Elevation Outdoors November 2015

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ADVENTURE TOWNS

THE BEST COLORADO

FRUITA LEADVILLE SOUTH FORK

Jeremy Collins

ON LONGS PEAK

LOCAL BRANDS MAKE GOOD

SURVIVING THE FAMILY HUT TRIP

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CONTENTS

November 2015 NO PLACE BETTER: FRUITA ROSE TO THE TOP AND TOOK THE TITLE OF BEST LARGE ADVENTURE TOWN IN COLORADO. PACK UP AND JOIN US THERE. SEE PAGE 22.

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

7 EDITOR’S LETTER

20 LONG WAY TO THE TOP

Walt Whitman’s dazzle of light.

It took 17 years (and several classic alpine routes) for award-winning artist and author Jeremy Collins to finally stand atop Longs Peak.

8 QUICK HITS Colorado ski manufacturers collaborate on a factory, Leave the Boys Behind, pop into Boulder's bubble, a new GoPro and more...

12 FLASHPOINT Yep, El Niño is coming, but what does that really mean for ski season?

15 THE TRAIL Sneak in one last mountain bike ride at Boulder's Betasso Preserve.

22 COLORADO'S TOP ADVENTURE TOWNS For weeks, we asked readers to vote online for the best places for outdoor action in the state. The winners—South Fork, Leadville and Fruita—may surprise some, but they all represent the core of what we love best about living in Colorado.

25 OUTDOOR KIDS 17 HOT SPOT Early winter escapades in Telluride.

Want to raise kids who appreciate the wild? Follow these five steps.

19 STRAIGHT TALK

36 THE ULTRASEXUAL

Meet the director of Colorado's new Outdoor Recreation Industry Office.

Forget Lumbersexuals, Adam Chase defines a new fashion movement. photo by DEVON BALET

35 HEAR THIS Jeff Austin's life after Yonder.

36 THE ROAD

ATION

STIN E D S ’ O D LORA

CO

P O H S Y R T CKCOUN

BA 0 YEARS R OVER 2 FO

What happens when a Colorado girl goes on her first family hut trip?

38 ELWAYVILLE. Turn up the John Denver and stop complaining about paradise!

WANT MORE? C ATC H

U P ON

PAST ISSU ES, YOU R FAVORITE B LOG G E RS A N D DAILY ON LIN E-ON LY CON TEN T AT

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COVER PHOTO BY TIMOTH Y G OR MLEY J R . / TG IM AG E.C OM TY H A LL FAT BIKIN G AT TH E TEN N ESSEE PASS C OOKHOU SE N EA R LEA DVILLE, OU R WIN N ER FOR TOP MID -SIZED COL OA R A DO A DVEN TU R E TOW N (PG 22).

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While some of our natives hibernate, another world comes alive here every winter—pairing breathtaking scenery and snowy adventures with fun seasonal events that give you plenty of reason to stay.

Rocky Mountain National Park Free Entrance Day - November 11th Catch the Glow Christmas Parade & Celebration - Thanksgiving Weekend Tinsel Tavern Tour & Dasher 5K Race - December 12th Estes Park Winter Festival - January 16th-17th Rails in the Rockies Train Show - February 13th-14th Whiskey Warm Up - March 12th Base camp for Rocky Mountain National Park | VisitEstesPark.com/events

CONTRIBUTORS

ElevationOutdoors.com EDITORIAL ED ITOR -IN -CH IEF

DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

doug@elevationoutdoors.com MAN AG IN G ED ITOR

CAMERON MARTINDELL

cameron@elevationoutdoors.com SEN IOR ED ITOR

CHRIS KASSAR

chris@elevationoutdoors.com CON TRIBUTIN G ED ITORS

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

PETER KRAY

CON TRIBUTIN G WRITERS

CHRISTOPHER COGLEY, JEREMY COLLINS, JEDD FERRIS, RACHEL WALKER IN TERN

KELLY CASSIDY

ART + PRODUCTION MEGAN JORDAN

A RT D IREC TOR

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PARKER NORTHGLEN LAKEWOOD LONETREE

WHAT'S YOUR COLORADO SPECIAL PLACE? DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN Flatirons Hospital, where my children were born with big, beautiful views of the mountains spread out before them.

ELIZABETH O'CONNELL The Indian Peaks Wilderness—it's close to home!

CAMERON MARTINDELL I've only been there once, but it was pretty fun to climb my namesake, Mt. Cameron, even if it's not an official Fourteener.

HUDSON LINDENBERGER The top of Zuma Lift at A-Basin. The view is one of the best in Colorado and there's all that glorious snow awaiting in Montezuma Bowl.

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TYRA SUTAK My hometown of Lyons—an amazing small town to grow up in and still one of my favorite places for trail time.

RACHEL WALKER Anywhere outside, preferably running or mountain biking on dirt single track or skiing.

ADAM CHASE Boulder. I was raised here and, despite many changes, it still holds the perfect blend of balanced people who care for their world, their bodies and other people. As much as I enjoy travel, I always cherish returning home.

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PETER KRAY My dad's dog Sohn died on Mt. Princeton years ago.

Every time I drive by, I roll down the window and yell, "We love you, Sohn."

EDITOR’S LETTER

11.15

WHY WE LIVE HERE: MORNING ON KENOSHA PASS

photo by DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

THE VIEW Labor Day weekend camping on Kenosha Pass and I am up early. The dog notices and licks my hand and face. My eight-year-old son stirs. The sky is not yet light. "Let's go for a walk," I say.

Soon, the two of us are wandering up a dirt road in an aspen grove, not saying anything, not needing to. We reach a high meadow as the disc of the rising sun shoots the dry grass full with golden light. Below us, there's the big expanse of South Park and silence. It's one of those moments, when time stops or lolls along, when I have forgotten about all those deadlines for this magazine and others, when I don't care that my phone has no service, when I feel very little difference between who I was when I was my son's age and who I am now.

The dog chases a bird. My son sits and plays with a blade of grass.

It has been so long since I have experienced a morning. A morning with no work, no races, no objective.

I have been reading a lot of Whitman this past year. He spoke to me once when I was young. Then I forgot. When I was in high school, I didn't care much for Whitman, just another dead poet you were supposed to read. Even when I studied poetry and writing in graduate school, I stayed away from old Walt: Too simple. Too much repetition. Too easy.

Something has changed now. I read these lines of Whitman the other day and they have stuck with me. It's as if he is speaking directly to me, as if he wrote these words just for me to be thinking about them here looking out on this view on a morning in Colorado: "Long enough have you dream'd contemptible dreams, / Now I wash the gum from your eyes, / You must habit yourself to the dazzle of the light / and of every moment of your life."

I also learned this year that one of my ancestors, a lighthouse keeper by the name of Phineas Mundy, fought for the Union at the battle of Chancellorsville, a bloody, bumbling defeat for the North. Walt Whitman was there, too, working as a nurse, seeing how there was very little difference in the faces of the dead. I think about that battle up here. Our lives are blessed, lucky. For some of us, the biggest challenge in our day-to-day life is how we will be able to fit a mountain bike ride into an over-booked schedule.

When it comes down to it, that is good enough, but I am not satisfied.

We face growing, massive problems, and though we may not be called on to volunteer to fight in bloody battles, we still have a deep responsibility. The Earth keeps getting smaller. Climate change threatens to wipe out species (already I see it happening first-hand in great stands of whitebark pine in high alpine meadows that have been reduced to dead brambles). We keep pressing in on wild places—the last rhinos are being displaced by palm-oil plantations in Sumatra, oil wells suck out every last drop. I am complicit. What can I do?

I think about what it would mean to habit every moment of my life, and I think I can try, that I can both be a part of this life up here, blissful and enjoying this place, and also aware of the real dangers facing our planet. We have to try. We need the dazzle of the light.

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QUICK HITS

11.15

TECHNOLOGY GOPRO SESSION The new (and recently price-reduced) GoPro Session packs plenty of features into its 1.5-inch cubed shape for you adventure-capturing enthusiasts.

Its small size, combined with GoPro’s the new Ball Joint Buckle (sold separately, $30) makes it easy to put it anywhere and record everything. $300; gopro.com

GEAR WE LOVE

BURLEY D'LITE Winter is upon us, and the wee ones may not be as excited as those ever-active cyclist parents, who love to bike in foul weather.

Enter the Burley D’Lite, a luxury bike trailer that protects those precious kiddos from cold, and potentially wet, rides. (A ski conversion kit is sold separately.) $630; burley.com

BOOKS CURIOUS CRITTERS MARINE Being landlocked in Colorado is no reason to deprive your kids of the wonders of the sea. Enter Curious Critters Marine

by David FitzSimmons. The book is full of beautiful photos and story narratives by the critters themselves. And if marine critters aren’t your bag, there are other books in the same series. $18; curious-critters.com 8

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THE HANDMADE'S TALE A NEW COOPERATIVE BUSINESS PLAN DEVELOPED BY TWO INDEPENDENT COLORADO SKI MAKERS MIGHT JUST SERVE AS A MODEL FOR HOW SMALL, BOUTIQUE OUTDOOR COMPANIES CAN COMPETE WITH THE BIG BOYS. There’s a certain, shall we say, swagger, that accompanies the pride of owning a product that’s made in your own backyard. A product that says something about you. Not just about what you do, but about who you are. From beer and whiskey to bikes and skis, more and more outdoor enthusiasts are looking for that hometown swagger in the products they gravitate toward.

The unfortunate reality, however, is that it costs more to make products locally by hand than it does to manufacture them on an assembly line halfway around the world. That higher manufacturing cost translates into a higher price tag, and with finances as tight as they are for most people across the country, that’s all too often where local brand loyalty falls away.

Without a solid base of customers willing to pay higher prices for locally made products, it’s likely that more small manufacturers will be forced to follow in the footsteps of Silverton based Venture Snowboards, who announced in early September that they were ceasing production for the 2015–16 season. But a unique business plan recently implemented by a pair of independent Colorado ski makers might just serve as an example of a creative way that other local manufacturers can reduce their overhead and still be in a better position to compete with the big brands.

“It’s really tough to be cost-competitive when you’re a small, boutique, locally made company,” says Ted Eynon, owner of Glenwood Springs, Colo. based Meier Skis. “If you’re going to make it, you really have to be innovative and creative and let go of your ego a little.”

That was exactly what Eynon and Mike Waesche, owner of Rocky Mountain Underground, based in Breckenridge, Colo., did when they came together and hatched an idea for a joint manufacturing facility. Instead of making their skis in separate factories and hiring separate employees to do the same job, Eynon and Waesche

SHOP CLASS: MATT CUDMORE SHOWS HOW HE CRAFTS MEIR SKIS AT THE FACTORY IN GLENWOOD SPRINGS. photo courtesy MEIER SKIS

figured that if they combined their resources into one big facility, they could significantly reduce the operating expenses for both companies while still maintaining the quality and integrity of each of their individual brands.

It was a crazy idea. And one that became a reality in April 2015, when The Factory officially opened in Glenwood Springs and started manufacturing skis for both Meier and RMU. Instead of simply sharing space, however, Eynon and Waesche set up The Factory as its own separate business that they own and operate together. Each of their separate ski companies, in turn, contract with The Factory to make their skis using their own materials and preferred production methods.

This unconventional business model ensures that the owners of the two competing brands have a vested interest in each other’s success. It could be that concept—maybe even more so than the reduced overhead costs—that gives Meier and RMU the edge they need to compete with the big corporate ski brands.

“You’re combining two cultures with different construction methods, different business models, different ways of doing things, so there are definitely challenges you have to overcome,” Waesche says. “It’s not easy, but it’s working.”

If other small manufacturers can find a way to make it work, then maybe there’s a chance we’ll start seeing more of that homegrown swagger on the slopes and trails in our backyard. It would certainly be a welcome sight.

—Christopher Cogley

WOMEN GONE WILDERNESS THIS PROGRAM PROMISES TO LEAVE THE BOYS BEHIND Aspen, Colo.-based Alpine Guide’s Leave the Boys Behind program aims to encourage women of all ages to get outside and learn more about how to safely explore Colorado’s backcountry in a fun

Hansi Heckmair

MERINO NATURETEC LIGHT SWISSWOOL MEETS MERINO

PHOTO

group setting. Launched in 2014, the program offers year-round adventures and educational trips created and led by female guides and tailored specifically for girls ages eight and up. Participants of this program will learn how to successfully navigate backcountry challenges, how to prepare and execute a multi-day stay in the great outdoors and how to cook and maintain a responsible campsite, along with valuable leadership and mentoring skills.

The Leave the Boys Behind (LBB) program operates a series of peak climbs and day hikes, and hut and backpacking trips in the summer, guiding groups throughout the mountains in and around Aspen, Colorado. The program also offers backcountry ski and hut trips in the winter and will be introducing AIARE Level 1 avalanche education courses this year as well as an introductory course on skinning or splitboarding.

This winter, LBB is offering three backcountry ski and hut trips. The group will lead cross-country skiing and/or snowshoeing women into backcountry terrain for a two-night hut trip stay. All three trips depart from the historic and scenic ghost town of Ashcroft, located just outside of Aspen, and they promise exceptional views and a warm and cozy hut to relax in at the end of each day.

The cost per trip includes a professional backcountry guide, local transportation to the trailhead, a beacon, probe, shovel, hut fees, food, a welcome party and all required permits and liability insurance.

“The LBB initiative is to create a comfortable learning environment and to encourage women to get outside,” says Deb Gravelle, the program’s coordinator.

“There’s some great camaraderie created on these trips and it’s an opportunity to really get out and appreciate the outdoors in a safe setting.”

The Leave the Boys Behind 2016 Winter Schedule: January 11–13, 2016 at Markley Hut near Aspen, Colo.; February 23–25, 2016 at Lindley Hut near Aspen, Colo.; March 16–18, 2016, at Lindley Hut. Learn more about Leave The Boys Behind’s winter and summer adventures at leavetheboysbehind.com.

—Tyra Sutak

Wool is the DNA in our ORTOVOX Mountainwear collection. When you unite the best qualities from our two SwissWool and Tasmanian Merino wool worlds, you get THE MOST ATHLETIC SHEEP ON THE MOUNTAIN.

Our new PIZ PALÜ jacket combines high functional merino wool with insulating swisswool.

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ALL-DAY COMFORT.

ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. SO LONG, SOIGNEUR: RACERS IN THE FIRST TRANS AM BIKE RACE KNOCKED OUT 4,233 MILES WITHOUT ANY SUPPORT CREW OR PERSONAL MASSEUSE TO HELP EASE THE PAIN. photo courtesy INSPIRED TO RIDE

INSPIRED TO RIDE: WORLDWIDE RELEASE Imagine pedaling 4,233 miles across 10 states in 16 days powered only by legs, lungs and grit. “Inspired To Ride,” a soulful documentary, tells the story of 45 bike enthusiasts who do just this during the inaugural Trans Am Bike Race, an unsupported, grassroots traverse of the country via the unforgiving Trans America Trail. Starting November 13, people across the globe can get in on the action by downloading the film on iTunes, buying it on Amazon (DVD and On Demand) and by viewing it on cable and in select theatres. “The film is just as much about the fantastic athletes who take on this adventure, as it is about what you can see and experience if you go exploring on a bicycle,” says producer and director Mike Dion of Ride the Divide. “I hope the film stirs up wanderlust about travel by bicycle and inspires viewers to push further than they would.”

For more info and cool merchandise, go to: InspiredToRide.it —Chris Kassar

women’s

HONEYCOMB FLEECE When you’re out conquering cold, you need base layers that move with you. Our women’s Honeycomb Fleece uses ColdPruf Performance polyester and Spandex for superior moisture management, instant warmth and a stylish, flexible fit.

rfit

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QUICK HITS

BOULDER YES, IT IS A BIT OF A BUBBLE, BUT THESE 10 SQUARE MILES SURROUNDED BY REALITY SERVE UP GREAT EATS, COMFORTABLE LODGING AND AN ENDLESS ARRAY OF FUN. BRING YOUR A GAME.

EAT This was a very hard list to narrow down since the competition for amazing food in this town is fierce. But since we must, here are two favorites you should try. For breakfast and lunch there’s nothing like The Buff (buffrestaurant.com). Started in 1995, The Buff was forced to move in 2013 across Canyon Blvd. behind McGuckin's. The menu is dripping with incredible Colorado-style comfort food and is a favorite for families, CU students

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a century of service truly makes this landmark hotel worth the visit. The rooms are all beautifully decorated and just stepping into the lobby is an inspiring trip back into the golden age of travel and lodging. On the other end of the time spectrum, the newly renovated and under new management Boulder Adventure Lodge (a-lodge.com) is dedicated to folks who want to get out and play.

Located just a few miles out of town up Boulder Canyon, the A-Lodge provides easy access to a host of adventurous activities while providing a beautiful and relaxing ambiance both in the rooms and out on the wooded grounds.

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BUBBLE REPUTATION: BOULDER'S CHAUTAUQUA PARK IS IDEAL FOR HIKING NO MATTER THE TIME OF YEAR. photo by CAMERON MARTINDELL

and seniors alike. It’s time for you to “Eat in the Buff.” For lunch or dinner, head to the west end of Pearl Street and pop into The Kitchen Next Door (thekitchen.com). The kid brother to the more upscale The Kitchen features live music Wednesday evenings. Be sure to include some Garlic Smashers to go with your meal.

SLEEP You can’t go wrong with a hotel named after blending the words Boulder and Colorado to ensure it is never forgotten by patrons or anyone else who hears about it. The Hotel Boulderado (boulderado.com) was opened on New Year's Day 1909 and the rich history that comes with over

PLAY It's impossible to describe even a small fraction of all activity options available to locals and visitors in Boulder. With that, here’s a short and dirty list of possibilities. See what catches your fancy. Hike: Chautauqua, Sanitas (Valley, ridge or the new Lions Lair trail), Gregory Canyon, Eldorado Canyon.

Bike: Walker Ranch Loop (fast & fun single track), Betasso Preserve (a classic—see page 15), Valmont Bike Park, Boulder Valley Ranch (great for beginners). Cycle: Boulder to Lyons, Flagstaff Mountain (2012 US Pro Cycling Challenge Stage 6 Finish), Boulder bike paths (cruisy). Paddle: Boulder Reservoir, Boulder Creek, Clear Creek.

Snowsports: Eldora (lift access), Arapahoe Lakes and Meadow Mountain (backcountry), Brainard Lake (XC/Snowshoe). And the list goes on.

—Cameron Martindell

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圀攀 挀愀渀ᤠ琀 眀愀椀琀 琀漀 猀攀攀 眀栀愀琀 礀漀甀爀 渀攀砀琀 愀搀瘀攀渀琀甀爀攀 栀漀氀搀猀℀

Photo: Trent Bona

ONLY AVAILABLE AT SPECIAL SALES EVENTS:

COLORADO SKI & SNOWBOARD EXPO Denver, November 6 – 8

GRAND JUNCTION SKI & SNOW SWAP Grand Junction, November 6 – 7

WARREN MILLER FILM PREMIERS Ticket purchase required.

Parker, November 11 Boulder, November 12 – 15 Denver, November 19 – 21 Colorado Springs, November 20 – 21 Lakewood, November 25 Lone Tree, November 23 – 25

LARSON’S SKI & SPORT SWAP Wheatridge, November 21 – 22

SPORTS AUTHORITY Montrose, November 21 – 23

Getaway Pass

One night of lodging at the Grand Lodge & two days of lift tickets for two people, including all taxes and fees! $259

Midweek Getaway Pass valid Sun. – Thurs. also available. One pass per person. Must be present to purchase. Only available at Special Sales Events.

For specific locations and hours visit:

skicb.com/salesevents

FOR TWO

$309

Subject to availability. Blackout dates and restrictions apply.

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FLASHPOINT

11.15

BIG PREDICTIONS

BY ALL METEOROLOGICAL INDICATORS, THE COMING “GODZILLA” EL NIÑO WILL MAKE THIS A BANNER YEAR FOR SOME SKI RESORTS—BUT CAN WE BET ON IT?

by HUDSON LINDENBERGER

W

e have been warned: El Niño is back and the legendary weather pattern is poised to be the biggest of its kind. That's a fact. El Niño—that periodic warming of the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of South and North America—has begun to brew. The last time there was an El Niño this strong, was monster year of 1997–1998, when the snowpack across the state hit at record levels.

And this baby, which has already been nicknamed the “Godzilla” El Niño, might be even bigger.

Or it might not.

Confused? You’re not the only one. “Here is how I would describe this upcoming snow season,” says Joel Gratz, founding meteorologist at OpenSnow.com. “It’s like we have a powerhouse football team loaded with players and poised for success. It should succeed, but a few missed opportunities could sink it.

Everything is aligned for a good year, but you never know until we are in it.”

JUST THE FACTS, MA’AM

The West is in desperate need of snow. California is mired in one of the worst droughts in history. A study published in the journal Nature Climate Change in September noted that the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains was the lowest in 500-years. In fact, when researchers looked at monitoring stations across photo by JEFF CRICCO

the range they found that it was at a frightening five percent of average.

The Pacific Northwest burned this summer due to an unnatural absence of snow. “The Pacific Northwest actually had a pretty good year from a precipitation standpoint,” says Gratz. “The problem is that there was little snow due to the warmer temperatures.”

When winter builds up a decent snowpack at higher altitudes it allows all that moisture to release slowly over the hotter months, keeping everything saturated, and considerably lowering the risk.

Alaska received significantly less snow than average last year. Idaho, Nevada and Arizona are all in some form of drought. Utah is seeing a shrinking snowpack, but most ski areas are still reported decent conditions last season.

Then there is Colorado. After a run of several mediocre winters coupled with dry summers, the winter of 2013–2014 showed up, bringing an abundance of powder. Fresh on its heels came another healthy winter last year, plus abundant rainfall all spring. Suddenly, all seems well.

“Volatility is the name of the game these days,” says Andy Wirth, president and chief executive officer of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. “All of the up-to-date weather modeling points to more and more extreme seasons. Gone are the days of consistent snow levels for

resorts. Some seasons will be huge and some thin.”

So what does that type of volatility mean when it comes to sorting through the hype surrounding the coming season? First, it's important to understand how this system works.

“El Niño is when warmer water from the Pacific region around

“All of the up-to-date weather modeling points to more and more extreme seasons. Gone are the days of consistent snow levels for resorts.” the Indian Ocean, Indonesia and Australia heads east towards the cooler waters off the coast of South America. It’s perfectly normal. This in turn causes a displacement of the jet stream that encircles the globe,” says Phil Klotzbach, research scientist in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University.

“It’s the wind that transports moisture into the United States. In a strong year, it sets up a powerful subtropical jet stream that funnels enhanced moisture to the southern part of the U.S.” BIG DUMPS

While El Niño simply means more rain in most places, it's a godsend in

50 SHADES OF WHITE: IS THIS GOING TO BE THE BAD, BAD WINTER WE ALL WANT?

the Sierra. “The Tahoe resorts could be looking at 120-150% of average this season if the snow line holds,” says Klotzbach. “The problem is that the tropical moisture also brings warmer weather.” The dilemma in determining who will get graced with powder lies a perfect combination of location and altitude. The further south, the better chance of being in the path of storms, and the higher up, the better chance that precipitation will fall as snow rather than rain.

Tahoe is a tricky one to predict. In the past, powerful El Niño’s have hit it hard. Mammoth Mountain, further south, could have a memorable year.

But when Mother Nature blesses one area she tends to ignore another. And chances are high that Washington, Alaska, British Columbia, Montana and Idaho could be looking at another crappy winter.

In both of the past strong El Niño years (1982–83 and 1997–98) there has been below average snowfall.

This does not mean there will be no snow, however. “Fun fact: Throughout most of the Western U.S. over half of the seasonal snowfall comes from just 10 percent of the storms,” says Gratz. A warmer-thannormal jet stream over the upper part of the country might not bring any big storms during the season. Snow will fall but not in big dumps.

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The takeaway? If you were thinking about heading south to ski, this is the year you may be in luck.

The data all points to Arizona and New Mexico resorts having a banner year in 2015-16.

Colorado and Utah, however are tough to accurately predict. The states sit right between the two jet streams. They are not too far north to suffer from the warm air, but they are not far enough south to line up for the brunt of the precipitation.

Brian Head Resort and Eagle Head in southern Utah should see some serious snowfall this season. Alta and Snowbird should be good, if not great. And Park City will also be a good bet.

And Colorado? After the bounty of the past two winters it would be safe to say that Mile High residents are getting a little spoiled. Even though I-70 traffic continues to cause problems, that ski gridlock is not enough to keep the denizens of the Front Range away. Will El Niño add to the congestion headed west? It could if history repeats itself. The odds are in favor of some major dumps heading to Colorado's big resorts. But nothing is certain.

“I would not be surprised if the season started off with a bang, followed by a lull, but then we had a huge spring where the snow keeps piling up long after the resorts close,” says Gratz.

El Niño could be backcountry skiers’ best friend with runs being put up deep into the summer.

Besides all of that powder, El Niño's increased precipitation bring some other big positives. If you are a surfer, this is the year to head towards California or Baja. One certainty is that there will be strong coastalcostal storms all season ushering in big waves. But perhaps the best news of all is that the Sierra will be getting some much-needed rainfall that will help lower the fire danger. But, with rain the possibilities of mudslides, and flooding will most certainly rise as California’s water tables and aquifers struggle to refill.

CANARY IN THE COAL MINE

As we look towards the upcoming El Niño not knowing what exactly is in store, there is one element that stands out for certain. Climate change is a carbuncle on the skin of all outdoor lovers. Regardless of what

Who is Colorado’s Who is Colorado’s Resident Badass?

Resident Badass?

side of the political spectrum you are on, the facts are simple. Winters are changing. Droughts and other extreme events are increasing across the West.

“People say that the ski areas are the canary in the coal mines, and that they are dead. Doomed to irrelevance.

I think not," says Wirth. "They are alive and well. We have refined our offerings and adapted. There will always be peaks to ski and ride, the real question is what do we do after this season?"

“Fun fact: Throughout most of the Western U.S. over half of the seasonal snowfall comes from just 10 percent of the storms.”

Therin lies the rub: El Niño's big storms could be a distraction when it comes to deeper problems facing not just winter resorts but the planet.

“The explosion of fires across the entire Western U.S. seems to have opened people’s eyes the last few years. When you see areas you

love struggling, it motivates you to get involved,” says Chris Steinkamp, Executive Director of Protect Our Winters (POW). “We need to show politicians the economic power winter sports have to effect change.”

By working to unite all of the stakeholders in the winter sports industry POW is creating a lobby strong enough to turn politicians heads in D.C. When you are able to harness the power of a $62-billiondollar business like the ski industry you are able to get people who care about the bottom line to notice.

Resorts like Aspen, Squaw Valley, and Park City are leading the way. By working with their local communities, they have been able to create new programs that help mitgate the energy consumption and pollution causing climate change.

Enjoy the snow this season, but be sure to do what you can to ensure it will continue to dump, even if it's hard to predict just where.

Hudson Lindenberger is the author of the Elevation Outdoors.com Liquid Gear column, a frequent contributor to Men's Journal, and a skier always seeking more snow.

Let the season begin!

NOV 2-9 - NOMINATIONS ACCEPTED

THIS IS A STATE FULL OF RESIDENT BADASSES.

BUT WHO IS THE MOST BADASS OF ALL? NOMINATE YOUR PICK FOR RESIDENT BADASS FOR EACH OF THESE 8 CATEGORIES: SNOW • ROCK AND ICE • AIR • WATER • ENDURANCE WHEELS • HUMANITARIAN • WILD CARD

el e vati o n o u td o o r s .c om

It’s that tasty time of year when the evenings grow darker, and so do the beers. Bristol’s award-winning winter seasonal, Winter Warlock is rich, smooth, and exceptionally comforting after an epic day on the mountain. Grab some at your favorite liquor store, or at select bars and restaurants across the Front Range. bristolbrewing.com

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Drink beer with character.

POWERED BY

THE TRAIL

11.15

DOWNLOAD APP viewranger.com/gpsadventure

ROUTE CODE: ELEV0042 Scan for this route’s GPS Hike!

7.

6.

Scan for all of Elevation Outdoors’ published routes!

ROLL ON: CRUISE BETASSO'S BENJAMIN LOOP THIS FALL.

LATESEASON MTB DOWNLOAD THE GPS COORDINATES AND FREE VIEW RANGER APP AND SNEAK IN A MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE IN BEFORE WINTER HITS AT BOUDER’S BETASSO PRESERVE.

by CHRIS KASSAR Winter’s coming, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop riding. Late fall is the perfect time to explore Front Range rides like Betasso Preserve, without the crowds. Located right up Boulder, Canyon, you can access the ride straight from town without a car. All totaled, you’ll cover 18 miles—or more, depending on how many laps you do on the singletrack loops, with approximately 2,000 vertical feet to climb and bomb back down. Be aware: You must follow the directional arrows and no bikes are allowed on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

GET OUTTA TOWN

Start from home, your hotel or park your car at Eben G. Fine Park for easy access to the Boulder Creek Trail. Cruise up the canyon on the bike path that parallels Canyon Road (SR-119).

HIT THE ROAD

After enjoying a mellow two-mile climb on the Boulder Creek Trail, the path dead ends and pushes you onto the highway. Cross the road and pay attention as you jockey with traffic and ride the very narrow shoulder safely up the canyon. You may want to say hi to our friends at the Boulder Adventure Lodge (see page 10), just up Four Mile Canyon, on your right.

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

Ride a quick mile on the road, until you photo by DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

reach the Betasso Link (a.k.a. Pipeline) trailhead on the right side of the road just before the tunnel.

This option will access the trails in Betasso, but it’s a tough climb with rock obstacles. It’s fun for experts—but less burly riders will want to keep heading up the road.

CLIMB HIGH

If you skip the Link, continue riding through the tunnel, and up Highway 119 until you reach Sugarloaf Road. Turn right here and settle in for the steepest part of the road climb. Enjoy beautiful views down canyon as you huff and puff.

GETTING CLOSER

Push through another steep mile on the road and take the first right onto Betasso Road.

6.

HIT THE SINGLETRACK

After less than a mile of climbing, you will reach the trailhead on your left. Turn off Betasso Road, ride through the parking lot and hit the sweet singletrack of the Canyon Loop, a 3.3-mile loop with just over 400 feet of vertical.

(Note the directional sign, which changes every two weeks and follow it.) Both beginners and experts will enjoy this smooth trail packed with curvy singletrack, lots of flow and a few windy switchbacks. Its lack of big boulders, extremely technical moves or dangerous terrain makes it a fast, forgiving ride. At times, you will cruise through a lush forest; at others, the trail will reward your efforts with stunning vistas of the canyon and surrounding foothills.

7.

Cruise this loop once or run laps (note that the directional arrow changes here each week). Once you have had your fill, head back to the Canyon Loop Trail and follow the GPS route back to town (you can also choose to leave Betasso Preseve and link to Four Mile Canyon from the Benjamin Trail.)

TRAIL GEAR SALSA SPEARFISH CARBON SLX

The folks at Salsa Cycles take their slogan “Adventure by Bike” seriously.

The Spearfish, an ultra-endurance, fullsuspension racing 29er, was built to do it all. Melding comfort and efficiency, this featherweight mountain bike climbs like a beast, handles with agility and descends with grace. With 80 mm of rear travel, the extremely maneuverable cross-country ride was specifically built for the long haul (think 100-milers, 24-hour races and multi-day bikepacking). It corners well, steers with precision, brakes predictably and gobbles up bumps and rocks even when you’re spent. All of those qualities also make it a fine bike to take out on a fun day ride like Betasso. $3,699; salsacycles.com

KEEP ON KEEPING ON

Here you reach the Benjamin Loop, a flowy four-mile trail that lengthens the Betasso ride. Built four years ago, this route—complete with twists, turns, and stiff-but-doable climbs—winds through thick forest and climbs up above the preserve.

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Surface fabric Baffle

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ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / N OV E M B E R 2 01 5

HOT SPOT

11. 15

ENJOY THE RIDE HERE’S YOUR GUIDE TO WINTER ADVENTURE IN TELLURIDE IN THOSE MELLOW EARLY SEASON WEEKS BEFORE THE CROWDS ARRIVE (OR ANY TIME OF YEAR).

by CHRIS KASSAR

S

eeking a way to mix it up this Thanksgiving?

Or planning a winter escape for later this year?

Head to the San Juans. Telluride makes the perfect basecamp for adventure any time of year—however, there’s a certain magic to getting here before things really open. There might not be as much snow, but there are far fewer people. Make the most of your visit to this magical spot with our insider’s guide.

NORDIC STOKE: TELLURIDE IS FAMED FOR ITS LIFT-SERVED SKIING, BUT YOU CAN UP YOUR HEART RATE AND ENJOY THE VIEW AT SPOTS LIKE THE TELLURIDE NORDIC CENTER AND PRIEST LAKE.

RIDE Thanks to the fat-bike revolution, cycling isn’t just for summer anymore. For a lung-busting adventure, climb Boomerang or Bear Creek. If you want a high-speed adventure, take the Gondola to the top of Mountain Village and float down the Jurassic Trail, a flowy route down through the forest.

Follow the ridgeline west to combine this with the Meadows Trail and then ride the valley floor out to the Telluride Brewery (telluridebrewingco. com) for a frosty beverage. Hit up the pros at Boot Doctors (bootdoctors.com) for info, bike rentals or a guided excursion.

CLIMB From mid-November through early May, the countless waterfalls here freeze up to create some of the best ice climbs in the West. If you’re an intermediate and want an easy walk from town, head to Bear Creek where there are many short lines ranging from WI 3-5. If you’re an expert, hit Ames Ice Hose (WI 5/5+, occasionally 6) or Bridal Veil Falls (5/5+, occasionally 6-).

Never put on crampons or used an ice axe? No problem. Try an easier pitch like Lower Ames.

No matter your skill level, the renowned climbers and leaders at Telluride Mountain Guides (telluridemountainguiding.com) will gear you up and take you out on an adventure.

EXPLORE With more than 70 kilometers of maintained Nordic trails, Telluride is a paradise for cross-country skiers. At the Telluride Nordic Center, located between the Town Park offices and the new Ice Pavilion, you’ll find 3K of immaculately groomed trails which are perfect for a quick workout or for those new to Nordic skiing. For a longer excursion head to the top of Lizard Head Pass and hit the Trout Lake Railroad Grade, a 4.9K route (oneway) that tops out at 10,267 feet. This area is known for receiving more snow than other Nordic trails in the region, so it’s your best bet early or late in the photos courtesy TELLURIDE TOURISM BOARD

season. Or, try the series of interconnected loops 12.5 miles south of town at Priest Lake. These trails cruise nearly 8K over rolling terrain through peaceful and breathtaking scenery.

SHRED Telluride Ski Resort (tellurideskiresort.com) claims a variety of terrain that will appeal to everyone. Experts will love the moguls, cliffs, and chutes, while beginners will praise the fact that they aren’t banished to a mere three runs on the bottom of the hill. Telluride offers up a ton of runs that are ideal for newbies and intermediates, including some sweet glades, many of which are accessed from high up on the mountain. Those who like to earn turns need to hit up Palmyra Peak, arguably the best in-area hike-to terrain in North America.

And, with 120 trails, 4,425 feet of vertical drop and 18 lifts, there are rarely lines so you can maximize your time on the slopes.

FEAST Hit the Cosmopolitan (cosmotelluride.com), a chic restaurant in the Columbia Hotel serving up signature cocktails including Pisco Punch and a variety of cosmos, for a delectable, fine-dining experience. With an eye to minimizing impact, the restaurant sources many ingredients locally.

Delicious don't-miss delicacies include the warm beet salad, Chilean sashimi, lamb two ways and the blueberry pie. If you’re looking for a uniquely Telluride dining experience, visit Alpino Vino (tellurideskiresort.com/events-activities/dining/ alpino-vino), a European chalet located at 11,996 feet, making it the highest elevation fine-dining restaurant in North America. After the snow-coach ride up from the base area, you’ll enjoy unmatched views of the Wilson Range while savoring a fivecourse Italian meal paired with the perfect wines.

For affordable, yummy eats right downtown, visit two of our favorites: Brown Dog Pizza (browndogpizza.com), which serves up Detroit-style pies, or Siam Telluride (siamtelluride.com), which offers authentic Thai dishes.

STAY After pushing your limits all day out in the cold, it’s important to come home to a place you can relax.

The Hotel Telluride (thehoteltelluride.com)—a quaint boutique hotel right downtown—tops our list. Expect exceptional service. The staff are friendly, detail-oriented and they will shuttle you anywhere in town. Visit the hotel spa for a massage or facial. Pamper yourself with a soak in the outdoor hot tubs. The biggest bonus? For a small fee you can bring your pup!

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No Restrictions

4-PAK

$

139

Loveland 4-Paks are actual lift tickets that can be used by anyone on any day of the season. Use them yourself on 4 different days or share with friends and family all on the same day. No restrictions. No blackouts.

4-Paks are only available through 11-22-15 and are not available for purchase or pick at any ticket window.

com

d. lan

Lift lines & hassles not included.

e lov ski

THE BIG AGNES

SLEEP

SYSTEM

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+

Breakfast above the Colorado River, Western CO - Braden Gunem

NEVER ROLL OFF YOUR PAD AGAIN

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Q-Core SL™ 15oF, 17oz

Big Agnes System Bag

• Our original sleep system design has been providing comfort in the backcountry since 2001 • Slide your pad into an integrated sleeve on the bottom of the bag for insulation • The top two-thirds of the bag is insulated in the traditional style to keep you warm Outfitting Dirtbags Everywhere...

Tents • Sleeping Bags • Pads • Apparel

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ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / N OV E M B E R 2 01 5

STRAIGHT TALK

11.15

LUIS BENITEZ HEAR HOW THE DIRECTOR OF COLORADO’S BRANDNEW OUTDOOR RECREATION INDUSTRY OFFICE IS PRIMED TO REINVENT THE WAY THAT THE STATE EMBRACES ITS GREATEST RESOURCE.

by KELLY CASSIDY

L

uis Benitez is in the process of transforming Colorado’s outdoor tourism industry, one town at a time. Appointed by Gov. John Hickenlooper in June, Benitez is the very first director of Colorado’s Outdoor Recreation Industry Office.

His résumé is certainly right for the job: A longtime Colorado resident and an accomplished outdoorsman, Benitez served on the Town of Eagle Board of Trustees and has climbed the Seven Summits (the tallest peaks on all seven continents), including six climbs on Mt. Everest. When he was appointed, Benitez promised to take Colorado’s outdoor tourism to the next level. He sat down to tell us just how he plans to do it.

MAN FOR ALL SEASONS: A SERIOUS MOUNTAINEER, BENITEZ UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY WANTS.

HOW WILL YOUR POSITION AFFECT COLORADO TOURISM?

My hope is that my role will help enhance tourism in a few very specific ways. For starters, when people come to Colorado they typically include some type of outdoor endeavor as a part of their stay. My job is to continue to help tell the stories that connect those endeavor-based opportunities with our guests to the state. I think visitors know a few key industries like skiing or rafting, but we have so many other opportunities, from stand-up paddleboarding to fly fishing to hunting to motorized sports ... the list goes on and on. Our goal is to keep providing those transformative experiences that keep people coming back for more.

WHAT ARE YOUR LONG-TERM GOALS AS DIRECTOR?

I have four. Number one is economic development. Understand who is here and who isn't here. If we can help companies move here or existing companies that are growing relocate within the state, that plays a huge part in the health and viability of the photos courtesy DIDRIK JOHNCK (MAIN), LUIS BENITEZ (INSET)

industry. Also, try to help companies that may be struggling. Ensure that people remain connected to this amazing community the outdoor industry offers within Colorado.

Sometimes this help comes in the shape of fiscal aid with tax credits or incentives, sometimes it’s simply ensuring that people are connecting to those best positioned to help. I believe this should apply to for-profit and non-profit companies alike.

Number two, conservation and stewardship. We have to take care of the product that allows us to have viable businesses and lands to recreate on. I truly believe there is a better way to allow access to our federal lands. Colorado has access that is unmatched in most other states for individuals, but, when it comes to trying to start an outfitter and/or potentially a wilderness education school, or a mountain bike guide service, basically anything that requires permitting, it’s incredibly hard. My goal is to help start this conversation for Colorado at a state,

and, hopefully, federal level to see if we can have a different conversation about access.

Third is education. As I mentioned before, we have a Ski Area Management degree here in Colorado.

What about a Trail Building Degree?

Advanced Sewing for Outdoor Apparel? Advanced Manufacturing?

The possibilities are limitless. This also ties into what we are doing for the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts. We have to understand the legacy we are leaving and the support structure we are creating to empower the next generation with the great ideas to rise up and thrive. We need to focus on the demographics of our state, and the power that holds.

And fourth is what I call “Industry Anchors.” These are some of the things that anchor industry sectors in our state. We have the American Mountaineering Center in Golden, among other amazing companies whose headquarters are here. How can we impact those that are here and thinking about coming here?

Not to mention industry trade shows, and large events like the GoPro Mountain Games. Colorado is a nexus for disruptive innovation within the outdoor industry, I want to ensure that stays anchored here in Colorado for decades to come.

WHAT DOES SUCCESS IN ONEYEAR LOOK LIKE TO YOU, AND HOW WILL YOU MEASURE IT?

If in a year, the outdoor industry is thriving, if companies are moving here for quality of life and access to the outdoor industry community, if the next generation is getting both the access they deserve to the outdoors and potentially the education they desire to work in our industry, then it would be a good year. I suspect some of these things will take more time, but I've always believed that to truly succeed, you need to look beyond what you perceive is possible.

WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO GO TO GET OFF THE GRID?

There is a valley high in the Gore mountain range above Vail where the climbing is good, the alpine lakes are clear and cold, and there is nothing but space. I’ve said too much already...

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—When artist and author Jeremy Collins isn't climbing, he is drawing, adventuring with his kids or, most recently, doing all three in a series of Ford commercials. His book, DRAWN: The Art of Ascent recently won Best Adventure Travel Book at Banff Mountain and Book Film Festival. You can see his line of clothing and prints (including this one of Longs Peak) at theMeridianLine.com.

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COLORADO'S 2015 TOP

C

olorado boasts countless towns with vibrant outdoor scenes and access to worldclass adventure. This fall, we chose 48 of our favorite communities across the state and asked readers to narrow down the field to determine their three favorite small, mid-sized and large adventure towns in the state.

Get out and visit the winners:

5) And don't forget the possibiilites for big ROAD BIKING tours straight out of town on Wolf Creek Pass. Head up to the resort and back down or maybe even all the way over to Pagosa Springs, which came in second place to its neighbor South Fork in this category.

TOP MID-SIZED TOWN TOP SMALL TOWN

SOUTH FORK THE VOTES HAVE BEEN TALLIED. ELEVATION OUTDOORS READERS HAVE SPOKEN AND PICKED THE TOP ADVENTURE TOWNS IN THE STATE. MEET THE WINNERS: THESE TOWNS EMBODY REAL COMMUNITY ALONGSIDE A NATIVE TASTE FOR OUTDOOR FUN. HERE ARE FIVE REASONS WHY EACH SPOT WON— AND WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT THEM SOON.

by DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

Population 604; Elevation 8,209'

I

t's no surprise South Fork won this category. The tiny San Juan town is surrounded by wilderness and not yet trampled by hordes of tech geeks looking to cash out early.

1) THE MOST SNOW IN THE STATE is right up the road. WOLF CREEK resort averages a whopping 430 annually. It's also a privately owned gem—a vibe you appreciate best tucking into the green chili and enjoying a Ska True Blonde at the base area after wearing yourself out in untracked all day. Wolf Creek Pass is also an ideal spot for backcountry touring—plus, you can stay overnight at the cozy PASS CREEK YURT. 2) WORLD-CLASS FISHING. With the Rio Grande running right through town, South Fork lays claim to the title of one the best angling destinations in the state, so much so that the Colorado Division of Wildlife designated 20 miles of the stream here as GOLD MEDAL WATERS. 3) Want in on a little-known secret?

There's great rock climbing here both with on-the-down-low cragging at the edge of town and sport climbing at nearby LA GARITA CREEK WALL off of Penitente Canyon. Start on the crimpy, fun Pocket Plethora (5.11c).

CITY OF SINGLETRACK: FRUITA HAS BEEN PROACTIVE IN BUILDING TRAILS JUST FOR BIKES AND BUILT ITSELF INTO A TRUE SUSTAINABLE, THRIVING COMMUNITY IN THE PROCESS. photo by DEVON BALET

4) Encompassing a ridiculous 499,771 acres of untrammled peaks, forest, streams and alpine lakes, THE WEMENUCHE WILDERNESS is what truly defines the character of this town. South Fork is an ideal launching point for hiking and backpacking.

From here, there's access to the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) and one of our favorite hikes, the sevenmile jaunt along the CDT up to 11,720-foot ARCHULETA LAKE.

LEADVILLE

Population 2,602; Elevation 10,152'

L

eadville is indeed the highest town in Colorado. Ok, ha ha.

It's also one town in Colorado that has manged to hold onto some semblance of what crusty, cynical mountain freaks feel is the real, and fading, Colorado. It was a big coup that the town won this spot in our poll, beating out other supercharged outdoor-sport burgs. You want authentic? You got it. Leadville plays hard old-school style (after all it's home to the uncompromising Leadville Trail 100 races).

1) THE SOUL (AND HISTORY) OF THE SPORT AT SKI COOPER. Sure, there are bigger, steeper, more famous ski resorts in the state, but if you want credence over condos, Cooper is the spot. The best bet if you are seeking powder is a trip on CHICAGO RIDGE SNOWCAT TOURS, which operates on 2,600 acres above the resort. You also must make a pilgirmage to CAMP HALE where the storied 10th Mountain Division trained for combat during World War II. The soliders who returned (the 10th suffered heavy casualities in Europe) founded the modern ski industry in the U.S. 2) SNOW BIKING. Seemingly a fad, snow biking has become a top sport in Leadville (hey, check out the cover of this issue!), with groomed trail right in town. The local (and badass) CLOUD CITY WHEELERS cycling club has embraced the sport and recently purchased a singletrack groomer implement and snowmobiles to pull it. And, if you have something to prove, be here for the groups' winter bike race series—just $20 and procedes pay for Cloud City's advocacy efforts.

3) If you do want to go a bit upscale, but still earn your epicurianism,

SHOP AT THE FOLLOWING COLORADO LOCATIONS: Twenty Ninth Street Boulder LEADVILLE TOPS OUT: WHILE SO MANY COLORADO TOWNS HAVE FALLEN PREY TO GENTRIFICATION AND LAME HIPSTERISM, THE HIGHEST INCORPORATED CITY IN NORTH AMERICA HOLDS ONTO ITS NATIVE SOUL.

head to the TENNESSEE PASS COOKHOUSE for a four-course, gourmet dinner in a backcountry yurt. It's a short snowshoe or ski in to a one-of-a-kind restaurant. You can work up an appetite before dinner on 25K of trails at the TENNESSEE PASS NORDIC CENTER. Plus, the area boasts more than 50 miles of free, groomed trails. Because of the altitude, it’s one of the longest winter seasons in the state, starting a little sooner and lasting well into spring.

4) What's a top Colorado town without beer? Two new BREWERIES are in the works in Leadville: Periodic Brewing opened in October (facebook.com/periodicbrewing) and Two Mile Brewing is set to open in 2016 (twomilebrewing.com).

Leadville also kicked off its first annual BBQ & BREWFEST in 2015.

It’s the highest-elevation sanctioned barbecue competition in the world, and it will return in June of 2016. (leadvillebbqandbrewfest.com) 5) HIT THE MINERAL BELT TRAIL. All too often, adventure for the disabled is left off these type of lists. This 11-mile loop winds through town, it's ADA-accessible and it's fun for all.

itself as a true community of the New West. Fruita's famed singletrack only exists because the community (starting at Over the Edge Sports) built and supported it. Now, the place is booming beyond biking. Here's what we like best in this Colorado town that's a model for the world.

1) Duh, the MOUNTAIN BIKING. We could run down the countless classic trails here, but we are betting you know most of them already.

So check out something new. The rollicking, eight-mile Sarlacc Trail opened up last May. Plus, 20 campsites were added in 2015 to the 18 Road Trailhead camping area, making it easier to find a spot if you are coming in late on a Friday.

2) COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT just does not get the love it deserves. The place harbors one of the best campgrounds in the state, red-rocks hike away from bike crowds, classic multi-pitch climbing and the perfect early season road bike loop. Also new this year, the

photo by BJORN BAUER

Rim Rock Marathon—which runs across the monument—will end in downtown Fruita November 7th.

3) The 25-mile paddle down the RUBY-HORSETHIEF section of the Colorado River may be the best family float in the state. While it was becoming very crowded, the BLM has added a campsite permit system, which ensures you will have a spot on the river. You can rent boats and gear (and launch) right in town at Rimrock Adventures. (rradventures.com) 4) Looking for a true epic?

Consider biking the entire 145-mile KOKOPELLI TRAIL from Fruita to Moab, Utah. Unsupported freaks bang it out in a day. A more casual ride is three days with support.

5) COMMUNITY: The annual FAT TIRE FESTIVAL hosted by Over the Edge in April continues to grow and offers up new bikes to demo, new friends to ride with, new trail building sessions and one hell of a party.

Aspen Grove Littleton Colorado Mills Outlet Lakewood Cherry Creek Shopping Center Denver FlatIron Crossing Mall Broomfield Main Street at Southlands Aurora Outlets at Silverthorne Dillon Outlets at Castle Rock Castle Rock The Orchard Town Center Westminster Park Meadows Mall Lone Tree The Promenade Shops at Briargate Colorado Springs The Promenade Shops at Centerra Loveland

TOP LARGE TOWN

FRUITA

Population 12,646; Elevation 4,514'

I

t's tempting to write Fruita off as nothing more than a mountain bike destination, and though fat tires will always be the heart of the place as an adventure town, the real story is that of an agricultural and energyextraction-based city rethinking

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: SOUTH FORK HAS WOLF CREEK RIGHT UP THE ROAD.

VISIT OUR STORE LOCATOR AT EDDIEBAUER.COM

photo by JEFF CRICCO

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YOUTH MOVEMENT WANT TO RAISE KIDS WHO LOVE THE OUTDOORS? WE OFFER UP OUR EXPERIENCE IN FIVE EASY STEPS THAT WE THINK WILL ENGENDER A LIFELONG PASSION FOR PLAYING IN AND CARING ABOUT WILD PLACES.

by DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

E

veryone who has kids loves to tell you that your life will "change forever, bro" when you have them. That is certainly true.

It's also a very good thing, especially when those little people make the jump from you hauling them around in backpacks and trailers to coming along aside you on outdoor adventures. There's no one way to do parenting correctly. My wife and I have always tried our best to expose our kids to the mystery and play of the wild without pushing them. We want them to love the same things we love, the things that made us want to raise them here, not think of them as annoying chores their parents make them do. With that principle in mind, here's some insight into our journey together into the outdoors.

#1 CAMP

Kids love car camping. It's lowpressure: They explore the woods at their own pace, they cruise around on thier bikes and meet other kids, they read, they help cook. The pace slows down, and they have more time to simply be kids. Oh, and parents enjoy it, too. You get off the radar, off the devices and spend some time either getting silly and playing games with them (cribbage is ideal for those math skills) or you pull up a chair, a book and your favorite beverage while they do their own thing. There are countless spots to car camp in Colorado, but one of our favorites is Olive Ridge (1.usa.gov/1XovxZl) on the Peak to Peak highway. You can usually find a spot here, and it's close to the trails in Rocky Mountain Naitonal Park's Wild Basin.

#2 BIKE ADVENTURE MINION: THERE WERE LOTS OF BIG SMILES WHEN KIERAN SCHNITZSPAHN WENT ON HIS FIRST BIG CANYON TRIP ON UTAH'S CEDAR MESA. photo by DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

All praise the Strider and other balance bikes. They take the pain out of learning the joy of two wheels.

There's something so basic about getting kids on a bike, and you only multiply that stoke when you join them for a ride to the farmer's market or just to the store. We are lucky to

live in Boulder where we can spend afternoons and take camps at the world-class Valmont Bike Park (valmontbikepark.org). We have gotten them out on singletrack, too, and especially enjoy the seven-mile, confidence-building Hippy House loop at Phil's World in Cortez. Plus, there are 60 miles of trails here total, so parents can sneak in a grownup ride.

#3 CLIMB

Most likely, your child will be a better climber than you. There's an incredible infrastructure in place as well as training that did not exist when most of us were kids. We have found programs that got our kids climbing from the get-go at the Boulder Rock Club (boulderrockclub.com) and then put them out learning real skills on the rock with the gym's partner, the Colorado Mountain School (coloradomountainschool. com). During the summer and school breaks, ABC Kids Climbing (abckidsboulder.com) offers outstanding programs, too.

#4 READ

You are not alone. Other parents are always your best support group. You can access even more information on how to get your kids loving the outdoors in two of our favorite guidebooks by EO contributors: The Down and Dirty Guide to Camping with Kids by Helen Olsson (maddogmom.com), and Outdoor Parents, Outdoor Kids (recreatingwithkids.com) by Eugene Buchanan. Check out both.

#5 BREATHE

It doesn't always have to be a contest, a camp, a class, an organized endeavor. The best way to get kids to enjoy the outdoors more often than not is simply to take the time to slow down and breathe it in. Oh, that works for parents, too.

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Looking for the true natives?

The brands who really care about Colorado make the state a priority.

d e d n a r b o d a r colo

There’s a reason why some businesses base themselves in Colorado. They believe in the unique offerings of this state and they want to be a part of the communities that support them.

ELEVATIONOUTDOORS.COM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

VOORMI HOMETOWN >> Pagosa Springs WHY WE SET UP SHOP HERE >> Surrounded by over 1.8 million acres of National Forest and sitting at the base of Southern Colorado’s most epic winter-storm funnel (a.k.a. Wolf Creek Pass), we can’t think of a better place to find inspiration for the rugged outdoor clothing we make here at VOORMI. WHAT WE DO >> The makers of high performance, professional-grade technical clothing built from a foundation of locally sourced ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGHCOUNTRY MERINO™ Wool.

WHY WE LOVE COLORADO >> From the rugged landscape that inspires our products, to the pioneering spirit and creativity that runs through our veins, Colorado is the ultimate place to live, play and work.

PAGOSA SPRINGS, CO VOORMI.COM 970.264.2724 26

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colorado branded SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

BIG AGNES HOMETOWN >> Steamboat Springs WHY WE SET UP SHOP HERE >> Steamboat has an amazing community. We love it here and we are fortunate to have so much outdoor space where we can not only use and test our gear, but also be inspired to keep evolving it.

WHAT WE DO >> We strive to make the best, most comfortable outdoor camp gear and insulated apparel on the planet. We want to encourage all fun-lovers, from dedicated backpackers to backyard campers, to sleep in the dirt.

WHY WE LOVE COLORADO >> The places, the people—they all inspire what we do. In fact, we name most of our tents, bags, pads and apparel after local history, peaks and rivers, the places where we test our product. It brings back memories of trips both successful and epic, and, hopefully, it inspires you to get out and explore this amazing state.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO BIGAGNES.COM 877.554.8975

ELEVATION OUTDOORS MAGAZINE

FLYLOW

HOMETOWN >> Boulder WHY WE SET UP SHOP HERE >> Colorado is the epicenter for outdoor adventure, and Boulder is a city fueled by that lifestyle.

There’s no better place to live and work in the outdoor industry.

WHAT WE DO >> EO is an outdoor adventure lifestyle magazine that distributes throughout the state of Colorado, with a major focus on the Front Range. We publish eleven issues a year focusing on outdoor sports, activities, festivals and tourism destinations where you can “Go Outside and Play.”

WHY WE LOVE COLORADO >> We’re surrounded by likeminded outdoor enthusiasts and countless outdoor brands that provide inspiration and collaboration. Coloradans work hard and play hard and the state provides a full range of geographic wonders—vast mountain ranges, sand dunes, plains, red-rock desert. With so much to do here, we never run out of new inspiration for the magazine.

HOMETOWN >> Denver WHY WE SET UP SHOP HERE >> Flylow’s co-founders Dan and Greg are both Colorado natives who grew up skiing the Rocky Mountains, so it made sense to keep our company local and homegrown. Colorado has proven to be the ideal testing ground for our outerwear. We put our jackets, pants, gloves and more to the test in wet Colorado storms, on spring backcountry tours at high elevations and lapping the lifts at resorts across the state.

WHAT WE DO >> We make highly technical outerwear to outfit skiers and snowboarders who are out all day riding and climbing mountains in search of deep snow.

WHY WE LOVE COLORADO >> Colorado offers the perfect combination of big mountains, deep snow, and fun, friendly people who love to be outside.

BOULDER, COLORADO ELEVATIONOUTDOORS.COM 303.449.1560

DENVER, CO FLYLOWGEAR.COM 970.387.8751 N OV E M B E R 2 015 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

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colorado branded

NOVEMBER 2015 GEAR GUIDE

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

#1 MEIER SKIS

#2 SPORT BUMPER

HOMETOWN >> Glenwood Springs WHY WE SET UP SHOP HERE >> We are located in the beautiful Roaring Fork Valley, up the road from Aspen where we have easy access to incredible outdoor recreation combined with partner Sunlight Mountain in our backyard.

WHAT WE DO >> Meier Skis strives to be the world’s most eco-friendly high performance ski manufacturer by utilizing locally sourced and eco-friendly materials in a more sustainable manufacturing environment. Our award-winning skis are handcrafted out of locally harvested Colorado aspen and pinebeetle-kill wood, and they are made entirely in our Colorado U.S.A. factory.

WHY WE LOVE COLORADO >> When someone thinks of Colorado, they think of mountains, snow and skiing! Colorado is known throughout the world as one of the best places on earth to ski so we don’t think there is any better place where you could base a ski company.

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO MEIERSKIS.COM 970.510.0029

HOMETOWN >> Denver WHY WE SET UP SHOP HERE >> Sport Bumper was founded in Vail, Colorado, but moved to Denver to be closer to the action. We all know I-70 traffic is the worst.

WHAT WE DO >> Sport Bumper makes products designed to protect your car and your outdoor gear. Our rubber guards stick to the side of your car magnetically. They create a safe place so that you can lean your outdoor gear to keep it, and your vehicle’s paint, damage free. The Ski Bumper is designed to hold three pairs of skis or two snowboards and the Sportsman Bumper holds up to five fishing rods or two shotguns/rifles. At under $20, they make great holiday gifts!

WHY WE LOVE COLORADO >> Because we have it all—from mountains and rivers to high plains and alpine lakes. Colorado is a Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts!

#3 QWICKSTAND

#4 DOHM HEADWEAR

HOMETOWN >> Denver WHY WE SET UP SHOP HERE >> With all of its outdoor activities and like-minded outdoor enthusiasts, Denver is the perfect spot for us. There is a parking lot at the base of everything fun in Colorado.

WHAT WE DO >> QwickStand is a water-resistant, foldable mat that prevents that frustrating one-legged-hop in the parking lot while you are getting in/out of your outdoor gear. Whether you are an extreme skier or mountain biker, or the weekend camper or golfer, when you need a clean, dry surface to stand on change, QwickStand delivers. Its patented folding design locks the dirt and mud from the parking lot inside the mat keeping you, your gear, your gear bag and your car clean and dry.

WHY WE LOVE COLORADO >> Because everyone can find something outdoors to enjoy—from a casual hike to a 10-day backcountry ski trip.

HOMETOWN >> Longmont WHY WE SET UP SHOP HERE >> Longmont provides the best of all worlds. It’s centrally located near the mountains and the recreation they provide, but it’s still close enough to operational amenities such as a skilled workforce and an established infrastructure.

WHAT WE DO >> We have two in-house brands, Dohm and Xob (Zob). Dohm is a build-to-order line. We import 100 percent Merino yarn from Italy and Wyoming, and use antique knitting machines to create a unique texture on each hat. Xob uses upcycled wool sweaters: Panels cut from the sweaters are sewn together into one-of-a-kind items. We also support 10-12 private-label customers, building over 25 different products in numerous technical fabric options.

WHY WE LOVE COLORADO >> We love the active outdoor lifestyle, vibrant community and 330 days of sunshine!

DENVER, CO QWICKSTAND.COM 303.883.5302 28

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DENVER, COLORADO SPORTBUMPER.COM 970. 306.7749

DOHM HEADWEAR DOHMUSA.COM 303.485.7112

Colorado Original Outdoor Products (COOP) is a collective of emerging outdoor companies all based in Colorado. Below are just 7 of the 28 brands that make up COOP. These companies would like to extend a five to 10 percent discount on their websites by using the promo code: COOPoutdoors

#5 RADO RACKS

#6 SHABOOMEE

HOMETOWN >> Denver WHY WE SET UP SHOP HERE >> Denver has an amazing enthusiasm for the outdoors, as well as great support for small businesses. It’s the perfect place to base our company.

WHAT WE DO >> Rado Racks makes high-quality storage racks for outdoor equipment. We have developed the strongest and most dependable storage solution for all types of adventure gear. As board-sport lovers ourselves, we know how much you care about your gear and want to protect it in the offseason. When you buy a Rado Rack, you are not simply buying something functional, you are investing in inspiration, a constant reminder to get out there and follow your passion.

Your Rado Rack will be there when you return. Always.

WHY WE LOVE COLORADO >> Because we’re at the heart of one of the most active board-sport and adventure-sport communities in the world!

HOMETOWN >> Carbondale WHY WE SET UP SHOP HERE >> Under the beauty of Mt. Sopris, our Shaboomee base camp offers year-round stand-up paddleboarding surrounded by an abundance of lakes, rivers, mountains and endless opportunities for adventure.

WHAT WE DO >> We strive to ignite your passion for adventure and life! Shaboomee designs and manufactures stand-up paddleboards (SUP) that are affordable ($789), durable, practical, functional and fun! We offer a broad range of products and models including our unique, patented and patent-pending SplitSUP, vSUP and SUPspension. We also enthusiastically provide lake and river lessons and guiding services, SUP yoga classes, SUP fitness classes and teacher trainings. Plus, we lead amazing local and world-wide adventure retreats.

WHY WE LOVE COLORADO >> We love the people, beauty and passion we all share for getting outside and embracing a “Yes To Adventure” lifestyle.

CARBONDALE, CO SUPYES.COM 970.315.2224

DENVER, COLORADO RADORACKS.COM

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COORIGINALPRODUCTS.COM

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#7 KINDERLIFT HOMETOWN >> Denver WHY WE SET UP SHOP HERE >> After graduating from Eastern Illinois University in the 70s, I moved to Colorado. Icame for a vacation and I stayed forever.

WHAT WE DO >> We make Kinderlift kids safety ski vests and other great ski and outdoor products for resorts and parents around the world. The handle on the back makes it easy to grab and help the little ones get on and off the chairlifts—and pick them up when they fall. Throughout Colorado you’ll see our brightly colored vests on the little ones in ski schools at Vail, Beaver Creek, Copper, Telluride, A Basin, Keystone, Sunlight and Purgatory resorts. We also build ski gear bags (Skboot) and smartphone pockets that hold your smartphone and ski pass.

WHY WE LOVE COLORADO >> Why would you want to live anywhere else?

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colorado branded

NOVEMBER 2015 GEAR GUIDE

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

BERGANS HOMETOWN >> Longmont WHY WE SET UP SHOP HERE >> Since we are an outdoor brand with a focus on ski and mountain living, Colorado offers a great location for us to find like-minded individuals. Plus, it offers us the convenience to get out and play in the mountains that we love.

WHAT WE DO >> As the North American office for Bergans of Norway, we offer a wide selection of high-quality, worry-free outdoor and ski apparel, packs and tents for all your adventures.

WHY WE LOVE COLORADO >> With 300 days of sunshine and easy access to the city and the mountains, Colorado is a Mecca for the outdoor lifestyle. From 14,000-foot peaks to world-class mountain biking and climbing to backcountry and resort skiing that challenges the most resolute skier to trails for running and biking right out the back door, Colorado truly has it all.

LONGMONT, CO BERGANS.COM 303.834.9709

bring it home GIVEAWAY! ENTER TO WIN COLORADO GEAR 3.

1. PAIR OF WILD BILLS SKIS FROM MEIER SKIS 2. PARK PACK ($175 VALUE) FROM ALPINE LUDDITES 3. AK37 PACK ($175 VALUE) FROM CRUX USA 2.

4. ONE PAIR OF SKI PASSES FROM LOVELAND SIGN UP AT ELEVATIONOUTDOORS.COM

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NOVEMBER 2015 GEAR GUIDE

colorado branded SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

BACKCOUNTRY ACCESS HOMETOWN >> Boulder WHY WE SET UP SHOP HERE >> We went to CU-Boulder and didn’t want to leave!

WHAT WE DO >> Our mission is to save lives, not just sell products. When we ready you for the backcountry, we work to equip you not only with gear, but also with the knowledge to make informed decisions. That’s why we support all of our products with a consumer education program and the most knowledgeable customer service staff in the industry. Our products to keep users safe in the backcountry include: Tracker avalanche transceivers, Float avalanche airbags, shovels, probes and BC Link radios.

WHY WE LOVE COLORADO >> Great access and ideal weather mean we can get out any day for field testing or just plain fun.

There’s also a deep pool of technical and business talent here in the Front Range.

BOULDER, CO BACKCOUNTRYACCESS.COM 303.417.1345

CRUX USA

ALPINE LUDDITES

HOMETOWN >> Ouray WHY WE SET UP SHOP HERE >> We look at the San Juans as the center for ice climbing and ski mountaineering, both here in Colorado and the entire U.S. The company moved here for that access to the mountains and community.

WHAT WE DO >> Crux is a manufacturer of high-end technical gear solely focused on alpinism. We make technical packs out of Kevlar, European-down-filled clothing and sleeping bags, eVent shell clothing and mountaineering tents. There is no other company that builds gear like Crux. It is a company of climbers for climbers.

WHY WE LOVE COLORADO >> There are few places in the world that have it as good as we do. Come visit.

HOMETOWN >> Ouray WHY WE SET UP SHOP HERE >> After countless trips to the San Juans since 1992, it was finally time to move here full time from Fort Collins. We share our retail and manufacturing space with Crux USA, so don’t be confused.

WHAT WE DO >> We design and build custom technical backpacks and bikepacking bags right here in Ouray. We also reproduce our favorite old-style packs from Chouinard Equipment, Karrimor and others. We can custom fit gear and offer design/build services on packs. We have customers all over the world. We sell our gear out of the shop, to select retailers and off our website.

WHY WE LOVE COLORADO >> We have it all here—fantastic cycling, climbing, backpacking and skiing!

308 6TH AVE, OURAY, CO CRUXUSA.COM 970.980.6908

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colorado branded

NOVEMBER 2015 GEAR GUIDE

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

OSPREY PACKS HOMETOWN >> Cortez WHY WE SET UP SHOP HERE >> The location of the company headquarters in Cortez, Colorado, near the rugged San Juan Mountains on the edge of desert canyon country, provides a constant inspiration and a superb testing for ground for Osprey products.

WHAT WE DO >> Osprey Packs is a leader in technical packs for outdoor, cycling, travel and urban adventures. Our company creates innovative high-performance gear that reflects our love of adventure and our devotion to the outdoors.

WHY WE LOVE COLORADO >> It is here that we find ourselves among open landscapes, uncluttered mountain vistas and wild places. Cortez is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts that rests on an imaginary border between the mountains and desert. With all four seasons and extremely different geographic locations, we can truly put our products to the test.

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FURTHER FUEL

WHERE DOES FURTHER FUEL TAKE YOU? CLINICALLY PROVEN

FURTHER FUEL® Natural Energy Formulas are designed to help individuals push further in whatever physical endeavor they choose.

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HOMETOWN >> Broomfield WHY WE SET UP SHOP HERE >> Broomfield is so close to everything, whether it be meetings in Denver, events in Boulder or a quick escape to the I-70 corridor.

WHAT WE DO >> Hi-5 Nutrition is dedicated to helping individuals go further in whatever physical endeavor they choose. That’s the reason why our brand is called Further Fuel and our mantra is “Nutrition to Get There.” We’ve spent a lot of time playing in the mountains and working out in gyms, so we know first-hand what it takes to keep going.

WHY WE LOVE COLORADO >> Colorado is heaven on Earth.

It is truly the one-stop destination for all things outdoors. The best part is we get to work closely with key retail accounts like Pharmaca and King Soopers right here in our own backyard.

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HOW TO BE AN ULTRASEXUAL LUMBERSEXUAL? MOUNTAINSEXUAL? ALL SO PASSÉ. THE FUTURE OF HOT FASHION IS IN SWEAT, BLOOD, LONG HOURS ON THE TRAIL AND THAT CERTAIN LOOK...

by ADAM CHASE SPORTING STYLE: ULATRARUNNING CHAMP ASHLEY ERBA GETS AFTER IT ON THE TRAIL—AND WEARS HER TRUCKER HAT WITH PRIDE. photos courtesy Ashley Erba

You are likely familiar with or, possibly, have even played the part of the Mountainsexual or the Lumbersexual, but that’s so 2014. Now, it's time to go further, to explore the extremes of endurance, whether that be your physical and psychological limits, or those of the people in your life and their tolerance for you and your many persona makeovers. It's time for the Ultrasexual.

Consider this gear roundup a paint-by-numbers for you future. Yes, ultrarunning is all the rage and now you can look the part by following these easy steps:

#4 Tight booty boy shorts, like Athleta’s Hypersonic Sonar Shortie ($44; athleta.com), for the ladies.

Men’s shorts are short and split unless they are Euro style, but then follow the Euro rule, above.

#1 Trucker hats. We like Patagonia’s Lo Pro ($29). These are mostly for the ladies and a full collection is de rigueur.

#2 It is important to sport one or two pieces of Euro flair, but there are rules when it comes to mixing and matching. You can only wear one type of compression. If you wear a Buff (buffusa.com) you are not allowed to wear Euro-styled wrap-around sunglasses (e.g., Julbo Venturi, $180; julbousacom). The same is true if you wear ¾ tights, unless you offset the tights with a button-down shirt from a second-hand shop with very few buttons buttoned. Similarly, you are able to neutralize the effect of manpris by pairing them with a 100-mile finisher’s belt buckle.

#3 Beards, preferably of impressive proportions, or, if not, you can sport a mullet. This is true for men and women.

#5

#6

Because you sleep in your pickup truck, you should be covered with a fine patina of dirt or have body odor, but not both.

Matted hair or messy pony tail is okay but only until you cop your bathroom-sink bath at the coffee shop.

Run in moderatelymidsoled shoes, such as Salomon’s S-Lab Sense Ultra ($170; salomon. com). This, of course, is after you’ve switched to maximalist shoes in an effort to recover from the stress fractures suffered as the result of barefoot minimalist footwear, only to sprain both ankles due to the lack of proprioception.

#7 You survive off of a diet of chia seeds, beer, mescal, coffee, green smoothies (with more chia seeds) and energy gels. Consider aid stations at races to be a cheap way of fueling.

And finally, you need talk a lot about your next “project” of linking together obscure peaks for an O.K.T. (Only Known Time).

EO Contributing Editor Adam Chase just returned from the 2015 Ironman World Championships in Kona, where he was working on the next step in his fashion evolution: He is working on becoming a Trisexual.

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HEAR THIS

11.15

THE GREAT BEYONDER FORMER YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND MEMBER JEFF AUSTIN GOES HIS OWN WAY.

by JEDD FERRIS

I

n the spring of 2014, Jeff Austin parted ways with Colorado’s longstanding jam-grass outfit Yonder Mountain String Band. The change was a shock to many loyal fans, as Austin’s charismatic stage presence and gritty mandolin runs served as the popular group’s energetic core for 16 years.

Yonder eventually added two new members, however, and moved forward. Meanwhile, Austin took some time off to enjoy being a new dad before spending the past year and a half diligently touring with his own Jeff Austin Band.

The group features jazz-versed bluegrass players Ross Martin on guitar, Eric Thorin on upright bass and new banjo player Ryan Cavanagh, who replaced Danny Barnes in September. Austin also released a musically divergent solo album this year. Called “The Simple Truth,” it features horns, electric guitars and help from a cast of friends including Todd Snider and Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars.

Austin will play two shows at the Boulder Theater during Thanksgiving weekend, opening for Leftover Salmon. With those dates in mind, he took the time to chat with us about his new ventures.

FOR FANS WHO HAVEN’T CHECKED OUT YOUR POST-YONDER MUSIC, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE DIFFERENCE?

We play as a collective, rather than a group of soloists. We let improvisational portions of the show build around a groove, and it becomes four people locked into one purpose. I recently had a moment in a little tiny club in Columbia, Mo., in front of about a hundred people during an hour-long segue of music where I’ve never felt so free. I was really lit up from it. The biggest difference is that we really allow ourselves to have those moments when the music is open and free, rather than have it be focused on one person.

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE TO START FRESH AFTER BEING IN A POPULAR AND ESTABLISHED BAND FOR SO MANY YEARS?

It’s a lot of work, and a lot more travel. We’re still building as a band, so there are nights when we’re not getting a ton of people at the shows. Last year when all of the change with Yonder went down, I took the majority of that year off. My daughter was born last January, and I was able to take the opportunity to reflect and reset. I did that because I knew how much work was ahead. It reminds me of the way it felt a long time ago­­—just spreading the photo by JOSHUA BLACK WILKINS

word. There are people who are still learning that I’m doing my own thing now. The best thing is I’m playing with a group of guys that have complete faith in what we’re doing. Ryan has come in and learned so much music so fast. He comes from this intense jazz background and he just finished nine years traveling the world with Bill Evans. The other guys have similar backgrounds. They’ve played in Bebop groups. When I show them one of my songs, they’re able to take them to new places. I’ve been learning a lot.

FINDING FREEDOM: JEFF AUSTIN WILL BE BRINGING HIS GROOVE-BUILDING, POST-YONDER SOUND TO THE BOULDER THEATER OVER THE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND.

new band I didn’t want to just go out there and be a jukebox. I’ve recently come around and realized I missed those songs, so I started reaching out to fans on social media and have learned that they miss them too. Now we’ve started to play “Snow on the Pines” and “Ten” and this band is completely reinventing them. There’s a familiarity with the old but also an undeniable recognition of the new.

WITH “THE SIMPLE TRUTH” WAS THE IDEA THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO EXPOSE A DIFFERENT SIDE

YOU MOVED TO NEDERLAND IN THE LATE 1990s

OF YOURSELF MUSICALLY?

DURING A HEYDAY FOR COLORADO NEWGRASS,

For me that album was a collection of songs that I meant to be presented as a studio project. I wanted to let the situation serve the music. Some songs needed electric guitars and others needed background vocalists, so that part of the process was really fun. It was cool to make a record in a way where I knew I would never play the songs like that on stage. When I made that record I was still in Yonder Mountain, and I had no thought that was going to change.

WHEN BANDS LIKE LEFTOVER SALMON WERE

YOU WROTE A LOT OF THE SONGS THAT DEFINED YONDER’S CATALOG. WHAT’S YOUR OUTLOOK ON REVISITING THEM?

When I first came back to playing, my connection to those songs felt strange and different. With the

GAINING STEAM. DO YOU STILL FIND THE AREA INSPIRING AS A MUSICIAN?

These days, when I’m off the road, I am such a homebody. I like staying home, having dinner, putting my kids to bed and spending time with my wife. But you don’t have to go out and play music in Nederland seven nights a week to find it inspiring.

When I go to the grocery store people ask me about the music and we talk about it. There’s a natural pull to the energy up here. I can walk out on my deck, look over the valley and get some ideas. As I’ve gotten older, I need to look in different places for inspiration. That might not be at the Pioneer Inn for the fourth night in a row making up songs and drinking Budweisers.

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THE ROAD

11.15

FAMILY HIGH-JINX OR WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A COLORADO GIRL DECIDES TO BOND WITH HER OUT-OF-STATE RELATIVES ON A BIG 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION HUT TRIP.

by RACHEL WALKER

T

here’s a chill in the air as I shush my babbling three-year-old and then coax him out of a room filled with bunk beds and 11 sleeping family members. Into the wood-hewn living area of our high mountain hut we go. Outside, pale hints of sunrise streak through the dark. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, I admire the silhouette of the pine forest beyond the deck that encircles this sturdy home—ours for the next three days. I squint, and the jagged peak to the north comes into focus in the day’s new light.

I point it out to Silas, expecting a sweet parenting moment to materialize. But when I look over my shoulder, I realize he’s gone.

“Silas?!” I whisper (more like a scold) into the dark cabin, fearful he’s marched into the bunkroom to rouse everyone else.

“Here, Mama!” he shouts, ducking out from the massive wood-burning cook stove that separates the kitchen and the dining room. He’s got a box of strike-anywhere matches in one hand and a large piece of wood in another. “Fire?”

Did I mention he is three?

I’m alarmed, but not enough to grab the fire makers from his grubby little hands, lest the inevitable tantrum that would follow wake up the rest of the crew—my husband’s extended family who traveled from sea level a few days prior.

We’ve converged on the Ben Eiseman Hut, part of Colorado’s storied 10th Mountain Division Hut system, for a high-elevation family reunion that I planned, promising everyone it would be the trip of a lifetime. My goal was to lure the east coasters out of their comfort zone and into ours. It worked.

For the first time since our wedding in 2008, Jeff’s entire immediate family (and then some—his mom’s boyfriend, his brother-in-law’s sister and her husband and daughter) agreed to a family visit in our time zone.

“So when Silas emerges like a grinning pyromaniac, all I can think is that I want the Vermonters to keep sleeping.”

Once I stopped patting myself on the back, I realized what I had wrought: I just made myself the leader of a 13-person, four-day trip at a remote rustic cabin, with no running water and no toilet, perched at 11,180 feet—just below treeline. The photos by JEFF WALKER

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BACK TO BASICS: THE AUTHOR STRESSED, BUT, ONCE THEY HIT THE HIGH COUNTRY, HER CLAN SETTLED DOWN INTO A ROUTINE OF DAILY CABIN-LIFE TASKS AND SIMPLE CHILLOUT TIME IN THE WORLD'S BIGGEST LIVING ROOM.

highest point in Vermont is 4,393 feet. Oops.

Suddenly I found myself researching “acute altitude sickness” and sending the Vermonters links from the NIH on how to avoid it.

Ever since we hit the loo in Frisco (about 2,000 feet lower in elevation than our hut) on our drive west from Boulder, the thin air and noticeable lack of oxygen had been taking their their toll. Last night, there were headaches and general fatigue, common symptoms when you’re not acclimated. So when Silas emerges like a grinning pyromaniac, all I can think is that I want the Vermonters to keep sleeping. They want to sleep. Sleep could make the difference between a good day and a bad one.

Which is why I signal for Silas to follow me into the kitchen where I prop open the cook stove’s firebox. Together we crumple a mountain of newspaper and then build a small pyre. Then we negotiate over the matches, his hand upon mine as we both try to claim ownership. I’m speaking in a stage whisper and he answers in his bombastic preschooler voice, which gets louder and louder, hastening our arrival at a compromise. I make a cone out of newspaper, light it, hand it over, and Silas thrusts his torch into the firebox. Ignition! He squeals in delight. Twenty minutes later the cabin is toasty warm.

P

re hut trip, if you had asked me whether I planned to teach Boy Scout skills to a kid several years away from cub consideration, you would have gotten one of two answers. The

Facebook/Instagram/Twitter-worthy one would have aimed for inspirational with a touch of satisfied (ok, fine: smug) parenting (Nature—life’s best instructor!) and a twist of false humility (anyone can pull together a family reunion hut trip…it’s not that hard). The honest answer would have been significantly more raw, sort of a what is this monster I created??

That’s because pre hut trip I was not thinking about what I might do if Silas awoke before sunrise and threatened to wake everyone up. Instead I was panicking. How would we get 13 people up a seriously rugged Colorado dirt road with only one four-wheel drive between us? What if someone started throwing up because of altitude sickness and couldn’t stop? My mother-in-law’s boyfriend wrapped up cancer treatment last spring; what if his body couldn’t handle the elevation? I worried about how we would coordinate food shopping and cooking meals for such a large crew and fretted that I would somehow get stuck with the bill (a totally baseless fear, by the way).

When I wasn’t perseverating on worst-case scenarios, I was fruitlessly trying to figure out how we would kill that much time at an isolated hut with only a handful of nearby hiking trails. My previous hut trips had all been winter ones before I had kids.

We killed time skiing our brains out in endless backcountry stashes. This would obviously not be an option at our August Eiseman hut trip.

When my neurotic thinking came full circle, I projected all of my angst onto the very people who

had spent a lot of money and carved out the time to fly to the state that means so much to Jeff and me. That sounded something like this: WTF? They FINALLY come to visit and now we’re all going to get sick in this god-forsaken shack in the middle of the woods???

If you happen to live in Colorado and you have family members who live a plane ride away, you know what I mean by “finally come to visit.”

Despite Colorado’s burgeoning tourism industry, it seems that every Centennial State transplant nurses his or her particular grudge with family members in distant locations who rarely, if ever, visit. I know this first-hand. Although I was born in Colorado and my entire family still lives here, my mom wasn’t, and she’s still bitter about the fact that since 1969 she can count on one hand the number of times her brother has flown out to see us.

Still. My irritation was misplaced and unfair.

They finally came to visit because we finally invited them. And we sweetened the invitation with the promise of a hut trip—which was my idea all along.

If anyone had somehow goofed up with the trip planning, it was me.

T

his is a good time to talk about hut trips, which, if you’ve lived in Colorado for longer than a week, you’ve been tempted by. A network of 34 lodges located in the valleys and ridges that connect Colorado's abundant mountains, the 10th Mountain Division huts are so popular there are two annual lotteries to reserve them. Winter visitors

brave traveling on technical skis or snowshoes, often traversing avalanche paths and breaking trail for miles. Intrepid travelers link the huts in what are known as hut-to-hut trips, which let them cover huge amounts of ground under their own, non-mechanized power. And in the summer, many of the huts remain open, some of them accessible by rugged Forest Service roads with VW-sized potholes.

“Given our lack of connection— physical, technological, emotional—what better place to immerse ourselves in one another’s company?”

It’s worth the effort to get there. The huts are gorgeous—albeit simple—and fully stocked with everything you need, minus your food, clothes, and sleeping bag. The beds have sheets and pillows (though it’s suspect how often the linens are laundered), most huts have rooftop solar panels, all have wood-burning stoves with fuel stacked to Swiss-chalet standards, and some have indoor composting toilets and saunas. They’re flooded with natural light, thanks to a myriad of windows, and they each have stunning mountainous views. And because most lack Internet or cell service, they are the ideal place for a rugged yet pampered escape.

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Which is actually what I was thinking about in January when I proposed the hut-trip-as-familyreunion idea. Given our lack of connection— physical, technological, emotional—what better place to immerse ourselves in one another’s company? It didn’t hurt that the huts are extremely affordable; adults cost between $28-30 per night and kids 12 and under are half that.

And then I almost ruined it with my anxiety.

A week before the trip, I declared to Jeff that we should cancel and simply host his family at our home in Boulder. He was adamant: absolutely not.

A lifelong skier and adventurer, Jeff is happiest in the high country and was keen to share the hut experience with his family. Thank God for Jeff.

Later that first morning, after Silas’s fire had boiled enough water for pots and pots of coffee, after diving into a divine breakfast of pancakes, sausage, and fresh fruit, and after playing a game of Scrabble and sending all the kids out to throw rocks into the woods, a group of us laced up our hiking shoes and ambled along the ridge behind the hut. It climbed steeply through the forest before breaking into a meadow blanketed with lupine and Indian paintbrush. We pushed on to a rocky outcrop and found ourselves encircled by peaks whose summits were all above treeline. It was sublime. I looked around with the quiet realization that we were all happy and peaceful in one another’s company.

And so went the rest of the trip. No one got dreadfully ill. No one got hurt. We ate, we laughed, and we connected. That was enough.

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37

ELWAYVILLE

11.15

SHUT UP AND JUST LIVE THE DREAM THE SEVEN GREATEST THINGS ABOUT COLORADO AND WHY YOU DON’T NEED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THEM.

by PETER KRAY

Y

es, you live in Colorado. And by now, everyone is aware of this fact. Simply because every stunning sunset, impossibly deep powder picture, or peak-reaching high five you Instagram proudly challenges everyone in Iowa, California or Wisconsin to “beat that.”

You officially have it better than anyone who doesn’t live in Norway or the French Alps—which is why I can’t understand how many things you still find to complain about. You know, like when we had all the rain last spring (how’s your lack of fire danger?), and you kept posting, “If I wanted to live in Seattle I would have moved there,” or “enough is enough.” Or your novella of I-70 traffic rants.

Breaking news: It’s not news that traffic sucks.

Or those Boston, Jersey and Texas transplants who move to Colorado and immediately start complaining about how all the Californians are ruining the place.

Please don’t let your First World Problems cloud your Mile High Stoke. Here’s a quick reminder about a few of the greatest aspects of Rocky Mountain residence, and What You Still Don’t Appreciate (WYSDA).

#1 THE MOUNTAINS: Awesome, wild and free,

the Rocky Mountains are one of the wonders of life. Whether you ski, fish, hike, hunt, take pictures of wildflowers or just like getting Zen beneath the stars, actually being amongst these peaks is a blessing that you can never experience enough.

WYSDA: Staying in a four-star hotel and having llustration by KEVIN HOWDESHELl / kevincredible.com

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coffee on the balcony doesn’t really count as “an experience.” The best way to really be outdoors is in a tent. #2 THE ACCESS: I-70 sucks, and the new pay lane

is going to create a culture of velvet-rope loving assholes who want everyone to know they can— and will—shell out more to avoid the jam. Just remember to get up an hour earlier than they do and that you’ll be passing them all on the hill. You’re still getting to the mountains faster than most, with lots of bumper-sticker scoping, parties in the next car over and incredible views.

WYSDA: If you are in traffic, you are traffic.

Complaining about it is basically nothing more than complaining about yourself. #3 THE WEATHER: Unpredictable, unfettered,

dropping high-mountain snow in June and 70-degree heat waves in January, Colorado weather is like an inside joke where the punch line is always on us. It’s inspirational, infuriating and totally unpredictable … and dealing with it is one of the daily wonders of Colorado life.

WYSDA: Complaining about the weather is like complaining about sex—just be glad you have it.

has had some serious positive impacts—most notably, taking a thriving black-market product and turning it into an economic engine that benefits the statewide economy while also reducing the crime rate. Yeah, I still get ticked off by hippies sparking blunts in public places, but I wouldn’t send them to prison for it.

WYSDA: If you like to file your freedoms under the “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness” heading, I think this is a big fit. #6 JOHN DENVER: A lot of people move to

Colorado to re-invent themselves, expecting to be newly shaped by the state. Henry John Deutschendorf bet so hard on the idea that he changed his name to John Denver. Then he created a sound to reflect the lifestyle, a folk-rock hiker’s instant nostalgia that became a series of anthems about being awestruck on the trail.

WYSDA: It’s still good music. You still sing along.

And if you feel as if you still have your own Rocky Mountain story to tell, take some inspiration from Mr. Denver and start to tell it. Just a note: Splurging on that big gold, red and blue Colorado shoulder tattoo doesn’t count. #7 THIS MOMENT: Per the intro, Colorado life

#4 THE BRONCOS: The Denver Broncos aren’t

only the best team in Colorado, they are one of the best teams in all of sports. In 40 years, they have sold out every game and posted only six losing records. Plus, they have won two Super Bowls and seven AFC Championships. It’s more fun to back a team that wins, as Mother Nature obviously knows.

She’s the one responsible for all those amazing orange and blue sunsets.

WYSDA: As for all you carpetbagging Broncos haters who like to remind everyone you moved here from somewhere else: Feel free to take the 5th and shut up. #5 LEGAL WEED: Whether you smoke pot or not, the legalization of weed here in Colorado

provides a lot of cinematic moments, where it’s just you and the sky and the monastery of mountains, and that photo you will remember the rest of your life—and at least one new photo every week if you get out there enough.

WYSDA: If you don’t get outside, you don’t get that moment. Don’t miss that.

Now go be happy about yourself.

—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.” You can buy it here: bit.ly/godofskiing

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