Outspire Press File

Outspire and it's guides have been well-regarded by local and regional writers. Here are a few articles from our clippings file. Some articles are reprinted in full with permission, but copyright restrictions prevent reprinting more than an excerpt of most.

Guide Company an Outspiration
Journal North
January 15, 2005
by Patrick Miller

The Albuquerque Journal North profiled Outspire in a half-page article and photograph with an interview, and also tagged along on a guided snowshoe trip for a couple visiting Santa Fe in the winter of 2005.
Trish Butterfield giggled as [Karen] Denison adjusted her [snow]shoes. ..."This is too cool," she said...pleased by not only the ...snow but by Denison's personal approach. "It takes out a lot of the frustration. I feel spoiled, really." Starting Outspire "was not a business decision....We wanted to share our love of being out there playing."

Staying on Course
GPS technology is a powerful tool, but don't forget the basics: a compass and a map
The Santa Fe New Mexican
April 29, 2004
by Jeff Tollefson

The Santa Fe New Mexican followed along during a 2004 field trip by the Santa Fe Community College class taught by Karen Denison.
"In experienced hands, or at least with some thought ahead of time, GPS is a very powerful tool," [Karen] Denison says. "But it's not foolproof." ...Santa Fe resident Bob Greene has used GPS in volunteer petroglyph surveys, but found his new GPS receiver to be so advanced that it has taken him a while to to figure out even the basics. ...Advice? "I would say get a very basic one and ...still take a course," Greene said.

Business takes the mountains to everyone
The Santa Fe New Mexican
August 19, 2004
by Ben Delany

In the Outdoor section of The Santa Fe New Mexican, a 1-1/2 column profile of Outspire appeared in 2004.
Dozens of trails crisscross the Sangre de Cristos--do you know them all? If not, the women of Outspire would be happy to show you. ...[Founder Barrie] Robbins said, "Playing outside is where we get our inspiration. We know how good it is for your mind, your spirit and your stress level. We just want to share that in a convenient format, tailored to their interests."

Snowshoeing: Great Winter Fun and Exercise for the Whole Family
New Mexico Kids! Family Magazine
Winter 2008
by Nicole Blouin

New Mexico Kids Family Magazine contacted Outspire for some expert advice on snowshoeing with youngsters.
Winter can be a lot more fun when you and your family are outdoors on snowshoes. If you haven’t tried them yet...FULL ARTICLE

Professional Guide Keeps Busy with Teaching, Fishing
The Santa Fe New Mexican
December 20, 2007
by Karl Moffatt

Journalist Karl Moffatt enjoyed a walk in the snow during an interview of Outspire owner Karen Denison.
High up in the mountains above Santa Fe where the air is crisp and the sun...FULL ARTCLE

Dashing Through the Snow
The Albuquerque Journal
October 2009
by Tania Soussan

The Albuquerque Journal contacted Outspire for snowshoeing information as an alternative to the usual alpine skiing and snowboarding.
Snowshoeing opens the way to more terrain than skiing, and anyone who can walk can do it. "It's a great alternative," says Karen Denison, owner of Outspire Hiking and Snowshoeing in Santa Fe. "It's way more fun (than skiing) and way easier for the 50-plus set. I still fall down occaisionally, but it's not the same as 'Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, there's a tree.'"..."You can get to places the crowds don't go.... You can find a little bit of solitude if you're willing to give it a go."

The Sport of Snowshoeing
Enchantment Magazine, December 2008
by Craig Springer

Acclaimed author Craig Springer contacted Outspire for some advice on snowshoeing to appear in Enchantment Magazine, the second largest publication in New Mexico.
Winter brings the shortest days, the longest shadows and the coldest temperatures. And of course, snow. There’s more to do...FULL ARTICLE

Snowshoeing:
Fun, easy and good for you
Women in the Outdoors Magazine
December 2008
by Craig Springer
Going off-trail is one of the great joys of snowshoeing, Denison says. ..."Many first-timers are surprised to find that they sink in new snow despite wearing snowshoes," said Denison. "Getting the snowshoe size for your intended use--getting the right 'footprint'--means getting the right float in off-trail or new snow conditions and that will make for more pleasant outings....

Rio Grande Voices: Casting is her Calling
The Santa Fe New Mexican
September 29, 2008
by Staci Matlock

Interview with Karen Denison; Part of the continuing feature which profiles long-time valley residents who have a relationship with the Rio Grande.
She left her job as a molecular biologist 11 years ago to become a professional fly-fishing guide, and since then, she's fished rivers worldwide.... Denison ties many of her own flies and co-wrote Fly Patterns of Northern New Mexico. "It's as much about being in a place and interacting with that place as it is about having a fish in hand.... I'm looking to become part of what's already happening," she says.