If you’re looking for a waterproof footwear alternative to hiking boots for your daily spring outings around town, the new ATOM waterproof shoe is worth a look. It’s got the style and feel of a sneaker with solid cushion and support, but won’t leave you with soggy, frozen feet after splashing through parking lots or down rainy streets or sidewalks. A great choice as a work shoe for jobs that include time outdoors, as well as for neighborhood walks, foot-powered errands, or as a workout shoe. MSRP: $180. Kurufootwear.com Wil Wheaton The post Kuru Atom Waterproof Shoe appeared first on Out Ther ..read more

Cover photo by James P. Johnson There are a lot of reasons to like Coeur d’Alene—among them, a couple of enjoyable, well-known, lakeside hikes. Tubbs Hill, with a main trail that follows the lake shore and is mostly flat, begins next to the Coeur d’Alene Resort downtown. But less-trafficked Mineral Ridge, which demands a little more effort, is a good choice for an appealing, elevated view of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Mineral Ridge is so named because at one time it was thought to have viable mineral deposits. The search left prospectors empty handed, paving the way for construction of this pleasant ..read more

(Nature Photography/Natural History, 2022) By James P. Johnson When I saw this hardcover book on the store shelf, there was no doubt I’d buy it. Eastern Washington’s landscape and the floods that ravaged it during the last ice age intrigues me, and I’ve seen the results while hiking thousands of miles over the years. So many places I’ve visited are pictured in the book. I recognized the author’s name, a Spokane journalist with a long history of writing about Northwest topics, including in Out There. He details the huge resistance to geologist Harlan Bretz’s explanation of massive floods being ..read more

It’s common knowledge that runners should warm up . . . and it’s common knowledge that they often don’t take the time. I asked Rebecca Thompson, an orthopedic physical therapist at Physical Therapy Associates who also specializes in pelvic health, about the benefits of a dynamic warm-up and how the average runner can work one into their routine. (Interview has been edited and condensed.) SH: Why is it important for runners to take the time to warm up? RT: Warming up is all about getting blood flow to the muscles and good synovial fluid in the joints before repetitively loading them in a run. W ..read more

Each spring, the lead up to the Spokane Aurora Northwest Rotary Club’s Lilac Century Ride has signaled the start of the summer road riding season for hundreds of Spokane area cyclists. Now with a gravel course added to the mix, the event, set for Sunday, May 19, has broadened its appeal to riders seeking off-pavement pedaling. The four paved road courses and the gravel route all cover the scenic farm and forest landscapes surrounding Green Bluff in north Spokane from a well-chosen starting and finishing location at Big Barn Brewing that promises a spirited post-ride finale. Once agai ..read more

Cover photo courtesy of Bower Climbing Coalition Free Outdoor Entertainment Upcoming fee-free days for Washington State Parks include March 9 (Billy Frank Junior’s birthday), March 19 (celebrate the 111th birthday of Washington State Parks!) and April 22 (Earth Day). A Discover Pass is not required for park entry on these dates. National Park Week will be held April 20-28, with April 20 additionally being a fee-free day at National Parks. Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness will host Hiking 101 for beginners on March 23, followed by a strenuous full moon snowshoe trek to Star Peak on March ..read more

My first MSR Hubba Hubba tent was a hand-me-down single-person version that a thru-hiker friend of mine named Hike On graciously gifted to me. The most beloved tent I’ve ever owned, it was my all-season companion for years, from snowy ski missions in the Kettle Range to surf beaches in Mexico and many other amazing places in between. I was sad to eventually pass it on to another friend to make room for newer (and, as I would find out, lesser quality) tents I’d acquired for review. Thankfully the gear gods eventually blessed me with this new MSR Hubba Hubba 2, the roomier two-heartbeat version ..read more

Spokane Bike Swap is the region’s largest gathering of new and used bikes for sale plus biking related vendors and events all under one roof. If you’re looking for a new-for-you bike or biking-related gear or if you have bikes you are not using that you want to sell, plan to be a part of this year’s swap Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center. Bike consignment check in is on Friday April 19 from 3-7 PM for those who want to sell one or more bikes. No matter what type of bike you might be looking for, from a bike to ride around town or on the Centenni ..read more

By Nigel Davies Cover photo courtesy of Nigel Davies Explore these tools that geologist Nigel Davies suggests to further understand the geology of your adventure while you are out recreating in our region. Explore the state’s geology organized by regional “cards,” further organized by geological sites of interest, at WA DNR 100: Wa100.dnr.wa.gov Purchase the paperback “Washington Rocks! A guide to geologic sites in the Evergreen State” from Mountain Press, which includes colored photos and instructive diagrams, from your local bookstore. Scroll around Rockd/Macrostrat Macrostrat.org, a platf ..read more

By Nigel Davies Cover photo courtesy of Nigel Davies We celebrate finish lines, savoring those recovery walks over the Monroe Street Bridge every first Sunday of May after our city’s most iconic race. We joyfully refill water bottles on July 4th at the summit bathrooms on top of Mount Spokane. In those endorphin-rich moments, we tend to be wrapped up in our own experience, but twist the lens a bit and a deeper sort of grandeur comes thundering into view, from time immemorial right into the middle of your day. Those Bloomsday runners slow-walking across the bridge? They’re suspended on cement a ..read more