Author: Jenny Willden

Another winter is coming, and there are plenty of changes coming to Utah’s ski resorts. We’re highlighting everything from improved eats to new lifts, so you can better plan your snowy season ahead. Wannabe skiers and snowboarders: Don’t forget that January is Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month nationwide. Many Utah resorts participate and offer packages containing a lift ticket, rentals, and first-time lesson for $45. It’s a great way to try your hand at wintersports on the cheap. [separator type=”line” /] Alta Not a new program, but worth a mention. If you want to get in a few afternoon…

Can’t-Miss Utah Ski Swaps & Gear Sales This Fall Get cash for your season pass by unloading your used winter gear at a local, or shop for new-to-you ski or snowboarding gear! This big list includes swaps in Ogden, Orem, Salt Lake, and Park City. Did we miss your favorite one? Send the details to editor@sportsguidemag.com, and we’ll post it online. October 14 WEBER STATE OUTDOOR PROGRAM SALE AND SWAP—Weber State Lower Bell Tower Plaza, Ogden, UT. 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. All are welcome to bring equipment to sell. Free admission. Sale includes: skis, snowboards, snowshoes, ski boots, snowboard boots, kayaks, canoes, paddles, life…

Healthy Ideas for Backpacking Meals, Snacks, and Coffee Autumn is primo backpacking season in Utah thanks to the stunning colors and cool temps. If you backpack often, or even if you’re just getting into it, you may be looking for an alternative to bagged meals full of mystery preservatives and oversalted ingredients. But carrying regular food along adds enough weight to give you a backache. So what’s best solution for eating better in the backcountry while saving money and time? Here are two easy ways to make backpacking meals better: 1) have healthy, pre-made meals shipped to you 2) pre-bag…

On a recent Friday night, my friend Rachael and I had full-on cabin fever. We needed out of Salt Lake City, but weren’t up for a road trip. So we packed our backpacking gear and headed for the hills, choosing Lake Blanche as our destination. The sun quickly set and we hiked through darkness. The typically crowded trails were empty as we gained elevation, leaving the glowing lights of the city far behind us. We reached the top near midnight and quickly cooked some backpacking pesto pasta. As soon as we took our first bites, we immediately knew it would…

For families, festival-goers, glampers, and campers who like a lot of space, Therm-A-Rest’s 2017 Tranquility Tents are the perfect basecamp pick. This summer I traveled by float plane to Orcas Island near Seattle to preview and test out Therm-A-Rest’s first foray into tents, the Tranquilty Series, launching in 4- and 6-person sizes this spring. Tents were the last missing piece in Therm-A-Rest’s complete camping collection of pads, chairs, hammocks, and sleeping bags, and their effort in designing this car camping collection right paid off. As someone who camps in my three-person backpacking tent for nearly every camping trip, spending three nights at Camp Therm-A-Rest…

The YETI Presents Stories from the Wild Film Tour invites you to get to know this cooler and cup-making company in a new way. Enjoy a night of BBQ and beer, YETI screenings of amazing films, YETI stories, products, and more. Event is at High West Distillery in Park City on Sunday, October 2 beginning at 6:00 p.m. $20 ticket includes BBQ, two drink tickets, one raffle ticket, and one YETI stainless cup. 100% of ticket cost goes to charity partner American Rivers, which works to conserve and protect the country’s wild rivers. Get your tickets HERE, and we’ll see you there!

First Chair Festival Kicks Off Winter with Ski Movies, Giveaways, and More Celebrate winter’s return in Salt Lake City at the inaugural First Chair Festival set to take place at The Complex in downtown Salt Lake City on September 17. The largest ski-centric event of the year, event organizers at POWDER and NEWSCHOOLERS.COM will bring the magic of the mountain to the heart of Salt Lake. First Chair Festival will feature world-class musical artists, anticipated ski film premieres, and a giant pop-up retail experience replete with product giveaways, pro athlete appearances, and autograph signings. Expect extras like live music, food vendors, interactive photo booths, and more. Headlining…

FOUR INDUCTEES JOINING SKI HALL OF FAME SEPT. 21   Watch four skiing stars become the newest inductees of the Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame at a reception, ceremony, and dinner on September 21, 2016 in Park City. The inductees are Olympic alpine skiing medalist and broadcast analyst Christin Cooper, Paralympic cross-country skiing medalist Steve Cook, Group Rossignol American president Ron Steele, and the late chairlift engineer Jan Leonard, cofounder of the Cable Transportation Engineering Corporation and former president of what became Doppelmayer CTEC. All 2016 inductees were selected by a committee of 10 members, which reviews nominations submitted by…

The Best Summer Gear for Long, Hot Days With 100-degree temps still cooking the country, it’s tough to imagine summer could be anywhere near ending. If you’re tired of sunburning, sweating, being eaten alive by mosquitos, or otherwise toughing it out with sub-par summer gear, now’s the time to upgrade. These 14 finds are guaranteed to make the remaining days of summer exploration feel a lot cooler. Bonus: Some of these items are now on clearance. Under Armour CoolSwitch Technically designed for fishing, these UPF 30 shirts are ideal for any sunshiney adventure. Why? The magical inner coating sucks summer heat…

This is not the most flattering photo of me, but I chose it because this is my authentic, “What have I gotten myself into?” face. I can fake a cheesy smile, but here we’re about to embark on The Main Event (AKA super scary part) of Telluride’s Via Ferrata where you traverse a ledgeless cliff section using just metal rungs. A hater of heights, I made it my goal to master my fear by completing this route. Each step felt shaky, but the stellar views and sense of terror/accomplishment I felt made every step worthwhile. In this issue, we show…