The Pure Joy Of Fixie Dave
byA couple weeks ago at a party, I saw Dave Nice for the first time in a long time. We started talking about the…
culture
Everything Is Epic
byAt a grocery store last week, the cover of Cosmopolitan‘s January issue caught my eye with the headline “EPIC SEX.” Immediately, in my head,…
The Greatest Mountaineering Survival Story Never Told
byA few years ago, I climbed Drift Peak near Leadville, Colorado, on Presidents Day with my friend Aaron and my friend Lee. Lee had…
My Pal Mick, 1958-2012
byMy friend Mick’s heart stopped working last Sunday. He died at the age of 54, not knowing that the night before, I had sat…
Happy Thanksgiving
byI haven’t had a “proper” Thanksgiving dinner since 2002, somehow managing to be anywhere but watching football and eating an oven-cooked turkey. When people…
The Customer Is Always Right
byMaybe you’ve heard this one: Ski resort patron approaches lift ticket kiosk on Powder Day of the Century and demands a refund for his/her…
Sick, Brah: The Ineloquence Of Talking About The Outdoors
byYou, outdoor recreator, are quite probably quite educated: Bachelor’s degree, possibly a master’s degree or Ph.D. You wore a cap and gown and were…
My Friend Lee: A Story About Mentors
byFive summers ago, I met this guy named Lee Smith while climbing with a big group of people at Castlewood Canyon. At the end…
The Three Bumper Stickers
by“You know, I was just thinking that three bumper stickers changed my life,” Dan said as we tromped down the trail a couple weeks…
Don’t Sandbag Me, Bro
byI always get sandbagged by guys in gear shops. I will stop in somewhere to pick up a cordelette, or a stuff sack, or…
What’s Better: Watching Or Doing?
byAs the USA Pro Cycling Challenge was working its way around Colorado and into the Front Range in August, I saw this Facebook status…
The Rise And Fall Of Macaroni And Cheese
bySometimes I like to fantasize that I have some sort of backcountry suaveness and culinary instinct, and that I will someday take a special…
You Don’t Really Need To ‘Get Away’
byEver fantasized about being a fire lookout, or living in a cabin high in the mountains, or deep in the wilderness somewhere? It’s romantic,…
A Guest Appearance On The Enormocast
byI’ve been a fan of Chris Kalous’ still fairly-new and incredibly rad podcast, The Enormocast, ever since my friend Josh gushed about the interview…
Is Mountaineering Sexy?
byI think there’s nothing that feels more rad than picking your way up a ridgeline, trailing a rope, pulling your hood over your helmet…
What Is ‘Trail Magic’?
byMy friend Jesse was about five miles east of Dighton, Kansas, a little over 200 miles from the start of his 500-mile bike ride…
New: Pre-Stickered Water Bottles, $29.99
byStaying hydrated is important. Perhaps equally important is subtly communicating your identity by decorating your favorite water bottle with the proper stickers to project…
The Things That Make Us
byIn the weeks leading up to my wedding in 2007, my hair was a little long for my parents’ taste. I stood fast against…
Girly Girls And Manly Men
byIn a conversation a few weeks ago, a climber friend of mine described herself as “not super-girly.” Her expanded definition of that was: I…
Rappelling: Have More Fun
byClimbing is fun. But at the top of a route, everybody gets all serious. Which is good, because lots of accidents happen while rappelling….
The Importance Of Big Dreams
byI have a copy of this children’s book that I take everywhere I go. It’s called An Awesome Book, and everyone I know who’s…
Tough Mudder Is Ridiculous. But So Is …
byYou have to crawl through 50 feet of mud. You have to jump over a flaming car. You have to slither under electric wires…
Dude, It’s OK To Hug Your Bro
byGet over here. Come on in and let the big bear get his paws on you. Sometimes men are afraid to hug each other,…
In Defense Of Denver
byA handful of Saturday mornings, I have driven out of Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood juggling a bowl of granola on my lap, trying to…
Review: My Running Shoes
byI picked up these sweet-ass rigs after I finally wore out my last pair of trail running shoes after 2 ½ years (the tread…
The Rules For Dating A Dirtbag
byIt’s a singular feeling when you’re 33 and talking to your mother and she says, “You know what I think you should try? Match.com.”…
Why Road Trips Are Still Important
byI asked my friend Nick to drive from Denver to Seattle with me a couple weekends ago, since we hadn’t spent several hours alone…