I’m a river junkie. If you gave me the choice between living next to the ocean versus a wild river, I’d choose the river any day. I’m an especially big fan of free-flowing, all natural, un-dammed, "Wild and Scenic" rivers. A river with "Wild and Scenic" status in the U…

When I ask people what they are doing for the summer, a common response is “Oh, I’m just stuck in Pullman.” I always cringe at this response because this area has so many interesting places to see. The only reason why people think they are stuck is because they haven’t gone out and explored…

Every day is Earth Day. Getting some very interesting looks from my fellow Cougs, I picked pop cans and plastic bottles from out of garbage bins on Earth Day. Fortunately, I was not the only one who felt the need to take one extra step for the Earth last Thursday…

One of my favorite things about spring is the fairs. Fairs get people outdoors, into the fresh air and help bring the outdoors and civilization closer with food, creativity and happy people. Fairs these days aren’t the stereotypical grandmother’s craft and bake sale affairs…

Wilderness hygiene. Yes, there is such a thing. This is like your fifth-grade puberty talk. No one likes it but everyone’s got to do it. The best way to learn about hygiene in the wilderness is from everyone else’s mistakes. For example, let’s take my river guide friend who didn’t take care of a cut on his finger…

Every mother should have a part in her kid’s college education. But it’s got to be a tough balance to strike the right happy medium between being totally absent to overbearing. I’ve heard horror stories, from moms who frequently check their college kid’s bank account to monitor spending and whereabouts…

After years of wandering through life without an official hero, I finally found her. Her name is Dame Evelyn Glennie, and she gave an intensely inspirational performance Saturday at Bryan Hall. Glennie is the first person to make a career as a professional solo percussion performaner…

Some of the most satisfying meals I’ve ever had were in the wilderness. Eating in the wilderness takes one’s appreciation of food to a whole new level. There’s something about cooking a meal over a primitive fire or simple gas stove that makes one appreciate the miracle of a meal…

I had the amazing opportunity to explore New England during Spring break. To begin the trip, my partner and I flew the red-eye flight from San Francisco to Newark, N.J., which turned out to be the longest short flight ever. During the flight, we gained four hours from the time difference plus the daylight savings adjustment…

Spring is here, but I’m not excited. March 20 marked the first day of spring. My usual reaction to the official turn of the seasons would be a mixture of excitement and thankfulness, but not this year. This year, I’m wondering what happened to winter and what will happen to summer…

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…