Aspen Extreme

Torn Between Red or Green

As we crest La Bohada hill headed north from Albuquerque, it is almost sunset. The sky turns lazy shades of rosy pink and dusty orange as I catch my first glimpse of the Sangre de Cristos and the sun has painted the mountains their namesake, characteristic red.

Vacation Rhapsody

No one likes a tourist trap, but everyone loves a vacation destination. How do you remedy that contradiction? Traveling is about seeing the world from a different viewpoint and experiencing the true culture and bedrocks of a community without a crowd. In our Vacation Rhapsody, we put a new spin on this summer’s travel, getting you off the main drag and into the unique, quirky spots that make a...

Aspen Extreme

Summer in Ute City is chock full of all manner of fun, depending on what you’re into. And in this town, there is truly something for everyone—from teenagers to grandparents. If you’re one of the Lear Jet crowd, you can skip this; serious money goes a long way toward making food and lodging decisions moot. But if you’re not into plunking down a car payment for a night’s rest or dinner...

A Mad, Mad Course

Bob Ehrlich walks through the doors of the Mad Russian Pro Shop wearing a big cowboy hat and a navy blue blazer, looking very much like the man in charge. In his deep, slow timbre, he asks me if I golf. “Not as much as I’d like,” I say. And by that, I mean, “No.”...

Taking The Road Less Traveled

Having a difficult time deciding where to go this summer and don’t want to deal with crowds of tube sock-wearing tourists? Stick with us, my friend. From lesser-known attractions to off-the-wall destinations, there are plenty of places to explore. Here, a few must-see regional locations that will keep you entertained without the aggravation of rubbing shoulders with the masses...

The Professionals

his is your recreational playground—and it’s play time. But there’s more to sports and recreation than a pair of tennies and Spandex. Whether you’re a competitive climber, weekend warrior or an occasional off-road biker, sports medicine is vital. Without proper treatment, a little proactive care and some attention paid to your bod, all athletes are at risk for aches and injury. Here, the...

Unsolved Mysteries

Right now, on the other side of the world, two beams of protons are zooming around a 17-mile loop in opposite directions at speeds of 11,000 times per second. The particles are smashing into each other at levels never before seen. And from the collisions, high-energy detectors are collecting so much data that in 10 to 20 years, the volume of recorded information will equal all the words spoken by...

Spotlight: Six Questions with Denver Roller Doll Moira Lee Devoid

Westminster resident Amy Little’s name might be diminutive, but she skates fast and hits like a giant. The loquacious Denver Roller Doll goes by the track name of Moira Lee Devoid. She was a founding member of the Mobile Roller Derby league in Alabama, before work brought her boyfriend out West, her and her skates in tow. Here, the bruiser peels back the curtain on the track, shows us her scars...

A Festival Primer

There are about a million things that rock about the summer. Long motorcycle rides, playing golf, grilling brats and drinking beer in your backyard while watching your neighbors fight with sticks, wearing cardboard, silver-spray-painted “armor” in their yard (or is that just me?) … in the immortal words of Rodgers and Hammerstein, these are a few of my favorite things. But the jewel in the...

Trails of History

Several American Indians startled Mary Miller. It was the 1870s, and Mary and her husband Lafayette were running a hotel and stage station on Rock Creek; the Miller Tavern Ranch stood near the Rock Creek Trail on U.S. 287 and Dillon Road. The men wanted white flour, so Mary cooked biscuits. After devouring them, they left...

Challenging Elements: Artichokes

Chef Brett Smith was pretty confident about taking on our challenge. His wife asked him if he was nervous, and he told her he thought he had just about any ingredient covered, unless we gave him something that had to be in a dessert. Then we called and gave him artichokes...

Finger Food

There’s a moment of glee when you realize you’re expected to eat with your hands at Ras Kassa’s—maybe a bit of an “in-your-face!” to all the times Mother told you to sit up, tuck in your shirt and use your fork properly...

On the Food Trail

Every summer thousands of visitors flock to our region to experience, among other things, our considerable culinary attractions including Hammond’s Candy, tea at the Brown Palace, Celestial Seasonings, the Buckhorn Exchange and restaurants, bakeries, chocolatiers, artisans, breweries and coffee roasters. For locals, this is the season when the rest of our magnificent state calls to us. Here...

Tour de Course

Being an evolving foodie, my restaurant “wish list” is about as long as my arm. I’m always adding new places I’ve heard about, old standbys I’ve never managed to visit and even the one-taste-wonders to which I dream of returning. Sometimes it’s inspiring; other times it’s just plain overwhelming...

A Ride of a Lifetime

One of the best lessons I ever learned as a reporter was how to strike up a conversation with anyone. No matter what their age, color, sex, religion, nationality, rich or poor, if I ever wanted to get someone talking—excited, even—I’d ask them about their bicycles...

Training Day

I grew up taking naps under a massage table. During the spring and summer, my father, a sports massage therapist and coach, would spend weekends working at races, tournaments and bouts of all kinds. And I would get dragged along—thanks, Dad!...