Zele Community Table: From Alaska To Aspen With Ed Foran

September 19th, 2007 at 06:11pm Zele Community Table 117

Ed Foran
Mason & Morse
2006 Aspen Realtor of the Year
Zele Community Table
9-17-07
Ed Foran; Zele director of marketing Lisa Zimet; Kathryn Preston; Michael Conniff
Michael Conniff: How would you describe how people in this community feel about developers and real estate folks?
EF: People have a generally negative stereotype about realtors—“greedheads,” et cetera. They think we don’t care about anything but the increasing property values. People think we are a big problem in the community.
MC: What should they think?
EF: We have children in schools, we are active in the community, we serve on boards, some are environmentalists. The general public doesn’t always know about people like Bill Sterling, former mayor and realtor, who started a real estate organization that supports the Wilderness Workshop, who protect roadless areas from being developed. The Wilderness Workshop's mission is to protect and conserve the wilderness and natural resources of the Roaring Fork Watershed, the White River National Forest, and adjacent public lands.
EF: I was born and raised in Chicago, but I went to Alaska for fourteen years, lived off the grid for ten years with no electricity or running water, raced sled dogs, worked with UAA [University of Alaska Anchorage] in the archeological department. I met my wife Barbara in Alaska, she is from Los Angeles. This was mid-70s , many counter-culture folks were there.
MC: That’s a long way from Chicago.
EF: My father was a U.S. attorney in 1970 in Chicago. It was a fascinating experience growing up there, but I didn’t really enjoy it. It never ever felt like a fit. Alaska, however, felt like “going home,” the lifestyle, the people.
MC: How are Alaskans different?
EF: Very community-oriented, very smart, very libertarian, what you do is your own business. If you want to have Abrams tank or an arsenal of guns in your back yard, you should be able to do it. I am reading “Into the Wild” again, by John Krakauer. Sean Penn is currently making the movie, about Chris McCandless – young student, searching for meaning in life. I felt that my time in Alaska was a similar spiritual journey. His was a tragic story. I was on a training-run with sled dogs on a snow-machine trail, when a this guy with back pack – McCandless- was walking to Nome. I saw giant hole in the snow where he was sleeping. The kid got 100 miles before state troopers came along and said, “you’re endangering yourself.”
MC: What about your dogs, were they
a hobby?
EF: Mushing started out as a hobby, then I borrowed dogs from UAA, and would go cross-country skiing behind the dogs. The dogs were pure-bred Alaskan Malamutes, they were eventually bred so much for show qualities that the working qualities were bred out of them. They are smaller now, part hound, like a Kenyan version of sled dogs: lean, mean, and built to run. It was a non-mechanized way to see the landscape. Dogs are excited by all the wildlife on the trail: moose, caribou, etc. Mushing combined my love of the outdoors and my love for animals. I had some hair-raising experiences: like in1982, I have an Iditarod belt –buckle to prove my participation. I finished in top twenty and won $1900 bucks. The prize is higher now. We were near a village – Shactulac - near the Bering Sea, a maritime community, they hunted whales. It was 200 miles from the finish of race. There were 50-60 mph winds - on sea ice- the dogs can’t grab with their toenails so there is no traction. Four teams traveled together and took turns to see if they could get to next trail marker. We’d drill a hole in the sea-ice, put a spruce pole every 100 yds – so we could see where we were going. Each team got blown off the trail and would get lost. We knew we could go into the ocean – you just get turned around, and your prime directive is to take care of the dogs. We couldn’t see the trail, so we lined up the teams, and in 5 minutes the dogs were buried by snow. I had bivvy bag (sleeping bag) and we spent the night out there. I was ok, not comfortable, but I wasn’t seriously injured. I got frostbite on my nose and cheeks. It turns out we were one mile away from nearest village. In 1982, it took me 17 days to complete the Iditarod. Now, people are doing it in under 10 days. The formulas for running the dogs is equal rest time, equal running time: 6 hrs of running and 6 hours of rest. I carried their food on the sled and would re-supply at checkpoints. I was lucky to get 2 hrs of down time. The most difficult thing about the race is the sleep deprivation. Two days into the race you’re already hallucinating, thinking you see the lights of the village, you think you see the head-lamps of another musher, but not really.
MC: Did you talk to other mushers on the trail?
EF: Alaska is a huge state, but a small town. Talk on trail was about the horrible conditions.
LMZ: How did you prepare for the Iditarod?
EF: I alligned with people who were experienced. I picked up my first dogs at the pound. I did not race with those dogs. I got my first race-dogs from Susan Butcher, who won the Iditarod several times. Mushers at a checkpoint will say they are going to stay for a while and let the dogs rest, but then musher and dogs will disappear, sneak off, back to the race.
MC: What were the mushers like?
EF: Some were taciturn, Jack London types, some were down to earth and friendly.
You have to maintain a good attitude because dogs pick up on how you are feeling. That is why women did so well, they were so good with dogs, and the dogs loved them. Susan Butcher was so good with her dogs. They loved her. She was tougher than any of the guys, but the dogs would hear her coming, hear her voice, and just jump up ready to go, so excited.
MC: How did you feel about Krablooniks dogs, locally, and their treatment?
EF: What happened up there is unfortunate. He runs a good program. In traditional kennels, that’s the way dogs are managed – they get joy in their exercise, when they run. It’s a real challenge dealing with a dog unsuitable for racing, whether it’s their gait, or if they are not fast enough – it’s a dilemma.I had 40 dogs – what do you do?
I tried to sell my dogs when I retired. I had to put some down – it was a part of the sport I didn’t like – that was one of reasons I retired. Was never was comfortable with pushing dogs beyond what they are capable of. There are more stringent standards now: vets at every checkpoint. Mushers have to hand over a diary to a vet at every checkpoint. There are still fatalities – 1-2 a year: sometimes the dogs just go down. It could be muscle myopathy or a heart- attack: no outward signs. We thought we would never leave Alaska. But, my wife, Barb, got an opportunity in Boston – she made a lot of dog booties before leaving. Our first child was born when my mushing career was taking off. In the Yukon race, I placed in the top ten. We “farmed out” the dogs – Barb studied, got a degree at Harvard in education- that planted a seed. We experienced huge culture shock going back to lower-48. We went back to Alaska later to get dogs. I never noticed how bad the dogs smelled until I went back. It’s like living on a dairy farm and not noticing the dung smell. I had an epiphany – I’m done – sell the dogs.
MC: Is thirty old for mushers?
EF: No. I was in my thirties. Jeff king – -won 4 times- I raced with him. It’s quite common for mushers to be in their thirties, fourties, and fiftees.
MC: What led you to aspen?
EF: Well, before I left Alaska, I got into Real Estate– property management– very unique in Alaska. I sold everything from cabins with no water to Condos. It was 1989 – the coldest winter on record, it did not get above 50 below. Boiling water would turn to vapor if thrown out the window. I thought, if I’m not mushing, why be in this cold? We decided to check out Seattle, Portland, Boulder, Santa Fe. We had a better chance of employment in the cities, and wanted to be near colleges for the kids. We went to Boulder during the worst time in the RE market – in the 80s. We spent 3 yrs. There, then moved to Aspen. I worked for Fleischer first in real estate. The smartest thing we’ve ever done was move to Aspen, though I look back at Alaska as the greatest time of my life. It’s time to go back and visit. The quirkiness of Alaska is unique, the country is mind-boggling, so wild, so beautiful. Coming into Nome after 2 weeks on the trail, seeing the stunning beauty of the Bering Sea was spectacular. I feel similar feelings riding my bike up to the Bells.
MC: Back to animosity toward Realtors– is any of this justified? Ed was realtor of year 2006 and– president of the board, so we’re not just speaking to any Realtor. How do you feel about animosity?
EF: It’s not justified. When anyone feels wronged – in any profession – you remember negative experiences. We are under a microscope because of property values – under scrutiny as to our behavior in community. People that I had pre-conceived notions about, who were realtors, I have found they are just like me – engaging in the community, we have children here.
MC: Do realtors have political clout in Aspen?
EF: That’s a slippery slope- if I go to a meeting, I keep mum – because everyone thinks, “of course he wants this approved, he will benefit.” I’ve become a bit disenfranchised with the political process, without a voice – it’s a dilemma in this community.
MC: How do you counter this?
EF: Any time you want to stop war, stop growth, stop anything – there has to be dialogue – it needs to be balanced. A friend gave me an analogy: Like a pond, survival of the system is based on water flowing in – too much, and nothing will grow. If no water at all, things get stagnant. We need to find a balance for the pond that makes it alive, fresh, clear. Realtors would like a dialogue with city council. My duty is to create a meeting with past presidents and with the mayor. Mick says he’ll be available. It will probably happen later in off-season. We are pro-active as members of the community. There are realtors for the wilderness – we give back – most brokers do their giving anonymously- so the public doesn’t know it necessarily – but we do feel it is important to give back.
MC: Are you continuing your spiritual quest? I know you went to India.
EF: You get a perspective about what we get upset about here in Aspen when you see stunning poverty, horrifying pollution. It’s like a landfill with streets. Infrastructure is in a total state of decay. I like David Floria’s sister’s blogs. It’s tougher coming back from India than from Alaska. It seems unfixable – there is a sense of hopelessness for me– it’s so all encompassing. Every body has to have a meal at the table – regarding fixing the environment. Oddly, people in India are happy. There are lots of contrasts – caste system in place – women not treated well. Arranged marriages – you can’t get divorced - it shames the family, ruins you on every level. It’s hard to not judge. It makes me think, “Stop whining, Aspen!” Feel fortunate. The situation in third world countries gives me a perspective – this is how most of the world lives – we, in comparison, are so fortunate. My son went in August to Kochin, India. My son’s host family -their son lived with us. For Tommy, my son, it is shocking. For their son – Boris – Aspen is shocking. Tommy is attending Naropa – a Buddhist-based school in Boulder. He loves it.
MC: Was there a project you worked on in India?
EF: I was visiting my son on his trip abroad, but thought the trip would be more meaningful if I raised some funds to bring to India. We gave money to my son’s host father, to Rotary in India, to build housing for sunami victims- $3,000. Rotary and like-minded groups do more than the government to help citizens. The government and police are totally corrupt and everyone knows it. In the south – where we were- there was a mixed Islamic and Christian society, co-existing peacefully.
MC: I would be remiss if I didn’t mention your theater career.
EF: I am a Thespian – I played Allan Ginsberg previously. I started 5-6 yrs ago, I wanted to audition with my daughter for “My Fair Lady.” I was in the chorus. I got the bug. Conveying a story, touching an audience, is very powerful. I did “The Crucible” with Hudson Reed ensemble –Kent is an amazing director. And I just got cast in “She Loves Me,” my first solo singing for ACT.