REI Blog

Guidebook Getaway: A Book for Exploring Zion and SW Utah Both On and Off the Beaten Path
Headed to Zion National Park and its surrounding region any time soon? Consider taking this guidebook along. A book from independent publisher Sharp End Publishing, written by 2 hiking buddies and southwest Utah locals, offers routes (some on the challenging side) to gorgeous places. If you like hikes with an adventurous edge, this could be your book.

Need Inspiration for Bike to Work Day? REI's Bike-to-Work Regulars Share Their Stories
Friday is National Bike to Work Day. Will you be riding? Lots of REI staffers routinely ride to work, so we asked around to see if anyone had some interesting stories to tell to help inspire others to take part. It turns out they did.

Introducing the Scenic Long-Distance Trail You've Probably Never Heard Of
As a pretty active and well-read hiker, I am quite familiar with hiking’s classic long-haul and regional routes. Yet, somehow, only recently did I learn of a gorgeous 340-mile trail (building to an eventual length of 550+ miles) in my own state. It is California's Bay Area Ridge Trail, and you'll want to check out the photos.

What to Do (and One Crazy Thing Not to Do) to Avoid Lightning Strikes
Lightning is serious stuff: It strikes approximately 400 Americans per year and around 10% of lightning-strike victims die. Here are some strategies from the NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute about how to avoid becoming a statistic.

A Cool Mother's Day Story: Climbin' Mamas Remind Us Why We Love Our Moms
Mother’s Day is Sunday, and to celebrate the occasion we at REI invite you to check out “Smith Rock Mamas,” a choice selection from REI’s Member Stories video collection. In it you’ll meet Aimee, an REI member from Bend, Ore., and a pair of her friends. All of them have young children, and all of them love to climb.