The thrill of flying down a snow-covered mountain, making fresh tracks in the snow with your skis as you whiz by trees and rocks through the crisp winter air can be considerable. But the fact remains that once you've reached the bottom of the slope, you've got to get yourself back up again. That's where a rope tow comes in. A rope tow allows you to get to th… read more
Water skiers use a nylon rope with a ski handle when they are pulled behind a boat. Attach the rope to the boat by means of a tow ring at the rear of the boat. On most newer boats the ring will typically be elevated allowing for wide movements to either side of the boat. Securely attaching the nylon rope to the ring is an important safety step. read more
Hooking a water ski towline to a boat's ski pylon should be an easy task, but only if that line has already been tied onto the hook. Many people find tying advanced knots daunting, but one of the best knots for putting a rope onto a swivel hook is the surgeon's loop, which is a simple knot to tie. After just a few tries, even a complete novice can have a loo… read more
When wind blows onto a sailboat's main sail, the boat has a tendency to roll over. This rolling action is counter-balanced by a large keel. The keel is on the underside of the boat and depending on the size of your craft, can extend below the bottom of the boat by several feet. Launching a sailboat from your boat trailer into the water so that the keel does… read more
Shawnee Peak Ski Resort (elevation: 2,006 feet) is located on the north end of a long ridge that is known locally as Pleasant Mountain. This popular ski area is situated in the heart of Maine's lake district, and can be found just west of Bridgeton, Maine. read more
While most people associate New England skiing with Vermont, savvy locals know some of the best skiing actually happens in Maine. In fact, Maine's ski history dates back further than any of the other New England states. read more
With the motto "The Greatest Snow on Earth," it's not surprising that Utah has a multitude ski resorts. Many of the ski areas are located in one area, which makes it easy for visitors to play at more than one resort in a trip. read more
Ice fishing is a sport for die-hard anglers and only the heaviest clothes are warm enough for this activity. Anything less and hypothermia becomes a real possibility. If you'd like to fish all year without sitting for hours in bone-chi… read more
Vancouver is famous for combining nature with a bustling city scene. Locals of Vancouver are constantly enjoying British Columbia's beautiful outdoors and sprawling wilderness. Guests to Vancouver do not need to go far to enjoy the abu… read more
Wolfeboro, N.H., features several parks and outdoor activities all year. In the winter, the Abenaki Ski Area has five trails, a terrain park, glade and night skiing, and a rope tow. Beaches such as Albee, Brewster and Carry offer swimm… read more
Northern Wisconsin's town of Cable has a close relationship with the Chequamegon National Forest. Since the local economy depends on both logging and tourism, residents of the area highly respect the forest. As a gateway to the great f… read more
When skiers think of big destinations, Colorado, Utah, California and Vermont come to mind. Perhaps they even think of Jackson Hole in Wyoming or Taos in New Mexico. Few would consider Michigan, yet according to data from the National… read more
Pittsburgh is the second largest city in Pennsylvania, situated in the southwestern corner of the state. The Appalachian Mountains stretch to the east of Pittsburgh, making for some excellent ski terrain. Winters in Pittsburgh usually… read more
Muskegon is a small city in western Michigan, a region that receives a large amount of snowfall because of its northern location near the coast of Lake Michigan. The high volume of snow makes Muskegon and the surrounding area an ideal… read more
Newcomers to the sport of downhill skiing should be aware that the term "downhill" refers as much to the type of ski equipment that is used as it does to the terrain. Someone new to the sport can expect to spend their first days descen… read more
More than a dozen establishments offer ski-and-stay packages in Mount Shasta. In Northern California, Mount Shasta offers 425 acres of skiable terrain, has 32 trails with three triple chairs, one rope tow and one conveyor lift and has… read more
In the early days of alpine skiing, those who wanted to zip down the mountain had to find a way back up to go again. Thus, the sport dragged in popularity until mountains began installing a mechanized means of ascent--the chairlift. read more
The most common way for downhill skiers to reach the top of a snow-covered mountain is by using a chairlift. Other options include using a rope tow, T-bar, gondola, helicopter or sometimes just walking. read more
You've already tried car and RV camping. You've camped at commercial campsites that had a convenient restroom and water supply. Now, you want to explore the road less traveled. Backcountry camping, also known as primitive camping, is a wonderful way to explore the remote...
Pismo State Beach, California, has many attractions and activities including camping, swimming, hiking and wildlife viewing. Birdwatching is one of the primary activities in the area. The park also has the largest over-wintering colony of monarch butterflies in the natio...
The first and most fundamental thing is never hike alone. There are too many situations, especially as an unexperienced hiker, where you may find yourself without anyone to help you. So the buddy system works and applies very much in hiking.
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