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Try used gear for a super-affordable way to ski
Don’t let winter’s cold keep you indoors, and don’t let the expense and crowds of downhill skiing keep you out of the mountains. Cross-country skiing lets you get outside to enjoy the mountains and winter but costs very little. Whether you're new to the sport or a veteran, one of the best ways to enjoy cross-country skiing without breaking the bank is by opting forused gear. Buying used gear makes the sport affordable and accessible to a huge audience. Read on to learn more.
Cross-country skiing, also known as Nordic skiing, is a full-body workout. Unlike downhill skiing, which requires lifts and specialized terrain, cross-country skiing can be enjoyed almost anywhere there’s snow and public access. From groomed trails in parks to untouched wilderness areas, the possibilities are endless. In the Durango area you will find groomed trails at the Hillcrest Golf Course, Vallecito reservoir, Chicken Creek, and near Purgatory ski area.
What makes cross-country skiing particularly appealing is its low-impact nature, making it suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. Can you walk? Then you can learn to cross-country ski. (Can’t walk? There are many adaptive tools available that allow people of different abilities to cross-country ski too.) Whether you're looking to improve your cardiovascular health, build strength, or simply enjoy the outdoors, this sport offers a gentle yet effective way to get out and enjoy our incredible landscape.
Investing in brand-new skiing equipment can be expensive, especially if you're just getting started. Purchasing used gear offers several advantages:
Finding quality used cross-country skiing gear is easier than you might think.
Each fall, winter, and spring,Durango Outdoor Exchange is packed with used and new gear that will you get on the snow. At the Exchange you can find:
When shopping for used cross-country skiing equipment, there are a few key factors to keep in mind:
Each fall, the Exchange begins accepting used gear for consignment. Bringing your gear in is simple–make sure it’s clean and works as it should, then bring it to our consignment desk in the store. We will create an account for you and when your gear sells, you get store credit or cash.
Want to buy used gear but not sure what is best for you? Let our pros help you find the bestused cross-country ski gear in Durango that suits your budget and ability levels.
When spending one night (or many) in the backcountry, a warm dinner at night and hot beverage in the morning can make the difference. That invariably involves using a stove of some sort–but which one?
Stove technology has been around for decades, but new tech is making them lighter, more efficient, and more dependable than ever before. Here’s a rundown of the different kinds of backpacking stoves:
If you are camping in bear country, or in any place where food storage is a concern, you should strongly consider using a bear canister–a storage system that is built to keep bears out of your food. And in some places, particularly parks in California, Montana, Colorado, and Washington,backcountry campers are required to have and use bear canisters.
While you may get lucky by hanging your food in a sack from a tree, this is not permitted in many areas and virtually impractical in many alpine anddesert backpacking zones. Bear canisters are the preferred method for storing food and other smelly items, but there are many kinds to be aware of. Let’s look at them in more detail.
For many hikers, summiting one of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks is a lifetime achievement. Others make it their entire personality, working for years and even decades to climb all of them. Some make a goal of climbing them all in a single season while others try to ski them all.
The problem with climbing 14ers for many people is that they are difficult–and we’re not just talking about the thin air. Of the 58 in Colorado, about one-third entrail considerable exposure and require skilled route-finding and ascent/descent skills. About half have either moderate or considerable challenges. Just eight are considered “easy.”
Hikers looking to summit a 14er near Durango will find four that rank generally as easy or the easy end of moderate. They are all in the same two canyons and can be climbed by someone with decent fitness, good shoes, and a penchant for waking up early. The roads to access all these peaks are part of the Alpine Loop and can be driven from Silverton in a four-wheel drive such as a Tacoma, but are generally not in all-wheel drives like Subarus.
Ready? Here goes!