Abby Gierke

On this episode of Other Plans, host Abigail Gierke speaks with Raleigh Burleigh.

Host Abby Gierke interviews Octavio Maese on this month's edition of Other Plans. Octavio Maese is the Director of Nutrition Services for the Roaring Fork School District. Maese enjoys interacting with kids, their curiosity toward food, and the challenge of planning menus that balance those quirky and often inconsistent preferences with federal regulations in the lunch line. His love and appreciation for food started at a young age with help from his grandmother who taught him how to embrace flavors and taste over recipes. Maese also shares a few nutritional tips and favorite snacks to bring on your next adventure outside.

Hailey Swirbul is one of the most well-known athletes to come out of the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club (AVSC) in the Roaring Fork Valley. Swirbul, a Basalt High School graduate, rose through the ranks in the nordic skiing world to become the most decorated junior national team member and represented the United States in the 2022 Beijing winter Olympics. We talk about how she got started, the highs and lows of being a professional athlete, the importance of coaches, and much more.

Other Plans host Abby Gierke talks with conservation legend Connie Harvey. Connie was one of the founders of the Wilderness Workshop, created in 1967. Along with her two friends, Dottie Fox and Joy Caudill, the three "Maroon Belles" were successful in protecting more than 400,000 acres of wilderness land in the Roaring Fork Valley, including doubling the size of the Maroon Bells Wilderness area, protecting the Hunter-Fryingpan, Collegiate Peaks, Raggeds and West Elk wilderness areas. Connie was inducted into the Aspen Hall of Fame in 2006. At 91-years old, Connie has that same spunk and determination that helped her survive the Andrea Doria Shipwreck, pen a column for the Aspen Daily News, protect wild lands, and of course, run a working cattle ranch that is still in operation today.

This month on Other Plans, Sandy DeCrow, Glenwood Springs Middle School Assistant Principal, reflects on her 31-year career in the Roaring Fork School District. Host Abby Gierke and Sandy talk about her childhood on the Nieslanik Ranch, what she loves about middle school students, coaching multiple sports teams in the district, the first day of the school year, and much more. Sandy plans to retire at the end of this school year.

This month on Other Plans, host Abby Gierke talks to Andy Nettell, owner of Back of Beyond Books in Moab, Utah. They talk about his time as a park ranger in both Arches and Canyonlands Nationals Parks, Edward Abbey, the future of the parks, his bookstore and much more!

This week on Other Plans, host Abby Gierke talks with Redstone local, Mary Harlan. Mary currently works for Cripple Creek Backcountry. They talk about Mary's early career in ballet, where she got her love for the outdoors, being a mom, and climbing as the common thread through it all.

This week on Other Plans, host Abby Gierke talks with Redstone local, Mary Harlan. Mary currently works for Cripple Creek Backcountry. They talk about Mary's early career in ballet, where she got her love for the outdoors, being a mom, and climbing as the common thread through it all.

Host Abby Gierke interviews Deanne Vitrac-Kessler, founder and Executive Director of the Aspen Indigenous Foundation. Deanne discusses her family, roots…

Host Abby Gierke interviews Deanne Vitrac-Kessler, founder and Executive Director of the Aspen Indigenous Foundation. Deanne discusses her family, roots…