Author: Melissa McGibbon

When I first learned about backcountry skiing I thought it was inane. However, my disbelief that people would willingly engage in this outdoor pursuit quickly evolved into biting curiosity. I thought, let me get this straight…I will have to purchase an entirely new ski set-up and expensive touring necessities so that I may endure hours of uphill drudgery—all for the grandeur of dropping down one measly slope? That seems most all unsatisfying. And, by the way, skinning doesn’t exactly sound like a pleasant activity. Alas, many of my friends are avid backcountry excursionists, and it pains me to be left…

Instead of making your garage an homage to your formative years, trade in your used gear for some new, better, faster goods, or just some fresh cash. Conversely, if you’re in the market for some new-to-you stoke, there are many sweet deals out there. How much money can you get? A good rule of thumb is to divide the retail price in half and then take 30% off of that. Be realistic. There probably isn’t a huge market of potential buyers for your ski boots that were already semi-crappy when you bought them, so be willing to negotiate.

Technical Fashionable Boots for Fall and Winter By Melissa McGibbon and Jenny Willden Tested and tormented—this season’s newest boots are made for more than just walking. Chaco Women’s Credence Chacos aren’t just for summer anymore! Enjoy the arch support of Chaco’s LUVSEAT™ platform in colder months with these full grain leather upper boots. Designed to pull on for quick entry or exit with a non-marking Vibram® outsole that grips in wintry conditions with ease. $200 chacos.com

I’m a Lacto-Ovo Pescatarian. Bravo if you know what that means. If you don’t, it means I’m basically vegetarian, but dairy products and fish are acceptable forms of foodstuff for me. I also live an extremely active lifestyle, I have mountains to climb and waves to surf, so I have to feed my body the right provisions to keep up with my omnivorous counterparts. I’m not a preachatarian, go ahead and eat all the bacon you like, but if you are wondering…it’s a piece of cake to thrive without chowing cow. Sure, stashing jerky in a pack is easier than…

The Best Crack Climbing Destinations Within 5 Hours Photo by Ritchie Espenilla Crack is addictive. At some point most climbers will try it. At first, of course, it is mere curiosity. It seems innocent enough, and hey, all your friends are doing it. They flaunt their full racks of shiny cams and smile at you persuasively as they make their tape gloves. Here’s the dirtbag truth; they want you hooked too. Sure, they’ll lead the first couple of routes for you, but then, your itch becomes irascible and eventually you succumb to it. You have been awakened to the splendor…

Ultra marathon runner Karl Meltzer is known as “The Speedgoat.” He started running competitively when he was eight. In 1989, Meltzer moved to Utah from New Hampshire to ski at Snowbird and Alta for the season. But like most folks who think they are just “passing through,” he couldn’t convince himself to depart the Rockies after the snow melted. He bought a mountain bike and embarked on a discovery of the Wasatch terrain. But didn’t take long for Meltzer to ditch the bike and start trail running. He never looked back.

Performance Underwear for Guys and Gals It’s time to mention the unmentionables and reveal the truth about your most intimate layers! At the age of six I was devastated to learn that wearing my Wonder Woman Underoos did not actually endow me with special superhero powers, despite my earnest efforts to invoke the magic by pairing them with a cape. Ironically they were made from cotton, which sport science has since proved, in fact inhibits athletic performance. Nothing against the touch, the feel, the fabric of our lives, but when it comes to a full day of ski touring, ice…

We are climbers. We will sleep on a port-a-ledge, live out of our cars, put Cams on our wedding registries, and forego lunch for months so that we can invest in a nice rack and spend our days shimmying up off-widths. When the warm weather slips away and the rock becomes covered in ice, we don’t say a tearful goodbye to our summertime rockmance. We pack our crampons and tools and head into the bitter cold. Hello ice!

GEAR ESSENTIALS FOR WINTER CAMPING When I was a kid, I wanted to build an igloo and live in it. I thought perhaps I would have some penguin pals and maybe there would be a friendly polar bear family in the neighborhood. Now, as an adult, though not necessarily a grown-up, I’ve learned that if I want to camp in the snow I don’t need to cuddle with a yeti in order to avoid becoming a peoplecicle; I just need the right gear. Photos by Ritchie Espenilla

Hallelujah! The snow is falling, you ready to ski/ride, your season pass hangs proudly around your neck, you’re almost ready to break first tracks and just one thing is missing…coffee.