Joshua Berman
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Joshua Berman is a freelance writer, K-12 Spanish teacher, television production fixer, travel expert, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, trip leader, husband, and father. Joshua writes a monthly column in The Denver Post and is the author of six books. His travel articles have appeared in The New York Times, Yoga Journal, Delta SKY, Sunset, and National Geographic Traveler, among other publications.
Joshua Berman
5d ago
LONGMONT, CO — I entered the F45 Training gym at the corner of Longmont’s Hover St. and Nelson Rd., stepping out of the pre-dawn darkness and into my new routine. The days were getting shorter and the mornings colder in this autumnal time of year. This 5:30am class was the only time I could fit a workout into my hectic parenting/work schedule; this 45-minute early class made me break a sweat, then got me home in time for my kids’ school drop-offs.
Classes at F45, an international fitness franchise, are geared toward “all fitness levels and ages,” and involve a full body cardio and/or strength ..read more
Joshua Berman
2M ago
This article originally appeared in Elevation Outdoors Magazine’s blog, Dec. 19 2023
Step into the frosty season with this Winter Gift Guide. As the hot summer and balmy fall fade into memory, it’s time to gear up for winter with these items that offer warmth, comfort, and reliability. Here’s my latest curated selection of cozy layers, camping tools, and high-tech storytelling accessories—to endure the chill and elevate your adventures.
Insulation and Layering
1. Uphill Skier Glove ($150, pictured above, photo by Colin Arisman) and the Jefflo Mitt ($130) from Vermont Glove are made from leathe ..read more
Joshua Berman
1y ago
By Joshua Berman
I am thrilled to announce that the cover design for “Moon Colorado Hiking,” my 6th book title for Moon Travel Guides, has been finalized! We wanted a cover that would capture the spirit of hiking in Colorado, and I think we nailed it. The cover features a stunning photo of Crater Lake at the peak of fall foliage season, taken by yours truly on a hike in the Maroon Bells last October. And who’s the burly cover model? That’s Rob Steffens, a backpack expert with Deuter who hiked 13 miles with me that day on the West Maroon Pass Trail, which is one of the 75 Colorado day hike ..read more
Joshua Berman
1y ago
Hike on West Maroon Pass is a challenge for the body and a treat for the soul
By JOSHUA BERMAN | First published in The Denver Post on Oct. 18, 2022
The shuttle bus buzzed with excitement as we approached the trailhead. You could see it on the hikers’ wide-eyed faces, which lit up when the jagged, snow-dusted Pyramid Peak and Maroon Bells appeared through the windshield.
The Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, a 181,535-acre chunk of the Elk Mountains in White River National Forest, is a veritable playground for hikers. All trail styles, effort levels and lengths are available here: out-and-bac ..read more
Joshua Berman
2y ago
More people are hitting the trail. How has the outdoor recreation industry responded?
BY JOSHUA BERMAN | This article was first published in Elevation Outdoors in March, 2022
The surge is real. There are more people out there than ever before, steepening the curve of an already growing interest in the outdoors, an ongoing trend that exploded in the summer of 2020 when COVID-19 distancing, closed gyms, and lockdowns drove hordes of new hikers and happy campers into the hills.
The Numbers
Lydia Davey of Hipcamp, the world’s largest provider of outdoor stays, says that during the last two years ..read more
Joshua Berman
2y ago
Review of Complete Guide to Winter Camping by Kevin Callan (aka The Happy Camper).
Winter camping is a burly endeavor and Callan’s new book definitely lets you know that, acknowledging that it is indeed hard work. This book also breaks it down, and makes winter camping seem like a possibility to those who may be considering it but are hesitant. From eating well to hot tenting, ice fishing, cooking in the cold to personal hygiene, this book is filled with tips, advice, and color photos.
Kevin Callan, based in Canada, is the author of 18 books on the outdoors, including the b ..read more
Joshua Berman
2y ago
This article first appeared in The Denver Post on Dec. 26, 2021
Whether you need time on the trails, a climb up a rock face or time with a book by a fireside, this Front Range-adjacent town has it all
By JOSHUA BERMAN | Special to The Denver Post
There is that sense of smallness you feel as you ascend and twist along Highway 36 toward Estes Park. This eastern gateway town to Rocky Mountain National Park is close to the Front Range, but can feel worlds away. There’s something about those granite cliff faces, the iconic Stanley Hotel atop its hill, the lake, the massive peaks of the Continental ..read more
Joshua Berman
2y ago
This article was originally published (in a shorter form) on the Elevation Outdoors magazine gear blog.
Time for another tranquilo gift guide for humans who like to camp and hike. From smart lanterns to heavy hoodies to cold weather running gear, here are a few ideas for your people this holiday season. Or whenever. There are stocking stuffers for under $20 and a few big ticket items, like that ski bib and the solar generator. Here’s a chance to treat yourself or someone else, and to gear up for another season of outdoor adventures.
Camping Gear
Titan Deep Freeze 14 oz. Stainless Steel Mug ($1 ..read more
Joshua Berman
2y ago
Shining Mountain Waldorf School backpacking trip is powerful experience
By JOSHUA BERMAN | First published in The Denver Post on October 24, 2021
On the final evening of a three-day backpacking trip, 25 seventh-graders and a few of us teachers and trip leaders gathered around the campfire. After much tired laughter and a few silly songs (think Arlo Guthrie’s “The Motorcycle Song”), the group settled into a more serious mood.
The tight circle of 13-year-old eyes looked across the fire to Craig Rubens, trip leader and movement and outdoor education director at Shining Mountain Waldorf School, an ..read more
Joshua Berman
2y ago
I don’t normally cover automated kitchen appliances in my gear reviews, but when I do, I go full robot. I had the opportunity to try out the AIRROBO T10+ this month. It works like a champ, heading out on little cleaning missions and then returning to its home base to discharge its dust and recharge its battery. AIRROBO is a smart home appliance brand with a focus on AI-enabled technologies that is supported by the humanoid robotic company, UBTECH Robotics. Thankfully, the T10+ is a low-built, round bot instead of a humanoid cleaner/would-be warrior — i.e. I think it’d be pretty easy to defeat ..read more