August 2014

AUGUST 2014 // FREE

THE INLAND NW GUIDE TO OUTDOOR ADVENTURE, TRAVEL AND THE OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE OUTTHEREMONTHLY.COM

5 River Hikes + Early Season Whitewater

Colville Road Biking | Backcountry Cooking | Mountain Bike Fernie

Happy Hour FLOATS

WHITEFISH TRAIL

SUP YOGA

LIGHTNING Safety

BACKCOUNTRY

3

2 Out there MOnthly / August 2014

3August 2014 / Out there MOnthly

For Tickets:343-OTTO (6886)

HOMES C H E D U L E

augustFEATURED GAME

Thursday August 28th vs. Salem-Keizer Volcanoes

Raining Moneynight

sponsored by:

Immediately after the game a helicopter will drop 2,000 $1 bills and 30 lucky fans will race to see who can collect the most money! Fans can sign up at the General Store, by listening to NOW 105.7 or at the game that night for

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Game Time 6:30 pm

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- FREE PARKING -

July 30-Aug 3 vs. Hillsboro Hops

Aug 7-9 vs. Everett AquaSox

Aug 16-18 vs. Tri-City Dust Devils

Aug 25-29 vs. S-K Volcanoes


Out there MOnthly / August 2014

www.OutthereMOnthly.cOM

PublishersShallan & Derrick Knowles

editOrDerrick Knowles

VisuAl editOrShallan Knowles

seniOr writersJon Jonckers

Brad Naccarato Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

cOntributing writers: S. Michal Bennett Sandy Compton

Hank Greer Derrick KnowlesShallan Knowles

Bea LackaffKatie LeBlancJason Luthy

Ammi MidstokkeAaron Theisen Holly Weiler

Peter G. Williams

cOntributing PhOtOgrAPhers: Sandy ComptonJason Edwards

Hank GreerShallan Knowles

Sherry MundtJanis NeufeldAaron TheisenHolly Weiler

cAlendAr cOOrdinAtOrAllen Duffy

Online cOntent cOOrdinAtOrCrystal Gartner

circulAtiOn directOrDezi Nagyfy

tO request cOPies cAll509 / 822 / 0123

Ad sAlesDerrick Knowles: 509 / 822 / 0123

Out there MOnthlyMailing Address: PO Box #5

Spokane, WA 99210www.outtheremonthly.com, 509 / 822 / 0123

FIND US ON FACEBOOKOut There Monthly is published once a month by Out There Monthly, LLC.

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©Copyright 2014 Out There Monthly, LLC. The views expressed in this magazine reflect those of the writers and advertisers and not

necessarily Out There Monthly, LLC.

Disclaimer: Many of the activities depicted in this magazine carry a significant risk of

personal injury or death. Rock climbing, river rafting, snow sports, kayaking, cycling, canoeing and backcountry activities are inherently dangerous. The owners and contributors to Out There Monthly do

not recommend that anyone participate in these activities unless they are experts or seek qualified professional instruction and/or guidance, and are knowledgeable about the risks, and are personally willing

to assume all responsibility associated with those risks.

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

PROUD MEMBER OF

MONTHLY

In This Issue

On the cOVer: wOOds wheAtcrOft, PhOtOgrA-Pher And bAck cOuntry AdVen-turer in the drinnOn PAss AreA

Of the VAhAllAs in b.c Photo: Suzanne Waldrup

p.5 / From the editor A Long Walk

p.6 / out there News

p.8 / hike oF the moNth Crowell Ridge

p.9 / hikiNg Hydration Tips for Hikers

p.10 / gear room

p.11 / everyday CyClist Meet Spokane’s Bike Delivery Drivers

p.12 / raCe report

p.13 / BaCkCouNtry Don’t Get Zapped

p.13 / Book reviews Women Wilderness Writers

p.14 / yoga River Yoga

p.15 / hikiNg Hike, Bike, Run or Ride Priest Lake Trails?

p.16 / BikiNg New MTB Trails at Schweitzer Ready to Ride

p.17 / BikiNg Nelson, B.C. Fat Tire Festival

p.18 / outdoor liviNg Wild Art

p.19 / watersports Is it Safe to Swim in the Spokane River?

p.20-21 / iNw outdoor & 6-moNth traiNiNg CaleNdar

p.22 / 15 BaCkCouNtry lakes worth the walk

p.24 / watersports Spokane River Happy Hour

p.25 / BikiNg Skirts to Bike Shorts

p.26 / whiteFish oN wheels

p.27 / outdoor liviNg Better eating in the Backcountry

p.28 / destiNatioN Fernie, B.C. - Adventure Closer than You

Think

p.30 / last page Reflections of 50 years of Wilderness.

Celebrate 75 years with Kaniksu Ranch

Family Nudist Park

We offer Bocce, Pickleball, Volleyball, Shuffleboard and more! Nature hikes and biking on miles of forest trails. En-

joy the pool, hot tub and sauna. A treat of a retreat!

Events peak in July to celebrate our 75th Anniversary. July 18—DJ Dance to the Rapid Transit Road Show. July 19 LIVE- The Angela Marie Project. And then, The 30th “Original” Bare Buns Fun Run ® weekend with two more dances, E2 DJ on Friday July 25, and LIVE The Other White Meat Band on July 26, followed by the internationally famous Fun Run on Sunday. New children’s play-ground and activity pavilion in July.

Safe Family Fun in a beautiful and serene mountain setting.

Special events all summer!

Just 40 miles north of Spokane

Call (509) 233-8202 For more information or reservations for rooms

or camping

Rooms in the Lodge Weekend activities

Over 70 RV and Campsites

Website: Kaniksufamily.com

2014 Newport Autumn Bloom 5K & 10K Fun RunNewport Hospital & Health Services Foundation

10 K is a Second Seed Qualifier for

Bloomsday 2015!

September 20, 2014T.J. Kelly Park l 9AM

(Corner of 1st St. and Washington Ave.)

Newport, WARegister online at raceroster.com or

download registration form at www.phd1.org.

Pre-registration Deadline:9/15/2014

On-site Registration:7:30AM - 8:30AM

Contact: Jenny Smith, Foundation Director Telephone: 509.447.7928 Email: [email protected]

Tourism support for 2014Autumn Bloom is provided by City of Newport

Hotel/Motel Tax Funds.


A serious, full-time hiker friend of mine, Dick, who also goes by the trail name “Hike On,” shows up in town every year or so to visit family and friends between long strolls in the backcountry. He has thru-hiked all three of the major American long-distance trails: the Appalachian Trail back east; the Continental Divide Trail following the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico; and the Pacific Crest Trail that runs through the full length of California, Oregon and Washington. Lately, he’s started re-hiking favorite sections of those same trails as well as taking on regional routes like the 1,300 mile long Florida Trail.

When Dick called out of the blue earlier this sum-mer, he was walking around Spokane running a few

errands, sporting the usual full beard and multi-day pack, which normally wouldn’t seem too out of place downtown were it not for the technical hik-ing threads and ultra-light pack with trekking poles lashed to it. (Spokane doesn’t see many long distance hikers passing through town, although I hope that changes someday.) He was only a couple miles from my house, and while he walked, I fired up the BBQ and chilled a few beers for the reunion.

Not surprisingly, Dick arrived with news that he was on his way to another adventure, this time a thru-hike of the Pacific Northwest Trail, a 1,200 mile hiker’s dream between Olympic National Park on the coast of Washington and Glacier National Park in Montana. The PNT covers some incredible Inland

Northwest terrain, from the Kettle Crest and Salmo -Priest Wilderness to the trails around and above Priest Lake and up and over the Selkirk Crest. The PNT isn’t as well-known as the Appalachian Trail, but it’s been drawing more attention each year.

While the Pacific Northwest Trail is the oldest and most well-known long-distance trail in our neck of the woods, there are two others in the works that could draw more hikers down the road. The Desert Trail is a 2,223 mile hiking route from the California-Mexico border to the border with Canada near the Idaho-Washington state line. It passes through Spokane on its way north. The Inland Northwest Trail is another long-distance hiking route in prog-ress (in the 1,500 mile range) that makes a giant loop

out of Spokane through four states. I dreamed up the INT nearly a decade ago while hiking across the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness with my John Muir-looking, long-distance hiking buddy Dick who, while you’re reading this, will be somewhere on the PNT, heading east towards Glacier.

Dick and I have talked about carving out the time to hike the whole Inland Northwest Trail route one day, and that night around a backyard campfire, buoyed by talk of wild trails and hikes that last for months, I could easily imagine myself in those boots, taking that first step of many down that long, wind-ing trail. //-------------------------------------------------------derrick knowles, editor

From The Editor: A Long Walk

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have experienced instructors and volunteers on hand to assist those new to the sport. Equipment will also be available to suit all shooters. If you have ever wanted to give archery a try, don’t miss this opportunity. Since 1962, Evergreen Archery Club has provided Spokane archers a place to practice and compete in this ancient discipline. For directions to the range and other informa-tion, visit evergreenarcheryclub.org or call Heath Harmon at 509-385-1437. // (OTM)

with hollywood exposure from mov-ies like “The Hunger Games,” “Brave,” “The Avengers” and others, archery is experiencing a major resurgence. If learning to shoot a bow and arrow for sport or to get into a more traditional way of hunting is on your bucket list, Evergreen Archery Club, which is hidden in the woods below Palisades Park just west of downtown Spokane, is hosting an open house on Sunday, August 17. Participants of all skill levels 8 years old and older are welcome to attend. EAC will

Learn to Shoot a BoW and arroW at evergreen archery cLuB’S oPen houSe

Out ThereNews

for the third yeAr in a row, Gleason Fest is bringing its grassroots indie music festival featuring local, regional and nationally recog-nized talent to the streets of downtown Spokane (August 23 from 2-11 p.m.). Notable bands this year include Willie Nelson’s son’s band, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, as well as Old Man Canyon, the Grizzled Mighty, Hey! Is for Horses,

and many more. Named after Spokane’s own pro football star Steve Gleason, who was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in 2011, Gleason Fest proceeds benefit Team Gleason’s efforts to provide life-improving technology and services to those afflicted with ALS and to create global awareness for the disease. Tickets are $20. Gleasonfest.org. // (OTM)

SPokane’S gLeaSon FeSt MuSic FeStivaL to BeneFit teaM gLeaSon

the benches and shady spots fill up fast! The beer tent will be pouring more than 65 local and regional craft brews and ciders. The recently updated Gourmandie will host wine tastings. New this year, a merchandise tent will be sell-ing growlers, beer koozies, t-shirts, beanies and sweatshirts. Tasting packages are priced from $10-45 and come with a logoed taster glass, pint glass, or a stainless steel pint or souvenir mug, depending on your selection. Entry to Fall Fest is free, with activities, food and drink priced indi-vidually. Make a weekend of it with Schweitzer’s “Third Night Free” package. Rooms are still available but fill up fast. Schweitzer.com/events-activities/fall-fest. // (S. Michal Bennett)

this could be your lAst chance for a taste of summer in the mountains this season. Schweitzer’s Fall Fest on Labor Day weekend (Aug. 30-Sept. 1) celebrates the end of summer with music, local brews, tasty food and fun for the whole family. Ride the chairlift, take in the spectacular views, catch the zip line, put the kids on the monkey motion jumper, and bike or hike the trails before everything closes. On Monday, lift tickets are discounted for the final runs.Music kicks off at 11 a.m. each day and runs until 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and 4 p.m. on Monday. Headliners include The Alliance, a medieval-themed rock band, on Sunday and Hell’s Belles, an all-female AD/DC tribute band, on Monday. Bring your camp chairs and hats –

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Out ThereNews

wanted to start a SUP business, but I needed beach access to make it work,” he says. Paddleboarding has swelled in popularity, a trend that Cindric thinks will continue because it’s such a fun, easy activity on the water that just about anyone can enjoy. “People keep hearing from their friends how fun it is, and then they see people out on the water everywhere and maybe they try it on vacation somewhere and realize how amazing it is. Once people try it, it can be kind of like an addiction,” he says.

Center Fin SUP offers board rentals on the beach from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on weekends, as well as private lessons and rentals available by reserva-tion during the week. On Friday nights, Center Fin leads twilight sessions that include a lesson and tour that highlights some of the lake’s cultural history. A board rental and lesson combo from 9-11 a.m. is also offered on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Centerfinsup.com. // (OTM)

A new sponsorship program passed by the Spokane County Board of Commissioners earlier this year opened the door for Center Fin SUP, a new local outdoor recreation business, to start offering stand up paddleboard rentals, les-sons, and tours from the beach at Liberty Lake Regional Park this summer. According to Chris Hoppe, Recreation Program Manager for the county, the partnership at Liberty Lake is serving the public by providing rental and lesson services and helping the county keep the park clean and safe. “Center Fin SUP has really taken this to heart and has done an excellent job helping to keep the park in great shape,” he says.

If you’ve been wanting to rent a board right on a beach and give stand up paddleboarding a try, you no longer have to drive to Idaho, says Chris Cindric, who launched Center Fin SUP after hear-ing about the county’s new sponsorship program. “I’ve been paddling for about eight years and had

PaddLeBoard rentaLS noW oFFered at LiBerty Lake

following our American lead. Celebrations to honor the 50 year anniversary

of the Wilderness Act that feature art, music, food, educational displays, hikes and more are already underway this summer. On August 23, the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness Celebration will be held at Riverfront Park in Libby, Mont. A little farther east, nestled near the Mission Mountains and the Bob Marshall Wilderness areas, a coalition of nature non-profits and resource management agencies are hosting a wilderness speaker series at Flathead Community College and a “Go Wild” event on September 20 at the Flathead County Fairgrounds in Kalispell.

And finally, the Montana Wilderness Association will also have a 3-day celebration fea-turing speakers, the film “Untrammeled,” food, music and hikes at Seeley Lake north of Missoula September 5-7. More info at: Wildmontana.org/join-us/50th-events. // (Bea Lackaff)

it took yeArs of hArd work, acts of Congress, and a presidential signature to estab-lish the Wilderness Act. On September 3, 1964, the Act initially protected 9 million acres of roadless public lands. Now, after 50 years and countless hours of grassroots efforts at meet-ings, lobbying elected officials, leading hikes, and attending hearings, along with the efforts of resource management agencies, the National Wilderness Preservation System lists 758 wilder-ness areas, totaling 110 million acres of federally owned land in 44 states and Puerto Rico. This is about 5% of the land in the United States. As President LBJ stated as he signed the act into law: “If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it.” Many countries around the world now protect their own wilderness areas and nature reserves,

eventS ceLeBrate the 50 year anniverSary oF the WiLderneSS act

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crowell ridge (Salmo-Priest Wilderness area)HikeOfTheMonth

celebrAte the 50th AnniversAry of the Wilderness Act with a visit to the Salmo-Priest Wilderness in the Colville National Forest. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended to access this hike, where the bumpy Forest Service road takes care of most of the climbing. From the trailhead (at 6,220 feet) set off across the open ridge that provides unparalleled views of the surrounding area. Crowell Ridge itself is a fantastic day-hike suitable for everyone, with enough scenery to satisfy those who wish to turn around early, and an 8 or more mile round-trip hike for those who want more ridge running.

The adventurous should come prepared with map and compass to tackle the off-trail ridge-walk to Gypsy Peak, the tallest mountain in Eastern Washington at 7,309 feet. Practice Leave No Trace ethics and try this as a backpack trip for some of the best stargazing in the state. Contact the Sullivan Lake Ranger Station, 509-446-7500, to join a ranger-led hike on Crowell Ridge on August 9th to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act and Smokey Bear’s 70th birthday. RSVP required; group size limited to 12. //

getting there: nOrth Of sPOkAne And newPOrt And just PAst tiger And befOre iOne On highwAy 31,

turn eAst On sulliVAn lAke rOAd. cOntinue PAst the lAke And the rAnger stAtiOn Office, And turn

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lOOkOut.

HIKE OF THE MONTH AND IMAGE By HOLLy WEILER//

1. For camaraderie.2. For grit.3. For adrenaline.4. For 3 am runs in the dark.

5. For our friends.6. For adventure.7. For craft beer. 8. Because we can.

Why we run S2S:August 15-16, 2014

Learn more about the adventure at

CascadeRelays.com.

The Spokane to Sandpoint Relay is a 200 mile team running adventure.Teams of 6 to 12 runners or walkers will take turns running or walking legs of 3 to 9 miles through the night from the top of Mt Spokane to the beach of Lake Pend Oreille in Sandpoint.

Wisdom EarnedA Mountain Climber s̒ Perspective

Wednesday, October 8thBing Crosby Theater 7:30 p.m.Tickets at Ticket Tickets West Outlets$17 - All proceeds go to the Dishman Hills Conservancy

Produced by Chris Kopczynski and Gibby MediaIn partnernship with the Dishman Hills Conservancy

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•

Follow the life of local mountain climber Chris Kopczynski and his lessons learned from climbing the world s̒ highest mountains on seven continents in this feature documentary film.

4:00 PM

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hydration tiPS For hikerS // By derrick knowles

Hiking

stAying hydrAted while out hiking in the hot sun is one of the easiest things you can do to feel good on the trail and at home after your hike. Ignoring your body’s need for replacement water, sodium and other minerals you naturally lose in greater quantities when you’re sweating like a pig up a trail could land you in an emergency clinic, or, at the very least, leave you seri-ously dehydrated and feeling like garbage for a day or two. I once witnessed an experienced hiker go into full meltdown mode on the trail thanks to severe dehydration. It was so bad, he had to be evacuated by search and rescue and spend the night in the hospital. Bummer end to a beautiful hike. Here are some summer hiking hydration tips that could keep you from ending up like that guy.

1. Take plenty of water. That means way more than you think you would ever need. Many experts recommend trying to drink a quart of liquids for every 30 minutes or so you’re on the trail. I usually throw an extra gallon jug of water in my pack for day hikes in hot weather just in case.

2. Make drinking easy. Use a hydration system like a CamelBak with a bite valve hanging over your shoulder. It makes taking a drink every 10 or 15 minutes so convenient you actually might do it. Water bottles in pack side pockets that you can easily reach while walking also work better than bottles bur-ied in your backpack. Waiting to guzzle a quart of water after you’re already dehydrated from hiking thirsty for several hours isn’t the smartest strategy.

3. Replace electrolytes. Drinking water alone without replacing vital electrolytes can lead to many of the same symptoms of dehydration: fatigue, headaches, cramping, and stomach pain. Hiking in the heat means you sweat a lot more than normal and need to replenish electrolytes like sodium, magne-sium, and potassium in greater quantities. For a more powerful, effective, and sugar-free electrolyte replacement, try locally made Lyte Balance electrolyte concentrate. You can find it at Huckleberry’s, Main Market, and Pilgrim’s Market. Sensablesupplements.com. //


GearRoom

Leave FueL at hoMe With Wood Burning StoveS

this mosquito-repelling lantern offers two things that are essential for summertime backcountry car camping trips or late-night backyard sojourns. Models range from near $50 to just over $20 and are worth their weight in Gold Bond anti-itch cream. See what you’re eating or drinking, your outdoor compan-ions, or a good book under the protection of a non-toxic, insect repelling vapor cloud. The unit is powered by a single butane cartridge that both illuminates and kicks the butts of buzzing, biting insects with an allethrin-saturated mat (a copy of a repel-

hAs your significant other banished your favor-ite hiking t-shirt to the garage? Does it take three washings before your back-packing shirt stops smelling like a high school gym lock-er? Then it might be time to invest in some new hiking threads. The Paramount Tech Tee ($35) is a technical beast of a hiking shirt. The sueded polyester elastane stretches with your arms and body as you charge up those switchbacks with your trekking poles pump-

A good looking, lightweight suede leather and canvas shoe with extra sticky rubber sole intended as a light climbing or approach shoe, I found that it also doubles as a styl-ish looking, all-around outdoor shoe fit for everything active summer or shoulder season days could be filled with: a morn-ing walk to the coffee shop before trotting along on your local trail, a cruisey pedal around town running errands (the grippy soles grab platform pedals like a dream),

first there wAs fire for cooking. Then, throughout history, technological advances brought us many fine outdoor adventure stoves. Now, it all comes full circle with the advent of wood burning stoves designed for backpacking, bicycle tour-ing, camping and even for home emergency preparedness. The advantages are simple and rea-sonable. Most people backpack or bike tour below treeline during non-winter months, where there is often plenty of available fire-wood. With these new stoves, you no longer have to carry fuel, as is typically the case with traditional backpacking stoves. The Solo Stove (Solostove.com) is a lightweight, compact, efficient backpacking stove that worked well in field tests. The packed size is less than 4 inches tall by 4.5 inches in diameter and weighs 9 ounces. It has a thoughtful, compact design and a double wall system that facilitates secondary com-bustion and more efficient burning. The EmberLit wood stove (Emberlit.com) is the

lent that occurs in chrysanthe-mum flowers) that slowly seeps from the top of the lantern when turned on. It repels mosquitoes, black flies, and no-see-ums and is marketed as safe for humans and pets. Minutes after turning on the lantern, it creates a 15 x 15 foot repellant zone that really does keep blood suckers at bay. The lanterns and replacement components can be purchased online or at several retailers in the Spokane area that can be searched on ThermaCELL’s web-site: Thermacell.com/mosquito-repellent. // (OTM)

ing and it wicks away sweat to keep you as dry as possible on hot days and long climbs. The Paramount also has “contrast shoulder panels,” an innovation that really means the fabric on the shoulders where your pack straps ride is specially designed to help hold your shoulder straps in place to limit abrasion for a more comfortable day-hik-ing or backpacking experi-ence. Order online or at the North Face store downtown Spokane. Thenorthface.com. // (OTM)

a hike down to the beach for an afternoon swim, and maybe even a button-up shirt kind of din-

ner with the in-laws in the evening. It’s a real technical shoe that will rock the crag in light climbing situations and is light enough to stash in your pack for alpine scrambling on longer hikes. But the Splice really shines as an everyday outdoor

shoe that will match your active lifestyle and just might look cooler than you do. Patagonia.com/us/product/mens-splice // (OTM)

smallest stove available (it’s thinner than an iPhone 5 and weighs less than 12 ounces). It sets up easy

and can hold a large pot. It per-formed well and can burn relatively large pieces of wood. It’s the least expensive and also comes in a tita-nium ultralight version.The BioLite CampStove (Biolitestove.com) burns wood that provides heat for cooking and can charge your phone via a thermo-electric generator. The electricity powers a fan which creates airflow for improved combustion. Leftover power is then available for charging your electronic devices from a USB port. The stove is larger than a liter water bottle, weighs 33 ounces, and

costs more than the other models.The Bushbuddy stove (Bushbuddy.ca) has a com-pact design with nested parts that compacts to 4.25 inches in diameter and 3.75 inches high. It weighs 5.5 ounces. Similar to the Solo Stove design, it uses a double wall around the firebox to preheat secondary combustion air that allows for more efficient burning. // (Peter G. Williams)

MountainSMith MyStic 65 Pack when my trusty old pAck started show-ing split seams, I was happy for the chance to test the 5 pound, 2 ounce Mountainsmith’s Mystic 65 pack on a four-day, 50 mile tour of the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness in southeast Washington. Despite being five liters shy of my old pack’s capacity, the Mystic, Mountainsmith’s largest volume pack (65 liters), managed to swallow all of my usual gear plus some trash I picked up along the route. In an effort to find the right fit, I tried out all three positions on this “one size fits most” pack’s torso ladder system, and found that the medium position fit me best, although I couldn’t quite find that sweet spot that shifts weight off the shoulders and recommend getting this pack fitted at your local gear shop. On 90 degree temperature days, the Breezeway

suspension system was a godsend. The best features on this pack include its stretch-mesh

side and waistbelt pockets. The side pockets are big enough to hold a 32-oz. water bottle. The belt pockets kept my snacks within reach and could easily fit multiple ener-gy bars, allowing me to go miles without taking off the pack to dig out more food. The pack’s internal bottom panel refused to remain in position, but the huge lid pocket and zippered front panel provided easy access to frequently-needed items,

and there’s an internal pocket for a hydration bladder. This pack is best for tall hikers carry-ing moderate loads. Mountainsmith.com/index.php/mystic-65.html. // (Holly Weiler)

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Everyday CyclistMeet SPokane’S Bike deLivery driverS // By hank greer

they’re cAlled drivers but they ride bikes. And they deliver food for Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches on Wall Street in downtown Spokane. What’s it like to jump on your bike and deliver a sandwich or maybe two 30-piece platters? I took an extended lunch and shadowed several of the drivers as they made their deliveries. It was actually kind of fun.

My first run was with Zack Layton. We had a quick stop on the Washington Street side of the Liberty Building. After that we sprinted down Main across Division and over to the nursing school in the University District. We returned via the Centennial Trail, Spokane Falls Blvd, and Wall Street.

Next, I followed Levi Guthmiller to 901 N. Monroe. He zipped across the Post Street Bridge and powered up Lincoln Street increasing the gap between us and making me feel like my pedaling was an exercise in futility. The pickup truck that pulled out in front of me not only endangered me but also increased the separation between us. The driver could only muster a blank look, which I took as an apology. I made my way to Mallon and then crossed Monroe. I caught up with Levi‘s bike. He was long gone somewhere upstairs in the building.

For my third trip I tried to stick with Andrew Ackerman. He bolted away from me going down Sprague on our way to 1st and Cedar. He got a block

ahead of me, but the traffic lights worked in my favor to hold him up, and we arrived at the destination together. I was more than warmed up now.

Next up was Jessica Duran. She told me we were going near Division and 2nd Avenue. She jumped on her bike and went from zero to ludicrous speed in 2.3 seconds. Again, had it not been for traffic lights, she would have ditched me. Keeping up with most of the riders was more of a matter of keeping them in sight than actually keeping up. As I rolled up behind Jessica at a red light, I was thankful I had a moment to take a couple of breaths. I’m no slouch on a bike, but cyclists 30 or more years my junior who happen to be in good shape are in a much more competitive category than me. Our return trip went smoothly

since it was mostly downhill.There’s a friendly competition among the drivers

to see who can make certain deliveries in the fastest time. One delivery is to Inland Imaging at 801 S. Stevens. Andrew Ackerman holds the record for this run – seven minutes for the round trip. It’s not just a matter of speed and strength climbing up Stevens. You also have to hit the traffic lights just right com-ing back down Washington.

“There are some runs I know when I can really crush it,” says Ackerman. He also says the competi-tion part adds to the fun. Otherwise, it’s just another boring delivery. Recently Alexian Lane, equipped with a new road bike, took a shot at the record and tied it. Small wonder. Lane is on the River City Red cycling team and incorporates his work into his training.

Speed is important in another respect because the quicker the driver returns, the quicker they get another delivery – and another tip. The drivers I spoke with say it takes three to six months to learn all the destinations and the best routes to follow to make the deliveries as quickly as possible.

To my surprise, most of the drivers have been working there for two or three years. Kassandra Sandaker and Ian Butler describe the work environ-ment as fun and the crew as family. For them and their team members, making deliveries by bicycle

is icing on the cake. It’s like getting paid to have fun. Drivers – I’m still not used to referring to them by that name – do 10-15 deliveries and cover 15-20 miles a day. On really busy days, they can get 25-30 deliveries. It’s fast paced and the time passes quickly.

Weather is another factor to consider. It was rain-ing on the day I shadowed them. Some of the drivers wore jeans, and their pant legs and backsides were soaked. Winter calls for more layers of clothing, and most of the drivers ride on fatter or more heavily treaded tires.

Regardless of the conditions, these drivers enjoy their work, especially since it melds so well with the cycling lifestyle. //

She jumped on her bike and went from zero to ludicrous speed in 2.3 seconds.

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JESSICA DURAN PED-ALS ON HER WAy BACK TO JIMMy JOHN’S FOR ANOTHER DELIVERy. //

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spokAne now hAs its first all-women’s race that’s been a regional favorite for some time. Picked for its reputation as a great running town, Spokane will be the first city outside Oregon to host a Happy Girls Run. The race offers a 5k, 10k and half marathon, attracting women of all abilities. Spokane’s Happy Girls Run is set for Saturday, September 27. The race course will weave through the beautiful trails of Riverside State Park along the Spokane River combining rolling terrain, groomed paths and paved surfaces. The start and finish is at Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute.

All Happy Girls Runs support a local beneficiary, and the Spokane based non-profit “Statement,” which brings education and awareness to the prevention of domestic abuse, while pro-moting leadership and character development among today’s youth, has been selected for this run. A portion of the proceeds from the race will go directly toward supporting and enhancing their programs and activities.

Race organizers at Lay It Out Events pride themselves on hosting a great race with a festival-type atmosphere. Pre- and post-race events will include some of Spokane’s best businesses

and attractions including yoga sessions in the green spaces at the start / finish area, and a women’s expo Friday evening. Free food, beer and cocktails will greet the racers as they cross the finish line.

The Spokane race will continue the Happy Girl tradition of adorning the half marathon runners with a custom silver neck-lace as they cross the finish line. Recognized for its goody bag, all racers can look forward to custom race apparel and some regional specialties coming their way as part of the package.

“These races have a following and will draw women from around the Northwest. It’s a great event for the local economy and will continue to grow over the years,” says Eric Sawyer, Spokane Sports Commission President and CEO.

“The Happy Girls Runs are among my favorite races to pro-duce; I think I come away from them as inspired as the runners themselves. I love seeing best friends, mothers and daughters, and first time racers all out there making it happen together. The vibe is fantastic,” shares Cynthia Engel, Happy Girls Race Director. Registration for Spokane’s Happy Girls Run is now open. Happygirlsrun.com. // (OTM) pick your pleAsure and pain at the Kootenay Suffer Fest Labor Day

Weekend (Aug. 30-Sept. 1). Taking place over three days in three different Kootenay area mountain towns at the confluence of three mountain ranges (the Selkirks, Monashees, and Valhallas), this family-friendly event offers running and biking events for all abilities. “The mountain scenery is beau-tiful, and the rugged trails are top-notch with world class singletrack,” says Race Director Janis Neufeld.

Events in Kaslo on Saturday include 10k, 25k, and 50k trail runs, kids races and the start of the 3-day “Loonie Toonie” 200k trail run that begins in Kaslo and ends in Nakusp (relay and solo categories). The fun and suffer-ing moves over the Selkirk Mountains to New Denver on Sunday, with 7k, 15k, 40k, and 100k cross-country mountain bike rides. And finally, Monday brings a final day of cyclocross, duathlon, and fun run events, including the Hairy Hundred and Furry Forty cyclocross enduro races, a 20k cyclocross fun ride, an off-road duathlon, and a 5k fun run.

“The Kootenay Suffer Fest keeps growing because it’s held in such a special area that’s so welcoming to visitors. It takes about 230 volunteers to make the event happen, which is about 10% of the local population, so it’s really the local passion and small town spirit that make it all come together,” says Neufeld. The event is put on by a local non-profit as a way to promote the local area, but according to Neufeld, the locals have a ton of fun with it as well. Kaslosufferfest.com. // (OTM)

the rAthdrum Adventure Race is north Idaho’s premier alternative triathlon that provides a fun challenge without forcing you to train like an extreme athlete. This three sport event September 6 includes mountain biking, kayaking, and running, with intermediate and beginner courses. It’s the perfect end-of-summer adventure race for groups of family and friends to do together in an intimate and friendly small-town festival atmosphere.

Intermediate course participants start by riding 22 miles up and over beautiful Rathdrum Mountain to Twin Lakes, where the kayak leg of the race begins. A 5.5 mile paddle the length of the lakes brings you to the start of the 6 mile run back to Rathdrum’s charming city park. The beginner course takes an easier track along a smooth path for the 6.5 mile bike ride and includes a 2.5 mile kayak paddle finished off with a 6 mile run. There are both individual and team categories. Call 208-687-2866 or visit Eventbrite.com/directory/Idaho/Rathdrum for more info. // (OTM).

RACE DIRECTOR JANIS NEUFELD’S HUSBAND “PRE-RIDES” THE NEW 100K XC MOUNTAIN BIKE ROUTE THE WEEK FOLLOWING THE EVENT LAST yEAR. “WE WERE OUT TRyING NEW ROUTES, AND THIS WAS THE SNOW THAT ALL THE RACERS HAD ENCOUNTERED THE PREVIOUS WEEKEND DURING THE RACE,” SAyS RACE NEUFELD. // PHOTO: JANIS NEUFELD


don’t get zaPPed: Lightning SaFety tiPS Lightning Safety tips // By Jason Luthy

Backcountry

the weekend After completing my first wilderness medicine course, I found myself on a camping trip hunkered down on a foam mat trying to find safety from the storm overhead. To this day, I still have memories of my hair stand-ing up on end, the smell of ozone and the rattle of metal objects. Since that storm, I have found myself in well over 100 thunderstorms while traveling in remote environments. Some of the storms were closer than others, but each inspired awe, fear and a good dose of respect.

The most challenging part about being in a lightning storm is the lack of predictability of the strikes. Lightning is random; it can strike in the same place twice, does not always hit the tallest object, and can travel horizontally from storms, striking a location with blue skies overhead. This unpredictability combined with the violence of the lightning should produce respect and caution in even the most well-traveled adventurer.

Lighting can strike people in two ways - direct strikes and through a ground current. Direct strikes occur when the lightning passes through the body of the person being hit, producing both entrance and exit wounds. Ground currents are strikes from an electrical charge caused by a near by strike that travels through the ground and are responsible for the majority of lightning injuries.

The best prevention is to not be outside when a lightning storm hits. Of course this isn’t always practical for people that recreate outside. Knowing local weather patterns can provide some knowledge of when to travel and, more impor-tantly, when not to travel in lightning prone areas. Learning to read weather to predict the arrival of the cumulonimbus clouds (tall clouds that produce lightning) provides the ability to move towards a safer location prior to the arrival of a storm. In settings where visibility is limited by a mountain or cliff, having and using a barometer to detect changes in the atmospheric pressure can

give some warning that a storm is approaching.You can track the progress of the storm toward

or away from you by counting the time between the flash of lightning and the boom of thunder. The storm is one mile away for every five sec-onds between the light and the noise. If the count between the flash and the boom is getting smaller, the storm is moving closer; if the count is getting longer, the storm is moving farther away.

If you find yourself in a thunderstorm, there are a few things you can do to reduce your risk

exposure. If you are close enough to hear the thunder, you are close enough to get struck. Start by getting to a “safer” location: summits, ridges, hilltops, and bodies of water are all less desirable than valleys and low-lying areas. Find a low-lying area ideally with a group of similar height trees; avoid being under or near a lone tree. Next, reduce your exposure to ground currents by insulating yourself from the ground by crouching, kneeling or sitting (in that order) on a sleeping pad or backpack in order to limit your contact with the ground.

Lightning injuries are caused by the heat, elec-trical charge and concussive force of the light-ning. Injuries can include cardiac or respiratory arrest, loss of hearing and vision, burns, and ner-vous system dysfunction. Many of the injuries can be stabilized with first aid and CPR training; however, anyone who is suspected of being struck by lighting should be evacuated to a hospital for further evaluation.

Even with wilderness medicine training and an appropriately stocked first aid kit, the best first aid is always prevention. When spending time outdoors this summer, be sure to keep an eye on the sky to watch for the build up of cumulonim-bus clouds. Understand the local weather patterns and have a plan for how to get yourself to a less exposed place if the storm continues to build. //

the best prevention is to not be outside when a lightning storm hits. of course this isn’t always practical for people

that recreate outside.

BookReviews

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific crest trailCheryl Strayed, Vintage Books / random house, 2012 (315 pages)

Fast becoming a favorite outdoor memoir among readers – including Oprah, who re-launched her Book Club because of this book – Portland-based author Cheryl Strayed looked back to examine the major transformative events in her own life.

While a senior in college in Minnesota, Cheryl’s mom was diagnosed with lung cancer. After her mother’s quick demise, her stepdad and siblings drift apart, and Cheryl makes some bad choices (such as shooting heroin), and her life subsequently unravels until she has nothing left to lose.

All this leads her, at age 26, to hike more than 1,000 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail – from Mojave, Calif., to the Oregon-Washington border’s Bridge of the Gods – even though she had never gone backpacking before.

“[The PCT] was an idea, vague and outlandish, full of promise and mystery,” she writes in the book’s prologue, explaining how she felt upon first purchasing her PCT guidebook. “Something bloomed inside me as I traced its jagged line with my finger on a map.”

It’s the many passages like this one that stakes Strayed’s book within the literary tradition – using metaphorical and lyrical language to describe her physical hardships and emotional complexities. Like when she writes, to describe the trail’s repetitive elevation loss and gain, that “Hiking the PCT was the maddening effort of knitting that sweater and unraveling it over and over again. As if everything gained was inevitably lost.” Punctuated with suspense and humor, “Wild” compelled me to read quickly.

While it’s not uncommon today for women to backpack solo, it was in the 1990s. But Strayed believed that hiking the PCT would help save her. She writes, “I had to change…. Not into a different person, but back to the person I used to be – strong and responsible, clear-eyed and driven, ethical and good. And the PCT would make me that way. There, I’d walk and think about my entire life. I’d find my strength again, far from everything that had made my life ridiculous.”

Read this book – of all the long-distance hiking memoirs I’ve read, this is the first one that has com-pelled me to consider such a hiking goal for myself. But Strayed has shown me there are many reasons for wanting to hike one-way for hundreds of miles. And be sure to read this before the movie premieres in early December, starring Reese Witherspoon.

almost Somewhere: twenty-eight days on the John Muir trailSuzanne Roberts. university of nebraska Press, 2012 (260 pages).

Organized as a daily journal, Roberts’ book is only part memoir – it’s also a travelogue and reflection upon nature. During the summer of 1993, as a recent college graduate, Roberts hikes the JMT in lieu of moving back home with her parents. She is accompanied by two girlfriends – one more athletic and more experienced in the wilderness and the other a bulimic ballerina who had never hiked a day in her life. Roberts examines how the unlikely trio eventually bonds together to complete their goal.

Roberts’ younger version of herself struggles to not be petty, naïve and insecure as she hikes, like when she writes in the opening for Day 6, “…enough of the complaining; it wasn’t like I hadn’t chosen to be there. Here I was, in the developed world, creating problems for myself because my life, in reality, was too easy.”

But another character in this memoir is John Muir himself. As Roberts examines her own relationship with nature, she frames it through her self-described literary-daughter relationship with Muir and his writ-ten works. As a result, she creates a new paradigm for understanding her nature experiences, and embraces her unique feminine perspective of it rather than trying to mimic Muir’s. While I appreciated the historical, geographical, biological and botanical context for her JMT experiences, it was not enough to compel me to hike it myself. //

An interesting subgenre emerging from the non-fiction world of outdoor memoirs is the long-distance hiking / backpacking memoir. Bill Bryson’s “A Walk in the Woods,” published in 1998, is one of the early examples. Now, there are more women writers examining the transformative power of their wilderness sojourns in writing. Here’s a look at two of the more recent ones.

WoMen WiLderneSS WriterS //By amy Silbernagel Mccaffree

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river yoga // By Shallan knowles

Yoga

“push bAck into child’s pose,” our instructor says. Her soothing yoga voice engages us to soften muscles and minds as we settle our hips over our heels, arms extended out in front of us. “Let go of the day behind you,” she encourages. I had already let the day go as soon as we made our way down to the boards lined up on Boulder Beach. My attention was focused attentively on the whirl of emotions and sensations that come with taking on a new experience like doing yoga on a river. I was focused in the moment, following instructions and feeling uneasiness give way to exhilaration.

I tucked my sandals under the strap at the end of the board, secured the anchors and paddled out on the Spokane River. Our instructor led us into a little inlet, out of the way from boats, rowers and jet skis, where we dropped the anchors on our boards that would keep us from floating away during the class. Some of the students were already standing on their boards, while others remained seated, although by the end of the class everyone was comfortable enough to paddle back to shore standing up on their boards.

The group was a mixed bag of students who had practiced plenty on the water, others who were rela-tively new to doing yoga on a board, and even one person who loved paddleboarding but had never done yoga before. While I have spent many hours on the mat as a student and instructor in studios, homes, and make-shift office studios, this was my first time wading into the increasingly popular phe-nomenon of SUP yoga.

After years of practice, my muscles have become accustomed to engaging into lunges and softening into pigeon pose. But on the wide and stable board, I was more aware of my body than I have been in a while, and I had to focus on keeping my balance to stay out of the water. As we moved through cat cows, the rocking of the board became soothing. When we lifted our hips for downward facing dog, it got a little more challenging, but even more than being

difficult, it was thrilling. Familiar yoga movements that usually feel com-

fortable and routine made me feel alive in a way I hadn’t felt in a while. With only a few inches of board separating my body from the glassy surface of the river, every breath, every movement, every shift of weight became an act of heightened intention. We walked hands and feet together to forward fold, and watched the water from upside down.

For SUP yoga, poses and sequences are modified for the paddleboard, our instructor Lacy Gannon of SUP Spokane tells us. We flow through sun saluta-tions, and Gannon keeps everyone closer to their boards, moving through fairly stable poses. Offering boat pose to easy seated pose to seated forward fold and back to boat provides doable sequences that helped build confidence and a sense of balance on a board.

After about 45 minutes, Gannon guides us onto our backs for Savasana, or final relaxation. She encourages us to let our hands slip into the water as muscles soften into the floating mat. Most of the students close their eyes, but the waving of the trees above me, the sounds of the birds and the waves rolling into the inlet and the smell of the river was relaxing enough.

Want to give SUP yoga a try? There are several options on the Inland Northwest’s rivers and lakes. These classes all include use of a board, paddle, PFD, and other safety gear along with instruction. SUP Spokane offers classes on the Spokane River launch-ing from Boulder Beach near Millwood (Facebook.com/pages/SUP-Spokane). Personal trainer Darcy Staudinger offers SUP lessons and paddleboard yoga classes on several area lakes throughout the week for $35 a class (more info at [email protected] or 509-487-7815). On Lake Coeur d’Alene, instructor Katie Fitzgerald offers SUP yoga classes in collaboration with Coeur d’Alene Paddleboard Company (Facebook.com/CDAPaddleboard). //

kootenAy spirit festivAl: yogA, dAnce, meditAtion, musicSeptember 12-14, Nelson, BC, just three hours north of Spokane, is hosting the first-ever Kootenay Spirit Festival. This spiritually-charged festival includes yoga classes, speakers, workshops covering a wide range of practices, music and other social events intended to inspire mindful living, love of nature and engaged community. Kootenayspiritfestival.ca.

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hike, Bike, run, or ride Priest Lake trails? thank a horse! // By holly Weiler

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summer dAys drAw outdoor enthusiasts to the Priest Lake area in droves, but not every-one is content to merely linger by the lake. The nearby trail systems attract hikers, moun-tain bikers, and horseback riders who access the backcountry on a network of trails leading from the shoreline to the surrounding mountain tops. Winter storms and spring melt-off take a heavy toll on the conditions of these trails, and the US Forest Service is hard-pressed to keep up with annual maintenance. That’s where the Priest River Valley Chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen comes in, providing true horsepower to service projects across the region.

The Backcountry Horsemen of America is a national nonprofit organization with 174 state and local chap-ters across the country, includ-ing 14 chapters in Idaho and 33 chapters in Wa s h i n g t o n . Volunteers with BCH are dedi-cated to keeping trails open for all user groups, so anyone who has been fortu-nate enough to visit a downfall-free backcoun-try trail likely has a BCH member to thank for it, whether for the actual clearing or the support BCH members provide to other trail workers. The type of work they do was once the standard method of trail building and maintenance across National Forest Lands, as the USFS at one time kept its own pack strings for annual summer projects. There are a handful of Forest Service pack strings remaining, but the majority of the work has been turned over to volunteers willing to give up ride time in favor of giving back to the wider trail community.

The Priest River Valley Chapter of the BCH

kicks off the summer trail riding season with an annual Memorial Day weekend work party. This year’s event attracted enough volunteers to enable the group to clear 42 miles of trail in the course of a single weekend, including the popular Navigation Trail to Upper Priest Lake, the Woodrat and Bulldog Trail systems, and the Chipmunk Rapids trails. For the rest of the sum-mer, the Priest River Valley Chapter works closely with the Forest Service to provide support to both the USFS and volunteer crews.

Projects that may otherwise be too difficult can be made manageable with their help. Using the superior muscle power of horse pack strings, tools and equipment can be moved to remote back-country locations much more easily. One upcom-

ing project of the Priest River Valley Chapter is to pack in camp equipment for a youth vol-unteer crew on the Upper Priest R ive r Tr a i l , thereby facilitat-ing the next gen-eration’s ability to get outdoors and give back.

Wa n t t o he lp l i ke a B a c k c o u n t r y Horsemen but

lack a horse or the skills of a packer? Everyone can try one activity promoted by the Priest River Valley Chapter: the “Pick Up Trash Challenge.” It’s as easy as picking up three pieces of trash you find on every outing. Of course, the difficulty factor is far greater when one is perched atop an equine partner at 15 hands high (a 15-hand horse is five feet tall at the withers), so perhaps an average hiker or mountain biker can pick up more than three pieces. Learn more at: Prvbch.com. //

there are a handful of Forest Service pack strings remaining, but the majority of the work has been turned over to volunteers willing to give up ride time in

favor of giving back to the wider trail community.

RAz TAKES A REST LOOKING OVER MOOSE RIDGE AFTER A LONG DAy OF CLEARING TRAILS NEAR MICA PEAK. //

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schweitzer mountAin resort has been offering a mix of excellent lift-served, grav-ity oriented mountain bike trails and cross-country riding for all ability levels right out of the resort for years, and the riding around the mountain just keeps getting better. This sum-mer, the Selkirk Recreation District (SRD) has been quietly building a new system of cross-country trails that are linked together with sections of roads that wind through the lower Schweitzer residential village and well beyond.

The SRD, which is essentially the home owners association on the mountain, has hired Sandpoint local and active trail user Mike Kirkpatrick to maintain the 15 miles of exist-ing trails and also build new trails that will link into the existing trail system. Kirkpatrick has been hard at work on the system for the last two seasons, including recently finishing up two new miles of fresh singletrack, with more in the works.

Although these trails are a part of Schweitzer’s land holdings, they are completely open to the public for hiking and biking at no cost. If you haven’t biked in the area, Kirkpatrick recom-mends a fun tour to get acquainted with the new system: “I would say the easiest way to get familiar with the trails would be to park at the roundabout and start riding up the main Schweitzer road. Take the Sparky Trail on your left and ride until you reach the three-way split in the trail and take our newest trail Sidewinder.

Avid rider Ken Barrett says the new Waterfall Trail that descends off of Future Road, just below the roundabout, is one of his favor-ites. “This is a NORBA quality downhill trail through here,” says Barrett. “Although you can ride a hardtail on most of it, I would definitely recommend a full-suspension bike,” he adds.

While most of the trails are loopable, the SRD has provided a shuttle service that’s available on weekends throughout the summer for those who don’t want to deal with the grind back up to the top. “The shuttle service is essentially free to everyone, but we ask those who are not SRD homeowners to make a donation for the costs of running the service,” says Kirkpatrick.

With Schweitzer Mountain Resort’s sub-stantial network of trails just above the new SRD trail system, there is plenty of riding to keep you pedaling above Sandpoint for a long day or weekend. The resort’s other amenities, like Chimney Rock for fine dining or Pucci’s

for some cold, after-ride suds, should get you thinking about the latter long weekend option. If your bike needs a little love before you hit the trail, the rental shop in the village offers a full-service bike shop as well as bike rentals. For more information about the trail system, contact Mike Kirkpatrick at [email protected]. For information about the Selkirk Recreation District shuttle ser-vice, call 208-610-8980. //

although these trails are a part of Schweitzer’s land holdings, they are completely open to the public for hiking

and biking at no cost.

neW MtB traiLS at SchWeitzer ready to ride // By Brad naccarato

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BikingneLSon, B.c. Fat tire FeStivaL – ceLeBrating the kootenay’S Love For BikeS the nelson cycling club’s annual Fat Tire Festival is held each year in memory of avid local cyclist Cam Alexander who lost his life tragically while doing what he loved: riding his bike. The local community loved and respected him so much that they decided to throw a party for bicycles in his honor. That was nearly 20 years ago, and today Nelson’s Fat Tire Fest is an annual celebration of all things bicycle for kids from 2-92 to enjoy.This year’s festival will be held over the week-end of August 22-24 at various venues around town in order to showcase why Nelson is one of the best places to ride in the greater Pacific

Northwest. The event also helps raise money to build and maintain more of the classic Kootenay downhill trails Nelson is famous for, as well as new, mellower cross-country and all mountain trails being built close to town. The festival kicks off Friday at 5 p.m. downtown with bike decorating and a bike parade down Baker Street and continues all weekend. Fun, free events include the Show’N’Shine (bring your fanciest, oldest, or funkiest bike down); Kootenay Krawl (slowest one wins); and the popular Last Wheelie Standing Competition. The weekend also marks the last MarketFest of the season featuring live music, vendors and the

best tastes of the Kootenays.The Festival features several fun rides for those who shy away from competition, including Saturday’s relaxed group ride on the spectacu-lar Smallwood cross-country trail system west of town. Also on Saturday, starting at 11 a.m., you can hop on a shuttle with Footsteps Eco Adventures for the BlackJack DH Shuttle Ride – collect cards to make 21 to win this fast-paced, downhill mountain bike event. At 3 p.m., the fun moves up to Mountain Station for the Poker Ride that highlights some of the best trails in town. The day’s events wrap up that evening at 5:30 with the Roots, Rocks and Rhythm Party.

On Sunday the focus shifts to the new trail developments that have been going on at Morning Mountain, just outside Nelson, with races for adults and kids. The Bottom’s Up Trail now winds its way up the mountain on nicely shaded and graded tread. The cross-country races at Morning Mountain will feature trails such as Born Again, Plunger and Oilcan, while the downhill event features a new machine-built, rolling, bermy, flowing course that locals are raving about. Race or just watch and enjoy food, music and spectator friendly courses. Nelsonfattire.com. // (OTM)

RACING AND WHEELIES ARE JUST PART OF THE FUN AT THE NELSON FAT TIRE FESTIVAL. // PHOTOS COURTESy OF NELSON FAT TIRE FESTIVAL

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32 TrailsNew Rental BikesNew Race SeriesChair 3 Zone w/ beginner friendly trails800.204.6628

Over 30 Miles of Trail


OutdoorLivingWiLd art: the ScotchMan PeakS extreMe PLein air exPedition // By Sandy compton

during the Artists’ reception for the 2008 Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Plein Air Paintout, Aaron Johnson and Jared Shear approached organizer Neil Wimberley with a few words: “We want to paint in the back country.” Neil pointed at me and said, “Talk to him.” They did, and the Extreme Plein Air was hatched.

The Paintout, parent of the Extreme Plein Air, is held each fall around the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, a rugged, roadless chunk of glaciated rock and steep, well-watered canyons on the Idaho-Montana border near Clark Fork, Idaho, east of Sandpoint. For three days, (October 3, 4 and 5 this year), artists paint the Scotchmans, then frame and hang new art for a Sunday reception and art sale to benefit the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness and the artists themselves.

The Scotchmans, managed as wilderness since the 1970s, have nearly achieved Wilderness designa-tion several times. But not quite. So, in January, 2005, FSPW was born. The Paintout was conceived to raise public awareness about the peaks and FSPW’s goal of congressional designation and to give artists a chance to paint an incredible landscape and a place to display the art they make.

The Paintout is headquartered at Outskirts Gallery in Hope, and organized annually by Wimberley and his wife Ann and Kally Thurman, owner of the Outskirts and a tireless advocate for the arts, the artists and the Scotchmans.

Much of the art made during the Paintout captures vistas from around the edges of the Scotchmans – worthy, indeed, of capturing – but what painters Johnson (of Moscow, Idaho) and Shear (Thompson Falls, Montana) wished to do was go inside – into the interior – and make art in the raw, wild heart of the place. As program coordinator for FSPW, and a guy who considers the Scotchmans his “briar patch,” it has since become my annual chore to lead artists into the back country. Oh, darn.

This year marks the sixth such trip. Johnson and Shear have been on five of them. They missed 2013 (something about having babies and gainful employment). This year, no excuses, and at press time, we are planning an incursion into the East Fork of Blue Creek and a new view of a place with seemingly endless views.

Each preceding trip has been memorable. And somewhat easier than a standard pack trip on a guy old enough to be the artists’ father. Like good children, they ask expectantly and often, “Can we paint now?” This means I can lay my pack aside for an hour while they sit cross-legged with their palates at their side and their work in their laps. There is a cadence to it. Look up, the brush poised above the paper. Look down and the brush rushes across the piece, leaving behind a tree, a rock, a waterfall, the edge of the sky. Look up. Repeat.

The Scotchman Peaks, in comparison, is not a very large wilderness – only 88,000 acres – but the nature of the place allows it many secrets. Those well-watered canyons are full of tag alder, devils club, Pacific yew, cliffs large and small and a few dozen other impediments to easy navigation. Three years ago, Johnson, Shear and I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to get to a waterfall in full view that was only a quarter mile away. We didn’t get there. We may never get there.

The expeditions have enjoined painters, sculptors, pencil artists, photographers and a film crew (Wildman Pictures has made two movies about the Scotchmans). They also draw casual observers. Not that there is anything casual about backpacking in the Scotchmans. There are trails running into the peaks, but not many run through. Connecting the dots can be fun, but daunting. It’s always good when someone says, “Can we paint now?”

Much of the art produced during the Extreme Plein Air and Plein Air Paintouts is on display at the Outskirts Gallery in Hope, Idaho (Outskirtsgallery.com). To learn more about the Scotchman Peaks and the effort to make the area part of the National Wilderness System, visit Scotchmanpeaks.org. //

Play it safe aboveand below a damAt Avista, we want you to enjoy recreation activities on area reservoirs and waterways. But remember, waters near a dam can pose serious hidden dangers to boaters and swimmers. Sudden water discharges from spillways and turbines can also be hazardous.

To protect yourself near a dam, follow these safety tips:

• Obey all posted warning and closure signs.

• Never cross the boater safety cable above a dam. Strong currents could pull you through an open spill-gate or into an intake area.

• Be alert for debris, obstructions and partially submerged objects.

• Never fi sh, swim, play or anchor your boat in the area above or below a dam.

• Look out for overhead bridges, cables and power lines.

• Always wear a lifejacket and safety whistle when on the water.

For Spokane River, Lake Spokane and Lake Coeur d’Alene fl ow and elevation changes for the coming week, visit: avistautilities.com/waterfl ow or call 509-495-8043 (Washington) 208-769-1357 (Idaho).

JARED SHEAR’S RENDITION OF THE PERMANENT SNOWFILED IN MELISSA

BASIN KEEPS THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE. // PHOTOS: SANDy COMPTON


WatersportsiS it SaFe to SWiM in the SPokane river? // By amy Silbernagel Mccaffreeon hot summer dAys, hundreds of people float, raft, and swim in the Spokane River. Yet the question still lingers. Just how safe is it to swim in Spokane’s beautiful but once heavily polluted river?

“The more that people play on the river, the more they’re likely to protect it and think about what they’re doing around the house and else-where that impacts it,” says Jon Wilmot, co-owner of FLOW Adventures who works as a river guide on the Spokane. Wilmot says he and his guide staff probably spend more days on the Spokane River than anyone else. He believes it’s safe and hasn’t experienced any ill effects from years of recreating on and working in the water.

During early season boating in past years, Wilmot says the river could be gross. “The sewage overflows used to pump in while we were kayak-ing. But I didn’t see any of that this year,” he says, referring to the City of Spokane’s stormwater and combined sewer overflows that in the past would discharge into the river after heavy rains.

Fortunately, the city is trying to implement an integrated plan to reduce the amount of stormwater and sewage that ends up in the river. “They need to do this by 2016, and they have a really good plan,” says Rick Eichstaedt, Executive Director of the Spokane-based Center for Justice. According to Eichstaedt, the city is trying to work with stakeholders like CFJ and state agencies to help implement this plan despite challenges they’ve encountered with

funding the work.Another concern about the Spokane River’s

water quality is the presence of heavy metals, which have historically washed downstream from the Coeur d’Alene River basin from years of mining in the Silver Valley. “I wouldn’t eat the fish from the Spokane River,” says Eichstaedt. But he notes that the heavy metals and PCBs aren’t easily absorbed into your skin when

you’re swimming. “You’ve got to eat the fish or the sand,” he says.

It’s plenty safe to swim in with a little com-mon sense, says Eichstaedt. “If you’ve got little kids, don’t let them eat the sand or dirt. Use common sense like you would swimming in any natural water body – take a shower afterwards and clean up,” he says.

As for the presence of toxic metals and other

chemicals, it’s getting better. Brook Beeler, com-munications manager for the Department of Ecology’s eastern region office emphasizes that a lot of progress has been made to clean up the Spokane River. “None of what we’re working on are swimming hazards; the only recreational inhibitor is the fish. The Spokane River is swim-mable and safe to recreate in. And we encourage it, because when you get to know your resource, then you want to protect it.”

Beeler notes that over the past 15 years our community has come together to find solu-tions for improving and preserving the river. Improvements range from cleaning up beaches that were contaminated with heavy metals to water quality projects resulting in increased dissolved oxygen that benefit fish and other aquatic animals.

“There are more improvements to come,” Beeler says. As an example she cites the City of Spokane’s innovative approach to achiev-ing a cleaner river faster with a plan that tar-gets combined sewer overflow elimination, advanced wastewater treatment, and significant stormwater mitigation. Beeler also points to the Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force, a diverse group of stakeholders who are work-ing together to identify and reduce sources of PCBs and dioxins that can end up in the river, as the best bet for making even more water quality improvements on the Spokane River in the future. //

SPOKANERIVER

CLASSIC

• Out and Back event with obstacle course

• Award Ceremony

• Off water competitions

• Beer garden & food vendors

• Raffle: $1000 worth of prizes

SATURDAY8/23/14

Paddle on the water with friends and family. Canoes, kayaks & SUPs welcome! Paddle solo or tandem in either the Marathon (5.4 mile) or citizens fun event (1.3 mile)

PFD required! (personal floatation device)

Register at www.sckc.ws/src $20 entry fee

Presented by Spokane Canoe & Kayak Club and Spokane River Forum

SWIMMERS COOL OFF IN THE SPOKANE RIVER BELOW SANDIFUR BRIDGE // PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES


OutdoorCalendar Full events calendar at www.outtheremonthly.com

BIKING

(august 2) 8 Lakes Leg aches Bike ride. When: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Where: Group Health Corp Office, 5615 W Sunset Highway, Spokane. Benefit ride for the Sexual Assault & Family Trauma (SAFeT) Center of Lutheran Community Services NW. Choose from 4 routes – there’s a leisurely 15-or 30-mile ride or more challenging 45-or 75-mile treks. There’s a ride for all levels of ability. Cost: $45. Info: 509-343-5020.

(august 3) rubberhead enduro. Where: Rossland, B.C. 2014 will mark the 6th year of enduro downhill racing in Rossland, B.C. This is a multi-stage enduro downhill race. Combined with two days of food, drink and entertainment at Red Mountain Resort, and this will be one race you won’t want to miss. Info: www.rubberheadenduro.com.

(august 7) hands-on Bike Maintenance: Fix-a-flat. When: 7 – 8:30 p.m. Where: REI Spokane, 1125 N Monroe, Spokane. This hands-on fix-a-flat class will give you the information you need to be able to change your own flats, at home, on the trail or on the road. Cost: $20 REI members; $40 Non-members. Info: www.REI.com/Spokane or 509-328-9900.

(august 9) north idaho: Mountain Bike in Sherwood Forest. When: 9 – 11 a.m. Where: Sandpoint, Idaho. ICL, the Kaniksu Land Trust and the Pend Oreille Pedalers have teamed up to co-host a mountain bike ride on the recently pro-tected Sherwood Forest trail. Cost: Free. Info: www.idahoconservation.org/events/hikes/2014-hikes/kayak_clark_fork_delta_2014 or 208-265-9565.

(august 23-24) gigantic Bicycle Festival. Where: Centennial Fields Park, Snoqualmie, Wash. The two day, mid-August festival features a diverse, multi-faceted and regionally representative mix of live music, hand-built bicycles, visual & performance art, film, comedy, guest speakers, sculpture, and interactive installation pieces. Cost: $15 - $30. Info: www.theleveebreaking.org.

(august 28) hands-on Bike Maintenance: trail & roadside repair. When: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Where: REI Spokane 1125 N Monroe, Spokane. This hands-on bike maintenance class focuses on what to do when you are on your ride and the unexpected hap-pens. Cost: $45 REI members; $65 Non-members. Info: www.REI.com/Spokane or 509-328-9900.

(tuesday nights) 2014 cooper Jones Memorial twilight Series. When: 6 – 8:30 p.m. Bicycle races held on different venues in and around the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene area. Courses include criteriums, circuits, and road races. Info: baddlands.org.

(Wednesday nights) Wednesday Bike, Brew, and BBq Mountain Bike group rides. When: 5:45 p.m. Where: Terra Sports 510 E Sherman Ave, Coeur d’Alene. 100% no drop, beginner to expert. Meet at Terra Sports at 5:45, or Nettleton Gulch Trailhead at 6:15. Every Wednesday. Cost: Free. Info: terrasport.com or 208-765-5446.

HIKING / WALKING

(on-going) Wed & Sun hobnailer hikes. When: Varies. Where: Varies. Join Hobnailer hiking club

Please visit www.outtheremonthly.com and click “Add Event” under the “Outdoor Calendar” tab to get your events listed online and considered for the monthly print magazine calendar. To be considered for the print calendar, events MUST be entered by the 20th of the month to be listed in the following month’s issue. Please follow the instructions for submitting an event using the web form.

Have an Event You Would Like to List? //

siXmoNthtraiNiNgCaleNdarRUNNING

(September 6) Lookout Lake trail race. When: 6 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Where: Lionhead State Park, Priest Lake, Idaho. 50k - 25k - 5 mile trail race. Camping on site! Cost: $35-$75. Info: www.databarevents.com/lookouttowertrailclimb or 208-946-9543.

(September 13) the riggins “Salmon run”.Where: Riggins City Park, Riggins, Idaho. This is a family friendly event offering multiple distances including a kids fun run for ages 3-6. Enjoy live music, food and drinks. Cost: $5 kid/ $20 5K/ $30 10K/ $40 1/2 marathon. Info: rigginsidaho.com.

(September 13) heart & Stroke Walk/5k run. When: 9 a.m. – noon. Where: Riverfront Park, 507 N Howard St, Spokane. The Heart & Stroke Walk/5K Run is a family-fun event at Riverfront Park honoring cardiac and stroke survivors and celebrating those who are making healthy life-style changes. Cost: $25. Info: www.spokaneheartwalk.org or 509-536-1500.

(September 20) newport autumn Bloom. When: 9 a.m. Where: Newport. 5K/10K Fun Run benefiting the Newport Hospital & Health Services Foundation. A premier racing event, Autumn Bloom’s 10K officially qualified 5 run-ners for the highly competitive second seed for Bloomsday. Info: www.phd1.org/Foundation.NewportAutumnBloom5k10kFunRun.aspx

(September 20) river run. When: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Where: Pybus Public Market, Wenatchee. River Run Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K. The runs take place on paved trails along the Columbia River, Info: www.runwenatchee.com/ or 509-387-0051.

(September 20) glow in the Park. When: 6 – 11 p.m. Where: Spokane Convention Center, 334 West Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane. Glow in the Park is a 5K fun run in Downtown Spokane. Race entries include pre-party admission, glow gear, 5k run, finishers t-shirt and tickets to the after party. Cost: $34. Info: www.the5kglowrun.com or 208-806-1311.

(September 27) 4th annual Wild Moose chase trail run. When: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Where: Mount Spokane. Three different courses, 5k/10k/25k, starting and finishing at the Selkirk Lodge offer runners of all skill levels. Cost: $10-35. Info: www.wildmoosechasetrailrun.com or 907-317-1215.

(September 27) happy girls run half Marathon. When: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Where: Riverside State Park- Bowl and Pitcher, 4427 N. Aubrey L. White Parkway, Spokane. The Happy Girl race courses are recognized by both first-time racers and seasoned runners alike as being inspiring and fun. Cost: $85. Info: www.happygirlsrun.com or 541-323-0964.

(november 27) turkey on the run 12k, 5k and kids race. When: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Where: Rotary Park, 1807 Mulberry Lane, Wenatchee, Wash. Turkey on the Run is a great way to kick off your holiday season with a fun and fit jaunt in Wenatchee. Info: www.runwenatchee.com or 509-387-0051.

MARATHONS

(September 6) Lake chelan Shore to Shore Marathon, half-Marathon, 10k. When: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: Manson Bay Park, Manson, Wash. The course is almost entirely adjacent to Lake Chelan. Runners also will traverse through the quaint down-towns of Chelan and Manson. Info: lakechelanmara-thon.com.

(September 27) Priest Lake Marathon. Where: Priest Lake, Idaho. Full and Half-Marathon, 50k - 25k - 5k. An off-pavement running adventure through the Panhandle National Forest. Cost: $30-$89. Info: www.databarevents.com/priestlakemara-thon or 208-946-9543.

(october 4) Leavenworth oktoberfest Marathon. Where: Leavenworth, Wash. A stunningly beauti-ful course in the scenic town of Leavenworth. Marathoners will start near the renown Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area and may choose from the full or half marathon. Info: teddriven.com/leavenworth-marathon.

(october 12) Spokane Marathon. When: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. Where: Spokane. Runners have the option of running either marathon - marathon relay - half marathon – 10k. The race runs through downtown Spokane and along the Centennial Trail. Info: www.spokanemarathon.us/.

BIKING

(September 7) SpokeFest. When: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Where: Riverfront Park, 507 N Howard Street, Spokane. SpokeFest is the largest bicycling event in the Inland Northwest catering to all levels of riders. Cost: $15 adults; $8 kids. Info: www.spokefest.org or 208-806-1311.

(September 13 & 14) Bike MS: cycle the Silver valley. Where: Silver Mountain Resort, 610 Bunker Ave, Kellogg, Idaho. Northwest, Bike MS features 20- to 100-mile route options for all levels along with a festival atmosphere, great food, music, a beer garden and a Saturday evening rally. Funds support research, programs and services for nearly 15,000 people living with multiple sclerosis across the Northwest. Info: bikemsnorthwest.org.

(September 20) ovando gran Fondo. When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Ovando, Mont. An epic off-road ride for the Missoula Symphony. Bring your cross or mountain bike for this fully supported

57-mile ride. Info: missoulasymphony.org.

(September 20) Blazing Saddles Bike ride. When: 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. Where: Northeast Washington Fairgrounds in Colville, Wash. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Colville, Blazing Saddles is a fully supported ride with rest and food stops as well as mechanical and medical sweeps throughout the course. All routes finish at Blazing Spoons, the Chili Cook-off, at the NE Washington Fairgrounds. Cost: $60. Info: blazing100.org or 509-563-2230.

(September 27) coeur d’Fondo. When: 8:00 a.m. Where: Coeur d’Alene. Choose from a variety of distances, all touring around beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene. “Centro” and “Piccolo” participants will be shuttled by boat across the lake. Info: www.cdagranfondo.com

DUATHLONS

(September 27) Methow valley off-road duathlon. When: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Where: Chickadee Trailhead Shelter Sun Mountain Lodge, Winthrop, Wash. Methow Valley Off-Road Duathlon – 40km Mountain bike, 10km Trail run. Cost: $35 solo; $65 team. Info: www.methowduathlon.blogspot.com or 509-699-0568.

TRIATHLONS

(September 6) rathdrum adventure race & heritage Festival. When: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Where: Rathdrum, Idaho. Bike 22 miles - Kayak 5.5 miles - Run 6 miles. The premier “alternative” triathlon in North Idaho. Experience a mountain bike ride on Rathdrum Mountain or along a treed path, paddle Twin Lakes in a kayak, and then run the trails back to Rathdrum’s City Park. Cost: $40-$150. Info: www.eventbrite.com/directory/idaho/rathdrum or 208-687-2866.

(September 21) valleyfest’s Boat/Bike/run triathlon. When: 8 a.m. – noon. Where: Mirabeau South Centennial Trail Head, 13500 E. Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley, Wash. 15.5-mile course starts at the Mirabeau Park South Centennial Event will be held rain or shine, no refunds. Cost: $50-$100. Info: www.valleyfest.org/boatbikeruntri-athlon.html or 509-922-3299.

(September 27) Methow valley off-road duathlon. When: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Where: North Cascades Mountain Hostel Winthrop, Wash. Methow Valley Off-Road Duathlon – 40km Mountain bike, 10km Trail run will be held at the iconic Sun Mountain resort on the MVSTA trail system. Cost: $35 individual; $65 team. Info: methowduathlon.blogspot.com or 509-699-0568.


OutdoorCalendar aug 2014outdoorcaLendar

for weekly 6-8 mile hikes in the Spokane area. Info: [email protected] or 509-456-0250.

(august 2) north idaho: geocaching along the Pack river delta. When: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Where: Lake Pend d’Oreille: Pack River Delta, Sandpoint, Idaho. Using a GPS, you become the search engine to find hidden containers of treasures on the Trout Creek segment of the Pend Oreille Wildlife Management Area. Cost: Free. Info: www.idahoconservation.org/events/hikes/2014-hikes/kayak_clark_fork_delta_2014 or 208-265-9565.

(august 9) crowell ridge hike on the colville national Forest. When: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Where: 12641 Sullivan Lake Road, Metaline Falls, Wash. Newport-Sullivan Lake District Ranger Gayne Sears will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act with a day hike on the Crowell Ridge Trail in the Salmo-Priest Wilderness. The hike lasts 2 miles along the scenic ridgeline, returning the same way. Bring plenty of water, your lunch, and be prepared for a mildly strenuous hike. Group size is limited to 12 in Wilderness, so please call the Sullivan Lake Ranger Station to register for this hike. Cost: Free. Info: 509-446-7500.

(august 10) north idaho: Mickinnick Picnic hike. When: 4:30 – 8:30 p.m. Where: Sandpoint, Idaho. A family friendly hike for hardy youth 10 years and older with good hiking experience. 7 miles round trip. Moderate, steep trail with many switchbacks and rapid elevation gain, about 2,150 feet. There are “switchbacks” through 160 acres of huge rock out-croppings, grassy meadows, and old growth timber. Cost: Free. Info: 208-265-9565.

(august 31) north idaho: Snow Lake hike. When: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Where: Sandpoint, Idaho. 8 miles round trip with up to 1,320 feet elevation gain. If you like huckleberries, plan for this trip. Trail 185 to Snow Lake isn’t as romantic as some paths in the rugged mountain range. Hikers inspired by the power of nature can see the impact of an avalanche that filled about 20% of the lake with timber and debris in the spring of 2012. Cost: Free. Info: www.idahoconservation.org or 208-265-9565.

RUNNING

(august 3) team gleason/chewelah Peak trail run. When: 8 a.m. – noon. Where: 49 Degrees North Chewelah, Wash. Mountain Trail Race on mostly rough, double track with awesome valley and mountain views. All race distances will start at the Calispell Creek Lodge at 49 degrees North Mountain Resort. All proceeds to benefit Gleason Initiative Foundation 3.5M, 10M and 1/2 marathon distance. Info: cptrailrun.com.

(august 6,13 & 20) tri-Fusion hot Summer nights 5k Series. When: 6 – 8 p.m. Fifth annual Hot Summer Nights 5k Series will take place over three consecutive Wednesday nights. Door prizes, live music, chip-timed event by Milliseconds. All ages welcome and it’s fun for the whole family. Cost: $5. Info: www.tri-fusion.com/hsn/.

(august 16) Strides for Strong Bones 5k. When: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Where: Medical Lake Park, Medical Lake, Wash. The fourth annual osteoporosis aware-

ness 5K walk/run also features a raffle, bone screen-ings and educational information and presenta-tions. Info: 509-953-9924.

(august 16) “dig your grave” 30k trail race. When: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Where: Hope Memorial Center, Hope, Idaho. Based on the life of Ike Walters, a turn-of-the-20th century U.S Marshal.Unique awards. Cost: $30. Info: goatevents.com.

(august 15 & 16) 7th annual Spokane to Sandpoint relay. A 200.2 mile overnight relay that begins atop picturesque Mt. Spokane, and finishes at the beach in beautiful Sandpoint, Idaho. Free craft beer at the finish, no traffic and a free medical team available for everything from blisters to heat injuries. Cost: $420 – $1440. Info: spokanetosand-point.com or 509-699-0568.

(august 3) chewelah Peak trail run. Where: Chewelah Peak, Wash. 10 and 3 mile trail run. Registration opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 9:30 a.m. All race distances will start at the Calispell Creek Lodge and will course through the beautiful trail system of the Colville National Forest. Cost: $40-$55. Info: www.cptrailrun.com or [email protected].

TRIATHLONS

(august 9) coeur d’alene triathlon. The Coeur d’Alene Triathlon and Duathlon have both one of the most scenic races in the Northwest since 1984. This year marks the 31th anniversary of the race. New last year: Sprint Distance. Info: cdatriathlon.com or 877-782-9232.

(august 17) West Plains WunderWoman triathlon. When: 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Where: Medical Lake Park, Medical Lake, Wash. The women-only event includes sprint and Olympic distance courses, and raises awareness for women’s osteoporosis. Also includes free bone-density screenings. Olympic triathlon starts at 7:30 a.m., sprint distance at 8:15 a.m. Info: www.emdesports.com/wunderwoman_triathlon/home.html or 509-953-9924.

(august 23) Priest Lake triathlon. Where: Priest Lake, Idaho. Clear water. Scenic views. The Olympic Triathlon is 1500 m swim/ 40K road course, 10k run. There is also the Sprint Mountain Bike Triathlon, 350 yard swim/ 11 mile dirt MTB course/ 3.1 mile run. MTB bikes only, no cross bikes. Team or Individual. All participants receive a technical fabric finisher shirt and finisher medal. Info: www.databarevents.com/priestlaketriathlon or 208-946-9543.

(august 31) Steve Braun Memorial triathlon. When: 8:30 a.m. - noon. Where: Moran State Park, Orcas Island, Wash. Swim: 1/2 mile in beautiful Cascade Lake. Bike: A 15 mile bike ride along a scenic and very rural county chip sealed road. Run: A beautiful trail run 3.5 miles around Cascade Lake. Cost: $55. Info: friendsofmoran.com or 360-376-3111.

YOGA

(ongoing) intro to flow yoga. When: Mondays 8 p.m. Where: Wild Walls Climbing Gym. Classes

are included with membership, or drop in for for single or pass rates.

WATERSPORTS

(ongoing) Stand up Paddle Board classes. When: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturdays in June. Multiple Locations. Info: [email protected] or 509-487-7815.

(august 9) Paddle, Splash & Play: a kids’ event! When: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Where: Nine Mile Recreational Area, 11226 W Charles Rd, Nine Mile Falls, Wash. A free event to promote the safe, healthy and refreshing world of paddling! Lots of equipment is available for you and your children including canoes, whitewater kayaks, sea kayaks, inflatable kayaks, recreational kayaks and stand-up paddle boards. If you have your own life jacket please bring it as supplies might be limited. Each child will need a life jacket. Cost: Free. Info: 509-209-3066.

OTHER

(august 1) up on the roof. When: 5:30 – 11:30 p.m. Where: 35 W Main Avenue, Spokane. Up on the Roof is a fundraiser for the school supplies that are given out at Unity in the Community every year. There will be a silent auction and raffle, plus a sampling of local cuisine, wine & beverage bar and entertainment. Local live bands will play on the rooftop of the Saranac Public House. Cost: Free. Info: www.community-minded.org/news/up-on-the-roof-2 or 509-209-2625.

(august 3) huckleberry Festival. When: 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Where: 10,000 Schweitzer Mountain Road, Sandpoint, Idaho. 8th Annual Schweitzer Huckleberry Festival. Hosted hikes and shuttles to the ripe huckleberry picking areas (depending on availability) will take place throughout the day. Cost: Free. Info: www.schweitzer.com/events-activ-ities/huckleberry-festival or 208-255-3081.

(august 2, 3 & 19) Wta trail work at Mount Spokane. When: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Where: 26107 N. Mount Spokane Park Drive, Mead, Wash. Volunteer for a day of trail improvements and maintenance within Mount Spokane State Park. Completing 24-hours (total) of volunteer service in the park, one can earn a free Discover Pass. Cost: Free. Info: www.wta.org or 509-921-8928.

(august 9) colville national Forest auto-tour to Salmo Mountain Fire Lookout. When: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Where: 12641 Sullivan Lake Road, Metaline Falls, Wash. Bring water and your lunch. Salmo Mountain Fire Lookout will provide views of the Salmo-Priest Wilderness and surrounding areas. Cost: Free. Info: [email protected] or 509-684-7058.

(august 30 – September 1) Fall Fest. Where: 10,000 Schweitzer Mountain Road, Sandpoint, Idaho. 22nd annual outdoor music and beer festival at Schweitzer. Enjoy live music, chairlift rides, activ-ities for children and a wide variety of micro brews on tap. Info: ww.schweitzer.com/events-activities/fall-fest.


Backcountry alpine lakes are the summer equiv-alent of a hidden powder stash: highly coveted, accessible for only a short part of the year, and all the more special for the human-powered effort required to find them. To outsiders, the Inland Northwest is not known for its alpine lakes; the Central and North Cascades to the west and Glacier National Park to the east tend to hog all the high-alpine H2O glory. That’s fine; we can keep our aquatic stashes – from the granite infinity-pool tarns of the Selkirks to the beargrass-ringed bowls of the Bitterroots and the trout-packed high-mountain shores of the Cabinets – to ourselves. Add these five hiking treks to one, two or more backcountry lakes to your secret stash.

one lAke: st. Joe lAkeSummer days see the St. Joe River in North

Idaho lined with anglers working its blue-ribbon waters. Leave the camper trailers behind and visit the headwaters of this world-class river, a pretty lake tucked in the shoulder of the Bitterroots. Beginning in an expansive meadow, primitive tent sites here make a decent base camp. The St. Joe River trail works its way five casual miles through a forest of hemlock and huckleberry, the river never far from sight. On the way, admire evidence of old mining work, including a dilapi-dated cabin with a front-door view of a waterfall.

The forest canopy eventually opens up to steep subalpine meadows filled with fragrant hyssop, alpine forget-me-not and beargrass before reach-ing St. Joe Lake, tucked in a deep granite bowl. Backpackers can find several nice sites near the outlet; bring a rod. From the lake, it’s a steep, mile-long climb to the ridge-running Stateline Trail on the Idaho / Montana borders and the endless blue-green vista of the Bitterroots reced-ing in the distance.

Getting There: Several routes access the St. Joe River trailhead; the approach from Superior, Mont. is the fastest and easiest on vehicles, but an adventuresome back road drive from Highway 12 and the Lochsa River through the Clearwater River country is also a possibility for those inter-ested in exploring deeper into the Bitterroots to the south. From Superior, Mont., drive 1 mile east on Diamond Road (State Highway 257) and turn right on FR 320. Continue on this well-grav-eled road 28 miles to the stateline (the Stateline Trail crosses the road here), where the road gets rougher as it descends along Medicine Creek. The trailhead is on the left just before the Medicine Creek bridge.

two lAkes: little spAr lAkeAlthough it lacks the abundance of glittering

alpine lakes of the nearby Cabinet Mountains Wilderness, the Scotchman Peaks proposed wilderness area east of Lake Pend Oreille on the Idaho / Montana border is no less wild. Bounded by the Clark Fork and Bull rivers, the Scotchmans boast jagged summits, avalanche-scraped cirques, subalpine meadows and rugged, brushy drain-ages. From a base at drive-in Spar Lake, trek 4 miles to its junior relative, the only trail-accessible tarn in the Scotchman Peaks, to bag two lakes for the work of one.

Beginning 2 miles beyond Spar Lake, the cedar-shaded shores of which feature a quiet campground, the Little Spar Lake trail begins on

an old-roadbed before turning to true tread amid pleasant hemlock forest. A creek crossing at 1.5 miles can be dicey early in the season. The trail then traverses a brushy avalanche slope high above Spar Creek where snow may linger until July, shaded by steep Star Peak on the far side of the drainage. Blooms abound, from the musty smell of fool’s huckleberry to the minty fragrance of hys-sop. Pass a hidden waterfall, and at 4 miles, Little Spar Lakes awaits at the base of a steep talus slope. Good, and well-used, tent sites by the lake’s out-let fill up quickly on summer weekends – relative to its western Montana neighbors, at least. Van-sized granite boulders on the shore are perfect for lounging. Most hikers will be content to relax at this picturesque lake, but seasoned cross-country travelers can bushwhack to shallow Horseshoe Lake in the high heart of the Scotchmans.

Getting There: Two miles east of Troy, Mont., turn south off Highway 2 onto Lake Creek Road (FR 384). Drive 17 miles to Spar Lake Campground. From the campground, continue 2 miles to the large trailhead.

three lAkes: pyrAmid / bAll lAkes Quick access to a trio of alpine lakes on North

Idaho’s Selkirk Crest, coupled with good fishing and excellent huckleberry picking, make this a popular North Idaho destination. You’ll have lots of company on this trail, but you’ll be too distracted by beautiful lakes and berry-picking to notice. From the large trailhead, weave three-quarters of a mile through hip-high huckleberries in thick forest to a trail junction. Bear left another half mile – made slow only by frequent stops for huckleberries – to the well-used campsites along the grassy lawn of Pyramid Lake.

Expect to find anglers working the shallow east and south shores; follow a user-maintained path to the north end of the lake for the best tent spot. Climb on blasted granite above Pyramid Lake nearly a mile to Upper and Lower Ball Lakes. Tucked into the crook of the Selkirk Crest, the boulder-rimmed shores of both Ball Lakes are quintessential Selkirk tarns. Are the Ball Lakes prettier than Pyramid? That’s for you and your hiking companions to debate. For an extend-ed trip, hike back to the trail junction and trek nearly four miles to Trout Lake and another three to Fisher Lake. Or climb over Pyramid Pass and onto the Long Canyon trail for rooftop views of the Selkirks.

Getting There: From downtown Bonners Ferry, Idaho, drive west on Riverside Street along the Kootenai River, passing the Kootenai River Wildlife Refuge. At 5 miles, bear right on West Side Road and continue another 10 miles to a junction; turn left onto Trout Creek Road (FR 634). Continue on this busy gravel road 9 miles to the road’s end and trailhead.

four lAkes: cAbinet lAkes loopAt the southernmost extension of western

Montana’s Cabinet Mountains lies a little-known and lightly explored region of rugged ridgelines, expansive wildflower meadows and steep, gla-cier-gouged basins pockmarked with tiny lakes. The Cabinet Lakes Country doesn’t get the same regard as the lofty peaks of the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness to the north, but it has its own quiet charm. With names such as Cabin, Lawn and

15 Backcountry Lakes Worth the Walk By Aaron Theisen


Grass, these lakes invite relaxation. Miles of short, interconnected trails allow for trips tailored to a variety of skill and fitness levels. But the 8-mile Four Lakes Loop is the best introduction to the Cabinet Lakes Country.

Although Four Lakes Trail puts its best lake at the beginning, after just 2 miles (usually a des-sert-before-dinner no-no), this route saves Cube Iron Mountain for last, a worthy trade-off. Of the Cabinet Lakes, Cabin Lake is the largest and most popular – although “popular” is a relative term here; even on a cloudless August Saturday you are not likely to find more than a handful of eques-trians and anglers at the lake. Consider bringing a rod; the trout are active.

Continue on the loop over a small pass and into a flower-filled basin dotted with three shal-low lakes. In an avalanche-gouged basin at the foot of Cube Iron Mountain, turn left to descend 3 miles back to the trailhead. Or continue straight to climb Cube Iron Pass and the unmarked sum-mit trail to Cube Iron Mountain, site of a former fire lookout. The summit route is breathtakingly steep, especially in the dry heat of high summer. But the views are worth the work.

Getting There: From Thompson Falls, Mont., drive east on Highway 200 to the Thompson River Road at milepost 56. Turn left and drive just over 6 miles – the pavement ends at 4 miles – past several small campgrounds to a junction. Bear left onto West Fork Thompson River Road (FR 603) and continue 7.5 washboarded miles to the road’s end and trailhead.

five lAkes: ten lAkes scenic AreAOvershadowed by its famous neighbor to the

east, Glacier National Park, 40,000-acre Ten Lakes Scenic Area, just shy of the Canadian border in northwest Montana, boasts an abundance of shal-low, grass-fringed lakes suited for foot-soaking amid rocky spires and wildflowers. The 10.5-mile Bluebird Basin Loop samples a handful of pic-turesque lakes with plenty of huckleberries as an appetizer. This is some of the best grizzly habitat in western Montana; while you’re unlikely to eye a bruin, black bears, grouse and bluebirds are plentiful.

From the Bluebird Basin trailhead, climb through huckleberry-laden forest 1.5 miles to shallow – and aptly named – Paradise Lake. Continue around its grassy shores for another 10 minutes of trail time, bearing right at two junctions, to Bluebird Lake. Turn around here for a kid-friendly 5-mile hike. Otherwise, climb around 7,350-foot Green Mountain and descend to Wolverine Lakes. To complete the loop, con-tinue another 2.5 miles to the Wolverine Lakes Trailhead, from which the 3.5-mile Clarence Ness Trail connects back to your car.

Nearby Big Therriault and Little Therriault Lake Campgrounds on the edge of the Ten Lakes Scenic Area, offer some of the best tentside views in the Northwest.

Getting There: From Eureka, Mont., drive south on Highway 93 9 miles and turn left on Graves Creek Road (FR 114). Continue on pave-ment, then on well-graded gravel, 28 miles to Little Therriault Lake Campground. From the campground, continue 1.8 miles to the road’s end and trailhead. //

cAmp responsibly in the bAckcountry

1. Practice Leave No TraceAll the things you bring to your campsite or the backcountry should be taken out with you: trash, cans and other recyclables, extra wood, food, food scraps and fuel canisters. Be a good person, and pick up any trash in your camp that others may have left.

2. Keep a Clean CampPack trash and recycling bags (5 gallon buckets make great trash and recycle bins when lined with bags), and bring reusable water bottles, utensils, plates, towels, etc. to reduce waste and litter. Camp near a toilet facility to reduce human waste in natural areas, and never, ever leave toilet paper and other human waste on the ground out in the woods – use a toilet or bury it!

3. Keep Wildlife WildWild animals only stay wild when they rely on natural food sources and have a healthy fear of humans. Feeding and approaching animals isn’t good for them, nor is it safe for you. Don’t inadvertently feed animals by leaving food out where they can get to it. Especially if you are camping in bear country, never leave food outside or in your tent, or expect unwanted nighttime visitors. // (OTM)

PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: HIKER AND HER BEST FRIEND TAKING A BREAK AT TEN LAKES SCENIC AREA. PHOTO: AARON THEISEN // HIKING THE BITTERROOTS HIGH COUNTRy. PHOTO: HOLLy WEILER // SAMPLING HUCKLEBERRIES ON THE WAy TO ST. JOE LAKE. PHOTO: AARON THEISEN // KRISTI AND OWEN COOLING OFF FROM THE HIKE. PHOTO: AARON THEISEN.


WatersportsSPokane river haPPy hour // By aaron theisento Add to the cArAvAns of rafts, inner tubes and half-racks of Coors Light that parade down the Spokane River on hot summer days, ROW Adventures has begun offering more upscale craft-beer themed floats complete with an ice-packed keg of locally brewed beer. ROW has hosted regular happy hour floats for several years, but this year, the outfitter added a key happy hour ingredient: good beer.

It’s a celebration not only of local brews but of our urban river. And those two things are inti-mately intertwined. Spokane is unique among mid-size and major metropolitan areas in that

it has a floatable river – much of it flanked by a state park – within its city limits. And while heavy metals and other pollutants still make their way into the river, the Spokane is cleaner than it has been in decades.

On a recent summer evening, when the tem-peratures reached triple digits, I put in with ROW guides and the brewers from Steam Plant Brewing at the Peaceful Valley put-in. Raucous inner-tubers floated by on splashy class II rapids, the river a sliver of its snowmelt-packed spring self.

After an hour of mellow floating, past dogs, disc golfers, fly fishermen and other floaters, the

guides beached the raft and sit-on-top kayaks on a small sandy beach. Guides set up a table with a spread of appetizers while the Steam Plant brew-ers poured cups of cold beer from growlers and the pony keg: the seasonal Blood Orange Ale, steeped with orange zest and blood orange juice; the Cascadian Dark Ale, a nut-brown ale with a hoppy but balanced bite. A cacophony of cliff swallows flitted around a canyon wall across the river as guests raised cups in the amber summer haze.

Dusk descended to the water, and so did mule deer, blue heron and the other natural nightlife

of Washington’s second-largest state park. A twi-light take-out near the Wastewater Treatment Plant was a fitting reminder of how important healthy rivers are to our communities. For much of modern history, people drank beer because it was safer than water, and they believed it had restorative properties. Today, the local produc-tion of beer is a celebration of water and a sign of a community’s vitality. There’s still time to raise a glass in honor of our urban river on one of ROW’s remaining happy hour floats this summer. Rowadventurecenter.com/spokane-rafting. //

LEFT: SKIPPING ROCKS ON THE

SPOKANE. RIGHT: TAPPING THE KEG. //PHOTOS: AARON

THEISEN


BikingSkirtS to Bike ShortS road cycling northeast Washington // By katie LeBlanc

As A femAle commuter cyclist, much of my riding is in town, in a skirt, avoiding flashing oncoming traffic. When afforded the time for longer rides, skirts are graciously thrown to the wind for bike shorts. The elemental nature of a roadie seeks the yellow brick road – a practical journey, embedded with spiritual components, and sprinkled with indulgent rewards. It is sum-mertime in Northeast Washington, and you’d be hard pressed to find a better ride than any here.

Northeast Washington is known for her rural communities, embroidered with long rolling fields and farms, and an intriguing heritage. The lack of crowds, subtle beauty, and ride varieties makes this region a road cycling priority. Winding your way through National Forest land offers a sense of its wildness. One of Colville’s Women on Wheels (WOW) member Beverly Ferraro’s everyday rides exemplifies the local cycling experience: “Today, on my 46 mile ride along the Columbia River, I went around a corner and saw two black bear cubs and then heard the mama off in the woods. It made my day!”

Loop rides are abundant, and the views resem-ble Hollywood back drops, courtesy of the dry, sunny days unique to this corner of the state. Start with a ride that gives you a taste of the region with little commitment. I call these jaunts creamsicle rides: short, sweet and savory – leaving you jone-sing for more.

hotchkiss/ArtmAn gibson/route 20 loopIn under 20 miles, this loop provides a gratifying leg stretcher if you’re driving through Colville and need to get out and roll. These country roads are easily accessed from town and have little auto traffic with views of farmland, forests, and picture-perfect homesteads. There’s even a little bike hostel nestled into the hillside.

For this ride, park at the Colville Chamber of Commerce on the south end of town near the roundabout and take Hawthorne Street to Garden Homes Drive. Follow Garden Homes to Graham Road on your right. The first part of this loop is a bit of a burner, and as you head up the hill on Graham, take a right on Hotchkiss, where you encounter initial elevation gain, then kick back and enjoy the ride as the rest is (mostly) smooth sailing. Take a left on Artman Gibson Road, then a left on Route 20 back to Colville.

Local cyclist Amiee LeBlanc Gloe extends the journey by taking Kitt Narcisse, at the Hotchkiss/Artman Gibson junction, and describes this ride as unmatched in pastoral beauty. End your ride at

Lovitt Restaurant for a taste of local fare – farm-to-table dining with atmosphere.

kettle fAlls/orin rice/colville loop This ride is a locals’ favorite, embodying a rural ambiance of undulating fields quilted with farms, and offers fun start and finish options. I fell in love with the awe-inspiring scenery on this ride, catching my breath and wondering if I was in Ireland.

Park at Bradbury Beach on Route 25 in Kettle Falls and make this venture a biathlon with a swim in Lake Roosevelt, or park at Northern Ales in town to end with pizza and a pint of local craft beer. Ride Route 25 along the Columbia River to the Orin Rice Road, then up and over to Colville for a 46 mile loop. Or take a left off of Route 25 on Pleasant Valley Road (if you can endure the chip seal) to experience an even deeper country landscape. This route is about as close as it gets to riding a wave in the Inland Northwest; the price is a cleansing physical demand, rewarded with the Zen moment of the ride. Remember to drink in the floral scents while sucking wind on your ascent. Check your brakes before dropping in, as the descent is wild and free.

Lynn O’Connor, member of ColVelo, Northeast Washington’s cycling group, is partial to looping this ride backwards from Colville to Orin Rice. “Cresting the hill from this direction is the most striking display and best view of the Kettle Crest Mountain Range that I have ever seen,” she says.

tAste the locAl riding scene At blAzing sAddlesMaybe you’ve tried a few Northeast Washington routes and know you can negotiate your path with many options, but you’re not quite sati-ated. The Colville Rotary Club hosts the Blazing Saddles Ride on September 20, with approxi-mate 40, 60, or 100 mile loop options, as well as a family fun ride. It’s a stellar way to experi-ence new terrain and meet the local cycling gang. The courses are well organized and will be attended by cyclists who are celebrating the recent designation of State Highway Route 20 as Washington’s first interstate bike route.

Your ride will include, and ends with, the Blazing Spoons Chili Cook Off – a festive event with live music, spirits, and family friendly activi-ties. Register at blazing100.org. To join Northeast Washington’s cycling forum or to view mapped routes, check out ColVelo’s website: Colvelo.org. //

RIVER CITY BREWING � Drink LocalOpen Daily • 121 South Cedar

rivercityred.blogspot.com • @rivercityred

RIVER CITY RED

CLASSIC COLVILLE AREA RIDING. // PHOTO: JASON

EDWARDS.


trails, and Whitefish that he doesn’t know. He tells me inspiring stories of kids on bikes that make me want to spend a week here with my own

child (and hit the trails while she makes new riding buddies). Upon returning to the Retreat, I meet a handful of other riders passing through. There’s a little bit of everything

here. There is Patrick, touring east to west before return-ing to college. There is a well-known jazz composer

George Maurer who is riding to Boston in memory of a friend lost to cancer. He composes music in

his head while he rides. There are some women learning yoga and venturing on their first mountain bike rides. There’s a bike shop owner from Arcata with his family. We eat, share sto-ries, become friends, and sleep with dreams of trails on our minds.

Day Three: I call up Whitefish Mountain ski bunny/marketing director, Riley Polumbus. She watched me crash down the mountain on telemark skies last winter. I promise her I ride much better than I ski, and she shows up with her bike and a plan. We want to ride the Lion Mountain Trail, from

the top (just past the Retreat) to the bottom and back.

Now I’ve ridden my bike everywhere from Patagonia to Pasco, in the redwoods of California,

down the trails of the Cascades, but I’ve never rid-den anything quite as damn straight fun as the 12

miles we rolled that afternoon.Fast, flowing trails with wonderfully playful design

through changing landscapes in a seemingly ceaseless journey around hillsides and through canyons. I could not stop smiling.

I did not want to leave. Ever.Back at the Retreat, I seriously consider staying. Rosie and Todd are

staying for another day with some excuse of needing more sleep. The others seem to be adding rest days as well. I know that if I stay another day, I’ll just rent out my

house and get a job waiting tables in Whitefish or something. Instead, I use the bike wash to clean my ride, then tune it up in the shop on hand. I have about 500 ideas for the house I build myself someday.

On my way out I run into Cricket Butler. In case you’ve never heard of her, she’s about the bad assest lady to ever ride a bike. The retreat is her dream and her home. She’s humble in her ways, and she’ll mention that she’s ridden the Great Divide (four times), but she doesn’t tell you that she’s won the race, that she likely slept in a ditch with a plastic bag and banged out those 2,745 miles of trail in record time. But she will ask if you’re comfortable, give you beta on the trails (local and distant), and make sure you feel at home. And you will. Whitefishbikeretreat.com. //

when you go:

this place is like a home away from home, only you’ll wish you could stay for good. there’s a beauti-

ful community kitchen, showers, grill pit, bike shop and wash, pump track, and trailhead connecting

to the whitefish trail system. rooms are $45 per night in bunk rooms, $95 per night in queen rooms,

and camping is $15 per person.

if there is A list of greatest jobs in the world, building mountain bike trails must be at the top of it. At the very least, it must fill your karma account. This is what I am thinking as I grin ear to ear and wrap around every perfectly engineered corner of the Whitefish Trail.

I decide the second greatest job in the world is being the operator/host/winner of the Great Divide Race and owner of the Whitefish Mountain Bike Retreat. Yes. There is a Mountain Bike Retreat near Whitefish, Montana. Yes. You want to go there.

Day One: I roll into Whitefish and amazingly do not get lost in the 10 minute drive out to the Retreat. I might adopt a boyfriend for the week-end because, as we’ve established, owning a bike is pretty much my only boyfriend criteria and I see a lot of boys on bikes here. Note to self: trip looking good already.

Upon arrival at the Retreat, I am met by hostess on hand, Emma, who knows every-thing about anything, from which trails to hit at sundown to what live music is in town that night. She takes me to the bunk house, which is misleadingly named. I think there are bunk beds here, but all I see is a cyclist’s dream interior design.

Handles are made of handlebars, the railing is recycled bikes, rims decorate the walls, cranks hold toilet paper. The entire downstairs of this converted barn is dedicated to community – the biking commu-nity. They’re sitting at the bar eating Jalapeño potato chips and confident enough in their biking prowess to wear pastel pink shirts.

I unload, throw my kit on, recall Emma’s directions (“ride through the campsites, follow the signs”), and hit the trailhead. In min-utes I am on some of the most beautifully shaped trail I’ve ever rolled. It’s almost as if…someone planned it that way.

And they did. A company called Terraflow, based in Whitefish, built these trails specifi-cally for biking. Oh they are fun to ride, but they’re also intelligent. They self-drain, they have banked corners, they don’t puddle or pool, so you can ride in all weather without damaging the trails. They are cut into the hillside in a way that provides momentum, so even climbing can feel easy. You can tell who-ever made these trails knew they were making happiness. You’ll want to ride all day, then ride some more.

After I pick the bugs out of my grill, I sit down with the chip-eaters. Meet Rosie: Rosie does not look like your epic-journey mountain biker. She’s burly, round on the edges, and could crush you with a single flex of her calf muscle. She just rode 4,500 miles across the country to “train” for the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Her business partner, Todd (likes pink, teddy bears, and dessert before dinner), tells me stories of food consumption that are almost as impressive as his bike journeys. I want to grow up to be like them.

Day Two: I meet in the morning with Tom and Anna Danley of Beyond the Boundaries. They run a guiding, private lesson, and cycling camp business. During the week, they teach kids to mountain bike. On the weekends, they show people like me the trails.

Tom takes me up to the Beaver Lake trails. I’m convinced there’s not a thing about biking, bikes,

Whitefish on

Wheels

The Whitefish Trail SystemA series of trails (some linked, some independent) on lands donated by private and public organizations, the system currently includes over 25 miles of official trail with more than 55 planned in total.

lion mountain (2.2 miles west of Whitefish on Highway 93): 12 miles of flowing, rolling, blissful awesome. It also connects to several of the other trails in the system (Beaver Lake, Skyles, Woods Lake).

beaver lakes (About 9 miles west of Whitefish on Highway 93 and Beaver Lake Road): Connects into Three Mile Loop. Riders can make this an easy few miles or tack on the Woods Lake Loop and a nice little climb to the east.

north spencer (4.5 miles west of Whitefish on Highway 93): This trail includes a manicured trail (built for bikers) with an 8-mile loop and endless connector trails within the loop of varying difficulty.

Whitefish Mountain Resort TrailsSo you brought your downhill or all mountain ride? You put the kids in bike camp? The mountain has just the lift-serviced adrenaline fix for you. Lifts are open daily from 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. ($32 adults, $22 kids). Trails include several long, challenging routes from the summit. Most beloved and known are Kashmir, Freebird, and the lengthy Summit Trail (7.8 miles). If you like to pedal up, you can ride up the Summit Trail, but watch for downhillers in busy hours. The Resort also has plenty of miles of intermediate and beginner lift-served trails too. Skiwhitefish.com.RIBBONS OF SINGLETRACK SMILES. // PHOTOS: AMMI MIDSTOKKE

by Ammi Midstokke


OutdoorLivingBetter eating in the Backcountry // By amy Silbernagel Mccaffree

getting bored with grilled hamburgers and s’mores every time you go camping? While there is nothing wrong with this traditional, all-American campsite meal, perhaps you’re ready for some different ideas. If you’re backpacking, it’s tempting to be satisfied with store-bought, freeze-dried meals or ramen noodles – simple, easy, little mess. Yet, you shouldn’t submit to mediocre food just because you’re away from kitchen conveniences. Freeze-dried meals may taste good when you’re hot and hungry in the backcountry, but they’re high in sodium and expensive. With a little extra planning and prep-aration before leaving home, you can eat well while either car camping or backpacking.

bAckpAcking meAlsTrailcooking.com – whose motto is “Do

not take what you do not like to eat” – is a great resource for backpackers. Created by Washingtonian Sarah Kirkconnell, who devised the Freezer Bag Cooking (FBC) method as a less expensive and healthier alternative to store-bought freeze-dried meals, this website provides recipes and instructions to inspire you – such as Huckleberry Donuts: trailcooking.com/dessert/huckleberry-donuts. The site also includes tips for dehydrating food to make homemade freeze-dried meals, plenty of recipes, and information about one-pot and no-cook methods.

cAmp cooking ideAs•“Campfire Cooking” is a spiral-bound cookbook organized according to six different cooking methods: in a pie iron, wrapped in foil, roasted on a stick, on the grill, in a Dutch Oven, and in a skillet.•Sunset Magazine’s “Favorite Camping Recipes for Dinner” (includes a recipe for tofu and egg-plant hobo bundles). Sunset.com/food-wine/kitchen-assistant/camping-cooking-recipes.

•Boozy Cheese: Round up these ingredients: a wheel of brie or similar style rind cheese, Pear eau de vie or brandy, loaf of French bread, and aluminum foil. Poke several holes in the cheese wheel, drizzle with booze and wrap completely in foil. Place wrapped wheel in the embers of the fire (not direct flame). Remove after about 12 minutes – cheese should be gooey and melted. Open foil and serve with bread for dipping.

•Campfire Cone (kid-friendly):You’ll need sugar or waffle ice cream cones, marshmallows, choc-olate chips, assorted nuts, fresh fruit, peanut butter, and other toppings as desired. Fill cones with the above ingredients, wrap in foil and place on embers for 5 to 7 minutes. Peel off foil and enjoy!

cAr cAmpingAll you tent campers or back-of-the-truck

sleepers who still pack a propane stove and cooler and cook on an open fire, this is for you. When meal planning for your trip, consider these ques-tions: What kind of foods and entrees do you and your fellow campers most enjoy? How much time in your trip schedule will you have for on-site meal preparation? How many servings will you need per meal? What will happen with any leftovers? What supplies and gear are required to prepare and cook the meals you desire? Are campfires allowed at your campsite for the time you plan to go? Are you able to allow the nec-essary time and muster the energy to properly clean-up after cooking?

Trailcooking.com’s one-pot recipes can be modified for car camping. At-home prepara-tions where you portion servings and divide ingredients into re-sealable plastic bags means that you can sometimes prepare a meal at your campsite in 15 minutes or less. To ensure your raw meat stays cold and fresh, consider season-ing or marinating the portioned meat at home (pre-cut as necessary) and freeze prior to your departure. Frozen meat will thaw in your cooler and be ready in a day or two for grilling, roast-ing or sautéing in a skillet. //

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STIRRING UP A ONE-POT MEAL. // PHOTO: SHALLAN KNOWLES


DestinationFernie, Bc – adventure in the canadian rockieS iS cLoSer than you think

fernie becAme my new fAvorite word for several weeks this summer. I really couldn’t stop talking about it, to the eventual annoyance of my wife who had to endure the brunt of my endless ranting and raving. I had always thought Fernie was too far away, but the real barrier was the fact that I didn’t have a clue what I’d been missing.

First, it’s time to dispel the distance myth. At a little under a five-hour drive from Spokane, it’s faster than driving to Seattle (with the heinous traffic), and no offense to the Emerald City, but I’ll take a cool, Canadian mountain town over a trip to the crowded Westside any day. The Easton border crossing north of Sandpoint is typically quick and painless, and the rest of the drive is mostly mellow highway time with awesome mountain scenery to Zen out on.

Now, if you’re like me before this summer and you’ve never been to Fernie, let’s focus on what you’ve been missing. The town itself sits in the heart of the truly stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains. Think cool outdoor town surrounded by scenery that looks like Glacier National Park or the Colorado Rockies. An outdoor recreation mecca with a relaxed and authentic feel filled with people who are there because of their passion for the mountains, Fernie is the real deal. Whatever your bliss (hiking, mountain biking, whitewater, fly fishing, mountain town chilling), you can craft your own custom mountain getaway with ease.

historic downtown fernieOn a recent trip, we rolled in late and decided to chill on our hostel deck with the resident giant dog and a couple beers while we watched the evening light melt into the mountains. In the morning, we walked a few blocks downtown to get a feel for the place. Fernie’s street-side patios, coffee shops, and cafes make for a pleasant start to the morning and a fine introduction. It’s worth taking the time to stroll the spacious sidewalks lined with turn-of-the-century brick and stone buildings to get acquainted with the town and its history. The newly renovated Fernie Museum (with a kid’s mining cave) is a fascinating historical walk in the town’s shoes. Far from a mining boom town on the bust, Fernie’s downtown is alive with people out and about, zipping down the streets on fat-tire and townie bikes, browsing the eclectic stores and restaurants that serve locals and tourists, including unique shops like the Beanpod, one of North America’s only bean-to-bar chocolate makers, or Clawhammer Letterpress, where 100-year-old printing presses are still in use. After getting to know the town a bit and maybe having a bite to eat, it’s time to hit the mountains you’ve been gawking at all morning.

hikingFernie has so many hiking trails winding up and around the mountains above town that it’s hard to choose exactly where to start. There are trails to ancient fossil sites, tranquil waterfalls, majestic old-growth cedars and scenic 360 degree panoramic views. The timber chairlift at Fernie Alpine Resort climbs to 5,662 feet and offers access to trails with views that will literally take your breath away. Just east of the resort, Island Lake Lodge offers extensive hiking trails right out of the lodge, including hikes through some of the most inland groves of ancient west coast cedars. The iconic Mountain Lakes Trail takes hikers deep into the mountains for a day of tranquility and wild, stunning scenery. If you’re looking for a little extra relaxation and rejuvenation after your hike, Island Lake Lodge has a “relaxation deck” and a spa with views of the Three Bears Peaks and a restaurant.

mountAin bikingThe word about Fernie’s legendary mountain biking has been slowly making its way south of the border over the past couple years. On a recent biking trip to Rossland, just about every other rider I met out on the trail was headed to Fernie next. There are over 60 trails above town and 37 at Fernie Alpine Resort, including world-class lift-accessed riding at the resort bike park. Thanks to thoughtful trail building and diverse terrain, riders of every ability will find trails to ride from easy

family-friendly valley trails looping through town to expert singletrack and everything in between. I especially appreciate how many trailheads you can easily pedal to from your hotel or hostel. To get oriented, order a copy of the artfully written and designed and immensely helpful “Fernie Mountain Bike Guide” before your trip. If you prefer the kind of in-person trail beta that you can only get from riders who live and love their local trails, Fernie has several friendly bike shops that can help get you pointed in the right direction.

whitewAter rAftingLooking for a day off from the trails and a cool (and wet) way to explore the area? Spend a day float-ing the Elk River Canyon’s renowned whitewater. Full-day rafting trips on the Elk’s class I-IV rapids through the valley’s stunning scenery can be customized for those who are new to whitewater boating and for more experienced, adrenaline seeking paddlers (inflatable kayaks are available on guided tours for an even more thrilling float). A summer day on the Elk River is an unmatched way to experience the region’s wild character and striking mountain vistas.

fly fishingA destination for anglers, the Elk River flows from the crys-tal clear Elk Lakes to the northeast down to Lake Koocanusa along the border, offering pools, flows and streams that create the perfect combination of fish habitat. Monster bull trout and westslope cutthroat abound here and on the nearby Bull and Wigwam Rivers. Experienced guides are ready to show you the ideal spots for float trips or walk and wade. When I learn to fly fish (hopefully later this year), I’ll be back.

outdoor fAmily funEspecially with younger kids, getting the whole family out

into the bush for a wilderness adventure might be pushing it, and fortunately Fernie has its bases covered as an outdoor family destination. There are miles of community trails, a river running through town, the Fernie Aquatic Centre and splash park, and plenty of shady parks and fun playgrounds to visit. A few miles up out of town, Fernie Alpine Resort’s interpretive nature centre, scenic chairlift rides, aerial park, ziplines, guided hikes and bike

park are enough to keep any active family occupied for days.

food, drink, And nightlifeWe didn’t expect the quality of restaurants we found in Fernie either, from local organic produce and homemade gelato to fusion cuisine, real sushi, and some of the best Mexican food and margaritas I’ve had north of California. A visit to Fernie Brewing Company to sample some award winning brews is also highly recommended. Nightlife includes an eclectic mix of regular live music from local and visit-ing artists playing various locations downtown, where the contagious cheer spills out into the streets and bikes pile up casually outside popular watering holes. Just make sure you get enough beauty rest to tackle the trails in the morning.

where to stAyFor an affordable, authentic community living experience, try the Raging Elk Hostel. Private rooms are available, it’s bike friendly, there’s a community kitchen, and a deck with a view of the mountains. There’s even an in-hostel lounge (Ragingelk.com). We also stayed at the Red Tree Lodge on the main drag through town, where the rooms are spacious, it’s also bike friendly, and there’s a hot tub and free breakfast (redtreelodge.com). Rooms at Island Lake Lodge, with world class hiking right outside your door, were also highly recommended (Islandlakecatskiing.com). //

Learn more about Fernie and plan your next trip at Tourismfernie.com. By: Derrick Knowles

Let’s face it. Canadians are way more social than your average American, and they pull off some super fun events that will have you feeling like you’re almost a local (or at least wishing you were) by the end of it all. Summer in Fernie offers non-stop events, with everything from mid-week outdoor concerts and fun bike rides to world-class multi-day races. The second week-end in August (Aug. 8-9) features Fernie’s Indie music festival Wapiti outside in Annex Park. The same weekend there’s also a 100-mile road bike ride, the Bibbity Bobbity Boo Children’s Festival in Rotary Park and the Classic Car Show in downtown Fernie. Later in the month, celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Lifting of the Ghostrider Curse (an incredibly fascinating bit of local lore) in a weekend of interpretive entertainment including the Ktunaxa dance troupe. Find details at: Tourismfernie.com.

fernie summer events

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Last PagereFLectionS on the 50th anniverSary oF the WiLderneSS act // By Bea Lackaffon september 3, our nation will celebrate the 50thAnniversary of the Wilderness Act. It wasn’t a smooth or easy process to create and pass a “Wilderness Act.” We can boast that the Act was practically born in our own backyard. Driven by Idaho’s Senator Frank Church, it would have never made it through Congress (according to Church’s one-time aide, Lewiston journalist Bill Hall), without the robust support of Washington’s powerful Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson.

The Wilderness Act took over eight years and some 60 draft versions before being signed into law. Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society created and staunchly defended his definition of wilderness as it appears in the Act: “A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby rec-ognized as an area where the earth and its com-munity of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.”

Designated wilderness areas do not typically allow road building, resource extraction, motor-ized vehicles, or even mountain bikes. Leave No Trace is policy. Fire, disease, and wildlife man-agement are largely left to nature. The concept of “wilderness” is a cauldron of diverse definitions, historical and cultural contradictions, opposing passions and opinions. Oh please – can’t we just go camping? Sure! But just consider: Moses had to lead his people through a “great and terrible wilderness,” where the very Devil lurks, whisper-

ing temptations. But wait –according to Thoreau, Muir, and the transcendentalists, wilderness is a sacred cathedral, the only place where God dwells, offering refreshment and salvation to the human spirit.

Another contradiction is that European set-tlers arrived on this continent and found a vast, “empty,” and dangerous wasteland to be tamed and made productive. Meanwhile, the nations of people who had been living here since way before Moses, looked about and saw a generous, familiar,

and beloved land they called home.Wilderness calls to many fishermen, horse-

men, skiers, hikers, backpackers, birdwatchers, plant lovers, tree-huggers, solitude seekers, and families taking the kids out for a day of fun. But Wilderness also stings to some ranchers, snow-mobilers, off-road vehicle riders, and mountain bikers, to name a few, who resent the restrictions and more limited access. Feelings can run high, and members of different groups may regard one another with suspicion or hostility.

Back in 1995, William Cronon pondered these dynamics in an essay titled “The Trouble with Wilderness,” which riled up a lot of folks back then, and still sets some teeth to gnashing. My favorite part suggests that maybe it’s not neces-sarily “Wilderness” but “wildness” that we really need. And wildness is all around us – yes, right in our city parks and natural areas but also in our neighborhoods and backyards. I delight in the first spring buttercup. Are you fascinated by the hummingbirds at your feeder?

Cronon challenges us to consider how we can, on the one hand, enshrine and rhapsodize over the 3,000 foot granite spire and still tromp the blazing star that grows from construction rubble or leave our picnic litter on the riverbank?

So – let’s celebrate! 50 years of setting aside wilderness areas in the United States is one great big way to honor and protect wildness. It’s a his-toric accomplishment and is being emulated by other countries around the world. Here in the Inland Empire, we are not only near the source of this vision, but we are surrounded by a variety of glorious, diverse public wilderness areas, many only a couple of hours away, all promising visitors a memorable backcountry experience.

And, let’s also remember that just noticing and appreciating glimpses of the wild in our daily lives is another way to celebrate wilderness. Perhaps we will come to understand what Thoreau meant with those famous words: “…in wildness is pres-ervation of the world.” //

THE AUTHOR STROLLING THROUGH THE WILDS OF WIDOW MOUNTAIN. // PHOTO: FRED RABE

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August 2014

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