Mountains Across the Globe

Wedding Season is Starting

Sarah Gallagher — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:12:36 +0000

As many of you know, I work at a florist here in Boulder, called Boulder Blooms. It is a fabulous place to work, and I really do LOVE MY JOB. Part of my internship hours are spent doing marketing things for Boulder Blooms…making new brochures, designing promotional materials, tweeting, facebooking, blogging, writing press-releases, and plain and simply coming up with cool ideas. Part of all of the social media stuff involves investigating the current trends in the floral industry. For us, that means investigating wedding season trends since we specialize in weddings.

It is so funny because in my experience of researching for Boulder Blooms, I have grown to love wasting time browsing wedding blogs. Seriously, I think they are the best thing since sliced bread. I got my friend, Claire, addicted to it to, and now all we do is share cool “inspiration boards” with one another. An inspiration board is basically a collage of photos of an actual wedding or an idea for a wedding that was inspired by something (theme, movie, song, book, etc). For example, here is my favorite inspiration board of all time: the “New Orleans Inspiration Board.” http://ow.ly/1jx6W

Many of you can probably guess why it is my favorite…I am from Louisiana. Clearly I love the fleur-de-lis cake and the seer-sucker bow tie and the parasol and the purple bouquet and the Mardi-Gras color boutonnieres. Inspiration boards have become one way for brides and grooms to get ideas for the weddings because they truly convey the “atmosphere” you would feel at that wedding. To me, this New Orleans themed wedding says…you guessed it! Partaaay Tiiiiiime!

All of this research of the wedding trends is getting me really excited for the weddings we will be doing in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Our work has made the cover of some Colorado Wedding Magazines. http://www.weddingsitesandservices.com/

We made the bouquet in this photo http://www.photographyg.com/services.html. Photo by http://www.photographyg.com/index.html

We have won several awards (The Knot in 2007 http://www.theknot.com/ and Wedding Wire in 2010 http://www.weddingwire.com/) for our wedding services.

In addition to getting to work with beautiful pieces of nature, we have to opportunity to do all of our weddings in venues across Colorado. Della Terra, Lionscrest Manor, the Red Lion, the Boulderado, the St. Julien, Wild Basin, and the Stanley Hotel are just to name a few.

http://www.dellaterramountainchateau.com/ http://www.lionscrestmanor.com/ http://www.redlionrestaurant.com/ http://www.boulderado.com/ http://www.stjulien.com/ http://www.wildbasinlodge.com/ http://www.stanleyhotel.com/

You should check out some of these websites, even if you aren’t getting married. They really highlight some of Colorado’s greatest qualities…obviously the mountains, in my opinion! I also think it is just so cool that how we can use the earth’s most fragile elements to create the most sophisticated, elegant, and chic design, and then put them against the background of the Rocky Mountains. It is truly a thing of beauty. Go to www.boulderblooms.com to see our floral creations.

your fellow mountain-obsessed friend,

Sarah

Ski Wells…dangerous ski elements I never knew about

Sarah Gallagher — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:50:25 +0000

So I just read an article about tree wells. I had never heard of them, and I have been skiing my whole life. I am definitely no expert, though. I found this information really educational that every skier/snowboarder should read. Tree wells occur when snow falls near the base of a tree so there are air pockets buried under it, similar to quicksand. They are not easy to spot, and they can be EXTREMELY hard to get out of by yourself (only 10% of people can get out of them before they die of suffocation or hypothermia.) You should read this article for more information. It may save you or your friend’s life. http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/7fYbXC/www.ultrarob.com/blog/2010/01/what-are-tree-wells-and-how-do-they.php

your fellow mountain-obsessed friend,

Sarah G

Yoga and Skiing

Sarah Gallagher — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:29:14 +0000

I have recently REALLY gotten into yoga. I go to Corepower on South Boulder, and my teacher is amazing. I am a type of person who is always thinking about the next thing that I have to do, and for some reason, yoga is the first practice I have ever done where I can really focus and concentrate on being in the moment. I danced for 7 years, and even during rehearsals, my mind would wonder. I love being in the outdoors and hiking and skiing here in Colorado, and even in those activities, my mind trails off and I think about all the things on my mental lists. Yes…I make mental lists! But with yoga, my mind never wanders, and I really feel myself being re-energized when I practice. Usually after an activity and working my muscles, I am dead tired. But with yoga, I am fully energized and ready for anything.

I did some research on yoga and skiing, and just as I thought, yoga has been proven to help your skiing. I improves your flexibility, agility, balance, and concentration. Our hip and core muscles are strengthened when practicing yoga, which definitely helps improve your ski technique. To learn more about the physics of skiing and the mental benefits of yoga, check out this link. http://skiing.about.com/od/instructionfitness/a/skiingyoga.htm

I also found some cool yoga retreats in the mountains. One is in Bozeman, Montana, and the other is in Snowbird, Utah. I would LOVE to go on a yoga retreat at one of these locations. Anyone want to go with me?

http://www.bigskyyogaretreats.com/retreats/pages/yoga_skiing.html
http://www.snowbird.com/mtnschool/wildmtn.html

Your fellow mountain-obsessed friend,

Sarah

Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah

Sarah Gallagher — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:02:40 +0000

I have been to music festivals, cultural festivals, and party festivals, but never a film festival. As most of us know, the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, is one of the most famous in the country, and it is the largest independent film festival in the nation. The next festival is Jan 21-31, 2010 . Anyone can purchase a ticket to see a movie or participate in a panel discussion for around $10. In addition to seeing wonderful, interesting, inspiring, and genius films, you can also participate in all of the winter activities Park City has to offer. Skiing/snowboarding, cross-country skiing, ice skating, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and tubing are just to name a few. There is also great shopping and wonderful museums to visit.

I wish I could go this year, but I am saving up for Mardi Gras in New Orleans in February. You should check out the Sundance Music Festival’s site and Part City’s site. I could not find a great video about the festival to post in my blog, but go to their site! It has tons of good videos about the 2010 festival.
http://festival.sundance.org/2010/
http://www.parkcityinfo.com/

your fellow mountain-obsessed friend,
Sarah

15 Best Places to Camp in The US

Sarah Gallagher — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:55:07 +0000

So, I was stumbling one day and came across the Top 15 Must-Visit Camping Destinations in the US http://www.stumbleupon.com/s/#28cfcG/www.campingtourist.com/camping-spots/top-15-must-visit-camping-destinations-in-the-us//topic:Camping Now, I like to think I live a mountain lifestyle. I am conscious about what my activities do to the environment, I respect the unique ecosystems of the mountains, and I try to do activities in the mountains as often as I can (skiing and hiking mostly). I have been camping before, but I have not been since I started living in Colorado. What a sin! Can you believe it!?!? I feel like camping is one of those things that you have to do to say you have a mountain lifestyle. It is like a right of passage or something. I definitely hope to getting around to doing it next summer! But I thought this was an interesting article because it is a good starting point for figuring out where I want to camp. Of course I was ecstatic when I read that the 2 states I have lived in (Colorado and Louisiana) have “must-camp” campgrounds! Some of these campgrounds are in mountains. Some are along coastlines. But all seem like beautiful locations! Check this list out, enjoy the pics, and let me know if you have been to any of these campgrounds or plan on going to them!

1. Mather Campground near Grand Canyon National Park- Arizona

2. Wawona Campground near Yosemite National Park- Sierra Nevada California

3. Bowman Lake Campground near Glacier National Park- Montana

4. Blackwoods Campground near Acadia National Park- Maine

5. Moraine Campground near Rocky Mountain National Park- Colorado

6. Grant Village Campground near Yellowstone National Park- Wyoming

7. Malibu Creek Campgrounds near Malibu Creek State Park- California

8. Point Reyes Campground near Point Reyes National Seashore- Marin County

9. State Park Campgrounds near Fontainebleau State Park- Mandeville, Louisiana

10. Big Sycamore Canyon Campground on California’s central coast

11. State Park Campgrounds near Guadalupe River State Park- Texas

12. Chickasaw Campgrounds near Chickasaw National Recreation Area- Oklahoma

13. National Park Campground near Big Bend National Park- Texas

14. Cumberland Campgrounds on Cumberland Island National Seashore- Georgia

15. Isle Royale Campgrounds near Isle Royale National Park- Michigan

your fellow mountain-obsessed friend,

Sarah

Outdoor Brands and Green Gear

Sarah Gallagher — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:25:28 +0000

Recently, I have become really attracted to brands that have green product lines. I was searching the Burton site http://www.burton.com/ for a new ski hat for the season, and I noticed they have a Green Mountain Project. According to the website, the Green Mountain Project is “where each decision is considered with an eco-influence. some changes are big, some are small, but all are steps in the right decision.” Burton has boards, bindings, jackets, pants, boots, and even luggage… all designed and made with the environment in mind. They use earth-friendly materials and manufacturing processes whenever possible with all of the products for this line. My fav GMP women’s jacket Burton has right now is the GMP Bliss Down Jacket.

Working at an eco-friendly florist, I have really become aware of eco-friendly efforts put forth by other businesses. I would much rather give business to a company, store, or brand if they make efforts to help the environment. So, after seeing this about Burton, it led me to wonder what other ski and snowboard brands have product lines like this…

Liberty Skis

http://libertyskis.com/

So, Liberty Skis is cool for 3 BIG reasons. 1) they are made right here in Colorado 2) they make their skis from laminated bamboo and 3) the company runs on 100% wind power!

Arbor

http://www.arborcollective.com/

Arbor, like Liberty Skis, uses bamboo for its snowboards’ cores. The bases are made with left over poly-ethylene that would have gone to a landfill to sit for all eternity. Arbor apparel is also made with 100% organic or bamboo blends.

Nau

http://www.nau.com/

Nau is an “urban+outdoor” clothing company based in Portland, Oregon. They make sustainable apparel with sleek designs for the modern mobile life, all the while keeping the environment and ethics in mind. One element of their production levels is they decide to make many of their clothes in Asia because most of their fabrics are from there, and they want to “reduce the environmental risk of shipping” as much as possible. There are way to many cool things to type about this clothing company, so go check them out for yourselves!

I got this list from MrGreen.Biz blog. http://mrgreenbiz.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/eco-friendly-ski-and-snowboard-gear/. These are other ski and snowboard companies that are taking green steps on this posting. It is “an organization dedicated to the truth about our environment.” They post really interesting articles about a variety of topics that involve the world’s environment. Check them out too!

So, the next time all of you skiing enthusiasts like myself want to buy some new gear for your season, think twice about who you buy from. We mountain-lovers chose to live in them; let’s do everything we can to protect their beauty and ecosystems. Buying from these types of eco-friendly companies is a step in the right direction.

your fellow mountain-obsessed friend,
Sarah

Altai Mountains in Siberia

Sarah Gallagher — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:45:11 +0000

For those of us who live in or near mountains, we understand the addictive quality they have. I always tell my friends that mountains are my drug-slash-addiction. I don’t need weed, alcohol, prescription meds, or any other thing like that… as long as I have my mountains I am good to go. I mean, not a day goes by where I don’t look out my window and realize I am so lucky to be living in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Living in this sort of environment, I have this constant desire to explore what else is out there. In fact, sometimes I get overwhelmed by the opportunities the Colorado rockies have to offer. And then I get to thinking, “oh wait… there are whole other continents that probably offer all this stuff and more,” and then my mind just starts to spin.

This is what happened to me when I learned about a 14-day expedition in the Altai Mountains in Siberia. Siberia, I know right? Who ever goes to Siberia? Well I did some research, and naturally, because no one ever goes there, it is one of the most beautiful places EVER! The Altai mountains are a range in central Asia, and they span parts of Russia, Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan. Check out this pic; it is of Belukha mountain, the tallest in the range. Isn’t it gorgeous!

So, back to the expedition… you arrive in Bernaul, Russia, which yes- it’s in the middle of no where. Then you drive for 14 hours to Mongolia to a lodge where the trek begins. The grade is rated at a B/C level, which according to the website, is fairly difficult and requires training and preparation before going. Your stuff is carried by a horse (great, right??!!), but the walking itself is pretty tiring and does require ropes to cross rivers. Food and accommodation is included in the cost of the trip. On the trek they provided tents, 2 hot meals (prepared by the cooks who come along!) and a cold packed lunch, and again, just because this is so cool, a horse carried all the supplies for you (except for your day pack).

I got all this information from the Executive Wilderness Programs, which started in 1985 in Kenya, but is now based out of the UK. They have expeditions like this all over the world! Their expeditions are in Italy, Kenya, Georgia, Morocco, Turkey, Uganda, Great Britain, and many other countries. This is the main website http://www.ewpnet.com/index.htm You should really go and check it out if this is a trip you would be interested in doing. It is a very detailed site with maps of the areas you will be hiking, any and all information about the cost, procedures for booking, terrorist information, when the trips are, info for private expeditions, etc. Here is the direct link for the Altai Trek http://www.ewpnet.com/altai.htm

I feel like we all say we lead a mountain lifestyle just because we live in the mountains. But that is definitely not true until you get out there and experience them! Mountains have so much to offer, and with cool trips like this, we should take advantage of that. Happy hiking, and let me know if you decide to contact the EWP and go on one of their programs.

your fellow mountain-obsessed friend,

Sarah

Some Cool Ski Videos from Around the World

Sarah Gallagher — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:03:35 +0000

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to write a quick post of some really cool ski videos I have watched recently. I went to the premier of Grant Teton Research’s Re:Session, and I won a skiing backpack there! Sweet, huh? I really really really wanted to go to Warren Miller’s Dynasty, but our plans fell through last minute. The trailor is still really cool though, and it really represents what Warren Miller Entertainment is all about. My friend Claire is studying in Bariloche, Argentina, next spring. She was showing me photos from her program, which sparked my interest, so I did some further research on my own and found a great ski video in Bariloche. If you are in to skiing, you should watch these videos. They are from mountains around the world, which fits in perfectly with what my blog is all about!

I hope everyone enjoys, and tell me what you think!

your fellow mountain-obsessed friend,
Sarah

Le Terme in Colorado and Italy

Sarah Gallagher — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:49:08 +0000

With fall and Thansgiving break quickly approaching, I find myself completely drained and in need of some serious r&r. I have not had a break from school work since the semester has started, so this up coming week off is much needed! I am not going home for Thanksgiving, so I decided I wanted to explore a part of Colorado I have never been to. I am going with 2 friends down to Ouray, Colorado, to relax in the natural hot springs and visit the San Juan Mountains.

The thing I am most excited for are the hot springs. The hotel we are staying at, Box Canyon Lodge, has 4 natural hot springs that are “terraced on the mountainside behind the lodge.” http://www.boxcanyonouray.com/ Can you believe it? Relaxing in a natural hot spring in a valley in the beautiful Rocky Mountains? I cannot wait! Hot springs are known for having rejuvenating qualities and curing ailments. The last time I went to a hot spring was this past May in Italy.

Hot springs are known as “le terme,” and Italians take them very seriously! You have to shower off before you get in, and you must wear a shower cap! It is a purifying process for them. The spa town I went to was Montegrotto Terme in the Veneto region between Padua and Venice. I also went to the spas there after a long, hard semester, and they really really really did help my mental and emotional health! I hope the hot springs in Ouray do the same for me!

I read a great article about le terme in Italy. http://www.lifeinitaly.com/activities/spas.asp I definitely encourage you to read it! It isn’t too long, and it could be really helpful when planning your next trip to Italy!

your fellow mountain-obsessed friend,

Sarah

Mountain living at its best!

Sarah Gallagher — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:21:00 +0000

I am always amazed by the real estate in mountains. I was recently in Breckenridge, and I passed by a few real estate agencies. In the window they had homes for sale ranging from $300,000 to 3 million! I was astonished when they advertised a home with an “only $450,000′ price tag. And it was for a condo! Not to say that it was not nice, because believe me, it was! But I feel like in most other locations in the US, you could get a really nice home in a neighborhood for that price! I feel like there is no way a person can buy a house in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado for less than $500,000. And if you do buy a mountain house for cheaper, then it is either not really in a city proper, it is a part of an apartment/condo complex, or it must need LOADS of work!

So, I decided to do a little bit of research after passing through Breckenridge. When I got back to Boulder, I looked up real estate videos for two popular mountain towns in Colorado- Crested Butte and Telluride.

This video totally proved my point that if you pay less than $500,000 then it might be a condo…

This BEAUTIFUL home is in Mountain Village, Colorado, which is close to Telluride. This home is $2.3 million dollars. While I was looking for the address on the website the home was on the 5th page of my search results because it lists homes by price. The most expensive home listed on the first page was $22 million! I don’t think I will ever make that much money in my lifetime! Anywho, I thought it was an interesting topic. Let me know what you think!

Your fellow mountain-obsessed friend,
Sarah