CHEF RECIPES 4 OLD WORLD MEETS Auroras, Lightning and Fire Lookout Adventures Northwest Contemporary personal favorites
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EDITOR’S NOTE
NWEPOXY.COM
So many things make our community such a special place, but one thing in par- ticular comes to mind: the people. This area is known for its stunning lakes and breathtaking scenery, yet it’s the individ- uals who live and work here who truly bring it to life. Across our community, people pour their heart and soul into what they do and in turn give back in significant ways.
Kristina Lyman
What’s especially inspiring is the level in which people care. In this edition of Nspire Magazine, you will meet a local woman who cares deeply about helping a truly vulnerable segment of our population. Through her passion, dedication and commit- ment, she is rescuing unwanted dogs and giving them a sec- ond chance at life. Her story is like many others we have published over the years — stories about good people doing great things. What’s inspiring is not just what they do. It’s who they are. These people come from all walks of life — teachers, artists, entre- preneurs, volunteers, retirees, students, outdoor adventurists. Their circumstance is unique, but they share a sense of pur- pose and a common drive to make a difference. The impact of their good deeds ripples through our neigh- borhoods, motivating others to act. This spirit of inspiration is what makes our community so special. Being surrounded by people who work hard, support one an- other, and love what they do is inspiring. It’s a daily remind- er that greatness doesn’t just happen in big cities — it thrives right here in places like ours. If you ever need to be reminded of the greatness in people, just look around. You’ll not only find it here in this magazine, you’ll find it everywhere, even in places where you least expect. Enjoy!
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SUMMER/FALL 2025 5
THE NSPIRE TEAM
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
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ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY:
Billy Cooter, Denise Lundy
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ON THE COVER:
Dave Spoelstra, Hungry Horse Reservoir near Glacier, Montana
Nspire Magazine is published by Mauer Publishing. Opinions expressed by authors and contributors in this issue are not necessarily those of Mauer Publishing. All materials in this issue of Nspire Magazine are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher. For advertising information email: kayla@nspiremagazine.com or call 208-930-0114.
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IN THIS ISSUE
40 GARDEN TO TABLE
66
>> ADVENTURE
CITY LIVING Townhouse oozes sophistication in downtown CdA.
Growing and pressing your own healthy seeds.
18
SEA KAYAKING Exploring open water by paddle.
>> LIFESTYLE
44
AVOCADO OIL Nature’s liquid gold.
26
93
DISC GOLF Popular easy-going past-time.
LOCAL DINING Experience the area’s finest epicurean hot spots.
46
MUSCLE RECOVERY How to bounce back after working out.
30 LOOKOUT TOWERS Adventure camping with amazing views.
>> HOME
48
CARY BEARE Country artist comes home.
38
72
SAVING SEEDS Benefits of second generation gardening.
STUNNING HIKES Getting outside with local photographers.
84
RECYCLABLE PAPER How choosing eco-friendly paper helps the environment.
54
80 CHASING WATERFALLS In Ithaca, New York. >> FOOD
RIMROCK MEADOWS Custom build blends with nature in treed surroundings.
88
PET RESCUER Local woman saves abondoned dogs one at a time.
60 BLENDING DESIGN Rathdrum luxury home mixes old and new.
10
TOP CHEFS Recipes from regional chefs.
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Jeremi Ossman, Tommy Knoebber, Julie Doty, Jennifer Brumley, Craig Zanetti, Trish Espeland
YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE 90
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We offer skilled representation in the following practice areas:
Divorce and custody High-asset divorce & property settlements Premarital agreements Spousal support Parental relocations Custody and support modifications
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702 North 4th Street, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814
SUMMER/FALL 2025 9
AMAZING RECIPES
WHIPPED RICOTTA DIP
Photos by Joel Riner
As the chef of Eat Good Group, Aaron Fish helps plan and operate Crave NW! He has appeared on Food Network, is a content creator, an advocate for sustainable sourcing and continues to push boundaries with the pop-up series “Wandering Table”.
EAT GOOD GROUP AARON FISH
INGREDIENTS » 2 cups whole milk ricotta » 1 cup heavy cream » 1 tsp salt
TO GARNISH » 1¼ cups of butter
EGG WASH » Honey » Olive oil » Crushed almonds » Flaked salt » Cracked pepper » Fresh herbs (whatever is in season) Whip heavy cream in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer until fluffy and stiff peaks form. Fold in salt and ricotta with a spatula. Spread onto a plate and garnish with honey, olive oil, crushed almonds, flaked salt, cracked pepper and fresh herbs. Serve with grilled bread or assorted veggies.
Scan the code for the complete recipe online.
Turn the page for another recipe from Aaron Fish.
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SUMMER/FALL 2025 11
AMAZING RECIPES
Togashi Ceviche
INGREDIENTS » 8 oz purple potatoes
» ½ cup lime juice » 2 Tbsp soy sauce » 2 Tbsp toasted sesame oil » 1 Tbsp sugar » 1 Tbsp togarashi spice blend » ½ tsp salt » 2 Tbsp diced red onion » 2 Tbsp diced carrot » 2 Tbsp green onions, sliced thin » 2 Tbsp cilantro, chopped » ½ each habanero pepper, seeded and chopped fine » 8 oz ahi tuna, fresh » ¼ cup sesame mayo (¼ cup mayonnaise and 1 tsp sesame oil mixed) » ½ cup corn nuts » Cilantro leaves and sliced serrano chilies for garnish Cook potatoes in 2 quarts of boiling water with 3 Tbsp of kosher salt until cooked through. Strain and cool off. Set aside. Combine lime juice, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, togarashi and salt. Mix well and set aside. Combine onion, carrot, green onion, cilantro, habanero and ahi. Pour lime brine over mixture and stir gently. Make sure all fish is under brine. Let sit for at least 5 minutes before eating. The acid in the brine will lightly cook the fish. Take potatoes and slice into ¼” slices. Heat a non-stick saute pan over medium- high heat for 2-3 minutes. Add ¼ cup canola oil and lay potato slices down in oil. Crisp each side (2-3 minutes each) and then remove to a paper towel lined plate.
EAT GOOD GROUP AARON FISH
Scan the code for the complete recipe online.
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Overseas Adventure Tours
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SUMMER/FALL 2025 13
AMAZING RECIPES
LAVENDER & LEMON Posset
Photos by Joel Riner
With 24 years in hospitality, Tricia Whitney founded Malvagio’s to honor her 13-year-old son Preston. The restaurant — born from loss, driven by love and rooted in heritage — is a place where authentic Italian food, family and community come together with purpose. La famiglia e tutto! INGREDIENTS » 2 cups heavy cream » ¾ cup granulated sugar » 6 Tbsp lemon juice (fresh) 3 lemons » 2 Tbsp lemon zest » 2 tsp culinary lavender Gather 3 large lemons, cut in half, lengthwise, then core out middle of lemons. You will use these later to pour the mixture into. Save the middle of lemons to squeeze for juice. Infuse cream: In a saucepan, combine heavy cream, sugar, lemon zest and lavender. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture reaches a gentle boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes to allow the lavender to steep and the sugar to fully dissolve.
MALVAGIO’S ITALIAN TRATTORIA & CATERING CO. TRICIA WHITNEY
Scan the code for the complete recipe online.
Turn the page for another recipe from Tricia Whitney.
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SUMMER/FALL 2025 15
AMAZING RECIPES
Calabrian
INGREDIENTS » 3 ¼cups 00 flour » ¾ cup semolina flour » 5 large eggs » 1 Tbsp dried Calabrian oregano (crushed finely) » 2 teaspoons olive oil » Pinch of salt BÉCHAMEL SAUCE » 4 Tbsp unsalted butter » ¼ cup all-purpose flour » 3 ½ cups heavy cream » Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg » 2 cloves roasted garlic » Salt and white pepper to taste
LASAGNA
MALVAGIO’S ITALIAN TRATTORIA & CATERING CO. TRICIA WHITNEY
LASAGNA SHEETS
On a clean surface, mix the flours. Make a well in the center. Add eggs, olive oil and salt into the well. Slowly incorporate flour with a fork, then knead 10–12 minutes until smooth and elastic. Wrap in plastic wrap and let rest 30–45 minutes at room temp. Roll out using a pasta machine or rolling pin into thin sheets (setting 7 on most pasta machines). Once sheets are rolled out, sprinkle Calabrian oregano and fresh basil onto sheets, fold in half and repeat the process of rolling pasta sheets. Cut into 9 x 13-inch sheets or to fit your pan. Dust with semolina to prevent sticking. You can now cook your lasagna sheets. Add to boiling salted water until al dente.
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NORTH RIDGE HOMES
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SUMMER/FALL 2025 17
ADVENTURE
A 100-MILE PADDLE
SEA KAYAKING
ALONG THE
HUNGRY HORSE
RESERVOIR PEAK
By CHRIS CELENTANO
A large waterfall dops about 75 feet into Hungry Horse Reservoir under stormy skies.
18 NSPIREMAGAZINE.COM
I , along with a small group of some of my closest friends, have been completing a long-distance sea kayaking expedition for the last few years. We started with Lake Pend Oreille, then we completed upper and lower Priest Lake in the second year. On our third iteration, we de- cided we would step outside of North Idaho and head west to Diablo and Ross lakes in North Cascades Na- tional Park. Unfortunately, that one didn’t work out. Everyone but myself and my friend Dave Spoelstra, one of the original members of the group, had to bail out. Dave and I decided almost simul- taneously that Ross and Diablo lakes weren’t in the cards for this trip. In- stead, we chose a mystical, fairly ob- scure, yet stunning place in Montana named Hungry Horse Reservoir. Months earlier, we had plotted out the mileage, did some preliminary e- scouting, and had put it on the list of destinations to circumnavigate for a future trip. That future trip was now, and we were ready. >> Day 1: 16 miles With the day of the trip upon us, I met Dave at his house around 5 a.m. We would spend five days on the wa - ter and another night at the launch point, which was on a remote bay on the lake with no amenities. We would be finishing the trip late in the afternoon of the fifth day and camp - ing another night in the wilderness before heading home. We loaded the truck and set out. After several hours of driving, we navigated our way onto a lonely stretch of dirt road and headed into the unknown. This place was new to us and the only familiarity was from scouting via satellite imagery. We fi - nally pulled out of the forest where the road ended at what would be the water’s edge in the summer. Inter-
estingly, Hungry Horse is a reser- voir and the water is released from the dam on its north end in autumn to prepare for the following year’s spring melt, resulting in the lake be- ing drawn down about 20-30 feet. Dave and I were blown away by the beauty of the place. Looking south and west out of the tiny bay; the mighty Swan Mountain Range towered over the lake’s western edge. Little did we know that the mountains immediately to the east would be even more mind blowing. We were surprised to find that the forest in this part of Montana was much more like what we were famil- iar with back home; taller and dens- er underbrush between more closely spaced larch and fir trees. We locked the truck and lugged our 200-pound boats down to the wa- ter and set off knowing nothing other than the fact that we were embark- ing on another epic adventure. De- spite a late start, we had a relatively short 16 miles to paddle to our first planned camp on a tiny island on the northwest section of the lake. Since it was only Dave and I on this trip, we made a pact that we would aim to paddle at least 100 miles over the course of the trip, hugging the shoreline as closely as possible and paddling as many of the inlets as we could. Despite the numerous tree stumps that sat mil- limeters under the surface, we man- aged to stay within 25-75 feet of shore all day, every day. Laughing every time one of us would narrow- ly miss a stump as we paddled along the incredibly clear water. We heeded out of Emery Bay and headed west, then north in awe of this newfound beauty we were ex - periencing. There was the lightest breath of wind, taking a little bit of the edge off of the heat from the sun
overhead. We commented how we did not regret the decision to stuff the drysuits into the few remain- ing square inches of space inside the kayaks before setting off, as weather during the rest of the trip would not be as mild. We finally rounded a corner out of one of the many little bays on the lake and could see the northern ter- minus of the reservoir. The horizon line was filled by the gigantic con - crete megalith that was the Hun- gry Horse Dam. Built over five years and completed in 1953, the dam tow- ers 564 feet over the lower canyon of the South Fork Flathead River. The Morning Glory Spillway is the tall- est in the world, and the hydroelec- tric generators in the dam provide electricity for the surrounding com- munities. We paddled up to the log boom stretching across the entire lake about 300 yards before the dam itself, turned left, crossed the lake and began heading south. We would paddle consistently south for the next 2.5 days to the southern tip of the lake and the mouth of the South Fork Flathead. Four hours and 16 miles later, we paddled up to our intended camp- site for the night — a tiny island about 300 yards from the west- ern shoreline of the lake. During the planning phase, we decided we would try our best to avoid official campgrounds and people in gener- al, hoping for a more pure and iso- lated wilderness experience. We had no idea what to expect as we wandered up the beach to the top of that tiny forested island. Given that we were hammock camping, we needed the right tree spacing and a lack of brush to set up for the night. As we walked up into the middle of the island, there was a clearing we could see up ahead; quickly we real-
SUMMER/FALL 2025 19
Pristine view of Lake Pend Oreille from Schweitzer Mountain Resort.
To our surprise, the morning of Day 3 was calm and sunny
ized we had stumbled upon an ab- solutely perfect primitive campsite. The tree spacing was excellent, the campfire ring was well built and there was even a fire poker left be - hind by another camper. As if things couldn’t get any better, we had un- broken views of a line of tower- ing, craggy peaks along the eastern shoreline of the lake. After a somewhat restless night of sleep, we woke just before the sun peeked over the top of the tow- ering peaks to the east. We trudged through our morning routine, break- ing down camp and playing the dai- ly game of stuffing gear in the correct combinations into the various sized and colored drybags that only fit in the boats a specific way. >> Day 2: 16 miles There was a slight breeze that
would eventually calm down as the day progressed; however we watched the weather like a hawk. There was a severe storm forecast to hit late in the afternoon and was predicted to bring 60 to 70 mph winds, heavy rain and even snow. It was initially fore- casted to last through the following day, which could easily put our trip in jeopardy. As we paddled south we hugged the shoreline, dodged hundreds of tree stumps and had too many incredi- ble conversations to remember. One of the many amazing features of the lake are the many long fingers that are actually smaller rivers that feed the main reservoir. During the first three days we were able to paddle up all of these inlets along the west- ern shore. Several of them stretched more than 2 miles into deep canyons culminating in stunning waterfalls.
In fact, that is where we ended day two. Half way down the lake af- ter another 16-mile day. Our last 5 miles or so was spent hurriedly, or determinedly, paddling into the inlet to beat the approaching storm. The wind gusts began almost immediate- ly, but fortunately for us, the torren- tial rain didn’t begin until after we had settled into camp and jumped into the 40-50 degree water below a massive waterfall that poured into the lake next to camp. We needed the rest and recovery, as day 3 was planned to be our longest of the trip; planned at about 23 miles. Little did we know that the day would end be- ing even longer. >> Day 3: 27 miles To our surprise, we woke the fol- lowing morning to fresh snow in the mountains above us. However, the
20 NSPIREMAGAZINE.COM
Crepuscular rays shine down through the trees adding a sense of warmth to a frigid morning on the water
SUMMER/FALL 2025 21
Dave is dwarfed beneath the massive eastern peak early on the morning of Day 5.
an abandoned and long-forgotten primitive campground that had ob- vious signs of fresh bear vandalism, and then quickly left, not wanting to meet the individuals responsible for the damage. We got back into our boats begin- ning to feel the miles paddled the last 2.5 days. Only now we were faced with the thing we had hoped to avoid; a ferocious and sustained headwind with another 6-7 miles ahead of us before getting to camp. Our initial camp was a no-go, so we paddled another several miles into the wind before finally settling on a place. In all, we paddled over 26-27 miles that day. We got to camp ex - hausted but for the first time had an abundance of dry firewood to build a large bonfire before heading to bed absolutely wiped out. >> Day 4: 23 miles Despite an overall good sleep, the
wind picked up again overnight and was ferocious once more. It was also our coldest morning to that point. We got up early to make sure that we could get on the water and underway as quickly as possible. We had an- other 20-plus miles to paddle on our fourth day in. We settled for a quick but calorie-dense breakfast, packed the boats and were on the water right after the sun came up. We were met with white caps and fog blowing around the lake. Our only solace was that it was a tailwind. As the day progressed, and we made our way north, the winds slow- ly died down and a high pressure system moved in. We finally stopped after about three hours of consis- tent paddling, realizing we had al- ready paddled over halfway through our mileage for the day. We chose a tiny, 10-foot diameter island with a single stump in the middle of it. Just enough to stretch our legs, grab a
wind that was supposed to be accom- panied with the cold and snow was instead replaced by big puffy post- storm clouds and bright sunshine lighting up the lake. We breathed a sigh of relief knowing that we may not have to backtrack two days to the truck. The morning paddle south was stunning with glass-like conditions on the water, big white puffy clouds and blue skies. To top it all off, the nights of near-freezing temperatures forced the deciduous trees to pop even more brilliantly with autumn color. By midday we could finally see the end of the lake. As we paddled far- ther south, the wind picked up quick- ly at our backs. The final couple of miles to the very southern end of the lake, and the mouth of the inflowing South Fork Flathead yielded some amazing downwind surfing on nice - ly formed wind waves. We stopped for a quick break at what looked like
22 NSPIREMAGAZINE.COM
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SUMMER/FALL 2025 23 CITY TOURS l WINE & BEER TOURS l MULTI-DAY EXCURSIONS l HISTORICAL TOURS
Dave is all smiles as we celebrate reaching our 100-mile goal.
quick snack, and enjoy the incred- ible scenery of the southern half of the lake one last time before pad- dling back through the narrow pas- sage that seemed to divide the upper and lower part of the lake. After finding that our planned is - land camp wouldn’t suffice, we con - sulted the map and realized that there was a boat launch and small campground about a mile farther north that would give us the vitamin D exposure we sought. This was the first time during the trip that we uti - lized an actual campground; the pic- nic table, fire pit and level campsite were welcome additions. Sitting around the fire that night, it was obvious how tired we were. We ended up paddling another 23 miles that day, bringing us to 50 in two days and over 80 in the previous four. We were both nodding off be- tween discussions of how we planned on hitting our 100-mile goal. The original track that we plotted only brought us to about 90 miles for the trip. Despite paddling every nook and inlet as closely to the shoreline
as possible each day, we were still about 20 miles short of our goal. Our original plan had factored in a light- er day of paddling to finish off the trip at about 15 miles; we knew if we did that we would end up short of our goal. We rerouted a course on the map and calculated that we should be able to paddle approximately 20- 23 miles and achieve our goal. WIth that, we crawled into our hammocks and crashed hard. >> Day 5: 23 miles As we launched into another frig- id morning, a beaver swam by and out of sight around the corner as mist rose from the water as far as we could see. We continued to pad- dle northward up the lake, then east into one of the last two large inlets and bays. As we rounded a corner, the largest peak bordering the east- ern edge of the lake came into view towering above us with that amaz- ing reddish brown dirt. The cove we were paddling into was filled with low-lying fog, and the sun, having just come up above the ridgeline, cre- ated crepuscular rays through the
trees and mist. We paddled on into another tiny cove, then another, and another. We saw multiple loons and a few mergansers swimming around in the early morning light as well. The rest of the day was spent chat- ting and knocking off mile after mile of shoreline. Midday came and went, and 10 miles, then 15 miles came and went. We finally passed 100 miles less than 2 miles from our orig- inal launch point. We both breathed a sigh of relief that we weren’t go- ing to have to paddle in circles be- fore getting out of our kayaks. We exchanged a quick fist bump as we drifted into the place where we set off five days prior, having just pad - dled 101.4 miles in total. The pad- dling portion of the trip was officially over. All that was left to do was set up camp one last time to enjoy one more night in the Montana wilder- ness before making our way back home the following morning. N
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SUMMER/FALL 2025 25
Nick Moran puts it all into his drive on hole 16 at the Cutthroat course at Farragut State Park.
26 NSPIREMAGAZINE.COM
ADVENTURE
DISC GOLF A game fit for competition or just for fun
By JILL BUCKLAND Photography By JOEL RINER
I magine walking in an ever- green forest, a soft wind whis- tling through the pine needles. Rays of sunshine dance among fluffy clouds and warm your face as the smell of dirt drifts up from the earth. In the distance, you hear the jingle of chains and muffled laughter. A bright-colored disc whirrs through the air, ‘thunks’ against a tree trunk, and falls abruptly to the ground. Most likely, you’ve stumbled into a game of disc golf, so grab a disc and join the fun. Disc golf has a long and wind- ing history with several starts and stops. Often called the Father of Disc Golf, Ed Headrick, then an employ- ee of the Wham-O toy company, in- vented the Frisbee in 1966, the Disc Golf Pole Hole in 1975, and in 1976 founded the Professional Disc Golf
Association (PDGA). Disc golf was established as an organized sport in 1974, although it was being played as a competitive sport in the early 1970s. Today, the PDGA maintains a website ( https://www.pdga.com/) that is easy to navigate and packed full of guidance on all things disc golf, including an extensive directory of disc golf courses around the world. I discovered disc golf in the ear- ly 90s while living in Missoula. The game was experiencing a wave of pop - ularity along with hacky sack, paint- ball and rollerblading. Disc golf was a perfect pastime for the strapped- for-cash college days when every penny and pack of Ramen was cher- ished. It was a regular occurrence to meet friends at the trailhead and take off with a bag of brightly colored discs slung over one shoulder.
The game is casual, easy to learn, physically low-key and inexpensive. Way back then, we called it ‘FOLF’ (the love child of frisbee and golf) and would take to the woods near town to fling discs at ‘designated targets.’ often just a specified tree in the distance. Disc golf is like golf, but players use a flying disc or frisbee instead of clubs and a ball. The disc is thrown from a tee area toward a ‘hole,’ which is typically a metal basket with catch chains elevated off the ground on a pole, but can be as simple as a 5-gallon bucket upside down over a fence post. As the turn is played, each player throws their disc from the location where it landed on the previous throw. Players can make it through a game with one disc, but there are different types of discs
SUMMER/FALL 2025 27
Weston Moran throwing a sidearm drive of the elevated 3rd teebox.
to suit various types of throws, the same as having a selection of clubs for various golf shots. You might be able to sink a putt with a driver, but you know there’s a club better suited to the task. Discs are made to go (or fade) in different directions and have flight numbers. Matching the variables of the disc to the tech- nique and power of the player will ensure the right equipment. A driv- er, a mid-range disc, and one putter are a simple and adequate collection to start with. Nature is the biggest obstacle dur- ing a game, and adaptability suits
players well. Every course is unique, with a range of hurdles includ- ing anything from shrubs to play- ground equipment. If you are the do-it-yourself type, there is exten - sive information available on course design, development, par guidelines and sample courses. You can cre- ate a personalized course at home or in the woods. Or, if you prefer a more refined course with water fea - tures, narrow fairways and fancy dog legs, the PDGA website is a per- fect place to start. There are a hand- ful of throws players can utilize to maneuver the course, including: the
backhand for distance, sidearm for throwing around obstacles, a roller for distance under a low canopy of tree branches, and the tomahawk or a thumber for more technical shots. Discs also vary in weight, and the general rule of thumb is, stronger throwers need heavier discs. Even though hacky sack clubs are rare, rollerblading has declined in popularity, and I don’t know anyone still having paintball wars – disc golf has survived the decades and continues to be a relaxing sport en - joyed by many. There are current- ly over 250,000 registered members
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Griffen Jacklich putting on the 5th hole at Corbin Park in Post Falls.
of the PDGA, and over 16,000 disc golf courses listed in their Course Directory that are easily searched by name or location. Locally, disc golf courses can be found in Far- ragut State Park, Corbin Park in Post Falls, Westwood at Rathdrum Mountain recreation area, and Cherry Hill Park in Coeur d’Alene. If you’re looking for equipment, in- formation on league play, or would like to connect with the local disc golf scene, Rapid Fire Disc Golf is the perfect place to start. Located in Post Falls, Rapid Fire was opened in 2008 by Jack Wardian (a local legend of all
things disc golf) and his son, Marc. At the time, Jack owned a laundro- mat, bought the disc inventory from a man who was selling discs out of a van, and the rest is, as they say, history. What was once a collection of discs in the corner of the laundro- mat has now evolved into its own re- tail space. Jack, along with his son, Scott, also founded the North Idaho Disc Golf Club, which started with 27 members but has grown to over 150 and hosts weekly league play at three local courses. The club also hosts tournaments, which have age- protected groups for juniors (starting
at 6 years old) through a senior divi- sion for ages 70+. No matter if you are a beginner, intermediate, advanced, or just want to keep it casual, tournaments ac- commodate all types of players. The club has a presence on Facebook, where you can connect with other players and find updates on league nights and other group activities. N
Scan code to read this article online and see a list of Disc Golf Courses in the Northwest.
SUMMER/FALL 2025 29
ADVENTURE
A NIGHT THE STA
30 NSPIREMAGAZINE.COM
T UNDER ARS By BILLY COOTER ADVENTURE CAMPING IN AN IDAHO FIRE LOOKOUT TOWER
A brilliant aurora arcs over Arid Peak Lookout, transforming a quiet Idaho night into an unforgettable display of color, wonder, and raw natural beauty.
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A cool summer night breeze nipped at us as we stood on Arid Peak Lookout’s catwalk. We continued to watch while pulling our jackets tighter and readying our cameras. Then we saw it and were frozen in awe at the ribbons of green and pink au- rora that danced in the night sky to the north of us over Idaho’s St. Joe mountains. What started as a weekend getaway to explore a lo - cal historic site quickly became an unforgettable front-row seat to na- ture’s spectacular midnight show. By the end of the weekend, we’d
tracks removed long ago, and the rail bed has been reborn as the Hi- awatha Bike Trail, attracting thou- sands of visitors annually. From the catwalk where the trains’ roar shook the air, we only heard the forest whispers and na- ture’s unique symphony. The tow- ers’ legs were replaced in 1969, but the lookout was not actively used in service again. Some of these his- torical monuments to our past are destroyed or have fallen into an un- salvageable level of disrepair. Arid was given a new lease on life. In 1996 and 1997, the FFLA and the
face lightning storms, wildfires and a taste of what it truly meant to be fire lookouts. Built in 1934, Arid Peak Lookout sits on a lower ridge in Idaho’s St. Joe National Forest, unlike most towers built on the highest peaks. Arid’s purpose was unique to watch for spot fires ignited by sparks from the Milwaukee railroad as its trains lumbered through the dense forest below. The electrified railroad ran through this section of forest, link- ing parts of the Montana line to the North Fork of the St. Joe River at Avery, Idaho. The train is gone, the
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— just three miles and about 600 feet of elevation gain — but it cer- tainly felt more difficult than ex - pected. Perhaps it was the heat or the months we’d spent away from our usual hiking routine, but each uphill stretch felt more challenging than expected. Typically, when hik - ing to a lookout, we are motivated by the distant view of our destina- tion, a visual goal to push forward. But this is something that Arid Peak did not provide. This unique lookout kept its location secret, ob- scured by the terrain and the sur- rounding forests until we were less than 100 yards away. Finally stepping into the clear- ing, the lookout appeared abruptly, the cab and surrounding catwalk perched high upon its stout timber frame. The structure was modest and worn yet welcoming. A steep staircase, narrow catwalk, and compact interior greeted us, com- plete with a small table, shelves, a wood stove, and beds uniquely framed in metal. Unlike many look- outs flanked by steep cliffs and lit - tle ground to maneuver, Arid Peak’s more spacious ridge includes a cozy fire pit and paths to the outhouse and around the hilltop marked by carefully placed rocks. After unpacking, Cat soon pre- pared a homemade backpacker’s feast, filling the small lookout with a mouthwatering aroma as din- ner sizzled on the propane stove. As we enjoyed dinner, we couldn’t help but discuss the aurora predic- tions we had read. Strong auroras are an uncommon event at our lati- tude, and rumors were that a solar storm had erupted a few days ear- lier, and we might be lucky enough to experience one of nature’s great - est shows. As twilight faded and stars slowly appeared in the night sky above, we remained skepti-
cal yet hopeful as we mounted our camera on our tripods and prepped our gear. At first, the northern sky seemed quiet. We had hauled our camer- as, tripods, lenses, and other gear up the steep mountain trail, only to be disappointed. But a test shot changed everything. After a few seconds of pointing at the dark sky, the digital screen on the back of the camera revealed a faint green glow. A sight too dim for the naked eye but enough for the camera’s sen- sitive sensor to capture the auro- ra for the first time that evening. It would be an understatement to say we felt a surge of excitement as the aurora intensified, stretching vividly toward the heavens, inter- mingling with the arch of the Milky Way. Jim, already fast asleep, was roused from his sleep by my and Cat’s enthusiastic screams of ex - citement at the celestial show be- ginning above. The sky teased us with quiet mo- ments of darkness before exploding again with vibrant color and bril- liance. Each time we were about to give in and accept that the show had ended, it pulsed alive one more time. For hours, we ran all around the lookout, attempting to cap- ture images we could hang on our walls to become treasured keep- sakes, vividly documenting one of the most thrilling experiences of our lives. We awoke the following day, bleary-eyed and tired, the night’s late aurora having stolen many hours of sleep from us. At the same time, I muttered and grumbled about my deflated air mattress, leaving me to sleep directly on the catwalk’s weathered and unforgiv- ing timber planks. After shaking off our fatigue, we hiked back to our car to explore the St. Joe Forest’s
The trail to Arid Peak winds through dense forest, keeping the historic fire tower hidden until the final approach reveals its secluded mountaintop perch.
St. Joe Ranger District joined in a restoration project; they replaced all of the beams atop the legs and underneath the cab and the stairs, which had collapsed in 1970. Add- ed to the rental program, Arid now lives a second life as a rustic refuge to modern adventurers, offering a unique place to stay and a glimpse into a bygone era. Me, along with fellow lookout en- thusiast Cat House, and our friend Jim Stoner, had reserved the look- out six months prior and eagerly awaited this escape into the wilder- ness. The hike wasn’t challenging
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Cat House savors a quiet moment on the lookout catwalk, drink in hand, as the wilderness stretches endlessly beneath Idaho’s glowing summer skies.
logging past. We went up Marble Creek and over to the Hobo Cedar Grove. As we trekked the path that slowly descends to the creek be- low, we immersed ourselves in the area’s logging history. Long ago, the area was littered with logging camps, where hundreds if not thou- sands of men spent the summers in the forest felling trees and send- ing the precious timber careen- ing through the forest on flumes as they snaked down mountains to the waterways that would eventu- ally carry the precious timbers to log mills. Our first stop was an abandoned steam donkey. Now just a sizable rusted hunk of metal with parts hanging off, the massive machine was discarded in the woods. Like
kids playing make-believe, it’s easy to lose yourself in a world of imag- ination, where you pull the ma- chine’s giant levers to control the massive cable that snakes through the woods, pulling gigantic fall- en timbers across the forest floor. Next, we found the camp, its crum - bling cabin foundations and scat- tered remnants forming a ghost town that echoed the hard labor that was the daily life of the men who lived deep in the forest. Tired from our exploration and the miles of dirt under our boots, we headed back to Arid Peak Look- out, our rustic mountain home, for one more night. By the time we hiked back to the peak, exhaustion overtook us, and everyone needed a nap. We all found a comfortable
and relaxing spot to rest while lis - tening to the trees rustling in the breeze and birds chirping. The evening brought quiet con- versation, a hearty dinner, and early rest, at least until flashes of lightning and rumbles of distant thunder jolted us awake. Initial- ly far off, the storm moved closer, lighting the lookout’s interior in ee- rie, fleeting bursts. Most fire tow - ers feature glass-insulated chairs for safety during lightning storms; Arid Peak lacked these. Instead, metal-framed beds attached to the tower’s network of copper ground- ing wires became our temporary haven as we nervously perched atop mattresses, carefully avoid- ing touching conductive surfaces. Lightning danced around us, il-
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Dawn breaks over the valley as smoke still lingers—a silent reminder of the night’s storm and the tower’s watchful purpose, rekindled once more.
maining fire. We could only note the fire’s approximate location, and scribbled some notes on its location before locking up the tower and hiking out. Driving home, we flagged a pass - ing Forest Service crew and handed over our scribbled notes and coordi- nates of the fire. For a fleeting mo - ment, their thanks was like a badge of honor, an acknowledgment that more than 50 years after retire- ment, Arid Peak once again stood sentinel over the forests below, this time with us on patrol. It isn’t the tallest or grandest lookout we’d
luminating the surrounding wil- derness. We gasped as distant air-to-ground strikes ignited three separate fires, their flames flar - ing against the dark horizon. We felt a profound connection to the lookout’s original purpose in those thrilling moments. We became gen- uine fire lookouts for those adren - aline-fueled hours, the wilderness ours to protect. When we woke at dawn, we no- ticed smoke still lingered from one of the lightning strikes. We had es- caped the cell signal long ago and did not have a way to call in the re-
seen, but it offered us a rare gift: a chance to live its history. We’d come for escape; we left with a sto- ry etched in us that we would nev- er forget. N Cat House contributed to this ar- ticle. Billy Cooter and Cat House, founders of Idaho Fire Lookouts, share images and stories of Idaho’s fire lookout towers at www.idaho - firelookouts.com.
Scan code for the online feature with additional images.
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ORGANIC GARDENING
SEED SAVING By S. MICHAL BENNETT
N o one really knows the first time a human decided to save a seed or grain or had the brilliant idea to re-plant seeds and cultivate new plants. There is evidence, though, that hunter-gath- erers foraged wild grains, collected their seeds and may have encour- aged their cultivation. Over time, seeds and grains gained value and were even used as currency – cacao beans by the Aztecs and Mayans, chia seeds by the Aztecs and barley by the Babylonians. As humankind found more ways to use seeds and grow food, seed saving increased and eventually breeding seeds for adap- tation, preservation and desirable qualities became common. People
>> Adapt and Strengthen The Inland Northwest contains a decent range of hardiness zones and plenty of microclimates. And our growing season is also fair- ly short – both Coeur d’Alene and Spokane average about 120 frost- free days per year from late May to the middle of September. If you buy your seeds from a company in, say, Maine or Texas, those plants may struggle to thrive and produce in the climate of, say, Newport, Wash. My growing space is a north-facing driveway that I fill with 5-gallon “garden” buckets during the sum- mer. Every year, I wrassle with tomatoes, peppers and cucum- bers. But when I’ve purchased lo-
and cultures spread and developed across the world, and so did crops, plants and cuisines. Today, these plant varieties are essential to every- day life, our heritage, our eating hab- its and growing personal gardens. In today’s first-world culture, gar - den and agriculture seeds of all va- rieties are pretty much readily available to us. For vegetable gar- deners, January and February are reserved for browsing seed catalogs and planning a garden. But what about saving some of the seeds from this year’s harvest and growing a second generation next year? Here are some reasons to consider saving your vegetable, fruit or flower seeds this season.
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Quick Seed- Saving Facts • Self-pollinating, flowering plants, such as tomatoes, pep- pers, beans and peas, are the easiest choices for seed-saving and require little to no special preparation prior to storage. • Some plants, such as car- rots and beets, need two growing seasons before they develop via- ble seeds. So you have to use cut- tings to propagate. • Save open-pollinated va- rieties because seeds from hy- brids, two plants that have been crossed, won’t produce new plants that are similar to the original. • Plants with separate male and female flowers, like cucum - bers, squash, and tomatillos, may cross-pollinate. So the seeds you save at the end of the season may produce a different flavor, appearance or other characteris- tics next summer. • Seeds from peppers, peas, and beans can be harvested and spread out to dry. But tomato seeds need to soak and ferment in some water for about five days (seeds will sink) to remove the gel from the seeds before drying. • Store dry seeds in tightly- sealed glass containers and in a dry, cool location, ideally be- tween 32º and 41ºF. The fridge works! • Buy plant starts from local farmers and start your own heir- loom seeds to pass down! N
ing and selling seeds, most seed sav- ing today is done by governments or official seed banks. The world’s larg - est, most comprehensive seed bank is the Millennium Seed Bank in Sus- sex, England with over 2.4 billion seeds representing approximate - ly 40,000 species. However, Nor- way’s Svalbard Global Seed Vault is probably the most famous and is the largest secure, long-term storage of thousands of varieties of seed sam- ples of essential food crops. What a precious thing to give or re- ceive the seed of a unique, delicious tomato that perhaps your great-great grandfather planted in his victory garden during World War I. Heritage seeds can light the spark to grow, nur- ture and feed a new generation. >> Brace Against Uncertainty For nearly 30% of the world’s pop- ulation, moderate to severe food in- security is a daily tragedy. In the U.S., that number was 13.5% in 2023 as 18 million American households struggled to afford enough food for themselves and their families. I have read many stories of people who, during 2020, awakened to the pos- sibility that easy access to food may not always be the case. Personal and community gardens significantly in - creased, and the pandemic spurred a younger wave of gardeners to dig in the dirt and grow their own food. Saving and protecting seeds is one small action that can turn uncer- tainty into opportunity. As Jordan Chabonneau writes, “When we fail to continue the work of stewarding seeds, we lose thousands of years of work and information. We lose biodi- versity. We lose culture. We lose fla - vor. We lose celebration.”
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cal starts, they’ve thrived, for the most part. Saving seeds and replanting year after year can produce plants and fruit adapted to your climate that can handle the pest, weather and soil challenges your garden may face. >> Preserve and Bestow There was a time when seeds were carefully protected and passed down from one generation to the next. His - tory is full of stories of people saving seeds from fires, floods, famine, en - dangerment, war and other disasters and dire situations. There are still some cultures and families that save seeds for heritage, but, due to laws and regulations around saving, shar-
Scan code to read this and many other organic gardening articles online.
SUMMER/FALL 2025 39
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