Northwest Recreation

With spring around the corner, it is definitely time to start considering a cool place to hangout once warm weather comes around. One of the best places I had the chance to visit last year was Palouse Falls, a towering waterfall that tumbles H20 56 meters into large circular pool below. Although the spring waters are not especially clean for swimming, the top of the falls offer good swimming and beautiful scenic views, especially at dusk.

When you get to the falls, you can take two trails to the top of the falls.  The first is to the right of the parking area, down a narrow ravine, and then across a narrow trail on the edge of the canyon.  You will end coming to the falls by way of the ledge visible to the upper left of the falls.  The other way is to the left of the parking lot, down by the railroad tracks, down the side of the cliff, and then to the right of the canyon wall.  You end up coming out behind the waterfalls, where you can swim.

Some facts:

-Height: 56 meters
-Depth of Canyon: 115 meters
-River: Palouse River
-Connects With: Snake River 4 miles downstream

Overall, the trails are fairly challenging, but excellent spring or fall hiking.  It might be a little hot in the summer, so be careful to take water and maybe a swimsuit (hint hint).

Trail Stats:

• Terrain: Dirt and rock
• Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced
• Elevation Gain/Loss:Less than 600 ft.
• Overall Rating: 9/10

There’s still tons of snow left in the mountains, all you snow-loving, winter-avid fans.  Don’t put your boards away yet, and hold off on the spring tune-ups for next year.  You will want to keep them out for at least another month as the ski season comes to an end.  I know for me, I have been up three times this year already, and it’s been a great experience being able to take a break from busy classes.  Consider checking out some good deals on snowboards, too.  Sleeves, waxes, etc, will all be on sale as spring starts to roll around and new stock comes in.  Here is what I would do for the last of the ski season:

• Lookout for deals.  They will be all over the place and will offer you a good way to get some nice gear.  Online sales are especially good at this point, too.
• Start looking at deals for waxes and edge sharpening services.
• Keep up on the maintenance of your board and start to inspect the bindings and straps.  If you have toe and ankle straps, inspect the plastic pieces where they are screwed onto the binding.  The constant bending can cause them to snap.  I know, trust me.

Besides that, keep looking for clear skies, huge air, and great powder.  See you on the slopes!

Here are some good deals I was able to find on bags, bindings, and a snowboard. The snowboard is a freestyle snowboard, so you are looking at tougher and less flexible materials. Definitely semi-pro/intermediate riders. The bindings are men’s LTD Men’s LT250 Snowboard Binding, and would look great with the board. Then you have the standard bag to stuff it all in.

Price: $209.96

Price: $24.99

Price: $19.96

Price: $109.96

Taking a peek outside, I see that there are blue skies just begging to push through to the world below.  As such, it is definitely time to break out the mountain bikes.  March 2 is officially the beginning of the beginning of spring in my books, and there is no reason why avid cyclists should not get their bikes ready.  Here are the things to do:

• Grab the oil and get your part ready to go.  Sand paper any rusty spots, then apply oil.  Make sure you get cable casings, chains, brake calipers, forks, handlebars, and other moving parts.
• Clean up the brake pads in prep for downhill mountain biking.
• Check tires for any sharp objects and powder the inside lining.
• Check all gear for soundness, including helmets, gloves, and bike.
• Grab a patch kit and some repair tools.

I would only trust a good tool for a bike repair multitool.  Most likely this won’t be from Walmart, but prove me wrong.  As far as patch kits go, I use Slime’s repair kits, because they have never failed me, even once.  Here are two to consider:

Stay tuned for biking trails!

Slime skabs are unique in their application because they provide bicyclists options apart from the typical and standard patches requiring scuffing, glue, and then a patch.  Most people don’t have to time or energy to really try to install a patch when on a trail biking, or for that matter, just riding around town.  Obviously, one of the biggest frustrations is the ever-looming “non-sticking” patch problems.  Skabs solve that problem by reducing the amount of work required and by simplifying the technique to installing.  Here are some quick pros and cons:

Quick Pros:

• Easy to install
• No glue required
• Everything needed is included
• 6 patches will keep you going for a while
• Will easily fit in a pocket
• Fast “setting”

Quick Cons:

• Too small for large holes
• Not effective on dirty tubes
• Wait time varies by temperature and moisture

Despite the fact that larger holes won’t be patched with these, I still trust Skabs each and every time I go.  I woudl definitely suggest Skabs for bikers and recreationists who don’t want to deal with the glue, scuffing, and patching that normal patch kits require.

Winter has set in, and with it the woes of boring days spent inside. For many, the indoors just mark another inactive day. But there are solutions to staying indoors. As winter continues, it is important to keep up on your exercise and maintain fitness and stamina for spring hiking. There are many different ways to so this, but here are some especially good one.

For starters, treadmills are a perfect way to stay indoors and maintain stamina, but they are often boring. One great way to stay fit without having to run on a treadmill is to run at a track. You can also try to jog on fair days on good trails. Finally, try to keep your exercise routines unique. This will keep exercising fun and easy. Also try to get outside to exercise at least once a week to get some fresh air. Even recreating in the winter can be fun. Happy hiking!

Back country hiking is a phenomenal way to see nature.  Going “off the beaten path” lets you search out the few wonders that many people don’t get to see.  It also lets you hike in quieter, more serene places.   With a tendency to have more wildlife, back country areas are known for their undisturbed beauty and difficulty to get to in many cases.  It can be an amazing experience, but here are some things to keep in mind:

• Get stuck, and you’re stuck: It is much harder to get around with no trail, so remember to tell people where you are going and when you will be back.  No cell phones and few people mean that it can be more dangerous.
• For the love of animals:  They’re great critters, but they also abound out there.  Hang your food high between two trees at least 15 feet off the ground.  More certainly can’t hurt, because I wouldn’t want to be hungry out there.
• Nature calls: There aren’t facilities out there, so plan on using proper means to dispose of human waste.
• Manhunt:  Search and rescue doesn’t need more calls to find lost people.  Know where you are going and hike with someone to avoid getting lost or stuck alone.
• Respect your mom:  Mother nature has its own balance of ecosystems, etc.  Be respectful.  Pack it in, pack it out.  Don’t feed critters, and make sure you stay off of known delicate environments.

Back country hiking is incredible, and definitely my favorite type of hiking.  Just remember to be safe out there and be respectful.    Happy hiking!

Snow can be a fun thing to have around.  Snowmen, low mysterious clouds over white frosted forests, and the smell of precipitation in the air provides an exceptional outdoor experience to those who enjoy the feeling of the cold wet stuff that makes life a little more interesting.  There are, however, a few things that should accompany you whenever possible when you are recreating in the snow where cold and wet can mean a difference between fun and freezing.  Here’s a list that is not quite comprehensive:

• Shovel:  Small folding ones are perfect for digging snow shelters, getting cars unstuck, and for building things out of the great white stuff.
• Salt:  Salt is essential when getting traction for a vehicle.
• Gloves: Cold hands aren’t a whole lot of fun.
• Flashlight:  It gets darker earlier in the winter
• Knife:  They’re indispensable
• Water:  You can dehydrate even in the winter

Again, a small list but those are just a few items to keep in mind.  Stay safe and warm out recreating in the snow!

Bluewood, located just outside of Walla Walla, WA offers its guests premier mountain views and terrain with only a short drive, quite unlike the passes in the northwest like Steven’s Pass, White Pass, etc.  Of course, a shorter drive means no getting up at the crack of dawn to head up, and that means more energy for you as you take to the runs.  Here are some stats on the mountain as taken from their website:

Overall, the mountain is very easy to navigate and a pleasure to ski or board.  They have some of the best tree skiing and boarding around, but beware: snow can be icy in the trees, and I had a problem with my board trying to keep from crashing into things.  Go after a fresh snow for the best powder and run conditions, but expect groomed runs pretty much anytime.  See you out there!

 Bluewood’s Website

Winter can get pretty dull.  After a long season of snow, January rolling around can find you in a hard spot about what to do.  What’s more, the kids aren’t always that easy to please either.  However, here are some ideas that you can do to keep your kids happy and even keep yourself entertained, too!

Snowmen:  Frosty isn’t the only one out there, and whether you make a dog, cat, person, horse, or similar structure, it’s a blast and you can even compete for the best snowman!

Igloos:   These are a load of fun and fairly easy to construct by “cheating.”  To build a strong one, heap snow into a huge pile and pack it down as tight as you can get it.  Then remove some of the middle to create the opening inside and layer it on the outside.  Put lukewarm water on top and wait for it to freeze.  Voila!  Instant igloo!

Forts:  Create a fun fort for snowball fights and hanging out in by heaping snow into long walls like bunkers.  Then construct platforms to stand on and foxholes to hide in.  You have the perfect fort to battle with!

Remember to have fun out there this wintry season!

Following an snowstorm that blanketed much of Washington, travelers over Snoqualmie Pass found themselves stranded for hours one day a few years ago.  Much to their dismay, they were unprepared for the snow and pass closures.  Many of the unfortunate commuters had no food or water, and no long term warmth without using their car, which presented a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.  After hours of waiting, the passes finally opened again, but not without leaving one thing evident in many of their minds: be prepared!

America is a traveling nation, and it becomes more and more noticeable to me as I travel just how many cars are on the roads each day.  No doubt you have been stuck in the “rush hour commute,” hurrying to return to your waiting friends and family.  One thing I often wonder is the amount of people who are truly prepared if something were to happen to them on the road.  This is especially true for recreationists who are traveling a long distance through several climates and regions without easy access to condition and traffic information.  When traveling, inconveniences and problems like a longer than normal commute come up.  However, when road closures, mother nature and other people get you in a bind, there are some important necessities that can help ease your predicament.

Among the endless list should be a gallon of water, flares, notepad and paper, food, emergency blanket, toolkit, flashlight, cell phone,  tire gauges, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, pocket knife, gloves, emergency radio, and chemical lightsticks.  With these, you will be prepared in a wide variety of circumstances to be able to wait it out confortably and safely.  Remember to be safe traveling to your recreation spot, and have fun in the snow!