Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Spokane

Special Section Editor, Kids and Family Editor and Senior Writer at Out There Outdoors

Freelance Writer at Freelance

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Articles

Writing About Old-Growth Forests

Sep 27, 2024 | outthereoutdoors.com | Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Cover photo courtesy Amy McCaffreeI had been freelance writing for “Northwest Runner” magazine for about five years when I landed my first story for “Out There Monthly” – a cover story about Nordic skiing, for the January 2006 issue. I have been a loyal contributor ever since. Writing about the outdoors and living in Spokane are synonymous for me. New story ideas are everywhere.
Spokane Woman Competes at Highline World Championship in Switzerland

Jul 8, 2024 | outthereoutdoors.com | Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Cover photo courtesy Kara RatcliffTwenty-five-year-old Spokane resident and EWU student Kara Ratcliff is one of 42 athletes competing in the upcoming Highline World Championship, July 17-21 in Laax, Switzerland. She will be competing in the Freestyle Female division against 11 other women, including one other American. Ratcliff, who moved to Spokane from Boulder, Colorado, in fall 2022 and is a student in EWU’s Physical Therapy doctorate program, has been slacklining for less than three years.
The Dogs Who Helped Me Love the Outdoors

Jul 3, 2024 | outthereoutdoors.com | Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Cover photo courtesy of Amy McCaffreeEmerson was my first companion. An all-white Siberian husky—a dog breed I specifically chose for its high energy and athletic endurance—Emerson came into my life at a pivotal time. I was 24 years old, recovering from heartbreak, and had read that having a pet decreased stress and one’s risk of depression. I also wanted a running partner.
Out There Writers' Summer Adventure Picks

Jun 19, 2024 | outthereoutdoors.com | Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Cover photo courtesy Carol CorbinWe asked two frequent Out There contributors and our managing editor about their favorite summer adventures and how they make the most of summer on top of work and family responsibilities. We hope their outdoor-adventure motivation and goal setting will help inspire your own summer explorations, whether it’s a hiking trail not far from home, a personal physical challenge, or an epic road trip to a new place.
Advanced Youth Skiers Can Get Amped At Silver

Mar 22, 2024 | outthereoutdoors.com | Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Cover photo courtesy of Serena McPhersonAs a toddler, Zane Larson didn’t really have a choice when he clicked into his first set of skis. He grew up at Winter Park Resort in Colorado, where his mom worked as a ski instructor and his dad and uncle were ski patrollers. “By the time I was 6, I was in my first group program at Winter Park. And from there, joined the freestyle developmental mogul program, and stayed with [freestyle moguls] my entire competitive ski career,” he says.
Spring Deals, Updates, and Other Happenings

Mar 20, 2024 | outthereoutdoors.com | Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Sponsored by Ski the Northwest Rockies AssociationCover photo Courtesy Mt Spokane Ski and Snowboard ParkEnjoy the New Day Lodge at Lookout PassLookout Pass increased its indoor seating availability by 43% with the late-December opening of its new Day Lodge—a 50’x96’ Sprung structure overlooking the Peak 1 Quad, with views of the Idaho and Montana mountain faces. Beverage and entertainment amenities include gourmet sandwiches, indulgent desserts, two large-screen TVs and comfy couches.
Local Resort Rock Stars

Mar 20, 2024 | outthereoutdoors.com | Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Sponsored by Ski the Northwest Rockies AssociationCover photo courtesy of Matt MascolEspecially in a challenging year like the 2023/24 season, we owe the employees who keep our favorite local mountains serving up the snowy fun extra recognition. Here are a few of the people who have kept the spirit of winter we love up and running this season.
Avalanche Danger in the Inland Northwest

Mar 20, 2024 | outthereoutdoors.com | Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Avalanches are unique among natural disasters; as Jeff Thompson, director of Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center (IPAC), puts it, people are the ones that create an avalanche 90 percent of the time. While in-bounds downhill skiing and snowboarding on steeper runs can on very rare occasion include avalanche risk depending on current snowpack layers, backcountry touring (and side-country, adjacent to ski-area boundaries) is the most hazardous during certain snow and weather conditions.
Keeping the Lifts Spinning for Spring

Mar 19, 2024 | outthereoutdoors.com | Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

Sponsored by Ski the NW Rockies AssociationCover photo courtesy of Mt Spokane Ski and Snowboard ParkThis season progressed with lots of ups and downs, but as of late February Spokane area resorts have kept a surprisingly-solid snowpack given what the weather threw at us.
Words From an Outdoor Mother

Feb 10, 2024 | outthereoutdoors.com | Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

We asked Amy McCaffree to share a few of her most memorable moments and tips from parenting in the outdoors. What was one of the scariest moments with your kids in the outdoors and how did you pivot/cope? At Fish Lake Trail near Cheney, Wash., I went up a dirt spur trail with my kids who were on their Strider bikes while I was walking with our dog. On the way back down, my daughter, age 3 at the time, got going too fast and crashed into bushes, flying head over handlebars like a ragdoll.