Mountain & Prairie

Conversations & Contemplations from the New American West

Category: Podcast

Ben Masters – Conservation Through Innovative Filmmaking

Ben Masters is a filmmaker and conservationist whose work explores some of the most important conservation challenges facing the American West today. He was the mastermind behind the award-winning documentary Unbranded, which tells the story of Ben and his three buddies who ride wild mustangs from Mexico to Canada as part of an epic five month-adventure. The film also examines the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse Program, a well-intentioned, but now controversial, government program created to protect the wild horses that roam the western U.S. For those who love the American West, Unbranded is one of the best documentaries in recent memory—it combines hardcore adventure with important conservation issues, all while accurately capturing the true beauty of the American West.Unbranded - film

Conservation is the common theme running through all of Ben’s work, and his passion is fortified with a deep knowledge of natural history, public lands, and policy issues related to the American West. His expertise recently earned him a spot on the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board, the group tasked with solving the challenging issues surrounding the program he profiled in Unbranded. His most recent film, Pronghorn Revival, is the story of Texas wildlife biologists capturing and relocating a struggling herd of pronghorns (i.e. antelopes). Not one to rest on his laurels, Ben is working hard on more conservation projects to be revealed in the coming months.

Unbranded - cliffWhen we recorded this episode, Ben was less than a day away from leaving on a multi-week guiding trip to the area around Yellowstone National Park, so I really appreciated him making the time to chat.  In just under an hour, we managed to cover a wide range of conservation-related topics: the BLM’s Wild Horse Program, invasive species in the American West, thoughts on hunting, as well as Ben’s personal background, favorite books, favorite documentaries, and a crazy horse stampede story… with plenty of other intesting subjects thrown in.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out Unbranded. You’ll love it.  In the meantime, enjoy my conversation with Ben Masters.

All photos courtesy of Ben Masters

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Episode Notes

Topics Covered

3:05 – How Ben describes his work
3:35 – Ben’s upcoming adventures
5:40 – Overview of Unbranded documentary
7:45 – Genesis for the idea for Unbranded
9:45 – Overview of the BLM Wild Horse Program
10:15 – Natural history of horses in North America
14:20 – Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act
17:16 – Ben’s thoughts solving the wild horse challenge
21:10 – Political challenges surrounding wild horses
23:45 – More North American natural history
24:55 – What “conservation” means to Ben
26:00 – Ben’s personal connection to conservation
27:40 – Resources for understanding the history of conservation
29:00 – Conservation challenges facing the West in the next 20 years
32:10 – Ben’s thoughts on hunting and conservation
33:45 – Cautionary tale of Texas Screwworms
36:30 – Overview of Pronghorn Revival
38:35 – Favorite books
40:20 – Favorite documentary
41:30 – Ben’s work with veterans
42:23 – Hobbies that Ben enjoys
43:48 – How Ben learned the art of filmmaking
45:00 – Craziest outdoor experience
47:50 – Ben’s favorite place in the West
48:40 – Ben’s request of the listeners
51:30 – Connect with Ben online

Information Referenced

 Posted on August 26, 2016 by

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Stephen Smith – Adventures in Photography, Motorcycles, and Ranches

Stephen Smith – Adventures in Photography, Motorcycles, and Ranches

Stephen Smith is an agrarian, adventure, and lifestyle photographer who has successfully combined his love of ranches, farms, motorcycles, and travel into a full-time career in professional photography. Thanks to his artistic eye, hard work, persistence, and willingness to take risks, Stephen has successfully created a niche for himself in the crowded arena of professional photography. (Check him out on Instagram.)

Stephen Smith
Stephen Smith

He is obviously a naturally talented artist, but it seems that a great deal of Stephen’s success can be traced back to the fact that he is committed to putting himself in unique—often difficult, uncomfortable, or scary—situations that allow him to capture one-of-a-kind experiences and perspectives. Among other things, he has worked on a 90,000-acre Colorado cattle ranch, taken a five-month solo motorcycle trip through South America, and put in time at several California and Colorado vineyards, all while constantly shooting photos and refining his craft.

Stephen’s solid understanding of agriculture and years of adventure are evident in his work. His images are as authentic as they are artistic, and he knows how to capture the true spirit of a person, place, animal, or experience in a fresh style that creates a genuine connection with the audience. I came across Stephen’s agricultural photography several years ago and was immediately drawn in. (And keep in mind, I can be a bit jaded when it comes to ranch photos—I look at them all day as part of my job.) I have been a fan of his work ever since.

I was super-excited to finally meet Stephen and learn more about his work and personal story. We had a fun (and funny) conversation and covered a wide range of interesting topics. We dug into his connection to agriculture and talked in depth about how ranches and farms play an important role in land conservation. We talked about motorcycles and some of his adventures. We discussed the importance of international travel and his lessons learned from immersion in foreign cultures. We obviously chatted in detail about photography, as well as an insane bear story that you definitely need to hear.

Cool guy. Thoughtful conversation. Crazy stories. Great episode!

All photos courtesy of Stephen Smith

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Episode Notes

Topics Covered

3:55 – How Stephen describes his work
4:55 – How he decided to focus on agriculture as a photography subject
7:45 – How long he’s been shooting photographs
10:00 – Lesson learned from starting with film photography
12:00 – Stephen’s time working on a Colorado Ranch
16:00 – Overview of holistic range management
19:15 – What “conservation” means to Stephen
22:30 – How his deep understanding of agriculture is reflected in his work
26:00 – Some examples of extraordinary agricultural operations
31:00 – Economic benefits of holistic management
32:30 – Stephen’s love of motorcycles
36:00 – Connection between motorcycles and agriculture
37:00 – Five-month solo motorcycle adventure
42:30 – Lesson learned from traveling and living abroad
47:10 – Books on motorcycle adventures
48:30 – Recommended motorcycle trips through the West
50:00 – Upcoming Mexico motorcycle adventure
54:30 – Big breaks versus a slow grind
58:00 – Advice to young photographers
1:03:30 – Favorite books
1:05:20 – Favorite documentary
1:06:40 – Thoughts on surfing
1:08:45 – Simple advice to be a better landscape photographer
1:13:00 – Insane story about being chased by a bear
1:20:20 – Favorite place in the West
1:21:10 – Biggest threat facing the West
1:24:10 – Stephen’s request of the listeners
1:26:00 – Connect with Stephen online

Information Referenced

 Posted on August 10, 2016 by

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Nicholas Coleman – Painting the Heritage and History of the American West

Nicholas Coleman – Painting the Heritage and History of the American West

“An Old Meeting Place” by Nicholas Coleman

Nicholas Coleman is an ultra-talented, hard-working artist based out of Provo, Utah, and he paints some of the most interesting and beautiful works I’ve ever seen. His primary subject matter is the American West, with a focus on landscapes, natural history, wildlife, Native American culture, and exploration. I came across Nick’s work on Instagram of all places—in the midst of the app’s thousands of images, noise, and distractions, one of Nick’s images boldly stood out from all the rest. It stood out so much that I wanted more, so I went to his website and was blown away by his work.  The more I learned about Nick, the more impressed I became—he is a multifaceted individual with a fascinating back story.

Nick is not your stereotypical artist. He is a devoted hunter, fisherman, and trapper, and he’s also a voracious reader who probably knows more about western history than many college professors. He has a focused and disciplined approach to his art, working six days a week and never sitting around waiting to “get in the mood” to paint. With his deep love of art and the West, combined with his rock solid work ethic, it’s no surprise that he has been able to build a stellar reputation in the super-competitive and challenging world of professional art.

Nicholas in his studio

I could’ve talked to Nick for hours, because so many of his interests overlap with mine. We did manage to dig into the details of his art and artistic process.  We chatted about his international travels to South America, Africa, and New Zealand, as well as his thoughts on how those adventures have influenced his life and work. We discussed his education as an artist, as well as his advice for those aspiring to make art a full-time career.  We also talked a lot about Teddy Roosevelt, which is always fun. See below for the full list of topics covered.

Thanks to Nicholas Coleman for joining me on the podcast. I hope you enjoy!

All photos courtesy of Nicholas Coleman

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Episode Notes

Topics Covered

3:11 – How Nicholas describes his work
4:40 – His family’s history in the West
5:55 – Hunting, fishing, trapping, and their influence on his work
8:50 – Childhood experiences that led to a career in art
10:35 – Theodore Roosevelt and Carl Akeley
13:00 – Thoughts on hunters as conservationists
17:03 – How international travel influenced his art and outlook
19:55 – Thoughts on being self taught versus academically trained in art
23:00 – Nicholas’s artistic process
27:30 – A typical day
29:10 – The backstory on Nicholas’s studio
30:30 – The role that history plays in his work
32:10 – Where he gets his ideas for painting
34:15 – How he ensure that his paintings are historically accurate
36:40 – Recommended books about Native Americans
38:25 – The evolution of his art over the last 10 years
40:10 – How it feels to create art
42:00 – Thoughts on embracing technology
45:40 – What “conservation” means to Nicholas
48:55 – Favorite Theodore Roosevelt books
50:10 – Lessons he’s teaching his children about conservation
51:00 – Advice for aspiring artists
53:45 – Favorite books
55:50 – Favorite documentaries
56:00 – Other hobbies, including motorcycles
59:40 – Nicholas’s insane Alaskan hunting adventure
1:05:40 – Favorite location in the American West
1:07:30 – Biggest challenge facing the American West
1:11:00 – Nicholas’s request of the listeners
1:11:40 – Connect with Nicholas online

Information Referenced

 Posted on August 5, 2016 by

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Ann Johnston – Protecting Crested Butte’s Spectacular Landscapes
Ann Johnston
Ann Johnston

Ann Johnston is Executive Director of the Crested Butte Land Trust (CBLT), a conservation organization that protects land in Crested Butte and Gunnison County, Colorado. Given the focused geographic area in which CBLT operates, Ann and her team must be creative and nimble, and they use a variety methods to protect a diverse array of landscapes, from large-acreage rural ranches to small in-town parcels. CBLT must also balance the competing priorities of Gunnison County’s various stakeholders—ranchers, hikers, bikers, skiers, businesses, and tourists, just to name a few. In an area of the West that is becoming more and more popular, CBLT’s work has never been more important.

I’ve long admired Ann’s ability to think outside the box and effectively execute her plans, so I was excited to get a chance to sit down with her in CBLT’s Crested Butte office. We had a fun conversation in which we discussed her personal connection to conservation, the challenges and opportunities of operating in such a tight-knit community, conservation success stories, specific methods for saving land, advice for aspiring conservationists, and much more– see below for a full list of the topics we discussed. Enjoy!

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Episode Notes

Topics Covered

4:15 – How Ann describes her work
5:20 – What makes Crested Butte Land Trust unique
7:25 – CBLT’s approach to conservation on a local level
9:20 – Challenges/Opportunities of working in such a tight-knit community
11:35 – Example of win-win conservation projects
13:30 – Snodgrass Trailhead project
18:35 – How Ann prioritizes projects
20:55 – What does “conservation” mean to Ann and CBLT
22:55 – The specific definition of “saving” land
24:30 – Why Colorado is the leader in land conservation
25:55 – Colorado conservation tax credit explained
28:20 – Ann’s personal background and connection to conservation
31:50 – Experiences that attracted Ann to conservation
33:30 – Ann’s love of surfing
36:15 – Advice to future conservationists
39:10 – Biggest opportunities in conservation
41:15 – Where conservation is going in the next 20 years
43:30 – One thing Ann would change about conservation
45:10 – Advice for future conservationists, part 2
47:25 – Book recommendations
48:50 – Documentaries
50:00 – Favorite locations in the West
50:35 – Favorite trails in Crested Butte
52:00 – Ann’s craziest outdoor experience
54:00 – Biggest challenge facing Colorado in the future
55:10 – Ann’s request of the listeners
55:50 – Connect with Ann and CBLT online

Information Referenced

 Posted on July 20, 2016 by

 Blog, Podcast

Andrew Skurka – Blazing a New Trail Across the West
headshot_brooks
Andrew Skurka

Andrew Skurka is a highly accomplished adventure athlete who is most well known for his long-distance solo backpacking trips, including the 4,700-mile Alaska-Yukon Expedition, the 6,875-mile Great Western Loop, and the 7,775-mile Sea-to-Sea Route. He has also completed countless fast and light trips throughout the Sierras, Wind River Range, Zion National Park, and Appalachian Trail, just to name a few. Andrew has been named “Adventurer of the Year” by both Outside Magazine and National Geographic Adventure, as well as “Person of the Year” by Backpacker Magazine.

Andrew is also a published author, having written The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide: Tools & Tips to Hit the Trail, and he is close to finishing the manuscript for the book’s second edition. He also writes extensively on his personal blog, which is full of detailed, information-rich articles about backpacking, gear reviews, and other endurance-related content. On top of everything else, Andrew is a guide, speaker, and accomplished ultra-runner, having placed second in the Leadville 100 and third in the Run Rabbit Run 100. Just this past weekend (6/25/16), he placed fourth at the San Juan Solstice 50-Mile Trail Run, one of the most difficult 50-milers in the country.

chugach
Andrew deep in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Brooks Range, AK

Andrew is a great guy, and we had a very fun conversation.  We obviously talk a lot about many of his long-distance backpacking adventures, but we also dig into some of the mental and emotional aspects of traveling through such remote areas for long periods of time completely alone. We talk about his personal background and how he became interested in adventure sports, and also about his decision to forgo a traditional career in finance or consulting to carve out a career centered around the outdoors and adventure. As usual, I ask about his favorite books, favorite documentaries, and favorite locations in the West.

Thanks to Andrew for joining me, and thanks to you for listening to the podcast. Enjoy!

kenai_fjords
Andrew preparing his pack raft. Kenai Fjords National Park, AK

All photographs courtesy of Andrew Skurka

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Episode Notes

Topics Covered

3:20 – How Andrew describes his work
5:00 – Overview of Andrew’s notable trips
6:30 – “Short is the new long” trips
8:30 – Alaska-Yukon Expedition and other trips
10:35 – Details of the Great Western Loop trip
14:05 – Details of the Alaska-Yukon Expedition
16:30 – A scary grizzly bear encounter
17:45 – Methods for avoiding distractions, fear, uncertainty
19:35 – Adjusting from expedition life to “normal” life
22:10 – Andrew’s personal background
24:50 – Pursuing an “outside the norm” career after college
27:55 – Advice to folks pursing non-traditional careers
28:25 – Advice to his 22-year old self
30:10 – Specific mistakes that became long-term positives
33:00 – Advice to novice hikers
34:10 – Importance of first-hand experience
36:27 – Andrew’s current life and projects
38:45 – Approach to writing
40:45 – Thoughts on ultra-running
45:50 – Favorite books
48:55 – Favorite blogs and websites
50:25 – Favorite locations in the West
52:50 – Biggest threats facing the West
55:00 – Andrew’s request of listeners
56:10 – Connect with Andrew online

Information Referenced

 Posted on June 29, 2016 by

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Jim Howell – Conserving and Restoring the World’s Grasslands
Jim Howell
Jim Howell

Jim Howell is the CEO of Grasslands LLC, which is the land management arm of the Savory Institute, an organization that Jim co-founded.  Both Grasslands and Savory focus on conserving and restoring the world’s grasslands through what they call “Holistic Management.” We discuss the details of Holistic Managment in the interview, but the basic idea is that the world’s grasses evolved to be grazed, and they need to be grazed in a natural manner to be healthy and resilient.

Jim and his team use livestock to mimic natural grazing patterns from hundreds of thousands of years ago, long before the world’s grasslands were covered with people, fences, houses, and cities.  Savory and Grasslands’ results speak for themselves—after just a few years of holistic managment, their ranches are measurably healthier, more productive, more biodiverse, and more financially successful.

Even if you have absolutely no interest in grazing or ranches, you still need to listen to this interview, because the work Jim and his team are doing has a positive effect on land, people, plants, animals, and communities all around the world.  Anyone who considers themselves to be conservation-minded and loves the outdoors needs to understand Jim’s work. I have no doubt that you’ll gain a new appreciation for the role that livestock needs to play in conserving grasslands around the world.  Even if you’re a vegan living in New York City, you’ll gain some valuable insights from Jim’s point of view.

Jim is also an experienced world traveler, an avid reader, and an author, having written one of the best books I’ve read on land and conservation in the West and beyond: For the Love of Land: Global Case Studies of Grazing in Nature’s Image.  And on top of all of that, he finds the time to run ultra-marathons and has completed some of the most challenging 50-mile trail races in Colorado.

Between Jim’s professional and personal interests, we had a lot to discuss.  It was a fun conversation filled with valuable information, so I hope you enjoy.

Jim ranching
Jim and his team hard at work on the Cinch Buckle Ranch, near Broadus, MT
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Episode Notes

Topics Covered

4:05 – How Jim describes his work
5:45 – How Grasslands’ Holistic Management differs from other ranch management practices
8:00 – Why are grasslands important?
11:00 – The natural history of grass
14:30 – Importance of grazing animals’ grazing behavior
17:30 – History of grass and animal relationships in the U.S.
18:40 – How modern commercial grazing differs from natural grazing patterns
22:00 – Comparing the health of grazed land versus National Park land where grazing is prohibited
26:15 – How grazing leads to more healthy soil and grasslands
27:50 – Common mistakes that conservationists make when evaluating grassland health
29:15 – Methods and results of measuring grassland health
31:15 – Specific methods for holistic grazing
35:30 – Length of time to truly understand a ranch’s grazing potential and needs
37:00 – Challenges related to the human component of ranching
40:30 – What are common objections to holistic grazing?
41:40 – The intellectual challenges of holistic grazing
43:50 – The economic benefits of holistic grazing with specific examples
48:20 – Jim’s unconventional path to ranching
52:20 – Jim discovers Savory’s work
55:15 – Jim’s travels and work on ranches around the world
57:40 – Lessons learned from traveling and working abroad
1:00:10 – How Jim started running ultra-marathons
1:02:50 – How humans evolved to run long distances
1:04:55 – Advice for people who want to run ultras
1:09:15 – Jim’s favorite books
1:12:50 – Favorite documentary
1:13:45 – Jim’s favorite place in the West
1:14:55 – Jim’s request of the listeners
1:17:30 – Grasslands and Savory contact information

Information Referenced

 Posted on May 27, 2016 by

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Brady Robinson – Climber, Educator, Outdoor Advocate
Brady
Brady Robinson
(L-R) Brady Robinson, Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin after their 2001 K7 expedition

Brady Robinson is the Executive Director of the Access Fund, a conservation and advocacy organization that helps to protect climbing areas throughout the United States.  Despite being a relatively small non-profit, the Access Fund’s work has a broad ripple effect far beyond the climbing community and extends into areas of conservation, public lands policy, and general outdoor recreation, just to name a few.  Under Brady’s leadership, the Access Fund has been incredibly effective, and as climbing becomes more popular, the its work will only become more important.

CNV00-40
The avalanche that almost took Brady’s life [33:50 in the podcast]
Brady also has a seriously impressive outdoor resume—he was an instructor for both Outward Bound and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has done a number of large-scale expeditions throughout the Himalayas.  He still finds time to push himself hard in climbing, mountain biking, and other adventures, while simultaneously leading the Access Fund and being a fully committed family man.

 

CNV00-56
Just seconds after narrowly avoiding the avalanche [39:30 in the podcast]
We had a fun conversation that covered a wide range of topics.  We dig into the details of the Access Fund’s mission and methods, including why non-climbers should care about its work.  We talk about Brady’s diverse career experience, and he tells a few crazy stories from his big-mountain expeditions with climbing partners such as Jimmy Chin and Conrad Anker.  Brady also offers advice to young people who would like to pursue a career centered around the outdoors, conservation, or advocacy. [A full list of topics covered is below.]

Even if you’re not a climber, you’ll gain some solid insights from this interview, so I hope you enjoy.

All photos courtesy of Brady Robinson

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Episode Notes

Topics Covered

4:10 – How Brady describes his work
5:00 – Specific methods that the Access Fund uses to protect climbing areas (public policy & acquisitions)
10:30 – How does the Access Fund prioritizes projects
10:45 – Correction from Brady: The Homestead is between Phoenix and Tucson, not Phoenix and Flagstaff.
13:15 – Access Fund’s nationwide partnerships
13:55 – Access Fund’s stewardship team
16:30 – Access Fund’s support for landowners and education initiatives
18:40 – Foundation of the Outdoor Alliance
21:20 – Why should non-climbers care about the Access Fund’s work?
26:00 – Early outdoor experiences
27:30 – First climbing experiences
31:44 – Brady and Jimmy Chin learn photography
33:50 – Brady’s near miss with a massive avalanche in Pakistan (see photos above)
41:10 – The closest Brady ever came to dying in the mountains
45:00 – Lessons learned from a life of adventure
46:15 – Memories of the late great Alex Lowe
47:45 – Brady’s decision to pursue a career in education/advocacy/conservation instead of full-time climbing
52:00 – Reflections on finding your passion
57:00 – Advice to young people –  a career in the recreation/conservation
1:07:50 – The Access Fund’s biggest threat and opportunity in the next five years
1:11:15 – Favorite books
1:16:30 – Favorite documentary
1:18:30 – Favorite locations in the West and the world
1:21:00 – Brady’s request of the listeners
1:25:55 – Connect with the Access Fund

Information Referenced

This episode is brought to you by Mountain Khakis. Rugged. Authentic. Reliable. Timeless. What started as a casual conversation at the Shady Lady Saloon in Jackson Hole, WY has become a top-performing mountain-inspired lifestyle apparel brand. Established in 2003, Mountain Khakis quickly became a staple in the wardrobe of everyone from ranch hands to golf pros, those who travel by jet, as well as those who travel by thumb. The Mountain Khakis brand story continues to resonate as it connects to the enthusiast who believes that freedom and rugged adventure is a way of life. Join the conversation @MountainKhakis and www.mountainkhakis.com

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 Posted on May 21, 2016 by

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Lloyd Athearn – Protecting and Preserving Colorado’s Highest Peaks
Lloyd Athearn

Lloyd Athearn is the Executive Director of the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI), a non-profit organization whose mission is to protect and preserve the natural integrity of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks through active stewardship and public education.  CFI’s work includes building and maintaining trails, educating hikers and climbers on best practices in the high country, conserving the native alpine tundra ecosystem, and generally helping to ensure that these popular mountains are not inadvertently “loved to death” through overuse.

Much of Lloyd’s career has centered around mountains, so we had a fun and wide-ranging conversation with topics including 14ers, climbing adventures, ecology, books, advice to first-time hikers, and plenty more.  Lloyd is a super interesting guy who’s doing very important work, so I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did!

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This episode is brought to you by Mountain Khakis. Rugged. Authentic. Reliable. Timeless. What started as a casual conversation at the Shady Lady Saloon in Jackson Hole, WY has become a top-performing mountain-inspired lifestyle apparel brand. Established in 2003, Mountain Khakis quickly became a staple in the wardrobe of everyone from ranch hands to golf pros, those who travel by jet, as well as those who travel by thumb. The Mountain Khakis brand story continues to resonate as it connects to the enthusiast who believes that freedom and rugged adventure is a way of life. Join the conversation @MountainKhakis and www.mountainkhakis.com

Mountain Khakis

Episode Notes

Topics Covered

2:50 – How Lloyd describes his work
3:45 – What is a 14er?
4:30 – Officially, how many 14ers are there?
7:50 – Why do 14ers need protecting?
11:55 – How CFI prioritizes 14er projects
14:30 – CFI’s trail inventory project
20:50 – How many people climb 14ers annually?
24:00 – How is CFI funded?
26:40 – Youth crews
28:30 – How private land can impact access to 14ers
33:00 – Specific 14er success stories
35:20 – Explaining the class rating system
36:45 – CFI’s April Fools jokes
38:20 – Lloyd’s personal background and early outdoor experiences
40:30 – Lloyd’s career path
43:40 – Lloyd’s advice to young people who are interested in a career centered around the outdoors
47:50 – Advice for a first-time 14er hike
52:20 – Lloyd’s scary Ecuador lightening experience
54:10 – Lloyd’s favorite 14er
55:15 – One of Lloyd’s (and Ed’s!) favorite books
57:45 – Favorite documentary
58:55 – Favorite non-14er outdoor activities
1:00:15 – Craziest thing that’s ever happened to Lloyd in the outdoors
1:02:50 – Favorite place(s) in the West
1:04:00 – Biggest challenge and opportunity facing Colorado in the future
1:06:10 – Lloyd’s request of listeners
1:07:45 – How to connect with CFI

Information Referenced

 Posted on May 6, 2016 by

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Connie Sciolino – Building Stronger & Tougher Outdoor Athletes
Connie Sciolino

Connie Sciolino is the owner and head coach at The Alpine Training Center in Boulder, Colorado.  The ATC is a no-frills gym on the outskirts of town that helps outdoor athletes become better skiers, climbers, runners, and bikers through strength training.  Connie trains everyone from professional athletes to weekend warriors, including one of the climbers in the hit mountaineering documentary, Meru.

The workouts are grueling, both physically and mentally.  But her clients’ results speak for themselves—committed athletes leave the gym stronger, tougher, more resistant to injury, and better equipped to tackle the challenges of the high mountains.  Thanks to her diverse collection of educational, professional, athletic, and outdoor experiences, Connie is setting a new standard for training for mountain-focused sports.

Click Here to Download on iTunes

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This episode is brought to you by Mountain Khakis. Rugged. Authentic. Reliable. Timeless. What started as a casual conversation at the Shady Lady Saloon in Jackson Hole, WY has become a top-performing mountain-inspired lifestyle apparel brand. Established in 2003, Mountain Khakis quickly became a staple in the wardrobe of everyone from ranch hands to golf pros, those who travel by jet, as well as those who travel by thumb. The Mountain Khakis brand story continues to resonate as it connects to the enthusiast who believes that freedom and rugged adventure is a way of life. Join the conversation @MountainKhakis and www.mountainkhakis.com

Mountain Khakis

Episode Notes

Topics Covered

6:25 – Connie explains her work
7:00 – History of the Alpine Training Center
9:55 – How is ATC different than Crossfit
11:25 – “Special” ATC exercises (i.e. “sandbag getups” and “Curtis Ps”)
14:15 – Connie’s athletic, educational, and professional background
18:15 – Early days of experimenting with ski-focused weight training
23:10 – Connie’s athletic experiences in Jackson Hole and the West
26:00 – How Connie built ATC’s unique culture
30:20 – How Connie builds programs for such a wide range of abilities
33:15 – How Connie trains mental toughness
36:55 – The coaching team at ATC
49:25 – Gym Jones
53:00 – Meru and training Renan Ozturk
1:02:30 – Advice for ATC-like training if you don’t live in Boulder
1:05:40 – Connie’s 1-hour body weight challenge: As many push-ups, air squats, and sit-ups. Equal reps across. [Ed’s note: You may want to start with 100-100-100 before trying the hour. You will be destroyed.]
1:08:20 – One of Connie’s favorite success stories
1:12:50 – Favorite books
1:15:15 – Connie’s favorite place in the West
1:18:30 – Connie’s request of listeners
1:21:50 – Find the ATC online

 Posted on April 29, 2016 by

 Blog, Podcast

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Spencer Williams – From River Guide to Water Innovator

Spencer Williams spent his summers as a river guide in Colorado’s Upper Arkansas River Valley, and those experiences on the water led him to law school and into a career as a water rights attorney. He now works for Ponderosa Advisors, advising clients on water rights and water markets across the American West. Spencer also works with Ponderosa’s new software platform Water Sage, an innovative software program that is redefining water research across the West.

In this episode, we dig into the details of water in the West—What exactly a what right is, how water rights can be severed from the land, and the history of water as a property right. We talk about water as an investment, and how big money is currently rushing into the West’s water markets. We discuss Spencer’s work at Ponderosa and Water Sage, and we also tell some stories from his days as a river guide. It was a fun and informative conversavation about an important topic. I hope you enjoy!

Click Here to Download on iTunes

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Click Here to Download on Stitcher

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This episode is brought to you by Mountain Khakis. Rugged. Authentic. Reliable. Timeless. What started as a casual conversation at the Shady Lady Saloon in Jackson Hole, WY has become a top-performing mountain-inspired lifestyle apparel brand. Established in 2003, Mountain Khakis quickly became a staple in the wardrobe of everyone from ranch hands to golf pros, those who travel by jet, as well as those who travel by thumb. The Mountain Khakis brand story continues to resonate as it connects to the enthusiast who believes that freedom and rugged adventure is a way of life. Join the conversation @MountainKhakis and www.mountainkhakis.com

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Episode Notes

Topics Covered

4:30 – How Spencer describes his work
7:00 – Water Rights 101
9:00 – History of water in Colorado
10:10 – Water as a property right
12:00 – Ability to severe water from the land
16:15 – Wells versus water rights
18:33 – “First in time, first in right” explained
21:50 – Ranch buyer “rules of thumb” for evaluating water rights
25:30 – Non-use and water rights abandonment explained
28:55 – Water rights as an investment
35:30 – Spencer’s experience as a river guide
37:00 – Describing Colorado’s Upper Arkansas River Valley
40:00 – Arkansas River flow management explained
42:45 – More river guiding stories
45:00 – Water Sage explained and discussed
54:00 – Future plans for Water Sage
55:35 – Spencer’s thoughts on the future of water in the West
57:35 – Favorite books
59:17 – Favorite documentaries
59:45 – Favorite location in the West
1:00:15 – Recommended location and activities
1:01:40 – Biggest challenge facing Colorado
1:03:05 – Spencer’s request of the listeners
1:05:00 – Spencer’s contact info
Information Referenced

 Posted on April 25, 2016 by

 Blog, Podcast

     , , , ,

Erik Glenn – Saving Colorado, One Ranch at a Time

Erik Glenn is the Executive Director of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, a land conservation organization that has protected over 465,000 acres of working ranches throughout the state of Colorado. In this episode, Ed and Erik discuss a wide array of topics including the importance of keeping ranches in agricultural production, the basics of land conservation in the West, Colorado’s role as a leader in national land conservation, Erik’s family history as ranchers, and much more.

Erik Glenn (far right) with two Colorado ranchers.

Erik was the perfect first guest for the podcast, so I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did!

Click Here to Download on iTunes

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Click Here to Download on Stitcher

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This episode is brought to you by Mountain Khakis. Rugged. Authentic. Reliable. Timeless. What started as a casual conversation at the Shady Lady Saloon in Jackson Hole, WY has become a top-performing mountain-inspired lifestyle apparel brand. Established in 2003, Mountain Khakis quickly became a staple in the wardrobe of everyone from ranch hands to golf pros, those who travel by jet, as well as those who travel by thumb. The Mountain Khakis brand story continues to resonate as it connects to the enthusiast who believes that freedom and rugged adventure is a way of life. Join the conversation @MountainKhakis and www.mountainkhakis.com

Mountain Khakis

Episode Notes

Topics Covered

5:06 – How Erik describes his work
6:11 – History of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT)
8:45 – What “land conservation” means to Erik
11:20 – Details on how CCALT conserves ranches, basics of conservation easements
14:40 – The effects of ranch subdivision
17:15 – Why a vegan living in LoDo should care about working ranches
22:30 – The importance of grazing for a healthy ecosystem
26:40 – Colorado’s role as a leader in conservation
29:45 – Erik’s family history in agriculture
33:00 – Why Erik chose conservation as a career
36:15 – Advice to young people who want to work in conservation
43:20 – Importance of financial sustainability for land trusts
49:30 – One thing that Erik would change about conservation
53:30 – Erik’s favorite books
55:20 – Erik’s favorite documentaries
57:30 – Erik’s favorite place in the West
59:10 – Erik’s recommendations for people visiting the West
1:00:30 – Erik’s request of the listeners

 

Information Referenced

 Posted on April 25, 2016 by

 Blog, Podcast

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