Out There Monthly February 2012 by Out There Outdoors

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Out There Monthly / February 2012

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Out There Monthly / February 2012

Warm y ou winter b r lues at.. .

In This Issue p.6 / Editorial

MONTHLY

A Different Kind Of Dependancy By Jon Snyder

www.outtheremonthly.com

p.7 / Out There News

Out There Monthly / February 2012

High School Runners In Scotland, The Women’s Souper Bowl, Major Stevens County Conservation Easement

Mon (509) 326 roe, Spokane -6949 Vin

tage bik MoreRec es-Toys-Booksords-CD s-F Kustom Kulture-L urniture-owbrow-M buy, sell, trade ore!

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Dr. Bob Lutz senior writers

Jon Jonckers, Derrick Knowles Contributing Writers:

p.10 / What’s Your Gear?

Ben Greenfield, Hank Greer, Jason Fowler, Stan Miller, Erika Prins, Juliet Sinisterra, John Speare, Peter G. Williams

Chuck Schmidt, Snowboarding

Distribution Coordinator

By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Barbara Snyder To request issues please call 509 / 534 / 3347

__________ spokane’s climbing gym & yoga studio

✓ Hiking ✓ Camping ✓ Running ✓ Cycling ❑ Climbing

Are you ready to try something new?

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p.11 / Book Reviews Murder in the Himalayas and Classic Exploration Writing By Stan Miller and Peter G. Williams

p.12 / Training TIPS & My Bike Anti-Sitting Strategies By Ben Greenfield

p.13 / Everyday cyclist Ease Into More Cycling By Hank Greer

p.14 / Sustainable Living Interview With Author Richard Heinberg

Check out Our Cool New Merchandise !

Kaitlin Snyder

Health & Fitness Editor

Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Time B omb 711 N.

Art Director

Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Sleep At The Sleeping Lady To Relax

tage Cru March 4th iser Ride * , 3PM

Jon Snyder jon@outtheremonthly.com

Managing Editor

p.9 / Roadtrip

* Elk Vin

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

wild walls

Out There Monthly

Mailing Address: PO Box 559 Spokane, WA 99210 www.outtheremonthly.com, 509 / 534 / 3347 Out There Monthly is published once a month by Snyderco DBA/Out There Monthly. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. ©Copyright 2012 Snyderco DBA/Out There Monthly. The views expressed in this magazine reflect those of the writers and advertisers and not necessarily Snyderco DBA/Out There Monthly. 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 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.

Printed on 50% recycled paper with soy based inks in the Inland Northwest PROUD MEMBER OF

By Juliet Sinisterra

p.16 / February INLAND NW OUTDOOR CAlendar & 6 Month Training Calendar

Introductory classes every week

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photo by: photoramsey.com

YOUTH & GROUP PROGRAMS Out There Monthly also supports

p.18 / Let’s Go!

Spider Monkeys Mon. 5-7 pm Wed. 5-7 pm $12 Single Visit $74 8-Punch Pass

WinterTravel On A Budget By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree & Erika Prins

Climbing Club $12 Single Visit $100 10-Punch Pass $65 Month Pass Wed. 6-8 PM Sun. 6-8 PM

p.21 / Photo of the month And Roadtrip DJ By Karen Green and Jason Fowler

p.22 / Last Page

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Great Outdoor Apps

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$16 per person (minimum 4 climbers) Package includes: Rental gear 1 hr. climbing 45 min in the party room

Yoga Mon. 7:30-9PM Flow Yoga Thurs. 8-9AM Holy Yoga Thurs. 6:30-8PM Holy Yoga Donations of $8 to $10 encouraged by guests and members

202 W. 2nd Avenue • Spokane, WA 99201

By Jon Jonckers

On the cover: Snowshoeing at Mountain Home Lodge near Leavenworth, WA. Photo Courtesy of Mountain Home Lodge.

509.455.9596 wildwallsgym@gmail.com www.wildwalls.com FebrUARY 2012

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From the Editor: A different kind of Dependancy What kind of ticking time-bomb have we set for the baby boom generation? That’s what I was thinking over and over again after my knee surgery. The toughest part of my recent ACL/ meniscus surgery was not the procedure and the aftermath. I was fortunate to have terrific care. (Thank you Dr. Arnold Peterson, Providence/ Sacred Heart, Parkside PT and my wife, mom and kids.) It wasn’t the pain, although that was not fun. Or the rehab. Or the constipation. Or the sleeping challenges. Or being bed-ridden for days (finished Arkham City on the Xbox). No, the toughest part about knee surgery is getting around. For at least a month after surgery

I can’t drive, walk, or ride a bike. I am either in a wheelchair, with crutches, or limited walking in a leg brace. I cannot go anywhere or do anything without friends, family, or co-workers to drive me everywhere. Oh, sweet mobility, how I have taken you for granted. It’s like fast-forwarding to my twilight years when aging, not surgery, may prevent me from getting around on my own. I did the Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in a wheelchair because I was way too weak to do it on crutches. Both my kids were fighting over who got to push me—I only hope they still fight over this in forty years. It’s really impossible to understand how challenging streets and sidewalks can

be for wheelchair users unless you get in one for a while. My arms got tired quick. Some obstacles weren’t worth the effort. It’s only slightly better on crutches. Your mobility is a bit better, but they take a heck of a lot out of you on long distances. And if you can’t drive to get around it creates a depressing amount of dependency on others. Our largest generation, the baby boomers, are now entering retirement. Each year will take more of them closer to being dependant on others for transportation. Some may end up driving long after they are a danger to themselves and others. After knee surgery the mobility chal-

lenges of aging are no longer theoretical to me. If we don’t have walkable, bikeable, transit oriented communities our seniors are doomed to isolation. Being bed-ridden and home-bound in small doses is tolerable, but there aren’t enough Xbox games out there to do it for very long. See you back in the saddle soon. // -------------------------------------------------------JON SNYDER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF editor@outtheremonthly.com

spokane alpine haus skis * snowboards * boot fitting Spokane’s Finest Boot Fitting and Ski/Board Tuning

Check Facebook For Last Minute Specials On Mountain Gear Demos February 11 ~ Mt. Spokane February 18 ~ 49º North February 25 ~ Schweitzer Under New Ownership 2925 S Regal - 509 534-4554 - balpinehaus@hotmail.com Find us on Facebook

Photo of the Month Send your vertical-oriented, outdoor photo, 3 meg or less, with caption to editor@outtheremonthly.com. Deadline for March 2/12/11. Winner gets an OTM carabiner. Congratulations to Karen Green, who won December’s photo of the month and recieves an OTM Omega Pacific carabiner. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. By entering the contest you grant non-exclusive rights to Out There Monthly to publish your photo in our Photo of the Month feature. See page 21 for more details. 6

Out There Monthly / February 2012

Feb 12 Partners in Pain

Feb 11 Sweetheart Run in Lewiston, ID more info at

www.runnersoul.com

Spokane's only running specialty store.

221 N. Wall St. 509.624.7654

Out There News

Washington’s Best-kept Winter Secret!

Stevens county forest protected New Conservation Easement Will Preserve Wildlife habitat

Future Mid-Mountain Lodge

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Land Trust, visit www.inlandnwlandtrust.org.

Chewelah, WA

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For more information about Inland Northwest

ski49n.com

509.935.6649

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Baker purchased the property in 1966 after seeing an ad in the Wall Street Journal. “I needed a change from banking in Seattle,” he says. He wanted to return to the wild frontier and make his own way, a pioneer sentiment most likely instilled from a childhood growing up on a wheat farm near Kahlotus, Washington. A conservation easement is a voluntary, legally binding agreement that limits certain types of uses or prevents development from taking place on a piece of property, generally in perpetuity, to protect the land’s ecological and open-space values. The landowner continues to own and manage the land. The Baker property is the 45th conservation easement that Inland Northwest Land Trust holds. Formed in 1991, Inland Northwest Land Trust is a local non-profit organization that works with willing private landowners to protect the region’s natural lands, waters and working farms and forests for the benefit of wildlife, our community and future generations. INLT has helped protect over 14,000 acres of prime habitat and working forests in eastern Washington and northern Idaho. //

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Beryl Baker recently protected 2,240 acres of forest land near Horseshoe Lake in Stevens County with a conservation easement with Inland Northwest Land Trust. This is Mr. Baker’s second conservation easement. In 2009, he protected another 1,363 acres of forest land in Stevens County. The land includes the 68-acre Baker Lake fed by Beaver Creek and other seasonal tributaries located high within the Little Spokane Watershed. The wetlands and creeks invite an enthusiastic gathering of waterfowl, osprey and bald eagles. The land provides year-round habitat for deer, elk, moose, bear, cougar and other animals. Birds find sanctuary in the forest terrain. The common birds include rufous hummingbirds, Steller’s jays, ravens, varied thrush, mountain bluebirds, red crossbill, ruffed grouse, spotted and barred owls and many more. Baker maintains the land as a working forest. Timber is harvested in a sustainable fashion and reforestation occurs shortly thereafter. His effort in protecting the land will enhance the local timber industry, providing resources and employment for generations to come. A variety of tree species thrive on the Baker property, including Douglas fir, Western Red Cedar and Ponderosa Pine.

Angel Peak & Chewelah Peak

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Sun rising on Baker Lake on a chilly morning in November. // Photo courtesy of INLnand nw Land Steward Drew Reinke.

We keep improving Eastern Washington’s largest skiing and snowboarding resort with YOU in mind!

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FebrUARY 2012

/ Out There Monthly

Out There News Cross Country across the pond

Local HS Runners Take Care of Business In Scotland

Souper BOWL is BACK

Women’s Nordic And Skate Ski Event Is Great For All Abilities

Andrew Garner, Katie Knight, and Nathan Weitz (left to right).

Three Greater Spokane League (GSL) high school runners—Andrew Gardner, Nathan Weitz and Katie Knight—participated in the 2012 Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country Race on January 7th in Edinburgh, Scotland. They were selected by USA Track & Field (USATF) to compete in the all-new Junior Division of this prestigious international race. The U.S. Junior squads included a mix of outstanding high school runners and collegiate freshman. At first glance, it’s hard to believe three of the twelve U.S. Junior competitors were from Spokane. Then again, all three runners just finished a banner cross country season that culminated with Weitz and Gardner finishing 3rd and 6th at Footlocker Nationals, and Katie finishing 3rd at the Nike Cross Nationals. In a season filled with challenges, each of these runners managed to race consistently, stay healthy, break multiple course records, and reaffirm the power of Spokane’s high school running programs. The Bupa Great Edinburgh Race featured local UK teams, plus teams from the United States and Europe, as well as individuals from several other countries. The main event featured a Men’s 8km race and a Women’s 6km race, but the celebrated occasion also highlighted the upcoming talent from the world’s best adolescent harriers. Gardner, a student at Mead High School, and Weitz, a student at The Oaks Academy, were the only high school male Juniors, while Katie Knight, from North Central High School, was one of three high school female Juniors. Nathan Weitz says, “It was a real strange 8

Out There Monthly / February 2012

course—well, a real strange distance, too. We raced three laps on a 2km course. We had to jump over a big log barrier three times, and we had to leap over a stream six times. I actually fell real hard on the last lap, and rolled, and hit my head. Then I just remember people yelling at me, ‘Get up! Get up! Get going!’ The U.S. Junior Team Coach, Ed Eyestone, was waving and yelling at me to keep going, so I did.” Nathan finished a respectable 11th out of 71 competitors, while Andrew ran a remarkable race to finish with the lead pack and place 5th. Considering 6 kilometers is an uncommon race distance, Gardner’s time of 20:11 translates into a noteworthy 5:25-per-mile pace on a muddy, twisty course with significant obstacles. In the 4km Junior girls race, Katie Knight finished in 4th place. By all accounts, she raced tough and smart. Although the mud influenced some of her U.S. teammates, Knight wore spikes and competed with the lead pack the entire race. She finished with a gritty time of 15:23. The U.S. Junior women won the international team race with a low score of 15 points, beating second-place Britain by 12. Meanwhile, the U.S. Junior men were also victorious with a winning score of 16 points to top Britain’s 26. Without a doubt, all three Spokane runners are looking forward to the upcoming track and field season. Each of them has personal goals and hopes to break more records. With any luck, each of them will also gain a little more international recognition. //

Selkirk Nordic Series

The seventh annual Women’s “Souper” Bowl Snowshoe and Cross Country Ski Sunday will take place on February 5th at Mt. Spokane State Park’s Selkirk Lodge. New this year is a 10k Poker Ski event, open to all skill levels with the choice of either skate or classic nordic ski. Registration ($30) is limited to the first 300 participants—available online through Feb. 1 and on event day, 8:30 am-10:30 am. You can also register in-person at Mountain Gear on Friday, Feb. 3, 4:00 pm-7:00 pm. There will also be early packet pickup during this time. According to Cindy Green, one of the event organizers, the 300-person limit has never been met and typically about one-third of the women register the morning of the event. She says many new participants turn out each year based on current snow conditions. One of the goals of the event is to get women of all skills and abilities outside to have fun in the

snow. The vast majority of women snowshoe, an easy sport to try with little or no instruction. The event will have plenty of snowshoes to borrow. For this event only, snowshoers are allowed on specifically marked trails. Another event goal is to raise awareness of the issues faced by women and children in the Spokane community, particularly hunger. The proceeds of the event support the Women’s and Children’s Free Restaurant, which offers unique programs to address the nutritional and health needs of women and children. Lunch will include Makayla Hamilton’s famous Tomato Basil soup from Soulful Soups. (Ms. Hamilton is a guest chef at the Women’s and Children’s Free Restaurant.) The Santa Fe Chowder is back by popular demand as well as the Wild Rice and Turkey soup. There is limited parking at the Selkirk Lodge, and every vehicle must have a Sno-Park permit and Discover Pass. Participants can also take the event’s chartered bus ($15)—departing at 8:00 am from Mountain Gear with a stop and pick-up at Mt. Spokane High School at 8:30 am. (Bus departs from the lodge at 1:00 pm for the return trip.) // “Souper” Bowl Snowshoe & Cross Country Ski Sunday, February 5, 8:30 am-1:00 pm, Mt. Spokane State Park Nordic Ski Area—Selkirk Lodge, www.souperbowlspokane.org.

Skiers must participate in two races to qualify.

33rd Annual • Mt. Spokane 10K Classic Race Sunday, February 12, 2012 spokanelanglauf.org

Cougar Gulch 10k Saturday, January 21, 2012 schweitzer.com/mountain/nordic_center

Chewelah Peak Challenge • 7K Freestyle Saturday, January 28, 2012 ski49n.com

Group Health Pursuit • 10k Classic Race Mt. Spokane: Saturday, February 18, 2012 spokanenordic.org

Drawing for Garmin GPS, must participate to win. Top Three Places: Mountain Hardware Softshell Jacket & More Great Prizes!

4th Annual

Paws& Poles Race March6, 2010 49° North Ski Resort Nordic Area Bring your dog, your skis or snowshoes, and join us for a romp in the snow!

Road Trips

Sleep at the sleeping lady

Leavenworth Resort Offers A Relaxing Stay / By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Chihuly Icicles glass sculpture near the resort’s Kingfisher Restaurant. // Photo Amy S. McCaffree.

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Some vacations feel so busy and exhausting that once you return home you need another vacation just to rejuvenate. Staying at a resort— and focusing your recreation and other activities around that focal point—is one way to ensure a relaxing getaway. Located outside of Leavenworth along Icicle Creek is Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort, whose namesake peak creates a picturesque ridgeline above the grounds. The mini-flashlight attached to each room key is the first clue that it will be a unique stay experience. After loading your baggage into a cart, you follow a paved trail to the “cluster” that contains your guest room. After dark, that mini-flashlight comes in handy. But the layout of the grounds and muted lighting are the only things that make this place feel like an old church youth camp—which it was, from 1957 to 1991. The Yakima Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church called it Camp Field. (Before that, it operated as the family-oriented Icicle River Ranch after being redeveloped from its status as Camp Icicle for the Civilian Conservation Corps.) No smelly bunkhouses here. Guest rooms are duplex style with shared walls, organized in clusters of four buildings—for a total of 6-10 rooms per cluster. Inside, the hand-hewn log beds and

A “Loft Room,” sleeps five people, making it ideal for a family. desks, down comforters and lamps combine with amenities like heated towel racks, plush robes, WiFi access and coffee maker. There are no televisions in the rooms—which is great. No mini-fridges either, which means if you want to store some cold snack or food items, you have to keep a cooler in your room. There are five different room layouts available, with space for up to 3-5 people, and there are two stand-alone cabins. A “Loft Room,” for example, sleeps five people, making it ideal for a family— kids old enough to climb the ladder can sleep in the loft’s full-sized bed. There are also “Canine Companion” rooms, where your dog is welcome and gets its own resort amenities (dog bed, food/ water bowls, treats)—all for no extra charge. In the winter, you can nordic ski on the 8km Icicle River Trail, which is adjacent to the resort. It’s part of the Leavenworth Nordic Trail System, which includes 26km of cross-country ski tracks and skate ski lanes. For downhill skiing and snowboarding, you can drive to Stevens Pass, Mission Ridge, or Leavenworth’s Ski Hill. One of the unique features of this resort is the outdoor (and indoor) artwork on display at various locations—creating an Art Walk with over 35 pieces, including a nine-foot-tall “Chihuly Icicles” glass sculpture near the restaurant. The resort’s sister property, Icicle Creek Center for the Arts (icicle.org), hosts a music performance series and various festivals throughout the year. Other on-site activities include the Woodland

Rock Pools (small outdoor hot pool and seasonal swimming pool), sauna, fitness room, playhouse (for board games, ping-pong, etc), and spa. To reserve a room, you choose a specific “package.” Great Escape Package is the basic one, starting at $238, double-occupancy for one night. (Additional adults are $59 each, kids ages 5-12 are $25 each, and children age four and younger stay and dine free.) This fee includes gourmet dinner and a hearty breakfast, which are served buffet style at the resort’s Kingfisher Restaurant (alcoholic drinks and gratuity not included). Other stay packages are centered on activity themes, such as Romance, Sleigh Ride and Resort Yoga. The restaurant looks and feels like a lodge; instead of booth tables, it has open “Europeanstyle” seating. Breakfast is served 7:30-9:00 am on weekdays (open ‘til 10:00 am weekends); dinner hours are 5:30-8:00 pm, with staggered reservation seating times. Non-guests are also welcome to dine at the restaurant. Sleeping Lady is a member of the Chefs Collaborative, which is “a leading nonprofit network of chefs that fosters a sustainable food system through advocacy, education and collaboration with the broader food community,” according to the resort website. What this equates to is a lot of organic and locally and regionally sourced food. In fact, Sleeping Lady maintains its own greenhouse and two-acre organic garden. At $39 per adult, dinner isn’t anything like a typical buffet—it’s fancy, with lots of organic, fresh offerings, from a creative and diverse salad bar (no iceberg lettuce here), to the entrée/hot dish bar (chefs serve and dress your plate), to the dessert bar. Plenty of kid-friendly options—pizza, homemade mac-n-cheese, make-your-own peanut butter and jelly sandwich, organic milk, fresh fruit, apple sauce—make it easy for kids to eat happy. There are two other places to eat at the resort— O’Grady’s Pantry (open for breakfast and lunch) and the Grotto Bar (opens at 4:00 pm, pizza and drinks). Sleeping Lady’s quiet months are late March, April and November, according to Lori Vandenbrink, the resort’s director of sales and marketing. The busiest months are June through August, she says, “with a combination of corporate retreats, weddings and leisure travelers.” December is also busy. Occasionally, the resort offers special rates via its Facebook page (facebook.com/ SleepingLady). Overall, this unpretentious resort encourages a slower pace and lives up to its goal to provide “accommodations in harmony with nature.” You’ll return home wishing you could have stayed longer. //

For more details, visit www.sleepinglady.com.

WHEN YOU GO Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort is 190 miles from Spokane, just outside of Leavenworth. Take I-90 west to the junction of Hwy 281 near George; travel north on 281 to Quincy. Turn left on Hwy 28 and travel west to Wenatchee to Hwy 2. Travel Hwy 2 to the west boundary of Leavenworth, and then turn left on Icicle Road. Go approx. 2.5 miles, passing the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. Turn left into Sleeping Lady. (Amtrak stops in Leavenworth.) FebrUARY 2012

/ Out There Monthly

What’s Your Gear: Chuck Schmidt (snowboarding)

“Snowboarding was never meant to be about you and how cool you are,” says Chuck Schmidt, whose hometown is Coeur d’Alene. “It’s about shredding and having fun.” As a 14-year-old kid, he says, “I found out there were such things as terrain parks on mountains— my idea of snowboarding forever changed.” Now at age 23, Chuck is the terrain park manager for Lookout Pass—his job the past two years. He snowboards about 100 days during a typical winter season. “Running a park is a lot of work. I have grown to respect terrain parks more, but I have also discovered that you are only limited to your creativity. Here at Lookout, we do our best to expand on that as much as possible.” Chuck’s favorite places to snowboard, besides Lookout, include Revelstoked, B.C., Tahoe and Mammoth Mountain in California. “Being able to

live [at Mammoth for two seasons] and to see how the mountain works with its terrain parks is how I mold Lookout’s way of things,” he says. “Lookout Terrain Park, or LKTPRK, started its progression in the 2010-11 season. Now it holds a brand new total of 20+ features alone this year, three parks, and lots more coming,” says Chuck. Weekly videos are posted at www.facebook.com/ lktprk. “Lookout’s motive is to provide progression, but at the same time create an environment and community for all to enjoy.” Chuck describes his riding style as “smooth and consistent.” He says, “People forget that these days—seems like it’s a ‘spin to win’ on anything and there’s absolutely no style in that. I grew up throwing myself off any sort of jump…and when moving to Mammoth I progressed in that. So I would say hitting an awesome 70-foot+ jump that sits 10 feet high or so gets my adrenaline going— but a good skinny down box is pretty legit.” His advice for younger riders is to focus on the fun. “Snowboarding will always be progressive. People will progress, styles progress, tricks progress, etc. but never forget that snowboarding is here for us to enjoy. We can make it a sport, which is fine, but it’s really here for us to have a good time and shred,” he says. Although Chuck has never snowboarded as a professional, he came close during his second season at Mammoth. “My biggest break was when a huge and well-known company came to me with a contract to be on their international team,” he says. But the day before he was to ride with the team manager in order to qualify, he fell on his shoulder and suffered a level two dislocation.

By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

And only two months prior, Chuck survived an “unbelievable ‘freak accident’,” as he describes it. “I jumped a cliff that was roughly 25 feet or so and landed on a tree stump that was covered by snow.” The 2.5-inch diameter stump punctured him— going in 8.5 inches and shattering his tailbone. “It was gnarly,” Chuck says. “Doctors and surgeons told me that if I jumped back 1-2 more

“I don’t care if I ever go pro. My focus lies on those around me.” inches to the right, I would have had some lifechanging medical problems for the rest of my life. They told me I wouldn’t be able to snowboard the rest of the year, but miraculously I healed very quickly and got back on my board two months later.” However, Chuck says, “…these events saved me. I was living for myself, I was prideful, and I didn’t care about anything else but myself. All I wanted was to be noticed in the snowboarding world. But God wanted me to do something greater…[Now] I get to place opportunity in our local area and I get to, in a way, help others succeed in their passion for skiing or snowboarding. I don’t care if I ever go pro. If the opportunity dropped at my feet, maybe—but it’s not my focus. My focus lies on those around me.” Chuck’s other outdoor recreation activities include biking (he logged over 1,000 miles on his

new road bike last summer and plans to double that this summer), skateboarding and skurfing (surfing behind a boat on a wake). “My father is an epic 50-year-old surfer who, I think, still kills me on a skurf board,” he says. Chuck’s sponsors include O-Matic Snowboards, Nike, Ashbury, Saga, I.A. (I’m Awesome) Clothing and BFC (Boarders For Christ). Here is the gear you’ll see him using. SNOWBOARD: O-Matic Extr-Eco 157. -------------------------------------------------------BINDINGS: Flux RK30 Bindings. -------------------------------------------------------BOOTS: Nike Kaiju. -------------------------------------------------------HELMET: R.E.D. hi-fi. -------------------------------------------------------JACKET: Saga Anomie series jacket or a sweet hoodie. -------------------------------------------------------PANTS: Saga Anomie series. -------------------------------------------------------LAYERS: A good set of thermals. -------------------------------------------------------SOCKS: Black Nike sport socks. -------------------------------------------------------GLOVES: Celtek Chroma. -------------------------------------------------------GOGGLES: Anything from Ashbury. -------------------------------------------------------OTHER ESSENTIAL GEAR: I.A. facemask and beanie and Nixon headphones for iphone music. //

Scan here with your smartphone or visit schweitzer.com/monthly for special deals!

FEBRUARY 3-Mar 2

Starlight Racing

A local favorite! Friday night race league followed by parties in Taps

DAZE

4 4-5 8 10-12

Snowshoe Stampede Race College Daze KPND Pint Night Party in Taps Nordic Skiing Clinics

Classes for all skill level skiers, beginner through expert. Get more info and register at the Ski & Ride Center.

18 20-26

Schweitzer Extreme XC Ski Race (5k, 10k & 30k) North Idaho Carving Event (NICE)

Alpine snowboarders from around the country converge on Schweitzer for a week of trench-digging with friends!

22-26 24-25

Master’s Ski Clinics and Races Outrageous Air Show

Aerial ski show – the whole family can watch right from the village

college

Out There Monthly / February 2012

*All events are tentative and dates are subject to change. Please check the website for the most current information.

february 4-5

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The Six Mountain-Travel Books Eric Shipton, The Mountaineers, 2010, 800 pages

Murder in the High Himalaya Jonathan Green, Public Affairs, 2011, 304 pages

(Winner of the John Whyte Award for Mountain and Adventure Literature, 2011 Banff Mountain Book Festival) In 2006, an impulsive, young Tibetan nun and her best friend—both yearning for religious freedom from Chinese rule—naïvely joined a Tibetan group’s attempt to escape to India. The pair hoped to join the Dalai Lama’s community in exile in India. Author Jonathan Green tells the story of Kelsang Namtso and Dolma Palkyi’s brutal journey over the Himalayas with great passion. He details how the party was “smuggled” out of Tibet by illegal (from the Chinese perspective) guides past Chinese border police. Along the route the group braved freezing temperatures, snow, high altitude passes and perilous crevasses. Green alternates his narrative between the story of the refugees’ trek with that of a guided climb involving an international group led by American mountain guide Luis Benitez, on a climb of the 8,000-meter peak Cho Oyu. When the two groups cross paths on the lower slopes of the peak, Chinese guards discover the refugees’ presence. As the guards chased the refugees, with machine guns blazing, Kelsang was killed and a number of others wounded in full view of the Westerners. A video shot by one of Benitez’s clients brought the incident to the attention of the western world and gained considerable notoriety for the filmmaker. Bouncing between two story lines makes a somewhat cumbersome read; better editing could have helped here. In this book, journalist Green highlights several recurring themes in recent Himalayan adventure literature. He clearly shows his disdain for rich mountaineering novices trampling the Himalayas on “climbs” conducted purely for profit and egotism. His concern for the degradation of the Tibetan culture is equally evident. Finally, his disdain for Chinese Communist human rights violations, which are largely responsible for the loss of Tibetan ethnic identity, is woven throughout the story. This highly political but well documented account will help the casual reader of mass media reports on events like this come to grips with some of the underlying reasons for the action and inaction of the parties involved. The reader will likely leave the book angry and frustrated at the world’s apparent inability to effectively deal with problems of this type and scale. // Stan Miller

If you plan to embark on a multi-week adventure, and can only bring one book, then I highly recommend this tome by Eric Shipton, titled The Six Mountain-Travel Books. Shipton was an author, mountaineer, surveyor, and truly one of the most amazing explorers of the twentieth century. This collection of mountaineering and adventure narratives, written between 1936 and 1963, offers an amazing time capsule to the golden age of mountaineering and exploration. The sheer geographical scope of the writings is impressive, including Mount Kenya, the Himalayas, Turkestan

He wrote in 1938, “I think of the leisurely days of a few hundred years ago, before life was so mad a rush.” and Patagonia. My favorite narrative is “Blank on the Map,” about his explorations into a totally unknown region of the Karakoram. This 1937 expedition successfully explored and surveyed 1,800 square miles of one of the most mountainous regions on the planet, an area dominated by K2. The findings of this expedition provided the foundation for a significant amount of subsequent mountaineering activity in the Karakoram Range. Even unfulfilled expedition planning provided insight into the mind of a true pioneer. While lying in a sleeping bag during a snowstorm on the East Rongbuk Glacier on Mt. Everest, Shipton and a tent-mate discussed a plan for the exploration of a remote snow range in the center of New Guinea. Shipton wrote, “The plan was to charter a dhow from a Dutch port on the south coast and sail to the southern extremity of the island; then to land with sufficient food and equipment to last one and a half years, and to relay the loads for three hundred miles, following a high ridge, above the fever swamps, that we hoped would lead to the snow range.” Shipton was a very philosophical man with observations as applicable today as when they were written. “Every time I start an expedition I feel that I am getting back to a way of living which is now lost,” he wrote in 1938. “I think of the leisurely days of a few hundred years ago, before life was so mad a rush, before the countryside was spoiled by droves of people, and beauty itself exploited as a commercial enterprise.” // Peter G. Williams

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Training Tips Anti-Sitting Strategies

Ways To Stay Fit When You Travel / By Ben Greenfield Let’s face it. Travel typically involves sitting. Sitting in cars, sitting on a bus, sitting in airplanes, or just sitting in your hotel room. But during 2011, the New York Times had a story entitled “Is Sitting A Lethal Activity?,” and a Fox News Report explained how sitting can be as “deadly as smoking.” Among other issues, sitting decreases metabolism, is bad for the low back, and lowers fat burning. What can you do about it? Even when you’re traveling, stand as much as possible. For example, you can: • Stand for any workouts: If you’re traveling, don’t do any workouts that involve sitting (like sit-ups or seated shoulder press). Instead, choose only standing exercises. • Stand when waiting: When checking in at a hotel, waiting at a store, or any time that you’re in line, try to stand and keep your feet moving. • Stand for work: In hotel rooms, I always look for a chest or head height shelf I can put my

My Bike

computer on so I can stand while working or writing. • Stand on the airplane: On an airplane, I’ll often read, listen to music, and watch programs on my phone while standing in the back. Also, on road trips, I stop every 1-2 hours to do jumping jacks, body weight squats, or leg and arm swings. • Stand when on the phone: Don’t sit down when the phone rings! Instead, when you talk on the phone, try to stand up, pace the room, or even stretch. Think about other ways you can stand more, implement them, and you will find yourself with more energy, a less stiff back, and stronger legs! // Ben Greenfield dishes out more fat loss tips from his free blog and podcast at BenGreenfieldFitness.com

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Out There Monthly / February 2012

While I hardly look like it, I’ve been riding bikes for the last 23 years. I love this bike, because it represents the power of friendship to me. One friend hooked me up with the frame, another gave me wheels, shifters, brakes, a drive train and other accoutrements in exchange for a six-pack, and one of the greatest men and mechanics I’ve ever known, Val Kleitz, put it

together at a deep discount. Val died last summer, so every time I get on this bike and see the sticker with his likeness on the top tube I think of him. I’ve never known anyone with the integrity and strength of character he had, and it’s hard to imagine the earth still spins without him. //

Everyday Cyclist You Can Ease into Riding

Thinking About Biking More? / By Hank Greer One month into 2012 and I bet a number of you made a New Year’s resolution that involves getting more exercise. I wish you well and I hope you’re sticking with it. If you included cycling in your fitness plans, good deal. At the time of this writing, the mild winter has offered a lot of outdoor cycling opportunities, but indoors on a

Going for a ride. // photo hank greer.

machine or trainer works if you want to avoid the cold. And if you decided that 2012 was going to be the year you get a bike and ride to work every day, I say, please don’t—not just yet. Let me explain. Just like many other things we do to improve our health and well-being, bike commuting can be a huge lifestyle change. You have to consider factors like your work hours, getting ready for work, transporting clothes, and cleaning up. There is the travel distance, weather, and traffic to deal with. The success of your commuting experience relies on how well you handle all of these, which involves a lot of change. Don’t change too much too fast to become an instant bike commuter; instead, consider another approach. I have coworkers, friends and relatives who, when commenting about my bike commuting, often say things like “I could never do that.” And I don’t even commute year round. (In the interest of marital harmony—Love you, honey!—I bike commute from March to October.) I know those of you who are regular bike commuters hear similar comments. People speak admirably about you but they cannot picture themselves doing that. Thinking back, I did not set out to be a bike commuter. I am the happy victim of incrementally increasing fun. Twenty years ago, I had friends who rode mountain bikes. Hearing them talk about how fun their rides were got me interested enough that I bought a bike and joined them. At the time, I only lived a couple of miles from work so I thought I would try riding to work. I rode when the weather was nice and I took it slow to keep from sweating in my clothes. I only rode to work a few times a year and I enjoyed it very much. And I think that is what did it. In the beginning, I rode for the fun of it. Learning to enjoy riding is the key to expanding the role of a bicycle in your life. If it becomes a

chore or something painful, then you’re not going to look forward to it. If that is the case, how likely will you want to continue with it? Far too many bicycles end up disappearing behind stuff and collecting dust in a garage through no fault of their own. Do you know someone who bought a bike and had big plans but didn’t follow through with them? What happened to their bike? Yard sale? Instead of jumping in with both feet, start out small and expand your riding as you have fun with it. Take a trip to a park. Go out with a friend. Take your bike to Summer Parkways or Spokefest. Check out a club ride. Run a light errand. One of my favorite rides is pedaling to an ice cream shop. Occasionally give yourself a treat. You deserve it. And while you’re riding, take note of everything your senses notice that you would normally miss if you were behind the wheel of a car. It’s uplifting when people make eye contact and say,

Instead of jumping in with both feet, start out small and expand your riding as you have fun with it. Take a trip to a park. Go out with a friend. Take your bike to Summer Parkways or Spokefest. Check out a club ride. Run a light errand. “Good morning.” See and hear children playing in their yard. Savor the aroma of a barbecue. Stop by a neighborhood lemonade stand. You never do that in a car, do you? A bicycle makes you feel contented and free. You’re part of traffic, but you’re not stuck in it. Riding comfortably is very important so choosing a bike is a critical decision. Just like the clothes and shoes you try on before you buy, the bike needs to fit you. Your local bike shop is a great place to get help with fitting and making adjustments for your bike. If you get a knotted neck or a sore back from reaching for your handlebars, you will avoid your bike. If you cannot stand over your bike because the frame is too tall, a very painful experience is in your future. Once that happens, you will avoid your bike. You don’t want a bike that hurts you. You want one that beckons to you. One that says, “Let’s go outside and play!” Enjoy every opportunity you have to ride your bike. Over time, you will be doing longer rides, buying other gear, riding in bad weather, carrying stuff in panniers, wearing appropriate clothing for different conditions, and more. And before long you will tell someone that you ride to work every day and they will say, “I could never do that.” You can then reply, “It’s easier than you think. I started out just having fun. And that’s all I’m doing now.” //

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GoGreen: Sustainable Living

Richard Heinberg And the value of slowing down End of Growth Author Talks About Resource Limits / By Juliet Sinisterra

Author richrd heinberg. // pHoto courtesy of the post carbon institute.

In 2003 The Party’s Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies by Richard Heinberg was published. The book is a somber, detailed analysis of the central role that fossil fuels have played and continue to play in just about every aspect of our lives—and what happens to us when they peak. Heinberg, a senior fellow at the Post Carbon Institute and author of ten books, has most recently published, The End of Growth: Adapting to our New Economic Reality. Biological economists such as Herman Daly and oil geologists like Colin Campbell have been warning for years, that once we hit, or start to approach the limits of natural resources on this planet, the abnormal growth that our economy has experienced these past 150 years will start to retreat. Heinberg tackles what this new era, without growth, looks like, its ramifications, and the potential for new types of human and environmental well-being. Central to his work is his overriding compassion for our world and those of us who populate it. OTM: You start your book with a basic overview of economic history, and the roles of currency and usury. Why is it important to understand money and its relationship to our current ecological predicament? RH: In traditional societies, money and debt played a relatively small role in people’s daily lives. With the massive economic growth of the 19th and 20th centuries, which came about because of the temporary availability of cheap fossil energy, money became an essential tool enabling capital accumulation, the trading of rights to natural resources, and the distribution of manufactured products. During the past two decades, innovations in the financial world multiplied debt and monetary claims on real goods to such an extent that now there is no way all the existing claims can ever be honored. We let the environment go to ruin, we let people suffer, and we let communities disintegrate because doing anything to protect them would hamper further economic growth. What has gone wrong? Have we just gotten 14

Out There Monthly / February 2012

too greedy? I argue that what we’re seeing is the convergence and—crucially—the ending of two trends: a two-century expansion of production (economic growth) based on cheap energy, and a concurrent expansion of credit based on the belief that the economy will continue to grow forever. We can print all the dollars we want, but we can’t

Acquiring more stuff can give us a momentary jolt of stimulating brain chemicals, and we can easily get addicted to that kind of stimulation, but it doesn’t actually make us happy.

deep recession commencing in the third or fourth quarter of 2008. The timing of the bursting of the housing bubble was also affected by oil prices. As several economists (including James Hamilton of the University of California, San Diego) have pointed out, it was in exurban neighborhoods where most residents had long commutes that house prices first started falling. Once the cost of filling the tank of a typical SUV shot to over $100, folks in those communities realized they didn’t have enough money at the end of the month to pay their mortgages and credit card bills. It’s always important to see events in perspective. Why did we have a credit bubble in the first place? Because of expectations that the economy would continue to grow and house prices would continue to escalate. Why would people expect the economy to grow continually? Because it has grown so much over the past few decades. Why has it done so? Because we had access to cheap, plentiful energy from fossil fuels. Of course, markets and technological innovation played their roles, but without abundant cheap energy we could not have achieved economic growth on a scale remotely similar to what we’ve seen. Seen in context, the 20th century was one long fossil-fueled mania. We are just starting to wake up from it.

OTM: I found Chapter 7, “Life after Growth,” to be a great blueprint of where we need to be heading from a community development perspective. In a related blog, you discuss the need to be happier with living with less, living slower, smaller and poorer. Can you expand on this? RH: The consumer lifestyle did not evolve spontaneously; it was deliberately engineered by corporate America and the advertising industry as a way of dealing with the problem of overproduction during the fossil-fueled boom times. Acquiring more stuff can give us a momentary jolt of stimulating brain chemicals, and we can easily get addicted to that kind of stimulation, but it doesn’t actually make us happy. Having nurturing relationships with the people around us, having a sense of autonomy and agency, and being engaged in creative work is far more satisfying over the long term. Being shackled to the consumer treadmill actually works against that kind of deeper satisfaction. Traditional societies understood the value of slowing down and reining in consumption; that’s why most families in such societies sent at least one child to live in a meditative monastery wherein voluntary poverty was extolled as a high virtue. During the 20th century we tended to forget values having to do with community and love of nature, because they didn’t help promote economic growth. Now that the growth era is over and done with, it’s a really good idea to get back in touch with sources of happiness that don’t require a big salary, big spending, a big house, and a big car. Being a genuine optimist doesn’t mean thinking that circumstances will always be to our liking; rather, it’s maintaining a positive attitude and making the most of what life has in store. //

make land, water, topsoil and other resources. So we have reached a fundamental turning point in our economic history, where resource limits are forcing an end to economic growth. OTM: In Chapter 3, “Earth’s Limits: Why Growth Won’t Return,” you discuss and show the historical correlation between rising oil prices and economic recessions. While most economists look to the housing bubble as the primary cause of the crash of 2008, you and other oil geologists and biophysical economists have looked to the escalating prices of oil as the root cause. Can you talk briefly about this? RH: I’m not saying the housing bubble had no role in triggering the current economic crisis. Of course it was a proximate trigger, but it wasn’t the only one. People tend to forget that the oil price spiked to $147 in July 2008—the highest level ever. Every oil price spike since 1970 has been followed by a recession. On the basis of oil prices alone, we should have expected to see a long and

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(February 1) Film screening of “The Last (February 16) FREE Film Showing of “Vanishing Mountain”. When: tba. Where: The Bing. A pas- of the Bees”. When: 4 PM. Where: Sun People sionate and personal tale that honors the extraordinary power of ordinary Americans when they fight for what they believe in, THE LAST MOUNTAIN shines a light on America’s energy needs and how those needs are being supplied. It is a fight for our future that affects us all. Info: cforjustice.org/river.

(February 4) American Indian Movement (AIM) leader Clyde Bellecourt Speaking Engagement.

When: 2 PM. Where: All Saints Lutheran Church. Some AIM activists may rank among the most challenging personalities in American history. Clyde’s AIM story is full of drama, excitement, Spirit, courage, intrigue, tragedy, and community dedication. Clyde and his brother the late Vernon Bellecourt have been central characters along with Dennis Banks, Russell Means, still-imprisoned Leonard Peltier, Leonard Crow Dog, the late Anna Mae Aquash, Ward Churchill, attorneys Ken Tilsen & William Kunstler, and others. Info: http://pjals.org.

Dry Goods Co, 32 W 2nd Ave, Ste. 200. This follows commercial beekeepers David Hackenberg and Dave Mendes as they strive to keep their bees healthy and fulfill pollination contracts across the U.S. Info: 509-368-9378, sunpeopledrygoods.com

(February 18) Winter Waters 2012. When: 6:30 PM – 10 PM. Where: Patsy Clarke Mansion, Browne’s Addition. Party, awards ceremony and silent auction supporting Sierra Club and CELP’s Spokane River advocacy, honoring Mary Verner and Deb Abrahamson. Join us! $25/person. Info: 509-209-2899, waterplanet.ws/winterwaters/ heroes-2012.html (February 18) Buzz & Cluck Fair. When: 10AM

to 3PM. Where: Sun People Dry Goods Co, 32 W 2nd Ave, Ste. 200. Come meet local experts specializing in beekeeping and urban chicken keeping! Info: 509-368-9378, sunpeopledrygoods.com.

(February 11) Cooking with Honey Workshop. (February 24 &25) Soapmaking 101 Workshop.

When: 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM. Where: Sun People Dry Goods Co, 32 W 2nd Ave, Ste. 200. Spend a fun day discovering how easy and delicious cooking and baking with honey can be. $45 Pre-registration required. Info: 509-368-9378, sunpeopledrygoods. com

When: 4 – 6 PM (Fri) and 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM (Sat) Where: Sun People Dry Goods Co, 32 W 2nd Ave, Ste. 200. Explore the art of making fine handcrafted soap in this two-day workshop. Make & take home 4 lbs.-- roughly (12) 4 1/2 bars. $55. Info: 509-368-9378, sunpeopledrygoods.com //

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Outdoor Calendar CLIMBING (Ongoing Mondays & Wednesdays) Spider Monkey Climbing Club. When: 5 – 7PM. Where:

Wild Walls, 202 W. 2nd Ave. For kids ages 4 – 10 years. Please call ahead. Come climb and meet new friends! Info: 509-455-9596.

(February 4) Saturday Climbing. When: 1 - 4 PM. Where: REI, 1125 N Monroe. There are plenty of ways up the wall, with easy to moderate routes. We have harnesses & shoes. Members climb for free; others $5. Info: 509-328-9900, rei.com/Spokane. (February 6) Women’s Climb Night. When: 6 – 8

PM. Where: REI, 1125 N. Monroe. Ladies, come out and practice your climbing, agility and balance skills in a safe, encouraging environment. Info: 509-3289900, rei.com/Spokane.

(February 8, 23) Discover Rock Class. When 6 - 8

PM. Where: 2002 N. Division. Everything you need to harness up, tie in and belay with confidence. $20. Info: mountaingear.com/pages/retailstore/retail asp.

(February 16) Intermediate Rock. When: 6 – 8

PM. Where: Mt. Gear 2002 N. Division. Are you someone who has gone through an intro climbing course or have some climbing experience? This class is to refresh you with the basics and further your education to help you climb more efficiently. Previous instruction required. Ages 15+. $20. Info: mountaingear.com/pages/retailstore/retail asp.

(February 25) Youth Intro to Rock. When: 6 – 8

eight weekly rides of various lengths and difficulty for members and non-members. Check the web site for ride details. Info: 509-747-5581, spokanebicycleclub.org.

(February 5) Elk Drug Drop-Outs Vintage and Cruiser Bicycle Ride. When: 3 PM. Where: Starts at

Elk in Browns Addition. Family friendly (although we do like our beer!) Info: 509-326-6949.

(February 7) Full Moon Fiasco. When: 8 PM.

Where: The Swamp Tavern. A relaxed bike ride through Spokane during the full moon. Any bike. Any Bike. Any level of beverage enjoyer. Info: fbcspokane.blogspot.com.

(February 16) Intermediate Bike Maintenance.

When: 7 – 8:30 PM. Where: REI, 1125 N. Monroe. This class is a continuation of our Bike Maintenance series. It is strongly recommended that participants attend Intro to Bike Maintenance before participating in this class. Info: 509-328-9900, rei.com/ Spokane.

RUNNING/WALKING (Tuesdays in Feb.) Gals Get Going. When: 9:30

AM. Where: Downriver Golf Course. Get off the treadmill for a challenging workout for all abilities. Info: 509-599-3413, galsgetgoing.com

HIKING (February 9) Map & Compass Basics. When: 7 -

8:30 PM. Where: REI, 1125 N. Monroe. Navigation is a thought process that begins before you leave your car and venture onto the trail. Merely carrying a map and compass, “in case you get lost” will likely result in that very scenario. Register for free at rei.com/Spokane. Info: 509-328-9900, rei.com/ spokane.

PM. Where: Mt. Gear 2002 N. Division. Get your child ready for climbing! The class will introduce them to climbing safety, belaying techniques and knots, all taught by a certified instructor. We want to build their confidence so lots of climbing time will be involved. All equipment provided. Mountain Gear Ages 7-14. $20. Info: mountaingear.com/pages/ retailstore/retail asp.

ALPINE SKIING/SNOWBOARDING

CYCLING

(February 3 & 17) Avalanche Class – Level 1.

(Ongoing Mondays & Wednesdays) Bike Hub Spin Classes. When: 6 PM. Where: The Bike Hub

Basement 12505 East Sprague Ave. Just because it’s cold out doesn’t mean you have to stop riding! Bring your bike and trainer and come join us every Monday and Wednesday nights at 6pm for our spin classes. We have a huge projection screen and tons of videos! Info: 509-443-4005, thebikehubspokane. com.

(Ongoing Saturdays) Weekly Urban Bike Races.

When: 6 - 7 PM. Where: Cda Park. Bike Races, Format by Popular Vote at time of Race. Formats are : Relay, Picture hunt, Follow the clues, Sticker slap race. Road bikes Suggested. Prizes! Info: 313-757-1888, facebook.com/event.php?eid&3050340401358

(Ongoing) WOW Cycling Spokane. Great cycling is here and we’re out on the roads and trails! We’re now on FaceBook as Wow Cycling Spokane, friend us! Info: 509-951-6366, wowcycling.com. (Ongoing) Belles and Baskets. Whatever style

your cycle, join other Spokane women for no-drop rides, treats, and friendship. Info: 509-951-4090, facebook.com/bellesandbaskets.

(Ongoing) Spokane Bicycle Club. S.B.C. offers 16

Out There Monthly / February 2012

When: 9 AM - 5 PM. Where: Mountain Gear Retail Store 2002 N Division. The Level I avalanche course is targeted at recreational skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers. It is taught over 3 days, with both classroom and field sessions. In the classroom, students become acquainted with the 3 contributing factors to avalanches, learn how to evaluate each as they relate to the probable hazard, and use this data during decision making. The field session focuses on route selection, hazard identification and evaluation, decision making and rescue (beacon search, group and self-rescue). $350. Info: 325-9000.

Submit your event at www.outtheremonthly.com

SIXMONTHTRAININGCALENDAR CLIMBING

MARATHONS

(March 30 through April 1) The ninth annual Mountain Gear Presents: Red Rock Rendezvous rock climbing festival. Info: www.

(May 19, 2012) Windermere Marathon, Spokane. Info: windermeremarathon.com.

RedRockRendezvous.com.

CYCLING (March 31) Gran Fondo Ephrata. Where:  Ephrata,

WA. 78 miles of some of the toughest, remote country roads central Washington has to offer. Info: beezleyburn.com.

(April 2012 - August 2012) Baddlands Cooper Jones Twilight Series Races. When: Tuesday

RUNNING (March 17) Runnin’ O’ the Green in Bellingham.

2.7 walk/run and 5 mile run from Bellingham’s Depot Market Square. Info: 360-778-7000, cob. org/services/recreation/races/

(May 6) Lilac Bloomsday Run, the 36th. Info:

(April 14) Ronde van Palouse. A challenging bicycle road race with gravel roads, rolling hills, and wind make this an epic race. Info: 509-8688604, spokanerocketvelo.com.

TRIATHALON

(April 29) Lilac Century. Info: northdivision.

com/lilac.htm

(Weekends May - August 2012) Inland Road Race Series. When: 8 AM - 2 PM. Where:

Various. A series of road races and criteriums on fast, fun courses throughout the Inland area. Cash and merchandise prizes. Info: 509-8688604, spokanerocketvelo.com

(May, 20) Tour de Cure. This ride has four

different routes, 100, 50, 25, and a family ride. All routes are fully supported. Breakfast, lunch and entertainment provided. Info: 509-624-7478, diabetes.org/tour

(September 8) Fairhaven Runners Waterfront 15K in Bellingham. Info: 360-778-7000, cob.org/ services/recreation/races

(March 3) Methow Winter Triathalon. Bike, Ski, Run. Check for updates. Info; www.mvsta. com. (June 23) Padden Triathlon in Belingham. A sprint and super sprint triathlon. Staples of the local triathlon scene. Info: 360-778-7000, cob. org/services/recreation/races.

(June 24) Ironman, Coeur d’Alene. Info: iron-

mancda.com.

(August 11) Bellingham Youth Triathlon. Three

races, start times and distances for kids 15 & younger. Info: 360-778-7000, cob.org/services/ recreation/races/

MULTI-SPORT

(May 26-27) 24 Hours Round the Clock.

(May 5) GORUCK Challenge. Where: Portland, OR. 15-20 MILES. 8-10 HOURS. GOOD LIVIN’™. Team Challenge event. Designed and led by Green Berets. Info: 202-885-9736, goruckchallenge.com

(June 2) CHaFE 150. Where: Sandpoint, ID.

(June 11 & August 27) All-Comer’s Track & Field in Bellingham. Events for athletes of all

“Round the Clock” is a 24 hour team relay mountain bike race, beginning at noon on Saturday and ending at noon on Sunday. Info: www.roundandround.com.

One-day, 150 or 80-mile ride. Info: 208-290-7148, chafe150.org.

(February 22-36, 2012) Master’s Ski Race Clinics and Races. schweitzer.com

(July 22) Gran Fondo Mt Bike-50 Miles at the Pass. 4th of July Pass-Nordic Ski Trailhead.

8:30 AM Fri. to 8:30 AM Sat; also evening auction/awards dinner March 31. Where: Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Sandpoint, ID. 24-hour relay open to skiers, telemarkers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities, held in honor of 5-year-old Hank Sturgis of Sandpoint. Info: 208-610-2131, 24hoursofschweitzer.com

509-979-4370.

www.bloomsdayrun.org

Slopestyle, and Big Air contests. Info: mtspokane. com.

(March 30-31) 24 Hours of Schweitzer. When:

(May 27, 2012) Coeur d’Alene Marathon. Info:

evenings at 6 PM. Where: Cheney, Spokane, Rathdrum, Liberty Lake, Steptoe Butte. USAC Sanctioned bicycle racing. Road races and crits. A, B, C, and Wms Packs. Info: 509-456-0432, baddlands.org.

(June 2) High Tide Ride. Anacortes, WA. Fully supported ride- with views: Mt Baker & SanJuan Is. Finish- Anacortes Waterfront Fest. Info: (360) 840-8778, ylnorthislands@hotmail.com.

(February 10th, 11 & 12) 5th Annual Kan Jam Freestyle Festival. Events include a Rail Jam,

A Gran Fondo Mountain Bike ride-10,17,35,50 mile distances,5 aid stations. Info: 208-667-8969, bicycleservice.com/4thJuly.

ages and abilities. Info: 360-778-7000, cob.org/ services/recreation/races.

(October 14) YMCA Youth Duathlon in Bellingham. For kids 5 to 15. Info: 360-778-7000,

cob.org/services/recreation/races.

(October 14) Klicks Mt. Bike Duathlon in Bellingham. Info: 360-778-7000, cob.org/services/recreation/races/ //

Have an Event You Would Like to List? // Please visit www.outtheremonthly.com and click the “Submit Your Event” link. // Events MUST be sent in by the 20th of the month to be listed in the following month’s issue. Please follow the when, where format as seen in the calendar. Ongoing events need to be re-submitted each month.

Outdoor Calendar (February 4) XC Moonlight Ski & Dinner. When:

6 – 9 PM. Where: Mt. Spokane. Discover the beauty of moonlight on snow as you peacefully make your way through the woods. Afterward enjoy Italian style dinner by Trezzi Farm Catering. This is an incredible experience you will not want to miss. Includes ski equipment, dinner and guides. Ages 18 +. $41. For registration info, go to spokaneparks. org or call 625.6200.

(February 5) Souper Bowl

. When: 10 AM.

Where: Mt. Spokane. Forget the football game and come play with us. The 6th annual women-only Souper Bowl is sure to put a smile on your face: food, skiing and snowshoeing along with some of the best camaraderie in Spokane, all at the Mt Spokane Nordic Area. Please join us for this fun family event (minus the men). Info: souperbowlspokane.org.

(February 5) Skijorning at 49 Degrees North.

Skijoring, literally ski-driving in Norwegian, is a dog-powered sport where canine athletes pull you on cross country skis. Info: 509-625-6200, spokaneparks.org.

(February 12) Langlauf 10K Ski Race. 34th annual XC ski race at Mt. Spokane. Info: spokanelanglauf. org

and delicious gourmet snacks. Info: 509-625-6200, spokaneparks.org

healthy and fulfill pollination contracts across the U.S. Info: 509-368-9378, sunpeopledrygoods.com

(February 26) Snowshoe Tour Family. When: 12:30 - 3:30 PM. This short hike will be done around the Mt. Spokane area. Please contact Spokane Parks & Rec at (509) 625-6200 to register. $13.

(March 3) Paws and Poles. When: registration 9 – 11 AM. Where: 49 Degrees North. Dust off the dog booties, wax up your skis, dig out your snowshoes and have a heart-to-heart with your champion – because the 6th annual Paws and Poles fun run/ ski is back! Come play on the groomed trails at 49-degrees North with your pet. T-shirt, free trails, great people and a barking good time. Proceeds benefit SpokAnimal, so bring your wallet for the live auction to follow. $20. Info: Ski49n.com.

YOGA (Ongoing - February 24) Iyengar Yoga Classes for Beginners. When: Mon. 9:30 AM, Tues. & Thurs

at 6 PM. Where: Sunflower Yoga, Iyengar yoga is known for its therapeutic benefits for all levels, use of props and clear instruction. Gentle and intermediate classes also offered. Info: 509-535-7369, sunfloweryoga.net.

EVENTS/MOVIES/MISC…

(February 18 – 19) Sandpoint Ski Joring. When:

(February 1) Film screening of “The Last Mountain”. When: tba. Where: The Bing. A pas-

Noon - 4pm (ish). Where: Bonner Fairgrounds outside of Sandpoint. One Horse, One Rope, One Skier...It’s Ski Joring! Come see and experience what all the talk is about! Info: 208-263-2161, sandpointchamber.com.

sionate and personal tale that honors the extraordinary power of ordinary Americans when they fight for what they believe in, THE LAST MOUNTAIN shines a light on America’s energy needs and how those needs are being supplied. It is a fight for our future that affects us all. Info: cforjustice.org/river.

(February 18, 19) Group Health Pursuit. Where: Mt. Spokane. 10k Classic ski race on Saturday and Skate race on Sunday. Info: spokanenordic.org.

(February 4) American Indian Movement (AIM) leader Clyde Bellecourt Speaking Engagement.

(February 26) Cross Country Ski Lessons with Transportation. Where: Mt. Spokane. When: 10

(March10) Side Country Emergencies Workshop.

When: 10 AM - 2 PM. Where: 49 Degrees North. Learn how to prepare for and respond to the many emergencies or potential emergencies that can arise when skiing the far trails or side country. Info: 509.625.6200, spokaneparks.org

SNOWSHOEING (February 18) Snowshoe Lake Gillette + Transportation. When: 9 – 5 PM. We will explore

this high mountain lake surrounded by meadows and forested slopes. This great trail will be a true winter memory for you. This guide hike will take you uphill to a scenic overlook that will leave you in awe. Pre trip information emailed after registration. Snowshoes and transportation included! Meet at Mountain Gear 2002 N Division - Ages 18+. $47. Info: spokaneparks.org, 509.625.6200.

(February 25) Mom and Me Snowshoe Hike.

When: 11 AM - 1 PM. Where: 49 Degrees North. Parents and babies are invited to enjoy a 60 minute guided snowshoe tour followed by hot beverages

(February 24 &25) Soapmaking 101 Workshop.

(March10) Side Country Emergencies Workshop.

(February 5) Spokane Concentration Meditation Group. When: 10 AM - 12 PM. Where: Community

Meditation Room, 35 W Main. A new Buddhist meditation group meeting on the first Sunday of each month at 10am to 12pm. Considered part of the Theraveda tradition, Concentration Meditation. Info: 509-263-7213, spokaneconcentrationmeditation.org/

(February 11) Cooking with Honey Workshop.

We’ve moved. And we need your help! We’re at 1527 E 16th Ave. Thursday 2-6, Friday 2-6 Saturday 11-6

Want to volunteer? Email pedals2people.vc@gmail.com

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

AM - 2 PM. Sponsored by REI Learn the basics or refine your cross-country skiing skills at Mt. Spokane, taught by our P.S.I.A. certified crosscountry ski instructors. Info: 509-625-6200.

(February 18) Buzz & Cluck Fair. When: 10AM to 3PM. Where: Sun People Dry Goods Co, 32 W 2nd Ave, Ste. 200. Come meet local experts specializing in beekeeping and urban chicken keeping! Info: 509-3689378, sunpeopledrygoods.com.

FEB 2012

NORDIC SKIING

(February 16) FREE Film Showing of “Vanishing of the Bees”. When: 4 PM. Where: Sun People

Dry Goods Co, 32 W 2nd Ave, Ste. 200. This follows commercial beekeepers David Hackenberg and Dave Mendes as they strive to keep their bees FebrUARY 2012

/ Out There Monthly

LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GO! WINTER GETAWAYS ON A BUDGET By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree & Erika Prins

(Clockwise from top left) 1) Mountain Home Lodge in winter. // 2) Sun Mountain Lodge. // 3) Tubing at Mountain Home Lodge. // 4) Silver Rapids Water Park at Silver Mountain Resort. // 5) Nordic skiing at Mountain Home Lodge. 6) View of Priest Lake from Elkins Resort. // 18

Out There Monthly / February 2012

Whether it is to a snowy or sunny destination, for a week or just a weekend, February is a good month for getting away from the norm. There are two holidays—Valentine’s Day and the extended President’s Day weekend—and spring is just around the corner. Plus, this is a Leap Year—that’s worth celebrating with a getaway! We’ve compiled some ideas to make it easier on both your brain and your budget.

VRBO does offer to provide a 100% “Carefree Rental Guarantee” for a fee, like in case the owner misrepresented the property, double books, or wrongfully withholds a security deposit. Another online resource is Craigslist.com— each city has a “vacation rentals” feature in the Housing section (for example, spokane.craigslist. org/vac/). Like all postings on Craigslist, you have to be cautious that you’re not being duped and that the property is legit. Follow Craigslist’s personal safety guidelines and the tips for avoiding scams

-----------------------------------------------------Away.com helps you choose a vacation destination, based on your specific interests, with customized ideas and recommendations. Get out of your travel rut. Break tradition. If you always go to the same Schweitzer condo year after year, this is for you. While a Schweitzer condo is awesome, you gotta mix it up a bit. Gorp.com is especially for the OTM crowd to plan a trip focused on hiking, camping and national and state parks both in the U.S. and abroad. (The Inland Northwest seems to have been left out of its database; we’ve submitted a request for them to fix that.) AdventureFinder.com is also helpful. Onthesnow.com offers an easy-to-navigate rundown of ski resorts you’re considering visiting. Priceoftravel.com breaks down the average cost of traveling in different cities across the world. Nifty lists. Kayak.com is one of the better-known websites where you can comparison shop with one easy click—whether flights or car rentals or vacation packages.

------------------------------------------------------------------Although resorts are not cheap, they’re not all outrageously expensive and often include lots of amenities and recreation options. -------------------------------------------------------------------

PLAN CREATIVELY—SOME WEBSITES WE LIKE

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

-----------------------------------------------------Ditch the typical hotel vacation idea. Think “home away from home” with a living room, kitchen, dining area, multiple bedrooms and more square footage providing a private and relaxing experience—especially if you’re traveling as a family or with a group of friends. Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO.com), is a database of thousands of rentals in the U.S. and abroad—including urban apartments, condos, bed & breakfast homes, waterfront and mountain cabins, and houses. Simply search by location and see what’s available. A quick glance tells you if the property is pet-friendly or wheelchair-accessible, has reviews available, or accepts credit cards (PayPal is a safe alternative). Some are listed by either the property owner or a property manager and may include a rental agreement, which might only be as complex as knowing the check-in/check-out times, how to turn on the heat, and what to do with the bedding and towels before departure. Nightly rates, in some cases, are significantly less than a hotel stay and weekly rates are often available. Be aware of possible cleaning fees and security deposits. A significant advantage and cost-savings with a vacation rental is the ability to prepare your own meals and eat on your own time, especially if you like to cook. And the simple pleasure of eating breakfast in your jammies can never be overrated. Some disadvantages to using the VRBO website are that not all owners regularly update their online availability calendars and, according to online forums about this site, owners can choose which guest reviews to share. This means negative reviews are not generally available. (However, most VRBO customers who experienced a bad rental deal find a way to publish their reviews online in a different format, such as a personal blog.) Some negative traveler reviews are posted and an “owner response” is typically included.

and frauds. It’s more likely to be safe if the property owner has a website for it (or links to a VRBO listing), pictures and a PayPal account for the financial transaction. Use the search bar at the top of the page to make it easier, since listings are organized by date posted. And if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, check out the “housing swap” listings—you never know what kind of deal you might discover.

BUDGET TRAVEL & BIG SAVINGS

-----------------------------------------------------Can’t afford a five-night vacation rental stay? No problem. A little research and planning goes a long way in cutting the cost of your trip—and in the process, your sleuthing might land you some really cool discoveries in places you’d never considered. STAY WITH FRIENDS—or make new ones. Make travel plans in reverse. Rather than picking a place to go, then looking for a place to stay, build a list of places you could stay for free with friends, family members or that weird Swedish kid who lived with your family for a semester in high school. Bonus: Maybe you’ll discover a great vacation spot you wouldn’t have thought of otherwise. A few nights of free lodging can ease the stress on your wallet enough to splurge on a Bed & Breakfast for a night or two elsewhere in the same region. Couchsurfing.org: This is a social network site where strangers offer to let you crash on their couch. Weird, huh? But because of this, poor twenty-somethings can travel on a limited budget. The site allows users to display photos and personal information, so you can look for a host or hosts that seem like a good match. To help address possible safety/creepiness concerns, each user has ratings displayed on his or her profile. Points are given for longevity, positive reviews and responding to inquiries. Hostels: Staying in large cities can cost a fortune. If you’re traveling on your own or with a buddy, staying at a hostel can cut lodging costs in half. They’re not as comfortable or luxurious as hotels. Take the cheapest booking and you’ll find yourself sharing a room—and a restroom—with 10-15 strangers. Most hostels also offer private rooms, which are more affordable than hotels and have similar, but more simple, amenities. Hostels are full of international travelers thrilled to share a meal and tell you all about their lives and travels. Don’t hesitate to make new friends and exchange contact information. Perhaps you’ll find yourself in their home country and in need of a place to stay—or just someone to show you around. To avoid a negative experience at a hostel, browse reviews at hostelworld.com and look for

gobs of complaints of poor service, bed bugs and other unsavory experiences. Keep your belongings secure in a locker while you are away and while you are sleeping. Eat Cheap: Budget for daily meals. Pick one meal a day to splurge on and eat cheap for the rest. Beverages make a huge difference in daily food costs. Consider drinking water for all but one meal per day—grabbing a soda or bottled water three times in a day may eat up the difference between a great dinner out and having to skimp.

Pack snacks. Don’t go overboard on lugging around food, but having something handy means you can take extra time to find an ideal food spot, instead of settling for something out of your price range because you’re starving. Urbanspoon.com categorizes restaurant ratings by price and shows locations on a map, making it easy to find a place in your price range nearby. Ask Locals: Much of what’s great about any travel destination, whether exotic or close to home, can’t be found online. Ask a few people where they would recommend spending one day in or around their town. Once you have a list of options, research those a little more closely before planning the day. Call Ahead: Lost reservations, a long wait at the restaurant, a full campsite or closed park can cause frustration, kid chaos and costly last-minute

fixes. In the case of a reservation error, the hostel or hotel desk manager should be willing to call around and find you comparably-priced lodging in the area—but this becomes much more difficult as check-in time nears. If reservations aren’t possible, as is the case for some campsites and restaurants, have a backup plan ready. Be Flexible About Travel Dates: For hotel bookings and other seasonally-priced reservations, identify the “shoulder season”—the time right before prices jump for the high season. Before booking, learn whether the attractions you want to see are open during that time. (In remote tourist towns like Wallace, Idaho, museums and attractions close entirely until May or so.) Prices for bookings and reservations also fluctuate from day to day, with cheaper rates during the middle of the week than on weekends. If possible, plan your vacation for weekdays for cheaper air travel—and look for lodging options that offer discounted weekday rates. Should the stars align, you could find yourself enjoying all the perks of high-season vacationing at a much lower price. Amtrak: Compare airline prices with Amtrak’s—you may save a lot by taking the train. While not everyone is game for boarding a train in the middle of the night and trying to sleep, there is kind of a Jack Kerouac feel to train travel. Unlike driving, time on the train can be restful and enriching—a chance to get a little work done or read a paperback book. (They still make those, you know.) For a small family, the cost of flying, taking the train or using other public transportation may be less than the cost of gas, the extra day off work and parking costs if you’re traveling to a big city more than half a day’s drive away.

Have an ipad or tablet? Check out the online browser version of

Just Google “issuu out there monthly.” Our complete current issue and back issues can be found FREE at www.issuu.com

Spokane Fly Fishers Fly Fishing School! March 8 - April 19 Thursdays 7pm-9pm at St. Francis School

sffishers@comcast.net For more information call Dan Ferguson 325-8885 FebrUARY 2012

/ Out There Monthly

(Tip: Check out vacationsbyrail.com, which aggregates rail information including times, routes, prices and specials.) Take Public Transit: When you’re there— wherever “there” is—weigh time and hassle against cost of different modes of transit. Taking public transportation immerses you in the culture of the place you’re visiting. Taking the subway in New York might sound totally daunting at first, but it’s weird and exhilarating to experience for the first time. Renting a car may be cheaper if you’re traveling with a family or group, but be sure to do the math. Calculate all the hidden costs of driving—like gas, parking and rental insurance—before deciding it’s the way to go. If you do plan to travel by train, subway and bus, look into buying a monthly pass or whatever that service’s equivalent might be. Paying for individual fares can add up fast when you’re touring a city or region. Even if the pass is valid for much longer than you’re planning to stay, you could save money by buying one. Look Around You: In the Inland Northwest, you can drive an hour or two in any direction from Spokane and find geographic diversity, new experiences and world-class resorts. Wine tasting, backpacking, camping or staying at ski resorts and family-friendly lodges can give you a vacation feel without the cost of traveling far. Take a look at small towns full of history, or visit a state park you haven’t yet explored.

REGIONAL RESORTS AND LODGES – A FEW IDEAS

-----------------------------------------------------Although resorts are not cheap, they’re not all outrageously expensive and often include lots of amenities and recreation options. If you’re looking for a one-stop, hassle-free vacation focused

on recreation and quality time with loved ones in a beautiful setting, then perhaps it is money well spent. You can minimize stress and maximize the fun. And if you’re traveling with kids and can play where you stay, then maybe it’s a bargain after all. If a kid thinks vacation starts with the hotel swimming pool, a resort with a massive indoor water park will be epic. Not far away is Silver Mountain Resort (silvermt.com) in Kellogg, Idaho, and in western Washington is Great Wolf Lodge (greatwolf.com/grandmound/waterpark)— located in Grand Mound, Wash., 19 miles south of Olympia. In Leavenworth, there is a spectrum of resorts. For example, Icicle Village Resort (icicleinn. com) right in town off Highway 2 has both condos (some are listed on VRBO.com) and Best Western hotel rooms. Kid and teen-friendly amenities— including swimming pools, mini golf, sport court and movie theater—will keep a family busy. Then there is the quiet, rustic-meets-luxury Sleeping Lady Resort (sleepinglady.com) located along Icicle Creek with trails for crosscountry skiing and snowshoeing. (See this month’s Roadtrip feature for more information.) There is also the even more remote winter escape to Mountain Home Lodge (mthome. com). Located nearly four miles from town and 1000’ higher, it provides an extensive winter package that includes gourmet meals, cross-country ski and snowshoe gear for the nearby 20-30 miles of trails, and equipment for the 1,700’ sledding hill. No kids under age 16 allowed, however. (Summer rates begin in mid-March and are about $200 cheaper, depending on the specific room.) In the Methow Valley, Sun Mountain Lodge (sunmountainlodge.com) in Winthrop, Wash., is ideally located for nordic skiers and snowshoers in the winter. But as an all-season destination, there

Fireplace at Mountain Home Lodge. // Photo Courtesy of Mountain Home Lodge.

is something for all ages all the time here. And closer to home is Elkins Resort on Priest Lake (elkinsresort.com), in Nordman, Idaho. Vacationing here can be surprisingly affordable for families. Cabin rates rival hotel costs and enable families to share a space with separate bedrooms and a central family area. Kitchens in the cedar log cabins allow families to prepare their own meals. Most people bring food for the week from home, says Elkins co-owner Tracy Szybinksi, but the convenience store at Elkins sells staples you might have forgotten to pack. Everything needed for a great time is provided, saving parents the exhausting task of loading and unloading kids from a car several times a day. And pets are allowed here, saving pet-sitting costs and adding to the fun. The main lodge, built in the 1920s as a fishing camp, is home to an award-winning restaurant whose menu incorporates local specialties like

morel mushrooms and huckleberries. The adjacent bar even specializes in Huckleberry Daiquiris. Take advantage of reduced winter rates to go snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the area surrounding the resort. Cabins are open year-round; however, the restaurant and bar close in February and re-open in May. During peak months, families must rent their cabin for a full week. (Reservations must be made by March for summer rentals.) The remote location offers plenty of outdoor activities—during the summer, there is mountain biking, hiking and every water sport you can think of with equipment to rent on-site. Forty percent of the coastline on Priest Lake remains undeveloped, says Szybinski, so the lake can only get so busy. Be advised—there are no televisions in the lodges (and there are even a few internet-free cabins!) so you’ll have to brush up on your Yahtzee skills. //

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Photo of the Month

Karen Green

PhotO: Karen green Photo taken December 15, 2011. Sunset on Maui with kayaker, Paul Green, AKA Professor whitewater, Eastern Washington University. Professor Green is the oldest whitewater professor in the US. Send your vertical, 3 meg. or less submission with caption to editor@outtheremonthly.com. Best photos entries will be picked for upcoming issues.

Roadtrip DJ: February JASON FOWLER “FLY AWAY” / LENNY KRAVITZ / 5 This rock song is meant for driving. Its short, quick guitar riffs will energize you—pumping you up with driving stamina. “LOVE TODAY” / MIKA / LIFE IN CARTOON MOTION Mika is a classically trained opera singer who loves pop music. I especially like this upbeat tune for the catchy lyrics, which makes any driver or passengers want to dance in their seats while gesturing two thumbs toward themselves, singing, “Love, love, me!” “BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY” / QUEEN / A NIGHT AT THE OPERA A classic Queen tune with subtle changes that will keep you on your toes and compel you to sing aloud and shout a bit. I like to bang my head like Wayne and Garth, too. “DOG DAYS ARE OVER” / FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE / LUNGS This British group, with Florence Welch as the lead singer, belts out melodic tones that will jolt life into you. Florence’s strong voice powers vitality into my soul. And the song has perfectly placed forte and ritardando moments. “MOVE BY YOURSELF”/ DONAVON FRANKENREITER / MOVE BY YOURSELF Donavon is an old surfing buddy of the more well-known artist Jack Johnson. This particular song starts slow until the 70’s bass guitar spouts off after twenty seconds. I love the upbeat variations of the soulful rhythm and the lyrics that encourage you to succeed. //

FebrUARY 2012

/ Out There Monthly

Last Page

Great Outdoor Apps

Can A Smart Phone Help On Your Next Adventure? / By Jon Jonckers Like it or not, our phones play a significant role in our daily lives. Beyond calls or text messages, phones replace a watch and are necessary for many jobs—and they entertain us. Sadly, smartphones don’t make the owner any smarter. However, they do provide an unprecedented spectrum of services and information. Admittedly, the lion’s share of today’s smartphone applications, or apps, are centered on games, or music features, or providing directions. But that is changing, partly because users want more than games, and partly because of a local savvy technology company. Outdoor-related phone apps are just a sliver of the programs available. But this piece of the pie is growing, and it seems each month a new genius idea is unveiled. For starters, the apps fused with GPS qualities provide maps and elevations to support geocaching. More and more apps assist with fitness and training by mapping routes and calculating calories burned. Altogether, the landscape for mobile device apps is changing radically, and people are frequently surprised by what is available. However, be aware of the many apps that are provided or created by an outdoor brand rather than a problem-solving idea. For example, REI and Coleman both have apps that ring of com-

mercialization louder than a door-to-door salesman. On the other hand, Coleman has a distinct heritage of great camping stoves, so it only makes sense they would create an app that specializes in campground cooking. While the Coleman stove app recipes aren’t particularly health conscious, they do have a three-star rating in the iTunes app store. Apps for knots, survival and first-aid comprise the next ring of outdoor-minded programs. An app titled “Knot Time” offers 33 how-to videos for tying knots. Columbia Sportswear sponsors an app titled “What Knot To Do.” It’s well designed, well organized, and it shows how to tie 70 knots with step-by-step instructions. The survival types of apps often read as if they were lifted from a military handbook; nevertheless, the information is accurate, and you never know when you will need it. Consider “Survival Guide” and “Ultimate SAS Survival Guide Lite.” Also, checkout “ResQr First Aid” & “CPR Coach” for clear, step-by-step instructions for hundreds of first-aid scenarios. It asks straightforward yes or no questions to provide real-time coaching through situations, and it provides audible CPR pacing. While they aren’t necessarily outdoor specific, most outdoor junkies do use the cameras on their phones. Be sure to take a look at “Pano,” the

goskywatch app on a smart phone. // Photo by jon jonckers.

panorama landscape app. Okay, it isn’t flawless— its seams aren’t always seamless—but it succeeds most of the time. As an alternative, consider “360 Panorama,” which creates 360-degree linear or spherical panoramas and is super fun to shoot— just point your camera at the scene and “paint” the image by moving it around and watch what you’ve

“After all, what if the batteries fail or your phone loses reception? The apps don’t replace outdoor knowledge, they subsidize it.”

VisitLincolnCountyWashington.com

Out There Monthly / February 2012

captured on screen. Saving the best for last, do yourself a favor and look into “Goskywatch.” After the tent is up, and the air mattresses inflated, and the flask is passed around, sit back and appreciate the night sky in a completely new way. No buttons to press, no modes to select, just point to the sky and start exploring. This genius application overlays the constellations with the images the Zodiac lines represent. Planets are color-coded showing their relative brightness to other stars for easy identification. It’s really awe-inspiring and lots of fun with the right conditions. Gravity Jack, a Liberty Lake-based technology company, has created numerous apps and holds a number of patents. Many of their apps are still under development, and cannot be unveiled at this time. However, one of the keys to this local

company’s success is rooted in augmented reality (AR) software for mobile devices. Briefly, AR is a live view of the physical, real-world environment with elements that are augmented by your mobile device. For example, the yellow first-down line displayed during a televised football game is augmented reality. Gravity Jack developers are considering ways for a climber to look at a cliff through his or her phone and see climbing routes; for backcountry skiers to see safe descents; for hikers or hunters to see property lines; and for paddlers when they scout rapids at different water levels, “There’s a wide, wide world of possibilities for this technology,” says Luke Richey, Gravity Jack CEO. “Sometimes we have trouble prioritizing the apps, but without a doubt, this is an exciting time to be developing this stuff.” As smartphones further assimilate into society, so will the apps. These devices can power many more ideas and processes. Since they propel so much of our social lives, perhaps it’s only a short hike until they propel all of our outdoor passions too. However, speaking specifically about the backcountry and spending time in the mountains, Richey pauses to give sound advice. “It’s important to remember that these apps are merely assistants, and not really guides,” he says. “After all, what if the batteries fail or your phone loses reception? The apps don’t replace outdoor knowledge, they subsidize it.” No matter how you feel about phones in the backcountry, or whether these apps are a sound investment in your outdoor pursuits, the evolution of apps for mobile devices is erupting in every direction—programs now specifically cater to birdwatchers, backpackers and backcountry skiers. While the majority are still games for the masses, there is truly something for everyone. //

February

Join us for a rockin’ Winter Carnival!

Skrsie-Jpoowreriednskgiing!

Real ho Friday, February 17

SandpointSkijoring.com

Saturday, February 18

Friday, February 24

Sunday, February 19

5pm :: Outrageous Air Show at Schweitzer Mountain, big air show with fireworks and themed party 10am :: Family Fun Day at Evans Brothers Coffee, tasting, magic show, crafts and more

Wednesday, February 22

10am-noon :: K9 Keg Pull at Eichardt’s, more fun than dogs (and humans) should be allowed

4pm :: Ski Joring Registration Party at Laughing Dog Brewing. Sign up for this Scandinavian-inspired, centuries-old contest with horses and riders pulling skiers around a course at breakneck speeds 5:30pm :: Bio-Luminesce Fire Dancers at Pend d’Oreille Winery, hypnotic pyrotechnical dance routines 7-9pm :: Downtown Rail Jam at Jeff Jones Town Square, freestyle contest for skiers and snowboarders

Noon-4pm :: Ski Joring at Bonner County Fairgrounds, one horse, one rope, one skier! 5pm :: Country Hoe-Down at Trinity at City Beach, BBQ dinner, live music and dancing 8pm :: LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends concert at the Panida Theater (Top 10 finalist on recent “X Factor”)

Every Day :: Dine, Shop Around Sandpoint Terrific prizes and deals at downtown shops and restaurants

Noon-4pm :: Ski Joring at Bonner County Fairgrounds 10am :: Annual 2/19 Party at the 219 Bar and Lounge

5pm :: KPND Ski & Board Party with Laughing Dog at Trinity at City Beach, fun and prizes

Thursday, February 23

5-8pm :: Taste of Sandpoint at Sandpoint Events Center, tasty samples at bite-sized prices

5pm :: Outrageous Air Show at Schweitzer Mountain, big air show with fireworks and themed party

Saturday, February 25

Sunday, February 26

Full Winter Carnival info at

SandpointWinterCarnival.com

Call 800 -8 0 0 -21 0 6 o r g o o n l i n e a t Vi si t S a ndp oin t. c om FebrUARY 2012

/ Out There Monthly

Out There Monthly / February 2012