A tour of southeast British Columbia’s wild lakes, backcountry, and mountain towns Planning time away from daily life’s demands and executing a great road trip can be stressful and a lot of work. But a truly excellent trip can quickly and completely obliterate anxious feelings from unfinished work you inevitably leave behind. This past May, […]
Shortly after getting off-route on a backcountry backpacking trip in northcentral Idaho, I heard about Topo Maps+, a backcountry navigation and mapping app developed by 45-year-old Spokanite Stephen Johnson. Talking with him, I learned that the Topo Maps+ app was built to be a simple navigation solution for people like me who would rather be
Local Backcountry Navigation and Mapping App Read More »
Coeur d’Alene couple fill niche with quality, insulated van window covers. For a long time, Coeur d’Alene locals Dave and Kelly Dutro made a name for themselves by sharing their passion for trails through Trail Maniacs (trailmaniacs.com). But This Van Life, their vehicle window cover business, has quietly taken over a corner of the outdoor
The first guidebook in my personal collection was a copy of Rich Landers’ 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest, purchased circa 2001, when hiking and backpacking were brand new sports to me. That initial copy was from a late printing of the 1987 book, and when the second edition came out in 2003 I wasted
Summer Picks from “100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest” Read More »
When you think of adventures in British Columbia, particularly the Kootenays, kayaking, swimming, tubing, or just kicking back on a beach might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Yet B.C. offers up amazing water-based activities for locals and visitors alike. Nelson and Kootenay Lake This bustling outdoor-centric mountain town also sports a
Water Adventures in the Alpine Read More »
There is no shortage of outdoor activities to experience between the Cascades and Rocky Mountains. In case you need a bit of inspiration, here’s our annual list of our favorite Inland Northwest summer adventures!
101 Things to do this Summer in the Inland Northwest Read More »
This area has fantastic wildflower blooms, starting with grass widows, yellow fawn lilies, and Columbia desert parsley and giving way to arrowleaf balsamroot and phlox as the season progresses. The Wenas Wildlife area is best known for its bird watching, so be sure to print a copy of the Wenas Audubon birdlist prior to a
Hike of the Month: Wenas Wildlife Area Read More »
There’s an impressive schedule of events lined up with many opportunities to get out with others and explore the Dishman Hills hiking trails in Spokane Valley this spring and summer. Kids in the Hills offers students an educational and exciting field day in the Dishman Hills. Through hands-on activities, students learn about observation skills, animal
Dishman Hills Conservancy Events Read More »
Tips for getting outside and making the most of the cold, snowy months By Carol Corbin I live in the Inland Northwest . . . and I don’t ski. I think there are about five of us non-skiers in the region. We’re like unicorns. Or Yeti, if Yeti hated being cold and was averse to
How to Survive Winter if you Don’t Ski Read More »
Inland NW Holiday Gift Guide with ideas from OTO advertisers and other small businesses to make shopping local easier.
Inland NW Holiday Gift Guide 2022 Read More »
