March 2016

The R in Washington is Silent

“Pronunciation question: Does ‘Iller’ Creek rhyme with ‘miller’ or ‘miler’?” That’s the unassuming question I posted on Facebook last fall, and it was the moment I learned where my active outdoor friends and my grammar geek friends overlap – and sharply disagree. Confession: Until adulthood, I thought “awry” was pronounced “AW-ree.” I thought “frigate” was […]

The R in Washington is Silent Read More »

Woman in a wetsuit adjusting her swim cap, preparing for an open water swim.

Life in Water: What Drives this Local Swimmer to Hit the Lake Whenever She Can

Susan Hales describes the details of some of her more memorable swims vividly. She has been attacked by a merganser. She has been inspected by river otters. She has pulled herself out of the water on the brink of storms. A typical day in the water for Hales is adventurous by most others’ standards. Take,

Life in Water: What Drives this Local Swimmer to Hit the Lake Whenever She Can Read More »

People’s Park: An Oasis of Nature Near Downtown Spokane

For thousands of years people have enjoyed the little peninsula upstream from the confluence of Latah Creek and the Spokane River. The name “People’s Park” says a lot about the long history of this place that separates the Spokane River from the downstream reach of Latah Creek (also known as Hangman Creek). People’s Park is

People’s Park: An Oasis of Nature Near Downtown Spokane Read More »

Hiking in Wine Country: Pair Sagebrush Walking with Wine Tasting in the Tri-Cities

Sharing the same latitude as the legendary Burgundy and Bordeaux wine regions of France, the Tri-Cities of central Washington have taken advantage of rich soil and sunny, arid conditions to establish a wine-making region of growing renown. But Kennewick, Richland and Pasco have also quietly begun to develop a reputation as an outdoor recreation destination

Hiking in Wine Country: Pair Sagebrush Walking with Wine Tasting in the Tri-Cities Read More »

A Fat-Bike Desert Odyssey: From Seattle to Spokane on the John Wayne and Columbia Plateau Trails

Last August I spent five days riding my bike on the John Wayne Pioneer Trail and Columbia Plateau Trails from North Bend to Spokane. The dry eastern portion was the most interesting to me. It was the most challenging due to the heat and lack of shade but the most rewarding for the awesome silence

A Fat-Bike Desert Odyssey: From Seattle to Spokane on the John Wayne and Columbia Plateau Trails Read More »

Scroll to Top