When I was in my teens, our low-profile part of the world had a couple of AM stations available for our musical enjoyment. One was country-western, and the other contemporary rock. Our high school piped in the rock station during lunch, much to the student body glee.

Even the switchbacks are lung-sucking steep on Mickinnick Trail. But the views and vistas looking East over Lake Pend Oreille are so breathtakingly beautiful, it’s worth every strenuous step. Or at least—that’s what Nancy and I kept telling ourselves as we labored up the three-mile route.