July 2018

Barefooting the Spokane: the Short-lived, Spokane River Water Ski Craze

In the late ‘80s, near a now-defunct riverside restaurant called Shenanigans, a niche group of locals started jumping off the bridge into the Spokane River, bruising backs and spraining necks in the process, all in the name of learning a new sport: barefoot waterskiing. They “scorpioned” when their form strayed, face planting at eye-lid-peeling speed. […]

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Hiker crossing wooden bridge over whitewater.

5 Day Hikes in the Cabinet Mountains

Hiking / By Aaron Theisen

When French-Canadian fur trappers first surveyed the mountain range straddling the Idaho-Montana border, they dubbed it the Cabinet Mountains, for the shelves of rock that loomed over the rivers below. In the intervening 200 years, the hiking technology used to cross the Cabinets may have changed, but little else has. The Cabinet Mountains are commonly

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Photo of people gathered around a campfire in a backyard.

How to Turn Your Backyard into a Campfire-capable Hangout

Lifestyle, Outdoor Living / By Katie Botkin

Staying outside late into long-lit evenings is particularly enjoyable in July. Before fire season rolls around, smogging up the air and preventing outdoor burning of any kind, small backyard fires can provide the backdrop to many hours of social gatherings, family bonding, and open-air cooking of the on-stick variety. If you do not already have

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Photo of workout class from afar in downtown Spokane.

Free Workout Classes in Downtown Spokane

Columns, The Urban Outdoors / By Sarah Hauge

Combat workout doldrums and get active in our city’s core through Downtown Spokane Partnership’s free series of outdoor workout classes this summer. Designed to give locals and visitors of all fitness levels a chance to appreciate our downtown area and try something new in the (urban) outdoors, these classes will be offered beginning July 9

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Photo of cup of oatmeal and person adding Lyte Balance Electrolytes to it.

Lyte Balance: Spokane Electrolyte Company Keeps It Real

Gear Reviews, Lifestyle / By Out There Outdoors

Not everyone wants to chug a fluorescent blue Arctic Blitz-flavored Gatorade after a workout. While the flashy colors, labeling, and advertisements are enticing, they might not be the best choice for refueling a body hungry for nutrients. Nearly all recovery and electrolyte replacement drinks these days are loaded with empty calories, sugars, and artificial colors

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Photo of pints of beer ranging from lighter to darker with caption "Beer Pee Chart."

Refilling the Tank: Electrolyte Management and Hydration in the Heat of Summer

Health & Fitness, Lifestyle / By Brad Thiessen

I got my first harsh lesson in hydration in June six years ago. I was training for a fall marathon but was already up to 22-mile training runs. One afternoon I set out alone on the Centennial Trail for a marathon-distance run. My hydration consisted of water in a 12-ounce handheld, plus more water in

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Photo of Hari Heath in his paddlecraft with boats in the background in Port Townsend Bay.

Hari Heath and the Art of Native Paddlecraft

Get Out There / By S. Michal Bennett

On a cold Monday evening in January, I sat in a room surrounded by friendly members of the Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club eagerly listening to Hari Heath of North Idaho talk about native paddlecraft design and the wood strip wahnooyak he had crafted. His visual presentation involved a series of paper scrolls, transcribed with

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Photo of drinks on a dining table overlooking Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Lakeside Dining in North Idaho

Food & Drink, Lifestyle / By S. Michal Bennett

Waterfront dining is a great way to take in the dazzling views of nature, even if you sometimes pay a premium for the added panorama. Here are my top picks for lakeside dining spots around the area, both fine dining and casual. These selections come out of experience, trusted recommendations, and prominent public opinion.

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Adventures in Lake Country

Columns, Editorial / By Amy McCaffree

After sitting for hours with my fishing pole on the weather-worn dock, watching my bobber on the dark lake water, my seven-year-old mind focused on two primary thoughts: This is boring, and I’d rather be swimming. But eventually, after many Saturdays, I caught my first fish, a trout longer than my arm. I was delighted

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