I am sitting in a big, comfy Adirondack chair on the veranda of a 1928 hacienda-style lodge looking out at a grassy savannah dotted with young pinyon pines, junipers and oaks. Deep green mountains ...

Kate Siber is a freelance writer (katesiber.com) and a correspondent for Outside. She lives in Durango, Colorado with her husband, a large dog, a small cat, and a preponderance of sporting equipment.