tired of snow.” Corbin says a recent bike packing trip she organized in central Washington was pretty rad. Just map out a scenic, mostly gravel route, load up the bike, and go.

Originally published as “47 Things to Do Outside This Winter” alongside sidebar content in the January-February 2021 double issue.

The post What To Do Outside This Winter appeared first on Out There Venture.

COVID proved to be ruinous for many races in 2020. Some ended up canceling all together, others switched to virtual events, and a few Northwest organizers made adjustments and ended up holding modified live versions of their traditional events.

Negative Split

Negative Split, which produces a number of its own races and events and helps other smaller events with timing and other services, managed to produce five live races and time eight live races across two states in 2020.

The Negative Split team instituted safe racing strategies, and the races they took on went well, says Negative Split’s Ryan Hite. “I think people were nervous at first and probably thought they would more or less be running a virtual run, but our survey results post race came back really positive,” says Hite.

“Even though the masses of people were not there, the races were still live races with start lines, finish lines, aid stations, finisher food, medals, and shirts. People I think felt really safe and were just excited to be able to run a live race. Many people were actually interested in running these ‘socially distant’ races in the future since they are less stressful than mass starts.”

To keep racers safe in 2020 and at 2021 races, Hite says his team rigorously incorporates physical distancing in all of their live events with staggered start times, offers curbside packet pickup options, limits after-race interactions, pre-packages aid station food and beverages, and promotes runner tracking apps and online video for spectators since they have not been allowed at the start and finish lines since the pandemic began.

Hite says the Negative Split Races had just under 5,000 combined live runners in all of the 2020 post-COVID races they hosted, and to their knowledge, there were zero COVID-19 incidents connected to their events.

For 2021, Hite has two virtual events (during the snowy season) and 10 live ones planned. “We hope to be back to timing over 100 events in 2021 again. Our Run the PNW series will be a highlight during the spring months, and we are adding a new back to nature series focusing on scenic courses and some trail debuting in fall and summer 2021.”

Priest Lake Multisports

Across the border in Idaho, Priest Lake Multisports race director Ken Eldore says they were able to safely hold several of their events in 2020, including the Priest Lake Marathon and 50K and the Smokechaser trail race thanks to those events happening on national forest land where runners had plenty of room to spread out.

To increase the safety, says Eldore, “we had chip-timed open starting lines to allow runners to start over an extended time window and be in control of their own personal space. Once they were in the woods and running, they are pretty spread out. As a race director, seeing smiling faces cross a finish line during the tough year of 2020 created some hope and inspiration for more great race days.” 

Looking ahead to the new year, Eldore says he has five events scheduled for 2021, including the Priest Lake 50K and Marathon, The Priest Lake Triathlon, Smokechaser Trail Race, and Race the Wolf. Eldore says COVID safety mitigation this year will include limited the number of participants, some kind of modified start procedure to space runners out, and reduced contact points at aid stations. “One of the benefits of being in the North Idaho forest is we have lots of space!” adds Eldore.

SNAP

Many smaller non-profit races and fun runs are also hoping to safely hold their events this year one way or another. Nicole Bishop with SNAP says they are confident that the Dad’s Day Dash, a fundraising event traditionally held on Fathers’ Day in Spokane’s Manito Park, will happen June 20, 2021. “If it is not safe to have our event in person, we will continue with our virtual format, as we did last year,” says Bishop.

Last year SNAP had participants from across the country and over a dozen states run the Dad’s Day Dash virtually. “We take COVID safety very seriously, so we will not move forward with an in-person race if it does not seem abundantly safe to do so,” explains Bishop. “As we get closer to the date, we will assess guidance from state and local health officials regarding safety measures we should take. If it is safe to congregate at Manito Park, we will still include a virtual element so we can have broader reach and a more customizable experience.”

Eldore emphasizes that more than ever, this coming year will be important for the endurance sports community to support their local races. “All the local races work on tight budget margins and depend on sponsorships, civic groups, and volunteers. A great asset in the Inland Northwest is that we have so many great events to choose from, and I fear we will lose some of them this year.”

Eldore urges racers to step up and support local races however they can. “A few hours volunteering at your local 5k, becoming a shirt sponsor, or some emails of encouragement to your local race organization go a long way.”

The post Races & Events Outlook for 2021 appeared first on Out There Venture.

We are a small but spirited family business run by myself and my wife and co-publisher Shallan, a few dedicated independent contractor editors, and a couple dozen talented freelance writers and photographers. As a free niche newsprint magazine that’s become an important resource for the Inland Northwest’s outdoors community, each issue of Out There depends entirely on our loyal advertisers, a reality that is often overlooked by some readers.

That’s where you come in. If you love picking up Out There Venture for free and want to continue to be able to do so, we ask you to do us a favor. Pay attention to each issue’s advertisements that pay the magazine’s bills, and if you need something that any of them are offering, like a new ski jacket, bicycle, bag of coffee, race registration, electrolyte supplement, or whatever, make your purchase from one of those awesome Out There advertisers. They make this publication possible.

And if you’re so inclined, please let them know you’re giving them your business because they advertise in Out There. That conscious act with a verbal acknowledgment to a business or comment on their social media pages will make a HUGE difference.

We purposefully keep our business costs low and run an efficient ship—we have a small, solar-powered office for instance (thanks to our Eco Depot solar installation)—nevertheless we’ve had to adapt to the reality that our advertising declined due to the 2020 pandemic. Over the past year, we had to cancel an issue and combined a couple more and page count has dropped a bit. But we still managed to survive and stage a comeback even while other national outdoor rec publications perished (R.I.P Powder, Bike, Surfer and Snowboarder).

With an uncertain future ahead of us, we have opted to shift to a more sustainable schedule of printing 6 (hopefully bigger) issues of Out There in 2021, and to continue to build up our digital presence. If you don’t already follow us on Facebook or Instagram, please do it right now and visit our website for hike, ride, and trip ideas. We don’t keep all of our eggs in one basket, and we don’t let the grass grow under out feet either.

With the continued support of our loyal readers and advertisers, we’ll be around, churning out issues of Out There for years to come.

Derrick Knowles is co-publisher and editor-in-chief.

Check out our Social Distancing Survival Guide, a collection of content from the April 2020 issue and beyond, to help our readers navigate and adapt to pandemic impacts on outdoor recreation and routines.

The post Weathering the COVID Storm appeared first on Out There Venture.

1. Plan ahead

Know visitor policies for your mountain destination. This winter, season-passholders have priority access, which means no day-of ticket sales at the window. Make reservations and purchase lift-tickets online prior to arrival.

2. Pack everything you might need

Your vehicle is your refuge this winter for booting-up and warming up. Save time by packing your own lunch and snacks and eating them at your car. Some lodges may have outdoor seating available. Bring blankets, hand-warmers, and spare clothing for when a dry set is needed. Carry hand-sanitizer.

3. Prepare to have limited indoor access

Most lodges will operate at limited or no capacity, and give priority to guests buying hot meals or grab-and-go food options. Restrooms will also have limited access; some ski areas may have outdoor porta-potties.

Editor’s Note: COVID restrictions, closures, and mandates vary by state, county, and public health district —be sure to check local public health guidelines for your mountain destination. Carefully consider travel to different counties and states, per WA State travel advisories. As of 12/18/20, in Washington State indoor dining is prohibited until at least Jan. 4, 2021; ski lodges are only open for food-service take-out and restrooms.

• Find the latest guidance for Wash. State here; state outdoor recreation guidance.
• For Panhandle Public Health information, which encompasses ski mountains in all of North Idaho, click here.

4. Physical distancing

Whether it’s the chairlift loading area or the lodge, stick close to your family group or those you traveled to the mountain with, and give others a wide berth—even on runs (like always, for safety’s sake). Chairlift-sharing will be restricted to family/friend groups (for most mountains).

5. Protective face coverings

Have a mask for everyone in your family or traveling group and wear it indoors. Check the COVID policies for your destination about whether a ski buff or gaiter can substitute, and the mask guidelines for outdoors.

6. Practice good hygiene

Pre-COVID, when life was carefree, wiping noses with gloved-fingers or a buff and farmer-blows were no big deal—not anymore. Bring facial tissues.

7. Pause your season as needed

Stay home if you or anyone in your household has any COVID-like symptoms, or has had close contact with anyone who recently tested for COVID and is awaiting results, or a close contact was recently been confirmed COVID-positive. Be prudent and quarantine at home; don’t be a potential COVID-spreader. Keep mountain staff and fellow skiers/riders safe and help ski areas to remain open.

Story published in the Family Winter Sports Guide in the Nov.-Dec. 2020 double issue. Special section sponsored by Ski the NW Rockies association.

The post COVID Safety Tips: 7 P’s For the Ski Mountain appeared first on Out There Venture.

The COVID-19 pandemic is picking up steam this fall like a deep-winter storm cycle, yet our regional ski and snowboard resorts are feeling positive about being able to provide a safe experience this season. From adding online, limited contact ticket sales to expanded outdoor hangout areas, mask requirements and social distancing for indoor spaces, and group size limits for lessons, this season that could see a return of La Nina is shaping up to be one we will never forget. 

Schweitzer Mountain Resort

“At this point, we are looking forward to opening for the winter season on Friday, Nov 27,” says Schweitzer marketing manager Dig Chrismer. “The long-term forecast is calling for a “La Nina” weather event this winter which could mean significant snowfall in our part of the world. The last time we had a strong La Nina was in 2010/11 when we ended the season with 171” of snow still on the summit!” 

In response to COVID, Schweitzer will require all guests to use masks while indoors and to practice social distancing like all of our regional resorts. “We really hope that all of our visitors will take the pandemic seriously and make the right decisions about travelling [to Schweitzer from outside the Inland Northwest] if there is a larger spread this winter,” says Chrismer. “We hope that everyone will work together to mitigate the spread of COVID…all do our part to keep each other, our staff, and our guests healthy.”  

Ticket sales will also look different this year, says Chrismer. Schweitzer will not be offering day-of lift ticket purchases at the ticket window and will be calculating an approximate number of visitors for any given day of the season (based on historical data and season pass sale numbers) to then offer limited, date-specific lift tickets for sale. “Those tickets will be on sale starting November 9 and once a day is sold out, it’s sold out. Our goal with this approach is to accommodate all of our season passholders and Schweitzer lodging guests as a priority.” Check for program and COVID updates at Schweitzer.com.  

Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park

Spokane’s closest ski area has been working throughout the year to create protocols to ensure the health and safety of the community. “We’ve had to rethink every process on the mountain—from concessions to lift lines. Following state regulations, face coverings will be required, as well as distancing protocols. There may be a few changes mountain-wide that we all will need to adhere to—but the experience will make it all worth it,” says assistant general manager and marketing director Jodi Kayler. Mt. Spokane’s mission is more important than ever, adds Kayler. “With less options for entertainment for families and individuals, we are dedicated to providing a safe place for people to recreate. This is the year to hit the slopes and create a lifetime of memories.” Visit MtSpokane.com for the last operation updates.

Silver Mountain Resort 

Since Silver shut down on March 16 due to COVID-19, the mountain has done extensive planning to reopen safely for the coming season. Like other resorts, face coverings will be required in all indoor spaces (except when seated to eat or drink), as well as when guests are outdoors when 6 feet of physical distance isn’t possible. Masks will also be required while riding and waiting in line for the gondola, and guests will self group with their own travelling party (singles will be placed with other singles in numbers that allow for distancing). Gondola cabins will also receive extra cleaning after every ride. Physical distancing will also be encouraged in the lift line, and lift attendants will not require guests to ride with people who are not in their group.  

Lift tickets will be limited on weekends and holidays at Silver as well and must be purchased online for these busier periods. However, the resort reports, midweek non-holiday tickets sales “will be business as usual” with ticket window and online purchase options. Plenty of precautions are also planned to make the lodging experience as safe as possible, and temperature testing of all guests will occur at Silver Rapids Indoor Water Park, where capacity will also be limited and ticket sales will all be online. Season passholders can expect unlimited access on the mountain. Check out the entire COVID plan at Silvermt.com. 

49 Degrees North 

“We are pretty lucky that we have so much terrain that even on busy days we never seem to be crowded,” notes Rick Brown, the director of skier and rider services at 49. He says the ski area isn’t planning on limited ticket sales, but that limited availability because of COVID could happen on some holiday weekends. A new online sales system will also launch this season that will improve the guest experience by streamlining ticket and lesson purchase transactions. Tickets purchased online will be available for pick up at the ticket window. 

49 will also be following the Washington State Safe Start guidelines, with social distancing encouraged, face coverings required in indoor spaces except while dining and in more crowded outdoors spaces. Check online for updates throughout the season at Ski49n.com. 

Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area

“We are certainly encouraging guests who can, to visit midweek to avoid any congestion on the weekends and over typically busy holiday periods,” says Lookout’s director of marketing & sales Matt Sawyer. Social distancing and mask wearing indoors and in crowded outdoor locations will be required. “No brown bagging will be available inside,” adds Sawyer. “Please use your vehicle to eat lunches you brought from home.” Lookout will sell day passes at the area on a first-come, first-serve basis. “We hope that we don’t have to limit the number of people using the area, but…there may be a few days when we either reach an imposed capacity limit or we feel we’ll reach a limit that we are uncomfortable exceeding and could stop selling lift tickets.” Lookout is also exploring the options of remote ticket booths in the parking lot and the addition of Porta Potty’s in strategic locations. More info at SkiLookout.com/Covid-19. 

Whitefish Mountain Resort 

Given that the U.S./Canadian border doesn’t look likely to open anytime soon, nearby Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana will probably see even more powder-chasing Spokane and North Idaho skiers and snowboarders paying them a visit this season. If you’re thinking about a trip to Whitefish, rest assured that the resort will be following CDC guidelines during the pandemic. Increased sanitation will be in the works and masks will be required indoors and in lift lines. The resort doesn’t, however, plan to limit ticket sales or require a reservation to ski. More info at Skiwhitefish.com/covid-faq. 

The post Skiing in the COVID Era appeared first on Out There Venture.