Trail & Timberline #1028

JAMES DISNEY 18

●

MOUNTAIN POEMS 26

●

PAINTING ATOP THE 14ERS 32

●

MUSIC FESTIVALS 36

TRAIL &

TIMBERLINE The Colorado Mountain Club • Fall 2015 • Issue 1028• www.cmc.org

MOUNTAINARTS Trail & Timberline

1

HIKING ENS YOUR HEART Fort C o

llins • L

o v e l a nd

. co m • Lafayette ◆ www.jaxgoods

WE

fshing athletics clo thing

footw

ear o ptics &

HAVE YOUR GEAR

1955

1955

photo graphy

O

EBRATIN

UT

D O OR

G

unting ping h m a c

EL

60 Years

C

ST

GT H N E R

DISCOURAGES ESS LAZIN TONES YO UR BODY

F UN

2015

military surplus books & ma

re nwa e h c t ps ki

share the

love MOUNTAINS of

the

invite your friends to join!

Invite your friends to be members of the Colorado Mountain Club!

SAVE $5 and get a Mountainsmith Cooler by using code TnTFRIENDS Offer good for new memberships through December 31, 2015

2

Trail & Timberline

A new action thriller / climbing adventure by Boulder

A new action thriller/climbing adventure by author Bob Matthias that takes place in the Tetons of Boulder author Bob Matthias that takes Wyoming andTetons the Colorado Front Range. as place in the of Wyoming andAvailable the an ebook or in soft cover from Amazon.com.

Colorado Front Range. Available as an ebook or in soft cover from Amazon.com.

Letter from the Executive Director Celebrating Mountain Arts and Culture

I

n addition to wandering the valleys, climbing the ridges, and scaling the high summits, many of us who love the mountains also connect with Colorado’s landscape through the arts. As Colorado Mountain Club members, we attend innumerable music festivals with summits for backdrops. We write adventure journals, take engaging photographs, paint majestic landscapes, create influential films, share moving poetry, and more.

The arts within our mountain towns have always existed, often in different forms than typically found in more urban areas, but as people from all walks of life continue to flock to Colorado, mountain culture is becoming more mainstream and more influential. You can now see influences of mountain culture in film, literature, and fashion on a national scale. Once unique to urban areas, entities such as arts councils, music- and art-focused nonprofits, and even local sales tax initiatives dedicated to the arts are now being prioritized in Colorado mountain towns from Steamboat Springs to Crested Butte, Ridgway to Salida.

And, as our mountain towns have largely transitioned from economies based on natural resource extraction to more recreation-focused economies, business owners and local leaders have continued to explore ways to diversify their economies to create thriving year-round communities. The arts are now being used to fill seasonal gaps by driving tourism, supporting local businesses, and enhancing a sense of place for year-round residents.

A trip to the hills is a full-featured experience for Coloradoans. It’s a rarity to drive to a trailhead, complete a hike, and then drive straight home. A trip to summit Mt. Sneffels, for example, is much more enriching when combined with one of Telluride’s myriad music festivals, a stroll among Durango’s art galleries, or a half-day of photographing the changing aspens along the Dallas Divide.

Mountain culture can be every bit as rewarding as time on the trail. Often, a trip to your favorite mountain town might not even include a hike or climb. It can be an excursion to simply photograph wildlife, find a new painting for your home, or listen to your favorite band. One of the best parts of our ever-expanding mountain culture is also connecting with likeminded people, which is now easier than ever as we becoming more connected digitally. A shared love for the mountains brings us together and has always been the foundation of the Colorado Mountain Club.

In this issue of Trail & Timberline, we examine the many different ways in which individuals express themselves using the mountain landscape as a muse. We explore the art of two-time Rocky Mountain National Park artist-in-residence James Disney. We’ll feature poetry from

current and former poet laureates, showcase how to take great photos of fall foliage, interview a woman painting vistas from the summit of every 14er, celebrate mountain music festivals, and provide an excerpt from the creative nonfiction book TOPO: The Stories Behind the Maps.

Art forms are as varied as the peaks themselves. By looking at mountain culture through all these different lenses, we hope to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for our great state’s rugged playground.

As you read through this issue, I invite you to think about how and why you connect with the mountains. Explore the parallels between the mediums that attract you and those featured on these pages. I bet you’ll find more similarities than differences. Whether it’s painting, photography, filmmaking, writing, playing an instrument, or another form of art, the avenues for personal expression afforded by the mountains are a wonderful thing. Regardless of your age or background, it’s hard to imagine a better artistic subject than the high peaks in our own backyard.

See you on the trails,

Scott Robson Executive Director

Trail & Timberline

1

18 18 The Artistry of James Disney

Meet James Disney, the mountaineer, painter, and former Artist-in-Residence of Rocky Mountain National Park

By David Hite and Janet Robertson

26 Mountain Poetry

32 32 A Plein Air Perspective Painting from the Summits Interview with Lisa Martin

36 Bach, Beethoven, and Bluegrass

The poetry of Joseph Hutchison and Chris Ransick

Celebrating music in the mountains

By Jay Fell

28 Lady Silverheels

40 Early Days on Grays and Torreys

The legend of Mount Silverheels, excerpted from TOPO: The Stories Behind the Maps

By Jim West

What it was like to climb the peaks in the 1870s

By Woody Smith

Fall 2015 Trail & Timberline • Issue 1028 • www.cmc.org

2

Trail & Timberline

Departments 01 Letter from the Executive Director 06 On the Outside 08 Mission Accomplishments

Learn the latest from the membership, conservation, and youth education departments, as well as news from the Mountaineering Museum, CMC Press, and the CMC Foundation.

14 Around Colorado

Find a local CMC chapter and get involved!

36 On the Cover

16 Safety First

Safety tips for hiking solo.

By Morgan Anderson

30 Pathfinder

How to photograph autumn leaves and landscapes.

By Dan Orcutt

42 CMC Adventure Travel

Want to get away? Wander the world with your friends at the CMC on these classic trips.

45 End of the Trail

Remembering those who have passed.

Crestone Clouds. Jesse Crock

36 Correction to “Lawn Lake Dam Disaster,� T&T Issue 1027: Mushroom picking is prohibited in national parks, including Rocky Mountain National Park.

Trail & Timberline

3

TRAIL & TIMBERLINE

The official publication of the Colorado Mountain Club since 1918.

Editor Sarah Gorecki editor@cmc.org

Designer David Boersma Advertising Sales

FOR TICKETS AND INFO

CMC.ORG/RADREELS

OCTOBER 8 • 9 •10 $15 GENERAL | $12 CMC MEMBER

7 PM

American Mountaineering Center | 710 10th Street, Golden, CO ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE COLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB

Kyla Gallagher advertising@cmc.org

Volunteer Editors Jodi Jennings Sherry Richardson

The Colorado Mountain Club 710 10th Street, Suite 200 Golden, Colorado 80401 303-279-3080 The CMC is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization.

www.cmc.org The Colorado Mountain Club is organized to ▶ unite the energy, interest, and knowledge of the students, explorers, and lovers of the mountains of Colorado; ▶ collect and disseminate information regarding the Rocky Mountains on behalf of science, literature, art, and recreation; ▶ stimulate public interest in our mountain areas; ▶ encourage the preservation of forests, flowers, fauna, and natural scenery; and ▶ render readily accessible the alpine attractions of this region. © 2015 Colorado Mountain Club

All Rights Reserved

Trail & Timberline (ISSN 0041-0756) is published quarterly by the Colorado Mountain Club located at 710 10th Street, Suite 200, Golden, Colorado 80401.

Periodicals postage paid at Golden, Colorado, and additional offices. Subscriptions are $20 per year; single copies are $5.

POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Trail & Timberline, 710 10th Street, Suite 200, Golden, Colorado 80401.

Advertisements in Trail & Timberline do not constitute an endorsement by the Colorado Mountain Club.

Please recycle this magazine.

Printed on 10% post-consumer waste recycled paper.

4

Trail & Timberline

guide to membership CMC Membership We summit 14ers, enjoy fly-fishing excursions, climb rock faces, backpack through wilderness areas, explore the culture of Europe, and so much more.

Being connected to thousands of other adventure-loving mountaineers makes your membership matter. cmc.org/calendar

Trips and Hikes It's easy. Find a hike. Sign up! Members get FREE access to over 3,000 mountain adventures annually, ranging from easy day hikes and snowshoe trips, to peak climbs, cross-country, and downhill ski trips, to long day walks. Search through the calendar and off you go! cmc.org/calendar

Schools and Courses Club members enjoy specialty member pricing on schools and courses for adults and access to backcountry classes and seminars offered by CMC groups around the state. The Club teaches you the skills you need to safely maximize living in such an awesome outdoor playground and connects you to other adventure-loving mountaineers. cmc.org/schools

International and Domestic Travel Enjoy active vacations & small group itineraries to inspiring mountain destinations in the United States and around the world through CMC's Adventure Travel trips. Enjoy hiking Scotland's West Highland Way, trekking through the Italian Dolomites, or exploring Yellowstone National Park.

CMC-sponsored worldwide trips are priced far below those offered by commercial, for-profit outfitters. cmc.org/adventuretravel

MySummits and the14er Files Crushing through your peak list? MySummits is a virtual summit register available to anyone who climbs the mountains of Colorado. Signing a summit registry is an important part of mountaineering history. Start your list today: cmc.org/mysummits. Or if you've finished the CO 14ers, 13ers., or any of the CO Hundred Milestones (Highest 100, 200, etc.), you can submit your name to the Club at editor@cmc.org for the record books.

Member Deals Members receive outstanding discounts from retailers nationwide. Check out how to get all the latest deals at cmc.org/memberdeals New for Fall 2015 • Promotive memberships for all CMC members: Recognizing CMC members’ expertise, ProMotive.com is granting exclusive access to hundreds of top brands eager to reward you with up to 70% off of retail.

• Receive 20% off stays at Lumiere Hotel, Telluride, CO an amazing ski-in/ski-out hotel in the heart of the San Juans • Save up to 49% on Friction Labs climbing chalk • Special member pricing for CMC's youth adventure courses Other Great Deals • Save 20% on guidebook purchases from CMC Press at cmc.org/store and Mountaineers Books at mountaineersbooks.org • Access to CMC-maintained backcountry huts - Brainard Cabin and Arestua Cabin • Discounts at outdoor retailers and Colorado gear shops including: Mountainsmith, Neptune Mountaineering, Wilderness Exchange, Mountain Chalet, The Trailhead, Bent Gate Mountaineering, Golden Bike Shop, and Ajax Bike and Sport • Exclusive member pricing to special events such as Banff Mountain Film Festival, Radical Reels, Backcountry Filmfest, Backcountry Bash, the American Mountaineering Museum, and more.

Volunteer Interested in volunteering and giving-back at the CMC? The Club is great because of our amazing volunteers! There are so many opportunities, from trip leaders and trail maintenance crews to adult and youth education mentors. Visit cmc.org/volunteer for a complete listing.

Give CMC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and donations are tax-deductible. There are many ways to give a gift and your support helps our programs reach new heights! Make a one-time gift or make your support last all year by becoming a Peaks Partner with a recurring donation of $5 or more per month. Or help ensure the sustainability of CMC for generations to come with a planned gift as part of the 21st Century Circle.

For questions about donations, workplace giving, gifts of stock or planned gifts, please contact us at give@cmc.org or 303.996.2752. Make your secure online gift at cmc.org/support.

Contact Us Our Membership Services team can answer general questions every weekday at 303.279.3080, or by email at office@cmc.org.

Trail & Timberline

5

On the Outside Upper Blue Lake, Indian Peaks Wilderness.

Photo by Jao van de Lagemaat 6

Trail & Timberline

Trail & Timberline

7

Mission Accomplishments CMC Bids Farewell to Brenda Porter

By Jeff Golden, Communications and Digital Marketing Associate

THE COLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB would like to thank 17-year staffer Brenda Porter, who left her position as membership director at the end of July, for nearly two decades of service.

Porter joined the CMC in 1998 to start a youth education lab. As the youth lab grew, Porter worked tirelessly with limited resources to establish a more comprehensive department that became known as the Youth Education Program. It remains thriving to this day.

“It is gratifying to know that thousands of kids have experienced mountain education and experiential education since then.

It feels like a good legacy to leave at the CMC,” Porter said.

With a background as a naturalist and science instructor, Porter continued expanding the Club’s educational offerings. She partnered with CSU Extension Jefferson County to provide Native Plant Master courses

through the CMC, as well as coordinated a wide range of mountain-related classes for Club members.

“CMC improves people’s lives through education, conservation, education, and recreation in the mountains,” Porter said.

Photo courtesy of Brenda Porter

“I am grateful to have worked with some incredibly inspiring volunteers in the Colorado Mountain Club.”

Porter took over as operations director during the CMC’s Centennial celebration, supervising the departments of conservation, education, press, and membership and marketing. She then moved into her most recent position of membership and adventure travel director, where she continued building strong relationships with members and volunteers.

Though she is departing the staff, Porter created a legacy that will leave a lasting mark on nearly every aspect of the Colorado Mountain Club.“Brenda has served as a valued staff member for nearly two decades, and the positive improvements she’s made to the Club will be felt for much longer than that. We wish her the very best in all her future endeavors,” said CMC Executive Director Scott Robson. ▲

New! Great Deals on Gear for CMC Members through ProMotive.com Diamondback, or a tent from Big Agnes, the discounts you receive could more than cover your annual CMC membership. It’s simple to sign up: • Sign in to cmc.org using your member login and open the Members Deal link YOUR MEMBERSHIP WITH THE Colorado Mountain Club just got a little sweeter.

Thanks to a new partnership with ProMotive.com, CMC members have joined an elite group of people who qualify for huge discounts on outdoor gear. You can now save on purchases from many of the biggest name brands in the outdoor industry.

ProMotive.com is an online marketplace for outdoor professionals who have significant sales influence within personal or professional communities. Recognizing CMC members’ expertise, ProMotive.com is granting exclusive access to hundreds of top brands eager to reward you with up to 70% off of retail.

These brands want to see you living life fully, both on and off the mountain, equipped with the best gear on the planet. Get rewarded for your membership in the CMC by getting special pricing on these products. The next time you purchase a softshell jacket from Marmot, ski boots from La Sportiva, a mountain bike from 8

Trail & Timberline

• Choose ProMotive.com/coloradomountainclub QQNew ProMotive.com customers: --Enter your email address to sign in (members will need to use the email associated with their CMC member profile) --Use temporary password “access” QQExisting ProMotive.com customers: --Sign into your existing ProMotive.com account and you will be automatically be a part of the CMC ProMotive Team • Start receiving insider discounts!

CMC members also have access to discounts on lodging and additional brands, listed on the Member Deals page. Just another reason why it’s great to be a CMC member! ▲

CMC Foundation Awards Seven Academic Fellowships

By Tom Cope

SINCE 1982, THE COLORADO Mountain Club Foundation has awarded academic fellowships for research consistent with the 1912 statement of purpose adopted by the Colorado Mountain Club’s founders.

Three named fellowships are awarded for the best applications. This year, CMCF received twenty applications from graduate students at six colleges and universities. The review committee, consisting of Paula Cushing (Curator of Invertebrate Zoology at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science), Jim Gehres, Kent Groninger, and Tom Cope, awarded seven fellowships.

Theresa Barosh, recipient of the Kurt Gerstle Fellowship, is Theresa Barosh a PhD student

at CSU. She is studying biological control of Russian knapweed at high and low elevations. The Al Ossinger Fellowship was

tain forests as a result of climate change.

Yamina Pressler is researching the effect of wildfire intensity on soil food webs in Rocky Mountain forests, and Lindsay Ringer is investigating the manipulation of resource availability along roadsides to encourage establishment of native plant species. All three of them attend CSU. Andrew Sanders, a student at Dartmouth College, will be at

Jacob Heiling

awarded to Jacob Heiling, a PhD student at Dartmouth College, for research at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic, Colorado, on how pollen chemistry affects pollination by bees. Julia Hicks received the Neal B. Kindig Fellowship to evaluate the impact of spruce beetle outbreaks on American three-toed woodpeckers in the Rocky Mountains. She is a PhD student at CU Boulder.

Four other fellowships were awarded to graduate students. Jeff Carroll is working on predicting the future of Rocky Moun-

Julia Hicks

the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory this summer to study host nutrition and the transmission of whirling disease in trout. ▲

CMC Member Raises $44,000 for Sengma Village Nepal Earthquake Victims

By Ann Nye West

ON MAY 21, THE CMC SPONSORED a dinner and paddle raiser which raised $44,000 for victims of the Nepal earthquake in the remote villages of the Everest Khumbu region, home of CMC member and Adventure Travel trip leader Pemba Sherpa.

Along with an additional $65,000 raised on a crowdfunding website set up with the help of CMC staff, a grateful Pemba took

Villagers gather to receive relief funds. 281 families received aid in order to begin rebuilding their homes. Photo by Pemba Sherpa

more than $109,000 to Nepal in June. There he distributed the funds to 281 families to help them begin rebuilding their homes.

“I would like to thank all those CMC

members who so generously supported my efforts to rebuild the homes of the villagers in Sengma and the surrounding area,” said Pemba. “You have no idea how much it meant to me and to those people who lost their homes.”

In addition, two monasteries which were destroyed were given $1,000 each and a bridge over the Dude Kosi River in Phakding was rebuilt.

Prior to Pemba’s trip, his brother visited 700 families in 30 villages in nine counties to assess the damage to their homes and prioritize their need for funds. Accompanying Pemba was his friend Greg Greenstreet, a Twitter executive. The pair flew by helicopter to the villages they helped.

Now Pemba is undertaking a second effort to raise $20,000 to rebuild Mahendra Jyoti school in Chaurikharka Village. The school is home to 370 students in grades 1–12. It was completely destroyed in the earthquake and classes are currently being held in what Pemba describes as “very hot” tents.

Pemba will return to Nepal in September along with eight CMC members for his

16th CMC Adventure Travel Trip to Everest Basecamp and Island Peak. He scouted the area during his June relief trip and reports

Students whose school was destroyed in the earthquake now attend classes in a temporary tent structure. Photo by Pemba Sherpa

the area is safe and the tourist industry is rebuilding quickly. Spots on the trip are still available; supporting the tourist industry is one of the best ways to support Nepal, since many Nepalese are employed through tourism.

On that trip, Pemba also hopes to bring the funds necessary to rebuild the school.

Supporters may go to YouCaring.com/ boulderpemba to donate to rebuilding the school. ▲ Trail & Timberline

9

[Top] Mt. Elous Panorama. [Right] Sunrise from Pyramid Peak. [Bottom Left] Sunrise from Handies Peak. [Bottom Right] Milky Way Panorama over Missouri Mountain, from Huron Peak. All photos by Glenn Randall

Glenn Randall Exhibits 14er Sunrise Photos in Mountaineering Museum

By Devyn Studer, Museum Manager

“SUMMITS ARE MAGICAL PLACES. Reaching a peak gives me the exhilarating, humbling, and awe-inspiring experience of being a tiny speck on top of the world,” says Glenn Randall. “To me, mountaineering is a metaphor for the human condition. It embodies in concrete form the way we reach for the sky, yet can only climb so high.”

In the fall of 2015, museum-goers can experience these complex emotions vicariously through the poignant landscape photographs of Colorado local Glenn Randall.

Select images from Randall’s latest book, Sunrise from the Summit: First Light on Colorado’s Fourteeners, will be on display throughout the fall in the American Mountaineering Museum.

A seven-year project, the Sunrise from 10

Trail & Timberline

the Summit book showcases 92 images accompanied by the stories behind the most eventful ascents. Glenn has been practicing landscape photography for 35 years and has mastered capturing not just the scenery, but the emotions that often accompany the scenes. For this particular project, he chose to summit each of Colorado’s 54 Fourteeners before sunrise to capture the first light on the landscapes. The result is dramatic, or as Glenn says, “The photographs are the closest I’ve come to capturing the joy, excitement, and wonder of climbing a Fourteener.”

Join us on September 20th for the Museum’s Thirsty Thursday monthly happy hour; Glenn Randall will be in attendance signing copies of his new book. ▲

The Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum Join us the third Thursday of each month for our monthly Thirsty Thursday happy hours, which feature beer, live music, gear giveaways, and free admission. www.mountaineeringmuseum.org CMC Member Admission: $3 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: Open 10am–4pm Wednesday: Open 10am–6pm Saturday: Open 12pm–5pm

Conservation Legislative Update: Public Lands Seizure Bills Defeated

By Julie Mach, Conservation Director

THE COLORADO STATE Legislature dodged a few bullets last session with the rejection of two land seizure bills (SB-232 and SB-39) which promoted the increase of state control over federal public lands. CMC staff and members submitted letters and testimony at the state house in opposition of these “land seizure” bills that could ultimately restrict public access and/or result in the lease or sale of public lands for private development such as oil and gas or mining. Similar bills have entered national legislation and will continue to threaten public lands managed by the Forest Service and Department of the Interior. CMC will continue to track new bills on this issue and stand up for public lands in Colorado.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Royal Gorge Field Office has completed the public scoping process for the Eastern Colorado Resource Management Plan (ECRMP) that will inform land use decisions for the

next 20+ years. In partnership with Outdoor Alliance Colorado and other conservation groups, CMC led the development of a Special Recreation Management Area proposal to protect over 30,000 acres north of Canon City including the Shelf CMC led the development of a Special Recreation Management Area proposal to protect over 33,000 acres north of Canon City for rock Road rock climb- climbing, primitive hiking, and mountain biking. Photo by Julie Mach ing area, Oilwell Flats trail system, and the Booger/Red Hill Colorado, is also in the process of revising primitive area. The BLM will review scop- their Forest Plan and continues to host pubing comments and proposals before drafting lic meetings and accept comments during alternatives for the ECRMP Environmental the assessment phase.

Impact Statement in 2016.

For more information and updates on The Rio Grande National Forest, which CMC’s public lands management and policy surrounds the San Luis Valley in southern work, visit: www.cmc.org/Conservation. ▲

YEP Teen Ventures Creates Leadership Opportunities for Youth

By Molly Daley, Youth Education Program Manager

WHEN THE CMC’S YOUTH Education Program (YEP) came up with a concept for its Teen Ventures program, it quickly became apparent that our goal was not to recruit the next generation of “outdoor followers,” but to create outdoor leaders. Through the lens of outdoor leadership, YEP Teen Ventures aims to optimize the lessons that the mountains can teach across all aspects of life as teens transition to adulthood.

The concept of outdoor leadership is a constant and ever-evolving progression, enabled by engaging in a wide range of outdoor skills training and experiences. One such experience, crucial to leadership development, is that of mentorship. To become a mentor presents a unique challenge and opportunity, especially for a teenager. They are just starting to take on leadership roles throughout various areas of their life—the group leader for their school project, the captain of their sports team, babysitting for a family in their neighborhood, or applying for a part-time job after school. They are in a transitive stage of personal development where they are no longer only being led; they are also beginning to take the lead.

With that in mind, several members of Teen Ventures’ Leadership & Advisory

Board (LAB) seized the opportunity to volunteer as instructors-in-training with YEP Summer Adventure Courses. Each LAB member committed to volunteer for a weeklong summer course, where they acquired hands-on experience in group facilitation, site management, and outdoor skills instruction. The teens handily navigated these

LAB member Kayla Walker (center) helps a participant learn to belay during a YEP Intro to Rock Climbing class. Photo by Molly Daley

youth mentorship experiences with the support and guidance of YEP’s trained outdoor educators and AMGA-certified rock instructors.

With very little hesitation and a ton of en-

thusiasm, LAB members jumped in to lead safety demonstrations, teach young climbers how to belay, facilitate group games, engage in staff debrief discussions, lend a sympathetic ear and some gentle advice to a discouraged participant, and take initiative in preparing and organizing the day’s equipment and supplies. And beyond everything that they did, it was clear that they were having fun taking on a new role.

Teen Ventures’ Leadership & Advisory Board members have a unique perspective, as many of them have come up through the Youth Education Program. More recently, they have moved on to more advanced trips and training with Teen Ventures. Now, coming full-circle, they have the opportunity to pass on their skills and experience to the next generation of YEP participants and, hopefully, the next generation of outdoor leaders.

“Especially in terms of the outdoors, that’s where I’ve learned how to act and be a role model,” says LAB member, Maren Stubenvoll. “I think being around different people that can be seen as mentors helps me, because then I have people that I want to look up to. That makes me feel like I should be a role model to younger people.” ▲ Trail & Timberline

11

BSI: Working Twelve Months a Year to Protect Your Local Powder Stash

By Julie Mach, Conservation Director

WHILE MOST FOLKS TRADE OUT their skis and skins for hiking boots, bikes and paddles, CMC’s Backcountry Snowsports Initiative (BSI) has winter recreation in mind every day of the year. We are the unified voice for Colorado’s human-powered winter backcountry users—skiers, split-boarders, snowshoers, and winter mountaineers—and we’re working to protect access and preserve snowscapes across the state. Like any other resource on public lands, snow is finite and has many uses (recreation, wildlife, water, climate change, economic development). Local users like you can help us protect the powder that creates a true Colorado outdoor experience.

Last summer, BSI mobilized hundreds of advocates to comment on the Forest Service’s revised Over Snow Vehicle Rule, which lays the groundwork for winter travel planning across the nation. The Forest Service is still trying to decide how to implement the new rule and which forests will have to go through a public planning process. The White River National Forest (Eagle and Summit Counties) is the only forest in Colorado with a complete Winter Travel Plan that designates where snowmobiles can and cannot travel on the landscape. However, it is unclear whether other forests in the state

BSI is working to gather data on winter backcountry recreation areas. These maps show winter hut trails, lynx habitat, and winter recreation areas on the White River National Forest. Photo by Julie Mach

will go through a rigorous planning process or simply adopt existing decisions.

So, how do we convince the Forest Service that detailed winter travel planning is absolutely essential? We have to show them, literally, with pictures, data, and maps. One of the biggest gaps we’ve identified is the lack of an accurate, comprehensive, digital 12

Trail & Timberline

Nordic skiers in Crested Butte. Photo by Julie Mach

dataset for winter recreation opportunities.

There are a plethora of guidebooks and atlases but no consolidated source of geospatial data to help inform land management decisions. Some snowsports enthusiasts may be hesitant to plot their powder stash on a map, but we need to know where you lay tracks so that we can help you protect them.

As BSI works to convince the Forest Service that winter travel planning is a high priority, we need to show them our users are out there utilizing the resource.

Through a series of hands-on workshops, BSI is introducing this mapping concept across the state and asking local users to help build and verify the dataset. With support from Outdoor Alliance and the Aspen Environment Foundation, we hosted two workshops this summer and we will continue to make our way through mountain towns and across the Front Range this fall. Stay tuned for an event in your area or check out the BSI website to submit your tracks at www. cmc.org/bsi.

As we gather this data, we can add relevant land use layers such as snowmobile routes, lynx habitat, wilderness designations, and more to build a complete picture of winter activity in Colorado’s backcountry. We can also highlight conflict areas, sensitive resources, dangerous terrain, and high-quality recreation opportunities with the ultimate goal of developing management solutions that mitigate current and future problems.

Through comprehensive mapping, BSI can demonstrate the extent of winter recreation, even when there’s no snow on the ground.

Throughout this process, BSI is working closely with Winter Wildlands Alliance (a national nonprofit advocate for quiet winter users) and local advocate groups, ski clubs, Nordic centers, hut owners, and individual users. Our role is to bridge the gap between national policy decisions, state and regional initiatives, and local implementation. We

communicate regularly with land management agency staff at the Forest and Regional level and help keep local advocates informed as decisions are on the horizon.

In June, Winter Wildlands Alliance hosted their annual grassroots advocacy conference in Golden, where BSI staff and supporters were in attendance. The conference included a technical breakdown of the Over Snow Vehicle Rule and a panel of speakers from three state snowmobile associations on challenges and opportunities to work collaboratively with non-motorized users. Information from the conference is also available on the BSI website.

As we transition into the winter season, we want you to get excited about snow advocacy. To prove CMC’s year-round dedication to BSI, I vowed to ski every month in 2015. As you can image, in July and August, it became abundantly clear that powder is precious. We live in an incredible state but we take our winter resources for

In search of snow, Monarch Pass, June 28, 2015.

Conservation Director Julie Mach has vowed to ski every month in 2015. Photo by Julie Mach

granted. The urgency to manage these issues is heightened by industry and population growth and it’s a problem we must work to solve all twelve months of the year.

To get involved, sign up for our BSI Action Alerts and consider making a donation to support our work at www.cmc.org/bsi.

Thanks, and see you on the slopes! ▲

Colorado Mountain Club Press Now Has 50 Books in Print!

By Sarah Gorecki, Director of Publishing

THE COLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB Press now boasts 50 titles in print, from regional hiking pack guides, to field guides for wildflowers and geology, to Colorado history. CMC Press has published 19 pack guides, and now has 12 books in electronic form, available everywhere ebooks are sold.

CMC members receive a 20% discount on CMC Press books at www.cmc.org/store, or at the Colorado Mountain Club office.

The newest title from CMC Press is The Best Canyonlands National Park Hikes, the second pack guide for the state of Utah. The 20 hiking trails in this fit-in-your-pocket guide will help you explore Canyonlands National Park—337,570 acres of highdesert wonderland just southwest of Moab, Utah.

Canyonlands National Park consists of mighty river canyons, high mesas, needles, eroded landscapes, and the natural wonder of Upheaval Dome. Hikers will experience incredible vistas, soaring arches, ancestral Puebloan Indian ruins and pictographs, an

abundance of spires and needles, and the deep canyons that give Canyonlands National Park its name.

Experience Utah’s spectacular red rock country. The hikes in this pack guide will take you on a difficult 10.8-mile hike to Druid Arch in the Needles District, and to Mesa Arch—the most photographed arch in Canyonlands—in the Island in the Sky District. The trails range from some of the more popular hikes to those trails that lead you to remote areas of the park, such as Tower Ruin and Peekaboo Arch, where you may not see another hiker.

Author Rod Martinez has also written The

Best Moab and Arches National Park Hikes and The Best Aspen Hikes, and was project manager for The Best Telluride Hikes and The Best Grand Junction Hikes. Martinez combines his two passions—landscape photography and hiking—to visually capture nature’s beauty for the 20 hikes in this pack guide. ▲

128 pages, 4 x 7, 85 color photos, 21 maps, paperbound, rounded corners, $12.95, ISBN 978-1-937052-24-9.

Also available in ebook.

GUIDEBOOK/UTAH AVAILABLE IN SEPTEMBER

Workplace Giving Makes an Impact for Nonprofit Organizations Like CMC

By Leslie Woollenweber, Director of Development

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YOUR employer’s charitable giving options is a great way to support your favorite cause, including the Colorado Mountain Club! Workplace giving can include several convenient options for increasing the impact of a donation you make to the Club or the time you spend volunteering with CMC. Frequently, an employer’s matching contribution will be dollar for dollar, doubling the impact of your gift!

There are two ways you can take advantage of this easy and affordable way of giving to CMC: employer matching and payroll contribution. Employer matching is often offered in two ways—matching your financial donation to a nonprofit and/or matching your volunteer time with a nonprofit.

Let your employer know about a charitable donation you make to CMC or the number of hours you’ve spent volunteering as a trip leader or instructor and ask them to match your donation or volunteer time. Have your

company contact CMC at (303) 996-2752 or give@cmc.org for any required documentation or verification.

Donating by payroll contribution involves choosing the CMC as your designated cause for a contribution that is automatically deducted from your paycheck, either

one time or on a regular basis. CMC is a member of Community Shares of Colorado (www.cshares.org), a nonprofit organization that manages more than 150 workplace giving campaigns supporting over 100 member nonprofit organizations. In addition to company campaigns, Community Shares

coordinates the Colorado Combined Campaign and the Denver Employees Combined Campaign, as well as participation by many area school districts. Making a recurring gift through a payroll contribution is a terrific way to give sustaining support to the Club all year long. CMC’s Community Shares and Partnership for Colorado code is 5168, our Colorado Combined Campaign Code is 5141, and our Combined Federal Campaign Code is 18064.

Workplace giving can make a BIG difference for your favorite nonprofits, including CMC. If your company doesn’t currently have a workplace or charitable giving program, ask it to start one! Contact your Human Resources representative, Community Shares, or CMC at (303) 996-2752. We can guide you through the steps to create an impactful program at your place of business that will give important financial support to the organizations you and your employees or colleagues care about in our community. ▲ Trail & Timberline

13

Around Colorado Our groups across the State WE ARE THE CMC! The Colorado Mountain Club is the state’s leading organization dedicated to adventure, recreation, conservation, and education.

Founded in 1912, the CMC has helped Coloradoans enjoy the mountains for more than a century. The Club acts as a gateway to the outdoors for novices and experts alike, offering an array of year-round activities and events.

The CMC’s sixteen local chapters host a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, rock climbing, skiing, and many other outdoor activities. See cmc.org/Calendar for a current listing. Our chapters also include a group for people living outside the state (Friends of Colorado), a group for members 25 years and younger (Alpine Start), and a group for CMC mission supporters who don’t participate in CMC activities (Friends of the CMC).

Alpine Start

Contact: Laurie Normandeau laurienormandeau@cmc.org Website: cmc.org/AlpineStart This group, for people 25 years old and younger, was developed to encourage membership in young adults. Thanks to generous donations from CMC members, we have recently hired a Young Adult Specialist to help jump-start trips and leadership development for young adults age 18–25. Young adults from all groups are encouraged to participate in Alpine Start trips and courses.

Aspen

Contact: Carol Kurt kurtskarma@aol.com Website: cmc.org/Aspen Aspen Group members mainly live in the Roaring Fork Valley; however, some members live across the country and have special connections to Aspen. In addition to mountain recreation activities, Aspen hosts picnics, an annual banquet, and slide shows on winter evenings.

Boulder

Chair (Acting): Andy Cook Andy_r_cooke@hotmail.com Website: CMC.org/Boulder The Boulder Group has a clubroom at 633 South Broadway, Unit K, in Boulder, where they host new member meetings and programs. The Boulder Group operates the Brainard Cabin and Arestua Hut in the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest. The Boulder Group also publishes a free online trail map of the Brainard Lake Recreation Area.

Colorado Wilderness Families

Chair: Scott Burger chinadaddy@comcast.net Website: cmc.org/CoWildernessFamilies 14

Trail & Timberline

This group is for families who gather together to enjoy the outdoors safely. Activities are generally designed for the participation of the whole family—including babies to early teens—and include overnight camping or “cabining” hikes, wall climbs, and map and compass practices.

Denver Chair: David Hutchison dwhutchison3@gmail.com Website: cmc.org/Denver Newsletter: The Mile High Mountaineer The Denver Group is the largest CMC Group and holds most of its programs and school lectures at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden.

Activities are scheduled almost every day of the week, including weekends and holidays. New member meetings—for new and prospective members—feature informative and interesting videos and briefings on hiking skills and trip policies, and are strongly recommended for all new members. For schedules and more information, visit cmc.org/Calendar.

Denver also has groups of people who meet and recreate together around specific interests. Additional fees may apply for these special interest “sections.”

• Rocky Mountain Over the Hill Gang: for 50+ year-olds • Trailblazers: for members in their 20s and 30s • Photo Section: for photography lovers • Fly Fishing: everything fly fishing

El Pueblo Chair: Jill Mattoon jill.mattoon@judicial.state.co.us Website: cmc.org/ElPueblo The El Pueblo Group provides outdoor experiences for people in the “un-crowded” southern and southeastern parts of Colorado. El Pueblo holds several social and educational functions each year, including a potluck dinner and monthly meetings with entertaining guest speakers.

The monthly meetings are held the first Friday of most months at 7:00 PM in the parish hall at Ascension Episcopal Church, located at 18th St. and Grand Ave. in Pueblo.

Friends of Colorado

Contact: Scott Otteman scotteman@aol.com Website: cmc.org/FriendsofColorado The Friends of Colorado Group was created in 1987 to support the many CMC members who live out of state but still want to take part in CMC activities when visiting Colorado. Friends of Colorado members receive all the benefits of being a CMC member; visit cmc.org/Join/MemberBenefits for a complete list of member benefits.

Friends of Routt Backcountry

Chair: Leslie Lovejoy leslie@lovejoygraphics.com Website: cmc.org/FriendsRB Located in Steamboat Springs, this group was created by the CMC during our adoption of the Backcountry Snowsports Alliance. The Backcountry Snowsports Initiative supports non-motorized winter recreation through advocacy and on-the-ground efforts.

Fort Collins

Chair: Ward Whicker Ward.Whicker@ColoState.EDU Website: cmc.org/FtCollins Newsletter: http://fortcmc.org/newsletters.html The Fort Collins Group has members of all ages from Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, and the surrounding communities. The Fort Collins Group is the fourth largest CMC group, and they have had a busy year so far. The group holds monthly programs on the third Wednesday of the month, featuring guest speakers on outdoor topics. The group is looking forward to the upcoming summer BBQ and annual dinner later this fall. For

Members of the Western Slope Group on a hike.

Photo courtesy of Carolyn Emanuel

Friends of the CMC

Members who support the mission of the CMC but don’t plan to take part in Club activities. This membership is perfect for people who are too busy to take part in trips and schools, but who strongly believe in CMC’s work in conservation and educating youth.

Get Involved in Your CMC

more information on upcoming activities visit cmc.org/Calendar/Trips and Search on the Fort Collins Group.

Gore Range

Chair: Colleen Widlak cwidlak@aol.com Website: cmc.org/GoreRange Many Gore Range Group members live in the shadow of the magnificent Gore Range in Summit and Eagle Counties. Members from as far south as Salida and north to Kremmling and from out of state are also part of the group. A Gore Range Group newsletter is sent out twice a year, as well as periodic emails.

Longs Peak

Chair: Mike Pippis mike.coloradoguy@gmail.com Website: cmc.org/LongsPeak The Longs Peak Group has members in Longmont, Lyons, Erie, Louisville, Mead, Niwot, and the surrounding area. Formed in 1963, and named for the majestic peak which dominates the western horizon, Longs Peak offers a range of outdoor activities throughout the state.

Pikes Peak

Chair: Collin Powers powerscollin@yahoo.com Website: cmc.org/PikesPeak The Pikes Peak Group, located in Colorado Springs, offers a variety of outdoor activities, educational opportunities, and social events. Pikes Peak has two special “sections”: “SESI” is the section for singles and stands for “Singles Enjoying Similar Interests,” and “20/30-Something” is the Pikes Peak section for members in their 20s and 30s. Monthly meetings feature speaker presentations on regional activities, local history, and trips to exotic places. A potluck dinner is held in May; the Annual Dinner is held in November.

San Juan

Chair: Laura Scull Scull_l@fortlewis.edu Website: cmc.org/SanJuan The San Juan Group provides outdoor experiences in southwestern Colorado and adjacent Utah and New Mexico. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of September, November, January, March, and May. At each meeting, an hourlong presentation is usually given, followed by a business meeting.

Shining Mountains

Chair: Maureen Denig mpdenig@hotmail.com Website: cmc.org/ShiningMountains The Shining Mountains Group serves CMC members in Estes Park, Loveland, Lyons, and the surrounding area. Rocky Mountain National Park benefits from the many volunteer stewardship projects sponsored by the group. “The Friendly Bunch,” organized to help singles of all ages get acquainted with each other, hosts a variety of activities; while most participants are single, all CMC members are welcome.

Western Slope

Chair: Stanley Nunnally stanleynunnally@yahoo.com Website: cmc.org/WesternSlope The Western Slope Group has members throughout the Grand Junction area. Monthly meetings include educational speakers and environmental issue updates, as well as stories and tales from CMC trips. Meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the first Wednesday of each month (with no meeting in June, July, or August) at the Masonic Lodge, 2400 Consistory Court, in Grand Junction. The Canyon Call newsletter and periodic emails keep members informed of upcoming meetings, educational activities, adventures, Club trips, and local activities of interest.

•There are many volunteer opportunities throughout the Club. All group activities are led by dedicated and skilled volunteers. Visit cmc. org/Volunteer for more information or contact your local group.

•To ensure the continued enjoyment of Colorado’s pristine places, the CMC leads efforts to protect wild and public lands with its conservation and stewardship programs. cmc.org/ Conservation •The CMC’s Youth Education Program inspires confidence and academic achievement in youth through school programs, summer camps, afterschool programs, and young adult programs. cmc.org/Youth •The Club has published its quarterly magazine, Trail & Timberline, since 1918, and operates the CMC Press with more than 45 titles in print. cmc.org/Store •The American Mountaineering Museum celebrates the rich history of the mountains and mountaineering. mountaineeringmuseum.org

Mountain Education

The CMC offers many educational opportunities through our regional groups. CMC courses appeal to people new to the outdoors as well as people looking for new ways to enjoy the mountains and expand their personal horizons.

These affordable schools encourage individuals to improve their outdoor skill sets.

CMC instructors are volunteers and members of the Club. They are experienced users of the outdoors who have polished their skills on Club trips and demonstrated their leadership abilities. Safety and personal responsibility, respect for the natural environment, and leadership skills are stressed in all courses. Students of all ages gain the skills and knowledge to comfortably participate in mountain trips.

The larger CMC groups offer more than 61 schools and seminars. Smaller groups sometimes host instructors from other group schools for weekend seminars. Volunteer committees in the groups develop the curricula, so there are some variations between the group educational offerings. See cmc.org/schools for a calendar of upcoming schools.

Trail & Timberline

15

Safety first

HIGH-FIVING YOUR SHADOW: SAFETY TIPS FOR HIKING SOLO

BY MORGAN ANDERSON, STEWARDSHIP TEAM

It is a risk I find myself taking frequently: going alone. Statistics show that hiking with a partner or in a group greatly increases the opportunity for self-rescue in the field. However, hiking with a friend or a group isn’t always feasible. Or, one would rather enjoy the company of solitude. Either way, hiking alone, by choice or default, makes you far more conscious of the apparent risks. When solo, it is how you rely on yourself to mitigate your safety. It’s only you out there, and Mother Nature sure won’t be lending a helping hand.

How often have you made plans for an awesome trip or challenging hike with a friend, only to be let down when they back out? Things come up. Your companion’s enthusiasm may not be on the same level as yours, so at times you will find yourself alone, indoors, and bored. Once you stop relying on other people to make your trip happen, you will feel liberated. You won’t disappoint yourself if you know your limitations and are able to distinguish between a healthy challenge or dangerous recklessness.

Hiking solo gives you the opportunity and freedom to go at your own pace. Push yourself to breakneck speed or take it slow. Identify the flora. Take pictures. Relax along the creek side. Soak it all in.

The unpredictability and vastness of the wilderness is the reason we have the urge to be submersed in it. Hiking solo may just make you appreciate the company of other hikers and friends. We are naturally social beings and thrive while collaborating with others. But it is a 16

Trail & Timberline

rarity in the modern age to allow yourself the opportunity for selfreflection and meditation.

The convenience of this solitude will not come easily if you do not feel comfortable with your safety or situation. There are a few traditional ways of staying safe when going alone. As always, make sure to let a friend or spouse know your itinerary. This is crucial when going into the backcountry alone or with a group.

Be prepared. Identify and become familiar with the hazards along your hike. Knowing the weather patterns, history, and native animals of the area will help you physically and mentally prepare to tackle them on your own. There are unusual and unique dangers to every geographic area, and mitigating these before and during your trip is ideal. The more knowledge you gain, the more prepared and comfortable you will feel. If you find yourself hesitant to go solo, go out with an experienced friend and learn from them. Hiking or

backpacking classes, like the ones offered by CMC, will help you reach your comfort level. A risk we all must understand and accept is the unpredictability of the environment. When going solo these risks are amplified and make all personal decisions count. There is no one else to help weigh the consequences; therefore, you are your own rescuer.

Know your limitations and be honest with yourself.

Big or small, wildlife can be a serious concern for people, especially when alone. Know what you’re up against and familiarize yourself with proper procedures for fending off larger animals (such as bear, cougar, or moose). In brown bear country, bear mace is a must among solo hikers. When it comes to the smaller animals such as raccoons, chipmunks, and birds—at least you know they are going for your food, and not you. Make sure you are storing your food and pack safely and securely. Losing a meal to a brave and persistent rodent is no fun at all.

Be aware that it is not just the wildlife of which you need to be mindful. The human factor can be mitigated by using common sense.

The closer a trail is to a town or village the more likely you may come across an individual that gives off a weird vibe. Being receptive to other people’s motives can keep you out of uncomfortable situations. If necessary, give the impression that your hiking partner will be along soon and keep moving on the trail. Before setting up camp near other backpackers, cook a meal. This will give you time to get a better idea of who you will be interacting with for the night and if you would prefer to hike farther along to a different camping area.

For people going solo frequently, purchasing an emergency signaling device may not be a bad investment. These devices give you the opportunity to send check-ins and updates of your itinerary to friends and family via satellite. It is also a good idea to set checkpoints (a specific coordinate or landmark along your route) where a friend or family member can expect a check-in within a previously determined timeframe. If the deadline is not made, they can contact Search and Rescue with your previous coordinates. SOS buttons on signaling devices can be used in situations that warrant Search and Rescue. Your smartphone should not be your last resort.

With no one else to help guide the hike along, you must invest time in your navigational skills. GPS units are handy for keeping you on track, but a slipup can erase your waypoints and leave you disoriented.

It is important to have a backup plan and carry a compass and map at all times. Natural navigation is also useful when you find yourself in a tight spot. Knowing how to identify the general direction of North, South, East, and West using steering marks or trees and bushes can be critical to survival. Steering marks are any well-defined objects in your intended direction of travel like large trees, rock formations, or distant silhouettes on the horizon. Polaris, or the North Star, will be one of the few ways to navigate in darkness as it is a fixed celestial object in the Northern Hemisphere. Western dominant winds will deform plants and trees in certain climate zones. This will help you move North or South if you move in a straight line with the affected vegetation on one side of you. Moss prefers to grow in the shade, therefore flourishing more often on the northern side of trees and rocks where it receives the least amount of sunlight.

Before solo hiking, you need to be able to weigh the risks. Feeling comfortable about walking alone into the wilderness takes a lot of personal reflection at home. Most importantly, you must know yourself and be able to consider all of your personal faults and merits to see how they transfer to the trail. Going solo with the right experience, knowledge, skills, and cautiousness will allow you to enjoy the solitude and freedom you may be seeking. And after the hike, feel free to high-five your shadow. ▲

[Opposing Page] Foggy hike around Red Rocks. [This Page, Top] Skull outside of Montrose, Colorado. [This Page, Middle] View at Guanella Pass. [This Page, Bottom] Cacti outside of Montrose, Colorado. All photos by Morgan Anderson

Trail & Timberline

17

THE ARTISTRY OF

JAMES DISNEY, A COLORADO NATURALIST

INTRODUCTION BY DAVID HITE AND JANET ROBERTSON ALL PHOTOS COURTESY JIM DISNEY im Disney, a climber who paints and a painter who climbs, is accomplished at both. He is a master of detail, color, and composition. His landscapes convey an uncanny insight into the ever-changing light, the texture of rock and snow, and the moods of the weather. Though many know him as an artist whose specialty is mountains, his subjects also include animals, wildflowers, meadows, brooks, and portraits of people. He works in a variety of media, including oil, pencil, aquarelle, drybrush, charcoal, acrylic, and photography.

Jim has been a professional artist since 1963. Hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, rock climbing, canyoneering, and bicycling are his avocations. Beyond Colorado’s 14ers, James counts over 1,000 ascents of significant summits in the West, Canada, and Mexico, as well as the West Rib route on Denali. His 600 ascents in Rocky Mountain National Park include all 128 named summits in the Park.

Jim has twice served as Rocky Mountain

National Park’s Artist-in-Residence. While serving as Larimer County Commissioner, he received an Environmental Stewardship Award from the Park for his work to ban commercial sightseeing flights over RMNP. In 2014, he was commissioned to create the official poster for this year’s Park Centennial.

Whether we hike to lakes or climb to summits, we collect memories: the wild, cold tumult of the sky, the huge roar of a river coming down with melted snow, the silence of a mountain marsh, the moments that take our breath away. The photographs, sketches, and paintings of Jim Disney return us to those unforgettable memories, and take us to our dreams of the new and uncharted.

A show of Jim Disney’s work opened on August 14 at the Loveland Art Museum and can be viewed through November 18, 2015.

This article showcases thirteen of James Disney’s many paintings, drawings, and photographs. Read about each one in James’ own words. ▲

[This Page, Bottom] "Process" • Watercolor on Paper • 14” x 11” • 1984 This painting was done during the first time I was the Artist-inResidence in Rocky Mountain National Park. The title came from this Loren Eiseley quote, which I wrote on the back of the painting: “We are rag dolls made out of many ages and skins, changelings who have slept in wood nests or hissed in the uncouth guise of waddling amphibians. We

have played such roles for infinitely longer ages than we have been men. Our identity is a dream.

We are process, not reality, for reality is an illusion of the daylight—the light of our particular day.” [Opposing Page, Right] “Descending from a Soft Sky” • Oil Paint on Panel • 24” x 18” • 1980 This painting came from a long, difficult day on the Maroon Bells. My longtime friend and frequent climbing partner, Howard Pomran-

18

Trail & Timberline

Jim Disney

"Process" ka, and I weathered three separate storms while traversing the north and south peaks. In late afternoon, when we were on our way down the south ridge of South Maroon Peak, the weather finally cleared, revealing a magnificent view of the peaks and finally, a friendly, soft sky.

"Descending from a Soft Sky" Trail & Timberline

19

[This Page] “First Frost” • Oil Paint on Canvas • 9” x 12” • 2007 This beautiful banded gneiss boulder is a little ways off the Pawnee Pass Trail a short distance above Lake Isabelle. The combination of the boulder, trees, and the groundcover beginning to turn to autumn hues was just begging to be the subject matter of a painting. [Opposing Page, Top] "For Vincent" • Oil Paint on Paper • 9” x 8” • 2003 The strong lighting on

20

Trail & Timberline

these sunflowers is what caught my eye to begin with. Then, while I was working on the painting, I was thinking about Van Gogh’s paintings of sunflowers. Van Gogh was a powerful influence on my work at the beginning of my career. [Opposing Page, Middle] "Fall River" • Oil Paint on Panel • 24” x 24” • 2007 Over the course of fifty-plus years of painting, I have done many paintings of aspen trees. I finally reached the

point where I said, “No more, I’ve said everything about aspen I have to say.” Then, in the summer of 2001, I was hired as a temporary ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park to help with the creation of a new visitor film. One morning while the crew was filming in an aspen grove near the old Fall River Road, I had time to just sit and enjoy the view. That’s when it occurred to me that I’d never seen an aspen painting from inside a grove

"For Vincent"

"Fall River"

"First Frost" looking out, which left me with no choice but to do one more aspen painting. [This Page, Bottom] “Emerald View” • Oil Paint on Panel • 36” x 48” • 2010 With this painting I was trying to capture the interesting lighting on the wintry landscape when a storm was clearing away from Hallett Peak. The subtle horizontal white plane near the bottom of the painting is the frozen surface of Emerald Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.

"Emerald View" Trail & Timberline

21

"Hagues Peak"

"Suncups" 22

Trail & Timberline

"Kor"

[Opposing Page, Top] "Hagues Peak" • Oil Paint on Panel • 48” x 72” • 2006 Hagues Peak, at 13,560 feet, is the highest peak of the twenty-seven summits in the Mummy Range in Rocky Mountain National Park. I have climbed this remote and reclusive peak three times. I wanted people to get to know this beautiful mountain with this portrait of the west face, near sunset, after a passing summer thunder shower. The painting was commissioned by the Larimer County Government because Hagues Peak is the highest summit in the county. It is hanging in the commissioner's office in Fort Collins, Colorado. [Opposing Page, Bottom] "Suncups" • Oil Paint on Canvas • 26" x 36” • 1981 This painting came from a trip into California’s Sierras to climb some of the 14ers. We had climbed Mount Tyndall and were descending back to our camp when we stopped for a break at Shepherd Pass. Sitting there enjoying the view, it was apparent why the Sierra Nevada mountains are called the Range of Light. [This Page, Top] "Kor" • Pencil Drawing • 14” x 8” • 1967 Anyone with an interest in the history of rock climbing and mountaineering

knows something about Layton Kor. Some of us who were active in climbing during the 1960s and ‘70s were fortunate to have been on a rope with Layton. To climb with him was an unforgettable experience of stretching your personal capabilities well beyond what you thought possible. It gave new meaning to the saying, “It doesn’t have to be fun, to be fun.” While Layton will be remembered as a visionary climber with extraordinary skills and strength, I will also remember him as a friend and a very good human being. [This Page, Bottom] "Centennial Poster" • Composite Digital Image In November of 2009, Marianne and I were hiking on the Fern Lake Trail when we met the magnificent bighorn ram in the poster. “Bob the Bighorn” (that’s what we named him) jumped up on a large boulder beside the trail and masterfully posed for a number of photographs. That was the beginning of the poster. In 2013, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy commissioned me to create the official poster for the Rocky Mountain National Park Centennial. Since I had already been looking to create an image using “Bob,” the opportunity was

at hand. Using Photoshop and other graphic programs I selected parts of three other photos I had taken in the Park and spent many hours blending them in layers to create the final poster.

"Centennial Poster"

Trail & Timberline

23

"The Summit"

"Spindrift"

[This Page, Top] “The Summit” • Pencil Drawing • 8” x 10” • 2001 Anyone looking at my work over the years will probably notice that rock is a continual theme. It might have had something to do with my father being a master stone mason. So it isn’t surprising that I was attracted to the summit cairn on Andrews Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. It is a work of art. Therefore my drawing is just a two-dimensional copy of the work of an unknown artist(s) who likes rocks. [This Page, Bottom] “Spindrift” • Photograph • 1987 Of all the photographs I’ve taken in the mountains, this one is my favorite. It was taken in February, during an ascent of Longs Peak, not far below the summit. My partner John Asmussen and I had been taking turns kicking steps in the wind-packed snow. While John was taking his turn, I happened to look down the slope and see this swirling gust of wind coming up the slope. I frantically dug my camera out of my parka and pulled up and shot just as the gust engulfed him. [Center Spread] “Longs Peak” • Oil Paint on Panel • 40” x 28” • 2002 If asked to name my favorite mountain to climb and paint, it would have to be Longs Peak. I’ve done numerous paintings and drawings of the peak, and I’ve been to its summit 93 times.

This painting came from a day when some friends and I decided to explore the Roaring Fork drainage below Peacock Pool. As we were ascending out of the drainage this view caught my eye. I’ve always liked the angular planes of the East Face and this view seemed to accentuate those planes. One more thought: for me, this painting is more of a portrait of an old friend, than it is a landscape painting.

24

Trail & Timberline

"Long's Peak"

PEAK HAPPY HOUR COLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB

Join us on the 2nd Wednesday of every month for our Peak Happy Hour! Celebrate all things outdoors with an evening of fun, tasty beer, socializing and networking.

SEPTEMBER 9 & OCTOBER 14 Barrels & Bottles Brewery | Golden, CO

WWW.CMC.ORG/PEAKHAPPYHOURS

GIVE AWAYS | FRIENDS | ADVENTURE | GUIDEBOOKS

Year of the Mountaineer emphasizes the role of mountaineering in the Colorado Mountain Club’s past, present, and future. Created by passionate CMC members, the 2015 Year of the Mountaineer statewide initiative will host a number of events designed to motivate and engage mountaineers of every skill level.

From a broad series of guided hikes in celebration of Rocky Mountain National Park’s centennial year to global adventures of the World Summit Series, Year of the Mountaineer will inspire the mountaineer in all of us.

Set to begin in the fall of 2014, the CMC looks forward to offering Club members and the general public a range of events that celebrate our century-old passion for the mountains.

Learn more

www.cmc.org/yearofthemountaineer

Trail & Timberline

25

MOUNTAINPOETRY

JOSEPH HUTCHINSON

CHRIS RANSICK

Kenosha Pass

The Last Day of Summer

October wind pounds mountainsides of aspen, the whole forest a library in slow-mo explosion.

Seems the wind’s bellowing, Read fast, fools! Everything scrawled on these flying-falling leaves pertains to you.

First snow on the peaks, and all night, down through folded foothills cold wind shook pale gold from stems, scattered it over streams and trails to the precipice where a horn of stone juts into limitless blue.

Summer is done again before you checked the clock etched in bone.

Lions prowl canyons, harvesting abundant deer, while bears grow ravenous for any meal, drowsy blood already beginning to slow.

The sky is thick with hawks.

Q

So take your children there to breathe chilled air, run wild, small storms skipping over ridges, over talus and scree. Listen for their voices as they disappear from sight, lost but not yet lost.

Last daylight will linger, honey

Joseph Hutchison, Colorado’s Poet Laureate, is the author of 16 poetry collections and editor of two anthologies. He teaches and administers two programs at the University of Denver’s University College and lives with his wife Melody in the mountains southwest of Denver.

Maroon Bells Wilderness.

Photo by Alan Lipkin 26

Trail & Timberline

Chris Ransick is the author of five books of poetry and fiction, including Never Summer, which won the Colorado Book Award, and most recently, Language for the Living and the Dead. He served as Denver Poet Laureate from 2006–2010.

Q

on the tongue, and wind will make a thin choir of aspen, pull rare harmonies from bark and leaves. Summer will surely come again, the same and not the same, just wait, sings the chorus without any words.

COLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB PRESENTS rd

The 23 Annual

y a d r u t a s

2015

14

R E B M E V NO O GOLDENR,MC EMBERS SPECIAL PRICING FO

cmc.org/bash

The Backcountry Bash is the Club’s signature winter fundraiser event and is a celebration of humanpowered, winter recreation in Colorado.

 Auction for hut trips, gear & more  Delicious beer, wine and food  One of the season’s hottest ski films  Benefit CMC’s Conservation program & Backcountry Snowsports Initiative

Photo © www.kalice.fr

TIKKA ® XP Full of bright ideas.

The TIKKA XP is ideal for outdoor activities that require moving fast.

Multi-beam, compact, and simple to use, this headlamp is equipped with CONSTANT LIGHTING technology, which guarantees constant light output over time. Brightness: 180 lumens. www.petzl.com

Trail & Timberline

27

Lady Silverheels

By Jim West

T

here are many colorful legends in Colorado’s history, but the legend of Lady Silverheels is one of my favorites.

Silverheels was a mysterious figure about whom very little is known—a simple dance-hall girl who heroically sacrificed herself to save a small mining community from a devastating plague.

As the legend goes, in the mid 1800s, a beautiful young woman with lush dark hair and a long black dress stepped out of the Denver stage coach at Buckskin Joe. At that time, Buckskin Joe was a bustling mining community at the base of a mountain near Alma, with a population of 5,000 eager-to-get-rich souls.

Before long, the comely young woman landed a job as a dance hall girl at Bill Buck’s dance hall. Her trademark feature, a pair of shoes with the heels clad in pure silver, gave her the name Lady Silverheels.

As Buck’s newest “fancy lady,” Lady Silverheels was an instant hit.

She smiled, sang, and danced her way into the hearts of the roughest of miners. Multiple men proposed marriage.

28

Trail & Timberline

“DO YOU KNOW THE LEGEND OF SILVERHEELS?” I ASKED. HIS EYES TWINKLED AS HE TOLD ME HIS STORY.

Lady Silverheels pulled in gold for Bill Buck’s dance hall. She became a regular dancer and her reputation spread as miners from other nearby mining towns traveled to Buckskin Joe. At Bill Buck’s, they spent the precious gold they mined for a chance to dance with Lady Silverheels.

Then, in the fall of 1861, two miners came into town carrying a disease that would nearly destroy the town.

The miners had traveled from the San Luis Valley and stopped at Buckskin Joe to rest. Shortly after arriving, one of the miners became mysteriously ill and died by the end of the day. His companion soon also fell ill and died.

Smallpox had arrived at Buckskin Joe. The disease started with flu symptoms but soon became much worse, claiming the lives of most of those who fell ill. Denver, Colorado Springs, and Leadville were telegraphed for doctors and nurses to help. But few, if any, would risk their lives working to halt the spread of this deadly disease. The town’s own residents fled as word of the plague spread. Businesses closed and Buckskin Joe became a ghost town.

In the midst of this tragedy the legend of Lady Silverheels was born.

With little regard for her own health and safety, Lady Silverheels stayed at Buckskin Joe, caring for the diseased and dying men in the mining camp. Every day she walked in the cold from cabin to cabin, visiting the sick miners, administering medicine, and providing food and care to the ailing men.

Eventually the plague ran its course and the town’s residents slowly returned.

But in the final days of the epidemic Lady Silverheels became infected. She secluded herself in her small cabin and suffered in silence, cared for only by an elderly resident called Aunt Martha.

The town healed and slowly returned to normal, but Lady Silverheels remained secluded. The townsfolk talked of nothing else, wondering if her beauty had been badly marred, if she would ever dance again.

One evening Lady Silverheels asked Aunt Martha to help her dress and tie up her hair. She then bid Aunt Martha goodnight.

Meanwhile, the miners at Buckskin Joe, impatient to see their nurturing Lady Silverheels, had taken up a collection to give her as a show of gratitude. But when they took their gift to her cabin, it was empty.

Lady Silverheels had disappeared.

A search began immediately. Aunt Martha was as confused as everyone else as to the whereabouts of Lady Silverheels. The miners found nothing in their search and many feared the worst.

Some speculated that rather than face her admirers with her face scarred by smallpox, she had simply walked into the mountains and died. She was never seen again.

Lady Silverheel’s fate may never be known. The miners named the mountain north of Buckskin Joe in her honor—Mount Silverheels.

But the legend does not end here. Some say that after the plague, people saw an unknown woman dressed in black walking among the graves of the miners who died during those terrible days. Others say Lady Silverheels still walks the flanks of her namesake mountain to this day.

Knowing this legend, I was immediately intrigued when a customer entered the store and asked for a map of Mount Silverheels.

“Do you know the legend of Silverheels?” I asked.

His eyes twinkled as he told me his story.

“I was on a hike to the summit of the mountain earlier this year,” he began. “The trail was not well marked and I lost it in the forest at the base of the peak. When I retraced my steps to determine where I had gone wrong, I ran into a woman as she emerged from a small trail in the forest. She wore a sun hat and dark glasses, and had long thick dark hair. Her hat was angled in such a way as to cast a shadow over her face, and I wasn’t able to guess her age.

“I told her I was looking for the trail to the summit of Silverheels and asked her if she knew it and could help me find it. She directed me back down the trail I had come up to a small mining cabin I’d just passed, told me to turn directly west at the cabin and I would find the summit trail.

“To be friendly, I asked if she hiked here often. A smile I can only describe as knowing flitted across her face. She said she had lived nearby for a long time and frequently hiked these woods. As I turned to go back down the trail to the cabin I realized I hadn’t thanked her.

“But when I turned around, she had vanished. The trees were not that thick and I should have been able to see her walking away for quite a distance. I’ve never understood how she could have disappeared so quietly and so quickly.

“Then I recalled the legend. Was my guide who appeared and disappeared so suddenly the ghost of Lady Silverheels? Of course not, it’s just a legend, I told myself. She must have been a local, probably out for a morning walk.”

A small shiver crept down my spine at the end of his tale. We looked at each other, neither one of us quite ready to agree that he had seen the ghost of the legendary Lady Silverheels.

After all, there could have been some other perfectly logical explanation. Right? ▲ Jim West worked at the USGS Map Store for nine years helping hundreds of people find the maps they wanted. This story is excerpted from his new book, TOPO: The Stories Behind the Maps. This entertaining book tells the fascinating stories—sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant—about the people who buy maps and the reasons they do so. Learn more at www.TopoTheBook.com. Except published with permission by Bristlecone Publishing.

Trail & Timberline

29

Pathfinder CAPTURING FALL'S BEAUTY How to Photograph Autumn Leaves and Landscapes in Colorado Story and Photos by Dan Orcutt

◉

◉

Stormy weather provides very dramatic light, as in “The Castle Formation from Ohio Pass Road.” If you have the patience, wait for a shaft of light to penetrate the clouds to illuminate the subject of your photograph. Another interesting combination due to the low night temperatures is to catch autumn color rimmed with rime in the early morning.

ICONIC IMAGES

“Mount Baldy Before Sunrise.” Predawn Mount Baldy from Gothic Road.

P

hotographs of autumn color make beautiful and iconic Colorado landscape images. The normal peak time for such color is fast approaching—usually the last week in September and the first in October. However, with all the moisture we’ve received, the peak time may start earlier or end later this year. One of the best ways to determine when peak color may arrive is to call the ranger station associated with the national forest you plan to visit.

PREPARATION

Colorado weather is notoriously fickle during autumn, so always come prepared with clothing and gear for various weather types, even if the National Weather Service promises sunny skies and warm temperatures. If you have it, bring photo gear—including a telephoto and wide-angle lens—for a variety of landscape types. Protection from the elements for your photo gear is also necessary. A clear plastic bag with the opening wrapped around the front of the lens and secured with a rubber band can work well in a pinch. Whether you plan to camp or stay in lodging, try to make reservations as soon as you have some idea of when peak color may occur. Many Colorado locations fill quickly this time of year.

If you are simply going for a hike and not making photography a priority, scouting is not necessary. However, if you do scout, your probability of getting great shots and good lighting increases. Identify the photos to take, prioritize them, determine when the light may be best for the shot (directionality), and, finally, schedule them.

This may be done when you’re driving to and from your hikes.

The easiest autumn color photographs to take are closeups or midrange photos. For example, a scattering of leaves on the ground or a rock, especially when covered with dew, makes a great composition. This setup is particularly effective when the sky is overcast. Two iconic midrange photos to take are a wall of aspen at the edge of a clearing or the convergence of a stand of aspen taken from below.

The former may be taken in a variety of light and the latter works best with a clear blue sky complementing the yellow hue of the aspen leaves (see the cover of Trail & Timberline, Fall 2014). One interesting variation on a wall of aspen can be achieved if the aspen grove follows a downhill slope. If you choose a large aperture, focus on the aspen trunks, but include the canopy; the canopy will start in focus but rapidly become unfocused, creating a glowing yellow background for the foreground. This technique is illustrated by “Aspen from Ohio Pass.”

Another mid- to far-range capture is a path (trail or road) bordered by autumn aspen. This works best if the path is littered with leaves and bends away out of sight or leads the eye to a mountain background. The path through the photograph is a key com“Aspen from Ohio Pass.” Midday positional element. If the path must aspen grove with out-of-focus be more or less straight ahead, shoot background near Crested Butte. from a low angle (but not so low that

LIGHTING

Lighting is the most important attribute of any photograph. Twilight provides good color saturation and environmental color casts as depicted by “Mount Baldy Before Sunrise.” Morning and evening light provide low and warm illumination to highlight the topography of the landscape and make yellows and reds take on a vivid hue.

This low-angle light provides an excellent opportunity to backlight autumn leaves, making them glow, as in “Dallas Divide Aspen.”

Overcast skies also provide more saturated color, and midday light provides an opportunity to photograph the color of the undergrowth in a forest illuminated by the color cast of the forest canopy, as illustrated by “Undergrowth Near Crested Butte.”

30

Trail & Timberline

“Dallas Divide Aspen.” Dallas Divide and backlit aspens.

.

the path is lost) with the path emerging from near at least one corner of the composition. A path that is curved or forms a visible S-curve adds more interest to the photo. These images work with any light, but work especially well if some of the leaves are illuminated from behind.

A more difficult variation of the path shot is a stream or stream with a waterfall. These shots may be accomplished using two methods. The first may be used when there are leaves floating down the stream: Use a fast shutter speed to freeze the water and the leaves. The second method is to use a very slow shutter speed, such as 1 second to 1/20 of a second. This imparts an impression of the water’s motion and is very effective with waterfalls. It requires a stationary camera position, so use a tripod, monopod, or hold the camera firmly on a folded coat resting on a rock or the ground. Note that any leaves floating down the stream may be blurred or simply disappear. An example of this image type is “Waterfall Near Hollowell Park.” The composition preferences are the same as for a path.

Landscapes with autumn color may be the most difficult images to capture. This is because of increased requirements for lighting and composition. Landscapes are best shot in early, late, or stormy light.

Obviously, this means getting up early, staying out late, or having the patience to wait on stormy light. The composition should include a foreground, mid-ground, and background and may require the rule of thirds or leading lines. These techniques were all described in the Summer 2015 issue of Trail & Timberline. An example of a landscape is “Whiterock Mountain from Gothic Road.”

SOME SUGGESTED LOCATIONS

Red Mountain Pass, Owl Creek Pass, Dallas Creek Road, Last Dollar Road, the Telluride area, and Lizard Head Pass.

Autumn is a prime period to explore and appreciate Colorado.

You will not be disappointed with the excellent views and the photographic memories you create. ▲ Dan Orcutt is the chair of the CMC Photo Section. You can find more about the Photo Section at www.hikingdenver.net/specialinterests/photography-section or email Dan at orcuttpscmc@gmail.com.

"Waterfall Near Hollowell Park.” Waterfall near Hollowell Park in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Here are a few. Everyone has favorite local hikes for aspen viewing; ask around. On the Front Range, try Hessie Trail (just beyond the town of Eldora), the Mount Evans area, and Rocky Mountain National Park, particularly Hollowell Park Trail and west side trails such as Lulu City.

Further north, try the Cameron Pass area, North Park, and Willow Creek Pass (between North and Middle Parks).

In the Central Mountains, the Aspen area includes Independence Pass, the Maroon Bells, County Road 9, and Castle Creek Road. A beautiful trip is to turn south at Carbondale, stop at the top of McClure Pass, and look back toward Red Cliff and Marble. Then turn off on Kebler Pass (just beyond McClure Pass) towards Crested Butte.

An amazing area, the Crested Butte valley includes Gothic Road, Slate River Road, Washington Gulch Road, and Ohio Pass.

The San Juan Mountains are another favorite area including Ouray, "Whiterock Mountain from Gothic Road.” Early morning landscape with Whiterock Mountain from Gothic Road.

"The Castle Formation from Ohio Pass Road.”

Castle Formation during winter storm from Ohio Pass Road.

“Undergrowth Near Crested Butte.” Midday undergrowth in aspen 31 Trail & Timberline grove near Crested Butte.

A PLEIN AIR PERSPECTIVE: PAINTING FROM THE SUMMITS

INTERVIEW WITH LISA MARTIN BY SARAH GORECKI

Lisa Martin’s goal is to paint from the top of every 14er in Colorado. Although born and raised in Fruita, Colorado, she was never into hiking or peak bagging until she fell in love with Albert Bierstadt’s paintings, which led her to hike the 14er named after him. Now, she plans to climb Colorado’s 14ers to create a painting from each summit, in every season. *** 32

Trail & Timberline

Tell me about your goal to paint from the summit of every 14er in Colorado. What inspired this project?

I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Denver, and in one of my art history classes I fell in love with Albert Bierstadt’s paintings. When my friend invited me to hike Mt. Bierstadt in 2011, I was more excited about being on top of a mountain named after Albert Bierstadt than I was to hike a 14er. I then painted a very large picture from a photo I took from the summit of Mount Bierstadt, to be donated for a charity event. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed painting the view. The idea developed from there.

How many 14ers have you climbed so far?

I have hiked and painted on 19 peaks so far. In order, they are: Evans, Democrat, Bierstadt, Lincoln, Quandary, Grays, Sherman, Yale, Pyramid, Pikes, Elbert, Sneffels, Huron, La Plata, Belford, Oxford, Missouri, Culebra, and Castle. I want to complete each painting while on the summit in order to call them true plein air paintings, but I will sometimes do small touchups at home. I hope to tackle the majority of Colorado’s 58 14ers this summer, but I am not giving myself a time limit because I don’t want the painting process to be rushed. If the weather doesn’t cooperate enough for me to be able to make a complete painting, I don’t mind going back. I was turned around twice on La Plata! I have about 40 peaks scheduled for this summer, but the heavy spring snowpack has slowed me down a little.

What are some of the unique challenges of painting on the summits? How heavy is the gear you need to bring up? Have you had to balance on any tiny summits to get your painting done? What about wind gusts?

[Opposing Page] Mount Sneffels. Photo by Robert Mascarenas [This Page, Bottom] View of Mt. Harvard from Mt. Belford. Courtesy of Lisa Martin

Paint acts so differently at 14,000 feet! The drying time is much quicker and the paint globs up very quickly. Because time is limited I have to pre-mix my paint and pre-plan the colors the night before.

I go to 14ers.com to look at photos from the summit; then I pre-mix the colors I’ll need into small containers. One challenge artistically is that a range or peak far in the distance may completely change colors from minute to minute.

My gear is pretty light because I take only the essentials: paint, water, dropcloth, board, paintbrushes, and pallet. Everything extra that I carry for the painting is about 10 pounds. I bring a large plastic dropcloth to keep any paint from getting on the summit, and I carry all the paint water back down. The uncomfortable part is the awkward shape of the 1- by 2-foot board attached to my pack. Taking what I need is still a learning process for me.

I haven’t painted on any of the smallest summits yet, but I tend to hold my board on my lap while I paint, so I don’t need much space and I am ready for any wind gusts. Sometimes I’ll paint with my board on the dropcloth, or wedged up against a rock. I’m coming up with some new ideas to tackle some of these issues, and looking forward to trying them out this year.

Trail & Timberline

33

Do you plan to paint any 14ers in the winter?

I sure hope so! I did a few paintings this winter up at Arapahoe Basin to learn how paints react in different winter weather conditions. I have successfully painted at 10 degrees, but if it’s any colder I have not been able to make the paint cooperate, so I guess I will have to wait and see. I mix a little alcohol with the paint to keep it from freezing. But below 10 degrees the paint starts to separate and freeze in globs. I am purchasing a warming board to attach to the back of my paintings, but painting on the 14ers in winter will be a learning process, for sure! I am hoping to paint at least five winter scenes from the 14ers as part of this project.

Do you paint in oil paints?

No! They are too messy and take a long time to complete, so I use acrylics. I paint on smooth boards that are 1 foot by 2 feet.

How long does it take the paint to dry so you can pack up your painting and head down the mountain?

It depends on the weather, but I have never had a problem with it not drying in time. Generally, in 10 minutes the painting is completely dry, especially if it’s sunny.

I recently bought a carrying and drying case so that if I hike more than one 14er in a day I’ll be able to carry two boards, with space 34

Trail & Timberline

in between them so they can continue to dry as I hike. The carrying case will also protect the board’s corners, since they are fragile and could be damaged if I bump into a rock while I’m hiking. The paint won’t dry very quickly in winter if there is cloud cover, so the carrying case will be key for me to be able to paint in winter.

Once you get to the summit, how do you choose the angle you’re going to paint?

"On Pyramid Peak I was privileged to have a mountain goat accompany me while painting."

I have to choose very quickly! If there’s a 14er in view, I’ll usually paint that angle. I don’t paint purely realistically; I might combine elements of the view from different sides of the mountain. On Sneffels, for example, I included the Blue Lakes and the Lizard Head into one view, even though they’re geographically pretty far apart.

Because the paint dries so much faster at high altitude, do you have to paint fast?

Yes! My fastest painting was 10 minutes, on Yale. My longest was an hour and a half on Pyramid. I have done a lot of practicing over the past year: I set the timer for 30 minutes and I have to be done by then. I do my practice paintings from photographs, which is a lot different than painting on the summit. A photograph is already framed, and the angles and lighting don’t change while you’re painting.

Have you always painted en plein air (in the open air or in the outdoors)?

No! Actually my first plein air painting was in the spring of 2014 and my fourth plein air painting was when I started painting on the summits. I’m now hooked. Plein air paintings are typically smaller (8 by10 inches), and done as a study for a larger work done later, indoors. My paintings are quite large for plein air paintings.

Have you had any close calls with weather or anything unusual happen on a peak?

On a few mountains it has snowed or rained on my paintings. Since my paints are water-based this has not been much of a problem, except for on Mt. Yale. I will probably redo that mountain. On Huron Peak, my paints froze after I started painting, but this kept the paint from smearing, so I was actually happy with the outcome. On Pyramid Peak I was privileged to have a mountain goat accompany me while painting.

Some of Colorado’s 14ers are technically challenging. Where did you learn your mountaineering skills?

I started painting on the less challenging 14ers, but I feel like I

[Opposing Page, Top] Pyramid Peak. Photo by Robert Mascarenas [Opposing Page, Bottom] Grays Peak. Courtesy of Lisa Martin [This Page, Top] View of Twin Lakes from Mt. Elbert. Courtesy of Lisa Martin

have gained some mountaineering experience by the ones I’ve completed. On the more exposed and technical mountains I will go with more knowledgeable people who I can learn from.

On Pyramid Peak, I went with someone who knew that route. It also helped to have a hiking partner so that I could hand my pack up to someone, because the 1- by 2-foot boards I paint on stick up from the top of my pack and make it difficult to do rock climbing moves with my hands.

What do you plan to do with your paintings once the project is complete?

By the time I graduate, in two years, I’d like to have a travelling exhibit of my 58 paintings. I’m planning to make prints of my paintings and donate 10% of the sales to the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative. I’m not showing or selling any of the originals until they’re all complete! ▲ Lisa Dianne Martin is originally from Fruita, Colorado. She moved to Denver for school, and graduated from the University of Denver in 2011 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in ceramics. She currently lives in Denver, works as a painter and ceramic artist, and is working on a second degree in mechanical engineering in order to support her expensive painting hobby. You can follow her 14er progress at www.lisadiannemartin.com.

Trail & Timberline

35

BACH, BEETHOVEN, AND BLUEGRASS:

CELEBRATING MUSIC

IN THE MOUNTAINS

By Jay Fell

A

hard wet rain laced the roads from Denver across the high passes to Vail, but in the early evening the sun pushed through the clouds and warmed the landscape. Concertgoers filed into the Ford Amphitheatre, found an open space on the green hillside, or took their seats in the open structure, then enjoyed a repast brought from home or bought at the venue.

Then, just before 6:00 p.m., the orchestra filed onto the stage, tuned up, and played

the national anthem. And after that, out walked the world-famous concert violinist to play Beethoven’s famed violin concerto.

The notes resounded through the valley, as did Beethoven’s magisterial Seventh Symphony, which followed as the sun set over the hills. Bravo Vail! had launched its season of classical music below the high peaks of the Gore Range—one of the many music festivals defining summer life in the Rocky Mountains.

The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheatre at Vail. Named for the 38th president, an avid skier who made Beaver Creek a seasonal home, this open-air structure forms the heart of the Bravo Vail! music festival. Photo by Zach Mahone 36

Trail & Timberline

Trail & Timberline

37

Music in the Mountains

Colorado’s mountain towns have long had a focus on music. In the mining era that began in the 1850s—a time without radio, television, the Internet, or satellite communication—bands provided a major source of entertainment and cultural development. Every town of any size seemed to have one or more that would play on the Fourth of July and lesser holidays, special occasions, and just for fun.

Huge numbers of people turned out for these festive times, and the marches and music resounded through high valleys. Many communities also built gazebos in public parks where concert-goers camped out for an afternoon to enjoy the local bands or traveling orchestras.

But that was not all. The larger, more permanent mining towns sometimes had opera houses. Among the earliest was the Central City Opera House, built in the center of early gold mining, while Horace Tabor, the first great “Midas of the Rockies”, erected the Tabor Opera House in downtown Leadville a few years later. Jerome B. Wheeler, an owner of Macy’s in New York and mines in Colorado, put up the Wheeler Opera House, obviously named for himself, in the great silver center of Aspen. There were others as well, and many celebrated visits to them. The thespian Oscar Wilde’s visit to Leadville in the 1880s was one of the most famous events of the day. So, too, was the visit of the acclaimed actress Sarah Bernhardt.

Even the celebrated bandleader and composer John Philip Sousa, “the march king,” played in Tabor’s venue across the Arkansas Valley from Mount Massive. Early-day Coloradans sought to bring the best music, theatre, and opera to the relatively remote and often hard towns of the Central Rockies.

The advent of the twentieth century saw the rise of more formalized music festivals.

One of the earliest, and certainly one of the most famous, was the Central City Opera Festival. Organized by Anne Evans, daughter of the second territorial governor, along with Julie Penrose, the wife of mining magnate and Broadmoor founder Spencer Penrose, it rescued and restored the crumbling Central City Opera House, and in 1932 commenced performances with the famous actress Lillian Gish performing in Camille. Later, the Festival connected directly with Colorado’s mining tradition by sponsoring and Poster from the Telluride Bluegrass performing The Ballad of Festival, 1991. The nation’s most famous Baby Doe (Baby Doe Tabluegrass festival—noted also for its bor having once lived in remarkable posters—draws musicians and bluegrass lovers from around Central City) along with the world to the majestic San Juan The Face on the Barroom Mountains. Courtesy of Planet Bluegrass.

Floor, a name taken from Reprinted by permission from Telluride the famous artwork in Bluegrass Festival: Forty Years of Festivation the nearby Teller House.

38

Trail & Timberline

By the early twenty-first century, the Central City Opera had become the fifth longest performing opera organization in the United States—and a beacon to opera lovers everywhere.

The Aspen Renaissance The great postwar boom saw the proliferation of music festivals across the Rockies. A leader in this effort was Walter Paepcke, former president of Container Corporation of America. In the late 1940s, he and his wife Elizabeth moved from Chicago to Aspen where they fostered what became known as the Aspen Renaissance, a group of intellectual and cultural events linked to skiing and mountaineering in the Roaring Fork Valley (and which helped make them a second fortune Poster from the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Courtesy of Planet Bluegrass. from real estate develop- 2009.

Reprinted by permission from Telluride ment). They believed that Bluegrass Festival: Forty Years of Festivation the union of art and culture in a beautiful natural setting enhanced the growth of the human spirit. Central to the Paepcke’s efforts was the development of the Aspen Music Festival, which over the years attracted many of the world’s finest conductors, performers, and teachers, along with notables from other walks of life, notably Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, who performed Dvorak’s piano quintet along with other musicians.

The success of the Aspen Renaissance, especially the Music Festival, became a model for festivals in innumerable other communities, branching into all forms of music. Bluegrass grew in popularity in these years. Lyons developed its RockyGrass Festival (sponsored by the umbrella organization Planet Bluegrass). Keystone evolved its Bluegrass and Beer Festival. Durango set up its Bluegrass Meltdown.

And Telluride created the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, the most important of all in that music genre. Breckenridge established its Genuine Jazz Festival and Telluride established its own jazz extravaganza to go with bluegrass. Keystone put in a Blues Festival. And Silverton launched its potpourri Silver Jubilee, which evolved into the Silver Jamboree, with its “funky music lineup” to create “high energy music” in “a high energy setting.”

But despite the diversity offered by bluegrass, jazz, and blues, classical music held its own. Durango and Pagosa Springs combined their annual program of concerts known as Music in the Mountains.

The Crested Butte Music Festival created units like “Brass for Kids” and “Symphonic Brass Pops” to go with chamber music. Steamboat Springs launched the Steamboat Strings Music Festival. And not to be outdone by its great rival Aspen, Vail created its Bravo Vail! Valley Music Festival, which flew in nationally renowned orchestras, along with internationally recognized soloists like the cellist Yo-Yo Ma. It also created Bach on the Rocks to appeal to a younger crowd of

enthusiasts interested in Baroque music. Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel received a warm welcome in the Rockies.

The Altissimo Chamber Orchestra Other music celebrations were somewhat less organized and far less formal—like a four-year series of concerts at the Pfiffner Hut at the foot of Haystack Mountain near Rogers Pass Lake, inaugurated by the Boulder Group of the Colorado Mountain Club in the 1970s as it prepared the hut for winter. Inspired by the setting, music lovers Hugh McCaffrey and Bob Kamper hatched the concept of what they christened the Altissimo Chamber Orchestra of Boulder. The McCaffrey and Kamper families formed the core of the group, augmented by friends and faculty members of the University of Colorado’s music department.

Altissimo held its first event on August 29, 1971, when twentyseven musicians carried their instruments up the rough four-mile trail from the East Portal of the Moffat Tunnel to the headwaters of South Boulder Creek. (The double bass required a team of handlers.) An audience of 100 mountaineers made themselves comfortable and warm on a grassy slope more than 11,000 feet above sea level. Timothy Eddy, a professional cellist then visiting his parents in Boulder, started the program with Bach’s First Suite for Cello, even though his hands were so cold that he almost dropped his bow—but Bach and the music survived. Next, the orchestra turned to Mozart’s Divertimento # 8, which it played under a canopy rigged to protect the musicians from a downpour. After several more pieces, an a cappella group, the Chorus Sine Nomine, concluded the program with

slipped on a wet log and the instrument’s scroll parted from its neck.

But its owner lashed the scroll back in place with tent ties for the performance.”

The third year’s concert enjoyed publicity in the Denver Post, which bolstered the audience to 500 people. It ended with Haydn’s Toy Symphony, complete with special effects that included a duck noise similar to that made by a New Year’s Eve clacker. After the fourth concert in 1974, however, the U.S. Forest Service decided

Students of Dr. William Kearns, a professor at the University of Colorado, play French horns in 1974 at the Pfiffner Hut. An essential ingredient of any traditional orchestra, the French horn was the classic symphonic instrument of nineteenth century romanticism. Its smooth bright sound evoked the mountains to the composers and concertgoers of that era—and does so today. Photo by Janet Robertson

that to protect the environment, it had no choice but to stop granting permits for the event. And a decade later, in 1986, the Colorado Mountain Club had to dismantle the Pfiffner Hut, badly damaged from the creep of heavy snows. Today, nothing remains on site to indicate that the strains of Beethoven once rose over the top of Haystack Mountain and into the blue fastness above.

Music and Mountaineering

In 1974, the Altissimo Chamber Orchestra plays in a light drizzle beneath the slopes of Haystack Mountain near Rodgers Pass Lake, some four miles west of the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel. Photo by Janet Robertson

five madrigals, all to enthusiastic applause.

Bach, Haydn, and Beethoven all managed to survive the next equally eventful concerts. At the second event in 1972, one participant remembered that while crossing a creek, “The bass viol carrier

Combining music and mountaineering takes a lot of planning, but is certainly worth the effort. Unless you live in the mountains, however, driving from communities on the Front Range to do a hike during the daylight followed by a concert in the evening requires a lot of stamina and makes for a very long day. It’s better to plan to spend a few days, even a week, in the mountains, hiking or climbing one day and taking in the music the other. That golden mean is ideal! Determine what music you like, check the festivals, look up the climbs and the hikes nearby—summits, lakes, waterfalls—book a room, and have a great time. And keep in mind, too, that some concerts and some festivals sell out. And you may even be able to find a mountain named after a famous composer and climb it to celebrate.

One way or another, when you enjoy Bach, Beethoven, and Bluegrass—or whatever music fits your style—you’ll be taking advantage of opportunities that stand in the course of a long tradition. And as the Paepckes envisioned, enjoy that quintessential union of art and culture with the splendid mountain environment—the views, the fresh air, the challenges on the trail—in the heart of the Rockies. ▲ Trail & Timberline

39

All Photos by Jeff Golden

Early Days on Grays and Torreys

By Woody Smith

I

n the 1870s and 1880s, the twin summits of Grays and Torreys Peaks, located about 40 miles west of Denver, were on the must see lists of a generation of visitors. While more spectacular peaks and ranges were soon discovered elsewhere in the territory, a visit to Grays, the “Dome of the Continent,” was claimed to rival—or flat out beat—any previously known beauty spot.

Climbing the peaks is a far different proposition today than it was in the 1870s: There was a wide path to the summit crowded with carriages and horses and donkeys and tourists. Meanwhile, mines in Stephens Gulch were being worked, right alongside the visitors. They were not concerned; mining meant progress.

There were also wagon roads to the top of Mt. McClellan, to the east, and Argentine Pass to the southeast, making the area a busy one.

A look at local newspapers of the time reveals that visitors to the peak encountered the same feelings of elation or discouragement, wonder and discomfort, that today’s climbers experience. There were successful ascents and accidents, and miserable weather, and even an eclipse!

Today Stephens Gulch is still busy, though only with campers and hikers. Grays and Torreys are still worth a visit, even to you seasoned mountaineers—the effort is noble and the views are swell. If you find yourself in a long line of weekend mountaineers, perhaps you can think back 140 years and be thankful you’re not dodging donkey chips, too!

TWO HORSES AND CARRIAGE TAKE A TUMBLE DOWN GRAYS PEAK. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS June 24, 1871 ACCIDENT ON GRAY’S PEAK Honorable Felix R. Brunot, chairman of the board of Indian commissioners, Reverend Doctor Kendal, secretary of the Presbyterian board of home missions, Reverend Mr. Portius, of St. Louis, Reverend Sheldon Jackson, of Denver, and Thomas K. Cree, of Pittsburgh, accompanied by three ladies, made the ascent of Gray’s Peak from Georgetown on Monday. The path, except in one place, was cleared of snow, and difficulties were safely overcome. When near the top a violent snow storm set in, and when the top was reached it amounted almost to a gale, rendering the situation, to say the least, unpleasant. The view of course was very meagre and the preparations for the descent were soon made, without any adventure, excepting that the horse of one of the ladies laid down, throwing her off, but did no damage. After taking carriages, a spring in the carriage of Dr. Kendal’s party was broken and Mrs. 40

Trail & Timberline

Kendal insisted on riding the horse on which she had gone up the mountain, Reverend Mr. Portius keeping her company. Just after the two had left the carriage the steep hill near the Terrible [mine] works was reached and Dr. Kendal said he would walk down it, and got out, leaving only Reverend Mr. Jackson in the carriage.

Just after leaving the top of the hill one of the horses pressed the other over the embankment, and despite the efforts of Mr. Jackson, who, seeing the peril, jumped out, the two horses and carriage went over the embankment perpendicularly about one hundred feet to the creek below about one hundred fifty feet, making six or eight complete revolutions in the descent. The carriage was smashed up, but singular to say the horses were not killed. On cutting them out of the harness one of them rolled into the creek, which rushes by with the fury of a torrent, and was carried a quarter of a mile, turning over and over perhaps a hundred times, and being carried through cascades and by immense rocks, bring up at a dam just below the road. On being brought out he was found, with the exception of a few cuts and bruises to be all right. The escape was a most wonderful one, and had the party been in the carriage at the time they could have scarcely escaped certain death.

THE EDITOR OF THE MINER VENTS AFTER BEING MISUSED BY THE MOUNTAIN. DAILY COLORADO MINER September 12, 1873 We were one of a party who looked out upon the world (or what could be seen of it under the circumstances,) from the summit of Gray’s Peak yesterday. The lateness of the hour that marked our return, is our excuse for looking after other subjects for this morning’s Miner. Besides, we don’t owe Gray’s Peak anything, and the rather shabby treatment received from the elements by the devotees upon the shrine yesterday bids us pause until we recover the usual serenity of our temper before we tell the reader all about the trip. We have no doubt that there is good philosophy for declaring that our trip couldn’t have been more successful, but we want to study up the points.

A UNIVERSAL LESSON IN UNDERESTIMATING WINTER CONDITIONS. DAILY COLORADO MINER December 10, 1873 The party who, fired by an ambitious desire to see as much as possible of a wintry world, started out yesterday to ascend Gray’s Peak, came back last night with ardor cooled and enthusiasm dead and buried under their vests. Having left their horses at Kelso cabin, they had a long and weary tramp to the base of the Peak, and then commenced the painful ascent. With energy that would have demolished an acre of timber if it had been expended through the media of sharp axes, they waded and floundered through snow, up the steep side of the mountain toiling, until finally the parson got sleepy and took a nap in the big drift, while his companions toiled on, but finally the snow became so deep that only tunneling would have secured egress to the summit, when they gave up the attempt, and, waking up the sleeper, all returned to Georgetown.

A SUBLIME SPECTACLE! AN ECLIPSE AS SEEN FROM THE SUMMIT OF GRAYS PEAK. COLORADO MINER August 3, 1878 THE ECLIPSE! From Gray’s Peak Nothing that mortal eyes ever gazed upon could exceed the grandeur of the spectacle. It was grand, impressive, thrilling and sublime, far beyond the owe of description, and we could not but call to mind an expression of the great German poet Klopstock, who when looking upon a grand natural scene exclaimed: “I am overwhelmed. I sink down under a mighty burden. What angel will lend me his thoughts! What thunder lend me voice to express the magnificence of the scene!”

Here we were about sixty ladies and gentlemen crowded on the summit of Gray’s Peak, at the altitude of 14,431 feet above sea level, with one of the largest and finest prospects in the world around us, all with eager eyes gazing—not upon the grand scenery of earth, but upon a far grander scene in the heavens!

The moon had already entered the pathway of the sun and had turned the rotund face of the great luminary into a beautiful crescent, and we were all anxiously looking for the totality of the obscuration. As the moment drew nigh, the interest increased, and the phenomena that proceeded total obscuration were grand far beyond the conception of those who did not see them. The shadow, dark and sombre, came on from the northwest, with immense rapidity, like the shadow of a great murky cloud passing over the landscape.

The heavens, from zenith to within ten or twelve degrees of the horizon, were dark and gloomy; the stars began to appear; and the horizon was lit up all around by the richest hues of yellow, pink and crimson—like the beautiful flush of the first dawn of early morning.

And the corona! Oh what a sight was that! The rays of light strug-

gling out around the rim of the moon seemed to shine with a double intensity. There was the sun, with his great broad face all covered with a jet black ball, except the irregular luminous rim, and that was as bright as the scintillations of a furnace.

Nothing in nature could exceed the grandeur of the view. The spectators gazed upon it in silent wonder and amazement. Scarcely a word was spoken, only now and then an exclamation from some excited lady of Oh! Oh! wonderful! wonderful! The earth was now covered by a solemn dark twilight: it seemed as though nature was about to expire, her pulse seemed to beat but feebly, and the spectators were deeply affected by this phenomenon. The air became cold and chilly and we could not mingle our sympathies with the gloomy scene around us!

But awful, and impressive, and sublime as the scene was, the grandest part of this celestial act was yet to take place. The great luminary having had his brilliant rays intercepted by the insignificant little queen of the night, became impatient under the restraint, and when 2 minutes and 44 seconds had elapsed, burst forth with a brilliance perhaps never surpassed before. It was a perfect rush of solar coruscations. Oh it was a sight to behold!

Just as the light of the bidden sun burst out, and the voices of the spectators were loud in praise of the glorious exhibition, Dr. R.B. Weiser, to heighten the effect of the excitement, gave us two shots of his revolver! Then every tongue was unloosened. The ladies started “My Country ‘tis of thee,” and sang it with a will; then, too, was sung to good Old Hundred “Praise God from who all blessings flow.”

Soon after the light returned, the spectators began to depart, and none remained to see the end of this magnificent spectacle. Thus ended one of the grandest scenes ever witnessed by the inhabitants of Colorado, or any other State in the Union, or any other country of the world. And from no spot in Colorado could a finer view be seen than from the lofty summit of Gray’s Peak. Those who witnessed this scene will never forget it. —R. Weiser.

Woody Smith is the Colorado Mountain Club’s volunteer historian. Read more old-timey accounts of Colorado’s mountains and early mountaineers in his new book, Early Ascents on Pikes Peak, published by Arcadia Publishing and The History Press.

Trail & Timberline

41

CMC Adventure Travel CMC Adventure Travel specializes in active vacations and small group itineraries to inspiring mountain destinations around the world.

See cmc.org/AdventureTravel for complete trip listings, and check back often, as new trips are added by the Adventure Travel Committee throughout the year.

Trip Leader: Kris Ashton CMC Members: $889 Non-member Guests: $916

World Summit Series: Cerro de Aconcagua, 22,841 feet November 22–December 13, 2015 Trip Leader: William Blazek CMC Members: $4,000 Non-member Guests: $4,300

Experience the splendor of Rocky Mountain National Park in the autumn when temperatures are cool and colors are exploding.

Hike European style, inn to inn, on some of the best trails in the Park. We carry only a daypack as our luggage is transferred to our night’s lodgings. We sleep in historic Colorado lodges and inns and enjoy fabulous meals, including a gourmet celebratory feast on our last night.

Ascend the highest mountain in the western and southern hemispheres, expedition style. Climb in stages, for acclimatization, with a base camp, two intermediate camps, and a high camp. The whole trip is about 52 miles round trip and about 14,000 feet of elevation gain/loss. Mules will carry the heavy gear to and from base camp (at approx. 14,300 feet). Climbers carry all gear on the upper mountain.

Khumbu Everest Trek, with Island Peak Option September 26–October 18, 2015 Trip Leader: Pemba Sherpa CMC Members: $3,668 Non-member Guests: $3,778

Yellowstone in Winter 2016 February 10–15, 2016 Trip Leader: Renée Howbert CMC Members: $1,946 Non-member Guests: $2,004

Inn to Inn Hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park September 13–16, 2015

Help Nepal by supporting its tourist industry! Pemba Sherpa, our trip leader, is recently back from Nepal, having personally scouted the trails for safety and earthquake damage. He is ready to lead the trip as planned: the classic trek to Everest Base Camp, with optional climbs of both Island Peak and Chukungukla. Experience a variety of cultural highlights, including a special visit to the village where Pemba grew up, where you will have dinner with Pemba’s mother.

The Old Faithful Geyser basin serves as the luxurious base camp for this CMC adventure. There are numerous trails starting right at the lodge, and snowshoers and cross-country skiers can plan a day’s outing of any length or ability. Wildlife, especially bison and coyote, are common in the geyser basin and if you’re lucky you may see moose, elk, a trumpeter swan, or a river otter on the Firehole River. There are three full days for in-park adventures, and evening happy hours and buffet dinners allow trip participants to share tales of their adventures and organize into groups for the next day’s outings.

Grand Canyon Raft & Hike 2016 April 23–May 5, 2016

Southeast Colorado Adventure October 2–5, 2015 Trip Leader: Sue Henley CMC Members: $765 Non-member Guests: $790

Trip Leader: Blake Clark and Rosemary Burbank CMC Members: $4,535 Non-member Guests: $4,670

Grab your blue jeans and hiking boots! Hunt for dinosaur footprints and petroglyphs, visit museums, climb hoodoos, cross the Santa Fe Trail several times, explore a frontier fort, and stay on a working cattle conservation ranch.

Take a motorized raft trip and add five extra days for hiking along the way. This 12-day raft trip ends with a helicopter ride out of the canyon and a plane flight back to the put-in. For B & C hiking levels.

42

Trail & Timberline

The CMC Adventure Travel Advantage Value: Trips are priced very competitively!

Active Vacations: Your lungs and legs will be rejuvenated.

Small Group Size: A dozen or so travelers are the norm on CMC trips.

Fit & Interesting Participants: The people in your group make a difference!

Enjoy traveling with CMC members who often have similar interests and passions, from high altitude climbing to cultural trekking. Make lasting friendships and even train together!

Solos and Couples Welcome

Trips Designed by the Trip Leaders: Leaders have planned all of the details and often work with local guides to deliver the best possible trip.

Variety of Trips: CMC offers a range of trip prices, trip days, and accommodations, from camping to hotels.

Llama trekking in the Escalante area of Utah.

Photo by Carol Kurt

Unique Take on Destinations around the World: As you hike or climb you will have opportunities to explore cultures and experience the natural world to enrich your experience.

Feel Good: Your adventure supports the nonprofit work of the Colorado Mountain Club—conserving wild places and educating all ages in the outdoors.

Neon/Chop Rock Llama Trek May 2–6, 2016

David Pellegrini on Ben Nevis.

Photo by Laurie Pearce

Mt. Fuji and Japan Adventure 2016 July 17–29, 2016

Trip Leader: Carol Kurt CMC Members: $1,780 Non-member Guests: $1,834

Trip Leader: Roger Wendell CMC Members: Check cmc.org for details Non-member Guests: Check cmc.org for details

Experience five days of incredible hikes in the Egypt area of the Escalante/Grand Staircase out of Boulder, Utah. This trip will take us through a spectacular set of canyons; we will be in the beautiful desert sands hiking near the Escalante River between Chop Rock and Neon canyons. We will explore the narrows and side canyons of Chop Rock, make some river crossings, and visit out-of-the-way canyons like Ringtail, a slightly technical slot canyon.

Climb Mount Fuji, the world’s most famous 12er, at 12,388 feet. Explore other parts of Japan, including Kyoto, Hiroshima, and a variety of cultural experiences with hiking along the way.

Transportation by bullet train included.

Scotland’s Highland Way and Ben Nevis Climb May 18–31, 2016

Trip Leader: Linda Ditchkus CMC Members: $3,100 Non-member Guests: $3,200

Hike Scotland’s West Highland Way for 95 miles beside lochs, waterfalls, and craggy mountains in the Scottish Highlands. Then climb to the summit of “the Ben” (4,409 feet), weather permitting.

While hiking will be the trip’s focus, the group will also tour medieval Edinburgh, Stirling (famous for being the home of William Wallace), the Eliean Donan Castle, and a Scotch distillery.

Alta Via I in the Italian Dolomites August 27–September 11, 2016 Trip Leader: Denise Snow CMC Members: $2,240 Non-member Guests: $2,307 Take a ten-day trek of the Alta Via I between mountain huts with wonderful panoramic views and well-marked trails. Explore the extraordinary variety of walks and hikes through every imaginable type of terrain and setting. Explore World War I ruins, stay in beautiful rifugios situated in remote and scenic places along the trails, and conclude your trip with a full day of sightseeing in Venice.

Trail & Timberline

43

British Columbia Great Bear Rainforest & Legend of the Spirit Bear September 9–13, 2016

Trip Leader: Bea Slingsby CMC Members: $4,520 Non-member Guests: $4,656

Visit the Great Bear Rainforest, the largest intact temperate rainforest left in the world. Take a water taxi ride through the coastal islands in the heart of the rainforest with chances to see orcas, whales, and porpoises. These islands are the only place in the world to see The Spirit Bear, a rare subspecies of the black bear believed by the Kitasso/Xai’xais to have supernatural powers. View Spirit Bears, grizzlies, and black bears as they catch spawning salmon and enjoy exclusive access to viewing areas and accommodations in the Spirit Bear Lodge.

COLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB

PRESS

GUIDEBOOKS

& PACK GUIDES

Ireland: Best Hikes and Culture September 22–October 6, 2016

Trip Leader: Cynthia Saer CMC Members: $4,200 Non-member Guests: $4,325

Explore Ireland’s emerald green landscapes, windswept peaks, and craggy seascapes. Experience a culture with medieval heritage, political turmoil, preposterous myths, and enchanting dance. This 15-day trip includes eight days of trekking along the Wicklow Way, near the Ring of Kerry, and on the Dingle Peninsula, including an attempt of Ireland’s highpoint Carranutuohill (3,406 feet). Tour Dublin, Killarney National Park, and Dingle (a rugged peninsula famous for its tribal heritage), including historic, mystical, and musical highlights.

Camino de Santiago— Camino Sanabrés route 14 days in September/October, 2016

The Best Moab and Arches National Park Hikes

by Rod Martinez $12.95

The Best Canyonlands National Park Hikes

by Rod Martinez $12.95 (available Sept 2015)

The Best Front Range Trail Runs

by Peter N. Jones $24.95

Classic Front Range Trad Climbs

by Brendan Leonard & Lee Smith

$24.95

Trip Leader: Kris Ashton CMC Members: Check cmc.org for details Non-member Guests: Check cmc.org for details

Other Great Titles

Discover the Camino de Santiago the way it used to be, but with a special difference. Travel the way that most pilgrims have always traveled—on foot—but stay in beautiful and unique country homes or estates and even an active monastery. The Camino Sanabrés is definitely the “road less traveled”: there will be days when you’ll wonder if civilization has vanished and you are the only person left in the world. Due to the limited availability of our unique luxury accommodations, space is limited on this trip and CMC members are encouraged to sign up quickly!

The Best Front Range Hikes for Children ................................. $24.95 The Best Aspen Hikes.................................................................... $12.95 The Best Telluride Hikes ............................................................... $12.95 The Best Front Range Hikes ........................................................ $24.95 The Colorado Trail, 8th edition ................................................ $24.95 The Colorado Trail Databook, 5th edition ............................ $12.95 The Colorado 14ers: The Standard Routes............................. $22.95 The Colorado 14ers, 3rd edition (pack guide) .................... $12.95

Members save 20% on CMC Press books Many titles are now available in ebook!

WWW.CMC.ORG/STORE 44

Trail & Timberline

End of the Trail Robert B. Melzer ▶ 1927–2015

By Woody Smith

CMC member Bob Melzer has passed away at the age of 87. A lifelong hiker, Bob joined the CMC Juniors in 1944 at the age of fourteen. By then he had already climbed more mountains and hiked more trails than most people do in a lifetime.

In the summer of 1936, 8-year-old Bob accompanied his father Carl, and 19-year-old Julius Johnson on a two-month hike of Colorado’s Continental Divide—the first ever!

In 1937, father and son climbed all 51 known 14ers in Colorado in one summer; they were also the first to do that. They were the 5th and 6th people to report the feat. The pair even made the Saturday Evening Post, and were interviewed by Lowell Thomas.

During this time, the Melzers ran a summer climbing camp in Frisco, which resulted in frequent climbs up Peak One in the Tenmile Range. Bob recorded 39 climbs of the mountain, the last at age 82.

In 1939, Carl and Bob climbed the California 14ers on a trip with noted CMC members Carl Blaurock, Elwyn Arps, and Jack Graham. In 1940, they climbed all of the high Mexican volcanoes with a party that also included Blaurock and Arps. Of all the early trips, Bob considered the Continental Divide hike the hardest, since they had less opportunity to resupply and had to carry heavy packs.

After joining the CMC, Bob became chairman of the Juniors (Oct. 1945 through Dec. 1946), and served on the CMC Board (Oct. 1945 though Jan. 1947), all before his twentieth birthday.

Jack Reed ▶ 1930–2015

By Joe Griffith

John (Jack) Reed, a dedicated CMC member and volunteer, passed away June 25, 2015. Jack was a CMC member and volunteer since 1958. He taught navigation and geology for many years for the Wilderness Trekking School and regularly led related trips. His wife, Linda, was also a longtime CMC member before she passed away in 2014. Together they opened their home in Genesee to CMC classes and students. Jack had a distinguished career with the U.S. Geological Survey, and wrote several books, including Rocks Above the Clouds, published by CMC Press. Jack received the Carl Blaurock Silver Piton Award in 2009 in recognition of his volunteer service.

Jack began teaching wilderness navigation as soon as he arrived in Colorado in the late ’50s. When the Wilderness Trekking School was started in the ‘70s, he was one of the founders and the creator of the navigation unit. Over the decades, thousands of WTS students have studied Jack’s teachings.

The efficiency and perfection of Jack’s navigation lesson attest to the great effort that went into it. He wrote the longest and most complex chapter in the manual. He designed homework for it. He created a classroom lecture and a field lecture. The hills around their home are dotted with flagged points that our students must find on their map and compass field day. He had to choose the points, mark them, precisely describe their location, and teach our instructors as

Bob enjoyed square dancing, as did many CMCers of the era, where he met his future wife, Betty Lou. They married in 1949; she passed in 1989.

Bob attended the University of Denver and later graduated from the University of Colorado Bob in the Dolomites.

Medical School, earnPhoto courtesy of Jim Melzer ing an award as the most outstanding student of his class. Bob was drafted into the Korean War, serving as a captain in a MASH unit. When he returned to Denver, he became an associate with the South Denver Surgical Group, retiring after nearly 50 years. He was known as a skilled surgeon and intelligent teacher of the craft.

Bob passed on his love of the outdoors to his children, often re-hiking 14ers with them. Bob also traveled extensively to the Alps, Alaska, Mt. Fuji, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Nepal, Tibet, and Patagonia.

Most recently, Bob participated in the CMC’s 100th Anniversary festivities in 2012.

Shortly before he passed, Bob bound his father’s account of the Continental Divide hike, “A Walk With My Son,” passing copies to the Denver Public Library and the American Alpine Club Library.

Hope you’re still hiking, Bob. ▲ well as our students how to find them.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without Linda’s help. One of the high points of each WTS session was the potluck dinner that she and Jack hosted at the end of what we call instructor map-and-compass day. Linda would make a Jack Reed receives the Carl Blaurock Silver big pot of chili, and Jack Piton Award in 2009. Photo by Joe Griffith would tell us wonderful stories about his adventures in Alaska and show us the beautiful maps he helped make. It was great fun.

Fortunately, Jack’s mind remained strong as his body weakened.

In the last weeks of his life he helped us with our map-and-compass study hall and gave an interesting lecture on the heights of the 14ers.

When we met for lunch he would tell me about the physics course he was taking. He was always fascinating.

We in WTS miss Jack and Linda terribly, but what they built together lives on. Jack guides us every time we teach a student how to navigate. ▲ Trail & Timberline

45

Inspire. Educate. Preserve.

The American Mountaineering Museum is the nation’s only museum dedicated to mountaineering history and culture. With interactive exhibits, educational events and more than 5,000 artifacts donated by climbers from all over the world, the museum offers an exciting glimpse into the lives and adventures of mountaineers past and present.

Make a gift to the American Mountaineering Museum today at cmc.org/support Questions about giving? Contact us at give@cmc.org or (303) 996-2752.

46

Trail & Timberline