As a 25-year resident of Colorado (and someone whose passion for getting outside started in the mid-Atlantic region in the 70’s and 80’s), there are few activities that have not been woven into my life. Be it rock and ice climbing, mountain biking, backpacking, backcountry skiing, fly fishing, camping, etc…there is not enough time in the day (or in the year for that matter) to tackle all that our hearts desire. And speaking of hearts, I had a rather gigantic health scare last year when some routine exams following a yearly physical revealed potentially deadly blockages building up in my arteries that left untreated, likely would have killed me. In April of 2022, at the age of 48, I had a quadruple bypass surgery and set my sights on bouncing back into a life of adventure ASAP. A good buddy of mine proposed the idea of a surgery-versary trip…looking out one year from the surgery and marking the occasion and comeback with a trip.
So, you’re planning a tropical escape for the last lingering weeks of winter or spring break getaway. Good idea! As much as we love hitting the slopes, creating cozy nooks at home, and watching fresh snowfall, we equally appreciate recharging in the warm sun and hot sand. Naturally, we have a list of items that we bring with us to protect and organize our gear. Let’s take a look:
With travel ramping up again after two years of laying low, it can be easy to forget essentials or pack way too much. With adventure racing as our main profession, where packing the right gear plays a big part, we have developed some good tips that we think translate well to packing for a family adventure.
Nite Ize is such an innovative company making an amazingly wide and diverse set of products, most of which go totally and completely unnoticed as they are utility tools that discreetly make my life and adventures far more comfortable and organized! Below is a list of 5 of the most mission critical tools that my team and I always have on hand, and some uses that may been seen as unorthodox!
Are the mountains calling but it’s the dead of winter? You might consider planning a group winter hut or yurt trip, skiing or snowshoeing in with your pals through the beautiful backcountry. Winter travel in the backcountry might seem intimidating if you’ve never done it before, but it can be a truly unique and fun experience (not to mention crowd-free)—as long as you’re well prepared. Our in-house Gear Geniuses have put together a list of tips for snowy backcountry adventures that will help you make the most of your trip.
It’s no secret, I love to travel! Whether it’s for business, vacation, or to visit friends and family, I take advantage of every opportunity I can to get out of the house. For me, one of the most stressful ways to travel is by air. During my travels, I’ve learned some tips and tricks from fellow travelers that have made traversing through airports easier and less stressful. After many trips for both business and pleasure, I’ve put together a list of my favorite travel hacks for the navigating the airport, while on the airplane, and once I’ve reached my destination.
My first long distance road trip was a complete failure. I had been riding for years, so I felt assured I could manage a multi- day trip for a couple thousand miles. It was early June in Colorado, and about 5 hours into the ride it started snowing, which turned into a white out. It was wet, heavy and cold and I was not prepared. It was in the high 70’s when I left home, so I was wearing a half helmet, fingerless gloves and a leather jacket. After waiting out the storm on the side of the road and giving time for the snow to melt, I continued, freezing, until I made it to a gas station. I consumed large amounts of hot coffee and chocolate attempting a warm up. The only clothing options available to try to keep dry on the road were bright yellow dishwashing gloves and a shower cap. I planned to be Wyatt from Easy Rider, but I looked like Scuba Steve and I felt miserable. I was so embarrassed I couldn’t even look at the other riders when I finished that days ride.
I’ve learned a number of lessons on my rides throughout the years. To save your ego and get you safely to your next destination, I’ve put together some helpful hints from my years on the road.
As professional adventure racers and race directors my husband Jason and I love big endurance training trips. But as new parents of Max (4) and Revel (1.5) it has been a fascination to look for ways to incorporate more adventure, play and training into our family life. One of our most favorite ways to check all of these boxes is to go on family bike-packing trips. When we had just one kid, it was much easier to go on backpacking trips (one person carried the kid, the other the camping gear), but once we added little brother Revel to the mix, we quickly turned to looking for other alternatives that allowed for us to manage even more gear and weight.
We just got back from our fourth bike packing trip through Central Oregon and it was amazing. We took 4 days (3 nights) to do 120 miles, most of it on dirt roads with lots of play stops along the way. Every night we ended at a different lake or river to ensure easy water access and lots of water, dirt and sand play (a kid’s dream). On average, we rode hard for about 2-3 hours before our first stop and tried to do a second push in the early to late afternoon after the kids had worn themselves out. A few days into the trip, we hit a small town, which proved to be a fun stop for the kids and enabled us to carry less weight in food and water knowing that we could refill during the trip.
Imagine a quaint, red rock western town that used to be one of the most isolated spots in the lower 48. What comes to mind? You may be thinking Moab or Sedona, but the town I am talking about is further off the beaten path than either of those: it is a small pioneer town in Southern Utah by the name of Kanab.
Kanab is located smack between Zion, Bryce, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It is a fantastic jumping off point for many of the Colorado Plateau’s incredible national parks; it is also home to me personally, and to the guides of Dreamland Safari Tours – a hardy bunch of most excellent backcountry desert guides with decades of experience in delighting guests by creating access to hard-to-reach locations like the Wave, White Pocket, and more.
Summer is here and we’re more excited about it than ever. Considering how limiting our summer activities were last year, we’re looking to make up for lost time and make the most out of each and every long day this season. Here are 10 ways you can celebrate summer to the max, plus a piece of gear for each activity that will make the experience easier and/or more fun.
