Home to really long climbs and sometimes, even longer descents, Josh Whitmore, owner and operator of MTB Skills Factory, knows how to play in the dirt of North Carolina. The state is abundant in trails. From everything to flowy bike park trails to national forests with rugged backcountry terrain, a mountain biker will never get bored. Luckily, Josh’s company, MTB Skills Factory, can take clients wherever they want to learn how to clear a sketchy rock garden, shred downhill, or gain confidence in their bike handling skills. We sat down with Josh to learn more about him as a coach...
“I realized guiding was another path in the industry and a blend of passion, sense of purpose, and being in nature,” said Jeff when we asked him why he wanted to become a guide. Smile Mountain Guides was founded on trust, caring, and respect for climbing. It’s a small but mighty team and we got the chance to hear from Meg, Michael, and Jeff about their experiences as guides. Why did you want to become a guide? Michael: I think at first it was seeing a lot of the people I looked up to in the climbing community working as...
Becoming a fishing guide is more than some certifications and a day on the water doing what you love. Being a fishing guide means you’re not the one fishing. Instead, you’re helping your clients catch fish. We asked Stephen Balough, of Riffletrip Outfitters, to share his experience and what you can expect from life as a fishing guide. Why Did You Want To Become A Fishing Guide? I became a fishing guide in college. I always had a passion for fishing since I was a little guy. Now, after nearly 14 years of guiding, I have realized that I am...
Becoming a ski guide through the AMGA certification program is no walk in the park, but it’s the best way to become a certified Mountain Guide—and a legit one at that. We had the opportunity to chat with Jake Gaventa, ski guide and AMGA’s Partnership Manager, to learn more about what it really takes to become a guide, and what it’s like once you’re certified and employed. What kind of outdoor guide are you? There's a very strict term on the international scale. So, I'm not a capitalized “Mountain Guide.” It would be best if I was referred to as...
Becoming a Climbing Guide sounds like the perfect job, right? Having the chance to climb routes all over the country, or heck, even all over the world? Waking up on the side of a mountain and peering out your portaledge to see the sunrise. Getting paid to do what you love. It sounds amazing. And it is. But there’s a vast amount of work that goes into earning your certifications, making enough money to survive, finding enough work throughout the year, mitigating risks for yourself and for your clients, and creating a solid reputation as an expert Climbing Guide. We...
Online resources for outdoor guides are few and far between. Either it doesn’t exist or it’s so dispersed that it’s easy to give up to find all the information you may need to know what’s happening in the outdoor industry, and more specifically, what’s impacting guides presently. This isn’t a final version of the best online resources for outdoor guides and tour operators, but it’s a start. We’ll keep adding to this list as we find more online resources. Outdoor Organizations & Associations Organizations and associations that cover all sectors of the outdoor industry. America Outdoors Association (AOA) The American...
We love seeing so many folks enjoying outdoor recreation, but we don’t like outdoor wreckreation. With the increased visitation to the outdoors, we’re seeing too many of our beautiful spots damaged here, here, and here. Whether it’s leaving trash on the trail or your poop, we think it’s as good a time as ever to (re)introduce the Leave No Trace Seven Principles for those of you who don’t know them, forgot them, or are just now finding out that there’s something called the “Leave No Trace Principles.” If you want more detail, you can read about them here. What Does...
Avalanche safety training is a must if you want to explore the backcountry. 20-40 people die every year in an avalanche in the US and 90% of those deaths “are from slides triggered by the victim or members of the victim's group.” We all want to explore untouched snow, but going out in the backcountry unprepared, without advanced training, is dangerous. We wanted to chat with an expert ourselves to learn more about avalanches and avalanche safety. We got in touch with Halsted Morris, the President of the Board of Directors for the American Avalanche Association. In this conversation, we...
Hiking, whether on trails or in the backcountry, is a challenging yet gratifying activity and requires a certain amount of fitness to not only enjoy yourself but to make it to the top of the peak.
Whether you’re in quarantine or you don’t have access to a gym, building and maintaining strength for biking can be done at home with little to no equipment.
We found some of the best workout and fitness apps that are specific to outdoor sports like climbing and cycling as well as home workout apps that will help you cross-train and maintain mobility and flexibility.
Online education is growing and with everything going virtual right now, it’s the best time to hone your skills for your next outdoor adventure. While you’re staying at home, it doesn’t mean you can’t continue educating yourself on your passions so you come out of this with more knowledge.
Adventure films have a way to inspire us from our couch. They encourage us to venture outside of our comfort zones. They leave us fulfilled and motivated to scale mountains. We found 10 powerful adventure films that will encourage you through these uncertain times.
Outdoor podcasts are the new campfire stories during this time. Everyone loves a good story, especially if it involves the outdoors. While we can’t quite gather around the campfire with friends right now, we can sit back and listen to stories in our homes. We found five outdoor podcasts that will teach you about nature, inspire your own storytelling, and encourage your wanderlust.
The second-best thing to exploring the outdoors is reading about others who have done it and left with an amazing story. We can learn through their accounts, histories, mistakes, and glories while nestled in our beds or sprawling across the couch.