Back in the 1980s, my left-leaning dad used to joke at the dinner table that if a certain right-leaning President were re-elected, we would be moving to Sweden. In his mind, the country of his forebears was an egalitarian society of hale and hearty outdoor people who lived among nature and cared deeply about the welfare of others. My dad...

　　Tuckerman Ravine on the southeastern flank of Mount Washington holds an almost mythic reputation among expert backcountry skiers and snowboarders in New England. The glacial cirque sits mostly above timberline on the 6,288-foot peak, and the wide bowl boasts chutes and steep snowfields—extreme skiing terrain that is tough to find in the Northeast. 　　But Tuckerman is also dangerous, and reaching...

　　Spring is right around the proverbial corner: the bend in the river, the arête on the cliff, the switchback on the trail. Outdoor adventure soon turns from sliding on snow to playing on water, rock, and dirt. So, go ahead and daydream. Get out and get active, but don’t let your desires overlook the need to gear up smartly and...