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Less House… More Van
Published
10 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw Partners
By Eric Ladd Explore Big Sky Publisher
As long as there have been cars, there have been RVs. The first motorhomes and camping trailers came off the factory lines at Pierce-Arrow and Auto-Kamp Trailers more than 100 years ago, in 1910.
Road trippers and sports enthusiasts, look out: Outside Van is revolutionizing the 21st century RV with durable, functional and stylish rigs, built in Portland, Oregon.
Residents of the outdoor mecca, Hood River, Oregon, company owners Erik and Nicole Ekman spent two decades camping, surfing, skiing and mountain biking out of SUVs before deciding in 1995 to build the best recreational vehicles possible.
Built into the body of a Mercedes Sprinter van, Outside Vans are custom designed for each individual owner. You can bring your own van and have them retrofit it for mountain biking, or order from a range of Sprinters at outsidevan.com and design the setup around kite surfing, motocross, surfing or snowmobile skiing – pick your sport.
“This is not a living room on wheels,” Erik says, describing the vans as “functional gear garages on wheels that can be sprayed out with a hose.” Most other RV’s, he says, “are garbage, built with particle board.”
The diesel Mercedes Sprinter vans get 20 miles to the gallon and fit in normal parking spaces.
Other perks include hydronic forced-air heat, cozy beds, skylights, a fully decked-out kitchen with a drawer fridge, a built-in blender and pullout cutting boards. Optional details include edgy coloring packages, custom wood cabinetry, off-the-grid power systems and hot water showers.
“I’m not a factory kind of guy,” said Erik – known to some Hood River locals as “Epic Man” for his habit of chasing the next swell, powder day, banked bike trail or windy down-river day – as he hand delivered a van kitted out for biking and skiing to its new owner at Hood River’s Kite Beach.
“These vans are meant to be at places like this beach.”
The process
Step 1. Source a Sprinter van.
Step 2. Get deposit in place at Outside Van.
Step 3. Design your dream ride.
Step 4. Meet at Kite Beach for van delivery, eat fish tacos and get a downriver SUP paddle in before you drive the first mile in the new rig.
Step 5. Downsize your house, as you’ll no longer want to be at home.
Winter? No problem. Stud out the tires and let the road trip to British Columbia begin. A van kitted out for backcountry snowmobiling and skiing is pictured at left.
Cost? Starting at $50,000
What are you waiting for? There is a six-month waiting list to get your Outside Van dialed out.
OSV founder Erik Ekman’s recommended winter road trip
Stop 1. Sniff out the tree stashes at Whitewater Ski Area, Nelson
Stop 2. Head up the Slocan Valley for a day of backcountry riding on Idaho Peak, New Denver
Stop 3. Relax at Halcyon Hot Springs, Nakusp
Stop 4. Snowmobile ski near Trout Lake
Stop 5. Schralp Revelstoke Mountain Resort – all 5,620 vertical feet
Stop 6. Find untracked lines at Powder King Mountain Resort, Mackenzie
Stop 7. Score face shots at Shames Mountain, Terrace B.C.
This story was first published in the winter 2013/2014 issue of Mountain Outlaw magazine.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
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april, 2024
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We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
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Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Please join the Arts Council of Big Sky for free music from Jacob Rountree at the Wilson Hotel Lobby Bar from 5-7 p.m.
Event Details
Please join the Arts Council of Big Sky for free music from Jacob Rountree at the Wilson Hotel Lobby Bar from 5-7 p.m. on April 24.
Jacob Rountree is an alternative/indie songwriter living in the stunning alpine of Montana. Contemplative yet playful, his lyric forward style is reflective of his love for philosophy, poetry and quantum physics.
Time
(Wednesday) 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location
The Wilson Hotel
145 Town Center Ave
Event Details
Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
Event Details
Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
Time
(Wednesday) 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location
The Waypoint
50 Ousel Falls Rd