Out There Monthly - March 2015

URBAN PERMACULTURE | EARLY SEASON FLY FISHING MARCH 2015 // FREE

THE INLAND NW GUIDE TO OUTDOOR ADVENTURE, TRAVEL AND THE OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE

Spring

WILDLIFE HIKES More Reasons to Ride Beacon It's Still Winter Somewhere Cyclists in CDA Unite!

Love & The Great Outdoors Hike + Spot Birds + Drink Wine

OUTTHEREMONTHLY.COM

ASSORTED SKIS AND BOOTS

30%OFF

ALL CRAFT & HOT CHILLY’S BASE LAYERS

30%OFF

ALL REGULAR PRICED WAXES & TOOLS

20%OFF

Shop Early for Best Selection Enjoy the final days of winter with Great Gear at Low Prices

30%OFF TUNE-UP TIME! ALL WINTER APPAREL

SPRING RIDING IS HERE! Bring your bike in today for your annual Tune Up!

$

BASIC TUNE-UP

60

ALL TIRES AND TUBES

20

NEW 2015 BIKES HAVE ARRIVED Great selection from Orbea, Cervelo, Scott, Fuji and QR

GROUP ROAD RIDES: Starting April 2 Thursday Nights at 6:00 PM

JOIN US FOR OUR

SPRING OPEN HOUSE

%OFF

DURING MARCH

BIKE MAINTENANCE CLASS FOR BEGINNERS Wednesday, March 18th 6:00 PM • Cost $15 Sign Up Now! Space is Limited

April 17th • 5:00–8:00pm Factory reps from the bike and triathlon industry will be on hand to show new products and answer questions.

For a complete list of suppliers visit our website.

Light Snacks & Great Swag Drawings!

First 25 people in the door will get a great swag bag filled with cool stuff.

See What’s NEW for 2015

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK 509.922.6080 • 12425 E. TRENT WWW.FITFANATICS.COM SHOP RIDES START APRIL 2ND AT 6PM

2

Out There Monthly / March 2015

March 2015

/ Out There Monthly

3

In This Issue p.5 / From the Editor

MONTHLY

The Art of Adaptability

p.6 / Out There News

Out There Monthly / March 2015

p.8 / Hike of the month Old Kettle Falls

p.9 / Running Marathon Training

www.outtheremonthly.com Publishers

Shallan & Derrick Knowles Editor

Derrick Knowles

p.10 / outdoor living Leaf, Root, Fungi, Fruit: Gobo

24HOUR MTN BIKE RACE

A team relay mountain bike race, beginning at noon on Saturday, May 23rd and ending at noon on Sunday, May 24th.

Teams and solos compete for medals, prizes and bragging rights.

May 23 & 24 • Riverside State Park ▪ Spokane REGISTER TODAY ▪ SPACE IS LIMITED iron horse

brewery ellensburg, wa

p.11 / Everyday Cyclist Bike CdA

p.12 / Fishing A Good Day on the River

p.13 / Out There Spotlight Early Years of the Mountaineers

p.14 / Outdoor Living Wilderness Loving Hunters and Anglers

p.16 / River Rambles Rounding the River Bank

TO REGISTER: ROUNDANDROUND.COM

p.17 / Outdoor Living Love & The Great Outdoors

p.18 / Race Report

Visual Editor

Shallan Knowles senior writers

Jon Jonckers Brad Naccarato Amy Silbernagel McCaffree Contributing Writers:

Larry Banks Chic Burge Kelly Chadwick Steve Durham John Eliason Hank Greer Jeff Holmes Derrick Knowles Bea Lackaff Ammi Midstokke Beth Mort Brad Northrup Aaron Theisen Ann Torigoe-Hawkins Holly Weiler Jerry White Jr. Contributing photographers:

Randy Dingman Kari Medig Skye Schillhammer Art + Production

Art Director - Shallan Knowles Contributing Designer - Brad Naccarato online content coordinator

Crystal Gartner Circulation director

p.20 / Outdoor Living Urban Permaculture

p.22 / Spring Wildlife Hikes p.24 / Outdoor Living Hiking and Paddling the Hanford Reach

p.26 / Biking Recent Trail Building at Beacon

p.27 / The Buzz Bin p.28-29 / INW OUTDOOR & 6-Month Training Calendar p.30-33 / on The Mountain It’s Still Winter Somewhere Spring Season Pass Deals Marijuana in the Mountains Ski Bum Advice Split Personality

p.34 / Last Page

Dezi Nagyfy 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. ©Copyright 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 areknowledgeable about the risks, and are personally willing to assume all responsibility associated with those risks.

Printed on 50% recycled paper with soy based inks in the Spokane Valley

Phenology of People’s Park

On the cover: Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge encompasses approximatley 18,000 acres of wildlife Habitat & wetlands. // Photo: Jon Jonckers 4

Out There Monthly / March 2015

PROUD MEMBER OF

From The Editor: The Art of Adaptability This winter will go down as one of the toughest seasons on record for Northwest winter sports enthusiasts, ski resorts and shops. If you have boards gathering dust in your gear room, look on the bright side. Next year has got to be better (knock, knock…).

Winters like this one are a good reminder that if we want to play with Mother Nature, we need to be flexible and come recreationally equipped to play by her rules. That means being ready to take advantage of whatever the season brings, which may mean buying a fat bike to extend your riding season, taking up tele skiing on resort groomers, finding a more flexible job to hit more sporadic powder days, or trying to check off hikes in the “Best Desert Hikes: Washington” book. Anything is better than complaining about the

weather.

While the spring-like conditions have quadrupled the number of people out on the trails around Spokane, it’s also been a little creepy out there. The other day I was sitting out in the backyard in a t-shirt and shorts, soaking up some low-angled, mid-February sun, when a honey bee buzzed my head as I dozed in a lawn chair.

I surveyed the yard and noticed several flies frantically circling our chicken coop and other unidentifiable insects passing through our pinched urban airspace. On closer inspection, I discovered volunteer kale and other greens coming up in the garden and a rose bush butted up to the house sprouting leaves. A few hardy perennials were poking out of the soil too, exposing bright green shoots that seemed awkwardly out of place in the flat,

mid-winter light. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any weirder, a mourning dove started cooing from the giant Douglas fir tree on the side of the house and a redolent whiff of charcoal briquettes and sizzling steak drifted in from somewhere in the neighborhood.

I remember the last winter kind of like this one around a decade ago. Hiking out on the John Wayne Trail south of Cheney on the last day of January, a butterfly followed us down the trail for a ways, and I picked a tick off my sunburnt leg back at the truck.

Strange winters like this seem to be part of a natural cycle, but if you believe in science and statistics, signs point to increasingly warmer temps globally for the long haul. And while we can adapt our recreational pursuits to shifting weather patterns and a chang-

ing climate, native fish, wildlife and forests don’t have the same luxury of easily adapting their way out of drought, disease, and more extreme wildfires (all of which are expected to increase with climate change). Farmers and ski resorts also face significant challenges to their survival without substantial snowpacks. Relatively speaking, the disruption of the accustomed recreational patterns of the rest of us is small potatoes when you put it into perspective.

Whether you’re a skier, snowboarder, whitewater rafter, angler, backcountry mountain biker, wilderness hiker or snow farmer, let’s all do a dance for a cold, wet spring. // Derrick Knowles, Editor

That floating feeling of taking off your pack, now available all day long.

Introducing the NEW Osprey Anti-Gravity Suspension: Innovative, revolutionary, maybe even a little bit of magic.

PHOTO / DAN HOLZ

ATMOS AG TM / AURA AG TM SERIES Feel it to believe it at a retailer near you. ospreypacks.com/dealerlocator

Relieve Soreness Improve Performance

Healing Balance Massage Therapy March Special mention this ad and receive

Reduce Chronic Pain $15 off your massage.

Relieve Muscle Tension Increase Range of Motion Reduce Scar Tissue

specializing in deep tissue & sports massage Contact Lynn Short, LMP #60232419 Book your appointment today at

www.HealingBalanceMassage.com 503-772-4340 March 2015

/ Out There Monthly

5

Out ThereNews Local Climber Scales Patagonia’s Cerro Torre Cerro Torre is often labeled the most beautiful peak in the world, and it frequently draws the most devoted technical alpinists to its climbing challenges. The surrounding cluster of mountains is commonly known as Patagonia, but Cerro Torre is the unique granite needle that is a prized climbing accomplishment due to the terrain, weather and the aesthetics.

On December 17, 2014, Spokane native Jess Roskelley managed to reach the summit after a brutal three-day ascent. Along with climbing partner Ben Erdmann, Roskelley summited via the West Face, known as “The Ragni Route.” “I have been there [Patagonia] three times now. This was the first major thing I’ve climbed there because the other times we didn’t have very stellar weather.

You need a solid weather window to get that thing

done,” says Roskelley. Cerro Torre is only 10,262 feet above sea level, but its vertical relief from the surrounding valley floor is over 4,000 feet, which is over 1,000 feet higher than the Dawn Wall on El Cap in Yosemite. In the past 50 years, many of the world’s greatest climbers have been turned back from the summit.

Adidas, Camp, and MojoLab sponsor Roskelley, and he is quick to credit their support whenever he talks about the climb. He also focuses on the partnership with Erdmann. “Ben and I work well because he is powerful on rock and very fast at aiding pitches, and I’m usually climbing all the ice.

On big alpine climbs, if there is a pitch I don’t like, he will always want it and vice versa. Most importantly I put my life in his hands, and I have his life in mine. We are a badass team.” // (Jon Jonckers)

Cyclist to Ride Cross Country to Support Cancer Care Allison Perrine is a 23 year old nursing student as WSU Spokane who has experienced the suffering involved with battling cancer in a very personal way. In 2011, Perrine lost her mother to breast cancer. The experience set her on a course to make battling cancer a part of her everyday life. Perrine is currently going to school to become an oncology nurse, and this summer, she will join other cyclists from around the country for the 4K for Cancer, a 4,000 mile ride across America that raises money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. Perrine’s goal is to raise over $10,000 to support the UCF college scholarship fund for young adult cancer patients attending college, as well as UCF’s many other cancer care programs, including patient navigation services, monthly support groups,

fertility preserving treatments, and cancer treatment education the organization offers around the country. “I will ride in a group of 30 students from Baltimore to San Francisco. On our 70-day journey we will average 80 miles per day of riding. Along the way we will stop at local hospitals and community centers to deliver scholarships and chemo care packages and to do awareness presentations,” she says. Perrine is especially looking forward to climbing to 12,183ft in Rocky Mountain National Park. When she is not studying and preparing for her ride, she works for the LIVESTRONG program at the YMCA helping cancer patients regain their strength and to build community. For more information or to make a donation, visit: 4kforcancer.org/profiles/ allison-perrine. //

Mt. Spokane Expansion Approval Provokes Legal Challenge Back in late December, the coalition of conservation groups and individuals that have served as the organized opposition to the ski resort expansion plans at Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park issued a press release announcing that they had retained an attorney to challenge the Washington Parks and Recreation Commission land use classification decision that approved the expansion in November 2014.

In the release, former Spokane County Commissioner John Roskelley reiterated the opposition’s familiar rallying cry that “Mt. Spokane State Park belongs to all the citizens of the state of Washington, not just to one small user group of skiers from the Spokane area for less than four months a year.” The press release went on to accuse the Commission of ignoring its own regulations and policies and for relying on an Environmental Impact Statement that “failed to adequately disclose the project’s significant impacts and failed to adequately respond to comments submitted to the Commission.” Those sound like fighting words.

Roskelley confirmed in a follow-up statement that the fight over the Mt. Spokane ski area expansion isn’t over. “It is evident from the Parks Commission decision that the majority, in a five to two vote, ignored the science presented by the WDFW, the DNR, and other best available science presented to the Commission by experts in their fields. In addition, the Commission failed to follow the Parks Commission policy 73-04-1, E.1 on Protecting Washington State Park’s Natural Resources; failed to request documented facts from Mt. Spokane 2000 on the non-profit’s prolific inaccurate hearsay evidence, including number of skier days and accidents in the PASEA; refused to accept the science and documented historical trend behind climate change in Washington; and failed to follow the Parks Commission’s dual mission of protecting state park’s natural resources

6

Out There Monthly / March 2015

equally with providing quality recreation opportunities. With such overwhelming disregard for the public’s natural resources by a state commission, I and a number of conscientious nonprofits will be seeking to overturn the Parks Commission’s decisions in court.”

Responding to the threat of a legal challenge, Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park General Manager Brad McQuarrie noted that the Commission had voted to approve the expansion plan allowing for a chairlift and seven new runs on the mountain’s backside to serve the growing public demand for outdoor recreation in the Spokane region. “This decision underscores that the approved plan provides a strong community benefit, balancing public safety and recreation with environmental preservation and stewardship,” McQuarrie said. “The monumental vote came after more than a decade of extensive planning, studies, and due diligence, which included a great deal of work with the environmental community to address their concerns and identify a viable expansion plan that resulted in reducing the footprint to 80 acres from 770 acres. Today, we are moving ahead with the permitting process and preparations to install the Red Chair (a lift we already purchased) with plans to open for the 2015/16 ski season.”

McQuarrie went on to cite the quadrupling of skier visits at Mt. Spokane in recent years (from 22,250 in 1997 to over 90,000 in 2013) along with the ski area’s affordability, proximity to Spokane and that fact that Mt. Spokane has one of the largest ski schools in the Inland Northwest as other reasons the resort expansion is warranted.

“The expansion will serve a diverse skier population and benefit the region socially, economically and recreationally as we continue to serve as good stewards of the land and provide accessible, affordable recreation for everyone,” added McQuarrie. //

Allison on a “training” ride for her crosscountry adventure.

Opening Day for Trails—Guided Hikes and Rides (March 28) Can’t wait to get out on the trails? You’re not alone. Several outdoor recreation oriented organizations have banded together to host a local “Opening Day for Trails” event in Spokane March 28. Affiliated with other Opening Day for Trails events loosely coordinated by the Rails-toTrails Conservancy around the country, the local event will include guided hikes and bike rides on several different Spokane area trails (most will be in the one-to two-hour range). After the outings, participants can meet up back at “The Nest” in Kendall Yards from 2-4 p.m. for a social gettogether where there will be information from outdoor recreation clubs and organizations about future spring and summer outings.

Register with local outing leaders before Thursday, March 26, by contacting the specific outing leader for whatever excursion you want to join. Watch Out There Monthly’s Facebook page for more details or contact Lunell Haught with the Inland Northwest Trails Coalition at Lunellh@aol. com for more information. Bring your own shoes, boots or bike depending on the outing, as well as water, snacks, and appropriate clothing.

As of late February, Opening Day for Trails events include the following outings: 1. Hike:

Dishman Natural Area, meet at Camp Caro Trailhead at noon (leader TBA); 2. Hike: Dishman Natural Area Glenrose to Cliffs, 10 a.m. (leader TBA); 3. Hike: Fish Lake Trail Sunset Boulevard and Government Way Trailhead, 10 a.m. (contact: Gardner Bailey for the Hobnailers Hiking Club, Perferrer3@comcast.net); 4. Hike: Spokane Mountaineers Hike, 10 a.m. (contact: Holly Weiler, hmweiler@yahoo.com); 5. Hike: Riverside State Park’s Ranger Station to Deep Creek and back, 10 a.m. (contact: Carin Hubbard for Riverside State park Foundation, www.riversidestatepark.org); 6. Tandem Bike Ride: Spokane City Parks and Recreation tandem bike ride (more info: Rgriffith@spokanecity.org); 7. MTB Ride (easy to intermediate): Riverside State Park 7 Mile Trailhead (7903 W Missoula Road, Nine Mile Falls), 2-3 p.m. (led by Ted Moon for Riverside State Park Foundation); 8. Hike: Deep Creek Preserve Public Tour, Audubon Lake Wildlife Area, Reardan, 10 a.m. to noon. (contact: garry@ ouraynet.com); 9. Women Only Hike: Easy 2.5 mile women only hike with Ms. Adventures at McKenzie Conservation Area, 10 a.m. to noon. (contact: www.meetup.com/Ms-Adventures-ofthe-Inland-Northwest). //

We’ve got...

SNOW

Photo: Doug LePage

shopping, dining, events, hot springs and 20% off* pretty much everything!

Come with friends or family to the Nelson Kootenay Lake area (3 hours north of Spokane) for a spring getway: alpine ski at Whitewater Ski Resort, xc ski at Apex, experience a couple days of cat skiing or just relax in Nelson, Kaslo or at Ainsworth Hot Springs.

Photo: David Gluns

* The US dollar is getting about 20 cents on the Canadian dollar right now. Take advantage of this great Canadian travel opportunity!

VISIT NELSONKOOTENAYLAKE.COM PLACES 2 STAY • TRAVEL DEALS • ARTS & CULTURE • SHOPPING • DINING

Nelson • Balfour • Ainsworth Hot Springs • Kaslo Lardeau • Meadow Creek | British Columbia, Canada March 2015

/ Out There Monthly

7

HikeOfTheMonth

Old Kettle Falls, Lake Roosevelt (Kettle Falls, WA) // Hike of the Month and photos by Holly Weiler

A Different way to experience Lake Roosevelt

Since I still want to believe that winter will return and there will be too much snow to access the high country, I am recommending a nice walk on the beach for March. Spring is truly the best time to visit the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area for hikers. The boating crowd isn’t likely to arrive before Memorial Day, and spring water level drawdown reveals special treats that hikers won’t want to miss.

With its playground at the trailhead and rock-skipping potential along shore, this hike is good for families with children. For birdwatchers, eagle sightings are almost guaranteed. History buffs can visit the site of Old Kettle Falls by exploring near the Locust Grove Group Campsite, where the National Park Service has placed markers indicating the layout of the old town site.

From the parking area and picnic shelters, start by hiking west on the trail leading to the shoreline. Cross the sandy beach to reach the water, and after noting the return point by the trees, begin to explore by hiking north along the sandy shore. Interesting artifacts are sometimes exposed as the water level goes down, including wooden water pipes from the old town. Take only photos, as removing historical objects is illegal.

Instead, consider carrying a trash bag to help clean up garbage that is also inevitably revealed by the receding water.

Once satisfied with the beach, hikers have two choices: either reverse direction and possibly extend the hike by including the beach south toward the mouth of the Colville River, or create a loop by hiking inland and connecting with unmarked trails that bring one back to the picnic shelter. If choosing the latter, be sure to carry a map and compass to verify the route. This hike is approximately four miles roundtrip and is dog friendly with a leash.

Getting there: From Spokane, head north on Highway 395 through Colville and Kettle Falls. Just before the Columbia River crossing, turn left (south) on Boise Road. Proceed to Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. Park at the Old Kettle Falls Picnic Area. //

Runners Soul

8

Out There Monthly / March 2015

Running

Marathon Training

Managing Injuries and Cross-training // By Derrick Knowles

This is the second half of an interview on marathon and other long race training strategies with Race Director Ken Eldore, who puts on the Priest Lake Marathon and other Priest Lake area trail runs and races including the Priest Lake Triathlon. If you missed it, check out the first half of the interview at Outtheremonthly.com/ category/running-2/.

OTM: What injury prevention and management tips can you offer, especially for runners looking to complete their first marathon or other long distance race this year?

KE: As your training program progresses to about the midway point, be careful to watch for any signs of injury and address them as soon as possible by seeking help from someone who specializes in sports injuries. Take the time to let any potential injuries rest and heal while they are still a small problem. Running injuries can go from little to huge very fast, and pushing through too hard can lead to disaster. As race director of the Priest Lake Marathon, I get most medical transfer requests due to running injury about six to eight weeks out from race day. That’s when the training volume and long run distances start to really test a runner’s base conditioning. Not making it to race day due to injury is a common occurrence, so having some extra time built into your original plan to back off and rest if something starts to hurt can really help get you to the starting line. Also, when doing your long runs, practice walk breaks if your plan is to do that on race day. Walking some type of intervals during a marathon gets a lot of people to the finish line.

Remember we are not all built to perform like Paula Radcliffe, and having a slow plan or walk

break plan works for many runners. I’ve meet a lot of great Marathon Maniac runners who finish marathons on a regular monthly basis, and many of them include the words “slow” and “walk” in their race strategies. Focus on the joy of your experience by crossing the finish line for the first time, not the race clock.

OTM: Any cross-training advice, including strategies for incorporating mountain biking, cycling, or swimming into training for a long race?

KE: The benefits of cross-training for me personally are huge, and I think especially anyone prone to injury will be better off with mixing in some form of other training like cycling, swimming, weight training or CrossFit. Not only can cross-training be a lot of fun, I really notice a performance difference in my running when I keep cycling in my routine. I myself struggle with lower leg injuries due to a motorcycle accident about 12 years ago. After the accident, continual injury resulted in a number of failed attempts to make it to the marathon distance. The constant impact of running without some other types of strength conditioning was a formula that wasn’t working for me, and on the encouragement of my physical therapist I gave cycling a try. After buying my first road bike, I discovered a love for the sport as well as mountain biking and swimming, which also all fuel my passion for triathlon. For myself, I don’t think it would be possible to finish longer distance races like a marathon without regular cross-training. Throwing a couple of cross-training workouts into your week will add some fun, make you stronger and help get you to the finish line. //

Trail Running Film Fest at the Garland Theater (March 31)

SlowRide SESSION IPA

The Trail Running Film Festival is a collection of the latest and greatest films showcasing the challenges, beauty and community inherent in the world of trail running. This is the second year the film festival has visited Spokane, although the presenter, Rainshadow Running, has been hosting the best trail races in the Northwest for more than a decade.

Notable films include The North Face athletes Mike Wolfe and Hal Koerner attempting the fastest known time of the 211-mile John Muir Trail in California; “The Crossing” is a 20 minute documentary that follows activist, writer and sponsored trail runner Nick Triolo as he organizes and attempts a 70-mile protest run in resistance to open-pit gold mining in Southern Baja, Mexico; and “Around Patagonia” which showcases Jason Schlarb and Jeremy Wolf, best of friends and elite mountain runners, as they head to Patagonia for adventure and to test themselves.

From world class filmmakers to the best works made by weekend warriors, the Trail Running Film Festival takes its audience on a virtual run through forests, up mountains, beyond emotional obstacles and across the finish line.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and the films run from 6-9 on Tuesday, March 31 at the Garland Theater in Spokane. Tickets are $20.

See movie trailers and find out more at www.trailfilmfest.com. // (Jon Jonckers)

Sit Back and Session in Style.

Padded with citrus aromas and a bevy of hops, this could be the most comfortable ride you can have with a sessionable IPA. WIN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE BY TAGGING THE CURRENT ONE. #WESTCOASTSLOWRIDE

Experience life in slow-mo at newbelgium.com/WestCoastSlowRide

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. To enter post a photo to #westcoastslowride. Visit www.newbelgium.com/rules for complete official rules. Must be 21+ and a legal resident of AZ, CA, ID, NV, OR, or WA. Void where prohibited. Begins 12:00:01 am PT on 12/28/14. Ends 11:59:59 pm PT on 5/31/15.

Prize(s) depicted for illustrative purposes only. Actual prize(s) may vary.

SLOW RIDE SESSION IPA IS BREWED BY NEW BELGIUM BREWING FORT COLLINS, CO ©NEW BELGIUM BREWING COMPANY, Fort Collins, CO 80524

March 2015

/ Out There Monthly

9

Outdoor Living Leaf, Root, Fungi, Fruit: Gobo // By Kelly Chadwick Eat it for the name alone. Known in English as Burdock, this common weed, like much of what proliferates outdoors, is not an original part of our landscape, arriving with British settlers hundreds of years ago. In my youth gobo was a favorite food.

It came marinated with sesame seeds on small side plates at traditional sushi joints. My mother served it steamed with other root vegetables, and at the Zen monastery we lived by, it was sliced into soup.

Some folks don’t like its fibrousness. I find the chewy texture, earthy minerality, and artichoke aftertaste draw me inward like the smell of a dessert or subtle incense. The leaves and stems can be eaten, but I haven’t tried that yet. From experience, if you see the words, “can be eaten,” it generally means in the case of starvation or watching your partner grimace. However, when camping, the leaves are used like those of the banana for wrapping food and cooking on coals or a grill. It also predates hops in brewing recipes of yesteryear.

The burdock plant is also a staple amongst natural healers for numerous ailments going back millennium, with a focus on blood purification and skin issues, and is still widely used. FYI, it’s prudent to limit the consumption of potent or medicinal foods.

Burdock is recognized by a rosette of large (often over a foot long) wavy, lobbed, heartshaped leaves with whitish fuzz on the bottom.

Late summer it becomes the culprit behind the round sticky burrs we collect on our beloved sweaters – the bona fide originator of Velcro, produced in the second year after stem and flow-

10

Out There Monthly / March 2015

ers come forth. First year vegetation stays low to the ground and puts its energy toward nutrient production. It can be harvested in this first year with spring offering smaller roots and deeper flavor in the fall.

You’ll find the plant in riparian and disturbed areas. Nearby rural environments are perfect hunting grounds, though it may be growing in your backyard, so look there first. You will need a spade as the roots are often deep and plunging through rocky soil.

Unlike many wild edibles, don’t fret about overharvesting. Burdock is prolific, and the more you eat, the less cockleburs to groom after a summer outing. Animals fall victim too, especially birds.

Besides, the eating of opportunistic species is finally being implemented as a best practice in managing tenacious populations.

Gobo can also be purchased at our local Asian and natural food markets. If you want to order it in a dish, head over to Syringa in Coeur d’Alene, the most authentic sushi restaurant around, where it’s served as a side or in maki.

elliptical leaves.

Culinary Attributes: Clean earthy flavor.

Satisfyingly chewy if you enjoy feeling like a grazing animal, which I do. Lends itself well to Asian flavorings. Think stir-fry, soups, steamed sides.

Wine Pairings: None. It’s an ingredient. If in an Asian dish, pick up dry sparkling wines, Loire Valley reds or a cider. //

Identifying Attributes: Giant wavy leaves with hollow stems and fuzzy bottoms emanating from a central point.

Look-alikes: Rhubarb has solid stems and the poisonous leaves aren’t wooly. It doesn’t grow wild but can be found around yards and farms. Mullen, which is medicinal, grows in large rosettes but is differentiated by fuzzy topped

Top: Gobo Root. Photo courtesy of Jessica and Lon Binder. // Bottom: Burdock Leaf. Photo Courtesy of Shastared

Everyday Cyclist Bike CDA

Building Bike Connections in the Lake City // By Hank Greer

Bike CDA Flying Their Colors.

Photo: Hank Greer

BikeCdA is all about making connections.

And that’s what its founder, Coeur d’Alene Police Officer John Kelly, had in mind last March when he went looking for Tom and Jamie Morgan one day. Tom and Jamie were waiting for other members of the Lake City Flyers cycling group to arrive when Kelly, wearing his uniform, came in asking for them by name.

Jamie remembers thinking, “What did we do?”

As it turned out, nothing wrong and everything right. Kelly was in the middle of creating BikeCdA to promote a safe and active cycling culture in Coeur d’Alene, and wanted Tom and Jamie to join in. Since then BikeCdA has quickly grown. Its Facebook group has nearly 1,200 members now, and in November it became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

In its quest to become a hub for all things bike related, BikeCdA holds a Bike Talk every month at the Calypso Coffee Shop. I attended the January and February meetings.

The number of participants, the projects the group has taken on and the synergy is amazing.

Bike Talk is all about making connections: connecting visitors with bike shops; riders with trails; volunteers with bike-related events; cycling advocates with government agencies; and connecting other BikeCdA advocates with charitable organizations, universities, and even the landfill where members would like to reclaim bikes that have been thrown away.

The meetings are open to everyone. Those in attendance not only learn the status of BikeCdA projects, but also contribute to Coeur d’Alene’s cycling environment in one way or another.

There’s Kirsten Pomerantz, a high school teacher who is on the city Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee and is also the Coeur d’Alene School District liaison to BikeCdA. David Groth, who teaches fifth grade at Sorenson Elementary, volunteered to gather numbers from other schools for the Lights for Life program. Blair Williams, a BikeCdA board member, who has been in a wheelchair for 34 years and decided to get a hand-powered cycle when her daughter started riding a bike. There were other people who identified themselves as “just bike riders,” and their input and participation is just as valuable and appreciated. Upcoming events are discussed, ideas are exchanged, people sign up on the volunteer lists and, most important,

things get done.

The first of BikeCdA’s three ongoing projects is called Lights for Life. During the fall someone noticed there were a lot of bicycles parked in the bike racks at Lakes Middle School and Woodland Middle School. The decreasing hours of light meant the children would be riding in the dark without lights. The group was able to purchase 100 front/rear combo light sets at cost, and now is working with the schools to identify students who could use them.

It also has a bike giveaway program that got started in December. Members gather donated and abandoned bikes, and Tom Morgan, Aaron Young, and Clark Richman tune them up, repair them, or cannibalize them to fix other bikes that go to adults and youths who need them. Sixteen requests were filled a week before Christmas.

Thirty bikes have been given out so far, and they have 20 more ready to roll out the door. Tom’s goal is to give out 200 bikes this year. Aaron told the group how one woman got bikes for her children because they lived close to the trail. But then she thought she should get one too so she could ride with them, which is exactly the goal of the group: getting more people into cycling.

The last project has yet to hold its first event.

BikeCdA is planning bike rodeos for kids within the Coeur d’Alene schools with the idea of promoting cycling and an active lifestyle. The fact that nobody in the group has done a bike rodeo before doesn’t faze them one bit, although they are realistic about the learning opportunities and proactive in their approach to the challenges ahead.

One such challenge is the need to create a vested interest for each recipient towards the bike they receive. The group is discussing ideas like having people complete a maintenance course or work some volunteer hours first. And their greatest challenge may be increasing the bike and pedestrian input within the city planning and traffic engineering departments, but with their collective energy and momentum, I don’t doubt that they will also reap their greatest success.

Learn more about BikeCdA at www.bikecda. com and follow them on Facebook. //

In its quest to become a hub for all things bike related, BikeCdA holds what they call a Bike Talk every month at the Calypso Coffee Shop.

March 2015

/ Out There Monthly

11

dare designs

HANDMADE FURNISHINGS TO LAST FOR GENERATIONS.

Fishing A good day on the River

Casting for Pre-Runoff Cutthroat // By Steve Durham

Early season waters can be full of surprises. // Photo: Randy Dingman

2224 E. Riverside Ave. Spokane dare-designs.com 208.660.5479

We huddled beneath looming conifers and stood ankle-deep in a slurry of mud and slush by the side of the road. Outside our evergreen umbrella, a steady rain pattered on the blownout North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River.

The tributaries on the drive up were surging and brown from days of rain and premature snowmelt.

ROW Adventure guide Randy Dingman forecast a tough day of fishing but even with the rising water, his clients had boated good fish the day before. Flows here are usually manageable and the water is clear through the winter, but this year’s sparse snowfall and early melt changed everything.

Dingman offered us a do-over when the river settled down but he also said the winter river produces “a different sort of fish.” He spoke of big westslope cutthroat trout, the ones summer anglers rarely see because they seldom rise for mayflies and caddis. Instead, they prowl the river’s rocky structure waiting for unwary baitfish. In late winter, these desperate predators hunt easy protein before spring runoff. “It’s the advantage of hungry fish,” Dingman says. I’ve dumb-lucked my way into one or two of these hogs before. They surge, run and fight fiercely. I couldn’t walk away from a chance at another.

After a short but vivid safety briefing, we pushed off near the town of Pritchard in Dingman’s cheery blue NSR raft. The river was a churning brown thing, completely unlike its emerald summer self. Dingman guided our raft with efficient, quiet oar strokes and called out the river’s structure, the eddies and snags where baitfish scurry from cover to grab a morsel from a current seam.

I cast a streamer the size of a mouse, stripped flyline and twitched my rod tip to imitate the frantic motion of prey. Dingman is a skilled storyteller and he sustained us through a steady rain

with tales of the Silver Valley’s settlers – its miners and loggers, priests and whores. The human and natural history rolled off his tongue in the easy way of a family story. The winter river felt like a secret. There was no one else on the water and the summer cabins were shuttered and snug beneath a fast-melting mantle of snow.

Dingman pointed out an eagle and a meandering line of moose tracks leading to the water’s edge. He spotted rising fish and a microscopic blue winged olive mayfly dodging raindrops – hints and reminders that summer will be back.

But Dingman was in no hurry for that. He loves this time of year on the river. “It’s the perfect place to be after the Super Bowl and before March Madness,” he says. And it’s the perfect antidote to a slow ski season.

Dingman’s career keeps him close to the earth’s cycles and he’s a skilled interpreter for the rest of us. He shared the sense of wonder at a client’s steelhead there on the bank near Asotin, a fish that had evaded sushi nets off the Japanese coast.

He spoke with awe at the way the river is slowly rebuilding its streambed after the log drives that scoured it clean in the last century. He pointed out the hulking, charred cedar trunks that return to earth slowly like a fallen temple’s columns, and took the moment to tell us about the Big Burn, the 1910 fire that changed everything in the Silver Valley and the American West.

There were tantalizing tugs, a dozen false hook sets, but no fish and no hero shots with slab-sided cutties. It was one of those days when it didn’t matter a bit because when most people were riding out the rain at the mall or on the couch, we were fishing. We were in the river, wet with it, amphibians in the dark skins of our waders and rain coats, slick with the same rainwater that filled the river channel. We saw a familiar place in a new way, connected with it, were changed by it. That’s a good day on any river. //

Making the Most of Early Season Fly Fishing Pre-runoff fly fishing in the Idaho cutthroat streams can be surprisingly good. However, due to fluctuating spring weather patterns, it can definitely be a hit-or-miss affair. As spring temperatures are on the rise, bug activity increases, which in turn awakens trout to more active feeding patterns. It’s a delicate balance though as the temperatures must remain stable at higher elevations to prevent runoff conditions from pushing the water levels up and decreasing clarity, which can turn fish off from feeding. When the balance is right, however, you can see days that are as active as any summer day.

Key in on back-eddies, soft-pockets and side-channels. As river levels begin rising, these side channels provide relief from the main river channel. During the summer months, these sides are all but dried up, but in March and April, they are usually some of the fishiest spots on the river.

Your typical cutthroat patterns such as blue wing olives and caddis can produce plenty of fish this time of year, but going sub-surface with leech, sculpin and other beefier bait-like imitations can really entice larger cuts out from the banks. // (Brad Naccarato)

12

Out There Monthly / March 2015

OutThereSpotlight The early years of the spokane mountaineers (1915-1935) // By Chic Burge Back in 1914 a woman named Ora Maxwell was a librarian at the downtown Spokane Public Library, and on nice nights she would walk home after work.

One night a co-worker asked if she could walk with her. This was the beginning of something big.

Somewhere along the way, an idea of more interesting and longer walks was suggested. Although we don’t know where these early walks were, they became more frequent.

The Spokane Mountaineers still have Club Bulletins starting with “Outing #25” to the Durham’s cabin on Spirit Lake. Exhausting the areas close to downtown Spokane, the idea of walks further afield was hatched. On September 19, 1915, the Spokane Walking Club was officially formed. Early on, they would mail postcards to the members, informing them where the weekend walks would be. Within a year, the topic of whether to allow men to join the club or not came up. By 1917, the first man was allowed in, and Nelson W. Durham was elected the first male president. At the time, there were only 58 members.

In 1921, the Spokane Walking Club changed its name to the Spokane Mountaineers Club.

On the 10th anniversary, John Anderson and founder Ora Maxwell officiated over the dinner meeting and suggested a need for a permanent lodge (one was eventually built). Around that time, a Mount Rainier guide named Elsa Hanft who had summited over 50 times joined

“Summer Outing” was suggested and Priest Lake was chosen. The cost for that trip was $17, including transportation, food and camping. Cameras were becoming standard equipment on all outings about that time.

Other notable achievements by club members during this period included member Elsa Hanft snowshoeing 250 miles, solo, in the North Cascades, during a Christmas break from teaching in Spokane. Long-time member Matie Johnson also became the third person ever to summit Mount Hood on a seven member club trip. Hanft skied off the summit and reportedly fell “only”10 times on the way down.

1935 was a big year for the Spokane Mountaineers. The club incorporated and grew to 112 members. The first official “Bike Tour” was attended by 22 riders, with 20 cruisers and one tandem joining in. That summer a club climb of Mount Rainier cost $3.50 per person, and active member Elsa Hanft was hired to guide 100 people and 50 dogs on Rainier for the movie “Call of the Wild.” The second annual “Summer Outing” was planned for Granite Lake in the Cabinet Mountain Primitive Area. Pack horses from Libby were hired to haul in gear and a new commissary unit. // Spokane Walking Club Outing. The nearest man is John Anderson, Club President, who also served in the WAshington Legislature.

Editor’s Note: Look for more Spokane Mountaineers historical highlights in upcoming

the club and “really taught us how to climb,” according to early club records.

Outing #603 in May 1931 was a boat trip

on the steamer “Flyer” up Lake Coeur d’Alene to the St. Joe River where they disembarked and climbed Rochat Mountain. The club’s first

issues of OTM. Learn more about the Spokane Mountaineers and club events as they celebrate 100 years at www.spokanemountaineers.org.

March 2015

/ Out There Monthly

13

OutdoorLiving Wilderness Loving Hunters and Anglers National Rendezvous Comes to Spokane // By John Eliason Many people who pursue creatures of fur, feather and fin are eagerly anticipating the fourth annual Rendezvous of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. Scheduled for March 6-8 at the Red Lion Hotel at the Park in Spokane, the event promises a range of social gatherings, how-to sessions and thought-provoking speakers. Oh, and gallons of brewed adult beverages at the Backcountry Brewfest Friday night from 5-9 p.m.

To be sure, BHA’s primary audience is hunters and anglers. However, the group does stand and advocate for things that many other outdoor recreation enthusiasts care about, including protecting public lands, wildlife habitat and wilderness. Whether you’re a seasoned backcountry hunter or angler looking to connect with a like-minded community or a non-hunting or fishing hiker, backpacker, boater or mountain biker who is interested in learning more about the skill, dedication, and challenge that hunting and fishing in remote, wild country involves, the Rendezvous will have something for you.

Here are a few good reasons to check it out.

You want to learn more about backcountry hunting and fishing. The Rendezvous will offer something for everyone.

Holly Endersby, immediate past Conservation Director for BHA, emphasized the fine writers, the panel on women and hunting and the Saturday sessions. Topics include backcountry videography and photography as well as archeology and the hunt. The audience will experience a special screening of writer David Peterson’s new film, “The Good Hunt.” The keynote speaker for this year’s Rendezvous is Randy Newberg, host of “Fresh Tracks” on the Sportsman Channel.

You’ll find us at the

King of Glory

Spokane’s full-service non-profit bicycle shop refurbishing used bicycles and offering hope to youth who are homeless.  Donate bicycles and parts  Buy used bikes and new/used parts  Full service options available  Sponsor Earn-a-Bike program

Artwork by Pat Marvenko Smith, ©1982/1992 www.revelationillustrated.com 14

Out There Monthly / March 2015

224 S Howard St. - Spokane 509-838-8580 www.coolwaterbikes.org bikes@coolwaterbikes.org

You fish and/or hunt and care about protecting backcountry lands. As veteran Northeast Washington member Bart George emphasizes, BHA is one of the few organizations building upon the contributions hunters and anglers have made to preserving wild places in our country. “You don’t hear a wilderness message as much from some of the other hunting and fishing groups,” he says. “And I really appreciate that BHA is explicitly wild habitat-centric.”

George, a wildlife biologist and avid hunter, also pointed out that BHA members typically share values with people who crave wilderness experiences, whether that means trail running, floating backcountry waters, or riding on horseback into remote terrain. “I respect that diverse group of people – including hunters and anglers – who choose to do things the hard way,” he says.

“That inclination is certainly going out of style.”

One of George’s goals for BHA’s Washington Chapter is to raise membership: “We need to find a way to get people involved, particularly with habitat restoration projects, wilderness bills, and

what’s happening with habitat protection.”

New BHA member Mark Heckert concurs. “I joined specifically because of the organization’s efforts to resist the grab for public land,” he said. “I support BHA in their efforts to resist the ongoing and simmering effort to privatize what belongs to all of us. The preservation of federal land is an existential issue for me, something I identify with as an American citizen,” he says. “BHA can help in this regard by counteracting the special interest groups seeking to wrest lands from the public.”

Beyond the Rendezvous, BHA has chapters in 16 states and British Columbia, and the Washington chapter meetings occur on both sides of the state, so local involvement is possible.

You care about wildlife conservation. Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, a great number of species were in trouble as a result of rapid resource extraction. Settlers and industrialists took and then took some more.

This had startling consequences for wildlife and their habitat. As biologist and writer Jim Posewitz notes in “Beyond Fair Chase,” “The United States observed the first ‘Earth Day’ in 1970. This ‘day’ marked the time when the general public recognized it was time to stop destroying nature. Yet as early as 1871, nearly a century before Earth Day, hunters and anglers were speaking out for nature and the environment.” BHA builds on the legacy of earlier hunter-conservationists with a mission that “seeks to ensure North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of wild public lands and waters.”

According to Endersby, the Rendezvous in Spokane and the organization are for anyone interested in conservation. “BHA is not just for hunters and anglers,” she says. “One of our focal points, for example, is to encourage more families to engage in the outdoors.” The idea is that active members can reinforce for children the importance of healthy living and the need to preserve wild places. “But in fact, anybody connected to the outdoors could take something away from the Rendezvous because it builds upon the principle that communal effort is necessary to protect our resources and the legacy we have been given.” Endersby says the people in BHA tend to be thoughtful, even reverential, about hunting and fishing. As such, the group offers non-hunters and anglers a venue for encountering perspectives not always evident in the hunting and fishing community.

More Info: Register for the BHA Rendezvous at www.backcountryhunters.org. Can’t make the event but want to join BHA? Visit the same website for membership information. // Editor’s Note: John Eliason is an enthusiastic member of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.

Backcountry Brewfest: Friday, March 6, 5-9 p.m.

To add some spirits to the Rendezvous, BHA is hosting its 1st Annual Backcountry Brewfest.

This chance to mingle with like-minded hunters, anglers and outdoor adventure enthusiasts from around the country will feature the delights of more than a dozen regional breweries in the Red Lion’s Skyline Ballroom downtown Spokane. Ticket info at www.backcountryhunters. org or call 406-370-4325.

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers

BACKCOUNTRY

BREWFEST

FRIDAY 5:00 P.M.

MARCH 6

HOST OF “FRESH TRACKS” ON THE SPORTSMAN CHANNEL BREWFEST, SEMINARS, FILMS, RAF F LES, AUCTION March 2015

/ Out There Monthly

15

River Rambles Rounding the river bank

Lessons in Balance, Focus and Judgement // By Jerry White Jr. Sometimes I feel like I’ve won the lottery. I get to live right on the river. Of course, the great thing about Spokane is that we all get to be pretty much right on the river. From most places in the city, you are never more than a few minutes away from a stretch of rocky shoreline. Being so close, the river calls to us to go boating, angling, swimming or simply walking along its banks. If you’re willing to get right out in it, wading a mellow stretch or along the water’s edge, the river will push you like some old Sensei. With a little awareness, rambling the banks and riffles is a simple, safe and special way to explore our urban river and learn a few river lessons in the process.

River Balance It all starts by busting down the bunchgrass banks towards the glitter of moving water. When pines have given way to willow along the bank, you’ll teeter along on basketball-sized basalt cobbles and granite boulders, perched like Jenga blocks without sand and gravel to keep them stable. Here, three points of contact are a good thing. Four is even better – my dog is living proof. I suggest using a wading staff. Many times I’ve gone without one, only to get caught up in my own version of high-speed Tai Chi atop the rollicking river rocks.

River Focus As you move, keep your eyes where you want to put your feet and prepare for the cobbles to play games with you. Rolling here, sliding there, and shifting in strange ways. Our venerable teacher can quickly humble the nimblest among us. I have fallen countless times. Ruined more than one phone, broken fly rods and lost gear among the rocks. Cut the conversation as you rock hop.

Go inward and focus. Oh yes, also remember your 8th grade geology. Basalt rocks are smooth and as slippery as a trout’s back. Stick to the rough granite as it will not betray your grip.

River Judgment Use the right footwear. If you are fishing, use felt soles and studs. Avoid flip flops like a bad case of giardia. They fall off, become river flotsam and leave your feet helpless against the unforgiving river stones. I once fished across the lower river in open-toed sandals and experienced the unique pleasure of mashing all of my toes into cracks between hard boulders. Last and most important, never challenge the river. Sometimes the place you want to go seems so close. Just across that hole or those waves – learn to stop and check in with your common sense. Always ask yourself, “What could go wrong?” Imagine the answer and remember our river is lovely and lethal. I have lost one friend to its waters and have had two near misses myself. At high flows, this teacher can be old school enough to hit you with the big stick for being stupid. // Jerry White Jr. learned to fly fish at a young age and has been exploring Northwest rivers by boat and on foot ever since. In 2014, he signed on as the Spokane Riverkeeper, turning his lifelong passion for our local river into a full-time job.

Editor’s Note: “River Rambles” is a new column

by Spokane Riverkeeper Jerry White Jr. that will explore the twists and turns of river people, river issues and the good times to be had on Spokane’s rambling river gem. Look for more of his rambles in upcoming issues.

International Fly Fishing Film Festival—March 25 What’s better than hanging with friends, talking about fishing and watching very cool films all while supporting the Spokane River? On March 25 at the Bing, downtown Spokane, the 2015 International Fly Fishing Film Festival will feature short and featurelength films from all corners of the world that showcase the passion, lifestyle and culture of fly-fishing. Enjoy a beverage and fantastic raffle prizes and auction items in support of improved boat access on the Spokane River. The festival is presented by Silver Bow Fly Shop in partnership with Spokane River Forum, Spokane Falls Trout Unlimited and Spokane Riverkeeper. Doors open at 5 p.m. for the auction/raffle and films start at 7.

Advanced tickets are $15. More info: spokaneriver.net

Work Outside and Make a Difference!

WA STATE DEPTARTMENT OF ECOLOGY SEEKS LITTER RANGER • Full-time, temp. Spokane job March – November • Supervise Adult Median and Ecology Youth Corps Crews.

• Pick up litter, recycle, and clean illegal dumpsites along roadways and public places.

• Expect to walk 2-6 miles/day on rough terrain in all weather conditions.

• Strong communication, leadership, and team-building skills required.

• Must adhere to safety policies and procedures. Training provided.

• Experience in youth development, supervision, and natural resources/solid waste desired.

• State vehicle provided. Must be 18, have a valid driver’s license with clean record.

• Wage is $14.93 - $16.78/hour with potential for benefits and permanent position.

Call Chase Davis for details: 509.329-3506, www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/eyc.

16

Out There Monthly / March 2015

!

OutdoorLiving Love & the Great Outdoors // By Ammi Midstokke

Fit for a King (509) 808-2098

When I was younger, I thought that finding the right person meant meeting someone who didn’t live with their mother and had an equal appreciation for David Bowie. It wasn’t until much later that I realized most men fond of Ziggy Stardust probably weren’t straight anyway, which has for the most part explained why I’m still single.

Over the years, I’ve refined my criteria slightly to include anyone who can ride a mountain bike and owns a climbing rack with more economic value than their car. You’d think if I showed up at any old crag, the place would be teeming with dateable candidates. You’d think that by sundown, I’d be gnawing on some beef jerky over the romantic light of a camp stove with a tanned man named

Aside from the fact that it would be nice if they had an employee discount at Mountain Gear, we’d also like them to like all our favorite sports with equal fervor. I mean really, if I met a guy who was into curling, would I give him my number?

Recently I decided to make a list of the things I’d want in my life and things I did not want in my life. It went something like this.

Must have: 1. Coffee, 2. Laughter 3. Adventure.

Don’t want: 1. Gluten, 2. Asshats, 3. Laziness.

I made this abridged list because my previous list describing my dream partner was four pages dedicated mostly to a description of bike parts and bedroom tricks. I figured some simplification was necessary, and dare I say, an opening of my mind.

I went back outside to observe all the single people

Once I posted in an online forum looking for someone to mountain bike with and got about 17,000 responses from men who motocross while chugging Pabst.

Taz who had just returned from a stint with the Peace Corps setting new routes in Patagonia. The reality is, the statistical likelihood that you’ll meet your next date in the outdoors is about as high as the likelihood of getting impaled by one of Cupid’s arrows.

Most social interaction on the trail is done in the form of a wave and trying to hear over Paul Simon blaring in your headphones. (Okay, maybe I’m still single because I run to my mom’s music. In my defense, “Graceland” is a great trail soundtrack.) We’re either narrowly escaping a head-on collision on bikes or under 14 layers of androgynous, sound-muffling ski gear. This leaves us with few options. We can hang out at the climbing gym with the hipsters and poach their dates; or we can get into the wrong tent at base camp.

There is, of course, the option of finding someone on the great interweb of possibilities. I’m less versed in this form of fated love. Once I posted in an online forum looking for someone to mountain bike with and got about 17,000 responses from men who motocross while chugging Pabst. I could maybe deal with the motocross.

The reality is, the older we get and the more set in our ways (hobbies that take over our lives and pocket books), the less flexible we become about what we want to do and who we want to date.

complaining that they don’t meet other single people, and I made a couple of observations.

First of all, we have to put our damn phones down. We need to take our headphones off. We need to come out of our isolating stimuli, take a giant leap of social faith, and make eye contact.

And if we’re feeling particularly outgoing, perhaps even start a conversation. I see a lot of head nodding and a lot of hey, how’s it going, but I don’t see people taking a moment of pause to interact on a human level.

Next, we need to try new things. Sure, I have my sports of choice (pretty much anything that is likely to cause an injury costing more than my insurance deductible), but how often am I willing to take time out of my stubborn priorities and play at something I likely suck at? It just so happens, plenty of really nice people are into curling, and a great number of them are probably even gluten-free. Stand up paddling might be a stretch though.

Opening your mind and your mouth is conducive to all sorts of wonders, like making new friends, discovering new muscle groups, finding new climbing partners and maybe even meeting that person you’re willing to share your last Clifbar with. So the next time you go out, turn off your music, try something new, and say hello. //

7115 N. Division Street Spokane, Washington 99208

Mon. – Sat. 9 – 8 Sun. 10 - 6 www.royalscannabis.com

Experience peak performance.

Add triple-strength Lyte Balance electrolyte concentrate to your favorite beverage.

TRANSFORM YOUR HYDRATION.

Lyte it up

AVA I L A BLE LO C A LLY

Huckleberry’s Main Market Pilgrim’s Market Winter Ridge

O R A MA ZO N . CO M

March 2015

/ Out There Monthly

17

RaceReport

SPOKANE

20% OFF

Gravity, Motion and Distance III while supplies last!

New Models should be arriving any day!

Newton 5-lug Technology

Available only at Fleet Feet Sports Spokane

Save $$ on Spokane to Sandpoint Relay Registration The 200-mile Spokane to Sandpoint Relay begins atop picturesque Mt. Spokane before winding through 60 miles of world class Centennial Trail, with a total of 80 miles of property adjacent to waterfront, and meandering through two National Forests on the way to the finish line at the beach in Sandpoint. S2S has quickly become one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier running events. The eighth-annual Spokane to Sandpoint Relay will be held on August 14-15, and while early bird pricing is over, there’s still plenty of time to take advantage of team registration discounts before late pricing goes into effect May 1. For an additional team registration discount, check out the S2S ad in this month’s Out There Monthly on page 19.

The S2S race supports runners of every level with standard teams of 8-12, ultra-teams of 4-6 or super-ultra with less than four runners. As a small, independent running relay, S2S offers a different experience with more amenities, including a high quality tech finishers’ shirt; a free craft beer at the finish for all participants and volunteer; a free medical team available for everything from blisters to heat injuries; plenty of porta potties; “water ambassadors” to offer water or a spray down; and most important, a gorgeous, challenging course with little to no traffic and a fun partylike atmosphere at the finish. Curious about what running the Spokane to Sandpoint Relay is like?

Check out the video from last year’s race at www. spokanetosandpoint.com.

Hauser Lake 10k to Benefit Double J Dog Ranch Sanctuary The 2015 Hauser Lake 10k Ice Breaker Run is now under the direction of Double J Dog Ranch Inc. This popular, scenic race around beautiful Hauser Lake enjoys a long history beginning with the Rathdrum Parks and Rec and most recently the Hauser Lake Watershed Coalition.

This year the baton has been passed to DJDR, the Inland Northwest’s premier sanctuary and rehoming center for dogs with special needs, also located at Hauser Lake. The Ice Breaker Run will continue just as it has in years past with one exception, explains Race Director Duane Justus. “The first Sunday in April has been the traditional date for the race, but this year in observance of Easter, the race will be held on Sunday, April 12 at 10 a.m.” Justus has been the race director in years past and was instrumental in obtaining the certification for the Ice Breaker Run to become a Bloomsday Second Seed race.

Pre-registration and additional race information is available online at www.DoubleJDogRanch. org and on Facebook.

Last Year for Bloomsday Trading Cards For the past two years, Bloomsday fans could collect eight new trading cards each year that feature different fictional Bloomsday characters. Previous year’s cards included such creative characters as Doomsday Hill Billy, H2 Otis, Spaghetti Betty, and The Don, “Godfather of Bloomsday.” Unfortunately this will be the last year for these unique Bloomsday mementos, says Steve Merryman, the creative mastermind behind the Bloomsday trading cards. Merryman’s design firm Sigma, which he runs with his wife Faith, has produced most of Bloomsday’s ads in addition to several shirt and poster designs and the trading cards over the past 19 years. This year’s cards honor Bloomsday Board Member Jerry O’Neil with a breakfast cereal card called Jerry O’s, says Merryman. “The tagline is “Don’t start the race without ‘em!” Other characters in this year’s batch, which also make appearances in Bloomsday print ads, include Bruce Sprintsteen (he was “Born to Run!”), Tia Shirt, Mary Thon, Annie Mal (she “runs on the wild side”), Ken Yan, Headband Jan and Sole Man. It’s never too late to start your own Bloomsday trading card collection. They’re available for free at the Bloomsday Office near the top of Doomsday Hill and at the Trade Show on Bloomsday weekend.

Kids who participate in Fit For Bloomsday will also get a set of cards. Bloomsdayrun.org.

Snake River Island Hop Ultra Tackles the Columbia Plateau Trail (April 25) The Snake River Island Hop is a USATF sanctioned 100k ultra marathon with a 50k option along the southern portion of the Columbia Plateau Trail north of Pasco, Wash. In its second year, the race starts and finishes at the Ice Harbor Dam Trailhead. The SRIH is designed for the person who has successfully completed a marathon and wants to see if they can push themselves to run farther but gets intimidated by ultra-marathons out there that feature a lot of elevation gain and gnarly trails. The course is on the Columbia Plateau Trail near Tri-Cities and is mostly flat on gravel trail. Runners participating in the 50k event will run along the trail as far as the Snake River Junction and return to Ice Harbor Dam. Runners in the 100k event will repeat the course a second time. There will be awards for the top three male and female finishers in each run for both the open and the master’s division (ages 40 and up). There will also be awards for the top three four member and top three two member relay teams. The trail closes at dusk, so runners who have not made it to the 75k aid station by 5 p.m. will be given a ride back to the finish area. More info: Plateautrailadventures.com. //

Running around the lake in April can get wet. // photos courtesy Hauser Lake Watershed

18

Out There Monthly / March 2015

BEND BEER CHASE

70 miles | 6 friends One day relay 16 local breweries Run, beer, run, repeat!

June 6, 2015

SAVE $50!

CODE: OTM50

SPOKANE TO SANDPOINT RELAY 200 mile run | 12 friends Overnight relay Finish line on the beach August 14 – 15, 2015

SAVE $100!

CODE: OTM100

More than just a race… it’s a lifetime experience. cascaderelays.com March 2015

/ Out There Monthly

19

OutdoorLiving Urban Permaculture

Design Your Own Backyard Oasis // By Beth Mort

Food, herbs, flowers, chickens. // Photo: Beth Mort

Bringing together intensive edible landscape design and natural ecosystem design, permaculture can create highly productive urban lots, large or small.

Picture walking out your back door to kitchen gardens close to the house. You harvest herbs and greens then collect eggs from the coop nearby.

You pick berries planted along the fence of the chicken run and gather some mulberries from the tree that shades your birds. On the way out to the larger veggie garden, you gather beans vining on trellised structures you built with stalks harvested from the bamboo hedge, grab some cut flowers, thank all the buzzing pollinators and maybe – if the season is just right – pick goumi berries or plums to bring in. This is a snapshot of the possibilities of permaculture in a small city backyard.

So what is permaculture exactly? Bill Mollison, the founding father of the movement, stated it best: “Permaculture is a design system for creating sustainable human environments.” The word is a combination of “permanent” and “agriculture” or “culture.” The aim is to create a space that provides us things like food, fuel and fiber while still functioning at least somewhat like a healthy ecosystem.

With permaculture, the integration of trees, shrubs, medicinals, herbs, food plants, and animals is very intentional and there is no “waste” – the ideal is a tightly woven, closed-loop system.

Each plant in the garden has multiple uses and many are paired with each other to create guilds, or small plant communities, that provide mulch or nutrients to increase the success of the group.

Animals in the system also support multiple functions. Chickens are a great example – not only do they provide eggs and meat, but they eat lots of bugs and create valuable manure for improving compost and enriching soil. Fruit trees provide shade and some varieties do well trained along fences in small yards. Other plants may fix nitrogen, enrich soil or provide habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects that are eager to consume pesky plant pests.

Choosing a diverse palette of native plants and plants adapted to similar climates is also key in reducing pest problems and minimizing water needs. Patterning plantings off of natural woodland ecosystems allows for varying layers of food crops from ground covers to large fruit trees – a food forest. Permaculture design breaks the yard into zones based on frequency of visits. Zones closest to the house contain plants and animals that we go to most often. Time spent out in the permaculture yard is efficient and easy to work in.

Five Steps to a Permaculture Yard Permaculture has so much to offer the home gardener. One of the most important permaculture mantras is “start ever so small, right from your doorstep.” Work with what you have and keep a few things in mind as you start your design process.

Thoughtful observation: Know your landscape. Observe your yard and really think about what works and what doesn’t work. Create a simple map of your yard. Record details: How much sun do you get? Is your yard north or south facing? Are there shady and wet areas or is your soil dry and sandy? Do you have animals?

Do you have fences? A lawn or garden space?

What do you want from the final product? Food?

Shade? A space for gatherings? All of these? Pay close attention to your pathways. Are they hardscape paths? Do you use them or have you created your own? How do you move through your space? How does it change with the seasons?

And so on. Keeping a record is an invaluable tool as you plan changes along the way.

Organize in zones: Location, location, location! Is this just true for everything? Place elements that you use and visit most frequently in the most accessible places. Think of that kitchen garden close to the house for items you can quickly harvest throughout the year.

Work with nature, not against it: Utilize the type of yard you have. The nuances of your yard give unique opportunities for designing. If an area is shady, sunny, dry, or near a structure, use that to your advantage.

Pay attention to edges: Edges are dynamic places in the yard. These areas, like along a fence, might hold more water or capture debris, create a microclimate, produce more enriched soil or something altogether different. Notice them – you may want more edge in your yard.

Build healthy soil: Compost those kitchen scraps, yard waste and animal manures. You will never regret adding these nutrients to your soils.

Become a master composter! Start a worm bin!

Do it! There is just no good excuse not to.

Most importantly, as with anything, have fun.

There are lots of resources and knowledgeable people in our area. Once you start searching for permaculture information you will find it everywhere. //

Local Permaculture Resources • Spokanepermaculture.org is an active group right here in Spokane • Inlandnorthwestpermaculture.com is a clearing house of local permaculturists and events.

• Michael Pilarski will be holding a workshop at the Heart Song retreat in Tumtum, Wash. see inlandnorthwestpermaculture.com for more info. // 20

Out There Monthly / March 2015

CrossCountrySkiing Record Contingent of Local Nordic Racers to Represent at 2015 Junior Nationals // By Ann Torigoe-Hawkins Spokane Nordic will be sending the largest number of teen racers ever to the 2015 USSA Cross-Country Ski Junior National Championships in March. Ian McCarthy, Brett Ford, Daniel Korus, Andrew Potyk and Lauren Potyk are the five teens from Spokane who qualified for the Pacific Northwest Ski Association Junior National team.

The announcement of the PNSA Junior National team was made immediately after the last Junior National Qualifier race, The Mt. Spokane Nordic Cup, on February 15. Daniel Korus, 17, a senior at Lewis and Clark High School, reacted with satisfaction when he heard he made the team for the first time: “This past year I’ve evaluated my life of Nordic ski racing and decided that this would be the year I go all out. I am ecstatic that I can chase down dreams and make them a reality.”

Another first timer, Andrew Potyk, 17, and a junior at Ferris High School, says “it’s great to see all of the hours and miles we put in during the summer to finally be paying off.” The team trains year round with weekly workouts directed by racing team coach George Bryant. Team members have formed deep friendships from years of skiing and training together, and as Potyk notes, “It’s even more exciting that five Spokane Nordic racers got named to the team. This brings our team together and gives us the opportunity to represent Spokane on a national level.”

Potyk is joined by his sister Lauren, a 15-yearold freshman at Ferris High School. Lauren also made the team last year. “It was a humbling roller coaster ride to get to where I am now with a spot

P

10.25 x 6.125”

Lauren Potyk skiing her way to truckee. Photo courtesy of spokane nordic.

on the team, and that really makes me want to race as hard as I can,” she says. “Every race I learn something new, and just the chance to be on the race course with the best girls in the nation is a truly inspiring opportunity.” 16-year-old Brett Ford, a sophomore at St. Georges School, says “I’m looking forward to not making the same mistakes I did last year. I’m trying to go into the races a lot more relaxed than before because I think that’s where I can improve the most.”

To make the team, skiers must earn a qualifying result in five of eight qualifying races. The results determine which skiers, ages 14-19, will join the PNSA Junior National team at the Junior National Championships. Ian McCarthy, a 17year-old junior at Lewis and Clark High School, has qualified for the Junior National team for the fourth year in a row. “Personally I am really looking forward to the racing aspect this year,” he says.

“I’m eager to see how hard I can push myself and how well I can do at a national level.”

In last year’s winter Olympics in Sochi, the United States Ski team had five skiers that started skiing in the PNSA Juniors program. Alan Watson, the Nordic Director for PNSA, notes that “these kids have been working hard and putting a lot of time and effort into excelling at their sport, and it’s really rewarding for us to see their progress. In March, they will be racing against the best young skiers from all over the country.”

The future is looking bright for Spokane Nordic ski racing. The 2015 USSA Junior National CrossCountry Ski Championships will be held on March 8-14 in Truckee, California. //

Pure, Simple, & Real...

March 2015

/ Out There Monthly

21

SprIng Wildlife Hikes

By Aaron Theisen

Like some people, wildlife get winter-weary too. Fortunately there are plenty of opportunities for both to bask in the warming temperatures of early spring.

A transition zone between the Cascades and Rocky Mountains, eastern Washington’s low-elevation wetlands, rivers and forests provide the perfect habitat for a rich array of plant and animal life, including some of the state’s only breeding populations of loons as well as bald eagles and osprey and one of the greatest diversities of owls and woodpeckers in North America. These hikes provide superb wildlife watching in addition to being reliably hikeable by early spring, so you can stretch your legs while watching critters stretch theirs.

Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, Cheney, Wash.

Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge protects more than 18,000 acres of landscape scoured by the millennia-old Missoula Floods, which left behind shallow “pothole” ponds, literal oases for more than 200 species of birds that make the refuge a rest-stop or year-long residence. A nearly 6-mile roundtrip to Stubblefield Lake samples the bird-watching bounty at the refuge, including the shallow muddy shoreline of Stubblefield Lake, the frog-thronged Headquarters Pond and the turtle haven of Pine Lake. In addition, the hike offers up expansive wildflower meadows later in the season and a thick ponderosa forest, the latter of which provides refuge to a sizable elk population. Moose frequent the shallow marshes of the refuge’s interior, as do a variety of waterfowl. Scope the wetlands for tundra and trumpeter swans, the latter perhaps the most beloved of refuge residents.

Getting There: From Spokane, take Interstate 90 west to exit 270. Drive six miles west on State Route 904 to Cheney. From the downtown traffic light proceed 0.4 mile. Look for the “Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge 4 miles” sign. Turn left onto the Cheney-Plaza Road and drive 4.25 miles. At the big refuge sign, turn left (South Smith Road) and proceed two miles to the refuge headquarters. The trail begins opposite the office at the far end of the parking lot.

Slavin Conservation Area, Spokane, Wash.

Close to town, hikers can get in some early-season conditioning while spotting wildlife in Slavin Conservation Area. Purchased by Spokane County as part of its Conservation Futures program – an immensely popular and forward-thinking property tax levy that has preserved over 7,000 acres of open space in Spokane County – Slavin Conservation Area protects over 600 acres of rolling fields, pine-forested buttes and wetlands just minutes south of Spokane. Slavin Conservation Area is a link in the winter migratory flyway for many birds; hikers are likely to spot ducks, geese and owls on their early-spring forays. The open pine and aspen forest shelters foxes, coyote and deer. (Incidentally, ticks are common here and may be out early this year; take proper precautions.) The area is also popular with equestrians and dog-walkers, and numerous user-created paths wind through the woods; hikers 22

Out There Monthly / March 2015

can sample a five-mile loop that circumnavigates the lake at Slavin’s core. Blue camas blooms in midspring provide a colorful bonus.

Getting There: From Spokane, drive west on Interstate 90 one mile to the Colfax/Pullman exit 279.

Merge onto Hwy 195 and travel south on 195 for approximately 8.4 miles. Turn right (west) on Washington Road and travel 0.5 to the ‘T’ intersection with Keeney Road. Turn right (north) on Keeney Road; parking is immediately on the left.

Reardan Audubon Lake Wildlife Area, Reardan, Wash.

There might not be an easier – or better – bird-watching walk in eastern Washington than Reardan Audubon Lake Wildlife Area. Labeled on many maps simply as “Reardan Pond,” the 80-acre lake on the north side of Reardan, Wash., has been attracting so many birders to its shallow alkaline shores since the 1950s that it has unofficially earned the name “Audubon Lake.” In addition to the unique aquatic habitat, the 277-acre Department of Fish and Wildlife property protects shrub steppe, shallow pothole ponds and increasingly rare Palouse prairie, all magnets for over 200 bird species. Two short paved paths access large, ADA-accessible viewing blinds. From the south access, a 0.1-mile route skirts shore grasses to a small rise. From the north access, a 0.2-mile path tacks across an old field.

Both provide impeccable birds-eye views of the lake. And the property just got bigger: In January, the Inland Northwest Land Trust completed a purchase of 150 acres of adjacent private land; pending funding, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will purchase the plot from the INLT, bringing together more than 400 acres of prime bird habitat. Plans to develop a trail system mean birders may soon have even more to crow about.

Getting There: From Highway 2 at milepost 261 in the town of Reardan, turn north onto Highway 231.

Turn right at 0.1 mile and follow signs to the south access. For the north access, continue one mile on Highway 231 and turn right at the sign.

Old river pilings make new homes for nesting osprey, while prickly hawthorn plantings hide smaller songbirds.

Flying Goose Ranch, Pend Oreille County, Wash.

Tucked in the far northeast corner of Washington, the Selkirk Mountains are arguably the most wildlife-rich pocket of the state. And the Pend Oreille River that meanders at their base serves as feeding and breeding grounds for hundreds of species of bird and beast. Both city and Kalispel tribal leaders have been proactive in preserving the delicate shoreline. Owned by the Kalispel tribe, Flying Goose Ranch protects 440 acres of wildlife and waterfowl refuge – towering black cottonwoods, wetlands, river shoreline and upland forest – along the Pend Oreille River north of Usk. From the fish hatchery, walk 0.5 mile on old roadbed directly to the riverfront or traverse a fallow field 0.7 mile; either direction, scan for western tanager, osprey, bald eagle, great blue heron and warblers.

Getting There: From Highway 20 near Usk, cross the bridge and turn left (north) onto Leclerc Road.

Just past mile marker nine, turn left into the tribal fish hatchery parking area; look for the “Palouse to Pines” Audubon sign.

Cusick Wetland Education Site, Pend Oreille County, Wash.

Just north of Usk, the Cusick Wetland Education Site repurposes old flood-prone Diamond Match Company land into a city-owned community park and wetland education area for local schools. The site’s shallow marshlands act as a wildlife magnet in addition to protecting the town from flooding. An easy 0.5-mile shoreline interpretive trail explores the waterfowl-friendly wetlands on the shoreline of the Pend Oreille River. Old river pilings make new homes for nesting osprey, while prickly hawthorn plantings hide smaller songbirds.

Getting There: At Cusick, turn east off Highway 20 onto Monumental Street. Proceed about 0.5 miles to river’s edge. //

spring wildlife festivals Two of the region’s best birding fests, where you can let the experts help with the avian identification, happen in March.

Pend Oreille Valley Tundra Swan Festival (March 21)

Between mid-February and mid-April, up to 5,000 tundra swans migrate through Washington’s Pend Oreille Valley on their way from wintering grounds in the southwest to summer abodes in the Canadian tundra. Celebrate all things swan during the annual Pend Oreille Valley Tundra Swan Festival, co-hosted by the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and Pend Oreille River Tourism Alliance. Participants in this kid- and budget-friendly festival enjoy a bus ride from Usk to privately owned Calispell Lake, a 500-acre swan magnet that has earned it the unofficial title “Swan Lake.” Bird watchers can scope Canada geese, northern pintails and wood ducks too, but it’s the swans who are the stars here, with their grand and graceful bodies contrasting with cacophonous honks. Wildlife related presentations follow back in Usk. Info: www.porta-us.com.

Othello Sandhill Crane Festival (March 27-29)

Each year since 1998, over 1,000 birders have flocked to the basalt and sage of the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge for the Othello Sandhill Crane Festival to glimpse the nearly 30,000 cranes which stop here each spring on their way to summer breeding grounds in Alaska, enticed by pothole lakes created by the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project. Keen-eyed observers can also spot long-billed curlews and various waterfowl. Attendees enjoy tours and presentations on the area’s natural and cultural heritage as well as children’s activities. Prepare to be awed by the size of sandhill cranes – nearly four feet tall – and their high-volume honking. Info: www.othellosandhillcranefestival.org.

Left: a variety of songbirds use the shoreline grasses and reeds of area wetlands to hunt insects and keep an eye on predators. // Right: Top Left: Surprisingly spry, western painted turtles hide out in many eastern Washington ponds. // Top Right: Birds flock to the retired agricultural lands found in many of the region’s wildlife refuges. Bottom: Geese fill the ponds of Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge near Cheney with their cacophonous honking. // Photos: Aaron Theisen March 2015

/ Out There Monthly

23

Destination hiking and paddling the hanford reach national monument // For paddlers and hikers with spring fever, the overlooked Hanford Reach National Monument presents unbelievably serene paddling and hiking opportunities in a climate that’s typically four weeks further along into spring than the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene area in March.

The monument offers more than 57,000 acres of land access to some of the Northwest’s most intact sage-steppe ecosystem, a landscape that is resplendent with wildflowers and wildlife in March.

The impressive array of potentially viewable desert mammals includes hundreds of elk, some of the state’s largest mule deer, coyotes, mink, beaver, otter, badgers and more. Bald and golden eagles, peregrine falcons, burrowing owls, common loons, white pelicans, sandhill cranes, caspian terns, vast waterfowl and shorebird species, and many more all use the monument during March. Hikers are welcome to tread lightly offtrail in the Wahluke and Ringold Units of the monument, and all access roads in open units are fair game. For more info on maps and access, check out fws.gov/refuge/Hanford_Reach/.

That 57,000 acres of public property doesn’t include the 51 miles of free-flowing Columbia River and its vast paddling opportunities between Priest Rapids Dam and many downstream access points: Vernita Bridge, White Bluffs, Old Wooden Power Lines (Parking Lot 7), Ringold and Leslie Groves Park in North Richland. Canoes and kayaks are both at home here, as are paddlers with

intermediate or better experience who come prepared for possible immersion in big, cold water.

There are no rapids, but there are whirlpools and eddylines – and power boats. Luckily, there is very little power boat traffic in March, except for the area around Ringold Hatchery and Public Access, where anglers are helping Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife collect hatchery steelhead broodstock in March. Most steelheaders present little threat, unless you’re a beer. Stay river right around Ringold.

The Tri-Cities and its vast wineries and tasting rooms offer another excuse to get a jumpstart of spring weather by visiting Southcentral Washington this time of year. Good wine, beautiful weather and a blossoming sage-steppe landscape offer a welcome relief to the winter-weary wildlife watchers visiting one of the Northwest’s most iconic landscapes. Check out Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau for comprehensive visitor’s information.

If you’ve never heard of the Hanford Reach National Monument, definitely don’t let the name fool you. The Hanford Site is the expensive, behind-schedule cleanup project on the west bank of the river. While frustratingly slow to some, the massive environmental clean-up project has been very successful at securing the river corridor. Pollutants are at undetectable levels at former points of pollution along the river’s eastern shoreline. //

By Jeff Holmes

Top Right: Prepare to be overwhelmed with waterfowl and other wildlife sightings on a hanford reach outing. Bottom Left: wild. REmote. Gorgeous. Welcome to the other hanford// Photos: Courtesy Hanford Learning Center.

Exploring Washington’s Wine Country

By Jeff Holmes

During the warmth of early fall harvest, all roads leading to, from and within Tri-Cities are flanked by ripe grapes. Ineffably rich and sweet fragrances from as many as 40 different varieties pervade the senses of even the least discerning motorists. Growers work quickly to harvest the bounty of the season at its peak, and winemakers capture the richness of the season to enjoy year round as some of the world’s most respected wines and juices.

Anytime is a good time to drink wine, but March in Tri-Cities is special. Spring hits here first, a full month or more before anyone in the Inland Northwest sports a sundress or a shirtless strut down Division or Sherman. March is typically a mild month of warm temperatures, flowers, buds, cheap asparagus and even the year’s first leaves. Whether you come to paddle or hike the Hanford Reach, paddle the Yakima River Delta, hike Badger Mountain or participate in fitness events, spring is an especially good time to pop a cork or unscrew a cap at some of the scores of wine venues in and around Tri-Cities. Here are a few top choices from 37 wineries within 40 minutes of town: Barnard Griffin’s Winery, Tasting Room, and Wine Bar and Eatery is a large, familyrun operation in Richland specializing in a broad spectrum of varietals (wines comprised of 75% of one grape variety), including up to 15 in the tasting room at one time, including world-class, awardwinning Rose of Sangiovese.

Tagaris Winery in Richland pours award-winning wines from grapes grown in its old-vine Areté and Alice Vineyards and offers Mediterranean cuisine in a fine-dining, old-world setting. The inhouse Taverna Tagaris is extremely popular locally.

Kiona Vineyards Winery and Tasting Room is a gorgeous facility on the western flank of Red Mountain, overlooking the Yakima River Valley. Just a few minutes from Richland, Kiona’s downto-earth, no-frills practices and great wines make them a favorite locally and afar.

Washington’s Wine Industry Boom In March, trimmed vines sprout green and prepare for six months of rapid growth before another season’s bounty is captured by the rapidly growing Washington wine industry. More than 850 wineries have sprung up around the state, along with 350 commercial wine grape growers farming more than 50,000 acres. Tri-Cities and the adjoining Columbia Valley represent the epicenter of grapes and wine in the Evergreen State, one reason Washington State University built a new Wine Science Center in Richland. The center is one of the most technologically advanced research facilities of its kind in the world. WSU’s Viticulture and Enology Program is attracting aspiring winemakers and top researchers from Northwest communities and around the world. // 24

Out There Monthly / March 2015

Hamilton Cellars Red Mountain overlooks the vibrant green of Benton City and the many irrigated orchards and vineyards of the lower Yakima Valley. Close to Kiona Vineyards, Hamilton Cellars features a laid-back tasting room and highly respected reds and whites. Doubling up on visiting Kiona and Hamilton is a good choice.

The Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center in Prosser is a respected non-profit that invites visitors to experience and learn about Washington wine and food products in a beautiful setting with easy freeway access that features a tasting room, demonstration kitchen and event spaces.

Wine Tourism and Tasting Resources For comprehensive travel and wine tasting information, the Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau (visittri-cities.com) is extremely accommodating and useful. For guided wine tours, check out “Go Taste Wine,” a clearinghouse site for multiple wine tours and shuttles (www.gotastewine.com/wawine-tours.php). //

FINISH THE RIDE WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT! For an adventure as bright, bold, and colorful as you’ve ever experienced, come to Tri-Cities and explore miles of scenic river shore trails and revel in the vistas of the Heart of Washington Wine Country®.

To learn more, call (800) 254-5824 or visit www.VisitTRI-CITIES.com.

Tundra Swan Festival Pend Oreille Valley ‧ Saturday, March 21

Thousands of swans arrive at “Swan Lake” each year.

Be part of the magical migration!

Kalispel Tribe Camas Center (Usk, WA) Reserve your spot for $10 | Kids $5. Lunch and bus ride included. www.porta-us.com - PayPal accepted March 2015

/ Out There Monthly

25

Biking Recent Trail Building at Beacon Caters to Diverse Riding Abilities and Styles // By Derrick Knowles If you haven’t ridden Simple Tools, Pop Rocks, or the Up Chuck re-route, you and your bike owe the Camp Sekani/Beacon Hill trail system a visit. And these newish xc trails are only a sampling of thoughtful, fun and flowy sections of singletrack that have been carved out of the earth by Evergreen East mountain bike club volunteers over the past several years. Trail builder Peter Jantz estimates that there are now around 30 miles of trail snaking throughout the approximately 1,000 acres of public and private land in the Camp Sekani/Beacon Hill area, including five miles or so that have been constructed in the past couple of years.

You may have ridden some of the new trails without knowing their names, a common occurrence that will likely shift as up to 100 new signs are slated be installed at trail junctions soon. Some of the new trails were re-routed around the new disc golf course, like Rabid Rabbit, says Jantz, and others like the Up Chuck re-route replaced old, steep, rutted sections of trail. Other more recent additions, like Pop Rocks, an intermediate xc trail that was built last fall, are all about flow and fun. “Pop Rocks heads southwest downhill from the towers and has a lot of cool rock features with different options to choose from,” says Jantz. “It’s a little bit more of a technical intermediate trail.” Simple Tools is a delight of a descent, with beautiful singletrack and forgiving, flow-oriented switchbacks carving their way down the rocky hillside to the Sekani/disc golf parking

Bombing the Beacon Bunchgrass. // Photo: Skye Schillhammer

area. Up Chuck no longer makes you want to puke as you pleasantly pedal around the old, steep grunts. A couple years ago new trails were also built connecting the Camp Sekani area to the trail system around the towers on Beacon Hill that many riders access from the Esmeralda Golf Course via the Esmeralda Trail. Those well-used connectors, including Good Behavior (built with prison crew help) and House Arrest made old-school rides that incorporated the power line road and bombing through double-track ruts to the ravine obsolete.

Service your bike with us...

We’ll take care of your bike like it’s our own

More new trails are on the way, says Jantz.

“Right now we have five different trails that are in progress, including a downhill trail and new cross country singletrack that will be more advanced and technical. Those trails will be going in near Pop Rocks southwest of the towers and should be rideable this spring.” Evergreen East volunteers are really working on creating a variety of trails, from beginner xc to downhill and freeride trails, says Jantz. “In the past we have focused more on beginner level trails, and now we are working on

more intermediate and advanced trails to ad variety.” Jantz says an updated version of the trail map should be available at Evergreen’s website soon. In the meantime, most of the new trails are already included on the map, and spending a day exploring this ever-evolving mountain biking nirvana, following unfamiliar trails at will, letting the terrain be your guide until you end up back where you started –sweaty and in a state of singletrack euphoria – sounds pretty nice too. Find maps at: Evergreeneast.org. //

Beacon Hill Gets a New Trail Boss The trail boss position at Beacon, a partnership with Spokane Parks and Recreation and Evergreen East, ensures that trail building in the Camp Sekani/Beacon Hill area is done right and by design. New Beacon Hill Trail Boss Skye Schillhammer started his two-year stint in January and is looking forward to overseeing the explosion of trail building going on. “Beacon is everyone’s local hill,” he says. “It’s close to town, it has riding for every skill level and discipline, and it has been one of the best places to ride in Spokane for at least 20 years. Beacon is a place that was built by the riding community, and until recently, much of the building was illegal and unorganized. My goal is to work with the local trail builders and riders to construct a trail network that flows naturally and offers a large variety of trail options.”

Schillhammer’s initial goal as the trail boss is to make sure there are plenty of trails for all ability levels and riding styles. “Currently Beacon has many beginner and intermediate trails, so my efforts will go to planning and building new trails that will offer challenging, all-mountain/ enduro style riding.” //

Evergreen East Spring Kickoff Party (March 27) Start your Hubapalooza race weekend with the Evergreen East Mountain Bike Alliance’s Spring Kickoff Party, a fundraiser on March 27 from 6-9 p.m. at the Rocket Market on Spokane’s South Hill (726 E. 43rd). The event will offer a beer garden featuring local breweries such as Orlison, No-Li, 12 String, River City and Northern Ales. There will also be a raffle, silent auction and feature short films from local mountain bikers (riders are encouraged to submit their videos to media@evergreeneast.org). Proceeds from the event will support Evergreen East in its mission to maintain and develop mountain bike trails in Eastern Washington, with a focus on Mount Spokane and Camp Sekani/Beacon Hill.

Taking great care of the customer and having fun doing it since 1983.

find us on Facebook!

www.northdivision.com North Division Bicycle Shop • 10503 N Division • 467-BIKE (2453) 26

Hubapalooza Weekend (March 27-29) This annual weekend of mountain bike racing and riding will feature several events at Beacon Hill this year, including the Double Down Hoe Down downhill race (March 28-29), which includes two separate days of racing on two different courses, and The People’s Enduro (March 29), a single-day, three-stage endure event where riders will only be timed on the downhill stages. There are also rumors of a dirt jam on Saturday and a group night ride. More info: Allgravityseries.com and Thebikehubspokane.com or call the Bike Hub at 509-443-4005. //

Out There Monthly / March 2015

Lay-away and Financing programs

TheBuzzBin Grouch in a Can, New Brewery in Post Falls & Bend’s Beer Relay Northern Ales Releases Grouch Lager in a Can Oscar isn’t the only Grouch in a can anymore.

Kettle Falls based Northern Ales has released its Grouch Lager as the brewery’s first-ever canned beer, with a label that immortalizes the face of the 2014 Kettle Falls elected grouch (the northeast Washington town actually elects a new, official grouch each year, if you didn’t know). Owner/brewer Steve Hedrick and his crew processed over 400 cases, putting Northern Ales on the map as one of the first regional brewers to venture into canning craft brew, which caters to the Inland Northwest active outdoor lifestyle since canned beer is more packable than the glass counterparts most regional breweries produce. One of Northern Ale’s most popular beers, the Grouch Lager is a light, crisp lager with a light hop flavor. Contrary to its moniker, the Grouch is a friendly, drinkable beer with enough personality to establish itself as a favorite. Look for it anywhere beer is sold in northeast Washington for now and beyond in the coming months. Northernales.com. (OTM) Downdraft Brewing Opens Taproom in Post Falls The project of two home-brewing couples, Downdraft Brewing Co. opened its doors November 1. Downdraft features a total of eight taps ranging from dark to light, including Black

sixth stop on the Bend Beer Chase. // Photo Courtesy Cascade Relays.

Beryl Stout, Exit 5 Brown Ale, Anonymous Amber, Project Pale Ale, and their Seltice SMaSH IPA. The brewery plans to rotate different beers from experimental to twists on old classics.

Downdraftbrewing.com. (OTM)

2nd Annual Bend Beer Chase, June 6 The perfect event for anyone with a passion for running through beautiful Northwest landscapes, good beer and a fun party, the Bend Beer Chase is a one-day, six-person running relay that showcases

the best of the Central Oregon craft brewery scene.

In its second year, organizers expect more than 900 runners from around the Northwest to turn out for a weekend of running and beer tasting. With a team of six runners, each runner can expect to run approximately 9-11 miles split between two legs.

Throughout the event, participants will sample craft beer directly from the breweries along the course route.

The Bend Beer Chase will showcase 16 breweries, plus the Bendistillery. The course will start in Bend and travel to Redmond and then Sisters with a finish in Bend. The finish line and brew fest will be held at Crux Fermentation Project. Once a team has completed the relay portion, all runners on the team will complete the “Keg Leg” together. The Keg Leg, which also allows individuals to register and run the Keg Leg only, involves 6-7 brewery visits, finishing on the lawn at Crux Fermentation Project.

Breweries will be providing runners a sample of their beer along with games and prizes at each location.

Cascade Relays, the organization behind the event, is a small Bend business with a mission to provide exceptional race experiences, while supporting local communities along course routes. Since 2008, Cascade Relays has directly contributed over $175,000 to local non-profit and community groups and also produces the Cascade Lakes Relay in Central Oregon and the Spokane to Sandpoint Relay in the Spokane area.

Bendbeerchase.com. // (OTM)

your next BEST race day!

scenic running - cedar forests - brilliant fall colors new finisher medals tech shirts you will be proud to wear free post race lunch Age Group and Overall Awards The adventure of a trail race- the support of a road race on gravel forest road The best first time off pavement race sign up by March 31 and SAVE - use code OUTTHERE15

26th

March 2015

/ Out There Monthly

27

OutdoorCalendar

SIX MONTH TRAININGCALENDAR RUNNING (April 11) Hope Run. Where: Children of the Sun

trail in north Spokane. When: 9 a.m. All proceeds help local children with cancer. Participants recieve a t-shirt. Info: hoperunspokane.com

(April 18) Hear Me Run Spokane 5K. Where:

Riverfront Park, Spokane. When: 9:30 a.m. - noon.

This day includes a chip-timed run, kids activities, awards, raffle and food. The run benefits Spokane HOPE School for deaf and hard of hearing children. Cost: $30/$17.50 kids ages 6 to 12/Free under 5. Info: HearMeRunSpokane.com

(April 18) Wenatchee Marathon. When: 6:30 a.m

to 1 p.m. Race day includes a half marathon, and 10K. This is a fast course, mostly on asphalt trails.

It serves as a Boston Marathon qualifier and is USATF-certified. Info: AdventureWenatchee.com

(April 19) Spokane River Run. Where: Riverside

State Park. Annual trail run held through thick pine forests near the Spokane River. Courses rangefrom 50K to 5K. New this year is the 50K relay. Info: SpokaneRiverRun.com

(April 12) Negative Split Spokane-Half Marathon & 5K. Where: Kendall Yards, Spokane. Info: nsplit.com (April 12) Hauser Lake 10K Ice Breaker Run. Where: Hauser Lake County Park. Run around scenic Hauser Lake. The run benefits the Double J Dog Ranch. Info: DoubleJDogRanch.com

(April 25) Snake River Island Hop. Where: Pasco, Wash. 100 km and 50 km options on a flat course following the Columbia Plateau Trail. The course is mostly gravel and is a good entry into ultra running. Info: PlateauTrailAdventures.com (April 25) Hope Pie Run. Where: Hope, ID. When: 9 a.m. - noon. Celebrate spring by running this 5K. Cost: $5 and a pie (one per family). All you can eat, with unique prizes. Info: goatevents.com (May 3) Lilac Bloomsday Run. Where: Spokane.

The 39th running of this all-day event in Spokane is open to all runners, walkers, wheelchairs and assisted wheelchairs and strollers. Cost: $18. Info: BloomsdayRun.org

(May 24) Coeur d’Alene Marathon. When: 7 a.m.

Marathon, Half-Marathon and timed 5K Run/ Walk. The Marathon and Half Marathon start at McEuen Park. The 5K runs through the Sanders Beach neighborhood. Info: CDAmarathon.com (May 24) Priest Lake Spring Run. Where: Priest

Lake, ID. When: 8:30 a.m. 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon, and free kids dash on a new, scenic course up at Priest Lake. Info: PriestLakeRace.com

(May 30) Liberty Lake Trail Run. Where: Liberty

Creek Loop Trail. When: 9 a.m. 8-mile loop gaining almost 1,000 feet of elevation on singletrack and double track trail. Pancake feed at finish. The run is rated as difficult. Info: UltraSignup.com

(May 30) 35th Annual Troika Triathlon. Where: Medical Lake. Half Ironman and sprint distances.

Info: TroikaTriathlon.com (May 30-31) Riverside 24 Hour Relay Race.

Where: Riverside State Park. When: 11 a.m. Join a team, or run solo for the 2nd Annual all night race.

Camping available, live music, swag, food vendors and awards. Info: R24relay.com

(June 7) Windermere Marathon and Half Marathon. Where: Liberty Lake. When: 7 a.m.

Fully supported and a Boston Marathon Qualifier.

Info: WindermereMarathon.com

(June 20) Justin C Haeger 10 Miler. Where: Spokane Falls Community College. When: 8 - 10 a.m. This is a 3.1 and 10 mile race raising awareness about prescription drug abuse in our community.

Info: jchtenmiler.com.

(June 27) Kaniksu 50 & Emory Corwine Memorial Ruck Race. Where: Frater Lake, Wash. When: 6:12

a.m. A 50-mile point to point Endurance Run and Memorial Relay Ruck Race held in the Lower Selkirk Mountain Range in the Colville National Forest. Info: kaniksu50.com

(June 27) Padden Triathlon. Where: Lake Padden Park, Bellingham, Wash. Sprint and super sprint distances. Info: cob.org/races

(July 10-12) Missoula Marathon. When: 6 a.m.

The weekend includes a half marathon, a 5K and kids activities. The course is flat, fast and USATF certified. It’s a point to point run with a scenic route throught the countryside and finishing in historic downtown Missoula. Info: MissoulaMarathon.org

Lake, Wash. When: 7:45 a.m. Women’s only sprint distance triathlon. Info: ValleyGirlTri.com

(July 18) Race the River. Where: Coeur d’Alene, ID. When: 7 a.m. The race starts with a .5 mile swim with the current of the Spokane River, transition at the Riverstone complex for a 11.25 mile bike ride and run 3.1 miles through the city park. Info: RaceTheRiver.com (August 16) West Plains WunderWoman Triathlon. Where: Waterfront Park, Medical Lake.

When: 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. All women’s triathlon with both Sprint and Olympic Distances.

Individuals and relay teams available. All entrants receive technical T shirts, post-race meal, finishers medal, race memorabilia, an amazing “Racer Recovery Lounge” (hosted by REI, Bella Cova and Fit4Mom). Cost: $90. Info: EmdeSports.com

BIKING (April 11-12) Spokane Bike Swap and Expo.

Where: Spokane County Fair and Expo Center.

When: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Used bikes and accessories are consigned, donated and sold. Consignment available on April 10. Exhibitors sell bikes and accessories as well. Info: SpokaneBikeSwap.com

(April 26) Lilac Century Bike Ride. Where: West Spokane River along the Centennial Trail. When: Various start times. New this year is a 66-mile route that follows the Centennial Trail to Nine Mile then around Long Lake back to Nine Mile and then back to the college. The 15- and 25-mile family rides follow the Aubrey L. White Parkway on the west side of the Spokane River to the Seven Mile or Nine Mile area and back. Each ride includes food stops. Info: NorthDivision.com (May 16) American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure. Where: Northern Quest Resort and Casino.

(July 11) Let’s Climb a Mountain. Where: Spokane.

Various route distances from 4 miles to 100 miles.

Fully supported with breakfast, lunch, post ride massage and live enteretainment. Info: diabetes.org/ SpokaneTourDeCure

(August 14-15) Spokane to Sandpoint Relay.

(May 18-22) Bike to Work Week Spokane. Events include Kick off Breakfast, Commute Challenge, Commute of the Century, energizer stations, Ride of Silence, Wrap up Party and More. T-shirts and swag for participants. Info: SpokaneBikes.net

A challenging 34.5 mile solo and team realay from the Clock Tower in Riverfront Park to the top of Mt. Spokane. Info: LetsClimbAMountain.com

Where: start atop Mt. Spokane and run to the finish in Sandpoint, ID. When: 6 a.m. This run winds through 60 miles of world class Centennial Trail, 80 miles adjacent to waterfront, through two National Forests and ends at a beautiful beach. Info: SpokaneToSandpoint.com

Triathlons

(May 23-24) 24 Hours Round the Clock.

Where: Riverside State Park, 7 Mile Airstrip.

Course can be completed as a team or solos. Info: RoundAndRound.com

Medical Lake Waterfront Park. When: 7 a.m.

Half distance and sprint distance available. Info: TroikaTriathlon.com

(May 31) Gran Fondo Leavenworth. Where: Cascade High School, Leavenworth. When: 8 a.m.

The course is the perfect mix of pavement, Forest Service roads and mega mountain passes. Info: RideViciousCycle.com

(July 11) Valley Girl Triathlon. Where: Liberty

(June 6) Woodrat 25er. Where: Priest Lake, ID.

(May 30) 35th Annual Troika Triathlon. Where:

When: 10 a.m. A mix of double track and singletrack riding on the Panhandle National Forest near Priest Lake. 25-mile endurance race or 12-mile division of intermediate to advanced riding. Info: PriestLakeRace.com

(June 6) Skeeter Skoot. Where: Gonzaga University. When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You ride to stations along the Centennial Trail any time between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Each time you pass a station, stop and draw a card from the deck. You must stop at least five times to get a full hand. The bike ride will be a minimum of 12 miles and a maximum of 22 miles.Prizes awarded for the best (and worst) hands. Info: CoolWaterBikes.com (June 20) Chafe 150 Grand Fondo. Where: Sandpoint, ID. The 150 mile ride starts and finishes in beautiful Sandpoint, Idaho, on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille after winding into Montana through lush river valleys of the Cabinet Mountains. Six fully stocked rest stops, extensive SAG support, epic after-ride party and all for a great cause!

CHAFE 150 raises money for children on the Autism Spectrum in the Lake Pend Oreille School District. 80 and 30 mile options also available. Info: CHAFE150.org (June 27) Silver Valley Ride to Defeat ALS. Where: Snake Pit Resort, Kingston, ID. Picturesque and memorable one-day ride on the paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes in North Idaho. Fully supported.

28 or 43 mile option. Lunch provided. Benefits ALS Association Evergreen Chapter Cost: $50. Info: rideals.org

(July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29) Five in July. Where:

Farragut State Park, ID. When 6:30 - 9 p.m. One and two lap mountain bike race options where each lap is approximately 8.5 miles. BBQ and refreshments included after racing. Info: BicycleService.com

(July 2-6) Northwest Tandem Rally. Where: Bellingham, Wash. Two fully supported days with 5 rest stops enroute including lunches, and two selfsupported days on popular routes in and around town. Info: nwtr.org/2015 (July 15-19) RedSpoke. Where: Starts in

Redmond, Wash., ends in Spokane. 300 mile-bicycle tour across Washington State. Fully supported.

Info: RedSpoke.org

OTHER (July 24-26) Northwest YogaFest. Where: Eureka Center, Sagle, ID. Yoga classes from varying backgrounds, speakers, music, and organic foods. Cost: $300. Info: eureka-institute.org (August 1) Long Bridge Swim. Where: Sandpoint ID.

When: 8 a.m. This open swim is 1.76 miles across Lake Pend Oreille. Info: LongBridgeSwim.org

Have an Event You Would Like to List?

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.

28

Out There Monthly / March 2015

OutdoorCalendar Full events calendar at www.outtheremonthly.com (March 28) Bouldering Competition. Where: Wild

Walls, Spokane. When: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Annual boulder competition has two heats and a finals followed by a party. Info: WildWalls.com

(March 27-29) Red Rock Rendezvous. Where:

Spring Mountain State Park, Las Vegas, NV. A weekend of climbing, dance parites, pancakes and camping. Info: facebook.com/RedRockRendezvous

HIKING (March 11) Iller Creek Trail Work. Where: Iller

Creek Conservation Area. When: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. The work will involve digging tread, brushing, drainage work and other activities that will help improve the outdoor experience of hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers. Info: wta.org/ volunteer/east.

(March 28) Little Spokane River Trail Work.

When: 8:30 - 3:30 p.m. Continue work to build a 3/4 mile new section of trail to reroute the existing trail off of private land and onto state and county land and to incorporate some great viewpoints overlooking the Little Spokane River. Info: wta.org/ volunteer/east.

RUNNING (March 15) BRRC’s St Paddy’s Five. Where:

Spokane Community College. When: 10 a.m. This run is a qualifying run for second seeding at the front of the Bloomsday pack. Cost: $23 with shirt/ $10 without/ $10 Kids run. Info: active.com

(March 15) Runnin’ O’ the Green. Where: Bellingham. When: 10 a.m. Chase all the snakes out of Bellingham on a 5K or 8K course. Finish at a brew pub and farmers market. Info: cob.org/services/ recreation/races (March 21) Rapid Rabbit Run. Where: East Valley High School, Spokane Valley. When: 10 a.m. 5 mile (qualifying race for Bloomsday 2nd seed) and 3-mile run. Cost: $20 with a shirt or $12 without.

Info: eastvalleyhs.wix.com/rapidrabbitrun.

(March 22) Mead Marching Madness 5K. Where: Mead High School, Spokane. When: 10 a.m. - noon.

This is a 5K run/walk open to people of all ages and abilities. Cost: $18 with a shirt, $12 without a shirt.

Info: MeadMarchingMadness.com.

(March 28) Spokane Superhero Fun Run. Where: Gonzaga University, Spokane. When: 10 a.m. This 5K chip-timed race starts and ends at Gonzaga University School of Law, taking you along the Centennial Trail through Riverfront Park. Wear your superhero costume. Info: active.com.

(March 29) George Waterfall 50K/100K. Where: Benson State Park, Cascade Locks, Ore. When: 4 a.m. The course is mostly single track, and winds its way along the base of the Cascades. Info: RainshadowRunning.com

WINTERSPORTS (March 1) Spokane Lemonade Loppet. Where: Mt. Spokane Cross-country Ski Park. 20/30/50 km non-competetive timed Nordic ski challenge. Info: SpokaneNordic.org (March 7-8) Girls Day Out. Where: Whitewater

Mountain Resort. Girls do Ski freeski camp. Benefits include empowerment, confidence building, and instruction from certified ski coaches. Info: SkiWhitewater.com.

(March 13-15) Avalanche Skills Training Course.

Where: Whitewater Mountain Resort. Topics covered in the course include steps on how to plan and carry out a trip, avalanche terrain recognition, terrain analysis and safe travel techniques, snow pack structure and avalanche rescue procedures. Info: SkiWhitewater.com

(March 28) Scavenger Hunt & Crazy Costume Day. Where: Lookout Pass. Scavenger hunt all over the mountain, and best costume wins a prize. Info: SkiLookout.com

OTHER (March 6) Backcountry Brewfest. Where: Red Lion Hotel at the Park, Spokane. When: 5 - 9 p.m.

The kick-off event for the 4th Annual Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Rendezvous! More than 10

Promote Your Event to Thousands of Outdoors Fanatics Every Month!

List Your Race or Outdoor Event in Out There Monthly.

local breweries will be showing support for the Backcountry as they serve up tastings. A lively community event to support treasured public access areas across the U.S. Info: BackcountryHunters.org

(March 7) 1st Annual Spokane Outdoor Recreation Expo. Where: West Valley Outdoor Learning Center.

When: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Learn more about outdoor recreation by interacting with various outdoor vendors.

There will also be live hawks and owls on site. Info: SpokaneRecreationExpo.weebly.com

(March 14-15) Wilderness First Aid Course.

Where: Sandpoint, ID. When: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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. Info: LongLeafMedical.com

(March 21) Tundra Swan Festival. Where: Camas Wellness Center, Usk, Wash. Visit hundreds of swans as they migrate through Calispell Lake.

Lunch provided. Space is limited. Cost $10 for adults, $5 for children. Info: porta-us.com (March 23) The Riverkeeper Speaks. Where: Mountain Gear Corporate Headquarters, Spokane.

When: 7 - 8 p.m. Spokane Riverkeeper speaks about protecting and preserving our unique home-town river for the benefit of Spokane residents and a multitude of recreational river users. Info: SCKC.ws (March 26) Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.

Where: Gonzaga University - Jepson Center: Wolff Auditorium. When: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Spokane premier of the film “Only the Essential,” the story of Casy Gannon and Colin Airsman’s 2013 through hike of the PCT. Film followed by a presentation.

Info: GonzagaOutdoors.gonzaga.edu

(March 25) Bike Maintenance Basics. Where: REI Spokane. When: 7 - 8:30 p.m. Routine maintenance on your bike can keep you riding smooth and prolong the life of your bike. This class is an informative presentation that will teach you how to lube a chain, fix a flat tire in record time and make other minor adjustments to your bicycle. Info: Rei. com/spokane (March 27) Backpack School. This seven-week

It’s easy to add your event at OutThereMonthly.com to get listed online and considered for the monthly print edition.

course meets on Friday evenings beginning March 27, and will make you feel confident and comfortable backpacking. Cost for the course is $40 plus 2015 Spokane Mountaineers membership dues.

Info: SpokaneMountaineers.org

(March 27-29) Othello Sandhill Crane Festival.

Where: Othello, WA. With admission price into the Festival on Saturday, you may attend free lectures which are repeated throughout the day. Info: OthelloSandHillCraneFestival.org

(March 31) Trail Running Film Festival. Where:

Garland Theater, Spokane. When: 5 p.m. An evening of the latest and greatest full length and short films showcasing the challenges, beauty and community inherent in the world of trail running. Info: TrailFilmFest.com

MARCH 2015

CLIMBING

March 2015

/ Out There Monthly

29

On the Mountain: Skiing and Riding

It’s still winter somewhere

by Brad Naccarato and Derrick Knowles

Still Looking pretty white in the peaks around whitewater.

Photo: Kari Medig, courtesy of Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism

There really is no way to sugar coat it – it hasn’t exactly been a wonderful ski and snowboard season in the Inland Northwest. Flowers are starting to bloom, bees are buzzing, the sky is blue and the evening sunsets have been stunning. Temperatures have crept north of 50 degrees for the better part of February, and the local trails are brimming with bikers and hikers.

This certainly hasn’t been a typical February for our region. In fact, the entire Northwest has had a very peculiar, record-breaking winter that has everyone scratching their heads, wondering if it’s time to push their skis to the back of the gear closet. While the Northeast U.S. has been buried under endless snow storms, the opposite corner of the country has been hosting a spring-like version of winter.

As much as we all love the transition to spring, something about it just doesn’t feel right when we haven’t had our fill of winter fun. But what if there’s a glass half full approach to the remainder of the season based on our historically snowy March weather patterns? And what if I told you that winter is still likely alive and well in concentrated pockets of the region? It’s not as preposterous as it sounds, so stay with me here.

I’m not going to tell you that the second half of this season is going to be a snowpocalypse, but coasting directly into spring in the mountains seems highly unlikely when you examine the March weather patterns of the past decade, with the most notable being the record breaking winter of 2009. March of that year featured an onslaught of small but consistent storms racking up 10 plus inches in Spokane and an additional 20 plus in the mountains by the end of the month.

In a recent conversation with Dig Chrismer, Schweitzer’s Marketing Manager, she reminisced about the 2005/2006 season. “We had a tough season that winter that actually saw us close for a brief period,” she said. “But then a huge round of storms came through in March giving us more snow that month than we had received the entire season.” Chrismer agrees that March has often been a very snowy and very overlooked month by skiers and riders in our region who get easily distracted by other spring activities at lower elevations.

Check out Whitewater’s blog post “Every Ski Day is a Good Day” (Skiwhitewater.com) for a breakdown of snowpack totals around Washington and Canada – and a great perspective on the season thus far. I know it’s been a lean year, but don’t give up just yet; winter’s second act is likely preparing to unfold with a result that may surprise you. (BN) Whitewater Ski Resort So what’s your best bet for a March powder fix this year? With a base elevation at 5,400 feet and a summit elevation at nearly 7,000, Whitewater Ski Resort near Nelson, B.C. has a distinct advantage over other regional resorts when higher than average temperatures plague the season. The cooler temperatures at those elevations mean that the mixed precip they receive is going to be mostly snow, and that snow tends to remain in place during high-pressure droughts. “We’re a little down for powder days this season, but overall operations are in full swing on the whole mountain with really great snow quality in the upper elevations,” said General Manager Kirk Jensen.

Whitewater has been enjoying sunny weather that they typically don’t get a lot of, but without the penalty to their snowpack. “We are proud to be currently holding the title of the largest settled snow pack in Western North America according to SnowSeekers.com,” he adds. It seems Whitewater’s geographic location, farther north and deep in the Selkirks, has afforded it some protection from the warmer weather to the south. An easy three hour drive from Spokane, Whitewater is a winter oasis that’s easily within reach as a long day trip or weekend for skiers and riders south of the border. Also if you’re a Schweitzer pass holder, Whitewater is offering $20 off on lift tickets. (BN) Schweitzer Mountain Resort Despite its high elevation location in the Selkirk Mountains, Schweitzer Mountain Resort hasn’t been immune to the region’s weather conundrum, but they do have an ace in hole that gives them the 30 30

Out There There Monthly Monthly // March Out March2015 2015

upper hand: snowmaking machines. “We’ve got good coverage up high, and we’ve been able to supplement the lower mountain with our snow making capabilities,” said Chrismer. “In spite of the warm weather, people are still having a blast enjoying the sun, our huge terrain park, and spring-like conditions all over the mountain,” she adds. Constant storm cycles are a huge plus for seasoned powder hounds but not really essential for a fun ski day so long as the mountain has the base coverage it needs for proper grooming.

“We’re always fighting a public perception battle in lower than average snow years. People assume that we’re closing early, but we have plenty of snow and plan to stay open until our projected closing date of April 5,” Chrismer adds.

In light of Mt. Spokane and 49 Degrees North’s late February suspension of operations, Schweitzer stepped up to offer one free lift ticket to any pass holder from either mountain until March 6 to help hold folks over until those resorts resume operations for the season. (BN) Lookout Pass & Silver Mountain The Bitterroot Mountains of North Idaho have also seen more snow and colder temps than a lot of flatlanders in and around Spokane might be aware of. By early January, Lookout was ranked in the Top 10 Deepest Snowpacks in the USA by the SnowBrains.com. By late February, after several rough weeks, Lookout was still reporting 27” at the base with 48” at the summit. “This season is not the best, but we still have the best,” said Lookout Marketing Director and resident terrain park guru Chuck Schmidt. “Our coverage on the front side of the mountain is great. We do have some patches here and there, but overall we are doing pretty well. And heck, it’s only February!”

Next door to Lookout, Silver Mountain Resort has had a similar season, with 41” at Kellogg Peak and 32” at mid-mountain as we approached March, and snowmaking underway. The snow and cold magnet of the Bitterroot Range typically delivers plenty of snow per season, and although the resorts have suffered their share of rain, warm temps and unusually dry conditions this year, heading into March with a solid base on both mountains means conditions could improve

significantly as late season storms pile into the Panhandle.

By the end of March we will know for sure if February storms and colder temps were a tease or a taste of things to come, but there’s no doubt that things looked to be improving. “2” of fresh and still snowing! This year we’re going to count this as a Powder Day!” exclaimed a February 20 Silver Mountain Facebook post. “It’s amazing how good 3” of snow is after a dry spell!” read a follow up post later that day. There will definitely be those kind of powder days to be had in the Silver Valley still this season, not to mention glorious spring conditions, but you won’t know unless you get up in the morning, grab your stuff and go. Do it or you will regret it come July. (DK) Whitefish Mountain Resort Holed up deeper in the Northern Rocky Mountains above Whitefish, Mont., Whitefish Mountain Resort has not surprisingly maintained more consistently cold and snowy conditions this winter. Maybe something to do with the nearly 7,000 foot peaks and location near the Canadian border in one of the most rugged mountainous regions in the West. A week out from March and WMR was reporting 74” at the summit and 31” in the village. Make sure you add them to your powder alerts or like them on Facebook if you’re thinking about a March ski roadtrip. (DK) Jonesing for Deep Powder? Head North Kootenay cat skiing operations have continued to deliver powder turns during the darkest days of the season. The white stuff definitely hasn’t been as plentiful and guides have had to do more hunting for quality snow, but with several operations spread out in the vast mountains north of Nelson, B.C., from the Selkirks to the Valhallas and Purcells, there will likely be fresh snowflakes filling in snowcat and ski and snowboard tracks somewhere every week in March. And at the drop of a passport, things could get epic real quick. Check out an excellent summary of your options with operator descriptions and links at Nelsonkootenaylake.com/see-and-do/recreation/snow-sports/cat-and-heli-skiing. // (DK)

Spring Season Pass Deals Are 2015-16 Extra Sweet This Year

Season passes What Tax returns were made for

There’s no doubt you can save a ton of money on skiing and snowboarding by buying a season pass, especially if you take advantage of spring pass sale deals, which happen to be better than usual this year to help keep loyal pass holders from jumping ship. Pass buying perks look extra good this year, including free lift tickets for your buddies, free tickets to other mountains, lower pass prices than we’ve seen in years, and free skiing for the rest of this season, depending on the resort. While buying a pass might be one of the closest outdoor recreation things we do to gambling, compared to wasting your money on lottery tickets, the odds are always in your favor when it comes to recouping your investment on a season pass.

Usually all you have to do is use it a few times and it pays for itself, and speaking of odds, the chances of another winter like this one next year or anytime soon are pretty unlikely. Don’t miss these local resort spring deals.

49 Degrees North The spring season pass sale at 49 Degrees North is on now. “We have extended additional discounts to our renewing season pass holders through April 15 as a thank you for their patience and loyalty,” says General Manager Eric Bakken. That’s $249 for adults, $159 for youth and $229 for college students. 49 also allows a half down payment on pass purchases with the other half due June 1, and the deal comes with free lift tickets to Mission Ridge, Bluewood, White Pass, and Loup Loup (16 free passes in all). “This is the Pacific Northwest and occasionally every 15 to 20 years a very difficult snow season comes our way,” adds Bakken. “But the odds are in your favor and the discounts are so large that it just makes sense to plan on having fun all winter long. When you take the risk and reward calculation and spread it over the long run, it is a very rational bet.”

Lookout Pass Lookout’s “Early Bird” pass deals from March 1 through April 30 save you around the cost of a lift ticket on pre-season prices that start May 1.

Adults can pick up a pass that’s good for the balance of this season plus all of next year for $199 ($179 for college students). “We have the best and

most affordable rates,” says Lookout’s Marketing Director Chuck Schmidt. “You can even pay half now and half later. We do our best to be accommodating to our loyal skiers and riders.”

Mt. Spokane Mt. Spokane feels your pain this season and is offering up ridiculously low prices and all-new rewards to thank loyal pass holders and guests for hanging in there through a rough season. First, the resort has dropped early bird pass prices to $229 for adults and $149 for youth. This price was previously only available a few seasons ago to renewing pass holders and is now available to everyone. Second, renewing pass holders will get two free lift tickets to give to friends next season, and new pass holders can also ski or ride the remainder of this season for free (if/ when the resort re-opens). Third, Mt. Spokane is extending a price lock on these killer prices to anyone who purchases a 2015/2016 pass before April 15 that will also allow them to buy a pass for the 2016/2017 season at this same low rate. “We’ve never done this before and hope all these pass benefits show incredible value and our appreciation for our loyal guests,” says Kristin Whitaker, Marketing & Mountain Services Manager at Mt. Spokane.

Silver Mountain Silver Mountain’s “Early Bird” pass sale starts March 1, and these passes are loaded with extra value this year. Ski/ride the rest of this season for free and get four waterpark passes to Silver Rapids Indoor Waterpark, a two-for-one golf pass to Galena Ridge and, new this year, a free day pass to the Silver Mountain Bike Park.

Prices are just $299 for adults and $199 for youth. New pass options also include a young adult pass (18-23) for just $229 and a family pass for just $899.

Schweitzer It’s “Spring Fling” time at Schweitzer, with spring passes good from March 9 to the end of the season for only $129. That’s less than the price of two day lift tickets. Plus you can use the $129 as a down payment towards a season pass for next year. Good news on that front too, as season pass prices for 2015/2016 will remain flat again. // (DK)

7

DAYS

A WEEK!

30

Minutes from CDA

Ski The Rest Of This Season For Free!

Layaway now and lock in these prices!

Pay 1/2 now, Pay the other 1/2 by Oct 1

Sale

Full Price

NEW! Now 7 Days a Week!

NEW! Young Adult $ 229

639 359

Ages 18-23

NEW!

Family Pass $ 899 1499

2 Adults and up to 3 youth - additional youth are $99

Added Benefits 4 day passes to Silver Rapids Waterpark 1 day pass to Silver Mountain Bike Park 2 for 1 golf and much more!

Details@

silvermt.com

208.783.1111 Prices Valid Through 4/30/15 Kellogg, ID March 2015 2015 // Out Out There There Monthly Monthly March

31 31

On the Mountain: Skiing and Riding

Marijuana in the Mountains: How Are Washington Ski Resorts Handling Legalization? by Jon Jonckers Off the record, a handful of ski patrollers I spoke with admit that they’ve noticed an increase in that “funny smell you occasionally notice” on the ski lifts. But none of the patrollers I interviewed could say for certain that marijuana use has increased at their respective ski and snowboard parks this season after recreational cannabis use became legal in Washington.

In Colorado, another state where recreational weed is legal, some ski resorts admit to encountering a rise in skiers and snowboarders under the influence of marijuana. Vail, for example, went so far as to go after “smoke-shacks” within their boundaries, demolishing the user-built structures. Vail’s aggressive response was documented in an article in the December 2014 issue of Colorado-based “Elevation Outdoors.”

Given the observed spike in marijuana use on the slopes in Colorado, there’s reason to believe a similar trend may be unfolding on the grounds of Evergreen State ski resorts.

Regardless of all the new media attention, people have been puffing on lifts and in the woods at resorts here for as long as skiers and snowboarders have been ducking ropes and searching for untracked lines. Whether it was previously toler-

ated or ignored, legality hasn’t really created the radical change or controversy that some might expect.

Alexis Hartmann, Marketing Director at 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort, makes it clear that the new law hasn’t changed the way they deal with marijuana use at 49. “The official policy is

send the rider home. Once again, off the record, the patrollers I talked to reported that alcohol is still the number one problem by a long shot.

Hartmann adds that as far as the legalization of marijuana in Washington goes, many resorts, including 49 Degrees North, operate on federal

Regardless of all the new media attention, people have been puffing on lifts and in the woods at resorts here for as long as skiers and snowboarders have been ducking ropes and searching for untracked lines. a zero tolerance for the use of marijuana, and we would deal with it in the same way that we would deal with alcohol or any other dangerous behavior. Those violating any of our policies are asked to leave the resort.”

Of the ski resorts that responded to inquiries for this article, half of them pointed out that they handled all “intoxicating” substances the same. If necessary, ski patrollers can revoke a lift ticket or pass or

land on a lease from the US Forest Service. “That means it’s not legal here,” she says. In other words, federal laws are king, and federal laws still say cannabis use on federal lands is against the law.

49 Degrees North operates within the Colville National Forest, Bluewood operates within the Umatilla National Forest, Mission Ridge is part of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, White Pass is located in Mount Rainier National Park

and Mt Spokane rests inside Mount Spokane State Park. Since Mt. Spokane is on non-federal land, it’s basically an outlier among Washington ski resorts, but the message from the people who run and keep all of the state’s resorts safe is all the same. Like alcohol use on the mountain, if you smoke or otherwise consume marijuana while skiing or riding, then you’re a potential danger to others that could lead to an accident and you’re violating the rules.

It will probably take a few more seasons and a few more regulations before all of the scenarios regarding marijuana use in Washington are ironed out. There’s a growing element of tourism that could attract out-of-state skiers and snowboarders to visit Washington or Colorado for the opportunity to pursue their mutual love of cannabis and snowsports, and it could even become a lucrative addition for some resorts down the road. But for now, at ski resorts or anywhere in Washington, it’s good to remember that smoking pot in public places is still against the law, and in the interest of self-preservation, it’s best to accept that resorts may not be very lenient in the early years of legalization. //

Ski Bum Advice: Reflections on a Crappy Season Not quite sure what the heck happened this year, but from the lack of snow and record high temps, I am going to wager that someone whizzed in Ullr’s Wheaties, lit a big ole bag of dog poop on fire on his doorstep, rang the bell and then ran like hell. Man is he pissed. And not just a little mad, thus causing a three or four week dry spell in January. No, I’m afraid he is uber ticked off – so much so that my local golf course opened on Valentine’s Day, and I saw older folks wearing shorts like they were in Scottsdale.

As of the writing of this column, most of our area’s resorts were shutting down mid-week operations, and lifties had already begun looking for work at Silverwood. Sure, we could debate the finer points of sub-surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean and a litany of other meteorological terms and esoteric causes of the great snow blight of the 2014/2015 season, but the fact remains that this year will go down in the books with one word written next to it: crap.

I’d like to say that the season started off great and how we had weeks of epic days that folks can look back on and smile, but that would be a long 32

Out There Monthly / March March2015 2015

way from the truth. I’m sure a few folks had some good days, but I was not one of them. So far I’ve had one day on snow this year – one. And it was on hard, granular groomed snow.

But here’s the thing – it’s good to have a really lousy season once every decade or so. Makes us appreciate it a little bit more when we do have epic conditions, or even normal conditions for that matter. I remember eight years ago when we experienced a similar season – you would have thought it was the biblical end times since we did not have a foot of fresh every few days in February and March that year. Folks were freaking out like Hillyard tweakers because they had become accustomed to awesome conditions every year.

Funny how history repeats itself.

For five years leading up to this season, we were on snow by mid-to-late November, enjoying deep powder all the way into April. We suddenly have a down year, and the skiing public starts nodding vigorously in the affirmative that global warming is about to end winter as we know it. Tell that to those poor souls back East. Once those folks finally dig their cars out, they will be skiing all the way into June.

Now before we get all riled up and start pointing the finger at global warming, George W. Bush, and big oil, let’s take a moment to reflect on some historical facts. Even though we broke a temperature record in February, the previous record was set in the late 1800s. You know, back when people rode horses and drank whiskey because it was safer than water. Before the invention of the internal combustion engine. Kinda hard to argue that humans had anything to do with that warming trend. My money is on freaky weather that sometimes just happens to show up and grab us all by the boo-boo. Maybe it’s just Mother Nature’s way of reminding the human race that we are not as powerful as we like to think we are. Humbling thought, ain’t it?

No, the blame for this season goes to several groups. The first are the guys who decided to pay full retail for 130mm waist full-rocker powder skis. Seriously bros? Did you really need to offend the snow gods with weapons that are designed for the deep goodness of the Wasatch and not the dust on crust you normally ski? And then you have the audacity to bitch at the dudes at the ski shop where you bought them because you couldn’t

By Brad Northrup

buy a carved turn on boilerplate? Shame on you.

The next contestants on the blame game are the jokers who bought their season passes over the summer and then proceeded to tell everyone on Facebook and Twitter how awesome the upcoming season was going to be now that they had purchased their pass. Please keep your mouth shut this next summer – please. Finally, I blame all of the recent transplants from California, Florida, or other warm states who stated they “hoped it will be a mild winter” but went out and bought snowblowers anyway. Ullr normally brings the hurt like Kam Chancellor when people say things like that, but I think he was distracted by the aforementioned clowns who brought this season to a premature end. Worry not, my new leather-skinned neighbors, hopefully next year will be so wicked you might just go back to SoCal – let me know if you do, I’ll make you a heck of a deal on your snow-blower. // Brad Northrup is a former shop guy, alpine coach, and ski resort marketing director. His therapist has suggested he find a different sport.

Split personality: The Evolution of Backcountry Snowboarding When I first started snowboarding almost 25 years ago, people asked, “What is this skiboarding thing you do?”

I would spend time explaining how it wasn’t “ski” anything. It’s snowboarding, like skateboarding, but on snow. Now, the new snow sport today that has become what snowboarding was 25 years ago is splitboarding.

The question I get asked now is, “What is splitboarding?” Even many seasoned riders enquire about it. Essentially, a splitboard is a snowboard that can be separated into two ski-like parts used with climbing skins to ascend slopes the same way alpine touring or telemark skis are used in the backcountry. The two halves can then be connected to form a regular snowboard for descent.

Six years ago, a friend introduced me to splitboarding, which I quickly became addicted to. The popularity of splitboarding has increased tenfold since then. This surge was sparked by the Jeremy Jones movie series following the pro snowboarder around the world, reaching peaks none have ventured to before while using a splitboard set up. In those few years, splitboard manufacturers have increased from less than six to over 50 different companies. There are now several splitboard specific bindings designed to switch from “ride” to “tour” mode in seconds, as well as companies making split specific skins (used for ascents) and collapsible poles and packs. The popularity has also produced websites catering specifically to splitboarders such as “Splitboard.com” and “Splitboardmag.com.”

Here in the Inland Northwest, splitboarding has been slower to catch on. However, as many snowboarders begin to look for new avenues to experience their sport, progression into the backcountry is inevitable. Listening to friends’ stories about backcountry trips and watching movies glorifying untracked powder opens one’s mind to the potential and excitement of “earning your turns.”

It’s important to note that splitboarding is a backcountry activity in which 2,000 plus vertical foot ascents in predominantly avalanche prone terrain, where the need for backcountry knowledge and safety is essential, are often made for just one run.

If you’re interested in giving splitboarding a try, North Idaho College’s Outdoor Pursuits program offers rentals for all the items you will need for a backcountry day tour at most popular spots in the Idaho Panhandle. It’s also important to have avalanche training and to go with someone else who has also taken a snow safety course and knows the terrain.

For more backcountry ski/splitboard resources, visit PanhandleBackcountry.com. //

by Larry Banks

Go where no snowboarder has gone before.

Photo Larry Banks

Freeride Media

6 1 0 2 / 5 201

n o s SeaRewards Pass

Learn More!

PRICE DROP + NEW BONUSES + SKI FREE ADULTS $229, YOUTH $149 - A SAVINGS OF UP TO 67% LOCK THESE PRICES IN FOR THE FOLLOWING 2016/2017 SEASON RENEWING PASSHOLDERS GET TWO FREE BUDDY LIFT TICKETS NEW PASSHOLDERS SKI OR RIDE FREE THE REST OF THE SEASON

PURCHASE BY APRIL 15

TH

TO GET THESE PRICES AND REWARDS!

(509) 238-2220 W W W. MT S P O K A N E .CO M March March 2015

/ Out There Monthly

33

Last Page Phenology of People’s park Come Spring, when the landscape unfolds in joyless, tattered, soggy and down-trodden greys and browns, I search for the shine of soft, silvery pussy willows. Usually, I have no luck.

Last year I received a beautiful bouquet of plump pussy willows, male flower catkins, encased in soft grey “fur.” Soon, the woody stems were sprouting rootlets! My saplings thrived. By early fall, I could no longer postpone admitting that I didn’t have room for even one willow in my yard. What to do?

I walk regularly in People’s Park, a peninsula of land between the converging Latah (Hangman) Creek and the Spokane River. This floodplain has been used by people for many thousands of years.

Today, it is lovely and feral, with braiding trails through scattered ponderosa, wild rose, serviceberry, river willow, scraggly fruit trees and much else. Why not put a couple of pussy willows along the creek?

A friend and I planted two tiny whips in the sand alongside the river willow. Excursions over the winter revealed sturdy plants with unique red buds. The gloom of winter also revealed my uneasy conscience: what if I am unleashing another plague of rapacious invaders, like starlings, knapweed, or zebra mussels?

I sought out a knowledgeable friend with the Native Plant Society and confessed my deed. He was unwilling to condemn me, but equally unwilling to absolve. What if my vigorous pussy willows thrive and interbreed with the local willows?

What if I have tampered with the phenology of my

beloved peninsula and when the first wild pollinators show up, the precious golden froth of pollen upon which they depend is already spent or still locked up in silvery fuzz?

My guilt quickly gave way to curiosity: What’s phenology anyway?

“Phenology is the study of timing in nature.

When the ice melts. When flowers bloom. When aquatic insects emerge,” explains EWU Biology Professor Ross Black. The word literally means the science of appearances.

Aldo Leopold, hallowed naturalist and writer, for decades lovingly recorded the first date that buds opened, leaves popped, insects hummed and sandhill crane flew overhead near his rural Wisconsin

@ M A NI T O T A PH O U S E M AN IT O TA PH O U S E. C O M

3011 S. GRAND BLVD. | (509) 279-2671

11AM-1 1 PM S U N.- T HURS. | 11AM- 2AM FRI. & SAT. 34

Out There Monthly / March 2015

// By Bea Lackaff “shack.” “Many of the events of the annual cycle recur year after year in a regular order,” Leopold notes. “A year-to-year record of this order is a record of the rates at which solar energy flows to and through living things. They are the arteries of the land. By tracing their response to the sun, phenology may eventually shed some light on that ultimate enigma, the land’s inner workings.” (“A Phenological Record for Sauk and Dane Counties, Wisconsin,” 1935-1945.)

Leopold’s daughter, Nina, says “Phenology is a way of seeing the Earth. The fact that you keep records all of a sudden changes the way you see the natural systems around you. If you didn’t have it written down, you wouldn’t be able to see it.”

Aldo Leopold’s decades of note taking in the

people’s park willows, The native kind. Photo: Bea Lackaff

1930s and 40s have been extended by his children and others. These recorded observations are carried forward by the National Phenology Network and others. One third of the events Leopold noted 70 years ago are occurring two to three weeks earlier now.

Being challenged at note taking, I was happy to find Project Budburst, a site offering guidance on how to record phenologic events in a consistent way so that scientists can use the data to learn more about the responsiveness of individual plant species to changes in climate (Budburst.org). With this online resource, we can keep track of our notes and everyone else’s too. We can be citizen scientists, adding our own geography and data points, and be an important part of the big picture unfolding around us.

And what of my transplants along Latah Creek?

A forest ecologist acquaintance noted that People’s Park already hosts significant non-native species. He thought that if my pussy willows can make it – they would provide “shade and structure” and generally enhance the habitat.

On the first sunny day after weeks of rain and snowmelt, Latah Creek ran high and muddy, backed up as it flowed out along the edge of the bigger, colder, fast flowing Spokane River. I looked for my willows, but couldn’t see them. I will have to wait until the creek subsides to know if they survived. I won’t dig them up if I find them, but I will definitely hold off on more transplanting and re-focus my zeal to pulling knapweed. Better to shift some plant love to phenology and hope for the expanding delight and insight promised by Nina Leopold. //

March 2015

/ Out There Monthly

35

CLIMBING • BACKPACKING MOUNTAINEERING SNOWSPORTS • RUNNING

Let our experienced staff help you gear up for your next adventure!

2002 N Division, Spokane • 509.325.9000

mountaingear.com/retail

Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am-8 pm, Sat 10 am-6 pm, Sun 11 am-5 pm

36

Out There Monthly / March 2015

facebook.com/MountainGearStore