Ski Bum Advice

Byron Riblet: Forgotten Engineering Genius

A review of the new book about Spokane’s Riblet Tramway Company If you were to ask someone how they associate the name Byron Riblet with ...
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Sunrise peeking over a ridge above a chairlift at Fernie Alpine Resort.

Resort Amenities We Just Don’t Need

In a previous life, back when I was heavily involved in the ski industry, I was fortunate enough to be able to visit many of ...
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Above view of hands of five ski friends each holding a pint glass of beer in a circle on a table.

Ski Bum Advice: Friends in Snow Places

Brad Northrup's latest Ski Bum Advice offers a ski mountain twist to a Garth Brook's song, honoring unique culture of ski friends.
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Data map of the western U.S, with color-coded areas indicating areas of normal and above average snowfall for winter 2022-2023. // Image courtesy of NOAA.com.

Inland NW Winter Weather Predictions

Triple Dip La Niña? Overview of expectations and expert predictions for the Inland Northwest's winter weather, 2022-23.
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Illustration of skis with eyes and mouths, in a storage box, talking to each other, while a guy looks on with a surprised look and a beer can in his hand.

Ski bum Advice: If Skis Could Talk

What powder, carving, and rock skis might say, if they could talk, about winter 2021-22 season in the Northwest.
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Illustration of a car attached to reindeer, like Santa's sleight, flying through the sky.

Ski Bum Advice ~ Poem: The Night Before Skiing

Seasonal parody poem by OTO's official ski bum Brad Northrup -- a former ski racer, coach, and ski industry professional.
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Ski Bum Advice: Stuff I Missed This Season

Out There's Ski Bum missed three significant components of his usual ski day experience during the 2020-21 COVID ski season.
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Fred Nowland in his ski gear on a resort deck with the mountain view and American flag behind him.

Spokane Ski Industry Icon Fred Nowland

There are very few true skiing icons in the Spokane area, but Fred Nowland is definitely one of them. A fixture of the ski industry ...
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Ski lessons at Whitewater Ski Resort.

Ski Bum Advice: 3 Rules for New Skiers

Understanding ski mountain etiquette can be hard for rookies, which is why Ski Bum Brad Northrup offers 3 basic guidelines and advice for new skiers.
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