14
CONTENTS October/November 2018 #105
features
10 P
addling
est
oast
Board Riders Club
Positive vibes in surfing
My Own Canoe
A peek at Audrey Sutherland’s extraordinary life
14 I
ree
olo
An interview with Alex Honnold
16
irt ap Around Tahoe
sland Life
Exploring the Channel Islands
departments
6 7 8
16 W C 18 F S 20 A D L
Editor’s Note
Earn Your Beer
Inbox
ASJ readers chime in
Ear to the Ground News & notes
Riding The Lake Trail for TAMBA
12 23 25 26
Photo: Leonie Sherman
Photo: Ron Lyon
20
EPiC
The Courage Project
Event Profiles
Featured upcoming events
Calendar
Directory of upcoming events
Gear We Love
Goodies for an active lifestyle
Photo: Jenna Ammerman
12
Cover Alex Honnold high on El Cap’s Freerider route during his ropeless ascent. Photo: Jimmy Chin
DON’T MISS AN ISSUE – Subscribe to ASJ Mail a check for $20 to PO Box 35, Santa Cruz, CA 95063 along with subscriber name and address, or order online at adventuresportsjournal.com/subscribe.
Photo: Jules Hanna Photography
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Photo: Jimmy Chin
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asj contributors what adventure(s) do you have lined up for fall? PUBLISHING + EDITORIAL
leoniesherman
PUBLISHER After ripping my hamstring Cathy Claesson from groin to mid calf cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com while solo backpacking in Utah last spring, my big fall EDITOR-IN-CHIEF adventure will be a mellow Matt Niswonger backpacking trip. With matt@adventuresportsjournal.com friends.
kurtgensheimer
Attending the Mountain Bike Singlespeed World Championships in Bend, Oregon. Equal amounts party and race.
havenlivingston
Feather River Festival on September 22! Then enjoy spontaneous adventures like this photo — a plague of locusts swarm miles of grasslands in Nevada.
chrisvanleuven
This fall, I’ll be attending climbing festivals in and around Yosemite. Looking forward to the Oakdale Climbers Fest and Yosemite Facelift.
juliannklein
MANAGING EDITOR Michele Charboneau michele@adventuresportsjournal.com
FUEL FOR EVERY DAY
BEFORE. DURING. AFTER.
COPY EDITOR Jennifer Stein jen@adventuresportsjournal.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Leonie Sherman, Chris Van Leuven, Kurt Gensheimer, Haven Livingston CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Leonie Sherman, Tom Frost, Fred Pompermayer, National Geographic/ Jimmy Chin, Euan Rannachan, Kurt Gensheimer, Ben Fish, Jenna Ammerman, Jules Hanna Photography, Lake Tahoe Water Trail, Michelle Masden, Audrey Sutherland Collection, Joanne Schwartz, Joe McCullough, Ron Lyon/West Coast Board Riders, Encinitas Board Riders, Lauren Allen, Daphne Hougard Photography, Hannah Skudstad Photography, Kat Fossum, Mike Oitzman, Cam McLeod LAYOUT Cathy Claesson & Michele Charboneau COVER DESIGN Juliann Klein
Kicking off fall adventures in Vermont riding the Kingdom trails, then off to Deep Creek Lake State Park in Maryland for its IMBA-Built trail opening and Bentonville, Arkansas to ride and celebrate IMBA’s Dirty 30!
michelecharboneau
Just returned from backpacking in the Ansel Adams Wilderness in the Eastern Sierra and now looking forward to exploring the Trinity Alps and Marble Mountains in Northern California.
mattniswonger
I am looking forward to surfing more and also doing a service trip with Club Dust in Mexico in December.
cathyclaesson
I am looking forward to training for the Big Sur 21-Miler by biking, hiking and running with friends. I also plan to play some hooky while the kids are in school and get out on the water.
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Cathy Claesson I 831.234.0351 cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com EVENTS & DISTRIBUTION Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com
Seating
EVENTS MARKETING Michele Charboneau michele@adventuresportsjournal.com Jennifer Stein jen@adventuresportsjournal.com Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Adventure Sports Journal or our advertisers. We usually agree with our articles, but sometimes we don’t. We welcome all contributions. All content © Adventure Sports Journal 2018. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the editors. ADVENTURE SPORTS JOURNAL PO BOX 35, Santa Cruz, CA 95063 Phone 831.457.9453 asjstaff@adventuresportsjournal.com
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Editor’s Note
Earn Your Beer
A philosophy for living our lives
A
bout ten years ago we stopped adding our tagline, “Earn Your Beer” to the cover of our print publication. A vocal minority of readers was furious that we were promoting alcohol use in the outdoors, and after some discussion we nixed the tagline to placate those who were offended. Even though we removed the phrase from our cover it still very much a part of our magazine. We still sell hundreds of t-shirts every year with the tagline on the front or back. Moving forward, this number will rise significantly as we begin selling Earn Your Beer shirts online. As we increase our t-shirt sales, I feel it necessary to explain the somewhat cryptic phrase, and how it became a life philosophy that defines Adventure Sports Journal. Many years ago I realized there are two types of tourists in Yosemite Valley: those who go to observe nature and those who go to wrestle with nature. Yosemite Valley is certainly nice to look at, but why go there? You can scroll through pretty pictures of it on Instagram from the safety of your living room. In contrast, going to Yosemite as a hiker or a climber requires hard work, commitment, and usually some fear. The same dichotomy exists on the beach. You can stand there and appreciate the waves from afar, or you can pull on a wetsuit, grab a surfboard, and paddle out. Just about anyone can passively observe the ocean, but surfing requires hard work, commitment and fear management in order to succeed. Either path is a fully legitimate way to experience nature, but for those who take the harder path the beer tastes so much better afterwards. And the wine.
more than just a climbing gym
Yoga drop-ins welcome Climbing Weight Room Cardio Deck
In fact, all of life is just richer and more pleasurable as a result of our willingness to wrestle with nature on her own terms.
Our trademarked Earn Your Beer t-shirts in action on a recent trip to Sweden.
And the ice cream. In fact, all of life is just richer and more pleasurable as a result of our willingness to wrestle with nature on her own terms. As a lifestyle, earning your beer is not about alcohol consumption, it’s about challenging yourself and rewarding yourself every day. We want people to know that wearing one of our t-shirts is a celebration of choosing struggle and choosing risk in order to truly appreciate this wonderful life. If you can relate to this philosophy, I’d love to hear from you. How did you earn your beer recently, and how did you reward yourself afterwards? Please let me know via email and we will publish as many of your responses as possible. My email address is matt@ adventuresportsjournal.com. If you are interested in buying one of our Earn Your Beer t-shirts they will soon be available online via our website, Facebook and Instagram pages, and you can always pick one up at the many events we attend as part of the ASJ Roadshow. Just look for the red and black tent with our logo on it. Send me an email, I’d love to hear from you. matt@adventuresportsjournal.com. —Matt Niswonger
go online or come by to check out this fantastic gym
831.454.9254
104 Bronson St. #12 Santa Cruz
www.pacificedgeclimbinggym.com 6 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2018
Campfire memories from Sea Otter, 2017. ASJ editor, Matt Niswonger on the plasitc horn.
Letters to the Editor
In response to Editor’s Note #103 The Digital Apocalypse
PERUSING PRINT Tell your advertisers this reader buys about $1000 worth of gear every year and learns about all of it through print ads and article reviews (ASJ and Trail Runner mag). I spend several grand on regional travel annually also mostly through info I get from print ads and articles. Ads in digital are annoying and I ignore them. Ads in print are there to peruse and I read them. — David Holbrook, Los Angeles OUTDOOR COMMUNITY It would be a shame if print or your magazine went away. I’m a fan of any publication that connects me more to the outdoors and environment where I work and play. I grew up reading the NCNCA and NORBA news and a host of other funky little newsletters and rags that came in the mail or that I picked up at shops. But I understand that times have changed and publications everywhere of all stripes are challenged to figure out a revenue model that works. I hope you all can come through. I’d miss a standard source for experiences and travel, but especially events — an events calendar online just isn’t the same. I am turning back to print, because I am burned out and pissed off at FB and social media. I am trying to turn off the noise and turn up the things that work for me. I picked up your mag at The Auburn Running Co. Retail has changed too. What is happening to community with the outdoors? Oh, I’m 41, maybe I’m over the hill and irrelevant. — Aaron Wilcher, Auburn
PLEASE DON’T GO Thanks for the stellar job you and your wife and others are doing in putting out Adventure Sports Journal. I agree with your June/July’s Digital Apocalypse editor’s note and how people are becoming so addicted to their electronic devices, it’s unhealthy! Here’s my feedback. My late Mother used to say not to worry so much about what is often happening in the world because things change. I’ve lived long enough to see this. Right now, there is a movement from the younger people toward “discovering” brick and mortar stores. “Wow,” a new concept. Yes, we are expected to do far more online than any of us would like to do, but hardcopy publications are NOT like relics to me. To pick up a magazine and read it at your leisure, anywhere without worrying about batteries, ruining your eyesight and your neck muscles hunched over a machine is blessed. There is something very tactile about picking up something hardcopy and if you can swing continuing to put the magazine out this way, I support it. Insofar as your publishing the issues three different ways— two sayings come to mind: “be true to yourself” and “don’t try to please everyone.” I know this is very Pollyanna when you’ve got advertisers that won’t sign up who want digital only. Your life and your time and energy is important too, if you can try and find a balance where you can attract business but still have a life. Sometimes that will mean making a choice and if it’s easier to go digital only, ok, so be it, we won’t all abandon you. True fans like me will support you in whatever way we can. Go for it! — Jane Parks-McKay, Santa Cruz
OUTDOOR COMMUNITY I am concerned about the Gen Z and anyone else caught up in the technology that most do not understand. You have captured the problem well. I am fighting myself to read more, go to local activities and get real experiences and not get overloaded with all that is out there for us to try to keep up with. I have to say I am old school. Love my LP collection. Big fonts! and artwork. Vinyl is coming back to some extent and I like that. I am trying to digest information at a pace that makes me comfortable and the high speed news feed just keeps getting faster. And Trump doesn’t help! — Bob Mitscha, Fremont In response to Editor’s Note #104 The Digital Compromise KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK I agree completely with those who have vociferously defended the print version. I take it with me camping, skiing, etc. There are issues all over my cabin in the Sierras. And I honestly just wouldn’t read it if it was only online. Additionally, I would definitely buy your t-shirts online. I currently have two and have stalked your ASJ booth at events to get them. I love them! I would also subscribe to ASJ for home delivery at an affordable price, FYI. Keep up the good work! — Paul Winkler, Santa Cruz EARN YOUR BEER Stay off Facebook! I like your idea of supplementing your business through T-shirt sales. I like earning my beer(s). I’d advertise that via a T-shirt. — Jason McCann
GET OUTSIDE! This is in response to your editorial which I read in PRINT!!! You guys do a standup job! This is right up my alley, and as a fellow adventurer I spend a lot of time where my little screen is unconnected and useless. Screw your social media, go hug some rock, shred some wave, and get back to why you started this in the first place! A life outdoors is a life well lived. — Jeff Zeldin, Santa Cruz YES! SELL YOUR SHIRTS TO HELP ASJ Love your print. Holding that beautiful paper and reading it is awesome. Being 60 yrs old, I love holding something and turning a page. With that said, I TOTALLY agree with you it’s a balance. Yes! Sell the shirts on digital. Sell other items on digital. I buy and support companies like Black Rifle Coffee Co and Grunt style because I’m a vet. I will support you also. So keep up the great work and email me some T-shirt designs and products.
Learn the skills of a pro from a pro!
— Michael Doyle, Santa Cruz STRADDLING PRINT VS. DIGITAL I’ve enjoyed reading the recent editorials. Straddling traditional print with the digital age is tough. I agree that computers have simplified some things, but they have not made us work any less. Now we can be “on” 24/7, and it is strangely addicting. When I hit the off button to any electronics I feel like I’ve been released from a spell. I can see where keeping up with social and the web version of the paper as being the straw that broke the camel’s back, especially after making it through the print deadline. I’m grateful that my daughter finished high school before the smartphones became ubiquitous. Best of luck raising your kids in this new digital age, it looks challenging! — Susan Bernstein, Felton NEW SUBSCRIBER & GRAVEL GRINDER I just finished reading my first Adventure Sports Journal and immediately wanted a subscription. Great articles, thoughtful and well written editor’s note (The Digital Compromise) and the type of adventures I like to support. Thank you for the article on Yuri and gravel grinders. I am a road bike guy who has been scared off the roads with distracted drivers. I just found my next thing is gravel grinding. Now to get the right bike for it! Best wishes and good luck with continuing ASJ as there are many of us desk jockeys looking for new adventure ideas. Please find a check for a year’s subscription. — Chris Marovich, Roseville
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Ear to the Ground
News & notes from the outdoor industry
Climbing Legends Tom Frost and Jeff Lowe Die on Same Day
Photo of Jeff Lowe on Ama Dablam in 1979 taken by Tom Frost
August 24 was a fateful day for the climbing community as both Tom Frost and Jeff Lowe passed into legend. Frost was 82 when he lost his short battle with cancer at a hospice near his home in Oakdale, CA. He was a Yosemite pioneer in the 1960s, and established some of the most famous routes in the Valley while climbing with Royal Robbins, Chuck Pratt, Yvon Chouinard, and others. Lowe was widely regarded as the finest American alpinist of his generation; he passed at 67. His daughter, Sonja, announced his death on Facebook, writing, “My father, Jeff Lowe, to put it in his words, ‘moved on from this material plane to the next.” Both climbers were influential in different ways. Tom Frost will always be associated with the Golden Age of Yosemite big wall climbing, while Jeff Lowe was a hardcore alpinist who excelled on dangerous, mixed terrain and frozen waterfalls. Read more at adventuresportsjournal.com/ remembering-frost-and-lowe.
#SafeOutside Initiative Launched to Combat SHSA
#SafeOutside is an initiative to learn more about the prevalence of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Abuse (SHSA) within the climbing and outdoor community. Sexual harassment and assault exist at local crags, in climbing gyms, and on international expeditions. Organizations from climbing and outdoor communities around the world have joined forces to collect data, drive conversation, share best practices, provide press coverage and address the issues. Learn more at adventuresportsjournal.com/safeoutside.
Equal Pay for Female Surfers
In a move that has shocked and inspired the surfing world, the World Surf League announced equal prize money will be awarded to men and women at all WSL controlled events. This will include the Fred Pompermayer Mavericks Challenge to be held this winter at the spectacular big wave break in Half Moon Bay. Sophie Goldschmidt, the WSL’s first female CEO, told the San Francisco Chronicle, “It was simply the right thing to do. We want to be at the forefront of pushing for equality in all walks of life, starting on the waves.” Bianca Valenti, Co-Founder of the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing (CEWS) has been working tirelessly for years for this day and has even faced retaliation for speaking in support of gender equality at Mavericks competitions. Upon hearing the news, Valenti said, “Paying men and women equally is about accountability. I’m glad the WSL is choosing to be on the right side of history.” Stay tuned for more coverage on this story and the upcoming Mavericks season.
Free Solo Documents Alex Honnold’s Daring Endeavor to Free Solo El Capitan
Free Solo is a stunning, intimate and unflinching portrait of free soloist climber Alex Honnold as he prepares to achieve his National Geographic/Jimmy Chin lifelong dream: climbing the face of the world’s most famous rock — Yosemite’s 3,200-foot El Capitan — without a rope. The film, created by award-winning documentary filmmaker E. Chai Vasarhelyi and world-renowned photographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin, is an edge-of-your seat thriller. It’s an inspiring portrait of an athlete who challenges both his body and his beliefs on a quest to triumph over the impossible, revealing the personal toll of excellence. Vasarhelyi and Chin succeed in beautifully capturing deeply human moments with Honnold as well as the death-defying climb, with exquisite artistry and masterful, vertigo-inducing camerawork. Free Solo is due to be released this fall. Learn more and watch the trailer at adventuresportsjournal.com/free-solo.
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Pure Project Joins The Conservation Alliance
The Conservation Alliance welcomes San Diego-based craft beer producer Pure Project as its newest member. The brewing company is helping to protect public lands for future generations by utilizing sustainable practices which minimize its environmental impact. “We are excited to join The Conservation Alliance to help preserve the land we all love,” says Mat Robar, Pure Project co-founder. Says John Sterling, Executive Director of The Conservation Alliance, “Pure Project has made sustainability and environmental awareness a staple of their business and this partnership to join like-minded companies will further strengthen their efforts through numbers.” The Conservation Alliance recognizes its responsibility to help protect the wild lands and waterways on which its customers recreate and wildlife thrives. To achieve that goal, the organization makes grants to grassroots environmental nonprofits stewarding these threatened lands and waters in North America. Learn more at conservationalliance.com.
Spotlight: Digital Well Being
Earlier this month, Facebook and Instagram announced new tools for users to set time limits on their platforms, and a dashboard to monitor one’s daily use, following Google’s introduction of Digital Well Being features. In doing so the companies seemed to suggest that spending time on the internet is not a desirable, healthy habit, but a pleasurable vice: one that if left uncontrolled may slip into unappealing addiction. Read more at adventuresportsjournal.com/digital-well-being and stay tuned as we explore the costs vs. the benefits of our increasingly digital lifestyle. w w w. a d v e n t u r e s p o r t s j o u r n a l . c o m
9
Paddling My Own Canoe A peek into the life of an extraordinary adventurer By Haven Livingston
In a time when people have traded backpacks for glamping trailers, binoculars for cell phones and true grit for social media opportunities, we need Audrey Sutherland’s motto more than ever: “Go simple, go solo, go now.”
T
he absorbing and joyful story told by Sutherland in her book, Paddling My Own Canoe, tells of her solo explorations of Molokaʻi north coast. It is a reminder that adventures of the truest sense occur when we follow our heart, not our ego, through whatever fears we face in an effort to find the simple joy that resides deep inside us. That sometimes we have to bear down, persevere until we are black and blue,
10 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2018
dead tired and figure things out alone, before we can find the best and happiest version of ourselves. “In five years the three trips had taught me how difficult it could be, but I still wanted to go back. It wasn’t because of the ‘challenge.’ I didn’t feel daring and I didn’t think my character needed to be improved by conquering something, but now I knew the magnificence of the place, strong and fulfilling.”
Sutherland passed away in February 2015 at the age of 94 and Patagonia has recently released a redesigned edition of this out-of-print book with the original great story that was published 40 years ago with new images by block printer Yoshiko Yamimoto. Sutherland’s curiosity begins with her nose to the window of an airplane; peering down on a dreamscape coast of tiny coves sealed off by towering mountainside cliffs.
Opposite Page: Audrey rests on the beach on one of her Alaska trips (Audrey Sutherland Collection). This Page, clockwise from upper left: Self portrait of a paddler (Audrey Sutherland Collection); Audrey in front of the US Forest Service cabin located in Shipley Bay on northeast Prince of Wales Island, Alaska (Michelle Masden); Audrey and pilot Michelle Masden at Nooya Lake located in the Misty Fjords National Monument, Alaska (Audrey Sutherland Collection); A fresh caught salmon adds to her trip provisions (Audrey Sutherland Collection).
She poured herself into researching a way to explore it, come hell or highwater. She finds both. In 1962 Sutherland’s first of many ventures started along the 12 miles of isolated and spectacular north coast of the Hawaiian island of Molokaʻi. First, she swims around the 3,000 foot cliffs with “finsmaskandsnorkle” while towing a leaky rubber bag of supplies. Near disastrous results in the unpredictable seas sent her back to the planning stages but her spirit was piqued. “Now I knew what was there, but I had still barely touched that lonely coast.” After a couple of swimming trips, she caves and mail-orders a six foot long inflatable kayak. In a kayak she must relearn how to navigate the ocean. No longer can she stare at the fish as she swims nor dive through waves when it gets stormy. She must learn to travel on top of the water, dealing with wind and a vessel that could capsize. Ultimately the kayak becomes her transportation of choice and with good humored practice, she masters it. When unrelenting storms tossed her in the sea or kept her wet for days at a time she cheered herself on with mantra of “the little engine that could.” Each small achievement grew her power of selfconfidence. Year after year she returns to what had become her sacred coast. “And now, this second night out, hunkered there by the flames, sipping tea with rum, feeling its warmth inside, the fire’s warmth on my face and shins, and the wind’s chill on my bare back, I felt again the surge of pure primitive joy and
power that comes with being alone and wary and confident.” Instead of helicopter parenting, Sutherland received as a child and in turn gave to her four children, a rearing of independence and self-entertainment. It seems to be something we have nearly lost in present day; childhoods of romping through forests making up games or playing on the beach without a hovering parent telling us constantly to ‘be careful.’ “… rarely are we deeply challenged physically or alone. We rely on friends, on family, on a committee, on community agencies outside ourselves. To have actual survival, living or dying, depending on our own ingenuity, skill, or stamina — this is a core question we seldom face. We rarely find out if we like having only our own mind as company for days or weeks at a time. How many people have ever been totally isolated, ten miles from the nearest other human, even for two days?” Adventure has come to mean outdoing the next person, even if it means deliberately putting oneself in harm’s way; then immediately bragging on social media for instant affirmation by our peers. For Sutherland, adventure was a biproduct of seeking the isolation and wilderness she needed to recharge her spirit and strengthen her sense of self. Sutherland did not blindly jump into her adventures, nor was she a trust fund kid. She had been working towards them her whole life; swimming, scuba diving and schooling prepared her for the trips. Working full time as a traveling school counselor, she planned long in advance for her coveted time off each year. In 1981, at the age of 60, she began annual kayaking forays up sections of the inside passage between Washington and Alaska. These trips went on for the next 20 years and are documented in her last book, Paddling North, that has also been rereleased by Patagonia. Sutherland seems to have been cut of a leather that hardly exists anymore. She had no cares in the world what other people thought of her pursuits or if they even knew. She did it for her, and no one else. Inspiration comes as a complete package from this book: what Sutherland accomplished, how she physically did it, and her attitude about it. It is the kind of adventure story we need most right now.
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EPiC: Environmental Partnership Campaign
The Courage Project
Helping kids deal with mental health issues one adventure at a time
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ike most of us, Reno-based clinical and developmental psychologist Dr. Brie Moore gets her juice from outdoor adventures. “When I’m stressed, or overwhelmed, climbing or snowboarding or paddle boarding clears my head. They give me perspective and allow me to cope with life’s challenges,” she says with a contented sigh. “I realized I wanted to bring those experiences to the kids I was working with.” So she started The Courage Project. In their first summer, the organization sponsored eight different events and reached 50 young people. They’d like to expand into offering snowshoeing, skiing and snowboarding this winter. The Courage Project aims to enhance the lives of kids struggling with anxiety or depression through a unique climbing, paddling, yoga or hiking experience. Athletes and guides provide quality instruction, while trained Courage Coaches provide individualized evidence-based skills training so that kids can manage their emotions, overcome fear, and access joy. “We help kids take the skills they learned facing challenges paddling or climbing into their daily lives,” says Operations Manager Lauren Allen. “That way when they walk onto campus the first day of school, or make a new friend, they can notice the anxiety that comes up and know they will be able to get through it, and actually have some coping mechanisms for dealing with it.” 12 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2018
By Leonie Sherman “Science tells us that the experience of anxiety in your body is the same regardless of what triggers it,” explains Moore. “So we help kids understand that if they can cope with anxiety on a rock face or paddling on Lake Tahoe, they can do it anywhere. What an inspiring setting to learn those life changing lessons!” Unlike anxiety, depression is often fueled by what clinical psychologists call the “external locus of control”— basically, is life something that happens to you, or something you can take charge of? “When we teach kids that they are the ones capable of standing up on a board or climbing up a rock face, it instills a sense of agency in their lives,” says Moore. “That helps them feel like they can affect the course their lives take.” Moore chose the sports offered through The Courage Project based on her personal and professional experience. “We selected these specific activities because they’re fun and inspiring, but they also require self-reliance. We believe that self-reliance is the birthplace of self-esteem,” she explains. “So our events provide a group-based dynamic and an individual challenge. You can stand up paddle board or rock climb in a group, but eventually you have to get up that rock wall yourself, or stand up on that board on your own. Ultimately kids realize that they are in control of their response to their emotions and thoughts.”
By bringing together young people who are dealing with anxiety and depression, The Courage Project shows them they aren’t alone. A recent study found almost a third of adolescents experience anxiety on a regular basis but up to 80% of young people with diagnosable conditions aren’t getting any kind of treatment. “A big part of our mission at The Courage Project is to fill this need in a way that doesn’t have all the baggage or stigma attached to going to see a therapist or a psychologist,” says Moore. “We aim to destigmatize depression, anxiety and mental health issues one adventure at a time.” The adventure component is critical for learning. “Science tells us that kids learn best through play,” explains Moore. “Play is how kids build confidence and work through all of their developmental problems. It’s how they learn about themselves and the world, how to be self-reliant. And it’s also about having fun and experiencing joy! Our events are spontaneous and fluid, unexpected things arise and you have to choose how you want to respond to them — just like life!” Though they focus on young people with mental health concerns, they believe the tools they offer are useful for anybody. “This is not a program for only people who have been diagnosed with issues, this is a program for everyone,” insists Allen. “We all deal with anxieties, fear of failure, and difficulty in trying new things.” Without
Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Mountain top yoga with Bridgitte Levy (Lauren Allen); Taking the leap at the Tahoe City SUP event (Daphne Hougard Photography); Courage Coaching on Donner Summit (Hannah Skudstad Photography); Finding their bold (Kat Fossum). This page, left to right: Courage Coaching on the shores of Lake Tahoe (Daphne Hougard Photography); Courage Coaches, kids, and the NASTC crew high above Donner Lake (Lauren Allen); The Courage Project founder, Brie Moore, finding her balance in Alaska’s Chugach range (Jules Hanna Photography).
coping strategies or adequate support, a lot of people try to push through on their own or turn to medication. The Courage Project teaches students to embrace those challenging emotions and learn from them. “Through our work we help kids transform their experience with anxiety so it’s not always a negative thing for them,” she explains. Moore has been amazed at how quickly kids will talk about their fears and feelings. “They are so eager to open up and share. It’s such a gift to them not to have to face these things alone,” explains Moore. “Amazingly, the more space you create for kids to express those feelings
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of anxiety and depression, the less space those feelings take up.” The Courage Project isn’t just peddling fun; they’re providing meaningful adventures that leave participants with coping skills they can apply to the inevitable challenges of daily life. High quality mental health care or professional rock-climbing lessons are usually expensive and often out of reach for young people. But the guides, coaches and athlete ambassadors volunteer their time, and equipment is donated, so all the workshops are free for participants. “We provide access to previously inaccessible experiences,” says Moore.
The Courage Project owes their rapid success to a remarkable partnership with local organizations, athletes and guides. The North American Ski Training Center and Rock Climbing School provides guides and equipment, the elite stand up paddle coaches of Waterman’s Landing lend their expertise, and naturalists from the Tahoe Rim Trail Association and the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science lead mindfulness hikes. “So many people in this area have conquered depression and anxiety through skiing or climbing or paddling and they want to be part of making that possible for young people in the community,” explains Moore. “We are basically showcasing the best of the best that the Tahoe area has to offer in each of these sports.” Allen says she can see an immediate difference in participants after an event. “I haven’t been able to coach because I’m making sure everyone is safe and accounted for, but I can see the changes
that take place,” she says. “These kids leave so much more confident. It’s like they grow three inches in two hours.” Ultimately, Dr. Moore and her dedicated gang of compassionate coaches and elite athletes aren’t just teaching climbing, paddling or emotional regulation. They’re teaching mindfulness, and the ability to live fully in each moment. “We use natural elements to embody the essence of what we are trying to teach. When we are solid and strong like a mountain, we trust in ourselves and are confident. We recognize we are so much more than our struggles,” explains Moore. ”When water is calm we can see clearly without distortions. Just like the vast expanses of the Sierra or the vistas from a Tahoe beach, we have enough space within us for all of our worry, doubt, fear, pain, sadness and joy. Sometimes we just need to create a little more space.” Learn more about The Courage Project at courageproject.org.
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Island Life
Appreciating the timeless rhythm of the tides, sun and wind in the Channel Islands By Leonie Sherman
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he engine groaned and thick curtains of white foam parted in twin waves as our boat picked up speed leaving Ventura Harbor. Within ten minutes, the water’s surface a hundred yards from the bow boiled with sleek grey bodies. Over 150 dolphins sped towards the boat, a wall of marine muscle. As they got closer they fanned out and began to play in our wake, dashing under the bow to emerge on the other side, dancing in the froth and surfing the waves we left behind. Passengers on the Island Packers ferry to Channel Islands National Park, 20 miles from the mainland, aren’t always greeted by an exuberant welcome committee demonstrating how to enjoy life. But after a few days on these enchanted isles, most visitors can figure it out for themselves. Channels Islands National Park, established in 1980, preserves five diverse islands and their ocean surroundings. Barren Anacapa Island, closest to shore, has a lighthouse dating from 1932. Santa Cruz Island, the largest, features sea caves and thousands of rare foxes. Santa Rosa is ringed by miles of deserted white sand beaches and hosts a stand of Torrey Pine, one of the rarest trees in the world. Windswept San Miguel has a seal rookery thousands strong. The southernmost island, Santa Barbara, draws nesting seabirds. None of the islands were ever part of the mainland, but during the last Ice Age they were less than five miles from shore. Mammals and seeds rafted over on debris and evolved in isolation. Over 150 species of plants and animals are endemic, found nowhere else on the planet. Temperatures remain mild throughout the year; early winter boasts vivid sunrises and sunsets. Chumash natives lived on these islands 8,000 years before the pyramids were a glimmer in a pharaoh’s eye, 2,000 years before people settled in Jericho, the longest continually inhabited city on the planet. The Chumash were the finest boat builders in California and navigated the Santa Barbara Channel in tomols, plank canoes up to 30 feet long, capable of carrying ten passengers. The shell bead money they manufactured on Santa Cruz Island was traded extensively with mainland groups. Santa Rosa had at least eight villages, San Miguel had two, Anacapa was seasonally inhabited and Santa Cruz Island hosted eleven sites. Every village had a sweat lodge and a flat open area for dancing and ceremonies. The land and ocean provided a rich and varied diet.
Our days fell into the relaxed cadence of island life, paddling and kayaking, hiking and botanizing, slack-lining and doing yoga. 14 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2018
225 years after Sebastian Rodriguez Cermeno traded some pieces of taffeta and cotton cloth for 18 fish and a seal, the last original inhabitants were forcibly removed to the mainland. Disease and violence decimated their way of life; by 1910 there were fewer than 100 Chumash left. Today over 4,000 people who identify as Chumash are revitalizing their culture, with presentations, storytelling, dances and basketry demonstrations. They’ve also brought back the tomol. In 1976, a group of Chumash built the first tomol in over a century and paddled from San Miguel to Santa Rosa and on to Santa Cruz Island. Twenty years later, the Chumash Maritime Association built the ‘Elye’wun — Chumash for swordfish — a 26-foot long tomol. In 2001 it made the historic journey from the mainland to Santa Cruz Island, where 150 Chumash waited to meet them. Three years later, the ‘Elye’wun completed the journey again. This time the paddlers were joined by a crew of young Chumash and welcomed by over 200 friends and family when they arrived at Swaxil, a historic Chumash village now known as Scorpion Valley. The 21-mile journey took ten hours. The same crossing takes only an hour on the Island Packers Ferry. Most passengers get off at Scorpion Bay on Santa Cruz Island, to kayak around the roaring colorful basalt sea caves, hike the canyons, enjoy the charming visitor center or stay in the 31-site campground, half a mile from the pier. The Nature Conservancy owns three quarters of the island and only allows access with permission or a guide. The island is home to Santa Cruz Island Pygmy Foxes, who resemble their mainland relative the gray fox, but are the size of a housecat. Thirty years ago there were fewer than 200 left in the world. The National Park Service and Nature Conservancy cooperated in aggressive restoration efforts and today over 2,000 tiny foxes roam the island. They lurk around the campground hoping for an easy meal from a careless camper.
My friend Joe and I were heading to Santa Rosa Island. An hour and a half after departing Scorpion Bay, the low rolling hills of the island came into view. In addition to all our camping gear and toys, our boat carried special cargo: two juvenile sea lions. Months ago they’d been found emaciated and injured on the mainland. The dedicated staff and volunteers of the Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institution nursed them back to health and planned to release them near a popular sea lion hangout. In a rocky cove just offshore a raft of four dozen sea lions pranced and dove like synchronized swimmers. The boat slowed and the juveniles’ cages were hung off the side and tipped towards the ocean. One of them slipped below the surface and then flung his body out of the water, literally leaping for joy before racing off to join his brethren. At Beecher’s Bay, a long wooden pier led towards a ranching complex, active from the turn of the century until 20 years ago. During their tenure, Vail and Vickers, the ranch owners, blasted roads through steep canyons, introduced elk and deer for sport hunting and leased land for oil exploration. The ranch house, bunkhouse, two barns, and schoolhouse now host interpretive displays, rangers and restrooms. A visitor’s first impression is of dusty corrals and rusted farm equipment.
Opposite page, top to bottom: Slack-lining and ukulele in a wind shelter at Water Canyon campground (Joanne Schwartz); Sunrise from the ridge above Scorpion Bay (Leonie Sherman). This page, clockwise from upper left: break and uke time on the hike from Prisoners Bay to Scorpion Bay, Santa Cruz Island (Leonie Sherman); Rocky bays and inviting waters, Santa Rosa Island (Leonie Sherman); Joe McCullough climbing sandstone cliffs (Leonie Sherman); Dinner time (Joe McCullough).
But beyond the ranching complex, the scars of the island’s ranching past fade as campers cross a wide windswept marine terrace. Skunk Point, a white sand fringed spit of land, frames the vivid turquoise waters of a broad bay. Silhouettes of Torrey Pines bristle on a distant rolling ridge. The clamor of modern civilization is replaced by the pulsing roar of the ocean and the rustle of wind through dry grass. Idle chatter drops away and
a visitor can’t help but stand in mute awe of this island paradise. A mile and a half past the pier, the campground is tucked into steep-walled Water Canyon. A trickle gurgles along the canyon floor, creating a winding ribbon of vivid green that grows to a murky creek before it meets the ocean. Sturdy wooden wind structures and a picnic table mark each of the 15 camp-sites. We quickly befriended our
neighbors; Steve had visited Santa Rosa over two dozen times and 70-year old Joanne used to lead kayaking trips around the island. Our days fell into the relaxed cadence of island life, paddling and kayaking, hiking and botanizing, slack-lining and doing yoga. Evenings were devoted to cooking Steve’s freshly caught fish and admiring the vivid splash of the Milky Way across the darkest sky. Five days passed in a dreamy trance, immersed in the timeless rhythm of tides and sun and wind. We returned to the mainland in love — with each other, with the islands, with the flavor of a wilder southern California.
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West Coast Board Riders Club Turning the tide from aggressive localism to hometown pride By Haven Livingston • Photos Ron Lyon
A growing movement of surf clubs on the left coast are trying to turn the tide from aggressive localism towards a hometown pride that gives back to the community. The West Coast Board Riders was established in 2017 by three surfers born and raised in Huntington Beach. They picked up the concept of local surf clubs, mixed it with Australian inter-club competition and added their own twist of multi-generational team events. The result is sweeping up the coast like a good southern swell.
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asey Wheat, Chris Moreno and Ziggy Williams got the idea for an all ages team contest while conducting a photo shoot for their clothing company, Sport of Kings Forever Young. They had rounded up surfers ranging from groms to old guys to model their garments.
“Growing up as a surfer one of the unique things for me was being friends with so many different generations,” said Wheat. The trio decided to use that idea to form a California-wide club surf series and get away from the selfish individualism of standard surf contests.
They admired the way Australian coastal towns each have their own surf club and engage in friendly, but fierce competitions. Why not mix the concepts of club competitions and multi-generational teams? It seemed like the perfect way to push the direction of surfing towards building a more inclusive community. The West Coast Board Riders is a collective of localized surf clubs that come together for a series of competitions that eventually culminate in a California-wide championship event. The ultimate prize is bragging rights. Their mission statement reads, “A community of brothers and sisters across generations, united through city surf clubs and friendly competition,
Main image: Rob Machado surfing in a club competition (Encinitas Board Riders). Above: Santa Cruz Board Riders celebrating after clinching the WCBR Northern Division.
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with a deep passion for surfing and a positive movement that pays it forward to the youth.” When clubs aren’t competing, they’re looking for ways to give back to their own community. Surfers have a notoriously bad rap for being hyper possessive about their home break. Localism in surfing is known to have divided neighborhoods, led to fist fights, flat tires and worse, and has generally been a dark shadow over surfing culture. It’s all a bit ironic given that many surfers claim to live by the aloha spirit. Surfers want to show pride for where they come from, but that doesn’t usually manifest as a warm invitation to come surf with them. These clubs, in part, are an attempt to change the way all surfers, but especially the youth, can act as respectable ambassadors of their sport. WCBR lays out guideline rules, but specifics are up to each club. In general, anyone can join a club, but competing members must meet the requirements of having lived locally for at least five years or two years for school kids under 18 (exceptions made for military families and special circumstances). This local requirement prevents clubs from recruiting top notch surfers to join them for short periods of time and ensures that each member of the club has invested time into their town. So far there are 12 clubs: Carlsbad, Dana Point, Encinitas, Huntington, Laguna, Newport, San Clemente, Santa Cruz, Seal Beach, San Luis Obispo, South Bay and Ventura. Williams said they have reached out to clubs on the east coast to help get them started so eventually there could be east to west coast championships. Plans are penciled in to do the same with Japan and Australia. Competitions are between clubs, not individuals. Each club can send a maximum of four members in each of the seven age categories (14 & under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50 & up, girls and women any age). Each age group gets a one-hour heat. The format is tag team style with one team member in the water at a time surfing a maximum of three waves each. Surfers have to strategize to make sure every team member has enough time to get a scoring wave before coming back to the beach to tag in the next teammate. In the end, the club with the most total points wins. “In most competitions surfers only stick around for their own heat and they rarely watch the whole event,” said Shane Skelton, president of the Santa Cruz Board Riders club. “This year Nat Young told me at a club competition that this was the first time he had ever stayed and watched the whole contest, and had a super fun time doing it.”
Left to right: Santa Cruz Board Riders cheering on their team; HB Board Riders coach Danny Nichols and the girls team.
The all for one and one for all format gives everyone a vested interest in how all members of their club perform. The groms get coaching and watch older generations to learn the ropes, the older generation is inspired by the youth, and everyone cheers on everybody else. Williams and Wheat both point to the Santa Cruz Board Riders as the leading example in club management. SCBR has formed a nonprofit organization with former manager of the Coldwater Classic surf contest, Shane Skelton, as the president. Unlike some clubs who handpick competitors for the best possible team, the Santa Cruz club reserves two open spots for top competitors returning from the previous competition and holds trial heats for those who want to compete for the remaining two spots in each division. The Santa Cruz club will be heading into the WCBR State Championships this fall ranked as number one for the northern division. The southern division championships will be held October 6th in San Clemente. The top two teams plus one wild card team from north and south will be competing in the State Championships on November 10th at South Side Huntington Beach pier. For members who aren’t interested in competing there are local events to join such as fundraising BBQ’s and events that offer free surf lessons to the public. While the majority of club members are still white males, they are beginning to reach out to the community in an effort to diversify. Other clubs have conducted beach clean ups and offered free classes for CPR, first aid and surf rescue – since surfers are usually the first on scene for near shore emergencies. Some clubs have partnered with organizations to put on events like Operation Surf – a surf program that supports wounded vets and active military past the trauma of war. Williams sees the opportunity of the clubs to act as a pool of volunteers for other organizations’ events as one of their great strengths. While they have a lot of work ahead of them, the door is open for anyone who wants to join in the effort to change the culture of surf clubs. All of the clubs are in their infancy, but the common goal is to develop more community programs to share what they love most, the sport of surfing. People are encouraged to come cheer surfers on at the WCBR competitions that are happening along the coast. westcoastboardriders.com
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An Interview with Alex Honnold, Star of the Movie Free Solo
Prepare to be blown away by the greatest climbing film ever made By Chris Van Leuven
ASJ caught up with the world’s greatest free soloist Alex Honnold, 33, while he was visiting with his girlfriend’s family in Seattle to talk about the upcoming film he stars in called Free Solo. The movie shows him preparing for and ultimately executing a ropeless ascent of El Capitan—the greatest achievement ever accomplished on rock.
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or 30 minutes we chatted about the upcoming film that will be released nationwide on September 28, but because he was so low-key it was easy to forget whom I was talking to. He’s the most celebrated climber of all time—and for good reason—but he’s so easy going it sounded like it could be anyone on the other end of the line. On June 2017 and after years of ticking off long, hard free solo climbs from Zion (Moonlight Buttress; 2008), to Yosemite (Half Dome’s NW Face; 2012), to El Portreo Chico, Mexico, (El Sendero Luminoso; 2014), Honnold ticked his magnum opus: Freerider on El Capitan, a 5.13a up a 3,000foot wall, a height of two and a half Empire State Buildings stacked one on top of the other. After years of preparation, the successful ascent took him fewer than four hours. “Alex Honnold’s free solo climb of El Capitan should be celebrated as one of the greatest athletic feats of any kind ever,” says The New York Times.
“Alex Honnold’s free solo climb of El Capitan should be celebrated as one of the greatest athletic feats of any kind ever.” — The New York Times 18 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2018
As we talked, Honnold picked blackberries off the vine while he was on his bicycle, commenting how good it was to be in the cool Pacific Northwest. He said he’d been spending his time promoting the upcoming release of Free Solo made by award-winning directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, and “consciously avoiding climbing goals by cragging and hitting the gym.” Before Free Solo, Vasarhelyi and Chin made the film Meru (available on Netflix) about former North Face Team captain Conrad Anker’s quest to complete the often-tried Shark’s Fin—one of climbing’s most coveted lines—on the 21,850-foot peak in the Garhwal Himalaya. While promoting Free Solo, Honnold has also focusing on growing his solar energy non-profit the Honnold Foundation. A few days after our call he used his birthday on August 17 to encourage his 800,000 Instagram followers to support clean, renewable energy sources throughout the world. To put his climbing achievements in context, earlier this year he and Tommy Caldwell set the Nose record on El Capitan, reaching the top in less than two hours, halving the once long-standing record; it was an ascent that made headlines worldwide. Also this year he climbed first ascents in Antarctica with his partner on The North Face Climbing Team Cedar Wright. Both climbs were captured in film. “They’re making a Reel Rock film on the Antarctica climb and I have the Nose speed film coming out a year later. Three
films,” Honnold says. Then came his classic downplaying: “I remember when doing [one] was a big deal.” He says that Free Solo came to fruition because Vasarhelyi and Chin were looking for a follow-up to the highly successful Meru. “I wanted to climb El Cap and we made a movie,” Honnold says, again underplaying the whole thing. “The whole process to doing it was two and a half years.” On a personal level, he says, “the more concrete process of training and preparing [for the climb] was one and a half.” As a climber of 25 years and former Yosemite resident, I’m familiar with the route Honnold climbed up El Capitan, having done it myself six times. I know that the lower third of the wall, Freeblast, is comprised of near-featureless slab climbing over terrain so slick that sticky shoes squeak down the glacier-polished rock. No one has ever dared climb this section of El Cap ropeless before Honnold did, and after Freeblast he still had 2,000 feet of terrain to go to finish the route. “The real challenge with Freeblast is no matter how hard you train, no amount of strength will make it feel better,” he says between blackberries. “I did work on it a lot. One day I did it on a Mini Traxion [a self belay on a fixed line] in my approach shoes [without falling]. That was pretty encouraging.” I also wanted to know how he did the hardest part, the 5.13a section, on pitch 28. “When I actually did it [solo] I felt great. [On a rope] I did it eight times in a row without
Opposite page: Honnold training in Yosemite with Yosemite Falls in the background (National Geographic/Jimmy Chin). This page, top to bottom: Honnold over 1,000 feet off the ground while climbing El Capitan with no ropes (National Geographic/ Jimmy Chin); Honnold nearing the top of El Cap (National Geographic/Jimmy Chin); Portrait of Honnold (The North Face).
WHY I CLIMB BIG WALLS: I guess it's basically just because they're so inspiring to me. I like really tall routes, I like continuous climbing. And mostly I just like the sheer awe inspiring size. I like the way El Cap is so intimidating, even after you've climbed it a ton of times. It never looks any smaller. Big walls are just impressive to me.
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From Van Leuven’s interview when he was co-authoring SuperTopo: Yosemite Big Walls (3) with Chris McNamara in 2011.
falling. But psychologically I still had to do it [without a rope]. Overall [that section was] the best experience of soloing El Cap—it felt great.” One thing Honnold stressed about the making of the film was how much he was shielded from getting too involved in the day to day. “They did a good job insulating me from nuts and bolts,” he says, “that was done by design.” The crew kept him from knowing
anything that could add pressure such as the day rate for the crew who had to get in place whether or not he was ready to climb. “It was a real consideration and they kept me out of everything so that I could go through my normal process and it would work out.”
JUNE 2, 2018
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To find a theater showing Free Solo near you, visit nationalgeographic.com/films/ free-solo. w w w. a d v e n t u r e s p o r t s j o u r n a l . c o m
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A Dirt Lap Around Lake Tahoe Two days, 140 miles and 20,000 feet of climbing riding The Lake Trail with Chris McNamara By Kurt Gensheimer
W
e humans are an interesting lot. If there’s a giant mountain looming before us, we must climb it. If there’s a turbulent river raging, we must raft it. If there’s a giant wave rising, we must surf it. If there’s an expansive desert with sweltering heat, we must cross it. And in the case of legendary rock climber and BASE jumper Chris McNamara, if there is a massive lake in your backyard, you must ride your mountain bike around it. Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in North America, boasting emerald blue waters and white sand beaches attracting outdoor enthusiasts from around the globe. Traditionally known for the world-class skiing in winter and boating in summer, thanks to the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) and the Tahoe National Forest – Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Lake Tahoe is now known for some of the best mountain biking in North America. Despite this growing reputation for mountain biking, there still isn’t an official mountain bike-legal route around Lake Tahoe. For the last two years, Chris has spent countless hours researching, hiking, riding and mapping a way to circumnavigate Lake Tahoe on as much legal singletrack as possible. Although the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) already does the job, there are sections of TRT on the west shore of Tahoe that are either in Wilderness or share an alignment with the Pacific Crest Trail, blocking access to mountain
“Chris is one of the most determined people I’ve ever met,” said Ben Fish, TAMBA President. “Match that with his cool and collected demeanor without an ounce of ego, and things get done. A lot of people have an idea about doing something, but Chris is following through and pouring his heart into The Lake Trail. He’s made the right contacts and approached it in a collaborative manner.” 20 22 ASJ — Oct/Nov Dec/Jan 2018 2014
bikes. But this limitation will not stop Chris from creating what he calls #thelaketrail. Chris rose to notoriety in the 1990s as a 15-year-old who summited the West Face El Capitan in Yosemite, one of the youngest climbers ever to achieve such a feat. After that experience he became a big wall addict, discovering new lines and finding new routes to climb. His enthusiasm for discovering new adventures led him to BASE jumping. Combined with his climbing experience, Chris had many first jumps that nobody before had ever done because they required expert climbing skill. In 2007, Chris eventually achieved the first ever wing suit BASE jump into the Grand Canyon. That jump changed his life forever, not so much because of the achievement, but because he almost died doing that jump, twice, narrowly missing a cliff band, then almost drowning when he landed in the Colorado River in his wing suit. Then in 2009, Chris got word that his good friend and BASE jumping partner, Shane McConkey, tragically died during a wing suit jump. “Shane was the most detail oriented and meticulous guy I knew when it came to preparation,” said Chris. “When Shane died, I realized that nobody had safety in BASE jumping figured out.” Chris quit jumping completely and started riding his dirt bike a lot more after he moved from his hometown of Marin County to South Lake Tahoe full time in 2014, but having to drive a half-hour every time he wanted to ride got old quickly. That’s when Chris discovered mountain biking and TAMBA. Even though he was completely new to the sport, he immediately got involved with TAMBA, helping fund trail projects and volunteer trail building. “Chris is one of the most determined people I’ve ever met,” said Ben Fish, TAMBA President. “Match that with his cool and collected demeanor without an ounce of ego, and things get done. A lot of people have an idea about doing something, but Chris is following through and pouring his heart into The Lake Trail. He’s made the right contacts and approached it in a collaborative manner.” Over the last two years, Chris’ obsession has been with
This page, top to bottom: Chris McNamara at Mount Rose Meadows during the start of the 2017 Rose to Toads (Jenna Ammerman); The route that Gensheimer and McNamara took around Lake Tahoe.
figuring out The Lake Trail. Chris asked if I’d like to join him on a two-day mountain bike circumnavigation of Lake Tahoe, finishing with the TAMBA Rose to Toad’s fundraiser ride, a 63-mile mountain bike adventure on the TRT from Mount Rose Meadows to Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. A complete glutton for punishment, I immediately took Chris up on the offer. 140 miles and 20,000 feet of climbing over two days sounded quite aggressive, but I was overdue for a couple long days in the saddle. This seemed like the perfect opportunity.
SATURDAY — TOAD’S TO ROSE
We started at 7AM Saturday of Labor Day weekend in the parking lot at the end of Mr. Toad’s, pedaling neighborhood trail through Meyers to Tahoe Mountain. The frozen dew on the meadow and frozen fingers gripped over my handlebars was a reminder of fall’s approach, but as soon as we reached the top of Tahoe Mountain trail, the sun was already out and the brief morning chill was a memory. The climb and descent off Tahoe Mountain was a perfect way to start the ride; not too steep on the up and a ton of good flow on the way down towards Fallen Leaf Lake. After some “adventure route finding” to Highway 89, we had to crank out the most unfortunate part of the entire 140 mile ride – 12 miles of pavement around Emerald Bay to Meeks Bay. Aside from having a little chocolate donut thrown at us out of a pickup by some disgruntled donut eater (I was tempted to grab it off the ground and eat it), traffic was agreeable, but let’s be honest – pavement sucks on a mountain bike. This zone from Spring Creek Road to Meeks Bay has been the primary obstacle in preventing the completion of an all-dirt route around Lake Tahoe. With California State Park land on the Emerald Bay side of Highway 89 and a combination of Desolation Wilderness and private land on the west side, there is only a very narrow sliver of nonWilderness Forest Service land to work with.
This page top, left to right: Gensheimer and McNamara embarking on the second day of The Lake Trail adventure (Ben Fish); Early morning chill in the outskirts of Meyer (Kurt Gensheimer). Bottom, left to right: McNamara climbing Homewood, best chairlift lake views in Tahoe (Kurt Gensheimer); The 2009 Angora Fire torched much of Tahoe Mountain, but it’s coming back strong (Kurt Gensheimer).
Chris has held numerous meetings with land managers of both agencies, trying to negotiate a bike-legal way to get through Emerald Bay area without riding the highway. Although nothing is formal yet, he’s gotten full support from Tahoe National Forest and is working towards a solution that will be the final dirt piece to this 140-mile puzzle. And given Chris’ successful history in sport, building businesses and supporting community, everyone in Tahoe is optimistic.
After the 12-mile buzz on asphalt, we hit a network of trails through Sugar Pine Point State Park, and onto one of my favorite trails of the day, Pine Martin. Featuring a mix of classic Tahoe decomposed granite sand and dark, rich alpine loam that rarely gets ridden, Pine Martin had great technical flow both up and down. After traversing across Homewood ski resort on double track offering the best chairlift lake views in Tahoe, we descended a raw old logging road to a primitive
neighborhood single track into Tahoe Pines. From there we climbed a diabolically steep social trail out of town up to Stanford Rock, dropping the bottom part of Stanford Rock trail into Ward Canyon. The morning was finished off by riding TRT from Paige Meadows into Tahoe City, a classic downhill rip that had to be taken a bit slower due to a lot of holiday weekend traffic. After inhaling massive cheeseburgers at the Bridgetender in Tahoe City, Chris and I weaved through the mobs of cars in town. But within five minutes of hitting dirt on Jackpine trail, we saw only a handful of people the rest of the day. This is the beauty of Lake Tahoe; even on one of the busiest weekends of the summer, no matter how jammed it is with tourists by the lake, within only a couple miles you can have total peace in the woods.
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Left to right: McNamara descending Tahoe Mountain (Kurt Gensheimer); Post ride recovery with bacon ‘n beer (Ben Fish).
After riding the rather busy TRT over Brockway Summit, we hit some of the best descending of the day towards King’s Beach on a network of seldom used trails I’d never before seen. In fact, there were a lot of trails on the first day I’d never seen that Chris has spent two years sniffing out. By the time we hit Incline Village, I realized that each community around Lake Tahoe has their own little tribe of trail builders. There are as many social trails off the map as there are official trails on the map, and Chris has been spending the time figuring out how to link them all together. Considering we were more than 12 hours deep into the ride and running out of daylight, the first day culminated with a brutal grind up Old Mount Rose Highway to our camp spot near Mount Rose Meadows. We had 78 miles and 11,000 feet of climbing on the day, and as hard as the TAMBA Rose to Toad’s ride is, we were pretty sure the second day was going to be easier than the first.
SATURDAY — ROSE TO TOAD’S
The mountain bike community in Tahoe is small and tight-knit. As soon as Chris and I showed up in the parking lot at Mount Rose Meadows on Sunday morning, people were wishing us luck. I guess the word of our two-day trip around the lake got out, and the encouragement helped us soldier on. Celebrating its seventh year, Rose to Toad’s has grown from a handful of friends to 200 participants, raising more than $10,000 this year for TAMBA to spend on trail building efforts. Dreamed up by Ben and Amy Fish, the driving force behind TAMBA, Rose to Toad’s is a ride that takes considerable fitness and skill to complete. Rose to Toad’s is an achievement to be proud of, as there’s usually only a 50 percent finish rate. Not only must you weather 63 miles and 9,000 feet of climbing on the TRT, but the raging five-mile finish on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is one hell of a violent way to end a big day. If you’ve ridden Toad’s, you know what I mean by violent (especially on a hardtail!), but it’s the most fun kind of violent you can have, as Toad’s is a legitimate and raw downhill trail that seems to go on forever and ever. Although Chris told me to just ride ahead at my own pace, we ended up staying together much of the day. It was a classic Aesop fable, with Chris as the tortoise and me as the hare. I’d zoom ahead on the climbs, stopping at the top to take in the views or refill my slow-leaking tire, while Chris would keep moving, only stopping briefly at the two aid stations to refuel. 22 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2018
Considering he’s only been riding mountain bikes for three years, I was blown away by his endurance. Not many people with only a few years experience can pull off a ride of this magnitude, but Chris seemed to be chipping away at it like he did in his climbing days. Chris and I leapfrogged each other all day, taking in the absolutely stunning views of not only Lake Tahoe from the Flume Trail and “The Bench” above Spooner Lake, but also the remarkable vistas out east over the Carson Valley from Monument Pass. After cresting Freel Pass from Star Lake, the final climb of the day up to Toad’s definitely hurt the most, especially when I failed to keep pace with some young shirtless kid who passed me like I was going backwards. By the time we hit the top of Toad’s, I was out of food, almost out of water and every inch of my body was aching. It’s already hard enough to descend Toad’s on a capable trail bike with full faculties, but when you’re 140 miles deep on a hardtail, it’s a whole different universe. Having only ridden the trail once a long time ago, I asked Chris, “this trail is all rideable with pretty obvious lines, right?” Chris glanced over before he rolled off and said, “Yep, and I’m gonna walk the shit out of those lines. Just watch.” I followed Chris until he unclipped after the first nasty section and said, “that’s enough for me.” Against my better judgement, I continued on, committing to at least an attempt at cleaning the massive boulder step-downs and drops. After almost stuffing the front end on one drop and going over the bars, I managed to clean the entire section and let out a whoooo! in relief that echoed through the forest. We both made it to the bottom of Toad’s with bikes and bodies intact, pedaling to the post-ride party in the same parking lot we started at the day before, mowing down bacon and beer as our reward. No mechanicals suffered, no injuries. It was an incredible two days of riding. But two days was far too aggressive for a ride like this. I would recommend at least three, maybe five. The beauty of The Lake Trail is that it’s close enough to civilization that you don’t need to carry a bunch of bikepacking gear. The best way to knock this ride out is to stay at hotels or vacation rentals along the way, maximizing the enjoyment of this absolutely world-class multi-day mountain bike adventure in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Just like all of his first achievements in climbing and BASE jumping, Chris McNamara will be the first to map an official mountain bike-legal route around Lake Tahoe, and I was damn glad to be along for the ride.
Event Profiles
Featured upcoming events
Photo: Mike Oitzman
BIKETOBERFEST MARIN October 13, Fairfax
This family-friendly festival draws over 5,000 bicycle and brew enthusiasts from Northern California and beyond, and is a great way to have fun while helping a good cause. The event includes group road and mountain bike rides, mountain bike and e-bike demos, a brewfest with 35 beers from 20 west coast brewers, a bike expo with more than 70 exhibitors, a handmade bike show, live music, and family activities. Proceeds benefit local cycling advocacy organizations Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) and Access4Bikes (A4B) in their work to continue improving on and offroad bicycling conditions and access in Marin county. Beer tasting tickets include unlimited tastings and a keepsake souvenir glass. FREE Valet Bike Parking provided by MCBC. biketoberfestmarin.com
Save $10 by ordering your beer tasting ticket on-line by October 12.
NEVADA COUNTY WOMEN’S MOUNTAIN BIKE SKILLS CLINIC AND CAMP October 13-14, Nevada City
This two day mountain bike skills clinic for women teaches the basics through advanced techniques, with all levels welcome. Learning and building bike handling skills with other women increases confidence and gives a better sense of enjoyment and trail love, and of course makes you a better and safer rider. Learn (or re-learn!) proper body position as well as correct cornering and braking techniques. More advanced skills include front and rear wheel lifts, bunny hops, drops, high speed cornering. Put new skills to the test on a no-drop ride on local trails. YBONC founder Jet Lowe, MTB Experience’s Paige Ramsey and Jeni Bolthauser, and pro enduro racer Amy Morrison are among the clinic’s instructors. Camping is available, and gourmet meals will be provided. The event is limited to just fifty participants. ybonc.org/events/mountain-bike-clinic
DISCOVERY CLASSIC
October 20, Hollister The Discovery Classic — AKA “California’s Gem” — is a cycling event that offers a 50-mile gravel grinder as well as a 20-mile family fun ride (kids and under ride free!). Ride the beautiful, scenic roads in Hollister along miles of countryside farmland. This fully supported ride includes a swag bag, music, vendors, and post ride meal featuring local produce at the Veterans’ Memorial Building. This is the event’s inaugural year. Come show your support — you’ll be glad you did! A portion of the proceeds benefits Veterans of Foreign War. Sponsored by Off the Chain Bikes. discoveryclassic.org.
GRASSHOPPER ADVENTURE SERIES
Located in West Sonoma County in Northern California, each “Hopper” is unique in its route and terrain and challenges the rider and equipment like no other race series in the world. Stay in the loop about the 2019 series as well as other Hopper Adventures cycling events at grasshopperadventureseries.com.
Photo: Called to Creation
www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com
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QUARRY CRUSHER RUN
November 3, Chula Vista – San Diego County
SNOWBOMB SKI & SNOWBOARD FESTIVAL
Are you bold enough to take on one of the most challenging running events in the nation? Gear up and run or walk a route that winds down a 10% to 16% grade through hard rock cliffs to the floor of an operational quarry … then hump it back up to the finish line. If you are up for the challenge, prepare yourself for magnificent landscapes — rarely open to the public — where you will experience breathtaking views of San Diego County. Hosted by Vulcan Materials Company, the national series Quarry Crusher Run at the Chula Vista Quarry will benefit the Chula Vista Firefighter’s Foundation. The event offers two races: the 5k Crusher ($40 registration fee), and the 10k Double Crusher ($50 registration fee). All race participants will receive a t-shirt and custom finisher’s medal. Prizes will be awarded for overall winners and age group placers. See ad on page 23. Use discount code ADVENTURE for 20% off registration. quarrycrusherrun.com/san-diego
SnowBomb brings its annual Ski & Snowboard Festival to three northern California locations. These events are a great way to get inspired for the upcoming season, receive up to four complimentary lift ticket vouchers and enjoy discounts on gear (up to 75% off). There is a new venue for the Santa Clara event, the Fair Grounds. The new location will bring back beer tasting to the Santa Clara event. The San Francisco show will come back to Pier 35 and in Sacramento attendees will not be confined to the beer gardens for tasting this year — folks will be able to travel the venue with their beers. Ski Pro will host a massive retail sale on the Friday night before each event and throughout the festivals. Beer tasting is available from 1pm-5pm. Plus, enjoy the Bear Valley Climbing Wall, BMX pros, music, food and more. snowbomb.com
Use discount code ADVENTURE for 20% OFF Quarry Crusher Run San Diego registration.
Use discount code EVERFEST for 50% OFF Powder and VIP passes at all three festivals until October 15.
November 3-4, San Francisco - Pier 35 November 10-11, Santa Clara - SC Fairgrounds November 17-18, Sacramento - Cal Expo Center
MOUNTAINFILM ON TOUR November 11, Santa Cruz
Mountainfilm on Tour brings a selection of culturally rich, adventure-packed and incredibly inspiring documentary films curated from the Mountainfilm festival held every Memorial Day weekend in Telluride, Colorado. The tour visits Santa Cruz at the Rio Theatre on November 11 with films that will explore the themes connected to Mountainfilm’s mission: using the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world. riotheatre.com
Promote YOUR Event!
Do you have an event you’d like to see featured in this section? Learn about our event promotion packages by emailing us at info@adventuresportsjournal.com.
PLUS — list your event for FREE on our on-line calendar at adventuresportsjournal.com/add-event.
SAN FRANCISCO SANTA CLARA SACRAMENTO
FESTIVALS SKI & SNOWBOARD
SAN FRANCISCO PIER 35
NOV 3 + 4
SANTA CLARA
FREE LIFT TICKETS AVAILABLE!
COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS NOV 10 + 11
TO SIERRA-AT-TAHOE, BEAR VALLEY, CHINA PEAK & SQUAW VALLEY-ALPINE MEADOWS USE PROMO CODE “EVERFEST” FOR 50% OFF FESTIVAL TICKETS
SFSKIFEST.COM 24 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2018
SACRAMENTO
CAL EXPO CENTER NOV 17 + 18
SKI & BOARD FESTIVALS
EVENTS CALENDAR Visit us online for more upcoming events AdventureSportsJournal.com/Events
BIKING OCTOBER 6 — Ashland Mountain Challenge / Lithia Park in Ashland / Finale of the California Enduro Series / CaliforniaEnduroSeries.com 13 — Usal Hopper / Mendocino / Lost Coast gravel cycling adventure / Three routes to choose from / GrassHopperAdventureSeries.com 13 — Biketoberfest Marin / Fairfax / See profile on page 23 / BiketoberFestMarin.com. 13 — Girls Rock MTB Ride with Bell Joy Ride / Annadel State Park in Santa Rosa / Coffee and light bites / Raffle / Group rides based on skill levels / Post ride food & drinks / Sign up in advance / GirlsRock-MTB.com 13-14 — Nevada County Women’s Mountain Bike Skills Clinic and Camp / Nevada City / 2-day skills clinic teaches basics thru advanced techniques; all levels welcome. / ybonc.org/events/mountain-bike-clinic 14 — 1-day Wheel Lifts and Cornering / Santa Cruz / Plus progressions of Core Fundamentals/ ASingleTrackMind.com 20 — Solvang Autumn Double Century / Solvang / 193 miles with about 11,800′ of climbing, century option / PlanetUltra.com 20 — The Hammer Road Rally / Friant / 3 routes, food and music festival / HammerRoadRally.com 20 — Discovery Classic / Hollister / 50-mile gravel grinder and 20-mile family fun ride. Benefits Veterans of Foreign War / discoveryclassic.org
NOVEMBER 2 — 1-Day Flow Trails and Technical Terrain / Tamarancho in Marin / ASingleTrackMind.com
who want to hone their skills / Led by racer Sarah Jordan / FREE! / Sign up in advance / GirlsRock-MTB.com
DECEMBER 6 — Tinsel-n-Tread / Stockwell Cellars / Santa Cruz / An event for Girls Rock / Food, drinks and fun / Live DJ / Sponsor booths / Xmas shopping / Silent Auction / Space is limited so please RSVP / GirlsRock-MTB.com
MISCELLANEOUS OCTOBER 11 — Slideshow & Discussion with Doug Robinson /Stanford University / An evening with adventure athlete Doug Robinson discussing his latest book The Alchemy of Action / FREE / MovingOverStone.com
NOVEMBER 8 & 12 — Slideshow & Discussion with Doug Robinson / Los Angeles & San Diego / See Oct 11 description / FREE / MovingOverStone.com 11 — Mountain Film on Tour /Santa Cruz / See description on opposite page / RioTheatre.com
RUNNING / WALKING OCTOBER 6 — Folsom Glow / Folsom / A familyfriendly, non-competitive walk event for all ages. This special event is not a race -- it’s all about the fun experience and lasting memories you create with friends and family. Register today; this popular event sells out! / Folsom.ca.us/ parks/events/events/glow.asp 6-7 — Bizz Johnson 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon, 50K / Susanville / Run through scenic Lassen National Forest / CoastalTrailRuns.com
3-4 — 2-Day Core Fundamentals / Marin / 1 or 2 day option / wheel lift & cornering day 2 / ASingleTrackMind.com
21 — Surfer›s Path Hang 10/5 / Santa Cruz & Capitola / This event features a 10 mile and 5 mile course with scenic, beach front a coastal views. Come to Santa Cruz and Hang 10 or Hang 5! Surfs UP! / runsurferspath.com
11 — Tackling Technical Terrain / Marin / 1 or 2 day option / wheel lift & cornering day 2 / ASingleTrackMind.com
21 — Folsom Blues Breakout Half Marathon / Folsom / Plus 5K and kids’ 1K / FolsomBluesHalf.org
9-11 — DG Ghilotti Cup / Santa Rosa Cup / Santa Rosa / 3-Day Cyclocross Tournament / BikeMonkey.net 17 — Girls Rock MTB Ride with Juliana / Santa Cruz / See Oct. 13 / Sign up in advance / GirlsRock-MTB.com 21 — Girls Rock Race Curious / Santa Cruz / Discover Cyclocross / For ladies new to cyclocross or newbies
NOVEMBER 3 — Trail of Glory Trail Run / Cottonwood Valley, Las Vegas, NV / Explore Red Rock in Las Vegas like you never have before, on single track trails below the beautiful sandstone bluffs.; Marathon, 30K, Half Marathon, 8K / DesertDash.com
Photo: Cam McLeod
WARREN MILLER’S FACES OF WINTER See ad on page 8 for a location near you
Loving the pure joys of winter is something we have in common with the late, great Warren Miller, who helped create and capture the magic of skiing. This fall, Face of Winter — the 69th installment from Warren Miller Entertainment presented by Volkswagen — will bring new and veteran athletes together to pay tribute to the man who started it all. Visit some of Warren’s favorite locations, from Engleberg to Chamonix, British Columbia to Alaska, Chile, Iceland, New Zealand, Washington and more. Watch as world-class athletes like Jessie Diggins, Anna Segal, Dash Longe, Forrest Jillson, Amie Engerbretson, Seth Wescott, Jim Ryan and others carve down the faces of remote mountain ranges and pursue the thrills of a life lived in high places. Follow along and celebrate a life lived in high places at warrenmiller.com. 3 — Quarry Crusher Run / San Diego County / A one-of-a-kind race taking runners through an active quarry for an unforgettable experience. 5k & 10k runs offered / Use code ADVENTURE for 20% discount / quarrycrusherrun.com/ san-diego
8 — Hark the Herald Half Marathon & 10K / Angel Island, San Francisco / Hilly loop / EnviroSports.com 9 — Jingle Bell Rock 5K / Santa Cruz / Plus kids’ 1K / Bring a toy for Toys for Tots / FinishLineProduction.com
SNOW
3 — Rio del Lago 100 / Folsom Lake State Recreation Area / 100-mile endurance run starting at Beal’s Point in the beautiful Sierra Foothills east of Sacramento / rio100mile.com
November SEE WARREN MILLER ABOVE
11 — T9 Mermaid Run San Francisco / Golden Gate Bridge & Crissy Field / 5K, 10K, & Sirena10mi / MermaidSeries.com 10 — Pacific Grove Lighthouse Run / Pacific Grove / Begins and ends at Lovers Point Park / Fast and scenic 5K run / open to 2,000 runners / bsim.org 11 — Monterey Bay Half Marathon / Monterey / Begins and ends in historic downtown Monterey / runs along Cannery Row and next to the Pacific Grove shoreline / bsim.org
Snowbomb Ski & Snowboard Festival / San Francisco, Santa Clara and Sacramento / See opposite page for description / Use code EVERFEST for 50% off / SFSkiFest.com
TRIATHLON/ DUATHLON OCTOBER 6 — T9 Mermaid Triathlon & Duathlon / Capitola / International Tri, Sprint Tri, Sprint Du / MermaidSeries.com
23 — Black Mountain Friday Trail Run / Sloan Canyon, Henderson, NV / Opt outside with us and spend Black Friday with us in Las Vegas running the toughest 10K you’ll ever run / DesertDash.com
LOOKING AHEAD February 24 — Surfer’s Path 10K & 5K / Capitola / Run or walk this scenic coastal course passing world famous breaks. Surfboard medals, event shirts and Capitola beach front finish / runsurferspath.com
DECEMBER 1 — Death Valley Trail Marathon and Half Marathon / Beatty, NV / EnviroSports.com 2 — California International Marathon / Folsom / #1 Boston Qualifier, Spectacular State Capitol Finish / RunCIM.org
March 30 — Blood, Sweat & Beers / Bootleg Canyon / You supply the blood and sweat, and we’ll bring the beers to legendary Bootleg Canyon just outside of Las Vegas. / DesertDash.com
www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com
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OSPREY AURA AG 50 WOMEN’S PACK
We love so much about this backpack, it’s hard to know where to start. Among a multitude of stand-out features, Osprey’s innovative AntiGravity™ suspension caught our attention right from the start ... and all the way through to the very end. You seriously feel like you’re carrying less weight than you are, and that feeling lasts as you put down miles on varied terrain. The pack fits beautifully, is well ventilated, and includes a slew of convenient features to make your outdoor adventures as enjoyable as possible. From easy to use stretch mesh side pockets to an adjustable stretch mesh front panel pocket for additional external storage, you stay well organized while on the go. The Aura AG 50 is especially versatile with a removable floating lid that can be replaced with a fixed FlapJacket™. It also features the Stow-on-the-Go™ trekking pole attachment which allows you to stow your poles whenever you need your hands free, and an internal hydration reservoir sleeve that accommodates up to a 3L reservoir. Zippered hipbelt pockets keep snacks and smaller items close at hand. Choose from Vestal Gray (pictured), Gamma Red, and Challenger Blue. Add an optional rain cover for those wet-weather adventures and keep your gear nice and dry. MSRP: $240.00 • osprey.com
Gear We Love Goodies for your active lifestyle
METOLIUS ACCESS FUND COMP CHALK BAG
Help protect American climbing areas by purchasing this special edition chalk bag. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Access Fund. This classic Competition shape chalk bag features three popular climbing destinations: Smith, Tetons and Yosemite (pictured). The bag holds a good amount of chalk and is functional and easy to use. It includes a belt with side-release buckle; if you prefer, you can take the belt off and attach the bag to your gear haul loop with a carabiner. A brush holder is also included. It weighs just 1.7 ounces, and features a full-length pile lining.
RUFFWEAR APPROACH PACK
This is the perfect pack to ensure Fido feels part of the adventure by carrying his own supplies. Perfect for day hikes as well as short excursions into the backcountry, the Approach Pack is comfortable and roomy. With its streamlined design and light yet durable materials, your canine pal will hardly know it’s there as she navigates even the toughest terrain. Ruffwear’s keen attention to functionality and comfort shows in the pack’s integrated harness and radial saddle bags. The integrated harness features five points of adjustment for a perfect fit, full range of motion, and optimum stability. The pack’s radial cut saddlebags allow for a passive compression system that is form fitting and comfortably load carrying. The Approach Pack includes two points of leash connection: a single-piece, anodized aluminum V-ring and a webbing loop. Bright colors (Orange Poppy or Meadow Green) and reflective trim keep your trail companion easily visible. MSRP: $79.95 • ruffwear.com
MSRP: $19.95 • metoliusclimbing.com
PARIA TRI-FOLD CARBON CORK TREKKING POLES
If you’re looking for a set of lightweight carbon trekking poles at an affordable price, look no further. Paria’s Tri-Fold Carbon Cork trekking poles combine several outstanding benefits into a single highperformance product. Each pole weighs less than 9 ounces and folds down to only 15 inches, making them the perfect solution for backpackers and hikers. Assembly and adjustments are a piece of cake, taking just a few seconds. The ergonomic syncork handle provides all the benefits of natural cork — absorbing sweat, and conforming to your hand over time — while being more durable and better for the environment The super-strong carbon fiber shaft material and 7075 aluminum alloy connectors create an incredibly strong and durable pole that will support you on countless adventures over all sorts of terrain. Each pole includes an individual storage bag, a hiking basket for mud and snow, and a rubber foot for use on paved surfaces. The tungsten carbide tips and baskets provide great grip and durability. All this at a price you just can’t beat, and from a company dedicated to quality products and excellent customer service. MSRP: $59.99 • pariaoutdoorproducts.com 26 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2018
GSI OUTDOORS HALULITE MICRODUALIST
Backpacking couples rejoice. The GSI Outdoors Halulite Microdualist is the ideal cooking and eating set for two. Weighing just 18 ounces and packing down to 5.60 x 5.50 x 5.90 inches, this set is an excellent choice for ultralight backpacking. It includes a 1.4 litre cooking pot with strainer lid, two 14 fluid ounce insulated mugs with Sip-It tops, two 14 fluid ounce bowls, two telescoping “foons,” a stove bag, and welded sink-stuff sack. The integrated nesting allows for ultralight stowing of micro stoves and fuel canisters. This set has everything you and your adventure partner need, without the weight penalty. And the price is ultralight, too. MSRP: $54.95 • gsioutdoors.com
LOWA LOCARNO GTX LO WS
Ladies, you will adore this remarkably versatile, lightweight, and attractive shoe that you can wear running errands as well as on a day hike. Although light and sleek, the Locarno remains true to its core outdoor roots, featuring essential design details to keep you moving comfortably on the trail. The Locarno’s new Inverted MONOWRAP® frame construction with a hybrid DuraPU™/DynaPU® midsole offers superb support, rebound and shock absorption, and the lower profile outsole offers a nimble, close-to-ground feel. Durably waterproof/breathable, this shoe comes in Reed/Off White (pictured), Espresso, and Graphite/Jade. Gentlemen, don’t dispair — the Locarno Lo GTX also comes in a men’s version. MSRP: $190.00 • lowaboots.com
KLEAN KANTEEN 5 PIECE STRAW SET - MULTI COLOR
Did you know that Americans use 500 million disposable straws every day? A surprising number of those seemingly harmless little straws end up in the ocean, where they are mistaken for food by a variety of marine species. And think of all the plastic going into our landfills. Klean Kanteen has come to the rescue with its 5 Piece Stainless Steel Straw Set. This reusable solution to disposable plastic straws is the ideal accessory for Klean Kanteen’s 16oz or 20oz insulated tumblers and steel pint cups. Whether you’re drinking smoothies, pressed juice, or iced coffee, Klean Kanteen straws make sipping safe and easy. The set includes four 2-piece stainless steel & food grade silicone straws and a straw brush. The straws are made from high quality 18/8 stainless steel with a safe, food grade, removable silicone flex tip. The Straw Brush is also made of 18/8 stainless steel plus natural palm fiber bristles for easy cleaning. Dishwasher safe. BPA free. Multi Color Set includes Orange, Green, Blue & Purple. Just say no to plastic, and enjoy your favorite drinks on the go knowing you are doing a little something for our environment. Every little bit helps. MSRP: $9.95 • kleankanteen.com