Camping helps us refresh our mind and soul. There’s nothing better than seeing the wilderness wake up as the sun lights up the sky! Camping requires some preparation to keep you warm, safe, and healthy. If you are planning a camping trip this year, keep in mind these essential health and safety tips. Assess your fitness level.  If you are planning a particularly strenuous trip, make sure you are fit enough to withstand the strain of the journey. You may want to consider working with a fitness professional before you go on a particularly strenuous trip, especially if you aren’t physically active... Read More

Ah the Grand Canyon. One of America’s best and most beautiful features. And lucky us Boulderites, it is only a 10 hour drive from here! If you leave at 6 am, you’ll be there in time to find the perfect spot to watch the sunset on the canyon. That’s what I did anyways, a couple weeks ago. And it was rough and also a bit colder there than here, but amazing. It’s a great time of year to go; the crowds are at their lowest according to the Visitor Center rangers. I was still amazed at how many people were there, almost as many as Chautauqua on a sunny, warm afternoon.  But it... Read More

Planning a camping trip requires thought and preparation.  After ticking off the items on your gear checklist, take some time to think about some other important checklist items before you pitch your tent. Taking Fido? If you are taking your dog on a camping trip, don’t forget these things to make the trip safe and healthy for him. Dog first aid kit. Just like you, your dog may have a minor emergency. Consider butterfly bandages, tweezers and a muzzle. Make sure your dog’s tags and microchip are up to date. Know basic facts about dog first aid, like when to induce vomiting and when not to... Read More

While I love pulling up in a vehicle to a campsite and unloading right there, there’s something extra rewarding and enjoyable about backcountry camping where you have to park at a trailhead and hike your gear in. If you’ve never gone backpacking or camping in the backcountry, it can seem daunting, so we’ve made a handy guide for getting started! Pack Light While you may think you want that cozy blanket or two hardcover books to read now, once you’ve been carrying them for a few hours you’ll regret it. No matter how far you’re hiking, packing light is very important. Your pack should... Read More

Whether you are planning on sleeping in your truck to catch that first chairlift, doing some late fall or winter camping, ski touring, mountaineering, or even snow caving, picking a good winter sleeping bag can be tough. There are a ton of options, and prices, and shapes, and features. Just going to REI can be overwhelming, to say the least.  So, I am going to break down what you need to look for exactly in order of importance. 1 – Price This gets listed first because everyone has a budget when it comes to buying gear.  You should know, however, that when looking at real winter sleeping... Read More

For those looking to hike, bike, climb and fish, it is time to head past your favorite Chautauqua hike and to get deeper into the Front Range. Summer in Boulder means adventuring during the day and soaking up the campfire glow at night. For those that are lucky, over the next few months your puffy jacket will be drenched in a smoky smell and your Subaru will have a thin layer of mud on the floorboards. Boulder sits in the gateway to the Rockies and within an hour drive there are countless camping locations, climbing hideaways, and world class hikes. Gross Reservoir is about an hour outside of Boulder... Read More

That’s right, the snow is finally mostly melted and even hiking novices can venture up those rocky monsters we can see miles and miles away from the Front Range. (Well, I guess you can’t see them from Boulder proper, but it’s cause we’re too close- which is all the better). Fourteener season can be super short. You never know how early that first massive snow storm is going to hit. The fourteeners are mostly all open all year, however sometimes the roads will be closed. Snow and ice are a constant for most of the year and require more gear (crampons, snowshoes, water proof... Read More

You know what I love? Camping. You know what I don’t love as much? Paying as much as I would for a hotel room for a night! Luckily, there are plenty of free campsites in and around the front range, and we’ve compiled some for you to get you started!   West Magnolia Ridge 602-610 County Highway 132-W Nederland, Colorado GPS: 39.946961, -105.517587 Elevation: 8711′ If you can brave rough camping accessed by a currently washed-out road, you’re in for a treat. This site is near Nederland and many hiking trails with sweeping views of the forests and mountains. Pets are allowed, and... Read More

Colorado state parks will begin to slowly and methodically reopen campgrounds beginning this week, just in time for summer. “We are limiting and spacing out campgrounds. A lot of our campground won’t be more than 50% full because we want to have plenty of distance,” a Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson said. “That’s a big difference folks are going to see.” While some state parks are once again welcoming back campers, national parks remain closed to overnight guests. A timeline on when they will begin to reopen is not known. Polis said he would discuss the matter during his trip... Read More

This summer I had the opportunity to rent a 1989 FJ62 Toyota Land Cruiser from @blueoxoverland here in Denver.  Not just any Land Cruiser either as it was outfitted with everything I needed to make camp just about anywhere I wanted.  We are talking about everything from roof top tent to a cooler to 4×4 lockers on the wheels. Blue Ox Overland specializes in these rigs and has a fleet of 4 in varying colors and years but they are all FJ62s, one of the most iconic series of Land Cruisers Toyota ever made. Of all the outdoor experiences I had this year in Colorado this was by far the coolest... Read More

School may be starting in a few days, but that doesn’t mean your summer has to come to a halt. Summer doesn’t technically end until September 21st, which means you still have a month of sunny skies, and warm weather. You now just have to share some of the time in your day with classes and homework. A couple of suggestions of some fun things you can still do even when school starts are going on hikes, hanging out on pearl street, checking out live music at the Fox, Boulder theater, or Red Rocks, swimming in the creek, camping on the weekends, and dartying (day-partying) with your friends. Hiking... Read More

I am often asked if I miss having a house. My gut response is rather defensive. I have a house. It just happens to be silver, sits on wheels, and can be transported to any desired location via my car. So, the simple answer is no, I do not miss having a house. I have one. If only life were as easy as the simple answers. The more complicated (and therefore, more realistic) answer is yes, I miss having a house. And I still don’t mean the thing with four walls and windows and a door. Don’t let me fool you—I am most definitely plotting my dream homes over here (yes, plural). One is a black A-frame... Read More

One minute you’re riding a motorized bike along the Newport Pier. The sun is kissing your skin and the wind is whipping past your smiling face. The salty air is filling your nostrils and you can feel your entire body let out a sigh of pure unencumbered bliss. The next minute you’re sitting in an autobody shop listening to a mechanic tell you that you’re going to need a new car engine. Your palms get sweaty, and your eyelids flutter subconsciously. A wave of nausea passes over you as you enter into that slightly out-of-body state of being. Okay, this is not a normal day by anyone’s standards.... Read More

Get ready for the 2nd Denver NORML Summer Camp, happening July 13th – 15th! The event is presented by CannaVenture, an event planning service focused on low-cost, outdoor cannabis adventures. This year, they’ve teamed up with Marijuana Fitness Nutrition, to offer a Cannabis Bodyweight Class. I’m excited to say my wife Heather and I will be leading the class! This bodyweight class will incorporate the use of cannabis. prior to starting, in order to create a deeper focus and an improved mind body connection. Intended to jump start the day, this easy yet effective training will be perfect... Read More

If you’ve been anywhere around Boulder this weekend, you’ve seen the plume of smoke caused by the Cold Springs Fire above Nederland. This fire, caused by the mindless neglect of a campfire, has claimed 8 homes, burnt over 600 acres, and displaced almost 2,000 people so far. These numbers seem staggering, but it could have been much worse. In 2010, the Four Mile Canyon Fire destroyed upwards of 150 homes just a few miles outside of Boulder. At the time, it was the most destructive fire in Colorado history. This status would soon be overtaken by the High Park fire, Waldo Canyon Fire, and the... Read More

You don’t need a reason to celebrate with coffee but the holiday season is a great time to give the gift of coffee. Whether you’re shopping for the backpacker or the urban dweller in your life, my coffee gift guide has got you covered.   Camper’s Coffee Gift Guide: Stumptown’s Voyager Brew Kit is the perfect present for the coffee enthusiast who is also an outdoor adventurer. While pricey, it does come with a ton of supplies—a manual grinder, coffee dripper, mug, and a bag of Stumptown’s Hair Bender blend are all included in this excellent kit.   AeroPress Coffee Maker is... Read More