Everything
The Single Speed World Championships is the wildest mountain-bike on earth, where Halloween comes early and sobriety is akin to doping. To infiltrate this derailleurless debacle, we would need a thoroughly mediocre racer who could stomach the sight of way too much beer-addled flesh and report back. So, naturally, we recruited Bike Snob NYC.
Bob Burnquist is on a quest to go bigger and scarier than any athlete has ever thought possible—while also running an organic farm and choosing smoothies over Red Bull. He calls this progress. Behold the enlightened life (and far-out dreams) of the world's greatest skateboarder.
At a Bolivian animal-rehab center, volunteers can adopt a rescued jaguar and take it for daily walks on a leash. Brave and compassionate, or just plain stupid? THAYER WALKER discovers that it may be all three. And he's got the scratch marks to prove it.
Global warming isn't bad news for everybody. In Greenland, the big melt could mean a flood of new revenue from mineral and oil deposits— previously trapped under ice. Flush with prospects, the locals are talking about making a final break from their benevolent colonizer, Denmark. Call it the Thaw Revolution.
The musky is the alpha male of the aquatic world, feared by children and hunted compulsively by grown men. And, yes, catching one really is worth all the fuss.
How a stealth documentary crew revealed Japan's secret dolphin slaughter.
Wooden kayaks weigh significantly less than most modern fiberglass boats, so they are easier to handle on land and faster on water. The catch? These handcrafted works of art can cost as much as a new car. A red-cedar-strip Guillemot Kayaks Night Heron, like the one pictured here, takes Connecticut…
This summer's coolest timepieces share a slick dark palette and sport an array of new features.
After a coffee, a pastry, and some literary-mag browsing at an open-air espresso joint, we stroll to the Pacific. Waves and wind have already welcomed kiteboarders and surfers, but I opt instead for a jog south along 3.5 miles of sweeping, hard-packed beach. I pass dog walkers, kids sandcastling, beach…
Putting off med school to train for the English Channel swimming record? Now that's a gap year. San Francisco-based Laurin Weisenthal, 25, who helped her Harvard swim team win an Ivy League championship and break into the NCAA's top 25, plans to make her attempt at the 25-mile, 58-degree crossing…
This August, the 16th annual Leadville Trail 100 mountain-bike race kicks off in America’s highest city. An expected record of 1,300 competitors will climb more than 14,000 vertical feet at an average elevation of two miles. Lance Armstrong says he’s returning, and Levi Leipheimer has committed too, both hoping to…
For six months last year, Canadian Dave Salmoni, 34, a big-cat expert and the host of Animal Planet’s Predator Versus Prey and After the Attack, lived in Namibia among a pride of “last-chance” lions. The cats had been relocated to a private game park after repeatedly harassing humans on unmanaged…
What do you think about the Lowa Mountain Expert GTX Mountaineering Boots? I used them on Mt. Rainier and they kept my feet plenty warm, but I was wondering if you thought they might be suitable for Pico de Orizaba in Mexico. It is about 4,000 feet higher than Rainier. I don't relish wearing double plastic mountaineering boots anywhere, and hey, the red color of the Lowa is, well, cool . . . Stan El Dorado Hills, CA
We are in need of a new tent! Our wonderful ten-year-old, well-used Walrus has served us well, but the dog ate the vestibule two years ago and the duct tape is old, the pole sleeves are starting to shred, and the poles are fatigued. We need to accommodate four people as well as one dog in the vestibule, and will be camping in the Idaho mountains. We typically car camp, but I would like to add short backpacking trips as our kids are getting older. We tried a tent from REI and we froze over Memorial Day. It is not uncommon to have snow on the 4th of July. We also camp in the more temperate areas of Oregon, so ventilation is good. I really want a new tent just like my Walrus, but I find the choices overwhelming. Can you help limit our options? Thanks! Love your column. Michelle Boise, ID
Whitewater's brightest stars are launching bigger drops than ever. But it'll take more than sweet photos to right this fading sport.
Thayer Walker leashes a jaguar and takes it for a walk.
Paris is romantic, cultured, and sophisticated—and teeming with rollerblading fanatics? An investigation into France's most mysterious obsession.
When you're as well traveled as Aaron Eckhart, picking a favorite town isn't easy.
What's going on inside a top-level MTB cleat? We dissected this $380 model to find out.
What is the best way to treat stre water if you get lost and have no purifier? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
Are there mechanisms for overcoming debilitating pain in a survival situation? In other words, if you break your femur in the wilderness, what techniques should you tap into once the adrenaline wears off? Leroy Malibu, CA
What should you do if your boat sinks in the ocean and there is no floating debris? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
What is the most abundant and evenly distributed edible plant in the United States? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
Build Power, Not Bulk The Pillars of Fitness To get in peak shape try out all four parts of our comprehensive series. IF YOU’VE BEEN FOLLOWING our Pillars of Fitness series (“Building a Base,” March, and “Speed Up,” May), congratulations. By now you’ve dedicated yourself to sustainable, year-round conditioning…
What exercises should I do to prevent soreness in my shoulders from paddling when surfing? The Editors
What are the best stretches I can do in my office? The Editors
Which exercises are best for developing strength in mountain biking? Matt Memphis, Tennessee
I would like to conquer Yosemite's Halfdome in September. How can I train for altitude climbing if I live near sea level? Paul Chesterfield, Michigan
I plan to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail next year, so I'm gearing up now so that I'll have time to test everything. I'm experienced, have guided, and I'm looking to go superlight. What's the best pair of trail-runners for the AT? Dave New York, NY
I've owned touring bikes for almost 25 years. When it was time to change my ride, I would automatically go for touring. But I must admit that I don't leave for extended periods as often (a way of saying I'm not touring anymore, actually—but that’s very hard to admit). I don't really need triple chainrings, but I like the possibility of installing racks to carry moderate loads (computer, lunch, extra clothes) when I commute to work. What are my options below 1,000$? Eric Quebec, QC
Healthy. That's the word we kept coming back to. And we don't mean a fit or skinny population; we're talking about a city's cultural vibrancy, economic well-being, and overall quality of life. Presenting our picks for the 10 best cities in America, from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Plus: Our 10 favorite small towns.
I'm headed to Maui in December and would like to do more than just sit on the beach. What are some things a serious athlete could do on the island over a week's time? Mark R. Madison, WI
I'm getting ready to move out to Oregon and relying on my diesel 1984 Mercedes - converted to run on waste vegetable oil, to get me out there. I'd really like to make it the whole way on grease, but haven't figured out the best way to do it. Do you have any advice that you could share? Heather Durh, North Carolina
What is the greenest backcountry water bottle? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
The battery in my iPod can't make it through a cross country plane trip. This makes me very concerned about the practical application for batteries in automobiles. How is the auto industry doing on progress towards battery-powered cars? Will we ever see them in our lifetime? Bob Virginia
It seems like corporations are now rolling out all sorts of new "green" products and saying, "Buy our stuff, it will save the world from the apocalypse." Are they being genuine, or is this just the ultimate guilt trip passed on to fatten their bottom line? Billy Burlington, Vermont
I?m a bike commuter of seven months, and fortunately those months have all been dry. Now monsoon season is upon us and I need a jacket to keep me dry on the way to the office, one that?s light enough to carry there when the rains come in the afternoon. Jacob Tucson, AZ
I have freakish feet. I a size 13 with AA width. I can't seem to find a boot that will fit. Any ideas? Bill Burlington, VT
I've had my MSR Sweetwater Microfilter for about four or five years now. I used it two or three times without incident right after I got it, but it has been in storage ever since. Now I would like to start using it again. Do I need to worry about mildew or bacteria in the filter and tubes? Is there an easy way to clean the entire apparatus? Eric Pittsburgh, PA
I'm replacing a ten-year-old pair of Zberlan Civettas that I've worn on two-week backpacking trips into the Canadian Rockies. Generally these trips involve pack weights of 50 pounds or so, largely due to the ount of food. I'm looking at boots such as the Zberlan Vioz and the Scarpa SL M3 (the former being light, the latter with seemingly stiffer sole and heavier). Do you have any suggestions? Ed Charlottetown, Prince Edward island
Robert Kenner’s new documentary FOOD, Inc. opens with a shot of a glowing cornfield and a quaint red farmhouse. Within minutes, headless chicken corpses the color of a sidewalk fill the screen, rolling down a factory assembly line. Shock value is the point here: The film, in wide release this…
For more than 600 years, judgment-impaired men (and a few women) have tested their speed and luck at the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. The event, the most popular attraction at the San Fermin Festival (July 7–14), draws nearly 4,000 runners every day at 8 a.m., when six…
A British kayaker says he has the tool to safely launch Niagara-size waterfalls: horsepower.
In April, after 55 days on a mostly frozen Arctic Ocean, John Huston, 32, and Tyler Fish, 36, became the first Americans to ski unsupported to the North Pole. The duo dragged 300-pound sleds, donned drysuits to swim across open water, and consumed roughly 8,000 calories a day—mostly in the form of pemmican. In the end, they made a 66-hour dash to reach the
She drinks hard, fights dirty, and runs 100 trail miles faster than any woman alive. Meet Jenn Shelton, ultramarathoning's new antihero.
After a brief tutorial at rodeo-clown school, our man steps into the world's most terrifying ring.
YOU 1. Hair cut, no hat 2. Backpack not extending above your head 3. Face clean-shaven 4. No cardboard sign WARNING SIGNS If three or more of these are present… 5. Gandalf bobblehead on dashboard 6. Soldier…
Identify your fitness flaws and the path to becoming a better athlete will be clear.
Douglas Brinkley's biography of Teddy Roosevelt proves we still have a lot to learn from the conservation giant.
Alan Horton Alan Horton  Work, kids, 99-cent value meals we know how the fitness excuses can pile up. That's why we've assembled our second annual class of Outside's Fittest (Real) Athletes: five wickedly overscheduled Americans who haven't let hectic careers or a…
When Greg Carr decided to help restore the greatest wildlife park in Mozambique, he didn't just send a check. He traded his suits for shorts and Boston for the savanna. And what he's accomplished in just four years at Gorongosa is one of the unlikeliest—and most hopeful—stories in Africa.
Before the seven Tour victories and the yellow bracelets. Before Sheryl Crow, the bestselling books, and the doping allegations. Before the comeback, there was a comeback. Ten years ago this month, Lance Armstrong was a little-known cancer survivor who showed up at the Tour de France. And no one had any idea what would happen next.
Make your next fishing trip to Alaska memorable with a stay at one of these resorts.
In July, one of the deepest Tour de France fields in years will see several riders not named Lance staking their claim for yellow. Here are the ones to watch.
If you're in a boat on the Atlantic this summer and a dolphin with "56" branded on his dorsal fin swims up and starts doing tricks...well, just sit back and enjoy. You're about to witness the greatest show on surf.
Shane McConkey was already one of the most influential skiers in the world, changing everything from the shape of our boards to the way we ski powder. But when he learned to fly—combining skiing, BASE jumping, and wingsuits with spectacular results—he found his true obsession. Then one jump went horribly wrong.
Everything I've ever read or experienced says external fre backpacks are more forgiving to pack, better for trail hiking and cheaper than internal fre packs. I understand internals have advantages on rough terrain, but given all the benefits of external fres, why do they seem to be going extinct? I missing something? Chuck Pittstown, NJ
Climbing K2 is the next biggest thing. We refuse to whine about it.
I'm going on a two-week backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon this summer, and I was wondering what kind of fabrics I would want to stick with as far as shorts and shirts go. The last thing I want is to be uncomfortable. Are there any fabrics that I should completely avoid? What would you recommend? Kristen Grant Park, IL
I going on an eight-day ski touring trip in Patagonia requiring a pack with at least 65 liters. Which packs are designed for this use? Devin San Francisco, CA
My friends and I are planning a backpacking trip to Utah, but we're at a loss as to where to go. We're looking for a three- to four-day trip, so something in the range of 18 to 25 miles or so, give or take. If possible, we'd love to spend some time in slot canyons, but that's not really the focus. Landon H. Boulder, CO
