Body Positive Hiking Community By Amanda V. Mead When Summer Michaud-Skog began hiking with her girlfriend in the Oregon wilderness in 2015, she couldn’t help but notice the stares of passersby. Skog knew they didn’t look like the stereotypical hikers seen in outdoor magazines, athletic campaigns, and gear catalogues—she was covered in tattoos, her girlfriend […]
As fall approaches and the weather starts to turn, so do the aspen in northeast Oregon’s Wallowa Mountains. Pockets of colorful trees dot the Wallowa valley, turning vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and red once the temperatures start dropping. But while you’re likely to see the tree’s brilliant fall foliage, there’s one thing you aren’t
Autumn in the Alpine: Hiking the Wallowas Read More »
Four of the best destinations around Spokane for hiking and enjoying nature’s colorful transition to autumn, from family-friendly to more challenging routes.
Best Autumn Hikes around Spokane Read More »
Memorial Day weekend is the ceremonial start to camping, and it’s not too late to book a trip at any of the hundreds of campgrounds throughout the Northwest. If you’re new to camping, how should you decide where to go? One of my favorite aspects of camping is that the actual campground serves as an
The 8 Best Campgrounds for Camping with Kids Read More »
The snow has disappeared from the surrounding peaks, and buttercups and glacier lilies have been showing their yellow faces. I love wildflowers, and the successive waves of bloom are so brief. This means spring hiking is on my mind well before I put my skis away for the season. I often have trails listed on
Loomis, WA: Spring Hiking in the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Read More »
Recreational trails in the Inland Northwest are constantly undergoing upgrades, thanks to local volunteers who tackle both new and ongoing projects in our region. Months or even years before recreationists see new trail construction, upgrades to existing trails, or even annual maintenance, dedicated representatives from local organizations are meeting with land managers. Together, they identify
State of Inland Northwest Hiking Trails Read More »
To escape the crowds and noise on Independence Day this year, I headed up to Mt. Spokane State Park that evening. I picked up two burritos at Atilanos on the way up—one for me and one for my dog, Grouper. At the trailhead just above the ranger station, I loaded Grouper’s pack with his carne
Wild Encounters on Familiar Trails Read More »
The most difficult part of this hike is getting to the trailhead, as the forest service (FS) road to the beginning of the trail is especially rough. Large swales to improve water run-off might prove impossible for all but high clearance 4WD vehicles, so consider parking lower on the access road and hiking or utilizing
Hiking The Mollies (Priest Lake, Idaho) Read More »
Outside St. Regis, Montana are two beautiful lakes that are worth taking the time to explore. Diamond and Cliff Lakes are perched in an alpine cirque basin at 5,400 feet in Montana’s Bitterroot Divide. This moderate hike has only 500 feet of elevation gain and some of the best scenery in the area. Yet, sadly,
Two Lakes, One Trail: Hiking Montana’s Diamond and Cliff Lakes Read More »
I prefer hiking in trail running shoes or light-weight hiking boots, but there are times when a more burly, waterproof hiking boot with better ankle support are a good idea. Like dodging prickly pear and sidestepping down scree piles on Hells Canyon ghost trails; slopping your way along long-neglected Bitterroot Mountain trails still holding slush
AKU Alterra GTX Hiking Boot Read More »
