Everything
A downed power line in the forest near Eureka, Montana electrocuted over a dozen animals over a period of a few months, according to Backpacker. Animals killed included five white-tailed deer, four black bears, two wolves, one coyote and a turkey vulture. The…
In the rugged eastern provinces of Afghanistan, where peaks rise thousands of feet on all sides and the next valley is a world away, American troops are engaged in a kind of alpine warfare not seen for decades. Months can go by without combat, but when you're patrolling terrain as dangerous and unpredictable as the enemy, the calm is often shattered when you least expect it.
Running back in the pack with 40,000 marathoners, I was probably one of the last people to learn that American Meb Keflezighi won the New York City marathon this morning, and I couldn't be more excited for him, and the sport of running in the U.S.
Meb Keflezighi became the first U.S. citizen to win the NYC marathon since Alberto Salazar crossed the finish line first in 1982. He clocked a time of 2:09:15. On the women's side, Ethiopia's Derartu Tulu won with a time of 2:28:52. Outside associate editor Justin…
Since seeing firsthand the spirit New York puts into its marathon, and hearing the marketing slogan over and over, the question has been on my mind: Is the New York City Marathon the world's greatest race? I want to hear what you think. The evidence for:*The prestige. It's…
For two decades, American men have run largely in the shadow of international elites at the United States' most prestigious marathons. The last 20 years of highlight reels at the Boston, Chicago, and New York City marathons shows a…
A few months back I spoke to Ryan Hall, and one of the questions I asked him was what he had to say to runners at the New York City marathon. If it seems a little earnest, it's because it came near the end of a long interview about his…
What's the best full-length, ultra-light sleeping pad? Beth New Canaan, Connecticut
What is the best sleeping bag for a fetal sleeper? Ellie Wilmington, Delaware
The UCI has come out with a 12-page response against the French anti-doping agency's earlier claim that Astana received special treatment in doping tests during this year's Tour de France. According to…
Audi has partnered with MIT to design a robotic GPS with a head and facial expressions called AIDA (Affective Intelligent Driving Agent), New Scientist reports. The robot will do more than just give you directions. It will also give…
The torch for the 2010 Winter Olympics, to be held in Vancouver, arrived in Canada today via plane, the AP reports. The torch was lit in its ancestral site in Greece by the sun’s rays, and it…
An electric bus has made its debut in D.C., where it is expected to be a new form of emissions-free public transportation, Treehugger.com reports. Proterra and Altair Nanotechnologies are behind the new vehicle, and they…
This sounds like something Ian Fleming would've dreamed up: a vehicle that's both a surface watercraft and a self-contained submersible. It may look like a yellow submarine, but it's technically a Scubacraft with an internal-combustion engine, electric thrusters, and the capability of diving down to 100…
For a runner, is any piece of gear more important than the shoe? Conrad Stoltz doesn’t think so. That’s why the three-time Xterra world champion co-developed and tested the Avia Avi-Stoltz ($114), Avia’s first line of Xterra…
You're supposed to get eight hours of sleep a night to function well on a daily basis, but if you short yourself during work nights and overcompensate during weekends, you may be doing yourself a disservice. Habitual excessive sleeping can cause “sleep drunkeness” and can be a sign of an…
Rick Lyke's reaction to his diagnosis of prostate cancer at 47 was a proactive one: He founded “Pints for Prostates,” an organization that promotes prostate cancer screening among men via the common bond of beer. “Beer is a universal thing for men,” Lyke said…
How can I improve my balance for snowboarding? —The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
What is the proper technique for an overhead squat? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
What is the best women’s full-length parka for very cold weather? Linda McFarlane Calgary, Alberta
What exercises will improve my speed for hockey? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
Can you recommend a good women’s analog watch for under $200? Claudia Garren Asheville, North Carolina
What's the best hybrid bike under $1,000 for trails and around town? Tobi Colorado Springs, Colorado
How can I prevent sore legs during my first long ski weekend? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
Forget severed hands and hooks; the real scary story is feet. Tuesday, yet another foot was found on the beach in British Columbia, reports the Vancouver Sun. This is the seventh foot that has been found on the coast…
Paul and Rachel Chandler, a couple from Britain who have been sailing around the world, went missing last Friday after they sailed from the island nation of Seychelles. The Chandlers' online tracking system stopped sending updates of their location in when they were off the coast of Somalia, an area…
Quick recap of pre-race news and coverage at the New York City Marathon: Interesting comment from Ryan Hall today during a press conference today: “Myindicators are like I am a minute faster then when I did mypreparations for Boston. And if I ran a minute faster, I…
Last Sunday, marathon runner Robert Kiprono Cherulyot made history at the Commerzbank Frankfort Marathon. Cherulyot didn't win the marathon, but his finish time of 2:06:23 made him the one hundredth person in history to run a sub-2:07 marathon, reports IAAF Sports. Belayneh Densimo was…
It's October, and it's getting cold, but that hasn't stopped the surfers in O'Neill's Cold Water Classic, which took place in Canada. Here are some highlights from the third day. — Lisa Lombardi…
American speed-skier Lindsey Vonn was on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien last night. In case you missed it, check out Vonn talking about her chances in the winter Olympics and teasing O'Brien about his own spills on the job. — Lisa Lombardi…
According to the new U.S. Geological Survey report, the United States is using less water than it did in 1975. ENN reports that, even with a 30 percent population increase, water consumption in the U.S. down compared to peak use in…
What's more entertaining than a big-wave contest at Maverick's? The two men fighting over it.
The newest addition to Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Records is a ukulele-strumming 23-year-old from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, who caught her break on YouTube. In 2007, Zee Avi posted videos of herself singing uke-accompanied pop songs. The clips went viral, and Avi, who lived on Borneo until age 12 and started playing…
The new species-conservation method of choice: Facebook. This fall, Ugandan officials created profiles for six mountain gorilla families to raise money to protect them—which means you can now friend-request them. Just don't expect them to comment on your wall. friendagorilla.org…
It's been 26 years since an American has won a major U.S. marathon— and 37 since we did it in the Olympics. Will this be the year American distance running gets back on track? Ryan Hall thinks so.
In November, explorer Eric Larsen, of Grand Marais, Minnesota, sets off for Antarctica, beginning his attempt to become the first person to reach earth’s three most extreme points—both poles and Mount Everest—in one year. The logistics of squeezing three dangerous, highly weather-dependent expeditions into one year is hard enough, but…
The goofy animal-show guy is vying to become a mainstream newsman. Does he have the killer instinct?
I live in Chicago and would like to keep up my running this winter. Can you recommend good winter running shoes? Zac Chicago, IL
I'm looking for the lightest breatheable bivy sack out there, any suggestions? Gabe Lander, WY
I was wondering if you knew of any high-def cameras that can zoom in to a six-foot-by-six-foot square on earth's surface from 60,000 feet and attached to a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)? Paul Long Beach, CA
What is the best way to carry water into a hike? I have been using a regular gallon jug and it's just a bad choice, but I don't want to carry a bunch of Sigg or Nalgene bottles. Is there any lightweight system to carry water that is a little more...packable? Daniel Powell, OH
With the approaching winter solstice, my evening outdoor runs require illumination. This activity takes place in an unlit park laced with footpaths that can be hazardous to aging ankles. My headlp, though fine for cp chores and reading, just doesn't provide enough light, particularly when moving at speed. Can you suggest a lightweight personal torch that would do the trick? I not as concerned with burn time as I might be if I’m on a wilderness excursion. Diana Westmount, Quebec
As a team of rookies at the World Elephant Polo Championships, we were set up for embarrassment. Instead we tasted glory.
REI and Arbor have released a “call for artists” to submit designs for their 2010 snowboard design contest. The competition is open to anyone who likes to draw, and the winning design will be featured in Arbor's 2010-2011 snowboard lineup and sold exclusively…
The NYC Marathon is this Sunday—the women’s elite race starts at 9:10 a.m. eastern, and the men’s elite start is at 9:40 a.m. (I’ll be starting in that first wave at 9:40.) For those of you planning to tune in…A little background: The big…
19-year-old Taylor Mitchell died after being attacked by two coyotes in Cape Breton highlands National Park, Canada, according to CBC News. She was attacked Tuesday afternoon while walking alone on a popular hiking trail. Park officials say that other hikers managed to scare off the coyotes…
Swimmers are being warned to stay out of the waters near Stradbroke Island, Australia, after a 10-foot great white shark, which had been caught on a drum-line, was nearly ripped clean in half by what is being estimated to be a 20-foot great white. The…
Think of Julbo's new glacier sunglasses, The Bivouak ($120), like a Transformer. At the base level, they're a wraparound frame with a stylish shape for moseying around town. Now, attach the fire engine red side shields and you have a glass that is…
By Stephen Regenold As recently as five years ago, Army-Surplus wool pants were a stalwart piece in my winter outerwear getup. I’d pair the coarse, jungle-green trousers, which were purchased for $20 to $30 at secondhand shops, with a Gore-Tex shell jacket for ice climbing…
Over 200,000 square miles of Alaska and its coastal waters have been earmarked by the Department of the Interior as “critical habitat” for polar bears, according to Backpacker. With critical habitat status, the federal government prohibits any activity on the land or water that could threaten the…
Bagpipes or bikes? In Scotland, the choice is easy: World-class singletrack ranges across the stark beauty of the Highlands, transecting the ancient kingdom and drawing fat-tire aficionados from far and wide. MARK LEVINE takes his lumps in craggy Caledonia.
Two years ago at Kitzbühel, American downhiller Scott Macartney survived a high-speed crash that would've ended most skiing careers. He immediately began plotting a comeback, drawing on deep stores of willpower and courage to overcome a unique kind of terror that every racer knows. They even have a name for it: the Fear.
Last week the Olympic torch was lit in Olympia, Greece to signify the beginning of the upcoming Winter Olympic Games. The torch will trek through 1,000 communities on its trip to Vancouver, B.C. where it will land on February 12. A symbol…
In the wake of the Caster Semenya gender controversy, the International Olympic Committee is in the process of convening a panel of medical experts to draw up a set of guidelines for future issues surrounding gender ambiguity. In…
According to Treehugger, three white lion clubs at the West Midlands Safari Park in Worcestershire, England are now on view to the public. With only 30 white lions in existence today, the 12-week old cubs are a rare treat. Their light color…
Tara Parker-Pope from the New York times delves into this popular question, addressing issues from humans' unique body structure to advanced cooling systems to our evolved toes and gluteus maximus. While long distance running can often induce serious injury and wear and tear to the body, Parker Pope attributes many…
By Stephen Regenold I'm not sure exactly when humble “long underwear” became “next-to-skin technical base layers,” but somewhere over the past decade designers in the outdoors industry switched up the nomenclature and cut words like “skivvies” and “long johns” out of the conversation. It…
The planet is smaller than ever, but that just means there's a host of new dangers out there—and a new set of solutions. These days, a text message or the right travel-insurance policy might just save your bacon. So study up—your life may depend on it.
My dad always said the family that skis together...spends a helluva lot of dough. Here are some ways to trim the fat.
Endless Powder! Rowdy Bars! Screaming Deals! Secret Stashes! Huge Steeps!
Just a head's up to all of you in the Santa Fe area: Tomorrow, at the Armory of the Arts, Conrad Anker and Jimmy Chin will be speaking as part of The North Face's Never Stop Exploring Speaker Series (sponsored in part…
With all the swine flu hype going on, it's easy to forget that we're also heading into cold season. Over at the New York Times, one columnist takes on the claim that garlic can help prevent colds, and finds that…
Saturday was the big day for 350.org and their campaign for climate change. People in 181 countries participated in events to draw attention to the cause, and 350.org has some great photos up that capture the different actions. Here are some of our favorites.
A new trend in the outdoors world is the overuse of locator beacons, according to an article published by Edge Philadelphia. Nowadays, the technology of these beacons allows hikers and adventurers to transmit help messages from practically anywhere. Unfortunately, this include novices…
We showed you some of our favorite examples of action from 350.org's International Day of Climate Action, and while some were as simple as holding up a sign, others took the challenge to a greater level. Check out this video of kayaking activists in Portland as they take on the…
The 2009 list of America's Best Leaders, issued by the U.S. News & World Report, was released today, and includes CEO and environmental leader Yvon Chouinard. Chouinard started the Patagonia outdoors company and co-founded…
With just a week to go before the marathon, there's got to be a lot of sore runners out there. I'm one of them. Two weeks ago, after a 20 mile training run, my right calf muscle slipped slightly three miles into a recovery run, and I knew the sign:…
Ok, for anyone running the New York City Marathon Nov. 1, it's time to back off the training a little. Actually, it was time to start backing off last week. It's now eight days until the race, and a lot of people have questions about how much training to do…
Without agility, working out is just bodybuilding.
Lance Armstrong will race in the 2010 Tour of California, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal. It will be his second consecutive race there; this time, as part of his newly…
UCI regulations introduced in July outlining a model ProTour team contract could affect which team Alberto Contador will ride for in the near future. Astana has missed the contract deadline for Contador, which leaves the Spaniard a…
Three years ago, May Boeve was another college student discussing global warming at the campus dining hall. But since graduating from Vermont’s Middlebury College in 2007, Boeve has built both a career and a movement. Along with five classmates and author Bill McKibben, Boeve…
Barefoot running has become a trend, but whether it's better for you than running with shoes is still up for debate. “On the one hand, no one has yet published a study on whether barefootrunning is better for you–the evidence is all anecdotal,” Daniel Lieberman, a professor of human evolutionary…
By Stephen Regenold At $180, the Outlier 4Season OG Pants are a specialty productcreated for a small, affluent market niche. Essentially, these are “performancedress pants,” a unique hybrid for office workers who bike commute or activetypes who want a comfortable pair of pants to do double duty…
Check out FUEL TV's series “Firsthand” starring pro-surfer Keala Kennelly Sunday, October 25, at 8 p.m. EST. This 30-minute doc follows KK as she visits her family in Kauai, surfs with her…