Travel Guide, Winter 1995-1996 How to Carve Out Some Savings By Ron C. Judd Deep in the heart of every skier lurk two great fears: unsettlingly steep slopes and unreasonably steep ski-trip prices. To survive the first, sideslip. To avoid the second, consider a few time-tested vacation…

Are there any materials that can offer reasonable rain protection and still breathe well? I can't use Gore-Tex in anything but the coldest conditions without getting significantly dp. How does REI's Elements line stack up? Ken Johnson Hollister, California

Amy Bechtel was there, and then she simply wasn't

I love the athletic look of soft shells and would love to buy one. The only problem is I've heard they're just that: shells, meant more for layering than for providing a single layer of protection. In your opinion, are there any soft shells that can provide both heavy-duty warmth and stand up to the rain and snow? I'll use this shell more for "getting around town" than I would for aerobic activities, so I want something that would keep me very warm in cold temperatures. Megan Spokane, Washington

Screenshot of Mike hall from normallyaspiratedhuman.com On February 18th of this year, ten riders set off on the World Cycle Racing Grand Tour, a race built for those hoping to smash the current record for circling the globe by pedal power. The current record was set on August 4,…

Week of December 19-25, 1996 Whistler-Blackcomb on a shoestring Malaria precautions for Indonesia Local hiking clubs in New Zealand Romantic skiing trips in Wisconsin Skiing the Grand Canyon’s North Rim Romantic skiing trips in Wisconsin Question: Over Christmas break I would like to…

Week of April 17-23, 1997 Heading where weather is a safe bet Vacations for working with animals Off-season hiking and diving in Grenada Finding outfitters for disabled travelers Mountain biking near Lake Tahoe Heading where weather is a safe bet Question: My girlfriend…

Outside magazine, September 1997 Bet My Bentley Can Smoke Your Rolls From the Great Wall to the Eiffel Tower, would-be Andrettis put their classics to the test By Carl Hoffman Why Is This Woman…Still Standing? Ultradistance legend Ann Trason banks on her wiry body’s resilience…

Let loose on a carefree horsepacking journey through the Absarokas

I often ski in both the east, mostly Vermont, and the west at mountains in Colorado, Utah, and sometimes California. I've heard a soft shell, specifically Mountain Hardwear's Alchemy, is perfect for out west where it's fairly warm and wind is the only real concern. I was wondering if it would also work in the east where it can get much colder, wetter, and windier. If not, would a simple waterproof shell worn over it be enough? Brett Westchester, New York