Sponsored by Ski the NW Rockies Association Cover photo courtesy of Mt Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park This season progressed with lots of ups and downs, but as of late February Spokane area resorts have kept a surprisingly-solid snowpack given what the weather threw at us. Local mountains worked hard and adapted to make the […]
Keeping the Lifts Spinning for Spring Read More »
Avalanches are unique among natural disasters; as Jeff Thompson, director of Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center (IPAC), puts it, people are the ones that create an avalanche 90 percent of the time. While in-bounds downhill skiing and snowboarding on steeper runs can on very rare occasion include avalanche risk depending on current snowpack layers, backcountry touring
Avalanche Danger in the Inland Northwest Read More »
The day I sat down to write this article back in January, it was 30 below zero with the wind chill. So yeah, hell really did freeze over. It was so cold I was wearing two pairs of socks around the house. The first pair was a feeble attempt to keep my feet warm, and
Why I Love Spring Skiing Read More »
Cover photo courtesy Jeremy Clark Don’t let the lure of greening grass in the lower elevations distract from the fun events happening at area resorts during the transition period of spring skiing. After a slow start to the ski season in the region, these end-of-season events provide maximum fun to enjoy what’s often some of
Celebrate Spring on the Mountain at these Events Read More »
Exploring winter magic in America’s first national park By Jean Arthur By the time my family and I finished snowshoeing around Mammoth Terraces in Yellowstone National Park, we’d tromped 1.5 miles, observed colorful formations like Orange Spring Mound and Angel Terrace, and laughed at our kids’ descriptions of the park’s famous thermal features exuding sulphureous
Snowshoeing Yellowstone Read More »
How one family exemplifies the Schweitzer-based North Idaho Mountain Sports Education Fund’s “earn your own way” ethos By Barry Campbell In 2010, long-time Schweitzer Mountain Resort ski instructor Jeff Rouleau first conceived the idea of an organization focused on getting local kids onto the slopes. So many families he knew had two working parents, but
When The Student Becomes The Teacher Read More »
When I met him, Mark was already a shipwreck surrendered to the rise and ebb of addiction and the depression that rules it. When the tide of inebriation rolled out, one could crawl into the cavity of his chest and find forgotten treasures: Memorized guitar solos, wicked skateboard tricks, a love affair with his road
When a Bike Ride Cannot Cure What Ails You Read More »
When Christmas Day rolls around, many folks out there look forward to opening presents and hope the contents are just what they asked for, like keys to a new car, or a life-time supply of Rogaine. Not this guy. Nope, your humble narrator’s favorite part is the opening of stockings, mainly because I have no
I Pissed Off Santa Read More »
A never-ending parenting challenge is knowing, and then deciding, when to let go. Let go of little hands, because a child is strong enough to swim in deep waters. Let go of the fishing rod, because the child has learned how to cast. Let go of confidence in protecting them 24/7 as you drop them
10 Years of Out There Kids Read More »
Be a part of local ski culture at these mid-winter events Sponsored by Ski the Northwest Rockies Association Jan 11: Jackass Day at Silver Mountain This annual tradition celebrates Silver’s roots. Participants are encouraged to break out vintage ski gear while they enjoy retro-priced $20 lift tickets (limited availability, reserve in advance). Jan 20: Wintersportsfest
Get Social on the Slopes Read More »
