Out There Outdoors // May-June 2023

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MAY - JUNE 2023

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PUBLISHERS

Shallan & Derrick Knowles

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Derrick Knowles

MANAGING EDITOR

Lisa Laughlin

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Jon Jonckers

SENIOR WRITERS

S. Michal Bennett

Carol Corbin

Adam Gebauer

Sarah Hauge

Amy McCaffree

Ammi Midstokke

Brad Northrup

Justin Short

Aaron Theisen

Holly Weiler

CONTRIBUTORS

Crystal Atamian

Bradley Bleck

Patrick Bulger

Paul Delaney

James P. Johnson

Rich Kimpel

Karie Lee Knoke

Rich Leon

Bri Loveall

Dave Luke

Chris Maccini

Ed Merz

Vince Mo

Joel Sattgast

Logan Siegford

Justin Skay

Angela Marie Slotten

Brad Thiessen

Wies van Wetten

Wil Wheaton

ART + PRODUCTION

Jon Jonckers

Shallan Knowles

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©Copyright 2023 Out There Monthly, LLC. The views expressed in this magazine reflect those of the writers and advertisers and not necessarily Out There Monthly, LLC.

Disclaimer: Many of the activities depicted in this magazine carry a significant risk of personal injury or death. Rock climbing, river rafting, snow sports, kayaking, cycling, canoeing and backcountry activities are inherently dangerous. The owners and contributors to Out There Monthly / Out There Outdoors do not recommend that anyone participate in these activities unless they are experts or seek qualified professional instruction and/or guidance, and are knowledgeable about the risks, and are personally willing to assume all responsibility associated with those risks.

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INTRO Jumping in to Summer

deep and clear I remember fish darting from my shadow at what seemed an impossible depth. We never had watercraft of any kind. It was enough of a thrill to feel the contrast of cold water on hot skin. We reveled in the inbetween, marveling at our sudden buoyancy under the summer sun.

We only ever stayed a couple of hours before piling back into my dad’s hot pickup and driving the steep canyon back to the farm. But something about the lake stayed with us. It gave us the push to play outside from the time the clouds went gold until the soft rustle of wings announced the barn owls were up. It sent our skin tingling once again as the cool night air settled in invisible columns around us.

If my memory of the lake holds any clue, it may be this: go toward something that feels a bit contradictory. A little bit jarring. Something that will make you suck in your breath like you’ve just jumped into a mountain-fed lake on a 90-degree day.

WATER SEEMED A CONTRADICTION, where I grew up. In the Columbia Basin, summer days are so dry you can smell a raincloud before it hits. I was aware of the land’s aridity living on a dryland wheat farm. There were days so hot and stagnant I swore I could hear the wheat crackle as it grew.

There was one reprieve I always looked forward to, and it became my definition of summer greatness: a trip to the lake.

The lake we chose was Lake Chelan, 50 miles from our farm. We went on summer Sundays, my father’s day off from the field. It’s still my favorite lake in the region—so

Many people I know are back to the preCovid complaint that every weekend in their summer calendar is full: commitments to family trips, sports tournaments, weddings, camps, and baby showers standing like blocks around which we must arrange the things we waited all year to do, like hike, camp, and raft. A schedule like this set me wondering how I could make my summer time really count. Was there something fundamental I could engage to make my outdoor time more memorable, rather than just check off an item on a calendar?

In this issue, you will find ideas for summer inspiration ranging from the fast-paced wilds of whitewater rafting to the quiet task of foraging for edible plants. Jump on a bike, bike everywhere, but be conscious in your choice to go fast or slow. Stop and smell the lilacs or go for a new land speed record— whatever feels new and most engaging. Rent a van and travel north with our British Columbia Adventure Guide to surround yourself with mountain peaks straight out of a J.R.R. Tolkien book. Make a side dish from a backyard plant you may have considered a weed. (It will make a great story at your next obligatory BBQ.) Contrast can be found when we seek out new experiences, whether it’s a difference in elements, muscle use, or conversation. Near or far, (safely) follow that contrast for a bit of friction. It’s the best way I know to find experiences that will stick with you, no matter what’s filling your summer schedule. //

Lisa Laughlin, Managing Editor

NEW CLIMBING GYM TO OPEN

POST FALLS, IDAHO

The Coeur Climbing Company plans a grand opening for the most advanced climbing gym in the Northwest on July 9, 2023. The gym has been years in the making, says Daniel Shaw, the primary driver of the project. This indoor climbing facility aims to become the hub for the North Idaho climbing community. Definitely visit the gym if you want to learn about North Idaho climbing firsthand.

Shaw grew up in Prescott, Arizona, before moving to Texas and then Colorado, eventually landing in the Inland Northwest in 2006. All the while climbing has been in his blood. “I’ve been a climber all my life and I love it and my kids love it. And even though Coeur d’Alene is an outdoorsy place, it doesn’t have a connected climbing community, and I’ve always wanted to help build that,” he says.

Shaw partnered with several other climb-

ers, including Jeff Fowler, Jeff Dance, and Brad Tanner, in order to bring this climbing gym to life. But it’s more than a climbing gym. The facility also hosts fitness and cardio stations, a yoga studio, an interactive Moon Board, as well as a small shop for climbing gear. The Coeur Climbing Company is prepared to handle all your climbing questions and all your climbing needs, whether you want to climb 5.11 or Chimney Rock.

Overall, this might be the greatest contribution to the local climbing area since the Kootenai Climbers arranged cleanups at Q’emiln Park. The Coeur Climbing Company created one of the best climbing facilities in the entire region. If you’re a climber, you don’t want to miss this grand opening. Find out more by visiting their website at Coeurclimbing.com or follow them on Instagram. (Jon Jonckers)

OUTDOOR TEAM-BUILDING CHALLENGE COURSES

MT. BAKER HILL

Sunday,

mtbakerhillclimb.com

CHENEY, WASH.

Eastern Washington University is offering community groups an opportunity to build their teams through challenge courses that take place on an amped-up outdoor playground. Located in Cheney, the grounds feature 40-foot poles, beams, ropes, cables, logs, tires, and other obstacles that are incorporated into organized activities geared toward each group’s objectives. According to program director Chris Cindric, courses may take place close to the ground or high in the air, depending on goals. Even though participants may climb and belay, Cindric notes that no experience with these skills is necessary.

The program welcomes groups of up to 36 from Inland Northwest businesses, school districts, non-profits, and other such organizations. Participants are typically adults, but activities may be designed for students as young as third grade. The program does not accommodate activities such as birthday and bachelorette/bachelor parties.

Groups commonly come to the program seeking to practice communication and lis-

tening skills, says Cindric. They also want to develop trust, step out of their comfort zone, and improve decision making. The “Team Triangle” (which utilizes low elements) is one example of an activity that facilitates this type of growth. In this activity, groups start on a platform, move out onto poleattached cables, then progress from pole to pole along the cables. To successfully complete the Triangle, the group must assess and plan before beginning and communicate well along the way.

Courses are led by EWU students working toward an Experiential Education and Group Facilitation minor. These students learn technical, leadership, and group management skills. Programs are typically scheduled for Fridays during EWU’s spring (April to June) and fall (September to December) quarters. Youth camps are offered during the summer. Pricing runs from $60 to $180 per hour depending on group size. Visit Ewu. edu/chsph/wellness-movement-sciences/ challenge-course/ for more info. (Tabitha Gregory)

PHOTO: CHRIS CINDRIC

RIP NRS FOUNDER BILL PARKS

MOSCOW, IDAHO

Northwest River Supply Founder Bill Parks ran his last rapid on March 5, 2023, when he passed away from natural causes at age 88. Bill was known as a businessman, river runner, and educator, but he was foremost a humanitarian. He leaves behind a 50-year legacy of serving customers and the Pacific Northwest community, steadfast in his belief that business could be a force for good in the world.

After founding Northwest River Supply, Bill moved to Moscow, Idaho, to join the faculty at the University of Idaho in the College of Business and Economics. He continued to build NRS while teaching full time, often hiring his students to assist customers, help in the warehouse, and fulfill orders.

NRS grew to become a multi-million-dollar international company, and in 2013 Bill initiated steps to protect his legacy for the

future. He decided to sell NRS to his employees. He helped finance a deal to transfer all NRS stock to the company’s workers. In early 2014, NRS became 100% employee owned.

In his later years, he remained involved in the NRS business and continued to carry out his longstanding tradition of having lunch with every new employee. He became passionate about corporate tax reform and dedicated much of his time to writing policy papers and lobbying Congress. He believed that corporations had a duty to pay their fair share and he was appalled by the way many multinational companies exploited loopholes to avoid paying taxes.

Bill passed away peacefully at St. Luke’s hospital in Boise, Idaho. Even in his last days, he was discussing business with NRS managers and working on tax reform. His wife and best friend, Donna Holmes-Parks, was by his side until the end. (Jon

Jonckers)

NRS FOUNDER BILL PARKS.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NRS.

NRS HEADQUARTERS IN MOSCOW, ID.

DISPATCHES

SPOKANE TO SANDPOINT

AND NEW RELAY

SPOKANE, WASH.

In 2008, two brothers named Ben and Bart Orth created the Inland Northwest’s first overnight relay run, the Spokane to Sandpoint Relay (S2S). The standard 2-day, 12-person, 36-leg race format was popularized by Portland’s Hood to Coast, and S2S sought to bring the same unique style of event to Spokane. The original course started atop Mount Spokane and included a memorable ride on a Silverwood roller coaster. Over the years, the Spokane to Sandpoint Relay has creatively evolved through multiple organizers, sponsors, and route changes, but retained its core structure and scenic course. Current owner and race director Nathan Luke of North by Northwest Relays (NxNW) acquired the event in 2018 and began putting his own personal race touches in place, including new branding and sponsors, some safer routing, and a new starting line in Green Bluff at Big Barn Brewing.

The starting area move to Green Bluff has been very popular with S2S participants, giving them a beautiful farm setting start line, country roads, and a safer traverse across North Spokane on the Children of the Sun Trail. Upon reaching the Spokane River at Nine Mile, teams travel east on the Centennial Trail through Bowl and Pitcher, downtown Spokane, Spokane Valley, Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene. Overnight, they make their way north on Idaho backroads all the way to Priest River, then follow the Pend Oreille south shore all the way to the Long Bridge and into Sandpoint for a celebratory finish with their teammates at Trinity City

CHANGES

Beach in Sandpoint.

New this year will be the Running Club Competition. Clubs from Spokane and beyond will be competing for a new S2S traveling trophy that will reside at the winning club’s home venue for the following year. Also, coming this fall, NxNW will be launching a new event called the Inland Relay, scheduled for September 30. A oneday event for teams of five, the Inland Relay will be a roving event, with a different course each year highlighting areas of the Inland Northwest. The inaugural course will start in Rosalia, come north on farm roads to Cheney, then come into downtown on the Fish Lake Trail for a finish at Brick West Brewing. Details will be available soon at NxNWRelays.com.

Back at the S2S, Spokane does seem to have an ongoing love affair with this unique event. Teams with names like Forest Gump’s Groupies, Herd of Turtles, and PR or ER enjoy decorating their vans and other vehicles and dressing up in themed costumes to increase the frivolity of their weekend experience. Although there are some seriously competitive teams in the S2S, most participants and spectators describe the relay as ‘a party going down the road.’ This year’s Spokane to Sandpoint Relay will start at Green Bluff on Friday morning, July 21, and finish about 30 hours later Saturday afternoon on the shore of Lake Pend Oreille. By the time teams reach Sandpoint, they will have covered 200 miles and will be ready to celebrate their great accomplishment together. (Dave Luke)

PHOTO: DON MATHEWS, COURTESY OF S2S

BIKE EVERYWHERE MONTH

SPOKANE, WASH. & COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO

May is Bike Everywhere Month, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate in the Inland Northwest this year.

COEUR D’ALENE EVENTS AND RIDES

Coeur d’Alene has a great line-up of events and rides for Lake City cyclists. Find the full schedule with event and ride details here: Cdaid.org/852/departments/parks/ trails-main/bike-to-work-week.

• May 15: Bike to Work Week Kickoff

Pancake Breakfast at the Coeur d’Alene Resort, Wilma Lot, from 7-9 a.m.

• May 19: Bike to Work Day morning ride energizer stations from 7-9 a.m. at several locations around CDA.

• May 19: Bike to Work Day post-ride celebration from 4-7 p.m. at Taphouse Unchained.

• May 5: Full Moon Ride from 7-10 p.m.

• May 6: The Lake City Bicycle Collective Ride

• May 12: Ride to Art Walk

• May 13: The Firehouse Ride

• May 14: Mother’s Day Ride

• May 17: Music Conservatory Ride

• May 21: Hilly Nilly Gravel Series

• May 24: Vertical Earth Ride

SPOKANE EVENTS AND RIDES

Spokane’s festivities are put on by volunteers with the Spokane Bicycle Club and include Bike to School Day (May 3), Bike to Work Week (May 15-21), National Bike to Work Day (May 19), themed group rides, and an end-of-the-month party. Check out the impressive schedule of events and all the details here: Spokanebicycleclub.org/ SpokaneBikes

• May 1: Ben Burr Trail ride & knitting klatch. A 7-mile bike tour of three natural areas on southside, plus Ben Burr Trail (south end). Finish at a coffee shop to knit and discuss biking.

• May 3: Bike to School Day.

• May 3: Appleway Trail to Centennial Trail ride in Spokane Valley.

• May 4: Children of the Sun ride in north

Spokane. Ride the Children of the Sun Trail to the northern terminus at Wandermere Center.

• May 6, 13, and 20: E-bikes 101: Intro to e-bike riding in north Spokane. Come learn and experience the wonderful world of e-bike riding. E-bikes from North Division Bicycle will be available for those who want to give it a try, followed by a group ride for those with e-bikes.

• May 7: Bloomsday Bike Corral. Free, secure bike parking for Bloomsday participants who want to ride to the race.

• May 11: Bike and Hike. Short but hilly ride to Dishman Hills, followed by a short but scenic hike.

• May 14: Mothers’ Day Bike Ride & Library Browse. Ride on the Centennial Trail, quiet streets, Riverfront Park paths and bridges followed by stop at Central Library for snacks and book browsing.

• May 15-21: Bike to Work Week. Kick it off with a free pancake breakfast from 7-9 a.m. in Riverfront Park on Monday.

• May 15: Spokane Bicycle Club Meeting.

• May 17: Ride of Silence. Ride in Riverfront Park to remember cyclists killed on the road in the downtown area.

• May 18: Latah Creek Trail Ride. Explore little-known trails in the Highbridge Park area and hear about future plans for the area.

• May 19: National Bike to Work Day. Energizer stations with snacks and coffee provided around the city.

• May 21: Bike Tour of Historic Corbin Park Neighborhood.

• May 24: Ben Burr to University Ride.

• May 27: E-bikes 101: Intro to e-bike riding on the South Hill. Come learn and experience the wonderful world of e-bike riding. E-bikes from Wheel Sport will be available for those who want to give it a try, followed by a group ride for those with their own bikes.

• May 28: South Hill Natural Areas. Tour five natural areas in south Spokane.

• May 31: Bike Everywhere Wrap-up Party. Bring your own picnic dinner (drinks and dessert provided) to the Manito Park north gazebo. (OTO)

DISPATCHES

DISHMAN HILLS CONSERVANCY EVENTS

SPOKANE VALLEY, WASH.

There’s an impressive schedule of events lined up with many opportunities to get out with others and explore the Dishman Hills hiking trails in Spokane Valley this spring and summer.

• MAY 9: Two for Tuesday hike (every second and fourth Tuesday every month) at 2 p.m., locations listed online. These hikes will cover information about Dishman Hills and get participants outside for exercise with other nature enthusiasts.

• MAY 15-19: Kids in the Hills Pre-Field Class at 1 p.m.-4 p.m., locations will vary. The Dishman Hills Education Committee is working with kids in Spokane to prepare for the annual Kids in the Hills event. Volunteers visit multiple schools in Spokane to present the pre-field trip information.

• MAY 24-31: Kids in the Hills at 8:30 a.m.2:30 p.m., Dishman Hills Kids in the Hills offers students an educational and exciting

field day in the Dishman Hills. Through hands-on activities, students learn about observation skills, animal adaptations, natural science, and enjoy time out in nature. Volunteers are needed.

• JUNE 3: Songbird walk at 6:30 a.m.-9 a.m., Stevens Creek Trailhead. Iller Creek is among the best places in Spokane to hear a diversity of singing migrant songbirds. Sometimes you can see them too!

• JUNE 10: Orchid hike at 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Camp Caro Lodge. Dishman Hills is home to beautiful geology and plant life. Gain some insights on the geology and history of the area, as well as some info on native wildflowers, including orchids, which may or may not be in bloom at the time of the hike.

Visit the Dishman Hills Conservancy’s website for more information on upcoming events at Dishmanhills.org. (OTO)

GREATER SPOKANE PARKS CHALLENGE

SPOKANE, WASH.

Our region has an amazing variety of parks, trails, conservation lands, pools, and outdoor events. Regardless of your favorite way to get outside, there is a park for you! It is with this in mind that Spokane City Credit Union (SCCU) and the Spokane Parks Foundation came up with the Greater Spokane Parks Challenge. Now in its second year, the 2023 challenge has expanded and is packed with activities throughout Spokane County. Participants can track their adventures, access park information and trail maps, and learn about upcoming events—all in one convenient app.

“Our goal is to encourage people to explore and appreciate our parks and public lands,” said Gene Fitzpatrick of SCCU, “and maybe even find a new park or outdoor activity they did not know existed.” The challenge is free and open to all. With 100+ activities all over the region, you can explore at your own pace. Complete just 10 activities and you’ll receive a waterproof Greater Spokane Parks Challenge sticker to put on

your favorite adventure gear. Complete 20, and you’ll be entered to win raffle prizes. Even better than the swag? It’s all for a good cause.

SCCU has long supported the Spokane Parks Foundation, a local non-profit that provides resources for vibrant parks and outdoor recreational programs in Spokane County. This year SCCU will make a donation to the Spokane Parks Foundation for each challenger. The more people who join, the bigger the donation will be! “We are thrilled to collaborate with SCCU again this year,” said Yvonne Trudeau, executive director of the Spokane Parks Foundation. This challenge is such a fun way for families, friends and visitors to explore our area and experience all the different ways that we can enjoy the outdoors.”

The Greater Spokane Parks Challenge is running from now until October 31, 2023. Download the app, grab a friend, and start exploring parks today! Scan the QR code for more info. (OTO)

NEW BIKE TRAILS COMING TO LOUP LOUP SKI BOWL

OKANOGAN, WASH.

In collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service and Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, the Loup Loup Ski Bowl on the east slope of the Cascades near Okanogan, Wash., is working to preserve and build over 30 miles of trails around the Loup Loup North Summit in the coming years. The trail project will take place over the next four to five years and offer a wide variety of mountain biking experiences, from technical downhill trails to more mellow cross-country trails. Various connector trails are planned to make already-built Forest Service trails more functional.

Efforts began last year and saw the completion of the newest segment, a technical descending trail that feeds into the existing trail system. This year's focus is on constructing another blue/black rated singletrack trail that descends to the Loup base area and adding another 2-3 miles of beginner trails at the base area.

To add to the developing bike trail amenities, this will be the Loup's second year of summer operations offering bike rentals, scenic chairlift rides, and 18-hole disc golf from the summit of Little Buck Mountain.

“We are working hard to emphasize accessibility for all skill levels but do not currently offer lift-assisted biking,” says marketing and business director Mike Jolly. “As our infrastructure grows,” he adds, “it is a goal that we will continue eyeing for future development.”

Summer operations will begin on June 2 and will operate Friday through Sunday each week. The collaborative trail project kicks off with Evergreen’s three-day Solstice Dig Weekend, June 16-18, with trail building, music, a beer garden, food and camping. Come be a part of it! Visit Ticketstripe.com/ solsticefunfest for details and to purchase tickets. (OTO)

VETS FIND COMMUNITY ON THE WATER

SPOKANE, WASH.

If you’re a veteran of any era looking to get on the water this summer, check out Team River Runners Spokane (TRR). Team River Runners helps elevate the physical and mental health of veterans through adaptive watersports, offering indoor pool training, flatwater paddling, and guided whitewater rafting. There’s no paddle or water training necessary to join TRR; “paddling boot camp,” as they call it, will teach new paddlers everything from proper wear of a PFD to the proper wet exit of a kayak. Thanks to donations, TRR Spokane provides all the pool fees, watercraft, and associated gear to veterans, their families, and caretakers.

This summer, TRR Spokane will take scenic outings on local lakes and waterways like the Little Spokane River. They also offer multi-day river camping trips, paddling conferences, and training programs throughout the year. In winter, TRR Spokane prepares for outdoor paddling at the Eastern Washington University’s indoor pool on Wednesday nights, where they practice basic to advanced paddle techniques and self-rescue and buddy-assisted rescue moves. TRR has multiple community partnerships; their connection with the Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club has led to a planned paddle this summer of a 22-foot Voyager Canoe on Horseshoe Lake/Exley Falls.

“I have learned a tremendous amount about paddling and paddling safety,” says

veteran and TRR Spokane member Travis Arnold. “However, more importantly, I have learned how our local chapter walks the walk when it comes to the TRR mission to ‘provide all veterans an opportunity to find health, healing, community purpose, and new challenges.’”

Using adaptations such as swivel seats at the edge of a pool, disabled paddlers are able to engage in things like the regional kayak football tournament that was held on April 29, 2023. Kayak football, which follows the rules of football but includes the techniques of water polo and hockey, fosters a competitive spirit and strengthens camaraderie. Thanks to two students from EWU’s mechanical engineering department, TRR also has a kayak retrofitted with a custom swivel seat to provide a seamless transfer for disabled paddlers both in the pool and outdoors.

“My advice to all the veterans reading this and deciding whether to check out TRR [is to] come join us, because we have a blast and you are worth it,” says Arnold. Learn more at Trrspokane.indvsa.org, or contact chapter coordinator Stan Mrzygod at stan.mrz@ teamriverrunner.org. Transportation and river shuttle services are available through Inland Northwest Disable Veterans Sports Association, who will be hosting a spaghetti feed on May 6 from 4-7 p.m., open to all to carbo-load for Bloomsday at the VFW Post 1435 in Spokane Valley. (Lisa Laughlin)

RAFTING THE WENATCHEE RIVER

At high water, the Wenatchee River streaks through the town of Leavenworth like

Washington’s most popular whitewater. In early June, the river reaches peak flows above 10,000 cfs, turning it into a fluid string of fun rollercoaster rapids. If you own a kayak or raft and have amassed enough experience to paddle/row safely down frigid Class III water, haul your watercraft over to Leavenworth and try your luck on Satan’s Eyeball and Demon’s Drop, two of the river’s nine rollicking rapids. If you would rather leave the rowing to the professionals, you can choose from dozens of outfitters eagerly waiting to squeeze you into wetsuits and catapult you safely downstream.

The half-day float provides the main course of a weekend menu, but there are plenty of side dishes to enjoy. “The great thing about floating the Wenatchee is you can make a whole weekend out of it,” says Don Martin, owner of River Recreation,

ing it a comfortable 4-5 hour float. There is a mandatory portage on river right around a lowhead dam at mile 7 where Peshastin Creek enters the river. The Wenatchee is cold and fast enough to require wetsuits or dry suits for all paddlers, regardless of skill level, and can be dangerous for novices.

For more information on the rapids, locations of put-in and take-outs, shuttles, and more, visit Americanwhitewater.com/ wenatchee. Check out the list of commercial guides at the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce website: Leavenworth.org/experience/rafting-kayaking/.

Lower Wenatchee Trip Details

Leavenworth to Cashmere (or Monitor, add 4 miles)

Length: 16.5 miles (about 4 hours)

Difficulty: Class III

Season: April–mid-August

Recommended flow level: 2,000 – 20,000 cfs

Put-in: Leavenworth, Trout Unlimited Park

Take-out: Cashmere Riverside Park or Monitor Permits not required. (Heidi Lasher)

WEDNESDAYS IN THE WOODS AT RIVERSIDE

Expand your outdoor education and skills know-how this June with Wednesdays in the Woods. Organized by Riverside State Park Foundation in collaboration with Washington State Parks, this popular pro-

gram continues its momentum after last summer’s post-pandemic return. The 2023 list of free, family-friendly evening events include similar topics and speakers as in past years; however, this summer’s event schedule is limited to the month of June, which means a total of only four events.

The series kicks off on June 7 with a “Camp Cooking” presentation and demonstration by local experts. The following week, on June 14, is the renowned “Hoot Show” with West Valley Outdoor Learning Center staff teaching about nocturnal habits, vision, and auditory senses of birds of prey, including raptors. Kids and adults alike can enjoy ice cream after the presentation, courtesy of Riverside State Park Foundation. On June 21, learn all about bats from a state park archeologist. Event includes drawings for audience members to win bat books, t-shirts, and even bat houses. The series ends the final Wednesday, June 28, with a presentation from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife about wildlife encounters, including moose, cougars, and bears.

Presentations take place at the Bowl & Pitcher area of Riverside State Park, at the picnic shelter, from 6:30-8 p.m. All vehicles are required to display a Washington State Parks’ Discover Pass inside the park. Both campground visitors and the general public are welcome to attend. You can make a full evening of it—pack a picnic

festival

Lee & Blue Summit • Tony Furtado Trio Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms • FY5 • Hannah Siglin Custer's Grass Band • Brett & Janet Dodd & more!

WENATCHEE RIVER

WHITEWATER. PHOTO COURTESY OF PHIL LINDEN

dinner, bring your dog, and go for a hike or bike ride before settling down for a presentation (bring your own camp chairs). With later sunsets in June, there’s even time to enjoy trails before dark. More info at Riversidestateparkfoundation.org. (Amy McCaffree)

LOCHSA RIVER MADNESS

A wall of green water rose up before us. “Dig in!” called the guide, “All forward!” As we crested one wave, all of us readied ourselves for the next set of rapids. This is the way of floating Idaho’s Lochsa River during the typical high water of Memorial Day Weekend, also known as Lochsa Madness—the unofficial festival to kick off the Inland Northwest whitewater season.

Memorial Day weekend 2022, I finally made it down to Lochsa Madness, which had taken on a mythical air for this intermediate boater. Over the weekend, I floated, paddled hard, and even swam with the guides of Mammoth River Adventures. Multiple times that weekend they took us down a 20-mile stretch of some of the most technically challenging water in the region. With 40 named rapids and a dozen of those rated as Class IV, this river is for serious boaters, although multiple outfitters offer thrilling trips down the Lochsa that most healthy adults and older kids can take on.

Like much of the whitewater in the West, the season on the Lochsa is ephemeral, dependent on the amount and timing of snow melt. Cutting a line deep through the Bitterroot Mountains, the Lochsa drops over 2,000 feet in its 70-mile stretch. Being high up in the watershed, the Lochsa has a fairly short season most years, and guiding usually ends around the beginning of July.

Jesse Stone, owner of Mammoth River Adventures, looks forward to the Lochsa Madness weekend every year. Growing up

nearby in Grangeville, Idaho, he has been steeped in the whitewater culture of the Lochsa since he was a teen. Jesse loves that the community, even non-boaters, comes out for the show and camaraderie.

People line up chairs and tailgate at Lochsa Falls, the biggest of the Class IV rapids. You may see boaters running hard shell kayaks, inflatable kayaks, all types of rafts, and even unicorns and other inflatable pool toys. But it’s clear safety is paramount with people on banks with throw bags and all the

boats on the water eager to pick up swimmers. Mammoth even uses river boarders— think going down the river on a kickboard with helmet and pads—both as an experience for clients and for extremely nimble safety boaters.

The weekend culminates with a screening of video from all the “carnage” and excitement from the weekend as well as a chance for the community to talk up past and future river trips. Look for more info on the Lochsa Madness page on Facebook. (Adam

Gebauer)

LOCHSA MADNESS.

PHOTO: ADAM GEBAUER

EVERYDAY CYCLIST Early Season Fitness

By Justin Short

THE FIRST TIME I showed up to the 24-hour mountain bike race in Riverside State Park, I was riddled with anxiety. “Three laps? That’s 45 miles. How the hell am I going to survive 45 miles?!!” At the time, “exercise” was a dirty word to me. The fitness I did gain during the year was from goofing off in the jump park at Beacon Hill for an hour or two each week during the summer months, along with the occasional road ride with my wife.

That race, now called 24 Hours of Riverside, is on Memorial Day weekend, which is arguably early in the season—early enough that a rider needs to be thinking about ramping up fitness long before the trails are remotely rideable. The year after that, a friend talked me into entering the 700-mile Cross-Washington Mountain Bike Race (XWA), also in May; I had to figure out this business of early season fitness.

Now that I’ve raced XWA twice—8th place, both times—plus a number of other stupid-long and challenging rides and races, I can say that having a calendar of targeted events for the year helps early season training immensely. It gives you a reasonable timeframe in which to attain the necessary fitness to enjoy your event, whatever it is; if you’ve prepared well, it SHOULD be enjoyable to some degree. Whether your target is to commute to work, ride the Hiawatha, or grind out your first century, there’s a strategy to get you there. If the goal or event you’re eyeballing is early in the season (April, May, or June), you will likely run into some downright unrideable weather while you’re getting started. Here are my tips to tackle early-season rides.

GEEK OUT.

The first thing to do is arm yourself with knowledge. I keep my finger on the pulse of several bikepacking podcasts, and one can immediately recognize a good bikepacking podcast when butt care strategies come up in the conversation. There are plenty of podcasts focusing on the fitness aspect of cycling. A bulk of the fitness research out there studies college-aged dudes, but if you happen to not be a dude, Dr. Stacy Sims has published two very interesting books: ROAR focuses on the nuances of elite women’s fitness, and NEXT LEVEL takes a deep dive into the issues and strategies of athletes facing menopause. Whatever niche of the cycling world you intend to inhabit, there is no shortage of podcasts and YouTuber channels that focus on every aspect of your cycling fitness interest.

FIND YOUR COMMUNITY.

Your local bike shop is the best first place to find out who is doing whatever you’re into and when events and group rides are going down. There are plenty of reasons to

avoid Facebook like the plague, but it is still a useful tool for finding riders and events in your area. Groups like Mountain Biking in the Inland NW, GASUP (Getting Around Spokane Using Pedals), Gravel Braintrust, and Washington Bikepacking Women will soon have you getting lost in the woods with folks who are likely to become lifelong friends.

ENGAGE IN OFF-THE-BIKE FITNESS.

Phil Cavell, author of The Midlife Cyclist, says “as we approach middle age, the longer we want to ride, the more we will have to do things other than ride.” Cycling is great exercise, but it will definitely unbalance you if that’s all you do. Gabriel Benjamin’s selfnamed YouTube channel teaches yoga for cyclists. He’s been a guest on Pat Bulger’s Packfiller Podcast, expounding upon the benefits of strengthening glutes and hamstrings, opening hips, stretching quads, and core strengthening in a way that’s specific to the cyclist’s needs. Some riders will want more intensive training, but I get by relatively pain-free on the 30+ hour rides that I routinely end up on with five minutes of yoga, plus five minutes of other easy strength training exercises four to five times a week.

RIDE INSIDE (when you must).

Riding outside is great and all, but in midJanuary it’s easy to end up at the top of a climb wearing 80 pounds of sweat-soaked clothes if you’re needing to target some high intensity efforts. There has been an explosion in the world of smart trainer technology with platforms such as Zwift,

Wahoo, and Peloton that permit riders to crank out targeted efforts and download workouts from coaches. This is extremely helpful if, like local rider Tara Bakker and her husband Craig, you happen to be preparing for the searing heat of Cape Epic, a grueling 7-day mountain bike race in South Africa, and it’s single digits out in Spokane. “Heat training for us,” Tara says, “consisted of piling on three heavy layers of clothes with a space heater and a blazing fire going on while pedaling on the trainers doing a Zwift workout.”

FIND TRAINING EVENTS.

World Tour pro cyclists routinely enter races they don’t intend to win or even finish just to build peak fitness for a targeted race, because no one can hope to maintain peak fitness for very long without “cracking for the season.” I learned the wisdom of instituting two- or three-week training blocks punctuated by an easy recovery week after I cracked a few years ago and was completely useless for a couple months. I sprinkle in a few early season events into my training

calendar as the season progresses. Ephrara Fondo, an event produced by Vicious Cycle, is usually the first event of the season for the road and gravel racing community in mid-March, with Goldendale Fondo following in mid-April, and Leavenworth in May. It’s also a great way to explore Washington’s spectacular scenery and get some cross pollination between Northwest cycling communities.

There’s no end to the amount of gear to acquire and information to stuff in your head regarding this incredibly weird business of riding bikes, but if there’s one cardinal rule that has always gotten me to the finish line, it is this: goof off and have fun. Go turn some pedals and I’ll see you out there! //

Justin Short has been out there turning pedals in the whipping winds and driving rains of spring in preparation for a solo effort at the 24 Hours of Riverside mountain bike race, which itself is a preparation for his first colonoscopy, yet another joy of the midlife cyclist.

The Trailhead

Inland NW Trail & Outdoor News

By Holly Weiler

OUTDOOR INFO & EVENTS

▷On May 2, join the Methow Conservancy in conjunction with the Wenatchee River Institute for a Zoom presentation on how plants are coping with climate change. Methowconservancy.org

▷ Join the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy on May 13 for a free hike- or bike-in silent film held outdoors at Waikiki Springs Nature Preserve. Advance registration is required for this unique opportunity to watch a film at sunset in a natural setting.

▷ Birders across the state will migrate to the Wenas Wildlife Area's Audubon Camp for a weekend of camping, birding, and campfire talks with guest speakers from June 2-5. The campground is free with a Discover Pass and this family-friendly event does not require advance registration. The Audubon Society will arrange for birding outings during the day and guest speakers at camp. Wenasaudubon.org

▷ Washington's state-managed public lands will have a series of fee-free days in June. Plan a fun weekend for June 10-11, taking advantage of waived Discover Pass fees for National Get Outdoors Day on Saturday followed by Washington Free Fishing day on Sunday (campground fees will still apply). Discover Pass requirements will also be waived in celebration of Juneteenth on June 19.

▷ Ready for a little friendly competition on your stand-up paddle board? The second annual Kettle Falls SUP Cup is back on June 4, with both recreational and competitive divisions. The event will take place at Ricky Point Beach on Lake Roosevelt.

CONSERVATION & TRAIL WORK OPPORTUNITIES

▶ Join the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness for a trailwork project at Star Peak in May. Scotchmanpeaks.org

▶ Backcountry Hunters and Anglers is partnering with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to help remove derelict fences near Winthrop in May. Join this conservation effort to remove abandoned barb wire fences, which otherwise have a negative impact on safe wildlife movement. Backcountryhunters.org/washington_calendar

▶ Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance is hosting a series of "May in the 'way’" trail work events at Teanaway Community Forest. There are several nearby options for camping, free with Discover Pass. Evergreenmtb.org/calendar/work-parties

▶ Pend Oreille Pedalers hosts Thursday night trail work events near Sandpoint throughout May and June. Pendoreillepedalers.org/calendar

▶ Washington Trails Association Back Country Response Team and day volunteer work parties are happening across the state! Join a backpacking crew working on Clackamas Mountain in the Kettle Range in May, or join crews in June working on the Salmo Loop near Sullivan Lake or the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness in the far southeast corner of Washington. Wta.org/volunteer/schedule

▶ Idaho Trails Association has a full summer calendar of both day trip and overnight volunteer projects across the state. Join day work parties at English Point and Priest Lake in May or a women-only extended trip to the Selway River in June. Don't miss their free webinar series in May, with topics on safety and first aid as well as backcountry cooking. Idahotrailsassociation.org/volunteer

▶ Wallowa Mountains Hells Canyon Trails Association will be following the receding snow as they gain elevation with trailwork events ramping up in May and June, holding both one-day and multi-day events. Wmhcta.org/upcoming-events/events-trainings. //

Holly Weiler is a long-time contributor to Out There Outdoors and writes The Trailhead column for each issue. You can find all of her hike recommendations at Outthereoutdoors.com.

HIKE OF THE MONTH WENAS WILDLIFE AREA

(CENTRAL WASHINGTON)

THIS AREA HAS FANTASTIC WILDFLOWER BLOOMS, starting with grass widows, yellow fawn lilies, and Columbia desert parsley and giving way to arrowleaf balsamroot and phlox as the season progresses. The Wenas Wildlife area is best known for its bird watching, so be sure to print a copy of the Wenas Audubon birdlist prior to a visit here and see how many of the recorded 257 bird species known to visit the area you can find during your trip! Within the camping area and along the creek the area is mainly forested with a mix of pine, Douglas fir, and cottonwood, but those who choose to ascend the surrounding hillsides will also find open meadow areas and good views of the Cascade range to the west.

Consider trying this hike to coincide with the Audubon Camp weekend in early June. Or come at a different time to enjoy the campground and surrounding recreation opportunities in a self-guided fashion. Audubon Camp is a DNR-managed campground at the edge of the Wenas Wildlife Area, open to dispersed camping with a Discover Pass. There are numerous dispersed campsites throughout a large bench along North Fork Wenas Creek. Vault toilets are available in several locations within the dispersed camping area.

The nearby Green Dot road system trails are open to both motorized and non-motorized recreation. One hiking option is to explore this shared-use trail system on foot as it ascends the hillsides near the camping area.

For a quieter hiking experience, follow North Fork Wenas Creek north from the campground. An old logging road runs parallel to the creek, open to nonmotorized recreation but not part of the Green Dot motorized trail system. This trail has good wildlife viewing opportunities as a short out-and-back hike of about 2 miles, as well as options to use map and compass to explore intersecting trails that ascend nearby hills for good views.

Getting There: Wenas Wildlife Area is located 22 miles northeast of Selah, Washington. At the main gate (closed annually from December 15-April 30), continue on Audubon Road 3 miles to Hog Ranch Road. Turn left on Hog Ranch Road and continue to the campground. Discover Pass required.

WENAS WILDLIFE AREA SPRING WILDFLOWERS //

PHOTO: HOLLY WEILER

Hey business owners, can we be Frank with you?

FULL SEND FULL SUSPENSION SALE

RUN WILD Supplement Your Running Routine

By Sarah Hauge

*SELECT BIKES

*ENDS MAY 29TH

*SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS

RUNNERS OFTEN fit the stereotype of being a little . . . obsessive. The kinds of people who like tracking every mile, maximizing effort, achieving goals, checking things off their to-do list. Even though most of us know how many other benefits running brings—to our mental health, our social lives, our stress levels—we sometimes zero in a little too much on mileage. By doing so, we may neglect other practices that would complement our lives, our running, and help prevent injury from heavy mileage. Below are some of the many activities that complement a regular running habit. Try a couple and see how you feel.

YOGA

The benefits of yoga are vast: increased strength, improved stability and mobility, increased flexibility, injury prevention— the list goes on. Depending on what type of yoga you practice, you can get your heart pumping and really tax your muscles or you can focus on rest, breath, and flexibility. Yoga can provide a gentle workout on a day off from running, or can be done midday as a pick-me-up or before bedtime to wind down. Yoga improves mental health, and makes it easier to tend to muscles in need of R & R. Take a class locally, or try Yogawithadrienne.com.

SWIMMING

Swimming is famously great cross-training for running, contributing to cardiovascular fitness while building muscle—including the upper body strength that affects arm swing, one component of what propels you forward in a run. As a bonus, swimming is hard work while being very easy on the joints.

KICKBOXING

I know I look silly doing it, but I love kickboxing. Kickboxing builds power, works all of the muscles in your body as you punch, kick, and dodge, engages your core, and improves balance as you constantly change positions and shift your weight. Not only is it a good mental challenge (it can be tough to keep track of those various kick/ punch combinations!), but it also increases

cardiovascular fitness. Sign up for a local class, or look for free workouts by Fitness Blender on YouTube.

STRENGTH TRAINING

While many of the items on this list are optional, strength training is a must for runners. Regular total body strength training— lower body, upper body, and core—reduces muscle imbalances, leads to reduced injuries, and contributes to improved speed. All runners should strength train at least weekly. Some key exercises to incorporate: reverse lunges (hamstrings and glutes, core), planks (core, back, shoulders; stability), rows (upper body, core), squats (quads, calves, glutes, hamstrings), single leg deadlifts (hamstrings, back, core; stability), glute bridges (hips, glutes, and lower back), Russian twists (abs and obliques), and side leg raises (hip adductors, glutes, quadriceps, abs, obliques). Go to fleetfeet. com and search “strength training” to find full strength training routines and guidance.

WALKING

Walking is full of wins for runners. This low-impact form of active recovery can be done anywhere, and it engages the same muscles and tissues tasked by running in a less intense form. Walking is a low-stress, enjoyable way to loosen up your body while adding a little more mileage to your week.

REST

It’s easy to neglect rest, but it’s essential. Taking days off from regular training (aim for one a week of either total rest or lowimpact activity) allows muscles, bones, and tendons to repair—which means you’ll get stronger and better avoid injuries. Regularly prioritizing a good night’s sleep will also allow your body to recuperate from the rigorous activity you put it through. Restful nights lead to better running days. //

Sarah Hauge is a writer, editor, and nonprofit grant writer who lives in Spokane with her husband and two kids. You can read more of her Run Wild columns at Outthereoutdoors.com.

HEALTH & FITNESS

Walking With a Purpose Find better fitness by doing local errands on foot

By James P. Johnson

Transport and Health, which separated walking trips into categories.

You’ve probably heard of the being-out-in-nature dividend. A 2019 World Health Organization review of nine major studies found walking in green spaces leads to better health, even if it’s a tree-lined street in the city and you don’t even consciously notice all the trees and greenery.

Using a car to go places can be a hard-to-change mindset, though. My brother has expressed a negative view to me about using muscle power to go places. My retired, next-door neighbor dresses in his walking outfit and does three miles around a nearby park in the morning. Yet he makes frequent short trips in his vehicle, and, in 18 years, I have never seen him walk beyond his house except for his park circuits. This mindset seems common—walking as an exercise routine is acceptable, but less so as necessary transportation. Why is this?

the low status. This occurs to me, but I dismiss it as trifling compared to the positives.

I’m naturally inclined to walk purposefully; for more than 11 years, my job commute involved running or walking. I no longer have a job to commute to, so nowadays I walk a few miles each day to buy groceries, take care of errands, or go to the coffee shop. In warm weather, I often supplement bicycling to go places. I’ve become reluctant to drive, even when it’s necessary. If the roads are busy, I find driving unpleasant and wish I was walking.

I RECENTLY READ that walking with a purpose has health benefits that exceed just going for a walk. Wondering how this could be, I found out when you walk purposefully—that is, you have a reason to reach a destination—you’re more likely to walk at a faster pace and for a longer time, which leads to a small but noticeable increase in fitness. Walking from home to work resulted in the fastest speed and most benefit, according to the study, published in the Journal of

Walking is subordinate to driving. Pedestrians must yield to cars more often than vice-versa, even if they do have the legal right of way. In winter, snow is plowed off roads onto sidewalks. Some locales do cater to cars, it’s hard to be a pedestrian. A few drivers let you know they don’t appreciate yielding to walkers, though, kudos to Spokane drivers, I don’t often experience this. Walkers may feel they’re seen as unable to afford a car, though I doubt this enters observers’ minds. Yet it all adds up to the idea that walking to get somewhere is the domain of

I have occasional high-mileage days. The first time I walked to the dentist, I received lots of attention as word spread among staff my round-trip walk was 14 miles. On long walks such as this, I often take streets I’ve never been on. Sometimes I plan hours-long urban hikes that combine a necessary stop or two on the way to a distant shop or eating spot I’ve been wanting to visit. I’m a longtime Spokanite, but there are parts of the city I don’t often see.

The pleasure of being outside, the exercise, and a sense of satisfaction may come your way if you decide to give purposeful walking a shot. And over time, perhaps a new routine can take hold. //

LEAVE THE CAR BEHIND. //

PHOTO: JAMES P. JOHNSON

provisions

STORE LEFTOVERS WITH SOUPER CUBES

The Washington Post recently shared a study from 2012 that followed 212 men who signed up to run the Munich Marathon. Half of them drank two to three pints of no-alcohol beer daily for three weeks before and two weeks after the race. Among the NA beer drinkers, colds and respiratory ailments were “3.25 fold lower,” showing improved immune responses and lower markers of inflammation. The reason? The polyphenols in beer.

While polyphenols are in all beers, the drawback is that the alcohol, according to different research, likely undermines any benefits from polyphenols. Because alcohol contains empty calories and works as a diuretic, researchers suggest NA beer is the better post-exercise drink.

Many major brewers offer NA options that reviewers claim to be indistinguishable from the alcohol-fueled offerings. Without doubt, taste bud mileage will vary. While the choice at your local watering hole is whatever they offer, my favorites include anything from Athletic Brewing with their grapefruit notes and light body. I prefer lighter-bodied NA beers such as Clausthaler, Bitburger, Becks NA, and St. Pauli NA. With a bit of trial and error, you can find something you’ll enjoy that’s also good for your post-run, ride, hike, and general socializing. (Bradley

Bleck)

DANDELION PESTO

Most of us know the dandelion as the pesky harbingers of spring, but the dandelion plays an important (and tasty) role during the spring and early summer months. Dandelions are some of the first foods available to bees and butterflies. Later in the year, the American goldfinch eats up to 2,000 dandelion seeds a day. The dandelion is an incredible source of vitamins and minerals. While I’ve seen plenty of people tote the deliciousness of raw dandelion leaves in salads, my favorite preparation for this early bloomer is a dandelion pesto.

Here’s how to make it: Gather, wash, and dry two cups dandelion leaves, loosely packed and roughly chopped. (Note: never harvest dandelions from roadsides, areas with heavy traffic congestion, or in places where herbicides have been used.) To a blender, add prepared dandies, ½ cup choice of nut (traditional pesto calls for pine nuts, but I love to swap with pistachios), roasted garlic, ½ cup olive oil, a few tablespoons of lemon juice, and salt. Blend until you reach a thick, creamy consistency before adding in a handful of parmesan cheese. Toss pesto with noodles, serve over chicken or fish, or spread on toasted baguettes. (Bri Loveall)

ASPARAGUS ON THE GRILL

Asparagus has a short peak season, with its local availability spanning from May to mid-June. These tender, spring spears have a bright green flavor, marvelous when charred on the grill, sauteed with butter and garlic to top off a creamy pasta dish, or spread across an oven-roasted flatbread pizza. Keep asparagus fresh and crisp by placing the stems upright in a glass of water. Place a bag over the top of the stems to maintain moisture levels and store in the fridge.

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound asparagus from Royal Produce

1 Tbsp olive oil

Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1. Start the grill.

2. Snap off the ends of the asparagus—the asparagus spears will naturally break where the asparagus becomes less fibrous and difficult to chew.

3. Place the asparagus on one half of a large sheet of tin foil. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Fold the tin foil in half, over the asparagus, and roll each side to securely close.

4. Place the tin foil packet on the grill and cook for 5 minutes or until tender. Using metal tongs, remove the asparagus from the tin foil and place directly on the grill. Toss frequently for 1-2 minutes until charred. Enjoy! (Courtesy of LINC Foods— The Local Inland Northwest Cooperative @ Lincfoods.com.)

Americans throw away more food than any other country in the world—an estimated 40 million tons per year, which adds up to 30 percent or more of the nation’s food supply. All that waste is bad for the planet, the people who don’t have enough to eat, and our pocket books.

An easy solution to save more of your food and save money in the process is to store leftovers in the freezer, and Souper Cubes are an incredible food-saving innovation. Cooking larger batches and freezing meals for later also saves time. We’ve been doing this occasionally for years, primarily with Ziploc freezer bags, but bags limit options for freezing smaller portions of food and they are not easy to re-use. Plastic also ends up in the landfill and our waterways.

Enter the Souper Cubes Complete Set, which includes a range of stackable freezing tray sizes and two stoneware baking dishes. Freeze any and all food in your Souper Cubes 100% food-grade silicone trays, reheat in the microwave or oven, and serve in the stoneware baking dishes if you choose. The set comes with multiple sizes: 2 Tbs, ½ cup, 1 cup and 2 cup. It also includes a cookie tray for freezing enough perfectly-sized balls of cookie dough to bake 20 cookies whenever you need them. If you’re already into meal prepping, Souper Cubes will level up your game.

All of the Souper Cube trays are durable, airtight, stackable, dishwasher safe, free from BPA and other common nasty chemicals, and the trays (not the lids) are oven safe up to 415 degrees Fahrenheit. The whole set is $121.95, or you can buy individual tray sizes and replacement lids. Soupercubes.com. (Derrick Knowles)

(n.) food drink, or equipment, especially for a journey.

DON’T FEAR NEAR-BEER

DIY

NO BOOZE BEER

PHOTO: BRADLEY BLECK

Literation

If We Were Rabbits

By Ammi Midstokke

FROM TIME TO TIME, I like to see the world through a different lens. My own lens is typically addled by excess caffeine and the morning headlines (a diabolical combination), or, worse, my Instagram feed. Literature is thus my rescue raft, so long as I avoid Chuck Palahniuk.

In an intentional escapist move, I picked up a copy of Watership Down, because one might assume that classic children’s litera-

ture would be a refreshing journey to a time before . . . well . . . all this. I suppose Roald Dahl terrified a fair few of us and Dickens reminded us that before our kids fretted about having the latest iPhone, they fretted about having shoes in the winter. No matter what literature we may be drawn to, they reveal the constant truth that the struggle is part of the human (or rabbit) condition.

If Watership Down were to be summarized in one sentence: A group of rabbits leave their warren and survive various social, environmental, and predatory challenges as they find and establish a new home. But there’s hidden wisdom in the way they move through the world and even how they graze here or there, interrupt work with play, and how so much of their connection to each other is (obviously) without conversation.

When Richard Adams began this book in the early 70s, it was inspired by a demand for storytelling from his young daughters and a 1964 book on the habits of rabbits. And while greatly anthropomorphized (even to his blatant infusion of a patriarchal structure—rabbits are matriarchal), Adams did something remarkable in his writing: He gave us a lens of life from a few inches off the ground.

It makes me want to go find a field, lay prostrate in it, and watch the tiny civilizations of fauna and flora going about their wonderful business. Or crawl through a forest floor and look beneath the heavy boughs of trees to discover the other world existing there. Or learn the names of the plants I smell perfuming the breeze or leaves I so callously tromp over. It brings fresh to the senses the incredible palette of experiences available to us simply by going outside and standing still or paying attention.

The observations the rabbits make about

their environment are the product of that silence and their attention to the rhythms of nature. How Adams managed to imagine life as a rabbit is beyond me, but I guess he spent a lot of time being quiet in a field and taking in the world: The sounds different birds make and how they crescendo early in the morning (birds sing more when the cool, damp air is more conducive to carrying their song), the textural difference between this or that shrubbery, how insects respond to rain. What the book instills is a sense of wonder and curiosity about nature that is often lost with our childhood. We’re too busy wondering if our bikes need a little more pressure in the tires, trying to finish that podcast on optimizing hormones, blabbing incessantly at our companions because we have too little time to socialize and we’ve forgotten how to just share quiet space, or thinking and overthinking the incredible amount of content in our lives.

I can’t help but think we ought to be more like rabbits (patriarchy aside). Matters of significance would be living in harmony with the environment, when the bees start pollinating and what the birds are saying, how to care for community, how to avoid snares (of humanity: depression, tax debt, low-fat yogurt), and where to find the most delicious lettuces. In the very least, we’d learn to listen to nature better, and this could only benefit us all. //

NewArrivals Weekly Hello

The Hunters of Saltese Flats The Long-Eared Owl

THIS WINTER, SILENT HUNTERS descended on the wet meadows of Saltese Flats. A group of long-eared owls, Asio otus, roosted along the hedgerows that occupy the old pasture lands of the Saltese Flats near Liberty Lake. These nocturnal hunters favor the dense hawthorn growths on their hunting grounds along the irrigation channels, which make excellent nest locations and launching perches.

Long-eared owls get their name from the long feather tufts that are, in fact, not

By Adam Gebauer

long-eared owls will roost in large numbers, from 20 to 100 individuals, like they have at Saltese. Due to their relatively slender size, it is thought that this grouping may create a form of safety in numbers.

My friend Ang Marie is an excellent wildlife photographer and tipped me off to this hooting of owls at Saltese. She described her experience finding these hunters: “Without knowing the owls were there, I would have easily walked right on by a parliament of 18 long-eared owls roosting close together. [They were] so incredibly well-hidden among the thick, thorny maze of branches. The early bird got the worm, and I had the great fortune of a stare (36 eyes) all to myself the first couple hours at sunrise …”

demonstrate a lot about rodent anatomy and diets of the owls. You can often locate an owl nest by the presence of these pellets littering the ground.

Although I didn’t see any owls on my recent trip to Saltese Flats, I was reminded of the abundance of life that lives—largely unseen to us—just below the surface of the grasses. With snow recently melted off and the grass still lying flat, I could catch glimpses of the pathways that meadow voles have been creating just above the ground and below the snow all winter. This subnivean (below snow) behavior allows them to forage for grass seed and woody vegetation while mostly being protected from the elements and predators.

ears. Some researchers believe these tufts may act as a form of body language communication, as with great horned owls. They are lanky-bodied and their cryptic feather patterns allow them to have effective camouflage while on their roost sites. They do not build their own nests, but instead use old nest sites from other stick builders including red-tailed hawks, magpies, and crows.

Long-eared owls are somewhat unusual, as many owls tend to be solitary or dwell in small family groups. During winter, the

Staring aside, owls have many adaptations that make them excel as nocturnal predators. Looking at individual owl feathers, they appear almost fuzzy on the margins due to an extra layer of down that allows these birds to have a silent flight. Owls also have asymmetrical ears, with one ear being slightly lower than the other. An owl's dished facial features allows them to direct sound toward the ear. This lets them hear in 3D and locate prey with incredible accuracy in complete darkness.

Like many owls, long-eared owls swallow their prey whole and then regurgitate the indigestible parts into pellets. These pellets make excellent science lessons and can

As I walked my dog along the trails, I was also reminded of the more-than-human senses of other animals. My canine companion frequently lunged into the grass at the sound of a meadow vole scurrying under the grass. It was a great reminder of the life that goes often unseen by humans, but that many other animals, like the long-eared owl, have senses attuned to find. //

Adam Gebauer writes the Nature column for each issue of Out There. His last article highlighted restoration efforts on Hangman Creek in eastern Washington. You can read more of his Nature columns online at Outthereoutdoors.com.

SALTESE LONG-EARED OWLS AFTER A SNOW STORM. // PHOTO: ANGELA MARIE SLOTTEN

Curses, Foiled Again!

By Paul Delaney

Hells Canyon, 1 in 17 making the Main Salmon, 1 in 25 of winning the Middle Fork launch lottery, and 1 in 47 for the Selway. These four Inland Northwest rivers make up what’s known as the 4-Rivers lottery.

In 2021, those numbers, respectively, went to 1 in 25, 1 in 89, 1 in 102 and 1 in 384. According to Kevin Coburn, stewardship director for American Whitewater, in 2022, in excess of 60,000 permit applications were submitted through recreation.gov into the 4-Rivers lottery with just 1,054 successful.

already an issue. “On the Salmon, numbers are too high,” seasonal ranger Sheri Hughes who works out of Boundary Creek on the Middle Fork reported to the Colorado Sun. “The river looks really overused at the end of the season. It’s beat to death.” More use means limiting camps, smaller group sizes, and fewer river days.

FIXING THE SYSTEM

MANY BABY BOOMERS can recall cartoon villain Snidely Whiplash snarling the words, “Curses, foiled again!” whenever he was thwarted by Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties. The tales of Whiplash and Do-Right were part of The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle that ran from 1959–1964. Many river runners might once again evoke those words knowing they were “foiled again” in the quest for the rapidly vanishing wilderness species of river permits.

Opening up email this past Valentine’s Day, just 2 percent or less of you were suc-

cessful in securing dates to float Hells Canyon, the Main and Middle forks of the Salmon, or the Selway Rivers.

Like a steady upriver wind that endlessly delays your arrival at that perfect riverside beach campsite and cooler-chilled cocktails, the river permitting process has increasingly become an exercise in futility given the remote odds of enjoying that wilderness experience.

PERMIT ODDS BY THE NUMBERS

You are not just imagining things, either. In 2010, there was a 1 in 6 shot of running

Through a survey sent to 30,000 AWA members with some 1,300 respondents, 81% said their chances of securing a permit for rivers in the lower 48 states were unacceptable. Going back a decade, applications have skyrocketed on average over 300% since 2012. And there is no relief in sight.

The idea of increasing the number of permits would be a non-starter on many levels, the least of which being the reason most boaters want to go there in the first place and its effect on the environment, experience, and infrastructure. In fact, many argue the high number of rafters on these rivers is

One variation of a fix could come in the way the Rogue River allocates launches. They do it by group size with a cap of 120 persons per day between May 15 and Oct. 15. That total is split 50-50 between commerciallyguided and private trips and in 2021 awarded 86 percent of applicants a launch. Personally speaking, and having run each of the “4-Rivers,” a 2018 trip on the Rogue was as remarkable a wilderness experience as any others—outside of what seemed like skimpy camping on day-one. Most river runners agree there has to be a way of protecting the balance of access and a wilderness experience.

There are ways to tweak the process, the

The broken river permit system is in need of a long-overdue fix, but there’s no mechanic on the way

most common it seems is through a “weighted lottery.” This is where unsuccessful applicants earn more chances the longer it has been since they were—or never have been— on a particular river. While the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has in the past surveyed the boating community about weighted lotteries, nothing has been done to initiate such a change in the decade since. Unfortunately, repeated requests from many boaters for comment from the USFS, which (through Recreation.gov) administers the permitting process, have gone unanswered.

THE OUTFITTER/GUIDE PERSPECTIVE

A person with a vested interest in access to these revered rivers is Peter Grubb, founder of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho-based ROW Adventures that runs commercial river rafting trips on many of these permitted Northwest rivers. He dove into things from a different perspective with me.

“As you can imagine, as an outfitter, this is a sensitive subject, because we are often singled out as part of the problem,” Grubb wrote in an email. “I often hear that ‘outfitters control too much use’ or ‘outfitters are the problem.’"

To exemplify his perspective, on the Middle Fork of the Salmon there are seven launches per day of up to 24 people, four going to private parties and three to outfitters.

Grubb explained one of the problems that tends to skew the stats—and dilute

the odds—is that often in a group of 10-15 people hoping for a permit, all 10-15 people apply. Hypothetically, that’s potentially 5,000 people competing for 500 launches. “If just 500 people applied, representing one person per trip, then the statistics and success rates would look very different,” adds Grubb.

With 43 years on the river, one thing Grubb knows is timing applications can enhance success. On the Middle Fork, most outfitters sell out their seats between about July 5 and August 5 when the water is not too high, but not too low.

“Everyone wants to go then, including the non-outfitted public,” Grubb explains. “But if people apply for permits after August 15, the chances are much improved. We always see fewer people on the water, both outfitted and non-outfitted, after August 10 or so.”

While an overhaul of the system isn’t likely anytime soon, there are baby-step efforts by the Bureau of Land Management happening on Desolation-Gray Canyon of the Green River in Utah that could offer an easy process tweak for other rivers—in this case people who cancel a permit after a certain date are penalized. Outdoor industry lobbyists in Washington, D.C., would also like to see rules changed to make more unused permits available to both commercial and private entities.

Dudley Do-Right, where are you when we really need you? //

Paul Delaney began his whitewater adventures over 40 years ago and now has 45 rivers and creeks on his resume. He wrote about rafting the Owyhee River in the June 2020 issue of Out There and originally addressed permitting in the May-June 2022 edition. Contact Paul at spokanerafterguy@ comcast.net.

// PHOTOS: PAUL DELANEY

Teach Your Kids Survival Skills

By Amy McCaffree

IF YOU DON’T KNOW about the “I Survived” historical fiction book series by Lauren Tarshis, then your kids likely do. Popular with readers from 3rd grade and older (ages 8+), including middle-schoolers, each story is based on a major true-life disaster, including historical-notable natural ones (such as the 1982 Mount St. Helen’s eruption) or human-caused ones (sinking of the Titanic), or infamous wildlife encounters (1967 grizzly bear attacks at Glacier National Park). Readers are captivated by how the young main characters overcome frightening, life-threatening challenges by using problem-solving, practical survival skills, and teamwork.

But how can today’s kids learn mental fortitude and how to survive life-or-death situations in the great outdoors, or even in an urban setting? Generation Alpha (born 2010-present) are only becoming teenagers this year. Their parents are Millennials and Gen Xers, and should have spent lots of time playing outside as kids—or maybe not.

Today, we tend to rely too much on smartphones in the outdoors; from GPS and Google Maps to thinking help is just a phone call away. While individual survival skill know-how is important, what’s equally important is that adults know how to pass on knowledge to youngsters so that the whole family knows what to do.

In recent years, more families are partic-

ipating in outdoor recreation, going camping, and exploring National Parks. We all start as inexperienced recreationalists, but naivety can have serious consequences. Over the past 10 years, for instance, visitors to National Parks are more frequently getting lost while hiking—so much so that the National Park Service now compiles search-and-rescue incident reports, using more signage and rangers to better educate park visitors about risks and hazards. Even experienced adults who know their way around the woods can still overestimate their abilities. Knowing essential survival skills is like knowing CPR—you hope to never have to use it, but it’s best to know what to do if needed. Here are some resources to build your family’s survival skill knowledge base.

BOOKS

How-to books, some created especially for youth, make a good starting point and are available from public libraries. Check out Survivor Kid: A Practical Guide to Wilderness Survival by Denise Long; Ultimate Survival Guide For Kids by Rob Colson; Survival Hacks: Over 200 Ways to Use Everyday Items for Wilderness Survival by Stewart Creek; and Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival by Dave Canterbury.

SURVIVAL SCHOOLS

Regional organizations offer in-person programs for adults and youth. Even if parents take a class without their children, returning home with new knowledge and skills and then teaching them to their family may someday save lives.

• Northwest Survival School: 1-day intro and 3-day basics class, open to all ages 6 and older, is a great way for a family to learn together. School is based in Ione, in Northeast Washington, with one-day classes in nearby Newport. Northwestsurvivalschool.com

• Twin Eagles Wilderness School: Adult and youth programs in North Idaho, including parent-child weekends. Twineagles.org

• Wilderness Awareness School: Classes for youth and adults, based in Duvall, Wash., located in the western foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Wildernessawareness.org

• Bushcraft Northwest: Weekend classes in Goldendale, Wash., for learning “bushcraft”—meaning “knowledge and skill that lets one travel confidently through the wilderness with a minimal reliance on gear.” Bushcraftnorthwest.com

• North Cascades Institute: Family getaways with staff-led learning activities (such as map and compass navigation) and trail and lake-based recreation. Overnight lodging at the institute’s Environmental Learning Center, located within North Cascades National Park at Diablo Lake, makes the weekend a comfortable intro to wilderness exploration. Ncascades.org

• (Online-Only)—Don’t Die In the Woods: This business that creates survival gear emphasizes preparation as the #1 survival skills. “Being prepared allows freedom to explore with confidence to go farther, stay longer, and have more fun,” these survival experts state on its website, Dontdieinthewoods.com. The education model focuses on four main components: preparing your mind first, then your knowledge base, followed by your gear and survival skills. Credible (and free) online information includes a guide to edible bugs and teaching guide with “7 Fun Adventures for Parents and Kids To Learn Outdoor Safety.” //

Amy McCaffree is Out There Kids columnist and adventure-mom to two kids. She wrote about getting ready for summer camps in the last issue. Find all of her columns at Outthereoutdoors.com.

KIDS IN THE WILD. PHOTOS COURTESY OF TWIN EAGLES

GEAR ROOM

Mummy bags are great for cold-weather camping and for people who like the snug fit of a tight sleeping sack, but for warmer weather sleep-outs, the Sea to Summit Tanami comforter is a spacious option that feels more like sleeping at home. There’s plenty of room to roll, kick, and spread out in a comfy down comforter for one person or a more intimate but still roomy space for two. The 750+ Ultra-Dry Down fill packs

a warming punch that repels moisture. What makes this a comforter and not a sleeping bag is the drawcord snugging system that will fit up around a sleeping pad instead of the traditional zipper with a bag bottom. This works splendidly until you get down around 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and then you’ll find yourself cursing the draftiness that feels oh-so-good on hot summer nights. MSRP: $299.00. Seatosummit. com (Derrick Knowles)

If you’re the kind of person with days that frequently go something like this—office, out for a lunch break hike or bouldering session, and then off to afternoon meetings followed by a post-work beverage and a bike commute home— then OR’s Ferrosi Transit Pants were made for you. They check all of the technical boxes: lightweight, breathable, durable (crag ready with bluesign®), windproof, UPF-50+, reflective inseam cuff. And they are stretchy yet snug fitting and have deep pockets that easily fit anything from the biggest phone to cold hands. MSRP: $95. Outdoorresearch.com (Wil Wheaton)

How many times have you stopped on the side of the road or trail straining to see the assend of a moose, bear, or raptor of some sort fading off into the distance? I now plan to carry these Nocs Provisions binoculars along on as many trips as possible. These 10x25 waterproof binoculars are small and light enough to keep in the car, hanging from your body with the included strap, or stashed in a pack.

The vision quality is excellent for a set of recreational binoculars, and the lenses are fog proof. They also come in a bunch of bright, cool colors. Lens caps to protect them from all of the times my kid will undoubtedly drop them in the dirt would be awesome, but overall it’s a great price for some super-hero backcountry vision. MSRP: $95. Nocsprovisions.com (Derrick Knowles)

If you have been struggling to get a good night’s sleep on camping trips in recent years, this light cot might be the answer. The pros are many, including keeping your body up off of un-even surfaces and the rocks, sticks, and pinecones that seem to magically materialize overnight to torture you in your sleep. It’s also a softer surface, and the fulllength size fits in a tent and lets you stretch out. If you want to lug it into the back-

country, the weight (around 5 pounds) is a bit much to go very far, although the Cot Lite version is only 2 pounds and made for backpacking. Your ability to sprawl and thrash about if you’re that kind of camp sleeper will also be curtailed a bit, but for those craving a better night’s sleep outside, this durable, easy-to-set-up cot will be a dream come true. MSRP: $349.95. Helinox. com (Derrick Knowles)

I’m a huge fan of Arcade’s active-lifestyle belts and have a growing collection of them thanks to all of the cool designs, with six belts to show off your love for national parks, including Glacier and Yellowstone in our neck of the woods. The patch artwork is iconic and minimalist with all of the stretchy functionality, low-profile, and

metal-free buckle that people love about Arcade belts. One of my favorite things about them is that they’re machine washable. You can find Arcade belts locally at most outdoor gear shops including Rambleraven, Shred, and Alpine Haus in Spokane or online. MSRP: $31.95. Arcadebelts.com (Derrick Knowles)

Keeping your gear organized on backcountry trips, bikepacking epics, and backroad camping excursions is always a challenge, and these waterresistant, lightweight, welded TPU laminated ripstop Nylon cubes make a world of difference. They keep road and trail dust out of whatever you pack inside them

too. Another great feature is the translucent window panel, so that it’s less of a guessing game every time you go looking for your toothbrush, wallet, bike tools, or fishing reel. They come in quite a few sizes, so don’t be surprised if you end up owning several of them. MSRP: $24.95+. Seatosummit.com (Wil Wheaton)

Rental Gear for Your Outdoor Adventures

SEA TO SUMMIT TANAMI DOWN COMFORTER

ARCADE NATIONAL PARKS COLLECTION STRETCH BELT

HELINOX COT ONE CONVERTIBLE

SEA TO SUMMIT HYDRAULIC PACKING CUBES

NOCS STANDARD ISSUE WATERPROOF BINOCULARS

OUTDOOR RESEARCH FERROSI TRANSIT PANTS

BIOLITE BASECHARGE 1500

Building a name for themselves by pioneering portable biomass camp stoves that charge USB devices, solar rechargeable lights, and headlamps that “run forever,” to battery packs of all sizes, Biolite has been living up to its mission of bringing energy everywhere since 2008.

This past winter, I had the opportunity to bring a bit of Biolite’s energy on a fishing and camping trip to Baja California, Mexico. The sleek and high-functioning BaseCharge 1500 became my daily companion in the customized canopy living space on the back of my 2004 Toyota Tacoma as it charged my fridge and other electronic devices. Weighing less than several competing charging stations, it also packs more outputs than most into a compact and manageable container, with grippy inset handles covering whisper-quiet cooling fans. This configuration reduces dust intake compared to horizontally-mounted fans, a crucial feature on the dusty backroads of Baja.

The BaseCharge’s light weight belies a tough exterior, though I opted to mount mine to a wooden frame with rubber feet and then strap it down to limit bouncing on the rutted and rocky roads I would encounter while looking for fish and remote free

camping in the less-visited reaches of Baja. Even in the far corner of the truck bed, the display was clear and easy to read, providing watts in and out, charge percentage, hours to empty, and other vital information.

Drawing from the 120-watt folding solar panel I brought along, I primarily used it to power a 12V DC refrigerator that used about 45 watts on startup and 35 or fewer while running. The BaseCharge 1500 (with a 1521 watt-hour, lithium-ion battery) can accommodate up to 400 watts of solar input and 1,200 watts of continuous output, so it had no problem keeping up with my daily power needs. Even through the occasional cloudy day or two, I was able to simultaneously charge headlamps, other battery packs, portable lights, a laptop, GPS units, and my phone wirelessly on the top surface as well.

After a fruitful day on the water, we needed libations to wash down our nightly intake of fresh fish tacos. One of our thirsty crew wanted to make an e-bike beer run but was out of juice. He only had an AC adaptor, and I had the solution. In under an hour, the BaseCharge 1500 brought his bike back to life, and we toasted another self-sufficient night under the bright stars of Baja. MSRP: $1,699. Bioliteenergy.com (Justin Skay)

BAJA ADVENTURES PARTIALLY FUELED BY BIOLITE. // PHOTOS: DERRICK KNOWLES

Backyard Test Garden

By Lisa Laughlin

and all of them were a pound or more. That one was just really fun. It has super dense flesh, but it tastes sweet and juicy,” says Wilson.

You may not always love what you get from a backyard test garden. Last year, Wilson grew a green variety of eggplant that exhibited a lot of scarring and didn’t look appetizing.

Interestingly, the Church tomato that performed so well for Wilson scored poorly overall in the Seed Savers trial run. Part of the Seed Saver objective is to determine which varieties can thrive across multiple growing regions and be offered in their seed catalog nationwide.

When you trial seeds for Seed Savers, you can employ any growing method, as long as you’re consistent: greenhouse, high tunnel, in-ground, or in containers. Wilson starts her plants indoors then transfers to a hand-built greenhouse when it becomes reasonable to heat it through the night in our region. Rundle’s Urban Farm employs creative solutions, like a bucket of water with an aquarium heater that provides warmth and humidity in the greenhouse, which shares space in their urban yard with a chicken run and a long stretch of dirt where Wilson and her husband ripped out yard in favor of garden space for experimental growing.

“I’m kind of obsessed with tomatoes, so I grow 25 or so varieties every year and a

lot them are ones I’ve never grown before,” says Wilson.

Along with the other gardeners who are willing to trial seeds and keep notes, Wilson helps give a second wind to heirloom varieties that may otherwise die out, with the personal benefit of free seeds and their produce. They’re seeds that aren’t commercially available (yet).

If you’d like to create your own backyard test garden, sign up now for Seed Savers Exchange’s newsletter (seedsavers.org) and mark your calendar for January 2024 — the month when new trial seeds are sent to eager gardeners. To buy some of Wilson’s local garden starts this month (non-trial plants), check out Rundle’s Urban Farm at rundlesurbanfarm.com or on Facebook. //

Lisa Laughlin is the Managing Editor of Out There Outdoors and enjoys her own backyard gardening.

BY OTHER TOMATO VARIETALS. //

PHOTO: BY HANNAH WILSON

Training Principles to Improve Your Cycling Fitness

By Joel Sattgast

AS PAT BULGER NOTED in the March/April issue of Out There, and as Inland NW locals have known for years, Spokane is an incredible bike town. Whether hitting singletrack on Beacon Hill or Mount Spokane; enjoying the rolling terrain of the Palouse; executing threshold TT intervals in prep for triathlon season; or adventuring offroad to explore quiet, gravel roads, there is something for everyone.

Beyond enjoying time in the saddle, cycling is also a phenomenal catalyst for health and wellness, demanding aerobic endurance, strength, mobility, and mental fortitude. While the terrain and bike may look different based on personal preference, the training paradigm used amongst the disciplines is very similar. As you plan for your upcoming racing or riding season, or as you look to improve your tolerance and capacity for extended time in the saddle, consider the following training principles.

First, pick the low-hanging fruit. Regardless of training-to-race vs. training-for-life, you should prioritize foundational workouts and then increase your level as appropriate. Specific to all disciplines and distances is the ability to improve overall endurance and aerobic capacity. Expanding time in the saddle at lower intensities is a great strategy for building cardiovascular, neuromusculoskeletal, and metabolic fitness. There’s no hack for base training. (Example ride: Forget about KOMs and PRs and instead turn your attention to a smooth cadence and even, but moderate, intensity. Depending on fitness level, target 1-2 hours, with heart rate <6070% max).

Second, start with the end in mind. After you’ve established point “Z,” begin to work backward, identifying everything from “A” through “Y” that will contribute to your success. Planning a ride with significant elevation gain, like RAMROD? Early general miles on the trainer or flat-to-rolling terrain

may suffice to build base-level fitness, but targeting high-intensity hill repeats as your ride date approaches is necessary to prepare the heart, lungs, legs, and mind. If ultraendurance is your preference (e.g. Seattle to Portland; RAGBRAI), early-season intervals can help to build strength prior to transitioning to extended structural efforts necessary to hold power and effort for extended time. (Example ride: To improve threshold capacity, start with 20-30 minutes easy, followed by 3-4 sets of 5 to 15-minute efforts with equal recovery, finishing with 15-30 minutes easy).

Third, diversify your training by leaning into adverse conditions. I’ve yet to meet a cyclist who doesn’t love a ripping tail wind. And yet, a headwind is free resistance training, forcing you to optimize your position, fine-tune cadence, and callus the mind. Or perhaps you’re uneasy on variable terrain (like singletrack, washboard gravel, or steep descents) or when encountering hazards on the roadway. Structuring your ride to mirror cycling’s performance demands creates physical adaptation and mental confidence.

(Example ride: Visit Riverside State Park and hit the trails. Exposure to off-road terrain improves stabilizing musculature and motor control required for gravel and singletrack while improving necessary reflexes for avoiding potential road hazards.)

Finally, comparisons are odious. High vs. low socks, lace-up vs. BOA, matching kit vs. Hawaiian shirt, mechanical vs. electronic, carbon vs. alloy, carbs vs. ketones, gravel vs. road . . . and on and on. Don’t lose the joy of cycling by only focusing outwardly. Knowing your personal “why” is a great buffer to distraction. The best bike and training ride is the one you’re on and the one you show up for. //

Joel Sattgast is an outdoor enthusiast, physical therapist, performance coach, and EWU assistant professor.

PHOTO: JON JONCKERS

Primitive Skills

Foraging for Stinging Nettles The many uses of this common native plant

By Karie Lee Knoke

When you know these plants well, then the rest is a grand experiment for the taste buds.

Some plants are utilitarian, meaning that they can be used for other things such as making cordage, weaving baskets, or creating arrows for your bow. These plants are long-forgotten in modern times. My favorite plant that is prolific during this time of year is Urtica Dioica, more commonly known as stinging nettle. It is edible, medicinal, and utilitarian.

Stinging nettle is associated with being obnoxious and one to avoid because of its nasty sting when you touch it. I remember when my great grandmother tripped and fell into a large patch of stinging nettle. She was a screaming mess! I may have learned my first swear words that day. She told me that using the juice of a fern can be used to soothe the infliction. Typically, that is the case in nature; the antidote for a toxic plant is usually growing nearby. Nature in perfect balance as the creator intended.

Stinging nettle is our local superfood. It is very high in vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamins A & D, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. It has the highest amount of protein of all the plants. Nettles with purple stalks signify that there’s a high amount of magnesium in that particular plant.

berry. It’s great for expelling mucus from the lungs and sweeping out toxins from your lymph nodes.

And then, there are the flowers. Have you ever looked up close to the flowers of stinging nettle? The first part of the plant’s Latin name, Urtica, means ‘to burn’. (That connection is obvious.) The second part, Dioica, means ‘of two houses,’ which signifies that this species has both female and male representation in separate clusters on the same plant. How they procreate is a beautiful love story that I’ll share sometime around the campfire.

The energetic essence of the female flower is nature’s estrogen that heals at an emotional level. It helps you to be receptive and nurturing. The male flower essence is nature's testosterone, helping you with procrastination and getting things done. We all need a little of both in our lives to maintain a healthy internal balance.

AS THE LAND BECOMES ANEW with the emergence of greenery, the landscape awakens from its long winter’s dormancy. In the days of old (before grocery stores), it was the time of renewing our bodies with vitamins and minerals from the forest. Spring offers us detoxifying, bitter plants, full of much-needed nutrients as the fats and proteins that kept us warm in the winter time give way to a much leaner existence.

Have you ever wondered what you can eat in the forest? In the Inland Northwest, we

are lucky, for we do not have very many poisonous plants. But you wouldn’t want to go foraging without knowing these sometimesdeadly ones. It is this lack of knowledge that causes many to stay ignorant and go to the store. However, If you were to look out at the landscape, about 95 percent of the plants you see are either edible or medicinal. Some plants are delightful to eat, such as miner’s lettuce, morel mushrooms, and fiddleheads. I like to classify wild foods on a continuum from yummy, palatable, survival, yucky, and deadly. Learn about poisonous plants first.

Every part of the plant has a different purpose. The leaves are good for eating like spinach or can be dried for later use to be sprinkled on food or make a tea infusion. The oil made of dried nettle seeds can be mixed with rosemary or lavender oil and rubbed into your scalp to stimulate hair growth. Soak in a bath of nettle root tea for rheumatic pains and joint stiffness. Stinging nettle is your friend.

As a medicine, stinging nettle is a tonic, pectoral, astringent, and mild diuretic. It becomes a synergistic decongestant when mixed with other herbs, such as yerba santa, yerba mansa, goldenseal, and California bay-

The stalks of stinging nettle also make wonderful cordage. You can strip the fibrous strands from the outside of the stem. The fibers are twisted into cordage, or rope. For a nettle enthusiast, fibers can be carded and spun into yarn like wool. Nettles have been used for ages to make fine clothing. (And, no — the shirts do not sting.) I hope to someday make an article of clothing out of stinging nettle fiber.

The key to survival and a better diet is knowing the landscape and unlocking the wisdom of the plants. Come join me for foraging fun at my Wild Edible & Medicinal Foraging class on June 10, 17, and 24. //

Karie Lee Knoke is a wilderness/primitive skills instructor and founder of Sacred Cedars Wilderness School. She was a contestant on the reality survival TV show “Alone,.” Season 9, on the History Channel. Go to Karieleeknoke. com for more information, or follow her on Facebook @SacredCedarsWildernessSchool or Instagram @karie_lee_knoke

Last July, some friends and I made the five-hour drive to Montana’s Big Hole River for a 10-day adventure filled with fishing, kayaking, and climbing. After a quick camp, we woke up from a fun-filled night of battling mosquitos and were ready to fish. We dropped the mini bike off for a shuttle to make the first float from Browne Bridge to Glen. Over the course of the float, we tried to refine our skills by trying different lures and getting a feel for the river. By the end, we had numerous bites and two big brown trout in the boat. After a tackle run to Dillon, we hit the next section of river in the afternoon and caught one fish and missed another 20.

Fishing Rods, Play

After slow fishing on the Browne Bridge stretch, we packed up and headed upriver in search of better luck. The next morning, we woke up early with fish on our minds and frost on our sleeping bags and set out on a section that looked super deep but ended up very shallow until we drifted farther down river. We watched some true cowboys moving cattle with their dogs, and eventually, with a shallow water Rapala, caught a brook trout and whitefish. Back at camp, I took out the whitewater kayak for some practice drills while my friends hooked into more grayling. Then we headed down river to give the Big Hole one last shot and hooked into two big brown trout over 18 inches, three big rainbows, and some whitefish. Finally, some fish to live up to all the hype! That night the caddis hatch was on and I ate flies the whole way running the mini bike shuttle to pick up the truck.

BROWNE BRIDGE TO GLEN ON THE BIG HOLE

THE UPPER BIG HOLE

THE BIG HOLE AND BEYOND. PHOTOS: LOGAN SIEGFORD

ONWARD TO THE BITTERROOT

We started the day off looking for our lost fishing net and then decided to leave the Big Hole behind and head over Lost Trail Pass to the Bitterroot River. We were surprised to find every boat ramp packed with lots of people standing around fishing the shore on a Tuesday and waited for the day to cool down before doing an 11-mile float. On the water the dry fly caught two nice cutthroat trout and one brook trout. With this quick explosion of action, the hype levels rose. That evening, there was another big caddis hatch, and we caught a few nice cutthroat trout. Our camp site up Blodgett Canyon was amazing with lots of rock climbing to be done.

For our next full day on the Bitterroot, we slowly got out of bed around 4 a.m. and packed to get on the water before daylight. We set off with the help of Red Bulls and reached the river just as the sun was brightening the sky. Immediately we got into fish and within an hour we had five in the boat. Four out of the five were over 12 inches, and by the end of the float, we were fighting for who had to row even though we had all caught massive fish!

Boats, and Big Skies

By Logan Siegford

Saturday, August 12, 2023

NORTH TO THE CLARK FORK

After slaying it on the Bitterroot, for some reason, we decided to head into Missoula for some kayaking. We spent a few hours on the man-made surf wave in downtown Missoula, having a blast with the locals. Then we headed west to camp on the Clark Fork River.

It was cold and even rained a little until noon the next day. We did a bit of surfing at the Alberton rest stop wave in the cold. Eventually the thermostat cranked up, and we headed to the Alberton Gorge to find some whitewater. Loaded with three kayaks and a raft, we set out. Everyone had a blast—lots of cliff jumping and high stoke. Rounding out the day we headed back to camp and ate food and took a nap, until later that evening someone had the bug to do some more kayaking. We set out again for Missoula for a dusk surf session before another night camping on the Clark Fork.

After another slow morning (too many nights with little sleep and popped ground pads), we set after the gorge with fishing poles, a raft, and kayaks. Every big hole we stopped at we fished or cliff jumped. We landed several rainbows and cutthroat trout, but also lost a phone and fishing pole to the river. Later in the day, a group of us went climbing at the Alberton rest stop and had a blast on some awesome 5.7 slab routes. We talked around the fire that night, our last on the river, about how awesome the trip had been and how we had to finish with one final morning fishing session before heading back home to “real life.” //

6 STEPS TO ENJOYING TRAIL RUNNING

BY BRAD THIESSEN

pared or out of time. Trail running is more than just running—it’s also orienteering. There may not be landmarks to guide you, or they may look different when approached from a different angle. So plan your route and pay deliberate attention as you go down the trail.

3. DRESS FOR THIS AFTERNOON

Bring a pack with clothes that layer. My strongest cautionary memory is my brother looking up at the blue sky from the parking lot and saying “It’s not going to rain,” then putting his jacket back in the trunk. Watching him shiver uncontrollably with hypothermia four hours later was a rather sobering experience.

4. GO WITH A FRIEND (unless you really like running alone)

in the woods, so backcountry knowledge is a handy skill.

5. BRING ENOUGH NUTRITION AND HYDRATION

With trail running, proper nutrition and hydration are a must. Other than an injury, nothing wrecks a run quite like dehydrating or feeling the energy drain out of your legs. Invest in a hand-held water bottle and, as your runs grow longer, get a hydration vest. Experiment with different food to see what gives you energy and sits well in your stomach. The right nutrition and hydration level is very much an individual thing, and something you will have to learn about yourself.

6. FOLLOW YOUR BLISS

IF YOU’RE A ROAD RUNNER, the idea of getting out onto the trails can be a little intimidating. But give it a few strides and you’ll see why trail runners are so passionate and why there’s such a fun, loose vibe at trail races. Here are a few pointers to help you make the switch from pavement to dirt.

1. DON’T TIME YOURSELF

Okay, who am I kidding—you’re prob-

ably going to time yourself. Just don’t beat yourself up about it. Unless you’re running a familiar route, no two miles on trails are the same. The whole goal of trail running is to enjoy your body, enjoy the trail, and soak in nature.

2. DON’T GET LOST (unless you like doing that) A satisfying run can go sour pretty quickly if you find yourself off-course and unpre-

Trail running with a friend has a couple of huge benefits. First, running frees the mind and the heart, and you’re together for a long time, maybe hours. Some of my best conversations have been on the trail. Second, there are risks on the trail you don’t have when running on the road. Technical aspects like rocks and roots can easily bring spills, and you won’t necessarily be near help if anything goes wrong including an encounter with a rattlesnake, moose, or other wildlife. Trail running is time spent

If you had a distance planned, but you’re in the zone: keep going. If you’re curious, explore. If you’re blown away by the scenery, stop and let it wash over you. If you’re tired, slow down or stop for a while to rest. This is not a track meet. This is you and nature, one on one. //

Brad Thiessen is Race Director for the Mountain Magic 5/10/25k Trail Run and Marathon, June 17 & 18 at Mt. Spokane State Park. Learn more at Mountainmagicrun.com.

PHOTO: JON JONCKERS

SPOKATOPIA 2023 GUIDE One day. a whole

NEW THIS YEAR: FRIDAY NIGHT LIMITEDACCESS BIKE DEMO

Demo all of the bikes without the crowds on the night before the main event. Get your demo pass for Friday July 7 from 5-9 PM! Bikes + Evergreen East beer garden + Good ‘Dilla food truck = GOOD TIMES. Limited tickets available for Friday night demo!

GROUP GRAVEL & MTB RIDES + 5K TRAIL RUN

Sign up for various group rides of Beacon/Sekani trails, a new 1520-mile gravel ride led by local gravel guru Justin Short, or the 5K Spokatopia Trail Run.

KIDS’ ACTIVITIES & MINI ADVENTURE CAMPS

Bring the whole family! Sign the kids up for a 2-hour outdoor adventure camp while you hit the demo bikes and bike shuttle. There will be plenty of kids’ and family activities for the whole family too, from kids’ bike demos in the pump track to nature presentations, the kids’ adventure passport activity, games, slacklining, and marshmallow roasting.

OUTDOOR FESTIVAL FUN

Get your outdoor adventure fix at Spokatopia without leaving town! Try rock climbing, disc golf, slacklining, yoga & more. Check out adventure vehicles from Toyota and R’nR RV as well as booths from outdoorsy vendors and outdoor clubs.

ENJOY UPHILL BIKE SHUTTLES & BIKE JUMP SHOW!

Hop on one of the Spokatopia uphill shuttles and give your legs and lungs a break before taking on a gravity-fueled descent! And don’t miss the high-flying action of skilled riders hitting insane jumps at the Spokatopia Jump Show at 1 PM on Saturday.

MUSIC, BREWS & FOOD

Drink local beer, wine, and cider and support your local mountain bike trails at Beacon Hill and beyond! All sales from the Spokatopia Bikes & Brews beverage garden go to Evergreen East Mountain Bike Alliance!

LIVE MUSIC Snacks at Midnight Agape

Suhanna Cree

+ Your Favorite Grunge/Alt Rock Hits from the ‘90s & early 2000s!

CAN'T-MISS EVENT AT CAMP

SEKANI AND BOULDER BEACH ON SATURDAY, JULY 8

If you’ve been to Spokatopia before, you understand the magic. Friends, community, bikes, boards, kayaks, live tunes, beer, and more all out under the sun and pines in our beloved backyard paradise at Camp Sekani Park and Boulder Beach on the Spokane River.

If you’ve never been, we can’t wait to see you there. Skip the lake or summer travel for this Spokane staycation weekend like no other. You won’t regret it! Find all of the details at Spokatopia.com. See you at Spokatopia on July 8 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.!

ALL ABOUT THE BIKES

Spokatopia is one of the biggest regional gatherings of new bikes from multiple brands all in one place where you can take many of them out for a spin on the Sekani/Beacon trails! Come try mountain bikes, e-bikes, and other bikes from local shops and some of the best bike companies in the U.S. right at Spokane’s Camp Sekani Park.

DEMOS AND BIKE DEALS FROM LOCAL SHOPS

TRY THE BEST MOUNTAIN BIKES

TRY BOARDS, BOATS, & OTHER WATER TOYS AT BOULDER BEACH

Paddle kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, and other water sports gear on the lake-like waters of the Spokane River above Upriver Dam. 10 AM-5PM on Saturday

INFLATABLE RETROSPEC PADDLEBOARDS & AIRE KAYAKS

Check out Retrospec Weekender inflatable paddleboards and an entire fleet of Aire Tomcat Solo and Tandem kayaks from Rambleraven. Also test paddle Aire Outfitter Tandem kayaks for those who are ready to kick it up a notch on some bigger rapids.

HOBIE KAYAKS & INFLATABLE KAYAKS

Paddle Hobie kayaks and inflatable kayaks from Spokane Alpine Haus (Spokane’s exclusive Hobie kayak dealer) for demo and sale (multiple models).

ELECTRIC-ASSIST MANTA 5 WATERBIKES

Try the new easy-start, self-launching electric-assist Manta 5 waterbike that magically floats on a foil above the water while you pedal! If you like biking and swimming, you’ll love hydrofoiling with the new SL3.

8-PERSON CANOE RIDES

Take a ride on the one-and-only Voyager Canoe with the Spokane Canoe & Kayak Club.

TANDEM KAYAK TOURS

Sign up in advance for guided, two-hour upriver tandem kayak tours with Spokane Parks & Recreation. Paddle some of the Spokane River’s most scenic stretches right from Spokatopia at Boulder Beach. (Advanced reservations required).

Let the adventures begin.

Behind the wheel of a Toyota, big and small adventures happen naturally. Whether you ’ re starting your career or introducing your newborn to the world, each day brings a new story. And, wherever you ’re going, smart safety technologies are designed to help protect you. Get ready to see where the road takes you next .

TOYOTA .COM

Prototypes shown with options. Extra-cost colors shown. Off-roading is inherently dangerous. Abusive use may result in bodily harm or vehicle damage. Wear seatbelts at all times and do not allow passengers in cargo area. Do not overload your vehicle. See Owner s Manual for weight limits and restrictions. Always properly secure cargo and cargo area.

Taking On the GRIT Running Series Challenge

STANDING AT A WOODEN PODIUM with the chill of a November wind driving across the fairway of the Hangman Valley golf course near Spokane, I reflected on how the past three years of hard work and sacrifice had just come to an end. The choice to get to bed early instead of hanging out late with high school friends. The drudgery of an early morning alarm clock signaling it was time for another soggy five mile run before class, and a running log book filled with tattered pages of training runs seemed all complete. The goal we had set three years before that day just happened.

That was a moment in 1983 standing with my teammates as we heard our names called out from the announcer stand. We had just won the Washington State Cross Country title, a surreal feeling at that moment which seemed like the end of the trail. As I left the podium, I didn’t realize it wasn’t the end of a trail; it was actually just the beginning.

We all have a trail ahead of us. My own personal trail of participating in endurance sports for the past 40 years was never being the fastest. It took me from running 5ks to marathons, and sprint triathlons to Ironman that had only a handful of age group podiums. But is the podium why we run, bike, or swim? Or is the trail we are on something different, something better?

For all but a few who actually win races, and we all admire you, our trail leads to a different podium. Our trail leads to the same feeling as standing in the number one place. It’s our podium we get when we cross the finish line of a local 5k realizing we made the effort to get there and we wear our

By Ken Eldore

race shirt home with pride. It’s the podium of hearing your name called by the announcer as you finish in the middle or back of the pack at a half-marathon or triathlon, and another finisher medal goes home to hang on the wall.

It’s the podium of walking through the doors at work on Monday morning, each step sending shards of pain through every joint of your body and a co-worker asks if you’re okay. You tell them you just ran a 50k trail race in the mountains. With 6,000 feet of vertical climbing. You turn and the coworker says you’re crazy, but each step of pain is your podium. A podium built of your strength.

As endurance athletes, our podium isn’t at the end of the trail. Ours is a trail with podiums along the way. A trail we blaze each time we get up early to swim, run or ride. A trail of sacrifice to get the work done and cross the next finish line. A trail that has to be navigated through demands in our careers, commitment to our families, injuries, and the setbacks of life. It’s a trail we make with GRIT.

All finishers of the GRIT running series in North Idaho, which includes the Race the Wolf, Dig Your Grave, Smokechaser, and Priest Lake Marathon races, earn a custom technical finishers’ jacket and all finisher names are posted on a printed podium that runs in the November/December edition of Out There Outdoors. Wherever the trail is leading you, GRIT has a race for you to continue your journey. Find all the info about the GRIT races at Priestlakerace.com. //

Ken Eldore is the Race Director of Priest Lake Multisports and the North Idaho GRIT running series.

(SPONSORED)

Silver Mountain Crusher Downhill mountain bike racer Ella Erickson wants to see more women get into racing

By Crystal Atamian

ELLA ERICKSON DESCRIBES DOWNHILL

mountain bike racing as two to three minutes of whipping speed that puts your technical skills and mental focus to the test. The three-time national champion is a member of the USA Cycling Women’s National Team, and in 2022 she was one of four riders selected by Team USA to compete in the World Championships in France. What makes her racing fun to watch, in part, is that she’s a local to the Inland Northwest. And the fact that she’s only 20 years old and rides a mountain bike like it’s an extension of her spirit.

Although last year was her first year competing at the elite level, this local superstar is no stranger to international races. She competed in the World Championships for the first time in 2020, and again in 2021. On the national stage, Erickson won first place at the Junior National Championships in 2021 with a time that put her in third place for pro women.

Even though she does her winter training in Bellingham, Erickson claims Silver Mountain as her home course. “The bike community in Coeur D’Alene and Spokane is so kind and supportive,” says Erickson.

Community is a key component for Erickson. She credits family as her biggest inspiration in this sport. “Riding with my family is really what got me into the sport, because it made it less intimidating. Racing downhill is really a mental challenge and requires a lot of focus. My family really made it feel fun.” Her mom, dad, and younger sister are downhill racers as well.

Erickson would love to see more women involved in mountain biking. In summer 2022 she hosted two women’s rides at Silver Mountain, sponsored by e*thirteen. “A lot of people showed up who had never been

mountain biking before and they really liked it,” Erickson says. “We broke into two groups (beginner and intermediate) and then met up at the end to do a lap.”

Silver Mountain has expanded their green courses over the last year, which means more opportunities for new riders that many people don’t know about. “I think a lot of women feel intimidated by the courses at Silver,” says Erickson. “But I think this is a great opportunity to create community and help women get over that and get them interested in the sport.”

Erickson recalls a similar event she attended in 2016 at Silver, organized by USA Pro Women’s Cycling star and Inland Northwest local Jaime Reese, “It’s really about having fun and trying to improve. Silver Mountain

is a great place to start.”

The 20-year-old has hopes of ascending the podium again as national champion. She has excelled as a DH racer and hopes to expand further into enduro racing. In fact, she’ll be competing in the Enduro National Downhill Series in Tennessee at the end of May in addition to the Northwest Cup series.

Ultimately, her favorite part is always the beginning of the race: “Right after I leave the gate, all the race-day nerves go away, and I can put all my energy on getting down the hill.” To follow Erickson’s racing this season, check out her Instagram account @ellabea_ //

Crystal Atamian is a writer and science editor in Spokane.

2023 NW MTB Races

May 12–14: Northwest Cup, Dry Hill Bike Park, Port Angeles, Wash.

May 20–21: Cascadia Dirt Cup, Post Canyon, Hood River, Ore.

June 10–11: Cascadia Dirt Cup, Tiger Mountain, Issaquah, Wash.

June 16–18: North American Enduro Cup, Silver Mountain, Kellogg, Idaho

June 23–25: Northwest Cup, Tamarack Bike Park, Donnelly, Idaho

June 30–July 2: Northwest Cup, Whitefish Resort, Mont.

July 15–16: Cascadia Dirt Cup, Galbraith MT Enduro, Bellingham, Wash.

July 29–30: Cascadia Dirt Cup, North Slope, Olympia, Wash.

Aug. 4–6: Northwest Cup, Silver Mountain, Kellogg, Idaho

Aug. 12: Summer Classic Team Enduro, Olympia, Wash.

Aug. 26–27: Cascadia Dirt Cup, Raging River, Snoqualmie, Wash.

Sept. 8–10: Northwest Cup Final, Stevens Pass, Wash.

Sept. 22–24: Silveroxx MTB festival, Silver Mountain, Kellogg, Idaho

If you are new to mountain biking or just like keeping it simple and local, check out the Wednesday Night Mountain Bike Series up at Riverside State Park. All about keeping it fun and simple, this series runs from May 3 to June 28 at the 7-mile airstrip and is open to all levels. Registration can be found at https://raceroster.com/ events/2023/73112/wednesday-night-mountain-bike-race-series.

TEAM USA MEMBER ELLA ERICKSON CALLS SILVER MOUNTAIN HOME. // CREDIT RANDR PHOTO

ERICKSON READY TO RACE. // PHOTO HEATHER CARTER

Doing Family Bike Rides The Right Way

By Aaron Theisen

STAY HYDRATED: Make sure that each person has a water bottle or hydration pack that they can—and are eager to—use. Even trailer passengers and ride-along cyclists who aren’t pedaling will work up a thirst.

PACK SNACKS: Perhaps the most important thing to remember. Pack lots of snacks. Even better, end your ride at an ice cream shop or a similarly rewarding destination. A little bribery goes a long way, figuratively and literally.

Whether your goal is the corner cone place or something a bit farther afield, set a modest itinerary and be prepared to turn back early. Your objective should be a smooth cycling experience that leaves everyone asking, “When are we going riding again?”

BIKING WITH KIDS can be an immensely rewarding experience, instilling a lifelong love of cycling. But it takes a little more preparation than those after-work solo shred sessions to be successful. The following basics will help ensure that family bike rides are safe, pleasant, and fun.

HELMETS ARE A MUST: Make sure they fit properly; an improperly worn helmet is little better than none at all. Helmets should fit snugly, with little to no side-toside or fore-and-aft play, and they should sit level and low on the forehead. Chin straps should form a V on either side of the ear and be snug under the chin—you shouldn’t be able to fit more than one or two fingers between chin and strap. Finally, model good helmet habits by always wearing yours.

BRING LAYERS. Nothing will derail a ride like a teeth-chattering toddler with no rain gear. A safe bet is to pack one more layer than you would wear yourself. Multiple light layers are always preferable to one or two heavier layers. Avoid cotton, the fibers of which lose any insulating properties when they get wet. (And be prepared to carry said layers as they shed.)

STASH A FIRST AID KIT: Make sure your kit is capable of dealing with, at the very least, minor scrapes. Several brands make cycling-specific first aid kits, but a baggie with bandages and wound ointment is a good start.

GEAR TO MAKE THE FAMILY RIDES BETTER Available at your local Wheel Sport location

BURLEY TRAILERS: With comfortable seating for one or two children and plenty of cargo space, trailers allow your littlest to ride in style—and safety. With lightweight, easy-to-use trailers that make no compromise for safety, there’s a reason Burley is synonymous with kid carriers.

SPECIALIZED JETT: Specialized designed its Jett series of youth bikes to grow with your child, with two-hole position cranks, adjustable-width handlebars and longer, more adjustable seat posts. And as one of the lightest kid’s bikes on the market, your little shredder will be able to ride longer— and that means even more best days ever.

THULE T2 PRO XT HITCH RACK: Getting a family fleet of bikes to and from the trailhead frustration-free is half the battle. The Thule T2 Pro XT hitch rack accommodates wheel sizes from 20 – 29”, so all but the smallest bikes will fit. And the two-bike add-on rack grows the carrying capacity with your family. //

Sponsored by Wheel Sport Bicycles, Spokane’s E-bike headquarters. Check out their huge selection of e-bikes at Wheelsportbikes.com.

Reasons to Race Inland Northwest bike races and rides offer ride with your pedaling peeps

By Pat Bulger

IF YOU RECALL FROM OUR LAST ISSUE, the daunting task of identifying Spokane as a proper bike town was meticulously defined and decided. Sure, there are things that our community and region could work on, but, overall, the Inland Northwest and Spokane/ Coeur d’Alene region offers all of the terrain, community, and “fueling” required to support a proper two-wheeled existence. But some of you out there are still hesitant to pin on a number and join the ranks of bike racing. Let’s talk about that. Our amazing region offers a sheer cornucopia of organized events to test your skills on all levels. From a nice and relaxed spin around the neighborhood with Spokane Summer Parkways to the intensity and shaved legs of the River City Cycling Classic, these next few paragraphs offer information, recommendations, and methods of approaching bike events.

ROAD AND GRAVEL BIKING

In our region, road bike racing has a long and storied history. From the original Spokane and Arrivee Cycling Clubs, the seeds of road racing were born.

At the fast end, the aforementioned River City Cycling Classic (RC3) offers the full road experience for cyclists with the desire to compete against the region’s best. The three-stage event consists of a time trial (solo against the clock), road race (mass start over an undulating course of longer distances), and criterium (a mass start timed circuit course featuring multiple high-speed corners). This event offers opportunities for newer riders, but all must possess a license

with USA Cycling. Be sure to check the website for more information, as well as USA Cycling. If all else fails, it is highly recommended to come out and watch the criterium, as it is a great way to understand the art of road bike racing.

Should that be too much, the newest trend in road cycling is the Gran Fondo (Italian for “Big Ride”). This format is just that, but with cookies! While still a mass start, the competitive element in a Gran Fondo is optional. All riders are timed, but how fast you wish to ride is all up to you. Varying distance options, scenery, food stops, and finisher medals are the norm. From the family wanting to get the kids off of the couch to the weekend warrior with too much residual income and pent-up work-related frustrations, the Gran Fondo offers it all. Be sure and check out the Chafe 150 in Sandpoint in June and the Coeur d’ Fondo in the fall, and the great gravel-centric series promoted by Vicious Cycle in central Washington and the Panhandle Gravel Series in Idaho that feature epic courses, distances, and some of the region’s most majestic scenery.

Advice for beginning road riders: As they say in American Flyers, “hold your line” and keep things steady, pace yourself, apply the brakes gently, and don’t let fellow roadies mansplain you into quitting. For gravel events, just have fun. The sport is still in its infancy, so people aren’t too uptight. Remember that these roads, while gravel, are still open to the public, so stay on the correct side. Oh, and remember that houses in the “outskirts” tend to have dogs that

PHOTO COURTESY OF 24 HOURS OF RIVERSIDE.

offer plenty of chances to get out and

don’t like leashes and aren’t exactly on a vegetarian diet.

MOUNTAIN

BIKING

Okay, time to get dirty. Mountain bikes have come a long way since Gary Fisher, Tom Ritchey, and Charlie Kelly first reworked classic cruisers and bombed down the hills of Marin County. So have mountain bike races. A great opportunity for getting out and enjoying your competitive desires is the Wednesday Night Mountain Bike Series in Riverside State Park on, well, Wednesdays in May and June. These “races” are the embodiment of the mountain bike community. Multiple categories, distances, and even a solo or mass start option are all set up to make things easy and approachable. Kids are regularly able to race for free, and a random prize drawing after each race (sponsored by a local bike shop) and beer garden leave everyone smiling.

One can’t bring up mountain bikes without thinking about the tradition of Memorial Day Weekend at Riverside. The 24 Hours of Riverside continues the endurance tradition of an event format that allows individuals and teams (up to 10 riders) to camp, play, race, and eat like kings all in a fully festive atmosphere. There is no minimum or maximum distance required here—just start at noon on Saturday and go until noon on Sunday.

To sum things up, Eric Ewing, the race director for these events, says it perfectly.

“What makes the 24 Hours of Riverside special is that it’s a small community of riders and spectators coming together for the weekend to celebrate the sport of mountain

biking. And for Wednesday nights, it’s an escape from the rat race in the middle of the week. It’s a chance to get together, race bikes, and hang out and enjoy the evening … and try not to think about having to work the next morning!”

Advice for mountain bike events: “On your left” means someone wants to pass, on your left. Just let them by when you can. Dress comfortably, as there isn’t a dress code. Yield to horses. Always care for the trails and the parks, and buy a Discover Pass.

BIKE CLUBS AND SHOP RIDES

Still not sure about pinning on a race number but want to experience the camaraderie of riding with others? Get in touch with an area club or team. From Evergreen East, Badlands Cycling Club, and Team ODZ to great shop rides offered by most local shops, there are great relaxed opportunities to test and learn skills needed for these events. For all events, make sure you have proper gear and a well-functioning bike. Don’t break the bank, but make sure all is in working order.

To recap, Spokane is a Bike Town, if not THE Bike Town and the Inland Northwest is an amazing place to live and ride bikes. Getting involved in the racing scene is a great way to experience it all. Now, if someone would just build a velodrome. //

Pat Bulger is a long-time Spokane race promoter and producer of the widely-popular Packfiller cycling podcast. He made the case for Spokane being a real-deal bike town in the last issue of Out There.

Because we know the profound inspiration of nature, we’re bringing you into the heart of it. This six-night backpacking and writing retreat is fullycatered and mostly-coddled so you can explore your creative genius with the guidance of writers Ammi

Spokane Bicycle Club Celebrates

By Chris Maccini

IN 1973, ALICE HOSTETTER began organizing a weekly Tuesday morning bicycle ride with a few other women in the Spokane Valley. Soon, their group grew from a handful to a dozen. More rides were organized, and before long, the Spokane Bicycle Club was born.

To celebrate the club’s 50th Anniversary this September, its members will host a dinner to recognize those who have made major contributions to Spokane’s bike culture. Hostetter, who is now in her 80s, will be among those honored. The 50-year milestone is an opportunity for the club to reflect on its history and look toward the future.

Sally Phillips and her husband joined the Spokane Bicycle Club in 1989. Since then, she’s served in a variety of roles, coordinating group rides, editing the club newsletter, and, for more than 20 years, organizing the Bike Corral at Bloomsday. She says one of the top reasons to join the club is to discover the best places to bike in the Inland Northwest.

“When my husband and I first joined,” says Phillips, “We didn't really know where to ride. We would ride over to a bike shop, but that got to be expensive because we’d end up buying something and then just ride home! So it was great to find the good routes, not just the scenic loops, but also what streets to use to get from here to there.”

Of course, there’s also the social aspect of cycling. Phillips says one aspect that makes the Spokane Bicycle Club’s rides unique is that they’ll often stop for a snack break or

end the ride at a restaurant. “We do like to eat!” she says. “And it gives you a chance to chat a lot more easily than when you’re riding.”

CONTRIBUTING TO SPOKANE’S BIKE CULTURE

But the Spokane Bicycle Club is more than a social group. Over the years, they’ve been involved in guiding the development of the region’s bike-friendly infrastructure. Margaret Watson has been a member of the club for 37 of its 50 years. In the 1990s, she and a group of other volunteers worked with the Spokane Transit Authority to place bicycle racks on city buses. Initiatives like these earned Spokane a Bicycle Friendly City Award from the League of American Bicyclists in 1995. Spokane was the first city in Washington to receive that distinction.

Watson is also proud of the education work that the club has done.

“A tremendous volunteer named Eileen Hyatt introduced the Basics of Bicycling into Spokane Public Schools from grades four, five and up into middle school,” Watson says. “That's a very big deal to teach safe bicycling for children.”

The same year that the League of American Bicyclists honored Spokane as a Bicycle Friendly City, they named Hyatt their Educator of the Year.

Today, the Spokane Bicycle Club continues to host several group rides each week during the spring, summer, and fall.

Information about each route, including the distance, pace and difficulty, is posted online. Tim Hunt, the club’s current president says they offer rides for all abilities, but tend to cater more toward the recreational rider than the hard-core cyclist.

“We want to exercise, we want to get in shape, but we're not racing,” says Hunt. “There are a lot of social rides that will include a coffee break or lunch afterwards.”

Hunt says that club rides are also geared toward cyclists who might be nervous about riding on roads shared with vehicles and those who want to get to know the area better. The club offers scenic rides on lowtraffic routes, and emphasizes riding safely and comfortably in a group while coexisting with car traffic.

BIKE EVERYWHERE MONTH

Each May, the Spokane Bicycle Club sponsors the annual Bike Everywhere Month. A full schedule of events includes a pancake breakfast in Riverfront Park (May 15) and “energizer stations” throughout the city on National Bike to Work Day (May 19). You can find all of the Bike Everywhere Month events, as well as information about the club and their upcoming rides, at Spokanebicycleclub.org.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

When asked about her hopes for the future of the club, Sally Phillips once again invoked the past. “We used to do Sunday

rides that were sort of whimsical,” she says, “We had a poker ride and progressive dinners on bikes. Stuff like that where it might engage people who are not much into, ‘I'm gonna get out and ride 50 miles today.’”

Phillips says she’d like to start organizing more of those quirky, themed rides again in an effort to attract new members to the club. They’re also investing in new technology, she says, which will allow members to track rides via their smartphone.

Each of the members I spoke to encouraged anyone interested in learning more to join the club on an upcoming ride or stop by a Bike Everywhere Month event. “Spokane has the best bicycling in the country, in my opinion,” says Margaret Watson. “The best way to get to know your community is to get on a bike.” //

Chris Maccini is a writer, editor, audio producer, and skier living in Spokane. He wrote about Whitewater Ski Resort in the last issue of Out There.

LATAH CREEK RIDE. //

RIGHT: RIDE OF SILENCE.

// BELOW: EILEEN, MARGARET AND MICHAEL CONLEY. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SPOKANE BICYCLE CLUB

SUMMER INSPIRATION

There is no shortage of outdoor activities to experience between the Cascades and Rocky Mountains. In case you need a bit of inspiration, here’s our annual list of our favorite Inland Northwest summer adventures!

101 THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER IN THE INLAND NORTHWEST

1. Get your horseback trail riding fix with Spokane Trail Riding & Boarding just south of Spokane.

2. Tube, kayak, or SUP the lower Spokane River between Peaceful Valley and the TJ Meenach Bridge area. Ongoing construction will make river recreation access at the traditional take-out spot challenging, so consider alternatives, including taking out farther downstream at the wastewater treatment plant upstream from the Class III Bowl & Pitcher rapid. FLOW Adventures typically offers shuttles and tube rentals if you want to simplify all that.

3. Ride the 15-mile scenic stretch of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes from Plummer to Harrison, Idaho. The trail is paved and elevation lowers in that direction, making it a great choice for infrequent riders and kids. The public beach in Harrison is a welcome destination with swimming. Enjoy a sweet, shady park and several restaurants and pubs. Set up your shuttle with The Cycle Haus in Harrison or double your mileage and ride back to Plummer.

4. Take a brewery tour by bike along the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, with stops at the North Idaho Mountain Brew/City Limits Pub and Wallace Brewing in Wallace, Idaho, and Radio Brewing in Kellogg. Call the Wallace Inn for shuttle information.

5. Bike with some friends to a local park and have a barbecue dinner using the grills you can find at parks like Bowl & Pitcher in Riverside State Park in Spokane. Bring foil to protect your food from any unwanted grill contaminants.

6. Run the clothing-optional Bare Buns Fun Run July 30 north of Spokane near Deer Lake. Summer is all about being free, right?

7. Enjoy a gravity-fueled ride from Lookout Pass on the mixed-surface NorPac rail trail to Mullan, Idaho, then hop on the paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes and roll all the way to Wallace. Call the Wallace Inn for shuttle options.

8. Start a bird list of all of the amazing avian species you can find in our area. Get a regional birding app or book to help and check out the Audubon Society website.

9. Check out the Doris Morrison Learning Center at Saltese Flats near Liberty Lake, Wash., to learn about the restored wetlands. Then take a hike or ride on the Saltese Uplands trails.

10. Take a tour of urban wild areas and historic places downtown Spokane with the local tour company Wander Spokane.

11. Hike the Whistler Canyon area near Oroville, Washington. Hike options range from a few miles to all-day epics. Keep a look out for birds and other wildlife including rattlesnakes and mountain goats.

12. Find a big, beautiful tree in a natural area near your house and lay down under it for a quiet shift in perspective.

13. Crack open rocks in search of fossils at the Stonerose Interpretive Center and Eocene Fossil Site in Republic in Northeast Washington.

14. Bike the Ferry County Rail Trail near Republic in Northeast Washington, then hit the Republic Brewing Company.

15. Bike the Columbia Plateau Trail from Cheney out to Amber or Downs Lakes to go fishing.

16. Do a local long day hike across one or more linked trail systems in the Spokane area using an STA bus as a shuttle. Creative options could include sections of trails in one or more of these areas: Riverside State Park, the Little Spokane River Natural Area, the High Drive Bluff, Dishman Hills, and Mica/Liberty Lake area.

17. Get an archery set up and start learning how to shoot a bow

18. Camp at the campground at Mount Spokane or rent one of the condos if available and bike or hike for several days. Peak berry season will soon be upon us, and you can pick your limit here.

19. Set up a shuttle and mountain bike the back roads from Mount Spokane all the way down to Spirit Lake.

20. Paddleboard a quiet bay on Lake Pend Oreille.

21. Visit a fish hatchery to learn about Inland Northwest fish, including the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife one in north Spokane.

22. Take a tour of Grand Coulee Dam or one of the other dams in the Columbia Gorge.

23. Look for the elusive bighorn sheep on Lake Roosevelt in Eastern Washington via boat, back roads, or kayak.

24. Hike or trail run your own Little Spokane River shuttle instead of driving two cars. Or use the Spokane Parks & Recreation shuttle service.

25. Find a friend with a wake surfing boat or rent one and surf your favorite lake.

26. Take an urban hike happy hour, hitting up favorite bars and breweries while sticking to back streets, alleys, and pathways as much as possible.

27. Walk or bike all of the pedestrian-friendly bridges over the Spokane River in Riverfront Park downtown Spokane, including below the falls to Sandifur Bridge.

28. Take a dog for a walk from the Humane Society or from another animal shelter.

29. Visit as many parks as you can in the great Spokane area to see some pretty cool outdoor spaces and win prizes with the Greater Spokane Parks Challenge (see the article in this issue’s Dispatches section for details).

30. Join a full moon group bike ride or create your own.

31. Did you know that swinging on a swing set can help with anxiety? Go swinging at a park you’ve never been to. Try listening to some relaxing tunes or a meditation app while you do it.

32. Sign up for a women’s writing retreat in Yellowstone National Park in September with local author and Out There writer Ammi Midstokke (Wideopenwriting.com/yellowstone-2023).

33. Hike as many of the Spokane Conservation Futures conservation areas as you can (find maps and directions at the Spokane County Conservation Futures website).

34. Hike the John C. Pointner Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary at Cougar Bay a few miles south of Coeur d’Alene on Highway 95.

35. Invite family or friends to ride the Route of the Hiawatha. The 15-mile (one way) crushed rock surface trail has a mellow grade. It includes a ride through nine long, dark train tunnels and across seven trestles with scenic mountain terrain all around. Shuttles

PHOTO: DERRICK KNOWLES

and bike rentals are available along with trail tickets.

36. Join one of the many Dishman Hills Conservancy hikes and other outdoor events as a way to explore this urban wildland with other people.

37. Participate in Summer Parkways on June 21 on Spokane’s South Hill and join other people on bike and foot as they enjoy the full use of a road near Manito Park for the evening.

38. Take a hike on Spokane’s High Drive Bluff trails and then get ice cream at The Scoop on the South Hill.

39. Join an outdoor yoga class. There’s a free one for all abilities in the morning at the Spokatopia Festival at Camp Sekani Park in Spokane on July 8.

40. Set your TV up outside or a movie screen and invite some friends or neighbors over to watch an outdoor movie or documentary.

41. Go try out new mountain bikes and e-bikes at Spokatopia at Camp Sekani Park July 8, then listen to live bands and enjoy some adult beverages in support of Evergreen East and local mountain bike trails.

42. Go skating (inline or roller skates) on the Centennial Trail.

43. Go to an outdoor music festival or show, like the Festival at Sandpoint, the Spokane Pavilion at Riverfront Park, the Moscow Mountain Music Festival, the 90s Flannel Fest in Moses Lake, and many other great outdoor music festivals that have popped up since the pandemic.

44. Rent a raft from one of the university or college outdoor programs and take on the upper Spokane (Class II) or Clark Fork (Class III).

45. Catch brook trout on a fly rod at Fish Lake near downtown Spokane. Go on your own or book a guided fishing session with Fly Fish Spokane to get the lake dialed in quick. Make a day of it by biking out to the lake on the Fish Lake Trail from downtown Spokane with your fly rod.

46. Find a new book from the library or local bookstore and bike to a park or natural area to read outside all day. Did you know you can also check out a Discover Pass from Spokane libraries?

47. Bike a section or the entire International Selkirk Loop that connects super-scenic sections of backroads in Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia.

48. Pick up a copy of the new-ish “Spokane Bouldering” guide and start exploring local climbing challenges with your crash pad.

49. Ride some of the new trails at Moscow Mountain in the Palouse.

50. If you’re not lucky enough to live in Sandpoint, plan a multi-day mountain biking trip or several weekends to finally ride the major trail systems near town: Syringa, Schweitzer, Mineral Point, Gold Hill, and Bernard Peak.

51. Bikepack all or part of the Adventure Cycling Association-mapped Idaho Hot Springs Loop bikepacking route, which consists of over 500 miles of mostly un-paved roads as well as 200+ miles of optional singletrack and 50 hot springs.

52. Ride all or part of the Palouse to Cascades Trail across Washington from North Bend to the WA/ID border.

53. Plan a trip to the Bonners Ferry area to bike some of the awesome mountain bike trails in the area, including the Enchanted Forest, Brush Lake, and many others you can find on Trailforks.

54. Explore some loop trails you’ve never hiked in the Dishman Hills in Spokane Valley. Centrally located, with mellow trails and a variety of loop distances, you can check out a new hike here one night after work every week or so all summer long!

55. Try different kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, and other water toys at Boulder Beach as part of Spokatopia on July 8.

56. Hike to some of Spokane’s best views: Rocks of Sharon in the Dishman Hills, Mount Spokane, Antoine Peak, Palisades, the summit along the Knothead Loop in the Little Spokane River Natural Area, or the Saltese Uplands.

57. Take an early summer hike to Kamiak Butte near Pullman to marvel at the wildflowers. Set up a hammock and hang out a while.

58. Take some hikes in the Zumwalt Prairie near Joseph, Ore., and enjoy the beautiful prairie meadows and frequent wildlife sightings.

59. Hike into one of Idaho’s many natural hot springs and leave it better off than when you

PHOTOS: CAROL CORBIN

This event is set in beautiful Wallace which offers dozens of shops, restaurants, museums, and parks!

For more information & vendor/runner registration visit: WALLACEHUCKFEST.COM

www.lionsrailriders.com

2023 Schedule

DEPARTURES: 9 AM & NOON

EXCEPT WHERE NOTED*

Lions Depot, 101 RaiLRoaD ave, ione Wa

RESERVATIONS RECOMENDED

JUNE 24 / JUNE 25 / JULY 8 / JULY 9

DOWN RIVER DAYS

JULY 29 *12PM & 3PM

JULY 30 *12PM & 3PM

LIONS COWBOY BREAKFAST - IONE PARK

7AM - 10AM SAT & SUN

AUGUST 12 & 13 *9AM ONLY SEPTEMBER 16 & 17

arrived by cleaning up any trash.

60. Rent an adventure van for a hiking, mountain biking, paddling, or climbing road trip to B.C., the Cascades, Bend, Central Idaho, or Montana.

61. Paddle the Pend Oreille River Water Trail near Newport, Wash.

62. Learn how to fly-fish. Take a class from one of several regional fly shops that offer guided trips and lessons.

63. Rent a kayak or SUP from Fun Unlimited under the Division Street bridge downtown Spokane and paddle up river for Thai food at Bangkok Thai. If you live close enough, bike on the Centennial Trail to the put-in for some extra exercise.

64. Hike a section or two of the Pacific Northwest Trail that runs from the Washington Coast to Glacier National Park to get a taste of what a thru hike would be like.

65. Visit the spectacular Kootenai Falls in western Montana and take the time to hike to all of the viewpoints.

66. Pedal a “RailRider” on retired railroad tracks along the Pend Oreille River near Metaline Falls, Wash.

67. Raft or kayak as many rivers within 200 miles of Spokane/CDA as you can: Lochsa, Spokane, Moyie, St. Joe, Lower Salmon, Clark Fork, Wenatchee, Methow, Salmo, Lower Selway, Grand Ronde, etc. Guided trips are offered for most of these rivers, and they are all possible on your own if you have the right gear and river rafting experience.

68. Go ziplining at Silverstreak Zip Tours, Timberline Adventures, or Mica Moon.

69. Jump out of an airplane on a tandem skydive with Skydive West Plains west of Spokane.

70. Race your mountain bike as part of the Wednesday night mountain bike races in May and June at Riverside State Park, or the “5 in July” series at Farragut State Park.

71. Mountain bike or hike the Empire Trails in Spirit Lake, Idaho.

72. Keep a wildlife log of all of the different species of wildlife you see over the summer and make trips to places where you have a better chance to encounter critters you really want to see.

73. Ride one or more of the Idaho Panhandle Gravel Series gravel rides.

74. Ride the Wallowa Lake Tramway, a 3,700’ gondola ride to the summit of Mt. Howard near Joseph, Ore.

75. Take the Wallowa County barn tour and visit 31 beautiful, historic barns in the stunning Northeast corner of Oregon.

76. Ride the Seven Summits Trail in Rossland, B.C. There are plenty of shorter but equally gnarly rides around town too.

77. Paddle or boat to one of the islands in Priest Lake—some are day-use only, and Kalispell, Bartoo, and Fourmile islands have rustic campsites.

78. Take a morning or evening drive or bike tour along the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge auto tour loop near Cheney to spot birds and wildlife. There are several trails and wildlife viewing areas along the way.

79. Drive to the dramatic Selway Falls east of Lewiston, Idaho, then find a beach downriver and go for a swim.

80. Go kite boarding on the Columbia River near Hood River, Ore., or mountain bike the

trails around town. One of our favorites is Surveyor’s Ridge Trail.

81. Drive part of the historic Lewis & Clark Trail between Lewiston, Idaho, and Missoula, Mont., near Highway 12 and do some day hikes along the Lochsa River.

82. Give back to the hiking, biking, and running trails you love by spending a day volunteering doing trail work with Evergreen East, Washington Trails Association, Idaho Trails Association, Pend Oreille Pedalers, or Lake City Trail Alliance.

83. Take a tour of small-town museums in just about any region of the Inland Northwest. Hit up any local thrift stores while you’re at it!

84. Go whitewater rafting for a day in Riggins, Idaho’s “whitewater capital.” Stay for a few days and bring your gravel or road bike for some awesome early morning rides up the canyons.

85. Go kayaking or boating on Lake Roosevelt and picnic on one of its many sandy, primitive beaches. Try to catch a walleye.

86. Go to one of the great events Schweitzer has planned this summer and make a weekend of it hiking and biking on the mountain.

87. Bike or walk downtown Spokane’s Cork District to visit local wine tasting spots.

88. Tube the Touchet River at Lewis and Clark Trail State Park, near Dayton, Washington.

89. Explore Gardner Cave at Crawford State Park Heritage Site, near Metaline Falls, Wash., on a ranger-led tour.

90. Go swimming and play or nap in the sand at City Beach in Sandpoint.

91. Tube the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River.

92. Visit the Hobo Cedar Grove Botanical Area in North Idaho to see what Inland Northwest trees used to look like.

93. Hike or mountain bike the Sherman Peak Loop or Jungle Hill off Sherman Pass in Northeast Washington’s Kettle Range.

94. Paddle around the Moses Lake Water Trail in Moses Lake, Wash. Stop for wine refreshments at the Camas Cove Cellars dock.

95. Take a hike in active wolf country and see if you can hear the haunting sound of wolves howling on an early morning or evening hike. Leave your fur friends at home for this one.

96. Swim across a bay at your favorite lake. Have a friend on a boat, kayak, or paddleboard go with you for safety and to make sure other boaters see you. If you’re on your own, swim around a bay hugging the shoreline.

97. Take a hike along the Hells Canyon rim and score top-of-the-world views at Hat Point Overlook.

98. Bike the Sacagawea Heritage Trail, a 23-mile paved path along the Columbia River in the Tri-Cities. If you’re on the hunt for singletrack, hit up the Badger Mountain trails in the area.

99. Drive through the Palouse, alive with color this time of year, to Palouse Falls viewpoint. Bring your own snacks, as there aren’t many facilities along the way.

100. Volunteer at a local road race or trail running race. You can get in on the hype without the training and physical work. It’s super rewarding to be part of the support crew.

101. Bike or walk to any number of our local farmers’ markets and load up on the fresh produce spoils of the season. //

PHOTOS: CAROL CORBIN

EXPLORING THE GREAT OUTDOORS has never been more accessible. Located a short drive north from Spokane and nestled in the heart of the spectacular Pend Oreille River Valley is Kalispel RV Resort. Open year-round, this hidden gem is the perfect fit for all seasons. Whether you are off to snowshoe in the Selkirks or paddle the Pend Oreille, this resort is a great basecamp for all of your outdoor activities.

Allow yourself to be charmed by the natural splendor of Northeast Washington as you wander along the countless miles of trails throughout this region. You can hike, bike, or ride amongst these lush evergreen forest trails a short distance from the resort. Just about everyone can get out and enjoy unparalleled views of the Selkirks, as these trails are rated from beginner to expert. Whether you are an advanced hiker seeking a challenge or a family out for a leisurely nature walk, this corner of Northeast Washington has adventure for everyone.

Make plans to take the scenic drive down Le Clerc Road along the Pend Oreille River to visit Indian Creek Community Forest, where several interpretive trails will guide you on a journey through the cedar and fir trees. This valley is also home to the Pend Oreille River Water Trail, which spans 70 miles from Oldtown, Idaho, to Boundary Dam just south of the Canadian border. This unique waterway is one of few in the country that actually flows north, and you can spend the day swimming, paddling, or floating.

If action-packed adventure is more your speed, then look no further than the area’s ATV and ORV parks, which are a quick ride from the resort. Whether you’re out for a cruise in your side-by-side or seeking an

action-packed afternoon on your ATV, the surrounding hills and mountains provide the perfect playground. If you are in the area at the beginning of July, you can also make plans to join the ATV Poker Ride hosted by the Kalispel Tribe. On July 8, 2023, guests from all over will be out to enjoy a fun-filled day in the Colville National Forest ending right outside Kalispel Casino.

After spending the day seeking outdoor thrills, Kalispel Casino offers an evening of Vegas-style entertainment in a relaxed and intimate setting. The casino boasts over 150 slot machines and exciting sports betting, along with a full-service restaurant. If you’re over 21 and looking for a lively game of pool or shuffleboard to go with your afteradventure drinks, hit up the Slough. For those under 21, pool and shuffleboard games are an option, with tasty snacks available to whet your appetite. There are also on-site wetlands to explore.

For all the animal lovers out there, this area boasts an impressive herd of buffalo at the Camas Center for Community Wellness. On most days, you can catch a view of the Kalispel Tribe’s herd from the parking lot. With over 135 head and growing, it is a sight that absolutely must be seen. Just be careful not to cross the fence line, as these impressive but cantankerous creatures have been known to charge without warning. The view of the prairie spans right down to the water’s edge of the Pend Oreille River, and with the splendid Selkirks rising in the background, there are few places on Earth that rival the natural beauty of this place.

To learn more about Kalispel RV Resort, visit kalispelrvresort.com or call 509.447.7144. //

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE KALISPEL RV RESORT

BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT on a summer hike, take a minute to check in with yourself to make sure you’re prepared for what you’re hoping to take on.

Go over a pre-hike checklist: hiking boots and wool socks, favorite trekking poles, 10 essentials (see sidebar), light-weight pack, pocketknife, camera (and more…). While there may be other preferred odds and ends to include alongside your favorite gear, you're ready to hit the trails, right? While these essentials are needed for comfort and safety, an often-overlooked ‘essential’ aspect of hiking and backcountry navigation is ensuring your capacity (i.e. physical fitness) is a good fit for the demands of the trail. As they say, it’s a good idea not to write a check your body cannot cash.

Fortunately, the performance demands of hiking and backpacking are well known. To increase your capacity and ensure a successful hiking season, prioritize the following areas of focus:

• Improve cardiovascular endurance with consistent walks — expand time-on-feet by walking progressively farther distances on alternating days. If you have a 10-mile hike planned, you should be able to tolerate the distance and duration of the hike. Further improve your readiness by incorporating a loaded pack or weighted vest into your training.

BY JOEL SATTGAST

• As we age, our dynamic balance on variable surfaces diminishes. Use it or lose it! To improve safety, reduce fall risk, and increase confidence on uneven terrain, incorporating a simple marching routine significantly improves your fluidity of movement and overall control.

• Whether navigating glacial till, ascending Aasgard Pass, or enjoying the rolling terrain of the Palouse, improving quadricep, posterolateral hip, and calf muscle capacity is crucial to ensuring your ability to enjoy the outdoors . . . as opposed to constantly wondering, "How much farther to the car?!?"

• Finally, while adequate range of motion is necessary (read: “Should I be stretching?”), exposure to a variety of positions and loaded movements is adequate for most individuals to maintain mobility.

All together, each of these areas of emphasis contribute to your overall hiking capacity, allowing you to navigate uneven terrain, challenging ascents and descents, prolonged time-on-feet, and exposure to the elements.

Want more specifics, including guided top-10 exercise progressions and recommendations to prepare for your upcoming hike? Visit Trexopt.com/blog/hiking-readiness-2023 for more digital resources and information.

10 ESSENTIALS FOR HIKING

There are variations and additions to this classic list of essentials that organizations like the Mountaineers recommend all hikers carry with them. If you get lost or injured out on the trail, you will be grateful you have these items. Hike safe and make sure your pack is well stocked with the essentials this summer!

1. Navigation: Bring some combination of a print map and compass and a GPS and/ or mapping app like Topo Maps+ (local company). Don’t forget extra batteries or a charger for your phone.

2. Headlamp with extra batteries.

3. Sun protection: hat, layers, sunglasses, and sun screen.

4. First Aid: basic first aid kit, any necessary medications, foot care, and insect repellent.

5. Knife and repair items like duct tape.

6. Emergency fire kit: matches/lighter and fire starter

7. Shelter: an emergency blanket, bivy sack, sleeping bag, or tarp and warm clothes.

8. Extra food.

9. Extra water and/or a water filter or purification chemicals if water is available on the trail.

10. Extra clothes, including layers to survive changing weather (rain gear) and overnight if necessary. (OTO)

WAIKIKI SPRINGS NATURE PRESERVE

// PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES

SUMMER PICKS FROM "100 HIKES IN THE INLAND NORTHWEST"

BY HOLLY WEILER

THE FIRST GUIDEBOOK in my personal collection was a copy of Rich Landers’ 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest, purchased circa 2001, when hiking and backpacking were brand-new sports to me. That initial copy was from a late printing of the 1987 book, and when the second edition came out in 2003 I wasted no time in picking up a new copy. Both are now bookmarked, dogeared, heavily highlighted, and they spend more time on my desk or in my car than on my bookshelf. And I'm still only half-way through the list.

Rich Landers, of course, has completed all 100 hikes and then some, and is quick to point out that the appendix to the second edition includes another 31 hikes that are equally worthy, except he had to draw the line somewhere when narrowing it down to his top 100. But ask him to narrow it down a bit further to his personal favorites list, and he'll respond with his own list of questions: Favorites for which season? For day hiking or backpacking? High elevation views or lush wooded valleys? Favorites for wildflowers, huckleberries, wildlife spotting, or good flyfishing? The book has it all, and narrowing the options to just 100 of the best hikes our region has to offer was hard enough.

So, instead, Landers suggests picking up a copy of the book and asking oneself those questions about what variety of favorite is desired. There is a helpful "Trail Comparison Chart" in the appendices to the second edition, making it easy to narrow the choices.

A FEW OF RICH LANDERS’ FAVORITE HIKES

When asked nicely, Landers will eventually relent and offer up a few personal favorite Inland Northwest hikes.

STEAMBOAT ROCK (#2) AND NORTHRUP CANYON (#3), CENTRAL WASH.

These are stand-alone hikes, but illustrate a key point Landers likes to make. A good way to use the book is to create bigger adventures either by extending a hike by adding in adjacent trails or by combining nearby hikes. Each of these is lovely on its own, and spring can be the best season to see these trails known for their abundant wildflowers and bird habitat. A strong hiker can complete both in one day, or could choose to make a weekend of it by staying at Steamboat Rock State Park campground.

COLUMBIA MOUNTAIN (#6) AND SHERMAN PEAK (#7), NORTHEAST WASH.

These two are accessible year-round from the same trailhead at Sherman Pass (Highway 20), but the experience varies drastically by season. In the winter, Sherman Pass is a SnoPark equally loved by snowshoers and backcountry skiers. In the summer, they are lovely day hikes or back-

pack trips. Those who plan ahead at Recreation.gov can rent the nearby Snow Peak Cabin as an extension of the Sherman Peak loop.

LITTLE SPOKANE RIVER (#18), SPOKANE, WASH

Located close enough for an after-work weekday hike for most Spokane residents, Landers loves this one for its plant and animal diversity along with its options for different versions of the hike. It can be enough to take the main trail as an out-and-back along the river, or it can be more of a challenge by completing the entire Knothead Loop. I can additionally vouch for setting up a kayaking shuttle by taking one car to the take-out and trail running back to St. George's put-in site.

ANYTHING ON THE SELKIRK CREST* (#4052), NORTH IDAHO

Rich called this land of rocks, alpine lakes, and big views his "favorite country in the world." Enough said.

LAKE ESTELLE—FOUR LAKES* (#54), NORTH IDAHO

This hike illustrates another goal of the book, which is to include as many side-hike or loop options as possible. It's short enough for a day hike, but can also be an easy backpack trip, and the "options" listed within the hike description describe a more difficult off-trail scrambling possibility.

OREGON BUTTE* (#83), SOUTHEAST WASH.

This hike in the Blue Mountains is another that can serve as day hike from a nearby car-camping base or a backpack trip to campsites with excellent views. It can also be extended into a longer backpack loop by using nearby trails. The fire lookout on Oregon Butte is among the few that are still staffed during summer.

LAKES BASIN LOOP* (#90), NORTHEAST ORE.

This is probably the most popular hike in the Wallowas and offers an excellent introduction to the Eagle Cap Wilderness. Landers notes that every backpacker should make the effort to see it at least once, as well as complete the moderately difficult side-hike to Eagle Cap itself. The views from both the Lakes Basin and the namesake peak are phenomenal.

ST. JOE RIVER (BONUS), NORTH IDAHO

This hike is relegated to the bonus list because it is a long hike as an out-and-back and setting up a shuttle is difficult. But Landers was once able to secure a drop-off at Cascade Pass outside Superior, Montana, in order to hike from the headwaters near St. Joe Lake all the way to Red Ives near Avery, Idaho, doing a little fly-fishing in this world-class trout river along the way. //

*Since these trails are located at higher elevation, they are best saved for mid-summer into fall.

Holly Weiler works for Washington Trails Association and writes The Trailhead column for each issue of OTO. In her free time, she's still chipping away at the 50 hikes she has yet to complete from 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest. The Selkirk Crest just got bumped to the top of the list for this summer!

GLACIER PEAK AND EAGLE CAP SUNRISE REFLECTION IN GLACIER PEAK, LAKES BASIN LOOP. // MIDDLE: MIRROR LAKE AND EAGLE CAP LAKES BASIN LOOP. ST. JOE RIVER TRAIL. // PHOTOS: BY HOLLY WEILER.

AS SOON AS the last of the winter snow is finally gone from Mount Spokane, the mountain comes alive with a smorgasbord of edible mushrooms, wild berries, and wild plants. Over the years, I have taken a lot of people out into the woods on wild edible forays. Some were new to foraging and wanted to learn what was edible and what was not. Others were old timers like me who just enjoy being in the woods. The abundance in our region this time of year can turn any walk into a hunt for wild edibles.

The first thing I look for when we start our edible walk is to check out the fir trees for new growth. It is easy to find the new growth, because the needles are a pale green.

I call them nature's breath mint, because they have a refreshing lemon taste to them, which goes away very quickly.

Some wild plants taste good and are easy to digest. Others, not so much. Still others are unpalatable or can be poisonous. Plants, like animals, are products of thousands of years of adaptations. Many wild plants have survived over the years and even thrived due to the fact they are poisonous or very bitter to the taste. That being said, there are many wonderful edible plants here in the woods of the Inland Northwest. You should always be 100 percent positive a wild plant is edible before you try it and should try only a small amount the first time. If you find something you like, please avoid over-harvesting. You

should always leave some mature plants to produce seeds for the next season.

One of the first edible plants of the season is miner's lettuce. The early season variety is normally found in early spring, depending on when our snow has melted. (One year I found some in February growing near the Little Spokane River.) There is a later variety that can be found in late spring and early summer. This plant was very popular during the gold rush to California, hence the name. The young leaves of this plant can be eaten in a salad or as a trailside snack. They are very tasty and an excellent source of vitamin C.

Another of the wild edibles that go well in a salad are yellow violets. All violets are edible, including the garden variety, with no objectionable flavor or bitterness in any of them. The leaves can also be used to make a substitute for tea. Violets are often used to thicken soup, especially in the southern part of the U.S. where they may be called "wild okra."

A few other plants worth trying are the flowers and leaves of the shooting star, the flowers and leaves of the trillium, flowers of the sticky geranium, flowers of the fireweed, flower petals of the daylily (they have mild onion flavor), and the root of wild ginger, which can be eaten raw. Most of these plants can be found on Mount Spokane, but some can also be found in Riverside State Park and

along the Little Spokane River.

Don't forget the dandelion, which can also be found at lower elevations. Most people think of it as just a plain old weed, but it’s much more than that. The whole plant is edible. The leaves and flowers can be used in a salad, while the root can be roasted and ground into a coffee-like beverage. You can also dry the leaves, which can then be used to make tea.

As the season progresses, be on the look for berries. On just about any of the many trails on Mount Spokane, you will find huckleberries. The best areas to look are on the cross-country ski trails. That is also a good place to find thimbleberries. Eat them by the handful or save them for a salad topper.

Don't forget to check for wild, edible mushrooms. There are plenty of great edible mushrooms to be found on Mount Spokane. Besides everyone’s favorite, morels, there are also yellow coral, king boletes (porcini), wood ears, puffballs, honey mushrooms, lobster mushrooms, and bear’s head.

Pick up a copy of “Plants of the Inland Northwest and Southern Interior British Columbia” at your local book store and see what you can find while foraging on Mount Spokane or your local natural area this late spring and summer. Make a salad of your wild edibles. It’s so much better than anything you can buy in the grocery store! //

MOJO GRAVEL ADVENTURE RIDES BY JUSTIN SHORT

MY WORK SCHEDULE went to hell a few years ago, so mid-week shop rides have become a thing of the past for me, but no longer. While my work schedule has really only transferred me from one department of hell to another this spring, I will no longer find myself stuck in Yakima without a bike on Thursday nights. Mojo’s Thursday night shop rides are where my gravel riding roots were sprouted, and I have missed them dearly. New for 2023 is the “Lucky 13” series of Thursday Night Gravel Adventure Rides. Each ride focuses on a specific destination in and around Spokane that will knock off whatever weird bike socks you’re wearing.

Riders can expect 18-25 miles of mixed surface terrain ridden at a relaxed, no-drop party pace. If you need intensity, feel free to surge off the front. It is a beginner-friendly affair, but keep in mind there will be single track here and there on some of these adventures. Mojo will never lead you off drops and gap jumps in the dark or anything like that. If you’re new to gravel riding, this is a great way to get your feet wet, or, more likely, dusty. If you’re new to the area, then you’ll have fun getting lost in the woods with a bunch of goofballs you’ve never met before, and find out why the vibe of the cycling community in the Inland Northwest is so thoroughly stoked.

The series kicked off in March, so here’s what remains:

May 4th: Mount Saint Michael’s

May 18th: Riverside

June 1st: Palouse

June 15th: Green Bluff

July 13th: Mackenzie Connector

July 27th: Phillips Creek/ Ben Burr

Aug 10th: Spaghetti Bowl

Aug 24th: Riverside

Sept 14th: Belmont

The specific time and location for each ride will be posted at mojocyclery.com the week of each ride to accommodate any unforeseen changes. But, in general, start times from the shop will be 5:15 p.m. and rides that meet up across town somewhere will begin at 6:00 p.m. Also, you call the shop at (509) 443-4218 if you’d rather hear ride details in a soothing voice.

What to bring: helmet, bike, water, snacks, headlight and blinky, spirit of adventure … and perhaps a rubber chicken. Oh, and if your weird bike sock collection is dwindling, Mojo’s got ‘em! Options for post-ride tacos and beverages are always on the table. //

MOJO GRAVEL RIDES. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MOJO CYCLERY

“An unspoiled river is a very rare thing in this Nation today.” – Former President Lyndon B. Johnson upon signing the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, 1968

IT’S BEEN ALMOST TWO DECADES since I made North Idaho my home, and, from day one, I noticed people speaking fondly of the St. Joe River and the time spent there year after year. Originally called the "St. Joseph" by Father Pierre-Jean De Smet, the Flemish Jesuit Catholic priest who established the Sacred Heart Mission in Cataldo, Idaho, this unique river and the surrounding area is now affectionately and officially termed the “St. Joe.” In 2022, I had the opportunity to finally experience this captivating river for myself through a whitewater rafting trip.

ABOUT THE ST. JOE

There is much to love about the 140 miles of St. Joe River: blue-ribbon cutthroat trout fishing, extensive roadless public lands, trails for varying recreational pursuits, wildlife, campgrounds, scenic roads, floating, the nearby Route of the Hiawatha, and some of the most exceptional beginner and intermediate whitewater rafting you can find in the Northwest.

The headwaters of the St. Joe are rooted in the Bitterroot Mountains at an elevation of 6,487 feet. The river flows swiftly through the upper, largely roadless stretch and then meanders slowly through the “shadowy” section down to its terminus at Lake Coeur

d’Alene. For about a few weeks each year, from early June to early July, the rush of melting snow offers a short window where the river is deep enough to enjoy a series of sometimes surprising, always delightful whitewater runs.

NATURAL WATER NAVIGATION

Using rivers, streams, and other natural waters to travel and navigate forests and other terrain is an ancient undertaking. You could say that indigenous mountain people were the first American whitewater rafters. With a history of six permanent winter villages near its mouth and temporary summer camps along its upper shores, the St. Joe was called “the Gentle River” by Coeur d’Alene Tribes. Steamboats and gold prospectors traveled up the lower part of the river during the 1880s, and the timber industry moved into the upper “swiftwater” at the turn of the century, aggressively working the extensive stands of white pine and cedar for more than 40 years. Then, Idaho Senator Frank Church instigated what we now know as the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which was signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968.

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act aims to protect the “outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geological, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural,” and other similar values of rivers across the country. In 1978, 39.7 miles of the St. Joe were designated as “wild” and 26.6 miles as “recreational.” Today, about 74 percent of the river basin is owned, protected, and managed by the U.S. Forest Service,

Bureau of Land Management, or the State of Idaho. The rest is privately owned.

WHITEWATER RAFTING THE JOE

What we know as whitewater rafting today quickly became an outdoor pursuit when surplus inflatable military rafts became available to the public after World War II. The Northwest itself is steeped in rafting history. In 1940, the Salmon River was the site of the first commercial whitewater rafting trip. In the 1950s, John D. Rockefeller Jr.’s float trips down the Snake River through his establishment of the Grand Teton National Park helped make this particular outdoor pursuit popular.

The upper St. Joe offers a stretch of Class II-III whitewater during late spring and early summer. Experienced whitewater boaters frequently take on this stretch of the river, but for those without the skills and gear, ROW Adventures is the only rafting company licensed to operate commercially guided trips there. Since ROW Adventures’ first St. Joe trip in 1986, the Coeur d’Alene-based outfitter has been opening up the exciting magic and serene beauty of this North Idaho river to locals and visitors year after year.

MY ADVENTURE ON THE ST. JOE

Driving to the designated meeting spot at Gold Creek Campground near Avery, Idaho, in 2022, I felt a sense of anticipation. This was not only my first time visiting the St. Joe, but it was also my first time whitewater

rafting. The group of passengers was diverse in age, experience, and gender. Our guides Johnny and Noah impressed upon us the risks involved in what we were about to do, but imbued their instructions and information with a sense of humor that put us all at ease. After donning wet suits, life vests, and helmets, we pushed off into the crystal-clear water.

Having spent many years recreating in Colorado, I think I expected whitewater rafting to be like a series of jump moments in a scary movie. But rafting the Joe was deliciously thrilling, infused with whiffs of damp cedars warming in the sun as well as a lively camaraderie in our raft and with the other rafters and guides. We stopped midway at a campground for lunch and listened to the entertaining story of The Ridge Runner, William Moreland, an “elusive loner and social misfit” who lived along the Joe, “borrowed” necessities from the Forest Service and logging companies, and mostly evaded law enforcement from 1942 until he was last seen in 1961.

Fed and enlivened, we continued our float through waves, splashes, holes, rocks, and rapids to our final destination at the Eagle Creek take-out. Boarding the bus that would take us back to our cars, I could still feel the paradox of warming sunshine and frosty water on my skin. The Joe was gently spirited with me as a first-time rafter. It now holds a special place in this resident’s heart and has whet my appetite for more rafting adventures. //

RAFTING THE JOE. PHOTOS: RICK BARLOW, COURTESY OF ROW ADVENTURES

RAFTING AND FLOATING THE ST. JOE RIVER

The high water floating/rafting season runs from the first week of June through the first week of July. Travel time from the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area ranges from 2.53.5 hours depending on the route you take.

WHERE TO GO:

• Heller Creek to Spruce Tree Campground: 17 miles of wilderness canyon with Grade II-V rapids. Experienced paddlers only. Log jams, large waves, abrupt bends, violent eddies, and falls. No campgrounds. Accessible for a week or two in July.

• Spruce Tree to Gold Creek: 12 miles of Class II-III rapids. Six hours to float. Experienced paddlers in the spring. Lots of boulders. Accessible into August.

• Gold Creek to Bluff Creek Bridge: 7 miles of Class I-III rapids, moss-covered cliffs, and deep pools. Up to 5 hours to run. Shallow after July.

• Bluff Creek to Turner Flats Campground: 16 miles of Class II rapids. Perfect day trip for intermediate paddlers. Large waves in the spring, but fast water with no significant hazards. Do not proceed past Tourist Creek into Skookum Canyon, which is 1,000 yards of violent Class III-IV rapids!

• Packsaddle Campground to St. Joe City: 38 miles of Class I and II rapids. Two or more days to float the whole stretch, with many options for short day floats. Fishing, swimming, and paddling as well as rustic campgrounds. Accessible all summer.

• St. Joe City to Lake Coeur d’Alene: 31 miles of deep, slow-moving water. Takes two days to paddle in a canoe or kayak (watch out for motorboats), but the scenery is exquisite and accessible all summer. The lower six miles, called the “River Through the Lakes,” passes through cottonwood-lined natural levees and into three lakes. Keep an eye out for the largest colony of osprey in North America!

WHAT TO BRING

• Waterproof sunscreen

• Sunglasses with a strap

• Sun hat, visor, or cap

• Water bottle

• Food or snacks (ROW provides on guided trips)

• A dry bag (ROW provides)

• A rafting helmet (ROW provides)

• A wetsuit with booties (ROW provides)

• A swimsuit or non-cotton undergarments to wear under the wetsuit

• Synthetic socks (if cold weather)

• Wool, synthetic, or wetsuit gloves (if cold weather)

• Synthetic leggings (for under a wetsuit in cold weather)

• Towel and dry clothes for the takeout

DEEP BAY PARK LAKE OSOYOOS

Sunburst by Davidzydd/Freepik

BY S. Michal Bennett

ON APRIL 15, 2018, I hit a wall. Literally and figuratively. Let’s rewind and talk about who I was at that point. My name is Logan Siegford and I was 18 years old—finally free from my parents’ watch and going 200 miles an hour. I was always on the move. Frequently, I dirt biked in the morning by myself, went to school, and climbed until dark. I found comfort in being busy. But, like my parents foresaw, it was going to catch up

BY LOGAN SIEGFORD

to me. I was taking my second climbing course at North Idaho College with my best friend when it did.

I had just learned to rappel and clean a route the weekend prior, and I decided that I was going to clean a route and rappel at the end of class. I climbed up to the top and told my best friend to take me off belay. Something did not feel right about it. I wasn’t confident. I started to rappel and fell

20-30 feet to (luckily) a rather flat dirt area. I ended up getting a very expensive ride on a stretcher to the hospital and breaking my calcanius (heel) and L3 in my back. I spent the summer recovering and learning how to walk again.

After five months, I was back on the wall climbing in blood-stained shoes. Every time I put the shoes on it reminded me of my fall. I started taking climbing more seriously and

burned through three pairs of shoes the first winter after my accident. I practiced good technique and bought an assisting belay device for extra protection. Through this renewed passion for climbing, I understood my mistake. I did not make sure that both ends of the rope were on the ground and had rappelled off my rope. In that moment, life had forced me to slow down from the breakneck pace I’d been pushing.

During my recovery from the fall, I became obsessed: I needed to climb with the safest methods. I watched YouTube video after YouTube video. I found that in climbing and virtually anything in life, it pays to be redundant. Tie that extra stopper knot, have your partner double check you, and take the time to double and triple check to make sure you are safe and doing it correctly. Through my research I found how much I had missed from not doing my own research or taking a climbing course to learn how to rappel. There is very little margin for error in climbing, which makes many people consider it a dangerous sport. But rarely do people die or get seriously injured doing it. On average, 30 people die each year rock climbing out of the 5 million people who participate. The death ratio goes down even further when you only look at indoor climbing, bouldering, and sport climbing. These deaths are harsh, but we gain some context when compared to local car crashes. Last year in Idaho and Washington, there were 774 deaths from a car crash with roughly 10 million people in both states combined. The AAC (American Alpine Club) found that accidents occur when climbers or belayers are careless. Carelessness can happen at any

level of climbing experience. At the end of the day, you need to be conscious of the consequences of rock climbing. If you take the necessary precautions and take your time, then climbing can be a safe sport.

There are some great resources to help you get into the “safety-first” mindset and further your skills in rock climbing. Check out online resources like REI CO-OP Climbing videos (AMGA certified guide how-to videos) or books. Climbing classes and safe climbing practices can significantly lower the risk of an accident too. Look for classes at local climbing gyms, from clubs like the Spokane Mountaineers, or from outfitters/ climbing instructors like Outdoor Grip in Coeur d’Alene or regional university and college outdoor programs. Practicing at a climbing gym like Wild Walls and Block Yard in Spokane, Sandpoint Rock Gym, or Coeur Climbing in Post Falls (opening in June 2023) is also a great way to learn the ropes before heading outside on your own. Overall, climbing is a rather safe sport if done correctly. You just have to do the work to gain the necessary skills, learn how to climb safely, and become aware of your blind spots. //

Living the Van Life V

BY RICH KIMPEL

FOR DECADES, vans of all types have been a popular tool for outdoor adventure seekers. A van can get you and your gear out to where the fun is; give you a warm, dry place when you get there; provide a place to cook, sleep, and make memories; and enhance your adventure. In recent years, the adventure van has soared in popularity. Whether it be a fully-outfitted 4WD “overlanding” van, a self-built van with the basics, or anything in between, the appeal of “van life” is irrefutable. The Inland NW presents a tremendous amount of outdoor adventure opportunities, and a van is a great way to make the most of them. You can get in on the van life craze (if you’re not already there) through adventure van rentals or going for a full custom van build. There are several companies in the Inland NW that would love to help you build out your own van or rent one of theirs. Here we feature a few of the local entrepreneurs that have turned van life into a way to pay the bills doing something they love.

Making Van Life Dreams Come True

ON THE 6800 BLOCK of east Sprague in Spokane Valley, in a tidy commercial complex, you will find the headquarters of GustoVans. That’s where GustoVans head honcho, the one and only Mike “Gusto” Gustafson, does his van magic. After a few minutes of talking with Mike, what may strike you is his enthusiasm for his business and his love for his beautifully-crafted creations. During our conversation, it was refreshing to hear Gustafson’s eagerness to please his customers, whether it be with one of his spec or custom vans, a commercial upfit van, or with one of his gorgeous rental vans.

Gustafson has a background in RV repair and a long career in Aerospace manufacturing—both show in the quality of construction and the choice of products and materials he uses and how they are installed. I was extremely impressed at the quality, level of fit and finish, and how well thought out the builds on these rigs are. In 2020, Gustafson cashed in his chips and chose to jump feet first into the adventure van game and GustoVans was born.

GustoVans Rental Adventure Vans

If you have not had the opportunity to experience how much fun and practicality an outfitted van can add to your adventures, give one of GustoVans’ rentals a try. GustoVans currently maintains a fleet of three custom vans for rental. Built on a Ram Promaster chassis, these vans provide comfort, practicality, and safety, all in a manageably-sized package. On the outside, the vans look very much like any other Ram Promaster. (Though they are, of course, adorned with large GustoVans graphics.) It’s inside the van where you see what goes into one of these beautiful builds. From tip to tail, every inch of the van has been designed and equipped to give you a fun, hassle-free, comfortable experience. Every look inside reveals some comfort or practicality you wouldn’t expect in such a compact package.

Imagine being at the trailhead or your favorite ski hill: you wake up from a restful night of sleep in the custom, full-size mattress, cozy all night from the Espar heating system, which provides not only heated air and water, but a heated floor. The heating

system runs off fuel from the van’s fuel tank, so there’s no need to handle or be concerned about dealing with propane. That heater will never run the vehicle out of gas, as it is set up to never use more than 2/3 of a tank. Set your feet on that warm floor and cook yourself some breakfast. GustoVans’ rental vans feature a large refrigerator and freezer, microwave/convection/bake/broil oven, two-burner induction cook top, deep sink, 20-gallon freshwater tank, and are equipped with all the utensils, plates, pots pans, etc. you will need on your next adventure. (The GustoVans website has a complete list of all the goodies that are included with the rental.)

The vans also feature swiveling driver and passenger seats, as well as additional seating and a convertible table to create a cozy indoor dining area. When nature calls, the van features a hidden semi composting toilet, which means no smell and also no “black water” waste tank to ever worry about. The features are almost too many to list. Everywhere you look there is LED lighting, usb charging ports, bedside reading lights, privacy window covers, and tons of storage for all your gear, including a 12’ long walkthrough large enough for kayaks and bikes.

If you’re impressed with the inside, the exterior is also notable. The outside of the van features a large Fiamma self-supporting awning and an outdoor shower, both of which I can tell you from experience are very welcome luxuries at the end of a dusty day on the trail. While the impressive heating system is fueled by the van’s gas tank, everything else is electric. The vans feature a sophisticated solar charging system with state-of-the-art batteries. The batteries are also charged any time the van is running. This system creates enough electricity to power all the lights, the refrigerator, oven, range top, etc.

All these features are fitted into the interior of these vans with amazing attention to quality in the choice of materials and beautiful fit and finish. Stop by GustoVans and look for yourself. Rental vans are available for four-season adventure travel through the U.S. and Canada. Check out the GustoVans’ website for pricing and availability.

Custom and Spec Van Builds

Are you ready to take the leap and get your very own adventure van? GustoVans is ready to build you the van of your dreams!

GustoVans offers their “spec” van, which is essentially outfitted the same way as their incredible rental vans. The spec vans represent the greatest value, as all the research and fitment has already been sorted out, so they require fewer hours of custom fitting and design as compared to a full custom build. To test a spec van, you can rent a van and try it out and decide if the layout is good for you.

If you want a full custom build, GustoVans is up for the challenge. The only limits are your imagination and your pocketbook. Gustafson can design and equip a van for your exact needs based on the Mercedes Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit, or Ram Promaster chassis.

Adventure Van Products and Services

If you are already a member of the adventure van community, GustoVans offers a wide range of products and services to enhance the capabilities of your current rig. Everything from solar systems, furnaces, battery upgrades, vent fans, awnings, windows, tire carriers, racks, boxes, bumpers,

Inland North Westy Adventure Vans

brush guards, extended fuel tanks and more can be installed with the same quality and attention to detail as goes into GustoVans’ spec and custom vans.

GustoVans’ list of vendors reads like a who’s-who of adventure van products: Battle Born batteries, Renogy, Victron, Aluminess, Owl Vans, Espar, Webasto, Fiamma, Air Max fans, and Flare Space are a few. GustoVans has also branched out to provide upfitting services for commercial vans, including ladder racks, dividers, storage bins, and much more to make your work van more productive.

Whether you are in the market for a turnkey adventure van, modification or outfitting of your current van, a van rental for a weekend or extended vacation, or even commercial upfitting for your business van or fleet, GustoVans has you covered. Swing by the GustoVans HQ and say hello to Mike “Gusto” Gustafson! More info: Gustovans.com.

In the world of adventure vans, there is none more iconic than the venerable Volkswagen bus. Since the 1950s, the ubiquitous VW bus has been carrying people from around the globe on every type of adventure imaginable. It’s difficult to deny the sunny personality of these vans, and almost impossible to drive one without a smile on your face.

There have been several generations of Volkswagen’s original rear engine-rear drive layout. This layout creates a vehicle that is compact on the outside yet spacious on the inside, perfect for setting up as a camper. This fact has not been lost on countless conversion companies and adventure-minded folks over the last seven decades. VW last offered the original rear engine-rear drive layout to its U.S. customers in the 1992 VW Vanagon. Over the last 30 years, the Vanagon has continued to be tremendously popular among adventurers. As the demand has grown, the supply of solid, buildable examples has continued to decline and subsequently the cost has skyrocketed.

Enter Brandon Osusky. Brandon is a lifelong VW fan and co-owner of Europro Automotive in Spokane Valley. Brandon’s love of things VW is a family tradition, introduced by his father and business partner Sven Osusky, who is also a VW aficionado and master tech. Like many of us in the “van life” community, Brandon watched the initial cost of these VW buses climb into the stratosphere. With that in mind, Brandon set out to create a business that could provide that unique and smile-inducing experience of a VW bus without having to take on the high cost of owning, maintaining, and upgrading a 30-year-old van. Inland North Westy Adventure Vans was born.

Inland North Westy vans begin life as solid VW Vanagons with the legendary Westfalia camping package and undergo a complete mechanical transformation. Each van is carefully brought to mechanically-modern specifications, including a new modern engine, rebuilt transmission, upgraded braking and suspension systems, all-terrain tires, and even cruise control. Vans will be available

OLD SCHOOL IN THE WILD. PHOTOS COURTESY OF INLAND NORTH WESTY ADVENTURE VANS

with either manual or automatic transmission. Every inch of these vans is inspected, and anything suspect is repaired, rebuilt, or replaced. The Westfalia interiors receive a similar treatment. The inefficient Westfalia refrigerator is replaced with a modern 12v refrigerator or 12v cooler. Modern instrumentation and sound systems are also installed. Collectively, all these changes create a vehicle with modern reliability and efficiency while maintaining the experience of driving and camping in the iconic VW Westfailia camper van.

Inland North Westy Adventure Vans is so confident in their vans’ reliability that they are available for travel throughout the U.S. and Canada. (When you rent, check for specific state and province and/or mileage restrictions before renting). The vans come fully equipped for your desired adventure too. Items like bedding, pots and pans, and utensils are included in the rental price, and other items can be added on for an additional fee. The vans even include their own Polaroid camera to capture the memories in an appropriately retro fashion. Bikes, canoes, kayaks, and their respective rack systems can be added to maximize the adventure.

Inland North Westy Adventure Vans is currently gearing up for what they are calling a “soft” opening season. They are supplying vans to friends and relatives to work out any potential remaining bugs and ensure that

the vans are 100 percent ready for adventure. Beginning in the spring of 2024, Inland North Westy Adventure Vans will be available for rental from May through November. Rental rates are expected to be $240 per day with discounts on rentals of six days or more.

Speaking with Brandon, his passion for these vans, his business, and his customers shines through. You see this reflected in the details and the desire to create an experience as unique as the VW camper itself. All rentals of six days or more include personalized trip planning and all vans include complimentary airport pick up and drop off. Fly into Spokane with your personal gear; Brandon will meet you at the airport with your van outfitted for your exact adventure. The adventure van experience has never been easier. Look for Inland North Westy Adventure Vans at outdoor shows and events in the Spokane area or find them on Instagram at inwestys_adventurevans or email Brandon at INWvanAdventures@ gmail.com.

Rich Kimpel is a lifelong Inland NW resident who has been involved in the action sports community as a snowboarder, skateboarder, and BMXer since the 1980s. He has been living the “van life” personally and professionally since he picked up his first VW Vanagon Syncro in 2002.

This Van Life

COEUR D’ALENE COUPLE FILL NICHE WITH QUALITY, INSULATED VAN WINDOW COVERS

BY S. MICHAL BENNETT

FOR A LONG TIME, Coeur d’Alene locals Dave and Kelly Dutro made a name for themselves by sharing their passion for trails through Trail Maniacs (trailmaniacs. com). But This Van Life, their vehicle window cover business, has quietly taken over a corner of the outdoor recreation market that was in dire need of diversity and competition.

Dave’s family moved to Idaho when he was 12 years old, and he has lived in Sandpoint, Orofino, and Coeur d’Alene over the years. “I’ve always loved the out doors,” he says. “When I lived in Sandpoint, I was always trying to get my friends to ride our BMX bikes to Schweitzer.” Over the years, Dave has pursued road cycling, mountain biking, hiking, skiing, triathlons, and trail running, and he and Kelly actu ally met on a trail run up Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene. “We came up to the viewpoint,” Dave recalls, “and she was right behind me. I thought, man, she can run, and she’s cute!” Ten years later, they’ve run together through events, business pursuits, and many outdoor adventures.

Soon after they started Trail Maniacs, they bought a 2011 Mercedes Sprinter Van so that they could stay at events and haul their gear. While testing it in Montana, they had to stuff blankets onto the windows to try to keep the van warm. After some research into van window covers, they found the only companies offering covers were quite expensive, not made in the U.S., or were not insulated. So they decided to make their own.

This Van Life started with Kelly’s mom’s sewing machine under a carport in their back yard with the intention of simply meeting a personal need. After Dave used his first commercial machine, his brother-in-law convinced him to put the covers on Etsy, where they quickly sold. The years 2020 and 2021 were overwhelmingly busy for Dave and his team, but they’ve now leveled out to a steady production pace and make custom covers as well as standard covers for Mercedes Sprinter vans and Dodge Promasters.

Why choose This Van Life for your adventure van window covers? “We make them here in North Idaho—your money stays here,” says Dave. “And I honestly think we make the best covers out there. We’re the only ones that have an affordable, quality, insulated magnetic cover that folds up and stays in place, even in big windows.” Check them out at Thisvanlife.net.

BC GUIDE

BC SUMMER ADVENTURE GUIDE

Grab your passport or enhanced driver’s license (if you live in Washington State), throw your bikes, board shorts, and hiking boots in the adventure mobile, and head north for some of the best outdoor good times to be had so close to the greater Spokane area! Our firstannual BC Summer Adventure Guide features plenty of outdoor fun in the Kootenay region and Rocky Mountains of southeastern British Columbia and southwestern Alberta. From mountain biking and bikepacking, to floating and swimming spots, scenic hikes, and summer festivals, there are trip ideas and inspiration for just about all types of outdoor adventurers. We Americans score a 30% discount on everything from hotel rooms to pints of beer and plates of poutine thanks to an exchange rate that lingers in the U.S. Dollar’s favor too. What are we waiting for?

(Derrick Knowles)

NEW KOOTENAY SINGLETRACK

By Aaron Theisen BC GUIDE

AS ONE OF THE BIRTHPLACES of freeride mountain biking, the Kootenays of southeast British Columbia have accumulated decades of world-class trails on seemingly any slope that can hold them. But trail

builders here continue to find new zones and touch up classic Kootenays tracks. The riding riches in the old mining-turnedmountain towns of this region—Nelson, Rossland, Revelstoke and elsewhere—are

nowhere close to being played out. Bordercrossing bikers who have missed a few seasons of BC brown pow will find that a few more trail treasures have been unearthed in their absence.

KASLO SINGLETRACK. PHOTO:

LINDSAY MARIE STEWART, COURTESY OF NELSON KOOTENAY LAKE TOURISM

KASLO’S MOUNT BUCHANAN TRAILS

A little less than an hour north of Nelson, on the northern arm of Kootenay Lake, the sedate lakeside town of Kaslo has long functioned as an extension of Nelson’s riding scene. The historic highlight of the area was The Monster, an iconic 4,000-foot descent off the flank of Mount Buchanan on the northwest edge of town. But with a long, rough shuttle and steep, high-consequence pitch, The Monster scared away all but the most committed riders. Several years ago, however, the Kaslo Outdoor Recreation and Trails Society began a multi-year project to build out the Buchanan trail network.

On the west side of Mount Buchanan, the Kaslo Interpretive Forest Recreation Area features a network of mostly machine-built flow trails. Debuting in 2022, Friendly Giant is the first segment of what will ultimately be a 22-km bi-directional trail to the summit of Mount Buchanan. The mellow bench-cut trail makes for a pleasant pedal up, and the numerous grade reversals, small tabletops, and side hits make for a manageable alternative to The Monster for the ride back down.

On the east side of Mount Buchanan, the Branch 7 trail system comprises a handful of hand-cut singletrack. The highlight is the steep, surfy singletrack and root drops of Carlsbad; combining it with the fall-line flow of No Brakes gives riders a nearly 2,000-foot descent back to Kaslo, where they can cool their brake rotors at any of three ice cream shops.

Combined with the XC-oriented trails of the True Blue Recreation Area trails on the south shore of the Kaslo River, the new Mount Buchanan trails elevate Kaslo to a riding destination that holds its own with its Kootenay kin.

NAKUSP’S MOUNT ABRIEL TRAILS

In contrast to its neighbors’ trail systems, which grew by accretion, the trails of Nakusp, on a narrow ribbon of Upper Arrow Lake an hour south of Revelstoke,

NEW-ISH TRAILS NEAR FERNIE, B.C.

If you haven’t biked in Fernie since before the pandemic, there are a few new trails to add to the list. That’s in addition, of course, to the hundreds of miles of other mostly singletrack trails that surround this mountain town just five hours north of Spokane.

ROXY ROLLER is a fun and flowy blue trail with berms and a mix of wood and dirt jumps on a recently-logged ridge in the Ridgemont riding area on the eastern edge of town. Mostly ridden as a downhill trail, Roxy Roller can be accessed off of Eric’s Trail and spits riders out at the top of the equally jump-littered blue trail Space Unicorn. Link all three trails together for a fast and fun intermediate rollercoaster ride.

CARPAL TUNNEL was added to the Montane trail system in 2021 and is a welcome addition to the mostly mellow Montane area trails. Trailforks describes the trail as twisty and turny singletrack that was built to help riders develop their downhill skills. The upper half of the trail is a blue, with the lower section grading up to black with more challenging terrain. Hop off Carpal Tunnel at the junction with the Montane Blue Trail to skip the black section if you want an easier ride down.

Find great trail and visitor info here to plan your summer trip to one of the Northwest’s best mountain bike towns: Tourismfernie. com/activities/mountain-biking/trails. (Derrick Knowles)

seemingly sprung from the Earth fully formed and optimized for modern bikes and rider preferences.

Several years ago, with the aid of around a million dollars in community grants, the Nakusp and Area Bike Society (NABS) began quietly building out a 50-kilometre trail system on the steep, cedar-shaded flank of Mount Abriel—the largest communitybased trail project in Canada. The goal for this quiet, lakeside community: join the likes of Nelson and Rossland in the canon of Kootenays riding destinations.

The mix of loam and crushed bedrock on cutover Crown land allowed for the construction of bike-park-like flow trails such as Dusty Panther, one of those tracks that transcends its difficulty rating to delight riders of every skill level. Trails like Black and Blue and Minty Fresh artfully blend in big hips and gaps with steep, chunky singletrack that maximizes the 3,400 feet of vertical from the top of Mount Abriel to the highway.

Below the highway, NABS constructed a skills park with pump track, drop and jump lines, and a shoreline campground with 30 well-spaced, private sites. A mini network of lower trails allows for after-dinner hot laps on beginner to expert trails, and trails like Hollywood Hills (double black) and Red Shed Redemption (black) are nearly worth the trip alone.

At a time when “something for everyone” is the builder’s buzz-phrase, the NABS means it: Mount Abriel is one of the world’s first networks of trails for adaptive bike use. It’s also one of the birthplaces of trail standards for adaptive mountain bike trails, which seek to codify tracks optimized for hand-, pedaland motor-powered three- and four-wheeled bikes.

Thirty years on, the Kootenays continue to extend the borders of what’s possible on a bike. There’s no better time to cross that border. //

CASTLEGAR’S OFTEN OVERLOOKED MTB TRAILS ARE WORTH A VISIT

The Merry Go Round, part of the Merry Creek mountain bike trail network in Castlegar may only be a 1.4k blue trail primarily used for climbing, but the trail should make your BC mountain biking bucket list simply to experience the Cliff Hanger: this 20-foot-high, 60-foot-long bridge hangs from the side of a sheer rock face. After appreciating the work that went into this piece of trail engineering, continue exploring the other excellent blue and black trails in the Merry Creek area and other trail systems around this riverside BC town.

According to Destination Castlegar, there are currently 52 mountain biking trails nearby located at seven main areas, the most popular being Merry Creek, Rialto, and Millennium Park. Longtime local trail builder Dave Sutton has worked on most of these trails and says the thing that makes Castlegar unique is attention to detail when it comes to the trails. “We’ve put a lot of time and thought into areas such as Merry Creek and it’s a true network of trails. You don’t have to worry about getting lost or spending half your time on Trailforks trying to figure out where you are. The networks here are intuitive.”

For more about the mountain biking trails in Castlegar, visit Destinationcastlegar.com/ out-about/biking. (OTO)

PHOTO: AARON THEISEN

RIDING UP THE CLIFF HANGER AT MERRY CREEK. PHOTO: ROBIN MUNSHAW, COURTESY OF DESTINATION CASTLEGAR

BIKEPACKING THE KETTLE VALLEY RAIL TRAIL

By Carol Corbin

Rolling out of Midway, B.C., on fully loaded bikes in the pouring rain might make one think that things can’t get worse, but the Kettle Valley Rail Trail (KVRT) had more surprises for us along the way. As the two soggy riders we met at our jumping off point, who’d bailed because of mud and “ruts” shook their heads, we pedaled down a muddy single-track through a field toward our early June destinations.

This bikepacking trip had been months in the making with route planning, adjustments, scheduling, carpooling, and figuring out how to cross the Canadian border during COVID. But at last, three incredibly patient adventure buddies, Sue, Dan, Phil, and I tackled the KVRT between Midway and Penticton, with a final leg to Oliver and our shuttle vehicle: 153 miles (give or take) of riding with a little over 7,000 feet of elevation over what was intended to be five days of riding.

The first day, we left our campsite in Midway (nearly deserted because of the rain and situated on a delightful little creek) to make our way through about a thousand gated pastures and lots and lots of mud. Three of us were pedaling gravel bikes with one rider on a hardtail mountain bike. The knobby tires were a must for the conditions. As were, we would come to learn, heavy-duty waterproof bike bags.

From Midway to our first campsite, the trail mostly followed the Kettle River. Thirty miles of riding with just over 400 feet of elevation brought us to Little Dipper Hideaway—a privately owned facility tucked back in the middle of nowhere, owned and operated by a sweet Canadian couple thrilled to have customers so early in the season. We bought some firewood, set up camp around a small covered picnic table, and took advantage of the break in the weather to hang our wet things out to dry. We soon had clotheslines strung over the crackling flames.

Day two dawned overcast but dry as we packed up, said goodbye to our mini picnic shelter, and hit the trail again. 37 miles and 2,200 feet of climbing treated us to relatively dry, though chilly riding weather. Moody skies ushered us from Little Dipper in the Valley up into the Beaverdell Range.

The Trail continues along the Kettle River until it meets up with the West Kettle River, where it takes a westward bend into the mountains. Our second day ended at

Arlington Lakes, a campground accessible by motorized traffic, sparsely populated with fisherman in camp trailers.

Another campfire and an evening of playing cards and watching the sun set over the lakes filled me with that feeling only bikepacking can achieve. That We-rode-ourfreakin’-bikes-here! feeling that’s like outdoor crack.

Day three was by far the hardest day of cycling in my life. And also the most majestic and impressive. Our plan was for this to be our longest day of riding, taking us up and over the mountain pass and into Myra Canyon, part of Myra-Bellevue Park. This trail system with tunnels, restored train trestles, and magnificent views of the Beaverdell Range was some of the most beautiful riding I’ve ever done! But by the time we arrived, I was soaked and chilled to the bone with no feeling in my hands or feet.

Rolling out of Myra Canyon, we rolled into some of the worst riding conditions I’ve ever experienced (except for the Play-Doh mud on the Palouse to Cascades Trail outside of Tekoa). While this section of the trail is also a “road,” that term is obviously defined differently by our neighbors to the north. As we rolled down out of the mountains, we found fissures in the road that had probably swallowed several compact cars. Puddles that spanned the entire width of the roadway swamped our bikes up over the hubs. Pedaling into lake after frothy brown lake of potholes got old after the first mile, and, by mile 20, became absolutely maddening. While day three was supposed to cover 33 miles, we were so cold and wet (and maybe my traveling companions were tired of my whining) that we agreed to push on to Chute Lake and a developed campground.

After a 47-mile day, we were relieved to find showers, a roaring fire, a pub, and an only slightly sloped patch of ground on which to pitch our sopping wet tents for the night. As we tucked in for the night at Chute Lake, the rain rolled back in, doing one final soak of our gear. When we got up in the morning, we all agreed to shove wet gear in bags and roll out. Next stop, breakfast in Penticton. Rolling downhill in the sunny weather of what was to be our last day of riding took us through beautiful forests, well-maintained crushed gravel trails, and a spectacular section of trail overlooking and then traveling along the shores of Okanagan

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Lake. This part was some of the most beautiful, scenic, and interesting rail trail biking I’ve ever done.

In Penticton, we regrouped over a massive breakfast at Terry’s Comfort Food with Attitude. Having already ridden our planned miles for the day, and watching even more rain clouds roll over the horizon, we decided

it was time to call it, pedal the last 30 miles to Oliver, and take the last day for a day trip to Ainsworth Hot Springs. That last and longest day of riding at just shy of 50 miles with a mere 374 miles of elevation gain left me relieved to be off the bike. And already scheming for my next B.C. bikepacking adventure. In the actual summer.

MORE KOOTENAY RAIL TRAILS

The Kootenay region of British Columbia is packed with beautiful rail trails. A bustling set of rail lines fueled early logging and mining operations and the Canadians have done a masterful job of converting disused railways to splendid trails for outdoor recreation. Many of these trails are restricted to non-motorized traffic, but some allow for ORVs. Be sure to check online trail information before setting out on your adventure so you’re prepared.

GREAT NORTHERN RAIL LINE

Want to earn your beverage in Nelson? Perfect! Start in Salmo and pedal the Great Northern Rail Line to get there. This 30-mile route features trailside beaches, restored trestles, and beautiful views along the way. Part of this trail, however, is closed in the spring and early summer because of grizzly bear traffic.

CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY

This rail trail connects Castlegar to Christina Lake near the border. This 55-mile (one-way) trip actually goes all the way to Midway. But a stop at Canada’s warmest tree-lined lake makes this a great day trip with sandy beaches, watersports, and many other local attractions.

SLOCAN VALLEY RAIL TRAIL

With wide crushed-gravel tread and plenty of summertime bear scat, the Slocan Valley Rail Trail feels like the quintessential Canadian adventure. Over 30 miles of trail along the Slocan River boasts many cultural, ecological, and archaeological sites for a full day of experiences. Do it in sections, starting at one of seven trailheads, or make the full trek from South Slocan to Slocan.

NORTHSTAR RAILS TO TRAILS

This fully paved 15+ mile route stretches from Cranbrook to Kimberly in the East Kootenays. Views of the Canadian Rockies from the mostly flat stretch just outside of Kimberly make this a great one-way pedal, or a more strenuous out-and-back for serious riders. The bridge in the middle crosses the St. Mary River. Lots of stops along the way make this rail line that once transported lead and zinc to the smelter in Trail a beautiful trip for families.

These great trails are just the tip of the British Columbia iceberg. This summer, load up your bike and experience it for yourself! //

A RAINY BRIDGE CROSSING OVER THE KETTLE RIVER. // VIEWS OF THE OKANAGAN FROM ROCK OVER PARK // ABOVE RIGHT // A RAIL TRAIL SOMEWHERE IN BC. PHOTOS: CAROL CORBIN.

EVENTS & FESTIVALS IN THE KOOTS

By Wil Wheaton BC GUIDE

Gatherings are back in southeastern British Columbia this summer and fall. Find a music festival or fun community event to plan your next north-of-the-border adventure around!

JUNE 2-4: Sunfest in Castlegar. This annual community celebration typically includes live music, food and merchandise vendors, a parade and other entertainment.

JULY 21-24: Shambhala Music Festival, Salmo. A long-running celebration of electronic music and culture. The popular event reportedly transforms into the largest city in the region for five days each July.

AUGUST 4-6: Kaslo Jazz Fest, Kaslo. This laid-back world-class music festival featuring jazz, blues, folk, and world music has attracted big names and talented emerging artists since 1992. The floating stage and astounding acoustics turns Kaslo Bay Park into a natural amphitheater. Join other festival goers dancing in the sand, swimming or paddling around the stage, or relaxing in the grass.

AUGUST 11-12: Wapiti Music Festival, Fernie. An annual indie music festival amidst Fernie’s stunning mountain scenery.

Stay for a while and ride and hike the amazing local trails.

AUGUST 26-SEPTEMBER 4: FishOut Derby, Castlegar. Come fish for invasive walleye and northern pike for a chance to win prizes, including a $1,000 grand prize.

SEPTEMBER 9-16: Kootenay Beer Week. Events in celebration of regional craft beer will take place in various communities across the West Kootenay.

SEPTEMBER 15-16: Between the Peaks Music Festival at RED Mountain Resort in Rossland. A new festival at the base of RED hosting a variety of Canadian, international, and local acts on multiple outdoor stages, plus food, beer and cider, and easy access to Rossland’s killer bike trails.

SEPTEMBER 16: Kootenay Beer Festival, Nelson. A capstone event to Kootenay Beer Week, which runs from Sept 9-16.

SEPTEMBER 23: Great Canadian Beer Festival on Tour in Cranbrook. Canada’s oldest beer festival lands in Cranbrook. Presented by BC Ale Trail, craft beer lovers can enjoy delicious brews sourced from coast to coast at Belmont Park from 12-5 p.m. (OTO) //

This new book tells the riches-to-rags tale of an accomplished engineer whose Spokanebased Riblet Tramway Company became the world’s leading producer of aerial tramways and ski chairlifts. How could one of the twentieth century’s most prolific engineers rise to greatness only to become lost to time?

WAPITI MUSIC FESTIVAL IN FERNIE. PHOTO: COURTESY OF TOURISM FERNIE BY VINCE MO

Available at Auntie’s Books in Spokane, Sety’s ACE Hardware at Wandermere and Chewelah, Spokane Valley Heritage Museum, Pend Oreille County Museum, and on Amazon.

“Byron Riblet: Forgotten Engineering Genius,” by Ty A. Brown

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED TO WATERTON LAKES

By Bradley Bleck

IN 2022, America’s national parks had over 213 million visitors. Closer to home, Glacier National Park had over 2.9 million visitors. That popularity has led to a reservation system for bringing cars into the park. Given that popularity, how might we enjoy what national parks afford without finding ourselves cheek by jowl with fellow travelers?

One thing we can do, in the words of poet Robert Frost, is to take the road less traveled, that being the road leading to Waterton Lakes National Park, in Alberta, Canada. Waterton Lakes NP receives just 500,000 annual visitors, making for a more immersive natural experience. Granted, Waterton is 130,000 acres compared to Glacier’s one million, but the last thing you’ll experience at Waterton is a crush of fellow travelers.

Besides the lack of crowds (except if you try to park at the Prince of Wales Hotel), Waterton Lakes has a lot going for it, much of which has been built on its connection to Glacier NP. In 1932, the two parks became the world’s first International Peace Park. In 1979, Waterton and Glacier were declared a Biosphere Reserve, making them test sites for interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems. In 1995, the combined parks were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. In 2017, they were designated the first International Dark Sky Parks, denoting lands that still have exceptional quality in starry nights and nocturnal environment.

ROAD BIKING WATERTON LAKES

So, what’s there to do in Waterton Lakes? Because my wife and I are cyclists first and hikers second, we spent our first two days exploring the two road rides inside

the park. The first was the Red Rock Parkway, which leads from the Prince of Wales Hotel to Red Rock Canyon, a hub for the Blackiston Valley and Goat Creek trails. From the campground to Red Rock Canyon is a 25-mile round trip with 1,500 feet of climbing, but only 600 feet of elevation gain. The other ride is the Akamina Parkway to Cameron Lake. From the campground it’s a 21-mile round trip with about 1,500 feet of climbing, most on the way in, with a fairly consistent though not steep grade. Expect a challenging ride up and speedy ride down. Both roads, as you might expect, make for a scenic drive as well, with many trailheads and picnic sites along the way. There are also rides outside the park, including on Highway 6 heading towards the Chief Mountain border crossing.

HIKING AROUND WATERTON

After our rides, we spent time walking through Waterton, which, according to the most recent census, is home to 158 residents. We strolled along the lakefront path and meandered around the townsite. There are restaurants and the sorts of shops you might expect in a national park. There's ice cream, coffee, jewelry, beer, local art, hot dogs, you name it. About the only thing lacking is a full-service grocery. The most popular hike in town is to Camerton Falls from the Red Rock parking lot. We all but had the trail and the falls to ourselves as the sun was setting.

Waterton has 74 listed trails, six of which allow mountain biking and 20 of which allow for horseback riding. The Waterton Activity Guide breaks the trails down into hikes of under 90 minutes, day hikes up to a listed nine hours (most in the 4-5 hour range), and one multi-day hike along the Continental

Divide. Our big hike for the trip was to Crypt Lake. Round trip it is just under 11 miles with a total elevation gain of about 2,100 feet, about three hours each way. The hike starts with a boat ride from the Waterton Marina to Crypt Landing across the lake. The trail is congested at first, being as popular as it is, but once the climbing starts, the hikers are fewer and farther between.

The highlight of the hike, other than making it to the lake for a refreshing dip, is the final leg with a scramble through a 65-foot natural tunnel through the rock that comes out to a sheer drop along a ledge that is traversed with the aid of a cable anchored into the rock. Some people brought their dogs, but we were glad to have left them behind. The tunnel and ledge are much of why National Geographic has called the Crypt Lake Trail one of the world’s most thrilling.

OTHER PARK ACTIVITIES AND AMENITIES

There are also more traditional vacation activities, from a day spa to horseback riding, kayaking, paddleboarding, and golf. Another is a dark sky tour. Visitors can book stargazing trips in Waterton or take a shuttle to a hiking or telescope tour. Dark Sky Guides provides the necessities such as headlamps and binoculars, and even blankets and camp chairs for the telescope

tours. Bike rentals include acoustic, electric, and pedicabs.

LODGING

For the iconic lodging experience, there is the Prince of Wales Hotel, built in 1927 by the Great Northern Railway to attract tourists seeking to escape, at least in part, prohibition back in the States. South-facing rooms provide an expansive view of Upper Waterton Lake and the mountains forming an imposing barrier between the two nations. The hotel’s lobby and patio offer a similarly expansive view. Other lodging options are less iconic, including mountain lodges, resort hotels, and pampering spas. The trailer and tent camping is essentially a large parking lot with parking spaces and grass, more of a base for the day's events than lounging. Along with a number of backcountry campgrounds, there are a few front country campgrounds just outside park boundaries.

From Spokane, the quickest route to Waterton Lakes entails a six-and-a-half hour drive through Cranbrook and Fernie. An alternate route, through Kalispel and south of Glacier, makes for an hour longer of a drive. Flying or the train both require a car for the last leg. //

LEFT: CRYPT LAKE. // PRINCE OF WALES HOTEL //RIGHT: BLANKISTON FALLS OVERLOOK. // BELOW: DESCENDING FROM CRYPT LAKE USING GUIDE CABLE. // PHOTOS BRADLEY BLECK.

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KOOTENAY LAKE ROAD TRIP APP

By Wies van Wetten

IF YOU’RE LOOKING for something unique, come explore the Nelson and Kootenay Lake region in British Columbia, Canada, using the new self-guided touring app: the Kootenay Lake Road Trip App. Learn about the region from forests to First Nations, and attractions to amenities, all with a good sense of humor and local knowledge. Use the app as your personal tour guide to get the most out of your road trip. There are three different tours right now with more tours coming soon.

DRIVING TOUR

The Driving Tour takes you along the lakeshore, where you’ll hear fun facts and stories about the places you’re passing. There are over 100 sights, sounds, and stories that can be enjoyed. Start the tour at any point and pause it at any time.

MURAL TOUR

Take a stroll along Nelson’s historic alleys while being guided by the Mural Tour. You’ll find beautiful pieces of art and learn about the artists behind them. Stop for a coffee or cocktail along the way or some food at numerous dining establishments (over 70 to choose from).

KASLO RIVER TRAIL

In Kaslo, immerse yourself in a forest bathing experience along the Kaslo River Trail while being guided by soothing voices and relaxing music. Take your time, pay attention to the small things nature has to offer, and enjoy this unique way of experiencing the trail. Keep your ears and eyes open for a full immersive experience and some unique Koot sculptures.

EAST SHORE ARTISAN TOUR (COMING SOON)

Coming soon to the app is an East Shore Artisan Tour, which will take you right into the studios of artisans working in the Crawford Bay area. Listen to some fun stories while browsing these truly unique local workshops, from brooms and pottery to jewelry and metalwork.

Download the Kootenay Lake Road Trip App and start exploring Nelson, Balfour, Ainsworth Hot Springs, Kaslo, North Kootenay Lake, and the East Shore. Find something interesting all year round, with idyllic places to stay, nourishing food and drink, and many ways to chill and relax. //

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Photo by James Cattanach

PHOTO: JESSE SCHPAKOWSKI, COURTESY OF NELSON KOOTENAY LAKE TOURISM

WATER ADVENTURES IN THE ALPINE

By Carol Corbin & Derrick Knowles BC GUIDE

WHEN YOU THINK of adventures in British Columbia, particularly the Kootenays, kayaking, swimming, tubing, or just kicking back on a beach might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Yet B.C. offers up amazing water-based activities for locals and visitors alike.

NELSON AND KOOTENAY LAKE

This bustling outdoor-centric mountain town also sports a beautiful sandy beach on Kootenay Lake. Nelson is a jumping off point for all things outdoors, and in the summer tourists and locals swim, float, and doze in the sun with the majestic backdrop of mountains and massive skies. When I asked Dianna Ducs from Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism why those of us in the Inland Northwest should go north for our water adventures this summer, she said, “Here’s why: clean, glacial-fed water on a quiet lake that is known for paddling, sailing, fishing and mellow boating. Accessible white sand beaches all around the lake and even remote camping spots and lodging with lake views.” I’m convinced! (CC)

MILLENNIUM PARK IN CASTELGAR

According to Destination Castlegar, Millennium Park in Castlegar “is arguably the best urban recreation area in the interior of British Columbia.” The reason for that has a lot to do with water: it’s a few blocks from downtown, has the biggest bike park in the region, but also offers plenty of Columbia River frontage for paddling, swimming in natural river-fed pools, fishing, and beach chilling plus playground structures, beach volleyball, an outdoor gym, walking trails, and many more park amenities. (DK)

LOWER SLOCAN RIVER

With class II rapids, and an exciting class III near the take-out, this whitewater run is not for the faint of heart. Nor, as I learned the hard way, for someone in a recreational

kayak. Be sure to take (and wear) a PFD and the right whitewater-worthy boat or board. Enjoy Crescent Valley Beach Park with parking, restrooms, and picnic facilities at the put-in, and Shore Acres Beach Park at the take-out. For an added adventure, use bikes to shuttle back to your car on the Slocan Valley Rail Trail. (CC)

NEMO BEACH ON SLOCAN LAKE

If you’re like me, and love to combine various outdoor activities with overnight camping, check this place out. This remote beach is accessible via a moderate to difficult hiking trail, or flatwater paddling from Silverton, north of Castlegar. It’s a little over 3 miles of paddling each way, and, while the lake is typically calm, the open water nature of this trek could mean wind and whitecaps on the wrong day. The Nemo Creek hiking trail is a great way to round out your day of exploration. (CC)

PEND OREILLE RIVER

Slow-moving and dam-regulated where it enters the Columbia River outside of Trail, B.C., the river provides endless opportunities for flatwater paddling, fishing, or swimming as it meanders east to west along the border with Washington State. Access points exist all along Seven Mile Dam Road and Waneta-Nelway Road. Removed from cities, towns, and most communities, you’ll have few others with which to contend. (CC)

THE ELK RIVER THROUGH FERNIE

Flowing out of the Canadian Rockies, the Elk River is an oasis after a day of hiking or mountain biking the local trails. Book a whitewater rafting trip, bring your own kayak for a DIY whitewater thrill, or float the more lazy stretches near town on a paddleboard or kayak (rentals and guided trips available in town). Confirm the best stretch for floating/paddling with the locals if going on your own and beware of logjams and other river hazards. (DK) //

WHITEWATER RAFTING WITH TUNNEL49. // PHOTO: VINCE MO, COURTESY OF TOURISM FERNIE

CLOSE-TO-THE-BORDER BC TRAILS WITH VIEWS

By James P. Johnson

I’VE DONE MANY road trips to British Columbia, because there’s a ton of beauty there, so it’s natural I’m super excited whenever I go. Maybe you noticed I borrowed the words from the well-known phrase, Super, natural British Columbia. Luckily, not much travel time is necessary to experience BC’s super naturalness. The following hikes with views are close to the border, just a 3-4 hour drive from Spokane.

Old Glory Mountain / Rossland —Near Red Mountain Ski Resort, Old Glory (7,798 ft.) is the highest peak along the Seven Summits Trail, a well-known mountain biking route of which a short segment is used for this hike. On the July weekday I did this hike, I also explored a few miles of the Seven Summits Trail and saw not a single cyclist. I ran into several hiking parties doing Old Glory, however. The trail is well-maintained, has no dangerous hazards, and is 10.5 miles roundtrip with a 3,577 ft. elevation gain. More info: westkootenayhiking.ca/old-glory-mountain/

Trail Bluffs / Trail — I was strolling about Trail, imagining living in this quaint working-class town known for its sprawling, century-old smelter and their hockey team, the Smoke Eaters. (An incident from a 1929 hockey game has been suggested for the name; however, the now cleaned-up smelter used to belch lots of smoke.) There was a Canadian flag on a bluff high above, and I theorized a trail led to it. I passed a woman working in her yard and inquired. She confirmed my theory and gave directions to the trailhead. I explored the trail

network, reached the flag, and exited at the other end near the hospital. The day being very warm, I walked to a downtown brewpub I’d spied earlier, Trail Beer Refinery. I wondered how a small town could support a roomy, well-capitalized, attractive, craft brewery. Anyway, the Trail Bluffs are around 9 miles if you do all the segments, and, with a high point of only 2,673 feet, hikeable by early spring. Trail and Rossland are just 6 miles apart, so you can do both Old Glory and Trail Bluffs on a weekend trip. More info: kcts.ca/trails/trail-bluffs

Fisher Peak / Cranbrook — I long admired the steep, rugged peaks of the Canadian Rockies north of Cranbrook, thinking the peaks were un-hikeable. Then I found out there are trails on the more approachable backside. Fisher Peak, the highest at 9,336 feet, is a tough hike. It’s steep, and, approaching the top, requires scrambling over large boulders. The day I did Fisher, I was treated to a thunderstorm while at the summit. I took shelter a couple hundred feet below and while eating lunch watched with intrigue as rising air condensed then quickly evaporated after clearing the narrow ridge just below me. Only one lightning strike was remotely near me, so I never felt in danger.

Back at the hotel, the husband/wife owners told me they’d been training to do Fisher, but an injury ended their plan. I gathered that summiting Fisher Peak is a community goal analogous to Spokanites finishing Bloomsday. Roundtrip 6 miles / 4,400 foot gain. More info: cranbrooktourism.com/ things-to-do/trails/fisher-peak-hike //

HIGH-COUNTRY HIKES IN FERNIE’S LIZARD RANGE

The stunning peaks of the Lizard Range that tower over the town of Fernie, B.C., are a sight to behold, and hiking up into them is an unforgettable experience. The area around Island Lake Lodge, a swath of private wilderness lands with a lodge, restaurant, and miles of well-maintained trails, offers a range of hikes from short walks through old growth cedars to all-day alpine excursions. For the 2023 season, access to hiking trails on Island Lake Lodge property is open daily from June 25-September 12, with vehicle access to the lodge only available Friday through Tuesday (otherwise, use the lower free parking lot 4.5k below the lodge). Favorite trails include the 4k Old Growth Trail (easy-moderate), 2k Lake Trail loop (easy), 7k Spineback Trail (advanced), and 9.5k Goldilocks Trail (advanced). Plan your hike at Tourismfernie.com/activities/ hiking-trails/island-lake-lodge. (Derrick Knowles)

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I Have an Amazing Stoker

By Ed Merz

BACK IN MY EDUCATOR DAYS, our leadership class headed up an annual, week-long project—Teacher Appreciation Week. One of those activities was to produce large posters to be taped to respective classroom doors. The words would express love and appreciation, and the middle school artists produced some very creative caricatures and other visual depictions related to their beloved teachers. I was a school counselor, and most of the students assigned to draw up my poster didn’t know me very well, so their instructor (a cyclist himself) tossed out an idea. “Mr. Merz is quite the serious bike rider, and he and his wife also like to ride their tandem on all the wonderful trails in and around Spokane.” Then their teacher explained in some detail what a tandem bicycle is and how tandem biking works, including how they require a captain and a stoker. They liked the idea and went to work.

Don’t know what a stoker is? You’re not alone. When we are cruising around on our tandem bicycle with me in the captain position in the front, my wife’s position on the back seat is known as the stoker. Most

folks know that a tandem bicycle has two seats, two sets of pedals, and two sets of handlebars. Fewer folks understand that on most tandems, the two sets of cranks are mechanically linked by a timing chain and turn at the same rate, which means that the stoker has absolutely no independence in pedaling. The steering, braking, shifting, pedal cadence, and speed are also totally controlled by the captain. To be fair, stokers do several important things quite well. Stokers provide a lot of the pedal power and also provide a critical balance factor as well. My stoker also does a great job of frequently yelling, “Not so fast!”

One of the most unnerving experiences I’ve ever had was about 16 years ago when I was showing off our newly acquired tandem to my brother and I suggested that we go for a ride with him at the helm. That was the first and only time that I turned into a stoker, and it literally scared the hell out of me—not because of anything my captain brother was doing, but because I could not handle the feeling of total helplessness. Like a fish with no fins. Never again. That is why my stoker and all stokers out there are truly amazing.

Your trust and confidence in your captains is remarkable, and that allows tandem couples to share some of the most enjoyable and memorable bike-riding experiences one could imagine. We captains tip our helmets to our stokers; we are grateful for the faith that you place in us.

Having no idea that the students had created an appreciation poster for me, my secretary met me as I was returning to the guidance office. Her look of concern that seemed to say “I’m not sure this is okay” was unmistakable. I said, “What’s up, Claudia?” She answered, “Ed, what is a stoker?” I had no idea where she was coming from, but I could certainly answer the question.

“Well, way back when, in the days of steam locomotives, a stoker held an extremely important job,” I told her. “While the engineer was at the controls of the locomotive, the stoker was shoveling coal into the boiler to provide the steam to power the engine. A really hot and strenuous job. Of course, no stokers necessary on trains these days.” I then explained to Claudia that I live with a stoker. It’s my wife, Georgia. “You know that we have a tandem bicycle. I am on the front

seat in the captain position and Georgia is on the seat behind me, and her position is called a stoker. She provides extra power, just like those firemen feeding the boilers. But why do you ask?”

My secretary pointed to this newlyarrived poster that had just been taped to my office door. A colorful tandem bicycle had been sketched across the poster, but it was the text at the top that was the real focus.

“MR. MERZ, WE HEAR THAT YOU HAVE AN AMAZING STOKER!” It was obvious that Claudia’s mind had gone somewhere else. I don’t know if I have laughed that hard ever since! //

Ed Merz and his wife Georgia are retired educators and long-time Spokane residents who frequently ride and travel with their Bike Friday Two’sDay folding tandem they bought in 2006. The tandem team upgraded to electric-assist in 2020 and hope to keep pedaling together for years to come. Ed wrote the article “10 Spokanearea Hills to Climb Before You Die” for Out There back in 2015. You can find that story at Outthereoutdoors.com.

ED AND GEORGIA MERZ ON THE TRAIL IN ALASKA. PHOTO COURTESY OF ED MERZ

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