Summer2015

Life

THE ULTIMATE COLORADO LIFESTYLE EXPERIENCE SUMMER 2015

The Pursuit of Perfection

DR. KAREN NERN

VAIL’S PREMIER DERMATOLOGIST RESIDENT AND CLUB MEMBER

FASHION

CORDILLERA MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS

HOMES

LIVING A DREAM

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Photo right: Rex Keep / Dessert photo: Brent Bingham

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From the Publisher

Starting any new magazine is an interesting challenge. Developing one focused on where you live can be even more challenging. It is hard to be objective when communicating the many attributes and values of Cordillera; it is also hard to do in a few pages. We also encountered many residents who have a point of view about what should or should not be in a magazine and are not reticent about expressing their opinions. We listen and we have incorporated the best into this issue.

Our goal is to make every subsequent issue even better than the last.

This community is extraordinary. You live it. You experience it. You love it. You own it. You believe in it. And if you are like me, you write about it.

There is great joy in seeing an idea, like a garden, start from a few seedlings and blossom into a prosaic book of thoughts, images, information and emotions that capture the essence of Cordillera. If you ever created something from nothing, for example a gardener like Jane Wilner, you know exactly what I mean.

In this summer issue we expanded coverage of Cordillera’s amenities. Our goal will always be to spread and strengthen Cordillera’s brand image Strong family values remain the backbone of Cordillera and the reason that we feature Mothers and Daughters in our summer fashion editorial.

Diane and I have had a great deal of fun in creating Cordillera Life Magazine. It has been a lot of hard work, long hours and lost sleep. And we could not have done it without the help of many talented people, who became partners and are the real talents behind the magazine.

First, there are Brent and Barbara Bingham; we loved their work and were fortunate to have them become our exclusive photographic partners. They also became fabulous friends. Brent and Barb are the real creative inspiration behind the fabulous images that are so Cordillera.

They bring your daily experiences to life in print.

I can’t say enough about Sue Wagenknecht the owner of W Salon.

Her talent is amazing. She could have a salon in NYC or Hollywood and literally own those towns. I think she may own the Vail Valley now!

She not only became our styling guru, she also used her incredible connections to open doors to the local fashionistas.

Laurie O’ Connell, owner of Perch in Vail, gambled with us and we thank her for being the exclusive women’s fashion consultant and retailer for our inaugural issue. Luca Bruno was our exclusive male fashion expert. The quality images from that issue helped us add Gorsuch, NINA MCLEMORE, Luca Bruno Due, Valleygirl, Kidsport, and Kids Cottage as partners.

We think that the current fashion approach accurately reflects the essence of Cordillera in a fun and entertaining way. It is not what everyone wears. It never is and never can be. We try to reflect today’s style and reach the people we would like to become homeowners, club members and community enthusiasts.

While we are both owners of the magazine, my wife, Diane Tauber Schultz, is its soul. She is the journalist who took her creative genius and applied it to this project. From writing to editing to photography, she touches every aspect of the magazine.

Thank you for your friendship, your support and your commentary on the magazine. Cordillera Life can only get better with your continued input. On to the winter edition!

Louis M. Schultz, Publisher 2

Publisher Louis M. Schultz Co-Publisher, Executive Editor, Writer Diane Tauber Schultz Chief Revenue Officer Alison Wadey Art Director Chris Hanna Creative Consultant Frank L. Meli Photography Director of Photography Brent Bingham, Brent Bingham Photography Photo Editor Barbara Bingham, Brent Bingham Photography Cover Photograph by Brent Bingham Contributors Writer, Associate Copy Editor, Author Lisa Johnson Writer, Copy Editor Laura Lieff Writers Rosalie Isom, Ben Gochberg Writer Louis M. Schultz Community Events CPOA Photographer Ben Dodd Production and Printing Crested Butte Publishing & Creative CPC Solutions Magazine Development, Editorial Consultation LMS-UNLIMITED LLC Contributors May Issue Women’s Fashion Consultants Perch Vail, Vail Village, CO NINA MCLEMORE, Vail, CO Gorsuch Ltd., Beaver Creek and Vail, CO ValleyGirl, Edwards, CO Skipper and Scout, Vail, CO KidSport, Vail, CO Visual Concept, Hair Design & Make-up Susan Wagenknecht, W Salon, Edwards, CO Jewelry courtesy Kimberley’s Fine Jewelry Valleygirl Boutique, Edwards, CO PUBLISHED BY TBK PRODUCTIONS LLC Box 490 Wolcott, CO 81655-0490 Managing Directors Louis M. Schultz, Diane L. Schultz Offices in Edwards, Colorado and Rancho Mirage, CA publisher@cordilleralifeco.com, cordilleralifeco.com Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest Copyright@2015 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any material in this publication without the written permission of TBK Productions LLC is expressly forbidden. Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject all advertising matter. Copies of Cordillera Life are available for $7.95.

Cover Photo: Brent Bingham Photography Cover: Dr. Karen Babcock Nern Cover Fashion: Ermanno Scervino available at all Gorsuch Ltd.locations Jewelry: Kimberley’s Fine Jewelry

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Contents

People and Profiles 11 Cordillera Welcomes GM Rachel Oys 14 Making History

Health and Wellness Travel Fashion 20 Focus, Precision, Inner Calm

24

Live Balance

26 100 Breaths

29 Exotic Antarctica

32 Spectacular Settings

33 “Life is a Party�

4

L to R clockwise: Diane Tauber Schultz, executive editor, Cordillera Life; Liz Ziegler, owner, Live for Balance; Hannah Nern and Brent Bingham, Brent Bingham Photography; Emily Parker and daughter Charley with Bingham; Dr. William Irwin Sterett, Vail-Summit Orthopaedics and Diane Schultz; Antarctica penguins.

Perch fills a niche for women’s contemporary fashion in Vail Village by constantly bringing new designers, current trends and a fresh assortment of the classics. They specialize in providing a personalized experience for women of all ages.

“My clients come from all over the world, and I wanted a bank close to home.”

When Laurie O’Connell identified a void for highend, trend-setting women’s fashion in the Vail Valley, she put together a tight business plan and a dream was born to open Perch Vail.

“Other banks just looked at the numbers. But Colorado Business Bank knew the market and got excited about my idea,” O’Connell says.

Proud to support our community’s growth

“I felt like they gave me a warm embrace and had the same optimism I did.”

With clients from all over the world who seek out her eye for fashion, O’Connell says she’s exceeding her goals. And her bank continues to exceed her expectations.

COBIZBANK.COM • PART OF COBIZ BANK • MEMBER FDIC

At the Shoot

L to R clockwise: Ingrid and Sean McGinley, Owners Meadow Mountain Homes, “White House Tour” feature; Brent Bingham, Pete Mott, Trout Trickers, Gypsum, Ron Askew, Cordillera resident, and Charlie (dog); Ava Jemison, Brent Bingham, Cienna Jemison, Barbara Bingham, Susan Wagenknecht, owner, W Salon, Heju Jemison, Diane Schultz; Lainie Edinburg, Cheryl Foley, Joel Kaye, Diane Schultz, Barbara Bingham setting up the shoot; Executive Chef Daniel Woodbridge, Club at Cordillera.

Contents

Home and Garden Food and Wine

6

46

White House Tour

52

Joy in Bloom

56

Juniper Connection

59

Bailey in the Kitchen

70

Non-Stop Action

Sports 62

All Day to get there

65

No Flat Lies

75

Venture Into the Wild

78

Spring into Action

79

Fore! Love!

2

Publisher’s Letter

4

Notes from the Editor

Departments

Brent Bingham Photography

Notes from the Editor

Welcome to summer issue of Cordillera Life. Our overall theme is a celebration of family beginning with our eight fashion pages of Cordillera’s mothers and daughters in various locations throughout Cordillera and the Vail Valley. If they look like they’re having a blast in the photos, ask them. They’re your friends, neighbors and family.

Cordillera is a community in the truest sense of the word where lifelong friendships are forged and a sense of family and friendships is at its core. I also want to thank my son, Frank Leo Meli, who suggested the creative concept for these shoots.

I have found that there is typically a favorite activity among families that bring them together and create the kinds of bonds that carry on through generations. With the Nern family, it’s travel but not your typical tripping. Their annual Oktoberfest party at their home in Cordillera’s Valley Club has its roots in their tradition of discovering cultures and bringing them to life for their daughters.

I scheduled a photographer I had never met to shoot the Nern Oktoberfest. Our exclusive photographer, Brent Bingham, was attending his son’s wedding that evening. The photographer didn’t show due to car and phone trouble. Awaiting his arrival, I had a keen eye on every guest arriving. “Are you Rex?” I say to a man entering the outdoor tent. “No, I’m Jack.” Guests drank German beer and began eating traditional German food. I was taking my own photos and pacing. Jack approached me again and says, “You’re the worrying type, aren’t you? I’m Jack Affleck. Let me help you.” Imagine my luck. I handed him my camera and he began clicking away as the light disappeared. Thank you for coming to my rescue Jack!

For several years I have watched Dr. William Irwin Sterett, M.D., Vail-Summit Orthopaedics in action and what always struck me 8

about this surgeon was his presence and calmness. His altruism with young athletes in this Valley is well documented. What hasn’t been revealed is how he achieves this balance with so many balls in the air.

Antarctica is about as remote and unique a trip as you’re going to get. It’s surprising how many Cordillera people have traveled to Antarctica. Take a weekend trip to The Wine Country Inn located in Palisade to attend a weekend cooking class with Cordillera’s Taste 5 Chef Bailey, or a day-long fly fishing float trip on the Colorado with a Cordillera angler and Pete Mott, owner of Trout Trickers. The Club at Cordillera’s golf pros also share some tips to playing on a course that has no flat lies.

There was a lot of buzz last fall in Cordillera about the White family wedding and the garden tour that took place on their newly renovated estate in Cordillera. This was no ordinary renovation. Take “A White House Tour” and discover how Ingrid and Sean McGinley of Meadow Mountain Homes and their contractors achieved this feat.

I’d like to thank all our mothers and daughters who participated in our shoots, and the local boutiques and shops who provided the fashion consultation, clothing and jewelry that made them all sparkle with delight. A special thank you to Jenn Bruno, Luca Bruno Due, and KidSports, both located in Vail, for coming onboard as our fashion consultants. Walking into Luca Bruno Due feels like you’re entering a boutique on Madison Avenue.

Finally, meet my beautiful daughter, Andrea. I called her my little peach when she was a baby and she continues to be one of the great joys of my life. A mother-daughter relationship is likely the most joyous, challenging, rewarding and fulfilling relationship you’ll have in your lifetime. The lessons I learned of honesty, authenticity and unconditional love from my extraordinary 90-year-old mom, Dolores Tauber, is what I’ve always aspired to teach my daughter.

We strive to bring out all that Cordillera has and is through the people and places that surround us in this extraordinary mountain community. Your comments are always welcome: editor@cordilleralifeco.com. Summer has arrived!

Gratefully yours, Di Tauber Schultz Executive Editor

FASHION CONSULTANT CONTACT INFORMATION Thank you to the following local boutiques for creating the styles you see on our fashion pages.

Gorsuch Ltd., Vail and Beaver Creek, 970-476-2294 Handbag by Paige Gamble New York, paige@paigegamble.com Luca Bruno Due, 40 E. Meadow Dr., Vail, CO 81657, 970-476-1667 Kids’ Cottage, 275 Main St. Edwards, 970-926-8697 KidSport, 122 East Meadow Dr., Vail, CO 81657, KidsVail.com Kimberley’s Fine Jewelry, 56 Edwards Village Blvd., Edwards, CO 970-926-8802 NINA MCLEMORE, 183 Gore Creek Dr. Vail Co. 970-476-4809 Perch, Vail, 122 E Meadow Dr. Vail Village, 970-688-5947 Skipper & Scout, 141 E Meadow Dr., Vail Village Solaris, 970-470-4380 Valleygirl Boutique, 225 Main St., Edwards, CO 970-926-5007, valleygirlboutique.com

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vaildentistrysleeptherapy.com | vaildentistry.com 970.766.7645 (SMILE) | Edwards, Colorado

EXTENSIVE EXPERTISE

Cordilllera Welcomes

New General Manager Rachel Oys

by Laura Lieff

After years of working for Eagle County, LiveWell Colorado and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Aspen native Rachel Oys decided she was ready for something new. In April 2015, Oys officially began as general manager of Cordillera and is handling the transition seamlessly.

“I see the general manger position as the next exciting step in my professional and personal growth,” Oys explains. “The position appealed to me because of its emphasis on promoting and serving a prominent mountain community that is devoted to the outdoors, wildlife and recreation. I’ve found that the high-demand and fastpaced environment of a resort community suits both my skill set and lifestyle.”

Oys earned a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Russian, a minor in Spanish and Leadership, a master’s degree in Public Policy and a law degree – all from the University of Denver.

From January 2010 through March 2015, Oys worked for Eagle County. She was initially hired as the Director of Public Health and then was promoted to the Director of Health and Human Services. In November 2011 she was appointed as the Assistant County Manager and in November 2014 she was appointed to Interim County Manager. Prior to employment at Eagle County, Oys served as the Interim CEO and President-Consultant of LiveWell Colorado and was the Unit Director and the Healthy Living Branch Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

During her time working for Eagle County, she was responsible for “ensuring the advancement of Eagle County’s mission to be a model of excellence for mountain communities.” She “provided leadership and operational guidance to more than 25 departments and 470 fulltime employees with an annual budget of $90 million.” Oys also led strategic initiatives, board and organizational development, revenue generation and public policy and oversaw a multitude of departments including Public Works, Human Services and Community Development, among many others.

Based on her previous experience and vast knowledge, Oys seems to be an excellent fit for her new position at Cordillera.

“I have experience in organizational development, collaborative leadership, management and communications skills, fiscal management within varied budget considerations, and a genuine interest in supporting the board’s goals to advance Cordillera’s vision,” she explains. “The skill set I think that is most beneficial is partnership development. That has been a key function of my professional roles, to date, and see this being true for Cordillera.”

She continues, “I’m looking forward to working with the boards, community and employees to efficiently advance a unified vision for premier mountain living.”

An Eagle County resident for the last five years, Oys was familiar with Cordillera. She says what initially attracted her to the community was “the exceptional natural beauty of the area combined with the remarkable lifestyle that the residents and visitors enjoy.”

INITIAL GOALS Hitting the ground running, Oys has already met with directors of the board, community members and partners and staff in an effort to build positive working relationships from the start. When asked about her top five priorities coming into the first year of the job, Oys provided a comprehensive list: 1) Working with the Cordillera Metro District and Property Owners Association to continue the advancement of a premier mountain community which includes improving and expanding amenities. 2) Becoming a part of the community and a champion for the homeowners’ values and quality of life goals. 3) Strengthening partnerships with the Club at Cordillera, Lodge and Spa, Valley Club and larger Vail Valley. 4) Developing a culture of trust and cooperation among all community stakeholders. 5) Supporting the outstanding employees that are dedicated to providing excellent services each and every day.

So far Oys and Cordillera are an ideal match and she credits the community’s combination of entrepreneurship and philanthropy and its outdoor features for making the transition so smooth.

“Ultimately, Cordillera is a place to relax, recreate and enjoy comradery – a leading mountain community that will be enjoyed for generations to come,” she explains. “I’m really looking forward to continuing and expanding the vision set by the founders in 1986, previous and current board members, community members, visitors and employees.”

Going forward Oys is thrilled to have the opportunity to enjoy all that Cordillera has to offer with her daughter.

She concludes, “I think this is a magnificent community in which to raise my daughter, Faith, who is two years old, and find the natural beauty to be unmatched. I feel blessed to be here in so many ways.”

People and Profiles

11

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The Nern family turn the imaginable into the unforgettable.

by Diane Tauber Schultz

Brent Bingham Photography

Making History

Clothing provided by Gorsuch Ltd and Skipper and Scout, Vail. Handbag by Paige Gamble New York

14

Most people look up to Dr. Karen Babcock Nern and it’s not merely her six foot, one and a half inch frame that elicits that reaction.

Here’s the kicker, one never feels small in her presence. She’s serene, confident, altruistic, driven, and successful. She’s a mother, wife, doctor, businesswoman, philanthropist, and a commanding presence in the Vail Valley. She is what every mother wants her daughter to grow up to be – professionally fulfilled, personally happy and fully engaged in the adventure of life.

Who says you can’t have it all? Karen is what Gloria Steinem and countless women libbers fought to create. She’s the owner of Vail Dermatology and Aspen Dermatology. Karen and her husband, Tom, are a team both in business and in the home with their two daughters, Grace, 15 years old and Hannah, 11. Tom handles the business side and Karen the medical. They function like a well-oiled machine.

“My mother’s favorite expression for us was, ‘To she who much is given, much is expected.’ So we’ve always been hard working people,” Karen says explaining she’s the youngest of three girls in her family. “I am grateful that I have the ability, the brains and the opportunity to be everything that I want to be – a mother, doctor, wife, businessperson.

We won the birth lottery by being born in this country and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to be successful here.”

Initially, the seamless separation of business duties blurred when they moved from Denver and opened their first office in Edwards.

“When we first opened up the practice in 2004,” Tom says, “she’d get in my dish and I’d get in hers.” Tom’s expertise is in sales, marketing, advertising, and technology; Karen’s is in medicine and finance. Yes, finance. Prior to attending medical school at 30 years of age, Karen was a forensic economist and litigation consultant and also earned an MBA. The couple drew the job description line and the success of that decision is apparent in Karen’s busy medical practice, their booming business, and the smiles on their faces as they sit at their dining room table in their home in Cordillera’s Valley Club reminiscing some of the

trips they’ve taken together. This is an engaging, happy family.

In fact, travel is their favorite family activity, but it’s travel with a mission. They don’t just go somewhere to visit. They make it a total educational experience. They make history come to life.

Grace and Hannah often sit around the dining room table with Karen and Tom and discuss where they will go next and what they will do when they get there. They plan each adventure by focusing on learning opportunities to get the most from each trip. And equally as important, they seek ways for the family to have fun.

“We took a walking tour and saw all the places where Harry Potter was filmed, Gringotts Bank, Leaky Cauldron, the Dursley’s house and Platform Nine and Three Quarters,” Grace says. “I wanted to run into the walls. If I weren’t a Muggle then I’d totally do it. I read all the books and saw the movies. It was really amazing. We walked all over London.”

They schedule one to two trips a year to destinations like China, Paris and Taiwan. They plan and prepare for the upcoming experience by weaving it into their everyday activities. “I read a little bit on the country we’re about to visit,” Tom says. “For Spain, I’ll probably go back to the fourth century up to World War II and identify the historical points we’ll want to see in the city.” Once there, Tom brings history to life for his family. They’re heading to Spain and London in June.

The Nern family might even choose a destination because they have friends who live there, like a trip to Germany to visit their former nanny, or to help a friend who was adopting a baby in Taiwan. While Tom is researching, the girls could be practicing language phrases for an upcoming trip. At present, Grace is focusing on her language skills.

“I have to work on my Spanish,” Grace says. “They’re going to make us do all the talking.” And they mean it. “I’m also working on my British accent,” she adds laughing.

“We’re not beach people,” Karen says. “We like going places that

People and Profiles

15

Left to right: The family in Paris, at the Trevi Fountain in Rome and the annual Oktoberfest party at home.

have art, culture and history.” They began traveling this way when their girls were four and eight years old and always strike a balance between teaching moments and fun. In the morning they might go to a museum, and in the afternoon they’ll hang out perhaps stopping at a beach in Australia and discovering crabs in the sand at low tide or taking what they call “funny fountain photos.”

Once in a country, they do live studies of the culture together. But sometimes they are being studied. They stood out in China, literally.

This is a tall family (Tom is a towering six feet, six inches and Grace is already five feet, nine and a half inches) among other differences.

Chinese people actually lined up to take photos with them at the entrance of The Forbidden City and an interesting teaching moment ensued about the people and their culture.

“We’re white and not many people are white in China,” Hannah excitedly explains. “And they don’t have many kids because of the Chinese law about having only have one child. They kept asking to take pictures with us wherever we went,” she adds. “We were basically celebrities in China,” she says with a huge grin.

Just being present in a country sparks questions that history book photos can’t possibly elicit. While walking the Great Wall, which rolls up and down mountains ad infinitum, Hannah inquisitively asked, “Did they build this wall to protect themselves?”

While in Florence, Italy, they were standing at the base of Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia Gallery and although they had seen photos, Grace remarked, “He was bigger than I thought. I was very surprised.” While marveling at this masterpiece, Tom looked at Grace and said,” Can you imagine that with enough time, hard work and patience a rock could become so beautiful?”

The list of countries they’ve visited is longer than a Napa Valley wine list: Denmark, Sweden, Taiwan, Mainland China, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, England, Australia, Mexico, Canada and more.

Asking the girls to identify their favorite country is like asking a child what flavor ice cream they want.

Grace says, “I loved Australia, but I also loved Germany and London. Austria was adorable because the houses looked like little

gingerbread houses and everyone was so cheerful, and they wore lederhosen,” she adds. “In Paris, all the people were really snotty and kind of mean.” Hannah adds: “I liked Germany because our old nanny lives there in a small village on a farm with cows and the milk came straight from the farm that day, and I got to pet little tiny baby cows.”

Considering that they have trips to Russia, Eastern Europe, Greece, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia on their short-term list, we can rest assured that another will be added to their favorites.

Karen is fond of Italy with all of its culture, history, friendly people and great food. She could see them getting a condo or small home in a village like Santa Margarita one day and retuning again and again to explore all the small villages in that region and learning the language.

Time is precious, so the Nerns take advantage of every moment.

“Karen and Tom have organized their lives and business to create a family quality of life that few other small business owners do,” says Phyllis (Freddi) Pennington, Karen’s sister, who is also a doctor. She’s headed to New Zealand soon to hang up a shingle for a while.

“Carpe diem,” Karen says. “This is the only time you’re going to have, today, don’t waste it. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, that’s why we call it the present. We talk about that author a lot,” she says paraphrasing a quote by Bill Keane, 20th century American cartoonist. “I try to pack in as much as I can.

I am having so much fun in my life. There are only a few years with the kids and we will travel with them as much as we can to make as many memories as we can because really, at end of day, that is what you’ve got and what they’ve got. We don’t let any grass grow under our feet.”

The kids continue their cultural experiences long after returning to the Vail Valley through correspondence with friends they’ve met along the way. And for the past couple of years, they’ve held an Oktoberfest at their home, and the family dress in traditional lederhosen and dirndl and serve German food and drink. Then, of course, they begin again, planning their next adventure together.

The Nern family makes its own history. It feels unforgettable because it is.

People and Profiles

17

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by Diane Tauber Schultz

There are two people you unequivocally want knowing all the what-ifs in a situation—the pilot who is flying your airplane, and the doctor standing over you in the operating room. In the Vail Valley, when it comes to orthopaedic knee and shoulder sports medicine that person is Dr. William Irwin Sterett IV, M.D. at Vail-Summit Orthopaedics.

“In medicine, it’s not about what to do. It’s about what-if,” Sterett explains. “Everything I do, I’ve done 100 times in my mind the night before.” Prior to each surgery, he considers every possible scenario that could occur. So when he actually steps into the operating room he is mentally prepared for every fork in the road, and his McIlRoy-like zone engages.

“The people who are successful in medicine are the guys who think that way,” he explains.

He has been thinking this way since he was in the orthopaedic program at the University of California, Davis where its program’s chairman instilled that practice in him and his fellow residents every single morning for five years. “By the time you get to the operating room, it needs to be just a technical exercise; you’re not getting in there thinking, ‘What am I going to do next?’” he adds.

It’s not easy keeping up with what he’s doing next. He has more things on his plate than David Copperfield has magic tricks, but as the old saying goes, “If you want something done, 20

People and Profiles

ask a busy person.” For the last four Olympics he has been the official U.S. Olympic Committee Team Physician, and continues in that capacity traveling with the U.S. Women’s Alpine Ski Team.

He’s treated the likes of Picabo Street, Lindsey Vonn, and Heidi Kloser, as well as professional baseball, hockey and soccer players. The list is long, yet his patients come from all walks of life, most recently singer and songwriter Michael Franti during the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

Sterett even hosts U.S. Ski Team members at his own home after their surgeries to personally assist in their physical therapy.

“As a routine, most of the members from the U.S. Ski team have, at one time or another, stayed at my house during rehab,” he says in a matter-of-fact tone. “You get a better bond with them and it invests everybody in their rehabilitation and their return to sport.”

It’s a practice he picked up from one of his mentors, Dr. J Richard Steadman.

“Dr. Sterett was in Russia with me shortly after I got hurt. He was in another village and came up and started taking care of me,” says Heidi Kloser, 22-year-old Olympian mogul specialist on the U.S. Women’s Freestyle Ski Team who was injured during a training run in Sochi at the 2014 Winter Olympics preventing her from competing in the games.

Sterett operated on Kloser in Vail, Colorado a couple of weeks later. “As a result I have been able to gain strength back very quickly.

My legs are stronger than ever,” Kloser adds.

“I think he’s one of the best surgeons in the world.” Kloser is excited about competing in the 2015 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup in December in Finland.

It’s not just injuries he treats on location.

“Last year in Sochi I got sick right before the slalom race from being out in the cold rainy weather in the GS, and Dr. Sterett was so incredibly helpful with showing me what I could legally take to keep my cold at a minimum,” Mikaela Shiffrin says. “I attribute a huge part of my Olympic success to Dr. Sterett.” Mikaela won the Olympic Slalom gold medal in Sochi.

Sterett created a program to help Vail Valley’s local athletes that is ongoing today through the Steadman Clinic and SPRI. The program provides healthcare pro bono for all high school interscholastic sports. He was medical director for the Eagle County School District for 15 years, and he donates thousands of hours of medical care to local athletes.

Most recently he helped create a new

research and education foundation called the Vail-Summit Orthopaedic Foundation (vsoresearch.org), and is president of its board. One of the foundation’s main missions is to help educate and support young people in the Valley, especially those who want to go into healthcare and medicine.

The aforementioned is a sprinkling of his altruism. Sterett credits a medical school professor for ingraining in him a firm sense of social responsibility. “As physicians, he affirmed that 10 percent of our life’s work should be dedicated to community, so when I showed up here I wanted to do this with the high school athletes,” he explains.

Sterett was a University of California Regents Scholar. For us mere humans, that means he received a full academic scholarship through medical school, followed by another five years of orthopaedic residency at UC Davis. He turned down a Harvard Fellowship in 1993-94 to accept a year-long knee and shoulder sports medicine fellowship at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colorado.

As a man who does his homework, he saw a clear academic and research advantage at Steadman Hawkins, plus it had a tie-in with the U.S. Ski Team. The Vail lifestyle was a bonus for an athlete like Sterett who competed in intercollegiate golf for three years as an undergrad at UC San Diego and worked on Ski Patrol in Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe. All things considered, Vail was the slam-dunk.

After his year’s fellowship, he went to Bern, Switzerland and Hannover, Germany for an additional Orthopaedic Trauma and Joint Preservation fellowship. Sterett then turned down a position at Stanford to return to Vail to help grow the then two-person Steadman Hawkins Clinic to its current world-class status. As the clinic’s managing partner a vast majority of his more than 18 years there, he concurrently served as Vail Valley Medical Center’s (VVMC) Chief of Surgery and Chief of Staff for several years.

Brent Bingham Photography

Dr. Sterett with U.S. Ski Team members Resi Steigler and Heidi Kloser.

In a highly publicized separation from the Steadman Clinic in 2011, Sterett took a position with Vail-Summit Orthopaedics (VSO) where he is currently practicing with numerous prominent orthopaedic surgeons.

Sterett himself continues to be one of the most sought after ACL and complex knee surgeons in the country.

“I feel like my professional career is just now blossoming, and I’m able to do a lot of really fun things with my career,” Sterett says. “I went from being one of the principal partners at Steadman Hawkins to finally being my own person. I have a lot more opportunities and possibilities. It feels wonderful.”

A typical day for Sterett begins at 5 a.m., followed by a workout with his trainer. He’s in the operating room (or his office) by 7:30 a.m. His early morning workout routine is seven days a week and is apparent in his strapping 6’ 3” frame. “My fitness goal is to stay quick, focused and strong,” says this 54-year-old surgeon.

During the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail and Beaver Creek this past February he was on the mountain every People and Profiles

day for a couple of weeks as the U.S. Ski Team Physician and at one of his two Vail-Summit Orthopaedics offices (Vail and Edwards) the remainder of each day.

At day’s end, when he’s not treating patients like Heidi Kloser or donating his time to various causes, he’s hiking, mountain biking, skiing, golfing, or just chilling and cooking at home. Cooking? That’s another of his passions, and he has a kitchen fit for a chef.

On a recent visit to his Arrowhead home, he and his girlfriend, Liz Ziegler, cozied up in his great room for a chat. Despite his nonstop days, Sterett has an uncanny ability to effortlessly shift from high to low gear and ease into his evenings calm like a yogi.

In the great room, there’s a baby grand piano near the front window that he doesn’t play. “I don’t pick up a lot of things that I don’t then pour everything into. If I started playing the piano, I‘d be sitting there until midnight every night practicing. I’m either wholly uninterested or I dive. I’d probably still be stuck on that bench,” he says half joking. “Thank God he isn’t,” Ziegler playfully retorts.

On the coffee table sits an oversized 21

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hardcover book of the courses Jack Nicklaus designed and Sterett is on its cover hitting a tee shot at Country Club of the Rockies.

“You’re catching me on my first year of being an empty nester,” he says. “This is a transition year,” Both of his sons were home for a visit and left yesterday. “They’re good kids. I’m really blessed,” he adds. His oldest son, Stefan, graduated from the University of Denver last year, and the youngest, William, is a freshman at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Turns out, Sterett has also been a full-time dad (no mom in the home) for the past 10 years after his 14-year marriage ended in divorce.

He naturally adjusted his workload to be there for his boys.

He could no longer work until 10 or 11 p.m., or be on call in ER four days a week, or attend the Steadman Hawkins Clinic’s strategic meetings every night.

“From that standpoint, it initially detracted professionally, but, in all honesty, I think it made me a better physician and surgeon,” he says.

He adds, “Somehow I’ve been able to be 100 percent in the moment of whatever I’m doing. So every time I came home, I would put away the surgeons hat and worry about what’s for dinner, deal with what happened in school or getting homework done or how soccer went,” he explains. “I’d be with them and not thinking of my surgical day or the 30 patients I saw in the office.”

He’s going to be in the moment for three minutes on the dance floor in July for the Vail Valley Youth Foundation’s 2015 Star Dancing Gala. Despite being an unabating supporter of the foundation, he declined their request a couple of times. He can’t dance and confides that he can be shy in large social settings. He’s stepping up this year thanks to his girlfriend, Liz Ziegler’s, upbeat and positive encouragement.

“I’m happy to commit the time and energy for the Youth Foundation, and I’ll do whatever it takes to try to get good,” he says explaining that it raises a lot of money for the children in the Valley.

“Whether I can get good is another question,” he adds. “I’ll do a good job for the kids.”

Ziegler chimes in, “I almost think he’s more comfortable in the operating room than at cocktail parties.” Sterett responds, “For sure that’s true. I’d say I have more stress attending events than calling up friends and saying, ‘Let’s have dinner.’ I feel like I’m a good listener, not an entertainer.”

To paraphrase Ralph Waldo Emerson, Sterett has lived and lived well. It’s not surprising that his personal mantra is, “Leave the world a better place than the one I came into. I remember thinking that when I was 14 years old,” he adds.

It begs the question, ‘With so much going on, how does he remain calm and balanced enough to perform surgery or speak to a patient waiting in his office who is facing a possible surgery?

Sterett remembers being intensely focused and determined as a child. He had what he endearingly calls a tiger mom who instilled a drive and ambition in him that has carried him a long way. He sees this determination and focus in his son, William, whom Ziegler says has his dad’s ambition, while Stefan has his dad’s heart.

He also praises and credits his medical support team at VSO. “You’ve got to have a great team around you so I can sit down and look someone in eye and say, ‘This is how we’re going to get you better,’” he says. “That is all there is in my world for those 20 or so minutes.”

“As part of his support staff it’s been a great experience working with Dr. Sterett. He’s a brilliant teacher. It’s demanding and rewarding because of how much we’re involved in all phases of patient care from

their initial visit through surgery and post-op,” Brett Barnes, PA-C at VSO says. “He’s right there with us guiding and teaching patients, and provides an excellent example of how to take care of patients the way it’s supposed to be done.”

The place he sorts through it all is where most people leave it all behind—the golf course. When you see him on one of Cordillera’s courses, you’ll never guess what is going on between shots.

“I have always used golf as my meditation even when I was a kid, and I grew up and played a fair amount of competitive golf,” he adds.

“It’s a place I go to think about things. It’s probably why I love the game so much.” Golf as meditation?

“I love going out and just playing golf by myself in the afternoon.

I like to walk and carry my clubs, so between shots I’ll be thinking about my next research project, then I’ll put the club down and hit the shot and focus on that,” he explains. “Then I’ll think about where the next two years of practice is going to go,” well, you get the picture. Yet, when the club is in his hands, it’s all about golf. He’s a 2 Handicap.

Tournament play is different. “Every pro I know says you’ve got to play golf stupid and it’s true,” he says. “You’ve gotta have a short memory. You can’t remember the last bad shot you hit. I don’t look back.”

Sterett confides, “I’m a hugely different person than I was before.

Parenting isn’t about perfection. There is nothing about it that is about perfection. It’s about consistency and always being there through the good and through the bad, and that consistency is what you learn as a parent more than anything else.”

He adds, “Probably the thing I’m most proud of is that at the strength of my career I haven’t let my kids fall through the cracks or to be a full-time dad I didn’t say the heck with medicine. Honestly, I don’t know how I ever did it all.”

If that isn’t life in perfect balance, I don’t know what is.

People and Profiles

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Brent Bingham Photography

Whether you’re age 17 or 71 and live in the Vail Valley you’re likely enjoying any number of mountain sports. The one thing you’re probably not doing is nothing. That is, creating the kind of space in your life that Ziegler and her team at Live for Balance teaches and practices. “One of the most important yet overlooked aspects of any exercise or training program is the recovery phase or time spent resting,” Ziegler says.

“It’s easy to get into an extremist mindset in this environment which creates an incredible amount of stress on our bodies,” Ziegler adds. “Even though these are things we enjoy, we have to create that counter balance,” she explains. “Most people up here and in our society today are moving away from balance.”

As is true with many seekers of alternative medicine, Ziegler’s quest began when she was diagnosed with endometriosis at age 22. Her doctor’s recommended treatment included taking heavy doses of hormones to arrest her menstrual cycles until she was ready to have a child, followed by a hysterectomy.

“Every molecule in my body knew that was not the journey I wanted to take and so began my quest for alternative healing,” she says. She also discovered Pilates after an ankle reconstruction where no physical therapy was offered. “Pilates made me realize exercise could be an incredibly positive experience in my life.”

Ziegler paraphrases her favorite Vivian Greene quote that embodies how she faces adversity, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass but learning how to dance in the rain,” she says. “I want to help prevent people from getting to a place of disease, which is another word for imbalance.”

She recently launched lizziegler.com, which is a compilation of her life’s work. It offers all things health and well-being including actionable steps to implement in your life.

“Liz is a true example of balance, not just mind and body but the balance of mind, body and spirit,” says Johnny Howell, licensed acupuncturist at Live for Balance. “When she helps people or is helping herself it seems effortless. It’s kind of from her soul.”

If you’re seeking more balance in your life, you’ve already taken the first step. Ziegler offers seven ways to help you begin to consciously create balance in your life.

“There will be days you feel you have it and days you don’t.

That’s the balance of life,” Ziegler explains. The more you practice these seven techniques, the better you’ll become at finding balance more frequently in your life. When that happens there is a release of tension that is tangible.

“There’s laughter, there’s joy, you smile more, you feel lighter, you lose unwanted pounds and typically talk about positive things and not the burdens of your day,” Ziegler says. “You’re enjoying life more!”

by Diane Tauber Schultz

There’s something about Liz Ziegler that makes your breath slow down and your shoulders drop just talking to her. She is Live for Balance, founder of what she calls a mind-body performance studio in Edwards, Colorado. And she lives it.

“Balance to me is the ability of knowing that if you’re going to one extreme, like riding up Vail Pass, you also have to create moments in your life to meet a friend for tea, enjoy a relaxing massage, a quite meditation, or just sit on your patio and read a book,” Ziegler says.

Ziegler is a lifestyle design coach, which encompasses health, life, and business coaching, and is a master Pilates and yoga instructor. Her studio combines Eastern and Western healing arts and sciences such as acupuncture, private Pilates and yoga, plantbased nutrition, massage, detox programs, retreats and workshops.

She’s also a triathlete, hiker, skier, golfer, and half-ironman competitor. At one point in her life she was over-training. “I then made a conscious choice to have sports in my life in a way that wasn’t going to kill me,” she says. “I wanted to enjoy what I spent time doing.”

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Health and Wellness

“Besides, laughing every day lowers your stress hormone levels.”

Liz Bits: It sounds simple and cliché but find one thing that brings you joy every day and acknowledge it. Ask yourself what you are doing in your life that you love that brings you joy or makes you laugh. Make a list. Add more of those activities into your daily living.

by Liz Ziegler and Diane Tauber Schultz

CREATE SPACE

JUST BREATHE Within minutes of meeting you, Ziegler can spot if you are out of balance. How? You’re not breathing, meaning you’re taking shallow breaths or holding your breath. “To breathe consciously brings you into the present moment and when you’re in the present moment you are no longer thinking about the past or worrying about the future,” she says. “You are where your feet are.”

Liz Bits: Take 10 to 20 minutes out of your day to bring awareness to your breath. The 5-5-7 breath can be done anywhere.

Inhale slowly through your nose for five counts, hold for five counts, and exhale for seven counts. Repeat five to 10 times, mentally counting to stay focused. This simple technique has profound health benefits.

TAME YOUR LION “While most of us do not have to confront lions on our lunch hour, we do encounter stress. On a physiological level your body doesn’t differentiate between a lion chasing you or getting tense in a traffic jam,” Ziegler says. “They both equally trigger the body to go into a state of emergency.”

Stress is a key trigger to imbalance and when we have high levels of stress it affects our Cortisol levels (stress hormone), which interferes with almost every other hormone involved in metabolism regulation, appetite control, and fat burning.

To identify some health factors that affect stress, Ziegler advises that you ask yourself: “How many cups of coffee did I have today? What did I last eat? Did I exercise today? Have I enjoyed sex lately? Am I breathing right now?” Liz loves this quote by Eckhart Tolle: “Focus your attention on the ‘Now’ and tell me what problem you have at this moment.”

Liz Bits: Identify your stressors by writing them down in order of highest to lowest. Next, ask yourself how you can change the way a stressor is affecting you. (This may take some coaching).

Accept that you can’t control everything; some things are out of your hands so why waste time stressing? Find a positive attitude.

Finally, add in a simple meditation practice.

MOVE YOUR BODY “Movement is life,” Ziegler gently explains. Mild to moderate exercise has been shown to increase your ‘feel good’ endorphins and results in reducing stress. “The key is to enjoy movement,” she adds.

Find an activity you enjoy doing versus something you feel you must do.”

Liz Bits: Try something new. Bring a friend with you. Listen to great music. Look around and be grateful for where we live!

FIND JOY. LAUGH MORE. “Laughter makes the heart smile,” Ziegler says in her soft-toned voice, and smiles. In fact, she seems to smile with nearly every breath. “Life is meant to be loved and full of joy,” she insists.

“We’re always doing, doing, doing,” she says. “This is a moment where you don’t do.” For every activity there has to be a counter balance such as reading a book, getting an extra hour of sleep, or enjoying a nice slow-paced walk with your dog. “When you create space you actually step away from your busy to-do schedule, disconnect from your electronics and slow down,” she adds.

Liz Bits: Look at your schedule for the day and see where you can make space where you don’t have anything planned. The trick then is not to plan more activity in those times. Simplify and say “no” to a few things. Find 20 minutes each day where you quiet your mind and enjoy the rejuvenation it brings. This may feel odd at first but if you do it daily you will start to cherish the space you’ve created.

NOURISH YOURSELF Inflammation in the body is a major factor of imbalance. “I suffered a lot from inflammation in my body,” Ziegler explains. “So I got serious about how I was nourishing my body and what I put into my body,” she adds. “I realized that what you put on the end of your fork is so important and the best medicine you can give yourself daily. That shift in nutrition changed everything.”

“When someone comes to me for health coaching, I don’t tell them to just go eat vegetables,” Ziegler says. “We look at why their systems are imbalanced, what is causing inflammation in their body, and what lifestyle habits are benefiting or not benefiting their life.” It all starts with your health, the foundation. Taking control of this one crucial part of your life will lead you down the path to radiant lifelong health.

Liz Bits: Start with a simple food journal. I love the mynetdiary app. Make sure you are getting plenty of vegetables, healthy fats and protein daily. Find foods that are healthy but also taste good. You wouldn’t put bad fuel in your car; why put bad food in your body. Food is energy and energy is life. What kind of life do you want to create?

RESTORE + REJUVENATE “When I find myself imbalanced it’s typically caused by a lack of sleep and I go downhill fast,” Ziegler says. Along with managing your stress, ensuring that you routinely get a good night’s rest is the most important factor for restoring hormonal balance, fat-loss success, exercise recovery and longevity. “This is a big distinguishing factor for professional athletes,” Liz adds.

Liz Bits: Ask yourself, “Am I allowing myself a good night’s rest? How is chaos showing up in my bedroom?” Create more of a Zen environment in the bedroom. Create your ideal bedroom with soft colors, low lighting, and not too many electronics. If you have electronics keep them no closer than three feet from your head. And finally, create a ritual every night such as taking a bath or shower to cool your body down and ready it for a restful night’s sleep.

Tune in to LizTV at lizziegler.com for more in-depth tips and resources.

Health and Wellness

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100 Breaths

functioning, nutrient absorption and distribution, and waste elimination. If you survived the sabertooth tiger, this is when you regale your friends with stories of your speed and cunning over a leisurely meal. It’s the state of integrating the lessons learned, comparing notes, telling stories and gazing at the stars. This state isn’t so much about survival as it is about what you’re surviving to do and enjoy.

These two modes of the central nervous system (known as Sympathetic and Parasympathetic respectively) are meant to complement each other, as they each take control at the appropriate times in our day-to-day activities. Historically, we endured hours of boredom interspersed with moments of terror. “Fight or Flight” was a short burst of activity and “Rest and Digest” occupied the long spaces in between.

Brent Bingham Photography

NOT SO IN MODERN AMERICAN LIFE.

Simple Practice, Significant Benefits

by Lisa Sferlazza Johnson

One hundred breaths per day, taken deeply and with intention, can literally rewire your body and mind.

The average human takes 20,000 breaths per day, most of them without a second thought. At altitude that number is higher, and often with more of our attention as the body naturally deepens and quickens the breath in an effort to extract adequate oxygen from the air around us.

What if just one half of one percent of those breaths could change your health, your attitude, and even your waistline?

It all has to do with the nervous system. We humans generally have two waking states. You may recognize “Fight or Flight” as one of the modes, but the second is a little lesser known in our modern culture and is called “Rest and Digest” (also known as “Feed and Breed”).

During “Fight or Flight” the body is ready to go. It’s asking, “Where’s that saber-tooth tiger? Where’s the closest tree? Who can wrangle the kids and where can they hide while I distract him?” It’s busy, it’s scheming, and it’s responsible for our ability to survive on this planet. Our blood and energy are sent to our extremities to facilitate fast action, adrenaline is released, and our eyesight is keener. We are on high alert, and that is a very useful state in a world with dangerous predators.

Once the danger has passed the “Fight or Flight” response gives way to “Rest and Digest” wherein recreational activities are supported while the body focuses on the hard work of recalibrating the equipment. Mood is elevated, heart rate relaxes and blood and energy are redirected back to core body systems to ensure proper 26

These days, we’ve trained our bodies to spend a whole lot of time engaging the Sympathetic Nervous System. Stress, multi-tasking, competition and just running from task to task provokes the “Fight or Flight” response and keeps us “on call.” Our bodies can keep that up all day, but our core functions (breathing, digesting, blood pressure) get shortchanged and over time our health can really suffer.

ENTER 100 BREATHS.

We can give no greater indication to the body that it is safe to relax (and thereby engage the “Rest and Digest” response to repair and restore the body) than to take some deep, intentional breaths. The longer we do it, the more opportunity we give the body to reset critical functions, nourish our cells and restore mental equilibrium. Scientific evidence continues to verify and expand the physical and psychological benefits of this simple yet powerful tool for health and well-being which impacts conditions ranging from asthma to heart disease, and particularly benefits digestion and elimination.

One hundred breaths might take 10 minutes or so, and significant benefits can be realized even if you break that up into three or four segments throughout the day. In fact, every time you deeply breathe in clean air you enhance your health. And the healthier you are, the better your chances of having the energy and vitality to survive modern day saber-tooth tigers.

One half of one percent of the breaths you take today could create a virtuous circle of vitality, energy and well-being. It’s free, and it’s easy.

Worth a try, don’t you think?

BONUS POINTS (AND EXTRA HEALTH BENEFITS) FOR INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING BOOSTERS: • •

•

•

Take those breaths in the great outdoors!

Engage your body in a relaxing movement, optimally getting those arms above your head for triple bonus points!

Count on the in-breath and repeat the number on the out-breath to help focus the mind.

Try smiling while you take the breaths!

Health and Wellness

THE STEM CELL GENERATION Q&A WITH DR. SCOTT BRANDT, Medical Director ThriveMD WHAT ARE ADULT (MESENCHYMAL) STEM CELLS? Stem cells are the construction workers of the body’s repair mechanism. The primary role of stem cells is to maintain and initiate the healing of damaged tissue and replenish dying or damaged cells.

HOW DO THESE STEM CELLS WORK? Adult stem cells help the body repair itself naturally. They neutralize inflammation and accelerate healing. They have the potential to regenerate injured cartilage tissue, tendons, ligaments, spinal discs and facet joints.

WHY DO PEOPLE SEEK OUT STEM CELL THERAPY? Patients seek out stem cell therapy as a means to significantly reduce their pain, increase mobility, rebuild healthy tissue and avoid invasive surgery. Stem cell therapy involves a minimally invasive, three-hour outpatient procedure with almost no recovery time.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM STEM CELL TREATMENTS? The list is long. Professional athletes have been benefiting from this treatment for years.

However, it’s not just for them.

Anyone suffering from arthritis in any joint may be a candidate.

In addition, those suffering from spine pain, tendon tears, or ligament injuries can also benefit. The procedure is relevant for chronic wear and tear arthritic issues as well as acute injuries.

WHEN CAN I EXPECT TO SEE RESULTS? After the minimally invasive in-office procedure, patients typically start to notice improvement in the first two to twelve weeks.

harvested from bone marrow utilizing an advanced painless procedure. We additionally inject Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) which is an autologous blood derived product. PRP provides an ample supply of growth factors to help activate the stem cells.

FROM WHAT TISSUES DOES DR. BRANDT HARVEST THE ADULT STEM CELLS? They are harvested from two locations. First is from adipose tissue (fat), most often found in the lower abdomen. This resource is imperative due to the abundant number of stem cells in this tissue. Secondly, they are

WHY CHOOSE THRIVEMD? I am passionate about how stem cell procedures are changing the way we think about medicine.

The two biggest factors in stem cell success are cell count numbers and placement of the cells.

The abundant cell count found in adipose tissue paired with my 20 years of live image-guided in-

jection experience, ensures that the stem cells will be delivered to the damaged area, allowing the patient the best possible outcome. If I can help eliminate, or at least delay, the need for an invasive surgery, patients can take advantage of the revolutionary stem cell developments in the coming years.

Dr. Scott Brandt of ThriveMD practices leading edge regenerative medicine. He offers stem cell treatments, bioidentical hormone replacement, PRP treatments, IV nutrient therapies, medical diets and liposculpture. To find out how this exciting new field can change your life, contact ThriveMD at 970.766.VAIL (8245) or visit the website www.thrivemdvail.com

Back Pain: Stem Cells are Bringing Relief Most Americans experience back pain at some time in our lives.

In fact, 65% of all Americans will miss work sometime in their lives due to back pain. When the pain is unrelenting patients have a difficult time getting relief. Researchers now believe adult stem cells likely hold the answer.

In the past, conservative treatments or invasive surgeries were the only options. Now, utilizing stem cells, patients have a minimally invasive option to potentially repair the damaged

disc, restore function, rehydrate the disc, and ultimately alleviate chronic pain.

Placement of a needle into the vertebral disc is a difficult and potentially dangerous procedure. Dr. Scott Brandt has spent the last 20 years with a strong focus on spinal injections and is one of the most highly trained disc specialists in the country. Dr. Brandt is very excited that the research now supports the use of adult stem cell therapy for back pain.

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by Laura Lieff

Though we are all lucky to live in a gorgeous place like the Vail Valley, seeing new landscapes and experiencing different cultures is important to many residents, especially those living in Cordillera. By adventuring to exotic places all over the world, Cordillera residents take travel to the next level. Whether they plan on hiking, trekking, biking, snorkeling, snowshoeing, fishing or taking a safari, most Cordillera residents choose their destinations based on the bucket listworthy activities they can do and captivating wildlife they can see.

With Cordillera being such a tight community, when someone takes a particularly exciting trip, word travels fast about the destination and Antarctica was no different. Even though Antarctica is the coldest, driest and windiest continent in the world, and has the highest average elevation of all the continents, people still want to experience the unparalleled landscape and exquisite wildlife that inhabit the area.

Getting to Antarctica, which is Earth’s southernmost continent and contains the geographic South Pole, is no easy feat considering it

has no permanent residents. As a result, journeying to one of the last untouched destinations in the world is largely done by ship, which takes passengers to specific scenic locations.

Although traveling to such a remote destination is challenging, several Cordillera residents made the journey including Steve and Grace Gamble, Leslie and Bob Nathan and Joyce and Paul Krasnow.

HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE For the Gambles, history and major world issues play a significant role in their destination choices. Steve explains that one of the reasons they chose Antarctica (and are looking forward to their next trip to Brazil) is “seeing how the changes in our planet affect these exotic places.”

According to Grace, the initial motivation to visit Antarctica was polar explorer Ernest Shackleton who, in the early 1900s, led three British expeditions to Antarctica and was one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

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whales and the elusive skua bird. The couple also saw an iceberg that was a mile long and over 100 yards across. They enjoyed mild weather (by Antarctica standards), which allowed them to eat a few meals outside.

“We’ve been to the Himalayas, taken African safaris, you name it, and this was still an unforgettable experience,” Steve says. “It was really worth doing and we’re so glad we did it.”

Adds Grace, “My favorite part of the trip was the overwhelming pristine beauty as it was so far removed from anything we know in our busy, civilized environment. There is no way to imagine beforehand what you’re going to see as everything was illuminating – I’ll always remember it.”

SEVEN CONTINENTS & 99 COUNTRIES

“We are always looking for something new,” Grace says. “In the late 1990s the Smithsonian did an exhibition on the Shackleton experience and I went with a friend and never forgot it. Everyone survived Shackleton’s exploration which is an utter miracle and this exhibit got us interested and fascinated in Antarctica.”

Adds Steve, “It is fun to read about these extraordinary people who did these incredible things we can’t do today. Shackleton is a legend and even though he never made it to the South Pole he made it to Antarctica and is an example of legendary leadership.”

The Seabourn Quest ship from the Seabourn Cruise Line hosted the Gambles on their 21-day Antarctic expedition that took them to the Falklands and Prince George Island. The ship departed from Buenos Aires, Argentina and arrived at Valparaiso (Santiago), Chile.

Specialists gave lectures on the boat ahead of time and were at every landing to answer any and all questions.

“At each landing we could exit the boat and wander around and ask questions as the specialists pointed out various topics of interest as we went along the coastline,” Grace says. “They were very organized and you could decide what you wanted to participate in. We hiked around and felt like we were transported to a different world.”

According to both Steve and Grace, each day presented a new adventure with different types of wildlife such as penguins, sea lions, 30

With Cordillera being their second home for the last 14 years, Bob and Leslie Nathan are no strangers to travel. After trekking through Africa, Rwanda and Patagonia, and spending time in Europe and China, the couple decided to do “a safari gone ice” in Antarctica.

“Exotic and adventure travel is our preference these days so we’ve been going to places that are less traveled or westernized,” Leslie says.

“A lot of the exciting trips we’ve done recently have been since we moved to Cordillera and with Cordillera people.”

Bob and Leslie traveled to Antarctica with Joyce and Paul Krasnow who are also longtime Cordillera residents. Like the Gambles, the Nathans and Krasnows took the Seabourn Quest cruise ship.

“If it’s there I want to see it,” Bob explains. “We’ve been to 99 countries and now seven continents; Antarctica was definitely on my bucket list.”

Although traveling to Antarctica was something Bob always wanted to do, Leslie had a few initial trepidations.

“I was apprehensive about the weather and the trip in general but as soon as I saw what Seabourn was offering, I was in,” Leslie recalls.

“The exhilaration and fear is what’s exciting about adventure travel – you never know what’s going to happen.”

According to the Nathans, their 24-day trip could not have gone better. Their days consisted of hiking around and seeing wildlife such as macaroni and chinstrap penguins and whales and elephant seals,

Travel

while their evenings were spent in the hot tub and eating caviar in their parkas.

“My favorite part was being in the midst of 250,000 penguins (they were literally next to you) and seeing baby seals interacting with the parents,” Leslie explains. “Seeing Mother Nature happen in front of you and watching the animals interact with each other was amazing. Also, on board the ship there were photographers who worked for National Geographic so we were learning from professionals.”

Although the Nathans experienced one of the best trips they had ever taken, they consider Antarctica a “once in a lifetime” event because, according to Bob, if they ever returned their “expectations would be way too high for future trips.”

What’s next on their travel itinerary? Bali!

ADVENTURE TRAVEL Cordillera residents clearly enjoy exploring all corners of the world and the desire to see majestic landscapes and wildlife is a common theme. Discovering new environments, learning about other cultures and visiting the unknown entice the people who live in one of the most coveted communities in the Vail Valley.

“We make sure the places we visit are physically active and have a lot of wildlife,” Paul says. “We came back from Antarctica with such enthusiasm and told our neighbors about it and now a lot of people are going. Joyce and I are spreading the word about Antarctica!”

Even though Cordillera people are flocking to Antarctica, it will remain an exotic travel destination because to date, 50 countries have signed The Antarctic Treaty, which prohibits military activities, mineral mining, nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal. The treaty also supports scientific research and protects the continent’s ecozone.

“We love adventure travel so we choose our destinations based on places that offer new learning experiences,” Joyce says. “We like learning about the history, the people and the habitat of the areas we visit and enjoy all the new things that travel opens up for you.”

Travel

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SPECTACULAR SETTINGS Bookshop owner and armchair traveler Nicole Magistro recommends three of her favorite family-friendly literary destinations to book now.

PARIS

FOR THE KIDS

Hemingway’s Paris: A Writer’s City in Words and Images

by Robert Wheeler

PARIS The Invention of Hugo Cabret

by Brian Selznick

Author-obsessed traveler and photographer Robert Wheeler visited Paris often, but it was not until he set off solo that he could conjure the isolated expat experience of Hem and Hadley, the macho writer’s first and most-loved wife. A concise collection of 95 black and white photographs and vignettes illustrate the city Papa reminisced in A Moveable Feast.

The magic created by award-winning Selznick goes well beyond the movie. Meet the original Hugo, the orphan-hero who must survive inside a busy Paris train station with thievery, wisdom and tender humanity.

SWEDEN

SWEDEN

100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of His Window and Disappeared

by Jonas Jonasson

Pippi Longstocking

by Ingrid Lindgren Join the kids in a re-reading of this classic – alongside Pippi live Tommy, Annika, a naughty monkey and a very hungry horse. Playful and bold illustrations by Lauren Child modernize the Swedish tale of independence.

Vanishing and reinvention is the theme of this laugh-out-loud debut novel set in modern Sweden.

In a plan to evade the birthday party his nursing home throws, centenarian Allan Karlsson literally escapes through the window and takes chase. Written by a media mogul turned stay-athome dad, this novel bucks the noir trend in Scandinavian fiction.

GREECE Gods and Warriors

by Michelle Paver

GREECE Meet Me In Atlantis:

by Mark Adams No stranger to adventure, Mark Adams is an archeology junkie with a passion for travel. So his most recent quest – to turn up Plato’s lost city – jumps off from Gibraltar to Spain’s Donana National Park, Malta, and the Greek Island of Santorini. With wit, scenic discoveries and mouthwatering meals, this trip is worth taking.

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Move over Percy Jackson. Hylas and Pirra are set to capture the imaginations of kids who love a good series. Slated for five books about the Bronze Age, these adventures feature realistic and rich historical detail, plus some amazing battle scenes.

Nicole Magistro is a writer and owner of The Bookworm, an independent bookstore and cafe in Edwards, Colorado.

Travel

“They have enriched my life beyond measure,” Bethany says. “I am continually trying to teach them to climb mountains, not so the world can see them but so they can see the world!”

Bethany Haerter, RDH and co-owner of Vail Dentistry with her daughter Lauren, 10 years old, and Madelyn, eight years old; Club at Cordillera members. Lauren is an Alpine Ski Racer, and Madelyn enjoys Nordic Skiing.

Bethany Haerter, Missoni dress, Luca Bruno Due, Vail; Jewelry, Kimberley’s Fine Jewelry. Daughters Lauren and Madelyn, Mayoral Clothing, KidSport, Vail.

“Life is a Party Dress like it.”

- Lilly Pulitzer

Images by Brent Bingham Photography

Families of all ages abound in Cordillera. In the following fashion pages we celebrate and honor the family and all our homeowners’ and club members’ zest for life. Eight Cordillera mothers and their daughters were selected to represent a wide range of ages and occupations. They work, belong to the club, or live in Cordillera’s Valley, Divide, Ranch or Summit. Each has made significant contributions in their lives and to the Vail Valley. They typify the cultural melting pot that is Cordillera.

The typical Cordillera resident goes to work, to their children or grandchildren’s events, and to casual dinners in their favorite athletic pants or jeans and cowboy boots. When it comes to style, trends and a time to dress up they exemplify the elegance and sophistication of New York Fifth Avenue fashionistas.

We’re illustrating this confluence in

Fashion

both Cordillera and prominent Vail Valley locations. In keeping pace with the current fashion trends, we believe that mixing is the new matching.

Meet each of our eight fashion-savvy mothers and daughters on our fashion pages.

A great big thank you to our fashion partners, Luca Bruno Due, Perch, Nina McLemore, Gorsuch, Valleygirl Boutique, Kimberly’s Fine Jewelry, Kidsport, Kid’s Cottage, and Paige Gamble Handbags for their immense contributions. Contact information available on page 8.

A special thank you to Don Welch and The Wheels & Wings Festival for providing the 1965 Superformance Cobra for our fashion page. The Wheels & Wings Festival takes place this year on September 12 at the Vail Valley Jet Center; Vail Car Show in Vail Village is September 13.

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“Ava has many talents including perseverance, commitment and discipline.

Cienna is fearless and will change the world with her passionate, nurturing heart.

They inspire me every day,� Heju says.

Heju Jemison, Cordillera resident and technology teacher at Eagle County Charter Academy (ECCA) with her 10-year-old daughter, Cienna, a gymnast, and 12-year-old Ava, a U 14 Alpine Racer.

Heju Jemison, Elizabeth and James, Perch, Vail. Daughters: Ava, Busy Bees dress; and Cienna, Kate Spade Dress, Skipper & Scout, Vail Village Solaris.

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Fashion

“Charley is an incredible addition to our family,” Parker says. “She is so full of love and curiosity. Everyday with her is a blessing.”

Emily Roman Parker, Cordillera resident, hairstylist and makeup artist at Vail Salon with her one-year-old daughter Charley.

Emily Roman Parker, Dress, Shoes, Jewelry, Valleygirl Boutique, Edwards.

Daughter Charley, Kids’ Cottage, Edwards. Handbag by Paige Gamble New York.

Fashion

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“Our girls are the joy of our lives! They are both kind, loving and soft hearted to others. They’re beautiful inside and out,” Karen says.

Karen Babcock Nern, M.D., MBA, Board Certified Dermatologist and owner of Vail Dermatology with her daughters Grace, 15 years old, and 11-year-old Hannah.

Dr. Karen Babcock Nern, Brunello Cucinelli Volcano Dress, Diade Agate Neckless, Kilted Sandal, Leather Wrist Cuff, Gorsuch Ltd. Daughters: Grace, Bogner Pandora Print Dress, Gorsuch Ltd.; and Hannah, Ladybug Dress, Kate Spade, Skipper & Scout, Vail Village Solaris.

Handbag, Paige Gamble New York 36

Fashion

Grace Gamble and Daughter Paige, NINA MCLEMORE. Handbags by Paige Gamble New York. Sandals, Gorsuch Ltd. Jewelry, Kimberley’s Fine Jewelry, Edwards.

“Besides being the strongest, most generous person I know, mom has killer, classic, effortless style!” Paige says.

Grace Gamble, Cordillera resident with her daughter, designer Paige Gamble, owner Paige Gamble New York, a luxury accessories brand whose products are made in Manhattan.

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Shot at Battle Mountain Trading Post in Minturn

Fashion

Designer Clothing for Every Occasion Day, Evening, and Casual Separates

183 Gore Creek Drive, Vail 路 970.476.4809 675 E. Cooper Avenue, Aspen 路 970.429.8454 New York, Aspen, Atlanta, Birmingham, MI, Chevy Chase, MD, Cleveland, Nantucket, Palm Desert, San Francisco, Seattle, Vail, Easton and Chestertown, MD www.ninamclemore.com

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“Lily is an old soul. She’s genuinely compassionate and driven by her curiosity and love for her family and friends,” Susan says.

Susan Wagenknecht, Cordillera Club member and owner of W Salon in Edwards with her seven-year-old daughter Lily, who likes to dream about rainbows, unicorns and butterflies.

Susan Wagenknecht, Dress, ASOS. Daughter Lily, Dress, Rare Edition, Saks Fifth Avenue.

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Fashion

Since Amy’s girls were young, every time a fire engine would pass they would all shout, “Hot hot fire truck,” which they re-enacted for our courageous Cordillera firemen eliciting lots of laughs. A double entendre is applicable.

Amy Bennett, Cordillera resident and teacher assistant at ECCA with her daughters Allison, 12, and Madilyn, 13 years old who both attend ECCA.

Amy Bennett, NINA MCLEMORE, Vail.

Necklace, Kimberley’s Fine Jewelry, Edwards.

Daughters Allison and Madilyn, Clothing, Jewelry, Shoes, Valleygirl Boutique, Edwards.

Fashion

41

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Debi Brandt, COO, ThriveMD, Cordillera resident with her stepdaughters Aimée Brandt, 17 years old, senior at Battle Mountain High School who will be attending CU Boulder next year, and Maxime Brandt, 15 years old and a freshman at Battle Mountain High School.

“The girls and I are lucky to have such an incredibly close bond.

I’m a very proud stepmom,” Debi says.

Debi Brandt, Nicole Miller Dress, Perch, Vail; Necklace, Kimberley’s Fine Jewelry, Edwards.

Stepdaughters: Aimée, The Black & White Dress, Alexis; and Maxime’s, Top by Mason, Skirt by Elizabeth and James, Perch, Vail.

Jewelry, Valleygirl boutique, Edwards.

Fashion

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Cordillera Community FirstBank is actively lending in the Cordillera Community and would like to help you with your mortgage needs. Here are just a few of the reasons why people choose FirstBank: We Offer Low Rates and Fees. FirstBank has very competitive rates and strives to keep closing costs low.

You Work Directly with the Decision Maker. Unlike most lenders who send your loan to an underwriter for approval, our bankers have the authority to make most loan decisions. By paying our bankers a salary instead of commission, we meet our customer’s needs rather than our own.

We Have More Flexibility to Approve the Loan. The majority of our loans are held in our own portfolio. This gives us the flexibility to approve good, common sense loans that may not be approved under strict Fannie Mae or FHA guidelines.

We Can Close the Loan Quickly. Our in-house loan processing is quick, easy, and under our control so we can close the loan in a timely manner and on the agreed upon date.

We Offer Many Solutions. FirstBank offers many mortgage programs including fixed rates, straight-forward adjustable rate products, as well as First-Time Buyer and Affordable Housing programs that have lower closing costs and available Down Payment Assistance for qualifying borrowers.

These are just a few of the great reasons to work with FirstBank. Give us a call or stop by one of our convenient Eagle County locations today to learn more: 0011 W. Beaver Creek Blvd. P.O. Box 5270 Avon, CO 81620 (970)949-0100

105 Edwards Village Blvd. Building F Edwards, CO 81632 (970)926-6100

2271 North Frontage Road West Vail, CO 81657 (970)476-8000

17 Vail Road Vail, CO 81657 (970)476-5686

25 Market Street Eagle, CO 81631 (970)328-9600

efirstbankmortgages.com Member FDIC

Brent Bingham Photography

AWHITE HOUSE TOUR

THE HOUSE THAT DREAMS BUILT

by Diane Tauber Schultz

On a rainy Labor Day weekend 10 years ago, prominent Florida orthopedic hand and micro-vascular surgeon, Dr. George M. White, and his wife, Charlotte White, decided to pass the time looking at homes in Cordillera. Today, they’re sitting on the hearth of one of their home’s 10 fireplaces in a great room that has earned its name. Their completed estate renovation that they aptly named Black Bear Lodge nearly doubled the size of the existing home and is now surrounded by cascading waterfalls, exquisite gardens, a previously non-existent fishing pond, killer views, and even a sanctuary. It’s a giant leap from what they stepped into that rainy day.

“I call this my favorite place on earth,” George says walking under one of the homes multiple interior arches and over a suspended bridge that seamlessly connects the old house with the new. “We’ve been all over world. By far this home is where I look forward to coming the most. It’s an incredibly special place,” he adds. “We work very hard in Orlando, long days and nights. This is really an escape place for me.”

The home is nestled at the end of Black Bear Trail and backs up to a Wildlife Corridor, a habitat link that joins two or more larger areas of similar habitat for ecological preservation and continuity of animal movement and population preservation. William Randolph Hearst shipped in exotic animals from all over the world for his San Simeon castle estate grounds. The White’s estate is naturally amassed with wildlife year-round. They even installed exterior cameras so they could remotely enjoy the perpetual sightings of elk, deer and mountain lion that pass through their little slice of heaven.

“We have incredible wildlife adventures,” George says. “A 46

mountain lion sat on a rock wall by our garage for 10 minutes one day, and we woke up one Christmas morning to an entire yard littered with elk, about 100 elk.” The Vail Daily published Charlotte’s photo of the mountain lion chilling on the wall.

While RMT Architects provided the spectacular design, George is the idea guy on this project. He says so himself, as do all the major contractors who worked on the renovation. White had his hand in everything big and small and would come in once a month to make changes or see it executed. One of White’s hobbies is to design intricate elaborate wood ceilings, which he incorporated into his Orlando home.

“George was the creative genius and visionary,” says the project’s general contractor Sean McGinley, owner of Meadow Mountain Homes. “He’s very passionate and had this vision and dream.

Sometimes he’d have an actual dream the night before and was really good at conveying his ideas, and we were happy to make the changes.”

Bringing that vision to life required a small army. The deadline?

Labor Day weekend 2014, just in time for a White wedding. George and Charlotte’s son was getting married. On any given day for nearly a year and a half you’d find 40 to 70 masons and other tradesmen working on the project year-round, pushing through a winter that had record snowfall. The last six to eight months of the job required two shifts of workers onsite day and night, including weekends.

“What I love about what we do as general contractors is that all the trades we use are small businesses,” says Ingrid Monson McGinley, co-owner of Meadow Mountain Homes. “Here’s a beautiful home they

House and Garden

Brent Bingham Photography

can have for generations and we as a small business, along with other small businesses, worked on it. That’s a huge driving force of our economy in the Vail Valley.”

Upon entering through the home’s arched front double-doors there’s an immediate sense of home and hearth. Despite its sprawling 13,000 square feet, a cozy intimate space appears at every turn that invites you to crawl up next to a warm fire and read a good book. The interior décor has been personally rather than professionally appointed by the Whites to make this house a home in its most authentic sense.

There are warm hues of color throughout, nothing jarring.

An original Remington entitled “Bronco Man” is displayed on the coffee table. Remington himself gave it to the U.S. Secretary of the Navy in 1940. George purchased it 25 years ago at an estate sale for $300 believing it was a replica. Imagine his surprise.

Every room in the house opens up to the outdoors and sounds of the streams and waterfalls flow in. The multiple upper and lower outdoor decks continually lure you to step out and take in the aweinspiring views of the New York Mountains. Your eye moves down through layers of gardens and running water features from one level to the next that cascade down mountain, under bridges, and into the fishing pond. In case the views don’t keep you on the decks, several seating areas, fire pits, and a hot tub will nudge you to relax and stay awhile.

Ah, but this is a tour so back inside. As you pass the dining room where the house previously ended and walk across the bridge connecting the new addition to the pre-existing home there is no

artwork necessary. The floor-to-ceiling windows expose long-range mountain views on one side and the national forest on the other. This creates a unique feel of being tucked in the woods while offering views typically only available on mountaintops.

Under the entry arch the expanse of the great room gradually opens up. This is the heart of the home and is one of the catalysts for this renovation. George wanted a large gathering place for family and friends. Its focal point is a huge inset fireplace you could almost step into made of Colorado Moss Rock with handcrafted iron doors. Some of the fireplace rocks were so massive they had to be set into the house by cranes prior to the roof being set.

The three-level renovation of 4,894 livable square feet (not counting porches, mechanical rooms, etc.) houses the great room, covered deck with fireplace and outdoor kitchen, an enormous master suite with a full bath and a fireplace, an adjacent sitting room which opens onto the lower deck, a home theater with a sitting area and a fireplace, a kitchenette and wine cellar. The additional six bedrooms are located in the pre-existing home.

The logs used to build this home range eight to 36 inches in diameter. Arnold Schwarzenegger couldn’t wrap his arms fully around some of the vertical spruce log beams that ascend into the ceiling.

A custom stick-branch staircase railing at one end of the great room leads up to an open-air loft office above the bar. The covered porch off the great room is an extension of this room and comes equipped with outdoor heaters on the rafters, a 10-seat iron table, a wet bar, a grill and smoker, a wood-burning stove, and even a pizza oven.

House and Garden

47

Brent Bingham Photography

The objective of bringing the Cordillera great outdoors inside is continued with taxidermy above the fireplace and other locations, and wildlife photography on the walls. “A friend of mine took all the photographs and most of them, except for the bears, were taken here,” Charlotte says.

The great room bar is a combination of fine woodwork and intricate ironwork with a solid hammered metal countertop handcrafted by a local blacksmith and looks like you need a cowboy hat to be served. What’s being served is George’s extensive bourbon collection, 100 bottles to be exact, which are impressively displayed.

The continuous warm colors in the furniture, drapery, carpeting and walls cause your eyes to climb up to the open log and reclaimed barn wood ceiling. George wanted a rustic feel to the entire renovation reminiscent of old national park architecture—think initial homes built in Bachelor’s Gulch and Strawberry Park, Beaver Creek.

Rustic Western frontier style of architecture developed in the early to mid-1900s has elements in common such as exposed roof beams, time-intensive hand craftsmanship and huge stone fireplaces.

This architecture achieves its purpose—to be in harmony with the environment—and your senses get it faster than your eye.

The log portion of the home was built offsite upside down, disassembled, trucked to Cordillera in phases and re-erected right side up using multiple cranes. The logs are from Utah, Colorado and Montana and cover the ceilings, walls, and support beams.

As you descend into the lower levels a castle-like feel sets in and you’re not quite sure what will meet you at the subterranean level. The stairway’s walls are pure stone with wood ceilings, rope iron handrails and iron long-stem candelabras that make you want to remove them from the wall to light your way.

At the bottom, the staircase turns and widens revealing a home 48

theatre with 13 leather seats with cup holders set in a half-moon configuration in front of the screen. There’s a wet bar, a wine cellar, and, of course, cozy seating around the fireplace.

Three double-door arched inset cabinets showcase a collection of crucifixes from Europe. “George surprised me with those last Christmas. The Archbishop of Avignon collected crosses and when he passed away they were given to his family who sold them,” Charlotte says. “Some are marble and granite and are so heavy, but when you pick that one up (she points to a crucifix) it’s made of balsa wood and you could throw it over your shoulder.” Charlotte shares a thick book George made especially for her that showcases the history of the crosses.

A door just beyond the theatre room leads outside to the sanctuary. “George built the sanctuary for me,” Charlotte softly says.

“I’m the one who gets up everyday and reads the bible.”

Everything within the house has been peaceful and welcoming including Charlotte. Outside, along the mountain’s gradual slope is what the Whites call the sanctuary area. It’s a series of walking paths, outdoor gardens, waterfalls, a fishing pond and a recreational building. When you’re inside the recreational building the waterfalls adjacent to it reflect off its windows, an unexpected bonus to the structure’s inner beauty.

George’s very own fishing pond is one-third the size of a football field. It’s 12 feet at its deepest point and holds a whopping 523,600 gallons of water that continually recycle through the streams and waterfalls. Built with Cherokee boulders it has a natural spring source on the property that was an old water trough previously used by ranchers for cattle and horses. That’s the thing with creating a fishing pond. A natural spring source is required, which George accidently stepped into one day while walking with his dog, turning his dream of

House and Garden

PAVER DRIVEWAYS ARRIVE TO STYLE DESIGN // BUILD // SERVICE AVIGNONSTONE.COM // 970.476.5560

Brent Bingham Photography

a private fishing hole into a reality.

The pond and water features were eight months in the making.

Some of the boulders used were as big as a VW Bug. While most ponds are created on more flat surfaces, Rocky Mountain Custom Landscapes (RMCL) had an additional challenge due to the land slope. Moving mountains takes on new meaning. They cut into the mountain, flattened the pond area, imported materials, and built a 20-foot dam.

They also created the series of waterfalls that begin at the main house level and run into the pond.

“The challenge was to create a natural environment,” says Jason Ulberg, vice president of RMCL. The water features on this property look like Mother Nature had a hand in it. The design deliberately takes the water’s normal path down mountain. “The sheer mass of water movement in all of its glory as it comes down off the mountain is really beautiful,” Ulberg adds.

George was involved in the landscaping and water features design from the get--go. “Dr. White is a very intelligent man and he can visualize things, which is a huge help when you’re doing a creative project like this. A lot of the time individuals can’t see it,” says RMCL president Bobby Head.

All around the pond and sanctuary are spruce, crab apple and plum trees, as well as Ginnala maple shrubs and specialty evergreens that cascade over the waterfalls and hang down into the water feature.

The annual flowers that were planted for color to meet the White’s family wedding timeline were by Lynn Dwyer, of Dwyer Greens & Flowers, who sponsored a garden tour for the Cordillera community in the fall of 2014.

Looking up from the sanctuary, the massive amount of stonework glimmers gold in the sunlight and it’s not clear where the old house ends and the new one begins. The suspended bridge between the two larger structures that has a shadow garden and a stream flowing below it and down mountain was George’s idea.

Avignon Stone & Outdoor Living is in large part responsible for this visual marriage of two structures. Avignon’s masons did all the exterior stone veneer, interior stonework, flagstone floors and 50

all fireplaces.

The exterior of the home is a combination of Oklahoma and Telluride gold stone veneer that the masons meticulously matched to the original structure. Moss rock was used on the sanctuary’s recreational building. The series of walking paths, bridges (Augusta National Golf Club style), and the homes’ fireplaces are all products of this company’s masonry.

“This is one of the larger custom home projects we’ve done in 13 years,” says Christian Avignon, president and owner of Avignon Stone & Outdoor Living, Inc. “We were trying to match and resemble certain aspects of fireplaces in the old house while making them resemble but be a little different, creating a really massive impact in every room.”

“Dr. White was really good about giving a clear and concise message regarding what he wanted with masonry work,” Avignon says. His biggest challenge? “To complete it by a wedding date which is never easy for that scale project, but we did it. We can work on deadlines.” Side note: Avignon is also owner of 10th Mountain Whiskey and Spirit Co. Creativity never ceases.

Sean McGinley adds, “All of our contractors on the job really pushed for the success of this project. Everyone wanted to deliver this beautiful property to the Whites for the wedding and did whatever it took to get there.”

The project was fully completed less than a week prior to the White’s wedding, which allowed the ceremony to be moved from Cordillera’s summit to the White sanctuary.

A dream home deserved a dream wedding.

House and Garden

MAKE A STATEMENT

YOUR HOME SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOU. DOESN’T IT DESERVE THE BEST?

Great Outdoor Design Never Shies Away from Making a Statement We are dedicated to delivering full landscape services. We pride ourselves on our quality, flexibility and creativity while focusing on the full spectrum of your landscape needs.

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Brent Bingham Photography

JOY IN BLOOM

Jane Wilner shares the rewards of growing your own garden.

by Diane Tauber Schultz

If you’re looking for Jane Wilner on early summer mornings, you’ll find her strolling her gardens in her robe and slippers sipping coffee to see what is blooming. She leisurely pulls weeds and snips a spent bud (deadheading for you gardeners) and sees what the deer have eaten. Attending to her garden is her favorite activity of the day.

Wilner is self-taught, hands on, and driven by aesthetics, color and balance similar to the way she decorates a room. She began gardening 12 years ago when she and her husband, Tom, started spending the summers at their Cordillera Divide home. “I had never seen such beautiful gardens as here in Cordillera,” Wilner says.

“Flowers love the cool nights and the hot sun during the day. That kind of inspired me.”

Jane’s garden reaches up and sways as if to greet you as you descend on her driveway to what she calls the Hansel and Gretel home she always wanted. There’s Aster (one of her favorites because of its vivid bluish-purple color), black-eyed Susan, Salvia, Delphinium, summer sun Heliopsis, poppies phlox, dianthus, lupines, day lilies, speedwell, Johnson’s Geranium, Russian sage and lavender.

Along Wilner’s driveway was a wildflower landscape when she began gardening. “People are usually very disappointed in their second year of a wildflower garden, because a predominant flower takes over,” she explains.

She then began ripping the wildflowers out. “I always choose by 52

color, height, and proportion,” she says. “I don’t have a theme. It’s as a helter skelter as I am,” she says laughing. Color became her main priority. “I love color. I’m so influenced by it. I look at my garden and see that I need a pop of red, and I go out and buy something red to add,” she says while suggesting to enjoy the unexpected. “A rogue flower will appear and give the most pleasant surprise.”

Her advice to beginners? Begin with good soil and add MiracleGro with a regular fertilizer to create a healthy root system, so the strength of the plant goes toward the bloom. Add manure each year, and turn it over to get air into the soil. She dips the roots of plants in Miracle-Gro before she plants. Cover soil in mulch; it keeps moisture in. “Trust your instincts and plunge in,” she adds.

Some tricks to creating a flower tower is to begin with a stand that is as big on the bottom as it is at the top rim or it will topple.

Wilner learned that lesson the hard way. Find flowers with the right rootball that will fit into little holes. Soak the rootball a couple of minutes in QuickGrow and get it really wet. She hooked up an irrigation system to her flower towers.

At the end of the day, she enjoys the physical activity of gardening but there exists something more. “It’s very spiritual in nature and gives me a respect for nature,” Wilner confides. “I can sing my own praises for having created this garden, but on the other hand it humbles you because you know you’re not in charge of anything.”

House and Garden

0105-C EDWARDS VILLAGE BLVD. UNIT C101, EDWARDS, CO 81632 P. 970.926.8185

Featured Property // Peace Ranch, Near Aspen, CO // Sold for $17,150,000 Listed by Tommy Latousek & Mary Anne Meyer of Douglas Elliman | Joshua & Co.

CALL ME OR ONE OF OUR COLORADO PREFERRED AGENTS TO LEARN MORE CHRISTINE WILHELM DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, CONCIERGE AUCTIONS 212.257.4927 // CHRISTINE.WILHELM@CONCIERGEAUCTIONS.COM

Without a doubt, the best strategy for selling unique assets is through a Concierge auction. No contingencies, a 30-day timeframe and — as always — brokers are fully protected. Join the ranks of our preferred agent network today.

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by Laura Lieff

Since 2002, Juniper Restaurant owner Doug Abel has strived to satisfy the eclectic palettes of locals and visitors from around the world. In an effort to provide a casual city bistro atmosphere where people can enjoy top-notch cuisine while wearing jeans or ski clothes in the winter and shorts and flip-flops in the summer, Abel has created a dining experience that consistently brings customers back for more.

“The dynamic of the clientele depends on the season,” he explains. “During the wintertime we see the same customers once or twice because they are in town for a week, while in the summer people are here longer and we see them multiple times during their stay. We definitely have regulars for both seasons that always come back to visit us.”

While Abel is originally from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, he spent every summer since age five in the Vail Valley so the area has always felt like home. After graduating from Denison University in Ohio with a degree in Economics and Political Science, Abel went back to Ft. Lauderdale to work for a bank which he quickly realized wasn’t for him.

In 1991 he became a permanent Vail Valley resident, working as a tennis pro at Ford Park for a few years and then in real estate for eight years. While commuting to the University of Denver to earn his MBA (which he finished in 1996), Abel began working part-time at Sweet Basil in 1994. After finishing at DU he transitioned into a full-time employee and remained at Sweet Basil until the winter of 1999. His time there sparked his interest in the restaurant business and ultimately led him to where he is today. In 1999, Abel opened 56

Brent Bingham Photography

Juniper’s Cordillera Connection Runs Deep Larkspur as the general manager and was there for a year before starting to look for something on his own.

GO YOUR OWN WAY Although people thought he was insane for starting his own restaurant, Abel says, “The initial fear was definitely reduced by the fact that I was opening the new place with my partner at the time, Executive Chef Mike Irwin, who worked with me at Sweet Basil.” The restaurant’s third partner was Kirby Kelly who two years ago decided to choose a different professional path. Abel now has full ownership and financial responsibility of Juniper.

“Both Mike and Kirby deserve credit for starting and getting the restaurant through its first six years,” Abel says. “It’s a lot easier to start a restaurant with people like them.”

Since the restaurant’s opening, the concept behind Juniper has been “contemporary American casual dining with influences from all over the world.” Abel explains that from the beginning Juniper was designed to be “a down-Valley Sweet Basil” which means an open, active and busy kitchen, seasonal dining, local and fresh ingredients and everything made from scratch. By taking this approach, the restaurant attracts clientele from all over the world depending on the season. Abel says the summertime brings customers from places like California, Texas and Arizona while the wintertime draws people from Europe and Mexico, among other international places.

One of Juniper’s signature dishes is the veal scaloppini (which is

Food and Wine

Brent Bingham Photography Brent Bingham Photography

always on the menu) and this summer everyone can look forward to the restaurant’s staple halibut and the tomato mozzarella pizza, both of which Abel describes as fan favorites.

“For the most part we will always keep the proteins the same; it’s what goes with them that changes depending on the season,” he explains. “Expect more corn and tomatoes and spring vegetables in the summer while in the winter we feature more root vegetables.”

Additionally, Juniper’s side dishes usually catch the attention of Abel’s customers, especially the Brussels sprouts, and the delectable desserts are worth the calories. Look for the key lime pie this summer and Charles’ Hot Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake which is always on the menu.

“Consistency in gourmet food is an art and Juniper Restaurant can be proud of being one of the few that accomplishes that,” says Trudo Letschert, a 14-year Cordillera resident and developer of Galleon Resort and Marina in Key West, Florida. “Creating innovative cuisine in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere with professional service makes for the perfect combination. Any out-of-town guest accompanying us to Juniper usually wonders why they don’t have a place like this back home.”

STRONG TEAM Abel credits his culinary team for executing the restaurant’s menu, which has expanded over the years. Executive Chef Scott Ofsanko joined the lineup in September 2013 and Sous Chef Joel Paula has

been an asset in the kitchen for the last few years. Chef de Cuisine Santos Amacias, also a Sweet Basil and Larkspur transplant, has been part of the Juniper culinary team since day one. He and Abel have been working together since 1994. Pastry Chef Charles Broshinsky came to Juniper in 2008 and also worked with Abel at Sweet Basil.

Another aspect that sets Juniper apart from other fine dining establishments is its “Juniper After Dark” nights that occur sporadically throughout the summer. Once dinner service concludes, the tables in the front of the restaurant are cleared out and replaced with a dance floor and DJ Whitebread aka Eric Lyon’s turntables.

Along with being a Juniper regular and their resident DJ, Lyon is also a Cordillera member and the owner of Vail Real Estate Group which is the exclusive brokerage for the Club at Cordillera.

“Juniper is hands down the best restaurant in Edwards, if not the Valley,” says Lyon. “Doug has figured out the keys to a successful restaurant which are an amazing seasonal menu, a dedicated and friendly staff, a talented kitchen, a bar you can belly up to and a loyal local following.”

Enticing the dancing kings and queens of the Valley, “Juniper After Dark” nights will take place on a couple of Fridays throughout the summer. Announcements of the dates are sent out via email and social media and can be found in newspaper advertisements.

CORDILLERA CONNECTION In addition to its status as a local and tourist favorite, Juniper has always been a preferred dining location of Cordillera residents. The relationship is symbiotic because Abel is also a member of Cordillera, an avid golfer and tennis player, and a big fan of the community overall. He says he enjoys seeing friends and customers on the golf course and tennis court, both of which provide another connection and interaction between Juniper and Cordillera.

“I can’t emphasize enough how important the synergy between our business and Cordillera is to our success,” he says. “A healthy Cordillera has helped our business, and Troon is doing a great job. It’s tangible – I can definitely see the good work that’s being done.”

He concludes, “We get a lot of support from Cordillera and I’m looking forward to another great season at the club and the restaurant.

I’m their biggest fan!”

Juniper Restaurant is located at 97 Main Street in Edwards. To make a reservation call 970-926-7001 or visit www.juniperrestaurant.com.

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970-926-5000 * The Riverwalk at Edwards * vailvintagemagnolia.com

Brent Bingham Photography

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BAILEY’S FUN IS IN THE ON THE KITCHEN MENU A PALISADE WEEKEND WITH CHEF BAILEY

by Benjamin A. Gochberg

It’s more than a relief to hop into my car after work and drive west to Palisade. Although I love our town, you just have to get away from time to time.

I’ve got miles to go before I sleep, but I’m excited at the prospect of one of the beautiful beds at the Wine Country Inn, my host property for the weekend. The Inn, owned by Cordillera locals Richard and Jean Tally, sits just off the Palisade exit among fields of grape vines. As I turn into the drive, my only lament is that I’m arriving too late for the local wine tasting in the spacious lounge. I scoot through the hotel’s rear courtyard past the pool and find my beautiful, simply decorated room. I remind myself there will be more wine tomorrow as I sit in on Chef Richard A. Bailey’s cooking class.

Chef Bailey of Taste 5 Catering is a local fixture of our fine valley.

Although we have never met, I am certain that I have eaten his food at a fundraiser or community event.

I don’t know what to expect in the morning when I round the hallway to find Chef Bailey setting up for class. Many of the chefs I meet come with an ego, an affected accent, and/or a power distance large enough to make a high-powered executive blush. Indeed, Chef Bailey’s resume is impressive enough to intimidate just about any casual foodie.

Chef Bailey started his time in kitchens at the Sonoma Mission Inn

as a dishwasher at age 16. A few fortuitous firings of other employees in that same kitchen landed him a spot on the line next to Chef Larry Elbert, who at the time was considered to be one of the top three chefs in California. Over the next ten years, Chef Bailey would go on to lead several kitchens, including all of the culinary entities at the Club at Cordillera between 2000 – 2007. He also reopened the kitchens at the Manor Vail Lodge. His latest endeavor, Taste 5 Catering, provides personal chef services, private parties, door-to-door dinners, and cooking classes. While observing Chef Bailey, I’m pleasantly surprised to see that although he is in a spotless white apron, he didn’t have the time or desire to shave. A quick conversation about the people and places we have in common puts me at ease.

I discover a table covered in bottles of local wine, freshly made pastries from the hotel kitchen, and coffee. It’s the perfect way to begin a Saturday morning.

We jump right into class, the seven of us sitting in the kitchen like children, joking and exchanging pleasantries while Chef Bailey prepares. Before we know it we find ourselves chopping vegetables, and learning how to do so the right way. Chef Bailey wields his knife like an extension of his own arm. He moves through a pepper, unrolling it across the blade of his knife. We copy, laughing at our partial success.

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“How long did it take you to learn that,” asks Korwin, a retired telecom professional.

“That was actually my first time,” grinned chef.

We start talking about the food being prepared for the day. The subject of following recipes comes along, and although chef is willing to vocalize as he puts everything together, it becomes readily apparent that he is less interested in following specific previous successes than discovering exciting new ones.

“We’re freestyling today…that’s how my grandma taught me,” chef quips as he throws another dash of an ingredient into the food processor. Things come together so quickly it’s difficult for a few of the guests to keep up as they attempt to piece together a recipe from verbal instructions.

After ensuring that the guests who truly want the recipe have it written down, he reaches into the cupboard behind him to produce a bottle and another good-humored ribbing toward the recipe-conscious guests.

“Can I start on the tequila now?” chef says. We continue to joke as he pours every interested party the largest ounce of locally distilled tequila I’ve ever seen. I slide the shot next to my still full wine glass and chuckle.

Sheila, a Grand Junction local, chimes in as we create one of the most aromatic and well-prepared Caesar salads I’ve ever seen using pureed salted anchovy.

“What famous chef do you most admire?,” Sheila asks.

“Richard Bailey,” proffers chef, to another round of raucous laughter. We dig into the salad while the chef prepares a whole salmon with spinach and leek stuffing and a tomato-thyme beurre blanc.

I realize I’m grinning ear to ear with the pure enjoyment of the day and at only $100 or so per person for a private class or party, I now completely understand why he is in such high demand.It’s while we’re all crying and laughing over cutting onions that I look around at the group and realize that I’m experiencing a perfect moment. In that moment, our little class ceased to be about learning how to cook and started to be about something else altogether. It didn’t matter who we were before that day. It didn’t matter what our political views were or where we came from. We were making a meal together, and magically, we were best friends.

The evening was a blur of food. We butcher and stuff fresh chickens with tomato, mozzarella and basil. There’s perfectly roasted and salted asparagus and salmon with roasted red pepper coulis. Chef Bailey eats with us, but only after glancing around and making sure everyone is enjoying themselves. He smiles with an understated self-assurance.

After our day in the kitchen, a few of us gather back together in the hotel lounge to drink local beer and talk about things you only talk about after a day of good food and wine. We speak of our dreams and families as if we’ve known each other for years.

Fresh coffee and pastries from the hotel kitchen greets us in the morning and Chef Bailey is in the throws of preparing fresh fruit. After showing us creative garnish ideas, we spice a few tuna filets and sear them.

The deep red of the rare ahi tuna combined with the smoky smell of the spices and fresh fruit instantly brings me out of a slight wine hangover and back to hungry.

We eat together one last time, and while a few of the ladies joke about setting me up with their nieces, I realize that this weekend was one of the most relaxing and rewarding experiences I’ve ever had in a kitchen. Chef Bailey had created something truly special and had done so with such lack of pretension that the casual observer could have missed it altogether.

I think back to our late evening in the lounge together and a question posed by Mark, an executive, to the chef.

“So chef…what’s the end game?”

“End…?”

The Wine Country Inn is located at 777 Grand River Drive, Palisade, CO 81526; 970.438.6021.

Food and Wine

Not on our Watch.

BEAVER LIQUORS

offers weekly delivery to ensure that your cellar stays stocked and your glass stays full.

Call to schedule your delivery 970-949-5040

Photos: Brent Bingham Photography

All Day to Get There Float Fishing on the Colorado

by Benjamin A. Gochberg

The morning is overcast and cold, gray clouds unrolling slowly across the skyline. The Colorado River bends across the valley as I pull into New Castle. The town isn’t awake yet, but a gas station is all you need when all you need is coffee. Fortunately, I had been able to pick up a six pack the night before, knowing I’d likely be hanging out for the day with a few men that see things much the same way I do.

The put-in for the boat is just around the corner, a makeshift combination of old concrete and gravel sliding into the river, an understated path to peace. I stand off to the side as Pete Mott pulls up in his truck. A river-colored boat hitched to his truck sports Pete’s logo and seems impressively sleek for the amount of time it spends on the river.

Trout Trickers, Pete’s outfit, a year-round custom float fly fishing guide service, specializes in doing more and being better than the best. He starts early and goes late, and even comes prepared to grill on the river. Pete pops open a tin to show me hundreds upon hundreds of flies. He came out to Colorado for one fly-fishing season. That was 23 seasons ago. He beams as his German shorthaired pointer scurries around exploring the shoreline. After making 62

sure that Cordillera resident Ron Askew, the other angler, and I have the right clothing for the day, we push out quietly into the river.

The boat rocks gently against the current as Pete preps the rods and the flies for us. Most of my experiences fishing as a kid consisted of a drive, a hike, prepping all my own equipment, finding out I left something at the truck, going back to the truck, hiking again, and then finally starting to fish. When I asked Pete what he typically charges for a day in the boat, I blushed at how inexpensive he offered his expertise. Pete has documented over 16,000 miles on the oars floating the Colorado, Roaring Fork, and Eagle rivers in his 23 years of guiding here. This day was going to be different.

The blue green brown river pushes us along, and within a few minutes Ron starts putting light casts out to the side of the boat.

Charlie, the dog, sits next to me in the boat. Quietly, all of us watch the flies hit the water. The bob sits on the top of the water and floats parallel to the boat. Our eyes are glued to it as it floats along, waiting for the tell-tale strike of a hungry brown or rainbow trout.

After a few minutes of quiet staring, all of us realize that we could probably be talking at the same time. “Pete has this uncanny ability to read the water and read the insects, and get me on fish

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that I can catch,” Ron explains. “So, he’ll be changing flies until we’re catching fish all afternoon.” Ron has been fishing with Pete for nearly two decades.

Pete then cracks a joke about one of us, and pretty soon Ron is chuckling just hard enough to make the fly rod shake in his hand. The conversation seems to be the same conversation that has been had a hundred times before. Even though I’m the new guy in Pete’s boat, we talk like we’d known each other for years. It’s when someone is in mid-sentence that the first trout strikes.

Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrrrr….

Ron immediately bends the rod against itself, pulling against the strike. We see the first fish flip around, and Ron gently guides it to the side of the boat and into a net. Pete picks the fish out of the net and in a few gentle motions, removes the hook and lets the fish back out into the water. Our first trout of many glides gently away, no worse for wear and still hungry, but likely a bit smarter.

We go on to bring in several more, including the biggest whitefish I ever caught on the Colorado, but I quickly remember that fishing really isn’t about fishing at all. The three of us men share time the way most men do, downing a beer and occasionally talking

about what keeps us up at night and what keeps us going during the day.

A bald eagle sits in an empty tree as we glide by and we watch him in silence. The boat passes through a few shallow rapids and I brace my weight unnecessarily against my seat. The clouds part and the day warms up as we go. Charlie leaps out of the boat on command and plays in the water as we sit back in the sun, just setting and having a completely undeserved beer.

“A pretty good day to be on the river,” Ron says.

Every day seems like a pretty good day if you’re doing this.

“Yep,” Pete says. “Nowhere to go and all day to get there.”

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SINCE 1992

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Year round guided fly fishing Walk/wade and float fishing tips Destination travel Fly fishing Group and wedding packages available Orvis two-day Fly fishing schools

Visit our Full retail shop in Avon, next to Agave 1060 West Beaver Creek Blvd. / Avon, CO 81620 970-845-8090 or 970-476-FISH (970-476-3474)

flyfishingoutfitters.net Cordillera property owners, club members and lodge guests receive a special Cordillera discount on trips and merchandise

THERE ARE NO FLAT LIES

AT CORDILLERA

by Louis M. Schultz

The best golf courses in America are noted for their signature holes. For Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey, the number one rated course in America, it is the 5th hole, which is a par three of 200 plus yards over a deep ravine. Pebble Beach is noted for its par-3 7th which extends into the Pacific Ocean and, depending on the wind, the average golfer will have to use anywhere from a wedge to a 3-wood.

Pinhurst No. 2, 7th hole in North Caroline has brought many a pro to his knees. Then there is Augusta’s Amen Corner, holes 11, 12 and 13, which is truly the sturdiest test for any golfer, if you ever have the opportunity to play there.

While Cordillera could arguably have several signature holes on its three courses, the real challenge is that there are no flat lies on any of them. Carved out of the mountains, the courses were built to be exceptionally challenging by taking full advantage of the uneven terrain. Who could argue with No. 12 on the Mountain course as one of the most challenging holes to make par? No. 12 and 13 at the Summit will make your heart stop in a New York minute. And the 17th hole at the Valley is a pure nightmare especially when the wind is blowing, which is almost every day.

Because of Cordillera’s difficult terrain, we asked our four pros to give us some tips on how to play these uneven lies.

Tim Mahoney, director of education for Troon Golf, and

Jack LoBiondo, Cordillera’s director of golf and instruction, has observed that improved technology resulting in less drooping shafts, low spin golf balls and a higher launch trajectory has impacted the flight of the golf ball. “There is less spin and little to no curve in flight,” LoBiondo says. This affects how you play side hill and sloped lies. “The golf ball will still fly in the direction of the slope but with a more limited curve, and you have to adjust your swing positon to compensate for less curve,” he adds.

LoBiondo recommends that you need to seriously think about your stance and position as you approach each shot. For example, either an uphill shot or a downhill shot with the ball above your feet will always result in “pull” to the left. On the other hand, if you have the same shot but with the ball below your feet, recognize that the ball’s flight path will still be blocked to the right.

“The way to play Cordillera is to always position the ball in the middle of your stance with your shoulders parallel to the slope. Set your spine at a right angle to the slope and swing the club at right angles to your spine,” LoBiondo advises.

Sounds good but how does this really look while on the golf course? The cliché that a picture is worth a thousand words is so true here. So we asked each of Cordillera’s pros to demonstrate the proper stance for each of the most prevalent shots on these courses.

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NO FLAT LIES

PURE UPHILL LIE

Travis Blanchard demonstrates hitting on a pure uphill lie.

The golf ball tends to go left.

Adjust aim to right.

Center the weight; do not put more weight on the front or back foot.

Take one more club than one would normally use.

Make a balanced swing.

Brent Bingham Photography

Brent Bingham Photography

Set the shoulders parallel with the slope.

UPHILL & SIDEHILL LIE (BALL ABOVE FEET)

Darren Szot demonstrates hitting an uphill and sidehill lie with the ball above your feet.

The ball will still tend to go left.

Adjust aim to the right.

Grip down (lower) on the club.

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Keep weight forward (balls of your feet).

Swing easier with a stable body.

Make a balanced swing.

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Brent Bingham Photography

Brent Bingham Photography

Put the ball in the middle of the your stance.

The

GOOD Life

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NO FLAT LIES

PURE DOWNHILL LIE

Ian Bruce demonstrates hitting a pure downhill lie.

The ball tends to go to the right.

Set shoulders to match the slope.

Keep the weight slightly forward (balls of your feet).

Take one less club.

Make a balanced swing.

Brent Bingham Photography

Brent Bingham Photography

Adjust aim to the left.

DOWNHILL & SIDEHILL LIE (BALL BELOW FEET)

Jack LoBiondo demonstrates hitting a downhill and sidehill lie with the ball below your feet.

The ball still tends to go to the right.

Adjust aim to the left.

Put the weight closer to the heels and remember to squat.

Take one less club.

Swing easier with a stable body.

Make balanced swing.

Brent Bingham Photography

Brent Bingham Photography

Put the ball in the middle of the stance.

Finally, LoBiondo’s last piece of advice is, “Make several rehearsal swings with the club while focusing on keeping a balanced motion throughout the swing.” He adds, “Focus on the stance, and the swing will follow. You will avoid errant balls and penalties for lost or out-of-bounds shots.”

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We sell our Cordilera listings three times faster than the average broker (113 vs 281 Days on Market).

Vail Real Estate Group has the most real estate offices throughout Cordillera.

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Florida and never looked back,” he explains. “To this day if I have a choice between a public restaurant and a club I’ll always choose a club.”

Although Morgan and Podley technically handle different aspects of Cordillera’s event calendar, they work side by side to ensure the success of the Valley, Mountain and Summit golf courses and the Chaparral, TimberHearth and Summit restaurants.

NON-STOP SUMMER ACTION AT THE CLUB AT CORDILLERA

by Laura Lieff

Hailing from Okoboji, Iowa, Director of Membership Sales Suzanne Morgan has lived in the Vail Valley for 13 years and has been an integral part of the Club at Cordillera for five years. Both her undergraduate and master’s degrees are in Child Psychology, the latter of which she earned at Sierra Nevada College in Lake Tahoe. Morgan lives in Edwards with her family and enjoys all the outdoor activities the Valley has to offer including skiing, golf, biking, hiking and running.

Born and raised in Fort Myers, Florida, Clubhouse Manager Rob Podley was brought in to oversee food and beverage for the Club at Cordillera in December 2014. Although he swore he would never live in a place where it snows, after visiting Cordillera in the fall of 2014, his mind was changed.

“When I came to visit and had the opportunity to meet some of the members I thought to myself that these are great people who I want to be around,” Podley says. “My fiancée and I discussed it and here we are.”

Podley initially became involved in the hospitality industry as a line cook at Hawaiian Fusion Roy’s Restaurant in Bonita Springs, Florida.

“I had a great time but realized I wanted more interaction with people, so from there I progressed to country clubs in Southwest 70

What is the Club at Cordillera doing to create new events and highlight returning events?

S: The club’s growing popularity has attracted people from other Troon locations – for example we brought on Rob, who was the clubhouse manager at the Colonial Country Club in Florida. We will continue to bring other Troon associates in to provide their ideas and will continue to implement Troon company standards at the club.

R: We are increasing our promotions and marketing efforts by utilizing social media and ensuring that event information comes out well in advance. Overall we are going to do a better job of getting fliers and other materials out there and are looking forward to the new website coming soon.

The Club at Cordillera was selected to host the Troon Cup and the USGA Senior Women’s Qualifier this year. Why should members be excited about this selection?

S: As a community we should all be honored to be hosting these two events. Additionally, everyone should be excited that Cordillera was voted the number one private mountain golf course by Avid Golfer for 2014.

R: It should make people feel good that Cordillera was chosen out of over 50 Troon-Privé courses around the world. The selection showcases the community and gives the club the opportunity to shine.

What sets Cordillera events apart from other clubs?

S: All of our events are meticulously planned and well thoughtout. They also have fun themes and usually feature live music and dancing afterward at the TimberHearth which is the heartbeat of the community. Cordillera has widely become known as the fun club of the Valley because we are changing the way golf memberships are experienced.

R: Word of mouth has built up these events over the last couple of years and we are doing our part with promotions to make sure everyone is aware of all the events. The club goes above and beyond for all the events and our golf tournaments always feature food and drinks during and after each one.

One of the goals this summer is to encourage more widespread participation in Cordillera’s golf events. How do you plan on achieving that goal?

R: From a golf perspective we are going to focus on implementing some of the Troon programs including Troon Values Your Time, Troon Family Golf, Troon Drives Hope and TroonFIT. All of these are successful programs within the company that we haven’t fully Sports

developed yet but we will be working on this summer.

S: We are especially looking forward to implementing Troon Family Golf, which offers free golf for juniors who are playing with an adult. Additionally, TroonFIT raises awareness of the health benefits related to playing golf, promotes non-golf fitness activities like tennis, swimming and running, and incorporates nutritional offerings.

percent satisfaction.

What changes and improvements are planned for the summer at all three restaurants?

R: We will be updating our seasonal menus at all three restaurants with a focus on local, seasonal and organic ingredients. The wine lists at each location will be updated which will mean a wider, more diverse and higher quality selection. In an effort to offer a taste of Colorado, we will have local beers on our draft selection as well.

R: Member satisfaction is the primary objective for Food & Beverage.

I believe we are only as good as our last meal served or last event executed. In accordance with this philosophy we cannot rest on our laurels. While it is important to celebrate the “wins” as they come, it is equally important for our team to realize we shouldn’t become complacent and instead need to keep building on those wins. There is always something at which we can be better.

You both seem to work very well together. Is running the Club a team effort?

S: Absolutely. It is fun being part of a club that has so much going on and our team always works together.

S: Those menus are really being developed this summer and the changes will be based on member feedback. For example some of the feedback we’ve received about the TimberHearth is that our members love the fine dining choices but don’t necessarily want to eat fine dining food every night of the week. They see the club as an extension of their home so we’ve added casual fare and a weekly “down home” feature.

R: We are definitely a team. Everyone jumps in to help each other out regardless of what department we are in. All the departments, including golf operations, and food and beverage, etc., are intertwined and work as a team which is how it should be.

Which food-related events will return this summer?

S: We are looking forward to the Club at Cordillera Member Kickoff Celebration, Memorial Day Weekend Pool Party, the Community Day Party and the weekly complimentary wine mixers.

Summer 2015 Club Event Highlights JUNE 18 - 20 Member/Member Tournament

R: Event planning is always ongoing and all the popular events will be back this year. Additionally, we are focusing on adjustments to the restaurants and responses to member feedback.

JUNE 23 Men’s Guest Day, Mountain

What events are you most looking forward to this summer?

S: We have a lively social calendar at the club which includes a variety of events such as themed dinners, hiking, a road biking group, trail running, swimming and tennis lessons, as well as numerous specialty events throughout the year. These include the Canine Classic golf tournament, Community Day parties, and the One-Day Member Guest event which is a day for guests to come and experience the club. This year we are most excited about hosting the USGA Senior Women’s Qualifier which takes place in August. We’re thrilled to have the privilege and pleasure of hosting the Troon Cup. R: While I am looking forward to all of our events, I am most excited about our Member Kickoff Celebration in June. It signals the official kickoff of our busy summer season. Since the winter of 2014 we have been planning for this coming season and are ready for the members to experience the changes and improvements to the operation, including a more diversified Food & Beverage management team as well as a renewed focus on staff training and internal culture within the department. These improvements will contribute to a better and more consistent experience for each member. Additionally, I am personally looking forward to meeting many of our members who have not yet had a chance to visit the club this year.

JULY 8 Junior Club Championship,Valley JULY 12 Parent/Child Tournament,Valley JULY 16 Canine Classic Golf Event – Mountain JULY 23 - 25 Desperado Men’s Member/Guest JULY 31 - AUGUST 1 Couples’ Club Championship, Mountain and Valley AUGUST 4 - 5 Spirit – Women’s Member/Guest,Valley and Mountain AUGUST 13 - 15 Club Championship, Summit AUGUST 21 USGA Senior Women’s Qualifier,Valley AUGUST 28 Couples’ Guest Day, Mountain SEPTEMBER 9 - 11 Troon Cup, Mountain and Summit Please check the member calendar at cordillera-vail.com (log in and click on the “Member Links” tab) for member mixers, Nine and Dines, junior camps, and other events. It will be an exciting golf season!

What overall goals are you focusing on most once summer is in full swing?

S: Growing our membership base and outreach to the Cordillera community are our most important goals. We want to continue to surpass and exceed members’ expectations every day with 100 Sports

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A hiker’s dream is just outside your doorsteps.

Brent Bingham Photography

by Rosalie Hill Isom

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“We don’t think there is anything more beautiful than hiking into Big Park. We’ve taken cruises in gorgeous parts of the world and asked ourselves, ‘Why are we here? It’s prettier back in Cordillera.’ We are very content; we have everything we need here.” -- Cordillera Divide residents Lainie Edinburg and Joel Kay.

More than 7,000 acres of well-maintained trails in the Divide, Ranch, Territories, and Summit of Cordillera encompass a vast and beautiful wilderness playground of spectacular treks just waiting to be discovered again and again.

Big Park, big beauty. Starting with Cordillera residents’ favorite at an elevation of 9,000 feet, open meadows and mountain ranges greet the hiker hungry for wide vistas and adventure. The Summit, home to Big Park, boasts five maintained hiking trails and connects to Stag Gulch Trail’s national forest lands. “The best trails are in Big Park and from Squaw Creek leading to Big Park,” says Cordillera resident Cheryl Foley. “They are very well maintained.“

Lainie Edinburg and husband Joel Kaye often head to the Summit trailhead near the water tower to enter Big Park. “Hiking is one of many great activities up here; the views are so spectacular and spiritual. We like going up to Big Park the best with all of the choices of trails and loops,” Edinburg says.

Paige Cumming, who lives at the Summit, explains, “It’s out and back for me to Big Park. First, it’s uphill, then big flat meadows, amazing views, and wildflowers. The Gore Range is on one side, and Eagle is on the other. It’s probably our best hike.”

Squaw Creek #1897 leads into the Eagle – Holy Cross Ranger District/Eagle Area. The trail begins at Squaw Creek Road and ends at Salt Creek #1878. It starts with a steep climb through wildflowers and aspens, becoming more gradual as it passes ranch property below and to the left of the trail. This old road grade up the Squaw Creek drainage crosses meadows until it reaches Salt Creek Trail.

“We have our favorites,” Edinburg says. “Another is the El Mirador trail. The trail is on the Divide side at the end of El Mirador Road with lots of switchbacks. During the spring, summer, and fall there is nice shade from the aspens. In the fall, it’s absolutely gorgeous to hike through those beautiful aspen trees with their leaves of bright yellows and oranges. It takes 45 minutes to an hour up and down, which was perfect for our two big dogs (who are now gone), and our new dog, Summer.”

Cordillera hikers are drawn to the diversity they find outdoors in Cordillera. “The Divide goes up to El Mirador, with views of Mt. of the Holy Cross,” Cumming says. “The Territories, on the other hand, are in sagebrush. With this outside my door, I would rather meet someone for a hike than for lunch.”

Mary Davies loves summer hiking trails because many are great for taking her grandchildren. “We love the Zinn/Yordi trail from our house up to Big Park. It is pretty challenging, but part of it follows a beautiful creek. You pass a pond, and I don’t think we have ever done it and not seen wildlife,” Davies says. “If we are taking the grandkids, my daughter Kerith and I each take one of the twins in a backpack, and the others hike alongside us. We usually start or end at the kids’ playground next to the Trailhead. They love that playground, so it is their treat for hiking with us.”

There are three loops (Trailhead, Red Draw, and Timbers Trail) from The Trailhead that are all easy enough for children. “There are picnic tables along the way; I usually bring a treat so we can sit and get reenergized,” Davies adds. “Our daughter, Andrea, has a home in the Divide. Often, we go to Grouse on the Green for an early dinner. Our two granddaughters and I hike back to their house from the trail that starts next to the restaurant (Lower El Mirador). They have done that trail since they were four and seven years old.”

For a great workout and some steeps, Davies suggests starting at the trailhead at Granada Pond (Granada Pond Trail) and hiking up to Lake Creek Lookout. The Ranch down by Red Draw behind Cordy Camp/The Trailhead has several trails. Davies sums it up nicely: “We have quite a variety of hikes when you think about it.”

For Edinburg and Kaye, hiking essentials include water bottles, dog treats, and water for their dog, Summer. On longer hikes, water, a power bar, pepper spray for bears, and a dog whistle with a compass round out their list. ““I don’t want to see a coyote or a bear. We never want any encounters between the wild animals and our dogs,” Edinburg says. Fleece and raingear are wise choices in changing high country weather.

“Typically, I don’t see a lot of wildlife,” Cumming says.

Marmots and chipmunks may stay around long enough to be seen, but hikers are not the quietest beings, so animals will likely disappear when they hear humans.

Wildflowers and wildlife. The eyes have it here, whether it’s glorying in the beauty of mountain flowers or catching a glimpse of a critter scurrying past. Prairie Smoke, Lupine, Columbine, and Paint Brush are among the countless varieties of colorful wildflowers to discover in Cordillera.

The Cordillera Metro District office at 408 Carterville Road provides newsletters and activity schedules. It is here that hikers can sign up for weekly group outings. Maps show trails and distances. Cordillera is home to 7,000 acres of maintained private trails - 9.5 miles in the Divide, 14.8 miles in the Ranch, and 9.0 miles in the Summit and Territories.

UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE LANDS According to The Wilderness Act of September 3, 1964, “Wilderness is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.”

There are eight Wilderness areas in Colorado, all of which are managed by the White River National Forest. Regulations protect and preserve these wild lands; visitors are to know and adhere to these rules while traveling and camping in wilderness.

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cordilleraliving.com

LIFE

STYLE

Friends,

- Nature - Serenity . . .also known as Home. vailgondolaclub.com

Brent Bingham Photography

to the overall workout experience.

Additionally, the pool water helps to maintain buoyancy for a comfortable workout. “Saltwater pools, which are supplemented with ozone purification, offer a tremendous swimming experience,” says Cordillera Recreation Manager Joe Helminski. Water cycling is available on a first-come, first-served basis and water shoes are required.

Lead attendant and 14-year Cordillera trainer Katarina Glutova teaches fitness classes in the studio and has witnessed marked progress in those who work out regularly. “I see the improvement. It is about consistency.

Some have worked with me for 10 years,” Glutova says.

On Mondays at 9 a.m., residents can start the week strengthening, toning, and stretching with stability balls and free weights in Glutova’s Fit Ball class. Core stabilization soon results in better posture, balance, flexibility, and cardio development. The focus of Wednesday morning’s Total Body Blast is developing muscle tone, and building endurance and strength.

Total Body Blast does it all, combining resistance-training methods to strengthen the body for summer’s varied outdoor activities. “She has a terrific following and tailors her classes to the time of year and interests of attendees,” Helminski says.

Veteran instructor and member of the Cordillera community Charlene Koegel offers a Vinyasa Flow Yoga program during the summer. “Yoga creates a balance between body, mind, and our emotions,” Koegel says. “During class, modifications to postures help the beginner feel more at ease, and steadiness sets in. For the more practiced participant, we follow our edge and see how the inner strength awakens.”

Outdoor amenities at the ACC include a saltwater Jacuzzi, and two tennis courts that are newly resurfaced and overlaid for pickleball play. This fun competitive paddle sport for two to four players has become increasingly popular with adults of all skill levels. The courts have broad views of the surrounding beauty and are adjacent to the ACC and parking.

Open seven days a week to residents and owners, the ACC provides attendant assistance from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cardio and weight machines, fitness class studio, locker rooms, and the pool/spa are also available unattended from 5 to 7 a.m. and from 5 to 11 p.m. with a proximity key card.

According to Helminski, “Overall, classes will be ramped up for the summer influx of users.”

At nearly 9,000 feet above sea level, you can get a great workout and enjoy stunning castle peak views.

For information regarding fitness classes contact the Athletic Center at 970-926-9669, or email fitness@cordillerametro.org. You can also pick up a monthly calendar of classes at the Athletic Center’s front desk.

spring into action WORKING OUT THE WINTER

by Rosalie Hill Isom

Snow sports and hibernating are memories now that summer has arrived. It is time to set in motion a regular exercise routine that will put even the most laidback among us back on track. Regular exercise can be the start of something healthful and fun or the continuation of an already solid training program.

The choices for organized activities at the Athletic Center at Cordillera (ACC) blossom with the arrival of summer residents.

Since the fall of 2014, the Center has been outfitted with Life Fitness strength equipment, a wide variety of functional training accessories, such as resistance bands, kettle bells and medicine balls, as well as new mirrors and flooring in the lower-level weight room and studio. Classes are held several days a week throughout the summer and are free and suitable for all abilities.

HOW CORDILLERA TRAINERS LEAD THE WAY TO FITNESS AND BETTER HEALTH. The ACC introduced Tai Chi in January with regular classes on Saturday mornings from 9 to 10 a.m. The martial art of Tai Chi Chuan incorporates three intriguing ingredients: spirit, intention, and posture.

Brought together in the practice of Tai Chi, good posture and natural movement combine to develop one’s personal power. Senior instructor David Cabin, who also teaches at Colorado Mountain College in Edwards, trained with Tai Chi Master Alex Da De Dong for 17 years.

Hydro Cycle pedals here! The Center’s indoor saltwater swimming pool provides ample space for personal training. Hydrorider Trainer and Life Wellness Coach Greg Peterson offers water fitness classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Water cycling provides cardio benefits without stress on knee and hip joints, and the water’s resistance adds 78

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Brent Bingham Photography

Fore! Love!

Summer Time!

The living is Carefree.

We have put away the skies, boards, snowshoes, sleds and winter gear and brought out the spikes, the clubs, the racquets and balls, shorts and skirts. It’s summer fun time again at Cordillera.

The great thing about growing up in Cordillera is the many amenities targeted to children. To many outsiders it may be considered an adult playground; to residents the kids always have an equal amount of fun. Cordys’ Camp starts in June and will run through the first part of August. The four golf courses and tennis courts offering lessons, events and even tournaments will be alive with children of all ages.

Come out to the Cordillera Club and see what’s in store for the kids. They won’t want to leave. Neither will you.

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CORDILLERA MARKET SHARE

BY SALES VOLUME - 10-YEAR HISTORY*

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$0

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SSF

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A LT Y K N E TA LL I N ER PR W O IL L PE I A RT M IE S S G & A D TE EV W EL AY O L PM A BE N EN D RK T SH I H RE O H M A E S TH ER AW VI A C Y ES

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$37.9

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S R E ON A NE L N E S NA BY TA LP RN TE E & A SS O C IA TE S

L E G STA RO T U E P

A RE IL VA

$22.1

$93.7

MILLIONS

$3.1

$400

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*Data gathered is from Land and Residental sales from 3/1/2005 through 3/1/2015. Source of all data is the Vail Board of Realtors, Multiple Listing Service.

Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.