Beth Lopez
Beth tries to never stray too far from her cabin in Utah's Wasatch unless it's to go to a worthy place--a place conducive to backpacking, climbing, backcountry skiing, trail running, or pirating the high seas. Processed cheese and smooth jazz are not present in worthwhile places. Beth dares you to beat her at Scrabble. If you do, you shall be allowed to shovel her driveway.
By: Beth Lopez | June 14th, 2011
5 Comments »
Stand-up paddleboarding (or SUP, as it’s affectionately abbreviated by those in the know) is the fastest-growing paddlesport for a number of reasons. It’s tremendously fun, it builds your balance, it’s an excellent full-body workout, and you can do it anywhere there’s water—no ocean needed.
And now that the sport has taken off, there are a dizzying variety of paddleboards and accessories available, from the (relatively) bargain-priced to the super-high-tech. Whether you’re brand-new to SUPing or you’ve already tried it, it’s intimidating to muddle through the gear options and select the right board and accessories. Here’s an overview of terms, types of boards, and accessories, plus some tips to help guide you in the right direction. Read More …
Tags: standup paddleboarding
Posted in Gear Guide, Interviews, Outdoor Articles, Standup Paddleboarding |
By: Beth Lopez | April 20th, 2011
1 Comment »
photo: Tommy Chandler
It’s April already, and the ski touring season is winding toward its close. (Of course, after over 600 inches fell in the Wasatch this winter, we still have a hearty base for the die-hards who prefer to keep on skinnin’.) Many tour-ists are deeply indebted to their local avalanche forecasting centers for another season of life-saving information provided on a daily basis.
We Utah skiers are spoiled by more than fantastic snow and terrain; whether we plan to dash out of the resort gates for a glory lap or we’re plotting a hut-to-hut trip in the Uintahs, all we have to do is consult our local Utah Avalanche Center’s website (or podcast, or phone recording, or radio announcement) for an in-depth avalanche forecast and analysis. On the site, easy color-coded charts explain what types of danger exist, how high each type of danger is, and where to watch for each type. This information is a daily complement to one’s own snow safety education and experience. Everyone, from the newbie to the expert, can find invaluable beta to use while planning a tour. Read More …
Tags: avalanche safety, backcountry skiing, backcountry snowboarding, ski touring
Posted in Interviews, Outdoor Articles, Skiing, Splitboarding |
By: Beth Lopez | March 21st, 2011
No Comments »
Wish your Monday would go away? We do too. But at least we can offer some pleasantly gear-centric diversion; take a look at this week’s product questions from our customer community on Backcountry.com. We whipped up some answers, and we’d love your two cents too.
Keen Klamath Mid Boot
Hi Gear Freaks,
I recently bought these boots to take backpacking in the canyons of Utah. I wore the boots around for 3 days prior to going and felt the tongue was uncomfortable at first but no other problems arose. I have wide feet and high arches and love all my other Keen shoes. As a gal with large feet I often buy men’s shoes.
After hiking seven miles on the first day over rocky and sandy terrain my arches were very painful. It just got worse from there. I don’t know if it’s the boots or the backpacking. Has anyone had a similar experience or suggestions to improve this problem. Otherwise I love the boots.
-Outdoorsy CO Gal
A: Hey, Outdoorsy Gal. As a trail runner and hiker, I can definitely empathize with your pain. Sometimes you find a brand that usually works for your foot shape, but even then, there can be some anomalies within that brand. Maybe your Keen sandals and walking shoes fit your feet well, but these boots are constructed differently because they’re intended for a different purpose—long hikes. Read More …
Tags: backcountry skiing, backpacking, hiking, q&a, skiing
Posted in Gear Guide, Q&A |
By: Beth Lopez | February 28th, 2011
No Comments »
Once again, to celebrate the blessed arrival of Monday, we dug into our community’s questions on Backcountry.com and formulated a few replies in hopes of helping the gear-glut masses make the right selection. Take a gander, and please feel free to join the conversation in the comments below or on the products’ Backcountry.com pages.
Arc’teryx Bora 80 Backpack
Q: I am just starting in backpacking and i am looking for a pack. some people in my family have told me this is the pack to go with but are there lighter options with the same durability and is it worth the money and is it truly a great pack? –maughanwe
A: Good question, because buying a backpack is a major purchase—perhaps the most important and expensive one you’ll make—as you get into backpacking. Firstly, I’ll say that yes, if you can afford it, an Arc’teryx backpack would be a fantastic choice. Arc’teryx makes top-quality backpacks that weigh very little, are comfortable, and are smartly designed; they’ll stand up to an incredible amount of wear and tear, so your investment will be a good one. That being said, you need to consider several questions as you decide which particular model is the right one for you. Read More …
Tags: backpacking, backpacks, fleece, layering, q&a, rain jackets, snow boots
Posted in Gear Guide, Outdoor Articles |
By: Beth Lopez | February 1st, 2011
No Comments »
Photo: Austin Holt
If you’re interested in getting into backcountry skiing and snowboarding, the first thing that comes to mind is the huge pile of expensive gear you’ll have to amass. (The second thing to come to mind is likely, “OK, once I’ve auctioned my gall bladder on the black market and taken my rhythmically challenged roommate’s drum set to the consignment store, I still need to learn how to use this stuff.”)
You’ll get past those obstacles, though. You’ll pull the money together to purchase the basic gear, you’ll take an avalanche safety course, you’ll assemble a posse of worthy pals to go out with, and you’ll figure out how to get your AT bindings into touring mode (tip: practice this before your friends are watching). You’ll get to the point where you can really start touring.
Read More …
Tags: backcountry skiing, backcountry snowboarding
Posted in Featured |
By: Beth Lopez | January 5th, 2011
2 Comments »
Backcountry athlete Karl Meltzer (photo by Tommy Chandler/Backcountry.com)
In the warmer months, aerobic conditioning is just so easy. You can get as high-end as you like with your training clothing and shoes, but when it comes down to it, you can be reasonably comfortable running or hiking in any well-fitted trail runners, shorts, and a light shirt. In the winter, however, aerobic endorphin addicts (possibly including this article’s author) have a harder time staying comfortable while hiking, running, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. You either layer minimally and freeze your muscles, or you overdo the layering, then sweat and suffer the dreaded clammy-freeze as soon as the breeze picks up. Your attention span can only weather so many Cheers re-runs as you crank away on the Stairmaster at the gym, and you’d definitely prefer to be outdoors. What’s a winter workout junkie to do? We dug deep and found some answers.
Read More …
Tags: running, snowshoeing, winter layering
Posted in Gear Guide, How To, Outdoor Articles |
By: Beth Lopez | January 3rd, 2011
No Comments »
We’re following up last week’s post-holiday gear Q&A with some fresh questions and answers that just might help you make your winter gear choices. Whether Santa left some money in your stocking this year, or he left you a lump of coal and you’re determined to buy yourself something anyway, Backcountry.com’s flourishing gear question and answer forum is here to help. Here are a few recent questions posted on our site. Feel free to cruise over to the product pages to add your own two cents to the conversation.
Smith Phenom Goggle
Q: Fogging is the big issue for me. No downhill for me; it’s all backcountry XC or snowshoe, sometimes way back there and alone, often hot and sweaty work. I just had a pair of Bolles (gift) fail during a typical Pacific NW storm today—my own private whiteout. These Smiths are pretty much advertised as the solution to my problem. I’m also looking at the Anon Hawkeyes and the Oakley Crowbars. Obviously I will have to try them on for fit but what does anybody have to say about ventilation? Side issue: peripheral vision. –Myron Hudson, Dec. 28, 2010
A: We feel your pain, Myron. Nobody likes a whiteout that exists within their own goggles. Read More …
Tags: gear, gear questions, q&a
Posted in Gear Guide |
By: Beth Lopez | October 27th, 2010
3 Comments »
Start praying now ...
Every autumn, snow worshippers around the nation—nay, around the world—unite and engage in a sacred ritual called the Pray for Snow party. Anthropologists note that this ritual often includes multiple kegs of frothy beverages and bonfires large enough to be seen from outer space. Here in Utah’s Wasatch, we supplicate the snow saints for a solid 500+-inch year (with 28 inches at Snowbird in the past 48 hours, we feel solid about our entreaties thus far). In New Jersey, they pray for enough money to buy a ticket to Utah. We traveled the nation to give you a little inspiration for your own Pray for Snow Party. Read More …
Tags: humor, ski resorts, skiing, snow making, snowboarding
Posted in Featured |
By: Beth Lopez | June 29th, 2010
4 Comments »
Perhaps you’ve noticed a lot of confused people down at the waterfront lately—the poor fools think they’re supposed to surf standing on flat water with a big canoe paddle in hand. What’s their deal? Fortunately, before you look silly pointing out their folly, someone straightens you out: those folks are bobbing around on stand-up paddleboards, and they’re actually having a great time doing it.
We were confused too at first, but once the sport caught our attention, we set out to do some learnin’ and figure out what stand-up paddleboarding is all about. Read More …
Tags: paddleboarding, paddling, standup paddleboarding
Posted in Gear Guide, Newsletter, Standup Paddleboarding |
By: Beth Lopez | June 7th, 2010
2 Comments »
Photo courtesy of Jody McCurty, #1,266 on the Leaderboard
Kayak Basics: What Floats Your Boat
Sure, every kayak floats. (If it doesn’t, that’s going to be a major issue). But there are so many available in every shape, size, and price range, that it can be a bit mind-boggling for the paddling newbie to muddle through the choices. Here we’ve compiled a simple breakdown of kayak types and features to steer you in the right direction—because you wouldn’t want to take a touring kayak through Class IV rapids, nor would you want to take a nimble little recreational boat on a multiday flat-water paddling trip. Read More …
Tags: kayaking, paddling
Posted in Gear Guide |
By: Beth Lopez | May 25th, 2010
5 Comments »
Trail running is hard. Seriously, hard—anyone who tells you it ‘just comes easily to them’ has access to illegal drugs we haven’t encountered here in Utah. But those who know the joy of pushing through the burn will tell you that you can do quite a bit to make running far more comfortable and enjoyable—specifically, you can select the right pair of trail running shoes. Read More …
Tags: gear guides, pro athletes, running, running shoes, trail running
Posted in Gear Guide, Newsletter |
