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Are you sick of hearing about carbon offsets? Do you invest in green technologies and companies? Would you be willing to pay more to fly on an eco-friendly airline? We’d like to know how you feel about all things green. Please cast your votes now, and we’ll publish the results…
Can you recommend a good mountaineering boot for women (specifically for those of us with small, like size five, feet)? I have seen debates about plastic boots and double boots. What will the guru say? Jing Boston, Massachusetts
I want an alpine touring boot that will allow me to climb, hike, and ski without trashing my feet. I can live with weaker downhill performance as long as I can spend multiple weeks on long traverses without being in serious pain. Are AT boot manufacturers figuring out a way to build a boot for the long traverse that has the forgiveness of, say, Scarpa's T2? Tony Vancouver, British Columbia
Forget red and blue—this presidential race is all about the green. In an exclusive report from Outside and Grist.org,ANDA GRISCOM LITTLE checks in with the leading contenders to discover who's eco-cool and who's full of hot air.
The Outside 100 World records, human firsts, technological triumphs, and even some great stuff on TV—there was a lot to love about 2007. But it all begins with RICHARD BRANSON. 1: Adventurer Richard Branson 2–15: Kayaking world record, the iPhone, mountain-climbing tennis players, and more. 16–32: The…
Two gung-ho idiots try to demonstrate that the world’s last great forest + chainsaws = awesome skiing
An Aussie filmmaker makes waves with a documentary about gang life Down Under
A year after the debut of his Ski Tour, Kipp Nelson is back with more events, more bands, and more babes. Sleep is totally overrated.
I'm in the market for a new snow shovel and debating between a collapsible and a removable handle. Any suggestions? And what is the best/easiest way to pack it in the Black Diond Covert 22 Bag w/Avalung? Seth New York, New York
Ever wonder how it feels to get attacked by a shark? Spend seven weeks lost in the jungle? Get buried by multiple avalanches? Brace yourself for 10 of the hairiest survival stories ever told—and the life-saving tips you can learn from them.
Your taste in gear, travel, music, and cocktailsplus what you really think of Lance Armstrongrevealed in our first annual Readers’ Choice Awards Click here to download a full PDF version of this article. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat,…
Here, read the winning essay from Outside's Seven Cycles contest as well as the four other finalists
To report the December 2007 feature story, “Strange Bird,” a wild look at the questionable antics of African bush pilot Tim Roman, Hoffman squirmed his way through nail-biting flights and road trips in Congo and Nigeria. Here, listen to our complete audio interview with Hoffman where he discusses the assignment.
So how good is the high you get from chewing Andean coca leaves? “It’s a mild buzz,” says Joshua Hammer, who journeyed across Bolivia to track the resurgence of the coca plant under President Evo Morales for the December 2007 feature story, “Coca Is It!” “It’s fairly pleasant, and it…
From Pearl Jam to Bruce Springsteen to Matt Damon, Danny Clinch has photographed them all. For our December cover, we sent Clinch to JFK’s airport tarmac to shoot billionaire adventurer/ biofuels crusader Sir Richard Branson and his son Sam. Here, go behind the scenes with video of the shoot featuring…
Last year, when skiing above tree line at Fernie, my ski goggles were practically useless as I was stymied by fog and snow. Do you have any suggestions? Are polarized lenses of any use? Nicholas Westmount, Quebec
I'm a 57-year-old female cyclist who likes long day rides and touring. I have always enjoyed a quick, responsive bike, but I'm now experiencing arthritis and neck pain with the current, fairly extreme, bike configurations. I guess I need a new bike. What type should I buy?
I just starting to mountain bike, and I have no idea how to find the right bike for me. I don’t do hardcore trails, and I know that I want a hardtail. I have been looking at Marin bikes such as the Palisades and Juniper, but my preferred price is around $550. Have any suggestions? John Auburn, Alabama
Professional freeskiers play in a Neverland of sponsorships, big air, and deadly consequences. But what happens when it's time to graduate from Huck U.? Charlotte Moats makes the leap from big-line ripper to house flipper—and den mother to a ragged pile of lost boys.
The skyscrapers of Manhattan may not reach as high as Everest, but this is where Tsering Norbu Sherpa, a member of mountaineering's most famous clan, is making a new life. CHRISTIAN DeBENEDETTI rides shotgun with one of New York's unlikeliest cabbies.
What happens when two brothers plunge through the ice of a frozen Wisconsin river? One refuses to give up, the other refuses to die, and each has a very different story to tell.
How could he? As host of the ribald series ‘No Reservations’, Bourdain is the ultimate adventure traveler, eating (and drinking) his way across the planet, courageously swallowing whatever the locals do. This has 1. Caused him to acquire a very funky flavor and 2. Seriously altered his mind.
Bear Grylls has endured Everest, the North Atlantic, and, for his hit show Man vs. Wild, many a ghastly meal. So can he survive being called a fraud? This is not a man to bet against.
1. The Racer Two rolls of the hem expose all four buckles. You’re saying: I don’t huck. But try me on the groomers. You’re wearing: Spyder Training Pants ($150; spyder.com) and Salomon’s stiff Falcon 10 ($850; salomonski.com). 2. The Jiblet…
With big snow, bright skies, and steep terrain, Lake Tahoe beckons the diehards.
In A Contract with the Earth, Newt Gingrich aims to steal environmentalism back from the Democrats—and let free markets reign.
She won gold in Turin, but mostly Julia Mancuso wants you to know her name
An ambitious documentary of big-mountain skiing investigates the lives behind the hucks
The Marker Duke binding changes everything. Until now, alpine-touring bindings—the heels release into a walk mode for ascending on climbing skins—compromised performance on the way down. Where earlier AT models forced the skier to totter on riser bars, about an inch off the ski, the Duke uses a flat plastic…
On road trips to remote places, other than a set of jumper cables and a quart of motor oil, what else do I need to keep in the car in the event of a mishap? In other words, what are the essentials for road safety/survival? Jeff Los Angeles, California
In the Store: Know where, what, and how you’re skiing, and make sure the shop guy knows. And don’t be swayed by brand name or graphics. If possible, demo a few different pairs and go with whatever works. Guys: Don’t lie about your ability. If you’re an intermediate skier,…
Classic or skate? Either way you'll go fast with the latest—and best—Nordic gear.
Utah's Wasatch Mountains are teeming with guys who geek out over depth hoar. But there are only a few snow scientists on par with Dean Cardinale. In addition to being one of Snowbird's avalanche forecasters, the 38-year-old is also the president of Wasatch Backcountry Rescue and a certified instructor with the American Avalanche Association. He spoke to
If you build a ski mountain, they will come? That's what one Texas resort believes.
The Classic Powder Skiing Once you experience Alta's powder, you too will be an Altaholic ALTA SKI AREA, Utah: Not only does Alta get twice as much snow as less blessed resortsit averages 500 inchesbut its flakes are also lighter and drier. Maybe that’s why nearly 80 percent of…
1. Bern Muse Helmet Slope Style This downsized lid has zero bobblehead factor yet still has room for a removable liner (with speakers). $99; bernunlimited.com 2. Marmot Furlong Like it or not, you will get noticed in the lift line when you’re…
Did our November 2007 feature package "The Good, the Bad, & the Just Plain Lucky" get you squirming for more thrills? Here, check out our archive of past tales of woe, plus instructional videos from the Wilderness Medical Society's annual conference.
Photo Gallery: Julia Mancuso Associate editor (and ski-babe connoisseur) Gordy Megroz lived the dream of many a lad when he flew to Maui to profile U.S. Ski Team star Julia Mancuso for the November 2007 profile “America’s Next…
In early September, shortly before departing London to begin filming the new season of his hit Discovery Channel series Man Vs. Wild, Bear Grylls granted Outside an exclusive e-mail interview. It was the first time he'd communicated directly with the press since allegations surfaced in July that he'd slept in hotels during the filming of s
Ever since a friend of mine announced that he and his wife wanted to do the next Paris-Brest-Paris bike race (in four years), I have been bitten by the bug and have decided to do it, too. I will be training a lot at night and will need a lighting system. What do you suggest? Gary Denver, Colorado
For Nick Paumgarten and his father, skiing has been both a blessing and a curse, taking the lives of some family members while giving others every reason to live.
MIT climatologist Richard Lindzen is pushing a controversial idea: that mankind isn't to blame for global warming and that Al Gore's apocalypic warnings are mostly hot air. Right or wrong, why do so many people think he should be silenced?
A nail recently tore a one-inch hole in my nice new Pearl Izumi Ultrasensor bib shorts. The tear is just to the right of center; not on a se. Are these things repairable?
To catch a caveman like Osama bin Laden, who's at home in some of the earth's most remote mountains, what you really need is a great outdoorsman.
The next milestones of adventure aren't about reaching new heights. They're about changing the game.
“We wanted to take one of the gnarliest mountains in the world and make it look like your local backcountry ski area,” says Aspen-based freeskier Chris Davenport of his 22-day June expedition to 20,320-foot Mount McKinley. And they did. Along with Clark Fyans, Nick DeVore, Kirsten Kremer, and Adam Clark,…
We interrupt this issue to bring you a glimpse of the future. From a 13-year-old skateboarder who's already trademarked his name to a 14-year-old who surfs Pipeline with Kelly Slater, meet the stars of our 40th Anniversary cover.
I recently purchased a 1970s Ghisallo ten-speed bike. What can you tell me about this brand? Bob Lebanon, New Jersey
Gallery: British Columbia For the October 2007 feature story “The Ski Gene,” Italian-born photographer Paolo Marchesi followed author Nick Paumgarten and his father for a wild adventure in steepest, deepest British Columbia. Here, see Marchesi’s photo outtakes from…
That was the cry from many, many readers. Read the morse code translation of the message that appeared in the October 2007 issue of Outside below.
Q&A: Hampton Sides Hampton Sides Hampton Sides A winner of the 2002 PEN USA Award and author of three books, “Ghost Soldiers,” “Americana,” and most recently, “Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West,” Hampton Sides’s work has…
The Early Days: Q&A with Larry Burke Larry Burke Larry Burke From the beginning, one man has been at the head of Outside. In1976 Outside‘s founder and editor in chief Larry Burke started the quarterly journal, Mariah, which would…
Watch Lance Armstrong, Laird Hamilton, Amanda Beard, Kelly Slater, Jake Burton, Lynn Hill, Scott Lindgren, Ed Viesturs, and Ben Harper as they gather for Outside‘s iconic 30th anniversary cover photo shoot. Soundtrack provided by Ben Harper.
Overrun with linebacker types who can't hack the training, recruiters for the Navy SEALs are targeting X Gamers and endurance athletes. Because who wouldn't want Lance Armstrong on the front lines?
Before her 2005 arrest, eco-saboteur Chelsea Gerlach took part in nine Earth Liberation Front actions, including the 1998 arson that destroyed Vail Mountain’s Two Elk lodge. In an exclusive interview from behind bars, Gerlach talks about life on the run, destruction on behalf of the environment, and why she cooperated with the federal investigators who smashed the ELF.
Sure, it's big, bad, and thirsty. But I love it—and you can't judge a man by his wheels alone.
Mexico's most famous masked man, champion lucha libre wrestler El Hijo del Santo, has a thing for turtles. As the 2007 spokesman for San Diego-based conservation group Costasalvaje/Wildcoast, he's caressed their shells (yes, he wore the mask—always!) and patrolled beaches for egg thieves. PATRICK SYMMES rang El Santo at a Mexico City gym, where
Leonardo DiCaprio's new documentary aims to shock us into saving the planet. Will viewers show up?
Some of fall’s best books follow travelers venturing off the tourist circuit to find both danger and enlightenment. The Americans in PAUL THEROUX’s The Elephanta Suite, a collection of three haunting novellas, all pass through the same luxury hotel room in Mumbai. Yet each goes on to discover an India…
They're more than 13,000 years old, priceless, and maybe the best evidence yet of the first Americans. Traveling to remotest Alaska, STEVEN RINELLA goes digging for history before it's too late.
Napoleon Dynamite was on to something. Hybrid creatures like pizzlies, blynxes, and bonanzees are beautiful and cool—and they're forcing evolutionary scientists to rethink the web of life.
Fourteen years ago, Jon Krakauer's “Death of an Innocent”chronicled the life and death of Chris McCandless in the pages of Outside. In the September 2007 feature story “I Want This Movie to Grip People in the Heart” director Sean Penn and McCandless's family and friends talk to Outside editor Christopher…
Our critical look at the Boy Scouts ("Demerit Badge," July 2007, by Annette McGivney) sparked the flint in more than one Scout's tinderbox. Give us your opinion of the Scouts in our online poll here and download a letter from the National President of the Boy Scouts of America.
As Katie Arnold found out in the September 2007 feature story, “The Alpha Geek,” world champion kayaker Eric Jackson and the rest of his clan can white water rodeo with the best of them. See more of photographer Jake Chessum’s shots of the fam in action here.
He haughtily presumed he'd be able to work through the pain like a Mack truck. Then he met Dr. Angst and Nurse Tingle.
More than three decades after blazing the independent-travel trail, Richard Bangs and Tony Wheeler are still racking up the adventures