Contest Time! Vote for your Favorite ONW Cover – and WIN an ENO hammock!
Update: Contest ended and the winner is
Cops on Mountain Bikes!
Outdoors NW staffers have selected a handful of our magazine covers from the past 25 years. Choose from our Gallery below and then cast your vote for your favorite in our COMMENTS section below. One lucky entry will be chosen at random to win an Eagle’s Nest Outfitters (ENO) Hammock! Contest ended June 7.
Barbie and Ken
July 1994: This was actually the cover art for the 1994 STP Official Program. Whimsical editor Tom Braman and publisher Carolyn Price hunted down “Cycling Barbie and Ken” outfits, dressed them in matching neon green tops and helmets and cozily posed them on a hillside overlooking downtown Seattle. At the STP finish line in Portland, Braman selected real-life Barbie and Ken look-a-likes and gave them Barbie and Ken dolls as prizes. Photo by Carolyn Price
Cheers to 50 Years!
May/June 2012: This image was chosen in honor of our annual Beer Edition which annually features the summer’s top beer festivals. It was a toast to the Needle which turned 50 years old that year (2012). Photo by Seattle Beer Commission
Three Cycling Kids at the Beach
April 1992: Publisher Carolyn Price took her nieces and nephew down to Alki Beach 21 years ago and dressed them in matching Italian jerseys to help illustrate that edition’s fashion story. Epilog: Trevor, then age 2-1/2, died of leukemia in 2002 at age 12; Breanna, then 1-1/2, is now in college studying criminology; eldest niece Jaclyn lives and works in Seattle. Photo by Danny McMillin
Climbing at Smith Rock
June 1995: What’s interesting about this cover is that it contains three magazine names on it: Sports Etc, the pizza-pie shaped logo from 1994 to 2004; the NW Cyclist magazine which was folded into SE for a couple of years; and the Northwest Outdoors headline along the side which was actually the inspiration for the name of our current-day Outdoors NW magazine. It took nine years before the new title came around permanently. Photo by Karl Weatherly
Cops on Mountain Bikes
September, 1988: Paul Grady, third from the right, was the founder of the country’s first in-city mountain bike patrol right here in Seattle. Grady went on to write a how-to industry book for police precincts around the world. This picture was taken at Pike Place Market with Seattle’s unmistakable skyline in the background. Today, helmeted bike cops are standard issue in Seattle and other cities in keeping law and order, thanks to Patrolman Grady’s brilliant idea. Photo by Carolyn Price
Ed Viesturs – Climbing Legend
August, 2005: We couldn’t let the accomplishments of Bainbridge Island’s Ed Viesturs go by unnoticed. Ed was the first American to stand atop the world’s 14 highest summits – all mountains above 8,000 meters – without the use of supplemental oxygen. The mission started in 1989 and was completed in May 2005. This photo was taken atop Mount Annapurna by Veikka Gustafasson.
Our First Color Cover
July 1989: Another fashion issue – bold neon and flowery patterns were in cycling vogue in the late-80s and we couldn’t resist this flashy outfit from Vigorelli. The photo marked the first color cover in the history of the magazine, coming 1-1/2 years after our first published edition. Photographer John Pratt of Bellingham writes: “Cathy Kroll was our model. Not only a cyclist but a marathoner who ran in the 1988 women’s Olympic marathon trials. The shoot took place in Skagit County along the tide flats on Chuckanut Drive. The image was clicked just as the sun dropped behind Mount Constitution on Orcas Island offering low reflective light and some very warm colors on some very hot clothing.”
Jingle Bell Rocks!
Nov/Dec 2009: Who doesn’t like presents? We sure did since we chose this Seattle Jingle Bell Run image for our Running cover. It was also chosen in honor of the Arthritis Foundation’s 25 years of raising money to fight this disease. Photo by Jeremy Miller
Eco-Travel
July/August 2010: Going green in the Northwest is easy along this deliciously deciduous trail on Tiger Mountain near Issaquah. The edition was about using green practices on outdoor vacations. Photo by Stephen Matera, Seattle
Fourth of July Sparklers!
July, 1990: Seattle photographer Danny McMillin used sparklers, multi-exposures and the darkness of night to capture this special Fourth of July photo exclusively for us. As the story goes, McMillin, dressed all in black, scampered around the bike without being detected by his camera, perfectly framing it with his sparkler. Well, maybe Danny used more than one sparkler.
From BC to AD to MB
April, 1990: Our tribute to the evolution of the mountain bike. Called the Evolution of Cycling, this cover art originated as a primitive drawing on a tattered, beer-stained napkin. Through an idea presented to him through conversation, artist Carol Abramovic of Portland, Ore. used his imagination and obvious artistic talent far beyond our original expectations of this assignment.
Lime Green Snow Guy
Winter 2009-2010: We wanted to give a nod to the 2010 Winter Olympics happening just up the street in Vancouver, B.C. so we chose this neon-clad skier blasting down the side of Blackcomb Mountain for the cover of that year’s Western SnowSports magazine, our sister publication. Notice that neon was back in vogue – at least for that year. Photo by Paul Morrison who photographed his son, Ian, in this image.
Winter Lifestyle Skiers
Winter 2008-09: Snow flurries dropped on the heads of these happy skiers and boarders in front of Granite Peaks Lodge at Stevens Pass. This image was a departure of our normal ‘action’ cover; we liked it because it depicted the off-slope normalcy of a day at the mountain. Photo by Chase Jarvis, Seattle
If you like this post, you might also enjoy:
Features Home Publisher's Notes Recent Articles The OutdoorsNW Blog
Yitka Winn, 2 years ago
I vote for April 1992! Great image
Steve, 2 years ago
I vote for Green! But I’m biased.
anne, 2 years ago
Eco travel
Lisa, 2 years ago
I like Steve Matera’s cover.
Mark Field, 2 years ago
Cast my vote for Eco Travel cover, feat. Steve Matera’s photo from Tiger Mountain. He captured the light very wonderfully — I’ve been on the that!
Jeffrey A. Hoon, 2 years ago
ECO-TRAVEL would be my first choose!
Andi Przybyla, 2 years ago
Climbing at Smith Rock for sure!
Jonathan Holmgren, 2 years ago
Cops On Mountain Bikes! USA!
Angie Armstrong, 2 years ago
Cops on Mountain Bikes 1988
Andrew Smallwood, 2 years ago
Gotta say, I’m a big fan of June 1995. It really hits close to home for me.
Amber P, 2 years ago
I like cycling Barbie and Ken! It’s edgy and different than everything out there, it would definitely get my attention!
Ethan Buyer, 2 years ago
September 1988!
Hank, 2 years ago
Climbing at Smith Rock!
Ethan, 2 years ago
September 1988
Hank, 2 years ago
Climbing at Smith Rock, all the way
Adam, 2 years ago
I vote Barbie and Ken…that was hilarious!
Brady B., 2 years ago
Eco-Travel
Jesse, 2 years ago
I gotta vote for may/june 2012. Like normal beer may have swayed my decision.
Coops McGee, 2 years ago
July 1990!!
Kim Sharpe Jones, 2 years ago
I love the Ed Viesturs cover! (And the eco-travel cover, but that is two votes!)
Scott Thomsen, 2 years ago
Cheers to 50 years!
Christina, 2 years ago
Cops on Mountain Bikes
All these covers are amazing!
Christina, 2 years ago
Mountain bike cops!
Scott, 2 years ago
Jingle Bell Rocks! A wonderful Seattle holiday tradition benefitting a good cause – the Arthritis Foundation.
Kelsey, 2 years ago
Jingle Bell running presents of course!
Wade B, 2 years ago
Jingle Bell Run – all the way!
Kim, 2 years ago
Jingle Bell Run! Love it!
JM, 2 years ago
Jingle Bell Rocks!
Ken, 2 years ago
Jingle Bell!
Amelia Klein, 2 years ago
Cops on Mountain Bikes, though I was very torn between that and The Cyclist’s Wardrobe
Kerry, 2 years ago
4th of July Sparklers is my pick!
Steve, 2 years ago
Lime Green Snow Guy… Ski action photos are very cool !!!
April, 2 years ago
Jingle Bell run!
julia, 2 years ago
barbie and ken
Christine burd, 2 years ago
Cheers to 50 years
Anna, 2 years ago
Cops on Mountain Bikes!
Arni, 2 years ago
Climbing at Smith Rock
Chad, 2 years ago
Tough choice but I vote for April, 1990.
Ann, 2 years ago
Nice selection of covers. I like climbing at Smith Rock the best (and I am not even a climber)
Alan Leonard, 2 years ago
Vote for Ed Viesturs. If only because I was interning with you guys then
jerry, 2 years ago
Ed Viesturs
Lawrence, 2 years ago
July, 1990 – love the bike
Allison, 2 years ago
July 1994 Barbie Cover. It is so cool!
Collin Hansen, 2 years ago
Eco travel!!!
mike podewell, 2 years ago
barbie and ken for sure.
Jay L., 2 years ago
Seattle Mtn Bike Cops….screams of Reno 911.
KB, 2 years ago
cops on mountain bikes. Now the pic is so Reno 911 that it is epic.
Sharon, 2 years ago
Climbing at Smith Rock
william hoffman, 2 years ago
July/August 2010
I need to go on a hike.
Brenda, 2 years ago
Winter Lifesyle Skiers – Winter 2008-09 Is my favorite.
Shirley, 2 years ago
Cops on Mountain Bikes!
Libby m, 2 years ago
First color cover, those shades are amazing!!!!
Rick Arnett, 2 years ago
Barbie & Ken
heidi, 2 years ago
July / Aug 2010 Rocks
ken, 2 years ago
I vote for the eco Jul/Aug issue cover. It embosies the Northwest spirit of independence, travel, outdoors and eco ethics.
J, 2 years ago
Jingle Bell Rock cover
Nick S, 2 years ago
Jingle Bells Run
Gary, 2 years ago
They’re all great but I have to go with July ’89 as being the extra special one for my vote.
Lauren, 2 years ago
Cops on Mtn Bikes
Nora, 2 years ago
Ed Viesturs fro sure! What a legend!
Joan, 2 years ago
On Top of The World
Thomas, 2 years ago
Man… tough choices… Jingle Bell is so positive… Cops on Bikes, right on… Climbing, Skiing (awesum pix)… Brews make’n me thirsty… just good stuff!!! I am going to go with July/August 2010 – Eco- Travel just feels right… low footprint just seems to be a fit with tomorrow being Earth Day and all… Plant a tree, a sunflower… or if you cannot do any of those… plant a positive thought! Good Stuff OutdoorsNW!
Carly, 2 years ago
I vote for Cheers to 50 Years! (May/June 2012)
M, 2 years ago
Jingle Bell Rocks
Emily, 2 years ago
Jingle Bell Rocks
Patti, 2 years ago
Jingle Bell Rock!
Charlie Fernandez, 2 years ago
April 1990, Very Chic!
Charlie Fernandez, 2 years ago
April 1990, Very Chic, cool art!
Clark M., 2 years ago
I vote for April, 1990 – The Evolution of Cycling.
James Elliott, 1 year ago
I vote for Climbing at Smith Rock. Stunning!
SYDNEY LEVIN, 1 year ago
Cops on Mountain Bikes 1988
Terry Priest, 1 year ago
Cops on mountain bikes in black and white is the best by far. Looks so old school.
John, 1 year ago
August 2005 with Ed