University in Virginia opens year-round ski slopes

by Katie Hammel on

It’s always been that, at their most basic, skiing and snowboarding require two things – some sort of skis or a board and of course, snow. And snow usually requires precipitation and a sufficiently cold temperature(this concludes today’s lesson in meteorological science). But as of August 29th, snow – and the weather conditions required to create it – will become unnecessary for American skiers.

That’s the date when the Liberty Mountain SnowFlex Center opens. And it’ll stay open, all year round. How? The complex, on the grounds of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, will be home to a ski slope that utilizes a synthetic material called SnowFlex. SnowFlex aims to be the closest replication of snow. It’s already in use at several European locations and has been used at Olympic training facilities, but this will be the first public ski area in the US to use it.

The Liberty Mountain Center will feature a beginner slope, freestyle rails, and a quarter pipe. Prices are pretty reasonable – actually when compared with the cost of most mountains, they’re downright cheap. Thursday through Sunday rates are $7 an hour. Monday through Wednesday the rate goes down to just $5 an hour.

For die-hard skiers and snowboarders, I doubt this faux snow could ever replace the real thing, but for those looking to get in some more practice time, it’s one cheap way to spend summer on the slopes.

Eight dead in Japanese mountain climbing accident

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Eight older hikers turned up dead, so the Japanese police executed a raid on Amuse-Travel Co. They suspected the tour organizer of negligence, as the mostly sixtysomething crowd met an untimely end thanks to hypothermia on Mount Tomuraushi on Hokkaido. Another old hiker died alone on the same mountain at around the same time, with a tenth on a different mountain on Hokkaido. The police haven’t made any arrests.

Since the group was found scattered around the mountain, the police believe that the group was not being escorted properly.

But, it appears they weren’t dressed appropriately for the weather on Mount Tomuraushi. They had donned only thin rain jackets for 46-degree temperatures, strong winds and rain. One of the survivors, Michiyuki Kameda, recalled having to push through muddy waters in nasty weather, but he had heavier clothing.

Mountain climbing has become increasingly popular among the older folks as a way to stay healthy, but it appears many aren’t aware of the safety risks. More than 60 percent of the 281 people who died mountain climbing in Japan last year were at least 55 years old.

Summer snow-tubing at Keystone Resort

by Tom Johansmeyer on

With the hot summer sun beating down on me, I actually start to miss winter. But, when that brisk chill turns into relentless cold, I start to think in the other direction. The Keystone Resort has found a way to give you the best of both. This summer, it will be the only resort to offer snow-tubing. Yes, you can roll around in – and glide on – the cold white stuff in July and August.

Keystone’s Adventure Point will offer two lanes of snow every Wednesday through Sunday this summer, from 10 AM to 2:30 PM, as long as the snow lasts. Each guest can spend $25 to get a one-hour tubing session with unlimited runs (including gondola rides up the mountain).

“With the success of the tubing hill in the winter, we wanted to try and offer our guests a unique and fun experience by tubing on the snow during the summer,” said Matt Hoover, tubing hill manager at Keystone Resort. “It’s definitely summer time here at Keystone, but at our high altitude we can offer the best of both worlds to give guests an unforgettable on-mountain experience this summer.”

Not far away, you can still hit the usual summer activities in Keystone, including the bike park (the River Run Gondola will take you back to the top), with an unlimited mountain biking season pass costing only $299. and, be sure to grab a meal at the mountaintop Alpenglow Stube and Der Fuondue Chessel. Everything tastes better at 11,444 feet.

15 Great Mountain Vacations

by Kraig Becker on

The U.K. based online magazine Wide World launched at the beginning of May, and is already building a library of good content for adventure travelers and outdoor enthusiasts. The articles vary greatly in subject matter and include an interview with free diver Sara Campbell, a look at the world’s toughest race, and a growing collection of gear reviews.

One of the feature articles is of particular interest for travelers, offering up 15 amazing mountain trips from around the globe that will give you something to do at altitude even in the summer. Some of the locations on the list are amongst the most famous mountaineering communities in the world, each well known for offering a range of outdoor adventure activities.

For instance, Chamonix, France appears on the list, and during the winter, the famous mountain town is filled with visitors looking to take advantage of the best skiing and climbing in Europe. But during the summer months, those crowds vanish, leaving one of the world’s best outdoor playground virtually deserted. Sitting at the base of Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in Western Europe, Chamonix gives easy access to some of the best alpine hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking found anywhere.

The other locations on the list are just as impressive, and each offers its own unique mountain activities. Some are great paragliding destinations, others offer horseback riding, rafting, fly fishing, and more. Most of the locations are in Europe and North America, with Queenstown, New Zealand being the lone exception. Any one of these mountain escapes would make a great getaway for anyone still looking for summertime fun.

Teva Mountain Games begin tomorrow

by Kraig Becker on

The Teva Mountain Games, an annual event that blends athletic competition, outdoor adventure, and cultural pursuits, gets underway tomorrow, and runs through the weekend, in Vail, Colorado.

Top outdoor athletes from around the world will descend on Vail to take part in seven different sports and 21 unique disciplines that include trail running, mountain biking, road cycling, kayaking and more. The best of the best will battle it out in the GNC Ultimate Mountain Challenge, which consists of a 10k run, a technical mountain biking leg, a road cycling competition through the mountains, and a kayaking stage over Class II rapids.

The Mountain Games also host the International Federation of Sport Climbing Bouldering World Cup, which will pit some of the best sport climbers in the world against one another. Competitors will attempt to scale a climbing wall with five preset “problems” designed to challenge their skills and nerves. The athletes will score points based on the number of problems they overcome and the speed at which they complete them, with some bonus points availble to be earned as well. The winner will be declared the IFSC bouldering champion.

The weekend isn’t just about athletic competition however, as there will also be a mountain photography contest, an adventure film school and festival, and plenty of live music too. In fact, the Teva Mountain Games are known as much for their active nightlife as the intense athletic events. And when not racing or partying, attendees can stroll by Gear Town to check out the latest and greatest outdoor equipment.

So, if you’re looking for something to do this weekend, head to Vail, to watch some great athletes, take in some good music, and enjoy the atmosphere of the Mountain Games.