​ Fruita's 15th annual single-track extravaganza kicks off on Thursday with a VIP party at El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant, followed by three days of rides on the local trails, a bike expo, concerts, and boozing with event sponsor New Belgium.

VIP Pass registration for the Fruita Fat Tire Festival is $35, which gets you entry to the parties and prize drawings, a couple of free beers, and a swag pack full of goodies from the sponsors.

While you're in town check out Over The Edge Sports, the cool local shop behind it all, and pick up a copy of The Fruita Fat Tire Guide for the lowdown on spots like Gooseberry, Little Creek Mesa, Bookcliffs, Kokopelli, Tabeguache, and Rabbit Valley.

Here's festival founder Troy Rarick, via FruitaMountainBike.com:


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Who wants some?!

​If you fancy yourself a mountain hardman or hardwoman just waiting for your moment of athletic glory, get ready: Registration for the Teva Mountain Games in Vail is now open.

Both amateurs and pros can sign up to compete in kayaking, rafting, mountain biking, road cycling, amateur climbing, World Cup bouldering, fly-fishing, trail running, stand up paddling, or a half marathon. There's also a $100,000 prize pool, but your scrub ass probably shouldn't count on winning any of that. More >>

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The Season Trailer from Fitz Cahall on Vimeo.

The creators of The Dirtbag Diaries -- a podcast about outdoor adventures -- recently debuted a new 22-episode Web TV series called The Season that looks like it's worth checking out. The show follows five Pacific Northwest athletes through one season of their sport. There's a climber, a snowboarder, a mountain biker, a boulderer and a sea kayaker. Here's what the creators had to say about the series:

This is our baby. For months we schlepped ropes, camera gear and tripods through underbrush and up the side of cliffs to present our vision of these sports. Some of these athletes are professionals, some aren't. They are all unique people who have something to say. We've enjoyed helping them tell their story. We hope you enjoy their stories.

​In this week's Westword, I wrote about the Adventure Film Festival in Boulder this weekend (and the tragic death of AFF founder Jonny Copp in an avalanche earlier this year).

The AFF has a full schedule of great films this weekend -- including First Ascent: Point of No Return, a new National Geographic episode documenting the deaths of Copp, climbing partner Micah Dash and cameraman Wade Johnson on western China's Mount Edgar. But to truly honor Copp's life and DIY do-or-die spirit, don't miss the AFF Filmmaker Workshop on Saturday at 11am.

Many of the filmmakers in town for the fest will be on hand to share their experience and expertise with aspiring adventure auteurs, and to remind attendees that it doesn't take much to get started in this age of pocket-sized HD cameras and laptop editing suites. As the AFF's own slogan enthuses, get out there and "make your own legends."

Lesson one: Consider making some legends about something other than climbing avalanche-prone 21,712 foot peaks nobody has ever climbed before. Those ones occasionally end badly, even for the very best of us. May you rest in peace, Jonny Copp, and may your adventurous spirit live on.

​A momentarily abandoned mountain bike somewhere over the Tennessee Valley. Photo courtesy of jaydoubleyougee's Flickr page.

To have your photos featured in Morning Dew, send them to edge@westword.com or post them to the Westword Flickr pool.

Photo by Greg Benchwick

Nowadays you've got to hoof it in the Garden of the Gods. Mountain bikes were forbidden more than 15 years ago.

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We get it. You're in a hurry. You want your exercise. And ripping down the narrow-gauge trails at Matthews Winters at 30 miles an hour is just fun. But get this: Next time you come screaming around the corner and expect me and my dog to jump out of the way, I'm not going to do it.

Instead, I'm going to pull to the side and give you an Iron Shiek clothesline. Not really, but I wouldn't mind.
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Send video of your own outdoor exploits to edge@westword.com.

Photo by Greg Benchwick

The crumbling Fisher Towers have seen a number of epic nail-ups. But we think they're much prettier -- and much safer -- from a distance.

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With all eyes on the ski season, heading out for a desert-duster trip to Moab may seem like a pipe dream, something for next year's calendar. But while you might get a little snow in your camp, you can still take advantage of plenty of great cool-weather hiking and biking this time of year.

Better yet: the crowds of springtime and summer are pretty much gone, and you're likely to have the place all to yourself.

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​Courtesy of garycolet's Flickr feed: A reminder to squeeze in those fall rides before scenes like this -- at trail 401 in Crested Butte -- are covered in snow.

To have your photos featured in Morning Dew, send them to edge@westword.com or post them to the Westword Flickr pool.