When you ski a lot (or do anything outdoors in the rain and snow) your gear is going to get wet. There’s nothing worse than putting on soggy and damp gloves, boots, and… anything really. But the days of balancing your ski-boot liners over heater vents is over with the new Gear Dryer. What is…
Mountain bike the new Oakley Trail Park
There’s a ton of trail-building going on along the Wasatch Back. One of the more recent builds is the new Oakley Trail Park. As the name implies, this trail system in located just east of the town of Oakley at the mouth of Seymour Canyon. Professionally constructed by Avid Trails LLC for South Summit Trails…
Zion Narrows access temporarily reopened
Hikers and backpackers can access the Zion narrows from the top down again, but it’s only temporary. Last week Zion National Park sent a shockwave through the outdoor community when they announced they will no longer issue permits for the Narrows above Big Spring. The reason? Private landowners that control access in the upper portion…
No more hiking Zion Narrows from top down
In a surprise move, Zion National Park announced they will stop issuing wilderness permits to hike the Zion Narrows from the top down. This policy takes effect immediately and includes both the 16-mile day hike and all overnight use. Park officials say day hiking from the Temple of Sinawava to Big Spring is still allowed,…
BioLite Kickstarter to unleash revolutionary headlamp
Headlamps have undergone a lot of improvements these days, so is it possible to revolutionize them any further? I didn’t think so until I caught wind of the new BioLite Headlamp. The company has launched a Kickstarter campaign to get the funds for mass production while also putting this headlamp into the hands of outdoor…
Spin a yarn and win a Mystery Ranch backpack
If you’re a reader of this website, then you probably have noticed that I am a big fan of Mystery Ranch backpacks. Well, you have a chance to win one of your own. A Mystery Ranch Stein pack to be exact. Campfire Legends Contest A favorite activity while backpacking is sitting around a campfire, which…
Oakley Trail Park grand opening
The singletrack trail renaissance in Utah continues as even more dirt miles have been added to the Wasatch. Oakley City, along with the South Summit Trails Foundation, have built a brand new Oakley Trail Park. About three miles of non-motorized trail have been cut for mountain biking and hiking. There’s everything from beginner to expert…
OTTOLOCK bicycle lock review
One of the many fine things about living in Utah is that it’s almost always bike riding season. Minus a few months in the winter, two wheeled transportation is almost always possible. If you are a bicycle commuter or just a casual rider, a good lock is a must-have accessory. I have been using an…
Leave No Trace guidelines explained
You may have noticed that there are a lot of people enjoying the wild spaces in Utah. A heck of a lot more than just a few years ago. Trails are more crowded, parking areas overflow onto the road, and garbage is stacked up in campsites. It seems that many of the folks recreating outside…
Pearl Izumi MTB Performance T and Divide Glove review
Back in my college days I worked at a high-end bike shop in Philadelphia. It seemed that out of all the apparel brands, road bikers coveted Pearl Izumi the most. I always assumed that Pearl only made gear for fancy road bikers, but I was way off! Turns out, they’ve had a huge selection of…