Freelance Writer in the Roaring Fork Valley
During the bookpacking season at Snowmass Mountain, the ski patrollers use various methods of survival to endure and survive the especially long days. Snacks, jokes, and candy abound. Pocket bacon is a particular favorite, allowing the wearer to enjoy a salty snack throughout the day while also increasing the likelihood of being the first one found by an avalanche rescue dog.
In 2021, I predict that I will forget something very important for a rafting trip. I will probably forget a lot of other important stuff, too, but I will DEFINITELY forget some piece of gear or a crucial ingredient for a meal—or my pants—on a rafting trip at least once. Odds are good that you will forget something, too.
Published as a feature in the Fall 2020 issue of Ski Patrol Magazine he morning meeting runs smoothly. Tony Cammarata, the operations director/ski patrol director at Arapahoe Basin for the last 10 years, runs through the daily assignments of duties. He then covers the pass-on topics like first aid and safety discussions. The content, the... Continue Reading →
“Water is a necessary part of the river, but it’s not the only part. To have a river, you need an ecosystem that’s free-flowing up and down its length and across its floodplain.”
Published in Elevation Outdoors Magazine, April 2020 The town of Fruita, Colorado, is known for many one-of-a-kind attractions, including the Colorado National Monument, a bunch of dinosaur bones and the Hot Tomato Restaurant. The town also happens to be a gateway to over 250 miles of beautiful, single-track mountain bike trails in the high desert. ... Continue Reading →
Publishing in the Glenwood Springs Post Independent, May 13 "Friendships, favorite haunts better than any bucket list" If you love the outdoors, it’s time to kick the bucket list and start recreating with a sense of place. Americans, with our passion for individuality and living in the moment, love the bucket list. For some, it... Continue Reading →
My young son’s proclivity for nasal probing brought to light a very metaphysical realization: Most of us are now living awkwardly in the world of Kairos.
Published in the Glenwood Springs Post Independent on March 24th. Saturday night, March 14, my husband was reading bedtime books to the kids at about 7:45 p.m. He was exhausted from another week of work, ski patrolling at Snowmass Mountain, and was enjoying some quiet snuggle time. While he was in the middle of “I... Continue Reading →
Published in the Glenwood Springs Post Independent, December, 2019 Where we choose to live our lives says a lot about us. Residents of a valley like ours are determined and independent. We are willing to put up with frequent highway closures, working on holidays and generally struggling to make ends meet in order to access... Continue Reading →
Make a plan for a great family camping trip this summer in Colorado at one of these campground destinations!
Published in the Glenwood Springs Post Independent, February 11th, 2020 Recently, I have been lucky enough to experience a number of inconveniences in my life. Last week, for example, 22 inconvenient inches of snow trapped several cars on the corner in front of my house, and I helped push them out. A few weeks before... Continue Reading →
Lindsay DeFrates 