There’s a legacy of names scattered around the Wasatch Mountains, known only to long-time backcountry skiers. For newbies exploring off-piste lands, the flood of unofficial names can be hard to keep track of. There are many places to ski in the Cottonwood Canyons, and most of them are not marked on maps or can be easily found without the direction from a seasoned veteran well versed in the nicknames given to nondescript peaks and bowls. Short Swing in Big Cottonwood Canyon is one such place, and as the name implies, it’s the ideal spot for a short tour if...
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The Utah Avalanche Center is always in need of donations from the backcountry community to “keep you on top,” and they’ve come up with a lot of creative ways to collect the fundage they require to give us the daily avalanche forecast we rely on. Right now, you can bid on several outdoor gear items on eBay, and all proceeds will go to benefit the UAC. Currently on the auction block is a BCA Float 18 avalanche pack, a pair of Black Diamond Drift skis with custom UAC topsheet, a pair of Surface Live Life skis, women’s Scarpa Diva...
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Are you one of those lonely ski bums always in the singles line looking for a partner? Well, for Valentines Day, Snowbird is going to try and find you a permanent ski partner when they transform the singles-only line on the Peruvian Express chairlift into a high-speed dating event. Of course we all know about speed dating – those ridiculous get-togethers where desperate singles go to a bar and have five minutes at a table with a rotating cast of other desperate singles trying to make a good first impression. Well, if you take the same concept and put...
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The new City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake City will open this spring to much fanfare among shoppers. But for outdoorsy types who avoid air-conditioned nightmares (also known as malls,) the grand opening of upscale stores like Nordstrom or Macy’s in the middle of the state’s largest urban area doesn’t rank very high on the excite-o-meter. However, the stoke on City Creek Center has suddenly blipped on the radar as Salomon USA has announced that they will open a Flagship Brand Store in Spring 2012. The Salomon Flagship store will be the first of its kind in the...
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I am a convert. Long have I worshiped at the altar of polyester base layers, they of the plasticy stink-after-a-few-hours-of-activity long underwear. But Icebreaker has opened my eyes to a new world of moisture wicking, insulating base layers with their merino wool offerings, like the Apex Zip. The Icebreaker Apex Zip is a thick, long sleeved shirt with a half zip collar and retro styling that just screams “ski bum.” It features thumb loops for excellent hand coverage, set-in sleeves with racing stripes, and fabric made from exquisite, midweight merino wool that breathes and is odor resistant while regulating body...
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The latest movie from local filmmaker Bill Kerig, “Ready to Fly” will premiere on Friday, February 10th at the Gateway Theaters. “Ready to Fly” comes just in time for Salt Lake City’s 10-year anniversary celebration of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. The film is about Park City’s Lindsey Van, a ski jumper with Olympic dreams. But women’s ski jumping has long been excluded from the Winter Games, making Van and other women like her outcasts in their sport. Not one to lie down, Van lead the battle to fight against gender discrimination and through her tenacity, won the respect...
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Utah is one step closer to getting a brand new ski resort. According to the Logan Herald Journal, the Cache County Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for a master plan for a proposed ski area called Cherry Creek, located three miles east of the town of Richmond. The vote was almost unanimous as commissioners decided that the proposal, led by Logan Checketts, met the provisions of county ordinances. According to Checketts, construction could begin this year, with an anticipated resort opening in the fall of 2013. Cherry Creek Ski Area plans to be a small resort aimed...
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Snowbasin is once again the host of the Winter Dew Tour Toyota Championships, which is celebrating its third year at the northern Utah ski resort. The event features snowboard and freeski slopestyle and superpipe athletes from around the world competing for the top prize, the coveted Dew Cup which is awarded to champions in each of the eight disciplines. The Dew Tour at Snowbasin is more than just watching your favorite pro athlete rip up the slopes and terrain parks. There’s also a big party happening in Ogden, where the “festival village” will light up every night with family-friendly...
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It has been an unusually warm season this year in Utah, but winter must go on! While it may feel more like spring, there are still ways to get into the winter spirit, like at the Bryce Canyon Winter Festival during Presidents Day Weekend. The 2012 Bryce Canyon Winter Festival has snowy activities and competitions for everyone willing to bundle up and play outside in one of Utah’s most beautiful national parks. Take your pick and participate in: * Cross country ski tours * Snowshoe tours and races * Archery clinic * Ski Archery competition * Kayaking demos *...
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Salomon has been hitting it hard these days with their release of backcountry ski gear like the Quest 12 boots, Guardian bindings and also the Quest 30 backcountry pack. I’ve been hauling my gear on ski tours in the Wasatch with the Quest 30 on my back for the past month, and like all of Salomon’s backcountry-specific gear, this pack has me enamored. The Salomon Quest 30 is specifically designed to be used as a winter backpack for ski touring or any other cold-weather activity. Certain features like soft contour shoulder straps, adjustable belt with large winter buckle, one...
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February 1st is an important save-the-date for the women’s cycling community in Utah! Registration for the 2012 Little Red Riding Hood, one of the state’s most popular women’s only cycling events, will begin at 12 p.m. (noon) MST. The ride will take place on June 2, 2012 in Northern Utah’s Cache Valley. When the ride started in 1987, 25 women took to the roads whereas in 2011, 3,500 slots were allotted for the ride and filled in approximately 23 hours. This year, organizers anticipate that the ride might reach its limit within 5 hours. In its 25th year, Little...
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