Update: As of June 14th, Ragnar officials have announced that the road over Guardsman Pass has been cleared and should be ready by race day. They hired their own snow removal service to get all that snow off the route, but runners will be going through 6-foot walls of snow on that leg. Fortunately, it will have a cooling effect! Ragnar officials may have to hand out snowshoes at this year’s Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back. The massive amount of snow that fell in Utah this winter, coupled with a record-breaking wet and cold spring, has combined to create an icy problem...
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As a mountain biker, I am morally opposed to rockin’ the skin tight bike shorts. Call me old fashioned (or old fashioned sensed) because I still prefer to wear baggy cargo shorts while cruising mountain singletrack, just like when I was a kid. So when Icebreaker sent out the ultra-tight Cadence bike shorts for testing, I was crestfallen. However, all baggy mountain bike shorts come with an integrated liner and chamois, so taking my high regard for Icebreaker’s quality merino wool products, I slipped my white chicken legs into the Cadence shorts. The Icebreaker Cadence bike shorts are part...
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It’s June 1st, the unofficial beginning of summer. But here in Utah, especially in the Wasatch, winter still grips the mountains as record breaking rainfall drenches the valleys. So to say hello to the summer months that are very unsummer-like this year, here’s some spring ski-stoke to celebrate. Spring Shreddin comes from our friend, Mike Debernardo. We may be wearing jackets this summer, but that doesn’t mean we can’t embrace the cold and have some fun. To see more of Mike’s awesome and creative videos, check out his Vimeo page.
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The Watchman Trail in Zion National Park is one of many hikes that is usually too hot to attempt in the summer, but has perfect temperatures in the spring or fall. When visiting Zion, a walk up the Watchman Trail is a good idea because it features outstanding views of the Virgin River and the towering cliffs that surround it all. The Watchman Trail begins at the Visitor Center, which makes it easy to get to, and is frequently the first hike many people do when they arrive at the park. It’s also a great hike to take in...
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Fancy yourself a military type who loves to test your physical and mental capabilities? Ever have a hankering to train like elite Special Forces soldiers? Then you may want to check out the GORUCK Challenge, which is happening in Salt Lake City on June 4th. The GORUCK Challenge is a team event, where participants complete a course that goes through the city for 15 to 20 miles. The course will test people’s metal and physical capabilities, while they carry a backpack filled with 20 pounds of bricks. The course lasts 8-10 hours and begins at 1 a.m. GORUCK describes...
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Vasque is a company well known for their superior hiking boots, but they’ve recently amped up their trail running offerings, and the Vasque Transistor FS shows that the quality of their boots shows in their trail shoes as well. Out of the box, the Vasque Transistor FS trail running shoes felt amazingly light weight. In fact, when I got the package I didn’t believe there were shoes in the box. Putting them on, they felt true to size, yet low-profile to the point that I was a bit worried about how they would perform, especially on mountain trails. I’m...
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As if the 2010/11 ski season wasn’t record breaking and awesome already, but Snowbird has made it even more incredible by announcing that they will probably be able to stay open through the Fourth of July. If you haven’t heard already, Snowbird (and all of Utah) is enjoying a record breaking snowfall year, which will allow the ‘Bird to extend their weekend operations well into summer as they aim for a 202-day ski season. Snowbird has been open on the 4th of July in the past, but only twice before. The first time was back in 1995, and it...
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City Creek Canyon is one of the many ways to get onto the popular Bonneville Shoreline Trail above Salt Lake City. As a counterpart to the Dry Creek entrance further south, City Creek also gets a lot of traffic from bikers, hikers, trail runners and dog walkers. But any similarities end there as the ascent from City Creek is long, steep and rocky. The City Creek entrance is located at the start of City Creek Canyon Road, where Bonneville Drive curves as it heads south from The Avenues toward the Utah State Capitol. The beginning of the trail is...
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There’s a saying here in Utah:  ”If you don’t like the weather, wait ten minutes.”  Shoulder season hikers can expect snow, rain, wind and cold temperatures, or a lovely mix of all four in the same outing.  You need gear that can handle the mixed bag of elements, and Helly Hansen makes it.  The Barrier 3L Stretch jacket promises to keep you warm and dry no matter what mother nature decides to throw at you. I have been testing the jacket for 3 months, and thanks to one of the wildest springtimes in a while, it ran the full...
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Hikers from all over Utah are drawn to the San Rafael Swell during shoulder season. Spring and fall are the ideal times to explore this huge expanse of canyon country. Adventures range from classic hikes like Little Wild Horse slot canyon to more extreme forays like the Upper and Lower Black Box canyons. If you are looking to test your skills but aren’t quite ready for ropes and rappelling then Ding and Dang Canyons are ideal destinations. Slots, potholes and many obstacles make for one heck of a day hike. Though it is remote, getting to the trailhead is...
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The American Hiking Society celebrates National Trails Day every year by organizing thousands of events around the country such as trail maintenance, hiking, biking, and trail running. This year, National Trails Day is Saturday, June 4 and the theme is “Made with all natural ingredients.” The idea is to get outside, get healthy, and, “find a spread of scenery, a plateful of peace, and a heap of happiness and health.” There are numerous National Trails Day events here in Utah that outdoor lovers can take part in all over the state. Although there are several events to participate in,...
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