Craft MTN Magazine

Mountain towns and their tenders sit in an air of resilience. Like weathered pine bark, the hands that tune bikes or tilt tap handles also hold memories of frostbite and countless situations that called for “just hanging on for one more mile.” Kim and Nick Hardin, the proprietors of KickStand Coffee & Kitchen in Hood River, Oregon, exude every bit of that wind-kissed character.

Water is the liquid of life. It sustains us. It invigorates us. It heals us. The vitality of water comes not only through our need to imbibe, but also through our connection to and immersion in such a superlative substance. This, in essence, is the driving force of Seastr, a Seattle, Washington-based nonprofit striving to strengthen the relationship humans have with their environment through the water and, in doing so, support and empower those who are underrepresented to be changemakers.

“I PASSED!!!” Mary Miller shared these triumphant words in an Instagram post last year, declaring her newfound status as a level one sommelier with a level two award—the latest in her long list of achievements, adventures, and reinventions. At age 66, her story is one of an unyielding spirit hungering for life’s richness and a willingness to take risks in the pursuit of joy. Mary’s appetite for knowledge began early in life.

Feet are weird. They’re narrow, wide, flat, tall with high insteps, inflicted with bunions, or occasionally, sixth toes. Few types of shoes highlight these idiosyncrasies more than alpine ski boots. At their core, these boots are snug, stiff, firm plastic shells that skiers cram their feet into to enjoy the sport. Skiers’ boot preferences are as diverse as their feet. Some want a boot that they can easily walk uphill in while still retaining proficient downhill performance.

Once again, the seasons are in flux. With the sun setting earlier, our after-work bike rides grow shorter, and our cravings turn to warm and comforting flavors. It’s easy to reminisce of sunny summer bike park laps and daydreams of tropical surf getaways. Envy of migratory birds embarking on their instinctual southward journey creeps in. Amidst this symphony of emotions, my long-standing go-to shoulder season dish is a savory South Asian-inspired butternut squash soup.

Brecken Stockmar grew up with a 20-acre forest in his backyard, an experience which solidified the natural world as a consistent source of inspiration for his pottery. His years spent playing in the woods of Bellingham, Washington, were nothing short of formative. Sharing space and time amidst the magical expanse of trees, ferns, and fungi led to Brecken developing a deep respect for the land—a reverence that he expresses through artistic practice.

Janet Lightner, along with her husband Ed Bennett, has witnessed the growth of Bellingham’s brewery scene from a few humble taprooms to a full-fledge destination town for beer lovers. As Boundary Bay Brewery and Bistro’s general manager, Janet has helped instill a sense of community in the brewery’s business practices. Read on for a conversation between Janet and Craft MTN. Yes, it definitely changes with the seasons—it also changes with the level of activity within the season.

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Use convection if available. 2. Slice the cabbage almost all the way through in quarters, lengthwise, around an inch from the base of the stem. 3. Combine all other ingredients in the mixing bowl. Spoon mixture evenly into the cabbage, working it into the cuts you’ve made. 4. Wrap cabbage in parchment paper, corn husks, or banana leaves and tie it off with butcher's twine like you’re wrapping a present. Twine should hold cabbage and wrapper together. 5.

First off, as we move into the summer season, what’s your go-to beer for a hot day? That would definitely be our new Mexican-style lager. We just released the Kulshan Especial last week, and it’s been my go-to beer every spring and summer for the last few years. This year we gave it a new look, and now it’s going to be around all year. I’m really excited to be drinking it all summer. What led you to your current position at Kulshan?

Arts and Culture Words by Elyse Edison | Photos by Scott Edison I was raised on the sound of spinning tires and the smell of evergreen. From a very young age, I learned that coming home covered in mud was the sign of a good day, that a few bumps and bruises are just “adventure marks,” and, sometimes, you fall seven times but get up eight. While mountain biking makes up some of my earliest memories, it wasn’t until years later that I fully experienced what this sport could bring me.