Hiking good exercise, great way to see sights
During a spring walk on a Kootenai County trail, a recent Montana transplant asked me how to find places to hike locally. In addition to this bimonthly column and Rich Landers’ articles in The Spokesman-Review, a good way to find out about local hikes is through a recreational club. As a club member, you benefit from the experience of the group. You can learn the best places to hike, get plenty of tips (maybe even a secret huckleberry patch) and meet new hiking buddies along the way.
The Coeur d’Alene Volkssport Club, the most mild-mannered of the local hiking groups, is part of a network of 350 walking clubs that organize more than 3,000 walking events per year in all 50 states, as well as occasional bikes, skis and swims. An example is the 10K through downtown Coeur d’Alene, with an optional side trip along Tubbs Hill. Contact Larry Strobel, (208) 664-4904, or visit the groups Web site, http://www.ava.org for more information.
The Hiking Vikings offer fun hikes of medium duration with easy to moderate ratings. The group’s leader, Barbara Rostad, says all are welcome on the hikes – Viking lineage is not necessary. A tradition of the club is for the hikers to bring their own sandwich and drink, plus an item to share (lutefisk, anyone?). Call Rostad at (208) 777-1030 for information.
Ready for the challenge of longer hikes and a variety of outdoor challenges? Although the name may be deceiving, the Panhandle Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club doesn’t just play in the winter. Trading skis and snowshoes for hiking boots, the group’s summer focus is on hiking, extended backpacking trips, bike tours and paddling. Past trips included biking the Route of the Hiawatha, a combination biking/canoeing day on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, a bike ride and barbecue on the Centennial Trail, paddling Upper Priest Lake and a 10-mile overnight trek in the Cabinet Mountains.
Scheduled Nordic Club trips for this summer include hiking Spades Mountain, canoeing/kayaking near Boundary Dam, hiking the Bear Creek Trail near Magee Ranger Station, hiking Slate Creek (an easy hike, with huckleberry picking) at Roman Nose (near Bonners Ferry) and a backpacking trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Contact club president Geoff Harvey at (208) 762-1246 (e-mail: ziggys@icehouse.net); or visit the club’s Web site at http://www.panhandlenordicclub.com/.
The Nordic Club offers these words of wisdom to hikers, whether you choose to enjoy the outdoors with its group or with on your own: “Hiking and biking terrain includes steep mountains, narrow paths, sharp rocks and one can encounter bears, moose and stinging insects. Please be in shape for the hike with proper clothing, including hats, gloves, rain gear, water, food, energy bars, matches, fire-making materials, knife, flashlight, first aid kit, bear spray and sunscreen. Weather can change in a few minutes. Spring is tick season, so bring tick repellant. You may want to bring mosquito repellent and bee sting kits. A hiking stick can come in handy and a Space Blanket is always a good idea. Bring your camera. On hot days, V-8 juice, dried bananas and drinks that replace electrolytes are good to bring. Cardinal rule of hiking: Stay with the group.”
The individuals who lead these adventures, as well as the participants, often have deep reserves of information about the trails and hiking in general, and most are very happy to share their knowledge. You might also be surprised to find that you have many other interests in common with these people. Considering how much value and satisfaction you get in return for the little or no membership contributions, this is a great investment in summer fun.