Salt Lake City, UT - Like it or not, we're living in a society that's powered by batteries. Cameras, GPS units, mobile phones and more all need power. These devices all have a place in the backcountry, but if you're spending a few days in the middle of nowhere that power is likely to...
Salt Lake City, UT - I'll readily admit that there's something amiss, something nearly wrong, about paying more for a ski jacket than a new pair of skis. But if you're the type of person who's perpetually cold, the ability to stay warm on the chilliest of days is nearly priceless. We had a...
Salt Lake City, UT - It's not often that we're impressed with an entire line of skis, but that was precisely our experience with new lineup from H2O Outdoor Gear (H2OG). While Outdoor Retailer was being held in our home town of Salt Lake City, several members of our staff were invited to accompany...
Salt Lake City, UT - Back in September, Salomon announced the 2012-13 release of its first alpine touring (AT), or randonée ski binding, the Guardian 16. Our head Gear Guru participated in a Salomon focus group two seasons ago and got an early look at the first prototype of this binding and he’s been...
Grand Rapids, MI - Founders Brewing Co. and Epic Planks have announced the release of their collaborative skis and snowboards. “Founders and Epic Planks have so much in common,” says James Barber, one of the owners of Epic Planks. “We’re both about enjoying life and being more than just a couch decoration.” “We really...
Niseko, Japan - In January I spent three days skiing in Japan's Hakuba Valley, site of the 1998 Olympic alpine events, and eight more days on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, which over the past decade has attracted a growing number of powder skiers from all over the globe thanks to the world's...
Editor's Note: Yes, we realize that we're a ski and snowboard periodical. This trip, however, relives an epic journey that would please any outdoors-oriented person and has thus been chosen for publication at First Tracks!! Online. Moab, UT - The jet boat weaves from one shore to the other as its captain seeks out...
Pincher Creek (AB), Canada - The most common form of a rhombus is of course referred to as a diamond, and Castle Mountain is a diamond in so many forms. Unlike the ski resorts located inside the National Parks of Alberta, Castle is instead in a remote narrow valley well south of Calgary and...
Banff (AB), Canada - Mount Norquay is not at all what it seems. You look at the trail map and the ski area looks kind of small. You read the stats and see only 190 acres of terrain. I am here to tell you that all of it is just an illusion. This place...
Lake Louise (AB), Canada - There are only a few truly huge ski resorts in North America, and Lake Louise is a member of that select crowd. It spans the front south-facing and back north-facing sides of a large mountain as well as a decent portion of a second mountain. Somewhat uniquely, in spite...
