Van Living: 13 Feet of Love

Life with Olive By Lynn Kennen About a year ago I decided to change my life. I quit my reliable ‘normal’ job as the general manager of a restaurant in Tahoe City to be a nomadic guide for various adventure sports full time. I rented out my home in Tahoe City and moved into a succession of “van-life” vehicles: first a van, then a 4-Runner, and finally the 13-foot ’72 Bell travel trailer I call “Olive.” In those first several months with Olive, I lived, worked and played “on the road” throughout the western US, including mountain bike guiding in the Tahoe area with Tahoe Adventure Company, mountain bike and river guiding with Row Adventures in Idaho, Oregon and Washington, personal riding adventures in the Lost Sierra and Shasta areas, and my 12th annual trip to Burning Man. It wasn’t long before I realized I didn’t need much of...

Patagonia Presents: A Night with Ultra-Marathoner Krissy Moehl

Patagonia Santa Cruz hosts evening soiree for running enthusiasts By Avery Robins Good friends and the world’s best wizard beard (Avery Robins). At 6pm on a cool January night, I joined about 30 runners of all ages, shapes and sizes on the famous wooden deck in front of the Santa Cruz Patagonia Outlet store. We gathered to go on a group run and listen to a book release talk with elite ultra-marathoner Krissy Moehl. The store is known for bringing the community together with their free Sunday morning yoga sessions, and trail stewardship events – and this time it was no different. Smiling faces bustled around on the deck, munching down mini Clif bars, Clif Shot Bloks, and other goodies provided by Moehl’s sponsors. Once everyone had their laces tied and Clif bars down, Moehl simply announced “Let’s run!” Our group of 30 scrambled off the deck and down...

Conservationist Doug Tompkins Dies in Patagonian Kayaking Accident

Outdoor community mourns loss of The North Face co-founder Doug and Kris Tompkins. Photo: Sam Beebe / Ecotrust Doug Tompkins, the 72 year old environmental activist, renowned adventurer, and co-founder of The North Face, passed away from severe hypothermia yesterday following a kayaking accident on General Carrera Lake in Patagonia. According to reports, high winds on the lake whipped up waves as high as nine feet, and six people in Tompkins’ group capsized, including Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard. Three of the capsized paddlers managed to swim to an island and all were rescued by the Chilean Navy. Tompkins died at 6:30pm at Coyhaique Regional Hospital. Tompkins is well known as a passionate conservationist, with strong ties to the Patagonia region. After co-founding The North Face in 1968, and subsequently the ESPRIT clothing company, Tompkins left the business world in 1989 to dedicate himself to environmental activism. His love for...

Video: “Jumbo Wild” Trailer

Tahoe City’s Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema screens documentary about British Columbia’s iconic Jumbo Valley, and the fight to save its wild places Alpenglow Sports has partnered with Patagonia and Sweetgrass Productions to present “Jumbo Wild,” a unique documentary film highlighting the 24-year fight over the future of British Columbia’s iconic Jumbo Valley. The film documents the tension between the protection of wilderness and the backcountry experience and the ever-increasing development interests in wild places, specifically the proposed 1500-acre Jumbo Glacier Resort in British Columbia’s Purcell Mountains. Set against a backdrop of incredible backcountry ski and snowboard footage, Jumbo Wild documents all sides of a divisive issue bringing the passionate local fight to protect the Jumbo Valley to life for the first time. “The desire to protect wild places is a common thread among mountain athletes living in Lake Tahoe,” according to Brendan Madigan, owner of Alpenglow Sports....

Gear We Love: Oct/Nov 2015

Goodies we highly recommend for your active lifestyle Tifosi Pro Launch The Tifosi Pro Launch boasts a frame interchange system that integrates full frame, half frame and/or shield eyewear in one complete kit. Tifosi’s unique Interchangeable Component System (ICS) makes it simple to fit your frame to your activity. Each frame type has a patent-pending notch system that fits into the universal arms. Pivot the arm up and onto the notches until it clicks into place. The Tifosi Pro kit is available in a wide variety of options, and each frame comes with an extra set of lenses so you’re always ready for whatever activity the day brings. All Tifosi Pro kits include a set of universal arms, a custom zippered case to hold all components in place, plus a cleaning bag. MSRP $99.95-149.95 • tifosioptics.com Harlot Bike Wear Angie Jersey This ultra-light technical mountain bike jersey is the perfect...