MOUNTAIN KHAKIS - Built For The Mountain Life Blog

MK College Ambassador, Trevor Fulton, and the Redside Foundation’s River Film Fest

The Redside Foundation is a newly formed non-profit that celebrates the profession of commercial guiding in Idaho. They seek to serve all of Idaho’s seasonal guides through education, training and engagement. The foundation strives to provide confidential access to mental and physical healthcare and substance abuse counseling for guides in need all around the state of Idaho. On April 6th MK supported the Redside Foundation for a fundraiser in Moscow, Idaho. The fundraiser brought out supporters from all over the region to watch a great batch of films centered on rivers.

A local filmmaker kicked off the event with some footage of local creek boating in and around the Palouse. The film was a great highlight of little known boatable drainages within 100 miles of Moscow. The film was capped off by footage of the filmmaker doing a first descent of a 65’ waterfall run earlier this spring. The next two films were by Portland, Oregon’s EP Films. SPOIL and The Greatest Migration both told of western watersheds and the struggles they face to maintain their vibrancy. The evening’s final film was the premiere of WildWater by Forge Motion Pictures. WildWater uses incredible cinematography and interviews of world-class boaters to tell the story of rivers and why people are drawn to them. Footage from South America, Colorado and Idaho provided a visual masterpiece to end the evening. The fundraiser was a great success for the Redside Foundation and a great night of films for the Moscow boating community. At the end of the night the recently formed Redside Foundation gained some great support to continue their mission and carry on the great memories of river friendships. Thanks MK for all the support.

How Do You MK? Paul Arentsen

This Just In... MK Ambassador, Paul Arentsen, defended and held his title in the infamous Lawn Chair Race at Fergie Ski Resort's (Oregon) end-of-season Lawn Chair Race. He is shown celebrating with proud daughter, Linden.

MK Ambassador, Chris Folau, Recaps Trip to Zion National Park

A few weeks ago I led a University of Utah cooperative outdoors adventure trip to Zion National Park. Cooperative trips allow students of the U of U to participate in different outdoors activities with experienced trip coordinators at a minimal cost due to a large group sharing the expense. My group consisted 2 coordinators (including myself) and 9 students, for a total of 11.

Our original plan was a 3 day, 2 night, backpacking trip to Coyote Gulch in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. However, the day we departed, I phoned the BLM field office in Escalante and was informed that the forecast called for snow all three days and a considerable risk of the roads being washed out existed. That being said, I called a last minute audible, and we decided to bust down to Zion National Park and attempt to get a permit for La Verkin Creek, which is in the Kolob Canyons on the North end of the park.

We lucked out and got the permit! Two days into the trip I realized it wasn’t luck that got us the permit, it was the fact that most groups were too smart to spend the weekend in La Verkin Creek with the weather that was rolling in! The first two days consisted of freezing temps and wet snow! While the soggy cold weather challenged our group with staying dry and warm it offered spectacular scenery. I don’t know if there is anything quite as amazing as red rock country blanketed in snow. The day we hiked out was 60 degrees and beautiful.

Despite the inclement weather, the trip was a blast. The students were awesome! We had experienced backpackers and first-timers. Everyone maintained positive attitudes and were unwilling to allow a little snow and sleet ruin our weekend.

Team Mountain Khakis: Hell of the High Country

Travis, Ben, Neil, and Jon enjoyed a Saturday close to home as they took on the Boone Roubaix. Dubbed the "Hell of the High Country" this race features numerous dirt climbs with grades over 20%. The Boone Roubaix gave the boys a chance to test out their Belgian-grade Noah Ridley’s on challenging terrain and enjoy some variety before resuming an ambitious criterium schedule next Saturday at SpeedWeek.

The field shattered 10 miles into the race, on the first of the day's dirt climbs. Travis made the lead group of 4 with TMK alum Andy Baker (Bissell Pro Cycling), Brian Sheedy (Lees McRae), and Kerry Werner (BMC Mountain Bike Team). This group worked smoothly all the way until the finish, where Brian Sheedy's early sprint gave him enough momentum the hold off a closing Travis Livermon.

For much of the race, Jon and Neil drove a 5-man chase group that took nearly a minute out of the leaders' gap but couldn't quite close the deal. After a series of late-race attacks disrupted the chase, Neil rolled ahead with Nick Housley of Chemstar p/b United Healthcare. Neil took 5th and Jon was 7th, only seconds behind.

Though flat tires were a common experience for many, TMK suffered none as the boys wisely chose to use their race-capable Maxxis Detonator training tires on the rough dirt roads in Boone.

Some great pictures of the guys can also be found here.

Boone-Roubaix, The-Hell-of-the-High-Country
April 23rd, Boone N.C.

1. Brian Sheedy Lees McRae college
2. Travis Livermon Team Mountain Khakis p/b SmartStop
3. Andy Baker Bissell Pro Cycling
4. Kerry Werner BMC Mountain Biking Team
5. Neil Bezdek Team Mountain Khakis p/b SmartStop
6. Nick Housley Chemstar p/b United Healthcare
7. Jon Hamblen Team Mountain Khakis p/b SmartStop

18th Annual Paris to Ancaster Bicycle Race, Ontario, Canada

Another race Inspired by the Paris-Roubaix classic is, the Paris to Ancaster in Ontario has taken place for the past seventeen years over the roughest farm lanes, trails and gravel roads we can find. Combined with unpredictable spring weather and the largest field of riders assembled in Canada, it has become a classic race experience for everyone from average riders to Canadian Olympians. Joining the race this year was our own Adam Myerson.

Beset by several mechanicals during the race he eventually finished 11th. Interesting video about the race and at 6:33 you can hear Adam’s perspective on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiuwY7r0cQI

Terrapin Twilight in Athens Next Week

The Terrapin Twilight criterium is next week. This is perhaps the biggest criterium race in the U.S. and a good result there is a big team objective. Not only do the promoters and sponsors of this race do a fabulous job of producing this event they are also very big advocates of an active lifestyle through bicycle safety and education. As part of this effort there are many planned elementary school visits leading up to the big race. We thank Thomas for taking part in these activities and representing us as part of such a positive outreach program.

TEAM MOUNTAIN KHAKIS MEET-N-GREET
Come out and meet the 2011 members of Team Mountain Khakis presented by SmartStop at Half-Moon Outfitters in Athens Georgia before one of the biggest races of the year, Athens Twilight! There will be schwag items and fun give-aways from Mountain Khakis and Half-Moon Outfitters, including a jersey signed by the team, and one free entry into the 24 Hours of Booty - Atlanta!

MK Ambassador, Melissa Walker, Gives Lessons From Triathlon and Life

Over the past couple weeks, and many bike tire changes, I have heard a lot about rules. While I am not a huge fan of rules, training for an ironman has given me a new appreciation for lessons, both for triathlon and life. Here are a few:

1. Do what you love and love what you do.
I have run into several people who have recently changed careers or directions to truly pursue what they were passionate. Coming from a background where hard work and steady careers are assumed, this concept was hard for me at first. Leaving what you know for your unknown passions is scary, but definitely worth it. I cannot tell you the changes I have seen in each of these individuals and the leap of faith they have taken has inspired me to continue following this proverb.

2. Surround yourself with those that inspire and push you.
Most would likely consider this obvious, however I have found this can be difficult and is not commonly followed. Often in training, school, and life I find myself in ruts and discouraged. Training with people who are better than me has been humbling, but it has also been perhaps the best thing. They push me out of my comfort zone and get me to try things I would never have thought of before. All of my personal and athletic growth spurts I owe at least in part to those individuals.

3. The hardest competition is always yourself.
Whether it is fear, pain or discouragement, the hardest battle I fight is with myself. Whether it is getting up at 5am for some crazy swim workout, a hard day at work, or going for a long bike/run in the pouring rain, I am a far better opponent than anyone I have ever met. Whenever I find myself loosing this battle I am reminded of all those around me (remember lesson 2 ;) that have conquered far greater inner challenges. One of my friends put his mind to training for a marathon. While we both raced the same marathon, the big difference came in his 70lb weight loss while training for it! He now has completed a second marathon, kept the weight off and I am sure will add more races to his repertoire. Whenever I am feeling sluggish I think of him and the countless others that have looked their inner demons in the eye and won.

4. Be Honest.
Especially with those close to you, but especially with yourself. I used to try and accomplish everything I thought I should, often at the expense of myself and others likely because I didn’t want to admit to my weaknesses. Honesty, I have found is the first step to confronting a challenge and truly embodying your potential. We all have weaknesses that if not addressed can hold us back from the amazing person we can be. This is even more important when dealing with things that can potentially be life changing/threatening. If something is hard, admitting it can help others and yourself find ways to overcome that challenge. RadioLab recently had a great podcast on the Odysseus effect that ties into #3 where you prevent yourself from being sucked in by your weaknesses before you even encounter them. Check it out http://www.radiolab.org/2011/mar/08/. So if you need a work out buddy, deadlines, routines, a coach, reward system or a cliff and wax do not deny it, embrace it and make it your strength!

5. Represent.
I love my sport, career and those around me (my mountain khakis - which I am actually wearing right now - are pretty sweet too :). Whatever makes you who you are can inspire and help others. One of the most amazing people I know introduced me to a great quote by Howard Thurman “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” So, go out, be alive, and represent in whatever way makes you ‘come alive’.

6. Have fun.
Life always seems to throw curve balls and challenges that you cannot anticipate, some are awesome, some less so. Regardless, I have found that when I am truly authentic and pursuing what I love this comes naturally.

So on that note I am out for my long run and swim to put all of my life lessons into play. Wish me luck or perhaps strength against myself. And to whoever ends up making it through this, I hope you find your passion, follow it and inspire others to do the same!