Free the heel, free the mind… I didn’t think I would like skiing, now I dream about it. The joy of skiing wasn’t immediate when I took lessons in January. The first two days really challenged me and I wasn’t completely thrilled with being around so many people. Part of that issue had to do with the beginner slopes I …
Photo escape: Backcountry Telemark skiing
Having moved to Salt Lake at the tail end of snow season, I’ve pushed to fit in all I can before the snow gives way to grass. Several weeks ago, I headed out snowshoeing with a friend (a post I have yet to write), who wore Telemark (tele) skis. I found myself immediately envious of the flexibility they provided and …
Closing day at Brighton Ski Resort: Costumes, dummies and snowsports
As a kid, I was the wallflower sitting in the corner of the classroom. Well, for the brief period of time I wasn’t living on a boat being home schooled…. Okay, on to my point, I’m not naturally outgoing, I have to work at it. That said, few things make me more uncomfortable than dressing up in a costume. Seriously, …
Photo essay: Brighton Ski Resort, Utah
Utah’s Brighton Ski Resort attracts a laid-back mix of snowboarders and skiers. It was the first mountain in Utah to allow snowboarders and caters to them to this day, so no snobbery here. It also features terrain for all abilities, offers child-care for families, and night skiing is available in the park and pipe areas. I enjoyed watching all of …
Learning to ski: Dress for success on the slopes
No one learns well when distracted by shivering and numb fingers. Clothes can make a difference between enjoying the experience and being miserable. This post is a companion article to my Learning to Ski post published a couple of weeks ago. Frankly, the original post got too long so I had to chop this section out. However, clothing is a …
Unusual activities to try in La Plagne, France
Today’s guest post features a few unusual activities found in La Plagne, France. Enjoy! La Plagne in France is a brilliant place for a skiing or snowboarding holiday, but that’s not actually the main reason I want to go there (though it certainly helps!). What really caught my attention about La Plagne was its brilliant set of unusual activities. One …
Snowshoeing the North Fork of Idaho’s Snake River
This post is both an account of our snowshoe trek along the North Fork of the Snake River and a preliminary review of Easton Mountain Products’ Woman’s Hike snowshoes. Falling face first into the snow, I guess I could have benefited from a pair of poles. Instead, I laughed it off and struggled to get my snowshoe-clad feet back under …
Learning to ski: Three days of fun at Brighton’s Snow Sports School
I do not participate in any sport with ambulances at the bottom of the hill. ~Erma Bombeck This quote pretty much sums up why I avoided learning to ski until well into my 40s. Eventually I ran out of stupid things to do to my body, and I needed something to do in the winter, so it was time to …
Managing fear while learning adventure sports
Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. ~Dale Carnegie Boots planted on the ledge, harness checked, and my hand holding the rope in a brake position over the bar rack, I took a deep breath to settle …
Dressing for cold weather travel on a budget
Last week I boarded a direct flight from 80-degree days into a winter storm warning. I didn’t have the funding to purchase a new winter wardrobe so I had to improvise. I pulled clothing layers and boots from my backpacking gear and bought a warm coat at a discount shop before leaving Florida. I’m staying reasonably warm in below freezing …