“This is going to be a little crazy.” explains Patrick, as he leaps over the gap on the summit of Green Mountain. “I’m tapering, so I’m trying not to hurt myself.” he mentions after performing his quite magnificent leap. Stoked to meet a fellow mountain runner with a sense for fun and adventure!  Read More

Meet “Buddy Boulder,” the mascot proving that even the gleaming citizens of Boulder sometimes make bad decisions. Or eerie ones at the very least. How was this grinning stone created? Well, in 1984 the Boulder Hotel and Motel Association had a “Mascot Mania” event whereby people were allowed to submit mascot ideas for the city of Boulder. The winners received cash prizes. You would think money would be incentive to create something inviting and recognizable. Sure, Buddy has the Flatirons on his head, but we just can’t stop looking at his cold, shifty, doll eyes. The... Read More

Boulder is known as one of America’s best bike-friendly cities, and with good reason. There are tons of paths for both road cycling as well as mountain biking, so there’s really something for everyone in Boulder. It can be hard to choose a good path, however, due to the sheer amount of options available. Luckily, in this particular blog post, I’ll point out a few of Boulder’s best bike routes. Boulder Creek Path Boulder Creek Path is one of Boulder’s most well-known walking and biking areas. Its 5.5 miles of beautiful scenery make it a very aesthetic ride, and its... Read More

Flagstaff is one of the those hikes that the locals know and is popular with tourists, so if you haven’t checked out Flagstaff, you must put it on the list as one of the trails to do before summer ends! Like many of Boulder’s hiking trails, Flagstaff offers a variety of options for hikers; unlike some of the other nearby trails, the summit can also be reached by road which I have heard is a popular date night spot for its incredible views of the city, the Continental Divide, Indian Peaks Wilderness, and Rocky Mountain National Park. Also, if you have the time, be sure to check out Flagstaff... Read More

Mt. Sanitas has always been one of my favorite hiking areas. I grew up near the Goat Trail, which is an alternative path that some people use to access Sanitas, but I decided to use the more widely-used trailhead on Mapleton Avenue when I went to visit last week. Sanitas is a gorgeous mountain. It’s the crème de la crème. It has sprawling grassy fields and jagged mountain peaks- all in one place! On one path, you can choose to go along the easygoing field trail, which requires little to no effort. Alternatively, there is also the steep incline up to the top of Mt. Sanitas, which requires... Read More

When the days get cold, it’s hard not to turn your attention to the weather. And when it comes to fall and winter that means snow. Come on: more than a few of us live in Colorado for that very reason. Where there’s snow, of course, there’s skiing, snowboarding, and a host of other activities. That probably brings to mind the big Summit County resorts—your Beavercreeks and Breckenridges and Keystones. Closer to town, there’s the always scrappy Eldora; while their snow tends not to be as deep, their territory not as expansive as the mega resorts, they make up for it in coziness. And better... Read More

One of the most popular hiking trails in Boulder is Mount Sanitas, and like many hiking areas, Mount Sanitas gives hikers options for creating the perfect hike. It also, like many other local hiking trails is only a few minutes out of town, but gives one the illusion that he/she is out in the wilderness far away from city life. Because of the trail’s popularity, one will most likely encounter other hikers, making Sanitas a great option for those new to solo hiking. Here are some options when hiking Sanitas: The Loop – This is the most difficult of the options for it involves a steep ascent... Read More

You will learn how Boulder’s iconic Flatirons formed. Turns out, Boulder was once beachfront property. The Flatirons are Boulder’s favorite portion of the Fountain Formation, a geological formation of mostly red sandstone. This sandstone, more appropriately called “arkose” gets its color from the pinkish feldspar contained it it. This red rock makes up the Red Rocks of Morrison and the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. The Fountain Formation stretches from Colorado Springs all the way to Wyoming. The reddish color is due to the concentration of feldspar in the sandstone,... Read More

There’s something intensely satisfying about speeding down a snowy hill on a piece of oversized plastic. You call up your friends, scavenge some sleds from the garage, encase yourself in snow clothes, and embark on your journey towards an incredible sledding hill. Sometimes, however, it’s hard to find the right sledding hill. Much like Goldilocks in The Story of Three Bears, certain sledding hills are too short. Or maybe they’re not steep enough. Maybe they’re even too steep. That’s why I’ve organized a list of the very best sledding hills of Boulder,... Read More

Imagine, getting back from a long day in Denver. It’s cold, it’s dark, and there’s some minor evening traffic. Then, you ascend the final hill towards Boulder, and you’re greeted by the bright shape of a star on the mountains. That’s the moment I wait for every November. During Veteran’s Day last week, the star began its annual winter residency in Boulder. The star is an important symbol, and no Boulder winter is complete without the giant glowing shape on Flagstaff Mountain. It provides a little extra light in a season when days are shorter and nights... Read More

Jeff’s favorite smoothie is filled with every kind of berry he can find in his kitchen. His most recent smoothie included strawberries, bananas, blueberries, raspberries, kale, spinach, chia seeds, and peanut butter. As a recent transplant from Minnesota, this dude is passionate about getting out there and talking to everybody we meet on the trail…for at least 10 minutes. We chatted to this one guy who is hiking the TMB (Trail du Mont Blanc) next month and another guy who flies glider planes in Colombia. Jeff can be seen hiking or running at Chautauqua or even climbing up the flatirons.  Read More

The hike of the week, which I dubbed The Chautauqua-Gregory Canyon loop is one of the best long hikes for the experienced hiker to enjoy in solitude, or for friends to have private conversation and share a picnic. Around 4.5 miles, the loop is a low key hike with some downhill and uphill, as well as a couple creek crossings, and a ladder. Along most of the Gregory Canyon trail you will enjoy the soothing sound of the creek and green foliage, and as you loop back on Saddle Rock and E.M. Greenman you will see awe-inspiring views of the city below. When on Saddle Rock, prepare yourself for using the... Read More

Being in nature no matter what, is an enjoyable experience for most people, but having the right items with you when you hike can make or break your outdoor experience. Here are the basic essential items every hiker should have with them. Water – Always bring more than enough water. The amount of water that you take will depend on the length of hike you plan to take and the amount of time it will take you to complete your hike. From personal experience, I would suggest a liter of water as the minimum of water to take, and would recommend for those who are serious hikers to invest in a backpack... Read More

photo credit: Josh Hummel “My fastest time on this loop is 50 minutes,” proclaims Chase, an avid mountain biker in Boulder. He loves to time himself on the Walker Ranch loop which a 7 mile loop involving sections of the trail in which you must carry your bike. When I ran into Chase, he was carrying his bike over his shoulder up a section of rock stairs comparable to 2 flights of stairs. Chase has a great attitude towards being outside. We even proposed a friendly mountain biker vs trail runner race in the near future on this loop.  Read More

  For those of you who are already part of the Boulder mountain bike community, it may seem crazy that many people don’t know about the many opportunities for mountain biking around Boulder.  When I first came to CU, I had no idea there was a collegiate mountain bike team.  Of course I knew there was a team for road riding, but since all I ever read or saw in pictures was about the road team, I didn’t even think to look at CU Cycling’s website to see what other disciplines they participate in.  It wasn’t until the beginning of my second year that I happened to see... Read More

                        1.  Time First let me say that I enjoy skiing as much as the next guy, but we live in Boulder not Breckenridge.  To get up to the mountains it will take at least an hour and a half, and that’s with no traffic and dry roads.  Realistically it’s more like two to two and a half hours of driving time.  Thats four to five hours of sitting in the car round trip.  I come from a big city and I can’t stand traffic.  To me five hours of skiing is just not worth five hours of sitting in traffic.   2.... Read More

Symbols are an interesting phenomenon when you stop to think about them. And they’re everywhere. A road sign with the silhouette of children on a seesaw is a symbol, not warning of recreational equipment but of kids at play. Bills and coins are symbols of value, the tangible representation of economics. They take the form of icons, as well: a bluish bird for Twitter, a Polaroid-like camera for Instagram, and so on. Symbols evoke companies, stand-in for purchasing power, even encapsulate “slow down, drivers, kids are unpredictable and around the corner” in an instant. Simple or complex, they... Read More

Keith didn’t think he was going to make it to the summit of the flatirons. He’s from Pennsylvania, but made the trip out to Boulder so he could visit a friend. Keith was worried that hiking mountains that are already a mile high would prove to be difficult. He was especially worried about getting altitude sickness and suffering through horrible headaches – which have been a problem for him in the past. After hearing stories from friends and family that have visited, he was expecting to be out of breath and in need of oxygen almost immediately. But, on the contrary, he found it much easier... Read More

Hiking is a popular activity around the world. It’s a great way to get exercise while enjoying spectacular views, natural scenery, and observing wildlife. The incredibly beautiful country of New Zealand offers a huge selection of outstanding hiking trails. Before starting out on any hike, always ensure you are prepared. Hiking boots are essential, along with several layers of appropriate clothing and a hat. Take plenty of drinking water, emergency food supplies and a medical kit. Don’t forget that your skin can lose a lot of vital moisture during long hikes, so always bring a good moisturiser... Read More

Cannabis and hiking are a great pair. You get to enjoy being in nature while also consuming a bit of it. The age-old stereotype that cannabis users are lazy is still being debunked. Hikers who consume cannabis are a great example of active stoners. We aren’t inside on the couch. We’re outside on the trail, and we’re not alone. In fact, there are a few organizations putting together cannabis friendly group hikes. Check out the top three cannabis hiking groups below and find out how to join along on one of their cannabis friendly adventures. CannaVenture CannaVenture is first on our list.... Read More