Longtime outdoor enthusiasts Chic Burge and David Crafton launched a new website focused on highlighting routes and trails throughout the Inland Northwest. Initially focused on Eastern Washington, North Idaho, and Western Montana, with a handful of Canadian hikes, the website, Inlandnwroutes.com, catalogs hundreds of miles of trails and backcountry routes throughout the area, as well as several paddling options and cross-country skiing opportunities. The website also includes essays, poems, and a few tutorials, including a genius article about outdoor photography. 

Burge joined the Spokane Mountaineers back in 1984, and his passion for the outdoors is unmatched. He has lead trips all over the Northwest, and he has been a celebrated photographer for over 50 years. This website is a passion project for him, and it shows. Stunning visuals, firsthand knowledge, additional tips, and articles in the website menu bar testify to his long-time adventure lifestyle. 

Crafton was born and raised at the foot of the Sierra Nevada range. He moved to the Northwest after college so he could be centrally located to what he considers the best outdoor playground in the world. “My goal is to get as much information out of our heads and onto this website as possible in an effort to inspire others to spend time in the mountains,” he says.  

The website will continue to evolve over time with the two veteran adventurers adding more trips and field reports. Do yourself a favor and bookmark www.inlandnwroutes.com. 

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The club’s 1970 summer outing was held at Glacier National Park in Montana. One new member this year is David Coombs, who will go on to climb Mount Everest. Other climbs this year were varied and far afield. Local climbers John Roskelley and Bob Christianson did a first ascent of the North Face of Lions Head Peak in the American Selkirks. Roskelley and fellow climber Chris Kopczynski headed to the Bugaboos in British Columbia before Roskelley and club member Jim Sates, who taught the medical section of the Spokane Mountaineers Mountain School for many seasons, set out to climb Nanda Devi. In 1970 the club had 284 members.

In 1971 new member Doug Rider was named the National Ski Patrol’s “Most Outstanding Ski Patroller” for the 1970-71 season. In 1972, new members included Joyce and John Roskelley, Betty First and Tom Kimbrell. Mount Rainier had 84.3 feet of snow at the Paradise Lodge that year. Club membership jumped to 412 by 1971.

In 1973, John Roskelley attempted a climb of the southwest ridge of Dhaulagiri in the Himalayas. Major climbs by club members in 1974 included Mount Sir Donald by Jim Spearman and Gary Cassel and a summit campout on Mount Rainier by Jim Hickey and Randy Jamison. In the now proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, member Jim Collier led a climb of Billiard Table Mountain.

In 1975 new members included Ida Rowe Dolphin, who went on to co-write “100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest” with Rich Landers. New members in 1976 included the famous Sherpa Tenzing Norgay who summited Mount Everest with Sir Edmond Hillary. The U.S. Forest Service “Leave No Trace” program was announced this year, and the Alpine Lakes Management Area Act passed. Significant outings this year included a 100-mile bike ride from Priest Lake to Spokane.

This is #5 in a series of Spokane Mountaineers historical highlights. Learn more about the club and its events and outings as members celebrate 100 years at www.spokanemountaineers.org.

Written by Chic Burge.

The post Looking Back at the Spokane Mountaineers (1968-1976) appeared first on Out There Venture.

The Spokesman-Review has posted a video chronicling 60-year-old Spokane mountaineer Kay LeClaire’s climb up Mount Everest. She is the second oldest American woman to have reached the summit, and in doing so, she completed the seven summits. Check it out!

The post Video of Spokane Mountaineer’s Feat appeared first on Out There Venture.