Colorado explorer is fashionable in Vogue

Boulder native Josh Bernstein has the rugged good looks and manly style that could have led to a modeling career, if he had any interest –whatsoever – in the modeling industry. Ironically, Bernstein is in the November issue of Vogue magazine, and his looks and style had absolutely nothing to do with it.

November is the magazine’s “Environment” issue and Bernstein presides over the Boulder Outdoor Survival School in Utah. This explorer and adventure junkie is also known for hosting History Channel’s Digging for the Truth and Discovery Channel’s former show, Into the Unknown with Josh Bernstein.

I could only imagine Bernstein’s reaction when Vogue magazine called. Huh?

The magazine  would be sending the fashionable – and not the least bit outdoorsy – European editor-at-large Hamish Bowles, who would attempt to conquer the school’s wilderness course for a feature story, aptly titled, “I Will Survive.” (This was assuming that Bowles would survive the assignment.)

For those of you unfamiliar with Bowles, imagine the most impeccably-dressed, style-obsessed, picky person you know. Now picture that person trying to survive without any of his or her daily luxuries.

I could not hold back audible laughter as I read about Bowles’ journey. “…I found myself at Paragon Sports, picking my way gingerly through synthetic-fleece balaclavas and hobbling up and down the pebbled testing slope in trekking boots, one pair more excruciating than the last,” writes Bowles. “I fell upon a brace of cotton bandannas in lilac and purple, which at least promised a style continuum with my urban world.”

I laughed at his excitement after learning one of the other survivalists had some fashion sense. “Wendy knew from a Chloé dress and kept her body in shape by pole dancing. I sensed an ally.”

I laughed at his attempt to make an eating utensil using the rudimentary knife techniques he learned. “I fashioned an alarmingly crude spatula from Aspen wood that promised a mouthful of splinters at first bite.”

And I was practically in tears after reading his take on nature’s toilet paper and “edible” bear scat. (Scat is bear poop, which is very important for those of us not in the nature know.) It’s a must read.

Comedy aside, it was nice to open one of my favorite fashion magazines and see Bernstein’s familiar face and learn more about Boulder Outdoor Survival School. I would not attempt a survival course in a million years, but how would I even know it was an option without Vogue?

After all, I have yet to send in my subscriptions for Outdoor Magazine, Outdoor Life or Wilderness Way Primitive Skills Magazine. (Yes, it’s a real magazine.) I can’t help but wonder what those magazines’ fashion features look like?

To read Bowles’ full feature, buy the November 2009 issue of Vogue magazine or click on, “I Will Survive.”