ISSUE 4 – FALL 2017
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FOR THE ADVENTURER IN ALL OF US ISSUE 04 FALL 2017
8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 26 28 34 36 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56
OPENING SHOT FIRST LIGHT CONTRIBUTORS MOUNTAIN VITALS GEAR BIN GEAR: MYTH CYCLES SERENDIPITY HIT LIST ALTITUDE ADJUSTMENT TRAIL BREAKER HOW TO: CAPTURING FALL COLORS EXPLORE: ALPINE ANGLING CURRENT CONDITIONS: DEVO KILLER WEEKEND: ALAMOSA EXPLORE: ROCKTOBER EXPLORE: HIGH COUNTRY MTN BIKING WILD VOICES: BRYON POWELL BODYWORK: BREAKABLE EXPLORE: OVERLAND FIELD NOTES VISTAS MOAB, UTAH
Photos by Terrance Siemon
GEAR BIN 16
OUR FAVORITES We bring you a few of our favorite pieces of gear that stand out above the rest, from rugged duffle bags to solar lamps that light up camp.
TRAIL BREAKER 32
GET OFF THE BEATEN PATH Two strikingly different destinations we can’t get enough of, from climbing and hiking around volcanic rock among peculiar history, to sweet alpine trails.
ALPINE ANGLING OVERLAND 44 56 HIGH-ALTITUDE FLY FISHING A stunning look at Rocky Mountain fly fishing in an alpine world where there’s no one around but you and hungry trout.
ON THE COVER A mountain biker sets out on an Autumn morning ride in the La Plata Mountains. Photo by Terrance Siemon.
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BUCKLE UP We’re riding shotgun on an overland voyage through the Southwest badlands, canyons and deserts where the journey is the destination.
EDITORIAL
Brandon Mathis, Editor
Amy Maestas, Senior Editor
Claudia Laws, Marketing & Communications Manager
Terrance Siemon, Photographer and Videographer
Laurie Kain, Photographer and Videographer
CONTRIBUTORS
Sara Knight, Illustrator and Writer
Luke Mehall, Illustrator and Writer
Ben Brashear
Joy Martin
Ben Gavelda
ADVERTISING & DESIGN
Tad Smith, Manager of Creative Services
Justin Meek, Art Director
Christian Ridings, Art Director
Samuel Lindsay, Art Director
PRODUCTION
Ryan Brown, Production Manager
MARKETING
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INTERACTIVE
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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Douglas Bennett
Open Daily 8 To 8 © 2017 All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Published in the United States by Ballantine Communications, Inc. – 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. Ballantine Communications uses reasonable effort to include accurate and up-to-date information for its special publications. Details are subject to change, so please check ahead. The publisher accepts no responsibility for any consequences arising from the use of this guide. We welcome suggestions from readers. Please write to the editor at the address above.
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OPENING SHOT
OPENING SHOT Sunrise over the Valley of the Rocks at the Arizona/Utah border. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is an iconic landscape in the American Southwest. From the sweeping desert floor rise various sandstone towers and buttes, some reaching 1,000Â feet high, towering over natural and cultural history, pristine ecology, wild horses and desert solitaire.
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Photo by Terrance Siemon
FIRST LIGHT
Your Moments A
s we at Adventure Pro find our stride, we’ve come almost full circle. When we began working on our first issue a year ago, when autumn’s colors were in full effect, and now as we roll out our fourth issue, autumn is already in the air. We’ve worn out some shoes, maintained our bikes, run a few races and found some new places. Plenty of adventures, getting lost and getting found. And, we’ve made some new friends: you. We’ve gotten to know a little bit about our dear readers. Phone calls, emails, adventures, handshakes and high-fives, we’ve seen our racks go empty and we’ve tried hard to keep them full all over the region. Now, we’re excited about autumn. Another turn of seasons. A time of change. A time to see things in a different shade of light. We must be some of the luckiest people around, to watch as the mountains crank up their saturation and glow with brilliant hues. To be able to take a walk on a path of fallen golden leaves, or even more so, to glide over them on our bikes. Every year it’s like seeing it for the first time. This issue we are happy to share voices from our fellow community of Southwest adventurers. We meet a metal craftsman hand-making mountain bikes in Myth Cycles: Spinning Tales of Steel. We head for coveted high-country waters in Alpine Angling. We introduce you to some of the most astounding rock climbing in the world for this year’s Rocktober, and we hear first-hand how to keep your spirits up when life gets you down in Breakable. We teach you how to capture fall, and show you how we’ve captured it ourselves. But more than anything, we hope to inspire you to get out and enjoy perhaps the most appealing and magical season of all. Autumn means change, but nothing is over. It’s a time both to reflect and to look deeper into what’s next. It’s also a perfect time to simply revel in the beauty of the moment. We’ll be out there in the mountains and deserts, warming in the sun and playing in the leaves. And we hope we see you there. These are fleeting moments. Make sure you have yours. See you on the trails, BRANDON MATHIS, Editor
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FALL2017 11
CONTRIBUTORS
Luke Mehall
Ben Brashear
Luke Mehall lives in Durango, Colorado. He is the publisher of The Climbing Zine, an independent print publication, and he is the author of American Climber, The Great American Dirtbags, and Climbing Out of Bed. He enjoys climbing, sleeping in tents, hip-hop, yoga and uninterrupted mornings of writing. He believes in the power of independent media and too-soon poetry. He can be contacted at luke@climbingzine.com.
Ben Brashear is a photographer and writer who has been fortunate enough to call Durango his home for much of his life. His work is inspired by the runners, skiers, chefs, community leaders and even a few war veterans he has met along his journey. His photography and writing have appeared in a number of regional and national publications including Bicycle Times, Utah Adventure Journal, Outside, Trail Runner and Backcountry. His writing and photography can be seen at www.brashearphoto.com.
Joy Martin
Ben Gavelda
Joy Martin is a freelance writer who calls Durango, Colorado, basecamp. When she’s not longing for time in the San Juan Mountains, she can be found collecting tomatoes that miraculously survived her notorious black thumb. She’s thankful to Dr. Hammond at Animas Surgical Hospital, Jessica Voegeli at Rivergate Physical Therapy, her amazing husband, Nick Martin, and all the friends and family who keep her smiling when clouds are gray. More on Martin at www.joydotdot.com.
Ben Gavelda is a Durango-based freelance writer and photographer. Gavelda has nearly a decade of experience in outdoor journalism with stories and images broadcast around the world. A Colorado native, he grew up running wild in the state’s mountains via mountain bike, snowboard or fly fishing rod. He photographed and wrote the piece on backcountry fly-fishing in this issue, but he won’t leak the location. When he’s not working with words and images, he builds custom homes for BioHab Builders.
12 ADVENTUREPRO.us
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MOUNTAIN VITALS
Get up. Right now. Get NEAT, and get healthy Simple lifestyle habits can have a tremendous effect on our health. Health writer James Levine calls it NEAT, non-exercise activity thermogenesis. In a Mayo Clinic study, 16 lean subjects were fed 1,000 extra calories per day for eight weeks. Researchers fit them with special sensor underwear to monitor change, yet still most of them showed no significant difference in health. Why? According to Levine, it’s their daily NEAT activities - walking, cleaning, moving, shopping, fidgeting and commuting. They simply move around all day long. Stand up Stand-up desks can help alleviate the confines of sitting, but that means standing, not leaning. We’re not meant to sit, according to studies by the American Heart Association. The lack of movement throughout a sedentary day slows metabolism, promoting heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and other health complications. What time is it? Sports watches and other mobile and wearable devices can help track our movement through the day and encourage people to get going. Some feature alarms if you been inactive for too long.
Whose fault is that? Speaking of faults, some things never change. Geology has rules, like the law of uniformitarianism: What happened then is still happening now. Like active faults, alive and kicking all over the Southwest. The Moab fault, easily seen from Utah Highway 191, just outside Arches National Park in Utah, is nearly 28 miles long, with a maximum displacement of more than 3,000 feet. Cool rift The Rio Grande Rift runs from central Colorado along the Rio Grande River to El Paso Texas. What’s a rift? Think of the earth’s crust getting torn apart. In fact, there are even earthquakes in New Mexico and Arizona. There were four in Santa Fe in 2017 and 408 in Arizona. Check out earthquaketrack.com to find the earthquakes near you.
Drink up At least 60 percent of the adult body is made of water. If you’re out and about, make sure it’s clean with a filter or purifier. What’s the difference between a water filter and a water purifier? A water filter is designed to remove waterborne protozoa and bacteria, but not viruses. A water filter is typically OK in the U.S., but if you’re going international, you may need a water purifier. A water purifier is designed to combat viruses smaller than protozoa or bacteria that slip through water filters. You can also use UV rays to treat water, known as SoDis – Solar water disinfection. A standby for the World Health Organization, leaving bottled water in clear plastic containers in the sun for 8 hours kills bacteria DNA. And speaking of UV, you gotta love the sun. But, it’s also a good idea to respect it. Even though the sun is 6 billion years old, it’s running strong and puts out a lot of, well, sunlight. It’s radiation actually.
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FUN FACT: UVB rays can’t penetrate glass UVA UVA rays account for nearly all of the ultraviolet radiation reaching planet Earth, and while they aren’t as damaging as UVB rays, UVA rays are up to 50 times more prevalent, especially during daylight hours. Plus, they can pass through clouds and windows.
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FALL2017 15
GEAR BIN
Osprey took their beloved Transporter duffels and shlackered them up with a coat of armor, making a tough bag even tougher.
OSPREY TRANSPORTER EXPEDITION Built for Life Photos by Terrance Siemon
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TPU: Thermoplastic Polyurethane is perfect for the outdoors. It’s burly and abrasion-resistant. It’s strong; your ski poles aren’t going to poke a hole in this stuff. It even has a degree of elasticity, and - get this - it wipes pretty clean of mud, grit, grime and grease. Think of that plastic and padded coating on stuff at the playground or at the gym, or on ski chairs and lift towers. That’s TPU, and Osprey updated a line of duffels with it in the Transporter Expedition series. Available in four sizes, 130 liters ($180), 95 ($160), 65 ($140) and 40 liters ($110), we loaded up a 40L and hit the road. It passed the urban test for function-meetsfashion on a few walks around Salt Lake City, but we were anxious to get it dirty. And oh, did we ever. We like the double-sided TPU coating. This bag is stout, inside and out. A stiff framework keeps an already firm body in its upside-down-trapezoidal shape. The buckles and clips are solid. They call it a workhorse, and we got the bold attitude, especially having abused it with everything from caked biking gear, rotten oranges, frenzied rendezvous, ropes and climbing gear, sweaty running stuff, a little blood, muddy boots and dirty power cords. It got rolled around in New Mexico monsoon mud for a while then we sprayed it down with a garden hose. On either end are nonchalant slim pockets, and they’re certainly protected. There are suitcasestyle handles on all four sides, and clever lashing points. Even the lid zips and buckles down. This is a duffel, so once you’re inside it’s little more than open storage, save for one sliver of a mesh pocket. But we crammed the whole thing so full, everything easily stayed put. The zippers can take locks (smart) and rain flaps keep weather out. Our favorite feature is a very comfortable and real backpack harness (40L and 65L) with a yoke and sternum strap that tucks away in the sleeve of the lid. A shoulder strap is included, as is a nifty carrying case that we seem to shove running shoes and biking shoes in more than we used it to store the bag.
ECOTHS
Check out our gear closet. It’s getting full. ADVENTUREPRO.us/gear
These days it’s just good practice to help others. Companies lending a hand and working toward a better world is one aspect that makes the outdoor community so decent. And Ecoths is no different. The organic natural cotton and fibers in the Ecoths line of shirts we’ve been wearing make us feel stylish and comfortable on the trail, at our desks or cooking in the camper. Make no mistake, these are fun, rugged outdoor pieces. They just have a refined look. From their plaids of the uber trendy Waylon (pictured, $69) to other styles and fabrics, Ecõths is nailing a levelheaded casual vibe, ideal for anything from music festivals to fly fishing. Without a doubt, a favorite feature that many of their pieces have is the Handy Cloth, a convenient lens cloth wisely positioned inside the front shirttail. We love this. And, you can feel nice wearing them: with the Ecoths’ Good Sam Program, for every article of clothing sold, a minimum of three meals go to food banks around the nation. That’s giving back. $17.95
PICKLE JUICE SPORT We love a good pickle, but that’s beside the point. Someone handed us a bottle of Pickle Juice Sport in December, and six months later we found it in our car’s center console while foraging around for grub after a grueling mountain run in the middle of a certified bonk laced with muscle cramps and dehydration. The label said “Extra Strength, Stops Muscle Cramps,” but really we would have devoured anything in front of us. Fifteen minutes after gulping down our one and only bottle of Pickle Juice Sport, we were sold. Turns out that the Pickle people are on to something. Research finds that vinegar, and in this case, pickle brine, triggers a nerve reaction that has been shown to reduce cramps nearly 37 percent faster than leading sports drinks. Crashing hard? Dill with it. $19.95 for 12, 2.5-ounce bottles
Photo by Brandon Mathis
LUCI ORIGINAL SOLAR LIGHT
Mpowered is marketing simple clean affordable energy,lights founded on the idea that life still goes on after dark, so why not brighten up the night with the power of the sun. Luci inflatable solar lights are clever, inflatable, waterproof, lightweight and 100 percent solar lanterns that deflate as flat as a pancake and blow up to be used anywhere you go. Throw them in the swimming hole, hang them from a tree, keep them in the tent and line them up in the camper. With their #lightuplife campaign, Luci will send a solar light to one of the 1.5 billion people in the world without electricity. So far they have helped more than a million people in 90 developing countries. $17.95
FALL2017 17
GEAR
Myth Cycles Photos and story by BEN BRASHEAR
Spinning Tales of Steel
T
he spotlight has once again turned to shine brightly on steel framed bikes.
There’s a movement in the cycling industry: a rising hoard of made in the U.S.A. bike builders, all hoping and re-defining what a bike can and should be. And, there’s an ever-increasing mass of riders desiring a simple, smooth, predictable ride. Some say steel is the answer. And it's of no wonder. A handsomely TIG welded or fillet-brazed steel frame speaks of craftsmanship verging on art worth ogling for hours. Steel, usually some variation of Chromoly, is becoming lighter and stronger than ever before thanks to the aerospace industry. While corporate industry and media will direct attention toward 18 ADVENTUREPRO.us
the latest carbon fiber or titanium frames, frame builder Eric Tomczak, owner of Myth Cycles in Durango, Colorado, shares another point of view. Tomczak is out to change our perception and re-write the story. The common misconception is that steel is extremely heavy, says Tomczak. That's partly what inspired the name: Myth. "In the cycling world, steel is misunderstood as a material because we put such an importance on racing and racing weight. What people don't understand is how small of a weight difference there is between the two, usually half a pound to a pound." The reality for most of us mortals is that we don’t need the race-weight gear. Leave your spare water bottle behind and embrace the extra pound of frame weight while resting easy knowing that your durable steel bike will withstand the daily abuses of being tossed in the back of the truck, down a rocky embankment and over piles of downed timber and debris. And that is well worth its weight in gold.
“You know, we have been working and perfecting the metallurgy of steel for thousands of years. Aluminum and titanium are relatively recent,” Tomczak said. Putting his wrench down, he grabs a pair of yellow foam earplugs and drapes them around his neck as he also dons a pair of clear safety glasses. He moves toward the milling machine tucked into the corner of his workshop and grabs several metal tubes from a rolling tool chest. He locks a single tube into a v-block clamp and sets an appropriate tube angle with his magnetic angle finder. Satisfied with the tube angle he turns the machine on. The shop occupies one bay of a three-car garage, and every last inch of the 10-by20 feet demands that each tool, fixture, and cabinet be efficiently placed. Tomczak got his start in the welding industry with the intention of one day becoming a bike builder. “I learned more of the fabrication and design side of things first, instead of going straight into building frames,” Tomczak says. The milling machine stops its whirring, and Tomczak removes the mitered tube. He gathers the rest of the required tubes—chain stays, seat stays, brake tabs and wipes them down with a rag soaked in denatured alcohol. He then secures the bottom
bracket, top tube, chain stays and down tube into the frame jig to be welded together and saves the seat stays for the last step in the process to help ensure his frames are true by the final weld. “I don’t build in steel because it’s cheaper or easier,” he says while tightening the bottom bracket into place. “I do it because it’s my favorite material. It has a ride quality that flexes when it needs to and snaps back in a controlled fashion that you don’t get with any other material. There’s a reason for the saying — ‘there’s nothing like the feel of steel,’” he says. Riders report that steel damps road and trail vibration making it perfect for long days in the saddle or even for the shorter daily commute. "I really just want to get as many people out there as I can riding bikes," he says as he tacks the last seat stay into place. "Part of what I think is so incredible about biking are the stories you get to tell. You know, you get back to work and get to talk about the ride you went on or the pack trip you took and there's the aspect of enhancing the story too. We're making our lives more interesting through bicycles, and the name Myth Cycles is a nod toward the stories that inspire us. After we get old, that's all that is really left, and it should be a story worth telling." FALL2017 19
SERENDIPITY Solar Eclipse Slackline, Fremont Canyon, Wyoming During the solar eclipse in August 2017, slackliner Sean Englund walked 300 feet on a one-inch-wide piece of webbing suspended 240 feet above ground near Casper, Wyoming. “After walking during the totality of the eclipse, I sat down at the far anchor, turned around and set my new personal record of 100 meters while the eclipse was in its post phase. Dreaming and believing are the only things you can control in life.”
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Photo by Terrance Siemon
HIT LIST
Your guide to events in the Southwest and beyond Have something going on? Share it here. Don’t miss out. ADVENTUREPRO.us/events
GILA RIVER FEST
Photo courtesy: Denise Blake
ZIA MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDES
ZIA MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDES
Photo courtesy: Curtis Gillen
Photo courtesy: Curtis Gillen
HIT LIST N E W
M E X I C O
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BULL OF THE WOODS TRAIL RUN
TAOS ARTS FEST
ALBUQUERQUE BALLOON FEST
NORTHSIDE AT TAOS SKI VALLEY SEPTEMBER 16
SEPTEMBER 22
OCTOBER 7–15
www.taosfallarts.com
www.balloonfiesta.com
SANTA FE WINE AND CHILE FIESTA
SANTA FE PHOTO FEST
www.bullofthewoodsrun.com
GILA RIVER FEST
SEPTEMBER 27–OCTOBER 1
OCTOBER 26–29
SILVER CITY SEPTEMBER 21–24
www.santafewineandchile.org
www. visitcenter.org/overview
www.gilaconservation.org
ZIA MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDES SEPTEMBER 30 www.ziarides.com
HIT LIST
C O L O R A D O
IMOGENE PASS RUN OURAY TO TELLURIDE SEPTEMBER 9 www.live-raceresults.com/imogene/
NED AND TODD’S DIRT FONDO DURANGO, COLORADO SEPTEMBER 16 www.ironhorsebicycleclassic.com/toddsdurango-dirt-fondo
MOUNTAIN HARVEST FESTIVAL PAONIA, COLORADO SEPTEMBER 21 www.mountainharvestfestival.org
TOUR OF THE MOON DURANGO DOUBLE Photo courtesy: Kevin Smith
GRAND JUNCTION/FRUITA BICYCLE TOUR SEPTEMBER 30 www.tourofthemoon.com
DURANGO COWBOY GATHERING OCTOBER 5–8 www.durangocowboypoetrygathering.org
OCTOBER FEST DURANGO MOUNTAIN RESORT OCTOBER 7 www.oktoberfestdurango.com
DURANGO DOUBLE TRAIL RUN & MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE OCTOBER 7 www.durangodouble.com
DURANGO DOUBLE FALL2017 23
FLAGSTAFF STAR PARTY FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA SEPTEMBER 21, 22, 23 www.flagstaffstarparty.org
HIT LIST A R I Z O N A
SEDONA ARTS FESTIVAL SEDONA, ARIZONA OCT 7-8 www.sedonaartsfestival.org
ARAVIPA TRAIL RUNNING THRASHER NIGHTS SERIES CAVE CREEK, ARIZONA OCTOBER 14TH www.aravaiparunning.com
SEDONA ALES AND RAILS WEEKENDS IN OCTOBER www.verdecanyonrr.com/events
PASS MOUNTAIN TRAIL RUN MESA ARIZONA NOVEMBER 18
SEDONA ARTS FESTIVAL
www.aravaiparunning.com
SEDONA ARTS FESTIVAL
MOAB TRAIL MARATHON
MOAB OUTERBIKE
HIT LIST U T A H
MOAB SKYDIVE FESTIVAL
MOAB FOLK FESTIVAL
CANYON FIELDS AIRPORT – MOAB, UTAH SEPTEMBER 22–25
NOVEMBER 3
OUTERBIKE MOAB, UTAH OCTOBER 7 www.outerbike.com
MOAB JEEP JAMBOREE MOAB UTAH OCTOBER 26–28 www.jeepjamboreeusa.com/trips/moab/
24 ADVENTUREPRO.us
www.moabfolkfestival.com
www.skydivemoab.com
MOAB TRAIL MARATHON AMASA BACK, UTAH NOVEMBER 5 www.moabtrailmarathon.com
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ALTITUDE ADJUSTMENT
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Photos courtesy of Ashley Hayes, Janet Ames Bocelli, Yogi Magee Expeditions, Lacey Grillos, Jesse Kleinschmidt, Trey Eagleton, Bee Mathis, Melissa Herrick, Michelle Joy Abrams.
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For the Adventurer in all of us. Adventure Pro wants to showcase people getting after it all over the incredible landscape in which we live. Here are a few of our favorite shots sent in from our friends and fans. If you have a great photo, we’d love to see it. If we like it, we’ll run it in our summer edition and give you credit.
Send pics to editor@adventurepro.us
FALL2017 27
TRAIL BREAKER
Penitente Canyon A mystical landscape with a somewhat eerie history, devout Catholic monks once roamed these canyons. Los Hermanos Penitentes, the bothers of penitence, is a sect of worshipers that practiced self-flagellation as part of their faith. Today, the canyon walls offer quality short climbs and are laced with trails. A sign for the Old Spanish Trail can still be found, as can rock art and cultural history.
Penitente Bound WHO: Climbers, hikers, campers, mountain bikers, history buffs, and things that slither and crawl. WHAT: Labyrinth of volcanic rock tuft canyons with terrific camping and trails that meander about, perfect for rock climbing. WHEN: Even on warm winter days and on light snow years, Penitente Canyon can be enjoyed. Spring and fall is best, as well as summer, which can get quite hot. WHERE: From Del Norte, Colorado, follow Colorado Highway 112 north 3 miles, turn left at CR 33 toward La Garita; at mile 5.7 it becomes Saguache County Road 38-A. Keep north 12 miles to Penitente Canyon
CLIMBER COREY WRIGHT PENITENTE CANYON, COLORADO
WHY: Mesmerizing geology, rock art, engaging rock climbing for all levels, wildlife, view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, mountain biking, trail running, hiking and cultural history all make this a superb weekend destination. HOW: Gear up and head for the canyons. First, check in with Kristi Mountain Sports and Three Barrel Brewing. A two-wheel drive car can make the trip. Stuff it with your friends and go.
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Photos by Terrance Siemon
Northside at Taos Ski Valley The Northside at Taos Ski Valley is perhaps some of New Mexico’s best high country mountain biking and trail access. Summers are beaming with wildflowers and rushing creeks, and autumn offers the season’s color change like few others in the state. Owned by a family that goes back generations in the Sangre de Cristos, they have opted to keep the landscape undeveloped, allowing limited access via equestrian trails on parts of the mountain with bike and foot travel on the rest. As Taos’ outdoors enthusiasm continues to grow, the Northside is a special opportunity for those looking for a quiet mountain environment.
Northbound WHO: Mountain bikers, hikers, trail runners, bighorn sheep and elk. WHAT: 1,500 acre private parcel of the Southern Rockies, including some of the highest landscape in New Mexico. WHEN: June through September WHERE: Taos Ski Valley, Taos, New Mexico
HIGH T TRAIL - NORTHSIDE TAOS For more destinations visit ADVENTUREPRO.us
WHY: Deep, dense forests, alpine tundra and forever views with no crowds. The limited earn-your-turn access means this 18-mile trail system feels like it’s yours alone. Well-marked and well-planned singletrack brings you as high as you wish, with vistas of Red River Valley, Taos Ski Valley, Frazer Mountain and Wheeler Peak. HOW: $10 a day or $50 for the year. FALL2017 29
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MIND OVER GRAVITY W
hen you hear someone waxing on about mindfulness, the image of bloody knuckles jammed into a sandstone crack and the concentrated breath of a climber carefully working his way up a desert tower, doesn’t necessarily come to mind. But, as most experienced climbers will tell you, the sport is as much a mental game as a physical, and the focus required is nothing short of meditative. “I like the connection between the mental and the physical,” says Backcountry Experience climbing buyer Ben Perry. “It’s great problem-solving.” “It’s like a three-dimensional puzzle,” says staff member and competitive boulderer Aidan Mike. “You have to be able to look at a wall and size yourself up to it.” Backcountry Experience is a Durango-based outfitter that features the largest selection of climbing equipment in the area, and has a diverse staff of experienced boulderers, sport and trad climbers, mountaineers, and ice climbers. Though their backgrounds and disciplines differ, the shop’s staff share the same drive and passion for the outdoors. “Climbing is a way to push myself in an environment I love, such as the desert or the mountains,” says the shop’s “other” Aidan Multhauf. Many of Backcountry Experience’s staff members relocated to Durango because of the area’s wealth of climbing opportunities. “I love the variety of Durango,” says Multhauf. “You get granite, limestone, sandstone towers if you start driving a couple hours to the west. Ice. There’s access to everything here.” Both of the Aidans moved to Durango from the Front Range to attend Fort Lewis College. Mike competes on the FLC Climbing Team and placed 4th at the USA Climbing Collegiate National Championships; Multhauf spends his time crackclimbing in Utah’s Indian Creek and on local ice in the winter.
Backcountry Experience staff member Aidan Mike bouldering at Joe’s Valley.
“I like the connection between the mental and the physical,” says Backcountry Experience climbing buyer Ben Perry. “It’s great problem-solving.” The plethora of ice climbs and spring mountaineering routes in the San Juan Mountains is partially what attracted Perry to the area. “We have access to tons of routes,” Perry says. “They’re fun, approachable, and they accommodate a wide range of skillsets for people who want to get into mountaineering.” Before moving to Durango, Perry spent several years mountaineering in the White Mountains, including numerous climbs up Mt. Washington. “To me, mountaineering is being proficient with skillsets across all disciplines,” he adds. “It’s consequential. You have to be self-sufficient.” Similarly, Multhauf says he’s most interested in being a well-rounded climber, adept with every style. Though Backcountry Experience’s climbing crew has over forty years of combined experience, you’ll find they are still pushing themselves to grow, improve, and refine their craft. Every climb, even if they’ve done it before, is a new challenge. There’s no room for complacency. “Climbing helps me to realize exactly what I can and can’t achieve,” Mike says. “It teaches you a lot about yourself.” Much like the local climbing community, the BCEXP staff is willing to share its knowledge and experience, especially with beginning climbers. “We’ve all been novice climbers,” Multhauf says. “We’ve all had to ask the questions to be where we are.” “A lot of us on staff are climbers, and we love sharing our passions,” Mike says. 30 ADVENTUREPRO.us
Photos by Dave Burleson
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FALL2017 33
HOW TO
Shutter Speed
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Wanna know how? Visit ADVENTUREPRO.us/adventure-pro-how-to photos by HANK BLUM
How to capture the most beautiful season of them all
A
utumn in the Intermountain West presents a natural canvas that can stop people in their tracks. Seasoned photographers have a knack for capturing the brilliant displays of autumn, while many others miss their chance. Those leaves are falling, and there might not be a next time. Hank Blum, landscape and outdoor photographer, shares some important tips on how to catch the fall colors before they fall away.
1 T ELL PEOPLE WHERE YOU’RE GOING, WHERE YOU’LL BE AND WHEN YOU’LL BE HOME. Blum says his own enthusiasm has led to trouble. “Seriously! I literally get so crazy excited when I am out shooting and sometimes will scramble to dangerous and remote areas in order to get the shot.”
2 A LTITUDE AND TIMING ARE EVERYTHING
Blum says it’s all about the elevation. “The colors are mostly influenced by altitude. Foliage around 10,000 feet in elevation can be in full peak by midSeptember. Foliage in the 4,000–5,000 foot range will usually see color by mid-to end October.”
3 G ET SQUIRRELLY
Blum says he likes to mix up angles. “One thing that drives me nuts is seeing people take the same shots from head level. Be creative. Use your legs and move around. Pretend you are a squirrel and get close to the ground. You will see the world from a new perspective. Also, get closer. Beauty is in the details.”
4 G O EARLY, STAY LATE
“Allow extra time,” Blum says. “So many times I have left my house on a mission to capture a sunrise or sunset and have only given myself a few minutes to set up. I end up seeing amazing stuff on the way, and either end up missing the shot I was going for, or missing an opportunity because I did not have enough time.”
5 S EE THE LIGHT
The mountains are lined with opportunities: a web of singletrack, jeep road and occasional pavement where one can easily string along a series of paths. The elevation and distances present formidable challenges, especially when your bike nearly doubles in weight. Straightforward rides like a section of the Colorado Trail are easy to access, but knowing you have a camp on wheels will soon change the way you look at a map. With the right gear, a good travel plan and a dose of grit, you can ride into the sunset.
6 E XPERIMENT
Blum also encourages ambitious photographers to experiment with their cameras. “Play with the settings,” he says. “Set the ISO as low as possible to eliminate noise. Experiment with slow shutter speeds to create silky smooth streams and waterfalls.” FALL2017 35
EXPLORE
Alpine Angling Photos and story by BEN GAVELDA
Scenes from Secluded High Country Waters 36  ADVENTUREPRO.us
A lid of clouds prowls over mountain peaks in predawn light. Rocky walls cradle a small basin of blue green water and sandy-hued shore. Coats of fog swirl in the mountain valleys below. Aquatic invertebrate glide along the shores, searching for a meager morsel in this unforgiving mountain pool. Two weary fly fishermen flick their lines from the shore. Journeying to remote waters and weathering the unpredictable alpine climate can be equally as challenging as luring a Colorado Greenback cutthroat trout from its home. Backcountry fly fishing is an excuse to go backpacking. Fly fishing is simply a camp activity and combining the two is just a way to explore the San Juan Mountains. The beauty of chasing fish with faux flies in the Colorado high country lies in the scene, the process and the chance encounter with a rare and beautiful creature. FALL2017  37
EXPLORE
A number of the isolated lakes on Colorado’s Western Slope contain native cutthroat trout. These locales are some of the few holdouts for the official state fish, a threatened breed whose waters have been overrun by brooks, browns, rainbows or hybridized cutbows. A brief encounter with one is a reward after trudging through the forest with a heavy pack. Their ruby red-tinged throats and stark markings are a gem among the pale earthen-toned surroundings, and a reminder of the fragile beauty and balance of our natural world.
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CURRENT CONDITIONS
The Kids Are Alright The Ride that Lasts a Lifetime
FIT TAOS - TAOS Photo by Brandon Mathis
by BRANDON MATHIS
L
ife is filled with challenges. Some are fun, some are not so fun. And when you’re a kid, they can be even harder. Many communities are finding a way to teach kids how to deal with those all those challenges: by pedaling right over them.
HIGH DESERT DEVO - COLORADO
Photo by Pete Eschlliar
Racing, afterschool programs, summer camps and skills clinics, we now know that once you get a kid on a bike, it’s a habit that could last forever. With the help of these organizations and others just like them, kids are getting out and into the wild. HIGH DESERT DEVO - CORTEZ, COLORADO The cycling scene in Montezuma County is thriving. New additions to an already renowned trail network are making it a regular destination for mountain bikers, and now cyclists, racers, coaches and parents are coming together to get the kids to hit the dirt. “When you’re on your bike, it’s your own ride. It’s something you can take wherever you are,” says Dani Gregory of High Desert Devo. “Our mission is to empower the youth in our community for fostering a lifelong passion for cycling. Some kids don’t fit with the typical school athletic programs. We’re just trying to show kids that there are other things to do. We want to give these kids something that will get them off the couch.” HIGH DESERT DEVO - COLORADO
Photo by Pete Eschlliar
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DURANGO DEVO - DURANGO, COLORADO In this cycling hub, the kids of today are becoming the stars of tomorrow. But what’s more is that many are taking away the spirit of teamwork, friendship, mentoring and giving back. Durango Devo co-founder Chad Cheeney grew up playing ball sports and cycling, and saw a lack of team spirit and specific focus in youth cycling programs. With Durango Devo, he found away to change all that. “In a sport like mountain biking, you’re always overcoming obstacles and little things that happen,” Cheeney says. “I knew it would be a success if we could pull it off. I think the main thing we have are coaches that are young and fun. They’re role models. We’re good models. We guide the kids along their pathway.”
HIGH DESERT DEVO - COLORADO
Photo by Pete Eschlliar
DUST2 - PAGOSA SPRINGS, COLORADO This majestic mountain town is the perfect place to build trails, and the plan is to put these kids to work building their future. Dust2 is working primarily with younger kids, grades 5 through 9. “I think the outdoors is the best place to learn,” Janine Emmets says. “There’s something about being outside and away from technology, the schedule and being in nature. You develop deeper relationships with people. You notice people more. Being outside really brings out a lot of our true selves.” THE RGC RATTLERS - SAN LUIS VALLEY, COLORADO The only valley visible from space, nestled between the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo mountains, the San Luis is a riding destination about to bloom. The Prong Horn Trail, Stone Quarry, Monte Vista, Del Norte, the trails are growing so this group is out to grow the riders as well. The 12 Hours of Penitente, another destination trail riding area, has become a fundraiser for the composite team from three valley high schools, The RGC Rattlers, who are training, building skills and helping each other along the way. “We have this great trail system, but we don’t have a huge population of riders in the valley,” Brian Stevenson says, a Rattlers coach. “The adults are having a blast, so we decided this is an opportunity to get the kids involved in something they’ll do for the rest for their lives.” “The healthy part of getting in shape is obvious,” he says. “But I think it’s really the way to challenge themselves. I tell the kids, this isn’t a race against other riders, this is a race against yourself.”
DUST2 - COLORADO Photo by Pete Eschlliar
FIT TAOS - TAOS NEW MEXICO Multi-sport youth club part of Field Institute of Taos, geared at getting kids outside. CRESTED BUTTE DEVO - CRESTED BUTTE, COLORADO Colordo’s own ingletrack mecca. GRAND VALLEY YOUTH CYCLING - GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO Helping youngsters since 2011.
DURANGO DEVO - COLORADO
Photo by Jeanine Emmets
COLORADO Grand Junction Crested Butte
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Pagosa Springs San Luis Valley
NEW MEXICO
Taos Photo by Terrance Siemon
FALL2017 41
KILLER WEEKEND
Alamosa, Colorado The San Luis Valley is visible from outer space. Let’s take a closer look.
Photos by Terrance Siemon
42 ADVENTUREPRO.us
For more Killer Weekends visit ADVENTUREPRO.us
1 Tap the San Luis
Time for a siesta? Swing into this rustic brick brewpub and nestle up to a Valle Caliente. The brewers at SLV Brewing Company take their award-winning Mexican Lager and let it soak up the flavor of Hatch Chiles from Hatch Valley, New Mexico. Muy sabroso. All of SLV brews are made with Colorado hops and barley, and water from the Rio Grande River basin. Fill up on burgers or sandwiches, and try the homemade honey mustard dressing on a huge salad.
2 Valley bold
It’s hard not to get lured into The Roast: Craft Coffee and Libations, where they roast, brew and package coffee right in front of you in historic downtown Alamosa. Pick from a full coffee menu or go for the house brew, good with the Brewhouse Breakfast Burrito, a warm tortilla wrapped around homemade chorizo, bacon, potatoes, scrambled eggs, green chiles and jack cheese. On the other side of the SLV Brewery it’s a unique behind-the-scenes show: Breakfast is served while the craft beer masters get to work.
3 Wild & free
The San Luis Valley is 100 miles long, 50 miles wide and is visible from space, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. The 11,169-acre Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge is one of three national wildlife refuges in the San Luis Valley and home to some 200 bird species including songbirds, birds of prey and waterfowl, in addition to other wildlife like deer, elk, coyotes, rabbits and more. The refuge is a vital part of the natural ecology and is terrific for self-guided tours.
4 A great escape
The Great Sand Dunes National Park is unlike any other park in Colorado, or the southwest. It is more than 150,000 acres, much of it mountain terrain. Almost one-third of it is entirely made up of sand and massive dunes of sand – up to 750 feet tall – that boggle the mind and the senses. The dune area is 33 square miles, with no trails, maps or guidelines to follow. Just be ready to work for it. Here, relentless winds never cease. Take a guided full moon tour with a trip leader or wander out on your own and gaze at the stars. Rent sandboards from Kristi Mountain Sports and ride the dunes.
5 Ticket to ride
Book now and save a seat on the Rio Grande La Veta Pass Route for the Rails and Ales Brew Fest, held in early June. It’s all aboard a stunning train ride to a postcardperfect mountain meadow located at nearly 10,000 feet, where a music festival and beer festival are rolled into one. Forty breweries share their craft, alongside food, live music and barbecue.
Photo by Brandon Mathis
FALL2017 43
EXPLORE
Rocktober story and photos by LUKE MEHALL
N
estled on the southern edge of Canyonlands National Park, Needles District is a land that, until recently, was hard to tell where you were. Even 5 years ago there were no signs for this place that climbers know as Indian Creek. Today “The Creek” is included in America’s newest national treasure, Bears Ears National Monument, designated late last year.
For many, this landscape — a series of sandstone walls and towers — was simply on the way to Canyonlands, where more intricate formations and geology awaited. But for the last 40 years, to climbers, this landscape has been “the ultimate,” a vast landscape to explore and recreate to their hearts content. A feature that makes the first impression to most visitors is Newspaper Rock, a compilation of petroglyphs, or rock art, from the ancestral Puebloans, who used to live and hunt within this landscape. Though there are petroglyphs all over Indian Creek and Bears Ears, these are some of the most accessible; they are right off of the road. A quick stop will spark the curious mind to wonder the meaning of these drawings, some made over a thousand years ago, still preserved in the Wingate Sandstone. Going down the road, one might expect these canyons to be barren and devoid of life, but there’s more than just stone and sky. Wild turkeys roam the valley floor. Above, a Peregrine falcon, one of the fastest birds on the planet, flies at speeds of up to 240 miles an hour. Hopping from rock to rock are colorful collared lizards, spiders and snakes. Scorpions await the unsuspecting visitor at every turn. Though barren, Indian Creek has a long history of ranching, and still today the Redd family continues that tradition. Their cattle and horses graze all over the valley, in a tradition that was here long before the visitors came. The Redd family has worked with the Nature Conservancy to secure both their interests as well as that of the recreationists who increasingly enjoy the area. Atop that list of users are the climbers. Each spring and fall rock climbers from all across the world descend into the canyon to test themselves on the unique parallel cracks, of which there are thousands. Walls span miles of the canyon, offering cracks, that vary in size — some swallow your entire body, some you can squeeze only your fingertip into or the edges of your shoes onto. While there are other crack climbing areas in the world, none can match the perfection of those in Indian Creek. In addition to perfect “splitters,” as climbers call them, there is a variety of towers, the most prominent of those the South and North Six Shooters. One can only imagine those towers being named by an explorer or cowboy back in the day and finding the name aptly fitting. The Bridger Jacks, a series of seven connected towers, are also popular among climbers. In the summer and winter the climbers mostly vacate, leaving behind a quiet place once again. Even in the busy season this landscape is so vast, like many places in the Colorado Plateau, a quiet corner can always be found if you know where to look. But that knowing can take decades; the desert only gives up its secrets with dedicated time spent. Indian Creek is perfect for climbing, and though it may seem tame compared to other desert locales, it’s a vastly wild place, full of creatures and history. And, if nothing else, knowing that all this exists on the way to another national treasure, Canyonlands National Park, is worth contemplating.
Photo courtesy of Tim Biggert
Luke Mehall is the publisher of The Climbing Zine, and the author of the memoir American Climber. For more on climbing visit ADVENTUREPRO.us FALL2017 45
EXPLORE
High Country Mountain Biking Autumn. The light shifts. Days grow short.
It’s a time unlike any other throughout the year. Groves of quaking aspen burn yellow, their leaves like embers carried to the ground. Gambel oaks are set aflame in red and orange. Windblown grasses fade and dry to sweeping amber waves. The air is crisp, the sun rich. The gray rocks and dark trail cut through it all. These autumn hours are magical. Moments are fleeting. And the colors change with every second. You can pass by it all and spectate. Or you can join it. Be among the season. Breathe it in and feel the warmth of a sinking sun weaving through the branches. Hear the leaves shimmer. Watch the world change. 46  ADVENTUREPRO.us
COLORADO TRAIL - COLORADO
For more mountain biking, visit ADVENTUREPRO.us
LA PLATA MOUNTAINS - COLORADO
Photos by Terrance Siemon
DRY FORK TRAIL - COLORADO
Autumn Singletrack THE BEST OF FALL COLORS MOUNTAIN BIKING Engineer Mountain Trail – Silverton, Colorado La Plata Canyon – Durango, Colorado Scotch Creek Trail to Salt Creek – Rico, Colorado Hermosa Creek – Durango, Colorado South Boundary/North Boundary Trail – Taos, New Mexico The Northside at Taos Ski Valley – Taos, New Mexico Dry Fork Trail – Durango, Colorado Robertson Pasture – Monticello, Utah Colorado Trail to High Point – Durango, Colorado
ENGINEER MOUNTAIN TRAIL - COLORADO FALL2017 47
WILD VOICES
Running Far with Bryon Powell by BRANDON MATHIS
S
ometimes people find their way off the beaten path, and forge a trail of their own. Meet Bryon Powell, a Washington, D.C., attorney-turned-full-time-trail-runner whose love for the sport has taken him across the world and back. We found Powell, founder of trail running media hub iRunFar, on his home trails of Moab, Utah, and wandered into the desert to talk about running, writing, life on the trail and what it all means to him.
How it all began “Fortunately my parents’ house in New Jersey backed up to a 1,200-acre park so on the weekend(s) in high school and all summer long I would run the trails, and that’s something that I’ve kept with ever since. A year after college I ran my first marathon, and the year after that I ran my first ultra (marathon).” Any distance over 26.2 miles qualifies as an ultra marathon run. Most are 32, 50 or 100 miles, and many are through rugged mountains or harsh deserts with fantastic terrain and with incomprehensible demands. Ultra runners rarely sleep, hardly stop for longer than a few minutes and learn to function on the go for days on end during events. Powell has been running ultras for 15 years: The Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, the Leadville Trail 100 near Leadville, Colorado, the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run in California, and The Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run in Utah. “They’ve been great experiences, whether they’ve been perfect races or not, you really get to search your own soul, what you’re capable of physically and mentally in those races.” he says. Of course, there was that run across the Gobi Desert. “Two years ago, I was running the Ultra-Trail Gobi in China – 250 miles nonstop – just over four days to cover an unmarked course. It was a really tremendous experience to be out there in such a remote landscape.” 48 ADVENTUREPRO.us
MOAB, UTAH
Photos by Terrance Siemon
Run on over, man ADVENTUREPRO.us
Why trail running, and why Moab? “There is just the dynamic nature of it. You have to be paying attention to that next footfall and three footfalls ahead. It’s exciting and it’s engaging throughout. I really enjoy that. Around Moab, it’s spectacular to check out not only the large landscape around you but the small details: little lithic chips from the Native Americans, looking at the grasses and the cacti. Everything. It’s just a wonderful experience to be looking at all this beauty rather than just a strip of asphalt.” In addition to iRunFar, Powell and partner, Megan Hicks, have co-written two books on trail running, Relentless Forward Progress and Where the Road Ends. Why writing? “I really love to shorten the learning curve. We’re all going to make mistakes, we’re all going to learn by trial and error and that’s great. Being able to share those learning experiences, I get a great deal of joy from that.”
iRunFar.com “Publishing iRunFar wasn’t iRunFar at first; it was me publishing a personal running blog, talking about my training, what race I might go do. I decided to make it an informational resource in my spare time. Over the years it went to publishing three days a week. Then I quit my job, moved to Yosemite (National Park) and published full time. Fortunately, now the team has expanded. Two of us full time and a full stable of writers.” Powell is always on the go, and has recently been in 14 countries reporting live events, some of the biggest trail races in the world.
For the love of running “For me, running is my own time. It always has been, whether it’s on the trails or on the roads, it really is my time to either focus on what’s going on in my life or to get away from it. There’s the exploration aspect of it, especially as I build my fitness, being able to use that fitness to go explore all day out in the wilderness, it’s something that is really dear to me, and there might be a time when I’m unable to run anymore. Maybe that’s five years from now and maybe that’s 30 years from now. “It’s really a time to set aside in my day and to see the world around me.”
POWELL (LEFT) HARD AT WORK AT THE HARD ROCK 100
FALL2017 49
BODYWORK
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Breakable: 10 Ways to Conquer Injury
By JOY MARTIN It was the first run of the day on a slope I’d skied hundreds of times before. Late-morning sun had warmed the April snow to a nice corn, and my Dynastars were making lovely arcing turns. The next moment, I felt snow grab the inside edge of my left ski, jerking my leg backward as the rest of me continued forward. The pop of my knee reverberated in my ears, and down I went. When I came to a stop, I sighed. No tears. No curses. Just quiet. Injuries hardly ever happen when we’re doing super rad things. It’s usually something lame. Like skiing a groomer on Gaper Day dressed in a gold one-piece suit with glitter in your hair. Ten minutes later, I was once again schussing down the mountain, only this time belly-up on a toboggan. Thank goodness we weren’t in the backcountry, I thought. On the drive home, sadness settled in. No mountain biking, peak bagging, trail running. No skiing. No fun. My husband pulled me from that doleful reverie with a challenge: He said I should make a list. Not a list of all the things I would do when I was better, but rather a list of all that I could accomplish while injured. This was most excellent advice. With my knee and some whiskey on ice, I opened a new Excel spreadsheet. SURVIVAL BOOK: The Silver Linings Knee-less Checklist, I titled it. At the top, I wrote headings for Task, Deadline, Notes, Date Completed and, of course, a box to put that big ol’ satisfying X . After an MRI, I learned I’d torn my ACL, LCL and meniscus. After the surgery, two weeks after the injury, I would be six weeks non-weight bearing. The projected time before I could be back to my hundred-miles-anhour lifestyle was six months. October. Forever. I decided that the overarching goals over the coming days would be 1) to not run out of things to do, and 2) to not be miserable. Now, four months post-operation, fresh off a mountain bike ride (ahead of recovery schedule), I can look back on the experience and confidently say that it was not only not miserable, but fruitful. Aside from three or four days of wallowing in frustration or pity, I made the most of it, and built some character in the process. Someone told me early on that injuries can be the greatest teachers. I’m a really good student. Here’s my cheat sheet of how to not only cope with, but triumph over injury:
10 MAINTAIN PERSPECTIVE
Daily perspective checks were the greatest tool in calling me back to the light when I would start to feel sorry for myself. I’d lost a friend to cancer a few months earlier, and another friend was in the throes of fighting ALS. Both guys were formerly strong, athletic, healthy, 30-something-year-olds. Those were real battles. Mine was just a knee injury with a shelf life, not a terminal illness.
9 COMMISERATE
From Googling professional athletes with similar injuries, like Lindsey Vonn and Emelie Forsberg, to hanging out with friends going through their own recoveries, there’s guaranteed comfort in commiseration. Note: This is not your free pass to a pity party but a chance to vent, laugh about and acknowledge the suffering with someone who gets it.
8 DO STUFF
I read that Lindsey Vonn got a puppy after her most recent epic knee injury. Hmm, I thought. Maybe it’s time to get a puppy. Then a wise friend suggested she probably had someone to take that puppy for walks and clean up after it. This was a terrible idea. The point was that it’s amazing how much time you have when you can’t ride your bike or fill up the hours with long days in the mountains. Brew kombucha. Grow tomatoes. Research how to build shotskis. Watch every single NCAA March Madness game.
7 TREAT YO’SELF
Little comforts go a long way when your body is healing. Since I couldn’t fully submerge in water, a simple foot bath was the ultimate luxury for me. I would take a book and a glass of wine into the bathroom, draw a tub of steaming water, soak my feet, maybe even shave my legs. The warmth was good for circulation, too. I also ordered a stylish pair of Crutcheze pads for my crutches. Game changer.
6 LIMIT SCREEN TIME
An empowering move for me: I quit Strava cold turkey and weaned myself off Instagram. While movies and Netflix were a nice distraction every now and then, I made myself busy with other time fillers, like listening to records or radio programs. Okay, I binged on Master of None, but that’s a really clever show.
5 EAT WEED
Can’t say I’m any brainier than I was before the surgery. For me, partaking of my fair share of Colorado’s prized legal substance was an undeniably critical piece to the recovery puzzle. I barely stomached pain medicine the first week after surgery before transitioning to edible marijuana. I ended up paying for those powerful dosages later as I struggled to piece together large pockets of time with fuzzy recollections.
4 FEEL THE BURN
After surgery, as soon as I could get on the floor, I created a 30-minute daily workout routine conducive to my injury. My circuit included 30 pushups, 500 crunches of various positions, all sorts of leg lifts and stretching. While I watched my quad muscle disappear, my triceps and core—two weaker spots prior to the injury— benefited immensely.
3 DO PHYSICAL THERAPY
I went to physical therapy twice a week for four months. My physical therapist is one of my good friends, so each session served as the highlight of my week. Not only was I kind of exercising, but I could easily measure progress, hear positive feedback and commiserate with fellow recoverees (see No. 9).
2 BE THE SHUTTLE DRIVER
Offer your services to others while you’re down and out. Whether that’s an airport run or coordinating with friends who want a lift to the trailhead for a ski, bike or backpacking adventure so they don’t have to deal with a car shuttle, now’s your chance to be that guy or gal. This one always comes back around.
1 BE GRATEFUL
Gratitude is good medicine. Instead of focusing on what’s been taken from you, concentrate on what you have. Beyond thinking grateful thoughts, I started writing thank you cards to anyone and everyone, whether they cooked a meal, came over to hangout while I was couch-bound or sent me packages in the mail stuffed with chocolate and trashy celebrity magazines. Nothing will make you more grateful for your own afflictions as reading about the Kardashians’.
CONCLUSION If you’re getting after it in the great outdoors, chances are you’ve either been here before or know of someone going through it. Enjoy your health while you have it. Be safe. Be primal. And when you discover that you’re in fact breakable, too, take heart. There’s more to life than gnar shredding. Besides, not much feels as good as that first time you get back on the bicycle, or dare I imagine, skis. FALL2017 51
EXPLORE
Overlanding
MONUMENT VALLEY NAVAJO TRIBAL PARK AT SUNRISE
The Journey is the Reward by BRANDON MATHIS
“Overland is going to be travel-based around a vehicle, whether it be a car, truck, van, bicycle, motorcycle,” said Gavin Malm, overland enthusiast and Albuquerque-based professional photographer. “The idea is that you’re traveling, and your vehicle is your hub.” Malm is part of a respectful niche in the off road genre, one that appreciates the surroundings and reaps the rewards from them. “Overlanding is all about the journey,” he said. “Four-wheeling is all based around the obstacle. I like going outside. I like adventure.” Malm said it’s a tremendous escape from the norm, traveling though immense landscapes, expansive deserts and lost worlds. “Being able to break away form my normal life, I’m like everyone else,” he said. “I have a job. I have obligations. But when I go out and I’m in the middle of nowhere, it gets me away from it all. It gives me a break.” And, as with other overlanders on those breaks, he likes to be ready for anything. “You want to be prepared without overdoing it,” he said. “We’ve got a truck that has high clearance, we’ve got good all-terrain tires on it. We don’t have a huge rooftop tent and spare tires and loads of gear on the roof.” What Malm does have is a beefy roof rack with the bare essentials: shovel, axe,
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jack and rugged fuel containers that can be fastened securely in place. It’s also where he carries vehicle recovery plates, skids he can nudge underneath his tires in tricky situations for added traction. To Malm, its all about weight and distribution.“And we weighted everything that was heavy towards the middle,” he said. “Weight distribution is key.” Malm’s rig, like other overlanding vehicles, is customized with other hardware and electronics that not only track where he’s going, but also enhance the ride. GPS mapping. Vehicle data. Custom shocks provide adjustability suited for changing conditions. “It allows you to dial your truck in based on your terrain.” Traveling huge areas of backcountry he covers immense swaths of country across the Southwest. Out there, Malm and other overlanders find what they’re looking for. “You’re not there to dominate the landscape, you’re there to enjoy the landscape and experience it along the journey.”
For a video on Overlanding, visit ADVENTUREPRO.us
MONUMENT VALLEY NAVAJO TRIBAL PARK, ARIZON/UTAH
SHAFER TRAIL, UTAH FALL2017  53
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Story and I got this idea during your average, run-of-the-mill case of mid-winter depression. I was Illustrations by only seeing the sun during a too-short lunch break, and was hardly salvaging my mood with a few Sara Knight measly endorphins worked up on the treadmill at the gym after dark. So, while sitting on my bed one night, watching Netflix and eating my feelings from a giant bag of chips I decided I needed a goal. A goal to get me up off my butt. Ah ha, well of course! Why not do the Imogene Pass Run? How hard could running 17 miles over a mountain pass possibly be? Over the next 9 months or so I got outside and I got myself running, and hiking and biking and before I knew it I was standing in a crowd in downtown Ouray wondering what on earth I had gotten myself into. 
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VISTAS
Photos by Bryce Gordon
“We drank a six-pack of cola, ate a box of vanilla cookies and passed out in the car for 11 hours.” - Bryce Gordon. It was simple. Summit Utah’s Abajo Mountains, ski down to stashed mountain bikes loaded with climbing gear, pedal across the desert to an iconic tower and climb it. All in one day. Easy enough. “It was quite an ordeal,” Bryce Gordon said. He and longtime adventure partner Will Berger, both of Durango, hashed out the plan a few months earlier and set out in the dark one spring morning to do it. They didn’t count on the flooded roads, creek crossings, lack of snow, bushwhacking sage brush on skis, herds of cattle, brutal mountain biking, getting lost and impending crushing fatigue. But that’s pure adventure. And they got what they were looking for. By the time they made it to the tower, they called it a day. Gordon called it a learning curve. “It wasn’t a complete success, but it was an enlightening failure,” he said. “We figured out you could do it. At some point in the next two years, it’s going to happen.” Follow Gordon and Berger on instagram @brycesgordon, @will_i_am_berger, #abajotrifecta, #abajobound.
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