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ELEVATE YOUR GATHERING 16 GREEN CHILE STEW FOR FALL 38 GRAVEL TOWN, USA 43 BIRDING HOTSPOTS 52 FALL 2021 / ISSUE 17
exceptional education
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ounded in 1925, Colorado Mesa University provides exceptional educational opportunities on a state-of-the-art campus. As western Colorado’s largest university, CMU serves nearly 11,000 students on its main campus in Grand Junction, its satellite campus in Montrose and its community college division, Western Colorado Community College. CMU serves as the intellectual and cultural center of western Colorado and promotes the exchange of ideas that are of regional, national and international importance. At the heart of the CMU experience is an integrative and experiential approach to higher education that brings students together coloradomesa.edu with expert scholars and community professionals. Our focus is on providing quality academic and technical programs that support regional employment needs, as well as preparing students for 21st century careers.
Empowering young women through mountain biking to create brighter futures and build stronger communities.
thecycleeffect.org FOUNDED TO CLOSE THE “ADVENTURE GAP” AND EMPOWER HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED & LOW-INCOME YOUNG WOMEN, THE CYCLE EFFECT IS MAKING WAVES IN OUR COLOR ADO COMMUNITIES.
EMPOWERMENT THROUGH BIKING “Our program strives to show that any young woman can
thrive on and off the bike given the right opportunities. The skills our athletes develop in our program empower them far beyond the bike.” — Brett Donelson, Executive Director of The Cycle Effect.
THE CYCLE EFFECT: GOALS • Provide an outlet and support system for high school and middle school aged young women to keep them engaged and interested in school. • Teach life skills including goal setting, overcoming obstacles, healthy decision-making, the importance of physical fitness and nutrition, and community involvement. • Instill a higher level of self-confidence and sense of belonging. • Provide avenues for success that may not have been available. • Play a role in ensuring that our girls successfully complete high school and pursue goals after graduation.
Join Our Mission
THE LESSONS you learn on a bike are often the same lessons you can put to use in life. The Cycle Effect’s mission, to empower young women through mountain biking to create brighter futures and build stronger communities, exemplifies this. For eight years, this non-profit has been giving 5th12th grade girls in rural Colorado communities the opportunity to ride and race mountain bikes. In 2021, The Cycle Effect has a goal to serve 285 young women across Eagle, Summit, and Mesa Counties with the majority of participants identifying as Latina and low-income. The Cycle Effect focuses on three primary goal areas: physical wellness, community impact & mentorship, and building brighter futures. By providing an opportunity for underserved young women to be engaged in regular, healthy programs that help build their self-esteem and promote overall wellness, girls are more likely to be healthier, stay engaged in school, and set goals that will support their future.
We believe in building a community of people who share our vision. There are many ways you can
“I use the bike as my way to think about life in
support The Cycle Effect.
general. The mountain and the uphills were my issues
Learn more at cycleeffect.org.
and I was confronting them.” — Ana Maria, The Cycle Effect Athlete
CO N T what’s up in the west
lifestyle
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VOICES OF WESTERN COLORADO Locals Weigh in on Gather
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WHAT’S UP IN THE WEST Trail Sisters + Life Time
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WHAT’S UP IN THE WEST Colorado Mountain Winefest’s 30th Anniversary
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BLOSSOM Western Colorado Botanical Gardens Delight, Teach + Inspire
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HOME + GARDEN Elevate Your Gathering with a Proper Table Setting
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DRINK 3 High-Altitude Ciders for Fall
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GATHERINGS + GETAWAYS Special Advertising Section
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EAT 3 Spots to Stop + Fuel Up in Montrose
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BOOK + BEVERAGE The Aspen Cookbook The Orange Butterfly by Elizabeth Neckes, Woody Creek Distillers
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STYLE Western Colorado Through the Lens of Mike Davenport
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ART Strokes of the Season with Painter Mark Marino
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MAKER Gran Jun Beverage Co. Drink this Booch for a Much Better Gut
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S+B’S INSTAGRAM + PODCAST PICKS
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FOOD Saving the Harvest Through Pickling + Fermentation
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FOOD True Grit Connection: Green Chile Stew
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WELLNESS + FITNESS Get to Know 3 Colorado CBD Companies
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WELLNESS + FITNESS Man vs. Machine: The Quest for Peak Human Performance in the Age of Technology and Biometrics
E N TS adventure
features + events
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SPOKE Gear Profile: Dave & Matt Vans
TRIBAL RADIO Forging Cross-Cultural Connection Through Storytelling
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SPOKE Athlete Profile: Amity Rockwell
ON THE PROWL Gray Wolf Reintroduction on the West Slope
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SPOKE Gear for the Season
HEALING IN HARMONY Harmony Acres Equestrian Center
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GRAND OUTDOORS Birding Hotspots + Tips for Fall Migration
SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS Grand Junction Regional Airport
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TAKE A HIKE Professor Creek + Mary Jane Canyon Trail
EVENTS Fall 2021
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COMMUNITY Aspen Center for Environmental Studies: Stewards of the Land at Rock Bottom Ranch
WHO WE ARE Q&A with John Marshall, President of Colorado Mesa University
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WHO WE ARE Nic Korte
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ADVENTURE Steamboat Springs is “Gravel Town, USA”
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STAY + PLAY Sustainable Stays on the Colorado Creative Corridor
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GETAWAY Mesmerized by Montana: Glacier National Park
SPOKE+BLOSSOM
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PUBLISHER’S LETTER
GATHER Let’s get together. It’s amazing how the simple act of being around other people was something I took for granted. While I’m pretty content spending copious work and play time with my husband Bobby and our 17-year-old dog, Jack Muffin, the pandemic times of the past year and a half have really given new meaning to gathering with others. I think time shared with family and friends feels more significant than ever. What a great reminder — to not take quality time together for granted. To gather is to assemble, much like we do every season with the stories and images in the printed and digital pages of Spoke+Blossom. Every issue I am reminded to appreciate the opportunity to create this magazine alongside the contributions and talents of so many. Even amidst COVID-19’s hardest knocks, we’ve been committed to sharing great journalism with longtime S+B supporters and new ones from all around. Western Colorado loves food and art in every season, but we’ve seemed to lean into a more cultural tone in these pages that follow. It does seem like a great time to celebrate the good things in life, after all. Editorial intern Zoe Cramer gave Aspen a nod in this issue, highlighting tips on table arrangements from a Roaring Fork Valley event planner, along with a feature on The Aspen Cookbook in our Book + Beverage section. Montrose was audited for its best eats by writer Kaitlin Emig, and Kelly McGuire shares a green chili stew recipe from her cookbook that offers the flavor of Colorado fall in a bowl. MacKennea Broyles explores how our local seasons inspire a Plein Air painter, and photographer Mike Davenport highlights Western Colorado through his unique lens. We hope to share photo essays like this more consistently. Like gathering with others, sometimes it’s not about all the words exchanged but the experiences captured in that time, that place. While the days and months pass and years tick by, gather ‘round and don’t miss the moments. We’ll be here, collecting inspiration and assembling it for you.
Publisher + Co-Owner
Join the Spoke+Blossom Community Instagram @spokeandblossom
twitter.com/ spokeandblossom
Keep in touch with us between issues! Check out our website, spokeandblossom.com, for updates and events, and follow us on social media. Scan this QR code with your smart phone to be taken directly to our website.
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This magazine is shareable and recyclable. Please don’t throw it in the trash.
Publisher Jaunt Media Collective Editor-In-Chief Kim Fuller Managing Editor Lexi Reich Assistant Editor Lauren Farrauto Art Director Kitty Nicholason Advertising Bobby L’Heureux Interns Emme Fredericks Olivia Lyda Contributors MacKennea Broyles Bob Clarke Julia Clarke Chris Cohen Zoe Cramer Mike Davenport Christy Douglass Kaitlin Emig David Epperson Emme Fredericks Courtney Holden Jenna Kretschman Olivia Lyda Christopher Marona Kelly McGuire Laura Mills Scott Peterson Todd Winslow Pierce Lexi Reich Jay Rook LaBree Shide Sharon Sullivan Melanie Wiseman Cover Photograph Chris Cohen
Kim Fuller
facebook.com/ spokeandblossom
Founder Robin Brown
Spoke+Blossom Magazine Jaunt Media Collective 2077 North Frontage Road / 103A Vail, CO 81657 For advertising, contact ads@spokeandblossom.com 815.414.9642 Get in touch! We would love to hear from you. Please send your comments to letters@spokeandblossom.com Copyright © 2021 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission. Printed in Colorado.
L O C A L LY S O U R C E D G O O D N E S S LOCAL meat, produce, bread, pasta, milk, cheese, salsas, sauces, jams, kombucha, CBD products, jewelry, art ... and much more. Come enjoy an espresso or a scoop of ice cream and see what we have to offer! 10986 Highway 65 Mesa, CO 970.389.3500 @mesa.bloom.market
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HARVEST. FAMILY. FRIENDS. As you gather together this season, we extend our gratitude for the trust and confidence you place in us when you choose a banking relationship with Alpine Bank.
INDEPENDENCE • COMMUNITY • COMPASSION • INTEGRITY • LOYALTY ALPINEBANK.COM • MEMBER FDIC
contributors
MIKE DAVENPORT An award-winning photographer for nearly 40 years, Mike has worked for clients such as Lockheed, Home Depot and Nike. His work has been seen in Time, Newsweek and National Geographic magazines. He has photographed CEOs, muscians and a Tennessee bootlegger. He now shoots mostly music: live concerts, artist portraits and album art.
EMME FREDERICKS
ZOE CRAMER
Emme, born and raised in Detroit, moved to Boulder to study advertising and business. She loves all things outdoors, anything creative and has a passion for health and wellness. She is interning at Jaunt Media Collective, the publishers of Spoke+Blossom and YOGA + Life magazines.
Zoe grew up in Aspen, Colorado after moving there at a young age where she came to love and be inspired by the outdoors. It’s not uncommon to find her outside, soaking up nature with a journal and pen in hand. If not writing, she’s often hiking with her dogs. She plans to earn a degree from Wesleyan University, majoring in The College of Letters.
JAY ROOK Jay is the owner of Ascent Athlete Wellness, an integrative and regenerative sports medicine practice. When he’s not helping his patients get back to lives and hobbies they enjoy, he’s either on a mountain bike going as fast as he can down something that could make him a patient or sprinting the length of a soccer pitch.
LAURA MILLS Laura, a member of the Spoke+Blossom relationships team, loves everything outdoors, especially with her border collie puppy, Fern. A change in career paths lead her to take a stab at creating content. If not in the woods, she can be found on the beaches of Maine.
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KELLY McGUIRE Kelly is a lifelong resident of Western Colorado. She has taught for 10 years and strives to make our part of the world a better place for all. Summers are for long hikes early in the morning, tending to the raised vegetable and herb gardens she and husband Ira created and planning fun trips.
voices of western colorado
GATHER We Asked These Western Slope Locals to Weigh in on This Topic Compiled by Emme Fredericks ZACH MAHONE
LISA GANORA
JOEY EARLY
CONNIE MAZZA
Lisa is the author of “Herbal Constituents: Foundations of Phytochemistry.” She teaches in schools, conferences and online, and also founded the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism (CHCS). Now that she has retired from CHCS, her heart resides at Eldeberry’s Herbal Education and Retreat Center in Paonia, which she founded.
Joey Early is the marketing manager at RockyMounts in Grand Junction. Early is fairly new to the Western Slope and loves that he found a place where there is opportunity to make a difference.
Connie Leaf Mazza and her husband Anthony started Village Bagel out of their home in 2016. Two years later, Village Bagel turned into a brick and mortar eatery in Edwards.
“I believe the word ‘gather’ is
“The word ‘gather’ actually
synonymous both in cultural
embodies the reason I decided to
“Here is where we gather: not
concept and semantically
open the bagel shop and devote
only the wild and cultivated
with community; that is truly
my life’s work to the art of old-
bounty, but also we gather spirit
the core of what makes us all
fashioned bagel baking. I wanted
and connection with each other
human. Without community we
to create a cozy place where
and all our relations. We honor
cannot grow or create progress
people meet their friends and
and respect the life that flows
as a people. We struggle even
family and share a nourishing
through all beings, the living
for survival without banding
meal together — a place that is
waters, the vital air, the warming
together to create something
warm and welcoming to all. To
sun and the life-sustaining and
greater than the sum of its parts.
gather, in my mind, is to connect
healing gifts of the earth. We
Gather (or gathering) is the act or
with others on a fundamental
gather in community, sharing
habit of creating and maintaining
level (after all, what is more
our stories and skills, learning
that community. Without that
fundamental than eating a
together and reconnecting with
ability, we can find ourselves lost
meal together?). To gather is to
the flow of energy through this
in this world. To gather is one of
discover just how similar we
beautiful land and the plants that
the roots of what it means to be
all really are. Sharing a warm,
make it home. Every day we are
one people.”
handmade meal helps facilitate
reminded here that we humans
connection on a simple, primitive
are nature — the ‘environment’
scale, and just as importantly,
is us! — and we work not only
helps the individual slow down
to gather, but to heal, cultivate,
and connect with the present
regenerate and support this
moment.”
beautiful little farm.”
SPOKE+BLOSSOM
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getaway
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
MESMERIZED BY MONTANA Words + Photos by Laura Mills
A
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few months back I received a text from a
staying for the next few nights. Taking our time
good friend I hadn’t seen much since the
on the drive allowed us to stop and appreciate
start of the pandemic. She had reservations
the sights we would have otherwise overlooked
booked for Glacier National Park, but no one to
— vast fields with yellow flowers and massive
go with because her previous travel partner had
mountains in the background. As you approach
to cancel. She knew I would take any chance to
the junction of Route 93 and 35, you come over
travel, especially if it meant access to some of
a hill to see the enormous Flathead Lake. If you
the country’s best landscapes. Glacier National
would have told me it was the ocean, I would
Park proved to be everything I didn’t know I
have believed you. Cherry orchards lined both
needed. This trip rejuvenated the adventurer
sides of the road; we stopped to indulge.
inside of me and inspired me to spend more time
immersing myself in nature.
portion of a trip like this, but the drive was truly
I wouldn’t usually expand on the road trip
We flew into Missoula, Montana, and after a
one of my favorite parts. As we got onto Route
day of recharging, started the five-hour drive to
2 to make it up to the Many Glacier entrance, it
the Many Glacier entrance where we would be
was as if Mother Nature was saying, “You thought
ABOVE Pullout 3 | OPPOSITE Flathead Lake
SPOKE+BLOSSOM
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