Everything
By Stephen Regenold Dubbed an “arctic slip-on,” the Fairbanks Snow Sneakers are a strange low-top option for winter use. Made to protect from the snow and cold, the shoes have waterproof leather uppers and felted wool lining. The tough outsole tread is…
Overlooked mountain ranges, river beer, running album, gear of all time, and 47 other big ideas, accidental winners, and awesome things about the world outside we've come to love over the past 33 years. Introducing our first annual Editors' Choice Awards...
This may be your best shot to look like a world-class snowboarder. Beginning February 15th we'll be giving away 20 pairs of limited edition Bollé goggles signed by Olympians Lindsey Jacobellis and Seth Wescott. It's easy to win. All you…
Between now and the end of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, athletes will receive a total of 1014 medals. All that bling represents a goodly amount of the Earth's minerals. But this year, and for the first time, a percentage of the metals used to forge…
I'm doing the John Muir Trail this summer and am trying to decide between a down sweater (like the Rab Microlight Alpine jacket) or a down vest (like the Western Mountaineering Flight Series vest). The vest is lighter, but I'm concerned about warmth.—NanaNew York, New York
I'm a runner and cyclist. I have runner's knee, mild arthritis, and mild overpronation. I don't want to spend hundreds, but I do want to protect my knees. What gear might be useful?—TinaPortland, Oregon
As a descendant of proud Swedes, I shamefully admit that Dale of Norway knits some of the world’s finest sweaters. With classic designs like the “Voss,” “Utstein,” and “Uppigard,” you can’t miss the Nordic connection, but the technology that this 130-year-old company employs is what will blow your mind. Working…
The opening ceremony for the Vancouver Games will air tonight on NBC at 7:30 p.m. Eastern. It will be the first ever ceremony held indoors, which is a good thing because forecasters predict rain…
I got to catch up with three-time 24-hour solo world champion cyclist Rebecca Rusch, who is in Patagonia, Argentina for winter training. She decided to participate in the Trans Andes stage race and chose…
Nodar Kumaritashvili, a 21-year-old luge competitor in the Olympics, died in a training crash today at the Whistler Sliding Center's track, The New York Times reports. He lost control of his sled 48 seconds…
In his latest suspected airplane heist, teen fugitive Colton Harris-Moore nearly entered restricted airspace surrounding the city of Vancouver, which is under tight security ahead of the Winter Olympics, according to CNN.
Daniel Woods has just completed an ascent of what he calls “The Game” in Boulder Canyon, a V16 climb, which The North Face said could be the most difficult boulder problem in the world. Others…
I took the Petzl Zipka 2 headlamp ($40) on a recent camping trip to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. It's one of the most pared-down headlamps on the market these days. Petzl replaced the conventional elastic-band head strap with a thin retractable cord. At first…
The Richmond Olympic Oval, the arena for speed-skating at the Vancouver Olympics, is getting a thumbs up from athletes for its environmentally conscious design and its beauty, Reuters reports. The roof was made from…
ext_script = "//widgets.accesshollywood.com/o/482a0d55893fbe3f/4b75916ac8f5b96e/482a0d557ee337cd/1d4786c/-cpid/cfac5aef483b572/widget.js" Julia Mancuso heads into Vancouver looking to defend her title. She won gold in the 2006 giant slalom, got injured, but is ready to get back to the big stage again. You can see more…
Wild weather makes the next couple of months the hardest time of the year to plan an adventure. To help you out, we've worked up game plans for all kinds of conditions. Your job? Just check the doppler—then go.
A couple of years ago I got the chance to interview the cast and crew of The Deadliest Catch in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. My first interview was with Captain Phil…
The Center for Biological Diversity is distributing 100,000 free Endangered Species Condoms in all 50 states for Valentine's Day to underscore how unsustainable human population growth is driving species extinct at a cataclysmic rate,…
Christine Fanning, executive director of The Outdoor Foundation, said the amount of young people heading outdoors is dropping each year, according to the Outdoor…
Colorado rafting outfitters, who contribute $142 million to the state'seconomy every year, won their first battle in securing rightsto float in-state rivers, reports paddlinglife.net. Developers want to prohibit rafters from providing trips on some…
By Stephen Regenold Managing a large camera on a hike can be a pain. Big SLR cameras with long lenses are such a hassle that I often opt to leave them behind when heading outdoors. The KEYHOLE Hands-Free Camera Harness, a $30…
Last night, a stolen Cirrus plane landed on Orcas Island, a favorite stomping ground for infamous teen fugitive Colton Harris-Moore, giving residents reason to assume the “Barefoot Burglar” is at it again, according to the…
In January, Ted Ligety scored his third consecutive win in the World Cup giant slalom in Slovenia. How does he build up all that power and speed? Check out his offseason workout, above. –Aileen Torres…
What should you look for when tracking elk?—The EditorsSanta Fe, New Mexico
Do you recommend using a hammock or tent when camping in the tropics?—The EditorsSanta Fe, New Mexico
What type of footwear do you recommend for deep snow or winter trekking?—The EditorsSanta Fe, New Mexico
Seventeen avalanches in Afghanistan's 12,000-foot-high Salang Pass area buried more than two miles of highway yesterday, after heavy winds and rain loosened up recent heavy snowfall. More than one hundred cars were trapped — many inside the notoriously dangerous tunnel — and at at least 64 people are dead or feared dead…
Skiers Keith Christien and Michael Wagener of Team Rampinnnggg took home gold last weekend at the first of several Helly Hansen Big Mountain Battles. The event, held at Taos Ski Valley Resort in New Mexico, challenged 47 two-person teams to an intense, big-mountain course of ascents and descents. The winners…
CNN reported today that alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn may not be able to compete in the Olympics due to a crushingly painful shin injury. Her worst injury yet, it was sustained in a crash during a recent practice in Austria. Though there is…
Just days before Lindsey Vonn is slated to compete in her first event of the 2010 Winter Olympics. We just blogged that the skier revealed a shin injury she'd sustained Feb. 3 during…
Moguls skier Shannon Bahrke, who won silver at the Salt Lake Games, is one of my favorite Olympic athletes. She's down-to-earth, friendly, and just ridiculously positive. Here she dishes with Matt Lauer on the conditions on the Olympic moguls course at Cypress Mountain and her upcoming wedding. Women's moguls is…
It is about a month before teams from all around the world packtheir duffel bags for the flights to Kathmandu. Thus far the southlooks like business as usual with about 16 teams already announced. Toput this in perspective, in 2007, when we saw a record number ofEverest…
Olympic cross-country skier Kris Freeman, the cover boy of our January/February issue, was a guest on The Today Show this morning. Check out the segment, above, and learn more about…
Ever wondered what a day in the life of a polar explorer is like? Watch the video above to see what Eric Larsen and his two traveling buddies do on a typical day trekking in Antarctica. Somehow, the guys find time and energy to…
The Wildlife Conservation Society estimates that there are less than 50 wild tigers left in China, according to Treehugger.com. Habitat destruction, limited food sources, and poaching have contributed to major decreases throughout Asia. Want to help? If your a millionaire you might be able rent a tiger or…
Climbing.com has released the 2010 recipients of the Mugs Stump and Polartec grants. Six small teams have been awarded a total of $25,000 for clean, lightweight first ascents in 2010. For a complete list of past recipients and details on how to apply for the grant,…
Traveling? Don't get stranded in an awful hotel. Save your self the trouble by checking out TripAdvisor's dirtiest hotels of 2010. Even if you aren't planning a vacation, the reader comments are reason enough to look at the list. A few nuggets: “wouldn't let…
When a young woman is killed by coyotes on a busy trail in broad daylight, how worried should we be?
Going 26.2 miles is a great way to prove your grit—and there's no greater showcase than the world's biggest. Presenting a simple plan to get anyone off the couch and across the finish line.
We don’t know where this video was taken or how Backpacker found it, but it’s pretty cool. The video features a three-legged black bear and her cub. All is normal until the bear stands up on two legs and walks…
Bernard Lagat broke the American 5000 meter record at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games. Lagat announced his intentions before the games began, but it looked as if he wouldn’t be so lucky. All runners were well behind the record pace with 1000 meters to go,…
By Stephen Regenold High-performing heated boots have long been a Holy Grail in the footwear world. With its new men's Bugathermo and women's Snow Hottie models, Columbia Sportswear Company took a stab at making the ultimate heated boot.
Ellen Miller is a quiet climber. Many people have not heard of her athletic and mountaineering achievements. For example, she is the only woman to summit Everest from both sides within the span of one year. I first met Ellen in 2002, on an expedition in which she summited…
Think of it as skiing's equivalent of a backstage pass: This March, Chugach Powder Guides will host a special heli-ski trip with pro skiers Cody Townsend and Elyse Saugstad in Alaska's Chugach Range. Let's just say that these two know what they're doing.
More sad news to report: A slide killed at least 17 soldiers when it hit a military training camp near Gulmarg, a popular Indian ski resort, today. This border with Pakistan has long been disputed in one of the world's highest-altitude wars. The Christian…
We've been waiting for this.The New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust has successfully recovered the whiskey left behind by Shackleton's 1908-1909 expedition to the continent, according to the Daily Mail. We anticipated the find in a…
I shamelessly swiped this VholdR helmet-cam video from my friends over at Skiing magazine. Check out these pretty (ahem) sweet-looking lines from Chamonix, courtesy of athletes Tim Dutton, Jackie Paaso and JT Holmes. —Kate Siber…
Check out Lindsey Vonn in The New York Times's 2010 Vancover Olympics video series, above. No American alpine skier, male or female, has ever won more than two medals at the Games, but Vonn is favored in…
The 2010 adventure racing season is about to begin. The first big race of the year, the Wenger Patagonian Expedition, begins tomorrow in Chile. The course runs 372 miles (600 km) over eight days. The…
Kick Kennedy The dynastic brothers are gone, but up comes the next generation. Kick, 21, a senior at Stanford, has quietly built a résumé fighting for water conservation. In 2006, she joined an Imax crew filming Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk and became…
Q. What is the most powerful species? Wild File Salmon A. You mean like whether a wolverine could take down Nancy Pelosi? Yawn. Today's power animals are the ones bringing in dollars or holding up development. “Endangered species have this ability to crystallize, amplify, and resolve long-standing problems,” says Center…
Q. What is “dead pool?” A. Trouble, that's what. Dead pool is the level at which water can no longer be released from a reservoir. Take Lake Powell, on the Colorado River. Glen Canyon Dam's lowest turbines sit 210 feet below “full pool,” which is when the bathtub is…
Chilling reduces the taste of alcohol and brings out sweetness. All 80-proof spirits start to freeze at around minus 10 Fahrenheit, but, warns Dave Arnold, director of culinary technology at the French Culinary Institute, in New York, trying to imbibe anything colder than minus 4 will burn your tongue. Arnold…
Rockers are known for profligacy, but the members of Retribution Gospel Choir like to be on an even keel. They're a healthy bunch: The guitarist is a trail runner, the bassist is a long-distance runner, and the drummer is a distance swimmer and…
Eight skiers and climbers were killed by an avalanche in Iran's Alborz Mountains on a road between popular ski areas Shamshak and Dizzine, reported Iranian and international news agencies today. Rescuers saved another 49 victims, including three foreigners. Iran might not immediately conjure images of steep, snowy mountain ranges, but…
Lindsey Vonn has posted on her Twitter account that she will not be tweeting during the Vancouver Games because it's against Olympic policy. But there's actually no such policy, Wired.com reports. Bob Condron, a spokesman for the U.S. Olympic Committee,…
Jamie Dukes, a former NFL lineman for the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, and Arizona Cardinals, is on a mission this Super Bowl…
How is a signal fire different from a regular fire for warmth? t t— The Editors tSanta Fe, New Mexico
What's your favorite multi-tool? t t— The Editors tSanta Fe, New Mexico
You already heard about the SnowSports Industries of America (SIA) trade show that happened in Denver, Colorado, last week from our Powder Feed blogger, Kate Siber! She gave you a round-up on some of the best new gear out there. But, wait. What…
Women's ski jumping will simply have to wait to become the next sport deemed worthy enough for the Olympics. Check out this awesome contender: —Kate Siber…
By Stephen Regenold This gear won't be in shops until the spring or next fall, but here's a peek at a few innovations and out-there items coming soon to an outdoors store near you. Glowing Sandals: Never trip in the dark again. A small…
Merced River Waterfalls photo by David Liu The National Parks Service is crafting a new Merced River Plan that could restrict climbing and camping near the river. The plan isn't finalized yet and the park service extended the public comment period to the end of…
If you've always wanted to make your own ski or snowboard film, you're in luck. Serac Adventure Film School is off to Lake Tahoe March 21 to 28 for a week of…
The New York Times Magazine features Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn this week. Of course, we're partial to our own profile, “Nine…
The 2010 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games are headed to Latin America. Peru will host 200 of the world's best surfers this October. Sound like you've heard this before? Maybe you're thinking of the great 1965 World Surfing Championships…
Injuries? What injuries? Both of America's great medal hopes for ski cross, Casey Puckett and Daron Rahlves, are ready to compete in the Olympic Games despite recent injuries, says U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association CEO Bill Marolt. In Aspen's Winter X Games last weekend, Rahlves sustained a dislocated hip and…
The Federal Trade Commission sent letters to Target, Kmart, Wal-Mart, and 74 other retailers warning that rayon clothing should not be labeled as bamboo, according to Reuters. Rayon is made from the cellulose of any plant and it is often produced using harsh chemicals.
The case for barefoot running seems to have gone mainstream in the past week. Last Thursday, Daniel E. Lieberman, a prominent biological anthropologist at Harvard (he researches how humans, and especially athletes, have evolved), published a study in Nature showing that runners with heavily padded shoes tend…
The ASP World Tour let the contract of head judge Perry Hatchett expire, according to surfline.com. Hatchett was the longest serving judge in …
Pro Kayak Angler Drew Gregory knows a thing or two about catching fish from a kayak, but he's certainly no match for the birds. In a surprise attack featured on backcountry.com, Gregory has to worry about a new obstacle while kayak…
Once again, an Everest expedition is trying to solve the who done itmystery of Everest: did George Mallory and Sandy Irvine summit Mt.Everest in 1924? You see Sandy Irvine, who went missing on Everest'sNorth side in 1924, had a camera. A plan is emerging for a new search for the…
Freestyle mountain biker Andreu Lacondeguy has just acheived unprecedented amplitude on a 45-feet long speed jump. He got about 35 feet out and 25 feet high from his FMX ramp, which he had hauled to the small village of…
Courtesy of Flickr Alexander Kendrick, a 16-year-old from Los Alamos, New Mexico, has invented a device that allows cavers to text to the surface of the Earth from deep underground, NPR reports. It's basically a…
Courtesy of Flickr The San Francisco Ocean Film Festival runs February 3 through 7. You can check out the happenings at Pier 39. There are 50 films in the festival this year,…
Here's your music video fix for the day: Ben Harper and Relentless7's “Shimmer & Shine,” courtesy of FUEL TV. Harper and his new band recently appeared on the channel's “Check 1,2” show, where they played songs from their debut…
In my book, every trade show or conference necessitates at least a day or two of recovery, ideally in a ski town. So on my way home from SIA in Denver, I stopped in Breckenridge. I hadn't been there since a family ski trip in, oh, 1993. It wound…
When visiting one of the best ski towns in North America, it's worth it to splurge on a meal in one of the country's best restaurants. But these days such trips are in short supply, so what can you do? Not much, unless you have a recipe. I gathered up…