DISPATCHES SELKIRK POWDER GUIDES OFFERING PROFESSIONAL AVALANCHE EDUCATION SANDPOINT, IDAHO
In an effort to increase opportunities for backcountry skiers and riders to undertake stateof-the-art backcountry travel learning opportunities in the American Selkirks, Selkirk Powder Guides (SPG) has joined the national team of the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) providers for the 20/21 season. Established in 2003, and known primarily for cat skiing, SPG has been working for over four years with a seasoned group of internal guides on the certifications and accreditations necessary to attain the "Provider" status. Class registration is available immediately. “Selkirk Powder Guides is excited to undertake their first season of avalanche courses as an AIARE provider,” said Ken Barrett, co-founder of Selkirk Powder Guides. “Kevin Stolbrock, our AIARE Programs Manager, and our guide team come with over a century of collective backcountry experience. They have been working extremely hard at achieving their credentials to teach the AIARE curriculum. It's going to be wonderful to watch them teach what they truly love to do!” AIARE is a nonprofit educational organization with a mission of “saving lives through avalanche education.” Serving over 100 providers in the US, South America, Europe and Asia, AIARE develops research-based avalanche education curriculum and implements ongoing training and certification for course instructors and providers. AIARE curriculum offers courses to serve all levels, from recreational to professional and from novice to advanced, and they are built in accordance with national and international standards developed by the American Avalanche Association (AAA) and the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA). Selkirk Powder Guides, based out of Schweitzer Mountain Resort, has been serving up snowy adventures in the Selkirk Mountains since 2003 by way of cat and heli-skiing adventures, self-propelled and snowmobile-assisted alpine ski tours, and snowmobile adventures as a certified Polaris Adventures Outfitter. Beginning in December 2020, SPG will offer AIARE Rescue and AIARE 1 and 2 courses. The SPG team will be available for custom courses as well. For course dates or more info, visit Selkirkpowder.com. (OTO)
FASTEST KNOWN TIMES ON THE WONDERLAND TRAIL MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, WASH.
Due to COVID19, serious ultrarunners in the Pacific Northwest elected to use their fitness for something other than ultramarathons or qualifying for Western States. Fastest Known Time (FKT) is a speed record on any given route, and the Wonderland Trail that circumnavigates Mount Rainier is a popular objective. This rugged route includes 24,000 feet in elevation gain over 95 miles. This year, the FKT for the Wonderland Trail, for males and females, changed several times. Times are divided by Supported FKT and Unsupported FKT. Supported basically means "anything goes" as long as you cover the ground under your own power. You can have as many pacers as you want, and they can carry whatever you want them to carry, but they can't carry, push or drag you along. Unsupported means you have to carry all of your own resources, and handle everything solo for the duration of the route. Just two days apart, Katlyn Gerbin and Tyler Green set supported FKTs on August 24 and 26 respectively. Gerbin finished in 18 hours 41 minutes, beating the previous record-holder, Jenn Shelton, by just over three hours. Meanwhile, Green set a supported FKT just five days after Dylan Bowman’s FKT, beating his time by just 18 minutes. Green’s official time was 16 hours and 40 minutes.On September 5, Mark Hammond set the unsupported FKT in a time of 19 hours and 47 minutes. The previous record was set by Kris Brown, on August 27 in a time of 20 hours and 39 minutes. In a nutshell, the FKT records changed five times this year thanks to some remarkable Northwest athletes that decided to change lemons into lemonade and follow their passion for ultrarunning. (Jon Jonckers)
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GET YOUR BODY READY FOR SKI SEASON SPOKANE, WASH.
Don’t let the pandemic keep you from tuning up your body before you hit the slopes. Physical Therapy Associates is putting on a free virtual 6-week injury prevention series that includes weekly strength and conditioning videos and prizes to get alpine skiers ready for the powder days to come. Anyone can watch the videos that will be posted each week at any time via Physical Therapy Associates Instagram or Facebook pages. The videos will focus on specific muscle groups and their role in skiing, as well as ways to strengthen them, improve form, and reduce the risk of injury, says Emilie West, Doctor of Physical Therapy at Physical Therapy Associates and one of the course instructors. “After my husband's knee injury skiing four years ago, we started participating in annual ski conditioning classes at Physical Therapy Associates and created our own series focused on strength and dynamic control of key muscle groups. Our hope with this video series is to use our knowledge and experience to provide education and resources to the skiing community, inspiring individuals to take an active role in their own injury prevention,” says West. Advances in gear safety have made great strides in reducing injuries, she says; however, knee injuries still account for 43% of all ski injuries. “The core and the hips are pivotal muscle groups that control a skier's center of mass and therefore their trajectory on the slopes,” explains West. Mobility, strength, and control in these areas, she says, allows a skier to adapt to dynamic situations on the mountain. “Our goal is to provide an exercise toolbox for our audience. Some participants may only ever use exercise one, while others may go through the whole series.” (Derrick Knowles)
NEW URBAN TRAILS GUIDEBOOK FOR SPOKANE AND COEUR D’ALENE SPOKANE, WASH.
Rich Landers earned his hiking legend status back in 1987 when he authored “100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest.” Since then, he followed up that seminal title with paddling guides, day hiking guides, a second edition to 100 Hikes, and now Mountaineers Books has just released his latest guide, co-written with David Taylor, called “Urban Trails for Spokane and Coeur d’Alene.” Landers spent four decades serving as the outdoors editor for The Spokesman Review. To say he hiked a little bit is like saying the Pacific Northwest only has a few mountains. David Taylor is an Idaho native, and he has hiked extensively throughout North Idaho and Eastern Washington. This book focuses on urban trails so people can find safe and easy options for dog walking, hiking or trail running that don’t require a 4-wheel drive to reach the trailhead. Each trail features distance, elevation gain, amenities and more. Notable sidebars contain area history, a wildflower identification guide, and public transit details. Although the book lists 50 hikes total, it mentions other important hiking options for areas like Dishman Hills and Riverside State Park. The Centennial Trail earned a special section in the book. It’s arguably the most popular trail in the area, and it’s regularly featured in national travel magazines. On page 217, the authors wrote, “With about thirty trailheads and even more access points, users can jump onto the Centennial Trail for short jaunts as well as long excursions, enjoying the [Spokane] river as a constant companion.” From veteran hiker to short distance novice, this book belongs on the bookshelf of every local outdoor enthusiast. (Jon Jonckers)
NORTH SPOKANE HABITAT & RECREATION AREA PROTECTED SPOKANE, WASH.
The north Spokane recreation area commonly referred to as Waikiki Springs nearly doubles this fall as Inland Northwest Land Conservancy (INLC) announces the purchase of a 95-acre parcel of land adjacent to existing 114-acre Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife property along the Little Spokane River. The land, part of the Waikiki Dairy in the early 1900s and ancestral home of the Spokane Tribe of Indians, provides beautiful habitat for local plants and animals, and is home to ideal spawning grounds for native fish. The newly acquired parcel was platted for development but has been conserved for public access, conservation, and habitat restoration, through a partnership among INLC, the Spokane Tribe, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Permanent protection of this vital piece of near-urban wildlife habitat has been a priority of neighbors and community groups for many years. The purchase was funded, thanks to the leadership of Representative Marcus Riccelli, support from Senator Andy Billig, and by the taxpayers of Washington State. The name “Waikiki,” meaning “spouting fresh water,” references the natural springs throughout the area that pour cold, clear aquifer water into the Little Spokane River. This influx of water keeps the river cool in the summer and moderate in the winter, further enhancing its value as habitat for fish, birds, and other wildlife. The hiking trails can be accessed from the north end of Fairwood Drive off Mill Road near Mead High School. As land manager, INLC will work closely with the Spokane Tribe of Indians and the Department of Fish & Wildlife to improve habitat and enhance recreation opportunities. More info at Inlandnwland.org. (OTO)
