Before you bemoan the melting mountain snow, know that many ski resorts are just as good in the heat as they are in the cold

I just bought new ski boots and I love them. Next on my list is buying new skis. I a solid level-nine skier and can ski anything on the mountain (New England or Rockies), although not always as gracefully as I would like. I love moguls but don't want a ski that submarines in powder. I was looking at the Salomon X-scres but heard that their tails were too stiff and therefore a lot of work in the bumps. Do you have any recommendations for top-of-the-line skis? Will New York, New York

What's a good bike light to buy for my boyfriend so that he can mountain bike at night? Something inexpensive but good quality, which will probably get used once or twice a week in good weather. Julie Boulder, Colorado

I bought a pair of Asolo FSN 95 GTX boots for hiking Mount Rainier's Wonderland Trail. They felt very comfortable in the store and needed very little breaking in, but I had to stop wearing them by the third day on the trail as they sorely aggravated bone spurs in my heel. Can you suggest a pair of hiking boots with soft inner heels that won't slide around too much? Marc Silver Spring, Maryland

Week of November 7-13, 1996 Exploring the Dominican Republic’s parks Kayaking and rafting near Juneau Choosing a mountaineering school Off the map in Baja Sur Mexico Exploring the Dominican Republic’s parks Question: I am heading down to the Dominican Republic for business and I…

I'm going to the Amazon and Machu Picchu in June. What pack would you recommend to carry cameras, binocs, books, and other personal items while sightseeing? John Santa Fe, New Mexico

Torres del Paine Getting there Torres del Paine is located 145 kilometers northwest of Puerto Natales, Chile. There is regular bus service from Natales; an open-ended, round-trip ticket costs $12.50. Most air traffic is into Punta Arenas via Santiago with regular bus service from Punta Arenas to Puerto…

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry spent his life defying and outflying death. Then it caught up.

Brad Pitt's in Tibet. Steven Seagal's flacking his lama creds on Letterman. Dharma's rampant at the local U and Buddha has settled in the East Village. With America sweatily grasping all things Shangri-La, it's a virtual Lamapalooza out there. But will the true cause benefit?

Courtesy of bobbymond on Flickr.Thierry Henry, the highly lauded French striker, has signed with the New York Red Bulls, the New York Times reports. He is expected to make his debut for the team against the English Premier League's (EPL) Tottenham Hotspur this Thursday.During his tenure with Arsenal of…