Elevation Outdoors December 2015

MILLENNIAL GEAR | RECOVERY RACES | JEFF LOWE ON LIFE + DEATH FREE!

ELEVATIONOUTDOORS.COM

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GO OUTSIDE & PLAY

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DECEMBER 2015

OUTDOO

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The Gunnison Getaway— ridiculously low rates to stay & ski all season long.

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Photo credit: Nathan Bilow

CONTENTS

December 2015 N VE , GOLDEM A N O T G IN 1313 WASH6 8428 | BENTGATE.CO (877) 23

DERS R A O B & S R E I K S INTRODUCING RADO BACKCOUNTRY TO THE COLO FOR OVER 20 YEARS TS N E V E / M O .C E T A G T CHECK BEN WEDNESDAY NIGHTS:

Beacon Practice vy A + s on si es S 1 10 y Free Backcountr FREE SKI DEMOTSN:, ine Touring, Teelety, NGear lp A y, tr n ou kc ac B y Tr Saf Splitboard, and Avy

GENERATION WHY? BECAUSE THE ONLY THING A MILLENNIAL LIKES MORE THAN AN INSTAGRAM HASHTAG IS TURNING A BLANKET INTO AN OUTDOOR ACCESSORY. SEE PAGE 26.

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

7 EDITOR’S LETTER

26 MILLENNIAL GEAR

We celebrate seven years ... and beer.

Flannel, a wide-brim hat, that certain style that screams #outdoorflair ...

Welcome to our guide to gear for a generation coming into its own. By Sidni West. Photography by Andrew Bydlon / Caveman Collective.

8 QUICK HITS A sleeping bag you can wear, the season's best ski porn, personal hot tubs in southern Wyoming, making the outdoors accessible and more...

29 THE GIFT GUIDE 13 FLASHPOINT Can veterans reclaim their place as America's greatest conservationists?

The Grand Canyon may be at stake.

We have you covered when it comes to the perfect gift for that outdoor dude or lady in your life. Think: good booze, shackets, winter boots and other stuff to warm their hearts.

19 THE TRAIL Book a trip (and follow these GPS coordinates) to the Eiseman Hut.

21 HOT SPOT Aspen for the not-so-rich.

23 STRAIGHT TALK Legendary alpinist Jeff Lowe talks about how to approach life and death.

32 THE WINTER 2015-2016 PEAK GEAR AWARDS It's time once more to praise the gear that rose to the top of our A-list.

Here's the stuff that we beat up all season long and still keep reaching for when we head off into the wild. photo above by ANDREW BYDLON / CAVEMAN COLLECTIVE

39 HEAR THIS The best music of 2015.

TION A N I T S E D O’S

P O H S Y R T CKCOUN

COLORAD

BA

40 THE ROAD Tour Colorado's hut system Eurostyle on the Benedict 100.

42 ELWAYVILLE. Peter Kray reminisces about working for Pepi Stiegler's ski school.

WANT MORE? C ATC H

U P ON PAST ISSU ES, YOU R FAVORITE B LOG GERS A N D DAILY ON LIN E-ON LY CON TEN T AT ElevationOutdoors.com COVER PHOTO BY A N D R EW BYD LON / C AVEM A N C OLLEC TIVE TH E WIN TER PEAK G EAR AWA R D S A R E H ER E. B LIZZA R D 'S ZERO G 95 A N D FLYLOW'S TESS DOWN JAC KET TOOK HOM E SOM E H A R DWA R E (PG 32).

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W E

C A N

N E V E R

H A V E

E N O U G H

NATURE B E E R .

PLEASE ENJOY RESPONSIBLY

O R

INTRODUCING CANS FROM ODELL BREWING. GET OUT AND ENJOY.

CONTRIBUTORS

12. 15

WHAT'S THE BEST THING YOU HAVE GIVEN AWAY? OFFICIAL PARTNER

ElevationOutdoors.com EDITORIAL ED ITOR -IN -CH IEF

DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

doug@elevationoutdoors.com

BE BOLD

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

JORDAN CAMPBELL, JEDD FERRIS, HEATHER RIDGE, AVERY STONICH, SIDNI WEST, SCOTT WILLOUGHBY, MELANIE WONG IN TERN

KELLY CASSIDY

ART + PRODUCTION MEGAN JORDAN

A RT D IREC TOR

megan@elevationoutdoors.com SEN IOR D ESIG N ER

LAUREN WALKER

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

PAIGELEE CHANCELLOR Jan Tekel

paigelee@elevationoutdoors.com

ADVERTISING + BUSINESS BLAKE DEMASO

PR ESID EN T

Robin Kaleta

blake@elevationoutdoors.com PU B LISH ER

ELIZABETH O’CONNELL

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

MARTHA EVANS

martha@elevationoutdoors.com AC C OU N T EXECUTIVE

BEN YOUNG

ben@elevationoutdoors.com

BU SIN ESS MAN AG ER

MELISSA GESSLER

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

AVERY SHOOK

avery@elevationoutdoors.com

COSMIC COULOIR GTX JacKET Its name says it all: This jacket is built for commited freeride. The combination of the 3-layer Gore-Tex Ripstop Holberg body and the 3-layer Gore-Tex Khumba panels makes it rugged! It delivers a good durability-to-weight ratio with a longwearing abrasion resistance that does not sacrifice lightweight performance. Sealed seams and water repellent zips makes this jacket 100% waterproof and an integrated powder skirt is joined to a stretched fabric band to create a barrier against snow without losing mobility.

DIGITAL MEDIA CRAIG SNODGRASS

ON LIN E D IREC TOR

craig@elevationoutdoors.com D IG ITA L MA N AG ER

TYRA SUTAK

tyra@elevationoutdoors.com

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

3000 Pearl Street, Suite #202 Boulder, Colorado 80301 (303) 449-1560 PU B L I S H E D BY ©2015 Summit Publishing, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED SUMMIT

PUBLISHING

DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN I try to give away as much of all this extra gear I have as I can. There are few things better than simply giving something away and wanting nothing in return.

ELIZABETH O'CONNELL Recently, I made a lady in a beat-up Subaru's day by giving her my parking space and pay-to-park ticket that still had an hour left on it.

CAMERON MARTINDELL Travel. I once had enough airline miles to fly my brother and me to Europe to visit where we grew up.

TYRA SUTAK A bike. Bicycle Longmont is a local organization that has a great holiday program where they collect and distribute bikes for kids. It's awesome to see them light up like I do when I get to ride bikes.

CHRIS KASSAR On our way down to base camp on Denali, I gave away an unopened jar of Nutella and some reindeer sausage to some folks who were only a few days into their climb. That may not sound like a big deal, but up there that was worth a million bucks.

RADHA MARCUM Time. It's easy to feel that I don't have any, but even fifteen minutes with a loved one—or an hour teaching students a new skill—is of far greater value than any physical gift.

MELANIE WONG I gave my parents a border collie named Lucy. She got a loving home and my parents got a new "kid" and nonstop entertainment.

PETER KRAY Skis.

PRINTED ON RECYCLED NEWSPRINT WITH 100% POST-CONSUMER CONTENT

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EDITOR’S LETTER

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WHAT A RIDE: PARTYING DOWN AT UPSLOPE LAST MONTH.

photo courtesy UPSLOPE

SEVEN YEARS GOOD LUCK Seven years ago, we had just begun to work on the first issue of Elevation Outdoors. Our office was in the upstairs apartment of co-owner/founder Meredith Harmon in the middle of downtown Boulder. Most people thought we were insane, trying to start a magazine in the midst of a recession and trying to be an authority on the outdoors here where everyone climbs, hikes, skis, CrossFits and crow-poses better than you. Some (I am looking at you formerEldora-marketing-director Rob Linde) confessed later that they thought the magazine was going to suck—until they actually saw it. And we had faith that a publication that was local and reflected the community vibe of the outdoors in this state would catch on. We didn't want to be some out-of-touch publication.

We wanted to bring the community along for the ride with us.

And we did. Adventure Film Festival founder Jonny Copp shot our first cover (and, sadly, we had to eulogize him after he passed away in an avalanche in China before our second issue came out). We had local climbing star Timmy O'Neill write about helping perform cornea replacemnet surgery in the Third World. Marmot ambassador Jordan Campbell wrote about his film on the same subject in the South Sudan. Our first managing editor, Jayme Moye, showed up and said she would work for free, and soon was cycling with Breckenridge's Shannon Galpin in Afghanistan, making a statement for women's rights globally that began in Colorado. Local endurance mountain bike racer Sonya Looney started writing about her travels across the globe and in the state as she made her way onto our masthead and podium after podium. Contributing editor and blogger Rob Coppollilo worte about the long, tough process of becoming an AMGA/IFMGA mountain guie and took us along on that journey. Current managing editor Cameron Martindell has worked his adventure of becoming a parent into his stories in these pages. Senior Editor Chris Kassar took us along on a failed attempt to summit Denali, and will tell us about how she made it the next year along with a group of veterans looking for healing on the roof of North America. I feel as if we have chronicled the growth of this community as we have continued to grow.

We also had some partners who have believed in us all along the way. Chief among those was Upslope Brewing, which also came into being seven years ago. Director of Sales Henry Wood came up to meet us in Meredith's apartmentturned-office and seemed to be on the same page. Upslope was starting a brewery in a state that had a ton of breweries already, but they were up for the challenge—after all they were a bunch of climbers and hikers and former NOLS instructors who saw in us a similar mindset when it came to taking what we have learned from our experiences in the wild and putting something people can enjoy out in the world. I know. Craft beer and a publication that encourages adults to go outside and play seem insignificant in a world poisoned by suicide bombing, melting poles and partisan divides. But sometimes I also think that the work we are doing is what really matters. In the face of hate and ignorance, you can cultivate a love for the natural world and the simple (and, yes, meaningful) things that you can do when you push yourself (or simply wander out in it).

So when the weight of the world really gets to you, and if there really is nothing you can do about it here in our craft-beer-and-performance-fabric bubble, I suggest you honor what you love to do. Enjoy what we have. Promote a life of joy. Hope that can catch on and grow.

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QUICK HITS

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TECHNOLOGY PACK POLAR PRO If you’ve ever tried to film your winter adventures, you know full well that batteries don’t like the cold.

Pack Polar Pro’s Power Vault along to carry your cameras with a built-in power (and warming) station. The 5200mAh internal battery has charging slots for GoPro’s Hero 3 and 4 batteries and a USB out for anything else. $100; polarprofilters.com

GEAR WE LOVE

GROM GUIDANCE: DONATE ONE OF YOUR SKI DAYS TO HELP SPREAD THE WINTER STOKE. photo courtesy JOE KUSOMOTO / BOEC

OPENING UP THE OUTDOORS

It’s been said there’s some truth in stereotypes. If that’s so, the only people who enjoy the outdoors are 30-year-old white men in visors with dogs.

Unfortunately, recent data from the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), a recreation lobby and research group based in Boulder, Colorado, somewhat supports what all those Subaru commercials would lead one to believe: that the levels of participation in outdoor adventure do not reflect the diversity of our community. Fortunately, there are several organizations working hard to change that perception here in Colorado.

PARADOX SPORTS PARADOXSPORTS.ORG This organization refuses to accept the assumption that people with a physical disability can’t lead a life rich with outdoor adventure. Their mission, to improve people’s lives by providing adaptive sports equipment (and inspiration), has opened up adventures in ice climbing, rafting, backpacking and paddle boarding to folks without sight or limbs.

“Our primary focus has been physical disabilities, but increasingly with the number of veterans coming home with traumatic brain injury and stress syndromes, we find ourselves working with a lot of invisible injuries as well,” explains Doug Sandok, the executive director. Paradox Sports published the first adaptive climbing manual, which is now being used to develop training programs at universities, climbing gyms and other adaptive sports organizations.

SOS OUTREACH SOSOUTREACH.ORG What began as an attempt in the 1990s to improve the image of “dirtbag” snowboarders has warped into a youth-development non-profit that connects underserved, at-risk kids to adventure sports. In doing so, it’s had the impact of bringing more low-income youth into outdoor recreation who might otherwise be economically excluded from sports such as snowboarding, rock climbing and backpacking due to the prohibitively high costs of participation. Through sports-based leadership and peer mentorship, the programs offered by SOS Outreach have helped foster greater diversity on the slopes and trails while also increasing the likelihood that students from high-poverty areas stay in school and continue on to college.

BRECKENRIDGE OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER BOEC.ORG The Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center has been around since the 1970s, expanding outdoor adventure opportunities for both youth and adults.

Along with adaptive ski and ride programs at Breckenridge and Keystone resorts, it also offers innovative, multi-day wilderness programs, like camps for kids on the autism spectrum. Strong partnerships with organizations such as the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado, Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center and the 5th Judicial District are one of the many ways they empower a wide range of participants through inspiring outdoor experiences.

—Heather Ridge

THESE THREE COLORADO ORGANIZATIONS ARE BREAKING DOWN SOME SERIOUS BARRIERS.

SEL'K BAG PATAGON If you never wanted to get out of your sleeping bag, your wish just came true. Selk'bag makes cozy insulated full-body suits, perfect for warding off the evening chill. $199; selkbagusa.com

ADVENTURE POSTERS MY OUTDOOR ALPHABET No matter their age, outdoor enthusiasts will love having their favorite outdoor activity on display in ABC form.

My Outdoor Alphabet created a different series of posters for alpinists, paddlers, skiers, climbers and more. $22; myoutdooralphabet.com

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DON’T JUST READ ABOUT IT, DO SOMETHING.

TIME Volunteer for a day (or a season) as a mentor with kids through SOS Outreach. | Office Interns and Therapeutic Recreation Specialists are needed at Paradox Sports. | Train to be one of 250+ adaptive program assistants with BOEC. GEAR Gently used outdoor gear including equipment, clothing and camp gear will be lovingly repurposed and distributed by SOS Outreach.

FUNDING $50 supports one day of programming for an at-risk youth with SOS Outreach. | $75 supports an adaptive climber on a weekend adventure with Paradox Sports.

TGR DOES IT AGAIN: DON’T MAKE PARADISE WAIT TOO LONG.

photo courtesy TGR FILMS

SHRED FILMS

DREAM BIG WITH THE LATEST SKI AND SNOWBOARD FLICKS FROM OUR FAVORITE RIPPERS. “PARADISE WAITS” TETON GRAVITY RESEARCH Sometimes it’s not just about where you ride, but simply that you ride at all. Dealing with an unpredictable winter, the TGR team goes hard, throwing stunts and blasting down mountainsides when the conditions are right. But not every day is going to be perfect. Sometimes you have to make your own paradise. tetongravity.com “CHASING SHADOWS” WARREN MILLER ENTERTAINMENT Get up close and personal with the mountains of everyone’s dreams in Warren Miller Entertainment’s sixtysixth snowsports film. Travel along with the WME crew as they follow some of the most passionate riders in the sport along to Chamonix, Alaska’s Chugach, Utah’s Wasatch, and the mighty Himalayas. warrenmiller.com “BETWEEN” SHADES OF WINTER PRODUCTIONS From the master mind of pro skier, Sandra Lahnsteiner, “Between” follows some of the top female freeskiers in the world as they launch from the tops of some of the most beautiful mountains in the world.

The cinematography is on point in this film, and watching it will make you feel like you’re up on top of the world with visually stunning shots of the moments when sparkling fresh powder meets a clear blue sky. shades-of-winter.com “FADE TO WINTER” MATCHSTICK PRODUCTIONS Finding snow—a theme that streams

through the majority of the ski films being released this year. “Fade to Winter” is a story about the pursuit of winter, especially when you never know what you’re going to get. Whether it’s in small patches, constructed into jumps, or clinging to the side of a rocky cliff, the riders in this film make the most out of every bit of snow they find. skimovie.com “SMALL WORLD” LEVEL 1 PRODUCTIONS The urban ski shots here will blow your mind when you realize that cliff faces and mountains blanketed in snow aren’t the only places to have an epic powder day. The big winner at the 2015 International Freeskiing Film Festival this year, “Small World” captures incredible tricks being thrown down as well as the ski community's feel-good vibes. level1productions.com “AFTER THE SKY FALLS” NIMBUS INDEPENDENT There’s nothing better to get you hyped for ski season than watching some talented skiers and riders dominate lines on a remote mountaintop. And while the cameras follow along with Eric Pollard, Chris Benchetler and Pep Fujas as they ride through deep pockets of fluffy powder, it’s clear that there’s a fourth character in the film: Mother Nature.

For every backflip and ride over a pillow-topped tree, there’s a shot capturing subtle mountain moments that will inspire riders of all levels to get out and play this winter. nimbusindependent.com.

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QUICK HITS

SLEEP | Just off of Happy Jack Rd., between 12.15

LARAMIE COUNTY, WYOMING

JUST A TWO-HOUR DRIVE FROM DOWNTOWN DENVER, THIS LITTLE PATCH OF SOUTHERN WYOMING COULD BE YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND WHEN IT COMES TO LUXURY LODGING, TASTY EATS AND TWO WHEELED ADVENTURE. Southern Wyoming may not be the first place that comes to mind for an unforgettable weekend retreat, but its close proximity to the Denver Metro area, hidden nooks of adventure, and surprisingly sophisticated lodgings provide a memorable and easy experience for anyone on the Front Range.

EAT | The best dining experience in the area can be had at The Bunkhouse. Perfect for the carnivore, the Bunkhouse serves up delicious

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CURT GOWDY’S NEW AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. photo courtesy CAMERON MARTINDELL

Cheyenne and Laramie, sits Windy Hills Guest House. Blink, and you might miss the turn, but do not miss it. This gem, nestled right beside Curt Gowdy State Park (see below), is a unique bedand-breakfast experience, offering laid back luxury amidst Wyoming’s vast prairie landscape. Book the spa house and gaze at the stars in your own private hot tub (clothing optional) or, for a more familial experience, bring your friends and share the Log House. Cooki, the inn’s owner, who greets you with fierce blue eyes and the warmest heart, has been serving up country hospitality here for over 20 years. The Windy Hills of Wyoming are ideal for a weekend getaway, retreat, or family reunion. windyhillsguesthouse.com

PLAY | We know, it’s December and you’re steaks, burgers, and for the more adventurous eater, Rocky Mountain oysters. Ranked number 4 of 157 restaurants in Cheyenne on Trip Advisor, The Bunkhouse offers a fun and truly Western style ambiance with wagon wheels, flags, kerosene lanterns, guns, game trophies and more covering the walls and ceiling. Despite the name, technically, the restaurant doesn’t actually offer any lodging— but with a band stage, dance floor, booze and beer flowing liberally, there’ve been more than a few occasions when inebriated patrons were stashed in the sheep trailer parked out front in the interest of public safety. RVs are welcome to dry camp for a few nights. j.mp/BunkhouseBar

expecting some epic winter wonderland playground to be featured here while not quite sure how southern Wyoming is going to pull it off. Well, it’s not. Get this: n average December and January get less than half an inch of precipitation each and the highs hit around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Cool and dry? That’s perfect mountain biking weather and the aforementioned Curt Gowdy State Park is laced with an intricate web of spectacular trails that are suitable for all levels of riders. And if by chance the ground is covered in snow and the temps stay cool enough, you’re looking at a fat-bike haven. j.mp/CurtGowdySP —Cameron Martindell

RESOLUTION RACES

WILD EATS

The holiday season is fast approaching and with it comes the inevitable waistline expansion. Time to book a winter race for the New Year. It will give you something to train for during the party season.

Here are three that are sure to shake off the party.

It’s not just a meal. It’s an experience. Imagine setting out under a moonlit sky and skiing a mellow mile to a backcountry yurt nestled in the woods of the Slate River valley. Crested Butte Nordic’s Magic Meadows Yurt welcomes you with a cozy glow, inviting you inside for a five-course feast, with live musicians playing folksy notes in the background.

YETI CHASE, JANUARY 24 Chose from either a 5K or 10K that winds through Bear Creek Lake Park. The rolling hills will provide a bit of a challenge as you chase the mythical Yeti of Lakewood. Yetichase.com

SKI TO THIS BACKCOUNTRY YURT FOR A GOURMET DINNER.

Ski on your own or with the guides (who double as your servers). Sound like a slice of heaven? Choose from one of 12 dates on the calendar this winter, starting in December and running through March.

The all-inclusive $125 price includes skis, trail passes, guides, drinks, dinner and tip. The website lists the lunar cycle to help you time your evening to be moonlit or star-struck. Reserve your seat in advance. cbnordic.org/magic-meadows-yurt —Avery Stonich

YURT AND DESSERT? OH YES! COME INTO THE LIGHT. photo courtesy CRESTED BUTTE NORDIC

ALLEY LOOP, FEBRUARY 6 Everyone who loves to Nordic ski needs to partake in the annual madness that is the Alley Loop. With a course that winds through downtown Crested Butte and surrounding area, it is both challenging and damn fun. Choose from 1.5K to 42K and pick out your favorite costume. cbnordic.com VAIL WINTER UPHILL, FEBRUARY 22 This challenging 2.5-mile race begins in Lionshead Village at 8,120 feet and finishes at Eagles Nest at 10,346 feet. The best part is you get to choose your mode of transportation—ski, snowshoe, yak-trak, or crawl. trailrunner.com/event/vail-mountainwinter-uphill —Hudson Lindenberger

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FLASHPOINT

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BIG DITCH? NEW URANIUM MINE CLAIMS THREATEN THE GRAND CANYON. photo by IAN SHIVE / TANDEM STILLS + MOTION

DEFENDING THE HOMELAND

THIS FALL, A GROUP OF VETERANS ASSEMBLED IN ARIZONA AS PART OF THE SIERRA CLUB'S MILITARY OUTDOORS PROGRAM. THEIR MISSION? TO SAVE THE GRAND CANYON AND RECLAIM THEIR OWN LIVES.

by SCOTT WILLOUGHBY

F

rom the depths of dense conifer in Arizona’s Kaibab National Forest, the serenity of sunset is broken long enough for Joe Barrow to bear out the premise that it isn’t really camping until someone is cursing the tent poles. The barrel-chested Barrow drops a few precision F-bombs off the North Rim of the Grand Canyon with the deftness of a drunken sailor, then tacks on a soft chuckle as the tent assumes a posture leaning somewhere shy of full attention.

Barrow is indeed a sailor, or was until 2005, spending nearly four years on the USS George Washington and surviving multiple deployments to the Middle East as others died before his eyes during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He would have served longer, were he not diagnosed with brain cancer the very day he received his orders to report for Navy SEAL training.

And he’s sober now. A by-product less of the two subsequent brain surgeries than the aftermath of a string of PTSD-clouded decisions that landed him before a sympathetic yet stern judge who promised to throw the book at Barrow if he ever landed in the back seat of another police car.

“Like the song says, I found Jesus on the jailhouse floor,” Barrow says, adding that the rock-bottom

experience sent him somewhat inexplicably on a track of outdoor exploration that allowed him to reconnect with himself through the healing power of nature. “I’m grateful for that happening because otherwise I’d probably be dead.”

Since his last cancer surgery in 2013, Barrow’s revived spirit has carried him incrementally farther into the outdoors, including, on this October weekend, a 1,700-mile drive from his hometown of Cincinnati to Flagstaff, where he joined a makeshift platoon of like-minded veterans and service members for some wilderness salvation.

The mission of the overnight hike is two-fold, focused on both place and personnel. The men have assembled as guests of the Sierra Club’s emerging Military Outdoors program designed to offer service members, veterans and their families exposure to nature and its benefits with the ambition of inspiring a new generation of club leaders following in the footsteps of stalwart environmental defender and U.S. Army veteran David Brower.

The choice of venues is no accident. In addition to being the place where Brower and the Sierra Club arguably established their

environmental identities, the Grand Canyon has recently reemerged as a hot-button conservation issue that has come to a boil with the introduction of the Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument Act by Arizona Congressman Raúl Grijalva just a few days after the Military Outdoors outing.

“At one point in time, being a patriot, being a soldier, being a protector of the environment, was a core value. And I think it got silent for a while.”

MONUMENTAL MISSION

The proposed 1.7 million-acre monument, which would buffer the existing 1.2 million-acre Grand Canyon National Park, is a mix of canyons, desert, grasslands and forest. With the support of Native American tribal leaders in the region, Grijalva’s bill is designed to prevent future uranium mining within the watershed, preserve cultural resources and sacred tribal sites, reconnect fragmented wildlife corridors and protect the region’s last stand of old growth southwestern ponderosa pine.

The Greater Grand Canyon Heritage Act seeks to build upon the original plan proposed by President Teddy Roosevelt when he initially declared the Grand Canyon a national monument in 1908. Even then, T.R.'s proclamation riled the local

mining and tourist industries keen on developing one of our nation’s most treasured landscapes, resulting in a monument only about half the size of the current Grand Canyon National Park. The Grand Canyon Enlargement Act didn’t become law until 1975, under President Gerald Ford, and an increasingly vocal coalition argues that it, too, fell short of completely protecting the Grand Canyon: Four uranium mines continue to operate within the watershed and thousands of additional claims await the expiration of a 20-year new mining moratorium.

Passage of the bill would permanently ban new mining operations while promising to maintain current commercial and recreational hunting opportunities, [as well as/and] grazing and water rights.

Although unlikely to be heard in Congress, the bill creates a template that President Barack Obama could consider signing through his authority under the Antiquities Act, just as he did with the new Browns Canyon National Monument in Colorado.

Several Republicans and the mining industry are fighting the proposal. The Arizona Game and Fish Department has also voiced its opposition, although several former Game and Fish Commissioners have signed off in support.

CORE VALUES

Leading the charge from the conservation community is Kim Crumbo, a Vietnam veteran who earned a Bronze Star during four years and more than 70 combat

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THE FRONT LINE: FORMER NAVY SEAL AND CURRENT DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION FOR GRAND CANYON WILDLANDS COUNCIL KIM CRUMBO LEADS A NORTH RIM VET HIKE. photo by IAN SHIVE / TANDEM STILLS + MOTION

missions as a member of Navy SEAL Team One shortly after the special operations unit had been invented. Following the war, Crumbo subsequently swapped uniforms as a Grand Canyon National Park ranger and eventual river guide, befriending the likes of Edward Abbey while making more than 120 three-week trips through the 277-mile park.

The Utah resident now heads up the Grand Canyon Wildlands Council, serves as volunteer colead for the 2.4-million member Sierra Club’s monument effort and participates in a coalition of conservation groups focused on wildlife connectivity known as the Wildlands Network.

From his perspective, America’s service members, past and present, represent perhaps the greatest untapped resource in the modern conservation movement.

“When I was in Vietnam, I was under no illusion that I was fighting for the Constitution, but I was fighting for America. And I was fighting for this stuff, these public lands,” Crumbo says while meandering through the proposed monument on the North Canyon Trail. “I think that this is why I am an American. Don’t get me wrong, I like the Constitution.

But we have the obligation to defend this stuff.”

To Crumbo, places like the Grand Canyon, and the public lands of the surrounding watershed, serve as the physical representation of American democracy and offer a tangible opportunity for him and other members of the military to continue their service.

“It’s surprising how few people 14

in the conservation movement have direct military experience,” he says.

“So I think it’s really important to get veterans involved because this is their land. There’s a spiritual value here that resonates with human beings regardless of their background, and I think a veteran is in a unique place to appreciate that.”

“Leading the charge from the conservation community is Kim Crumbo, a Vietnam veteran who earned a Bronze Star during four years and more than 70 combat missions as a member of Navy SEAL Team One.” Perhaps equally surprising are the ranks of those in the conservation movement who do have direct military experience. Brower, the Sierra Club’s first executive director and a three-time board member, is lesser known among civilians for his military service as a commissioned officer and World War II training of the Army’s elite 10th Mountain Infantry Division. He too earned a Bronze Star and served as a major in the Army Reserve for many years after the war ended.

THE FRONTLINE

That history lesson has not been lost on the club’s current National President, Aaron Mair, who spent

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

four years in the U.S. Navy and holds a special affinity for the Military Outdoors program and its director, former Army captain and Denverbased Veteran’s Expeditions cofounder Stacy Bare. Mair’s vision for reconnecting the landscape extends beyond the greater Grand Canyon.

“Is it something new? No, absolutely not. When during WWII, our nation needed to learn alpine skills, they turned to the Sierra Club and brother David Brower. At one point in time, being a patriot, being a soldier, being a protector of the environment, was a core value. And I think it got silent for a while. And it’s been silent for perhaps maybe 30-40 years. This program allows us to bring that back and break that silence,” Mair says. “But more importantly, the power that veterans bring is that in respecting and protecting nature they can become our most powerful advocates of conservation. When we talk about preserving and protecting our wild spaces, because they can restore our souls, what better advocates for conservation than our frontline patriots who are now frontline patriots for the environment?

“When we say we are defending the homeland, this soil and this conservation is symbolic of that patriotism. Protecting this space, here, at home, is as serious as protecting it abroad. These things are inseparable. So it is a natural fit, a natural setting for a veteran to affiliate to be a conservation steward.

You don’t have to be into politics.

You don’t have to be into any other

parts of the organization. But my best conservationists, the best lover of the serenity of nature, the best steward who will defend, doggedly, is a vet.”

Veterans like Crumbo and Military Outdoors volunteer coordinator Rob Vessels, who spent five years with the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan, admit that there are cultural barriers to be overcome for many service members to turn the corner to public lands advocacy, including an inherent distrust of government and, frankly, a somewhat negative introduction to the outdoors from boot camp to deployment. So they’re offering their brothers and sisters in the armed forces a new post, and vets like Barrow are accepting the opportunity to turn that corner in the Grand Canyon, and beyond.

“I’ve never done anything like this. But a big part of me coming out of the service, I felt like I was pulled out of something I was passionate about. Out here I feel I can immerse myself into something I’m passionate about. We need more land like this so future generations can discover it,” Barrow says. “I think nature could definitely get me back to the person I was before the cancer, mentally sound and intelligent. I come out here and I feel that way again. It feels like I'm in my perfect environment and I can be myself. Just, myself.”

Scott Willoughby is the former Outdoors Editor for The Denver Post.

His coverage of outdoor recreation, land management and conservation issues spans more than 20 years.

NATIONAL DEFENSE: SIERRA CLUB PRESIDENT AARON MAIR SEES THE INVOLVEMENT OF VETS IN THE CONSERVATION MOVEMENT AS THE CONTINUATION OF A LONG HERITAGE. photo by IAN SHIVE / TANDEM STILLS + MOTION

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THE EPICENTER: IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT THE BEST MOUNTAIN TOWN IN THE WEST WILL BE HOST TO THE FIRST EVER BOREALIS FAT BIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. photo by MATT BERGLUND

welcome to the

FAT BIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS The first-ever Fat Bike World Championships are coming to Colorado in January. And where else would you expect the big event to happen than the birthplace of mountain biking—Crested Butte. Read up on the details, sign up for the races and get ready for the kind of party that only The Butte can throw.

by CHRISTOPHER COGLEY

W

hen it comes to biking and parties, there’s no place in the world quite like Crested Butte, Colorado.

So it’s no surprise that the firstever annual Fat Bike World Championships will happen in the same place where the original Bike Week was born. And it’s also no surprise that the event will include much, much more than just bike racing. Scheduled for January 27–31, the Borealis Fat Bike World Championships will feature four different races, a regional fat bike summit, a vendor showcase, plenty of demo opportunities and more than a fair amount of fun for everyone who shows up.

“Fat bikes are the fastest growing segment of the biking industry, and we wanted to give people an event that allows them to compete on some world-class 16

trails,” said David Ochs, Executive Director of the Crested Butte/ Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce. “But we also wanted to have an outlet to expose even more people to fat biking and show them just how much fun it is.”

The Fat Bike Worlds is designed to accomplish both those goals with typical Crested Butte flair.

T

he event will kick-off on Wednesday, January 27 at the Brick Oven Pizzeria with a keg sponsored by Chopwood Mercantile. It’s a party that will set the tone for the entire event and the big highlight will be a showing of “Off the Beaten Path,” courtesy of First Tracks Productions. On Thursday, January 28 the bike racing officially begins with an epic 30-mile backcountry race around Lily Lake that is open to both teams

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

and individual riders. The groomed course of backcountry singletrack is six miles out of town and situated at 10,000 feet, so participants can expect to be immersed in scenery that will likely take away some of the precious breath they’ll be trying to grab hold of as they race through that thin mountain air.

The following day, Crested Butte will host a regional fat bike summit that will bring together fat bike enthusiasts, land managers, Nordic center operators and anyone else interested in learning more about the current state of fat biking in Colorado and what the future might hold for this rapidly growing sport. The all-day summit will break for lunch to allow participants to demo some of the latest and greatest fat bikes on the North Village trails and get great views of Axtell, Gothic and Crested

Butte mountains while they crunch through some of the most famous biking trails on the planet.

The main event will take place on Saturday, January 30. The first annual Borealis Fat Bike World Championships will be a 52-mile elite race run through a roughly six mile loop of East Side trails that are cut between the Town of Crested Butte and Crested Butte Mountain. The course features a fine selection of Crested Butte Nordic Center’s groomed Nordic Track trails combined with some groomed singletrack custom-made for the event. This spectacular course is designed to challenge riders of all skill levels and is guaranteed to leave every one of them, well, breathless.

The quality of the course—as well as the prestige surrounding the opportunity to be crowned

the first fat bike world champion in history—is attracting a tremendous amount of attention from riders all over the world including sixtime Leadville 100 champion and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame member Dave Wiens who has signed on to compete in the Fat Bike Worlds. But Ochs said the race is open to more than just professionals and top-level riders.

“That’s the beauty of fat bikes, you don’t need to be experienced to have a great time riding,” he said. “You just need to get on and give it a whirl.”

consumption stops along the way) then make their way back down via some of the fastest and flow-iest fat bike trails in the world, all in an attempt to showcase the newest craze in fat biking—downhill riding.

“Part of the appeal of fat bikes is that there’s just so many different ways you can enjoy them,” Ochs said. “And we want to give people a chance to experience as many of those different aspects as humanly possible in four days.”

“Each of the races is designed to provide a different kind of opportunity and allow racers of all skill levels to experience different hat prospect might very aspects of fat bike riding,” Ochs well be the most difficult said. “And all of them are designed hurdle to overcome during to create an authentic Crested the final race of the event. After a Butte style of fun.” party-packed night following the Which means that there will be Worlds, the Hair of the Dog race no shortage of shenanigans during will take place on Crested the four-day event. From Butte Mountain Resort costumed riders and and will challenge beer tents to live riders to music and great climb up the food, the Fat mountain Bike Worlds All interested riders can will provide (with a few register for the event any time plenty of obligatory beveragebefore Wednesday, January 24

T

JOIN IN

at cbfatbikeworlds.com (or call 866-506-5558) and sign up for as many of the races as they’d like to compete in.

BACKCOUNTRY BURN: THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO GET OUT AND ONTO CRESTED BUTTE'S TRAILS ON DEMOS FROM BOREALIS. photo by DAVE KOZLOWSKI

LET IT RIP: THE HAIR OF THE DOG RACE WILL TEST YOUR DOWNHILL FAT BIKE SKILLS (AND HOPEFULLY SHAKE OFF THAT HANGOVER). photo by BOREALIS

opportunities for a good time for participants and spectators alike.

And, to ensure that everyone has ample opportunities to get involved in the latest craze to hit the biking world, Crested Butte bike shops such as Big Al’s Bicycle Heaven will be offering fat bike rentals, and manufacturers such as Borealis, Salsa, Surly and others will provide demo rides for anyone who wants to throw a leg over a fat bike and find out what all the fuss is about.

Even those souls who would rather watch than ride are in no danger of being left out of the fun. For visitors who are looking for ways to enjoy the snow on something other than a fat bike, Crested Butte’s Nordic Center allows kids 17 and under to ski free and will also be offering backcountry snowshoeing tours, Nordic and skate ski rentals and ice skating opportunities for the whole family. For an early morning pick-me-up or an afternoon treat before hitting the trails or the skating rink, stop into Crested Butte’s landmark coffee shop, Camp 4 Coffee, and get a taste for beans with true mountain flavor.

And when it comes time to warm up after a hard day of having fun in the snow, head over to Montanya Distillers for some live music and a sampling of signature cocktails featuring their world famous highmountain rum.

No matter where the trail might lead, expect an inordinate amount of biking, partying and smiles.

“Show up for the racing or show up for the fun, just make sure you show up,” Ochs said. “You’ll definitely be happy that you did!” •

MAKE THE MOST OF IT Need more information to make the most of the first annual Borealis Fat Bike World Championships? These digital resources will help you maximize your time in Crested Butte at the event.

THE FAT BIKE WORLDS

Details, events and special discounts are being added almost daily, so keep up with the latest on the event’s Facebook page (facebook.com/ FatBikeWorlds/). And be sure to check out the Chamber’s visitor's link for lodging, dining and more. cbfatbikeworlds.com

ALL THINGS BIKING

MTBHome.com is the go-to resource for everything mountain biking in Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley. Be sure to check out the Après Ride section (mtbhome.com/the-scene/ apres-ride/) for ideas on ways to keep the fun going post-ride.

CRESTED BUTTE NORDIC

Here, you’ll find information about a wealth of skate, classic and touring opportunities for the entire family. cbnordic.org

CRESTED BUTTE MOUNTAIN RESORT Wait, there just happens to be some world-class skiing on this mountain, too. skicb.com

BOREALIS FAT BIKES

The title sponsor of the event will be on hand with plenty of demo bikes. Jump online before the event to figure out which model to take out for a test ride. borealisbikes.com —C.C.

.

FAT CYCLE CHALLENGE ™

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 2016 ASPEN, CO – RIO GRANDE PARK

PART OF ASPEN’S WINTERSKÖL™ CELEBRATION JANUARY 14 – 17, 2016

POWDER! JOIN THE ASPEN CHAMBER RESORT ASSOCIATION FOR THE 3RD ANNUAL FAT CYCLE CHALLENGE™ Produced by

Fat Bike Race, Bike Village, Demo Course, & Fun! FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.aspenchamber.org/fatcycle or 970.925.1940 Special Lodging Rates Available Call 888.667.5666

VAIL NORDIC

CENTER Incredible Views of the Gore Mountain Range Free Parking Glide along 17km of skate and classic track Snowshoe on 10km of separate trails Rentals and Lessons Retail Shop Special Events

www.vailnordiccenter.com 970-476-8366 The Vail Golf Club and Nordic Center is under renovation for the 2015-16 season. Nordic activities will be available this winter in temporary structures. Please pardon our mess.

18

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

Looking for the perfect spot to snowmobile, ski, snowshoe, or enjoy other winter pastimes? Look to Rio Grande Country!

Wolf Creek Ski Area averages over 460 inches of snow a year, the most of all ski areas in Colorado. This year, weather forecasters predict Super El Niño will bring 140 percent of average snowfall!

South Fork: closest town to the ski area. Del Norte: Newly remodeled brew pub and great places to stay.

Monte Vista: Centrally located in the San Luis Valley.

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

Book your next great adventure today!

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THE TRAIL

12.15

DOWNLOAD APP 6.

viewranger.com/gpsadventure

ROUTE CODE: ELEV0043 7.

Scan for this route’s GPS Hike!

8.

PRIVATE STASH: EISEMAN IS MORE THAN A COZY CABIN—THERE'S LINEAFTER-LINE OF UNTRACKED SNOW STRAIGHT OUT THE FRONT DOOR.

COZY UP IN THE EISEMAN HUT

NO COLORADO WINTER IS COMPLETE WITHOUT A HUT TRIP OR TWO. DOWNLOAD THE FREE VIEW RANGER APP AND THESE COORDINATES, AND WE WILL GUIDE YOU TO ONE OF THE BEST SPOTS IN THE 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION SYSTEM.

by CHRIS KASSAR One of the newer digs in the 10th Mountain system (and the only one located north of I-70), the Eiseman hut will reward powder junkies. This grandiose hut, complete with vaulted ceilings, stunning views and sleeping space for 16, sits at 11,180 feet amidst some of the best turns in the state. We recommend making a loop out of your visit by ascending the steeper, narrower trail from Spraddle Creek and descending via the Red Sandstone Creek road. To book, go to huts.org.

SPRADDLE CREEK TRAILHEAD

The route begins just beyond the ranch buildings at the small trailhead parking area and follows the Spraddle Creek Jeep Road for about two miles. The road heads east and then climbs switchbacks northwest. Stay on the right side of the creek and stick to the road as it contours along the drainage.

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

After about two miles, you’ll reach 9,600 feet. Look for blue diamonds that indicate the trail diverges from the road and heads north (left) onto a hillside that gets ton of sun and therefore may have thin snow depending on time of year. From here, the trail drops to meet Spraddle Creek. After you

cross it, follow the route as it cuts sharply west and climbs up the ridge between Spraddle and Middle Creek. From the ridge, the route heads north and gradually descends into Middle Creek.

CREEKSIDE CLIMB

Complete this challenging descent, which often requires navigating over downed trees and debris, and begin climbing again to regain the elevation you just lost. Soon after you cross Middle Creek for the first time, the terrain mellows and you curve east. Revel in the sound of rushing water and snake along this beautiful creek.

TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY

After 5.5 miles, you’ll reach the end of the valley at 10,500 feet. From here, the trail begins to climb very steeply up and switchbacks to the north as you gain 700 feet in the last 0.7 miles.

Enjoy the climb: The hut rests just on the other side of the ridge.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

When you reach the hut, take a few moments to relax on the giant sun deck or to cozy up near the fire. Explore some of the best backcountry skiing in the state from here; below the hut, you’ll find 1,000-foot-vertical runs complete with glades and tight tree skiing on moderate-to-steep terrain.

HIT THE ROAD

For the easiest route out, hit the first road switchback. It’s about 100 feet below the hut on the slope to the north. Follow the blue diamonds and/or your GPS or map to stay on the main road.

6.

JUNCTION WITH PINEY LAKE ROAD

Cruise down the road for 4.7 miles until you reach the road junction at 9,700 feet, just beyond a gate. Head south (left) and continue following the Red Sandstone Creek drainage.

7.

Scan for all of Elevation Outdoors’ published routes!

9.

8.

ANOTHER JUNCTION

After 5.9 miles, you hit a second junction.

Stay left.

9.

RED SANDSTONE CREEK TRAILHEAD

Unfortunately, your journey is over. If you haven’t stashed a car here, grab the free Vail Valley bus to get within hiking distance of your ride.

TRAIL GEAR K2 TALKBACK 88 (W'S) / WAYBACK (M'S) K2's lightweight

touring ski, which comes complete with an ultra-light Paulownia/Maple Core, snowrepellent topsheet and All-Terrain Rocker for maneuverability across a variety of snow conditions, truly delivers on all counts. It's perfect for ski mountaineers and advanced backcountry lovers seeking efficiency. $650; k2skis.com K2 ROUTE HELMET

This comfy brain bucket boasts a highly ventilated design, a Boa system so you can dial in the perfect fit and a removable nylon cap for when you need added protection from the elements.

Bonus: When you put on the lightest snow helmet in the game (320 grams), you’ll forget you’re even wearing it. $150 —C.K.

photo by FRED MARMSATER D E C 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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HOT SPOT

12 . 15

FOUR WAYS TO DO ASPEN HEAD TO COLORADO’S POSHEST ADVENTURE SPOT FOR SOME SERIOUS SHREDDING, BIKING AND FLYING THIS WINTER.

by CHRIS KASSAR

A

spen: playground for the rich and famous, right? Spend enough time here and this mountain town will defy your stereotypes. Nestled at 8,000 feet in the Elk and Sawatch Mountains and situated along the Roaring Fork River, Aspen provides countless, year-round, awe-inspiring adventure opportunities for all ability levels (and income brackets). Need proof? Chew on this insider’s guide meant to help mere mortals enjoy all Aspen has to offer in winter.

SNOW With four resorts in the valley, you won't be fighting crowds. Here’s what you need to know about each hill.

ASPEN MOUNTAIN This is the original resort, so it has that historic and storied feel. It's easily accessible from town, but there realy are no green runs here. The riding is all below tree line, which makes for amazing tree stashes. If you do one thing, make it: Sign up for First Tracks followed by breakfast at Bonnies. Call in the night prior (970-920-0755) to ride the gondola before the mountain opens.

It’s free and guarantees you’ll score freshies. Then fuel up at Bonnies, a mid-mountain restaurant famous for serving up mouthwatering dishes like homemade oatmeal pancakes.

ASPEN HIGHLANDS Welcome to the hardcore skier/rider’s mountain. It's the favorite with locals who play hard and party harder.

There are some greens but it's mostly characterized by long, steep runs.

If you do one thing, make it: Hike Highland Bowl. From the top, enjoy an insane view of Pyramid Peak and the Maroon Bells followed by an unmatched run full of powder shots.

Later, hit Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro, a restaurant perched mid-mountain

that serves high-class Bavarian food and is known for raging parties complete with loud music, dancing on chairs and champagne spraying.

BUTTERMILK The homegrown feel makes this hill best for beginners. It's known for kids' ski school, but also for the X Games terrain park (little secret: it's also a mountain you can skin up any time of day). If you do one thing, make it: Enjoy untouched groomers on Tiehack, where you can enjoy quick laps in solitude. Follow that with lunch at the mountaintop Cliffhouse.

Enjoy tasty chow—including our favorite, the Mongolian grill—while soaking up views of Pyramid Peak.

SNOWMASS The largest of Aspen's mountains is home to the most vertical rise in the US (4,406 feet). Snowmass has it all, including tons of amenities, terrain to challenge every level (including the very steep Cirque/ Hanging Valley) and family-friendly activities. If you do one thing, make it: Explore as much of the massive amount of terrain available here and enjoy lunch at Elk Camp, a gorgeous on-mountain restaurant that boasts an incredible salad bar and a host of fresh, organic and delicious options.

CYCLE Thanks to fat bikes, you don’t need to give up cycling when the snow flies. Beginners can check out the Rio Grande Trail or Marolt Open Space. For more of a challenge, climb Smuggler Mountain for views of Aspen or hit the stunning Maroon Creek Road to the Maroon Bells, but check avalanche conditions first

GO AAH, AAH, AAH: WHO SAYS ASPEN HAS TO BE THE STOMPING GROUND OF THE ONE PERCNET. DIRTBAGS CAN PLAY HERE, TOO. photo courtesy ASPEN CHAMBER

(avalanche.state.co.us). Many shops rent bikes or you can go guided with Aspen Alpine Guides. To ride with others, hit the weekly fat bike ride organized by Ute City Cycles (utecitycycles.com) or join the Second Annual "Fat Cycle Challenge,” held during Winterskol, Aspen’s yearly toast to winter (aspenchamber.org).

The Challenge includes a competitive event as well as a bike village/demo course and a Fat Cycle Town Ride for all to enjoy.

EXPLORE The Aspen/Snowmass Nordic Trail System boasts more than 60 miles of free cross-country ski and snowshoe trails that connect the communities of Aspen, Snowmass and Basalt.

Terrain varies greatly and serves beginners to experts (aspennordic. com). For an educational romp through the forest, seek out Aspen Center for Environmental Studies' (aspennature.org) daily snowshoe tours on Aspen and Snowmass Mountains and at Ashcroft Ghost Town with a catered lunch at Pine Creek Cookhouse.

AND EAT With all this activity, you’ll want to eat and sleep well. Our favorite place for both is the Limelight Hotel (limelighthotel.com), a quirky, luxury, downtown resort that serves the best breakfast buffet around (included in your stay!). Guests have access to free fat bikes and hotel staff will help coordinate all your adventures including complimentary snowshoe tours and your chance to join ski

patrol as they sweep Aspen Mountain at the end of the day. For a delicious, affordable lunch, hit Big Wrap, offering grab-and-go gourmet wraps, salads, tacos and more. Don’t let the long line deter you; it moves fast and is worth the wait. For dinner, go big and treat yourself with a meal at Justice Snow’s (justicesnows.com), an upscale eatery in the Wheeler Opera House serving up hand-crafted drink concoctions and creative, unique, fresh dishes. For late-night munchies, stop by New York Pizza, a tiny upstairs eatery serving up a variety of pies, slices, hot sandwiches and a range of beers on tap. This is some of the best pizza we’ve ever tasted out West.

12 Days of Aspen Dec. 20–31 Free holiday activities and events, great for families.

Winterskol Jan. 14-17 Aspen’s annual “toast to winter.”

X Games Aspen Jan. 28-31 Watch as more than 200 hoppedup action sports athletes head to Buttermilk Mountain to compete for medals and prize money.

Audi Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race Feb. 27 This grueling ski race traverses across all four mountains.

Click-In with Chris Davenport Mar. 6–9 Book with the Little Nell for camp with one of EO's Top Colorado Althletes.

16th Annual Bud Light Spring Jam Mar. 18-27 This spring festival is full of competitions, music and, of course, parties. —C.K.

D E C 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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22

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

STRAIGHT TALK

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MISTAKEN YOUR DISORDER FOR ALS (MYSELF INCLUDED…) I have never been diagnosed with ALS. I have been told it is a motor neuron disease similar to ALS, but not the same. Connie, my partner, likes to call it JLS, the “Jeff Lowe Syndrome.” It's a first ascent in the disease department.

12.15

JEFF LOWE

THE ALPINE CLIMBING LEGEND IS IN THE MIDST OF HIS MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGE—FIGHTING THE ONSET OF A MOTOR NEURON DISEASE THAT HAS LEFT HIM UNABLE TO WALK, BUT HE HAS STILL BEEN ABLE TO INSPIRE OTHERS WITH THE STORY OF HIS LIFE OF COURAGE IN “METANOIA.”

by JORDAN CAMPBELL

J

eff Lowe’s “Metanoia,” a moving documentary film about the Colorado-based climbing legend, rocked indie-film festivals throughout North America and Europe this year, scooping the Grand Prize at Les Diablerets Adventure Film Festival in Switzerland and the keynote “Make Your Own Legends” award at the Boulder Adventure Film Festival.

“Metanoia”—aptly named after Lowe’s solo climb of the Eiger’s north face— chronicles that visionary ascent and highlights Lowe’s prolific career, reaching back to his first ascent of Telluride’s Bridalveil Falls in 1970 through mixed ice-climbing mastery on Octopussy (M8) in Vail to some of his greatest alpine performances in the Himalayas, including his 1979 solo ascent of the south face of 22,450-foot Ama Dablam. While his climbs are the stuff of legend, “Metanoia” drives home Lowe’s recent, challenging years fighting through a degenerative neurological disorder—which hasn’t stopped generations of climbers from still viewing Jeff Lowe as one of greatest alpinists in the world.

YOU’VE HAD SO MANY REMARKABLE ASCENTS. WHICH ONE(S) STAND OUT THE MOST AND WHY? Certainly among the most outstanding, whole-life-changing climbs, was the North Ridge of Latok I in 1978 in Pakistan, with my cousin George Lowe, Jim Donini and Michael Kennedy. We packed rations for 17 days and started up

photos by TOM FROST (MAIN), WICK BEAVERS (INSET)

CLIMBING ON: LOWE ON AMA DABLAM IN THE HIMALAYAS IN 1979 (ABOVE) AND CURRENTLY FIGHTING A MOTOR NEURON DISEASE (LEFT).

the 8,000-foot-high ridge in what could be characterized as an alpinestyle attempt. At 19,000 feet, we had already weathered a week-long storm on half rations. I had a recurrence of dengue fever that had taken me down a couple of weeks prior. On the third day, still crammed in a snow cave, both my fever and the storm relented a bit. We tried for the summit the next morning, making it past the steep rock headwall and onto the lower angled summit snow slopes. But I was moving too slow and the storm returned in full force. Probably less than 500 feet from the top, we turned around and began the first of seventyfive rappels. Over 40 strong teams from many nations have tried to complete the route since. None have reached our high point.

WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THAT EXPERIENCE? I walked away from Latok I with feelings of gratitude and love––for my partners who shepherded me

safely down, for being shown my limits and for the gifts of life and incredible people I share it with.

WHAT MAKES METANOIA SUCH A SEMINAL CLIMB IN YOUR LIFE? Metanoia came at a time when I had lost my rudder. I had left my wife.

I was estranged from my two-year old daughter, which hurt me deeply (and hurt my daughter even more). I was also trying, without success, to save my company from bankruptcy.

I needed a break, one that would reset my compass. I chose to make a statement to myself (and to climbers in general, I suppose) that the largest and most difficult climbs can be accomplished in the lightest and purest style—to do the most direct unclimbed route, alone, in winter and without bolts. Metanoia went beyond my hopes of recalibrating my perspective: it gave me a new insight into the nature of everything, including myself.

THIS HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY FOR YOU. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED? I look back at my climbing experiences, and I’m surprised to be content.

I’ve had more than my fair share. I derive vicarious pleasure from younger climbers finding their own visions to follow, and find satisfaction where I see my own climbing has had a positive influence. I’ve learned that there are higher peaks than Sagarmatha [Everest] and steeper walls than Cerro Torre’s. Life is a great adventure and adventure requires facing the unknown with all senses activated and a love of discovery. Death is a gift— it gives value to life. It’s also the last great adventure.

Along the way an abiding sense of humor will help lift you over the rough spots.

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE FOR YOU? We are here to learn, mostly learning is fun, but it doesn’t have to be fun to be fun. So, in the words of my father: “Have fun, work hard and get smart—in that order”.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO IMPART TO YOUNG OR ASPIRING ALPINISTS? Climbing is dangerous, but if it calls to you, it’s the most glorious thing I know.

Jordan Campbell is Coloradobased writer, filmmaker and Marmot Ambassador Athlete.

For more information about Jeff Lowe and “Metanoia” please visit JeffLoweClimber.com.

D E C 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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2015

GOOD GIVING GUIDE HOW TO GIVE BACK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON Every December, Elevation Outdoors features this Good Giving Guide to express just how important it is for us all to give back. We know that all of our readers have causes that they care about. Please think carefully about how you can contribute to your community, animal welfare, the environment, our trails or whatever it is you care most about this season. Donations are great, but so is your time!

Happy Holidays from the EO team and best wishes for safe travels and warm reunions with loved ones.

S P E C I A L A DV E RT I S I N G S E C T I O N

mission: wolf EDUCATION VS. EXTINCTION

TAKE A WOLF TO DINNER! Become a Wolf Caretaker at Mission: Wolf. Your Wolf gets a belly full of food and you will receive a photo and a year-long membership with Mission: Wolf. Caretakers welcome to visit the refuge and help feed the wolves.

MISSIONWOLF.ORG

2015

GOOD GIVING GUIDE S P E C I A L A DV E RT I S I N G S E C T I O N

Changing People’s Perceptions Of What Is

Possible

Because of this house... ... opportunity has a place to knock.

When you get involved with Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, you are providing hardworking families the “hand up” of a stable, affordable house and helping to build a door where opportunity can knock: opportunities for improved health, education and self-sufficiency. To make a difference that lasts for generations, visit flatironshabitat.org for information about our ReStore, volunteering, homeownership programs and about tax-deductible donations.

Paradox Sports is a non-profit that provides veterans and non-veterans with physical disabilities access to climbing and mountaineering through trips, adaptive climbing trainings, and building community.

We've had a great year and couldn't have done it without you! Please support our mission and help us continue to change more perceptions in 2016.

Give the gift of adventure!

www.paradoxsports.org/donate

Vasu Sojitra taking in the sunrise on the Grand Teton.

Photo by Will Strathamm

www.flatironshabitat.org

American Hiking Society

join today for a better hike tomorrow Help build and maintain hiking trails, conserve America’s natural landscapes, and ensure that tomorrow’s hiking experience is even better than today’s. Your membership protects the places you love to hike.

Give the gift of trails this holi day season.

Join us or give a gift to a hiker in your family at www.AmericanHiking.org/join. Benefits include a one year subscription to Backpacker magazine, exclusive discounts on your favorite outdoor brands, and more.

Since its founding in 1976, American Hiking Society has dedicated itself to the preservation and protection of America’s hiking trails, their surrounding natural areas and the hiking experience. As a member, you become a part of a dedicated hiking community, which supports strong outdoor ethics and believes that the preservation of hiking trails and their surroundings is an important legacy to leave future generations.

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HIPSTERVILLE

12.15

We Are the Millennials. This Is Our Gear.

When did the defining aesthetic of this generation become “looks DIY, but costs more than a student loan payment?”

By Sidni West Photography by Andrew Bydlon / Caveman Collective

O

k, I didn’t vote for the style of this generation, but I have to admit, it does look good at times. I guess. At least it looks good on two beautiful people when we brought them out to the Boulder foothills to look… well Millennial. Here’s what they wore. As far as whether this stuff will go the way 26

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

of bell bottoms and the mullet when the Millennials find all of the attention that has been bestowed on them by popular media and trendseekers all of a sudden shifts to a new greatest-ever-generation, you be the judge. In the meantime, here’s our rundown of the gear you need to dress the part.

1. Backpack.

Since Millennials are lazy and unemployed, they spend 100-percent of their time drinking coffee, traveling the world and gazing out at the stars with their headlamps on.

You’ll need a pack that combines that classic outdoor aesthetic with modern functionality to convey your nomadic lifestyle to the rest of the world. Topo X Woolrich Rover Pack; $189

3. Camping Blanket.

Nothing says “I woke up like this” quite like wearing a blanket. Whether you’re standing by a lake or posing on train tracks, wrap yourself in one of these to instantly feel the presence of that infamous PNW fog. It should be worn to look like it can fall off at any moment. And it might! That’s the fun of it! You’re so chill, you don’t even care. Woolrich Pacific Crest Trail Blanket; $185

2. Flannel.

How many plaid shirts do you own?

Cool, that’s not gonna cut it. Get approximately 11 more because you are about to wear the shit out of them.

Long sleeve flannels are the best because they feel like pajamas, but make you look like a Brawny papertowel man. Patagonia Fjord Flannel Shirt; $89

4. Jacket.

Aim for something that looks like you stole it out of your grandfather’s closet: vintage and trampled by horses. Running to the coffee shop on a cold day? No need to take off your snuggie. Just layer on that chicenough coat, throw on some boots and make it look as though you’re wearing a functional human outfit.

Fjallraven Räven Women's Jacket; $250

5. Glasses.

Millennials spend an irresponsible amount of money on eyewear. Why? Because there’s lots of sun and we like to look smart. Zeal Barstow; $250

6. Hat.

A wide-brim hat is the defining staple of every manic pixie dream girl. The second you place it on your head, your life becomes a Pinterest board, and you are floating through it with all of the effortless refinement that makes everyone secretly jealous.

Brixton Wesley Fedora; $52

7. Boots

They are just truly the perfect shoe, so easy to dress up or down, so easy to meld into nearly any outfit of almost any color scheme. If you don’t have a good pair of brown riding boots, you might as well just quit your whole life, as you have already decided to have a lackluster autumn.

Chaco Barbary; $150 D E C 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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It’s amazing how far we have advanced in flight over the last century.

The same can be said for cannabis in the last decade.

To become the most awarded dispensary in Colorado takes a strong foundation.

The Green Solution is based on Research and Development. The flower we grow in our state-of-the-art hydroponic facilities, is used to create the finest edibles, concentrates and topicals available.

Try any of our revolutionary products, and receive 15% off.

Not valid with any other offer. Must present coupon at check out. Limit 1 coupon per purchase. Expires 1/1/16

Enter ELEVATION15 at the checkout screen when you reserve online.

Aurora Edgewater Denver Lakewood Littleton Northglenn Silver Plume Westminster

It’s time for you to Experience Cannabis

TM

©Copyright 2015 The Green Solution, All Rights Reserved. Not valid with any other offer.

MyGreenSolution.com Online reservations available 24/7

HELP HIM AVOID LAUNDRY (FOR ONE DAY)?

ICEBREAKER MERINOLOFT HELIX LONG SLEEVE REVERSIBLE

Really the shacket is the ultimate item of dude apparel since it does not have to commit to being either shirt or jacket. Even better, the Helix, which is lighlty insulated with Icebreaker's heat-retaining-yet-breathable MerinoLoft insulation is also reversible. That means he can wear it two days in a row without looking like the dirtbag he is at heart. $165; icebreaker.com

SAY IT LOUD: FUGOO TOUGH XL

PAYDAY? S.O.G. CASH CARD

Deep down, we are still the kids who watched Bruce Lee movies and hid nunchucks in our dresser drawers.

So a knife that also holds your cash is badass in such a “Five Deadly Venoms” sort of way. Laugh all you want, but you may just thank us when we use that handy 2.75-inch blade to actually fix something. $45; sogknives.com

Even if the man in your life already has a Bluetooth speaker, there's no redundancy in getting him this one, too. This Millennial boom box pumps out 38 watts of audio power in 360-degree sound and the Tough case means it can be run over by a truck or left outside in a snowstorm. $300; fugoo.com

SICK & SPICY

GOT A DUDE IN YOUR LIFE WHO IS TOUGH TO SHOP FOR? WE UNDERSTAND THAT MAN’S NEEDS AND HAVE GIFT IDEAS THAT MAY SURPRISE EVEN HIM. | by DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

DIAL IN HIS WINTER BOOTS: ECCO BIOM TERRAIN BOA

We don't particularly like lacing up our boots any more than our kids do. And with these high-class shit kickers, we don't have to. The Boa system dials up and down for easy slip-in-and-out manuevers.

Plus, this is one fine shoe, ideal for winter exploration thanks to a Vibram sole and Gore-Tex liner. $240; eccousa.com

WARM HIS HEART: DISTILLER’S LIST

From the why-didn't-I-think-of-that department comes Distiller's List, a service that brings the best in craft distilling straight to your doorstep.

That's right—home delivery, just like that senior citizen across the street gets. Except, you will get to sample erudite, classy craft liquor from across the country and stay updated on trends via DL's blog. fidistillerslist.com

PROTECT THE DUDE IN STYLE: TOPO DESIGNS X GIRO DISCORD

Forward-thinking Denver-based shop Topo Designs collaborated with helmet-and-goggle manufacturer Giro for some designs that reflect just enough of that RiNo aesthetic while still staying true to freestyle cool. The helmet protects your precious skull via a flexible shell and Vinyl Nitrile liner that sucks up the payment for hard landings. $65; topodesigns.com

HE INHALES? VAPIUM WEEKENDER

DENIM HIM:

EDITION COVERT

DUER L2X RELAXED FIT

Far more than just another herbal inhaler, the Weekender gives you a little jolt, too.

That's because it comes with a solar charger that can power it up when you are off-thegrid or out on a hut trip in all that bright Colorado sunshine. $190; vapium.com

Here's something any guy is sure to appreciate: performance denim.

We love our jeans but they stink for outdoor play. Not these denims, which combine stretch with style. $129; dishandduer.com D E C 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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UNDERSTAND HOW SHE ACCESSORIZES:

WARM HER HEART:

SKIDA CASCADE KNIT COWL

J&L DISTILLING FYR

Handmade in Nepal with 100-percent cashmere yarn, this versatile piece layers perfectly with dress-ups or sportswear. It's available in classic bold colors, such as charcoal or navy, or softer colors, including heather, tea rose and teal. $148; shopskida.com

Add flavor and warmth to holiday cocktails with Fyr, craft-distilled with herbs and spices. Mix with warm apple cider or spicy chai (we like Bhakti), or with fresh-pressed ginger and sparkling water or ginger beer. It's hand-crafted in local J&L’s distillery, just off east Pearl Street here in Boulder, Colorado. $35; jldistilling.com

SCHUSS AND SMOOTCH? SALOMON EQUIPE 8 VITANE

SHE CAN PULL OFF A SHACKET, TOO: STIO WOMEN’S BUCKHORN BONDED FLANNEL SHIRT

Borrowing your boyfriend’s flannel is back. Only you don’t have to borrow it. And it’s made to fit your figure comfortably wherever you go—indoors or out. Stio’s design upgrades the classic long-sleeved flannel shirt with microfleece insulation and nylon to increase warmth and durability. Just don't call it Grunge. $165; stio.com

A friend once described skate skiing as “the mountain biking of winter.”

She was right. These light, flexible graceful skis offer endless hours of heart-pumping workouts punctuated by blissful, whooshing descents. We like that. $200-$300; salomon.com

SWEET & SAUCY DON’T KNOW WHAT TO GET FOR THAT SPECIAL OUTDOOR GAL? WE SUGGEST THESE INSTANT HEART (AND BODY) WARMERS WITH STYLE, SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS, TECHNICAL FEATURES AND ARTISAN FLARE. | by RADHA MARCUM

GIVE HER SOME GROUNDING: THE NORTH FACE ULTRA EXTREME II

No more cold toes. These winter hikers were built to endure the seasonal obstacles of mud, slush and snow on the trail. A Gore-Tex membrane keeps out the wet, Duratherm insulation ensures your feet stay toasty and Vibram Icetrek soles dig into those slippery (and snowy) surfaces. $150; thenorthface.com

SNUGGLE UP, ANYWHERE: RUMPL BLANKET

Cozy up indoors or outdoors with the Rumpl. It's made to endure harsh temperatures, repel water, and resist stains—just like your favorite sleeping bag. It's beautiful enough to throw over your everyday bed, too, with stitching inspired by patterns found in rock. Bonus: Don’t fret over spilled hot chocolate. It’s machine washable. $65; gorumpl.com

LEGGINGS RULE: LOLE SHOCK LEGGINGS

A girl can never have too many leggings. These will quickly become a favorite with their super soft performance fabric and figure-flattering waistband. Choose from wear-anywhere black, gray and white or eyepopping jewel-tone colors. $80; lolewomen.com 30

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

SEXY AND GREEN: NAU COCOON RECYCLED DOWN TRENCH

Form fitting and warm, this insulating trench is as responsibly made as it is fashionable.

With a recycled poly shell, it’s filled with 100-percent reclaimed and rejuvenated down. For best results, pair it with a trip to France, where that recycled down is sourced. $360; nau.com

“DIG DEEP

OFFICIAL APPAREL PARTNER

INTO THAT INEXHAUSTIBLE WELL OF GRIT, GUTS AND DETERMINATION.” KEN CHLOUBER - Founder of the Leadville Trail 100

LOTTERY OPENS DECEMBER 1st for the 2016 Leadville Trail 100 MTB and Leadville Trail 100 Run

presented by New Balance Visit: www.leadvilleraceseries.com for details.

April 9/10 June 5 June 18 June 24-27 June 29-July 2 July 3-6 July 9/10 July 16 July 29-31 August 13 August 14 August 20

Austin Rattler MTB & Trail Run Wilmington Whiteface MTB Leadville Trail Marathon and Heavy Half Leadville Trail 100 Run Camp Camp of Champions 1 Camp of Champions 2 Silver Rush 50 MTB & Run Tahoe Trail 100 MTB Leadville Stage Race Leadville Trail 100 MTB Climax Molybdenum 10K Leadville Trail 100 Run presented by New Balance

L E A D V I L L E

S E R I E S . C O M

©2015 LIFE TIME FITNESS, INC. All rights reserved. EVMG51272

2016 Blueprint for Athletes Leadville Race Series Events:

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OU

2015-2016 WINTER

PEAK GEAR AWARDS There are plenty of gear awards out there. The difference when it comes to Peak Gear is simple. This stuff got beat on out in the field. Our process is this: We poll our top contributors—who somehow have reached the point in life when their careers are defined by how much time they spend skiing, riding, touring the backcountry, climbing, camping in vans and travelling the globe—to tell us what gear has stuck with them all season long. This is the gear that has passed the test.

TD

R O O

S

E

L

T A ION V E

How do you judge the best gear of winter? For us it was easy: Poll the stable of skiers, scramblers, climbers, paddlers, bikers, runners and general freaks who contribute to Elevation Outdoors.

Ask them what was the best gear you used over the past year?

What gear can’t you live without?

What gear changed your life?

Here are the winners: 1. ATOMIC BACKLAND CARBON $750; atomic.com WHAT IS IS: Atomic's pure touring boot offers everything you want in a backcountry ski boot—an easy-to-flip ski/walk mode switch, enough guts to drive big skis, a breathable custom liner, a stiff carbon cuff—and tips the scales at close to 2.5 pounds. The similar Light version weighs in at close to 4 pounds and costs $900.

WHY IT WON: While so many traditional ski brands have focused

CONTRIBUTORS: AARON BIBLE, ROB COPPOLLILO, JON JAY, CHRIS KASSAR, HUDSON LINDENBERGER, KEVIN LUBY, RADHA MARCUM, CAMERON MARTINDELL, DREW POGGE, DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN, RYAN STUART, TOM WINTER, CHRIS VAN LEUVEN

on beefier AT boots, Atomic blew us away with this pure touring machine.

The heat-molded liner meant it fit like a glove (ideal for skinning up), but the boot can still confidently drive skis in a wide range of snow conditions.

WHERE WE TOOK IT: Berthoud Pass, the Eiseman Hut (see page 19)

2. SALSA BUCKSAW CARBON X01 $6,500; salsabikes.com WHAT IT IS: The proof that fat bikes are more than a passing fad. This full-suspension fatty will take on everything from snow to slick rock.

WHY IT WON: Don't be fooled. This is not just some bike for snow. Armed with a RockShox Monarch RT3 rear shock and weighing just over 30 pounds it was a joy to ride.

WHERE WE TOOK IT: Slickrock Trail in Moab, Sourdough Trail in Nederland, Tennesse Pass Nordic Center

3. YETI RAMBLER COLSTER $30; yeticoolers.com WHAT IT IS: A double-wall vacuuminsulated koozie for cans or bottles.

WHY IT WON: Um, becasue it's a double-wall vacuum-insulated koozie for cans or bottles, of course. And it keeps that baby classy and cool.

WHERE WE TOOK IT: The A-Basin Beach, car camping, our backyards

4. GERBER 39 SERIES MICARTA $170; gerbergear.com WHAT IT IS: It's a sleek, minimalist 3-inch blade built with CPM S30V steel with a beautiful Micarta handle.

WHY IT WON: We were impressed by the perfect combination of design and function here. And

2.

we loved that the knife is made in the U.S.A. WHERE WE TOOK IT: Everywhere we went on outdoor adventures in Coloardo, Idaho, Utah and Oregon

5. DPS WAILER 112RP2 TOUR 1 $1,050; dpsskis.com WHAT IT IS: This ski has the stability to handle deep snow and features DPS's new crazy light Tour 1 construction.

WHY IT WON: This is the third winter in a row that DPS has won a Peak Gear Award, but we couldn't help it. This ski simply owns deep days.

WHERE WE TOOK IT: Berthoud Pass in Colorado, Bell Lake Yurt and the Beartooths in Montana, Utah's Wasatch

5.

1.

3.

4.

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6. BACKCOUNTRY ACCESS SCEPTER 4S POLES $120; backcountryaccess.com WHAT IT IS: This collapsible allseason pole feaures an EVA grip that's comfy to hold.

WHY IT WON: Pure versatility.

We loved being able to use one set of poles for skiing and summer hiking. They took a beating and were easy to adjust.

Plus, we loved the ski-scraper accessory at the top of the grip.

WHERE WE TOOK IT: All over the Colorado backcountry in a quest to ski every month of the year. The Benedict 100 (see page 40).

9.

6.

7.

7. THE NORTH FACE SNOWMAD 34 $159; thenorthface.com WHAT IT IS: With a fortified steel frame, modular ABS routing funnels and the ability to haul skis or snowboards on sweaty hikes, this pack was designed specifically for adventureminded powder hounds.

WHY IT WON: There's nothing mind-blowing about the Snowmad, but it does include smart features like a glove stash and easy access to avalanche tools that prove it was designed by people who actually spend time in the backcountry—and that is exactly why we have it loaded and ready to go every morning in our garage.

WHERE WE TOOK IT: All over in the British Columbia backcountry, Berthoud Pass and Silverton Mountain in Colorado

8. OUTDOOR RESEARCH UBERLAYER $299; outdoorresearch.com WHAT IT IS: In essence this is a puffy for people on the move: It combines a very breathable soft, warm layer with a soft nylon outer layer.

WHY IT WON: The Uberlayer has upped the ante when it comes to the new breed of light insulators that can withstand heavy activity. It changes the game when it comes to moving fast, since you can bring just it and don't have to stop to mess with layers.

WHERE WE TOOK IT: A nordic ski in 50-mph winds on Monarch Pass, Mount Yale in winter, belaying friends at a shady crag in Moab in November

9. SALOMON MTN LAB HELMET $200; salomon.com WHAT IT IS: Developed at Salomon's James-Bond-style Mountain Lab in

10.

8.

11.

12.

13.

12. G3 ION LT 11. VOORMI FALLLINE France, this brain bucket strikes the perfect balance between comfort and protection.

WHY IT WON: First, we love the plush, light merino wool liner and the dial system makes it easy to fit and adjust (and wear with a beanie on super cold days). Most important, though, this is a helmet you don't mind wearing on the skin up, so you never have to take it off.

WHERE WE TOOK IT: The British Columbia backcountry, Chamonix, Berthoud Pass

10. TSL SYMBIOZ EXPERT $270; tsloutdoors.com WHAT IT IS: In short, a snowshoe like none we have seen before. The shoe flexes to move with a walking gait. Solid crampons grip hard snow.

WHY IT WON: It made snowshoeing feel, well, sexy. To be honest, we never end up using our snowshoes enough, because they just don't perform where we need them—in tough conditons when ascending hard snow slopes in the high peaks.

WHERE WE TOOK IT: Mount Audubon in the Indian Peaks, Mount Yale and Mount Princeton in the Sawatch

$399; voormi.com WHAT IT IS: This fully waterproof/ breathable shell looks and feels more like a beefed up hoody.

That's because it uses a new Core Construction technology that weaves the membrane which provides its performance into the fabric itself, rather than using it in the sandwich construction you find in standard three-layer shells. This makes it easier for designers to put those properties in soft, stylish fabrics that would otherwise get wet and heavy out in the elements.

WHY IT WON: It works. We have been testing a prototype for several months and it has endured nasty squalls just as well as shells with more traditional waterproof/breathable membranes.

While we will most likley still pull out our battened-down old-school three layers for rainy weather, we are confident wearing this shell all winter long. Plus, it looks good enough for bar hopping. Voormi has impressed us before with their fabrics. Oh, and Voormi is based here in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

WHERE WE TOOK IT: Berthoud Pass and Rocky Mountain National Park

$430; genuineguidegear.com WHAT IT IS: Meet the even lighter version of G3's Ion binding that put the Canadian backcountry company back in the AT touring conversation last season. They weigh in at just about one pound per binding.

WHY IT WON: It's stripped down, lightweight, fully functional and absolutely beautiful. It's simple to get in and out of and feels confident underfoot even though it is so light.

WHERE WE TOOK IT: Solitude and the Wasatch backcountry in Utah, Bell Lake Yurt in Montana

13. C.A.M.P. NANO 22 $7; camp-usa.com WHAT IT IS: The latest stronger, lighter (0.8 ounce) version of C.A.M.P.'s minimalist carabiner for all-around use.

WHY IT WON: Most micro-biners are so cramped you can't clip them to much. Not so with these. They come in colors for your cams, clip well enough to use at cruxes, and save you a ton of weight over the course of your rack.

WHERE WE TOOK IT: Alpine and rock routes across the globe, Chamonix and Gran Paradiso in the Alps, Eldorado Canyon and Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado

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15.

combination of incredibly soft modal and warm merino wool.

Our only complaint? The females in our life worry that we don't take them off often enough.

WHERE WE TOOK IT: Everywhere we skied and camped in Colorado and Utah

15. FLYLOW TESS DOWN JACKET

14. SAXX BLACKSHEEP LONG JOHN FLY

14.

$80; saxxunderwear.com WHAT IT IS: Oh, it's nothing but the most comfy baselayer bottom you will ever wear, dudes. True to its name, Saxx come with a pocket anatomically designed for your male goods.

WHY IT WON: Just go try them on.

But beyond the obvious, the fabric on this baselayer delivers, too: It's a fine

$220; flylowgear.com WHAT IT IS: It's a stylish 10-ounce woman's insulator, built with water-repellant 800-fill down—and small enought to stuff down into a day pack.

WHY IT WON: We are never sure why it's so hard for outdoor brands to get all the elements— fit, look, warmth—in an active woman's puffy jacket right. It all comes together here in a piece we feel just as good wearing out and about town as we do skinning in the backcountry.

WHERE WE TOOK IT: Vail and Beaver Creek in Colorado, Taos and Santa Fe in New Mexico

16. BLIZZARD ZERO G 95 $700; blizzardski.com WHAT IT IS: This lightweight ( just under four pounds per ski)

carbon touring ski has all of the cojones you would expect from something made to bang at the resort.

WHY IT WON: Traditional backcountry ski brands take note: Blizzard now makes arguably the best touring ski on the market. A unique carbon cap construction delivers incredible downhill power and stability while remaining svelte in the skin track.

WHERE WE TOOK IT: Twenty-five days of touring and powder skiing in the Colorado backcountry

16.

17. SMARTWOOL PROPULSION 60 $180; smartwool.com WHAT IT IS: Imagine combining a light, insulating vest and a baselayer in one piece. That's what we have here: There's Smartloft wool insulation in the chest and classic Smartwool NTS Mid 250 fabric on the sleeves, topped off with a DWR finish to ward off light precipitaiton.

WHY IT WON: Because we wear it all the time. It's the perfect weight and warmth to give enough protection when the wind picks up without sweating you out when the sun peaks out.

SATURDAY DEC. 12

The World’s Largest

Santa Ski Lift ticket to Ski Crested Butte for

only $23!

www.CBSANTACRAWL.com

Sponsored by Crested Butte Mountain Resort & Town of Mt. Crested Butte

Join us that night for the famous Santa Pub Crawl!

34

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

WHERE WE TOOK IT: Fall cycling and hiking excursions in Boulder and Nederland, nordic skiing at Devil's Thumb Ranch, walking the dog every day; Our female editors keep it on for chilly days at the office and home.

19.

17.

18.

18. KORA SHOLA 230 ZIP $160; kora.net WHAT IT IS: Yak wool. Yep, you heard us. New brand Kora has tapped into the natural fabric that keeps the furry inhabitants of the Himalaya warm to craft soft, cozy baselayers. The Shola puts that fabric in a top with a little bit of venting that's ideal for ski touring.

WHY IT WON: All you have to do is put it on, or even just touch it, to understand why yak wool is so prized as an insulator (Kora claims that it is 40 percent warmer than merino) and for its soft feel. We ended up wearing it just as often day-to-day as we did to the resort and out touring.

WHERE WE TOOK IT: Colorado resorts, the British Columbia backcountry, the coffee shop

19. EDIER JÄGER PANT $300; eider.com WHAT IT IS: With just a bit of insulation and some stretch, these waterproof/ breathable pants feature removable suspenders and an adjustable waist.

WHY IT WON: It's a versatile, go-to pant for everything from spring days to midwinter blower storm cycles. Best of all, it has held up to long-term abuse.

WHERE WE TOOK IT: Everywhere we skied in North America and Europe.

The contributor who nominated these bad boys says: “I rock the jacket and the pants in the petrol color, kind of a gray-blue that’s low key and stealth and blends into the forest really well. Not that I’d cut through trees to ski any closed zones ... Nope, not me. That was some other guy."

AND ... OUR BEER OF THE YEAR COMRADE BREWING COMPANY SUPERPOWER IPA This new Colorado brewery has been turning out this masterpiece since opening day. It is a huge floral hop bomb reminiscent of Pliny the Elder from Russian River and Heady Topper from The Alchemist. Many in the industry are calling it the best IPA in the country. We sugest you go try one yourself after a day of hard playing with all your new gear.

Photo: Trent Bona

PURCHASE AT THESE SELECT RETAIL LOCATIONS:

Getaway Pass

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

One pass per person. Must be present to purchase. Available only at select retail locations December 1, 2015 through the ski season.

Wilderness Exchange Denver Neptune Mountaineering Boulder Larson’s Ski Shop Wheat Ridge Bent Gate Mountaineering Golden Outpost Sun and Sport Fort Collins The Ski Shop Colorado Springs The Edge Pueblo Slopestyle Breckenridge Kristi Mountain Sports Alamosa Sports Authority Montrose Ski Barn Durango The Board and Buckle Grand Junction

skicb.com/getaway

FOR TWO

$319

Subject to availability. Blackout dates and restrictions apply.

D E C 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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A WISHLIST THAT’S WORTHY OF ENVY. S P E C I A L A DV E RT I S I N G S E C T I O N

This year’s hottest products are here­­—just in time for the holidays. Get in gear!

AND SIGN UP FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AMAZING GEAR!

GEAR GIVEAWAY! BRIDGEDALE MERINOFUSIONTM SKI VERTIGE LIGHT SOCK

ENO SPARK TOP QUILT OSPREY VOLT OR VIVA PACK

BOTTLE PRO CUP HOLDER ADAPTER

POINT6 MERINO WOOL SOCKS All Point6 socks are made in the USA and come with a lifetime guarantee. Based out of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Point6 offers a wide variety of styles for all of your adventures in the Rockies.

Sport-specific cushioning, anatomical fit and 100 percent compact spun merino wool, provide you comfort in even the most extreme conditions.

POINT6.COM

ENTER TO WIN! ELEVATIONOUTDOORS.COM 36

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

S P E C I A L A DV E RT I S I N G S E C T I O N

ENO SPARK TOP QUILT The warm and affordable Spark Top Quilt is the perfect cool-weather hammocking accessory. A Velcro-controlled convertible footbox makes for quick setup, while the nylon taffeta lining is soft against the skin, and the quilts DWR finish repels moisture.

There will be no more excuses when it comes to sparking your fall adventures.

BOTTLE PRO Drive hydrated with the first car-cup-holder adapter designed specifically for your Nalgene, Hydro Flask or other large water bottle. It includes an adjustable base to fit a wide range of vehicles. A list of compatible bottles and vehicles is available on the website. Bottle Pro reached No. 1 in Amazon’s cup holder category just 40 days.

BOTTLEPRO.NET

BERGANS ISTINDEN 34 L PACK The Istinden 34L is a full-featured ski touring pack. It’s fitted with an easyto-access external avalanche safety pocket, front and side ski attachment points and a spacious main compartment that has room for everything you need on your tour.

BERGANS.COM

ENONATION.COM

BRIDGEDALE MERINOFUSION TM SKI VERTIGE LIGHT SOCK OSPREY PACKS The new 2016 Men’s Volt and Women’s Viva Series are our most versatile packs, designed to carry any load in all conditions with complete confidence.

At such a great value, this pack series is the ideal purchase for those who also need to invest in lots of other new gear for their trips.

OSPREYPACKS.COM

MerinoFusion™ SKI technology brings merino wool together with technical fibers to provide balanced insulation with the highest levels of comfort. Vertige Light socks—(pronounced “verteege”) meaning “close to the edge”— lightweight, over-the-calf ski socks featuring a precision fit with MerinoFusion™ technology.

GRAND TRUNK Meet the do-it-all, hang-anywhere hammock. Enjoy the freedom to relax anywhere with this easy-tohang, super-packable parachute nylon hammock that’s lightweight and compresses to the size of a softball. The super-durable parachute nylon won’t let you down, whether you are hiking, backpacking, in the backyard, at beach, or at the park.

BRIDGEDALE.COM GRANDTRUNK.COM

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STAGECOACH CLASSIC

XC Ski Race & Tour Devil’s Thumb Ranch to Winter Park January 23rd, 2016 Whether you’re a serious Nordic skier, an old-school tourist or a weekend snowshoe enthusiast, you won’t want to miss this unique chance to trek from Devil’s Thumb Ranch to downtown Winter Park through the original Idlewild Ski Area.

Choose a 15k or 30k race or 15k trek on groomed trails through private and Forest Service lands, then celebrate with live music, BBQ and a beer tent at the after-party.

A portion of the race proceeds will go to Trout Unlimited’s efforts to protect and preserve the Fraser River.

Register online at www.stagecoachclassic.com

oint to

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CROSS COUNTRY SKI RACE & TOUR JANUARY 23, 2016

This winter, there’s no reason to hurry home.

When you stay two nights with us, your third is free.*

TA B E R NA S H, CO LO R AD O 970.726.5632 *

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Limited quantities available. Other restrictions may apply. Blackout dates may apply. Not valid for previously booked reservations or groups. Taxes not included.

Based on availability. This offer may not be combined with any other promotion or package. Room nights must be consecutive.

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FOUR COOL SURPRISES FREE WILCO In today’s culture of stream it or steal it, Wilco decided to just let us have this one. This summer the band surprised fans by dropping “Star Wars,” an unannounced album, online for free. It’s a punchy and progressive set—11 songs in 30 short minutes— packed with satisfying distorted earworms like the super-charged “Random Name Generator” and the gritty garage ballad “You Satellite.”

HEAR THIS

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THE TOP ALBUMS OF 2015

THE PAST YEAR WAS PACKED WITH SOLID NEW RELEASES. TAKE A LISTEN TO OUR TOP PICKS TO PROVIDE THE SOUNDTRACK FOR YOUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURES (OR JUST CHILLING LATER).

by JEDD FERRIS ALABAMA SHAKES Sound & Color Sophomore slump? Not from the Alabama Shakes. Instead of following up 2013 debut “Boys & Girls” with safe soul grooves the group got trippy and blasted through a record of psychedelic blues rock with experimental touches that revolves around the voice of front woman Brittany Howard. Her killer singing manages to conjure both Aretha Franklin and Robert Plant, sometimes in the same song.

COURTNEY BARNETT Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit Courtney Barnett sounds like Dylan as a millennial slacker with the musical urges of Kurt Cobain.

On her full-length debut her folksinger’s notebook and rowdy grunge revivalism are endlessly entertaining as she laments everything from social anxiety (“Nobody Really Cares

OUR TOP PICKS: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) ALABAMA SHAKES, FATHER JOHN MISTY, BEACH HOUSE, RYAN ADAMS, LEON BRIDGES, WILCO AND COURTNEY BARNETT.

If You Don’t Go to the Party”) to pesticides (“Dead Fox”).

FATHER JOHN MISTY I Love You, Honey Bear As Father John Misty, Josh Tillman has created a character that’s clearly full of sh*t but also a guy you can’t help but want to hang with. His second album is part love letter to a new marriage and part world-weary head-trip confessional, all delivered through Tillman’s wise-ass satirical mind and an expansive freak-folk sound that includes everything from mariachi horns to dashes of electronica. From start to finish, it’s an irresistible ride.

LEON BRIDGES Coming Home The soul renaissance of the past few years has been quite refreshing, thanks to the passionate intensity of artists like Sharon Jones and Charles Bradley. Fresh-faced crooner Leon Bridges is no less authentic but he leans on the smoother side of the vintage R&B spectrum. On the Texas upstart’s debut his soothing voice revives Sam Cooke’s soulful heyday, mostly crooning about the ups and downs of love in hot horn-led grooves like “Better Man” and the deep gospel-flavored closer “River.”

Props for the authentic sound goes to Bridges’ band/producers, which includes two members of indie rockers White Denim.

JAMES MCMURTRY Complicated Game When it comes to telling a story in

song, particularly illustrating the plight of the disaffected, James McMurtry is a master of the craft.

As the son of Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Larry McMurtry, writing is in the veteran Texas tunesmith’s blood, and throughout “Complicated Game” his lyrics have never been more vivid. Standouts include the reflections of a troubled loner in “Ain’t Got a Place” and the gut-punch realism of “South Dakota,” a song about a young veteran who survives war but comes home only to have his future prospects crushed by the blunt economic hardships of being a smalltown farmer.

BEACH HOUSE Depression Cherry and Thank Your Lucky Stars The Baltimore duo of Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally had a prolific 2015, releasing their fifth LP “Depression Cherry” in August and following it up with another fulllength, “Thank Your Lucky Stars,” just two months later. Both albums were recorded during the same sessions, but they have noticeably different moods. The first is a somber ethereal rock journey with some of the group’s most thought-provoking lyrics to date. Stars flows with similarly expected airy soundscapes but the synth-and-guitar-led dream pop songs are steered in a direction that’s more uplifting. On both albums Legrand’s enchanting voice is the centerpiece, guiding a sound that puts you in an emotional trance and feels therapeutic when it lets go.

RYAN REVISITS “1989” Ryan Adams used some summer downtime to make a track-by-track interpretation of Taylor Swift’s multi-platinum hit album “1989.”

At first this smelled like a publicity stunt, but Adams actually injected the tunes with a lot of passion in his own style. “Blank Space” is shed of its pop sheen and turned into a wistful folk ballad, while mega hit “Shake It Off” is delivered as Springsteenstyle heartland rock. Swift’s lyrics can be undeniably cheesy and rushed production makes this one sound a little uneven, but overall it comes across as a rock-solid Adams record, which is always something to celebrate.

COLORADO FOLKIE TURNS SOUL MAN Nathaniel Rateliff was previously known around Denver has a deepthinking husky-voiced indie-folk songwriter, but on his recently released national breakout, “Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats,” he made an exciting pivot to rowdy soul music.

Backed by his new big band, he claps wildly and testifies like a possessed preacher on dance-inducing romps like lead single “S.O.B.” SET BREAK TUNES Neal Casal, former guitar slinger for Ryan Adams and currently a member of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, was asked to compose some instrumental set-break music for the Grateful Dead’s massive Fare Thee Well stadium concerts this past summer. Interludes for the Dead, an album under the name Circles Around the Sun, compiles the best of those spontaneous psychedelic jams and gives Deadheads some much-needed fresh material. — J.F.

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THE ROAD

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SKI INTO HISTORY

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO EXPLORE COLORADO’S HISTORIC HUT SYSTEM? HEAD OUT ON THE BENEDICT 100, A SIX-DAY BACKCOUNTRY ADVENTURE THAT COVERS 100 MILES OF SNOWY WILDS BETWEEN ASPEN AND VAIL.

by MELANIE WONG photos by CAMERON MARTINDELL

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ore than 25 years ago, a team of ski legends and backcountry skiers from the mountain communities of Colorado undertook the ceremonial task of bringing a special Alpine Skiing World Championships flag from Aspen to Vail. In a relay format much like the bearing of the Olympic torch, they blazed a roughly 100-mile trail, mostly on skis, from Aspen, where the World Championships had last been held in the United States, to Vail, where the races would return in 1989.

When a group of backcountry skiers made their way along the same route, what has become known as the Benedict 100, that history was an afterthought, however. Instead, they were focused on the fields of white before them, the squeak of skins on the snow, and the crisp, cold mountain air in their lungs. Tradition can wait when there are turns to be made today. This group was not even the first to retrace the route. Since 1989, adventurers have taken on the trek, making it an official route that's popular enough that select outfitters guide it for skiers from around the globe every year.

TODAY’S ROUTE

Unlike the original track blazed in 1989, today’s Benedict 100 (named for the father of the 10th Mountain Hut system Fritz Benedict), takes an alternative route that starts in Aspen and loops around to Camp Hale, up Vail Pass and finally drops the legendary Commando Run right into Vail. The six-day experience includes overnight stops at Margy’s Hut, Betty Bear Hut, Uncle Bud’s Hut, Jackal Hut and the downright luxurious Shrine Mountain Inn (here you can relax in a wood sauna and savor the running water).

“...the Benedict is not for the faint of heart, requiring long days in cold temperatures, predawn starts, trail breaking and skiing variable snow conditions that demand a high level of fitness and skill.”

ON A MISSION: THE CREW ON LAST YEAR’S BENEDICT 100 TRIP WITH PARAGON GUIDES CLIMBS OUT OF THE ROARING FORK VALLEY HEADED TO MARGY’S HUT.

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Typically, the trips draw 10 to 12 hardy souls ready to test their mettle in Colorado’s high altitude.

Last winter, Paragon Guides of Edwards led the trip. In 2016, Aspen Alpine Guides will be the guide host, on a trip set for Jan 24 through 29.

In an age when AT touring has become incredibly popular, the Benedict 100 is still a little bit different. The trips run in a style reminiscent of European treks such as the Haute Route between France and Switzerland. Still, the Benedict is not for the faint of heart, requiring long days in cold temperatures, predawn starts, trail breaking and skiing variable snow conditions that demand a high level of fitness and skill.

“As things like ultra marathons have become more popular, a lot of people are drawn to the trek, not as a competition—it’s really not a race in any way—but as a destination experience.”

THE GOOD LIFE: THE BENEDICT 100 MAY COVER A LOT OF GROUND IN THE BACKCOUNTRY, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY NO SUFFERFEST. INSTEAD, IT IS A TOUR OF THE BEST OF WHAT THE 10TH MOUNTAIN HUT SYSTEM HAS TO OFFER, WITH WARM BEDS AND MEALS AT THE END OF THE DAY AT COZY OUTPOSTS LIKE THE JACKAL HUT ABOVE.

Robin Collins, an Australian trekker who has been on wilderness excursions that range from primitive snow camping to more refined hut trips, said he enlisted in the Benedict 100 because he was looking for a challenge.

“The challenge is definitely a part of it. This trip has the altitude, and the prolonged nature of the trip adds another layer to it,” he said, adding that the Colorado backdrop didn’t hurt. “What made this trip stand out was the beautiful scenery as part of an adventurous trip. This mix of nature and the mountain and skiing through the trees is very special for me.”

For others, the Benedict 100 is something of a bucket list item. To complete the trek requires time

commitment and a good amount of training, so it’s often a few years before some trekkers actually are able to sign up and complete the trip.

“I’d heard about this route 15 years ago,” said Dave Jones of Monte Vista. “I later learned that it’s not really something you can do by yourself. Doing it as part of the tour seemed like a good way to do the trip — do some skiing and see some huts you haven’t seen.”

The Benedict 100 costs $1,440, which includes guides, hut hosts, USFS permits, insurance, hut fees, group dinners and breakfasts. Skis, skins, boots and safety equipment are available for rental. aspenalpine.com / paragonguides.com

However, the Benedict is not without its luxuries.

The guiding company makes the tough trip more manageable by transporting items such as food and sleeping bags ahead of time, so that guests don’t have to carry heavy packs. Better still, each night, the tired skiers are greeted at their destination hut by “hut hosts,” who serve up appetizers, drinks and a freshly cooked feast.

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uck Elliot, owner of Paragon Guides, has seen the trip grow in recent years.

“As things like ultra marathons have become more popular, a lot of people are drawn to the trek, not as a competition—it’s really not a race in any way—but as a destination experience,” said Elliot.

Aspen Alpine Guides' Stephen Szoradi agrees, adding that new touring gear has made the trip accessible to more guests. “It’s about getting a bunch of like-minded people on the trail for a period of time doing some pretty hard things, and that really creates a bonding experience,” he said.

ALMOST THERE: A SKIER NEARS THE SADDLE BELOW ELK MOUNTAIN ON THE WAY TO SHRINE MOUNTAIN INN.

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ELWAYVILLE

river, then she let her brown hair spill down her shoulders as she shook it free and her high cheeks went pink in the cold. She stared straight at me with green eyes like emeralds I would never be able to afford and said, “I felt warm.”

You had to be careful with the special forces soldiers because they treated everything you said like an order. You learned to stay quiet with the couples when the wife would improve first and the husband would say, “Do you want to stop for hot chocolate? Are you cold?” The people off the plane straight from sea level—from Chicago, Manhattan or Atlanta—were so surprised by all the open space that they got vertigo. I had them roll snowballs down the slope to convince them that was as far as they would fall.

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MEMOIRS OF A SKI INSTRUCTOR

ON BEING VERY HAPPY, AND VERY POOR.

by PETER KRAY

W

hen I graduated from college I really didn’t have any plans for “a career.”

I just knew I wanted to ski and write and, if I was lucky, fall in love with a special girl. So I moved to Jackson Hole and taught skiing for the next four years.

When I tried out as an instructor I went to Pepi Stiegler’s office for my interview. His gold, silver and bronze Olympic medals hung on the wall. He had smart blue eyes and gray hat hair.

I had seen movies of him dropping cliffs and heard the story of how when another skier jumped further off the ridge that bears his name, llustration by KEVIN HOWDESHELl / kevincredible.com

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Pepi went and found the guy in a bar. When he later showed Pepi that giant gap, Stiegler demanded to know, “From where?” then hiked 20 yards further up the hill.

“Ski instruct-ah,” he said to me with that Austrian accent. “Not a lot of mon-ee,” and asked me what else I might do. I told him I wanted to be a better skier, then to share what I learned. I didn’t mention the $800 season pass the job would provide, or that I only had $25 in my checking account. But we both knew.

They tacked the names of the instructors who got hired on a Post-it note on the locker room wall. And when I went back to Pepi’s office to sign my contract, I told him that I only had one condition.

“You will not work Christ-muss?”

Pepi said, then winked and pushed the paper across his desk for me to sign, too.

Y

ou alternate between kids and adults your first year. I told the kids to keep their hands out for balance “like surfers”

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and to lean into the front of their boots. They didn’t know to be scared.

My first students, three fearless brothers from Wales, stood at the top of every black-diamond run and said, “Don’t care.”

But the adults had a million fears.

They needed to breathe and to time their breathing to their turns. I had them hum Strauss' The Blue Danube waltz and unweight their skis as they inhaled. It was only when I saw their faces under those heavy parkas that I remembered who they were: the ballroom dancer from New York City (“an old maid at 28” according to her), the handsome brothers (whose father was the oil minister of Amman with an Italian girlfriend), their friend from Saudi Arabia who liked me because the brothers wouldn’t touch the booze.

The Saudis left a $300 tip and box of cologne from the Polo store. But the young doctor from North Carolina gave me something sweeter when she suddenly took off her hat and goggles on the chair. Her name was Caroline.

She said it like she was naming a

hat I learned about skiing came from from the mountain itself, with its incredible vertical relief and constantly changing temperatures.

It came from the other instructors as well—from guys like Tommy who climbed Everest as a rock-and-ridge expert for hire, Richie the Rhino, who said as long as the lifts are running then “Go” (he died on the Snake River one summer when his boat tipped over and his waders filled) and Robbie from Maine who never wore goggles and skied Corbet’s 10 times a day until he broke his femur (two months later, he passed me hiking Glory Bowl).

All of us drinking schnapps and shooting bottle rockets from the top of Apres Vous New Year’s Eve, and skiing down with torchlight flares. All of us waiting for the world to crumble around us because there was so much snow, as if the mountains might turn to water and explode in white waves and drown us.

I barely had enough money to eat one real meal each day. When the roommate who paid the heating bill left, we went nearly a month without hot water. But we never talked politics, and we laughed all day, every day, and if I was ever given the chance, I bet I would go back there right now.

—Elevation Outdoors' editor-atlarge, 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

SHOW US HOW YOU MAKE THE GOOD TIMES BETTER: Share YOUR favorite shots that embody the Terrapin lifestyle!

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