Men's Journal

Ice Climbing with Oudoor Bound in the Catskills Photo credit: Courtesy Outdoor Bound

The weekend’s finally here. Celebrate (and do your best to ignore the brutal cold) by hitting up the X-world’s version of the Sundance film festival, cross-country skiing to your heart’s content, and climbing some frozen waterfalls.

By Katie Rogers

Horseback Riding, Wine Tasting, and Ice Climbing trips, January 17-18
Newfoundland, NJ and Warwick, NY (Both trips departing from New York City)

Outdoor Bound is offering two day trips from New York City this weekend. The first is a day of horseback riding and wine tasting in Newfoundland, New Jersey, where an experienced guide will take you on a two-hour ride through the rolling fields and woods of bucolic western New Jersey near the Appalachian Trail (cantering is allowed for experienced riders). The ride will be followed by a trip to a Warwick, New York, vineyard, where you’ll be able to sample a variety of wines and hard ciders ($139). If you’re looking for more action on Sunday, escape the city again for a day of ice climbing in the Catskill Mountains, where you’ll learn to scale frozen waterfalls, ice falls, and frozen-over cliffs and slabs. First-timers are welcome, and all equipment is provided ($169). Both trips depart from New York City’s Upper West Side. Check the Outdoor Bound website for registration information and directions.

The Best in Adventure Film, January 16-20
Off-Broadway Theater, Salt Lake City, Utah

Extreme sports’ answer to Sundance is the 9th Annual X-Dance Film Festival, a four-day fest with 35 films on adventure sports, including debuts of Travis Rice’s That’s It, That’s All and a special screening of Shaun White: Don’t Look Down. Filmmakers and sports stars will be at the screenings and will field fans’ questions after each showing, so you’ll have a chance to chat with guys like Laird Hamilton and the Flying Tomato himself. Concerts and parties full of celebs pepper the weekend, so find a hot girl to go with to help get you in the door ($40 for a four-day pass; X-dance.com). If you’re feeling inspired after watching, hit the slopes yourself at the Deer Valley Ski Resort.

Accommodations and Travel: The festival is based at the Off-Broadway Theater, located at 272 S. Main Street in Salt Lake City. You can c rash at the Radisson Hotel Salt Lake City Downtown, which offerspackages that include ski passes. For more lodging information and weekend ski packages check skiutah.com.

Gunnar Hagen Classic, January 18
Cabin Creek Snow Park, Washington

Strap on your skis to take part in this classic-style cross-country ski race at the seemingly untouched Cabin Creek Snow Park. If you’re dying to feel the burn there’s a 30K, which is three laps around the park’s rolling Berg-Viking course. There’s also a 10K for those too eager for the chili and hot chocolate waiting at the finish line. Stick around to win prizes and gear from Marmot Mountain Works and Second Ascent ($25 for 30K, $20 for 10K; kongsbergers.org).

Accommodations and Travel: Cabin Creek Snow Park is located between Easton and Snoqualmie Pass, at exit 63 off I-90. All present must have a state of Washington Sno-park permit ($10; fortress.wa.gov). Try staying at the Summit Lodge at Snoqualmie Pass, located at the base of the Summit Ski Resort (snoqualmiesummitlodge.com).

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