02
TRAIL RUNNING
WORDS BY MEAGHEN BROWN AND PHOTOS BY STEVEN GNAM
HOME RUN Some families share religion, camping, lavish vacations, opera. Other families go running. On an unnaturally warm February morning, one of many in a winter that never made up its mind south of the 40th latitude, the Braford family went for a run. Through town on Shrine Road, up toward the local water supply, to the Boulder Gulch trailhead where the dirt and slush turned to snow. The oldest son, Blaze, bounded ahead, his long blonde hair bouncing with each gangly stride, while the younger two children, Raja and Soren, lagged behind, lobbing snowballs at each other. Raja’s pink top and blue tights stood out brightly against the snow. Their father, Cody, called back, “Come on, runts!” as he charged ahead toward a bend in the trail overlooking town.
Cody Braford and Ivy Lefebvre moved to Silverton, Colorado, eight years ago after a slow courtship with this tiny former mining town, the population of which shrinks to around 420 in the winter and expands only slightly when the snow melts. Cody’s car broke down here when he was 17, back when he was aimlessly following the metal band Ministry around the country, and he always planned to come back. These mountains tend to do that. Cody is a contractor, and Ivy is the janitor and electrician at the public school, which has so few students—65 this year—that their oldest son, Blaze, is the only kid in his math and science classes. He and his father share the same laugh, an animated and frequent explosion. Both parents plow snow for the city
420
people
population of Silverton
9,318
during normal winters. Raja, the middle child and only daughter, skillfully fills in the gaps of her siblings’ stories. The youngest, Soren, was born in the living room of the family’s green prefab house which they call, “The Aid Station.” It nearly killed both him and his mother. In addition to the kids, who range in age from 11 to 17, the house is also occupied by a cat, a dog, at least five tarantulas and a 160-pound pig named Simba. Running is a to ol t ha t t he Br afords have given their children. It’s economical and configures their time together—from weekends to vacations. It’s a replacement for one alcohol addiction and distracts from the possibility of another. It’s time together and an outlet, a way the family has learned to artfully
feet (2,840 meters)
elevation of Silverton
Blaze navigates a stretch of high-altitude terrain with dad.
42
-39º
F
lowest temperature recorded in Silverton
