Every May for 15 years, we have been bringing you the Elevation Outdoors festival guide issue. The 2024 edition is packed not just with the listings you need to plan for this summer and fall, but also the gear you need to enjoy the shows, a Q and A with Bill Nershi, hard-hitting reporting, and plenty of travel insight. Dig in here or go find it in print free on stands now.
Editor’s Letter
We celebrate 15 years of this magazine and say a sad goodbye to one of our most important contributors.
QUICK HITS
A Vermont group opens up new possibilities for adaptive mountain bike trails; the BLM makes improvements to deal with campground overcrowding; VNTRbirds embraces women-identifying and nonbinary outdoor adventurers; we taste Colorado wine at Stone Cottage Cellars; new video tech; and more.
FLASHPOINT
After years of using nearby rivers as garbage dumps, Colorado cities and towns have increased access them—now valuing waterways for recreation and tourism.
HOT SPOT
Spring in Silverton means gravel grinding, hiking, and skiing. Come on down and indulge in your outdoor pleasure.
HEAR THIS
Between shows, The String Cheese Incident’s Bill Nershi talks music, mountain towns, and the joys of the ski bum life.
Straight Talk
In 2018, Jolie Varela, founder of Indigenous Women Hike, organized a 200 mile hike on the Nüümü Poyo in an effort of Native Resistance and connection to her homeland. Now, she fosters a community of Indigenous women in discovering healing through their relationship with the land.
elwayville
Peter Kray sings a song for the road. Will you record it for him?
The 2024 Mountain Festival Guide
It’s time to start looking forward to a full season of music, sports, art, food, drink, and just plain fun extravaganzas. To that end, we present our 15th annual definitive listing of everywhere you need to be in the coming months.
FESTIVAL GEAR
Here’s stuff that can survive hiking and dancing.
On the Cover
This issue’s cover artwork comes from Denver-based illustrator, muralist, and designer Latasha Greene, founder of Jitterbug Art Studio, who has created work for Brown Girls Climb, Otterbox, The North Face, Merrell, Cragworks, the Access Fund, and more. jitterbugart.com | Instagram @jitterbug_art
