From the Magazine
TRAVEL & OUTDOORS FROM THE MAGAZINE
3:18 pm, Oct 24, 2012
Living On The Edge
Few places on Earth can match Colorado’s selection of rigorous climbs, verdant hiking trails, roaring white-water rapids, and majestic ski runs. They are the lifeblood of our economy, the primary motivator of our physical healthiness, and the inspiration for the local and regional pride that make our state one of the most desirable places to live... MORE
2:39 pm, Oct 24, 2012
Ultimate Winter Getaways
Kessler Canyon • Near De Beque, Colorado / $$$ (For the Outdoorsman) Just 45 minutes east of Grand Junction, hidden within the yawning canyons of Colorado’s Western Slope, lies one of the state’s best-kept secrets. An outdoorsman’s paradise, the Kessler Canyon ranch spans 23,000 acres of rugged terrain that supports adventures in fly-fishing... MORE
4:20 pm, Oct 22, 2012
Eight For One
The first snow in Colorado’s high peaks arrived mid-September, an annual sighting that prompted skiers and riders to dust off their gear and look toward the slopes in giddy anticipation. This came just weeks after Aspen/Snowmass, Alta, Jackson Hole, and Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows announced an unprecedented deal: the  Mountain Collective , a... MORE
4:16 pm, Oct 22, 2012
Backcountry Livin'
It’s a colorado conundrum: By the time winter flurries put you in the mood for a hut trip, few spots remain in popular backcountry systems such as the 10th Mountain Division and Braun huts, which can book a year in advance. Now, a new option gives hut-trippers hope for a last-minute adventure: Vagabond Ranch Huts, located north of Granby, combine... MORE
3:15 pm, Oct 22, 2012
Joyride
Denver Trolley Co. is bringing back the old-fashioned trolley ride—with a modern twist. Owner David Pike noticed that despite the city’s inclination for offbeat transportation like pedicabs and horse-and-carriage rides, Denver lacked the historic transit archetype that other cities celebrate: a trolley system. So as of September, in lieu of a... MORE
3:08 pm, Oct 22, 2012
Breakdown
With ski season nearly here, we’re resigned to spending more time on I-70 while chasing snowstorms in the Rocky Mountains. Inevitably, when we pass the emergency ramps along the sides of the highway, we wonder: Do trucks actually use those? The answer is yes—hundreds of times a season. In fact, the Lower Straight Creek ramp (westbound side of I-70... MORE
2:53 pm, Oct 22, 2012
Slopeside
Watch » Steamboat Springs’ Howelsen Hill Ski Area is famous for its Fourth of July ski jumping—that’s right, smack in the middle of summer. This year, the resort adds a little more high-flying fun with a $1.75 million improvement to its ski jump, which will serve as a training ground for competitive athletes in winter and summer. steamboatsprings.... MORE
2:47 pm, Oct 22, 2012
Cold Hard Truth
In the planet’s harshest Arctic environs thousands of miles from his home in Boulder, National Geographic photographer James Balog and his team braved subzero temperatures, 100 mph winds, and unproven equipment to document one of the biggest issues of our time: climate change. Using automated time-lapse cameras specifically built to withstand... MORE
3:45 pm, Sep 20, 2012
The Off-Season
• Buffalo Peaks, Fairplay Less visited than the massive Collegiate Peaks to the west, the Buffalo Peaks provide solitude at much lower elevations—perfect for a more relaxed weekend backpacking excursion. Spot elk and bighorn sheep as you traverse the moderate 11-mile Buffalo Peaks Loop—start from the Rich Creek Trailhead—around beaver ponds,... MORE
3:20 pm, Sep 20, 2012
Paying it Forward
When he was just 19, Denver resident Brad Ludden became Nike’s first sponsored kayaker. That same year, 2001, he founded a nonprofit called  First Descents  to offer a free kayaking camp as therapy for young adults fighting cancer. More than a decade later, First Descents employs 13 people, three interns, and 22 contract workers at its... MORE
2:56 pm, Sep 6, 2012
Take It Outside
September is when all Coloradans should entertain outside: It’s not too hot, not too cold—and the garden is finally producing those waited-for-them-all-summer vegetables. We asked Amy Figge, owner of Hutch & Fig home-goods store in Cherry Creek North, to set the table for her perfect harvest meal. Glassware / Simon Pearce wine... MORE
4:19 pm, Aug 27, 2012
On The Road Again
The drive from Denver into the mountains on a sunny fall day is, in itself, spectacular. But leaving the city isn’t just a chance to escape into the gold and green wilderness, it’s an opportunity to discover dining locales that have yet to make it onto your GPS. _____ Idaho Springs Smokin’ Yards is an unexpected find in Idaho Springs. Using... MORE
2:29 pm, Aug 27, 2012
Ride 'Em Cowboy
The trail was uncharacteristically smooth, a thin dirt ribbon that gave my lungs and legs a welcome respite after the granite gauntlet I’d just run. But the next challenge lay ahead. Poking up through the ponderosas was a stone labyrinth that promised to bite at my wheels and test my grit.The assurance of technical mountain biking is precisely... MORE
12:35 pm, Jul 24, 2012
Into the Wild
Thunder cracks in the gray sky above Lakewood’s Green Mountain and sends hikers scrambling down. Jon Van de Grift, however, is making his way up the hill, dodging the crowd in search of an exposed spot. He finds it on a cliff edge that appears level with the ominous clouds and intermittent lightning, and sets down his tripod.  A storm-chasing... MORE
12:04 pm, Jul 24, 2012
Dig In
The days are getting shorter and school is fast approaching, but don’t mourn the end of summer just yet. Labor Day is still ahead and there’s plenty of time to fire up the grill for a family-size feast. Marinate a juicy rack of ribs in Boulder-based Motherlode Provisions’ Rocky Mountain Style Barbecue Sauce, pick up some Olathe sweet corn—try... MORE