Author: Nick Como

[dropcap style=”square”]E[/dropcap]arly winter in Utah is a magical time, as the first few hundred of inches of fluffy snow begin to pile up on the slopes in the Wasatch and powder days become a top priority. Oft forgotten, however, are the canyoneering adventures the southern part of the state continues to offer. While the days are certainly shorter and morning starts colder, there are several advantages to “going underground” this time of year. I’m particularly fond of not sweating away half my body’s weight on approach hikes, only to be near hypothermic once in the canyon, before returning to a…

Shuttle rides, where ones takes a vehicle to an upper, higher-elevation trailhead, in order to make the majority of a ride a coast downhill, at one time was the lowest form of mountain biking. Shunned by peers as lazy for avoiding climbing and scolded by guidebook authors for taking the easy way out, shuttle rides were generally frowned upon. In fact, Rider Mel’s first Moab guidebook coaxed its readers to “pedal” from town to ride the Gemini Bridges Trail, making for a 44-mile day, mostly on hot asphalt for about a dozen miles on dirt. Just to make a loop…

Climbing in St. George Ahhh, the season’s first dusting of snow! Most ski bums along the Wasatch Front get giddy at the prospect of deep powder. Hold on partner; don’t break out the rock skis just yet. Climbing and flip flop season can be extended by heading south to the Utah desert for autumn’s final weeks. Not feeling the crowds of Moab or tough cracks of Indian Creek? Look to St. George for warm temps for climbing before winter begins.

Let’s face it: we live in a connected world. For a time, nothing irritated me more than people bringing cell phones along when recreating outdoors. I loathed the guy perpetually yapping on his cell phone about some big business deal at the trailhead. However, since the advent of the smartphone, your handheld’s become more than a chat device. It’s a powerful wilderness tool— capable of saving your butt.

Rafting on the Main Salmon River: America’s River of No Return By Nick Como The Main Salmon River is the government name you might find on a map. However, a more often used and apt moniker heard in river-running circles is, “The River of No Return,” derived from the simple fact that there’s no reasonable exit for close to a hundred miles. But the Salmon’s most alluring and unique attraction is that its frothy rapids, skyscraper-sized pines, and crystal clear water are as far from a paved road as possible in America.