We all like to make resolutions after a new year. It’s a time to start anew; a beginning to a newer and better you. At least, that’s what I read in a motivational book somewhere. In reality, it’s pretty hard to follow every new years resolution you make. Regardless, it’s a good way of organizing a set of goals to achieve in the new year, which is why I’ve prepared a list of new years resolutions for wilderness adventurers.

• Learn How to Cross Country Ski

via Annie Griffiths

Cross country skiing is both great exercise and a great way to see the great outdoors during the snowy season. There are loads of cross country ski trails around Boulder, and Boulder Nordic is a great place to rent equipment.

• Take Fewer Shortcuts on Trails

via johnchaophoto.photoshelter.com

Sometimes, taking a quick shortcut can cut off a good chunk of time. Other times, taking a shortcut can get people lost. Furthermore, creating shortcuts in the wilderness creates erosion and hurts the ground-level plant life. Although shortcuts are tempting, it’s a good idea for hikers to avoid them as a whole.

• Hike Some Fourteeners

via denverpost.com

Now, I know what some people are thinking: this is the year I hike ALL the fourteeners. Well, it’s probably not. In the sake of being realistic, it might be better to set a goal for five, maybe ten fourteeners. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, “fourteener” refers to a mountain 14,000 feet above sea level, and there are many of them in Colorado (see the above picture, taken from the peak of Mt. Sneffels). Some can be quite difficult to hike, and the thin air at the tops of fourteeners provides a serious challenge. However, it’s immensely gratifying hiking one of these beasts, and hiking some of them is a great goal for the new year.

For those who want to start with an easier fourteener, I’d recommend looking at the Grays/Torreys Peaks and Mt. Elbert’s East Ridge.

• Identify Some Edible Plants

via offthegridnews.com

It may be a grueling process and it may involve eating a lot of inedible lookalikes, identifying edible plants in the wilderness is always a great skill. Whether you’re looking for a quick snack on a hike or you’re lost and starving in the wilderness, identifying edible plants can be a really useful skill.

• Always Say “Yes” When Someone Asks You to Go on a Hike

via mountainphotography.com

This is a resolution that almost everyone likes to create for themselves, but it’s really a good one. Whenever someone asks if you want to go hiking, you should say “yes.” Unless someone’s asking you to hike something dangerous or absurd, you should always go along and see what happens. A hike could be an incredible journey or it could simply be a relaxing walk, but you’ll never know unless you go.

Sam Skelton Chief Technology Officer