Outdoors

Partnerships. They are a hallmark of the backcountry. For all of us who’ve found good companions for the mountains, the rewards are hard to nail down in words. Instead of complicated explanations why this is so, sometimes the easiest...

One of the biggest problems facing the climbing community today is the poor behavior of some climbers. Improper trail use, damaging rock faces, and crushing fragile vegetation can threaten climber access to outdoor climbing areas. Can education change behavior,...

This summer’s record-breaking heat waves have seriously inhibited many people’s ability to engage in outdoor adventures comfortably and safely. Fortunately, for the dedicated adventurer, there are well-educated researchers such as Dr. Melissa Roti who have made a career out...

Plotting UTM coordinates is an essential skill for a variety of outdoor activities from backpacking to hunting to adventure racing. Introduced by the US Army in 1947, it is the preferred method for representing a point on a map...

When applying sunscreen, one should apply about one ounce (a shot glass full) to all exposed body parts 30 minutes before sun exposure to give the ingredients time to bond to your skin, and every two hours thereafter. Most...

They’re not all cut from the cloth!  Nor are all zip-off pants are constructed with the same attention to detail.  And don’t even get me started about sizing.  But the good the news is that when you find a...

Nothing can take a hiking trip downhill faster than a blistered heel… or toe… or… ball of your foot. Blisters suck. Once you get one on a trip, it’s there for the duration. The good news is that blisters...

Pristine alpine lakes – we take them for granted. But in the backcountry, lakes are popular destinations. These areas already have extreme weather conditions and short growing seasons, making them slow growing environments for plant life. It doesn’t take...

Brooks Range Mountaineering Equipment, introduces a water-resistant down technology in a puffy parka stuffed with feathers.Goose and duck down is a great insulator, but it flattens and loses all its heat-keeping juju when wet. The new jacket from Brooks...

Silas Rossi, IFMGAAs a mountain guide and alpine climber, I spend a lot of time considering the “what if” of a worst-case scenario in the backcountry. While I work diligently on the prevention side of the equation, I’m sure...