Explore the PNW: Recent Episodes
Joel and Debi
Follow along while we explore the amazing trails, food and interesting locations in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. We get out and hike, snowshoe, kayak, mountain bike and shoot photos every week. Your hosts Joel & Debi will share their adventures, through lively banter and make you feel you are in nature with them. With 20 years as a Wilderness Guide in the PNW, Joel has tons of experience and knowledge for the hidden gems, will give gear reviews to help you get out comfortably and safety and also share his secrets for photographing your adventures. Debi is the "foodie" in this partnership and she will get your tastebuds watering with her recommendations, suggestions and reviews. Settle back and explore the PNW with us!
Ok...so technically this episode is about riding Antoine Peak Trail system near Spokane Valley. But we got up very early so the conversation touches on many other topics. Stay tuned for a link to Debi's GoPro footage on Youtube!!!
we road trails 110 and 100 on Mt Spokane, and discuss it on the Pod. We also had a Cougar in our backyard last week...twice. To view video of that big cat go to my photography IG: j.pruittphotography
Thanks for the support
We headed North for the 4th of July weekend to ride in Rossland, BC.
Spoiler alert...it was amazing!!!!
We had the opportunity to visit Glacier National Park twice in May and June '24. The Going To The Sun" road was closed at Avalanche Lake but we hiked and explored were we could...
The Freakin Northern Lights!!! Enough said...tune in to experience this monumental evening with Explore the PNW!
We spend our winter break in Brandon, Oregon. Join us for an episode about Sea Stacks, Golf and Winter weather patterns in the idyllic beach community on the Southern Oregon Coast.
Another Summer and Fall have flown bye. We enjoyed a ton of great Mountain Bike Trips and Loads of Golf. We will put a bow on our favorites from the season in this episode. If you like this content please take the time to post a review. It helps.
We went riding in Idaho and it started a conversation about how a trail gets a Green, Blue, Black Diamond classification. Who decides what color a trail should be? Is it a helpful system to let riders know what to expect on a specific trail...hint...We don't think so. Listen to learn more.
BTW if you like this podcast follow, and leave a comment. It's helpful
We just got a new Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy E-Bike. We discuss the E-Bike craze. Pro's and Cons and some safety thoughts on riding E-Bikes.
No Debi today. My Co-Host doesn't play Pickleball and is extremely busy with work. I decided to try a one person podcast today...thoughts?
We went on our first gravel bike ride with the crew from Wheel Sport South and we dish about the experience this week. Hint: It was awesome!
We finally made it to the Route of the Hiawatha. Take Exit 5 in Montana and follow the signs tot he tunnel. Be sure to get your tickets prior and be prepared to have a great time!!!!
we discuss the multitude of wildlife we have encountered on our travels in the past year.
Explore the PNW has been sucked into the vacuum that is golf in 2023. We didn't actually mean for it to happen but we are addicted. Listen to this podcast to find out more. If you came here for hiking and biking trips...don't worry we are still doing that too.
Welcome back to Explore the PNW. We survived winter in the PNW and were able to escape the cold and wet for a trip to Hawaii. In this episode we discuss that trip and all the wonderful locations we visited in Waikiki and the North Shore.
We had a super fun summer '22...we recap our adventures, add some places we didn't get to on other episodes and hope to leave you with a positive attitude for the upcoming winter.
We teased it in the end of our last Podcast...this is part 2 of our Adventures in Banff.
We visit Lake Louise, Hike Johnston Canyon and discuss iconic Instagram locations!!!
We made it to Banff, BC. Lake Louse, Moraine Lake. so much amazing blue glacier water. It was an amazing trip that we finally made happen.
we did it!!! we crossed into Canada to get some sweet Fernie dirt on our bike tires, under our nails and recorded some amazing bucket list memories.
We discuss our pontoon boat ride on Lake Coeur D'Alene in Idaho. Great food, great company and wonderful shoreline.
Mt. Spokane is experiencing a super bloom of bear grass...We couldn't resisit heading up to Mt. Spokane to see it for ourselves. It didn't disappoint!!
I trip to Southern Utah without my travel partner Debi. I visited Zion, Bryce and Kanab. Listen to this slightly longer podcast to learn more about the area.
Join us as we talk about mountain biking in Moab. We rode several cool trails, visited Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands on this episode too.
Today we discuss 5 of our favorite gear items on the podcast for car camping.
1.) https://www.fenixlighting.com/product/fenix-hm70r-rechargeable-headlamp/
2.)https://jetboil.johnsonoutdoors.com/stoves-systems/genesis-basecamp-system
3.)https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/trekking-poles/black-diamond-alpine-carbon-cork
4.)https://www.nemoequipment.com/products/roamer
5.)https://www.roamadventureco.com/products/83l-the-rugged-case
We hope you found these reviews helpful. If you like gear reviews, let us know and we will do more of them.
In this episode we introduce you to 5 fun hiking and/or mountain biking trails in the Spokane, WA area.
The areas are:
Dishman Conservation Area
Iller Conservation Area
Riverside Park/Trail 25
The Bluff
Saltese/Uplands
We hope you enjoy this episode!!
The Lewis & Clark Expedition was synonymous with exploration. They embodied the adventurous spirit, the search of the unknown, uncharted area West of the Mississippi. During our recent trip to Clark County, I had to explore without my sidekick Debi, which felt like Clark going out into the wild without Lewis. Just didn't have the same vibe but the search for adventure (or at least good photo ops), couldn't be passed over.
Google these areas for more information:
Wintler Community Park, Vancouver, WA
https://www.cedarcreekgristmill.org
https://clark.wa.gov/public-works/moulton-falls-regional-park
https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Falls_Creek_Falls_Loop_Hike
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/panther-creek-falls
From Land's End to Curtis Street we take time to explore the beaches near Lincoln City...and eat some Fish & Chips!!
We visited 4 lighthouses on the Oregon Coast:
Heceta Head
Yaquina Head
Cape Meares
Tillamook Rock
Listen in and learn more about theses amazing Oregon Coast landmarks.
157 Miles South of Portland you will find the Cape Perpetual Natural Area. This 2700 acre coastal wilderness area has it all. Geysers, Spouts, and Thor's Well will entertain you for hours, just be cautious if you venture off the pavement. This is a dynamic and wild slice of the Oregon coast and big "sneaker" waves have been known to crash here. Know the tide schedule and enjoy the Devil's Churn, Cooks Chasm and Thor's Well in safety.
We discuss our Tacoma and how we have outfitted the perfect Overlanding Rig for exploring the PNW plus the Pro's and Con's of a Roof Top Tent (RTT). We also talk about the additions we have made to the Tacoma to make traveling easier, more convenient and quicker to pack. Listen in for some exciting banter...Love my Tacoma!!
https://zargesusa.com/products/cases/standard/k440/
https://www.toyota.com/tacoma/
https://cascadiatents.com
https://www.roamadventureco.com
https://decked.com/products/decked-drawers
https://www.kelty.com/trash-pak/
https://ignik.com/products/gas-growler-deluxe
Join us for 30 minutes as we snowshoe on a couple of trails on Mt. Spokane. We see a cool animal, talk about snowshoes and snowshoeing and spin a good story. That's got to be worth your time...right?!?
Our first year of traveling and doing Explore the PNW has drawn to an end. This episode is a short recap of the year. We look forward to more travels and adventures in 2022!!!
Our Anniversary Trip brought us back to Joseph Oregon again this year. We snowshoed, hiked, and took photos around the beautiful Wallowa Lake area.
We went to explore a hike in Idaho...those Forest Service Roads get steep. After accessing the road conditions do you keep driving in the ice or turn around? What does that look like...Plan A, B or C ??? Keep listening to find out what we decided. Hint...when your Exploring the PNW partner is death gripping the seat you are wise to "read the room". lol.
We spent a long weekend exploring the small central Washington community of Winthrop, Washington. This town feels like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid could come racing through town, spurs driving their horses to avoid the posse hot on their tails. Think Leavenworth but replace a Bavarian vibe with the Old West one. It's also the gateway to the beautiful North Cascades National Park!!!!
https://smalltownwashington.com/things-to-do-in-winthrop-wa/
A return to the North Cascades for a snowy hike, camping outing and photography exploration.
We took a quick drive to Leavenworth to hike the Enchantments. The strenuous hike to Colchuck Lake was so worth the payoff. Tons of Yellow Larches and the most beautiful lake water imaginable. Follow along as we get hyped for Larch Season!!!
We did a last minute trip to Missoula. We hit our fav mountain bike trail at Rattlesnake again and visited the Garden of 1000 Buddhas in Arlee, MT.
We discuss the benefits of disperse camping, using www.hipcamp.com to locate a camping spot without planning ahead of time and how cool Montana is.
We did a completely last minute trip to Glacier National Park. Several changes to the park entry in 2021. Listen for the steps you need to take OR just enter Glacier early in the morning and don't worry about he new rules. lol.
We discovered the beautiful paddling opportunities below the Nine Mile Dam. Great park, put in was easy and the area was perfect for an afternoon of Kokopelli Paddling. If you have listen to our podcast and have heard us talk about our Packrafts...do yourself a favor and go to their website and buy one. They are the most fun day paddling vessel Ive ever paddled. So much more fun then a Stand Up Paddle Board, easier to store and maneuver then a hard-shell kayak and can handle flat water as well as BIG whitewater.
https://kokopelli.com
You won't be sorry!!!
Whats better then paddling Kokopelli's on a beautiful lake...doing that AND taking a pontoon boat ride to town for Ice Cream!!!
When you travel you have to be open to being spontaneous and being friendly pays sweet dividends.
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233637
https://www.coneandcoffee.com/sandpoint
Good fitness hike just outside the City of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Not too steep but enough to get your heart rate up and finish with a tasty view of the Lake.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/mineral-ridge-national-recreation-trail
Kokopelli, flute player, symbol of fertility and joy
A symbol of fertility, joy, feast, and long life, he is also a minstrel, a spirit of music, a storyteller, a rainmaker, a healer, a teacher, a joker-magician, a seducer. Kokopelli possesses the wisdom of age.
or https://kokopelli.com
This week we discuss the Kokopelli Packraft and take it for a spin on West Medical Lake, near Spokane, Washington.
We visited Missoula Montana in this weeks travels. Tune in to hear more about hiking to the M looking over the city and mountain biking in the Rattlesnake Trail system.
we traveled slightly out of the PNW for this trip but it was so worth it. Listen as we discuss the Flora & Fauna of this National Treasure.
We visited the town of Chewelah on an exploratory drive in Northeastern Washington. We stopped for lunch at the mexican restaurant El Ranchito. It was like having a home cooked meal in the booth of a restaurant. Great food, better service!!!!
https://m.facebook.com/pages/El-Ranchito/207936119275224
El Ranchito
209 N Park St
Chewelah, WA 99109
we got out and rode Riverside and The Bluff trails this past week. Follow along to see how it went!!! Keep the rubber side down.
A snow shoe trip takes a turn as we attempt to co-exist with a couple of enthusiastic Deer.
We did a fun snow hike at the Dishman Hills Natural Area recently....this is our report.
https://dishmanhills.org
https://dishmanhills.org/maps/
We visited Kendall Yards in Downtown Spokane to get breakfast from Hello Sugar & Coffee at Indaba Coffee Roasters. This is our review...
https://www.hellosugarspokane.com/kendall-menu
https://www.indabacoffee.com/nettleton
Introduction Podcast to our outdoor adventures, food reviews and photography tips.
Your hosts are Joel & Debi and we are very active explorers of the Pacific Northwest. Follow along to find hidden trails, great food and helpful hints while traveling in The PNW.