For many years my roommates and I had passes to Ski Cooper, near Leadville, Colorado. Cooper is one of the smallest ski areas in Colorado, but it’s extremely family friendly. The lifts are slower, the runs are shorter, and it’s generally a more relaxing atmosphere than larger resorts.

After we married, Angie and I decided to take advantage of the Liberty Pass offered by Vail resorts. This special pass for military members offers unlimited skiing at Keystone and Arapahoe Basin for less than half of a full price season pass. I had been to Keystone and other large resorts before, so I knew what to expect. That year we hit Keystone 5 or 6 times, including one multi-day trip when we stayed in Silverthorne. We also boarded a day or two up at A-Basin, which is a really great place but has become very crowded over the past few years. Overall though, we didn’t really care for Keystone as much as other resorts, and couldn’t handle the crowds up the road at A-Basin.

Last year we bit the bullet and bought the full price Colorado Pass which included Breckenridge, A-Basin, and Keystone. We only went to Breck since we’re not big fans of the other two any more. The pass is pretty pricey (I think we paid $450 each), but if you get enough days in it can be worth it. What we realized about halfway through the season is that we really don’t like crowds. Since we can usually only hit the slopes on weekends, and we like to sleep in a little, by the time we arrive on a Saturday morning, the entire resort is usually packed.

In addition to the lift lines and crowded slopes, we really don’t like being so far from our FJ Cruiser. We like to go back to the FJ at lunch time for a sandwich, some great tunes, and a little relaxation. That’s very difficult to do at a large resort. At Breck, that entails taking a gondola, and usually a bus to get to a large parking lot and finally back to the car. It’s really not worth it. What ends up happening is that we’re stuck eating an overpriced chicken sandwich at a VERY crowded mountainside venue. In addition to our passes, we were dropping another $60-70 every time we went (gas, parking, food, etc). Our snowboarding hobby got expensive very quickly.

That’s not to say that we didn’t enjoy ourselves. The snow is usually pretty good, and the runs are nice and long. For great terrain and lots of variety, Breckenridge is hard to beat. Also, on the rare occasion that we were able to hit the slopes during the week, the resort was generally pretty quiet. With the large crowds removed, some of the other drawbacks are easily overlooked. I highly recommend a larger resort like Breck for those coming to Colorado on vacation.

This year, since Angie isn’t able to board, I chose to grab a military pass at Monarch again. The smaller resort with far less people is much better for my tastes, especially on the weekend. I’ve been able to get to the slopes very early in the morning and get some great turns before any lift lines form. Looking forward, with the new addition to our family on the way, I think we’ll be sticking with either Monarch or Ski Cooper for the foreseeable future. I don’t like the thought of teaching our little one to ski/board on a crowded resort mountain.

What are your thoughts on large resorts versus smaller ski areas? Do you prefer the ultra fast lifts and multi-mountain terrain, or smaller areas that are more cost effective and convenient? We’d love to hear about your favorite small ski areas, next season is just around the corner and we’re looking for places to check out!

My fitness activities range from light days at the gym to hard core circuit courses. I usually prefer to get my cardio workouts on the trails in and around Colorado Springs, usually with a few pounds of gear strapped to my back. Unfortunately I don’t always have time to get out for cardio, so I have to rely on what the local fitness center has to offer. While stair climbers, elliptical machines, and stationary bikes all work fine for cardio, I know that the best workout in a short time is running. The problem is, I REALLY don’t like running.

I’ve had to run for time pretty regularly since I joined Civil Air Patrol over 20 years ago, and I’ve never liked it. When I first joined the Air Force, my run times were average at best, I’ve never been a fast runner. As I’ve aged, I’ve developed minor knee irritations that have required a brace on occasion, which has definitely slowed my run times. While I still meet the standards for the AF, I’ve really felt that I’ve been held back a little.

Last year a friend of mine posted on Facebook about a not-so-new running ‘shoe’ called the Vibram Five Fingers. The premise of the Five Fingers is to mimic running barefoot, since barefoot running is much more efficient and safe than even the best running shoe. The philosophy is that humans have been running for thousands of years, yet running shoes have only been around for a few decades. The Five Fingers is basically a glove for your foot; each toe has its own pocket to go in. This logic made a lot of sense to me, so I decided to try a pair out.

I called around to all the stores in Colorado Springs and only found one that sells the Five Fingers, our trusty locally owned Mountain Chalet. When I went down to try on a pair of Five Fingers, I was lucky enough to be helped by a salesperson that’s been a fan of them for years. She gave me a quick run down of the options and I decided that the KSO would be the best fit for me.

When I first pulled the size 41 KSO Five Fingers out and tried to put them on, I immediately realized there was a learning curve here. I’m not kidding when I say it took a good 10 minutes to get that first shoe on. Even though the Five Fingers uses a more precise sizing scheme, everyone’s foot is a little different. In fact, I’ve been told that some people may not be able to find a size that fits them well. The key to learning how to wear these shoes is figuring out how to ‘work’ your toes into the pockets. The second shoe only took 5 minutes, and now I can don the Five Fingers nearly as quickly as any other shoe.

Let’s talk about results. While I can’t guarantee that everyone will respond well to the Five Fingers, if my results are typical, most people will see fairly immediate benefits. There is, however, a re-training period of a couple of weeks to get used to running more efficiently. While the specifics are beyond the scope of this article (see below for some great resources), suffice it to say that when you learn to run without slamming your heel into the ground, you’re going to be much more efficient.

My run times (for the 1.5 mile fitness test that I’m required to take) have dropped by an average of 30 seconds over the last few months. Beyond that, while I’m still not a HUGE fan of running (you won’t see me in any marathons), with the Five Fingers I almost look forward to it. What’s more, I’ve not had to wear a knee brace at all since I’ve been using these shoes. Since running is more efficient and less jarring, the impact is less intense and my knees are very thankful for that. In fact, there have been times that my knees have hurt (from wearing dress shoes at work) when I began running, but stop hurting after running for a few minutes in the Five Fingers. I’m not sure if this is typical, but it sure has me sold! I’m considering buying a set of KSO Treks for light hiking this summer. I’ll let you know how that works out.

When it comes to indoor training for any type of adventure, good cardio is a must. I’ve become a huge fan of the Vibram Five Fingers and the barefoot running philosophy in general, it really makes sense. If you’re looking to increase your running efficiency and decrease the impact, head down to your local outfitter and try on a set of Five Fingers.

RESOURCES
Vibram Five Fingers KSO – Mens  (Buy)
A great resource for barefoot running.
A Harvard study on barefoot running
Great video showing the benefits of barefoot running.
A Barefoot running blog

1. I really am 13 years old in this tape, even though I look 10
2. To this day I’m not much of a swimmer, but in 1989 I could’ve been called ‘afraid’ of the water. Rafting & canoeing was a big step for me.
3. I don’t wear stupid things on my head anymore.

So without further comment, I present “The Wilderness – 1989”

1989 Wilderness Adventure in West Virginia from Shane Williams on Vimeo.

Wow…that wasn’t too bad, was it?

Here I am 20 years later, and the love for adventure that was born so long ago is alive and well. While life (house, job, responsibilities) sometimes has to come before the adventures I so badly want to take, I still manage to get outside pretty often. I’m blessed with a wife who loves the outdoors as much as I do, and I can’t wait to start teaching our son about how amazing the world can be. During the next few months things will be kind of slow, but by the end of this year I have no doubt that the entire Williams family will be exploring the outdoors once again.

I managed to get up to Monarch Ski Area on Saturday the 2nd for my first snowboarding trip of ’10.  It was a solo affair, since Angie is unable to board this year with our child on the way. I had checked several of my iPhone Ski Report apps before leaving an read that Monarch only got 1″ of powder the previous night. Luckily snow was in the forecast for Saturday, so I was hoping for a smaller than usual crowd for New Years weekend & plenty of room to stretch.

I left Colorado Springs dark & early, a good hour before sunrise so that I could get to Monarch by the time they opened at 9am. By the time I got to the parking lot it was already 1/3 full, so I still had a short trek to the lift. I spend most of my time at Monarch on the Advanced & intermediate only lift (Breeze Way), and that early in the morning there was virtually no one in line.

My first few runs were very nearly first tracks. There were a few riders here & there, but for the most part I was all alone. The wind & snow in my face, burning down some of my favorite (albeit short) runs in Colorado, carving wide & fast; that’s what winter is all about.

The great thing about living in Colorado is that it truly is an area for all seasons. From backpacking in August (See the Raggeds Wilderness) to 4×4 trails all summer and snow fun in the winter, there’s always something to do and I’m NEVER bored.

Now if I can only figure out a way to get paid for it!

Waiting out the rain

At Adventure Insider, we really look for adventures that are (to use a cliché) off the beaten path. We don’t want to cover the same trips that every other publication and website cover, and we really like our solitude.

Summer in the Raggeds Wilderness

This past summer, this desire led us to the Raggeds Wilderness, near Crested Butte, Colorado. There are literally hundreds of great places in Colorado for a multi-day backpacking trip, but what intrigued us about the Raggeds is that there is not much written about the area. In fact, we had a little difficulty finding which trails would meet our collective skill level (intermediate), and provide the great escape we really love.

Both of those requests were answered with the route we chose. Starting from just outside the Erickson Springs  campground (38.954157°,-107.270606°), we headed up the Dark Canyon Trail (#830). Our plan was to try to make our base camp near the beginning of Oh Be Joyful Pass trail on Silver Basin Trail (#836). Unfortunately there had been quite a bit of rain (and a few good showers that first day), so our first 6 miles were pretty slow going. By the time we got to our first big ascent “Devlis Stairway” (38.949329°,-107.192316°) the ground was muddy, sloppy, and almost impassible. Once we got up this ascent the sun was already starting to fade, so we decided to call it a night.

Heading up the trail

The next morning was much drier, so before long we were at the intersection of the Dark Canyon trail & the Silver Basin Trail. We were planning to head up silver basin trail to our base camp at the bottom of Oh Be Joyful Pass (OBJ) trail. Fortunately we picked up the Trails Illustrated map (Kebler Pass/Paonia Reservoir #133) that pointed out the fact that our original base camp was no where near water, so we decided to continue up Oh Be Joyful Pass trail to find a good spot.

Heading up the trail

Not far along the OBJ trail is a good size ridge with a great overlook to the valley below. We decided this would make a great stopping point (Base Camp: 38.937108°,-107.142046°) for the night since we needed to get some video & photos for reviews on several products (see MH Helion Tent Review & Therm-A-Rest Neo Air Review).  Although we didn’t make it, if you have the time I highly recommend you summit Oh Be Joyful pass (38.939714°,-107.115604°).

What a great view!

The next morning was a little rough for us. I was having some minor issues with my knees, and my two companions (Erick & Ed) had just previously spent 5 days in Glacier National Park. So since we had all the video & photos needed for our reviews, we decided to head down a day early. We expected to reach our vehicle (about 8 miles downhill) early in the afternoon, so we could make it to Gunnison for a nice steak dinner that night.

Views to the west

The downhill part of our trip went pretty quickly, but there were plenty of great views on the way down. The last 3-4 miles are very popular for those with horses, so watch your step. After getting back to the car, it was a short 20 minute ride to retrieve the FJ at the north parking area, and then back through Crested Butte to Gunnison for steaks and beer.

How to get there

To hike this trip from North to South (as we did) take CR-12 north from Crested Butte (you can also get to CR-12 from the north off of CO-133). You can also hike from south to north, which is less steep than our route.

Permits/Regulations

No permits are required to hike in the Raggeds Wilderness. Review all wilderness regulations for restrictions.

Outfitters

Gunnison is the closest town with several backpacking / outdoors shops. You’ll be able to find anything forgotten or missing there. Expect to pay a small premium for goods purchased in a mountain town.

Summary

This is a great trip to get away from the loads of people in many of Colorado’s back country areas during peak season.  You’ll experience several types of terrain that can be challenging at times. We’re looking forward to exploring this area again in the future.

Quick Info

Location: Raggeds Wilderness, Colorado, USA (Info)
Permits: None required.
Distance: 18mi (But several trails offer shorter/longer routes)
Difficulty (1-10): Our route was intermediate (5-6)
Maps: Kebler Pass/Paonia Reservoir Trails Illustrated #133. (Buy) Download Google Earth KML

On our trek through the Raggeds Wilderness in August, these pants performed quite well. They are fairly water resistant, and dried very quickly when they did get wet. The built in drawcord cuffs helped keep the rocks & mud out of my boots since I wasn’t wearing gaiters. The convertible feature is quick & easy to use, the zipper never got stuck at all. It would be helpful if there were some identifying marks on the pant bottoms, since I tried to zip the wrong side on nearly every time.

So far the pants have worn pretty well, but they only have about 50 miles on them so far. The seams are holding just fine, despite the snug fit. The pockets are just right, and managed to hold all of my electronics & other necessities great on the trail. One issue I did notice is that the built-in belt does not hold very well. I had to tighten the slip-through buckle at nearly every stop.

These are a great pair of pants for light backpacking in fair weather. They’re not insulated so I won’t be using them for winter trekking, but they’ve worked well all summer. Since they run a little small, if you’re on the high end of a size, consider getting the next size up.

Quick Review

Design:

• Canyon™ Cloth, Lined with Micro-Chamois

Weight:

• 14oz / 392g

Retail:

• $74.95 (buy)

Why It’s Hot:

• Easily convertible
• Dry quickly
• Perfect pockets

Why It’s Not:

• Sizing a little small
• Belt slips

This shirt features a wicking anti-microbial fabric that’s very fast drying. This means less time for the sweat to soak in, and less odor. On our Raggeds Adventure, hiking to nearly 11,000 feet really put this shirt to the test. I’m glad to say that after three days of sweat & dirt, this shirt was still acceptable in a local restaurant in Gunnison.

Another great feature of this shirt is that the bottom seams are rotated toward the front, so your pack stays more comfortable. They’re also flat knitted, which is less likely to dig in to your skin. The fabric is pick-resistant, so even after quite a bit of off-trail trekking there were very few snags and the shirt held up great.

Quick Review

Design:

• 100% Polyester

Weight:

• 5oz / 154g

Retail:

• $44.95 (buy)

Why It’s Hot:

• Anti-Microbial (low odor)
• Well placed seams
• Durable

Why It’s Not:

• A little pricey for a T-Shirt

Toyota trucks climbing some fins

For those interested in off road and 4-wheel driving, the ‘must see’ destination is Moab, UT. Moab is known around the world as the center of the 4×4 universe, mainly due to it’s fair weather and ‘slickrock’ trails. For our first ever trip to Moab, we made the 7 hour journey from Colorado for the annual Cruise Moab event.

Cruise Moab is a Toyota-only event sponsored by the Rising Sun 4 Wheel Drive club out of Denver, CO. They’re part of the Toyota-Land Cruiser Association (TLCA), a nationwide Toyota 4×4 club. This years’ event featured over 100 Toyota 4×4 trucks, nearly 400 people, and plenty of vendors selling everything from roof racks to suspension lifts.

We managed to run two trails with the Cruise Moab group, and then set out for one on our own the last day. While there are dozens of off road trails in the Moab area, we opted to go with two of the most scenic trails for our group runs.

Narrow & steep on Elephant Hill

About 90 minutes south of Moab is Canyonlands National Park, and Elephant Hill trail. If you’re looking for a moderate trail with amazing views – this is the one to try. It will take a slightly modified vehicle (a lift and larger tires are helpful) in some sections, and a fair bit of driver skill is necessary. If you’re not new to off road driving, you should have no problem navigating the obstacles on this 17 mile trail. There is one section that requires you to back down (and then back up on the way out), so make sure you have a good spotter and take your time. Toward the end of the loop you’ll have an opportunity to hike out to an area that overlooks the Colorado River. You’ll want to plan to be on the trail for the entire day, so bring plenty of food and extra water. One other important note: while pets are allowed in the park, due to the sensitive soil they are not permitted on back country and 4×4 roads, so leave them at home for this trip.

Perhaps the most famous trail in Moab is Fins N’ Things. This easy to moderate trail gets its name due to the large rock fins that you spend most of your time driving on. This is the classic ‘slickrock’ that Moab is famous for, and Fins N’ Things has plenty of it. There are two different legs of the trail, totaling about 10 miles of trail driving. While this trail is fairly easy for experienced off road drivers, you’ll still want to make sure you have a good spotter for some of the sections. A rear differential locker is needed for some of the obstacles, but there is usually a bypass.

When you’re not on a trail in Moab, there’s still plenty to do. There are several micro-breweries in town, and many of the restaurants are top-notch. We really enjoyed the burgers and brew at the Moab Brewery, on South Main St. They feature eight types of beer, so you’re sure to find one that suits you.
For breakfast, our favorite place was the Jailhouse Café. It’s so named because it’s actually housed in the original Moab jail house. The food is excellent, but the prices are a little on the steep side.

La Sal Mountains

There are literally dozens of places to stay in Moab. If you’re ready for a regular room after a day on the trail, you have a choice of nearly every hotel chain somewhere along main street. For campers, there are a couple of really great campgrounds to choose from. The main Cruise Moab event was held at the Slickrock Campground, which is very large has plenty of trees. We opted to stay at the Moab Rim Campark, just south of downtown Moab. We were able to get a cabin that included 1 queen bed, 2 bunkbeds, a kitchenette, and a small bathroom. The best part was that Moab Rim allows pets, so our two medium sized dogs felt right at home.

If you’re in to off road driving and haven’t been, you’ll want to make plans to get out to Moab. The trails and scenery are world class, and there are plenty of fun activities to keep the entire family entertained. If you like the group feel, check out Cruise Moab, Easter Jeep Safari, or any of the other events held annually. Of course you can always just gather your friends for a self-guided tour of slickrock country. Either way, you’re sure to have an amazing time in Moab.

First annual FJ summit

Wow pretty much sums it up. The First Annual FJ Summit was held in Ouray, CO last July. It all started when several people from a FJ Cruiser Forums website started brainstorming about a meeting of FJ Cruiser owners nationwide. It wasn’t too long before everyone voted on the location for this first event, and Ouray was chosen.

Why Ouray? Well, if you haven’t been there you don’t know what you’re missing. The ‘Switzerland of America‘ is a beautiful small town in southwestern Colorado surrounded by the San Juan mountains. What makes Ouray so special to the off road community is the trails. Hundreds of miles of the most scenic, breathtaking, and awe inspiring off road trails in the country. This is not just a visitor guide bullet, the beauty can’t be described with just words.

Getting There

My wife, Angie & I met Kent & John (from London, Ontario, Canada), and our friend Stan & family (from Highlands Ranch, CO) for the drive up.
This is my Quick Info Box Content
Welcome!
We took the scenic route through the mountains from Colorado Springs. We first headed out US-24, over Wilkerson Pass and down to beautiful Buena Vista & the Collegiate Peaks area. From there, we proceeded over Monarch Pass, past Gunnison and the Blue Mesa reservoir (the largest body of water in Colorado). Finally, we headed south from near Cimmaron, and over Owl Creek Pass. Once we reached US-550, we turned south and headed into Ouray.

The Alpine Loop

First annual FJ summit

For the first day of the trip, we decided to do Alpine Loop, which is rated a 3-4 (out of 10) in difficulty, and is quite long. There were a total of 8 rigs in our group and we were the last group to leave that morning.

The Alpine Loop (which consists of Engineer & Cinnamon Passes) is truly amazing. The first few miles of the Engineer Pass trail are the most difficult and give this trail it’s rating of a 4, so this area can be challenging for those new to off roading. After cresting Engineer Pass, the trail is easier and the pace picked up some. Near the top of the pass there is a great pull off that’s an overlook of the entire range. At over 13,000 feet, this spot is one of the most amazing views you’ll find in the Rocky Mountains. Be careful though: the altitude can really start to have negative effects for those not used to it.

Cinnamon Pass is a much easier ride than Engineer; we saw quite a few passenger cars & mini-vans on this leg. The summit is over 12,000 feet and nearly as impressive as Engineer. Although the Alpine Loop is extremely long, it’s well worth the time you’ll spend.

Imogene Pass

On Saturday morning, we headed out at about 9am with a group of 8. Destination: Imogene Pass.

After the quick drive up toward Yankee Boy Basin, we made the left onto the Imogene Pass trail. We were immediately greeted with an optional water crossing. We plowed through 24″ of water without skipping a beat. The first half of Imogene was a BLAST! There were plenty of decent rocks, water crossings, and puddles to keep us entertained. The views were magnificent as well, this area of Colorado almost cannot be described.

Due to Kent’s unfortunate issues with altitude, I was asked to drive his truck down to Telluride so we could get him to medical attention. We moved down the mountain pretty quickly, so we didn’t get many photos of our descent. We arrived in Telluride a little after 3pm where Kent got treatment for his altitude problems. He was feeling much better by the next day.

Last Day In Ouray

At about 9am, we arrived at the parking lot where a group photo was planned. We ended up in the 3rd to last row, so our FJ didn’t stand out much in the crowd. Still it was a very cool experience. Almost 200 FJ Cruiser’s in one photo – very neat. The photo came out pretty good I think.

We invited Stan & Mike to run with us up to Yankee Boy Basin, since we didn’t make it up the day before. It turned out to be not that exciting, mostly because of the crowd of people all around. There were rental Jeeps, Subarus, and other all wheel drive vehicles everywhere. Everyone was busy snapping as many tourist photos as they could. That kind of crowd can make the scenery not so scenic.

First annual FJ summit

So, since we didn’t spend any time at Yankee Boy, we decided to hit the first half of Imogene again. With the water crossings, water falls, and fun rocks, we wanted to make sure Stan & Mike got the chance to check it out. We made it up to the cabin area of Imogene pretty quickly, got a group photo, and headed back down to Ouray.

It was lunch time, so we strolled down main street in Ouray & ended up at the Gold Belt Bar & Grill for a quick bite. We all ordered & decided to eat outside since it was such a wonderful day. The food was decent, and a reasonable price. Not fine dining, but a good quick lunch. After lunch we aired up & headed north out of town.

A Great Time

The First Annual FJ Summit was a HUGE success. Everyone had a great time and our outstanding Toyota FJ Cruisers got a good workout.

Ouray, Colorado is one of the most scenic and adventure-filled towns in the Western U.S. If you’ve been there: GO BACK, if you haven’t: MAKE PLANS. Keep in mind that the summer is a very busy time of year, so make your travel plans far in advance. Also remember that in addition to the FJ Summit, there are Jeep Jamborees and several other large events held in Ouray every year. You’ll want to know what’s happening in Ouray during your visit. Check the Ouray Event Calendar to find out more.

While our trip focused on off-roading, there are plenty of other activities including Hiking, Mountain Biking, and Mine Tours. In the winter months, you can observe or try out the world famous Ouray Ice Climbing Park, or head up into the mountains on cross-country skis or snowshoes.

Where to stay?

When we’re in Ouray, we always stay at the Box Canyon Lodge. They have fair rates, clean rooms, and excellent service. We also really enjoy their 2-4 person authentic wood barrel hot springs. If rooms are not available at the Box Canyon, there are plenty of other hotels available.

Outfitters

If you don’t own a 4wd vehicle, you can still experience the off road trails in the Ouray area. There are several Jeep Rental services. We recommend Switzerland of America Jeep Rentals. They have excellent service, very good vehicles, and reasonable rates. If you’re not inclined to drive a 4×4, consider taking an off-road tour.