When backpacking in alpine environments, or anywhere for that matter, I’m a stickler for following Leave No Trace principles. Let me rephrase that, I’m a pain in the bottom about it. Yet until recently, I didn’t realize I was inadvertently violating one of those principles – Leave What You Find. I’ll explain. There is a statement under that subhead that …
FlipBelt Hydration Belt Review
Heaving myself through the living room window, I prayed the neighbors wouldn’t call the police… My keys were laying somewhere in the city park after falling out of a running belt that didn’t have a key clip. Not a successful end to a short run. “Such are the hazards of gear testing,” I mused. I also promised to return …
My [growing] Collection of Top Utah Hiking Trails
In this post I share my top Utah hiking trail posts organized by area, season, difficulty and even one for dogs who hike. Most I published on Ski Utah’s blog under my name or as the “Yeti,” their ultra cool mascot. The lists are simple collections of the most popular hikes or others I’ve discovered are worth lacing up your …
Hydrating for Extreme Adventure
Headaches, nausea, and confusion are wearing you down and you can’t continue. “I have to turn back,” you mumble, calling an end to your bucket-list adventure trip. Months of hard work and training are wasted, and you ask yourself how this could happen. The answer is likely dehydration. Dehydration, commonly perceived as a heat-related illness, can strike under many other …
Why it took 13.1 miles to believe I’m a runner
I’m a runner. There, I said it. I wouldn’t believe it until I ran a half-marathon, but now I can’t deny it. I didn’t run just any half, I ran the North Face Endurance Challenge Series, one of the toughest out there…a trail run, beginning at 6,900 feet, and climbing to nearly 9,000 feet. Running a half-marathon at any age …
What to Expect at the Alta Lodge
I’m always on the prowl for hangouts with local flavor. Even though Steve and I ski at Alta most of the winter, I had yet to visit a single business other than the on mountain cafes. Finally a few folks got wise to my single-minded visits (powder skiing) and invited me to spend the night. Of course I accepted, but …
Sun Dog: A moving and inspiring ski film (VIDEO)
Sun Dog, a short film produced by DPS Cinematic, is easily the best short bit of adventure cinema I’ve seen in an exceptionally long time. It had me all misty eyed at the premiere and I’ve watched twice since. Now that it has been publicly released, I’m excited to share it with you! Take five minutes and enjoy! In the …
Finding strength on Lone Peak
Success is achieved by developing our strengths, not by eliminating our weaknesses. – Marilyn vos Savant Utah’s Lone Peak tops at out 11,263’ and is considered the most difficult 11,000+ peak in the Wasatch Rage due to the mileage and vertical gain. It is an imposing peak, visible from Salt Lake City to Provo. With an average grade less than …
14 ski resort events delivering holiday cheer
Here is a fun piece I wrote for Liftopia.com on holiday events. ~ Enjoy! ‘Tis the season for skiing powder! Oh, and the holidays are upon us as well. I’d rather bury my head in the snow than deal with shopping and, luckily, there are some festive ski resort events taking place across the U.S. and the Canadian Rockies. …
5 Ways To Overcome Fear On The Slopes
The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. ~ Nelson Mandela Fear is no fun. And learning to ski or ride for the first time, or leveling up to new a challenge, can bring it up. It doesn’t matter that a run is an easy green; if it’s new for you, …