I’m going to sound like a broken record here, but I can’t stop proclaiming my love for outdoor gear made from merino wool. I’ve stocked my closets full of merino base layers for winter activities, but now that summer is drawing near, all those wool pieces will be stored away. That’s a huge bummer. Well, if you’re like me, then you need summer merino, and Icebreaker has just the contest to get you into some of that soft, breathable, natural material for the warm months. Icebreaker is giving away a bunch of their hugely popular Tech T Lite shirts,...
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No matter what your adventure, chances are you have a few precious pieces of gear or food that need to be protected from the elements. Backpackers especially know the value of a good storage bag, as wet snacks and dinner equal a rough time in the backcountry. SealLine is a company that specializes in crafting storage bags fit for any outing, and they sent me a few of their Storm Sacks to put through the gauntlet. I have been using these bags for the better part of a year, and they’ve been through it all: rain, sleet, sand and...
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In case you haven’t heard, mountain biking goddess Rebecca Rusch absolutely crushed the female time record on the Kokopelli Trail on April 27th. She rode the famous, 142-mile trail from Fruita, Colorado to Moab, Utah in just 13 hours, 32 minutes. It was a massive and impressive achievement but the event, sponsored by Red Bull, doesn’t stop there. If you’re inspired by Rebecca’s epic ride, you can see how you match up against her by riding your own 142 mile trail. Red Bull is inviting mountain bikers to “Join The Rusch” and document your ride via Twitter and Instagram...
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If you want life list hikes, Utah has them in spades. High on the list for me and a few friends had been Coyote Gulch in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. This riparian canyon boasts a natural bridge, huge alcoves, numerous arches and a stream that flows year round. Well, after many years of dreaming of the gulch, I’m happy to say I can take it off of my list. We targeted Coyote for our annual late April desert trip, and I can assure you that this one is worth every sweaty mile. Our trip began at the Chimney...
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Spring is in full swing and the backcountry skiing is literally getting soft and bare. Despite that, there is still good skiing up there as long as you wake up early enough to make turns before the high sun turns corn snow into mush. One zone that I’ve had my eye on all year, Farmington Canyon, finally opened up and we farmed corn over two days high above Davis County. Farmington Canyon used to be a year-round backcountry ski destination as the road was plowed for FAA workers who needed to get to the radar tower atop Francis Peak....
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Utah is chock full of sweet mountain biking areas, yet some are totally overlooked. Sure you can go to obvious places like Moab or Hurricane for some spring riding, but why not visit one of the hidden gems of Utah in the San Rafael Swell? That’s exactly the reason locals have organized the San Rafael Swell Mountain Bike Festival in, you guessed it, the San Rafael Swell. Organizers say the festival is geared to a wide range of mountain biking levels from beginners to experts. Group rides vary in degree of difficulty all over the beautiful San Rafael Swell....
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When you’re outdoors, camp chairs are a luxury. I’m not talking about car camping where you can take everything from grills to tables and chairs to six-person tents. No, I’m talking about true outdoor adventure when you are trekking into the great wild, far from any parking area, miles from civilization. On those adventures, you need to keep your pack light, which also means luxuries like a camp chair are left at home. There are plenty of stumps and logs out there for you to sit on! But Alite Designs has come up with the Mayfly, a camp chair that...
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Adam was all kinds of excited. It was 3am. We were at a truck stop in Salina, Utah. The Yurt-on-Wheels was loaded up with our ski gear and we were en-route to the La Sal Mountains for some backcountry skiing on Mount Tukuhnikivatz and Mount Mellenthin. But the source of Adam’s excitement wasn’t about the pending ski days, but the fact that this remote, seedy gas station sold coon hats… and they were only $8. With coon hat firmly in place atop Adam’s noggin, the three of us, including myself and Justin, continued to rally to the Geyser Pass...
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Do you find yourself drooling during late spring storms when fresh white flakes fall from the sky by the feet, but are saddened because most resorts are closed? How are you going to visit the white room? Learn how to earn your turns safely and you can slide around Wasangeles until the trails turn to dirt. I’m a lucky girl. I’ve always been able to go ski touring with a pleasing variety of medical professionals, meteorologists, mountain guides, and map-savvy logistics lovers. This equation has worked out really well for me. However, prior to getting my Avy 1 certification,...
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Last week I posted a trip report about our backcountry ski adventure to the Henry Mountains. One of our crew, Jon Strickland, brought along a speed wing and chose to fly off the mountains rather than do something as pedestrian as snowboard. He also brought his GoPro. Well, the video is finished, it’s called, “Flying/Skiing the Henry Mountains in Southern Utah,” and it’s this week’s Friday Video! The video has two flying segments. The first features Jon beginning his flight just below the North Summit of Mount Ellen. Adam Symonds and I skied down a slidepath from the ridge,...
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Looking for the ultimate outdoor adventure with several activities rolled into one single relay race? Well look no further than the Uinta Mountain Adventure Relay. UMAR is the ultimate in adventure races as it combines running with mountain biking, cycling, and even paddling in a canoe. The UMAR is a 180-220 mile loop course in the Uinta Mountains that is totally unique not just in the variety of legs, but also in that you can choose your speciality. Strong runner? Then you can do all the running legs on your team. Kill it on a mountain bike? Then pedal...
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