Issue 001:

Having lived in several cities throughout my life, Colorado’s people have felt the most aligned to the idea of fun and love of nature, that being Type 2 fun. This term references to the people that like to be challenged on vacation and prefer to end a day exhausted as opposed to relaxed.

In the gleaning years of Yonder, fast-packing was the go-to weekend activity. Without question, I would drive out Friday evening 2-3 hours to the base of one of Colorado’s many mountains, hike anywhere between 3-10 miles into a forest I had never been in before and then set up camp in the dark at a lake or tree line valley.

The next morning around 2-4am, I would shake off the fatigue of the night before and set my sights on summiting a few peaks while also reeling in any headlamps I would see already making their way up.

Fast-packing is an art more so than a science, with extremely minimal gear, you run, camp, sleep, wake up, and run over and over again… at least until you run out of food and water. I always felt more content with myself after I had accomplished a challenge beyond my perception of myself, a peek into the psyche of Yonder’s founding sentiments. It has always been a test of knowledge, strategy, athleticism and courage - because this shit ain’t easy!

Fast-packing is truly for those who love the journey, covering long distances and carrying just enough to make it back to call your mother - no joke.

One of the biggest draws is being able to cover more ground and see more in a shorter time than you otherwise would be able to if you're just backpacking or trail running. It's about pushing your comfort zone, challenging yourself mentally and physically and truly immersing yourself in wild surroundings. There's something incredibly freeing and empowering in relying on your own feet to cover all that distance and in a shorter amount of time.