Today’s trip report is courtesy of Kristen Bonkoski, a local Utahn and owner of Rascal Rides, an online bike retailer. She is passionate about getting families out on the trail and opening up opportunities for that to happen! ————————————————————————————————————————- Finding family-friendly mountain bike trails can be a challenge. You want a trail that isn’t too technical,…

I spend a lot of time wondering if I am ruining my kids. Anyone else?? When they were babies it was the battle of breast-feeding verses bottle feeding. Then it was balancing nap times with family adventures like camping and skiing. Surely I was denying them much needed rest? Now we are in the school…

I love it when our readers contacts us for more information! That is what we are about here! Sharing information, having conversation, making adventures possible simply by creating more ideas for HOW to make it happen! Recently my friend Amelia from Tales of a Mountain Mama and I got to field some questions regarding backpacking…

I love it when our readers contacts us for more information! That is what we are about here! Sharing information, having conversation, making adventures possible simply by creating more ideas for HOW to make it happen! Recently my friend Amelia from Tales of a Mountain Mama and I got to field some questions regarding backpacking…

For a few months now I’ve been working on a new bio for my Instagram account.  Talk about things that don’t matter… I mean, really! Truly, I agree with the general notion that this whole “social media” craze is a bit excessive, has serious downfalls, and might in the end be bad for humanity as…

Earlier we posted on our fun and low-key hike to Delicate Arch late last fall. Fall and early spring are amazing times to visit Arches National Park. The air temperatures are cool or pleasantly warm, and there are less crowds. Two days prior to our Delicate Arch hike, we took on the longer Black Angel…

If you have engaged in the running or triathlon community for even a little while, you will undoubtedly have heard of Headsweats brand headwear. They are, after all, the official visor brand for Ironman branded races, amongst many other well-known events. I was first introduced to them last year at the Outdoor Retailer show (not being…

One Many readers ask, How do I deal with my toddler or young child that won’t keep their mittens on during winter adventures?   Or won’t wear a bike helmet when I ask them to, especially when so many of their friends aren’t made to wear them? How do you convince a stubborn child to put…

Note: Winter recreation in the back-country comes with inherent risk. Avalanche education and gear is a must. Visit the Utah Avalanche Center or your local center for more information. At the very least, watch this video and educate yourself about avalanche terrain, risks, and awareness: Know Before You Go All tours embarked on with our kids so far…

Hi friends. It has been awhile hasn’t it! I did not fall off some mountain. And we aren’t having any family crisis, thankfully. No, what has caused this blogging quiet over the last few weeks is my St. George Ironman 70.3 training plan… When we ventured into this, I fully knew that every remaining amount…

Us parents we are always looking for great winter boots. Even better if the boot is three-season, meaning my kids can wear them as rain or snow boots. But I have more unique issues as a mother of a special needs child. My son’s feet are very small for his age. And any boots we…

Wilderness education has been something on my mind lately. My husband and I have recently taken up backcountry skiing, and safety is our primary goal, especially as parents. And so our winter has been and is full of Avalanche training, practice, and education.  Today, I’d like to introduce Logan Randolph, mountain guide and ski patroller,…

I am going to start this post with a bit of raw honesty. I am a hypocrite. The last few days have been, well, interesting. Instead of skiing away New Year’s, sledding in the new snow, or celebrating with friends, we’ve been inside the house for three days straight. The flu has been passing through the…

Chris came bouncing into the kitchen yesterday, like Tigger from Winnie The Pooh. He’d just spent a morning skiing thigh deep powder in the Wasatch backcountry and was busy riding a powder high… one I’ve learned that lasts much longer than a runner’s high… I was replacing our 2014 Runner’s World Calendar with a new…

We burrowed in close, hugging an aluminum cup of wine, watching the sun tuck in for the night behind the amazing towers and spires in the Wind River Range of Wyoming. There we were, four girls and nothing but stars over our heads for four days. We spent countless hours talking through life and gear…

Every good adventure also needs boundaries. Something my kids aren’t necessarily fans of, but are quite used to. Below are our tips for ensuring a fun and safe day on the slopes as a family: 1. Set a meeting place. Families (or any large group) should set a meeting place in a centralized location just…

“In The Open 2015” consists of the gear we choose, use and abuse every time we step out the door, winter or summer. It is the gear we love and need. The gear we’d recommend. This is by no means a comprehensive list, and we have by no means tested or tried every great piece…

We have received a ton of interest and inquiry over our recent trip down to Goblin Valley and the popular Little Wild Horse and Bell Canyons in Utah. We have been looking forward to the trip for months and it did not disappoint! Due to recent tragedy, we are reiterating the danger of slot canyons…

Hi friends. I had one of those nights. Those nights don’t happen all that often anymore. My youngest [age 4] had a diarrhea night. You know… accidents in bed, constantly up and to the potty. And as a result I found myself stumbling around the house in a haze for much of the midnight hours. And now…

I sit on my bike, grinding out a full ten minutes right at my o2 threshold, jumping between the thoughts, “How did I get here!?” and “They are just legs!” (You can thank my cycle instructor for that last one, she yells it at us all-the-time.) But I know how I got here… ——————————————————————————— “I’ve…