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STEEP DREAM Where anything is possible

SKIJORING

Horsing around (and fast!) on skis

ODE

TO USED GEAR

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Killer Weekend

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A D V E N T U R E P R O . U S

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CONTENTS

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14 FE AT U RE S

10 BACKCOUNTRY BEACONS

New beacon technology to keep you safe and informed. by morgan tilton

14 WHEN YOU DREAM,

ANY LINE IS POSSIBLE

Chasing stellar lines in Colorado’s Grenadier Range. by josh jespersen

18 SKIJORING: THE

WEST’S RISING STAR

Combining horseback riding with skiing — Yeehaw! by tiona eversole

22 ODE TO USED GEAR

Is the best and newest gear really needed to play? by morgan sjogren

24 NATIVES OUTDOORS: RISING IN WINTER

A wintry call to action in support of indigenous athletes and climate change. by tiona eversole

32 DEFINING VACATION:

ICE CLIMBING RETREAT

Pairing adventure with relaxation in Ouray, Colorado. by brenda bergreen

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A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

D EPARTMENTS

06 OPENING SHOT

ABOUT THE COVER

08 OUTDOOR VITALS

Author Josh Jespersen peers over the Grenadiers into the Needle Mountains on a climb to launch into dreamy turns.

Avalanche!

28 BEHIND THE LENS 36 GEAR BIN 38 SIPS ‘N’ SUDS

Southwest Whiskey Social

40 KILLER WEEKEND Silverton, Colorado

44 HIDDEN GEMS

Tracking new Nordic areas

48 CALENDAR 50 HOW TO

Cross-country ski

52 WILD VOICES

Sam Tischendorf master ski bootfitter

54 VISTAS

photo by Jon Krakauer

EDITOR'S NOTE

LIV E FOR THE ADVENTURER IN ALL OF US EDITORIAL

Jan Nesset editor Colleen Donley art director Terrance Siemon photographer & videographer Laurie Kain photographer & videographer Hunter Harrell copy editor CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Tiona Eversole Margaret Hedderman Nancy Prichard Bouchard Lis McLaughlin

Heather Mobley Morgan Tilton Morgan Sjogren Josh Jespersen Brenda Bergreen

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Elora Akins Brenda Bergreen Marc Bergreen Kurt Blair Hank Blum

Isaiah Branch-Boyle Josh Jespersen Jon Krakauer Steven Recalma

A DV E R T I S I N G

Jamie Opalenik director of multimedia sales Abby Feldman Amy Baird Heather Mobley Tana Bowen Joe Nelson Kelly Bulkley Samantha Crews Teressa Nelson Chandler Sommerfeldt Cole Davis Colleen Donley PRODUCTION

Ryan Brown production manager DESIGN

Tad Smith manager of creative services Christian Ridings designer Gary Markstein designer I N T E R AC T I V E

Jace Reynolds web designer Skylar Bolton web development M A N AG E R

Douglas Bennett chief executive officer Carrie Cass director of finance /ADVENTUREPROMAG @ADVENTUREPROMAG ADVENTURE PRO MAGAZINE @ADVENTUREPROMAGAZINE ADVENTURE PRO MAGAZINE

© 2019 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.

YOUR

UNBELIEVABLE LIFE When you hear of someone skiing jagged peaks in Alaska, bike touring the Andes or kayaking a wild coastline, do you wonder how they got there? Not the flight they took, but the path to becoming skilled enough to consider going that big. Do you dream of going big yourself, saying, “one day…”?

S

Seeking adventure has driven me far afield.

I’ve been fortunate, provided with a wealth of experiences that one day will be distilled into stories told around a campfire – perhaps stories that nobody will believe.

I am humbled by the rewards of experiences I simply had to pursue. Every reward is a gift, of course, often delivered in mysterious ways.

Soloing steep mountains has presented for me many trying moments, of which dalliances with crevices, near falls and tunneling through a giant bergschrund remain vivid and prized memories.

Gripping tight to hold two Pakistani porters from sweeping into the maw of killer rapids has helped etch in my psyche a permanent inferiority to natural forces – no one can “conquer” a mountain or river.

Standing ankles to teeth of a large caiman taught me that patience and courage are kindred – one move and my bones would be sand today.

Midway across the Pacific on a voyage from Singapore to Seattle, I witnessed seven rainbows embroiled in a distant black mass of storm clouds – can someone, anyone, affirm a supernumerary phenomena like this can exist?

Retrieving the body of a fallen climber from a Karakoram slope revealed the power in a name – it was a body until we were given his name.

While standing naked in the plunge of Angel Falls, the world’s highest waterfall, I sustained a drubbing cleanse that launched for my team a belly laugh that keeps on giving.

I’m not sharing these stories to impress, but to remind that you, too, can build a portfolio of unbelievable stories. Put yourself out there, try new things, allow yourself to be uncomfortable, even scared – it can be unbelievable!

In this issue, Heather Mobley opens the door to cross-country skiing, a sport in which she is an expert, but was once a novice. It works that way.

On the other hand, Josh Jespersen took his turn long ago and he keeps taking them. Now he’s making steep ones in landscapes like the Grenadiers, a dreamy place for him.

It doesn’t take much to begin a new adventure, just start with used gear. Morgan Sjogren reminds us in “Ode to Used Gear” that new, state-of-theart gear isn’t necessary.

Adventure Pro Magazine puts a lot of effort into inspiring adventurers to try new activities, sports and gear. From back door to beyond, we’re sticking with you!

Adventure is yours for the taking. Believe it!

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photo by Terrance Siemon

Online at adventurepro.us

For more stories and photography (and video) to fire up your craving for exploration and adventure, visit www.adventurepro.us. Online you will find a wealth of inspiring content covering the variety of topics you’re accustomed to reading in our print magazine.

Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find online: ›› Five Ten Grandstone ›› 2019/2020 Ski Resort Preview ›› Liberty Skis Evolv Series ›› 23 Reasons to Keep Racing During the Southwest Winter ›› Stay Safe Outside During Hunting Season ›› The Best Fall Trails In and Around Durango ›› Extend the Life of Your Inflatable Boat with Proper Storage ›› Biking Crested Butte’s Breathtaking 401 Trail ›› Sandhill Cranes Flock to the San Luis Valley ›› Hiking Ice Lake in the Fall: 4 Reasons Why Now is the Time to Go ›› Angel Fire: Northern New Mexico’s Best-Kept Secret ›› Route Finding: 4 Ways to Discover New Trails ›› The Wave: A Must-See Natural Wonder in Northern Arizona ›› Taos Bull of the Woods Race: Tips for a Successful Run ›› Bikepacking: Get Out There and Stay Out There ›› Backcountry Skiing in Colorado ›› Experiencing Mesa Verde in Winter Becomes the Upside to Falling ›› Reader's Photos: Climber Spotlights Stellar Routes Abroad

and at Home ›› Top 5 Fall Running Workouts to Increase Speed ›› 8 Tricks to Keep a Tent Zipper Zipping

Also online, click the “Share A Photo” tab on the top-right of the menu and you’re on your way to sharing photos of your adventures with Adventure Pro readers. You just might see them show up in a future issue of our print magazine!

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OPENING SHOT

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A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

A drone-captured image of Cascade Creek in the San Juan National Forest in Colorado. photo by

Terrance Siemon

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O U T D O O R V I TA L S

Avalanche!

Play it safe in the backcountry by learning how to determine whether snow conditions are prone to avalanche by

L IS MC L AUGHLIN

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A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

T

THE EXHILARATION of hitting backcountry slopes comes with the looming risk of triggering an avalanche.

Learning how to read the clues hidden in snowpack can reduce the risk of being caught in a slide. Assessing avalanche danger is a science that recognizes variables in snow quality to indicate signs of potential avalanche danger. Identifying these variables is an acquired skill. If you intend to ski or snowboard in the backcountry, it is highly advisable to take an avalanche course and learn from experts.

As a rule, the cohesiveness of the snow can tell a lot about its avalanche potential. Is it loose? Does it clump together? Is it wet or dry? Consider the texture: is it grainy or fluffy, or densely packed? Snow that is not wellbonded is unstable and poses the risk of avalanching. Another consideration is how the snowpack will behave when it is disrupted at different slope angles.

LOOSE SNOW AVALANCHE Wet or dry snow that does not bond well can result in “loose snow” avalanches. These loose snow avalanches result from snowpack accumulated during snowstorms in cold months, although they can also develop in melting snowpack or from precipitation in warmer months. They occur at or near the surface and gain momentum as they cascade, typically forming a triangular pattern as seen from above. Something as simple as a tuft of tumbling snow can set one off as can the softening that occurs in a melting snowpack.

If you observe snowballs tumbling down a slope on a sunny day, you may want to reconsider your day. This is a sign of “surface warming” and it has the potential to result in a slide.

Performing snow tests should first be practiced with an expert, or learned by taking a course.

SLAB AVALANCHE Snowpack with layers that could be described as “grainy” or “fluffy” or even “dry” and “icy” may indicate weakness, and could result in a “slab avalanche.”

Such is the result of one layer not bonding with the layer beneath it, thus fracturing and sliding away in a sweeping, often huge, slab. These avalanches occur with more depth, scale and density, posing an even greater threat to backcountry travelers than that of loose snow. Often, these are the slides triggered by adventurers who have ventured onto the slopes.

Be on the lookout for signs of unstable snow such as surface fractures forming around feet or equipment, or patterns made by strong winds, which could indicate an unbonded layer of wind-carried snow. Listen for sounds, often described as “whumping”, while walking on the snow. Sounds like this indicate the snow is in the process of settling and has points of weakness.

SLOPE Avalanches tend to occur on slope angles between 30 to 45 degrees (a clinometer is an easy way to measure degree). Slope aspect is also a consideration: does the slope face north or south, and how does sun exposure affect these slope aspects at different times of the year? During the winter months, a south-facing slope is much safer than a north-facing slope. Why? This is due to the lack of sun exposure on the north side, which does not provide an opportunity for the snow to condense, increasing the likelihood of unstable layers of dry, icy snow, known as “depth hoar.” In the warmer months, however, the south-facing slopes have an increased risk of wet-snow slides from melting snowpack.

Of course, reading snowpack requires skill and experience. Performing snow tests should first be practiced with an expert, or learned by taking a course.

LIS MCLAUGHLIN is a full-time manufacturer in the cannabis industry and freelance writer based in Durango, Colorado. In her free time, she is an outdoor recreationalist, fitness enthusiast and avid pursuer of knowledge.

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Backcountry B

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Backcountry tracks are tracing the high-alpine bowls: It’s that exciting, hair-raising time to re-glue skins, waterproof outerwear and wax skis. More important, though, is recharging the backcountry brain with daily avalanche forecasts, avalanche burial drills and beacon checks before that first tour.

“Avalanches bring stressful, crazy situations.

The technology available today in transceivers makes the search process infinitely easier than past beacons. That’s the number one reason it’s important for backcountry users to replace and update their beacons,” said Tom Mason, U.S. Brand Manager of Ortovox, one of the world’s leading beacon manufacturers alongside Backcountry Access, Black Diamond (which acquired Pieps in 2012), Mammut and Arva.

Three antenna digital transceivers are standard among avalanche educators and recommended over the preceding dual antenna beacons, which aren’t obsolete but are aged

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A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

and disadvantaged, according to the Canadian Avalanche Association. Modern transceivers generally last a decade with diagnostic checks (about $20-$35) after the first five years and every two years after that, Mason said.

Timelines vary by manufacturer: For instance, Mammut beacon diagnostic tests are every three years.

The best way to find the right beacon?

Try them out. “Get together with friends [for burial drills.] Go to an event, or take a rescue or refresher course: Practitioners and other users will have better beacons you can test,” said Dave Furman, Mammut Hardgoods Category Manager, USA and Canada. Read the manual with your backcountry partner.

As Furman highlighted, “Nobody practices [beacon use] enough.”

Aside from three antennas, other common characteristics of conventional, cutting edge beacons include a marking function for multiple burials, acoustic search guidance and auto revert, in case of a second avalanche. To compare, we tested each beacon in singleand multi-burial scenarios with a 60-meter wide slide path. Here’s more on what makes a handful of the newest beacons unique.

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Backcountry B

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ARVA E VO 5 BL ACK D IAM O N D G U I D E BT Our testers found the Guide BT (60 meter SSW) interface easyto-use with helpful components like the detailed scan, which shows victim direction and distance and allows selection. Note: This tool among others need to be activated via the user app.

www.blackdiamondequipment.com

At 11- by 7-centimeters, the debut pocket-sized beacon is slimmer without sacrificing modern features, said Jeremy Jolley, Arva U.S. Sales Manager. (The Barryvox S is 11.5- by 6.7-centimeters, by comparison.) The Evo5 doesn’t offer any screen icons to help user differentiate multiple signals, but the U-turn alarm and 50-meter SSW are awesome. Note: single battery life span decreases faster in search mode compared to other beacons, our tester found.

www.us.arva-equipment.com 5.9 OUNCES

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BACKCOUNTRY ACCESS BCA TRACKER S MA MMU T B A R RYVOX S Our testers found this beacon’s clarity was superior in singleand multi-burial scenarios. Follow-the-arrow guidance walks you through the course search—including “turn back” indication if you’re going the wrong direction—all the way to pinpointing.

Animated screen icons queue each step of user action. And “auto guidance” overrides signal overlap to focus on a single burial including individual distances and arrows that are “on the money.” Furthermore, this 70-meter search strip width (SSW) is the longest range offered among consumer recreational-use beacons, Furman confirmed. www.mammut.com 7.4 OUNCES

49995

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A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

Our users liked the new Tracker S (50 meter SSW) audio assistance, which fluctuated 20-30 meters away from burial. In multi-burials, the big picture mode—a display of all distances and directions of the transceivers—is well designed, and signal suppression (rather than “flagging”) is helpful.

www.backcountryaccess.com 5.8 OUNCES

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MORGAN TILTON Adventure Journalist, is a recipient of multiple North American Travel Journalists Association awards with a focus in travel, industry news, and human endurance. When she’s not on the road, she’s backcountry splitboarding, doing hut trips, or re-learning how to downhill ski in Colorado’s San Juan or Elk Mountains, where she grew up and lives today. She works with close to 55 publications.

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The first glimpse of what dreams may come.

Ricke and the author look toward Arrow Peak. photo by Isaiah Branch-Boyle 14 |

A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

Purity lost on Vestal Peak's Wham Ridge.

The crew's track up, and down. photo by Jon Krakauer

Determined to flirt with gravity. Ricke and the author skin toward West Trinity. photo by Jon Krakauer

W H E N YO U

Dream Possible —ANY LINE IS

I

Dreams don't get any better. From left to right: Ricke Schuler, Josh Jespersen, Jon Krakauer, Paul Dawson, Isaiah Branch-Boyle

A stargazer and his bold group of mountaineers journey to a steep skiing utopia in Colorado's Grenadier Range, and allow their limits to dissolve

I feel myself slipping into a rocking chair trance as my senses dull around me and my eyelids get heavy.

The woody smells of our vintage coach, the distant mayhem of the Animas River pumping down its course, and the stunning views of the Rockwood Gorge all fade as we steam up the tracks along its rim. The more than century-old Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is the transport my intrepid group of friends and I chose to venture north on. We had left Durango about an hour ago, and just as I start to lose consciousness the lofty San Juan peaks of the Weminuche Wilderness come into view.

They soar above us with massive prominence, and their snowcapped pinnacles suggest another world exists high in the clouds they are piercing. As my eyes close and I drift off to sleep, I know this fantastic world will invade my dreams.

by

JOSH JE S P E R S E N

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W HEN YOU

Dream Possible

—ANY LIN E IS

››

My legs are moving in a walking motion, but my feet are sliding instead of stepping. I’m breathing heavy, and my lips feel each exhale turn to a frosty fog. As I regain smell, sound and sight, I feel a weight on my shoulders. Taking in my surroundings, I realize I carry a heavy pack, and am skinning toward a massive ridge that looks like a mandible lined with jagged teeth.

I’ve seen this place before while looking at pictures of gnarled peaks with Ricke Shuler, who I notice is just ahead of me. I know I am looking at Vestal Peak with the breaking wave appearance of Wham Ridge. On either side are the striking peaks of Arrow and West Trinity among others comprising the Grenadier Range, a geologically unique band of hard quartzite of the Uncompahgre Formation. I look behind me to notice my friend Jon Krakauer is in awe of this place as well, and he taught me most of what I know. Continuing to make our way up this drainage my group of five experience mountaineers is hushed, and I started to wonder if I was in a dream. In the evening when everything got cold and quiet, we all stared at the twisted giants above us. I wondered if I was here and now, or still in the train car. I wondered if my friends were seeing these peaks in an altered way like I was. I knew we were mystified by the range and that it was shifting our perspective on what kinds of lines could be skied.

The author catching one last set on a dawn patrol before he wakes up.

A line of the north shoulder of Electric Peak dubbed the “Breakfast Line.” photo by Isaiah Branch-Boyle

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A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

Rocked to sleep, or awakened to a new reality on the D&SNG. Isaiah peers out the window as the Weminuche peaks come in to view. photo by Josh Jespersen

I had shared an array of mountain experiences all around Colorado with each person on this trip. Krakauer and I have ridden so many lines together I lost count years ago, but we always seem to laugh like we just discovered powder.

After making snow at Eldora Mountain Resort with Paul Dawson, braving bitter cold nighttime temperatures and leaning in to classic Front Range winds, all weather seems benign. The Sangre de Cristo Range is where I recognized Schuler and Isaiah Branch-Boyle's penchant for pain might match my own, as we ski traversed the entire thing top to bottom over the course of 13 days. This group who I have formed bonds with in these austere environments was all standing around looking up with mouths anxiously watering. I figured we all must have been mentally painting ourselves into this picture.

After the sun set and rose again, we completely let go and allowed the mountains to be our guide. We have all been chasing specific objectives throughout the Rockies for years, but these mountains induce a transient flow.

They cultivated in us a fiery desire to explore more.

Immersing ourselves in this place, and being drawn by seemingly intangible white lines, we started to bend the constraints of ability. Throughout this dream, we let creativity take over, and watched as our descents became lucid. We screamed down winding couloirs burdened by cliffs begging you to ride ever closer to them. We delicately danced from edge to edge down faces so steep I’m not sure snow should have blanketed them. As another evening set in, the still air was broken by our conversation highlighting the disbelief and awe at what we had accomplished that day. The landscape of this other world had pulled us in and warped our reality. It was hard to fathom, and I was uncertain it had actually happened.

Opening my eyes, I realized I was still on the train. I came out of my deep sleep knowing I was acting like Walter Mitty again, like I often do.

Stretching my arms high in the air though, I caught that gratifying smell of sweat and exhaustion after days spent chasing gravity high in the mountains. I looked out the window, and saw we were going south back toward Durango. Had I only dreamed an existence in that abstract world, or had I improbably cleansed myself of the vicarious pleasure derived from those photos of the pure and venerated Vestal Peak?

JOSH JESPERSEN has climbed and ridden all 54 of Colorado's Fourteeners in record time.

He took from that experience a fascination with our state's ski culture, and a love for our high mountain towns. He is currently authoring Journey Lines, and there is a good chance you'll run into him somewhere above 10,000 feet. Buy him a beer, and talk skiing if so... he loves that!

Finding lines between a wall and a void.

The author rips a couloir on Electric's east side. photo by Jon Krakauer

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SK I J O R IN G T H E W E ST ’S R IS I N G STA R by

Combining horseback riding and

A SKIER, A COWBOY AND A HORSE LINE UP AT THE START OF RACE… Sounds like the beginning of a joke, right? But this is actually the story of an unexpected trio. It’s called skijoring, and it’s unlike any other winter sport you’ve witnessed.

“I think the sport’s really cool and unique because you have two totally different groups of people that come together to participate in the sport,” said Jasmine Johnson, who has been competing in skijoring events as a horseback rider for the past five years. “I mean, you’ve got a cowboy, a giant animal and a skier all on the same team working together, and everyone’s part matters.”

With more and more skijoring races popping up across the West, the sport is seeing a rise in popularity. You’ll want to keep skijoring on your radar this winter, as the event offers a fun and unique perspective for participants and spectators alike.

skiing, this unusual event is on the rise, drawing crowds from all over to mountain towns in the West

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A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

Montana has continued to see a steady increase in skijoring races across the state, including this one — Skijoring at Rebecca Farms — in Kalispell, Montana. photo courtesy of Elora Akins

FROM T HE PAST TO PRESENT

A skier heads into a turn at Skijoring America’s Nationals Finals in Red Lodge, Montana. photo courtesy of Elora Akins

Skijoring competitions across the West got their start more than 70 years ago, with areas such as Leadville, Colorado, hosting a skijoring event down its main street starting in 1949. But the origin of the sport dates back much further.

“The origins actually go back to Europe,” said Adam Rys-Sikora, President of Skijoring America.

“It’s been around for quite some time.”

The name itself is derived from the Norwegian word “skikjøring,” which translates to “ski driving.”

Today, skijoring in the western United States requires a horseback rider to navigate a course that includes jumps, gates and other obstacles while pulling a skier on a rope. The skier then collects rings dispersed throughout the course.

The team that collects the most rings in the fastest time wins. Let’s break it down to better understand the roles of each member of a skijoring team.

THE SKI ER Want to try skijoring, but don’t have much experience? That’s okay. When it comes to the skier, all levels and abilities are encouraged to come out and try it for themselves.

“The coolest thing about skijoring is you don’t have to be an expert to do it,” said Tyler Smedsrud, one of the race organizers for the San Juan Skijoring race in Ridgway, Colorado, as well as a competitive skier in the sport.

“You can be someone who has only skied five times in your entire life and get behind somebody who knows how to ride a horse and enter the novice and they’ll pull you around the track,” Smedsrud said.

Smedsrud got his start in skijoring in 2007 when a friend convinced him to enter a race in Red Lodge, Montana. Since then, he has traveled across Montana, Wyoming and Colorado to compete in at least one event every year, with some years reaching up to 12 events in a season.

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Skiers encounter a variety of obstacles during a skijoring race, including ski jumps. photo courtesy of Hank Blum

As both a skier and co-founder of San Juan Skijoring, Smedsrud is working to make the Ridgway event more skier-friendly.

“With our course, the idea is for it to flow and for the jumps to have landings,” Smedsrud said. “Whereas on the traditional skijoring track, the skiers are just landing on the flats and there was very little other terrain besides the jump to a flat landing.”

Skiers may use their traditional downhill skiing setup. Smedsrud suggests avoiding big fat skis, as the goal is to go as fast as possible.

Helmets, goggles and a good pair of gloves are a must for skiers.

And if you prefer to snowboard, then you’re in luck. Snowboarding is making a name for itself in skijoring with several events offering a snowboard category, including San Juan Skijoring.

“The snowboarding classes have been getting really popular,” Rys-Sikora said.

T HE COWBOY Jasmine Johnson races down Blair Street in downtown Silverton, Colorado, for the Silverton Skijoring race. photo courtesy of Hank Blum

LOCAL EVENTS Want to see what skijoring is all about?

Check it out at one of these nearby events.

San Juan Skijoring; Ridgway, CO: Jan. 11-12 Steamboat Skijoring; Steamboat Springs, CO: Jan. 18-19 Skis and Saddles SkiJor Race; Pagosa Springs, CO: Jan. 25-26 Silverton Skijoring; Silverton, CO: Feb. 15-16 Utah Skijoring; Midway, UT: Feb. 22-23 Leadville Ski Joring; Leadville, CO: March 7-8 n

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A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

Skijoring gives the cowboys (and cowgirls) something to do in the winter.

“I think that a lot of people that own horses in the wintertime get frustrated because there’s lack of dry ground to do normal horse training on” Rys-Sikora said. “And so having another activity, you have this opportunity to get out there and keep your horse in shape and compete, win money, have fun. It gives them something to do in the wintertime.”

Skijoring makes it easy for riders to continue working with their horses while training for an event, as well as having something to look forward to.

“If you love to rodeo, then you’re going to love skijoring,” Smedsrud said. “It’s basically winter rodeo.”

A skier can enter this sport without any ties, meet a horseback rider and give skijoring

a shot. But when it comes to the rider, they must learn to work with their horse and get them prepared for the event.

THE HO RSE Out of the three participants involved, nobody has more fun skijoring than the horse.

“Some people get the wrong impression,” Johnson said.

Onlookers may feel that the horses experience constant stress and agony while participating in skijoring events — but it’s quite the contrary.

“These horses really do enjoy their job,” Johnson said. “When my horse sees a set of skis, his eyes light up and he starts jumping up and down. He’s really excited to go. He loves to run.”

“The horse loves it as much as we do, and the precautions we take as far as how we set up our track is as safe as the horse running in sand as far as I’m concerned,” Smedsrud said.

And while it may not appear this way to bystanders that do not have experience looking after a horse, it’s important to understand that these riders work closely with their horse to make sure that they are well cared for before, during and after these events.

“Sometimes you see people going crazy on their horses — kicking, screaming, whatever — and it’s just a transfer of energy,” Johnson said.

“The horses feed off of it.”

Skijoring continues to grow across Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Utah. This winter, check out a skijoring event near you and experience this thrilling, up-and-coming sport for yourself.

TIONA EVERSOLE is an outdoor enthusiast based in Durango, Colorado. Look for her on the slopes or exploring the local trails with her pup, Sgt. Pepper.

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ODE TO USED GEAR

Do we really need the best, the newest, and highest tech gear to play outside — especially in winter? by

MO R GAN

M

SJ O GREN

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A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

My friend Peter was so excited to take me on my first backcountry ski tour that he had my quiver of gear ready to go: stubby 91 centimeter child-length telemark skis, skins folded in half to fit, and boots with broken bindings. Even as a novice skier I knew this gear set-up was questionable, but the thought of missing out on a fun weekend with my friends would be worse. Besides, I didn’t have any money to spend on anything better, and dumping money on a rental seemed less important than buying beer and snacks.

Ultimately the MacGyvered gear transported me to our winter camp where I enjoyed the bonfire festivities. However, the actual skiing was horrendous as I spent the weekend toppling over on the tiny little sticks each time I hit a bump in the ungroomed slope. I now know what it feels like to be in an episode of “Jackass.”

But my friends encouraged me the entire time, I didn’t get hurt, and I had fun. So I saved some money and invested in what I could afford — used telemark skis (still too short but adult-length), borrowed boots and hiking poles. I did splurge on some new skins. My friends were as stoked as I was now that I had a ski set-up that would sort of allow me to ski anything badly. Sure, making turns on telemark skis is infuriatingly hard even for lifelong advanced skiers, let alone a newbie, but it was a major step up from children’s skis.

I channeled this same mentality when I decided to try ice climbing. I borrowed my friend’s ice tools, crampons and some leather mountaineering boots in a men’s size 10 — only a few sizes too large. I filled in the extra space with two additional insoles, wore three pairs of socks and laced the boots up extra tight.

Using a borrowed combo of brand new ice screws, very old ones, and one especially old piton, my climbing partner and I set out in search of routes not recorded on the Mountain Project app, as is definitely not recommended for new climbers who don’t even have their own equipment. When we found an unnamed and unrated perfectly frozen fall we celebrated the challenge that lay before us — and that no one would be watching our misadventure.

Immediately, I felt my partner’s frustration as he struggled to place the first brand new ice screw, but that was only the beginning. Halfway up when he hammered in the ancient piton he hollered down at me, “Mo, this is getting kind of scary.”

The remaining stretch of the climb seemed an eternity as I belayed him, followed by immediate terror when it was my turn to climb and clean the route. Thankfully the finicky new screws were easier to remove than place. Even the ancient piton, though it required some serious tugging, came out.

For a moment, I believed I might fly up this ice chandelier without issues. But then, as I

“If you can ski in these, you can probably ski in anything.” dislodged my crampon from the ice to take my next step up, I felt a rush of cold air. My foot was now entirely out of the boot which was still stuck to the wall by the front points of the crampon. When my partner shouted to see if I was okay, I replied, “I just climbed out of my boot!”

Thankfully on top rope, I was able to gingerly slide my triple-socked foot back into the boot. I secured my right ice tool and used my free hand to gingerly pull my boot away from the ice. I kicked my right foot into a higher position to tighten the old school leather laces as much as possible. The fact that we made it to the top of the climb, and back down, without a single piece of gear falling to the ground is a miracle. And though we never entered the beta into Mountain Project, we agreed “The Stripper Pole” was a fitting name.

So often the outdoor industry wants us to believe that we need the best, the newest, and the highest tech gear to play outside.

For many, the cost and intimidation factor is enough to keep them from ever trying a sport like backcountry skiing or ice climbing. Using borrowed or second hand gear has allowed me to try sports I would be intimidated to try based on the expense of gear alone. While my ill-fitting equipment did highlight that there is no substitute for proper fit, fully functioning gear and actual training, taking advantage of what I had access to helped me jump the

barrier between being able to let my friends show me the ropes of their winter hobbies versus staying home.

Slowly but surely, I’m upgrading my ski and ice gear to tools that fit me better and that are slightly more modern, but I still prefer to buy used over the latest and greatest. Rather than the “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality of fancy winter gear, I like to think about keeping up with history. I think about people sliding on homemade wooden skis, climbing mountains in wool sweaters and leather boots, and the renegades who forged their own ice tools long before the outdoor industry existed. More than any piece of gear, I find that same creativity and resolve to use what equipment I can get my hands on that inspires me to keep getting after it, learning more, and most importantly of all, having fun each winter.

MORGAN SJOGREN is constantly roaming the Southwest (and world) chasing stories and adventures. She is the author of three books, her latest being The Best Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Hikes. Sjorgen loves thrift stores and trying new things, which led her to try her hand at ice climbing. While she plans to stick to using her limbs for running and writing, it is the mishaps and memories that keep fueling her shenanigans in the great outdoors.

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A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

Connor Ryan spends some time at Coal Bank Pass in the San Juan Mountains. photo courtesy of Steven Recalma

NATIVES OUTDOORS Rising in Winter Natives Outdoors weaves the winter narrative into a call for action in support of indigenous athletes and climate change

by

T ION A E V E R SOLE

To many indigenous tribes, the winter season is a time of storytelling.

Some stories are about the history and future of a place. Others are about the people. And many encompass the land and the features that make an area so special. Weave these threads together, and you will understand what Natives Outdoors is working to change in the outdoor industry.

Natives Outdoors is a small outdoor media and apparel company based in Paonia, Colorado, whose mission statement reads: “to empower indigenous communities through our products and storytelling for a sustainable world.” While many of Natives Outdoors’ ambassadors and athletes dominate warm weather sports such as rock climbing and running, a few thrive in the winter while sharing their passion for the mountains and snow.

THE ATHLETES Natives Outdoors CEO Len Necefer began skiing about four years ago.

“It came out of necessity more than anything by just trying to broaden our skillset in terms of how we engage with the mountains,” Necefer said.

Necefer (Diné/Navajo) stated that Natives Outdoors has three athletes, including himself, that are involved in winter sports, with a few others improving their skiing and snowboarding skills this season.

“What we’re trying to do is cultivate the athletes that can then be the role models that folks can look up to,” Necefer said.

The other two Natives Outdoors winter athletes include Connor Ryan (Húnkpapha Lakota), a skier living in Boulder, Colorado, and Steven Recalma (Kwakwaka’wakw & Salish), a snowboard coach based out of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Ryan had started skiing at the age of six, but didn’t discover his love for skiing until he was 20.

“From there on, I just started skiing like 100 days a season and started making my life about it,” Ryan said. “To be in a place of solitude and

››

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NATIVES OUTDOORS ›› Rising in Winter

TOP: Steven Recalma works with indigenous youth to spread his love of snowboarding.

BOTTOM: Recalma coaching his First Nations Snowboard Team. photos courtesy of Steven Recalma

Our hope is to be able to document and capture these images and stories to hopefully retain them as a means of teaching folks after us about what these places have signified and what they mean.

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A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

connect with nature, while still being able to do something that was exciting to me, really just changed my whole perspective and kind of gave me a newfound sense of independence.”

The snowboarder for Natives Outdoors, Recalma has been involved in the sport for 23 years; competing for four of those years.

“I would say that I was majorly influenced by drugs and alcohol at a very young age and so snowboarding basically saved my life,” Recalma said.

His current focus, the Vancouver Island First Nations Snowboard Team, helps youth get involved in a sport that is challenging to get into due to its expensive nature.

“We also promote healthy living and lifestyles and ask that youth remain drug and alcohol free and send us report cards for school,” Recalma said.

In recent years, Natives Outdoors has also worked closely with professional athletes such as Brody Leven, Forrest Shearer and Cody Townsend on projects that have helped to increase awareness of indigenous athletes in the outdoor industry, while shedding light on important issues surrounding climate change.

This past winter, Necefer and Ryan were invited to participate in Townsend’s “50 Project,” where Necefer and Ryan educated Townsend on the importance of place and indigenous culture while skiing Mount Tukuhnikivatz in the La Sal Mountains of Utah.

“To see that level of humility in some of the top athletes in the world really just opened my heart, to see that a better way forward is something that we all want,” Ryan said.

THE MOUNTAINS Mountains are sacred to many tribes, but many summits are seeing diminishing snowpacks.

“In the Lakota tradition, we think of a lot of these places and call them in such a way that they are a relative to us,” Ryan explained.

“They’re like another being that has something

to offer and teach us, and getting to know mountains at that level of intimacy was one of my first experiences in really seeing that for myself.”

The mountains near Winter Park Resort and Eldora Mountain hold a lot of meaning to Ryan. It is where he would learn to ski, and the valley below Eldora is the first place he had done a hanblechya, or the traditional Lakota vision quest ceremony.

Last season, Ryan had the opportunity to join Necefer, Natives Outdoors athlete Aaron Mike and Patagonia snowboarder Forrest Shearer on a ski trip to the summit of one of the four Navajo sacred mountains, Dook’o’oosłiid — or Humphrey’s Peak — in the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona.

Necefer explained that this mountain is known by both the Hopi and the Navajo to have snow on top perpetually throughout the winter. However, that is no longer the case. The excursion was a way to bring attention to the issues of climate change in the ski industry.

“One of the threads we’ve been looking at is climate change and the impacts climate change will have on these traditional stories and creation stories,” Necefer said. “Our hope is to be able to document and capture these images and stories to hopefully retain them as a means of teaching folks after us about what these places have signified and what they mean.”

For Recalma the mountains are a place to escape to, allowing the children on his snowboarding team to get out and enjoy the blessings of the mountains while forgetting the struggles of day-to-day life.

“If they need to cleanse themselves or reground themselves, then that’s the place to do it,” Recalma said. “We’re doing it in a more modern way; we’re adapting to what we have.”

THE FUTURE Recalma will continue to work with indigenous youth and share his passion for snowboarding.

“Our goal is to coach the youth and, as time goes on, the youth coach the other youth; so it’s kind of a revolving door,” Recalma said.

Natives Outdoors has several projects that they are currently working on this season. These projects will keep working to raise awareness of indigenous athletes in winter sports while focusing on the impact of climate change on snowpack and Native American culture.

Necefer said: “We’re trying to communicate the storytelling that can hopefully provide that inspiration.”

TIONA EVERSOLE is an outdoor enthusiast based in Durango, Colorado. Look for her on the slopes or exploring the local trails with her pup, Sgt. Pepper.

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BEHIND THE LENS

by

Nikon D800 focal length 14mm iso 80 exposure 1/1250 aperture f/4.5

camera

T E R R A N C E SI E M O N

R E D M O U N TA I N 2 This photo was much more difficult to get than it appears. We were split boarding on Colorado’s Red Mountain 2 on St. Patrick’s Day. It was not a good snow year, the conditions were icy and I was hoping for a “powder shot.” Optimistic that we could pull off the shot, I instructed my friend Pat to dig his board hard into a turn to make the snow fly and also to drag his hand to make more snow fly. I also pointed out the exact spot he needed to make a turn so the background would be spot on. I was shooting at 400mm, a focal length in which the field of view is much smaller than with a shorter lens. Shooting with a long focal length makes the background seem much closer than it is in real life, so everything had to be perfect.

Pat nailed all of it. At the perfect moment he turned, carved and dragged his hand just where I was hoping he would. Immediately after I tripped the shutter, he crashed, but I had the shot. This is the final product.

S I LV E R TO N W H I TE O UT At the 2017 Silverton Whiteout, a mountain bike race that’s already ripe with excitement and action, many of the riders were lapping a little kicker they built in the snow. It’s pretty rare to see a fat bike getting some air — and with the town of Silverton as the backdrop, I thought this would be a cool angle to capture. I simply laid on the ground under the kicker and let the bikers jump over me. I used a high aperture and a fast shutter speed to get the clarity. Luckily, a setting like that is possible on extremely bright days like this one.

TRILLIUM LAKE On a foggy, snowy day in Oregon, I drove from Portland into Mt. Hood National Forest to get landscape photos of the fresh snow under a cool light. I set up my tripod at the edge of Trillium Lake, and played around with different camera settings using a timer. I could see that the reflection of the trees on the lake made a really cool symmetry but a figure was missing to help balance the image.

I was alone, so I became that figure. Over and again, I set the camera, hit the timer and ran into position. Notice that I cropped my feet out of the image. This was intentional. With all the running back and forth I had left too many tracks in the snow, which distracted from my idea of capturing an image with crisp features.

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A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

camera

Nikon D800

focal length

400mm

iso

640

exposure

1/1250

aperture

f/14

camera

Nikon D800

focal length

80mm

iso

800

exposure

1/6

aperture

f/10

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D E F I N I N G VA C AT I O N

The author playing around and practicing some footwork on the kids wall. photo courtesy of Marc Bergreen

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A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

ICE CLIMBING

R E T R E A T

Pairing adventure with relaxation in Ouray, Colorado, where hot and cold make a day

His name was Gump, as in Forrest Gump, and he was Marc’s truck when we first met. He got his name after a tragic slack-lining incident when Marc and his college buddies thought they could use the tailgate as one end of a slackline anchor. These guys were engineers and they should have known better, but alas, college. Marc collected stickers for the inside of his truck box and one bright yellow one would soon come to define our travels.

“My best vacation is your worst nightmare.”

As we began building a life together, that life consisted of hours of fun balanced with a healthy dose of suffering. In fact, we met on my first ever ice-climbing trip. It was one of those experiences that makes you vow not to do an activity again, only to find yourself falling in love with it. I soon learned that ice-climbing can be fun, it just requires a little more finesse and technique born from experience.

Since those fateful days early in our relationship, Marc and I have made numerous trips to the adorable town of Ouray, Colorado. It’s a town that boasts both intimacy and adventure. It’s home to luxurious hot springs as well as the famous Ouray Ice Park. If you haven’t been before, you can akin Ouray to your most accessible rock-climbing crag with world-class routes. Only this is ice. While most of my previous ice climbing experiences required snowshoeing long distances to access remote waterfalls or hiking mountains to reach glaciers, Ouray cuts down the approach significantly if not completely. You can climb countless routes and be back to the hotel in time for dinner.

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D E F I N I N G VA C AT I O N

TOP LEFT: An overview of the town of Ouray covered in snow. photo by Marc Bergreen TOP RIGHT: Brenda Bergreen hiking the short approach to the easily accessed Ouray Ice Park. photo by Marc Bergreen CENTER LEFT: The inside of Marc and Brenda's truck toolbox featuring a collection of bumper stickers. photo by Marc Bergreen CENTER: An ice climber making his way out of the canyon in the "Pic O the Vic" area. photo by Marc Bergreen CENTER RIGHT: Mountain reflections as Marc Bergreen takes a relaxing sunset soak. photo by Brenda Bergreen BOTTOM LEFT: Walking the metal walkway over the ice park. photo by Marc Bergreen BOTTOM RIGHT: Main Street Ouray makes for a welcoming winter scene with its historic storefronts inviting you in. photo by Marc Bergreen

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A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

Ice climbing in Ouray is one of those perfect vacations for when you need some adventure but are also looking to unwind and destress. The more limited vacation days are, the more valuable they become. We’re not the type to sit all day on the beach, but hand us snorkels or some cliffs to climb and we’re happy. Similarly, as much as I love to window shop in a quaint town, eat delicious food, read a book by the fire, and soak in the hot springs, maybe we should first tire ourselves out on the ice.

There is something powerful about exercise, adventure, nature and pushing our limits. Overcoming our fears and accomplishing ours goals give us selfconfidence. Exercise increases our endorphins. Even nature is being studied as an antidote to stress and depression. It seems to me that even if the goal of a vacation is to rest and recharge, running around outside might be the first step.

And yes, we subscribe to a tribe of people whose vacations force the very definition of vacation into question. Even so, we too need a break. We need escape, leisure, rest and relaxation. Maybe that means laying on the beach and doing nothing. Or perhaps it’s like a vigorous Vinyasa Yoga class when only after you feel like you have no more sweat to give does the teacher let you lie down and rest in savasana.

Isn’t it true that those ten minutes of post workout rest are the most rejuvenating ten minutes of your week? There’s something about the physical exertion WHERE TO GO that gets you out of your head, gives FOR A SOAK: you something else to focus on, and allows you to really rest when it Ouray Hot Springs Pool comes time to rest.

Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa Heading to the hot springs after just an average day is nice. How much Twin Peaks Lodge more satisfying is heading to the hot Box Canyon Lodge springs after testing your physical (Private Tubs) strength on an ice climb? Eating a hot delicious meal is good, but scarfing down scrumptious food after a long day of climbing is a transformative experience. But I’m preaching to the choir. Not everyone feels this way but those of us that do, do for good reason.

Our brain is a wondrous thing the way it can take our environment, perceptions and experiences, and spit out a complex result bordering on life-changing.

Never do I feel more rejuvenated than after time spent in nature. Never do I feel stronger than when I push myself past some self-imposed limit. While the definition of a perfect vacation may vary from person to person, an ice climbing retreat in Ouray strikes a good balance for me.

BRENDA BERGREEN is a storyteller and photographer living in Evergreen, Colorado, with her husband and adventure partner, Marc Bergreen. As a Colorado Native she loves exploring all that the state has to offer both through adventure and relaxation.

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GEAR BIN

NO RD ICA Santa Anna 88 and Enforcer 88 skis

MA RK E R KingPin M-Werks Binding Who doesn’t love alpine touring (AT) bindings for the freedom of a free heel for skinning up a slope, and the ability to lock the heel in place for downhill shredding?

The trouble is, most AT bindings sacrifice turning power (and some safety) to achieve that goal. Not the new KingPin M-Werks.

Our tester used the binding on more than 40,000 feet of vertical last season, from Banff to Chamonix, and the downhill performance is, in one word, amazing. The toe and heel are each 30% carbon, which shaves weight without compromising performance or durability. (Total setup weighs just 620 grams.) What she experienced was power transfer and control that rivals any alpine ski binding she has tested; the 38-millimeter-wide drill pattern also helps when carving fast, tight turns. It’s also easy to use, with an easy-to-flip lever to switch from ski to walk, and pin-ball-like guides on either side of the toe that make stepping in easy, even in super cold weather and deep snow. The heel release is ISOCertified with a DIN setting of 5-12 − great things to know when skiing the seep and deep. www.marker.net/en-us/ KINGPIN M-WERKS BINDING

729

$

00

For a while the philosophy with skis was the wider the better. But skiers were quick to notice that rather than carving, the skis were skimming, which just isn’t as fun. If you’re looking for an all-mountain ski that can handle everything from powder to groomers, the new Nordica Santa Anna and Enforcer are great picks. Made for female skiers, the Santa Anna, has a narrow (88 millimeter) waist, with a 121 millimeter shovel and 109 tail (on the 172 centimeter length). The ski skips through crud, and handles high-speed turns like a World Cup champ. Our tester skied it more than 75 snow days last year, in all conditions, and found it to be quick, nimble and almost psychic in its turning ability. The ski has a carbon-reinforced balsa wood chassis to keep weight down; two sheets of metal add stability. The men’s version is the new Enforcer 88. Also an all-mountain ski, the Enforcer has a lightweight, vibrationdampening tip and carbon reinforced chassis, plus two sheets of metal and a tapered wood core. Side cut for the 186 centimeter length is 122-88-110. This is the ski our tester reaches for when dropping into steep chutes that required fast transitions from powder pockets to ice. Both the Santa Anna and Enforcer are fun, forgiving skis that help you up your game. www.nordica.com SANTA ANNA 88

70000

$

ENFORCER 88

75000

$

D RINKTA N KS 64-ounce Insulated Growler DrinkTanks wants you to know that the planet consumes about 200 billion aluminum cans per year – or 6,700 per second. It’s a sobering fact, one that could drive a person to drink. So, feel free!

Focused on bringing the party, not the cans, DrinkTanks has a line of insulated growlers that strives to shorten the stack of cans that can circle the globe every 17 hours.

Adventure Pro liked the concept so much our editor tested The Classic 64-ounce.

Growler. After his tests, he discovered that the beauty of the product is not that its double-walled vacuum insulation maintains an internal temperature for 45 hours for cold beverages (20 hours for hot). Or that its unique stainless steel passivation process preserves taste and ensures no imparted flavors. Or even that the Double-Down closure system creates an airtight and vacuum seal. No, he emptied the growler too fast to verify temperature longevity or detect tainted flavor. But he noted that the product’s quality is obvious and the closure system is indeed solid.

The real beauty of the growler resides in the option to switch the closure system for a proprietary Keg Cap (sold separately) that turns the growler into a personal mini-keg.

The Keg Cap has a tap with a CO2 injector with a regulator, which means the growler dispenses beer with the perfect amount of carbonation and pressure.

The initial thought was that the assembly of the Keg Cap might require technical expertise. It doesn’t. Testing found it easy to assemble and use. www.drinktanks.com 64-OUNCE INSULATED GROWLER

7495

$

KEG CAP ACCESSORY KIT

4495

$ 36 |

A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

PO C

O BOZ

Obex BC Spin Helmet and Fovea Goggle

Women’s Sapphire 8” Insulated Waterproof Boot

POC takes safety seriously. The brand, based out of Stockholm, Sweden, built the new Obex with crash protection in mind. The tough polycarbonate shell has an ABS top shell for better durability and impact resistance. The helmet feature’s POC’s award-winning SPIN (Shearing Pad Inside) technology—basically a silicone gel-like membrane inside the helmet that disperses impact, no matter what direction you fall. Additional safety comes from an integrated RECCO reflector and Near Field Communication medical ID chip—that rescuers can scan with their phone to get your medical records in case of an accident.

But even without the added safety features, the Obex is a beautiful helmet. It’s light, streamlined and has excellent ventilation.

Paired with the new Fovea Goggle, there is no Gaper Gap. Seriously. The goggle sits flush with the brim of the helmet. Vents that are integrated into the front of the helmet encourage air flow, so there’s no fogging. The fit of the helmet is great too.

A small round toggle in the back of the helmet dials in a bespoke fit, ideal if you’re between sizes or want to fit a hat or hood underneath on cold days. Testers love the Fovea Clarity goggle as it has excellent peripheral vision. There’s also advanced vertical vision, so you can see more of what’s under foot. The Clarity Lenses were built with industry lens developer Carl Zeiss and testers reported crisp vision, with no distortion. www.pocsports.com/us OBEX BC SPIN HELMET

25000

$

FOVEA GOGGLE

180- 220

$

$

PATAGO NIA Untracked Jacket and Pant As dedicated snowhounds can attest, skiing and riding on storm days is the best guarantee of untracked powder. But staying warm and dry can be a problem. Patagonia’s aptly named Untracked jacket and pant quickly became our go-to shelter from the storm. The pieces are made from a soft, 3-layer Gore-Tex. The material is quiet as falling snow. Jacket and pant have just the right amount of stretch, so there’s no restriction of movement. Inside is a flannel lining that’s softer and warmer than other shells our tester has put on trial. She also feels pretty warm and cozy knowing that all the stitching is Fair Trade, and more than 90% of the nylon used is recycled. The jacket and pants were tested in wet, cold, even rainy conditions in from Innsbruck to Banff to Bend, and our tester honestly says there was no leakage, and no wetting out from sweat. Both pieces have plenty of pockets, including ones big enough to stuff skins, gloves and beacons. With strategically placed venting zippers, a sweet adjustable snow skirt, RECCO chips and gaiters that fit both alpine and backcountry boots there’s little question as to why this is a go-to shred kit. www.patagonia.com

Be prepared to fall in love with the Oboz Sapphire Boot. The moment we slipped this boot on, we knew that there was no turning back. This boot has it all: style, comfort, warmth and more.

At first glance, the Oboz Sapphire Boot not only looks sleek (we tested out the black model), but is fashion-forward with a subtle plaid accent at the base of the calf.

Both traditional laces and a zipper on the inside of the boot offer multiple ways to step into the boot effortlessly. Size is true, with a little wiggle room for a thicker sock if you are looking to bundle up; but our feet stay warm with a thinner sock on as well.

The low-density EVA pods, mediumdensity EVA underfoot and high-density EVA deep heel cup all work together to create Oboz’s exclusive O FIT Insole Thermal, a warm and cozy insole that makes pulling on these boots all the more satisfying.

The winterized rubber sole prevented any slippage, and the level of insulation and waterproofing is exceptional. These boots are composed of 3M Thinsulate Insulation and O FIT Insole Thermal for additional warmth, while the waterproof Nubuck leather and B-DRY waterproofing work to keep the elements out. A thick rubber toebox also shields toes from any encounters with chunks of ice or concealed, snow-covered rocks.

These are guaranteed to be a hit this winter for the adventurous yet fashionforward woman, and will be the perfect gift to yourself or a lady friend this holiday season. www.obozfootwear.com WOMEN’S SAPPHIRE 8” INSULATED WATERPROOF BOOT

17500

$

UNTRACKED JACKET

64900

$

UNTRACKED PANT

49900

$

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SIPS 'N' SUDS

Whiskey SOUTHWEST

SOCIAL

WHEN THE COLD OF WINTER STRIKES, WHISKEY WARMS THE SOUL photos courtesy of: Wood’s High Mountain Distillery

TI ONA EVERSOLE by

Winter and whiskey go hand in hand. After a long day of skiing, snowboarding, ice climbing or cold weather camping, whiskey provides a warming sense of comfort and delight as the spirit travels from your taste buds to your stomach. While the South is known for its roots in the spirits’ heritage (think powerhouse Jack Daniels), the Southwest offers a unique take on the grainfermented, barrel-aged alcohol. Plus, whiskey is best when enjoyed with your group of friends after a long day out in the elements!

Here are our top picks for your next winter adventure.

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A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

High West Whiskey park city, utah Have you heard of High West Whiskey?

The distillery hails from Park City, sells whiskey across the U.S. and internationally, and offers a multitude of whiskeys and bourbons based on your preferences.

However, our winter favorite is the Campfire Whiskey, primarily because of its ability to warm and spark a sense of comfort while sipping this slightly smoked and highly spiced spirit — no campfire needed (although we will gladly enjoy this around a toasty fire too).

This whiskey is best served in a flask and shared with friends after a powder day.

photos courtesy of: High West Distillery

Wood’s High Mountain Distillery salida, colorado Located in a small adventure town with big mountain views, Wood’s High Mountain Distillery in Salida is the perfect place to stop after a day out in the backcountry; or you can also grab a bottle to go for your next multiday trip.

Named for the distinct Sawatch mountain range to the west, the small-batch Sawatch American Malt Whiskey is what we recommend for those cold, blizzarding nights among the 14,000-foot peaks. At 101-proof, you don’t need much of this strong spirit to thaw out.

Only 200 bottles of this limited edition whiskey were released in late November.

If you weren’t lucky enough to get your hands on a bottle, don’t fear. Their signature Tenderfoot Malt Whiskey is a great go-to drink as well.

HOT TOD DY IN GR E D IE NTS

Peach Street Distillers palisade, colorado

The quintessential Hot Toddy recipe calls for whiskey, hot water, lemon and honey. But this season is for getting out and trying new things. Mix in one of these ingredients for a fresh take on a classic cocktail. photos courtesy of: Santa Fe Spirits

The Western Slope is known for two things: peaches and sweet corn. So it’s no wonder that this Palisade-based distillery would include peaches in their name and local sweet corn in their bourbon.

For those that prefer bourbon to whiskey (we had to include one on this list), Peach Street Distillers’ Colorado Straight Bourbon is sweet and spicy with prominent notes of vanilla. Subtle hints of chocolate accompany the citrus and cinnamon notes for a smooth and flavorful sipper that pairs well with a cozy blanket on a snowy day.

Peach Street Distillers also has two other whiskeys coming out soon: an American Peated Single Malt Whiskey and a Smoked Rye Whiskey.

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Black tea or green tea Spices such as cinnamon, clove and anise

n

Apple cider

n

Ginger

n

Agave nectar

Santa Fe Spirits santa fe, new mexico

photos courtesy of: Peach Street Distillery

Have you ever had a white whiskey?

That’s exactly what Santa Fe Spirits’ Silver Coyote Pure Malt Whiskey is. This whiskey is similar to the “white dog” style of whiskey, except for the fact that no corn is used in the process. Instead, this unique liquor is a pure malt, un-aged spirit that provides subtle fruit aromas and malty notes balanced by a dry finish.

Silver Coyote works well with a variety of mixers to create some unique cocktails. Try substituting Silver Coyote in your favorite margarita recipe for a refreshing post-hike or snowshoe beverage, also known as the whiskeyrita.

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Riding the chairlift into the abyss at Silverton Mountain. photo courtesy of Silverton Mountain

KILLER WEEKEND

Silverton, Colorado

S

YO U R S H R E D Q UA R T E R S F O R T H E 2 0 1 9/2 02 0 S E AS O N Sometimes, the best ski towns are the hardest to reach.

And sometimes, they are the smallest and most quaint of all. Silverton is that place.

Competing with popular Southwest winter ski destinations such as Telluride Ski Resort, Purgatory Resort and Wolf Creek Ski Area, Silverton is often overlooked. But this tiny mountain town offers some of the best skiing and snowboarding on this side of the San Juans. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly ski hill or an epic backcountry shred session, Silverton’s got a little something for all ability levels.

The Red Mountain Alpine Lodge is the epitome of luxury in the backcountry. photo by Aubrey Beth Photography

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A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

PICK YOUR PASS Not ski pass, but mountain pass. Just getting to Silverton is an adventure in itself, as the only way in and out of Silverton in the winter is on Highway 550, also known as the San Juan Scenic Byway. From the south, travelers must drive over both Coal Bank and Molas Pass to get to town. From the north, Red Mountain Pass is as daring as mountain passes come. Fear of heights? Don’t look down.

While both routes might require a deep breath and a little nerve, the views on the drive are epic. Coal Bank and Molas Passes are studded with multiple 13- and 14,000-foot peaks. Meanwhile, Red Mountain Pass climbs out of Ouray through a narrow canyon with sheer walls on each side before opening up to excellent views of Red Mountain 1, 2 and 3.

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T ION A E V E R S O L E

KENDALL MOUNTAIN SKI AREA For those wanting to stick close to town while taking it nice and easy, Kendall Mountain Ski Area is an excellent and affordable familyfriendly ski area minutes from downtown Silverton. The one double chairlift takes you to a summit elevation of 9,656 feet, where you have the option to ride their four groomed trails or check out several tree runs on your way down.

Kendall Mountain will also offer night skiing on two Saturdays this season: Jan. 11 and Feb. 8. On these dates, the ski area will stay open from 6-9 p.m., allowing you to get a few bonus turns under the lights before you call it a day.

SILVERTON MOUNTAIN If you’re looking for a challenge in Silverton’s backyard, look no further than Silverton Mountain. With an average snowfall of over 400 inches (that’s not a typo), Silverton Mountain provides a thrilling adventure for the advanced skier or snowboarder looking to escape the lift lines at other nearby resorts.

Like Kendall Mountain, Silverton Mountain has only one double chairlift; but that’s where the comparison ends. Silverton Mountain’s chairlift takes you to a summit elevation of 12,300 feet and provides you with an endless

opportunity of bowls, glades and steeps, all ungroomed. Both guided and unguided skiing is available.

If you’re looking to get the full experience, then you have to check out the heli skiing.

Silverton Mountain is the only place in the contiguous United States that offers single run heli drops, allowing you to access over 29,000 acres of skiable terrain for an experience you will never forget.

RED MOUNTAIN ALPINE LODGE Heated floors, flushing toilets and chefprepared meals are words not commonly used when describing a backcountry hut; but the Red Mountain Alpine Lodge is far from the norm. Hit the backcountry in style, and experience the backcountry without sacrificing luxury or comfort.

The Red Mountain Alpine Lodge is only 15 minutes north of Silverton on Highway 550, and sits at the summit of Red Mountain Pass at a total elevation of 11,000 feet. From the door of the Red Mountain Alpine Lodge, you’ll have access to the stunning and remote terrain that is Red Mountain Pass: untouched tree glades, high alpine bowls, steep couloirs and much more.

Guided and unguided options are available, with guided tours conducted through San Juan Mountain Guides. At the end of the day, return to the Lodge and share your epic lines with friends and family over a drink at the Lodge’s licensed on-site tavern.

SILVERTON POWDERCATS Big lines with big mountain views — that’s what Silverton Powdercats is all about.

Located on Molas Pass about 10 minutes from downtown Silverton, Silverton Powdercats offers access to a wide variety of terrain. Their warm, enclosed cabins make for a comfortable ride as you travel through over 6,000 skiable acres of San Juan backcountry in search of the perfect line.

Lunch and water is provided on this tour, along with any avalanche gear that you may need. And the best part? Unlike many other cat skiing companies, your last line takes you all the way back to the Silverton Powdercats headquarters, so that you spend more time on the snow than in the back of the cat.

Kendall Mountain Ski Area is a great place for the whole family. photo by Scott DW Smith

APRÈS LIFE Craft beers are the key to winding down after a long day of shredding and exploring.

Luckily, Avalanche Brewing Company offers a quality beer selection along with a mouthwatering menu. Grab a Sultan IPA or White Out Wit while you reminisce about the epic turns you just took. If you’re hungry, then ordering the pizza at Avalanche Brewing is highly recommended. They also offer wraps, salads and delicious daily specials, but their pizza and beer combo is where it’s at.

TIONA EVERSOLE is an outdoor enthusiast based in Durango, Colorado. Look for her on the slopes or exploring the local trails with her pup, Sgt. Pepper.

A quiet little mountain town covered in snow. photo by Jerry McBride

Nothing will wake you up more than fresh turns at Silverton Mountain. photo courtesy of Silverton Mountain W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

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SPONSORED CONTENT

SILVERTON, COLORADO YOUR BASECAMP FOR WINTER ADVENTURE Nestled at 9,318 feet in the San Juan Mountains, Silverton is your basecamp for mountain adventure in any season. Best known as a jumping point for hiking, backpacking, mountain biking and four wheeling, this quaint former mining town is also a mecca for winter adventures.

Winter sports enthusiasts can enjoy fat biking, Nordic skiing and snowmobiling on an extensive network of groomed trails at Molas Pass. Entire families can ski at beginner friendly Kendall Mountain for the price of a single lift ticket at larger resorts, while extreme skiers fuel their stoke with expert terrain and heli skiing at Silverton Mountain. The area boasts extensive backcountry skiing and snowboarding options, is a hot spot for ice climbing, and hosts a growing number of winter events, making Silverton a place where things heat up as the temperature drops!

For more information on these and other winter happenings visit silvertoncolorado.com!

Flying Dogs Sled Races – Jan. 11-12 A thrilling weekend of sled dog races, skijoring, bike joring, a musher's banquet and dog truck parade. Think your dog has what it takes to mush?

Try a free clinic!

Silverton Whiteout & Snowscape Winter Carnival – Feb. 8 The Whiteout is a 10-hour fat bike relay that brings hundreds to town for an event that’s as much a party as it is a race! Snowscape Winter Carnival features events like a cardboard box sled derby, snow sculpture contest, ice disco, and snow golf.

The excitement peaks Saturday night with fireworks and night skiing at Kendall Mountain.

Women’s Intro to Backcountry Skiing Hut Based Clinic – Feb. 13-17 Silverton Avalanche School and Chicks Climbing & Skiing offer 5 days of guided instruction for adventurous ladies at the cozy St. Paul on Red Mountain Pass. The oldest operating avalanche

school in the nation, SAS offers courses for recreationists and pros alike.

Silverton Skijoring – Feb. 15-16 Dust off your cowboy hat and get a taste of the Wild West on Presidents Weekend. The event features thrilling pro and amateur contests where a horse and rider team pulls a skier at breakneck speed through a course of gates, jumps and rings.

17th Annual Brewski – April 11 Silverton Mountain’s annual beer tasting event, featuring some of Colorado’s finest microbreweries. Admission includes a logo tasting cup, unlimited pours, and a round trip shuttle from town.

Silverton Splitfest – April 16-19 Ride new lines, make new friends, learn new backcountry skills, and demo the latest splitboard gear at this annual gathering of splitboarding enthusiasts, presented by Silverton-based manufacturer Venture Snowboards.

SILVERTON YOUR BASECAMP FOR adventure #lifeat9318 | silvertoncolorado.com | @visitsilverton

COLORADO

SKIING • SNOWBOARDING • NORDIC TRAILS • SNOWSHOEING • ICE FISHING ICE CLIMBING • FAT BIKING • SNOWMOBILING • SLEDDING • ICE SKATING 42 |

A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

Photography by Jared Ogden

M E E T M E AT

THE BLOCK

Silverton, Colorado’s foremost brewery on the historic “GOLDEN BLOCK”.

Serving wholesome wood-fired pizza, paninis & salads.

970.387.5962 | goldenblockbrewery.com 1227 Greene St – Silverton, CO 81433

Roof top dining · Inquire about private parties Award-winning wine list · Delicious local cuisine

First Place Best Romantic Dinner Second Place Best Fine Dining Second Place Best Happy Hour Second Place Best Restaurant Second Place Best Steak

From farm to table and from vine to wine, Eolus Bar & Dining offers something for everyone.

The local bounty shines through as the restaurant features an array of local products from farms, ranches, vineyards and breweries around southwest Colorado. Our covered rooftop patio is a distinct place to enjoy the cuisine, providing ample protection from the elements while offering premium views of the surrounding mountains. Our elegant dining room provides a choice of tables or booths to relax and sample creative concoctions from the bar.

Happy Hour 5pm-6pm Nightly 919 Main Ave, Durango CO | www.eolusdurango.com | (970) 259-2898 Open 5pm–9pm | Reservations recommended W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

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5 HIDDEN GEMS

NORDIC AREAS TO MIX UP YOUR ROU TIN E by

MARGARE T HE D D E R M A N

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GRAND MESA GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO

Routines are great if you want to form a good habit. Routines are not so great when they morph into little mental prison cells. Raise your hand if you’ve been diligently touring the same Nordic ski area season after season ad nauseam. Well, if you’re up for a jail break this winter, plug these destinations in your navigation system and hit the road.

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If Grand Junction has been on your radar, it’s likely because of its emergence as a hub for outdoor recreation – in part, due to a growing mountain biking scene. While the iconic mesa stretching across the city’s horizon contains a plethora of single track, in winter it’s home to an expansive cross-country ski area. At 11,332 feet elevation, Grand Mesa is the largest flat-top mountain the world and receives upwards of 300 inches of snow annually. The Skyway/County Line and Ward Nordic areas offer 50 kilometers of groomed skateclassic trails, as well as endless views of the San Juan Mountains and Battlement Mesa. In the Skyway/County Line area, most trails are easy to moderate, although there are some steep descents. To the East, the Ward area offers a mix of steeper groomed and ungroomed backcountry touring options, as well as a few loops for your pooch. For maps and more information, visit the Grand Mesa Nordic Council’s website: www.gmnc.org.

A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

Grand Mesa - The Grand Mesa Nordic Council trail system features over 50 kilometers of groomed skate and classic trails near Grand Junction, Colorado. photo courtesy of Visit Grand Junction

Arizona Nordic Village - The Arizona Nordic Village is located just north of Flagstaff and offers a variety of groomed trails, gear and yurt rentals. photos by Arizona Nordic Village

›› ARIZONA NORDIC VILLAGE FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA

Who says you can’t visit the Grand Canyon and ski in the same day?

Just north of Flagstaff sits the Arizona Nordic Village, where over 40 kilometers of skate and classic trails wind through the Coconino National Forest and glimpses of the surrounding mountains peek through the ponderosa pine and aspen. While this is an excellent option for day recreation, we recommend renting one of several backcountry yurts for a full weekend.

In addition to rental skis for adults and children, the Arizona Nordic Center also offers lessons for both skate and classic skiing. Visit www.arizonanordicvillage.com for more info.

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HIDDEN GEMS

La Sal Mountains - An assortment of volunteer groomed Nordic trails wind through the La Sal Mountains near Moab, Utah. photo courtesy of Keri Frandsen

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LA SAL MOUNTAINS MOAB, UTAH As if you needed another reason to visit Moab. The La Sal Mountains – those lonely white peaks growing out of the red rock desert – offer an unexpected mix of groomed Nordic and backcountry skiing terrain.

Winding through aspen groves and passing through quiet mountain meadows, this secluded trail system just off the La Sal Mountain Loop Road offers a variety of easy to challenging terrain. Volunteers from the Lower Utah Nordic Alliance maintain trails around Geyser Pass and Gold Basin, but it’s also possible to venture into the backcountry. If you plan on doing so, be prepared to navigate avalanche terrain. Visit www.discovermoab.com/winteractivities for more details on Nordic skiing in Moab.

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CUMBRES & LA MANGA WINTER RECREATION AREA CHAMA, NEW MEXICO Yes, we know the Cumbres & La Manga Winter Recreation Area is in Colorado, but the easiest access point is through the small town of Chama, just south of the border in New Mexico. This isolated area is often blasted by the same legendary storms that hit Wolf Creek and therefore has reliable snow throughout the season. Located on Highway 17 between Cumbres and La Manga Pass, this winter recreation area is open to snowmobilers, as well as Nordic and backcountry skiers.

Don’t worry, there are numerous user-groomed cross country trails winding throughout the forest, most of which access rentable yurts for overnight adventures.

If you’re feeling a bit competitive, Ski Chama organizes the annual Chile Ski Classic – a two-day event with numerous classic and skate ski races in addition to snowshoe and rookie events. The course is a 6-kilometer loop that includes a section of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad track. The 2020 event will take place on Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, Jan. 18-19. The course will continue to be groomed by volunteers for roughly a month after the race. Head over to www.skichama.com for more info on the trail system and the Ski Classic.

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A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

Ski Chama - The annual Chama Chile Ski Classic is hosted at the Cumbres & La Manga Winter Recreation Area and includes a section of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad route. The 6 kilometer course is maintained for a month after the event in January. photo courtesy of Ski Chama

›› ENCHANTED FOREST CROSS COUNTRY SKI AREA FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA

At nearly 10,000 feet elevation in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area is nestled just below the summit of Bobcat Pass. While this part of northern New Mexico is the epicenter of the state’s downhill ski industry – with four resorts within easy driving distance of one another – it’s also home to an excellent variety of Nordic trails. Enchanted Forest features over 30 kilometers of easy to very steep classic and skate trails, five kilometers of which are open to dogs. If you don’t have your own gear, rentals are available, as are group and private lessons. Starting in November, Enchanted Forest offers two yurt rentals with a pulk – or sled – included.

Check out the trail map online at www.enchantedforestxc.com.

Enchanted Forest - At nearly 10,000 feet elevation in New Mexico’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area offers 30 kilometers of groomed Nordic trails. photo courtesy of Ellen Miller-Goins

MARGARET HEDDERMAN writes essays, screenplays, and the odd bit of fiction.

She also produces multiday experiential events like the Women Outside Adventure Forum. Her work is available at www.margarethedderman.com.

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C A L E N DA R

CO LO R A D O DEC. 31 New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade & Fireworks TELLURIDE SKI RESORT www.tellurideskiresort.com JAN. 11-12 San Juan Skijoring OURAY www.sanjuanskijoring.com JAN. 17-19 Big Mountain Betty Fest SILVERTON MOUNTAIN www.silvertonmountain.com JAN. 23-26 Ouray Ice Festival OURAY www.ourayicepark.com JAN. 23-26 X Games ASPEN www.xgames.com JAN. 24-26 Winterfest PAGOSA SPRINGS www.pagosachamber.com/ winterfest

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JAN. 25 Colorado Cup Snowshoe Race LEADVILLE www.runningclub. coloradomtn.edu JAN. 25 Wolf Creek Giant Slalom Race WOLF CREEK SKI AREA www.wolfcreekski.com JAN. 29 - FEB. 2 Snowdown DURANGO www.snowdown.org FEB. 2-6 Women’s Ski & Ride Week TELLURIDE SKI RESORT www.tellurideskiresort.com FEB. 8 Silverton Whiteout SILVERTON www.silvertonwhiteout.com FEB. 9 Old Man Winter Bike Rally and Run LYONS www.oldmanwinterrally.com

A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

FEB. 15 President’s Weekend Night Rail Jam PURGATORY RESORT www.purgatoryresort.com FEB. 15 - 17 2020 USASA Halfpipe Competition PURGATORY RESORT www.purgatoryresort.com MARCH 13 Frozen Dead Guy Days NEDERLAND www.frozendeadguydays.org/ MARCH 14 Run Through Time SALIDA www.chaffeerunning.org MARCH 21 Skitown Breakdown CRESTED BUTTE www.skicb.com MARCH 29 Clauson Classic SILVERTON MOUNTAIN www.silvertonmountain.com

U TA H

DEC. 20 - JAN. 5 Snowfest PARK CITY MOUNTAIN www.parkcitymountain.com JAN. 23 - FEB. 2 Sundance Film Festival 2020 PARK CITY www.sundance.org JAN.24 - 25 Bear Lake Monster Winterfest www.bearlakemonster winterfest.com/ JAN. 25 Arches Ultra MOAB www.madmooseevents.com/ arches-ultra FEB. 6 - 8 Freestyle International Ski World Cup DEER VALLEY RESORT www.deervalley.com FEB. 7-8 Chocolate Festival FAIRVIEW www.festivalnet.com

FEB. 15 Moab’s Red Hot 33K and 55K MOAB www.madmooseevents.com FEB. 15-17 Bryce Canyon Winter Festival RUBY’S INN www.rubysinn.com/brycecanyon-winter-festival MARCH 7 Sand Hollow Marathon HURRICANE www.raceentry.com MARCH 14 Canyonlands Half Marathon and 5 Mile MOAB www.madmooseevents.com MARCH 14-17 202 Moab Skinny Tire Festival MOAB www.skinnytireevents.com MARCH 21 Behind the Rocks MOAB www.madmooseevents.com

A R I ZO N A

JAN. 9-12 10th Annual Havasu Balloon Festival & Fair LAKE HAVASU CITY www.visitarizona.com FEB. 1 Run Sedona SEDONA www.sedonamarathon.com FEB. 8 Phoenix Marathon MESA www.thephoenixmarathon.com FEB. 8 Kahtoola Uphill ARIZONA SNOWBOWL www.snowbowl.ski FEB. 8 Little Colorado River Gorge Half Marathon CAMERON www.runsignup.com FEB. 14-16 12 Annual Lake Havasu City Rockabilly Reunio LAKE HAVASU CITY www.visitarizona.com

FEB. 15 Mt. Taylor Winter Quadrathlon GRANTS www.mttaylorquad.org FEB. 15 Black Canyon Ultras MAYER www.aravaiparunning.com FEB. 16 An Evening with George Winston FLAGSTAFF www.flagstaff.com FEB. 29 Monument Valley Ultra MONUMENT VALLEY TRIBAL PARK www.navajoyes.org MARCH 28 5th Annual Boze Bump Bash ARIZONA SNOWBOWL www.snowbowl.ski MARCH 28 6th Annual Cardboard Derby Classic ARIZONA SNOWBOWL www.snowbowl.ski MAY 1 Shiprock Marathon SHIPROCK www.navajoyes.org

NEW MEXICO DEC. 20-21 Winter Solstice Observation AZTEC www.nps.gov/azru JAN. 4 2020 Gold Rush Rail Jam RED RIVER SKI AREA www.redriverskiarea.com JAN. 18-19 Chile Ski Classic CHAMA www.newmexicosportsonline.com JAN. 30 Taos Winter Wine Festival TAOS www.eventful.com JAN. 31 - FEB. 2 Winter Carnival ANGEL FIRE RESORT www.angelfireresort.com FEB. 5 USASA Slalom & Giant Slalom ANGEL FIRE RESORT www.angelfireresort.com FEB. 6-10 6th Annual Military Winterfest ANGEL FIRE RESORT www.angelfireresort.com

FEB. 15 Mt. Taylor Winter Quadrathlon GRANTS www.mttaylorquad.org FEB. 17 Rail Jam ANGEL FIRE RESORT www.angelfireresort.com FEB. 31 MARCH 1 Winter Carnival & The Last Shovel Race ANGEL FIRE RESORT www.angelfireresort.com MARCH 6-9 Military Winter Fest ANGEL FIRE RESORT www.angelfireresort.com MARCH 23-29 Mardi Gras Celebration ANGEL FIRE RESORT www.angelfireresort.com APRIL 4 Slush Cup SKI SANTA FE www.skisantafe.com

photo by Terrance Siemon

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HOW TO

CrossCountry Ski LIKE A BOSS

Start your next winter adventure on skinny skis

O by

H E ATHER M OBLEY

Our snowy countryside is abundant with beautiful outof-the-way terrain that is more efficiently accessed on cross-country skis. It’s called Nordic skiing, a sport that will challenge you physically and can take you into stunning landscapes. The first step to finding these serene locations is to get out and learn how to Nordic ski in a fun, safe way.

NORDIC SKIING 101 Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing that relies solely on human power to move across the snow. No chairlifts here. Unlike downhill skiing you are moving over flat, uphill and downhill terrain. The skis are designed to allow the heels to lift to drive uphill and provide forward movement as well as maintain stability on the downhills.

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STYLES OF CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING There are four main styles of cross-country skiing. As a beginner, it is best to start with the classic style to get a feel for the movement in a comfortable environment. Once you gain skills in the classic style, the other styles will be much easier to learn.

Classic – The most popular form of cross-country skiing is the classic style, a style that generally takes place on well-maintained tracks. Classic cross-country skis are stiff, narrow and lightweight so they can glide quickly and smoothly on the neatly packed, and sometimes tracked, snow.

Skate – The difference with skate-style cross-country skiing comes in the technique. The drive to move forward is similar to the way that you propel yourself forward when wearing ice skates, hence the name. This is performed on groomed tracks.

Light Touring – The light-touring style allows you to cross-country ski both on- and off-trail, not always on groomed tracks.

Backcountry Touring – Backcountry touring usually includes skiing through deeper and unpacked snow, providing you the ability to access untouched areas.

A D V E N T U R E P R O . u s

STEPS TO BEGIN CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING GET THE GEAR: Start by renting or borrowing gear to get a feel for what you like.

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05

photo courtesy of Kurt Blair

BOOTS Pick a boot that is comfortable to allow you to move comfortably, lifting your heels, off the skis to drive movement.

BINDINGS There are many options depending on the style of cross-country skiing. By starting with the classic style, you keep things simple while learning the basics.

SKIS The classic cross-country skis are stiff, narrow and lightweight so they can glide quickly and smoothly across groomed or packed snow.

CLOTHING Be sure to dress warm, with layers. As you move across the snow you will get warm. You want to make sure you have a good base layer, adding warm layers that take the weather into account. Consider bringing a warm puffy jacket as well as a waterproof outer jacket. Wear snow pants that will keep you warm, wool socks to keep your feet dry and warm and gloves to protect your hands from wind and snow.

MISCELLANEOUS Water, snacks and sunscreen!

VOCABULARY Base - The flat bottom of the ski where wax is applied Bindings - Devices that secure the toe of the boot to the ski Butt Marks/Sitzmark - An indentation in the snow left behind by a fallen skier Camber - The upward curve built into the middle of the ski used to help determine the kick zone Classic Technique - Traditional ski technique where skiers use a diagonal stride with both skis remaining parallel to each other Double Pole - To propel the body forward while planting both poles in the snow at the same time Herringbone - A technique where skis are moved in a forward stepping motion with ski tips farther apart than the tails Sidestep - To move laterally in small steps on cross-country skis; sometimes used to climb a steep hill

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03 04 05

EQUIPMENT FOR CROSSCOUNTRY SKIING 01 Base layer 02 Wool socks 03 Warm jacket 04 Waterproof jacket 05 Skis with appropriate bindings 06 Ski boots 07 Poles 08 First-aid kit 09 Sunscreen 10 Small backpack for water and snacks 11 Map or navigation device

TAKE A LESSON In a lesson, you will learn the fundamentals that will encourage you to keep getting outdoors. You will learn how to herringbone (climb uphill) and how to safely stop, turn and glide. These lessons promote success and safety.

PICK A TRACK Many local areas have Nordic tracks. This is the best place to start. It allows you to learn the basics without worrying about the backcountry elements. Often you can get lessons from local guides here as well.

STAY AWARE Be aware of your surroundings. It is easy to focus on what is right in front of you. However, looking up allows you to see other people, and also prepare for what is coming up (flats, uphills and downhills).

STAY HYDRATED PRIORITIZE SAFETY

LOCAL TRACKS n Vallecito Nordic Center n Durango Nordic Center n Purgatory Nordic Center n Mancos Chick Creek Nordic Center FINAL THOUGHTS Cross-country skiing is frequently viewed as boring or old school.

In reality, this sport is a great physical workout that ties to the beauty of the outdoors. Once you learn the basics, you can venture into the backcountry and explore places you have never seen before.

HEATHER MOBLEY was raised in Durango and enjoys ultra running, climbing, ice climbing, skiing, snowboarding, and sharing new adventures with other outdoor enthusiasts.

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SUPREME

WILD VOICES

Master Bootfitter Sam Tischendorf is the only woman in the entire country — and her

S

sto ry by

MO R GA N TI LTON

p h oto s by

SA M T ISC HE N D OR F

F IT

with her experience and skillset

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home is in the San Juans

Sam Tischendorf is your neighborhood foot expert with a sweet addiction. Between tinkering with ski boots, she reaches into her apron and pulls out a small wrapped chocolate coated in grinding dust from a foot bed, a frequent fueling process throughout her winter season’s 14-hour shifts as the supervising bootfitter at Bootdoctors in Mountain Village, adjacent to Telluride Ski Resort. Supporting her 10,000 daily steps in the shop, the 33-year-old wears weatherized Vans with just-right breathability and protection—but not enough to get sweaty— and a sensible footbed, which she keeps in every pair of shoes for overall comfort.

Her own ski boot maintenance falls on the back-burner. She’s too busy with her labor of love: heating and stretching ski boot shells, grinding interiors, drilling cuff alignments and altering heel shapes. She wants to help skiers feel perfectly hugged by their boots.

Folks travel from across the world to see us for our high-level boot fitting skills

“I get to see cool, weird feet— people who’ve lost toes or part of their foot or have different sized feet or bunions. I love problem-solving strange biomechanics and canting issues, balancing ski boot alignment relative to body mechanics,” said Tischendorf, a late-bloomer on the slopes. She was born and raised in South Africa. At 13 years old, her family moved to sub-tropical Australia, where her parents live today. Growing up, it was too expensive and unrealistic to ski.

After earning a Bachelor of Health Science in Podiatry, Tischendorf worked in high-risk foot health care for several years.

Then, she transitioned into sports podiatry with an emphasis on lower body biomechanics and high-level athletes. She took a few trips to learn how to snowboard and ski over the years, but always dreamed of a North American winter. She spent the 2011 ski season in Revelstoke, catalyzing her new career pursuit: The following winter, she got a part-time weekend gig—on top of her clinical work— fitting ski boots at Snowcentral.

Eventually, she heard of foot guru and Bootdoctors founder Bob Gleason and landed a shop position in winter 2013.

“The lifestyle here got under my skin as did my fascination with being a ski boot fitter. Folks travel from across the world to see us for our high-level boot fitting skills,” Tischendorf said. That ever-flowing line of customers includes visitors from Argentina, Netherlands, United Kingdom and Chile who return every few years for boot updates.

“When the doors close, beers are cracked and music is up while we finish projects, like Christmas Elves.

It’s a big noisy mess, super fun, and easy to passionately overwork,” explained Tischendorf, who also teaches ski boot fit courses for Masterfit University. She’s one of the youngest instructors and the only female professor in the United States.

Each October, she road trips around Vermont, Colorado, Nevada and Washington to lead that coursework with nine other industry leaders for nearly 150 students per spot.

But no matter how banged up Tischendorf’s hands are from the tools, her biggest joy is working at the shop: “I get such a kick out of making boot adjustments for people and having them come back to the shop after a ski run overjoyed and stoked that you were able to make them comfortable. It lifts my day.”

Adventure Journalist MORGAN TILTON is a recipient of multiple North American Travel Journalists Association awards with a focus in travel, industry news, and human endurance. When she’s not jet-setting, she’s backcountry splitboarding in the Elk Mountains, where she lives today, or visiting her family in Telluride, where she grew up.

She works with close to 55 publications.

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Mount Garfield in the Grenadier Range of the San Juan Mountains in the Weminuche Wilderness in Colorado. photo by

Terrance Siemon

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