During the summer, West Virginias Summersville Lake is a popular destination for boating, camping, and even rock climbing. But when lake levels get low in winter, it can become a bog of dense, sticky mud. 　　That might not sound dangerous, but it posed a major risk for a hiker who tried to cross the lake on Tuesday. Stuck waist-deep in...

　　There are music festivals. There are film festivals. There are climbing and biking and yoga festivals. But there’s only one Outside Festival. 　　The Denver event blends everything that makes outdoor festivals so fun, and the result is much, much better than the sum of its parts. That’s why the inaugural Outside Festival drew almost 20,000 people. It’s also why the...

　　The original version of this article appeared on ExplorersWeb. 　　Themissing kayaker who faked his own death and fled to Eastern Europehas returned to his home state and turned himself in. 　　On Tuesday, 45-year-old Ryan Borgwardt returned from the nation of Georgia to Wisconsin, where he surrendered himself to the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The next day in court, he...

　　REI Co-op: Up to 50% Off 　　 　　(Photos/REI) REI Co-ops Last-Minute Gifts Sale is live from Dec. 13 to 23, offering shoppers a chance to save up to 30%. To ensure delivery by Dec. 25, orders for gear, apparel, and gift cards must be placed by Dec. 20 at 9 a.m. Pacific Time, the brand said. Shoppers can also use...

　　Winter running is hard for everyone, whether you’re an every-day-come-what-may die-hard or just decided to start running in the New Year. But thanks to high-performance fabrics and smart designs, this season’s best womens running tights and pants make getting outside accessible, whatever your tolerance for cold. So pull on a good pair of pants or tights and don’t let a...

　　Did you forget to get your holiday shopping done on Cyber Monday? Or maybe you missed Black Friday because you had to #optoutside? Don’t worry—REI’s got you covered with an epic Last-Minute Gift Sale. We picked through hundreds of deals and discounts to find 13 of our favorite pieces of gear, all on sale for 20 to 75% off. 　　Our...

　　Search and rescue crews in rural Vermont are praising a small electronic tracking device for helping them save two people in the backcountry. 　　On Saturday, December 7, Drew Clymer, the deputy chief of Stowe Mountain Rescue, received a call from a local woman who said her husband and eight-year-old son hadnt returned from a backcountry ski outing. The sun had gone...

　　In Buddhism, suffering is known as dukkha and is considered a fundamental characteristic of existence. Its caused by ignorance but can be overcome. In that sense, the jackets in this collection offer a pathway to enlightenment: They relieve suffering by providing reliable warmth in conditions ranging from merely chilly to threateningly cold. Do not be afraid to experience winter, grasshoppers—no...

　　We get it. Were passed peak pumpkin. Its everywhere and its only gaining momentum. But being the BeerJunkie is not about doing the glamorous work; its about getting your hands dirty — like scooping out the orange guts and seeds kind of dirty. 　　And Paul Pabst isnt one to shirk his responsibility. So here we are at last: Pumpkin Beer. Pabst...

　　Winter isnt just icy gales and driving snow—it typically offers some invigorating bluebird days to offset the oppressive ones. Accordingly, we tested a varied collection of mens long-sleeve running shirts, optimized to perform in conditions ranging from New Englands wet, warm-ish shoulder season to frigid mid-winter mountain adventures in Colorados high peaks. All of them worked well when worn on...

　　Avalanches have forever posed risks to ski resorts, mountain highways, and towns. If left unmitigated, they often result in damage, injury, and even loss of life. The longer snow builds up, loading a slope, the greater the threat to anyone below it or within its runout zone. 　　For decades, Utah avalanche mitigation teams used howitzer cannons to blast avalanches off...

　　“Dammit Wes,” a friend of mine shouted after I handed him my Swarovski binoculars for the first time. On my recommendation, he’d just splashed out $1,200 on some from another brand, and was so happy with them that he couldn’t believe mine would be noticeably better. But they were. 　　The phrase the best gets overused in gear reviews, but that’s...