TMtC’s 2024 Winter Events

Mental Health in the Mountains

Are you interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out to us at telluridemountainclub@gmail.com! We are always looking for more supporters and raffle donors. Thank you for your help!

PAST EVENTS

Water in the West: Exploring the Colorado River, Drought, and Tribal Water Rights through Outdoor Recreation with Dr. Len Necefer

Tuesday, March 28
Wilkinson Public Library Program Room
6pm

This talk will cover the pressing issues of water in the west and the use of outdoor recreation as a powerful tool to educate and raise awareness about the impact of climate change on the region. Our keynote speaker, Dr. Len Necefer, an expert in this field, will provide an overview of the historical and cultural significance of the Colorado River to indigenous communities and the challenges they face in securing their water rights. They will also discuss the current drought affecting the region and its impact on the river and the surrounding communities. The event will highlight the importance of collaboration between various stakeholders to find sustainable solutions to water management, including tribes, who have been fighting for their water rights for centuries. Through this talk, we hope to inspire action towards protecting this critical resource for future generations.

Dr. Len Necefer is an outdoor enthusiast, entrepreneur, and a member of the Navajo Nation. He is the CEO and founder of NativesOutdoors, a company that aims to increase representation and visibility of Indigenous people in the outdoor industry and he is also a board member of the Honnold Foundation. Previous to these roles he was a professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Arizona and also worked for the U.S. Department of Energy. Dr. Necefer received his PhD in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University, where he focused on the intersection of energy development and tribal sovereignty. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kansas.

Dr. Necefer’s work focuses on advancing the interests of Indigenous communities through the lens of outdoor recreation, energy and environmental policy, entrepreneurship, and humor. His work spans academic journals, outdoor media, and film festivals alike. In addition to his academic and entrepreneurial pursuits, Dr. Necefer is an avid outdoorsman and athlete – as a backcountry skier, bikepacker, and walking packrafts down dry tributaries of the Colorado River.

Mental Health in the Mountains

Wednesday, March 1
Wilkinson Public Library Program Room
5:30 pm to 7:00pm

Join the Telluride Mountain Club and Wilkinson Public Library for a free event about mental health and how it plays into and relates to our passions in the mountains. Our schedule of events include:

• The premiere of the film Heart and Soul and Concrete. Meredith Edwards is an accomplished ultra-runner and mountain athlete who has suffered from abuse and has developed a kinetic way of processing her trauma–dance rollerblading. Meredith will be attending the event for a film Q&A and will be on the panel for our follow-up discussion.
• A showing of Ups and Downs. This film showcases professional skier Drew Petersen’s navigation of the mountains and valleys of mental health through skiing.
• An open and public panel discussion on the topic of mental health in our mountain town. We are encouraging questions from the audience and hope to walk away with new tools and resources for outdoor grief and trauma. Panel participants include: Meredith Edwards, Lauren Glass, Danielle Beamer, and more to be announced soon.

Athlete / Counselor Bios

Danielle Beamer, LSW is deeply invested in rural mountain communities and loves learning people’s stories. She works with adults and older teens in individual and group settings to address a broad range of issues. Healing often requires allowing the hard, sticky, revolting, and unwanted emotions to create space for the pleasurable ones. It’s natural to need support through that process. Danielle gets excited about working with folks who are new to therapy or are comfortable pushing themselves physically but less familiar pushing emotional comfort zones. One of her passions is supporting survivors of outdoor trauma such as avalanches and wilderness accidents. She also loves collaborating with folks who are used to therapy and looking to go deeper. Danielle utilizes Internal Family Systems, body-centered approaches, and practical neuroscience to join the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual realms. To connect visit hiddenaspectscounseling.com, email danielleb@hiddenaspectscounseling.com or call 970-403-5999. 

Lauren Glass (she/her), is a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC) in the State of Colorado and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). She worked for a decade in conservation, environmental education, and outdoor recreation prior to entering the mental health field. Lauren utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to serve a wide range of people and organizations in the Four Corners Region through direct clinical services, mental health education, and consultation. Currently she works in several capacities, including at the Silverton School, with an experiential equine facility, and as a mental health consultant for Southwest Conservation Corps. She also regularly delivers trainings to avalanche and snow professionals across the region. To find out more or connect on a project visit: laurenglassconsulting.com, or email laurenglassconsulting@gmail.com.

Check out our full list of mental health in the mountains resources here.

Big thank you to Camel’s Garden Hotel and Jagged Edge Mountain Gear for your sponsorship of this event!