GJ Week in Review: Best Fly Fishing Gear, Chairlift Malfunction, Find Your FKT

A recap of top stories for the week of March. 11–17, 2018.

1) Watch: Heli-Mountain Biking Volcanoes in Russia

The video is NOT full of groomed berms and bike lifts. This is the “Wild Wild East,” where no mountain bikers have ridden before.

2) Winter Park to Add Gondola in 2018

The Zephyr Express replacement caps nearly $30 million in capital improvements at the Colorado ski area.

3) Watch: Francois D’haene’s FKT on the John Muir Trail

Follow the record-setting pace in the stunning high Sierra in this 15-minute video from Salomon TV.

4) Two Men Traverse Greenland’s Arctic Circle Trail in Winter

The trip around Greenland’s Arctic Circle Trail in winter was so remote that the athletes called it the “first known time.” The Arctic Circle Trail crosses about 103 miles from Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, to the west coast fishing town of Sisimiut.

5) Monday Bargains: 3 Steals to Start Your Week

Looking for great outdoor gear at an amazing price? Check out these discounts and sales from Morakniv, Sierra Designs, and Coleman.

6) Tax Reminder: Commuter Cycling Credit Gone

Bike to work? The $20 per month Bicycle Commuter Benefit provided by employers may not be available this year. Here’s why.

7) Victorinox INOX Watch Review: Daily Wear, Adventure Tested

The Victorinox I.N.O.X. is a tough watch that will dress up for any occasion. We thrashed it (and froze it) to see how it handles the rigors of adventure fo this review.

8) Land Rover Beats Ferrari in Road Race!

Weighing a ton more than the high-performance Italian auto, a Range Rover SVR axed an impressive 40 seconds off the Ferrari’s mountain course record. The record is for the fastest time up a 99-turn, 6.8-mile section of the Tianmen Road in China, an impressive feat for both man and machine.

9) Raw Nature: Watch 1,200 Miles Through Patagonia

‘We felt absolutely free. We didn’t plan anything in advance.’ This video displays the humbling beauty of Patagonia in a fast-paced edit.

10) Alexa for Outdoors: Vail Resorts Launches ‘Emma’ Digital Mountain Assistant

Snow conditions, wait times, even dinner recommendations, Emma will help plan Vail Resorts visits anytime via text message.

11) GearJunkie Denver: Our New Office (And Why We Moved to Colorado)

After over a decade in business, GearJunkie is opening a second office in Denver. With it, we aim to cover the news of gear and the outdoors with a resharpened vision.

12) Winter Gear From the Frozen Canadian North

Snow, ice, mountains, even polar bears! Canada’s got everything to make you want to bust out great winter gear. So it’s no surprise it’s one of the best places for making quality gear too.

13) ‘Anatomy of Cycling’ Art Revives Retro Bike Culture

Want a peek into cycling’s past? Coming off the press this month, ‘Anatomy of Cycling,’ by London-based illustrator David Sparshott, brings some two-wheel history back to life.

14) New Breed: Merrell MQM FLEX ‘Hybrid’ Trail Shoe

Seeking a one-quiver shoe for trail and varied terrain? Merrell touts that its MQM FLEX footwear ‘blurs the lines’ for what a trail shoe should do. In this ‘GearJunkie Lab’ article, we interview a Merrell insider involved in the design.

15) Footwear News: VF Corp to Acquire Utah-Based Altra

VF Corporation boosted its clout inside the running world today with its acquisition of Utah’s Altra Footwear. Altra will join VF Corp.’s portfolio alongside The North Face, Eagle Creek, SmartWool, Vans, and other active brands.

16) Virtually Undetectable: Bight Gear NeoShell Nuker Jacket Review

Sometimes not noticing a piece of gear while using it is its greatest attribute. So it is with the NeoShell Nuker soft shell from Bight Gear, formerly MtnLogic.

17) Fitbit Versa: ‘Holistic’ Smartwatch App Tracks Menses

Fitbit launches the Versa, its lightest smartwatch and the first Fitbit equipped with period-tracking technology for a ‘holistic picture’ of fitness.

18) Screaming Deals: Gear Savings of the Week

Our weekly column finds the best deals from across the web to save you money on outdoors gear. Check out the discount gear from Saucony, Arc’teryx, Julbo, Jetboil, and more.

19) A Love Letter to Winter, By The North Face

The North Face wrapped up the winter season with one hell of a ski and snowboard video. Watch the brand’s athletes bomb steep chutes and charge down untracked powder.

20) Daypack Reinvented: Mystery Ranch Scree Puts Function First

Mystery Ranch claims the Scree is a daypack with the durability, adjustability, and load-carrying architecture of a backpacking pack. So we put it to the test.

21) How Long Do Hiking Boots Last?

Soggy feet, flapping soles, and the dreaded peek-a-boo toe hole – someday, your hiking boots will die an undignified death. But when will that be, and what can you do to help prevent it? We asked the experts.

22) What’s Your Favorite Hiking Trail? Vote to Win

Love hiking? Check out our Find Your FKT contest with Merrell and vote for your favorite epic trail. We’re giving away cash donations to support nine iconic hiking trails. And you can win a weekend hiking getaway or a pair of Merrell MQM Flex shoes!

23) Canine Adventure Gear: 5 Essentials for Hiking with a Dog

Hiking with a dog is the best. Get these gear essentials from Ruffwear, Buckley, and Ridgeline to prepare your pet to hit the trail.

24) Best Fly Fishing Gear for Spring 2018

Maximize your time on the water with our top gear picks for the upcoming fly fishing season. These are some of the top fly fishing rods, reels, waders, footwear, and more for spring 2018.

25) Emerging Gear: Outdoor Products This Week

From next-gen tech to ingenious innovation, our weekly peek at emerging products examines the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.

26) Terrifying Chairlift Malfunction Caught on Video

The malfunction at Georgia’s Gudauri Ski Resort caused the chairlift to run backward at double speed, flinging riders off the lift and hospitalizing at least eight.

27) Dodge RAM 1500 Review: ‘Bigger Everything’

Panoramic sunroof, 22-inch wheels, and bigger everything, the 2019 Dodge RAM 1500 presents a truly modern full-size truck. So I took it for a test drive.

28) Canyon Releases Holy ‘Grail’ of Gravel Bikes

Canyon Bikes rethinks the gravel-grinder with its Grail, sporting unique handlebars and more. Our editor put this versatile new bike to the test for this review.