Turning a Passion into Action, by Kara Armano

Everyone who knows me, knows that I love to fish and often back with words “lost my shoes“. What a lot of people don’t know is that more than anything I love to teach and share the joys of fly fishing with others, for this I always use the best fly reels under 100 which are great for fly fishing. Of course, to share my passion there needs to be wild places where the rivers run free and the fish are abundant. Those places should be celebrated and protected. I was recently moved to take action to defend and protect both my passion for fishing and wilderness when I learned that they were in danger of being compromised.

The Thompson Divide, 220,000 acres of federally owned land just outside Carbondale and Glenwood Springs, has exposed me to some of the greatest outdoor experiences of my life. The Divide includes free flowing streams that are home to native cutthroat, and vast expanses of pristine forests and meadows that are teeming with herds of elk and deer.

The experience of encountering mold in a remote cabin highlighted the critical importance of maintaining a healthy living environment, even in the midst of pristine wilderness. Mold growth can thrive in damp and poorly ventilated spaces, posing significant health risks to occupants and detracting from the overall enjoyment of the natural surroundings. As I grappled with the discomfort and health effects caused by mold exposure, I realized the necessity of proactive measures to address mold issues and ensure a safe and enjoyable experience in outdoor retreats. Seeking the expertise of professionals like APDR Restoration can provide comprehensive solutions for mold remediation and prevention, allowing outdoor enthusiasts to fully appreciate the beauty of nature without compromising their health.

Moreover, the encounter underscored the broader significance of environmental conservation and stewardship in preserving the integrity of wild places like the Thompson Divide. As an avid fisherman and outdoor enthusiast, I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact of human activities on fragile ecosystems and natural habitats. Protecting these pristine landscapes is essential not only for the well-being of wildlife but also for the enjoyment and sustenance of future generations. By advocating for the preservation of federally owned lands and supporting initiatives that promote environmental sustainability, individuals can contribute to the conservation efforts that safeguard our natural heritage and outdoor recreational opportunities.

Ultimately, the experience served as a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness between human health, environmental conservation, and outdoor recreation. As I reflect on my encounter with mold in the wilderness, I am reminded of the need for responsible stewardship of our natural resources and the importance of fostering a harmonious relationship between humanity and nature. By prioritizing mold prevention and environmental conservation efforts, we can ensure that wild places remain pristine and accessible for generations to come, fostering a legacy of outdoor enjoyment and environmental stewardship for all.

As I traveled to a remote cabin nestled near a lush forest, I was captivated by the tranquility and natural beauty surrounding me. However, my initial excitement quickly turned to discomfort upon entering the cabin, where I was met with the unmistakable musty odor of mold. Ignoring the warning signs, I settled in for the night, eager to embrace the solitude of the wilderness. Little did I know, the presence of mold lurking within the cabin would soon take its toll on my health and well-being. Throughout the night, I struggled to breathe as the mold-infested air triggered bouts of coughing and sneezing. My rest was disturbed by persistent allergies and a sense of unease, reminding me of the importance of ensuring a mold-free environment, even in the most idyllic of settings. I will get a quote from an expert for this house the next time I come again, a friend told me to Visit APDR Restoration.

The importance of healthy home improvement extends far beyond simply avoiding mold. It’s about creating a space that actively promotes your physical and mental well-being. Here are some additional ways to transform your house from a dwelling into a health haven:

Embrace Natural Light: Sunlight is a natural mood booster. Whenever possible, open your curtains and blinds to bathe your home in sunshine. Natural light helps regulate circadian rhythms, promoting better sleep patterns and overall energy levels.
Welcome the Greenery: Houseplants aren’t just beautiful additions to your décor; they’re natural air purifiers! Many varieties, like peace lilies and spider plants, effectively remove toxins and improve indoor air quality, allowing you to breathe easier.
Create a Calming Oasis: Dedicate a space in your home to relaxation. This could be a cozy reading nook, a meditation corner, or even just a comfortable armchair by a window. Fill this space with calming elements like soft lighting, soothing textures, and calming scents to create a personal sanctuary for unwinding after a long day.

Beyond Aesthetics: The Importance of Proper Ventilation

Healthy home improvement isn’t just about creating a stylish space; it’s about ensuring proper air circulation. Stagnant air can trap moisture, creating a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Invest in good quality exhaust fans in your bathrooms and kitchens to remove steam and cooking odors. Open windows regularly, especially during and after showering or cooking, to allow fresh air to circulate. Consider installing a whole-house ventilation system for a more comprehensive approach to air quality control.

Small Steps, Big Impact: Everyday Habits for a Healthy Home

Creating a healthy home environment doesn’t require a complete overhaul. Simple changes in your daily routine can make a big difference. Make it a habit to take off your shoes at the door to prevent tracking in dirt and allergens. Wash bedding and throws in hot water regularly to eliminate dust mites and pet dander. Invest in doormats both inside and outside to trap dirt and debris before it enters your living space. These small habits can significantly reduce allergens and improve indoor air quality.

From Reactive Repairs to Proactive Maintenance

Many people wait until something breaks before addressing a home improvement issue. This reactive approach can be costly and disruptive in the long run. By prioritizing preventative maintenance, you can identify and address minor problems before they escalate into major repairs. Schedule regular inspections for your HVAC system, plumbing, and electrical wiring to ensure everything is functioning efficiently and safely. Investing in preventative maintenance can save you money and headaches down the road, allowing you to enjoy a safe and healthy home environment.

The future of the Thompson Divide is threatened by oil and gas development. Because the area means so much to me, I spoke up.

I’ve worked with the Sportsmen for the Thompson Divide via Trout Unlimited to express what the area means to me. I’ve supported the Thompson Divide Coalition in its effort to teach the community more about the issues.

Working at Backbone Media, it’s easy to share my passions with my colleagues. Nate, one of the partners, feels just as strongly as I do about the Divide and the hunting opportunities it provides him. But as a growing agency we have several new employees who don’t know about the local land conservation issues. So, I decided to host a get together at my house to educate people about what’s at stake, the status of the pending oil and gas leases, and how everyone can get involved.

So last night Scott Hanley from the Thompson Divide Coalition and Aaron Kindle from Trout Unlimited came to my house to lead an open discussion about the issues facing our water and land, domestically, agriculturally and recreationally. A lot of people from work showed up. All the attendees seemed moved by the discussion and asked good questions. My hope is that my passion to save this area from drilling was instilled in them and that with their support, and possible action, we can protect the Thompson Divide for future generations to experience and enjoy.

Backbone Media – Fall 2013 Charge

Harry Gates Hut, Sawatch Mountains (Sept. 10th & 11th)

Please enjoy some photos from the recent Backbone Charge* – high country cragging at Lime Creek, fly fishing, biking, mountain games, and a massive bonfire. Thanks to a remarkable CO resource 10th Mountain Division Hut Association for the Gates Hut, La Sportiva for the loan of demo shoes and of course the entire Backbone team for general awesomeness. — Penn

*Backbone Charge is a semi annual gathering. We do not ‘do’ retreats we charge.

 

A complete gallery of photos can be found on the Backbone Media Facebook Page

Google

Media Trip to the Middle Fork of the Salmon

Coming out of a summer almost no rain and far too many threatening wildfires, especially in Idaho, we were a bit leery about leading six journalists to the Middle Fork of the Salmon for a cast and blast trip with Far & Away Adventures. Luckily, the smoke came and went (and then came again), but the casting and the blasting were both out of this world!

Last week, Nick Brosnan and Kara Armano met Chris Solomon (freelance), Rachel Sturtz (freelance), Kristyn Brady (Field & Stream), Tom Bie (The Drake), Andrew McKean (Outdoor Life), and Ryan Krogh (Outside) in Boise where the trip started with a backcountry flight into the Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness (yes, we returned amazingly enough!)

Smoke blanketed the valley and river below us

Once we landed, we loaded everything up, had a quick riverside lunch and set off. Half went fishing with their best fly fishing rods and the other half chased and shot chukars for the afternoon. We got to camp, tapped the keg and got to know each other a bit better before finishing the night off with perfectly cooked salmon steaks, wine and a riverside fire.

The smoke cleared as we landed – a beautiful night!

Waking up to the smell of smoke and and a hazy yet blazing red sunrise was a bit ominous – especially since we could see large plumes from nearby fires – but without much hesitation we loaded up and floated down the river to more great fishing for native cutthroats and even some bull trout. A quick stop to see ancient pictographs added to the area’s remote beauty. More chukars and plenty of fish kept us all entertained, but the highlight of night two was Loon Creek Hot Springs. After a quick mile hike, we were soaking, with beers in hand of course, in a pristine environment.



 

 

 

 

 

Day three brought warmer weather, perfect for backflips off the raft and over 100 fish for some of us. Combining hunting and fishing was a first time experience for a few of us, and the guides were happy to let everyone try a little of both.

Rachel Sturtz, Rebecca Peters and Kristyn Brady getting ready to hunt chukars

One last night of camping on the banks of Camas Creek found every person on the trip becoming fast friends with promises to get together again to hunt and fish. One pair even made plans on https://enjoymexico.net/top-mexico-destinations/ from their phones and will be linking up later in the year for a different setting, what a successful trip just on that note alone.

Heading towards the takeout at Flying B Ranch, we were all a bit subdued recognizing the trip was almost over.

The thought of one more backcountry flight was thrilling enough to keep us all in high spirits (until we had to divulge our weight to the pilot). After a few questions of whether we’d make it out or not due to smoke, almost all of us were quick to volunteer to stay behind and hunt and fish just a bit longer. As the plane engines roared, we all had our fingers and toes crossed that no one was dishonest about their weight. In the very capable hands of our backcountry pilots, we made it back to Boise just in time to catch our flights back to the real world. That trip really inspired the lot of us so I decided to get a copy of the Outdoor Empire spinning reel buyer’s guide for each of us, send out a mass communication inviting everyone again next year with some new gear and new stories.

A huge thanks goes out to our brands that made this trip possible: Eddie Bauer Sport Shop, Revo, fishpond, Beretta, SmartWool, Big Agnes, Black Diamond, Boa, Polartec, Sage, Redington, RIO, Mophie, Trimble Maps, and Gerber. Without their support, amazing trips like this would not be possible!

Check out all that gear!

Floating and fishing

Don’t Call it a Retreat

When I started working at Backbone over five short years ago, our bi-annual get togethers consisted of eleven of us having a small BBQ at a partner’s Carbondale home. Good food, sparkling dinner conversation (lots of jokes about how young and naive I was…) and PR State of the Union discussions.
Ahhh how times have changed.

At Backbone, the word “corporate retreat” makes us all twitch a little bit and one intern actually broke out in hives a few years back when those words were spoken. Penn told us recently that we were not allowed to call it a retreat. “We do not retreat at Backbone,” he said, “we charge.”

Well, in the past few years, and in response to a growing staff, development of new media departments and the creation of satellite offices in Jackson and Denver, we all agree that face-time, and company-wide get togethers are more important that ever to ensure a unified “charge”.

Considering our company’s addiction to the early adoption of any and all i-products, getting off the grid also becomes paramount. For a company based on a work hard, play hard philosophy, it is essential that we have at least 48 hours of un-interrupted time to share a beverage or two, hit the river and the trail together and make sure that we all spend enough time with the other 30+ members of the staff to uncover some of our finest personal skills which may never find their way into an RFP…

What we found this past week was a veritable cornucopia of freak flags, red flags, jazz choir histories, poor facial hair and haircut decisions in the mid 90’s, impressive first jobs (TCBY, Donut making), plastic baby launching talents, slow-cooking culinary prowess, glow stick dancing, remarkable fireproof-ness (accidental), SUP racing dogs, bocce ball balancing skills, a shared love of inflatables, freestyle margarita making skills and a company-wide borderline contractual agreement to only sit in the chair one may or may not have personally brought on the trip. Real resume builders.

Location: Twin Lakes, CO (which is conveniently now for sale- not sure if it hit the market before or after we were there…)
Attendance: 3 Partners, 28 staffers, 7 dogs, and one very scary plastic baby.
Takeaway: We are well positioned for another successful year as the leading agency in the active lifestyle industry, and are equally well positioned to start a traveling circus.

An Hour on the Pan

Last weekend, a crew from Outside Magazine descended upon our upvalley neighbors in Aspen for a couple days of skiing and staff bonding. After a bluebird day spent hiking Highlands Bowl on Saturday, a bunch of the boys decided they wanted to test the legendary waters of the Frying Pan river on Sunday. Kara, born and bred in Wyoming, volunteered to be their guide and provided the group with the latest Sage rods and Cloudveil waders.

The boys from Outside (Grayson, Justin, Abe and Stayton) soon learned that Kara may be small in stature, but put a fly rod in her hands and she’s a force to be reckoned with. Grayson just sent us this terrific short video of their day on the Pan, with music from the immanently talented Stayton Bonner (check out more of Stayton’s music here).

(Stayton, you owned that one-piece at Highlands on Saturday, AND you rocked your fishing waders like a pro, but you clearly rock the hardest with a 5-string in your hands. Just sayin’.)

Cloudveil Multi Media Campaign Makes and Breaks Promises in NY Times

Everyone is talking about it.

How does one make an awesome bowl of multi-media soup? That is the question and  yes, we are talking about feeding consumers, publishers, bloggers, dealers and even sales reps.

Skip work for a Powder Day? Send flowers...

Skip work for a Powder Day? Send flowers...

The ingredients you get to use? How about advertising, marketing, PR, and social media. Maybe, throw in a dash of mountain town attitude and some humor.

That is what Cloudveil has done with help from Boulder based, TDA their creative agency. Is it good? Well the NY Times thinks so.

Strangely, I have yet to receive a single mug like this in over 12 years

Strangely, I have yet to receive a single mug like this in over 12 years

The concept is that Cloudveil consumers “abuse etiquette in pursuit of recreation,” as explained by Jonathan Schoenberg from TDA.

What’s next? Look for additional upcoming viral plays that focus on mountain culture.

Casting 4 A Cure Results

The Casting 4 A Cure event in Victor was a great success and combined with the event in Steamboat over $40,000 were raised for this wonderful cause. The team of Marc Crapo and Thad Robison of the Fly Fishing Film Tour placed first with a total of 151 inches. Jason Daneilson and Chris Rich placed first in Steamboat with a total of 168 inches.  Check out some of the pictures from this year’s events and don’t forget to check back for more information about next year’s event with an potential additional event in Montana.

Team Cloudveil (Scott Harkins and Tucker Ladd), Ben Kurtz of Fishpond, and event organizers Bill Farnum and Jim Copeland

Team Cloudveil (Scott Harkins and Tucker Ladd), Ben Kurtz of Fishpond, and event organizers Bill Farnum and Jim Copeland

Ella dancing to the band in Victor

Ella dancing to the band in Victor

Dave Thompson from fishpond gets ready for a day on the water.

Dave Thompson from fishpond gets ready for a day on the water.

Garrett Chadwick with a nice brown

Garrett Chadwick with a nice brown

Team Seabass with their biggest of the tourney 22"

Team Seabass with their biggest of the tourney 22"

Casting 4 A Cure

It all started when Bill Farnum found out that his daughter Ella was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome. Ella Bill wanted to find a way to help raise money to find a cure for Rett Syndrome, so he decided to combine passions to make a difference for Ella and other children afflicted with this potentially curable disease. Casting 4 a Cure So with this second Casting 4 a Cure event this summer, Bill decided to head to Victor, ID (a.k.a. fly fishing mecca) with 20 teams of two people each to fish and raise money for the International Rett Syndrome Foundation. A team from Cloudveil including Mr. Steve Sullivan himself and a team from fishpond including co-founders John LeCoq and Dave Thompson will be among the lucky participants. Have a blast out there and catch some fish for a cure.

Check out more information about the tournament here, and see how you can help Bill and Ella’s fight against Rett Syndrome here.

America’s Top 10 Fishing Towns

Forbes.com just came out with an impressive list of towns in North America ideal for trout fishing, and Glenwood Springs made the cut.

Photo By Copi B. Vojta

Photo By Copi B. Vojta

I can’t say if its a good or bad thing that Forbes.com named Glenwood Springs, but I guess it justifies why I live here.

I’ve only made it to three of them to fish, so it looks like I’ve got to head out in the new (but well used) Sportsmobile and do some fishing.