Knowledge Library

If you’re a beginner hiker or just new to hiking in the mountains, tackling your first 14er can seem like a daunting task. Luckily, 14ers don’t have to be hard or all that scary, and you can take some of that stress away by simply going in prepared. A 14er is a mountain that meets or exceeds 14,000 feet. There are 96 peaks in the United States that can be classified as a 14er. Colorado has the most 14ers in the US at a whopping 53, and Alaska comes in second with 29. That’s a lot of mountains and a...

The seven principles of Leave No Trace are: - Plan Ahead and Prepare - Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces - Dispose of Waste Properly - Leave What You Find - Minimize Fire Impacts - Respect Wildlife - Be Considerate of Others. These principles and the science supporting them are explained on the LNT website, which has detailed articles on each, as well as an interactive map and links to published research..

If you’re looking to take to the trails and either get off the pavement or to start your running journey on a dirt path, this guide will show you how. I’m going to go over: What to expect when you start trail running. What gear you’ll need and what gear you may want to invest in later down the road…err…trail. How to best plan and prepare for trail running.

It’s the middle of winter, and you’re anchored to the side of a frozen waterfall. Your hands are going numb from clutching two sharp objects, and you’re kicking your way up the ice with sharp spikes on your feet. Stopping makes it worse since your sweat has a chase to freeze in the below-freezing temperatures. When you get to the top, you have to descend by using bits of metal and string attached to the ice to lower yourself and your partner to the snow-covered ground. Welcome to ice climbing. I always say I have no idea why I continue...

If you’re reading this, you’re probably already hearing the siren song of the backcountry. She sings of deep powder and great views. Of empty, wide-open spaces far from the crowds jostling for the first chair at the resort.But for many, that magical world feels so far away. So how do you learn how to start backcountry skiing? Whether you're someone who has skied the resorts for years, or you have never even slid down the mountain with board(s) strapped to your feet, if you hear that song calling to you, there's a place for you in the backcountry.Maybe, like me,...