Our May Roundup
Explore The Latest Must-Read Stories
Our monthly roundup of the best from the backcountry and beyond.
May 2021
ROMP Around For A Great Cause
According to WHO, 90% of amputees don’t have access to prosthetics. The Range of Motion Project (ROMP)—a global nonprofit dedicated to providing prosthetic care to all—is looking to impact that stat with their annual “Mobility May” mission. Footwear brands Merrell and Zappos have stepped up to support the cause, curating special shopping experiences, and encouraging customers to sign up for the 100,000-mile challenge.
Gearhead Take:
ROMP’s mission to provide prosthetics to those in need overlaps with our own mission of making the backcountry accessible to all and partnership with the Utah-based National Ability Center, as well as the Adaptive Climbing Group. We applaud our industry colleagues in their determination to help this cause!
300 Miles In 39 Hours: A New Record Has Been Set
“No entry fees, no prizes, and absolutely no support”—that’s what the Arizona Trail Race says about their own unofficial, self-supported, bikepacking event. New Mexico resident Timon Fish recently smashed the previously held fastest known record by over six hours, completing the 300-mile course in 38 hours and 52 minutes.
Gearhead Take:
Breaking an FKT by even 10 minutes is impressive—let alone six hours! The AZT-300 hits elevations from 1600 to 8100, crosses uncompromising desert terrain, and zigzags from Mexico to Superior, AZ, making this accomplishment no small feat. We tip our helmets to Timon!
What We’re Watching:
Honnold Reacts To Hollywood Climbing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akqcYEIXoEo
Alex Honnold provides running commentary and critical analysis of climbing scenes from the film industry in this hilarious and surprisingly educational clip.
Positive News For Climate Neutrality
We got some great news over Earth Day: The nonprofit Climate Neutral announced that a record-breaking 230 companies in 12 different industries with revenues totalling over $2.3 billion have achieved net-zero greenhouse emissions. That’s over 700,000 tons of carbon per year, or 150,000 cars’ worth of gasses from being released into the atmosphere.
Hydro Flask Helps Our Scenic Trails
Hydro Flask has launched a limited edition line-up of three colorful bottles inspired by the Triple Crown of thru-hiking trails: the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails. From April 17-25, Hydro Flask will donate $1 per bottle (up to $65k) to each of the trail’s leading conservation groups in honor of National Park Week—we can’t wait to get our hands on these.
Three Fourteeners Closed—For Now
For decades, bagging all 53 (or 58, depending on how you’re counting) of the Centennial State’s 14,000-foot mountains has been a goal of many a Coloradan. But landowners who lay claim to part of the area necessary to seek these peaks are growing concerned about being held liable for injuries that could strike the ~25,000 hikers and mountaineers in pursuit of the summits. And some landowners have gone so far as to temporarily close access to Mt. Lincoln, Democrat, and Bross with agreements to reopen when the snows melt in June.
Stuff A Sock In It!
And by “it” we mean one of the 250 drop-off bins Smartwool is using to collect old socks. It turns out that most people (91%!) don’t recycle their old socks, which is concerning seeing as Smartwool alone sells nearly 9 million pairs a year. The smart sock company’s Second Cut Project is hoping to patch that gap, and turn old socks into yarn for new planet-friendly pairs.
What We’re Snacking On:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Crispy Treats
https://content.backcountry.com/explore/chocolate-peanut-butter-pretzel-crispy-treats-recipe
Chef, athlete, and resident trail snacks expert Lentine Alexis knocks it out of the park with this crunchy snack.
Snap And Step—Teva & Polaroid Partner
Nothing screams “throwback” more than brightly colored styles and sun-faded snapshots. Teva and Polaroid have teamed up to take us back in time with a retro sandals and camera combo that takes us back to the ‘90s.
A New Gear Library Opens In CO
“Colorado for all”—a vision of the state’s governor—is coming to life in Glenwood Springs. The town is excited to announce it’s first Gear Library, a place that provides free/affordable gear rentals to combat the steep entry point of some outdoor equipment. Having the gear is the first step towards a more inclusive Colorado outdoor recreation scene.
Orange-you Glad YETI Finally Added A New Color?
For years, YETI has rocked the same classic colorways for their famous icers, but for a limited time, they’ve added a spicy king crab orange to the lineup. This bright statement might be what all YETI-heads have been hoping to add to their cool collection.
Adventure Dog Of The Month
Osa: https://www.instagram.com/p/COX_1uPlfY4/
“I thought. you said. winter was over.”