Five Great Things From Outdoor Retailer Winter Market

Outdoor Research. Debuting our shiny new booth.

The Outdoor Retailer Tradeshow. A reunion of summer camp proportions for folks in all arenas of the outdoor world; suppliers, non-profits, guides and athletes, manufacturers, retailers, PR folks, sales reps, writers, and event organizers interested in all things that relate in every way to skiing, climbing, hiking, running, fishing, yadda yadda. Its the twice yearly opportunity to debut everything shiny and new: innovations to rock our adventure worlds, colors that will make their mark on our future closet palettes, expressions of artistic celebration for the places and adventures we love... The "#ORSHOW" is a four day extravaganza of meetings, education, selling, way too much coffee and way too little sleep.  Each show reveals something that, despite the long hours and sensory overload, sticks in my mind long after the last stretch of red carpet has been rolled up and the final crate of mannequins has been packed away. From the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2012 show, here are my top 5 things of 9 (the other four are coming later):

1. The OIWC's Breakfast and Awards Presentation. Powerful words from award winners Karen T'King (Pioneering Woman Award) and Liz Stahura (First Ascent Award), their presenters, Steph Davis and Julia Day and sponsor presenters, Audrey Hicks and Maile Buker were enough to fill the inspiration and motivation buckets, but the bucket filling didnt stop there. To be in a room so jam packed full of strong, motivated, and active women and men who together all support gender equality in the workplace was incredible. Moments like this feel like progress and hope grows for better opportunities for all of us in the future. Karen hit it spot on commenting, "Whether we succeed through rebellion or nurturing, well, that's probably best saved for cocktail conversation". I'd have to say its a little of both, and we could use more of both.

2. Hugs. Lots of hugs. Squeezy ones. Tall ones. Short Ones. The kind that sway back and forth. Ones accompanied by giggles. Some that smell of shampoo, clean laundry, or dawn patrol. Hugs that lift you off your feet. Ones that ooze friendship and love. They are good. All of them. Every single one is unique. Every single one feels wonderful. And if you are in any sort of hug deficit, the tradeshow is the ideal place to fill up your reserves. The show can be tough. Nonstop meetings start at 7am, followed by dinners that revolve around work and then post dinner events that end late that are also mostly about work. Coffee is one way to get through it all. But the real secret? Hugs. Nothing refills my stores of happy and energy faster or better than all the hugs. This is the absolute best part of the show, hands down. More, please.

Gelato. A great lunch option. Just bring a friend. 

3. Men With Appetites. Now, don't get the wrong idea. I like food, but alas, my food shelves fill quickly. Even my ice cream shelf. Sigh. Its such a shame to waste tasty morsels of culinary goodness, especially a two-egg-with-bacon breakfast. Luckily, in this industry heavily weighted towards the male gender, its pretty much an absolute that meals will be had with men who double as skiers, alpinists, ice climbers, etc. and who require copious amounts of food to sustain their fuel stores for those sports. Its so great because I can order whatever I want. They order what they want, (and maybe they even order an extra waffle for the table - awesome). I eat a little of what I order, grab a bite of what they have - sharing is caring! - and then leave the rest for them to consume in preparation for whatever adventure they've planned next. Its great. Very rarely does a plate get cleared that isn't fully cleaned of the last crumb even though I dont have to do the cleaning.

4. You too can be a save-the-world scientist. Before an unfortunate experience with a chemistry class in college, I entertained the idea of being a park ranger, veterinarian, or environmental biologist. Alas, it was both my first and last chemistry class. Luckily, Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation can provide me or you the opportunity to contribute to scientific research that effects the places we love to play and the species who inhabit those places even if we dont have the letters P, H, and D at the end of our names. The organization is built on the brilliant idea of providing opportunities for the average hiker, climber, and bird watcher to tap into their inner field researcher by collecting samples while out hiking/climbing/calling to birds. The samples are provided to researchers matched with the hiker/climber/birder who are doing specific studies and need an inexpensive way to gather data. Not that I ever really need an excuse to get out there, but the idea of my adventures having a value beyond my own personal satisfaction and enjoyment makes it all that more meaningful.

Yes, please.

5. Boots. They are the one girly impulse I cant help. Ariat Boots sprung into my life a couple years ago at the show. Speed walking from one corner of the convention center to another, I was stopped dead in my tracks by beautiful creations of leather, wood, rubber, and color. Holy smokes, sister, brother. Since, the Little Green House has acquired two pairs, and I'm not ashamed to admit a third pair are now on their way to join the party. The most comfortable post-climbing footwear and the only things that didn't make my feet hurt standing day after day at the show. Their upcoming fall selection is no exception, with gorgeous new styles to satiate your inner cowgirl, city girl, English countryside girl, or climber girl. Call this a shameless product plug, but you'll probably also call me to dish how much your feet love you after you get a pair.

Where the Streets Have No Pavement: A Colorado Retrospective

Right. Take note.

Flying from Denver to Montrose, there was no sudden lightening bolt realization. It was simply understood from the get-go. This is a place like no other. The tarmac and flat plains east of Denver fell away to ridges, rock faces, sharp peaks, and rippling black-green trees as we ascended higher into the sky. The dual explosion of me out of my seat and amazed expletives from my mouth were unavoidable when the Black Canyon drifted by my window. WHAT IS THAT!?! I was so dazzled with the spectacle below, I hardly had time to freak out about the teeny plane I was trapped in or whether or not this visually non-aerodynamic beast would be able to land on the frozen ground. The thought did cross my mind that I was happy I wore my biggest belt buckle and pink cowboy boots.

The 38th state in our fine country, Colorado shares borders with 7 other states. Seven! (an amazing thing for a Seattleite who’s state borders only 2). While none are marked with any natural boundaries, the 104,000+ square miles of its territory are pretty jam packed with natural wonders. Like the San Juans. The view of which is infectious and enhanced even more with a full moon while I’m soaking in a 104degree outdoor hot springs nestled at the base of 12,000’+ peaks. But as I mentioned above, the natural treasures of the Centennial State really were no surprise. However here are 6 unexpected fascinating wonders I discovered in Colorado mountain towns that you wont find anywhere else, maybe. (or maybe you will, how do I know?)

1. Tornado shelters in the airports.

Dirt road.

WHAT?! I’m equipped with an avi beacon, a SPOT, a sharp knife for cutting stuck rope, prusiks or fending off wild bears, breathable, wicking, insulating clothing, a large thermos and various other outdoor mountain sport accouterments. I’m not prepared for tornadoes and hope to be near an airport if one strikes since the clear signage in the airports will direct me where to go. Otherwise I’ll be that ridiculous person you read about in the paper running down the street with her arms flailing above her head who gets picked up over here and dropped over there when one strikes. I did not know Colorado was tornado territory.

2. Night time driving speeds.

I know about Montana’s “suggested” speed limits. I’ve experienced the Hawaiian tendency to drive 10-15mph below posted limits. But different speeds for the night time on black signs with white sparkly, reflective writing? Elk, bear, and rabbit can be heard rejoicing from curve to sketchy curve of the Million Dollar Highway. Which brings me to...

Honesty policy. Order the NY Times and
it just shows up in this bin. And
no one will snitch it. 

3. The Million Dollar Highway

Connecting Ouray and Silverton, US HWY 550 is one of the most beautiful and terrifyingly white-knuckle stretches of highway that runs past Bear, Battleship, and Sultan Peaks not to mention over Red Mountain Pass. Drive it some day, you’ll be happy you did and will come away with pics your friends will drool over. If you happen to drive it with a local ski guide, you’ll also come away with a list of potential descents that may take a lifetime to tick off. I don’t know if its so dangerous because of the potential avalanche hazards (56 avi paths in 25 miles) or if its because the views are so gorgeous, you’re liable to get distracted ogling and photographing them and in the process drive right off the road plunging into the gorge below. Its wise to go as a passenger in the car of an experienced MDH driver.

4. Bruises. You cant avoid them, so toughen up, buddy.

While yes, this part of Colorado includes some pretty classic Western towns, you probably wont get into a bar fight unless you’re a real jerk and deserve it. Everyone here is so nice they’re more likely than to help you keep to your feet while walking on an icy sidewalk after last call. However, the name of the game here includes ice, snow, dirt, or rock. And its steep, anyway you take your play. If I didn’t come home with bruises that are just as purple and yellow a week after acquiring them, I would consider this a very unsuccessful trip. Shins, knees, thighs, arms - even the fingers on my right hand are swollen and bruised from accidentally punching the ice while desperately looking for a solid stick.

Everyone has chainsaw bears

Everything out there is extreme and requires commitment: elevation, sustained difficulty of ice/rock/ski route, swiftness of changing weather, heartiness of fellow adventure partners, effort of heart to pump blood fast enough. From the moment you step out the door, your faced with endless options. The hardest part of your day will be picking which activity to do first.

5. Dirt roads. One block off of main street.

I’ve been on plenty of dirt roads. Most hikes and many approach trails are found at the end of dirt roads. A few of my favorite hot springs require bumpy dirt road travel to get to the soaking. In most of the mountain towns I’ve been in, the dirt starts about 5 miles out of town. But dusty, gravelly, mixed-with-ice dirt roads on either side of Main Street aka the highway? That is new. Being in a town with only one paved road and the rest au natural felt like a step into some entirely new, stress-free, back-to-nature-ish alternate world. I liked it. Pavement didnt matter, it was all about the mountains, about the play, about sitting down to have a conversation with the one other person occupying the coffee house, bar, or chocolate shop. My kind of place.

Historic "trash" left from mining days.

6. Hot springs.

I admit, I’ve been spoiled. The mountain towns I’ve spent a lot of time in happen to be in Idaho and they have great, convenient access to hot springs. Quite honestly, I didnt think other places existed that are as great as those Idaho mountain towns. Was I ever wrong. Not only did these Colorado towns have spectacular mountains and access to them, they also had superb hot springs worthy of a day or two of total laziness. You really wouldn’t even need a day. Go play from sunrise til you burn out and then they are so dang close to town, you can spend the afternoon soaking without much effort. How to get there? Turn off Main Street onto that dirt road, walk about 10 steps and BAM! you’re there. Easy like a Sunday morning.

Perhaps I should’ve kept knowledge of these 6 wonders to myself. Why the whole world doesn’t live in a town like Ouray, Silverton or Ridgeway is a mystery (of course, I dont live there either so who am I to talk). But the kindness of the locals, beauty a stone’s throw from the back porch, and access to every kind of amazing outdoor playground made it awfully tough to head home.

Eleven Lessons from '11

Yes.

The results of my unofficial, undocumented, and totally unscientific poll report that twenty-eleven was a tough year for a lot of folks and is one not worth repeating. Not to sound completely depressing, I certainly had moments of incredible fun and time with friends and family that I wouldn't trade for anything, my sides still ache from laughing so hard over scrabble games and funny dogs and ridiculous mishaps. Opportunities abounded to learn through those good parts and all that muck and yuck too. 


While looking forward to 2012 feels good and right, here is a little review of what I figured out throughout the last twelve months.

* Its not failure if you haven't stopped trying. The expiration date might have come and passed but everything lasts longer than the blue numbers stamped on the package (you can sometimes even rub that stamp until it disappears completely and then just write in a new date in the old one's place!). Trust me on this, I've only ever had really bad food poisoning once and it was from a brand new container of tofu, and really, thats not all that surprising from gelatinous soy and doesn't prove anything about anything. I had one big goal 2011 that I didn't reach. There were a few moments of frustration over being so far from where I wanted to be, but if I had pushed it, I may not have had opportunities for unexpectedly incredible times with great friends. Those were not to be missed and neither are the plans I still have for things like climbing. So I think I'll write in that new expiration date and just conveniently forget to leave off the year. Maybe 2012 is the year of the big-for-me-climbs and maybe its not, but here's looking at you, 5.9.

If I dont fly, I wont get to see mountains from this viewpoint

* Spend time with the parents and ask them for a story. They are fascinating, wonderful people who have spent the last twenty or thirty years listening to the stories of their offspring. But in those last twenty or thirty years they've done quite a lot of story-worthy stuff themselves. And its pretty awesome having the chance to hear those tales.

* Graffiti is a fascinating universal language. Spain, Iceland, Tennessee, Seattle - all fairly different places, all home to awesome street art. Museums can be specatcular but sometimes taking the time to stroll random, unfamiliar roads provides the best art show imaginable. Dont forget to look up.

* No matter how toasty the day is and how refreshing that dirty river looks do NOT soak hot feet in a contaminated river. Never, ever.

Icelandic Art

* It is ok to let the tears fall when others are around (what is this, rocket science? you ask. apparently so, since this one has taken 33 years to figure out). It is ok to lay on the floor in the fetal position alongside a very full glass of red wine and a bowl of peanut m&m's while friends move around to brew tea, bring pints of ice cream, make laughter through tears and hand over the roll of TP when those tears and the accompanying snot are just too proliferous. This is the recipe for Heal Your Heart soup.

* Fried pickles are as good as everyone says. Sweet tea? Not so much.

* Dogs dont care about the water temperature. So take a bubble bath BEFORE washing the stinky dog. Its hard to wash off soapy bubbles with freezing cold water.

Desperation makes random
food a great snack surprise

*  Sometimes wonderful things are lost, and we wont ever get over them. It's ok. In fact, don't recover, just don't do it! Because when you don't get over it, you wont have a chance to forget, and all those times you think of what you lost gives you an opportunity to think back on a great memory and then to smile, maybe even chuckle to yourself a little too loud until the guy across the train looks up and over at you because you just couldn't contain it. And those smiles and chuckles are good things. So think of what you lost, think of them a lot. Think and smile and keep that smile on your face because its beautiful and radiates goodness to everyone you meet, everyone you pass by and say hello to and it radiates back inside of you, too. It'll light you up, that memory and that smile. So keep it on. Even if sometimes its watered down with a few tears that fall into your vanilla ice cream.

That's it. That's all. Not much of a story, in fact this really isnt a story at all, just some ramblings from the last year before jumping with two feet into this year. Wishing a good 2012 all around with plenty of moments for creating great stories.