Everything
British Columbia has tried to secure the Winter Olympics no fewer than six times. In fact, the town of Whistler was built for this very purpose: In 1960, four Vancouver businessmen began developing the ski resort 75 miles to the north, hoping to win the 1968 event. They failed. Four…
What’s out there right now that comes closest to the old-fashioned mountain parka (but with modern fabric)? I've never seen anything to compare with my Madden (from about 1978 or so), but alas it's shrunk over the years and no longer fits me when I wear any kind of insulating layer. Mike Austin, TX
What is the lightest solo tent, one that also offers serious protection in storms? Peggy San Jose, CA
The first Filson bag I ever saw was in the callused hands of a wrangler in Grand Junction, Colorado. The next million hung from the shoulders of ad designers, junior corporate lawyers, and artfully disheveled fashion writers in ManÂhattan’s East Village. That’s right: Bags by Filson, makers of refined hunting-and-fishing…
Travel to Sin City is facing its biggest slump since 9/11: In the past year, Vegas merchants have seen a 6 percent drop in sales. What this means to you: Airfare is cheap, and there will be fewer mountain bikers than normal in Bootleg Canyon, one of the country’s least-appreciated…
First I heard seals. Then coyotes. Then I opened my eyes to a full-frontal view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Such is life at Cavallo Point, a 46-building resort on a renovated army base in the Golden Gate National Parks that opened last July. The first hotel to start up…
In mid-January, survival expert Bear Grylls began the third season of the Discovery Channel's Man Vs. Wild. The series, which has Grylls parachuting into remote wilderness with limited gear, is best known for scenes in which the guy with the accent eats disgusting things—decaying carcasses, grubs, elephant dung. The special on this season's menu: b
A veteran ice-boater takes a shot at the world record for wind-powered speed
It sure sounds like another shameless reality-TV formula: Inspire people to slim down by offering them cash, then film their struggles with health food and sit-ups. But personal trainer Bob Harper, 43, of NBC’s The Biggest Loser, feels no shame at all. The show lets him introduce his holistic fitness…
Don't let the dark of winter slow you down. We tested two dozen next-gen lights to bring you the six best and brightest.
Getting far, far, far away from it all is easier—and cheaper—than you think. Presenting seven adventure-packed Caribbean island escapes. The Over-Under SABA, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES Netherlands Antilles (Philip Oblentz/Digital Vision/Getty) The most challenging part of a trip to Saba, a five-square-mile volcanic island 28 miles southwest of St. Maarten, is…
For 25 years, Shaun Palmer has dominated everything from the snowboard halfpipe to mountain-bike downhills—and earned his reputation as action sports' foul-mouthed bad boy. Now 40, he's cleaned up his act for a run at Olympic gold. Will he find redemption, or die trying?
What are the best boots for climbing Matterhorn?
They've got a slight animal-control problem in Delhi, India: Thousands of wild rhesus monkeys, addled by the sprawl that's taking over their habitat, are dropping out of trees to steal food, chug booze, and murder prominent citizens. Did we mention that many of the victims believe these creatures are gods?
Two of the world's best spearfishermen hunt for fish the size of offensive linemen.
In 1974, French aerialist Philippe Petit snuck onto the roof of the World Trade Center, rigged a tightrope between the Twin Towers, and spent three-quarters of an hour dancing across the 1,350-foot-deep urban abyss. The caper was all but forgotten until last summer, when James Marsh’s documentary Man on Wire…
You could mope about the economy. Or you could go play in the snow, and then thaw out in comfort. Our guide to the best winter adventure lodges in North America. Nita Lake Lodge Nita Lake Lodge     Nordic Pine Flagstaff Lake Hut, Carrabassett Valley, Maine Winter…
What is the best synthetic insulation jacket to wear alone or under a shell? Is it better to go with a hooded insulated jacket or non-hooded version? My shell is Arc'Teryx Beta AR, and it has a hood. Jennifer Fort Collins, Colorado
A girlfriend and I are hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon in April. We are staying at Phantom Ranch for the night, so we don't need to carry our sleeping bags. We need a recommendation on a day pack. We are both petite, under 5'3" and want some sort of hydration system integrated. What do you recommend? Sass Chicago, Illinois
What's the best approach shoe for a woman? I'm considering climbing the Grand Teton. Chickie Mason Lakehills, Texas
I looking for a watch with an altimeter on it. But so far they all look like men's watches, big and masculine. Can you recommend a smaller, feminine watch? Lois DeRaadt Fort Collins, Colorado
Does anyone make cross-country ski boots in wide widths? Margaret Madison, Wisconsin
An X Gamer tries to make it in ski racing. But as a two-sport athlete, will Jon Olsson end up more Deion Sanders or Jeremy Bloom?
Before she on-sighted the 2,000-foot Northwest Face of Half Dome, in October, the 28-year-old sylph from Kentucky was already hailed as one of the world’s best sport climbers winning both the X Games and the World Cup earlier this decade. On-sighting free-climbing on her first try, without…
As Kenya’s hoteliers have discovered, few things can derail tourism like news of violence—in this case, the clashes thatfollowed the country’s disputed December 2007 presidential election. Kenya’s tourism industry is still recovering, but outfitters have been running trips since March. And according to Craig Sholley, senior director of the African…
For years, adventure-travel outfitters have used so-called exploratory trips to work out kinks in new offerings. Veteran guides suss out routes, lodging options, and, say, the local yak-butter tea, then refine the itinerary before it shows up in next fall’s catalog. But as it turns out, some high-end travelers actually…
Every hour of every day, behemoth container ships cruise the highways of ocean commerce, loaded with stereos and lobster and plastic air fresheners. And during the winter storm season, massive waves from out of nowhere can wreck these arks of global trade.
MIT's Daniel Nocera has a recipe for taking solar power mainstream. It all starts with a tall glass of water
Whether you're looking for an all-conditions ski shell or an insulated winter coat, we've got you covered
A seven-day trip aboard a U.S. icebreaker proves at least one thing about global warming: Things are getting very strange in the great white North.
The seven-time Tour de France champ on his favorite work-out music and the possibility of competing in an Ironman.
Cheaper Gore-Tex, cleaner diesel, and five other things George W. Bush got right.
Ski and climbing guide Michael Silitch is the only American working for the Compagniedes Guides de Chamonix, the exclusive, secretive outfit that runs the show in France's most extreme winter-sports town. It's a good life, but like any outsider, he knows that no matter how hard he works, he may never make it all the way in.
The king of big air talks about overcoming fear, setting records, and his ideal ski partner.
Why don’t more people use a blanket to sleep in the backcountry? They seem more temperature adaptable with a lighter weight for a given size. There just aren't a lot of options offered. Josh Vallejo, California
I'm going skiing this month, and with all of the advancements in ski apparel, I need suggestions for the best mid-layer jacket or fleece. Do you have a recommendation? Jeff Rogers, Arkansas
What is the minimum recommended thickness for a backpacking-tent floor? Big Agnes’s Seedhouse SL2 tent has a trail weight of two pounds, 14 ounces, with a 1,200mm polyurethane floor coating. Should I instead opt for the similar Seedhouse 2, which has a 1,500mm floor coating but weighs three pounds, 14 ounces? Marshall Atlanta, Georgia
Mace Fleeger shows you how to turn a match into a rocket with just a bit of tin foil.
At only 24, Seattle's Colin Haley has turned heads around the world with career-making alpine climbs, including an unprecedented team traverse of Patagonia's torre massif. He's driven to be the best-risky business in an era when the cutting edge leaves no margin for error.
Outside's Micah Cratty show you how to pop the top off a champagne bottle.
Outside's Micah Cratty show you how to instantly freeze a beer.
Do you have any suggestions for a family itinerary of Glacier National Park this spring? We have a girl who is nine. Rosalind M. Oak Park, CA
Brit Eaton is the best of a curious breed of fortune hunters combing old mine shafts and barns across the West for vintage denim. He's discovered $50,000 worth of clothes in a single day, and his clients include Ralph Lauren and Levi's. STEVEN RINELLA joins him on a search for the blues.
If I'm out hiking in the woods with no matches, what's the best way to start a fire? Glenn Edelschein Maryland
If I fall through the ice into a lake, what should I do? And what should I do after I get out? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
What would be the smartest thing to do if you are lost in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota? Ryan Lucas Overland Park, Kansas
I banged my knee falling off my bike and now it's sore just below the kneecap. How long should I lay off it, and do you have any recovery suggestions? Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
I want to be quicker on the basketball court and soccer field. What exercises should I do to build explosive power and speed? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
I'm looking for an easy, 20-minute core workout. Any suggestions? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
What is the best way to increase my vertical? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
If I go off the beaten path at a ski resort and get lost, what should I do? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
I'm a 71-year old runner and cyclist. I ride about 250 miles a month and run 16 to 18 miles a week. Lately my hamstrings are sore. Do you have any suggestions to ease my sore hamstrings so I can keep running?
This simple formula is seemingly impossible to master. So how does Kelly Slater do it year after year? And how can you?
Are significant nutrients lost when vegetables are cooked in a soup? Dan London, England
I have been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate. Is there anything I can do diet-wise to help reduce the size of my prostate, or to keep it from getting larger? Frank Moline, Illinois
I love your nutrition suggestions, but recently I bece a vegetarian and most of your meals include meat. Can you help me out? Dan Johnson Seattle, Washington
My kids are starting to enjoy NASCAR and so, as a result, I getting into it too. Could high performance stock cars run on alternative fuels like vegetable oil? R.K. Arlington, Virginia
How do you avoid paying a tax evasion penalty? That is, you're not paying a road use tax because you're making your own diesel fuel. Sam Alabama
I'm looking into installing solar panels on my house and I'm not sure where to start. Where do I find solar panels and how are they integrated into most household electrical systems? Matt Detroit, Michigan
What is the best way to go green and save money this winter? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico