A New Role at REI: Inclusion in the Outdoors Aer Parris|August 1, 2018 We created a new role: senior marketing program manager of our For All initiatives. It’s a role that informs and influences all aspects of marketing and consults with other divisions on topics of diversity, equity and inclusion. To find out more, we sat down with Nicole Browning, who occupies the role.
Rebuilding America’s Trails Jonathan Olivier|July 31, 2018 Due to recent legislation, trails on our nation’s public lands are set to get a face-lift with the help of volunteers and private organizations.
Should Youth Programs Include All Genders? Outdoor Organizations Weigh In. Aer Parris|July 30, 2018 Ahead of the Scouts BSA launch, we were curious about the benefits and limitations of both all-gender and single-gender groups of young people exploring the outdoors. So, we talked with other outdoor organizations to find out more. Unsurprisingly, we got a variety of answers.
Meet 8 Southbound PCT Thru-Hikers Aer Parris|July 30, 2018 In 2013, the Pacific Crest Trail Association issued 53 southbound permits. In 2014 they issued 430. This year, they’re expecting several hundred SOBO thru-hikers. So who are these rare hikers? We hit the trail to find out.
Bipartisan States Join Forces to Support Outdoor Recreation Nick Davidson|July 27, 2018 On Wednesday in Denver, representatives from eight states signed the first-ever Outdoor Recreation Industry Confluence Accords. This “constitution for recreation” outlines guiding policy principles for the $887 billion outdoor industry.
The Coolest New Trail Gear We Found at Outdoor Retailer Jess Daddio|July 27, 2018 Whether you're aiming for a fastest known time (FKT) or taking your baby on a hike, you'll appreciate these new trail-oriented pieces of gear from the Summer Outdoor Retailer show.
Group Thru-Hikes 210-mile Chicago Outerbelt Trail for the First Time Seth Putnam|July 26, 2018 For years, a connected thru-trail around Chicago lived only in the imaginations of outdoor enthusiasts. But the dream is now reality, thanks to the Outerbelt Alliance.
Navigating a Caribbean Island on Bikes Betsy Welch|July 26, 2018 Forgoing an automobile, this writer chose to travel in Cuba by bike. Here’s what she learned and saw along the way.
The World’s Next Great Skier is a 12-Year-Old Named Kai Jones Megan Michelson|July 24, 2018 The most surprising star of Teton Gravity Research’s new ski film, Far Out? A preteen grom named Kai Jones, who grew up, quite literally, in the TGR family.
A New Documentary Shows How Bicycles Are a Tool For Women’s Empowerment in Afghanistan Julie Brown|July 23, 2018 In her new documentary, Afghan Cycles director Sarah Menzies embeds herself with the Afghan Women’s National Cycling Team. There, she tells a story of women who found joy and purpose on a bicycle and want to keep riding, no matter what.
Why I Signed Up for a Race I Knew I Couldn’t Finish Morgan Sjogren|July 20, 2018 In the high peaks of Colorado, there’s a lesser-known trail-running event so tough that racers are almost guaranteed not to finish.
There’s No Such Thing As a Perfect Hike Matt Crossman|July 13, 2018 We all have great expectations when we set out on a hike. We go in with preconceived notions and come out disappointed when they aren’t met. But I’ve noticed a strange trend in my hiking life: Some hikes have a way of becoming retroactively better than I had ever hoped.