Our April Roundup
Our monthly roundup of the best from the backcountry and beyond.
April 2022
Natural Selection: Up Next, Alaska
The greatest freeride snowboarders have officially completed all three stages of the Natural Selection Tour. After battling it out in Jackson Hole and Baldface Lodge in British Columbia, the 12 remaining athletes headed to Alaska’s Tordrillo Range in late March. The Alaska stage airs on April 13—tune in for free at 11am PST here to see who was crowned top male & female freerider.
Barkley Beats Them All—No Finishers Again This Year
The Barkley Marathons—one of the world’s most infamous ultramarathons held in Tennessee—kicked off nearly a month early this year, adding all-new challenges to this decades-old race. Despite the super-star lineup, the 2022 race marks the fifth in a row with no finishers—better luck next year! [Trail Runner]
Power Couple Or Powder Couple?
U.S. slalom skier Mikaela Shiffrin and her Norwegian boyfriend Aleksander Kilde swept the skiing World Cup’s stage, with Mikaela taking first place and Aleksander taking second in the overall title. Shiffrin took her fourth giant crystal globe trophy home, tying Lindsey Vonn’s record. Will she take a fifth next year? We’ll be watching. [ESPN]
The Latest From Snackcountry: DIY Snow Cones
Chef, athlete, and resident backcountry snack expert Lentine Alexis knocks it out of the park with these early-spring snow cones.
NF-Skis: James Niehues To Sell Original Ski Maps
We’ve all seen Niehues’ work—the gorgeously detailed maps of nearly all our favorite ski resorts in the country. When he does put his work on the market, the profits almost always go back to the community. This spring, some of his earliest paintings are going on sale (along with cNFTs); the proceeds will support the U.S. Ski and Snowboarding Hall of Fame. [Gear Junkie]
Alabama Looks To Extend The Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Mountains, the namesake of the 2,100-mile trail, do extend into Alabama, but that leg of the trail never materialized. The AT’s 100th birthday is right around the corner, and we think this southern state should be invited to the celebration. After all, who doesn’t want a 15-state-long trail? [AL]
Gearhead Take
The Appalachian Trail sees nearly three million visitors each year. On average, of those millions, only 1,000 complete the thru-hike annually. If you’re considering a long hike, increase your odds of finishing with these tips.
U.S. To Work Closer With Tribes On Land Management
The federal government has an obligation to make sure the voices of sovereign tribes are heard. National Park Service Director Chuck Sams is committed to boosting the role of Native American tribes in public land management. The NPS has close to 80 cooperative agreements in place with tribes now and Sams expects to increase that number even more during his tenure. [News Center Maine]