As the snow begins to pile up in the high country, try one of the closer peaks for some last-chance hiking before it’s time to dust off the snowshoes. With two trailheads and numerous route options, the 1,100-acre Antoine Peak Conservation Area rewards hikers with views of the surrounding valley within the first mile. Choose […]
Hike of the Month: Antoine Peak Conservation Area (Spokane County Parks) Read More »
This is the first in a series featuring wild edible fungi and plants from the Inland Empire. Frolicking outdoors can and, IMHO, should include a relationship with and knowledge of the world that surrounds you. Biking, hiking and snowshoeing are half the equation. The other half is becoming acquainted with our co-inhabitants in the woods,
Leaf, Root, Fungi, Fruit: Velvet Top Mushroom Read More »
My husband Young and I moved to North Idaho from Colorado six years ago, and sometimes I find myself missing that Rocky Mountain purple mountain majesty. But this summer, I discovered a place in North Central Washington that satisfied that longing: the Methow Valley. On a sunny day in June, Young and I set out
Methow Valley Road Trip: Eat, Drink, Explore, Sleep, Repeat Read More »
Late spring in Wallowa County is a confusion of all the seasons. Sun-warmed reveries are often cut short by cold breezes that quickly remind you of the mountains of snow yet to thaw. Yellow grasses and bare branches are still visible over much of Wallowa country. Trail running here in the spring can be about
Running Wild in the Wallowas Read More »
With its rich soil and four seasons, the Inland Northwest is a great place to plant a thriving garden, but who has time for that? Spring is here, and the lake is calling! If you could cultivate your green thumb and still have all the time you want to play, would you? Here are some
Tips for the Carefree Gardener: Because I’d Rather Be Hiking Read More »
5:30 AM never looked so dismal. Determined and unaware of the calamity of the outdoors, I had woken up for (yet another) of those Northwest winter runs. The kind where you stand in your closet debating whether you need three or four layers then check your headlamp to make sure the batteries are going to
Run Along a River: The Spokane River Run is Right Around the Corner Read More »
The parking lot at Warm Springs Creek trailhead was empty, unusual for a Friday afternoon, even in the depths of winter. Across Highway 12, the Lochsa River, normally tumultuous – its name Nez Perce for “rough water” – lay suspended mid-churn. Meanwhile, just downstream, improbably in the sub-zero chill that flash-froze sweat, Warm Springs Creek
Lolo to Lochsa: Winter Adventure Along the Hot Springs Highway Read More »
Hike Of the Month Sherman Peak (Kettle River Range, Northeast WA) Tackle this rigorous route for incredible views from the summit of 7,011 foot Sherman Peak. From the parking lot, look both ways before crossing Highway 20, then begin your climb through the lodgepole pine forest on Sherman’s flank. At the junction with the Sherman
Hike of the Month- Sherman Peak (Kettle River Range, Northeast WA) Read More »
What’s the most important practice when it comes to backcountry safety? In brief, good judgment, which in turn comes from education and experience. Jason Luthy strongly recommends that before you set out on a sidecountry or backcountry jaunt, even if it’s just something like heading out of bounds at your local ski resort, you should
Backcountry Safety: An Interview with Longleaf Wilderness Medicine Owner Jason Luthy Read More »
I remember the first time I saw a fat bike at a bike shop in Spokane about two and a half years ago. I asked about it and was told it was great for riding on sand at a beach. I looked at the price: $1,700. I picked it up and felt how heavy it
Fat Biking 101: Your Guide to Snowbiking in the Inland Northwest Read More »
