One hell of a year… Backpacker and Bicycling Clips

One year ago today I became unemployed with the goal of becoming an adventure travel writer. Now, a year later, I’m unemployed again. The difference? Five thousand miles, twenty eight states, a Colorado ID, and nine months at Backpacker Magazine.

I suspect I will be writing about my internship a lot, but for now I just want to point to most of the deliverables and takeaways from my time at Backpacker and Bicycling.

GPS-supported Conent

• Appalachian Trail GPS-Supported Map Fact checked, coedited and coproduced GPS-supported trail maps for the AT. Includes: 1,200+ miles of trail, thousands of waypoints, hundreds of photos, and 120+ individual trips.
• Fruita Mountain Biking - In typical Backpacker style, the map team headed to Fruita for a weekend of mountain biking and team building. In the process we also GPSed the trip, shot video and photos, and came back to put it all together.

Backpacker Magazine Clips

• Quick Fix: Badlands National Park - June 08
  
• Quick Fix: Great Smoky Mountain National Park - May 08
  
• Trip Finder: Low Rain Hikes - April 08
• Hike of the Month: Mt Whorl - April 08
• National Parks Package: Yosemite National Park - July/August 08
  

Google Earth - When I arrived at Backpacker, the words “Google Earth” carried little weight. After scoping out GE and how it enabled Backpacker readers to plan, execute, and share potential trips, I went to map editor Kris Wagner and suggested Backpacker begin using the program. With little resistance, Backpacker editors jumped on board constantly being wowed with the program and using it in both print and online stories.

• Google Earth June 08 Cover - I worked directly with editor and chief Jon Dorn, and design director Matthew Bates, to conceptualize and execute June’s digital cover shot. I was also responsible for working directly with Google to approve the cover, and secure copyright permissions from the image providers.

• Google Earth Flyover Videos - For the July/August National Parks Package, I worked directly with web editor Anthony Cerretani, senior editor Tracy Ross, and map editor Kris Wagner, to conceptualize and coproduce seven national park flyovers. I was ultimately responsible for recording the Google Earth Flyovers.
• Smoky Mountains NP flyover
• Yosemite NP flyover
• Denali NP flyover
• Grand Canyon NP flyover
• Yellowstone NP flyover
• Olympic NP flyover
• Glacier NP flyove

• iHike Package June 08 - Worked directly with editors to include Google Earth tips and screenshots in the June iHike package. Also worked directly with Google to approve digital images.

Tour de France Video Project - Two months ago my editor decided to send assistant editor Mark Harrison to France. The goal was to preview five of the tour’s stages in ways previously not being done. After two weeks of storyboarding, video lessons, and mayhem, Mark flew abroad. The end result was four high-quality videos on Bicycling.com, incorporating GPS-supported content, Google Earth, flash graphics and Getty Images.

• Stage 4
• Stage 6
• Stage 16
• Stage 17

New Media Feature Package - During the month of April I worked on a new media feature package. The topic, hiking blind, was pulled apart into interactive GPS content, a podcast, two videos and a written component.

• Video 1 - Backpacking Blind
• Video 2 - Erik Weihenmayer discusses what it’s like to be blind
• Podcast - (will be added soon)
• GPS-supported hike

Bicycling Magazine Clips

• Perfect Day: Las Vegas (On newsstand August 1)
• GPS-supported rides at bicycling.com/lasvegas (August 1)

Backpacker.com Blog

• Google Upgrades Earth
• Google Adds Contour Lines
• I Present To You The Universe
  

Backpacker Magazine PR - Taking the experience from my previous PR job, I worked with senior editors and Backpacker’s PR team to write and promote the launching of Backpacker.com, and five tips on how to get outside more.

• Backpacker Launches New Website
• Backpacker Teams With Google Earth
• Five Ways To Enjoy Your Summer More

Of course there is also all the stuff from my “actual job,” which was managing California, Nevada, and Hawaii for backpacker.com/destinations.

Less than 24 hours until bliss…I think…

Sitting in the office today my editor asked me what I was doing this weekend. Stupidly I said not much. Hence tomorrow; the first Trail Ridge Road ride of the season. Trail Ridge Road, a spectacular mountain climb through Rocky Mountain Park, is everything Colorado: Lung-busting elevation (over 12,000 feet), hundred-mile views and tight two-lane, no-shoulder riding. In other words, just another Saturday here in Boulder…

Boulder Dogs

When I first came to Boulder the prairie dog population baffled me.

“Why don’t the little kids round off the population with some bb gun practice?” I asked.

The dirty looks were too many to count. (Apparently, the world which I grew up in–bb guns, little supervision and death defying stunts–did not exist outside the bubble of the San Lorenzo Valley) So after running, biking, hiking, climbing and walking past these little guys for eight months I decided it was time to shoot a few. (Boulder approved of course)

Best Damn Weekend Ever: Moab + Sun + Full Moon and Good People

Sweet Home Alabama just hit the radio. It’s 2:22 am. I’ve cracked my second beer. We’re getting passed by a mini van. Moab is in our sights. Sweet.

More to come, but I’m zonked after nearly 800 miles of driving and two days in the desert. Photos are straight from the camera so be nice on the touchup.

-Tim

Reality Check on the Trail

Was out this weekend with some friends in Rocky Mountain National Park, when we passed an older guy on the trail.

“Hello, how are you?” We asked.

“Great kids!” he responded. “It’s another day above ground my friends.”

And just like that, suddenly everything was snapped back into perspective.

It’s summer! Wait…scratch that…the F-ing snow is back…

Climbing Twin SistersIt was hot yesterday. Like 75 degrees hot. Of course when I woke up this morning, three inches of snow was on the ground, but at least for one day we had California-like weather.Pics are from our adventure up Twin Sisters peak in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Oh My God — Last moments before total chaos

From a past life while working for Whitewater Excitement:

My old roommates right before the last drop in Tunnel Chute rapid.

And yes, that is me guiding…

Lazy Sunday on the Mesa Trail

Coffee, bagels and the New York Times gave way to the Boulder County Library and a lazy hike along the Mesa Trail before nerve-wracking football games. Took a few shots and thought you might enjoy.

1) The Flatirons

2) Notice how all the snow is on the trail?

3) A white peaceful world

Think you’re in Shape? Move to Boulder, and then kill yourself

Overheard while working out at the YMCA.

Ridiculously ripped dude one: “Hey man do you cyclocross?”

Equally Ripped dude two: “No, just ice climb and ski. Going to Jackson this weekend and Aspen in two weeks.”

“Sweet! But you really should try it. Once the road season ends it ‘s a great way to stay in shape. I just did a sick race in Estes Park.”

“Yea? Hard?”

“You know, typical. 30 miles, snow, same old shit.”

“Well I do need a new bike. Maybe I’ll pick one up. BTW, ever want to ride across Colorado?”

“Did last year, it was too easy.”

When I moved to Boulder I was out of shape. Two months on the road had broken me down. I’d run a marathon, competed in a few triathlons and climbed some 14,000 ft. peaks, but besides that the summer had been fairly uneventful.

Back home (Santa Cruz California,) I was the active one among most of my friends. Saturday mornings would be filled with 40-mile rides, 15-mile runs and marathon lap swims.

I would hit the gym at lunch, climb sporadically and hike twice a month.

And then I moved to Boulder.

The town where if you can’t ride a century, run a marathon and bust out a pitch on a gruesome 5.12 all in the same day, you’re mediocre. Worthless. Pathetic. Plane out of shape.

“Just remember,” several people told me when I first arrived. “There is always someone faster, better and more ballsy out there than you. Once you know that, you will be fine.”

I believed them, but it didn’t sink in at first.

My first two months were a blast. Twenty five thousand feet of elevation gain, over 100 miles hiked, a few hundred miles run and even two climbing sessions. I drank beer, lost weight, ate healthier than ever and found myself happier than I’d been in several years.

But as the newness wears off and I begin to become more of a resident in Boulder, the reality is sinking in.

“What are you doing this weekend?” I might ask a coworker.

“Oh you know, same old stuff. Climb a mountain early Saturday, then attend Dave Matthews before heading out to a friends hut trip which I’ll have to ski into at night. Then Sunday ski back, bang out a freelance piece and relax.”

Damn. And I thought hiking 10 miles was cool.

Lazy Sunday Romp

Since two of us (not me) were toast from skiing the day before (I helped my roommate polish off his liquor cabinet before moving to London) we decided a lazy Sunday hike would be the way to go.

Shots are as follows

• Snow? Trail? Hell just pull over and go
• The three of us trying to get close enough for a self shot portrait
• What it looks like from the view of an ant
• The payoff (Indian Peaks Wilderness)
• Just enjoying a great day together (Right before Elisabeth fell through the ice…)