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Buzz - May 2008 |
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Ski Show in Bellevue in June
 Winter enthusiasts can look forward to experiencing Winter in June at the 76th annual Far West Ski Association (FWSA) annual convention scheduled June 5-8 at Meyedenbauer Center in Bellevue, Wash.
Free and open to the public is the Friday night silent auction featuring ski resort trips and getaways, a dance and travel expo featuring ski resorts, tour operators and related businesses — such as Outdoors NW!
The remainder of the conference for industry members includes a golf tournament, awards banquet and panel sessions. Attendees will also interact with ski celebrities, Olympic racers and industry representatives.
Industry participants should reserve booth space right away. For detailed information, visit www.fwsa.org.
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National Trails Day June 7
America has 200,000 miles of trails and they are celebrated in the16th annual National Trails Day, scheduled June 7. There are hundreds of activities planned nationwide that day including many in the Northwest. A complete list of activities in Washington and Oregon can by found at www.americanhiking.org/NTDGeneralInfoFaq.aspx
In Washington, the Washington Trails Association will team up with the American Hiking Society to celebrate “Join Us on the Trail.” It’s a chance for users to connect with local hiking clubs, outdoor retailers and local and federal land management agencies.
The WTA will use the weekend to kick off its summer line-up of volunteer work parties up and down the Cascades and the Olympics that will continue through the summer. For more on the WTA Trails Day activities, log onto www.wta.org
An Outdoor Industry Association’s annual report in 2006 revealed that 72.1 percent of all Americans over 16 (or 162 million) participates in one of 22 outdoor activities including 76.7 million hikers, 13.5 million backpackers, 40.4 million trail runners and 10 million cross country skiers.
To find out how to organize a Trails Day event, contact ILevin@AmericanHiking.org.
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Get away with Evergreen Escapes
Evergreen Escapes offers a great way to experience the Evergreen State — as well as the rest of the Pacific Northwest. A family-owned adventure travel company, they offer active half-, full- and multi-day escapes.
Led by naturalists, visitors can experience gray whale watching in Westport, bird watching on Whidbey Island or wildflowers on Mount Rainier. Sea kayaking, hiking, rafting and skiing are just a few of the activities available. Paragliding? No problem. Scuba diving? Just ask! In addition to scheduled outings, the company will also put together private itineraries and corporate and team-building trips.
For an extensive list of the adventures Evergreen Escapes provides, visit www.evergreenescapes.com.
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Washington Trails Association’s Youth Volunteer Vacations
Spend your summer vacation enjoying the great outdoors! Youth ages 14 – 18 are invited to sign up for a Volunteer Vacation through the Washington Trails Association. The one-week trips allow youths to experience the wilderness while helping the WTA restore and build trails.
Trips are designed to allow each participant to work to his or her ability level; previous day-trip volunteer experience with WTA is encouraged, but not required. WTA provides experienced crew leaders, some camping gear and all meals. Cost is $150 for non-WTA members, $125 for members, with subsequent trips costing only $75. For more information, go to www.wta.org.
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Hiking with your dog
Want to take your dog out hiking? Mountaineers Books has two titles that’ll get you outdoors where you’re both welcome.
Best Hikes with Dogs, Western Washington, features 85 dog-friendly trails of varying lengths and challenges, tips for hiking with your canine and much more. Written by Dan Nelson, the book is 240 pages and was released in 2002.
More recently, Outdoors NW Trails Editor Craig Romano and photographer Alan L. Bauer teamed up in 2005 to publish Bike Hikes with Dogs, Inland Northwest. The 75 trails featured in this book traverse eastern Washington, Idaho panhandle, northwest Montana plus the Okanagan Highlands and B.C. Kootenay in Canada.
More information on these two paperbacks can be found at www.mountaineersbooks.org
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Stuff to buy
 Ruff Wear, the leading producer of high performance dog gear based in Bend. Ore. continues to expand its For Dogs on the Go line with its all-new Approach Pack. It’s Ruff Wear’s answer to an entry-level everyday dog pack from short outings to three-day hikes. It features five-adjustment points on a harness frame that offers stability and load dispersion. The Approach Pack is available in five sizes and sells for $59.95-$69.95. www.ruffwear.com
Not to be outdone, Planet Dog has just released an award-winning Zip Lead Retractable Leash which features a longer wrist band for larger hands and gloves, and a new neoprene lining for even more comfort. The Zip Lead is designed to fit in your back pocket so you can free yourself for more important things – like ball tossing. Available in three sizes, three colors (blue, chrome/titanium, orange) and one price: $29.95. www.planetdog.com
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Experience Momentum
A new business in Lynnwood is offering a holistic approach to wellness, with an emphasis on the links between mind, body and spirit. Led by physical therapist Shanon Tysland, Experience Momentum provides physical therapy, massage therapy, personal training, sport-specific training and life skills mentoring.
“We want people to experience things they didn’t think were possible,” says Tysland. An eight-week individual program gives participants a structured path to reach their goals. “They create a physical goal at the beginning of the program and at the end of the eight weeks they reach that goal.”
The company also offers corporate programs that focus on wellness and balance. For more information, call (425) 776-0803, or www.experiencemomentum.org
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TRAIL Washington
The Trail Rights Association in Leavenworth (TRAIL) is a non-profit volunteer group committed to the preservation of mountain bike trails in the Leavenworth area. The group has partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to work on trails and sponsors a summer mountain biking series, the Bavarian Bike & Brews festival and other fun events. Riders who enjoy mountain biking around Leavenworth or are concerned about trail creation and maintenance should visit www.trailwashington.org. |
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Running around Seattle
See Seattle from a new perspective – running down streets you’ve only seen from the inside of a car or bus, exploring historic Pioneer Square, jogging along the waterfront and past the Olympic Sculpture Park or trotting through Capitol Hill. Seattle Run Tours give you a healthy alternative to the usual sightseeing tour and is a fun option for active visitors or locals who want a fresh look at the city.
Owner Alison White also offers a “Sustainable Seattle” run tour each October, in partnership with Sustainable Style.
Visit www.seattleruntours.com for details.
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Car-Free Weekends on Lake Washington Blvd.
Bicycle Saturdays and Sundays are back this summer along Seattle’s Lake Washington Boulevard. Cyclists can ride along the car-free shores of Lake Washington from Mt. Baker Beach south to Seward Park from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the following days:
Saturday, June 14; Sunday, June 29
Saturday, July 12; Sunday, July 20
Saturday, Aug. 9; Sunday, Aug. 17
Saturday, Sept. 13; Sunday, Sept. 21
The program is sponsored by Seattle Parks and Recreation and co-sponsored by Group Health Cooperative, Cascade Bicycle Cub and Adobe Systems with the support of the Seattle Police Department.
For more information about Bicycle Saturday and Sunday, visit www.seattle.gov/parks/Athletics/bikesatsun.htm
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Paddle has a purpose
Paddle Kitsap, a kayak tour of North Kitsap, is scheduled Aug. 1–2. Launching in Port Gamble, the two-day tour will stop at each of North Kitsap’s communities and end in Poulsbo with an evening of festivities. The event will benefit the North Kitsap Trails Association, a group dedicated to preserving and protecting water access in North Kitsap. To register, visit www.paddlekitsap.com |
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Surf’s up!
The 7th annual Clean Water Classic surfing contest is scheduled May 16-18 in Westport, Wash. A benefit for the Surfrider Foundation, the Clean Water Classic is the oldest continuously running surf contest in the Pacific Northwest and draws surfers from Oregon, Washington, Northern California, and British Columbia.
New this year: a Stand-Up Paddle demo heat and a keiki (youth) heat. Mark Kelly, president of event sponsor Global Surf Industries, says, “Our company mantra is ‘life is better when you surf,’ and this is alive and on display at the Classic for sure.”
Kelly suggests early sign-ups as many heats fill up fast. Register online at www.cleanwaterclassic.com
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