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Articles Written By MartinUpton

 

Our National Parks and the Government Shutdown

January 19th, 2019

Begin Angry Outdoorsman. I am mad, but not near as mad as I was when I originally wrote this post last Wednesday.  You see, it has been over three weeks since the government shutdown started on December 23rd.  During this time most of our National Parks have remained open. Also during this time basic services have been halted—things like collecting entrance fees, guiding tourists, plowing the roads, cleaning toilets, emptying trash bins, and restricting access to certain parts of the parks.  Seven people have reportedly died in the parks during this time, which is actually less than the average... Read More

Colorado Christmas Tree Hunting

December 13th, 2018

Christmas is right around the corner and if you haven’t bought a tree yet I would like to offer up a cheaper and much more eco-friendly alternative. Now, this isn’t to detract from any other major religious holiday but if you celebrate Christmas and you don’t have a tree yet then this article is for you.   What if I told you that you could help mitigate the risk of forest fires here in Colorado and get a Christmas tree for anywhere from $5 – $20? Now, you will have to head out into the National forest of Colorado and cut it yourself, but you can pick just about any tree you find.... Read More

Your Outdoor Holiday Gift Guide

December 6th, 2018

With the season of giving well upon us and that major holiday only weeks away, I thought it would be a good idea to create an outdoor holiday gift guide for that adventurer on your list. It can be hard to shop for your outdoor inclined someone on your list, especially if you are more the indoor type.  Hopefully, the following guide can help you navigate the process. We will cover everything from small inexpensive stocking stuffers to big-ticket items. GSI Outdoors Soft Sided Wine Carafe – 750ml This thing holds an entire bottle of wine and is practically indestructible.  I have owned one... Read More

Hotel Luna Mystica – Glamping Done Right

November 29th, 2018

Hotel Luna Mystica Down in New Mexico at the foot of Wheeler peak and right next to the Taos Mesa Brewery Mothership stands a little-known hotel…if you want to call it that.  Hotel Luna Mystica is what they call it and it is an amazing place dotted with restored vintage trailers, campsites, and even trailer hookups if you bring your own. Trailer park? Not quite. At the risk of this place being overrun, let me tell you a little bit about it. The Best Winter Glamping Escape Close to Colorado Hotel Luna Mystica is an experience, to say the least, they have several restored vintage trailers... Read More

Hike Zapata Falls This Winter

November 15th, 2018

Just 3 miles south of the Entrance to the Great Sand Dunes National Park is an amazing waterfall that is not that well known and often only lightly trafficked. It is called Zapata Falls and while most tourists head there during the summer to escape the high temperatures at the great sand dunes, the real beauty is seeing this waterfall completely frozen.   There is no doubt that most visitors to the Great Sand Dunes see the sign for Zapata Falls on their way into the park, but the rocky entrance road and their (probable) itinerary of getting to the sand dunes likely wards off most visitors. Add... Read More

5 Reasons To Hit The Slopes With Your Signifiant Other

November 8th, 2018

For some couples, it can be frustrating to go out into a wintery landscape and work together as a team.  I for one say it’s important to get outside as a couple, and learning how to ski or snowboard or even teaching your significant other how can really help build a relationship. Now granted you need to be patient, and learning how to do either can be a slightly steep learning curve but once you are both proficient it can become a great bonding experience. Here are some of the reasons why.  1. Alone time Even if you live with your significant other it is often hard to actually find time to... Read More

6 Reasons Why Moab is a Great Escape From Colorado Fall

November 1st, 2018

Let’s face it Colorado is beautiful in the fall but for some, it just is not their favorite time to camp.  While most days are absolutely beautiful and make great camping weather some days see 40-degree swings between the highs and lows and it can get pretty damn chilly at night. Maybe you read my article about the 7 features to consider when buying a winter sleeping bag and you bought that sleeping bag and you’re still cold.  Well, you have a few options, you could go back to California, Texas, or Florida because you clearly aren’t cut out for this state or… you know go camping... Read More

7 Features to Consider when Choosing a Winter Sleeping Bag

October 25th, 2018

Whether you are planning on sleeping in your truck to catch that first chairlift, doing some late fall or winter camping, ski touring, mountaineering, or even snow caving, picking a good winter sleeping bag can be tough. There are a ton of options, and prices, and shapes, and features. Just going to REI can be overwhelming, to say the least.  So, I am going to break down what you need to look for exactly in order of importance. 1 – Price This gets listed first because everyone has a budget when it comes to buying gear.  You should know, however, that when looking at real winter sleeping... Read More

7 Ingredients to the Best Damn Camping Breakfast

October 11th, 2018

Well fall is definitely underway here in Colorado.  In fact it seems to have hit with a vengeance this year like it was mad summer even tried to show up.  But honestly this is a great time to camp. The mornings and nights get chilly sure but there’s not much better than waking up to a hot breakfast outside and I particularly like cooking with my cast iron dutch oven.  In fact I would say there is nothing better than breakfast period…and I am willing to argue that with you if need be. Regardless the following is a recipe I learned in scouts for a breakfast cooked in a cast iron dutch... Read More

6 Essentials for Summiting Colorado 14ers in the Fall

October 4th, 2018

Hiking 14ers in Colorado has become popular to say the least.  Often while hiking to a summit I see a family with kids in tow, donning t-shirts, shorts, water bottles, and maybe a few rain jackets spread amongst them.  That is great and really during the summer, without storms in the forecast, that’s about all you need. Many of the 14ers are so heavily trafficked that new easy to access trails have been built and even if you did run into problems the likelihood that someone would be by to help within a matter of minutes is pretty high.  These summer summits are great but some of us want... Read More

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