Jon Snyder, former Spokane City Councilman and Out There Monthly founder, has served as Washington State’s Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development Policy Advisor for over a year now, and I recently caught up with him over a ginger beer at the Elliot Book Company Cafe in Seattle. As we chatted, a softball league played in […]
The Value of Recreation: a Conversation with Jon Snyder Read More »
The question came up while I was attending a party with my saner, better half not too long ago. The conversation revolved around skiing, and someone asked where I spent my formative years on skis. “Mission Ridge,” I said. Their reply was one I have heard numerous times over the years: “Yeah, I have heard
Mission Ridge: The Sun Valley of Washington Read More »
High places inspire me; they challenge my spirit, inspire me to closely observe and participate in the natural world, and serve an essential role in supporting life on this planet. The more time I spend in the mountains, the more I feel responsible for stewarding alpine environments to the best of my abilities. That’s how
Sustainable Summits Conference Inspires Responsible Alpine Recreation Read More »
I was sitting at my desk this summer, sipping ice cold Coronas, when something happened that made me realize what this winter could possibly bring. It rained in August. And not just a few sprinkles that evaporated the second they hit the ground, but a full-on downpour so strong it soaked the lawn, washed my
Winter Weather Predictions: Crossing Our Fingers for La Nina Read More »
When choosing a fall hike, my biggest considerations are always seeing the best fall colors and finding safe trailhead access in case of changing weather conditions. That last one also suggests a third consideration: keeping myself comfortable and warm, prepared for whatever our temperamental fall season may choose to throw at me. That’s why Snow
Snow Peak Cabin: Colville National Forest Read More »
South of Lolo Pass, on the Idaho-Montana border, the 200-mile-long mass of granite known as the Idaho Batholith lies exposed on the Bitterroot Divide, like a half-extracted fossil. The advance of alpine glaciers during the most recent ice age sculpted this ridge into a series of rugged peaks and steep, incredibly straight canyons cut by
Five Hikes in Montana’s Bitterroot Mountains Read More »
Mount Shasta is one of those irresistible peaks that beckon from highways and airplanes, and I finally had the chance to climb it last May. The conditions were much like John Muir described them in his 1877 Harper’s Magazine account of his adventure on this massive icon in the northern California landscape: “The crisp icy
Why I Learned to Ski Read More »
During the summer, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area’s 600 miles of shoreline attract droves of boaters to the otherwise-dry coulee country of Eastern Washington. But when the houseboats and Jet Skis have long been dry docked, the lake and its neighbors make an attractive backdrop for snow-free winter exploration, the stark, serene landscape attracting the
Cool-Weather Coulee: Winter Hikes Near Lake Roosevelt Read More »
Finding Early Season Turns from B.C. and Mt. Hood to Local Bitterroot Snow Magnet Lookout Pass The end of August is when the jonesing starts for me. It’s typically right after I receive the first ski magazine subscription for the season. You dissect every page, inspect every photo with a fine tooth comb and this,
Backcountry roads can be the necessary evil of adventure: every recreationist has his or her story of harrowing, white-knuckled mountain driving or late-night tire repair far from the nearest Les Schwab. But sometimes it’s ok to embrace the backcountry drive, not as a means of getting to the destination but as the destination itself. On
7 Wild Places — Epic Backcountry Drives & Adventures Along the Way Read More »
