ULTRALIGHT SUMMER BAGYou tend to pay more to carry less in the rarefied class of one-pound, down summer sacks. That’s why the barely-over-a-pound Flash is such a surprise: For packability, weight, and warmth it rivals bags that cost much more. And there’s nothing cheap about its silky shell and 750-fill…

Tips from 4 elite ultrarunners

A fundraising trip in Tigray, Ethiopia, next February gives 14 runners the chance to train with some of the world’s greatest runners—and help restore sight to more than 1,000 locals

https://youtube.com/watch?v=6smGf875jck Double-amputee Oscar Pistorius will realize his dream to compete against the fastest athletes in the world in next month's World Championsips. Recently, South Africa picked the 24-year-old sprinter for their team after he shaved a half second off his 400-meter time last month at a meet in Lignano,…

LIGHT AND FAST Wear a heart-rate monitor while you snowshoe? The Race is for you. Titanium claws help keep them light without compromising traction, and the V-shaped frame won’t trip you up at high speeds. The crisscross Race binding cinches tight without crushing feet shod in flexy shoes. 2.1 lbs,…

I looking to buy a new tent for canoe tripping in the barrens of Canada's Northwest Territories. I expect lots of wind and rain so an expedition tent would be best. But what is an "expedition tent" anyway? Robert Guelph, Ontario

Week of June 27-July 4, 1996 To shower or not to shower: Camping near Bend Buggy but crowd-free on Lake Superior Southbound to the Smokies The travel lady comes clean Trekking the Inca Trail in October … not! Trekking the Inca Trail in October…

Shwoosh! All You Need is Dirt The Hysterical Parent A medical emergency You would be a fool to venture into the wilderness without someone in your party being certified in first aid. Call your pediatrician or hospital for information on when and where classes are offered…

I preparing to go on a seven-day backwoods trip to Glacier National Park, and I'm trying to determine what stove to use. As I like white gas (I have an old Optimus), how much fuel do I need if I'm cooking three times a day? I will probably upgrade to a Simmerlite or possibly a Zip Stove depending on your answer. John Cden, Maine

On Monday, January 17, BASE jumper and wingsuit pilot Jeb Corliss, 36, thought he was either seconds or hours away from death. He had just jumped off South Africa’s Table Mountain, misjudged a target, and flown into a granite outcropping at 120 miles per hour. He had a mid-air decision…