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Departments

7 Editor’s Note The Raging Buddhist // 8 Inbox opinions & poetry // 9 Ear to the Ground

& notes from the outdoor industry // 10 Earn Your Beer A fat bike snow ride // 11 Beginner’s Guide Backcountry skiing // 14 EPiC Replanting Joshua trees // 27 Keeper Calendar 2023 events

PUBLISHING + EDITORIAL

PUBLISHER

Cathy Claesson cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com

EDITOR

Michele Lamelin michele@adventuresportsjournal.com

COPY EDITOR

Jennifer Stein jen@adventuresportsjournal.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Anthony Cupaiuolo, Mike Kelzenberg, Anthea Raymond, Matt Johanson, Steve Adrian, James Murren, Leonie Sherman, Gina LeVay, Matt Rice Photography / Ironman, Theresa Nelson, Troy Corliss

LAYOUT

Cathy Claesson

COVER DESIGN

Lauren Worth

Asj Contributors

What’s your favorite and/or most exciting winter memory so far?

Leoniesherman

For a week I braved 35 degree mornings for chilly pre-dawn surf sessions. I remember a looming wave obscuring the rising sun as I caught it and metallic orange purple turquoise hues on the surface. Pure joy.

Mattjohanson

I managed to climb three Mexican volcanoes in January: la Malinche, Izta, and Pico de Orizaba. I even got to use my limited Spanish along the way. Muy feliz!

Anthearaymond

SoCal snowpack at over 150 percent of normal by mid-January!!! Bodes well for the boaters.

Ryanalthaus

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ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Cathy Claesson I 831.234.0351 cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com

EVENTS & DISTRIBUTION

Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com

EVENTS MARKETING

Michele Lamelin 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 2023. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the editors

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Lauraread

As an adventurer who struggles with anxiety & doesn’t like being cold — my favorite memory isn’t exciting or wintery. It was catching that first sunsetshaded, waist-high wave following two weeks of atmospheric rivers.

My first job in Tahoe City was at Lakeside Pizza, now Za’s. Snowfall was big. One night driving to work, terrified, I slid all the way down the parking lot almost into the lake.

Jamesmurren

Winter camping in the Borrego desert has become a favorite seasonal outing for me. Loading up the bike and pedaling into Sheep Canyon or into the folds of Fish Creek Wash leads me to deeper understandings of “never better.”

Robkyte

An epic adventure skiing into Death Canyon in Grand Teton. We skinned 5 miles in, bailed on account of bad weather, descended down a creek, and skinned 5 miles back out. The backcountry always delivers.

Mattniswonger

In January of 1991 I camped in Joshua Tree for two weeks to rock climb. I led my first 5.10, Illusion Dweller. It was an epic struggle and I barely survived. I was hooked on climbing after that.