STOP THE SIREN / YOGA FOR SKIERS / EARN YOUR BEER / GEAR WE LOVE
WINTER 2020/2021 ISSUE #116
SKIING IN THE TIME OF COVID Dore Bietz
National Ski Patrol Representative and Indian Lands Consultant
OUTDOOR OUTREACH
Best of 2020 GIFT GIVING
GUIDE
Trail Etiquette
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HETCH RESERVOIR HETCHHETCHY HETCHY RESERVOIR, * YOSEMITE PARK YOSEMITENATIONAL NATIONAL PARK Photo credit: Rush Creek Lodge at Yosemite
Discover the beauty of road tripping through Tuolumne County – an easy getaway, 2.5 hours east of the San Francisco Bay Area, with miles of fresh air, outdoor adventure and charming historic towns. From hiking and kayaking to strolling unique shops and enjoying local cuisine, there’s plenty to explore throughout the High Sierra, Gold Country and Yosemite. When you’re ready to wander freely, we’re here to welcome you back safely. VisitTCToday.com/AdventureSports EVERGREEN LODGE
RUSH CREEK LODGE
DODGE RIDGE SKI AREA
Evergreen Lodge is a newly expanded historic resort nestled in 20 acres of woods bordering Yosemite, with cozy cabins in the woods, restaurant, tavern, pool/hot tub, activities and guided adventures.
Located at the Highway 120 West entrance to Yosemite, Rush Creek Lodge includes a restaurant, tavern, pool, daily activities, guided trips throughout Yosemite, and now a brand new indoor/outdoor spa!
We’re celebrating our 70th Season as a Family Owned + Family Loved resort, and we remain true to our core purpose of delivering an incredible Sierra Skiing + Riding experience. Book your lift tickets, lessons & rentals online.
evergreenlodge.com
rushcreeklodge.com
dodgeridge.com
*Photo credit: Rush Creek Lodge at Yosemite
2 ASJ—Aug/Sept 2011
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IN THIS ISSUE
Winter 2020 / 2021, #116
departments 6
Editor’s Note Stop the Siren
8
Ear to the Ground News & notes
10
EPiC Outdoor Outreach
14 18 features 7
Riders Against Racism Bikers take on the 50/50 Challenge
13
Trail Etiquette Rules of the trail for hikers, bikers, and equestrians
14
Skiing in the time of COVID-19 Teaching kids environmental stewardship
18
Yoga for Skiers Poses for flexibility and stability
12
Earn Your Beer Black is Beautiful and Anvil of Hope PHOTOS: (14 Diamond Peak; (18) Leonie Sherman; (10) Outdoor Outreach; (20) Tracy Barbutes.
20 10
20
Dore Bietz Indian Land Consultant
24
Gift Giving Guide Holiday Gift Ideas
26
ON THE COVER Rider Isaac Laredo in his happy place – exploring new lines and finding powder at Diamond Peak Ski Resort in North Lake Tahoe. Photo by Ryland West, courtesy of Diamond Peak.
Best of 2020 Outdoor Highlights
WOW, we’re proud to have made it 20 years! Thanks to our advertisers who make ASJ possible. Keep an eye on our website as we’ll be digging up old articles from the past that haven’t been available online yet. Old issues will be for sale as well.
GUNBARREL 25 / EARN YOUR BEER / GEAR WE LOVE / EVENT PROFILES
EARN YOUR BEER / GEAR WE LOVE / EVENT PROFILES / CALENDAR
FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019 ISSUE #107
2019 ESSENTIAL RACE CALENDAR
APRIL / MAY 2019 ISSUE #108
Tahoe Trails A SHORT HISTORY
TOURS 3BACKCOUNTRY
FESTIVAL GUIDE
BRAD GOBRIGHT FULLY COMMITTED
BIKE TOURING HWY 50
TAHOE NORDIC SKI LEGEND Doug Read
BIG WATER
Made in California
RAFTING PRIMER
Western Mountaineering
THE TAHOE FUND / WESTERN STATES 100 / EARN YOUR BEER / EVENT CALENDAR
CALIFORNIA BICYCLE COALITION FOREST SCHOOLS
KEVIN JORGESON’S 1CLIMB / SKIING CRANE FLAT / EARN YOUR BEER / CALENDAR
DEC 2019 / JAN 2020 ISSUE #112
AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2019 ISSUE #110
THE
YOSEMITE ISSUE MYTHIC BIG WALLS AND EPIC WATERFALLS AT THE WELLSPRING OF ADVENTURE
Ken Yager
The Long Game Climbing Towards Justice
EMILY TAYLOR
+ MTB Alabama Hills + Paddle Lake Tahoe
VISIONS OF YOSEMITE & MAMMOTH DAKOTA SNIDER
adventuresportsjournal.com 4 4ASJ — Winter 20202011 / 2021 ASJ—Aug/Sept
LAST DAYS
THE
OF BOB SWIFT 1930 – 2019
GIFT GIVING GUIDE RESORT TIPS FOR A PERFECT DAY Warm Water Surfing ADRIAN BALLINGER
asj contributors What are you most excited about and looking forward to for 2021? PUBLISHING + EDITORIAL PUBLISHER Cathy Claesson cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com
leoniesherman I’m hoping that the media stops covering every single thing Donald Trump says or tweets so I don’t have to read his name in every headline or listen to his voice ever again.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com EDITOR Michele Lamelin michele@adventuresportsjournal.com
mattjohanson
I’m looking forward to improvement on the COVID front, vastly improved national leadership, hiking on the PCT and climbing some 14ers.
COPY EDITOR Jennifer Stein jen@adventuresportsjournal.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Taylor Luckenbach taylor@asjmag.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Leonie Sherman, Matt Johanson, James Murren, Tracy Barbutes, Krista Hammond
tracybarbutes
A new tone — emphasizing civility, empathy, inclusion, equality and truth. And, of course, an effective, affordable and wildlyavailable COVID-19 vaccine.
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Tracy Barbutes, James Murren, Leonie Sherman, Anthony Cupaiuolo / First Track Productions, John Shafer, Bishop Visitors Bureau, Eliseo Parra LAYOUT Cathy Claesson
kristahoughton In 2021 I’m mostly looking forward to freely hugging my family and friends and bagging my first real peak, Mt. Shasta on my birthday in June.
COVER DESIGN Lauren Worth ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Cathy Claesson I 831.234.0351 cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com
All content © Adventure Sports Journal 2020. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the editors.
Santa Cruz Harbor 413 Lake Ave. 831.479.1121
Elkhorn Slough Moss Landing 831.724.5692
kayakconnection.com
mattniswonger What I am most looking forward to in 2021 is pushing myself in the great outdoors while connecting with other outdoor athletes who care about social justice and environmental stewardship.
michelelamelin Keeping up the momentum with regard to inclusion & equality … a COVID vaccine … Biden/Harris! … doggos in the White House again ... & many more backpacking & mountain biking adventures with my best girl Ani!
ADVENTURE SPORTS JOURNAL PO BOX 35, Santa Cruz, CA 95063 Phone 831.457.9453 asjstaff@adventuresportsjournal.com PROUD MEMBER
Two Great Locations in Monterey Bay!
A vaccine! And hopefully planning trips with family and friends, reconnecting in person after what will have been a year of noncontact.
EVENTS MARKETING Michele Lamelin michele@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.
Open for Limited Kayak & SUP Rentals and Tours
jamesmurren
EVENTS & DISTRIBUTION Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com
Jennifer Stein jen@adventuresportsjournal.com
THE BEST WAY TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE!
jenniferstein No more Trump, “Building Back Better,” continued social justice, a vaccine, and for me personally – getting back out on the trails for some more backpacking!
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Editor’s Note //
STOP THE SIREN
Minden, Nevada’s sundown siren is a nightly reminder of our collective estrangement from nature I am reading The Small Shall Be Strong by Matthew S. Makley. It is a history of the Washoe people in the Tahoe area. In one generation (from about 1840 to 1870) the Washoe went from proud caretakers of Lake Tahoe who had never seen a white person to barely surviving a stampede of white settlers. Their land was taken and they were pushed to the side. By the late 1800s their population dwindled to about only 500 tribal members.
I
n 1894 Washoe children were rounded up and forced into a boarding school called the Stewart Indian School in Carson City, Nevada. School administrators limited family visits and the students were forced to learn English and spend hours inside classrooms. For a Washoe child who depended on a harmonious connection to nature, the school/prison was like torture. Many students tried to escape and were rounded up by truant officers who captured them like animals. Some parents waited for over a year to see their children again. Others never saw their children again at all and received letters that they had died while in school with no further explanation. For the Washoe, a connection to nature was considered fundamental to human existence. A special court in Nevada outlawed the practices of so-called “Medicine Men,” AKA “Indian Doctors.” These days the term we use is “Shamanism.” Rule 9c of the court held that shamanic activities could earn imprisonment “for a period of not less than 10 days or until the Indian Doctor provided evidence of their intent to forever abandon the unlawful practice.” After they lost their children to the boarding schools, and their shamans were put in jail, the Washoe were further marginalized. The land they had been caretaking for thousands of years became private property owned by whites, and their “kind” was not welcome in polite society. By 1917 there was a law that all Washoe must leave town by sundown in the town of Minden, near Carson City. At 6pm there was a “whistle or siren” that blew to remind all tribe members they must leave town by 6:30. This of course
To this day a siren still rings at 6pm in the town of Minden. The Washoe have been asking for many years to please stop the siren, but the Town of Minden refuses. They say their siren has nothing to do with the Washoe and it honors first responders. When you show them the history they simply shrug and say, “that was the past.” 6 ASJ — Winter 2020 / 2021 ASJ—Aug/Sept 2011
did not include those employed as “house servants,” for by this time the Washoe had entered the local economy as secondclass citizens, serving the households and ranches of wealthy whites just to survive. Washoe tribe members who did not leave town by sundown were beaten or jailed. To this day a siren still rings at 6pm in the town of Minden. The Washoe have been asking for many years to please stop the siren, but the Town of Minden refuses. They say their siren has nothing to do with the Washoe and it honors first responders. When you show them the history they simply shrug and say, “that was the past.” To me, the siren is a metaphor for how we have lost our way. Instead of learning from the Washoe, we have marginalized them. Instead of caring for nature we are destroying it. What would it take to reverse course? What would it take to stop hurting nature and starting caring for it like the Washoe have done for hundreds of generations in the Tahoe area? What would it take to stop ringing a siren that has been reminding the Washoe for decades that their “kind” is not welcome in polite society after sunset? Here’s what I’m thinking. Let’s stop the siren. Let’s work together and convince the town council of Minden to stop their 6pm sundown siren. Let’s reverse course and start learning from the Washoe instead of marginalizing them. The future of our planet depends it. Do you have any ideas and/or specific suggestions to help silence the Minden siren? Please send me an email: matt@ adventuresportsjournal.com For more information about the Minden siren, check out asjmag.com/sundownsiren-minden-nevada
— Matt Niswonger
Campfire memories from Sea Otter, 2017. ASJ editor, Matt Niswonger on the plasitc horn.
Ride Against Racism CLIMBING 50,000 FEET IN 50 DAYS ON A BIKE The idea to start a non-profit organization called Riders Against Racism came after the murder of Ahmaud Arbery on February 23, 2020. This tragic death on the streets of Georgia started a conversation about “jogging while Black,” and how persons of color don’t always feel safe while participating in outdoor recreation activities.
“A
fter Ahmaud Arbery was murdered, and after I read How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi in May, I realized how important it is to build communities around the specific practices of anti-racism in outdoor spaces,” says Matt Niswonger, co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Adventure Sports Journal. Niswonger, continues, “In terms of cycling, both mountain and road biking are disproportionately white and male. In light of the Ahmaud Arbery tragedy, the idea emerged to create a cycling organization devoted to helping cyclists become anti-racists, and to making the BIPOC, and LGTBQ+ communities feel more welcome in the cycling community.” Riders Against Racism’s first 50/50 Challenge pushes riders to climb 50,000 feet in 50 days or less on a bike. Participants keep track of elevation gain via Strava and the leaderboard is updated daily to show cumulative totals. The 50/50 challenge is a fundraising vehicle for Riders Against Racism (RAR) initiatives — the first of which is for the Washoe Tribe near Lake Tahoe. “We are in a conversation about supporting the Washoe Nation,” Niswonger says. “Learning about the Washoe and their history in the Lake Tahoe region has been sobering. When I learned that the nearby town of Minden has a nightly siren that the Washoe have been trying to silence for over a decade it was an introduction to the sad history of the nearby towns.”
Until 1974 there was both a nightly 6pm siren and a law on the books that all Washoe must leave town by nightfall. The law was repealed but the same siren keeps blaring nightly to this day as a sad reminder of a traumatic past. To support the Washoe, Niswonger started an online petition to stop the siren that currently has over 12,000 signatures. (Read and sign the petition at asjmag.com/sign-petition.) A few days after the petition was started, Niswonger was contacted by the local news to be interviewed alongside some Washoe elders including Serrell Smokey, who is the President, Chairman, and CEO at Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California. That interview resulted in a news story that aired on KOLO TV. There is much opportunity to partner with the Washoe people in their efforts to
thrive as a people. Mountain biking, road biking, and snowboarding/skiing can play a role in that. Beyond the Washoe initiative and other initiatives, the 50/50 Challenge aims to grow a national digital community of riders who identify as anti-racist. Niswonger explains, “This will be an important part of our organization because having a Strava community built around anti-racism is a good thing for the cycling community. The higher profile we get, the safer and more inclusive cycling gets.”
Tax deductible donations can be made through January 5, 2021. Donate at pledgereg.com/ ride-against-racism
Photo: Mike Bolte
WHAT SOME PARTICIPANTS OF THE 50/50 CHALLENGE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT RIDERS AGAINST RACISM
ALLYSON GUNSALLUS
DAVID ORR
JOSH PEARLMAN
ADAM LONG
This challenge has impacted me more and been more significant than I could have imagined. I’ve also been thinking about how I’m a better person going through this contentious election— seeing more, learning more, reflecting more—than I would have been if I hadn’t spent so much time riding the last few weeks. Ride on!
When I signed up for RAR, I thought to myself, well I ride a lot. This is going to be no problem. Well as it turns out, it really is hard. The cumulative days of biking thousands of feet uphill builds up in your legs, and recent snow conditions have added another dynamic to the suffering. Embarrasingly, I was fairly unaware of what POC experienced living in the US until recently and 2020 opened my eyes wider than they’ve ever been to just how much racism exists. This year I’ve gone to BLM protests, seen the militia members flashing white power symbols with their automatic rifles and I’ve even heard the Sundown Siren sounding off in Minden as a solemn daily reminder to the Washoe Tribe
I have spent my entire life engaging in what are loosely referred to as adventure sports. Sports that are generally you vs. yourself in an arena where mistakes can have dire consequences. Big mountain snowboarding, high altitude mountaineering, rock climbs taking a week or more to complete, and of course mountain biking. If there is one dominant characteristic that I have recognized from my early years of scaring myself, it’s that this is a bunch of white dudes having a blast in nature. Where are the persons of color? Where are the women?
It is inspiring to see every effort that we are making towards this cause as a team. Initially I was concerned that this challenge would just be a way to justify what can be a selfish and privileged pursuit. But no … it’s not about that at all.
The Ride Against Racism (RAR) 50/50 Challenge started on October 15th and drew 29 cyclists. In addition to the 50K Challenge, some riders also raised money for the Tribal Historic Preservation Office of the Washoe Tribe. As we go to press, RAR participant Sam Stivers has crossed the finish line with about 52,000 feet of climbing by day 41. Other riders are getting close and are on pace to complete this difficult challenge. Congratulations to everyone who participated. Even those who don’t finish will come away with something valuable.
that they aren’t welcome. I’m motivated to make racism wrong again. I’m determined to get the Sundown Siren silenced for good, but more importantly, I’m excited about helping and empowering POC to enjoy outdoor sports. The outdoors is for everyone.
When Matt and I first talked about doing a 50K in 50 days challenge, at first I thought, wow, that will be tough, and then I got very excited about it. The immediate next topic was how to use the event to raise awareness and funds for racially inspired social justice movements. How can WE make a difference?
Each hard fought climb and mile gives me a moment to think about how I can change my ways, many of which are rooted in the racism of my family lineage. We can all make this world a better place with the kindness that is embedded in our hearts. Each ride has made me equally sad and optimistic about the events of this year. The inequalities in so many aspects of our society are increasingly apparent. If I can make a difference to at least one person or help inspire introspection in others then it is all worth it. Thank you everyone. Let’s take this to the next level.
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Dodge Ridge Celebrates 70th Anniversary Photo: Anthony Cupaiuolo / First Track Prodcutions
Ear to the Ground
News & notes from the outdoor industry
Tahoe Fund Creates Endowment to Support Local Trails
The nonprofit Tahoe Fund has launched a new effort to create a $3 million endowment to generate enough funding to pay for annual trail work in the Tahoe region. “Historically our focus as an organization has been to help expand the Tahoe trail network so we can spread people out and build new trails that not only provide recreational opportunities, but reduce erosion that can affect lake clarity,” said Julie Teel, Tahoe Fund board member. “This trail endowment exemplifies our mission of using the power of philanthropy to improve the Lake Tahoe environment for all to enjoy. We will continue to support new trails, but this endowment will help address the need for long-term care of the entire trail network.” The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased the strain on Tahoe’s trail system as people began spending more time outdoors. Despite “stay-at-home” orders, use of Tahoe’s trails exploded, with one trail counter at DL Bliss State Park recording higher usage in April 2020 than in July 2019. Since then, things have not slowed down. Although trails provide a healthy way for people to recreate outdoors, increased use puts real stress on both the natural environment and land managers as trails and trailheads fill up. By generating a constant stream of funding to pay for ongoing maintenance, Tahoe’s trail network will benefit from regular maintenance designed to ensure the trails are fun and erosion free. To help grow the endowment, an anonymous donor has offered to match every dollar donated up to $100,000. Learn more and contribute to the Tahoe Trails Endowment at tahoefund.org.
The Original
earn your beer
Dodge Ridge is looking forward to their 70th season of skiing and riding. It’s quite a milestone to celebrate, and they are proud to remain family owned, family loved and family built since 1950. Dodge Ridge was founded by the Purdy family, and the tradition of family values has continued on since the Helm family took over ownership and operation in 1976. Along with their continued commitment to family values, the Helm family has made large scale investments into the growth and development of Dodge Ridge — this commitment has resulted in tripling the skiable area at the resort and new chairlift infrastructure. Located in the Stanislaus National Forest, just three miles from Pinecrest Lake, Dodge Ridge is the absolute shortest drive to ski and ride from Bay Area and Central Valley locations, making it a quick drive for a day trip or a weekend getaway. Visit their website at dodgeridge.com and read about Dodge Ridge local and National Ski Patrol Representative, Dore Bietz, on page 20.
CES Raises $28,615 for Fire Relief Efforts & Trail Projects
Thanks to the generosity of sponsors Specialized and FOX, California Enduro Series raised $28,615 from its 2020 fundraising raffles. Prizes included a Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp Carbon and Enduro Expert plus FOX forks and Transfer seatposts. Funds benefitted Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association (RVMBA), Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance (SORA), and fire relief efforts in mountain biking communities impacted by wildfires. Read more at asj.com/california-enduroseries-fundraiser/
Pacific Edge Climbing Gym Faces Tough Times ASJ has launched a fundraiser to help Pacific Edge staff through these tough times in recognition of their unwavering support of the climbing community. While Pacific Edge is staying open in large part to employ its staff to the maximum extent possible, most employees have had their hours reduced due to COVID. To learn more and/or donate, go to gofundme.com/f/save-pacific-edgeclimbing-gym
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Makes a great gift idea !
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8 ASJ ASJ—Aug/Sept 2011/ 2021 8 — Winter 2020
Photo: John Shafer
Sea Otter Classic Announces New Dates for 2021
With its regular mid-April date, Sea Otter Classic was one of the first major cycling events to get cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19. For many cyclists, this was a sign that the upcoming cycling events season was not going to be the same and it wasn’t. The event producers recently announced the event will take place May 20 - 23, 2021 and added, “The health and safety of our attendees is our top priority. We’ll work with Monterey County health officials to ensure all proper protocols are in place. In the event that COVID restrictions prevent our Spring event, our backup dates are scheduled for October 7-10, 2021.” Read more at asjmag.com/sea-otterclassic-new-2021-dates
COVID-19 Didn’t Shut Down Fears, Tears and Beers
Ian Anderson
By rescheduling their usual early June date, the longest-running mountain bike Enduro in North America — Fears, Tears and Beers (FTB) — was able to pull off their event this year. FTB organizers rescheduled their usual early June date to September 26 to buy time and better understand how they could pull off a safe and socially distanced event. “It felt good to provide folks with some much needed event energy in a year with almost no events,” said Kyle Horvath, tourism director for White Pine County. “The Ely community was very supportive of putting on FTB.” Read the event recap at asjmag.com/ fears-tears-and-beers-2020/
Recreating Responsibly During COVID-19 Pandemic COVID-19 has certainly changed the way we access outdoor recreation activities. If you plan to venture out of your area to recreate outdoors, be sure to familiarize yourself with local guidelines and regulations in your destination. Visit California urges all travelers to review the California Responsible Travel Code, designed to ensure that the Golden State remains a beautiful and viable destination over the long haul. Learn more at asjmag.com/visitcalifornia-travel-code
BANFF CENTRE Mountain Film Festival
Photo: Bishop Visitors Bureau
World Tour Virtual Festival
Screening Now!
Hosted by the Rio Theatre
Two Programs to choose from This year bring the adventure home. Be moved. Be inspired. Don’t miss out! Tickets available online @ RioTheatre.com Photo: Eliseo Parra
Photo: Kauai Marriott Resort
Women on Waves Raises The State of Hawaii Is Open for Tourism with Restrictions Money for Brown Girls Surf Women On Waves’ (WOW) mission is to create and promote participation of all women of all abilities in the sport of surfing. With the unfolding of events in 2020, WOW wanted to do more to promote diversity and inclusiveness in the surfing community. This lead them to amplify their core mission message to include **all women** — meaning including women of all backgrounds, all colors, and all identities. This year’s event went virtual and was a fundraiser for Brown Girls Surf, an organization that promotes inclusivity in the sport of surfing. The event brought women from ages 20 to late 50s, from Europe, Latin America and the US, together. This year’s event was such a success that future WOW events in Capitola will likely include a digital component as well. Read and see more photos at asjmag. com/women-on-waves-2
For many Californians who enjoy surfing and the island lifestyle, Hawaii is an annual pilgrimage or dream destination. Due to COVID-19, travel plans were halted as strict quarantines were put in place and many beaches were closed. Hawaii started welcoming back travelers on Oct. 15, so long as they had registered on Hawaii’s “Safe Travels” portal and also had a COVID-19 test at a trusted partner within 72 hours of their departure flight time. Without these things in order, there is a strict 14-day quarantine or the option to return home. With the recent spike in COVID-19 cases on the mainland, negative test results now need to be shown before boarding the plane — this can be tricky with the 72 hour time frame, but well worth the effort if you can make it. Learn more about pandemic travel to Hawaii at asjmag.com/hawaii-covid-19
HOME FOR SALE San Sebastián Cove, Baja
4BD | 4BA | 3,000 sf | $270,000 I am selling this waterfront home in Baja, California, Mexico, located in the San Sebastián Cove, Sea of Cortez. This custom Spanish style home can be great for two/three partners/families, and each floor has a kitchen and 2 beds, and 2 baths. Great location for fishing, paddle boarding, diving, or simply some much needed R&R!! It also comes with a small fishing boat and a 95’ Suburban 4x4. Surf is a few hour’s drive away from the house, definitely a fun day trip to surf.
For inquires, call (831) 431-7883 ask for Gary.
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EPiC: Environmental Partnership Campaign
OUTDOOR OUTREACH
Building Resilience through Nature Engagement By Leonie Sherman
When Lexus Morrow was a baby, her two and three year old siblings fell out of an open window when their parents left them home alone. Being in the crib spared her their fate, but all three siblings were removed from the parental home. Morrow bounced between family members and foster homes for ten years before moving back in with her mother. But at 16, her life revolved around watching her mother overdose and struggle with an eating disorder. She never knew if she’d have enough money to eat or get to school the next day.
T
hen she enrolled in a free Outdoor Outreach Adventure Club at her high school in San Diego County. Founded by professional skier Chris Rutgers in 1999, Outdoor Outreach (OO) offers outdoor programs, leadership training and career opportunities to underserved young people who face adversity. “We work with youth who might be in the court or foster care system, might be psychiatric patients or come from a community that experiences drug and alcohol abuse or violence at higher rates than other communities,” explains OO Executive Director Ben McCue. “We focus on building resilience,” McCue continues. “Our programs enable young people to build social and emotional skills. The activities are simply the mechanism. Through surfing or rock climbing, students can learn courage and how to face other challenges in their lives.” So while Morrow was learning how to kayak, rock climb, surf and SUP, she was also building confidence and self esteem. “I learned hard skills, like how to belay, but I also learned more about myself, my role as a person, my place in society,” Morrow explains earnestly. “I learned that my voice matters, that the things and people I care about matter, that I have the ability to affect change in the world.” Morrow also participated in OO’s Outdoor Voices Program, which gives young people a chance to advocate
“One of our guiding principles is the idea of challenge by choice. We don’t force young people to do anything. We give them space to step into challenging situations.” — Ben McCue, Executive Director 10 — Winter 2020 / 2021 10 ASJ ASJ—Aug/Sept 2011
for outdoor equity. “We talked to local politicians, donors, the mayor, the governor, pretty much anyone who was willing to listen,” she explains. “I have pretty bad anxiety about public speaking, but going through the Outdoor Outreach program helped me find peace and joy in a chaotic world. I know how many other kids are denied that opportunity, and I wanted them to have the chance to experience what I did, so I figured the benefits outweighed the cost.” After college she turned to McCue for career advice and OO created an internship for her. “They offered trauma informed trainings, plus training in specific activities, like surfing, kayaking, stand up paddling, being a mandated reporter,” explains Morrow. “I learned CPR and first aid, they’ll pay for me to become a Wilderness First Responder, they taught me how to drive the trailer and will even help me get a Commercial Drivers License! And they train me in administrative skills too.” When the internship ended, OO approached her about a permanent position. At 24, she’s their Youth Program Assistant Coordinator. “Over half of our paid instructors are graduates of our programs,” explains McCue. “We are really proud that so many of our graduates stay connected as volunteers, staff and board members.” The opportunities for employment and professional development OO provides address one of the major disparities they see in the youth they serve. OO is also proud of their partnerships with local social service and government agencies and Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. “For example, at the hospital we work with young adults who have been defined by their diagnosis their whole life. When we teach them to stand up on a wave or get to the top of a rock wall, we give them the opportunity to build an identity based on strength and accomplishment, instead of what they lack,“ says McCue. “These community organizations now look at nature engagement for youth as something that meets a critical need.” All OO programming is trauma-informed, an approach that emphasizes physical, psychological, and emotional
THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: OUTDOOR OUTREACH CREATES A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR KIDS WHO FACE ADVERSITY; LEXUS MORROW, PICTURED HERE, IS AN OUTDOOR OUTREACH GRADUATE, INSTRUCTOR AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATE. OVER HALF OF THE OUTDOOR OUTREACH INSTRUCTORS ARE GRADUATES OF THE PROGRAM. safety, aiming to help participants regain a sense of control in their lives. “One of our guiding principles is the idea of challenge by choice. We don’t force young people to do anything. We give them space to step into challenging situations,” explains McCue. “Of course we encourage them, but they don’t even have to get into the water on a surf trip.” Sometimes this approach leads to unexpected breakthroughs. When Lesford Duncan, OO’s Senior Director of Programs, took a group of five guys climbing at a nearby crag, four made it to the top but the fifth struggled, and retreated halfway up. After his second attempt he looked at Duncan and pointed out that he hadn’t climbed it either.
“Realistically people from low income neighborhoods like mine, we can’t afford the time or the equipment. We could buy a week’s worth of groceries for the cost of a single surf lesson!” — Tatiana Butte
“I told this kid I would climb if he belayed me,” says Duncan, who prior to OO was the Child Abuse Prevention Coordinator for San Bernardino County. “Our Operations Manager gave me a back up belay. When I was coming down, I looked at this kid belaying me and he had the most intense serious expression on his face. Everyone was cheering for him, but he stayed focused on my descent.” Once he was safely on the ground, the young man turned to Duncan, amazed.
THIS PAGE: OUTDOOR OUTREACH USES OUTDOOR SPORTS LIKE PADDLING AND CLIMBING TO HELP KIDS DEVELOP COURAGE AND LEARN HOW TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES THEY FACE IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES. THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, CALIFORNIA COMMITTED $25M TO SUPPORT OUTDOOR EQUITY PROGRAMS FOR UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS IN 2020.
“Man, you just put your life in my hands!” he said. “That makes us brothers. I need to be the best man at your wedding!” On a later trip, that young man admitted he grew up not being able to rely on anyone and not having anyone trust him. Duncan’s simple act demonstrated a level of trust he had never experienced before. “In a moment like that you realize what we are doing at Outdoor Outreach,” explains Duncan. “The outdoors is this incredible place where we can help build confidence and resilience, we can help youth find a sense of joy, or belonging or healing. So many youth we work with lack access to these spaces, and that’s an injustice in and of itself.” Coronavirus has made this lack of access even more glaring. “Being in the outdoors with members of your household is one of the safest things you can do right now,” explains McCue. “And yet at one of the most critical times for our community, during a public health pandemic, one of our most important public resources is not equally available. In fact, communities that are the most impacted by the virus have the least access to these spaces.” Tatianna Butte, a former participant and current instructor who was mentored by
Morrow, explains how outdoor inequity has impacted her life. “Where I live in San Diego, it takes me four or five hours to get to the beach on public transit, but it’s only 20 or 30 minutes in a car. Realistically people from low income neighborhoods like mine, we can’t afford the time or the equipment. We could buy a week’s worth of groceries for the cost of a single surf lesson!” So, like Morrow, Butte talks to legislators about the importance of access to these spaces and getting Generation Z off their screens. “Just going outside and taking a deep breath and connecting to Mother Nature, it’s not the solution, but it’s part of it,” she explains. “Outdoor activity combats seasonal affective disorder, helps with mental and emotional challenges and also, of course, physical fitness. “And for those who enjoy outdoor spaces regularly, take some time to understand the privilege that allows you to do these activities and go to these places with no worries,” Butte continues. “Help out a person of color or a low income person; break down some barriers. Don’t have pity for them, help them out, that’s how we create a better community. Know your privilege and use it to help out those less fortunate.”
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Then, seemingly out of nowhere after I swam past the shore break I could see a very crowded lineup: boardsurfers, bodyboarders, and bodysurfers. Looking back to shore, I couldn’t see the lifeguard tower. Everyone was jostling for position and a few unkind words were spoken by some people. I decided that I’d try to get in a few slides since I was already in the water. Somewhere around thirty minutes later, I caught a right, kicked like hell and planed with my bare hand. I tucked in as the four-foot wave crashed and rolled, kicking my finned feet more and riding it out. When I popped my head up out of the water, smile on my face, I heard the following: “That was pretty. Nice one!” A local bodysurfer, somewhere in her late 50s, I’d guess, gave me a compliment I had yet to receive. I thanked her and swam back out, working back into the lineup and waiting for another go-round. One more, was the new prevailing thought. It continued for a few more attempts, though none were quite like the “pretty” one.
THE BEER
EARN YOUR BEER Black Is Beautiful and Anvil of Hope By James Murren
THE EARNING It took some eight years of bodysurfing the wave in front of Lifeguard Tower 2 and some not-so-sunny conditions in Ocean Beach, San Diego for me to get my first compliment from a local. Yeah, it felt good. The story goes like this:
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arrived mid-morning to foggy conditions, not simply a heavy marine layer. From the shore, as I stood and asked myself whether I was going out because I couldn’t see anything beyond the beach break, another guy was doing the same thing. Stepping into the water, I pulled on my surf fins and silently said, why not? I looked over as I swam and saw the other guy. We both surmised that the session was a bit of an unknown, with regard to surf conditions.
12 ASJ — Winter 2020 / 2021 ASJ—Aug/Sept 2011
Weathered Souls Brewing Company (San Antonio, TX) created a recipe for a stout and shared it with the brewing universe. The idea was to have others brew it and then have all breweries donate all proceeds to local organizations around the country/world that work to address inequality, specifically recognizing the Black Lives Matter movement by calling the stout Black is Beautiful. I agree with all of that and I really like roasty stouts. I stopped in at Alpine Beer Company (Alpine, CA) and picked up a 32 oz half-growler of Black is Beautiful. Indeed, it was roast and toast that gave the most satisfying feeling knowing that the dollars spent were going to support efforts to combat social injustice. blackisbeautiful.beer
Another beer that was created to assist people who need it during 2020 and beyond is a hazy IPA by AleSmith Brewing Company (San Diego, CA) and their new non-profit called Anvil of Hope. The new brew goes by the name of AleSmith for Hope. Proceeds from this beer go to support COVID-19 frontline workers. The brewery and its new non-profit came together to “pour it forward.” Tasting notes: pretty much everything you’d expect in a 7.5% hazy IPA, meaning there’s citrus and other tropical fruits. It tastes great knowing that monies are going to people serving their fellow human beings. alesmith.com/alesmith-for-hope-release/
TRAIL ETIQUETTE
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Rules of the trail in the days of eMTBs, COVID-19 and trail apps Krista Houghton
Trail etiquette has been around since trails were first created. Trail apps, electric mountain bikes, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other factors have brought a flood of new users to our trails. The problem is it seems very few people actually know and even less follow the long established “rules of the trail.” For the safety of everyone, it is important people are familiar with this topic before they hit the trail.
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et’s start with the most important rule: right of way. We’ve all seen the “Trail Courtesy” sign pictured above. It clearly illustrates that bikes yield to equestrians and hikers; hikers yield to equestrians; equestrians yield to no one. Another sign you may encounter – “Rules of the Trail” – reminds users of another very important rule: to keep right and pass on the left, and warn before passing. Hikers, this is for you too. I’ve encountered so many new and young hikers that simply freeze when a bike approaches. IT’S JUST LIKE DRIVING, PASS ON THE LEFT AND IF ENCOUNTERING EACH OTHER IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, STAY RIGHT. To add another layer, it’s commonly accepted that the person going uphill has the right of way; this comes from the “rules of the road.” Keep in mind that these rules are meant as guidelines, but they are not black and white — each situation calls for the best decision in regards to safety. For example, a common situation on multi-use trails involves mountain bikers riding downhill and encountering hikers on the uphill. Yes, the rules are to yield to the person going uphill and bikes yield to hikers. However, sometimes the safest and easiest solution is a cooperative effort between users, with the rider slowing down considerably and the hiker moving off trail. EVEN THOUGH IT MAY BE EASIER FOR A HIKER TO YIELD TO A BIKER, THE BIKER SHOULD NEVER EXPECT A HIKER TO YIELD. When encountering equestrians on the trail, bikers and hikers alike should always stop and move off trail, below the horse when possible. All users need to yield to horses. EVEN IF IT MEANS STEPPING INTO POISON OAK, BIKERS AND HIKERS YIELD TO HORSES, PERIOD. Many new developed trails are in fact now one way only, and even specific to only bikers or only hikers and horses. This seems to be the best solution to avoid sometimes dangerous encounters. In a group? Single file, please! It’s not cool or safe for hikers, bikers or horse riders to be on the trail side by side. And music ... please don’t share your music on the trail. Most trail users go outside to hear nature, not your music, no matter how bumpin’ it is.
ROLLING WITH THE CHANGES The advent of electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) and safety measures due to COVID-19 have introduced some additional etiquette to keep in mind while out on the trails. If you ride an eMTB, you know that semi-guilty feeling as you approach fellow bikers on a climb. Best advice, power down and politely ask to pass on the next safe section. Say something like “Hello, could I pass on the left at your next convenience?” Naturally, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the way we recreate outdoors. It’s important to be respectful and safe by keeping at least six feet away from those not in your own household, and to wear your mask when passing others. It’s really quite easy and simple.
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STAY 6 FEET APART AND WEAR A MASK TO PASS. Also, this should go without saying, but it’s a particularly bad time for “snot rockets” — blow your nose into a tissue or hankie, not on the trail! Please share these rules with your children and friends that are new to the sport. The outdoors is a wonderful place to unwind and forget the stresses of the world, so it is the responsibility of each of us to respect one another and the rules.
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SKIING & BOARDING IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 By Cathy Claesson
Diamond Peak
Since the start of the pandemic, more and more people have been taking refuge in the outdoors. Trails have seen an increase in users, and outdoor companies have been selling out of tents, bikes and anything else that helps people get outside. With the ski season upon us, there’s sure to be more people than ever eager to hit the slopes.
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kiing has inherent advantages during these uncertain times — it happens outdoors in wide open spaces with constant airflow. The experience will definitely be different this year, but for those who plan ahead and know before they go, it’s undoubtedly going to be one of the most fun, healthy ways to spend time outside this winter,” says Mike Reitzell, president of Ski California. After an abrupt and early end to last year’s ski season, resorts throughout the country have been working tirelessly to develop safety measures to open this season. Resorts have invested millions of dollars in technology and sanitizing procedures to help guests maintain social distancing requirements and help prevent the spread of the virus. Though all of the resorts are in alignment with basic protocols around safety, the procedures will vary from resort to resort. We’ve reached out to our favorite resorts to get some pre-season guidelines of what people can expect when they hit the slopes this winter. The most important thing to remember is that these procedures are subject to change, so just like a surfer checks the surf report before heading to the mountains, skiers and boarders need to check the resort they are heading to before they go. It will be up to each of us to do our part to keep each other safe and help keep the resorts open for a long season.
BADGER PASS SKI AREA Yosemite National Park
BOREAL MOUNTAIN RESORT Soda Springs
CLOSED FOR THE SEASON travelyosemite.com/winter/badger-pass-ski-area
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? Not for pass holders. // ON-SITE TICKET SALES? No, purchase in advance. // PRE-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS? Yes, with Go Time Tickets, guests customize their start time and price. // CANCELLATION POLICY? Non-refundable; transfer dates are available with restrictions. Change fee and rate difference may apply. // LODGE RULES? Only “grab and go” food is available this season. DON’T MISS Woodward Mountain Parks and the new beginner lift, California Cruiser. Take the Cedar Ridge lift for snowy laps in the trees, and catch the sunset at the top of Accelerator chair. rideboreal.com
BEAR MOUNTAIN Big Bear Lake RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? No ON-SITE TICKET SALES? No, purchase online, by app or by phone. PRE-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS? 20% on rentals 72 hours in advance. CANCELLATION POLICY? 72 hours in advance for a refund. LODGE RULES? You must have a pass to be in base areas and indoor spaces monitored. DON’T MISS Experience breathtaking views from the top of Southern California’s highest lift-served peak (8,805 feet) then enjoy Bear Mountain’s longest and steepest run, Geronimo (1.5 mi/2.4 km). bigbearmountainresort.com
CHINA PEAK Lakeshore RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? No // ON-SITE TICKET SALES? Yes // PRE-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS? Yes, purchase online for best rates. // CANCELLATION POLICY? Nonrefundable. // LODGE RULES? No rules on reservations, limited seating, new outdoor covered seating at four locations. DON’T MISS Make sure to catch the view of Huntington Lake from the Buckhorn side deck. The Face is too steep for most, but the local studs lap it all day with fresh snow. Have Tristan make you the best Bloody Mary in skiing. skichinapeak.com
Dodge Ridge DODGE RIDGE SKI RESORT Pinecrest RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? No ON-SITE TICKET SALES? Yes PRE-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS? No CANCELLATION POLICY? Lift tickets and equipment rentals are non-refundable. See website for lesson cancellation policy. LODGE RULES? Limited only to those purchasing food. No outside food or beverages allowed. “Grab and go” food and additional outdoor seating available. DON’T MISS Explore the expansive Granite Bowl on the backside of the mountain (Chair 8) and get some freshies off of chairs 7 and 8. dodgeridge.com
BEAR VALLEY RESORT Bear Valley
DIAMOND PEAK SKI RESORT Incline Village
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? No // ON-SITE TICKET SALES AVAILABLE? Yes PRE-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS? Yes, Dynamic Pricing, purchase early and save. CANCELLATION POLICY? Non-refundable. // LODGE RULES? Guests encouraged to base out of their vehicles, and time spent indoors will be limited. DON’T MISS For those seeking adventure, Lunch Run is a unique skiing experience that is more reminiscent of a European Alps excursion dream. While only classified as an intermediate run, this path is not for the faint of heart. Check with Ski Patrol about conditions. bearvalley.com
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? No // ON-SITE TICKET SALES? // No, purchase on-line in advance. On-line day-of sales possible when inventory is available. // PRE-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS? Yes, purchase in advance for best rates. // CANCELLATION POLICY? Lift tickets and equipment rentals are non-refundable. See website for lesson cancellation policy. // LODGE RULES? Reservations required to dine inside. Physical distancing and maximum group size limit per table. DON’T MISS Enjoy panoramic views of Tahoe from Crystal Ridge, a great intermediate groomer. Be sure to visit Wild Bills BBQ at Snowflake Lodge. diamondpeak.com
14 — Winter 2020 / 2021 14 ASJ ASJ—Aug/Sept 2011
DONNER SKI RANCH Norden
KIRKWOOD Kirkwood
Heavenly
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? Yes, pass holder and day ticket reservations required. ON-SITE TICKET SALES AVAILABLE? No PRE-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS? No, all passes and tickets are pre-purchase. CANCELLATION POLICY? Passes and lift tickets are non-refundable. LODGE RULES? See Heavenly’s lodge restrictions. DON’T MISS Monte Wolf is a favorite run; don’t miss the food at Wall Bar and the view from the top of the Sunrise lift. Get freshies at Wagon Wheel Bowl. kirkwood.com
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? No ON-SITE TICKET SALES? Yes PRE-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS? No CANCELLATION POLICY? Not applicable LODGE RULES? First come, first served, limited access, quick in and out, no seating available (purple tier). We will have restrooms outside and “grab and go” food. DON’T MISS Take in the view of Donner Lake at the top of Chair 1; make sure to get a lap in on North Trail and Lyla’s Run. donnerskiranch.com
HEAVENLY South Lake Tahoe / Stateline NV RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? Yes, pass holder and day ticket reservations required. ON-SITE TICKET SALES? No PRE-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS? No, all passes and tickets are pre-purchase. CANCELLATION POLICY? Passes and lift tickets are non-refundable. LODGE RULES? There will be capacity limits and seating restrictions. Guests are encouraged to bring their own food, snacks, and hydration as lodge options will be limited. Full service bars will not be open this season. Cash NOT accepted. DON’T MISS Ridge Run is a favorite run; plus don’t miss the food at Tamarack Lodge and the view from the California Trail. Get freshies at Mott Canyon. skiheavenly.com
HOMEWOOD Homewood RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? No // ON-SITE TICKET SALES? No, purchase on-line only. // PRE-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS? Yes // CANCELLATION POLICY? Season passes and lift tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Check website for more info. // LODGE RULES? Guests are encouraged to use their vehicles as their lodge. DON’T MISS Rainbow Ridge; plus be sure to check out the newly refurbished Ellis Chairlift. skihomewood.com
JUNE MOUNTAIN June Lake RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? No // ON-SITE TICKET SALES? No, must be purchased in advance. Limited. // PRE-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS? For certain products, yes. // CANCELLATION POLICY? Refund and change vouchers are available. // LODGE RULES? Access to lodges and indoor facilities will be prioritized for pass and ticket holders. DON’T MISS Family friendly resort. Don’t miss the view from the Chalet. junemountain.com
MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN Mammoth Lakes RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? No ON-SITE TICKET SALES AVAILABLE? No, must be purchased in advance. Limited. PRE-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS? For certain products, yes. CANCELLATION POLICY? Refund and change vouchers are available. LODGE RULES? Access to lodges and indoor facilities will be prioritized for pass and ticket holders. DON’T MISS 3,500 skiable acres, an 11,053’ summit, 9 terrain parks and 25 lifts all add up to infinite fun. mammothmountain.com
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IFESI
IA N
KATHY PRUITT
MANIFEST SPHERICAL HELMET 26 ASJ — Winter 2020 / 2021 16 ASJ—Aug/Sept 2011
MT. ROSE Reno, NV RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? No // ON-SITE TICKET SALES AVAILABLE? No. Prepurchase on-line only. // PRE-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS? No. All tickets are pre-purchase // CANCELLATION POLICY? With Rose Pass Safe Guard, passholders have until 12/15/20 to get a full refund or credit their purchase towards next season. // LODGE RULES? No reservations required for the lodge. Facilities will have overall capacity limits and seating restrictions to meet required indoor operating guidelines. DON’T MISS Kit Carson Bowl has been a long time locals’ favorite; nothing beats Slide Bowl first thing in the morning. skirose.com
MT. SHASTA SKI PARK McCloud RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? No ON-SITE TICKET SALES AVAILABLE? Yes, but on-line purchase encouraged. PRE-PURCHASE Yes, up to 20% off. CANCELLATION POLICY? Refundable 10 or more days before arrival date; transferable 4 to 9 days before arrival date. LODGE RULES? Open at limited capactiy for food and seating for dining. Guests are encouraged to use their vehicles as their lodge as much as possible. DON’T MISS Enjoy breakfast sandwiches from Mud Creek, great views from the top of Douglas Butte, get freshies on Red Tail, and a stellar run on Eagles Flight. skipark.com
SIERRA-AT-TAHOE Twin Bridges RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? No ON-SITE TICKET? Only if available. PRE-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS? Yes, save up to 30% off ticket window price. CANCELLATION POLICY? Play It Forward guarantee for Season Passholders and day-of ticket holders have options if they are unable to attend on their reserved day. LODGE RULES? Limited food and seating. DON’T MISS The long lap from Grandview to West Bowl. sierraattahoe.com
SQUAW VALLEY | ALPINE MEADOWS Squaw Valley & Alpine Meadows RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? No ON-SITE TICKET SALES? No PRE-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS? Yes, rates are based on availability, so the earlier you purchase your tickets the better. CANCELLATION POLICY? COVID-19 related refunds, credits or rollovers available. Lessons fully refundable until 3pm two days prior to the lesson. LODGE RULES? Limited seating and time limits indoors. There will be additional outdoor seating and “grab and go” food. DON’T MISS KT-22 is voted North America’s favorite chairlift, rising nearly 1800 vertical feet straight from the base. Lakeview chair at Alpine Meadows has a picture perfect view of Lake Tahoe at the top, and fun intermediate terrain. Perfect for the whole family.
Experience Skiing
$100 Per Person Per Night
Tour in, Ski out. This cabin is only accessible by skis in the winter. With plenty of intermediate to advanced terrain surrounding the cabin, you will have plenty to explore. The cabin offers basic amenities at 7,400’.
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MTB Skills Coaching
photo by Jaime Pirozzi
Mt. Shasta Ski Park
squawalpine.com
Northstar California NORTHSTAR CALIFORNIA Truckee RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? Yes. Pass holder and day ticket reservations required. ON-SITE TICKET SALES AVAILABLE? No, pre-purchase on-line only. PRE-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS? No, all passes and tickets are pre-purchase. CANCELLATION POLICY? Passes and lift tickets are non-refundable. LODGE RULES? See Heavenly’s lodge restrictions. DON’T MISS Ax Handle – plus don’t miss the food at Bourbon Pub and the view from East Ridge. Get freshies at The Backside. northstarcalifornia.com
SUGAR BOWL RESORT Norden RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? No ON-SITE TICKET SALES AVAILABLE? No PRE-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS? Day lift ticket pricing is based on availability, so the earlier you buy, the better price. CANCELLATION POLICY? Nonrefundable. LODGE RULES? Indoor access limited to using the restroom, purchasing “grab and go” (hot and cold) items to eat outside, and for taking 15-minute breaks in monitored warming zones. Lockers unavailable, so guests should use their car as their base lodge and storage area. DON’T MISS Rahlves’s Run, a highelevation cruiser from the top of Mt. Lincoln, named after four-time Olympian and Sugar Bowl Ambassador Daron Rahlves. Check out The ‘58 for freshies. sugarbowl.com
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18 ASJ—Aug/Sept 2011
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20 ASJ—Aug/Sept 2011
DORE BIETZ
National Ski Patrol Representative and Indian Lands Consultant Words and photos by Tracy Barbutes
Dore Bietz is an all-or-nothing woman who refuses to accept the word “can’t,” and whose subtle smile lines barely hint at her age. Quick to laugh, this self-assured, feisty, 54-year-old outdoorswoman is even quicker to lend a hand. “I just show up to the table,” she said recently. “I don’t wait for someone to invite me. I ask what I can do.” She emphatically believes in empowering others to help themselves.
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s an Indian Lands Consultant, Bietz advocates for the return of tribal lands to original inhabitants, and as the Emergency Manager/Planner for the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians, she works to keep members safe and well-prepared for emergencies. There have been no cases of COVID-19 on the Tuolumne Rancheria and she expressed satisfaction when mentioning the PPE she secured for tribal members. Daryl Whitcher, who has known Bietz since she was a National Ski Patrol candidate 15 years ago at the Dodge Ridge Ski Area, can attest to her grit, determination and altruism. Her instructor, mentor and friend, said, “Six out of ten people didn’t get through the first year of training. That first year is tough. The first aid course is tough, and it’s going to be really tough unless you have some kind of medical skills.” And Bietz didn’t have those medical skills. She confessed it didn’t come easy. While working full time, volunteering in her community and raising two daughters as a single mother, she studied relentlessly and passed all NSP tests (ski, toboggan, medical) her first year, on her first try. “There was never any doubt in any of her trainers’ minds she would pass,” Whitcher continued. “You have to be able to drive a toboggan on any terrain, in any weather. We typically require 12 days of training, and if you don’t do twice that, you won’t pass. Bietz probably did 30 days her first year.” Bietz freely admits she loves the exhilaration, and responsibility, that comes with being a ski patroller and in particular, working with a toboggan. She said, “I guess I like
challenges. I love having to make decisions under stress.” “It was pretty obvious from the get-go she was smart, driven and pretty interactive. After she was on patrol about a year, she became an instructor.” Whitcher added with a laugh, “As an instructor, her only problem is that she talks too much.” He continued, “She is definitely in the top 5% of women in the national ski patrol in the Far West division. The NSP has 10 divisions throughout the US and Europe: the Far West Division includes California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii. She’s been an outstanding patrol rep and has worked on the women’s program, chairing it at the division level for about three years. She was asked to be a Patrol Rep chairperson for Kirkwood Ski Resort in the Eastern Sierra Region. We’ve never had someone from the Motherlode patrol move into another region.” For four years, Bietz has commuted from Tuolumne to Kirkwood while acting as a secondary patroller at Dodge Ridge. In 2018, she married for the first time, learning to lean on a partner, share in the decision-making process, and help in raising two young stepdaughters. She continues to work full time while actively consulting on tribal land issues and volunteering in various ways for tribal communities. Bietz chuckled, “I have to remind myself to slow down.” She is currently involved on the divisional level in multiple disciplines. In 2012, after seven years as a member of NSP, Bietz was awarded the first runner up as a National Outstanding Patrol. Whitcher said, “It’s kind of hard to keep up with Bietz’s awards, but of course, she is not in this for the awards.”
OPPOSITE PAGE: PORTRAIT OF DORE BIETZ, MEMBER OF THE TUOLUMNE BAND OF MEWUK INDIANS, AT THE TUOLUMNE RANCHERIA OF CALIFORNIA, IN TUOLUMNE, CALIFORNIA. THIS PAGE: BIETZ IN THE SKI PATROL CENTER AT DODGE RIDGE SKI AREA (FOR THE UNION DEMOCRAT).
So impressed with her work ethic, outgoing personality, instructional skills and ability to handle situations when “things get weird,” Whitcher nominated Bietz for one of NSP’s highest honors: a National Appointment. Bietz received her National Appointment during the September 2020 Far West Virtual Awards. She is one of only six women from Dodge Ridge’s 70-year history to receive such an honor. Just 10,402 National Appointments have been presented in the NSP’s 82-year history. Beckett Stokes, the NSP Marketing and Communications Director, said of Bietz, “It is fair to say that she is one of very few patrollers who has been recognized by her patrol and her peers for outstanding skill and service. Just to qualify, she had to patrol for a minimum of eight seasons, have achieved the highest level of training, and serve in a leadership role in her patrol or beyond.” It should be noted, the NSP was formed in 1938, and women were first registered in 1941. Currently, there are roughly 31,000 members and approximately a quarter of those are women. Sierra Parada, Bietz’s youngest daughter, watched her mother receive her National Appointment via Zoom and said, “It was really cool to hear other people speaking www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com
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California has more than 100 federally recognized tribes and the largest native population in the country. Land that was traditionally occupied by California natives is now consumed by some of the state’s biggest communities.
about her. All of her hard work and passion is being seen by other people. It’s not an award that’s given to just anyone, it’s not given out lightly. It’s well deserved.” She continued, “She’s in, all-or-nothing.” As a child, Parada said her mom “was there for us for school, homework, 4H, soccer, skiing, all of it. It amazes me that she was so dedicated to so many things. She did it all with such grace. Now, looking back, I didn’t notice as a kid, but it speaks to
22 ASJ — Winter 2020 ASJ—Aug/Sept 2011/ 2021
how she can take on so many things.” When Parada and her sister, Shauta Collier, were young, they joined their mom at Dodge Ridge. They were put into ski patrol practice scenarios after completing their homework. They particularly enjoyed having splints put on. She said, “It was fun to be involved in that way.” Both girls joined a Dodge Ridge race team. Parada remains an avid skier, and Collier joined NSP briefly.
AWANI’ LUTUM! (ME-WUK PHRASE MEANING “GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY”) Bietz grew up in urban environments, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Reno/Tahoe and Denver, Colorado. While living in the Bay Area, weekends were often spent with her mother’s family on the Tuolumne Band of MeWuk Indians tribal land in the Sierra Nevada foothills – the Tuolumne Rancheria. She contributes much of her adult success to the exposure received by being immersed in two distinct worlds. Her mother was an engineer with AT&T and her father was a San Francisco attorney, and both were avid skiers. They introduced Bietz, and her two siblings, to the sport at Tuolumne County’s family-run, 862-acre, 67-run Dodge Ridge Ski Area. Continuing the tradition, Bietz taught her two daughters, and most recently her two young stepdaughters, to ski there. After graduating from East Bay’s Albany High School, Bietz attended Feather River College and joined the Golden Eagles ski team. “In Quincy,” she said, “it was seven guys for every girl, so the team was all men.” Except, of course, Bietz. Training on small slopes near Graeagle, as well as at Tahoe-area resorts, their school competed in an intercollegiate circuit that included teams from UC Davis, UC Berkeley and Fresno State.
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nt s TALNGENI’ (ME-WUK WORD THAT MEANS “WAKE UP!”) Working as an Indian Lands Consultant for her tribe, and others, Bietz noticed many tribal organizations hired nonnative attorneys who charged exorbitant prices with mixed results. She consulted with tribes who had no land base, and she dealt with demanding administrative documentation, quickly becoming an expert in native land trust issues. She continues to share her vast knowledge with others, empowering them to continue the work on their own. When the US was changing regulations in 1999-2001, she traveled around the country with other tribal leaders and testified before the US Congress in Washington, DC. One of her most satisfying accomplishments was in securing a housing project for the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi-Yokut Tribe near Lemoore, CA.
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California has more than 100 federally recognized tribes, according to Bietz, and the largest native population in the country. Land that was traditionally occupied by California natives is now consumed by some of the state’s biggest communities. Bietz stated, “Now, in some areas, when a tribe wants to purchase land, sellers will raise prices to one million an acre with nothing on it.” She said that tribes pay the price because it’s the only way to grow. They can’t exercise jurisdiction over their members unless the members are on tribal land, and they can’t provide for them unless they own land. Bietz said, “Land is what we are culturally connected to.” She would like to see more public land returned to tribes, as they are the natural stewards, having historically inhabited such places. She said there has been a slow movement for excess public lands to be offered to tribes first. “At the very least,” she said, “tribes should be considered in the management discussion of public lands.” “I think outdoor recreation should be more inclusive and could be achieved by creating more opportunities for underprivileged and/or disadvantaged communities that normally would not have access. I also think that elementary schools need to create more educational opportunities in the outdoors.” When asked how we can return tribal history to public lands, Bietz responded, “By institutionalizing that it must be covered, posted, discussed or mentioned in every walk, talk or publication.” Switching gears, this engaging, focused and intense woman softened with an almost otherworldly look on her face and said, “Though I grew up in the city, I’m a mountain girl now. One of the things I love about ski patrol is being first on the mountain and laying fresh tracks in quiet solitude.”
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OPPOSITE PAGE: BIETZ AT WORK FOR THE TUOLUMNE BAND OF MEWUK INDIANS, IN HER OFFICE AT THE TUOLUMNE RANCHERIA OF CALIFORNIA. THIS PAGE: BIETZ AT DODGE RIDGE SKI RESORT.
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Bietz said, “I held my own. I beat most of the guys on the team.” It was during these two years that she “truly fell in love with skiing.” Feather River summers were spent living with her grandmother and working in Yosemite National Park. Her grandmother was an interpreter in the park’s Indian Village. Bietz’s first summer was spent flipping burgers, as well as other less glamorous jobs. She became an interpreter at the Valley Visitor Center and Happy Isles Nature Center her second summer. Following her AA degree in Social Sciences, Bietz moved to San Luis Obispo to attend Cal Poly, skiing only occasionally. She spent four summers working for William Randolph Hearst Jr., and his wife Austine, on their private San Simeon Ranch. Paradoxically, her father was a member of the prosecution team in the 1976 Patty Hearst trial. Following graduation with a BS Landscape Architecture degree and a minor in public administration, a stint as a tour guide at Hearst Castle, and a pregnancy, Bietz returned “home” to the Tuolumne Rancheria to live with her mother, grandfather and aunt. She said, “I needed to be near my family where I could get back on my feet with a six-week-old baby. I went on welfare; I had no choice. But, I’m one of those classic cases that used it and got back on my feet, finding a job and place to live. I think it’s important to celebrate the challenges we’ve had in our life. I think it’s what makes me who I am, being resilient as a native woman.”
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GIFT GIVING GUIDE
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26 ASJ—Aug/Sept 2011
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spill-proof, drink-through cap, and it’s all that with extra space for kettle chips.
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