Madison Rose Ostergren defies labels. She skis big mountain lines in films for Teton Gravity Research and Warren Miller Entertainment, so you could keep it simple and call her a professional skier, but that’s just her “day job.” She’s also an accomplished trail runner, mountain climber, and part-time skijor champion.
“I hate the idea of being put into a box,” Ostergren says. “As someone who has a lot of energy, I love doing different activities that push me and expand my knowledge so I can translate those skills back into my main discipline. I love climbing and running in the summer, because they’re also incredible training for what I want to do in the winter.”
Ostergren’s diverse approach to adventure is ideally suited for her mountainous backyard. She lives in Jackson, Wyo., and spends her days skiing, climbing, biking, and running the Teton Mountains. Occasionally, she does most of those activities in a single day.
Ostergren has the women’s supported fastest known time for the Grand Teton Picnic, an unofficial mountain triathlon that features a 25-mile bike ride from the town of Jackson to Jenny Lake, a mile-long swim across the lake, and then a 10-mile run and solo climb up 13,775-foot Grand Teton. Oh, and then you turn around and do it all again in reverse.
Maybe the craziest part? Ostergren doesn’t really like biking or swimming. “It was good for me to get out of my comfort zone and do things that I’m not naturally gifted at or particularly good at,” she says.
Pushing yourself is one of the most important elements of a Full Send adventure according to Ostergren, and the Tetons are the ideal playground for her diverse approach.
“There are just so many different ways to get outside here,” she says, noting how her Ranger Raptor® factors into any plans with off-road driving on top of hauling needs for the added gear, as well as the extra trip-mates to share (and discover) the next out-there experience. The truck expands the search, Ostergren adds, “so I can continue to push myself as an athlete and dream big.”
The Tetons aren’t the only place where you can carve out an epic alpine day. The U.S. is packed with mountain ranges where, with a little creativity, you can design your own all-day adventure that pushes you out of your comfort zone. Here are three perfect locations for an alpine epic.
Three Locations for Your Own Full-Send Alpine Adventure
Southern Rocky Mountains: Colorado
Boulderites have their own mountain triathlon that was inspired by the Grand Teton Picnic. It starts with a 40-mile bike ride from Boulder to Longs Peak, an iconic 14,000-foot summit inside Rocky Mountain National Park. Ditch the bike for a 4-mile trek to Chasm Lake where you’ll swim 500 yards across the frigid backcountry pond (bring a wetsuit), and then hike and climb to the summit of Longs Peak before retracing your steps, strokes, and pedals back to Boulder.
Wasatch Mountains: Utah
There are more than half a dozen ski resorts scattered throughout Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood Canyons outside of Salt Lake City. Driving between these resorts can take hours if you’re dealing with traffic, but they’re all within a few miles of each other as the crow flies. And it’s more fun to ditch the car and ski and hike between the resorts.
It’s called the Ski Utah Interconnect Tour, a guided romp that hits six downhill resorts (Deer Valley, Park City, Brighton, Solitude, Alta, and Snowbird) in a single, long day, logging more than 11,000 vertical feet as you combine groomers with side country powder.
Want to add a multi-sport element and go solo? Wait until spring and knock out your own Bike/Ski Day where you pedal Little Cottonwood Canyon to Snowbird and Alta, gaining more than 4,000 feet over 12 miles on the bike leg. It’s up to you how many laps you do on Snowbird and Alta before heading back to town on your whip.
Southern Appalachians: North Carolina
The Southern Appalachians aren’t as tall as the peaks in the western U.S., but they are steep and rugged, especially in Linville Gorge, a 1,000-foot-deep canyon known for its traditional rock climbing routes. The Linville Gorge Crusher combines six classic routes on the eastern wall of the gorge, all rated between 5.5 and 5.9+, with a trail run linking each climb. Do it as an out-and-back and you’re looking at more than 30 pitches and about 25 miles of running.
- For more adventure-planning advice and inspiration, check out our Full Send content hub presented by Ford Raptor® Trucks.
This article is sponsored by Ford.
