Years ago, on a mission to ski/rappel down the Northwest Couloir of The Pfeifferhorn, I first laid eyes on Box Elder Peak. After a long ascent up Red Pine Canyon in Little Cottonwood, my touring partners and I crested the ridge above Dry creek Canyon, and beheld I sight I didn’t know existed. If you’ve…
Get high at the 7th Annual Ogden Climbing Festival
Winter has passed us by it seems, which means rock climbing season in Northern Utah is here! So now is the time to get ready and sign up for the 7th Annual Ogden Climbing Festival on Thursday, April 10 through Saturday, April 12th. The fest kicks off on Thursday with a special event featuring guest…
Atomic Cliffline Stormfold Jacket and 3L Pants review
Atomic, a company that has made skis for time immemorial, is about to enter into the highly crowded ski apparel world. We can look forward to wearing three levels: the top-of-the-line Cliffline series, the mid-level Ridgeline series and the lower (and more affordable) Treeline series. We won’t get to see Atomic-branded labels until the 2014/15…
The Snowbird Freeride World Tour comp that almost wasn’t
During the throws of a powerful winter storm in March, the top riders from around the globe gathered in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah to test their might against the formidable steeps of Little Cottonwood Canyon. After an abysmal snow year in the Sierras, the fourth stop of the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The…
Get tilted at Sundance Banked Slalom
The Banked Slalom returns to Sundance Mountain Resort on Saturday, March 15th. What is a banked slalom? History tells us it’s the predecessor to boardercross and started at Mt. Baker Ski Area in Washington State. Competitors ski or board around slalom gates, but the difference is that all the turns are banked. Jumps are also…
Backcountry skiing from the Castle Peak Yurt
Utah has dozens of mountain yurts, and I’ve stayed at many of them. From the Snorkeling Elk Yurt in the Tushar Mountains, to the Steam Mill Yurt in the Bear Rivers, I’ve sampled both the good and bad in terrain and yurt amenities. But my favorite yurt of all, by far, is the Castle Peak…
First Annual Vertfest Backcountry Celebration at Brighton
The Wasatch Powderkeg has been happening at Brighton for years now, but the whole shebang got a lot bigger with the addition of the 1st annual Vertfest Backcountry Celebration. According to the Utah Avalanche Center, the Vertfest has been a yearly shindig in the Northwest for 10 years, but will be coming to Utah for…
Capture Pro Camera Clip review
I got to see a lot of cool, new outdoor gear at this year’s Outdoor Retailer 2014 Winter Market, but the one item that made me stop in my tracks was the Capture Pro Camera Clip from Peak Design Ltd. As the producer of the KSL Outdoors show, and an outdoor writer who shoots his…
Brian Head Resort Finishes Triple Crown with Big Air Competition
Brian Head is going big this season, at least when it comes to big air. The last installment of the Triple Crown series will take place on March 8. Prizes will be awarded three deep in each of the five categories. Registration will be from 9:00am-11:00am at the Last Chair Saloon and is free with…
Salomon Q BC Lab backcountry skis review
Salomon is seriously getting into the backcountry game. They showed off new boots and apparel with backcountry DNA at this year’s Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, and most impressive to me were the Q BC Lab skis. They are super light despite an impressive 114 underfoot because of a unique construction made from a poplar wood…