Cover photo courtesy of Silver Mountain

Sunny spring conditions and frequent March and April storms often deliver some of the best days of the season, so don’t put your gear in storage just yet. End your season in celebratory fashion with a fun spring event or two and plenty of good mountain vibes. Find details and operation schedule updates online. 

49° North Mountain Resort (Chewelah, Wash.) 

• March 6: One complimentary lift ticket for each Toyota vehicle driver for Toyota Free Ski Friday plus party on the deck.  

• March 8: Chewelah Peak Challenge Fat Tire Bike Race, in partnership with North Division Bicycle, includes demo bike (with registration fee) and 7 k race, conditions permitting. 

• March 14: Seafood Boil family-style lunch.  

• March 21: Annual Hawaiian Daze features a full day of competitions including snow golf, scavenger hunt, poker run, costume contest, Slush Cup and more. Proceeds benefit 49’s volunteer ski patrol and mountain host programs. 
  
  

Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park (Spokane, Wash.) 

• March 7: Getting Down to Vizziness, a terrain park two-hour jam session with host and judge Pro Rider Austin Visintainer.  

• March 14: Final night ski includes Wild Mike’s Rail Jam event—a collaboration with Wild Mike’s Pizza, providing $10 off night-ski pizza-box coupons—and Après After Dark Party. 

• March 20: Toyota Free Ski Friday—one complimentary lift ticket for each Toyota vehicle driver; must arrive before 1 p.m. to receive lift ticket from Toyota reps in parking lot of Lodge 2.  

• April 8-12: Youth ages 17 and younger ski free during spring break.  

Schweitzer Mountain Resort (Sandpoint, Idaho) 

• March 21: Celebrate the first-ever Pride On the Mountain event, in partnership with Sandpoint Alliance for Equality (SAFE). Schedule includes Rainbow Ridge Ski Parade and evening drag show. 

• March 27: Discounted lift tickets for annual Community Day. 

• March 28-29: Snow Ghost Banked Slalom competition, in collab with 7B Boardshop. Fundraiser for Bonner County Skatepark Association. 

• April 4: Hillside Hustle rider-choice grassroots events.  

• April 12: Closing day—details TBA online. 
  
  

Silver Mountain Resort (Kellogg, Idaho) 

• March 7: Doug E. Fresh Banked Slalom for snowboarders—11^th annual fundraiser for the Doug Johnson Memorial Fund. Stick around for Ski Bum Prom (costumes encouraged) with night skiing til 6 p.m. and party at Moguls. 

• March 13: Toyota Free Ski Friday.  

• March 14 and April 18: Hang out with Silver Mountain ski patrollers and their avy dogs during Jackass Apres Club nights, 6:30-9:30 p.m., at The Beanery (446 Railroad Ave), less than a mile from base village. 

• March 21: Marchi Gras (not a typo) is like Mardi Gras but at Silver Mountain—bead necklaces provided at the gondola base and New Orleans-inspired food atop the mountain.  

• March 28-29: Silver Cup Ski Race—register online. 

• April 4: Jackass Rain Jam with free day-of registration at Chair 2 Terrain Park (starting at 11:45 a.m.).  

• April 11: Who doesn’t love a Pond Skim?! Silver’s first and only previous event was in 2019, so this is kinda a big deal. No fee to participate. 

• April 18: Leadman Triathlon, presented by Dave Smith GMC, is the annual charity fundraiser adventure tri—ski, bike, run—for teams and individual racers.  

Lookout Pass Ski Area (Mullan, Idaho) 

• March 7: Season Pass Holder Appreciation Day with a parking lot party, 4-6 p.m. 

• March 27: Toyota drivers ski or ride free for Toyota Free Ski Friday. 

• March 29: Lookout’s annual freestyle Rail Jam (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) includes divisions for all ages and skill levels plus prizes. Great spectator event! 

• April 4: Bring your own club to play nine holes on America’s only snow golf course! Free to play for all ages; course open noon-3 p.m. 

• April 5: Easter Egg Hunt while you ride the slopes—all ages with one-egg limit per person. All eggs include candy and prize-winning number opportunity. 

• April 10: Ski/ride free at Lookout Pass for Parker Subaru Experience the Outdoors Day with a free voucher provided in person at Parker Subaru in Coeur d’Alene (limited availability). Bring voucher to the mountain ticket booth to redeem for a free lift ticket valid only for April 10.  

• April 12: Dress festive for Lookout’s annual Hawaiian Luau day, which includes a Cardboard Box Derby where participants use sleds made entirely of cardboard and duct tape.  
  
  

Whitefish Mountain Resort (Whitefish, Mont.) 

• March 14-15: Two-day event and one of the longest-running of its kind in North America, the 27^th annual Nate Chute Banked Slalom & Boardercross Competition raises funds for the Nate Chute Foundation dedicated to youth suicide prevention. 

• March 21: DREAM Adaptive Shred Fest for all abilities includes vertical or adventure challenge event and fundraiser to support adaptive recreation opportunities in Flathead Valley. 

• March 28: Corn Cup Slopestyle—skier and snowboarder freestyle competition.  

• March 28: Sample regional brews at Spring Brewfest and enjoy music and food trucks in the resort village. 

• March 29: Women-only event for all skill levels (includes trans women and non-binary riders) for the Lady Power Park Hour, noncompetitive slopestyle event to build terrain park confidence and community.  

• April 4: Classic Pond Skim competition with cash prize.  

Big White Ski Resort (Kelowna, BC) 

• Tuesdays through March 17: Ski BINGO—Pick up a bingo card from the village and mark off while hitting the slopes, noon-3:30 p.m.  

• Thursdays through March 19: Twinkling Trail in Happy Valley—group walk after paper lantern craft activity.  

• March 21-22: Loose Moose Challenge inspires terrain coverage to find hidden letters to reveal a mystery word for a prize.  

• Fridays through March 27: Tube & Groove at the snow-tubing park and dance party with resort mascot Loose Moose.  

• Saturday nights: Carnivals at Village Centre through March 28 and weekly fireworks shows through April 4. 

• April 5: Easter Egg Hunt throughout the Village on Easter Sunday, 9-10 a.m., with a designated area for kids age 5 and younger. Bigger kids can search for hidden “chicks” to claim for treats.  
  
  

RED Mountain Resort (Rossland, BC) 

• March 14-15: Rattlecat Cup is a two-day banked slalom race, all ages and skill levels. 

• March 22: Park Project Rail Jam is a low-pressure session for all abilities (ages 7+) with a supportive community to promote skill progression. Open to skiers, snowboarders and snowskaters.  

• March 28: Bring your dog to the slopes for the 5^th annual Wiener Take All, a canine race event with prizes. 

• April 4: Slush Cup to go big and win prizes. 

Whitewater Mountain Resort (Nelson, BC) 

• March (every weekend): Spring Music Series—live music performances at the resort village throughout March.  

• March 21-22: Blast Beerfest—celebrate local breweries and cideries with samples in Whitewater’s on-the-snow beer garden; enjoy live music and scenic views of Ymir Peak.  

Former junior high Ski Club member Amy McCaffree now stays on the groomers but still downhill skis with her husband and their two kids, now teenagers, who ski much faster than she ever will again—and she’s okay with that. 

The post Chase the Spring Snow Festivals, Races and Pond Skims Across the Region  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Lookout Pass

 Lifts: 5 (2 quads, 2 triples, 1 double) 
Vertical: 1,650  
Skiable acres: 1,023 
Number of runs: 59 
Terrain parks: 3 
Annual snowfall: 450 inches 
Operating schedule: With 100% natural snow, Lookout opens as soon as conditions permit. Seven-day-a-week operations pre-Christmas through April 20 (conditions permitting). 

Season Deals 
Lookout Pass is the mountain for anyone who wants to ski natural snow without draining their wallet and is known as one of the most affordable mountains in the region. Check out these deals:  

• Score two lift tickets for a total of $75 on Thursdays with the Bring a Friend Thursdays promotion.  

• Ski free on your birthday when you show ID or a birth certificate.  

• Make a reservation for lift tickets online by 11:59 p.m. the day before you arrive and save money.  

• If you have a season pass from any other mountain in the world, show your valid pass at the ticket window to get half-price lift tickets Monday through Thursday with the Golden Pass deal. With that offer, an adult can get a full-day lift ticket for just $31.50. 

Why ski Lookout Pass? Because the only thing better than its fresh powder and reliable grooming is knowing you saved enough to buy a round or two at après. 

Ski and Stay Packages 
Lookout Pass partners with lodging establishments in Wallace, Idaho, including the Wallace Inn, the Stardust Motel and The Brooks, to offer ski and stay packages. Contact lodging partners directly for pricing and options. Learn more at Skilookout.com/silver-valley. 

Lessons for Everyone 
Lessons are available for ages 2 through adult, with both group and private options. A few lesson highlights include: 

• Private Lesson 5-Pack: For ages 2 and up, consider a five-pack of private lessons for $375 (regular private lessons are $99 per hour). It’s a solid deal and a great stocking stuffer.  

• Group lessons are offered from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and are $65. Rentals can be added for $20. Lift tickets are sold separately.  

• The Kids’ First Timers Learn to Ski or Snowboard package is $199 and valid for any three days this winter. Participants receive three lessons, three rental setups and three lift tickets. Valid for kids ages 7 to 12. Similar offerings are available for older kids and adults. It’s best to commit to three days when first learning to ski or snowboard. 

Lookout’s World-Famous Free Ski School 

For kids ages 7–17, this program has been running since 1940. It is the longest-running free ski school in the country. Ski or snowboard lessons are offered on seven specific Saturdays during the winter (participants must attend one of the first lessons to participate throughout the season). Children are placed in groups based on age and skill level and receive roughly an hour and a half of instruction. It’s an excellent program for first-timers as well as committed young skiers or riders looking to progress and have fun on the mountain. Sign-ups begin in early to mid-December. FreeSkiSchool.org 

Lookout Pass strongly suggests that all students purchase a season pass or a lift ticket three-pack so they can continue to ski before or after their lessons. Lookout also offers affordably priced, season-long rental ski or snowboard packages.  

More Space to Relax 

With the grand opening of the Snow Globe—a sprung structure that opened last year—Lookout continues to offer additional space for skiers and riders to warm up and refuel. The Snow Globe includes comfortable couches, large-screen TVs and a more relaxed vibe than the historic lodge next door. 

The original historic lodge (the second-oldest in the Northwest) still serves hot breakfasts, hearty meals, pizza, chili, hamburgers, hot dogs and fries, along with hot and cold drinks. Guests can also find a selection of healthier menu options, beer, good coffee, and warm beverages in the Snow Globe. 

The Loft Pub offers options for the 21-and-up crowd, including cocktails, beer on tap or in cans, wings and other snacks. With even more room to kick back, it’s an easy place to unwind after a day on the slopes. 

Featured Events this Season 

Lookout Pass hosts some creative events and competitions, from the Cardboard Box Derby to Kids Snow Bowling, where parents compete using their kids used as bowling balls! Check Skilookout.com/events for the full event calendar. 

• Dress Like Santa Ski for $20: Dec. 22 

• Torchlight Parade: Dec. 31 

• Rail Jam: March 29 

• Ski Golf: April 4 

• Easter Egg Hunt: April 5 

• Hawaiian Luau & Cardboard Box Derby: April 12 

Sponsored

The post Your Complete Winter Guide to Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area appeared first on Out There Venture.

Along the Centennial Trail in Riverside State Park. Photo: Derrick Knowles

Bowl and Pitcher, Riverside State Park (Spokane)

If you want a classic that feels like an actual “hike” without leaving town, start here. The Bowl and Pitcher loop is a short but scenic 2.1-mile route with river views, basalt outcroppings and the iconic footbridge over the Spokane River. A Discover Pass is required for parking. Tip for shoulder-season winter: if the trail is icy in the shade near the river, traction can make the walk immensely more safe and enjoyable. Learn more about trails around Riverside State Park here.

Dishman Hills Natural Area (Spokane Valley)

When the high country is socked in, the Dishman Hills can deliver quick forest strolls ponderosa pine forest and viewpoints that feel surprisingly wild for being on the edge of the city. Routes to destinations like Enchanted Ravine are short (2-miles round trip) and popular. Note that this natural area prioritizes wildlife and native plant preservation, and dogs must remain on a leash. This is one of the best places to catch a winter sunset on a clear day from a high point—just bring a headlamp for the hike back to your car.

When planning a winter hike, avoid muddy trails or trails transitioning between freezing and thawing when hikers can damage trails. Try hiking when trails are frozen or dry or choose trails with trails that drain better. Plan your Dishman Hills adventure here.

Saltese Uplands in late winter. Photo: Derrick Knowles

Saltese Uplands (Liberty Lake area)

Saltese is a strong winter pick when you want open views and a more “wide-sky” feel. The conservation area has more than 7 miles of trail exploring canyons and ridge tops, with views that can stretch toward Liberty Lake and Mount Spokane on clear days. Because it’s more exposed, it can dry out faster than shaded forest trails—but it can also be breezy, so layer up. Learn more about this Spokane County Conservation Futures area and trails here.

Slavin Conservation Area (southwest of Spokane)

For a mellow, low-elevation ramble with wetlands and a pine forest that attract many types of birds and waterfowl, Slavin is a great option. The Slavin Conservation Area is an expansive, rolling landscape with many trail options to create loops of varied length. It’s a nice option when you need to get out of the house in the winter and move your body in a beautiful place without committing to steep climbs and challenging trails. Find more info and a map here.

Post Falls Community Forest and Q’emiln Park (Post Falls)

Right across the Spokane River from Post Falls, this trail network offers lots of choose-your-own loops with river access, basalt rock features and a real “get out of town” feel without a long drive. This park and community forest is also a popular rock-climbing destination but come winter, hikers will generally have the trails to themselves. Find directions here.

Tubbs Hill (downtown Coeur d’Alene)

For a winter hike that pairs perfectly with coffee downtown, Tubbs Hill is hard to beat. It’s a 165-acre natural area owned and maintained by the City of Coeur d’Alene, with multiple access points and a trail around the perimeter. Enjoy views of downtown and Lake Coeur d’Alene on a loop around the hill or create your own extended hike incorporating other trails and loops. You can find a map of the trail system here.

Check out more winter hike recommendations around the region here or read up on the recommended essentials for winter hiking.

The post The Best Winter Hikes Near Spokane and Coeur d’Alene appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of WDFW

This past spring I got to accompany a wolf biologist as he was attempting to collar a wolf in a pack in Northeast Washington. This pack already had a collared pack member, but that collar was malfunctioning, so using the data already collected he set forth to capture another wolf in the pack. During our windshield time we got to swapping stories of wildlife work, backcountry trip leading, and I got to pepper the bio with questions about working with a species of wildlife that—perhaps more than any other in North America—raises the hackles of some and is elevated above all by others. I came to realize that when working with such a contentious, elusive, complex, and endearing species, one must perfect a kind of art along with knowing the science. 

Know Thy Wolf 

To be an effective wildlife biologist, you must know the habits of the animals you study. Wolves are highly social animals that are wary of people. They can range widely in a day, and, if a wolf is a disperser (not associated with a pack), they can travel miles looking for another pack or a mate. In Washington, the average pack size is 4.4 with territories of around 257.7 square miles, but pack size and territories change over time. Washington’s wolves also can and do disperse outside the state. In 2024, seven wolves made their way to British Columbia and Idaho. Biologists use a lot of this information to determine where the animals’ denning and rendezvous sites are. These are the areas where the wolves will return to frequently, and, if there are pups about, they will be bringing food back. These are also great places to set camera traps and areas to try to trap wolves to attach a tracking collar.  

To understand wolf populations, biologists look at multi-year trends and use winter pack surveys, known dispersals, tribal hunting reports, poaching reports, natural deaths (from other wolves or cougars), and add a conservative percentage to account for unknown individuals. Up until last year, there has been an average of 20 percent increase in the wolf populations. Pup survival averages just 25 percent. This is in part why population surveys are done in winter, counting pups that survived from the spring and are likely to become adults. At this time, poaching of wolves dispersing to Washington’s Southern Cascades is the main limiting factor keeping pack establishment in that recovery zone and delaying delisting of wolves from the state endangered species list. 

Tracking and Trapping 

How do you know you are looking at a wolf track? Wolves have big feet—3 ½ to 4 inches. There are some livestock guardian dogs that can have similarly-sized feet, but typically wolf tracks are much larger than your average pet dog. Wolves travel long distances, and they do it efficiently. Their tracks are straight and rarely deviate. Dogs, on the other hand, will zigzag, sniff, and mark anything and everything. Stride length is the last sign that can help determine if it is a dog or a wolf. A wolf will have a stride of 24 to 38 inches when walking. That stride can be up to 6 to 8 feet when running. Accounting for stride length, pad size, and a straight track, a seasoned tracker can be confident in identification. 

The innate behavior of wolves determines how you can trap them. They will not cross a road to investigate a scent. They will take the insides of a corner, because that is the most efficient path. Wolves try to be quiet roaming the woods, so they won’t step on sticks when investigating a scent. All of these considerations must be taken into account for success when setting traps for research and monitoring. 

Wolf Medicine in the Field 

A wolf biologist also needs to know the baseline vitals for these animals. Wild animals generally run hotter than their domestic counterparts, and, when humans are handling them, they can become very stressed. The wolf we worked with had a pulse oxygen monitor attached to its tongue and regular temperatures were taken. Often the tranquilizer drugs used have multiple effects, including lowering heart rate and changing blood pressure.  

There have been a variety of different medications used on wildlife to immobilize them over the years. Some of these are controlled substances and have the potential for abuse (think ketamine). States also have different laws on how these drugs are stored, administered and licensed. When I was knocking out porcupines in New Mexico early in my career, a licensed vet had to administer the drugs. A wolf biologist has to know the correct dosage, how to load the needle or dart, and where to administer it.  

Talking Wolves to People 

Finally, a wolf biologist, along with others that work with large predators, needs to be diplomatic when they work with the public. Ranchers work on thin margins and care for the well-being of their animals—more so than just their financial worth—so any additional impacts can create emotional reactions. Similarly, on the other end of the wolf love-hate spectrum, there are those who think wolves have more importance in the ecosystem than any other species. Their notion of wildness and their resemblance to our family dogs can elicit strong feelings from others. It is hard to have a nuanced conversation about wolves on the landscape, because the opposing sides are so loud, but that is precisely a wolf biologist’s job. 

There may seem to be many glamorous aspects of being a wolf biologist—handling large predators, cruising the woods looking for tracks and hanging out of helicopters for winter surveys. But there is also the building of nuanced knowledge that can take years, and the ability to navigate the political and emotional nature of working with predators and the public. 

Adam Gebauer is excited to get back on his bike as the weather cools. He also is totally, absolutely sure he will do some training for ski season this year. 

The post The Art of Being a Wolf Biologist: Science, Patience, and Empathy in Washington’s Wolf Country appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Jean Arthur

Sunrise promises a sparkling midsummer morning at 6,644 feet elevation at the summit of Going-to-the-Sun Road at Logan Pass. A dozen vehicles snug into parking spots on an August morning as hikers lace boots for early starts on Glacier National Park’s famous Highline Trail. My family plans to hike another popular trail from the parking lot at Logan Pass, the Hidden Lake Trail to Hidden Lake Overlook, a 2.7-mile climb among wildflowers, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, ermine and the occasional grizzly bear. 

We know from experience that the parking lot—all 236 spots—fills by 8 a.m. on July and August mornings. Until about 7 p.m., drivers will troll the parking lot to find a spot, testing patience and pleasantries. Occasionally arguments break out and rangers must intervene.  

The bustle begs the question: Are we loving our national parks to death? Between resource depletion, crushing roadway overuse, damaging pollution, and resource defilement due to garbage, trampling and theft, park lovers are demanding changes. 

Rangers and park staff can barely keep pace. Since the beginning of 2025, permanent park staff positions decreased by 24% for all parks according to the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association. In Grand Teton National Park, the Trump administration’s budget cuts eliminated 16 of the park’s 17 supervisory positions. 

Glacier, which is America’s 10^th national park and spans 1.2 million acres in northwest Montana, has experienced explosive visitor numbers in the past decade, as have other public lands, challenging the resources, park staff and visitor restraint. 

I have frequented Glacier National Park for five decades. My group and I hit the park early to try to beat the new summer crowds. Tailgate coffee, locally grown fruit and prebaked muffins entice our sleepy crew out of warm vehicles to our truck where my husband cranks up the camp stove and makes a couple of bistro’s worth of coffee. To my family, this morning is reminiscent of two decades ago when there was available parking, room to hike without crowding and lots of wildlife.  

We lock up leftovers and head up the paved trail that climbs to a boardwalk, then dirt, and then a snow-covered route with just a few other humans. Brilliant pink heather hugs the ground. The higher we climb, the more glacier lilies—yellow sprites of the high country—shiver in the breeze. A sizable herd of bighorn sheep skitter across rocks then settle for naps with their lambs.  

With so few boots on turf this morning, it’s hard to imagine the significant increase in visitation that Glacier has endured. In 2024, more than 3.2 million people entered Glacier, its third-highest visitation year ever and an increase of 300,000 visitors from 2023.  

Glacier’s 40 percent increase in visitation from 2012 to 2024 is not an anomaly. According to Zion National Park Superintendent, Jeff Bradybaugh, in a letter to Congress, “There are 423 park units in the National Park System encompassing over 85 million acres across our nation, but visitation trends among the individual parks greatly vary. In 2020, overall visitation dropped to a 40-year low due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.” And then spiked. 

In his statement titled, “Lessons from the Field: Overcrowding in National Parks,” Bradybaugh notes that a third of the national parks saw record visitation during the pandemic as people sought outdoor spaces. In 2021, visitation across all NPS units reached 297 million recreation visits, a year when Utah’s Zion National Park alone saw 5 million visitors for the first time in its history and double the number from 2010. Some mitigation efforts are working. Several parks now use timed entry and ticket systems, including Glacier, which piloted vehicle reservation systems for summer months. Because my crew and I visit Glacier often, we know to use Recreation.gov to purchase a park pass and a Going-to-the-Sun Road ticket.  

On our glorious August morning, the road remained quiet at predawn; we only encountered a pair of motorcyclists who cruised the Sun Road to Logan Pass. But by the time we hiked up to the Hidden Lake Overlook, snapped a few photos and walked back, the parking lot was full and the trail overworked.  

“Pack your patience and plan ahead,” reads Glacier National Park’s webpage, “Tips for Dealing with Crowds.” We’ve also packed out other people’s candy wrappers, broken sunglasses and bad attitudes—a visitor aggressively urged us to rush so they could have our parking spot. We left feeling squeezed and a bit Grinchy about sharing our favorite park.  

For national park gateway communities, the tourism boils down to dollars. According to economists at the University of Montana in Missoula, annual nonresident spending in the state totaled $5.82 billion, a two-year average for annual spending. The Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research found that the region surrounding Glacier saw $2 billion in revenue, while the region surrounding Yellowstone averaged $1.3 billion. Yellowstone’s borders also include Idaho and Wyoming. The two Montana regions collectively saw 57% of nonresident travel spending.  

Oregon park visitor Barbara Nelson and her husband encountered long waits when they entered the park’s west gate at West Glacier this summer, even though they had booked tickets for the road and activities in advance. This was not their first park visit, and they’ve witnessed growing wait times at entrance stations, parking lots, trail heads and concession restaurants. 

“We got stopped in the hot sun and felt crowded,” Nelson recalls. “That morning, we started about 9 or 10 a.m. from West Glacier. A busy, August day. Getting behind those red buses is annoying. We got stopped at [the] top of [the] pass and there was still snow. So we had a snowball fight as we were waiting in traffic.” 

The Red Busses offer interpretive tours on Going-to-the-Sun Road. Free shuttles between Apgar near the west entrance and St. Mary at the east entrance alleviate some vehicle traffic, but hour-long standstills still occur, and not always where snowball fights can ensue. There are just many people who want the Glacier experience—including my crew. The park is on pace for another record-breaking summer as of early August 2025, with early counts showing a sizeable increase of more than 12 percent over 2024.  

Overtourism is defined as the phenomenon whereby certain places of interest are visited by excessive numbers of tourists, causing undesirable effects for the places visited. The global nonprofit Responsible Tourism offers a platform for change, helping travelers and communities take responsibility for making tourism more sustainable.  

Locals grasp at reasons for overtourism: short-term rentals alluring and available which push out long-term renters, post-pandemic need for healthy outdoor travel, alluring Instagram images sans mega throbs of tourists, and the Yellowstone Effect, in which people watch Kevin Costner’s television drama “Yellowstone” and visit Montana, Wyoming and Idaho believing a fictional tale of the American West—and wanting a piece of it.  

The “Yellowstone Effect” brought 2.1 million visitors to Montana in 2021, according to the University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research. Fans spent $730 million, yet caused some locals to channel Beth Dutton and mean-mug away visitors—it didn’t work. 

The Tourons of Yellowstone Instagram page, dedicated to documenting bad behavior and egregious offenses, stir up locals’ ire too. The Tourons videos often involve humans (and sometimes their pets) getting too close to wildlife in parks or illegally traipsing near Yellowstone’s extremely hot and fragile hot spring features—and sometimes not surviving. 

Thoughtless visitors trample delicate flora, leave trash and feces, and cause congestion and environmental degradation also felt in housing and infrastructure. Instagrammers sometimes position themselves in precariously dangerous spots for the glory, monetizing the public places. My family witnessed a woman who waded through a swift stream below a waterfall for her ego-driven photo taken by an accomplice. Other visitors, who had to wait 20 minutes for an Instagrammer-free view, did not wish her well.  

The organization Responsible Tourism writes on their website that tourism has breached a tipping point: Hosts and guests are often dissatisfied. “The challenge is to make all destinations sustainable and to avoid spreading the problem. For local government and protected area managers, the key question is: Will the destination use tourism or be used by it?” 

Gateway communities are trying to help visitors find their inner angels. In Jackson, Wyoming, the tourism board adopted a “selfie control” campaign after many tourists got too close to wildlife. Jackson’s “Take care of what takes your breath away” includes signage, advertising and smiling reminders from locals. Bozeman, Montana’s “Becoming Outside Kind” campaign encourages trail etiquette by educating new and longtime residents about how to behave outside. Whitefish, Montana created the “Be a Friend of The Fish” campaign to promote visitor stewardship.  

As Responsible Tourism notes, a global backlash to overtourism and bad behavior has resulted in violence. Protestors in Barcelona, Spain attacked tourists with water guns and called for visitor-accommodation restrictions. Protests against mass tourism and gentrification in Mexico City turned violent, damaging storefronts. Venice banned cruise ships from the city center and instituted a tourist tax. Some cities and attractions now limit the number of visitors, such as Bruges, Belgium, which capped the number of cruise ship arrivals and instead encouraged daytrippers. Solutions remain elusive. 

Summer 2025 saw particularly challenging crowding in Glacier, in part because the much-loved Many Glacier Valley, with its lodge, lakes, campgrounds and trails, underwent extensive utilities reconstruction. Limited parking forced limited access.  

The reward for patience, however, includes spectacular views, cool evenings with remarkable sunsets, and incomparable trails. My crew will wait to camp and hike during the slower season, late September, to avoid the crowds and try to be good stewards of our favorite park. 

Jean Arthur hikes and bikes and boats on public lands and waterways with family, friends and dogs. This fall, she’s picking huckleberries after the early frost sweetens up the hucks and the hues of the backcountry.  

The post Loving a Place to Death: How Overcrowding is Transforming Glacier National Park appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Shallan Knowles

Ever had that feeling that it’s September (already?!), and you haven’t had your fill of hiking, pedaling, kayaking or huck picking? What the heck happened to summer? Well, you’re in luck. With cooler fall temps promising perfect outdoor adventure weather, the good times out on the trails are not over yet.   

The Inland Northwest is crisscrossed with incredible long-distance rail trails, cycling routes and pathways that seem to get better every year. The Route of the Hiawatha is at its smooth, gravelly prime. The Trail of the Coeur d’Alene’s famed moose and great blue heron sightings are plentiful. More and more family and friends are embarking on the Bitterroot 300, enjoying the sleepy Saint Joe River wilds as well as the Route of the Olympian rail trail heading deeper into Montana. The North Idaho and Spokane River Centennial trails continue to be improved upon, raising the recreational experiences of walkers, cyclists and dogs alike.   

As fall draws ever closer, the only climate-change positive is a longer cycling season expanding well into October and beyond. If you are hoping to fit in a fall ride on the Route of the Hiawatha, you’ll need to make it happen by Sept. 21, when the “Tunnel” shuts down for the season. The fall cycling season is the best, with little to no precipitation, no bugs, and few people, which means the trails are wide open to ride.  

With another summer trails season behind us, I want to take the opportunity in this public-lands focused edition of Out There to draw attention to an issue that continually jams my saddle: poor trail etiquette. When I ride, which I do almost as much as possible or as long as a pair of clean bike shorts are available, I am all about enjoying the aesthetics of the trail I’m on. Be it the wilderness-like Hiawatha or more urban-focused Centennial, I am in the moment of the “the ride.”  

I stop frequently to enjoy the flora and fauna, chat it up with other cyclists, and soak up the glorious recreational amenities we have such easy access to. My focus, naturally, is not on who is speedily coming up from behind me hell-bent on a Tour de France-type ride. I am looking around, checking out flowers, wildlife prints in the mud, the sound of the river or wind in the trees. Many other riders out there on our shared trails are similarly absorbed in their own in-the-moment experience much of the time and not looking out for potential moving hazards either. This is where trail etiquette comes into play. It’s every trail user’s responsibility to do their best to keep each other safe and take care of the trail and surrounding environment. 

Trail Etiquette for Cyclists, Hikers and Dog Walkers  

Here are some trail-behavior basics we all need to follow to keep it fun and safe out on our region’s trails (especially when they are long and straight rail trails). 

Be Courteous: 

• Stay to the right when enjoying the trail. 

• Slower traffic and pedestrians have the right of way. 

• Make yourself known when overtaking another user by announcing something like “on your left” or deploying a bike bell. 

• Always pass other trail users on the left (assuming they are following the rules and are on the right side of the trail). 

Ride Safely and Responsibly: 

• Avoid sudden changes of direction. 

• Announce yourself when stopping or turning. 

• Yield when entering or crossing roadways. 

• Don’t block the trail. 

Protect Natural Resources: 

• Pack out all of your trash and strive to leave no trace. 

• Enjoy wildlife sightings, but don’t disturb or get too close to wildlife. 

• Stay on existing trails to reduce erosion and avoid trampling plants. 

Control and Pick Up After Your Pet 

• Leashes are required for dogs on Idaho and Washington state park trails unless otherwise posted. 

• Always pick up and pack out your best friend’s droppings. 

• Don’t let your dog chase after other trail users, other pets or wildlife. 

By making a small effort to use the above trail etiquette tips, we can all more fully enjoy our trails and public lands. Learn about more trails in the Idaho Panhandle and find more trail etiquette recommendations at Friendsofcdatrails.org. Feel free to contact me with any trail comments or questions at wallacepm56@gmail.com. See you out on the trails! 

The post Sharing the Trails: Fall Adventures and Friendly Reminders Cycling, hiking and dog walking with respect for nature and others  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Free Outdoor-Themed Entertainment 

• There are several fee-free days coming up for Washington State Parks (as well as lands managed by Washington Fish and Wildlife and Washington Department of Natural Resources): Sept. 27 marks National Public Lands Day, Oct. 10 is World Mental Health Day, and Veterans Day is Nov. 11. Visit Washington parks without a Discover Pass for each of these. 

• Chelan-Douglas Land Trust continues to host monthly guided “Hike for Health” events, with hikes planned on Sept. 13 at Cashmere Canyons Preserve and the final hike of the year on Oct. 11 at Saddle Rock Natural Area. Additionally, the group will partner with the Wenatchee Valley Astronomy Club (supplying telescopes at the event!) for a guided night hike on Sept. 23. 

• Join Inland Northwest Land Conservancy for a free guided hike at Glen Tana in the Little Spokane River Valley on Sept. 13. This recent conservation acquisition is not yet open to the public, so joining one of INLC’s guided hikes is the only way to get a sneak peek.  

Fundraisers, Contests, and Events 

• Dishman Hills Conservancy will host its annual Wild at Heart fundraiser dinner on Sept. 27 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tickets for the event are available through the DHC website. 

• Join Wenatchee River Institute for its fourth Annual Sunset & S’mores fundraiser on Oct. 1, from 5-7:30 p.m. in Leavenworth. While the event is fee-based, the organization offers “pay what you can” pricing for those wishing to attend. Tickets include dinner, drinks, and organized activities for a family-friendly event. Advance registration required. 

• MedWAR Challenge is coming to Mount Spokane State Park on Oct. 4. Teams of four will tackle an approximately 10-mile course while solving medical scenarios, in an event that is most similar to a Spartan race meeting a wilderness first aid course. A successful team will have a member with a bit of a medical background along with a member who knows a little map and compass (no GPS allowed). Registration of $250 per team includes event t-shirts, post-race dinner, and on-site camping. 

• Washington State photographers, take note. The annual Washington Trails Association photo contest is currently open, with a deadline of Oct. 6. Photographers can submit multiple photographs in each available category for a chance to win fun prizes. There are several main categories, along with a bonus category depicting random acts of kindness captured on trail. See Wta.org for full contest rules and to submit your entries. 

• Have a photo of a National Recreation Trail? American Trails hosts an annual photo contest for photos taken on a designated National Recreation Trail. That deadline is Dec. 15, which gives photographers plenty of time to capture fantastic fall color shots from our region’s trails. 
  
  

Stewardship, Conservation, & Volunteer Opportunities 

• The Idaho chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers will be partnering with OnX for a Public Lands Packout along the lakeshore of the Pend Oreille Wildlife Management Area on Sept. 13. Hike from the Clark Fork Drift Yard Boat Launch, or bring your own boat to explore and lend a hand to clean up the shoreline. The event will start at 9 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m., followed by a barbecue. 

• Chelan Douglas Land Trust will mark “Make a Difference Day” with a day of maintenance work at Saddle Rock on Oct. 25. 

• Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance is hosting Larch Fest on the Kettle Crest, Oct. 2-5. There are multiple days of riding and socializing, with a trail maintenance project planned for Oct. 4. 

• Friends of Palisades will host its annual fall cleanup event on Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. to noon at Palisades Park west of downtown Spokane. Plan to arrive a little early to enjoy coffee, hot cider, and cookies ahead of the event. 

• Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness will celebrate National Public Lands Day on Sept. 27 with a maintenance project on East Fork Trail #563 followed by a fun cook-out event at the trailhead. The last project of the season will occur on Oct. 1 on the Star Gulch Trail. Advance registration required. 

• Great Burn Conservation Alliance is offering a noble reason to make the trek to Weir Creek Hot Spring on Sept. 20, as they are hosting a beginner-friendly site cleanup activity to mark World Cleanup Day. The group will meet at the Lochsa Lodge to enjoy breakfast, followed by spending a couple hours devoted to the site cleanup, and then participants may choose to stick around for an optional soak in the spring. 

• Idaho Trails Association will celebrate National Public Lands Day on a project with fantastic views. Join them on Sept. 27 for maintenance work on the Chimney Rock Trail. 

• Join members of the Northeast Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society for a series of fall cleanup events. The group will start on Sept. 5 at Underhill Park in Spokane. On Sept. 13 the focus turns to Polly Judd Park, and on Sept. 19 a project is planned for the Fearn Conservation Area at Riverfront Park. The work will include a general cleanup of each park, along with a main focus of removing invasive plant species in order to replant with native plants. Advance registration is requested. 

• Spokane Nordic will be hosting a series of trail maintenance days, aimed at preparing the Mount Spokane State Park Nordic Trails for early grooming as soon as snow returns to the mountain. Lend a hand Sept. 6, 7, and 27, as well as Oct. 11 and 12. 

• Washington Trails Association will be gradually moving from the mountains toward the valley as the fall progresses, with fall projects planned at Fishtrap for National Public Lands Day on Sept. 27 along with multiple project days at Mount Spokane and Mica Peak throughout September. By October, the work will move to lower areas to provide some fall maintenance for the trails before winter. 

The post Inland NW Trail & Outdoor News  appeared first on Out There Venture.

By Amy McCaffree 

Cover photo courtesy of Amy McCaffree

Looking for outdoor community this summer for you and your dog? Your local off-leash dog park is one such place.  

Seriously—where else can Millennials, Gen Z, Gen X and Boomers come and go randomly, mill about and chitchat, and where formal introductions are optional? At the dog park, the only expectations are to clean up after your dog and ensure your dog plays nice, which means respecting and following off-leash park rules. There is unique camaraderie because of a shared value, a love for dogs. Dogs also inspire humans to be more like them: friendly, non-judgmental, carefree, eager to play outdoors.  

As a societal microcosm, a dog park is fascinating. My young dog, Layla, and I started going to dog parks last summer, when she was 6 months old. Visiting our local one is now part of our regular routine. I’ve had more conversations with random Boomer men than ever before, especially on weekday mornings. It’s where I regularly cross paths with people in their 20s-30s. No visit is the same. For me, the wonderful array of breeds and dog personalities is the best part. From corgis and chow chows to huskies and Newfoundlands, dogs are joyfully entertaining. And I consider providing play opportunities for Layla my dog-mom duty. 

Dog Park Etiquette 

Every off-leash park has the same general rules, which can be found online or posted on-site. Mostly common sense and etiquette stuff: only fully-vaccinated dogs allowed, clean up after your dog, no fighting. 

Dog parks are highly stimulating and unpredictable; therefore, drama happens. Dogs well-suited for an off-leash park environment are “typically young (between 6 months and 2 years old), outgoing, love to play, friendly, and forgiving,” says Terry Ann Fernando, creator and host of “The Accidental Bird Dog” podcast. Less suited for the dog-park environment, according to Fernando, are:  

1. Very young puppies (4-6 months old; puppies 16 weeks or younger should not visit). 

2. Shy or aloof dogs, who might act defensive or snappy when surrounded by a group of dogs or simply prefer one-on-one play with a dog friend rather than random new ones. 

3. Adult dogs who have grown out of the playful stage of life, which varies by breed and temperament. Some seniors dogs, age 7+, are still spry and active, while some 4-5 year-olds act grumpy and tired.  

4. Small or fragile breeds, unless in a “small dog” area of an off-leash park—tiny dogs should never be in the same area as big breeds. 

5. Aggressive dogs, without exception. (Even at an off-leash area, owners are liable for their dog’s actions and any injuries or damages to other dogs or people, regardless of the dog’s behavioral history.) 

6. Under-exercised dogs, who have been confined or not walked for a stretch of time—or are infrequent park visitors—can cause trouble when they arrive “like a drunk college student at a frat party,” Fernando says. 

7. Intact males can attract negative attention from neutered males and may also attempt to dominate female dogs; also, female dogs in heat should not visit dog parks.  

It’s recommended that dogs new to off-leash play areas first visit during off-peak times, such as early morning or weekdays before 3 p.m.—same for older or less playful dogs. Be sure to know and understand “dog language” and follow park rules for a positive experience with other park visitors. 

Spokane and North Idaho Dog Parks 

Standard amenities include a double-gate entry/exit system; separate/divided sections for small and large breeds (unless otherwise noted in list below); dog bag dispensers, drinking fountains, benches, shelters and picnic tables; open dawn to dusk (typically). Use this guide to plan a day trip or for road-trip stops along the journey to a summer vacation. (Note: “Dog park” info from Yelp, Google Reviews and BringFido.com is not 100% accurate—a “dog friendly” park doesn’t mean off-leash use is allowed.) 

Spokane County 

• High Bridge Dog Park: 9.3 acres, recently renovated, layout includes three separate fenced play areas with the large area, featuring rugged terrain, best suited for large breeds. 

• South Hill Dog Park: 1.8 acres, opened fall 2024, partially paved and gravel walking path. No separate area for small dogs; no picnic tables or shelter. 

• Riverside Dog Park: triangle-size “pocket” park (.07 acre) created for residents/dog owners of downtown and Browne’s Addition. (Note: As of April 2025, both gate latches were broken, posing a safety risk.) No shelter or tables. 

• Valley Mission Dog Park: Has agility features and dog wash station. 

• Patricia Simonet Laughing Dog Park: Located at Gateway Regional Park, I-90 Stateline exit, managed by SCRAPS. 

• Cheney Dog Park: Opened in summer 2023, corner of Presley Drive & Hwy 904. 

Coeur d’Alene/Kootenai County 

• McEuen Dog Park: Located within McEuen Park. 

• Riverstone Dog Park: Walk-in only, accessible off the Centennial Trail; 0.5 acre; drivers can park at Riverstone Park. 

• Cherry Hill Dog Park: 0.68 acres. 

• Central Bark Dog Park: Located within Northshire Park. 

• Atlas Water Dog Park: ADA-accessible off-leash area within Atlas Park, along the Spokane River, includes a beach and Spokane river access.  

• Croffoot Dog Park: Located in Hayden at Croffoot Park and Sports Complex. 

Sandpoint Area 

• Dog Beach Park: Walk/bike-in only; off-leash beach located off Serenity Lee Trail, south of downtown Sandpoint. 

• Ponderay Pet Safe Dog Park: Located by Panhandle Animal Shelter, fully ADA-accessible with ramps, access points, and pathways; dog agility course. 

• Pine Street Woods: Conservation property, 180 acres, managed by Kaniksu Land Trust; dogs allowed to be off-leash if “within voice control.” 

• Sam Owen Campground (Hope, ID): Off-leash dogs allowed on the rocky beach, adjacent to the day-use area. 

Silver Valley & Missoula, MT 

• Wallace Dog Park: Opened in 2022; solar-powered lights for after dark, covered patio area. 

• Missoula: MRL Park Dog Area, Fort Missoula Regional Sgt. Bozo Dog Park, and Jacobs Island Bark Park.  

Palouse/Whitman County 

• Pullman Pooch Park: Managed by Whitman County Humane Society; $5 day pass or paid membership required. 

• Moscow Dog Park: Located by Humane Society of the Palouse. 

Lewiston/Clarkston 

• Lewiston: Penny’s Memorial Dog Park. 

• Clarkston: Eagle Scout Dog Park and Pippin’s Island Off-Leash Area.  

Did You Know? 

• 66% of American households own at least one pet, predominately a dog. 

• 30% of pet owners are from Millennial Generation (born between 1981 and 1996; currently those age 29-44), followed by Gen X and Baby Boomers (25% each of pet-owner population) and Gen Z (20%). 

Source: American Pet Products Association’s 2025 National Pet Owners Survey 

More Dog Parks in Eastern/Central Washington 

• Moses Lake: Basin Homes Dog Park 

• Wenatchee: Hale Park Off-Leash Area 

• Ellensburg: 2 off-leash areas, Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park and Rotary Park. 

• Walla Walla: Fort Walla Walla Dog Park. 

• Yakima: Randall Park off-leash areas. 

Additional Inland Northwest Off-Leash Areas 

Offering more off-leash dog areas (OLA) is good public relations and marketing for communities. According to the “City of Spokane Dog Park Guidelines,” published in Oct. 2022, the city needs six off-leash dog parks to meet local demand. Standard planning for the people-dog ratio population is 38,000 people or 25,000 dogs per facility. Local survey data was used to project that 90% of Spokane residents are dog owners, with an estimated dog population of 150,000. In a ranked list of similar-sized cities, Boise, Idaho, is #1 for providing 16 dog parks, which equates to use ratio of 9,536 dogs per facility. (In 2022, Spokane’s ratio was over 74,000 dogs per facility.) 

With too few off-leash areas (OLA), dog-owners tend to take matters into their own hands, which results in hiking areas and other public parks becoming de facto off-leash areas—and this causes more problems. Typically, local governments enact and enforce dog-leash laws. In Washington, there is no statewide leash requirement except for one pertaining to state parks; however, there is a law prohibiting “animals at large” off private property. To meet demand for off-leash recreation, SnipSpot.com is a platform for private property owners to become a “host” and dog-owners pay an hourly fee for their dog to run around off-leash. 

Notable Dog Parks in Western Washington/Puget Sound Area Cities 

• Bellingham: Squalicum Creek Park, Fairhaven Dog Park, Arroyo Park, Lake Padden Park Off-Leash Area. 

• Everett: Howarth Park Off Leash Area, Lowell Riverfront Dog Park, Loganberry Lane Dog Park 

• Redmond: Marymoor Park (40-acres). 

• Seatac: Grandview Park (37 acres).  

• Seattle: Jose Rizal Park (Beacon Hill), Genesee Park Off-Leash Area (southeast Seattle), Golden Gardens (Ballard), Magnuson Park (Sand Point). 

• Tacoma: Point Defiance Dog Park, Swan Creek Off-Leash Dog Park. 

Resources: 

my.spokanecity.org/parks/dogs 

https://www.cdaid.org/726/departments/parks/park-list

Amy McCaffree is an OTO senior writer who has been contributing to Out There since 2016. If you see Layla and Amy at a dog park, say hello! Follow her outdoor recreation and #dogmom adventures on Instagram @adventure_amy_spokane or TikTok @pnwadventureamy. 

The post Where Paws Meet People  appeared first on Out There Venture.

By Chris Maccini 

Cover photo by Action Sports Media and courtesy of Dogsmile Adventure

On any given day this summer, you’re likely to find Jon Totten sailing the waters of Lake Pend Oreille aboard one of the boats owned by the nonprofit he started in 2021, Dogsmile Adventures. On board, you’ll find a somewhat unusual crew. It might be a group of veterans, youth with special needs, or adults with disabilities. But there’s one constant, the facial expressions that give the organization its name: wide, toothy grins like you’d see on the face of a happy puppy. A “dog smile.” And that smile is not just a side effect, it’s the whole purpose of the organization. 

Dogsmile is a “therapeutic sailing” program. Unlike other boating organizations that may be focused purely on recreation or instruction, Dogsmile’s emphasis is on creating “powerful opportunities for people to discover healing and potential through sailing adventures.” Through their partnerships with other local organizations, Totten and his small team are helping people in the Inland Northwest discover the healing power of wind and waves.  

An Inland Sailor 

Totten’s journey to founding a sailing nonprofit began when he was a student at the University of Idaho. As an undergraduate, he got involved with the school’s outdoor recreation program and fell in love with the mountains and waters of the Northwest. Soon after graduation, he landed a job 90 minutes north, helping coordinate the Outdoor Pursuits program at North Idaho College (NIC). One aspect of that job included managing a fleet of five small sailboats on NIC’s Lake Coeur d’Alene waterfront. Totten had never sailed before, but he picked it up quickly and soon discovered that sailing gave him a feeling unlike any other. 

“There was just something different about sailing that really captivated me, and it took me a long time to really put a finger on it,” Totten says. “It’s not as hard physically as climbing a mountain, but it takes immense concentration and real coordination. When I got done sailing, I just had this feeling of relief. And it just made me feel better.” 

That feeling developed into a passion that eventually led Totten to get a U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s License and find work as a sailing instructor. For years, he bounced between Washington’s San Juan Islands, Idaho, and the Caribbean, leading sailing trips, guiding on rivers, and working in campus recreation. 

Then, the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench into everyone’s lives. The recreation industry was particularly hard hit. At the time, Totten was living on the Caribbean island of Grenada, watching his water-based livelihood dry up. That’s when he decided to act on an idea he’d been mulling for years. 

“The longer we were down there, the bigger the boats got, the more wealthy the clientele,” Totten says. “When you’re living in a place that has so much poverty, it started to get to me. And so it was like, god, it’d be great if I could do something with more purpose, and try to use sailing to do good. But it was no more than an idea until the pandemic, when I literally had no option other than starting a business.” 

Sailing with a Purpose 

Once Totten had made up his mind to start a nonprofit, he sailed his J/105—a 35-foot racing sailboat named Dogsmile—from Grenada to Florida, and then had it shipped to North Idaho. He cashed out his retirement account from his time at North Idaho College and launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise the startup capital to launch his dream of a therapeutic sailing program. 

Totten was an experienced sailor, and he’d seen firsthand how impactful sailing could be, but he had no experience running a nonprofit. For help, he turned to an industry that has been providing experiential therapy for decades. “The people who had the most influence on me are the equine therapy folks,” Totten says. “What they’ve done with people and horses is what I want to do with people and sailboats.”  

Totten connected with leaders of equine therapy programs and learned everything he could from them. He even borrowed their templates for his website and 501(c)3 nonprofit application. By the summer of 2021, Totten was ready to officially launch Dogsmile Adventures. 

Therapeutic Partnerships 

Totten’s approach—again borrowed from equine therapy—was to partner with existing service organizations to bring his new idea to people who could benefit. His first partner in the summer of 2021 was a program based in Coeur d’Alene called Specialized Needs Recreation (SNS), which coordinates recreation and socialization opportunities for children and adults with special needs.  

“Initially I was like, okay, let’s go on a boat ride. We’ll see how this goes,” says SNS Executive Director Lindsay Patterson. “But instantly what I observed with a variety of our participants is an overwhelming sense of calmness and peace that literally takes over their whole being the second they step on the boat. It’s like nothing I’ve seen when they participate in any other activity.”  

Sailing has since become the top-requested summer activity for SNS participants. Meanwhile, Totten has gone on to partner with several other area organizations, including those that work with veterans, individuals with ALS, college students, and underserved youth. He’s also expanded his fleet, adding two smaller sailboats alongside the original Dogsmile. With each outing, Totten—along with a small staff and volunteers—is able to tailor the sailing experience to each group’s needs and abilities. It’s an approach that Lindsay and SNS especially appreciate.  “He’ll find a very specific, targeted task that he needs help with,” she says. “Maybe it’s just stacking the life jackets in the cabin, or maybe it’s holding onto a rope that really doesn’t do anything. But sure enough, they feel like they’ve really contributed to the experience.” 

This summer, Totten is hoping to create new partnerships and get more people on the water. He also offers private sailboat charters for tourists and other visitors—which in turn helps subsidize the therapeutic sailing trips. You can learn more about Dogsmile Adventures or book your own sailing voyage at dogsmileadventures.org. 

Chris Maccini is a writer and audio producer based in Spokane. This summer, you can find him hiking the trails of the Northwest with is dog, Hank. 

The post From the San Juans to the Soul  appeared first on Out There Venture.

By Sarah Hauge 

Let me start with total transparency: I am not a trail runner. I have no expertise in this area. I run dozens of miles every week, but almost every one of those miles is on pavement.  

That’s not to say I’ve never tried it. I’ve run with friends through Riverside State Park. I’ll veer off the paved loop to forge my own path through a field of flowers in Upper Lincoln Park. But those forays have been a blip in my running life. For one thing, I don’t like heights; my fingertips go tingly and my imagination plays a slideshow of imminent death at the hint of a sheer drop-off.  

And truthfully, I love my road runs. I love tooling around the neighborhood, saying hi to friendly dogs, looping through favorite parks, and crisscrossing the bridges that span the river. I love seeing how familiar sights shift and cycle over time, like the slender but vibrant strip of poppies along the sidewalk near my kids’ school that bursts into bloom as a forerunner of summer. Even along the well-paved path, you’ll see a kaleidoscope of wildflowers, marmots snuffling among the shrubbery, or a bison or two grazing in their field. 

Recently, though, my family visited my brother and sister-in-law in Bellingham. They live mere footsteps from the Interurban Trail, the former rail trail that stretches from the historic Fairhaven neighborhood to Larrabee State Park. With zero sheer drop-offs and the easy access to their house, I became a committed trail runner…for exactly two days. 

It was everything I didn’t know I’d been craving. The tree canopy protected me from the rain, parting just enough to reveal expansive views of the bay. I passed not one, not two, but three waterfalls. I almost always listen to a podcast or audiobook while I run, but it was obvious that for these mornings, the trail itself would provide my soundtrack. My runs were meditative and serene, with chipmunks and birds as my main companions.  

As I ran back to my brother’s house the second morning, I felt refreshed and rejuvenated. Energized. I pushed the pace, easily ending my trail experiment feeling strong and powerful. I cruised past a man and his dog and zipped past a pair of walkers, surging toward the open path ahead. It felt good to be in nature, strong and fast and lost in my thoughts. 

And that’s when I heard voices from behind me. Not just a couple of voices, but many, many voices, approaching rapidly. Very rapidly. They must be on bikes, I thought, naively. What else could explain my powerful trail-runner persona being so swiftly overtaken? 

I’ll tell you what: I was about to be passed by dozens of members of some kind of elite men’s running club. They blew past me, chatting easily, not the least bit winded as they sailed ahead toward a narrower stretch winding down the hill. How far would they go? I couldn’t say. From the looks of it, probably forever. 
I was a little irked by the disruption, by their effortless speed, by the subconscious ease and sense of safety a group of young men together exude—which was in direct contrast to my stark awareness of my vulnerability as a woman running alone, anywhere, ever. 

But also: I loved what they were doing. A nice long run through gorgeous scenery with a group of friends on a weekend morning? There’s not much better. 

I arrived home tired and content, holding on to a few takeaways: 1) Experiment with more trail running close to home. 2) Skip the headphones every now and then. 3) If you’re going to get a small dose of humility, you might as well get it somewhere beautiful. 

Sarah Hauge is a writer and editor who lives in Spokane with her husband and kids. She is looking forward to floating the Little Spokane for the first time this summer. 

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