Newsletter
The confusing activism of AltNPS — The blurry line between resistance, performance, and a merch store
A Pass, a Portrait, and a Price Hike — Behind the new national park access rules: digital upgrades, political branding, and rising costs for international visitors
Patagonia is a Work in Progress — What their latest report shows about the gap between Patagonia’s ambitions and the infrastructure required to support them.
How a Grand Teton FKT That Ended in a Federal Conviction...and a Presidential Pardon — Trail running hits the big time: federal charges, political grandstanding, and presidential pardons.
The joy of feeling good again — Injury, fitness, and one rainy afternoon in Switzerland
Don't start an outdoor brand (right now). — I discuss the challenging economics facing the outdoor industry with Bill Amos, founder of the recently shuttered brand NW Alpine.
One Made Noise. One Made a Mess. — How two recent campaigns by Mammut and Arc’teryx reveal the precarious state of brand identity.
Can Livestream Shopping Hook Outdoor Gear Buyers? — The outdoor world hasn’t fully tuned in yet, but platforms like Whatnot are changing how gear is bought...and who’s buying it.
The Outdoor Industry is Dead — Well, maybe not \\\\"dead\\\\". But it has been pretty heavily absorbed into general \\\\"culture\\\\" and lost much of its previously distinct identity.
A Land Grab Disguised as Housing Reform — The latest land sale proposal from Senator Mike Leeis deeply flawed, but the housing conversation it sparks is one outdoor advocates can’t ignore.
Airbnb’s New Direction: Not Just Stays Anymore — Airbnb wants to be more than just a place to book a stay. But can it really pull off becoming the next great “travel super app\\\\"?
From Canada to Europe, travelers are skipping the U.S. this year — Rising tensions and shifting global perceptions are keeping travelers away from the U.S. Thea impact will show up in mountain towns and gateway cities.
Reader feedback - May 2025 — It’s been a while since I’ve done a mailbag. If you’re new to Here & There, I like to revisit reader feedback every now and then to address important questions and touch on any updates or revisions to my thoughts.
I skied the Vallée Blanche. It already feels a bit like a memory. — As glaciers recede and seasons shrink, one of skiing’s most iconic routes feels increasingly fragile.
The case for pragmatic conservation in a polarized world — A viral post, backlash at REI, and the launch of Nature Is Nonpartisan reveal just how fractured environmental politics have become.
Not just apparel: Norrøna bets on lodging, guiding, and deeper loyalty — The Norwegian brand is leading the way in the outdoor industry when it comes to omni-channel marketing strategies.
When public lands lose their stewards: layoffs, neglect, and the push toward privatization — Layoffs will have a significant affect on public lands and institutions this year.
Here's how tariffs will affect the outdoor industry — Tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico are likely to negatively affect businesses in the outdoor industry.
Strava is shifting focus. Will users come along? — What happened to FATMAP routes, SEO moves, product strategy, and a few predictions
After 40 years, REI steps away from its Experiences business — After 40 years, REI's classes, day tours and travel experiences are no more–what went wrong?
Hospitality meets hiking: Marriott’s bet on outdoor lodging — Marriott jumps into the outdoor hospitality industry with their acquisition of Postcard Cabins and partnership with Trailborn Hotels.
Reader Feedback - December 2024 — Digging in to recent reader feedback
When every brand makes everything, who stands out? — When every outdoor brand starts to look the same, how do you stand out?
Data Dive: The Outdoor Recreation Economy (2023) — The industry produced $1.2 trillion in economic output...but where is that output truly coming from?
Should mountain lion hunting be banned? — A look at Prop 127 in Colorado, and the affects on hunting, wildlife management, and emotionally charged communication strategies.
Hiking the GR221: Mallorca’s dry stone path — I spent a few days on the “Dry Stone Path”, and had a few thoughts about how we we write about travel.
Does anyone care about Outside's new \\\\"social network\\\\"? — Their latest big swing is a social network focused on the Outside+ ecosystem. Is it something anyone wants?
All maps are wrong — Maps are lies, GPS is inaccurate, elevation is hard, and there is no \\\\"Strava tax\\\\"
How Selina lost its way — Previously a digital nomad and hotel industry darling, the hotel chain is facing insolvency.
Reader Feedback - August 2024 — Responding to messages from readers.
The Chevron ruling could weaken federal power over public lands — How the Supreme Court's overturning of \\\\"Chevron deference\\\\" will affect environmental policy moving forward
Data Dive: Outdoor Participation in 2023 — Outdoor participation is higher (and lower) than ever. Let's dig into why.
The future of outdoor sports might be leagues — if they can last. — New formats, new events, new rivalries...more money?
The quiet approach to tourism that some countries are betting on — What countries like Japan, Austria, and Spain are doing to combat overtourism.
Apple Takes a Hike — Apple is adding trail data to Apple Maps – how might this affect companies like Alltrails and other outdoor apps?
SEO, AI, and the slow flattening of outdoor media — How will recent developments in AI affect popular outdoor media websites?
Stairway to Heaven, no more — The world famous Haiku Stairs, \\\\"closed\\\\" for decades, are finally being completely dismantled.
Running reviews, YouTube stars, and the rise of ShoeTube — The running reviewers and storytellers of YouTube
How glam will \\\\"camping\\\\" get? — A look at the growth of glamping and other \\\\"camping adjacent\\\\" activities
Data Dive: National Parks visitation in 2023 — The most visited national parks of 2023, and other interesting data points
Let's talk about the Amer Sports IPO and China — China's growing outdoor market had a significant influence on Amer's recent IPO filing.
You've probably seen these photos — The unavoidable images and industry of stock outdoor photography
Reader Feedback - February 2024 — Recent reader feedback
Are Blue Zones real, or just a good story? — The science behind the places where people \\\\"live longer\\\\"
Stanley’s rise is a marketing win with complicated consequences — Just why are these cups so popular, and what does it say about consumption in the outdoor industry?
There’s nothing simple about bringing wolves back to Colorado — 10 wolves were released in Colorado – the culmination of years of protracted debate about wolves, ecosystems, and the role of voters in ecological legislation.
Can higher taxes on Airbnbs solve the mountain town housing crisis? — A new bill could quadruple property taxes for short-term rentals in Colorado. But solving mountain town housing isn't that straightforward.
The US outdoor recreation industry climbs over $1 trillion — Digging into the BEA's latest report (2022) on the state of the \\\\"outdoor recreation\\\\" economy
How OpenSnow built trust one forecast at a time — Over the last 15 years, OpenSnow has grown from a casual email list to a beloved and successful resource for all kinds of winter enthusiasts
Can Outside start the \\\\"SXSW of the outdoor industry\\\\"? — The outdoor media conglomerate is pitching a new Denver-based festival with lofty ambitions
More layoffs hit REI — Employees report 250+ layoffs of \\\\"lead\\\\" employees across stores nationwide
Bighorn sheep, Vail Resorts, and affordable housing — This years-long conflict highlights the friction between conservation and housing in mountain towns
How to find campsite cancellations, for free — Hipcamp recently launched \\\\"Hipcamp Alerts\\\\", a new campsite availability notification service in partnership with Campflare
In pursuit of GoodEnough® — Not every piece of gear needs to be perfect
Can Any Distance outpace Strava? — A focus on design and community sets this activity tracking app apart from behemoth incumbents in the space.
Who owns Recreation.gov? — Separating fact from fiction in the debates about Rec.gov, Booz Allen Hamilton, and lottery fees.
No, \\\\"bots\\\\" didn't steal your campsite — There is a simpler explanation for why popular campsites are so hard to snag these days.
Outside.io sold a vision, built a community, and then left people hanging — Outside's abandonment of their NFT initiative is representative of larger issues in the communities they claim to serve
These places aren't real. — An exploration in generative AI and how it will affect outdoor and travel photography
The AI revolution is coming to travel — AI language models like GPT-3 will change the travel industry, but standing out in the market will require providing something truly unique
How Kraig Adams inspired a new genre of travel video — YouTuber Kraig Adams has sparked a new trend in \\\\"calm content\\\\" with his solo hiking videos, inspiring a wave of similar content on platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
Outdoor Recreation's $862 Billion Economic Impact — The outdoor recreation economy is often touted as a massive contributor to the GDP, but the reality is more complex than it seems.
Outside Magazine's downward spiral? — Outside has announced a second round of layoffs, including the pausing of their Outside.io NFT initiative
Is it ethical to promote travel to Saudi Arabia? — Saudi Arabia is heavily investing in tourism, aiming to attract 100 million tourists a year by 2030, but the country's appalling human rights record and lack of independent judiciary raise ethical concerns for influencers promoting the country as a travel destination.
Putting Patagonia on a pedestal — Do we have a double standard when it comes to billionaires?
How to design a hip, outdoorsy motel — Boutique motels are popping up in both urban areas and outdoors-focused destinations...with a curiously similar aesthetic.
Outside Magazine launches a new NFT initiative — The \\\\"Outerverse\\\\" appears to be a questionable foray into the world of web3
The magic of parkrun — Parkrun, a volunteer-organized 5k race that takes place in local parks every Saturday, offers a unique community-focused atmosphere and a refreshing alternative to the costly and elaborate organized races common in the US.
The outdoors + Web3 – it's not all bad but sometimes it feels shitty. — A new National Parks NFT project aims to provide gear and experiences to its membership community, while also donating 10% of minting proceeds to National Parks.
'Airbnb for outdoor gear' startups never work — The idea may sound enticing, but despite many attempts, previous \\\\"gear sharing\\\\" startups have consistently struggled to succeed at scale
How do we save mountain towns? — A lack of affordable housing for seasonal workers is causing issues with everything from restaurants to bike shops
Is Outside the new \\\\"Amazon of the outdoors\\\\"? — A series of major acquisitions has turned \\\\"Outside\\\\" into a major outdoor media conglomerate
These places will pay you to move. — Remote work will bring changes to local economies and cities over the next few years. Whether not all the Silicon Valley bros head to Miami or not, it’s clear that the winds of change are in the air.
A Wild Year for National Parks — Diving into the data around national park visitation in 2020. It was a wild year.
The North Face goes Gucci — Perhaps unsurprisingly, many \\\\"traditional\\\\" outdoorists are up in arms about The North Face's latest collaboration with Gucci
Safety first. Or not. — The infamous \\\\"Magic Bus\\\\" from the book and movie \\\\"Into the Wild\\\\" has been airlifted out of the Alaskan wilderness due to concerns about public safety, sparking a debate about the responsibility of the state to regulate the backcountry and how to balance it with preserving the public's access to wildlands.
You can't keep blaming \\\\"influencers\\\\" for everything — Much like millennials and avocado toast, \\\\"influencers ruining the outdoors\\\\" is a tired and lazy take that belies a lack of research, nuance, and a mean streak of NIMBYism in the outdoor community.
A New Airport Near Machu Picchu? — It's a plan representative of larger issues in tourism strategy and promotion.
![Here's how tariffs will affect the outdoor industry](\"/images/67c83f7dd3173f89a84c0e2c_CS)
