Adventure Sports Journal // Winter 2022 // Issue #126

How High Fives Helps Adaptive Athletes Regain Their Powers

Truck Campers Proven From Alaska to Baja

The Pop-Up Truck Camper Leader Since 1972

Project M Topper slide-in

Flat-bed

Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort, Pinecrest*

THE TOR SPHERICAL HELMET AND THE FENDER AXIS COLAB GOGGLES.

9 Editor’s Note Tools of Liberation // 10 Inbox Letters, opinions & poetry // 10 Obituary Bobby McMullen // 11 Ear to the Ground News & notes // 12 Book Highlight For Fork’s Sake // 14 EPiC Saving baby tortoises // 35 Earn Your Beer Hiking Elfin Forest // 36 Race Calendar Upcoming events

17 Stewardship Picking up trash // 18 Gift Giving Guide Gift ideas for the holiday season // 22 Resort Roundup News and updates for the season ahead // 26 Frog Lake Huts A major win for conservation and backcountry enthusiasts // 28 The High Fives Foundation Providing human care // 32 Surviving the Oak Fire How e-biking, climbing and writing saved me // 38 Best of 2022 Some good news for a change

ON THE COVER: Alana Nichols, wife of Roy Tuscany (Founder of High Fives Foundation), laughs at one of his terrible “Dad Jokes” before they go shred Palisades Tahoe, CA together on a blue-bird sunny day.

Photo by Ming Poon

PHOTO CREDITS: (26) Brennan Lagasse; (28) Jordan Drew / High Fives Foundation; (32) Chris Van Leuven; (14) Tim Shields

PUBLISHING + EDITORIAL

PUBLISHER

Cathy Claesson cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com

EDITOR

Michele Lamelin michele@adventuresportsjournal.com

COPY EDITOR

Jennifer Stein jen@adventuresportsjournal.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kevin Powell, Tim Shields, Kathy Holmes, Ming Poon, Brennan Lagassse, James Murren, Chris Van Leuven, Brooks Curran, Chris B / Generikal, Kate Abraham, Jordan Drew

LAYOUT

Cathy Claesson

COVER DESIGN

Lauren Worth

ADVERTISING

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Cathy Claesson I 831.234.0351 cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com

EVENTS & DISTRIBUTION

Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com

EVENTS MARKETING

Michele Lamelin michele@adventuresportsjournal.com

Jennifer Stein jen@adventuresportsjournal.com

Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Adventure Sports Journal or our advertisers. We usually agree with our articles, but sometimes we don’t. We welcome all contributions.

All content © Adventure Sports Journal 2022/2023. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the editors

ADVENTURE SPORTS JOURNAL

PO BOX 35, Santa Cruz, CA 95063 Phone 831.457.9453 asjstaff@adventuresportsjournal.com

Many of us struggle with depression during the dark cold months. How do you keep your spirits high and nurture your mental health during winter?

leoniesherman

Excercise, friends, yoga, getting outside, appreciating nature, fresh veggies and Colombian pop music help me stay sane and sunny even when it’s howling stormy outside and in my heart/head.

To keep active during the coldest, darkest months of the year, I take my dog on long walks, plan climbing days around the weather and, so long as it’s not raining or snowing, get on my e-bike.

mattjohanson

Outdoor activities provide a mental health lift all year. Winter offers all kinds of unique pleasures like skiing, sledding and ice skating. Snow camping is a great experience for those properly prepared. I also enjoy a nice run in the rain.

brennanlagasse

Nature is medicine. Going outside is healing. Even if it is super stormy outside, give yourself time to breathe some cold, fresh air. Feel the falling snow hit your face. Even if it is only for a second, you’ll be happy you did.

kristahoughton

My mantra for staying mentally and physically strong in winter is to seek the sun and stay consistent with workouts. Remind yourself on cold grey days of the blistering hot days of summer and embrace it!

I go to Latin America to paddle. Last time Colombia, this time Costa Rica, dream trip Argentina. anthearaymond

Winter is desert season — hiking and mountain biking! When there’s snow I snowshoe. Sometimes, I’ll put on the thick skin and body surf, too. I accept the slowing down time, a stack of books being a kind of welcomed retreat.

I stave off winter depression with exercise, and meditation. I think a little bit of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a normal part of the human condition, but too much depression is not good.

TOOLS OF LIBERATION Zen and the art of happiness

One of the core principles of Adventure Sports Journal has always been spreading happiness. We care about the human spiritual journey and we offer this magazine for free to help you on that journey. We distribute at over 1,000 locations throughout California and Nevada. Since 2001 we have faithfully printed and distributed millions of copies for anyone who is interested, regardless of economic status. For most of our readers the cost of a subscription isn’t substantial, but we still make ourselves available to anyone, regardless of material wealth.

That’s because we believe the outdoor activities we cover are more than just ways for bored, wealthy people to look good on Instagram.

For us surfing, climbing, skiing, mountain biking, trail running, hiking and the other adventures we cover are rituals of human happiness. If done right, these adventurous sports are ways to bring forth the full dignity of human spiritual progression, regardless of what you look like, how skilled you are, or how much money you have.

We don’t emphasize the latest cool trends or the death defying accomplishments of the very best outdoor athletes on social media. Fashion, looking good, and being a part of the “in” crowd are all outside of our core coverage. What we care most about is YOU.

Maybe you didn’t walk into a bike

shop or coffee shop planning to pick up ASJ, but here you are. This magazine called to you. You saw this publication as an opportunity, and we are so glad you did.

Maybe this is your first time reading ASJ or maybe you regularly read our columns. Either way I’m here to tell you that human liberation is possible, your liberation starts right now, and the path of adventure will liberate you forever if done correctly.

When I say “correctly” I don’t mean in the sense of being good at something. What I mean is having the right intention: you will find the present moment, Nature will touch your heart, and you will move closer to full, permanent happiness.

When Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh said “My actions are my only true belongings,” he was pointing the way towards human freedom and liberation. In other words, when we

are happy we feel free to make others feel happy as well.

There is nothing casual about our mission, but we are very lighthearted. We see that being overly serious isn’t conducive to happines. That said, we willingly choose the rigor, fear, and discomfort of outdoor adventure because this helps us transcend the challenges of everyday life. We choose adventure because the happiest people in the world are found on the slopes, on the trails, and in the water. We want this for you. In fact, as you read these words you are being liberated right now. A possibility has awakened in your heart.

What is this possibility? It’s the possibility of your happiness and the ripple effect it will have on your friends and family. It’s the possibility that you will embrace the challenges of life with gratitude. We don’t shy away from suffering; we embrace it

and transcend it.

Think of ASJ as the opposite of Instagram or TikTok. We don’t care about looking good, we care about true happiness. Even though looking good is an aspect of true happiness, it only authentically comes from the inside. In contrast with the essence of all social media platforms, looking good is just an incidental part of this path, not the core focus. We only care about looking good, if it arises organically as a result of happiness.

Thank you for reading my words. If you agree that the adventures we cover in the pages of ASJ have helped you experience liberation and happiness, please send me an email. I’m interested in your take on these existential concepts. How has the path of adventure changed your life for the better?

As I type these words we stand on the brink of winter. I can feel it in my bones. I resolve to challenge myself in the snow this year. I will lean into the biting cold of nature and let my body suffer while my soul reverberates with joy.

How about you?

Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com

HELP SUPPORT INDEPENDENT MEDIA

Adventure Sports Journal is one of the last independent outdoor magazines in the country. We are in direct competition with corporate media and online platforms. ASJ depends on the support of our advertisers and people like you. We think ASJ is an important voice for the outdoor community in California. If you agree, please consider helping us continue our work by becoming a member today. DON’T MISS AN ISSUE! Have ASJ delivered to your home. Memberships as low as $5 per month and includes a subscription. (Cancel at any time.) adventuresportsjournal.com/membership BECOME A MEMBER!

READER POETRY

Inspired by a good friend of the magazine and without much of a plan, we put a call to our readers to submit their poetry for a chance to get published and win $100 and two bottles of their choice from Mantra Wines.

We received more poems than expected and felt limited by having to choose just one poem. For this issue we chose, My Body Stops the Sun by Talley V. Kayser. Moving forward we will plan to print three poems and possibly more. Please send your poetry submissions to poems@ adventuresportsjournal.com

We look forward to more submssions and for the next issue plan to offer the following:

~ FIRST POEM ~ $100 and two bottles of wine of their choice form mantrawines.com

~ SECOND POEM ~ $50 and surprise gift

~THIRD POEM ~ $25 and surprise gift

Stay tuned as we develop this special section. We are excited to see where it goes. If you are a business interested in sponsoring this section please email us at poems@ adventuresportsjournal.com.

My Body Stops the Sun

Ninety-three million miles of coursing light come to rest on my shoulders as I myself rest. Sit heavily, haunches-down on one particular but random slab of granite somewhere past North Glacier Pass.

The sun flares every snowpatch to high shine, and thrums dense color through mute stone—save in this space where on the rock I cast one squat, uncommon shadow.

Ninety-three million miles of traveling light fall dead upon my shoulders. Intercepted, interrupted. Down the slope, the shadow of a single whitebark pine

slows snowmelt, eases the seep of water from freeze, lengthens the life of lower streams. Its needles sift the long sun into sweetness, unfurl excess as fresh sky.

Ninety-three million miles and then my body stops the sun here, I am more alien even than light.

— Talley V. Kayser

INBOX Fanmail, Feedback, Opinions & Ideas

In response to Suzanne Roberts’ essay “Choosing My Path: How the right to abortion made my authentic life possible”, which appeared in the Fall 2022 issue of ASJ.

GOOD ARTICLE

Thank you for publishing Suzanne Roberts piece called “Choosing my Path.” It made me cry. While I have never found myself in her situation regarding abortion, I have had to sacrifice family and relationships and lots and lots of other things to lead the childfree life I’ve always known I wanted. Being in nature is my greatest salve. Thank you for reminding me I’m not alone.

— Krista Cramer, Aptos

THERE ARE OTHER CHOICES REDACTED FOR LENGTH

First off, I want to extend my sympathies to Roberts for the very difficult decision she made decades ago. No matter how confident a woman may be in her abortion choice, it is nevertheless a serious and invasive medical procedure. As someone who is frightened of routine dental visits, I cannot imagine how scary an abortion appointment must be.

That being said, I want to offer an alternate view on some of the points raised in the essay. This in no way invalidates Roberts’ choices made years ago. It simply aims to offer today’s young women a different point of view in the event that they or someone they know find themselves with an unplanned pregnancy ... Modern women have more options beyond just abortion and poverty-stricken single motherhood ... today there are adoption options available where the birth mother can completely

separate herself from both the baby and the father (if that’s what she wants).

There is no greater sacrifice a woman can make than carrying and birthing a child. Likewise, there is no greater sacrifice an unborn child can make than being aborted. Both embody selflessness as one gives themselves up completely for the sake of the other. If you aborted, please take a moment of silence to honor that life lost.

If you are pregnant and undecided, please learn about adoption options.

—

Teresa Konopka, San Diego

WOMEN’S HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Big thanks and praises to Suzanne Roberts for her piece Choosing My Path, and to you for publishing it. The Supremicist [sic] Court’s Roe reversal is an undeniable disaster for women’s health and human rights, as even the American Medical Association holds, and won’t stop abortion, just make it more dangerous.

You’ll likely also get some upset responses, but of course those will largely come from men.

— Steve Heilig, San Francisco

We love hearing from readers! Email us at staff@adventuresportsjournal.com or send us a note to PO Box 35, Santa Cruz, CA 95062. Please include where you are writing from. If you don’t want your letter published, please make note of that.

OBITUARY

Bobby McMullen

July 25, 1964 — September 12, 2022

A tribute to Bobby McMullen by longtime friend and riding partner Yuri Hauswald

“We’re on our way to the airport, Bobby’s Ford F-150 van stuffed with bikes and gear, his wife Heidi driving, when the gravity of what I’m doing really hits me. I’m heading to another hemisphere, with a blind man who basically has to carry around a small pharmacy of pills to help keep all his organs working, to guide him down a dangerous track of berms, bumps, and banks that most sighted people wouldn’t even consider riding. I’m going partway around the world to ride with a man whose wellbeing, every time we swing a leg over our bikes, is in my hands and my hands alone. I’m embarking on a journey of a lifetime with a man I barely know, to spend two weeks competing, riding, and traveling around the South Island of New Zealand, and all I have to do is make sure he has fun and, most importantly, makes it home in one piece.”

Iwrote those words a decade ago about Bobby McMullen, a man who had plenty of excuses for not riding a bike, or living life to the fullest, but there we were on our way to the South Island of New Zealand to compete in a six-hour Super D race in Queenstown. Bobby had survived diabetes, kidney failure, years of dialysis, two kidney/ pancreas transplants, multiple tibia/ fibula fractures, open heart surgery, and an aggressive form of cancer. Oh yeah, and he also went blind when he was 29, which makes the fact that he rode a bike for the past 30 years that much more incredible. What most folks would have seen as a life ending disability, Bobby turned into an ability, which he used to inspire countless people across the globe. But that was, to steal the title of a movie made about him, “The Way Bobby Sees It.” Bobby never made excuses, in fact, one of his greatest gifts was his eternal positivity, his ability to find the silver lining, the humor, the possibility in every obstacle that stood in his way.

Speaking of obstacles, you might be wondering how a visually impaired rider like Bobby pedaled a bike. Well, on top of being a gifted athlete before he lost his vision, he used echolocation, and a very keen sense of his surroundings, to navigate the terrain. My voice, and those of his other guides over the years, was a staccato stream of commands that laid down a “track” that he followed instinctually, a beacon that helped show him the way.

Bobby McMullen (middle) with ASJ publisher Cathy Claesson (left) and his wife Heidi (right). McMullen graced issue #66, April/May 2012.

One of my favorite Bobby-isms was his saying “I’ve got dirt in my teeth,” which he’d use after we’d executed a perfectly choreographed run that ended with big grins on our faces that had collected more dust/grit than the grill of a car collects bugs. Our cycling community lost a truly inspiring figure, someone who I was honored to have guided over the years, someone I loved like a brother, someone who inspired through his actions, someone who NEVER made excuses. On our flight home from New Zealand many years ago, I asked Bobby why he did what he did, why he continued to compound his medical risks by taking physical risks on the bike. And I will never forget his squinty eyed, smiling response: “Every day I get up, I’m thankful for the life I have. Every day gives me the opportunity to push limits beyond limits and show what we’re capable of.”

In honor of Bobby, I encourage you to get a bit of dirt in your teeth every day, to live life to the fullest, to find humor and possibility in challenges that we face, to tell those around you that you love them, and to push your perceived limits so that you can truly tap into what you’re capable of. That’s how Bobby would want us all to live and, by doing that, you will carry his spirit within you.

A GoFundMe has been created to support Heidi and Ella as they move into this new world without Bobby. You can learn more here: gofundme.com/bobby-mcmullen

EAR TO THE GROUND

News & notes from the

ASJ’S RIDERS AGAINST RACISM FEATURED ON THE SUM OF US PODCAST

Noted author and public policy expert Heather McGhee has launched a podcast about social justice. Dubbed “The Sum Of Us,” the podcast celebrates the progress achieved by groups of people who reach across racial lines to work together for a better America.

Episode five was titled “Minden, NV: The Last Sundown Siren.” During this episode McGhee traces the history of the siren and the history of resistance aiming to silence this hate symbol.

ASJ has been involved with the movement to silence the Minden siren since 2020, when ASJ’s Matt Niswonger started a petition to help expose the terrible “sundowner” history of the Minden/Gardnerville area. Featured in the podcast was ASJ’s non-profit Riders Against Racism and the pivotal role mountain bikers played in raising awareness about what Niswonger calls “America’s Cruelest Public Ceremony.”

Unfortunately the Minden siren still rings twice a day, at noon and five pm. Stay tuned for continuing coverage as we support Washoe Elders in their quest to silence the Minden siren.

To learn more and listen to the podcast go to the-sum-of-us.asjmag.com

EIGHT YEAR OLD BOY ASCENDS EL CAPITAN

An eight year old boy became the youngest person to ascend El Capitan in Yosemite on October 28, 2022. Sam Baker achieved the feat after 18 months of training, including a rope ascent of Moonlight Buttress in Zion.

“What an amazing week! I’m so proud of Sam,” his father Joe Baker wrote in a Facebook post. “He completed the youngest rope ascent of El Cap!”

The duo spent four days on the rock as part of a four-person team, where guides set ropes for the Bakers to follow. Sam didn’t scale the actual rock features during the ascent, rather he climbed ropes that were set by professional guides. This caused some controversy among climbers on social media, including Patagonia athlete Tommy Caldwell who asked facetiously, “If I put my one year old in a haul bag and pull him up El Cap, does my son become the record holder?”

Despite this criticism from within the climbing community, Sam Baker’s mode of ascent is considered legitimate by others who use the precedent set by Mark Wellman, Dierdre Wolownick, and others. While it is much easier to climb preset ropes than the actual rock face, a guided rope ascent is still considered a challenging accomplishment. The question might be, is it appropriate for other families/children to now go out to try to break this recent record? Is that what climbing El Capitan is really about?

Learn more at sam-baker.asjmag.com

outdoor industry

PETITION TO SAVE YOSEMITE’S CAMP 4 (AGAIN)

ASJ has launched a petition on change.org to repeal the new 100% digital campsite reservation system. This reservation system is hosted at recreation.gov and makes it nearly impossible for climbers to stay there. In the intro to the petition ASJ editor Matt Niswonger writes:

“Unfortunately, under Yosemite’s current 100% digital reservation system, all the campsites in Yosemite Valley are continually booked many months in advance during the climbing season. A relatively small number of tech-savvy tourists book all the campsites and climbers get almost nothing. Climbers are forced to sleep hours away or pay for expensive lodging in the Valley. This makes it nearly impossible for us to follow in the footsteps of our heroes.”

To read more and sign the petition go to camp4.asjmag.com

THE LONGEST MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL IN THE WORLD IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Dubbed “Orogenesis,” the longest mountain bike trail in the world is 95% complete. Stretching from Cabo San Lucas to Canada, the only gaps are in California. The official project launch to complete the trail took place at GearLab in South Lake Tahoe. Project partner Chris McNamara posted the following on his Facebook page:

“Gabriel Amadeus, the co-creator of the Oregon Timber Trail and now the executive director of Orogenesis Collective, will tell the story of how we are creating a 5,000mile route from Cabo to Canada. Hear how the trail is already 95% complete and the plan for how we will build the last 5%.”

Once completed Orogenesis is sure to become one of the most iconic trails in the world. Stay tuned as we plan to cover this story in early 2023.

To learn more and how to get involved go to orogenesis-intro.asjmag.com

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS

INCREASED SNO-PARK PERMIT FEES

This October, California State Parks’ OffHighway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division announced a fee increase for California’s SNO-Parks Permit. These rate increases are now in effect. The daily permit increased from $5 to $15 and the season permit from $25 to $40. The fee increase, the first since 2000, will help offset the cost increase of operating 18 SNO-Parks along the Sierra Nevada due to the need for additional maintenance, staffing, and safety needs, as well as addressing site damage due to increased visitation and recent wildfires.

SNO-Parks draw thousands of visitors from all over the state, the country and the world. During the peak season, high visitation means full parking lots, congested roadways, and long wait times for open parking spaces. Visitors are advised to plan ahead and have alternative locations to visit in case their destination is full.

SNO-Parks can be identified by distinctive brown signs located along the highways throughout the Sierra Nevadas. Visitors are advised not to park along the highway interchanges as it is against the law.

Read more at sno-parks.asjmag.com

FREE LIFT TICKETS TO NEW TAHOE LICENSE PLATE PURCHASERS

Plates for Power — an annual program that offers free skiing opportunities to those who purchase a Lake Tahoe license plate — has kicked off for the 2022-23 winter season. Proceeds from plate sales and renewals support environmental improvement projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Through the Plates for Powder program, California and Nevada drivers can buy a new Lake Tahoe license plate and receive a free day pass to one of 14 Tahoe-area resorts, while supplies last. The passes must be used during the 2022-23 winter season.

For more than ten years, the Tahoe Fund has organized the Plates for Powder program on behalf of the California Tahoe Conservancy and Nevada Division of State Lands. Over 95% of funds generated by plate sales and renewals help fund new hiking and biking trails, watershed restoration projects, and protect Lake Tahoe’s famed beaches and blue waters.

New Tahoe license plates cost $50 in California, with a $40 annual renewal fee, and $61 in Nevada with a $31 renewal fee. Personalized plates are also available for additional fees.

Learn more at tahoe-plates.asjmag.com

THE UPPER TYROLIAN TRAIL IS NOW OPEN

Old logging roads above Incline Village, NV have been transformed into a new singletrack trail designed by freeride mountain bike athlete Cam Zink’s trail building nonprofit. The Upper Tyrolian Trail project was spearheaded by the Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association (TAMBA) with a $60,000 grant from the Tahoe Fund.

Together with the US Forest Service and Sensus R.A.D. Trails, a trail building nonprofit by local freeride mountain bike athlete Cam Zink, TAMBA converted old logging roads into nearly two miles of sustainable singletrack trail that connects Tahoe Meadows off Mount Rose Highway to the existing Tyrolian Downhill Trail. The new upper section of the trail provides an official start trailhead with improved signage, and was designed to reduce mountain bike traffic on the Tahoe Rim Trail.

Learn more at new-tyrolian.asjmag.com

YVON CHOUINARD MAKES EARTH PATAGONIA’S ONLY SHAREHOLDER

In case you missed it, Patagonia announced new ownership back in September. It has been nearly 50 years since founder Yvon Chouinard began his experiment in responsible business, and the Chouinard family transferred all ownership to two new entities: Patagonia Purpose Trust and the Holdfast Collective. Most significantly, every dollar that is not reinvested back into Patagonia will be distributed as dividends to protect the planet.

Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia founder, former owner, and current board member said: “It’s been a half-century since we began our experiment in responsible business. If we have any hope of a thriving planet 50 years from now, it demands all of us doing all we can with the resources we have. As the business leader I never wanted to be, I am doing my part. Instead of extracting value from nature and transforming it into wealth, we are using the wealth Patagonia creates to protect the source. We’re making Earth our only shareholder. I am dead serious about saving this planet.”

The leadership of the company does not change. Ptagonia will remain a B Corp and continue to give one percent of sales each year to grassroots activists.

Read more at patagonia-earth.asjmag.com

NEW PROTECTIONS FOR WHITE SHARKS

Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 2109, providing new protections for white sharks in California waters. White sharks, also called great white sharks, are already a protected species and an important part of the ocean ecosystem as top-level predators. There is enormous public and scientific interest in them.

Sponsored by Assembly member Steve Bennett, the bill passed the California legislature with an overwhelming majority of support. The new restrictions aim to get ahead of activities that may lead to increased interactions between white sharks and humans, and to give law enforcement more tools to protect white sharks from intentional efforts to catch or attract them. The new law also helps protect the public from interactions with white sharks that have been unintentionally hooked by fishermen by restricting when and where chum and shark bait can be used, while still allowing other legal fishing activities to continue.

“Sharks are one of California’s most iconic marine species, and it’s our responsibility to ensure that their populations are sustained,” Assemblymember Bennett said. “At the same time, public safety is of the utmost importance.”This bill is a collaborative effort between anglers, the scientific community, the legislature and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) . Learn more at bill-2109.asjmag.com

FOR FORK’S SAKE

Adopting a plant based diet

By Cathy Claesson with Rachael Brown

As an ex-vegetarian and someone who has come to love eggs and lean protein, I have stubbornly resisted my husband’s enthusiasm for eating a vegan diet. It has been less than ideal for family meal planning, but we’ve figured it out. Recently, however, my doctor recommended I switch to a plant-based, whole food diet. Did this mean I was going to have to cave in and call myself a vegan? Luckily, no. Coincidentally, I got into a discussion the day after my doctor’s appointment with Rachael Brown, the author of For Fork’s Sake: A Quick Guide to Healing Yourself and the Planet Through a Plant-Based Diet. Here is what she had to say about some of my questions before I gave this new way of eating a try. It’s only been a few weeks, but I am seeing and feeling the difference.

Q: I really don’t like labels. Call me stubborn, but I really don’t want to identify as vegan.

A: No problem. Being vegan is more a lifestyle choice based on avoiding exploitation and cruelty to animals. While I love animals and don’t choose to exploit them, I got into eating this way because of the effects on my health. Heart disease, Alzheimer’s and cancer run in my family. I wanted to do everything I could to avoid getting them, so I don’t identify as vegan. If pressed, I say we eat mostly plants.

Q: I gave up red meat years ago, but I still eat chicken because it’s better for you. Isn’t it?

A: According to top plant-based physician Dr. Michael Greger, the answer is no. Chickens have been genetically modified to grow fast and have about ten times more fat than they had a century ago. Furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has admitted that one of the substances given to chickens to prompt quicker weight gain, less feeding and a pinker color of meat is arsenic, which is a poisonous chemical and it is more toxic than mercury. When ingested, arsenic can lead to many types of cancer. Not only that, but tests conducted on raw chicken across the US have found that 97% of tested chicken breasts harbored bacteria that can make you sick. Why so much bacteria? Because chickens are raised in Concentrated Agriculture Farming Operations (CAFOs), those massive industrial farms that smell horrible when you drive by.

Q: But I only eat free-range organic chicken. Plus, chickens can’t be that bad for the environment, right?

A: Lucky you, you’re in the top .1%! 99.9% of chickens raised in the US are raised on factory farms. These farms release large amounts of waste into the environment in the form of leaching nitrates and pathogens. Biodiversity loss created by factory farms is often found downriver and even miles away in the ocean in the form of dead zones, where nothing can grow because of the significant nutrient pollution and too little oxygen.

And even chickens on free-range, organic farms often spend as much time confined in crowded spaces as conventionally raised chickens.

Q: Well chickens aren’t that smart anyway, right?

A: They can be as smart as cats and dogs.

Q: I actually crave eggs and chicken. Will that ever go away?

A: Your taste buds regenerate about every two weeks. So, if you give it up, your taste can literally change in about two weeks. Preferences and emotional ties to eating can take some time to work out, but can also be changed, especially when you’re feeling so good from eating differently.

Q: Isn’t eating whole food plant-based more expensive?

A: Actually, when you take the meat, milk, cheese, butter, ice cream and eggs out of your cart you’ve just eliminated the most expensive items. You can fill your cart with veggies, fruits, beans, whole grains, pasta, nuts, and seeds and still come out ahead.

Q: Athletes need more protein though, right?

A: Actually, no. Excess protein is hard on your body. You can get all the protein you need by eating a variety of vegetables, legumes, grains, and fruit. If Scott Jurek can run ultramarathons eating a plant-based diet, we’ll be okay.

Q: I just don’t have the time. You must spend all your time cooking?

A: No more than anyone else, and probably less, since I cook up big batches of food we can eat throughout the week and just throw together for different meals.

Q: How do you know this really works? Isn’t this just another diet trend like keto, paleo or gluten-free?

A: Because in 17 days of eating this way my cholesterol dropped 50 points. Per carotid artery tests and a calcium score test, I’ve reversed heart disease. Once you learn the benefits of eating this way, you’ll never have to research the next eating fad to come along!

SAVING BABY TORTOISES

Field biologist Tim Shields and the effort to outsmart predatory ravens

By Leonie Sherman

“Many ravens know me as an individual, they watch me, they know I am a bad man,” Shields explains, with obvious pride. “When I make a move it’s scary to them and they flee.” His life’s work is figuring out more technologically advanced ways to repel ravens; the National Science Foundation just awarded his team a quarter of a million dollars to pursue their plans. Shields wants ravens to fear him because he loves desert tortoises.

He’s been studying mortality among desert tortoises in the Mojave Desert since publication of the first Garfield comic in 1978. Their population is crashing, thanks in large part to a crafty corvid. Once rare throughout the Mojave, raven populations are rising as human presence increases. “Ravens have figured out that humans are very generous with water, food and nesting habitats,” Shields says. But ravens don’t just accept human handouts, they prey on desert tortoises, whose shells don’t fully harden until five to eight years after hatching.

Eleven years ago, Shields and a volunteer spent months on a plot and didn’t see a single live juvenile tortoise. “I’m pretty good at finding juvenile tortoises. But that season, I didn’t see small burrows, I didn’t see small tortoises,” Shields recalls. “The only live juvenile I saw was in the beak of a raven that flew by. I could actually see its legs windmilling, about 20 ft over ground.”

“That moment sort of broke me,” he admits. “Until then I had been a passive observer of the problem, but in that moment I realized I had to do something. At that point I was a Luddite, a 35 mm camera was about as complicated a tool as I wanted to handle.” Now this Luddite, who hails from a fishing village

in Southeast Alaska, is up to his neck in batterycharged gadgets.

Because while many turn to bullets and poison bait to control ravens, Shields is turning to technology. “Humans are very good at generating gizmos, but we are terrible at ecosystem management,” he explains. “My journey has been to find people with expertise in technology that’s applicable to this conservation effort, learn from them, work with them, and develop devices that are useful for solving problems in this desert tortoise conservation realm.”

So he and his team at Hardshell Labs have become pioneers in techno-fixes for ecological problems. They use lasers, drones and 3D printed juvenile tortoise models to train ravens to leave tortoises alone.

The drones are capable of applying oil to raven eggs, which prevents them from hatching. Parent ravens often devote an entire season caring for these nonviable eggs and the localized raven population begins to drop. “It’s a remote fluid application system, basically a high tech squirt gun,” explains Shields. “This past spring our crew must have sprayed six or seven hundred nests, two to three thousand eggs, in and around high quality desert tortoise habitat.”

THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: RAVENS PREY ON BABY DESERT TORTOISES IN THE MOJAVE DESERT (TIM SHIELDS); DESERT BIOLOGIST AND FOUNDER OF HARDSHELL LABS, TIM SHIELDS (KATHY HOLMES).

The drones are capable of applying oil to raven eggs, which prevents them from hatching. Parent ravens devote an entire season to these non-viable eggs and the localized raven population begins to drop.

He and his team fire lasers from up to a mile away to keep ravens out of specific areas. “Birds have very complicated eyes with five different kinds of visual cells. Humans only have two,” explains Shields. “And lasers are extremely effective at repelling ravens. Shooting ravens with lasers never gets old, it’s amazing how satisfying it is.”

Their latest gadget is a 3D printed model of a juvenile desert tortoise. A game camera mounted nearby filmed raven after raven approaching a prototype,

THIS PAGE, TOP ROW: HARDSHELL LABS USES DRONES TO APPLY OIL TO THOUSANDS OF RAVEN EGGS, MAKING THEM NON-VIABLE AND HELPING DROP THE RAVEN POPULATION (TIM SHIELDS). ABOVE: RAVENS PREY ON DESERT TORTOISES, WHOSE SHELLS DON’T FULLY HARDEN UNTIL FIVE TO EIGHT YEARS AFTER HATCHING (© KEVIN POWELL IMAGES)

From hammocks and straps to chairs and blankets, every piece of ENO gear is designed to help you relax wherever your adventures take you.

PACIFIC EDGE CLIMBING GYM

flipping it over and pounding on the body with their beak. So Hardshell is weaponizing the juvenile tortoise models. The latest ones are equipped to spray synthetic grape juice. “For some reason artificial grape flavoring is highly irritating to birds, it’s like pepper spray for them,” explains Shields. “So ravens come waltzing up expecting to evicerate a baby tortoise and this thing goes off in their face!“

“We are working on using ravens’ intelligence to reduce the damage they do,” he explains. “We are basically talking to them, with lasers and fake baby tortoises, and birth control, trying to tell them to go somewhere else and have their babies somewhere else. We are learning to communicate with the ravens.”

And ravens are easier to communicate with than people. “Ravens are receptive, they listen, it is in their interest to learn,” he says. “They are wild animals, they don’t have the luxury of ignoring signals from their environment.”

Humans, on the other hand, have perfected failing to acknowledge the obvious. “Civilization has made us dimwitted. We have almost made an art of ignoring what is staring us in the face,” Shields continues. “History is littered with examples of us making the same mistakes again and again and again. Our civilization has bought us this immunity from paying attention.”

But our immunity is wearing off. “We have had a free ride on this planet, we’ve been happy passengers on a self driving car, more like a bus, really,” he explains. “We didn’t have to think about where is the food going to come from, where is the water going to come from, how do we maintain this ecosystem. But we started to alter fundamental aspects of the ecosystem that sustains life, and now this vehicle is hurtling towards a cliff

“If we want to live on a planet that still has desert tortoises, and millions of other fascinating and worthy species, we have to move really fast. We have to insert ourselves into the ecological workings of the planet.”

— Tim Shields

and we have to put our hands on the wheel and operate all these complex buttons and systems. We have to learn how to drive this thing.”

“I have my doubts about humans being wise enough to run a world ecosystem,” Shields muses. “But that’s the task we have set ourselves by not paying attention and by being self-indulgent. My favorite animal on the planet is in dire danger and it’s because of us. I wish we still had the luxury of caution, but we don’t. If we want to live on a planet that still has desert tortoises, and millions of other fascinating and worthy species, we have to move really fast. We have to insert ourselves into the ecological workings of the planet. It’s going to be inconvenient, we are going to make a bunch of mistakes, but we have to do it.”

The stakes have never been higher. “Desert tortoises aren’t the ones who are really in trouble, humans are the ones who are really in trouble. My ultimate goal is to wake up our species,” confesses Shields. “We are taking our best shot at saving the earth. We think giving people joy in doing ecological good is the key to turning this ship around.”

So Hardshell Labs is working on creating online games that incorporate their new technologies — shooting ravens with lasers, coating their eggs with oil and deploying decoy juvenile tortoises as weapons. Instead of alienating users from the real world, these online games would require them to engage with it. “I want to tap into that huge pool of human awareness that is the game world. Suddenly you could have hundreds and thousands of human minds engaged, a massive force multiplier,” enthuses Shields. “We sincerely believe we can wire our species back to its life support system through play.”

THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: ONE OF THE GUARDIAN ANGEL ROVERS MEETS A TORTOISE (TIM SHIELDS); A TECHNO-TORT SPRAYS A RAVEN (CORNERSTONE RESEARCH GROUP).

THE JOY OF STEWARDSHIP

The zen of picking up trash

By Krista Houghton

Recently I was nine hours from the nearest gas station when I noticed some trash, a tampon applicator; you know, one of those purplecolored plastic, disposable applicators. A few years ago, this would have ruined my day, but I’ve learned not to waste emotional energy on trash. I just calmly took a few squares of TP and picked it up, placing it in my garbage bag. I took satisfaction knowing it would no longer ruin the beauty of this place.

Speaking of toilet paper, what’s up with all of the TP flowers left in the woods? For us ladies that squat in the woods, please don’t leave the toilet paper behind. Pack it, use some leaves, or better yet get yourself a Kula cloth. Worth every penny!

I have always been one to pick up trash, especially in the great outdoors. But this past year, my husband and I have taken it up a notch by acting locally. We have decided that where we live is just as beautiful and needs our help too.

What started as observations of garbage on our street led to research and phone calls. At first nothing happened, but we did make some progress

eventually resulting in the clean up of an abandoned homeless camp across from our street. My husband then decided that he would become the guardian of this area, making sure it would not be defiled again. This urge comes from a deep sense to protect the places we live and love, through direct action.

It’s good to be involved in policies that work toward long term solutions to complex problems such as homelessness and increased tourism, but in the meantime, the trash just keeps piling up. I worry that we are being desensitized to seeing garbage and that it will become something acceptable in our society. Trash on our streets, in our schools, in our parks and in nature, is not acceptable. If the problem is allowed to fester it just multiplies.

Throughout the past year, I have noticed I am no longer as upset as I was when I first started making my rounds in our neighborhood. Rather, I feel a sense of pride in caring for the areas where I walk my dog and my son rides his bike to school. It’s nice to come home and see my streets clean. Yes, there is still some trash to be picked up occasionally, but even

this seems to have become less frequent. I ponder if this is a result of our actions? We often get honks and a wave, or a thank you from a passerby when we are out picking up trash. The local high school kids have seen me pick up around their campus. Perhaps, our actions of caring for a place are taking hold in others? I can only hope this is the case.

I encourage everyone to find a spot you love — the street you live on or a place you care about — and get a bucket and a picker and get to it. Join a local cleanup group or just do it on your own. It is such a simple thing, reaching down and picking up trash; you may be surprised at just how good you feel doing it.

Check with your local visitor’s bureau and/or county officials to find out about local cleanup volunteer organizations. You can also get involved with Yosemite Facelift #ActLocal. Go to yosemiteclimbing.org/ facelift-locations for more information.

THE BEST GIFTS THIS YEAR

PACKRAFT

Designed using Drop-stitch Technology for enhanced performance and stand-up capability; this modular packraft features loads of d-rings, Tizip air-tight cargo access, a comfortable seat, a backpack carry bag, and a pump. Looking to shave weight? Simply remove the floor, seat, or both to streamline weight and setup.

COPPERHEAD EVO AM 1 MTB

Looking for an entry-level trail eMTB with the heart of a champion?

The Copperhead EVO AM 1 750 is spec’d with the Bosch Smart System and 750Wh battery, Shimano Deore shifting and 150mm of plush travel, ready to grow as your skills progress. Go ahead, charge your limits.

Give the gift of adventure this holiday season.

AdvancedElements.com

DODGE RIDGE LIFT TICKET 4 PACK

Enjoy all 1,600 vertical feet of Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort at 25%+ off the ticket window price. Good every day this winter season, including weekends and holidays, these adult and teen tickets can be used by 1 person or up to 4 different people on a single day or up to 4 different days. It’s the perfect holiday gift for everyone you like.

DodgeRidge.com

BullsBikesUSA.com

A SINGLE TRACK MIND

Give the Gift of MTB Skills and Confidence! Choose from a group session or 1:1 private. Master, refine and build your mountain bike skills to ride with confidence and efficiency! Learn from our highly qualified and certified coach that has been professionally coaching for 14 years and racing professionally for 20+. RIDE WITH US. RIDE BETTER. Call us at (209) 662-5392.

ASingleTrackMind.com

Give the gift of wildlife, salt water and magic this year. Surprise your loved one with a gift certificate good for rentals, tours, classes, and gear. With two waterfront locations to choose from — Santa Cruz Harbor and the Elkhorn Slough — Kayak Connection is the favorite gateway to explore the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary. Come paddle with us today!

KayakConnection.com

GIRO X FENDER GOGGLE

Introducing the Giro x Fender goggle collaboration for the 2022-23 season. The collection comes to life across three of Giro’s top-selling goggles: the Contour, Method, and Axis. With design elements that are recognizably Fender, the goggles reference the music that has inspired countless days in the mountains over the last several decades.

Giro.com

BOIRON ARNICARE® GEL

Shred the trails and not your muscles with Boiron Arnicare Gel. Arnicare is powered by the Arnica plant to provide the relief you need for muscle pain and stiffness; swelling from injuries; and bruises.* This unscented, non-greasy formula absorbs quickly into skin so you can feel better faster — a perfect stocking stuffer for athletes.

Arnicare.com

If you love the ski up as much as the ski down this jacket is designed for you. Highly breathable and protective, it regulates temperature and keeps weather out. Built with our own Proflex™ fabric, the Khroma Kinetic jacket is lightweight, stretchy, and breathable. It offers the protection of a hardshell with the comfort of a softshell that packs down small enough to easily stash in your pack.

RAB.equipment

warm and dry, and sleep in a large comfy bed. A 6’ 4” ceiling creates an open feeling and space for bikes and gear. Add accessories like rooftop solar, rooftop fans, portable fridge/ freezer, and battery box with multiple plug-ins.

Kula Cloth™ is the first of its kind — an antimicrobial pee cloth for all the places you "go." No more drip drying or hauling in and out a ton of toilet paper on adventures.

Kula makes the perfect gift for all of your adventurous friends. (And maybe even get one for yourself!)

KulaCloth.com

KHROMA KINETIC JACKET

KULA CLOTH ™

GIFT GIVING GUIDE

SUSTAINABLE TRUCKEE GIFT CARD

Give a Truckee-Tahoe experience! Sustainable Truckee Gift Cards are redeemable at 50 Truckee businesses: lodging, restaurants, shops, adventure guides, and more. Plus, 25% of EVERY card is matched for stewardship projects. Easy to buy online and schedule for e-delivery with a personal note. Buy in bulk for teachers, coaches, and employees!

VisitTruckeeTahoe.com/giftcard

EVERGREEN LODGE AT YOSEMITE

A Frommer’s Guide ‘Favorite’ and ‘Highly Recommended’ by Fodor’s, the Evergreen is an idyllic mountain resort with cozy cabins in the woods, indoor/outdoor dining, tavern, pool/hot tub, daily activities, guided recreation, massage and wellness programs. For best rates, book direct online and receive two complimentary welcome drinks upon check-in. (209) 379-2606

EvergreenLodge.com

JUNE MOUNTAIN

Featuring 1,500 acres of spacious slopes and plenty of beginner terrain for the whole family, June Mountain’s easy-going atmosphere and breathtaking views make for the perfect Eastern Sierra ski day or holiday getaway.

Go online to learn more and buy a gift certificate for that special someone on your list.

JuneMountain.com

LEARN TO SURF WITH CLUB ED

Give the gift of Surf Lessons, Surf Camps or Rentals this Holiday season. Club Ed Surf School is open daily/year round. See what a difference professional surf instruction makes.

Gift certificates are available. Go to our website for more information or give us a call at (831) 464-0177.

Club-Ed.com

AND SPA

A relaxed, yet sophisticated experience at the Highway 120 West entrance to Yosemite National Park — featuring Lodge Rooms, Suites and Hillside Villas, restaurant, tavern, saltwater pool, hot tubs, recreation guide service, daily activities, massage and wellness programs. For best rates and service, book direct online and receive two complimentary welcome drinks upon check-in. (209) 379-2373

RushCreekLodge.com

COASTAL COFFEE TABLE BOOK

The perfect inspirational gift for the adventurer, traveler, or photographer in your life — Revealed at the Edge is a photographic journey of the West Coast by Allison Davis. Be inspired to seek beauty & live adventurously through this illuminated wondrous photographic exploration shared within this fine art coffee table book. Available on Amazon.

AllisonDavis.co

RUSH CREEK LODGE

O'NEILL YACHT CHARTERS

Sail aboard the brand new 65’ Team O’Neill luxury catamaran and experience adventure and beauty on the Monterey Bay. These sails are fun & memorable for the whole family, as you venture along the picturesque coastline and spot the local marine wildlife. Sailing tours run regularly during the April–October season and private charters are available upon request year-round. (831) 818-3645.

SailOYC.com

EARN YOUR BEER SHIRT

With different designs and colors to choose from, an Earn Your Beer shirt is a perfect gift for the outdoor enthusiast in your life who enjoys a good beer after earning it outside.

These shirts are comfortable and very popular, so don't be surprised to see other people wearing the same design!

EarnYourBeer.com

PACIFIC YURTS

The Original Pacific Yurt is a round recreational living structure that is easy to install, strong and comfortable year round. Custom options include French doors, custom colors, insulation and much more.

Get started today with our Yurt Builder 3D, the fun and easy way to price and design your yurt.

PacificYurts.com

BEAR VALLEY ADVENTURE COMPANY

Give the gift of adventure at the Bear Valley Adventure Company. Year-round recreation abounds with cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and tubing in the winter, then kayaking, paddleboarding, mountain biking, and road cycling in the summer. Gift cards are available and make great stocking stuffers for your special adventurous person.

BVAdventures.com

FAMILY GETAWAY —

Purchase two nights in a Family Bungalow or a Lighthouse Bungalow, and receive one adult or two children’s complimentary horse back rides ($100.00 value).

FREE NIGHT —

Purchase a gift card totaling $250 and receive a one night stay in a Cypress Bungalow (up to $169.00 value). Treat yourself or use it as a gift!

* Gift certificates must be purchased by December 31, 2022.

** Vouchers valid through March 15, 2023.

Based on availability.

Not valid on holidays. Non refundable. Not valid with any other special or offer. Not valid for groups.

Pricing does not include tax and fees. Black out dates and certain restrictions may apply.

Reserve your gift certificate or get away today!

Costanoa.com

RESORT ROUNDUP

By Anthea Raymond

What lies ahead for skiers and snowboarders in 2022-23? Only La Niña knows for sure, says Mike Reitzell of Ski California, the non-profit trade association that represents 35 ski resorts in California and Nevada. La Niña has influenced California and Nevada temperatures and precipitation for the last two winter seasons. At least one forecast finds a fifty-fifty chance that the effect will continue through this coming winter, marking the first “triple dip” La Niña of the century. What La Niña will do remains an open question. “It will snow a lot or not,” says Reitzell. “It has gone multiple ways, though mostly leaning light. But we’ve also had one of our big snow years during La Niña,” he admits.

Southern California resorts like Big Bear Mountain are used to dealing with light years, and know how to make snow. Larger Northern California resorts are more likely to be left scrambling. “It is always good to have a nice holiday period but by March we will know whether we’ll be skiing through the summer,” says Reitzell.

What probably won’t suffer is attendance. In 2021-2022, California and Nevada resorts again saw near record levels, with 6,896,802 visitors according to Ski California. Hardcore winter enthusiasts simply won’t be deterred by conditions or inflation, says Reitzell. They’ll keep numbers solid, despite rising prices. But folks who aren’t regulars may be more likely to stay away. They will need to look out for the special promotions that season pass holders don’t need.

Reitzell admits our ongoing drought could put everyone in a more “seize the day” mindset, meaning they’ll drop everything to head to the mountains when it does storm. And, he adds, inflation and the end of COVID may combine to encourage more carpooling, with visitors sharing company and gas costs on their way to the mountains.

Visitors will likely find their favorite resort — big or small — improved. Many have invested heavily in new infrastructure, including new runs and new equipment. They have also responded to COVID times with new touchless technologies like QR codes for payment and RFID (radio-frequency identification) technology that recognizes you and lets you enter lifts. Reitzell says most resorts still face staffing shortages and the resulting higher wages, but, especially at the mom-and-pop resorts, these technologies are helping everyone be more efficient and effective

Reitzell is hopeful to see a revival of events that were put off during COVID. He’s excited about Ski California’s annual Safety Day on January 28, 2023, which unites California and Nevada resorts in offering events and promotions around safety.

Read on to see what other events and improvements you can expect to see at resorts this winter. And please remember — the events, procedures and protocols at resorts are all subject to change. So just like a surfer checks the surf report before heading to the beach, 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

BEST VIEW: The top of Eagle lift

SLOGAN: It’s all right here

WHAT’S NEW: After two years of COVID, we anticipate being open all season long

DON’T MISS: The opportunity to ski in Yosemite National Park

FEATURED DEAL: Check for current deals, great prices compared to other ski hills travelyosemite.com

BEAR VALLEY MOUNTAIN

BEST VIEW: Top of More Express lift

SLOGAN: Big snow. Little lines.

WHAT’S NEW: RFID tickets & passes, buy online

DON’T MISS: Live music on Saturday afternoons

FEATURED DEAL: Mid-week season pass bearvalley.com

BIG BEAR MOUNTAIN RESORT

BEST VIEW: Top of Geronimo, Chair 8

SLOGAN: Winter lives here

WHAT’S NEW: Base area renovations

DON’T MISS: Bear Bowl (Feb 11), football themed on-snow skills competition

FEATURED DEAL: Fall pass sale (Nov 3 –Dec 9), save up to $80. bigbearmountainresort.com

Note: Ski California’s limited-edition Gold Pass is the ultimate season pass that gives you or anyone with your pass access to 35 ski resorts in California and Nevada. There are no blackout dates and no reservations are required. These passes are fully transferable and shareable with anyone. As we go to press there are only a handful of passes available. For those interested in this exclusive pass, it’s worth hopping on the waiting list. Sales open in the spring.

BOREAL MOUNTAIN RESORT

BEST VIEW: Summit sunset from Accelerator chairlift

SLOGAN: The mountain is calling you home

WHAT’S NEW: Contactless access

DON’T MISS: Subaru Winterfest and the Boreal Banked Slalom (April 8)

FEATURED DEAL: “Go Time Tickets” are cheaper as the day goes on. rideboreal.com

CHINA PEAK

BEST VIEW: Views of Huntington Lake from the top of chairs 1, 2 & 5

SLOGAN: Own winter

WHAT’S NEW: An updated snowmaking machine, one of the largest in the state

DON’T MISS: Check out the $50,000 terrain park update and weekend events

FEATURED DEAL: 4 day lift ticket pack, good any day of season, 40% off skichinapeak.com

DIAMOND PEAK

BEST VIEW: Crystal Ridge and Snowflake Lodge offer epic lake views

SLOGAN: Lake Tahoe’s hidden gem

WHAT’S NEW: Contactless lift and pass pickup access, plus a new surface lift at the Child Ski & Ride Center

DON’T MISS: The Luggi Foeger Uphill/ Downhill Festival (March 25 – 26)

FEATURED DEAL: Interchangeable Parent Pass diamondpeak.com

DODGE RIDGE SKI RESORT

BEST VIEW: A spectacular view of Sonora Pass and Three Chimneys from The Shots

SLOGAN: The closest snow to home

WHAT’S NEW: The new Triple Nugget lift, plus expanded tubing and terrain parks

DON’T MISS: Santa Sunday (Dec 18) & New Year’s Eve Party (Dec 31)

FEATURED DEAL: Lift Ticket 4 Pack, is flexible & offers 25% off, sale ends Dec 24 dodgeridge.com

DONNER SKI RANCH

BEST VIEW: Sweeping views of Donner Lake at the top of Chair 1

SLOGAN: The happiest place in Tahoe

WHAT’S NEW: New rental gear, revamped menu and a new lane on the tubing hill

DON’T MISS: Old School Days - prices from the past!

FEATURED DEAL: $59 all day unlimited Adult lift ticket on Old School Days donnerskiranch.com

HEAVENLY

BEST VIEW: California Trail on your way down to Tamarack Lodge

SLOGAN: Lake Tahoe’s premier playground

WHAT’S NEW: The North Bowl lift has been upgraded to a high-speed quad. Plus new event: Sam Adams Air and Après on March 4

DON’T MISS: Gunbarrel (March 11), Pond Skim (April1), & Spring Fling Rail Jam (TBA)

FEATURED DEAL: EpicPass products skiheavenly.com

HOMEWOOD

BEST VIEW: Head to Big Blue View Bar for an incredible view of Lake Tahoe

SLOGAN: Where the mountains meet the lake

WHAT’S NEW: Some forest thinning that will open up new tree skiing this season

DON’T MISS: Access over 750 acres of backcountry terrain via snowcat

FEATURED DEAL: Lift ticket 3 pack skihomewood.com

JUNE MOUNTAIN

BEST VIEW: The view from the Chalet is an absolute stunner

SLOGAN: California’s family mountain

WHAT’S NEW: New Adventure Zones

DON’T MISS: Bring the kids to Bucky’s Bonfire on Saturdays at 2PM, and the adults can chill & enjoy the view

FEATURED DEAL: Kids under 12 ski/ride for free junemountain.com

KIRKWOOD

BEST VIEW: From the top of Chair 4 for breathtaking views of the High Sierra

SLOGAN: Kirkwood deep, Kirkwood kind

WHAT’S NEW: Kirkwood is excited to be celebrating 50 years this season and the return of events

DON’T MISS: Spring events — Banked Slalom (March 18), Pond Skim (April 15), and Rail Jam (April 22)

FEATURED DEAL: EpicPass products kirkwood.com

MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN

BEST VIEW: From the top, neighboring mountains look close enough to touch

SLOGAN: Find us in the fun

WHAT’S NEW: New restaurants and expanded sledding at Woolly’s Tube Park

DON’T MISS: Après party every weekend at Canyon Lodge — it goes off!

FEATURED DEAL: QuadPack+ offers up to 45% on four tickets mammothmountain.com

MT. ROSE

BEST VIEW: Blue View off Upper Ramsey’s, overlooking Lake Tahoe.

SLOGAN: Above the ordinary

WHAT’S NEW: Lakeview Express chairlift, a new highspeed lift with new runs and great views

DON’T MISS: Santa Ski Day (Dec 10), McKinney Cup (Feb 11), Tahoe Freeride (March 11 - 12)

FEATURED DEAL: Intro packages skirose.com

MT. SHASTA SKI PARK

BEST VIEW: From the Lodge, right at the Base looking at Mt Shasta

SLOGAN: Our best season yet

WHAT’S NEW: The new Gray Butte lift with access to over 211 acres of new terrain

DON’T MISS: Backcountry tours, open terrain, and overnight stays.

FEATURED DEAL: Black Friday season pass discounts and ticket bundles. skipark.com

NORTHSTAR CALIFORNIA

BEST VIEW: Head to East Ridge on the backside for views of Lake Tahoe

SLOGAN: Your mountain home away from home

WHAT’S NEW: Comstock Express has been upgraded to a high-speed 6-person chair

DON’T MISS: 50 year anniversary — TOST tradition returns, Lake Tahoe’s only ski-up, mountain view bubbly experience

FEATURED DEAL: Epic Pass Products northstarcalifornia.com

Photo: Dodge Ridge Ski Resort

PALISADES TAHOE

BEST VIEW: Top of Lakeview (Alpine Meadows)

SLOGAN: Land of legends

WHAT’S NEW: The new Palisades Tahoe Base to Base Gondola

DON’T MISS: Palisades Tahoe will host the World Cup, Men’s Slalom and Giant Slalom (February 24-26)

FEATURED DEAL: Slopeside Lodging discounts for ‘22-’23 Ikon Pass holders palisadestahoe.com

SIERRA-AT-TAHOE

BEST VIEW: At the top of 360 Smokehouse BBQ

SLOGAN: Where play reigns free

WHAT’S NEW: The largest inbound terrain expansion in 75 years, including new terrain, uncovered lines, and wider bowls

DON’T MISS: Subaru WinterFest Music Event (April 1 - 2)

FEATURED DEAL: The Unlimited Pass lets

SNOW VALLEY

BEST VIEW: The top of Snow Valley Express offers views of Big Bear Lake and on a really clear day a sliver of the ocean.

SLOGAN: So Cal’s #1 beginner friendly resort

WHAT’S NEW: Night skiing & snowboarding on select weekends and holiday periods

DON’T MISS: Southern California’s only six-passenger lift

FEATURED DEAL: 4 Pack of Anytime Lift Tickets, fully transferable snow-valley.com

1,500 acres of spacious slopes and plenty of beginner terrain for the whole family, June Mountain’s easy-going atmosphere and breathtaking views make for the perfect Eastern Sierra ski day.

Visitors will likely find their favorite resort improved. Many have invested heavily in new infrastructure, including new runs and new equipment. They have also responded to COVID times with new touchless technologies ... and we are hopeful to see a revival of events.

SUGAR BOWL RESORT

BEST VIEW: Lake View run has great views overlooking beautiful Donner Lake

SLOGAN: Tahoe’s deepest

WHAT’S NEW: Free live music at both lodges Saturdays and Sundays, 1-4pm

DON’T MISS: Family-friendly Poker Run, ski poker and scavenger hunt ( Jan 21)

FEATURED DEAL: Buy early to score discounted lift tickets as low as 40% off. sugarbowl.com

the New Free June App

The Luggi Foeger Uphill/Downhill Festival at Diamond Peak

CROSS COUNTRY RESORTS

BEAR VALLEY ADVENTURE CO.

ICONIC TRAIL: Don’t miss Headwaters Trail while skiing of the largest XC trail systems in the US

SLOGAN: Community owned since 2018

WHAT’S NEW: New Meadow Cafe menu with indoor & outdoor seating

DON’T MISS: 50th Annual Bjornloppet XC Ski Race Weekend (March 11-12)

FEATURED DEAL: $99 Adult Learn to Ski Package (rental, trail pass, & lesson) bvadventures.com

KIRKWOOD CROSS COUNTRY

ICONIC TRAIL: Caples Creek & Beaver Pond are scenic and explorative

SLOGAN: A perfect adventure for everyone

WHAT’S NEW: Reopening of the Caples Creek network, north of Highway 88 (it was closed due to Caldor Fire damage)

DON’T MISS: The sweeping views from High Trail are spectacular

FEATURED DEAL: Introductory lessons kirkwood.com

NORTHSTAR CROSS COUNTRY

ICONIC TRAIL: Tahoe Trail (6.5km one way) has a beautiful overlook of Lake Tahoe

SLOGAN: Try something new together

WHAT’S NEW: Brand new XC and snowshoe rental and demo equipment

DON’T MISS: Early morning fat tire or e-biking; guided snowshoe tours

FEATURED DEAL: QuadPack+ offers up to 45% on four tickets northstarcalifornia.com

RIM NORDIC

ICONIC TRAIL: Vista Point Trail

SLOGAN: Let’s go XC skiing

WHAT’S NEW: New rental equipment and a remodeled building at Rim Nordic

DON’T MISS: The only XC skiing area in southern California with over 13 miles of trails

FEATURED DEAL: Learn-to-ski packages are $60 rimnordic.com

ROYAL GORGE CROSS COUNTRY

ICONIC TRAIL: The Point Mariah trail offers expansive views of the Granite Chief Wilderness and the Pacific Crest Trail

SLOGAN: North America’s largest XC resort

WHAT’S NEW: Perhaps not what’s new, but what’s old — celebrating 50 years

DON’T MISS: Home cooking and huge cookies at Summit Station

FEATURED DEAL: Buy tickets online in advance to get the best prices and availability royalgorge.com

TAHOE XC

ICONIC TRAIL: Lake View

SLOGAN: Connect with friends. Connect with nature.

WHAT’S NEW: Fun and educational yearround programs for kids and adults

DON’T MISS: Ski and waxing clinics, and the Old Skool Klassic Race

FEATURED DEAL: Tuesday passes $29 and 10-packs $325 tahoexc.org

TAHOE DONNER

ICONIC TRAIL: I’m OK, Euer OK

SLOGAN: The skiing is out there

WHAT’S NEW: A new dedicated snowmaking system. The additional snow will help maintain a more contiguous trail system all season long and allow for earlier availability of cross country ski lessons and programs.

DON’T MISS: Private and group lessons

FEATURED DEAL: XC season passes tahoedonner.com

TAMARACK CROSS COUNTRY

ICONIC TRAIL: The Lake Mary Loop offers beautiful skiing and gorgeous views.

SLOGAN: Set out for adventure

WHAT’S NEW: New shuttle hours make access from town easier than ever before

DON’T MISS: Sunset Snowshoe tours let you take in the grandeur of the area

FEATURED DEAL: Lesson packages help you save money and level up your skiing mammothmountain.com

Tahoe Donner

FROG LAKE BACKCOUNTRY HUTS

A major win for conservation and public access to Sierra backcountry magic

By Brennan Lagasse

There’s something special about the mountain hut experience. The feeling of never leaving the mountains after a long day in the backcountry is something all snow lovers should experience at some point. Luckily for Sierra backcountry users, there’s a new hut system to experience north of Tahoe that encapsulates this spirit and then some. The hut system allows access to multiple aspects of five-star ski terrain harboring a host of epic ski runs that seldom see tracks. On a recent visit, my crew and I were awe-struck with the ski potential, the shelter system, and the story behind how it all came to be.

The Frog Lake Backcountry Huts are a new addition to the alpine shelter tradition of the Sierra Nevada. Nestled in a rugged mountain nook at 7,600’, the huts are accessible by foot or bike in the summer, and snowshoes, splitboards, and skis in the winter. Depending on where one starts in the Donner Summit vicinity, the huts are usually just a few miles away. While there are a couple of ways to access the huts, after reserving your spot in advance, most people will likely start their tour from the Castle Peak Snowpark. This approach is roughly 3.5 miles from trailhead to hut, climbing 1,500 vertical feet, and then descending 1,100 vertical feet to the huts. Castle Peak can be a busy snowpark in the middle of winter, especially on the weekend,

because this also happens to be one of the most popular recreational entry points to the northern Sierra Nevada backcountry. Another option to get to the Frog Lake Huts is to hire a shuttle from Tahoe Sierra Transportation. “They’ll drop you off at the Donner Summit rest area to save you some mileage,” says Ali Agee of the Tahoe Backcountry Alliance.

The Frog Lake Huts have an interesting backstory. The 3,000 acres of land they access was previously closed to the public for almost 100 years. The area was held by a private family that thankfully kept the surrounding vicinities around Frog Lake unaltered and pristine. The Truckee Donner Land Trust saw the potential to increase recreational access for the public, and ensure the land was retained as

healthy open space, so they sought to purchase the acreage several years back. In 2022, along with their partners the Trust for Public Land and the Nature Conservancy, the land transferred ownership — a major win for conservationists and all backcountry users. The deal protects wildlife habitat, migration corridors, and furthers watershed protection efforts in the area, all while becoming home to what has already become a must-visit locale for Sierra winter enthusiasts.

Professional skier and Flylow team manager, Noah Howell visited the Frog Lake Huts last winter and had this to say, “Frog Lake is about as good as it gets in terms of hut location and operations. The approach is just challenging enough for you to appreciate arrival,

page, top to bottom: Jenna Kane and Molly Armanino get walled in a nearby north-facing tube (Brennan Lagasse); The impressive Frog Lake cliff as seen from Frog Lake (Truckee Donner Land Trust). Opposite page, top to bottom: Jenna Kane, Noah Howell, and Molly Armanino scope the south facing terrain of Carpenter Ridge (Brennan Lagasse); Morning light from the corner of the Eschenbach Backcountry House reveals some of the easily accessible terrain right out the front door (Brennan Lagasse); Simple, sleek, quality mountain comfort characterizes your shelter experience at the Frog Lake Huts (Tahoe Donner Land Trust). and you’ll be surrounded by fun terrain in every direction once you get there.” After a first visit to the huts last winter,

This

the thing that struck me the most was that they didn’t feel like any hut I had previously experienced in North America. The huts have a Scandinavian feel and aesthetic. They’re modern, heat up quickly, and are the definition of simple comfort. Each of the three main huts accommodates a different combination of guests for a total of 20 open spots. If you have the ability to rent the whole place out, this location might be one of the coolest places to host a backcountry gathering in the Northern Sierra.

The final touch, the Eschenbach Backcountry House serves as the communal space. Cooking and sharing space with other hut goers takes the experience to the next level. Truthfully, the Eschenbach cannot be called a

“Frog Lake is about as good as it gets in terms of hut location and operations. The approach is just challenging enough for you to appreciate arrival, and you’ll be surrounded by fun terrain in every direction once you get there.”

— Noah Howell

hut. It’s a lodge; an incredibly beautiful building; a mountain structure that doubles down on the feeling of being somewhere special when staying at Frog Lake.

It’s quite remarkable that this land and these huts were set aside for recreation and environmental sustainability. Understanding the major win for environment and community with development of the Frog Lake Huts is one thing, but the pure snow experience itself is a whole other thing.

If you crave the soul nourishing silence of winter in the Sierra consider reserving a trip to Frog Lake Huts. Good luck trying to leave once you make it there, that might be the hardest part of the whole trip.

In order to explore the winter backcountry you must have avalanche education, avalanche safety gear, and know how to use and apply both. If you have any questions about your ability to access the huts, it is highly recommended to use a local guiding service. To learn more and book at the Frog Lake Huts, go to truckeedonnerlandtrust.org

The Frog Lake hut system is located on the traditional lands and territories of the Washoe tribe. For more information on Indigenous land acknowledgements, go to nativegov.org/news/a-guide-to-indigenous-land-acknowledgment and native-land.ca

PROVIDING HUMAN CARE

How Roy Tuscany and his non-profit High Fives Foundation are reshaping the lives of catastrophically

injured athletes

By Leonie Sherman

In 2018, traveling nurse Rio Peterson decided he was done with spring skiing; too risky. But when he saw 12 inches of fresh powder the morning of April 16, he and his buddy Jack set out for a Tahoe resort. By the end of the day he was lying in the ICU with a broken neck.

Roy Tuscany suffered his own spinal injury in 2006 while skiing at Mammoth Mountain; two years later he founded High Fives Foundation, a non-profit that helps athletes navigate life-changing spinal injuries. Tuscany was at Peterson’s side before he fully regained consciousness. Their friendship exemplifies one of Tuscany’s favorite sayings: Life will never be the same again, but it can be awesome. Peterson was traversing a track he’d skied over 100 times when disaster struck. “As I changed aspect and slope, I went from bottomless powder to Sierra cement wind-scorched bumps. My knees were locked out and I hit it hard,” Peterson recalls. “The impact ejected me from my bindings and sent me up in the air just enough to come directly down on my head.”

He recalls the following moments with crystal clarity. “I didn’t hear a sound, there was no pain, just a moment of stillness and total awareness of where my body was in time and space,” he explains. “I fell backwards and ended up lying face down on my stomach.” Jack skied past; to him it looked as if Peterson had taken an inconsequential spill.

“I spit some snow out of my mouth, took a few breaths to collect myself and then I was going to get up and dust myself off,” he continues. “But when I went to get up, I could not fucking move. I go to do it again, and dude, I can’t move. With my medical background I knew right away that I’d broken my neck and was paralyzed.”

Jack hiked back to check on him; Peterson asked him to dig a hole under his face so he could breathe. A woman they’d been skiing with went to notify ski patrol. And then Peterson noticed his breathing getting more labored. He realized that swelling from the initial traumatic impact was depriving his spinal cord of oxygen.

“Lying there, it’s just Jack and I, and I realized I might die right now,” Peterson explains. “Jack and I didn’t know each other very well, there was no real closeness between us. Sometimes I was like ‘is this guy going to punch me in the face?’” But as Peterson lay in the snow struggling to breathe, all that fell away. “I was just like ‘all right what is important right now?’ And I knew the only thing that matters is love. I whispered

This page, top to bottom: Alana Nichols, Roy Tuscany in the center, and Lawrence Green stand above a run at Palisades Tahoe (Ming Poon); Tuscany visits Rio Peterson at the Renown Health’s ICU days after his ski accident; this was the first time they met (Courtesy of the Peterson family). Opposite page: Tuscany, a 4-tracker, shreds a turn at his home mountain of Sugarbush in Vermont (Brooks Curran / High Fives Foundation).

‘Jack, Jack, come over here.’ And he came over and was like ‘What?’ And I said, ‘Jack, I love you.’ I just wanted that to be the last thing I said; I had to tell someone I loved them.”

Their relationship has changed dramatically, and fullblown whole-hearted love flows between them today. Everything in Peterson’s life has changed greatly. He’s an accomplished adaptive athlete, studying to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner, and has reconnected with the first love of his life. He owes that progress

to his own whole-hearted courage and determination plus the support of High Fives Foundation.

“High Fives is striving to cast a net of safety around outdoor sport,” explains Tuscany. “If someone gets hurt we want to help them be able to get outdoors again. If someone falls into a life-altering injury, we want them to know there are people out there who will give them a hand-up instead of a hand-out and slap them a high five throughout their recovery.”

“The massive thing I’ve recognized through this work

“High Fives is striving to cast a net of safety around outdoor sport,” explains Tuscany. “If someone gets hurt we want to help them be able to get outdoors again. If someone falls into a lifealtering injury, we want them to know there are people out there who will give them a hand-up instead of a hand-out and slap them a high five throughout their recovery.”

— Roy Tuscany, Founder of High Fives Foundation

is that sports are a byproduct of community,” Tuscany explains. “We know that if we can get people back to sport, we can use sport as a vehicle to get them back to community and social interaction. We use sport as a way to integrate people back into … people.”

Tuscany was 24 and coaching for an elite ski academy when he skied 130 feet off a 100 foot jump. His thoracic 12 vertebra exploded, sending shrapnel into his spinal cord that paralyzed him from the navel down. Parents at the academy where he’d been

This page, left to right: Alana Nichols rides the trails of Killington with Vermont Adaptive (Brooks Curran / High Fives Foundation); Athletes and staff members share a laugh at the Return to Dirt camp (Chris B / Generikal); High Fives athlete Trevor Kennison heading out to catch waves (Kate Abraham / High Fives Foundation); Landon McGauley, a High Fives athlete and now staff member giving shakas at the first-ever hosted adaptive surf camp (High Fives Foundation). Opposite page: Jason Abraham attacking the trails at Sky Tavern (Jordan Drew / High Fives Foundation).

“That’s the beauty of this whole thing,” explains Tuscany. “Every negative outcome always has a positive. It’s not going to happen in a day or two weeks. It took me 11 years to realize the positive out of my spinal cord injury. ”

coaching rallied and created a non-profit called Roy’s Recovery Fund.

“What those folks did, their physical and emotional support, allowed me to focus on recovery for two years,” Tuscany explains. “I sent care packages, but

Tahoe’s industry leader in mountain lifestyle, service, and community

Photo: Ming Poon Photography

to truly thank those people who helped me relieve that emptiness inside of me, who helped me through that time when I had no idea what I should or shouldn’t be doing, to truly pay it forward, I realized I had to help others.”

For 24 years, skiing had determined every decision he made. “When that’s taken away from you in an instant, you have two choices,” explains Tuscany. “You can sit outside that door of what used to be your life and try to get in when there’s no longer an entrance. Or you can walk through another door, close that door, and recognize you are on a completely new path. You have to decide if you’re going to be selfish or selfless. Those who decide to become selfless have the chance to become that classic Hollywood tragic hero and rise out of their own ashes.”

So in 2009, he started High Fives Foundation. Thirteen years later they’ve helped 543 athletes from 43 different states and Canada, a quarter of them veterans; Tuscany knows them all personally. The Foundation has disbursed almost $7 million in adaptive equipment, medical and healing treatments, programming, vehicle and home modifications, insurance costs and media packages so people can share their stories with loved ones.

“For the first seven years, we averaged 100% growth every year, some years 250%,” Tuscany explains. “But I lost who I was, I became Roy High Five. It was too much to take on this idea of helping everyone, so I ramped up drinking heavily. One night with a really big donor I drank an entire handle of tequila. I woke up the next day and realized I could put my energy into drinking and my own death, or I could

put my energy into High Fives.”

Since Tuscany quit drinking on October 31, 2016, High Fives has doubled their financial impact, tripled the size of their facility and added locations across the country. “I recognized that people loved me regardless of High Fives,” Tuscany admits. “And now people who love me can see that I love myself. My life has gotten even better. I met my dream girl [now wife, Alana Nichols], we have a kid, we travel. My mentality is that every negative moment has a positive outcome.”

“It took me 11 years to figure out the positive from my spinal cord injury,” admits Tuscany. “I was sitting in a room with 32 members of Rio’s family in Idaho. They were looking at me like I was a messiah. When I saw the look on Rio’s mom’s face, I thought about my own mom.”

Tuscany’s mother died of cancer in 2014 at 67 years old. She never got to meet her grandson. But after Tuscany’s injury, she spent 43 days at his side.

“When I saw the look on Rio’s mom’s face, I realized I got 43 days with my mom that I never would have gotten. I really got to know who she was. When she died, I spent the last month of her life with her. We didn’t have to have all those end-of-life conversations because we had already had them.”

“That’s the beauty of this whole thing,” explains Tuscany. “Every negative outcome always has a positive. It’s not going to happen in a day or two weeks. As I help people through their recovery I try to help them realize there will be a positive out of the negative. Life will never be the same again, but it can be awesome.”

Learn more and see how you can help support the important work of the High Fives Foundation by going to highfivesfoundation.org

HOW E-BIKING, CLIMBING, AND WRITING SAVED ME

My house burned down in the Oak Fire and my hair was falling out in clumps

due to an undiagnosed health condition

Two years ago I picked up my first e-bike to keep active between writing deadlines. Due to its steep topography, Mariposa is perfectly suited for pedal assist riding. Before e-biking, I was constantly in granny gear, plodding along at five mph on my regular bike while climbing endless hills.

My first e-bike was a beach cruiser that you can buy from Walmart. Completely underpowered for the area, with a meager 250w motor, it barely got me where I needed to go. It was terrible on dirt roads, the chain always popped off, and it would overheat on hot days. Nonetheless, riding it day in and out, I appreciated that I got my prep time back since now I was riding in street clothes. At lunch, I’d step away from my desk, hop on “Swagtron” the e-cruiser and do laps on the roads around my house.

This was my introduction to the immense beauty surrounding me in Mariposa along country roads. I lived 2,000 feet above the town of Mariposa, surrounded by steeply forested terrain. Swagtron (this was printed on the bike with giant yellow letters) proved to be the perfect exploration tool. The more I explored, the more I fell in love with all the forgotten, obscure roads surrounding town. I stopped making weekend plans with friends, instead focusing on doing triples – biking, writing and climbing all in the same day.

Eventually I replaced the motor on Swagtron with a more powerful Bafang that alleviated the overheating problem. Laps up and down the road were now 30mile outings that climbed thousands of vertical feet. I

decorated the bike with colorful handlebar tassels and wrapped it in lights, like a Burning Man bike. Eventually I connected with the e-bike company Aventon and tried their models, including a fat bike that could handle rough terrain at high speed.

Soon I was giving e-bike tours, where I’d take families out on rides via forgotten fire roads in Mariposa. On weekends we’d head to the Yosemite Boulder Farm and climb until dark. Soon I was getting several calls a week to take visitors out. Balancing writing and climbing, I still got in 100 miles a week and 10,000 to 15,000 vertical feet on my bikes. I was quite content. My legs looked ripped even though I never rode my regular bikes, and I’d given up running entirely. I did all my rides in baggy shorts or jeans, and I rode instead of driving to town. Town runs were hard. It’s all downhill to get there and all uphill to get home.

THE WEEKS BEFORE THE OAK FIRE

One night this past summer, while riding alone on my way back from town, I accidentally veered off the trail while accelerating up a steep, overgrown section. Next thing I knew, I was face down on the ground. The sudden impact barreled the handlebars into my chest,

This page, top: A photo of my bike at the top of Foresta Rd., which connects El Portal to Foresta, This e-bike burned in the fire along with four others. This page, bottom: Post bike crash and fire. I’m wearing gloves knitted by my friend and riding partner’s daughter. It’s hard to be sad when you’re out on a bike and dressed like you’re going to Burning Man. Opposite page, top: I took this photo while attempting to come back to my house after taking away the first load. The roads were closed and I couldn’t get back to retrieve my remaining items. Opposite page, middle: What’s left of my house after the fire. Opposite page, bottom: Bedless after the fire, I shared the floor with my dog. I also didn’t have any bedding, so I used articles of clothing as blankets.

Story and photos by Chris Van Leuven

breaking several ribs and hitting my liver. I should have ridden to the emergency room, but instead, I rode home and prepared for work the next day.

The pain eventuallly caught up to me, and I took myself to the hospital later that week. Surprisingly, instead of being treated for liver damage, I was told I had liver disease. I insisted the swelling was from the blunt force impact of my accident. The doctors sent me on my way.

About a month later, I noticed my hair falling out. A lot of it. Big chunks were missing all over my head. Two days later, when I was on an e-bike tour, thick black smoke filled the sky and flames chewed through my favorite backyard riding areas, where I’d logged thousands of miles on my fleet of e-bikes. The family I was guiding helped me evacuate, and the fire consumed my house within hours. I lost five e-bikes that day plus much of my belongings since I could only get one load out before the road closed.

I was luckier than most. My landlord lost everything but his dog, Carl, who he had to surrender a few months later. I saved my dog, Fenster, who has brought me nothing but love. (I’m so thankful for him.) Once the

Things got really hard after the fire. Since doctors didn’t know what was wrong with me, I thought I was dying. And since my home was gone, I had to focus on getting a roof over my head before I could even address my health condition.

smoke cleared, I learned 193 structures had burned and three firefighters were injured fighting this fire.

RIGHT AFTER THE FIRE

Right after the fire, things got really hard. At first, doctors didn’t know what was wrong with me, and I thought I was dying. And since my home was gone, I had to get a roof over my head before I could even address my condition.

Within a few days, I was in Fresno, where friends of friends offered me an unfurnished apartment until I got a permanent spot. I shared the concrete floor with Fenster. I was glad I’d evacuated with insulating pads, so I had something to lay on, but I didn’t get out with any bedding. I made a pillow out of a blazer and laid clothing over myself. Then I’d wake up with my makeshift pillow coated in my hair; I remember my scalp itched fiercely. I endured several nights that way. Displaced and scared for my health, I did what I could to get through the day. I’d walk to the local taqueria and get food, where I’d pass many homeless people. Empty liquor cans and bottles lay near them, and sometimes people would leave them bottled water. One morning I noticed the air nozzle was missing at the gas station, and my friend told me that someone nearby was using it to smoke crack.

I was in a tough place, but looking around me, I could tell things could be much worse. Friends had set up a GoFundMe, which helped me quite a bit. Plus, unlike many Mariposa residents, I had fire insurance.

GETTING THROUGH HARD TIMES

With all that was going on, I knew I had to make my way back to Mariposa. I had heard that some old friends had an opening at their house, so I contacted them and they offered me the space on the spot. I was back home in Mariposa within a month of the fire. Once settled, I began rebuilding my e-bike fleet while simultaneously seeing specialists who could help me get better. Since my hair fell out in weird patterns, I looked like a spotted leopard, so one day a friend came over and made me sit in the bathtub while she buzzed my head with clippers.

Eventually I was diagnosed with alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease where your body attacks hair follicles (car accident victims can get alopecia). I must paint on my eyebrows, and since alopecia affects my whole body — where 75 percent of my hair is gone — I look different when I stand in front of a mirror. It’s still too soon to tell if I’ll get my hair back or if I’ll ever look the same as before.

RECOVERY

During the first months of recovery, I thought about what the editor of this magazine told me. “Think of your life like a cup,” he said while I was visiting him and his family in Santa Cruz. “What are you going to fill it with?” Climbing, biking, and writing, I concluded.

Tests showed that my liver enzymes were back to normal. I couldn’t climb at my limit due to my sore ribs, but I could show others how to move over the rocks. A few people at the climbing gym in Fresno, Metal Mark, reached out to me and soon I showed them around Yosemite. That helped me as much as it helped them. As my condition stabilized and my ribs ceased to hurt, I threw myself at the rock, revisiting my favorite climbs. I cried tears of joy midway up my favorite climb, the 700-foot North Face of the Rostrum. I wrote one story, then another.

At first, my muscles felt like they were on fire when I climbed. And emotion would overtake me as I got on the bike. But while riding, the wind felt good.

And looking at my surroundings, I was bathing in beauty; it was hard to stay sad long when the world seemed so beautiful. My body began to change as I got my fitness back.

During this time, I introduced my new landlords to e-biking. Now we ride together a few times a week. But mostly, though, I ride alone for hours at a time. Sometimes I’ll get up at 3am and ride until sunrise. One night I saw two bucks locking their antlers together before separating and walking off into the trees.

My favorite bike right now is called the Aventon Level. It’s my least powerful bike. It has a 500w motor, so it’s barely powerful enough for the consistent climbing in the Sierra foothills.

A HAPPY ENDING

My new place is even better than before for riding. I can see El Capitan from my local ride, which snakes along a winding dirt road as it climbs Telegraph Hill. My new house is three times bigger than before, which is also nice. I even have a home office. And writing continues to bring me joy. I’m now even closer to the local boulders, which makes climbing consistently easier.

One more advantage of my condition is that diet plays a big part in recovery. This means I’m off gluten (so no more beer or bread) and nightshades (no tomatoes or peppers), and since I’m on powerful drugs, I must be extra nice with my liver and kidneys, so I can’t drink to excess. I also take full rest days to allow my body

to heal. I’ve never had such a healthy diet nor taken such good care of myself. It feels good.

The e-bike adventures continue. Each day I increase the distance — including today’s ride, which was twice as hard as yesterday’s.

I’m not thrilled that my house burned down or that I’m living with an autoimmune disease, but I’m happy I’m alive and thriving. I couldn’t ask for a better place to bring it all together — climbing, biking and writing — than here in the Sierra foothills.

If you would like to explore Mariposa via ebike, you can reach out to Chris Van Leuven for a customized tour. Learn more at yosemiteebiking.com

REACTIVE LIGHTING for optimized burn times. HYBRID CONCEPT for choosing your power source. AIRFIT headband for minimal compression on the head. FULL-TILT lamp bodies for various wearing options.

50:50 BURN-TIME-TO-BRIGHTNESS for reliable performance. THESE ARE THE PETZL DIFFERENCES WORTH JUSTIFYING. © 2022 - Petzl

Left: This photo was taken two months after the fire and getting diagnosed with alopecia. I am taking the scenic route to work at the Yosemite Boulder Farm to guide clients. Middle: Riding with my good friends and new landlords Daniel Melendrez and Genny Goldsher. Since moving into their rental, we’re getting out on bikes several days a week. Right: Attempting the 700-foot North Face of the Rostrum with Gara Villaba Mendez.

EARN YOUR BEER

Hiking

Elfin Forest

THE EARNING

Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve in north county San Diego has about eleven miles of trails open to hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The Escondido River courses its way through the reserve, creating a riparian environment that has water flowing through it, even in late August. We chose the Way Up Trail, option with a variety of terrain. Down low along the lazily moving water, we hopped on boulders, rocks and stepping stones under the canopy of a spectacular oak forest.

Grinding our way up to the top, our heart rates spiked in the 1.4 miles and nearly 750 feet of elevation gain on rocky, technical terrain. I reminisced about mountain biking up it years ago, when hundreds of us actually managed to pedal it for the San Diego Mountain Biking Association’s (SDMBA) Archipelago Ride fundraiser. It is steep and chunky with tight switchbacks. How much did we actually clean? Up top, there was a spider web of trails and dirt roads. We hiked in a

a Mexican style lager. It was simply delicious. Light, clean and, as is sometimes the case, it was an easydrinker. Amigo could have become my best friend that afternoon, but I had to drive home.

There are four Lost Abbey locations: The Tasting Room in San Marcos, The Sanctuary in San Elijo, The Confessional in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, and The Church in East Village/downtown San Diego. If you’re earning your beer in any of those locales, check out The Lost Abbey afterwards for a pour. lostabbey.com

RACES & EVENTS CALENDAR

BIKING

NOVEMBER

12 — Tour de Foothills / Upland / 100, 64 & 32 miles / TourDeFoothills.com

19 — Death Valley Century / Furnace Creek, Death Valley / PlanetUltra.com

DECEMBER

3 — Dirty 30 / Barona Oaks MX, Lakeside / QuicknDirtyMTB.com

3-4 — Dead of Winter Double / Malibu / Century ride options / LAWheelmen.org

4 — E-Dirty Cross / Barona Oaks MX, Lakeside / QuickNDirtyMTB.com

4 — Infestation / San Mateo / Coyote Point / 60, 50, 45, 40 & 30 minutes / TeamRoaringMouse.com

JANUARY

1-31 — Badwater® 267 VR / Virtual / 267 Miles over 31 days to kick off the New Year / Badwater.com

14 (Tentative) — Winter Throwdown / Lake Hodges / XC / One race / Multiple categories / QuickNDirtyMTB.com

15 — MTB Kickstart - XC MTB Race / Folsom Lake SRA /TotalBodyFitness.com

28 — Low Gap / Ukiah / 77 mi & 7,855 ft or 36 mi & 4,005 ft / GrasshopperAdventureSeries.com

29 — MTB Classic / Folsom Lake SRA / XC MTB race / TotalBodyFitness.com

FEBRUARY

11 — Rock Cobbler & Pebble Cobbler / Bakersfield / NOT a gravel race, it IS a challenging ride / RockCobbler.com

12 — Tour de Palm Springs / Coachella Valley / Ebikes are welcome / tourdepalmsprings.com

18 — Camino Real Double Century / Lake Forest / About 11,600’ of climbing / PlanetUltra.com

26 — MTB Madness / Folsom Lake SRA / XC MTB race / TotalBodyFitness.com

MARCH

4 — Shasta Gravel Hugger / Montague / GravelHugger.com

11 — Sherwood Adventure Hopper / Caspar / 90 miles / GrasshopperAdventureSeries.com

18 — Gran Fondo Hincapie-Merced / Caspar / 90 miles / Hincapie.com/ GranFondo/

18 — Solvang Double Century / Buellton / 200 mi & 200 km / PlanetUltra.com

25-26 — Sagebrush Safari/ Lake Morena / XC & Gravel / QuickNDirtyMTB.com

RUNNING

NOVEMBER

12 — Mt. Tam Trail Run / Stinson Beach / InsideTrail.com

Coast

and 51mi race options Bald Head Island, NC March 18, 2023

.

12-13 — Feat to the Beach / Fresno / 200 mile relay / FeatToTheBeach.com

12-13 — Berkeley Half Marathon / Berkeley / BerkeleyHalfMarathon.com

13 — Silver Strand Half Marathon & 5K / Coronado / KOZEvents.com

19 — Peninsula Trail Running Festival / Redwood City / PacificCoastTrailRuns.com

26 — Quad Dipsea 2 / Mill Valley / Ultramarathon / Quad-Dipsea.com

27 — Black Mountain Half Marathon & 10K / San Diego / EnduranceRaceSeries.com

DECEMBER

3 — Calero Trail Run / San Jose / Multiple distances / TCTRuns.com

3 — Peacock Gap Trail Run / San Rafael / 10K, Half, 30K / InsideTrail.com

4 — California International Marathon / Sacramento / RunSRA.org

10 — Summit Rock Half Marathon / Saratoga / 5K, 10K, Half / BrazenRacing.org

31 — Run in the New Years / Huntington Beach / 5K, 10K, Half / CarenWareEvents.com

JANUARY

1-31 — Badwater® 267 VR / Virtual / 267 Miles over 31 Days to Kick off the New Year / Badwater.com

7 — Hacienda Hills Run / San Jose / Marathon, 50K, 30K, Half, 10K, 5K, 9-mi / TCTRuns.com

7 — Avalon Benefit Run / Catalina / 50Mi and 50K / RunCatalina.com.

14 — IPA Trail Runs / Folsom Lake / 5K & 12K / TotalBodyFitness.com

14 — SD50 Trail Marathons / Escondido / ElevationCulture.com

15 — Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K / Carlsbad / InMotionEvents.com

28 — The Gumby Trail Runs / Folsom Lake SRA / 10K & 5k / TotalBodyFitness.com

FEBRUARY

4 — Death Valley Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K™ / Death Valley / EnviroSports.com

5 — Run Surf City / Huntington Beach / Half marathon & 5K / RunSurfCity.com

26 — Lost Trail 5K & Half Marathon / Folsom Lake / TotalBodyFitness.com

26 — Run Surfers Path 10K & 5K / Santa Cruz & Capitola / Breathtaking scenery / RunSurfersPath.com

MARCH

4 — Way Too Cool 50K / Cool / NorCalUltras.com

11 — Chanoko 50K, 31K, 5-Mile Trail Runs / Folsom Lake SRA / TotalBodyFitness.com

18 — Badwater Cape Fear / Bald Head Island, NC / 50K & 51Mi options / maritime forest trails and secluded sandy beaches / exquisite natural setting / Badwater.com

25 — Valencia Trail Race / Santa Clarita / 10K, Half, 50K / ValenciaTrailRace.com

25 — South Hills Single Track Trail Run / San Jose / TCTRuns.com

APRIL

29-30 — Badwater Salton Sea / AnzaBorrego State Park / 81 miles / 45 teams of two or three ultrarunners / BadWater.com

SNOW

DECEMBER

18 — Santa Sunday / Dodge Ridge / Dress in Santa outfits/ discounted lift tickets / DodgeRidge.com

FEBRUARY

1-4 — Toyota US Grand Prix of Snowboard and Freeski / Mammoth Mountain / MammothMountain.com

TBD — Bjornloppet XC Ski Race / Bear Valley / The oldest race in the West / 5K, 10K & 20K / BVAdventures.com

MARCH

5 — The Great Ski Race / Tahoe City / 26-kilometer cross-country ski race / Starting and finishing at Tahoe XC in Tahoe City / After party has live music, food, beer / TheGreatSkiRace.com

11 — Gunbarrel / South Lake Tahoe / who can complete 25 laps on Heavenly’s Gunbarrel mogul run / SkiHeavenly.com

25 - 26 — Luggi Foeger Uphill/ Downhill SkiMo Race & Festival / Diamond Peak / Race up & race down /Recreational courses available / Fun activities & music / DiamondPeak. com/events

TBD — Sierra Skogsloppet XC Fun Ski Race / Truckee / TahoeDonner.com

APRIL

8 — Caldera Burn / Mammoth Mountain / Ski & skin / five ascents & descents / Elite and recreational routes available / MammothMountain.com

TRIATHLON / DUATHLON

DECEMBER

4 — Ironman 70.3 / Indian Wells - La Quinta / Ironman.com

11 — Tinsel Triathlon & 5K / Hemet / TinselTriathlon.com

JANUARY

1-31 — Badwater® 267 VR / Virtual / 267 Miles over 31 Days to Kick off the New Year / Badwater.com

MARCH

11 — Pasadena Triathlon / Pasadena / PasadenaTriathlon.com

PROMOTE YOUR EVENT WITH ASJ email: staff@asjmag.com

2022 YEAR IN REVIEW

Here is some good news for a change

By Matt Johanson

2022 saw the pandemic recede, wildfires decrease and outdoor recreation dramatically improve as a result. California opened the door to increased outdoor opportunities by committing $57 million for underprivileged people in 125 communities. The Outdoor Access for All initiative will fund access to nature, outdoor leadership education and career pathways. Thousands of people will experience hiking, camping, kayaking, snowboarding and more as a result. “These programs will turn parks into outdoor classrooms, inspiring a new generation of environmental leadership in California,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero.

Here are some other positive outdoor stories that you may have missed.

Improvement projects

Grove of the Titans, in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park of Del Norte County and within Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation ancestral territories, reopened to hikers following a $4 million facelift. Largely unknown before this century, the grove features some of the world’s largest redwoods. Increasing numbers of hikers have damaged the ecosystem in the last 20 years. Stakeholders collaborated to improve parking, build restrooms, remove social trails, realign Mill Creek Trail and build a 1,300-foot boardwalk to protect the trees’ roots.

Trailblazers labored on the Lost Sierra Route, a new multiuse path that could eventually cover 600 miles in six Northern Sierra counties. Planners from Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship hope the trail will attract visitors and tourism to the economically struggling region. This year, the group worked on a 20-mile segment between Quincy and Taylorsville. Supporters hope to connect 15 communities from Truckee to Susanville. Discover more at sierratrails.org.

Scuba divers completed an unprecedented project to remove underwater trash from Lake Tahoe, lifting more than 24 tons from the 72-mile shoreline over 81 days.

“We have taken action locally and not only have we removed litter but we have inspired others to act globally,” reflected Colin West, founder of the nonprofit Clean Up The Lake.

Next the group plans similar efforts at Donner Lake, Fallen Leaf Lake and June Lake. Learn more at cleanupthelake.org.

Removal of offensive names

A years-long effort to change offensive place names made more progress in 2022. Eighty geographic features on federal land in California, and more than 650 nationwide, have changed to remove a slur demeaning Indigenous women.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland declared the word squaw derogatory and ordered the term replaced on federal territory. That effort concluded in September with the announcement of new names, like Olympic Valley and Washeshu Peak in the Lake Tahoe area.

“Words matter, particularly in our work to make our nation’s public lands and waters accessible and welcoming to people of all backgrounds. Consideration of these replacements is a big step forward in our efforts to remove derogatory terms,” said Haaland

California followed suit as Gov. Newsom signed a law to remove the word from nearly 100 peaks, valleys, bodies of water and even towns within three years.

In addition, California State Park and Recreation Commission changed the name of an area within Folsom Lake State Recreation Area to Black Miners Bar, at least temporarily. Negro Bar, the previous name connected to Gold Rush-era Black miners there, drew criticism for decades. The commission plans to designate a permanent name in 2023.

Biking for climate change

Those looking to discover adventure, and do something about climate change could learn a thing or two from San Francisco’s Dasha Yurkevich and Zora Kramer. The two 20-year-old college students rode their bikes through five states along the Continental Divide this summer.

In about 40 days, the pair pedaled 1,777 miles and climbed 120,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains.

“We rode on single track, two track, rail trails, fire roads, pushed our bikes up mountain passes, rode highways and backroads. We rode over mountains and through river valleys, meadows, deserts, lakes and towns. We got rained on, hailed on, beaten by relentless winds, attacked by bugs, and left in clouds of dust by ATVs,” recalled Yurkevich.

“We cried, sweat, bled, and laughed. We rode the Continental Divide.”

In the process, the two did more than bike from Canada to Mexico. They sent a message and set an example about using sustainable transportation. They relied on their bicycles and public transit even to reach the ride’s start in Whitefish, Montana and return from its finish in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

“Climate justice, in my eyes, means not relying on cars to help us travel and achieve our goal,” said Yurkevich. “Traveling by bike is my favorite way to travel and I hope that by sharing the stories of our journey I can inspire others to give it a try.”

Learn more at instagram. com/youthbikeamerica.

Remembrance Run returns

After receiving funding through a Dreamstarter Award, champion high school runner Kutoven “Ku” Stevens, and his parents Misty and Delmar, were able to host the Remembrance Run for a second year in a row.

The purpose of the Remembrance Run was to honor the children who survived Indian boarding schools and to remember those who never came home.

The first run followed the path of eight-year-old Frank Quinn, Stevens’ great-grandfather, as he escaped from Stewart Indian School in Carson City and ran home to the Yerington Paiute Reservation, over 50 miles away. This year, the course was reversed.

Participants brought offerings to place at the children’s graves at Stewart Indian School upon completion of the 50-mile, two day event. A somber ending to a healing and powerful run.

All-Black Everest summit

On Thursday, May 12, seven members of the Full Circle Everest Team successfully summited Mount Everest. The success of this team nearly doubled the number of Black climbers who have summited Mount Everest, the most famous mountain in the world.

The Full Circle Everest leader, Philip Henderson, shared

“I am deeply honored to report that seven members of the Full Circle Everest team reached the summit on May 12. ”

The few members of the team who did not make it to the summit waited at Base Camp to celebrate the historic climb with the others when they returned from the summit.

The Full Circle Everest team acknowledges that their success would not have been successful without Sherpa.

Pacific Crest Trail adventures

British hiker Josh Perry set an amazing record on the Pacific Crest Trail, covering the entire 2,650-mile route without support in 55 days, 16 hours and 54 minutes. Running an average of 48 miles per day, he raced in self-supported fashion, meaning he used no support team. Although a fire-related trail closure in Oregon forced Perry to take a slower cross country detour, he broke the previous self-supported record by more than five days. He has spoken openly about the physical and mental health challenges he had to overcome.

“This has been a goal years in the making, and a dream of mine since I first heard of thru hiking after reading about Heather Anderson’s record-setting hike in 2013,” recounted Perry, 27. “At the end of the day, the experience I had was an incredible one.”

Then on the opposite end of the PCT spectrum are hikers like yours truly. I continued my incremental approach to the national scenic trail which I started 25 years ago. I’ve trekked bit by bit since then until this year I got more serious. My push from Lassen Volcanic National Park to Rainy Pass in Washington took 77 days and covered some 1,300 miles, by far the longest walk of my life. I loved everything about it: exploring new places, climbing summits on the way, hiking with old friends and making new ones from all over the world.

May the new year bring you outdoor experiences to enjoy as well.

2022 marked the 30th anniversary of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the 50th anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary System. A major milestone for conservation and a reason to celebrate!

MERINO MOMENTS

KHROMA KINETIC

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