Present-day recreational use for the airfield started in 1998 with plans for a 24-hour mountain bike race with the help of park manager Jack Hartt and other promoters. The initial 24-hour mountain bike race was held in 1999, and all the necessities, including water, electricity, toilets, and shelters, needed to be brought in for the event. The 24-hour bike race continued successfully for another 20 years, right up until the Covid-19 pandemic. Obviously, other race directors saw how convenient and successful the location was, but it would take many seasons and lots of fundraising to bring electricity and water to the area.

Thanks to Round and Round Productions, Avista, and Riverside State Park, a new electric panel in 2018 allowed event organizers to ditch noisy generators. New inroads were added to improve traffic flow and eliminate conflicts with park neighbors. But the biggest necessity for the airfield was always water. In recent years, the regional community has employed the airfield for orienteering gatherings, equestrian events, campouts, military exercises, and dog sledding.

As far back as 2018, the push to get a well drilled at the airfield began with financial donations and monetary commitments from the Riverside State Park Foundation (RSPF). The RSPF representatives checked on ownership of the area and worked with the Department of Ecology to secure water rights for the land parcel containing the airfield. Meanwhile, the State Park took over the required archeological study to assess any culturally sensitive areas before everything was approved. In 2020, the State Park initiated budget requests to fund the well project, and they added plans for a vault toilet and a picnic shelter. Soon after, the Spokane Rotary Club 21 and Evergreen East donated to the project. Then, like so many other projects and events, the pandemic slowed things down.            

Ultimately, State Parks finalized the well in 2022 with a three-purpose water fountain perfect for drinking, or filling containers, along with a pet watering station at the base. Beyond providing the necessary hydration for events, the fountain eliminates a lot of single-use plastic waste. The vault toilet is also complete and the shelter area should be finalized in late spring. The 7 Mile Airfield is one of many projects championed by the Riverside State Park Foundation. More info at Riversidestateparkfoundation.org

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Bloomsdog was inspired by all the 2020 runners and walkers who completed their virtual 12k race with their pups. Dubbed ‘Bloomsday Worldwide,’ the 45^th running of Bloomsday turned into a major success due to its global popularity. Now, roughly 25% of the Bloomsdog entry fee goes to the Spokane Humane Society, and each pup receives some swag, while each pup owner receives some generous discounts and specialty coupons.

Since 1897, the Spokane Humane Society has served as a refuge for dogs in peril by providing care, shelter, and placement for tens of thousands of lost, neglected, and unwanted dogs. Throughout the years, they have served many functions and now focus on the care and placement of companion animals. Find more details at Bloomsdayrun.org/registration/bloomsdog.

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Click the thumbnails above for the online browser version of this month’s issue with a great cover story about Eastern Washington State Parks by Jon Jonckers.

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Click the thumbnail above to read an exact copy of our print edition in your browser. We have a great cover story on Inland Northwest running from Jon Jonckers.

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Great cover story about local athlete Lisa Bliss. Click the thumbnail to expand.Throughout the magazine you can highlight any url or hyperlink in blue by just rolling over it.

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The 2009 Le Grizz Ultramarathon in Hungry Horse, Montana broke multiple records this past weekend – some more impressive than others.

Record #1 – largest participation in the 3rd longest-running 50 mile ultramarathon in the nation: 97 entrants, 91 starters.

Record #2 – Brian Vandenburg of Spokane won the Men’s Open Division for the 4th year in a row (however, Mark Tarr has more overall wins in the Open and Masters division).

Record #3 – COLDEST ultramarathon anyone can ever remember: starting temp was 0 degrees Farenheit, and the high temp estimate was 28 degrees.

Out There Monthly writer Jon Jonckers reports, “I couldn’t feel my feet for the first three miles. No kidding, they were numb. Also, I never imagined I would ever participate in a race where the water in my water bottle would freeze in my hands. Crazy cold!” Jonckers took 9th overall in his first 50 mile ultramarathon.

The post LeGrizz: It Was Cold. And Long. appeared first on Out There Venture.

In case you haven’t heard about the avalanche threat in the backcountry here’s a report from OTM writer Jon Jonckers:

I can tell you first-hand from backcountry skiing in the Selkirks above Priest Lake (near the Sundance Burn),
these are the worst avalanche conditions I have ever seen. And it seems they’re only getting worse.

The north Idaho mountains didn’t have much of a ‘base’ before this massive cycle of storms. Conditions took a turn for the worse with the super cold, ultra-light, snowfall a week before Christmas followed by the monster day-after-day blizzards. Every backcountry user – snowshoers, snowmobilers, cross country or alpine skiers – should all use extreme caution on steep open slopes.

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Too much snow. // Photos by Jon Jonckers.

I saw a forecast today that predicted light snow and a high of 18. I thought to myself “Pretty sweet. I’ll take that.” That’s what kind of week it’s been. Thank God for the bus. I’m sick of driving my car in this weather, mostly because of the poor driving from other drivers. What make’s people think that a front-wheel drive Civic is going to get them anywhere on unplowed streets? And what gives with all the delivery trucks without chains? My buddy John hooked me up with the perfect snow bike: fixed gear, knobby tires, and flat handlebar. It eats up snow. But I haven’t been able to ride it much because the streets with little traffic have too much loose snow even for this beast, and the streets with the nice packed powder are filled with drivers who tool around town like they have never seen a snowstorm before. So today I’m happy to be on the bus. “Worry about the direction your schizophrenia medication is going?” is the fast ad I read when I sit down in my seat. I love the bus but that kind of stereotyping gives it a bad name. Check out these cool photos Jon Jonckers sent in.

Notice the deer at the bottom.

The Spokane River of course. Wonder what it will be like in May. Despite all the snow predictions are NOT showing we will exceed last year’s total of 90+ inches. We’ll see.

Somewhere in there is Omega Pacific.

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Photo courtesy Jon Jonckers

Jon Jonckers sends this report from Priest Lake, ID.:

The Tyee II is an old 82-ft, steam powered logging tug that lies half-submerged in Mosquito Bay on Priest Lake, Idaho. The Tyee II was used for towing logs in the 1940’s, but eventually someone decided to sink it – and (considering the times) they figured it was best to light it on fire and let it drift out to sink somewhere in the middle of the lake. Ultimately it drifted for a couple days and sunk in about 4 feet of water. I told my kids it was an old pirate ship and they believed me. Little kids are so much fun.

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