The Wilderness Act turns 50. 1964-2014

Keep the WILDERNESSS WILD.   Happy Birthday Wilderness Act.  

Photo:  Maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak by ASPENSPIN

Revo Sunglasses: Love For Your Eyes.

Everybody knows that AspenSpin skis every day (and parties every night) with prescription glasses on.

Yeah, bro...I need to see it before I ski it. Getting your eyeballs dialed in with the proper equipment is probably the most crucial factor contributing to a great ski day. Even more important than skis and boots and poles.

When Revo Sunglasses originally hit the market in 1985, they were the most advanced sports sun glasses on Earth. Using proprietary technology developed by NASA, REVO revolutionized the world of eye-wear and sun protection for action sports participants.  The combination of Revo's high contrast polarized lens technology and their light, durable and stylish frames were unparalleled at the time.  I remember getting my first pair of Revo's back then...the iconic "water lenses".  The optical precision built into REVO SUNGLASSES changed my life.   I could see everything in sharper detail and as long as I kept my Revo's on a leash...I could do everything...all the sports that I loved without wearing contacts. I could see better...and I didn't even realize I still had my glasses on.

Fast forward to today. REVO is back.  After being purchased by Oakley and then bouncing around the labs of parent company Luxotica...the world's largest optical company...Revo is back as an independent brand. Revo has always been and continues to be on the forefront of the innovation in the industry. Revo is still known to produce the best sports sunglasses on the planet.  Their proprietary materials, design and manufacturing  process are still second to none. Innovation is a core value of Revo Sunglasses and they continue to be on the cutting edge.

How does AspenSpin hook-up with Revo?  The action sports world is very small.  I was trolling the SIA (Ski Industries of America) convention floor looking for swag...and who do I run into?  My old pal from NYC, Cliff D, Robinson, President of B. Robinson...a third generation, family owned and operated full service optical manufacturer.   B. Robinson formed in 1926, recently acquired Revo Sunglasses to add to their arsenal of optical brands.  Cliffie is a living testament to his family's reputation for honesty, integrity, dedication and devotion to one-to-one service.  Revo is in good hands with Cliff Robinson and B. Robinson.

So REVO is BACK.   I recently tried out my new Revos while hiking the Highland Bowl at Aspen Highlands. At 12,392 feet above sea level...you need equipment that you can count on.  I specifically need 100% of my visual acuity.  My Revo prescription shades did the trick.  The Revo combination of super light, durable frames and superior optics helped me to see and protected my eyes from the sun. It was a spectacularly clear and bluebird day in Aspen and my Revo's performed like the champions that they are. 

AspenSpin sends good luck to Cliff, B. Robinson and the entire Revo team.  Revo Sunglasses are currently available at Sunglass Hut in Aspen and at other fine optical stores around the world.

Click to see the REVO COLLECTION 

Reunited and it feels so good. Cliff D. Robinson, President of B. Robinson the new owner of Revo Sunglasses.Yeah...I take my eye wear seriously. Revo Sunglasses performed like champs at Aspen Highlands Bowl.The View from the top. Maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak. another spectaular Colorado Bluebird day.

Maroon Bells is the Sh*T

A man and his dog. A beautiful dayIt was one of those special Colorado days. Crisp and cold in town, but you could see it was going to eventually be clear, sunny and beautiful.  As we pulled into the Maroon Bells parking lot at 8.15 a.m. the temp was reading 38'F.  It was early but I had already perused the tragic Aspen headline, Kenichi's Bil Rieger found dead. 

R.I.P. to Bad Billy.  (click for the story)

I had also digested 2 distasteful letters to the editor, one in each Aspen newspaper.  The writers Marilyn Marks and Elizabeth Milias. The topic?---who cares?  WTF Girlz??? If its so bad here in Aspen, why do you stick around? Why do you care so much?

The car ride to the Maroon Bells Wilderness is only about 15 minutes from Aspen, but it seemed like a world away from the small town blues.  The day had started off on a crummy note.  A good man lost to suicide and  two non-stop complainers, who seem to continuously write irritating, verbous, self-serving letters to the editor.  Add in all the other crappy world news of the day and another free-falling session in the stock market...yada yada yada.  Plus it was freezing out. Still,  I'M in FAVOR of a BEAUTIFUL DAY. (click 4 pix)

Carmelo and I passed the large throng of early morning photogs and hit the trail.   As our path wound through the trees towards Crater Lake I focused on the majestic beauty surrounding us. Amazing is not a strong enough word to describe the natural scene.  It was early enough to beat the  tourist crowds which allowed my dog and I to spend some quiet time in the woods (she was off-leash, shhhhh).  When we got to the lake...it was deserted. If you've made the short trek up there you know how beautiful it is, The Maroon Bells are the most photographed peaks in N. America.  Carmelo and I got some one-on-one play time as she unquestionably fetched her stick in the freezing cold mountain water of Crater Lake.  As the tourists began to reach the area around Crater Lake, and our solitary time had ended...it came to me...

I'M IN FAVOR of a BEAUTIFUL DAY  (click 4 pix)

The Maroon Bells, Aspen, Colorado. 9/22/11 The most photographed peaks in N.America Click 4 pix I'm in Favor of a Beautiful Day. Click 4 pix.

Earning Turns in Aspen

Aspen Local and ski alpinist Ted Mahon is taking his game to the next level...on the mountain, behind the lens and with the keyboard.  He and fellow "peak-bagger" Chris Davenport (fresh off summiting Mt. Everest ) recently did a quick up and down on North Maroon Peak, one of Aspen's famed Maroon Bells.  Ted shares his experience here on AspenSpin.  

You can see more of his work at  STUCK in the ROCKIES.

The North Face of North Maroon   by  Ted Mahon.  Elev. 14,014

Good call, Dav.

Sometimes you just have to play the hand you’re dealt.

Not that skiing isn’t one of my favorite things to do, but after six or seven months of winter, the arrival of summer is definitely welcome. As we all know though, nature doesn’t always follow a set schedule and this year’s prolonged snowy spring was a good example of that– summer really didn’t seem to declare itself until just a few days ago. In fact there’s still so much snow, even Aspen Mountain is set to be open this weekend.

So rather than fight the trend, we’re still skiing. Earlier in the week, after some flakes fell in town on Memorial Day, Chris Davenport– just back from a successful expedition to climb Mount Everest that included a rare ski descent of the Lhotse Face– made the call to head up to North Maroon Peak, where we found conditions to be more like March than June.

Until things dry out around here, the ski season will likely play out a bit longer. And if all the days are like this one, we should have no problem making the best of it.

Stacked with snow, including a few inches from the night before, Chris approaches the big North Face of the "relatively" small mountain. Just ten days earlier Dav was atop Mount Everest, and it was great to catch up and hear all the stories from his expedition.

After catching up to a solo skier from Colorado Springs (seen below), we took the lead booting up the North Face. Despite being in front of Dav here, his acclimatization from the Himalaya was no doubt still working to his advantage. We managed to make the round trip climb and ski in five and a half hours.

Status Verfified: One of the 50 Classics. Stuck in the Rockies.