So Walla Walla probably isn’t at the top of the list outdoor Meccas made up of towns like Boulder, Hood River and Bozeman, but there are a surprising number of excellent ways to get outside that are just a quick drive away.
Mountain Biking
During the fall and spring months, the mountains surrounding Walla Walla offer some excellent cross country mountain biking possibilities. The Blue Mountains have amazing system of trails developed by ATVs and horseback riders that are perfect for ripping though on your bike. Check out Kevin Pougue’s guide (available in the bookstore or online) for specific ride descriptions. But, if you only have a couple hours, your best bet is to make break for Harris Park (30 minutes South of Walla Walla). Here you’ll find miles of single-track ranging from slightly techie to super flowy, with options for climbs that will make you cry for your mamma.
Skiing
Well, there’s always Bluewood. But if you are bored by its 1,125 feet of vertical, you are either going to need to saddle up for a bit of a drive or buy a beacon. The closest decent lift-served skiing is Mt. Hood Meadows. Meadows is only a bit more than three hours away. It has enough vertical to let you open up your speed and Heather Canyon’s terrain is steep enough to perk you up. Also in the three to four hour driving range are Alpental and White Pass. While Alpental can be overrun by crowds from Seattle, White Pass offers a good variety of terrain with minimal crowds. Of course you can always slap some skins on your skis and explore some of the backcountry around Bluewood (the terrain on the other side of the ropes is much better than inbounds, hint: park before Bluewood and look up). Or head over to Lake Joseph and take the tram up for a state-side La Grave (Google it and you’ll be itching to go there) experience in your backyard.
Rock Climbing
If you are part of the resident climber population, you can stop reading now. If you are new to the Whitman climbing world, ask someone at the wall if you can hitch a ride with them on the weekend. Chances are they’ll say okay and you’ll be off to either Spring Mountain or Frenchmann’s Coulee (aka Vantage). In either case you’re in for a treat. But, if you’ll a sport climber who is itching for something other than the usual spots and don’t want to drive quite as far as Smith, head north to Q’emlin Park, basically in Post Falls, for some high quality but little-known climbs.
Mountaineering
Okay, so there’s nothing in the Blues or Wallowas that is worth post-holing for hours on end or bushwacking for, but if you are willing to drive a few hours, all the sudden a world of moderate alpine possibilities opens up. Mt. Hood and Adams offer some great moderate alpine routes, while Mt. Rainier is a classic in anyone’s book. Perhaps you want something a little more technical, without the commitment of a volcano, then check out Chair Peak for some true Alps style, north-face climbing.
Kayaking
If you’re feeling too dry and are itching to paddle, then jump on I-84 and head to the White Salmon River. Jump off the interstate at Hood River and cross the Columbia and drive north on WA-141 to the put in at BZ corner. From here you’re in for about five miles of Class III culminating in Class IV-V as you drop 14 feet over Husam Falls.
Windsurfing and Kiteboarding
Surprisingly, Whitman does provide a home to more windsurfers, since we are only two and a half hours from Hood River, the North American capital for wind powered water sports. Though the learning curve is steep for windsurfing, once you feel the board plane under your feet, you’ll be hooked (believe me). And while I can’t personally speak for Kiteboarding, I can’t imagine that launching 30 feet into the air wouldn’t be fun.
