Then I found out I was going to be making the climb with 150 other people. My jaw dropped. A mountain should be a challenge, not a traffic jam. It got worse. As the lead guide debriefed us at the headquarters of Icelandic apparel company 66 North, which would be sponsoring the climb, he stressed that we would go slow. Very slow. We were going to cover fourteen miles in twelve to sixteen hours of slow. We would be tethered in rope teams of eight people. My heart dropped.

I wanted to tell the guide: I’m from freaking Boulder.  We don’t go slow. We hammer. Forget your fourteen hours of rest-stepping. I need to run up that thing as fast as possible while monitoring my heart rate using an iPhone app. And then it hit me. I was way too high strung. Luckily, I kept my mouth shut. You see, the 150 other people heading up the mountain had been training in a 66 North program all year. They had been learning how to negotiate the mountains and glaciers of their stunning country and the trip to the top of Hvannadalshnúkur was the crowning achievement.

Here in Colorado, we think we live a life in tune to the challenges of our mountains but Icelanders live on a remote Arctic island that’s the most active volcanic spot on the planet. They have eked out a living for centuries fishing the tempestuous North Atlantic and farming volcanic rock. While the rest of the world was freaking out about the ash of Eyjafjallajokull, Icelanders were going about their business despite the inevitability of another of the island’s volcanoes blowing up. It hit me that me and my Boulder attitude could learn a lot by taking the slow route to the top of this country with 150 natives.

Did I ever. Hvannadalshnúkur is a stunning peak, the 6,921-foot highpoint of a much more massive caldera. It’s an island of white above the clouds with views out to the sea. Celebrating on the top after a meditative hike up the glacier and over the caldera with the locals, I actually met an Icelandic woman who had family in Denver and one of the mountain guides told me she wanted to go to Colorado more than any place else in the world. I told her that at that moment there was no other place on the planet I would rather be standing than on the top of Hvannadalshnúkur.

I kept thinking about that experience while working on this, our climbing special issue. We get so wrapped up in achievement when it comes to climbing, in speed and difficulty and our own egos that we often forget the reason we began climbing in the first place. That is to experience a place on its own terms, whether that be free soloing an alpine route in the wild or slogging along with 150 locals. The old cliché that the journey is the destination is at the heart of climbing any peak. Now go out say Hvannadalshnúkur three times fast and climb as hard or as slow as you want.

Every sportscaster and talking head on national media was talking about Steamboat native Johnny Spillane last winter when he took home three silver medals, the first ever for the U.S., in the quirky sport of Nordic combined, which combines Nordic racing with ski jumping. That was a big change for Spillane who was just doing what you do growing up in Steamboat—ski, hit the ski jump on Howlensen, oh, and fish. Spillane guides fly fishing adventures in the summer to make some cash as he and his wife of two years prepare for their first child. And when it comes down to it, the beauty of Spillane’s success is that he is just like so many of us, A Colorado boy who likes to have fun and be outside. We caught up with him on his way down to take a group of clients bonefishing in the Bahamas.

Trophy Catch: Olympic medalist Spillane takes some time out from ski training.

The Olympics made you a household name as a skier, but you make your living as a fly fishing guide. How long have you been fly fishing?
I started so young I don’t even remember. It’s been a passion for a long time and my brother has been a guide for years. I just started guiding about two years ago with Steamboat Flyfisher. For me, it’s a fun way to make a bit of money and get away from skiing. I get to do something completely different that gets my mind away from the ski industry. I guide mostly here in Steamboat on the Elk and Yampa on both public and private water—there’s just some incredible trout fishing here all year long. We actually catch some of the biggest fish in February and March.

Does fly fishing work into your ski training in any way?
It complements it in the sense that it gives me a break. It gives me a chance to get away from skiing. Training can be stressful. It’s hard work. You can get burnt out mentally and physically. In a place like Steamboat, a lot of the same ski bums are fishing bums. Industry-wise, there really isn’t as much crossover as there should be. But you know, in Steamboat there’s great fishing and skiing. You can do both the same day. Maybe it’s my calling to bring the two sports closer together. I have been looking into creating a new foundation, one that would pass on the passion I have for getting out and taking part in outdoor activities and to help preserve habitat.

Do people on the street recognize you these days? Are you a celebrity?
It’s funny. In a community like Steamboat where they pay a lot of attention to Nordic sports, where its a big part of the history of the town, someone will say hi or congrats or tell me about their experience watching the event. The most fun is when people will tell me where they were and how much fun they had when they watched the Olympics. The town has played such a big role in supporting all its skiers, really. The winter sports club is pretty inclusive. I don’t think there’s anything like it anywhere else in the country. It’s just amazing how Steamboat nurtures competitive skiers.

You and the Nordic combined Olympic team (and your medals) toured U.S. military bases in the Middle East in the spring. What was that experience like?
We went to Bahrain, Qatar, Baghdad… We kept moving the whole time, never staying in one place for more than 24 hours. We met almost 10,000 servicemen and women. We didn’t just shake hands, sign autographs and walk away either. We spent 18 to 20 hours a day having conversations. We got to share our experience with those guys but the coolest part was that they got to share their experiences with us. I mean they just can’t compare. They have been away from home from six months to two years. We spend 200 days a year on the road. We can commiserate some but you just can’t compare their sacrifice to what we do whether you agree with why they are there or not.

The Vancouver Winter Olympics seemed to create a special buzz here in the States, especially with you guys taking home the first U.S. medals ever in Nordic combined. Have you noticed new interest in the sport? Do you think you can build on that success to grow the sport?
We hope so. Our goal is to promote our sport. We want more average Americans to learn what it is all about. In Europe, you have crowds of 20,000-50,000 people at events. I get tons of fan mail—but its mostly from Germans, Norwegians, Finns. For every 20 letters I get form Europe, I might get one from America. But now people in the U.S. seem to have an idea what this sport is about. For us, this is not once every four years. It’s every day. But if we can get people to pay just a little bit more attention, that’s fine with us. We don’t expect to get rich.

You are due to have a baby girl in September. How do you see that changing your life? Are you glad to be raising a child where you were raised, in Steamboat?
It’s going to be a whole new adventure. The cool thing about Steamboat is that it really is a community and not just another ski resort. There are a lot of cool, innovative people here and companies like Big Agnes, Honey Stinger, Smartwool. There are a lot of people excited about the outdoors and trying to make their living being outdoors. There’s just that type of attitude in town instead of a focus on nothing but big hotels. And there’s a great ski racing scene. There’s so much support in town. It’s so good to see Nordic sports grow here, so many kids picking up the sport. Really, I was pretty fortunate to grow up here and be given everything this town has to offer. I’m hoping my daughter will have even more opportunity. •

Bike and Beer
Lefthand Canyon/Upslope Brewery, Boulder, CO
For those roadies who like to train with carbohydrates this is the ultimate summer outing, park at the Upslope Brewery on Lee Hill Rd. and hop on your bike to ride up Lefthand Canyon through Ward all the way to alpine Brainard Lake. Then choose your route back down. Lefthand itself is the most obvious. The Road through Jamestown adds in a bit of dirt. Route 7 down to Lyons and back along 36 makes for an epic. Then head to the Upslope tasting room, where we suggest you try the seasonal specials and take home a few six-packs. Plus, Upslope maintains a fantastic blog. Upslopebrewing.wordpress.com

High Spirits
Mount Sneffels/Colorado Boy Brewery, Ridgway, CO
Climbing 14er Mount Sneffels offers a somewhat European experience. You can drive close enough up through the sprawling alpine bowl to the peak to make for a short approach and then challenge yourself a bit with a scramble up the 3rd class southwest ridge. San Juan Mountain Guides offers laid-back guided trips and can negotiate the 4×4 road (sanjuanmountainguides.com). These guides also like their beer, especially at Colorado Boy Pub and Brewery, the poster child for small brewery success. They even offer a course on how to start your own handcrafted brewery. Coloradoboy.com

Bourbon and Slickrock
The Ribbon/Peach Street Distillers, Palisade, CO
The only thing that can bring you down from the high of riding Grand Junction’s Ribbon Trail, a burly 7-mile singletrack adventure that takes in singletrack, drop offs and gutty climbs, is some local bourbon. Peach Street offers the only bourbon made in Colroado and the stuff is so smooth and tasty, it’s more like wine than whiskey. You can also sample the distillery’s grappa, brandy, vodka and gin. Peachstreetdistillers.com

Paonia Pinot
Mount Lamborn/Stone Cottage Cellars, Paonia, CO
Tucked up in the high country and full of artists and foodies who have escaped the confines of big cites, Paonia is a little-known wine destination. And nothing gets you primed for some wine tasting better than a mountain hike. We suggest you go big by hiking nearby 11,396-foot Mount Lamborn, with its 5,500 feet of vertical rise over the town, and then stick your nose in some grape juice. Local vineyard Stone Cottage Cellars produces a luscious pinot that even impressed the native Californians among us. stonecottagecellars.com

NOTE: We know we shouldn’t have to say this but we think we should. Don’t drink and drive. Designate a driver (perhaps the person who got hammered the most on the cruise). And we strongly suggest you relax with your native drink only after engaging in your favorite outdoor activity. •

BEST STOVE
Primus Express Spider
The contemporary answer to that classic backpacking stove, the Spider impressed with just how light it was (a scant 7 ounces) but more so, just how effectively it heated up our soup. Big Plus: Manual ignition is a slight inconvenience, but far more trustworthy than an automatic igniter that might break in the field.
$60; primuscamping.com

BEST TENT
Nemo Espri 3
This baby strikes the perfect balance between ultra-light, tipping the scales at a silly 4.5 pounds, and functionality, we like the roomier 3p, especially for two dudes. Stash your gear under the vestibule that minimizes what you carry by using trekking poles for support. Big Plus: Eco-friendly DAC tent poles.
$370; nemoequipment.com

BEST PACKS

Mountain Biking
Osprey Raptor 10
This is quite simply the perfect day-to-day pack for hitting the trails. At 10 liters, it’s compact enough for a quick spin on the neighborhood trails yet roomy enough for a full-day adventure. Big Plus: The lid latch carrier makes it easy to attach your helmet to the pack with no bouncing around.
$89; ospreypacks.com

Bring the Family
Deuter Kid Comfort III
Once you find yourself a parent, a kid carier becomes mandatory if you want your outdoor lifestly to continue. This is the best we tested, comfy and easy to adjust for you and the kid and complete with a roomy gear compartment. Big Plus: You can unsnap the child harness from the side to gently extricate a sleeping kid.
$279; deuterusa.com

Big Trips
Millet Odyssee 60+10
Here’s the big hauler you need for a wilderness trip to a remote peak when you’ll need to haul alpine gear or for a multi-day wilderness backpack (or even for bumming around Europe). Surprisingly light for such a spacious bag at just 4.6 pounds, it’s a smart simple design. Big Plus: It’s built for winter too, with ice axe and ski attachment straps.
$199; milletusa.com

Overnights
Black Diamond Infinity 50
BD put a ton of work into developing the independent hip-and shoulder-strap suspension in this pack and it shows. It’s ideal for a summit attempt or fast light backpacking, moving along with your body while you navigate talus fields or 4th class chimneys. Big Plus: Removable sleeping pad straps.
$200; blackdiamondequipment.com

BEST SHOES
Natural Hiking
Tecnica Tarantula
You have heard about natural running, well, Tecnica heads down the road of natural hiking with this shoe that features a 2/3 flat rear sole and 1/3 rolling rocker front. That makes it fast and comfy for high-adventure trail runs and backpacking trips alike—just give your mis-trained feet and ankles some break-in time. Big Plus: Snug upper sock fit. $115; tecnicausa.com

Do Anything
Salewa Firetail GTX
A combination of sticky rubber approach shoe, hiker and tail runner, the Firetail GTX is so versatile we have used it for everything from low 5th class climbs to backpacking trips to day hikes out the door. Just make peace with that Euro neon green. Big Plus: A Gore-Tex membrane is just enough to repel creek crossings.
$139; salwausa.com

GEEK OUT

dew motion quiver
Here’s a pack for your electronics. The Quiver lets you carry your iPod, iPhone etc. into the wild and keep your hands free. Operate the units with a control panel on the front. Big Plus: It’s just as useful on a city street. $80; dewmotion.com

RunKeeper.com
Our favorite new app for iPhone and Droid does much of what a fancy wrist-op computer will do, tracking your route via GPS, elevation gain, calories and allowing for computer upload and analysis back at home.

BEST BAGS

Bring a Friend
GoLite Adventure 3-season
These are fantastic synthetic 25-degree bags in their own right … but mate the zippers to create an intimate, warm two-person bag o’ love and you’re sure to want to sleep out in the wild more often. Not everything has to be shared, though, you each get your own foot space. Big Plus: Snuggle guilt-free, the bags are made with 100 percent recycled materials.
$235–$255; golite.com

Light
Sierra Designs Vapor 15
SD claims this is the lightest 15-degree bag on the market, weighing an obscene 20 ounces. We felt no downgrade in warmth when testing it during a cold spring ski mountaineering season. Big Plus: 850-fill goose down keeps it plus.
$420 sierradesigns.com

BEST GUIDE BOOK
Eldorado Canyon: A Climbing Guide
Sharp End Publshing
You think you know Eldo? Steve Levin’s brand-new guide to this Front Range slice of red rock paradise contains detalied info and photo overlays on over 1,500 routes in the canyon from multi-pitch classics to the obscure. But the history of climbing in Eldo that Levin details here may be as valuable as all that juicy route beta. Big Plus:  There’s beautiful photogrpahy by local -climber Matt Kelley.
$40; sharpendbooks.com

BEST WATCH
Suunto Elementum Terra
What do you give the dude retiring from corporate life to go become a mountaineering bum? Why a functional luxury wristwatch of course. Big Plus: A functional compass.
$899; suuntousausa.com

Rules and Regulations Package must be redeemed within 1 year of winning date. Entries must be received by mail or through the www.elevationoutdoors.com contest sign-up page by 12:00 Midnight EST on August 20, 2010. One entry per person. One winner per household. Sweepstakes open only to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 years of age or older. Void wherever prohibited by law. Families and employees of Elevation Outdoors Magazine and participating sponsors are not eligible. No liability is assumed for lost, late, incomplete, inaccurate, non-delivered or misdirected mail, or misdirected e-mail, garbled, mistranscribed, faulty or incomplete telephone transmissions, for technical hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connection, or failed, incomplete or delayed computer transmission or any human error which may occur in the receipt of processing of the entries in this Sweepstakes. By entering the sweepstakes, entrants agree that Elevation Outdoors Magazine reserve the right to contact entrants multiple times with special information and offers. Elevation Outdoors Magazine reserves the right, at their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes. Winners agree that Elevation Outdoors Magazine and participating sponsors, their subsidiaries, affiliates, agents and promotion agencies shall not be liable for injuries or losses of any kind resulting from acceptance of or use of prizes. No substitutions or redemption of cash, or transfer of prize permitted. Any taxes associated with winning any of the prizes detailed below will be paid by the winner. Winners agree to allow sponsors to use their name and pictures for purposes of promotion. Sponsors reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. All Federal, State and local laws and regulations apply. Selection of winner will be chosen at random at the Blue Ridge Outdoors office on August 21, 6:00 PM EST 2010. Winners will be contacted by the information they provided in the contest sign-up field and have 7 days to claim their prize before another winner will be picked. Odds of winning will be determined by the total number of eligible entries received.

Your rec life doesn’t have to be a wreck just because you have kids. It changes, sure. But tricks of the trade ease the learning curve to involving your kids in your outdoor endeavors. When rock climbers and other adrenaline junkies go through withdrawals, they say they need to “feed the rat.” This book shows parents how to do just that, while including the rugrats, too.. When asked about his appearance on the cover of Outside magazine along such outdoor recreation legends as Lance Armstrong, Kelly Slater and Ed Viesturs, musician Ben Harper had only this to say: “To the people who say what the #$%& is he doing on the cover of Outsidemagazine, let me just say this: I’ve got four kids. Four kids is an extreme sport, period.” It certainly is. Many of you already indulge your children’s other, more conventional active pastimes——shuttling them, as all parents do, to gymnastics, baseball, dance, soccer, football, swim lessons, tennis, piano, play dates, playgrounds, and other time-, gas- and money-consuming activities, sometimes all on the same day. Throw in the inevitable potty breaks and tantrums before, during and after, and it’s a schedule as full as your daughter’s stuffed animal shelf. Painful as all this shuttling is, keep doing it; it shows you’re on the right track toward keeping your children busy with activities. My purpose is to help you add the wonderful world of outdoor recreation into the mix. I’m no expert, exercise physiologist, or Dr. Ruth of Recreation. There are no fancy Recreating with Kids diplomas or similar recreation accreditation hanging on my walls. Just a few ribbons from my kids’ swim meets and soccer matches. I’m an average Joe Schmoe who happens to enjoy recreating outside with my kids, both for my own selfish sake and theirs. This outlook was instilled at an early age.

Don’t just take our word for it. The book is being promoted by the Outdoor Industry Foundation, which is on a mission to fight childhood obesity by getting kids outdoors. And it won the Gold Medal in the Family (Parenting/Health/Safety) category from the 2010 Living Now Book Awards, recognizing Books for Better Living.

But in the midst of tea parties and health care and immigration and a hundred other hot button issues that have things shaking in DC since Obama took office, there is one big development that has gotten little mainstream press. The bike industry is becoming a true political force. Even better, politicians are listening.

Elevating on the Kokopelli Trail

In March, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood had to stand on top of a table to be heard when he spoke at the raucous last day of the National Bike Summit. Cynics took it with a grain of salt. Previous administrations had made empty promises when it came to listening to cyclists. LaHood, however, has caught the cycling bug and he plans to make major changes at the Department of Transportation (DOT) that will translate into a better infrastructure for cyclists across the country.

“Today, I want to announce a sea change,” said LaHood on his blog (bit.ly/90xHMF) after the summit. “People across America who value bicycling should have a voice when it comes to transportation planning. This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized.”

Far from just saying the right thing, he went on to define just what he was willing to do to make a difference. “We are integrating the needs of bicyclists in federally-funded road projects,” he said. “We are discouraging transportation investments that negatively affect cyclists and pedestrians. And we are encouraging investments that go beyond the minimum requirements and provide facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.”

That’s a major change in the way the DOT thinks about infrastructure—and one that should help people beyond our little bike friendly bubble of Colorado get pedaling. Of course, some politicians have come out damning the shift in transportation thinking. “What job is going to be created by having a bike lane?” asked Ohio Republican Steven LaTourette. Iowa Republican Tom Latham claimed it took money out of the transportation trust fund and “swept aside” real transportation needs.

If they are reading this letter, I would like to invite them to come to the EO office and go for a bike ride so that we can discuss the issue, so that we could show them how a culture of cycling builds strong, thriving towns (think Denver, Boulder, Fruita, Crested Butte, Breckenridge…) . Cycling is not a partisan pastime. People of all political leanings like to ride bikes. In fact, one of the joys of it is that it makes everyone a bit of a kid again.

In this issue, we celebrate bikes. So I would also like to encourage you to get involved with the groups that continue to fight to improve cycling for all of us who love to spin on two wheels. Go to the web sites of IMBA (imba.org), Bikes Belong (bikesbelong.org), the League of American Bicyclists (bikeleague.org) and similar groups that lobby Washington for two wheels and join in. The more our voice is heard, the better it gets. And the more people on bikes the better for  our health as individuals, communities and a planet.