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“Okay, so the premise is a little off-kilter – teaming up exhausting adventure sports with craft beer. These well-written columns are fast-paced, fun and really will get you off and exploring natural areas, with a cold brew as your reward.”
James Murren is an award-winning independent writer, with numerous pieces having appeared in outdoor sports and recreation media outlets, adventure and travel magazines, newspapers, practitioners’ journals and newsletters, including:
L.A. Times, The Surfer’s Journal, Adventure Sports Journal, Mountain Flyer, Roads & Kingdoms, Backpacker Magazine, Cranked (UK), Snowshoe Magazine, Sub-Saharan Magazine, San Diego Union-Tribune, Spoke Magazine (NZ), Dirt Rag Magazine, Bike Magazine, Bicyclist Magazine, Strung Magazine, Bicycle Times, Switchback, and XXC Mag.
Currently, he is a columnist for Adventure Sports Journal (“Earn Your Beer“). Earn Your Beer is about pushing yourself in the mountains, deserts, oceans, rivers, wherever and then sitting back and enjoying a beer when relaxing at camp or home. Additionally, he is on the editorial team for Snowshoe Magazine.
I’ve a new project for 2021. Check it out here: MTBeer
Several articles and writing samples are available under Portfolio in the menu bar up top, where you can also enter the Blog for current postings.
Murren has published three books. Go Here, Go There: Travel and Workis a collection of words and photos depicting such experiences in ten countries around West Africa, Central and South America, North America, and Eurasia. The other two books are based on his work and travels in Honduras and Ethiopia. You can buy the books online via the link in the sidebar, or at the following locations: The Reader’s Cafe in Hanover, PA and Verbatim Books in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego, CA.
Member: Society of American Travel Writers and North American Travel Journalists Association
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- Earn Your Beer #132: Digital Detox - 02/15/2024
- Earn Your Beer #131: Mendocino Redwoods - 12/14/2023
- Earn Your Beer: Issue #130 - 08/28/2023
Snowshoeing June Lake
By James Murren
10oz of Hail Zythos at the June Lake Brewing tasting room (June Lake Brewing).
I parked my car where the snow plows had stopped clearing the road that goes from June Lake to Silver Lake in the eastern Sierra Nevada. Accumulated snow in the area was measured in feet and I was excited to go snowshoeing.
Where the snow plow stopped, snowshoeing began, meaning the unplowed road was the trail. As I strapped on my snowshoes, a backcountry snow boarder came walking out from the other side of the snow pile.
“Good, you’ll help pack it down,” he said. We exchanged a few musings on the recent weather as I finished with the final strap. He commented that the snow-covered road/trail was not tracked after a half a mile or so.
A little ways down the road, two ice-climbers were seemingly learning how to use their axes on a snowy section of wall that was not more than a few feet off the ground. The day was blustery, wind chills in the low double digits nearing single digits. Silver Lake was out of view, but knowing it was up ahead and wanting to see its famed views from the other side served as my motivation.
Once past all the holes from the foot traffic and what looked like one set of snowshoe tracks that got out a day or two before me, there were only cross country ski tracks in front of me. The terrain graded slightly up, making the going a little strenuous, especially after arriving from sea level.
Behind me, I noticed two people getting on the trail. Some 15 minutes later, they caught up to me; cross country skis sliding easily across the snow.
Snow white Silver Lake came into view and I could see the distant shoreline. Looking back, Carson Peak rose up, and a distinct couloir was visible.
Continuing on towards the shoreline, I was surprised at how labored the effort was. My quads were heating up as I traipsed over the deep snow. I was short of breath. To be frank, I struggled a little.
At the shore, I looked back across the frozen snow-covered lake. Winter’s grandeur in the eastern Sierra Nevada was on display. Gusts of icy wind whipped across the lake and slammed into my face. I smiled.
Turning around, I kept looking at that couloir, hoping to see someone drop into it. Eventually, I noticed a line snaking down it. Someone did run it. Was it the snowboarder from earlier? Around me, trees were dressed up in their winter wear, a mega winter of snowfall not yet done. The immediate forecast called for a few more feet in the coming days.
Now back near where I began, I followed tracks from the previous snowshoer that went out onto the lake. The perspective from the open vastness, versus being treed-in, provided an understanding of immensity.
Back up on the trail, I went. I soon climbed over the snow pile and started unstrapping my snowshoes. Snowshoes off my feet, I loaded them into the car. June Lake Brewing was my lunch plan.
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I walked into the tasting room and reviewed the board of beer offerings. When I saw a collaboration beer between June Lake Brewing and Alpine Beer Company, I did not contemplate or hesitate for a second on what I was going to drink.
Hail Zythos Pale Ale came in at 6.66%. I picked up the pint and got an immediate blast of citrus on the nose. Down the gullet, it finished with a little pine-resin dank. Highly drinkable, I thought, one of those beers that could sneak up on you.
The vibe was super laid back with locals talking at conversation tone. Sun streamed in through the windows. A couple recommended that I get the ahi taco from the food truck, so I walked across the icy parking lot and ordered one. Less than ten minutes later, it arrived to my seat at the bar. The couple was correct; it was as good as any ahi taco that I had eaten over the years.
Finishing up, I wanted another pint, but alas … I had to drive.
Tracks at Silver Lake, June Lake (James Murren).
