The California Coast Classic Bike Tour takes that winning combination a step further. Participants treat themselves to 525 miles of some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in the world on top of raising money for the Arthritis Foundation. The CCC bike tour, which hugs the coastline along California Highway 1, has been voted the Best Charity Bike Tour by Gran Fondo Guide and ranks among the Top 30 Best Road Biking Trips according to Outside Magazine.

The September tour celebrates its 22nd birthday this year. Organizers are celebrating that milestone by introducing the option to participate in the tour virtually, thanks to the insights gleaned from disruptions during the COVID pandemic.

“One of the lessons we learned from the pandemic is that there are a lot of cyclists and other athletes out there who want to support the Arthritis Foundation, even if they cannot attend CCC in-person,” said Shannon Marang Cox, Ride Director and Associate Executive Director of the Arthritis Foundation. “ACE gives supporters a great new opportunity to join us and contribute to our mission while still being a part of the larger CCC community that brings great experience, knowledge, and motivation to all participants.”

The chance to participate at all is well worth the effort either way. Arthritis reigns as the leading cause of disability nationwide, and the Arthritis Foundation has a heavier load on its shoulders than it can handle without help. If you can’t make it all the way out to California, then embarking on your own 500+ mile bike tour in your neck of the woods still contributes to the Foundation in a meaningful way and adds to your own bank of explorative experiences.

But there’s no denying that committing to the tour in person holds the most value. Luckily, there are still 70 spots remaining for there 8 day ride, and riders save 30% on registration until the end of May in honor of Arthritis Awareness Month and Bike Month together. The event will cap at 250 participants, and typically sells out well before its time to ride.

The CCC bike tour is open to riders of all levels willing to tackle the adventure. The whole event is fully supported, and welcomes beginner and advanced cyclists alike to challenge themselves according to their own skill levels. The ride usually raises over $1 million each year, and is one of the largest single fundraisers for the Arthritis Foundation nationwide. The tour runs from September 10th-17th this fall.

The post Spots Still Open for the California Coast Classic Bike Tour appeared first on VANISH TODAY.

On one hand maybe that’s the least of our concerns given the state of global climate change, but on the other, pent-up stress doesn’t help anyone. If you can step away long enough to refresh your senses and detach from the headlines, you’ll probably come back more motivated to handle whatever disaster strikes next.

The solution? Embrace your human-powered capabilities. Guided trips and self-guided itineraries from VCT Bicycling Vacations and Country Walkers could help you piece together an adventure that doesn’t take you far from your homebase. This could be your chance to narrow your exploratory focus, maybe find a little more appreciation for your own neck of the woods that hasn’t made the cut before. The best trips are simply the ones that yank our noses away from the grindstone for long enough to remember that there’s more to life than news and to-do’s – and there’s no reason you can’t find that kind of destination closer than you think.

The Golden Isles in Georgia

Banff, Yoho, and the Canadian Rockies

The Olympic Peninsula in Washington

Saguaro National Park in Arizona

California Wine Country

Acadia National Park in Maine

The Natchez Trace in Mississippi

The post Domestic Travel Options Still Key for Summer 2022 appeared first on VANISH TODAY.

But their hard work has actually paid off now as New Zealand finally begins to peek out from behind the curtains, and the government has just announced that borders will reopen to global traffic starting in May. Travel is expected to boom during the country’s peak tourism season with new visitors and plenty of rescheduled trips from the shutdown. So it’s worth it to consider a visit during other times of year when crowds and costs are lower.

Active Adventures, a guiding service based in Queenstown, runs small group adventures all across both islands of New Zealand.

They’re gearing up for the huge travel wave in September, but they’ll be ready to launch again just as soon as May rolls around so there’s no need to wait and get bogged down in the funnel of visitors.

There’s more to New Zealand than traditional summer trips, especially because the country doesn’t really see crazy temperatures in either direction throughout the seasons. Their winter from May through August still boasts comfortable temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s and reliable sunshine, perfect for long hikes, rides, and paddles in the warmest areas along the coast. If you’re still craving more cold air after the weather changes in the Northern Hemisphere, you can head up closer to the alpine for a second taste of winter.

Trip options range from full-on adventure mode to family-style cruising. Four different trips with starting dates from May to August take you through headlining places like Milford Sound and Aoraki Mt Cook National Park on the South Island or the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in the North, as well as hidden gems in between. Look for “comfort-focused”, “family” or “activity” tags on each option as well as intensity ratings from 1-5 to match whatever you’re needing coming out of your own COVID hideaway.

“To echo our Prime Minister’s words, we’re ready to welcome the world,” says Active Adventures CEO Wendy van Lieshout. “But most importantly, we’re ready to explore and experience the joy of adventure New Zealand has to offer with guests from around the globe.”

The post New Zealand Opens Borders After Two Years of Travel Restrictions appeared first on VANISH TODAY.

Here’s a pro tip for both Eastern and Western skiers: If you’re in Aspen/Snowmass or the Catskills this spring, stop by the Select Slopeside Popups to wrap up the day with a spritz from Select Aperitivo and live music as a backdrop for airing out your goggle tan lines over stories about that perfectly corned couloir line you had to hike to to earn the day’s libations.

The brand is based on a slice of Venetian culture that looks pretty similar to how we end the best ski days here in the States — winding down with a drink in hand and letting the stories from the day tumble out with abandon. While the country was pulling itself out of the wreckage from WWI, Italians needed something to take the edge off of reentry into the “new normal”… and if that doesn’t sound familiar, then perhaps you’ve been living under a rock since 2019. The same drink that helped them piece their lives back together and find a reason to smile again might just help us do the same.

Find the popup at the W Aspen Hotel in Aspen through April 11th, the Viceroy Hotel in Snowmass through April 2nd, and the Urban Cowboy Lodge in the Catskills until April 3rd.

The post Slopeside Popups Embrace the Fervor of Spring Skiing appeared first on VANISH TODAY.

For hikers, there’s an even greater need to shop for season-appropriate shoes that can protect the little ones’ feet and ensure they stay safe from slip, trips, and blisters, once they hit the trail. A pair that’s great on comfort, support, and grip and perfect on weight and waterproofing.

Getting the right hiking boots for your kid is never easy

Just like us at Vanish, every little hiking grom loves the thrills of the trail. But with the inherent risks on their feet after trekking and hiking for hours, comfortable hiking footwear is the key to enable them to stay in it to cover more miles without any complaints (though sibling bickering is always inevitable and Vasque is not liable for any of that).

The only way to achieve the peak of these fun-filled hikes is by choosing boots for your munchkins that are carefully designed for their own mini-human sizes. The ideal boots are over-the-ankle and waterproof enough to keep their feet dry throughout the outing.

You may be wondering – What boots are these ideal boots you speak of? Luckily, we have intel that there is a pair out that are rough terrain ready and score high on all-weather waterproof protection…

Enter, Vasque’s Kids St. Elias UltraDry™ Hiking Boot.

Superior unisex hiking shoes for the youth

From their features, to their performance,  Vasque’s Kids St. Elias UltraDry™ shoes are easily among the best kids hiking boots you can get for your young ones today. They are the over-the-ankle hiking shoe type, waterproof with a lace-up closure, and compact. The kid will put them on, walk on wet paths, cross small water pools, and play in the water, but the inside will remain dry.

Interestingly, these same shoes guarantee safe and accident-free hikes. Forget about the Suede leather, meshed Ultra-Dry membrane, and its rubber toe caps that protect the toes from injuries, this shoe’s compression-molded EVA midsoles are gold!

With EVA midsoles and rugged outsoles, every stride feels comfortable. There are even multidirectional lugs that even traction on all terrains to provide that “cushiony” feel. In the end, the overall hiking experience on these boots is what a little champ will fall in love with!

But, how durable are they?

Much as this affordable hiking boot won’t do much damage on that wallet, durability is also key to choosing any kids hiking boots. Vasque – KIDS ST. ELIAS ULTRADRY Hiking Boot comes with a suede leather top that can withstand extreme hikes for years.

Its molded rubber toe caps and the rugged outsoles are also guaranteed to last. Going by these shoes’ general build, the kid may even outgrow them and pass them on!

The boots MSRP for just $79.99 HERE, and come in either black and brown color waves. Pop a visit to Vasque and get ready for the best adventures with the whole family!

Specifications

• Gender: Kids – unisex.
• Uppers: tough, waterproof leather, and abrasion-resistant mesh.
• Technology: Anatomical Compression-Molded EVA midsoles, rubber toe cap, and rugged rubber Vasque Kids Monolith outsoles.
• Lining: UltraDry waterproof, breathable membrane.
• Size and weight: 2.0-6.0; 668g
• Colors: Black and Chocolate Brown.

The post Vasque Powers Forward with their Kids Hiking Boots: The St. Elias UltraDry Hiking Boot appeared first on VANISH TODAY.

As a lifelong Oregonian with a burning affinity for Pendelton’s work, I can safely say there are more Pendelton blankets in my extended family than family members. It’s truly an honor to get to interview Lindsey Thornburg and tap into her mind with the Wild Ingenuity™ lens. We hope you enjoy reading Lindsey’s thoughtful answers on Nature-Culture-Future as much as we did!

NATURE
Tell us a bit about yourself, your company, and how your products are inspired by nature.

My name is Lindsey Thornburg. I’m a New York-based fashion designer from Montana and Colorado. I’m known best for my collaboration with Pendleton. I’m the first company in 110 years Pendleton has allowed cut into their blankets. I don’t really have a strategy, but I like being outside and I’ve always made clothing that’s reflected what I like to do. I like nature and I like looking cool and being cozy in nature.

CULTURE
Where do you go for inspiration and what out there in current culture is creating the best or most interesting vibes to motivate you?

I love being outside. I love making art outside with groovy people that like the psychedelic aspects of nature. No one else’s vibe motivates me. Even if I’m inspired. I have to motivate myself. What we do is so specific but I think there’s a lot of people doing clever things on the internet right now. I love clever good design even if it’s out of my wheelhouse. I love things that can last forever and aren’t trend based.

FUTURE
What does the future look like for your work and what’s on your mind as you look forward?

I want a store in Aspen :). I went to high school there and it would be a fun homecoming to have my creative endeavors take me back.

The post Wild Ingenuity™: Exclusive Interview with Designer Lindsey Thornburg appeared first on VANISH TODAY.

Columbia Sportswear’s Omni-Heat Reflective lining was a revolutionary approach to lightweight insulation that has been a pillar for the brand and created many converts. They say this new tech acts as a heat magnet, capturing solar heat and enhancing thermal efficiency, and thereby reducing heat loss, perfect for anyone who runs cold blooded.

As the industry’s first “external thermal shield” built to protect from the cold, Columbia’s Black Dot technology captures the sun’s solar heat to keep people warmer, says the brand, much like its Omni-Heat internal lining captures and reflects heat from the inside. And with people needing to be outside now more than ever, this collection could be a welcome addition to the winter wardrobe. We’re going to test it out just to make sure. Of course, the three pieces in the line also feature double-weave water resistant fabric and are imbued with other winter Columbia Sportswear outerwear technologies as well.

The new collection of men’s and women’s Omni-Heat Black Dot jackets are available at columbia.com and select retail locations. Included in the collection are the:

// Three Forks Black Dot Jacket ($280): Features a combination of cold-defeating technologies, including a heat-capturing Omni-Heat Black Dot exterior, advanced thermal-reflective Omni-Heat 3D lining, and the enhanced warmth and flexible comfort of Omni-Heat Stretch Insulation.

// Dawn Watch Black Dot Jacket ($350): Has the trifecta of Columbia Sportswear technologies designed for ultimate warmth, including an Omni-Heat Black Dot outer, advanced thermal-reflective Omni-Heat 3D lining, and Omni-Heat Stretch Insulation.

// Barrett Spur Black Dot Parka ($600): The Barrett Spur features a full suite of Columbia technologies including an Omni-Heat Black Dot, advanced thermal-reflective Omni-Heat 3D lining, and Omni-Heat Stretch Insulation with 700 fill-power responsibly sourced down and a plush faux-fur trim.

The post Columbia Sportswear Unveils Industry-first External Thermal Fabric Technology for Winter Outerwear appeared first on VANISH TODAY.

As cold weather looms closer and closer, Woolrich is ready to battle it head-on, as they take us on a journey of ‘Hike and Seek’ with their FW20 Outdoor Label collection. Designed in Japan, this remarkable collection embraces readiness and adaptability through any terrain. After checking it out for ourselves, we at Vanish cannot seem to figure out how to pick our jaws up off the floor…

A Meticulously Designed Collection Rooted in Heritage, Sustainability & Innovation

Our friends at Woolrich have been rocking the game for almost 200 years now and introduce us to a stunning new collection that’s built to fend off the weather brought about in Fall and Winter. As they elaborate, the collection is made up of three main pillars: “heritage as a source of inspiration, sustainability as an approach towards the future, and innovation as a tool to better enhance the technologies used in production and design.“

Thanks to Woolrich’s one-of-a-kind layering philosophy and their vigor in assuring that each garment serves multiple purposes, every piece is made to cover critical periods of the cold season.

Technology Infused & Appalachian Trail Inspired

We love the innovative utilitarianism that’s applied in the thinking behind this collection, as well as the fact that one of our favorite mountain ranges, the Appalachians, provides much of the inspiration behind it all. As the team at Woolrich explain:

“The FW20 journey demonstrates three crucial passages explorers will face along the [Applachian] trail. From Bear Mountain to Mount Washington and Mount Katahdin, fluctuating climates must be met with careful preparation.”

“With temperatures in Bear Mountain flowing on average between 55°F and 77°F within fall/autumn, an assortment of lightweight, wool blended high-pile fleeces is offered, as well as shirts constructed from SeaWool fabric made of upcycled oyster shell and recycled PET plastic bottles. Mid-season jackets featuring Cebonner nylon provide an extremely water-repellent finish and cotton-like feel that is also substantially resistant to abrasion.”

“Mount Washington is known for the adverse and variable weather conditions discovered along its trail, so heavier garments provide the next level of seasonal protection. Recycled down-filled parkas and vests constructed from GORE-TEX® Infinium offers unmatched breathability and wind shield defense. Mid-layer pullovers capture elemental versatility, and the inclusion of Lyocell, a natural material made from wood cellulose and pulp, is featured on crewnecks to arrest and absorb perspiration.”

“With impending temperatures that break below 32°F, adaptability and functionality become fundamental drivers when passing along Mount Katahdin. The dependable protection discovered within the Wintertide Down Parka SD is the result of using GORE-TEX® Shakedry, which immediately repels falling snow and precipitation, and is padded with ‘Green is Good’ recycled down, developed directly by Goldwin. The Go to Zero GORE-TEX® series aims to reduce 90% of wastes coming from the pattern-making process, and gives noticeable character to the Trail Parka, which features a highly breathable shell that is intended to keep users dry in heavy snow thanks to its laser mesh lining. Lightweight protective hybrids like the Tundra Down Jacket combine Pertex Diamond Fuse nylon to avoid scrapes with Technow Re-closed, an innovative epoch-making fabric that closes seams and holes on its own, guaranteeing considerable warmth and water permeability, all while using 20% less down fill.”

Progressive Technology x Impressive Earth-Inspired Colors

The beauty of Woolrich’s 2020 Fall & Winter Collection continues to shine throughout, touting impressive natural color palettes that derive their inspiration from earthy tones of beige and blue. These tones are then combined with pale colorways and bolder color-block inspirations from the 80s and 90s (take us back!) to truly bring it to life.

Infused with progressive technology to allow one to thrive both in the city and on the trails, The Woolrich Outdoor Label offers durable, time-honored designs with dynamic function and adventure in mind.

Winter is Coming – Be Ready

With these technologies, a variety of appealing colors, and the collection’s unique inspiration in mind – not to mention Woolrich’s longstanding and impressive roots that date back to 1830 – Woolrich provides an omnipresent array of offerings in this collection that is surely worth checking out.

Freshly on the market as of October 19th, you can check out more from this awe-inspiring collection HERE.

The post Fresh Drop! – The 2020 Fall x Winter Collection by Woolrich appeared first on VANISH TODAY.

Our team at Vanish has noted that the individuals who thrive in tough times are bold hearted and passion-filled. The type of people always looking for a new outlet to sink their restless energy in. They carry with them the last vestiges of that great pioneering spirit, which defined generations of iron-willed American trailblazers, mountaineers, and adventurers of every stripe. Salomon’s  trail running shoes are built for that type of people.

Lose yourself among the elements

Rain or shine, it’s go time. The Alpine 2’s are water repellent and built for every terrain. No matter what the season, this shoe is ready for whatever mother nature has to throw at it. The iconic zipper cuff effectively seals the top of the shoe around your ankle, preventing water, snow, rocks and sand from ruining your run.

Take your adventure above the treeline

Charge across loose shale. Glide through thick marshes. Scale-up winding mountainsides like the Rocky Mountain goat.

The Alpine 2 uses to allow for maximum grip on loose, soft, rugged, and uneven surfaces. Contagrip features deep, sharp lugs made from a compound that balances durability and adhesion, allowing you to move seamlessly from one terrain to another. 

Maximum comfort made for you

combines foams with two different densities to provide superior cushioning, stability, and motion control.

Invest in a shoe made for your foot, not someone else’s. The Alpine 2 makes use of Salomon’s revolutionary SensiFit technology to provide a product with a secure and comfortable fit. Similar to memory foam, SensiFit adjusts to the unique contours of your foot, allowing for maximum comfort in all conditions.

Treat yourself 

Unwind from a stressful year, and give yourself the gift of adventure this holiday season. Check out to see even more epic , plus there hundreds of other outdoor products, including best-in-class , , casual wear, and . You deserve it.

The post Solomon Raises Bar with New S/LAB XA Alpine 2 Trail Runners appeared first on VANISH TODAY.

To help give back to our forests in these wild times, Hydro Flask will be donating $1 for every Timberline Collection bottle sold on Hydroflask.com through 12/31/20. All proceeds raised will support Sustainable Northwest with the organization’s goal of restoring forest health and reducing wildfire risk to our communities.

Choosing reusable is a move we should always consider when carrying any of our favorite beverages. If you’re in the market for a new, high-performing reusable bottle, and want to make an even deeper impact with your purchase, there’s no better time than now and no better place to look than Hydro Flask’s Limited Edition Timberline Collection. 

Hydro Flask’s Limited Edition Timberline Collection bottles come in four different timber-inspired color waves and two different sizes to choose from. The smaller bottle size is a 21 oz standard mouth that MSRP’s at $42.95 and the larger option is a 32 oz wide mouth that MSRP’s $54.95.

Be sure to snag your Limited Edition Timberline Collection bottle by 12/31/20 and, in doing so, you’ll be helping our friends at Hydro Flask ensure our forests are healthy for all the adventures that lie ahead!

The post Hydro Flask Gives Back To The Forests Through Limited Edition Timberline Collection appeared first on VANISH TODAY.