Winter 2011-2012 How Far Will You Go?

There’s an old inspirational quote that reads, “It’s not where you’re from, it’s where you’re at.” To Bozemanites, though, it’s both. No matter where they might be at—camping at Kilimanjaro, spotting gorillas in Uganda, or smirking like a doofus at the highest point in Germany—Bozeman locals always seem to remember exactly where they’re from. After sifting through another season’s worth of excellent shots, we decided to print the dirtiest submission in the magazine’s history. Risking certain death (or a stern verbal warning), Kristina Allison and co. bagged top photo and letter with their clandestine mud-pit tribute at the top of Volcan de Lodo El Totumo deep in Santa Catalina, Colombia. She might be short a summer issue of O/B, but she’s now the proud owner of a $150 gift certificate from F-11 Photographic. Until we convince the Bozeman airport security to require a copy of O/B in every piece of carry-on luggage, bring your own issue along and be the star of our next “How Far” contest.

Click here to see a gallery of finalists.

Winner: Kristina Allison, Jennifer Dunn, Toby Day & Max Fontenot

Volcan de Lodo El Totumo, Santa Catalina, Colombia

Dear Outside Bozeman,

This picture was taken from the top of Volcan de Lodo El Totumo in Santa Catalina, Colombia. As you can see from the picture, this is a place of relaxation and enjoyment derived from the therapeutic properties of the buoyancy-inducing mud and the uniqueness of the experience of floating in a dense, warm mud-bath near the Caribbean coast in South America. The smiles on our faces are due also to the deep satisfaction that we felt in achieving the picture, which was not as easy as it may appear.

Let us explain… getting there required climbing a rickety staircase up a mere 50 feet—hardly considered hard core or even strenuous. But there was an order to things that did not mesh with our plans. We were not allowed to bring any personal effects to the mud-filled crater and were instructed firmly (in Spanish naturally, so full comprehension was an issue) to remove watches, shoes, clothing (except swimsuits, thankfully), and jewelry, and to leave cameras, bags and especially magazines behind at the base. In no position to argue our case, we obliged and followed the rules. But even while floating in the mineral-laden mud, none of us could shake the nagging feeling that something was missing; the O/B was not with us, and we knew it was wrong.

Unable to truly relax, Toby, who some would call the brave one (we did mention that we were in a rural stretch of coastal Colombia, didn’t we?) snuck down the slippery, mud-sodden staircase to retrieve the faithful O/B, snuck back through MVS (mud-volcano security) and returned, ready for our well-planned but seemingly impromptu photo. We must admit that in reality MVS didn’t flinch at our brazen breach of security, although they did “request” that the O/B stay behind as a “gift.” We hope it ranks as one of the most interesting bribes they’ve received.

Thanks for helping make our experience even more adventurous and memorable!

In fond memory of our mud-splattered Outside Bozeman, Volume 12 Issue 2,

Kristina Allison, Jennifer Dunn, Toby Day, and Max Fontenot

First Runners-Up:

Jason Lytle, Matterhorn, Switzerland

Bruce Smith, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo

Ryan Allen, Amman, Jordan

Tricia Langaker, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Tobi Bakken, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

Second Runners-Up:

Lennae Klyap, Belize

Daniel Webster, Raiatea, French Polynesia

Jess Luckay, Panama Canal, Panama

Troy T. Tempel, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

Dan Boyce, Germany

Glenniss Indreland, Durnstein, Germany

Jan Krieger (Diana), Mexico

Jeanine Schoessler, Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany