Category Archives: Adventure

Banff, Brrs and the Canadian Rockies

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I wore my Athleta tights, Kuhl dress and ‘broken-foot ‘ for the occasion. There’s just something fancy and girly about the Fairmont Hotels but with this particular outfit I was both girly and mountainy- even with the boot. The boot was to get me through the long-ass walk from Delta’s check-in to the international B Gates. I’m walking (and skiing) but the foot still throbs and slows me down when I’m walking on it for too long. It also doesn’t hurt getting pushed through security in a wheelchair and being first on the plane.

The dress didn’t clash with the boot, btw. I was on my way to the Banff Springs Hotel tucked up in the Canadian Rockies and I wanted to dress for the occasion. After all, I was staying in a castle. Plus, the flight was a surprisingly short 2.5 hours from Salt Lake City to Calgary. I wouldn’t need sweats to be comfortable.

Delta’s direct on a Skywest Canadian Air Jet was nothing like my trip to San Diego last week. First, I arrived two hours before takeoff as per the international directions (actually it said three hours but come on, no one needs three hours on a Thursday?) rather than the 10 minutes to door close on the SD flight. My heart didn’t stop pounding for that trip till we landed. Second, the amazingly nice gate agent upgraded me to an economy comfort seat today meaning that my knees wouldn’t have to be glued to my chest. Only one hour more and I could have been skiing in Canada rather than eating Turkey with Mom and Dad, I considered.

Of course, my bag barely made it on- 49 pounds. The weather forecast in Banff is no warmer than in Utah. Minus 6 as a high! I packed for layers upon layers. Without a man’s “fur” or a thick ring of winter fat, I am woefully unprepared for this cold. In went the climate-control Helly Hansen outfit, the wool Krimson Klover tights, the mile-high stack of hand warmers, Kamik boots that I pretty much wear only to snowmobile, thick neck gaiters, etc. I still won’t be warm enough. You would think that I would leave the frigid temps of Park City, Utah, for a warm, sunny plot of sand somewhere. But it’s finally ski season. The waves can wait.

I called the rental shop in Lake Louise last night. They’re not letting their high performance demos out until they get more snow. That’s not a good sign. I had heard they were getting more snow than us? Maybe that’s B.C. (British Columbia) and not this region. Calgary is more middle-west Canada. B.C. is the west coast where the snow can turn to rain and slush in an instant; where the mountains are rockier and the temps are warmer.

But I was able to talk them out of a pair of Salomon Q105s. Looking forward to testing those. I told them I was a ski instructor on a media fam and I would not thrash them. I’d rather not haul around my gear (other than boots) even though Delta allows a ski bag and boot bag to count as your one checked bag. The problem with depending on a ski rental shop in another resort to provide you comparable gear is depending on them to provide you with comparable gear. I’m 5’6″ but ski above an intermediate. Rarely does a shop have a beefy ski in my size (170-175) or- if they do- they have one pair that’s already been rented. Since I’m the first to take these skis out this season, I was in luck. The Dynastar’s stay home in my garage.

We’re landing. More to come.

Take A Flying Leap On Bridge Day

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If your best friend tells you to jump off a bridge there is definitely one time where it would be okay to do it… with a few hundred of your best friends. Ever heard of Bridge Day? No? Then you’ve never been in Fayette County, West Virginia.


The annual Bridge Day Festival started in 1980. It takes place on the third Saturday in October to commemorate the 1977 completion of the New River Gorge Bridge. This year, on October 19, BASE jumpers from around the world will wow nearly 80,000 spectators as they soar off the Bridge- all day long. Last year, they added the Human Catapult to the list of extreme activities.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-FY3aHO6Cw&w=420&h=315]

But if you’re not quite ready to go that big, that’s okay. You can still be part of one of the largest extreme sports events in the world. The town shuts out traffic one day a year to allow pedestrians to legally strut the 876-foot tall steel arch bridge- the world’s third longest and the U.S.’ third highest. There are hundreds of vendor booths and a zipline and rappel line for the general public. No experience necessary for the 700-foot ride over the gorge that stretches from the beams of the bridge. Those experienced in rappelling entered a lottery back in June to be one of the privileged teams to drop up to 850-feet into the Gorge.

There’s still time to win your own tandem BASE jump on Bridge Day. Create a three-minute video showing why you deserve the jump.  Submit your video through Facebook beginning next Friday, August 30 through September 6. Bridge Day fans will then vote. If you’re picked, a charity of your choice will also receive a $1,000 donation, courtesy of Subaru. You do need to be over 18 and weigh less than 200 pounds.


When Temps Drop Head South

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I was asked tonight when the best time was to visit southern Utah. My friend from back East didn’t want to miss his Massachusetts’ summers. I told him not to worry. He had only to wait for September and October

Fall is prime travel time in Moab for “consistently perfect weather, zany community events and backcountry trails just to yourself,” said Jamie Pearce, Manager of the Moab Adventure Center (225 South Main Street, http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/).

Hike Arches Fiery Furnace
with its
twists and turns among sandstone fins, towers, spires and arches or drop into Ephedras Grotto/Medieval Chamber Canyon on a warm afternoon either with a guide or friends with canyoneering simul-wrap experience.

Take advantage of the Fee Free National Park Days Sept. 28 and Nov. 9-11 to explore Arches and Canyonlands national parks.


Everyone knows Moab=mountain biking. Take a tour or grab a map to find the fall foliage of the La Sal Mountains.

Here are some other excuses to head south:

Moab Artwalk: Downtown Moab businesses and community organizations open their doors from 6-9 p.m. Sept. 14, Oct. 12 and Nov. 9 so the public can stroll through featured art exhibits.

Moab International Film Festival:  Dramatic documentaries, environmental landscapes, outdoor action and more will be screened Sept. 20-22.

10th Annual M.O.A.B. (Mother of All Boogies) Skydiving Festival: More than 300 international skydivers will jump from two or three giant twin-turbine airplanes at 13,000 feet, Sept. 25-29. That’s 60 seconds of freefall at 120mph.

Slap sunscreen on that red neck and get ready to ride in the Red Rockin’ Rendezvous Sept. 25 – 29. ATV & UTV trail rides, skill clinics, machine rodeo, dinner, raffles, prizes, and vendors will wash over the Old Spanish Trail Arena (3641 S. Hwy 191)in Moab.

Shows at Tuacahn Amphitheater continue through the end of October and while you might sweat your pants off in July, the gorgeous redrock arena just west of St George is primed for fall. Tuacahn showcases family friendly, Broadway quality productions that will leave you wanting to see every production in the lineup. For sure, don’t miss Mary Poppins. Live horses parade across the stage and real fireworks light up the night sky. Plus, the talent and crew are as good as it gets. Julie Andrews would have been proud. FYI- Be sure to bring a blanket and coat. When the sun dips under the stars so will your body temp.

Make the 8th Annual Moab Ho-Down Mountain Bike Festival and Film Fest an annual Halloween event.
From Oct. 24-27 it’s bikes and movies. Thursday and Friday night are the movie nights at Star Hall. Saturday is race day with a Super D and a Downhill race. Saturday night is the outrageous costume party with live music at Moab Brewery. Sunday is the Dirt Jump Jam at Moab’s newly updated bike park.

Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival at the Old Airport Runway, eight miles south of Moab, raises money Oct. 26 for the Youth Garden Project. Look for pie-eatin’ and costume contests, food vendors, arts and craft vendors, Weiner dog races, game booths, kids activities, live Bluegrass music, slingshots, catapults, and air cannons shooting giant gourds through the sky.

Of course, if you can’t make it out to Utah this fall, December, January, February are even good times to go; unless you plan on camping. The high desert gets frigid on winter nights. The good news is that local motels run cheap that time of year. I told my friend that the only time NOT to visit Moab is July and August when temps have been known to roast people. Literally. So go ahead and live it up on those New England beaches while you can.

OR Demo Day; Let The Games Begin!

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It did not start off well. The organizers of the Outdoor Retailer Show– the largest industry expo of outdoors products in the country- posted the wrong address for today. So not only did I rise late for the 8 a.m. kick off but I wound up on the wrong side of Pineview Reservoir near Ogden. The nice lady at the kiosk shook her head and said I wasn’t alone.

The outdoor demo is the official kick-off for the Show and a unique opportunity to test the latest paddle, camping, GPS, fishing, GPS/geocaching, hiking, and trail running gear from more than 100 manufacturers.

I got to the Demo Day site by noon and for the first time I can remember I did NOT do the Magellan GPS Scavenger Hunt. The geocaching event has long been a favorite and pretty much the only time in a year where I play with a GPS. Instead, I took in the sights, the gear and the waves on the lake.

My first stop was Skechers to try out a pair of their new GOwalk 2. The lightweight, mesh slip on not only uses their VStride technology to promote a walking step and multi-direction traction on the sole for stability but the breathable upper and midsole cush made it a killer transitional shoe to take from the sand to the water.

Aquapac shared info on their new waterproof duffle and backpack. I especially liked that the backpack looked more like a pack than a drybag.


This handy tool was an emergency cutter. But if you were going to carry it around, why not just take your Buck knife?

PowerBar is introducing a new line of performance energy blend gels like strawberry, apple, mango. They looked tasty but Sage would rather suck on a ginormous snowcone from the Olukai Sandals booth to promote their Shaved Ice collection.

Did you know you can use the insect repellent wipes on your dog to keep fleas and flies away?

Now here was my favorite gadget of the day. The Waka Waka is a pocket-sized, solar powered light that will also charge your phone or Mp3. It has a built-in stand with a center hole so you can hang it from your tent ceiling, set it on a desk or sit it on a water bottle. Waka Waka’s Victor Brandstetter told me that for every sale of the unit the company gives another to an impoverished child or family so students can study at night and have a better chance in school.

Last year, I didn’t get on the water. This year, I SUPed my buns off.


Yes, that’s Laird Hamilton on his signature SUP.


And this is my 6 year old on LuckyBum‘s kids SUP.


Stand-Up Paddleboards are to the summer outdoor industry what snowboards were to the ski industry back in the 90s. Everybody and their frat brothers are making them. One day the little guy will drop off or get swallowed up by the bigger companies but not today; not this year.

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