Browse: April 2008

Here's the latest update from Plum TV host Ben Clark, who is in the Himalayas and plans to summit and ski down Annapurna IV.

"Annapurna IV is a striking peak cutting the cobalt sky and breaking the jet stream. A long technical shoulder leads to it's lofty summit, this will be our path. We now sit below this shoulder at 15,500'. Distant echoes of glaciers calving are now drowned out by thunder. Thunder.

By Emily Setzer

You've probably seen Plum's Tennessee native, Ben Clark, on Fresh Tracks in the winter as he tells Plum's viewers where to find the best stashes of snow on the mountain and which runs have been groomed. Now he's spending his off season on a different mountain – hiking through the Himalayas with the goal of summiting Annapurna IV.

After sitting on multiple plane rides, dealing with last-minute changes to travel plans, and nursing his swollen "cankles," he and his teammates are now in the high country at about 24,000 feet, with Annapurna IV looming above them. They still have a couple thousand feet to go before summiting the incredible peak, and will blog their experiences along the way.

Ruby, the oldest living mountain lion on record, was put down on April 2 at the grand old age of 23. Here, Plum host Ramona Bruland talks to Melissa Margetts, who used Ruby to educate people how to care for and be safe around wild animals and mountain lions.

Telluride says goodbye to Ruby the mountain lion. Rescued from a U.S. Department of Agriculture fur farm, Ruby went on to live at the Rocky Mountain Ark Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and lived to be the oldest mountain lion in the world. After suffering from ailments associated with old age, she was put down this spring. In this video, Ramona interviews Melissa Margetts, who used Ruby to teach people about mountain lions and safety around wild animals.

Antoine Savelli, a local alpinist, describes his love for all things related to the mountains and nature, and tells Plum why he chose to merge his life with the sport of alpinism.

Telluride Real Estate Corporation broker Jim Nerlin shows one of his listings.

When Plum headed to Sundance Film Festival this past winter, Jeb Berrier snatched up the opportunity to have a one-to-one with director Alex Gibney. Here, Berrier and Gibney discuss the filmmaker's Academy Award-winning documentary about politics and torture, "Taxi to the Dark Side."

Be sure to check back in to Plum later for the upcoming interview about Gibney's latest film, "Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson," which premiered at Sundance.

It turns out that plum is the hottest color around for business and advertising, according to an article in The New York Times. But then the purple-loving folks at Plum TV have known that all along.

In addition to Plum TV, American Express recently introduced a Plum Card credit card; there is PlumChoiceOnline, a PC services company; Penta Water Company is reintroducing its brand with plum-colored labels and packaging; and author Janet Evanovich has put "plum" in the name of several books.

Plum evokes royalty and sophistication, and it is classy, clean and healthy, say the businesses that chose to use the color.

We've always thought plum is pretty hip, but then it's always nice to have The New York Times back you up.

Mountains, adventure, adrenaline, alpinists, climbers, culture, environment. It's all happening at MountainFilm in Telluride, from May 23 to 26. Get ready.

Grammy Award-winnig Sister Carol brought the sounds of Kingston, Jamaica to Telluride when she played at the Sheridan Opera House recently. Known as the "Black Cinderella," her sunny, reggae roots tunes provided the audience with a warm reprieve from a long, snowy winter.

Feeling cold and tired of winter weather? Let Sister Carol's warm reggae tunes work their magic and you'll be feelin' irie in no time.

Parties in the woods, beer pong on snow-carved tables, cheap PBRs at Guiseppe's, lounging at Gorrono's and of course, costumes. The last day on the mountain was all smiles as everyone celebrated our epic snow season.