LIVE.LOVE. EAT. Mountain.

Sally & the CEO.Click 4 PixLive/Love/Eat Mountain, A Free Event had its debut before a packed house at The Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, Colorado last Sunday.  A dynamic, progressive and passionate program, it was a multi-media celebration of sustainable mountain living.  Created as a joint venture between The Wheeler, The City of Aspen, Aspen International Mountain Forum  (AIMF) and Mountain Partnership, it was a BIG hit. A-Spin is reading between the lines... Sally Spaulding and Paul MacFarlane dreamed this one up and made it happen with a strong team effort. 

SEE PIX  Click  LIVE LOVE EAT MOUNTAIN

MacFarlane played, recorded and mashed-up about 20 instruments to provide an intense soundtrack to Peter McBride's striking photos of the mountains and the  mighty Colorado River.  Telly world champ Nick Devore and FuturisticFilms showed their short movie "Growing Home" about Devore's sick-bird ski/surf trip to Morocco and his devotion to a sustainable life-style at his tee pee in Marble.  Next up, a sustainability roundtable with activist Randy Udall, Casey Sheahan, CEO of Patagonia, Jerome Ostenkowski, a Pharmaculturist, Lauren McDonell of the Canary Initiative and Nathan Ratledge of C.O.R.E.  This was all emceed by BIG Mountain Alpinist/Skier Chris Davenport and the agenda included sweeeeeet veggie eats from PYRAMID-- the new restaurant in Explore Bookstore...and  tons of swag from Marmot, Patagonia, Aspen Club and  an informative and interactive sponsor's row

We expect this will be an annual event, so get on it Aspen.  Live, Love, Eat, Mountain---- we're doing it everyday.

Nick Devore and his boyz at LIVE LOVE EAT Mountain in Aspen. Click 4 more pix..

Musical Fusion by Paul MacFarlane. Paul jammed on approx 20 instruments. click 4 pix.

Pyramid Bistro at Explore Bookstore. tasty sustainable eats. click 4 pix.

Community of Life.

Summit for Life 2010. Click 4 pixThe 5th Annual Summit for Life (S4L) operated like clock-work on Aspen Mountain Saturday Night.   Over 400 (new record) up-hillers  climbed Ajax in support of the Chris Klug Foundation (CKF). Freezing cold temps, zipping winds and POWDERY conditions could not stop the skinny skiers, hikers, snowshoe-ers, runners, skinners etc. etc. from climbing over 2.5 miles and 3,267 vertical feet.  AspenSpin took the 18 minute gondy ride up top to party with almost 600 people (new record) at the Sundeck. 

Education  about organ and tissue donation is the main focus of CKF and S4L.  Learn more..click CKF.  Over $100,000 was raised by S4L 2010.  Many organ recipients and their families travel to Aspen every December just to hike Ajax.  "It's a celebration of Life, it's a Community of Life" said a hyper-ventilating and icicle covered hiker at the finish as he was greeted by his wife and grand children.   Times ranged from "sub 50's"  (yeah, 50 minutes) to more than 3 hours.  Everyone finishes.

Hijinx at the Summit. Click 4 pix.Summit for Life is a well-oiled production now.  After 5 years, CKF 's S4L has grown to include a full weekend of activities including a posh dinner  and blow out party at Pacifica.  The Aspen community pitches in with both hands.  Its good people doing good stuff and having a good time doing it.  The volunteers are well trained and ready to help.  Check the huge list of Sponsors and Partners at the CKF website. 

Want to see photos?  

CLICK  SUMMIT FOR LIFE 2010

 3,267 vertical feet later. Click for pix

 Raifie Bass trekked to the Summit of Ajax. S4L 2010.

Bret Michaels in Aspen / Every Rose has its Thorn.

Glam rocker Bret Michaels and his two huge party buses rolled into Aspen, Colorado for a raucous show at Belly Up Aspen.   Michaels, formerly lead singer for the Glam Metal band, Poison (huge in the 80's) proved that he can still put on a raaawk show.

The evenings highlight, Poison's power ballad "Every Rose Has its Thorn" rose to #1 on the U.S. Charts in 1988.  The love song was scribed by Michaels in a laundromat as he lamented over his cheating girlfriend.   Poison and Michaels have an esteemed position in the annals of glam/hair/spandex rock. More recently, Michaels has hosted his own reality TV series Rock of Love and he actually won the Celebrity Apprentice. 

Last night Bret Michaels threw down plenty of hard driving covers and a few solo hits and Belly Up Aspen seemed to love it. BM guaranteed a return to Aspen next year-- "after some work on my ticker....i'm gonna come back next year and ski...and snowboard".  The crowd went wild. 

....and every Cowboy has a sad, sad song.Ain't nothin' ...but a good time.

Bret changed into a different BM tee and hat for the encore. After Party

Summit 4 Life in Aspen

Aspen local Chris Klug is a great guy....everybody knows that. He's also a two-time Olympic Snow boarder and a world class athlete...everyone knows that too. Did you know that Chris is the only Olympic Medalist in history to be an organ transplant recipient?

The Chris Klug Foundation, Donor Dudes and Chris himself are all passionate about sharing the message of organ and tissue donation. There are more than 100,000 Americans currently on "the list" for organ transplants---awaiting a second chance.    Organ donation is the gift of life --learn more by clicking CKF.

Summit for Life is an athletic event and an educational event. Hundreds of people will hike up Aspen Mountain (3267 vertical feet) this Saturday night to raise money and awareness for organ and tissue donation.  The fifth annual Summit for Life is this coming weekend,  December 10 and 11 (this Friday and Saturday).   There are lots of parties, events and good times slated for the 5th Annual Summit 4 Life weekend---including the actual Summit 4 Life uphill climb.   Learn about all the festivities; Click  SUMMIT 4 LIFE.

There are many ways to participate  in this awesome, action packed  celebration of life with Chris Klug.  Its not to late; REGISTER NOW.  Join CKF, AspenSpin and a host of others. Summit 4 Life is an fantastic event in support of a great cause.  Meet you at the top of Ajax, Party at Sundeck.

Ready, Set, Hike. Summit 4 Life Dec. 10 & 11, 2010.

3" rule in effect.

At AspenSpin our entire staff automatically gets the day off if it snows 3" or more in Aspen.  Gotta keep the inmates happy.