Elevation Outdoors July 2016 by Summit Publishing

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BIG ROAD TRIPS TIMMY O’NEILL GETS DEEP IN

THE GRAND CANYON COLORADO’S BEST WILDFLOWER HIKES

THE SECRET LIVES OF TRISEXUALS

SAVORING SUMMER

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CONTENTS

July 2016

STOP PAYING RENT: AND MAKE YOUR CAR YOUR HOME THIS SUMMER. SEE PG 22

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

7 EDITOR’S LETTER

22 ROAD TRIPS

The pure joy of a few weeks on the road to visit old haunts—and friends.

Cruising the Land of Enchantment, beer wisdom, Grand Lake and more!

We map out our favorite spots for adventure and merriment in Colorado, Wyoming and the Southwest. Plus, road warrior tips from the EO Get Outside and Play Tour and author Brendan Leonard.

12 FLASHPOINT

31 BEER BUSINESS

Will big-box corporations wipe out Colorado's independent liquor stores?

Can Crazy Mountain Brewing keep growing and save its soul?

15 HOT SPOT

37 TRISEXUALS

Colorado's best wildflower hikes.

Adam Chase runs down gear for those who live (and love) the running/biking/swimming lifestyle.

8 QUICK HITS

16 THE TRAIL Follow these ViewRanger app coordinates to reach Lizard Head.

19 NUMEROLOGY All the numbers you need for travel.

21 STRAIGHT TALK

39 THE BEST OF CAR CAMPING GEAR All the goodies you need to make your camp spot cozier. photo above by ERIC HANSON

La Sportiva's Jonathan Lantz on business and living the life.

45 HEAR THIS Hey now! Day of the Dead is here.

46 THE ROAD Timmy O'Neill descends deep into the Grand Canyon's slots.

50 ELWAYVILLE. Make the most of the summer. WANT MORE? CATC H

U P ON PAST ISSU ES, YOU R FAVORITE B LOG G E RS A N D DAILY ON LIN E-ON LY CON TEN T AT ElevationOutdoors.com ON TH E C OV ER: TH E VIEW FROM TH E G R A N D C A N YON ’S TOROWEA P (SEE PAG E 22). PH OTO BY: ER IC H A NS ON

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CONTRIBUTORS

ElevationOutdoors.com EDITORIAL ED ITOR -IN -CH IEF

DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

doug@elevationoutdoors.com MAN AG IN G ED ITOR

CAMERON MARTINDELL

cameron@elevationoutdoors.com SEN IOR ED ITOR

CHRIS KASSAR

chris@elevationoutdoors.com ASSISTAN T ED ITOR

KELLY CASSIDY

play@elevationoutdoors.com CON TRIBUTIN G ED ITORS

AARON BIBLE, ADAM CHASE, ROB COPPOLILLO, LIAM DORAN, JAMES DZIEZYNSKI, HUDSON LINDENBERGER, SONYA LOONEY, JAYME MOYE, CHRIS VAN LEUVEN ED ITOR -AT-LARG E

PETER KRAY

C ON TRIBUTIN G WRITERS

KRISTEN DOBROTH, JEDD FERRIS, BRENDAN LEONARD, TIMMY O'NEILL, AVERY STONICH, TOM WINTER, MELANIE WONG ART + PRODUCTION D IREC TOR MEGAN JORDAN

A RT

megan@elevationoutdoors.com SEN IOR D ESIG N ER

LAUREN WALKER

lauren@elevationoutdoors.com G RA PH IC D ESIG N ER

PAIGELEE CHANCELLOR

paigelee@elevationoutdoors.com

ADVERTISING + BUSINESS BLAKE DEMASO

PRESID EN T

blake@elevationoutdoors.com PU BLISH ER

ELIZABETH O’CONNELL

elizabeth@elevationoutdoors.com SEN IOR AC C OU N T EXECUTIVE

MARTHA EVANS

martha@elevationoutdoors.com AC C OU N T EXECUTIVE

BEN YOUNG

ben@elevationoutdoors.com

B U SIN ESS MAN AG ER

MELISSA GESSLER

melissa@elevationoutdoors.com C IRC U LATION MA N AG ER

HANNAH COOPER

hcooper@elevationoutdoors.com ON LIN E

DIGITAL MEDIA D IR EC TOR CRAIG SNODGRASS craig@elevationoutdoors.com

D IG ITA L MA N AG ER

TYRA SUTAK

tyra@elevationoutdoors.com

E L E VAT I O N OU T D O O R S M AG A Z I N E

SUMMIT

07.16

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ROADSIDE ATTRACTION? DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN Utah's Coffee Kiva. It's tucked in a crazy oxbow of a canyon near Escalante, and one fantastic place to sip java and enjoy the view.

ELIZABETH O'CONNELL The perplexing Colorado Gator Park on the route to the Great Sand Dunes National Park.

CAMERON MARTINDELL Lately, with a little one in the car, we’ve been loving city parks and swimming pools (with splash pads) to break up the drive.

CHRIS KASSAR Galleta Meadows in California—it's a weird menagerie of huge statues of prehistoric critters that once roamed here.

TIMMY O'NEILL The Stoner Stampede whitewater play section of the Dolores River with its waves and holes, freezing water and easy asphalt access. I just paddled it when I was at Telluride Mountain Film.

MELANIE WONG I love stopping at unique local coffee shops, which tends to beget more bathroom stops as well…

HUDSON LINDENBERGER The Giant Dipper Roller Coaster on Mission Beach in San Diego—a fresh IPA and endless rides next to the ocean, classic.

ADAM CHASE Vermont farm stands and farmer’s markets during the fall apple (and foliage) season.

PUBLISHING

PETER KRAY

PRINTED ON RECYCLED NEWSPRINT WITH 100% POST-CONSUMER CONTENT

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Our family dog Sohn died on Mt. Princeton. I send him our love whenever I drive by.

EDITOR’S LETTER

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FIND YOUR ADVENTURE: LIVING IT UP IN MONTANA. | photo by DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

THE JOY OF THE TRIP

Road trips ruined my life. Or saved it. The first one I took was when I first got my driver's liscense. I grew up in New Jersey, and one day, without telling anyone, I borrowed my parents' Toyota Corolla and headed down Route 35 along the beaches and snackbars of the Shore, alone. I blasted The Replacements' “Let It Be” and Peter Gabriel's “So” and never felt so free before in my life. Then, in college, I read Kerouac (yeah, yeah, I know it's a cliche, but it also should be a mandatory part of any 19-year-old's education, right?) and I understood that the road trip was something universal, something necessary for Americans who find that thrill in being behind the wheel or off with no real place to call home except for the wide joy of the road itself. Soon, my buddy Jonathan and I had bought a car for $300 (and a $350 stereo system) and we were headed off from Boston to West Hollywood with the idea that we would become rock stars by the end. Jonathan played his Gibson Les Paul through a little Pig Nose amp propped up in the back seat, and I drove feeling more full the further I got into the West. We read and philosophized over Hunter S. Thompson (including a very misguided stop of our own at the Circus Circus in Las Vegas), and On the Road and Robert Pirsig (it seemed so appropriate that a friend back East set us up to stay with a friend of hers in Bozeman, Montana, Pirsig’s Zen town that seemed so mythical to us then). We didn't become rock stars—or I didn't at least. Jonathan ended up being one of the top sound and music soundtrack producers in Hollywood—but we were both stuck with a thirst to keep on the road, to find more. One line of Kerouac's has stuck with me all these years OR sticks with me all these years later, and I think it defines what you need to find on any road trip. It's this: “It was my dream that screwed up, the stupid hearthside idea that it would be wonderful to follow one great red line across America instead of trying various roads and routes.” That has been my mantra ever since. I keep taking to the road. The year after the trip with Jonathan, it was New Orleans and across the vastness of Texas and on to California again. The next year, my girlfriend and I borrowed a pickup with a mattress in the covered back cab and headed down the Pacific Coast, starting in Seattle and not caring where we ended up. And then I made the move out West. I left Boston and rambled through the plains until I ended up in Sheridan, Wyoming, in love with the Big Horns and all that open space. There were more trips: My wife and I drove off from Seattle and landed here in Colorado, unsure if we would stay or just keep driving. This summer, we took the kids to the south of France and rented a car with a manual transmission and headed off into wine country and the rocky beaches of the Mediterranean. We still pack the car up and drive to Montana, not knowing where we will camp and crashing with old firends when we get there. All the while, I have never thought that there would be some big revelation at the end, but as Kerouac found out, I have sought out the routes that wander. You must do the same. J U LY 2 016 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

QUICK HITS

07.16

NO IRONY IN ENCHANTMENT: BECAUSE EVEN HIPSTERS LOVE NEW MEXICO SUNSETS. photo courtesy CITY OF SANTA FE

TECHNOLOGY LIFEPROOF SMARTPHONE CASE The slim fitting Lifeproof smartphone case (available for various brands and versions) has been invaluable for us out in the wild, as well as at home. But remember: it’s waterproof, not foolproof. Be sure to use the included test kit before submerging. price varies according to phone; lifeproof.com

GEAR WE LOVE THERMACELL SCOUT LANTERN Stump the bugs and illuminate the camp scene with this rechargeable lantern that also clears away all those biting and annoying insects in a 15x15-foot areal whether you're in a campground or just sitting on the back porch enjoying the sunset. $40; thermacell.com

BOOKS CONTINENTAL DIVIDE Hamilton College history professor Maurice Isserman pulls together the deep history of American mountaineering in his latest book, Continental Divide. But more importantly, he brings his readers the “why” from those who made this history. $29; norton.com

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THE GUIDE TO ENCHANTMENT POINT THE GRILL SOUTH AND FEAST ON GREEN CHILI (AND A BIG MENU OF ADVENTURE) IN THESE THREE NEW MEXICO HOT SPOTS.

SANTA FE

Plan to spend at least a few days in and around Santa Fe, the shining star of New Mexican history, bursting with museums, galleries and local artisans. The Inn of the Governors is conveniently located, and sports a happening locals' bar that also doubles as a destination on the city’s new Margarita Trail (santafe.org/margaritatrail). Want to go hiking? Bandelier National Monument (nps.gov/band) is easily accessible, and it offers a chance to visit ancient cliff dwellings. If you are looking to hit the dirt within city limits, ascend the Atalaya Mountain Trail, a Santa Fe classic, or mountain bike the Dale Ball Trails (sfct.org/trails/dale-balltrails), which offer 22 miles of dog friendly hiking and biking paths. For dinner, take a break from the green chili, and try one of the city’s innovative culinary spots: Il Piatto (ilpiattosantafe.com) specializes in Italian fare (and happy hour), and offers a nightly menu emphasizing local produce. Or head to local, organic Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen (sweetwatersf.com) Wednesday through Friday for the fantastic Thai Night.

TAOS

Take the High Road from Santa Fe to Taos (or vice versa), and take in the high alpine vistas and small-town charm of New Mexico’s quintessential ski town. Camping options abound in the National Forest accessible from nearly every outlet from town, or try booking a room at the Taos Inn (taosinn.com), which has live music every night in the hotel bar. The West Rim Trail offers stunning

views of the Rio Grande Gorge, and is accessible to both bikers and hikers. Williams Lake is another scenic option accessible from the ski resort. Taos Mesa Brewing (taosmesabrewing.com) is a must.

CARLSBAD

For those willing to go way down south, Carlsbad Caverns National Park (nps.gov/cave) is the largest cave system in North America. While that may sound impressive on paper, seeing it in person is otherworldly. Take the elevator 80 stories below ground, or huff it via a paved path, to the 1.2 mile loop around the cave’s big room. Opt for a National Park Service tour; they have options fit for even the most adventurous of visitors. The closest camping is near the park entrance at Whites City. —Kirsten Dobroth

PERFECT PAIRINGS THESE THREE COLORADO POWER WEEKENDS COMBINE OUTDOOR SPORT AND A TAD OF CULTURE. Colorado’s summers come brimming with outdoor adventures, good drink, culinary discoveries and abundant chances to experience the state’s laid-back mountain culture. Decisions can be difficult with the saturated event calendar, but there’s no reason why you should have to choose. Have it all with these three weekend itineraries:

PEDAL AND SIP IN STEAMBOAT

Foodies and cyclists will enjoy a Steamboat summer weekend at the Steamboat Wine Festival from August 10-14. On Friday, August 12, the Pedal and Pour event combines a gourmet lunch and wine tasting experience with a guided road biking excursion through the Yampa Valley’s rolling hills. The rest of the weekend is worth sticking around for as well. The schedule includes wine seminars,

NAPA SCHMAPA: THE STEAMBOAT WINE FESTIVAL PEDAL AND POUR GETS YOU IN THE GRAPES AND OUT ON THE BIKE, TOO. photo by STEAMBOAT WINE FESTIVAL

photo by NICK KELLEY

photo by HUDSON LINDENBERGER

grand tastings, hiking and yoga events, with individual event and allweekend tickets available. In addition, Steamboat’s Emerald Mountain and ski resort trails offer some of the best mountain biking and trail running in the state. steamboatwinefestival.com

FLOAT AND JAM IN BUENA VISTA

There’s a new music festival in Colorado, and it coincides with prime floating season on the Arkansas River. The Vertex Festival takes place August 5-7 in Buena Vista, surrounded by the Collegiate Peaks. Headliners for the camp-and-jam event include DJ duo ODESZA, Grammy winners Alabama Shakes, the Trey Anastasio Band and nearly 30 other acts. Need some sport time? Buena Vista is also a river hotspot, offering rafting and kayaking on well-known rapids such as Browns Canyon, Numbers and Royal Gorge. The festival will organize some excursions, or you can connect with one of many guide companies nearby. “Think of the festival as a cultural exploration of the best that Colorado has to offer—in the arts, its outdoor landscapes and activities, and its amazing community,” says festival producer Jeremy Steiner. vertexfestival.com

RACE AND RELAX IN BRECKENRIDGE

Join mountain locals and compete in Breckenridge’s annual Fall Classic mountain bike race on September 6. The race features some of the area’s

legendary trails, including Heinous Hill and Nightmare on Baldy. After this high-altitude effort, recover by strolling through the Great Divide Art Festival on Breck’s Main Street. The mountain sun can leave you parched, so take a tasting tour of the town, making sure to stop at Broken Compass Brewing and Breckenridge Distillery. Want more? Book a Food, Wine and Cannabis Tour with Cultivating Spirits for a high-end (ahem) evening that includes a cooking demo, dinner and a dispensary tour. mavsports.com, mountainartfestivals.com —Melanie Wong

GETTING REEL WITH MADDIE BRENNEMAN THIS FEMALE FLY GUIDE RULES INSTAGRAM. Few people become famous by fly fishing, but that’s the way the reel turned for 25-year-old Maddie Brenneman. The fly-fishing guide and longtime Coloradan spends most days on quiet rivers in remote locales, yet 64,300 people follow her latest adventures on Instagram (@ maddiebrenneman). Her account’s appeal is obvious – the photolog is fly fishing porn, with beautiful images of the photogenic Brenneman casting and catching everywhere from Colorado to Patagonia, all captured through the lens of her boyfriend (sorry, fishy

SHARE THE SMILE: FLY-FISHING GUIDE AND INSTAGRAM STARLET MADDIE BRENNEMAN HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT FEMALE AMBASSADOR IN THE ANGLING WORLD. OVER 64,000 FOLLOWERS OGLE OVER HER RIVER ADVENTURES AROUND THE WORLD (TOP). SIP UP: STOCK THAT $600 YETI COOLER WITH OUR BEST BEERS OF SUMMER (BOTTOM).

dudes), Nick Kelley. While Brenneman says she’s just doing what she loves, she knows that her Instagram fame makes her an ambassador in what has traditionally been a male-dominated sport. “I’ve seen a lot of women getting interested and learning how to fly fish in the last decade,” she says, remembering how intimidated she used to feel walking into a fly shop. “Social media can let people know there are women who fly fish, and it makes it less intimidating to learn.” The fame has brought a number of opportunities, including fishing excursions across the globe, and an invitation to compete at Vail’s GoPro Mountain Games. So what’s next? “I’d love to always continue guiding, but I’d like to move more into the conservation side of things and help protect our cold-water fisheries,” she says. —Melanie Wong

BEER WISDOM IT'S TIME TO SIP THE VERY BEST OF SUMMER SUDS. The mercury is rising, and it's time to stock that cooler with some appropriate brews to sip after an afternoon playing outside. Here are

a few of our new favorite beers for summer adventure. Liquid Mechanics Brewing Company in Lafayette has been turning out some excellent beers since it first opened in 2014. The Saison Farmhouse Ale is perfectly balanced with hints of orange, wheat, and pepper. It’s a crisp and clean beverage to cool down with. As a drinker’s palate becomes more sophisticated, they seek new flavors. In response, brewers are rolling out reboots of old styles with new twists. The Ginger Lemon Radler from Boulevard Brewing Company is an innovative twist on a German tradition of mixing lemonade with beer. It’s low in alcohol, 4.1 percent, yet packed with taste. Bavaria is a lot like Colorado. The soaring peaks and stunning summers are perfect for sipping suds. Take a hint from Germany and toss a helles lager in your cooler before heading out. Wibby Brewing’s Lightshine Helles is delicious and will rejuvenate you after a day exploring the Rockies. No cooler is complete without an IPA and Odd13 Brewing’s Codename: Superfan is fantastic. Loaded with Pacific Northwest hops it pours hazy with a pungent scent of fresh pine. If you are a hophead, this is the brew for you. —Hudson Lindenberger

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Carves Steps out of stones.

The capra bolt

WITH UNIFLY™ MIDSOLE FOR HIKING UP QUICKER AND FLYING DOWN FASTER.

QUICK HITS

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Merrell and Tough Mudder are teaming up for 2016 to bring you the biggest, baddest obstacle challenge yet. Gear up, grab your team, and get muddy. photo by GRAND LAKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

photo by GUIDEHIRE.CO

WWW.MERRELL.COM/TOUGH-MUDDER

BIG BOY: THE 12,007-FOOT SUMMIT OF MOUNT CRAIG—OR MOUNT BALDY AS LOCALS CALL IT—LORDS OVER THE VIEWS AT GRAND LAKE (TOP). THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT: LOVE AIRBNB AND UBER? YOU CAN NOW FIND AND BOOK A LOCAL GUIDE ON YOUR PHONE TO TAKE YOU BACKCOUNTRY SKIING, FLY FISHING OR ROCK CLIMBING (BOTTOM).

GRAND LAKE, COLORADO LAUNCH INTO THE WESTERN SIDE OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK FROM THIS CASUAL TOWN, OR JUST ENJOY THE SHORES OF COLORADO’S LARGEST NATURAL LAKE. EAT | Sagebrush BBQ & Grill (sagebrushbbq.com) is the place to fill your belly with mouth-watering barbecue and hearty burgers and steaks, plus blackened salmon that’s to die for. Seventeen years in business don’t lie. Kick back at long tables with cowhide-patterned tablecloths and toss peanut shells on the floor as you admire the historic decorations. Top off your meal with peach cobbler or a brownie thin mint sundae, big enough to share. Make a reservation or plan to wait in the summer. For breakfast, you can’t beat Fat Cat Café, where the owners cook everything with tender loving care (like baked goods made fresh each day and hot sauce that’s homemade). On weekends hit the all-you-can-eat brunch buffet.

SLEEP | Built in 1920 and surrounded on three sides by national

park, the Grand Lake Lodge (grandlakelodge.com) harkens back to another era. A stay here is like a night at summer camp: You sleep in cabins amid pines with a main lodge where you can swing on the large front porch or dine in rustic elegance. If you’d rather not have to hike or drive to town, nestle into a Victorian room at the Rapids Lodge (rapidslodge. com). Ask for one facing the Tonahutu River to hear the rushing waters while you sleep. For those with kids or dogs, or those who need more space, the Rapids’ condos and cabins are also good picks.

PLAY | Rocky Mountain National Park (nps.gov/romo) and three huge lakes (Grand, Shadow Mountain, and Granby) compete for attention here during the bustling summer season. Drive up Trail Ridge Road into the park, or walk to trailheads right in town. For an easy warm-up, hike up and admire the 55-foot Adams Falls, less than a mile from the East Inlet Trailhead at the west edge of Grand Lake. When watersports beckon, rent a motorboat, standup paddleboard, or kayak at Grand Lake Marina (glmarina.com). Fishing in and around Grand Lake is also worldclass, with lake, brown and rainbow trout. Check with Rocky Mountain Outfitters (rkymtnoutfitters.

com). Need a culture hit? Catch a Broadway musical at the Rocky Mountain Repertory Theater (rockymountainrep.com), which is rotating The Little Mermaid, Titanic, and Rock of Ages this summer. –Avery Stonich

JULY-AUGUST 2016 EVENTS TWIN CITIES - JULY 16-17 TWIN CITIES - JULY 16-17 LONG ISLAND - JULY 23

APP FOR ADVENTURE

LONG ISLAND - JULY 24 NORTHWEST - AUGUST 13-14

ARE GUIDE SERVICES GOING THE UBER ROUTE? Launched in May of 2015, GuideHire.com has ballooned from 40 guides to more than 300 guides, outfitters and instructors nationwide, with thousands of clients and growing. According to co-founder James Hamilton, GuideHire connects clients with potential play partners, where they can book, pay and communicate all through the website, as well as post reviews of their guide. Hamilton says the service is as much about helping guides as it is customers: “We are making it much easier for clients to shop for the right guide for their needs. And we are helping guides and outfitters reach a wider audience, book more trips and manage their business.” —Aaron H. Bible

NORTHWEST - AUGUST 13 WESTERN NY - AUGUST 27-28

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FLASHPOINT

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BEER DIVERSITY: THE SHELVES AT HAZEL’S IN BOULDER ARE STOCKED FULL OF A BIG VARIETY OF LOCAL BREWS. WILL SELLING FULL-STRENGTH BEER IN GROCERY STORES ENDANGER COLORADO’S CRAFT BREW SCENE?

SHELF WARS THE LONG BATTLE FOR WHERE BEER, WINE AND LIQUOR CAN BE SOLD IN COLORADO IS FINALLY BE COMING TO AN END— AND THE LITTLE GUYS MAY JUST WIN. by HUDSON LINDENBERGER

“This sucks. I thought Colorado had good beer, hell, we have a better selection back home” How many times have you heard some form of this conversation played out in the local supermarket over the years? Whether it's a visiting out-of-state guest, a new resident or even you (if you are a transplant). The worst is when you try to explain to said person that all the beer they see on the grocery store shelves is, well, near-beer. Coloradans know not to buy beer at the supermarket. There are just a few Colorado residents left who remember December 5, 1933, the date when Prohibition ended and the beer, wine and spirits finally began to flow across the state legally again. But many of the laws that the state legislature enacted for that historic photo by HUDSON LINDENBERGER

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day, have caused considerable heartache in the ensuing 83 years since. By creating 3.2-percent beer, and only allowing one liquor license per business entity, they created a unique framework that would have long-term consequences, unforeseen at the time. Unlike most of the rest of the country, grocery stores don’t dominate the beer, wine, and liquor markets in Colorado. Instead there are currently thousands of independent liquor stores and a thriving marketplace. That’s about to change.

INDEPENDENT GROWTH

It was not always this way. Before Prohibition, you could buy your booze quite freely. And thanks to new legislation those days may be coming back once again. Chances are by this time next year your shopping experience will be quite different. But, is that really a good thing? The problem is that the post Prohibition laws have left Colorado with 1,700-plus liquor stores today in 2016. These independent liquor stores come in all sizes and they offer up a variety of products. Finding a good one can be difficult, requiring patience and perseverance, but once you find a shop that clicks, chances are you will always come back. Many

of these liquor stores share parking lots with major grocery stores, and almost all are local businesses with the owner working the counter. They have flourished in the framework of the state's liquor laws, and many in the industry argue that they are the reason Colorado is such a force in the craft beer and micro-distilling scene.

“You can not allow over a thousand new liquor licenses into the market overnight. The effect would be sheer chaos.” “The only reason we were able to grow to the size we are today is because of the individual liquor stores,” says Al Laws, owner of Laws Whiskey House, a Denver-based distiller. “They are our partners and enthusiastically brought our whiskey in from day one, telling customers about it. That would never have happened in a big grocery store.” Craft alcohol enthusiasts tout the ability of new producers to start small with independent liquor stores, something they feel would never happen if that state allows grocery stores to dominate alcohol sales.

If most liquor store owners, brewers, and distillers had their way nothing would change in the state and the grocery stores would not be able to sell full strength beer, wine, and booze. But, with the legalization of marijuana, and an estimated 100,000 new residents entering Colorado each year, the large grocery stores decided that this year was the perfect time to update Colorado’s liquor laws. King Soopers, Safeway/Albertsons, WalMart and Target all joined forces and created Your Choice Colorado, with a war chest of over 24 million dollars and the specific goal of allowing Colorado voters the chance to vote on the creation of a new framework, one that would give them access to fullstrength beer and wine. No surprise, liquor store owners cried foul. “You can not allow over a thousand new liquor licenses into the market overnight. The effect would be sheer chaos,” says Jim Dean manager of Hazel's Beverage World and vice president of Legislative Policy at the Colorado Licensed Beverage Association (CLBA), the main organization representing the state's independent liquor stores. “The pie only can be cut into so many pieces. We estimate that over half of the state's independent stores would go out of business within two years if

the grocery stores are allowed to sell full-strength beer and wine.”

LAW OF THE LAND

To counter that apocalypse, the CLBA has done something unprecedented. It met with members of the legislature and representatives from the grocery stores, as well as independent distillers, brewers and vintners to craft a historic compromise. The result, SD 16-197 passed overwhelmingly in the state legislature this May. Gov. Hickenlooper signed the bill into law in June—it paves the way for a gradual transition to an open market over the next 20 years. The law allows grocery stores to slowly expand their footprint to five full liquor licenses in 2017, eight total by 2022, 13 total in 2027, 20 in 2032, and an unlimited amount by 2037. But, there is one caveat. Grocery stores cannot obtain a liquor license if there is another license within 1,500 feet. If they want to expand, they will have to purchase that liquor license from an existing store. The new legislation is designed to protect the independent liquor stores that have helmed the market for years and give them time to figure out their exit strategy or a better way to stay in the game. “People are foolishly thinking that there is a large payday coming their way from the large grocery stores, nothing could be farther from the truth,” says Matt Chandler Spokesman for Your Choice Colorado, the group that represents large grocery store chains. “They [grocery stores] already operate on tight margins, there is no way they will swallow several hundred thousand dollars to buy out one [liquor] store. Multiply that by the 144 King Soopers there are in the state and you can quickly see how expensive this will become.” He might be right, but the compromise does offer both the grocery stores and Colorado residents one gift. According to the new law, starting on January 1, 2019 the dreaded scourge of 3.2 beer will cease to exist in Colorado. In its place every single grocery store that did sell it will then be allowed to sell fullstrength beer. In other words, when you pick up the steaks for the BBQ you also will be able to toss a couple of sixers of beer into your cart. Hopefully growler fill stations are not far behind.

WHEN YOU STOP. IT’S TO TAKE IN THE VIEW.

NOT TO TAKE OFF YOUR BOOTS.

Large breweries are being bought out—Breckenridge Brewery sold to Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2015, with rumors swirling that others are on the block. The largest Colorado distillery, Stranahan’s, is now owned by a group out of New Jersey. Many feel that the new legislation will severely damage the craft beer industry, but the Colorado Brewers Guild has remained neutral during this tumultuous time with many of its members worried about potential repercussions from grocery stores if they take up the fight. If you sell your beer out of state the last thing you want to do is anger some of the largest retailers you deal with— the grocery chains. By yanking just a few SKUs across the country, they can dramatically affect an individual brewer’s numbers. The same goes for local breweries: They cannot afford to anger their main customers—the liquor stores. It’s the ultimate catch 22. In a state known for its vibrant craft beer and micro-distilling scene, the winds of change are blowing harder now than they ever have before. Large breweries are being bought out—Breckenridge Brewery sold to Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2015, with rumors swirling that others are on the block. The largest Colorado distillery, Stranahan’s, is now owned by a group out of New Jersey. Will an option to buy alcohol in the grocery store simply offer more choice to the consumer, as large grocers believe, or will it destroy the diversity that has created a thriving home for local brewers, distillers and vintners? It seems that this unique market, friendly to Colorado-grown beer and spirits, is poised to join the rest of the country by allowing grocery stores carry full-strength beer and wine. Whether or not that is a good thing still remains to be seen.

M E N’ S BR I DG E R M I D Bd r y / S U DA N / O BOZ F OOT W EA R . C OM

THE FUTURE?

TRUE TO THE TRAIL

—Hudson Lindenberger is the author of Elevation Outdoors.com Liquid Gear column, a frequent contributor to Men's Journal. He just completed a book project with polar explorer Eric Larsen. J U LY 2 016 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

FRIDAY, AUG. 5TH DOORS AT 7:00PM

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HOT SPOT

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FULL BLOOM A FAN OF THE FLOWERS? WE OFFER UP OUR FOUR FAVORITE COLORADO WILDFLOWER HIKES TO GET YOU OUT IN THE MIDST OF IT ALL. by CHRIS KASSAR

emember when it was snowing in April? Well, we have those cold, wet days to thank for the fact that the hills are now bursting with a vibrant palette of so many colors. That's right. Wildflower season is in full effect, so don’t waste another second. Get out there and frolic in the colorful blooms on some of our favorite hikes.

SILVERTON: ICE LAKES This quintessential Colorado hike has it all: Wander through tranquil meadows, walk past waterfalls, discover scores of wildflowers and absorb spectacular vistas on your way to an extraordinary turquoise pool perched in a cirque surrounded by rugged cliffs. The trail begins in the trees, breaks out of them to pass through the lush Lower Ice Lakes Basin and climbs higher to reach the impressive upper basin. Though this route is relentlessly uphill, its popularity with visitors and locals alike proves that the rewards are absolutely worth the effort. Distance: 8.6 miles out-and-back Difficulty: Strenuous due to distance, altitude, elevation gain and many steep sections Flower Highlights: towering Jacob’s ladder, monkshood, aspen sunflower, monument plant, Colorado columbine, Whipple’s penstemon, elephant heads, corn lily, fringed gentian, old man of the mountains, sky pilot, Parry primrose Finding the Trailhead: From Silverton, follow U.S. 550 north for 1.9 miles. Turn west (left) onto County Road 7 (also called FR 585 and South Mineral Creek Road). Follow this good gravel road for 4.5 miles until you reach the South Mineral Campground on the south side (left) of the road. Park across from the campground in the large lot on the north side of the road (right). photos by CHRIS KASSAR

MAKE THIS YOUR BUCKET LIST: FLORA GOING OFF AT LAKE CITY'S AMERICAN BASIN (ABOVE) AND SILVERTON'S ICE LAKES (RIGHT).

BRECKENRIDGE: MONTE CRISTO GULCH Walk above the trees on a delightful hike through this high alpine wonderland rich with mining history. Though short, this trail climbs steeply in spots as it meanders along a rushing creek rife with colorful blooms to reach a verdant basin enveloped by jagged cliffs. Perched at the end of the trail, a shimmering tarn and cascading falls await your arrival. Expect sublime views, multiple easy stream crossings and the opportunity to see a range of wildlife from mountain goats to marmots. Distance: 2.5-miles out-and-back Difficulty: Short, but moderate due to altitude, a few steep sections and rocky terrain Flower Highlights: Colorado columbine, mountain harebell, silky phacelia, moss campion, rosy, scarlet and western yellow paintbrush, elephant heads, narcissus anemone, queen’s crown, alpine avens, star gentian Finding the Trailhead: From the last traffic light in Breckenridge (Boreas Road), drive south on Highway 9 for 7.6 miles. Turn west (right) onto Blue Lakes Road (FR 850). Go straight at the fork and follow the road for 2.2 miles to the parking area just below the dam. GPS: N39° 23.208' W106° 05.993'

ASPEN/ INDEPENDENCE PASS: LINKINS LAKE Just below Independence Pass (12,095 feet), this moderately challenging, but short and easily accessible trail travels through a subalpine paradise replete with meadows and neverending vistas, to reach a high alpine lake (12,008 feet) with decent fishing. Though the brief, steep climb will raise your heart rate, the Linkins Lake trail (#1979) begins high enough that you don't have to make the type of long climb usually needed to reach this sort of remarkable terrain. Once you arrive at the glacial cirque sheltering the glimmering water, it becomes clear that every step was well worth the effort. Distance: 1.4-miles out-and-back Difficulty: Short, but moderate due to altitude and steep sections Flower Highlights: glacial daisy, death camas, northern, Western yellow and rosy paintbrush, Parry primrose, yellow monkeyflower, fireweed, fringed gentian, star gentian Finding the Trailhead: From Aspen, drive 18.5 miles east on Highway 82. Just past mile marker 59, reach the last switchback before Independence Pass. The trailhead, which is the jumping off point for Linkins Lake and the Lost Man Trail, is on the left (north) side of the highway at this hairpin turn. GPS: N39° 07.480'/W106° 34.908'

AMERICAN BASIN: LAKE CITY Don’t expect to make good time on this stunning, short hike through alpine utopia. The sea of dazzling flowers set against the backdrop of craggy, vertical cliffs will surely compel you to stop often so you can snap photos of the impressive scene and enjoy every new blossom closeup. A stroll up this glacially carved valley rewards hikers with a rushing creek, a raging waterfall, breathtaking views and one of the most brilliant wildflower displays in the state. Distance: 2.1-mile out and back Difficulty: Easy due to smooth terrain and moderate elevation gain Flower Highlights: tall larkspur, mountain bluebells, annual sunflower, elephant heads, Coulter’s daisy, alpine avens, American bistort, monkshood and rosy, Western yellow and northern paintbrush Finding the Trailhead: From Lake City, drive south on Highway 149 south for 2.5 miles. Turn right (south) onto County Road 30 at the Lake San Cristobal sign. Follow this paved road as it curves around the lake for another 4 miles where it turns to dirt. Follow the dirt road for another 16.3 miles. Bear left at a fork in the road marked by a sign that reads “Cinnamon Pass/American Basin.” Four-wheel drive and high clearance is recommended.

J U LY 2 016 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

THE TRAIL

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DOWNLOAD APP viewranger.com/gpsadventure

ROUTE CODE: ELEV0049 5.

Scan for this route’s GPS Hike!

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FIELD OF DREAMS: CATCH THE SAN JUAN'S WILDFLOWERS IN FULL DISPLAY. photo by CHRIS KASSAR

CROSS MOUNTAIN DOWNLOAD THE FREE VIEWRANGER APP AND THE COORDINATES TO GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH ONE OF THE SAN JUAN’S MOST ICONIC FEATURES: LIZARD HEAD. by CHRIS KASSAR Come wander with us through dazzling wildflower displays, exposed subalpine ridges and intense alpine tundra to reach the base of Lizard Head Peak (13,113 feet). Close to Telluride, this hike serves up some serious rewards for eager adventurers and offers up the extra challenge for experienced climbers to scale the dicey Lizard Head (5.8+). THE TRAILHEAD

From the Cross Mountain trailhead, cross a tiny footbridge over a beautiful creek to enter a meadow full of wildflowers. Impressive and uniquely shaped peaks including Sheep Mountain, Vermilion Peak, Golden Horn and Pilot Knob dominate the skyline to the east. Continue ascending the two-track through the meadow. The trail points directly at the dramatic, spiny summit of Lizard Head, but you'll get amazing views full of jagged and towering peaks in every direction. JUNCTION

In the middle of the meadow, reach a junction with the Groundhog Stock Trail, which heads left (west). Stay right on the Cross Mountain Trail #637. Your breath will quicken as you gradually cimb along the trail, which bears right and enters the spruce-fir forest. A rainbow of blossoms herald your arrival. Depending on seasonal precipitation, this shaded portion of the hike can be very muddy, but please stay on the trail to avoid widening it even further. The trail turns northwest and crosses a tiny creek where you can hop over on small rocks. 16

ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / JULY 2 01 6

CLIMB

After 1.5 miles, the route starts to get steep. Continue climbing through the lush forest, ripe with mushrooms and ferns until you reach the wilderness boundary sign. From here, the trail offers a respite as it flattens out, then heads downhill and breaks out of the forest into an open area with a stunning view of Lizard Head. Head back into the dense forest for a brief moment and then pop into the open again. Here, amazing displays of paintbrush provide a spectacular foreground for views of the high peaks of the San Miguel Range, including Cross Mountain, Mount Wilson and Gladstone Peak. The trail climbs steeply, delivering you to a small, rocky creek adorned by an array of tiny, delicate blossoms. Red, rocky, jagged peaks rise ahead. The trees begin to thin out, giving way to an amazing alpine landscape dominated by rocks and smaller plants. The rugged singletrack trail cuts through the alpine tundra. Enjoy your surroundings: Marmots begin to sound their warning whistles. The soil turns black and the trail traverses a slope filled with old man of the mountain, Colorado columbine, and alpine avens. 4.

BEHOLD THE LIZARD HEAD

After finishing the traverse, you turn a corner and Lizard Head towers above you in all of its glory. At this point, you can stop for lunch or a snack. In a very short amount of time, you’ve reached an amazingly wild spot full of unmatched wildflowers and scenery, but you won't see many people. The views only improve in every direction as you walk toward the sentinel watching over the area. Lizard Head, which was first scaled by the legendary Albert Ellington in 1921, and the 400-foot-high spire was considered the hardest rock climb completed at the time. Now rated 5.8 on its easiest route, it's nevertheless still a sketchy propostion since the rock here is so rotten and crumbly, making it more dangerous than it appears.

BASK IN THE LIZARD

Here you reach a junction with the Lizard Head Trail. The old eroded volcanic plug is said to look like the gaping jaws of a lizard with its face to the sky. Enjoy a well earned break (or climb the spire if you have the skills and understand that it's tricker than it looks). This is your turnaround point, so trace your steps back to the trailhead.

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ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / JULY 2 01 6

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photo by KATHY KARLO

budget IT'S TIME TO PORE OVER THE DATA WHEN IT COMES TO SUMMER TRAVEL.

by CAMERON MARTINDELL

284 Miles traveled on average by Americans one-way on a summer road trip 91 Percent The amount of summer trips made in personal vehicles 2.1 trillion U.S. Dollars are generated by domestic and international travelers 3.1 billion Travel-related tax dollars collected in Colorado in 2015 307,247,252 Visits to U.S. National Parks in 2015 $6.91 The price per gallon of gas in Norway (May 2016) 253 The advertized range in miles (on battery only) for the Tesla Model S 85 4 Days, 21 Hours, 52 Minutes

The longest flight time by a solar-powered aircraft. Solar Impulse made the 8,924-kilometer trip between Nagoya, Japan and Honolulu, Hawaii landing on July 3, 2015.

3,000 Number of vertical feet gained on the Durango-Silverton narrow gauge railway during the three-and-a-half-hour, 45-mile trip.

68 The number of French presses the Live Outside and Play Tour has consumed so far as it travels

between the East Coast and Colorado (liveoutsideandplay.com) 36 National Parks the Live Outside and Play Tour will drive through this summer for “work.”

J U LY 2 016 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

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STRAIGHT TALK

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JONATHAN LANTZ THE HEAD OF LA SPORTIVA MADE IT CLEAR THAT COLORADO DOES NOT WANT UTAH’S DIRTY AIR. by DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

onathan Lantz did not come to run one of the most important outdoor sport companies in Colorado in the usual way … or maybe he did. The East Coast native graduated with a degree in soil science in 1996 and immediately moved to Colorado to chase mountains and snow. Soon he was working as a shipper at Boulderbased La Sportiva, an arm of a larger European company that builds gear for speed, including everything from trail runners to breathable/ waterproof shells to AT skis. Twenty years later, Lantz has worked almost every job at La Sportiva on his way to the top and he's become a vocal advocate for the outdoor industry in the state. This past spring, he wrote a rousing editorial in the Boulder Daily Camera, fighting alongside the Sierra Club to stop Utah coal plants from spewing pollution into Colorado's air. That effort worked: In June, the EPA ruled the Utah plants must reduce their dirty emissions. Lantz took the time to talk with us about business, personal advocacy and play.

WHY IS THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY IMPORTANT TO COLORADO? TO THE U.S.? TO THE PLANET?

It supports our economy and it helps define who we are as a state. The lure of living a clean, healthy lifestyle is drawing more and more people to Colorado and the Outdoor Industry can help define that healthy ethic, and also benefit from it. As the outdoor economy grows within the U.S., it brings a broader awareness about the state of the environment in which we live. We need to preserve it and protect it for future generations so they can enjoy living a clean and healthy life themselves. I personally love working for a small, independently owned, quality oriented mountain company that is focused on making great products and doing the right thing. This is how photo courtesy JONATHAN LANTZ

SENSEI WITH SOMETHING TO SAY: JONATHAN LANTZ’S PHILOSOPHY FOR LA SPORTIVA IS SIMPLY TO KEEP IT AUTHENTIC AND FIGHT FOR A HEALTHY OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE FOR ALL.

I live, who I am: I have two teenage boys named Talus and Kale and a lovely wife named Alisa that I have been with for 20 years. We live in the mountains and our entire family is very passionate about the outdoors. We ski, bike, hike, climb and love music and good food. WHAT TYPE OF POWER DO OUTDOOR INDUSTRY BRANDS HAVE TO FIGHT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL GOOD IN THEIR COMMUNITIES?

Outdoor Industry brands have an amazing opportunity to help raise awareness about environmental and social issues. Our customers are educated, affluent and extremely loyal. Educating them about what we see as important issues to protect natural spaces is an extremely powerful tool. WHY DID YOU OPPOSE UTAH'S COAL POLLUTION?

For obvious reasons. Pollution is bad and is detrimental to health in humans and the environment. If you can make something cleaner by spending money to improve the

emissions then it should be done. Ask yourself this: How much money is being made by the company that owns these plants? HOW DID YOU WORK TO FIGHT AGAINST IT?

I signed on to the Protect Our Winters (POW) letter to the EPA and then I worked with our media agency to submit an op-ed to raise even more awareness about the issue. That op-ed was then circulated via social media which brought even more attention to this important issue IS THIS ACTIVISM SOMETHING YOU SEE AS A PART OF YOUR ROLE AT LA SPORTIVA?

I don’t see it as so much a part of my role at La Sportiva but more as the role of someone who has crafted a life around the outdoors. Our company is focused on creating the most technical mountain products for pursuing dreams and aspirations while doing the least harm possible. It’s essential that anyone who makes a living in the Outdoor Industry should also spend some effort and time protecting the environment.

WHAT MAKES LA SPORTIVA DIFFERENT AS A BRAND?

La Sportiva was founded in 1928 in the Val di Fiemme region of Northern Italy. It's still owned by the same family that started it and located in the same valley to this day, making those most technical products I mentioned for pushing limits in the mountains everywhere. HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT THAN THE YOU WHO RUNS THE COMPANY? HOW DO THESE TWO SELVES WORK TOGETHER?

I am one in the same. My main goal is to run a company that people feel honored to work at and that treats people with respect. You cannot run an authentic outdoor company unless you live and breath the same philosophy in your personal life. I guess you could say that I am a little more competitive in my personal life than I am at work. WHAT FIGHTS ARE NEXT FOR THE INDUSTRY? FOR THE PLANET?

Clean water. That’s the big one and it will be the most precious resource in the years to come.

J U LY 2 016 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

ON THE ROAD

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open GOT THE URGE TO ROAM? FOLLOW ALONG ON THESE THREE EPIC ROAD TRIPS IN COLORADO, THE SOUTHWEST AND WYOMING THIS SUMMER AND HEED THESE TIPS FROM ROAD WARRIORS ON HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE DRIVE. by DOUG SCHNITZPAHN

ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / JULY 2 01 6

he road trip is an art form. It's live theater, improv. Hop in, hit the gas and watch it all unfold. But it does require a bit of planning. To that end, we have created these itineraries for three of our favorite road trips starting in Denver. Here's our best beta on where to play, beer up and car camp. Use it as a rough guide. No matter what, be prepared to wander off course, too, and go wherever adventure takes you.

# 1 THE CLASSIC COLORADO LOOP Pack the bikes, the slackline and the beer. You don't have to go very far to find adventure here.

BRECKENRIDGE DISTANCE FROM DENVER: 80 miles;

one hour, 30 minutes PLAY TIME: Most may know it for its

ski slopes, but Breck is mountain bike central. Take a spin on any one of the stages of the Breck Epic (breckepic. com) for a little sampler. BEER: Or, take it up a notch for whiskey at the Breckenridge Distillery (breckenridgedistillery. com). Be sure to take a tour, too. PULL UP: Right on the Colorado Trail, Tiger Run Resort (tigerrunresort.com) is open to RVs (is that #vanlife for old people?) and has chalets for rent, as well as a pool and hot tubs. Or look for dispersed camping off the Tiger Mountain and North Fork roads.

EAGLE DISTANCE FROM DENVER: 127 miles; two hours, 15 minutes PLAY TIME: Good thing you brought your bikes. Eagle, which we have covered extensively here at EO, has made a concerted effort to be MTB central. It's working. Head to mountainbikeeagle.com for beta. Be sure to give Haymaker, site of the Colorado High School Cycling League State Championships, a spin. BEER: Bonfire (bonfirebrewing.com) is the spot for a cold one here. PULL UP: Head for the shores of Sylvan Lake State Park (cpw.state. co.us/placestogo/parks/sylvanlake), where you will find 46 campsites as well as cabins and three yurt rentals.

CARBONDALE

nowhere you will see that more on display than the grounds of True Nature (truenaturehealingarts.com), a spiritual retreat center/spa/tea room/ yoga facility that embodies what all of those things should really be (make sure to walk the reflexology path). Then, head down the Crystal River Valley for fly fishing and climbing. BEER: Ok, again, it's vodka here, not beer, but we love the Marble Distilling Co. (marbledistilling.com), where you can rent a room at the inn and wake up to the best Bloody Mary of your short, young life. PULL UP: Head to Bogen Flats right along the Crystal River or you can seek out a dispersed spot on the Thompson Creek Road.

GUNNISON / CRESTED BUTTE DISTANCE FROM DENVER: 200 miles;

three hours, 45 minutes PLAY TIME: Mountain biking has

become a theme here and this is the epicenter of all things MTB. The 401 trail is a classic of course, but it can be choked with Texans come summer. Try something different like the 18-mile Fossil Ridge Half Loop. Or get off your saddle and hike a peak: We suggest the 13,208-foot Teocalli Mountain (which you can approach via a bike ride if you want). BEER: Why not head to the Butte in September for the foliage and the Chili and Beer Festival (cbchamber. com)? Or stop by High Alpine Brewing Co. down in Gunnison. PULL UP: There's lots of dispersed camping on the Cement Creek Road, and some damn fine riding, too.

SALIDA DISTANCE FROM DENVER: 142 miles;

two hours, 45 minutes PLAY TIME: The Monarch Crest Trail

is the big draw, of course, but we also like to spin our wheels on the Methodist Mountain trail system a little closer to town. The flowy singletrack is ideal for all ability levels, but it can get hot. BEER: Elevation Beer Company (elevationbeerco.com) is a longtime EO reader favorite in our beer poll. PULL UP: Find a camp spot along Forest Road 252 and get an early start on hiking 14,232-foot Shavano.

DISTANCE FROM DENVER: 170 miles;

three hours PLAY TIME: Carbondale is still

LISTEN TO JOHN MUIR: THE MOUNTAINS OF THE ELK RANGE ARE DEFINITELY CALLING.

holding onto its soul. And there's

photo by LIAM DORAN

J U LY 2 016 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

ON THE ROAD

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# 2 THE SOUTHWEST SAMPLER The vast red rock desert is the ultimate spot for hiking, canyoneering and simply getting off the grid and chilling out.

CANYONLANDS DISTANCE FROM DENVER: 365 miles;

six hours PLAY TIME: There are two classic options in this choose-your-ownadventure of a national park. The first is The Maze. As its name implies, it's a warren of slot canyons that require canyoneering route finding skills (and the occasional leap of faith) to navigate. The second is the famed White Rim, one of the few backcountry trails in a national park that you can ride on your bike. BEER: Utah is not Colorado, but you will find some fine suds—and,

um, gelato—at the Moab Brewery (themoabbrewery.com). PULL UP: There are only two campgrounds in the park, Squaw Flat Campground at The Needles and Willow Flat Campground at Island in the Sky. You can find spots along Highway 128 outside of Moab, too.

CAPITOL REEF DISTANCE FROM DENVER: 437 miles; seven hours, 10 minutes PLAY TIME: Capitol Reef is Utah's forgotten national park, but it's ripe for exploration. The Burro Wash slot is an excellent canyon for pretty much anyone and the Navajo Knobs Trail is an ideal break from a long drive if you don't plan on staying here. BEER: Ha! No. But if you come at the right time of year you are allowed to glean fruit from the orchards at the Fruita Campground in the park. PULL UP: That Fruita Campground is one of our all-time favorites, with the Fremont River running through and orchards planted here by the first settlers still maintained by the park.

GRAND CANYON DISTANCE FROM DENVER: 680 miles;

11 hours, 30 minutes (South Rim) PLAY TIME: The ultimate canyon is all too often ignored by those seeking adventure. We blow off the rim as a tourist boondoggle and simply wait for the chance to go on a river trip here. That's a mistake. Adventure in the canyon is a big endeavor (see Timmy O'Neill's story on page 46) but you can bite off smaller big adventures such as a rim-to-rimto-rim bucket list run or hike from the crowded South Rim, or tick off a technical slot such as the classic Deer Creek Narrows with its stunning waterfall (just be experienced). BEER: Flagstaff, Arizona, is the closest spot for the spoils of civilization. Head to the Mother Road Brewing Company (motherroadbeer. com) for refreshment. PULL UP: Do you like that shot on the cover of this magazine? That's the view from Toroweap, a short walk from the most amazing campground in the U.S.—Tuweep, where the

GET OUT THERE: AS THAT GREAT ROAD TRIPPER MARK TWAIN ONCE SAID: “TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW YOU WILL BE MORE DISAPPOINTED BY THE THINGS YOU DIDN’T DO THAN BY THE ONES YOU DID DO. SO THROW OFF THE BOWLINES, SAIL AWAY FROM THE SAFE HARBOR. CATCH THE TRADE WINDS IN YOUR SAILS. EXPLORE. DREAM. DISCOVER.”

OFFICIAL FILTRATION PARTNER FOR THE GOPRO MOUNTAIN GAMES

ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / JULY 2 01 6

services “are non-existent.” You'll need four-wheel drive to get there.

BLACK CANYON DISTANCE FROM DENVER: 265 miles;

five hours PLAY TIME: Colorado has some canyons of its own and the Black, with its vertiginous drop is just as stunning (if not as big) as the Grand, and the rock climbing is actually better. The five-pitch, 5.9- Maiden Voyage is the one climb here most can accomplish, and the level of difficulty just goes up from there. BEER: Drive to Montrose for suds and food at the Colorado Boy Brewery (coloradoboy.com). PULL UP: The North Rim Campground is ideal for views.

#3 WYOMING ROCKS You have to play big in the Cowboy State. Bring your harness, your dog and prepare to climb like the locals.

LARAMIE DISTANCE FROM DENVER: 129 miles;

two hours, 10 minutes

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J U LY 2 016 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

ON THE ROAD

camping on the Red Grade Road 0 7.16

PLAY TIME: It's just a short trip from

Colorado's Front Range to Curt Gowdy State Park (wyoparks.state. wy.us), with its camping, fishing and an outstanding mountain bike trail system. That makes for a perfect weekend road trip, even. BEER: Try the Saison du Ruby at Coal Creek Tap (coalcreektap.com). PULL UP: Curt Gowdy has plenty of places to pitch a tent or park a van— or stay at the historic Hynds Lodge.

SHERIDAN DISTANCE FROM DENVER: 423 miles;

six hours, 40 minutes PLAY TIME: The big draw here is the

nearby Cloud Creek Wilderness Area, where you can backpack a 23-mile round trip to 13,167-foot Cloud Peak. BEER: Point it to the Blacktooth Brewing Company (blacktooth brewingcompany.com) PULL UP: There's plenty of dispersed OPEN UP: “BROAD, WHOLESOME, CHARITABLE VIEWS OF MEN AND THINGS CANNOT BE ACQUIRED BY VEGETATING IN ONE LITTLE CORNER OF THE EARTH ALL OF ONE’S LIFETIME," SAID TWAIN.

TEN SLEEP DISTANCE FROM DENVER: 452 miles; seven hours, 20 minutes PLAY TIME: Ten Sleep's limestone has become a beacon for climbers who live out of their cars (wait, isn't that all climbers?). Happiness in Slavery (5.12b) is one of the most popular routes here (and the first bolted) but be sure to take a spin on Bikini Girls with Machine Guns (5.11a/b) and everyone's favorite, Beer Bong (5.10b). BEER: Party with cowboys and dirtbags at Ten Sleep Brewing Company (tensleepbrewingco.com). PULL UP: Pretty much anywhere on the dirt road along Ten Sleep Canyon.

LANDER DISTANCE FROM DENVER: 350 miles;

five hours, 45 minutes PLAY TIME: The Wind Rivers offer

endless climbing. Talk to the folks at Wild Iris Mountain Sports for inspiration (wildirisclimbing.com). BEER: Hit up Cowfish (cowfishlander. com) for beer and classy food. PULL UP: You'll find your kind at the Hugh Otte Camping Area.

photo by JOHN LLOYD

FULL OF EXCITEMENT. There’s plenty to see and do. Start planning your Cody, Wyoming vacation today. 1-800-393-2639 or yellowstonecountry.org. THE WILDEST WAY INTO YELLOWSTONE

ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / JULY 2 01 6

#VANLIFE GURUS Find enlightenment in these roadwarrior-savvy tips from EO’s Live Outside and Play team of Jess Daddio and Adam Ritter. 1. THE SAYING "PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE" EXISTS FOR A REASON. It's easy to get frustrated when you have to shift around your entire storage system to get to that one bag of gear you need. It's even more frustrating when you hit your head, lose your keys and forget what you were looking for in the process. There is no escaping anything when you live out of your vehicle. It's best to just roll with the punches and have patience in spades. You'll need it. 2. NOBODY IS PERFECT. So when your significant other decides to fart inside the van after closing the door, thereby trapping you in the stench, just remember that you're sharing approximately 60 square feet of space with someone. You get the good, the bad and the ugly. Tomorrow, it could be your bowels wreaking havoc.

3. TREAT GOOGLE MAPS WITH A HEALTHY DOSE OF SKEPTICISM. Google Maps is convenient, no doubt, but, when you're in an extended cargo van pulling a trailer through often spotty cell reception, you gotta think ahead. 4. BE A RESPECTABLE POACHER. If you're posting up at a coffee shop to use WiFi, buy a damn drink. While it's relatively cool and hip to live on the road, your fellow car dwellers would like to keep from having a bad rep. Don't act like a total dirtbag. Please and thanks. 5. ONLY MAKE PLANS SOMETIMES. Yes, it's nice to know where you're going to sleep tonight and when your next shower will be. But don't let your itinerary get in the way of the beauty and freedom of the open road. It's the small-world moments that will keep you going, even when you're figuratively and literally out of gas. Follow the Live Outside and Play Tour across Colorado and the country as they travel from event to event liveoutsideandplay.com

LIVIN' IT: JESS AND ADAM'S COLORADO TRIP HAS HAD THEM GOING FROM THE GOPRO GAMES TO TRAIL BUILDING IN DEL NORTE. photo by JESS DADDIO

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ON STAGE

by BRENDAN LEONARD

lease let me interrupt your scrolling through a bunch of perfect #vanlife photos on Instagram or reading articles about “why I quit my job to travel full-time” with a little real talk: The perfect vehicle for your next road trip is probably in your garage, or parked right in front of your residence. Yes, you can spend 80 or 100 hours building out a Sprinter or rebuilding a Volkswagen van, or save paychecks and eat cheap Ramen for a year in order to live on the road for the next year. Those things are awesome. But it’s possible you may never get past the step of fantasizing about doing those things, and the stars may never align for you to do them. And I’ll tell you what: That’s fine. Because what you should do, this year, is just take a road trip with whatever you have. Maybe two. One in the summer to the mountains, one in the late fall to the desert. Do you have a car that probably won’t break down over the next 1,200 miles? Do you have a tent and a sleeping bag and a camp stove? Can you get five consecutive days off work, paid or unpaid? Perfect. This is basically all you need to make memories. Yes, your photo of a very normal Subaru wagon or Honda Civic perched on some red-rock BLM land will not get as many likes on Instagram or Facebook, but you will be ON A ROAD TRIP having an awesome time which should take precedence over creating photos that communicate that you are on a road trip having an awesome time. You don’t need much to wake up with the sun and drink coffee out of a kindof-clean mug that you used yesterday and washed with water and your finger, or to sit in a camp chair and watch the sunset with a beer in your hand while you forget that you have 17 unread emails. This kind of thing is closer than you think and probably quite easy to get to if you just plan it. You might just need a vacation instead of an envy-inducing van, don’t you think? Dreaming big and going big is great, but so is actually going out and doing something smaller when you can. If you can’t put all your eggs in one basket and go on “The Road Trip of a Lifetime,” take some steps to put a couple of eggs in a basket and go on one of the road trips of a lifetime. If your car works and you can fit most of your shit in it, along with a friend or two, hit the road this summer.

Brendan Leonard’s latest book, Sixty Meters to Anywhere, is already a cult classic. You can find out where to buy it at Semi-Rad.com.

CAMPING. HIKING. BIKING. YOGA. CRAFT BEER. LOCAL FOOD ARTISANS + CRAFTERS.

OFF STAGE J U LY 2 016 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

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IMBIBING IT ALL

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Beer Boom WILL A SMALL VAIL VALLEY BREWER BECOME THE NEXT TAKEOVER TARGET?

by TOM WINTER

he sign on the door says, “If you open the door, you’ll be the answer to the question, ‘who let the dogs out.’” You can see the dogs inside—at least three of them—and they want to get out, clustering around the entrance with excited, expectant faces. Since they’re large and look quite able to knock me over and make a run for it once the door is cracked, and since the door is the wrong door anyhow, I take five steps to the left and open the other door instead. Inside the smell of hops is strong and there are a few locals sitting on rough hewn benches, getting an early start on happy hour. This is the tasting room of Edwards, Colorado’s Crazy Mountain Brewing. I feel at home. Crazy Mountain Brewing is just one small piece in an ongoing liquid explosion on Colorado’s Western Slope. This booze development has been fueled by local money (the area is home to major skiing destinations like Aspen, Telluride and Vail) as well as strong community ties and a do-it-yourself. frontier ethos. The result is a plethora of top-notch brands that are quickly gaining local market share and visibility, extending their footprint and giving craft beverage lovers more choices. photo by TOM WINTER

There’s no doubt that beer, particularly microbrews, are big business. According to the Brewer’s Association, the industry had a $2.7 billion impact on Colorado’s economy in 2014 alone. But while the western part of Colorado has been home to a variety of small operations, only a few of those brands have been able to break into the national consciousness. The grandfather of them all, of course, is Breckenridge Brewery. Founded in 1990, the company grew up in a hurry, opening a Denver location in 1995 and then, faced with even more demand, moving production to an even larger nearby location one year later. In 2015, the company gave up on Denver proper and acquired a 12-acre parcel in Littleton for an expanded brewing operation and restaurant. Any brand that successful is bound to attract attention and the company, Colorado’s sixth largest craft brewer by barrels produced, was purchased (sans restaurant properties) for an undisclosed sum by AnheuserBusch in December of 2015. Is this the craft beer endgame?

ig deals for undisclosed sums aren’t really on my mind when I sit down in Crazy Brewing’s tasting room with Kevin Selvy, the company’s founder, however. I’m

there to talk about his business. And, he’s happy to share over a tasty Pilsner (a “tough one to get right,” says Selvy) . “We don’t have enough room here,” he admits. “We can’t produce enough here and we don’t have enough space for customers.” To rectify this, the Colorado State graduate and Parker, Colorado native has made a bold statement. He and his partners have purchased the former Breckenridge Brewery location at 471 Kalamath Street in Denver. It’s a move, he says, that will allow the Edwards location to do what it does best—focus on interesting small-batch brews, some created exclusively for an innovative “bottle of the month” type club that’s only been in existence for less than a year but which has proved to be such a hit that the brewery can’t keep up. “I got the idea from the wine business,” says Selvy, who isn’t afraid to credit other industries—as well as his own staff—for good ideas. “We have an innovation committee, which is open to anyone who works here and wants to be on it,” says Selvy. “They come up with ideas for things, and then our brewers go to work.” The results are interesting and complex beers, which are flying off the shelves and out of the taps. So much so that Selvy is adopting

NEXT BIG THING: CRAZY MOUNTAIN'S KEVIN SELVY IS HEADED DOWNTOWN. THE CULT FAVORITE JUST PURCHASED THE OLD BRECKENRIDGE BREWERY DIGS IN DENVER.

technology created by SteadyServ to track the amount of beer left in, say, a single specialty barrel, so his team can get the word out that if you want a pint of the latest small-batch brew, you’d better come down now because there won’t be any left by tomorrow. “Sure we do it to track inventory,” says Selvy, “but it’s not the end of a free pint or two from your bartender. We want to be able to let people know that a special keg may be gone really quickly so that someone can make the effort to get down here and try it.” And then there’s Denver. The Kalamath taphouse and brewery is a statement of sorts. But Selvy says that Crazy Mountain isn’t planning on giving up its Western Slope home anytime soon, unlike Breckenridge Brewing, which now has a larger footprint on the Front Range than in its hometown. While he’s cagy about the next move, he’s also quite bullish on Edwards and the surrounding area, stating that local community leaders will welcome the growth of the operation and the year-round jobs that expansion will bring. “It’s going to be big,” says Selvy, “very big.” How big? That's hard to tell, but the dogs are about to be let out.

J U LY 2 016 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

THE SUMMER 2016

BEVERAGE GUIDE THE DOG DAYS ARE THE BEST TIME TO REFINE YOUR APPRECIATION OF THE BEST COLORADO HAS TO OFFER. THAT MEANS BIG DAYS UP IN THE MOUNTAINS, TRIPS TO THE FARMERS MARKET AND, OH YES, SIPPING THE STATE'S BEST CRAFT BEERS, WINES, LIQUORS AND SPIRITS. WE ARE HERE TO HELP.

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BOULDER BEER COMPANY

n 1979 two professors at the University of Colorado did something unheard of at the time: They applied for, and received, a brewing license to create the Boulder Beer Company. Little did they know it at the time, but their then tiny brewery was forging a path that many others in the state, and the entire country, were soon to follow. To celebrate Boulder Beer’s 37th birthday the nowbustling brewery is throwing a huge bash featuring three live bands, numerous rarities on tap and general craziness on July 16 from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Even though Boulder Beer is Colorado’s first craft brewery, and the oldest craft brewery post-Prohibition in the country, don’t expect these guys to be resting on their laurels. Head Brewmaster David Zuckerman

and his team have been busy creating some new beers just in time for summer. Pulp Fusion Blood Orange IPA has a generous helping of Centennial, Cascade, and Glacier hops that give it beautiful aromas and overwhelming flavor. If you are looking for something a bit bigger, the Good Trip Tripel will be released just before the party across Colorado in 22-ounce bombers and on draft. It’s a big, boozy beast that will leave you seeing double. So be a part of a legend and make sure you celebrate this summer with a homegrown legend and stock your cooler with Boulder Beers fine brews. You will feel right at home here in Colorado.

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COLORADO CIDER COMPANY

ooking for something to sip this summer beyond that big, hoppy IPA? Look for the Colorado Cider Company. For the past five years, this Denver-based cidery has been turning out award-winning, refreshing, all-natural and gluten-free ciders. With four different ciders available in four-packs, plus numerous 22-ounce bombers of specialty releases, these ciders cover the entire taste spectrum. Just in time for summer is the Radl’ah, a session cider with only 4.25 percent alcohol that’s infused with lemongrass and lemon balm. It’s the ultimate summer sipper, and available in cans. If you’re in Denver, stop by the tasting room at 2650 West 2nd Ave, Unit #10. It’s open Friday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 2p.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

COLORADOCIDER.COM

KETTLE & SPOKE AT GREEN GURU

ince 2007, Boulder’s very own Green Guru has been taking worn out gear that normally would be headed for the dump—blown out bike tubes, tents, climbing ropes, wetsuits and waders—and repurposing and reconstructing them into sturdy active gear, including bike bags, backpacks, wallets and bracelets. It’s a sustainability story and a labor of love: Green Guru has diverted thousands upon thousands of pounds of waste from dumps. The brand recently joined forces with Alchemy Goods to expand its upcycling business, and help bring its unique products to even more people. Stop by the shop off the Goose Creek Bike Path to peruse their offerings, and have a beer from Kettle and Spoke Brewery (opening in August) located right inside the building. It’s Boulder’s newest nano-brewery turning out small batch beer.

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VISION QUEST BREWERY

oulder Fermentation Supply offers up all the ingredients and education you need for home beer, wine, mead, kombucha, sake, cheese-making and other home-crafting needs. Not only does the shop carry the best equipment, it also provides crafting classes and the friendly staff is always willing to answer questions. Plus, the new Vision Quest Brewery taproom serves up a wide selection of traditional and experimental craft beers just down the hallway. Now, you can enjoy samples or sip a pint while you peruse the supplies. It's fermentation paradise. Stop in at 2510 47th St. in Boulder. The tasting room is open Wednesday–Friday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

UNTAPPD.COM/VISIONQUESTBREWING BOULDERFERMANTATIONSUPPLY.COM J U LY 2 016 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

ONCE IN AWHILE, SOMEONE COMES ALONG THAT LEAVES THE WORLD A DIFFERENT PLACE THAN HE OR SHE FOUND IT. INTRODUCING BRISTOL’S FORGOTTEN GENIUS 4-PACK SERIES. INSPIRED BY NIKOLA TESLA. Tesla hardly receives credit for a third of the technological advances he’s actually responsible for. But then, he was motivated less by money or fame, and more by the notion that his life’s work could make other lives better. We’d like to second that emotion.

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“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”

WOODS HIGH MOUNTAIN DISTILLERY

― -Kenneth Grahame

144 W. 1st StREET • 719-207-4315 • Tasting room open daily Tours • Handmade Spirits from Salida, CO

nside a renovated auto garage right in the heart of downtown Salida, brothers PT and Lee Wood have been creating some of the high country’s most unique whiskeys, gins and assorted liquors for the last four years. There’s tradition here, too. The brothers turn out those exceptional spirits with help from their 135-year-old German pot still that they named “Ashley.” Tenderfoot Whiskey is the distillery’s pride and joy, a whiskey that relies on five separate malts and is both smoky, and spicy. The Treeline Gin, a traditional dry style, is created using the finest mountain water, Colorado juniper, grains of paradise, coriander and several other fine botanicals. Looking for an interesting departure from the norm? Ask for Treeline Barrel Rested Gin. To create it, Woods takes Treeline gin and ages it in new

charred American Oak barrels, which impart a complex flavor profile reminiscent of whiskey. The Alpine Rye Whiskey contains 70 percent malt-rye and a 30 percent mixture of cherry wood smoked chocolate barley malts that come together to create a sweet sipper with a spicy finish. Love craft beers? Grab a bottle of the Mountain Hopped Gin. By adding fresh Cascade hops from Paonia, Woods has created the one of the most unique spirits on the market. And just in time for summer, the Fleur de Sureau Elderflower Liqueur is ideal for sipping around the campfire. Stop by the tasting room located at 144 W. 1st St. in Salida and ask for one of their crafted cocktails. If you’re not in heaven, then you’re pretty damn close.

WOODSDISTILLERY.COM

UPSLOPE BREWING COMPANY

or the past eight years Upslope Brewing has existed to supply people with that one thing every single resident of Colorado needs: damn good beer. The folks at Upslope just have that Colorado mindset. They’re ready to crack open a cold one after a day on the slopes, a backcountry tour by bike or even just a long day at the office. That’s because Upslope’s three owners love spending as much time outdoors as possible and the company manifesto makes that philosophy clear: “Après Everything isn’t a movement. It’s not a fad. It’s a frame of mind. It’s the ability to celebrate all things Rocky Mountain where they happen, when they happen. From bagging peaks to backcountry escapes. Because each and every adventure deserves to be capped off the right way: with some damn good

beer to match.” As part of their commitment to sharing their ideals with the community, Upslope also sponsors several outdoor organizations, and strives to promote many worthy causes. Upslope’s two tasting rooms in Boulder offer dozens of award-winning brews on tap. Here, you can kick back and relax, with friends and like-minded individuals. If you can’t make it to Boulder to taste some of their goodness fresh from the tap, don’t worry, Upslope’s beers are available across Colorado and in most states within the Rocky Mountain region. So the next time you are planning an adventure, toss a couple sixpacks of Upslope in the cooler and head out for your own après moment.

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J U LY 2 016 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

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ALTITUDE TENT ATTITUDE: BEFORE YOU TAKE ON THAT IRONMAN, YOU’LL NEED TO WORK ON YOUR LOOK (JUST MAKE SURE YOUR COACH SAYS IT’S OK). photo courtesy MARIE-DOMINIQUE VERDIER / MDVPHOTO.COM

THE SECRET LIVES OF TRISEXUALS DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH LOVE IN YOUR HEART, AND GEAR IN YOUR CLOSET, TO CRUSH THREE SPORTS AT ONCE? by ADAM CHASE Who are those hairless wonders we see biking and running around, still emblazoned with race numbers etched on their over-sunned, überlean bodies, wearing nothing more than skimpy bikini bathing suits (regardless of gender) and compression wear over their lower legs, triceps and just about every other visible muscle? Met the “Trisexuals.” Not to be confused with single- or double-sport aficionados, these swim-bike-run addicts are a breed of their own. But,

fear not! You too can be one. To be honest, even if you wanted to hang with Trisexuals, they probably wouldn’t party with you. First, they are strong individualists and it's sort of a chicken-or-egg question of whether they naturally gravitate towards their solo sport or if it’s because nobody wants to be teamed up with them. Triathletes tend towards social Darwinism. When they aren’t training (or prepping to train or telling you about their onerous training regimen) and they stop to read something other than their triathlon magazines it will be Ayn Rand or Nietzsche. Note: They do this reading in an altitude tent. Triathletes are speed freaks, obsessed with moving faster than you. Anything that might create drag, whether it be hair, traditional bike spokes or handle bars, must be swapped out with the newest and lightest. Tri-geeks, with their disk wheels and aero bars, tend to be squirrely riders, which may explain

why it is against the rules to draft in most of their events. So, if you still want to be a Trisexual—or at least look, and train, like one—here's what you will need: • Wear wrap-around sunglasses. (think Oakley Pirzm) • Wear your tri kit of a one-piece suit as often as possible. ( Try Pearl Izumi's Select Pursuit Tri Suit) • Ride a TT bike that costs more than most people’s used car. (Cervelo, duh) • You have to have an M-dot tatt, preferably not as a tramp stamp. (Ironman® Come on!) • Get a monitor for everything. (Power Meter/Bike computer, Garmin GPS, Stryd, Polar HRM, Suunto Ambit Sport, Timex ONE+) • Food is “nutrition” and drink

is “hydration.” The Trisexual begins every conversation with the phrase, “My coach says…” and then incessantly spouts off about “wattage,” “splits,” and their training zones. (Check out The Feed.) • Social media exists for the sole purpose of humblebragging about your level of fatigue wrought from training sessions, splits, intervals and, of course, what your coach says. (Strava, anyone?) • Dinner or, rather, the early evening “nutrition session,” is timed carefully to end in time for the night’s “recovery session." It includes a scale to weigh the super lean, low-fat, high protein feed. • To fit in your three daily training sessions, you need to start with a 5 a.m. swim and bed by 8:30pm. This saves money on alcohol and condoms so you can spend it on carbon-fiber bike components.

J U LY 2 016 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

LOOK FOR OUR CREW AT THESE UPCOMING EVENTS:

SUMMER 2016

PIKES PEAK ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL JULY 2-4 • COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

COPPER MOUNTAIN MUSIC FESTIVAL

JULY 8-10 • COPPER MOUNTAIN, CO

ROAR IN THE CITY

JULY 16 • COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

Join us for lunch! JULY 1 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 5

PRESENTED BY

FOLLOW THE ADVENTURE @LIVEOUTSIDEANDPLAY LIVEOUTSIDEANDPLAY.COM

Friday–Monday 11:00am–4:00pm Lunch favorites include Chicken & Waffles, Mac & Cheese Bake and the legendary 6th Alley Burger. Extensive draft beer selections.

YOGA ON THE MOUNTAIN and Spa Luncheon THURSDAY, JULY 14

SUMMIT CHALLENGE Trail Run & BBQ SUNDAY, AUGUST 21

CLAM BAKE

and Lobster Boil SUNDAY, SEPT. 11 ARAPAHOEBASIN.COM | 888.ARAPAHOE 38

ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / JULY 2 01 6

GEAR

0 7. 16

COVER YOUR BASE (CAMP) 1.

THESE SEVEN CAR CAMPING ESSENTIALS WILL HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SUMMER ON THE ROAD. by DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

1. ILLUMINATE

BIOLITE BASE LANTERN XL

This sexy, Bluetooth-enabled flat camp lantern is a multi-purpose charging station for smart phones and other small electronics as well as a serious light. Thanks to a 12000 mAh rechargeable li-on battery, it can pump out some serious lumens and offer up real-time feedback on how much juice it has remaining. Best of all, you can control it via a handy smart phone app. Preorder on Kickstarter or check out bioliteenergy.com

2. GRIND

GIR VOLTAIRE

Coffee is simply one comfort that cannot be ignored when you camp, and fresh-ground beans are key. The GIR Voltaire is the best bean grinder we have seen for home use, not to mention in the woods. It features a digital LED timer that lets you program in the perfect grind for your coffee maker of choice. What's more, it can sense when your beans are getting old and will order a new supply on Amazon before you run out. Rechargable batteries keep it running in the wild. Fund it on Kickstarter or head to productofgir.com

3. SHARE

EXPED SYNMAT HYPERLITE DUO

Want to share the tent with your sweetie but you keep ending up in the cold crack between pads when you try to spoon? This plush, warm, doublewide, inflatable pad sleeps two with ease. $279; exped.com

4. IMBIBE

HYDRO FLASK 64 OZ. WIDEMOUTH GROWLER

Craft beer junkies can rest a little easier knowing they can carry some of their local brew pub's most obscure creations into camp. This insulated, vacuum-sealed gowler will keep that peppery saison cool and fresh enough to impress your bros around the fire. $60; hydroflask.com

5. CUDDLE

NEMO PUFFIN BLANKET

The best camp blanket is not just for extra warmth in your tent. It should also be an accessory, worn by the savvy camper when reading a book by (but not too close to) the fire or when sneaking out for a pee. This soft, durable, DWRtreated cuddler delivers. Bonus: When you are in your tent, you can button up the bottom for extra foot warmth. $100; nemoequipment.com

6. CLEAN RINSEKIT

Kids, dogs, mountain biking mud caked into your leg hair ... there's a lot of dirt in camp. This high-powered, portable spray system makes cleaning it all off as easy as if you had a faucet. $90; rinsekit.com

7. SLEEP

BIG AGNES YELLOW JACKET 4 MTNGLO

Big Agnes' mtnGLO tents are no gimmick (hey, we gave the Fly Creek UL2 a Peak Gear Award last issue). The built-in LED lighting system stays out of the way of function and it offers up enough illumination to organize without that bright, annoying glare of a headlamp. This roomy four-person tent is ideal for lazy car camping outings, providing enough space to stretch out and play cards and 68 inches of headroom. $400; bigagnes.com

6. 5.

J U LY 2 016 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

DESTINATION summer travel guide 2016

photo by LIAM DORAN

ummer is here in full and it’s time to escape the heat with some serious play time. To that end, we have assembled the ultimate guide to Colorado’s best spots to “Get Outside and Play” when the mercury is on the rise and the mountains are in full bloom and you are itching to hit the road. If you are looking to hike in the high peaks, bomb down iconic singletrack, clip into famed sport routes or even just toss a few

rounds of Frisbee golf, we have you covered. But adventure comes in many forms. Colorado might be best known for its majestic summits and sprawling trail systems, but explorers looking to hone their sommelier skills or partake in kidfriendly activities will find plenty of options here as well. So go ahead and dig into this statewide travel guide—we know you’ll be adding more than one location to your bucket list.

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO ELEVATIONOUTDOORS.COM

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2016

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now Mountain Ranch is a hub of organized outdoor adventure. Our Mini Camp (Aug. 14-16) exposes 7-10 year-olds to canoeing, horseback riding and arts and crafts—and eases them into overnight stays away from mom and dad. Women’s Adventure Camp (Aug. 19-21) is a ladies-only program that will equip participants with outdoor skills and leave them with life-long friendships.

he Boulder Adventure Lodge lives up to its name no matter what type of exploits you seek. Travelers can take in the serenity of Colorado’s high country while residing just a stone’s throw away from fine dining, world-famous breweries and Boulder’s hopping nightlife. Lodge highlights include: Slacklines, hot tub, pool, firepits, hostel, campsites, bike, and crashpad rentals.

eeking the heart of Colorado? With roughly 150 trails and more than 750 miles of singletrack, the Gunnison Valley is the epicenter of mountain biking. Whether you’re a beginner seeking short, smooth stretches or an expert after rocky, technical terrain, there’s an option for you. Mark your calendars for the following events.

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GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! >> Big Mountain Enduro Finals, September 2-4. This local company hosts

GUNNISONCRESTED BUTTE

three days of steep, gnarly riding in the last race of its summer series. >> 40th Anniversary of the Pearl Pass Tour, September 10-11: Join in this longstanding tradition and cycle your way from Crested Butte to Aspen along the precarious, yet beautiful pass. >> One Good Ride: Tick a few of the Gunnison Valley trails off of your must-ride list and document your adventures with #onegoodride.

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2016 GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY!

GRAND JUNCTION W

ith cloudless skies, the faint fragrance of fruit in the air and myriad options for relaxation, summer in Grand Junction is truly grand. “Grand Junction is unlike any other destination in the west,” said Mistalynn Meyeraan, with the Grand Junction Visitor and Convention Bureau. You will agree.

>> Peaches and Trails: “Warm-to-hot days and cool nights produce amazing fruit, including what is regarded as the best peach around,” says Meyeraan. “And the trail systems are as varied as the Grand Valley wines.” >> Exploration: Adventurers will enjoy hiking around the aspen forests and lakes of Grand Mesa, road biking along the sandstone cliffs of the Colorado National Monument or rafting down the Colorado River. Foodies can take an orchard tour, sample the wares of the local wineries and stop in at the farmer’s market. And inquiring minds will love the area’s museums, which feature dinosaur skeletons, Anasazi pottery, western history and more.

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GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! >> Bikes are Welcome! 2016 marks the inaugural year of

POWDERHORN MOUNTAIN RESORT

lift-accessed riding aboard the Flat Top Flyer high-speed quad lift at Powderhorn Mountain Resort. It’s a downhill mountain biker’s dream come true. >> Be a Pioneer: With three trails less than one season old, Powderhorn’s mountain bikers can be the first of their friends to bomb down these new routes. >> Buy Your Tickets: Make a weekend of it with an all-day or single-ride ticket ($25/$17) or plan for a season of fun and purchase the full summer pass ($179). Happy trails!

ituated high on Grand Mesa, Powderhorn Mountain Resort offers up a cool break from the desert below. In winter, you can harvest powder here, but there’s far more than great skiing at Powderhorn. Come summer, the warm temperatures melt away the snow, uncovering miles of steep mountain biking terrain. Powderhorn.com | 970-268-5700

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his eco-minded adventurer’s home away from home is located just a quarter mile from the shuttle start of the famed Monarch Crest Trail (allowing you to finish the ride at your front door). The brand new, 450-squarefoot, passive solar cabins are the ideal spot for mountain bikers who want to minimize their footprint. Enjoy close proximity to a mini-grocer, an Italian bistro and the favorite brewery Elevation Beer Company.

elcome to Colorado’s Mountain Adventure Basecamp. Located at 10,300-feet and powered by a mini-hydroelectric system, Tomichi Lodge is your center for off-the-grid adventure. Enjoy a long trail run, bag one of the area’s 13,000’ peaks, 4x4 Tomichi Pass and tackle the Canyon Creek mountain bike trail all from your front door. World class rafting and fishing are easily accessible. There’s no wrong way to “Tomichi”. Tomichi Lodge

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! >> We’ve been able to incorporate the type of family-fun

LAWSON ADVENTURE PARK

inding your inner child is a breeze at Lawson Adventure Park. In addition to the high ropes challenge course and protected climbing route, families can bounce on the bungee trampoline, attempt to tame the mechanical bull and roll around like hamsters downhill on the ZORB course.

activities that you would expect to find in a theme park, but we have them in a natural setting, with walking trails and great lodging and campfire options. >> Located just 30 minutes west of Denver in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the park is close enough for an adventure-filled day trip. Or, extend the fun for a few nights and set up a tent at either one of the rustic campsites, glamping yurts or modern suite-style cabins.

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DAY OF THE DEAD INDIE ROCKERS HAVE REINCARNATED THE GRATEFUL DEAD IN THIS FIVE-AND-A-HALF-HOUR TRIBUTE ALBUM. WE GIVE YOU THE DOWNLOW THE BEST TRACKS by JEDD FERRIS

ast summer the Grateful Dead’s 50th anniversary was marked with five massive stadium concerts dubbed “Fare Thee Well,” a set of shows billed as the last time the band’s four remaining members would perform together on stage. The shows definitely had an air of celebratory finality, but ever since the 1995 death of the Dead’s iconic guitarist, Jerry Garcia, the band’s vast catalog has been steadily relived by countless acts—from Dead-member side projects to cover bands to artists from wildly different genres—and that doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Case in point: “Day of the Dead,” a new extensive compilation of Dead covers curated by brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner, both guitarists in lauded indie rock outfit the National. Released in late spring and featuring 59 tracks that run a total of five and a half hours, the new set is a marathon of music that looks back on all eras of the Dead canon with an eclectically fresh perspective. The Dessners normally play in a band that wouldn’t be pegged as Dead disciples, but as the twins spent approximately five years pulling together the massive compilation, they soon realized many of their contemporaries and predecessors in the indie and alt-rock worlds were also longtime fans. As a result, The Dessners were able to assemble a heavy roster of talent, blending artists that represent a broad range of musical styles. There are plenty of emerging acts in indie folk, pop and roots rock (Kurt Vile, Lucius, Local Natives, Cass McCombs and Angel Olsen, among many others), along with more established Americana heroes (think Bruce Hornsby and Lucinda Williams), and even perspectives from abroad (Orchestra Baobab).

photos courtesy THE NATIONAL

NEW SPEEDWAY BOOGIERS? THE NATIONAL'S DESSNER BROTHERS CURATE THE DEAD.

Cumulatively, the variety of voices helps unearth the breadth of the Dead’s musical influences, offering a unique and insightful look at how the band blended elements of folk, blues, rock, country and jazz into its own wide-open sound. Here are 10 Key Tracks from “Day of the Dead”:

THE NATIONAL “MORNING DEW”

The Dead turned this folk song into an eerily reflective electric ballad, recorded on the band’s debut album and remaining in the live repertoire until the group’s last summer on the road in 1995. The song gets even more darkly mystical in the sonic realm of the National, led by the brooding vocals of front man Matt Berninger. Given the timing of the release, it’s possible “Morning Dew” could show up in the National’s setlist during the band’s upcoming July 31 show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. That show will be supported by Real Estate (who also appear on “Day of the Dead” with a pop-minded turn on “Here Comes Sunshine”).

WAR ON DRUGS “TOUCH OF GREY”

War on Drugs front man Adam Granduciel lends his best Bob Dylan cadence to this airy, synth-driven stroll through the Dead’s only song to ever crack Billboard’s Top 40 chart. While this song, fueled by its anthemic chorus (“I will survive!”),

was the Dead’s biggest foray into the mainstream, Granduciel takes it into the realm of experimental homestudio obscurity.

COURTNEY BARNETT “NEW SPEEDWAY BOOGIE” Barnett’s alt-slacker vocals work perfectly with the cosmic pondering that originally surfaced on the 1970 album “Workingman’s Dead.” The Dead’s version is delivered as a raw bluesy strut, and that primitive edge still lingers in Barnett’s free-spirited garage-rock jamming.

CHARLES BRADLEY “CUMBERLAND BLUES”

Bradley, known as the “Screaming Eagle of Soul,” uses his hearty, howling voice to turn the Dead’s country-rock cruiser into a retro funk party track.

BELA FLECK “HELP ON THE WAY”

If anyone can interpret the work of a full band with his own two hands, it’s banjo master Bela Fleck. His fleet fingers dazzle on the acoustic version of this jazz-rock favorite from live Dead shows. Oliver Wood’s rustic vocals perfectly complement this highbrow front-porch version.

THE FLAMING LIPS “DARK STAR”

The Dead’s trippy opus finds a new psychedelic dimension in the electronic freak zone of Wayne Coyne and company.

TUNDE ADEBIMPE, LEE RENALDO AND FRIENDS “PLAYING IN THE BAND”

The lead singer of TV on the Radio combines forces with noise rock guitar pioneer Lee Renaldo of Sonic Youth for a take on “Playing” that drifts into distorted industrial space for nearly 10 minutes.

JIM JAMES “CANDYMAN”

When the My Morning Jacket front man lets his Kentucky drawl loose in this version of “Candyman,” it becomes clear that the Dead’s 1970 acoustic-based album “American Beauty” is that perfect blend of roots music we now call Americana many years before its time.

LUCIUS “UNCLE JOHN’S BAND”

The sweetly combined voices of Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig turn this campfire sing-along into a piece of hip indie pop ear candy.

WILCO WITH BOB WEIR “ST. STEPHEN”

It seems only fitting to have an actual Grateful Dead member make an appearance somewhere on this epic album honoring the band. Weir plays his usual supporting role in this version of “St. Stephen” taken from a live show. Wilco's Jeff Tweedy handles lead vocals and Nels Clines adds a ripping solo to this vintage jam vehicle.

J U LY 2 016 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

THE ROAD

0 7.16

DEEP THOUGHTS: RAPPING DOWN INTO THE PERFECT SLOT OF MILE 150, A CANYON ALSO KNOWN AS S.O.B.

BIGGEST EVER A MULTI-SPORT MISSION INTO THE LONELIEST REACHES OF THE GRAND CANYON BECOMES A CHANCE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE FIT IN WITH THE DEAPEST REACHES OF THE IMAGINATION. words by TIMMY O’NEILL photography by STEVEN FASSBENDER

he rains didn’t ruin the roads as we feared, but dark thunderheads still threatened

ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / JULY 2 01 6

in the distance. Danny G, a brighteyed, kindness conduit wrapped in sinew, was at the wheel, leaving retraceable digital breadcrumbs via a satellite app. He navigated the slippery ruts and the soft metallic tang of bush and branch slapped across the fender, as we drove across a giant flatness that feels at odds with the unfathomable chasm that we know lay ahead. This was my third canyoneering journey into the Grand Canyon with Danny and, fortunately, just before our departure, we found another demented soul to share the adventure, the fear and the wreck’reation with us. His name was Doom, which

summons up the image of a real scythe-and-hood type, and we imagined a rough, dangerous-yetappealing antihero. We also worried that his was an ominous moniker— days of pelting downpours had over-saturated the ground and the rains could also very well deliver a drowning deluge into the slot canyons we planned on descending. It would be a quick end. Drops began to splatter the windshield. And Doom sat in the back seat—a joyous slim, shornheaded six-footer, wearing decidedly non-sinister white Crocs below twill cutoffs, trying to read a day-old newspaper. Our supposed Reaper (and

photographer) had an aura of more erratic self-under-employment than certain death.

reparing for a multiplediscipline, seven-day trip in which you have to carry everything on your back demands that you compare the relative merits of every item you put in your pack with regards to safety and survival: One less carabiner equals two additional Clif Bars, a paperback book replaces ten more degrees of sleeping bag warmth, and convenience never enters into this equation as nothing about these trips is labor-saving. We had planned an extreme

descent down the somewhat-defined adventure lollipop, from North Rim path, the biggest ever double rainbow to a South Rim island of rock and appeared above us, an instant classic back again. The trip would require we dubbed the Insanebow. (Note: canyoneering Mile 150 (a slot some This hyperbolic phrase “biggest Grand Canyon vets also refer to as ever” is tossed around more than S.O.B.) to the mighty Colorado and salad greens at a vegan pot luck when then paddling to Havasu Canyon, contemplating the scale of every then hiking to and climbing up the component of this park, whose first Glen Rink exit to Mt Sinyala’s 5,441name happens to be Grand.) foot summit, then walking Due to the heavy upriver across and storms, we decided through the Sinyala “In the deep down here to pick up an fault to Olo Canyon, and then there exists both the path inReach satellite text device to canyoneering less taken and the path back to the river receive friendprovided before paddling nonexistent, the latter weather reports back to Mile arising out of thin air and that would warn 150 and finally disappearing behind you us of potential ascending and flash floods. We hiking to the car. in swirling water.” made it down through Canyoneering several layers of rock in the Grand Canyon strata and into the wash before provides a house of fun or finding a bivy on an elevated rock of horror, depending upon your ledge. We assembled ultra-light tarps aggregate of life choices, which in using trekking poles, parachute cord turn inform your ability to experience and stacked rocks, then heated water comfort within the chaos. After to rehydrate those Mylar-bagged twoenduring a drenching, micro burst, portion dinners, always consumed by we shouldered our monster packs one person. Food is the most coveted at the terminus of Mile 150 Canyon resource in The Big Ditch and and headed off. As we began our

THE WAY OUT? TIMMY O’NEILL CLAMBERS UP THE WILD SIDE OF THE SOUTH RIM AT THE GLEN RINK EXIT.

J U LY 2 016 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

when you eat meals down here, you tend to sit slightly apart, discreetly consuming your hard-carried fare. Clouds obscured the nighttime sky, releasing intermittent drops, and I felt as if I were the one of us who was most nervous about a potential flash flood (but that also could have been because we only discussed it silently within our heads). There is something about the Biblical power of those sudden hydraulic onslaughts, the absolute sense of impending obliteration exploding around a canyon bend, that keeps a guy up at night. I didn’t fall sleep for hours. By mid-morning we were at the first rappel. We excitedly donned our dry suits, helmets and harnesses. Mile 150 is a Grand Canyon classic, and it did not disappoint, serving up numerous rappels, swims in flooded slots, limestone narrows you could stem through and ridiculously exposed bypasses. Making good use of much of our gear, we finally reached the Colorado River at Upset Rapids.

churning hydraulics. We considered walking the bigger rapids but opted for paddling through them, drawn on by the river’s current as much as by the gripping slipstream of the hero’s ruination. In the deep down here there exists both the path less taken and the path nonexistent, the latter arising out of thin air and disappearing behind you in swirling water. Later that night, we sat huddled around the blue gas glow of a Pocket Rocket. We were thrashed, slackjawed and ... exhilarated. It felt like the aftermath of a first date between a rock-slide and a thunder storm. Each one of us were enchanted with a deep connection to the simplicity and boldness of this landscape. But we were also enlivened by our big adventure ambitions down here. And though some might judge us as nothing but adrenaline junkies looking for a fix, I prefer to think we are more akin to courageous, problem-solving addicts in search of sublime wilderness cruxes. The stars moved overhead within the ear the frothing turbulence Z-shaped horizon of my cliff-rimmed planetarium. of Upset—one of the few The following morning we fearsome rapids to earn a fast-paced over sandy trails full Grand Canyon rating through Havasu Canyon. of 10—we stashed There's a path-edge the rappelling “There is symmetry within hardware, and something about the the chaos of switched from Biblical power of nature here, ropes to the straight pack rafts. the sudden hydraulic line of Luckily onslaught, the absolute green grass Doom sense of impending meeting red works for earth. Many Alpacka obliteration exploding have come the leader around a canyon bend, to explore in pack raft these stone design and that keeps a guy up sinuosities, a we unfurled and at night.” labyrinth as profound inflated the latest and mysterious as the and lightest in personal folds of our cerebral cortex, yet floatation thrill-craft. It's a only an elite few have discovered the technologically magnificent inner improbable, vertical passageways tube, worth more than my first car. connecting these geologic layers. The We snapped slender aluminum tubes Glen Rink exit is one. to carbon fiber blades assembling preying-mantis-like paddles, blew air into our PFDs as if prepping ravel over wild country in respiratory time capsules, and set off the Grand Canyon is an downstream into turbid, hyper-frigid extreme variance through waters. Gossamer threads glinted in punishing terrain. It's tough to truly the afternoon sun, a lazy butterfly appreciate the somewhat short yet landed on Doom's helmet and we hard-earned distances down here. It's laughed like mischievous adolescents. like comparing today’s dollar with When the river narrowed due one from the past, when you have to to debris deposited by flooding adjust for inflation: The modern-day tributaries, we negotiated the boils trails above may take you further and waves and passed wide of but the rough miles below, “walked

BE PREPARED: MULTI-SPORT CANYONEERING IN THE GRAND REQUIRES EVERYTHING FROM ROPES TO DRY SUITS. YOU NEED TO CHOOSE YOUR GEAR WISELY.

through time,” are of an even more appreciable value. You really have to earn them. We hefted pack and body up mammoth terraces that led us into a primal Land of the Lost. This was the start of the 5th class climbing, where a fall would be deadly, so we relied on the ropes we had stuffed in our packs.

of these Grand Canyoneering bush whacks. As he reached the ledge, I noticed the leaves were laminated onto his clothing and as he started to scream out, we realized in dread that each leaf was a cruel appliqué of a thousand Velcro needles. We dubbed the plant Medusa’s Tongue, an instant horror classic.

“This hyperbolic phrase ‘biggest ever’ is tossed around more than salad greens at a vegan pot luck when contemplating the scale of every component of this park, whose first name happens to be Grand.” Even though the climbing was fairly easy, it was still vertical, exposed and exfoliating, with few opportunities to place protection. At one section, I removed my cumbersome backpack, balanced it onto a slight ledge, pulled up enough rope to create a lengthy leash, then climbed up through the tricky headwall. At a slightly higher ledge, I yarded up my kit, before again properly tying in, shouldering the load and moving upwards. Then we encountered the strangest plant ever. As I belayed from above (I had somehow avoided this botanical oddity), Danny pulled himself up a corner and through the seemingly innocuous green bush, just another general nuisance on one

Over dinner atop the redwall limestone plateau, camped on a slab with potholes filled with rain water, we shared laughs over stories, the chatter born from what happened that day and what just might happen the next. It felt as if I could spend an entire life living within and talking about this biggest ever canyon, and it was then that I realized the positive paradox of this negative space. It's made from what's not there, carved via epic forces over eons. This mighty erosion that reveals impossible beauty and produces unlimited adventure, is a place shared with people thriving with purpose. This incredible nothing embodies my spirit.

DEPTH CHARGE: LIFE IN THE VERTICAL WORLD IS ALWAYS FULL OF SURPRISES.

LAZY RIVER: IT’S A GOOD THING THAT DOOM GUY WORKS FOR ALPACKA.

J U LY 2 016 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

ELWAYVILLE

anyone else moves their body to a particular beat. Which is why I am going to absolutely get my hot weather groove on to some live bands at Red Rocks, to some melting club vinyl and bopping around my office to any tunes my friends send on the laptop. (And dear friends, thanks for that!)

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THE SUMMER HOT LIST FOLLOW THESE ESSENTIAL STEPS TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE STEAMY SEASON.

TAKE SERIOUSLY LONG LUNCHES

by PETER KRAY

Even in Colorado, the workaholic mindset can ruin some of those lifelong pleasures we’re supposed to enjoy the most. Take lunch, for instance. Instead of enjoying the company of our friends and soaking up a good sandwich at a patio table, we all tend to gobble and get right back to work. I plan to throw a couple craft beers into that cycle, and maybe a book, and afterwards, a long walk around the park.

ne summer my dad came home and presented my brother and me with the keys to an old, beat-up blue Ford truck. For a moment, he let us soak in all the possibilities of campfire cookouts, Red Rocks tailgating, and afternoons windsurfing the reservoirs, before he informed us of the vehicle’s true purpose: “You boys just started a lawn mowing business.” Ever since then, summer, to me, has been all about hard work, whether it’s sweating in the sun from June to late September for a new pair of skis and a season pass, or writing like crazy just to back up Ernest Hemingway’s claim that any fool can be creative in the fall. The real pros deliver prose in the deepest heat, the long, warm days have always felt like a preparation for something else. My friends are the same. I can’t even count how many people I know who save all their vacation days for the winter, so they can be earning turns in the backcountry, lapping chairlifts or finally making that pilgrimage to Iceland or Japan. This summer, I'm going back to the basics—like juniorhigh style—with the sole intention of wasting some serious time. Here, are my essential summer elements.

MUNCH FRUIT

Yes, Colorado has every right to consider itself among America’s top barbecue states. Especially with the proximity of all that delicious grassfed beef. But, when I think about really biting into summer, it typically involves sinking my teeth into a succulent nectarine, plum or peach. Somewhat miraculously, the backyard peach tree is fruiting this year—big time!—and my lovely wife’s tomato plants are already over two feet tall. I consider eating something I grew myself a summer bonus.

ENJOY EVERY SECOND

EAT POPSICLES

Nothing says summer like sucking on some fruity, sugary, rainbowcolored frozen concoction that turns your tongue bright blue and hits you with the heat-beating numbness of a deep brain freeze. Too lazy to pedal the pavement to the store to score a box? Then fill an ice cube tray with juice or root beer, hit each cube with a toothpick, and let it chill for an hour before you savor each frozen treat.

RIDE YOUR CRUISER Speaking of pedaling, I’m spending

llustration by KEVIN HOWDESHELL / kevincredible.com

ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / JULY 2 01 6

the entire summer on my old Schwinn single speed. Now that our collective love for this beautiful state has officially turned it into ‘Crowd-ORado,’ except for a couple key road trips, I am not going anywhere this July or August that I can’t reach by bike (or foot). It's carbon-neutral, health enhancing, and more fun than anything screaming down a wellpaved hill. I love to ride my bike.

SWIM IN A LAKE

Summer just isn’t summer without a steady supply of swim dates. And the few road trips I’ve got planned

this year all involve at least one cool dip in a steady rolling river—like the Arkansas in Salida—and one crystal blue lake, such as Blue Mesa Reservoir off to the west. It never ceases to amaze me how many cold-water options we’ve got for a landlocked state.

DANCE YOUR ASS OFF

No one has ever told me I'm a good dancer. Then again, no one has told me I’m not. And this summer, there are way too many real concerns for anyone to worry about how and why

Not to go all Ferris Bueller (I know, too late), but life does move fast. You really do sometimes have to re-commit to enjoying yourself. And planning to catch a couple baseball games, go to the zoo, play guitar with a friend, go on a jogging date with your lover, watch a couple dozen sunsets, take a nap under a tree, drink cold lemonade and throw some horseshoes will give you the kind of sweet, long standing memories that last longer than anything you ever did at work.

—Elevation Outdoors editor-at-large Peter Kray is the author of The God of Skiing. The book has been called “the greatest ski novel of all time.” Don’t believe the hype? You can buy it here: bit.ly/godofskiing

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