Trail Talk

In a world where graphics, video and pictures have gotten sharper than our eyes can perceive, one photographer dares to ask: what if we didn’t do that?Bentley Zylstra has spent the better part of the past year learning the ropes of magazine publication, to bring us Revelry Collection — now available in print by clicking here."Interview Notes0:52 — Why work in print?1:45 — Getting started in photography3:05 — Deciding to go analogue-only4:38 — On “Photographic Overkill” (earlier article referenced)5:50 — Replicating the feel of memories7:00 — The struggles of starting a magazine10:00 — Low effort filler content12:15 — Fighting for clicks in the “attention economy”15:00 — Zoom tries to censor the cover of Issue 001.16:52 — The Red Bullification of outdoor media16:20 — How to get your copy of Revelry Collection20:09 — Getting your copyIf you enjoyed the podcast, please consider sharing it. We rely on organic growth and word of mouth to find new listeners, so hitting that share button is extremely helpful.Original music for the Trail Talk podcast is produced by Ty Ellenbogen. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.quandarymagazine.com

Subscribe to Cole’s Climb for more episodes, news, and resources.Show Notes:1:15 — Hannah’s outdoor background5:00 — The basics: predicting your unpredictable weather9:00 — Seeing from the rescuer’s point of view12:15 — Surviving with the ten essentials14:00 — How you can crowd rescue16:00 — Wilderness survival skills for children23:00 — Dressing kids for hiking trips27:45 — The benefits of learning safety skills young31:00 — Why you should take your kids hiking38:00 — The enormous value in staying calmResources We Referenced:“The Ten Essentials” Packing List Start Hiking on a Budget, Layering Guide, Extra Considerations for Women8-year-old Nante Niemi has quite the survival story to share. After getting separated from his family while gathering firewood, the boy survived two cold nights alone in an area rescuers described as “rough terrain.”Rescuers found him about two miles away from his family’s campsite.The second grader says the experience won’t stop him from going camping again in the future.This kid clearly had some great coaching from his parents on what to do in an emergency. But how do you teach a child about something this serious without scaring the pants off them, dooming them to stay indoors on an iPad for the rest of their days?Hannah Gallagher is the Vice President of Lake County Search and Rescue, and mother of two young children. She’s joining me to give you a crash course in summer hiking safety — especially for parents bringing their kids into the great outdoors.This advice is also applicable to those of you who are crew leaders, or perhaps more casually bringing your friends along for their first summit.“Maybe just also have in Your back Pocket, some real Respect for what You’re Doing.”I mentioned in an extremely early essay on Cole’s Climb — too early for most of you to have even read it — that I received a sobering warning about venturing into the outdoors, early in my career: The mountains are beautiful. But they’ll kill you if you let them.Nature is so tangible, especially in places like the Rockies. But we shouldn’t confuse proximity or accessibility with ease. Hannah hits at the heart of this perception problem:“Because they’re nearby, because lots of people do them, that it doesn’t take a lot of prep. You don’t really need to worry about it. it’s pretty safe. You know. But it is the backcountry. So when people need our help, they can expect to wait hours for us to get there.”This is something I’m sure most of you know by now. But if you’re the leader of a group — or an adult responsible for a child — the respect, care, and planning you need to have become far more important. You’re not just planning for yourself. You’re planning for the group (or family) members who are less experienced, and less knowledgeable about what to bring and how to proceed.“I’d Stop and I’d Find a Tree, and I’d Scream as loud as I could.”This is the response Hannah has trained with her own kids ahead of their wilderness adventures. Maybe you found this article on a web search and don’t have time to listen to the full discussion before heading out. First off: welcome! I hope if you find this information useful, you’ll consider subscribing for more resources like it.Second: I’ve distilled Hannah’s advice into three big skills and lessons that are reasonable to go over with a young child. They aren’t liable to scare them out of enjoying their time outside, and they’re simple enough that they can be recalled in an emergency.“You start finding small chunks of things you can start repeating and drilling into their head until it’s second nature. And your hope is in a panicked moment, it would bubble to the top.”1: Staying PutOne of the most important rules of survival: when in doubt, stay put. One of the only real missteps the boy made in his ordeal, was continuing to wander. According to the reporting I’ve seen: rescuers found him more than two miles from camp, which is quite a distance for a child.He was also found in an area they had already searched, meaning he could have been rescued much earlier. Luckily, he was still okay. But the point stands.2: Develop Situational Awareness, and Sense of DirectionThis can be done by stopping on your trips often to ask your child: how did we get here? How would you get back? This doesn’t just apply in the woods. You can do this while running errands around town, too.By the way, this isn’t just a tip for children. Adults can also get a lot out of this exercise. We’ve gotten quite comfortable with constant access to GPS technology. But in a crisis in a dead zone, or with a dead battery, it pays to have a general idea of where you are.3: Dressing for Success (and Survival)Obviously as a parent to a young child, you will be the ultimate arbiter of what they wear into the great outdoors. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be involved in the process, and thinking ahead about the weather.Involving them in the packing process teaches a range of different lessons, largely dependent on their age. A younger child will start to understand the basics about regulating their own comfort. Older ones will start to grasp the importance of considering weather conditions, and eventually, the finer points of advanced layering.Bonus Point for You to ConsiderWhether you’re leading a child, or a less experienced friend, that other person is putting their trust in you. Good decision making becomes even more important. There are more scenarios that can cause things to spiral out of control for your group.“This other person will follow you someplace, even if you’re making a bad choice. And so there’s a big responsibility there for any parent who’s taking a child into the woods to think about… is this a good choice for all the people who are with me?”All of this isn’t to say you should leave the kids at home. After all, there is serious value in getting them accustomed to the outdoors from a young age. And if your end goal is to raise a child who has a profound love and respect for the outdoors, it really can’t be avoided.You just need to plan with realistic expectations for what the members of your group can accomplish, and celebrate the little wins. You may find yourself having a greater appreciation for tiny details along your journey.“We have a Mantra in our Household, where we say: "‘We can do Hard Things.’”At the end of the day, it’s not bad for your children — or your friends — to experience a little adversity. Overcoming something tough to stand on top of a mountain can be an extremely rewarding experience that builds their confidence.You have to take on extra responsibility, but when done right, you’re inspiring others to love and respect the outdoors the way you do.“It’s hard — It’s extra hard, but it’s also got this whole extra beautiful sweetness to it that maybe you wouldn’t have experienced without them along for the ride.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.quandarymagazine.com

Subscribe to Cole's ClimbTrail Talk has always been about shining light on those who are doing great things in the outdoor community.With “Colorado Gives Day,” coming up: I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to speak with a handful of groups who working to bring those positive changes, and could use your support.You don’t need to be in Colorado to contribute. And even if donating is not something you are able to do right now: the conversation offers an interesting look at the future of the outdoor community, and why the fight for conservation and access is changing.If you do feel inclined to make a contribution: you can do so at these links:* Colorado Fourteeners Initiative* Panadero Ski Corporation* Chris Anthony Youth Initiative ProjectColorado Fourteeners Initiative [1:09 — 27:55]Lloyd Athearn, Executive DirectorIf you’ve watched my documentary, The Alpine Amusement Park, you may already be familiar with CFI’s work. Since the 90’s, this organization has been tasked with the difficult duty of building up and preserving trails that were never quite meant to exist.Almost all of the 14ers were unplanned bushwhacks. The routes themselves are oftentimes steep and unstable, and originate in tiny trailhead parking lots that can no longer meet demand.Much of CFI’s work involves restoration and trail hardening.But more recently: projects are getting more complicated. Lloyd explains that future trail access will involve sorting through messy landholding issues, where some trails run across private land claims.Future projects CFI is looking at:* Mt. Elbert: both the Northeast and Black Cloud routes* Mt. Shavano: a complicated operation involving buying mining claims, possible helicopter lifts* Expanding Sustainable Trail Inventories: a program that surveys routes, foot-by-foot to help plan future restoration work* Education Initiatives: work to show the public how fragile the alpine ecosystem is, and how it can be protectedPanadero Ski Corp. [28:58 — 51:14]Will Pirkey, Board MemberDon’t let the “corp.,” fool you; this group is a 501c3 non-profit. I’ve followed their efforts closely, as they work to restore lift-served skiing to the long-abandoned Cuchara Mountain Park. In case you missed it, here’s my earlier Trail Talk episode cataloguing their work.Cuchara Mountain Park is a fascinating cause to contribute to, because as Will explains: the project is helping the community on multiple levels.The park has potential to bring tourism revenue to one of the poorest counties in Colorado. It will also provide access to recreation to a community that does not currently have it. And on the most macro level: it helps preserve the dying breed of affordable, local ski hills.Mega-passes are convenient for die-hard riders who clock dozens of days on the slopes each year. But they’ve led to a huge frontloading of costs that keep snow sports out of reach for many newcomers — particularly large families.As is the case with the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, Panadero Ski Corp. is also securing more public land. When Cuchara’s old owners abandoned the place, they kept their private property holdings. This strip of land around the base area acted as a buffer wall, keeping locals from accessing the expansive Forest Service land beyond.By purchasing that land from the county, the Cuchara Foundation (which later spawned the offshoot Panadero Ski Corp) removed that barrier to public access.Future projects Panadero is looking at:* Lift 4: the main focus remains getting lift 4 certified and operational* Expanded services: when lift-served skiing returns, a great deal of infrastructure such as ski schools and rental services will need to be built out* Bike/hiking trails: providing more year-round recreation opportunities on siteIf you are interested in contributing to these plans, you can donate by clicking the button below:Chris Anthony Youth Initiative Project [51:55— 1:12:03]Chris Anthony, Founder“The mission of the Chris Anthony Youth Initiative Project is to improve quality of life through introducing youth to educational enrichment opportunities. We do this by putting mentors in the classroom, bridging students to experiential opportunities beyond the classroom, providing financial support, and building educational tools that enhance the classroom experience.”As I have previously covered on the Base Camp News section of Cole’s Climb: Chris Anthony has actually entered into a partnership with Panadero Ski Corp., to help get more children in southern Colorado on skis.Aside from being a world-class skier and filmmaker, Colorado legend Chris Anthony also runs his “Youth Initiative Project.” This foundation works to provide children in underserved communities with the opportunity to try snow sports.While skiing is certainly front and center, the Youth Initiative Project works to bring kids other enrichment opportunities too, such as field trips and other projects. In our interview, Chris discusses one class that is working together to build their own skate park.A big function of this project helps kids find a strong purpose that can help guide them through life — an especially important goal at a time when young people in America are feeling more directionless than ever before.There are a great many charities and causes worthy of your support this holiday season. Of course — I can only highlight a select few that I believe are making a unique impact on the outdoor community.Wherever your interests lie, I do hope you will consider making some kind of charitable donation in the spirit of the holiday season.Thank you for taking time out of your day to listen, and read! If you’d like to hear more about the incredible people affecting change in the outdoor community, consider a free subscription to Cole’s Climb, to get content like this in your inbox weekly. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.quandarymagazine.com

Take the ski season survey hereNEDERLAND, CO — November 10, 2022Eldora Ski Area will open for its 60th anniversary season a full week earlier than expected: November 11th, 2022. There are significant changes this year that you’ll need to know about before driving up the canyon. I’ll break those down in just a moment.First: we’re checking in with the team that is making opening day possible — Justin Denning, with the snowmaking crew.You can listen to the full interview by clicking the play-head above. It’s pretty short, so I’m going to forgo the usual “show notes” with time stamps, and just include the pertinent info here.Justin and the rest of the team have been hard at work to secure this opening day run, highlighted in green:Repeat riders will recognize it as the pretty standard, Hornblower-into-International route. It’s a pretty solid opening day run, but it’s not one I’d recommend for beginners. If you are just starting off — honestly, wait a few weeks until more terrain is open. Things will be less hectic and stressful for you.First chair will be at Alpenglow six-pack lift, at 9:00 a.m..Parking on Powder DaysA huge change this year is coming to Eldora’s parking system. The lot has been a tight squeeze for years, with late arrivals occasionally having to wait down in Nederland to get the green light that spaces have opened up.For this season, Eldora says it has expanded its parking area by roughly 50%. There will also be a designated electric vehicle lot, with 15 charging stations.When it’s Crowded:After holding off for the past two seasons, Eldora will now start enforcing its carpool policy. On weekends and holidays:* If you’re driving by yourself, you’ll have to pay $10 extra to park.* If you’re driving with one other person, parking is free* If you’re driving with two or more other people, you get rock star parking.Parking is still free for everyone on non-weekend, non holidays, unless…During Big Dumps:…Eldora gets ten inches of snow, or more. On these days, if you come alone, you’ll be charged that extra fee. As of right now, I’m waiting to hear back from Eldora on how these fees will be collected, and when and how they will notify visitors the fee will be in effect.In fairness to Eldora: I don’t actually know how many days out of the season this will even matter. 10 inch powder dumps aren’t exactly common on the front range. Eldora is also offering free RTD and shuttle tickets on weekends, and certain other days.Preventing CrowdingAt a certain point, all ski areas can reach a level of crowding I actually consider dangerous. Different mountains are choosing to handle this in different ways; which I plan to make the topic of a future story.To do that, I need to get a better idea of how everyone gets to the mountain. If you have a moment, consider completing this quick survey:Take the ski season survey hereThank you for reading, and I’ll see you on the slopes!If you found this article useful, consider a free subscription to Cole’s Climb. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.quandarymagazine.com

14 days. 17 hours. 33 minutes.This summer, Dan Hobbs broke an unusual and difficult record that had stood for more than two decades: the fastest self-supported summit, of every Colorado 14er.The “self-supported” part of the record is important, because it means Dan crossed the finish line by himself. In addition to climbing, he had to drive between every peak, handle his own food, and somehow shoehorn in time for sleep.Interview Notes0:30 — Trail Talk turns 11:30 — How Dan started climbing5:40 — Setting sights on the self-supported record8:00 — “The Beast,” Dan’s record-breaking vehicle10:00 — Developing a dairy allergy along the trip.13:00 — The highs and lows of the trip14:45 — Advice from the previous record holder17:15 — A scary situation on the Maroon Bells traverse19:00 — Dealing with sleep deprivation20:00 — An anti-climactic finish23:30 — Climbing out of mental health issues25:45 — Entering “The God Zone”31:20 — Coming back to the real world35:35 — Finding the next challenge to tackle37:00 — Meeting the previous record-holder, Peter JonesCheck out the full trip report, and leave a comment over on Colenoble.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.quandarymagazine.com