Tag: United States

Watch dogs tear it up in the 2024 Idaho Sled Dog Challenge

On your mark, get set, mush!

Do you love dogs? And snow? The sixth annual 2024 Idaho Sled Dog Challenge is beckoning.

“The Idaho Sled Dog Challenge showcases the remarkable partnership that’s possible between humans and canines and has become one of the West Central Mountains’ most iconic winter events,” race founder and organizer Jerry Wortley said in a statement.

Events kick off with Meet the Mushers on January 20 at the Ponderosa Center in McCall, Idaho, where the public can get up close to the people who drive the dogs. The 52-mile Warm Lake Stage Race runs January 24-25, starting and finishing at North Shore Lodge & Resort. Then come the main events, 100- and 300-mile races starting on January 29.

Mushing dogs in the snow.
Photo by Melissa Shelby, courtesy of Idaho Sled Dog Challenge

“Mushers will tell you this is a very, very atypical race,” Idaho Sled Dog Challenge co-founder and trail coordinator Dave Looney said. “Our elevation change is 36,000 feet, which is greater than the Iditarod. They call it a 500-mile race packed into 300 miles. So the dog care and the pacing and the attention they have to pay to the terrain is really important, because there’s a lot of up and down. One musher said the Idaho Sled Dog Challenge is like climbing Mt. Everest — twice.”

Dogs pulling a musher through the snow.
Photo by Melissa Shelby, courtesy of Idaho Sled Dog Challenge

The Idaho Sled Dog Challenge is the only 300-mile Yukon Quest qualifier in the lower 48 and one of only three such events for the Iditarod in the contiguous continental U.S. So you can expect to see some of the world’s top mushers in action.

A person in a coat holding a dog.
Photo by Melissa Shelby, courtesy of Idaho Sled Dog Challenge

How long does it take to finish such a long and grueling race? Well, that’s a bit unpredictable. Organizers expect the 100-mile race to end January 30, while the 300-milers will cross their finish line somewhere between January 31 and February 1.

A dog sled racing through a snowy forest.
Photo by Melissa Shelby, courtesy of Idaho Sled Dog Challenge

If you are feeling the call of the Idaho wild, consider volunteering. The race needs more than 200 volunteers to help with handling dogs, managing parking, setting up and staffing checkpoints, providing food, operating ham radios, and assisting at the start and finish lines.

Live the RV life at these 10 gorgeous camping destinations

Hop in for an RV adventure.

How do you balance road-tripping with the comforts of home? More and more Americans are doing so with RVs. Approximately 20 million will go RVing this holiday season, a 30% increase over 2022, according to the RV Industry Association Holiday Travel Intentions Survey. Not only will you feel more at home, but so will your pets. About 60% of RVers will bring their pets on holiday this season. Fido will thank you for not leaving him behind in a kennel.

Don’t have your own RV? No problem. With RV rental platform RVezy, you can book an array of experiences. Get some travel inspiration with this list of 10 rentals you can book at beautiful and outdoorsy RV camping destinations across the country.

The 10 most scenic mountains in the US

See America’s best mountains.

If you’ve ever trekked up a mountain, you know how rewarding (and challenging) it can be. There’s nothing quite like using your own two feet to reach new heights. The journey gets even more exciting when you’re scaling a mountain range known for its gorgeous scenery.

In North America, you can find several massive mountain ranges. From the Rocky Mountains and Cascade Range to the Appalachian Mountains and Alaska Range, there are miles of mountainous terrain to explore. Get inspired for your next mountain getaway or climbing trip with this list of the 10 most scenic mountains in the United States. You can also find the country’s best mountain climbing destinations here.

Where to find the best fall views in all 50 states

Find your state’s best sights.

Before you know it, fall will be over. Don’t you want to see some beautiful autumn scenery before all the leaves blow away? While you can embark on a fall foliage road trip that hits some of the country’s most radiant landscapes, there are also hidden wonders to find within your own state. If you’re not sure where to find the fall color you crave, this Outdoors Wire guide is here to help.

Whether you live in Alabama, Wyoming, or anywhere in between, you can discover seasonal beauty without ever crossing state lines. Find the top autumn attractions with this list of the best fall spots in all 50 states.

Chiefs became first NFL team to win in U.S., England, Mexico, and Germany with victory vs. Dolphins

The #Chiefs became the first NFL team to win in England, Mexico, Germany, and the U.S. with their victory over the #Dolphins in Week 9.

The Kansas City Chiefs made history on Sunday with their Week 9 win over the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany. Kansas City now stands alone as the only NFL team to win games in England, Mexico, and Germany.

The defending Super Bowl champions can now be considered a truly worldwide sensation with their latest win, which won’t soon be forgotten by fans who witnessed the remarkable victory play out on Sunday morning.

This outstanding achievement is yet another feather in the franchise’s cap as they seek to win their third Super Bowl of the Patrick Mahomes era later in the 2023 season.

Few teams in NFL history have ever been as dominant as Kansas City has been since Mahomes took over under center back in 2018, and their success on the international stage is yet another indicator that their winning formula is built to last, even when the team isn’t playing at Arrowhead Stadium.

Biking and skiing adventures await at Vermont’s Madbush Falls

You’ll be riding high.

Avid and aspiring mountain bikers will be stoked to hear about Madbush Falls, a new bike and ski-centered basecamp that opened this summer in Vermont’s Green Mountains. The 20-acre property has all a mountain or gravel biker needs, with a world-class trail network, 75-seat restaurant, bar, bike and ski shop, guiding center, and 20-room lodge. Oh, and a waterfall and swimming hole. Come winter, biking gives way to skiing. You might never want to leave.

Madbush is the brainchild of long-time Vermonter Jonny Adler, who dreamed of starting a Vermont biking hub. He wanted to share Vermont’s loamy dirt, warm pastures, ridgelines, gravel roads, and cool shaded woods with other enthusiasts. In November 2021, he closed a deal on the old Madbush Alpine Chalet. While the 1950s-era motel had been vacant for 20 years, the property had potential with a river running through it and a 30-foot waterfall. And it’s only about 40 miles from Burlington.

Aerial view of a biking resort surrounded by forest.
Photo courtesy of Madbush Falls

The finished basecamp is a truly Vermont collaboration. The property’s woodwork, metalwork, landscaping, art, and interior design feature Vermont materials and are crafted by Vermonters. The bike trails are community-built and maintained by Mad River Riders, a founding chapter of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association.

A biker biking through a forest.
Photo courtesy of Madbush Falls

Guests can bring their own bikes or rent one from the bike shop. Certified guide-instructors from Stowe Mountain Bike Academy can recommend routes ranging from 2.5 to 5.5 hours. Intermediate and advanced riders will find jumps and technical challenges. If you want more variety in your vacation, the Blueberry Lake route lets you combine a ride with a swim, picnic, and SUP.

People swimming and jumping in a pond near a waterfall.
Photo courtesy of Madbush Falls

“Here at Madbush Falls, we’ve thought through everything you need to power your riding adventure,” Adler explains in a welcoming message on Madbush’s website. “Above all else, Madbush Falls is a magical place,” he says. “Its energy is real.”

A hotel room with an orange and white bed, wood accents, and a loft with a blue fence railing.
Photo courtesy of Madbush Falls