Month: March 2019

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It was about 11:20 a.m. on a cold day last November, and Jonathan Chase Adams was on his bicycle, riding from downtown Bend, Oregon, toward his office. He was in the spacious bike lane that runs along the northbound side of Wall Street, cruising down a moderate downhill stretch fast enough to be passing cars backed up at a traffic light up the road. As he approached the corner of Olney Avenue, the signal turned green, so Adams kept pedaling; he was on his way to work and planned to ride straight through the intersection.

He never made it. When the light turned green, the driver of a FedEx semi-truck who had been cued up at the signal initiated a right turn. Witnesses would later testify in court that Adams bounced off the side of the truck several times before falling to the ground. Moments later, the rear wheels of the tractor trailer ran over his body. Adams was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sadly, this kind of crash—what traffic experts would call a right hook—is hardly uncommon, and when it involves a large truck and a cyclist, the end result is often horrific. But while most cyclists would not be surprised by the grim details of this fatal 2017 crash, many surely would be shocked by the legal proceedings around it.

In a decision announced October 17 by Deschutes County Circuit Court Judge A. Michael Adler, the driver of the FedEx truck, who had never been charged with a crime, was found not guilty of a traffic citation. In May, the district attorney had cited him for failing to yield to a cyclist in a bike lane. Adler ruled that he had no authority to support the DA’s contention that the protections of a bike lane extend into an intersection. He also told the court that, since Adams had been “speeding” through an intersection, the cyclist was not exercising due care—a term intimating that Adams hadn’t the necessary steps to avoid harm. In a nutshell, the judge ruled that Adams did not have the right of way and that the bike lane effectively ended at the intersection.

Experienced cyclists already know that a conventional bike lane—where government officials paint stripes on the road to demarcate a dedicated space for riders—offers few real physical protections from motor vehicles. But the case in Bend offers a window into how the legal protections they offer are extremely limited, too.

The problem extends outside of Oregon. After the October ruling, I spoke with two attorneys who specialize in cycling-related law—one based in Colorado and the other in Ohio—and both said that existing laws in their states do almost nothing to define cyclists’ right of way in bike lanes or protect them in a crash.

“When there’s a collision, drivers, cyclists, and law enforcement don't have clear legal guidance to figure out who was at fault,” says Megan Hottman, a cycling attorney who practices in Golden, Colorado. “It's amazing to me that a cyclist can be going straight—often on a green light or through an intersection—at or below the posted speed limit, and a car can come up from behind, attempt to pass but then whip a right turn into the cyclist, and then somehow the cyclist is deemed at fault. It’s baffling to me.”

Steve Magas, a cycling attorney who practices in Cincinnati, agrees. “I keep telling folks that unless the bike lane rules are written into local ordinances, cyclists can be at risk of having no rights,” he says. “In Ohio, there’s no provision in state law that defines ‘bike lanes’ or the rights of those in bike lanes compared to other lanes.”

Cyclists have good reason to think that they have the legal right of way when they’re pedaling in a bike lane. “The entire point of the traffic algorithm is to develop a system of rules that prevents folks from crashing into each other,” Magas says. “And the main rule is the right of way. If you have the right of way, you have the right to go straight without interruption.”

This right is typically codified for pedestrians crossing a busy street in a crosswalk. But that’s not the case for cyclists.

Both attorneys expressed considerable frustration that cyclists don’t yet have more rational, legal protections. “If we are going to spend the time and money building bike lanes for cyclists, they must come with some level of protection,” says Hottman. “If bike lanes are where city planners want us riding, and if we agree that collisions and tensions tend to decrease when cyclists get dedicated places to ride, then we have to be granted some level of protection when we ride in them. My perfect world would be a state statute that says motorists turning across a bike lane must yield to bikes in bike lane.”

If such a statute existed in Oregon, the FedEx driver who hit and killed Adams likely would have faced criminal charges more serious than a traffic citation—especially one that didn’t even survive a legal challenge.

Instead, the cycling attorneys I interviewed say that their clients are often blamed in similar circumstances. Hottman describes an ongoing case in which her client was riding straight through an intersection in a bike lane and was hit by a car that approached from behind and turned directly into the rider. “I just got a call today from an insurance adjuster and the insurance company is blaming the rider for the collision,” she says, getting heated. “This sort of thing seems to happen every damn day. I mean, what the hell else is a cyclist supposed to do when a car approaches from behind? If we’re going straight—in a bike lane, with a green light, while going below the posted speed limit—does the legal system expect us to have eyes on the back of our heads at all times?”

To add insult to injury, the judge in Oregon cited witness accounts about the cyclist’s speed as evidence of  an act of negligence. I studied the Google streetview of Wall Street in Bend and, given the moderate grade, it seems unlikely that a cyclist could have easily exceeded the posted speed limit. “In this case, the cyclist was seen as ‘racing’ down the hill past a bunch of other traffic and the judge viewed him as negligent for not noting the big truck had its signal on,” says Magas. “But that’s the thing with the true right of way: you don’t have to worry about anyone else. You are legally entitled to presume that people are not going to interview with your right of way. That’s the magic of having the right of way.”

As more cities paint more bike lanes and more cyclists use them, the urgency to address this legal grey area will grow. Obviously, protected bike lanes—where cyclists and motor vehicles are physically separated—give riders more physical protection, but even then, the chaos of intersections needs to be fixed. For bike lanes to offer real protection, legislatures need to pass laws codifying riders’ right of way, then law enforcement and the judicial system needs to enforce those laws.

Until then, it’s on cyclists to be vigilant—for now, there’s no one else to protect us.

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Kalamazoo, Michigan
Economic development organization
25
$97,000
15 days paid time off; 18 after five years
Fully stocked kitchen, half-day summer Fridays, and chair massages.
“We give small gifts to each team member at unexpected times. These offerings are occasionally left as a morning surprise. For example, on a morning before the Fourth of July, our team arrived to find a box of sparklers on our desks, and this past autumn, our team arrived one day to find a small pumpkin and a baked seasonal treat. It’s our intent that team members always feel appreciated.”

San Francisco, California
Travel bags and camera accessories
36
$100,000
Unlimited PTO
Countertops that convert into ping-pong tables, hanging bike storage racks, a home-brewing station, and a monthly brew day.
“We have unlimited vacation, and we can work from anywhere. If you want to go climbing or golfing on a Wednesday afternoon, just do it. If you want to visit your family in Wisconsin and work from there for a week, no sweat. We’re instilled with the trust and freedom to make our jobs conform to the lives we want to live, not the other way around.”

Littleton, Colorado
Accounting, business consulting, and tax services
25
$94,800
16 days PTO; 21 after 15 years
Half-day summer Fridays, a private room for meditation and power naps, access to a private trail system in the Rocky Mountain foothills, and professional massages for all employees during tax season. Employees are encouraged to practice self-care with a monthly wellness raffle: post-work runs, healthy meals, finishing a good book, and other activities earn an entry for the $50 gift card toward workout clothes, equipment, or other wellness items.
“After the tax deadline, we close the office in the afternoon for a stress-relief event. This year, we did ax throwing. Last year, we raced go-carts.”

Crested Butte, Colorado
Outdoor adventure nonprofit for people with disabilities
15
Not provided
Ten days PTO per year for the first two years
Free season pass to Crested Butte Mountain Resort and a paid ski, camping, or hiking trip somewhere in Colorado at the end of each season.
“Powder days find the office pretty quiet some mornings, as we allow employees to flex their time. This is the kind of office where bikes and skis share space with our stand-up desks and you stash dog treats in your drawers so you can snuggle with the pets that roam the building.”

St. Paul, Minnesota
Work and safety gear
51
Not provided
Unlimited PTO
On-site gym facilities, weekly yoga and personal training sessions, and a “wear clothes” dress code.
“We have fun team outings, such as canoe trips down the St. Croix and throwing axes at Bad Axe Throwing. From ‘bring your dog to work’ days to the concert and sports tickets, espresso, sodas, beer, lunches, and eclectic Spotify mixes playing overhead, it’s the tangibles and the intangibles.”

Boulder, Colorado
Financial advisory firm
23
$130,000
Ten days PTO after one year; 20 days after five years; unlimited unpaid days
Annual, all-inclusive Colorado ski trips in winter and whitewater rafting, climbing, and laser tag outings in summer; paid three-month sabbaticals for employees who’ve stuck around for ten years; and a fridge stocked with local beer.
“We have employees who compete in Ironman competitions, surf sand dunes, lead international yoga retreats, scuba dive to haunting depths, climb jagged crags, and more. The shared spirit of adventure permeates into the workplace.”

Oakland, California
A gap-year program that offers cultural-immersion fellowships in Ecuador, Brazil, Senegal, and India
17
Not provided
Unlimited PTO
A $500 annual stipend for professional development courses, a trip to a host country after two years, a monthlong paid sabbatical after three years, and periodic staff retreats in a host country. Plus, Bollywood workout classes.
“Each year, you get to pick something personal that you’ve wanted to learn, and the organization will pay for it. People have taken a cheesemaking class and guitar lessons. Someone else took a succulent arrangement class. It’s a fun nod to the fact that you do have a life outside work.”

Denver, Colorado
Advertising, public relations, marketing
24
$86,500
Unlimited PTO after one year
Full-time employees get $600 each year to put toward gym memberships, fitness classes, outdoor recreation, and gear. An annual Outward Bound Professional team-building event is often held off the grid in the Rocky Mountains.
“During the summer months, we check out B-Cycles and ride to grab lunch at food truck hot spots, and we’ve taken our weekly beer club on the road to experience Denver’s multitude of craft breweries in person. During the winter months, powder days are encouraged if you don’t have meetings, but we’re also okay with taking conference calls from a chairlift.”

Denver, Colorado
Digital advertising software platform
64
$80,000
15 days PTO; two months PTO after four years
Flexible Fridays; a yearly summer camping trip; summer and winter team trips to Breckenridge with free days for activities like snowshoeing, skiing, or horseback riding.
“Although we do have perks such as local beer taps, ping-pong tables, office dogs, team outings and summits, and cool swag, none of that can replace knowing that we really are a family.”

San Diego, California
Digital marketing agency
60
$65,000
Unlimited PTO
Healthy catered lunches, monthly team outings to breweries or a party bus to a yacht, and an annual company-wide paid trip as a reward for meeting goals.
“We draw a line in the sand and set aggressive goals every year. When we hit those goals, we celebrate with a trip. Past trips have included Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Jamaica. Next year, we’re headed to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.”

Boulder, Colorado
Operate day and overnight camps, expeditions, school programs, and events in Colorado, California, and Oregon
20
Not provided
Unlimited PTO
Monthly outings to local crags and trails, free gear rentals and bike tune-ups, reimbursed gym memberships, an annual multiday adventure in Moab, and a chance to win two round-trip tickets and a stipend to complete a dream adventure.
“Our mission is to empower others to be healthy in the outdoors, and we’ve got to walk that talk. Part of our work on a weekly basis is to get outside as a group and adventure together. It’s built into the job and is part of what we’re getting paid for.”

Virginia Beach, Virginia
Event management company that organizes running races
16
Not provided
Two weeks PTO to start; one week added every five years
Flexible schedule, summer Fridays out of the office, plus free memberships to gyms and yoga studios.
“We’re greeted daily with three yellow labs, one black lab, and an English bulldog. Dogs make our office fun and exciting.”

Duluth, Minnesota
Health care marketing agency
22
Not provided
Two weeks PTO; four weeks PTO after five years
Lunch-hour yoga, quick access to Lake Superior trails, office gym with trainer-led workouts, and an annual retreat to northern Wisconsin to ski, snowshoe, play a little pond hockey, and hang out by the fire.
“There are the ungodly views. Definitely plural. There’s the endless view of Lake Superior. There’s the one-of-a-kind view of the iconic Aerial Lift Bridge, with 1,000-foot ships passing underneath. There’s the working harbor with lighthouses punctuating the concrete piers where sailboats and tugboats linger. And then there’s the forest-meets-city hillside of Duluth.”

Anchorage, Alaska
Advertising, public relations, marketing
42
$83,500
15 days PTO after one year
An office kegerator, in-office gym, half-day summer Fridays, access to the 11-mile Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, and a $200 annual bonus to put toward state park passes, ski passes, and race entry fees.
“Spawn’s social committee has a constant schedule of activities for our team, including camping, fishing, kayaking, picnicking, and potlucks.”

Boulder, Colorado
Travel agency and tour operator
26
$60,000
Three weeks PTO per year for the first three years
Flexible and remote scheduling, plus discounts on airfare, hotels, guides, car rentals, trains, and more.
“We all contribute and are a close-knit group. We have great office space, well-rounded benefits, and, most important, we have flexibility in our schedules. Meeting great people and exploring is part of what we do.”

Boulder, Colorado
Full-service advertising agency
22
$98,000
Two weeks PTO per year for the first two years
Half-day summer Fridays and an annual stipend toward gym, yoga, or ski passes.
“When an employee climbs one of Colorado’s 14ers, we donate $1,000 in their name to the charity of their choice. We also have three beverages on tap: one nitro cold-brew coffee, one kombucha, and one beer.”

Boulder, Colorado
Websites, marketing, and integrations for independent bike shops
55
Not provided
14 days PTO
Every three years, employees get $100 to $200 toward the purchase of a bike frame. Commuting by bike, carpool, or your own feet earns up to $3 a day toward cycling gear and bike purchases.
“We have a weekly putting challenge in the office where you win the coveted trophy and get to design the course the following week. And, of course, daily planks, because a team that planks together stays together.”

Portland, Oregon
Temporary creative staffing and placement
22
$64,360
Unlimited PTO
Every other Friday off each summer, a commuting stipend, and summer fun days for whitewater rafting, hiking, and wine tastings.
“We subscribe to what we call a ‘people-positive culture.’ Yes, we have all the perk stuff, but it’s more about providing a supportive work environment where people feel empowered to do the best work they can.”

Greenwood, Indiana
Development, construction, and asset management
46
Not provided
Four weeks PTO
A 24-hour fitness center, weekly yoga classes, massage therapy, oil changes, and haircuts, all on-site. Half-day summer Fridays and an annual ski retreat to Telluride.
“Office Feats of Strength are random challenges we do to blow off steam, bond, and ultimately earn some bragging rights. Past events have included the standing long jump, 100-meter dash, Mario Kart, and the cliché ping-pong.”

Carbondale, Colorado
Brand marketing and PR agency
61
Not provided
Three weeks PTO
A gear closet filled with the latest products from the company’s clients, kombucha and craft beer on tap, Blue Bottle espresso, and plenty of whiskey and tequila on hand.
“The office empties out every day at midday so employees can recharge on group rides, trail runs, and Nordic ski sessions or at the gym and in the yoga studio. In summer, we have Dirty Thursday group mountain bike rides. In winter, we have a powder-day clause that encourages employees to ski if there’s fresh snow. We don’t do retreats, but we do plan semiannual company charges that feature whitewater rafting and a campout in summer and a ski trip to Aspen in winter.”

New York City, New York
Economic development and tourism marketing
52
Not provided
16 days PTO to start
Employees can schedule an annual agency exchange to visit other regional offices in Denver, Los Angeles, or Toronto. Each employee can work remotely once a week.
“Group activities designed to promote company values of pursuing happiness and being a knowledge sponge have included kickboxing, sushi making, hiking, aerial yoga, and fitness boot camps.”

Helena, Montana
Nonprofit conservation organization
24
$51,600
16 days PTO to start, plus 15 paid holidays
Office dogs, outdoor meetings, four additional paid “trail” days, and bonuses for green commutes and exercise.
“You start your career at MWA with a total of 35 paid days off every year. Throw in the three-day staff backpacking trip, which counts as ‘work,’ and a paid three-month sabbatical after five years, and you’d be fair to wonder how we get so much done.”

Bozeman, Montana
Grant management software
85
$75,000
Unlimited PTO
Healthy lunches, office sports teams, Mountain Bike Mondays on nearby trails, and wellness benefits to offset the cost of fitness and ski passes.
“Everyone latches on to our unlimited vacation, but that’s pretty common. We went ahead and implemented a ‘paid’ paid vacation. Not only do our team members get PTO, if they take two consecutive days off, they’re eligible for a $1,000 bonus to use toward that vacation. After five years, that bumps up to $1,500 annually. We encourage truly unplugging and getting away.”

San Diego, California
Custom prescription sunglasses and snow goggles
35
Not provided
Unlimited PTO
Annual Mammoth and Big Bear ski trips, Padres games, nearby road and mountain bike trails, and free or discounted bike and snow gear.
“We have this strange, unique philosophy about being nice. We’re nice to each other. We’re nice to our vendors. We’re nice to the UPS guy. It’s a small thing that goes a long way. And we always have two great beers on tap, so that helps.”

Boston, Massachusetts
Product information management platform
223
$112,000
Unlimited PTO
Two months paid maternity/paternity leave, Friday lunches, and a fully stocked kitchen. Plus, shuffleboard, cold-brew kegerators, in-office gym membership, on-site dental and eye exams, and a $5,000 employee referral bonus.
“In partnership with Boston Public Schools and the City of Boston, Salsify regularly hosts a group of middle school students for daylong field trips in our office. We guide students as they design, build, and speak about initial prototypes for their own problem-solving software. They spend the day learning what it’s like to work in the tech community and, most important, have fun while doing it.”

Wilmington, North Carolina
Neighborhood publishing
230
$62,655
 Ten days PTO after one year, plus the two final weeks of the year
There’s Gainzville, the in-office gym complete with a full-time fitness instructor, plus a surf club, a walking club, and a volleyball team that competes at a local brewery. Competitive employees can find more fitness outlets in the dodgeball and ping-pong tournaments, plus an annual $100 bonus to put toward registration fees.
“Being so close to the beach, no one looks twice if you show up to the office with sand between your toes and a pair of board shorts on.”

Denver, Colorado
Professional development and hiring software
17
$88,000
Unlimited PTO
Team hikes, local craft beer, indoor bike racks, employer-paid health care, and an annual mountain retreat.
“As a part of a company founded by coaches, the Pairin team really walks the walk of professional development. Each manager is trained as a coach, and each employee is individually coached to grow professionally and personally.”

Boulder, Colorado
Brand consulting and creative services
128
Not provided
17 days PTO
Paid fees for sports teams like kickball, basketball, and volleyball, and extra PTO for those who compete in the 200-mile Ragnar Relay. Plus, an all-company powder day at the local ski hill, company bikes, and on-site massage and acupuncture.
“Twice a year, we get together as a company for a summit, which is an opportunity to connect, learn, and share great work. Examples include a scavenger hunt in Denver, zip-lining or whitewater rafting, trips to Red Rocks Amphitheater, a day at a local biodynamic farm, and much more. Last year, SRG used the summit as an opportunity give back to the community by partnering with Wish for Wheels to build bikes for the first-grade class at Whittier Elementary in Boulder.”

San Francisco, California
Adventure travel
56
Not provided
Three weeks PTO to start
Twice-weekly office yoga, office keg of local brew, camping and kayaking trips on the Russian River, Giants baseball games, bike parking and showers, annual familiarization trips to GeoEx destinations, offices in San Francisco’s Presidio National Park.
“Our familiarization trips can find you hiking in the Himalayas, mountain biking in Chile’s Atacama Desert, or on safari in Africa. Around the office, there’s yoga, pints of local craft beer from the company keg at the end of the day, and a weekend camping trip together.”

Boulder, Colorado
Recognition and rewards software for enriching company culture
21
Not provided
Unlimited PTO
Employees get up to $200 to put toward gym memberships and yoga classes, year-round bonuses for fitness gear, and local beer and kombucha on tap from the office kegerator.
“Our flexible work policy empowers our outdoorsy employees to organize outings, like twice-weekly afternoon climbing sessions, hikes around Boulder, and winter ski trips. Small groups of employees also take afternoon breaks for meditation, while others go for walks around the neighborhood to rejuvenate.”

Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Health care license monitoring
29
$67,798
15 days PTO
12 weeks paid parental leave, monthly fitness stipend, plus organic produce and juices stocked in the kitchen.
“We’re about one block from the beach, and our casual atmosphere lends itself to walking meetings and lunchtime surf sessions. You’ll frequently see surfboards and wet baggies stacked in the hall. We also have beach cruisers so we have another means of transportation besides our vehicles when we’re at the office.”

Centennial, Colorado
Match tissue donors to patients for cartilage, meniscus, and ligament reconstruction surgeries
22
Not provided
One month PTO
Employees get $600 a year for fitness activities and free visits to a local health clinic.
“We’re lucky because we’re 20 minutes from the mountains, and there’s a state park a few blocks away for mountain biking or trail running. And ropes course outings—it’s all about building teamwork and trust. We’re really good at that.”

Indianapolis, Indiana
Full-service advertising
64
Not provided
Two weeks PTO to start
Company bikes for riding around downtown; showers and lockers for workday runs, rides, walks, and exercise; subsidized YMCA membership; and a room for meditation, prayer, or quiet time.
“We host Beer Thursdays, where we get the whole agency together to review, celebrate, and raise a glass to recent work we’ve produced for clients. Each spring, we shut down for two days and hold an all-agency retreat at a state park in the hills of southern Indiana to soak up nature and remind ourselves who we are, what we do, why we do it, and how lucky we are to do it together.”

Denver, Colorado
Public relations, social media, and digital communications
45
$90,578
Two to three weeks PTO to start, plus three days PTO for volunteering
Employees are encouraged to engage in “sweatworking platforms,” such as skiing, cycling, and sailing with clients and journalists. They also have access to free and discounted gear and a professional development program that includes “life skills” like meditation sessions and a sommelier-led Wine 101 series.
“We make our offices as comfortable—and as fun—as possible. Dogs are welcome. There are kegerators, wine fridges, and games and lounges for more casual meetings and creative brainstorms. We also take group fitness classes and enjoy craft beer swaps.”

Golden, Colorado
Retail ski equipment
19
Not provided
Five days PTO after one year
Biking and running trails near the office, ski pass reimbursement, an annual ski trip to Wolf Creek, and impromptu foosball tournaments.
“We’re constantly finding ways to enjoy time together: skiing, biking, running, playing softball, going to concerts and outdoor films, and hitting happy hours. The kicker is that many of these bonding times are supported in one way or another by the company itself.”

Boulder, Colorado
Web-based platforms and solutions for summer camp operators
47
Not provided
Unlimited PTO
Weekly seasonal produce deliveries, a meditation room, and a $300 annual wellness allowance.
“True to our core value to ‘give joy,’ we plan regular opportunities to unwind and have fun together. Over the past year, these events have included a holiday party at a local brewery, a spring outing to play bar games at Punch Bowl Social, and an end-of-summer celebration at the Boulder Reservoir, where we broke into two teams and participated in a camp-inspired relay race.”

Carbondale, Colorado
General contractor specializing in high-end homes in Aspen
20
Not provided
15 days PTO to start; unlimited PTO after five years
Season pass at Aspen; powder days when there’s ten inches or more; annual skiing, rafting, and camping trips; and opportunities for a three-week “trip of a lifetime” to places like New Zealand, Argentina, or Spain or floating the Grand Canyon.
“A true Colorado company, we love our pups, and we enjoy bringing them to work.”

Seattle, Washington
Publish a geocaching adventure app
81
Not provided
Three weeks PTO to start
Two hours of paid geocaching outings a month, access to a stocked gear closet, unlimited ski and snowboard lift tickets, internal geocaching program with global travel opportunities, and a paid four-week sabbatical every seven years.
“There are few places where you’d actively choose to spend your free time with your co-workers, but Geocaching HQ is one of them. When you love the people you work with and the people you work for, it’s a recipe for happiness.”

Scottsdale, Arizona
Full-service marketing for commercial real estate
16
Not provided
Two weeks PTO to start
Stocked kitchen, free biweekly yoga sessions, sponsored continuing education, annual two-day retreat, 16-week maternity leave, swing-set meetings, and a campfire brainstorming area.
“We truly live our commitment to a collaborative culture. Our midyear retreat is a check-in on our progress on strategic initiatives. Last year, it concluded with kayaking and a winery tour and tasting.”

Redondo Beach, California
Preventative health care
75
$81,147
Three weeks PTO to start
A 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off, discounted personal training, community exercise center, and a wellness program with participation rewards like exercise apparel and Fitbits.
“Employees are encouraged to start walking groups—or moais, as we call them—and have access to indoor and outdoor meditation spaces. Because we get more than 300 days of sunshine a year, employees frequently take walking meetings or wellness breaks and participate in free community fitness events hosted by BCHD, including Zumba in the park and yoga on the beach.”

Carbondale, Colorado
Digital agency for travel and tourism
65
Not provided
12 days PTO to start
Powder mornings, afternoon hikes and mountain bike rides, a pup-friendly office, yoga and fitness classes, annual travel stipends, a kegerator, and a microbrew fridge.
“Bring together engineers, marketing guides, copywriters, designers, sales ninjas, extroverts, introverts, and outdoor extremists under the same roof in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, and what do you get? An inventive and curious team that influences the best kind of chaos.”

Golden, Colorado
Digital marketing and customer data mining
29
$89,224
Three weeks PTO
Hump Day hikes, annual ski trip to Copper Mountain, and a $500 referral bonus for new hires. Plus, a weekly Beer 30 Club, where employees gather around the keg near the end of the day to socialize.
“We name our conference rooms after cool destinations. An employee can go to that destination to get on our ‘Wall of Victors,’ and then they get to rename the room. They also get to expense part of their trip. We’ve had employees go to Machu Picchu and the Grand Canyon. The new names they chose? The Great Barrier Reef and the Ajanta Caves in India.”

San Francisco, California
Creative advertising agency
41
Not provided
Unlimited PTO
Subsidized commutes, a stocked bar cart, and a program that invests in employees’ personal growth and talents.
“We take time to make lunch together with fresh groceries brought in every week. We sit around the farm table or outside on the lawn to eat and catch up. There are trails into a eucalyptus grove and to the bay that afford us a chance to clear our heads and lungs just steps away from the office.”

Denver, Colorado
Management software for improving workforce operations
152
Not provided
Unlimited PTO
Catered Friday breakfasts; local beer, kombucha, and cold brew on tap; paid gym memberships; a dog-friendly office; and an annual retreat in the Rockies.
“Our founders set out to create a culture that emphasizes open, honest communication, taking ownership and having fun, staying sane, and taking care of yourself inside and outside of the office.”

Minneapolis, Minnesota
Advertising, public relations, and marketing
52
Not provided
15 days PTO to start
A certified organic garden tended by cross-departmental teams, a fall harvest party, equine experiential learning, and summer parties. “This year, we hung out at a local vineyard playing bags and bocce ball.”
“Summer in Minnesota kicks booty! We love getting out of the office early to water ski, boat, hike, bike, camp, paddleboard, and more.”

Willoughby Hills, Ohio
Student travel, education, and philanthropy programs
91
Not provided
14 days PTO to start
Travel, the opportunity to work from home, plus free spring break and summer programs for children of the staff and 50 percent off for children of friends and family.
“Our flight leader program allows staff to travel for free each summer as they accompany students to countries around the world. Our in-country operations teams take over when they land, giving our staff up to three weeks on their own, often with a friend or family member, who also travels for free.”

Boulder, Colorado
Creative digital agency
29
$98,650
Three weeks PTO to start
A $300 wellness benefit, two-tap kegerator with local brews, annual brew tour, loaner bikes, pet-friendly office, and an annual snow day at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area.
“We have a Kick Ass Award where employees can nominate each other for doing a great job on project. Winners get a $250 gift certificate to something they like.”

Gainesville, Florida
Natural gas utility company
304
$92,076
Two weeks PTO after one year
On campus 24-hour gym; CrossFit, yoga, and healthy cooking classes; outings to zip lines, local springs, and ropes courses; chair massages; on-campus food trucks; and free concert tickets.
“Attending a meeting doesn’t necessarily mean reporting to a conference room. Many meetings across most departments take place on our walking trails, which stretch half a mile around our campus.”

American Fork, Utah
Help large organizations adopt and use software
127
Not provided
12 days PTO to start, plus three paid volunteer days
Corporate ski passes to a local resort; bimonthly activities, such as floating the Provo River, volleyball tournaments, and snow tubing; bimonthly service activities, like river and park cleanups or volunteering at animal shelters; and a paid sabbatical after ten years.
“Employees can apply for a grant to go on the adventure of a lifetime. Several winners are chosen every year. Previous winners have filmed documentaries in Ireland, fly-fished in Patagonia, hiked Machu Picchu, and trained as a chocolatier in France.”

Keystone, Colorado
Short-term vacation lodging
39
$75,000
Ten days PTO
Ski pass reimbursement at Keystone Resort, discounted gym memberships, access to staff cruiser bikes, and group hiking, yoga, and ski sessions. A monthly fitness challenge encourages health and wellness by rewarding participants with points to spend on Amazon for health and fitness items.
“Every fall, we host a fun run called the Das Bier Burner 5K that supports a local charity. We’ve even had a manager’s meeting once where we brewed our own beer.”

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Allagash Brewing Company

Portland, Maine
Belgian-inspired craft beer

Apto

Denver, Colorado
Web-based software management platform for the real estate industry

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area

Dillion, Colorado
Winter sports recreation

Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School

Baltimore, Maryland
Outdoor learning and leadership programs

BG Buildingworks

Lakewood, Colorado
Consulting services for building and infrastructure design, operation, commissioning, and sustainability

Broadreach

Raleigh, North Carolina
International educational trips for teens

Buzz Franchise Brands

Virginia Beach, Virginia
Multi-brand franchiser of home services

C1S Group

Dallas, Texas
Engineering, construction, and sustainability consulting firm

CamelBak

Petaluma, California
Hydration packs, bottles, reservoirs, and more

Carmichael Lynch

Minneapolis, Minnesota
Full-service creative agency

CE Broker

Jacksonville, Florida
Continuing education tracking system

Charles Cunniffe Architects

Aspen, Colorado
Architecture, planning, and interiors

Colorado Outward Bound School

Denver, Colorado
Outdoor learning and leadership programs

Creative Alignments

Boulder, Colorado
Recruitment firm

Digital Operative

San Diego, California
Full-service digital marketing agency

Eagle Creek

Jackson, Wyoming
Travel gear outfitter

Evoke at Entrada

Santa Clara, Utah
Wilderness therapy

Finished Basement Company

Denver, Colorado
Basement finishing and remodeling

First Descents

Denver, Colorado
Outdoor adventure programs for young adults affected by cancer

Forum Phi

Aspen, Colorado
Architecture, interior design, and land planning services

Fuse

Burlington, Vermont
Teen and young adult marketing

Grandesign

San Diego, California
Traditional and experiential marketing agency

Greater Yellowstone Coalition

Bozeman, Montana
Environmental nonprofit

Hanson Dodge

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Integrated marketing

IDX Broker

Eugene, Oregon
Software for the real estate industry

Namasté Solar

Boulder, Colorado
Employee-owned renewable energy cooperative

Nemo Design

Portland, Oregon
Advertising and design agency

New Belgium Brewing

Fort Collins, Colorado; Asheville, North Carolina
Employee-owned craft beer brewery

Nuun Hydration

Seattle, Washington
Electrolyte tablets

Outward Bound California

San Francisco, California
Outdoor learning and leadership programs

Polar Field Services

Littleton, Colorado
Global logistics and operations experts

ProtectWise

Denver, Colorado
Network security

RA Nelson

Avon, Colorado
Full-service general contractor

Realeflow

Parma Heights, Ohio
Real estate investing software and education

Room 214

Boulder, Colorado
Digital and social media marketing agency

Shambhala Publications

Boulder, Colorado
Publisher of books, audio, and online courses on Buddhism, mindfulness, and more

Shine United

Madison, Wisconsin
Advertising, public relations, and marketing

SlideBelts

: El Dorado Hills, California
Retail belt maker

Stio

Jackson, Wyoming
Outdoor apparel

StoneAge Tools

Durango, Colorado
Waterblast tools

Taptica

San Francisco, California
Global end-to-end mobile advertising platform

TeamSnap

Boulder Colorado
Integrated sports team, club, and league management

Tendril

Boulder, Colorado
Data analytics for residential energy market

The Frontier Project

Richmond, Virginia
Boutique management consultancy

The Honest Kitchen

San Diego, California
All-natural pet food

TrainingPeaks

Boulder, Colorado
Training apps and services for triathlon, cycling, and running

Uproar PR

Orlando, Florida
Full-service public relations agency

Voyageur Outward Bound School

St. Paul, Minnesota
Outdoor learning and leadership programs

Workshop Digital

Richmond, Virginia
Digital marketing agency

Zen Planner

Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Management software for the fitness industry

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Don't risk missing an early season powder day and get your holiday shopping done now. Check out the highlights from Backcountry's sale below, or shop the entire sale here. 

A versatile, highly adaptive jacket for all aerobic activities, the Atom LT's DWR treated exterior is durable and wind-resistant for protection. Coreloft insulation keeps you warm even when wet, an adjustable hem provides a personalized fit and feel, and stretch side panels promote unobstructed mobility.  

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The Z/2 takes the adjustable Chaco webbing straps you love and gives them more room to thrive. Made with 28-millimeter webbing and ahh-inducing Chaco cushioning for all-day support and all-terrain performance, if you don't own a pair of Chacos, you're missing out.

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This lightweight synthetic jacket straddles the line between urban style and active insulation. It's cozy and looks good enough to wear around town on the weekends but the stretch woven shell and a thin sheet of synthetic insulation mean it's also worthy of taking to the mountains.

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A warm, chic fleece, the Re-Tool's stand-up collar doubles down on defense against nippy winds, a roomy cut provides a comfortable, not too tight fit, and a kangaroo-inspired pocket offers respite for cold hands. But mostly it's just super cozy.

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A durable sleeping bag built for staying comfy on chilly nights, the Sawtooth is stuffed with 650-fill down that is lightweight, compressible, and insulating. Large baffles, a draft collar, and internal stash pocket for keeping headlamps nearby make it a great choice for three-season camping and backpacking.

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The Nano-Air set the standard for insulation for aerobic ascents in the alpine. Its stretchy shell offers mobility while climbing and hiking and the DWR finish repels light precipitation from mist and snow. Although it's a few seasons old now (hence the sale) this is one of the best insulating layers ever made.

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A midweight jacket with all-weather warmth, the Stretch Thermoball is refined enough to wear around town, while the athletic cut, compressibility (it packs into one of the pockets), and synthetic insulation mean you can take it on a hike or ski tour too.

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If you're looking for something a little more technical than the Thermoball jacket (above), the Ghost Whisperer is one of the best options available. You'll need to treat it with care as the 10-denier outer fabric isn't super burly, but it's warm, lightweight, and stuffed with high quality 800 fill down. 

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This unique bag sits somewhere between a daypack, purse, and messenger bag. The rope shoulder strap give it a unique look, while two vertical zip pockets grant easy access to small essentials.

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Paddle the Mississippi like Huck Finn, get lost in the woods like Brian from ‘Hatchet,’ and wander the desert like Edward Abbey

Certain works of pop culture have a magic way of portraying the wilderness. Even when the hero is stranded in the woods after a plane crash, paddling dangerous rapids with criminals, or escaping grief on the Pacific Crest Trail, there’s something that makes you wish you were there, too. But what if you could go to those stunning places you’ve only read about in books or seen on the big screen? Here’s how to get close.

Learn to Survive Like in ‘Hatchet’

Hatchet, the seminal 1987 young-adult novel by Gary Paulsen, is about a 13-year-old boy named Brian whose bush plane crashes somewhere in Canada’s North Woods. With his hatchet, he learns to survive alone in the unforgiving forest. Paulsen never states exactly where the book is set, but for a glimpse at what Brian’s life would have been like, sign up for a survival expedition with the Alberta-based Canadian Wilderness School. Its two-day intro to bushcraft course ($213) teaches survival skills like fire starting, shelter building, knot tying, and, yes, how to hunt with a hatchet.

Run Big Rapids Like in ‘The River Wild’

Of course Meryl Streep makes raft guiding look good. In this 1994 thriller about a family who runs into armed robbers while on a river trip in Montana, Streep plays a former guide returning to her roots. The film was shot on a few rivers, including Montana’s Middle Fork of the Flathead, and it’s as gorgeous a stretch of water as you’ll find anywhere. Sign up for a two-day rafting trip with Glacier Raft Company ($429), and you’ll paddle Class III rapids along the border of Glacier National Park.

Explore the Desert Like Edward Abbey

First published in 1968, Desert Solitaire documents Edward Abbey’s work as a summertime ranger in what is now Utah’s Arches National Park. “This is not a travel guide but an elegy,” Abbey famously wrote in his introduction, as a way to urge the protection of fading public lands. The easiest way to see what Abbey saw then? Join a ranger-led hike, held twice daily through the summer months, through the fragile, narrow sandstone walls of Arches’ Fiery Furnace (from $10).

Backpack the PCT Like Cheryl Strayed

It’s no coincidence that after the release of Wild, Cheryl Strayed’s 2012 bestselling book and the subsequent film starring Reese Witherspoon, the Pacific Crest Trail Association reported a 137 percent increase in hikers attempting the trek. It’s a moving story about losing a parent, the dissolution of a marriage, and the transformative power of a walk in the woods. You don’t have to tackle all 2,650 miles to put yourself in Strayed’s boots. International Alpine Guides leads a nine-day backpacking trip ($1,795) on the PCT through Yosemite National Park, from Sonora Pass to Tuolumne Meadows, one of the most beautiful sections of the long-distance trail.

Fly-Fish Montana Like ‘A River Runs Through It’

Published in 1976, Norman Maclean’s A River Runs Through It tells the story of the brothers Maclean, sons of a strict minister, and their devotion to fly-fishing. But it was the 1992 movie of the same name starring Brad Pitt that changed the sport forever. Even though the story is set on Montana’s striking Blackfoot River, the film was actually shot on the state’s Upper Yellowstone, Gallatin, and Boulder rivers. But go for the real thing: Blackfoot River Outfitters in Missoula offers half-day and multiday guided trips on the Big Blackfoot (from $460), where you’ll catch cunning trout in remote, rugged canyons.

Float the Mississippi Like Huck Finn

If the Great American Novel exists, Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is it. The story follows the wild journey of a boy who fakes his own death, then flees his abusive father with help from a runaway slave by floating a log raft down a flooded Mississippi River. At Big Muddy Adventures in St. Louis, you can paddle a 29-foot voyager canoe down the Middle Mississippi or book a full-moon float to an uninhabited island, where you’ll watch the sun set over Old Man River (from $45).

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The outdoor lifestyle is about more than sending big lines in the mountains. Luckily, many outdoor-gear companies also make apparel for the in-between moments—the office, the bar, the daily commute—often constructed with the same high-quality, technical materials. As one of Outside’s gear editors, I get to try out a lot of lifestyle apparel. Here’s the outfit I’ve worn most often to work (and everywhere else) this fall. 

With just a hint of spandex for stretch, these slim-fit corduroy pants are snug enough to flatter your curves yet don’t sacrifice comfort (you’ll still be able to bend over and not feel constricted). The navy and gray colors are great for more toned-down looks, while the rust and earthy yellow-brown help an outfit pop without making me feel like I’ve been splashed with neon paint.

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A trim silhouette, wide ribbed cuffs, and a crew neckline lend this sweater a classic look, but it was the thick knit and soft merino yarn that won me over. Recently I’ve taken to leaving the Waypoint Crewe on the back of my chair to throw on whenever I get chilly, and I’ve yet to find an outfit it doesn’t match.

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Ripstop nylon on one side, flannel on the other, with 60-gram polyester insulation in between, this reversible shacket can be worn as a traditional puffy or an insulated overshirt. The cotton-poly flannel liningis extremely comfortable on the skin, which I’ve found particularly handy on those fickle fall days when I want to wear the Kalaloch as a jacket over a T-shirt.

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Stylish leather meets trademark Chaco comfort and traction in these ankle-height boots. The waterproof upper and lugged TPU outsole mean I don’t need to be concerned about rain or slush, and the EVA foam footbed offers enough cushion to keep me going even when I’m running around all day.

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This waxed-cotton bag may be one of the simplest commuter packs I’ve tried. But it’s also the one I use most, thanks to the two-pocket design and clean, sleek exterior. Free of extraneous zippers and buckles, the bag helps me feel more put-together. The main compartment fits my laptop, lunch, and jacket, while the horizontal front pocket houses my wallet and keys.  

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This award-winning jacket has a permanent home in our editors' closets—and for good reason. The active insulation in the Ventrix ($99; 50 percent off) is made to work with you, dumping heat as you go through gill-like vents cut into the synthetic insulation that stretches throughout the whole jacket.

The face fabric is made to glide easily under your shell for perfect layering when the weather turns. If you prefer to wear the jacket alone, the fabric is treated with a DWR coating to resist water and snow. You can snag the women's version in last season's color for a staggering 50 percent off right now on Backcountry. Also, the men's version is on sale for 30 percent off.

Buy Women's Buy Men's

We get strapped with more than just the logistics

Back in the long, lazy days before babies, Steve and I vowed to raise our children outside on fresh air and nature and as many backcountry trips as we could muster. At the time, this seemed completely reasonable. We did not know it would kick our asses again and again. Just trying to get out the door with all the gear and our sanity intact was a herculean effort, not to mention middle-of-the-night diaper changes on the tent floor, river trips where I lay in my sleeping bag wondering if the 500-foot canyon walls above us would topple onto our heads, or ski tours into the backcountry with both kids in tow and a portable crib.

In the ten years since I became a mother, my duties have changed. Days that used to be devoted to breastfeeding and diapers now consist almost entirely of telling people—small people with limited attention spans—to do things. Usually more than once. Second only to that is the corralling of stuff and schedules and more socks than I care to count. No question, the physical toil of parenting has gotten easier as our daughters have grown, but our daily lives are more complex, and the mental and emotional output can be exhausting.

Sociologists call the management of household routines, activities, and tasks “emotional labor,” and it frequently falls into mothers’ hands: booking doctor’s appointments and summer camps; organizing after-school activities; fishing unwashed lacrosse uniforms out of the laundry hamper (oops); keeping tabs on permission slips; planning playdates, birthdays, and teacher gifts. Some of this, of course, is the stuff of privilege, but much is essential: buying new shoes, volunteering at public school, helping neighbors in need—the often unacknowledged details that not only keep a family running but also foster community and social connections.

Emotional labor is sneaky. It hides in the cracks of our days so that it seems inconsequential, when in fact it’s anything but. We make phone calls on the drive to work, send an email while the kids are brushing their teeth, catch up on texts after they go to bed. Multitasking makes emotional labor look easy, but this is mere illusion. It still creeps into nearly every waking hour and has ripple effects far beyond the home.

“Disregard what your two-career couple friends say about going 50-50,” Judith Shulevitz wrote in a recent New York Times article. “Sociological studies of heterosexual couples from all strata of society confirm that, by and large, mothers draft the to-do lists while fathers pick and choose among the items. And whether a woman loves or hates worry work, it can scatter her focus on what she does for pay and knock her partway or clean off a career path.”

I’m fully aware that I lucked out with a highly evolved member of the male species. Steve cooks, gardens, and does more than his share of grocery shopping. He loves small furry creatures and babies, and they adore him back. After each of our daughters were born, he toted them around in a fleece sling for nine months because, as he put it, I got to carry them on the inside, so it was his turn to carry them on the outside.

In 18 years together, we’ve gotten our division of labor pretty much dialed. I’m bad at bills; he sucks at technology. He does the garbage; I do laundry. I work from home while he’s out all day running his own company. But still, the details of getting out the door en masse with our shit mostly together ultimately falls to me. In moments of frustration and fatigue, I can become a control freak. “Maybe if you didn’t micromanage so much,” Steve has been known to grumble. I call it managing. Dealing. Mothering.

One of the biggest sources of emotional labor—and tension—in our household is adventure. Like everything, getting out has gotten easier, or at least more routine, but a multiday family mission is still a major commitment. Steve and I have different organizational styles. He tosses his own gear into a duffel ten minutes before we leave (while I glance meaningfully at my watch, trying not to have a heart attack). I organize the girls’ stuff days in advance so I don’t forget extra socks, backup long underwear, and clean clothes for the car trip home. Would Steve remember the down puffies if it were up to him? Doubtful. One time, we drove four blocks from home when we realized we’d forgotten the raft; another time, we left the cooler on the kitchen floor.

Sometimes the sheer volume of crap swirling around in my brain feels like a kind of vertigo, and I think how much easier it would be to stay home and just go the movies instead. There are dogsitters to enlist and Spot beacons to charge and no end to the what-ifs: Have we properly assessed the risk? Will there be rattlesnakes, avalanche danger, exposure to heights? I’m naturally high-strung, while Steve is habitually laid-back, so worry work is mostly my work.

The emotional labor of adventuring is a recipe for stress and resentment in other families, too. “Shawn does almost all of the (always last-minute) packing for our big trips,” says writer Tracy Ross, mother of three and co-conspirator behind her gang’s remote, multiday raft trips and adventures. “This leaves me to do the domestic work, which is make sure the house, the kids, the bills, the schedules, the correspondence, and everything else is taken care of in advance of our departure, while he gets to do the exciting work of making sure we’re set up for the San Juan or the Smith or the Salmon or any other river-ski-bike-hike road trip adventure. I’d honestly much rather do his job than mine.”

Shanti Hodges, founder of the global family hiking community Hike It Baby and author of a new book of the same name, struggles with a similar issue. “My husband plans too many of our adventure trips, and because he’s so busy with them, everything else falls to me. He crams trips into every nook and cranny, leaving us no family time at home.”

So how can we break the stranglehold of our roles and bring more equality—or at least less friction—to the division of labor? For starters, when I slow down enough to notice all the things Steve is doing versus everything he’s not—a move I borrowed from the positive-psychology parenting book The Strength Switch —I’m automatically happier and less grumpy. Simply taking time to talk it out can shift my perspective. For years, Steve has always gotten stuck driving the rental car, which annoyed him, though he never said so. On a recent trip, we changed it up and I took it on. It’s not always easy or efficient to trade responsibilities, but you can start small with low-stakes stuff: Steve can do the permission slips; I’ll buy the beer. (OK, so maybe that’s not low-stakes.)

Delegating more to the kids helps, too. When I backed off and stopped narrating our daughters’ morning routines, they took initiative and got themselves up and out the door much faster and with far less drama. Teaching them to organize their own gear and make grocery lists and meal plans teaches them good organizational, time management, and trip planning skills.

In the scheme of things, periodic adventure strife isn’t the worst problem to have. For starters, it almost always burns off by the time we pitch our tent for the night. More important, though, it means we’re getting out there. And as screens and schedules and 24/7 connectivity compete for our time and attention, this just may be the single best thing we can do for our children and ourselves.

Or not climbing one, whatever you want to do

Hey, I was wondering if you might want to go climbing this weekend? I think it’ll be really fun—if you’re up for it.

I had this one route in mind, if you’re into it. It’s a decently long hike in, which I know a lot of people don’t like, so definitely tell me if that’s a deal-breaker—and then a bit of a scramble, and then five pitches of technical climbing to the summit. It’s not really a mega-classic route, but a couple of the pitches are supposed to be fun, so I think it at least won’t be crowded. I’ve been wanting to do it for a couple years, ever since I saw a photo of it. The timing is perfect for it on Saturday, and I’d love to head up there with you. Does that sound fun? Unless you have something else on your tick list that you’d like to do, in which case I am totally cool with that.

If it’s OK with you, I think we should plan to be up there really early, so we give ourselves enough time to get up and down before any weather moves in, if you agree that that’s a good idea? I figure if we meet at my place at 4:30 a.m., we’ll be at the trailhead by 6:00, and that’ll give us all morning to get up there and get up and down safely, which is sort of my thing but you know, everyone’s different.

I guess if you really need your sleep and feel like 4:30 is too early, I totally understand, so whatever you’re comfortable with is fine. Maybe 5 or 5:30 would be better? How about 4:45?

We can take my car—I think the last couple miles to the trailhead are pretty rough, but you don’t need high clearance to get up it. Unless you’d prefer to drive? I’m totally flexible. I am happy to drive, but if you’d rather drive your car, that’s totally cool. I can go either way.

It looks like there’s a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms after 2 p.m. on Saturday, so I think we should establish a fixed turnaround time that we both agree on to make sure we’re heading down and can get below treeline before any potential lightning starts—since it’s basically totally exposed to weather above 11,000 feet and being up there in any sort of weather is pretty unsafe. I think 11 a.m. is a good, safe time to turn around, even if we aren’t on the summit by then. But if you think that’s way too conservative, let’s discuss it.

We can take my rack and rope, unless you have some specific pieces of gear you want to bring, or prefer to use your rack, or twin ropes, or whatever. I’m not picky, just happy to get out and do some climbing. We can even ditch all the gear and free solo together if that’s your jam?

At the top, you can either do three rappels off to a descent gully, or scramble off the top and do about three hundred feet of downclimbing to the same descent gully. I think it’s way safer to do the rappels, since the downclimbing has quite a bit of loose rock and it’s pretty notorious for accidents, so I would definitely advocate for the rappel. Is that OK? If you’re uncomfortable rappelling or something, let me know and we can figure out what’s best. The rap stations are all bolted, just FYI. Again, I’m flexible.

Sound like a plan?

We can also not plan anything and just kind of wing it, if that’s more your style.

Just one more thing: If we somehow have some sort of accident and I get injured, I’d love for you to basically do everything you can to save my life, including getting me stabilized and transported to medical treatment as soon as humanly possible. Does that work for you? If you have another take on it, I’m open to suggestions.

Also, we don’t have to go Saturday if you have other stuff going on. I am open Sunday as well, and the weather looks really similar, so if that works better for you, totally cool with me. My schedule is open, I’m just stoked to climb.

Or, if you’re not feeling it for some reason, we can just go to the climbing gym instead. Like I said, I’m flexible, just want to get in a few pitches. Even on plastic.

Of course, if you’re not up for climbing, we could just get a cup of coffee Saturday or Sunday morning, and plan a climb for later in the summer. Or not talk about climbing at all.

If you’re busy all weekend or something comes up, we don’t even have to get together this weekend. I have plenty of stuff to keep me busy, and don’t want to impose on your schedule.

I can also just leave you alone and never talk to you again if that’s more up your alley? Totally cool, just let me know.

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At one point or another, we’ve all wished for an athletic top that is technical yet presentable enough to wear with regular clothes. Inevitably, most miss the mark: they either look too sporty or don’t hold up to the rigors of the trail. A small Boston-based running company called Janji thinks it has found a solution.

On Thursday, the company released its Runpaca top, a long-sleeve made from a blend of 75 percent standard cotton, 22.5 percent pima cotton, and 2.5 percent alpaca wool. Janji claims the material looks and feels like your favorite cotton shirt but is far more breathable, thanks to alpaca wool’s natural water resistance (it absorbs less and dries faster) and a loose weave that allows more moisture to pass through. Alpaca wool also has the same natural odor resistance as merino wool, so it stays stink-free for a long time. Alpaca fiber makes up a small percentage of the fabric, but it’s enough to make a sizable difference.

I am skeptical of any cotton apparel supposedly built for performance, but one trail jaunt in the Runpaca made me a convert. The shirt feels and acts nothing like cotton. Over the past three weeks it has slotted easily into my regular running wardrobe, wicking and breathing just like synthetic and merino tops. The majority-cotton fabric does stretch and shrink with each wear and wash, like your favorite jeans, and it lacks the compressive fit of some traditional performance layers, but with that loose fit and soft knit feel, it’s perfect for casual daily runs. 

The relaxed style also gives the Runpaca top the the aesthetic of an everyday knit shirt. It looks just as at home with jeans in the office or bar as it does with running shoes in the woods. On a Labor Daycamping trip, I hiked in it one day and then wore it the next evening for dinner in town.

Though Janji is not the only company to turn to alpaca wool for active apparel (Appalachian Gear Company launched its own line of 100 percent alpaca hiking T-shirts on Kickstarter last year), it is the first running company to do so. I have primarily worn the top on cooler, early-morning excursions, so I can’t say how its breathability will hold up in the sweatier conditions of high summer. But it’s a one-shirt quiver for folks without the time or suitcase space for post-run wardrobe changes.

Buy now

Every day, hundreds of helicopters pass through the lower canyon from the Hualapai Reservation. Is Grand Canyon West turning into “Las Vegas East” and ruining the park’s wilderness? Or is it saving a Native American tribe?

Western Grand Canyon is an unforgiving, feral landscape. There are no trails, and water is dangerously scarce. It is filled with uncharted slot canyons, flesh-seeking cactus, perilous drop-offs and expansive views. For Rich Rudow, an obsessive cross-country explorer, this part of Grand Canyon National Park would be paradise if it weren’t for the steady drone overhead. He says sometimes the mechanical hum heard from the canyon rim is as faint as a bumblebee. But closer to the river, the loud noise can approach a rock-concert decibel level and drive a wilderness-loving hiker or river runner mad.

On average, there are more than 300 helicopter landings each day at the airport at Grand Canyon West, as the area is called, and along a three-mile stretch of the Colorado River on the Hualapai Reservation bordering the national park. Hikers and river runners passing through the area describe a “war zone,” with one helicopter landing about every five minutes for eight hours straight.

Rudow recalls a “magical moment” during a trip in October 2016 when the noise stopped and he got a taste of what the place was like before the chopper frenzy. After a long day of hiking, Rudow and two others were about to set up camp on the Sanup Plateau, located on the canyon’s North Rim across from the helicopter landing pads. A gray ceiling of clouds suddenly parted and the sun broke through, casting the plateau’s prairie grasses and cholla in an ethereal golden light. “It was dusk, so the helicopters were finally gone for the day,” Rudow says. “And all the birds and insects started singing at once. It was a massive symphony of sound, an incredible uprising of life that we did not know was there because of the constant noise.”

The nonstop daytime air traffic is part of a booming tourism enterprise that has lifted a struggling 2,400-person Native American tribe out of poverty. In the process, however, national park wilderness advocates like Rudow argue the helicopter-driven business is destroying the most precious part of an irreplaceable crown jewel.

But who is intruding on whom is a matter of heated debate.

Hualapai tribal chairperson Damon Clarke has little patience for critics like Rudow. “If we listened to everyone about the impacts of Grand Canyon West, then we would remain undeveloped. We would be kept down,” Clarke says. “We are finally able to make a living, and people are poking fun at us.”

As an indigenous tribe of Grand Canyon, the Hualapai once called an area of approximately 5 million acres home. They hunted and farmed across a large swath of plateau lands in northern Arizona, as well as on the South and West Rims of Grand Canyon. The Colorado River is the tribe’s spiritual touchstone, what they call their ha’yidada, or backbone. In 1883, the Hualapai were forced onto a 1 million–acre reservation, which the U.S. government did not mind signing over because it lacked lucrative natural resources like minerals, timber, or water. But it did include 100 miles of front-row seating to Grand Canyon’s western rim, with stunning views of the Colorado River 4,000 feet below.

When the Hualapai established Grand Canyon West in 1988, the destination was just a bladed-dirt airstrip with a road that led to the West Rim overlook of Guano Point. For anyone with the guts to land there, tribal members would pick them up and take them to the point where they shared stories and ate lunch. In the 1990s, the then-1,500-member tribe had an unemployment rate hovering around 60 percent. Tourism was their best hope for economic development on a reservation so remote that it was 50 miles from the nearest grocery store. To help the tribe with its nascent business, the Federal Aviation Administration paved the runway in 1997 and made other improvements to the airport. Papillon, one of the largest air tour companies in the country, established a base as soon as the asphalt was dry, and other companies quickly followed.

Meanwhile, the 1987 National Park Overflights Act was in the process of being implemented in Grand Canyon National Park. After a midair collision over Grand Canyon the previous year, the new law was intended to improve safety regulations and also mandated “substantial restoration of natural quiet” in the national park. Once regulations were complete, air tours would be restricted to a limited number of flights and paths over the park and required to stay thousands of feet above the canyon rim.

In addition to being a sovereign nation with the freedom to do whatever it wanted on reservation land, another thing that worked in the tribe’s favor was a decision made in April 2000 called the “Hualapai exception.” As the National Park Service and the FAA developed flight rules for the Grand Canyon region, the Hualapai argued that restricting flights at Grand Canyon West would pose an economic hardship to the tribe. At the time, more than one-third of households on the reservation lived below the poverty level. The temporary exception granted by the FAA allowed an unlimited number of helicopter flights at Grand Canyon West. And as Papillon and other air tour companies would soon discover, there was an ever-increasing demand for faster, more exciting ways to see Grand Canyon.

“What put Grand Canyon West on the map was that the Hualapai had the foresight to realize they were across from the national park and could allow helicopters to land near the boundary,” says Robert Graff, vice president of marketing for Papillon. “At the West Rim, you can descend 3,500 feet and land right on the banks of the Colorado River.”

The open season for air tours dovetailed nicely with the completion in 2007 of the glass cantilever Skywalk bridge that juts 70 feet over the West Rim’s Eagle Point. The bridge itself was controversial for how it used Grand Canyon as the site of a thrill-seeking experience more commonly associated with amusement parks.

With the Skywalk as its anchor attraction, Grand Canyon West has rapidly expanded its tourist offerings over the past decade. There is now a restaurant and visitor center next to the Skywalk, along with a western-themed town and guest cabins, guided whitewater rafting and a zip line strung over a side canyon. But the biggest draws after the Skywalk are the elevator-like rim-to-river helicopters that transport visitors to water’s edge, where motorized pontoon boats wait to take passengers upriver into the national park for a 15-to-20-minute ride.

Grand Canyon West has proven hugely successful. Grand Canyon Resort Corporation, which owns the development, earned $110 million in gross revenue in 2017. Thirty years ago, there were virtually zero visitors; in the past three years, there have been more than 1 million annually. While 83 percent of the 4.5 million annual visitors to the national park are from the United States, less than 50 percent of Grand Canyon West visitors are domestic travelers. Instead, most are international tourists—many visiting from China—who add a helicopter day trip as part of their vacation to Las Vegas, where the $300 to $550 rides are heavily marketed.

“Grand Canyon West has opened up a new market,” Graff says. “It allows Vegas tourists with very limited time to still see one of the seven wonders of the natural world.”

Rudow calls the area “Las Vegas East” and says it’s an assault not only on Grand Canyon National Park but also on the American values that created the National Park System and the Wilderness Act. “When they get dropped off in Grand Canyon West, they don’t understand that we have these ideals in America around protecting certain places to keep them wild,” he says. Rudow and other environmentalists argue that the Hualapai exception on flight numbers should be revisited since Grand Canyon West is now a thriving enterprise.

Of the $110 million earned by Grand Canyon West last year, $48.7 million was distributed to the tribe. According to a handout given to tribal members at Grand Canyon Resort Corporation’s annual shareholder meeting on March 29, 2018, $6.2 million was disbursed to individual tribal members. (Two members interviewed for this story reported getting a $2,500 check last year at Christmas.) The remainder of the $48.7 million went to the tribal government. Hualapai chairperson Clarke says the tribe’s health department, senior programs, EMS, and partial college scholarships are all subsidized by Grand Canyon West revenues. “We currently have 85 students going to college,” he says. “That is far more than ever before.”

But Clarke says the biggest impact from Grand Canyon West is simply that there are jobs on the reservation. Grand Canyon West employs more than 800 people, and 28 percent are Hualapai, according to the Grand Canyon Resort Corporation annual report. With 1,400 tribal members living on the reservation, the assumption now is that anyone who needs a job has one.

Not all tribal members are content with the new status quo, however. “Employment opportunities at Grand Canyon West have been good for the tribe, but we have many of the same problems as before—diabetes, suicide, crime, and there’s no new homes being built,” says Ted Quasula, a tribal member who lives off the reservation because of the lack of housing. “With all this money, why don’t we have a library and a tutor for every kid? We should be providing them with a free college education.” Quasula said the tribe needs to set its sights higher and have its own members become lawyers, doctors, nurses, schoolteachers, and engineers who serve the reservation. Meanwhile, most of the employment opportunities at Grand Canyon West are minimum-wage service jobs.

For John, a tribal member who works at Grand Canyon West and did not want his real name to be used for fear of losing his job, there is a certain swagger that comes from being part of something commercially successful. “We took a lesson from the playbook of western society,” he says. “We were poor for such a long time. Now we can go into Kingman to shop and not feel as much racism. Having money is instilling a sense of pride in the tribe.”

But John is aware of the environmental tradeoffs and has “mixed feelings” about the helicopter noise and how it is negatively impacting national park visitors. He reasons, however, that Grand Canyon river runners have been able to enjoy a wilderness experience for 260 miles down the Colorado, and it is only the last 15 to 20 miles of the trip that are affected by the area known as “helicopter alley.”

“I tell them, ‘I’m sorry we ruined your serenity,’” says John. “They’ve been on this escape from their life for two or three weeks, and it’s like, ‘Welcome back to your world.’”