Adventure Sports Journal // Oct/Nov 2019 // Issue #111

YOUTH AND CLIMATE CHANGE / EARN YOUR BEER / CAN’T-MISS EVENT CALENDAR

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 ISSUE #111

Choose your Adventure BIKE CAMPING

Biking the Tahoe Rim Trail + Mourning the Loss of Friends + Tahoe National Forest Adopts e-MTBs

CLIMBING TO AN INTENTIONAL LIFE Day Hikes in Sequoia National Park

YEARS

20

DISCOVERING THE PACE OF NATURE

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CONTENTS Oct/Nov 2019 #111

12

20

18

regular departments

6 7 8 10

Editor’s Note Depression

Earn Your Beer

La Jolla snorkel-swim

22

Ear to the Ground News & notes

EPiC // Oslo Pax

change

14

12

Sequoia National Park

Hiking among the giants

14

Bike Camping

Hike and bike campgrounds

Youth & climate

23 24 26

Event Profiles

16

Three Deaths and a Press Trip

Reflections by a journalist

18

Dierdre Wolownick

20

Three Tahoe Rim Trail Rides

Inspired by TAMBA’s R2T ride

22

Electric Mountain Bikes

Climbing to an intentional life Not a passing fad

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COME SPEND YOUR WINTER VACATION ON THE PRISTINE SHORE OF TAHOE Come Spend Your Winter 2017-2018 Vacation With us on The Pristine Shores of Lake Tahoe There isn’t a more beautiful, peaceful place to come “home” to after an amazing day on the slopes or on the lake.

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Gear We Love

Goodies for an active lifestyle

ON THE COVER Thomas McGrady of California Expeditions on a nighttime bike adventure. Photo by Joe Dondelinger.

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asj contributors what autumn adventure(s) do you have planned?

PUBLISHING + EDITORIAL

leoniesherman

After four months of traveling Europe’s wildest places, surfing, hiking and teaching yoga, my autumn outdoor adventures will be restricted to weekends while I replenish my bank account!

chrisvanleuven

Climbing in Yosemite as much as possible and armchair writing adventures.

dierdrewolownick

Speaking at the Kendal Mtn Festival in England this fall.

Hope to climb Washington Column, for a portaledge experience. First year in 10 that I won’t climb with Alex (Honnold, my son) for my September birthday! He’ll be at the Emmy Awards.

mattjohanson

I hope to climb some peaks in Death Valley and some rocks in Joshua Tree once the weather cools off.

PUBLISHER Cathy Claesson cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com MANAGING EDITOR Michele Charboneau michele@adventuresportsjournal.com COPY EDITOR Jennifer Stein jen@adventuresportsjournal.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Leonie Sherman, Chris Van Leuven, Dierdre Wolownick, Matt Johanson, James Murren, Kurt Gensheimer CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Joseph Dondelinger, Leonie Sherman, Chris Van Leuven, Brandon Pullan/Gripped, Matt Johanson, James Murren, Nate Wyeth, Tanya Stiller, Paolo Cipriani, Ben Fish LAYOUT Cathy Claesson & Michele Charboneau COVER DESIGN Lauren Worth

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kurtgensheimer

Spending some time out in central Nevada exploring more of the Toiyabe Range on the mountain bike.

jamesmurren Yosemite for hiking and southwest Utah for mountain biking, are on the fall calendar, as well as my annual digital detox bikepacking weekend in the Anza-Borrego desert.

josephdondelinger Ever since a kid, fall has always been an exciting time of year for me. This year I plan to focus my photography in Hope Valley and the Carson Pass area of California for the early part of October.

michelecharboneau

I’ve been piecing together bits of the PCT over the last few months ... hopefully the weather will hold so I can cover a little more this fall. Then it’s coastal backpacking ‘til the snowshoes come out!

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Cathy Claesson I 831.234.0351 cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com EVENTS & DISTRIBUTION Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com EVENTS MARKETING Michele Charboneau michele@adventuresportsjournal.com Jennifer Stein jen@adventuresportsjournal.com Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Adventure Sports Journal or our advertisers. We usually agree with our articles, but sometimes we don’t. We welcome all contributions.

All content © Adventure Sports Journal 2019.

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

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5

Editor’s Note

DEPRESSION What is it good for?

A

s I’ve shared in previous articles, I am no stranger to life’s ups and downs. I’ve experienced both success and failure and the depression that sometimes comes with it. In the past I was hesitant to talk about ever feeling depressed because it made me feel weak.

Then I realized that owning my depression and speaking about it powerfully was something I could do to make myself and others feel better.

Many people (myself included) believe that adventure sports are an effective treatment for depression. That said, I have talked to people who were literally so depressed that they couldn’t get out of bed. For this level of crushing depression it seems the only answer is to get medical attention as quickly as possible. Still, I can’t remember anyone ever saying they liked the experience of being on doctor prescribed anti-depressants.

I tried using Prozac about 25 years ago when I went to a doctor to get some help with a moderate case of depression. At the same time I started training really hard to do a couple of big climbs in Yosemite.

Within a few days I stopped taking the pills; I could tell the climbing was all I needed to feel better, and I didn’t like the idea of being dependent on a pill.

After 25 years of treating my mild to moderate depression I’m still using adventure sports as my primary form of medicine. While I have plans to start climbing in Yosemite again, these days I have switched to mountain biking, surfing and climbing at our local gym.

To be honest my local adventure program is a huge help for my occasional depression but it’s not always 100 percent effective. Sometimes I feel like a high achieving, ambitious person trapped in an unsuccessful person’s body. I’m not looking for pity, but let’s just say I have loftier career goals then I am currently realizing.

It’s like I can picture myself being both amazingly creative and wildly successful, but the outward reality never seems to match up to my inward sense of potential.

For me, the depression starts to creep in when I get discouraged about some sort of setback or mistake. I am aware of the pattern, though, and I’m mindful when it’s happening. This mindfulness makes a big difference.

Over the years, I’ve cut way back on my beer intake. I will drink and cherish a good hazy IPA now and again, but I almost never drink more than one. If I do drink more than one I feel slightly depressed the next day. Also, I don’t smoke weed very often

because I can feel the effects on my lungs when I mountain bike. A couple years ago I started taking cannabis in pill form and this seems to help with the depression while eliminating the negative effects of smoking.

All of these habits help me manage my depression and overall I can say with conviction I have a very good life that I am grateful for. I’m pretty sure I will never be cured of my depression; I will probably be managing the symptoms for the rest of my life. In fact, I’m pretty sure that some amount of depression is an inevitable part of the human experience. What is it good for? I don’t know, but it somehow seems necessary. That said, too much depression is a terrible thing for anyone to endure.

I’m sharing these personal details because recently someone I’m very close to started struggling with severe depression and having suicidal thoughts.

Severe depression is very painful to watch happening to someone you love. At the low point, when I looked into his eyes it was like he was dead inside and devoid of hope. That scared me.

After this happened we spent a few days going on long mountain bike rides together and surfing and climbing. I’m happy to say that the cloud has lifted and

Mountain biking has become my favorite way to manage occasional symptoms of depression.

he is doing much better. He has started seeing a mental health professional and we are in constant communication about his mental state.

Depression is not something to hide and pretend doesn’t exist. I want people in my life to talk about their struggles and I’m determined to be more open about my depression moving forward. I’m convinced that depression wouldn’t be so bad if we stopped hiding it. After all it’s a serious health problem that pretty much everyone struggles with from time to time.

Do you have any insights about depression that you would like to share? Send me an email to matt@adventuresportsjournal. com. We cherish every letter we get from readers and print as many as we can.

Thanks for reading.

—Matt Niswonger

Have you been to The Other Side?

Sand Dunes, Death Valley

The Owens River

The Other Side Of California.

Where today’s adventurers find their edge. Death Valley and the Eastern Sierra encompass more dramatic mountain and desert scenery than any region in North America. The timeless towns of Big Pine, Bishop, Death Valley, Independence and Lone Pine offer endless backcountry, camping, mountaineering, and majestic mountain vistas.

www.theothersideofcalifornia.com 6 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2019

Campfire memories from Sea Otter, 2017. ASJ editor, Matt Niswonger on the plasitc horn.

EARN YOUR BEER Snorkel-Swim La Jolla

I

Words and photo by James Murren

n 1970, the City of San Diego began the development of the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park, which contains two other parks within its boundary: the Ecological Reserve and the Marine Life Refuge. In total, it is comprised of some 6,000 acres of protected area. Today, the underwater park is a jewel in the coastal city with the Spanish name meaning “jewel” – La Jolla.

The earning >> Snorkeling La Jolla I wiggled my way into my wetsuit under a warm, sunny sky. Soon after, I walked to the water’s edge and slipped on my fins.

Working my way past the little rolling waves of La Jolla Shores by the Marine Room, I sat back on my haunches while in the water and fit my snorkel and mask on my face.

Within a few minutes I saw bat rays and sting rays, along with a myriad of schooling fishes, likely a species of sardine. I snorkelswam in the direction of the sea caves, knowing I would cross through the sea grasses section before getting into the rockier habitat. Out of nowhere, seemingly, from my right periphery I saw a shadowy figure: leopard shark.

He was passive, yet shark-quick in his movement. I breathed evenly and floated while a few leopards scurried across the ocean bottom. Having seen them numerous times, they no longer startle me but rather bring me immediate joy and a sense of wonder at being in their presence.

The patterns of their skin shone in the seadiffused sunlight, emanating a shimmer that only nature can create.

Over by the sea grasses, I swayed with them in the current. Back and forth, I rocked. To and fro, I rolled. Cares drifted away.

At the sea caves area, I scanned for shellfish, not seeing any this time around, though garibaldis, both bright orange adults and the blue-purple speckled juveniles, kept the mood positive. Nearing the Cove, a black cormorant darted through the water at a depth of about six feet, searching for lunch, I guessed.

I hung out in the Cove a little while, snorkeling and diving down to inspect rocky ledges for the shy dwellers of the sea. I told myself that I need to learn their names.

Turning back in the direction of the Shores, I was half-way done with my twomile or so ocean snorkel-swim. Relaxed and content, I kicked long slow strides in the water, the diving fins doing what they were designed to do — propel with ease.

A flotilla of kayakers was out, a common occurrence in La Jolla. I had to dodge a few, messing up the state of flow that I was in.

Seeking to get it back, I swam over closer to the shore line. There, gliding along the rocks, I saw something new. Later on, when home, I learned that it was a banded guitarfish.

Almost back to the Shores, more leopards and rays were present. Watching rays fly through the ocean, I thought: they look incredibly efficient at moving in this water world. I, on the other hand, wearing a second skin, fins and a viewing/breathing apparatus, was not.

At the shoreline, I pulled my fins off, removed my snorkel and mask, and then walked out of the water and on up the road to my vehicle. A mellow 1.5 hours of looking at a vast underwater wilderness made for a perfect afternoon.

The beer >> New California IPA That evening, after supper, I sat in the hammock and drank a collaboration beer brewed by two iconic California breweries: Russian River Brewing Company, Santa Rosa and Karl Strauss Brewing Company, San Diego.

I poured a can of New California IPA into a pint glass, one specifically designed for the beer, which I picked up at Karl Strauss, San Diego’s oldest brewery. Nice head, super clean looking through the glass, light golden hue, perhaps a bit on the amber side of the color wheel and not the yellow side.

On the first taste, I got citrus and tropical sunshine right away. It was not big bodied, as some IPAs can be, and the over-the-top bitter bite was not there. Again, I thought “clean.” At 6.5% ABV and an easy drinker, it had me thinking of a sleek West Coast IPA. At the bottom of the glass and nothing to do but sit in the hammock and read while dusk came upon my back yard, I went over to the beer fridge and grabbed another New California IPA.

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7

Ear to the Ground

News & notes from the outdoor industry

Photo: Paolo Cipriani

California Bike Plate Available for Purchase Online

Together with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and other cycling industry partners, we are excited to announce that the new California bike plate is available for purchase online at californiabikeplate.com. CDPH has 12 months to collect the required 7,500 pre-paid applications.

Plate sales will generate grants to statewide coalitions, community-based organizations, nonprofits, county health departments and other organizations promoting cycling. If funded and successful, this program can generate millions of dollars for bike safety, youth programs, cycling advocacy and more.

These special license plates can be purchased for your California registered car, truck, trailer, or motorcycle. Support cycling in California by pre-ordering your plate. These plates also make a great gift idea for the upcoming holiday season. Donations are being accepted through the California Bicycle Coalition at calbikeeducationfund.org/help-ussell-7500-plates to push the program forward.

Learn more at adventuresportsjournal.com/california-bike-plate.

MBOSC’s Trail Vision Awards

Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBOSC) has partnered with Bicycle Trip to present the first ever photo and video contest focused on Santa Cruz County trails. The Trail Vision Awards celebrates the area’s countless videographers, photographers, and photogenic trails, as well as its amazing community of trail users including mountain bikers, hikers, horseback riders, trail runners, mushroom foragers, and more.

Content submissions will be accepted through October 18, and a public screening will be held at the Rio Theater on November 1.

Learn more at adventuresportsjournal.com/mbosc-trail-vision-awards.

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Banked Slalom Returns to Mt. Shasta Ski Park; Season Passes on Sale Now

Mt. Shasta Ski Park recently closed its summer programs and is now turning its attention to winter fun, including a return of its popular Buffalo Banked Slalom.

Unlike most banked slaloms, Mt. Shasta Ski Park uses natural terrain, running its course down Buffalo Gulch for an epic race. It’s a great opportunity for all ability levels to come together and shred the course.

The park will plan this event around the weather for best race conditions. Stay tuned to the ASJ and Mt. Shasta Ski Park social media feeds for more information as the event comes together.

In related news, Mt. Shasta Ski Park is discounting season passes to $379 through October 31.

The park offers 425 acres of skiable terrain with 32 trails; beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain parks; three triple chairs and two moving carpet lifts. Guests can also enjoy tubing, twilight skiing and special races and other events throughout the season.

Learn more at skipark.com.

San Diego Triathlon Challenge Raises Funds in Support of Challenged Athletes For 26 years, the San Diego Triathlon Challenge has raised funds that have allowed over 9,500 challenged athletes around the world to make it to the starting line with adaptive equipment, coaching, training, mentoring and competition expenses.

Last fall, $3.2 million was raised as a result of three signature fundraising events: The Million Dollar Challenge Bike Ride, Aspen Medical Products San Diego Triathlon Challenge and YMCA of San Diego County Tour de Cove.

This coming October 18-20, over 200 physically challenged athletes, and 600 able-bodied athletes, celebrities, and sports legends will take on the San Diego Triathlon Challenge, completing a 1-mile ocean swim, 44-mile bike, and 10-mile run on one of the most breathtaking courses in the country, all in support of Team CAF. If an athlete has the drive to compete and pursue an active lifestyle, San Diego Triathlon Challenge is there to support them. Learn more at adventuresportsjournal.com/san-diegotriathlon-challenge.

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OARS Celebrates 50 Years

Join OARS on October 12 in Angels Camp for a night of award-winning short films, food, brews, and live music as they celebrate 50 years of guiding, friendship, conservation, and community.

Doors open at 6pm and films commence at dusk. $25 includes two drink tickets, one dinner ticket, and an OARS 50th Anniversary YETI Rambler 18-ounce bottle.

100% of ticket sales for this event will be donated to the Pam and George Wendt Foundation which is dedicated to connecting young people to one of the world’s greatest resources — our wild places.

Learn more at adventuresportsjournal. com/oars-boathouse-tour.

10 Barrel Brewing Releases New Hazy IPA in Support of Surfrider Foundation 10 Barrel Brewing has just launched its new Profuse Juice, a gold medal winner at the 2019 North American Beer Awards (NABA), in partnership with Surfrider Foundation. One percent of all proceeds of the beer will go towards Surfrider’s mission to protect the world’s oceans, waves and beaches. The partnership is a natural fit for the brewery, a long-time supporter of action sports, whose motto is “drink beer outside.”

Learn more at adventuresportsjournal. com/10-barrel-surfrider-foundation.

Specialized Foundation Adopts New Name: Outride

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The Specialized Foundation, a non-profit focusing on using cycling as a tool for children to achieve academic, health, and social success, announced an expansion and name change to Outride. This marks a milestone as the organization has matured and launched a new fundraising platform, and now looks to grow beyond its founding sponsor, Specialized Bicycle Components.

The new Outride Fund is a public fundraising platform dedicated to growing community cycling programs, fostering new trail projects, and supporting Riding for Focus programs.

Specialized will remain a key partner and donor to help drive Outride into the future.

Learn more at adventuresportsjournal.com/outride.

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Tahoe “Trash Summit” Results in Don’t Trash Tahoe Campaign

Photo courtesy Kim Woozy

“Equal Pay for Equal Play” Bill Signed into Law AB 467 — also called the “Equal Pay for Equal Play” measure — addresses long-standing gender pay disparities in competitive sports.

The bill requires equal prize compensation for all athletes, regardless of gender, as a condition for approving a lease or permit request for any sporting event held on state lands.

Event organizers will have to affirm equal pay prizes for both men and women at each participant level before the competition can move forward.

“California is undoubtedly one of the most influential places in the world so this bill is not just a gain for athletes, but sets precedence for women everywhere,” says Kim Woozy, Director of Skate Like a Girl San Francisco Chapter, who testified in support of AB 467.

AB 467 takes effect on January 1, 2020.

Learn more at adventuresportsjournal. com/ab-467.

In early August, ASJ participated in a meeting about the unsightly trash situation in different parts of Lake Tahoe.

The meeting was called by North Tahoe photographer Court Leve and was attended by a variety of entities including California State Parks, Outdoor Alliance, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), Moonshine Ink, and many others who are also concerned about keeping the lake free from litter.

Many good suggestions and perspectives were contributed by the folks who attended.

ASJ editor Matt Niswonger left with the opinion that a strong tagline to encourage responsibility was needed and thus “Don’t Trash Tahoe” was born. This tagline evokes the highly effective “Don’t Mess With Texas” campaign from the Lonestar state. T-shirts will be produced featuring the tagline and graphic of a dog holding a discarded plastic water bottle in its mouth.

T-shirts will be available for purchase soon at earnyourbeer.com and ASJ Roadshow events. Stay tuned to the ASJ social media feed for updates on this campaign. www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

9

EPiC: Environmental Partnership Campaign

OSLO PAX Addressing climate change is not possible without peace; peace is not possible until we address climate change

By Leonie Sherman

“We are the first generation to experience the impacts of climate change,” Raymond Johansen, Governing Mayor of Oslo told a packed room at Oslo Pax, the Nobel Peace Center’s first annual Peace and Climate Conference. “And we are the last generation that can actually do something about it.”

O

ver the course of the next two days, the 200 politicians, activists, writers, generals, and young people who gathered at Oslo Pax helped me understand how lucky I am to call California home. Our state has been actually doing something about climate change for years. In 2006, California set an absolute statewide limit on greenhouse gas emissions. Ten years later we extended and strengthened the limit. In 2018, California organized an international summit which gathered governments, the private sector and indigenous leaders to take climate action; companies and other jurisdictions lined up to reiterate their climate commitments. The Golden State is having a global impact. And the global community is noticing.

“California is leading the way in passing legislation requiring renewable energy,” Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, former president of Iceland, told us on the second day of the conference. Iceland has already been through the transition California is just beginning. “When I was a child, 80% of Iceland’s energy came from imported coal and oil. Today 100% of our energy comes from renewable local sources,” Grimssom explained. “When I was young, Iceland was one of the poorest countries in Europe.

Now we are one of the wealthiest. It’s all about energy. Energy and power,” he said with conviction.

Moving towards a carbon free economy requires radical change and sacrifice, which won’t happen without broad public support. California’s success in passing visionary climate policies rests on strong worker protections. “California has been able to attach labor standards to green development,” explained Samantha Smith, a panelist and award winning lawyer who used to practice in California.

She now directs the Just Transition Centre.

“Workers support a green economy because they know they’ll be taken care

of.” The recent passage of AB-5, which grants gig economy workers like Uber drivers the strongest rights in the country, proves her point.

With our vast open spaces and densely populated urban areas, California exemplifies global trends; by 2050 68% of the worlds population will live in urban areas. “Cities are a big part of the problem when it comes to climate change,” Johansen explained. “But some important solutions come from cities. And with courage and political will, when national governments refuse to act, cities and state governments can change the market.”

California’s policies have changed the market by investing in clean energy and incentivising businesses that advance a low carbon economy. Ten years after our initial commitment, our economy continues to grow while carbon pollution is declining.

But we didn’t gather at Oslo Pax just to learn about the successes of Scandinavian countries and progressive US states. We gathered to deepen our understanding of the climate crisis as a humanitarian crisis, and listen to young people explain how we can address the situation before it becomes a catastrophe.

The UN made a mistake in 1992, at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, when they framed climate as an environmental issue.

Climate change is a political, ethical and global issue. Forced displacement, armed conflict, and extremism are exacerbated by climate change. And though the planet will be fine, humans will suffer, individually and collectively.

Climate change is not experienced equally by all. Those least responsible for creating the problem — island nations of the global south, non-human species, and young people — will suffer the most.

“We need to stop speaking as victims,” said panelist Ronald Jumeau,

.Climate change is not experienced equally by all.

Those least responsible for creating the problem — island nations of the global south, non-human species, and young people — will suffer the most.

10 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2019

the Ambassador to the UN from the Seychelles, where the effects of climate change are inundating portions of the island. “We are not only trying to stop the destruction of mangroves, we are planting new mangrove forests. Parents bring their kids, we make a fun family event out of doing restoration work. Each tree has GPS coordinates, so kids can find their tree and watch how it grows and becomes part of a forest. They will protect that forest, you can be sure!” He pauses. “Resilience is the smile on a kids face after a day of planting trees with their family. The youth have not been jaded yet.”

About half the attendees of Oslo Pax were under 25. “Young people are not the leaders of the future or the leaders of tomorrow,” explained Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General of Amnesty International. “They are the leaders of today, of right now. Frankly, adults have run out of fresh ideas.”

“If you are asking young people to make these huge sacrifices, allow us to creatively envision the future,” suggested Kelsey Juliana of Eugene, Oregon. At 23, she’s the oldest plaintiff among 21 who are suing the US government for failing to protect their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness by causing climate change. Their case, Juliana v. United States (nicknamed Youth v Gov.) pioneers atmospheric trust litigation, based on the public trust doctrine. In 2016 Judge Ann Aiken of the US District Court of Oregon upheld the idea that access to a clean environment is a fundamental right; government appeals have put the trial on hold.

While the case languishes in legal limbo, Kelsey, her fellow plaintiffs and young people all over the world continue to speak out and lead the fight for climate justice. “Instead of scare tactics, pointing out what we have to lose — which hasn’t worked — let’s ask what we have to gain.

Clean air, more free time, salmon running in the streams ... let young people drive the conversation.”

Isaac Muasa leads the Mathare Environmental One Stop Youth Centre and won a UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour for his work removing garbage to create

The author with youth climate activist Penelope Lea and Christina Figueres.

community spaces in the Mathare slum of Nairobi. He joined us by video. “Human nature is on our side in the fight against climate change,” he says with a wide grin.

“Nobody likes to die sitting down. As humans, it’s not in our nature to give up.”

Even at Oslo Pax, where we all acknowledged the importance of youth leadership, adults were driving the conversation. Most of the keynote speakers and panel moderators were adults. But those adults were asking hard questions. And we were all listening to young people’s responses.

Liv Torres, the Executive Director of the Nobel Peace Center, asked 15-year old climate activist Penelope Lea, what to do when political leaders don’t listen.

Lea didn’t hesitate. “Stand together,” she said. “We may not have faced a crisis like climate change in the past, but we have faced other overwhelming challenges.

It’s important we learn from the past, acknowledge our differences and stand together to face this threat.”

At the last panel of the conference, Lea sat with three other young women who have devoted their lives to climate justice.

Christiana Figueres, convener of Mission 2020 and the former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) moderated. “Look at these young women!” She said to the audience.

“Usually these panels are filled with older white males. What’s going on?” She returned her attention to the panelists.

“Why do you think there are so many young women involved with the climate crisis?”

While I imagined a litany of possible responses — “men made the mess, now women have to clean it up,” “women are more mature,” “it’s our turn” — Sofie Nordvik, Norway’s youth representative to the UN Climate Conference in New York, fielded the question. “How do we make this space more inclusive for everyone?” she asked. “Are we doing something that makes young men uncomfortable? We need to be working across gender, across generations, we need to bridge the gaps that divide us. We need everyone to join us if we want to win.”

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11

Sequoia National Park Giant sequoias’ namesake park deserves a visit Words and photos by Matt Johanson

G

rand as they are, it’s easy to overlook giant sequoias, even for those who visit the Sierra Nevada range often. Tahoe skiers and Yosemite climbers don’t even pass close to the biggest clusters of the world’s largest trees in Sequoia National Park.

At least once in a while, they should. Giant sequoias rate among the world’s tallest, oldest and prettiest living things. A misty walk among the reddish-brown majesties refreshes the soul, and autumn visitors get to enjoy fall foliage while missing summer heat and crowds.

Sequoia National Park boasts the world’s greatest concentration of the namesake trees, which grow naturally only in 75 groves between 5,000 and 7,000 feet of elevation on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Accessible only by long and winding roads (Highway 180 from Fresno or Highway 198 from Visalia), the park gets just a fraction of the visitation of its popular northern neighbors, Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. That’s another good reason to take a road less traveled and enjoy these marvelously scenic and easy day hikes.

BIG TREES TRAIL Big Trees Trail takes visitors on a short and unforgettable loop through the Giant Forest, the park’s densest cluster of more than 8,000 giant sequoias.

In fall, ferns turn from green to yellow in contrast to the giant redwoods. This entire trail is either paved or covered with a boardwalk, making it accessible to almost anyone, including those in wheelchairs. The loop circles the lovely Round Meadow and a portion of Little Deer Creek, taking hikers right beside giant trees around the meadow’s edge.

The loop itself is .8 miles long, but most visitors (except those with disabled parking placards) will need to park at the Giant Forest Museum and hike from there, increasing the total distance to about 1.3 miles

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Opposite page: Big Trees Trail takes hikers through the heart of the Giant Forest. This page, top to bottom: Congress Trail rewards visitors willing to hike beyond the popular General Sherman Tree; Among points of interest in Crescent Meadow is Tharp’s Log, where rancher Hale Tharp once built a home inside a fallen tree.

General Sherman Tree and C0ngress Trail General Sherman Tree, 275 feet in height, boasts the greatest size of any tree in the world and also attracts more visitors than any other in the park. The 2,200-yearold marvel named for the Civil War general deserves a visit, but don’t stop there Crescent Meadow More beautiful sequoias, Tharp’s Log and a delightful chorus of frogs are chief attractions of this area.

Hikers can go out and back or make an easy loop of around two miles. Besides the giant redwoods, this area boasts vibrant fall colors — a pleasure to autumn hikers and especially photographers.

To get there, drive east from Generals Highway past Moro Rock and then Tunnel Tree, through which cars can pass.

Lumberjacks cut into this sequoia after it fell across the road’s path, so motorists can drive under it without the guilt associated with other tunnel trees killed by axewielding vandals to charge tolls and create photo opportunities.

On the short drive, be sure to appreciate many clusters of giant sequoias, like Parker Group. Many trees elsewhere were named for leaders who never visited the park, and one even honors the Confederacy’s General Robert Lee, so it’s nice to see a few dedicated to those who protected the sequoias like Captain James Parker.

Crescent Meadow itself features a picnic area beside a parking lot and nearby stream. From here hikers can trek to the interesting Tharp’s Log, a fallen sequoia that rancher Hale Tharp made into a cozy cabin in the 1860s. Near his abode is Chimney Tree, hollowed by fire in 1914 but still standing more than a century later; giant sequoias can survive hundreds of fires in their long lifespans. There are many options to customize an outing here of two to four miles.

Other short hikes include Little Baldy, Moro Rock, Bobcat Point and Tokopah Falls. Most visitors can reach each scenic vista and return in one to two hours.

In summer months, spelunkers of all abilities can explore Crystal Cave, on a 45-minute family tour or a six-hour wild cave adventure. Tickets are available at the Lodgepole and Foothills visitor centers, not at the cave.

For the truly motivated, the High Sierra trail runs from Sequoia’s western to eastern sides over 49 rugged miles. The park’s eastern side features jagged summits like Mt. Whitney, the tallest peak in the lower

— only .4 miles from the parking lot and surrounded by a horde of tourists — consider the three-mile Congress Trail instead. This trail starts nearby, but delves deeper into the forest and immediately separates hikers from the Sherman crowd and introduces dozens of other giant trees.

Regardless of your feelings concerning the trail’s namesake institution of Congress, cast a vote of confidence for the House and Senate groups of sequoias. The executive branch gets represented here too, so pay your respects to the President Tree and sequoias named for Washington, Lincoln, Adams and Franklin.

This paved loop hike has mild climbs and descents. The total distance from the main Sherman lot is 3.8 miles.

48 states, and amazing backpacking on routes like the popular John Muir Trail.

Summer sees these popular trailheads book up daily, but fall hikers get their pick of destinations.

Most visitors to this region enter from and exit to the Eastern Sierra, enjoying outstanding experiences yet never seeing the awesome trees which gave the park its name. Outdoors lovers of all kinds won’t regret going west to see those trees at least once.

Continue west over Red Peak Pass, past the Ottoway Lakes, and beside Lower Merced Pass Lake. Now our route descends past the wildly scenic Illilouette Creek and through a burned forest on the final approach to Glacier Point, where restrooms, a snack bar and hopefully a ride back to civilization await.

Conditions on each of these routes are generally best between July and September, though this year’s heavy snowfall will mean a later backpacking season. Now you’ve got time to plan, several excellent route choices, so get out there!

Matt Johanson authored the new guidebook “Sierra Summits: A Guide to Fifty Peak Experiences in California’s Range of Light.”

www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

13

Carbon-Free Camping An ode to the hike and bike campgrounds of California

By Leonie Sherman Maybe the idea of lining up to pay the federal government to camp on land that we are supposed to own upsets you. Maybe you are searching for a vacation option that doesn’t contribute to climate change. Maybe making a reservation months in advance for a wilderness experience doesn’t land well. Whatever the case, if you love camping, and bikes, if you like your recreation carbon neutral and if spontaneity is how you roll, California has a network of hike and bike campsites begging for your attention.

Y

ou won’t find them in our National Parks, those theme parks of glorious natural beauty plagued by crowds and concessions. California’s hike and bike campsites are hidden in plain view, in state recreation areas, state parks and state beaches, from Del Norte County to the Mexican border. Choose your own adventure: from granite crags to iconic beaches, towering redwoods to inviting lakes, the hike and bike sites allow you to explore some of the state’s finest scenery.

If you’ve ever lined up for a campsite in Yosemite Valley or Joshua Tree, you’ve realized that you’re competing with millions of people from all over the country for a limited commodity. You’re more likely to make a new friend in line than get a spot at the campground of your choice. Hike and bike sites require no reservation. You roll up, pay your money and pitch your tent in the open area designated for you and others of your kind. Nobody is ever turned away for lack of space.

And while a night in a tent in Tuolumne Meadows sets you back $30, hike and bike campsites average $7 a night. You still get to enjoy all the perks such as access to the bathroom, picnic benches, trash collection, and potable water. The hike and bike sites are usually set apart from the vehicle traffic so you don’t have to listen to a generator or breathe exhaust fumes. You’ll have plenty of room to set up a tent, but sharing the site with other hikers and bikers contributes to a friendly communal vibe.

Hike and bike campsites cost less, don’t require reservations and reduce your carbon footprint. You make new friends and get fit while exploring beautiful places. Why do I often find them empty?

I think it’s fear. On a single track you can control your risk; on a road you feel at the mercy of drivers who may be checking their Tinder accounts. But humans don’t make good decisions when we are afraid.

We make good decisions when we are informed. I’ve biked over a thousand miles on California roads from the Oregon border to Santa Barbara County and only been honked at once. Here are five tips to reduce the risk you face from cars when you set out on your bike to share pavement.

14 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2019

1

Do Unto Car Drivers as You Would Have Them Do Unto You: I pull over to let cars pass. If they are considerate enough to drive slowly behind me as I navigate a tight turn with no shoulder, the least I can do is return the favor. This requires close attention to vehicular traffic, an excellent habit to cultivate as you begin your love affair with bike camping.

Dress for Success: My spandex clad friends who ride carbon mono fiber $3,000 steeds report a lot of friction with drivers. I ride a modest bike and dress in clothes that allow me to go grocery shopping without attracting a lot of attention. Drivers give me plenty of space.

I wear bike shorts under my pants and a fluorescent reflective vest on top of basic hiking apparel. I suspect that helps a lot.

And it also reminds me to get off my bike and go for a hike.

2

Light Up Your Ride: Of course you are going to wear a helmet and have copious reflectors on your bicycle, right? Front and rear lights increase your visibility even during the day. Set them on the flashing mode; the human eye is drawn to movement.

3

Tricks of the Trade: Have you ever wished you could show a driver how much space they need to give you as they roar past you at 60 mph while you toil up a hill? For $2 you can. Invest in a brightly colored pool noodle — one of those cylindrical foam deals. Strap it to your rack, hanging a foot out on the left side, to give drivers a visual cue about what’s a safe passing distance.

4

Talk to the Locals: Don’t assume every narrow two lane country road will be dangerous or every major artery has an adequate bike lane. Contact a local cycling club or bike shop in the area you intend to visit. You’ll get important local beta and meet other velo-lovers.

5

1. e This page, clockwise from top left: Using a pool noodle while bike touring (@the.vanimals); Biking among old-growth redwoods at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park (Nate Wyeth / Visit Del Norte County); The Smith River is a great place for a dip after a long hike or bike ride (Leonie Sherman); The author playing on the root ball of a giant (Tanya Stiller). Opposite page, left to right: The 6,000-foot granite spires at Castle Crags are over 170 million years old (Visit Redding); Sonoma Coast State Park, Blind Beach (Sonoma County Tourism).

Oh, the Places You’ll Go Hike and bike campsites are perfect for a family vacation, an introduction to bike camping or an exploration of California’s state lands. The only question is where to start? And what are you waiting for?

You’ve gathered your companions and packed your panniers and are ready to begin your bike camping adventures. Destination options are as varied as the state’s topography.

Instead of strapping your gear to your car, why not take the bus or train? Despite a lack of investment in infrastructure, we still have decent public transportation in California that can bring you within biking distance of gorgeous uncrowded spots. The following recommendations are intended to whet your appetite!

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park: California’s northernmost State Park brings you into a temple of old-growth redwoods along the edge of the state’s longest free flowing (major) river. Hiking trails beckon, and rolling through the cathedral like groves by the emerald river is unforgettable.

How To Get There: Crescent City is the nearest urban center. An hour of biking, some of it along city streets, some of it along winding Highway 199, brings you to the hike and bike campground.

When To Go: Long days and stable weather make summer an ideal time to soak in this park’s glory, but that’s when everyone else visits. A mild winter or spring makes the shoulder seasons pleasant.

Castle Crags State Park: Rugged granite spires rise above an inviting forest in this park bordering wilderness and bisected by the Pacific Crest Trail. Hiking trails take you to the base of the spires. The Sacramento River beckons during hot summer days.

How To Get There: The charming rail town of Dunsmuir is less than an hour bike ride from the campground. You can reserve a spot for a bike on the Amtrak train and avoid the hassle of breaking it down and packing it in a box.

When To Go: PCT thru-hikers often spend a night or two at this campground. If you want to learn people’s trail names and get a feel for life on the trail, aim to visit during June or July. If you want to avoid them, late fall and early winter have cooler temperatures, but more chance of rain.

Sonoma Coast State Park: Seventeen miles of prime coastal real estate are protected in this gem of a park, four miles south of Jenner. Rocky headlands, secluded coves and natural arches are easily accessible from State Highway 1. Restaurants, visitor centers and charming coastal towns are nearby.

How To Get There: Santa Rosa is the closest urban center. From there, Mendocino Transit Authority bus 95 goes to Jenner, an hour bike ride from Bodega Dunes Campground. Each bus has a rack with space for two bikesthe driver may let you bring another one on board.

When To Go: The weather is always mild on the Sonoma Coast. November and December are often clear and crisp; spring brings carpets of colorful wildflowers.

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15

Three Deaths and a Press Trip to San Diego The author travels to the beaches and breweries of southern California, where he faces both his work as a journalist and the loss of his friends

By Chris Van Leuven

April 18, 2019. Waking up covered in sweat, pain pulses in the back of my skull, reminding me of last night’s wine party. I try to sit up, a sharp aching courses through my ribs, the result of my friend’s daughter running me over with her bike. Slumping back in my bed I grab my phone. Trolling for stories is my job. I’m a journalist.

I

bolt upright, ignoring the pain. An early report that three professional climbers – men I’d interviewed over the years – had been swept away in an avalanche and were presumed dead. Hansjörg Auer, Jess Roskelley and David Lama gone.

My phone’s pinging with birthday wishes and condolences. Today is my 42nd birthday but that’s the last thing on my mind. It’s my job to cover this tragedy. My thumbs pitch an email to Outside magazine; the reply is immediate. Three hours to deadline.

I’ve covered everything from suicides to rockfall to avalanches, more than 30 obits and profiles on fallen climbers, BASE jumpers, members of my tribe that practice the extreme. It doesn’t get any easier, at least not for me.

I’m still reeling from the loss of Hayden Kennedy and Inge Perkins in 2017—I had climbed El Cap with Hayden when he was a teenager—now this.

I had been ice climbing with both Jess and David earlier in the year; Hansjörg I knew only through reputation. I’d sat down with David for an interview right after he finished a panel discussion with Alex Honnold at the Outdoor Retailer show the previous winter. Jess and I were planning climbing trips together; I’d also interviewed his family members for stories. “This one is very close to home,” I write my editor.

“I’m gonna have to go out for a cry after this.”

No time to grieve, the writing felt automatic. I knew what points needed to be covered. After one more fact-check, I submitted the piece and it was out of my hands. Walking out my door into the Mariposa countryside, nothing felt real. I had no energy, my eyes stung from the sun, the tears came out.

16 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2019

SAN DIEGO I want to sit in my cathedral El Cap meadow, Yosemite Valley and be with my thoughts but I’ve already committed to a press junket arranged weeks ago. The next day I’m rolling downhill toward Fresno for a press trip with Saint Archer Brewery in La Jolla near San Diego. “Wanted to reach out to offer you an immersive opportunity to experience the brand world of Saint Archer Gold,” enticed the email. “The team will show you what the Saint Archer Gold lifestyle is all about by giving you a surfing lesson, take you on a hike up their favorite trail, and show you the brewery.”

Traveling was a blur, the flight south, the Uber ride, getting dropped off at the historic La Valencia Hotel. Checking in I knew one thing for sure: I didn’t belong here. For the past

This page, top to bottom: Alpinists David Lama, Jess Roskelley and Hansjörg Auer died together while climbing a dangerous peak in Canada (photo courtesy of Brandon Pullan/Gripped); La Jolla, California (Chris Van Leuven).

28 years I’ve climbed all over the world on a shoestring budget, I’m used to sleeping in gravel parking lots and caves. This place was astronomically out of my price range.

It reminded me of my days as a housekeeper in Yosemite back in the mid-90s. I worked as a maid my first winter in the park at the luxurious Ahwahnee Hotel. I cleaned every room in that place; I know how to scrub toilets and how to make a neat little triangle on the toilet paper roll.

Careful not to disturb anything, I enter the room putting my pack down on the bed. There’s a knock on the door, James Marcello the publicist from Saint Archer who invited me here, hands me a case of beer and is gone. Alone with my thoughts and a case of Gold, I crack one-off and finish it in the shower, then head to the pool with my laptop.

I find a spot at a lawn chair overlooking the ocean and order another drink, the sun glaring down at me. Women in thongs and men in tight bathing suits strut by. I open my computer to see a list of heartfelt messages — friends, editors and the mentors who’d taught me the craft, also hurting from this loss. They complimented my piece and said it spoke respectfully of our shared community. Though well-intended, the messages made the pain intensify.

The suicide of a Yosemite climber five years ago was my first death story. Later, I profiled a BASE jumper for The Guardian who died a few months after my piece came out.

Then came another suicide story, then a double fatality on El Cap. Countless times now I’ve heard men and women cry over the phone as they told me about lost friends and loved ones. So many years and so many friends, these days it doesn’t take much to bring me to tears.

This page, above: The author interviews the late David Lama during the Outdoor Retailer show in Colorado (photo courtesy of Chris Van Leuven).

TACOS AND SURF CAMP The next morning I stagger through beach traffic to a meeting with the group from Saint Archer and other writers at Woody’s taco shack on the boardwalk. Instagram influencers and writers share where they’re from, what they do. My eyes were watery, and my thoughts focused on the trio buried in the snow.

I guess it was written all over my face, I shared bits and pieces of the tragedy. I can remember their eyes, the kindness, support they expressed. A few shared their pain from lost ones and failed relationships and it offered comfort. The brewery was founded by a group of surfers and skaters, because our sports overlapped when it came to creative expression and movement, it was easy to connect with them.

It had been a decade since I’d stood on a surfboard and that morning I failed my way through a refresher class on the beach. The inability to pop up on the board due to my

questions. The highway is nearby and I can barely hear people talk over the roar of cars. A helicopter and a plane fly overhead, a fighter jet roars past. We’re near military bases and all the noise makes me flinch like I’m in a warzone.

We tour the brewery next. I’m overwhelmed with the smell of hops and the scents of 30 beers on tap. They produced 40,000 barrels of beer last year, making them a large-scale microbrewer.

There’s an old bouldering wall tucked in the back of the shop, one leftover from when they purchased the space from Vertical Holds climbing gym.

I allow the draw of climbing to bring me in. Swinging from one hold to the next, twisting my body, hanging upside down from large holds felt good. The aged, slippery grips made me feel like a teenager at my old climbing gym in Marin County.

The movement reminded me why I fell in love with the sport all those years ago, and why I still love it.

It’s nearly September now. My ribs continue to hurt and I still think of the three fallen climbers. Yesterday I read another story on Jess, Hansjörg and David; it reinforced how much their deaths impacted climbers worldwide.

injured ribs meant I would slump to one side and instinctively grab the injury with a free hand. I knew the pain wasn’t going to end anytime soon.

The first cold waves slapping me in the face as I paddled out brought me back to the present; this made me smile. Gone was the pain in my heart. The waves were smooth and after catching the first, I immediately paddled back out and caught more. Surfing the whitewater on my giant pink board felt like running through an easy bouldering circuit in Yosemite. Movements and reactions were automatic.

THE MESSAGES INTENSIFY I check my phone and see another list of messages. They’re raw, people sharing their hurt, my eyes water up again.

That night the group gathers outside the brewery for dinner and drinks. An emcee’s voice drones from inside calling out trivia

THE SERVICE IN SPOKANE A few weeks later I fly to Spokane to attend Jess Roskelley’s service. At the after-party, scenes of Jess looped on a screen. The band grew louder. We drank until dawn. Flying home the next day, I saw Jess’s service on the front page of the local paper. The woman sitting across from me on the plane had it out. She handed it to me and I cried through the flight.

It’s nearly September now. My ribs continue to hurt and I still think of the three fallen climbers. Yesterday I read another story on Jess, Hansjörg and David; it reinforced how much their deaths impacted climbers worldwide.

My energy levels have mostly returned and I’m climbing again, but my ice climbing gear remains tucked away in the back of the closet. I don’t feel drawn to that world anymore, maybe someday. But for now, I need to heal.

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17

Climbing to an Intentional Life A mom’s journey from the depths of despair to the heights of El Capitan

By Dierdre Wolownick

The first time I found myself hanging forty feet above the floor in a climbing gym, I never imagined that such an unlikely position would become a regular part of my life. Or that it would lead to a personal transformation.

I was 58, and life had battered me to the point where I was more than ready for a big change. The kid at the other end of the rope, my son Alex Honnold, would soon go on to become a household name.

That day, he handed me a lifeline.

A

s Alex lowered me I had a sudden realization: I had loved to climb when I was a kid, but I was a girl. I was supposed to wear dresses and behave myself. So — ever the dutiful, obedient little girl — I’d stayed on the ground and watched the boys have all the fun. More than 50 years later, I finally found the courage to seek out the freedom I’d longed for as a child.

It wasn’t an easy choice. First, life had to beat me down; make me desperate enough to long for freedom. Imagine working seven days a week, from rolling out of bed until falling back in, for years.

Imagine pushing grief and mourning into the background, hoping that by always

being there for your kids, you can soften the blow of the loss of the other parent.

My husband Charles had died suddenly just a few years before, but he had already distanced himself from our marriage a long time before that.

At first, I embraced my daughter’s solution.

Running seemed to keep Stasia whole and stable. Maybe it could do the same for me?

Soon I was participating in running events.

Starting small at first, my thirst for freedom grew and grew. Eventually I was training for half-marathons and starting to think about doing a full-distance marathon.

Fast Forward. By the time I’d done several marathons, I figured I was enough of an athlete to begin to understand what Alex

Above: Dierdre Wolownick on Mammoth Ledges, about 1,200 feet up El Capitan, while training for an El Cap ascent with son Alex Honnold. Next page, clockwise from top left: Climbing with Alex at Pipeworks Climbing Gym in Sacramento; climbing with Stasia at Smith Rock; Dierdre’s Lake Tahoe Half Marathon bib; a photo from her orchestra days.

was up to when he left the house on expeditions. My mind had, until this point, protected me from fully understanding all those articles and videos. I knew some of the words, but jargon like “free solo” didn’t fully register.

Each time Alex came home and talked excitedly about his expeditions, I tried to

understand. I wanted to be part of his life.

So I asked him to take me to the climbing gym and teach me some basics, like how to tie in, or what some of the terms meant.

Then he left again.

It took me a month to find the courage to go back to the climbing gym by myself. My interest in climbing was real, but self-doubt

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This is what I’ve learned from my two kids, Stasia the runner and Alex the climber: anyone can do anything. You just need to want it badly enough. non-stop work, and from the desolation of a failed marriage that had tainted so many of California’s most beautiful places for me.

Now, with my new friends, the amazing beauty of those places shone through, unspoiled by miserable memories.

But climbing is inherently dangerous. Your belay partner cannot just be along for the ride. One momentary lapse in attention can have drastic consequences. Being a climber requires willingness; your partner has to buy into the risks fully and wholeheartedly. All of mine did.

The first few years after I started climbing, each time I asked Alex whether he thought I could do a particular climb with him, his answer was always the same: “Sure.” It took me years to realize what this one little word really meant: If I really wanted it, I would learn what I needed to know, and I’d do it.

I have no formal training as a musician.

But when I decided I wanted to create and conduct an orchestra, I let my lifelong dream guide me. I learned what I needed to know, and believed I could. The West Sacramento Community Orchestra stands as the legacy of that dream, of all the hard work, and the concept Alex knew from the beginning: If you want to do something badly enough, you can.

This is what I’ve learned from my two kids, Stasia the runner and Alex the climber: anyone can do anything. You just need to want it badly enough.

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held me back. I didn’t know anyone there, I couldn’t figure out the rental harness, I didn’t have any gear — and I was 58. I knew practically nothing about climbing. Still, the door to adventure had been opened, and beckoned; I needed to walk through.

But climbing is different than anything else I had tried. In most sports, if you need help, or need to stop, you can stand up and walk away. Float back to shore. Walk off the ski slope. You may get booed, or kicked off the team, but you won’t die. Gravity, though, isn’t that forgiving. Choosing to climb would require a huge leap of faith. I took that leap.

Fast Forward. I was going to the climbing gym on a regular basis, and climbing outside with a group of climber friends from the gym. Little by little, I began to realize that the most rewarding part of climbing was the close friendships I was forming with other climbers. I went from living with my late husband who didn’t want a single friend, to living alone but with dozens of friends of all ages. But it’s not just any breathing human being you want at the other end of your rope; you need someone you can depend on to give a safe belay. Someone who’s got your back.

Your climbing partner is your lifeline, the one you’ll count on to save your life if shit happens. And it does. Life had certainly taught me that.

These new people in my life, my climbing tribe, freed me from a decade of solitary,

My first 10K

Thanksgiving morning. I put on my jeans, t-shirt, flannel shirt, big white sneakers. I woke Alex, who had just arrived from Europe at midnight, and off we went to my very first road race. Alex ran alongside me, and told me about his competition in Spain. I couldn’t imagine how he could breathe enough to talk while running! He entertained me with anecdotes as he ran backwards in front of me, in circles around me. He was my single focus. When I needed to stop, he stopped with me, carried my sweaty shirt, told me more stories.

When we passed the halfway mark, I still didn’t think I’d finish. My throat hurt from trying to suck in air. Blisters were forming on my bunion; I had a jagged pain in my knee. The waistband of my jeans was digging into me. My sunglasses kept sliding down my nose. This was not fun.

Somewhere between mile four and five, something changed. I was still following Alex’s voice, still gasping for air, but suddenly, with a clarity I’d never felt before, I knew I’d make it to the end. When I saw the finish sign a few blocks ahead, I realized my life had just taken a major turn. I had no idea where it would lead, but I knew there was no going back. An overwhelming feeling of power gripped me, and tears streamed down my cheeks. That day, at age 55, I became a runner. www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

19

Biking the Tahoe Rim Trail

Three spectacular day trips in order of difficulty

By Matt Niswonger

After 17 years and over 200,000 volunteer hours, the 150-mile Tahoe Rim Trail loop was completed at the California/Nevada stateline on the north shore of Lake Tahoe in 2001. The complete trail became an instant classic for hikers, bikers and equestrians. With stunning views of the Lake Tahoe Basin and the Carson Valley, the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) is especially enticing to mountain bikers looking to push themselves on these world-class trails. Not every section of the TRT is legal for bikes; however the majority IS bike legal and most sections that are restricted have a logical detour for bikes. All bike restrictions and other pertinent information are listed on the official TRT website located at tahoerimtrail.org.

I

’m writing this article while the experience of riding the TRT is still fresh in my mind, having just completed the 2019 TAMBA Rose to Toads. This fundraiser ride that supports the Tahoe Rim Trail Association links three distinct sections of the TRT into one spectacular and challenging day. While I don’t recommend trying to ride the whole Rose to Toads course unless you are highly experienced and in the mood for a very challenging day, breaking the ride into three distinct day trips makes sense for any mountain biker looking to test yourself on the TRT and gauge your fitness for next year’s Rose to Toads.

For those not familiar, it’s worth noting that Tahoe mountain biking is rugged, rocky and more intimidating than some other parts of California, especially coastal areas like Santa Cruz. I rode these parts of the TRT on a newer Stumpjumper LT and I generally prefer the comfort of a full-suspension bike. That said, many people ride the TRT on a hardtail so it all comes down to personal preference. I’m not one to nerd out on bike specs so the only piece of hardware advice I’d give for the TRT is to have a big climbing gear like the SRAM Eagle or something equivalent. There are many sections of the TRT that require even strong riders to dismount and hike; but obviously the less you have to hike the better, so a large climbing gear is key.

Here are three sections of the TRT for mountain bikers, in order of difficulty. All three added together equal the complete Rose to Toads course, so put it on your calendar for next year and consider this training. Each section is a point-to-point adventure so you will need to be dropped off and picked up, or figure out a shuttle. Please note that riding bikes on Hwy 50 or Hwy 28 is not recommended due to traffic congestion.

Mount Rose to Spooner Lake About 20 Miles Start at the Tahoe Meadows trailhead off the Mount Rose Highway. This is a beautiful way to start a long day with smooth riding through a picturesque meadow. This part of the Tahoe Rim Trail has some of the most enjoyable riding of the whole loop, but don’t be lulled into thinking your day will be easy. There is plenty of uphill in your future. The highlight of this ride is the Flume Trail, with a stunning panorama of Lake Tahoe 20 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2019

and a vertigo inducing view one thousand feet straight down to Sand Harbor. While not technically a part of the TRT, the Flume Trail is a spectacular way to see Lake Tahoe by bike and is often referred to as one of the most beautiful mountain bike trails in the world. Once you cross Tunnel Creek Road follow the signs to the Flume Trail towards Marlette Lake. After Marlette Lake follow the signs to Spooner Lake via a few short miles of dirt road. Just past Spooner Lake the ride ends at a parking area near the intersection of Hwy 50 and Hwy 28.

Strong riders can do this adventure as an out and back, but most people will want to be picked up at the pullout on Hwy 50 to finish up a 20-mile day.

Please note that the first section of this ride, from Tahoe Meadows to Tunnel Creek Road, is only open to mountain bikers on even calendar days. Please refer to the TRT website under the mountain biking tab for more details.

Spooner Lake to Kingsbury Grade About 15 Miles This section of the TRT starts with a six-mile climb up to “the Bench” and a fantastic view of the Lake. This is a tough climb requiring a few mandatory dismount sections as you gain elevation, but the views of Lake Tahoe from the Bench are worth it. Once you reach the Bench it’s mostly flat or downhill for the remainder of the ride until you get to Kingsbury

Grade, but there are a few pesky climbs on the last section. During the 2019 Rose to Toads I did not feel great when I arrived at the Bench and accidentally took a fall near this area. When I reached the top of the climb I decided to keep moving, but I should have stopped to eat and rest. Long story short: when you get to the Bench take a minute to get off your bike and eat something, especially if you are feeling woozy. The view is not bad either.

After the Bench it is mostly downhill to Kingsbury Grade along some fun and rocky trail. This nine-mile section from the Bench to the second rest stop goes pretty quickly. The key here is to recover from the climb and try to keep the rubber side down as there are a few rocky sections that will cause you to fall if you are not vigilant. When you see Kingsbury Grade get off your bike and walk the final 50 feet of trail because it’s a bit sketchy. Watch out for cars because people drive fast on Kingsbury Grade. From here you can Clockwise from top: Amy and Max Fish enjoying a section of trail near Armstrong Pass (Ben Fish); A TAMBA volunteer crew in action (TAMBA collection); Mountain bikers preparing to ride the 2019 TAMBA Rose to Toads from Tahoe Meadows to the bottom of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride in South Lake Tahoe (Matt Niswonger).

The Flume Trail is a spectacular way to see Lake Tahoe by bike and is often referred to as one of the most beautiful mountain bike trails in the world. either get picked up on Kingsbury Grade by car or ride down nearby Buchanan Road to South Lake Tahoe, a nicer option with fewer cars.

Clockwise from top: A TRT hosted rest stop during the Rose to Toads ride (TAMBA collection); 2019 Rose to Toads competitors surmounting the final climb after about 12 hours of riding (Matt Niswonger); Amy Fish on the Flume Trail (Ben Fish).

Made you smile.

Kingsbury Grade to Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride About 26 Miles This is a long day so make sure you get an early start. Take plenty of food and at least two full water bottles and a hydration bladder. Alternatively you can bring a water filter so you can fill up at streams and lakes along the way. Either way, make sure you plan your hydration strategy carefully as this ride requires plenty of mandatory hike-a-bike above 9,000 feet.

From Kingsbury Grade you will immediately be climbing for a few miles until you see a sign pointing to the Van Sickle Trail. If you are starting to secondguess your ability to do this section of the TRT (I did many times), you might consider bailing down the Van Sickle Trail all the way to South Lake Tahoe. Otherwise keep on going and follow the TRT signs to Monument Pass. This section from the top of Van Sickle to Monument Pass starts out hard and just gets harder as you near the Pass. Expect to get off your bike many times to surmount steep, rocky sections. As a consolation prize you will be rewarded with a gorgeous view of the Carson Valley.

From the top of Monument Pass you will spend the next few hours at an elevation of 9,000 feet, until you reach the top of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. The elevation made me feel a bit queasy and cold, so be advised it’s a good idea to bring a light jacket and plenty of food. Don’t feel discouraged if you find yourself getting off your bike on a regular basis, as this section includes many hard bits that will push your legs past the breaking point. The trick is to keep moving, even if you are hiking your bike.

Once you get past Star Lake there is no quick way back to your car although there are still a couple of bailout options. If you really want to complete this part of the TRT (as I did) you will need to be cresting Freel Pass by early afternoon; otherwise descend the Star Lake Trail to access the Cold Creek Trail and drop down to Pioneer Trail Road or risk mountain biking in the dark. The final leg of the journey between Star Lake and Mr. Toad’s is time consuming.

You might find yourself behind schedule; that’s why I recommend getting an early start and also carrying a bike light just in case you have to descend in the dark. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is a gnarly, old-school trail, so don’t ride past your limit even if you are anxious to get home. Most riders choose to walk the upper rocky sections, but no worries, the trail gets easier as you descend. Have fun and be safe!

Hiking or running around Tahoe with some epic views will do that for you. It sure does it for us. So, we’re here to make sure our lakes, trails and forest stay this incredible for years. Recently, we helped our partners at the Tahoe Rim Trail Association, the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) and the U.S. Forest Service build and restore trails around Tahoe with the generous support of Big Blue Adventure and our donors. When we see people enjoy Tahoe this much, it gets our endorphins up, too.

TAHOEFUND.ORG

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21

E-Bike Summer Camp

SBTS brings National Forest and MTB industry staff together to learn & play in Downieville

By Kurt Gensheimer

Even though he’s not a writer, mountain bike racing legend Mark Weir has a way with words. He’s able to summarize life experiences succinctly while being entertaining, making you simultaneously think while laughing. Take for instance his description about e-bikes and why he loves them so much.

“B

ack in my racing days, I did rides that ninety-nine percent of people couldn’t physically do,” said Mark. “Climbing for hours while staring at my fork tubes wasn’t fun. It sucked. It was painful. I was cry-breathing a lot. After the pain and suffering subsided, the ride seemed fun. But on an e-bike, that same climb is now suddenly fun in the moment, not afterward looking back.

That’s what I love most about e-bikes; you can have fun while doing it.”

In addition to having fun while doing it, e-bikes provide more social interaction than mountain bikes. They allow a broader range of skill and experience level to have fun together. The Tahoe National Forest defines a Class 1 electric bicycle as “... a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.” Riders still get a workout because you must pedal to get power, but it takes the edge off and makes climbing far more enjoyable for more people.

In late June, the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS) hosted officials from the Tahoe National Forest and Plumas

National Forest and industry brands Fox, Shimano and Bosch at an e-bike summer camp at The Lure Resort in Downieville, California, continuing learnings around this newest form of outdoor recreation. There was a broad range of skill, experience and fitness in the group of nearly 20 riders from professionals like Mark Weir to complete beginners.

One of the newer riders was Evelyn, an employee of the Plumas National Forest – Beckwourth Ranger District. Evelyn could count the number of mountain bike rides she’d done on one hand. Thanks to the e-bike and her determination, Evelyn was able to ride with an advanced group of riders on two days of Downieville trails, each day covering nearly 30 miles with almost 5,000 vertical feet of climbing.

Evelyn’s performance was a prime example of the importance of e-bikes; they allow more people to explore further into the backcountry, seeing terrain they’d otherwise never get to see.

Considering how remote many of the trails in the Lost Sierra region are, getting more people to explore these seldom visited areas helps take stress off the main trails used most often, especially the trails

that make up the Downieville Downhill route.

After two days of riding, participants sat and gave feedback on the experience. High ranking officials from the Tahoe National Forest were in attendance, having ridden e-bikes enough to understand their impacts and how they compare to mountain bikes.

Having this firsthand experience with e-bikes has led the Tahoe National Forest to take a progressive stance on Class 1 e-bike trail access. The Tahoe National Forest believes that e-bikes should be considered non-motorized recreation because they are still human powered. Without pedaling input from the rider, there is no power assist from a Class 1 e-bike. And because they are limited in their power and are only about 15-20 pounds heavier than a mountain bike, they have no significant environmental impact over a mountain bike.

In light of these findings, the Tahoe National Forest recently opened more than 200 miles of non-motorized trail to Class 1 e-bike use including favorites like Hole in the Ground, Emigrant, Sawtooth, Bullards Bar and North Yuba Trail in Downieville.

These are in addition to the already 2,000

miles of roads and 195 miles of OHV trails in the Tahoe National Forest.

“We’ve taken a hands-on-the-bars approach with understanding e-bikes,” said Greg Williams, SBTS Executive Director.

“We’ve ridden these bikes enough to know what their impacts are and SBTS fully supports the progressive stance of the Tahoe National Forest on Class 1 e-bikes.

We are fortunate to have such openminded partners like the Tahoe National Forest, who are willing to get outside with us and experience this new form of recreation together.”

Not only will expanding access for Class 1 e-bikes help encourage more of the public to explore their public lands, but the rapidly growing popularity of e-bikes will also help bolster the recreation economy of struggling mountain towns like Downieville that rely on visitation and tourism revenue.

E-bikes are not just another passing fad; they are here to stay and will change the face of outdoor recreation. The better we understand what e-bikes are, the better we can integrate them into the existing trail networks. SBTS is excited to continue working with the Tahoe National Forest, providing quality recreational experiences on public lands.

More information on Tahoe National Forest e-bike riding opportunities can be found at: fs.usda.gov/detailfull/tahoe/ho me/?cid=fseprd641773&width=full.

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Event Profiles Featured upcoming events

QUARRY CRUSHER RUN

NOR CAL SKI & SNOWBOARD FESTIVALS

Ever imagine running down into the middle of the earth and then climbing your way back out again?

The Vulcan Quarry Crusher Run — which takes place at the Chula Vista Quarry in San Diego County — is your chance to do just that as it is one of the most challenging and unique running events in the nation.

You’ll run or walk a route that winds down a 10% to 16% grade through hard rock cliffs to the floor of an operational quarry … then hump it back up to the finish line. If you are up for the challenge, prepare yourself for magnificent landscapes — rarely open to the public — where you will experience breathtaking views of San Diego County.

The Quarry Crusher Run benefits the Chula Vista Firefighter’s Foundation and offers two races: the 5k Crusher ($40 entry fee), and the 10k Double Crusher ($50 entry fee).

All race participants will receive a t-shirt and custom finisher’s medal. Prizes will be awarded for overall winners and age group placers. Reduced hotel rates are offered by the event’s Marriott Hotel partners.

Learn more at quarrycrusherrun.com/san-diego.

Now in its 14th year, Nor Cal Ski & Snowboard Festivals (formerly known as Snowbomb) has offered tens of thousands of people a more affordable way to enjoy the slopes in a variety of ways.

The event takes place in three Northern California locations and features a massive ski and board sale (up to 75% off skis, boards, and apparel); exhibitors and sponsors (including 25 premier ski resorts from all over North America, leading manufacturers in the ski and snowboard industry, and hoteliers and destination getaways); entertainment (pro athletes, a BMX/skate ramp show, interactivity with ski/board related prizes, and the Bear Valley climbing wall); beer tasting; and more.

Free general admission. Receive free lift tickets with Powder ($20) or VIP ($40) passes.

Learn more at sfskifest.com.

Use discount code ADVENTURE for 20% off entry fee.

Use promo code ASJ for 50% off VIP & Powder Passes.

November 2, Chula Vista

BIKETOBERFEST MARIN October 12, Fairfax

Savor delicious brews, see amazing bikes, hear incredible live music featuring San Geronimo and Panoramic Highway, enjoy family activities, demo an e-bike, jump on a group ride, and connect with over 50 bike exhibitors all while taking in gorgeous October weather. There is something for everyone at Biketoberfest Marin!

New for this year is the E-Bike Revolution. There’s no better way to see what these game-changing bicycles are capable of than to try one for yourself. Several local shops and vendors will be on hand to provide e-bike demos and group rides for all types of riders (cargo, family, road, commute, and MTB).

Admission is free. Brewfest tasting is $35 advance or $50 day-of, and includes unlimited tastings plus a keepsake souvenir glass.

All proceeds benefit the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and Access4Bikes and their efforts to expand Marin County’s network of bike lanes, pathways and trails.

Learn more at marinbike.org/biketoberfest.

November 1-3 Pier 35 in San Francisco November 8-10 Santa Clara County Fairgrounds November 15-17 Cal Expo Center in Sacramento

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Ride With Us. Ride Better.

5 — Bear Valley Fat Tire Festival / Bear Valley / Guided rides, shuttles, food, brews, games, & prizes. / BearValleyXC.com 5 — Ashland Mountain Challenge / Ashland, OR / CES Finale / CaliforniaEnduroSeries.com 6 — Great Trail Race / Truckee / Tahoe City / MTB or run / GreatTrailRace.com 12 — Usal Hopper / Humboldt & Mendocino Counties / 60, 43, & 32mi options, mixed terrain; camping included / GrasshopperAdventureSeries.com 13 — Biketoberfest Marin / Fairfax / See page 23 / BiketoberFestMarin.com 13 — TBF MTB 50-Miler / Granite Bay, Folsom SRA / TotalBodyFitness.com

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19 — Solvang Autumn Double Century & Solvang’s Finest Century / Solvang / PlanetUltra.com 23 — Death Valley Century / Death Valley National Park / PlanetUltra.com 25 - 27 — 3-Day Extended Core Fundamentals / Oakland / With deep and advanced progressions / ASingleTrackMind.com 26 — Filthy 50+ / Escondido / Fast, flowy 30mi & 50mi courses. Kids’ course, raffle, awards & more / QuicknDirtyMTB.com

NOVEMBER 2 — Wheel Lifts and Cornering / Granite Bay, Folsom / Plus progressions of Core Fundamentals/ ASingleTrackMind.com 2-3 — Nevada County Women’s Mountain Bike Skills Clinic & Camp / Nevada City / YBONC.org Naturalist-Led Kayaking Trips BlueWaterVentures.org 831•459•8548 24 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2019

9 - 10 — 2-Day Core Fundamentals / Marin / 14 hours, set curriculum to master and improve your bike skills / ASingleTrackMind.com

DECEMBER 5 — Tinsel-n-Tread / Santa Cruz / An event for Girls Rock / Food, drinks and fun / Live DJ / Sponsor booths / Xmas shopping / Silent Auction / Space is limited so please RSVP / GirlsRock-MTB.com 8 — Dirty 30 / Poway / Fun and challenging 30(ish)mi XC race in Sycamore Canyon / QuicknDirtyMTB.com

MISC OCTOBER 7 — Presentation and book signing with The Sharp End of Life author Dierdre Wolownick / Point West Rotary / Sacramento / sharpendoflife.com 15 — Presentation and book signing with The Sharp End of Life author Dierdre Wolownick / Sacramento Rotary / sharpendoflife.com 26 - 27 — SLO ULTRA / San Luis Obispo / Two-day outdoor adventure & festival / Obstacle and crossfit-style competition / SLOultra.com

NOVEMBER 6-26 — Warren Miller / Various California Locations / 40th Movie “Timeless” / Get Your Tickets Now! / Swag, Giveaways, Lift Ticket & Retail Deals! / warrenmiller. com/events/ca 9 — Mountainfilm on Tour / Santa Cruz / Featuring the best short films from the annual Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, Colorado / RioTheatre.com 21 — The Way of the Problem Solver / Arc’Teryx, Palo Alto / People can and do make a difference / Join us as we recognize three local change makers. / stores.arcteryx.com/stanfordcenter

DECEMBER 5 — Tinsel-n-Tread / Santa Cruz / An event for Girls Rock / Food, drinks and fun / Live DJ / Sponsor booths / Xmas shopping / Silent Auction / Space is limited so please RSVP / Leran more at GirlsRock-MTB.com

PADDLING Kayak and SUP Rentals, Sales, Lessons & Tours / Santa Cruz & Elkhorn Slough / Two locations / Convenient launch sites at both locations / See ad on page 5 / kayakconnection.com $25 Santa Cruz Harbor Rental / Santa Cruz / Santa Cruz / Soak up some sun on a quick harbor paddle / No wetsuit required! / kayakconnection.com.

Naturalist Lead Kayak Tours / Monterey and Beyond / Bioluminescence and full moon trips / Whales and wildlife / bluewaterventures.org

RUNNING OCTOBER 5-6 — Skyline to the Sea Marathon, Half Marathon, & 50K / Saratoga / PacificCoastTrailRuns.com 6 — Great Trail Race / Truckee / Tahoe City / MTB or run / GreatTrailRace.com 20 — Surfer’s Path Hang 10/5 / Santa Cruz & Capitola / Coastal run featuring ocean & harbor views / RunSurfersPath.com

NOVEMBER 2 — Quarry Crusher Run / Chula Vista / Unique race with varied terrain through an active quarry / Use “ADVENTURE” for 20% off / quarrycrusherrun.com/sandiego 2 — Rio Del Lago 100 Endurance Run / Folsom / rio100mile.com 10 — Monterey Bay Half Marathon / Monterey / Out and back along Cannery Row and Pacific Grove / MontereyBayHalfMarathon.com 28 — Run to Feed the Hungry / Sacramento / 10K & 5K / Largest Thanksgiving run in the country / Rain or Shine! / RunToFeedTheHungry.com

DECEMBER 7 — Death Valley Trail Marathon & Half Marathon / Death Valley / EnviroSports.com 15 — Elf on the Run / San Francisco / 5k & 10k / SF Bay Trail with gorgeous views of the Golden Gate Bridge / elfontherun.com

SNOW NOVEMBER 1-3 — Ski & Snowboard Festival / San Francisco / Includes Free Lift Tickets / See pg. 23 / Use code “ASJ” for 50% off VIP & Powder passes / sfskifest.com 6-26 — Warren Miller / Various California Locations / See page 23 / Get Your Tickets Now! / Swag, Giveaways, Lift Ticket & Retail Deals! / warrenmiller. com/events/ca

March 7 — Way Too Cool 50K Endurance

Run / Cool / wtc50k.com

March 28 — Lake Sonoma MTB / Sonoma County / 25 mi, 100% singletrack / grasshopperadventureseries.com April 4 — American River 50 & 25 Mile Endurance Run / Folsom to Auburn / ar50mile.com April 11 — Huffmaster Hopper / Maxwell / 80mi & 54mi options, 50/50 gravel & remote county pavement / grasshopperadventureseries.com April 16-19 — Sea Otter Classic / Monterey / SeaOtterClassic.com

8-10 — Ski & Snowboard Festival / Santa Clara / See Nov 1-3 / sfskifest

May 9 — Jackson Forest / Mendocino County / grasshopperadventureseries.com

15-17 — Ski & Snowboard Festival / Sacramento / See Nov 1-3 / sfskifest

May 24 — Skaggs and Super Skaggs / Sonoma County / 96 miles, 100% road or mixed terrain options / grasshopperadventureseries.com

LOOKING AHEAD January 25 — Low Gap / Ukiah / grasshopperadventureseries.com February 15-23 / Lake Tahoe / A 9-day celebration of human powered sports / Guided backcountry tours, nordic skiing, films & revenue / alpenglowsports.com February 29 — Super Sweetwater / Sonoma County / 73 & 52mi options, road & dirt / grasshopperadventureseries.com

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June 20 — King Ridge Dirt Supreme / Sonoma County / 80mi & 62mi options, road & gravel / grasshopperadventureseries.com

Visit our website for reduced hotel rates offered by our Marriott Hotel partners.

July 11 — She Rocks the Trails 10K & 25K / Auburn / sherocksthetrails.com August 8 — Twilight Trail Adventure Runs - 5K & 10K / Auburn / twilighttrailadventureruns.com September 11-13 — Graniteman Challenge / June Lake, Mammoth Lakes, Lee Vining / highsierraathletics.com/graniteman

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Roadshow Tour Come by and see the latest news from our sponsors & enter to win great prizes.

Oct 12 Biketoberfest Marin Fairfax, CA

Nov 1 SF Ski Festival Pier 35, CA

Oct 20 Surfer’s Path Capitola, CA

Nov 9 Mountainfilm on Tour Santa Cruz, CA

Nov 23 • Warren Miller • Santa Cruz, CA

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25

KULA CLOTH

Kula Cloth, where have you been all our lives? This simple yet sublimely designed piece of cloth is not only a women’s backpacking essential, but also a proven convenience for road trips and other adventurous endeavors. It’s even useful at home in support of green living!

This “pee cloth extraordinaire” far surpasses the usual bandana or swatch of flannel. It’s made from advanced silver-infused textiles purposely intended to be in contact with the human body.

Amazingly, its one layer of silver absorbent fabric is equal to three layers of microfiber terry and six of french terry. Of course, the cloth boasts antimicrobial properties, and its high-tech textiles resist odor. Retro-reflective thread makes it easy to find in the middle of the night, and its nifty double snap feature makes it a breeze to fold up discreetly when not in use.

So, bid farewell to toilet paper (no fun for the environment) and the drip-dry dance (no fun for the gals), and order one or two ... or three ... Kula Cloths. You’ll be happy you did.

MSRP: $20.00-22.00 • kulacloth.com

Gear We Love

ZENBIVY LIGHT BED

Goodies for your active lifestyle ADVANCED ELEMENTS BLAST22 ROLLTOP PACK

When life gets wet, count on the Advanced Elements Blast22 to keep your things dry and protected.

This roomy, comfortable backpack will be your best buddy on rainy bicycle commutes, weekend paddles, and more.

It boasts a rolltop opening that makes loading and unloading the pack a breeze; plus water can’t sneak in through the top when it’s properly rolled closed.

The Blast22 is made from TPU-coated 210d nylon with welded seam construction that keeps dust and water securely out.

Your back will stay ventilated, comfortable, and dry thanks to the bag’s padded mesh back panel. Plus, an adjustable sternum strap will keep the pack in place; no annoying shifting. A water resistant front zip pocket offers easy access to essentials, while exterior gear loops allow for attaching external items if needed.

Capacity: 22 liters; weight: 17.75 ounces.

MSRP: $99.99 • advancedelements.com

GOOD TO-GO DEHYDRATED MEALS There’s nothing quite like refueling with a hearty stew or soup at the end of a big day of adventure. Good To-Go has recently released two new recipes that you’ll definitely want to bring along on your next fall backpacking trip or backcountry ski or snowshoe excursion.

These meals are so tasty and healthy that they even make a great option for a quick dinner at home — all you need is boiling water and in minutes you have a delicious meal!

The Kale and White Bean Stew is both vegan and gluten-free, while the New England Corn Chowder is pescatarian and gluten-free. Low in sodium and made with no preservatives, Good To-Go offers a full range of meals to suit all diets. Meals come in single and double sizes.

MSRP: $7.25-12.95 • goodto-go.com

SCARPA WOMEN’S ORIGIN

As SCARPA says, “The starting point in our climbing career is of fundamental importance. It gives rise to the genetic building blocks that shape our climbing lives.”

To that end, this shoe is the ideal choice for women new to rock climbing, with its women-specific fit, and lush leather upper that gives a sense of padded luxury rare in a shoe designed for beginners. A flat profile and relatively relaxed randing invite the climber’s feet into a cocoon of comfort. Feet remain snug and well-positioned due to a hook-and-loop closure.

SCARPA’s proprietary “Vision” rubber offers both a sticky and resilient feel for the range of conditions those new climbing feet will take on. The Women’s Origin can be resoled, promising years of climbing in your favorite shoe. Comes in Green Blue/Smoke.

MSRP: $95.00 • scarpa.com

WOOLX WOMEN’S REMI LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRT (LIGHTWEIGHT) This incredibly lightweight and remarkably soft 100% Australian merino wool long sleeve t-shirt is the perfect top for fall adventures. In fact, it’s so versatile, you’ll reach for it in the springtime, on cool summer mornings and evenings, and as a base layer in the winter.

Its unparalleled softness isn’t all that will keep you comfortable — this tee features tagless construction and flatlock seams to prevent chafing. The merino wool is breathable, moisture-wicking, and antimicrobial, making this top your go-to for all adventures ... or even for simply staying cozy at home.

UPF rating 25; comes in a variety of flattering colors.

Browse the Woolx website to discover their full range of tops for all style preferences.

MSRP: $64.00 • woolx.com 26 ASJ — Oct/Nov 2019

PHONE LOOPS GRIP STRAP This handy strap allows for an ergonomic and secure — yet relaxed — grip on your smartphone, preventing devastating data loss and costly repairs from accidentally dropping it. The Phone Loop Grip Strap seamlessly fits any smartphone case, using reliably strong 3M adhesive that leaves no trace. At just .6mm, the strap lays flat — no bulk to it. Choose from a wide variety of colors and patterns. Customize with your logo at extra cost. Wrist strap version also available.

MSRP: $5.99 • phoneloops.com

The Zenbivy Light Bed is the outdoor sleep system you’ve been dreaming of ... or, to be more exact, longing for all those sleepless nights tossing around in your tent trying to get comfortable.

No more constricting yourself in a mummy bag with no space to move; no more sliding off your pad every time you finally fall asleep. The Zenbivy Light Bed is an unbelievably lightweight quilt/sheet combo that you use in conjunction with your own pad and pillow (both available through Zenbivy, too). The sleep system is as easy to set up as it is easy to stow and carry in your backpack.

There’s a lot to love about the Zenbivy Light Bed. We’re especially impressed with its versatility: configure the quilt with a closed foot box (a la mummy bag) or rectangular one; partially open or fully open. An ingenius hook & loop system replaces heavy zippers, and the sheet is designed with a cozy hood to keep your head warm. You simply won’t believe how soft the ultralight fabric is, and how compactly everything packs down, while lofting up so beautifully.

40, 25 and 10 degree options. Synthetic or down. Regular, Large, and XL available.

Lightest set comes in at 2 lb 4 oz; compressing to about 4L. Simply put: the Zenbivy Light Bed puts a sheet on your mattress, and tucks you in with a blanket. It’s your bed at home in the great outdoors.

MSRP: $214.00-419.00 • zenbivy.com

SURREAL BREWING CO NON-ALCOHOLIC BEER As beer lovers and avid Beer Earners (shameless plug: earnyourbeer.com), we were thrilled to discover these delicious non-alcoholic brews.

Husband and wife team Tammer and Donna from Campbell, CA accomplished the inconceivable — crafting a great tasting beer with zero alcohol (and very few calories).

A couple of the Surreal recipes — Chandelier Red IPA and Natural Bridges Kolsch — are not only alcohol-free, but gluten-reduced as well. Other Surreal brews include 17 Mile Porter and Juicy Mavs Hazy IPA. Available on-line and at select stores.

Cheers to more and more folks being able to Earn Their Beer!

MSRP: $12.99/6-pack; 25.98/12-pack; 51.96/24-pack • surrealbrewing.com

From Your Daily Driver to

Off-Road Conqueror Park in your driveway, carport, or side yard.

With the roof down our pop-up truck camper is so stealth it looks cool and fits most anywhere. Heck, the neighbors are more likely to be jealous than to object.

Cruising down the highway or rambling off the grid is such a breeze, you’ll forget your camper is along for the ride. It’s low profile, low weight, and mega durable. After 47 years, five continents, and thousands of harsh customer adventures our campers

have earned their off-road cred.

When you reach your destination, you’ll have the top popped up in less than two minutes, creating a large space with a minimum height of 6’ 4”. Add solar, racks for bikes and paddle sports, queen or king size bed, refrigerator, furnace, sink, toilet, stove, and much more.

We invite you to talk to us about trucks, campers, and adventures.

Visit our new website with 3D video tours

www.fourwheelcampers.com