Everything
Last summer, in our June issue, we wrote about our favorite 17 summer music festivals in America. Of course, Telluride Bluegrass was among them. Well, summer is finally here and a bunch of Outside staffers…
From the air, I could tell that things had changed. Fields of blue and white tarps now inundated the tropical landscape of Haiti. But even more so than the landscape transforming into collapsed buildings and tent cities, it was our interactions with the locals that seemed to…
Electra’s spirited exploration of the city/cruiser/commuter category continues with its new Ticino line of retro-styled city bikes. I spent the winter and spring commuting around Boulder, Colorado, on the top-of the line Ticino 20D and had a hard time giving it back. Though not always the…
There are 54 'official' Colorado 14ers mountains rising above 14,000 feet and at least 300' from an adjacent saddle. An estimated 500,000 people climb on 53 of the 14ers each year without fees or permits, today. One, Culbera, is on private property and the owners charge $100 per climber.
Lottery fever has taken over the adventure world, which suddenly makes us miss waiting in line.
WHERE TO USE IT: The best surf road trip begins in San Diego and heads north. Start mellow, with the friendly Tourmaline break, in Pacific Beach. Camp on the bluffs at San Onofre overlooking Old Man’s, a longboarder’s heaven (parks.ca.gov), then switch to your shortboard and hit…
In November, Budweiser tapped Jackson Kayaks founder Eric Jackson, a perennial favorite at TMG’s freestyle kayaking contest, as the face of its American Ale, ordering 8,300 kayaks to display in liquor stores across the country. (Only 11,000 were sold in the U.S. in all of 2009.) Bud’s $20,000 sponsorship will…
GRIZZLY ADAMS FAMILY“There’s a bear!” This simple exclamation triggered the angriest parental outbust of my youth. At least, that’s how I remember it. I was seven years old, sitting in the backseat of our family station wagon, driving through Yellowstone for the first time. We’d set out from Boston…
It’s hard to beat correspondent MARK ANDERS in the Fun Dad department. Living on the coast of North Carolina, he religiously surfs and takes his sonsLuke, 7, and Nicholas, 4on his 16-foot skiff to fish, hunt crabs, and play pirates on nearby islands. Here he attempts, with wife Ilene’s help,…
My parents were reasonably earthy, but I’m convinced my passion for the outdoors came from Manito-wish, a Wisconsin summer camp that, like any real camp, includes a true wilderness trip. If you’re at all concerned that your child is becoming a thin-skinned lily-dipper, consider booting your beloved into the wildwith…
In the range wars of the 21st century, the cattle rustler runs Ponzi schemes and the lawman drives an SUV. STEVEN RINELLA joins the new posse.
Last year, 20-year-old climber Daniel Woods finished a disappointing second at the Teva Mountain Games' IFSC Bouldering World Cup. But after a four-month climbing tour in Europe and then solving the first V16 bouldering problem on U.S. soil, the Boulder, Colorado–based prodigy is the favorite at this June's World Cup, in Vail, which no American male has ever wo
Sixteen-year-old Noa Ginella beat out favorites Charlie MacArthur and Dan Gavare in a stunning upset this past weekend at the Teva Mountain Games' First Ascent SUP Surf Sprint, Paddling Life reports. The virtually unknown North Shore native had never paddled whitewater…
Photo Courtesy of Flickr Humpback whales are the first baleen whales found to form lasting friendships, Treehugger reports. Using photographic identification techniques, scientists have discovered that females reunite each summer to swim and feed alongside one another in the…
Base camp. It seemed as though it took us forever but we’re finally here. Two days ago, we followed a line of 23 porters as they left the terraced fields of Hushe behind and headed into the magnificent Karakorum mountains. Smiling children followed us out of town…
Abby Sunderland, a California teen seeking to sail around the world alone, activated an emergency beacon overnight Thursday, setting off an international search-and-rescue mission for her in the Indian Ocean. She has not been heard from since. Early Thursday, Sunderland, 16, of Thousand Oaks, California, told her mother Marianne…
With the controversial summit from the Tibet side by 13 year oldJordan Romero, China seems to feel enough is enough. Starting thisfall, 2010, climbers must be between 18 and 60 to be issued a permit. This was announced by the China Tibet Mountaineering Association (CTMA) who manages mountaineering in…
By Stephen Regenold With the recent news that Lance Armstrong has become partof the ownership team at Honey Stinger Inc., a Steamboat Springs, Colorado, manufacturer of honey-based nutritional foods, readers might wonder what all the…
How frequent are summer thunderstorms in the desert? Can you rely on that as a source of fresh water?—The EditorsSanta Fe, New Mexico
WHERE TO USE IT: Cold water and stiff currents make Washington’s San Juan Islands a serious destination for kayakers. But with good forecasts and maps from Anacortes’s Sea Kayak Shop (seakayakshop.com), they can also be the most rewarding, with frequent orca and humpback sightings. Take a lap…
WHERE TO USE IT: One glimpse of Longs Peak’s 1,500-foot vertical east face and you’ll know why you came: This 14,259-foot Colorado mountain is no mellow slag heap. The 15-mile round-trip hike gains 5,000 feet and demands an alpine start; afternoon lightning storms are a given. You can also tackle…
A trip down the Colorado River's Barrel Springs Rapid goes a bit haywire when one of the kayakers loses his paddle. Watch the rescue in the video from Epicocity, above. –Aileen Torres…
By Stephen Regenold It may look like an inflatable pool toy, but the pack raft, a personal watercraft with roots in aviator survival boats from World War II, is a serious tool for some backcountry explorers. Lightweight and durable, the blow-up boats…
Team Jordan started uploading videos of their Everest trip. Thus far, they have a tour of base camp (above) and a short video…
WHERE TO USE IT: Lake Winnipesaukee, near New Hampshire’s White Mountains, is 72 square miles of tree-lined coves and some 300 sprawling islandsnot to mentionwaterfront cabins with long wooden docks. Rent one on the quieter northor east side of the lake (from $1,000 per week; preferredrentals.com), then…
It's finally full-blown summer—and you're amped to make the most of it. We're with you: Here are our picks for this season's best gear—and where to take it.
Vitamin D may turn out to be a wonder nutrient for your health and performance. If you're not getting enough—and you probably aren't—you need to start.
I'm 28, single, and want to hike, camp, climb, and paddle all over the world. And while I have a great group of friends, most are married or coupled off, so finding a travel partner is a problem. Could you suggest some good adventure travel outfitters or other alternatives that cater to young, single women?—SarahAtlanta, GA
High water meant big air for the riders in downtown Vail, Colorado, at this weekend's Teva Mountain Games, according to paddlinglife.net. Where organizerspreviously had to dial in an adjustable inflatable barrier to funnel flow, this time there was almost too…
You can help us create Outside's all new 2010 Life List by answering the questions below. What’s a life list? A series of goals that, if achieved,would make a full and wild life. If you tell us what's on your list, we'll do the research so you can have…
Pemba Dorje Sherpa, a Nepalese Sherpa who holds the record for the fastest ascent ofEverest (eight hours and ten minutesin 2004) is hoping to take a local child to the summit after 13-year-old American Jordan Romero became the youngest person to climb the mountain last…
The Wild File: Black Widows
The Wild File: Runners vs. Cyclists
The Wild File: Snow/Mud Chains
What happens when a rock climber, gripped by the natural high of his sport, gets hooked on powerful prescription tranquilizers that help him beat back the fear and anxiety? Very nasty things. MATT SAMET bares all about a long, life-threatening addiction journey that took him from the top of the mountain to a mental and physical free fall that nearly cost him hi
Amid mounting pressure from protesters, screenings of The Cove have been canceled across Japan, according to treehugger.com. The Oscar-winning documentary…
On July 11, GearJunkie.com will host a one-day-only Treasure Hunt event in a wilderness park near Roanoke, Virginia. More than $40,000 in outdoor gear–from backpacks to kayaks–will be given away to an estimated 300 participants. The event will essentially be an adventure,…
A climber who went missing Saturday on Mount Rainier is now presumed dead, according to the Seattle Times. On Saturday, 11 climbers were overtaken by an avalanche, and all were pulled out by fellow climbers but one. The climber is believed to be a 27-year-old man from Olympia,…
Trek has announced a huge push into the exploding triathlon market with its new Speed Concept frame, which it calls “the fastest bike in the world.” Part of what makes the Speed Concept so fast, Trek CEO John Burke told a gathering of journalists and…
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is on the move, the Environmental News Network reports. Currently caught in the Loopt, a clockwise current that originates in the Caribbean and travels along the Yucatan, the oil spill will likely travel up to the tip of Florida…
A Southern California freeway 20 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles was temporarily closed when an adult black bear wandered into the lanes early Sunday morning, according to Yahoo! News. The 250-pound animal was spotted roaming the Foothill Freeway in Duarte just after midnight, says Lt. Kerry…
I got a chance to catch up with The Human Performance Center owned by Fred and Kele McDaniel. They are based out of Santa Fe New Mexico and specialize in functional integration. Outside Magazine featured their facility here awhile back.
Photo courtesy of Poweripics Lance Armstrong finished third in the 2010 Tour of Luxembourg, Roadcycling.com reports. The race, won by Italian Matteo Carrara, was part of Armstrong's preparations for the upcoming 2010 Tour de France. Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de…
In the mountains, flexibility goes a long, long way. We expected to be in Askole about now, but, hey, things change, right? Our original plan was to go from Skardu to the tiny village of Askole via a long and harrowing 4×4 trail. It’s a narrow road–steep…
Teva Mtn. Games Dispatch Day 3 from Outside Adventure Film School on Vimeo.
Nearly the whole Outside crew is here at the 2010 Teva Mountain Games, in Vail, Colorado, including the Outside Adventure Film School. Check out their dispatch from Day 2. Teva Mtn. Games Dispatch Day 2 from Outside Adventure…
In the blink of an eye there was a razor to my neck. I had committed the ultimate rookie tourist error, suckered into compliance by a few friendly encounters that lulled me into dropping my guard. I was on the outskirts of a remote village in northern…
Erik Leidecker, a member of the First Ascent ski guide team, IFMGA mountain guide, and owner of Sawtooth Mountain Guides, was one of the guest speakers at the…
By recent standards, Everest 2010 was a safe and successful year.There were nearly 500 summits with 4 reported deaths, all on the north,and several injuries and rescues. The total Everest summits broke thetotal 5,000 (includes multiple summits by Sherpas and guides so perhaps 2500 individual summits) level since the…
I just moved to the Pacific Northwest from Las Vegas and I'd like to start hiking. What is a good starter hiking boot for the wet Cascades that won't break the bank? I'm not planning any overnight or heavy pack trips.— JamiSeattle, Washington
Paragliding trips in the Indian Himalayas are deadly, unpredictable...and one of the greatest thrills on earth.
In which the world's favorite sunny-day-at-the-beach singer morphs into a hardened wild man with help from a surprising piece of inspiration. (Don't worry, his new music still goes perfectly with coconuts.)
My carry-on is crammed with Clif bars and board shorts, and I've squeezed three small-wave surfboards into one weathered day bag. My legs are a little sore from the past week's Blacks sessions and climbing the goat trail back to the car-park,…
Somewhere in between the individuals working hard to create a brand for themselves and the companies working hard to make their brand feel more personal, there exists a gaggle of great adventure bloggers. They tell stories and share essential service through videos, photos, podcasts and news analysis. Our favorites include…
Third overall after two daysof the Tour of Luxembourg on Thursday, Lance Armstrong was satisfied that he is riding strongerbefore the Tour de France, according to yahoo.com. Giovanni Visconti of Italy won the first stage,…
Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me. Not sure how much of a fiesta we’re going to be able to drum up in this town, but my birthday wishes are all in place and I’m super stoked to be here. A few days ago we flew…
ext_script = "//i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/world/2010/06/01/coren.intv.teen.everest.cnn"Embedded video from CNN Video Jordan Romero, back from his successful summit of Everest at age 13, is in NYC and hitting up practically every show on television. Above, you'll find his CNN International appearance. According to…
A single bolt of lightning struck nine visitors waiting to see Old Faithful erupt in Yellowstone National Park, according to nationalparkstraveler.com. On Wednesday, park officials said there were several minor injuries but no initialreports of serious complications from the Tuesday afternoon strike. According to…
By Stephen Regenold Headlamps have become de rigueur in the outdoors world for light at night. But the handheld flashlight still has a place for camping and other activities. This spring I put three flashlight models head to head, including a penlight, a super-bright model, and one…
Is it safe to eat snakes? Which desert snakes are the easiest to catch and/or most tasty?—The EditorsSanta Fe, New Mexico
Five hundred dollars can buy you a lot of things: an iPad, a mediocre bike, a lawn mower—or three days of glorious summertime freedom (transportation excluded). Here are our picks for the best do-it-yourself budget escapes in North America, plus outfitted adventures you can't afford to miss.
Norwegians Borge Ousland and Thorleif Thorleifsson (real name) are planning to sail around the North Pole. It will be the first circumnavigation of the pole — a feat that was previously impossible. But thanks to the receding ice caps, the Norsemen will leave from Oslo in June. The trip is…
As-Salamu alaykum, or “peace be upon you” in Arabic. After months of preparation and one long day of traveling, Fredrik Ericsson and I have finally arrived in the capital of Pakistan on the first leg of our adventure. What adventure, you…
Twenty-one years ago Bernd Heinrich, a cold-hardened University of Vermont biology professor, burst upon the literary scene with Ravens in Winter, which did for corvids what Farley Mowat’s Never Cry Wolf did…
Lately, my runs have been feeling lethargic. I'm slow and clumsy and find myself dragging by the time I'm a mile-and-a-half in, when I should be zipping along. The culprit? My diet. No one had to diagnose this. Even with my basic knowledge of nutrition, I knew that cheeseburgers, pizza…
Lance Armstrong (Photograph by Christian Witkin) Lance Armstrong will join team RadioShack in the Tour of Switzerland on June 12. It was previously unclear if Armstrong would join…
Talk to me about Spain in the late summer! I'm planning my trip now and want to have a hell of a time!—LisaBoulder, CO
I would like to find a pair of clipless cycling shoes that are suited for adventure cycling with conditions that demand you have to hike while carry the bike. I have some old Sidi shoes but they don’t do the job when walking. Suggestions?—TonyLima, Peru
I was just reading about pepper spray repelling a mountain lion...what about using one of those very loud boating/marine fog horns? These horns are quite small but can be very loud.
MountainFilm in Telluride, a 32-year-old festival, is a little meeting of big minds in a beautiful place. Granted, I'm not being particularly objective. Outside sponsors the festival and a group of editors from the magazine and producers from our new television channel spoke on a panel Sunday.
By Stephen Regenold A part of the mission of Cyclelogical, a small bike-products company based in Ogden, Utah, is to keep “the world we live in safe for bicycle commuting everywhere.” The company's Chopspokes cost just $7 and…
Apparently the Santa FeRiver, a block from my house, is home to some of the best whitewater in NewMexico. This came as a great surprise to me as it “flows” through downtown at awidth half the length of my paddle. But the…
Are there any good sleeping bags for two people that can be brought on backpacking trips?—Jen MooreOrangevale, California
Think fast: Name three personal items you can’t live without while on the road. Running shoes? iPod? Journal or camera? What makes the cut? How do you decide? I’m not suggesting the Pearl Izumi P.R.O. Ultrasoft Shell Jacket ($160) bump anything off your list. But…