Last summer, I reviewed a pair of sunglasses with a unique twist. The Switch Eyewear Tioga sunglasses with a Magnetic Interchange System seemed to solve the problem of hard-to-install, interchangeable lenses. I really liked the system, but the frames felt heavy and lacked any rubberized parts for staying-on-yer-noggin. Enter the Switch Eyewear Lynx. The Switch Eyewear Lynx are packed with features (well, as many features as sunglasses can have) including: One pair of shatter proof Polarized lenses, one pair of Low-Light Rose Amber lenses Magnetic Interchange Chassis Comes with one hard lens case Medium to large fit size Full wrap,...
Read more »

Current and past Salt Lake City Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K’ers, Kids Marathon, and Bike Tourers — UNITE! Monday’s tragedy in Boston wasn’t just an attack on America or Boston, it was an attack on runners of all speeds. “Can’t Slow Us Down!”, a Facebook event, has been created by a local SLC’er who plans to wear on old Boston bib and pace his friend. So he’s encouragin everyone to join in. Throw on any Boston paraphernalia you may have, stand on the sidelines, run with a friend, or cheer from your porch for the thousands of runners who will make their...
Read more »

The Green River fishing has been variable depending on weather and location. The warmer days are providing good blue wing activity on the lower sections of river that receive more sunlight. Midges were hatching pretty much anywhere and everywhere, and we even saw a few caddis. We did very well nymphing with a size 16 and 18 bubble back emerger pattern on these lower sections. Other patterns that were working well included pheasant tails, zebra midges, WD40s, in sizes 18, 20, and 22. On the upper section the rainbows are staging to spawn and you can catch them on...
Read more »

It’s always a gamble when your first run of the season is a solid Class IV and V river, but there’s no better place to do it than the Black Canyon of the Bear River in Grace, Idaho. While the Wasatch were still getting hammered with snow, the floodgates to the Grace Dam opened up for the first whitewater release of the season on April 13. I dusted of my paddling gear, grabbed a few buddies, and made quick work of the 2-hour drive to Grace from Ogden. The Black Canyon of the Bear is a beautiful and challenging stretch...
Read more »

Snow, wind, and low visibility plagued world-class skiers and spectators alike at the final stop of the Subaru Freeride Series at Snowbird. But despite the conditions, skiers stepped up and shredded the North Baldy area at the event’s final stop and championship round, where Ian Borgeson and Sasha Dingle were awarded as champions. If you missed this supremely fun spectator sport in person from the finish line, here’s the full report from MSI: SNOWBIRD SKI AND SUMMER RESORT, UTAH (April 13, 2013)- Cold, wind and snow did not prevent several hundred screaming fans from gathering at the base of...
Read more »

Utah’s backcountry skiing and avalanche forecasting community got terrible news Thursday night when one of our own passed away. Craig Patterson, an UDOT avalanche forecaster, was killed in an avalanche in the Kessler Slabs area of Cardiff Fork, Big Cottonwood Canyon. Patterson was working in the area that day, but didn’t return home. A Life Flight helicopter located Patterson’s body after his car was found at the mouth of Cardiff Fork. Although it appears Patterson died in an avalanche, his airbag backpack was deployed and his body was not buried. On Friday, the Utah Avalanche Center went to the...
Read more »

“This guy is a better skier than me.” That’s what everybody will say after watching this week’s Friday Video called, “Dub Tales Episode 2.” Okay, maybe there are some skiers that are more talented than Andrew Whiteford, but it’s not you. Rest assured, you’ll understand why after watching “Dub Tales Episode 2.” You know, there a lot of GoPro, POV footage out there, but it rarely inspires, thrills, and drops everyone’s collective jaws. Then there’s this video. Jumping off massive cliffs? Check. Killing it through extremely deep powder? Check. Straight lining a 20″ wide chute while holding a pole...
Read more »

I’ve owned a lot of Keens in my day, from the original closed-toe sandals to hiking shoes. But one thing that always bothered me about them is the weight. Sure, Keens were beefy and had that huge toe bumper, but that came at a heavy cost in the weight division. Well, I’m happy to say that after testing out the new Keen Verdi Mid WP hiking shoes for review, weight is no longer an issue. These kicks are light for their style, and have lots of… well… style. Okay, I’m just going to straight up say it. These are...
Read more »

Spring in Southern Utah is the best time of year for outdoor adventure. Sure, winter is better for skiing, fall is arguably best for mountain biking and climbing, but spring is the only time you can do it all at once. We had one such trip of variety when we went backcountry skiing, mountain biking, camping and even speed flying in the Henry Mountains. Oh, and of course the third “B”  – beer rounded out the boards and bikes trifecta. The Henry Mountains are the last range in the U.S. to be mapped and surveyed, which speaks to how...
Read more »

In my opinion, a backcountry touring jacket needs a few things: simplicity of style, a large hood, light weight, moisture resistance and excellent breathability. So when I found out that Salomon made a jacket called the “Tour” my ears perked up like a German Shepherd who’s owner just said the “W” word. When I got my hands on one to test, I was so excited I would have chased my tail if I had one. So, did the Salomon Tour warrant my unfettered enthusiasm? According to Salomon, the Tour Jacket offers fully featured weather protection and, “provides the perfect...
Read more »

Back in January, Ragnar, along with Salomon, announced the big news that the Ragnar Relay would take to the trails for the first time and Utah would be the first place to host a trail event. That race is happening at the Zion Ponderosa Ranch in April. Today a new stop in the Ragnar Relay Trail Series was announced. Snowbasin will play host to the “Ragnar Trail Snowbasin” this August. According to the Ragnar website, Snowbasin will feature three courses: Green Loop: “This trail starts out with a short burly climb. Once you have conquered the first ascent you...
Read more »