Whether it’s awakening early enough to be at the mountain by 9 a.m., keeping track of and carrying one’s own gear, or standing up from a precarious fallen-down position without assistance – these types of challenges help children acquire essential skills such as responsibility and perseverance. But also much more. I’ve brainstormed more than 20 […]
Learning from a Mountain: Grit and Resilience Read More »
For those of you with quality used outdoor recreation gear and apparel collecting dust in your garages, an alternative to Craigslist and e-Bay is coming to Spokane. Starting Saturday, March 4, NW Outdoors, a new outdoor gear consignment shop opening in the old Wintersport building (3220 N Division), will begin taking a wide range of
A New Home for Your Used Outdoor Gear Read More »
The first time I slept in a snow cave, I admit I was cheating. I was with a large group at a small cabin, and when I found a ready-made snow cave just off the footpath that night, I couldn’t help but think it sounded nicer than claiming a small bit of floor space inside
How Not to Build a Snow Cave Read More »
Last March I walked up to the counter at Mountain Gear with a few pieces of backpacking gear and chatted briefly with the store’s assistant manager Mark Beattie about our outdoor plans for the weekend. Since a warm front had moved through and nuked the powder I had originally hoped to be skiing, I explained
Mountain Mugs: Mountain Gear’s Mark Beattie Explains Why There is No Bad Ski Day Read More »
These super light, highly packable camp chairs are great for backpacking and even day hikes or mountain bike rides where you want a comfy place to sit for lunch. The HEX 2.0 rolls up tight and includes a built-in strap for easy packing. I took the HEX 2.0 camping on the beach in Costa Rica
Gear for the Holidays: Crazy Creek HEX 2.0 Original Chair Read More »
This holiday season, OTM makes your shopping easy with our Local Holiday Gift Guide. There’s no need to search far and wide for gifts for your fellow outdoorsy folk and other loved ones who appreciate unique, locally-procured gifts. There are so many good reasons to shop locally for the holidays. We’ve compiled a wide range
Inland NW Local Holiday Gift Guide: Camping Read More »
This holiday season, OTM makes your shopping easy with our Local Holiday Gift Guide. There’s no need to search far and wide for gifts for your fellow outdoorsy folk and other loved ones who appreciate unique, locally-procured gifts. There are so many good reasons to shop locally for the holidays. We’ve compiled a wide range
Inland NW Local Holiday Gift Guide: Hiking Read More »
An OTM contributor recently informed me (only half seriously, I think) that he didn’t appreciate coverage we gave to a few of his favorite trails via articles in our September issue. More attention to once lesser-known places, the argument goes, means more people on the trails, fewer parking spots at trailheads and increased impacts on
Our trip to Bead Lake began with a 1.5-hour drive from Spokane to the Eastern Washington-Selkirk Range in late May, but the relatively low-elevation hike makes for an excellent fall adventure. My boyfriend and I had decided the 11.4-mile round-trip out-and-back trail around the lake was an ideal pick for our one-night backpacking trip. We
The Calm Waters and Lazy Trails of Bead Lake Read More »
Say good-bye to summer tourists and embrace a peaceful autumn in northwest Montana. Post-Labor Day travel in the Flathead Valley area is an extension of summer, minus the crowds. Sport a bikini by day and a beanie by dusk; pack warm clothes as autumn evenings are refreshing after playing in the sun. Both luxury and
Fall in the Flathead Read More »
