Desert Days

It is inevitable. Although I love to ski and play in the snowy mountains, come early Spring, I start to get pangs of nostalgia. I miss my mountain bike. I miss the feeling of flying down buff singletrack, feeling one with my bike as we surf along the flowy trail, jumping off rocks and roots and squealing with giddy excitement as we launch through the air. I miss the challenge of a technical line, my brain working as hard as my legs to clean the feature without ending up sprawled on the rocks with my bike resting calmly on top of me as if to say “Whew! Thanks for breaking my fall.” And I even miss the crashing, for each time I fall, I learn.

Annual Powder Pilgrimage

It had been about a year, and I was starting to suffer from withdrawl. Living in the particularly mountainous region around Dallas, TX, a mild winter and lack of elevation changes was starting to get to us. Luckily, this past month, we were able to sneak away twice to the mountains. First a great warm-up trip to Taos where I got my wife back on skis for the first time since our kids were born. A few days of packed powder, great moguls, earning a few turns, and taking in the Extreme Freeride Championships that were in town were a great pick me up out of the “lack of winter” blues, and got me fired up for our annual powder trip to Steamboat. (It also got me plotting a family ski trip next year when my daughter is 4! Time to get her on skis too….) 

Product & Employee Highlight: Andrew Murphy

PRODUCT HIGHTLIGHT

What is your favorite MK product and why?
Alpine utility pant because of the durability and functionality. I always have my knife or other items that the utility pocket is useful for.

What do you enjoy most about working at MK?
The laid back and positive attitude of everyone in the office – a happy workplace is a successful workplace.

Otter Creek Classic Wrap-Up

Opening weekend has come and gone here in Vermont. It was made especially memorable, not just by the events that were hosted, but the company that came along with it and the support it drew for the New Haven River Anglers Association. Middlebury Mountaineer hosted the Fly Fishing Film Tour on Friday, April 13th at Town Hall Theater in Middlebury. It was an amazing, sold out event, with 225 people in attendance. Set in the beautiful, historic Town Hall Theater, it offered a fantastic environment to host this event. This years FFFT also hosted a product showcase with vendors and representatives from Patagonia, Sage, Hardy, Jackson Kayaks, Vermont Fly Guys, Nick Mayer of Escape Studios, and the New Haven River Anglers. The hour prior to the film was full of product demonstrations, fly tying, conservation information, and good conversation. The New Haven River Anglers Association sold raffle tickets for a Yeti cooler valued at more then $350, which was won by Tom Getz at intermission. The Vermont Fly Guys, Brian Price and Ken Capsey, whipped up some amazing pike and musky “snacks” in front of a crowd. Damon Bungard brought three fishing kayaks from Jackson Kayaks, and caught several folks eyes with their angling friendly features. Brad Gage from Sage and Rio was showing off the new Sage ONE fly rod, while doing casting demos. Crosby Beane, representing Hardy, brought an amazing collection of Hardy Reels that had people drooling by the time they left the booth. Escape Studios, Nick Mayer, brought fantastic fish art, that would look amazing in any home, office or fishing lodge.

Oriflamme 50K Recap

April 7th brought a race that I had been looking forward to doing for about a year. The Oriflamme 50K. This race, however, was originally scheduled for March 17th and the race had already been filled before I had a chance to enter. Rain was on my side though and the race had to be moved to the April 7th date opening up some spots that allowed me to enter.