Scrounging up the equipment for an ice-climbing trip can be costly. Here are a few ways pull together the essentials on a budget: Visit local used-gear retailers like Northwest Outdoors. Check Craigslist for used items, but make sure you or a knowledgeable friend inspect the gear to ensure it’s still safe and strong. Investigate Seattle’s […]
Ice Climbing Equipment Read More »
Winter can be the season to lose traction on your training, head inside to climb on some plastic, or just hibernate. Last year I got the opportunity to take part in an ice climbing festival and realized the potential climbing outside through the winter. There are several ways to get out on a frozen waterfall,
Ice Climbing Adventures: Festivals, Guided Trips, and Where to Go Read More »
Chasing snow-free trails in the channeled scablands may only take you a half hour drive west of Spokane but may require a longer road trip deeper into the Columbia Basin. Here are a few options: The 130-mile-long Columbia Plateau Trail: The closest access to the non-paved section of this rail trail is near Cheney, Wash.
Snow-Free Winter Riding in Central Washington Read More »
The unique landscape of the scablands of central Washington demands some special considerations for a successful cycling trip. Below are a few tips for success in the steppe: Plan on bringing all the water you’ll need. The creeks and pothole ponds of the scablands are a funnel for agricultural runoff in addition to being
Washington Scablands Cycling Tips Read More »
For mountain bikers, mid-winter can seem like an endless stretch of icy singletrack and roads riddled with rock salt. If a road trip to the desert southwest is out of the question, look closer to home. The channeled scablands, the flood-scoured sagebrush steppe of central Washington, offers quick-fix hits of snow-free pedaling. First things first:
Winter Mountain Bike Riding in Washington’s Scablands Read More »
From backcountry skiing to ice fishing, from beginners and fair-weather folks to adrenaline junkies and long-time experts, our list of winter adventures near and far has something for everyone. Take a break from your usual winter mountain and forest destinations and try something new and exciting. Cat ski with Selkirk Powder Guides: Take
25 Winter Adventures Read More »
Jonathon Stahl is an outdoor enthusiast in all the best ways—always positive, always kind, and always stoked. One of his favorite trips as assistant director of recreation at Washington State University is a backcountry ski trip into Northeast Oregon’s Wallowa Mountains. He loves this trip for all many reasons, including the beauty, the ease of
Badass Backcountry: Skiing Oregon’s Wallowas Read More »
A wave of new businesses have taken root in historic Wallace, Idaho, in recent years. From brewpubs and unique lodging to craft eateries and a coffee shop, skiers, snowboarders, and backcountry enthusiasts from the Spokane area now have plenty of reasons (besides excellent skiing and snow) to spend less time driving and more time enjoying
Wallace, Idaho: Makings of a Ski Town Read More »
Picture this: Scrabbling up a steep mountainside, an old mining town scrambles to find a new identity. Noting the proximity to a ski area (or two), outdoor recreationists—and their wallets—come calling. Dark taverns morph into lively microbreweries; gastropubs replace smoky diners. And like that, “ski town” status begins to materialize. It’s a scene that’s played
Wallace, Idaho: Ski Town Evolution Read More »
