The San Juan Mountains in Colorado are renowned for their spectacular fall colors. Here are some of the besttrails to experience the vibrant autumn foliage:
Hiking in the mountains during the fall is rarely complicated or prone to messy problems as long as the weather forecast is good. However, it does make sense to be aware of some specific gear recommendations and some preparations you can make to ensure your safety and comfort. Here's a comprehensive list of essentials:
By being well-prepared and packing these essentials, you’ll be better equipped to enjoy a safe and enjoyable hike in the beautiful fall landscapes of the mountains.
Yes, you need high-quality gear if you want to recreate confidently in the mountains—but no, it doesn’t have to be expensive. What’s the secret? Getting used or low-priced new gear fromDurango Outdoor Exchange. Durango Outdoor Exchange is conveniently located at the north end of Durango just off U.S. 550, right on the way to most hikes described here.
Inside, you’ll find all of the gear you need for fall hikes, from barely usedhiking shoes to day packs, water purification systems, maps, and more. Plus, our staff are out on the trails frequently, so they can update you on conditions and make suggestions for a great day out. Stop by today!
When it comes to outdoor sports, a quality jacket can make all the difference between comfort and misery. Whether you’re hiking, skiing, climbing, running, climbing, or simply out and about nature, a jacket serves as your first line of defense against the elements.
That said, there are a LOT of jackets out there, in different styles, materials, weights, and weather proofness. How do you know which is best for you? We put together this guide to help you sort out what jacket you need and when you should whip it out.
Keep in mind that these jackets can be ridiculously expensive, and buying a ski jacket, rain jacket, puffy, light puffy, and a wind jacket new can easily mean you run up a tab of $2,000 or more. What’s the solution? Qualityused gear in Durango from Durango Outdoor Exchange.
It’s snowy and cold, but you want to get out. Downhill skiing is too expensive and backcountry skiing is too difficult. What’s a happy medium? Snowshoeing.
Think of snowshoeing as hiking in the snow, but you can traipse across deep snow and go where there are no trails. You only need basic equipment to get started and it you have ever skied then you probably have most of it already. Here’s a primer on where to go and what to bring. Oh, and when it comes to gear, save money buy buying used gear in Durango from Durango Outdoor Exchange.
Maybe you’ve seen other telemarkers carving beautiful turns on the mountain, maybe you are looking for a new challenge, or maybe you want to really work those quads–either way, getting into telemarking is fun and challenging.
Telemark skiing is a blend of Nordic and alpine skiing that combines the grace of cross-country with the thrill of downhill turns. Central to this style is the telemark binding, which allows the heel to lift, enabling a skier to lunge gracefully through turns.
Ready to pick up some telemark gear? Here’s some great news: Unlike downhill bindings, telemark bindings don’t get put on indemnified lists, meaning there is no set age at which they cannot be mounted. This meansbuying used telemark gear can be a great deal.