Category: Blog

6 Articles + 1 Video for the Snowy Weekend

With the east coast covered in snow and a storm scheduled to hit the Rockies on Sunday, here are a few suggested articles and a video to keep you entertained if you’re hunkered down.  Enjoy!
  • ‘Unbranded’ Sheds Light on Wild Horse Issues in the West, Outside Magazine – I had not heard of this film before stumbling across this article, but I’m hoping to watch it in the coming weeks.  The article delves into many of the issues that I find interesting – adventure, ranches, political issues about western land – so I have high expectations for this film.
  • How Two Filmmakers Cracked the World’s Most Bizarre Trail Race, Outside Magazine – After reading the article above, I fell down the rabbit hole of linked sidebar stories and saw this one.  I love running long trail races, but the Barkley Marathons is crazy even by my skewed standards.  Also, I’m always intrigued when filmmakers can make running through the woods for 30+ hours interesting, so I’m excited to check out this film soon.
  • Stewardship with Vision, Western Landowners Alliance – Western Landowners Alliance is a cutting-edge organization and an excellent resource for all things related to ranches, land ownership, and issues in the West, and I highly suggest signing up for their email list.  They periodically release informative videos about their work, and this is the latest one.  Very well produced and informative.
  • Town Milk Put Tarboro on the Map, Our State Magazine – My wife came across this article from Our State Magazine, a great publication that focuses on unique, upbeat stories from our home state of North Carolina.  This one focuses on one particular aspect of my hometown of Tarboro and even has a quote from my grandfather, who was the longtime mayor and town doctor.
  • Why You Should be Talking About Work All Holiday Season, Ryan Holiday – One of my pet peeves is when I meet people who get annoyed when I ask them what they do for work.  Most of us spend at least half of our waking hours working, so why wouldn’t we want to talk about it?  Maybe their work is mind-numbingly boring, they’re no good at it, or possibly a combination of both.  Ryan Holiday, an extremely smart author and thinker, tackles the subject.
  • This is Your Brain on Nature, National Geographic – I’m a firm believer that spending time outdoors is good for everyone, whether you’re running 100 miles or simply sitting on a bench in a park.  Proximity to open space and nature is one of the main reasons I live here in Boulder, three blocks from the trails.  The article examines this idea in full NatGeo style, with a thorough analysis and stunning photos.
  • Deconstructing urgent vs. important, Seth Godin – Wisdom from Seth.

Go Broncos!  Go Panthers!

Weekend Reading (or Watching or Listening)

Hopefully you’re outside doing something fun this weekend, but, on the off chance you are sitting around staring at your computer, here are a few worthwhile articles, videos, and podcasts that I’ve enjoyed over the last week or so:

  • The Disappearing Colorado River, New Yorker Magazine – I was prompted to reread this article this week, because it profiles Kent Hollsinger, a Denver attorney who will be the guest speaker at next month’s Colorado Ag Network event.  A well written piece that gives a good overview of some of the challenges facing the West, specifically related to water.
  • Where Private Land Meets Public Interest, High County News – One of my favorite topics is understanding how private landowners can work together to conserve and protect large swaths of western lands and ranches.  This article describes some innovative efforts on the Colorado-New Mexico border, and it’s definitely worth a read.
  • Bird-Watching, Patriotism and the Oregon Standoff, New York Times & The Western Land Revolt, Wall Street Journal – Two opinion pieces from two publications on two opposite ends of the political spectrum.  Interesting thoughts on the ongoing rancher standoff in Oregon. (Incidentally, I noticed that the author of the NYT piece was a teacher at my high school back in the mid-90s.)
  • Elkhorn Ranch gravel pit nears development as longstanding dispute continues, Grand Forks Herald – Updates on the ongoing saga just outside Theodore Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch.  I’m still amazed that the people handling the transaction weren’t more thorough about understanding the property’s mineral rights.
  • To Those Who Loved Doug, The Cleanest Line (Patagonia’s blog) – This article is just over a month old, but is the best I’ve read so far about Doug Tompkins’ tragic death in Chile.  Written by Rick Ridgeway who was with Tompkins on the kayaking trip, it’s an informative description of the accident, as well as a moving tribute by a great friend.  (For more on Doug, watch 180 South, described in this post)
  • The Scariest Navy SEAL Imaginable…And What He Taught MeTim Ferriss Show – Given the ridiculous amount of driving I do, I listen to tons of podcasts, and The Tim Ferriss Show is consistently one of the best.  In this episode, he interviews former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink who, by any measure, is a total badass – tough, smart, focused, disciplined, loyal… the list goes on and on.  Jocko actually just started his own podcast, which is sure to be excellent.
  • Kissing the Rock – Official Trailer – One of my life goals is to run the Hardrock 100–100 miles, 34,000 feet of vertical, over a 14er, and through some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world.  This is the trailer for an upcoming film about the race, which I can’t wait to see.  (Here’s another good 10-minute film about the 2013 race.)
  • Big Horn Sheep – Yosemite Nature Notes – Yosemite National Park has a Youtube channel and regularly produces high-quality, informative short videos about different aspects of the Park.  This is the most recent film about big horn sheep, their history in the park, and efforts to reintroduce them in areas of the Park.
  • And, in case you missed them, two of my most recent articles Seven Must-Read Books on Land, Ranches, and the History of the American West, LandThink.com & Fly Fishing Adventures in the Vail Valley, Mountain Khakis’ blog.

Fly Fishing Adventures in the Vail Valley

Head over to the Mountain Khakis blog to read my latest blog post “Fly Fishing Adventures in the Vail Valley,” where I discuss some of the unbelievably fun fishing on Hardscrabble Mountain Ranch.  As you’ll read, the ranch’s 2.5 miles of Brush Creek is some of the most coveted private water in the Vail Valley, and it has rarely been fished.  The combination of its healthy riparian ecosystem and lack of fishing pressure makes it a unique, productive, and fun brown trout fishery.

Fly Fishing Adventures in the Vail Valley

Also, if you haven’t already, check out the 4-minute video we produced about fishing on the ranch.  We follow a local guide as he fishes the creek for the first time and manages to snag a beautiful, nice-sized brown.

 

LandThink: 7 Must-Read Books about the American West

Be sure to check out my newest post on LandThink.com, a list of some of my highly recommended books related to land, ranches, and the American West.  If you receive my bi-monthly book recommendations or frequently read this blog (i.e. you are my wife), some of these titles will be familiar.  But I did throw in a few previously unmentioned titles to keep it interesting.

Read the post, sign up for my email list, and keep sending me book recommendations!

Seven Must-Read Books on Land, Ranches, and the History of the American West

Why Would Anyone Want to Run 100 Miles?

“Why in the hell would you choose to do that?”

That’s a question I get a lot when the topic of my interest in endurance sports comes up in conversation.  Surprisingly, even after years of enjoying a triathlons, climbing big mountains, and running 50 and 100-milers through the Colorado backcountry, I still don’t have a satisfactory answer.

This recent article in the New Yorker does an excellent job presenting a few possible ideas as to why people decide to push themselves so hard and so far for “fun.”  I found the second half of the article to be more applicable than the first, but it’s a quick read, so check it out:

The Spiritual Life of the Long-Distance Runner

(Unfortunately, I still don’t have a solid, succinct answer to why I choose to put myself through some of this nonsense!)

 

Top Ten Documentaries for Adventurous, US History-Loving, Ranch Conservationists

I love high-quality documentaries.  If filmed and produced correctly, the best kind of documentary will give the viewer a deep understanding and appreciation for its subject, similar to what I experience after reading a great book.  But like a great book, the best documentaries can be hard to come by — if you scroll through the documentary section on Netflix, I’d say 95% aren’t worth watching.  In an effort to save you some time and point you in the right direction, below are ten documentaries that I believe are definitely worth checking out.  If you have an interest in ranches, conservation, history, or adventure (if you don’t, why are you reading this blog?), I think you’ll thoroughly enjoy all of the suggestions below:

 

Meru – One of the best films of any kind that I’ve seen in years.  It follows three high-altitude mountaineers on their multi-year quest to scale the Shark’s Fin on Mt. Meru, a Himalayan peak that is one of the world’s most challenging climbing objectives.  Because of my personal experience freezing my ass off on some of the Western Hemisphere’s tallest and coldest mountains, I’m generally very skeptical of “climbing” movies — they are often sensational, cheesy, or unrealistic.  Meru is a real as you can get without actually being there.  It captures the beauty of the high mountains, the suffering endured at high altitude, and the challenges of training for and completing such a high stakes expedition.  Very, very well done.

 

Hanna Ranch – In less than 90 minutes, this documentary manages to effective cover many of the most pressing challenges facing ranchers and ranching in the Rocky Mountain West — increasing development pressure, the importance of land conservation, disappearance of the West’s ranching heritage, multi-generational ranching family dynamics, ranchers’ connection and love for the land, and the list goes on and on.  I’ve recommend this film to my friends and family who are interested in learning more about my work and interests in the American West, so I’ll recommend it to you as well.  Beautifully shot, at times heartbreaking, but a very meaningful and important film.

 

180 South – It’s as if the directors of this movie read my mind and made a film that hits on every subject and activity that I’m interested in: mountains, climbing, mountaineering, the ocean, surfing, sailing, adventure travel, land conservation, and visionary, sustainable business practices.  180 South follows a crew of adventurers as they retrace Yvon Chouinard’s (the founder of Patagonia) 1968 trip through South America, climbing, surfing, and sailing their way to the Patagonia region of Chile.  In addition to great adventure scenes, the film explains some of the work that Doug and Kristine Tompkins are doing to create National Parks in Chile, thereby conserving very important land on one of the world’s most special regions.

 

Dust to Glory – I’m not sure why l love this movie so much, but it’s definitely in my top 10.  In fact, my lack of interest in vehicle racing speaks to just how great this movie is.  It’s directed by Dana Brown (the same guy who created another of my favorite surf movies, Step Into Liquid) and it follows several groups of competitors as they compete in the Baja 1000, a 1000-mile truck and motorcycle race down Mexico’s wild and desolate Baja Peninsula.  It was filmed in the days before GoPros, drones, and other easy-access production gear, which makes some of the footage all the more spectacular.  The trailer below doesn’t do it justice, but it is on Netflix, so check it out.

 

The Drifter – Most surf films are just endless clips of guys ripping around on shortboards, getting air and doing tricks that border on being plain silly.  As much as I appreciate an acrobatic surf trick, watching them over and over for an hour gets old.  (The same applies for ski movies – jumping off cliffs is cool in short doses, but excruciatingly boring for an hour.)  This surf film is the exception to the rule, as it has plenty of amazing surf footage, but overlaid on the story of pro surfer Rob Machado’s rambling adventure through Southeast Asia.  He cruises around on a dirtbike, takes buses, hangs with locals, and lives in a tent, all while checking out a spectacular part of the world where I’d love to personally explore and surf.  Even though some of the scenes seem staged and most likely make it an “impure” documentary, I appreciate the effort to make a surf film with an interesting narrative that goes a little deeper than that the standard flip-fest video.

 

Bicycle Dreams – This film documents the Race Across America, a 3,000-mile bike race where riders pedal from California to Maryland as fast as possible, with winners finishing in an amazing seven or eight days.  This race is the ultimate in ultra-endurace sports, where some of the top competitors are on their bikes for 20-22 hours per day.  Given my experience in endurance-type sports, I consider myself fairly desensitized to what most people would consider crazy… but I think these people are nuts.  I just cannot comprehend the mental fortitude that is required to put in such a non-stop physical effort for days and days on end.  To give you some context, here’s a great NY Times article about one of the race’s top competitors: That Which Does Not Kill Me Makes Me Stranger

 

Roadhouse – Dalton has a degree in philosophy from NYU and is an advanced Tai Chi practitioner, yet he has carved out a successful career as a “Cooler,” traveling town to town, cleaning up some of the most violent bars in the United States.  Roadhouse details a particularly challenging assignment in Jasper, Missouri, in which he butts heads with Brad Wesley, a successful businessman and real estate developer who also moonlights as a small-time mafia boss and general town bully.  After several high profile antics by Wesley and his minions — driving a monster truck through a car dealership showroom, blowing up a local hardware store, harassing livestock with a helicopter, driving on the wrong side of the road, instigating numerous knife fights at the local bar, and one peeping tom incident — Dalton leads the citizens of Jasper in a battle to take back their town.  If not so well documented on film, it would be hard to believe that such an outrageous, yet inspirational, series of events ever actually happened in 1980s middle-America.

 

The Roosevelts – I was off-the-charts excited when I heard that Ken Burns would be focusing his talents on my personal hero Theodore Roosevelt, and this 14-hour documentary did not disappoint.  The seven episode series covers the lives of TR, Eleanor, and Franklin, and it gives an excellent overview of their wide-ranging impacts on the history of the United States.  I started watching with an interest solely in TR, fully expecting to turn it off (and save myself 9 hours) when the focus switched to the other Roosevelts.  However, possibly because I already know way too much about TR, I found the FDR portions to be the most interesting segments of the entire 14 hours, particularly the episode about his struggles with polio.  Whether you know a little or a lot about the Roosevelts, I highly recommend this entire series.

 

In the High Country – Spending time in the big mountains is one of the main reasons that I choose to live out West, and this film captures the spirit of long, hard, fun days of moving quickly through the mountains.  The film follows champion ultrarunner Anton Krupicka as he runs, scrambles, and climbs through some of Colorado’s most scenic alpine terrain.  For anyone who has spent time exploring Colorado’s big mountains and backcountry, you will surely see some familiar sights.  Rather than focus on Krupicka’s competitive running career, this film focuses on his pure love of big mountain landscapes and how he has molded his life to maximize his time spent outdoors, pushing himself hard, doing exactly what he loves.  (I also really love The Runner in Winter, a short Youtube clip about Anton’s winter training in hills above Boulder.)

Long Way Round – The concept is simple: Actors Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman ride their motorcycles from London to New York…. going east.  The resulting 19,000 mile adventure was made into a relatively low-budget, 10-episode British television series, which turned out to be one of my favorite adventure documentaries of all time (and I’ve watched it multiple times).  Over the course of four months, Ewan and Charlie break down, get lost, are hassled by border agents, meet crazy/dangerous locals (including an apparent mafia leader who gets drunk and shoots off a machine gun), wreck their bikes, and have every other kind of adventure you’d expect on such a hardcore trip.  I’ve got endless respect for anyone who can pull off an adventure likes this, particularly an A-List movie star who spends a lot of time surrounded by soft, Hollywood types.  Several years later they produced Long Way Down, about another motorcycle trip from Scotland to South Africa.  Not as great as Round, but still worth watching.

 

Do you know of any good documentaries that I should check out?  If so, let me know by leaving a comment below!

Low Supply & High Demand in Eagle County, Colorado

Compared to the other major resort counties in Colorado, Eagle County, home to Vail and Beaver Creek, has the largest and fastest growing population.  The attractive demographics combined with a low supply of private land have created conditions ripe for significant appreciation in real estate values.  Given Hardscrabble Mountain Ranch’s location just outside the county seat of Eagle, the ranch offers considerable financial upside for investment-minded buyers.  Check out my new blog post to learn more:

The Upside of Ranch Investment in Eagle County

 

Valuing Legacy Ranches

The ability to accurately value a legacy ranch despite the inherent market inefficiencies is one of the most important, yet most poorly executed, aspects of a ranch broker’s job.  My new article on LandThink.com discusses the importance of quantifiable data and reasonable assumptions when valuing one-of-a-kind, legacy ranch properties:

Valuing One-of-a-Kind Legacy Ranches

 

 

Covenants and Restrictions on Ranches

A few weeks back, I posted an article on the Mirr Ranch Group blog about the pros and cons of ranch properties that have covenants and restrictions.  While covenants on true legacy ranches are somewhat rare, they still pop up from time to time.  Follow the link below to learn more:

Covenants and Restriction on Ranches

 

 

LandThink article

A few weeks ago, the folks behind the popular website LandThink contacted me asking permission to republish my responsible grazing article from LinkedIn.  It’s good to know that at least a few people are reading these articles!  A link to the LandThink article is below, and I’m planning to write more for the site in the future, so stay tuned.

LandThink – Responsible Grazing

NEW VIDEO – Brush Creek Fishing

We just released our new video for Hardscrabble Mountain Ranch that focuses exclusively on the ranch’s private fishing.  It was a blast to film, and I think it came out well.  Enjoy!

Fly-Fishing on Brush Creek

 

Brush Creek Browns

Yesterday, I was up in Eagle County touring some clients around Hardscrabble Mountain Ranch.  After the tour, I was able to spend a little over an hour on the ranch’s private water – 2.5 miles of Brush Creek- before heading back down the hill.  It was perfect late summer fishing – a clear, breezy day with lots hoppers everywhere and hungry brown trout.  Read the full report over on the Mirr Ranch Group blog:

Hardscrabble Fishing Report

Denali Summit

It’s Why We Live Here

A short film by Palmer Land Trust showcasing the beauty of Southern Colorado

Responsible Grazing

I just posted an article on LinkedIn about the importance of grazing on ranches in the American West.  Some non-ranching landowners and ill-informed “conservationists” believe that the best way to improve a ranch’s habitat is to remove all animals and let it grow wild.  Research has proven, however, that responsible grazing is a much more effective tool for building a healthy, strong ranch ecosystem.  Check out the article to learn more:

Responsible Grazing – The Foundation of a Healthy Ranch Ecosystem

 

CCALT Harvest Dinner

Mark your calendars for the Colorado Cattlemen Agricultural Land Trust’s 1st Annual Harvest Dinner, which will be taking place on Thursday, September 10th at the Denver Botanical Gardens at Chatfield.  It is sure to be a fun evening with interesting people, all supporting a very important cause.  Follow the link below for more information and to purchase tickets:

1st Annual Harvest Dinner

Summer News from Crested Butte

It’s been a busy summer in Crested Butte: Recently announced plans to expand the ski area by 500 acres, new direct flights, and an epic wildflower season.  Head over the the Mirr Ranch Group blog to read more:

Exciting Summer News from Crested Butte, Colorado

Rocky Mountain Road Trips

Mountain Khakis just posted my most recent blog post, which details a few of my favorite road trips throughout the America West.  Click below to give it a read, and then buy pick up a few pairs of pants… these are my favorites!

Rocky Mountain Road Trips

 

 

Forever Colorado Video

Check out Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust’s new Forever Colorado video, showcasing some of the ranches and open spaces that make Colorado‬ such a great place to live.

I was lucky enough to be interviewed and filmed as part of the project, and, despite my southern accent, I ended up narrating a good bit of the video.

Watch it below and consider making a donation to CCALT to support their important work: https://ccalt.org/donate/forever-colorado/

Flat Rock Ranch

On the Mirr Ranch Group site, you can find more information on my newest listing: Flat Rock Ranch.  Located just northwest of Fort Collins in the Larimer County foothills, it is a very unique and picturesque Rocky Mountain retreat.  The photo above was taken from the high rocky cliffs above the ranch, which is part of the adjoining Cherokee State Wildlife area.  For more information and photos, head over to the ranch webpage:

Flat Rock Ranch

 

Hardscrabble Video

I’m excited to finally release the new promotional video for Hardscrabble Mountain Ranch!  After two long days of filming, one crashed drone, dodging two intense lightening storms, and lots of false casts with my fly rod, the video is complete.  Special thanks to Will Fowler at Camera Head Media for all his hard work and artistry– I think the video tells the story of the ranch perfectly!

Monster Mule Deer

My most recent post on the Mirr Ranch Group blog details the hunting opportunities on Hardscrabble Mountain Ranch, specifically for the trophy mule deer that reside on and around the ranch.  The ranch is located in GMU 44, a hunting unit that is carefully managed to produce very large trophy deer.  And the management has been very effective– only one other area in all of North America has produced more Boone and Crockett trophy mulies.  Follow the link below for detailed information and photos of monster mule deer!

North American Mule Deer Hunting at Its Finest – Hardscrabble Mountain Ranch

Access Issues on Ranches

I recently wrote a new post on the Mirr Ranch Group blog about access issues on ranches.  It may seems like a somewhat boring and dry subject, but it is vitally important to fully understand access, especially on some of these rural, remote ranches.  Failing to research it properly could be a very expensive mistake:

Ranch Due Diligence – An Overview of Access Issues

CCALT’s Forever Colorado Campaign

The folks over at the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) recently asked me to write a blog post introducing their “Forever Colorado” campaign, and also explaining why I choose to invest my time and resources into the vital work they are doing throughout the state.  Click below to learn more about the organization, and please consider supporting CCALT’s important conservation efforts.

CCALT’s “Forever Colorado”

Conservation + Responsible Development = Centaur Meadows

My newest Mirr Ranch Group blog post digs into the details of my Centaur Meadows Ranch listing–Specifically about how the ranch strikes a perfect balance between conscientious land stewardship and profit potential through responsible development.

Centaur Meadows Ranch: Conservation & Responsible Development

The Devil’s Rope

Given the amount of time I spend driving around the West, I listen to a ton of podcasts.  I have a hard time paying attention to books on tape, I get bored with most of my music, and radio programing out in the middle of nowhere can be iffy and/or downright weird.  Podcasts are the perfect solution, as they provide an almost unlimited selection of topics, stories, or interviewers, and I can upload multiple hours on my phone prior to a road trip.

A friend told me to check out the 99% Invisible podcast, specifically Episode 157: Devil’s Rope.  The 23 minute episode gives a brief overview of the history of barbed wire– from it’s invention in the 1870s to its proliferation across the American West.  I’ve written before about my fascination with barbed wire and how its impact on the settlement of the West is completely under appreciated by the general public.  If you want to learn a little more about this fascinating subject, but don’t want to read a full book about it (that’s understandable), click the link below, download the episode, and enjoy!

99% Invisible – Devil’s Rope

or listen here:

 

 

Who Owns the Mineral Rights?

Today’s post on the Mirr Ranch Group blog addresses another common question regarding Rocky Mountain Ranches: Who owns the mineral rights?  Determining mineral rights ownership can be a surprisingly complicated process, but there are several methods landowners and buyers can use to fully understand a property’s minerals.  Click below for the full article:

Who Owns the Mineral Rights?

From the MRG Blog – Should I Survey My Ranch?

My latest post over on the Mirr Ranch Group blog answer one of the more common questions I receive: Should I Survey My Ranch?

Given the amazing advances in mapping technology and satellite imagery, surveys are not always a vital part of the due diligence process, as they once were.  With the help of ArcGIS or similar mapping software, we are able to identify potential encroachments and determine whether or not a survey – and its tens of thousands of dollars price tag – is needed.  For the full post, follow the link:

Should I Survey My Ranch?