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5 spectacular hikes that may be closer than your gym

February 6, 2020
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Rob Fischer has hiked throughout the West, from the Grand Canyon to the Chugach Mountains of Alaska. But the Spokane Valley resident hikes three to five times a week year-round, so his go-to trailheads are about as close as the nearest health club.

“I love being outdoors,” Rob said. “I’ve never been a gym person. I’d rather endure the elements any day, so I can go rain or shine.”

Here are five of Rob’s recommendations from his rotation, all located within the greater Spokane Valley.

  • Looking south over the Palouse from the Rocks of Sharon on the Iller Creek hike

1. Iller Creek

Rob says: “Iller Creek is one of my favorite places right now. The reason is there is such a huge network of trails there. I typically hike either a 4-mile loop or a 5-mile loop, and they both have different challenges. The 4-mile loop is actually steeper and has higher elevation gain than the 5-mile one, and the 5-mile one I can stretch to 6 if I want to.”

Among the highlights, Rob says the Iller Creek hiker is rewarded with a spectacular view of the Palouse on the 5-mile hike at the Rocks of Sharon (also known as Big Rocks). The hike also offers great signage, occasional wildlife sightings and the option for a beautiful out-and-back walk along the creek for less ambitious hikers.

Iller Creek is part of the Dishman Hills Conservation Area. The trailhead is in southwest Spokane Valley (Ponderosa area) at the end of Holman Road. The Rocks of Sharon can also be accessed from the south via the Stevens Creek Trailhead on the Palouse side.

  • Iller Creek, May 2019
  • Porcupine spotted at Iller Creek, Summer 2019

2. Liberty Lake Loop Trail

Rob says: “There’s several neat features on that trail. It starts out low along the creek and follows it upward and pretty soon you come to a stand of cedars. The hike up to the cedars is not difficult, and a lot of people choose to turn around there and just go back the same way. If you keep going, you get on some switchbacks, the trail narrows, and you begin to get some views, at one point looking back at Liberty Lake.”

Hikers who take on the full 8.4-mile loop are rewarded with a waterfall in the spring, trails veering off toward Mica Peak and other destinations for experienced hikers, as well as a Boy Scout shelter, Rob says.

The trailhead is accessed from Liberty Lake Regional Park on the southeast side of Liberty Lake.

3. Dishman Hills Natural Area

Rob says: “Definitely more for someone who is not an aggressive hiker would be the Dishman Hills. … The trails are not well marked, but it’s fairly contained. … My wife asked once, ‘Are we lost?’ And I said, ‘We’re not lost. I just don’t know where I am.’ And we always get out. … Dishman Hills is quite extensive, and there are some pretty hikes in there.”

Reviewers of Dishman Hills Natural Area (which, along with Iller Creek, is part of the broader Dishman Hills Conservation Area) tend to like the family friendliness and accessibility of the 530-acre natural area.

The trailhead is probably the easiest to find in the area, located on high-traffic Appleway Avenue just west of Argonne.

My wife asked once, ‘Are we lost?’ And I said, ‘We’re not lost. I just don’t know where I am.’

Rob Fischer

4. Saltese Uplands

Rob says: “You’ve got your choice of some good elevation gain on this hike or none at all. … It’s not a good hike in the heat of summer because you’re so exposed, and if there is any wind, it’s going to be windy on that hike, but the advantage of that place is that because it’s so exposed, the trails dry out faster.”

Because of this, Rob trends toward early spring hikes on Saltese Uplands, when many other trails – “especially Iller Creek” – can be incredibly muddy. In all, 7 miles of trails cross the property, including a 3.6-mile loop known for wildflowers and views of the Saltese Valley and Liberty Lake.

The well-marked trailhead is accessed from Henry Road southeast of Greenacres.

  • Mushrooms breaking through on Antoine Peak
  • Bear tracks on Antoine Peak
  • Antoine Peak looking east

5. Antoine Peak

Rob says: “On Antoine Peak you have a lot of choices. There’s a nice 5-mile loop that I would usually take, and you can extend it to 6 miles by adding a side trail to it. But there’s also a very moderate 3-mile loop that’s fun that my wife likes to go on with me as well.”

Part of the choices provided by this 1,066-acre conservation area is where to launch out from, as two trailhead choices are offered, one approaching Antoine Peak from the west; the other from the east. Rob prefers the eastern launching point. He has seen moose as well as a rare elk sighting while hiking through this area.

Rob’s preferred trailhead can be accessed from Otis Orchards by heading north on Campbell from Trent and turning left on Lincoln.

Two Bonus Hikes!

Have time and ambition for more challenging hikes outside of Spokane Valley? Rob has two recommendations for you: Mount Spokane State Park (especially the Mount Kit Carson Trail) and the Scotchman Peak Trail, about a 2-hour drive away near Clark Fork, Idaho.

  • Mountain goat on Scotchman Peak
  • Wild Ginger on Mount Spokane

Rob’s hiking tips

An author of more than 20 books, Rob even wrote a memoir of his childhood adventures — mostly set outdoors in Minnesota — called “Becoming Tarzan.”

Interestingly, Rob, who turns 68 in 2020, has always loved life outdoors, but didn’t become an avid hiker until a repetitive motion injury forced him to hang up his running shoes after 30 years.

Looking for an outdoor workout, he took up hiking and never looked back. Thinking of giving hiking a shot yourself, or simply want to improve your hiking experience? Here are four tips to make the most of the experience.

Invest in good equipment: If you are going to make hiking a year-round lifestyle, the equipment is worth the investment, Rob says. Outdoor clothing, good boots with ICEtrekkers (like tire chains for your boots to use in slippery conditions) and trekking poles are all parts of Rob’s ensemble. He said the poles are more for an improved workout than for balance. “It really pays to get good equipment,” he says.

Bring a friend: While Rob normally hikes alone, some of his best memories are spent “rousing another guy” on a weekend, whether it’s to invest in a young person or challenge a “Comrade in Arms,” which is the title of a book Rob wrote about friendship and accountability among Christian men. “The reason I love to disciple men out on the trail like that is they feel the freedom to be transparent out there,” he says. A hike is a majestic setting for conversation, escaping surface issues and opening a gateway toward meaningful interaction.

Fearful? Go when there’s a crowd: In all of the places he has hiked, Rob has had his share of wildlife encounters, including the time in Alaska when he made for a tree to avoid a testy moose. “But that’s so rare, and I’ve never felt endangered by a moose around here,” he says. He does take precautions — carrying water, his pocket knife and bear spray on every hike — but the best option for people who want to hike but feel fearful is to explore the nearby trails “when you know other people will be there. A Saturday mid-morning, all of those trails are going to be well used, almost under any conditions. During the week, probably in the afternoon you’re going to run into other people.”

Take out the ear buds: “I love music,” Rob says, “but I don’t need to listen while I’m out there.” Not only does he prefer to stay keenly aware of his surroundings, listening for other hikers and wildlife, but he believes hiking isn’t just a visually stunning experience (the wildflowers, the animals, the scenery), but it’s best experienced by all of his senses. One autumn Alaskan hike in particular stands out: brilliant colors, “the air permeated by the sweet scent of berries, and … it was almost like you could hear the fog, but I think what was happening was fog has the ability to deaden sounds, and I think what I was hearing was the deadening of all sound. It was just an exhilarating experience.”

  • Rob Fischer on the summit of Mount Adams

Rob Fischer has been married to Linda Fischer for more than 45 years and has three married children and 10 grandchildren. An author, publisher and writing coach, follow his work at fischerpublishing.net and check out his blog at skillsforfollowingjesus.com. All photos courtesy of Rob Fischer.


Coffee Notes

For this conversation, Rob chose the meeting point, and since I was adamant about staying indoors at a coffee shop, Forza Coffee Company, 325 S. Sullivan Road in Spokane Valley, was the next best thing. Why? The firepit, which coupled with an oat milk latte to keep me warm during Rob’s stories of icy hikes.

  • Rob, I look up to you as a writer, and more importantly as a man I truly admire. Thanks for sharing your hiking wisdom for this project and inspiring me to explore the Inland Northwest’s backyard.
    — Josh Johnson (soccer jersey: Uganda National Team)

While you’re here, would you do me a favor?

If you enjoy articles like this one, join the CoffeeJosh mailing list. It’s hurry-free, spam-free and also free … free. As a thanks, I’ll send you a PDF — you guessed it, free — that has 10 of the best coffee shop orders in the Spokane area. (All 10 are drinks and treats local coffee shop owners make for themselves. In this case, expect to pay for your order and feel like it was totally worth it.)

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VSCO Girls, Unfiltered: A primer for the rest of us

October 31, 2019
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This summer, I started experiencing symptoms of anxiety I have come to refer to as “Panic! At The VSCO.” But “Stranger Things” happened, and now I have high, high hopes.

Yeah, maybe I should explain.

It all started when my two daughters, ages teen and tween, began adopting the term, “VSCO Girl” (pronounced like “disco” with a “v”). Were they becoming VSCO Girls? Were they Mean-Girling VSCO Girls? What even is a VSCO Girl?

Scrambling for clues, I would walk into a room and exclaim something like, “You two seem to be having a regular VSCO ball in here!”

“Sksksk,” they would respond. “And I oop-!”

Before “Stranger Things,” I might have been flummoxed by this foreign language. But then I remembered these same daughters and I dig-dug out my Nintendo 64 this summer to play classics like Galaga and Pac-Man, a video game session inspired by the the hugely popular Netflix show set in the ‘80s of my childhood. (I mean, it’s one thing for me to think the circa 1984 “Palace Arcade” scenes were rad, but the kids were stoked to the max! And so outwardly I was all, “Have a cow, kids, you are barfing me out.” But inside I was like, “Psych! This is wicked tubular. We can veg like homies!”)

If this Netflix generation can embrace things important to a Gen Xer like me, surely I could walk a mile in platform VSCO Vans.

But I would need a Dustin. Fortunately for me, one of the region’s leading VSCO instructors is my niece. At 16, Rachel Kimberley is versed in VSCO vernacular, but she also can speak the language of fragile, elderly uncles. When she was just 10, she baby-stepped me through the confusion and betrayal I experienced during that whole Prince Hans plot twist in “Frozen.”

Up for another challenge, Rachel agreed to teach me the ways of the VSCO. Knowing this wouldn’t be easy, she enlisted the help of fellow VSCO sensei and Central Valley High School student, Ali Hassett.

  • From left, Ali Hassett and Rachel Kimberley served as VSCO instructors

“A VSCO Girl is someone who fits a certain aesthetic,” Rachel began.

And with that, the girls barely took a breath breaking down the VSCO bona fides of beachy bracelets and Birkenstocks, shell necklaces and scrunchies, Hydro Flasks and hair in a messy bun, AirPods and oversized T-shirts — “with shorts under them, so you can’t tell they are wearing pants,” Ali explained, adding that the whole vibe is “supposed to look effortless, but you put a lot of effort into it.”

“Yeah, like you have to make it perfect, but you say, ‘just woke up,’” Rachel agreed.

Not that the girls are complaining, as apparently this VSCO thing has really taken off.

“It’s nice to have it be trendy to not look super nice all the time, to be able to wear shorts and T-shirts and still be considered trendy,” Ali said. “You can look more natural, have your hair in a bun, and that’s kind of cool.”

This particular craze has its roots in a photo editing app called VSCO that is known for accentuating a laid-back, beach day feel with its photo filters. (Helpful tip: The app’s most popular filters are probably C1, F2 and G3, so I would totally start there if you ever find yourself across the table from a VSCO Girl, playing Battleship.)

Unlike Instagram and similar social media sites, VSCO photos shared within the app cannot be “liked” or commented upon. This adds a level of purity to the VSCO allure. VSCO Girls have a look, but they are unpretentious about it.

In fact, VSCO Girls are often quite outward-focused and practical, particularly when it comes to environmental causes. In online caricatures especially, however, VSCO Girls can be portrayed as annoying, with over-the-top references to catchphrases like “sksksk,” “and I oop-” and “#savetheturtles” (see “VSCO Vocab,” below).

“The good part is that some people actually want to save the turtles, like there’s actual VSCO girls that fight to save turtles, like no joke, so that’s kind of cool,” Rachel said.

So cool that Rachel and Ali would self-identify as VSCO Girls?

“I feel like we’re VSCO, but some people have a certain personality that goes with it, and we just don’t have that personality,” Rachel said of the exaggerated representations.

Ali said there is a style of VSCO that is more pure and pragmatic, like her cheerleader friend who is collecting plastic bottles to bring attention to trash in the ocean and its impact on endangered species.

“If (VSCO) had started as not being annoying, I would definitely want to embrace it more,” Ali said.

Extreme typecasts aside, both girls embrace the practical, easygoing and purposeful aspects of VSCO wholeheartedly, and Ali in particular.

“But I don’t say, ‘And I oop-’ unless I’m joking around,” she laughed.

By the end of our conversation, Rachel and Ali had not only put my mind at ease about my daughters’ VSCO sensibilities but had gained an ambassador. Emboldened by the lesson of “Stranger Things,” I suggested that perhaps older folks should break out a few VSCO moves ourselves.

“If my mom started wearing shell necklaces and big T-shirts, I would be like, ‘What are you doing? What is going on?’” Ali said, letting me down gently. “I think it’s more of a high schooler type thing.”

Fine.

But it’s still pretty cool, this bridging of the generation gap through mutual interest and understanding. Now I know VSCO. As my old Army friend, Joe, likes to remind me, “Knowing is half the battle.”


VSCO VOCAB

VSCO: Short for Visual Supply Company, this photo editing app is known for preset filters that convey a sun-drenched, California vibe.

VSCO Girl: Someone who fits the VSCO aesthetic, telltale signs for which typically include a beachy, informal fashion sensibility and a concern for environmental causes.

TikTok: A platform for sharing short-form mobile videos credited with popularizing the VSCO Girl caricature — particularly an annoying, exaggerated version of the VSCO Girl. This social media outlet is especially popular among teenagers.

“Sksksk”: VSCO-speak for laughter, typically as a typed replacement for “lol” in a text message or online comment. When spoken aloud, this “laughter” is often intended to be an extension of the joke itself. Along with “And I oop-” below, it is commonly used as the catchphrase of the VSCO Girl stereotype.

“And I oop-”: If a Hydro Flask falls in a high school cafeteria, this phrase will be right behind it. More than a simple “oops,” this phrase expresses surprise, shock or embarrassment. It is often written with a hyphen at the end, as if to say, “there’s more that could be said here about how I’m feeling, but I’m going to cut if off and move on.”

Where there is a VSCO Girl, there is likely a Hydro Flask within reach.

“Spill the tea”: Another way to say, “share the gossip.” Also commonly heard in other variations such as, “that’s the tea, sis,” this phrase enjoys wide usage, so while common among VSCO Girls, it is not VSCO-specific.

#savetheturtles: The most famous cause of the VSCO Girl stereotype, this hashtag is almost always connected with a message of saving marine animals like sea turtles from plastic straws and other common ocean garbage.

Sources: Rachel Kimberley, Ali Hassett, Google


Coffee Notes

As with all coffeejosh.com conversations, my discussion with the VSCO Girls included coffee, this time from Wake Up Call in Liberty Lake. I ordered a mocha (Wake Up Call’s version has a particularly smooth taste). A fan of all things pumpkin, Ali loves that Wake Up Call serves the autumn flavor year-round. She selected her go-to order, an iced pumpkin spice latte. Rachel? Well, she is a mint milkshake connoisseur trapped in the coffee-mad Inland Northwest. She ordered a white hot chocolate and said it was great, but for all her help, I probably owe her a shake.

  • If Ali and Rachel are any indication, VSCO Girls also have a great sense of humor and are kind to old people like me.
    Thanks, ladies! — Josh Johnson (soccer jersey: Sydney FC)

While you’re here, would you do me a favor?

If you enjoy articles like this one, join the CoffeeJosh mailing list. It’s hurry-free, spam-free and also free … free. As a thanks, I’ll send you a PDF — you guessed it, free — that has 10 of the best coffee shop orders in the Spokane area. (All 10 are drinks and treats local coffee shop owners make for themselves. In this case, expect to pay for your order and feel like it was totally worth it.)

Love yourself first

March 19, 2020
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Guest post by Kylie Johnson

“Before I love someone else, I’ve got to love myself.” Recognize that line from the song “Save Myself” by Ed Sheeran? Or maybe you have heard “Lose You To Love Me” by Selena Gomez? Those two songs talk about loving yourself before you get into a romantic relationship.

But how do I love myself, and why is it important to love yourself before going into a relationship? Like a lot of teens, I have questions on this topic, so I decided to invite my crazily artistic, fun-loving and beautiful aunt to coffee to talk about it.

Hannah Johnson has an undergraduate degree in psychology and was recently accepted into Gonzaga to pursue a masters in school counseling and become a licensed professional counselor. We decided to go to The Garden Coffee and Local Eats, and she brought along her 5-year-old son, Oakley, who was kind enough to take our picture for this story. The coffee was so good! I was trying hard to focus on the subject at hand, but my mind would go back to my delicious blended mocha.

Hannah wisely approached this subject with a definition.

”I think it’s important to define self love as valuing yourself as a whole and having confidence in who you are; it’s important to recognize that it’s different from simply comparing yourself to others or being self-focused,” she said. “Some people think it’s narcissistic, but it’s really just having a value of yourself and where you’re at. Self love is just a healthy view of yourself; it’s healthy for everybody.” 

  • Hannah Johnson and Kylie Johnson enjoy chilly beverages and meaningful conversation at The Garden Coffee and Local Eats (prior to recent COVID-19 restrictions). Photo credit: Oakley Johnson, 5-year-old master photographer

How could I build my self love? Like a lot of people, I can be pretty hard on myself, and I could work on building my self-compassion. Hannah gave multiple great points, such as following positive accounts on Instagram, doing fun leisure activities and building social connections. 

“Your peers can influence you even more than a trusted adult, parent or guardian,” she said. “If your peers are not boosting your self-esteem, then you need to notice that and maybe put some distance there.” 

What does self love look like when you’re ready to go into a romantic relationship? Hannah listed three areas to get right first. The first one is self kindness; don’t criticize yourself for your flaws. Then you need to realize your common humanity, which is that everyone makes mistakes and acknowledging the weaknesses you have makes you human. The final step is mindfulness, which is to be aware of negative self talk. All of us can grow in an area or two, but that’s no reason to beat yourself up about it.

Wait … if you don’t love yourself and you dive into a romantic relationship, is that really a bad thing? How would it affect the relationship? Would it affect the relationship? 

”It can totally affect your relationship because if you don’t recognize your own self worth then you can begin to expect others to fill that hole,” she said. “You also won’t be able to protect yourself and stand up for yourself in tough situations.” 

“Some people think it’s narcissistic, but it’s really just having a value of yourself and where you’re at. Self love is just a healthy view of yourself; it’s healthy for everybody.” 

Hannah Johnson

Hannah also said that if your self love is at an unhealthy spot it will negatively affect both sides of the relationship. One person will need to take more than they can give, which is exhausting for both people.

That makes sense, but what should I do if I’m in a relationship when one person does not have a healthy amount of self love? Hannah suggested that in these seasons, the healthier partner needs to have sensitivity and awareness and help the other person practice self love. Self love isn’t going to be natural for everybody. If it’s at a really unhealthy point, then you may need to break it off and give them time to focus on themselves. If they are hurting themselves, then it will be harder but still be the right thing to do.

”In the end, everyone is responsible for their own actions,” Hannah said. 

If you need to work on self love and you’re in a romantic relationship, you need to realize that it’s not selfish to take time to yourself and break it off, if that’s what you feel like you need to do. You should know that it’s not the other person’s responsibility to carry your negative self talk burden and that you can’t rely on them to feel good. In either situation, it’s never bad to go and talk to a counselor or someone you trust so they can give you input.

Hannah and I sure had some deep conversations about this topic while little Oakley played on his tablet and my phone. Our drinks were amazing, and I absolutely loved the vibe and atmosphere of The Garden. It was a great place to just share a treat with a loved one and talk. I learned so much more about this topic because of Hannah and give her much thanks. I’m glad I could show myself a little love with the blended mocha and whether it’s with a coffee or just giving myself grace, I think I’m going to start treating myself more often.

Guest contributor Kylie Johnson is a freshman at Mica Peak High School in Spokane Valley. She drinks blended mochas, eats ice cream by the pint and plans to marry Five Seconds of Summer drummer Ashton Irwin. Until they get the chance to actually meet, she is focusing on self-compassion.


While you’re here, would you do me a favor?

If you enjoy articles like this one, join the CoffeeJosh mailing list. It’s hurry-free, spam-free and also free … free. As a thanks, I’ll send you a PDF — you guessed it, free — that has 10 of the best coffee shop orders in the Spokane area. (All 10 are drinks and treats local coffee shop owners make for themselves. In this case, expect to pay for your order and feel like it was totally worth it.)

1 Comment
    Rob Hartman says: Reply
    February 7th 2020, 9:03 am

    Great article, gents! Really neat pics.

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