Travel and Outdoors
2:08 pm, Dec 13, 2012
Outdoors: Hit the Slopes with John Denver
It's almost abnormal not to see skiers and boarders zooming through the trees while their favorite tunes blast from their helmet sound systems or earbuds. Recently, Colorado-based ski company Icelantic teamed up with John Denver's estate to make that audio experience more visual: Powderhounds can now bring the music legend along for... MORE
10:16 am, Dec 13, 2012
Get Involved: Breckenridge Adaptive Ski Program
It takes at least two people to help lift and strap Cheryl Wilson into her mono-ski (also called a sit-ski), which resembles a Star Wars pod racer with its angled chair mounted on top of a single ski. Once off the lift—a feat in and of itself—Wilson uses her two ski poles (or outriggers) to propel herself down the steepest of runs. A veteran... MORE
2:35 pm, Dec 11, 2012
Outdoors: Front Range Ski Bus
Early-season ski conditions have been lackluster thus far, striking fear in the hearts of powderhounds that this season will be on par with last year’s dismal snowfall totals. But the past week or so has given us a glimmer of hope, with nearly two feet falling in Vail and Beaver Creek, a foot-and-a-half in Breckenridge, and a foot at Keystone,... MORE
2:35 pm, Dec 11, 2012
Outdoors: Front Range Ski Bus
Early-season ski conditions have been lackluster thus far, striking fear in the hearts of powderhounds that this season will be on par with last year’s dismal snowfall totals. But the past week or so has given us a glimmer of hope, with nearly two feet falling in Vail and Beaver Creek, a foot-and-a-half in Breckenridge, and a foot at Keystone,... MORE
12:05 pm, Dec 11, 2012
Tips From an Expert: Backcountry Skiing
Donny Roth's life revolves around winter. When the professional skier (pictured, right) isn't searching for the best backcountry spots around the world, he's guiding fellow powder-hounds down breathtaking runs in Chile. It's all part of what Roth calls "sharing the human-powered ski experience." It's an adventurous day job, but Roth is also aware... MORE
10:00 am, Dec 10, 2012
Travel: Inn at Steamboat Gets Even Cozier
New owners have assumed the helm at the Inn at Steamboat, and they’re offering something that the base area has long lacked—cozy, service-oriented accommodation near the lifts. Steamboat has plenty of attractive base area condos. And downtown, there’s the Hotel Bristol, made charming by Pendleton blankets and red leather wing chairs. But the base... MORE
5:00 pm, Dec 6, 2012
Photo of the Week: Sunset over Daniels Park
Sunset over Daniels Park in Douglas. MORE
1:50 pm, Dec 6, 2012
Celebrating Vail's 50th Anniversary
In our December issue, I got the scoop on the origins of some of Vail's 193 trail names. It seemed like an appropriate time to look back: The mountain is celebrating 50 years this season. What started as a modest ski spot with one gondola, two chairlifts, and just eight runs has since transformed into a vast and prestigious resort with far-... MORE
9:14 am, Dec 4, 2012
Outdoors: Hike Fountain Valley Trail
Why we love it: It's the Red Rocks of the southern suburbs. These magnificent sandstone formations are part of the Lyons and Fountain systems, which run all the way from Morrison to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. When to go: Early morning. That's when some of the more elusive animals (bobcats, bears, and mountain lions) head back to... MORE
4:48 pm, Dec 3, 2012
Travel: Trazzler.com's Open Places App
I'm always on the lookout for useful travel apps, and recently I found one that's not only helpful, it's also visually appealing and (most important) easy to use. Open Places allows users to search for publication-quality information and photos about a city's offerings—everything from restaurants and bars to hikes and locally-owned shops.... MORE
3:45 pm, Nov 26, 2012
Travel: Breckenridge Gets Festive
Breckenridge has a special place in my heart. The BreckConnect was my first Colorado gondola ride. It's where I learned to snowboard, and my go-to spot for a day trip or a quick dose of mountain air. And for the past two years, I've witnessed the impressive artistry displayed during the town's International Snow Sculpture Championships. ... MORE
9:15 am, Nov 21, 2012
Travel: Party Like There's No Tomorrow
One in 10 people, according to a Reuters survey conducted in May 2012, believe the world could end on December 21. For years, doomsdayers have said the date, which corresponds to the beginning of a new cycle on the Mayan calendar, marked the end of the world. Although all this doomsday talk may seem silly, at least one... MORE
9:18 am, Nov 20, 2012
Outdoors: Hike Red Rocks Trail
Why we love it: It's Red Rocks. Need we say more?When to go: There's not much shade, so it's not a good choice for mid-day hiking. Try late afternoon, when the sun makes shadows on the mountains and the deer come out. ***This hike isn't a backcountry experience—you can see Highway 26, houses, and power lines—but it's very pretty nonetheless,... MORE
2:29 pm, Nov 14, 2012
Outdoors: Always Have A Plan
Ever been on a trail or mountain or deep in the woods somewhere when something goes terribly, drastically wrong? You twist your ankle and can’t continue; a storm rolls in and makes the trail impassable; or your equipment fails at a critical time? I remember when it happened to a friend of a friend a few years back: He’d set out on a solo... MORE
2:45 pm, Nov 13, 2012
Outdoors: Powder Made Easy
A funny thing happens at the bottom of a powder slope: You’ll do almost anything to get back to the top for a repeat. In the backcountry, powder-hounds like me push through fatigue to feel another adrenaline rush. At the resort, we blow off bosses and even friends when they stand between us and an untracked stash. But on Buffalo Pass, where... MORE