by Susan Joy Paul

I arrived a bit early to Box Canyon Lodge and Hot Springs in Ouray, Colorado to find the front desk manager deep in conversation with a group of women—guests of the lodge and locals, it seemed—about hiking boots and blister prevention. Joanne Salette told me to help myself to the light continental breakfast she had laid out for her guests, while I waited for the owner, Karen Avery, to arrive. The lobby ladies were soon off on a hiking adventure, and I had some time to chat with Joanne. I learned that she had climbed all the Colorado 14,000-foot peaks—the “14ers”—some of them multiple times, and had the kind of knowledge and demeanor that would attract the attention of both newcomers and veterans in the sports of hiking and mountaineering. The peaks were one of my passions, but I was here for the hot springs, doing research for a book, Touring Colorado Hot Springs 2^nd, and so that conversation would have to wait.

Clingman's Dome Pasta Primavera

Weight per serving: 4.4 oz
Servings: 2

1 (4.3-oz.) package Lipton Alfredo-flavored Pasta Sides

2/3 cup low-fat powdered milk

1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1 lb bag frozen vegetables, dehydrated

2 tablespoons dried onion flakes

2 tablespoons olive oil

Optional Parmesan

3.5 cups water, added on the trail

AT HOME

by John Burbidge

Each summer and winter more than 20,000 people in the outdoor industry converge upon Salt Lake City at the Outdoor Retailer show. Over 1,000 brands of outdoor equipment are represented at the show, FalconGuides among them. It’s kind of like the world’s most gigantic outdoor store with all the coolest gear—except nothing is for sale. Not there, at least. The purpose of the show is for retailers to meet with gear manufacturers (exhibitors) and decide what gear to order for their shops, where the sales will eventually take place.

For the show attendees, the four-day event is a lot of work. Retailers ask about new products; exhibitors talk up the new offerings and do their best to sell, sell, sell. But along with the work come good times: The outdoor industry is a tight-knit group, and at the show friendships are made and kept for years. The festivities include music shows (up-and-coming Seattle hip-hop artist Macklemore performed this year), outdoor-apparel fashion shows, industry cocktail parties—even floor hockey games where brands compete with each other and hope to escape without injury!

When you stand in the booth all day, people-watching as the throngs file by, the buzz is palpable. Everybody seems energized by the common purpose of providing the products people need to get outside and enjoy the outdoors, whether they want to go hiking, climbing, skiing, paddling, running, snowshoeing, or just about any other outdoor activity you can think of.

Here, then, are some of the highlights seen and heard this winter:

This year's Winter Trails Day was a great success, thanks to the large turnout of people across the country looking to try their hands at snowshoeing and cross country skiing, many of them for the first time. The 18th Annual Winter Trails Day provided free snowshoeing and cross country skiing, complete with free equipment and free expert help to show participants the skills they needed to get started. Here, courtesy of SnowSports Industries America (SIA), is some behind-the-scenes footage of the day: