The slopes are crusty, and the open lifts are few, but make no mistake about it: the 2013/14 Utah ski season is underway! Brighton Resort got things started a day earlier than originally announced when they had a two hour opening party on November 7th (and it was all free!). However, both Brighton and Solitude…
Author: Ryan Malavolta
Helly Hansen Odin Guiding Light Jacket review
Shoulder season in the Intermountain West is a wet and unpredictable time of year. You can chant “Rain rain, go away!” all you want, but it’s probably better to come prepared for what mother nature is slinging at you. A good weatherproof shell is a key ingredient for staying dry and happy during the transition…
Hike the Frying Pan to Grand Wash Trail in Capitol Reef National Park
Believe it or not, summer is slowly fading into the rearview, and now is the ideal time of year to make some tracks in the desert. Capitol Reef National Park is a great choice for early fall hiking, as the park’s higher elevations mean sure-fire cool temperatures. I’ve sung the praises of Capitol Reef numerous…
Platypus Tokul XC 8 Pack review
Mountain biking is a simple joy, but like any outdoor sport, there are accessories that come with the territory. Water, pumps, spare tubes, tools, patch kits and maybe even food and clothing are all things that need to be pedaled up and down the hills, you know, “just in case.” Platypus is a company that…
The First Annual (?) Utah Bikes n’ Beers Tour
Two things we do pretty well here in Utah are bikes and beers. Leave it to Mike D (who does insane bike rides while eating junk food) to find a way to combine the two into one hell of a day. A few years back, Mike got to thinking: why not ride to every single…
Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XTherm and Pillow review
Bad night of sleep in the backcountry? The reason I hear more often than not is warmth. Numerous are the times in camp when I’ve been brewing coffee and heard a friend say “I just couldn’t get warm.” A good sleeping bag is a start, but all too often campers overlook the value of a…
Climbing Tokewanna Peak
There are nineteen “13’ers” in Utah, and every one of these beasts can be found somewhere in the Uinta Mountain Range. One of the things that make Utah’s 13,000′ mountains unique is their distance from roads. Climbing these summits often means a multi-day backpacking trip, or at least a 15+ mile single day epic hike….
Hi-Tec Bergamo Waterproof Boot review
When you think of Italian designs and footwear, hiking boots might not come to mind. However, the Italians have a proud history of mountaineering and trekking, and a good old fashioned pair of full grain leather boots is something my brothers from across the Pond do very well. Hi-Tec is a company that specializes in…
Elemental Herbs review
There aren’t many downsides to recreating outdoors in Utah. One caveat is the heavy toll that the western sun and air takes on our skin. Dry and hot do not a happy human make. Whether you are exploring a new canyon or slicing up a foot of fresh, you better have a plan to protect…
Helly Hansen Odin Mountain Shirt review
Recently this site’s founder, Jared Hargrave, has been on a mission to find the “perfect mountain shirt.” I decided he shouldn’t have to take on such a quest alone, so I’m here to weigh in with more findings. Helly Hansen makes everything from boating to mountain guiding gear, and I figured if anyone could actually…