Video: Life Above 5000 Feet

Shot in western Colorado and parts of Utah, this video captures some of the most spectacular timelapse imagery you could ever hope to see. It features beautiful night skies and amazing landscapes filled with snowcapped peaks, tranquil lakes, and wondrous rock formations. For my money, Colorado and Utah are two of the most beautiful states in the U.S., and that more than shines through here. These are two places that exude adventure, whether you're hiking, climbing, mountain biking, or simply just enjoying scenery. Here is just a taste of what to expect there.

Life Above 5,000ft: Colorado + Utah 2015 from Star Mountain Media on Vimeo.

Off to Colorado on Assignment

I'm hitting the road again tomorrow and will be gone through the end of the week. I'm off to Grand Junction, Colorado on assignment for a magazine article I'll be writing soon. Hopefully I'll have a chance to post a few morning updates while I'm there, but if blog posts are sparse this week, you'll know why. 

While I'm in Colorado, I'll be going off-roading with Cooper Tires to test a new set of tires that the company will be releasing soon. We'll be taking on such routes as the Grand Mesa Trail and Bangs Canyon in some jeeps especially equipped to take on the terrain there. It should be both a fun and informative couple of days, and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to spend some time back in the Rockies once again. 

With any luck, I'll post at least a few updates over the next few days, particularly as we get closer to the start of summit pushes on Broad Peak and K2. It will be a busy couple of weeks in the big mountains, and as usual I'll be doing my best with staying up with the latest news. 

Ski Mountaineers Complete Goal of Skiing Colorado's 100 Highest Peaks

How's this for completing an epic challenge? Ski mountaineering legend Chris Davenport, along with friends Ted and Christy Mahon of Aspen Colorado, have become the first people to climb and ski the 100 tallest peaks in the state of Colorado. That includes the 54 "14ers" – mountains that are more than 14,000 feet (4267 meters) in height – as well as the 46 next highest mountains, all of which are over 13,000 feet (3962 meters) themselves.

The project started nine years ago when Davenport became the first person to ski all of the 14ers in a single year, a feat that remains unmatched to this day. The Mahon's would ski each of those mountains as well, with Ted nabbing his final 14er in 2007, while Christy would follow suit in 2010. The idea for the trio to attempt "The Centennial" wouldn't come for another couple of years, when they were all climbing volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest.

In 2012, they launched their bid to get Colorado's next highest 46 peaks. It wasn't easy, as some of the mountains are well off the beaten path, and Devenport and the Mahons sometimes had to work very hard just to reach their targets. To make things even more interesting, many of those mountains lacked any real intel on ski routes, so they were also scouting them for their descents too. It was an extreme adventure in a place that is remote and rugged as you'll find in the lower 48 states.

Earlier this spring, Chris, Ted, and Christy completed their quest at long last. Their final mountain wasn't an easy one, as it took three days roundtrip just to go there, climb it, ski back down, and hike back out. But in the end they had accomplished something no one else had ever done, climbed and skied Colorado's Centennial, and set an impressive new feat in the world of ski mountaineering.

You can find out more about this mission by reading this article at National Geographic Adventure. It is quite a tale to say the least.

Video: Climbing The Elk Mountains of Colorado

This beautiful short film was shot by climber/filmmaker Joe Kyle on his adventure in the Elk Mountains of Colorado. Joe traveled to that spectacular landscape last year and spent two weeks hiking and climbing there. Along the way, he managed to bag Maroon Peak, Pyramid Peak, and Capitol Peak, all of which are amongst Colorado's vaunted 14'ers. He also filmed himself as he went, creating this thoughtful and inspiring video in the process. The scenery in his seven-minute documentary is worth a view alone, but there is more to the film than just that. Join Joe on his backcountry adventure and get a great look at what the Elks have to offer.

If you enjoy this film, then check out Joe's next project, which he recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to seek funding. He hopes to shoot a feature length documentary about hiking in Colorado, and promises to put together something very impressive if he can hit his goals.

The Elks from Joe Kyle on Vimeo.

Video: Snowskater Has Close Encounter with Avalanche

A rider zipping down Vail Pass recently had a close call with an avalanche, and it was all caught on video. The clip below shows him dropping off the ridge and heading downhill, only to have the snow begin to give way around him. Fortunately he was moving at a good speed, and the avalanche wasn't a major one, so he managed to avoid any kind of injury. Still, it is fascinating to see these experiences take place and watch the wall of snow start to move under him. Just glad he is safe.

Pow-Snowskater Out Runs Avalanche from Sk8parkmark on Vimeo.

Video: Alex Puccio Climbs Jade (V14) in Rocky Mountain National Park

Professional climber Alex Puccio travled to Rocky Mountain National Park to try her hand at climbing one of the more iconic routes in the park. She went to test her skills on Jade, which holds a rating of V14 (read: very tough!). This video follows her climb, which was incredibly difficult for a number of reasons. The clip gives us a great look at one of the best climbers in the world doing her thing though, and it is amazing to watch her go to work despite the difficult conditions. 

Blood, Sweat & Bad Conditions from Zerr Productions on Vimeo.

Video: North America's 50 Classic Climbs Episode 3 - Yosemite with an Attitude

Mark and Janelle Smiley return with another episode of the "North America's Fifty Classic Climbs" series from EpicTV. This time out, they head to Colorado to take Black Canyon. They attempt a route called "Scenic Cruise" which holds a grades of 5.10. While that doesn't seem incredibly challenging, the  steep cliff walls and other difficult conditions in the canyon add a level of difficulty that puts it beyond that modest number. Watching the clip will make it abundantly evident as to why this is viewed as a "classic climb."