About

UpaDowna was founded with the mission of getting folks off of the couch and out into the wild. At its creation, the name UpaDowna was simply a clear and concise way of describing our way of life; "Up a Mountain, Down a Beer".

As we have grown and noticed that our mission has broadened from the focused 21+ age group to an all encompassing mission and we see great value in our ability to expand our demographic to allow you, the adventurer, to own UpaDowna and make it yours. Sure we will always hold UpaDowna's original meaning near and dear, but now you have the freedom to choose your own adventure! As UpaDowna becomes your lifestyle, you can fill in the meaning to fit your adventure "Up a ________ Down a __________."

This site serves as a means to bring people together in a celebration of like minded folks that have a need to cure their A.D.D. (Adventure Deficit Disorder) by encouraging you to get outdoors. By reaching out through our community programs both educational and fun filled we will show you the path into the hills by providing information on backpacking, hiking, camping, cycling, climbing, bouldering, wilderness survival, skiing, snowboarding, and beer!!!

There are going to be deviations to the theme brought about by the adventures we take but all postings will be be based on enjoyment of the outdoors. Here is a place to come and learn about the great outdoors!

Steve Hitchcock aka Yeti is an all around outdoor adventurer, enjoying everything from mountain and road biking, climbing and bouldering, orienteering, skiing, surfing, backpacking, trail running and exploring. Yeti is proud to make his home in the Colorado Mountains with his wife and son.

With no borders that can hold him, he has explored the US from Alaska to Florida and most places in between as well as such places as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Luxembourg, Iraq, Qatar and Costa Rica. Yeti's love of the outdoors and extensive training both military and civilian as well as vast experience in the backcountry has allowed him to guide backcountry trips as well as teach at the college level as an Adventure Guide in such subjects as Desert Field Studies, Environmental Issues and Ethics, Land Navigation, Nordic Skiing, Winter Wilderness Survival, Wilderness Survival, Mountain Biking, and the Leave No Trace principles. And how could we ever forget to mention his unwavering devotion to ice cold India Pale Ales!

Robert Mitchell aka Bunny has frequently been called,“The Motivator” of UpaDowna. The wheels never stop turning as he continuously stays busy searching for new ideas, posts, and great beers, along with networking, trip planning, event planning, gear testing. He tirelessly dials in the details on all new UpaDowna merchandise. His travels include several different countries, states, and mountain ranges, but he calls Colorado home. He resides in Colorado Springs, but is more frequently found with his dog Coheed in the vast wilderness areas of the Rocky Mountains.

A one time student of Yeti, Bunny specializes in survival skills and is comfortable in any environment. His activities include, but are not limited to: strength training and fitness, nutrition, backpacking, snowshoeing, fly fishing, mountaineering, canyoneering, and snowboarding. This big Bunny is the one you want to make good with. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder, if he can't get you back on your feet he'll be the one carrying you out! When it comes to the outdoors, Bunny loves sharing knowledge with newcomers and introducing them to the wild. His most prideful accomplishments are helping out of shape, or disabled people achieve their goals. He has a real heart for underdogs and has never left a group-mate to fend for themselves.

Randi Hitchcock aka MtnMama There isn’t anything this bad mama can’t do. Well, maybe one or two things but MtnMama is an Elementary Physical Education teacher, writer, photographer, coach and mother. She also has experience with sales and retail at a local running shoe store and has coached volleyball for the past 6 years. Her favorite activities still include volleyball which she has played since she was 12, her newly found love of trail running, mountain biking on her 29er and bouldering. She intends to introduce her son to all things outdoors so that he can enjoy it as much as she has (with a little volleyball on the side!). MtnMama truly believes that fate has a way of bringing kindred spirits and like-minded folk together so that they might make the world a better place!

Ro is our newest team member and an inspiring woman in the outdoor community. She is a quick learner and always up for a new challenge. Be it climbing Colorado's tallest mountains, backpacking through remote wilderness areas, or fly fishing our beautiful rivers you'll always find her having a great time with a smile on her face. She constantly strives to learn more and share her knowledge with others. Her enthusiasm and love for the outdoors constantly keeps us on our toes, and looking for new adventures!

Ryan is our climbing guru. He's a free loving man of many travels, always searching for new routes to climb. Climbing might be his passion, but he's much more diverse than that. He's an experienced mountaineer, certified Wilderness First Responder, Avalanche Safety Tech, and as of lately a River Rat too. Ryan also resides in Colorado Springs, but it's hard to say where you'll see this wandering vagabond next.

John Ferris aka Juice Box is undeniably the mastermind behind this site. His strong graphic design background coupled with his love of all things outdoors have allowed this site to be what it is today. When not plugging away on the computer Juice Box loves to get out into the wilds and explore every chance he gets. Juice Box is another all around outdoor enthusiast that rips up the backcountry on his snowboard, and loves great hikes, especially when they lead to hidden water holes or epic cliff dives. Juice Box is also quite the photographer and may be the only man out there to give Yeti a run for his money when it comes to his love of cold microbrews.