By Sean McCoy | March 5, 2024

🕐 Quick reminder to the procrastinators out there. The April 8 total solar eclipse is just over a month away. If you’re planning to travel to witness the historic event, book those tickets now. Lodging prices are reportedly skyrocketing in areas that will see a total eclipse, from Texas through Ohio (HT/Harvest Hosts). It’s time to commit, or wait 20 years to see the next one in North America.

📌 In the meantime, here’s one thing to:

• Read: Is this the best flashlight ever made? Convince me otherwise.

• Watch: Vancouver’s singletrack is better than yours.

• Share: Share this with your buddy whose jacket is more duct tape than GORE-TEX.

One Sign to Rule Them All

While there’s a lot of public land in Colorado, the access routes to several popular mountains actually have private owners. In recent years, these owners have been threatened by potential lawsuits if a hiker or other land user were to get hurt on their property.

The problem of litigation against landowners who open their property to public use came to a head in 2018 when a cyclist successfully sued the U.S. Air Force Academy for 7.3 million after getting hurt on its land.

Key Points: A One-Sign Solution

• Possible litigation against private landowners resulted in closures to some of Colorado’s more popular mountains.

• Legislators took action to protect outdoor recreation dollars. The bill, titled Colorado’s Recreation Use Statue (CRUS), is on the governor’s desk.

• Landowners can be protected from lawsuits by installing one sign on their property to disclose potential hazards and place responsibility on the land user.

Easter Eggs For Adults

It’s also referred to as treasure hunting. That’s because shed antlers, AKA “brown gold,” can fetch a pretty penny. (If you’ve ever seen a huge antler chandelier in a McMansion, you know why.) And beyond making some extra cash, shed hunting is a wonderful way to get into the woods and forests in the spring.

Key Points: Laws, Techniques

• Regulations govern season dates, what can be collected, and open areas.

• These laws protect vulnerable wildlife in early spring and vary state to state.

• Sheds can be anywhere, but are often on south-facing slopes or other snow-free faces.

• If you find one, look for its match nearby.

Check out the information-packed story by Morgan Tilton, who walks you through the how-tos of your first shed hunt. Then, check your local regs, strap on some boots, and enjoy a lovely day of walking through spring forests.

Set PRs, Steal Crowns

Some could argue that trail running has an ultra-problem. And by that I mean, ultramarathons tend to get most of the attention, at least in North America. But the reality is that, while ultras tend to be the premier races, most trail runners go way shorter than 100 miles on the vast majority of their runs.

And let’s face it, some of the short, steep races are downright awesome. Enter the Brooks Catamount Agile, a Pebax-plated trail racing super shoe.

Key Points: Super Shoes Go Off-Road

• The Catamount Agile is not the first plated trail running shoe, but it is one of the earliest aimed at truly short races.

• As author Craig Randall notes, “the Brooks Catamount Agil is the weapon short-distance trail runners need to set PRs, steal crowns, and use to race for 1-2 hours (or way less).

• It uses Pebex as a plate instead of carbon, which is common on road racing shoes.

Check out his full review, then get ready to mash the gas pedal on your next run.

Around the Web

🚴🏽 Ludicrous Speed! If you’re catching Spaceballs vibes from the photograph above, you’re not alone. But hey, whatever it takes for an aerodynamic advantage, eh? The all-new Giro Aerohead 2.0 aero TT helmet just made its pro road racing debut.

🗻 Fake photos, fake summits: With the primary Himalayan climbing season about to heat up, it’s time to remember why mountaineers face so much scrutiny.

🏃🏻‍♂️ Life goals: Will you be able to run a 5 kilometer fun run at 100-years-old? Not many folks live that long, much less lift weights and compete in 5Ks. Meet New Zealand’s Colin Thorne, who recently completed his 175th Parkrun at the age of 100.

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