Take a listen to these five musicians who log time on the trail.
Travis Book
Book recently moved to Nashville via Durango to be near his band mates in the award-winning bluegrass outfit the Infamous Stringdusters, but the avid mountain biker, trail runner and hiker says he still misses the Southwestern mountains. His favorite regular hike was on the Bear Creek Trail, which is accessed just south of Ouray on Highway 550. The high-altitude hike in the San Juans gains almost 2,500 feet in a 4-mile stint to Yellow Jacket Mine. “Within a minute of being on the highway, you feel like you’re in really good backcountry,” Book says. “It was my consistent sanctuary.”
Ben Kaufmann
When Kaufmann is not on the road selling out large theatres with Colorado jamgrassers Yonder Mountain String Band, he regularly hits the trails near his home in Nederland. His favorite destination is Lost Lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, where he likes to camp. “When I’m home, I’m out there all the time,” he says. “It’s a great way to get back in shape after being in the bus, but I always reward myself with two PBRs.”
Al Schnier
Guitarist for the psychedelic rockers moe., Schnier regularly hikes in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, where he lives. He’s a few summits away from becoming a 46er, which will put him on top of the Adirondack’s 46 main peaks. Last fall he also bagged Mount Rainier.
Sarah Harmer
The Canadian folk singer and eco-activist’s latest album “I’m a Mountain” was written during a 500-mile hike of Ontario’s Bruce Trail.
Brett Dennen
Crunchy California singer-songwriter Brett Dennen was raised on hiking in the Sierra Mountains and went on to lead backpacking trips for at-risk youth as a teenager.
