Skis, boots, skins, poles, goggles, beacon, pack, shovel . . . It’s time to scour your garage, search the basement and rummage through the closet. Winter has returned, so wherever you stash your gear for the off-season, it’s time to dig through the boxes and round up your backcountry ski kit.But is your backcountry ski gear ready to roll? Check… Read More
Blown-In — A semi-regular look at the latest ski, outdoor and sometimes bike industry news bits is a collection of press releases, new products, and interesting stuff circulating on the interweb that catches our attention. This week’s edition of Blown-In features the NOAA Winter Weather Outlook, Mammut Barryvox S/S2 Recall, a Pieps Pro IPS Recall, ORTLIEB’s repair week and $10k… Read More
Keeping your bike running smoothly is all about routine maintenance. Regular cleaning, lubing and fine-tuning are what keep the miles rolling easy. As the wet season begins here in the Pacific Northwest, regular cleaning is more important than ever to keep your bike running well. As the old saying goes for horses, “rode hard and put away wet” is no… Read More
At the doorstep of Mount Washington, just below Huntington Ravine, sits The Harvard Cabin — a remote respite for ice climbers and backcountry skiers to escape the elements. Every year, one caretaker lives in the cabin all winter long. The Caretaker is an ode to those who care for it, the men of Harvard who built it, and the mountaineers… Read More
Greetings, weather nerds! Are you obsessing about ski season weather? Well, as forecast by the NOAA Climate Prediction Center in August, a slowly developing La Niña is beginning to influence ski season conditions. NOAA just released the latest winter weather outlook for December 2024 through February 2025, with relevant ski season weather trends, including temperature and precipitation. This winter, NOAA… Read More
Ski goggles have advanced a lot in the last 10+ years. Optics are better, lens changes are simpler, tint options are plentiful, and perhaps most importantly, the field of view has improved dramatically. By Field of view, we mean how much you can see through your goggles. Not only have goggle lenses gotten bigger, but frame and lens technology have… Read More
Dressing for cool weather gravel rides requires a balance of breathability, wind protection and warmth. Layering is important, but your choice of the outer layer is even more critical because of the need for wind protection and, ultimately, breathability for your layering system. If it’s not raining, I often run a combination of layers, including a lightweight wind jacket and… Read More
Recovery and Maintenance – Foam Roller Time Anyone who prioritizes mountain adventure knows the importance of training to make the most of every outing. But how many of us take recovery and body maintenance as seriously as we take the playing part? Let’s be real: riding, skiing, running, and hiking are the fun part. The body recovery and maintenance parts,… Read More
Measure twice. Buy once. Ski Boot Fitting Tips Whether you’re shopping for ski boots at your local ski shop or buying them online, knowing how to measure and size your foot, plus understanding how a boot should feel, are the first steps to getting the best boot fit. Buy boots that are too small, and you’re guaranteed cramped, sore feet…. Read More
Scarpa Launches New TX Pro Telemark Ski Boot Once a thriving sector in the ski market with a host of brands competing to push gear design and the sport, telemark skiing has taken a back seat to the rise of and innovation around lightweight alpine touring gear. Telemark binding innovation has slowed to a crawl, and the telemark ski boot… Read More
As mountain bike season and summer trail days wind down, it’s easy to put fire season in the rearview mirror, but for those of us who live in the West, the impact of wildfire is omnipresent. In northern California, climate change and 150 years of forest mismanagement have led to some of the most catastrophic wildfires in the state’s history—including… Read More
Ski and Outdoor Industry News Blown-In — A semi-regular look at the latest ski, outdoor and sometimes bike industry news bits is a collection of press releases, new products, and interesting stuff circulating on the interweb that catches our attention. This week’s edition of Blown-In features AAC grants, Fjällräven, Peak Performance, La Niña, POW, Arc’teryx and leaf skiing. Fall 2024… Read More
Winter 2024-25 It’s never too early to start obsessing about winter weather forecasts and thinking about ski season. While tracking squirrel eating habits and noting the height of the Beargrass in your local ski stash may well be time-tested winter weather indicators, the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), commonly known by its two opposing influences, El Niño and La Niña,… Read More
Climbing skins are required equipment for backcountry skiing cause you gotta get up to get down. While all climbing skins work on the same principle, skins vary by material (plush) type, tip and tail connection systems and also the depth or thickness of the plush. Choosing the best climbing skins for your ski touring needs depends on snow conditions, type… Read More
2024 Ski Movie Trailers Here’s your one-stop page for tracking all of the best 2024 ski movie trailers. Circle of Madness from TNF Circle of Madness is getting a lot of positive press, with many saying it is the best ski movie of the year and vying for the best of all time. Circle of Madness, a film by Christoph… Read More
