October-November 2017

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Lock in your Cool Winter Fun!

COntents

Features

20 | Fall Hike Favorites 23 | Night Riding 34 | Montana Larch Hikes 38 | Whitefish Whiteout

CARE FOR YOU. WHEN YOU NEED IT, WHErE YOU NEED IT.

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special Section 25 | Family Wintersports Guide

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7 | Intro 8 | Out There News & Events

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14

Anker aims to catapult his latest film, “MERU,” playing at the Garland Theater on Thursday, October 19, into a fundraiser for multiple Northwest wildfire relief agencies.

multicare.org

Photo: Jimmy Chin. // Courtesy of the North Face

October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

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october-november 2017 www.outtheremonthly.com Publishers

Shallan & Derrick Knowles Editor-in-chief

Derrick Knowles Managing Editor

Summer Hess Associate editor

Jon Jonckers Special section editor

Amy Silbernagel McCaffree Digital Editor

Siobhan Ebel Copy Editor

Andrew Butler Contributing Writers:

S. Michal Bennett Drew Castellaw Kelly Chadwick Siobhan Ebel Adam Gebauer Hank Greer Jon Jonckers Erik K. Derrick Knowles Bea Lackaff Amy S. McCaffree Ammi Midstokke Brad Naccarato Brad Northrup Justin Skay Brad Thiessen Holly Weiler Contributing photographers/illustrators:

Nicole Bronson Jimmy Chin Summer Hess Jon Jonckers Derrick Knowles Shallan Knowles Amy S. McCaffree Drew Parker Justin Short Aaron Theisen Woods Wheatcroft Dan Wilson Tina Wynecoop

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Disclaimer: Many of the activities depicted in this magazine carry a significant risk of personal injury or death.

Rock climbing, river rafting, snow sports, kayaking, cycling, canoeing and backcountry activities are inherently dangerous. The owners and contributors to Out There Monthly do not recommend that anyone participate in these activities unless they are experts or seek qualified professional instruction and/or guidance, and are knowledgeable about the risks, and are personally willing to assume all responsibility associated with those risks.

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On The Cover: Suzanne Hemmy Waldrup walking a ridge in the Selkirk mountains above the Selle Valley near Sandpoint Idaho

Photo: Woods Wheatcroft 6

OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

Intro: Alive Autumn in the mountains means nature is

restless and an endless summer can easily end on a moment’s notice with a snow storm ushering in another long, frozen winter. It’s a season when unexpected experiences should be anticipated. So we really should have been more prepared for a late-September day hike along a high-mountain stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail. Figuring it was an out-and-back and that we could turn around whenever necessary, we didn’t feel an overwhelming need to pack and dress for the dark clouds and cold temps that threatened to rain on our fall hiking parade.

Off we went, past retreating PCT thru-hikers who were bailing from the trail for a break from relentless rain and snow, up and up from Stevens Pass towards a lake we knew we would likely never see through the thick, low cloud cover. The farther

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we hiked, the harder it rained, until our boots and shoes began soaking up puddles like sponges, and my 90’s era outfit of long underwear and shorts felt like I’d been swimming through tarns in them. The rain grew more persistent and biting as we climbed and my hiking partner, who hadn’t been hiking since spring and was a bit out of hill-climbing shape (a fact I chose to ignore at the time), began dropping comments about stiff and sore muscles and other signs of an overtaxed body. I suggested she should drink more water, checked in that she wanted to continue, and we charged blindly ahead, lost in conversation and pulled along by the goal of reaching some destination (even if it was a pickedover berry patch).

Eventually, with the rain still pouring down on us, we splashed up the trail into an open forest with bushes bursting with over-ripe, jammy huck-

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leberries. As we wandered around plucking fingerstaining fruit, our bodies cooled and I noticed how cold it was for the first time. Looking up at the trees above our heads a full-on blizzard of snowflakes was pounding the branches 30 or 40 feet up. After a few more mouthfuls of berries, we began sloshing our way back down the trail.

We ran and walked off the mountain in an unrelenting downpour, with the snowline chasing us as we alternated between trotting, and, in the case of my hiking partner, limping down the trail, with each step sending spikes of intense pain shooting through new parts of her body. We were both dangerously cold and soaked by the time we reached the trailhead. By then, one of us had spent the last two miles pushing beyond reasonable limits and suffering the consequences. The other worrying and wondering how I had failed to be more aware

of our limitations or bring standard shoulder season gear and survival essentials that would have become critical had the situation taken an unlikely turn for the worse.

Back at the car, heated seats and dry clothes never felt so sweet, but it took a good five minutes for my hands to warm up enough to open a beer, and another two hours and a long hot shower to feel warm again. My previously struggling partner, on the other hand, bounced back much more quickly.

Hiking in the mountains in the fall, and even suffering a bit, can be exhilarating, but poor planning and communication, and dressing like you’re going to a Pearl Jam concert, isn’t the best recipe for fall hiking success. // Derrick Knowles, Editor

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7

Out ThereNews&Events New Sport Route is Longest in Idaho Selkirks

Although most people know Hakuna Matata

as a Disney song, it’s also part of the longest sport climb in the North Idaho Selkirks. Local climbers Jeff Johnson and Rick LaBelle initially visited the Lion Creek drainage roughly 10 years ago, and they both agreed the massive Lion Creek Wall had great potential for some major climbs. “From the upper half of the route you can see Lions Head clearly across the valley,” says Labelle. “Jeff proposed calling the easy lower section Hakuna Matata and calling the longer and steeper upper portion Lion King.”

The first section is five easy pitches of 5.6 slab

climbing. Beginning on an obvious ledge, the upper section features 11 pitches up to 5.10. Altogether, the combined routes make 16 pitches on one of the biggest granite walls in the Idaho Panhandle. “The season is pretty short,” adds Johnson. “You can’t get across Lion Creek safely until around July 4. Then, in the fall, after it rains, the wall gets wet and slick.”

From the east shore of Priest Lake, follow the rough Lion Creek road for about 4 miles to the end.

The route begins at the low angle ‘tongue’ of rock at the left end of the wall. The longest pitch has 13 bolts. (Jon Jonckers)

Lion Creek Wall. //courtesy of Jeff Johnson and Rick Labelle

American Long-Distance Hiking Association Presentation (Oct. 14) Join the ALDHA Coeur d’Alene Chapter for a pre-

sentation titled “2017-We Hiked Our Trails Off!” that includes five speakers covering four longdistance hiking trails in the U.S. and two international trails. The trails and regions covered will include The Pacific Crest Trail, Israeli National Trail, and Patagonia (Chile and Argentina). The

presentation and chapter meeting runs from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Lake City Church in Coeur d’Alene (N. 6,000 Ramsey Road) with space limited. There is a $20 cost per person, which includes snacks, beverages and lunch. Register at aldhawest.org.

(OTM)

Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Set to Step up Fundraising Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol is one of the largest

and longest lasting all-volunteer patrols in the nation. They’ve been committed to skier safety and education since 1938, and these patrollers are trained to the highest standards set by the National Ski Patrol system.

One of the reasons Mt. Spokane’s ticket prices remain so low is because the patrol funds its own existence through two major events: an annual ski swap in October and the spring ski test. This year the patrol will need to raise more funds than ever because the Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park expansion means more patrol costs. The patrol will need to continue to provide normal services all around the ski area, but they also need to buy more equipment for the recently-approved new runs and chairlift. “The new chairlift will need to be outfitted with our first-aid materials and our toboggans,” says patroller Henry Seipp. “We keep our gear staged and ready at the top of each chair

lift. That gear is expensive.”

Overall, the patrol does so much more than most people realize. Obviously, patrollers ski and serve the ski area. They also work hard to keep the rest of the State Park safe. “Our main commitment is obviously to the ski resort, but our resources can be pulled all over the park,” Seipp explains. “The sporting community will also notice that we provide aid to many local athletic events too. We run the aid for mountain bike races, triathlons, and local road races.”

One way the outdoors community can support the patrol is to attend the Mt. Spokane Ski Swap at the Spokane County Fairgrounds October 28-29.

Whether you’re shopping for yourself, your kids, or just seeing what the swap is all about, there is something for everybody. Admission is $5 at the door, and children 12 and under are free.

Skipatrolskiswap.com. (Jon Jonckers)

Fall Compost Fair and Leaf Fest (Oct. 28) October in Spokane means beautiful colors in

our urban forest. But what do you do with them after you enjoy them and they fall to the ground?

Learn about home composting at the annual Fall Compost Fair and Leaf Fest on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at John A. Finch Arboretum. Residents from participating jurisdictions of the Regional Solid Waste System get to 8

OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

take home a free compost bin after completing an educational circuit. (One per household and bring proof of residency.) This family-friendly event is sponsored by the City of Spokane Urban Forestry Department and the Spokane County Master Composters/Recyclers. Come enjoy the festival and be ready to play outside in the leaves rain or shine. (OTM)

Fundraiser Supports Youth Sports Programs After-school sports programs empower kids to make healthy behavior changes and become advocates and leaders for healthy eating and physical activity. Since 2005, Active4Youth has worked tirelessly to maintain elementary sports programs in Spokane Public Schools, which were eliminated due to budget cuts. Co-founder Mike Bresson says, “We need approximately $90,000 every year, so we have to raise that amount of money every year to put on this program. There are approximately 6,000 kids in the program,

which translates to about $15 per kid.”

The biggest fundraiser for Active4Youth this year is the dinner gala at the Spokane Convention Center on October 13. This year’s speaker, Damon Dunn, is an American politician who ran track and played football at Stanford University. Dunn ultimately played in the NFL—a major victory considering where things started in his life. In addition to hearing from the keynote speaker, guests will enjoy music, a dinner buffet, and silent and live auctions.

Info at Active4youth.org. (Jon Jonckers)

Dam Removal on Sullivan Creek Beginning September 12, excavators started

chipping away at the 50-foot-tall dam at Mill Pond on Northeast Washington’s Sullivan Creek near Metaline Falls. Mill Pond Dam was initially constructed in 1909 and generated power for Seattle City Light until 1956. The hydropower generation facilities were dismantled and abandoned less than a year later. In 2007, Federal regulators agreed to surrender jurisdiction of the site; however, American Whitewater, the Kalispel Tribe, the Forest Service, and Washington State won an

appeal of that decision. This success launched two years of collaborative negotiations that lead to a landmark settlement agreement in March of 2010, which aims to eliminate the 64-acre pond and restore a free-flowing Sullivan Creek that already draws whitewater kayakers. The project, which will cost up to $16 million, might take up to five years to complete. People can learn more about the project and follow the progress of the dam removal at Millponddam.com. (Jon Jonckers) Mill pond dam removal

Closures Linger from 2017 Wildfire Season With heavy hearts, many people watched

beloved forests and public lands overtaken by wildfires this past summer. While fire is an important and natural part of the fire-dependent forest and grassland ecosystems throughout the West, increased human development, fire suppression, climate change, and other factors have led to larger, more intense wildfires in recent years that have had devastating consequences for many rural communities.

According to NPR, humans are the leading cause of wildfires across the country, accounting for 8 out of 10 wildfires. This is a shocking reality and it points towards the greater need for advocates of

trails, forests, and wild spaces to educate the public about helping to prevent human-caused fires.

The Forest Service also wants to stress to hikers, backpackers, and trail runners to please stay up to date on trail closures and not enter those areas until they are officially open to the public. Most of these burn areas will likely be closed until next year. Many people are excited to pay homage to some of their favorite trails or see the burned forest for themselves, but please respect the closures. For more info on closures, visit the website for whatever National Forest you’re interested in and keep an eye out for closure signs at trailheads. (OTM)

Sled Dog Dirt Rendezvous at Riverside (Nov. 4 & 5) The Inland Empire Sled Dog Association—a

group that’s been around since 1966 promoting sled dog races, rallies, and demonstrations in the Inland Northwest—is sponsoring the 12th Dirt Rondo at the Seven Mile Trailhead in Riverside State Park. The Rondo is the only dryland mushing event in Eastern Washington or North Idaho and a great opportunity to learn more about sled dog sports off the snow. The Dirt Rondo began as a one-day event and now covers two days and

attracts dryland mushers from throughout the region. Dryland races include similar classes as races on snow, but teams pull rigs on wheels. Own a dog? Ride a bike? Cross-country ski? Mushing isn’t just about the Iditarod. Come and learn about carting with four, six, and eight dog teams and one and two dog/bike and mountain scooter teams.

And don’t miss the mass-start canicross race.

Event details, entry forms and other information is available at Iesda.org. // (OTM)

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I have heard that Priest Lake is a nice place to visit in the summer, but I wouldn’t know because I always save my trips to this popular North Idaho lake for fall. While I have never been swimming in Upper Priest Lake, I have experienced complete solitude there, and I judge it to be a good trade-off. The motorboats and Jet Skis have long since been winterized and placed into storage by the time I go, leaving the shoreline quiet enough to listen to birdcalls. There’s also a better chance of seeing wildlife along the lake’s edge. The trail and shoreline are generally snow-free this time of year, but the nearby mountains might already be sporting a new coat of white. Even if they’re not, the yellow larch highlight the change of season.

From Beaver Creek Campground, visitors have several options for the best way to access Upper Priest.

My favorite method is a bit of a hybrid, as I generally plan this trip as an overnight and use either a canoe or kayak to carry my equipment to Upper Priest via the Thorofare connecting the upper and lower lakes.

On my first fall visit several years ago, my group only had two canoes for our party of eight. This allowed everyone a chance to walk one direction and boat the other, and the hikers didn’t have to carry full packs since all of the tents and sleeping bags fit inside dry bags stashed in the canoes.

Once at Upper Priest, those with canoes or kayaks can choose from several boat-in campsites, and can also choose to access the trail system from several spots along the shore. Don’t despair if you don’t have a canoe, however, as there’s a lovely three-mile trail that begins at Beaver Creek and takes hikers or mountain bikers, via a mainly flat approach, to one of the best campsites at Plowboy on Upper Priest. This is cushy backpacking, as the five Plowboy campsites have picnic tables, fire rings, and a shared outhouse. Pets must be on a leash at all times, and there’s no glass permitted on the beach. Keep in mind that it’s pack-it-in, pack-it-out, and food must be stored properly.

Those who stay for the weekend can choose to continue exploring on the Navigation Trail, which extends a total of 8.1 miles north from Beaver Creek Campground. Those who only have a day to visit can still enjoy the first portion of the trail, perhaps planning Plowboy as the logical picnic lunch-spot and turn-around point. Enjoy Priest Lake without crowds, motorboats, and mosquitoes. If you’re braver than me, perhaps you can even enjoy a bracing lake swim.

Distance

6-16 miles round-trip.

Getting There: From Priest River, Idaho, travel north on Highway 57. Just beyond the outpost of

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OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

Nordman, take a slight right on Reeder Bay Road, continuing as Reeder Bay becomes Forest Road 2512 to Beaver Creek Campground and the trailhead.

Give Back to Our Trails

Help out with the construction of a new trail system along Fishtrap Lake west of Spokane and enjoy impressive lakeshore cliffs and upland shrub steppe habitat Sunday, October 29. Sign up at wta.org/volunteer. //

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OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

Everyday Cyclist bike commuting in cooler weather // By Hank Greer Dress for the cooling autumn weather and have fun. // photo: Hank Greer

Daylight hours are growing shorter and our

toasty summer is winding down. We might even get some rain. But you don’t have to stop riding your bike just because the days aren’t perfect in every way. Riding and bike commuting when it’s less than perfect can be just as enjoyable, and it can help you become a stronger, more confident cyclist.

There are several steps you can take to extend your cycling season. First, look at what you’re wearing. Layer your clothing to stay warm. Whatever is next to your skin needs to wick moisture away. Your clothing needs to be made of breathable fabric to help let that moisture escape. It’s okay to start out feeling a bit chilled because riding will warm you up. If needed, wear gloves and a cap. If you get too warm, take a layer off and bundle up if it’s colder.

Embrace the Rain Put fenders on your bike. Fenders help protect you and your bike from the dirt, oil, sand, gasoline, etc., that mixes with the rain on the roadway. All that junk that ends up in the bike lane or on the right side of the traffic lane is being thrown all over your chain, derailleurs, brakes, and you. That means you must wash the bike more often so these important parts don’t gunk up and break down sooner than normal. Wear a rain cape or jacket and pants and scoff at the elements. Waterproof shoes or waterproof shoe covers will save your feet. Once you’re set there’s no need to dodge puddles. Let that inner five-year-old splash through them with impunity!

See and Be Seen.

You always need to see what’s ahead of you, and the sun is setting earlier every day—even more so after we get off Daylight Wasting Time. A good headlight can be had for a very reasonable price these days. Bonus visibility points awarded if it has a flashing feature you can use during the daytime.

Ditto for a taillight. I prefer lights with rechargeable batteries so I can juice them up at home and at work so they’re always ready. Another important part of being seen is wearing a jacket or vest that’s highly visible and reflective. A reflective strip around each ankle combined with the pedaling motion helps catch a vehicle driver’s attention. A

glow-in-the-dark T-Rex costume would be awesome and everybody would notice, but it’s not practical. Your vision would be too restricted. But it would be totally cool on a group ride where someone has your back.

Waterproof Hauling Carry your stuff in something waterproof, whether panniers or a backpack. I also use a trash bag as an inner liner for extra insurance. And I put my lunch inside a zip lock bag so my leftovers don’t end up on my clothes if I were to take a spill. It’s one of those things that only has to happen once to make you implement a low-cost solution.

The Right Tires Slick tires can slip right out from under you on a rainy day, so use tires that have some tread on them. Something beefy with thicker and wider tread works best, but save the knobbies and studded tires for the snow. Remember, I’m not talking winter riding here—yet. Beware of wet debris on the roadway. You are doomed if you make any sudden moves on wet leaves. Drop your tire pressure a little so your tires get a better grip on the road surface. Carry a spare tube, a patch kit, tire tools, and a pump so you’re not stranded by a flat.

And if your commuting route is close enough to a bus route, keep bus fare on hand just in case.

Basic Maintenance At the end of the day, rinse your bike off to remove dirt and grime. And when you do, wipe the grit off those rims so your brake pads don’t sand down the rim walls. Rust is your enemy, so remember to oil the chain. After all, you want it to last all winter too, right?

Oh, wait, we’re just talking about riding in autumn, aren’t we? Heaven forbid I should give you the idea that you could keep riding through the winter— because that’s a great idea! You just apply the same principles for cold and snow. Be safe and have fun out there. //

sale pricing on all 2017 or older model bicycles

Hank Greer is an avid photographer, runner, and cyclist. He wrote about volunteer magic at cycling events in August.

October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

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Climbing

North Face Climber Conrad Anker Visits Spokane

Film “MERU” Presented as Fundraiser for NW Forest Fire Relief // By Jon Jonckers

Photo: Jimmy Chin. //Courtesy of the North Face

Conrad Anker is an athlete, author, instructor, explorer, and the captain of The North Face Global Athlete Team. Living in Bozeman, Montana, allows him to follow anything that happens in the Northwest, and he has a deep concern for the public lands that provide the adventure experiences that many of us crave. Ultimately, the 2017 forest fires were among the worst in years, and Anker believes we can always do more to protect and preserve these resources.

Long before Anker landed on The North Face climbing team, he was just like any other young adventurer working summer jobs and pinching pennies so he could afford more climbing trips. In the mid-90s, he made a decent amount of money with a chainsaw, working with fire crews in Central California. It was backbreaking, strenuous work, and it definitely contributed to his understanding about fires, and National Forests, and overall forest fire tactics.

Years later, speaking about the present wildfires that created so much smoke and damage, he described the situation as “a regional challenge we all face.” When we spoke, Anker cited a variety of recent Montana and Washington fires, many that were still burning uncontrolled at the time of this interview. The Rice Ridge Fire and the Lolo Peak Fire exceeded 100,000 acres in Montana.

Meanwhile, in Washington, the Jolly Mountain Fire and the Diamond Creek Fire crested 164,000 acres. Sadly, the Eagle Creek Fire in the Columbia Gorge, near Multnomah Falls, contributed another 48,000 acres to the tally of burned forests. While wildfires are a natural part of forest ecosystems, larger, more intense wildfires in recent years have unleashed devastation on many small communities surrounded by forest and grasslands throughout the West.

Roughly 25 years back, not long after his stint on a fire crew, Anker worked at the Boundary Dam rigging power lines above the Pend Oreille River. Keep in mind, these were formative years, and international expeditions to remote regions of the globe looked like distant stars. Nevertheless, Anker introduced sport climbing to the area with a bolted climbing route titled Union Job (11c). He laughs about the route now, but many years ago, it testified to his ambition.

“My biggest goal now is addressing climate change. Public lands are pretty straightforward, but if you look at the atmosphere, it’s a tragedy of 14

OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

the commons,” he says. “We have a responsibility to work to get out of the conundrum that we’re in.”

Presently, Anker aims to catapult his latest film, “MERU,” playing at the Garland Theater on Thursday, October 19, into a fundraiser for multiple Northwest wildfire relief agencies. This aweinspiring and award-winning film gives the audience an alpine climbing overdose. Even Himalayan climbing veterans are blown away. No wonder it won the U.S. Audience Documentary Award at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Even if you have already seen this film at home, you don’t want to miss seeing it on the big screen with Anker in the house to answer questions.

The film’s website describes what you can expect: “In the high-stakes game of big-wall climbing, the Shark’s Fin on Mount Meru may be the ultimate prize. Sitting at the headwaters of the sacred Ganges River in Northern India, the Shark’s Fin has seen more failed attempts by elite climbing teams over the past 30 years than any other ascent in the Himalayas.” This is an adventure movie you can’t afford to miss.

More importantly, this is a Northwest movie event that needs as much support as possible.

While many of the forest fires will be controlled by the time this article is printed, it doesn’t mean that wildfire agencies aren’t completely depleted or struggling to overcome the needs of many people or businesses that lost everything in the 2017 fire season. You can help by just watching the movie at the Garland, and you get a chance to win a NEW Ventrix jacket from The North Face.

Immediately after the movie, Anker will be answering questions and interacting with the audience. Admittedly, he had no idea he would be serving the community like this when he was in Central California on a fire crew decades earlier.

But there’s no doubt he is eager to help with the present efforts, and he hopes the Inland Northwest outdoor community will join him. // What: Captain of The North Face Global Athlete

Team, Climber Conrad Anker visits Spokane to present his film MERU along with an audience Q&A as a benefit for Northwest wildfire relief agencies.

When: October 19, doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Spokane’s Garland Theater Tickets: Get your tickets for the show at www. eventbrite.com

Eatology

Is [Insert Random Food] Bad for Me? // By Ammi Midstokke

Milk, in its natural form.

Yes. Totally. That random food that you think is the sole culprit for your particular condition (tight jeans, dribbling nose, fatigue, divorce) is absolutely, unequivocally, and singularly to blame.

Wasn’t it obvious? Didn’t you see the popup on your Facebook page that said “Never eat these five foods!”, or were you too busy shoving that detrimental-to-your-health banana in your face?

Here’s a quick primer on good food versus bad food: Food you recognize is probably pretty good.

Food in a package is probably suspect. But I can recognize a chicken fried steak through a smoke-filled, over-crowded diner, so that might not provide a lot of clarity. The answer to the question “Is it bad for me?” like so many answers is: that depends.

I had a patient in my office this week (and every week, really) who explained to me that she felt quite ill every time she ate dairy. She suffered from stomachaches, cramping, bloating, and the waste byproduct of that sexy combination. Weeks into addressing some concerns she asked, “So is it okay for me to eat dairy?” I suppose, if the patient is partial to blowing up the restroom on a regular basis and never being invited to share a tent then, sure, it’s okay for her to eat dairy.

What may be great for one person (raw dairy has good nutritional value, vitamin D, protein, calcium, good fats) may not be good for someone else. This is why we should celebrate our friends who tout their success with a particular food inclusion or exclusion, even if we think they are crazy. “I stopped eating chocolate,” says my arguably insane climbing partner. I knew she was crazy already, but who the frack doesn’t eat chocolate?! “I feel so much better.

It seemed to be triggering my migraines.” I quickly retracted my judgment and reworded it in my head to compassion. I’d probably suffer my way through the migraines.

This is true for diets, too: anti-inflammatory, vegan, paleo, yahdee yah. While we should congratulate our fellow humans for exploring their health potential, their successes or failures within that process do not define our own. Our bodies, lifestyles, genetics, medical histories, and preferences are all different. And no single food is the

cause of our crisis. (Except gluten, but that’s not what today’s story is about.)

If our diets are varied and inclusive, if we eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, including healthy sources of fats (animal or otherwise), plenty of protein to meet our unique physical demands, and some carbohydrates to fuel our brains and bodies, then we are going to be healthy enough to tolerate the exceptions. Those exceptions are the times we make an informed and conscious choice to eat a donut or drink a double martini.

Peanut butter isn’t making you fat—too much food is. Bananas are not the reason you are insulin resistant—too many carbohydrates and your genes are. Beans are not the reason you are bloated—a diet that doesn’t support healthy digestive function is. Red meat is not going to cause heart disease— industrial meat consumption, stress, poor lifestyle habits, and like five other factors must create that perfect storm.

Here’s a quick primer on good food versus bad food: Food you recognize is probably pretty good. Food in a package is probably suspect.

The next time you find yourself afraid of a single food, take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

What properties in that food make you question it? Does it belong to a family of foods that could trigger something (such as nightshades)? Does it bother you? Are you living on just peanut butter or getting variety? In the meantime, eat your veggies and ignore the hype. Life is stressful enough without worrying if almonds are going to cause us diverticulitis or our love of cauliflower is going to trigger low thyroid. Eat often, eat well, and enjoy every bite. // Ammi Midstokke lives in Sandpoint, Idaho, where she raises her daughter on a deeply ingrained fear of gluten and an arguably dangerous appetite for adventure. Ammi’s Eatology column appears in every issue of Out There, and she also wrote about a Grand Canyon adventure in August.

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October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

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Backcountry backcountry fundamentals

Preparing for Another Epic Season // By Derrick Knowles

Stoked on Backcountry Skiing or Splitboarding?

Don’t Miss These Pre-season Events The Essentials for Backcountry Skiing October 18, Mountain Gear (2002 N. Division, Spokane)

Join Mountain Gear, G3, and Scarpa to learn about the gear required to transition from inbounds skiing to backcountry touring. This is a great opportunity to learn the basics and ask questions you may not have had the chance to ask in a friendly setting. All participants will take home a free G3 ski strap, and there will be a silent auction benefitting the Northwest Avalanche Center. This free event runs from 7-9 p.m., with an rsvp required at Bit.ly/MGEARSKI. 13th Annual Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival December 1, Panida Theater, Sandpoint (6-9 p.m.)

Snow = smiles. // Photo: Jon Jonckers

Dreams of 10,000 foot days still haunt me, even though I’ve been more likely to bonk or cramp up after climbing less than half that on backcountry ski tours these past few busy years. So I’m writing this in part to motivate and inspire myself to set bigger goals, take pre-season training more seriously, and have more fun this season once the snow flies and the backcountry snowpack starts to stabilize.

Since long hours hunched over a computer, 6-pack swilling, and epic stroller walks don’t exactly make for the best backcountry ski season fitness regimen (my zone of expertise as of late), I enlisted highly motivated and perennially fit local backcountry skier and all-around outdoorsman, Mountain Gear employee, outdoor recreation advocate, and friend Travis Nichols for some thoughts on getting ready for the season ahead.

How many years have you been backcountry skiing?

TN: Since 2002 when I borrowed backcountry skis

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OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

from EWU’s EPIC Adventures outdoor program and walked out into the wheat fields near campus to take a few turns.

How much vertical do you climb on an average tour?

TN: The vertical always depends on the group,

conditions, and objectives, but my goal is by spring to be able to knock out 10,000 feet of climbing in a day and still have energy for more fun the next morning. For kicking off the season, my objective is to balance strength, dynamic energy and cardio—lots of long, slow, distance-covering touring. I’ve learned through injury to wait until later in the season when rocks are covered to take on bigger skiing objectives.

What does your fall training routine look like?

TN: We all know the best way to get prepared is

to maintain fitness throughout the year. I aspire

The Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival, produced by the Boise-based nonprofit, Winter Wildlands Alliance, includes a series of inspiring films celebrating the human-powered backcountry ski and snowboard experience. This event serves as a great pre-season gathering place for some of the Inland Northwest’s most passionate backcountry riders, and you won’t leave without being stoked beyond belief for the good times waiting in the mountains this winter. Sandpointbased Selkirk Outdoor Leadership & Education (aka SOLE) hosts the film festival in Sandpoint each year to raise funding for its Snow School Experience program, which is part of the nation’s largest on-snow outdoor science program. Soleexperiences.org. toward this but reality is, life gets busy. The less I slide backward the better. I try to fill my summer and fall with activities I love. Staying in motion is one of the biggest principles of success, which may mean dancing, yoga, running, biking, or climbing.

Then in the fall I start on strength conditioning and more intense (for me) trail running. The NordicTrack makes its way back into our living room to build hip flexors and the kettlebell comes back into rotation to build core strength.

What other early season rituals do you have to get ready for the backcountry season?

TN: Not watching ski films. Seriously. I get too

excited, then I go skiing in the backcountry in December and get hurt. I try to temper my enthusiasm until later in the year when winter fully hits. I also have enjoyed going to the Northwest Snow and Avalanche Workshop in Seattle for the past couple of years. It’s a little geeky but it’s the presentation of the latest research on snow science. That’s my way to get in the right mindset of snow safety, risk management, and how to start building new information into my practice. I also go to other snow safety events here in the Inland Northwest, re-read the classic snow safety literature, and get out with others to practice with my avalanche beacon. //

Fall Compost Fair

UrbanOutdoors

backyard birding

Create Your Own Oasis for Native Birds

// By Bea Lackaff

& Leaf Festival Saturday, October 28, 2017 11 am-2 pm John A. Finch Arboretum Spokane County residents* who complete the activities may take home a free compost bin. Limit one per household. Bins provided by the Spokane County Regional Solid Waste Sytstem. *Please check with your jurisdiction to see if you are a participating member of the County Regional Solid Waste system.

Please arrive no later than 1:30 pm and bring proof of residency.

varied thrush. // photo: Tina Wynecoop

One year I participated in the Christmas Bird Count with members of the Spokane Audubon Society. As we prowled our beat, my teammates headed for the few households that had wellmaintained bird feeding stations. There we found myriad birds and lively oases of feathered hustle and bustle in the frozen morning. “Hey,” I thought, “I want birds partying in MY yard, too!”

By scattering scratch for my chickens, I had already invited an invasion of English sparrows—the aggressive invaders that drive off native songbirds. I was off to a ragged start, but I began learning to feed the wild winter birds responsibly through the Spokane Audubon Society website.

The “Birds and Birding” section provided excellent, locally appropriate guidelines and links to additional information. Here are some other tips for attracting birds this winter.

Provide a good source of water. Buy a birdbath, or recycle a garbage can lid or frying pan.

Place rocks as “islands” for access. Add a dripper to keep water from becoming stagnant. To DIY, punch a tiny hole in the bottom of an old bucket or plastic jug then fill and suspend it to drip intermittently into your birdbath. At least once a month, clean your birdbath (and bird feeder) with soap and water.

Find their favorite food. The birds’ favorite purchased food is black oil sunflower seeds with white millet and cracked corn (scratch) as close

contenders. Offering a diversity of food, including peanuts for jays and thistle seed for goldfinch, could reward you with a wider variety of birds.

Robins and waxwings will come to eat raisins that have been soaked in water. A peanut butter log and suet will be popular with flickers and chickadees.

Do it well or don’t do it at all. “Poorly maintained feeders (and waterers) can cause death and disease,” the Feederwatch.com website reminds us. This means keep feeders and birdbaths clean and don’t use moldy seed or food. Regularly rake up spilled seeds and hulls, spread out feeders and place at different heights to avoid overcrowding, and avoid bird poop falling on platform feeders from overhead. If you have outside cats, think twice about putting feeders in your yard at all. Also place feeders carefully to avoid birds colliding with windows.

Plant native species of trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses. The Washington

Department of Fish and Wildlife reminds us that feeders don’t replace habitat. Throw away the bug spray and leave some plant debris to encourage insects, a primary bird food. // Bea Lackaff is a retired cartographer. Currently presiding over her overgrown empire in Spokane’s West Central neighborhood, she squeezes in as many camping/hiking/road trips as these duties allow.

Let Your Birdfeeder Make You a Citizen Scientist!

For more information call 625-6580 or go to www.spokanecountysolidwaste.org Spokane County Regional Solid Waste System Partial funding provided by WA State Dept of Ecology.

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Anyone can contribute their observations of the world around them to citizen-sourced databases.

Each project has standards and protocols for observing and reporting online. This detailed and specific data just gets better with each individual contribution. It is used by scientists for mapping and analysis of trends and changes in nature occurring regionally, nationally, and globally, to guide conservation efforts and policy making. Here are just a few ways to get involved as a citizen scientist.

• The Christmas Bird Count: For 118 years the Audubon Society has been counting bird numbers and species at Christmas time. Contact Spokane area CBC coordinator Alan McCoy at ahm2352@ gmail.com to ask if your birdfeeder is within the Great Circle of a survey. Better yet, sign up to join birders on a CBC expedition Saturday, December 30, 2017.

• The Backyard Bird Count: February 16-19, 2018. Last year over 160,000 participants worldwide sent in observations of bird species and numbers; this was the largest snapshot of bird populations ever recorded! More info: Birdcount.org • eBird: use this free app to identify birds, record and organize your personal bird list, and share your data with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

905 N. Wasington St. The Old Broadview Dairy 509.381.BIRD (2473) info@theblackbirdspokane.com BlackbirdSpokane @TheBlackbirdGEG

• Project Feederwatch. From November to early April, count the birds at your feeder and share your data online. Project Feederwatch provides an informative website and an online community of fellow birdwatchers and summary reports of their data. More info: Feederwatch.org.

October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

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Leaf, Root, Fungi, Fruit Fairy Clubs // by Kelly Chadwick

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OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

n

Gnomes and fairies live near mushrooms.

If you want to find the little people, patches of fairy clubs are your first stop. An essential part of the October fungal explosion, they are often overlooked in spite of littering the ground in camouflaged troops sometimes in the thousands, like exclamation points in the carpet of moss.

I have not personally met any little people in this habitat, but clearly from the name they must be there. If you don’t encounter them, go to plan B, which is collecting fairy clubs for food.

There are several types, none of which are known to be poisonous: standard, giant, purple, white, yellow, along with short and stout ones and long and thin ones. Some grow alone, some are scattered, some form in dense fingers, and some branch like coral. They are little treasures, and there are never enough to measure in pounds.

In the family of club fungi, Clavariaceae, the superlative species to hunt is Clavariadelphus truncatus, the coral club. It should be called the giant fairy club, but that name was taken, oddly, by a smaller club. C. truncatus grows in small groups and is easily recognized by its truncated form.

Truncated means it’s club-shaped with a flattened top. They have a steep downward taper; a lumpy, wrinkled surface; and resemblance to a baby chanterelle with a more ochre hue. They are roughly the size of a thumb.

There are delicious and distinctive wild edibles that haven’t yet entered our food stream consciousness, many of which are fungi. Coral Clubs are one of them. They have the rare quality of being complete in flavor and in no need of sauces or spices.

They taste like sweet teriyaki chicken with a suppler texture. The sweetness is apparent when fresh, which definitively separates it from other bitter tasting clubs, along with almost all fungi.

In some textbooks Clavariadelphus is listed as inedible or no info provided. Even among the most avid foragers, few gather this gem. Fairy clubs are fleeting and labor intensive to collect, unlike large

durable genera such as chanterelles and matsutake.

They start coming up well into autumn, and then the first frost renders them watery and mushy. As with garden tomatoes, wild berries, sardines, and shaggy manes, clubs are built with short windows

They have the rare quality of being complete in flavor and in no need of sauces or spices. of ripeness. Even when the timing is perfect, insects may have hollowed them out. Don’t be discouraged.

Foraging is about discovering nature’s nuances.

People dream about treasure, buy metal detectors, shop at antique stores and garage sales. The original treasure was food.

Identifying Attributes: Various colored obe-

lisks rising a couple inches above the needles in random patterns of delicate dissemination.

Look-alikes: Earth tongues have a similar stature but are tougher and with mostly darker hues of green and black in the shape of elongated spades.

They are also edible.

Culinary Attributes: A sweet and firmly spongy delicacy. Cook in coconut oil with a little salt and add as a garnish. Purported to be donutlike when lightly battered and dusted with sugar.

Wine Pairings: Austrian Riesling is complex

and smells sweet yet is dry and won’t mask the personality of clubs. //

Kelly Chadwick grew up wandering the outdoors, which led to a lifelong passion for the natural sciences. He wrote about inky caps in August.

CrossCountrySkiing Mobilizing the i-generation // By Brad Thiessen

Chariot Race. // Brad Thiessen

In an era where we’re segmented into narrow age groups, the Mt. Spokane Cross-Country Ski Park is countercultural. On a typical Saturday, the trails buzz with the energy of kids and adults laughing together and playing games at the junction clearings: adults investing in kids, and kids enriching adults.

This season, close to 200 kids, from beginner five-year-olds to high school seniors competing at the elite national level, will take part in a growing range of ski programs through the Spokane Nordic Ski Association— almost all of them initiated and led by volunteers. Lessons through the

Nordic Kids program are the foundation. The seven-week program for kids ages 5-15 has been going strong for somewhere close to 35 years, under different names and forms, and is in its current iteration since around 1990.

In recent years, the program has been capped at 125 participants and split into morning and afternoon options to decrease strain on the trail system.

Running the program takes a small army of parent and other volunteers. The initiation point is usually assisting on the trails or serving hot chocolate afterward in the lodge. If a volunteer takes on lead coaching, like I did for two years while my son was enrolled, they receive training and certification through the Pacific Northwest Ski Association, paid for by Spokane Nordic.

A push toward greater parent involvement was intensified under the leadership of Alison and Trond Liaboe six years ago as a way to make the program sustainable. Alison recalls that it brought other benefits. “When more parents joined in it truly became a fun family experience and friendships across families were formed that have stayed strong for years.”

As kids develop skills and move through Nordic Kids, they have the chance to progress to the Transition Team and then competitive Race Team. While led by paid coaches such as 2017 Pacific Northwest Sports Association Coach of the Year George Bryant, these teams also rely on a committed group of supportive parents. For some kids, competitive skiing isn’t compelling. In those cases, parents have stepped up to create recreational alternatives.

That’s what happened when Karen and George Momany’s youngest daughter and a few others outgrew Nordic Kids nine years ago and were

looking to keep skiing. The family brought together a group of high school-age girls for an extended weekly lesson time for a more intensive, but relaxed and social ski experience. “We thought the group would end when our youngest graduated from high school,” Karen says,” but the girls who were left asked us to please come back the next season so it has continued.”

The same enthusiasm for non-competitive skiing brought about the Nordic Rangers six years ago. The program uses skiing as a basis to teach backcountry survival skills and brings in a range of volunteer experts. Ski parent Chris Oxford says that he spurred the program into action after the idea had been brewing for years with several other adults. The program gives “kids who outgrew Nordic Kids a non-racing, team track to stay engaged with Nordic skiing, fosters a sense of giving back to and helping build community, and ultimately grows a group of people who want to become instructors or Ski Patrol or both,” Oxford says. Nordic Rangers continues to draw interest even as parent volunteers move through as assistants and then into leadership before handing off the baton to the next leader.

The latest outgrowth of this desire to inspire youth is a pilot project called the Cross-Train Ski Team. It will teach middle-school cross-country runners the basics of Nordic skiing as a way to keep them fit between cross-country and track season. Already two ski parents have stepped up to volunteer as coaches, even though their kids won’t be in the program.

The benefits of this cross-generational involvement flow both ways.

Chris Oxford reflects, “When you teach the same kids for a season or two and really get to help them grow from complete novice, nervous, [and] a bit scared, into fully confident, competent skiers…that’s an incredible, joyful, [and] collaborative feeling.”

For everyone I talked to, it all comes back to the same set of shared values and relationships. In the words of Tom Schaaf, who led Nordic Kids with his wife Dawn for eight years, “It’s a great community of people who share a love of the outdoors and outdoor activities.”// Brad is the director of engagement at the Spokane Nordic Ski Association and is working on a film about beating cancer called “Proof of Life.” He wrote about the Centennial Beer Chase in July.

October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

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Autumn in the Enchantments. // Photo: Summer hess

Spokane. Following new construction, South Lincoln Street is lined with Sweet Gum trees, which glow in shimmering gold and subdued burgundy during fall. Many of the older South Hill neighborhoods are bisected by boulevards bordered with stately maples whose breathtaking crimson is best absorbed at a hot chocolatesipping pace. (Justin Skay)

Out There’s Fall Hike Favorites The cooler weather that signals the beginning of fall means perfect conditions for hiking, whether it’s an urban walk, close-to-home hike, or backcountry adventure. As the trees begin to change color, check out these favorite fall hikes recommended by a few “Out There Monthly” contributors.

Gold Hill, Sandpoint (Moderate)

Hands down, for reasons of nostalgia, the 51 corners of Gold Hill’s Trail #3 remains my favorite fall hike, ride, and run. I grew up on the backside of this mountain, long before the trail was cut.

The flora smells like my childhood, with trilliums blooming in spring, and bright birch leaves falling

By Siobhan Ebel point at Big Rock, a popular climbing area sitting at 3,600 feet, before following a series of switchbacks back to the parking area. As you descend, keep an eye out for views of Mount Spokane in the distance. (Siobhan Ebel)

Iller Creek, Spokane Valley (Moderate)

Urban Fall Color Walks, Spokane (Easy)

The Iller Creek Conservation Area offers stunning views of the Palouse and Steptoe Butte, as well as the fall colors unfolding across Spokane Valley and surrounding mountains. Although much of the hike is forested, the sections along the ridgeline get blasted by sun for the better part of the day, making fall the perfect time of year to explore this 5-mile loop trail. The route reaches its highest

Fall Hiking Safety

Some of the best places to see the Spokane area’s best fall foliage displays are in the older parks, like Corbin Park in the Emerson-Garfield neighborhood, and Manito Park on the South Hill. Both offer plenty of opportunities to explore and are home to some of the oldest and biggest deciduous trees in the city. There are also less conspicuous places to look for signs of fall in and around

The Enchantments, Leavenworth (Difficult)

A day-long push through the heart of the Enchantments is the best hike in the state of Washington, especially in the fall. The challenging 18-mile trot starts at the Colchuck Lake trailhead, ascends the infamous Aasgard Pass, and wanders through the Core Enchantment Zone. If timed right, hikers are rewarded with the classic view of Prussik Peak, surrounded by golden larches, before starting the gradual descent past Snow Lakes. Leave No Trace principles and use of the rustic privies are especially important in this high-use, highly-impacted alpine environment.

(Summer Hess)

Exploring the Science behind Fall Foliage at Finch Arboretum

By Justin Skay

Ginkgo leaves turning.

Right, fall at finch arboretum. // photos: Shallan Knowles.

OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

Mountain,

If you time it right, the golden display of larch that spreads out across the green, coniferous sea of the Kettle River Range is a fall experience you won’t easily forget. Usually hitting its peak toward the second half of October, there are several pull-outs on the drive up the pass from Kettle Falls where you can stop for views of brilliant larix occidentalis lighting up the surrounding mountains in a mosaic of dazzling color. Park at the top of the pass for a hike up Columbia Mountain, an outand-back that climbs from the highway to several stunning viewpoints on the way to the summit that houses a restored fire lookout. On top, on a clear day, soak up views that include the Cascades, sprawling British Columbia mountain ranges, and Idaho’s rugged Selkirk peaks. Hike as far as you want with up to 8-miles roundtrip possible following the loop trail around the mountain. (Derrick Knowles)

in the autumn. The 2.5-mile climb (if one just goes to the lookout, though the trail continues) delivers hikers to an incredible view of Lake Pend Oreille, the Pend Oreille River, Schweitzer, and Sandpoint.

(Ammi Midstokke)

When hiking in the backcountry or heavily forested areas during hunting season, be sure to take the proper precautions such as wearing bright colors to avoid being mistaken for a bear, deer, or elk. Traveling in a group and making enough noise to be heard by any nearby hunters will also help reduce the risk of an unwanted bear, cougar, or wolf encounter. The majority of wild animals, including predators that some people are fearful of, will bolt if they hear humans coming, but carrying bear spray is always a good idea, especially when hiking in grizzly bear country. (OTM)

20

Sherman Pass/Columbia Kettle Falls (Moderate)

The Inland Northwest may not be inundated by the throngs of leaf-gazers that trample the northeast every fall, but we are blessed with a host of tree species with modest beauty that reflects Spokane’s own splendor. We are further fortunate to host two dedicated dendrophiles whose passion rivals that of any New Yorker. Angel Spell and Kacey Burke are urban foresters with the City of Spokane parks department and are eager to share their knowledge of the region’s trees, including the factors that play into the timing and intensity of the fall color display.

“The primary initial trigger for trees is light,” says Spell. Spell and Burke agree, however, that other circumstances can weigh heavily on the duration and color intensity of fall foliage. Temperature throughout the day and night, as well as precipitation, can have dramatic effects. “Under stress, the trees will turn earlier,” explains Burke. A dry summer like the one we’ve just left behind will hasten the arrival of fall colors, while warm days coupled with cool nights will prolong them, she says.

One place the trees are never stressed is Spokane’s Finch Arboretum. There the most vibrant and varied fall colors can be more predictably seen at their peak. The season is just warming up, and Burke says the kaleidoscopic show lasts a full six weeks. Soon summer greens will yield to brilliant golds, radiant oranges, fire-engine and candy-apple reds, and even deep burgundy in artful brushstrokes over Buckeye, red maple, dogwood, ginkgo, sweet gum, the stately black tupelo, and Persian ironwood, which can carry the full fall palette in its diminutive branches.

Beyond the nurturing shelter of the arboretum, where trees are more subject to sometimes-severe cycles of drought, pollution, and climatic variation, fall color displays can be less predictable, though usually no less dramatic. On a late September dog walk on the north bank of the Spokane River, I first noticed a faint flourish of yellow on the upper reaches of a south-leaning silver maple.

I breathed in, acknowledging the end of another summer, and as I exhaled my eyes drifted slowly down the trunk to the low, cool river, reminding me of the inevitability of change more momentous than color. Enjoy fall’s sublime display before the hopefully copious snow whitewashes it away. //

EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE

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October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

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Night Riding Don’t Let the Shorter Days Chase You Off the Trails

This photo: a beacon in the Night.

Photo Dan Wilson. // Above: Midnight mechanical. Photo: Justin Short

By Erik K. and Derrick Knowles The equinox has come and gone, and soon Daylight

Savings Time will come along and pour salt in our wounds. In case you haven’t already noticed, minutes of sunlight are disappearing each week. Luckily for us, it’s the 21st century and gone are the days of traveling at night by candlelight. Today’s market is flooded with options of high-powered, insanely bright LED lights for a fraction of the cost of what they were just a few years ago. You can now illuminate an entire forest with a rechargeable lithium ion battery powered spotlight the size of a golf ball.

With this new technology comes new options for adventure. Suddenly trails you’ve ridden dozens of times take on a life of their own. Night riding on your mountain bike has never been more fun. Before you go bombing down your favorite singletrack trail in the dark, there are a few things to consider. First off, it’s a good idea to slow down Night Light Advice

There are a ton of affordable light options out there for night riders these days, and while some people swear by cheap, Chinesemade lights you can get online, others report issues with reliability and quality. If you’re looking to get into a night-riding setup, your best bet is to stop by your favorite bike shop where you can talk to another rider who can walk you through the different options, answer questions, and help you if there’s a problem with whatever you end up taking home. North Division Bicycle owner Brenda Mangine recommends a light system that is at least 1,000 lumens. NDB carries eight options of Serfas and Night Rider lights ranging from $35 to $300, with a mix of helmet and handlebar mounting choices. “Most of us go nuts and ride with 1,800 to 3,000-plus lumen lights,” she says.

“It’s kind of nice to light the whole woods up when it’s pitch-black out.” (DK)

by at least a third of your normal speed. Even a familiar trail can feel unpredictable with this new perspective, not to mention the hundreds of shadows that are constantly changing shape and size, hiding obstacles, and creating some that aren’t even there. Change your mind about the ride; it’s about the adventure, not the high speeds.

Another consideration is light placement. It’s best to have one on your handlebars and one on your helmet if possible. This gives you a steady focused beam out front coming from your bars, and a higher beam from your helmet, cutting down on shadows and allowing light to be focused where you’re looking. That said, if you only have one light, it’s best to mount it to your helmet. If you come across a tight turn, for instance, you’ll want to be able to look where you’re turning.

Of course, the usual concerns arise with doing

anything in the forest at night. Safety takes on an even higher priority and common sense is a must. The unexpected “deer in headlights” standing in the middle of the trail, the night wanderer or vagrant whose hangout is suddenly filled with lights, or the increased chance of getting turned around and temporarily lost or disoriented makes night riding with a buddy highly recommended.

Aside from the simple fact that the thrill of cruising through the darkness is best when the experience is shared, it just makes sense from a safety standpoint.

If you can round up a larger group and the trails aren’t too dusty, opt for taking the back of the pack.

The view of the train of lights undulating through the contours of the upcoming trail is like no other!

Don’t let the sun going down get you down. The trails are in prime condition. Adventure knows no boundaries other than the ones you create! //

Where to Ride at Night Inland Northwest mountain bikers have been riding area trails after dark for years, but some of those trails are not technically open to nighttime use. It’s up to riders to make sure they know if a trail is open or closed after-dark, but here’s a general guide to where you can and can’t legally ride at night.

• National Forest trails that are open to bikes, like Caribou Ridge and the Canfield system near Coeur d’Alene, are good to go.

• Unpaved roads just about anywhere, including on the outskirts of Spokane, make great night riding without the added challenge of negotiating singletrack, although you’ll need to keep an eye out for cars.

• Spokane City park lands are closed from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., which means you’ve got the green light to ride trails that are on City of Spokane park land in these areas: High Drive Bluff, Palisades/ Indian Canyon, People’s Park/High Bridge/Great Gorge area, and Beacon Hill/Camp Sekani.

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• Trails on Spokane County park land are open until 10 p.m. unless otherwise posted and include popular singletrack at Iller Creek, Antoine Peak, and Saltese Uplands.

• What may come as a surprise to many longtime night riders is that Riverside State Park and Mount Spokane State Park trails are only open until dusk, which means if you want to ride there and follow the rules, enjoy the trails until it’s getting dark and then move along. (DK)

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October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

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Lessons & Youth Programs

Family Ski Tips

Stay Warm, HAve Fun, Save $

Kids Ski Free Bunny Hill Guide and more!

Presented By

October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

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first time on the slopes

In This Guide Tips for Family Fun

27

Get Ready for Winter Driving

28

One Big Happy Ski Family

30

Little Rippers 31 5th Grade Ski/Ride Free Program

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On the cover: Fun in the snow. Photo courtesy of Silver Mountain Resort.

Contributors

Amy S. McCaffree skis black diamond runs with her ski patroller husband and their two children. Her goal this season is to keep up with her powder-loving 2nd grade son. Follow her winter adventures on Facebook @AmyOutdoorsSpokane.

Shallan Knowles is happiest cruising long, smooth groomers on a bluebird spring day.

She is looking forward to a whole new ski experience teaching her two-and-a-half year old son to ski this winter.

Ski Programs for Kids and Families 5th Graders Ski or Snowboard for Free

The Ski the Northwest Rockies association offers a “5th Grade Ski or Ride Free Passport” at the four association resorts (49 Degrees North, Lookout Pass, Mt. Spokane, and Silver Mountain) that allows 5th graders to ski or snowboard three days free at each participating ski area. Some ski areas even offer specials for parents or siblings. Head up with your 5th grader and learn and play together as a family. Details at skinwrockies.com.

Learn to Ski as a Family

The four Ski the Northwest Rockies resorts (49 Degrees North, Lookout Pass, Mt. Spokane, and Silver Mountain) have a 3-visit “learn to” ski or snowboard package at an incredible price called EZ Ski/Ride 1-2-3. The package includes three lift tickets, three rentals (all equipment included), and three lessons for adults and kids 7 and older. Details at Skinwrockies.com.

Free Ski School at Lookout Pass

In its 77th year, the famous Free Ski School at Lookout Pass has introduced 75,000 kids to skiing and snowboarding. The lessons run every Saturday morning between January 6 and March 10 from 10 a.m. for kids age 6-17. Lessons are free, but a lift ticket or season pass is required for kids to keep skiing or riding after the lesson, and gear rental is not included. Load up the family ski-mobile and enjoy learning to ski with your kids. Register at Skilookout.com.

Build Skiing and Racing Skills Together

The Spokane Ski Racing Association is a non-profit ski team operating out of Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park with programs for kids (ages 5 and up) and adults who want to become expert, all-mountain skiers and learn to compete in the Olympic disciplines of alpine ski racing. Learn more about getting into ski racing as a family at Gossra.org. (OTM)

Created By: + 26

OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

Top Left: the pole hook to keep a toddler upright on skis. Bottom Left: Boot buckling by dad.. Right: learning to carry skis from the truck is one of life’s earliest ski lessons. // photos: Shallan Knowles

Over the past decade of skiing, I’ve noticed my attention being drawn to the poof balls of puffy jackets, oversized helmets, and comically-tiny gear that adorns little kids on the slopes. Watching them shuffle to the magic carpet or bunny hill lift and scoot on, with parents doting to keep them from falling, is adorable entertainment. It’s captivating to watch the next generation of skiers and snowboarders make their way down the mountain, turning back and forth in slow, pulsing arcs: pizza, French fries, pizza, French fries.

Watching other people’s cute kids skiing might have even inspired me a bit to take the leap into parenthood myself. For the first season ever, I’m looking forward to delighting in guiding my own overly-insulated, shuffling kiddo up and down the mountain.

Learning to ski as a gangly teenager, following my same-aged cousin down the mountain at area resorts was tough. Her parents had her on skis when she was 4 and her dad was a ski instructor.

The early start and lessons gave her a considerable advantage, meaning I often watched her take off down the slope effortlessly while I struggled. As soon as we had drivers licenses, season passes were in the works for Christmas, and every weekend was spent exploring new parts of the closest resort to our house, Silver Mountain. The added expense of passes and gear was a wise investment for our parents; there’s little time for getting into trouble when winters are filled with long days playing in the snowy mountains.

By the time we were adults, the familiar good times on skis still called, but life’s to-do list was longer than ever. Weekends that were once dedicated to ski days were filled up with other things until over the last few years I could count the number of ski days I’d had on one hand. A testament to just how busy adult life can become, I hadn’t thought about how much fun I was missing until our son was born. Soon day dreams of teaching my own little one to ski had me once again looking forward to winter on skis.

Given our son’s intense, energetic personality, we assumed he would be ready, like my cousin, to hit

the slopes at an early age. Last spring, two months shy of his 2nd birthday, we figured we would give it a try and see how he liked it. Not wanting him to get cold or leave something we might need behind, we loaded up a vast pile of gear: his tiny skis and boots leased from Spokane Alpine Haus; a puffy snow suit; two pairs of gloves; two hats; extra pants and sweatshirts; snacks and drinks; hand warmers and extra socks; a harness and rein set-up for teaching little kids to ski that we had no idea how to use; a giant orange ski helmet that barely fit; and other random things we thought we might need.

Off we drove to Mt. Spokane, well before naptime, to see what he could do. At the top of the bunny hill, we struggled to figure out how to hold him up while still letting him test out his legs that were strapped to slippery skis for the first time.

Then we started sliding down the mountain slowly to show him how it was supposed to work. (We had watched a few videos of little kids skiing together, so we think he had a pretty good grasp on what was happening.) Several seasoned parents stopped to offer encouragement and give us welcome advice, and we finally settled on hooking our poles under his arms and snowplowing him down the hill. It was the best thigh workout I’ve had in years, and my face hurt from laughing. At the bottom of his first run, we checked in to make sure he was still smiling and then awkwardly lumbered onto the chairlift for round two. Then round three and four.

On what turned out to be the last run of the day, he took off on his own after asking for a push. And the nervous yet proud parents of an almost 2-year old tucked himself down a good 15 yards before gently falling over. At the bottom of the hill, after we told him it was time to go home, there were tears for the first time that day. He wanted another ride on the chairlift.

It may be a few years before we venture off the bunny hill, but I am already looking forward to racking up more ski days than I have in years teaching my son to ski. //

By Shallan Knowles

Stay Warm, Go Slow, Save Money Tips for Family Fun on the Mountain

left and middle: amy Mccaffree’s kids bundled in gear and ready to go. Photo: Amy s. Mccaffree Right: Cat-track makes great runs for littles at a local resort.

Photo: Shallan Knowles

Getting the whole family out on the slopes in the clean, cold mountain air is well worth the effort. These tips, pulled together and passed along after years of ski family experiences, will help make sure your family stays warm, dry, and happy on the mountain and that your winter fun doesn’t break the bank.

Dress for Success:

Warm, Dry Ski & Snowboard Gear Makes All the Difference

It takes trial-and-error experience to dial in the right mix of layers, depending on each child’s exertion levels and toleration of colder temps. Here are some basic elements to get you started with the right kids gear.

• Base layer: Look for tops and bottoms made of polyester-blend fabric (like fleece) and woolpolyester blend, calf-length socks.

• Mid-layer: For night skiing and sub-freezing days, a mid-layer fleece vest or jacket is a good idea if one is not already attached to an alpine jacket as an inner lining.

• Outer layers: A weatherproof alpine jacket is required, meaning it’s both resistant to water and wind to help a child feel warm and stay dry in variable conditions. Weatherproof pants with cuffed leg openings, whether bibs or regular style, stay snug and prevent snow from getting inside.

• Alpine sports helmet & goggles: Quality helmets come with a soft, cushioned lining and adjustable chin-strap. Ski goggles, worn over the helmet, provide warmth by shielding eyes from wind and snow and prevent injury during falls.

• Gloves or mittens: Choose a weatherproof style with fleece liners, snug openings, and a cinchclosure feature to secure the glove or mitten around the wrist. On cold days, a child should also wear a face gaiter that covers the nose, cheeks, chin, and neck and tucks into the jacket collar. The chairlift ride is the coldest part of skiing or snowboarding, so make sure they dress warm. Always pack a stash of hand and toe warmers just in case.

Baby Steps: Start Them on the Green Squares (Bunny Hill and Novice Terrain)

Making sure new skiers and riders progress by taking on terrain that matches or slightly challenges their skill level will make for a more enjoyable and productive experience. Tackle these green runs over and over until they are ready for something more challenging.

49 Degrees North (30% beginner trails) • Bonanza/Chair 1 to Midway off-ramp: Tamarack or Beaver Slide to Portal’s long run back to bottom of Chair 1, or from Portal, head down either Knight or Bishop and meet up again with Portal as it traverses across, near the base, back to chair 1’s loading area.

• Chair 1 to Chewelah Peak summit: Silver Ridge-Beaver Slide-Portal (three connecting trails).

Or from Silver-Ridge keep straight to Huckleberry Ridge then turn down on Big Bear which links to the end of the intermediate Bugaboo for a short while, and then the bottom of intermediate Alpine Road leads you to the Sunrise-Quad/Chair 5, which you ride back to the summit.

• Payday/Chair 3: Treasure Hill or Gold-Pan Alley to Chair 2; Easy Slide-Fool’s Gold-Gold Chute (three connecting runs) then take Treasure Hill back to Chair 3. Or take Easy Slide-Trolley Car (two connecting trails) to Gold Chute or Hans Highway back to Chair 3.

• Angel Peak/Chair 6: Quartzite Ridge-4800 Road-Silver Dollar (three connecting trails) to the base of Chair 1 – or turn off Silver Dollar to Easy Slide and return to Chair 6 loading area. Or from the base of 6, you can go down Hans Highway to the base of Chair 3.

• Note: There is a T-bar between the base of Chair 1 and Chair 2.

younger) and consignment fees help regional ski patrol organizations raise funds to purchase new safety equipment. These tips will make sure you leave the swap with awesome gear in your bag.

1. Inventory old gear. Identify what gear of your own you can sell at the swap. Have everyone in your family try on all their gear, head-to-toe, in early October to find out what still fits, what’s too small, and what’s worn out or uncomfortable and needs to be replaced. Take your undamaged and clean “experienced” gear to the public check-in event the Friday before swaps begin – determine your sale prices ahead of time. At the conclusion of swap, you’ll receive a check for your items sold, and this money helps pay for what you spent while shopping.

2. Do pre-swap research. Know what brands and sizes to look for. If you need help at a swap, ask the ski patrollers and any gear-shop reps on the sales

floor. Since merchandise is non-refundable, make sure you’re truly confident with your final decisions. Bring your kids so they can try on boots, jackets, and pants.

3. Work as a team. Go with friends or other family members to divide and conquer. One groups goes to the “hard” gear section (snowboards, skis, boots, poles) while the other heads to the “soft” gear (ski jackets, pants, socks, helmets). Find the sizes you need, put multiple options in your cart, and have everyone try them on.

4. Attend more than one swap. Increase your odds by shopping around or attending the Sunday sale at Mt. Spokane’s swap when many items are sold for 25% off the original marked price – often a great jacket or snowboard is still waiting for the right buyer to come along. //

By Amy S. McCaffree

Lookout Pass (20% beginner trails) • Idaho Side, Chair 4 • North Side, Chair 3/North Star to summit: Huckleberry Ridge to Grub Stake (on Idaho side) to Chair 1. (There are no beginner runs on the Montana side of the mountain.)

Mt. Spokane (26% beginner trails) • Chair 5: Ego Flats • Chair 3: Half Hitch-Cat Track-Ego Flats (three connecting runs); Pond Run-Northwest PassageCat Track to Ego Flats or Johnson’s Run back to Chair 3 or 5.

Silver Mountain (20% beginner trails) • Starting from the top of the gondola, go down Easy Street to Rose Run or Claim Jumper (both go under the gondola), and then choose from three trail options: Huckleberry, Bear Grass, or Dawdler; all end at the base of Chair 5.

Swap and Save: Tips for Saving on Ski and Snowboard Gear

Equip your family for winter sports on a budget by shopping at local ski swaps. These used gear swaps are essentially huge consignment sales for used and sometimes new alpine skiing, snowboarding, and Nordic ski gear. Swap’s nominal entrance fees (typically $5/person, free for children age 12 and

2017 Inland NW Ski Swap Calendar Oct. 21: 49 Degrees North Ski Patrol Swap at NE Washington Fairgrounds, Colville, Wash.

Ski49n.com

Oct. 28-29: Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap at Spokane Fair & Expo Center, Spokane, Wash.

Skipatrolskiswap.com

Nov. 4: Winter Swap at Kootenai County Fairgrounds, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Organized by four organizations with proceeds benefitting Lookout Pass Ski Patrol as well as the mountain’s Race Team and Free Ski School, and Silver Mountain Ski Patrol. Winterswap.com Nov. 11: SARS (Schweitzer Alpine Racing School) Annual Ski Swap at Bonner County

Fairgrounds, Sandpoint, Idaho. Sars.snowproportal.com/fundraising/ski-swap/

October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

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Getting your ride ready for winter driving

Frosty mornings, cold winds, and snowfall are only a calendar’s page away. Longtime-Spokanites may

even recall when it snowed on Halloween years ago. Here are tips for ensuring your drives on mountain roads and urban streets are nothing to fear.

Winter Maintenance First, ensure your vehicle’s battery, wiper blades, and fluids are winter-ready. Install winter wiper blades and stock-up on winter-specific washer fluid that won’t freeze—you’ll use a lot over the course of the winter. If your car was recently serviced and has summer washer fluid, add washer antifreeze. Parking in a garage or carport whenever possible protects the battery and prevents fluids from freezing. And it’s a good idea to keep the gas tank half-full to prevent fuel lines from freezing. Being able to see clearly through the windshield is critical, so be sure to have chips in a windshield repaired before they turn into a crack during sub-freezing weather.

invented snow tires in 1901, he says, and manufactures high-end tires that go through rigorous testing. Next, he suggests the American-constructed Cooper® snow tires or the Vitier® “budget line” of tires. Blizak® is another high-end tire brand, wellknown by alpine winter sports enthusiasts. “They’re the second best snow tire available – made in Japan – and cost as much or more than Nokian.” Studded snow tires are becoming a thing of the past because they’re usually unnecessary, Dierks says. Today, “90% of winter tires are stud-less.” In Washington State, installation of studded snow tires requires a $5 per tire fee. But investing in studded snow tires may be best for those without fourwheel drive vehicles. “It’s cheaper than buying a new car,” he says. In Washington, vehicles can only have studded tires on from November 1 to the end of March.

As for when to get your new tires, Dierks says now is the time, especially to beat the “snow rush” – the time period after Nov. 1. He advises getting your new all-season or snow tires by mid-October, and wait to take off snow tires until April. Weather “below 70° is not going to be detrimental to winter tires, though it’s best to keep them off dry roads,” he says. No matter what tires you choose, be sure to check tire pressure monthly. (Vehicles manufactured in 2009 or newer come installed with low tire pressure indicators.) In

Skiers and snowboarders who frequently drive mountain roads know that all-wheel drive is only as safe and stable as the tires on that vehicle.

Tires All-season tires are recommended when temperatures are regularly less than 40° F. First, check the side walls of your vehicle’s current all-season tires to examine tread depth, and then decide if you need new all-season tires or want to invest in winter (snow) tires, advises Jeremy Dierks, owner and manager of Perfection Tire’s downtown location. “If your all-seasons are half-worn, get new tires,” he says. In addition to tires of all types, his shop provides full-service automotive service and stocks winter supplies, such as winter washer fluid and wiper blades, batteries, and more. “If you’re familiar with driving in Northwest weather, then you may not need snow tires. Although winter tires make a big difference,” adds Dierks.

Though most newer vehicles come with all-wheel drive, drivers shouldn’t rely on that alone while driving in challenging winter road conditions. Skiers and snowboarders who frequently drive mountain roads know that all-wheel drive is only as safe and stable as the tires on that vehicle. “Tread compound is half as stiff on snow tires,” Dierks says, which results in 50% traction improvement and greater control on snow and ice. “If you’re not confident driving in the snow, it’s better to get snow tires.”

Dierk’s top recommendation for winter tires is the Nokian® Hakkapeliitta. Based in Finland, Nokian 28

OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

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cold weather, a “tire typically loses 3-7 pounds of pressure,” he says. For example, a tire with 44 psi (pounds per square inch), which is a typical tire, can decrease to 37 psi.

Emergency Supplies Another important winter driving safety tip is to keep a bin of winter emergency supplies inside your vehicle. Every year there are stories of people getting stranded in heavy snow. Those who’ve traveled I-90’s Snoqualmie Pass know that traffic accidents, slide-outs, and avalanche control measures can cause multi-hour delays and back-ups on remote stretches of highway. A well-stocked kit should include a blanket or sleeping bag, clothing layers, hand warmers, a flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries, first-aid kit, food items, water bottles, shovel, battery jumper cables, flares, and matches.

Traveling Safely with Ski & Snowboard Gear While traveling, skis and snowboards should not be loosely stored inside a car. In case of a skid, quick stop, or collision, heavy gear can injure occupants. Instead, use a roof-mounted ski rack carrier or cargo box—Yakima®, Thule®, and Inno® are the three top brands—to safely secure gear while driving. SUVs and trucks can more safely stow skis and boards in their rear cargo areas, and short youth skis can also be stowed in a trunk or rear hatch. //

By Amy S. McCaffree

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ToyotaFreeSki.com October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

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Ski Family Profile The Busby Dozen

By Amy S. McCaffree

Left: Middle 5 with mom and dad at 49DN. Middle: older daughter waxing skis for the family the night before a ski trip. Right: mom and Aimee age 4. // Photos courtesy of the busby family

If you ever wondered what it would be like

to take your whole family skiing, meet Stan and Kristina Busby who taught all of their 12 children – yes, 12 – to ski. “The challenge for us,” says Stan, “was to make it not about accomplishments, but about just having fun for the day. With seven daughters and five sons, ranging in age from 3 to 24 years old, this will be the first ski season in 23 years where Kristina hasn’t been pregnant or had a child in diapers.

Stan, 50, and Kristina, 47, live on 41 acres in the Pend Oreille Valley 30-minutes from 49° North.

Nine children still live at home – three teenagers, 14-16; three kids in the 7-10 age span; and the two youngest, age 5 and 3. Two older children are married, and the Busbys have three grandchildren who are also learning to ski.

None of the Busby children took ski-school group lessons. Dad was their ski instructor, and worked for a time as an instructor for 49’s ski school. “We are a pro ‘Edgie-Wedgie’ and ‘racerchaser’ family,” he says, referring to the brand name of the tubing device used by many to connect a young beginner’s ski tips together to help maintain the “snowplow” wedge position and the child harness-reins a parent holds to prevent a child from skiing uncontrollably down a ski run.

“As far as getting kids started young, if you’re starting your kids at 3 or 4 years old, those are key years – they can be solid skiers by the time they’re 7,” Stan says. “Kids learn best by watching and doing. Their technique improves when they get old enough to ask questions about how they can do better.”

At least once a week, the Busby family alpine skis at 49 Degrees North. “We homeschool our children, so that makes a big difference – part of their learning time is being outdoors on the mountain,” says Kristina. The older children also backcountry ski with their dad, who has 26 years of experience as a backcountry ski and mountain guide for Climbers with Christ, a group of local guides who guide nocost trips.

Prepping for every new ski season begins when the family gathers all their gear on a designated autumn day to figure out which kid gets hand-medowns and who needs something new. “You don’t have to spend a grand to take a family of four out skiing – for everything, gear and chairlifts,” he says.

The Busbys say they shop anywhere they can for cheap, high-quality gear. “I find tons of gear at thrift stores. We end up getting most of their stuff that way,” says Kristina. They also recommend local ski swaps and shopping during the off-season.

“We have a saying in our house, ‘Ebay and pray,’” Stan says, laughing. “Parents need to remember that kids don’t have to have brand-new gear every year.”

Though they sometimes buy new, they prioritize frugality and taking good care of gear to make it last longer – which has made it financially feasible for their entire family to become skiers.

As long-time patrons of 49 Degrees North, they’re part of a group of dedicated volunteers who, during the summer, help with manual labor jobs and trail maintenance in exchange for season passes. There are other ways to get free or discounted lift tickets at regional ski mountains – kids age 6 and under are always free, 49 Degrees North offers

free skiing during spring break, and night skiing is discounted.

Prioritizing an outdoor-oriented lifestyle has made their children mentally tough and more resilient. “Being outdoors in an uncontrolled environment forces us to build character and be resourceful,” says Stan. “Even ‘Frozen Finger Days’ – you dread them at the time, but the memories stick out.”

Tasks like waxing their own skis and earning their own money to upgrade personal gear beyond the family budget have also helped the Busby children develop a stronger work ethic.

Skiing is also a foundational conduit to amazing alpine milestones. “It has opened the door to a lot of other outdoor opportunities – six of our kids

have summited Mt. Rainier, and have skied down both Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood,” says Kristina. Just this past summer, three of the Busby kids – ages 12, 14, and 16 – climbed Mt. Rainier, committing themselves to months of training and organizing their gear. “We don’t make our kids do anything – they are in competition with each other,” says Stan.

Being a ski family also helps the Busby children to “focus on each other” instead of being connected to electronics and separated in different rooms at home, says Kristina. Moreover, it has made them more kind, helpful, and selfless individuals. “That’s not how it initially starts out, but over the years our children have learned that,” adds Stan. “When you go as a family, that’s what has to happen.” //

Save Money - Lease Kids Gear • Spokane’s Alpine Haus ski and board shop on the South Hill offers junior ski and snowboard lease packages starting at $149.95. More info: 509-534-4554, Thespokanealpinehaus.com.

• Traverse Ski & Bike on Pines Road in Spokane Valley also has a huge selection of youth ski gear for lease this season. More info: 509-381-5068 or find them on Facebook.

• Ski Shack in Hayden, Idaho, has youth ski and snowboard lease packages. More info: 208-7723112, Haydenskishack.com.

• In downtown Sandpoint, Alpine Shop is leasing youth ski gear again this season. More info: 208-263-5157, Alpineshopsandpoint.com.

• The organization Climbers for Christ also has some gear available through a no-charge gear loaner program for families. Email questions or requests to climbersforchrist@hotmail.com.

(509) 534 - 4554 Inland Northwest Leaders in our Junior Ski/Snowboard Program.

Ask us how you can save BIG with our Season Lease or Junior Buy Back Program.

WWW.TheSpokaneAlpineHaus.COM 30

OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

2925 S Regal Spokane, Wa 99223

Little Ripper Breckon Mowry, Snowboarder & Lookout Pass Local can’t get him off.”

Breckon’s advice for other kids new to snowboarding? “Learn how to have good balance and how to lean on your board so you can adjust to each edge,” he says. “Personally, snowboarding is more fun than skiing because I can go faster and not fear getting my legs tangled together if I wreck.”

Desi encourages parents of novice snowboarders to be patient. “Most kids will learn this sport quickly, but there are some who may have a more difficult time,” she says. “Based on my experience learning how to ride, I wish I would have taken the time for lessons. If there is an opportunity for lessons, get them into it. Much like school, kids

learn differently from different people. They may get frustrated faster with a parent than they will with a [ski school] instructor.”

In addition, she says, “If possible, get your kids on skis before a snowboard. They need to learn balance with skis on snow before they can ride a board. I have not met many people who have snowboarded without skiing first.” And start them young, she says. “Kids are resilient – they can fall and get up, whereas older kids and young adults fall and get hurt. The fear is not there yet with younger kids, so they will be more willing to take risks.” //

By Amy S. McCaffree

Breckon Mowry on the mountain. // Photo: Courtesy of Desi Mowry

“I love going fast!” says 11-year-old Breckon

Mowry, who will begin his fifth season of snowboarding this year. His parents, Cade and Desi, are both experienced snowboarders and introduced Breckon to alpine sports by first teaching him how to downhill ski when he was 3 years old; he transitioned to snowboarding at age 7.

“Breckon has a lot of energy so snowboarding is a great outlet for him. He stuck to his heel edge for the first season and mastered riding ‘fakie,’ which means to ride opposite of the way you would naturally ride,” says his mom, Desi. The next season, Breckon learned how to carve, using the toe edge to heel edge pattern. “For his third season, we signed him up for a 2-hour class to help him with carving, and I noticed a huge difference after that one lesson.

Although he thinks he has mastered the sport, we will enroll him in at least one lesson this year so he can learn some new techniques,” she says.

Breckon enjoys challenging himself on the mountain, and rides every weekend during the season at Lookout Pass with his family. His favorite run is Lucky Friday – a double-black diamond with powder stashes and snow-covered stumps for jumps. “Breckon loves to cruise the terrain park.

He’s learning how to ride the rails, and looks forward to sticking his landings this season. His dad taught him that the trees and the sides of the runs have more snow and are more adventurous – he’ll go over any jump that he sees on the groomers,” says Desi. Another goal is to backflip off a jump, and he’s been practicing on his home trampoline since last summer. Someday he would like to join

a snowboarding team; however, there are currently only ski racing teams affiliated with the local ski mountains “We hope they will eventually start a snowboarding team at Lookout Pass,” Desi says.

“But until then he may take up skiing again to get on the team.”

Like many parents, the Mowrys’ main concern is their son’s safety on the mountain. “Luckily, he has not had too many bad crashes,” Desi says. “As much as we love to snowboard all day, sometimes it is better to have a 6-hour day instead of an 8.

Your body gets worn out, and you are more prone to injury the longer you ride.”

Breckon’s dad, Cade, who has been snowboarding for 26 years after starting in 8th grade, looks forward to taking Breckon backcountr y snowboarding when he’s older. “Cade has hiked Bridger Bowl and Big Sky to ride some of the more difficult terrain,” she says. “I would also like to say our son looks up to me as well. Though I am not as strong of a rider as Cade, Breckon and I take some fun runs together.”

Desi notes that snowboarding has taught Breckon the importance of being outside and utilizing his body and physical energy. “He uses the time on the mountain to release his energy and learn to master the art of snowboarding. If he is practicing a move, he will try it over and over again until he gets it right. It’s good for him to keep it up and know that if you practice and focus then you can usually achieve what you want,” she says. “Mentally, I think all kids have a fight with any sport – ‘Do I want to do this today? I really wanted to stay inside and play my Xbox’ – but once Breckon gets on the snow, you

Snowboarding has taught Breckon the importance of being outside and utilizing his body and physical energy.

Learn to Ski: Local Lessons for Kids 49° North

• Multi-Week: Explorer, ages 5-6, and Adventurer, ages 7-13; group lessons for four consecutive Saturdays or Sunday.

• Little Nugget Signature private lesson: ages 2-6.

• Lil Cub package: ages 2-6, all-day on weekends and holiday weekdays, includes daycare, lesson, rentals, and lift ticket.

• Mommy & Me/Daddy & Me lesson: children ages 2+ accompanied by parent.

• Scout half or full-day lesson: ages 5-6, all ability levels.

• 49er Holiday Camp: 3-day camp for skiers and riders, ages 5-13.

• Learn to Ski/Snowboard package: for beginners, ages 5-13 and 12+; 1-day group lesson, rentals, and chair 3 lift ticket.

• EZ 1-2-3 Ski or Ride: first-time skiers or snowboarders, ages 6+; includes three days of group lessons, rentals, and lift tickets.

• 49° North Alpine Ski Team (FAST), ages 5-15.

Lookout Pass

• Free Ski School: group lessons every Saturday for skiers ages 6-17 and snowboarders ages 7-17, Jan. 6-March 10, 2018; must attend at least one lesson within the first three weeks of the program in order to participate.

• Mini Moose Club: ski sports school for ages 4-8 years.

• EZ 1-2-3: first-time skiers; three days of group lessons, rentals, and lift tickets.

• Lookout Pass Race Team: alpine racing for ages 6-16; three levels. lprt.snowproportal.com.

Mt. Spokane

• Snowplay lesson: ages 3-8, one-day program that includes three hours of private lessons, lunch, rentals, and daycare.

• Never Ever package: ages 7+ for first-time skiers; 2-hour group lesson, all-day rental, and Chair 5 lift ticket.

• Mini Mites: 6-week group ski lessons, ages 4-6; includes daycare.

• Mighty Mites: 6-week group lessons for skiers and snowboarders, ages 5-6 • Kid’s Club: group lessons, ages 7-15.

• 3-day Holiday Camps.

• SSRA (Spokane Ski Racing Association): ages 6-18; Holiday Camp for ages 6-11. gossra.org

Silver Mountain

• Silver Kids: ages 7-12, group lessons, half or full day.

• Children’s 7-week program: ages 7-12, ski or snowboard.

• Flexible 5 Pak: age 7+, five-lesson ski or snowboard lesson package, includes rental and lift ticket.

• Easy Ski or Ride 1-2-3: age 13+, includes 3 days of lessons, lift tickets, and rentals for firsttimers.

• Silver Mountain Alpine Racing Team (SMART): ages 5-17. //

AARON THEISEN

GEAR GIVEAWAYS AND DEMOS CLIMBING WALL SLACKLINING OVER 50 EXHIBITORS BIKE & OUTDOOR GEAR DEALS PRESENTATIONS ON OUTDOOR TOPICS TRAVEL AND TOURISM DESTINATIONS FREE SAMPLES

WWW.SPOKANEOUTDOOREXPO.COM

FEBRUARY 24-25

October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

31

5th Grade Ski/Ride FREE Program 5th graders can ski or ride for FREE at any participating ski area with the Ski Free Passport Program. This is your chance to experience great outdoor winter recreation in the Inland Northwest with your family and friends!

5th Grade Passports are accepted at these ski areas:

How it Works

The passport allows 5th graders to ski or snowboard FREE for 3 days at each participating Ski the Northwest Rockies resort.

Read the program rules and regulations and mail in the below application or fill out the online application form at www. skiNWrockies.com. Applications must include a photo that shows the 5th grader’s face and a valid credit card (there is a $20 processing fee). Passports will be mailed out mid-November or up to 10 business days for applications submitted later in the season. (Applications are accepted all season long.) Once you receive the passport booklet, present it at the ticket window of the participating ski resort—it’s that easy! Most ski areas also have deals on lessons and rentals for 5th graders.

5th GRADE SKI/RIDE PASSPORT APPLICATION For quicker delivery apply online at www.skiNWrockies.com. If unable to apply online, use this application.

1. Read the Rules & Regulations and sign the consent form.

2. Important: Include a 2x2-inch photo of the 5th grader (a school picture works perfectly!)

3. Write the 5th graders name on the back of the photo.

4. Print neatly, complete all sections of the form and include a phone number.

5. Send the completed application, photo and include a CHECK or Money Order payable to “5th Grade Passport Program” for $20 to 5th Grade Passport Program, PO Box 522, Ephrata, WA 98823 Parent Name: ________________________________________________________________________________ Student Name: _________________________________________________ Student’s Date of Birth: __________ Parent’s Phone: ___________________________ Parent’s email: _______________________________________ Mailing Address: ______________________________________________________________________________ City: _____________________________________________ State: _________________ Zip: _______________ Student’s School: _______________________________ Student’s Teacher: _______________________________

We fully understand the terms of the 5th grade ski and snowboard passport agreement and agree to comply with all the rules and regulations set forth. We understand that any misuse of the Passport or lift ticket obtained with the Passport will result in revocation of the Passport. By acceptance of the Passport, we agree that Ski NW Rockies, all participating resorts and the 5th Grade Passport Program partners and sponsors and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees or agents have no liability whatsoever for injuries, losses or damages of any kind caused by the Passport or resulting from application for or acceptance, possession or use of the Passport.

Signature of Parent or Legal Guardian

1. Students Gender:

☐ Female

2. Do you ski or snowboard ☐ Ski 3. Rate your ability

☐ Male

☐ Snowboard

☐ Beginner ☐ Intermediate ☐ Advanced

4. Is there an adult in the household who skis or snowboards?

5. Do you expect to rent equipment this year? ☐ Yes

☐ No

6. Did you ski or snowboard LAST winter?

☐ No

☐ Yes

☐ Yes

☐ No

7. How did you hear about this program? ☐ School ☐ Friend ☐ Internet

Date: _________________ ☐ If you are NOT interested in receiving information from Ski NW Rockies and ski area specials please check here.

☐ Family ☐ Out There Monthly/KidsMagazine ☐ Other

2017-2018 5th Grade Ski & Snowboard Passport Rules & Regulations: Your Passport will not be validated or sent until you read this agreement, answer the survey questions and sign the consent form on the application.

1. The 2017-18 Ski the Northwest Rockies Fifth Grade Passport is a non-transferable document which entitles the 5th grader to whom it is issued to obtain all-day lift tickets, subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, at participating member resorts during the 2017-18 season. The following participating ski areas for the 2017-18 season: 49 Degrees North, Lookout Pass, Mt. Spokane, Silver Mountain, Loup Loup, Brundage and Bluewood. All Ski the Northwest Rockies participating ski areas reserve the right to withdraw or join the program at any time. 2. The Passport is valid at all participating ski areas during the 2017-18 season except on the blackout dates identified by each ski area during the 2017-18 season.

3. The Passport may be used to obtain no more than three (3) all-day lift tickets at each participating Ski the Northwest Rockies and other participating ski areas during the 2017-18 season subject to the resort blackout dates. 4. The Passport or use of the Passport or of lift tickets obtained with the Passport may not be transferred or resold to any other person, including family members or relatives. It is a violation of Idaho and Washington law to resell lift tickets. The passport will immediately be revoked if the holder transfers use of the Passport or of any lift ticket obtained with the Passport to another person, for monetary consideration or otherwise. 5. Ski the Northwest Rockies will revoke and cancel a Passport without notice for any misuse. Passport holders and their parent or legal guardian are responsible for proper use of the Passport at all times. In the event of Passport misuse and cancellation, Ski the Northwest Rockies may recover damages to Ski the Northwest Rockies and/or to participating Ski the Northwest Rockies member resorts arising from Passport misuse, including reasonable attorney fees. 6. Ski the Northwest Rockies reserves the right to modify or cancel the Passport program at any time and to modify or cancel all valid Passports at any time with or without notice. Ski the Northwest Rockies is not responsible for expenses incurred or opportunities foregone by Passport holders if Ski the Northwest Rockies modifies or cancels the Passport program.

7. If a Passport is lost or stolen, notify Ski the Northwest Rockies immediately. Participating resort lift ticket offices will not assist with lost or stolen Passports. Ski the Northwest Rockies reserves the right to make case by case determinations concerning replacement of lost or stolen Passports, but in no event will a lost or stolen Passport be replaced without collecting a $20 processing fee. 8. There are no refunds on any passport processing fees submitted so please check what ski areas are participating before you apply. 9. All Passport holders agree to comply with all rules and regulations of participating Ski the Northwest Rockies member resorts and with all other applicable laws and regulations. 10. An individual is eligible for the Ski the Northwest Rockies Fifth Grade Passport only once. Home School 5th graders are eligible only once. Individuals repeating all or a portion of the 5th grade do not qualify for a repeat Ski the Northwest Rockies Fifth Grade Passport. 11. If a Fifth Grade Passport applicant provides any false or inaccurate information in his or her application, a Passport will not be issued. Any Passport issued to a 5th grader who has provided false or inaccurate information will be revoked. 12. All information provided in this application is subject to verification by Ski the Northwest Rockies. All information provided in this application becomes the property of Ski the Northwest Rockies. Information provided by Passport applicants may be used by Ski the Northwest Rockies and its member ski areas for verification and market research purposes.

Ski the Northwest Rockies is the marketing arms of the non-profit Inland Northwest Ski Areas Association and represents the North Idaho and Eastern Washington ski and snowboard industry.

Ski the Northwest Rockies Phone: (509) 621-0119. info@skiNWrockies.com/ www.skiNWrockies.com

32

OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

® Nursery  ® Kindergarten  ® Grades 1-6 Parent-Child 

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

for the 2017-2018 school year.

for more information and to apply visit www.SpokaneWindsongSchool.org/admissions

4225 W Fremont Rd, Spokane WA (509) 326-6638 admin@SpokaneWindSongSchool.org October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

33

5 Montana 34

Larch Hikes

OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

by aaron theisen

Come autumn, western larch is the star of the show for Inland Northwest hikes.

And while larch gets most of the attention, the tree’s beauty is best enjoyed en masse as thousands simultaneously alight a hillside among their alpine kin.

Below, five hikes in western Montana reveal alpine larches at their best.

Northwest Peak

At 7,706 feet, Northwest Peak is the centerpiece of the 19,000-acre Northwest Peak Scenic Area in the far northwest corner of Montana. Its summit is easily accessible via a long drive and short hike—save for the last quarter mile of talus, the 4.4-mile, round-trip trek to the summit makes for one of the easiest alpine summit hikes in western Montana. From the high-elevation trailhead, shoulder aside huckleberry shrubs and angle across granite-stacked meadows to reach a pleasant larch parkland just below the summit.

Peer down to the pair of Hawkins Lakes to the northeast, which are sheltered under a twisted canopy of alpine larch. From the white clapboard walls of the old fire lookout (which is slowly being renovated), hikers are likely to have the summit view all to themselves, and there’s never a line for the outhouse—one of Montana’s highest-elevation privies—either.

Getting There: From Yaak, drive west on the Yaak River Road (state highway 508) for 2 miles, just past mile marker 27, to Pete Creek Road (forest road 338). Follow this sometimespaved, sometimes-gravel road, turning left onto West Fork Road at 13 miles and right onto Winkum Creek Road shortly after, to stay on FR 338. The trailhead (elevation 6,130 feet) is 19 miles from Yaak River Road. A pullout on the right shoulder accommodates two vehicles.

Sky Lakes—Cabinet Divide

The Cabinet Divide trail traverses the crest of the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness in fits and starts, but the northernmost section, between Sky Lakes and Cedar Lakes, deserves attention from lovers of the alpine larch. A steep trail, frequently coarse underfoot, repays hikers with aptly-named Sky Lakes, which occupy a lofty, hanging valley hidden in the shadow of Sugarloaf Mountain. These are some of the highest, trail-accessible lakes in the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness. The 11-mile round-trip hike to Sky Lakes makes for a good base camp for a 27-mile, open-loop shuttle with Cedar Lakes. From the junction 1.3 miles before Lower Sky Lake, ascend the forested flank over Sugarloaf Mountain, past a remarkable, unnamed tarn set in a steep talus field in its east shoulder.

Gain the Cabinet Divide and head north, passing Minor and Parmenter Lakes well below. Linger under expansive stands of alpine larch—perhaps the largest population outside the Bitterroot Crest.

Continue northward around Dome Mountain, descending the expansive cirque of Upper Cedar Lake for a second night’s camp. From here, it’s 5 easy, cedar-shaded miles to the Cedar Creek trailhead.

Getting There: Sky Lakes trailhead—From downtown Libby, drive southeast on U.S. Highway 2 for 1.8 miles, then turn right (west) onto Shaughnessy Hill Road. Drive 0.8 mile to a three-way intersection and bear left, continuing 0.5 mile to Granite Creek Road (FR 618).

Turn right and 0.8 mile, then bear right onto Flower Creek Road (FR 128). Continue 5 miles to the trailhead (elev. 3740 feet). Cedar Lakes trailhead—From downtown Libby, drive west on U.S. 2 for 7 miles. Just after crossing Cedar Creek, turn left (south) onto Cedar Creek Road.

Drive 2.5 miles to the road’s end and large trailhead parking lot (elevation 2,920 feet).

Sheafman Creek Lakes Nasukoin Mountain

Derived from the Kootenai word for “chief,” Nasukoin Mountain stands tall as the highest peak in the Whitefish Range, ruling over some half dozen, subalpine tarns and pure stands of alpine larch. The 10-mile hike to its summit gains and loses elevation capriciously as it first ascends Lake Mountain, with glacier lilies and beargrass, before descending to follow a long ridgeline of larchlined parkland. From here it’s nearly nonstop larch as the trail contours around a nameless knob before making one final, switchback-free grind to Nasukoin’s summit, where derelict bedframes mark an old fire lookout site. The open larch parkland permits views of moose and bruins in the meadows below. Camp at Link Lake, accessed via a quarter-mile spur trail a mile from the trailhead, or at the uppermost Chain Lake, which occupies a shaded cirque below Lake Mountain’s summit, where summer seldom stays long.

This nearly 14-mile hike climbs shaded streamside forests to parklands of alpine larch and the progressively more beautiful trio of lakes set in a broad hanging valley on the Bitterroot Divide.

A few large-diameter alpine larches tower over Garrard Lake as it guards the base of an expansive talus field on the southeast buttress of Castle Crag.

A half-mile beyond, beneath a sheer, scrubbed face of granite, Knaack Lake’s narrow, larch-fronted shoreline makes a fine turnaround point. But determined day hikers can—and should—continue to Aichele Lake, which requires a half-mile of off-trail scrambling. Here, the thick, twisted limbs of alpine larch frame a view of Sheafman Creek in its entirety and the granite gendarmes that separate it from Mill Creek to the south. From here, only a steep talus slope defends the granite battlements of Castle Crag; it’s a non-technical climb for those camping at one of the lakes.

Getting There: From the Woodside Exchange on

Left page: hikers ascend to the Bitterroot Crest above the Chaffin High Lakes, with Sugarloaf Peak in the distance.

Right page, left: a hiker ascends the granite slab above Knaack lake en route to Aichele Lake in the Sheafman Creek canyon.

Right page, right: a hiker jumps over the outlet stream of the Chaffin High Lakes. photos: Aaron Theisen

Highway 93, 4 miles north of Hamilton (mile Getting There: From Whitefish, head west on

marker 52), head left (west) on Dutch Hill Road

U.S. 93 for 17 miles to Olney Crossover Road,

(signed for Ferndale). Drive 2.5 miles, and at a

which takes off to the right, directly across

T-intersection turn right (north) onto Bowman

from the signed turnoff to the community of

Road. Continue 1.2 miles and turn left (west)

Olney. Proceed 9.1 miles, then continue left

onto West Cow Creek Road (FR 438). Pass

on FR 115. Follow this good gravel road for

several residences and climb this narrow, fre-

10.2 miles to FR 589 (if you reach Red Meadow

quently-rutted, high-elevation road to the trail-

Lake, you’ve gone about a mile too far). Turn

head pullout in 5 miles (elevation 5,450 feet). A

left and proceed 1.7 miles to the road’s end

wide spot on the shoulder accommodates half

and trailhead (6,030 feet). The trailhead is also

a dozen vehicles. Note: the upper 4 miles of FR

accessible from the Outer North Fork Road via

438 are closed October 15 – June 15 to protect

Red Meadow Road.

winter elk habitat.

New Montana Hiking Guide: “Day Hiking Glacier National Park & Western Montana” (Mountaineers Books, due out spring 2018) This new, forthcoming day-hiking guide by guidebook author, freelance writer, and photographer Aaron Theisen covers a wild swath of western Montana from the Idaho-Montana border to the east side of Glacier and down through the Bitterroot Valley. In addition to the park, the guide includes the Yaak, Cabinets, Whitefish Range, Flathead Range, Swan Range, Missions, Missoula area, Sapphires and the Bitterroots, with a total of 125+ day hikes in all.

When pressed to name-drop a favorite hike from the book, Theisen resisted but eventually relented: “I hate to pick favorites since western Montana is chock-full of amazing hikes, but the 18-mile Dawson-Pitamakan Loop in the Two Medicine area of Glacier National Park should be on everyone’s to-do list. It’s a highlight reel of the Crown of the Continent.” Theisen has been hiking in western Montana for years, and began working specifically on the new book in May 2015, which meant a lot more time in Montana. “I spent about 100 days in the region in 2016.”

In addition to the alpine larch recommendations in this article, Theisen offered up some good fall hike choices that are easily done in a day from Spokane. “Burdette Creek, in the Fish Creek drainage between I-90 and US-12, goes through an amazing old-growth western larch parkland.

Blossom Lakes, up off Thompson Pass, is always a good one for colorful shrubs. Saint Mary Peak, in the Bitterroot Mountains south of Missoula, lights up with larch in late September/early October.” (Derrick Knowles)

Chaffin Creek Lakes

Follow a gently ascending, stream-gradient trail along Chaffin Creek to a chain of subalpine lakes nestled high in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.

It’s 11 miles round trip to Hart Lake, and 12 to Tamarack Lake. Provided one doesn’t hold too strictly to the fact that “tamarack” refers only to eastern larch, Tamarack Lake’s appellation is apt: golden-hued alpine larch tenaciously color the exfoliated granite of the sheer cirque headwall above the lake’s shoreline, and the concrete dam at its foot does little to mar the beauty of this subalpine lake. Even more appealing are the quartet of tiny tarns in the hanging valley above Tamarack. This seldom-visited larch Shangri-La (as the locals affectionately call it) shelters a spectacular grove of old-growth alpine larch. Strings of park-like tarns— the uppermost of which sits at more than 8,600 feet—are the highest lakes in the Bitterroots, and perhaps the most spectacular.

Plan a weekend here; reaching Shangri-La—and enjoying the rewards—requires at least half a day from a base at Tamarack.

Getting There: From Darby, drive south on Highway 93 for 4 miles to the West Fork Road (state Highway 473). Turn right, and in 100 yards turn right again on Trapper-Chaffin Road (FR 374). Drive 3 miles and bear right onto Chaffin Creek Road, continuing another mile to the trailhead (elevation 4810 feet). The parking area, just off a switchback in the road, accommodates half a dozen vehicles. //

Aaron Theisen is a Spokane-based writer and photographer. He wrote about hikes in the Mission Mountains in July.

October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

35

Members Save at These Resorts – More local, regional and destination resort deals coming soon!

Provisions

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

Use it once & it’s paid for.

Use it often and save hundreds!

50% off on ski/board tunes at Spokane Alpine Haus 2 for 1 night skiing at Mt. Spokane

event night after a big ski day // photo courtesy of big white ski resort

(Wednesday - Friday)

2 for 1 lift tickets at Lookout Pass all season

Wine & the Great Outdoors: Big Reds Wine Festival (December 9)

(excludes holidays)

If you love the outdoors and world-class wine, there may be no better place to visit in the Northwest to enjoy both than British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. Winter is nearly in full swing and Big White Ski Resort near Kelowna B.C. is one of the earliest opening resorts close to Spokane. If you ski or snowboard and enjoy good wine, kick off the season in an epic way with a trip north for the Big Reds Wine Festival at Big White. Expect a wide selection of handcrafted wines from the Okanagan region in an energetic and informal setting that allows you to interact with winemakers while sampling a wide range of wines. Bigwhite.com. (Derrick Knowles)

$10 off lift tickets on Mondays & Tuesdays at 49 Degrees North (excludes holidays)

Ski & Stay at Whitefish Mountain Resort for $94

(Per person, per night, based on double occupancy and 2-night stay excluding holidays)

50% off on ski/board tunes or hot wax at Mountain Gear

ONLY $29.95 EARLY SEASON SPECIAL

2 for 1 lift tickets Sundays-Fridays (excludes holidays) and $20 off Saturdays in March Brundage Mountain

Use it as many times as you want, all season long!

USE PROMO CODE: OTM1017 GOOD THROUGH NOVEMBER 15

www.MountainSportsClub.com PRINT & USE COUPONS THE SAME DAY

Photo: Freeride Media 36

OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

Maryhill Winery Syrah

noodle bowl at the nest. // photo courtesy of Schweitzer Mountain resort

The Nest at Schweitzer’s Summit House

Everything tastes better at the top of a mountain, and that seems to be true at Schweitzer’s new, as of last winter, Sky House summit lodge that offers skiers and snowboarders a place to take a break from the mountain elements for a bite or drink on the 360-degree-view-rich summit. The Nest bar and restaurant offers small plate options and beverages including local purveyors Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters, Pend d’Oreille Winery, and beer from MickDuff ’s Brewing Company. Last season’s menu featured the kinds of cold ski-day comfort foods we were looking for while ducking in from a wet spring day, like exceptionally tasty wings, a steaming noodle bowl, and fish tacos.

The menu included a full range of more dynamic, palate-pleasing plates too: sausage sliders, roasted curried cauliflower, raclette potatoes, and more.

Schweitzer.com. (Derrick Knowles)

Since 2001, Maryhill Winery has become one of Washington’s largest and most visited wineries, producing 80,000 cases annually. Its headquarters in the Columbia River Gorge, near Goldendale, features panoramic views of Mount Hood and the Columbia River, and is a popular destination for wine enthusiasts.

After some serious tasting, the Maryhill Winery Syrah 2013 might be the best Syrah in the state.

Admittedly, it’s impossible to measure this claim, however, this Syrah features rich aromas of cherry, blueberry, toast and caramel and a sweet finish of dark chocolate and hints of pepper. It tastes fantastic with anything from pasta to steak and potatoes and is a wine that deserves a case investment. The 2013 wine is 100% Syrah grapes and is a beautifully-crafted wine from the best vineyards sourced from Les Collines 36%, Alder Ridge 30%, McKinley Springs 24%, Elephant Mountain 8%, and Northridge 2.

For many years now, Syrah continues to be a popular grape in a lot of blended wines. Frankly, the Syrah is a tough sale thanks primarily to Australia Shiraz flooding grocery stores in the past decade.

But the Washington Syrah continues to grow in the Northwest, proving to be one of the best varieties in the region. It’s certainly easy to make this your next favorite red wine. (Jon Jonckers)

Coffee by the lake, or in your cup. // photo courtesy of defiant coffee

Defiant Coffee (Mushroom & Collagen Blends)

Coffee is one of the few sacred substances of the world, so it’s not exactly something I considered trying to improve. Thankfully, we’ve got people like Ronnie Watson and Jeremy Deming, the local founders of Defiant Coffee Company. They grind their coffee and combine it with collagen or a mushroom blend (cordyceps, lion’s mane, and chaga). Prepared in a French press or similar apparatus, it looks like any normal cup of Joe. Studies show numerous benefits to collagen (a protein in our bodies) from joint health to skin health and more. This hydrolyzed form is highly absorbable. Mushroom blends, which sound like a sacrilege treatment to the black elixir, are actually loaded with antioxidants, immune boosting properties, and some compounds that help us form ATP (cellular energy).

First and foremost, I don’t want the flavor of my coffee to be impacted by some hippie voodoo herbs. The good news is that this cup of coffee was smooth, did not taste like lunch from a barter fair bus, and was delightful as a hot cup or a cold brew.

I drank copious amounts of both blends just to be sure.

While the science behind the compounds in Defiant Coffee is valid, only the mushroom blend may give the user an immediately noticeable effect.

In fact, this would make a great pre-workout drink to combat the oxidative stress of a workout, followed with a cup of the collagen blend to repair tissue damage.

It is no wonder that the nutritionist, me, is particularly excited about the potential of a coffee that can basically be consumed therapeutically. At $16-$22 a bag, you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck. Order it online at Defiantcoffee.co or chase the local boys down. They are right in Post Falls and do regular deliveries. (Ammi Midstokke)

coffee and treats // photo courtesy of Coeur d’Alene coffee co.

New on the Scene: Coeur d’Alene Coffee Company

The Coeur d’Alene Coffee Company took the leap into the downtown Coeur d’Alene coffee scene this past summer with a coffee bar staged on the ground floor of the impressively-renovated Elks Club. The space also houses the Innovation Den, a collective space for local innovators and entrepreneurs.

The café itself is no less impressive in its architecture, equipment, and layout. Adding modern design to the original massive fireplace, leaving the red brick walls exposed, and flooding the space with natural light from the towering windows, the owners are working towards creating a place for “heartfelt hospitality and mindful preparation.”

Next to the fireplace sits a brilliant red Diedrich roaster, bathed in natural light and only partially separated from customers by a tall wooden work bench and a few sprawling piles of burlap bags filled with green coffee beans. The Diedrich is quiet enough to not disturb the conversation happening on the silvery-blue couch in front of the cold hearth. It is also loud enough to draw attention to the beans rollicking inside its belly. When the roast is done, the warm, dusty essence of freshly-roasted coffee dropping into the cooling tray melds with the aromas of espresso shots and steamed milk emerging from the bar. It tantalizes the senses and stimulates your need for coffee.

The first coffees that Coeur d’Alene Coffee Company released were an espresso blend and two Ethiopians–one from the Yirgacheffe region and one from Guji. The blend was a bit on the darker side and was roasted to combine well with milk. The Yirgacheffe had a roasted aroma and tasted earthy on the tongue, finishing with a burst of figgy sweetness. The Guji was my favorite–clean and light, with just enough sweetness to balance the dominant cookie-like flavors. // (S. Michal Bennett) October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

37

Whitefish Whiteout 2017 by drew castellaw

W BRE IS B

ME

K

THE

AC

FO

R

TI A L D E IMIT

Bugling sounds of Vuvuzelas and the ring-

ORGANIC FAIR TRADE

ing of cowbells lead the way for ski mountaineering racers as they traverse around Whitefish Mountain Resort for the 10th annual Whitefish Whiteout Race on February 11, 2017. Ski mountaineer racing, or SKIMO, consists of athletes strapping skins on their skis, racing up the hill, and riding down as fast as they can. This past year’s event was dedicated to Ben Parsons, an active member of the SKIMO community in the greater Kalispell area of Montana, who died in an avalanche on January 5, 2017, while backcountry skiing in Glacier National Park. Parsons was 36 years old.

“He would make friends with anybody,” says Brandon French, a close, life-long friend of Parsons.

“He was genuine and actually wanted to get to know you and that was a big part of why so many people loved him.” French and Parsons met in 7th grade and grew up together in Kalispell, Montana. The two separated paths during college–French went to Missoula, Parsons went to Bozeman–but they would always stay in touch to do ski trips.

“He always had motivation to do big days,” says French. In November when there wasn’t even snow in the valley he went up on Great Northern Mountain and did a couple 10,000 foot days. He would climb 2,000 feet carrying skis on his back through rocks and ski down on the upper glacier.

“That was just typical,” says French. “He would get

out and just hammer it.”

They both returned to the Flathead Valley after college and became firefighters and paramedics in the area. French and Parsons also skied together on the US National SKIMO team in 2010. “On the race course, he was strong,” says French. “Whether it was skiing, mountain biking, or running he would focus on the podium.”

The Whitefish Whiteout ski mountaineering race has three different courses. The shortest course, 1.4 miles, is where competitors only ascend to the top of the mountain. The 3.4 mile short course includes the ascent and another loop around one of the other faces of the mountain. The 7.4 mile long course goes around the entire mountain, including both the ascent and short courses.

“This year we went for the five peak experience for the course,” says Josh Knight, Events and Recreation Manager at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

Long course racers get to traverse the five high points of the resort–the Summit Hill, the top of Lodi, East Rim, the Radio Towers, and Hellroaring Peak. This year’s race, with 130 competitors, was the largest turn out the mountain has hosted for the Whitefish Whiteout. The previous largest Whiteout was last year’s at 87 participants. It will be interesting to see what the 2018 season brings. “This year is the most important and biggest in every capacity,” says Knight. “From the number of competitors with what it means with Ben’s death.”

The winner of the Men’s AT long course was Mike Foote with the fastest overall time of 1:32:07 and the fastest ascent of 00:24:52. His time broke the record for the fastest overall time by 19 minutes, and the ascent record by two minutes. This is Foote’s third season competing in ski mountaineer racing and also his third time racing at Whitefish Whiteout. During training sessions, he takes a lot of time going up and down, while focusing mostly on time and vertical gain. He keeps this mantra in mind: go slow to go fast. “I really focus on staying calm because there are so many opportunities to make mistakes and the less mistakes you make the faster you go,” says Foote.

Foote started ski mountaineering because of Ben Parsons and a few others who lived in the area.

“They were my mentors and inspirations to do it, and it feels very good to be here for this,” says Foote.

Friends and family who were all impacted by Ben Parsons gather, sweat, and cheer in remembrance of the community he helped to create. “The atmosphere of everyone being excited epitomizes what Ben would’ve wanted for this event,” says French.

“The sun’s out with good friends and that is what it’s all about.” // Drew Castellaw is a visual journalist who is passionate about storytelling, adventure, and photography. This is his first article in Out There Monthly.

top left: Mike Foote arrives at the second junction during the Whitefish Whiteout overlooking the Flathead Valley.

Middle Left: Race participants are greeted with cheers and high-fives as they cross the finish line.

Bottom left: Brandon French and his son ski to another location on the course to cheer and support competitors.

Friends and Family of Ben Parsons wore signs to commemorate his dedication to the local ski-mountaineering community.

SPOKANE, WA ROASTHOUSECOFFEE.COM 38

OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

Top Right: participants climb up the main ascent of the course. This first ascent follows the Benny Hill trail and climbs over 2,052 feet in 1.4 miles. left: Joel Desgrenier climbs along a ridge near the top // Photos by Drew Castellaw

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OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

Laying down the first set of tracks on a pristine slope takes a bit of extra effort, mainly getting an early start to be first in line when the chairlift starts running. Most skiers and boarders aren’t able or willing to score first chair on a regular basis, but the first tracks “getting after it” mentality is something all of us can kick into gear in our own ways to get a jump on the ski and snowboard season.

Don’t wait until the night before your first day on the mountain to gather up your gear and dust off the cobwebs.

The season really starts weeks in advance of opening day. Many serious skiers and snowboarders start training with a regular exercise regimen months in advance of the first snowfall to be sure that their bodies are primed for making sweet turns without ending up with a sled ride off the mountain. Others pull out last year’s gear to plan out new gear purchases and ski swap strategies once the days start getting shorter and colder each October. And then there are the annual winter kickoff celebrations: the ski and snowboard films (there are several showings planned in Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, and Sandpoint), swaps and ski shows, Pray for Snow parties, season pass sale deadlines, ski and board shop sales, backcountry and avalanche awareness classes, and impromptu basement or garage board tuning parties.

The cool, crisp months of autumn, when fall leaves compete for the slopes with the first dustings of snow, are some of the best months of the year. Don’t wait until the resorts are open and backcountry runs are filled in to start building the stoke for winter—there are plenty of events and preparatory tasks to occupy the days between now and opening day. If you just can’t stand it anymore and need to get out, hiking or biking your standby trail, glade, or hidden stash is a great way to check out the underlying terrain that makes those turns so sweet before they are buried in feet of deep white stuff. The clock is ticking—don’t wait for the alarm. The season starts now. // (Derrick Knowles)

deep in the trees at silver mountain resort. // Photo: aaron theisen

On The Mountain

The Season Starts Now

Ski/Snowboard section

First Tracks:

Secton sponsored in part by:

October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

41

On The Mountain news & events

Local Resort News

Expansion approvals, more on-mountain food and beverage options, new glades and runs, upgraded facilities, and more are in the works for skiers and snowboarders at Inland Northwest resorts this season.

Mt. Spokane: The big news at Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park this season is the announcement this past summer that the long sought-after ski area expansion was cleared to move forward despite years of opposition by conservation groups, the Spokane Tribe, and some recreation interests. While the new lift (Chair 6) won’t be up and running this season, Mt. Spokane reports that despite a long fire season that limited times when machinery could operate, that the ski area is working to have as many of the seven new runs accessible as possible for the upcoming season, with lift service anticipated by the 2018/19 season. In the meantime, skiers and snowboarders accessing the runs this year will need to traverse over to Chair 4 and will be riding out of bounds at their own risk.

On the facility upgrade front, the downstairs bathrooms in the Main Lodge have been completely remodeled with new flooring and fixtures, and the tubing hill has been relocated to offer an improved layout and better access to Lodge 1 services. Preconstruction and permitting has also been completed for a new Mountain Sports School Learning Center (aka ski school) in the base area of the Main Lodge, with construction planned in time for next 2018/2019 season.

Lookout Pass: With NOAA projecting anoth-

er La-Niña winter like last year when Lookout received 438 inches of snow, the tentative opening day scheduled for the Friday after Thanksgiving shouldn’t be a problem. Lookout is also charging ahead with plans for two new chairlifts, 14 new runs, and new glades that were approved last spring by the U.S. Forest Service as part of Phase 1 of a larger expansion proposal. The expansion increases the ski area’s special-use permit zone by 458 acres and will increase the vertical drop to 1,650 feet once the two lifts are installed, accessing 6,150 “Eagle Peak.” While the new chairs and runs won’t be ready this season, once the development is complete it will also include an addition to the existing base lodge and more parking. Learn more about the expansion plans at Skilookout.com/ future-expansion.

49 Degrees North: Development plans up at 49 Degrees North that will eventually include slopeside living and lodging, high-speed quad 42

OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

lifts, new lodges, and snow making, continue to move forward. Once completed, these developments will make 49 the only ski in/ski out resort in Washington. In the meantime, stop by Cy’s Cafe in the yurt at the bottom of Sunrise Basin for a taste of things to come as the Sunrise Basin development unfolds, and grab a cinnamon roll, German sausage, cup of coffee, or pint of beer and warm up. If you are a regular 49 season passholder, the mountain recently announced a unique new perk: a 10% discount on select backcountry tours with Selkirk Powder Company and $250 off any private group heli-skiing trip with SPC. Silver Mountain Resort: Celebrating 50 years

of operations this season, Silver Mountain reports several upgrades in the works throughout the mountain. A new intermediate run, Klondike Express in the Chair 2 Basin, will offer up nonstop top-to-bottom laps and easy access to the terrain park, and expanded glading in the North Face Glades area will make some of the Northwest’s best tree riding even better.

Facility upgrades you’ll notice include a new beverage and snack shack next to the gondola upload line, a major deep cleaning and new seats in all 116 gondola cabins, and the Jackass Snack Shack will be reopened for the first time in many years to provide food and beverages in the Chair 4 Basin during the busiest times of the year. Finally, checking on the mountain conditions from your phone in bed will be more informative than ever thanks to a new HD webcam being installed on top of Kellogg Peak thanks to a partnership with KREM TV. The camera will be pointed back towards the top of Chair 2 and will offer a highly useful glimpse of current conditions.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort: Last winter Schweitzer opened its new Sky House summit lodge on the summit of Schweitzer Mountain, giving skiers and snowboarders a new place to relax, warm up, and enjoy a meal, snack, or a drink with 360-degree mountain views. The two-story, 9,000-square-foot lodge houses the Red Hawk café, as well as a restaurant and full-service bar called The Nest. The lodge will be open daily this season from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. // (OTM)

Left: photo by gary Peterson // Right top: Mt. Spokane’s planned Tubing hill Building. // Bottom: Mt. Spokane’s future Mountain Sports Center

Ski & Snowboard Season Kickoff Events Pray for Snow Parties

Nov. 5: REI Spokane is hosting a Pray for Snow

party from 5-8 p.m. Wear your best retro ski outfit for a chance to be in the fashion show to win awesome prizes from REI and other winter vendors.

Food will be provided by Couple of Chefs, Tacos Camargos, and Mangia’s Wood-Fired Pizza, and while beer won’t be served this year (due to regulations,) a pre-funk party at a local brewery is in the works (check REI Spokane’s website for details).

Nov. 16: The 4th annual Pray for Snow Party at

Perry Street Brewing in Spokane’s Perry District may be the most fun you’ll have all winter without your boards on. Enjoy beer specials, classic ski films, prizes for the best retro ski attire, raffle drawings (including a pair of skis), ski industry giveaways and swag, and a high-energy crowd stoked to celebrate another La Nina season. All funds raised benefit T.E.A.M. Grant. Watch Perry Street Brewing’s Facebook page for event details and updates.

Ski/Gear Swaps

Oct. 21: 49 Degrees North Ski Patrol Swap at NE

Washington Fairgrounds, Colville, Wash. Ski49n.com

Oct. 28-29: Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap at

Spokane Fair & Expo Center, Spokane, Wash.

Skipatrolskiswap.com

Nov. 4: Winter Swap at Kootenai County Fairgrounds, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Organized by four organizations with proceeds benefitting

Lookout Pass Ski Patrol as well as the mountain’s Race Team and Free Ski School, and Silver Mountain Ski Patrol. Winterswap.com Nov. 4-5: Nordic Ski Sale & Swap at Fitness

Fanatics in Spokane Valley. Bring your old crosscountry ski gear to Fitness Fanatics before Nov. 3, and then shop the biggest Nordic sale of around from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Nov. 4 and from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Nov. 5. Fitfanatics.com

Nov. 9: 43rd Annual Outdoor Equipment Sale and Swap sponsored by the University of Idaho Outdoor Program and the U of I Vandal Ski Team.

Buy or sell gear with free admission for shoppers and $5 tables for gear sellers. The swap runs from 6-8 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center’s MAC court in Moscow, Idaho. Uidaho.edu/outdoorprogram Nov. 11: SARS (Schweitzer Alpine Racing School)

Annual Ski Swap at Bonner County Fairgrounds, Sandpoint, Idaho. Sars.snowproportal.com/fundraising/ski-swap/

Snowlander Expo

Spokane’s ski and snowboard expo, brew festival, and winter party put on by the Inlander is set for November 17-18 at the Spokane Convention Center. Shop for new ski and snowboard gear, drink craft beer and cider, check out the latest from regional resorts, and enjoy live music and other entertainment. Snowlanderexpo.com.

Local Resorts On The Mountain Brenda McQuarrie, Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park. I’ve looked at the both the

NOAA winter predictions…. and the Farmer’s Almanac winter forecast for Spokane, and they are both positive, albeit vague. Granted, these are long-range forecasts that cover 3-month periods.

Individual storms will still need to roll in and produce over Mt. Spokane. However, as the fall approaches, talk of El Niño in our area has been changed to ENSO (neutral)/La Niña. The Farmer’s Almanac goes so far as to say that our winter will have above-average snowfall. An ENSO prediction usually brings an average winter snowfall, which is just fine by us! One thing can [be] counted on—we are excited about the upcoming snow season and hope to build on the last two years, which have been phenomenal.

Eric Bakken, 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort. My prediction is that there will be tons

Season Predictions

By Brad northrup

This is the time of year when we get the stoke going, and a big part of that is a discussion of the season predictions. Over the past few years, OTM has provided a wide range of prognostications from various sources—some public, some private, and some just plain weird. This year, though, we are going to hear from the local sources – the resorts themselves. Here is a roundup of what your local ski and snowboard mountain operators foresee happening this season.

of good snow and many great days of skiing and snowboarding….You have to take the long view and look not only at the future predictions but also look at the past. We live in the great Inland Northwest and one thing that always happens here is that we get snow in the mountains because we are blessed with costal moisture and continental cold air. Is every year super off the chart awesome? No. Is every year terrible? No. We get occasional years where there is not as much snow as we would like…but even in those years there are many good days of skiing and snowboarding to be had. Most years… are very good with 70, 80, or 90 plus days of good conditions. Your odds of getting many great days of skiing and snowboarding are very, very good, because of where we live—that is really at the heart of my prediction.

Matthew Sawyer, Lookout Pass Ski Area.

At Lookout Pass we are optimistic about the coming winter, expecting a little less extreme cold, which should prove very comforting to all our guests— especially families. Since we average 400 inches of snow a winter, which equals a bit more than 33 feet, we’re comfortable with predicting an early opening around Thanksgiving and consistent snowpack through the first or second weekend in April.

Frequent dumps ranging from 4 to 18 plus inches will keep the snowpack fresh and fun! Get ready for winter—it’s coming sooner than you think!

Willy Bartlett, Silver Mountain Resort.

The forecast is currently calling for an El NiñoSouthern Oscillation or ENSO, which is predicted to give us 115% of our normal snowfall of 300 [inches]. Anytime we get even an 85% year, the ski conditions end up being amazing, so this forecast is something I’m really stoked to see. We’re planning on a great year, and we’re gearing up for it by doing some glading in some really fun zones around Kellogg Peak, adding a new intermediate run to the Chair 2 Basin, and doing some dirt work around the mountain. We’ve also ramped up our five-year brush clearing project this summer by quadrupling the amount of time we ran the big brush mower this season, and [by] having crews concentrating on ground clearing in hard-to-reach areas. All of this helps on a big or small year, but 2017/208 is looking big. I’ve already started shopping for a new pair of powder skis, so you can say we’re a little excited for another big winter here at Silver! // Brad Northrup is an avid skier, fly fisherman, and mountain climber. He wrote about training for half marathons in August.

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On The Mountain By the Numbers

left: silver mt. // this photo: Lookout. // Bottom Silver mt. skyline. // Photos courtesy of each resort

mountain stats by amy s. mccaffree

Silver Mountain Resort

Location: Kellogg, ID (Bitterroot Mountains) Summit: Kellogg Peak 6,300’ /Wardner Peak 6,200’ Base: Gondola Village, 2,300’/Base of Chair 4 4,100’ Terrain: 1,600 acres/gondola & 5 chairlifts/moving carpet/77 named runs/terrain park Tickets: $33-53/free for 6 and younger Lodges: Gondola Village/Morning Star Lodge (condos)/mountain lodge near bottom of gondola Tubing: 2-hour session, $18-22/free for 3 and younger Snowshoeing: 3-mile trail Celebrity sightings: Shaquille O’Neal came up and did some snow tubing last winter. “He was super

cool to all of our staff and guests, and did his best to fly under the radar while he was here, which isn’t easy for someone of his stature,” says marketing & event coordinator Willy Bartlett.

Strangest thing left on the slopes: Skis, phones, goggles, and vintage, unopened cans of soda and beer turn up from time to time.

Best day last season: Feb. 28, 2017 – “We got pounded with fresh snow the night before, and the snow was piled up deep!” recalls Bartlett. “It started out overcast, and then it just totally cleared up near the end of the day. That was a full first chair to last chair day, followed by riding some backcountry to town. It was so good we barely stopped for lunch!”

Most fun event: Doug E. Fresh Weekend – “Live music, an old school trick contest in the terrain park, and we stay open late for night skiing and a bar party in Moguls,” says Bartlett. “The main event is the banked slalom race on a hand-built course; riders from all over the region get together and race against the clock on this unique course. Our friends at the Hayden Ski Shack dreamed this whole thing up as a fundraiser and memorial for the family of a local legend and longtime employee, Doug E. Fresh. It’s an event that pulls together the local ski and snowboard community, and every year it grows.”

Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area

Location: Mullan, ID (Bitterroot Mountains) Summit: 5,650’ Base: 4,500’ Terrain: 540 skiable acres/4 lifts/34 runs/3 terrain parks Tickets: $28-45/free for 6 and under/free on your birthday Lodge: Historic lodge straddles the Idaho/Montana border Nordic skiing: 25k of cross-country trails starting from base area Celebrity sightings: Actress Patty Duke Strangest thing left on the slopes: One K2 ski with a Lange boot still in the binding, and ultra-

light plane parts from an unreported crash. The tail section from the plane is on display in the Loft Pub. Best day last season: Bavarian Fest—live Bavarian music, brews, brats, and lots of fresh powder covering the mountain.

Most fun event: The Pond Skim Slush Cup (March 31, 2018) 44

OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

Mount Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park

Location: Spokane, WA (Selkirk Mountains) Summit: 5,889’ Base: 4,200’ Terrain: 1,425 acres/5 chairlifts/45 designated runs/terrain park & progression park Tickets: $20-55/free for 6 and younger Lodges: Main lodge (Lodge 2) near bunny hill/Lodge 1 near base of Chair 1 Night skiing: Wednesday-Saturday evenings, 4-9 p.m., starting mid-December (check website for exact

schedule)

Tubing: 90-minute session, $6-16 depending on age (reservations recommended) Nordic: Over 60 k of trails within Mt. Spokane Cross-Country Ski Park (Discover Pass, seasonal SnoPark

permit, and seasonal Groomed Area permit required).

Snowshoeing: Trail descriptions and map are available from Friends of Mt. Spokane (Discover Pass and seasonal SnoPark permit required).

Celebrity Sightings: U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame freestyle skier Glen Plake Strangest thing left on the slopes: Underwear Best day last season: According to Mt. Spokane ski instructor Payton Williams, there was a day with so much snow falling that she skied Geronimo six times and every time she got back to the top of the run her tracks were covered.

Most fun event: Friday Night Rail Jam during Kan Jam weekend. “We light a bonfire and you get to watch from the deck with a beer and listen to the DJ spin while riders entertain,” says guest services and marketing manager Brenda McQuarrie. “It’s super festive.”

49° North Mountain Resort

Location: Chewelah, WA (Selkirk Mountains) Summit: Chewelah Peak 5,774’/ Angel Peak 5,295’ Base: 3,923’ Terrain: 2,235 acres/7 chairlifts/3 terrain parks Tickets: $29-58/free for 6 and younger Lodges: Little Calispell Lodge/Cy’s Café Yurt/Nordic Center Lodge Night skiing: Limited dates (info online) Tubing: $18-22, 2-hour session/free for 3 and younger Nordic: 10 miles of trails (day pass required) Snowshoeing: 6k of marked trails Celebrity sightings: Dave Mustaine, lead singer of Megadeth Strangest thing left on the slopes: Lingerie Best day last season: February 28, 2017. “Overnight temperatures were in the mid-teens and a

fortuitous low pressure system brought us 24” of fresh, dry, light powder in 48 hours,” says mountain manager Eric Bakken. “That is usually enough to make a day special. What we were not expecting, and what blew our collective minds, is that the sun came out, and stayed out all day, and the temperatures stayed in the mid-20s.”

Most fun event: Hawaiian Day with pond skim benefitting 49’s award-winning ski patrol

Photo courtesy of big white ski resort

Resorts Around the Region Big White Ski Resort

Location: Kelowna, B.C. Summit: 7,606 ft.

Lifts: 15 Patrolled area: 2,765 acres Vertical: 2,550 ft.

Annual Snowfall: 24.5 ft.

Opening Day Last Season: Nov. 30 Bluewood

Location: Dayton, WA Base Elevation (4,545 ft., 2nd highest in Wash.)

Trails: 24 Skiable Acres: 400+ Vertical: 1,125 ft.

Annual Snowfall: 300+ inches Brundage Mountain

Location: McCall, ID Summit: 7,803 ft.

Lifts: 5 Lift-Accessed Terrain: 1,920 acres Vertical: 1,921 ft.

Snowfall: 320 inches

RED Mountain Resort

Location: Rossland, B.C. Summit: 6,807 ft.

Longest Run: 4.3 miles Lifts: 7 Skiable Acres: 4,200 Vertical: 2,919 Annual Snowfall: 300 inches Revelstoke Mountain Resort

Location: Revelstoke, B.C. Lift-top Elevation: 7,300 ft.

Skiable Acres: 3,121 Longest Run: 9.5 miles Vertical: 5,620 (North America’s greatest vert) Annual Snowfall: 30-45 ft.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort

Location: Sandpoint, ID Summit: 6,400 ft.

Lifts: 9 (including Stella, Idaho’s only six-person, high-speed lift) Skiable Acres: 2,900 (largest resort in Idaho/ Wash.)

Vertical: 2,400 ft.

Annual Snowfall: 300 inches SilverStar Mountain Resort

Fernie Alpine Resort

Location: Fernie, B.C. Summit: 7,000 ft.

Lifts: 10 Skiable acres: 2,500 Vertical: 3,550 ft.

Snowfall: 30 ft.

Location: Vernon, B.C. Summit: 6,280 ft.

Lifts: 11 Runs: 132 Skiable Acres: 3,282 (B.C.’s 3rd largest resort) Vertical: 2,500 ft.

Annual Snowfall: 275 inches

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

Stevens Pass

Location: Golden, B.C. Summit: 8,033 ft.

Lifts: 5 Resort acres: 2,800 Vertical: 4,133 ft.

Snowfall: 24 ft.

Inbounds chutes: 85+

Kimberley Alpine Resort

Location: Kimberley, B.C. Summit: 6,500 ft.

Lifts: 5 Resort acres: 1,800+ Vertical: 2,465 ft.

Snowfall: 13 ft.

Loup Loup Ski Bowl

Location: Twisp, WA Summit: 5,260 Lifts: 3 Cut Runs: 10 Vertical: 1,240 Snowfall: 12.5 ft.

Mission Ridge

Location: Wenatchee, WA Summit: 6,820 ft.

Lifts: 6 Terrain: 2,000 acres Vertical: 2,250 ft.

Sunny Days: 300

Location: Leavenworth, WA Summit: 5,845 ft.

Lifts: 10 Skiable Acres: 1,125 Vertical: 1,800 ft.

Annual Snowfall: 460 inches Tamarack Resort

Location: Donnelly, ID Summit: 7,700 ft.

Lifts: 6 Lift-accessed Terrain: 1,000 Vertical: 2,800 ft.

Whitefish Mountain Resort

Location: Whitefish, MT Summit: 6,817 Lifts: 14 Terrain: 3,000 Vertical: 2,353 Annual Snowfall: 300 inches Terrain Parks: 5 (and a skier/boarder cross course) Whitewater Ski Resort

Location: Nelson, B.C. Summit: 6,700 ft.

Lifts: 5 Skiable Acres: 2,367 Vertical: 2,044 Annual Snowfall: 40 ft.

Lodge Food: Epic!

October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

45

On The Mountain lodge grub Noah’s Avalanche Burger. // Photo courtesy of silver mountain.

What’s cooking at your local ski hill

By s. michal bennett & Derrick Knowles

Inland Northwest ski hills haven’t traditionally been celebrated for their culinary creativity (serving up great skiing has rightfully been the priority), but local resorts have been cranking up the quality in recent years to bring ravenous skiers and riders more fresh and satisfying food and drink offerings. Whether you’re looking for a mid-day munch or a full-on meal at the end of a big ski day, here’s a sample of some of the eats you can look forward to in the lodge at your local ski hill this winter.

Last season, Mt. Spokane brought local chef Gabe Cruz on board, and his fresh menu changes have made a world of difference. “My absolute favorite,” says guest services manager Brenda McQuarrie, “are his fish tacos. Fresh ingredients and lots of flavor.” Their most popular item, the giant nacho, will feed a small crowd and can be whipped up fairly quick.

49 Degrees North has three food and drink spots: Boomtown Bar and Grill and the Quick Turn Cafe in the main lodge, and Cy’s Cafe in the new yurt at the bottom of Chair 5. In his fifth season as 49’s food and beverage manager, Frank Marmo makes a point of offering local beers and ciders alongside great from-scratch food. “If we can make it ourselves,” he says, “we will.” Marmo’s favorite thing to eat at 49 is the Rueben sandwich.

This year, he will be introducing a Western bacon cheeseburger stacked with cheddar, bacon, onion rings, and house-made BBQ sauce.

A ride on the gondola to the top of Silver Mountain is a scenic trip that many non-skiers make each winter, and the food and beverage options are also becoming a worthy draw. The Mountain House Grill offers ski-hill staples like burgers, chicken strips, fish ‘n chips, and a burrito bar, and, last season, Silver added a ramen bar and hopes to begin making artisanal pizza this year.

“We are adding more fresh ingredients,” says Chris Johansen, who runs the food and beverage services at the top of the mountain. “We will also be opening a juice and smoothie bar at the espresso station.” For a true local-beer experience, duck into Moguls 21, the 21-and-over bar, and grab a pint from Radio Brewing, Wallace Brewing, or North Idaho Mountain Brew, all from the Silver Valley.

The lodge at Lookout Pass is the second-oldest ski lodge in the Northwest, and in that classic setting is where you’ll find the ski area’s food court and the Loft Pub & Grub. Grab a seat and slurp a bowl of the local’s favorite, Lookout Chili, which is “so smooth, has great flavor and large chunks of meat,” says Lookout’s food and beverage manager Donna Bottman. It also happens to be gluten free, and the kitchen has gluten-free buns for burgers and sandwiches upon request as well as a fryer solely for cooking gluten-free foods. “We are the only mountain that has gluten-free fries,” adds Bottman. //

Brown Bag It—The Ski Bum Supreme

Stories I’ve heard from back in the day of penny-pinching ski bums predatorily cruising the ski lodge cafeteria lunch line for free calories—in the form of condiment-heavy provisions like packaged soup crackers dipped in a gazpacho-style soup of Ketchup packets and coffee creamer or whatever was available—still come to mind every time I walk up to a resort eatery.

But today’s more enlightened, health-conscious, and cash-strapped ski bums are more likely to pack a more nutritious, brown-bag snack to chase their lodge bar PBR lunch. For you seasoned or aspiring ski bums out there, try these simple yet healthy vittles in your next brown bag: 1. One tortilla filled with whatever reasonably fresh leftovers are available in your fridge (or, more likely, your girlfriend or parents’ fridge). Mac N’ cheese, refried beans, spaghetti, scrambled eggs, sandwich meat, garlic mashed potatoes, etc. Add a squirt or two of mayo, BBQ sauce, mustard, Ketchup or other condiments, a dash of salt for taste and help with dehydration cramps, and wrap the little guy up in a bag so it won’t squish out in your pack.

2. Whatever fruit or vegetable matter you have access to (eg., bruised apple, brown banana, pre-cut veggie bits, etc.).

3. That’s pretty much a balanced meal right there and all you’ll need for a day of shredding the mountain, so we’ll leave it at that. Look for more Brown Bag tips in upcoming winter issues of Out There. (DK) 46

OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

ski bum advice On The Mountain

illustration: Nicole Bronson

5 signs you are becoming a grumpy old skier

By Brad northrup

I had a rude awakening over the summer.

There I was, deep in the bowels of our basement back room, rummaging for life jackets, inner tube pumps, and what was left of my sanity when I came across my ski bag. Hoping that whatever treasure I sought was located under it, I grabbed the bag with the intent of chucking it elsewhere. I

chose poorly. It landed short, bounced off the life jacket I was looking for, and landed directly on my foot. What followed was a litany of exclamations infused with sentence enhancers that would make a sailor blush. They were heard throughout the house, across the lake, and possibly from the space station.

“What the heck was that, and are you ok?” asked my better half from somewhere upstairs. I told her what happened. “You’re turning into a grumpy old skier – You know that, right?” she said while holding back a snicker. “Getting hurt by your ski bag is a sure sign.” Ok, she might be right—well, she’s always right. For those of you out there who might be wondering if you have crossed the point of no return, keep an eye out for these five signs that you have become a grumpy old skier like me.

time as everyone else. You immediately begin growling about how long it takes folks to park, how the lot kid directs them, and finally how far away you are from the lodge. Plus, there is no shuttle. Once parked, you can’t help but notice the annoying thump, thump of bass from the car parked next to you. It’s hard not to notice as you can feel your fillings coming loose. You tell yourself this would not be a problem if it were Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker” blasting.

1) The week before opening day, you take four pair of skis to your local ski shop. Each pair needs a full tune, including a stone grind. Though booked, the guys tell you they can squeeze you in, mainly because you provide them with cheap entertainment every time you come in. Like every year, you complain about the $50 per pair price, and go on to tell them how you used to do your own tuning back in the day. You know, back when skis were straight and had very little edge bevel.

Like in the 1980s. They encourage you to take up this practice once again. They might also refer to you as “Mr.”

4) Once you shuffle your way up to the lodge and get in the lift line, you notice that the entire ski school is in front of you, with their students in tow. You immediately begin to share your displeasure with the unfortunate soul who made the unwise decision to ski with you. What normally would be a five-minute line takes a whopping 10.

C’mon, bro, you only shelled out $300 for that season pass, and will likely have it paid off before Christmas.

A few extra minutes in the lift line ain’t gonna kill ya.

5) As an accomplished skier who perfected the Stem Christie during the tail end of the 20th century, you still believe you are hot poop. That image is shattered when some 10-year-old kid rips past you like you are standing still and lays down perfect railroad tracks. Rather than applaud the kid’s technique, you launch into a dissertation on how shaped skis have allowed the younger generation to skip the far more challenging learning stage of skiing that you experienced on waxed two-by-fours and how the sport will be negatively affected in the long run. The folks skiing with you slowly back away, the smell of bull poop thick in the air. //

2) It takes an hour and a half to get to the lodge, which means you have the car packed and ready to go three hours early. Despite this fact, you leave 10 minutes late because of that green banana and extra cup of coffee you had for breakfast. You grumble for at least the first half hour of the drive, swearing that there will be no additional stops.

But there are. Because you had that extra coffee.

Add a stop for an Egg McMuffin. And gas. The last two miles take nearly 20 minutes because you get stuck behind the ski bus. It takes a crowbar, WD-40 and a plumber’s wrench to get your fingers pried off the steering wheel.

Brad Northrup is a former ski racer, coach, and resort marketing director. He has embraced the fact that he has become a grumpy old skier.

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47

On The Mountain stoked for snow

this photo: Beartooth. // Middle: beartooth. // right: silverton. photos courtesy of Warren miller entertainment.

Ski & Snowboard film lineup

By Brad Naccarato

Yes, it’s already time to get stoked about ski films. Just as the arrival of cooler temps marks the transition from summer to fall, the annual release of ski movies signals that it’s finally okay to start Instagramming about your dream lines for the winter ahead. Thoughts of face shots, having fun with friends, and the anticipation of dropping in this coming winter are slowly starting to creep in. So here it is— our collection of the top anticipated 2017 ski movies that will be making a tour stop or two in the Inland Northwest.

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OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

warren Miller: Line of Descent

As the granddaddy of all ski movie production companies, Warren Miller always has to be at the top of any preview list. But WME isn’t just relying on their name alone—they deliver the goods, and this year doesn’t appear to be any different.

The lineage of mountain lifestyle continues in the 68th full-length feature film, “Line of Descent” presented by Volkswagen. In this year’s film, WME travels the globe, by land, air, and sea, exploring the ties that bind ski culture. WME movies always capture more than just the skiing; they take you deep into the counterparts and side stories that bring the skiing and riding lifestyle to life.

This year’s film features many stunning sequences filmed in Jackson Hole, Silverton, the French Alps, Montana, New Zealand, British Columbia, and beyond.

Inland Northwest Warren Miller tour stops: Catch “Line of Descent” at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane October 28 (two showings) or at the Panida Theatre in Sandpoint November 11.

Teton Gravity Research: Rogue Elements

Matchstick Productions: Drop Everything

TGR Spokane tour stop: Bing Crosby Theater October 18.

There’s no better way to sweeten the anticipation of the upcoming ski and snowboard season than seeing the latest ski flicks. Lord knows, after the grueling hot and smoky summer, we’ve all earned an epic winter. Lucky for us, until the snow flies, these small tastes of winter dropping this fall can help temporarily ease the pain and keep us sane. //

The second-oldest production company, Teton Gravity Research, has been pushing the envelope of ski movie production for last 20 years. TGR movies are flavored with mountain lifestyle and culture and a heaping helping of jaw-dropping skiing and snowboarding. TGR always brings you the most hard-driving, nail-biting ski sequences, backed by a super-charged soundtrack. “Rogue Elements” pays tribute to the whims of Mother Nature. TGR believes that the nature of an adventurer is inherently rogue: typically wild in character and subject to the fancy of imagination. We as skiers and riders are unequivocally drawn to nature’s rawest fury and deepest mysteries. “Rogue Elements” chronicles those irreverent souls who pursue the edge of Mother Nature. This year’s film features athletes Angel Collinson, Sage CattabrigaAlosa, Jeremy Jones, Ian McIntosh, Dash Longe, and many more.

MSP, the powerhouse that has brought us awardwinning classics like “The Way I See It” and “Days of My Youth,” is proud to introduce one of the funniest, most action-packed ski movies of 2017. Presented by Under Armour, the team at MSP took a decidedly more lighthearted approach with “Drop Everything” that returns the focus to the featured athletes and world-class action.

Always at the forefront of the free skiing movement, MSP takes us on a fun-filled adventure that features the world’s preeminent free skiers along with quick-hitting comedy, stunning locations, a potent soundtrack, and stellar cinematography.

Inland Northwest tour stops not available at press time.

artifacts On The Mountain

SP O KA N E Bin g Crosby Theate r

S at u rd ay, O ct. 28 at 6 : 00p m & 9: 00p m

Photo: Derrick knowles

The Mystery of a Mount Spokane Icon

By Adam Gebauer

Rock Slides and Alison’s Way or from crosscountry skiing the Outer Limits trail. Or maybe you snowshoed up to the summit to take in the 360-degree view from the Vista House. All of these endeavors deserve a celebratory beverage, but no matter how you enjoy Mount Spokane, you have to drive safely back to town again, which involves the long, winding drive of Mt. Spokane Park Drive.

After a day charging on Mt. Spokane, you head down and you think surely you have passed the last sharp turn and that the straights of Peone Prairie should be opening up in front of you. But instead, rearing up then around the next bend, there it sits: Beer Rock!

Beer Rock shines like a neon sign. Does the graffiti beckon you with what’s ahead, or is it a reminder of what you left back on the mountain?

Was it the celebratory beverage after a backcountry tour on the backside or a frosty one served to you at the Foggy Bottom Lounge after slaying some pow, crust, slush, or whatever the mountain gave you that day? Was it placed there to make your eyes pop for a little bit longer or to serve as warning for one of the more dangerous turns?

FEBRUARY 24-25

The origin of the graffiti is a mystery steeped in local lore. Some say it has been there for decades, others centuries, and some claim it rose from the earth in a cataclysmic eruption with its signature graffiti already etched into its façade. According to one local skier, it was just a plain rock in 1969 when he first started skiing at Mt. Spokane and still a plain rock in 1972 when he first got his license and struck the rock with his dad’s truck. Other local riders have petitioned that this rock be a local historic marker sponsored by a “Beer Rock” appreciation club. It will honor all the cars that have left paint on its sides, to the vehicles towed out of the creek when they over corrected as the rock reared up on them, and for ski area garbage trucks eaten by its jutting protrusion.

With all outdoor pursuits, we should weigh the risks with the rewards. Beer Rock should be honored both for its imposing position and as a reminder of the good times had on the mountain and the many more to come. // When Adam Gebauer is not teaching skiing or summiting a mountain, he is wrangling his herd of goats and running Syringa Ecological Consulting. This is his first article in Out There Monthly.

AARON THEISEN

Your legs are spent from a long day lapping

OFFERS FROM THE FOLLOWING RESORTS & RETAILERS

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Tickets On Sale Now // warrenmiller.com

105 W Main, Chewelah, WA taproom: 509.936.3686 @QuartziteBrewCo October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

49

On The Mountain winter gear

v

w

u

local shop picks

By Brad Naccarato and Derrick knowles

Wintertime in the Inland Northwest offers up numerous opportunities to get active outdoors.

Whether you’re carving up the resort slopes, snowshoeing across frozen lakes, or backcountry touring to remote huts, having the right gear is key to making the most of those moments. Here are a few recommendations from a handful of local shop gurus to maximize your on-snow adventures this winter.

Lib-Tech Travis Rice Pro Model Men’s Snowboard (1)

Sports Outlet, $599 When Wintersport officially closed its doors, Sports Outlet scooped up the opportunity to become Spokane’s new Lib-Tech dealer. With that came the brand’s flagship board, the ever-famous Travis Rice Pro Model. “What I love about this board is that you can virtually kill it anywhere on the mountain,” says Mark Petrie, Sports Outlet store manager. “It’s just so versatile and we’re looking for it to be a big seller again this year, as always.” (BN) Black Diamond Airbag Packs (2)

JetForce

Avalanche

Mountain Gear, $1,049-$1,149 Touring in the backcountry can be risky. Avy danger is a real threat that backcountry enthusiasts do their best to avoid or mitigate. Enter Black Diamond’s Avalanche Airbag Packs. From one-lap runs to all-day tours, the Black Diamond JetForce Pack is built to store essential gear and provide an innovative addition to your avalanche kit. JetForce Technology is the first avalanche airbag system to use jet-fan inflation. The JetForce packs are also rechargeable, allowing for multiple deployments on a single trip or throughout the season.

Mountain Gear’s Scott McDonald explains how it works. “An internal fan fills an airbag that you deploy from the pack in the event of an avalanche.

The airbag acts like a life preserver, helping to 50

OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

propel you to the top of the snow mass, which can aid you in both survival and rescue.” (BN) Nordica Santa Ana 93 Women’s Alpine Skis (3)

Spokane Alpine Haus, $649 Nordica has put out many award-winning skis over the years, and the company’s attempt at working with the brand’s top female athletes to create the ultimate women’s ski for 2018 will likely garner similar praise. The Nordica Santa Ana 93 is essentially built on the chassis of the Enforcer 93, a ski on the men’s side that won “ski of the year” honors when it was first introduced. The Santa Ana, at 100 millimeters underfoot, is a solid set of all-mountain boards. “Basically all the girls were saying ‘hey, we ski hard and we want a ripper, allmountain ski just like the boys have—so Nordica listened,” explains Alpine Haus store manager Rachel Harding. “Plus I really love the graphic on this year’s version.” (BN) Boot Doc 3D Foot Scan Analysis (4)

Sports Creel (free with boot purchase) One of the most frustrating aspects of alpine skiing is finding a pair of boots that fit your feet without creating pain and discomfort. Spokane Valley’s Sports Creel, always a local leader in boot fitting, has decided to take things up a notch for the 2018 season. The shop recently purchased a Boot Doc 3D Scanner, which provides the boot fitter with key information about your foot before the fitting process has even begun. Both feet are measured and 3D rendered within a few seconds. The visualized 3D picture is of highest precision and can be looked at from various angles. The result of the analysis is quality information and measurements around the foot. It takes into account not only length and width but also arch type, instep height, volume recommendation, and other useful information. “We are currently one of the only shops in the western United States to use this state-of-theart technology,” says Sports Creel store manager

x

Micah Genteman. “It really eliminates the guess work so that we can pinpoint the best boot for you the first time around.” (BN) Discount Winter Consignment

Sports

Gear

on

NW Outdoors (3220 North Division Street, Spokane) If you need new skis, snowboard gear, snowshoes, or other winter gear or apparel but would rather not shell out the cash for retail prices, Spokane’s outdoor equipment consignment store,

NW Outdoors, has plenty of new and used winter gear deals. Ski and snowboard jackets, pants, and other accessories run in the $30-200 range, and as of late September, owner Mark Schneider had these sweet deals in stock: a Venture splitboard with Spark bindings and skins (an all-in-one backcountry setup for $700); Head Collective 105 skis (171cm for $299); and a set of MSR Evo Ascent snowshoes with removable tails ($125). Stop in often to catch the latest and greatest deals before someone else does. // (DK)

Zip Wax Anti-Fog Lens Cleaner Fall’s colder temps mean prescription lenses and sunglasses start fogging up more frequently on bike rides, runs, and even strenuous hikes. Locally-owned company Zip Wax anti-fog lens cleaner removes the grime and streaks that plague eyewear and also fills in small surface scratches and prevents fogging. The formula dates back to World War II and was used by American soldiers to keep their glasses, binoculars, and rifle scopes clean and fog free.

I started using Zip Wax on my shades and prescription specs in September and have enjoyed crisper, fog-free vision on several hikes and bike rides.

I’ve even started using it to clean my computer screen and cell phone and am looking forward to testing it out on my notoriously foggy ski goggles this winter. It comes in wax form in ½ and 2 oz. jars ($14.99 and $19.99) or as a spray in a 2 oz. bottle ($19.99).

Either option should last a year or longer. Check out the Zip Wax website for a list of multiple retailers in Spokane and North Idaho where you can pick some up or order online at ZipWaxAntiFogCleaner.net. (DK)

passholder profile On The Mountain left: The fontanas in 1999. This photo: re-creating the 90s. photos courtesy of the fontanas

Season Pass Sale Deadlines & Perks A season pass buys you the freedom to ski or snowboard whenever you want without ever paying full price for a day on the mountain—all you need to do is use it at least a handful of times. Skip the ticket line, show up only for the best conditions, and go home when you’re ready without feeling obligated to ride from first to last chair. Bonus deals included with passes from local resorts are also pretty incredible. The list of free and discount tickets to other resorts and additional perks are worth the pass price all on their own. Get your pass at these dicounted values before the prices go up.

49 Degrees North (pass sale deadline 10/15/17)

Adults $399/youth $299 (7-17)/masters $219 (70+)/college & military $299. Pass bonus deals: 25% off tickets to Big White, RED, SilverStar, and Whitewater; plus free tickets to Loup Loup, Bluewood, and Mission Ridge; and $5 off tickets to Mt. Spokane, Lookout, and Silver.

Mt. Spokane (pass sale deadline 10/31/17) Adults $399/youth $299 (7-17)/senior $279 (62-69)/college & military $299/super senior $189 (70+)/mid week $239. Pass bonus deals: 25% off tickets to RED, Whitewater, SilverStar, and Big White; free tickets to Mission Ridge, White Pass Loup Loup, and Fairmont Hot Springs Resort; and $5 off tickets at Schweitzer, Silver, Lookout, and 49.

the fontanas By s. Michal Bennett

Joe and Kathy Fontana moved to the Spokane

area from northern California over two decades ago. Growing up, they had maybe skied a dozen times. “We come from families with a lot of kids,” Joe explains, “and Tahoe was a good four-and-ahalf hour drive.” It was also expensive. “It’s only something rich people can do,” says Kathy.

They soon discovered that this wasn’t the case in the Inland Northwest. “When we moved up here and found out how affordable skiing was, it was pretty unbelievable,” Kathy says. The first hill they skied was 49° North near Chewelah, and although they tried other resorts in the area, they just fell in love with 49°.

In 1999, the Fontanas got their first season passes,

Silver Mountain Resort (pass sale deadline 11/5/17)

and their two girls started racing at 49° in 2000.

“We now have a house up there,” Joe says. “Most of our friends that we still socialize with we met through skiing.” The family-friendly and warmlysocial atmosphere was the biggest reason the Fontanas ended up being 49 locals. “It’s very welcoming,” says Kathy. “We could bring our family up there, and we didn’t have to worry about them.”

Now Joe and Kathy are empty nesters. Without the kids in the mix, the Fontanas are realizing more and more how blessed they are to have a great mountain in their backyard. “It’s a wonderful hill,” says Joe. “Some of the fall lines are pretty unique.” Kathy adds, “Even though we’ve tried all the other ski resorts, we still feel like 49° is home.” //

Adults $399 (24-61)/youth $289 (7-17)/young adult $309 (18-23)/senior $239 (62-69)/ police, fire, military, EMS $339/super senior $179 (70+)/mid-week $269/family $1,199 (two adults, up to three youth). Pass bonus deals: day passes to Silver Rapids Indoor Waterpark or discount lift tickets for friends; two free lift tickets to Tamarack Resort; five $19 lift tickets to Mission Ridge; 10% off lodging at Morning Star Lodge; $5 off lift tickets at any other Idaho ski resort; discounted Life Flight family membership and more.

Lookout Pass (pass sale deadline 10/31/17)

Adults $229 (18-61)/youth $169 (7-17)/family $599 (two adults & one youth)/college $199/ senior $159 (62-69)/military, firefighter, police $199/super senior $129 (70+)/mid-week $169.

Pass bonus deals: 15% off at the Lookout Gift Shop; three free days at Brundage and Mission Ridge; two free days at Bluewood; one free day at Stevens Pass; 25% off at RED and Whitewater; 50% off all Montana ski resorts; $5 off other Idaho and Inland NW resorts and more.

Schweitzer mountain resort (pass sale deadline 10/31/17)

Adults $799 (26-79)/Sunday-Friday $599/young adult $399 (18-25)/junior $299 (7-17). Pass bonus deal: as part of the Powder Alliance, unlimited passholders get to ski for free at 15 other resorts in the US and Canada. //

October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

51

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OutdoorCalendar (October 7) Rocktoberfest.

Where: 49 Degrees North, Chewelah. This new event combines 49’s two fall signature events, Snowdance and the Tour de Rock into a casual, fun, family-oriented day on the mountain. This fundraiser for the 49 Degrees North Wintersports Foundation, which supports winter recreation and competition on Chewelah Peak, will include three great mountain bike courses to challenge all abilities, as well as games, food, beer, wine, and live music with Mojo. Info: Ski49n.com

(October 21) 49 Degrees North Ski Patrol Swap. Where: NE Washington Fairgrounds, Colville, Wash. Info: Ski49n.com

(October 28-29) Mt Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap. Where: Spokane Fair & Expo Center, Spokane. Info: Skipatrolskiswap.com

(October 28) Warren Miller: Line of Descent.

Where: Bing Crosby Theater, Spokane. The 68th full-length feature WM film, “Line of Descent” takes viewers deep into the side stories that bring the skiing and riding lifestyle to life. This year’s film features many stunning sequences filmed in Jackson Hole, Silverton, the French Alps, Montana, New Zealand, British Columbia, and beyond. Info: Skinet.com/ warrenmiller

(November 4) Winter Swap at Kootenai County Fairgrounds. Where: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Organized by four organizations with proceeds benefitting Lookout Pass Ski Patrol as well as the mountain’s Race Team and Free Ski School, and Silver Mountain Ski Patrol. Info: Winterswap.com

(November 4-5) Nordic Ski Sale & Swap.

Where: Fitness Fanatics, Spokane Valley. Bring your old cross-country ski gear to Fitness Fanatics before Nov. 3, and then shop the biggest Nordic sale around from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Nov. 4 and from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Nov. 5. Info: Fitfanatics.com

(November 5) Pray for Snow Party at REI. Where: REI Spokane. When: 5-8 p.m. Wear your best retro ski outfit for a chance to be in the fashion show to win awesome prizes from REI and other winter vendors. Food provided by Couple of Chefs, Tacos Camargos, and Mangia’s Wood-Fired Pizza. Info: Rei. com/events/83080/pray-for-snow-pre-season-bash

(November 11) SARS (Schweitzer Alpine Racing School) Annual Ski Swap. Where: Bonner County Fairgrounds, Sandpoint, Idaho. Info: Sars.snowproportal.com/fundraising/ski-swap

(November 16) 4th annual Pray for Snow Party at Perry Street Brewing. Where: Perry District, Spokane. The most fun you’ll have all winter without your boards on. Enjoy beer specials, classic ski films, prizes for the best retro ski attire, raffle drawings (including a pair of skis), ski industry giveaways and swag, and a high-energy crowd stoked to celebrate another great season. All funds raised benefit T.E.A.M. Grant. Watch Perry Street Brewing’s Facebook page for event details and updates. Info: Facebook.com/PerryStreetBrewing

(November 17-18) Snowlander Expo.

Where: Spokane Convention Center. The Inland Northwest’s ski and snowboard expo and winter party featuring ski industry booths, deals on gear, giveaways

and a Northwest craft beer and cider festival. Info: Snowlanderexpo.com

RUNNING (October 7) Wild Moose Chase. Where: Mount Spokane State Park. The 7th annual Wild Moose Chase trail run includes two courses that follow the Nordic trails, the 5k and 10k, and a 25k length that uses a mixture of double and singletrack trails. All distances start at the Selkirk Lodge. Info: Facebook. com/wildmoosechasetrailrun

(October 7) Centennial Beer Chase.

Where: From Spokane to Coeur d’Alene. Run in a group of six people, exchanging at breweries along the way.

Info: CentennialBeerChase.com

(October 14) Hayden Lake Marathon.

The full, half, and quarter marathon distance options and the incredibly scenic course make this the perfect fall event for all runners. Enjoy breathtaking views while running past golf courses, lakes, horse pastures, farms, and North Idaho forests. Info: Haydenlakemarathon.org

(October 14) Multi-Care Bridge to Brunch 5K Run/Walk. Where: Centennial Trail, Spokane. Start your morning on the sunny-side up with Multi-Care for Spokane’s first Bridge to Brunch 5k run and walk on the beautiful Centennial Trail. After the event, enjoy complementary waffles, breakfasty nibbles and brunchy beverages. The event is presented in partnership with the University District and benefits the Community Cancer Fund. Info: Bridgetobrunch.org

(October 20) EWU Terror Trot.

Where: EWU Reece Court. When: 6 p.m. Course is a spooky trot around Cheney and Eastern Washington University Campus. Pre-race costume awards. Info: active.com/ cheney-wa/running/distance-running-races/ewuterror-trot-2017

(October 21) Lewis-Clark Half Marathon & 5K Fun Run. Where: Granite Lake Park, Clarkston, Wash. When: 9 a.m. Out and back along the Snake River Greenbelt Trail System. Trail is mostly flat with water and bathroom stops . Info: SeaportStriders.com

(October 28) Chocolate Chip Cookie 50K Trail Run. Where: Equestrian area at Riverside State Park.

When: 8 a.m. The course is two loops with 2,470 feet of elevation. Info: ccc50K.com

(October 29) Pumpkin Pacer 5K.

Where: St. Mary’s Presentation Church, Deer Park, WA. When: 10 a.m. Prizes for top finishers and costumes. Info: pumpkinpacer.org

(November 4) Sugar Rush. Where: Start at the Red Lion Hotel along the Centennial Trail. When: 9 a.m. Proceeds benefit Inland NW Baby. Info: InlandNWBaby.org/sugar-rush (November 12) Race to Feed Veterans. Where: Riverside Memorial Park, Spokane. When: 10 a.m.

Bring canned goods and/or personal hygiene items for Homless Vets. Info: mowspokane.configo.com

(November 23) Cheney Turkey Trot.

Where: Cheney High School. When: 9 a.m. Thanksgiving day walk and run for all ages. Bring canned food for donation for Cheney food bank. Info: runsignup. com/Race/WA/Cheney/CheneyTurkeyTrot

BIKING (October 15) Inland NW Cyclocross Series.

Where: Riverstone, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Info: Inlandnwcyclocross.com

OTHER (October 14) American Long-Distance Hiking Association, CDA Chapter Meeting/ Presentation. Where: Lake City Church, Coeur d’Alene (North 6000 Ramsey Road). When: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. All trail lovers are welcome. “2017-We Hiked Our Trails Off!” includes five speakers presenting on four long-distance trails: four in the U.S. and two international ones, including The Pacific Crest Trail, Israeli National Trail, and Patagonia region (Chile/ Argentina). All day snacks, beverages and lunch provided. Cost: $20. Info: Aldhawest.org

(October 23) Canoe Connections: Wooden Canoes and Their People. Where: Mountain Gear Corporate Office, Spokane Valley. Mike Elliott, author of This Old Canoe: How To Restore Your Wood-Canvas Canoe, presents on the ties that bind and the restorations that bring canoes back together.

Mike will also sell and sign copies of his book for $25 (cash preferred). Sponsored by the Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club. Info: Canoeshop.ca

(October 28) Fall Leaf Festival and Compost Fair. Where: Finch Arboretum, Spokane. Participants will learn how to make compost at home out of garden debris, food scraps, and all those leaves that will start falling from the trees. There will be hands-on experiences as well as great information shared by Spokane County Master Composters/Recyclers. Info: Call 625-6580

(November 3-4) Farm & Food Expo. Where: Spokane Community College. Learn how to make apple cider vinegar, soap and other home products, and take home strategies for using permaculture principles, protecting your backyard chickens from predators, brewing beer with heritage grains and more. Info: Sccd.org/departments/small-acreage/ farm-food-expo (November 4-5) Spokane Dirt Rondy.

Where: Riverside State Park. The Inland Empire Sled Dog Association is sponsoring the 12th Dirt Rondo at the Seven Mile Trailhead in Riverside State Park. The Rondo is the only dryland mushing event in Eastern Washington or North Idaho. Own a dog? Ride a bike?

XC ski? Mushing isn’t just about the Iditarod. Come and learn about carting with 4, 6 and 8 dog teams or 1 and 2 dog bike and mountain scooter teams. Watch the mass start canicross race. Event details, entry forms and other information is available online.

Info: Iesda.org

(November 9) 43rd Annual Outdoor Equipment Sale and Swap. Where: Student Recreation Center’s MAC court in Moscow, Idaho. Sponsored by the University of Idaho Outdoor Program and the U of I Vandal Ski Team. Buy or sell gear with free admission for shoppers and $5 tables for gear sellers. The swap runs from 6-8 p.m. Info: Uidaho.edu/ outdoorprogram

THE BIKE SHOP THAT COMES TO YOU

WINTERSPORTS

BOOK ONLINE VELOFIX.COM

(November 17-19) Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour. Where: Spokane. Info: Mountaingear. com/retail

October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

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Last Page home hill // By Aaron Theisen

Sarah and Kyle post nuptials on top of Schweitzer mt. // Photo courtesy of Sarah parker Lucas

We tend to think of our home ski hills in terms

of specific days: the late-winter day it dumped an unforecasted 14 inches; the day an old-timer revealed a new-to-you powder stash; the t-shirtsand tall-boys bluebird day in improbably late May. But for many skiers and snowboarders, home hills end up marking the milestones of life: the begin-

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OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017

ning and growth of families, the creation of traditions. In other words, home.

Kyle Lucas and Sarah Parker Lucas met in the fall of 2013 and fell in love that winter on the skin track and slopes. Both were avid skiers since childhood: Kyle grew up skiing his home hill of Turner Mountain, near Libby, Montana; Sarah began lap-

ping Mount Spokane not long after she started walking. When they met, both held season passes at Schweitzer Mountain Resort, and they figured it would make a fitting wedding location.

“It was a natural decision for us to get married, in the winter, at the top of a mountain,” says Kyle, adding, with his typically dry humor, “The fact that

this mountain in particular has chairlifts made it easier on our guests.”

The dismal winter of 2014/2015 threw a curveball familiar to any newlyweds-to-be planning an outdoor ceremony with a ski wedding twist. “Our photographer asked us two weeks before the wedding what our plan was if there was no snow,” says Sarah. “I had planned for rain, wind, fog, snow storm, but not for no snow!” Luckily, the day they tied the knot, the skies, and ski runs, opened up for a ceremony with a bluebird view of Lake Pend Oreille below.

At the mountain halfway between their childhood hills, the couple decided to raise some junior skiers of their own. With their first child, Libby, stepping into skis for the first time, Kyle and Sarah decided to take the next step in their lift-assisted love story: buying an on-mountain condo. But they have no regrets about settling down and making it official with just one ski area—“At least you don’t have to worry about where to get a season pass for the next 30 years,” Kyle says.

“We both love skiing and realized to maintain our mountain lifestyle and be able to share it with our kids we had to make it as convenient as possible,” Sarah explains. “We bought Libby a season pass last year, and, with Kinder Camp, she gets to hang out with other skier kids, while Kyle and I get time together and don’t have to flip a coin for who gets the powder first.”

With Libby’s skills progressing and another child on the way, Kyle and Sarah are already eyeing bigger terrain on the mountain for the kids to work toward. Because in skiing, as in life, there’s always another day. //

Fall & Winter Getaways at the Lochsa Lodge Located on the Nez Perce/ Clearwater National Forest

>>Great Mountain Escape Over the Holidays. >>Miles of Hiking, Snowshoeing, Cross-country and Snowmobile Trails >>Just 10 Miles from Jerry Johnson Hot Springs >>Home Cooked Cuisine

www.LochsaLodge.com (208)924-3405 Powell, ID October-November 2017 / OutThereMonthly.com

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Full-service shop, rentals, demos and an experienced staff!

For a complete list of events and information, contact us: 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

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OutThereMonthly.com / October-november 2017