colorado-fourteeners

Staying Safe On Colorado’s Fourteeners

Hank Shell It was a dry and frost-hewn August morning when I rose in the dark to snatch my roommate’s blender from the kitchen counter, absconding with it to the basement where I could floor that little motor with impunity – I had a pretty serious breakfast smoothie habit at the time. Still do. The

Trails to Visit This Summer

10 Trails to Visit This Summer

By: Hank Shell Here are a few of our favorite trails to visit this summer: 1) Titcomb Basin Location: Pinedale, WY Distance: 27.9 miles Difficulty: Strenuous   Approaching Wyoming’s Wind River Range from the south is my favorite route of arrival. The range rises without warning from the state’s flat expanse of high southern plains,

Simplifying Your Life In the Backcountry

8 Steps to Simplifying Your Life – In the Backcountry

When I was young, I was part of an adventure outing group in western North Carolina – kind of like Boy Scouts, but less formal, more oriented toward outdoor sports, and void of any religious components. We’d hike, climb and paddle all over the country, just a rag-tag group of granola eating kids and a

fly fishing

Best New Fly Fishing Gear of 2017

Hank Shell It’s springtime here in the Rockies. Temperatures are rising and rivers are swelling with runoff. Soon, the waters will recede, insects will begin to hatch, and anglers from across the country will wade into Colorado’s many streams to fool a few fish. We often think of spring as a time of rejuvenation, and

The Best Hiking Boots of 2017

Hank Shell The days are getting longer, the sun is shining brighter, and it’s time to get out and hit some trails. Spring is one of my favorite times to get out and put down some mileage on area trails. Of course, winter can leave your footwear looking a little less than dapper. If you’re

backcountry skiing

A Weekend in Colorado’s San Juan Backcountry

Hank Shell As it turns out, it’s not very easy to ski while carrying two large paper bags full of food for your hut trip. I was well on my way to figuring this out as I stepped into my skis at the base of Lift 4 at Telluride Ski Resort. “You want a trash

backcountry ski touring

Get in Shape for Backcountry Ski Touring

Hank Shell It’s been a particularly dismal couple of weeks here in Telluride, as far as skiing goes. Truth be told, the town has seen more rain than snow. The snow, when it has fallen, has been heavy and wet at lower elevations – more typical of maritime precipitation than the “blower” powder Colorado is

Get Off The Groomed Trail With Backcountry Snowmobiling

Hank Shell When it comes to backcountry skiing, there is no luxury so sinful as a snowmobile. A long journey skinning through deep snow becomes a swift jaunt through swirling landscapes. The rasping wind hard against your face is no longer solely in the realm of the descent. I was at work in Mountain Village,

Stay Fit with Elk Hunting in the Colorado Rockies

Hank Shell Fall in Colorado’s Southern San Juan Range is a fickle and tempestuous season. The landscape undergoes a metamorphosis of color as the truncated days and cool nights set the once green collars of the mountains ablaze with orange leaves. Hoar frost supplants the morning dew on Alpine meadows of sedge and hairgrass, and the first