TRAIL MIX

CURATED BRAIN SNACKS FROM A LOCAL EXPERT

THIS ISSUE’S TRAIL MIXER: JOANNA CROSTON

Joanna Croston is director of the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, and has lived in the Canadian Rockies for more than 20 years. She’s a closet poet, book geek, wannabe birder—and if she could find a way to do all these things on skis, that would be her dream life.

TUNE IN

Fave Podcast – This is Love hosted by Phoebe Judge The second episode of This is Love describes a kind of insane event regarding an ocean swimmer and a whale, and if you only listen to one, make it Something Large and Wild—it literally had me sobbing with pain and joy simultaneously. Episode 39: Can I speak to David? is another favourite—spoiler alert, let’s just say it involves David Lee Roth. How can you go wrong talking about something everyone could use a bit more of? Love, that is. thisislovepodcast.com/episodes COVER TO COVER

Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer, 2013, Milkweed Editions. Braiding Sweetgrass is a transformational read, taking you deep into the millennia-old relationship between plants and humans. It is a book full of wisdom and personal anecdotes of Kimmerer’s experiences as a trained scientist with Indigenous heritage. The author grapples with the dichotomy of belief systems daily. How do you engage in the scientific method, and embrace Indigenous creation stories? How do you maintain sustainable relationships with the land, and live in a modern world which focuses on scientific fact? Kimmerer never tells us the answers, rather she lets the reader discover their own possibilities.

The Environmentalist’s Dilemma; Promise and Peril in an Age of Climate Crisis, Arno Kopecky, 2021, ECW Press Kopecky’s latest book is a rant of sorts, firmly nestled in the angst of a pandemic—but it’s the best kind of rant. It reminds us that we’re not alone fumbling through an attempted environmentallyethical lifestyle when there’s so much happening in the world, most of which feels beyond our control. This sounds like a heavy read, but the beauty of Kopecky’s writing makes these difficult conversations accessible. His words are concise and well-researched and quite funny on occasion, despite the gravity of the topic. By the end of The Environmentalist’s Dilemma, I felt both optimistic and energized to act.

Mountain music – Nurdjana de Rijcke has an incredible voice, and an indescribable depth to her sound—sultry, jazzy and rich but also light and playful. Nurdjana is revitalizing songs written by her father, and adding new ones and her own stylistic spin on these beautiful tracks. She keeps dropping singles that make me stop what I’m doing immediately and listen. Her new EP is coming out June 14 and I’m definitely waiting with bated breath. nurdjana.com GIVE THEM A FOLLOW

@ruby_tooth is a Banff artist with a knack for pairing wild with domestic and, through the style of the “old masters”, makes everything both classic but racy and ultracontemporary. My favourite painting: Ground Squirrel with Badger Hair Shaving Brush.

The self-deprecating style of outdoor writer and filmmaker Brendan Leonard, @semi_rad, has me cracking up daily with his ridiculous, nonsensical infographics. Example: the Doing Shit bar graph where progress is inversely related to time and measured with two elements on the x-axis, “doing shit” and “saying you’re gonna do some shit”. That’s some funny, useless information, yo.

→ 1

2

3→

4

→ 5

1. A jacket you can wear 365 days of the year, the PEAK PERFORMANCE VISLIGHT GORE-TEX PRO JACKET ensures long-lasting protection, even in the most extreme conditions. It’s light and breathable enough to use in the summertime, and durable enough to handle climbing and skiing in cold weather. Packable into its hood, this is your ideal garment for overnight hikes. www.peakperformance.com // 2. The NORTH FACE FLIGHT VECTIV™ are light, fast, and responsive trail shoes made for high performance over long distances. Designed with input from our athlete team, these shoes are built to optimize energy return and reduce downhill tibial impact by ten per cent to propel you toward your running goals. Available at The North Face stores in Banff and Jasper and at www.thenortheface.com // 3. Osprey’s best-seller just got even better. Available in MEN’S (ATMOS) AND WOMEN’S (AURA) BACKPACKING PACKS in 50L and 65L sizes has upped the ante with improved anti-gravity suspension for maximum comfort on the trail. Combine enhanced organizational components (for better access to your gear) with an easy-peasy integrated rain cover, and this pack’s got you covered for long days in the mountains, no matter the weather. www.osprey.com // 4. The RUX mission is to boost the flow and freedom of outdoor adventure by creating systems that make organizing, storing and moving gear fun, fast, and cool. The RUX 70L is a compressible, weatherproof gear management solution with a wide rigid opening for easy access, a secure tri-fold lid, modular straps for easy carry, and a component-based design for a wide variety of adventures. www.rux.life // 5. Part backpack, part cooler, the YETI HOPPER M20 makes it simple to take your ice-cold bevvies and fresh snacks well beyond the trailhead. The powerful magnets in the top closure create a leak-resistant opening that stays open when you need it to and seals closed with a gentle push. Your potato salad exploded in all this excitement? Don’t worry, it’s fully waterproof inside and out; just hose it down when you get home. www.yeti.ca //

6

8→

7→ 9 →

10

6. Made for the trails or the town, SALEWA’S WILDFIRE LEATHER APPROACH SHOE offers supreme comfort, stability, and durability—all in one sleek suede leather design. On top of performance, this hiker boasts the Salewa Committed badge, meaning the shoe meets ethical production and material standards to minimize environmental impact. Look good and feel good in your new everyday approach shoe. www.salewa.com // 7. A machine with world championship-winning pedigree at the forefront of two-stroke development, the 2023 HUSQVARNA MOTORCYCLES TE 300 utilizes proven electronic fuel injection for smooth, controllable power, and impressive torque to get you where you're goin'. www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com // 8. Rain or shine, they call it the great outdoors for a reason. Zip up for trail and travel in the WOMEN'S BURTON VERIDRY 2.5L RAIN JACKET and prepare to take whatever Mother Nature delivers. Fully waterproof and breathable, this jacket is loaded with convenient features like a chest pocket to easily access the internal mesh pocket through the shell, and the whole jacket stuffs into its own pocket for easy packing. A jacket worthy of adventure that’s totally at ease in the city too. www.burton.com // 9. Shield yourself from the elements with the PRO CHANGE ROBE EVO FROM RED EQUIPMENT. Built for performance, the waterproof and breathable outer shell keeps rain out, whilst the super soft and cozy inner fleece lining locks warmth in and wicks moisture away. Dependable in all elements and perfect for adventures year-round. www.red-equipment.ca // 10. Designed with rock climbing in mind, the PATAGONIA ALTVIA ALPINE PANT for men and women will be your staple in adventure trousers. Featuring four-way stretch and an environmentally friendly, durable, water repellent coating, you’ll be set for all-day movement and comfort above the tree line. Find the Fair Trade Certified sewn pant at www.monodsports.com