After a good 30-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail or jelly leg day spent skiing the steeps of Taos Ski Valley, it's almost a no-brainer to pop open a can of craft beer. That is, unless you have been determined to stick to your goal of cutting back on alcohol consumption or cutting it out all together.

Your adventure buddies will nudge you to have a drink and even buy them at your refusal. And deep down, you are hoping that someone gets it. That you came out to play in the mountains, and that was rewarding enough. T​hough it's tempting, you are trying your hardest to stick to water and non-alcoholic beverages. It is a game of self-determination and will. You find yourself in love with the outdoor industry and overwhelmed by free beer.

It's trade show season, and you start wishing there were more tasty alternatives offered to those who don't drink alcohol in social situations.

The taste of beer is good. We live in an era where delicious craft beer is plentiful, and the treasure hunt of new breweries makes for a delighted modern-Twain. And while we know this to be true, we can also say that not partaking to the craft in an industry dwelling among good brew can be a stand-alone effort. The Outdoor/ Ski Industry, that is.

I recently read Leslie Barrett's article about turning down alcoholic drinks at outdoor trade shows. Going on her fifth year of sobriety, she has some valid concern. Not only does she point out feeling the effects of being the minority at the party but also that there are not enough non-alcoholic beverages offered to those who do not consume alcohol.

It takes a lot of self discipline to refuse free quality beer, just downright plain and simple. A free Bud Light is easy to turn away, but a complimentary Mocha Stout brewed days before it's handout is another story. It goes deeper than the alcohol. In itself, craft beer is a craft and becomes a sort of cherished nectar from the Gods.

What If... a new market could be right over the horizon. With companies like Blue Sky Beverage Co, and the well renowned Jones Soda Co, it seems like a no-brainer for vendors at trade shows and other Outdoor Industry events to offer an alternative to complimentary craft beer. Let's show some camaraderie to our fellow outdoor adventurers who choose not to partake and make it more of a standard to toss a soda to those on the fence. High-Five their effort!

And it's no biggie to pack in a Nalgene full of the most underated beverage of all time- H2O.​ 

In times when depression, anxiety, and suicide are at an all time high, how refreshing would it be to offer up some craft soda to our friends not consuming on the trade show floors and outdoor events. Though we all praise water, it's nice to reward yourself with a carbonated flavored beverage in social situations. We boast beer so much that it seems like the norm. Let's boast the alternative just as equally and promote an outdoors theme around the reason we're really all coming together- For the Love of all that is Mountain!

High-Fives all around to both those enjoying a fresh craft beer and those choosing not to partake and sticking with personal goals! 

And High-Five to adventure! Let's continue to celebrate the mountains all around us that bring us together in the Outdoor/ Ski Industry- the reason we're all here in the first place.

Welcome to the Land of Enchantment and uniquely strange. New Mexico, often known for Area 51 and its extraterrestrial essence, is home to several ski resorts hidden in pine trees and great mountains of majesty. Aliens aren't the only thing that have been kept a secret around these parts- the snowfall is something to be reckoned.

​Summit: 10,677'
Base: 33"
Season Total: 120"
Freshies: On the way!
Trails Open: 74
Lifts Running: 7
TRAIL MAP
Angel Fire Resort has had a great season thus far and welcoming in the Winter Carnival & Last Shove Races starting January 30th! There are plenty of trails for all skill levels and progression.

AFR is family friendly with activities for everyone!
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​Projected Closing Date: March 22nd

Summit:  12,481''
Base:  60"
Season Total: Unknown
Freshies: 16" in last 72 hours
Trails Open:  110
Lifts Running:   13
TRAIL MAP
For a resort town feel with many ways to challenge yourself as a snow athlete, Taos Ski Valley is in the big leagues. TSV is known for its hike-to-playground and steep mountain runs.

Whether you are looking to shine up those carve lines or dive off a 4-foot ledge into powder, this ski valley will have your heart racing from the first scoop up on the high-speed quad.
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​Projected Closing Date: April 5th.

Summit: 10,350'
Base: 37"
Season Total:  71"
Freshies: 6" in last 7 days
Trails Open: 61
Lifts Running: 7
TRAIL MAP
Red River Ski Area always has something going on. From the latest Snowmobile Climb to the big Mardi Gras Celebration, this ski town is alive al fresco.

The party is in Red River! Ski, shop, dine, and drink all within walking distance from plenty of lodging.

Red River Brewing Company recently expanded into a distillery along with its previous fame as one of New Mexico's best craft breweries in the state.

Projected Closing Date:  March 21st

Summit: 12,075'
Base: 68"
Season Total:  119"
Freshies: 14" in the last 7 days
Trails Open: 86
Lifts Running: 6
TRAIL MAP
With stunning views of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, Ski Santa Fe is nestled at the start of the Rocky Mountains.  It is among the highest ski resorts in the US of A and has no shortage of groomers or fresh lines.  They have good food, too. Watch this.
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Projected Closing Date: April 5th

Summit: 9,255'
Base: 31"
Season Total: 79"
Freshies: On the way!
Trails Open: 39
Lifts Running: 6
TRAIL MAP
Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort is a ski hill perfect for visiting with the fam and starting a new tradition. The ambiance is simple-lodge life, safe and friendly, with no worries of getting lost or feeling like you don't belong.  SSR is 100% welcoming and down to earth for new riders and returning guests.
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Projected Closing Date: March 31st

Summit: 10,441'
Base: 31"
Season Total: 62"
Freshies: 10" in the last 72 hours
Trails Open: 32
Lifts Running: 5
TRAIL MAP
Pajarito Mountain Ski Area is known for its sunny days year-round. PMSA is open through the first week of April this season with super affordable lift tickets!

Projected Closing Date:  April 5th

Back in the early 2000s- it was easy to leave your cellphone at home when going outside to play, mainly because it didn't exist. I was a high school student in Eastern Tennessee, and we had an amazing winter one season. The local waterfalls had become giant cliffs of ice with several weeks of below freezing temps, and my friends and I naturally had to go exploring.

Grab a pal, your Nalgene, and throw on some wool socks with your Chacos (or use your better sense and bust out the hiking boots). No phone necessary. If I was feeling artsy, I'd grab the 4mp Nikon to snap some photo memories and call it a day. It never crossed our minds to "Check-in" once arriving at the waterfall or update our stories (other than the ones later at night when penciling in our journals).

It's true what they say about the older you get, the quicker time seems to fly by. Especially once you have children. I feel like I have woken up from a zombie dream after retreating back to a cave-age flip phone. It was a shock the first month. I found myself constantly reaching for it in attempt to scroll through countless images of people I haven't seen in years or have never even met. It's kind of mad, really.

It felt as though the sense of urgency to be digitally in-tune had vanished. It was relaxing, refreshing, and wholesome. I didn't accidentally read emails from work or feel inclined to text anyone back when that little beep zings off.

We were just there, on the trail, with each other- and Dobby. 

My daughter has started asking to take pictures with the camera rather than grabbing for the phone. Talk about a wake-up call.