Guest Blog Post #4: Dr. Haney on Getting Outdoors

Kaiser Permanente is the title sponsor of the 2012 Centennial Celebration Event Series and Kaiser Permanente physician Dr. Sean Haney will be sharing his thoughts as an official CMC guest blogger this year about the outdoors, medicine, wellness, and whatever else inspires him.

With fall definitely here, we are reminded of the fact that we live in a state with four seasons.  Coming from California, I grew up in a place with two seasons, one wet and one dry season.  Of course, there is some temperature variation but large parts of that state do not have anything like the seasonal variation that Colorado does.  The seasons in this great state offer unique and varied recreational opportunities for us “locals” and anyone who wants to come here.

Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you need to do is….. get up, get out and enjoy this great state! Blessed as we are with the geography and climate of this state, we have a plethora of recreational activities available to us.  Let’s consider a short list: hiking, skiing, (including snowboarding, cross country) rafting, biking, climbing, snowshoeing, etc. It goes without saying that these sports are not specific to a single season, e.g. spring skiing.  We have pretty easy access here to a ton of recreational activities.

Recreational activities offer many benefits, both tangible and intangible.  The benefits of recreational activities include: 1) they are really fun, 2) help maintain a healthy weight, 3) maintain and promote balanced mental health, and 4) are a great help to our economy.  In fact, they are a very important part of the economy of this state.  

Recreational activities help generate a lot of economic activity.  The ski industry alone generated over $2.6 billion in economic activity to this state.   That is a lot of jobs and tax revenue that supports a wide variety of essential government functions.  It is not just for skiing, folks also come to our parks to hike and climb 14’ers.    We benefit economically as well as through the aforementioned ways from our many Colorado recreational opportunities.

So, perhaps we need to savior the moments when we are having fun outdoors and remember to support programs and initiatives to keep them vibrant and sustainable. Oh, we should also thank that tourist for dropping some money into our economy and make sure they taste a Colorado craft beer (in moderation, of course).

Donny Roth - Come Join Our Bash!

Donny Roth

I am honored to be the host for the Colorado Mountain Club’s Backcountry Bash happening the evening of November 3^rd.  This is the 20^th Anniversary of the Bash, and will be a celebration equal to the excitement of the soon-to-come winter.  I am inviting you to spend an evening with a group of people passionate about human-powered skiing.  Come for the gear give-aways, the auctions, the films, the food and beer, but most of all come ready to party with four hundred passionate skiers!

The Bash is a fund-raiser for the club’s Backcountry Snowsports Initiative, which is dedicated to protect winter recreation opportunities for those whom pursue human-powered activities.  In short, they help protect the places we play!  This is our opportunity to give back to our favorite playgrounds.  Your bids and donations directly benefit your winter – don’t be shy!

Your role doesn’t end at the Bash however.  This winter, just as we’ve invited you to come party and play with a group of like-minded skiers, I hope you’ll invite someone new to the party and to the playground.  If we really want to protect our favorite places, we need to bring more people into them in a quiet, respectful manner.  I know this can be in opposition of the tendency to protect our powder stashes.  I am not asking anyone to give away his or her favorite tree line.  I am asking you to share your passion.  Share your energy.  Share the sport.  

You don’t have to wait until the powder’s deep.  Start this November 3^rd at the Bash!  Bring your stoke, your cash, and as many friends as possible!  Let’s start the season in grand style.  See you there. Get your tickets at www.cmc.org/bash today!

Cheers!

Donny

Donny Roth is passionate about sharing the human-powered ski experience, which is he does feverishly throughout the year.  He invites you to check out his website, www.independent-descents.com, and hopes you’ll cross tracks soon.  

2012 Group Annual Dinner Time of Year!

With fall and winter approaching, the Four F's come to mind: Family, Friends, Festivities and perhaps my favorite-Food!

This month and next, the Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, El Pueblo, and Pikes Peak Groups have exciting guest speakers, diverse topics, and delicious food at this year's annual dinners. And the public is welcome to join all CMC members, so bring a friend to join the CMC family for food and festivities! Here's a sampling of what each dinner will offer. Visit www.cmc.org for more information.

Aspen Group

Aspen's Annual Winter Banquet. We will gather on the top floor of the Mountain Chalet at 5:30p.m. for drinks and appetizers followed by adelicious buffet dinner.  

Date and time:  Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 5:30 pm.

Where: Mountain Chalet-top floor, 333 East Durant Avenue, Aspen, Colorado 81611

Cost: $37-includes a drink, appetizers, delicious buffet dinner as well as dessert.  Price includes gratuity. Additional beverages will be available for purchase.

Tickets:  Please (1) call Carol Kurt at 925-6648 or email Carol at aspencomtclub@gmail.com to reserve a place and (2) then send your check made out to CMC-Aspen to Greg Rydell, POB 446, Woody Creek, Co. 81656.  Limit 80. 

Deadline: Must receive check by December 11, 2012. 

Additional info:  If there is space available at the door, the price will be $40.  We will have our famous CMC hats with solar powered lights available.  These make great presents and help us fund our activities.

Boulder Group

Boulder native and iconic rock climber Roger Briggs will talk about his evolution as a climber and conservationist using a selection of photos and DVD clips accumulated over the years. Roger was a central figure in the “free and clean” climbing movement in Boulder with an impressive list of first free ascents of famous routes. Having first climbed the Diamond in 1967 at age 16, he went on to pioneer numerous alpine 5.12 routes on Longs Peak. As founder and Chair of the Boulder Climbing Community, Roger has recently turned his attentions to issues of sustainability of our local climbing areas.

Date and time:  Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 6 pm

Where: Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Road, Boulder

Cost: $10 for both members and nonmembers

Tickets:  www.cmc.org/boulder

Deadline: November 2nd

Additional info:  Please send us your photos to share during the Annual Dinner slideshow which will run during the social and dinner hours. Send photos to dinnerpics@cmcboulder.org. For more information, see the flyer.

Denver Group

This year’s speaker at the 100th Denver Group Annual Dinner is none other then acclaimed adventurer, speaker and author Jeff Evans.  Jeff will tell us how he started his adventures as a “dirtbag” climber only to achieve acclaim by pulling off what most thought was impossible in the mountaineering world: leading blind climber Erik Weihenmayer to the summit of Mount Everest and beyond.  Jeff and Erik then went on to climb other peaks with other disabled climbers as well as taking an amazing 2nd place in ABC’s Expedition Impossible.

Date and time:  Sunday, November 11, 2012  at 5 pm

Where: The Historic Mile High Station @ 2027 West Colfax

Cost:  $35 (September 1-October 8)
$40 (October 9-October 31)
$45 (November 1-November 9)

Tickets:  Members purchase tickets HERE
Nonmembers purchase tickets HERE 

Deadline: Save $$ by Making Reservations before October 9th. No reservations taken after November 7th.
Additional info: Choose your entree from one of the following:

• Parmesan Crusted Chicken served with a spicy tomato nage
• Choke Cherry Gastrique Beef Medallions
• Carmelized Onion & Heirloom Tomato Tart with a wild arugula salad and saba

Fort Collins Group

Laura Pritchett will discuss her book Great Colorado Bear Stories. Her talk will include a slideshow that covers bears in Colorado -- such as grizzlies, the last grizzly, the most famous grizzly, Enos Mills’ work to protect grizzly, current black bear research and stories, and a small call-to-action to get
people to camp and live responsibly. She will have books to sign before and after her presentation. be signing and selling her book, Great Colorado Bear Stories. After our dinner, before the talk, we will take time to vote for the Fort Collins Group Council members for the coming year. At this time we also will recognize Fort Collins CMC members who have made special efforts on behalf of our Group.

Date and time:  Saturday, November 10, 2012 at 6 pm

Where: Northside Aztlan Community Center 112 East Willow, Fort Collins, CO

Cost:  Early Bird Deadline ($30 per person) - Postmark by October 27th
Final Deadline ($35 per person) - Postmark by November 5th

Tickets: Please view the flyer and send the last page in with your payment

Deadline: Postmarked by November 5th
Additional info:  Buffet Meal Menu: Appetizer (Spanish cheeses, cured meats, olives, and roasted red peppers), salad (mixed greens with a light balsamic dressing, tricolor peppers, feta, olives, and focaccia croutons), entrée (traditional paella – saffron flavored rice combined with garlic, onions, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, and optionally chicken), dessert (apple crisp). Beverages included: coffee, tea, iced tea, ice water. Remember: Price includes tax and gratuity.

El Pueblo Group 

The El Pueblo Group’s Annual Potluck Dinner will be held on November 2, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall at Ascension Episcopal Church, at 18^th and Grand Ave., Pueblo, CO.  Bring your favorite dish and join us for fun and frivolity!  Bring a friend.  There is no charge and no reservations are necessary.  Prospective members are encouraged to attend.

Date and time:  Friday, November 2, 2012 at 6:30 pm

Where: Ascension Episcopal Church, at 18^th and Grand Ave., Pueblo, CO

Cost:  FREE

Tickets: Just show up!

Deadline: None
Additional Info: Bring a dish to share

Pikes Peak Group 

You’re invited to spend an evening with Steve Gladbach who will be giving a presentation on “Colorado Mountaineering - A Climber's Spiritual Journey”. Steve Gladbach is a Kansas City native who moved to Colorado 28 years ago as a young high school teacher. He credits a fortuitous encounter with Gudy Gaskill, the first female president of the CMC, with a life-changing spiritual journey that causes him to seek serenity in the rugged Colorado backcountry. Door prizes for lucky members. 

Date and time:  Saturday, November 3, 2012at 6 pm

Where: Warehouse Restaurant (I25 and Hwy 24 - 24 W. Cimarron)

Cost:  $22

Tickets:Members and Nonmembers can register HERE

Deadline: October 26, 2012
Additional Info: Please choose an entree with your ticket purchase. Please call Christie Lee with additional questions: 719-635-2336

Shining Mountains Group

YOU'RE IN FOR A RIVETING EVENING! The annual diner will be at the famous 1914 historical CRAGS serving an elegant, sumptuous buffet dinner. An International Cuisine - Chicken Marsala, Spanakorizo Elegant sweet Grain Rice savored with delicate vegetables sautéed seasonings in olive oil, Medley of Seasonal Vegetables, Tossed Garden Salad Fantasie, Fresh Baked Artisan Rustique Sourdough Bread, Triple Chocolate Delectable Cake topped with Ganach and fresh Whipped Creme, Coffee, Tea, Decaf and much more.

The intriguing and provocative program, "Why Too Much Of A Good Thing Can Be Bad For Mountains: Nitrogen Pollution and Alpine Ecosystem Responses" - "Nitrogen Pollution Already Changing Rocky Mountain National Park". The engaging, informative Guest Speaker: Dr. William Bowman, Director, Mountain Research Station, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Univ. of Colorado, Boulder.

$19.00 includes elegant dinner, tax gratuity, and all evening's events.  For details, reservations, camping, lodge accommodations, etc. contact Madeline Framson (970) 586-6623

Additional Note!  Madeline will be 90 in November.  We will be celebrating her birthday with a cake and card at the annual diner.  We will have the card available early and circulating for all to sign.  Hope to see you there! 

 

2012 Backcountry Bash - Get Your Tickets Now!

There are a lot of reasons why you should attend the 20th Annual CMC Backcountry Bash on November 3 in Golden.  Great food, drinks and prizes all with admission.  Fabulous auction items.  The camaraderie of an evening of fun with fellow backcountry wintersports enthusiasts.  Distraction from the election in three days. 

For me, the most compelling reason to attend the Backcountry Bash is to build community around our wintertime sports and support CMC's wintertime recreation advocacy program - the Backcountry Snowsports Initiative, or simply BSI.  Formed four years ago by merging with the Backcountry Snowsports Alliance, the BSI is a leading Colorado voice for human-powered recreational opportunities in the winter backcountry.  Whether you are a snowshoer, cross-county skier, telemarker or winter hiker, BSI seeks to educate and protect our recreation opportunities.  BSI is involved in dialog with forest land managers, winter motorsports clubs and other stakeholders to create opportunities for collaborative solutions, and to defend traditionally quiet use areas.

This year's Bash promises to be the best yet.  We are pleased to announce that Boulder pro-skier Donny Roth, featured in films like last year's Bash feature Solitaire, will be hosting.  We are excited to feature films from Winter Wildlands Alliance 2012 Backcountry Film Festival, food by Chipotle Mexican Grill, drinks by Avery Brewing and others, the traditional silent auction, a live auction of hut stays and much more!

The Backcountry Bash is on November 3 at 5:30 PM at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden, CO.  Purchase tickets at the CMC website.