The Avalanche Doesn’t Care — A Poem
byAs the saying goes, The avalanche doesn’t care if you’re an expert On avalanches, or an expert on anything else, really The avalanche does…
SKIING
Mt. Shasta As A Convergence
by[Note: 2020 is the tenth year of my blog at Semi-Rad.com, and since I started it, I’ve been fortunate to get to do…
A Difficulty Rating System For Moving Couches
byLast weekend, my wife and I were carrying our couch into our new house, and things got pretty intense. At the end of a…
“No Friends On A Powder Day,” But For Other Times In Your Life
byYou’ve heard the saying “No friends on a powder day,” so you know that it means “Sorry, everyone, my primary focus when the snow…
Three Days On The Arctic Haute Route
by[NOTE: 2020 is the tenth year of my blog at Semi-Rad.com, and since I started it, I’ve been fortunate to get to do…
7 Techniques To Make Sure You Never Have Lip Balm While Skiing
bySure, lip balm is great for keeping your lips moisturized during the winter, especially when you’re doing a lot of skiing. But what if…
Anya Miller On Climbing, Cancer, And Creative Strategy
byNOTE: In 2018, I started recording interviews with creatives (writers, filmmakers, podcasters, photographers, editors, etc.) in the adventure world. I’m publishing the highlights of…
Ski Boots Are Ridiculous, Long Live Ski Boots
byYou know what this ritual feels like: You loosen every buckle on your ski boots, pull your sock up, and mentally armor yourself for…
The Ten Commandments Of Ski Rentals
byThese are thy skis. Thou shall see that they are your skis by the small decal on the skis in which we have written…
Air Fresheners Based On Real Outdoor Odors
byBecause you know you want your car to smell like your weekend. —Brendan
21 Things Nobody Ever Says While Skiing
by“Yeah, today I’m skiing, but snowblades are my real passion” “You know what would make this even better? Rain.” “Oh, do you need to…
31 Things Skiing Can Teach Us About Life
by“Don’t look at what you don’t want to hit” and 30 other valuable life lessons from skiing
Thank You For YouTubing
byA couple nights before leaving on a backpacking trip, I decided to finally dig up a Trangia stove I’d received as a gift eight…
Skiing vs. The Holidays (In 6 Charts)
byBecause sometimes during the holidays you’d rather be skiing (even if you don’t want to say it out loud): …
For Sale: Skis And Ski Poles — $5
byARE YOU READY for another ski season? These skis and poles sure are! And they could be yours for just $5. But first, you…
12 Ways In Which Skiing Is A Metaphor For Life
bySkiing, like life, is exciting. One moment, you’re at the top, the world open in front of you, teetering on the edge, all potential…
10 Basic Rules For Adventure
byEarlier this year, my book Surviving the Great Outdoors came out, representing about 12 years’ worth of poking around in the out-of-doors—climbing, backpacking, hiking,…
10 Tips For Buying Skis
byFact: ski season is just around the corner. Another fact: it’s hard to participate in ski season without skis. Don’t fret—we’ve got you covered…
Fake Merit Badges For Real Outdoor Achievements
byBecause we all deserve a little recognition for doing things well out there. —Brendan More stories like this in my new book, Bears Don’t…
Announcing A New Book: The Great Outdoors: A User’s Guide
byToday, I get to share something that some wonderful people and I have been working on for almost two years: a big, fat book…
10 Ways To Talk About Powder Skiing
bySki season is here. With any luck, you’ll have one or more powder days, and they will be the best ski days of your…
What Ski Pass Are You Getting This Year?
byHey, are you getting the Super Mega Mountain Ultimate Combo Pack Pass this year, or what? I know it’s already September, but I haven’t…
The Value Of Just Going
byLast Saturday afternoon, I was about to nod off in the passenger seat of my friend Mitsu’s car while we drove across Portland. I…
The Search For The Perfect Turn
byPretty much everybody has a singular moment marking each realization that they’re not getting any younger: You find a few grey hairs one day…
Pros And Cons Of Selected Snow Travel Methods
bySKIING, POWDER AND SNOWBOARDING, POWDER Pros: Is best thing ever, on snow, anyway Cons: Costs money for ride to top of ski slope, or…
Ski Lift Line Dos and Don’ts
byHere are a few simple tips to help you make friends at the ski area this season: DO proceed to the front of the…
9 Things You Can Do To Get Ready For Ski Season Right Now
bySki season is nearly here, kind of. Although you might not actually click into your skis for another 60 to 90 days, it’s important…