Elevation Outdoors September 2018

FALL CYCLING GEAR | THE TRIBES GET A VOICE | THE BIG BEER FEST SEPTEMBER 2018

FREE!

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ADVOCACY. CONSERVATION. ACTIVISM. TIMMY O’NEILL FINDS HOPE IN PARQUE PATAGONIA WITH TOMPKINS CONSERVATION

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PLAYS WELL WITH BOULDERS. There’s a reason we put our beer in cans instead of bottles. Because when we can our beer, you can do more with it. More hiking and biking. More climbing and camping.

More of anything you can think of, out where our beer was brewed to be enjoyed: in nature.

At Upslope, we can so you can.

#cancountry 2

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ROOM TO ROAM TOMPKINS CONSERVATION PROTECTS WILDLIFE BY CREATING NEW PARKS. SEE PAGE 32

13 13 WA SH IN GT

30 3. 27 1.9 38 2 ON AV E, GO LD EN CO |

AMANDA H HOT DOG (.11B) THE DOG HOUSE - CLEAR CREEK CANYON | PHOTO ANDREW D

photo courtesy TOMPKINS CONSERVATION

CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS 7 EDITOR’S LETTER Why our editor is embracing solitude.

9 QUICK HITS

31 HEAR THIS

14 FLASHPOINT

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

After a meeting with Colorado officials, Native American tribes are poised to have a bigger say in outdoor recreation on their lands and beyond.

17 HOT SPOT

Bike, hike and revel in these these leaf-peeping season adventures.

BENTGATE MOUNTAINEERING S 9TH ANNUAL

n o a s S e k i S Kicko ff P arty THURSDAY OCTOBER 4TH / 5-9PM AT THE AMERICAN MOUNTAINEERING CENTER VISIT BENTGATE.COM/EVENTS FOR DETAILS

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21 STRAIGHT TALK

Filmmaker and adventurer Ben Clark tells how he made it through The Snowman Trek and put it on the big screen.

Get into tree pose, seek out places to play and the best brunch in Missoula, take part in citizen science, download The Dyrt and more...

ESTINATION D ’S O D A R O L CO

SEPTEMBER 2018

19 NUMEROLOGY

The results of a massive scholarly survey give us a sober look at sexual harassment and assault in the climbing community.

The Colorado Sound builds community on the airwaves.

32 THE ROAD

Timmy O'Neill finds hope in the work of his friends at Tompkins Conservation, who helped create 10-million acres of new national parks in South America.

34 ELWAYVILLE

Stop posting on social media—just vote.

FEATURES

27 THE GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL

Whether you scored a ticket or not, we guide you through the show.

28 FALL HIKING GEAR

All the stuff you need for autumn rambles on the trail.

29 FALL BIKE GEAR

Spin into the season with these hot new rides.

ON THE COVER Guanacos in Chile’s Parque Patagonia. Artist Katherine Homes, a member of One Percent for the Planet, will be auctioning off the original painting and donating a percentage of sales to Tompkins Conservation.

by Katherine Homes / katherinehomes.com

22 LEGENDS OF OUTDOOR ACTIVISM

These grizzled warriors have been fighting the good fight for communities and environmental and social justice for decades.

Learn how they endure.

WANT MORE? CATCH UP ON PAST ISSUES, YOUR FAVORITE BLOGGERS AND DAILY ONLINE CONTENT AT ELEVATIONOUTDOORS.COM

THERE’S ALWAYS A CHANCE YOU

’LL F IND Y OURSELF OFF THE BEATEN PATH

QUADRO HARDCASE POLYCARBONATE HARDCASE WITH VAPOR AND ODOR RESISTANT COMPARTMENT INSIDE

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CO N T R I B U TO R S

Renew Your Spirit

4 seasons to recharge.

41 state parks to discover.

700 miles of trails to hike.

225,000 acres to explore.

E DI TOR-I N -CHI E F

DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

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WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE THIS YEAR?

doug@elevationoutdoors.com PRE SI DE N T

BLAKE DEMASO

blake@elevationoutdoors.com PUBLI SHE R

CASEY VANDENOEVER

casey@elevationoutdoors.com ART DI RE CTOR

LAUREN WORTH

lauren@elevationoutdoors.com EDITORIAL + PRODUCTION M AN AG I N G E DI TOR

CAMERON MARTINDELL

cameron@elevationoutdoors.com SE N I OR E DI TOR

CHRIS KASSAR

chris@elevationoutdoors.com COPY ASSASSI N

TRACY ROSS

E DI TOR-AT-LARG E

PETER KRAY I N T E RN

SOPHIA ZAYAS ASSOCI AT E CRE AT I VE DI RE CTOR

MEGAN JORDAN

megan@elevationoutdoors.com CON T RI BUT I N G E DI TORS

AARON BIBLE, ADAM CHASE, ROB COPPOLILLO, LIAM DORAN, JAMES DZIEZYNSKI, HUDSON LINDENBERGER, SONYA LOONEY, CHRIS VAN LEUVEN CON T RI BUT I N G WRI T E RS

JENN FIELDS, PATTY MALESH, ELIZABETH MILLER, EMMA MURRAY, KRISTEN POPE, TIMMY O'NEILL, SONYA PEVZNER, AVERY STONICH ADVERTISING + BUSINESS SE N I OR ACCOUN T E XE CUT I VE

MARTHA EVANS

martha@elevationoutdoors.com ACCOUN T E XE CUT I VE

CONOR SEDMAK

conor@elevationoutdoors.com BUSI N E SS M AN AG E R

MELISSA GESSLER

melissa@elevationoutdoors.com CI RCULAT I ON M AN AG E R

KAITY VANCE

DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

I will be volunteering for candidates committed to legislation and protection for our land, water and air.

CASEY VANDENOEVER

I'll be donating my extra garden vegetables— and an extra can or two from the grocery store—to the local food bank each month.

CONOR SEDMAK

Relying on the bike path for my Monday through Friday commute.

CAMERON MARTINDELL

Setting a good example to my kids and exposing them to doing good so that they will learn to make a difference.

EMMA MURRAY

I'm going to listen more—to my gut, to my heart, and to others. The more we all listen to each other, the more good will follow.

SONYA PEVZNER

Tutoring a friend from Afghanistan in English, and investing my time and energy into the refugee and immigrant communities.

JENN FIELDS

Eating local. This year, I joined Red Wagon Farm’s CSA.

kvance@elevationoutdoors.com DIGITAL MEDIA ON LI N E DI RE CTOR

CRAIG SNODGRASS

craig@elevationoutdoors.com

PATTY MALESH

I've always loved the transformative power of respectful debate.

DI G I TAL M AN AG E R

TYRA SUTAK

Visit or camp in a Colorado state park this fall. cpw.state.co.us/Discover 1-800-244-5613

tyra@elevationoutdoors.com

ELEVATIONOUTDOORS.COM 2510 47th Street Unit 209 Boulder, Colorado 80301 (303) 449-1560 P U B L I S H E D BY

©2018 Summit Publishing, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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I’m raising funds for my annual Grand Teton climb with a dozen U.S. military veterans with No Barriers and Exum Mountaineering.

PETER KRAY SUMMIT

Pearl Lake State Park

TIMMY O'NEILL

PUBLISHING

I will be listening to learn, not just to reply.

We don't do that enough here in 'Merica!

E D I TO R ' S L E T T E R

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BRING THE SOLITUDE With more visitors and more pressure on wild places, we need to make sure we show an appreciation for silence to all those who want to get outside and play on our shared public lands.

by DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

I

n the last issue of this magazine, I talked about climbing Mount Bierstadt with my family and how surprised I was to be excited about the crowds up there with us. I used to hate crowds in wilderness— but I was happy to see so many people, especially young, motivated people who will be shaping the thoughts and policies of this country soon, out here. As far as I am concerned, the more advocates we have for wilderness and wild places, the more people who love mountains and want them to remain protected, the better. I think we need that in these days when our current national government and local governments in many places in the West feel as if they can simply mine the land for private profit no matter what we want.

A lot of readers got upset with the idea that I liked crowds in wilderness, however, so I want to take some time to refine exactly what I mean.

Yes, the more people who love and fight for wild places, the better. This particular issue of Elevation Outdoors is dedicated to advocacy, conservation

and activism because, the way we see it, wild places, and a healthy outdoor community that includes people, cultures and wildlife require a constant fight in the face of well funded ignorance. This fight never ends.

I also understand that for wilderness to be wilderness it relies on one powerful word that Howard Zahniser insisted be in the allimportant Wilderness Act of 1964. It has to remain untrammeled. If wild places become overrun, they lose something essential to their souls.

They lose the very reason why we go to them. We live in a world where most of what we do is determined by market forces and human institutions around us. In wild places, we find self-determination, silence, space to be as we want to be—no matter how society sees us as far as race, gender, class, political polarity... we can just be that inner core of ourselves out in the wild. If we lose that, we lose an essential part of being human individuals.

Solitude is one of our most powerful freedoms. And we lose that when wilderness gets loved to death.

More people in wild places is inevitable, however.

More people should have the right to wild freedoms.

The challenge we face as people who care about wild places is to find a way to preserve what gives these places power as well as ensure they remain sacred in

the political sphere. That OPEN SPACE may require management WE CAN FIND AND that limits visitors, even CULTIVATE A SENSE OF SOLITUDE EVEN IN if we don't want it. It definitely requires teaching BUSTLING PLACES LIKE BOULDER MOUNTAIN wilderness ethics, ensuring PARKS. that all these new visitors photo by DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN treat these places with respect—no matter if that means staying on the trail, picking up trash or not hiking with music blasting.

I believe we can open wild places to more people without losing them.

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Photo: Greg Balkin

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QUICK HITS

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THINK

LIKE A MOUNTAIN A LITTLE STRETCHING AFTER MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE CAN ENSURE YOU KEEP COMING BACK.

NATURAL STUDIO SANAM PEJUHESH SETTLES INTO TREE POSE AT THE ICONIC CRYSTAL MILL NEAR THE TOWN OF CRYSTAL, COLORADO. photo by DAVID CLIFFORD

WIHOUT EVEN STEPPING FOOT ON A TRAIL, MOUNTAINS CAN TEACH US A THING OR TWO ABOUT LIFE: HOW THEY STAND TALL, weathering storms of every season, continually providing for their flora and fauna. As life brings its own stress storms, take a moment to reconnect with your own wellbeing—take care of yourself, and you can show up more fully for others. For the grounding benefits of tree pose, head outside and start with your left foot firmly rooted. Feel a connection to the earth. Using your hands, guide your right foot to the inner side of your left thigh or calf, careful not to put pressure on the knee. Square your hips forward; roll your shoulders back down your spine. Lift your arms to frame your face. As you breathe in, press down through your heel and lift up through the crown of your head. Stand proud, exude gratitude and mountain strength. —Emma Murray

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QUICK HITS

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REAL SCIENCE Coloradan civilians monitor their state’s river health, informing water policy and environmental best-practices.

REGULAR DAYS IN THE OFFICE ARE

few and far between for Chad Rudow, and he’s not complaining.

What he loves most is being outside, ankle-deep in a stream—a routine occurrence for him as the water quality coordinator for the Roaring Fork Conservancy, based in Basalt, Colorado.

On days when he’s out in the field, Rudow collects water samples from the Crystal River, flowing from a glacial basin south of Carbondale.

With a caddy of tools, he’ll funnel water into sterilized containers andthe temperature and the river’s rate of flow, among other environmental metrics. Volunteers around the valley do the same at a handful of other sites (roughly every other month), and once Rudow compiles their samples, he sends them off to Denver, where they’re processed by the nonprofit River Watch of Colorado.

“We’re looking for different indicators of stream health,” explains Sam Gilbertson, River Watch’s community outreach coordinator.

From Denver, the samples are shipped to a lab in Fort Collins, where the water’s composition is analyzed and different trace metals and minerals are flagged.<<I’m more interested in learning about the indicators than where this is shipped. Can he use this space to tell us the former?

Some770,000 miles of river snake through Colorado’s landscape, hydrating humans, watering crops, and catering aquatic and non-aquatic habitats along the way. Contaminated or irregular water supplies can directly impact all facets of life in an ecosystem, thus keeping tabs on statewide water quality is a crucial, albeit humongous, task—which is

JUMPING IN THE STREAM CITIZEN SCIENTISTS CAN MONITOR AND RECORD TO HELP POLICYMAKERS AND RESEARCHERS DO THEIR JOBS. photo courtesy RIVER WATCH

where the “citizen scientists” come in.

On behalf of River Watch, Gilbertson orchestrates a fleet of as many as 130 volunteer groups— “Stream Teams,” like what Rudow is a part of—that live across the state and help the Denver team identify where and when water quality issues arise. “We have groups in Durango, Steamboat, Crested Butte ... really all over the state,” Gilbertson says.

“Some stations have been sampled monthly, with few interruptions, for 30 years.”

According to Rudow, “One of the really neat components of River Watch is that it’s taking ordinary citizens ... and actually doing real science.”

Between the volunteer training and the organization’s quality control measures, “we generate high-enough quality data acceptable at the state level.”

TECHNOLOGY

To date, the information culled from the volunteers’ years of collections has accumulated into Colorado’s largest and most comprehensive water database. It now informs entities like the Environmental Protection Agency, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the State’s Department of Public Health and Environment.

“River Watch data has been used to help set new temperature standards for streams and rivers,” Rudow explains. “[Agencies] take the data and use it to apply what they know about what trout require for stream health, and they use that to develop new standards and say, ‘Okay, this stream should never go above a certain temperature for the health of the aquatic life.’”

Few, if any, states have large citizen-supported programs making such a tangible impact, says Rudow.

“This story presents a unique cyclical partnership” between water and everyday citizens, he believes, poetically emblematic of nature’s harmony.

—E.M.

GEAR WE LOVE

THE DYRT

SEVENTY2 SURVIVAL SYSTEM

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While most of us in the outdoor recreation space could probably put a solid survival kit together, it would mean pulling from all of our gear strewn across the house. Instead, just keep this bag in the truck or by the door to be ready to go on a moment’s notice. $350 | UNCHARTEDSUPPLYCO.COM

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EAT SLEEP PLAY: MISSOULA, MONTANA With a youthful spirit and at-your-doorstepoutdoor accessibility, a trip to Missoula is worth the extra miles.

EAT

Missoula, Montana’s second largest metropolis feels more like a small town with big city perks.

With charming pockets of culinary exploration sprinkled throughout the city, visitors quicklyrealize that there simply isn’t enough time to try everything. Instead, do this: For quick breakfast treats, head to Bernice’s Bakery where muffins, croissants and other treats line their pastry cases. Enjoy Missoula’s “best brunch” (we agree) at Burn St. Bistro on the westside of town. For picnic supplies, pick up a baguette at Le Petit Outre, a French bakery where—surprise, surprise—fresh bread reigns. Or check out The

BOOKS NORTH: FINDING MY WAY WHILE RUNNING THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL Ultrarunning champ Scott Jurek is no stranger to long distances—but running over 50 miles a day for 46 days along the oft-rugged 2,189-mile Appalachian Trail for a fastest known time record nearly broke him, and makes for an incredible story. $15 | LITTLEBROWN.COM

N E W YOR K T IMES BESTS ELLIN

E AT A ND RU N

G AUTHOR O F

NOR T H Finding My Way While Running the Appalac hian Trail

SC OT T JU RE K with

Jen ny Jur ek

Good Food Store, Missoula’s local version of Whole Foods,perfect for grab-and-go lunch or dinner. For a sit-down sup, check out Biga Pizza on Main St. And for more civilized dining experience, reserve a seat at Scotty’s Table downtown or enjoy a little slice of Italy at Cafe Dulce where traditional Italian dishes meet a romantic yet casual environment.

So many little annoying mistakes SLEEP

Missoula’s downtown is undergoing a massive revitalization and with that comes face lifts right and left. Old names are becoming new again like Missoula’s Holiday Inn. While mogul hotels aren’t typically on the top of our list, this one is located on the riverside, is smack downtown, and the riverfront trail starts outside its backdoor. There is also a massive park between the river and the hotel, which makes chucking a frisbee or taking a nap in the shade a daily occurrence. And for families, kids eat free during their stay—a money saving perk that can only be offered by a big name brand.

For those looking for a comfy, lowmaintenance stay, The Shady Spruce Hostel is a well organized, charming, laid-back option. They offer two dormitories, single and triple private rooms, and a private full service suite and are also located downtown.

PLAY

Whether you are looking for mountains, rivers, lakes, or canyons, Missoula has you covered. Raft the Clark Fork of the Columbia River with Montana River Guides.

The south end of the Rattlesnake National Recreation and Wilderness Area is just north of town and is the perfect playground for hiking,

FEELING MISSOULA

FINDING A HOME

THE HOME OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA IS A HIP, BUSTLING PLACE—BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN'T ESCAPE FOR THE TYPICAL TREASUREE STATE SOLITUDE IF YOU WANT.

DENVER'S BOY SCOUT TROOP 1532 HAS BECOME A SAFE SPACE FOR REFUGEES FROM ACROSS THE PLANET. IN THIS OUTDOOR FAMILY, THE BOYS CAN GET OUT AND EXPLORE THE MOUNTAINS AND MOVE AWAY FROM STEREOTYPES.

photo courtesy MISSOULA TOURISM

photo courtesy SONYA PEVZNER

mountain biking, rock climbing and horseback riding. For a large town, Missoula is surprisingly bike-able.

Leave your car parked and set off.

The River Trail network lets you pull off to play in the river, check out an outdoor concert at Bonner park, or tap into your inner child and stop for a ride on the town’s vintage Carousel.

—Jordan Martindell

LOCAL HERO: JUSTIN WILSON The Boy Scout leader is helping make refugees feel at home and find healing.

FOR THE REFUGEE YOUTH OF DENVER’S

Boy Scout Troop 1532 and their scout leader Justin Wilson, spending time outside and challenging themselves is nothing new. In many ways, the boys of Troop 1532 are just like any other Boy Scout troop—rambunctious and playful, especially outside.

However, being a refugee in Denver isn’t easy, and participating in Boy Scouts is both uniquely challenging and rewarding for the youth. For them, getting outside in nature is a chance to experience a sense of freedom and childhood that is rarer in their everyday lives.

Many of the troop’s youth have come to the United States in the last five years—from countries like Burma, Nepal, Syria, the Democratic

Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda—and they remember their lives in their former countries vividly.

After arriving in the US, they often start working as young as 14, helping their families to pay the bills.

“When we were in Nepal, we had a lot of freedom. People think that when immigrants come to the US that they have a lot of freedom, but the reality is very different. Now, when we go exploring outdoors with the boy scouts, we get a chance to really just be kids, to not have as many responsibilities,” says one of the boys.

Based in Denver’s Mango House, which provides resources to refugees, Troop 1532 is one of very few in the country that are entirely comprised of refugee youth. Justin, whose fight for equality within the Boy Scouts includes an Executive Director position within the non-profit Scouts for Equality, is passionate about increasing the reach of this program.

“One of the difficulties of organizing a boy scout troop of refugees is the lack of recurring parental involvement,” says Justin.

“Parents tend to stay involved in the troops that their kids were in after their kids age out. If a fraction of those people decided to dedicate their time to starting a boy scout troop like this one, we could have 20 refugee troops across the country.”

—Sonya Pevzner

CHALK UP, RESPONSIBLY It’s not hard to be a good business and do some good in the world. Thats’ the thought behind this Colorado climbing chalk company dedicated to leaving no trace behind.

GAZING AT THE CLIFFS THAT SPLICE

Eldorado Canyon, Shawn Axelrod was fed up. The bright white smears of chalk climbers left behind on the rock not only distracted him from the conglomerate sandstone’s beauty, but also irked him. Didn't the unnatural polka-dots directly contrast with the “Leave No Trace” ethics many climbers claim to uphold?

“The visual impact that climbers have is understated,” Axelrod says.

So he decided to find a solution for himself, a life-long climber, and other climbers around the world.

With the help of his two sons, Axelrod created Climbing Addicts, a line of colored chalk that blends with two different rock hues: Wall Street Gold, meant for desert climbing; Yosemite Gray, designed for granite and the alpine; and Indoor White, for use in the gym.

While colored chalk isn’t a new concept, Climbing Addicts uses unique natural pigments for coloration whiletrying to “tip the reputation colored chalk has gotten over the years” into high-performance terrain. Plus, Axelrod says ditching white chalk actually makes climbing outdoors more fun. Without white tick marks highlighting a wall, he argues, “it keeps [routes] a little stealthy.

It’s actually a more adventurous approach.”

—E.M.

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TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME ACTIVISTS

NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCACY

Three ways that are more effective than writing a check. If you love the outdoors chances are you want to protect it. Here’s how to take a more active approach, by becoming more engaged.

WE CAN ALL GET ALONG

CHOOSE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS OVER NATIONAL

ones: National organizations may have a larger presence, but local groups can have a surprising level of impact. Along with meeting new people passionate about similar things, your time and skills are more likely to be put to greater use through connections within your community.

Attend a local fundraiser or event in order to research groups that might be a match.

Use your skills: There are lots of different ways to support a cause. Managing databases or writing grants isn’t glamorous, but both are critical to conservation efforts. If you’re tech savvy, offer to help with a website. Got a background in marketing? Help promote an event. The key is to go with your strengths. Don’t canvas if you don’t like people, or make calls if you’d rather be outside. Find ways to lend your strengths in places that can use them and in ways that others can’t.

Do your research, and then do something: It’s important to learn what you can about a cause or organization first, but don’t let that take the place of real action. Analysis paralysis is common when sizing up how to make the biggest impacts, but you’ll learn more by doing, so go do it.

—Heather Ridge

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YOU MAY BE SURPRISED AT HOW EFFECTIVE AN ACTIVIST YOU CAN BE WHEN YOU JUST GIVE IT A TRY. photo by HEATHER RIDGE

WILDLIFE CROSSINGS ARE A SMART, EASY WAY TO KEEP ANIMALS, AND HUMANS, SAFE. photo by J BURRELL/WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY

HIGH WAY Simple wildlife crossings can save human and animal lives.

WHEN AN ANIMAL NEEDS TO CROSS A ROAD, IT IS OFTEN

forced to run a deadly gauntlet of cars, pickup trucks, and semis to get to the other side to find food, escape danger, seek potential mates, or move to new habitat. Every year, thousands of animals— and sometimes people—are killed when animals don’t make it across safely.

In order to prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions, many communities throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, are installing wildlife overpasses and underpasses. These bridges and tunnels are specially designed for animals such as deer, coyotes, mountain lions, and bears. Wildlife fences typically funnel the animals to these crossings.

Dr. Marcel Huijser, senior road ecologist at Montana State University’s Western Transportation Institute, says, “Reduction of collisions with large wild animals is best achieved by keeping wildlife off the road with wildlife fences… They allow for safe crossing opportunities and allow animals to use the areas on both sides of a road.”

—Kristen Pope

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FLASHPOINT

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NATIVE VOICES

Back in 2016, five tribes and the outdoor industry united around one national monument. In 2018, Colorado state officials want to turn that historic coming together into a lasting alliance and long-term policy.

by ELIZABETH MILLER

D

uring the first morning of the summer Outdoor Retailer trade show in July, five climbers, ultra-runners, and outdoor sports advocates—all ambassadors for Natives Outdoors—circled a table at the Patagonia booth. The air buzzed with a vibe that had nothing to do with the newest gear. The energy stemmed from the previous day’s summit, which convened representatives of a dozen tribes from seven western states to talk about outdoor recreation.

“We're natural allies, the outdoor industry and the tribes, and now we need to figure out how we navigate that relationship,” says Lydia Jennings, a Natives Outdoors ambassador and ultra runner. Natives Outdoors was founded by Len Necefer in 2017 to promote images of indigenous people at the crags, on the trails, aboard boats and with freshly caught fish in hands, and it has branched into efforts to restore tribal names to peaks and to make the outdoor industry an economic driver for tribes often located near public lands. Necefer

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worked with the Colorado Commission on Indian Affairs and Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office to organize the event.

What this industry is and how to integrate it economically are a core qustion for the group, but so are increasing opportunities for outdoor recreation for tribal membersand securing tribes a spot in steering management of Colorado’s public lands. Summit attendees at the July meeting even had a chance to review an accord signed by representatives from eight states with outdoor recreation offices to align around shared principles, one of which calls for engaging tribal governments.

A NEW ALLIANCE

With a shared interest in causes like preserving Bears Ears as a national monument having sparked tenuous alliances between the outdoor industry and tribes, the two gourps have turned their attention toward solidifying that relationship. But these alliances don’t always come easily.

Like any use of the land, outdoor recreation has its impacts, and historic animosities stem from climbers and rafters ignoring the sanctity of spaces like Ship Rock, the Snake River, and Devil’s Tower.

Take Colorado’s 14,000-foot-tall Blanca Peak (Sisnaajini) which is one of four mountains that bound traditional Navajo lands and figures in their creation stories. Necefer has hiked up to the lake below Blanca, a popular spot for peak-baggers and offroaders, and found scattered garbage.

“This is a sacred place and has a lot of significance, so just tread lightly,” Necefer says. “The principles of ‘leave no trace’ and minimizing impact come back to respect not

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only for the natural environment and what’s around you, but for all of the thousands of years of people that have come here before you.”

If people knew this place’s cultural history—or, for example, that Rocky Mountain National Park has traces of human presence dating back 10,000 years and continuing into the 1900s— perhaps they’d take a little more care.

“There still is a population of people who don’t think Native Americans are around anymore and would be surprised to know there are 573 federally recognized tribes,” says Ernest House, Jr., executive director of the Colorado Commission on Indian Affairs. The state recognizes 48 tribes who claim traditional homelands in it, and roughly 83,000 American Indians or Alaskan Natives still live in Colorado, according to Census data.

“We’re still here, we’re still thriving, and we’re still around trying to honor our culture and our heritage,” House says.

As Colorado wrangles a booming population and a growing pinch on its resources, House and Necefer both argue, who better to turn to than the people who have the longest history of stewarding these lands than Native people? For the first time, the state plans to do just that this year.

The Department of Natural Resources’ Parks and Wildlife Department is working on the latest draft of the State of Colorado Outdoor Recreation Plan. That plan is rewritten every five years to qualify the state for federal grant funds, including those from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and is maturing into a vision document for the outdoors.

“It’s looking at how we treat our natural resources, our wildlife, other users on the trail, outdoor rec,

SISNAAJINI SUMMIT THIS 14,351-FOOT PEAK OVERLOOKING THE SAN LUIS VALLEY IS KNOWN AS BLANCA PEAK, BUT LEN NECEFER OF NATIVES OUTDOORS IS ON A MISSION TO GIVE IT BACK THE TRADITIONAL NAME THAT HIS TRIBE, THE DINÉ, USE FOR IT: SISNAAJINI. photo by LEN NECEFER

and cultural resources,” says Jody Kennedy, public involvement planning specialist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “Our state’s population is growing so rapidly that the need for a stronger stewardship ethic is really critical. That is kind of a core piece that brings these diverse users together. We can all recognize that need.”

So the state is trying to involve tribes in that work and ensure the final plan includes their priorities.

“Tribes often have been left out of management structures and haven’t been consulted on lands that are bordering the reservation,” says Aaron Mike, owner of Pangaea Mountain Guides, native lands regional coordinator for the Access Fund and a Natives Outdoors ambassador. Mike grew up exploring Monument Valley with his grandfather, discovered what rock shoes and a chalk bag can do, and has been climbing for the 17 years since. “It would be a huge step just to have that seat again.”

One way Necefer, who holds a Ph.D. in engineering and public policy, argues these new allies could cement ties between state governments and Native people is through economic integration.

“If tribes have a major stake in jobs or employment, that relationship can be really solidified and force the need to work together,” he says. “I think

Stepping into these conversations may at least help people get past some of the fears about engaging with tribes, if not learn how to obtain permission to enter tribal land or to understand why some areas are off limits. the alignment of interest is already there in a big way, especially around environmental issues.”

Kennedy, like Necefer, says outdoor recreation could secure the economic vitality of Colorado’s rural communities, including those on and near tribal lands. While it’s too soon to say quite what projects could stem from this plan, there’s hope it will also imbed some of that cultural sensitivity Necefer says is needed.

“The tribes connect us to Colorado’s history in a really important way and we need to think about doing a better job of connecting people who are in the outdoors recreating, whether they’re climbing a fourteener, on a trail or in a state park, to the historic presence of tribes,” Kennedy says.

TRIBAL CONVERSATION

The renewed efforts from the state have been met with some interest from the tribes and they’re working out what their input might be, House says.

There’s also been a little skepticism.

Tribes have previously seen surveys on community needs identify those issues, and but agencies have never put services on the ground to address them. What remains to be seen is how the state responds to the feedback to this survey, which was tailored to ask about management issues specific to tribes. Kennedy says a first read on feedback shows tribes asking the same questions a lot of communities come up with around outdoor recreation and conservation, health benefits, and how to increase opportunities to sports that aren’t always affordable or self-explanatory.

As it stands now, it’s like tribes are deliberately left out of the discussion around Colorado’s full-speed charge into becoming a booming outdoor sports destination. “There’s been an initiative to create more mountain biking trails and loops through southwest Colorado, and sometimes when it comes to tribal lands, it just stops,” House says. “I think sometimes people are afraid to approach the tribes.”

He also thinks that the 20,000acre tribal park that his tribe (the Ute Mountain Ute) runs near Mesa Verde National Park is “one of the best-kept secrets in the state.” It’s a chance to see similar artifacts as are in that neighboring Mesa Verde National Park, but on the tribe’s terms instead of the federal government’s.

Stepping into these conversations may at least help people get past

some of the fears about engaging with the tribes, if not learn how to obtain permission to enter tribal land or to understand why some areas are off limits.

“If we continue to stay silent, it just perpetuates that division,” House says.

One of the places the state is working to ease those divides is in its annual Partners in the Outdoors Conference, organized by Dan Zimmerer, statewide partnership coordinator for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The event assembles outdoor industry advocates, business owners, hunters, anglers, and conservationists to talk about Colorado’s public lands.

LAT

47.9539° N

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CONNECTING ALL COLORADANS

This year, House was invited to speak on a panel with Necefer and Steve Whiteman, director of wildlife management for the Southern Ute Tribe, which runs a wildlife and conservation program. It was his first invitation to that event, House says.

They’ve been working to add diversity each year, Zimmerer says, and will continue to as they plan next year’s event.

“We need to make sure all Coloradans are connected to the outdoors and feel like they’re represented, and when that happens, it really sets the stage for good things for conservation and recreation in Colorado,” Zimmerer says.

If all of this sounds like a lot of good intention and not a ton of change on the ground, that’s because, in some ways it is. Tribes are expected to reconvene at an upcoming Outdoor Retailer show—but the state outdoor recreation plan won’t be enacted until 2019.

“We might not know the answer, but we’re starting the conversation,” Zimmerer says. “We’re trying to get the right voices in the room talking, and we don’t know where it’s going to lead.”

To continue those talks, shortly after Outdoor Retailer’s booths were packed back down into storage and the convention center in downtown Denver emptied of ultralight tents and next season’s cut of rain jackets and yoga pants, Necefer and Zimmerer headed out into the field. They made the hike up to North Table Mountain above Golden, and there, between pitches of basalt—a new hobby for Zimmerer—they talked about next steps for this work.

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TOP FALL ROMPS The leaves are turning. The temps are cooling down. You’re in top shape from a summer of action. It’s time to enjoy the most brilliant season in the Colorado mountains.

by CHRIS KASSAR

S

ummer is slipping away, but don’t despair.

Hillsides alight in fiery red, burnt orange, and glimmering gold up the “wow-factor” of already incredible Colorado adventures. Welcome the cooling temps and the shorter days by exploring our favorite spots so you can get the most out of this pumpkin-apple-flannel-filled season.

PEDAL THE ASPENS

No spot shows off fall colors and delivers worldclass singletrack better than Crested Butte’s Kebler Pass. Two outstanding trails, Kebler Wagon Trail #606 and Dyke Trail #838, roll through one of the state’s largest aspen stands. It may be just a little over five miles long, but the Dyke Trail delivers all the action a mountain biker can handle. Or you can rack up some gravel-grinder miles and explore the 30-mile Kebler Pass Road (CO 12), a sweet mellow gravel route that tops out at 10,000 feet along its picturesque journey from CB to Highway 133 near Paonia Dam (it also makes for a stunning, chill scenic drive). Either way, you will find yourself in the midst of those aspens.

Closer to Denver, the 30-plus miles of challenging riding on the Colorado Trail from Kenosha Pass to Breckenridge has it all: lungbusting climbs, giggle-inducing descents, techy rock sections and fast flowy miles. Add in panoramic views, a high point of 12,000 feet on Georgia Pass, and stands of radiant aspens, and it makes for a classic, must-do autumn ride.

BAG PEAKS

Summer weekends on a fourteener can feel more like a trip to the mall than the wild. But come fall, you can find more solitude, peace, and quiet on even the most popular peaks. Before early season snows come, tackle the East Slopes route on Snowmass, a 23-mile journey that gains 5,700 feet and rambles through miles of stellar, brilliantly colored aspens.

Sleep serenely under the stars at Snowmass Lake before making a push for the top, which includes a solid section of fun Class 3 scrambling to reach the 14,092-foot summit. Another autumn favorite is Mount Holy Cross, the Sawatch Range’s northernmost fourteener. The 11-mile roundtrip via the North Ridge route to the 14,005-foot summit climbs through tranquil forest and offers stunning views of massive walls of flawless granite, the Gore Range and hillsides enveloped in seas of amber, crimson and orange.

WATCH WILDLIFE

With fall comes mating and migration—and the ideal time to spy many of Colorado’s wild inhabitants.

From the mountains to the plains, stunning colors and sweeping vistas also make this time of year perfect for unforgettable memories and capturing unique photos. In wildlife-rich Rocky Mountain

National Park (rmnp.org), the elk rut, or mating season, peaks from mid-September to mid-October.

During this time, more than 3,200 resident elk dominate the park and town. Hear bulls bugle, watch them lock antlers and vie for female attention, and enjoy watching dozens (or even hundreds) of these majestic creatures congregate together in meadows fringed with remarkable mountain scenery and radiant fall colors. Don’t miss Elk Fest (September 29-30), a free celebration complete with bugling contests and elk-inspired exhibits, arts and crafts and activities; visitestespark.com/events-calendar/ special-events/elk-fest/

EMBRACE THE SEASON

No fall is complete without a foray into some of the season’s most beloved customs. Actively partake in the harvest with a stop at one of the state’s countless apple-picking spots. At the 100-year old Ya Ya Farm and Orchard (yayafarmandorchard.com) in Longmont you can pick a bag of apples, press your own cider, feed farm animals, and enjoy a hay ride. At Hotchkiss’s Delicious Orchards (bigbs.com), which is also home to Big B’s cider-makers, you can stock up on apples in the shadow of Mount Lamborn, sip a cold hard cider in the taproom, and bring home other fresh veggies and fruits from the garden.

Experience the scarier side of the season by exploring the state’s plethora haunted spots. Take a night spirit tour and learn about the "active" phenomena and spirit folklore surrounding the 100+ year-old Stanley Hotel (stanleyhotel.com), the famed setting for the interior shots (including those creepy twins and the furries in The Shining), in Estes Park.

Or, check out the Molly Brown House (mollybrown.

org) in Denver. Visitors LIVE THE SPLENOR and staff alike report WE ALL KNOW seeing ghosts roam the THAT COLORADO'S house, while others often FOURTEENERS CAN BE CROWDED IN THE smell pipe smoke, which SUMMER MONTHS. BUT was a habit of JJ, Molly COME FALL, YOU CAN Brown’s husband HAVE PEAKS LIKE HOLY CROSS AND SNOWMASS There’s not shortage ALL TO YOURSELF IF YOU of festivals celebrating HEAD UP ON A WEEKDAY. autumn in Colorado.

THAT SOLITUDE MEANS Chief among them YOU SHOULD BE ON THE Mountain Harvest LOOKOUT FOR WILDLIFE. Festival in Paonia photo by CHRIS KASSAR (mountainharvestfestival. org), September 27-30.

The annual celebration of local music, art, farms, food and spirits is organized by the nonprofit organization Mountain Harvest Creative and highlights the music of the North Fork Valley, local arts and crafts and fun activities like the Great Chili Cookoff, Grape Stomp, Farm Tours and Saturday Sundown Swing. At Applefest in Cedaredge (cedaredgchamber.com), October 6-7, you can pick your favorite fruit and enjoy the music.

Denver’s Oktoberfest (hedenveroktoberfest.com) puts a Colorado turn on the classic Bavarian beer weekend. And if you appreciate drawl and tall tales, turn your reins to the Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering (durangocowboypoetrygathering.org), October 4-7. The four-day celebration of cowboy culture that includes performances by dozens of cowboy poets, storytellers and musicians, western art displays and a boot-stomping parade.

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PRESENTING THE FACTS CHARLIE LIEU AND DR. CALLIE RENNISON SPEAK AT THE OUTDOOR RETAILER TRADE SHOW IN JULY. photo by DAVE VAUGHN

SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN CLIMBING The results of a comprehensive study on the subject are now live.

by SONYA PEVZNER

S

exual harassment and sexual assault can be hard topics to discuss, but education and datainformed conversations are necessary to move forward. The following data comes from a focused study of sexual harassment and sexual assault in the climbing community, initiated and coordinated by Charlie Lieu, with expert policy, criminal justice, and victimology support from Dr. Callie Rennison, and press partnerships led by Alpinist editor Katie Ives. Elevation Outdoors and many other media and climbing groups helped to dissminate the study earlier this year.

The study was an effort to understand the frequency of instances of sexual harassment and assault (SHSA) and to develop an actionable toolkit and educational resources for the community. Unfortunately, many are unclear whether SHSA happens, or what to do if it happens to them or someone they know. Harassment and assault can happen regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation or race. One thing is clear: Education is key for comprehensive and systemic change.

Sexual harassment and sexual assault are defined as: unwelcome sexual advances, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature (including “catcalls”), non-consensual physical contact or penetration (including groping and rape). “Focusing our attention on SHSA is not an attempt to stop people from talking to each other, hugging, or touching. It’s asking people to stop and think about the impact their touch may have. Something that is a friendly gesture for you may cross the line for someone else. Intent isn’t the focus—impact is”, emphasizes Dr. Rennison. The following numbers come from the study and give a picure of the problem in the climbing community.

0 | Number of people who experience SHSA if no one commits the SHSA. The No. 1 best way to stop assault and harassment is to not assault or harass people.

Not sure what constitutes harassment or assault? Ask yourself: Would you do this in front of your partner?

Parent? Boss? Would you do it if you knew it was being recorded on video? If the answer is no, don’t do it.

81 | Percentage of SHSA victims who experience

fear and try to avoid reliving trauma. Following an attack, victims frequently experience shame, feelings of isolation, withdrawal from community, embarrassment, self-blame and physical and psychological trauma including depression, social isolation, low self-esteem, even suicidal thinking. In cases of sexual assault/rape, 81 percent of women and 35 percent of men report significant impact including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

convince someone they were victimized. We don’t require victims of robbery, theft or violence to ‘prove it.’ Similarly, we have to stop making SHSA victims ‘prove it’ before they are believed,” says Dr. Rennison. “There is the ridiculous notion that victims lie about being raped. Many pieces of research note that between four to eight percent of rape accusations are false—which is identical to all types of accusations of any type of violence. Women do not lie about rape.”

998 | Free-form comments submitted within the

54 | Percentage of women who said they changed

survey, mostly detailing instances of harassment or assault. This translates to 20 percent of the survey takers, a number which is several times higher than the national average for survey participation.

39 | Percentage of women who reported

experiencing SHSA during climbing activities.

Some women reported no incidences of SHSA, but checked boxes for specific types of SHSA—eight percent of women experienced SHSA even if they didn’t recognize it, bringing the total to 47 percent.

“For example, It was not uncommon for someone to say no to instances of SHSA, but say they’d been catcalled,” says Dr. Rennison.

42 | Women who reported rape during climbing

activities. Together with 11 men and one unidentified person, this constituted 3.3 percent of the total survey takers. Dr. Rennison explains, “The most common type of perpetrator is a friend/acquaintance, where the perpetrator takes advantage of trust to assault or harass.”

30 | Percentage of women who reported

experiencing more than one type of SHSA in the climbing community, such as catcalling, flashing, unwanted touching, following or verbal advances.

18.5 percent of women reported three types, and nine percent reported four types occurring.

25-85 | The 2016 percentage estimate of women who reported they were sexually harassed at work.

The huge difference in numbers could come from under-reporting, or people not knowing what is or what isn’t SHSA.

100% | Number of times we need to believe

people when they say they have experienced SHSA. Several people reported SHSA to leadership only to get blown off, doubted, ostracized or penalized.

(Go to the website startbybelieving.org if you need more resources here.) “No one should have to

the way they climbed after the SHSA occured, versus 19.4 percent of men who said they changed the way they climbed. Some only climb with women after experiencing SHSA, stop interacting with climbing male mentors after the men make advances or get handsy or switch schedules to avoid a perpetrator.

Climbing gyms stand out as a key location for harassment, and a number of gym staff or wellestablished climbers have been accused. Some of the most egregious experiences happened overseas on climbing expeditions.

4 | The number of direct action items, aside from

not sexually harassing or assaulting people, that you can do to help stop and prevent SHSA. Direct: Step in to intervene, or give social cues that something is unacceptable, such as an audible sigh after a bad joke. Distract: Shift the perpetrator’s attention and remove the victim from the situation. Delegate: If you’re unable to step in, ask someone with more social or functional power than you to step in. Delay: Check in with the victim after the incident to see if you can help support them.

0 | The number of exemptions that should exist

for perpetrators of sexual harassment and assault.

We need to eliminate discriminatory or harassing materials including jokes, emails and photos, and create a no-tolerance policy for SHSA. We have to show we mean it by making sure the policy applies to everyone, including CEOs, famous climbers, large donors, longtime members. It should be impossible to buy or bribe one’s way out of consequences.

24 | Current number (and growing) of North

America's largest climbing organizations and outdoor press (including Elevation Outdoors) who have committed to launching a same-day public policy statement affirming commitment to addressing sexual harassment and assault.

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BEN CLARK The filmmaker and adventurer dives deep into what it takes to get a passion project on the screen and how he united cultures on the Snowman Trek, the world’s hardest trail.

by DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

I

n May 2018, the feature film The Snowman Trek debuted in over 400 theaters. It tells the story of a team of nine—including filmmaker and adventurer Ben Clark, Bhutanese guide Wang Chuk and ultrarunners Timothy Olson and Anna Frost— determined to set the fastest known time (FTK) on that trek, a 200-mile grunt that traverses 11 passes over 16,000 feet and is considered the hardest trek in the world. Most who take it on don’t even finish, usually due to the Himalayan weather and bigmountain logistics. By July, the film hit bestseller lists, including iTUNES. The Snowman Trek focuses as much on the Western team sharing moments with the locals—and achieving the record alongside the required Bhutanese guides, who were skeptical when it came to moving so fast at first. But getting the film on screens might have been a harder voyage for Clark. After years of development, nine months of bi-weekly rejection letters from film festivals and lots of self-doubt, he finally debuted his opus on big screens—including the Boulder Theater, where it made its global debut last spring (before going on to limited national release and coming to Netflix soon). In August, I caught up with the Brooklynand-Telluride-based Clark, and he told me about the effort it took to make the trek and the film.

How physically demanding was the Snowman Trek? Were the mental demands even more difficult when you got out there?

The physical demands are hard to estimate. I wore an analog watch and chose to forego knowing daily mileage because Tim and Anna were backing up data on their watches. The trail is 189 miles long, hits eleven 16,000-foot passes (four over 17,000 feet) and I lost about 20 pounds eating mostly rice, potatoes, eggs and cheese-covered mushrooms. Clif bars were a true luxury and I was glad I had some access to chocolate. Mentally, you had to keep it together no matter what and always stay focused on safety and the goal. It was hard not to lose it once or twice out there in such a desolate area in bad conditions on that diet but you know what? Losing it comes with the territory. So those that embrace [these kinds of trips] and don’t judge tend to do better than those who do not.

What advice would you give to aspiring filmmakers?

First, nothing original is predictable. You are looking two years into a future market with a story that has never been seen and that you hope is timeless using personal preferences and instinct to guide a project.

Expect skepticism, embrace fresh perspective.

Second, collaboration is vital. In time, the right team will prevail. I ask what my strengths and weaknesses are and, by inviting others to be part of the project, how the entire film can become better? If someone carries the vision with you, it will likely go further.

Participation is more important than a big budget.

If you make it to the point where you are ready to roll and you can sell your idea into being made, know what you are asking for—the next step is marketing, not awards. Marketing costs will often exceed the labor and post production costs of the film. Go back to step one to assess the size of the workload of this project and repeat until all three steps are done. Oh, and be sure to have fun!

Do you worry that Bhutan will change?

I worry that Bhutan will not change. I don’t mean that in any diminishing way, I think they are working hard to change. Already, the towns along the first three days of The Snowman Trek have electricity, because highlanders and villagers want electricity. This film projects an older world version of the wilderness that Bhutan possesses and none of the marketing about happiness or religion or food. It’s a genuine portrayal of a real relationship we established and that became friendships when we accepted all our differences. If more trail runners go to Bhutan, I think they’ll be welcomed.

What do you hope people learn from this film?

How does it make a difference? What can any of us do to make a difference?

I hope people that see the film and get an appreciation for adventure. Support feature length films, and we will have a stronger community. Seeing people show up for two sold out screenings at a major theater in Boulder on opening night across the nation was a dream come true. It feels good to work in this industry and be able to make stories that

A MIND OF WINTER BEN CLARK RUNS AT AROUND 16,000 FEET ON THE HIGHEST AND LAST PASS OF THE SNOWMAN TREK. photo by ANNA FROST

broaden it and invite new folks to see this and the raw and real reasons exploring is good for culture— not just athletics. I hope anyone who sees the film can take something away from my experience.

What gives you hope?

I wake up every morning and I pray that I will have the strength to get through another day and to do something good for someone. I have faith because even if I’m not perfect,I can look back and know I did some good things for people. I don’t know how we get our luck, but I’ve had my fair share and am very grateful for it.

Tell us about your next project?

I’m going to go deeper into an adventure more people take on: climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. The emphasis there will be on local culture. This shoot is my third trip to the mountain and the stories I have seen in that time about a beautiful place and its people truly make me feel like this film will get a lot of younger urban folks excited about hiking. And that’s fun—to fire people up!

You can watch the film The Snowman Trek, available now at geni.us/SnowmanTrek.

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AC T I V I S M A N D A DVO C AC Y

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DEDICATED SOULS Think the battle for social and environmental justice is a new thing? How about these six longtime Colorado activists who have dedicated their lives to conservation and building a better world?

F

by JENN FIELDS or a relative newcomer to the sport of politics and protest, just hearing the words “Bears Ears” can make your blood boil. Mention the stripping of provisions in the Endangered Species Act and watch an environmentalist’s head explode. Or try to discuss it on Twitter? You might as well kiss your mental health goodbye.

Watching the next generation take up the fight for public lands and social and environmental justice, I started to itch for some perspective from our elders on the current political climate. For veterans of protest movements and advocacy, is our current level of consternation valid, or are we creeping into hysteria? I wanted a long view, and—I’ll be honest—some hope. My conversations six longtime advocates for the West and its people and wild spaces offered that—and something that was much more instructive.

THE CHANGEMAKER LORETTA PINEDA

During the 30 years she worked for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Loretta Pineda wasn’t consciously trying to hire more women, she said. In fact, she didn’t realize she’d done it until she was leaving the agency.

“When I left, one of the managers said to me, ‘I have a lot of women working here,’” Pineda said. “I didn’t really think about it at the time—they were just candidates.”

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Now, Pineda is mentoring young people on the other side of the hiring equation, trying to get more diverse candidates into jobs in the outdoor industry. Pineda serves as the executive director of Environmental Learning for Kids, or ELK, a nonprofit based in Denver’s Montbello neighborhood, which helps urban kids get more involved in Colorado’s outdoor spaces.

Eventually, she always hopes, these kids will find outdoor jobs. But it’s an uphill push, and not because of the kids.

“I send a student on an internship and I think, great, they’re in the Park Service, they’re really going to shine, maybe they can get a job,” she said. “And all of a sudden, times up and there’s no further pass, no job. So you get a lot of fatigue with that.”

When the kids don’t land the job, they don’t get as down about it as she does, she said. “They find other things, or they make progress in other ways, and we just keep battling it out. That’s what keeps me going.”

Pineda said one thing that has changed for the better over the years is that there are more organizations focused on diversity. “You have Outdoor Afro, Latino Outdoors, more national groups—a lot more opportunities for our students, because they can get involved in those groups, too.”

Pineda was on ELK’s founding board, so she’s been involved with the organization for more than 20 years.

Like other nonprofits, they’ve had to ride out some funding roller coasters. But being a local nonprofit helps them through the challenges. “Local action is real—you can see things happening in your backyard,” Pineda said. “Some of our local people are still, despite everything going on nationally, doing things locally and regionally for good. That’s the workaround. A lot of us are tied to federal grants, and we have to look for other ways to get that funding. Other people step up. We’ve seen the outdoor industry step up, and others realize what we need to do to make places and people and opportunities for our community.”

LORETTA PINEDA

THE GRINDER JIM NOWAK

When I called Jim Nowak, co-founder of the dZi foundation, the organization’s U.S. staff was preparing for a celebration in Ridgway Town Park. The nonprofit was marking 20 years of partnering with communities in rural Nepal to improve facilities, public health and education there.

“Anyone who has done anything for 20 years—a business, nonprofit—they’ve had challenges, that’s just how it is,” Nowak said. “You just have to keep your head down. There’ll be a brighter day.”

Nowak and Kim Reynolds started dZi in the wake of a climbing trip on Pumori, in Nepal. When they learned a girls’ school was in danger of closing, they did some fundraising and ended up saving the school.

But that took some grunt work. “I’m a grinder. I just like to latch on and just keep moving,” Nowak said. It’s just the way he tackles all big objectives, whether it’s a climb or his work with dZi. “You take an impossible task and break it down to its possible parts. And the next thing you do is get busy.”

When I asked Nowak what he’d learned through two decades of advocacy, he said, “One of the most

TINK TINKER

ANN BONNELL

JIM NOWAK

important things is the integrity of the organization.

It’s really easy to have mission drift.” It’s hard not to chase money from a donor, even when it comes with strings attached that are off-mission. “And that gets really tough, because you’re talking about people’s lives, not just the beneficiaries, but the staff. That’s a learned lesson. That’s not how we started out.”

Though dZi’s mission is still to help communities in Nepal, which sounds incredibly global, it’s impact feels local. Nowak noted that the current administration’s diplomatic policies don’t have much effect on dZi. “We’re not one of these big aid organizations (like USAID), he said. “Our key model is to work with the community individuals directly, certainly with government oversight, but it’s the cultural fluency that makes our work possible, and realizing that we need our Nepal staff to make this work in those communities.”

There’s another side to that small, local feel in their work—here in Colorado. “We live in a town on the Western Slope of Colorado with less than a thousand people,” he said. “And we raise $1.5 million and serve 31,000 people on the other side of the world. We’re doing this from the Western Slope. I think it’s a real message that, you can do anything anywhere these days.”

THE STALWART TINK TINKER

Protest has been part of Tink Tinker’s life for decades. He’s been involved with the American Indian Movement for 40 years and started protesting Columbus Day in Denver in the late 1980s. His goal back then: “to alert America that as much as they want to celebrate this guy Columbus, it’s damaging to Indian people,” he said.

“It’s exhausting emotionally as well as the time and energy that gets invested in it,” Tinker said of activism. “I’ve been doing that work, what we call an activist-scholar, going back half a century. And I suppose it developed little by little in my youth until it became really descriptive of who I am in the world.”

Tinker, the Clifford Baldridge Emeritus Professor of American Indian Cultures and Religious Traditions at University of Denver’s Iliff School of Theology, retired earlier this year after more than 30 years of teaching. Like Pineda, his students helped to inspire

his continued activism.

“At Iliff School of Theology, where I had my teaching career, students were inordinately receptive, and they helped me even further my thinking from year to year,” he said.

It’s humbling to ask Tinker, a stalwart of activism, about how he has continued to fight for what he believes in for so many years. “As an American Indian, that struggle has been going on for so many centuries now. Even when we take to the streets in Denver, we know ahead of time that we’re going to lose, but at least we’re letting America know that we’re still here, that we didn't just go away and die off.”

When I asked whether he felt they’d made progress, he said, “It’s an obvious culture question out of our Christian culture, because. our Christian world is framed by temporal thinking in progress.”

He then expounded on the idea of progress as a construct in capitalism and Marxism, saying, “We’re not temporal in our thinking. We’re more spatial.

So no, I wish I could agree that we’ve made some progress. But I don’t think so. I think we have to fight for it over and over and over again. And I think we’re committed to doing that.”

“What I tell my students is, keep doing the critical analysis,” he adds. “Don’t buy into the American romance. And progress is part of the American romance, this notion that we’ve made some progress. But keep doing the critical analysis, and keep speaking out.”

THE HABITAT DEFENDER ANN BONNELL

Ann Bonnell was disinvited from a public meeting for her persistence on conservation, but she knew her rights under the Colorado Sunshine Law for open meetings. So she kept returning—for years.

Persistence has been her hallmark as an activist.

“It’s better to keep the lines of communication open and not just shut them down,” Bonnell said. “If you can go to the meetings you can find out what’s going on and maybe make some suggestions.

They’ve taken some of my suggestions at some of these meetings that I’ve crashed.” Then she laughed.

Bonnell’s first fight for conservation was at

Chatfield State Park. “They had decided they should trap beavers, and they were using these big metal traps that would drown them,” she said. “And I was not just concerned about the beavers, but I was concerned some kid would get in there and get trapped and drown. I ended up with my picture in the Littleton Independent standing on top of a beaver house to save the beavers. So I guess that was the beginning” of my activism.

An avid birder, Bonnell became involved with Audubon Society and the Sierra Club—and with their conservation efforts. Earlier this year, she received the of Colorado Field Ornithologist’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her years of activism. But it feels like the work is never-ending. “We just keep eating up the habitat, piece by piece, and the poor wildlife has to figure out what to do without places to live and things to eat,” she said.

Bonnell said she has always been one to research deeply and search for solutions when public land is under threat. “What kinds of compromises we can do here to make it better?

Because in most cases, you’re not going to stop it— the developer has already bought it. And city council wants to have the golf course, because they can play for free. I fought one of those.”

You study up and figure out some things that might even save the developer some money, or save the city some money,” she adds.

She has started coaching the next generation, walking them through the weeds of municipal entities, telling them what paperwork to file.

“People are more aware and are working harder to save habitat,” she said. “Before, it was the big, wild, wooly west. They just thought there’s infinite open space. But now, when someone says, let’s just sell off this piece of open space, everyone gets together and says, ‘you can’t do that.’”

THE STEWARD ROGER BRIGGS

Roger Briggs has thought carefully about the words he’s used over the years, since he started the distance-running program as a teacher at Fairview High in Boulder in the 1970s, when he formed the stewardship-focused Boulder Climbing Community S E P T E M B E R 2 01 8 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

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EAST COAST BIAS The Live Outside and Play Road Team is back in the Blue Ridge! It may still be hot outside, but the days are getting a little bit shorter, our shadows growing a little bit longer and we can smell the season slowly changing. We had a wonderful summer out West representing Elevation Outdoors, but we’re stoked to be back East and experience the glory of fall in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Make sure to check our blog for event updates and see where to find us!

SEPTEMBER 2018

ROGER BRIGGS

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THE FIGHTER DON THOMPSON

Don Thompson serves as the treasurer for seven—seven!— nonprofits in and around Alamosa, where he lives. One of the seven is the San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council, which pushed back against a BLM plan to sell drilling rights near Great Sand Dunes National Park. (The government has delayed a decision on the plan in June.)

“You fight an environmental battle, you think you’ve won it, but the win is temporary, because the development powers are always there waiting in the wings to go at it,” Thompson said. “In my time fighting environmental issues, the only one I feel I’ve won is stopping Denver from building the Two Forks Dam” in the 1980s.

Still, he isn’t entirely pessimistic.

“You query the public about more public lands, and you see 60 something percent want it protected,” he said. “That’s a pretty good margin.

Unfortunately it’s not their only issue.”

Thompson’s activism strategy is to just keep moving on to the next fight.

“When I get eaten up on one issue, I move on to the next one,” he said.

“Where the typical person feels it was a waste of time and burns out and stops their activism, I’ve seen some successes and want to see more, and want to make use of the backcountry such that I’m willing to fight for it even when we do lose.”

The first nonprofit board Thompson joined when he moved from Denver to the San Luis Valley after retirement was the Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue. “Unfortunately at my age they don’t let me go up in the helicopter anymore,” he said. But he recently celebrated his 80th birthday backpacking the Collegiate Loop on the Colorado Trail.

“That’s what makes life worth living,” he said. “We’re so fortunate here in Colorado.”

That, and serving on those seven boards.

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 01 8

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in 2010, and now, as he moves on to another stewardship project.

“People still get entrenched in their causes,” Briggs said. “They’re fighting for their cause. I don’t ‘fight.’

I try to get people together to work together.”

“One of the things I’ve really emphasized is relationships,” he said. “ If you don’t have that, you can’t do anything.”

Eight years into his project to create community around taking good care of Boulder Canyon, which is a virtual labyrinth of property owned by multiple entities and used by climbers, hikers and mountain bikers, Briggs is increasingly hopeful that people can be “benevolent caretakers” of the canyon. He’s formed a partnership with the University of Colorado’s Center For Sustainable Communities and Landscapes to create what he’s calling the Boulder Canyon Stewardship Zone.

“It’s an experiment in public lands management,” he said. “It’s a place for stewardship based on cooperation from all parties.”

Finding a common vision for stewardship has been the focus of Boulder Climbing Community, he said.

“We’re not an advocacy group.”

“For earlier movements in climbing, I guess ‘advocacy’ was the best word,” he said. “You’re fighting for your rights to be out there, because the land managers didn’t want you there.” In Boulder, it’s different now. “We’re on the same side as land managers. they love us, we love them, because we’re trying to do the same thing.”

Briggs is an optimist at heart. He’s aware of what’s happening nationally, but he’s focused at home. “Local governments—and that’s where I’m working—they are still functioning quite well,” he said. “What can you do locally, what can you do to create value around you?”

“It gets tiresome to be against things all the time,” Briggs said. “What are we for?”

DON THOMPSON

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We hope to see you out there!

SKI COOPER | CHICAGO RIDGE

PRICE LEVELS: Get in on the current pricing tier that runs from August 1 through September 30. The prices through this time are: Adult $349, Child (6-14) $149, 5 and Under Child $10, Senior (60-69) $279, Super Senior (70-79) $149, 80+ Free, Military Adult $199, Military Child $109.

BUY IT BEFORE: The Adult, Senior & Child passes all increase on October 1.

WHAT YOU GET: Each pass gives you unlimited skiing and riding at Cooper for the 2018-2019 season.

ADDED VALUE: You also get three free days at each of Cooper’s 37 partner resorts. That’s 111 bonus days!

MORE PERKS INCLUDE: Ten percent off at the Retail Shop. Ten percent off cafeteria food. Ten percent off Chicago Ridge Snowcat Skiing Tours. Full Adult and Senior Pass-holders can also purchase a four-pack of lift tickets for only $150, and weekday buddy tickets for $40.

WHERE TO BUY: Buy online at skicooper.com; or call 800-707-6114.

ARAPAHOE BASIN SKI AREA

PRICE LEVELS: Adult (ages 19-69) $339, Youth (ages 15-18) $259, Child (ages 6-14) $169, Military Adult $99, Military Child (6-14) $79.

BUY IT BEFORE: All prices are subject to change at any

time, so… buy it now!

WHAT YOU GET: A-Basin full season pass holders get unlimited access to A-Basin for the entire 201819 season (including 468 acres of new terrain in The Beavers and The Steep Gullies), with three ski days at Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico; 10 percent off purchases in Arapahoe Sports and on-mountain dining (not valid at the 6th Alley Bar and Grill, some restrictions apply); unlimited discounted ski or snowboard tunes all season at the Base’n’Edge Tune Shop; unlimited discounted A-Basin lift tickets for friends and family; one half-price Snowsports lesson.

ADDED VALUE: Three days at Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico (some restrictions apply) WHERE TO BUY: Online at arapahoebasin.com, in person at a Front Range ski shows (like Christy Sports Powder Daze in Littleton), or in person/over the phone by calling 888.ARAPAHOE (seven days a week, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.).

GRAND TARGHEE RESORT

PRICE LEVELS: Standard Adult (19-64 yrs) $799, Teen (13-18) $379, Junior (6-12) $329, Full-Time College Students $399.

BUY IT BEFORE: September 30 and save $470 off of a full-price adult pass ($1,269)! Similar discounts are offered on other pass levels.

WHAT YOU GET: The mountain every day of Wyoming’s Longest ski season!

ADDED VALUE: Discounted lodging, free skiing at partner resorts, 20 percent off Snowcat Adventures, 20 percent off Early Tracks, four discounted Friends & Family tickets daily, discounts on food and beverage, retail, tubing, lessons and more!

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POWDERHORN RESORT

PRICE LEVELS: Adult Pass (Ages 30-74) $399, Young Adult Pass (Ages 13-29) $339, 75+ Pass $139, Junior Pass (Ages 6-12) $199, Child Pass (Ages 6 & Under) $49.

Ten percent discount for passes purchased as a family.

BUY IT BEFORE:September 30 WHAT YOU GET: Unlimited skiing or snowboarding throughout the 2018/2019 winter season, No blackout dates!

ADDED VALUE: Over 50 free and discounted days at partnering resorts. Plus discounts at Powderhorn.

INCLUDE: Fifty percent off one group ski or snowboard lesson, 10 percent off ski and snowboard rentals, 10

photo by DAVE CAMARA / ARAPAHOE BASIN

percent off merchandise at the alpine trader, 10 percent off food at the sunset grille.

WHERE TO BUY: Powderhorn.com/MissionAffordable

LOVELAND SKI AREA

PRICE LEVELS: Adult (23-69) $419 new/$399 renewal, Young Adult (15-22) $309 new/$289 renewal, Midweek (Monday-Friday with no holiday blackouts) $319 new/$309 renwal, Child (6-14) $189 new/$179 renewal, 5 and Under free, Senior (70+) $99.

BUY IT BEFORE: Prices will increase after December 2.

WHAT YOU GET: Each unrestricted pass gives you unlimited skiing and riding at Loveland for the 2018/19 season. Midweek passes are valid every Monday-Friday with no holiday blackouts.

ADDED VALUE: Unrestricted season passes come with membership to the Powder Alliance PLUS bonus days at another 16 mountains for a total of 96 bonus days at 32 partner mountains. Midweek season passes come with three FREE days at Monarch Mountain You also get discounts throughout the area on lift tickets for family and friends on each visit, food, lessons, rentals and Sport Shop purchases.

WHERE TO BUY: skiloveland.com

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THE ELDORA MIDWEEK EXPERIENCE: Weekdays at Eldora are the locals’ best-kept secret—zero crowds, wide-open slopes, and a laid-back vibe, just 21 miles from downtown Boulder. Come for the morning, the afternoon, or a full-day, and have the mountain to yourself. Eldora’s midweek season passes offer unlimited weekday skiing at an exceptional value. Buy now at Eldora.com to lock in the lowest prices.

THE ELDORA FAMILY PASS: Get the whole family on the hill together this winter—and get ‘em back home in time for dinner—with Eldora’s family pass, one of the best values for Colorado families. Buy now at Eldora.com to lock in the lowest prices.

THE BEST PLACE TO LEARN: Friendly, relaxed, and just 21 miles west of Boulder, Eldora is absolutely the best place to learn the lifetime sports of skiing and riding.

With a wide variety of day and multi-week instruction programs for adults and children, plus seasonal and daily gear rental options, Eldora makes learning fun and easy. Explore our programs today at Eldora.com.

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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 01 8

L I B AT I O N S

0 8 .1 8

NAVIGATING THE GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL Follow this beginner’s guide to make it through the biggest craft brew weekend on the planet.

by TYRA SUTAK

L

loyd Christmas put it best when he said that Colorado is the “place where beer flows like wine.” The craft brewing scene in the Napa Valley of beer continues to lead the way nationally, so it’s no surprise that the mother of all craft beer festivals takes place in the state. September 20-22, 2018, the Great American Beer Festival (greatamericanbeerfestival.com) will once again take over the city of Denver.

Whether you were lucky enough to score a coveted ticket, or not, we have the scoop on how to navigate your way through the hopped-up weekend.

GABF BY THE NUMBERS

Since 1982, the Great American Beer Festival has been showcasing the growing craft beer industry to a very thirsty community of beer aficionados.

GABF (as it's affectionately known) will once again take place at the Colorado Convention Center, where more than 800 breweries from across the country

are set to pour over 4,000 different beers. The festival hosts four sessions: Thursday evening, Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening. Evening sessions last fiveand-a-half hours. Saturday afternoon attendees have four hours to taste their way through the list.

IF YOU SCORED TICKETS

Lucky you! The Coloradobased Brewers Association (bewersassociation.org), which throws this big shindig each year, puts roughly 60,000 tickets up for grabs, and they usually sell out within minutes. If you’re one of the lucky ones, here’s what you need to know about making the most of that $85 ticket.

First, break out the costumes: Dust off the lederhosen, bust out last year’s Halloween getup, or make your own beer-themed threads—anything goes at this funky festival, and the crazier the better.

Two, get here early.

Regardless of when you arrive, you’ll still have to wait in that long entry line outside of the Convention Center, but the earlier you make it into the fest, the better chance you have of meeting your favorite beer celebrities, who can often be found pouring at their own booths early in the evening. Three, skip the pretzel

necklaces. No offense, but those stale, salty things are so last year. And if you know where to look, there’s actually quite a few places inside the fest to find free food.

To indulge in expertly paired craft beer and food matchups, check the schedule at the Beer and Food Pavilion where pairings, seminars, and other educational sessions take place during all four sessions. Each event is free, and hosted by some of the most knowledgable people in the craft beer business.

Ditch the map: Tracking down your favorite suds just got much easier.

Instead of grouping breweries by region, the new map will be laid out in alphabetical order this year. Also, be sure to enjoy your favorite brewery collaborations. New to the fest this year is a Collaboration Competition booth serving unique, limited-editions.

Finally, bring your dancing shoes.

Shaking your grove thang inside of the Oskar Blues Silent Disco booth is basically a rite of passage for everyone at the festival.

“With so many world-class brewers and beer in town, you don’t need to be inside of the Convention Center to enjoy great beer.

Breweries in town for the festival ship in their best beers and serve them up at beer bars and restaurants all over Denver.”

IF YOU DIDN’T SCORE A TICKET

Don’t worry. With so many world-class brewers in town, you don’t need to be

SUDS AND SMILES THE GABF UNITES BREWERS AND PEOPLE WHO ENJOY THE FINE ARTS OF HOPS. photos courtesy BREWER’S ASSOCIATION

inside of the Convention Center to enjoy great beer. Those in town for the festival ship in their best beers and serve them up at beer bars and restaurants all over Denver. And just about every brewery in town is throwing some sort of special event and/or releasing new beers throughout the week.

Head to the following Denver craft beer meccas that have a busy and boozy calendar of events lined up for GABF week. At local craft beer-lovers hangout Freshcraft (freshcraft.com) you’ll find over 125 craft beers to choose from and the menu consists of the kind of amazing comfort food that will help you survive a week of liberal pours.

Just a short walk from the Convention Center, Euclid Hall (euclidhall.com) is one of the city’s most popular beer bars thanks to a killer food menu and an exceptional beer menu offered year-round. If you end up at Star Bar (starbardenver.com), be prepared to belt out a beer-fueled karaoke rendition of a Justin Bieber song on the bar’s tiny stage. It’s ideal for late night fun and is one of the go-to spots for off-duty beer reps to hang out throughout the week.

The OG of Denver beer bars, the Falling Rock (fallingrocktaphouse.com) runs a GABF countdown year-round and is one of the top places in town to find a huge selection of beers on tap—which mostly include rare, aged and specialty offerings during GABF week.

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BEST GEAR

0 9.1 8 BIGHT SOLSTICE HOODY

DEUTER SPEED LITE 24

ARC’TERYX RYZE HOODY

HANAH ONE GO PACK CHAOS CADENCE

DARN TOUGH HIKER MICRO CREW CUSHION

MY TRAIL CO SHELL DANNER MOUNTAIN 600 LOW

FALL HIKING FAVORITES

dog, or on minimalist peakbagging epics. Tipping the scales at just one pound, 11 ounces, it adjusts to a wide range of torsos and takes a hydration system.

Make it your go-to light hauler. $110; deuter.com

The air is crisp, the leaves are golden.

It’s time to get out on the trail and tick off a few summits with gear recommend by EO staff, who chase hiking excursions all autumn long.

SOCKS

by DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

BOOTS

INSULATOR A R C ’ T E RY X R y ze H o o d y This cozy soft-shell mid-layer proved its insulating worth when we took it skiing in deep winter — pumping out serious heat on the skin track. But it’s also just the ticket for cold-weather hikes and exposure up above treeline in autumn. Weighing just 10.8 ounces, it actually manages to breathe while keeping your core toasty. $275; arcteryx.com

PACK D E U T E R S p e e d Li t e 24 Comfy and streamlined, this do-it-all daypack has up all the space you need for quick jaunts with the

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DA R N TO U G H H i ke r M i c r o C r e w C u s h i o n A new pair of cozy, moisture-wicking merino socks makes every hike better. Made in the U.S.A. and tested on Vermont Long Trail, these babies also come with a lifetime warranty. $22; darntough.com

DA N N E R M o u n t a i n 6 0 0 Lo w Danner hits the perfect blend of retro-cool style and serious trail performance in this, our favorite fall hiker. While it may look like Jimmy-Carter-era boots your Boomer uncle still insists on wearing, this shoe claims some tech cred with a solid Vibram midsole, a grippy Fuga outsole and a fit that’s comfy straight out of the box. $160; danner.com

SHELL MY TR AIL CO Founded by the former owners of Coloradofavorite brand GoLite, My Trail produces gear that can take big-time abuse out in the wild but doesn’t come with a fat price tag. Take this waterproof/ breathable shell that withstands a sudden Colorado

squall and, at just 10 ounces, packs away when the sun comes out. $100; mytrailco.com

HAT C H AO S C a d e n c e A warm hat is the best little extra you can stuff in your daypack. Made from a blend of merino, nylon and acrylic threads, this lid can fight off the chill of early-morning fall temps while looking stylish. $32; chaoshats.com

PULLOVER BIGHT Solstice Hoody The brainchild of longtime mountain guide Peter Whittaker, Bight Gear makes it a point to test all its apparel on guides and climbers out in the wild. The result is pieces like this light pullover, which has UV protection and a little warmth when you’re traipsing in the alpine. $69; bightgear.com

SNACK HANAH One Go Pack Starting to bonk a bit? Suck down one of these superfood supplements on-the-go. The Ayurvedic mix includes 30 wild-harvested botanicals in a base of mountain honey, artisanal ghee and sesame oil that will not just align your chakras but also put some spunk in your step. $49 (set of 12); hanahlife.com

BEST GEAR

0 9.1 8

GIANT TCX ADVANCED PRO 2

ALIEN SOCKS

PEARL IZUMI X-PROJECT ELITE

SALSA JOURNEYMAN SORA 700

SWEET PROTECTION BUSWHACKER 2 MIPS

SKRATCH ANYTIME ENERGY BAR

THULE VITAL 3L

VINTAGE ELECTRIC CAFE

WAVE TOOL

FALL CYCLING FAVORITES That crisp air and back-to-school vibe make autumn prime time to spin. No matter if you are racing cyclocross, grinding gravel or just cruising the bike lanes, get rolling with this gear.

by DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

’CROSS BIKE G I A N T TC X A d v a n c e d P r o 2 Ringing in at a reasonable price with all the guts and componentry to put you on the podium, this well-balanced ride topped our wish list for racing season. Credit that to geometry that delivers a lot of power without wearing you down and a composite frame that’s light, nimble and surprisingly stiff. Plus, the flat-mount disc brakes and spec Schwable X-One Evolution tubeless tires help crush any conditions on the course. $2,655; giant-bicycles.com

GRAVEL GRINDER S A L S A J o u r n ey m a n S o r a 70 0 Designed for dirt and capable on pavement, too, this durable steed can tick off big epics, whether you want to bikepack from Boulder to Winter Park, gravel grind the backroads of Breck or just make an adventure out of your commute to work every day.

Best of all, the aluminum frame accepts both your standard 700c wheels and beefy 650c ones that can run 2.2-inch tires for those big backcountry days. $1,099; salsacycles.com

ELECTRIC COMMUTING V I N TAG E E l e c t r i c C a f e It may have all the laid-back style of a cafe cruiser, but this ride can get you to work or running errands in a hurry. The 750w drivetrain features five levels of pedal assist that can get you down the bike lane faster than sitting in traffic without breaking a sweat at the top speed and give you a bit of a workout if you turn it down. The removable battery provides 20-60 miles of riding on a two-hour charge and the sexy steel frame is sure to turn heads as you whiz by them. $3,995; vintageelectricbikes.com

PACK THULE Vital 3L Featuring a 1.75-liter hydration bladder and enough pouch space for a jacket, snacks and tools, this svelte pack proves the perfect companion for gutty grinds out on the backroads or big mountain bike rides. $90; thule.com

HELMET S W E E T P R OT E C T I O N B u s w h a c ke r 2 M I P S Light (11.6 ounces in a M/L size) and well ventilated, this brain bucket comes equipped with MIPS technology, which mitigates the chance of a concussion if you hit your head in a collision. $220; sweetprotection.com

NUTRITION S K R ATC H A ny t i m e E n e r g y B a r Providing scientifically researched plantbased nutrition, these bars from the cycle-minded Colorado brand taste damn good, too—even with 50-percent less sugar than most energy bars. $2.65; skratchlabs.com

SHOE P E A R L I Z U M I X- P r o j e c t E l i t e Batten down with a BOA closure system in this shoe that was designed to both provide pedaling power and hike-a-bike stability, thanks to a carbon sole built to provide traction. $275; pearlizumi.com

STYLE ALIEN SOCKS They may not make you ride faster, but socks that features designs including an extraterrestrial riding a dinosaur or alien babies will get you big cheers and maybe even send the right signal to that space ship on your tail. $10; aliensocks.com

RECOVERY WAV E TO O L Developed by a former Jackson Hole mountain guide turned physical therapist, this simple-buteffective soft-tissue release device works to ease the pain and annoyance of injuries ranging from elbow tendonitis to plantar fasciitis to sore calves, common on a bike. $50; wavetoolstherapy.com

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2018 FEATURED FALL EVENTS

COLORADO’S

LABOR DAY BLOCK PARTY & SIDEWALK SALES September 1 • Cooper Creek Square

FAMILY PIONEER DAYS

Top Adventure Town

September 7 - 9 • Snow Mountain Ranch

SUMMIT ASSAULT September 8 • Winter Park Resort

SCAVENTURE September 14-16 & 21-23 Snow Mountain Ranch

2018 GRAND KIDS FALLFEST September 15 Rendezvous Event Center at Hideaway Park

FREE COMMUNITY YOGA Sept 17 & Oct 15 • Headwaters Center

TRAIL RUNNING FESTIVAL September 22-23 • Snow Mountain Ranch

With over 600 miles of trails for hiking, biking & sightseeing and events every day, surely your adventurous side will find something to do.

Good thing it’s right here in your backyard, only 67 miles from Denver.

GRANBY RANCH’S 3RD ANNUAL OKTOBERFEST September 29 • Granby Ranch

HALLOWEEN TRICKS AND TREATS October 26 • Pioneer Village Musuem

playWinterPark.com | 800.903.7275

For full listing of festivals, events & specials, visit playWinterPark.com

Savor The Adventure

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www.MountainHouse.com

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HEAR THIS

0 9.1 8

CAN YOU HEAR THE MUSIC? The Colorado Sound is not just a radio station—it’s a growing community of musicians and listeners dedicated to showcasing local artists.

by PATTY MALESH

O

n Leap Day, February 29th, 2016, the Colorado Sound went live. Its mission: to cultivate the mind and spirit, to inform, inspire and entertain, and to strengthen community.

The station emerged as an offshoot of sister station 91.5 KUNC, a public broadcaster for over 50 years that’s been community-owned since 2001. When 105.5 became available for purchase in Northern Colorado, the music-loving community quickly snagged it and turned it into a Greely-based noncommercial music only station, which then allowed KUNC to focus its content on news and talk radio.

Alongside Bohemian Foundation project The Music District and The New Scene Magazine in Fort Collins, The Colorado Sound is helping turn Northern Colorado into a community-driven music incubator and breeding ground for musicians and listeners.

Those who tune in to the member-supported Colorado Sound are guaranteed a smorgasbord of Colorado artists—legends and future ones—as well as deep tracks you simply can’t hear on commercial radio. And while the station promotes Colorado artists in particular, it also treats audiences to a mix that includes “obscure blues artists from the 1940s to one-hit-wonder Brit bands as well as listener favorites. Everyone from Nina Simone to Radiohead,” according to morning show host, Ron Bostwick, who signed the station on at its inception.

The Colorado Sound encourages its hosts to share the culture and stories behind the music they play. Segments and shows vary from dedicated to quirky. Weekdays at 7:30 a.m., listeners can expect a full geek lesson when host Ron presents “This Day in Music History” followed by the song it stars.

The midday show with Margot satisfies those of us who love a good cover alongside its subject song every weekday at 2 p.m. with a segment called “Bring to a Boil and Cover,” during which she plays an original song and its remake. Tune in Saturday nights at 8 p.m. for “Closing Credits” with Dawn and feel the nostalgia through her choice of Movie/ TV soundtrack favorites. Or get your Friday started the right way at 8:30 a.m. with the three-song set “Bring On Da Friday Funk” with Ron (whether you are headed to the mountains to play hooky on a snow day or stuck in traffic in Denver in July, this set will make you feel alright instead of uptight).

On Sundays, you can expect to hear home-state syndicated favorite shows, including “Chris K’s Colorado Playlist” and “eTown.”

The listener base for all this unique programming is not limited to the confines of Colorado, of course.

Those who are tuning in from out of state (or out of country), will have to do the time zone math on thier own, but it’s still easy to support the station and tune in 21st-century-style by streaming at Coloradosound. org or via the free app.

P

rogramming is only part of the story, however.

What makes the Colorado Sound truly notable among its peers is the station’s commitment

to showcasing and supporting the entire Colorado music ecosystem. To wit, the station donates air time and partners with promoters to showcase a wide range of live local music. This past year, it sponsored the Singer/Songwriter showcase at Boulder International Film Festival in addition to the Underground Music Showcase in Denver and FoCoMX as well as Bohemian Nights at the New West Fest in Fort Collins.

The station also runs fun promotions that bring fans into the fold. Want to win a prize for going to see local live music? Grab a Colorado Sound live music venue and artist punch card, attend as many of the shows on the card as you can, and trade it in for Colorado Sound goodies—everything from bumper stickers and merch to private concerts.

These outreach efforts garner musician affection alongside listener love. The station hosts monthly music meetings, often at micro-breweries around the state, during which deejays play tracks and solicit candid feedback from the listening public. Expect to see local artists in attendance, too: Nancy Just, a Loveland-based singer songwriter, appreciates the opportunity to listen to fans, incognito, as she preps her second studio album, “Alchemy,” out this fall.

“As a local musician, these events help me hone my craft,” she says. “I strive to connect with listeners multidimensionally and these events help me learn what elements are emotionally evocative

DOG DAYS to them. Audiences feel comfortable being honest THE COLORADO SOUND CHANNELS THE CANINE and giving uninhibited FRIENDLY VIBE OF ITS feedback.”

HOME STATE. Colorado artists also photo courtesy THE appreciate the exposure COLORADO SOUND they get on air. The Gasoline Lollipops— the freshest Colorado band to make the national scene—credits the Colorado Sound for their success. “I can’t thank the Colorado Sound enough for introducing Gasoline Lollipops to the state of Colorado. So many people come up to us at every single show and tell us how they first heard us on Colorado Sound. I don’t know where we would be as a band today if it weren’t for the Colorado Sound, but suffice it to say, I’d probably still be living in the train yard off of East Colfax,” says the band's lead singer, Clay Rose.

The Colorado Sound puts the community in community radio so turn your dial that-a-way and give them listen. Get to know the music you’ve always needed in your life but never knew.

Check out the Colorado Sound at 105.5 (Front Range), 88.9 (Steamboat Springs), 94.3 (Summit County) and at coloradosound.org or download their free app “The Colorado Sound.”

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T H E R OA D

0 9.1 8

LOFTY GOALS

by TIMMY O’NEILL

whipped by rain. This is normal: The weather in Patagonia is often harsh, ready to beat you down and remind you who’s really in charge.

Finally, Kris Tompkins, a.k.a. Birdy, and Rick Ridgway, a.k.a. Oldschool, decide enough is enough, especially after the clouds part and we catch a glimpse of the looming, technical peak we wanted to climb, still miles away. We sit high above tree line, plodding across a mineral-rich, life-poor pallet of yellow, orange and black via an abandoned mining road. The sadness of giving up on our objective hits us, but we also feel the joy and the success of simply being out in the elements, trying to achieve such a lofty goal.

Kris reaches into her pocket and removes a small plastic bag filled with rose flowers pulled from the garden of Parque Patagonia. We’d come to both climb the peak and also to honor the adventurous and visionary spirit of her late husband, Doug, who 11 years earlier had made its first ascent, naming the mountain Cerro Kristine. She dispenses a small handful of crumpled pink and white petals into each of our cupped hands, and we lean into the wind.

B

D

There are some bright lights in a planet faced with so much going wrong.

In January, Tompkins Conservation donated one million acres of land, helping to preserve over 10 million acres of new national parks in cooperation with the Chilean government.

Those monumental efforts can inspire us all just to get out in the natural world, share we what experience, and create new legions of environmental activists who will speak up for the shrinking planet.

y the end of our second day, we reach our high point. Our small group huddles atop a vast, shattered ridge buffeted by high winds and

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oug Tompkins may be gone but his body of work has taken on an even greater life. On January 29, 2018, less than two weeks before our attempt

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to climb the peak, Kris met with then Chilean president Michelle Bachelet. She, on behalf to Tompkins Conservation, an umbrella of nonprofit organizations, signed a donation of one-million acres that together with a contribution from the government of Chile, created 10 million acres of new national parkland. This monumental act constituted one of the largest private donations of land in the history of humankind, an unparalleled step in global conservation. It also marked the completion of an aucacious dream.

Doug Tompkins first envisioned this day in 1990 when he returned to Chile following the sale of his clothing brand Esprit (he also founded The North Face).

Tompkins found inspiration in his travels in his early 30s when he established the formidable California Route on the towering granite walls of Mount Fitz Roy in South America's Patagonia, a wild and unpopulated area shared between Chile and Argentina. Fifty years ago a team of five, including Yvon Chouinard, made the third ascent of that mountain of stone and storms, at the terminus of a multi-month legendary “funhog” road trip that fused surfboards and pitons, grace and grit and embodied the ability to not only dream big but dare even bigger.

It was that same sense of faith required by mountaineers and big wall climbers to launch into the unknown that powered Doug and Kris’ belief that

PARQUE PATAGONIA IN JANUARY, TOMPKINS CONSERVATION AND THE GOVERNMENT OF CHILE MADE GOOD ON A PROMISE TO PROTECT THIS LAND. photos courtesy TOMPKINS CONSERVATION

they could plant a seed of conservation that decades later would produce such successful and inspirational fruit. And like those who strive to repeat an established route up a mountain, there are those who are galvanized to apply their time, talent and treasure to continue the labor and further sow the vision of preserving wild lands and wildlife. Doug and Kris Tompkins became the most audacious and successful team, tethered by a love of wilderness that was only bested by their love for each other.

The mission of the Tompkins Conservation is my personal mission. I have always wondered about the power of a wilderness experience, how it can create a lifelong fascination and, even more important, protection of wild places.

And I believe that by introducing of a person to the outdoors you can foster within them both an appreciation of nature and the preservation of it. And even though for most of us the goal of creating new national parks may too high a mark, the important thing is to be inspired to generate your own sense of care for the environment, perhaps via

the myriad choices of your consumption based on convenience versus conservation. I personally may never own even an acre of land to cede to to a future park, but what I can do is emulate the values and ideals of those I respect.

Fortunately, I not only get to look up to these people, I also climb up mountains with them.

I endeavor to surround myself with people who are smarter, stronger and more effective than me. Through their mentorship and example, I can better navigate the path through adversity en route to prosperity. For me, Rick Ridgway—the pioneering climber, conservationist and dear friend of Kris and Doug Tompkins—is a north star.

He points the way to an adventurous life done exceptionally well but more importantly he’s a stalwart protector and promoter, speaking and acting on behalf of the environment.

I began as one of seven kids roaming the wild, ruined fringes of urban Philadelphia, I eventually grew into a solitary force of positive change, both through my work with disabled sports and curing preventable blindness as well as my attempts to live by setting the right example.

Likewise, both Kris and Doug got their start close to their respective homes.

With a neighbor, Doug first visited the Shawangunks climbing area in New York at age 11 and Kris grew up on her great-grandfather’s ranch.

What began with childhood walks in the woods for them eventually blossomed into an organization that preserves and provides access to intact ecosystems.

Doug was a subscriber to the tenets of deep-ecology, perhaps best described by the early eco-defender Aldo Leopold via this offering from his seminal A Sand County Almanac: “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.”

Over the past 30 years of my life on the sides of mountains and rivers, I have lived and learned the advice that I share with my collaborators and clients. Near the top of that list is the mandate to get outside in the natural world. When my brother Sean was paralyzed from the waist down decades ago, he did not remain in the darkness of defeat but became a climber and together we rose up into the light, scaling El Capitan several times. The incredible work of Dr. Geoff Tabin and Cureblindness.org, with whom I work, was born in large part from the challenge of his climbing expeditions and love of solving profound, complex cruxes.

I have been co-leading walks in the woods for several years, interacting

with small groups who unplug from their phones and jobs for three days. The conversations range from changing lifestyles to achieving life goals but they always return to the most impactful realization, that of the peace, quiet and healing of being outside in the wilderness. We depart the woods in a better frame of mind and body than when we entered. I know that when I am introducing people to hikes in the woods and climbs on the cliffs, I am potentially creating a lifelong advocate for the preservation and celebration of wilderness and wildness. And there is a greater likelihood of that person not only coming back to enjoy these collective treasures but also that they may also bring new participants into the vital and beautiful exploration of mother nature.

What Doug and Kris and Tompkins Conservation have done goes beyond raising the bar of what a small group of dedicated eco-warriors can accomplish.

They strengthened the certainty of the inspirational and curative powers of wilderness immersion.

The best way to honor someone’s life work is to incorporate it into your everyday life, so I return to these playgrounds, preserves and parks in order to recognize their purpose and the people who made it all happen.

We were there to both climb the peak and also to honor the adventurous and visionary spirit of her late husband, Doug, who 11 years earlier had made the first ascent of the peak, naming it Cerro Kristine.

O

ur ridge view, to the northwest, is of an expanse of glaciated peaks that leads to the edge of Lago General Carrera, the lake where Doug died of hypothermia in December 2015 after capsizing in a prolonged storm while paddling with a group of friends. He is buried in Parque Patagonia as a further demonstration of his commitment to the land and people of Chile.

I feel fortunate to be here with such formidable change agents. I work hard both to receive the invitation and even harder when involved to make sure I’m invited back here, and if our collective sum equals something greater than the individual parts, then what remains after we disband is the substance of meaning that truly defines my personal success.

Our group pushes in a little tighter as the powerful Patagonia gales whip up with the sudden strength of sticking your head out of a speeding car—and then they just as quickly vanish, like pulling back inside. Rick and Kris each say a couple of words and we embrace in a group hug. We shout hello and send our words of love aloft, and as we open our hands the wind lifts the rose petals high into the sky, spreading them out towards the perimeters of Doug’s vision, scattering them to the edges and beyond of this, his wonderful garden.

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E LWAY V I L L E

0 9.1 8

SPEAK WITH YOUR VOTE It’s time to stop posting on social media—and start doing something.

by PETER KRAY

H

ere are three things I don’t understand in America right now: One: Why we still soft-talk the increasingly apocalyptic reality of global warming, politely nodding as perhaps the single greatest collective scientific consensus (i.e., that global warming is clearly human-caused and accelerating at this moment) in history is questioned by ill-intentioned profiteers and grossly uninformed fools.

Two: Why we are allowing the wholesale giveaway of our public lands—the very soil of our heritage, the actual ground beneath our feet that thousands of Americans died protecting—to enrich those very same profiteers, at a loss to all the citizens who regularly enjoy that land? #WeAreAllPublicLandOwners—that includes hunters, hikers, horsemen, wood-gatherers, photographers, and skiers. etc…

Three: How many of those very same profiteers (corporations, politicians, insert the name of your least-liked, Big-Brother media channel here), have blinded us from questioning their bias and complicity in this country-changing display of wanton ignorance by encouraging us to argue amongst ourselves instead.

It’s very strange to me that in this giant, richly varied, independence-celebrating country, everyone is constantly being hysterically encouraged to identify themselves as “Red,” or “Blue,” and ignore the million obvious differences—and strong similarities—that we all share. That simplification misses untold shades of humanity, all with a love for family, friends and country at the core.

It’s absurd to suggest that we can’t find common ground with our neighbors, co-workers and even old acquaintances from school. I believe the more “they” pit us against each other, the more power they have to influence our thoughts. I suspect it has quite a bit to do with the old saying that, “once you can be categorized, you can be dismissed.”

T

o be clear, I’ve got a lot friends who voted for Trump, probably two or three of whom are fortunate enough to be in the “one percent club,” several who are small business owners and one black former U.S. Marine who hates everything he believes about the Democrats. On the Clinton side, which does include the majority of my friends, there are policewomen, doctors, attorneys, window cleaners, landscapers, pro skiers, tree trimmers, artists and writers, just to name a few. Most of them are extremely concerned about how human activity is bulldozing the planet.

Both sides would have preferred a better candidate, like maybe Teddy Roosevelt. But they all voted. At least they said so. They at least participated in the very thing that makes us a democracy. It’s the people who don’t vote who piss me off.

Seriously, if you vote early, it takes about as long to cast a ballot as it does to buy and eat a donut. I bet you make time for that.

Voting—or not voting—was a major point of conversation at the Outdoor Retailer trade show in

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Illustration by Kevin Howdeshell / THEBRAVEUNION.COM

Denver this July. There was the perennial hyperbole about game-changing tents, Mercury-winged shoes, and second-skin baselayers, but everyone in the outdoor industry was pretty spooked about the escalating giveaway of our public lands.

The outdoors are the outdoor industry. The problem is that even in a state like Colorado, where skiing, hiking and scenic sightseeing are the keys to our economic engine, most people still don’t spend a lot of time outdoors. Frankly, they all have their own, other “most pressing issue” lists. If you spend most of your time in malls, on buses or in a dark basement room playing Fortnite, it can be easy to forget that clean lakes, undrilled forests and healthy ecosystems are worth giving a shit about.

I get that. I don’t spend all my time pretending to be a superhero Earth-saver either, but my parents did raise me to understand that the greatest aspect of living in this country is the right to participate. The same was true of most of the other Outdoor Retailer attendees. Their parents had taught them that one of the greatest rewards of living in a democracy is the privilege of showing up and casting your vote.

If you have never voted, it’s not nearly as stressful and demanding as getting your driver’s license, or your marriage license. Some of the present people in power would like to make voting very difficult, however. They’re terrified of actually having to answer to the people, rather than some

lobbyist holding a fat check. The patriotic/feelgood/ howdoyoulikemenow? act of simply registering to vote makes it more likely that “We the People,” get to be the boss.

T

he truth is, the powers at be would prefer that none of us vote. Whether you’re a wage-earner, a home-keeper, part-timer, entrepreneur, caregiver, artist, Gig geek, poet, barista or whatever, the less active you are, the more of your tax dollars they can steal. The same goes for all you Facebook Activists who think that any single one of your political posts are changing anything at all in the real world.

Sure I give those posts a like. I agree with you.

But take note of the alleged George Orwell quote from 1984, the book that for the last 30 years has predicted our present state, saying, “They will not revolt. They will not look up from their screens long enough to notice what's happening.”

That quote’s actually from the play, produced in 2013. And the person not looking up from their screen is you. Webposts won’t save any of us, or change anyone’s mind. Voting still has a chance.

—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: AMZN.TO/2LMZPVN

HYDRATION, TRANSFORMED

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Find one at a dealer near you hydrapak.com

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