BUY
Black Diamond tent gives you a feeling of inside-out
No matter how many times you set it up, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever get over the sensation that your Black Diamond Skylight (MSRP: $430) tent is inside out. Never mind the inverse sensation of climbing into a collapsed tent before putting up the poles (all three attach on the inside), the single- wall tent’s most redeeming feature is the transparent no-see-um mesh ceiling stretching over its front third to bring the outside in. Then a sleek, weatherproof nylon canopy rolls over the top as a vestibule, offering lightweight protection from the elements. The lack of an external rain fly helps keeps the overall weight at just more than 4 pounds (including poles) while eliminating that extra step in the set-up,tear-down process. With dimensions of 88inches by 69 inches by 51 inches, the Skylight sleeps two.
PLAY
Longs Peak offers women chance to gain confidence
Ten women will have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Addie Alexander and Isabella Bird, the first women to summit Longs Peak (1871 and 1873, respectively), this weekend when the Women’s Wilderness Institute offers its third annual Longs Peak Climb on Friday. The three-day journey up one of Colorado’s most famous 14ers offers spectacular views, a great group experience and an opportunity to build strong outdoor skills under the tutelage of the non-profit institute’s expert staff. Designed for experienced hikers and women interested in a challenging, fast-paced course, the Longs Peak Climb involves high altitudes and sections of unroped scrambling. Two pretrip training hikes already have taken place, but space remains for a few more adventurous women. The $480 tuition includes all food and camping gear. Sleeping bags, backpacks and outdoor clothing are available on loan.
EAT
Not your average bear of a mountain eatery
If you plan to cover the 600 miles of trails surrounding “Mountain Bike Capital USA,” a.k.a. Winter Park, you might consider starting in nearby Fraser, home of The Hungry Bear. The low-key eatery on the corner of U.S. 40 and County Road 72 (just a couple miles north of Winter Park) offers heaping helpings of stick-to-your-ribs chow that will have your appetite hibernating in no time. Serving only breakfast and lunch in the summer months (dinners return to the menu at the start of ski season), owner/chef Joe Lovato can concentrate on stacking up the tasty malted pancakes alongside the signature two-plate “slam” while the friendly staff pours gratis refills of Kona coffee with a smile. A homemade soup and fresh salad bar anchors the vegetarian-friendly lunch offerings, while a full sandwich menu and Kobe beef burger are sure to satiate even an ursine appetite.
