Snowbird has added some sort of roller-slidey device and may (or may not) be adding a bunch more developments, but its classic terrain, big and steep, is at the ready for summer running or hiking. I parked on the bypass road near the Powderbird heli-pad and got on the Blackjack trail. There are other ways…
Salomon Discovery Hz Midlayer review
Stretchy! That’s the best and only way to describe the Salomon Discovery Hz Midlayer. I’ll tell you what, midlayers have come a long way in the last decade. Used to be all our only options were flannel shirts and high-pile fleece. So I am thrilled to see ever-more versatile options becoming available, like this performance…
Hiking Burro Wash Slot Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Capitol Reef National Park is awesome! Everything from scenic drives to short walks and long backcountry hikes make this the perfect destination for hardcore desert rats and families alike. If it’s slot canyons you seek, well, the Reef has those, too. Along the park’s eastern boundary…
Friday Video: Canyoneering Leprechaun Canyon
If you haven’t tried canyoneering a slot canyon in Southern Utah, then you have no idea on what kind of fun you’re missing out on. Of course if you are claustrophobic, then you’ll beg to differ. But I love canyoneering so much, I was thrilled to see that an entire episode of KSL Outdoors was…
Learning the mountain biking lesson at Payson Lakes
Temps in Salt Lake crept toward the ominous triple-digit threshold as I prepped for a mid-June mountain bike and camp trip to the Payson Lakes area in the southern Wasatch. The heat gathered and stood stagnant in my driveway. We needed out of the valley. Soon enough, the SLC outdoor-accessibility factor reared its beautiful head. Down…
Choose your own Utah adventure with smartphone app?
Remember those “Choose Your Own Adventure” books when you were a kid? You know, you would read a chapter, and then make a choice about what to do next, which would completely alter the outcome of the story? Well there is a campaign online to fund a smartphone app that would make Choose Your Own…
Bergans of Norway Microlight Jacket review
If you haven’t heard of Bergans of Norway, that’s not surprising. This company that makes high-end outdoor gear is, yes, from Norway, but their offerings have been somewhat difficult to find in outdoor stores in the United States. That’s changing. Just last year, Bergans has opened their own wholly-owned subsidiary in Longmont, CO, and has…
Utah Mountain Biking Guide: The Flume Trail
Start Point: The Flume trailhead, 9950 feet High Point: Apex of upper loop, 8300 feet Trail Distance: 18 miles (round trip) Trail Time: 4 hours Skill Level: Intermediate Best Season: Spring/Fall The Flume Trail has been described as one of the most classic mountain bike rides in the Vernal area. This excellent singletrack winds up through a scenic canyon along mountain…
Utah skier days released for 2012/13 ski season
Math is hard, but counting numbers is big business for Utah’s ski industry, especially in summer when skier numbers for the last season are tallied to see how well our state is doing. So there is much anticipation for the skier-visit numbers to be released. Luckily we got good news this year as Ski Utah…
Keen Mercer MJ CNX shoe review
When I think of Keen, I imagine burly sandals or hiking boots with those trademark toe-bumpers. While that’s still the company’s bread-and-butter, Keen has also wandered into other realms and dimensions with the CNX collection of styles. The CNX shoes and sandals are lighter weight versions of their classic kicks, like the new Mercer MJ…