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Humans have always had a complicated relationship with weather. Ancient cultures prayed and made offerings to gods in hopes of receiving conditions conducive to growing crops. Adverse weather, then, w…
Humans have always h…
Humans have always had a complicated relationship with weather. Ancient cultures prayed and made offerings to gods in hopes of receiving conditions conducive to growing crops. Adverse weather, then, was often interpreted as displeasure on behalf of those same beings—a punishment for failing to observe proper rituals. It doesn’t take a history scholar to understand this impulse. Weather, now as then, is both an enemy and ally. On one hand, it provides everything from the raw material for food—sunlight driving photosynthesis, wind the primary method of plants spreading their seeds—to …
Sometimes, writing about art and theater feels a lot like falling down the proverbial rabbit hole as I try to find the angle to write about wandering through a haunted-theater immersive experience, ge…
Sometimes, writing a…
Sometimes, writing about art and theater feels a lot like falling down the proverbial rabbit hole as I try to find the angle to write about wandering through a haunted-theater immersive experience, getting splashed in a Halloween horror show in the basement of a spaghetti emporium, sweating through a DIY D&D in a comic shop, savoring (har har!) Sweeney Todd’s enraged high notes, and trying to quiet my howling dog in a public house. I’ve found myself in some odd and awkward scenarios. To update the metaphor, writing this column is a lot like drunk-clicking through an endless algorithm o…
Jessie Hanson
January 8, 2020
Each day, darkness descends upon us faster and faster. Days shrink unnoticeably at first, but soon, these minutes add up until the darkness is inescapable. Daily rituals change, our skin dries and cra…
Each day, darkness d…
Each day, darkness descends upon us faster and faster. Days shrink unnoticeably at first, but soon, these minutes add up until the darkness is inescapable. Daily rituals change, our skin dries and cracks in the cold, windows close, and furnaces remain on call. Something terrifying is happening: the seasons are changing. We begin to dream of going South, somewhere untouched by this ghostly hand, a place where the sun still beats on bold rock faces and the air is alive with warmth. Though, for many of us, this is merely a fantasy, we may escape for a week or two, but in the end, we return to the…
Kelly Anderson
October 3, 2015
Hikes in the Front Range are easy, the grasslands slowly fade into open Ponderosa Pine forests, and elevation builds gradually. Slowly, a looming forest distorts the city noise, and thoughts easily dr…
Hikes in the Front R…
Hikes in the Front Range are easy, the grasslands slowly fade into open Ponderosa Pine forests, and elevation builds gradually. Slowly, a looming forest distorts the city noise, and thoughts easily drift away from the stress of everyday life. As the slopes steepen and weather becomes more temperate, the open Ponderosa pine forest fades into a mesh of Douglas Firs and large boulders shape the trails. The sound of a small creek replaces the need for a soundtrack; sunglasses are no longer necessary as ever-thickening canopy blocks the rays of the sun. Time seems to slow and tensions diffus…
Kelly Anderson
August 15, 2015
Boulder is best known for beautiful scenery, amazingly close access for everything outdoors, and of course, an extremely health conscious population. Part of the reason people flock to Boulder is for …
Boulder is best know…
Boulder is best known for beautiful scenery, amazingly close access for everything outdoors, and of course, an extremely health conscious population. Part of the reason people flock to Boulder is for the health minded, adventurous live style. To add to the ambiance of Boulder, this Sunday, August 2nd, Boulder will be hosting the Ironman 70.3. The race consists of three parts, beginning with a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and finishing with a marathon (26.2 mile) run. For the Boulder Ironman, the swimming portion will take place in the Boulder Reservoir located in far North Bould…
Kelly Anderson
August 1, 2015
When did we start running from each other, rather than running to nature? So often, when people explain their motivation for outdoor adventures it sounds something like “I wanted to get away for a b…
When did we start ru…
When did we start running from each other, rather than running to nature? So often, when people explain their motivation for outdoor adventures it sounds something like “I wanted to get away for a bit,” or “I just couldn’t sit in the office any more.” Nature has become a vehicle for escape; it has become something so different from our everyday lives that we seek its cover to hide from cell phone service, bills, and road rage. We so desperately need a break from the stress of living indoors, that the outdoors, with its un-mowed grass and sloppy edges, allows us to see another world, …
Kelly Anderson
July 25, 2015
It is summer in Colorado, this means hiking 14ers, trail running in the Front Range, and swimming in cold mountain lakes. Unfortunately, it also means afternoon storms capable of moving quickly and pr…
It is summer in Colo…
It is summer in Colorado, this means hiking 14ers, trail running in the Front Range, and swimming in cold mountain lakes. Unfortunately, it also means afternoon storms capable of moving quickly and producing hail, lightning, and rain. About two weeks ago, 15 people were injured by a lightning strike while hiking on Mount Bierstadt. Hikers that day say that the storm crept in quickly, almost unnoticed, and before they realized the extent of the danger, lightning struck, sending three individuals to the hospital and killing their dog (Villanueva, Sylte, "3 Hospitalized After Mt. Bierstadt Lightn…
Kelly Anderson
July 18, 2015
I recently returned to Boulder from a very extended road trip. During which, I spent nearly three months exploring the Western half of the United States, slept in a different spot every night, and wok…
I recently returned …
I recently returned to Boulder from a very extended road trip. During which, I spent nearly three months exploring the Western half of the United States, slept in a different spot every night, and woke up to a new place every morning. I saw each town with a fresh set of eyes, excited for whatever the days adventure may be. Each place was new and beautiful, but still, nothing beats my hometown. Having spent so long on the road taught me how to adventure, it showed me that exploring is not just a physical challenge; it is also a mental marathon. I was sad to return, sad that the novelty was over…
Kelly Anderson
July 10, 2015
Boulder is a city full of transplants. People from all over migrate to Boulder for the countless outdoor activities, the beautiful scenery, the culture focused on sustainability and healthy living, am…
Boulder is a city fu…
Boulder is a city full of transplants. People from all over migrate to Boulder for the countless outdoor activities, the beautiful scenery, the culture focused on sustainability and healthy living, among other reasons. Today I sat down with Sarah Filler: a new Boulderite, an avid climber, and setter at the world-renowned climbing gym, The Spot, to talk about living and climbing in Boulder. Where were you living before Boulder? Originally from Buffalo, NY, and I spent a short time in Salt Lake City. What inspired the move? I wanted to branch out and experi…
Kelly Anderson
June 26, 2015
It’s raining. Pretty much always. We’ve all talked about it, as climbers, we’ve all cried about it. The good news is, as Boulderites, there are always indoor options to satisfy our outdoor obses…
It’s raining. Pret…
It’s raining. Pretty much always. We’ve all talked about it, as climbers, we’ve all cried about it. The good news is, as Boulderites, there are always indoor options to satisfy our outdoor obsessions. For a city of just under 100,000 people, there are six climbing gyms all within about a mile radius of each other. Here are the details: The Spot Bouldering Gym (www.thespotgym.com) If you’re into bouldering, this is the place to go. The gym features two freestanding boulders, a cave, walls ranging from slab to about a 45-degree overhang, as well as a training area. The Spot has a …
Kelly Anderson
June 5, 2015
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