After reading Heather’s blog on her Pullman Bucket List I was inspired to make a list of a similar sort. I made a short list of items that I will do this summer (old favorites or new activities) and then update you on how they went! -The first thing that I would like to do is take advantage of the Chipman Trail. I love using this feature of the Palouse throughout the summer months. I like to run and rollerblade along the path. -Secondly, I would like to explore more of the trails on Moscow Mountain. I know there are miles of trails just a short drive away and yet I have never gone. -Third, this summer I will make it a point to go to the top of Steptoe Butte. I have heard that the view is great on a clear day. -Lastly I would like to grow a few of my own plants and herbs. I will need to be planting those seeds now if I want to see a successful harvest. I will most likely pick low-maintenance plants to start with. Thank you Heather for the inspiration and motivating me to make the most of my summer here in the Palouse!

I’m a senior and I plan to graduate in a short week and a half. I’ve heard some of my peers talk about their Pullman bucket list and I want to get in on the action; UREC style.  I enjoy running and I’ve ran a couple miles into the Bill Chipman Palouse Trail, or as I usually refer to it as the Moscow/Pullman trail, but I’ve always wanted to ride a bike all the way to Moscow, Idaho.  So my first entry to the bucket list is: Ÿ       Ride bike all the way to Moscow, Idaho, on the Moscow/Pullman Trail. Next on the list is more relaxed.  My friend and co-worker, Kerri, told me about this wonderful place where you can pick your own bouquet of wildflowers for $7!  There was even an article about Jane Stratton, the woman who started this business, http://bit.ly/K5wuhu, in MaryJanesFarm magazine.  The second entry of my bucket list includes: Ÿ       Pick a bouquet of wildflowers at Stratton Farms. The bucket list activities listed above include accomplishing things I have yet to do.  I’ve already done a considerable amount of unforgettable adventures during my time as a student at WSU.  I hiked Kamiak Butte last summer with a group of close girlfriends, the hike was easy and my friends kept me laughing all the way to the top.  I went miniature golfing with my Dad and little sister, Meagan, during Dad’s Weekend in far-to-cold weather (I recommend enjoying golf in the warmer months).  I’ve attended a variety of WSU athletic events in Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum to Martin Stadium.  I was a tag along for a white water rafting trip.  And I cannot forget green bikes have been a close companion on my quick trips across campus. I’ve done so much but I do want to accomplish a few more things in the Palouse before I have to leave.

Being an outdoor enthusiast, when I heard about the opportunity to get trained in outdoor leadership, I couldn’t resist the opportunity.  Aside from my personal desires to gain more experience in the outdoors, I currently work for University Recreation (UREC) Marketing as an intern assigned to the Outdoor Recreation Center (ORC) team and figured gaining additional outdoor leadership experience will only help me become a better UREC employee.  Outdoor Leadership Training is an 11-day course provided by the Outdoor Recreation Center to instruct participants how to lead a group into the wilderness through training in backpacking, kayaking and rock climbing.    This past Tuesday was the pre-trip orientation where trainers from the ORC provided all of the students with an overview of what will be taking place during the training.  Not knowing any of the other students participating in the course, I was glad when the staff trainers started the meeting with an ice breaker for everyone to get to know each other.  They gave us outdoor activity scenarios and asked us to express our “comfort level” with the scenario provided.  This was a great way for each of us to see where we are comfortable and where we still need some development.  It was reassuring to see other people have some of the same situational comforts as I did.  Next, the staff provided guidance on some aspects of the training like Leave No Trace, how to properly pack a backpack for hiking and what to bring and not to bring on outdoor adventures.  We finished things up on Tuesday with a tentative schedule of events for the duration of the course (subject to change depending on weather). Being a leadership course, each of the students teaches several aspects of the course.  I chose to provide a brief history of Granite Point, where we will be conducting the rock climbing portion of training; how to read a topographical map, since maps ar... [More]

As the semester is winding down, so are my responsibilities. I have little work left to and that leaves next week's schedule relatively free. I am excited not only because school is ending, but because it is happening at a great time - right before Sweat the Stress! Sweat the Stress is a week where the Rec Center offers free fitness classes to all members during finals week. Upon discovering all of my free time, I grabbed a Sweat the Stress fitness class schedule and then proceeded to map out which classes I could take each day, Monday through Friday. I am excited to take advantage of both anaerobic and aerobic classes that are scheduled back-to-back to get a complete work out in each day. Even if you have a busy schedule, it is also important to take time for yourself and squeeze in that hour work out so that you thinking clearly on your last tests. I encourage all to join me next week as we finish the year out strong with fun and maybe new ways to work out by exploring fitness classes.

              I have been an avid runner for eight years now and one of the major perks (besides the endorphins) is that it’s quite inexpensive.  The only thing absolutely necessary to invest in is your running shoes.  Running can be very tough on your body and it’s important to take responsibility for treating yourself well!  I bought a new pair of Asics GT-2170 last weekend.  I have been running in the 2000 series for years now and they have never failed me.  The difference with the newest model is that they are taking on this minimalist trend.  The sales clerk was very knowledgeable about the shoes and explained that they are lighter and have a lower heel in order to help runners reduce heel striking.  It is much less harmful to the body when runners achieve a midfoot/forefoot strike in their stride.  Lately I’ve been seeing more and more talk about the minimalist running shoe trend.  My ears perked up when I started to notice those odd looking FiveFingers shoes, which seemed more like socks to me.  The idea is that they “allow the foot to move more naturally and, thus, allow the rest of the body to set up in more efficient running posture from foot to forehead” (http://bit.ly/elIFyp).  In fact, this idea has gone beyond the FiveFingers brand and has become a major trend in the running shoe industry.   All of this new information regarding minimalist shoes has definitely contradicted a lot of what I have learned in the past about running shoes.  One barefoot enthusiast claims that, "Arch support, cushioning, and high-tech features are believed to be improvements for human comfort but they're actually the direct cause of foot problems and injuries."  People in support of the minimalistic shoes even go as far as saying that companies who promote motion control and stability shoes are simply propaganda. ... [More]

What is a portable stove? – Portable stoves are small, compact, burner assemblies used during hiking or backpacking trips when normal cooking utilities are not available.  While many different variations of portable stoves are available, this article will focus on non-self-pressurizing tanks and free-standing burners.  This type of step-up allows for a minimal amount of items to carry in your pack and eliminates the need for pressurized bottles.   How do they work? – Typical portable stoves consist of a few different parts that, when combined, provide a powerful and easy to use stove in just about any environmental conditions.  The main parts of the portable stove are the fuel bottle, pressurization pump, connection tube and burner.  The fuel bottle contains a liquid fuel source in accordance with the burner, typically kerosene, gasoline, diesel or alcohol.  Pressurization pumps allows for the user to pressurize the bottle for stove use.  The connection tube provides a sealed connection between the pressurized fuel source and the burner assembly.  Once these four parts are connected and properly primed, the stove is ready for use.  Pressurized fuel is fed to the burner via the connection tube.   Upon ignition, the assembly will burn the fuel, thus providing a gas stove for cooking.  Many companies have unique fittings for the bottle, pump, tube and stove, so ensure you get matching equipment and test the equipment before taking it on a trip.  Also, follow the instructions for the particular burner as steps may vary depending on individual burners. When should you use them? – These portable units are great for camping, hiking and mountaineering.  The set-up and tear-down for portable stoves is relatively quick and effortless.  When hiking and mountaineering, size and weight are vital.  These stoves allow for hours of use while minimizing the space used and weight added t... [More]

What is a Cataraft? – Catarafts, commonly referred to as cats, are a specific type of raft that is used for fishing, white-water rafting and floating. Catarafts were made popular by the Russians, who used them on crazy outdoor adventures. Cats fit less people then on a raft of similar size and there is less freedom to move around – you are confined to the chair all day on the river. However, they are commonly used as a fishing platform and are great for rafting over rougher water. How does it work? – Unlike a raft, there is no rubber floor that is pushed by waves or gets sucked into holes. Instead, there is the frame in between two tubes. What this means for you as a boater, is that you will have a harder time flipping your raft. Cats can be designed for a number of different functions and many cat owners have designed their cat themselves. When should I use it? – When you should choose a cataraft over a normal raft is going to be up to your personal preferences. Depending on the type of water you will be encountering, the number of people or gear you want to carry or even how long your trip is, will determine the type of boat you should use. Cats fit less people then on a raft of similar size and there is less freedom to move around – you are confined to the chair all day on the river. However, cats are commonly used as a fishing platform and are great for rafting over rougher water.  I would recommend doing some personal research on what is out there. Where can you get it? –The ORC has catarafts available for rent! We have 2 available, and it costs $108 to rent for the weekend!

Summer is swiftly approaching and after a cold winter I’m ready for sunshine.  To take ample advantage of the warm weather I have decided to take a different approach to planning my summer activities, I’m making a summer wish list. When summer comes around all I want to do is relax but I’d much rather be hiking, biking or swimming.  Here’s my wish list: Hike Multnomah Falls.  According to Oregon’s website, the difficulty is tailored for two different levels a moderate or difficult hike.  I’ll probably do this on my way to or from Portland because it’s a nice break in a road trip. Camping on the Oregon Coast.  Camping was a staple of my childhood and I want to reconnect.  An article from The Oregonian listed the top 10 tent sites for camping in Oregon.  All of them look beautiful! Bike through Tri-Cities, WA.  I’m from the Tri-Cities and want to explore the area on a bike rather than driving everywhere, the Tri-cities Guide shows different routes. Fishing in North Idaho.  My Grandma lives in Bonners Ferry, ID, when I visit I plan to hike up one of the mountains and fish, while picking huckleberries along the way. At the very least I want to do these four activities and hopefully by the end of the summer I’ve at least doubled that number!  What outdoor activities will you do this summer? Check out the sunny weather in the video below where Megan and I talk about summertime activities.

Most people are unaware of the holiday that occurs on the third Thursday in April every year.  Nearly everyone you and I know has participated in the gesture which will be recognized on April 19, 2012.  This gesture is one of my personal favorites and the louder the slap, the better.   If the slap didn’t give it away, I am talking about National High Five Day.  I know this may sound like a joke and may it not receive national recognition, but National High Five Day was established in 2002 and promotes the spread of as many high-fives as possible. I find it truly amazing how the simple gesture of raising your hand and saying “high-five” will inspire other people to slap your hand.  When was the last time you randomly high-fived?  Since it is one of my favorite things to do, I high-five all the time.  I have high-fived my co-workers about 5 times since I started writing this blog, which means I should probably focus on writing and less on high-fives, but they are so fun!  The reason I have so much love for the high-five is because it reminds me of my friends, being a kid and so many good times throughout my life.  More recently, a group of us went to the Gorge for the Dave Matthews Band concert and went around giving high-fives to people all weekend.  Nearly everyone reciprocated the high-five and those who did had a big smile on their face.  That’s proof enough for me that high-fiving is a key to happiness. Since we have about two weeks to get prepared for National High-Five Day, take it upon yourself to spread the word and prep your hands for excess high-fiving.  If you are thinking this is a dumb idea, just think about all the high-fives in your past and remember the way you feel high-fiving your friends, teammates and even strangers.  That’s right, you remember that smile on your face, so give back to the high-five and share as many as you can on April 19, I know I ... [More]

Gathering around a campfire to exchange stories and spend time with friends is one of my favorite parts of camping. Watching the flickering flames and the smell of burning wood instills a sense of calm in me. However, what really puts my mind at ease is knowing that my campfire is not leaving a trace on the environment. According to Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, one of the most important rules to follow when building a campfire is to never burn your trash. Here are a few reasons why. First, burning items like plastic bottles and bags, miscellaneous tape, batteries, or baby diapers releases numerous chemicals such as styrene, lead, and xylene—all known carcinogens. These carcinogens are then left behind in the ash created by the fire and are also released into the atmosphere. I sure don’t want myself or anyone else to be breathing in those toxins! Another negative effect of burning trash is damage which accumulates over time. The trash leftover from a fire builds up in the environment causing long term effects. Animals are also attracted and conditioned to human food and trash and will go to extreme measures to seek these items out. Many times, this leads to animals becoming more aggressive and they are then destroyed to keep campers like you and me safe.  Consuming human food also disrupts the natural feeding cycles of wild animals. This would occur much less often if explorers were mindful of the waste they leave behind. Now, how can we go about being more mindful and leaving less waste? It’s simple: pack it in, pack it out. Campers should leave every campsite looking like it has been untouched by human (or gnome) hands. This can be accomplished by packing out all of our trash and either bringing it to a nearby trash receptacle or bringing it home where we can dispose of it appropriately.  By planning ahead for our outdoor adventures, we have the opportunity to reduce the volume of our trash tremendously. Packing food in reu... [More]