Working up an appetite

The occasional date with your Chinese takeout, Netflix video and six-pack of Tsingtao is unavoidable. And we fully understand that along with the grass clippings of summer come block parties, backyard barbecues and competitive games of croquet.

Outdoors school a high-class act

Jessica Hartig is the first to attempt climbing the 40-foot wall. Hooked into the belay rope, the 11-year-old climbs a short way, gets stuck and comes down. She tries again and approaches the top.

SKI SCHOOL: Freestyle skiing no longer so free

The once-renegade sport of freestyle skiing is now a respected Olympic event.

Expert pitches a few remarkable campsites

Johnny Malloy is to tent camping as John McCain is to politics, Emeril Lagasse is to cooking and Bruce Springsteen is to rock 'n' roll.

Take a hike!

An ancient forest, a wilderness river, a gentle mountain lake, a desert canyon and a dark canyon all await you in the backcountry reaches of Colorado this summer. Colorado is laced with hundreds of great hikes, but here are a few to get you started.

Reel abundance

With ample snowmelt flowing for the second year in a row, lakes and reservoirs will be full this summer, boat ramps streamlined and fish in a biting mood as befits cooler, more abundant waters.

Active Life

Elevenmile will open with boat inspections

Elevenmile Reservoir will open to boats at 5:15 a.m. Saturday, with State Parks crews and volunteers standing by to inspect craft standing ready to launch.