Spring is finally here, which means it’s time to stash away the winter layers and gear up for sunnier adventures. Whether you’re heading out for a backcountry camping trip, gearing up for some spring hiking, or just looking to refresh your outdoor kit, Backcountry has everything you need to make the most of the season. 　　We’ve rounded up some of...

　　Four men have been sentenced for attempting to smuggle more than 100 tropical birds from Puerto Rico. Their failed plan resulted in all the birds drowning. 　　Federal authorities reported that the smugglers, all Dominican nationals, were caught last May. They were transporting the birds in a flagless vessel about 30 nautical miles north of Puerto Rico. When the U.S. Coast...

　　The countrys national parks have never been more popular. Though visitation to the U.S. National Park System has been steadily increasing for many years, 2024 set a new record for annual visitors. A whopping 331.9 million visits were recorded in 2024 — the most people since record-keeping began in 1904, the National Park Service reported. 　　That marks a 2% increase...

　　If you arent already thinking about buying your ski pass for next season, you should be. Epic passes for the 2025/26 season are currently available, and Ikon passes will go on sale on March 13. Both passes come with an early bird discount for those skiers and riders who choose to renew now. However, the price and benefits difference between...

　　Conservation often feels like an abstract concept. Its often something that happens behind the scenes through funding, bureaucracy, and awareness campaigns. With KUIU Conservation Direct, its anything but abstract. This is hands-on work with immediate and tangible results. 　　We captured and translocated the 200th bighorn sheep for Conservation Direct and went on to hit number 224. 　　When I say we,...

　　Every time I’ve met with Norda founder Nick Martire, it’s as if I’m Mark Cuban and we’re on the set of Shark Tank. The pitch is always passionate and intense. He is an entrepreneur straight out of central casting; each interaction is superlative-laden and memorable. 　　Norda is a darling of the trail running scene, but there isn’t a line of...

　　It had just turned from dusk to dark on Minnesotas frozen Lake Mill Lacs, and the temperature was plummeting. Somewhere around -10 degrees Fahrenheit, a 30mph wind made it feel much colder. My friends and I hustled to break down our ice fishing shelter after a long day on the ice, and time was of the essence as fingers and...

　　Racing has long been a place for companies to test their products in harder-than-real-world conditions, where vehicles and parts can be pushed to their limits. The Mint 400, held in Primm, Nev., is one of those races. It was first held in 1968, and it continues to attract racers, vehicle manufacturers, and spectators from around the world. 　　This includes racer...

　　On a Sunday afternoon in October, I snuck out for a run. It was tank-top weather when I left my house in downtown Durango, Colorado, and I expected it to hold. I drove north into the mountains, and as I crested a hill 15 minutes in, the sky turned gray and cracked with lightning. The temperature reading in my car...

　　A good sleeping bag is one of the most important investments an avid outdoors person will make.Our team has collectively tested piles of these puffy down cocoons for more than a decade now, and current authors have put over 100 of the best backpacking sleeping bags through the paces in our search. 　　From the snow-blasted alpine of Colorado to the...

　　The first time I ever went on a silent meditation retreat, 11 years ago, I thought I had entered the zombie apocalypse. After arriving and having dinner with my fellow retreatants, we went into silence. I had considered what it would be like to remain quiet myself for five days (hard, I figured) but not what it would be like...

　　A team of eight Sherpa climbers and a small camp staff left Namche Bazaar yesterday for Mount Everest Base Camp. The Sherpas task is to find a route through the maze of seracs (hanging ice blocks) and crevasses from the broken Khumbu Glacier. They have been doing this every spring since 1993. This team is called the Icefall Doctors. 　　Every...