Maren Horjus

Boulder

Outdoors journalist with a sports problem. Digital director at @5280magazine, 2x author, and Northwestern alum. Formerly @rei and @backpackermag. 🏕❄️🏄‍♀️

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Articles

The Oversimplified Guide to Springtime Mountain Safety

1 month ago | 5280.com | Alyssa Chutka |Maren Horjus

Any self-respecting Coloradan knows there’s no such thing as the offseason. But whether you’re itching to ski, snowshoe, or hike, it can be tough to plan for spring’s fickle weather and hairy snow conditions. We asked Golden Mountain Guides owner Ben Coryell, who has led shoulder-season trips in the Rockies for 15 years, for his best safety tips for keeping the stoke alive. 1. March weather in Colorado is “variable at best,” Coryell says. (And above 9,500 feet?
Why Are Ski Patrol Unions Everywhere Right Now?

2 months ago | 5280.com | Maren Horjus |Jay Bouchard

When 200 ski patrollers in Park City walked off the job on December 27, 2024, they began the first patrol strike in more than 50 years. Operations at America’s largest ski resort were crippled for two weeks as more than 70 percent of the mountain’s terrain remained closed due to a lack of experienced workforce. Amidst abundant snowfall, hourslong lines twisted through the mountain village as furious skiers directed chants—“Pay your employees!”—at the mountain’s owner, Vail Resorts.
The 21 Best Hikes in America for Kids

2 months ago | backpacker.com | Maren Horjus

Take a deep breath, mom and dad. Actually, don't. You won't need it on this easy, 1-mile out-and-back along a quiet footpath to an even quieter backcountry hideaway. Between the gurgling brooks and unending birdsong, there's enough to hold Junior's attention while you stroll beneath a canopy of mixed hard- and softwoods. Link the Victory and Ramapo-Dunderberg Trails .5 mile to the Tom Jones lean-to (first-come, first-serve). For more solitude, pitch your tent in the grassy area above the shelter.
Meet Colorado-Based Guinness World Record Holder, the Orchestrator

2 months ago | 5280.com | Maren Horjus |Courtney Holden

On the wall in Brandon Theis’ office/rehearsal space/recording studio/spare bedroom, near a framed watercolor of a saxophonist and a statue of the water spirit Yemọja, hangs a white plaque with navy matting. The Guinness World Records emblem dominates its upper half, followed by handsome, sans serif text declaring, “.”The impressive title is just the most recent feather in Theis’ signature black felt fedora, but it’s the one he’s proudest of.
Awesome Local NA Bevvies and Low-ABV Drinks You Need To Try This Dry January

Jan 22, 2025 | 5280.com | Jessica LaRusso |Patricia Kaowthumrong |Maren Horjus

Increasingly, Denverites are opting for beverages with lower—or even nonexistent—alcohol contents. If you’re riding the wave, check out any of these local makers’ NA and low-ABV options, which are tasty (and sometimes even healthy) without the boozy punch. GrüviLike so many successful companies, Denver-based Grüvi was born when its founders, the sister-brother team of Anika and Niki Sawni, couldn’t find what they were looking for.
Meet a Coloradan Who Wrote a Book About His Explorations in the Alaskan Arctic

Jan 15, 2025 | 5280.com | Maren Horjus |Julie Dugdale

When Jon Waterman first visited the Alaskan Arctic in 1983 as a Denali National Park ranger on patrol at the wild Noatak River, he had no idea how profoundly the experience would shape his life. Today, the Carbondale-based award-winning author—as prolific an environmental writer and researcher as he is an intrepid explorer and adventurer—has just released his 17th book, Into The Thaw: Witnessing Wonder Amid the Arctic Climate Crisis (November 12, 2024).
I’m Sorry, Bo Nix

Jan 10, 2025 | 5280.com | Maren Horjus |Spencer Campbell

This past holiday season, my aunt’s boyfriend (whom, I should point out, we haven’t really warmed to yet) reminded me of an article I wrote before the 2024 NFL Draft. In it, I presented a thoroughly researched, astutely reasoned prediction about who would be the Denver Broncos’ starting quarterback this year. I’m sure you remember the piece, Bo, but, just in case the knocks of a 17-game regular season have taken their toll on your memory, my conclusion was: not you.
Your Guide to Ridgway in Winter

Jan 8, 2025 | 5280.com | Maren Horjus |Lisa Blake

The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today! The Odometer: Roughly 291 miles, one way from Denver (5 hours, 26 minutes)Telluride’s sweet northerly cousin is a beloved basecamp for visitors spurring off on skyward hikes, off-roading over white-knuckle passes, wading through secluded rivers, and recouping in natural hot springs.
After Three Decades As Denver’s City Magazine, 5280 Has a New Owner

Dec 3, 2024 | 5280.com | Maren Horjus

Thirty-two years after it was launched in the second bedroom of a Denver apartment, 5280 has a new owner. Charity Huff, a Denver-based digital media entrepreneur, has acquired the award-winning magazine and website. Huff has pledged to grow 5280’s digital and experiential platforms while preserving the high-quality journalism that has made 5280 one of America’s most respected city and regional magazines. Charity Huff, owner of 5280“5280 is so much more than a collection of articles,” Huff says.
Live 2024 Election Results: How Colorado Voted on Key Races and Ballot Measures

Nov 5, 2024 | 5280.com | Maren Horjus |Shane Monaghan

Editors’ note: This is a living story that will be updated as we learn more. Stay up to date on how Colorado voted in the 2024 election. Presidential RaceThe race for the presidency is still too close to call. We do, however, know that Vice President Kamala Harris defeated former President Donald Trump in Colorado, according to AP. As of 8:08 p.m. Tuesday night, when the race was called, Harris had earned 55.1 percent of the vote compared to Trump’s 42.7 percent.