Van Living I Laurel Mountain I Specialized Electric MTB I Event Profiles
Aug/Sept 2016 Issue #92
Doug Robinson
a history of buttermilk bouldering
the spinnaker cup high school mtb the wildlands conservancy
Carson City Singletrack BASE Girl
Clair Marie on bold living
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the road again 2014 2016 We’re hitting the road again s hottest events! atchances this summer’s hottest events! oth for by our booththe forroad chances We’re hitting We’re hitting the roadagain again r and Come getaways at this year’s best events! to win cool gear andhottest getaways at this summer’s events! sponsors! Come by booth your from sponsors! Come byour ourour booth for for chances 2014 in chance to win cool gear and to win cool gear and getaways nts! getaways from our sponsors. in from our sponsors! es nts! We’re hitting the road again ays es at this summer’s hottest events! ays Come by our booth for chances to win cool gear and getaways from our sponsors!
AUG & SEPT EVENTS Aug 4 - 7 — Downieville Classic, Downieville Aug 12 - 14 — Ta-Hoe Nalu, Kings Beach Aug 14 — Tri Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Sept 11 — Tahoe Fall Classic, Lake Tahoe Sept 15 - 18 — Kamikaze Bike Games, Mammoth Sept 17 - 18 — Battle of the Bay, San Francisco Visit adventuresportsjournal.com for the full (and ever evolving) list of events!
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Table of Contents
departments Photo: Devon Balet Photography
The Void
iNBox / sWitChBaCk Readers sound off
Ear to thE GrouNd
News & notes from the outdoor industry
EPiC
The Wildlands Conservancy
Photo:Jeff Deikis
features
Photo:Sean Steve York Photo: Jansen
22 26 28
Photo: Alex Edge
30
EvENt CalENdar
14 18 20
GEar WE lovE
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athlEtE ProfilE
Clair Marie, BASE Girl
EvENt ProfilEs
A peek at some of California’s best upcoming events
Events at a glance
Goodies for an active lifestyle
thE NEW amEriCaN drEam
Adventure enthusiasts take home to the road
our BiG BluE BaCkyard
Racing the Spinnaker Cup from San Francisco to Monterey
laurEl mouNtaiN
Lessons learned on a Sierra classic
ButtErmilk sWEEt aNd sour A taste of bouldering history
trail stEWard of CarsoN City
Jeff Potter leads mountain biking community to new trails
kids roll
High school mountain biking teams fill niche
thE turBo lEvo
A review of Specialized’s motorized off-road bicycle
Cover Photo: Will Stanhope ascends the airy, Southeast Arete of the Grandma Peabody boulder in the Bishop Buttermilks. Photo by Jeff Deikis.
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.
P HOTO: J eff Brock meyer
w it h Romi Kri stl & Jack Hessler
7 9 10 12 16 32 34 38
Editor’s NotE
N AT I V E Y E W E A R . C O M
NTV_Adventure Sports Journal_July.indd 1
FL AT IRO NS www. advent ur espor t sjour 7/18/16 nal. com 5 11:34 AM
asj contributors what’s the highlight of your summer so far?
PUBLISHING + EDITORIAL PUBLISHER Cathy Claesson cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com EDITORIAL/MARKETING Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com EDITORIAL/LAYOUT Michele Lamelin michele@adventuresportsjournal.com
leoniesherman
Hiking to the top of White Mountain on the solstice. We watched a spectacular sunset that spread from the Minarets to the Palisades, while a full moon rose over the Great Basin. Yowzas!
dougrobinson
The highlight of my summer so far was taking my daughter Kyra on her first multi-pitch climb at Lover’s Leap!
INTERNS Joe Spota and Natalie Smith CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Leonie Sherman, Kurt Gensheimer, Doug Robinson, Dave Robinson, Michele Lamelin, Paul Allen, Martha Blanchfield CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Called To Creation, Steve York, Tamara Minami, Bruce Wiley, Christian Michael, Devon Balet Photography, Jack Thompson, Dan York, David Clendenen, GB Imaging, Scott Rogers, Alex Edge, Marshall Miller, Mike Oitzman, Robert Lowe, Stephanie Ruff, Martha Blanchfield, Richard Langdon, Daniel Forster, Erik Simonson, Gordon Wiltsie, Chris Noble, Jeff Deikis, Brian Bielmann
Advertising Account Manager Wanted Join our dynamic team at Adventure Sports Journal Are you passionate and knowledgeable about the outdoor industry? Are you an authentic and committed outdoor athlete who loves people? We are looking for the right mix of experience and enthusiasm to help us increase our outreach to outdoor companies. Commission only.
Email resumes to matt@adventuresportsjournal.com 6 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2016
WEBMASTER Brooklyn Taylor brook@adventuresportsjournal.com
kurtgensheimer Exploring the old ghost trails of the Lost Sierra around Downieville. So many historic trails that have long been forgotten.
daverobinson
A mountain biking road trip through Oregon exploring mountain bike towns and trails over the July 4 holiday!
michelelamelin
I’ve been living on the road this summer, travelling all over the west with my dog Seabee. Adventures in the Tetons and Ashland shine the brightest so far!
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Cathy Claesson I 831.234.0351 cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com
clairmarie
EVENTS & DISTRIBUTION Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com
All content © Adventure Sports Journal 2016. 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 PROUD MEMBER
paulallen
Meeting so many amazing, like minded and supportive people who have the same zest for life that I have.
The growth of my relationships with the spirits of the ocean, the Sierra, family, my girlfriend, ancestors and my Native American brothers and sisters. This is stronger and closer to my heart than ever.
marthablanchfield
The highlight of my summer so far has been to expand my passion for adventure writing and photography by becoming the sailing editor for this fine magazine.
EDITOR’S NOTE
The Void A hard look at risk
“ I’ll never forget the look of fear in his eyes. It was the look of someone who knows he is about to die.” One of my precious children had just inexplicably lost his footing in a place where the cliff edge is particularly close to the trail. Looking back I saw Lukas sliding feet first on his belly towards the cliff edge while desperately clawing at the sandy slope to slow himself down before he sailed off the hundred-foot cliff. I knew I had to act fast because unfortunately this situation was all too familiar. Twenty years ago, while descending from a climb in a different part of Yosemite, my partner Dave Bedell slipped in a similar way. Like Lukas, when he first lost his footing he was sliding only very slowly and I thought he would stop himself rather quickly. Initially he was close enough to where I could have lunged and possibly grabbed him. Instead, wearing a heavy pack and unsure of my footing, I hesitated.
PHOTO Lukas finishing his knot at the base of Sunnyside Bench Regular Route (Cathy Claesson).
W
alking back to the car after leaving a restaurant I attempted to hold hands with my 12-year-old son Lukas. He held my hand for just a brief second and then yanked it away. Nothing personal, he’s just not that into holding hands with his dad in public. “It’s weird, dad,” he explained. I laughed. I find myself needing lots of affection from Lukas lately. About a month ago, while descending from a multi-pitch climb in Yosemite, Lukas almost fell off a cliff and died. I can’t get it out of my mind. So I just keep hugging him and reaching out for affection. Our chosen Yosemite adventure was the Sunnyside Bench Regular Route, a classic three-pitch 5.4 climb that is the easiest way to ascend into “Middle Earth,” a climbers-only hiking area perched between lower and upper Yosemite Falls about 150 feet above the valley floor. The climb went well and after we finished the route I coiled the rope and we organized our gear. Both of my sons – Nils (15) and Lukas – did a great job on the climb and we were all happy to head back down to the valley floor and spend the afternoon lounging by the river. As we hiked east along a series of narrow ledges I noticed that our descent trail traversed along the top of a big cliff and narrowed from about two feet to about six inches wide in places. Overall the trail was only moderately exposed by Yosemite standards, and I was happy to see that both boys appeared confident and secure. Leading the way I was just about to warn the boys to be careful when I heard a shriek that could only mean one thing.
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To my horror Dave was unable to arrest his slide and while picking up speed his heavy pack caused him to flip onto his back. As he slid off the cliff and into the void I looked at his face. I’ll never forget the look of fear in his eyes. It was the look of someone who knows he is about to die. Twenty years later my own son was in the same situation and this time I would not hesitate. Even if it meant we both would fall off the cliff together, I was going to save my son or die trying. In a move that my hyperaware brain had already determined would succeed, I jumped feet-first and bellyflopped in a cloud of dust right next to Lukas, already self arresting the instant I landed on my stomach. Now sliding next to Lukas towards the edge I grabbed his shirt with one hand and attempted to slow our descent with the other. At first we didn’t stop sliding but my fingers stabbed into the sandy slope with fierce determination until my fingernails were clawing the granite rock underneath. We came to a stop. Overloaded on adrenaline I yelled “Lukas get back on the trail!” as if he made a poor choice and needed to be reprimanded. Eyes wide he scrambled back to the trail and once safe he immediately burst into tears. After a few minutes to recover our emotions we started hiking again and made our way to the safety of the valley floor. As I process this experience I definitely blame myself. Anytime the terrain is questionable I should rope up and this goes double while hiking with kids. So I blew it. Period. Beyond this I am left with, “Should I quit climbing with my kids?” I haven’t made up my mind yet, but there is a problem with this reasoning. It’s impossible to eliminate risk from the lives of my children and climbing is an activity we love. What I’m left with is that we are utterly vulnerable to the people we love and especially our children. It’s a condition of being human. And it sucks. Outside of searching for
easy answers I arrive at a different conclusion: adventure sports like climbing, surfing and mountain biking are for high performers who are vigilant about safety. This goes double for parents who are blessed with kids who like outdoor sports and enjoy playing in the great outdoors. So moving forward I resolve to adopt the mindset of a high performing athlete who is hyper-focused on safety whenever I participate in outdoor sports and I encourage you to do the same. Welcome to issue #92. In our feature article legendary climbing author Doug Robinson examines the history of bouldering in the Buttermilk and wonders if the sport should move away from highball ascents and a culture of extreme risk. We certainly hope so. One broken ankle is one broken ankle too many, and there have been countless fractures and worse in the last ten years in the Buttermilk area. We are in a conversation about risk. How much is too much? Is bouldering still as inspiring if we eliminate most of the risk and the sharp focus that dancing over the deadly void creates? Is surfing just as inspiring without Titans of Mavericks? Is mountain biking still just as credible without the Red Bull Rampage? In a way these questions are missing the point. The answer is not to regulate the risk out of these activities and tell people how to live their lives. In my opinion the answer is to look where Doug Robinson is pointing: there is a ton of value to be had while just having a great workout while having fun in the great outdoors. What are we trying to prove anyway? That adventure sports are only relevant if they take place in the context of extreme risk? Are we really that insecure? As for me I am going to be a better leader and a strong voice for caution. After twenty-five years in the outdoors I have too many memories that make me shudder. Extreme is not worth it. Post Script: Dave Bedell, my climbing partner who slipped off the cliff twenty years ago did not die. He fell forty feet onto a ledge and by some miracle landed on his backpack. He remained conscious until emergency rescue personnel reached him about four hours later. He was transported via helicopter to Merced Hospital where he was treated for a broken back. He eventually made a full recovery. Doctors called it a miracle. Many, many other outdoor athletes are not so lucky. To learn more about the athletes who are not so lucky visit highfivesfoundation.org. Your thoughts about risk? Email me at matt@ adventuresportsjournal.com. Or comment after the article when we post this online. Thanks for reading.
— Matt Niswonger
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Letters to the Editor
In response to “The High Cost of Selling Out” in ASJ #90
NEVER GIVE UP i Matt. Thank you for not giving up on your dream that day you ran out of water on the Zodiac trail at Yosemite and thank you for writing about it. I’m chilling enjoying a snack and a break from work for a bit at a Whole Foods in Santa Monica, CA. I’m glad you realized that you don’t have to compromise your life because you’re a father. Your choice to not give up left you relying on a miracle which only reinforces my belief that when your heart has a real desire to realize something, the entire universe works in your favor through people, circumstances and events to get you to realize that dream or desire. I’m not a father ... yet. While I’d like to be someday I feel that there’s no need to rush it or force a life of fatherhood and family simply because it’s a practical and conventional ritual. While life has thrown many obstacles at me I’m content in knowing that so far I have yet to sell out and give in to societal norms. Your article gave me hope that I too someday can have both my dreams realized and a supportive family at the same time. Thank you. Cheers. —Vicente A. Ruiz
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STAYING ALIVE reat write Matt! I remember reading John Dill’s “Staying alive” chapter in Yosemite Big Walls over and over. We ran out of water on The Prow, we spent our last day drinking only beer. A month later, I took a 40-footer on the Zodiac and my partner broke his arm catching the fall after I flew past him. We limped to the top, but it was a fight. It’s been 15 years since I was on the Big Stone, but I read this and it lit a fire. Heading up Lunar Eclipse on El Cap in a couple months. Thanks. —Josh Pearlman
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DON’T TURN YOUR BACK TO DREAMS ear Matt, I am 76 years old this July. I had just settled down to do some reading after house work the first half of the day. I decided to read your paper that my husband picked up at Gold Country Run Sport in El Dorado. He brought the paper home because he knows how I like to read about adventures. I thumbed the paper until I saw your article and then read it with tears in my eyes as I finished. Thank you, Matt. I was thinking I shouldn’t be doing a hiking trip with my husband over in the Bernese Oberland area of Switzerland in August because I have been sensing some possible heart problems looming inside of me. Then, I grabbed your words of not turning our back on our dreams. I am now more excited than ever and will think of your story while hiking those beautiful mountains around Murren and Aeschi Switzerland. It is a dream trip for both my husband and I, and he just had two surgeries in May and June. We are going to fulfill our dream. I just had to thank you personally for your inspirational article. Also, hope your son loves to climb; what boy doesn’t? We have three and they have all climbed their own dreams. In Christian love, — Mrs. Joan A. Suess
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LIVE YOUR DREAM reat life story and one that could / should inspire your readers to decide to live their own unique dreams out AND tell the results, the fantastic stories that come from that decision in your great mag. Club dust was such a story ... 35 years of ticking to a dream of building homes for kids ... well, you know the story as your family is part of it. Carry on man! Lots of life’s best moments are just ahead! —Ray Meltvedt
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WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM OUR READERS! Feel free to write to editor Matt Niswonger or any of our contributors who help make ASJ such a valuable part of our outdoor community.
June/July Switchback Results Did we make the right cover choice? Readers
chimed in on our Switchback page and said YES, we did! 25% preferred the whitewater kayaking shot and 13% opted for Skyler the Surf Dog’s close up, but 63% were happy with the choice we made. Are some some outdoor sports not worth the risk? 56% say YES; 44% say NO. Thank you to all who voted! OUR NEXT QUESTION IS: To MORB or Not To MORB? How do you feel about electric mountain bikes? Chime in at adventuresportsjournal.com/switchback.
elissa Wonders of Santa Rosa was announced as the grand prize winner of ASJ’s social media photo contest earlier this year. Wonders finally had the chance to enjoy her prize package which included an overnight stay for two at Hotel Paradox in Santa Cruz, two rental bikes of choice from Epicenter Cycling, and a guided MTB ride for two with The Ride Guides. Wonders enthuses, “ASJ, you gave me the [Santa Cruz] insider experience. I truly felt I was finally seeing what the locals enjoyed. Thanks again for a vacation that fit the adventurer I am.” Read Melissa’s recap of her stellar Santa Cruz getaway at adventuresportsjournal.com/asjphoto-contest. And stay tuned for a brand new grand prize ASJ photo contest coming soon ...
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Department of Corrections In our June/July issue (#90), we referred to Paul “Pablo” Allen as Paul “Skip” Allan in the Ear to the Ground news piece about Paul’s transatlantic sailing trip. We also inadvertantly left off whitewater editor Haven Livingston’s byline in the article “The Rivers K.”
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EAR TO THE GROUND
Waterman League
Outdoor News and Notes for the California Region
by promoting the protection and preservation of our precious home – the ocean itself. Learn more at watermanleague.com
Brian Bielmann/Red Bull Content Pool
Red Bull Heavy Water Kicks Off in San Francisco The Red Bull Heavy Water stand up paddleboard race is scheduled to take place in San Francisco in September. The exact date is TBD and depends on conditions. Requiring the perfect mix of paddling skills, ocean knowledge, supreme fitness and the courage to take on one of the most intimidating stretches of coastline in the world, the Red Bull Heavy Water will test the best stand up paddleboarders in what promises to be a dramatic challenge. An intense 12km course will see athletes leave from San Francisco’s notorious Ocean Beach to battle their way in and out of the surf towards the Golden Gate Bridge for possibly the most challenging
10 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2016
race the sport has ever seen. Once the laps through the surf have been completed the athletes will be in the open ocean, out among the shipping lanes for cargo ships before heading into the safety of San Francisco Bay. On reaching the Golden Gate Bridge, they will finally be on the home stretch for a sprint into the protected beaches of the City and a triumphant finish at the St. Francis Yacht Club. The event is put on by the Waterman League, an organization dedicated to representing the global world of ocean sports as a unified collective while building bridges between ocean culture and a mainstream audience. Through inspirational and responsible messaging, the Waterman League seeks to provide a positive example for future generations
Bay Area Slackliner Takes Sport to New Level
Alex Mason, Bay Area native and professional slackliner, recently took slacklining to a unique new level, ascending an 8-line ladder over water and rocks on the Big Island of Hawaii. The 2013 Slackline World Champion pushed his limits throwing tricks high above the jungle floor. Mason explains, “Slackladder was an idea that came about from connecting point A to point B – literally. We wanted to take an environment like a set of natural waterfalls in Hawaii and walk up the natural landscape via a slackline ladder.” He continues, “With a course of slack lines that required walking, leaping, climbing, and even a pulley system that lifted me into a space net 65-foot high,
the course provided a unique series of obstacles for me to surpass. There were rocks and really high waterfalls, and I was excited to push the sport forward and provide the best tricks I could.” Mason’s ascent was chronicled in the Red Bull video Slackladder which can be viewed at redbull.com/slackladder
Royal Robbins Launches Clothing Recycling Initiative Returning to the company’s roots built upon environmental reverence and safekeeping, Royal Robbins takes a stance against sending clothing to landfills. With fast fashion taking a heavy toll on the planet, Royal Robbins’ new Royal’s Rewear Program encourages consumers to buy high quality, durable clothing made to last while recycling old product. Founders and clean climbing pioneers Liz and Royal Robbins built the company in 1968 upon the ethos of environmental safekeeping, which remains a pillar of the brand today. Recently, Royal Robbins became a bluesign partner, adopting manufacturing practices that promote environmental sustainability. Royal Robbins CEO Michael Millenacker stated, “Environmental safekeeping is the core foundation of our brand’s heritage,”
said Millenacker. “We are devoted to continuing and expanding on Royal and Liz’s original vision. Royal’s Rewear Program is a tribute to our heritage with a simple ethos: Recycle more and buy clothing that is built to last.” This recycling initiative allows customers and employees to do their part and reduce the volume of waste being sent to landfills every year by sending items back or dropping them in collection bins at Royal Robbins stores. All apparel brands will be eligible for recycling through the Rewear Program. Any rewearable quality Royal Robbins apparel sent back will be re-sold at Royal Robbins retail stores in the new Royal’s Rewear department, and all other apparel received will be reused and recycled by partner, I:CO. These items will find a new home or be reused as products such as cleaning rags, recycled into fibers for insulation and paddings or upcycled into new products. Program proceeds benefit the Yosemite Conservancy, which funds projects and programs essential to Yosemite’s future.
Lake Tahoe Water Trail: Playing It Safe on Lake Tahoe With cold water shock deaths and rescues on the rise, the Lake Tahoe Water Trail would like to remind everyone of some basic water safety and resource conservation tips for paddling in mountain conditions. Tahoe water temperature is always frigid, even on the hottest days of summer, and mountain weather can change in a second. Plan ahead and check weather, wind, and marine forecasts. Always wear your life jacket--it’ll keep you warm and insulated. Also, keep your head above water and carry a whistle and flashlight to make you visible to motorized boaters. And please wear a SUP leash to keep you tethered to your board. Make sure your gear is Clean, Drained and Dry to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and practice “Leave No Trace” ethics. Visit the Water Trail Safety page at laketahoewatertrail.org and buy the Water Trail map at a Tahoe paddle shop. The collectible waterproof map covers the entire shoreline and includes underwater and land topography, latitude/longitude coordinates, GPS waypoints, and a detailed listing of shoreline services and points of interest at paddle shops. The Lake Tahoe Water Trail is a 72mile water route along the shoreline segmented into seven Day Trips, including more than 50 public launch and landing sites, paddle route itineraries, and navigation tools to help paddlers have a safe and fun adventure. Learn more at laketahoewatertrail.org.
Explore the High Country Ebbetts Pass Hwy 4
Volunteers Needed to Help Build New Trails in Lost Sierra The Yuba River Ranger District of the US Forest Service (USFS), in partnership with Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS), is in the process of constructing a 1.8-mile multi-use motorized singletrack trail just above Downieville to connect the ridge above Deer Lake to the beginning of the Gold Valley OHV Trail (top of Baby Heads). This singletrack addition will replace the fire road ride to Pauley Creek. The Gold Valley Connector Trail, in conjunction with a 3-mile segment of former Pacific Crest Trail (a section of PCT will be abandoned and converted to a multiuse trail), will create a new singletrack connection from Packer Saddle to Pauley Creek and Big Boulder trails. Trail building efforts kicked off in late July as part of SBTS’s 2016 Downieville Mountain Epic weekend. Learn more at sierratrails.org.
Bicycle Travel through Wilderness Introduced in Utah – Is California Next? On July 13, Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduced the Human-Powered Travel in Wilderness Act, a bill that would allow more Americans to mountain bike in wilderness areas. “Our National Wilderness Preservation System was created so that the American people could enjoy the solitude and recreational opportunities of this continent’s priceless natural areas,” Lee said. “This bill would enrich Americans enjoyment of the outdoors by making it easier for them to mountain bike in wilderness areas.” “Utah is blessed with an abundance of beautiful wilderness, and Americans should be free to enjoy it,” Hatch said. “This bill presents a reasonable approach to allowing the use of mountain bikes on trails and grant federal land managers the ability to do necessary maintenance.” Specifically, the Human-Powered Travel in Wilderness Act would: (1) Allow local land managers to decide whether to allow and how to manage mountain biking in wilderness areas. (2) Allow federal employees or designees to use non-invasive, minimal technology to maintain wilderness. Read the full press release including bill at lee.senate.gov/public/index. cfm/2016/7/sen-lee-introduces-thehuman-powered-travel-in-wildernessact.
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EPiC: Environmental Partnership Campaign
Born to Be Wild The story of the Wildlands Conservancy By Leonie Sherman
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wenty years ago an anonymous investor decided to give away his money. He donated almost a billion dollars to nonprofits, and became one of the largest backers of California conservation in history. He says the money he gave to The Wildlands Conservancy (TWC) is the best investment he ever made. “Most of that money he gave away is in the rear view mirror,” explains David Myers, Executive Director of TWC. “But the money he gave to start and support our organization for the first 15 years, that money is in the present tense. He can come visit our preserves and see where his money went. He calls The Wildlands Conservancy ‘the gift that keeps giving.’” When he visits one of the 14 preserves protecting more than 150,000 acres of estuaries, mountains, desert, oak woodlands, redwoods and historic agricultural land, he never has to pay – but neither does anybody else. The Wildlands Conservancy opens all their land to the public, free of charge. Whether you want to camp for a week or hike for a few hours, you’ll never have to pay on TWC land. “We really feel that contact with nature makes us more insightful and reflective and in tune with the world. And we think that is an inalienable right,” explains Myers. “Once you have to pay to visit nature, you’ve been dispossessed of a birthright.” Myers and TWC want to make sure nobody is deprived of that birthright, so in addition to acquiring and protecting land, they are also the largest provider of free outdoor education in the state. Over 50,000 school children and family members visit their preserves and Outdoor Discovery Center every year.
“We work with a lot of kids from the city, and often their schools don’t have funding for field trips,” says Elba Mora, Outdoor Education Manager at TWCs flagship Oak Glen Preserve. “So some of them have never interacted with nature or the wild before.” “Sometimes they’re really scared stepping off the school bus,” says Melissa Dabulamanzi, Outdoor Education Director at 93,000-acre Wind Wolves in Kern County. “But by the end of the day, when their shoes are all muddy and they’ve met all these different insects and reptiles, they don’t want to leave. Even when their program is only three or four hours long, they leave totally transformed.” And then they want to visit again, and bring family members. “Our students are some of our best
PHOTOS Main image: TWC trails are popular destinations for dog lovers, like this visitor to Wind Wolves Preserve. (Dan York/TWC). Above: Afton Canyon, part of Mojave Trails National Monument (Jack Thompson/ TWC). Circle: Each year, more than 50,000 children have an outdoor education experience at TWC preserves (David Clendenen/TWC). Opposite page, top to bottom: Whitewater Preserve is a gateway to the newly established Sand to Snow National Monument Jack Thompson/TWC); Jenner Headlands Preserve (David Clendenen/TWC).
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o you have a favorite non-profit organization dedicated to promoting stewardship and access for the outdoor sports community throughout California and beyond?
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12 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2016
11 MILES IN, YOUR FEET ARE SCREAMING,
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OB O BOZ O ZFOOT F OOT W EA R . C OM
“We really feel that contact with nature makes us more insightful and reflective and in tune with the world. And we think that is an inalienable right.”
but a lot of our lower elevations are covered with invasive Mediterranean grass,” says Peppel. “So we allow targeted grazing, aiming for an environment where shrubs can thrive.” Grazing might not seem compatible with restoration and preservation, but TWC isn’t afraid to take controversial stands in land management. “A lot of land trusts won’t jump into the political ring because they don’t want to alienate donors,” Myers says. “But we’re always in the ring.” When the Obama administration proposed industrial renewable energy projects on 1.5 million acres of delicate California desert, TWC organized the opposition. “Big groups like the National Resource Defense Council gave in and said ‘We’re going to have to sacrifice some of the land we fought to hard to save.’” Myers sighs. “But our position was the EPA identified eight million acres of land that had already been disturbed. That’s the place to put those projects. Don’t turn our national treasure into eyesores.” While the Wall Street Journal declared the fight “Green vs. Green,” TWC reframed it as “Green vs. Greed.” Just six months ago, Obama set aside 1.8 million acres as Mojave Trails National Monument, the second largest terrestrial monument in the country, centered upon TWC’s gift of a half million acres – the largest land gift in US history. That land donation connected Mojave National Preserve to Joshua Tree National Park. Other TWC land connects Joshua Tree to San Bernardino National Forest and the San Jacinto Mountains. “Everything we do is about connectivity,” explains Myers. “We want this system of protected land to be as fluid for wildlife movement as water spilled on a map.” Even National Monument status doesn’t guarantee protection. “Former California Coastal Commission Executive Director Peter Douglas once said ‘The coast is never saved, it’s always being saved,’ and that’s really true for all naturally beautiful places,” explains Paul Melzer, in charge of TWC Mission Advancement. “There are always new challenges to something that is seemingly protected.” Melzer was first exposed to TWC while training for the Barkley ultramarathon in the San Bernardino Mountains. As part of his training regime he dreamed up a challenge to climb 24 peaks in 24 hours. “I never completed the circuit, but I was able to raise $5,500 for the Wildlands Conservancy,” he pauses for a long moment. “Every person needs to find a personal challenge, whether it’s writing a short story or doing a piano recital or running a marathon or bagging a peak,” he says. “And then do that epic on behalf of an organization that inspires you, a group that needs the support.” Melzer believes we each carry that fire, that connection to wilderness. “Every person has an expansive desert inside, a mysterious ocean inside, an epic mountain hike inside,” Melzer insists. “If you get out there and go wild for something more than just yourself, you’re carrying the spirit of that organization or that beneficiary with you. Once you taste that, there’s no turning back.”
M E N ’ S F I R E B RA N D I I B Bd drr y / E AR A RT TH /
ambassadors,” she says with a laugh. It’s not just the school children who are transformed by their experience with TWC. Wind Wolves Outdoor Education Coordinator, Linda Vasquez, was headed towards a career as a child psychologist when she accepted a seasonal naturalist position with TWC. “My experience was mostly clinical before I started working here,” she explains. “But learning about the plants and animals here really changed my perception of the world and how I treat it. I discovered my calling here.” While hiring at State and National Parks stagnates or decreases, TWC actively recruits. “We’re one of the few organizations that are hiring young people with biology degrees into a position where they can be idealistic and pursue their dreams,” says Myers. They explain that for most people a position as a TWC naturalist will be a page or at most a chapter in their lives, but they also provide opportunities for advancement. For example, four years ago, Landon Peppel started as a seasonal naturalist; now he’s the Preserve Manager at Wind Wolves. “He’s just 26 years old!” enthuses Myers. “That kid is a force of nature!” Since he became Preserve Manager, visitorship and volunteer hours have quadrupled, partly through innovative programming like night-time Star Parties, but mostly through sheer dedication and energy. Peppel has a broad vision for the land he care takes. “Part of our land stewardship is about actively promoting and managing an extremely sensitive archaeological site,” explains Peppel. “And part of it is about restoration and actively promoting biodiversity. We’re focused on maintaining complex dynamic landscapes through prescriptive heavyhanded scientific management.” Wind Wolves Preserve stretches from the valley floor, at 500 feet, to 6,000 feet summits. The lowlands are home to kit fox and blunt-nosed lizards, fully protected state and federally endangered species. “They can’t survive in grasslands,
TRUE TO THE TRAIL
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PHOTO Freedom Vans founder Tom Doran and partner, Kyleigh Rogers, take life to the road in their Sprinter van with pups, Cleo and Moby (Devon Balet Photography).
Toy Hauler RV Clair Marie: Pro BASE Jumper, Model, Entrepreneur
The New American Dream Outdoor adventure enthusiasts take life to the road By Michele Lamelin
L
iving life on the road is nothing new for adventure enthusiasts. Climbers have been doing it for decades, living out of their vans, often out of economic necessity in order to pursue their passion. Although a popular way of life among the climbing community, living on the road didn’t go mainstream until fairly recently when “the van life” caught on with individuals, couples and families alike. An explosion in mountain biking has been accompanied by a greater pursuit of this alternative lifestyle. Tom Doran, founder of Freedom Vans explains, “The van life is all about minimizing costs and maximizing versatility. A stealth camper lets you take home with you anywhere you go. From the outside, people just see a van. Inside, you have everything you need to succeed.” Doran came upon the full time van life unintentionally, after being unable to find affordable housing in California. A mountain bike pro racer, he had already been traveling to and from races in a van. He outfitted it for off-grid life on the road and found the set up to be more than sufficient to live out of, with the added benefit of freeing himself of bills and debt. His experience led him to discover a passion for making it possible for others to follow in his tread and, with the assistance of partner Kyleigh Rogers, now converts vans to living spaces for like-minded people. The van life isn’t the only option for living on the road. Boasting plenty of space and all the comforts of home, RVs and travel trailers are the ideal choice for many. Others prefer a more primitive set up, such as a Tepui tent. Solar panels are easily integrated, as are other ways to reduce the carbon footprint. Whether a full-time lifestyle or part-time adventure, living with less “stuff” and spending more time exploring exciting places brings a new level of satisfaction to people of all walks of life.
R-Pod Travel Trailer Michele Lamelin: Adventure Sports Journal My dream of living on the road sparked when we were laying out an ASJ article on climber Alex Honnold. The article described his simple lifestyle of living in a van to help reduce his carbon footprint and provide more freedom to pursue his passion for climbing. I remember thinking how liberating that would feel – to downsize, get rid of “stuff” and ditch the mortgage I had become 14 ASJ ASJ—April/May — Aug/Sept 2013 2016
a slave to. I didn’t believe this way of life could become a reality for me until I met Tom Doran of Freedom Vans who was living the van lifestyle and helping others live it too. Seeing as I was a recent empty-nester, plus an editor with ASJ and co-founder of the California Enduro Series, it made perfect sense to pursue a nomadic lifestyle. I sold my house and purchased an 18-foot travel trailer that I tow with my small truck, traveling around the western states with my dog Seabee. I’ve learned to live with so much less than before, and am implementing new ways to reduce my carbon footprint while maintaining this lifestyle. Best part of living on the road? My backyard has no limits!
Living in an RV is something that I had dreamt about since I was young. I am a traveler at heart and spent a good portion of my life on the road, living out of my car, exploring as much as I could. Once I started mountain bike racing, I was traveling even more than I already was. The stress of packing and unpacking for trips started to get really old. Plus it was so frustrating to get to an amazing location for mountain bike riding and notice all the amazing rock climbing or BASE jumping that was nearby, yet not having all of my gear with me. Moving full time into an RV seemed like the most logical, cost-effective and environmentally friendly thing to do. Now, with my 37-foot toy hauler that has an incredible 10-foot garage in the back, I get to travel and have all the comforts of home with me where ever I go. It’s the best thing ever.
Van & Tepui Tent Cedar Kyes: Kali Protectives As the Kali Road Warrior of Kali Protectives’ race support program, I travel up and down the west coast to various cycling events providing racers and attendees the opportunity to exchange their damaged helmets for brand new Kali lids at no charge. As if the Kali gig doesn’t keep me busy enough, I also run the Lupine Lights Demo Nightride Tour and Advocate Cycles demo bike program, so you can imagine all the gear I haul around in the van from Bellingham, Washington to Big Bear, California and back again ... on repeat! My little van setup gets me from one event to the next and allows me to live comfortably on the road in between. Of course, I take many detours along the way and I can stay wherever I want for as long as I want. It’s pure freedom. The Tepui Tent is a new addition to my set up this year, and it allows me to pack more stuff in the van for long work weekends and still have a comfortable place to sleep. Plus, the star gazing, mosquito mesh, and cool breeze flowing through makes it a wonderful experience. It feels kind of like a tree fort!
Ford Transit Lauren Gregg: Turn Loose I realized this year that living full-time in my Ford Transit van made way more sense than renting an apartment somewhere and having it sit as a storage unit while I travelled on the mountain bike race circuit all summer. The freedom of a home on wheels has been a truly life-changing experience. I’ve been able to ride in some amazing places and meet lots of new people along the way. Life on the road has given me a chance to slow down and learn more about myself and about this beautiful world we live in. Running my new business Turn Loose and training out of the van was a challenge at first, but I’m learning new ways to make life in the van easier and more productive. Any small sacrifices are 100% worth this chance to follow the trails and experience life on the road.
LIVING LIFE ON THE ROAD? WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT! If you are living a mobile lifestyle, whether full or part time, we want to hear your story! We will be publishing stories on-line in a new section called “The New American Dream.” Email us at info@adventuresportsjournal.com, and be sure to include photos. We will select one set up each issue to feature in print, and those chosen will receive some sweet swag from our sponsors. Inspire others by sharing your photos on Instagram with the hashtags #ASJmag and #ASJliveoutside.
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ATHLETE PROFILE
BASE Girl Clair Marie sounds off on bold living and new possibilities By Michele Lamelin
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CM Over the past
lair Marie grew up rock climbing, skiing and snowboarding in her hometown of South Lake Tahoe. Athletic and daring, Clair made her first BASE jump at the age of 16, making her one of the youngest BASE jumpers on record. She discovered a passion for skydiving and at 19 became a certified AFF instructor. Clair recently turned her attention back to rocky terrain, putting fat tires to dirt as a mountain bike racer. She also boasts a successful career as a model and stunt woman and recently founded a clothing company. We caught up with this lovely dynamo as she tours the west with her boyfriend, Alex. Read the full interview at adventuresportsjournal.com/athlete-profile-base-girl, and check out Clair’s mobile digs on page 14.
11 years I have made somewhere around 750 BASE jumps. I stopped counting my skydives about five years ago after I completed my 5,500th jump. I don’t really have a number in mind as a goal. When I was younger BASE jumping was all about the numbers. Jumping at every opportunity I had and trying to log as many jumps as I could before a trip was over. I have really shifted gears over the past several years and now for me it is about the quality of the jump. The jump location, the adventure of getting to the jump and the people I jump with rather than logging a ton of jumps.
ASJ As of today, how many total BASE jumps have you made? How many skydives? Is there a goal number you are shooting for in your lifetime?
ASJ What’s the most exciting jump you’ve done? Does it ever feel “routine” doing the same jump or is there a new level of excitement each time?
16 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2016
CM Two of the most
PHOTOS
Left: Rock climbing in San unique jumps I have done Diego (GB Imaging). Right: that were super fun and BASE jump in Moab, Utah exciting were in Malaysia off (Scott Rogers). Circle: On the KL tower. On my birthday the beach in San Diego there, Alex and another friend (Alex Edge). Opposite, grabbed me by my arms and left: Skydiving in Salt Lake legs and threw me off the City, Utah (Marshall Miller). building. During the same trip, Opposite, right: Mountain I did a rope swing BASE jump bike racing in Ashland, Oregon (Called To Creation). off the building and that one was pretty nerve wracking. If I let go too early I would have smashed into the balcony below. The beauty of BASE jumping is that each jump is so different. It never feels routine.
ASJ Does it bother you to be considered an accomplished female athlete rather than simply an
“I want people to see what is possible and have that same desire to figure out what they are capable of and charge forward towards their dreams as well.” accomplished athlete without reference to your gender?
CM Being female is not a disadvantage in my sport, nor is it an advantage either. It is just a fact, so I don’t dwell on that aspect of myself or my ability. I think that is the key – don’t think of yourself as different or less able. Instead do your best all the time and you will get the recognition you deserve. I think that women and men alike should be more focused on performance than gender. ASJ You’ve had a passion for jumping from a very young age, but mountain bike racing is a relatively new sport for you. Tell us how and when this became a part of your life? CM I was never a big bike rider when I was a kid. I owe my introduction to and progression in mountain biking to Alex. He started riding after we had been dating for about a year and really wanted me to try it. I fell in love with the sport pretty quickly and after riding for only three months I entered my first race. I was so nervous and crashed about five times. Needless to say I didn’t podium in that race but in my second race I ended up scoring third place in my categor and I was hooked on racing. ASJ You have an unstoppable passion for exploring anything that excites and interests you. What keeps driving you forward? CM There is so much that we as humans are capable of and most people don’t recognize that in themselves. I just have this burning desire to explore what I am capable of and accomplish as much as I can. Because exploration and adventure have impacted my life on such a deep level I have become really passionate about motivating and inspiring other people to push themselves as well. I want people to see what is possible and have that same desire to figure out what they are capable of and charge forward towards their dreams as well.
us but on the world. The impact that animal farming has on our environment is astonishing and is the leading cause of green house gasses. I don’t condone animal cruelty in any form. I now know that leading a healthy, happy life doesn’t depend on the suffering and mistreatment of animals or the destruction and poisoning of our planet. My fitness has only benefited from the shift. I think clearer, I perform better and I recover faster. What athlete doesn’t want that!
ASJ You created a clothing company – Reverence Design – whose objective is to conduct business in an environmentally and ethically responsible way. Tell us more about this endeavor and how it fits into your overall way of life. CM Travel also instigated me to
create Reverence Design. There are so many things we do as a society that are destroying our planet and it is so sad to see. The fashion industry is a huge culprit and it doesn’t have to be that way. Reverence is defined as having a deep respect or appreciation for something and that is how we think we should all feel about our environment and humanity. We do not own this planet, we are a part of it, so we should do our best to preserve it. At Reverence Design we provide ethical, sustainable and extremely comfortable clothing that is both unique and affordable.
IN S anta Cruz Mountains ADVENTURES THE
ASJ Give us a glimpse into Clair’s mind while adventuring.
ASJ What would you like to share about your veganism and how it has impacted your health and lifestyle?
CM My mind is all over the place when I adventure: the jump I’m about to do or the race that I’m about to start and then the next second a blog post I want to write, a new clothing item I want to design with Alex, a new video concept. And sometimes I just sit there and appreciate everything that surrounds me, going back to my belief that nothing is permanent. The only permanence in life is impermanence and the only sure thing is that we will all die. Knowing this gives me the amazing opportunity to build my life the way that I want it and not get hung up on the details.
CM Travel instigated me to switch to a vegan lifestyle – seeing the crazy impact our choices have not just on
Learn more about Clair on her website at basegirl.com, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
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Our Big Blue Backyard Racing the Spinnaker Cup from San Francisco to Monterey By Paul Allen
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he sound of the wind fills my ears with a roar interrupted only by the boat slamming into the next wave. The 70-foot trimaran rises nearly completely out of the water, as the speed of this extremely light and powerful racing machine accelerates to speeds over 35 knots. The boat then descends from its apex, violently reuniting with the surface of the ocean and a loud crash. Dispersed water blasts its way upwards, exploding through the trampoline netting we use as our deck. The water has the consistency of pebbles, sometimes rocks, as it impacts my body. This is a glimpse of normal sailing aboard a modern offshore racing multihull. The California coast has some of the most amazing conditions in the world for offshore sailing. Several annual races take advantage of this spectacular playground – yet the wild Pacific Ocean, with its high winds plus colder offshore temperatures, tends to lower the number of participants. Stories from most epic adventures go untold, but they’re happening nearly every weekend in our backyard.
“I believe the reason we go sailing is to be with the spirit of the ocean and its animals; it draws us to this most wild place that, fortunately, is right in our backyard.”
Hitting the Start On May 27, the 70-foot offshore racing trimaran Orion and its seven person expert crew, Hogan Beatie, Zan Drejes, Rodney Daniels, Charlie Ogaltree, Matt Noble, Peter Isler and myself, hit the start line for the 80 nautical mile Spinnaker Cup race to Monterey. The Spinnaker Cup starts at the west end of Angel Island in the heart of San Francisco Bay. The Bay is a place of constant movement with fierce tides and relentless winds that funnel through the narrow Golden Gate. The morning offered fog and a strong ebb tide that rushed out the Gate. The ebb tide is magnified in the spring due to snow melt and run-off from the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers. The combination of fog and wind is frigid, and the wet breeze blew through the 6-ply Gore-Tex foul weather gear, fleece and thermals straight to the bone. At 11am our adventure began, and we were soon pulled out from under the Golden Gate in what feels like a river. For most, the race takes between 12 and 20 hours; seven hours would have been a long race on the Orion, and we are capable of sailing the course in 3.5 hours given favorable winds. Orion is now fully powered up with only one of her three hulls in the water. We blast upwind in the flat water at 19.5 knots. As we make our way out of the Bay, the funneling effect of the wind weakens and the wind strength decreases. Our speed slows as we make a turn south past coastal cities Montara then Pacifica, and we’re greeted by numerous Humpback whales.
I’m usually happy to see whales, but on a fast trimaran anything in the water becomes a dangerous obstacle. Big race boats can bring the sensation similar to a runaway freight train. These boats are very light, very powerful and very difficult to control. In fact, so powerful that you cannot turn the vessel more than a few degrees left or right without requiring major changes to the sails. Whales become a very scary sight, so diligent care and attention is spent tracking them. In addition to whales there are thousands of crab traps with their marker floats and lines which can easily become caught on a rudder. Sunfish, dolphins, sea lions, kelp, trash, birds and turtles are also potential hazards. We take great caution to not damage the ocean or its habitants. I believe the reason we go sailing is to be with the spirit of the ocean and its animals; it draws us to this most wild place that, fortunately, is right in our backyard. If we plow through or damage the environment, we kill our connection and our activity becomes pointless. The wind slowly builds through the day as fog and marine layer yield to the sun. With the wind comes waves and higher speeds. My position on the boat is to trim all sails, excluding the mainsail. I stand in thick rubber and Neoprene sea boots on a tiny piece of solid deck, holding the rope that controls the forward sail.
PHOTOS Clockwise from main image: Orion competing in the ROLEX Big Boats Series 2014 in San Francisco. A crew of seven to eight is required to manage the vessel (Renegade Sailing/Martha Blanchfield); Paul Allen works the jibsheet, remaining at the ready in the same spot for the duration of any race (Ocean Images/Richard Langdon); Orion makes quick work of the first upwind leg on her way to Blackaller buoy near the St. Francis Yacht Club (Renegade Sailing/ Martha Blanchfield); Orion can reach speeds of 42 knots in reaching and running conditions, sustaining speeds upwards of 35 knots (Rolex/Daniel Forster).
18 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2016
SAIL ABOARD THE
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OYC’s captains and the Team O�Neill are U.S. Coast Guard licensed, insured and inspected annually.
Monterey Canyon Bliss
PHOTOS Top to bottom: Paul Allen has experience racing all types of high performance boats, from small Olympic class to large offshore race boats (Ocean Images/Richard Langdon); Fog is common during a San Francisco Bay summer. Orion’s powerful underwater foil lifts the boat as she powers up while sailing downwind in perfect flat water conditions (Pressure Drop/Erik Simonson).
I stand in my position for the entire race, ready to ease the power of the sail if the boat becomes overpowered. I stand between the mainsail (back sail) and the jib (front sail) in an area that funnels the breeze from both. I’m essentially in a wind tunnel, holding onto the accelerator aboard a bucking bronco while being blasted by a firehose of 53-degree saltwater. Our team works in unison to tame this wild beast as the wind picks up to 25 knots. Halfway across the Monterey Bay and we’re flying at 36 knots boat speed when we spot strange whitecaps ahead. “They’re not whitecaps. Those are dolphins!” Hogan shouts. We are on the edge of control, hanging onto our bronco, while a pod of 2,000 make their way across our bow. We knew we were sailing faster than they could swim, and our hearts sank thinking about a possible collision that could wound and kill many. To our good luck, the dolphins knew exactly what they were doing. We did not hit a single one, and soon all parties were back to their high speed adventures racing in different directions.
The waves are typically short and steep along the California coast, but in one place this changes – over the 2,000 to 10,000-foot deep Monterey Canyon. Here, swells lengthen and smooth out into long rolling mountains of water. Normally along the California coast the boat will sail into a wave by launching down the steep face which ends in a violent slam into the back of the next wave. Over the Monterey Canyon, the boat lifts slowly – even if you’re hauling ass doing 20, 30 or 40 knots. The drop into the wave is not sudden, but is constant and smooth. The speeds are very high on this type of swell and it feels like the boat is descending for a very long time. It’s a beautiful sensation to be flying downhill on the water for an extended period of time. Our time here comes and goes quickly, before heading along the Monterey Peninsula to a finish tucked in the corner of the bay. We glide gracefully over the line, setting a new course record of 6h5m42s. It was a day full of mental and physical challenges and we enjoyed being back on land. The rodeo was over, for the time being, and we relished the rest from constant concentration and physical exertion. The Spinnaker Cup was the first event in California Offshore Race Week; the 270nm Coastal Cup from Monterey to Santa Barbara and the SoCal 300 race round out Race Week. The Coastal Cup is notoriously windy and difficult, challenging sailors to manage the unforgiving trio: Pt. Conception, Pt. Sur and Cape San Martin. This year, the marine layer was present and killed the wind for both the Coastal Cup and the SoCal 300, making them relatively tame. The biggest wilderness in California is the ocean and its spirit is strong and thriving. There’s an endless number of ways to experience this wet wilderness; take the time to get to know it. It’s your backyard.
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A Northern California sailor for more than 30 years, Paul Allen has experience racing all types of high performance boats, from small Olympic class to large offshore race boats. He’s also an avid rock climber, windsurfer, skier and surfer. www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com
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Laurel Mountain Lessons learned on a Sierra classic By Leonie Sherman
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he beige and red buttresses of Laurel Mountain tower over Convict Lake like psychedelic sands swirled in a 12,000-foot glass bottle. I first saw the peak from the steaming waters of Hilltop Hot Springs, but it never occurred to me to climb the thing. With all the gleaming granite in the Sierra Nevada, why would a person mess with the crumbling metamorphic rock of the Morrison Cap? Because alpine master Peter Croft says you should; in his guidebook The Good, the Great and the Awesome, he claims the Northeast Gully on Laurel is one of the top 40 rock climbs in the High Sierra. And when you climb that gully you’re touching climbing history; John Mendenhall led the first belayed climb in the Sierra on this route in 1930. Mountaineering misanthrope Norman Clyde was the first European to touch the summit.
But if Croft, Mendenhall and Clyde can’t convince you to climb Laurel Mountain, consider the sheer scale and spectacle of the thing. This behemoth rises 5,000 vertical feet from lakeshore to summit and is plainly visible to tourists disembarking at Mammoth Lakes airport. The bulk and distinctive bands of swirling complex rock are unmistakable and intimidating even to a casual motorist on 395. The Northeast Gully, Laurel Mountain’s classic route, is rated 5.2 It’s a prominent declivity in an ocean of crumbling rock, a rude notch in the friable flanks, a deep gash in the fractured face. Normally I avoid routes that feature the word “gully,” but Croft claims the rock is “wonderfully solid.” One day I convinced a 5.11 climber friend to attempt the route with me. We brought harnesses, a rope and a minimal rack, but fully intended to free solo it.
The approach involves three PHOTOS and a half miles of pleasant Main image: Laurel lakeside trail and a quarter Mountain towers over mile of talus-littered dry Convict Lake (Leonie riverbed. As we left the trail Sherman). Circle: Working up loose rock (Steve York). behind, we craned our necks to contemplate over 4,000 feet of uninterrupted wicked gothic drama; complex gullies, sheer faces and crumbling fissures stretching into a searing blue sky. A tongue of dirty snow spilled out of the gully onto the talus. An astute alpinist might have reconsidered the venture right then and retired to Mammoth for a beer. A mature mountaineer knows that the quality of a climb is more important than the top of a mountain. A seasoned soloist would have realized the route was choked with rotten snow, and retreated, understanding that eventually the snow will melt, and that’s when you climb a northeast facing gully. Tragically, there was no
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“I reached for a rounded chunk the size of my fist and pulled hard. It exploded into powdered dust in my hand and the top rope caught me dangling in space.”
featured delicate PHOTOS mantling, Clockwise from left: smearing and Skirting snow at the edge stemming. I of the Northest Gully Demo LOWAs this summer at the didn’t pull on a Clair Tappaan Lodge near Truckee. (Tamara Minami); Loose hold for the next crumbling crappy rock eight hours. stretching to the horizon (Leonie Sherman); The INNOX EVO LO My partner and Available for men & women. only useful response I had tackled Men‘s Grey / Orange shown here. to the unfolding horror classics from show is laughter (Steve Tuolumne to York). Yosemite Valley and over the LOWA Boots & Shoes Can Be Found at These Specialty Outdoor Retailers: course of about two dozen pitches, I’d never seen him hesitate. But as daylight faded on Laurel Mountain, I waited long ©2016 LOWA Boots, LLC. minutes between paying out rope while he decided which of the terrible options above was least dangerous. I’d never heard anything but laughter and chatting 7/6/16 while he climbed, but as he struggled LOWA_ASJ_Aug16_Final.indd 1 upwards, leading every pitch, whimpers, groans and grunting filled the air. We gnashed our teeth and groveled up the interminable crappy pitches, cursing Croft and our own stupidity, making desperate promises to the gods of our future alpine ascents. As the last shreds of alpenglow dissipated in the west, we suddenly popped out onto solid ground just a few hundred feet of easy climbing below the top. Exhausted, we gazed at the tantalizing summit, looked at each other, and turned our backs. The descent features sandy slopes and faded use trails. Soon we were engaged in hand to hand combat with thorny chaparral. Mountain mahogany shredded our clothing and tore at our hair as we pushed on. The dull surface of Convict Lake, gleaming in the burnished indigo of night, was our beacon of hope. Sometime around midnight, our aching feet registered the hard surface of a trail. The car was a 15 minute stroll away. Since then I’ve spent hours staring at Laurel Mountain from the comforting waters of Hilltop Hot Springs but I still haven’t been to the top. Maybe that Northeast Gully has solid rock, but the rest of the mountain is a tower of crumbling loose terror. Maybe I’ll climb it one day, but I’ll always trust my own senses over a gushing guidebook. Maybe THE ORIGINAL CHAIR ONE 2.1LB NEW COLORS AVAILABLE! failures like this are how eager climbers Distributed exclusively by Big Agnes become astute alpinists, but I’ll need bigagnes.com a few more epics and a lot more gray hair before I earn the mantle of mature mountaineer. ™
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astute, mature, seasoned climber in our party and we didn’t even pause upon discovering our route was obliterated by the winter’s consolidated precipitation. My partner started grabbing solid dark rock just skirting the edge of the gully and I followed eagerly through dull edges, positive holds and stable ledges covered with gritty dust. We hugged the southern rib of the gully, making steady upward progress, hoping to re-enter the route proper once the snow thinned out. The rock was okay, but we strayed significantly from the route, though it was still in sight. Of course as we climbed higher the snow only thickened. Our molded rib was swallowed by smears of icy, gritty snow. Pushed way off route, we ventured further and further from the gully, into increasingly desperate face climbing. At a scrappy ledge, no longer sure which distant fold was the Northeast Gully, my partner dug through his pack for a harness. I flaked the rope without a word. He led up through rotten rock. Falling pebbles zinged past my head as I gazed upward, following his progress. A tug on the rope signaled my turn to climb. Huge holds and an obvious route calmed the anxiety building in my throat like sawdust. I couldn’t duplicate my partner’s grace and ease, but I yarded on knobby protrusions and pulled myself upward, soothed by the presence of a top rope. I reached for a rounded chunk the size of my fist and pulled hard. It exploded into powdered dust in my hand and the top rope caught me dangling in space. I glanced between my legs at hundreds of feet of air terminating in huge blocks of talus. I looked around at my immediate surroundings — there was no gully or wonderfully solid rock in sight, and every hold blinked with a neon warning of instability. The rest of the day
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BUTTERMILK, SWEET AND SOUR How did we get here? Where are we going?
By Doug Robinson
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or a while I fancied that I had invented the Buttermilk. After all, in 1969 I made the first ascent of the biggest boulder by roping up, placing two or three nuts, and even sinking a couple of bolts to protect the 5.8 crux, which edged out above the lip of an overhang. But I soon got schooled. Bob Blanchard had already soloed my route— definitely highball to a 70-foot summit—and not bothered to mention it. I should have guessed. Bob’s father Smoke Blanchard had become Bishop’s first climber in 1941, coming south as a snow mountaineer after setting a speed record climbing Mt. Hood. Smoke soon found the Buttermilk and began scrambling in the granite maze—the one toward town from the boulders—that eventually became Smoke’s Rock Course. Watch out, boulderers: there’s a curious surge of interest these days in Smoke’s creation. And his “mild mountaineering”—which is actually pretty stout and occasionally serious—may yet threaten the assumption that of course climbing around Bishop means bouldering. And that’s what Bob was doing on Grandpa Peabody. Before there was a name for highballing, he just soloed up the thing. And tiptoed back down. It’s been the descent route ever since. I’m still happy to use a rope, up and down, but it’s inspiring to see the confidence of the likes
It wasn’t clear yet that the Buttermilk would become an international destination, or even that bouldering itself would evolve into a leading – possibly the leading – form of climbing. 22 ASJ — Aug/Sept Dec/Jan 2014 2016
of Dale Bard and Kevin Jorgeson, casually coming down after forging routes up other sides that forever raised the bar. Though we didn’t see it that way then, it turned out that we put up a lot of descent routes in those early years when my band of Armadillos were at play among the most popular boulders. Bouldering itself had already been tempering us before we migrated from Yosemite, and its origins traced back before that. In the early 1950s, a young John Gill emerged from gymnastics onto rock in Georgia, and then singlehandedly spread his new ropeless passion across the country to Southern Illinois, the Tetons, and the Black Hills of South Dakota. Along the way, Gill came up with some fresh ideas about bouldering that may yet inform its future. Bob Blanchard had neglected to tell anyone he’d climbed the biggest boulder in the Buttermilk. Typical. He was weaned on Smoke’s style, which included memorizing Chinese poetry to recite to himself at work, on the long haul across the Mojave driving a propane truck. And many Chinese poets laughed about how human aspirations were small and fleeting when seen against the vastness of wild nature. Thoughts that nudge your vision upward, to the skyline of the Sierra, soaring above the rockpile of the Buttermilk. My band of Armadillos developed the Buttermilk boulders from the late sixties through the mid-seventies. Originally a commune of mostly road-racing motorcycle riders in the Haight-Ashbury, a stuffed armadillo (Geoffrey) presiding from their flat’s mantelpiece, they followed John Fischer and me to the Eastside and ditched the bikes for rock shoes. At a peace march down Main Street we met and merged with a spirited group of climbers from Bishop High School, and the band of ‘Dillos instantly swelled. For context, you’ve gotta understand that a rally for peace was the most liberal thing that had ever happened in the redneck ranching center that was Bishop in the sixties.
PHOTOS // Main Image: Stretching out ... and Up. From a tight core of Armadillos exploring the venerable Peabodies, Bishop bouldering has gone international. And highball. In this photo of the outer Buttermilk, Matt Segal high steps into the no fall zone on Hive Boulder. Is it worth it? (Jeff Deikis). Below: Roger Schley strains toward the lost-to-history Iron Cross move to top out on Inner Sanctum, the Cave Boulder. (Gordon Wiltsie)
When the Haight-Ashbury longhairs moved into a group of cabins at Cardinal Village up Bishop Creek, the local sheriff would sometimes glass us from the road cut under Cardinal Pinnacle. He had reason to be nervous, having recently busted Charlie Manson near Death Valley. We were soon guiding in the Palisades during the summer and exploring the magnificent boulders the rest of the year. It wasn’t clear yet that the Buttermilk would become an international destination, or even that bouldering itself would evolve into a leading—possibly the leading—form of climbing. But it was—uh crystal—clear that we had found a paradise of stone: bright eggs of granite, pocked with huecos and scattered with sharpcrystal crimps, sitting on sandy landings, at a mild-climate altitude and posed against a backdrop of jagged peaks that soared to within a cheater-stone dyno of 14,000 feet. We brought along Yosemite standards of difficulty, but there was not yet a whisper of chalk or a hint of pads to stress out the delicate desert plants. Our new Bishop allies, led by Gordon Wiltsie, Jay Jensen and Roger Schley, were simply amazing. Young, strong, spirited, and already begun climbing, their exuberance soon matched our experience, and we became a posse eager to explore the enticing boulders. We sauntered into the rocks, picking lines we could get up and fingering opening moves that would become the future. Chatting and laughing, partying, pulling down hard and whooping with delight—some things are timeless. Names, though, seemed to come and go. Tim Harrison, a brilliant new recruit from South Pasadena, christened the boulders the Peabodies for their shape, but the Buttermilk stuck. Old topo maps going back to the thirties already showed Buttermilk
PHOTOS // Top:
Country (singular, Amy Sturgill, eye please) on the lush cow on the prize, as pasturage that sweeps she looks to finish upslope toward Basin the final move of Mr. Witty in Mountain. For the two Bishop’s Volcanic biggest boulders, I Tablelands (Jeff tried to go matriarchal Diekes). Bottom: with Big Motha Will Stanhope Boulder and Split Pea, runs an afternoon but male dominance lap on the area overruled. Fine. classic, Southwest Grandpa and Grandma, Arete, of the Grandma Peabody if you must. One of Boulder in the my best problems iconic Buttermilk. was the Monkey Dihedral, around the corner from Saigon on what we called the Circle Boulder, commemorated in a Gordon Wiltsie shot that became a poster for Ascent. Underground comix, a major art movement from the sixties, had come with us from San Francisco. Raunchy characters like the Checkered Demon were memorialized in naming an ice climb above here, and a gritty crack problem I worked on with Jay Jensen, which took weeks of healing the backs of our hands between attempts but not a shred of tape, became Angelfood McSpade. Who was so cheeky as to rename it The Buttocks, anyway? It was intriguing to guess where the boulders came from. They were not glacial erratics. Water-worn huecos on the undersides were certainly a clue. Finally bedrock up on the ridge filled in the story, where the natural cracks between big blocks are gradually weathering, rounded from blowing sand, waiting for a big rocker quake to begin trundling them downhill. And it does shake here: the little-known Lone Pine earthquake of 1872 was bigger than San Francisco’s famous 1906 teethrattler. After we figured out that one, we quit sleeping under the boulders. www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com
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Nosing around, the Armadillos band found Little Egypt but not the Druids. We went to the Bardini Boulders for their isolated valley and the camping, though Smoke and Dave Sharp, the beloved civics teacher at Bishop High School who was already being demoted for associating with us, had combed Grouse Mountain and roped up The Claw. Soon we found volcanic bouldering too. Out in Round Valley an alluring dihedral right off of Highway 395 was painted with Jesus slogans. It revealed a Yosemite favorite: offwidth. And that led us to vertical pocket problems. Driving the river road back toward Bishop, the crisp edge of the Volcanic Tablelands wavered alongside, with dark blocks spilling toward us. Here were more steep problems facing the winter sun, with a texture merciful to Buttermilk-enflamed tips. We wandered around delighted, pulling down where it appealed, naming nothing and soon forgetting where we’d been. Back up on the Tablelands we read the occasional block of petroglyphs, and coming back down I stumbled upon a four-inch obsidian spearpoint. Inspired by these links to the past, one day we paddled a canoe out to an island in the Owens River and built a sweat lodge. Emerging dripping, we squatted on our haunches in a circle, passing a knife to feast on a baby goat roasting on a willow-branch spit over the fire. Bouldering generations go quick. The Armadillos were in our prime when we were simply blown away by a 17-year-old foreign-exchange student from Germany, Helmut Kiene. Lanky and always smiling, he seemed mildly amused to find climbers in a Wild West town. He went straight to Grandpa Peabody and catapulted the standards by roping up to lead the Cave Problem and toprope Transporter Room. Peter Croft summarized the reaction in Bishop Area Rock Climbs: This was a giant leap—perhaps the biggest jump in grades the area has seen. Some will be quick to point out that this is a bouldering area and both of these ascents used ropes and, so, don’t really count. But looking at the totality of Buttermilk climbing history and in an effort to be fair, I think those people should be punched in the face. Hot on our heels were Galen Rowell, gentle giant Bob Harrington and the everstylish Chris Vandiver. And as our efforts dwindled, Dale Bard came to town. He had an old UPS van all tricked out with
Left: The author, still Buttermilking at 70 (Chris Noble). Right: Doug Robinson kicks off bouldering on volcanic tuff with a Round Valley offwidth that led to discovering the Happy and Sad boulders. (Gordon Wiltsie) Center: Robinson on the first ascent of Monkey Dihedral, Saigon Boulder. (Gordon Wiltsie).
teak cabinetry. Where he parked in the Buttermilk, for years, became Dale’s Camp. It was a radical idea, like the first climbers to hunker down for a full season in Camp 4 at the end of the 1950s, honing themselves on the stone that littered the landscape. Dale had done the Valley, and now he was here, relentlessly raising the standards. I remember one day trying to hold an undercling on the Sunshine Boulder when he said, “just lock off.” Yeah, easy for you to say. Dale was a whole new kind of strong. No need to get into the more modern history, eighties onward. Others have it wired. The Armadillo’s time was past, though we still love to come out at twilight, a magic hour when even now there’s occasionally no one else around, and do our circuit of V0 to V2 problems—what I like to call the Milk Run. ********** The boulders around here are big, and soon people started decking. Hard. Gordon Wiltsie broke his calcaneus bone—an extremely serious foot injury—when he popped off of Good Morning Sunshine, where it only looks sandy underneath. Gin and tonics may have been involved; pads certainly weren’t. Sometimes that break gets called “Roofer’s Heel.” Many limp ever after, though Gordon lucked out: he went on to climb for years and photograph many striking covers for National Geographic. Modern boulderer Marty Hornick, with a pad, a spot and a short drop, still managed to twist off the edge of his pad and mangle his knee. An excruciating limp down from the Druids, three operations, and over a year later he’s working hard toward a full recovery. In the mid-eighties I came down much harder. Soloing, exploring a new line, I got stuck. A rounded, shaggy topout and irreversible moves below. Overhanging, so I could clearly see the landing, a rolling granite slab 40 feet below. Long minutes of stark terror, contemplating death as I pumped out. Finally, with my hands inches off the rock, I conveniently blacked out so I wouldn’t have to watch. My melon could so easily have split open right there. But instead I was ridiculously thankful, coming to with only a broken back ... and numb nuts that lasted for weeks. Highballing has its stark realities.
To Gill, bouldering became a “consuming practice” in “kinesthetic awareness”
Kevin Jorgeson agrees. He had already put up two of the hardest highball problems in the world on that biggest boulder when he wrote in the 2015 American Alpine Journal: I’d constantly put myself in positions like this. I was obsessed with pushing the standards of highball bouldering, rolling the dice with each sketchy first ascent. Ambrosia pushed the bar even higher, not just blurring the line between highball and solo but crossing it. To continue meant becoming a free soloist, and I was unwilling. Not only did I need a new project, I needed a new discipline of the sport. When someone like Kevin calls out the spiraling mortal edge of a style he himself had pushed to new levels, you tend to listen. Maybe there are other directions for bouldering to evolve. We pretty much owe
PHOTOS // Left: Matt this whole genre of climbing to John Gill, Segal works out the committing reach right? And way back move to pull the lip on in 1961, on a 30-foot Evilution Direct, a masclimb of the Thimble sive highball boulder in the Black Hills of problem on the GrandSouth Dakota, Gill pa Peabody boulder of Bishop’s Buttermilk ushered in the era (Jeff Diekes). Right: A of highballing. But crew of spotter supin spite of training ports a climber looking ruthlessly, in spite of to snag the top moves driving 500 miles to on Saigon Direct in the Thimble three or Bishop’s Buttermilk. four times, he was uncomfortable with what he had created. “The Thimble, to me, is not really a boulder problem …it’s a little too high, a little too dangerous.” He turned away, and for the rest of a simply amazing career, he added other dimensions to the challenge:
So things haven’t turned out quite the way I envisioned. This is true with regard to style, for I thought style as important as difficulty. I know few boulderers who fully appreciate this feature of our sport… Only a handful will spend as much time repeating easier routes with the sole objective of polishing their performance as they will working on hard new climbs. Sounds a little like old Smoke Blanchard, eh, running laps on his Rock Course “to smooth a technique.” We all struggle for words to express what flows out of our discipline. To Gill, bouldering became a “consuming practice” in “kinesthetic awareness.” What, divert the goal from successful topout? Focusing on graceful movement slides emphasis away from mere difficulty to the enjoyment of a rhythmic sweep upward. From grunt
to dance. And toward the reward of Gill’s other pregnant word, awareness. Heightened, it changes everything. “I felt serenely alive,” Gill said, with “an uncompromising zest for life that lasted for days.” And then there’s Ron Kauk, who we have to thank for the world’s best-known boulder problem, Midnight Lightning. Ron wrote a deceptively simple line about “getting inside the move.” It jumped off the page from his small book Spirit of the Rock in 2003. Ever since then, Ron’s challenge has informed my bouldering more than anything else. Maybe I look like a sloth, warming up with one-arm hangs from a generous knob, feeling the small shifts among muscles as my body tilts around, relaxing into adjustments in its attitude. A little like yoga, maybe; climbing has definitely become a practice. John Gill, Ron Kauk and Kevin Jorgeson, three of the finest boulderers ever, agreeing across many generations on a different approach than higher. Or even harder. There’s something rhythmic, answering the invitation of flow, in the direction they suggest. Perhaps a touch more mindful. And certainly gleeful. In a curious way, together they may point back to the future. Note: A short excerpt from this piece was printed in a good new guidebook, Bishop Bouldering Select, by Airlie Anderson and McKenzie Long, published February 2016 by Wolverine Publishing.
Great books for adventure in California. Photo: Luke Lydiard
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The Trail Steward of Carson City How Jeff Potter united a community of mountain bikers By Leonie Sherman
eff Potter set out to build a trail and ended up building a community. The trail got built, too; seven miles of twisting, turning mountain biking grins, connecting Ash Canyon Road with King’s Canyon Road in the rolling hills of Eagle Valley outside of Carson City, Nevada. And though Potter was rewarded for almost a decade of hard work by a National Trail Award in 2015, he’s quick to point out that it takes a village. “It’s not one person who gets this done,” Potter explains. “It’s team work that gets these things off the ground.” In 2007, Potter approached a local non-profit group called Muscle Powered to see if they would be interested in taking on a very ambitious trail construction project. Established in Carson City in 1997 for bicycle and pedestrian advocacy, Muscle Powered has created bike lanes and paths, and been instrumental
in legislative victories that have helped Nevada cyclists. The Ash to Kings trail was the organization’s first endeavor into trail design and construction. After Muscle Powered agreed to take on the trail, Potter became a board member and project leader. “I was completely clueless as to what needed to be done to get a trail built,” Potter laughs. “Two amazing Muscle Powered board members, founder Anne Macquarie and her engineer husband Chas guided me through the lengthy process.” First they had to meet with Carson City’s Open Space Manager Juan Guzman. Potter won him over, but it wasn’t a hard sell. “Juan was the most important person in this project,” Potter says without hesitation. “His enthusiasm, his relationships and contacts, and his ability to negotiate the red tape was invaluable.” Guzman opened the door for other partners like the US
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PHOTOS Opposite page, top to bottom: Jeff on the fat bike the Carson City trail community purchased for him; Americorp’s Nevada Conservation Corps crew (NCC) works on the Ashes to Kings Trail. This page, above: National Trails Day 2013.
Forest Service, the Great Basin Institute and the Nevada Parks Recreational Trails Program. Local archaeologists and engineers donated time and expertise. “We’ve had over 300 volunteers work to make this trail a reality since we first broke ground in 2012,” Potter says. “Designing and laying out a seven mile trail in the backcountry takes a huge amount of effort. Each of the crew leaders spent hours in the field, doing recon and GIS work for mapping, and then with flagging for the final alignment.” Potter can barely suppress a big grin. “These people have become some of my closest friends.” And Potter can’t resist bragging about the folks that make up his community. “They raise families, coach kids soccer, hold down full time jobs, and then come out with what little spare time they have to build trail.” His normally rapid fire speech and cheerful tone shifts for a moment. “I get the credit for building the trail, but the truth is I couldn’t do it without them.” The trail they completed in August 2015 has brought economic development to a forgotten corner of Nevada and created a vibrant mountain biking community of folks who do more than just ride together. That trail also stands as a symbol of the mountains an individual can move when motivated by love. “I fell in love with mountain biking back in 1983,” Potter reminisces. “I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, so I was riding all around the Santa Monica Mountains.” But then he came to the Lake Tahoe area and rode the Flume trail. “I knew I had to change my life so I could be close to these mountains and these biking opportunities,” he says. At the time, he was working with the Post Office. Carson City offered employment close to Lake Tahoe. “So I cut my hair and interviewed for the position.” He laughs and admits, “Of course, I started growing it back as soon as I got the job.” Since then he’s seen a lot of development and growth around Carson City, but as the population grew, the trail system remained stagnant. You’d see more people on the same number of trails, which led to the creation of informal social trails. These trails were often built without proper engineering or foresight, leading to erosion and access issues. “One of our goals is to inventory these social trails so
we can make them legal,” Potter says. “We realized nobody was advocating for trails,” Potter explains. “And a lot of us were tired of putting our bikes in the car to go riding. We figured Carson City was a perfect location for more trails. So a group of us got together and approached Carson City Supervisor Shelley Aldean to say, ‘Hey, we need more trails here.’” Aldean showed Potter the Unified Pathways Master Plan for the City and began Potter’s education in trail construction and politics. That was almost a decade ago. Since then this mountain-biking mailman known as “Trail Jesus” has learned to navigate government red tape and endless hours in committee. “I’m really out of my comfort zone in this work,” explains Potter. “I don’t like going to meetings and speaking in public, but somebody’s got to be the champion and step forward.” After years of grinding process, Potter was finally able to break ground on the trail in 2012. Roughly three years and 8,000 volunteer hours later it was completed. “Now, instead of me driving to Tahoe to ride, folks are coming from Tahoe to ride the Ash to Kings trail,” Potter says with a chuckle. “It’s a 17-mile round trip from my house. My garage is my trailhead.” In May 2015, Potter was recognized by an American Trails’ “Trail Worker of the Year” award, a prize that showcases individuals working for enhanced trail recreation. They commended him for providing consistent support for trail planning, development and maintenance. The next year, the Coalition for Recreational Trails chose the Ash to Kings trail project as the winner of their Annual Achievement Award. But Potter’s not content to rest on his laurels. His next vision is to build a trail connecting Carson City to Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park. “That’s another ten miles of trail we hope to build,” Potter explains. “This isn’t just about recreation, it’s about providing connectivity to our community.” The biggest challenge isn’t the manual labor required to construct the trail, but conducting environmental surveys to safeguard and minimize impact on wildlife, archaeological and botanical features. “The best case scenario is that the Environmental Impact Report is completed in 2018 and we can start breaking ground in 2019,” says Potter with a sigh. Potter is a tireless champion and will continue to advocate and work for local trails, whether he’s holding a pen or a shovel in his hand. “Nowadays 90% of what I do is paperwork,” Potter says with a sigh. Then his voice brightens. “But the rest is fun!” www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com
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Kids Roll Mountain biking takes off as fastest growing high school sport By Dave Robinson
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or many of us our fondest memories of riding date back to when we were a pack of kids exploring our local trails on our Schwinns. It didn’t matter if we were on five or ten speeds or even the legendary Stingray — we were finally free of parental guidance and able to find our own path wherever there was dirt. Things are so very different now with helicopter parents and computers vying for every free moment; today free time in the wilderness seems to be a vanishing commodity. More screen time would seem to suggest less physical exercise outdoors and the Center for Disease Control confirms that adolescent obesity rates have quadrupled in the last thirty years. At a time when all these challenges seem to be coming to a head we are seeing one sport offer to take our youth back to those heady days on bikes. Imagine a sport that isn’t bounded by convention, where having the best equipment or best appointed facility doesn’t determine one’s finish order. The
quickest athletes on the bike aren’t predisposed by their physical size or social strata but by their dedication to building skill and fitness. At a time when inequity dominates the headlines mountain biking has become the fastest growing sport in high schools while leveling the playing field among young athletes. In our teen years we are far more capable of developing new skills and a focused, coached approach allows kids to not only build skills but also selfconfidence. Enter the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) which develops interscholastic mountain biking programs for student-athletes across the United States. Founded in Marin in 2009 NICA has provided leadership and governance to local leagues and coaches and has since grown its operations to support riders in twelve states. Liam Ruff is a recent graduate of the NICA Nevada Union Miners mountain biking team and gives a first hand sense of how mountain biking enhances his well-
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“Mountain biking keeps us physically fit, gives us a natural stress relief and an escape from school and other responsibilities, and also provides a group of like-minded people to interact with.” being and that of his peers. “It keeps us physically fit, gives us natural stress relief and an escape from school and other responsibilities, and also provides a group of like-minded people to interact with who love bikes and the sport of cycling in general.” Perhaps one of the more troubling changes in how we spend our leisure time now is the amount of time we spend in front of screens. Our phones and computers have become the easiest route to distraction and
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Having the ride of your life? Leave the dirt behind! PHOTOS Main image: Laguna Seca Varsity riders (Mike Oitzman). This page, clockwise from top left: Nevada City Dirt Classic XC Series put on by Youth Bicyclists of Nevada County (YBONC) (Robert Lowe); Junior riders on Team K-Man out of Atascadero aspire to create an official high school team (Called To Creation); Student recipients of the 6th Annual NICA Awards 2015 at the Clif Bar Headquarters in Emeryville (Stephanie Ruff ).
entertainment. But what has happened to our original source of entertainment, wilderness? Visits to National Parks are declining and consumption of electronic media by children is growing. In his book Last Child in the Woods author Richard Louv coined a new term: “nature deficit disorder.” He has tied many of our youth’s modern day challenges to a lack of wilderness engagement, issues as broad ranging as ADHD and depression to obesity and myopia due to lack of resulting chemical signals to prevent elongation of the eye during the growth phase. Louv described the resulting benefits of treating nature deficit disorder as, “everything from a positive effect on the attention span to stress reduction to creativity, cognitive development, and their sense of wonder and connection to the earth.” Mountain biking provides an opportunity very early in life for individuals to recognize the power in their voice and their actions. “By being part of a team and a larger mountain bike and trail user community I have realized that our actions as users do influence how the public and land managers view mountain bikers and what decisions are made related to trails in the future,” Ruff
explains. He adds, “It has also given me a sense of how valuable trails really are — especially for high school mountain biking. By building more trails and advocating for more bike access we are investing in our future by giving kids the opportunity to be active, healthy, and strong. Without trails and bike advocacy high school mountain biking would not be where it is today.” David Giannini has coached for over nine years and describes one of his primary motivations in becoming involved in youth mountain bike racing, “Knowing that you are creating lifelong cyclists and growing young humans who will become tomorrow’s leaders.” If you have been thinking about trying something new, stepping up your fitness, and spending more time outdoors then joining a mountain biking team as a coach or racer may help you realize your goals. So next time you hear that pack of thirty kids ripping through the woods on their bikes take a moment to reflect on your own high school years and imagine yourself in their shoes. These riders are the future guardians of the trail you’re on so you might want to give them a hoot of encouragement as they fly by.
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Bike Club ne of the best aspects of mountain biking is the rise of the culture that surrounds it, but if they don’t race how can kids get some? Intramural and school club rides are growing in number around the country and provide the opportunity for youth to gain many of the benefits of organized rides without the pressure of racing. These rides include every size and shape of rider and bike and focus on getting kids outdoors via safe routes to unpaved roads. Tawn Kennedy is the director of Greenways to School which hosts group rides from middle schools in Santa Cruz County every Wednesday. Tawn is passionate about youth on bikes as you’ll note in his description of why he does what he does. “By getting youth in early adolescence interested in positive, prosocial activities like exploring their proverbial back yards on bikes, we can keep them out of a lot of trouble. Best of all, we can get them stoked on a mode of transportation and recreation that can provide life long fitness, expose them to beautiful natural settings, and contributes to protecting the planet.” Sounds like school club rides tick all the boxes but unfortunately non-competitive bike clubs aren’t nearly as pervasive as one would hope. The key factors required for the formation and ongoing success of bike clubs are individuals with the vision and devotion to organize the program (check the NICA website for tips at nationalmtb.org) and adults to lead and sweep the rides. If you’re an inspired youth or adult who’d like to see more kids in your area benefit from mountain biking then get together with a few likeminded folks and get those wheels turning! –DR PHOTO Greenways2School in
Photo: Noah Wetzel
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Pedal to the Metal Thoughts on the Turbo Levo, a pedal assist electric mountain bike from Specialized By Kurt Gensheimer
“Just try it.” I found myself saying those three
words a lot to my friends over the past few months when they laid eyes on the none-more-black Specialized Turbo Levo, a curious machine I call a motorized offroad bicycle (MORB). The first reaction to my invite was a resounding “no way”, but after a couple minutes of cajoling and promising not to take a photo of them riding a MORB and posting it on the interwebs, they swung a leg over it and took off. Every single person who rode the Turbo Levo came back with a smile on their face. Like my friend Jon said, “I’ve never not had fun on two wheels.” Obviously he’s never ridden a Segway, but my point is, even for purist mountain bikers who want to hate on MORBs, they have an undeniable novelty factor. Pedaling around with 530 watts of peak pedal assist electric power is like the hand of Jah giving you a gentle push from behind; it’s a sensation that’s hard to hate. But based on a lot of interwebs banter, you’d think the introduction of MORBs is the reincarnation of Damien. The amount of hate these contraptions have generated in the mountain bike world ranks on the same level as those vocal Marin eco-zealots whose life goal is to keep
mountain bikes off every single piece of singletrack in the county. While MORBs on non-motorized trails is a big no-no, especially in more densely populated areas, there are still many places where MORBs can be legally ridden. And one of those places is the mountain bike Mecca of Downieville. For the past couple months I’ve been riding the Turbo Levo on numerous moto-legal trails around Downieville, shaking it down to see if this 48 pound behemoth is suited for gnar terrain and big rides. Although my buddy Evan called it a “48-pound dirt bike you can pedal”, it’s not that good. Yes, the Turbo Levo is fun, especially uphill on pretty steep pitches so long as it isn’t too technical. But once the terrain gets really steep and really technical, pushing a 48 pound hunk of battery and motor uphill is just as much a workout on your body as it is a workout for your lexicon of expletives. The Turbo Levo can climb steeper and more technical terrain than your traditional mountain bike, but even the Turbo Levo has limitations. Because of its slack 66.5-degree head tube angle and abundant mid-ship weight down low where the battery and motor are, the front end of the Turbo Levo does not want to stay down,
PHOTO Weighing in at 48 pounds, the Turbo Levo electric mountain bike offers three levels of pedal assist and up to five hours of battery life with a 530 watt motor (Kurt Gensheimer).
ever. You literally have to stick your crotch on the nose of the saddle to keep it planted, and even then, once the terrain gets steep, the weight it makes it want to flop over. Not a problem if the Turbo Levo had a throttle like a dirt bike, but because it’s only pedal assist, once the bike starts falling over, the next step is either turning around or pushing uphill. Pointing the Turbo Levo downhill is moderately fun depending on the terrain. On wide open fire roads with big water bars to boost off, the Turbo Levo is a blast. All of that weight going downhill combined with 140mm front travel, 135mm rear travel and 27.5x3.0-inch tires makes it feel more like a mini dirt bike than a mountain bike. Because of the added weight and wider tires, the Turbo Levo has an insane amount of cornering bite and rolling speed, but because of the slack front end, the bike does like to plow in corners if you’re not in the front
California Bill Categorizes E-Bikes
L
ast October, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Assembly Bill 1096 that categorizes electric bicycles and where they are permitted. The bill was supported by PeopleForBikes, the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association (BPSA) and the California Bicycle Coalition, and creates three classes of e-bikes. Class 1 is pedal-assist with an assist limit of 20 mph. Class 2 is throttle-assist with an assist limit of 20 mph. Class 3 is pedal-assist, or a “pedelec” with an assist limit of 28 mph. Both Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes will be permitted on Class I Bikeways, or bike paths, defined by CalTrans as “a paved right-of-way completely separated from any street or highway.” But the big question – does this legislation apply to trails? According to Morgan Lommele, e-Bike Campaigns Manager for the BPSA and PeopleForBikes, it does not. In a recent guest blog post for the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) website, Lommele wrote, “Any claims that AB 1096 would create access for eMTBs on singletrack trails or other trails on public lands, whether they are currently open or closed to mountain bicycles, is inaccurate. Rest assured, AB 1096 does not open the door to unfettered and unmanaged eMTB recreation or jeopardize existing mountain bicycling access.” Of course this bill does not pertain to singletrack trails legal for motorized use. However, unlike mopeds and dirt bikes, electric bikes in California are not subject to registration, licensing or insurance requirements. While some see this as good for the expanded use of MORBs, it should be noted that the California Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) program draws nearly $30 million annually through registration fees, all set aside for trail planning, development and maintenance. These funds are actively being used in the Downieville region by the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship to maintain existing trails and build new trails for all trail users. The purchase of a MORB, which can cost as much or more than a dirt bike, contributes $0 to the OHV program. So for those in search of motor-assisted recreation, buying a dirt bike does more for the sustainability and support of trails in California than does buying a MORB. 30 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2016
“Based on a lot of interwebs banter, you’d think the introduction of MORBs is the reincarnation of Damien. The amount of hate these contraptions have generated in the mountain bike world ranks on the same level as those vocal Marin eco-zealots whose life goal is to keep mountain bikes off every single piece of singletrack in the county. While MORBs on non-motorized trails is a big no-no, there are still many places where they can be legally ridden.” of the cockpit like when cornering a dirt bike. In technical terrain, the Turbo Levo is much less enjoyable. One of the biggest criticisms of the Turbo Levo is its dangerously low bottom bracket. Although the crank spindle height is a respectable 12 inches off the ground, the frame itself hangs three inches lower, leaving the Turbo Levo with only nine inches of ground clearance. I’ve tagged a few rocks at speed with the bottom of the frame, and let me tell you, once a 48 pound bike changes trajectory, you’re simply along for the ride, going where it wants to go, and hopefully there isn’t a cliff involved. Pedaling the Turbo Levo through sand is amazing, as it is effortlessly pedaling into a 20 mph headwind. The Turbo Levo is even great pedaling a flat tire five miles home because you forgot your hand pump. On the topic of flat tires, the stock Specialized Purgatory and Ground Control 27.5x3.0-inch treads are simply not up to the task for such a heavy machine. They’re tires designed for a mountain bike weighing 20 pounds less. Specialized was kind enough to send us a pair of Purgatory tires with their tougher Grid casing, but alas, even those tires suffered numerous punctures. Of course the heart and soul of the Turbo Levo is its battery and motor. In typical Specialized fashion, the Turbo
Levo sports a very beautiful and well thought out design. Most people wouldn’t even know it’s electrified; it looks like a mountain bike. The battery is totally integrated into the downtube, and the motor is packaged neatly into the bottom bracket area. As far as battery life, it’s not ready for big rides. Although most people will never tackle a 10-mile, 4,000 vertical foot ascent, in Downieville there’s climbs like that everywhere. Even when set at only 30 percent assist, after climbing for 90 minutes from town to the top of Empire Creek Trail, the battery was almost completely dead. Thankfully the ride home was almost all downhill, but I did run out of battery, and man, you do not want to pedal the Turbo Levo uphill with a dead battery. It feels like you’re towing a pissed off mule train. The illuminated dial on the downtube shows remaining battery life and lets the rider set three assist levels, Eco (30 percent), Trail (60 percent) and full Turbo mode. For most moderate rides, Eco mode will get about five hours of ride time, Trail about half that and Turbo mode another half. But as I experienced, if there’s a lot of climbing involved, Eco mode will get you maybe two hours of riding. On the upside, it only takes about three hours to fully charge the Turbo Levo. There is also a Mission Control app for the Turbo Levo one can download to fine tune the bike, but really, I’m a Luddite, so I didn’t bother messing with the app very much. Performance of the motor is only mildly irritating. Most of the time it works pretty seamlessly, but there is definitely some lag, which is acceptable. What’s not acceptable though is when the motor suddenly cuts out completely for as long as three seconds. Three seconds doesn’t sound like a lot, but when you’re downshifting on a super steep pitch trying to do everything you can to keep the bike moving forward and the motor cuts out, three seconds is an eternity. The best way I can summarize riding the Specialized Turbo Levo is that while it makes the uphills more fun, it definitely does not make the downhills more fun. And when I ride, I ride for maximum downhill fun. When the Turbo Levo launched this past spring in Moab, Specialized founder Mike Sinyard was quoted as saying, “let the ride decide”. At least for this mountain biker, based on the ride, I don’t see myself buying a MORB anytime soon. But for some older folks or those with health conditions, it could be a great way to get out on MORBlegal trails and have a good time.
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Endless Summer Yoga Retreat November 12–13, 2016
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To MORB or Not to MORB? THAT is the question. How do YOU feel about electric mountain bikes? Chime in at adventuresportsjournal.com/switchback. Take the poll and leave a comment – we’ll be publishing poll results and comments in the next issue of Adventure Sports Journal. We want to hear from you!
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31
Event Profiles
a sneak peek at some of the season’s best upcoming events
CALIFORNIA COAST CLASSIC September 4 - October 1 San Francisco to Los Angeles
TA-HOE NALU
August 12-14, Kings Beach Celebrating its tenth year, Ta-Hoe Nalu brings the feel of a traditional Hawaiian paddle festival to the spectacular Kings Beach on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. Quickly becoming a must-do event for anyone associated with all forms of paddleboarding, Ta-Hoe Nalu was founded in 2007 by Ernie Brassard. During the event, hundreds of competitors and thousands of spectators will help create a party atmosphere in the High Sierra. The three-day event begins on Friday afternoon with paddleboarding workshops, yoga and exhibits. Racing begins on Saturday morning and continues through to Sunday, with competitions in prone and stand-up paddling, as well as outrigger racing. Distances vary from the ten-mile long course event to two-mile beginner races. Brassard had seen friends playing around on standup paddleboards so he purchased his own from Bob Pearson at Arrow Surfboards in Santa Cruz. After paddling the clear Tahoe waters a few times, he was soon hooked on this new way to enjoy the lake. Brassard says, “Pearson was joking around one time. He says, ‘You know, maybe we should come up and do some kind of crossing and paddle on the lake.’” The idea stuck. Brassard mentioned it to a few people and Chris Thibaut, owner of Jake’s on the Lake restaurant in Tahoe City, offered to throw a party on the Friday night before the paddle. Brassard and Pearson put the word out, and the race was on. They were joined by friends from Santa Cruz and Southern California, to paddle the eight miles to Captain Jon’s restaurant in Tahoe Vista. “We had so much fun that year, that we said, ‘We’ve got to do this again.’ And that’s how it all started.” says Brassard. “We never expected to be doing this ten years later.” tahoenalu.com. PHOTOS This page, clockwise from top: Ta-Hoe Nalu paddle festival in Kings Beach (Ta-Hoe Nalu); California Coast Classic Bike Tour course (California Coast Classic); Gearing up for the Lost Sierra Electric Bike Festival (Eco Bike Adventures). Opposite page, clockwise from top: Athlete on The Challenge Fondo course (Chico Velo); Granlibakken’s Endless Summer Yoga Retreat (Granlibakken); Radical Reels (Banff Mountain Film Festival); Family-friendly Tahoe Fall Classic (Tahoe Cup).
32 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2016
LOST SIERRA ELECTRIC BIKE FESTIVAL August 27, Portola
Eco Bike Adventures has collaborated with trailblazing pioneers of the electric bike movement, creating an event that is focused on the electric bike experience. The Lost Sierra Electric Bike Festival is a day of fun, competition, networking, and fellowship for all electric bike enthusiasts. The event offers something for everyone from competitions, exhibitions, and free demo rides and tours. Competitive events include a trail race and a 100-meter drag race. The trail race is similar in design to a mountain bike allmountain race or a dirt bike trail race, testing the bike and its riders limits. The course is 10-12 miles of single track winding throughout Eco Bike Adventures’ 2,000acre property. The top three finishers in each category (pedal assist open, throttle assist open, and kids’ trial) will be awarded so be prepared to strategize how to manage your battery, motor, and drivetrain so you can finish the race. The electric bike version of a quarter-mile drag race, the drag race is a straight forward 100-meter off-road drag race against the clock and other racers. The top three finishers in each category will be awarded so expect to strategize how to manage your motor, drivetrain, and legs. The festival’s free expo includes a Long Jump Challenge, Best in Show Ebike Build, Trail Tour Demos, and Ebike Demos. A buffet lunch will be served on the day of the event, followed by music to keeping the energy flowing all day. There will be camping on site for a limited amount of reservations. Dry camping includes shower, toilet, central fire. Free solar charging will be available at this familyoriented, pet friendly event. ecobikeadv.com
Looking for new and fresh ideas to add to the bucket list? The Arthritis Foundation’s 16th Annual California Coast Classic Bike Tour is calling! The California Coast Classic is one of the Arthritis Foundation’s top fundraising events, as funds raised go to supporting extensive research and advocacy for arthritis, America’s leading cause of disability. Arthritis affects over 50 million adults, or one out of five, including over 300,000 children. The ride itself is a fully supported bike tour of Highway One from San Francisco to Los Angeles, equipped with fun-filled stops along the way. Beginner and experienced riders alike are invited to enjoy the California’s famous wineries, lighthouses and beaches. The ride will cover 525 miles of the country’s most famous coastline from September 24 through October 1. Each day’s sights, sounds, and scents are local and different. After a catered, hot breakfast, riders set off at their own pace following a clearly marked route. Rest stops are available every 20 to 25 miles to refuel and relax. Roving SAG wagons and mechanical support ensure rider safety. After each leg of the ride, riders camp for free in their own tents or stay in hotels at their own expense. Massages, mobile chargers, WiFi, hot showers, restrooms, and laundry are offered at campsites. Wine and beer tastings, sumptuous dinners, raffles, events and honoree presentations are also held nightly. “I was so excited about this adventure to cycle 525 miles of the most scenic coastal roads on this tiny planet of ours, raising money for a wonderful cause and the hope of making some new friends,” said Gavin Hough, a first year rider in 2015 for Team Carter. “I feel truly blessed with the adventures I have experienced, the new friends I have made, the generosity and support of the CCC family. My heart must have at least doubled in size.” Register to take part in the 16th year of helping people living with arthritis and see why the California Coast Classic Bike Tour was voted one of the Top 30 Best Outdoor Vacations in the World. Space is limited to 250 riders, so sign up today! californiacoastclassic.org
SLO ULTRA
September 10, San Luis Obispo The inaugural SLO Ultra is a unique trail event running through the private Wild Cherry Canyon property on California’s scenic central coast near San Luis Obispo. Registration is now open for this highly anticipated event which features a 50-mile ultra race, marathon, half marathon and 5-mile trail courses. Medals and awards will go to the top three athletes overall in all races. Additionally, the 50-mile race champions will be awarded a cash purse. The race is limited to 900 runners overall and is expected to sell out. A live Bluegrass Festival free to the public plus a BBQ featuring Firestone Walker brews available for purchase will cap off this day of celebration. sloultra.com
THE CHALLENGE FONDO September 10, Durham
GRANLIBAKKEN TAHOE & ENDLESS SUMMER YOGA RETREAT
The Challenge Fondo is accessible for cyclists of ALL abilities. All timed routes offer categories for adaptive athletes with upper or lower limb disabilities, vision or hearing impairments, handcyclists, recumbents and tandems (blind or sighted stokers) as well as the usual agegroup categories for fully-able cyclists. Timed route options include hilly 100-, 65-, and 50-mile courses and a flat, fast 30-mile course. Also offered is a more leisurely flat 20-mile fun-ride (not timed). All riders receive an event t-shirt, wellstocked rest stops, on-road support, finisher souvenir, and post-ride meal and raffle. Timed riders compete for awards, prizes, and podium positions. The event’s co-host, Ability First Sports, will have handcycles on-site for disabled athletes who would like to try one. Adaptive athletes interested in test-riding a handcycle can register separately for the 20-mile fun ride, a 5-mile test-ride or a parking lot demo. Choose your challenge and get ready for a great day on the bike, knowing your entry fee supports efforts to make local roads safer for all cyclists and to encourage people of all ages and abilities to make bicycling a part of their healthy life choices. chicovelo.org
Summer at Lake Tahoe includes just about every activity, from hiking to the mountain tops to swimming in the deep lake water. Hiking, biking, swimming, running, paddle-boarding and boating are only some of the activities offered at Lake Tahoe. Between all of the action and motivation that the lake brings, it’s important to take a moment and allow nature to bring its peace and harmony. Boasting 74 acres of private forestry, Granlibakken Tahoe offers the perfect location for a Tahoe getaway. Located .5 mile from Tahoe City and one mile from Lake Tahoe, Granlibakken Tahoe makes it easy to relax after a full day of activity. From studio units to condos, Granlibakken Tahoe accommodates individual travelers and family vacations with ease. Stay at Granlibakken Tahoe over Labor Day weekend and join the Endless Summer Yoga Retreat. Start or enhance a yoga practice with a complete weekend of daily yoga classes and meditation, live music and entertainment. Unwind from daily routines and allow the mountain breeze to soothe your mind, body and spirit. granlibakken.com
BATTLE OF THE BAY
RADICAL REELS TOUR
Bluerush is proud to host the Battle of the Bay / Watersport Festival, the largest event and expo of it’s kind in Northern California’s San Francisco Bay Area. This year’s event will include SUP, Prone Paddler, OC1 and OC2, and Surfski. The American Kiteboarding Association has picked this event to host their US National Kite Foil Championship and it will also be hosting the Northern California Windsurfing Championship. There will be various courses for each event. Spectators can check out the latest merchandise and equipment from our Sponsors, meet the pros, learn about sports nutrition and even take a yoga class. The MC will entertain with music while also broadcasting the action of the racers as they paddle around Alcatraz and the Bay. battleofthebay.com
The Radical Reels Tour runs every spring and fall and spans North America, bringing a variety of mountain sport films to a wide range of viewers from hard-core outdoor adventurers to weekend warriors. Grab your tickets and hang on to your seat for the best jaw-dropping mountain sport films on skiing, boarding, climbing, biking, kayaking and more – all brought to life on the big screen. Experience more than half a dozen wild action sports as seen through the eyes of some of today’s top athletes and most talented adventure sport filmmakers. ASJ is proud to sponsor the Santa Cruz screening at the Rio Theatre on September 25 at 7pm. For tickets and information, visit riotheatre.com. For more information on the Radical Reels Tour, including tour locations and dates, visit radicalreels.com.
September 17-18, San Francisco
September 2 - 5, Tahoe City
The Arthritis Foundation’s California Coast Classic Bike Tour is a scenic bike ride that takes place over 8 days and covers 525 miles along the California coast. The event benefits the Arthritis Foundation by raising vital funds needed to find a cure for arthritis, America’s leading cause of disability. Register today for the ride of a lifetime at
www.californiacoastclassic.org presented by
November 12 - 13, 2016 • bigsurhalfmarathon.org E! s. FEader
Also presenting the Pacific Grove Lighthouse 5K & By the Bay 3K
Come for the run! Stay and play by the bay!
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2016 Essential Race Calendar Visit us online for a full listing of upcoming California events. Go to AdventureSportsJournal.com and click on the EVENTS button.
Biking AUGUST 4 - 7th — Downievlle Race and Festival, Downieville. All-mountain World Championships, XC Adventure Race and Downieville Downhill. DownievilleClassic.com 6 — 54th Marin Century & Mt Tam Double, San Rafael. MarinCyclists.com 6-7 — MTB Core Fundamentals Marin County Master and improve your bike skills. Learn solid foundation skills: cornering, braking, slow speed, balance, body position, wheel lifts, variance of the skills, switch backs, basic drops, vision, and more. ASingleTrackMind.com 13— Annadel XC, Santa Rosa. Race singletrack; BikeMonkey.net
20 — Beckwourth 100 MTB Enurance Race Beckwourth, NorthlanderEvents.com 18-21—Mendocino MTB Madness (M5) Three fully supported days of amazing singletrack riding, family-friendly , includes rustic accommodations with fire places and meals. SuperProRacing.com 27-28 — Northstar Enduro at Northstar California Resort, Truckee. Round #6 of the California Enduro Series. CaliforniaEnduroSeries.com 27 — Lost Sierra Electric Bike festiva, Portola A day of fun, competition, networking, and fellowship for all electric bike enthusiasts. The event offers something for everyone from competitions, exhibitions, and free demo rides and tours. Competitive events
include a trail race and a 100-meter drag race. See the event profile on page 32 for more information or go to ecobikeadv.com SEPTEMBER California Coast Classic September 4 - October 1 San Francisco to Los Angeles The ride is a fully supported bike tour of Highway One from San Francisco to Los Angeles, equipped with fun-filled stops along the way. Voted one of the Top 30 Best Outdoor Vacations in the World. Space is limited to 250 riders, so sign up today! See the event profile on page 32 for more details. californiacoastclassic.org 3-4 — MTB Core Fundamentals Truckee master and improve your bike skills. Learn solid foundation skills: cornering, braking, slow speed,
balance, body position, wheel lifts, variance of the skills, switch backs, basic drops, vision, and more. ASingleTrackMind.com 10 — Mammoth Gran Fondo, Mammoth, 42 mile, 70 mile, and 102 mile races through the beautiful Mono County. FallCentury.org 10 — Challenge Fondo, Durham For able-bodied and disabled cyclists. Timed eventsfrom 30 -100 miles and 5 & 20 mile fun rides. www.ChicoVelo.com 11 — Great Tahoe Flume Race Lake Tahoe, NV. Sierra Cup Mountain Bike Series, SierraCupMTB.com 15-18 — Road to Mendocino Starting in the high-desert plateau and ending on the coastal California craggs, this is a 4-day, 365-mile odyssey from Reno to Mendocino. SuperProRacing.com
15-18 — Kamikaze Bike Games, Mammoth Downhill, dual slalom, crosscountry, klunker race, kids races and much much more. Kamikazebikegames. com 17— 13th Annual Tahoe Sierra Century, Squaw Valley TahoeSierraCentury. com 17-18 — Unknown Coast Weekend, Ferndale The ride starts and finishes along the quiet coastal towns of Ferndale and consists of two extremely hilly, but scenic days – 65 miles on Saturday and 35 miles on Sunday. ChicoVelo.org 24-25 — Bike MS: Waves To Wine Ride, From SF up Hwy 1 to Sonoma County. Two days; 40, 75 or 100 miles; WavesToWine.org 24-25 — MTB Core Fundamentals Truckee master and improve your See Sept. 3-4 description. ASingleTrackMind.com
25 — Princess Challenge Women’s Bike Ride, Folsom. A cycling event for women and girls with trail rides from 15 to 64m. CaliforniaGirlsSriescom
Miscellaneous Sept. 2-5 — Endless Summer Yoga Retreat Balance your endurance sports with a yoga retreat at Lake Tahoe. Enjoy the perfect fusion of nature and yoga. Book now at www. granlibakken.com or contact shawnalee@granlibakken. com 25 — The Radical Reels Tour, Santa Cruz Hang on to your seat for the best jawdropping mountain sport films on skiing, boarding, climbing, biking, kayaking and more – all brought to life on the big screen. Visit riotheatre.com.For more information on the Radical Reels Tour, including tour locations and dates, visit radicalreels.com.
THE ULTIMATE MTB EVENT ENDURO DUAL SLALOM KAMIKAZE LEGENDS OF THE KAMIKAZE CROSS COUNTRY PRO GRT DOWNHILL ELECTRIC BOOGALOO SHIMANO KIDS RACES AND MORE
REGISTER NOW EVENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FACILITIES UNDER PERMIT FROM INYO NATIONAL FOREST
34 ASJ—April/May ASJ — Aug/Sept2013 2016 30
bike • paddle • run • swim • triathlon Paddling Sundays — Sea Kayaking Club, Santa Cruz Harbor. This 5-week intensive sea kayaking course is a great way to learn how to paddle a closed-deck kayak and navigate open water. No experience necessary. KayakConnection.com or call 831.479.1121 Raft the Middle Fork of the American — This class IV rushes through a pristine, secluded canyon. oars.com Stand Up Paddle Boarding Club, Santa Cruz Area. This course focuses on balance, techniques, open ocean paddling & core strength. KayakConnection. com or call 831.479.1121 Emerald Bay Tour Lake Tahoe come experience it from lake level! Join us as we paddle at a leisurely pace exploring the shoreline and observing nesting osprey and soaring bald eagles. KayakTahoe.com
AUGUST 1, 3, 8, 15, 17, 29, 31 — Craft Beer on the Toulumne River, Groveland, Two day whitewater thrills by day, then choice brews pared with gourmet fare. oars.com/ beer-tasting 800-346-6277 12 - 14 — Ta-Hoe Nalu Paddle Festival, Tahoe, Races, clinics, demos, expo in a great festival like atmosphere on Lake Tahoe. tahoenalu.com 21 - 23 — Wine Tasting on the Toulumne River If wine is the most civilized thing in the world, why not enjoy it in the wilderness on one of O.A.R.S.’ Wine Tasting on the River www.oars.com/ our_adventures/winetrips SEPTEMBER 1 - 3 — Wine Tasting on the Toulumne River www. oars.com/our_adventures/ winetrips
2 & 4 — Craft Beer on the Toulumne River, Groveland, Two day whitewater thrills by day, then choice brews pared with gourmet fare. oars.com/ beer-tasting 800-346-6277 11 - Tahoe CupFall Classic Paddle Race, Tahoe, Go to tahoecup.com for more info. 17-18 — Battle ofthe Bay, San Francisco BOTB is the largest standup paddleboard race event in Northern California Competitors will race around world famous Alcatraz Island and under the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. battleofthebay.com 24 - 25 — Feather River Festival. Party hard at the Feather River Festival. Hosted by the Chico Paddleheads, the festival weekend features a downriver race on the Class V Tobin run, a slalom event upstream, and a raucous party Saturday night. ChicoPaddleHeads.org
LOST SIERRA ELECTRIC BIKE FESTIVAL ECO BIKE ADVENTURES SIERRA VALLEY
3559 BECKWOURTH CALPINE RD., BECKWOURTH, CA 96129
AUGUST 27 FREE ADMISSION 9AM-5PM
TRAIL RACE LONG JUMP CHALLENGE E-BIKE BUILD “BEST IN SHOW” PEDAL ASSIST OPEN TRAIL TOUR DEMOS THROTTLE ASSIST OPEN E-BIKE VENDORS KIDS TRAIL LIVE MUSIC FOOD & REFRESHMENTS CAMPING
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KITE | PADDLE | WINDSURF
EAST BEACH, SF | SEPT 17-18, 2016 www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com
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2016 Essential Race Calendar Visit us online for a full listing of upcoming California events. Go to AdventureSportsJournal.com and click on the EVENTS button.
Running AUGUST Aug. 6 — Salinas Valley Half Marathon, Runners pass wineries, vineyards and fields of verdant row crops before crossing an idyllic finish line at Pessagno Winery. bsim.org Aug. 6 — Sierra Crest 30 & 50K, Tahoe Donner to Soda Springs. truckeerunningseries.com Aug. 14 — Tri Santa Cruz. // t’s our 10th Anniversary and we’re going to have a party! Main Beach Santa Cruz. International Triathlon, Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon, Dip and Dash Aquathlon #2, Aquabike & Relays available. FinishLineProduction.com
20 — Big Blue Trail Run, Incline Village 5K & 10K Run TahoeTrailRunning.com
coastline where it’s rough, it’s rugged, and it’s dirty. www. SLOUltra.com
21 — Orca Alcatraz Challenge Aquathlon & Swim, San Francisco. TriCalifornia.com
10-11th — Headlands 50, 75 & 100-Mile Trail Runs, Sausalito. PCTrailRuns.com
21 — Marlette 50K and 10Miler “RRCA State Championship” Lake Thoe East Shore, TahoeTrailRunning.com 27 — The 420 Games Tour, San Francisco, an athletic event to de-stigmatize responsible use of cannibis. 420games.org SEPTEMBER 10 — SLO Ultra This race will take you over wild undiscovered territories along the majestic California
17 — Emerald Bay Trail Run, Lake Tahoe West Shore TahoeTrailRunning. com
Swim
SEPTEMBER
AUGUST 18— Dip and Dash Aquathlon #3, Santa Cruz. FinishLineProduction.com 21 — Lake Tahoe Sharkfest. 1-mile swim on Crystal Bay. Raceroster.com
21 — Orca Alcatraz Challenge Aquathlon 18 — Whiskeytown Relays & Swim, San Francisco. 19.9 mile paved/dirt, for more TriCalifornia.com info go to sweatrc.com 27 — 24th Annual Alcatraz Sharkfest. SharkFestswim. 24— Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & com 5-Mile, EnviroSports.com 27 — Lake Tahoe Open Water Swim, Tahoma 1/2, 24 — Lederhosen 5K 1.2, 2.4 Mile Open Water & 10K, Squaw Valley, Swim TahoeSwimming.com TahoeTrailRunning.com 25 — Truckee Marathon, Truckee TahoeTrailRunning. com
10/29-10/30/16 | SLOGRANFONDO.COM
28 — Catfish Crawl Open Water Swim, Morgan Hill. 1.2 & 2.4-mile swims. USAproductions.org
10 — SLO Ultra This race will take you over wild undiscovered territories along the majestic California coastline where it’s rough, it’s rugged, and it’s dirty. www. SLOUltra.com 10 — 12th Annual Alcatraz Swim with the Centurions, San Francisco. 1.25-mile swim from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park. WaterWorldSwim.com 10 — Alcatraz Invitational, San Francisco. South-End. org 11— Golden Gate Sharkfest. San Francisco, Raceroster.com 24 — Golden Gate Bridge Swim, San Francisco. 3k WaterWorldSwim.com
RIDE TIE &
Triathlon/ Duathlon AUGUST 6 —Semper Tri & Devil Dog Duathlon, Camp Pendleton, half marathon, 10K, 5K Kids 1K. mccscp.com 14 — Tri Santa Cruz. // t’s our 10th Anniversary and we’re going to have a party! Main Beach Santa Cruz. International Triathlon, Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon, Dip and Dash Aquathlon #2, Aquabike & Relays available. FinishLineProduction.com 18— Dip and Dash Aquathlon #3, Santa Cruz. FinishLineProduction.com 20 — Tri-for-Fun Triathlon & Du-for-fun Duathlon, Rancho Seco Park, Herald. Onyourmarkevents.com
TWO PEOPLE AND A HORSE ONE EXCITING RACE ... A STRATEGIC EQUINE AND TEAMMATE PARTNERSHIP
4/29-4/30/17 | SLOMARATHON.COM
2016 SOLD OUT 2017 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
9/10/16 | SLOULTRA.COM
www.rideandtie.org
RACESLO.COM #EnduranceTownUSA 36 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2016
Mentors and horses are available in many areas.
Photos: Corey Rich / Aurora Photos
Distances from 4 - 40 miles // fun & family friendly // walk or run // we share the trails and love nature. Learn more!
MARKETPLACE
bike • paddle • run • swim • triathlon
72 miles of pure liquid fun Lake Tahoe Water Trail
20 — XTERRA Lake Tahoe Incline Village, Olympc/Sprint/Duathlon, bigblueadventure.com
8 — South Lake Open Water Swim, Tahoma 1/2, 1.2, 2.4 Mile Open Water Swim TahoeSwimming.com
27 - 28 — Donner Lake Triathlon and Duathlon Sprint, Half, Olympic & Aquabike. donnerlaketri.com
8 — Sierra Showdown Paddling Festival, South Lake 5 mile, 10 mile, kids Aquabike. laketahoepaddling.com
SEPTEMBER 4— Bear Valley Triathlon, Bear
Lake. OnYourMarkEvents. com 11 — Pacific Coast Triathlon, Crystal Cove. OCtriseries.com 11 - Ironman 70.3 Santa Cruz (Big Kahuna Triathlon), Ironman.com
18— Dip and Dash Aquathlon #3, Santa Cruz. FinishLineProduction.com 21 — Orca Alcatraz Challenge Aquathlon & Swim, San Francisco. TriCalifornia.com 25— 34th Annual Santa Cruz Triathlon. SantaCruzTriathlon.org Sep. 30-Oct. 2nd — Scott Tinley’s 20th Anniversary Triathlon,, San Luis Obispo. TriCalifornia.com
Looking Ahead OCTOBER 1 — Mermaid Santa Cruz, Capitola. All women triathlon and duathlon. MermaidSeries.com 1-2 — MTB Core Fundamentals Santa Cruz Master and improve your See Sept. 3-4 description. ASingleTrackMind.com 2 — San Diego Sharkfest. Tidelands Park to Coronado Bridge. Raceroster.com 2— Urban Cow Half Marathon, Relay & 5k, Sacramento UrbanCowHalfMarathon. com 8 —Skyline to the Sea Trail Run, Boulder Creek, Marathon & 50k. PCTrailRuns.com
8-9 — MTB Core Fundamentals Sacramento/Granite Bay Master and improve your See Sept. 3-4 description. ASingleTrackMind.com 8-9th — Bizz Johnson Marathon, Half, 10k & 5k, Susanville. Run through scenic Lassen National Forest. CoastalTrailRuns. com 9 — Surf City AIDS Ride A charity ride is to support the Santa Cruz AIDS Project (SCAP). 12, 30, 65 or 100 miles. surfcityaidsride.org 15 — Solvang Autumn Double Century, Solvang. PlanetUltra.com 15 — Bishop High Sierra Ultra-Marathons. InsideTrail.com 16 — Annual SuperKid Triathlon, Santa Cruz. This event gives your children the opportunity to be triathletes! 14 and under. FinishLineProduction.com 16 — TBF MTB 50-Miler, Granite Bay, Folsom Lake. TBFRacing.com
NOVEMBER 8 — Surf City Aquathlon,
Santa Cruz. NEW THIS YEAR // a swim-run event. FinishlineProduction.com 6 — Morro Bay Triathlon, Moro Bay. Olympic and Sprint distances. Beautiful coastal route with an alternative kayak and stand up paddleboard (SUP) courses, morrobaytri.com 12-13 — Women’s Wellness Weekend A complete weekend with exercise and lectures designed specifically for women and brought to you by medical doctors, health professionals and instructors. Book now at www.granlibakken.com or contact shawnalee@ granlibakken.com
831.818.6112 We’ll Show You The Way
© Corey Rich / Aurora Photos
Find your paddle adventure at
LakeTahoeWaterTrail.org Launch & Landing Sites • Maps Paddle Routes • Paddle Shops Campgrounds & Lodging Events • Water Safety Info
Learn the skills of a pro from a pro!
13 — Big Sur Half Marathon, Monterey Bay From the people who bring you the Big Sur International Marathon. The Big Sur Half event includes the Pacifc Grove Lighthouse 5K, and By the Bay 3K. bsim.org DECEMBER 3 — Death Valley Trail Marathon and Half Marathon, Titus Canyon, RaceRoster.com 4 — California International Marathon, Folsom. runcim.org
23 — Folsom Blues Breakout Half Marathon, Folsom. FolsomBluesHalf. org
10 — Hark the Herald Angels 12k & 25k™, Angel Island. active.com
30 — SLO Gran Fondo, San Luis Obispo Coastal and Wine Country. SLOGranFondo.com
therideguides.com
13 — Mermaid Run, SF. For novice or experienced runners. MermaidSeries. com
22-23 — Bay to Bay, Irvine to San Diego. BikeMS.org
29 — Stinson Beach Marathon, Half Marathon & 7k, Stinson Beach. Halfmarathons.net
Discover the best of Santa Cruz with our premier guiding and coaching service.
MTB Skills Coaching Certified IMBA ICP 1,2,3 & Betterride Certified. 3000 plus hours of professional coaching.
asingletrackmind.com • (209) 662-5392
11 — Jingle Bell Rock, Santa Cruz.. 5k walk/run benefit for Toys for Tots. FinishLineProduction.com
List and view events on our website at Adventure Sports Journal .com
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Gear We Love Goodies for your active lifestyle
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1. Reflekt Rival Unsinkable Sunglasses Reflekt makes sporty sunglasses that are comfortable and good looking. What’s exciting is that these sunglasses will not sink in water. We are curious why no one has thought of this before because floating sunglasses are pretty much crucial in a lake or ocean environment. For anyone who has lost a pair of expensive sunglasses in the ocean we feel your pain – that’s why we recommend Reflekt Rival Unsinkables for all outdoor sports that involve water. Made with a high tech plastic called Vaporlite, these sunglasses are actually lighter than water and will bob to the surface immediately when immersed. Reflekt offers a unique warranty against loss or damage; simply register your pair upon purchase and your glasses will be replaced if you lose them. MSRP $139.00 reflektpolarized.com 2. Hydrapak 1L Stash Collapsible Water Bottle The Stash Bottle is a game changer no matter where your active lifestyle takes you. We love how lightweight the bottle is and well it collapses to stash away whether tucking it into a gear bag after our kids’ soccer game or backpack out in the backcountry where preserving space is critical. Durable, flexible, and leak-proof, the Stash packs down to roughly one-fifth its filled size, and its design is lighter and easier to carry than hard bottles. The wide-mouth screw top features an integrated bail-handle and makes it super easy to fill and clean. It can be frozen or filled with warm water (max temp 140°F / 38 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2016 38 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2016
60°C), fits most backcountry water filters and is 100% BPA and PVC Free. MSRP $22.99 hydrapak.com 3. Blackburn Outpost Medium Frame Bag We’ve found this cycling frame bag to be the ideal choice whether packing for a one day pleasure ride or a multiday adventure. Its expandable bottom compartment accommodates a surprising amount of gear, and makes it easy to customize your packing needs to your trip. The bag includes adjustable mounting systems to fit almost any bike, and straps can mount in multiple locations for a secure fit. Other features include extra protection against the elements, a water bladder hydration port, and several mesh and slip pockets, as well as a main compartment baffle. Weight: 360g/0.79lbs. Also comes in large for $10.00 more. MSRP $59.99 blackburndesign.com 4. Source Hipster Multi-Sport Hydration Belt This hydration pack rides on your hips and we think you’ll agree it’s the most ergonomic hydration pack ever. The suspenders take a little getting used to, but after one ride or run you will never want to wear a backpack-style hydration pack again. The reason we like this style so much is that your center of gravity is kept noticeably lower which has some obvious advantages while trail running or mountain biking. The capacity of the bladder is 1.5
liters making it suitable for long adventures depending on your hydration preferences. Source makes a variety of great products and this pack has all the features you’d expect from an elite level gear maker. The Widepac Hydration system is very easy to refill and the drinking valve comes with a magnetic clip that keeps the drinking tube very handy – a feature we have come to expect from the best hydration packs. Zippered mesh pockets on the side and velcro sealed small back pockets offer space for gels and bars. The Hipster is a must try if you are looking for a hydration pack and it’s ideal for biking, hiking, running and paddling. MSRP $90.00 sourceoutdoor.com 5. Wren Boost MTB/Fatbike Frame Mount Pump We ran across this powerful new bike pump from Wren at the Carson City Off Road bike race in June. In a nutshell this pump is a work of art and highly functional to boot. Finally a totally selfcontained frame pump with no loose parts or adaptors to fumble with or lose. The Wren Boost Pump comes with an adjustable head that easily rotates between Schrader and Presta valves. Simply turn the knob clockwise until it stops for Schrader, or counter-clockwise for Presta. No adaptors to carry or reverse. What’s nice is the hose stays attached to and stores inside the barrel. Simply unscrew the adaptor head and pull out the hose. The hose is a full eight inches in length with three points of rotation at the head, hose and handle making your job a lot easier. Wren pumps come with a mounting
bracket including safety strap to keep your pump secure. The weight is 124 grams and the length is just a hair under ten inches. MSRP $24.99 wrensports.com 6. Pura Naturals Active Sponge We like Pura Naturals active sponges for dealing with that not-so-fresh-feeling that comes with car camping and backpacking. It’s convenient head-to-toe cleaning you can take anywhere without messy soaps and a washcloth. The active sponge attracts oil, dirt, and impurities from your skin and gently exfoliates with rich botanicals. Use this “instant shower” once and you will never go camping without active sponges again. MSRP $8.99 puranaturalsproducts.com 7. Pearl Izumi Men’s E: Motion Trail M2 Running Shoes Bi-lateral midfoot stability in the Pearl Izumi Trail M2 creates nimble security on technical trails. We love the stable E: Motion platform for trail running because it adds a rock solid foundation to the ultra light uppers that Pearl Izumi is known for. This shoe is fast and feels just as sensitive as a minimalist running shoe without the bone jarring footfalls. The shoe weighs in at ten ounces and features a 4mm drop. The seamless upper uses bonded technology for structure and durability, leaving the inside of the upper smooth and comfortable against your foot. MSRP $59.99 pearlizumi.com
WITH THE UPGR ADED C H AC O Z/SA N DA L
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Available for Men, Women, and Kids