Uncategorized Archives - Mountain Magazine

Culture

Simi Hamilton, 29

Another big lung mountain freak that’s really not all that freakish.

Culture

MPOWERD

Eradicating energy poverty one Luci light at a time.

Gear

Time Tested Gear: Hoka One One Tor Ultra Hi WP

The Claim: By now we’ve all seen people running on the road or trail outfitted in thick-soled rockered sneakers. Branded as a “category-defining outdoor boot,” Hoka One One claims the shoes provide support, traction, and cushioning, as well as full waterproofing, and a smooth, guided ride thanks to Meta-Rocker. Field Test: I received a pair of Tor Ultras just in time for my biggest annual challenge: elk archery season in Northern New Mexico. My hunting days consist of scouring the hardest of scrabble, traversing ankle-deep muck, navigating a labyrinth of wind fallen trees, or scrambling over rock and scree well above tree line—if you…...

Uncategorized

The Best Women’s Skis 2016

Skier: Cait Morgan | Location: Mineral Basin, Snowbird | photograph Lee Cohen We’ve been saying that women-specific skis have come of age for six years, but this time we really mean it. As with the unisex skis, they’re easier than ever to handle, but without sacrificing stability. by Olivia Dwyer <pure frontside 100 percent on-trail> #1 Elan Insomnia Fusion Elan designed the Insomnia asymmetrically—like your feet, there’s a dedicated left and a right. On the hill, the inside edges offer traditional camber for reliable grip. But the rockered, and less powerful, outside edge of the ski makes for a loose and…...

Environment

Editorial: Saving the Jumbo Wild

Vince Anderson and Steve House in British Columbia’s Purcell Mountains (Photo Christian Pondella/Patagonia). British Columbia doesn’t need another mega-resort; British Columbia needs glaciers and grizzly bears. By Assistant Editor Kiran Herbert For most people, the idea of wilderness is just that, an idea. Often, when we camp our cars are close by, and when we’re truly in the middle of nowhere—where the landscape is unmarred by industrialization—we’re in a commercial airliner. Wild places like the Jumbo Valley, nestled deep in British Columbia’s Purcell Mountains, a core habitat for grizzly bears, with no roads, and a human population of zero, are…...

Gear

Time Tested Gear: Rab Ignition 3

Field Test: When I camped al fresco in the Baja desert, heavy dew never impacted the loft and this synthetic bag dried quickly. Rab’s proprietary fill uses long, hollow strands for warmth retention, mixed with microfibers for packability. Both are hydrophobic. Why It’s Timeless: Packs impressively small for a synthetic. Endurance Factor: When it rained so hard the tent failed, this bag stayed dry and true to the 36-degree rating. $145; rab.equipment/us —Ryan Stuart From the Early Summer 2015 issue....

Culture

Portfolio: Steve Ogle

First Person Shooter: Steve Ogle You’d expect the overlap between ornithologists and powder skiers to span little common ground, but that’s where Steve Ogle lives. A biologist by training, summer finds Ogle in the Coast Mountains, where he nets and bands migratory birds for research. He also leads birding trips to Central and South America—he snapped a puma from six feet away in Chile last fall. At home in Nelson, BC, the photographer finds soft turns, singletrack, and alpine vistas for his outdoor portfolio. It’s an extensive résumé, but Ogle’s not working too hard. “I’m quite happy with a moderate level…...

Resorts

MTN Lodges: The Lodge at Millstone Hill | Websterville, VT

Overview: Built in the 1880s, this classic dairy barn was moved to a site near the epicenter of Vermont’s bygone granite quarry industry 30 years ago. The renovations converted the building into a five-bedroom post and beam lodge that sleeps up to a dozen people. Our Take: The homey lodge sits amid snowfields with views of the Green Mountains. Play cards, drink hot cocoa, and talk deep into the night around a stately wooden banquet table. Stay Here If: You want human-powered adventure on Nordic skis or fat bikes. Millstone grooms a healthy portion of its 70-mile trail network. Plus, the surrounding…...

Gear

Powder Surf Skis 2015: K2 Annex 118

#5 K2 Annex 118 The redesigned Annex 118 is a blend of powder rocker (for surfing), low camber (for big turn stability), and an understated tapering of the tip and tail (for off-trail steering). Our test team was impressed by how damp and powerful the 118 feels when rocketing over frozen crud, while still skiing easy at slower speeds in deeper snow. On the packed trail, it’s less of a carver and more of a smooth bomber—but you can work the edges in the center of the turn. “Gives you the confidence to point it into a chute,” said one…...

Resorts

Breaking News: Research indicates that winter will follow autumn this year

We track the startling resort openings and steady accumulation of what astrophysicists are now calling “light matter” or more casually “pow pow.” Whistler, BC— When the weather broke on November 1, a helicopter carrying five athletes took flight from this remote outpost somewhere north of Seattle. The exploratory team debarked on the Blackcomb Glacier where guides promptly dug a snow study pit while—we assume—the “athletes” smoked cigarettes impatiently. Their findings: nearly eight inches of fresh powder on a 70-inch base. One by one, the posse surfed high-altitude fluff turns. Early reports indicate that everyone present was “super stoked.” Tune back…...

Uncategorized

#mountainmoment Photo Contest 2015

Mountain magazine’s #mountainmoment Photo Contest 2015 OFFICIAL RULES Important: Please read these Official Rules before entering this online contest promotion (the “Promotion”). By clicking on the “Submit” button below, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and represent that you satisfy all of the eligibility requirements below. PURCHASE OR PAYMENT IS NOT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION. UNLIMITED PHOTO ENTRIES PER PERSON. 1. Eligibility. PROMOTION VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. PROMOTION OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE FIFTY (50) UNITED STATES (EXCLUDING FLORIDA AND RHODE ISLAND) AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OR CANADA (EXCLUDING QUEBEC), AGE 18 OR OLDER. IF…...

Uncategorized

Arc’teryx Giveaway Terms & Policies

Mountain magazine’s Arc’teryx Giveaway OFFICIAL RULES Important: Please read these Official Rules before entering this online sweepstakes promotion (the “Promotion”). By clicking on the “Submit” button, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and represent that you satisfy all of the eligibility requirements below. PURCHASE OR PAYMENT IS NOT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION. LIMITED TO ONE (1) ENTRIES PER PERSON, PER HOUSEHOLD. 1. Eligibility. PROMOTION VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. PROMOTION OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE FIFTY (50) UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OR CANADA, AGE 18 OR OLDER. IF YOU DO NOT…...

Uncategorized

Vermont Ski Vacation Sweepstakes Terms & Policies

Mountain magazine’s Vermont Ski Vacation Sweepstakes OFFICIAL RULES Important: Please read these Official Rules before entering this online sweepstakes promotion (the “Promotion”). By clicking on the “Submit” button below, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and represent that you satisfy all of the eligibility requirements below. PURCHASE OR PAYMENT IS NOT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION. LIMITED TO ONE (1) ENTRIES PER PERSON, PER HOUSEHOLD. 1. Eligibility. PROMOTION VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. PROMOTION OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE FIFTY (50) UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OR CANADA (EXCLUDING QUEBEC), AGE 18 OR OLDER. IF…...

Uncategorized

MTN Advocate: Sierra Club Mission Outdoors

We give the Mountain pulpit to: Stacy Bare, director of Sierra Club Mission Outdoors. I sat in an airport recently, duded up in the only suit I own. A kid sat down next to me and promptly asked if I was a secret agent. And if I was, he continued, when did they start allowing secret agents to grow beards? I hated to disappoint the little fellow, but I looked him square in the eye and told him, “I. Am. Not. A. Secret. Agent.” He wasn’t surprised I couldn’t tell him the truth. The more I thought about it, though, the…...