Author: wildgreenquest@gmail.com
The theme is speed: first skiing uphill in a test of endurance, then pointing ‘em down to see who will have the grit to go all-gas, no brakes Published July 7, 2026 12:51PMIn Episode 3, the athletes get to know Silverton Mountain from all angles. This southern Colorado mountain is renowned among backcountry skiers for its wild, technical terrain and unruly weather. It’s the ultimate alpine setting to help determine the Ultimate Mountain Athlete. The episode starts with a sheer test of endurance, as the athletes complete the first ski mountaineering event: a lung-busting climb. Who can push through the…
Climbing North Apostle Mountain, an off-duty first responder freed their own fractured leg from a massive dislodged rock before an intricate iPhone-facilitated Black Hawk rescue took flight.Listen to this articleListenViews of the Sawatch Range in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, located in central Colorado (Photo: nick1803/Getty Images)Published July 7, 2026 02:32PMAn off-duty firefighter escaped with their life after becoming pinned beneath a 400-pound boulder while climbing a remote mountain in Colorado. The firefighter, who has not been identified, had no cell service and a broken leg. Rescuers said they used “primal adrenaline” to survive the ordeal.On the morning of July 1,…
Find out who is the fastest skier on the descent of Silverton Mountain, then watch the surprise as a “rest day” turns into an avy beacon hunt—for cash Published July 7, 2026 12:51PMHow do you prove you’re the fastest skier on the mountain? Bomb down 2,000 feet of steep, technical terrain, and do it faster than anyone else. That’s exactly what the top skiers do in Episode 4 of Ultimate Mountain Athlete, the unprecedented competition created by Outside in collaboration with Toyota Trucks. The episode starts with a race of speed, style, and nerve, as athletes vie for points on…
Aboard’s new T4 hybrid electric trailer pairs the cozy comforts of an RV with the off-grid freedom of vanlifeAboard’s T4 hybrid electric trailer changes the camping game. (Photo: Aboard)Published July 7, 2026 12:07PMWe humans have a funny relationship with camping. We love it because it connects us with the outdoors and our primal past, but we don’t want to rough it quite as much as our ancestors. Hence the evolution of RVs and vanlife vehicles. But these options leave a gap between dream and reality. The romantic ideal of vanlife (surfboards on the roof, Instagram vistas out the back hatch)…
Published July 7, 2026 03:42AMIn the spring of 2021, former pro skier and freestyle kayaker turned outdoor economic development guru, Corey Lilly, was on a lunchtime hike on the Grey Flats Trail System near his downtown Beckley, West Virginia, office. He was strolling through dense tree tunnels studded with towering oaks and chittering warblers when he spotted a couple huddled around two small children decked out in climbing gear. Lilly jogged ahead to find them puzzling over maps on the rock climbing app Mountain Project. Excitement struck: his team had created and posted new kid-friendly routes just months before.The conversation revealed…
The difference between a $155 multi-sport shoe and $390 specialized boot comes down to just one thing. (Photo: Canva)Published July 7, 2026 05:04AMOn the trail, you can learn a lot about someone by looking at their feet. Some hikers prance through the trees in lightweight trail running shoes, while others take heavier steps in burly boots. Somewhere between those two extremes is the sweet spot for hiking footwear.After years of testing, we’ve found that the difference between a $155 multi-sport shoe and $390 specialized boot comes down to just one thing: purpose. If you need a versatile hiking shoe for…
After testing it for a year, it’s worth every penny of its $175 price tag. (Photo: Outside Editors)Published July 7, 2026 04:17AMI’ve spent enough summers at the Jersey Shore to know that most beach chairs have a surprisingly short life expectancy. The fabric stretches out. The hinges get sticky. The frame rusts. And no matter how light and comfy it seems in the store, it’s almost always a pain in the ass to carry to and from the beach.As a bona fide beach bum, I’ve become irrationally picky about my seating arrangements. Maybe that’s why my expectations were so low…
As the Gold Mountain Fire explodes to 28,000 acres in Southwest Colorado, local residents face the unnerving reality of daily life continuing under a thick blanket of smoke. Here is what the long-term consequences mean for the region.Listen to this articleListenThe Cimarrons (Photo: Nick Roberts)Published July 6, 2026 03:19PMIn disbelief, I have watched the Gold Mountain Fire burn the iconic Cimarron Range for a week straight from the back deck of my house atop a mesa overlooking Ridgway, a vibrant mountain town in Southwest Colorado. The wind-blown flames spread through the Cimarrons, consuming aspen and spruce-fir forests, displacing wildlife, and…
The Benchmade Bugout Vapyr is lighter, stronger, and more ergonomic than the original.Benchmade’s Bugout Vapyr knife came in handy while morel-hunting (Photo: Justin La Vigne)Published July 6, 2026 12:07PMBenchmade’s Bugout has been our favorite backpacking knife since it was released in 2017, and for good reason: It’s a featherweight everyday carry that punches way above its weight class. Our testers have perennially praised everything, from the slim design and axis lock to the rust-proof blade coating, features that have made it Benchmade’s top seller with over 1 million units sold. The brand is keeping the O.G. in its lineup, but…
Updated July 6, 2026 01:51PMThe 2026 Tour de France kicked off this past Saturday, July 4, with a team time trial through the streets of Barcelona—yes, that Barcelona. This year the Tour’s first three stages were held in Spain.And as anyone who took a college term abroad in Europe will tell you, July is unbelievably sweaty along Spain’s Mediterranean coast. Temperatures in Barcelona topped 90 degrees for the Tour’s opener, and the soaring heat produced one of the more hilarious moments in recent Tour memory. Netcompany-Ineos riders soak their arms in chilly water (Photo: Peacock TV) Yes, it involves the…