Snowboard, check. Boots, check. Goggles, check. Passport, check. In mid-March, I loaded my rig and headed north from Spokane to Canada. After a few short hours through the Colville forest via Hwy 25, I crossed the border into BC. My main intention for the trek was to check out the 2nd Annual Rattlecat Cup at …
Winter’s Not Over Yet: Road Trip Through the Kootenay Vortex Read More »
Rick and Randy Evans pull into my driveway on a snowy Thursday afternoon, two dogs ejecting from their vehicles in unbridled enthusiasm for the great outdoors. “I brewed a fresh pot of coffee,” Rick says as he steps onto my front porch and sets down a thermos with a thud. I can tell it’s going …
The Evans Brothers: For the Love of Coffee (and the Great Outdoors) Read More »
If you ride off-road, you have likely been bombarded with every possible opinion on what mountain bike wheel size you should be riding. Allow me to add one more perspective to this debate that will help you be as industry savvy as I claim to be. Let me begin with asking you to consider the …
Good, Better, Best: What MTB Wheel Size is Right For You? Read More »
Ever since my first spring backpack trip to Utah with EWU’s outdoor program back in college, the month of March has meant, in most good years, that it was time for a spring break trip. From Utah to Hells Canyon and the wilds of Idaho’s Salmon River, spring trips have typically targeted low-elevation, arid regions …
“Running snowshoes?” I asked, baffled by the idea of snowshoeing as a “sport” to begin with, I couldn’t imagine running in them. Then a woman pulled out a picture of herself running through my favorite forested trails – trails I hadn’t been able to run in weeks and sorely missed. I was sold before I …
From the parking lot, follow the trail up a mild incline to a picnic area at .3 miles, and then turn right up the short, steep scree-covered path to Steamboat Rock. Once on top, a loop trail awaits, giving hikers a spectacular view in all directions. Hike it counter-clockwise to peer into Devil’s Punchbowl from …
Hike of The Month: Steamboat Rock State Park (Banks Lake, North Central WA) Read More »
Interest in uphill travel routes where skiers can skin or hike up resort mountains continues to climb at ski areas throughout North America. In the past, most uphill skiers at resorts were backcountry skiers looking for a workout or better snow conditions when avalanche risks or conditions were bad in the backcountry. That trend seems …
Skiing Uphill at Mt. Spokane Just Got Easier (and Safer) Read More »
Sometimes a person gets lucky. The storm clouds obscure the sky on a day the lifts are not running, and a foot of fresh powder falls. The next day dawns clear and happens to coincide with a day off from work or school or other responsibilities. Whenever I happen to have this much good fortune, …
Deep Powder and Spring Corn: Ski it All at Silver Read More »
Winding through stands of giant ponderosa pines while pebbles and mud scatter in your wake. Gliding over slick rocks as your bike responds to each element of the trail. Bombing aggressively through canyons as you navigate smooth, narrow singletrack. Sound familiar? Yes folks, it’s that time of year again; time when we emerge from our …
SPRING FEVER: Tune Up Your Spring Ride: New Trails, Training Tips, and Events Read More »
