Our annual gift guide leans heavily towards things and experiences you can buy here locally from a real person at a real shop. We include gift ideas for the gear geeks that are inevitably on your list, as well as a wide range of cool and unique items for the less outdoorsy people you’ll no […]
Inland NW Local Holiday Gift Guide Read More »
Sports Creel (free with boot purchase) One of the most frustrating aspects of alpine skiing is finding a pair of boots that fit your feet without creating pain and discomfort. Spokane Valley’s Sports Creel, always a local leader in boot fitting, has decided to take things up a notch for the 2018 season. The shop
Boot Doc 3D Foot Scan Analysis Read More »
Getting the whole family out on the slopes in the clean, cold mountain air is well worth the effort. These tips, pulled together and passed along after years of ski family experience, will help make sure your family stays warm, dry, and happy on the mountain and that your winter fun doesn’t break the bank.
Stay Warm, Go Slow, Save Money: Tips for Family Fun on the Mountain Read More »
Over the past decade of skiing, I’ve noticed my attention being drawn to the poof balls of puffy jackets, oversized helmets, and comically-tiny gear that adorns little kids on the slopes. Watching them shuffle to the magic carpet or bunny hill lift and scoot on, with parents doting to keep them from falling, is adorable
First Time on the Slopes Read More »
Autumn in the mountains means nature is restless and an endless summer can easily end on a moment’s notice with a snow storm ushering in another long, frozen winter. It’s a season when unexpected experiences should be anticipated. So we really should have been more prepared for a late-September day hike along a high-mountain stretch
There are plenty of places along the Pacific Northwest coast to experience run-of-the-mill tourist beach town amenities for people who are only looking to drive the local sites, poke around polished tourist traps, and maybe do a little beachcombing. Visiting a real-deal ocean town to explore, taste, and throw your adventurous soul into is a
Find Authentic Adventure on the PNW Coast in Westport, Washington Read More »
It’s our second day in a row hiking in the high Pyrenees, and the French woman I’m with is still wearing the chic blue sundress and khaki canvas ankle boots with braid details she wore yesterday. Her bronzed arms are sculpted from roller derby, local meats and veggies, and life in the mountains. I’d almost
Backcountry Fashion: Taking a Few Lessons from French Style Read More »
I kick steps into the early summer snow, aiming for the saddle before sunrise. Our fluorescent yellow tent grows smaller on the col, and steep ridges hem in the skyline. In a few hours the sun will fry the bites and scratches from yesterday’s 12-hour standoff with mosquitos and devil’s club. I try to maintain
You can expect out-of-the-box comfort with this highly ventilated trail shoe. So why not say “yes” to that 25 mile backpack trip in the Bitterroot Mountains you’ve been invited to join next month? Merrell’s MOAB 2 Ventilator is built with durable leathers, a supportive footbed, and Vibram traction, all in a tough, light-weight hiking shoe
Merrell Moab 2 Hiking Shoe Read More »
Home to the University of Montana in the whole-foods-and-hiking-boots heart of the state, Missoula is a community of fit free spirits—consider it a cross between Bend and Bellingham. In recent years, the city’s running and river surfing communities have put it on the adventure-sports map, but hiking remains king here. But full parking lots belie
5 Classic Missoula, Montana Hikes Read More »
