“We opted not to hold swap the last two seasons due to Covid health concerns. As first-responders ourselves, we are responsible for community safety,” says Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol (MSSP) Director Kristin Whitaker. “We are very much looking forward to hosting swap again this year.”

More than 22,000 items will be ready for sale by the time doors open for shopping—which is why it’s the biggest winter retail event in the entire Pacific Northwest. Swap’s energy and good vibes essentially makes it a kick-off event for the Inland Northwest’s mountain winter sports season.

New for this year’s event will be a bigger presence by Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park—a non-profit organization totally separate from the 501(3)c entity of Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol—including a beer garden and area to buy season-passes, according to Whitaker.

Nordic, backcountry, alpine touring (AT), and snowshoe gear is also at swap. “The selection of backcountry and AT alpine gear has grown, and we plan to have them in their own section this year,” says Whitaker. Because of high demand, she recommends shopping early on Saturday morning for best selection—same for buying children’s gear.

Admission is $5/person (free for children age 12 and younger) and includes both Saturday and Sunday. Whitaker encourages shoppers to return on Sunday for 25% off red-tag items.

Ski Swap History

Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol was founded in 1938, making it one of the oldest member groups of National Ski Patrol. More impressive, it’s one of the largest all-volunteer patrols in the U.S. (if not THE largest)—and the largest patrol in the Inland Northwest, with nearly 170 patrollers. Most patrols comprise both paid and volunteer patrollers.

In 1964—in the days of leather ski boots and skinny, straight skis made of wood or metal—MSSP Director Marlen Guell learned from a friend in Colorado where patrols were hosting “ski swap” events to raise money.

Swap is a brilliant yet simple idea: host a single-location shopping event where local ski shops bring gear and the public can bring in their used gear to sell and buy new, essentially “swapping” out old gear.

Swap founders who organized the very first Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap include Guell and fellow patrollers Jack and Edna Fruit, Dutch Andres, and Lee and Jackie Bratcher. They wanted to “help the [Spokane] community…to save money and keep skiing,” in addition to making swap a fundraiser, says Gloria Fletcher, a long-time volunteer for MSSP, swap committee member, and de factor historian for MSSP.

Money raised, then as well as now, goes towards purchasing medical and first aid supplies as well as rescue and transport equipment. (MSSP never charges for aid services.)

With Guell as swap director, the first MSSP Ski Swap took place in a back room of the Armory building in downtown Spokane. “Not many people came,” says Fletcher, but the event raised $200 for patrol, only because participating ski shops were asked to donate to patrol.

For the second swap, in 1965, the committee used an empty car dealership downtown—cleaning and painting walls to get it ready, painting a big ski mural. With more public attention, more shoppers came.

During the next two years, swap took place at Spokane’s downtown Civic Center and then at a hotel in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. By then, “advertising was better, and it was pretty crowded with equipment,” Fletcher says. “So, in 1968, the Swap Committee decided they had to move to the Spokane County Fairgrounds”—where it has taken place ever since.

As the event grew, so did its notoriety—so much so that many years ago, MSSP had the name “Ski Swap” and its event logo officially trademarked. Now, swap encompasses four large bays within the Spokane Fair & Expo Center.

Legacy of Service

The two patrol couples who helped found Ski Swap, Jack and Edna Fruit and Lee and Jackie Bratcher, attended every one, and continued volunteering as alumni patrollers, until 2020—when the pandemic cancelled swap. Their smiles and go-getter energy inspired younger generations of patrollers, year after year.

Lee and Jackie’s last swap was in 2019. By then in their 80s, they both died in 2021. “Losing Lee and Jackie was hard,” says Whitaker. On January 15, 2022, a “Final Sweep” memorial took place on the mountain.

MSSP published a tribute on its Instagram and Facebook social media pages, with a photo: “This cherished couple donated their time, talent—even vacation days—to the betterment of Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol. They were pivotal in the development and operations of the Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap, working every day at every Ski Swap since its inception. Not only were they instrumental in building the ski patrol building—but their selflessness and dedication was core to building the culture and sense of community carried on by today’s Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol. Together, always together, they left an impression in our hearts and on our slopes.” 

That cold January night, current and alumni patrollers—all wearing their patrol jackets—along with Bratcher family members gathered near the top of Mt. Spokane’s Parkway Express (chair 3). Both Lee and Jackie’s red patrol jackets were ceremonially placed in a rescue toboggan and a “last call” on the radio was given.

Then, with lights turned off, a serpentine line of skiers, each one holding high a lighted red flare, quietly and solemnly made their way from the top of Parkway Express (chair 3) down Northwest Passage and Ego Flats to the patrol lodge. It’s a beautiful Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol tradition, amazing to witness.

The dedicated service of the Bratchers, Fruits, and hundreds of other Mt. Spokane ski patrollers has maintained “the legacy of ski swap as a community event,” Whitaker says. Everyone on patrol is proud of swap’s “longevity as a staple in the Spokane community [to provide] affordable access to gear to get more people up to the mountain.”

This year for Jack and Edna Fruit, both in their 90s, attending the 56th Ski Swap will be challenging. Health issues prevent Jack from coming, but Fletcher plans to ensure Edna gets a chauffeured ride.

“Since Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol hasn’t had a Swap for two years, because of Covid,” Fletcher says, “we think this will be an amazing one.”

Gear at This Year’s Ski Swap

About 20 ski shops from across Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon bring merchandise. Shop owners know Inland Northwest skiers and snowboarders are as passionate about great deals as they are about their sports.

Priority is given to local shops, according to Gloria Fletcher, MSSP swap committee member. But trucks full of gear will be arriving from businesses as far away as Boise and McCall, Idaho; Seattle and Portland areas; and even Great Falls, Montana.

About 80% of swap merchandise is provided by ski shops—“everything from brand-new current season gear to last season’s gear, still new and unwrapped,” says Whitaker. The rest is brought in by the public for consignment sale, which is a big draw for many shoppers, especially families. Though people can sell (and buy) items through online marketplaces, MSSP Ski Swap is more fun and less hassle.

Public check-in for sale items is Friday, Oct. 28, 3-8 p.m., at the north side entrance of Spokane Fair & Expo Center. Everything must be clean and in good condition. On Sunday, after swap ends, people can pick-up their checks and any unsold equipment.

Find complete details for the 2022 Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap at skipatrolskiswap.com, and look for event updates on the swap’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

The post Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap Returns appeared first on Out There Venture.

First, it keeps your head warm on cold days with the benefit that it’s way easier to remove than a stocking hat under your helmet. It also serves as a neck warmer, but doesn’t feel tight on your neck.

Finally, it’s got a built-in face covering that you can pull up to protect yourself from the cold or deploy as a face mask in the ski lodge. The Huna, named after the Māori word for “mask,” also sells neck warmers and bandanas that attach to your ski helmet.

MSRP: $28.99. Thehuna.com

Find more product reviews in the Gear Room department.

The post Gear Room: The Huna Ski/Ride Helmet Hoodie appeared first on Out There Venture.

Another time, I brought thin gloves and his fingers froze. (There were tears.) I’ve made the opposite mistake too, piling on way too many layers until he could barely move and looked like the overdressed Randy in “A Christmas Story.”

These gear tips should help you do a better job of dressing your little shredders for a day in the mountains.

1. Helmet: Not optional anymore. Add a stocking cap under the helmet when it’s cold.
2. Goggles: Help protect eyes from glaring sun, wind, and blowing snow.
3. Neck Gaiter: Prevents cold from creeping down the neck and keeps faces warm.
4. Gloves / Mittens: Choose wind and waterproof/water-resistant gloves or mittens with plenty of insulation. Mittens are warmer for littler kids, while gloves let older kids adjust their gear.
5. Base Layers: Synthetic thermal underwear tops and bottoms are breathable, wick moisture, and keep their core warm.
6. Mid-layers: Fleece, puffy, sweatshirt, or long-sleeved t-shirt up top and fleece pants or sweatpants for bottoms.
7. Ski Jacket & Pants / Snowsuit: The outer layer should have insulation and be waterproof/water-resistant. A hood and pockets are ideal, and the jacket should be long enough to keep snow from creeping into their britches. A snowsuit rocks at this, but can make potty breaks challenging for younger kids.
8. Socks: Warm wool or synthetic-blend socks that fit well in ski boots. (See photo below for an example of socks available from Spokane Alpine Haus.)
9. Skis / Boots / Bindings / Poles: Ski or snowboard gear that fits well will help your little one learn faster and have more fun. You can buy used gear from swaps, but leasing gear each year as kids grow from a local ski shop, such as Spokane Alpine Haus, is ideal. A small investment gets your child quality gear that’s fitted by an expert each season.

Read more stories from OTO’s annual Family Winter Sports Guides.

The post 9 Alpine Gear Essentials for Kids appeared first on Out There Venture.

Built with a textured spandex shell and a real goatskin palm with reinforcements where you want them, these gloves also have an elastic wrist strap and a soft, moisture-wicking lining.

MSRP: $59.99. Gordini-usa

For more Gear Room reviews and recommendations for ski and other alpine gear, visit the OTO archives.

The post New Gear: Gordini Spring Gloves appeared first on Out There Venture.

But what really sets the Aeron jacket apart is its footprint on the planet. The jacket is built with the first bio-based technical fabric made from a combination of sugarcane waste and recycled PET. These eco-innovations are part of Picture’s quest to wipe out fossil fuels and help reign in climate change.

The super strong “20k/20k DRYPLAY membrane” that makes the Aeron a highly rated waterproof and breathable shell is also made with recycled PET and the DWR treatment is PFC-free, allowing the jacket to shed water without nasty chemicals.

And it’s a beautiful ski jacket that comes with all of the features (underarm vents, wrist gators, adjustable hood, goggle cleaner in chest pocket, ski pass pocket, etc.) you could want.

MSRP: $399.99. Picture-organic-clothing.com

More gear reviews.

The post Gear Review: Picture Aeron Ski Jacket appeared first on Out There Venture.

Salt Lake City-based Wildhorn Outfitters, a relatively new outdoor gear brand, introduced the new Pipeline snow goggles in 2020, and the sleek, modern design with a huge field of view is an instant winner on the slopes.

The Pipeline snow goggles feature easy magnetic lens changeout with 100% UV protection, and the frame is rigid on the outer edge and softer against the face. The custom vent design helps reduce fogging.

Wildhorn will also soon be launching a range of additional lenses that allow you to get the best visibility results in any light conditions. You can pay more for a pair of goggles for sure, but you won’t find a better quality pair for the price.

MSRP: $89.99. Wildhornoutfitters.com

Read more reviews for ski and snowboard gear.

The post Gear Review: Wildhorn Pipeline Goggles appeared first on Out There Venture.

Clutch is also a highly durable material shown to be four-to-six times more abrasion-resistant than leather and highly-breathable to boot.

Gordini sells gloves and mitts made of Clutch, but I chose the Gauntlet Mitt with Primaloft insulation that comes with fingermitt construction to maximize warmth on colder days in the backcountry when my fingers tend to go numb too easily. I got to give them a whirl on a very-early season fall ski tour in unseasonably frigid temps and was stoked to still feel my fingers at the summit.

MSRP: $80.99. Gordini.com

To read more of Derrick Knowles‘ gear review and recommendations, visit his Gear Room archives.

The post Ski Gear: Gordini Cache Gauntlet Mitt appeared first on Out There Venture.

Outerwear coat and snow pants should be both waterproof and windproof—what’s typically referred to as being “weatherproof.” In addition, provide your kids with handwarmers; choose mittens rather than gloves, especially for younger kids; and secure the cuff or mittens or gloves either under or over jacket sleeves-cuffs. “Make sure children drink plenty of water…and use the bathroom right before lessons,” says Pardue. “Eat a good breakfast and have something warm during lunch…to heat up their little bodies.” 

The post Tips for Keeping Kids Warm Outside appeared first on Out There Venture.

While skiing as a family may be a little more challenging this winter due to the ongoing pandemic, the benefits of getting outside for fun and exercise will be more important than ever this winter. These tips will help you and your kids get out there this season and save money in the process.

1. Lift Ticket & Season Pass Deals

One of the easiest ways to save money if you plan to ski and snowboard several times this winter is to take advantage of discounted season passes. Fall season pass sales typically end by the middle of November or earlier, although you should be able to buy a full-priced pass after sales end. This year many local resorts may restrict lift ticket sales on busy days due to concerns about overcrowding, which means having a season pass that gives you and your family nearly guaranteed access, especially on weekends, will be more worth it than ever. Some resorts offer family season passes, too, with more savings. If you only plan to head to the mountains a couple times, check your local resort’s website for any promotional deals. (Ski the NW Rockies offers a 5th Grade Ski Free Passport program.)

2. Buy Used Gear

Buying used ski and snowboard equipment and apparel is a no-brainer for cash-strapped families. In more normal times, ski swaps have been the place to go for great deals on everything from boards and boots to jackets, ski pants, and gloves. This year Northwest ski swaps have been canceled, so it may take more effort to find quality used gear. Try shops like Spokane’s Rambleraven Gear Trader or Play It Again Sports that sell quality used gear, thrift stores where you can occasionally score incredible deals, and sites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. For more details, check out the article on used gear by Amy McCaffree.

3. Borrow What You Need

If you have friends or family who ski or snowboard with their kids, ask around to see if any of them have old gear they’ve grown out of that you or your kids could borrow. Most people are happy to have a friend use old ski or snowboard equipment that would otherwise be gathering dust in the garage.

4. Lease or Rent

Several ski shops in the Inland Northwest lease or rent ski and snowboard equipment. Spokane Alpine Haus has a popular Jr. Ski/Snowboard Season Lease program that facilitates huge savings on needing to replace equipment that many kids grow out of after a season or two. Local resorts also rent equipment, although having your gear rental or lease lined up as early as possible will be more important than ever this season as more pandemic-weary people flock to the mountains.

5. Ski or Ride with What You’ve Got

Many budgets are tighter this year than they have been in years and buying new or even used gear may be out of the question for some of you. If that sounds familiar, this may be the year of making the old gear you have work. Spruce up old and beat-down boots with a new pair of insoles. Fix old jackets and pants with stick-on gear patches. Let the kids ride on boards that might be a bit too small for them and wear jackets and pants that might need some creative adjustments to fit right. Anything is better than forfeiting all that quality outdoor time a season on the ski hill provides.

6. Brown Bag It

With a fall surge in COVID cases and mask mandates and limits on the number of physically distanced individuals that will be allowed in lodges at one time, packing your own lunches, snacks, and beverages will help you save money and stay healthy. Get creative and think beyond brown bag staples. Bring an ice chest to keep tasty goodies from freezing, hot beverages and soup in insulated bottles, your own utensils and plates, several quarts of drinking water per person, garbage and recycling bags, a gas grill for some quick tailgate BBQ or heating up treats like frozen burritos in foil, and lawn chairs if the parking lot isn’t full and the weather cooperates.

The post 6 Tips for Budget-Friendly Skiing appeared first on Out There Venture.