Author: Melissa McGibbon

Ice Climbing in Cody, Wyoming Cody is an unassuming un-tropolis of 10,000 in northern Wyoming—about 50 miles from the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park—steeped in history and rich with natural beauty that was surely created to entice adventurous undertakings. This western frontier town was founded in 1901 by none other than Colonel William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody and has since become a fascinating whistle-stop with much to see and do. An Ice Climbing Mecca What Buffalo Bill probably wasn’t expecting is that the area would become one of the best ice climbing destinations in the west due to its…

11 Winter Gear Must-Haves Salomon Mirage+ Ski Helmet This helmet/goggles combination is a game-changing progressive step in ski gear. It’s built with EPS 4D technology for improved safety and has an easy lens changing system. $300 Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody Patagonia’s lightest, most packable, insulated jacket to-date. Pair it with a waterproof shell for a warm, dry, and happy day on the hill. $299 Black Diamond Spark Powder Gloves These powerful gloves have an extended powder cuff and fleece lining that promise to keep hands warm and dry regardless of weather conditions and daily use. $109 Arc’teryx Shashka Jacket and…

Winter is Coming Ski season is almost here! If you usually buy a season pass to one or two of Utah’s many magnificent resorts, you know it includes as many vertical feet as you can handle, but your season pass also includes a bevy of other benefits such as skiing multiple days for free at partner resorts and steep discounts on food, lodging, and shopping. Here’s what’s on the menu at some of Utah’s major ski resorts for the 2017/2018 ski and snowboard season: Ski Utah Gold Pass $4,900 // Silver Pass $3,150 For ballers and ballers-in-training who purchased the…

When I signed up for Pursuit Series at Snowbasin, UT, I knew it would be cool, but it didn’t know it would be so freaking cool! It’s is a three-day outdoor event that includes a ton of activities, courses, instructors, music, food, drinks, and FUN! It’s a new first-of-its-kind event hosted by The Outbound Collective and a bunch of top-notch sponsors, including CamelBak, Icebreaker, Smith Optics,  Kuju Coffee, Barebones Living, Altra Running, and Trek, among others. This year’s Utah edition returns to Snowbasin June 27-29, and you can still get tickets.  Fair warning, it’s hard on those of us who…

How to Get the Best River Permits in the West What are the most coveted permits for private (non-commercial) river trips in the West? Rivers that flow through protected wilderness areas have the lowest odds of launch date victory but are well worth the trouble it takes to win entry. May the odds be ever in your favor. To achieve DIY paddling glory in the Grand Canyon, Selway River, and Gates of Lodore, you’ll have to have a qualified trip leader who has a working knowledge of whitewater safety, general first aid, river equipment repair, technical maneuverability skills, and solid…

Adventures in Yellowstone National Park In 1872, expedition and geological survey leaders—who had experienced the splendor of the Yellowstone area and recognized its inestimable value—persuaded President Ulysses S. Grant and members of Congress to establish Yellowstone as the world’s first national park. I have vivid memories of visiting Yellowstone for the first time when I was a kid. Our family did the usual stuff—watched Old Faithful erupt, marveled at the Grand Prismatic Spring, and hiked around the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone to find the best view of Yellowstone Falls. And though I have been there many times since then,…

5 Must-Visit Ski Resort Lounges If you only go to the resorts to play in the powder, you’re missing out. Utah’s ski and snowboard resorts have much more to offer than lift rides and snowy slopes. Each resort’s unique atmosphere is replete with niche hot spots where good eats and drinks are the perfect complement to après ski adventures. Also, if you’re really at the resorts just to show off your new faux fur (note: real fur—always tacky) trimmed outfit, there’s no need to wait for beer thirty: You can revel in the many see-and-be-seen locales on the mountain bell…

Raging Blue Getting tossed around a boat by glacially cold, raging waters is awfully entertaining. I could actually feel my character building as we made our way through Big Swirly Rapid on the Upper Clackamas River. I tried my best to keep paddling as the river served up consecutive ice bucket challenges to my face, but to our professional guide, Chris Lessick of Blue Sky Rafting, it probably looked like I was just trying to swat the splashes away. The Clackamas River is one of the best whitewater rivers to paddle in Oregon, and it’s conveniently close to downtown Portland.…

Mountain Biking in Santa Fe Santa Fe is the kind of place you might imagine when you think of the American Southwest. Coyote fences surround the distinctive Pueblo Revival-style buildings adorned with hanging red chile garlands. It’s the oldest state capital city in the United States and the oldest city in New Mexico. Santa Fe was founded by Spanish colonists in 1610—the same year Galileo discovered the moons of Jupiter and Louis XIII of France was crowned—but we didn’t go to Santa Fe to explore its rich cultural history. We didn’t go there to explore its wide array of museums…

If you wake up in Mexico but you had no intention of going there the day before, chances are you’re involved in some kind of trouble–or you signed up for Questival. As your annual race calendar fills up, you may want to leave room for the third annual Cotopaxi Questival Adventure Race in Salt Lake City. (1) What is Questival? Questival is a self-guided adventure race (see: grown-up scavenger hunt that is also kid friendly) where teams compete to complete the most of the 300ish challenges provided by the Cotopaxi team via smartphone app. Participants can download the free…