Out There Outdoors // May-June 2021

M T B T h e ya a k | fa m i ly g u i d e | F i s h l o c a l MAY-JUNE 2021 // FREE

THE INLAND PACIFIC NORTHWEST GUIDE TO ADVENTURE + TRAVEL + CULTURE

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CONTENTS

Features

32 | Summer Trip Ideas 40 | Backcountry MTB Riding in the Yaak

Special Section 42 | Family Outdoors Guide

Departments

LOCAL FUN ADVENTURE CENTER

ROW Adventure Center offers 1-day & 1/2-day guided tours in the Spokane/CdA area: • Whitewater Rafting • Hiking • Kayaking • Fly Fishing • Hiking Tours

Info on local adventures: ROWadventurecenter.com | 208.770.2517

REGIONAL ADVENTURES ROW Adventures offers more Pacific Northwest multi-day whitewater trips than any other outfitter. Join us on the Snake, Salmon, Owyhee, Rogue, Deschutes, Missouri or Bruneau rivers for a life-changing adventure!

Info on regional adventures: ROWadventures.com | 208.765.0841 4

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MAY-JUNE 2021

12 18 20 22 23 24 25 27 28 30 50

| Get Out There | Provisions | Fishing | Gear Room | Outdoor Living | Climbing | Outdoor Living | Health & Fitness | Watersports | Spotlight | Book Reviews

Columns 14 15 16 26

| The Trailhead | Nature | Run Wild | Everyday Cyclist

In Every Issue 7 | Intro 8 | Dispatches 51 | Last Page COVER Local Canadian Artist Stephanie Sauvé Bogue of Moon Wild Studio and Unifest Co.

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SPOKANE'S AWARDWINNING #1 TRIPADVISOR RANKED ADVENTURES What is Mica Moon?

Mica Moon Zip Tours is Spokane’s only true zip line canopy tour adventure. We also have an aerial trekking park that is state of the art. Both adventures are proudly ranked #1 by TripAdvisor and are onveniently located between Spokane and Coeur d’Alene in Liberty Lake, WA. Come enjoy an incredible zip lining tour or aerial park adventure or do BOTH with our mind-blowing combo tour!

Zip Lines Our regular tour is approximately 3 hours long. It begins with a short and informative 15-minute shuttle ride from our comfortable reception area at the Liberty Lake Portal to our property halfway up Mica Peak, south of Liberty Lake. From here, guests will take an exciting ride in specially outfitted UTV’s on panoramic trails to the top of the property. Our friendly guides will then guide you through nine zip lines ending with our Big Mama zip line and 2/3 of a mile of joy!

Aerial Park

A self-guided tree-top wonderland, you move from station to station, more intense as you get higher or just stay on the lower obstacles and enjoy the perfect adventure for you.

You are strapped in the entire way and the obstacles vary in degree of difficulty. From rickety bridges to Ninja Warrior style challenges, go through the aerial park and create your own adventure. They are 3 hour sessions so you can tarzan around until your heart is content.

Visit micamoon.com to book your next favorite adventure!

THE UNPARALLELED ADRENALINE RUSH The Mica Moon mission statement is to provide in a professional and unforgettable way an opportunity for residents and visitors to the Spokane area to experience its natural forest treasures from unique perspectives and celebrate their associated wonder, freedom, and growth by stretching personal perspectives and comfort zones. We want our guests to feel that they had a truly amazing time, and in the process, learned as much about themselves as they did the secrets hidden in our backyard wilderness.

With this in mind, we at Mica Moon spent two years and tens of thousands of dollars working with biologists, geologists, arborists, historians, governmental agencies, and experts in experiential learning to create the Mica Moon Zip Tour. We hire only the best guides, and train them in every aspect of their job so that they can maximize our guests’ experience.

"The zip tour was amazing!! I took my kids along and it was fantastic. Our guides were awesome!! Professional, knowledgeable, funny and entertaining. I would definitely recommend going and will go again in the future." - Eric R. "Our adventure with Mica Moon was fantastic from start to finish. Would highly recommend this place to all my family and friends looking for a fun recreational activity!" - Tony M.

MAY-JUNE 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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VOLUNTEERS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE FOR NORTH IDAHO’S HIKING TRAILS MAY-JUNE 2021 WWW.OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM PUBLISHERS

Shallan & Derrick Knowles EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Derrick Knowles ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Lisa Laughlin Jon Jonckers DIGITAL EDITOR

Amy McCaffree COPY EDITOR

THERE ARE 10,000 MILES of hiking trails in Idaho, and

many of them wouldn’t be in the good shape they are in if it wasn’t for Idaho Trails Association (ITA), a nonprofit group that organizes volunteers to help clear trails around the state. ITA formed in 2010 and organized its first trail project in North Idaho in 2015, says ITA board member and volunteer Tom Dabrowski. This year ITA has a total of 16 trail projects planned for the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO JOIN A TRAIL PROJECT?

ITA has projects with a wide range of difficulty, even on the same trail. “Sometimes there are difficult things to do like moving large rocks, and then there are easier things to do like clipping brush,” Dabrowski says. Some people may use a crosscut saw to clear downed trees and others might use smaller hand saws or other tools to clear smaller trees or brush or improve the trail surface.

“We ask people to come on out and even if they’ve never done trail work before we’ll show you how to do it safely.”

Hiking distances on projects vary from 2-3 miles to up to 8-miles. At the end of the day, explains Dabrowski, the most satisfying thing is hearing people say “wow, look at what we got done. It’s a thing where you can get that gratification of your hard work in the space of one day.”

The camaraderie is a big thing with volunteers too, says Dabrowski. “When people come out and volunteer, the number one thing they comment on is the people they met and worked with.”

NORTH IDAHO TRAIL PROJECTS

ITA trips are a great way to get out on some of Idaho’s most beautiful wild areas, meet new people, and give something back to our trails. You do not need to have any experience to sign up for a project; ITA will give you the

ARTICLE SPONSORED BY

training and tools you need to do the work. Sign up for one of these projects at Idahotrailsassociation.org.

May 15-16: Lake Shore Trail 294 (rated easy) Cut out logs and brush on this trail along the northwestern shore of Priest Lake (day trip or car camping).

June 5: Mickinnick Trail (rated moderate) This popular hiking trail gains 2,200’ to reach a beautiful viewpoint above Sandpoint. Help cut out logs, do tread work, improve drainage, and trim back brush.

June 18-20: Coeur d’Alene River Trail (rated moderate) This is a three-day project in the beautiful upper North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River removing logs and improving the trail. Join for one or more days and optional car camping.

June 26-27: Upper Priest River Trail (rated difficult) A two-day project up to American Falls with bridge, rock, and tread work on several area trails.

July 7-11: Seven Devils Loop (rated difficult) A self-supported, 27-mile backpacking trip around the Seven Devils peaks clearing the trail of downed trees and doing trail tread work along the way.

July 10: Ball Lakes Trail (rated moderate) Cut back brush, remove logs, and improve the trail surface on this 3-mile hike 1,300 feet up to this beautiful Selkirk Mountain alpine lake.

July 18-23: Fault Lake Trail (week-long trip rated difficult) This 6-day project high in the Selkirk Mountains will include building a raised walkway through a swampy area along with other trail clearing and improvement efforts. //

Andrew Butler CONTRIBUTORS

Crystal Atamian S. Michal Bennett Stephanie Sauvé Bogue Kelly Chadwick Chris Conley Carol Corbin Adam Gabauer Rebecca Gonshak Sarah Hauge Jon Jonckers Derrick Knowles Shallan Knowles Lisa Laughlin Sam Mace Amy McCaffree Ammi Midstokke Mark Schneider Gayne Sears Justin Short Nick Sweeney Suzanne Tabert Aaron Theisen Dave Trimmer Holly Weiler Wil Wheaton ART + PRODUCTION

Amy Jennings Jon Jonckers Shallan Knowles TO REQUEST COPIES CALL

509 / 822 / 0123 AD SALES

Derrick Knowles: 509 / 822 / 0123 derrick@outtheremonthly.com OUT THERE OUTDOORS

Mailing Address: PO Box #5, Spokane, WA 99210 www.outthereoutdoors.com, 509 / 822 / 0123 Out There Outdoors is published 6 times a year by Out There Monthly, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. ©Copyright 2021 Out There Monthly, LLC. The views expressed in this magazine reflect those of the writers and advertisers and not necessarily Out There Monthly, LLC. Disclaimer: Many of the activities depicted in this magazine carry a significant risk of personal injury or death.

Rock climbing, river rafting, snow sports, kayaking, cycling, canoeing and backcountry activities are inherently dangerous.

The owners and contributors to Out There Monthly/ Out There Outdoors do not recommend that anyone participate in these activities unless they are experts or seek qualified professional instruction and/or guidance, and are knowledgeable about the risks, and are personally willing to assume all responsibility associated with those risks.

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MAY-JUNE 2021

INTRO

The Secret Is Out

THIS WINTER while fat biking at Riverside

State Park, my lone biking companion and I encountered a group of eight or so riders that he happened to know. We moved off the trail to let them pass and exchanged greetings and trail beta. And a few fist bumps later, we rolled off in our separate directions. Eventually I commented on the obvious increase in trail traffic just about everywhere in recent years. My riding partner concurred and then mentioned that two of the guys in the group had recently moved to Spokane from Bend. I was quiet for a bit while I digested that reality, being that Bend, Oregon, is arguably the mountain bike capitol of the Pacific NW. The possibility that more mountain bikers

could be moving from there to here these days versus the other way around was a bit startling.

It seems that each year more of the people you meet on the trail, skin track, chairlift, river, beach, or post-adventure pub just moved here from Seattle, Portland, California, Colorado, and other outdoor Meccas, even, apparently, from Bend.

Those of us who have lived here long enough to consider ourselves locals typically have one of two gut reactions to this trend.

The more territorial among us bemoan the crowding that’s occurring on some trails at peak times; curse what’s beginning to resemble real traffic; and grit their teeth at the over-priced housing market. I’ve been

keeping my eye out for their “Spokane’s Full, Go Home” stickers.

Another predictable response to the growing popularity of our backyard with outdoorsy types fleeing busier and pricier outdoor adventure towns and cities is a mindset of “more-the-merrier.” Open to sharing the region’s outdoor adventure bounty (but maybe not their favorite secret spots), many of these folks have an optimistic outlook.

The hope is that an injection of new blood in the outdoors community is more fun and can make things better for all of us. They likely remember times when pristine places, trails, and other natural resources were developed or otherwise ruined because there were not enough of us engaged stakeholders

to save them and certainly not enough users to justify new trail systems.

I admit I drift back and forth between these two camps depending on the day and my mood, but many new people like you and me are moving here every day and that’s that.

At the moment I’m feeling optimistic and keep coming back to the hope that adding to the ranks of engaged bikers, hikers, boaters, campers, and climbers should realistically mean more hands on deck to make the Inland Northwest a better place to live for all of us, including the wildlife and wild places that make this place so damn special. But it’s up to us to make it so.

DERRICK KNOWLES, PUBLISHER

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1638 South Blaine Street Moscow, Idaho

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RAFTING • KAYAKING • CAMPING • FISHING • SUP

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D I S PATC H E S

BIKING IS FOR EVERYONE WHERE WILL YOUR BIKE TAKE YOU TODAY?

Stop in for all the right riding gear for your next adventure.

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MAY-JUNE 2021

FEDERAL COURT HALTS PROPOSED ROCK CREEK MINE MISSOULA, MONT.

On April 13, 2021, the Federal District Court in Montana invalidated the federal government’s approval of the first phase of the Rock Creek Mine, a major copper and silver mine proposed beneath the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness in northwest Montana. The court ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service violated the Endangered Species Act by unlawfully ignoring the impacts of the full mine proposal on federally-protected grizzly bears and bull trout. The ruling, say conservation and wildlife advocates, safeguards the most vulnerable grizzly bear population in the lower 48 states, threatened bull trout, and sacred and aboriginal lands of the Ktunaxa Nation from the mine’s impacts.

“We are thrilled with this decision as it represents an important and timely reprieve for grizzly bears, bull trout, and clean water that would be irrevocably harmed by the Rock Creek Mine,” says Mary Costello, executive director of the Rock Creek Alliance. Hecla Mining Company is pressing to develop two massive mines—the Montanore and Rock Creek projects—beneath and adjacent to the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness in northwest Montana. The wilderness and adjacent National Forest lands are braided by high-elevation streams that are among the purest waters in the lower 48 United States and home to several native fish species. The proposed mines are also upstream from Lake Pend Oreille and have raised concerns from communities that depend on a clean lake and recreation tourism for their livelihood. (OTO)

CYCLE CELEBRATION IS BACK JULY 25 SPOKANE VALLEY, WASH.

When Spokane Valley’s Cycle Celebration came to life in 2013, it was all about celebrating the freedom of being on a bicycle and riding around some of the Valley’s most scenic routes for the city’s 10th birthday. This past year taught us that getting outside and escaping on a bicycle is one of the best and easiest ways to improve mental health during a pandemic or anytime for that matter. We also learned how much we miss our friends and being outside with other people. Once again this year, Cycle

Celebration will take its accustomed place on the calendar the last Sunday in July, which is the 25th this year. Riders of all abilities are invited come enjoy a scenic ride with others. Since the beginning, Cycle Celebration has been about encouraging young riders to be confident in groups. The event offers experienced cyclists a solid ride but caters more to the occasional rider, kids, and families. Find details for this year’s ride and register at Cyclecelebration. com. (Dave Trimmer)

INAUGURAL PADDLING EVENT IN PRIEST RIVER PRIEST RIVER, IDAHO.

On Saturday August 21 the Pend Oreille Rowing and Paddling Association (PORPA), in partnership with the US Army Corps of Engineers, is hosting a celebration of non-motorized water recreation at the Priest River Recreation Area (Mudhole) in Priest River, Idaho. The event which runs from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. will include nonmotorized watercraft races on the beautiful Priest River for all ages and skill levels.

All single human-powered watercraft are welcome for a day of races, with the event highlight being a relay-race of at least three different non-motorized watercraft racers

competing as a team. Races will be sprints with courses between 500-1,000 meters (less than one mile). The Kalispel Tribe will also bring traditional canoes and offer participants and spectators stories about the Priest River and other local waterways.

Register to race at PORPA.org by August 10. The Pend Oreille Rowing and Paddling Association is a membership rowing and paddling club that offers free introduction to rowing sessions for those who are new to rowing, and experienced rowers and social members are also welcome. More info at PORPA.org. (OTO)

SPOKATOPIA OUTDOOR ADVENTURE FESTIVAL MOVES TO SEPTEMBER SPOKANE, WASH.

After last year’s Spokatopia got canceled like many other events, Out There Outdoors, which puts on the outdoor adventure festival, is postponing the 2021 event until September 18. Moving Spokatopia from its normal early July date this year will increase the odds that many of the events, races, and activities will be able to happen and attendance won’t need to be heavily restricted. Attendees this year can expect the same bicycle-centric festival vibe, with activities ranging from group

mountain bike rides and clinics, shuttles for downhill-only riding on Camp Sekani trails, a mountain bike jump show, bikes and brews adult beverage garden supporting Evergreen East, spectator-friendly small group bicycle races and competitions, kids bike demos and activities, live music, vendors, paddleboard demos, and more. Check back at Spokatopia. com or on social media for updates as ticket sales may be limited this year. (OTO)

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WORLD’S LARGEST STANDING SURF WAVE OPENS IN CENTRAL WASHINGTON CHELAN, WASH.

Citywave USA, the new stationary wave at Lakeside Surf in Chelan, which happens to be the largest of its kind in the world, opens May 1, 2021. The newest attraction at Chelan’s Slidewaters Waterpark, citywave USA is 54-foot wide, deep-water stationary wave up to six feet tall that allows surfers to ride across the wave as the water rushes by.

Surfers can use regular short boards and fullsize fins that make aggressive wave carving, tricks, and aerials possible. For safety reasons, however, all first-time citywave USA surfers are required to use Lakeside Surf ’s boards until they get staff approval based on a surfer’s ability to handle the wave.

The wave can be set up for a wide range of

ability levels too, from beginners to expert surfers, and guests with passes can also watch from some great viewing areas. There are a variety of surf session options, ranging from 45-minute sessions with a max of 12 surfers in the line-up (surfers are asked to limit each wave ride to 30 seconds), to private sessions, party bookings, and dawn patrol time slots. All sessions must be booked in advance online.

Lakeside Surf is a complete surf facility with food and beverage service, a retail surf shop, sand volleyball, a surfer hot tub, and is a part of the larger Slidewaters Waterpark. This year’s season will run from May through October.

More info at Lakesidesurf.com. (Derrick Knowles)

domacoffee.com MAY-JUNE 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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MOSES LAKE

ROAD TRIP!

Your Home Base for Hiking & Adventure

PARK & PLAY

◉ Swim at the Surf ‘n Slide Water Park (open Memorial weekend through Labor Day weekend) ◉ Explore beautiful city parks, playgrounds, ballfields, and lakeshore access

UNWIND

◉ Enjoy great restaurants, Mexican food, wineries, and breweries ◉ Relax at the Japanese Peace Garden ◉ Visit the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center

BRING THE BIKES

D I S PATC H E S KALISPEL TRIBE PROMOTES ADVENTURE TOURISM IN NE WA

CUSICK, WASH.

Pend Oreille County in Northeast Washington is a wonderland of public lands, lakes and river access, wildlife, and trails, but until recently, one thing that had been difficult to find was quality tourist amenities. Over the past 13 years, the Kalispel Tribe has added several attractions that serve both tourists and locals on the tribe’s land. Developments include the Camas Center with its heated swimming pools with slides, 32-foot rock climbing wall, full-court gym, and fitness center that opened in 2008; a visitors’ center and rest area; and the Kalispel RV Resort in Cusick (opened in 2019) that has RV and tent sites for camping as well as furnished cottages for rent. For those who are interested in indoor gaming entertainment and dining, the relatively new Kalispel Casino is located next to the RV resort.

Now the tribe and Kalispel RV Resort are encouraging adventure tourism to the region to continue to build on an already growing tourism and outdoor recreation economy.

“Recreational tourism is an important piece of our rural economy,” explains Mike Lithgow with the Kalispel Tribe’s Natural Resource Department. Indian Creek Community Forest, he says, is a great place to learn about the tribe’s forest restoration and conservation education

efforts and experience this beautiful corner of the state (Nrd.org/portfolio/indian-creekcommunity-forest).

Some of the other recreational activities nearby the Kalispel RV Resort include the International Selkirk Loop, a 280-mile scenic back road byway that encircles the Selkirk Mountains, as well as dozens of hiking and mountain biking trails on Colville National Forest lands, including Bead Lake, Sullivan Lake, the Salmo Priest Wilderness, and many others. With so many lakes and miles of Pend Oreille River access in the area, fishing and water sports are also a major draw. Anglers can cast lines for days in the Pend Oreille River and in dozens of nearby lakes, including Browns Lake, which is exclusively reserved for fly fishing. The Pend Oreille River Water Trail, a 70-mile stretch of river between Oldtown, Idaho, and Boundary Dam offers excellent paddling on kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards, as well as bird and other wildlife viewing and historical and environmental points of interest to explore.

If you are planning to camp at the Kalispel RV Resort and explore the area, call ahead to inquire about availability and amenities while some COVID restrictions may still be in place this spring and summer (509.447.7144).

(OTO)

◉ Ride the Moses Lake BMX bike track ◉ Pedal the Activity Trail around town to several parks and along the lake ◉ Explore endless back road and gravel ride options

DESERT DAY HIKES ◉ ◉ ◉ ◉

Columbia Basin Wildlife Area Potholes Reservoir Columbia National Wildlife Refuge Sun Lakes—Dry Falls State Park

MOSES LAKE Events

◉ Moses Lake Farmers’ Market: Every Saturday through Oct. Opens May 1st. ◉ City of Moses Lake Museum & Art Center: May 7th - Gallery Opening: Natalie Niblack & Ann Chadwick Reid, On the Edge - Living in the Anthropocene, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Also May 7th - Opening Night Film Right to Harm: A Public Health Crisis too Big to Ignore, 6 p.m.

◉ Surf ‘n Slide Water Park: Opens May 29th. Cityofml.com. ◉ Sand Scorpions Bounty Hole & Freestyle Mud Tracks: Sept. 18th.

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MAY-JUNE 2021

BIKING IN NORTH IDAHO PHOTO: COURTESY OF ROW ADVENTURES

ROW ADVENTURES ADDS RAIL TRAIL BIKING TOURS COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO

For over four decades, ROW Adventures has been leading people on guided outdoor adventures here in the Inland Northwest and around the world. While the Coeur d’Alenebased company is most well-known locally for guided whitewater trips, ROW recently started offering fully-guided bike tours here in the Inland Northwest. This new service includes several options for multi-day bike tours on trails like the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes with the potential to link up to the Route of the Hiawatha and other North Idaho rail trail routes. These new tours will no-doubt be a hit with cyclists from around the world looking to explore the region’s truly world-class rail trail network, but they are also a great option for local cyclists who may not be comfortable with a self-supported multi-day bike tour.

Some of the biggest challenges for any DIY bike tour are the shuttle and having to haul all your own gear. ROW’s guided trips include meal stops, a sag wagon (van) providing support if riders need it, and comfortable hotel lodging each night. The tours also come with knowledgeable guides who can help you learn about the places you’re pedaling past, and is a great option for people who want to focus on the ride and get a good night’s rest each night.

Check out all of ROW’s bike tour options, including the Bitterroot Bonanza that includes biking, rafting, and kayaking in the same week, at Rowadventures.com/biking. (OTO)

2021 CHRIS KOPCZYNSKI WITH HIS NEW BOOK. // PHOTO: JON JONCKERS

LOCAL CLIMBING LEGEND PUBLISHES NEW BOOK SPOKANE, WASH.

Mountaineering doesn’t have the same metrics as basketball or football, but if it did, Spokane mountain climber Chris Kopczynski would definitely belong in the Hall of Fame.

When he started climbing in the 1960s, many of the world’s tallest peaks had hardly been touched. However, throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s, Kopczynski traveled the globe and climbed several Himalayan peaks, as well as the highest point on every continent, also known as the Seven Summits.

Kopczynski recently published a memoir recounting many of his wildest adventures.

The book is entirely original; however, his title, “Into Thin Hair,” clearly jests at one of the greatest Everest books of all time

by Jon Krakauer. Let the record show that Kopczynski’s book is riveting; however, nothing testifies to the gravity of the adventures you’ll experience while turning the pages of his book quite like first-hand tales from a few of his local climbing partners and friends.

Frequent climbing companion John Roskelley recounts one particular climb in their earlier years. “We couldn’t have picked a dumber alpine route. Neither of us had waterproof pants or decent jackets for the deep snow, cold, and wind we encountered. We made it to the ridge crest just before dark without being swept by an avalanche, which to this day I don’t know how, and then bivouacked in a howling storm that night. In the morning, we were both like popsicles. It was so cold and windy, Chris decided to abandon his homemade two-man tent. That’s right—leave it on the ridge. Well, I needed a tent, but couldn’t afford one, so I said, ‘Chris, if you leave it and go down, I’m going

to take it down myself and keep it.’” Ultimately, both climbers evolved into high-altitude climbing legends, but that doesn’t mean every climb was smooth.

Another friend, climbing partner, and longtime Spokesman Review outdoors editor Rich Landers offers another fond Kopczynski memory. “Sealed in our sleeping bags while wearing down parkas, Gore-Tex overalls, climbing boots, and gaiters to endure a storm, I learned that despite climbing on Everest and other frigid ascents, Kop had suffered frostbite only once—on a cold December morning in a goose-hunting blind. He boomed out, from memory, a fine performance of Hamlet’s soliloquy: “To be or not to be…” And he seized the ordeal to offer me words of mountaineering wisdom. ‘You don't want to think about being scared in a situation like this. Get scared and it's all over.’”

Mountain Gear founder Paul Fish also recalled Kopczynski’s wit and wisdom during a mountaineering storm. “On our Mount Fairweather attempt, Chris’s skills as a climber were appreciated, but not nearly as much as his storytelling. On storm days, he would cut the tension or boredom with a well-chosen tale from his past life and climbing experiences.

Frequently humorous, but never cruel to anyone, and with the occasional learned word, his stories stay with me just like the memories of the climbing.”

Fortunately you don’t need to freeze in a tent with him to hear Kopczynski’s stories. Pick up a copy of his new book, “Into Thin Hair,” at Auntie’s Bookstore in Spokane or at another local book shop. (Jon Jonckers)

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Gothmann

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GET OUT THERE

LEFT: WAIKIKI SPRINGS // EVERGREEN CLINIC

BE A CITIZEN SCIENTIST FOR THE DAY AT WAIKIKI SPRINGS BIOBLITZ (MAY 22)

Come join the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy (INLC) Stewardship Team at Waikiki Springs Nature Preserve near Spokane for a day of citizen science.

During this field day from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. volunteers will help collect biological information including plant species identification, wildlife data collection, soil sampling, and forest canopy analysis.

No experience is necessary. INLC staff and group leaders will provide the tools and resources volunteers will need. Visit Inlandnwland.org for more information and to sign up. (OTO) TAKE A MOUNTAIN BIKE SKILLS CLINIC

Whether you’re a beginner or want to hone some advanced mountain biking

skills, Evergreen East Mountain Bike Alliance is offering clinics this spring and summer to fit all abilities and skill levels.

Evergreen offers a low student-to-instructor ratio to make time for personalized feedback and instruction. Knowledgeable instructors break down and demonstrate each skill before progressing onto practice and drills. And each class includes trail riding so that students can try out what they are learning as class progresses. Classes include MTB Foundations, Technical Descending, Foundations in the Air, Advanced Cornering, and more.

There are co-ed, women-only, and kids’ classes too. Evergreen East members get a discount on class registration, so be sure to sign up and pay your membership dues before registering. By being a member of Evergreen, you are support-

HIGH TECH. HIGH REC. 509.447.5569 | www.HighTechHighRec.com

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MAY-JUNE 2021

ing mountain bike trail building, maintenance, and advocacy right here in the Inland Northwest. New this year, riders who may not have the budget to pay for a clinic can apply for a scholarship to help cover the clinic cost at Evergreenmtb. org/scholarship. For clinic details, visit Evergreeneast.org/2021-class-schedulesign-up or email info@evergreeneast.org.

(OTO) HELP CLEAN UP ALONG THE SPOKANE RIVER

In year’s past, conservation groups have organized one or two big group clean-up events along the banks of the Spokane River per year, but this year’s effort by Spokane Riverkeeper and the Spokane River Forum will span the entire spring and summer season, including four public clean-up events. For 2021, there will

be three ways volunteers can help pick up trash along the river, says Jule Schultz with Spokane Riverkeeper. First, there’s the first big public cleanup event that’s scheduled (with COVID safety protocols in place) on Saturday May 8 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. That kickoff event will be followed by four additional public trash pickup days, including June 19 at Mission Park, July 10 at Peoples’ Park, August 21 in the University District, and September 18 in Spokane Valley. River clean ups are great for removing litter, but they are also a great opportunity to educate people about other threats to the river, says Schultz. “We are seeing more and more interest in the Spokane River and protecting it than we ever have before.”

Also new this year, Spokane Riverkeeper is encouraging individuals to partner with

Here, the great outdoors is literally out your door. If you’re a remote worker or a frequent flyer with a jones for the outdoors, then take a look at Newport and Pend Oreille County as the ideal place to live. Our $34 million fiber optic network provides gigabit Internet speeds to power remote work. And we’re less than an hour’s drive from Spokane’s cultural amenities, not to mention GEG – otherwise known as Spokane International Airport.

Step up to Lifestyle 2.0 and live where you love to play. Contact us today!

Photo: Exploring the Pend Oreille Water Trail. Drive time from downtown Newport to Ashenfelter Bay put-in, 3 minutes.

LEFT TO RIGHT: SPOKANE RIVER CLEANUP // WOLF TRAILS // BIRDING ON THE TRAIL OF THE COEUR D’ALENES

them to schedule their own DIY river cleanup events with friends and family members whenever it’s convenient. You will be responsible for rallying the volunteer labor, and Spokane Riverkeeper will recommend a trash pickup location and provide the trash pickers, bags, and gloves. And when you’re finished cleaning up your area, they will haul away the trash bags. Businesses and civic groups can also work with the Riverkeeper to set up a private group river clean-up event.

For more information or to sign up, visit Spokanerivercleanup.org. (OTO) HIKE NEWPORT, WASHINGTON’S WOLF TRAILS

The name Wolf Trails conjures up a wild, enticing, and maybe even a tad forbidding place, but this trail system on the edge of town in Newport, Wash., is actually a sweet

wooded area of gently rolling terrain adjacent to the Pend Oreille River. With about 4-5 miles of interconnected loops, divided

by State Route 20 into the “Upper” and “Lower” trail systems, hikers and mountain bikers can choose any length of outing they desire. Lower Wolf has a charming bench at an overlook of Ashenfelter Bay on the Pend Oreille River, where ducks, geese, and sometimes Tundra swans lounge in the calm water. Spring is a favorite time of year, with the soft, damp trail; wildflowers blooming; and birds flitting about. I saw a pileated woodpecker big as life on Upper Wolf in early April. These trails were developed on land donated to the Colville National Forest decades ago by newspaper owner Fred Wolf for the express purpose of recreation. The Forest Service and the Pacific Northwest Trail Association have

done a great job designing and maintaining this jewel of a trail system so close to town that within minutes of completing your hike, ride or trail run you can be in Newport to enjoy a coffee at Union St. Perk or a burger and beer next door at the second oldest bar in Washington State (Kelly’s). Find directions and trail map at Newashingtontrails.com/wolf-trails/. Dogs are okay on leash. For trail conditions call the Newport Forest Service office at 509.447.7300. (Gayne Sears) TAKE A SPRING RIDE ON THE TRAIL OF THE COEUR D’ALENES

One of Northwest’s longest paved biking trails, stretching across the Idaho Panhandle for 73.2 miles, the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes is a great spring and early summer ride. You can ride

shorter out-and-back sections from one of several trailheads or take on a larger one-way stretch of the trail. Whatever distance you choose, your ride could have you pedaling past lakes, along a wild river, through small towns, and past wetlands and woods teaming with birds and other wildlife. Recently named one of the top 25 trails in the United States by the Rails to Trails Conservancy, the trail extends from the towns of Plummer to Mullan. Wetlands along much of the route afford the opportunity to see many species of birds, including eagles, swans, hawks, owls, and migrating songbirds.

Frequently-sighted wildlife along the trail include coyotes, deer, moose, and elk.

For more info on riding the trail, visit Outthereoutdoors.com and search “Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes.” (OTO) //

MAY-JUNE 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

13

The Trailhead

Trail Funding Boost, Steptoe Butte, Volunteering, & More

By Holly Weiler

WELCOME TO THE TRAILHEAD, where the

first stop should be the kiosk with important information that affects recreationists in our area! This new column, replacing the long-running “Hike of the Month” column, will serve as a round-up of interesting projects and plans for trails in the Inland Northwest. Here’s what trail and recreation related news we have for this spring and early summer, along with a recommended hike!

Steptoe Butte State Park will be closed for road and parking lot repairs for up to 16 weeks this spring. The exact closure window is dependant upon weather conditions, so be sure to check the state parks website before a spring visit (Parks.state.wa.us/592/ Steptoe-Butte).

Funding for the Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law August 2020 and will begin to address deferred maintenance needs on United States Forest Service (USFS) lands beginning this summer. Search the US Department of Agriculture website for a deeper dive into how this legislation will be enabling projects across the country. Some of the local projects slated to begin in 2021 include: → Funding for 1,500 miles of deferred maintenance on backcountry trails across both Washington and Oregon through "shared stewardship" partnerships with USFS partner organizations. → Trail maintenance on 110 miles of recreational trails within Hells Canyon National Recreation Area and the Eagle Cap Wilderness, along with the replacement of two 60' bridges on the Snake River National Recreation Trail. → A combination project on South Fork Boulder Creek Road north of Highway 20 on the Colville National Forest, including relocation of the current road and conversion of the former

roadbed to a year-round multi-use trail (snowmobile in winter; non-motorized access to Taylor Ridge Trail in summer). → Trail maintenance on 50 miles of trails near Bonners Ferry, Idaho. → A trail resurfacing project and tunnel improvements on the Route of the Hiawatha Trail near Lookout Pass. → Trail maintenance in the MallardLarkins and Upper St. Joe River areas. → Improvements to both vehicle access and trails within the Ross Creek Ancient Cedar Grove, including a boardwalk to help protect tree roots from soil compaction while granting better accessibility for all visitors.

Spokane County Parks will be building a new trailhead for Antoine Peak Conservation Area's Etter Ranch addition over the course of the summer. The new access point will be located less than 1/4mile from Trent Ave. in the Spokane Valley.

Until the new trailhead is complete, access to

this portion of Antoine Peak is only available under special permit for the trail construction crews who are busy building the new connecting trail to the existing trail system.

Check the Washington Trails Association and Evergreen East Mountain Bike Alliance websites for volunteer opportunities that will grant a sneak peek!

Northeast Washington Trails has a new page devoted to ways non-motorized trail users can get involved with trail maintenance projects stretching from the Okanogan Highlands to the Idaho Panhandle. Lend a hand to one of several nonprofits offering volunteer opportunities across northeast Washington, or share a conditions report about a trail issue you discovered while exploring an area. Learn more at Newashingtontrails.com/volunteer. // Holly Weiler is a long-time contributor to Out There Outdoors. If you know where to look, you'll find her deep in a morel patch this spring.

RUSTLER'S GULCH // PHOTO: HOLLY WEILER

SURF THE WORLD’S

LARGEST STATIONARY WAVE CHELAN, WA VISIT US FOR OUR INAUGURAL SEASON

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HIKE OF THE MONTH

RUSTLER'S GULCH, LITTLE SPOKANE RIVER AREA

MOST WIDELY KNOWN as Rustler's Gulch, this lovely spring hike is a portion of the West Branch Little Spokane River Wildlife Area. The best access point is from the Holly Road Trailhead west of Highway 2, which allows for a lollipop loop with a mix of double- and single-track trails.

Begin on a double-track section that drops down to the wetlands. At the one-mile mark watch for an unmarked left-hand junction onto singletrack heading north, noting the dilapidated barn across the wetland to the east marking the return route. The trail winds through the forest along the edge of the wetlands for the next two miles before intersecting an alternate access point and additional trailhead at Horseshoe Lake Road.

Turn right, rejoining a double-track trail section as it heads southeast around the wetland, then bends south. This section is parallel to the hike up, but with increased views of the wetlands along the way. At the 5.5 mile mark the trail returns to the drooping barn, most safely viewed at a distance. Return to the same double-track trail as the start and climb a final mile through the lovely shaded forest to return to the parking area.

Total distance is 6.5 miles with 850' elevation gain for a moderately difficult hike. Discover Pass required.

NATURE

Spokane's Native Redband Trout By Adam Gebauer REDBAND TROUT are the iconic fish of the

Spokane River. Recently they have received recognitions with a statue, park naming, and a rally mascot. They are also the obsession of a handful of local fly fishers. These inland subspecies of rainbow trout are native to our Columbia River drainage as well as the Great Basin drainage.

These trout are also adaptable to a range of conditions and can be found growing up to 24 inches in the deep waters of Lake Roosevelt and 4-5 inches in smaller headwater such as those flowing into Hangman Creek. Along the Spokane River there can be as many as 300 fish per mile, but in some Idaho rivers their numbers can be as high as 3,000 fish per mile.

It isn’t always easy to tell a redband from coastal rainbow trout varieties, especially if it is at the end of a fly line. Even fish biologists Casey Flanagan and Conor Giorgi who work for the Spokane Tribe have trouble at times. But there are some ways to tell them apart.

Flanagan says in the Spokane area, hatchery trout, which are coastal rainbow varieties, will have a clipped adipose fin (a small fin along the back). Redband can also have some distinctive coloration including the namesake red lateral band as well as large rounded spots. Flanagan and Giorgi say those marks become more distinctive in populations that live in smaller streams. But when Flanagan wants to be absolutely sure she uses genetic markers.

REDBAND FACE A VARIETY OF CHALLENGES

Although redband live in a variety of river habitats, their population numbers can be limited by degraded streamside habitat, increases in water temperature, as well as competition and predation from nonnative fish.

The Spokane River by Sandifur Bridge near downtown Spokane is a year-round stronghold for redband and is an important nesting area where fish dig depressions in the gravel called reds to layer their eggs.

Redbands struggle on other stretches of the

Spokane such as those down stream of the Post Falls Dam where they are predated on by the non-native popular game fish, small mouth bass.

The watershed of the Little Spokane River with its cold spring-fed waters and healthy riparian habitat has a healthy population of redband. Whereas some tributaries of Hangman Creek, on the other hand, have lower population numbers due to warm, seasonal water temperatures and frequent fine sediment erosion from surrounding agricultural land. This fine sediment covers up the larger gravel that the trout use to make their reds.

CONSERVATION COLLABORATION

There are many collaborative conservation efforts in the region. The Spokane Tribe, Confederated Colville Tribes, and Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) collect and share similar data.

Groups like the Spokane River Forum and the Spokane Riverkeeper are putting up education signage and working to protect water quality. The EPA, Department of Ecology, tribes and WDFW are working on habitat restoration, including removing fish barriers in the Little Spokane watershed and restoring meanders and streamside habitat to the headwaters of Hangman Creek. Several county conservation districts are also encouraging landowners to opt into a voluntary stewardship program to protect their riparian habitat.

With clean water and intact, healthy habitat, redband trout can thrive in rivers and streams here in the Inland Northwest, allowing them to play their natural role in our aquatic ecosystems and anglers and nature lovers the chance so catch or see this magnificent fish. // As the weather warms up you can find Adam floating the Spokane in canoe, packraft, inner tube, or along with any friend with room on their fly-fishing raft. He last wrote about a close encounter with a woodpecker.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SEAN VISINTAINER

CATCHING YOUR FIRST REDBAND

Contrary to some popular beliefs, it doesn’t take a whole lot of money or skill to get into fly fishing. I for one know next to nothing but go with a few obsessed friends.

Conor Giorgi suggests a 5-weight rod with a soft hackle caddis fly attached. Sean Visintainer, owner of Silver Bow Fly Shop says most trout are caught subsurface on nymphs and streamers. Not sure what all that means? Stop by your local flyfishing shop or join a club or fishing group to get started. Remember the Spokane and many surrounding rivers are catch and release and the Spokane season runs from May 25 to March 15, with the spring closure intended to protect the trout during spawning season.

MAY-JUNE 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

15

RUN WILD

Every Single Street in Spokane

By Sarah Hauge

PHOTO: TOM GRIFFEN WALKING SPOKANE

THE OTHER DAY on one of my typical run-

ning routes, I made a left turn two blocks earlier than usual. Less than a mile from my house I passed a string of homes I’ve never seen before, despite countless hours spent walking and running around my neighborhood. Then, the road culminated at the top of a stone walled, overgrown path leading down to a park. I felt transported. Where was I, again? It was a kind of magical, slightly eerie, secret-garden moment, and it only happened because I had gone ever so slightly off the beaten path.

Getting off the beaten path is one of the motivations for the many runners and walkers who have attempted the feat of traversing every street of a given city or town. This challenge—commonly hashtagged #everysinglestreet on social media—gained popularity in 2018, when long-distance runner Rickey Gates ran 1,317 miles around his adopted hometown of San Francisco over 45 days. This feat (which he recently discussed on Dirtbag Diaries podcast episode 159) has inspired many others.

Tom Griffen, a runner and walker who

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moved from North Carolina to the Inland Northwest in 2020 to become Fleet Feet’s Director of Training and Leadership Development, is getting to know Spokane by walking every one of its streets. “I moved here right as COVID hit,” he says. “I’m a middle-aged single man with no kids and no pets…it’s really hard to meet people,” especially under pandemic circumstances.

Having already completed many ultramarathons as well as a walk across the country from LA to Brooklyn (he wrote a book, With a Good Heart, about that journey), walking Spokane’s streets offered a safe way to make deeper connections with his new home and the people who make up its landscapes.

Griffen thinks of his on-foot journeys not as the means to an end, but the thing of value itself. “My intention is not to rush to get this done,” he says. “I think that’s the appeal of walking—to move slower. The slower movement through life can afford me the opportunity to see things I would have missed if moving fast.”

Griffen lives downtown and is a foot commuter who often builds his destinations around new destinations, which affords him an up-close look at the city’s architecture and distinctive neighborhoods, as well as casual ways to connect with others. One

spring Saturday he wanted to get a library card and asked himself, “Where can I go and build a walk around that?” He chose Hillyard and set off on the day’s trek. “While I was there I had a wonderful conversation with a librarian. It was so heartwarming to walk in, pick up my library card, have a socially distanced chitchat.” He ended up doing a 20-mile roundtrip walk that day, and the fuel, he says, “came from that five-minute exchange with another human being.”

In addition to the people he encounters, “what I find most alluring is the distinct personalities of the various parts of town.” He’s getting to know Spokane’s history and looks up landmarks he’s passed after he gets home and marks that day’s route on a paper map (citystrides.com is an alternative, web-based method for tracking routes that links up with Strava). In every neighborhood he’s visited, “there’s always waves and acknowledgement” from other people. “I get a sense that there’s this openness and welcome feeling.”

“There’s kindness everywhere, and if you’re receptive to it, you will find it.”// Sarah Hauge is a writer and editor who lives in Spokane with her husband and two daughters. She wrote about her longtime love of walking in the last issue of Out There.

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This spring and summer, come find an abundance of adventure in beautiful Sandpoint, Idaho. Less than 90 minutes east of Spokane, Sandpoint is nestled alongside huge Lake Pend Oreille amid two inspiring frontal ranges of the Rocky Mountains – the Selkirk Mountains that stretch north into Canada, and the Cabinet Mountains sprawling east into Montana.

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17

provisions

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

PHOTO: S. MICHAL BENNETT

NOMADIQ PORTABLE GRILL PHOTO: JON JONCKERS

PERFECTLY UGLY PRODUCE DELIVERY EASY NO BAKE PROTEIN BITES

WARRIOR LIQUOR PEANUT BUTTER CREAM & HUCKLEBERRY CREAM

If you’ve ever craved a peanut butter milkshake, then you already know the effect this Peanut Butter Cream spirit will have on your taste buds. The delicious liqueur stands alone when it’s served cold, or it pairs great with any coffee drink. Silky smooth on the rocks, the only drink that might be its equal is the Huckleberry Cream.

Handcrafted with the essences of huckleberries, Warrior Liquor’s Huckleberry Cream tastes fantastic without being too sweet. The huckleberry is Idaho’s official state fruit, and huckleberry-picking is among the most popular outdoor activities in the Inland Northwest. Both cream drinks feature 17% ABV and should be refrigerated after opening.

More importantly, these drinks are small batch, premium-crafted spirits from veteran-owned, Warrior Liquor. Beginning in December 2017, owners Rich and Mary Clemson converted a warehouse near the U-District into a distillery and started creating some of the most genius spirits in the area.

Even better, their on-site tasting room gives you the opportunity to connect with the ingredients, the craftsmanship, and the people that produce these Warrior Liquor flavors.

If you’re a fan of Reese’s peanut butter cups, then I highly recommend you add some Warrior Peanut Butter Cream to some hot cocoa next time you’re sitting around a campfire. You can thank me later.

(Jon Jonckers)

When we think about snacks on the trail, we want lasting energy and ease of carrying and eating. These easy-to-make protein bites contain just six ingredients, making them simple to make and super yummy to eat!

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup almond flour 1/4 cup smooth or chunky nut butter of choice 1 1/2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup 1 teaspoon cocoa powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon pea protein powder DIRECTIONS:

In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients until well blended. Roll the dough into small balls up to an inch in diameter. Store in the fridge or freezer. Throw a few into a container that’ll fit in your pocket or fanny pack. You might want to bring extra for your friends as they’ll end up taking yours otherwise.

If you are someone who likes a wider flavor profile, try adding up to 2 teaspoons of any of the following: chopped dates, dried plums, cranberries, coconut flakes, oat flour, sesame seeds, or crushed nuts. If the dough becomes too stiff or crumbly, add more nut butter until you reach an easy-to-roll consistency. Finally, roll in coconut flakes and/or cocoa powder and enjoy!

(Suzanne Tabert, Cedar Mountain Herb School)

In 2020, food and grocery delivery became normal for many of us who had previously only had pizza delivered to our doors.

Delivery services and grocery delivery have thrived both locally and across the country.

Here are a couple that are delivering fresh produce and good foods that might not pass the perfection-purity test required to make it to a typical grocery store shelf.

Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods existed before 2020. Their goal has always been to get food typically wasted on the shelf or in the field, either due to excess, esthetics, or other issues, into the hands of those who need or want it. Order online within a specified timeframe, choose a box for your family size, select your products, and your groceries are delivered each week.

Misfits focuses primarily on produce, offers only organic and non-GMO products, and ships with eco-friendly packaging. They offer weekly and bi-weekly subscriptions and make it easy to change when needed. Add-on foods include packaged dry foods, condiments, fresh herbs, and limited seasonal produce for additional costs. You set the delivery day and order Friday-Monday.

Imperfect Foods is more customizable, especially if you’re looking for more than produce. They cater to a variety of dietary needs, and their add-ons include dairy, meat, fish, canned and dry foods, snacks, frozen foods, and even pet treats. You have a narrower ordering window and Imperfect chooses your delivery day, but you can pause and change your subscription at any time.

(S. Michal Bennett)

Made for modern-day grillers on the go, the NomadiQ is a lightweight, compact, portable propane grill that makes bringing one on camping trips, to the trailhead for post-adventure barbecuing, or to the park or backyard get together easy and mess-free.

When packed up the NomadiQ is slim with the grill surface enclosed by the bottom of the grill when you fold it up not unlike a waffle iron. This keeps any grill grease from getting all over the place while on the road or while hauling the grill using the included shoulder strap. Once you reach your destination, the grill quickly folds out with two grill sides that each have their own temperature adjustments which is nice for grilling meat on one side and veggies at a lower temp on the other. Both grills easily pull out for cleaning, and each side has its own push-button ignitor.

I often use traditional, natural hardwood charcoal for barbecuing, but on longer camping trips lugging around dusty, bulky charcoal can be a pain. And in the summer, open fire restrictions during the peak of wildfire season often include charcoal grills, so a portable propane grill like the NomadiQ is an awesome option for clean, safe outdoor cooking. For fuel, the NomadiQ uses the ubiquitous, 16-oz green propane bottles that so many of us use for car camping, or you can set it up to run off of larger propane bottles. MSRP: $299.99 including two drip trays and a propane hose/regulator.

A protective pouch and griddle options are sold separately.

(Derrick Knowles)

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19

FISHING

Fishing Close to Home

Find Your Spot in Spokane & North Idaho

By Crystal Atamian

LAKE SPOKANE BLACK CRAPPIE. RIGHT: TUMTUM RAINBOWS. PHOTOS COURTESY OF RANDY OSBORNE

LAKES AND RIVER CANYONS drawn by

the Missoula flood are the backdrop, the murals, of our urban landscapes. So if you are in love with rivers cut by the world’s greatest flood, look no further than your own front yard. Want less drive time, or to take advantage of the longer daylight hours to fish after work?

Here are some places to check out nearer to town that require only feet or a small boat.

TUMTUM AND LAKE SPOKANE

Randy Osborne, district fisheries biologist for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, recommends Lake Spokane for both fishing from the shoreline and small boats like kayaks or canoes. WDFW and Avista have been stocking the reservoir northwest of Riverside State Park with 155,000 triploid rainbow trout. Triploid fish are hatchery raised and cannot crossbreed with wild trout.

“May is a magical month,” says Osborne.

“The water is cool enough that trout are really active, but some parts of the reservoir (Lake Spokane) have warmed up enough that crappie and perch are in the shallows and more available.”

For bank anglers, Osborne recommends fishing the turnouts downstream of Tumtum, right off Highway 291. Also recommended is the boat launch along the peninsula where the Little Spokane river runs into Long Lake. It is accessible via Highway 291 and N. Shoemaker Ln. As far as regulations go this spot is considered part of Long Lake.

Another access is Willow Bay Resort.

While they do charge for launch and dock 20

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MAY-JUNE 2021

fishing, it is centrally located near Tumtum, about halfway down the reservoir.

LIBERTY LAKE, WASH.

Osborne says Liberty Lake has seen some good fishing over the last couple of years.

Boats can launch at the WDFW access site, and fishing is allowed off the pier. The season opens each year on March 1 and WDFW works hard to get the lake stocked by that date. However, late this summer WDFW may be redeveloping that site and there could be closures while they redo the pier.

FERNAN LAKE, IDAHO

Fernan Lake has two boat ramps and most of the northern shoreline is publicly accessible, making this a great spot to get your feet wet near Coeur d’ Alene. Fernan Park and the lake’s western boat launch are right off I-90.

POST FALLS PARK POND, IDAHO

Andy Dux with Idaho Fish and Game also recommends the pond at Falls Park in Post Falls, east of Avista and the Post Falls Dam. This pond is heavily stocked with rainbow trout, easily accessible from town, is open all year, and provides great opportunities for family fishing.

SANDPOINT, IDAHO AREA

Urban fishing near the town of Sandpoint is limited without a good boat, but good shoreline fishing can be had at Sandpoint City Beach. However, there are some great options within 15 minutes of downtown at Round Lake State Park, Cocolalla Lake, and Shepherd Lake, all of which are just south

of Sagle, Idaho, and proximate to Highway 95. Round Lake has good shoreline fishing and is good for small boats. Cocolalla Lake is great for small boats, canoes, and kayaks but does not have much access for shoreline fishing. Shepherd Lake is ideal for small boats, with some nice shoreline access on the west side of the lake.

Remember any boat or watercraft (even kayaks, canoes, and drift boats) need an Invasive Species Sticker in Idaho. Purchase one online or at a licensed vendor. // Crystal Atamian is a trail runner and organic gardener whose son is teaching her to love fishing. She has written about huckleberry picking, solar installation, and several destination hikes for Out There.

FISH FOUND NEAR YOUR FRONT DOOR

KNOW THE REGS BEFORE YOU GO

The Fish Washington app provides up-to-date fishing regs to carry with you; make sure to check the special rules for each water body. Be aware of land ownership where you’re planning to fish.

Andy Dux, regional fishery manager for Idaho Fish and Game, highly recommends using the Idaho Fish Planner website before you go. It offers easy access to fishing rules, facilities, what species you’re likely to find, a map and directions, as well as the stocking record for that water body. At the bottom of the page is a link to buy your license online if needed.

Expect to find lots of rainbow trout when fishing the turnouts downstream of Tumtum, as well as smallmouth bass, black crappie, and yellow perch. WDFW also encourages northern pike harvest. In Long Lake year-round statewide rules apply.

Because of contaminants and to protect redband trout, the Spokane River from Nine Mile Dam to Idaho is now one section with one set of regulations. There are selective gear rules, no bait, barbless hooks, and you can keep two hatchery rainbow trout per day; everything else is catch and release. Washington and Idaho’s Department of Health recommend checking fish advisories. In some areas it may mean limiting certain types of fish eaten or not eating fish at all.

Fernan Lake is open for fishing all year. You can find bluegill/pumpkinseed/sunfish, smallmouth and largemouth bass (in shallow, warm water April-May, moving out to deeper water in summer), catfish, yellow perch, rainbow and brook trout, and white crappie.

Look for largemouth bass, catfish, white crappie, yellow perch as well as rainbow, cutthroat, brook, and brown trout at Cocolalla Lake. Round Lake has bluegill/pumpkinseed/sunfish, bullhead catfish, largemouth bass, brook and rainbow trout.

Unique to Shepherd Lake is tiger muskie, but you’ll also find largemouth bass, bluegill/ pumpkinseed/sunfish, and yellow perch. For all three lakes there are bag limits and restrictions for certain species.

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21

GEAR ROOM DAKOTA GRIZZLY HUCK SPRING FLANNEL

This 100% cotton shirt has the look and feel of a flannel shirt but short sleeved and made for warmer spring and summer temps. The Huck is soft and super comfortable and has some unique finishing details, like a mitered and turned “lower placket”

where the buttons go as well as wood-tone buttons. The only thing it’s missing is an anti-bacterial treatment since you’re going to want to wear it all the time. MSRP: $58.

Dakotagrizzly.com (Wil Wheaton)

GORDINI SPRING GLOVES

A great choice for temperature-varying spring and summer adventures, from spring backcountry ski missions to early-season hikes and backpacking trips into the high country, the Gordini Spring gloves deliver warmth, solid construction, and breathability.

Built with a textured span-

dex shell and a real goatskin palm with reinforcements where you want them, these gloves also have an elastic wrist strap and a soft, moisture-wicking lining. MSRP: $59.99.

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RAVEAN HANDWARMER/POWER BANK

This 5.1 oz multi-purpose device is both a three-setting handwarmer and a charging bank. This combination is ideal for trips like long ski tours or bikepacking or backpacking trips where temps could drop. But it will also come in handy on any spring outing closer to home when charging and warming your

fingers could come in handy.

There are three hand-warming settings (up to 8 hours of warmth), and you can charge devices up to 1.5x independently from the heat function.

And it’s wrapped in an attractive, antimicrobial cork material. MSRP: $39.99. Ravean. com (Wil Wheaton)

GORDINI TEMPO GLOVES

These Gordini Tempos have been my go-to gloves this shoulder season for everything from morning runs to evening dog walks down by the river. They are light, comfortable, have a stretch fleece lining with silicon grip palms,

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OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MAY-JUNE 2021

an extra-stretchy cuff for easy entry and exit, and touchscreen-capable fingertips. My hands and these gloves have a long future together ahead of them. MSRP: $39.99. Gordini. com (Derrick Knowles)

MALOJA FUORNM. BIKE SHORTS

Light, stretchy in all directions, and wellventilated in all the right places, there is a long list of features that make these German-designed shorts well worth the Euros. By far, the best selling point though is how little I’ve ever thought about them while riding because they fit so damn well, to the point

you barely notice them.

The adjustable Velcro waistband with snap button closure, however, is an indispensable feature that allows for seasonal layering and girth adjustments. These shorts are tough, dry fast, and make for a great trail running option too. MSRP: $119.

Malojaclothing.com (Derrick Knowles)

CALIFORNIA COWBOY TROPIC SHIRT

I love the tropics, surfing, rum drinks on the beach, and hell, even a bit of Jimmy Buffett, but I’ve never been too into Hawaiian shirts until now. California Cowboy’s Tropic shirt for starters has some pretty sweet designs that reinvent the style a bit on top of relaxedfitting stretch fabric

construction. And then there are the utilitarian features like special pockets for your phone and another for your favorite chilled beverage. This thing is like a tactical shirt for beach bums, and I say mahalo to that. MSRP: $115.

Shop.californiacowboy. com (Derrick Knowles)

VOORMI MEN’S HIGH-E HOODIE

This U.S.A.-made Merino wool hoodie is the most versatile piece of outdoor apparel I have in my sprawling arsenal of base layers, fleeces, and jackets. It was warm and breathable on its own and with a light shell on a cold skin track, served as a perfect outer layer on a chilly pedal with my young son on the Columbia Plateau Trail, and has been my first choice for many on-foot grocery runs in all sorts of spring

weather. The Voormi High-E Hoodie is an outdoor apparel workhorse thanks to its “surface hardened” Thermal Wool construction that makes it moisturewicking and abrasion resistant, plus there’s a waterrepellent finish. Stand-out design features include a quarter chest zip, a twoside zipped front Kangaroo pocket (that’s harness compatible), and a balaclavastyle full cover hood. MSRP: $249. Voormi. com (Derrick Knowles)

OUTDOOR LIVING

Inland NW Farmers' Markets Bounce Back By S. Michal Bennett

PERRY STREET FARMERS MARKET

FOOD ACCESS AND GROCERY SHOPPING were considered

essential services in 2020, so farmers markets adapted, focusing even more on supporting local farmers and producers while also making produce, food, and value-added products as accessible as possible. The positive response was overwhelming and markets are looking forward to slowly getting back to normal in 2021.

Live music is almost universally returning, with particularly exciting lineups at the Silver Valley Community Market in Kellogg, Idaho, at the Athol Farmers Market’s 5-year anniversary season, and at the thriving Perry Street Market. Perry Street has moved into the cul-de-sac at 10th and is expanding into Grant Park with an expected 70+ vendors at the height of the season. After only offering

ADVENTURE IS

ALWAYS IN SEASON.

food and produce in 2020, Liberty Lake Farmers Market will be bringing back their craft vendors for the season.

Applications are up for the Sandpoint Farmers Market, and the Spokane Farmers Market is excited to offer even more local, fresh produce, baked goods, meat, and dairy than ever before. New this year, the Riverfront Park Market will be open for a series of weeks in spring, fall, and winter with mostly craft and food vendors, and the Emerson-Garfield Farmers Market will offer cooking demos with market produce.

Programs and activities for kids will be operating in full force too—look for the Kernel Program at Washington markets, the Power of Produce Club at the Saturday Kootenai County market, and the Kid Bucks program at the Newport Farmers Market. The Hillyard Farmers Market offers on-site kids’ activities, and the Spokane Valley Market sets up right next to Discovery Playground with crafts and take-home activities. The Millwood Farmers Market is in a city park and partners with a barber shop to provide back-to-school haircuts for kids.

INLAND NW FARMERS’ MARKET 2021 SCHEDULE

Support these local farmers’ markets and all our fertile and dynamic region has to offer. Most of these markets run from May or June through fall, but be sure to check opening and closing dates before paying them a visit by checking their websites or Inwfma.org and Idahofma.org.

MONDAYS

Hillyard Farmers Market, Spokane, 3-6 p.m.

TUESDAYS

Fairwood Farmers Market, Spokane, 3-7 p.m.

WEDNESDAYS

Kendall Yards Night Market, Spokane, 5-8 p.m.

Millwood Farmers Market, Spokane, 3-7 p.m.

Northeast Washington Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Riverfront Park Market, Spokane, 3-7 p.m.

Sandpoint Farmers Market, 3-5:30 p.m.

Spokane Farmers Market, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

THURSDAYS

Perry Street Thursday Market, Spokane, 3-7 p.m.

Silver Valley Community Market, Kellogg, 5-8 p.m.

FRIDAYS

Athol Farmers Market, 2-6 p.m.

Chewelah Farmers Market, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Emerson-Garfield FM, Spokane, 3-7 p.m.

Spokane Valley Farmers Market, 4-8 p.m.

SATURDAYS

Bonners Ferry Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Cheney Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Liberty Lake Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Newport Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Northeast Washington Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Sandpoint Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Spokane Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

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23

CLIMBING

Climbers Team Up for First Ascent of Mount Hood's Cathedral Ramp By Jon Jonckers KYLE TARRY CLIMBING MIXED

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ON APRIL 17, 2021, Matt Zavortink, Aaron Nelson, Kyle Tarry, and Nick Sweeney completed the first ascent of Mount Hood’s Cathedral Ramp. This route sits high on Mt Hood’s northern aspect, starting off the Eliot Glacier at about 9,000 feet and features four pitches of ice and rock through the headwall. And it's a dream come true for these talented alpinists.

The name “Cathedral Ramp” is an ice feature named in Bill Mullee’s 2014 Mt Hood guidebook. Tarry and Sweeney have been climbing partners for years and planned to make the first ascent as a pair. However, just a few days before their attempt, Tarry learned that Zavortink and Nelson had the same ambitious goal. The climbers quickly agreed that competition wasn’t necessary and discovered that sharing the route was a ton of fun.

In order to really appreciate just how significant this first ascent is, it’s important to look into Sweeney’s past. During a nasty mountain bike crash on Beacon Hill, Sweeney broke his wrist. Since he couldn’t ride during his recovery, he started visiting the cliffs at Minnehaha, and started itching to try rock climbing as soon as his cast was off. Then, in college, he took climbing courses through Eastern Washington Universities’ outdoor program. His instructor, Kevin Klim, made a huge impact on his life. “Kevin’s way of approaching the moun-

tains and focus on mountain safety influences me to this day,” says Sweeney.

After college, Sweeney met Tarry, and they started hitting some of the biggest and toughest routes in the Northwest. The pair climbed Liberty Ridge on Mount Rainer and the Northeast Rib on Johannesburg Mountain. With a laugh, Sweeney admits that Tarry climbs smart, fast, and never turns down a lead. “Really, you can’t ask for much more.”

Fast forward to 2020, and like for many of us, a lot of plans were changed or modified.

However, all of the climbers involved maintained a certain fitness level, and they always kept their eyes on the special route on the north face of Mount Hood. Once everything lined up, and the weather was perfect, they pulled the trigger and summitted the highest point in Oregon by a path that no one else had ever traveled.

For anyone interested in the nitty gritty details of the Cathedral Ramp route, including the approach and the ideal gear, you can visit Sweeney’s alpine climbing website at Spokalpine.com. His website also chronicles his climbs on roughly 40 other routes, such as Harrison Peak, Liberty Bell, and Dragontail, which makes it a great resource for any other Northwest rock climbers and mountaineers. // Jon Jonckers' articles and images have been featured in Out There since 2006.

Outdoor Living

The Benefits of Companion Gardening

By Lisa Laughlin

A FULL GARDEN BOX: PHOTO LISA LAUGHLIN

COMPANION GARDENING may not put you

on the cover of Better Homes & Gardens, but it will be better for your home’s garden.

Welcome to the messy side of gardening, or, as I like to think of it, “the way nature intended things” gardening: diverse, wild,

and healthy.

Companion gardening, the act of growing compatible plants together for their mutual benefit, looks disorderly but provides a boost for the plants, soil, and ecosystem that is your garden box. For example, the

“Three Sisters” trio involves planting corn with climbing beans and winter squash. This method of planting was popular in several Native American communities, and for good reason: the cornstalks provide a natural trellis for the beans, the beans replenish the nitrogen levels in the soil, and the shade of the prickly squash leaves helps prevent weeds and pests while retaining moisture for all of the plants. It’s one big happy vegetable family.

After coming across the theory of companion gardening, I asked myself why we didn’t plant like this all the time. It makes sense to let plants that help one another grow with one another. Why wasn’t this the norm? Well, as a culture we tend to favor the aesthetic of clean, straight rows of veggies or flowers—a few rows of carrots (labeled “carrots”), next to a few rows of peas (labeled “peas”), next to structured circles for bell peppers and jalapeños (labeled accordingly).

Let me confess that I am usually that labeler. I find the beauty of crisp garden rows more appealing than the helter-skelter look of companion gardening, which, when fully grown, looks like a small, snarled jungle.

Author Michael Pollan has a lot to say about our culture’s affinity for order in the garden in his book The Botany of Desire. But the benefits of companion gardening might be

enough for you to ditch the rows.

Within the tangle of flowers and veggies is a biodiversity that is healthier than those labeled rows, and it’s all based on the knowledge of certain plant properties. Pairing the right plants can provide natural pest deterrent, shade and soil regulation, better plant health, and weed suppression. And it will attract beneficial insects to your garden, such as pollinating bees too.

A few popular plant combos include: potatoes and calendula (the flower wards off potato beetles); cucumbers with sunflowers and dill (the flowers provide a trellis, shade, and protect against aphids and mites); carrots with chives (the chives improve flavor and deter pests); tomatoes with basil (which improves the growth and flavor); and zucchini with nasturtium (the flower protects against aphids and whiteflies). Keep in mind that not all plants play nicely—peas, for example, should not be planted next to garlic or onion, which will stunt the growth of the pea. For a list of companion pairings, visit The Old Farmer’s Almanac website.

This year, I plan to plant with a healthy dose of organized chaos. I look forward to bright pops of flowers poking through the leafy vegetables, scattered toward a new ideal. //

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EVERYDAY CY CLI ST

Pandemic Cycling Spectacles

By Justin Short

ILLUSTRATION: JUSTIN SHORT

SO WHAT HAPPENS TO BIKES and the

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cycling community when the whole world locks down? Apparently a lot of people ride bikes: new bikes get purchased, old bikes get overhauled, and people take to the streets and trails in record numbers.

Things like the Social Distance Cycling Club also happen. In March 2020, retired geologist Fred Zelt of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, created the SDCC Facebook group to encourage riders to get outside and ride in a safe way. The numbers quickly ballooned to more than 7,000 members. It’s about as warm and friendly a community as one can hope to find on social media, with a healthy gaggle of riders from the Inland NW adding to the mix.

But what are competitive racer types— many who derive a bit of their identity from bike racing—supposed to do when there’s suddenly no race season? We can end up building decks and backyard sheds until there’s no space left to build them. Enter indoor and outdoor virtual events. Indoor smart trainer platforms like Peloton and Zwift exploded last year into an entirely new video game angle on road racing that has left top World Tour pros wondering why they can’t keep up.

“Everesting” became all the rage as the warmer weather of spring appeared. Everesting is the practice of climbing the vertical gain of Mount Everest in one effort, either indoors on a smart trainer or outdoors doing hill repeats on a steep stretch of road until reaching the magical vertical gain of 29,031 feet, roughly seven climbs up Mount Spokane.

Damion Miller of Tri-Cities, along with a few friends, did the only gravel Everesting I’ve ever heard of. Spokane’s Ben Tobin climbed 100,000 feet in the month of May, riding up the trails of every hill in the periphery of town. Even at the end of the month, after all that climbing, he was waiting for me at the top of every hill.

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While the 2020 pandemic led to races all over the world being cancelled outright or postponed for the fall, it also spurred a creative burst of virtual events. Gravel pro Ted King of Vermont spearheaded DIY Gravel, encouraging riders to solo ride the distance of their favorite races and events to keep the spirit of adventure alive. Troy Hopwood, organizer of the Cross-Washington Mountain Bike Route (XWA), took DIY gravel a step further by offering live tracking on bandok.com. With virtual XWA, riders from all over the world were able upload their rides, commutes, and trainer sessions to move their dots along the 700-mile course with 2 weeks to finish. Second place XWA finisher, Ivan Moore of Bellingham, Wash., rode the whole thing outside on a loaded bike in a dizzying four-and-a-half days.

Perhaps my favorite virtual event of the year that I hope survives into the postpandemic era was the locally-produced Packfiller Classic, a DIY stage race consisting of four stages, each being suitable for a day’s effort. Of course there were a few goofballs itching to ride all four stages in one day. My own effort amounted to 124 miles of pavement, gravel, full-on mountain biking, bushwhacking, and a Bowl and Pitcher swimming hole.

As we move into the warmer months of spring and summer, some events are returning, others are waiting another year. I think some aspects of virtual and indoor cycling are here to stay, but there’s no replacing the experience of seeing a friend coming the other way on your daily commute, on a rip around Beacon Hill, or on a gravel road in some remote corner of the Palouse. // Justin Short has been riding all winter and is ramping up for the 2021 edition of the CrossWashington Mountain Bike Race and other absurd adventures always accompanied by the jaw-dropping beauty of the Inland NW

HEALTH & FITNESS

Managing a Microbiome

By Ammi Midstokke

THERE IS A LOT OF TALK these days about

the microbiome, gut-brain axis, benefits of bacteria, and fermented foods. If you haven’t heard of any or all of those things or do not have a kombucha and sauerkraut habit just yet, don’t worry.

What is this microbiome thing? The human biome has a few different parts, and the microbiome refers to the trillions of bacteria we host at any given moment. Fun fact: The human body has about 30 trillion cells.

The human microbiome contains about 100 trillion cells. Those are the invisible critters on your skin, in your mucosal membranes (like vaginal walls and nasal cavities), and inside your gastrointestinal tract. It takes more than a little hand sanitizer to put a dent in that population.

What do all those bacteria do? The short answer is seemingly everything. Studies show that these single-celled wonders are responsible for tasks such as extraction of

vitamins and nutrients, UV protection, hormone production, blood sugar regulation, cholesterol regulation, cancer protection, neurochemical production (they make about 95% of the body’s serotonin), and more.

You might be thinking, “I like serotonin and reduced skin cancer risk, so I should take lots of probiotics.” Not so fast there, eager ones. Like with most nutrients and materials that make the human body function well, these essential parts of our larger biome are best consumed in food sources.

For example, it’s better to eat wild caught salmon than take fish oil pills. The same is true for our probiotic strains.

Historically, as the theories go, we have consumed these bacteria in the form of soil, raw meat, and funky chopping block colonies. And then we have consumed varied diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and the kinds of fibers that are the food of those bacteria. This is what allows the body to create a

diverse, robust, and, this part is really important, unique microbiome. Every microbiome is unique to its host. We tend to grow a pretty common set of what we refer to as “commensal bacteria,” but each of us has a varying number and variety that represents our body’s current diet, needs, infections, age, etc.

This is why not everyone needs to take a probiotic. In fact, some studies are suggesting we ought to be a little cautious about how many more billions of those buggers we should swallow in pill form. When we create an imbalance of bacteria in our GI tracts, this is called “dysbiosis” and can lead to other issues such as pathogenic overgrowth of otherwise friendly bacteria, candida and yeast overgrowth, or elevated inflammation of the GI tissues.

The current consensus (it’s of significance that we use the word “current” because new studies are teaching us new things each day) is that probiotic consumption during the use of antibiotics can help mitigate the overgrowth of yeast or antibiotic-use associated diarrhea. But while these bacteria do good things, we don’t all need to consume large amounts of them.

Studies also show that people who eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, fish, and nuts and seeds tend to have a better-balanced microbiome that can recolonize itself after

the use of antibiotics or an infection (like a stomach flu that cleans all the pipes for a few days).

So how do you decide whether or not you need probiotics? Well, first ask yourself if your diet has natural sources of bacteria.

Do you get your vegetables from your local farmer’s market or garden? Do you eat lots of them? Are you a regular consumer of fish?

Do you eat fermented foods from time to time? If yes and your gut feels happy and healthy and you have a daily bowel movement to be proud of, you’re probably just fine.

Then ask yourself if you have lifestyle factors that diminish a healthy microbiome: frequent antibiotic use, poor diet or even Standard American Diet, frequent alcohol consumption, high sugar consumption, and/ or irregular bowels. If so, lifestyle change is the answer, but grabbing a varied probiotic off the shelf to take for a few weeks might be a good start.

If you still aren’t sure, seek the guidance of a professional who can help you assess those needs safely. In the meantime, eat your vegetables! // Amy Midstokke is a nutritionist and author living in North Idaho. She’s been hard at work on a new book and hasn’t written anything for Out There in a while. We miss her.

MAY-JUNE 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

27

WATERSPORTS

River Guiding in the COVID-19 Era

By Lisa Laughlin

LEFT TO RIGHT: KAROLINE WOODHEAD PACKS GEAR FOR INTENSE HEAT OR COLD RAIN, AS YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'LL ENCOUNTER ON THE RIVER // TOM SCARBOROUGH (ON RIGHT) WITH AN ENTHUSIASTIC ROW ADVENTURES GUIDE CREW // KIM CUNNINGHAM STANDS ABOVE THE UNDERWATER CANYON ON THE MIDDLE FORK OF THE SALMON WHERE SHE WILL BE GUIDING IN 2021.

WE GOT TO WONDERING what being a river guide was like during a global pandemic and asked a few guides from ROW Adventures to share their stories of time on the river last season.

GUIDE: KAROLINE WOODHEAD YEARS SPENT GUIDING: 7 FAVORITE REGIONAL RIVER: SALMON

RIVER

WHEN YOU FIND SOMETHING YOU LOVE in

the outdoors, it’s a joy to share it with others. Karoline Woodhead started her rafting career at age 17 which gave her a chance to share her love of rivers. “My favorite thing about guiding is introducing people to new, wild places that I care about and watching them fall in love with them,” she says.

Woodhead started out working as a “swamper” on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, helping guides set up camp on multi-day raft trips. She progressed to leading half-day trips on the Payette River just outside of her hometown of Boise, Idaho.

She was then drawn to ROW Adventures because of the many rivers that they run, and the relationships that they promote between the guests, guides, and the wilderness they recreate in. This will be her second season with ROW. Last season, when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, guiding brought Woodhead a small sense of normalcy and peace in a difficult year. “River guiding last season was different than normal years, especially knowing that we were coming in contact with guides and guests from all around the country,” 28

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MAY-JUNE 2021

she says. Guides adopted extra precautions like mask wearing, cleaning regimens, and social distancing both on and off the river, Woodhead explains. “Even with the changes, I never felt like the experiences or memories of the river were affected.”

This season, Woodhead looks forward to guiding new rivers, taking on new leadership positions, and continuing to hone her skill of gear packing.

GUIDE: TOM SCARBOROUGH YEARS SPENT GUIDING: 19 FAVORITE REGIONAL RIVER: THE ROUGE FOR TOM SCARBOROUGH, whichever river he’s currently rafting is his favorite. This seems a suitable answer for a seasoned river rat. Following his guide training in 2002, Scarborough has worked as a regular guide, a returning guide leading trips, the manager of the Middle Fork of the Salmon, and is in his 11th season of managing ROW’s Rouge River outpost.

Scarborough’s favorite thing about guiding river trips is the simple clarity that comes from connecting with nature, both for himself and his guests. “[There’s] the feeling of living at the river’s pace, and being in the moment. I can forget the rest of the world for a little while,” he says. “What goes handin-hand with that is the disconnection from the now commonplace connection of email, phone, Internet, and the modern distractions that they create. On a river trip you get to slow down and interact with people the old-fashioned way, face to face.”

That face-to-face interaction was of

course a bit different on the river in 2020.

Last spring, when the pandemic broke out, Scarborough says everyone was quite nervous, not knowing if the things they were doing to contain the virus would be enough.

With the introduction of vaccinations and an increased knowledge about the virus, he is feeling hopeful and better prepared for the 2021 season, though he says he knows it will be important to stay vigilant in the outdoor industry.

“People have seemed very appreciative to have a safer, outdoor vacation to participate in,” says Scarborough of the previous season amongst COVID. “We get to be part of making memories for our guests, and with the in-real-life experiences we take people on being harder to come by, we are helping to ground and connect people a bit more than they have been in a while.”

This season, Scarborough looks forward to building a new crew of river guides and working as a team to bring people those authentic experiences. His favorite part of being a ROW manager is that he gets to teach, mentor, and also participate on the crew trips.

GUIDE: KIM CUNNINGHAM YEARS SPENT GUIDING: 5 FAVORITE REGIONAL RIVER: ST. JOE RIVER

of Kim Cunningham’s first rafting trip, you might not assume she’d end up working as a guide. In November 2016 Cunningham embarked on the Yaak river in Northwest Montana with some friends. She wore mis-

matched and borrowed cold weather gear and didn’t exactly know what she was in for. As her friends approached a large rapid they planned to portage, they hit a bump and Cunningham flew out of the boat.

“I managed to have my first swim on my very first day of rafting above a big rapid in one of the coldest water temps I have rafted in less than optimal gear, and somehow I still loved it enough to decide to become a river guide,” she says.

Cunningham lives and teaches in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, which puts her at convenient proximity to her favorite river, the St. Joe. She is starting her fifth season with ROW Adventures and has led guided trips all over Idaho. “I love getting to see people experience the river and push themselves to try new things,” she says. “The most challenging thing is managing groups with varying levels of river experience to make sure everyone has fun at their own level and pace.” Last season, there was the extra duty of managing the social dynamics of the trip while maintaining social distance. Kim continued to encourage guests to get to know one another and have fun.

In 2021 she looks forward to traveling more and is eager to grow as a boater and learn the technical rapids of the Middle Fork in her second season on the Salmon River. //

AFTER HEARING THE STORY

Lisa Laughlin is a freelance writer living in Spokane. She enjoys paddleboarding, trail running, and backpacking. She wrote about hiking Beezley Hill in the Nov/Dec issue of Out There.

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29

SPOTLIGHT

A Bold Proposal to Restore Snake River Salmon and Steelhead By Sam Mace

FOR DECADES, federal agencies and Northwest elected leaders have failed to take meaningful actions to reverse the steady declines of Snake River wild salmon and steelhead. Anglers, river advocates, and Tribes have watched these irreplaceable fish decline to a fraction of historic numbers.

For many of us, it has been a slow, sustained heartbreak.

Fisheries scientists have long told us that any effective plan to restore wild salmon and steelhead to healthy, fishable numbers must include removal of the four lower Snake River dams to allow salmon easier access

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into the 5,000+ miles of pristine upstream river habitat. Orca scientists also tell us that the best single action we can take to provide more Chinook salmon to starving Puget Sound orca is to restore the Snake River and its populations of spring/summer chinook.

PROPOSED COLUMBIA BASIN FUND BRINGS NEW HOPE FOR FISH AND COMMUNITIES

There is hope today. Earlier this year Congressman Mike Simpson, an Idaho Republican, unveiled a bold proposal to restore salmon by removing the lower Snake dams and replacing the transportation, energy and other benefits with new investments. Called the Columbia Basin Fund, the $33.5 billion initiative calls for fundamental changes in how salmon are managed. If the price tag sounds high, consider that we’ve spent $17 billion already on measures that haven’t worked.

Clarkston and Lewiston would be given funds for waterfront development and a technology education center. Eastern Washington would get a new National Recreation Area along a free-flowing lower Snake River, where more than 14,400 acres of land will be restored. New boat launches, campgrounds, and hiking trails would be established, a huge boon for outdoor recreation close to Spokane.

Simpson’s proposal also supports funding for fish passage over a set of dams that completely block salmon migration today.

It would support the visionary work of the

Spokane and Colville Tribes to re-establish salmon above Grand Coulee Dam into rivers devoid of salmon for decades.

SIMPSON’S PROPOSAL IS A WORK IN PROGRESS

Rep. Simpson released his draft as a starting point—and invited other Northwest politicians to work with him to improve it. While river advocates have applauded Simpson’s courage and genuine desire to restore salmon, his proposal is not perfect.

There are serious concerns, for example, about broad restrictions on future litigation in the basin. But his approach—crafting a dam removal plan that gives all communities and stakeholders what they need to thrive—is the right one. And it has transformed discussions across the Northwest.

With a big infrastructure bill anticipated to move forward in Congress and with President Biden in the White House, 2021 is the year to act. Support from Washington State’s Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell is essential. As senior members of a Democrat-controlled Senate, our senators are at the apex of their influence today. Now is the time to act. So far, unfortunately, they have largely ducked the issue, and Senator Cantwell recently dismissed Simpson’s proposal in the media. Criticism is fine. Inaction is not. If Cantwell and Murray have concerns with Simpson’s first cut, then we should hope they would offer improvements or come up with a new plan.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING FOR SNAKE RIVER SALMON & STEELHEAD

The fish can’t wait any longer. Fish returns will be bleak in 2021—some of the lowest ever. Just 8,150 wild spring Chinook are predicted to return to the Snake basin this year. Steelhead returns are likewise in steep decline. And while we celebrated three new orca calves this year, only 75 whales remain.

They won’t survive without more salmon to eat. Without urgent action, we will lose them forever.

Fortunately, political momentum is growing. While Gov. Inslee has not taken a position yet, Oregon Gov. Brown has endorsed Simpson’s effort. Eleven Columbia Basin Tribes including the Nez Perce, Yakama, Umatilla, Spokane, Colville, and Kootenai Tribes recently released a statement praising Simpson’s approach to invest in the region and restore salmon to healthy, harvestable numbers.

THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW

What will it take to bring salmon home? In solidarity with tribes, it’s time for anglers,

river advocates, business owners, and community leaders to call on our senators and other elected leaders to take decisive action. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore salmon abundance, invest in the Inland Northwest communities and infrastructure, honor our promises to Native American tribes, and leave a better future for generations to come.

Right now, Senators Cantwell and Murray need to hear from you and your friends and family. Call and write them today. Ditto for Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers—let them know that you, their constituents, want real and lasting solutions for our salmon and orcas, for tribes, and for all of us. Go to wildsalmon.org for action links and to learn more about the “Columbia Basin Fund.” To view what a restored river could look like go to Tinyurl.com/snakerivervision. // Sam Mace is the Inland Northwest Director for Save Our Wild Salmon. Reach her at sam@wildsalmon.org.

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Adventure

Inspiration 34 Summer Trip Ideas It’s easy to go back to the same favorite trails, campgrounds, and lakes year after year, but there’s nothing quite like experiencing a new place for the first time.

We asked some of our friends in the Inland NW outdoors community to share their go-to adventures in hopes that others will find some inspiration to get out there and explore someplace new this summer. (OTO)

BY CAROL CORBIN

PAUL KNOWLES, SPOKANE COUNTY PARKS SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER

The Cube Iron Roadless Area. Take a hike through hemlock-cloaked mountains and up to alpine pocket lakes. Located north of Thompson Falls, Mont., a few hours from the Spokane area, the trails in the Cube Iron benefit from more active trail maintenance than other areas due to the Cube Iron Cataract Coalition and its volunteers. Hiking into Cabin Lake is great for those transitioning from day hiking to backpacking for the first time.

KATIE WISEMAN, OUTDOOR PROGRAMS AT REI

BLM Rock Creek Management (Escure Ranch). Hike some of the lesser-travelled old roads for some solitude or stick to the popular hike or mountain bike ride to Towell Falls. The Backcountry Horsemen and BLM have significantly improved the trailhead and parking area, which now sports toilets, water for horses, corrals, and over 13,000 acres of shrubsteppe and hiking on old, gated ranch roads. This time of year wildflowers are in full bloom and Towell Falls is at its peak. Keep a look out for ticks and rattlesnakes, and make sure to bring water, sunscreen, and a hat as there is very little shade.

LINDSAY CHUTAS, MOUNTAINEER AND LOCAL CONSERVATIONIST

Glacier Peak, Chair Peak and the Tatoosh Traverse. Accessed from the east Cascades, this backcountry route offers climbing variety and is “more adventurous than slogging up Adams or St. Helens,” adds Chutas. Tatoosh offers beautiful views of Mt. Rainier while still being more removed from crowds of visitors. Chair Peak is an alpine climb that gives you the flavor of bigger climbs, yet it’s not too far from the road. Because of a long hike in, Glacier Peak quickly limits the number of users to this wild and remote place.

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CUBE IRON ROADLESS AREA. // PHOTO: AARON THEISEN

ALANA LIVINGSTON, WANDER SPOKANE

Mary Jane’s Farm (Moscow, Idaho). Livingston owns Wander Spokane, a Spokane-based tour company that takes guests on food, wine, beer, and other tours covering local history, art, architecture, geology, and even medicinal plants, and when she explores, she asks the locals for their favorite hidden gems, the quirky, weird places that not everyone visits. One of her favorites is Mary Jane’s Farm, where thoughtful, hand-made backpacking meals by the same name come from. You can also tour the farm and starting in 2022, book a glamping site at the bed and breakfast. This destination has been featured in National Geographic and the New York Times for its whimsical, back-to-the-earth experience, and it’s right in our back yard.

MARY KATE & RYAN GRIFFITH, SPOKANE OUTDOOR FAMILY

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Deep Creek Canyon. A family favorite through ancient volcanic rocks and riverbed, kids can scramble over logs and rocks on a fun exploratory adventure and maybe even see a rock climber scaling the walls. This hike is best after early spring when water in the creek has dropped, and you can explore the creek bed.

Find out more @ snapwa.org/ddd5k

Kayaking Plese Flats to 9 Mile. Another great family adventure that’s best paddled JulySeptember, this scenic section of flatwater on the Spokane River offers an excellent intro to paddling for kiddos. Floating along Riverside State Park you have the possibility of seeing, osprey, deer, moose, and other forest creatures.

5K Run/ Walk Plus 1 mile option Fun swag options Low rates

Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. A hike or scenic drive around Turnbull offers a glimpse back in time to the Ice Age Floods that swept through our area and carved out this unique landscape. Take your binoculars and keep an eye out for all sorts of birds and wildlife while you tour the forests, grasslands, and wetlands.

Manito Park

Virtual and safe in-person options available based on your comfort level

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MAY-JUNE 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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TOP:BLOSSOM LAKE. PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES //TOP RIGHT: RIVERSIDE STATE PARK. PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES . // BELOW: ESCURE RANCH TRAILHEAD. PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES // RIGHT ANTOINE PEAK

Swim, Bike, Run WILD in Priest Lake, Idaho

Hiking McKenzie Conservation Area. Managed by the Spokane County Parks, Recreation and Golf Department, this forested getaway has several trails, including a short walk on an old road to Turtle Rock, with views of Newman Lake and Mount Spokane.

Camping at Mount Spokane’s Bald Knob Campground. This easy weekend getaway features hiking, sunsets, and late-season huckleberry picking. The nearby trails are also popular with mountain bikers and equestrians with the cooler temperatures in the summer.

Camping at Swan Lake. Activities close to camp at the three campgrounds around the lake on Northeast Washington’s Colville National Forest include fishing, paddling, swimming, road and mountain biking, and hiking.

KEN CARMICHAEL, PONDEROSA BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN

Riverside State Park. While Carmichael is an avid equestrian, his local recommendations for summer adventure have trails for hikers and mountain bikers as well as horses and their riders. With over 9,000 acres of public land only five minutes from downtown Spokane, Riverside State Park is top on his list. For horses, it features an equestrian campground, arena, round pen, obstacle course and 80 miles of trails. There are seven trailheads to accommodate trailers and even more for those hoping to hike, mountain bike, or just catch beautiful views of the Spokane River.

Fishtrap Recreation Area. This Bureau of Land Management-managed slice of sagebrush, grasses, and ponderosa pine provides easy access for day outings west of Spokane at I-90 exit 154. Multiple trails and lakeshore access make this place popular for hiking, fishing, mountain biking, kayaking, and horseback riding.

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ROTARY CLUB OF COLVILLE

DAVE DUTRO, TRAIL MANIACS RACE DIRECTOR

Post Falls Community Forest. Explore this well-developed system of signed trails for human-powered recreation, including several crags for beginning to intermediate climbers as well. This is a great spot for a short or long trail run, a family hike, or just enjoying nature and relaxing.

Independence Creek/Coeur d’Alene River Trail. For a fun multi-day, multi-sport adventure, Dutro suggests packing your trail shoes and mountain bike and heading to Independence Creek in the Coeur d’Alene River area. The Independence Trail is a perfect summertime run, with multiple creek crossings for the chance to cool down, and several options for loops that combine trails and road running. The next day, pedal your heart out on the Coeur d’Alene River Trail. There are excellent fishing holes and beautiful views so plan ahead to maximize this adventure.

Blossom Lakes. Near the Idaho Centennial Trail and Thompson Pass, the trail to the lake is a beautiful trail run by day and beginner backpacking adventure by night. The subalpine lakes are a beautiful summertime treat for those who make the trek.

Palouse Divide Trail System. These multi-use trails are great for mountain biking and running but are also open to ATVs on the double-track. While trail use is varied, it is also low.

There is good camping nearby so you can make a weekend of it.

Clark Fork River Trail. A great trail tip for anyone headed to Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort, include a run, hike, or mountain bike ride on the Clark Fork River Trail near St. Regis, Mont. What better way to earn that end of the day soak then by breaking a sweat on the trail? The trail provides beautiful views and makes a great day outing any time of year.

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100 Mile - 68 Mile - 45 Mile and a Family Fun Ride!

Blazing100.org Active.com MAY-JUNE 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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ROCKY ABERCROMBIE SINGLETRACK / PHOTO: COURTESY OF CHRIS CONLEY

NIKI SIBLEY, ULTRAMARATHON RUNNER AND OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE ADVOCATE

Front Door Forays: “Leave the car in the driveway for this adventure. It's easy to forget that some of the best running to be had is out your very own front door. So turn your abode into an aid station and start cranking out those miles! And who knows, you just might inspire the whole neighborhood to get moving.”

CHRIS CONLEY, EVERGREEN EAST MOUNTAIN BIKE ALLIANCE PRESIDENT

Trail #257 Coeur d' Alene Mountain. A short drive from Spokane near Beauty Bay with an easy, mostly paved 3.5-mile road climb, this mountain bike trail is easily accessible to most intermediate riders. Drop in for a fast, fun, and flowy 3-mile descent through old growth forest on well-maintained single-track trail. There is some exposure towards the bottom, but the trail is wide and could easily be walked if necessary.

Abercrombie Mountain. Near Metaline Falls two hours north of Spokane, this epic out-andback backcountry ride can't be beat (it’s also an excellent hike). The 7.6-mile, 4,300' climb can be intense, but the view from the top makes it all worth it. Pack plenty of food, water, and a jacket for the summit, even in the summer. After taking in the views, enjoy the full descent back to the car. “With loose, technical rocks at the top to fast and flowy loam at the bottom, it’s one of my all-time favorite rides.”

Jungle Hill Loop. Three hours from Spokane with lots of awesome camping spots, the Kettle Crest offers miles of rugged single-track trails, and this loop is a favorite of many riders. “I prefer to camp at the Jungle Hill campground and ride clockwise to Sherman Pass and finish with the Jungle Hill descent.” This is a big ride with plenty of punchy climbs and long, flowy descents with some of the best views around.

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GLENROSE TRAIL VIEWS. // PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES

MELINDA DUPREE, EVERGREEN EAST BOARD MEMBER

Mount Hope Cemetery Road Ride. Twenty miles south of Spokane on the corner of Valley Chapel Rd. and North Kentuck Trails Rd., this picturesque country cemetery in the small community of Mt. Hope makes for a scenic road ride destination. The ride out Valley Chapel Road includes a few crossings and views along Latah Creek. The north end of the road is a stretched-out climb/descent from the valley while the southern climb/descent is steeper and includes broad views of the Palouse.

Hayden Lake Loop Ride. This 27-mile road ride departs from Honeysuckle Beach on North Idaho’s Hayden Lake for a loop around the lake on Hayden Lake Rd., English Point Rd., and Lakeview Dr. The road rolls up and down for 2,000’ of overall climbing with views of North Idaho that will give you lake-cabin envy.

JIM O’HARE, SPOKANE BICYCLE CLUB

Spokane Area Road & Paved Path Rides. Check out the SpokeFest loops choosing from the 9, 21, or 47-mile distances on the Spokane Bicycle Club’s website (Popular Rides tab). The Fish Lake, Centennial, Children of the Sun, and Appleway trails are other great Spokanearea rides that are paved with low-to-moderate elevation gain and are mostly free of motorized traffic.

JANE PATTEN, LOCAL ARTIST AND MOUNTAIN BIKING INFLUENCER

Glenrose to Phillips Creek Trail. This great out-and-back adventure offers views of Spokane to the west and east, including Mica Peak. This trail system offers fun, flowy single-track through meadows and pine groves and just enough elevation to get the heart pumping.

COLUMBIA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE MAY-JUNE 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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An added bonus—Winescape Winery is a few blocks from the Thierman Trailhead for après ride hydration.

WAYNE JORDAN, FLY FISHING & FLY-TYING INSTRUCTOR

St. Joe River. Test your fly-fishing skills in this blue-ribbon cutthroat stream that flows through the scenic Idaho Panhandle National Forest. If you are looking for a little extra adventure, take the back road route via St. Regis, Mont.

Lower Grande Ronde River. Located near the tiny community of Rogersburg south of Asotin, Wash., anglers of all ages and skill levels can expect to catch smallmouth bass while enjoying the scenic beauty of Hells Canyon.

South Skookum Lake. This lake located in the Colville National Forest near Usk, Wash., is perfect for families looking to catch a few trout while escaping the commotion of the city for the day.

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Columbia National Wildlife Refuge. Dozens of lakes and multiple species of fish are waiting for you in this Eastern Washington high desert oasis. Located just north of Othello, these waters provide a great angling day trip or multi-day adventure for the whole family.

DAN WEBBER, REI BIKE TECHNICIAN

Themed Rides. Webber recommends making your ride more interersting with a theme.

“Morning coffee crawls are a great way to support local businesses and experience new neighborhoods. My favorite stops include Atticus, Rockwood, Rocket, and The Shop.” All of them have patio seating for sunny chats and an ability to keep an eye on your precious steed. Some other themes could include ice cream (The Scoop, Doyle’s, and Sweet Peaks), bridges (13 of them in Spokane that cross the River), public art (murals, electrical boxes, sculptures), or, for the truly hardcore, the Spokane Stairs Ride, where you get to carry your bike up all the outdoor urban staircases!

CAPTIONS LEFT TO RIGHT: ST JOE RIVER CUTTHROAT // COFFEE SHOP RIDES. COLUMBIA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. PHOTOS: CAROL CORBIN RIGHT: NORTHRUP CANYON. PHOTO: MARK SCHNEIDER.

MARK SCHNEIDER, RAMBLERAVEN GEAR TRADER

Northrup Canyon. An awesome early-season hiking trip near Banks Lake, this 1.5 mile trail leads to an old homestead and another few miles takes you to Northrup Lake, a great overnight backpacking trip to shake the cobwebs off your gear for the year.

Harrison Peak Climbing. This Selkirk Mountain peak is well known for technical climbing, but you can also scramble up the east face without gear for an amazing view.

Lion's Head. This prominent set of two Selkirk Mountain summits above Priest Lake is known for its rock-climbing routes but is also a beautiful hike. //

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TWENTY MILES OF BOONDOGGLING BACKCOUNTRY MOUNTAIN BIKING IN THE YAAK VALLEY

BY AARON THEISEN “HOW MUCH DO YOU PLAN ON RIDING?” the thru-hiker heading the other direction asked.

Considering my riding buddy, Erin, and I were currently pushing our bikes uphill, the question seemed loaded.

The short answer: more than was realistic. We’d intended to bike up over Bunker Hill, in northwest Montana’s Yaak Valley, and then continue along the Pacific Northwest Trail to Mount Henry and beyond, through some of the region’s most remote country. But after talking to the Pacific Northwest Trail (PNT) thru-hiker, and listening to our screaming calves, it became clear our ambition was losing a race against daylight. The even shorter answer: “let’s keep boondoggling.”

A few years ago, I was sitting in the Yaak River Tavern—one of two competing watering holes that make up this town in the far northwest corner of Montana—when I struck up a conversation about the area’s lakes with one of the patrons. “Oh it’s just about 20 miles of boondoggling to get there,” he helpfully replied.

It was the first time I’d heard “boondoggle” used as a verb, but it wouldn’t be the last time I’d hear that term, or a variation of it, to describe adventures around the Yaak. Perhaps it’s the thick, trackless timber—the old-growth inland rainforests of the Yaak Valley were one of the flashpoints of the infamous Timbers Wars of the 1980s. Bushwhacking and misadventure are baked into the language.

As Erin and I discovered on our exploratory biking and fishing trip to the Yaak, the riding is legit, with miles of rough, seldom-used trails accessing larch-ringed alpine lakes and loam-filled forests. I’d hiked many of the trails in the region in years past and thought they’d make excellent bike trails, thanks to dreamy soil and long, open ridgelines. Of course, holding imaginary handlebars is a lot different than the real thing.

From a base camp on a bend in the Yaak River, which was quiet even on a long holiday weekend, we’d started our exploration in the Northwest Peak Scenic Area, just south of the Canadian border—as close as us Americans were going to get to BC for the foreseeable future. Hike-a-biking across talus slopes and negotiating narrow, root-strewn sidehills, 40

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MAY-JUNE 2021

UPPER LEFT: BETWEEN ROOTS, STUMPS AND LOAM, THE FORESTS OF THE YAAK VALLEY GIVE RIDERS PLENTY TO WORK WITH. //BOTTOM LEFT: ERIN BERGEY TAKES HER BIKE FOR A WALK ON A TALUS SLOPE NEAR BURKE LAKE. // BOTTOM RIGHT: EVEN IN LATE SUMMER, OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES IN THE YAAK FREQUENTLY DIP BELOW FREEZING, MAKING PRE-RIDE COFFEE A NECESSITY. // UPPER RIGHT: I BRAKE FOR BEARS: IN THE THICKLY TIMBERED GRIZZLY COUNTRY OF THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE, HOOTING AND HOLLERING ON THE DESCENTS ISN'T JUST FOR FUN. PHOTOS: AARON THEISEN

we connected old roads with short stretches of singletrack that accessed high-elevation lakes. At the first of these lakes, we encountered a couple of chatty locals hiking out with the day’s catch.

“There’s so much boondocking to be done up in these mountains,” claimed the husband. Reminded of that years-ago barstool conversation, I instituted it as a mantra for the weekend: do you even boondoggle?

The mantra served us well the next day on the PNT. Faint even by the standards of backcountry Montana, the trail here was more of a suggestion than singletrack, like a thumbnail pressed into an orange peel.

After several hours of granny-gear grinding interspersed with hiking, we topped out on Bunker Hill. Acres of gray snags greeted us, as did the tiny lookout tower on Mount Henry well beyond our reach.

Realizing we’d never make it there and back before dark, we settled on a backup plan, shortening our loop with an exit out Fish Lakes Canyon. But we forgot all thoughts of an aborted mission on the descent, where the only thing checking our speed was the need to keep an eye out for grizzlies.

After negotiating the bramble-choked talus slopes of Fish Lakes Canyon, we arrived back in Yaak, desperate for post-ride beverages. Seeing the activity at the Dirty Shame Saloon spilling into the street, and preferring to keep our misadventures to the trail, we didn’t stick around.

The next day, rain awakened us—quite literally, as we had to jump out of the tent to unfurl the rain fly. Things had been uncommonly crispy for a region that’s essentially inland rainforest. Along with much-needed moisture came a wind storm that, as we came to find out, stacked matchsticks of timber on the trails.

That day’s ride, the last of the trip, was otherwise unusually straightforward for the area. A dozen miles west of town, an hourlong gravel grind accesses Redtop, which drops 2,000 feet in two miles and has clearly seen some bike-friendly trail maintenance.

After several days of bushwhacking and bike-carrying, we relaxed into an easier riding rhythm, surfing loose duff and shouting “tree!” when the lead rider encountered a downed log. That is, until one downed log turned into three, then four, then an entire stretch of trail buried.

In the Yaak, trees define everything, from the sounds—the ghostly sigh of snags, the disconcerting creaking of leaning trees—to the soft duff of the trail and the glorious shade.

They define the economy and the way neighbors, next door but miles apart geographically and maybe politically, interact. They force you under, over, around, and sometimes well off track. They always have the final say, and sometimes what they say is: how much were you planning on riding, anyway? // Aaron Theisen has contributed to a number of mountain bike magazines, including “Freehub,” “Mountain Flyer,” and “Dirt Rag.” He wrote about biking at Beezley Hill for the November/December issue.

RIDES ON THE WAY TO THE YAAK

The Yaak Valley is famously not on the way to much of anything. But there are plenty of excellent rides on the way there. Below are five that will round out a road trip nicely.

GOLD HILL

This trail, on Bottle Bay, just south of Sandpoint, is one of the area’s venerable closeto-town rides. The trail climbs steadily for three miles through a hardwood forest that wouldn’t look out of place in the Northeast. The descent is quick, with plentiful side hits and root drops. Gold Hill is popular with hikers, dog-walkers, and trail runners; time your ride for off-peak hours.

BRUSH LAKE

Built with bikes in mind and traversing beautiful hardwood forest and open meadows around its namesake lake, the 6-mile Brush Lake loop, north of Bonners Ferry, makes for an excellent shoulder season ride. The free campground and a lake perfect for paddling make it an inviting destination for a summer weekend with tent and bikes in tow.

MINERAL POINT

Situated on a bluff overlooking Green Bay on Lake Pend Oreille, the Mineral Point trail network consists of six miles of cross-country riding amidst a dramatic lakeside landscape. Like Brush Lake the location makes for prime shoulder-season riding.

Also like Brush Lake, Mineral Point doubles as a foundation for a bike-centric camping weekend, in this case from a base at Green Bay campground.

RUBY RIDGE

One of the classic backcountry rides of the Idaho Panhandle, Ruby Ridge, north of Moyie Springs, boasts more than 4,000 vertical feet of brake-burning descending over the Moyie River Valley. And with a mostly paved forest road—a rarity in a region of rough backcountry roadbeds—providing access to the trailhead at Keno Pass, it’s ideal for shuttling.

SHELDON MOUNTAIN

Built entirely by locals, the Sheldon Mountain trail, just outside Libby, Mont., offers the town’s only frontcountry riding opportunity. An at-times-grueling five-mile dirt-road climb deposits riders at the communication towers near the top of Sheldon Mountain. From here, two miles and 1,400 vertical feet of descending follow, first on fast sidehill singletrack and then on old roadbed-turned-trail.

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OUTDOORSY SUMMER CAMPS

SUMMERCAMPSIN THE COVID ERA

BY AMY MCCAFFREE RE-CONNECTING WITH NATURE, being more physically active, and learning social-emotional

skills are more important than ever for kids. Since COVID cancelled pretty much everything last summer, or shifted events to virtual formats, families are eager for a safer, more active summer.

“Summer camps help meet the deeper needs that kids have when their only social interactions have been with a screen,” says Twin Eagles Wilderness School Co-founder and Director, Tim Corcoran. There is no substitute for interactions with other kids and adult counselors and time spent outdoors with nature, he says. “And that need is only greater at this point, over a year into the pandemic. Kids can come to camp and have a very safe experience and have their needs be met.”

Most parents can relate to how having your kids go away to camp improves the family dynamics for everyone, Corcoran says. “I think it’s important that, as parents, we’re honest with ourselves about the cost of keeping kids home. Don’t underestimate that cost.”

Twin Eagles, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and other camps have modified operations and implemented health and safety protocols, according to CDC guidelines and state and local guidance, to help ensure campers and staff stay COVID-free this summer. Most camp websites have their COVID policies easily available for parents to read.

For example, Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and North Idaho are following guidance from CDC and the State of Washington Department of Health, in addition to the American Camp Association. Masking will be required at Camp Four Echoes, arrival-day will be a drive-thru process, and campers will be health-screened daily.

Camp Spalding, which remained COVID-free last summer, is also requiring masks.

Additionally, campers must either be vaccinated or receive a negative COVID test no more than three days prior to arrival and remain in quarantine through the start of camp, according to Campspalding.org. (Camps are not requiring masks to be worn while sleeping, eating, swimming, or during physical exertion outdoors.)

Twin Eagles also had no COVID cases last summer. “We take safety really seriously, and we successfully adapted our programs in the era of COVID and can still give kids the experience of connections to nature, peers (socially), and self,” Corcoran explains.

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Here’s our annual list of regional summer camps and nature-based schools to help #OutThereKids live their full-potential during this COVID-era summer.

Bogus Basin Mountain Discovery Camps Day camp for ages 9-12 and teen overnight camp, ages 12-16, at Bogus Basin Mountain, in collaboration with Boise Parks & Rec. Bogusbasin.org Camp Ashwell Day Camp - Girl Scouts The regional program center for Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and North Idaho, located near downtown Spokane, hosts themed day camp sessions for all girls entering grades K-8 (troop membership not required). Activities include STEM experiences, arts and crafts, swimming, and other hands-on, experiential, skill-building fun. Snacks and lunch provided. Gsewni.org Camp Easton – Boy Scouts This Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Inland Northwest Council property on the east side of Lake Coeur d’Alene, near Harrison, Idaho, offers an advanced aquatics program, shooting sports, scout crafts, and nature and recreation activities, including sailing, canoeing, snorkeling, scuba-diving, and zipline. The local council also allows BSA, non-BSA, and wedding party groups to rent its facilities, year-round, including campsites, RV pads, and cabins when camps aren’t in session (more details at Campreservation.com.) Nwscouts.org Camp Four Echoes – Girl Scouts Located along 2 miles of Lake Coeur d’Alene shoreline near Worley, Idaho, girls sleep in whimsically named camping units, like Teepees in Sky Meadows and Treehouses in Smugglers Cove. Girls Scouts also offers

a variety of themed, overnight camps for girls in grades 1-12 (troop membership not required to attend). Activities include waterfront recreation (kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and windsurfing); nature exploration, hiking, biking, and outdoor skillbuilding; STEM activities; and adventurebased sessions for those in 7th-10th grades.

Facility rentals are also available Sept.-May. Gsewni.org Camp Grizzly – Boy Scouts Regional camp property along the Palouse River, near Potlatch, Idaho, offers mountain biking, all-terrain vehicles, survival, blacksmithing, animal science, and other recreation and skill-building. The local council allows BSA, non-BSA, and wedding party groups to rent its facilities year-round, including campsites, RV pads, and cabins when camps aren’t in session (info at Campreservation.com.) Nwscouts.org Camp MiVoden Located on the northern shore of Hayden Lake, Idaho, Camp MiVoden offers overnight camps for age 8-16. The camp is affiliated with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Mivoden.com Camp Spalding Located near Newport, Wash., along Davis Lake, there are overnight camps for grades 1-12 plus a family camp. Activities include canoeing, horseback riding, rappelling, and more. Founded by Presbyterian churches.

Campspalding.org Camp Sweyolakan Camp Fire Inland Northwest Run by Camp Fire Inland Northwest, Camp Sweyolakan (Swe-o-la-kan) on Lake Coeur d’Alene has overnight camps for boys and

S & NATURE SCHOOLS 2021 girls ages 6-18. Campfireinc.org

and more. Montananaturalist.org

Camp Zanika Camp Fire North Central Washington Located along the shore of Lake Wenatchee, camp includes overnight sessions for grades 1-12. Activities include fishing, hiking, kayaking, and backpacking, with optional addons, such as river rafting and horseback riding. Campfirencw.org

Northwest Outward Bound School Wilderness courses and other programs for middle and high school-aged youth, and LGBT+ youth. Destinations in the Pacific Northwest include the North Cascades, San Juan Island, Mt. Rainier, and the Salmon River among others. Recreation activities include backpacking, kayaking, rock climbing, rafting, mountaineering, and more.

Outwardbound.org

Dart-Lo Day Camp – Camp Fire Inland Northwest Located along the Little Spokane River, children age 3-18 enjoy outdoor activities like games, swimming, and a low ropes course. Campfireinc.org Lutherhaven A variety of programs are offered among its three properties in North Idaho: a main camp at Lake Coeur d’Alene, Shoshone Creek Ranch Camp, and Shoshone Mountain Retreat. Lutherhaven.com Missoula Outdoor Learning Adventures Outdoor Adventure Summer Camp Children grades K-12 learn leadership, teamwork, and outdoor skills along with self-confidence and appreciation for the natural world through activities like hiking, biking, rafting, climbing, canoeing, overnight camping, and more. Parents are welcome to join excursions. Missoulaoutdoors. com Montana Natural History Center – Outdoor Discovery Day Camps Program in Missoula, Mont., is for children ages 4 through 5th grade. Themes include learning about rocks and fossils; fish and stream ecology and fishing techniques; camping, survival, and wayfinding skills;

Peak 7 Adventures With offices in Spokane and Portland, Peak 7 offers adventures and courses for backpacking, mountaineering, rafting, and rock climbing. Peak7.org S.O.L.E. – Selkirk Outdoor Leadership & Education Based in Sandpoint, Idaho, S.O.L.E. aims to “ReWild your child” this summer with their Junior Naturalist Experiences program (ages 4-9) and adventure-based outdoor leadership camps for ages 10-12 and 13-17. Soleexperiences.org Spokane Parks & Recreation – Youth Outdoor Programs Day camps (ages 8-18) are organized according to recreation focus, including disc golf, horseback riding, outdoor adventure, and wilderness survival. My.spokanecity.org/ recreation/outdoor Twin Eagles Wilderness School Specializing in helping children connect with the natural world and develop selfawareness through nature-based activities, Twin Eagles summer day and overnight camps provide wilderness and adventure challenges, and survival skill-building, such MAY-JUNE 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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Opening Saturday, May 8th Wednesday Market Starts June 9th

Come See Us

Every Saturday

·veggies ·eggs ·meats ·breads ·honey ·bedding plants

8a.m. to 1p.m.

5th Avenue between Division and Browne

www.spokanefarmersmarket.org We accept: Visa/Mastercard, Food Stamps (EBT), WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Coupons

See What You Can Discover This Summer at the

StoneRose

Interpretive Center & Eocene Fossil Site

SUMMER 2020. // PHOTO: COURTESY OF CAMP SPALDING

as foraging, wildlife tracking, and fire and natural shelter-building. Twineagles.org University of Montana Youth Camps Day camp sessions in Missoula for grades K-5 with various recreational activities, including indoor climbing skills, rafting, hiking, soccer, and other team sports. Umt. edu/crec/YouthCamps Wild Walls Indoor Climbing Clubs Located in downtown Spokane, the Beginner Club (ages 7-10) is for learning basic skills for belay certification. For youth ready to advance their skills and technique, there’s Climbing Club (ages 7-14). Clubs meet once a week and include one-month membership with rental gear. Wildwalls. com Wenatchee Valley Museum – Super Summer Adventure Camps Day camps for kids grades K-6 with science and nature themes.

Wenatcheevalleymuseum.org WSU Cougar Kids Camp Day camps for grades K-7 at Washington State University’s Pullman campus, hosted by the University Recreation department.

Urec.wsu.edu

Hunt through ancient shale layers to discover 50 million year old leaves, cones, insects, and maybe a rare fish or bird feather.

Keep 3 fossils per day per person. (Significant finds may be retained for research)

15 N Clark Ave, Republic, WA -509-775-2295 - Stonerosefossil.org 44

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MAY-JUNE 2021

Washington Trails Association (WTA) – Youth Volunteer Vacation Week-long trail work crew projects for youth, ages 14-18, to develop outdoor and leadership skills while building and maintaining hiking trails as a team. Locations this summer include the Cascades, Mt. Rainier, Olympic Peninsula, and Puget Sound. Wta.org YMCA Camp Reed Located at Fan Lake, north of Spokane, YMCA of the Inland Northwest offers overnight camps, and family camp, that include

swimming, canoeing, hiking, mountain biking, ropes course, and climbing wall.

Ymcainw.org Y Day Camps - Spokane Weekday program for children entering grades K-8. Ymcainw.org

NATURESCHOOLS

These education and childcare programs provide play-based, hands-on outdoor learning opportunities and incorporate environmental curriculum topics.

Blessing Farm & Forest Preschool Spokane’s first urban farm and forest preschool located near the South Perry Neighborhood. This Waldorfinspired school offers a school-year program for children ages 2 1/2 to 6 as well as summer camps for ages 2 1/2 to 7.

Blessingfarmandforest.com Greenplay Northwest - Farm Schools Early learning programs for children ages 6 and younger, based on the forest kindergarten model with locations in Spokane (Vinegar Flats Farm School) and southeast King County (Maple Valley and Enumclaw).

Summer Nature Camps may be available for summer 2021. Greenplaynw.org Harvard Park Children’s Learning Center North Preschool and summer camps for ages 2.510 include activities such as science experiments, field trips, cooking projects, water play time, and lots of outdoor playtime.

Harvardparkpreschool.com Into the Forest Outdoor Learning Center Preschool and day care located east of Spokane, in Veradale, Wash., provides “nature-infused,” play-based,

Join the ride. Make a difference.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

RIDING FOR OUR YOUTH! PIONEER SCHOOL AT THE SPOKANE COUNTY WATER RESOURCES CENTER. PHOTOS: SHALLAN KNOWLES

environmental education that includes nature art, outdoor exploration, and “risky play,” according to its website.

Intotheforestpreschool.com Little Woodland Adventures Forest preschool (ages 2.5-5) located near Dishman Hills Natural Area in Spokane Valley that is all outdoors, year-round.

Curriculum includes place-based activities, life skills, and gardening.

North Wall Schools Private school for gifted and talented learners, grades K-6, with an Early Childhood program (preschool and infants-toddlers) and summer program. Campus in north Spokane includes different outdoor areas corresponding to age levels for yearround playtime and experiential learning.

Features include a Nature Trail, tree fort, zipline, organic garden, climbing wall, and tricycle track. Northwallschools.com Pioneer School A K-5th grade accredited, non-profit school for gifted, talented, and highly-capable learners with small classes. Located in northeast Spokane Valley, Pioneer School is dedicated to making school an exciting place where children enjoy learning with a thematic approach that emphasizes student involvement with hands-on activities and topic-related field trips. Experiences include expeditions, outings, and field-trips for camping, biking, hiking, skiing, conservation and science learning, history, and other recreation activities. Pioneerschool. com Plum Tree School All-outdoor preschool program (ages 3-6), located in south Spokane, focuses on playbased learning, creative arts, domestic life skills, hands-on nature exploration, and mindfulness. Plumtreeschool.com

Saint George’s School Located on 120 acres along the Little Spokane River, the campus for this private school (no religious affiliation) is an integral part of the school’s entire K-12 curriculum, providing hands-on experiences related to the sciences, physical education, art, and other courses. An Outdoor Club provides recreation activities and trips for students in grades 8-12. Sgs.org

This one-day bicycle ride with 150-, 100-, 80-, 40- and 25-mile routes is presented on September 11, 2021, by the Sandpoint Rotary Club to benefit literacy and after-school reading programs for the Lake Pend Oreille School District and other Rotary community service projects. The 150-, 100- and 80-mile routes incorporate a newly paved route through Montana, alleviating traffic congestion on the customary routes leading into Clark Fork, Idaho.

FOR ROUTE MAPS, FAQS, NEWS AND REGISTRATION: PRESENTING SPONSOR:

ORGANIZED BY:

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Tinkergarten Instructor-led, with a national network of teachers and child-development experts, this self-guided programming for playbased learning experiences offers free DIY activities online. Tinkergarten.com Twin Eagles Wilderness School Monthly program based in Spokane for ages 6-13 and their families (October-May, one Saturday per month). Children enjoy nature-based mentoring and hands-on activities—all outdoors. Twineagles.org Washington Outdoor School Child-interest led outdoor education with branches based in central Washington, including the cities of Ellensburg and Roslyn. Waoutdoorschool.org West Valley Outdoor Learning Center Virtual-based programs with online, live, interactive presentations about wildlife habitat, conservation, birds of prey, water ecosystems, and STEM activities. Check the center’s Facebook page for when in-person events will resume, including family openhouses.

Windsong School Located in Spokane on the Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute campus, students, preshool-6th grade, enjoy Waldorf-inspired learning and daily outdoor experiences.

Spokanewindsongschool.org // MAY-JUNE 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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REMINGTON KNOWLES LOVES THE PUMP TRACK, AND SNACKS. // PHOTO

WHATILEARNEDABO

BY DERRICK ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES of childhood was going on family rides around our Spokane Valley neighborhood. It introduced me to riding bikes at an early age, helped me discover the world around me from something other than a car window, and served as a great family bonding experience. As I got older, before we could drive, my friends and I rode all over the valley and even made a couple long pedals to places as far away as Coeur d’Alene.

The point here is you’ll be doing children a huge favor by taking them out riding. Being outside on and around bikes at a young age will help them develop a life-long passion for this fun, healthy outdoor activity. It may not always be easy, but it’s worth it. Here are a few things I learned riding with my son over the past five years that you might find helpful.

1. Get the right bikes and gear.

You can totally get by with fixer-upper used bikes and one of many types of on-bike kid seats for young children to sit securely on your bike. Or if they are old enough to ride, pick up a new or used balance bike or pedal bike for older kids. A basic set-up like that will be great for riding neighborhood streets or paved pathways like the Centennial Trail. If you’re looking 46

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MAY-JUNE 2021

for higher-functioning, more comfortable bikes and kid haulers like bike trailers, cargo bikes, or trailer bikes, visit your local bike shop or get hunting online asap as some COVID-related bike and accessory shortages will continue at least through 2021. If you want to ride dirt trails or do longer family rides, see #5 below for some tips and gear recommendations.

2. Be prepared.

Being “over-prepared” on a ride with kids can make the difference between happy family and hell on wheels. Water or juice and snacks are a must and will inevitably ward off a meltdown. But here are some other things to throw in your backpack, bike bag, or panniers if you’ll be riding further than a mile or two from your house: a change of clothes, baby wipes, changing kit for young kids, toilet paper and Ziplock bags for trash/soiled clothes, hand sanitizer, sun protection, extra layers and jackets, money and masks for planned or unplanned stops, first-aid kit, bike tools and tire repair kit, your phone and a backup charger, and helmets for everyone.

3. Ride to fun destinations.

Some days kids may rejoice at the mention of a bike ride, yet there will likely be other

OS: DERRICK KNOWLES

OUTRIDINGWITHKIDS KNOWLES times it feels like you just informed them that Christmas has been canceled. To help get kids more excited to ride, try making it a ride to a destination they love or soon will love. A safe ride to a nearby playground is an obvious choice. In Spokane, there are many playgrounds along or nearby the Centennial and Ben Burr trails. Or try riding to an ice cream shop, swimming spot, a friend’s house for a play date, a pump track or skate park, a farmers’ market for fresh fruit, or a fun natural area where they can run wild in the woods and have a snack or picnic before heading home.

4. Don’t confuse riding with kids with getting exercise.

If at least one person in your family is always trying to squeeze in a workout, they will likely be disappointed on a family ride with young kids. Riding with kids, depending on their age and ability level, can be painfully slow at times and prone to repeated, random snack breaks and detours to explore nearby attractions. That’s not to say there aren’t some great ways to get exercise while riding with children (see #5 below), but most family rides will not satisfy an adult rider with Tour Divide ambitions. My advice: get your exercise beforehand, chill out, and enjoy a slow pedal with your clan.

5. Ride farther with your kids and have more fun too.

If you want to do longer rides with kids or get into riding dirt trails, you will need to invest in the right bikes and accessories.

When kids are young and content to sit and sleep in a bike trailer, you can crank out miles of riding together and make everyone happy. When they are older and able to do some riding themselves, try a trailer bike that’s connected to an adult’s bike. They get to pedal some but don’t always need to, and you can ride farther together.

I have also used a Weehoo trailer bike for riding Riverside State Park singletrack with my son since he was 3 years old. Now that he is older and able to ride up to 7 miles some days, we’ve been riding our own bikes on the Centennial Trail from our house to the Camp Sekani pump track where he then rides in circles for an hour like a maniac.

After all that, he’s ready to crash for a nap in my Thule bike trailer while I pedal all of us back home with his bike strapped to the back of the trailer.

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However you do it, the important thing is to get out there and ride whatever distance with your kid or kids early and often. Ride safe, be prepared, and you’ll never regret it. // MAY-JUNE 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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H ANDMA DE - FA IR TRA DE - L O CA L

G I F T S F O R M O MS , D A D S , GR A D S, AND M ORE!

8 FAMILY-FRIENDLY LAKE PARKS FOR HIKING AND SWIMMING

BY AMY MCCAFFREE

35 West Main

Monday-Saturday / 10 am to 5:30 pm Closed Sunday

shop online at shopkizuri.com

Volunteers Make It Happen Get Up, Get Out, Spokane River Cleanup Sign Up At

SpokaneRiverCleanUp.org

NORTHWEST WEATHER can be finicky in the summer—cloudy and too cool for swimming; other days, it’s too hot for a hike. I have a child who can feel overexerted quickly when exercising in the hot sun but swims for hours.

My other child can better tolerate heat, gets bored after swimming too long, and needs an array of recreation with thrills for adrenaline boosts. This means I always have to bring supplies to the lake so there’s “more to do”—so I Sherpa-carry our inflatable stand-up paddleboard, floaties, and sand toys.

Now that my kids are getting older, they are more willing to take a break from waterplay to explore park trails.

And when we’re camping, it’s nice to take a morning hike (or paddle) and then head to the campground beach or dock when the sun is higher in the sky.

Also, older kids and teens need inde-

pendent experiences, like venturing along a trail solo or with a friend.

Nature inspires soul-searching, and anytime our kids can get more screenfree serenity and exercise, the better.

These are eight of our favorite regional lake parks that offer great hiking and swimming options for hot summer days. Please note that most parks prohibit dogs on the beach, so it’s best to leave your furry kid at home.

NORTH IDAHO

CITY BEACH & PEND D’ OREILLE BAY TRAIL (SANDPOINT): Walk the flat 3-mile trail,

out and back, which follows the shoreline of Lake Pend Oreille. City Beach has it all, with plenty of lakefront sand.

FARRAGUT STATE PARK (ATHOL): Beaver Bay Beach requires a steep downhill jaunt

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COEUR D'ALENE CITY BEACH. PHOTO: AMY MCCAFFREE

from the parking lot and restrooms, but once you arrive there’s plenty of lakefront, calm water, and trails to explore in the forest all around the bay. Trails are also accessible right from the parking lot.

beach—rather, there are cement steps down to the water, which starts at a depth of about three feet. However, there are some spaces between trees to access the water.

ROUND LAKE STATE PARK (SAGLE): An easy

FISH LAKE & COLUMBIA PLATEAU TRAIL STATE PARK (CHENEY): Walk the paved

trail loops around the lake and the beach has two docks, paddle gear rentals, and a PFD loaner station.

Hike the trail, which can be a bit rocky and rugged for little kids, but you don’t need to go far to find a small sandy beach spot for private playtime. Hike in with all of your stuff, but you’ll need to hike back to the trailhead to use a porta-potty. (Restroom available at nearby McEuen Park.) Other nearby swim settings are Sanders Beach or City Beach.

TUBBS HILL (COEUR D’ALENE):

WASHINGTON

BEAR LAKE REGIONAL PARK (Chattaroy):

Hike the trail around the lake. Trees and grass hug the shoreline, so there isn’t a

trail and enjoy the calm lake, popular with locals for fishing, paddling, and beach play for kids. Park at Fish Lake Park and then walk up to the state park trailhead.

LIBERTY LAKE REGIONAL PARK (LIBERTY LAKE): The park has miles of trails

to choose from and the day-use beach— though a smaller lakefront compared to other parks—has great sand, a dock and roped-off swim area, and plenty of lake for paddling.

Spokane County Parks daily fee required.

WATERFRONT PARK (MEDICAL LAKE): A

popular park with a main parking lot that fills quickly, but the layout is sweet and lake water is spring-fed, so relatively warmer than larger lakes. Walk the paved Medical Lake Trail along the west shore. //

MAY-JUNE 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

49

we hope to see you for some covid-safe outdoor fun this fall

bike clinics paddle board demos bike shuttles beer garden Live music Bike Races Kids activities MTB Jump Show Group Rides sponsored by

camp sekani park

www.spokatopia.com

SEPT 18 Providing herbal medicine education and all-natural living in Northern Idaho For 10% off the summer Sandpoint apprenticeship program, contact bio-regional herbalist Suzanne Tabert

BOOK REVIEWS

3 Books for Summer Adventures By Rebecca Gonshak

WASHINGTON WILDFLOWER HIKES: 50 Destinations by Nathan Barnes & Jeremy Barnes There are few things more miraculous to me than a wildflower. How can something so beautiful and delicate-seeming thrive on its own in the most unlikely environments, when I can’t even keep my succulents alive? And yet before reading this book I didn’t know the names for most of the wildflowers I walk past on hikes, let alone their histories and their nutritional and medicinal uses. Using “Washington Wildflower Hikes” as a guidebook I’ve been able to better know my bio-region and the plants and animals that inhabit it. This book provides a detailed guide to 50 hikes in Washington State, including a “featured” wildflower for each hike. They give you all the practical information you could need too, including driving directions, length, elevation, and difficulty level, as well as detailed instructions for navigating the trail so that you don’t miss the best views. Price at Auntie’s Bookstore: $24.95 WHERE SHOULD WE CAMP NEXT? By Stephanie & Jeremy Puglisi

For most of us, movement has been pretty limited for the past year, and I think many people are craving an escape from the confines of their houses and apartments. Reading “Where Should We Camp Next?” got me dreaming of escape to a beautiful place I’ve never been before, where I’d sleep under the stars, kayak on pristine lakes, and hike through oldgrowth forests. This 50-state guide is chock-full of great vacation ideas, no matter where in the U.S. you’d like to travel. We’re lucky in the PNW to have so many beautiful parks and natural wonders within a few hours driving distance, so I especially loved the chapters for Washington, Idaho, and Montana. After reading this book, I feel inspired to seek out the best hot springs in Idaho and go exploring in Olympic National Park. Price at Auntie’s Bookstore: $18.99

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL: A Visual Compendium by Joshua M. Powell If you’ve ever dreamed of hiking the entire Pacific Crest Trail, about 2,650 miles, but you want to do some research before you attempt it, this book makes you feel like you’ve hiked the PCT even if you haven’t. Spokane-based author Joshua Powell goes into every colorful detail of his experiences on the trail, from the eccentric characters he met along the way (people with wonderful nicknames like Whitewater and Ninja Tank), to the wildlife and landmarks he saw and the “trail angels” who offered him food and shelter along the way. He’s funny and irreverent and doesn’t sugarcoat the experience. The book is full of entertaining infographics, making it a fast and fun read. Whether you want to hike the PCT or not, just reading the book gives you a taste of the adventure. Price at Auntie’s Bookstore: $21

Book reviews sponsored by Auntie’s Bookstore in downtown Spokane, Wash. Support your local, independent bookstore!

Rebecca Gonshak has an MFA in creative nonfiction from EWU and is currently a bookseller at Auntie's Bookstore and fiction co-editor for “The Swamp Magazine.” This is her first contribution to Out There.

New & Used Books & Gifts If we don’t have your book in stock, call and we’ll order it for you.

Ph: 360-540-5651 www.CedarMountainHerbs.com 50

OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / MAY-JUNE 2021

Independent Since 1978 402 W Main, Downtown Spokane 509-838-0206

L A S T PAG E Playing Polo By Kelly Chadwick

MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN SPOKANE is

an expansive grass field bordered by corrals and stables. In the warmer months demigods gather there to play what could be life’s most exhilarating sport, polo. They charge down the field balancing on English saddles, leaning impossibly far over to swing mallets at lumpy hard balls, launching them with fierce determination, and sometimes into other horses and riders.

This game is for the brave.

The teams are built on a total of the individual's handicaps, called "goals." A beginner starts at -1 goal and the best players in the world are 10 goals. Neophytes can play with pros as long as the opposing team goal totals match up. Unique to polo, women and men and young and old can all play together.

It's a family affair.

My entry into polo came after a few beers at a barn party. Suzy and Catlin Dix, the fiery daughter/granddaughter duo of founder Peter Dix, have been the driving force behind the club and decided to run a clinic to increase membership. "It's so fun," Catlin reeled me and my friend Hazen in, "There is no greater feeling than being on a horse in a green field playing polo. The connection when the horse really starts working for you is so incredible." "What's it like for the horses?" I asked. "It's basically a wild animal in a partnership. The right horse enjoys the game and it's our responsibility as trainers and players to make sure they have fun.

They are adrenaline junkies too."

By the end of the clinic, I had bought a polo horse, inspired by the remarkable equestrian—human language of subtle body

inflection and emotion. This is amplified in polo to a magical level where the horse anticipates your movements and falls into alignment with the ball's trajectory, setting you up for the perfect strike. The sport either sucks you in or spits you out. I got spit out.

Though one of the most exciting experiences of my life, it was too scary and required more attention than I could handle. For Lori Rambo, a science teacher at LC who joined that same season, it became her passion, "drawn by tight community and immersion in a challenging team sport." She's still playing.

Anna Anderson, who helps run the club, started in 4H and has competed in the gamut: barrel racing, cutting, team roping, reining, dressage, etc. She calls polo "by far the funnest horse event. It's the adrenaline, and you play for a while, not seconds or minutes. Like basketball or soccer; even if not good as a ball handler, you can still be super valuable in defense."

Polo is thought of as a sport for the wealthy, but the truth is it's for the devoted.

Younger players can be found sleeping in tack rooms and tending the horses of the more affluent, another currency that affords play. If you know how to work with horses, polo is also a passport to the world. No need to plan a vacation, just go and play and immediately be absorbed into the local scene in France, Germany, Dubai, Argentina,

South Africa, China, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, California, Florida, and so on.

Each spring the Polo Club brings in a couple pros to assist with the clinic. Gorgeous chiseled Argentinean men, you can see them casually juggling the ball around, often riding shirtless and sometimes in flip flops. The clinic provides a rare opportunity to play the sport. It's like trying a priceless bottle of wine at a tasting you'd never buy, or driving a Formula 1 car in Las Vegas, a window to the seemingly inaccessible. If taken by the game, the polo community will help you gather the necessary accoutrements and knowledge, including finding a horse that fits your personality.

Ready to play? The clinic runs May through June 2021 on Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. and includes a horse, tack, and BBQs after each session. Contact Anna Anderson at poloclubspokane@gmail.com or 509.598.1106. // Kelly Chadwick wrote the popular Leaf, Root, Fungi, Fruit column for Out There for several years. He’s an arborist, forager, spiritual explorer, nature lover, and consistently interesting individual who also apparently played polo. His last article for Out There reflected on a 10-day silent mediation retreat in British Columbia which you can read at Outthereoutdoors.com.

Now at select Outdoor Stores

MAY-JUNE 2021 / OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM

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, o l l e h

sunshine.

here’s to a summer of soaking up the sun & getting outside to enjoy our local public lands! we are a proud member of 1% FOR THE PLANET to encourage the ongoing conservation of our public lands in this beautiful place we call home. find our wines at retailers across the Northwest & at our GREEN BLUFF TASTING ROOM OPEN FRIDAY to SUNDAY | 12 PM to 6 PM

WASHINGTON WINERY since 1998

t o w n s h e n d c e l l a r. c o m