Aspen Peak - Niche Media - Aspen living at its peak
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/824799
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY SWANSON (STROKES) TESS WEAVER STROKES KELLY J. HAYES A former editor at Powder, Strokes—an Oregon native who landed in Aspen in 2010 and has written for The Atlantic, Outside, Surfer, and other publica- tions—penned three stories for this issue, including a roundup of the season's must-have gear (page 124). What piece of gear can you not live without? My Felt e-bike. It's my car and kid transporter. The pedal-assist means we can cruise at 20 mph with lit- tle effort and maximum fun. Sunny Saturday in Aspen—where can you be found? I usually take my 3-year-old to the farm- ers market and then up the gondola to play in what we call the "high- altitude sandbox." In the evening, we play and pic- nic at one of our favorite river beaches. Who would be your ultimate interview? Freya Stark, a British explorer and travel writer—and spy!— who was the first Westerner to travel many regions of the Middle East. A writer and broadcaster who authors a weekly wine column in The Aspen Times, Hayes is an Old Snowmass resident and avid runner. He explores how the valley breeds literature in "Mountain of Inspiration" (page 104). What's the best book you read last year? Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan. The romance of surf and the '60s. What is the "running decathlon"? I am on a quest to complete a self-created challenge, which consists of 10 running events, from the 100-meter to the marathon, in the places where the world records in each event were set. The ultimate goal is to raise funds for Amanda Boxtel's Bridging Bionics Foundation (bridging bionics.org; race2walk 2016.com), which helps those with spinal injuries regain mobility. Where do you most want to travel next, and why? Berlin. Lisbon. Brussels. Seville... I've got races to run! …WITHOUT WHOM THIS ISSUE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE