Elevation Outdoors September 2017 by Summit Publishing

MOAB MADNESS | SANGRE DE CRISTO BACKPACKING | SAVING UTAH SEPTEMBER 2017

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GO OUTSIDE & PLAY

BEING CHANGE CLARE GALLAGHER

LEADS A PACK OF YOUNG ATHLETES

AND ACTIVISTS

FIGHTING TO

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

BIKEPACKING

ESSENTIALS

THE CONSERVATION

ALLIANCE

ELEVATIONOUTDOORS.COM

READERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

VOICE

PRAISING THE

PEOPLE WHO

TURN OUR PAGES

MOUNTAIN

TOWN

ENTREPRENEURS

COLORADO

DANCE

PARTIES

HYDRATION TRANSFORMED

The great outdoors just got greater. The Seeker™ is HydraPak’s ultra-light, durable water storage system for camping, backpacking, you name it. It packs down to the size of a fist, attaches to your pack or hangs from a tree. You can freeze it to use as an ice pack or fill it with hot water to keep you warm. Katadyn® BeFree™ filtration compatible.

Find one at a dealer near you hydrapak.com E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S / S E P T E M B E R 2 017

Get Fall Ready

Mountain Khakis Flagship Store 1412 Larimer Square Denver, CO (303) 505-1566

MountainKhakis.com

Confluence Kayaks 2301 7th St. Denver, CO (303) 433-3676

E, GO 13 13 WA SH IN GT ON AV

LD EN CO | 30 3. 27 1.9 38

RYAN M ANOTHER PIPELINE BONECRUSHER (.12C) RINCON WALL - ELDORADO CANYON, CO | PHOTO ROSS B

RUN WITH IT

CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2017

photo by Grayson Schaffer

DEPARTMENTS

7 EDITOR’S LETTER

Embrace the 4 a.m. wake-up call!

8 QUICK HITS

Kicking butt over the age of 60, spreading ashes in Moab and more...

15 FLASHPOINT

There was, in fact, some good news for conservation in the state of Utah this year.

17 HOT SPOT

Speak up to save threatened public lands.

18 THE TRAIL

Download the free ViewRanger app for this backpack adventure in the Sangres.

ESTINATION D ’S O D A R O L CO

P O H S G N I B CLIOMR OVER 20 YEARS F

ULTRARUNNING CHAMP CLARE GALLAGHER USES HER PLATFORM TO SPEAK UP FOR FAR MORE THAN SPORTS. (SEE PAGE 25).

21 NUMEROLOGY

Tally up the impressive numbers of the Conservation Alliance’s grassroots grants.

FEATURES

25 THE NEXT GENERATION STEPS UP

If you care about environmental and social issues, it's time to speak up and lead in this turbulent political climate. This dedicated group of seven athletes and activists, all under the age of 27, are doing just that by dedicating themselves to building a better world for all of us. By Aaron H. Bible

31 THE ART OF BIKEPACKING

Bike geek Zach White runs down the gear you need to pedal into the wild.

35 THE READERS' STORY

Last month, we asked our readers to submit their stories of life-changing Colorado adventure. This tale of recovery in the mountains won our hearts.

23 STRAIGHT TALK

Meet the Elevation Outdoors superfan.

33 HEAR THIS

A dedicated collective of Colorado DJs, promoters and patrons get down simply for the joy and art of the booty shake.

H ANNUAL T 8 ’S E T A G T BEN

y t P f P f o i k K c o s n Ski Sea

38 ELWAYVILLE

Mountain towns draw creative souls seeking their own space. That makes them fertile ground for entreprenuers.

Want more? Catch up on past issues, your favorite bloggers and daily online content at ElevationOutdoors.com ON TH E COV ER: CLA R E GALLAG H ER L EA D S A PAC K OF YOU N G AC TIVIST ATH LETES. PH OTOGRA PH Y BY: B EN D UKE / D UKEM ED IAS OLUTIONS.C OM

E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S / S E P T E M B E R 2 017

TESTED TOUGH WHERE WE PREFER TRAILS OVER TREADMILLS.

The Trans Alps™ F.K.T.™ II is our fastest mountain running shoe. It’s lightweight durable construction with exceptional cushioning, support and aggressive traction. Outfitted with a brand-new abrasion and water-resistant forefoot shield, it’s trail performance built for velocity, rugged terrain and your fastest known time.

TRANS ALPS™ F.K.T.™ II

CONTRIBUTORS

ElevationOutdoors.com EDITORIAL

09. 17

WHAT CONSERVATION EFFORTS DO YOU THINK WE MUST SUPPORT RIGHT NOW?

ED ITOR-IN -CH IEF

DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

doug@elevationoutdoors.com MA N AG IN G ED ITOR

CAMERON MARTINDELL

cameron@elevationoutdoors.com SEN IOR ED ITOR

CHRIS KASSAR

chris@elevationoutdoors.com

COME TO CRESTED BUTTE THIS FALL AND RIDE THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD!

C ON TRIBUTIN G ED ITORS

ELIZABETH O'CONNELL

ED ITOR-AT-LARG E

CAMERON MARTINDELL

C ON TRIBUTIN G WRITERS

JEFF BLUMENFELD, EUGENE BUCHANAN, KIM FULLER, PATTY MALESH, AVERY STONICH, ZACH WHITE, MELANIE WONG ART + PRODUCTION ART D IREC TOR

MEGAN JORDAN

megan@elevationoutdoors.com

SEN IOR D ESIG N ER

LAUREN WORTH

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

PAIGELEE CHANCELLOR

paigelee@elevationoutdoors.com

ADVERTISING + BUSINESS PR ESID EN T

BLAKE DEMASO

blake@elevationoutdoors.com PU B LISH 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

CONOR SEDMAK

conor@elevationoutdoors.com BU SIN ESS MAN AG ER

MELISSA GESSLER

melissa@elevationoutdoors.com CIRC U LATION MA N AG ER

HANNAH COOPER

hcooper@elevationoutdoors.com

DIGITAL MEDIA ON LIN E D IR EC TOR

CRAIG SNODGRASS

craig@elevationoutdoors.com

W O R L D

P R E M I E R E

D E N V E R ,

D E N V E R PA R A M O U N T T H E AT R E T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 4 TH T I C K E TS

A N D

C O

S E P T E M B E R

1 4

T H

D IG ITAL MA N AG ER

B O U L D E R T H E AT E R W E D N E S DAY, O C T O B E R I N FO

TYRA SUTAK

tyra@elevationoutdoors.com

B O U L D E R

E L EVATION OU T D O OR S M AGAZ I N E 1 8

T H

O N L I N E

S K I M OV I E .CO M

We need to listen to biologist E.O. Wilson and preserve half of our Earth to save the great abundance of precious life on this small planet.

AARON BIBLE, ADAM CHASE, ROB COPPOLILLO, LIAM DORAN, JAMES DZIEZYNSKI, HUDSON LINDENBERGER, SONYA LOONEY, JAYME MOYE, TRACY ROSS, CHRIS VAN LEUVEN PETER KRAY

207 ELK AVE CRESTED BUTTE, COLORADO | 970.349.0515 WWW.BIGALSBICYCLEHEAVEN.COM

DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

2510 47th Street Unit 202 Boulder, Colorado 80301 (303) 449-1560 PU B L I SH ED BY

Keeping the Clean Water Act protections for our streams.

Any effort that helps young people love and cherish the wild is time and effort well spent. Earth is in this for the long haul, and we should be, too.

CHRIS KASSAR

We need to fight to safeguard the wildlife, waters, national parks, monuments and forests in our very own backyards.

CONOR SEDMAK

Trees clean the air we breathe and naturally eliminate greenhouse gases from our atmosphere. We need to support our forests for them to continue to support us.

AARON BIBLE

Any group that works on global warming. I'm keen on Conservation Colorado right now.

TRACY ROSS

Protection of public lands and predators, like grizzly bears and wolves. They have always made America great.

PETER KRAY

As the quote goes, "When the last tree is cut, the last fish is caught, and the last river is polluted; when to breathe the air is sickening, you will realize, too late, that wealth is not in bank accounts and that you can’t eat money."

ZACH WHITE

B E T H E R E F O R Y O U R C H A N C E T O W I N AW E S O M E P R I Z E S ! I N C L U D I N G A 2 - D AY H E L I S K I T R I P F O R 2 I N R E V E L S T O K E B . C . W I T H S E L K I R K TA N G I E R S H E L I S K I I N G

E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S / S E P T E M B E R 2 017

SUMMIT

PUBLISHING

From oil and gas development threats, to local efforts like protecting Colorado’s boreal toad, it’s hard to name just one.

WIDE AWAKE by DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

he 4 a.m. start is never easy. When your life is MORNING GLORY a seeming waking nightmare of neverending METEORITE PR FOUNDER ERIC deadlines, kid camps, social media stories, HENDERSON GAZES invoices, yard maintenance, strong coffee, constant OUT ON THE INDIAN disturbing national news and the occassional craft PEAKS IN THE MIDST OF ANOTHER WORKDAY IN beer in the evenings, it’s downright cruel. But you can PARADISE. certainly judge the character of your companions by photo by Doug Schnitzspahn how they respond to the alpine start. Our plan was simple: Wake at that godforsaken hour. Drive up to the Indian Peaks. Climb 13,409-foot Navajo Peak, a beautiful perfectly shaped pyramid that’s a bit off the grid. And be back down in town early enough so that work didn’t really know we were gone—and in time to pick up kids from camp. I was sure that my friends were going to bail. Eric send me a text: “What time will we be back in town?” Jeremiah another, “Got time for a quick chat about tomorrow?” It’s easy to be too busy, because most of the time we really are. But I personally am still shaken from having one of my dearest friends tell me “our friendship was over” because I had been too consumed by the demands of family and work to get out like I used to. Lesson learned. Screw being a grown up. Do it. I certainly chose the right companions. I walked out my door at exactly 4. Jeremiah sat in the dark on the curb. Eric pulled up in his truck. It was on. We began our nine-mile hike in the dark. Really, the alpine start is nonnegotaible in the Front Range: The storms roll in fast and early here in the summer and there’s no easy escape on a peak like Navajo. Eric, a former guide, set a brisk pace as we headed uptrail to Lake Isabelle. Then the sunrise hit. We don't get the kind of epic, slow-burn sunsets in Colorado that you do in, say New Mexico or Arizona where there are no mountains blocking the western horizon. But, when the sun rises over the vast expanse of the eastern plain and shoots golden pink rays into the cirques of the first wall of the Rockies, it makes you stop in your tracks. Socially-plugged-in adventurers that we are, we stopped and documented it all on our phones, then kept pushing up trail. Soon we were scrambling up Airplane Gulley, named for a C-47 that slammed into the cliffs here in 1948 and left debris scattered down this steep chute. The talus echoed with the haunting sound of the wind rattling scraps of wrecked aluminum fuselage. We stopped again, pondered mortality, said some words for departed friends. The summit required a fun squeeze up a class 4 chimney. It's 9 a.m. when we stand on the top, Colorado spread out at our feet while most of the state is just getting to work. We pop a beer, snap more photos and head back to our lives. Times are so tense right now in our country that we all need to take breakes like these. Wake up at 4 a.m. Go. It means everything. S E P T E M B E R 2 017 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

QUICK HITS

09 .17

60 AND BADASS Aging does not mean slowing down. These older athletes talk about competition, overcoming injury and the secrets to staying fit longer. when Cathy Nicoletti toes the start line. Her snow-white hair is streaked with silver, and at 66, she looks like she could be your grandmother. And boy is she fast. The Louisville, Colorado, resident is somewhat of a senior track-and-field star, who holds multiple national and world track championship titles. These days, she mostly races the 100- and 200-meter sprints. At an age where many athletes have transitioned to gentler activities or quit athletics altogether, the intensely competitive Nicoletti doesn’t foresee retiring anytime soon. She’s among a handful of older athletes who still

HEADS TEND TO TURN

stay in top condition, competing and even beating younger athletes. Marlin Smickley, 79, sees no reason to slow down either. The retired teacher lives in Edwards, where he runs, snowshoes, hikes, snowboards, cross-country skis and competes in trail running and snowshoeing races. Like Nicoletti, he didn’t race until after he retired in his 60s, but doesn’t see his age as a hindrance. “I slowed down when I turned 75, and I had to change my intention and mindset,” he says. “Now when I am racing, I repeat my mantra: ‘My mind, body and spirit are in harmony, and I am relaxed and enjoying nature.’” Still spry and running up to 20 miles weekly, Smickley has been lucky enough to stay injury-free. He credits that durability to good knees and maintaining his high school weight, in addition to a regimen of yoga, Pilates, core training and stretching. Still, most athletes aren’t so lucky. Ellen Miller, 58, is the first American woman to summit the Everest Trilogy—29.029-foot Everest, 27,940-foot Lhotse and 25,791-foot Nuptse. No surprise, she’s

TECHNOLOGY

a longtime mountaineering guide and outdoor coach. Miller’s also the owner of two artificial hips, so she’s also no stranger to sports injuries. In fact, she specializes in coaching older athletes, especially those returning from injuries. Before her surgeries, Miller remembered thinking her athletic career was over. It was disappointing, but she was determined to adapt, thinking “Maybe I’ll be a wheelchair athlete.” Miller encourages aging athletes to be kind to their bodies and look for other ways to be involved with their sports, even if they won’t be standing on the podium. “I enjoy races much more now because I don’t feel like I have to go out there and hammer myself,” she says. “A lot of older athletes likely will never be on the very top again. Have humility and embrace it. There’s no need to quit your sport just because of your age.” So what’s the secret to staying fit and active into your 60s and beyond? Miller, Smickley and Nicoletti all agree athletes should rest as intensely as they train, and above all, stay active. “You’ve got to keep moving any way you possibly can,” says Nicoletti.

GEAR WE LOVE

goTele

SCOUTbox

Believe it or not, there are still lots of places in the backcountry where your cell phone won’t save you (no service). goTele fixes that by using radio waves to other goTele units to send a text message and plot on a map. $158/PAIR | BIT.LY/

There are all kinds of subscription services popping up in outdoor recreation, but we’re fond of this one, targeted to Scouts who want to play in the outdoors. Different than other boxes, it includes Boy Scout tools and wilderness eats. Use the code ELEV888 for a $8.88 discount on your first box. $40 | SCOUTBOX.US

G0TELE

E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S / S E P T E M B E R 2 017

BOOMERS STILL BLOOMING AT 58, MOUNTAINEER, GUIDE AND COACH ELLEN MILLER HAS TWO ARTIFICIAL HIPS, BUT SHE KEEPS TRAINING OLDER ATHLETES (LEFT). CATHY NICOLETTI MAY BE IN HER SEVENTH DECADE, BUT SHE STILL COMPETES AS A SPRINTER OUT ON THE TRACK (CENTER). MARLIN SMICKLEY, 79, DISCOVERED TRAIL RUNNING AND SNOWBOARDING AFTER HE RETIRED AND MOVED OUT WEST (RIGHT). photos courtesy of Ellen Miller, by Dave Albo/ Lane1photos.com, courtesy Marlin Smickley

“Find any motivation you can, and don’t let the naysayers defeat you.” —Melanie Wong

CLEAN UP THE COUNTRY Clean Trails is on a mission to dump litter. to pick up litter, but the nonprofit Clean Trails thinks cities need to create a designated pickup day to help curb a national, growing trash problem. Starting this September, it’s pairing with Keep America Beautiful and

EVERY DAY IS A GOOD DAY

BOOKS Big Walls, Swift Waters Yosemite is beautiful, but it can also be dangerous. Hence the need for YOSAR, Yosemite Search and Rescue. This book highlights the work of the men and women (many of whom are volunteers) who have been pulling visitors from the various perils of the park. $23 | YOSEMITECONSERVANCY.ORG

Earth Day Network in declaring the third Saturday of the September annually National CleanUp Day. The program is designed to enhance awareness of trash and litter in public spaces, “from sea to shining sea,” as celebrated in the campaign. “If five percent of people in the country participate in the next year to three years, this may actually help eliminate litter,” explains Steve Jewett, co-founder and president of Clean Trails. The program also develops litter and trash removal tools, as well as outdoor collection boxes, that encourage participation. In it’s inaugural year, National CleanUp Day falls on September 16, 2017. nationalcleanupday.org —Kim Fuller

WE ARE LOVING CHAUTAUQUA TO DEATH As visitation at Boulder, Colorado’s favorite park skyrockets, the city experiments with how to deal with an ever growing crush of recreation seekers. would someone ask if he can bring a climbing crash pad on a shuttle bus. Yes, the bus allows crash pads. And bikes. And dogs. Welcome to Chautauqua. Beginning this summer, the City of Boulder has started offering a shuttle to its most popular mountain park as well as installing pay parking in its always crowded lots. Both measures sprung from the city’s Park to Park pilot program, which ran on weekends June through August to test ways to ease traffic and parking congestion around Chautauqua. Boulder’s iconic park at the base of the Flatirons is buckling under a crush of visitors. Between August and November 2015, the city counted 300,000 visitors to the Chautauqua Meadow and Enchanted Mesa areas. That’s double from 10 years ago and more than some national parks. Add visitation to Chautauqua’s greendining hall, and auditorium, and it starts to resemble an ant farm bulging at the seams. City officials stress that the intent isn’t to reduce visitation but to manage access to protect the area’s integrity. “The main goal is to manage parking and traffic,” said Ben Irwin, a communication manager for the City of Boulder. “We know the demand is there and we want to accommodate it, but in a way that preserves the resource.” Responses were mixed.

ONLY IN BOULDER

CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE? BOULDER'S CHAUTAUQUA PARK HAS BECOME THE POSTER CHILD FOR THE HAVOC TOO MANY VISITORS CAN WREAK ON THE TRAILS. BUT NEW PROGRAMS AND REROUTES COULD HELP FIX THINGS HERE. photo by Avery Stonich

“Our block of 6th between Cascade and Aurora was jammed with cars of hikers who are willing to walk one block to avoid paying for parking,” an irked resident emailed. The free shuttle proved popular, with 2,300 people taking the ride on some days. The City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks Department (OSMP) also has its fingers in the pudding since it manages Chautauqua open space trails, which, no surprise, see heavy use. “Visitor use can affect the trail, especially on some of the older trails,” said Phil Yates, a OSMP spokesperson. Trail damage often occurs when people walk around muddy areas, so OSMP is realigning the Chautauqua Trail to improve drainage and trail tread. With the Park to Park pilot program wrapping up this fall, the city is evaluating what elements to tweak or toss. Meanwhile OSMP is crunching visitor use numbers and will start a master planning process for the entire OSMP system in 2018. Lean more at parktopark.org and OSMPMasterPlan.org —Avery Stonich

WHITE RIM REMEMBRANCE

A group of mountain bikers honor their friend, the world-famous photographer Doug Pensinger, by tossing his ashes into the Canyonlands winds. WE’VE JUST FINISHED PACKING our

DO THE DOUGIE

sag wagon outside the entrance to Canyonlands National Park for our four-day mountain bike trip on the 71.2-mile White Rim Trail when my friend Paul Hobson gathers us in a circle. “This one’s for Doug,” he says. “As he’d say, ‘Get her done while you can can.’” The eulogy is for Doug Pensinger, a renowned, Goldenbased sports photographer for Getty Images, famed for shooting everything from the Tour de France to NFL, NHL, NBA and NHL games, who passed away

PAUL HOBSON SWIGS FOR PENSINGER. photo by Marc Piscotty

unexpectedly from a heart condition in June 2016. His memorial service drew a Who’s Who of fellow photographers. It also drew us, his mountain bike friends, to partake in one of his favorite big desert rides. Part of Doug Pensinger is with us: His friend Tom Reynolds carries a tin of his ashes to scatter off Musselman Arch en route. He also hands out commemorative multicolored “DP” stickers, modeled off

S E P T E M B E R 2 017 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

the UCi Cycling world champion jersey and designed by fellow Tour de France photographer Chris Graythen. “I had a few hundred printed, and a lot of them are going to the Tour de France where we’ll put them on every damn thing there,” says Graythen. “I can barely put into words how much Doug meant and did for us.” Affixing the stickers to water bottles, bike tubes and iPhones, we head off, pedaling into the wind and the 34 miles to Camp 1 at Potato Bottom. Before descending the final pass to a campfire, we take in the sunset melting behind the Maze across the Green River. Doug would have done the same, giving us photo pointers on our phones. Starting his photography career at age 15 as a newspaper freelancer in Pennsylvania in 1980, he landed his first staff job at the Gannettowned Public Opinion in nearby Chambersburg, before launching a freelance career including The Washington Post, Associated Press, Time magazine and Sports Illustrated. Later, he’d cover the invasion of Panama, the Gulf War, Bosnia and Somalia for The Army Times. A staff gig with Allsport later evolved into a fulltime Getty Images position, which took him across the globe to cover the Olympics, several World Championships, the Tour de France, World Cups, World Series, Super Bowls and more. At camp, we toast him and his beloved Washington Redskins before tuning our bikes and turning in. The next day, on a 20-miler to Camp 2 at Murphy’s Hogback, we stop to explore one of Doug’s favorite a slot canyons. When sunrays caress the sandstone, we stage photos, like Doug would have made us do. We do the same at White Crack, a majestic overlook en route to our final camp at Airport. Vistas like these that provided Pensinger an escape from the more corporate confines of the gridiron. At Musselman Arch, Reynolds stops, saying, “At least we’re near the end so Doug got to make the entire Rim trip counter-clockwise like he always wanted.” He takes the tin of ashes out and flings Doug’s remains into the air. They loft up, before wind carries them upward, before adhering to the laws of physics and fluttering down to the canyon floor far below. —Eugene Buchanan THE PENSINGER PHOTOGRAPHY FUND HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN DOUG’S HONOR TO SUPPORT ASPIRING PHOTOGRAPHERS. CLARKHULINGSFUND.ORG/PENSINGER/

LOCAL HERO: MICHAEL BROWN The Emmy-winning filmmaker loves to teach.

BOULDER ADVENTURE FILMMAKER,

Michael Brown wants to teach others how to live like he has. Brown’s career spans all seven continents, covering subjects from wild places conservation to social justice. He has captured footage of ice caves for NOVA, tornadoes for Discovery, the South Pole for National Geographic, mountain climbing for IMAX and avalanches for the BBC, winning three Emmys along the way. But Brown, 51, and the father of two young boys, says that besides his family life, he’s most proud about introducing storytelling to the next generation of filmmakers. “The effect that the wilderness has on people is profound,” he says. “Going outdoors and doing something hard, sometimes dangerous, brings out the best in people.” At the Adventure Film School, which he founded and where he currently serves as guest instructor, he explains to students that too many adventure films today are simply glorified home videos. “It all comes down to the art of storytelling. It’s not about pretty pictures and fancy camera moves,” he advises, “although the common iPhone captures better images than early video cameras.” Most of all, Brown loves to see his students learn and carry the torch. “Now I watch as students are making films better than what I produced at their age, and way better than previous generations. It’s a great joy for me to see that ‘aha!’ moment when a young filmmaker’s idea comes to life on the screen.” Brown, who also teaches at the Adventure Filmmakers’ Workshops during the Banff Mountain Film Festival, is in final edits of a fall 2017 film about blind athlete Erik Weihenmayer’s 277-mile kayak descent of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. “Wisdom and life experience are incredible assets for filmmakers. You recognize things you may not have recognized when you were young. The biggest teacher of all is pain.” He should know: Brown summited Everest five times, all with a viewfinder frozen to his goggles. —Jeff Blumenfeld

E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S / S E P T E M B E R 2 017

MOAB, UTAH

With cooler weather on the horizon, it’s time to revisit this mountain biking standby—and discover new spots to nosh and spin. EAT Crushing in Edward Abbey land requires calories. For a pre-adventure fuel-up, head downtown to the Love Muffin Cafe (lovemuffincafe.com), where you’ll find delicious breakfast and lunch menu items made with fresh ingredients. Pick from eight different flavorful breakfast burritos or one of the many gluten-free or vegetarian dishes this locals-approved eatery serves up. For that post-ride meal and cold beer, get to the Moab Brewery (themoabbrewery.com). The decor at this funky joint channels bike culture and you can’t go wrong with a halfpound pub burgers (that cost under $10) washed down with craft beer. SLEEP The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages 24 campsites

TREAD ON ME HEED THE CALL OF REDROCK SINGLETRACK. photo by Marc Piscotty

in the Moab area, and six state park, national park and national forest campgrounds. These campsites fill quickly and most don’t take reservations, so arrive early to guarantee a spot. Visit discovermoab.com for a full list of campsites in the area. If pillows and running water are more your style, check out Cali Cochitta Bed & Breakfast (moabdreaminn. com). This historic B&B features six budget-friendly rooms, with nightly rates ranging from $95 to $190. PLAY We don't need to tell you that Moab is home to some of the best mountain biking on the planet. Take a bite out of an epic like the Whole Enchilada (a trail system of 25-miles of downhill mountain biking from the La Sal Mountains to the Colorado River), or try new classics like Captain Ahab. But there’s more than mountain biking here: Arches National Park boasts some of the most rewarding hike-to views in the country. If you want the perfect family hike, explore the sandstone formations and slots in the leisurely Windows in Arches. —Tyra Sutak

1,102 “Tastes great! Keeps for a long time. Good for camping, preppers, boats, etc. Just add hot water, zip it closed for 7-8 minutes, then eat! My family loves the lasagna, chicken teryaki, and beef stew.” - CF

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TH IS IS A SHI RT YO U CA R L� WEAR OUT TO DIN �E BACKPACK TRIP AN D STI VE HA WE H HIC E OUT (W WH EN YO U FINAL�Y HIK OR, TES, DO ESN ’T HOLD OD NU MI IN IES DO NE). IT DR AL�Y TH IS SIC BA . ELF ITS INKLES AN D MAGICAL�Y UN WR N HE RT, AN D I’VE TOLD BE IS TH E PERFE�T VAN SHI IN FIF�H DAY A CAN’T WEAR IT FOR A RO W PLENTY OF TIMES.

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We’re coming back to the East Coast! Colorado was a whirlwind filled with backpacking, peak bagging, and a whole lot of van living. Our favorite things about Colorado include dry air, chilly mornings, and green chili. Our least favorite things are unwavering afternoon showers, cactus, and the temperature of the high alpines lakes (cold, too cold). We’re looking forward to fall colors, carving van pumpkins, and drying gourds on the dashboard—here we come east coast fall!

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TH ESE BO �KLETS COM ED BY TH EIR OF EVERY 14ER, RANK BY CLOSEST ED NIZ GA DIF�ICULTY, OR ICATIO N OF TO WN, WITH CLEAR IND T TR AIL GUIDES OU ING . NO PRINT MI LEAGE AN D TER� AIN ON TH E LO NG GUIDE BO �KS WITH YO U OR CAR�YING ENTIRE TH E WH OLE TH E RIGH� PAGE AN D HAULS. JUST OPEN TO OUR COPIES U. YO OF T T IN FRON MA IN RO UTE IS LAI D OU SUM�ITS ALREADY! HAVE SE�N PLENTY OF S E P T E M B E R 2 017 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

FLASHPOINT

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CONSERVATION BONANZA While the bulk of public lands news coming out of Utah has been bad, the people of Park City banded together to raise money and save this gem from development. by ADAM W. CHASE

e might have stopped our mountain bike ride above Deer Valley due to fatigue. However, I seriously doubt that the word “tired” resides in the vocabulary of either professional rider Eric Porter or Weston Deutschlander, a guide with Utahbased Inspired Summit Adventures and White Pine Touring. No, it was the stunning high alpine views that brought us to a halt. Porter and Deutschlander looked out at the area known as Bonanza Flats the way a child regards a favorite piece of playground apparatus. They smiled. Their eyes twinkled, and they recalled some of the fun they’ve had in this unspoiled area we were viewing. And, fortunately, Bonanaza Flats will remain more than fond memories. When it comes to conservation and public lands in the Beehive State, the news has not been good. In 2012, the Utah legislature passed a bill claiming that 31.2 million acres of federal land belonged to the state, which would manage it with a focus on extractive industries and sell off parcels to private owners. The lawmakers and Governor Gary Herbert also asked President Trump to rescind the designation of the 1.3-million aces Bears Ears National Monument and shrink the 1.9-million acre Grand StaircaseEscalante for coal mining. Considering that history, the preservation of Bonanza Flats is a welcome breath of fresh air in Utah—and it was the result of local action. A combination of communities, local governments, businesses, individuals and organizations rallied to raise $38 million to save 1,350 acres of private land here. Developers were eyeballing the pristine high mountain property in Wasatch

County, which abuts fast-growing Summit and Salt Lake counties, as a potential gated, luxury residential community. That move would have blocked public access and recreational use. It would have, as those who protest against wilderness and public lands like to say, locked it away forever.

PRIVATE LAND GOES PUBLIC

Bonanza Flats had been owned by United Park City Mines before the Talisker Corporation purchased it in with plans for a resort. Talisker went bankrupt in 2016, however, and Wells Fargo foreclosed on the property. A number of potential purchasers began to vie to acquire the beautiful, wild parcel, which had also once been proposed as the home of a golf course. Locals wanted none of it and banded together to try to stop development on Bonanza Flats There was one big problem: Bonanza was indeed private land,

and quite valuable. The $38 million price tag posed a huge hurdle to public acquisition. Utah Public Lands and the Town of Park City pushed to raise the funds, but they couldn’t pull it together in time for the March 2017 deadline. The seller granted a three-month extension, however, and the race to save Bonanza was on. Even before the deal solidified, Park City voters anted up $25 million for acquisition by overwhelmingly approving a property tax bond in November 2016. Park City Council approved three separate items to push the matter through, two in relation to the financial contribution and another enlisting Utah Open Lands, a not-for-profit, to enforce a conservation easement to preserve Bonanza Flats as undeveloped. It took a lot of behind-the-scenes finagling and negotiations by the Park City Council in order to buy the land in such a short window of time. At first, it looked as if they

The landowner is allowed to live on and use the property in a non-destructive manner and may also sell it or pass it on to the next generation, but the easement restricts the development rights of the property, greatly reducing its market value. That, in turn, lowers the property and estate taxes.

were going to LONGTERM VALUE be able to make BONANZA FLATS the November CAME AT A HEFTY $38-MILLION PRICE deadline, but TAG. BUT LOCALS SAY then a sudden IT WAS WORTH IT TO outside offer KEEP DEVELOPERS from a private OFF THE 1,350 ACRES OF WASATCH developer MOUNTAIN HABITAT blindsided Park AND RECREATION TRAILS. City’s efforts. photo by Bret Webster The city almost gave up. However, the Park City Council chose to be ready just in case the community was able to rally and raise the purchase money. The community mobilized: Individuals, recreational groups, artists, athletes, local and national non-profits, foundations and businesses pulled together from Summit, Wasatch and Salt Lake Counties to raise the additional $13 million needed to purchase the property. It took five months of work and a coalition of 11 nonprofits, including land trusts, trail advocates, backcountry groups and mountain biking crews to do it, but losing the wild and scenic property in perpetuity, forfeiting it as a playground for the rich, like so many cloistered communities in Idaho and Wyoming, was not an option to these folks. “It was a no brainer for most of us. Although the property is in Wasatch County, the impacts would have been mostly in Park City,” said local Rhonda Sideris, explaining that, had the property been developed, the entrance and exit for

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O CONTRIBUTING EDITOR C

owners would have gone through Deer Valley. “The wildlife alone was a big reason for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love the moose and deer in my yard on a daily basis. But I hate seeing them on the side of the road. Development has driven them lower and lower.”

SPACE TO PLAY

Deutschlander, a guide who depends on open space for a living, sees great value in an undeveloped Bonanza Flats, which has been open to recreational use. “This is where I did my first ski tour with my wife. It's where I proposed to her. It's where we still do our traditional first ski tour of the season. It's where, with just 20-minutes worth of driving, you can be up nearly 3,000 feet, and away from it all,” he says. “I am so thankful that my daughter will grow up having access to the same mountains, streams and lakes that I did, and that they will remain largely unchanged.” For pro rider Porter, the

TREASURE TROVE ONCE THE PLANNED SITE OF A GOLF COURSE, BONANZA HAS LONG BEEN A LOCALS' BACKCOUNTRY REC DESTINATION. photo by G. Brad Lewis

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Bonanza Flats purchase was a “dream that came true, one that no one knew was even possible. For years, we have ridden around this area and we always made comments like ‘better enjoy it while we have it.’ We knew the land was primarily owned by a real estate development company, and there were always rumors of a golf course going in, or who knows what else. No trespassing signs started to pop up in areas where we would ski tour or go off-trail adventuring on foot. In my experience, once a development company gets ahold of a place, that’s the end of it.” Porter notes that even though Bonanza Flats isn’t a huge piece of land, it's in the alpine and in the middle of a triangle between Salt Lake valley, Park City, and Heber Valley, so he can meet friends from these other areas in the middle “where we can all ride or ski together in the backcountry. I'm so excited to see the trail connections come together in the newly protected land. It will finally be the singletrack connection between the SLC, Park City, and Heber Valley riding areas. Wasatch Trail Alliance and Mountain Trails Foundation will be working together to make this dream become a reality!”

The difference proved to be those same people who skied and rambled on the land. “This is the first time I've seen the entire community come together to make something happen,” says Porter. “We didn't just rely on a tax bond or wait for some rich guy to pony up all of the money, although that was a part of it. Every single person I know put in money to make this purchase happen, even if it was only $20, so that they could be a part of protecting this awesome piece of land.” The fundraising effort is a testament to Utah’s unheralded part of passion for preservation and recreation, beyond it’s legislature. It was through auctions, bake sales, art sales, concerts, beer bashes, rides, running races, that the region was able to pull it all together. A night at Montage in Deer Valley raised $1.1 million. Park City’s High West Distillery, Summit Sotheby’s kicked in and there was a birthday party at the State Room where the celebrant asked for donations in lieu of birthday presents. Artist Bridgette Meinhold donated her own paintings to raise $22,000 in a single evening. Kodiak Cakes held breakfasts, partnering with the Park City Trails Series, Skullcandy,

LAT

38.5798° N

LONG

Kodiak Cakes held breakfasts, partnering with the Park City Trails Series, Skullcandy, Traeger and other local business to pledge $10,000. Kuhl, the Utah clothing company, committed $25,000. Traeger and other local business to pledge $10,000. Kuhl, the Utah clothing company, committed $25,000. An anonymous donor also pledged over $300,000 at the start of the campaign. The $13 million gap finally closed when the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation contributed $165,000 to the cause. The Eccles are well-known area philanthropists. Other funds came in when Salt Lake County joined Salt Lake City Public Utilities, Wasatch County, Metropolitan Water District, and others, to

contribute $1.5 million to the cause. Not every group in Utah supported the purchase, however. Americans for Prosperity Utah protested against Salt Lake County’s funding toward a purchase of land that was in another county. It clamed the effort pulled funding away from higher, more local priorities and that the massive cost of Bonanza Flats presented too heavy a burden to taxpayers.

EASING IN

Now under a conservation easement, the parcel remains in private ownership while Utah Open Lands controls the terms of the agreement, and does so in perpetuity. The landowner is allowed to live on and use the property in a nondestructive manner and may also sell it or pass it on to the next generation, but the easement restricts the development rights of the property, greatly reducing its market value. That, in turn, lowers the property and estate taxes. This is a good deal all around: As additional tax benefits, conservation easements offer donors charitable deductions and corresponding income tax reductions. Park City and Utah Open Lands continue to study the area

and gather data in preparing to set policies and regulate the new acquisition. Since Bonanza Flats operates under the conservation easement, city hall will be able to draft a governing document that controls what may and may not occur on the property. The study relies on a resident survey poll asking what activities they find appropriate for Bonanza Flats. Included among the activities are hiking, trail running, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, all of which have been regular pursuits on the land. Other possible activities included on the survey are camping, hunting, driving motor vehicles, holding group events, and horseback riding. And so, Bonanza Flats, the dazzling piece of open land at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, saddled between Guardsman Pass, Peak 10,420, and the Park City ridgeline, has been saved. Recreational users can breathe a sigh of relief and know that this home to the Wasatch Crest Trail, Lacawaxen and Bloods Lakes, running, hiking, and backcountry skiing trails and incredible wildlife will not be gated off and flattened for the back nine. And know that conservation in Utah is possible.

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Get ROOTED IN THE OUTDOORS JOIN US! LET’S GIVE BACK TO THE LAND WE LOVE. C

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SUPPORT FROM

HOT SPOT

09. 17

UNDER THREAT Politicians more interested in short-term gain than preservation want to take these three magical, wild spots away. You can save them. by CHRIS KASSAR

or those of us who recharge our batteries by spending time outside—whether by climbing, hiking, riding, running or merely sitting—public lands constitute sacred space. Designed to protect our nation’s most valuable cultural, historical and environmental assets, monuments, forests, parks and wilderness areas also safeguard the last, irreplaceable, bits of solitude in an overcrowded world. However, we may lose some of these special places if politicians succeed in their efforts to wage war and roll back protections on public lands across the nation. This is unthinkable for anyone who needs nature to thrive, and values the sanity and serenity it delivers to hectic lives. But the threat—to countless gems of invaluable public land—is real. Here’s an intro to three under fire in our own backyard.

BEARS EARS NATIONAL MONUMENT, UTAH

WHAT IT IS: A 1.3-million-acre monument in

southeastern Utah designated to safeguard ecologically valuable wildlands and cultural sites that are sacred to Native Americans. WHY IT’S SPECIAL: This vast maze of red rock canyons and sandstone cliffs harbors more than 100,000 Native American archeological sites. It also encompasses an ecologically significant landscape that ranks high in connectivity and biodiversity—especially due to its concentration of rare and irreplaceable species. At least 18 species listed under the Endangered Species Act live within the borders of Bears Ears. Plus, stellar rock climbing, canyon hikes and adventurous backpacking routes make it a recreational hot spot. WHY IT’S THREATENED: Countless cases of looting, vandalism and damage—including names carved into rock art and even disturbances of human remains—are destroying one of America's great cultural and archaeological landscapes. As a result of visitor misuse, inadequate staffing, mismanaged recreational use and potential energy development, the National Trust for Historic Preservation deemed the area one of the country’s 11 endangered historical places. In April, President Trump ordered a review of 27 national monuments designated since 1996, encompassing more than 100,000 acres each—despite the fact that 96 percent of public commenters support these national monuments. Bears Ears’ monument designation is high on the chopping block, despite the fact that President Obama acted largely in response to Utah businesses and citizens and an unprecedented coalition of 30 Native American tribes who joined forces to

protecting the place. Bears Ears is at even greater risk since Utah politicians, including the governor, also advocate for the overturn of federally managed and owned public lands to the state. WHAT YOU CAN DO: Participate in protection efforts at bearsearscoalition.org/action

at suwa.org/help-savegrand-staircase-escalantenational-monument.

GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE NATIONAL MONUMENT, UTAH

WHAT IT IS: Within the

WHAT IT IS: A1.9 million-acre monument in

southcentral Utah designated by President Clinton in 1996 to protect abundant and rich historic, archeological, paleontological and recreational resources, and to block a planned coal mine that would have irrevocably altered the landscape. WHY IT’S SPECIAL: Spanning five unique ecosystems, the country’s largest national monument is a wonderland of geologic complexity complete with a sweeping maze of slot canyons, sandy washes and cliffs dotted with arches, towering monoliths, natural bridges and desert rivers and creeks. Grand Staircase-Escalante also shelters important historic sites including Native American rock art, camps, kivas and dwellings, as well as the renowned Hole-in-the-Rock Trail, used by Mormon pioneers. Stepping back even further, teams have excavated dinosaur skeletons here, including 21 never-beforeseen species and the remains of an 81-million-yearold tyrannosaurus (the oldest recovered). WHY IT’S THREATENED: Though its original designation in 1996 was deemed necessary to protect artifacts, conserve natural resources, and preserve the heritage of Native Americans and Mormon pioneers, Trump, supported by a delegation of Utah politicians, seems committed to emascualting the monument by carving out a huge chunk of Grand Staircase-Escalante for coal mining. WHAT YOU CAN DO: Participate in protection efforts

SUNSET ROADLESS AREA, COLORADO

FORWARD THINKING ISA SCHNITZSPAHN GETS COMFORTABLE IN THE SANDSTONE OF BEARS EARS NATIONAL MONUMENT. THE VALUE OF THESE PLACES SHOULD BE JUDGED BY THE WORTH THEY PROVIDE FOR GENERATIONS, RATHER THAN SHORT-TERM GAIN.

Gunnison National Forest photo by Doug Schnitzspahn and next to the iconic West Elk Wilderness Area, this untouched landscape encompasses aspen and spruce-fir forests just 40 miles from Aspen. WHY IT’S SPECIAL: An untrammled oasis in coal country, the Sunset Roadless Area’s lush forests provide important habitat for elk, deer, bear and imperiled lynx. The rugged and remote Sunset Trail, which traverses the area, also draws hikers, backpackers and hunters seeking deep solitude. WHY IT’S THREATENED: Utilizing a loophole in the 2001 Roadless Rule, the Trump administration is pushing ahead with plans to approve Arch Coal’s permit to expand mining operations into 1,700 acres of roadless wildlands. Arch Coal would construct more than six miles of roads, build 48 drilling pads and extract over 17 million tons of coal, venting methane directly into the atmosphere. The West Elk mine was already the Colorado’s single largest industrial source of methane, a major contributor to climate pollution, from 2013 to 2015 in Colorado. WHAT YOU CAN DO: Participate in protection efforts at earthjustice.org/features/sunset-roadless-areaclimate. STAY UP TO DATE ON THREATS AND WAYS YOU CAN WORK TO STOP THEM AT ELEVATIONOUTDOORS.COM/ TAKEACTIONTOPROTECTPUBLICLANDSINYOURBACKYARD. S E P T E M B E R 2 017 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

THE TRAIL

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THE COMANCHEVENABLE LOOP Download the free ViewRanger app and the following coordinates to take on this trek through the wilds of Colorado’s Sangre de Cristos.

1. COMANCHE-VENABLE TRAILHEAD

From Westcliffe, Colorado, head south on CO 69 for 3.5 miles. Turn right onto Schoolfield Road (CR 140) and drive west for 6.5 miles toward Alvarado Campground. Just before reaching the campground, take the right fork and follow signs to the trailhead. To tackle the loop in a counterclockwise direction (Venable to Comanche) like we did, begin on the right side of the parking lot and follow signs for the Venable Trail (#1347).

2. RAINBOW TRAIL JUNCTION

After approximately a half-mile hike through forest, reach a T intersection with the Rainbow Trail. Turn left to stay on the Venable Trail, which climbs gradually above a rushing creek as it passes through lush evergreen forest speckled with stands of aspens. In the fall, the trees light the forest in a sea of gold.

3. VENABLE FALLS JUNCTION

After two miles, you reach a sign for a spur trail to Venable Falls. If you have time and energy for a short side trip, follow the trail to a cascade rushing through a small, steep canyon. Return to the main trail and continue 18

AND FOLLOW THIS ROUTE ON IPHONE, APPLE WATCH, IPAD AND ANDROID DEVICES. VIEWRANGER.COM

GET TRIP INFO

SEE MORE ROUTE DETAILS, GPS DATA & PRINT MAPS. VIEWRANGER.COM/eleout

by CHRIS KASSAR

hether you tackle it in a day or choose to spend a night under the stars enroute, this journey through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains reveals all the range’s secrets in a moderately challenging, easy-to-follow 12-mile loop.

GET THE FREE APP

climbing. The trees become sparse, revealing distant mountaintops and the sparkling waters of the creek rushing over boulders below.

4. VENABLE LAKES

Leave the trees behind and push through a series of switchbacks that deliver you to Venable Lakes. If you want to turn this route into a backpacking trip, this is a serene camp spot. If you’re pushing through in a day, break here, refuel, and explore the lake via a spur trail if you have time.

5. PHANTOM TERRACE

Tromp through a willow-lined section of trail to reach a treeless, rocky portion of the route that marks the beginning of the Phantom Terrace, so named because even though it’s well-defined when you are on it, the route is impossible to see from below. The narrow and hidden trail that cuts across the jagged, colorfully banded rock face of 13,177-foot Venable Peak, is obvious and easy to follow. Take care in the few spots where the trail narrows or crosses loose scree.

6. SADDLE

After passing through the slim portion of the Phantom Terrace, you reach a high unnamed pass that delivers superb views back down Venable Creek drainage and out south toward 14,170-foot Kit Carson Peak. If you’re topping out on Venable Peak, which sits approximately 400 feet higher than the pass, head crosscountry from here. If not, take in the sweeping view and head downhill, following a trail that curves around

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the south flanks of 13,244-foot Spring Mountain.

7. COMANCHE PASS

When you reach the next pass, pause for a moment to absorb panoramic views of Comanche Lake, a giant body of sparkling water nestled in the valley below. If 13,243-foot Comanche Peak is on your itinerary, you’ll gain approximately 550 feet as you climb south along its rocky flanks to reach the top. Either way, notice that at the pass, the trail splits. The right fork switchbacks west to drop deep into the Comanche Valley (a worthy future adventure). To complete our loop, turn left and follow the Comanche Trail east toward the lake.

THE HOLY LAND THIS HIGH ROUTE UP IN THE ISOLATED TUNDRA OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTOS MAKES FOR THE IDEAL FALL BACKPACK TRIP. photo by Chris Kassar

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8. COMANCHE LAKE

Frolicking through the tundra, you’ll descend more than 1,000 feet to reach Comanche Lake, perched above treeline. Campsites surround the lake; pick one and spend the night.

9. RAINBOW TRAIL JUNCTION

From Comanche Lake, the circuitous trail passes through pine forest, aspen stands, boulder-strewn gardens, a lush riparian corridor and red, black and white cliff bands to intersect with the Rainbow Trail. Continue straight through the junction and remain on the Comanche Trail as it curves back to where you started.

10. BACK AT THE TRAILHEAD

Celebrate at your vehicle and start plotting your next foray.

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Perched above Whale Lake, celebrating the hike in with friends, Routt National Forest, CO – Devon Balet

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EPIC IS OVERRATED. You could go shoot rapids, get wet, get cold, and spend an hour hanging on for dear life, all for the low cost of…that’s a lot of money. Or you could float. Sitting in lawn chairs, in a cattle tank. Sure it’s a different way to go, but if you’re looking for a leisurely way to get eight friends and a big cooler down a river, tanking is the way to go. Epic is overrated, adventures aren’t. Find your next adventure. Come to Western Nebraska.

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Fall into winter

Introducing three of your Bristol favorites in portable, shiny aluminum. Find them in liquor stores this month.

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Looking for the Photo: 1 2 Hours of Penit perfect spot to enjoy ence your favorite fall and winter pastimes? Look to Rio Grande Country! Like to fish? Check out fall fishing on the Rio Grandeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gold medal waters. Or maybe you are up for the challenge of the 12 Hours of Penitence Mountain bike race. Thinking about your ski getaway? Wolf Creek Ski Area averages over 460 inches of snow a year, the most of all ski areas in Colorado. South Fork: closest town to the ski area. Del Norte: Brew pub, coffee shop and great sporting goods shop! Monte Vista: Centrally located in the San Luis Valley.

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Visit www.riograndecountry.com to learn about all the great festivals and events this fall & winter.

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NUMEROLOGY

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THE CONSERVATION ALLIANCE Do the math. This outdoor industry supported organization funnels much-needed cash to grassroots conservation groups.

KEEP IT WILD! CONSERVATION COLORADO WON A $45,OOO CONSERVATION ALLIANCE GRANT IN 2016 TO PRESERVE VIEWS LIKE THIS.

by DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

f you don’t work in the outdoor industry, you may not have heard of The Conservation Alliance. That’s a shame, because the group makes an incredible impact helping out grassroots conservation organizations where they need it most: It provides them funding to get the hard work of fighting for wild places done in the trenches. The Conservation Alliance gathers its cash through membership dues, supplied from outdoor brands ranging from The North Face to the Revolution House Media, as well as other fundraisers. It then funds grantees who face stiff challenges squaring off extractive industries, developers and other private interests with deep pockets. If you work in the outdoor industry, you certainly know The Conservation Alliance, thanks to fundraisers and its “Arrive Tired, Leave Inspired” breakfasts at the Outdoor Retailer trade show that have featured speakers including Terry Tempest Williams, Craig Childs and Jonathan Waterman. Read on for a deep dive into this important organization’s work.

210+

Current members of the Conservation Alliance, including Elevation Outdoors and Blue Ridge Outdoors magazines. Interested businesses of any size can apply to join atconservationalliance.com/ join-the-alliance. Annual dues range from $500 to $15,000 depending on a business’s annual revenues—it’s relatively easy for small brands to join.

photo by John Fielder

$100,000

The minimum amount seven “Pinnacle Members”—Clif Bar, Columbia, Keen, Merrell, Patagonia, REI and The North Face—contribute to The Conservation Alliance each year.

River miles protected with help from The Conservation Alliance funding since 1989.

TWO

Advocacy Trips to Washington D.C. in 2017. On these trips, The Conservation Alliance staff, board and members meet directly with lawmakers to discuss conservation issues.

People who marched with The Conservation Alliance to the Utah state capitol from the Outdoor Retailer show last month to rally for public lands. Speakers at the event included The Conservation Alliance’s John Sterling Ute tribe members and mountaineer/ activist Conrad Anker.

NINE

Backyard Collective events so far and on tap for 2017. The Conservation Alliance Backyard Collective events put member company employees and other volunteers out in the field, doing trail work and other conservation projects. Find info on attending the events here: conservationalliance. com/events.

The year outdoor industry brands REI, Patagonia, The North Face and Kelty came together to found The Conservation Alliance. Each initially donated $10,000, which they passed to Idaho’s Friends of the Payette to stop a dam construction. Membership expanded to 10 more companies by 1990. By 2002, The Conservation Alliance had 54 members and hired former Patagonia Director of Environmental Programs John Sterling as its executive director.

Full-time Conservation Alliance staff members. They are executive director John Sterling, program director Serena Bishop Gordon, communications and grant Amount of funding The program manager Josie Norris and advocacy program Conservation Alliance has awarded to 229 grantees manager Kristen Blackburn. across North America since its inception. In 2016, it 51,059,587 | Acres granted 43 organizations protected with help from a total of $1.61 million, The Conservation Alliance including a $50,000 grant funding since 1989. to Boulder’s Access Fund $2,948,000 | Total funding to acquire the 360-acre The ConservationAlliance Homestead climbing area has provided to 90 projects in Arizona. The CA plans to in the Rockies since 2015. distribute $1.85 million in $295,000 | Total funding grants in 2017 and hopes to provided in Colorado, via build its annual grants to $2 seven grants since 2015. million.

$18,500,000

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Tell Senator Gardner The Arctic Refuge is

(202) 224-5941

1-800-THE-WILD

wilderness.org

STRAIGHT TALK

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THE SUPERFAN To celebrate our readers in this issue, we sought out someone who loves Elevation Outdoors and lives and breathes the healthy, active lifestyle we embody. Meet Jeremiah Osborne-Gowey. by DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

e usually profile a big-name athlete or luminary in this department, but this issue we wanted to find out what makes the typical Elevation Outdoors reader tick. We looked across the state, but it turned out that one of our most faithful readers was right under our noses here in Boulder (full confession, he’s my neighbor). Jeremiah Osborne-Gowey and his family always show up at EO community events, including our Boulder Creek Cleanup with Front Range Anglers and our group campout and trail maintenance day with the U.S. Forest Service this summer. Osborne-Gowey, 41, grew up in southern Oregon, the son of a logger, and an accountant, and moved to Colorado with his family—wife Cat and children, Finn, 11, and little Jeremiah, 7—in 2014 to pursue an interdisciplinary PhD in environmental studies (he holds degrees in fisheries and wildlife and public policy). He describes himself as a Renaissance man: homebrewer, forager, passionate fly and tenkara angler, boatbuilder, default statistician, blogger, Tweeter, community organizer and so much more. Here’s what he had to say about being named our superfan.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT ELEVATION OUTDOORS MAGAZINE?

The feature articles cover such varied topics and interests, all relevant to our connection to the outdoors and each other. I love “The Trail” column for the nuts-and-bolts tips on local places to go exploring and the ViewRanger downloadable trail maps (these are the best). And how can I forget all the great gear reviews? Strange as it may sound, I also love the advertisements for all the great local events. I find so many events to attend just from skimming the magazine for these ads. Our whole family enjoys reading the downto-earth, practical articles packed full of insights and tips. Often when exploring, we find ourselves adding places along the path as a result of having read about them in EO. Case in point, we’re headed to see the Great American Eclipse of 2017 in the northwest corner of the Nebraska panhandle. We would have never thought to vacation in Nebraska were it not for an excellent EO piece about places to go exploring there. And we love the socially and environmentally conscious prose in the magazine. Really, you just cannot beat the wealth of outdoor info, tips and insights, reviews and the variety of quality

articles and photos in EO. And it’s free to boot. WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF EVENTS EO HOSTS SUCH AS THE GROUP CAMPOUT AND THE BOULDER CREEK CLEANUP?

What better place to develop a strong sense of community than in the outdoors with others? And in the process, we're teaching the kiddos about their place in their local community and about being active on social and ecological fronts. We are also helping them develop their own sense of place in the world. We love doing the river cleanups, attending the campouts and mingling at all the great outdoor-and-beer-themed events like the Upslope Get Down. What a combination!

HOW DO YOU LIVE THE EO "GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY" LIFE?

Rain, snow or shine, we find meaning and purpose in life by being outdoors. And not just being in the outdoors, but really connecting with the outdoors. We find a fair bit of our food by foraging nuts and berries, asparagus, mushrooms and the like. We start each day with a four- to five-mile, early-morning hike, often well before dawn to watch the sunrise. We frequently end each day with some outdoor activity, whether it be a family walk to one of the many excellent City of Boulder parks or Boulder County Open Spaces or dining in the backyard with butterflies and birds. It helps us feel more connected to each other and more centered and plugged in to natural rhythms.

WHAT MATTERS MOST TO YOU WHEN IT COMES TO THE OUTDOORS AND THE ENVIRONMENT?

relation of people to each LIFE, ELEVATED other, and the relation OSBORNE-GOWEY NEAR THE SUMMIT of people to land.” OF 13,409 NAVAJO This quote from Aldo PEAK. A MAN OF MANY Leopold epitomizes my TALENTS, JEREMIAH SPENT OVER 18 YEARS life. I get such a sense of WORKING IN RESEARCH fulfillment, a feeling of SCIENCE, USUALLY IN being fully alive, from THE FIELD. HE SEEKS TO DEVELOP BETTER feeling connected to the COMMUNICATION natural world. It feels so SYSTEMS ABOUT THE delightfully infectious. NATURAL WORLD. I get this deep sense of photo by Doug Schnitzspahn “rightness” when I'm interacting with nature, as a part of it, rather than set apart from it. My enthusiasm is bolstered when I see others get a sense of awe and wonder and curiosity from being in the great outdoors. HOW DO YOU TRY TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE OUTDOOR WORLD? HOW DO WE NEED TO ADAPT TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE IT?

Perhaps the greatest positive impact I can have is in fostering a sense of wonder and curiosity about the natural world in others. And what better place to start than with the children, teaching them about these senses, developing within them an attitude of gratitude and commitment to act responsibly and justly, to think about future generations? I often take children and adults alike out in the wild to teach them about foraging, and the natural history of the area, hoping my sense of awe is infectious in them. A changed perspective can lead to changed behaviors. Changed behaviors can lead to changed systems.

“There are two things that interest me: the S E P T E M B E R 2 017 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

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BEING THE CHANGE

0 9 .17

YOUNG BLOOD by AARON H. BIBLE

MEET SEVEN YOUNG ROCKY MOUNTAIN ACTIVISTS AND ATHLETES AGES 26 AND UNDER WHO ARE WORKING TO BUILD A BETTER WORLD.

CODI CIRILLO

AGE: 24 BASECAMP: BRECKENRIDGE, CO CONNECT AT: @CODYCIR

A talented graphic designer and professional skier, Codi Cirillo felt driven by his parents to make the world a better place from a very young age. “I had a tremendous amount of opportunity to do volunteer work growing up, from visiting soup kitchens in Denver every month, to doing trail conservation, even working overseas in Nepal with an organization called Shoulder to Shoulder,” Cirillo says. “I became passionate about paying it forward. I still try to embody that spirit in everything I do.” Cirillo, who grew up in Breckenridge, is now an ambassador for Protect Our Winters (POW). Growing up in Summit County, he says, helped him realize how important natural places are… “to me, my friends, my family, my town. I can only hope to drive change and make the world a better place when COOL CHARACTER PROTECT OUR WINTERS AMBASSADOR CODI CERILLO GOES FULL LORAX AT THE DENVER CLIMATE MARCH LAST APRIL. photo by Jake Black

“We’re living in a time where people my age have become more and more passionate and knowledgeable about political, environmental and social issues we can change.” —Codi Cirillo I leave it, and to inspire others to act in the same regard,” he says. Through POW, he uses his skiing career as a platform to advocate for environmental legislation and teaching the next generation. “I think being young provides an opportunity to learn and grow,” says Cirillo. “There are so many people my age and younger learning about politics, and becoming more and more passionate about the environment and other issues. It’s definitely an exciting time to be a part of the outdoor industry, so I look forward to continuing and helping efforts as I grow older.” Cirillo likes to say that just because the world is what it is, it doesn’t have to stay that way. “Being young, comes with many opportunities,” he says. “We’re living in a time where people my age have become more and more passionate and knowledgeable about political, environmental and social issues we can change.”

HILDA NUCETE

AGE: 24 BASECAMP: LAKEWOOD, COLORADO CONNECT AT: @HILDANUCETE Conservation Colorado Latino Program Director Hilda Nucete may be just 24 years old, but the people she affects on a daily basis say her deep rooted commitment to social, environmental and racial justice issues make her one of the most important contemporary conservationists around. “My passion and mission is bringing silenced community members to the table and making their voices matter. You have a voice in your community and it should be heard,” Nucete says. Nucete grew up in an oil camp in Caracas, Venezuela. Due to political unrest in her country, she moved to Colorado in 2007 when she was S E P T E M B E R 2 017 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

AT THE TABLE 15. “My whole town had health issues from oil AT JUST 24 YEARS OLD, production,” she says. “At a HILDA NUCETE SPEAKS UP FOR DIVERSE young age I gained insight GROUPS AND JUSTICE. into who benefited from oil photo courtesy production and who suffered Conservation Colorado the consequences. We thought moving to a first-world country would give us a more dignified life, but not only did we suffer the same air quality that we had in Venezuela, I was unable to gain citizenship. My experience as an undocumented immigrant instigated my advocacy work. I got involved with communities of color, women's reproductive rights, and Latino leadership. This led to my environmental work because when you are talking about an environmental problem, you are scratching the surface of whole range of social justice issues as well.” Recently appointed to the Denver Office of Sustainability Advisory Council, Nucete’s ultimate goal is to make leadership in powerful organizations more inclusive. “As a young activist, I often feel like I am there to be the token brown Millennial, but I just grab that by the horns,” she says. “If you put me in a tokenized position, I am going to show you that was a mistake.”

CLARE GALLAGHER

AGE: 25 BASECAMP: BOULDER, COLORADO CONNECT AT: @CLARE_GALLAGHER_RUNS Princeton grad, The North Face pro athlete and hardcore conservationist—Clare Gallagher seems to excel at everything. In 2016, she won the Leadville Trail 100, setting the second-fastest women’s time in the race’s 33-year history in her first attempt. But she would much rather talk about activism than time splits. “My conservation advocacy work consists of, first and foremost, simply talking about things other than running, such as climate change and protection of public lands. As a professional ultrarunner, even for The North Face, this isn't the norm,” she says. She’s the first non-winter-specific athlete ambassador for Winter Wildlands Alliance, and works with marine conservation groups in Australia and Thailand. She has also collected thousands of lightly used running shoes, working with One World Running to deliver them people in developing countries. “Considering a lot of my worth as an athlete is 26

E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S / S E P T E M B E R 2 017

based on social reach, being a politically active voice isn't entirely risk free. But I will cease being a professional runner the day that I stop using my platform for more altruistic means,” says Gallagher. “I struggle with the selfishness it takes to be a good runner—so much time and energy is spent training—but I justify it by saying: If I can show one young aspiring trail runner that it's cool to call your Senators about issues that matter to you, then I'm doing my job.”

ZEPPELIN ZEERIP

AGE: 25 BASECAMP: SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH CONNECT AT: @ZEPPELINZEERIP Zeppelin “Zepp” Zeerip grew up shredding the small hills around his hometown in Sparta, Michigan—before long he had gone pro. But the 25-year-old has a knack for artful storytelling that transcends his professional snowboarding career. In 2016, the prestigious SHIFT conference selected him to participate in its Emerging Leaders Program. He’s also a producer and partner at WZRD Media, where he co-produced “Far From Home,” a feature-length documentary about Ugandan snowboarder Brolin Mawejje. In 2015, the film showed at at the Boulder International Film Festival and Santa Barbara International Film Festival, among others. “My current personal mission is to bring public lands into the spotlight in a way that brings people from both sides of the aisle together in a shared vision to protect cherished places,” says Zeerip, who now lives in Salt Lake City. “Public lands have become such a political issue that they’re dividing communities. I truly believe that both sides in this debate have more in common than they admit.” Zeerip speaks out for public lands in WZRD Media's upcoming film, “The Heist.” “In the summer of 2016 I recognized that the debate over public lands had reached a boiling point in Utah, and needed to be explored further. My inspiration stemmed from a sense of responsibility,” he explains. “We live in an era where our basic

WOMAN ON THE MOVE liberties are under threat from the Trump CLARE GALLAGHER INSISTS ON USING HER administration and not PRO ATHLETE PLATFORM enough people are standing FOR SOCIAL GOOD. up. I felt obligated to do photo by Caroline Treadway something, and I chose protecting public lands as the cause.” When asked about the best part of being a Millennial, he says, “the variety of ways we can connect with each other. I've used Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and email through the making of this film. My generation has more opportunities to connect than any group before. Without a doubt, we have higher student debt and fewer job prospects, but we are creating our own industries and disrupting old ones by harnessing new technologies. The world is getting smaller, and as it does, the opportunities for connection become more and more frequent. My age has never affected my progress.”

BRENDAN WELLS

AGE: 23 BASECAMP: WHITE SALMON RIVER, WASHINGTON CONNECT AT: @BRENDANWELLSKAYAK Say you aspire to be filmmaker, a conservationist, and a professional whitewater kayaker, not to mention an inspiration to the next generation. Aspiration, meet your match in Brendan Wells. “Adults don’t get that our generation will have to make sacrifices they never even thought about teaching to their children. The world is changing rapidly, and for my generation’s kids to live

anything like we do today, we must take dramatic actions to sustain the resources and wild places we hold most valuable,” says Wells. “The best thing about being young today is that we have a wealth of research and knowledge that can help guide us and our society in the right direction—if we let it.” Whitewater kayaking keeps Wells intimately connected to the natural world. “I spent much of my life in, on and around rivers, with parents who are passionate about the outdoors. Kayaking led me into creating action and adventure films, which grew into documentaries aimed at protecting watersheds from environmental degradation,” he says. “My personal mission is to get the adventure sports and greater outdoor industry more engaged in their own communities in nationwide fights to protect the lands we love.” Wells’ most notable efforts are videos he’s created through his production company Mountain Mind Collective. His two favorite projects are the two-part series on the Stikine and Sacred Headwaters in far northern British Columbia, and he’s currently working on a video for the U.S. Forest Service about stewardship and conservation of the White Salmon River. “With the recent removal of Condit Dam, work is still needed to help restore the White Salmon to its pre-dam state, which takes lots of work from many individuals.” This winter, he begins production on his second full-length movie, “a mix of an adventure

film, following skiers, whitewater kayakers and surfers around Alaska, as well as a story about the fight against politicians working to turn over federal public lands to state/private ownership in Alaska and elsewhere in the U.S.,” he says. “Somewhere along the way, I switched my focus from a broad degree in Environmental Studies to film production and environmental activism, and that has set the tone for the rest of my life,” Wells says. “Often it seems we are overloaded with information, but I think that good writing and well-made videos are an important and productive way of sharing knowledge and ideas—and initiating people into action.”

TIFFANY HENSLEY

AGE: 26 BASECAMP: BOULDER, COLORADO, AND MONTERREY, MEXICO CONNECT AT: @TIFFANY_HENSLEY Tiffany Hensley sees the future in those even younger than her. “We need to teach kids that the outdoors is a place where we can all connect, and that humanity is enough to share a connection with anyone,” she says. The professional climber’s current passion project is an organization called Climbing Borders, which empowers at-risk youth through rock climbing and education in Mexico’s industrial capital of Monterrey. It includes an initiative to develop a model that can connect youth to the mountains in other underdeveloped parts of the world. “We're collaborating with institutions and sponsors to grow our impact. While I’m operations director on site, my job is to make sure no one

drops from the program, OVER THE HILLS literally or figuratively.” ZEPPELIN ZEERIP SCANS THE BACKCOUNTRY. “When I describe my passion to someone in SACRED HEADWATERS a crowded room like a BRENDAN WELLS brewery, I say I scare the PORTAGES IN BC. shit out of kids on cliffs, STOKE, SPREADING and they love it. They get TIFFANY HENSLEY addicted to the highs of INSPIRES IN MEXICO. adventure instead of paint photos by Sean Ryan (left), Chris thinner,” she says. Korbulic (top right), Savanna Cummins (bottom right) “I share the outdoors with the most at-risk youth we can find and transform them through profound experiences in the mountains,” she explains. “What drives me is pushing beyond my limits in the mountains on the steepest rock climb, hike, bike ride, swimming in freezing cold alpine lakes...it's a kind of kinetic meditation, and it leaves me more mindful, more chilled out. This started when I had emotionally intense situations in Mexico, when I found kids in the street homeless or drugged up. You don't see these things usually, and it’s hard.” According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 47 percent of teens in Mexico drop out of high school before graduating, and almost one fourth live in extreme poverty. There are also more than 30,000 child soldiers in Mexico, many in overpopulated “poverty polygons.” They exist in large cities like Monterrey, which has 52 such polygons, rife with crime and unrecognized by the municipal government. Hensley leaves us with one last thought:“I have this condition where I can't get angry at anyone, ever. I believe we all want to be good people, so I have a kind of infinite patience,” she says.

S E P T E M B E R 2 017 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

season pass lowdown DEALS FROM YOUR FAVORITE SKI AND SNOWBOARD AREAS 1. Loveland ski area Season Pass SKILOVELAND.COM

1 2 PHOTO COURTESY LOVELAND SKI AREA

PHOTO COURTESY SKI COOPER

3 4 PHOTO COURTESY GRAND TARGHEE RESORT

PHOTO BY SCOTT POPE

PRICE: $399 ($379 for 2016-17 passholders). BUY IT BEFORE: December 1, 2017. WHAT YOU GET: A Loveland Season Pass gives you unrestricted access to one of the longest and snowiest seasons in Colorado. Enjoy discounts throughout the area on food, lessons, rentals, sport shop purchases and lift tickets for friends and family. ADDED VALUE: Three FREE days at each of Monarch Mountain, Powder Mountain, Powderhorn, Purgatory, Snow King Mountain Resort, Whitefish Mountain Resort and more! Plus, Loveland pass holders can also ski free at Crested Butte and Grand Targhee Resort with the purchase of lodging. WHERE TO BUY: skiloveland.com, at Front Range sales events (skiloveland.com/events) or at the ski area.

2. Ski Cooper 2017-2018 Season Pass SKICOOPER.COM PRICE: Adult $299, Child $145, Senior $259, Super Senior $149, 5 and Under $10. BUY IT BEFORE: Discounted Prices good through October 1st. WHAT YOU GET: Cooper Unlimited skiing and riding for the entire 2017-2018 season. No restrictions. ADDED VALUE: Receive three free days of skiing at 30 partner resorts, 10 percent off Chicago Ridge Cat Ski Tours, 10 percent off at the Snowflakes Retail Shop, 10 percent off at the cafeteria, plus discounts on buddy tickets and 4 packs. WHERE TO BUY: skicooper.com call 800-707-6114.

3. Grand Targhee Resort adult pass GRANDTARGHEE.COM

PHOTO BY DAVE KOZLOWSKI

5 6 PHOTO BY DAVE CAMARA

PRICE: $749. Adult Pass (19-64). BUY IF BEFORE: September 30 WHAT YOU GET: Every day of the season! ADDED VALUE: Discounted lodging, free skiing at partner resorts, discounts on food and beverage, discounts on retail, four discounted friends and family tickets every day, 20 percent off cat skiing, 20 percent off early tracks, 50 percent off bike park passes and more! WHERE TO BUY: grandtarghee.com/ tickets-passes/winter-season-passes/

4. snow mountain ranch nordic center one year family membership SNOWMOUNTAINRANCH.ORG/NORDIC PRICE: $250 WHAT YOU GET: A YMCA of the Rockies Family Membership gives access to ski and snowshoe trails, ice rink, tubing hill, swimming pool, rec center and more. WHERE TO BUY: Purchase at the Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center or call 970-887-2152 x4173.

5. Crested Butte Mountain Resort Peak Pass SKICB.COM/SEASONPASS PRICE: $699 Adult (18-69) BUY IF BEFORE: October 8. WHAT YOU GET: Unlimited winter 2017/2018 CBMR lift access (November 23, 2017-April 8, 2018), Winter 2017/2018 Uphill Travel Access. Four Discounted CBMR Buddy tickets (PASSHOLDER MUST BE PRESENT TO REDEEM!), resort charge privileges (attached to your own credit card). Plus, Peak Pass benefits at other resorts are coming soon! ADDED VALUE: Winter 2017/2018 Uphill Travel Access. WHERE TO BUY: Purchase your pass online at skicb.com/seasonpass, in person at the Crested Butte Mountain Resort Adventure Center or over the phone at 844-823-8538.

6.ARAPAHOEBASIN.COM Arapahoe Basin season pass PRICE: $319 BUY IF BEFORE: Prices are subject to change. Labor Day is generally a good cutoff for early season deals so we recommend purchasing passes before then. WHAT YOU GET: Unlimited, unrestricted skiing/ riding at A-Basin for the entire 2017-18 season (tentatively scheduled mid-Oct. to early June). NO BLACKOUT DATES! Save 50 percent on one half-day morning lesson with the A-Basin Snowsports School (valid Saturdays and Sundays during the regular Snowsports season). Three ski days at Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico during the 2017-18 season for adult, youth and child season passes. Unlimited discounted single-day lift tickets for friends and family (may purchase at ticket window). Ten percent off food and beverage (excluding the 6th Alley Bar & Grill and alcoholic beverages). Ten percent off retail purchases at Arapahoe Sports (valid all season). Unlimited discounted ski or snowboard tunes in the Crystal One Base’n’ Edge Tune Shop (valid all season). WHERE TO BUY: arapahoebasin.com, 888-ARAPAHOE, on-site at the Season Pass Office (seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), or in-person at Christy Sports Powder Daze in Littleton, Colorado (August 24-September 5).

S E P T E M B E R 2 017 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

WHERE WILL YOU GO

IN YOUR LOWAs?

NORWAY. THE WIND RIVERS. CANYONLANDS. ESTONIA. HELSINKI. CINQUE TERRE. MT. BALDY. PARIS. PARK CITY, UT. STRASBOURG. THE SWISS ALPS. CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK. NAMIBIA.

THE SAN JUANS. THE SIERRA NEVADA. SAN GORGONIO. THE ADIRONDACKS. SAN JACINTO. THE GRAND CANYON. ISTANBUL. LAKE TAHOE. MOJAVE DESERT. ICELAND. THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY. LATVIA…

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New adventures begin here OUTDOOR ADVENTURE EXPO SEPT. 23-24 • CHERRY CREEK STATE PARK

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E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S / S E P T E M B E R 2 017

GEAR

09. 17

BIKEPACKING BROKEN DOWN

Want to get out for a night or more with your trusty steed? We run down what you will need, and where to pack it, to head out on the ultimate, two-wheeled big mountain adventure.

Seatbags work great for clothing, lightweight food or anything that's too bulky to fit in a frame bag.

Pick a saddle that's comfortable for all-day adventures.

Heavier gear including tools, stove fuel, etc. should be packed as low and centered as possible to keep the bike's center of gravity manageable.

Use a detachable and easyto-access bags like the Oveja Negra Lunchbox to store food, map, GPS, camera/phone and personal items like sunscreen. Pack lighter items like a sleeping bag, tent and rain jacket up front to avoid slowing down the bike's handling.

by ZACH WHITE

The Bike Diamond Back Haanjo EXP Carbon This bike offers up a smooth ride thanks to 27.5-inch wheels that accommodate 2.1-inch-wide tires. Those wheels also provide better traction with only a negligible diameter loss compared to a 700c wheel (which also fits this bike). It goes against the high-tech grain with a triple chainring on a nine-speed drivetrain, which allows for a very broad gear range (and it’s easier to find replacement parts for it on those international trips). The bar-end shifters are bombproof, easy-to-fix if something does go wrong, and don't have an issue shifting like STI levers do when there's a bar bag or front load. The carbon frame delivers a supple ride, and the water bottle cage options give you several hydration configurations. $1,900 | diamondback.com

The Bags Oveja Negra Soft bags, rather than traditional panniers that require racks, are the way to go when you are bouncing along on rough roads and trails. A lighter system also fits on a broader spectrum of bikes. Oveja Negra uses U.S.-designed, durable and water-resistant SuperFabric material for these lightweight bags. While the fabric is not waterproof by definition, it’ll keep cargo dry in typical Rocky Mountain weather. One word of caution: SuperFabric is not chipmunk-proof, so be smart about where you stash your food cache. ovejanegrabikepacking.com

Sleep System Big Agnes Fish Hawk 30 sleeping bag Finding the right sleeping is key to enjoying your trip. Ask yourself: How cold is it actually going to be in the evening? Can I really get any sleep

Choose gearing that will suit your abilities to climb mountains on a bike that could weigh well over 40 pounds. in a bag that fits around my legs like saran wrap? Big Agnes’s Fish Hawk 30 sleeps more like a comforter than a koozie, but it's still damn light (two pounds, 12 ounces)—and offers plenty of warmth for riding season in the high country. $173 | bigagnes.com

Big Agnes Q-Core SLX sleeping pad Impressively light (15 ounces in the 20-inch-by-66-inch size), this pad offers plenty of integrated comfort with Big Agnes sleeping bags, and lends itself nicely to multiple packing options. Pro tip: I line my sleeping bag’s stuff sack with the deflated pad, then stuff the bag inside it. This omits one stuff sack, adds a moisture barrier to the packed bag, and spreads out the bulk of the sleeping pad. $140-$250 | bigagnes.com

Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 Tent This tent tips the scales at a magical two pounds, gives you just enough room for two people who are used to

The "giardia cage" should only be used with bottles that come with a valve cover like Camelbak's new Podium MTB.

Make sure your tires are up to the terrain, and dial in the air pressure accordingly. Bring a powerful pump so you can adjust for a long stretch of smooth (or rough) road on the fly.

sharing a bed together, and sets up in a hurry. Upsizing in just about any of the ultralight pack tents is something to think about, as almost all of them will be a tight fit for bigger/taller people. Room to move around in your one-and-only shelter in foul weather is worth consideration before you choose the absolute lightest option available. $390 | bigagnes.com

The Kitchen Potable water is mandatory, but it's also heavy, bulky, and easy to blow through if you’re not careful. Camelbak’s new All Clear UV Purifier Bottle ($99; camelbak.com) cleanses 750 ml of creek water at a time for drinking and cooking. One USB charge will last for 80 cycles, which equates to 16-gallons. I still pack a full 100-ounce bladder in a hydration pack, and pack another 21-ounce bottle on the bike, but it’s nice to skip the rationing and drink as much water as you want. The bottle fits the Oveja Nega Chuck Bucket ($50, ovejanegrabikepacking.com), but, by design, it doesn’t fit in a water

bottle cage as the added weight of its filtering top cap makes it susceptible to flying out when things get bumpy. My cook system of a Jet Boil MicroMo ($130; jetboil.com) fits inside a titanium single-serve mess kit and weighs just under 500 grams (including a spork and knife). Plus, it stashes into the frame bag with ease. A yummy bag of Mountain House Freeze-dried Chicken Fajitas ($9; mountainhouse. com) provides plenty of calories and keeps pack weight to a minimum.

Bath Consider a Pack Towl Personal Towl ($10-$40; packtowl.com). It’s a simple little luxury item that’ll make a world of difference out in the woods.

Workshop Carry a spare tube and either a patch kit or tire plugs, a little bit of chain lube, a bicycle specific multitool with a chainbreaker, and a multitool like the Leatherman Wingman ($40; leatherman.com). And don't forget the duct tape and zip ties.

S E P T E M B E R 2 017 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

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E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S / S E P T E M B E R 2 017

M’s & W’s Elkin Valley

Named after sections of the Mountains-To-Sea Trail

HEAR THIS

09 .17

DANCE, REVOLUTION A dedicated group of Colorado DJs and promoters are hosting dance parties with an inclusive vibe that put the focus on getting down rather than raking in cash. by PATTY MALESH

t’s 4:30 in the morning. I’m slimy with sweat, and I recognize no one in this dark, lowceilinged warehouse basement. My eyes burn from artificial smoke. The floor is sticky from beer. And I am entirely too old for this shit. But I’m wearing comfortable shoes and I am living for the beat! Thanks in part to so much good, legal pot and in part to our newfound identity as Silicon Mountain, Denver tops all those listicles of trendy cities, but, really, this is not a story about all that. This is the story of Denver’s resistance to trendy. I call this story the Techno Manifesto—and it all centers around dark, sweaty dance parties. It’s the story of a small group of dedicated and passionate DJs, promoters and patrons who are fighting to keep a fledgling post-Ghost-Shiptragedy DIY, after hours, electronic music dance party community together. It’s about how to keep people like me satisfied in a city that has never really understood the non-snowboarding, nonmountain climbing, non-biking culture of late night freaks and our need to get down (though outdoor types are welcome if they stay cool). These fighters for the right to house party are doing justice to their techno roots by nourishing a community of dedicated ravers—mostly in their late twenties and early thirties. They are hosting affordable, inclusive and somewhat secret dance parties curated by both world-famous and local DJs and producers. The current scene is primarily sustained by three promoters and two underground warehouses, who work together to ensure maximum dance party and minimal drama.

these events offer them to showcase the best local talent alongside up-and-coming legends (Black Madonna, 2015) and current legends (Mike Huckabee, 2017). Nocturnal, also operating since 2013, is more dedicated to European techno. While Deep Club hosts monthly events, Nocturnal puts on four to six parties per year. Nocturnal also recently moved into the mainstream club scene via their residency at Black Box in Denver, but their heart still beats strongest in the after-hour events. According to its founder, the best parties are the ones you have to work for: Originally, Nocturnal party goers who RSVPed to events received a phone call offering an address after 3 p.m. on the day of the event. At that address, ravers would find a person on the corner or in a car who acted as another layer of security and who, if the asker passed the test, would offer up the address of the party. It’s all a bit less cloak and dagger now, but the beats are still as ferocious as always. Sorted didn’t emerge until 2015 but one of the two founders—let’s call her V—is, by her own account, a rave lifer. an angstful teenage WITH ITS GROWING AFFLUENCE As outcast in Pueblo who eep Club, a label and AND SHRINKING WAREHOUSE was more interested tribe of five midwest SPACE, DENVER IS BECOMING in house music than born DJs, have been ACTIVELY HOSTILE TO DJ horses, raving became actively hosting after hours FUELED AFTER-HOURS GRAND her religion. Today, events since 2013. They DANCE PARTIES. ALL THE MORE she floats between prioritize the U.S. roots world of tech and REASON TO FIND YOUR WAY TO the of electronic music and techno in order to “showcase a rarer aesthetic ONE OF THESE PARTIES WHILE bridge electronic dance of music currently missing YOU STILL CAN. communities within from the local club circuit.” Colorado. Sorted events Their sets challenge audiences with chewy and sync fans of house, techno, drum and bass, jungle difficult rhythms that pay homage to the urban and dubstep by focusing on the experimental, African-American and GLBTQ roots of electronic weird and wonderful elements of each genre. Like music. While the team also has a new residency her comrades, V insists (in the best possible way) at Bar Standard for us non-nocturnal folks, they that Sorted’s after hours events are challenging reign as DIY after-hours royalty because of their and that the music that’s spun there isn’t really commitment to artist control and the freedom accessible before midnight.

Deep Club, POSTIVE CONTRAST Nocturnal, and Sorted DENVER'S BEST AFTERHOURS DANCE PARTIES act as allies, to each ENCOURAGE FEMALE DJS other and in the fight AND DIVERSITY. WHAT'S to bring the electronic MORE, THEY DON'T TURN A PROFIT, PUTTING COVER music dance party CHARGES IN THE HANDS into the twenty-first OF HARD-WORKING DJS century. All three AND TOWARD HOSTING MORE PARTIES. burn passionate when photo by Eyediola Photography it comes to increasing the number of female DJs and producers in the community and into rotation at their events. Deep Club regularly reaches out to the LGBTQ community and keeps their sets firmly grounded in the socio-cultural history and motivations of techno and house’s ethnic roots. Nocturnal is working on a guest “raver waiver” that defines consent and that protects guests from inappropriate advances. Sorted is strategizing educational opportunities, especially for women interested in becoming producers or promoters. As if all this wasn’t enough to make me want to stay up way past my bedtime and support these events, the larger truth is this: No one is making any money. No, really. I checked. Every penny of the $10-$20 cover goes back into DJ pay, sound equipment, venue sustainability and/ or event promotion. The underground, after hours, electronic dance party in Denver is a labor of love, labor pains and all. The struggle is real. Denver is no Detroit, New York, or Chicago. House and Techno didn’t start here and have never found a secure home here. And with its growing affluence and shrinking warehouse space, Denver is becoming actively hostile to DJ fueled after-hours grand dance parties. All the more reason to find your way to one of these parties while you still can. Get there. Get down. Freaks welcome. VISIT THESE SITES TO JOIN THE PARTY: FACEBOOK.COM/ STAYSORTED, FACEBOOK.COM/DEEPCLUBDENVER, FACEBOOK.COM/NOCTURNAL.DENVER S E P T E M B E R 2 017 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

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THE ROAD

09 .17

THE SLOW REVEAL Move to Colorado to embrace the mountains and you have to live up to the badass idyll and become a rad, overachieving climber, skier, hiker… or do you? An injury and real time in the hills taught this transplant the true meaning of the life in the high country. by HOPE GATELY

grew up putting foot to earth in the backwoods of southern Indiana. I got out and explored near tucked-away ponds that glittered underneath the Oklahoma sky, but I never considered myself an adventurer. I never thought I was particularly good at any of it. In the Midwest, the outdoors aren’t so much of a proving ground, as much as a way of life. You come of age inheriting catfish and bluegill—you learn how to put a hook in their mouths, how to gut them and how to fry them up. You know the meaning of words like “spelunking,” “trotline,” and “minnow.” You shoot a .22 off your grandma’s porch and kill critters for stew. You go slowly through nature. You listen and you look. If you are really lucky, you know how to slip your fishing hook through the jelly of a minnow’s eyes so that it still wriggles, making it prime bait. When I first came to the mountains of Colorado, all of these nascent outdoor experiences remained deep inside me. They slept in the red-dirt clay of my bones and the deciduous forests of my heart. But I didn’t know how to be in this place at first. I certainly didn’t know what to be. So I decided to be all things: I learned how to put foot to earth in a new way. I hoofed up the state’s 14,000-foot peaks. I learned how to rock climb, and I was proficient. I learned how to bike, and I was reasonably good. I learned how to ski, and I was ok.

Illustration by Jeremy Collins / JERCOLLINS.COM

All the while, I took selfies that proclaimed my aptitude for adventure. Because back in my first days in Colorado, I needed validation. I needed a proving ground. I needed to know that I was enough. I thought climbing up and skiing down more and more mountains would somehow prove this simple truth to me. So I kept hoofing. I kept taking those selfies and posting them—and getting the “likes” that I so desperately needed. I went hard. Really hard. I was

in one single adventure or blinding epiphany. Sometimes, the mountains opt for a slow-reveal. They are playful like that. They often enjoy looping back, days, weeks or even years later to wrap up a message they’ve been trying to tell you all along. The mounains always end up telling you what and how to be.

I WENT HARD. REALLY HARD. I WAS A WEEKEND WARRIOR AND PROUD OF IT. GOTTA PROVE THAT I’M ENOUGH. GOTTA PROVE THAT I’M A BADASS. GOTTA PROVE THAT I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO PROVE. a weekend warrior and proud of it. Gotta prove that I’m enough. Gotta prove that I’m a badass. Gotta prove that I don’t have anything to prove. But the mountains had something bigger to prove to me. I don’t believe that wild places always give you their full message

y life-changing moment in the mountains consists of two distinct moments, actually. They occured on two different, but connected, days, nearly one year apart. The first was a silent and pristine powder day at Mary Jane Resort.

I was pushing hard. I kept dipping in and out of wellspaced trees on the sides of the runs and then back onto an open piste. I had skied 65 days the previous season and I was getting there again this year. I wanted to be better. Not really for myself but because I wanted to keep up with my friends who had all been skiing these mountains far longer than me—not to mention I wanted bragging rights. I had the fierce need to ski my hardest. To get in just one more lap. To claim just a few more feet of vertical. The fateful run was an “idiot’s run,” so called because you’re tired and you should stop but, for whatever reason, you don’t. I didn’t. I should have been going slowly. I should have been enjoying what was left of the powder, but slow wasn’t my M.O. at the time. As I popped out of the trees, I barely noticed the icy spot where the day’s snow had been skied off, and I miscalculated the force needed to turn away from the ice and twisted violently, tumbling face first, my skis crossing. I heard what everyone who blows out an ACL says they hear: a sickening pop. I also felt a shot of pain in my left knee. In retrospect, it could have been worse. Much worse based on the fact that the trees were so near and my speed so unchecked. I was humbled. My humbling was swift, simple and to the point. The mountains of Colorado had told me many things since I started my love affair with them: They told me that I am a strong and capable woman. They told me that I can do anything I set my mind to. They told me that there is peace to be found in the high places of the world. But this time

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This piece won our call-out for EO readers to send us their best stories of life-changing Colorado adventure. We will feature more of these worthy readers’ tales online at ElevationOutdoors. com and the Colorado Outdoor Adventure Blog (http://blog. colorado.com). Thanks to Something Independent and the Colorado Tourism Office for supporting this project. they uttered one simple refrain: Enough. That’s enough. No surprise, I had indeed torn my ACL. My ski season was officially over. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I didn’t take this commonplace ski injury with as much grace as I hoped. I cried, I swore, and I felt a sinking terror for many days after my fall. My friends and boyfriend assured me that it wasn’t a big deal. It happens to skiers all the time and it’s the risk you run for being active. My boyfriend had torn his ACL skiing and had opted for surgery. He was back at it within one year. I tried to comfort myself with these thoughts but the sinking feeling persisted. As the weeks passed, I felt

like I was losing my identity. What was I without skiing, and hiking, and going hard in the mountains? I did physical therapy for a solid year: squats, lunges, swimming and moderate hiking. I didn’t get back on my skis until the following winter. One month after my injury, I went snowshoeing and, while I was happy to be moving, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wasn’t moving fast enough, I wasn’t pushing hard enough. It all just wasn’t enough.

ow we come to the second day of the slow reveal, where the lesson our mountains were trying to teach me came full circle. It was a 12-inch powder day and my boyfriend and I woke at 4 a.m. We had decided to stay close to the Front Range and ski Eldora. Now, many hardcore weekend warriors won’t think you’re the shit if you ski Eldora on a powder day, but I tend to love these smaller, more intimate mountains. And, since it was my first official day of skiing since I wrecked my knee, I knew this resort would greet me with a steady ride. The snow drifted sleepily and gathered in patches on our coats. As I waited in a very short line for the lift, I was reminded of a saying

that is dear to me now: “Nature doesn't hurry, yet all things are accomplished.” I was so used to hurrying. Rush up the mountain, rush down the mountain. Hurry to get first tracks. Hurry to have the most days on skis, or in a tent or on a bike. But today was different. I wanted to go slow, take my time. In fact, my injury demanded that I do so. When we reached the top of the mountain, we chose a long, undulating blue run. Nothing gnarly about it. I had skied it many times before, ripping carelessly down it to prove that blues were beneath me. As I made my first few turns, I felt nauseous. I expected my knee to give way immediately. But it didn’t. It held strong. I made another turn and then another, experiencing the familiar, coveted floating feeling that is powder skiing. It had been three years since I learned to ski, and, in that time, I had not slowed down enough to appreciate the sensation of flying, that feeling of making a perfect turn. I took in that sensation now. I worked my way down the mountain methodically, sticking my tongue out to catch snowflakes, and squealing with glee as I realized my knee wasn’t going to fail me.

I upped my speed and started cutting a fresh line in the snow. Making my way to the side of the run, I skied into deeper powder that sprang up and kissed my face. In that moment, I thought, “This is enough. I am enough. Just give me these mountains, fast or slow. I’ll come to them beaten, broken and bedraggled. It doesn’t matter because it’s enough just to be here amongst them.” Sometimes you have to go hard and fall to realize that it’s not the hard stuff that makes or breaks you, but it’s the pure joy of being and doing. Since that day, I go a little slower through the mountains and I don’t get so hung up on how badass I am or ultimately am not. I just go, and I do, I see and I am. These mountains are no longer a proving ground for me, they are a way of life. Now, I know words like “backcountry,” “gaper” and “alpenglow.” I may not be a badass adventurer to some, but the mountains know best and that’s good enough for me. HOPE GATELY IS A FORMER FLATLANDER WHO, BEFORE MOVING TO COLORADO ON A WHIM, HAD NEVER SEEN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS NOR TOUCHED A PAIR OF SKIS. WHEN SHE’S NOT IN THE MOUNTAINS, SHE’S PRACTICING HER OTHER PASSIONS: TEACHING LANGUAGE ARTS TO SOME ROWDY 7TH GRADERS, WRITING AND GROWING SWEET CORN IN HER GARDEN.

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START YOUR XERIC, POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY GARDEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY EMILY REEVES, SIERRA TRADING POST REPLACING WATER- AND FERTILIZERHUNGRY GRASS LAWNS with low-maintenance, low-water xeriscape landscaping and native perennials is the prettiest way to save a considerable amount of water in drought-susceptible locations. Besides the sheer beauty of a low-water landscape, there are a number of big benefits that come with replacing a grass lawn with low-maintenance plants. Xeriscaping creates a healthy habitat for local wildlife and pollinators, improves the health of soil, decreases yard maintenance, improves sustainability and saves money on water. If you’re ready to enjoy all of these benefits, you can start on your xeriscape landscape this fall. Most people think of spring as the time to start new perennials and landscape projects, but the truth is that autumn is the best time to plant just about anything. It’s also the perfect time to remove grass and prep your space for native and drought-tolerant plants. Follow the tips below to get started.

REMOVE G RAS S If you’re removing grass in the fall, your two best options are physical removal or sheet covering. Physically removing your grass will require a spade for a small area, or a rototiller for a larger area. Make sure you get the grass and weeds in your lawn out rootand-all. After you remove the grass, it’s a good idea to add a mix of topsoil and compost. The other option for removing grass in the fall is a process called “sheet covering.” If you go this route, you can’t plant until the following spring. Even though you have to wait to plant, this method is an excellent choice because it leaves you with nutrient-rich soil in the spring. Sheet covering is often compared to making lasagna. Your ingredients are compost, cardboard or newspaper (10 sheets thick), organic materials like grass clippings, and mulch. Spread and moisten compost over the grass you want to get rid of, cover with overlapping cardboard or newspaper and moisten, cover with more compost, top with up to 18 inches of organic material and then top with a layer of mulch. Let it sit until spring and then plant.

MAP O U T S U N E X P O S UR E AND WAT E R ZO N ES Get to know your yard and map out the sun exposure and water zones by figuring out what areas, if any, will get additional irrigation and/or shade. Usually, “Zone 1,” or the zone that will get the most water, is closest to the house and the hose. Zone 2 will get less water than Zone 1, Zone 3 will get less than 2 and so on. Choose plants accordingly. If you plant perennials that will need to be watered during dry spells, group them together and plant them close to a water source. Plant your most xeric plants the furthest away.

A sphinx moth visits Yellow Coneflowers, Blanket Flowers and Cosmos in a drought-resistant garden.

CH OOSE TH E R IGH T PL A NTS Many local botanical gardens in the West have an area devoted to Xeriscape, and many people in Rocky Mountain town have planted low-maintenance landscapes. Take a look around, ask questions at your local nursery and go from there. Local extension offices and native plant societies offer plenty of information on native plants that do well in your area. In order to create a successful Xeriscape landscape, you need to use the right plants for your zone, climate and soil. Low-water plants that do well in gravely, fast-draining soil will probably not do as well in clay soil. Also, some xeric plants don’t thrive in climates that get more than 20 inches of rain a year.

PL A NT PER ENNIA L S, SP R ING- BLOOM I N G BULBS, TR EES A ND SH R U BS IN TH E FA L L If you’re not using the “sheet covering” method to remove grass and you have the perfect spot to start planting, go for it! Planting in the fall is ideal because it gives the transplant time to focus on growing a strong root system. The result is a healthy, beautiful plant in the spring. Try to get plants in the ground a few weeks before your first hard frost (when temperatures drop below 25 degrees Fahrenheit for at least four hours), and water them a couple of times a week during that period. Depending on where you live, aim for planting from September through early October. Happy planting!

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ELWAYVILLE

0 9 .17

MADE IN THE MOUNTAINS

Why do mountain towns inspire so many entrepreneurs?

by PETER KRAY

“B

ig mountains breed big ideas.” When I wrote that sentence in my novel The God of Skiing, I was referring to Wyoming’s Teton Range, and how instrumental those jagged peaks were in inspiring the advent of ski mountaineering, the ultimate winter adventure in which the up and the down are unaided, untracked and elegiacally pure. The same could be said of the ski town entrepreneur. There is something about mountain living that cultivates and even creates the independent spirit, opening the door for a ragtag mix of innovators, visionaries, and opportunists to create a career out of high, thin air, often leaving a lasting mark on the world. Pioneering filmmaker Warren Miller and Colorado’s own alpine icon Klaus Obermeyer immediately spring to mind. Miller started making ski movies almost as soon as there were Western ski towns, getting his start in the nascent, trend-setting luxury of Idaho’s Sun Valley before taking his camera across the globe. He set first tracks for ski film auteurs such as Dick Barrymore, Greg Stump and the Jones brothers of Teton Gravity Research, who would follow in his lead.

t wasn’t until I read Miller’s excellent autobiography, “Freedom Found,” that I learned he and Obermeyer had once partnered on a barnstorming sales tour, driving to ski shops across the Rockies, California and the Pacific Northwest looking for accessories orders—Miller, with a ski bootlace invention, and Obermeyer with Austrian “Koogie Ties,” a kind of puffy bolo for après-minded two plankers. Obermeyer, now 98, would parlay that cold weather tchotchke into an apparel empire, creating the first quilted down parka, mirrored sunglasses, nylon windshirts and mountain sunscreen, as well as one of ski marketing’s most iconic images, the “Obermeyer Girl.” He would also plant the pole for some of today’s rising clothing brands, such as Aspen’s Strafe, Pagosa Springs’s Voormi and Jackson Hole brands Mountain Khakis and Stio to trust their own visions of what kind of jacket you need to put on your back in an always wilder zip code. Skiing itself remains the big-budget dream of the outdoor entrepreneur, as evidenced in the relatively recent development of Silverton Mountain, and the storied, wide-reaching, powder-plated glove of Vail Resorts. And from the summit of the chairs, that dream filters down to independent snowboard and

Illustration by Kevin Howdeshell / THEBRAVEUNION.COM

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ski-makers like Wagner, Venture, Folsom and RMU. From there, the jobs multiply—condobuilders, restauranteurs, bartenders, oh so many realtors, weed dealers (who finally went pro here in Colorado), mutt-mending veterinarians, housekeeping services, rental shops and a couple hundred dozen t-shirt and chocolate shops inevitably follow down the ski trail. Of course, it’s not just about skiing anymore. It hasn’t been for years. There’s only so much snow, you know, which is why Telluride started its game-changing Bluegrass Festival and Salida its fast-water FIBArk. It’s why Crested Butte played an integral role in inventing mountain biking, and why so many craft brewers such as New Belgium, Odell, Avery and Ska started creating a richer, tastier alternative to Coors (the original ‘microbrew,’ which my New York state-based uncles used to pack into their carry-ons whenever they returned home from Colorado).

hy all this inventiveness? Or to willfully misquote Marlon Brando in “The Godfather,” “To what do we owe this generosity of ideas?” To answer that question, I asked my high school friend Chuck Sullivan to shed a little Colorado sunlight on the matter, focusing on how smart high altitude innovators have become in recent years. “Sully” founded local entrepreneur support agency Something Independent precisely for the

purpose of celebrating Colorado-bred businesses, from distillers to tent and sleeping bag makers (hello, Big Agnes) to furniture designers, and anyone else with a unique vision about how to make this state a better place for us all. He told me, “You’re seeing mountain towns throughout the West leaning into entrepreneurship as a path to creating meaningful year-round jobs and healthy local economies. The likes of Telluride Venture Accelerator and Jackson Hole’s Silicon Couloir are harnessing technology, talent and capital in providing would-be entrepreneurs invaluable support systems in remote, rural communities.” He added that, “There’s a real sense of opportunity tied up in the idea of putting a stake in the ground and carving out a life and business in these special places. This notion is by no means new, however. The Rockies have been a lure for generations of the entrepreneurially-inclined. They’re the wildly independent and stubbornly self-reliant type, but when the call goes out you just know who will be the first to the barn raising. And this is exactly what we’re seeing today.” My response to that kind of wisdom bomb? “Oh yeah! Let’s see where we go from here.” Colorado wants your ideas. —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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