If you’ve ever been to Moscow, Idaho, you’ve seen it. And if you’ve lived there, you’ve probably been on it. Moscow Mountain—a long, 5,000-foot-high ridge rising from a sea of rolling hills—dominates the Palouse skyline. During the summer, mountain bikers, hikers, and equestrians enjoy over 70 miles of trail on the mountain’s flanks. In the […]
Moscow Mountain: The Making of a Mountain Bike Mecca Read More »
Tucked away in the woods just two miles from where Gold Creek splashes into Lake Pend Oreille sits an exceptional retreat: the Gold Creek Lodge. The almost ghost town of Lakeview is close by, a reminder of the gold rush of the 1850s. This newly renovated lodge was originally a brothel servicing disappointed miners, Lakeview
Gold Creek: An Adventure Lodge on Lake Pend Oreille Read More »
Many of my favorite memories took place in some part of our nation’s public lands—lands held in the public trust for the benefit of all citizens. I was reflecting on this just a few weeks ago as three generations of my family floated down the John Day River in central Oregon. For just a nominal
Cherishing Our Public Lands Read More »
Whether you’re a hiker or mountain biker, the Kettle Crest (or Kettle Range, Sherman Pass area, Columbia Highlands, or whatever else you call this remote, uncrowded mountain range) includes some of the most scenic trails and diverse habitat in the Northwest. Tucked between the Canadian border and the Colville Reservation west of Kettle Falls and
Northeast Washington’s Wild Heart Read More »
I picked up a bottle of Bug Protector all-natural bug repellent at the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City last summer, but didn’t have a chance to really give it a thorough testing until a recent 2-day, 26-mile hike through the well-watered, mosquito-infested high country along central Idaho’s Mallard Larkin loop. With mosquitos, black
DEET-Free Bug Repellent Read More »
To celebrate our countries independence, my wife and I took a four-day back-road trip across Northeast Washington and North Idaho. We left the two-year-old at home with the grandparents and crammed the dog and all our camping gear and bikes into and on top of the Toyota truck, using every spare inch of cargo room.
Tailgater Tire Table Read More »
One extra-long Labor Day weekend, my brother Scott and I unexpectedly drove nearly 1,000 miles in three days, hiking, camping, and wandering at will across a vast swath of public lands in northcentral Idaho. Our goal was pretty simple. See as much of this wild, remote country as possible in 70 or so hours. Leaving
Where the Blacktop Ends Read More »
Mill Creek Trail is a fast, fun descent near Highway 12, south of Missoula, Mont. The four-mile trail can be shuttled or ridden as part of a 16.6-mile loop, with an optional extension up to Carlton Ridge. Mill Creek is worth checking out because although it’s easily accessed from Missoula and Lolo, the narrow trail
Mill Creek Trail Mountain Biking Read More »
If you already have a “lake place” – your own or your parents,’ your friend’s grandparents or cousins, or your Uncle Bob’s – then you likely already have your favorite lake. But for the rest of us, any of the dozens of Inland Northwest lakes can be ours for the loving. To feel the cold
Inland NW Lake Guide 2017 Read More »
It never ceases to surprise me that there are so many unique and out-of-the-way places in the Inland Northwest. Stehekin, Wash., is one such place, and getting there is an adventure in its own right. Because we made the trip during the busy Memorial Day weekend, we could only acquire tickets on the slow boat,
Back of Beyond: Stehekin Camping on Lake Chelan Read More »
