After being out of the organized sports world for four years, I visited a basketball tournament last weekend. It was interesting to experience the organized sports world after a few years away from it and to reflect on the evolution and differences of my personal athletic activities over the years…

This week, I’d like to introduce you to some friendly and not so friendly Pacific Northwest plants and animals. First, I need to give out a disclaimer. Never eat anything in the wild if you do not have the expertise or someone with you who knows what they are doing…

Spring break is almost here. Three weeks away to be exact, and it’s not too late to plan an outdoor adventure. Backpackers who go on trips frequently have most of their gear all in one spot and can just throw a few things in their pack and go. The checklist is all in their heads…

Imagine walking into a classroom of second graders and asking them what they want to be when they grow up. You would be sure to find aspiring doctors, teachers, astronauts, baseball players, NFL quarterbacks, presidents, police officers, artists – the usual…

Eating in the wilderness is always an obstacle that needs to be dealt with on any adventure. There are many components to consider when picking the right food for an adventure: weight, preparation, waste, nutrition and of course, edibility. Fortunately, food technology and chemistry has advanced to the point where freeze dried and instant foods are actually tasty…

Since James Cameron’s mega hit “Avatar” took the entertainment world by storm and became the highest grossing film of all time, some very important issues have been raised on the national stage. Namely, how humankind’s relationship with our planet is on dangerous ground…

When it comes to first aid, wilderness settings have different rules than their urban counterparts. In urban environments, there’s direct access to 911 and EMTs. In the wilderness, this is not the case. In first aid terms, the "wilderness" is defined as being one hour travel time or farther from a hospital…

Christmas break is almost here. For some of us, it can’t come soon enough. For others, too soon. Either way, we will all find ourselves sitting at home or in our apartments, wondering what the heck to do with all this extra time on our hands. Well, there are the usual options that get checked off of my list within the first four days…

Outdoor apparel has come a long way. Women used to wear long wool skirts while at camp, while men would tuck their shirts into belted and ironed pants. Winter adventures were near impossible without bulky fur coats. Waterproof outerwear came in the form of heavily waxed cotton jackets…

It was a beautiful day in the woods as a long hike was about to come to an end. Excited to set up camp and make some food, my friends and I hastened our pace. All of a sudden, my friend who led the group stopped and exclaimed, “Woah! Watch your step.” There…

Congrats. If you are reading this, you have survived the epic night known as Halloween. We all had our dose of scary things: pumpkins, the undead, “Thriller” re-enactments, the outrageous prices women are willing to pay for sexy costumes and the fattening brought on by candy corn and pumpkin pie…

The Palouse seems to be a strange place for the world’s unofficial, highest waterfall run made in a kayak. The first problem that comes to mind is the lack of running water in the area. Nonetheless, last April, Tyler Bradt of Montana made the plunge over Palouse Falls…

Outdoor photographs can be spectacular, awe inspiring and a great way to document adventures. But depending on the location, there can be problems with bringing a camera along. A balance must be struck between getting the best high-quality shot possible using the most expendable equipment…

While backpacking in Idaho recently, I was presented with the issue of camping etiquette and the importance of being polite in the outdoors. The destination was a natural hot spring, which turned out to be more popular than I had anticipated. Over the night…

Located in the Bitterroot Wilderness, Stanley Hot Springs is one of several remote and pristine natural hot springs in Idaho. For autumn backpacking expeditions, this location is perfect. The hot springs provide a warm escape from a cool evening as well as an exciting destination for beginning backpackers…