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Winter Warriors: Don't stop Running
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Local Holiday Gift Guide
Cold Season Hikes Gear Reviews Everyday Cyclist
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Out There Monthly / DECEMBER 2015
Photo: StevensPass.com
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December 2015
/ Out There Monthly
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In This Issue p.5 / From the Editor
MONTHLY
When Things Fall Apart
p.6-7 / Out There News
Out There Monthly / decemer 2015
p.10 / Hike of the month p.12 / Cross-Country Skiing Fourth of July Pass Trails
www.outtheremonthly.com Publishers
Shallan & Derrick Knowles
p.13 / everyday cyclist Women on Wheels
p.14 / Out There Kids Gear To Keep Kids Dry
p.15 / Hiking Lake Roosevelt Winter Hikes
Editor
Derrick Knowles senior writers
Jon Jonckers Brad Naccarato Amy Silbernagel McCaffree Contributing Writers:
Meaghan McCluskey Dan Schaffer S. Michal Bennett Terrie Jelsma Aaron Theisen Bea Lackaff Ammi Midstokke Sarah Hauge Summer Hess Bob Legasa Chic Burge Brad Northrup Brad Naccarato Mikell Bova Janelle McCabe Amy Silbernagel McCaffree Contributing photographers:
GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE FOR CLASSES, PASSES & MEMBERSHIPS
p. 16 / Urban Outdoors Winter Bird Count
Alan McCoy Jon Jonckers Bob Legasa S. Michal Bennett Shallan Knowles Larry Banks Art + Production
p.17 / Food & Fuel
Art Director - Shallan Knowles Contributing Designer - Brad Naccarato Intern/Online contributor
p.18 / Running Running Groups
p. 20-21 / Local Holiday Gift Guide p.22-30 / On The Mountain Skiing & Snowboarding Section
p.32 / Outdoor Calendar p.34 / Last Page
Skiing Glacier National Park
Siobhan Ebel to request copies caLl
509 / 822 / 0123 Ad Sales
Derrick Knowles: 509 / 822 / 0123 Brad Naccarato
Out There Monthly
Mailing Address: PO Box #5 Spokane, WA 99210 www.outtheremonthly.com, 509 / 822 / 0123 FIND US ON FACEBOOK Out There Monthly is published once a month by Out There Monthly, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. ŠCopyright 2015 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 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.
On the cover:
@M ANI TO TAP H O U S E MA N I TO T A P H OUS E .C O M
3011 S. GRAND BLVD. | (509)279-2671 11AM -11PM SUN.- THURS. | 11AM - MIDNIGHT FRI. & SAT.
4
Out There Monthly / DECEMBER 2015
Tis the season for cold smoke rooster tails, face shots and knee-deep days. There may be no better place in the Inland Pacific NW to log reliable powder days in-area and on lift-assisted backcountry runs than Whitewater Ski Resort near Nelson, B.C. Photographer and skier Kari Medig shows us the possibilities in his big backyard.
Printed on 50% recycled paper with soy based inks in the Spokane Valley
PROUD MEMBER Of
From The Editor: When Things Fall Apart Being readers more than TV watchers, after the tragic terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut this past month, we read the sickening details on our phones and shuddered and boiled with anger like many others all across the world. It’s difficult to comprehend how some human beings can be so filled with hate, so blinded by their own warped realities, and/or tortured by mental illness that mass murder of innocent people becomes not only possible but a pre-meditated compulsion. Since 9/11, my instinctive reaction to national and global tragedies of this scale has been to escape outside, as soon and as often as possible. I sometimes wonder if it’s an automatic attempt to process it all in a place that makes a hell of
a lot more sense. Or maybe just self-centered circumvention. The night after the 9/11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, I instinctively retreated to the woods near my home in Cheney to walk, breathe, listen, and feel my way through that channeled scablands forest, hoping for some bit of peace and a path to re-orient shell-shocked emotions to a world that had seemingly gone mad. I don’t remember many details from the walk that night, but I will never forget the dark, star-filled skies that were creepily devoid of airplane traffic. Normally a reliable reminder of our civilization even in the most remote places, that night the absence of crisscrossing lights and distant
rumbling in the sky became a strange and grievous reminder of the day’s events. Yet the farther I walked into those dark, tranquil woods – a place that seemed magically immune to the violent chaos a few twisted humans had just unleashed upon our world – the better I felt. After the latest terrorist attacks, without ever consciously thinking about it, I found myself making more time to bail from the office and disappear alone for an hour or two down by the river, deep in the pines. Like a natural reflex when unthinkable things go down, a primordial craving for the order and purpose in nature seems to rise up. How much time spent absorbing the word’s endless string of tragedies is enough to continue
to be an informed, responsible citizen? How much is too much? When I feel a lump building in my throat and tension creeping across my chest and shoulders, then up my neck and face whether it’s from work stress or world distress, I know it’s time to step outside. To breathe fresh air, ponder moving water and wind-sculpted clouds to a backdrop of birdsong and the steady beat of my own plodding, rhythmic foot-falls on soft forest trail. //
Derrick Knowles, Editor editor@outtheremonthly.com
Matthew Larsen Wheelbuilding TRUSTED GEAR GUIDES SINCE ‘74 - BEST PRICE GUARANTEED 509-328-2030 W 3220 N. DIVISION ST., SPOKANE (TOP OF THE HILL AT BRIDGEPORT AVE.)
HAND BUILT BICYCLE WHEELS www.mlwheels.com Spokane, WA 775-997-5634 • sales@mlwheels.com December 2015
/ Out There Monthly
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Out ThereNews&Events Lady Zags Push to the Front of WCC Championship Meet In a race Gonzaga was mentioned as an afterthought, the Lady Harriers Cross Country Team took matters into their own hands. Trusting their strength and training, the women went to the front of the WCC Championship meet. And stayed there. Gonzaga senior Shelby Mills of Snohomish, Wash., led the race from start to finish, covering the 6 kilometer course in 20:55.7, 10 seconds ahead of second place. Rarely shaken, Women’s Head Coach Patty Ley admitted nerves.“There was a scary moment when she got out so quick,” Ley said. “But, she just kept rolling and had that look of determination. It’s been on her mind all season, and it was fantastic to see her win.” Mills placed seventh last year, but on her home course, cheers from friends, family, classmates and faculty lined the damp soccer fields at Plantes Ferry. Spokane, known for
strength in running, propelled the Lady Zags through tough conditions. “Coach Patty told us to run the race with reckless faith, and so we did,” Senior Maggie Jones revealed post-race. “I have a headache, it is so hard to believe.” The Gonzaga women were confident, having broken into the top ten in the West Region. BYU was favored, but screams erupted as the ladies heard they tied with BYU with Gonzaga finishing just ahead of them on the tiebreaker. Mills was named WCC Athlete of the Month. Ley was named WCC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year. Along with her 2006 Washington State Coach of the Year, and National Federation Regional Coach of the year, this will only add to the growth of the program. (Meaghan McCluskey)
Guest Opinion: Save the John Wayne Trail Many of my friends know me as a trail guy. For many years I have been working with the city of Spokane to fund, promote and maintain the Fish Lake Trail. I am also a board member of the Inland Northwest Trails Coalition, which supports the development of walking, biking and boating trails throughout the region. It would, therefore, be no surprise that I was appalled when I learned recently that representatives from the 9th Legislative District had attempted to close 120 miles of the John Wayne Trail and give the land to the adjacent property owners. Fortunately, due to a typographical error, the bill was not presented to the House for a vote. Knowledge of this action precipitated a public meeting in Tekoa to call the representatives to task and to elicit support for keeping the trail open to the public. As a result, three more public meetings were scheduled in order to get input from stakeholders, and the first of those was held in Rosalia on Tuesday, November 10. In preparation for this meeting, I contacted my friend, and fellow bike advocate, Loren Dudley, and we decided to get to the noon meeting by riding the John Wayne Trail from Tekoa to Rosalia. My only prior experience with the trail had been a recent ride with my son from Rattlesnake Lake near North Bend up to the Snoqualmie Tunnel. The author pauses along the John Wayne Trail south of Spokane for a photo op. Nice Trek fat bike! Photo: Loren Dudley
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Out There Monthly / DECEMBER 2015
Given that this section is on the west side, we rode it in the rain, but the trail is in excellent condition with established trailheads, clean outhouses and even one well designed campsite. Our experience on the Tekoa to Rosalia section was quite different. We were escorted to the “trailhead” by Tekoa resident Ted Blaszak, who is primarily responsible for the current effort to save the trail. He pointed west and sent us on our way. For the most part, the riding surface is quite good, and the countryside is magnificent. I was using a borrowed fat tire bike and Loren was using a typical mountain bike. While my ride was softer, Loren managed quite well. The major obstacles on the ride consisted of a half-mile section of shoulder-high grass and five missing bridges that entailed short detours. The only living things we encountered were two moose and an owl. With a consistent pace, it took us just over three hours to make the trip. It is now my intent to ride the entire trail and to continue to advocate for its preservation and improvement. I encourage everyone to contact your state senators and representatives, and, if possible, to attend any additional meetings that might get scheduled in this area. Learn more about the John Wayne Trail and the efforts to save it at: Savethejohnwaynetrail.com. //(Dan Schaffer)
Go Solar with Avista’s Community Solar Program Community solar is a fast-growing solar option sometimes referred to as a solar farm, solar garden or solar array. The Avista Community Solar Program makes renewable energy easy, accessible and right for the environment. It’s a great way to take advantage of solar energy if you rent or don’t have a good site for your own solar panels. The Avista Community Solar Program is a 425 kW solar array located at the Avista Boulder Park property near the corner of Barker and Trent in Spokane Valley. Participating in the program requires a one-
time fee of $1,400 that covers the subscription cost of one panel and ongoing maintenance. Plus customers in the Avista Community Solar program will receive all available Washington state renewable energy production incentives and be credited directly on their utility bill for their portion of the power produced. This program is offered to Avista’s Washington electric retail customers. To sign up for community solar or for more information visit Avistacommunitysolar.com.
FEEL IT ALL.
EXCEPT THE COLD.
Support Olympic Marathon Dreams Speed and talent can only go so far when a runner is aiming for the Olympics. Rachel Jaten is among the fastest and most respected distance runners in the Inland Northwest, and last March she exceeded the Olympic qualifying standard for the US Marathon Trials at the Asics LA Marathon. But her time of 2:42 for the 26.2mile course is only the beginning of her Olympic dreams. Ideally, she could laser-focus her training for the coming months so she could avoid any running injuries, and mentally prepare for the upcom-
ing 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials. She hopes to train with several other professional athletes in Henderson, Nev. for the last six weeks leading up to the Trials. Last but not least, her travel expenses to the Trials are significantly more expensive than a typical out-of-state marathon trip. Rachel has the speed and the talent to represent Spokane in the Olympics, but she needs a little support. To find out more about Jaten and support her dreams, visit her unique GoFundMe website at: Gofundme.com/2016olympictrial. (Jon Jonckers)
W W W.C O L D P RU F.C O M
Coeur d’Alene Bike Co. Holds Weekly Indoor Trainer Rides Winter has set deeply into the Inland Northwest. While there are some who have the gear and fortitude to brave the snow and ice on the streets and trails, myself and others are heading over to Coeur d’Alene Bike Company to join their free indoor rides. Every Wednesday evening (5:30 - 7 p.m.) and Saturday (8 a.m. – 4 p.m.) through March you can drop in with your bike and trainer and take a ride removed from the inclement weather, as well as the typical gym vibe. Their rides feature a 115” projector screen, Saturday morning coffee and Wednesday night beers at Slate Creek Brewing Co. with fellow riders. “We
can’t allow the weather to turn us into hermits in the winter months,” says Alex Castagno, coowner of Coeur d’Alene Bike Company with Chris Caro. “These rides give us the opportunity to continue to get together with friends and meet new friends in the outdoor community.” Just like the summer weekly no-drop and mountain bike rides the shop organizes, the indoor rides are for multiple skill levels and bike styles. Trainer rentals are available, but limited. Go to the Indoor Trainer Rides event on their Facebook page for more info and updates. Cdabikeco.com. (S. Michal Bennett)
m
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221 N. Wall St. 509.624.7654 10208 N. Division 509-468-1786 December 2015
/ Out There Monthly
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The Greatest Escape
BC’s Nordic skiing vacations begin at
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All prices are subject to change. EDGE Cards available to Canadian, Washington or Oregon State residents only, and valid for the season they are purchased. Limit one per season. Price per day is based on the included days, and then the discount schedule applies. *Savings based off of the Regular Window Ticket rate of up to $125 CAD or $100 USD for a 1-Day Adult Lift Ticket, using an exchange rate of $1.25 CAD per $1.00 USD. Actual exchange rate may vary. There will be no refunds issued for unused days. 8
Out There Monthly / DECEMBER 2015
BEST EXCHANGE RATE IN 10 YEARS
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December 2015
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HikeOfTheMonth
Our Bowls Are PACKED...
Mount Spokane State Park (Burping Brook) // By Holly Weiler
with POWDER.
SKI SKI SKI PACKAGE: From $85USD
per night/pp (Save
$30)
SKI SKI SKI PACKAGE: From $65USD
per night/pp (Save
$20)
Restrictions apply. Prices based on double occupancy and do not include taxes. US price fluctuates with exchange rate.
ph: Dylan Siggers
skircr.com 1.800.258.SNOW(7669)
Mountain Sports Club Members Save at These Local Resorts/Shops:
2 for 1 lift tickets SundaysFridays and $10 off on Saturdays at Brundage Mountain 2 for 1 lift tickets at Lookout Pass all season 2 for 1 lift tickets on Tuesdays at Silver Mountain (excluding holidays)
2 for 1 night skiing lift tickets at Mt. Spokane (Wednesday-Friday)
10% off Schweitzer Mountain Resort lift tickets all season $10 off lift tickets on Mondays & Tuesdays at 49 Degrees North (excluding holidays)
$89 Whitefish Mountain Resort Ski & Stay Deal (excluding holidays)
50% off on ski/board tunes or hot wax at Mountain Gear $25 DISCOUNT MEMBERSHIP USE PROMO CODE: OTM25 www.MountainSportsClub.com PRINT & USE COUPONS THE SAME DAY
Phto: Freeride Media
10
Out There Monthly / DECEMBER 2015
Thanks for the new bridge WTA! Photo: Holly Weiler
We used to have it so rough. Three years ago, an intrepid snowshoer on Trail 100 in Mount Spokane State Park had three major stream crossings to contend with while venturing out to Smith Gap from the hairpin turn parking lot. One false move meant a wet boot, or worse, for the duration of the hike. Once at Smith Gap, our snowshoer would have found nothing more than a snow-laden picnic table next to a snow-covered fire ring. That’s not an inviting location for a lunch stop, so she would have probably just skipped a break in favor of returning to the car. Now we have it easy. In the summer of 2013, volunteers with Washington Trails Association installed two foot bridges over two tributaries of Burping Brook. The following year the same group returned to put in a third bridge, while the Friends of Mount Spokane State Park completed a warming hut at Smith Gap. Today’s snowshoer need not be so intrepid after all. Enter the trail system by crossing the main road (from the hairpin turn parking lot) and hiking through the gate for the Lower Mount Kit Carson Loop Road. Hike straight for about 50 yards, then veer slightly right on Trail 100. At the first intersection, turn left and behold the first stream crossing. Instead of turning back due to deep snow or fast-moving water, simply grab the hand railing and snowshoe across. Trail 100 climbs steadily for the next half mile, then veers left at a marked intersection with trail 110. Cross the second bridge and enjoy a quarter mile of gradual descent. At the next intersection, turn right and continue another mile gradually uphill on Trail 100, crossing the third bridge along the way. A sharp left and steep descent deposits snowshoers at Smith Gap. Make one final climb up a short hill to the cabin. Prop the snowshoes in the snow bank outside and add a log to the wood burning stove while enjoying a thermos of hot cocoa or packed lunch inside the cozy hut. There’s a beautiful handcrafted table, made of white pine salvaged from the Nordic area, inviting visitors to linger. There are hand-painted panels depicting local wildlife and our four seasons adorning the walls. After enjoying the spot, return to the car via the Mount Kit Carson Loop Road for an easy snowshoe loop hike. Those looking for a more challenging hike should consider extending the route by climbing Trail 140 from Smith Gap, then returning via Trail 110. Find and print the best trail maps from the Friends of Mount Spokane State Park website (Mountspokane.org). The roundtrip distance for the shorter hike is about 3 miles and is best done on snowshoes or hiking boots with micro-spikes. Getting There: Take the Mount Spokane Highway to the main Mount Spokane State Park entrance, then proceed approximately 2 miles to the hairpin turn parking lot at the Lower Mount Kit Carson Loop Road. SnoPark permit required.
Get Out & Hike More—Play Out There Monthly’s Backcountry Booty Contest! Want to get out and explore different trails around the region? Play the OTM Backcountry Booty scavenger hunt contest and you could win gift certificates for cool outdoor gear and other prizes while you’re out hiking. Here’s how it works: 1. We hide a booty certificate that’s good for whatever prizes are up for grabs and name the general location. 2. You watch for clues and photos on Facebook and at OutThereMonthly.com and keep looking until someone finds the booty! Follow us on Facebook and check our website to play!
GearRoom Outdoor gear gifts Cairn Monthly Subscription Box Signing up for a Cairn subscription means you’ll be getting a box full of outdoor and recreation surprises in the mail each month. While you never know exactly what you’re going to get, it’s always a sampling of new and innovative brands and products in the outdoor industry. A survey that you fill out when you sign up helps Cairn customize your box to your specific interests within five basic categories of products: gear, apparel, food/energy, skin care and emergency/medical. We split a box here at the OTM office, which means there are often items targeted towards men and women, which is cool for couples, but
we still end up bartering over the rest of the box’s surprises. A Cairn subscription would make an awesome Christmas gift for any serious outdoors person, especially gearheads who like to keep up on the latest and greatest innovations in the industry. Here’s a glimpse into a couple of our most recent boxes: Joshua Tree Winter Stick SPF 15, Gear Aid “Tenacious Tape” cool graphic gear patch “tattoos,” Green Goo Deet-free bug spray, a KLYMIT PillowX miniinflatable pillow that rolls up to the size of a lighter, Mountain House freezedried ice cream, and more. Order a gift subscription (and maybe one for yourself) at Getcairn.com. (Derrick Knowles)
ENO Hammock Accessories For anyone on your Christmas shopping list who has an ENO hammock or would otherwise appreciate a jolt of fun to their outdoors and camping life, the ENO Echo Bluetooth Speaker can turn any camp or hammock session into a festive, music-enhanced party. This Bluetoothenabled portable speaker not only weighs next to nothing and fits conveniently in any pocket, purse or festival pack, but its hammockspecific design and built-in hanging hook angles the speaker for an optimized listening experience. Bright, colorful and packing a huge audio punch for such a little package, the rechargeable Echo comes with a micro USB.
Eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com/product/Echo. For the hammock lover, the Spark Top Quilt is a warm and affordable counterpart to the Ember2 Under Quilt. It makes for the perfect cool-weather hammocking solution. A Velcro-controlled convertible foot box makes for a quick entry and exit, while the nylon taffeta lining is soft against the skin. Safe in the knowledge that this sub-$100 quilt’s DWR finish repels moisture and keeps stains at bay, there are no more excuses to leave the hammock at home for spring or fall camping trips. Eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com/product/ SPARK. (OTM)
GoRoll WarrioR Portable Foam Roller If you’re a runner, mountain biker or hiker who suffers from IT band issues, tight hips and leg muscles or cramping, you either already have a foam roller or are tired of listening to your friends tell you about them. My old foam roller was a long, unruly beast that never left the house, but this past summer I picked up the GoRoll WarrioR foam roller, which is compact enough to haul along to races and take on trips for convenient use whenever your body begs for some rolling. I packed mine along on our Spokane to Sandpoint Relay
race this past summer and pulled it out whenever we hit a park or grassy area along the 200 mile course to soothe tight limbs and sore muscles. The GoRoll WarrioR also has a hollow center for storing clothing, wallets, phones, food or other personal items that is water-resistant and lockable. And it has a removable carry strap that can be worn over the shoulder or as a backpack that detaches to double as a six-foot long stretch strap. Know someone who needs a GoRoll? Tis the season. Learn more about the WarrioR foam roller at GoRoll.com. (Derrick Knowles)
A Few of Our Favorite Things FINISHLINE GRUNGE BRUSH XLC BOOTIES BONTRAGER ION 120 HEADLIGHT MINOURA SMART PHONE HOLDER FULL SERVICE TUNE-UP
SALE $10 SALE $23 SALE $30 SALE $30 SALE $50
Prices expire 12/30/2015
December 2015
/ Out There Monthly
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Lay-
PERFECTLY
Cross-CountrySkiing
ENGINEERED Off the Beaten Path
ALPACA
SOCKS
The Fourth of July Pass Nordic Ski & Snowshoe Trail System // By Terrie Jelsma XMap® 6
Ideal for trekking, climbing, hiking and biking
Fair Trade Earth Friendly Local
www.kizurispokane.com 35 west Main, Spokane Mon-Sat: 10 am - 5:30 pm Sundays in Dec: noon - 4 pm
Data use subject to license. © DeLorme. XMap® 6.
dare designs
HANDMADE FURNISHINGS TO LAST FOR GENERATIONS.
Scale 1 : 17,000
TN 0
MN (15.6°E)
0
www.delorme.com
400 140
800
1200 280
1" = 1,416.7 ft
It’s SNOWING! Has the extended dry summer and autumn weather left you longing to hear those words ring out early one morning so you can finally don your skis and favorite parka? Not sure what to do when it finally happens? Try an adventure to North Idaho’s Fourth of July Pass and enjoy the Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Trail System. Whether classic or skate cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or other winter sports, spending time with friends and family outside in the wintry-fresh air provides great exercise as well as comradery. At an elevation of 3,081 feet, Fourth of July Pass along Interstate 90 east of Coeur d’Alene has 30 kilometers of groomed Nordic ski trails and nearly 18 miles of snowshoeing trails, with several new areas opened up for skate/crosscountry skiers and snowshoeing and specific trails devoted for recreationists with dogs or bikes. The system also has three warming hut shelters (one
1600 420
2000 560
700
ft m
Data Zoom 14-0
Photos courtesy of Panhandle Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club
constructed by Eagle Scouts), a picnic shelter, and covered benches and outhouses. Trails range from easy to difficult and offer something for all levels. An Idaho Park ‘N Ski pass is required November 15 through April 30, 2016. Passes are available at sporting goods and recreation stores throughout North Idaho. Take advantage of Free Ski Day on the first Saturday of January when park entrance fees are waived and no ski pass is required.
Getting There: The pass trailhead is 11 miles east of Coeur d’Alene off of Exit 28. A few hundred yards south of the highway, bear right at the junction and continue a few hundred yards to the parking lot. For maps and more information, visit the maps link at Panhandlenordicclub.com. //
Panhandle Nordic Ski & Snowshoe Club
Many of our tables are crafted from enormous oak planks of flooring salvaged from decommissioned train cars that traveled the Inland Northwest. Learn more about our work on our website
2224 E. Riverside Ave. Spokane dare-designs.com 208.660.5479 12
Out There Monthly / DECEMBER 2015
From November through April on the first Tuesday of every month (7-8:30 p.m. at Avondale Golf Course on Hayden Lake), the Panhandle Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club gathers to discuss various topics such as Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, sled dog racing, skijoring (cross-country with canines), fitness, the environment and outdoor activities, safety and ski maintenance. Noteworthy travel presentations by members and a cookie exchange may also round out the schedule. Activities continue into summer as well, with hikes, overnight trips, and biking and canoeing outings. All ages and levels of expertise are welcome and encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities the club offers, including free ski lessons (classic or skate) and support for buying or renting skis and snowshoes. This year the club will also offer beginning ski lessons for kids. The group also serves to maintain the Fourth of July Pass Ski and Snowshoe Area trail system in conjunction with the Forest Service – grooming the area and aiding in facility maintenance. Panhandle Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club membership is $15 per individual. For more information or to contact the club, visit Panhandlenordicclub.com or find them on Facebook. (Terrie Jelsma)
Everyday Cyclist
Women on Wheels
Closing the Local Cycling Gender Gap One Bike Shop at a Time // By Hank Greer
North Division Bicycle Shop’s Proud New Owner Brenda Mangine. Photo: Hank Greer
Whether competing in races, riding for exercise and recreation, or using a bike for transportation, women have consistently been outnumbered by men. That has been gradually changing for the better. These days, I see a greater number of women at cycling events. And the women-only bike events are successfully getting more ladies involved. But there’s one area where participation by women is still pretty minimal. The local bike shops. It’s not that they don’t or won’t hire women. Rather than try to answer why, I thought it would be more useful to find women in our area with bike shop experiences to share. In 2003, Stine Hansen was hired on as a sales person/helper at Freerange Cycles in Seattle. She was offered a job by the owner after she saw the work Hansen had done on her own bike. Hansen’s cycling background goes back to her childhood. In her teen years, she often hung out at a bike shop where she realized the possibilities in modified and custom-built bikes. In the 80s, she converted her cruiser to a mountain bike. She loved the creativity of modifying a bike to suit your own style, needs and purpose. Just before moving to Seattle, she built her first single-speed from the frame up. Stine considers herself fortunate to have worked at a small, woman-owned shop, where mechanics were expected to serve customers and women didn’t feel excluded. Liza Mattana went to United Bicycle Institute in Ashland, Oregon, in 2005 and received her Certified Bike Mechanic certificate. At the time she and her husband were excited about biking and the biking culture in Spokane. Attending the course was actually her husband’s idea. Mattana said it was one of those marital things where your spouse says, “This sounds so cool. I wish I could do it. You should do it!” The timing in their lives was right so she did. Mattana learned some basic bike mechanic skills and general tool know-how, which were all completely new to her. She worked as a mechanic at Two Wheel Transit for a few months before hiring on at REI where she stayed for about three years. Mattana said both shops were wonderful. She always felt welcome and never felt judged. On her first day at REI, another mechanic saw her struggling to put a bike on the top-level of a double-decker bike rack, something she had never dealt with before. He gave her a tip on how to do it, didn’t offer to do it for her and said she’d get the hang of it. She had lots of similar
experiences at both shops. After Brenda Mangine got out of college in 1992 she met Scott Willegalle who worked at a bike shop in Eagan, Minnesota. He got her interested in mountain biking, and she discovered the fun of rolling through the woods. She needed a part time job while getting her flight instructor certificate, so she applied for a sales position at another shop where she became one of their first female employees. Although it was and still is a male-dominated field, she was used to it. She went to college to become a pilot where it was the same situation. But the bike shop environment was more relaxed. Mangine says the men were receptive to having a woman’s perspective in the store. The manager made it easy to fit in and taught her all aspects of the bicycling industry. She did sales, merchandising and inventory. She and Willegalle moved to Spokane in 1995 and a friend told them the best place to get a bike shop job was North Division Bicycle Shop. Michael Conley hired her as a salesperson, where she had some challenging encounters with male customers. No matter how well she would answer their questions, some men weren’t comfortable with her being the expert. Mangine didn’t let that attitude bother her and deftly steered them to someone else. But she had the opposite reaction with female customers. They loved seeing a woman in the shop. It put them more at ease, especially if they were new to cycling and they were unsure of what questions to ask. Mangine was promoted to store manager six years ago. I think she’ll be sticking with the shop because just last month she became the new owner. Robin DeRuwe, president of Fitness Fanatics, got serious about bikes in 2000. Back then there were very few women-owned bike shops, but she sees more of them at the bike shows now. She learned basic maintenance and bike building but relies primarily on her smart and experienced staff. Based on her customer interactions, she thinks it’s easier for them to ask her questions because she doesn’t treat them like they should already know everything. DeRuwe still gets a kick out of it when a sales rep enters the shop, walks right past her and asks the first guy they see if they are the owner, only to be directed right back to her. Young people, take note. Local bike shops often hire and train an interested youth to intern during the spring/summer. And there’s no gender requirement. //
Spokane’s full-service non-profit bicycle shop refurbishing used bicycles and offering hope to youth who are homeless.
Christmas Sale!
10% off Lights, Fenders, Clothing, and more for the crazy winter cyclist in your life
Gift Cards always available if you just don’t know what they need 224 S Howard St. - Spokane 509-838-8580 www.coolwaterbikes.org bikes@coolwaterbikes.org December 2015
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Kids
Waterproof Kids: Gear to Keep Your Little Ones Playing Dry Outside All Winter Long Rain Jackets The North Face, Marmot, Patagonia and Columbia all make great lightweight, waterproof and windproof rain jackets that allow kids freedom of movement. Opt for gender-neutral colors whenever possible so mixed-gender siblings can hand-down to one another. Available locally at Mountain Gear, The North Face Spokane and REI (inventory varies).
Long before we met each other, my husband and I were passionate about the outdoors and committed to adventurous recreation. Now, 10 years later and with two children, ages 5 and 4, being an outdoor family comes naturally. But we work hard at being intentional, active and adventurous year-round with our kids. What helps us achieve our goals is quality gear that ensures bad weather and fear – fear of getting cold, wet or hurt – don’t deter us. If this winter is like our last one, with little to no snowfall except for in the mountains, children must stay active outside – limited P.E. and recess playtime opportunities during school days is not enough. While some families choose indoor exercise venues, such as the YMCA, it’s still important for children to be outside as much as possible. Why not encourage and equip your child to play outside every day this winter? Many outdoor families share a similar parenting philosophy when it comes to gear – and that is: “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” Northwest living means gearing up with essential weatherproof items for playing outside on wet, cold days. Here are some of our favorites to keep your kids playing outside all winter long. Happy holidays and winter playtime! If you see me out there with my kids this winter, say “hi.”
Rain Pants A kid hasn’t really lived if he hasn’t gone bike-riding when it’s raining or pedaled through monsterpuddles. Rain pants fit over other pants and usually come only in black with unisex-sizing – perfect for handing down through a whole family of kids. Available at REI. Fleece Jacket or Vests Whether worn by itself or as an under-layer for a ski or rain jacket, every kid needs one or both of these to keep warm in cold, wet conditions. A quality brand will hold its value through the years – hello, ski swap! Available locally at Mountain Gear, The North Face Spokane and REI.
// By amy silbernagel mccaffree
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Out There Monthly / DECEMBER 2015
Merino or Synthetic Wool Socks A must-have item to keep little feet warm, especially while wearing rain or snow boots. Wool or synthetic socks will help keep your kids’ feet warm, unlike cotton socks, even if they get a little wet. Available locally at Mountain Gear and REI. //
Hiking
Cool-Weather Coulee
Winter Hikes Near Lake Roosevelt // By Aaron Theisen
WHEN YOU’RE A FITNATIC, YOU GET IT. WE GET YOU.
Escape to the sagebrush country for blue skies and wintertime green. Photos: Aaron Theisen
During the summer, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area’s 600 miles of shoreline attract droves of boaters to the otherwisedry coulee country of Eastern Washington. But when the houseboats and Jet Skis have long been dry docked, the lake and its neighbors make an attractive backdrop for snow-free winter exploration, the stark, serene landscape attracting the snow-weary and sun-starved among us. The two hikes here make a fine introduction to coulee country winter wandering. Steamboat Rock The cataclysmic Ice Age Floods that carved the Columbia Plateau made one of the biggest impressions, physically and visually, at Steamboat Rock in the Grand Coulee area. The monolith forms the centerpiece of the 3,522-acre state park of the same name south of Coulee City. For a hike of a little more than three miles, leave the park’s day-use area and ascend to the base of the butte among head-high sagebrush and winter-bare shrubs. Climb a steep, talus-slick cleft in the rock – which may require four points of contact – to reach the top of the butte. Although maps show a hiking trail that circumnavigates the butte, hikers will find only jackrabbit trails on the ground. Nonetheless, it’s easy to follow faint trails along the butte’s edge, and a sheer drop to one side will ease route-finding. From the edge, peer down into man-made Banks Lake, which embraces the butte. Admire the forces that sculpted – actually, pressure-washed – the plateau. Birders can watch winter wrens ride the currents of the wind, which is everpresent on this prominent, treeless rock. To the east lies the cleft of Northrup Canyon; clear days may reveal the Cascades to the west. Hikers
with small children should stay off the top of the butte; quiet coves at the water’s edge provide safer destinations. Nearby, Northrup Canyon boasts fine hiking. A 6-mile roundtrip hike accesses an old homestead and small lake, but come winter, birds are the stars of the show; scan the canyon walls and bare aspen for bald eagles, over one hundred of which nest in the canyon each winter. More info: Parks. state.wa.us/590/Steamboat-Rock. Fort Spokane For a short time at the end of the 19th century, Fort Spokane guarded the confluence of the Columbia and Spokane rivers, one of the last frontier forts built in the West. By then, the frontier was quiet, and the fort saw no skirmishes between the seminomadic Colville and Spokane tribes and settlers moving in to snatch up land when the government opened the northern half of the Colville reservation to white settlement. Lake Roosevelt bustles with activity during the summer, but during winter, Fort Spokane is quiet again; during the cold months, hikers can get a fair sense of what the fort was like when it was constructed in 1880. Although the Visitor Center is closed during the winter, interpretive plaques and restored buildings tell the story of the fort’s life, first as an Army installation, then as an Indian boarding school and tuberculosis hospital. Walk the paths on the fort laid with parade-ground precision, then climb a high bluff presided over by scattered pines; the fort sits at the confluence of the Columbia Plateau sagebrush steppe and the ponderosa pine belt of Eastern Washington.
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More info: Nps.gov/laro/learn/historyculture/fortspokane.htm. // December 2015
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UrbanOutdoors Help Count City Birds in the Middle of Winter It’s All Part of the Spokane Christmas Bird Count Fun // By Bea Lackaff
A black-capped chickadee chillin’ in the city. Photo courtesy of Alan McCoy
Sunday morning, December 27, will find 60 or so muffled, mittened, rosy-cheeked and bright-eyed folks bedecked in binoculars and listening attentively (in small groups) as the dimmer switch of dawn gradually brightens the day. They will be scattered about the Spokane Count Circle – as they and their ilk have been doing in the dead of winter for over 50 years – participating in the Spokane Christmas Bird Count. John James Audubon started this tradition himself more than 100 years ago. And, as explained on the national Audubon Society website, “Today the longest-running wildlife census in the world
the Spokane area birdwatching teams and collects the observation data about bird species (numbers, location, habitat, time of day, weather conditions) as well as volunteer participation info. He sends the local data to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, where it is combined with data from other Christmas bird count circles across the Western Hemisphere, creating a vivid look at ever fluctuating bird populations and behaviors. Strict procedures for making observations and recording and reporting data must be followed to maintain the hard-earned validity of the data for scientific analysis.
These winter birdwatching adventures may just whet your appetite to improve your birding skills next spring when the landscape is bustling with courting birds and embellished by birdsong.
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Out There Monthly / DECEMBER 2015
continues to shape and inform our approach to conservation, providing vital information about bird populations and trends, data that alerts us to environmental threats not only to birds but to the larger ecosystems we all depend on.” This year’s count will identify winter resident birds – those that, like many of us, hunker down in Spokane for the grey days and long cold nights, following the Solstice. Twelve teams of observers will be dispersed across the Spokane Count Circle, which is 15 miles in diameter and centered close to Francis and Division. The area includes varied habitat, from urban and residential to fields, farms, forest, wetlands and riparian areas. Each group walks or takes short drives to observation sites within their area. Some intrepid participants observe until nightfall, in hopes of adding owls to their count. A group of bird counters may gather around a hot, spicy meal afterwards to recount their day’s adventures. In 2013, the Spokane CBC spotted thousands of birds, including 75 different species. Maybe this will be the year to see a northern pygmy owl, or even a brave, lonely hummingbird. Alan McCoy is the compiler who coordinates
McCoy says new birders are always welcome. “You pretty much need to be passionate about birds to begin with – then it’s a fun thing to do.” For more information on the Spokane CBC or to participate, contact Alan McCoy at ahm2352@ gmail.com. Even if you don’t make the 2015 CBC, you now know why those crazy people are out looking for their beloved birds in the frosty December dawn – and next year you may very well be one of them. Another way to begin birdwatching and contribute to citizen science is to join the Great Backyard Bird Count. To participate, you need to spend 15 minutes on one to four specified days in February observing birds in your own backyard (or any favorite spot) and report your findings online. Learn more at Audubon.org. These winter birdwatching adventures may just whet your appetite to improve your birding skills next spring when the landscape is bustling with courting birds and embellished by birdsong. In May, the Spokane Audubon Society offers an Introduction to Bird Identification Workshop, led by premier local birdwatchers. Check out the May events at Spokaneaudubon.org. //
Food&Fuel
Food: It’s Not That Complicated
// By Ammi Midstokke
Our attachment to attachment never ceases to baffle me. And the closest I ever got to being a Buddhist was the time I was overcome with compassion and actually put a spider outside rather than squash it to smithereens with a war cry. I am staring at a client who is explaining that the bane of their ability to stay healthy this fall (or focused on whatever issue we’re trying to nutritionally resolve) is the return of pumpkin spice everything. I would have laughed, but it was like the third person that day to say it. I get this from children all the time after delivering scientific proof that they are allergic to mac n’ cheese. If they can’t eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches anymore, they will surely starve to death. The most significant struggle I see people have in creating healthy changes in their lives is straight up resistance to change. We are so attached to the things that sabotage us, committed to our ways, that we cannot even open our minds to the possibility of a world (albeit likely an improved one) without that thing. For the love of God, what would we do if we had to pass up an entire season of syrupy-flavored holiday lattes? Because apparently it is always that one thing that gives great purpose and meaning to life. Admittedly, I feel this way about coffee and sex, but not much else really. I see so many of us try to replace the thing with a different version of the thing. A thing that somehow will wean us like needy babies from our old self to a new and brighter self. One whose life is given meaning by sugar- and dairy-free decaf pumpkin spice lattes. “I made a sunbutter and
homemade jelly sandwich on gluten-free dust cakes,” someone will tell me. “But the kids won’t eat them. They don’t taste the same.” The same is exactly our problem. What if you ate soup for breakfast instead of cereal? How many of you just cringed? What if we put steak omelets in our kids’ lunches instead of a sandwich? What if we let go of our attachment to the old ways, old habits, old things and opened our minds to all the new that change would expose? It applies to food, nail biting, our determination to drive the same way to work every day, shop at the same places, run the same routes. We have the ability to expand ourselves and our lives by simply accepting a change. Sometimes they come to us, and sometimes we must actively create them. Strangely, the latter seems easier. In light of that, I’m encouraging everyone to go change something today. The discomfort of the unknown is quickly soothed by the discovery of the limitless potential of you. Maybe it is something small. Maybe you try a new place for lunch (and meet the love of your life). You could skip your run and try long boarding (get health insurance first). Maybe you’ll try tea instead of coffee and find yourself inspired to travel to Darjeeling (where you’ll meet the best food of your life). If that all seems too scary for you, remind yourself that the old will always be there to welcome you back. Pumpkin spice will return faithfully every year. Sandwiches will not disappear. You will still be you, perhaps just a little more curious about what the next change will bring. //
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Healthy Snacks for the Ski Pack or Trail By S. Michal Bennett
This fall, I munched my way through a pile of “healthy” snacks to discover the best and most delicious protein-packed and energizing bites out there. Here are my top picks.
Meet the New Meat
Made with 100% grass-fed, regionally-sourced beef, I found the texture of Organic Prairie’s Mighty Bar to be pleasing, unlike some of its spongy or crumbly competitors. The taste was also quite nummy. Flavors are simple: bacon with apple and cranberry with sunflower seeds. If you want more than a bar, bags of Krave Jerky are a scrumptious alternative to corn syrup-injected and artificially-flavored jerky. Krave is gluten, MSG and corn syrup free. Try Sweet Chipotle Beef, Grilled Sweet Teriyaki Pork, Lemon Garlic Turkey and more.
PB&J in a Bar
Betty Lou’s PB&J Bars have recently captured my heart and fulfilled my childhood craving for that sticky staple. These bars come in strawberry and blueberry and are gluten free.
The Best Fruit/Nut Bars
I have nibbled through an extensive lineup of interesting but un-appetizing fruit and nut bars, but in the end, Larabar was still my #1 choice. With simple, natural ingredients; organic and nonGMO options; and delicious flavors, Larabar always has something to satisfy cravings and keep me going on long outdoor treks. Most are only sweetened with dates and are paleo-friendly.
Make It At Home
Gorp and granola have dominated the trail snack menu for decades. This season, add some highenergy, recovery-optimizing superfoods to your homemade recipes, such as goji or maca. Check out my food blog for a Superfood Trail Mix recipe: Shortandtasty.blogspot.com. //
December 2015
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Boomers Running Buddy Shirt
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Great day for a run in Riverside State Park! Photo: Jon Jonckers
It can be tough enough getting out for a run in good weather – and when temps drop and daylight hours evaporate as winter approaches, it gets tougher. In these less-than-ideal conditions, running alone can be unappealing and sometimes even dangerous. Enter the running group, one way to combat the winter running doldrums. Training with a group keeps things fun and safe, while helping runners who want to shape up for the spring racing season. “It gets dark so early here, running by yourself isn’t always an option that we choose,” says Jessicah Travis of Fleet Feet Sports. Travis coordinates a unique group for winter runners called Winter Warriors, which capitalizes on the window between Thanksgiving and mid-February (a period when many running groups take a hiatus) with a training and points system that gets runners out in the cold – and having a lot of fun while doing it. Winter Warriors kicks off with a pancake run the Friday after Thanksgiving, hosting several weekly runs of various lengths. Runners (and walkers – all are welcome) earn points for participation, with extra points awarded for running in the snow, rain, temperatures below 30 degrees, participating in themed costume runs or inviting a friend. In addition to the fitness benefits and the points-based prizes, the program has a big social appeal. “You’re finding new buddies, maybe people you can run with even outside the program,” Travis says. Heather LeFriec, president of The Spokane Swifts running club (which meets year-round), finds winter training uniquely valuable. She credits it with building a strong aerobic base for spring racing while strengthening muscle, tendon, and connective tissue to prevent injury. “It also
provides stress relief and increases serotonin and dopamine levels that can help improve your mood during the darker winter months,” LeFriec says. Like Travis, she finds that the social benefits are a big draw, helping runners to find community and stay motivated. “Winter running with a group builds physical, social and mental health. A group can hold you accountable and motivate a runner to get out the door. A group provides safety – especially for women runners – and a chance to build friendships and community,” she says. Whether you’re running solo or with a group, it’s crucial to think about safety. “It’s especially important, with so many dark hours through our winter, to look at being seen and being able to see,” Travis says. “The more people you run with, the better you’re seen out there.” She encourages runners to “think about 360 degrees of reflectivity. You should have blinking or moving lights, something that shows you’re in motion, to grab the attention of a driver. And a headlamp to enable you to see.” The right gear also helps. Travis recommends a moisture-wicking base layer, a middle layer to insulate, and an outer layer to protect from wind and moisture, plus a good hat and socks made of a material like merino wool. For traction, snow cleats work well when there’s a good pack of snow or ice; trail shoes can also do the trick. Shoes with Gore-Tex uppers will keep feet dry on even the soggiest days. Travis also points out that as long as you keep moving, you’ll likely be warmer than you expect. “[We winter runners] all find out that it’s not quite as cold as we think,” she says with a laugh. Hit the road, stay safe, and come out stronger (and perhaps a few friends richer) this spring. //
Local Winter Running Groups Fleet Feet’s Winter Warriors This group offers weekly runs of varying lengths and is popular with runners (and walkers) of all fitness levels. Kicks off November 27 (although you can join anytime during the season) and continues through mid-February. Runners earn points and prizes for participation. Fleetfeetspokane.com/training/winter-warriors. Spokane Swifts Running Team This women-only group trains year-round with runs on Tuesdays (speed work/intervals) and Saturdays (long run of 10-20 miles). The primary target is competitive women runners with goals of getting faster or stronger in racing (the 5K to marathon distance or beyond). Spokaneswifts.com.
Visit www.wsp.wa.gov or call Spokane Recruiter Trooper Kyle Witt for More Info (509-723-6046) 18
Out There Monthly / DECEMBER 2015
Spokane Distance Project This all-men’s group trains year round. There are no time standards or qualifications, but members are serious about improving race performance, and warm-up and cool-down pace is around 7:30 minutes per mile. Practices are Tuesdays at 6 p.m., generally centering on a fartlek-style workout written by the club’s coach, Chris Morlan. Spokanedistanceproject.com.
OutdoorLiving Winter Greens:
Time-Tested, Cold-Weather Gardening Tips // By Summer Hess “The Onion” published an article in September called “Full Summer of Tending Backyard Garden Produces Single Edible Cherry Tomato.” To my dismay, the headline, which clearly pokes fun at overzealous hobby gardeners, captures my first attempt at growing tomatoes this season – except my garden yielded no ripe fruit at all. I harvested about 15 pounds of green tomatoes, which I fried and used to make chutney. Although delicious, these foods still disappointed the palate when compared to the vision I had of eating hot, ripe, juicy, plump tomatoes directly from a hand-tended vine. Friends who have gardened much longer than I assure me that tomatoes are balky, especially in a micro-climate like Latah Valley where the frost holds on later in the spring and creeps in earlier in the fall. Although I am the victim of an “Onion” article spoof, my garden was not a failure. The carrots, spinach, turnips and zucchini all did beautifully. And, thanks to an old metal carport and some heavy duty plastic, it’s December and I’m still eating fresh greens from my garden. The most important thing I learned from this growing season is how important and easy it is to create some kind of hoop house or greenhouse structure that can add precious time to the beginning and end of the growing season. When my housemate introduced me to the simple, costeffective pleasures of a hoop house, I was reticent.
Make your own winter garden oasis. Photo: Summer Hess
Having a hoop house seemed like an advanced ambition, especially since I was intimidated by the prospect of growing food on any scale other than a few herbs in the kitchen window. Here are a few things I would recommend as I reflect on my first season of producing cold-weather greens: 1. Take a walk or bike ride around your neighborhood and look at what other people have. This shows what might work in your neighborhood. If you’re brave, you could even knock on your neighbors’ doors and ask if they like their set-up. 2. Use a repurposed frame for a hoop
house. We used an old carport, but recycled lumber or even chicken wire could work. The more traditional, low-cost method is to create an arched structure out of PVC pipe, and there are plenty of DIY websites that provide more information. 3. Purchase heavy-duty plastic from the hardware store. When anchoring it to the frame, be sure that the plastic joins on one side in such a way that you can pull it aside to enter the hoop house or to ventilate as needed. Zip ties and staples can offer enough strength when anchor-
ing the plastic to the frame, and clothespins can be used to keep the entrance open or closed. 4. Consider designing a hoop house that is portable. We were able to move our hoop house over the tomatoes and greens once the weather began to cool. This is especially useful in areas that are prone to early frosts. Although it didn’t work with the tomatoes, the chard and kale are still thriving. 5. Plan your garden and plant in succession so that you seed some hardier greens and vegetables by mid-August. This way the plants are healthy and established by the time frost arrives. Also, planning allows you to group hardier plants together so that they can all be captured under the hoop house as the weather cools. 6. Be ready to cook the greens down. When the plants face colder weather, they can become bitter. This can be remedied by long, slow cooking with butter or olive oil and by adding another flavor such as onion or garlic. 7. Plant flowers. You can’t eat them, but they will make you happy. 8. Take a class this winter through the Washington State University Extension Office or the community colleges. With centuries of knowledge accumulated by farmers and determined gardeners, it is possible for anyone to produce at least a small amount of food for themselves, even early or late in the season. //
“If you don’t drInk coffee, please feel free to re-gIft thIs back to me.” – secret santa (John g. 3rd floor) Whether it’s a gift from secret santa, special holiday gifts for your team, or simply a treat for the coffee freaks in your life, roast house coffee Will put your custom message on a special holiday label. call for details 509-995-6500.
December 2015
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Local Holiday
Contributing Writers: Amy Silbernagel McCaffree, Aaron Theisen, Brad Naccarato, Derric
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There are so many good reasons to shop locally for the holidays. Your shopping choices support the local economy and local businesses; you get to meet real people in your community face-to-face; you can look over, touch, smell and maybe even try a gift out before taking it home; returns and exchanges don’t involve long, holiday post office lines that make you want to “go postal;” and you can often find unique, cool, locally-made gifts if you get creative and look around a bit. Each year we try to make the whole Christmas season shopping experience that much easier with OTM’s Local Holiday Gift Guide that features a wide range of diverse gift ideas. Thank you for shopping locally and for supporting the Out There Monthly advertisers who make each issue possible! (DK)
CYCLING Bike Trainers Snowy, wet and gravel-filled roads are not reason to stop pedaling. This Bike Life on the South Hill has bike trainers at 20% off leading up to the holidays. Encourage your loved one to start their own secret bike season training on Christmas morning! (DK) Winter Riding & Commuting Gear Downtown Spokane’s full-service, non-profit bicycle shop that refurbishes used bicycles and supports homeless youth – Cool Water Bikes on Howard – has bike lights, fenders, clothing and other wintery cycling gifts at 10% off through Christmas. Perfect for bike commuters and winter riders. (DK) Fuji Kids Bikes (5) If you happen to be looking for a bike for a little one, Wheel Sport shops in Spokane are letting go of Fuji Dynamite 24” kids bikes in boys and girls colors for $299.99 in December. These bikes are an excellent, affordable kids’ bike option. (DK) 20
Out There Monthly / DECEMBER 2015
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Snow Biking Boots (3) Fat biking is one of the fastest growing segments in the cycling world as every major bike manufacturer has jumped on board. If you have someone on your gift list with a fat bike, outfit them with the Wölvhammer Boot from 45NRTH, the premier manufacturer of winter biking footwear. “The 45NRTH product lines are super popular right now, and we are the exclusive dealer in the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area,” says Shane Myr, Shop Manager at Two Wheeler Dealer in Hayden, Idaho. Retailing for $325, the full grain leather and ballistic nylon shell of the Wölvhammer provides a durable barrier with a waterproof membrane that protects feet from the elements, while insulation in the foot bed blocks cold cleats from chilling toes. Pick them up locally at Two Wheeler Dealer (9551 US-95, Hayden). (BN) Kid’s Bike Lock The Sunlite’s Defender four-number combination 6’ cable lock ($19.99) is easy enough for my 5-year-old son to use with minimal parental assistance. It comes in two sizes, 12mm and 8mm, and has a heavy-duty zinc alloy lock body, weatherproof protective coating and integrated heavy-duty resettable lock. Similar locks are made by Kryptonite (Krypto Flex 815, $14.99) and OnGuard ($19.99). Available at Wheel Sport and North Division Bicycle Shop (inventory varies). (ASM) A New Set of Wheels Matthew Larsen Wheelbuilding produces hand-built, custom bicycle wheels right here in Spokane. Custom bicycle wheels that are built specifically for your size, riding style and budget are like fine art to a discerning cyclist. The wheels will last years and look good. All sizes and riding styles are served, including 20”, 26”, 650b, 700c, 29er; tandem, single speed, fixed gear; disc, drum or rim brake; tubular, tubeless, and more. Call to discuss the right gift options (775-9975634). (DK)
HOME & GARDEN Roast House Coffee Geisha Jar (6) Geisha is one of the few original coffee varietals still in existence. Grown in its ancestral home near the village of Gesha, Ethiopia, it showcases the classic fruit-dominated notes for which this coveted varietal is known. Though carried by dried cherry and strawberry notes, it makes a delicate cup balanced by floral and apricot aromas and a lingering, sweet and syrupy finish. Pick up a few 12 oz re-usable jars of this delicate, complex coffee for gift giving and holiday parties ($30 each) directly at the Roast House warehouse (423 East Cleveland, Spokane). (DK) Garden Design Consultation You know that person who has EVERYTHING or buys whatever they want during the year, making gift-giving difficult? Well, here’s a solution if they like spending time in the yard and garden: a garden design consultation from Beth Mort at Zinnia Designs. Mort brings tremendous energy and knowledge to small or large gardens and can design the perfect landscape, from food to flowers, for any space by incorporating her knowledge of soil, plants, watering systems and native plants. Order a gift certificate at 509-2760043 or beth.zinnia@gmail.com. (SK) DOMA Coffee Roasting Company Coffee & Tea Sets (9) Each DOMA Sample Set box ($30) contains 8 oz of three different coffees, (24 oz total) selected and paired with tasting notes and step-by-step brewing procedures that are rich, educational and well designed. Perfect for the coffee connoisseur. Any of these box sets can easily be shipped via Priority Mail: Blend Set (Carmela’s, Urth Organic, Marco’s Organic); Espresso Set (Vito’s, Ruby’s, Primo’s); Organic Single Origin Set (Ethiopia, Colombia, Sumatra). Or for tea drinkers, try the DOMA Tea Set ($23) that includes a Rishi Simple Brew tea brewer paired with 4 oz of bulk tea. The 400 ml tempered glass brewer is easy to use and clean. Visit DOMA in Post Falls or online.
Hand-Crafted, Vintage-Wood Treasures (4) Dare Designs’ Bart Templeman re-purposes vintage and well-worn wood into beautiful, practical treasures for your home or office. Using rescued walnut, salvaged oak, scavenged elm, as well as alder, maple, cherry, and birch, he designs and crafts tables, doors, cutting and serving boards of every size and shape, wine and cheeseserving sets, bowls and beer trays. More info at Dare-designs.com or 208-660-5479. (SK)
RUNNING Garmin Vivosmart (10) Svadhyaya, a Sanskrit term which translates to “self study,” sums up my love of this device. For me, the more information the better. My Vivosmart was a gift purchased from Fleet Feet Spokane, and I was instantly fascinated with it. The sleek design is easy to wear, and it not only keeps track of your steps for the day, it sets a goal based on your past few days, increasing whenever you’ve had a particularly active week, and decreasing when you spend more time behind a desk or on the couch. The other cool feature is that it vibrates on your wrist when you’ve been sedentary for an hour, then it goes off every 15 minutes after that, reminding you to get up and get moving. The other feature (it has many, including telling time, tracking distance and activity times, and calculating calories burned) is that you can set it to vibrate when you get a text or call. Which I found nice because I often leave my phone in random places. (SK) Boomers Running/Walking Shirts These hand-made active wear shirts are sewn locally out of polyester/spandex fabric to serve as a light-weight alternative to a bulky backpack. With three Velcro front pockets and one large back pocket, you can stuff these little buggers with all of those things you always want to carry with you on a run, walk, bike ride or backyard gardening session but never have the pocket space for: cell phones, keys, pepper spray, wallet, small water bottle, snacks, meds, etc. $45 each plus shipping (call 509-688-9441 to order). (DK)
Gift Guide
ck Knowles, Janelle McCabe, Jon Jonckers, and Shallan Knowles
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LIFESTYLE/FASHION Belts, Bags and Other Cool Stuff Made Out of Used Bike Tubes Based in Coeur d’Alene, StradaSoul makes handmade wallets, belts, messenger bags, bike accessories and other cool items out of used bicycle tire tubes, like the Suds Bucket, a handlebar/ rack mounted carrier for a 64 ounce glass, plastic or metal growler made from, you guessed it, used bike inner tubes. Check out all of their unique, well-made products at the StradaSoul’s Etsy store: www.etsy.com. (DK) Bike Jewelry (11) Most bike jewelry is heavy and clunky and seems like it should be worn by the other type of biker. (Not the pedal kind.) Green Cyclery’s jewelry, though, is light and beautiful. Made out of bike parts rescued from the recycle bin or trash at Spokane area bike shops, owner Laura Kristine transforms other peoples’ junk into fun and funky jewelry that anyone can wear. Some necklaces and bracelets are held together with fine strips of leather, but most are on chains, some are even adorned with crystals or beads. Each piece is unique, making it hard to choose. Green Cyclery also makes coasters, Christmas ornaments and keychains. Shop online at www. etsy.com/shop/GreenCyclery. (SK)
WINTER SPORTS Burton Throwback Snowboard (13) In the earliest days of snowboarding, Burton blazed a whole new trail with an original board design that would change everything we thought was possible on snow. For 2015/16, Burton is bringing back the legend. “This is a throwback to the original Burton Back Hill – no bindings, just a rope and handle tied off to the nose of the board, a P-Tex base so you can wax it, and a flexible build so it’s easy to turn,” says Rhen Lyden, Shop Manager at the Ski Shack in Hayden, Idaho. At $130, the Throwback is an affordable option for a kid who wants to hike for some turns at the neighborhood park or a seasoned rider who wants to make some nostalgic, surfy turns on an epic powder day in the backcountry (some resorts do not allow binding-less boards on the lifts, so check before you go). Available at Ski Shack in Hayden, Idaho. (BN)
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ACTIVE LIFESTYLE Mountain Sports Club Skiing/ Snowboarding Deals (8) The Mountain Sports Club slogan is the largest membership-based, online discount service of its kind for skiers, snowboarders and other adventure travelers in North America. Members can print coupons for local and regional lift ticket, lodging and ski shop deals as many times as they want all season long, including 2 for 1 lift ticket and other discount deals from many local and regional resorts. Visit MountainSportsClub. com to check out the full list of deals and purchase a membership (only $25 with promo code “otm25”). (DK) KÖm Backcountry Ski The Kōm is a dedicated backcountry ski without many of the usual compromises. It can be skied with a downhill focus, and it rises to lighter XCD touring use with a fun, stable feel. The 162 cm long; 6 lb, 5 oz; slightly rockered tip; nowax; wood-core ski tours as well as it turns, and Altai Skis (makers of the Hok ski/snowshoe hybrid) have incorporated a lot of features into the Kōm that are very specific to skiing in the backcountry. Many of these stray from the norm and make the Kōm a very unique ski ($399.95). Check out the Kōm, Hok and other Altai Skis products at Altaiskis.com or visit the company’s headquarters a few hours north in Curlew, Washington. (DK)
UNIQUE GIFTS “Norwegian Wood” Book & Retro Spokane Calendar (1) Can’t find the right gift for someone? Head downtown Spokane to Boo Radley’s and Atticus for more cool gift ideas than you knew existed. Like the Norwegian Wood book, a must-have for all Northwest wood geeks. It’s chock-full of good advice on chopping, stacking and storing wood. It retails for $24.95 and is available at Atticus. The Retro Spokane calendar is filled with fun local prints from screen-print artist Chris Bovey; it retails for $14.95 and is available at both Boo Radley’s and Atticus. (OTM)
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“Hot Springs and Pools of the Northwest” (12) What could be more appealing in the middle of winter than a book on hot springs from British Columbia to Montana? The guide includes photos, directions, maps, and whether or not the accommodations take credit cards. Give to those you love with a nudge and a hint – and a lovely local hot springs adventure could be in your future. Available at Auntie’s Bookstore downtown Spokane. (OTM) Boozik Sustainable Bamboo iPhone Amplifier (7) Where can you find a fair trade, sustainable bamboo amplifier for your iPhone locally? Kizuri, a vibrant, community-inspired shop in the Community Building downtown Spokane, that’s where. Kizuri features quality fair trade, earth friendly and local gift options. The Boozik amplifies your music up to four times, is cordless and uses no power of any kind, meaning it’s ready to go anywhere: the beach, office or camping. Stop by the Kizuri for endless, unique and meaningful gift ideas (Kizurispokane.wordpress. com). (DK) “Portlandness: A Cultural Atlas” This title by David Banis and Hunter Shobe confirms what you already knew: There’s no denying Portland’s reputation in the Inland Northwest as the capital of cool. Looking for a vegan food map of the city? Need a route through downtown that avoids all surveillance cameras? From hauntings to strip clubs to the DIY subculture – this nifty compilation available at Auntie’s Bookstore in Spokane has it all. (OTM)
Dog Leash & Collar in One If there’s room on your mantle for Fido’s stocking, make room in that stocking for the “Release N Run Leash” by Rad Dog, a Bellingham-based company that designs and builds products for active pets and their owners. This durable collar contains a retractable, 4-foot leash that is just right for getting your pup from the car to the trail safely. At the trailhead, the super-strong and ultra-thin leash cord disappears into the collar, freeing your hands and Fido’s neck for the duration of your off-road adventure. Unlike a ridiculous dog sweater, the Release N Run is an attractive gift for your pup, coming in five colors and four sizes. Order one for $39.95 at myraddog.com. (JM) Triathlon Package Surprise that aspiring triathlete with a full package that includes everything they will need to pull off their first triathlon: bike, wetsuit, race suit, bike trainer, shoes, pedals, water bottle, repair kit, easy laces and body glide. This package is available at Fitness Fanatics on Trent in Spokane Valley for $1,999. (DK) Give the Gift of Learning to Climb Introducing kids, friends or other loved ones to climbing at Wild Walls will keep them pumped all winter long. Wild Walls Climbing Gym downtown Spokane has gift certificates available for classes, passes and memberships. Customize a learn-to-climb package gift certificate and consider a beginner climbing kit (harness, shoes, chalk bag, belay device, etc.) from Mountain Gear. Explore the possibilities at WildWalls. com. (DK) Goal Zero Venture 30 Charger (2) This portable charger will make you wonder how you ever functioned in the backcountry before. This genius device charges anything that uses USB ports such as phones, iPods and rechargeable LED lights. There are other charging devices on the market, but the weatherproof, shockproof design makes this one of the best. Look for Goal Zero products at Mountain Gear. (JJ) December 2015
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on the mountain skiing is believing
End of Season Surprises
Left/top: Legasa and his crew having way too much fun at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Bottom: A ferry-ride finale on the road to Revelstoke. Photos: Bob Legasa
Revelstoke Mountain Resort Serves Up Sweet Rewards All Season Long By Bob Legasa
Last season was one of historic snowdrought proportion, and we put lots of miles on the rig because for a snow junkie like myself and my skiing posse, we go where there’s snow! With our local resorts closed by the end of March, and with the need for one more fix, we decided to head north. Nestled between the Selkirks, Monashees and Purcell mountain ranges lies the historic railroad town of Revelstoke, British Columbia. This zone is known to get 40-60 feet of snow annually, and it’s usually a pretty safe bet for getting a powder fix. Revelstoke Mountain Resort, or RMR as the locals call it, was the reason we made the trip. RMR is one of the newest ski resorts in North America, and it gets hammered with consistent, deep snowfall. Because of this, it attracts plenty of big names in the ski world, many of whom have made Revy their year-round home base. A 7-hour drive from Spokane, the trip is filled with plenty of scenic beauty along the way, including the gorgeous 20-minute ferry ride across Arrow Lake. We pulled in to Revy about dinner time and did a quick check-in at the Sutton Inn, a ski-in/skiout condo at the base of the resort, before heading into town. After seven hours in a car with my good friends Desiree Leipham and Tommy Frey, I’m in dire need of a cold one and some pizza at the legendary Village Idiot pizza joint. With ski
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Out There Monthly / DECEMBER 2015
and snowboard movies playing nonstop on the numerous TVs, plenty of local brews from Mt. Begbie Brewing and incredible pizza, it’s no wonder this is the locals’ hangout. The next day, we start off under greybird skies, and since the resort hasn’t received any fresh snow in the past week, we break out the groomer skis and set out for some high-speed cruising and big vert. RMR is a huge mountain and with over 5,600 feet of leg-crushing vertical and 3,100 skiable acres, you’re in for some big days. Accessing the goods at RMR is easy with a gondola and several high-speed lifts. We did some exploring and ventured into the North Bowl for a few runs. This is the zone where the Freeride World Tour holds its freeskiing event each season. According to many of the competitors, this is one of the better venues with plenty of challenging lines, steeps and a consistent snowpack. The North Bowl careens you down to the Ripper Chair, where we lapped a few cruisers on groomers like Burndown and Chopper. For lunch we slipped back over to the Mackenzie Outpost on the front side. The Outpost was pretty easy to find as we let our noses guide us to the smell of gourmet burgers and chicken being barbequed on an outdoor grill. The sun started breaking out about then, so we enjoyed our burgers on the deck overlooking the Revelstoke Valley.
With snowfall forecasted to start that evening, we decided to have dinner at RMR’s Rockford Grill, a casual wok- and grill-style restaurant. The next morning, we woke to 10 inches of fresh on the ground with snow still falling. Not bad for an April day. We loaded up with coffees and croissants at La Baggett on the way to the gondola and then made a beeline for the Stoke Chair, where we were greeted to some heavy fog at the top of the mountain. Being from the Inland Northwest, we are used to it. Fortunately, we had a fairly decent lay of the land locked into memory from the day before, and we hit Jalapeno where there are trees on both sides of the run and plenty of sweet stashes on the edges. We lapped this area several times that morning. Later that afternoon we met up with long-time friend and Revy local Ron Sahlstrom and his crew, and they invited us to their end-of-season tailgate party. We met plenty of characters from this diehard, get-after-it group! Many of them moved to Revy back in the day when the original ski resort, Powder Springs, was still there. Our third morning was a pleasant surprise, with blue skies and cold temps. Being lucky enough to have been staying right at the base of the gondola, we were some of the first riders in line to get in some of the untouched powder that wasn’t visible the previous day. We made it
to the top of the Stoke Chair where they had just dropped the rope on hiking the sub-peak to the Nipple directly above the chair. We took turns breaking trail up the bootpack, and it didn’t take long before we had a line of 10-15 other skiers and boarders following suit. The Nipple is a short 20-minute bootpack to the sub-peak where you can access several options like wide-open powder runs on the front side or steep, North Bowl chutes. We ripped our first run down back towards the Stoke Chair where the untouched was incredible. The cold temps from the night before had sucked the moisture out of the snowpack, making each turn blower like. Everyone who made the hike had sweet rewards on the way down, and with all the hooting and hollering, it didn’t take long before there was a steady flow of hikers wanting in on the action. Wow, what a way to start off a Sunday. By 10:30 a.m., we had banged out some of the better runs of the season, working up a big sweat, some tired legs and huge smiles in the process. We slid back down to the base for one final run of the ski season. As we rode the chair back up, we reflected on how much fun we all had throughout the season, even with the tough conditions. Skiing is skiing. You take what you get and have fun with it. That’s skiing! //
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December 2015
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on the mountain Artifacts
Mt. Spokane back in the day. Photos courtesy of Leo’s Studios.
Artifacts: Ski Lift Origins
The Rich History of Rope Tows, Tramways and Ski Lifts on Mt. Spokane By Chic Burge
The first rope tow was invented in 1908 in Germany’s Black Forest by Robert Winterhalder. It wasn’t until 1933 that Alec Foster installed the first rope tow in North America at Shawbridge near Montreal. In 1934 Bob and Betty Royce built their version at Woodstock, Vermont. Back then they were called Ski-Ways and were powered by Ford Model A engines and used the
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rear wheels and large pulleys to move the rope. Within five years there were 100 rope tows in North America. Remember that before these innovations one had to walk up the hills in order to ski down. They didn’t have climbing ropes tied beneath the boots on the skis or mohair skins. Soon nylon ski skins allowed skiers to climb steep slopes, then be
peeled off the skis for the descents. In the 1930s the Selkirk Ski Club, the Spokane Ski Club and the Spokane Mountaineers purchased over 500 acres on Mt. Spokane and constructed rope tows and ski jumps. They later donated this land and operations to Mount Spokane State Park. The first single-chair chairlift operated in America appeared at Sun Valley in 1936. In 1946 the Riblet Tramway Company installed an old mining ore tramway on Mt. Spokane. This was the world’s first double chairlift. The tramway chair handled an hourly capacity of 550 skiers. However, it only operated for three years. It was located due south of the current radio towers on
the summit of Mt. Spokane. Because of the westerly winds, the tramway was often caked in rime ice. In 1948 the Spokane Mountaineers began construction of a 600-foot rope tow on the club’s 40 acres on Mt. Spokane. By 1950 the new chalet was completed, and in 1962 the Ryker Rope Tow was lengthened to 1,100 feet. It wasn’t until 1955 that lodge #1 and chair #1 were constructed and 1961 when lodge #2 and chair #2 were built. For more information on Mt. Spokane’s history, pick up a copy of The Friends of Mount Spokane’s book “Mount Spokane State Park: A Users Guide,” compiled and written by Cris Currie and other members of the group. //
on the mountain technique
Early Season Ski Tips
Get the Most Out of Those First Days on the Slopes By Brad Northrup One of the most exciting days on the mountain for a skier or snowboarder is the first day of the season. You spent hours the day or night before getting your gear together, checking and double checking to make sure nothing is missed. Your skis were tuned weeks ago and have been waiting patiently in the garage. On the drive up to the hill, you crank your favorite ski songs, singing along loudly and badly. You are stoked and ready to clock some serious vertical. On your first run, you go pedal to the metal, and promptly take a nasty digger that bruises both your backside and your ego. Sound familiar? It doesn’t need to go down this way if you ease your way into the day, get your gear right, get your balance right and get your mind right.
Left: Barreling down Big White and looking good doing it. Photo courtesy of Big White Resort. Right:Follow the leader. Photo: Bob Legasa.
Once you click into your skis and make that first chairlift ride to the summit, do yourself a favor and only lightly buckle the top one or two buckles of your boots. Going loose with your boot cuffs will allow you to easily flex your boots, thus moving your weight forward and allowing the tip of the ski to engage when it should. Once you feel this happen during the first couple of runs of the day, go ahead and tighten the buckles to where you would normally have them. Flying down the mountain is exhilarating, but the first day of the season is not the day to do it, so slow down. When you are going too fast too early in the season, you cannot feel anything in terms of when your edges engage, when your skis load with energy and where your body is positioned to
make clean turns. Not only that, but most people quickly revert to bad skiing habits when they go too fast, like dropping their hands, leaning back, twisting their upper body, etc. So take it easy and allow yourself to feel what is going on from your feet up. Skiing is all about managing friction and gravity, and being balanced is crucial. If you have participated in any sports, coaches always talk about “The Ready Position,” which involves taking a shoulder-width stance with your weight on the balls of your feet, knees bent with a slight curve in the spine, and hands up and forward. This is a naturally balanced position. Conversely, standing very tall and upright with your feet together with weight on your heels and hands at your side is not.
The days of tall, upright skiing are dead and have been since the development of shaped skis. So try taking a more athletic stance during those first few days on the hill and see if it makes a difference. The fundamental reason to ski is to have fun, so try not to over think it. Just feel it. When you make that perfect turn, and it seems like it happened automatically with little or no effort, then you know you have let the ski do the work. Now if you feel totally worked after a couple of runs, and it seems like you are fighting every turn, you are not letting the ski do the work. Let it go and relax. During those breaks when you are on the chair, close your eyes and picture yourself making good, clean turns. Play this over and over in your mind, and then go do it. //
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on the mountain The skiing life
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Photo: Bob Legasa
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The Great Thing about the Worst Season Ever
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W H I T E F I S H , M O N TA N A Partially Located on National Forest Photo © Noah Couser, winter 14/15
INDEPENDENT LOCAL
music and perspectives
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I spent one day on snow last year. One. And it was not a day that I would classify as “epic.” In fact, I think I actually had more fun eating lunch in the lodge than skiing. Of the three and a half decades I have spent sliding on snow, last season definitely will go down as the Worst Season Ever. But to borrow from one of my alltime favorite movies, “The first rule about the Worst Season Ever is that we do not talk about the Worst Season Ever. The second rule about the Worst Season Ever is that we DO NOT TALK ABOUT THE WORST SEASON EVER.” So, having reflected on it, here are some benefits to having survived a real stinky year on the hill. 1. Your skis are still tuned. Those handful of days didn’t do much to your edges, and there is still wax residue visible on your bases. You’re grinnin’ like a villain about not having to spend $30 to get your sticks ready to go for the year. Soon you’ll be skidding turns with the best of them. 2. That dope white- and sapphire-blue Obermeyer jacket you paid full pop for will stay clean a little longer since you barely wore it. No worrying about Riblet drips or spendy dry cleaning bills prior to the first day on the mountain. Shoot, you are ready to roll up to the Schwiz looking like a hundred bucks, player.
3. Those $2,000, bad-ass snow tires you bought for your H3 still have a butt-load of life on them, even after those multiple trips to Hillyard to go antiquing and buy weed. Sure as hell didn’t make it to the mountain, now did they? 4. Your repaired ACLs will feel like new. Well, sort of. At least they got a break. Seems those days in the 1980s running 215s with your DINs set on 14 have finally caught up with you. At least you get to start this year feeling only partially arthritic. Oh, in case you haven’t heard, they call it a 360 now, not a helicopter. 5. Ski patrol will likely have forgotten about you. Well, maybe. Remember a couple of years ago when you blasted through the ski school slow zone at Mach 10 and nearly took out a dozen 3rd graders? That Go Pro video of the whole incident you posted on Facebook was super helpful in figuring out whose pass to pull. Not showing your mug on the hill last year might mean it’s time to release the hounds again. Godspeed! // Brad Northrup is a former ski racer, coach and ski resort marketing director. He is hoping he can remember how to ski this season.
on the mountain The Skiing Life
Photo: Shallan Knowles
Piste Off Liftie
Opening Day
By Brad Northrup The first couple of weeks of the season are a little tough, but man, opening day sometimes sucks worse than the Seahawks’ O-line. Yeah sure, everyone is super excited about the start of the new riding season, but for those of us that work on “The Rock” and run the lifts, the first day usually feels like the longest we spend on the mountain all season. Here’s why. First off, I gotta drag my ass out of bed at zero dark thirty. For those of you that don’t habla, that means super frickin’ early. And let me tell you something, getting up at that hour after a late night of playing Beer Pong and Spades ain’t real easy to do. Probably doesn’t help that I have been doing that all summer long and sleeping till 10 or 11 in the morning either. Thankfully, it’s just a short stumble up to the lodge where the real fun begins. Once I fill up my two-gallon coffee mug with the kitchen’s finest jet-fuel, I try to avoid getting accosted by any one of the super-perky new ski school instructors who no doubt arrived three hours early for work. You can spot them a mile away. Hair perfectly styled, clean shaven, brighteyed and blathering a mile a minute about how excited they are, etc. I respond to the usual question of “How long have you worked here?” by growling, “Ever since I got out of Walla Walla after doing a nickel stretch.” They usually don’t bother me after that. In fact, most of them avoid making eye contact all together. After donning my cold weather gear, I make my way to the lift-loading area and get ready for the
day. I always load ski patrollers who are heading up early to make sure the mountain is good to go, and nearly all of them give me high-fives or wish me luck. But there always has to be a few tools who think their excrement is not odorous. If I even hear “Make sure my seat is dry” or “You need to learn how to shovel the ramp,” I can guarantee the chair will hit them just right in the back of the calf, every time they load. I’ve got a short fuse and a long memory. When the public finally shows up, I know it’s going to be one of those opening days if the first person in line asks me how the snow is up top. Dude, do I really look like I have been conscious for more than an hour? Let alone making turns since sunrise just to tell you how good it may or may not be? Did you actually read the ski report? It says there is 20 inches on top, which really means there might be 12, and it’s probably like rock hard concrete or has brush poking through. Either way, methinks you chose poorly by bringing your new skis up. It’s late November, so be thankful that the lifts are running at all. But I always remember that informative 15-minute customer service video we watch during training every year, and I respond with a smile that even the Cheshire Cat would envy. “Epic conditions, bro. Best opening day ever – cheers.” Editor’s Note: Piste Off Liftie is a new, tongue-incheek column exploring the fictional exploits of a quintessential dirt-bag ski lift operator. Enjoy!
BETH.ZINNIA@GMAIL.COM
509.276.0043 December 2015
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on the mountain Ski Tuning
December 2015 Retro Ski Pass Contest WINNERS!
The Importance of Well-Tuned Edges
December winners score a lift ticket from one of our awesome resort sponsors!
By Chic Burge
When people think of maintaining their skis, they usually think of waxing the bases for a smooth glide. We all know a smooth glide is necessary, but there’s something that’s just as important. Sharp edges are as critical as a smooth glide. Pull your skis down off the wall and feel (carefully) the steel edges. Do they have rough edges? When skiing, does it feel like your skis slip out of your turns prematurely? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you might consider taking your skis into your local shop to have your edges tuned. Sharp edges allow you to carve your turns without slippage. There are too many specifics on edge filing to tell you about here, so be sure to have someone else walk you through how to do it right (watching experts on YouTube showing you how it’s done can also help). Be sure to follow instructions on how to use all of the tools exactly like they were designed to be used (many companies also have instructional videos online). Look for ski and snowboard tuning tools for waxing and sharpening edges at Mountain Gear, REI or your local ski shop. Properly sharpened edges will make your ski day a lot more enjoyable. //
top: So sweet – Lori Raney Bottom: Snow Blaze (aka Mt. Spokane) – Poncho Landa
Wax on, wax off. DIY ski tuning. Photo: Shallan Knowles
Tools of the Trade
If you want to give DIY edge tuning a try, here are the tools you will need. • One-degree base file holder. This devise holds your file at a one-degree slope that allows the base to be beveled for easier turns. • Bastard file (about 10” long) that will fit into the base file holder. • Variable side-edge tuner. This variable file holder is used to sharpen the vertical edge. • One short bristle brush for cleaning out the file grooves between filings. • 4-inch diamond file to smooth the filed edges to perfection.
Enter your classic ski pass photo for a chance to win lift tickets this winter. Full contest rules at Outtheremonthly.com/retro-ski-passcontest. Next winners selected in December!
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Out There Monthly / DECEMBER 2015
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on the mountain Learn to Ski
Learn to ski and you’ll never look back. Photos courtesy of Ski the Northwest Rockies.
Learn to Ski/Snowboard Month
4 Ways Veteran and First-Time Skiers and Riders Can Get Involved In January
Every January, resorts around North America, including right here in the Inland Northwest, celebrate Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month by offering excellent deals on lessons, rentals and lift tickets for adults and kids who want to get outside and learn to ski or snowboard. Local resorts, including Mt. Spokane, 49 Degrees North, Silver Mountain and Lookout Pass offer unbelievable package deals for beginners all season long, but they pull out all the stops with crazy cheap deals for the month of January. If you’ve ever wanted to learn or introduce a loved one to skiing or snowboarding, this is your chance! Learn more below about all of the amazing Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month opportunities and contests you can take advantage of as a new or veteran skier or snowboarder! Learn to Ski or Snowboard Package Deals for Beginners Learn to Ski package deals at the four participating resorts take the super popular and highly discounted EZ Ski-Ride 1-2-3 program concept – that includes all the gear rentals, lift tickets and professional lessons – and makes it even more affordable with added discounts and other perks for the month of January. Learn more about the EZ Ski-Ride 1-2-3 program and the unique Learn to Ski or Snowboard Month special deals each of
the resorts are offering as they are announced in December at Skinwrockies.com or by visiting these participating resorts’ websites: Ski49n.com, Skilookout.com, Mtspokane.com, Silvermt.com. Bring a Friend Challenge Take the “Bring a Friend Challenge” by helping at least one newcomer enroll in a beginner lesson or lesson package from a professional instructor and fill out a simple registration form to enter to win super quality winter sports prizes! You may be a current skier or snowboarder or a newcomer yourself who invites another beginner to qualify. You can enter more than once as long as you invite and help a different newbie each time. The promotion begins December 1, 2015, and ends February 28, 2016. Find all the details at Skinwrockies.com/learn-a-snowsport-month. First Day Faces If you take your very first ski or snowboard lesson this year, share that fun with friends and family through social media with the First Day Faces contest. Take photos of yourself or friends on your first day of professional lessons and post them on your favorite social media platform using #firstdayfaces to enter to win a ton of great snow sports prizes from Head/Tyrolia, Burton, The North Face, Polarmax, Zeal Optics, Seirus, skis.com and snow-
boards.com. More info: Learntoskiandsnowboard. org/special-programs/firstdayfaces. Be a Part of the World’s Largest Lesson—January 8, 2016 Are you thinking about learning how to ski or ride this winter? Then make plans to be a part of the World’s Largest Lesson on January 8, 2016, at 10 a.m. at any of the participating Ski the Northwest Rockies Resorts: 49 Degrees North, Lookout Pass, Mt. Spokane and Silver Mountain. Together with new skiers and riders at over 140 other resorts around the United States, be a part of the effort to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records. This is not one giant lesson but many ski and snowboard lesson groups all taking place at the same time all across the country. As of late November, Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park announced that the resort will be offering 80 spots for skiers and 40 for snowboarders as part of the World’s Largest Lesson. The cost for one of those lesson spots at Mt. Spokane is $40 for a two-hour group lesson, rental equipment and Chair 5 lift ticket. Visit Skinwrockies.com for details on what your other favorite local resorts are offering as part of the World’s Largest Lesson. Then mark your calendar, tell your friends and get ready to make history! Skinwrockies.com/ worlds-largest-lesson. // December 2015
/ Out There Monthly
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on the mountain backcountry
Left: Sleds parked. Time to start skinning. Right: Deep in the Bitterroot backcountry. Photos: Larry Banks
Going the Distance A Growing Number of Inland NW Backcountry Riders are Using Snowmobiles to Go Farther, Access New Terrain & Still Earn Their Turns By Larry Banks
I roll out of the parking lot at Valley Power Sports in Pinehurst, Idaho, stoked to have my sleds back and ready for the snow to fly as splitboarding season gets going. Wait…what do snowmobiles and splitboards have to do with each other? Here in the Inland Northwest, we have some of the best riding in North America, with a reliable snow pack on the highest peaks even in the worst of ski seasons, as many of these spots are up to 1,000 feet higher than some of the resorts. However, unlike other backcountry skiing and riding areas with easy access where you can drive to the trailhead by car, such as Stevens Pass and Sherman Pass in Washington and Kootenay Pass up in B.C., to hit many of the best backcountry lines in North Idaho requires long slogs on touring gear, which in some cases would take much of a day or longer to reach. Fortunately, many of these areas already have roads groomed specifically for snowmobile touring, paid through snowmobile registration fees that fund education and maintenance projects, that backcountry skiers and riders on sleds can readily reach for day touring. All one needs is a basic snowmobile, GPS, review of Google Earth, a ski or splitboard setup, avalanche gear (and
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Out There Monthly / DECEMBER 2015
the ability to use it all properly), and the latest avalanche bulletin information to take advantage of a vast expanse of riding opportunities far beyond the reach of nearly all climbing skinpowered backcountry skiers and riders. (For more information about splitboarding, check out “Split Personality: The Evolution of Backcountry Snowboarding” at Outtheremonthly.com). Despite the fact that the vast majority of sledassisted backcountry riders avoid popular areas in places that are frequented by most day-touring backcountry skiers and splitboarders, there seems to be lingering misunderstanding and controversy surrounding responsible sled-accessed riding, which consists of using the snowmobile for transportation instead of skinning the many long roads that are already groomed for snowmobile recreation. With this type of sled-accessed riding, the snowmobile is used to reach an end point location where the machines are parked and the backcountry rider uses climbing skins to go deeper into the mountains where most snow vehicles cannot access. The benefits of having a snowmobile for this type of touring are many, including the ability to access terrain that few if any other human-
powered skiers and splitboarders are riding; the reduction of trekking fatigue; allowing for transport of more gear such as food, water and safety equipment; and making such deep backcountry excursions more safe in the event of emergency situations where an injured person, whether skier or snow machine user, may need to be extracted. To note, there are other types of sled-based skiing that can be more controversial, including when two riders use a sled to power up the mountain before one rider skis or snowboards the targeted slope, while the other person rides the snowmobile back to the bottom. Using sleds to make laps in this way is more common in alpine areas of the Selkirks and Canada, but there are occasional instances of this type of sled-based skiing occurring in other areas in North Idaho that are popular with day-touring skiers and splitboarders, and this is likely where much of the controversy around sled-accessed riding in the backcountry community stems from. The use of snowmobiles for backcountry access is not new, but now due to population growth as well as ease of use, there are more participants than ever. The same can be said for non-motorized backcountry enthusiasts who head out
to enjoy the solitude of the backcountry. This increase of all types of winter recreation has led to some conflict between different user groups. Accommodating both groups and their different expectations is difficult, but compromises can be gained if user groups work together. Snowmobilers, including skiers and splitboarders who use sleds to access the backcountry, should also do what they can to minimize conflict with non-motorized users. Giving respectable breadth between each other and slowing down when approaching those on foot/ski and even stopping to talk with touring groups to discuss where you are riding, conditions, etc., can help. Avoiding riding sleds in areas that are popular with non-motorized winter recreationists will also go a long way to improve relations. If you venture into the deep backcountry for skiing/boarding in our area, you’ll see the benefits of sled-access riding quickly. To learn more about skiing and splitboarding around the Inland Northwest and to get connected with other like-minded tourers, check out PanhandleBackcountry.com. //
Skiing at Whitewater Ski Resort. Photo by Dave Heath.
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OutdoorCalendar DECEMBER 2015 RUNNING (December 5) Jingle Bell Walk/Run. Where:
Riverfront Park, Spokane. This fundraising event is a fun and festive 5K run or walk that benefits arthritis research. Info: Arthritis.org/get-involved/ jingle-bell-run-walk.
(December 12) Reindeer Run. Where: McEuen Park, Coeur d’Alene. When: 8 a.m. Christmas themed two-loop 5K. Cost: $22 Info: 208-765-7604. (December 12) Santa Runs Tacoma. Where: Tacoma, WA. When: 8:30 a.m. Three distances on a race course that includes the Murray Morgan Bridge. Distances include 1K, 5K and 10K. Info: Santarunstacoma.com/ (December 29) Resolution Run. Where: Riverfront
Park, Spokane. When: 6:45 p.m. 5K run/walk through the park with the opportunity to write a resolution to carry on the run and burn in the fire pit at the end of the run. Info: FirstNightSpokane.org.
BIKING (Wednesdays) Weekly training rides. Where:
Coeur d’Alene Bike Co. When: 5:30 p.m. Training for Ironman, spring rides, or just to keep your legs moving. Rides are paired with 115” projector screen. Beer to follow rides. Bring your own bike and trainer, rentals are limited. Info: 208-966-4022.
SIXMONTH TRAINING CALENDAR RUNNING (April 17) Spokane River Run. Where: Riverside
State Park. Annual trail run held through beautiful pine forest along the Spokane River. Courses range from 50K to 5K. Info: SpokaneRiverRun. com
(May 1) Lilac Bloomsday Run. Winter Wonderland is a fully-washed coffee from Huehuetenango, Guatemala. It will have aromas of brown sugar and dried fruit, flavors of lime and grape, aftertastes of chocolate and spice, a nippy acidity, a smooth body, and a balanced sweetness. Enjoy this coffee as a pour-over, drip or espresso. Artwork is produced by Missoula artist, Josh Quick and letter pressed at DOMA’s in-house press room.
Where: Downtown Spokane. Spokane’s most famous 12K fun run. Info: BloomsdayRun.org
(May 21) Spokane Troika Half Triathlon. Where: Medical Lake. Options include Olympic Course, Long Course and Sprint Course. Info: TroikaTriathlon.com
WINTERSPORTS (February 19-21) Kootenay Coldsmoke Powder Festival. Where: Whitewater Ski Resort, Nelson, B.C. A festival for skiers, snowboarders/splitboarders and tele skiers looking to enjoy socials, films, competitions and resort and backcountrybased clinics. Info: ColdSmokePowderFest.com
(January 9) Winter Trails Day. Where: Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Sandpoint, ID. Join Snowsports
WINTERSPORTS (December 3) Cross-Country Skiing Basics Class. Where: REI Spokane. When: 7 p.m. Information and tips for getting into cross country skiing. Info: REI.com/stores/Spokane.html
(December 4-5) Brundage Mountain @ WSU Ski & Gear Swap. Where: Hollingbery Fieldhouse,
Pullman, WA. Stop by Brundage Mountain’s booth at the swap to enter for a chance to win a College Season Pass. Don’t forget to check out the great deals on gear while at the swap. Info: Brundage.com.
(December 12) Valley Demo Days. Where:
Whitefish Mountain Resort, Whitefish, MT. When: 9 a.m. Try out the latest ski and board equipment for free. National ski reps will be on hand to provide demos. Info: Skiwhitefish.com
(December 18) Mt Spokane’s Night Skiing Kickoff Party. Where: Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park,
Mead, WA. When: 3:30 p.m. Join in the fun at Mt. Spokane’s annual Night Skiing Kickoff Party. There will be live music and the chance to win prizes at the Foggy Bottom Lounge. Info: Mtspokane.com
(December 19) Family Treasure Hunt. Where: Kimberley Alpine Resort, Kimberley, B.C. When: 11 a.m. Gather a team of five and hunt for “treasures” hidden on the ski hill. Prizes will be awarded for the top three teams. Info: Skikimberley.com
caves and search for animal tracks. Bring a lunch each day. Transportation, snowshoes, skiing equipment, trail passes and instruction provided. Info: SpokaneParks.org/Recreation.
(December 25) Annual Christmas Day Buffet. Where: Lookout Pass, Mullan, ID. When: 11 a.m. Looking for somewhere to go Christmas day? Stop by the base lodge at Lookout Pass for a warm meal served 11 a.m. -2p.m. Info: Skilookout.com
(December 26) Moonlight Snowshoe Hikes. Where: Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Sandpoint, ID. When: 5 p.m. Enjoy picturesque views of Sandpoint as you snowshoe through old growth forests by the light of the moon. Info: Schweitzer.com
(December 31) Torchlight Parade and Fireworks. Where: Tamarack Resort, ID. When: 5:30 p.m. Kick of the New Year with a bonfire, torchlight parade, and fireworks. Info: Tamarackidaho.com
OTHER (December 5-6) Wilderness First Aid. Where:
Sandpoint, ID. The LWM Wilderness First Aid course provides a sound introduction to wilderness emergency medical training. This course is ideal for individuals who take frequent trips into the backcountry or who may be called on to respond during a natural disaster. Cost: $150 Info: Longleafmedical.com
(December 21-22) Camp Youth Winter Adventure. Where: Starts at Mountain Gear Parking
(December 11-16) Winter Wonderland. Where: Riverside State Park. A party in the park with Santa, hay rides, lights, bonfires and more. Info: RiversideStatePark.org
Industries of America and Schweitzer Mountain for the chance to try snowshoeing or cross-country skiing along any of Schweitzer’s snowshoe or Nordic ski trails. This is a free event. Info: Schweitzer.com
(January 24) Bavarian Brews, Brats & Music Festival. Where: Lookout Pass, Mullan, ID. Enjoy
(January 9) Silver Star Rail Jam. Where: Silver Star Mountain Resort, B.C. When: 6 p.m. Talented skiers and snowboarders will be competing in the Smith Optics Rail Jam at Silver Star village. Info: Skisilverstar.com
(February 12) Snowshoe Headlamp Hike. Walk
(January 9) Kinky Rail Jam. Where: Fernie Alpine Resort, Fernie, B.C. Compete for prizes against other skiers and snowboarders at the RCR Rail park. Info: Skifernie.com
(February 20) Cross Country Moonlight Ski & Dinner. When: 6 p.m. Moonlight snowshoe
Lot. When: 9 a.m. Ages 9-12 will to learn cross country ski and snowshoe at 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort. They will also learn to build snow
(January 10) Cross Country Ski Trip Geophysical Area. Twist and turn along the groomed trails near
Newport, WA. Includes instructors, equipment and transportation. Bring lunch and water. Cost: $35. Info: SpokaneParks.org/Recreation
(January 23) Skijoring Introduction. learn to
Skijor with your pooch. Ski-driving or Skijoring in Norwegian, is a dog-powered sport where canine athletes pull you on cross country skis. Class covers equipment, dog-training and fitness and a chance to try it. Cost: $29 Info: SpokaneParks.org/Recreation
local brews, brats, and Bavarian music at this annual event. Info: Skilookout.com
through the quiet forest of Mt. Spokane with hot chocolate at resting stops. Equipment, guides and transportation provided. Info: SpokaneParks.org/ Recreation
through the woods to an Italian dinner by Trezzi Farm. Includes ski, equipment, dinner and guides. Cost: $42 Info: SpokaneParks.org/Recreation
OTHER (January 16) Tracking Class with Brian Baxter. Where: Heron, MT. Learn to “read sign” with class and field time, regardless of weather. Info: ScotchmanPeaks.org
(April 9) Big Birds with Brian Baxter. Where: Heron, MT. Search the lower Clark Fork and Bull River valleys for eagles, hawks, herons, geese and other birds. Info: ScotchmanPeaks.org
Have an Event You Would Like to List? domacoffee.com 32
Out There Monthly / DECEMBER 2015
Please visit www.outtheremonthly.com and click “Add Event” under the “Outdoor Calendar” tab to get your events listed online and considered for the monthly print magazine calendar. To be considered for the print calendar, events MUST be entered by the 20th of the month to be listed in the following month’s issue. Please follow the instructions for submitting an event using the web form.
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Last Page
How to Fail in a Satisfactory Manner While Skiing in Glacier National Park // By Mikell Bova
Left: Lena Lake Couloir (skier Kevin Oberholser). Right: GNP creek crossing. Bottom: Big mountain, little skier. Photos: Mikell Bova
Step Five: Commit to failing. When Kevin and I finally regained the trail we had missed, it was obvious that we had taken too much time. The rising sun and increase in temperature were taking their toll, and we were still too far from our goal. It was time to find another option. We had spied from the parking lot some good skiing north of Allen Mountain on the ridgeline now directly above us. A few quick hikes down and back the trail and we found what seemed like the easiest means to gain the snow. Another quick, but more forgiving bushwhack, and we clicked into our skis and skinned up a slope, traversing south to what appeared to be the longest continuous snow patch we had seen earlier that morning. Soon we were under our slide path; the incline was such that booting straight up our run was going to be the fastest and easiest option. Skis strapped to our backpacks, crampons strapped to our boots, one foot after another, the climb continued. We had failed, but plan B was shaping up to be a pleasing consolation prize.
Step One: Have success on a recent outing. In our case, Kevin and I had enjoyed delicious corn skiing on four ski descents the day prior, scoring great skiing conditions throughout the day and linking up turns down the Lena Lake Couloir, Red Crow Peak and Calf Robe Mountain in the seldom-visited southeast corner of Glacier National Park. In fact, so seldom is this area visited that the trailhead is a pullout along Highway 2, and the entrance to the park involves a quick jaunt over some train tracks. It was one of those rare spring days in the backcountry where the skier is treated to soft corn snow from the first run to the last. Besides the Logan Pass area, skiing in Glacier National Park is generally not an easy outing. Getting to ski the Lena Lake Couloir, followed by skiing off two summits, was truly a treat. An ass kicking was sure to follow. Step Two: Have an excuse. During our previous day’s outing, I had noticed something odd on our ascents of Red Crow Peak and Calf Robe Mountain: I was summiting before Kevin. I had met Kevin while he was a Physician’s Assistant student at the University of Washington’s MEDEX program in Spokane a few years prior, and he immediately became one of my favorite ski partners. Kevin was a collegiate long distance runner who had succumbed to the pull of the mountains a long time ago. Needless to say, Kevin was usually quite a bit faster than me on the ascents. To find myself on the tops of these peaks before him was an anomaly. Something was off, and he would later admit that he was feeling sick. We had our excuse.
still wanted to give Allen Mountain a try. We had a good amount of dry miles to cross before we would hit snow and begin our ascent, so we kept trying to push the pace faster. We closely studied our map of the area beforehand, and
I guess that is just the way it is skiing Glacier National Park Step Three: Make a mistake. We took off from the Swiftcurrent Trailhead in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park in silence. Kevin had voiced concerns about feeling sick but 34
Out There Monthly / DECEMBER 2015
the path to follow seemed obvious. Yet, when we came to the first turn, we missed it. A half mile later, we were on the wrong shoreline of Lake Josephine. We realized our mistake but neglected to correct it.
Step Four: Fjord a stream. If you find yourself with your pants off, skis on your back and feet in freezing cold water, you’ve failed. Never have I had success after finding myself bent over with nauseating pain as the feeling rushes back into feet that have just been subjected to ice-cold water. A lack of detail in our map showed that we could simply walk along the west shore of Lake Josephine, bushwhack a short distance up the hillside and soon regain the trail we had missed. In actuality, we had to fjord a stream that connected Josephine and Swiftcurrent Lakes and bushwhack through thick alder. This timeconsuming penalty would be our final blow.
Step Six: Enjoy the failure. At some point after you’re committed to failing, you will embrace it, and despite the feelings of disappointment, you will realize that you are still in a beautiful place with snow to ski as far as the eye can see. As we continued to climb up towards the ridgeline, the disappointment of not obtaining our day’s objective soon dissipated as some of Glacier’s largest peaks surrounded us. The beauty seeped into our pores. Soon we were sitting just below the ridge enjoying snacks and marvelous views of Mount Grinnell, Angel Wing and Mount Gould. Our day’s objective was soon forgotten as we linked one glorious turn after another through supple, sun-kissed snow. 2,400 vertical feet delivered down a consistent pitch made for a memorable failed attempt, but I guess that is just the way it is skiing Glacier National Park. //
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Photo: Kendall Rittenour 36
Out There Monthly / DECEMBER 2015
Black Diamond Men’s & Women’s Trail Pro Shock Poles $139.95
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