Author: Melissa McGibbon

How to Get the Perfect Ski Boot Fit No doubt about it, ill-fitting ski boots are likely the reason many beginners give up trying to learn the sport. And any seasoned skier will tell you that having the right gear makes a world of difference in your skiing ability. While it’s easy to defer to the cushiest boots you fit into, they might actually hold you back. Most people buy ski boots based solely on the length of their foot, which is a mistake because there are many other factors that go into finding the best boots for your feet.…

Gear of the Year: Ski Buyer’s Guide Ready to update your ski or snowboard gear? Late winter is prime time to buy. Why? Sales! Find great deals on current season gear from our favorite makers. If you’re shopping for new ski boots, check out our story to get the proper fit before you buy. Skiing Burton Anon Nova MIPS Helmet Made of a hybrid 50-50 shell construction for durability and performance, this has the MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) to protect your smart parts and the Boa tightening system for dialing in a perfect fit. $219 Burton Anon Goggle and…

Why Telluride is My Favorite Mountain Town To be fair, I have not been to every mountain town, but I’ve been to most of them in the western United States and can say with some certainty that a summer visit to Telluride will have you agreeing with me. Each direction you look offers a stunning view of the mountains. The Victorian-era houses that line its main street, Colorado Avenue, are well-kept. And the vibe is super chill – local residents seem fit, happy, and friendly. I could spend all day watching the world go by while sitting on a large…

Rowin’ on the River: Paddling the Arkansas, Rowing Cataract If you’re not out there running the rivers this season, what are you even doing with your life? The mucho grande snowpack from one of the snowiest ever seasons in the Rocky Mountains means this year’s whitewater rafting is stupidly splendid! Every watershed in the west has an average of 125% to 135% normal snowpack, which translates to a f*** ton more water in the rivers we run. To that end, these are two nearby rivers you should float while the gettin’ is good. If you prefer to paddle: The Arkansas…

Performance and Recovery Benefits of CBD Oil Papa’s Got a Brand New… Dab Endurance athletes often push themselves both physically and mentally while training for their sport, which can eventually cause exhaustion and even pain. A new option for alleviating some of these symptoms is CBD oil, a natural remedy recently legalized in all 50 states. Yes, even Utah! What is CBD oil? Scientifically speaking, cannabidiol is one of the 104 naturally occurring chemical compounds, known as cannabinoids, found in the marijuana plant (aka the devil’s lettuce) and hemp. CBD is related to, but different than, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is…

A Tale of Two Skinnies I’ve always been intrigued by cross-country skiing. Why—for the love—would anyone bother with cross-country skiing in Utah, where we have some of the best downhill skiing on the planet? It bewildered me. So I tried it. And you know what I kept thinking while I was doing it? Why haven’t I done this before!?! It was fun and easy and a whole new way to enjoy the snow. By easy, I don’t mean I picked it up right away—I fell roughly 83 times during the first hour and found myself nervous to ski slight downhill…

Champagne Powder and Hot Springs Dreams “I’m giddy with joy. Above me, blue skies and sunshine punctuated with idyllic cumulus clouds. Before me, feet of untouched powder. M’ladies and I exchange quick glances acknowledging our good fortune as we pick our lines and float through the perfectly spaced trees.” Last February, my friends and I took the scenic 5.5-hour road trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado to experience the reputed Champagne Powder at Steamboat Resort. I had the best day of my ski season on the second day of the trip because we stumbled upon a whole stash of hero snow…

Visiting Glacier National Park – The Continental Crown Glacier National Park is mystifyingly beautiful. Its dramatic, saw-toothed aretes and ancient glaciers jut high in the sky while unspoiled expanses of land and lakes roamed by wild creatures sprawl out below. It’s hard to believe such enchanting wilderness actually exists. The Crown of the Continent No doubt early explorer George Bird Grinnell felt the same. He made it his purpose to get the area made a national park so its natural riches could be shared with the people and protected from land developers. Happily, Grinnell and his consortium of fellow conservationists…

What is the Ketogenic Diet? You may have heard of the Paleo Diet and the Whole30 Program, but have you heard of the Keto Diet? Despite being introduced in 1924, it’s recently gained popularity as the latest trending diet and has people ditching carbs for fats. The Keto (short for ketogenic) Diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet, in which the body produces ketones in the liver to use as energy instead of carbohydrates. The result is a build-up of byproducts from the body breaking down fat for energy, called ketones, that occur when carbohydrate intake is low. This causes body…

All Quiet on the Wasatch Front: 6 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues Bears aren’t the only ones hibernating. Short days, freezing temperatures, and scarce powder alerts have slowed hobnobbing and happenings to almost a complete stop. After the holidays are over, winter socializing stalls. However, you could view the lack of frozen flakes in the mountains as an opportunity to seek alternative wintry merriment. For curious souls in search of exploits beyond the ski slopes, there exists an almost endless array of unique experiences to beat the winter blues, some of which are exclusive to Utah. Here are six…