Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson

Camrin Dengel is a professional lifestyle photographer who lives and works on the quiet side of the Teton Mountain Range in Teton Valley, Idaho. Her work focuses on a broad range of subjects, with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture, hunting, fishing, and life in and around her mountain community. In her work and leisure, Camrin is a devoted proponent of slow living, and she strives to approach her profession and life in a manner that is intentional, simple, meaningful, and positive. • Growing up in Valdez, Alaska gave Camrin a unique perspective and toughness (she calls it “stubbornness”) that have allowed her to pursue her passion for art full time, while staying true to her ideals and enjoying a slow-living lifestyle. She attended college on a running scholarship with the intention of becoming an engineer, but decided midway through that art and photography were her true calling. After graduation, she moved straight to Teton Valley where she has built a life and business centered around documenting the people and places that make the American West such a special place to live. • I’ve spent a lot of time in Teton Valley and can honestly say that Camrin’s work captures the landscapes and lifestyle more authentically than any artist I’ve ever seen. She is obviously a talented photographer, but she is also a super-interesting person who has managed to sidestep a good deal of the “busyness” and distractions that dominate many of our lives. In our conversation, we discuss her career trajectory, and also her love for the community of Teton Valley. We dig deep into the idea of slow living, and she offers some thoughts on ways for people to adopt a slower, more intentional lifestyle. As usual, we discuss favorite books, documentaries, and challenges and opportunities facing the American West. • This is a really fun episode full of lots of great info. Be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything we discuss. Hope you enjoy! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/camrin-dengel/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:30 - How Camrin describes her work 3:50 - Good example of Camrin’s work 5:30 - Teton Valley explained 7:25 - How she ended up in Teton Valley 8:30 - Transition from adventure photography to lifestyle 9:50 - Thoughts on slow living 10:45 - Ways to live slowly as effortlessly as possible 13:25 - Being intentional with social media 14:20 - Advice for adopting a slower lifestyle 15:30 - Growing up in Alaska 16:35 - Unique aspects of growing up in Alaska 18:50 - How Alaska shaped Camrin’s perspective 20:05 - College years in California 21:15 - From engineer student to artist 23:15 - Time with the Alaska Marine Conservation Council 24:35 - Similarities between fisherman, ranchers, and farmers 27:10 - Camrin’s definition of conservation 28:00 - Thoughts on fishing and hunting 31:45 - How Camrin developed the confidence to follow her passion 33:15 - Role models and mentors 35:10 - Other possible career paths 36:45 - Advice to aspiring photographers 39:00 - Photography advice 40:30 - Book recomendations 41:20 - Slow living resources 42:45 - Favorite documentaries 44:20 - Surprising activities 48:00 - Favorite place 49:20 - Ideas for off the beaten path experiences in Alaska 51:00 - The insanity of the Mt. Marathon 55:15 - Biggest challenge facing the American West 57:30 - Request of the listeners 58:50 - Connect with Camrin online

Jason Schlarb is a champion ultrarunner whose notable achievements include winning the Hardrock 100 (2016) and Run Rabbit Run 100 (2013 & 2015), as well as finishing as the top American in the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (4th place, 2014). He is also an accomplished adventurer who, among other things, has skied the entire Hardrock 100 course in winter and explored remote regions of Patagonia and New Zealand, all while filming his exploits and then creating engaging, authentic films though his company Schlarb-Wolf Productions. Most impressively, Jason is a veteran who served for 10 years as an officer in the United States Air Force, which included a five-month deployment to Iraq and his earning the rank of Major. • A competitive soccer player for most of his youth, Jason made the switch to running relatively late in the game when he joined the cross country team as a high school senior. But his natural talent for endurance combined with a relentless competitive streak allowed him to walk on to a Division I cross country team, where he excelled throughout his college career. After years of focusing exclusively on road races ranging from 10Ks to marathons, he made the switch to trail running and has never looked back. Jason, his wife Maggie, and son Felix have shaped their lives around the pursuit of a purpose-driven, rewarding, and adventurous lifestyle, and they currently reside on the southern end of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, just outside of Durango. • Jason is a fascinating guy with an infectiously positive attitude, which made for a fun and in-depth conversation. We cover a broad range of topics, including his athletic background, his journey to ultrarunning, and some of his adventures around the world. We discuss his time in the military and how those 10 years of service affect his outlook and approach to sports and life. We chat about his thoughts on competition, mental toughness, and the benefits of positive thinking. Whether you’re an athlete or not, there are huge amounts of wisdom to be gleaned from Jason’s experiences and perspective. • This was a fun conversation and I really appreciate Jason taking the time to chat. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/jason-schlarb/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:48 - How Jason describes his work 4:05 - The Hardrock 100 6:30 - Hardrock 100 course and the San Juan Mountains 10:00 - Jason’s early life, growing up as an athlete 12:30 - Transition from soccer to running 13:45 - Balancing competition against others with competition against himself 15:24 - College running career 18:00 - Benefits of a tough college coach 18:35 - Transition from college to the US Air Force 20:00 - Motivations for joining the military 21:10 - Experiences in the military 21:50 - Deployment in Iraq 22:40 - Life post-military 23:30 - Transition to trail running 25:45 - Biggest surprise during Jason’s first ultra 27:00 - Military lessons applied to running 30:20 - Mental aspects of running 100 milers 34:35 - Jason’s transition to a positive, smiling mental approach 38:20 - Maggie Schlarb’s influence on Jason’s training 39:50 - Coaching a positive mindset 41:40 - The appeal of endurance sports 42:45 - Jason’s annual adventures and films—Skiing the Hardrock, New Zealand, etc. 48:45 - Thoughts on conservation 53:00 - Favorite books 55:00 - Favorite films 57:20 - "Fight Club" and thoughts on the origins of Jason’s lifestyle 1:01:20 - Most powerful outdoor experiences 1:05:30 - Jason’s request of the listeners 1:07:50 - Connect with Jason online

Larry Yaw is a renowned architect based in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley whose work connects people with nature using contemporary, sustainable, conservation-focused designs. Growing up in rural Montana gave Larry a deep appreciation for the utilitarian character of ranch homes and their thoughtful integration into the landscape, aspects that form the foundation of much of his work today. Through his design, Larry has demonstrated a unique ability to pay homage to the past while boldly pushing beyond preconceived notions of architecture in the American West. • If I had to use one word to describe Larry it would probably be “adventurous”—a quest for adventure seems to guide all aspects of his professional and personal lives. As you’ll hear in our conversation, Larry has traveled the world many times over, sometimes with his full family in tow, seeking out enriching experiences everywhere from the South Pacific to the Swiss Alps. He is also intellectually adventurous, as evidenced by his deep knowledge of history, conservation, Native Americans, and many other subjects related to the West and beyond. Physical adventures are a daily occurrence for Larry, whether it’s pedaling single track, stalking trout with his fly rod, hiking in the high mountains around Aspen, or shooting birds on the Montana prairies. All of these experiences provide the fuel that keeps Larry’s creative engine firing at turbo speed, decade after decade. • This was a super-fun conversation, and I came away from it inspired and enlightened. We discussed a broad range of topics including Larry’s architecture, his creative process, and how he has managed to stay consistently creative for so long. We chatted about his early years in Montana, some of his adventures around the world, and his thoughts on conservation in the American West. Larry is a true student of the West, so he had plenty of book recommendations. There is a lot of great information in this interview, so don’t forget to check the episode notes for links to everything we discuss. ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/larry-yaw/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:45 - How Larry describes his work 3:40 - Larry describes his architecture 5:00 - Montana’s influence on Larry’s work 7:20 - Early years in Montana and Florida 9:00 - College years and path to graduate school 13:25 - Post-grad school early career 15:15 - Decision to move back West 16:30 - Origins of Larry’s adventurous outlook 22:00 - International travel’s influence on his work 23:55 - Around the world family trip 25:05 - Adventures on Aconcagua 26:22 - Cultural influences of travel 27:10 - Rugged individualism versus community 29:00 - Design for an active, mountain-inspired lifestyle 30:20 - Process versus goals 32:45 - His creative process 34:40 - Evolution of Larry’s work 36:30 - Thoughts on conservation 38:30 - Interactions with Native Americans 41:00 - Sustainability and design 42:30 - Interactions with the Blackfeet Tribe 46:30 - “Once Proud” painting series 48:30 - Recommended books on Native Americans 51:15 - Larry’s favorite books 55:20 - Favorite documentaries 56:50 - Favorite outdoor and artistic activities 1:01:25 - Craziest outdoor experience 1:04:00 - Favorite location in the West 1:06:45 - Biggest challenge/opportunity facing the West 1:08:55 - Advice to his younger self 1:12:10 - Larry’s request to the listeners 1:13:50 - Connect with Larry online

Pat O’Toole is a rancher who, along with his family, owns and operates the Ladder Ranch, a large-scale cattle and sheep operation that straddles the Colorado-Wyoming border. Pat’s wife Sharon's family established the ranch in the Little Snake River Valley back in 1881, and now, six generations later, the family's hard work, thoughtful vision, and a deep respect for the land have made the Ladder Ranch a shining example of the combined effect of productive agriculture and land conservation. • Pat’s background is far outside of the norm for many multi-generational ranchers—he grew up in south Florida, majored in philosophy in college, and just before he and his wife enrolled in law school, they decided to return to her family’s land to continue in the family business of ranching. Since then, the O'Tooles have not only run a financially successful operation, but they have simultaneously improved wildlife, bird, and fish habitat throughout the ranch. By thinking outside the box and partnering with both non-profit and governmental organizations, the Ladder Ranch has set a new standard for conservation, creative problem solving, and sustainable land stewardship. • We had a fun, in-depth conversation that covered a wide variety of topics that will be of interest to anyone who loves the West, whether you’re involved in ranching or not. We discuss Pat's thoughts on cooperation between ranchers and environmentalists, and how the relationship between the two groups is getting stronger and more positive every year. We chat about water in the West, and why it is important to keep water on ranches rather than being sold off to municipalities. We also dig into Pat’s unconventional background, his thoughts on the future of land conservation, and of course, favorite books, history, and his favorite location in the West. • Pat is an interesting guy who has thought very deeply on issues related to the American West, including conservation, water, and agriculture. There’s a lot of great information in this interview, so I hope you enjoy! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/pat-otoole/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:59 - How Pat describes his work 3:41 - History of the Ladder Ranch 4:45 - Discussion of the Homestead Act’s effect on settlement 9:07 - Cooperation between ranchers and environmentalists 9:55 - Benefits of grazing cattle and sheep 11:00 - Rotational grazing on the Ladder Ranch 11:55 - Importance of not breaking up ranches 13:00 - “Hopefuls" and "Hatefuls" 14:28 - The “Era of Limits" 19:00 - Pat’s personal background 21:55 - TR’s creation of Forest Service 23:28 - Amazing feats of past generations 26:00 - Ingraining the conservation ethic in children 28:10 - Pat’s role models 30:36 - The Ladder Ranch’s community of conservationists 33:00 - Importance of keeping water on ranches 37:00 - Flood irrigation explained 41:25 - Importance of keeping water our current water law in tact 42:30 - Leopold Conservation Award 44:00 - Endangered Species Act 46:50 - Favorite books 49:42 - Ferry Carpenter’s ranch library 50:15 - Favorite movies 53:40 - Craziest experience in the outdoors 54:50 - Favorite location in the West 55:22 - History of Battle Creek 57:40 - Pat’s request of the listeners 58:50 - Connect with the Ladder Ranch online

Joe Grant is a highly accomplished professional ultra-runner and all-around endurance athlete who has completed some of the endurace world’s most challenging events—several Hardrock 100s, UTMB 100, Western States 100, and Bighorn 100, as well as the Arizona Trail Race (750 miles on mountain bike), Iditarod Trail Invitational 350, and many, many more. He most recently completed the “Tour de 14ers,” a solo, self-supported and self-powered link-up of all of Colorado's 14,000-foot mountains, by bicycle and on foot. For those of you counting, that’s climbing 57 fourteeners, accessed all by bike, in 31 days. • But Joe’s career as a professional athlete makes up only a small portion of his personal identity. He is a talented writer and photographer, as well as a voracious reader. He was born in England and grew up in France, so he has a global perspective that gives him a unique point of view. He is obviously driven to pursue challenging goals, yet he has always been focused more on the process than the end result. Joe's athletic achievements seem to combine his desire for continued personal growth with a genuine love of wild places and a strong conservation ethic. • Because he has such a depth of knowledge on so many interesting subjects, talking with Joe solely about running would only begin to scratch the surface. So after a rundown of his recent 14er adventure, we went deep into his thoughts on adventure, endurance, and pushing one’s personal boundaries. He talked about his upbringing and how family and friends have helped shape his outlook on life, giving him the confidence to pursue an unconvential, yet extremely fulfilling lifestyle. We of course talked a lot about books, as well as goal setting, daily practices, and his thoughts on conservation. • I’m obviously biased, but I loved this conversation and really appreciate Joe taking the time to chat. I encourage you to check him out on social media, and read some of his columns. If you like people who are passionate, humble, deep-thinking, and all-around interesting, you’ll enjoy getting to know Joe. Enjoy! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/joe-grant/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:00 - How Joe describes his work 5:00 - Tour de 14ers 7:30 - Thoughts on choosing to travel by bike 8:20 - Self supported bike-packing ethic explained 10:00 - High points of the trip 11:08 - Thoughts on expedition preparation 12:45 - First days of the Tour de 14ers 15:45 - Various challenges during the trip 17:33 - Low point of the trip 20:30 - Techniques for digging out of fatigue-enduced “dark places" 21:25 - Arizona Trail Race 22:45 - More on pushing through fatigue 24:25 - Parallels between mediation and endurance sports 26:41 - Benefits of observing your mind and body from an outside perspective 28:25 - Personal growth through endurance sports 30:20 - Goal oriented versus process/moment oriented 32:40 - Comfort versus happiness 36:30 - Joe’s early years in Europe 37:15 - How living internationally shaped Joe’s perspective 39:10 - Benefits of gap year travel 43:10 - Lessons learned from international living 44:10 - Story behind Joe’s mother running a 100-miler 46:40 - Mentors and role models 48:40 - Joe’s reading recommendations 52:15 - Joe’s definition of conservation 55:00 - Favorite books about the American West 56:55 - A personal interest that would surprise listeners 57:37 - Craziest outdoor experience 59:50 - Joe’s favorite piece of gear 1:01:10 - Favorite spot(s) in the American West 1:02:00 - Biggest challenge facing the American West 1:03:45 - Joe’s request of listeners 1:04:40 - Connect with Joe online

Ben Masters is a filmmaker and conservationist whose work explores some of the most important conservation challenges facing the American West today. He was the mastermind behind the award-winning documentary "Unbranded," which tells the story of Ben and his three buddies who ride wild mustangs from Mexico to Canada as part of an epic five month-adventure. The film also examines the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse Program, a well-intentioned, but now controversial, government program created to protect the wild horses that roam the western U.S. For those who love the American West, "Unbranded" is one of the best documentaries in recent memory—it combines hardcore adventure with important conservation issues, all while accurately capturing the true beauty of the American West. • Conservation is the common theme running through all of Ben’s work, and his passion is fortified with a deep knowledge of natural history, public lands, and policy issues related to the American West. His expertise recently earned him a spot on the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board, the group tasked with solving the challenging issues surrounding the program he profiled in "Unbranded." His most recent film, "Pronghorn Revival," is the story of Texas wildlife biologists capturing and relocating a struggling herd of pronghorns (i.e. antelopes). Not one to rest on his laurels, Ben is working hard on more conservation projects to be revealed in the coming months. • When we recorded this episode, Ben was less than a day away from leaving on a multi-week guiding trip to the area around Yellowstone National Park, so I really appreciated him making the time to chat. In just under an hour, we managed to cover a wide range of conservation-related topics: the BLM’s Wild Horse Program, invasive species in the American West, thoughts on hunting, as well as Ben’s personal background, favorite books, favorite documentaries, and a crazy horse stampede story... with plenty of other intesting subjects thrown in. • If you haven’t already, be sure to check out "Unbranded." You’ll love it. In the meantime, enjoy my conversation with Ben Masters. ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/ben-masters/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:05 - How Ben describes his work 3:35 - Ben’s upcoming adventures 5:40 - Overview of Unbranded documentary 7:45 - Genesis for the idea for Unbranded 9:45 - Overview of the BLM Wild Horse Program 10:15 - Natural history of horses in North America 14:20 - Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act 17:16 - Ben’s thoughts solving the wild horse challenge 21:10 - Political challenges surrounding wild horses 23:45 - More North American natural history 24:55 - What “conservation” means to Ben 26:00 - Ben’s personal connection to conservation 27:40 - Resources for understanding the history of conservation 29:00 - Conservation challenges facing the West in the next 20 years 32:10 - Ben’s thoughts on hunting and conservation 33:45 - Cautionary tale of Texas Screwworms 36:30 - Overview of Pronghorn Revival 38:35 - Favorite books 40:20 - Favorite documentary 41:30 - Ben’s work with veterans 42:23 - Hobbies that Ben enjoys 43:48 - How Ben learned the art of filmmaking 45:00 - Craziest outdoor experience 47:50 - Ben’s favorite place in the West 48:40 - Ben’s request of the listeners 51:30 - Connect with Ben online

Stephen Smith is an agrarian, adventure, and lifestyle photographer who has successfully combined his love of ranches, farms, motorcycles, and travel into a full-time career in professional photography. Thanks to his artistic eye, hard work, persistence, and willingness to take risks, Stephen has successfully created a niche for himself in the crowded arena of professional photography. • He is obviously a naturally talented artist, but it seems that a great deal of Stephen's success can be traced back to the fact that he is committed to putting himself in unique—often difficult, uncomfortable, or scary—situations that allow him to capture one-of-a-kind experiences and perspectives. Among other things, he has worked on a 90,000-acre Colorado cattle ranch, taken a five-month solo motorcycle trip through South America, and put in time at several California and Colorado vineyards, all while constantly shooting photos and refining his craft. • Stephen's solid understanding of agriculture and years of adventure are evident in his work. His images are as authentic as they are artistic, and he knows how to capture the true spirit of a person, place, animal, or experience in a fresh style that creates a genuine connection with the audience. I came across Stephen’s agricultural photography several years ago and was immediately drawn in. (And keep in mind, I can be a bit jaded when it comes to ranch photos—I look at them all day as part of my job.) I have been a fan of his work ever since. • I was super-excited to finally meet Stephen and learn more about his work and personal story. We had a fun (and funny) conversation and covered a wide range of interesting topics. We dug into his connection to agriculture and talked in depth about how ranches and farms play an important role in land conservation. We talked about motorcycles and some of his adventures. We discussed the importance of international travel and his lessons learned from immersion in foreign cultures. We obviously chatted in detail about photography, as well as an insane bear story that you definitely need to hear. • Cool guy. Thoughtful conversation. Crazy stories. Great episode! • http://mountainandprairie.com/stephen-smith/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:55 - How Stephen describes his work 4:55 - How he decided to focus on agriculture as a photography subject 7:45 - How long he's been shooting photographs 10:00 - Lesson learned from starting with film photography 12:00 - Stephen’s time working on a Colorado Ranch 16:00 - Overview of holistic range management 19:15 - What “conservation” means to Stephen 22:30 - How his deep understanding of agriculture is reflected in his work 26:00 - Some examples of extraordinary agricultural operations 31:00 - Economic benefits of holistic management 32:30 - Stephen’s love of motorcycles 36:00 - Connection between motorcycles and agriculture 37:00 - Five-month solo motorcycle adventure 42:30 - Lesson learned from traveling and living abroad 47:10 - Books on motorcycle adventures 48:30 - Recommended motorcycle trips through the West 50:00 - Upcoming Mexico motorcycle adventure 54:30 - Big breaks versus a slow grind 58:00 - Advice to young photographers 1:03:30 - Favorite books 1:05:20 - Favorite documentary 1:06:40 - Thoughts on surfing 1:08:45 - Simple advice to be a better landscape photographer 1:13:00 - Insane story about being chased by a bear 1:20:20 - Favorite place in the West 1:21:10 - Biggest threat facing the West 1:24:10 - Stephen’s request of the listeners 1:26:00 - Connect with Stephen online

Nicholas Coleman is an ultra-talented, hard-working artist based out of Provo, Utah, and he paints some of the most interesting and beautiful works I’ve ever seen. His primary subject matter is the American West, with a focus on landscapes, natural history, wildlife, Native American culture, and exploration. I came across Nick’s work on Instagram of all places—in the midst of the app’s thousands of images, noise, and distractions, one of Nick’s images boldly stood out from all the rest. It stood out so much that I wanted more, so I went to his website and was blown away by his work. The more I learned about Nick, the more impressed I became—he is a multifaceted individual with a fascinating back story. • Nick is not your stereotypical artist. He is a devoted hunter, fisherman, and trapper, and he’s also a voracious reader who probably knows more about western history than many college professors. He has a focused and disciplined approach to his art, working six days a week and never sitting around waiting to "get in the mood" to paint. With his deep love of art and the West, combined with his rock solid work ethic, it’s no surprise that he has been able to build a stellar reputation in the super-competitive and challenging world of professional art. • I could’ve talked to Nick for hours, because so many of his interests overlap with mine. We did manage to dig into the details of his art and artistic process. We chatted about his international travels to South America, Africa, and New Zealand, as well as his thoughts on how those adventures have influenced his life and work. We discussed his education as an artist, as well as his advice for those aspiring to make art a full-time career. We also talked a lot about Teddy Roosevelt, which is always fun. See below for the full list of topics covered. • Thanks to Nicholas Coleman for joining me on the podcast. I hope you enjoy! • http://mountainandprairie.com/nicholas-coleman/ --- TOPICS COVERED: 3:11 - How Nicholas describes his work 4:40 - His family's history in the West 5:55 - Hunting, fishing, trapping, and their influence on his work 8:50 - Childhood experiences that led to a career in art 10:35 - Theodore Roosevelt and Carl Akeley 13:00 - Thoughts on hunters as conservationists 17:03 - How international travel influenced his art and outlook 19:55 - Thoughts on being self taught versus academically trained in art 23:00 - Nicholas’s artistic process 27:30 - A typical day 29:10 - The backstory on Nicholas’s studio 30:30 - The role that history plays in his work 32:10 - Where he gets his ideas for painting 34:15 - How he ensure that his paintings are historically accurate 36:40 - Recommended books about Native Americans 38:25 - The evolution of his art over the last 10 years 40:10 - How it feels to create art 42:00 - Thoughts on embracing technology 45:40 - What “conservation” means to Nicholas 48:55 - Favorite Theodore Roosevelt books 50:10 - Lessons he’s teaching his children about conservation 51:00 - Advice for aspiring artists 53:45 - Favorite books 55:50 - Favorite documentaries 56:00 - Other hobbies, including motorcycles 59:40 - Nicholas’s insane Alaskan hunting adventure 1:05:40 - Favorite location in the American West 1:07:30 - Biggest challenge facing the American West 1:11:00 - Nicholas’s request of the listeners 1:11:40 - Connect with Nicholas online

Ann Johnston is Executive Director of the Crested Butte Land Trust (CBLT), a conservation organization that protects land in Crested Butte and Gunnison County, Colorado. Given the focused geographic area in which CBLT operates, Ann and her team must be creative and nimble, and they use a variety methods to protect a diverse array of landscapes, from large-acreage rural ranches to small in-town parcels. CBLT must also balance the competing priorities of Gunnison County’s various stakeholders—ranchers, hikers, bikers, skiers, businesses, and tourists, just to name a few. In an area of the West that is becoming more and more popular, CBLT’s work has never been more important. • I’ve long admired Ann’s ability to think outside the box and effectively execute her plans, so I was excited to get a chance to sit down with her in CBLT’s Crested Butte office. We had a fun conversation in which we discussed her personal connection to conservation, the challenges and opportunities of operating in such a tight-knit community, conservation success stories, specific methods for saving land, advice for aspiring conservationists, and much more-- see below for a full list of the topics we discussed. Enjoy! • http://mountainandprairie.com/annjohnston/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:15 - How Ann describes her work 5:20 - What makes Crested Butte Land Trust unique 7:25 - CBLT’s approach to conservation on a local level 9:20 - Challenges/Opportunities of working in such a tight-knit community 11:35 - Example of win-win conservation projects 13:30 - Snodgrass Trailhead Project 18:35 - How Ann prioritizes projects 20:55 - What does “conservation” mean to Ann and CBLT 22:55 - The specific definition of “saving" land 24:30 - Why Colorado is the leader in land conservation 25:55 - Colorado conservation tax credit explained 28:20 - Ann’s personal background and connection to conservation 31:50 - Experiences that attracted Ann to conservation 33:30 - Ann’s love of surfing 36:15 - Advice to future conservationists 39:10 - Biggest opportunities in conservation 41:15 - Where conservation is going in the next 20 years 43:30 - One thing Ann would change about conservation 45:10 - Advice for future conservationists, part 2 47:25 - Book recommendations 48:50 - Documentaries 50:00 - Favorite locations in the West 50:35 - Favorite trails in Crested Butte 52:00 - Ann’s craziest outdoor experience 54:00 - Biggest challenge facing Colorado in the future 55:10 - Ann’s request of the listeners 55:50 - Connect with Ann and CBLT online

Andrew Skurka is a highly accomplished adventure athlete who is most well known for his long-distance solo backpacking trips, including the 4,700-mile Alaska-Yukon Expedition, the 6,875-mile Great Western Loop, and the 7,775-mile Sea-to-Sea Route. He has also completed countless fast and light trips throughout the Sierras, Wind River Range, Zion National Park, and Appalachian Trail, just to name a few. Andrew has been named "Adventurer of the Year" by both Outside Magazine and National Geographic Adventure, as well as "Person of the Year" by Backpacker Magazine. • Andrew is also a published author, having written "The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide: Tools & Tips to Hit the Trail," and he is close to finishing the manuscript for the book’s second edition. He also writes extensively on his personal blog, which is full of detailed, information-rich articles about backpacking, gear reviews, and other endurance-related content. On top of everything else, Andrew is a guide, speaker, and accomplished ultra-runner, having placed second in the Leadville 100 and third in the Run Rabbit Run 100. Just this past weekend (6/25/16), he placed fourth at the San Juan Solstice 50-Mile Trail Run, one of the most difficult 50-milers in the country. • Andrew is a great guy, and we had a very fun conversation. We obviously talk a lot about many of his long-distance backpacking adventures, but we also dig into some of the mental and emotional aspects of traveling through such remote areas for long periods of time completely alone. We talk about his personal background and how he became interested in adventure sports, and also about his decision to forgo a traditional career in finance or consulting to carve out a career centered around the outdoors and adventure. As usual, I ask about his favorite books, favorite documentaries, and favorite locations in the West. • Thanks to Andrew for joining me, and thanks to you for listening to the podcast. Enjoy! • http://mountainandprairie.com/andrewskurka/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:20 - How Andrew describes his work 5:00 - Overview of Andrew’s notable trips 6:30 - “Short is the new long” trips 8:30 - Alaska-Yukon Expedition and other trips 10:35 - Details of the Great Western Loop 14:05 - Details of the Alaska-Yukon Expedition 16:30 - A scary grizzly bear encounter 17:45 - Methods for avoiding distractions, fear, uncertainty 19:35 - Adjusting from expedition life to “normal” life 22:10 - Andrew’s personal background 24:50 - Pursuing an "outside the norm” career after college 27:55 - Advice to folks pursing non-traditional careers 28:25 - Advice to his 22-year old self 30:10 - Specific mistakes that became long-term positives 33:00 - Advice to novice hikers 34:10 - Importance of first-hand experience 36:27 - Andrew’s current life and focuses 38:45 - Approach to writing 40:45 - Thoughts on ultra-running 45:50 - Favorite books 48:55 - Favorite blogs and websites 50:25 - Favorite locations in the West 52:50 - Biggest threats facing the West 55:00 - Andrew’s request of listeners 56:10 - Connect with Andrew online