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 »
If you’ve ever dreamed of taking on one of North America’s long-distance hiking trails, one of the best things you can do to prepare is learn from others who have walked before you. These four Inland Northwest-based hikers offer a glimpse of life out on the trail that may inspire you to hit the trail
Four Local Long-Distance Hikers and Their Unique Experiences on National Scenic Trails Read More »
On two different mountain bike trips to Bend, Oregon, in recent years, our lost-out-in-the-woods camp vibe was disrupted by a dead car battery thanks to our bad habit of playing car stereo tunes and charging phones from cigarette lighter chargers for way too long. Nothing delays a morning bike ride like having to hike down
A kid-friendly way to experience wilderness is by visiting a national park. Harley and Abby McAllister of Spokane Valley travel extensively to national parks with their four sons, ages four through 15. Last year, they compiled their research and experiences to publish two guidebooks, “Yellowstone National Park with Kids” and the other about Utah’s five
Trip-Planning Strategies for the National Parks Read More »
