Growing up in the Spokane area, it’s kind of hard to believe that I hadn’t done more than hike or drive along the edges of Lake Spokane before an Avista-inspired boat tour of the 24-mile-long lake last summer. The reservoir, which is formed by the Long Lake Dam impounded waters of the Spokane River, is
For Paddlers and Boaters, There’s a Lot to Explore at Lake Spokane Read More »
Occasionally people ask me my favorite outdoor activity. It can be hard to narrow it down, considering the assorted skis stashed in odd corners of my house, the pile of backpacks on the floor, the snowshoes hidden behind my couch and the kayak and mountain bike in the basement. Still, for more than two-thirds of
Kettle Crest DIY Ultra: All It Takes is You Read More »
Bill Bender has been a part of the Spokane bicycling scene for many years, and yet many people have never heard of him. Modesty prevents him from tooting his own horn, but what he has done speak volumes. Bender, and the many volunteers he recruits and credits for making it all happen, have brought three
One Spokane Cyclist is Behind Several of Our Biggest Bike Events. Thanks Bill! Read More »
Stand up paddleboarding – also known as SUP – is a pretty beginner-friendly sport, but there are still plenty of tricks that can help you paddle more efficiently and have more fun. I rented a paddleboard for the first time in Hawaii a few years back, and with years of surfing experience, I figured the
Learn to Stand Up Paddleboard with a Lesson or Tour Read More »
We finished the float on the Grande Ronde River in Southeast Washington, and it was a day to remember. Steelhead, the ocean run variety of rainbow trout, had graced us with their presence from the first run we hit at dawn to the last holding water of the day. The savage take of a wild
You Can’t Just Take: Wild Enlightenment on the Grande Ronde Read More »
When a friend asked me to take a few days off to race the Kootenay Sufferfest mountain bike race, I laughed at him. Suffering should be something you get paid to do, not something you pay for, I thought. It turns out I was dead wrong. After some convincing on his part, I found myself
Kootenay SufferFest — A Little Bit of Suffering & a Whole Lot of Fun (Sept. 5-7, 2015) Read More »
John Muir said “Going to the mountains is going home.” If you can relate, there is no shortage of places in the greater Inland Northwest that should feel like home. This is OTM’s second annual “Backcountry” issue, so a cover story highlighting a few wild, mountainous places that you can drive through, with drool-inducing views
The Mountains Are Calling Read More »
This Booty has been found! Congratulations to the winners! Play the OTM Backcountry Booty scavenger hunt contest and you get to explore different trails around the region and possibly win gift certificates for cool outdoor gear and other prizes. Here’s how it works: 1. We hide a booty certificate, that’s good for whatever prizes
Backcountry Booty: OTM’s Centennial Trail Mile 34 Read More »
