Hazel Findlay and Emily Harrington are tackling big walls this month in Morocco. These two ladies are planning on taking on a 3,000 foot route in the Atlas Mountains from the ground up, a month in Morocco would test anyone - doing it on a vertical plain offers a unique perspective. Follow their exploits and updates through the end of June here at www.neverstopexploring.com/blog/morocco We arrived in Taghia just three days ago and all of us received a slight beat down. First, Hazel had a bout of sickness while we were not even halfway up a six-pitch 6c called "a... Continue reading

Last Summer Mike Hopkins spent 10 days in the backcountry outside Bralorne BC exploring first descents and sick new lines in addition to testing some of the 2013 Mountain Bike line for The North Face... Here are some of the best images from that trip and his blog update from last September post trip. It’s been way too long! No excuses. First up, what happened to summer?! Some how September snuck in the mix and I’m not sure about you, but I’m not so happy about it. Summer’s been treating me too well, making me not all that interested in... Continue reading

This June, nine mountaineers will attempt to become the first all-African-American expedition to climb Denali (a.k.a. Mount McKinley) in Alaska. Their goal goes way beyond making history on North America’s highest peak. Their ultimate objective is to inspire people of all colors, young and old, to get more engaged in the great outdoors. Dubbed Expedition Denali: Inspiring Diversity in the Outdoors, this National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) expedition, with support from The North Face and others, will happen. How many people know about it—how far the team’s inspiration and awareness reaches—is another matter. Through a Kickstarter campaign that ends on... Continue reading

The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) creates, enhances and protects great mountain bike experiences. Our local groups — IMBA's mountain bike chapters, clubs and patrols—help care for the trails you ride by donating nearly a million annual hours of volunteer service to public lands. We work in partnership with land managers, conservation groups and other recreational users as we promote sustainable trail building and riding practices. IMBA is a membership-based 501 3 c non-profit organization with programs in North America, Europe, Australia, Asia and elsewhere. Learn more by visiting www.imba.com or facebook.com/IMBAonFB. The North Face is a member of IMBA... Continue reading

To learn more about the Explore Fund visit www.ExploreFund.org, applications for 2013 grants are open until May 1st. Through our 4 Club locations in Salt Lake and Tooele Counties in Utah, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake serves over 4,700 kids each year including 1,300 teens. We have nearly 500 members attending the Club daily. We provide low and no cost programs in neighborhoods where kids need us most to ensure we reach our intended population. The members of our Clubs represent some of the neediest and most underserved youth in our state: • 69% are from low-income... Continue reading

The North Face Global Team athletes Hilaree O'Neill, Emilio Previtali, Guilia Monego and Johnny Collinson set out on March 8 to climb and ski the 6000m White Sail peak in Northern India's Manikaran Valley. The following is a first hand account of their travels and adventures during their expedition. Holi. Images of inebriated, partying Indians crowding the streets to the bursting point, throwing handfuls of colors everywhere flitted through my mind. We drew up a war plan in advance: wear harnesses, and tie together so we don't lose anyone... Especially the girls. Reality of the festival turned out to be... Continue reading

The North Face Global Team athletes Hilaree O'Neill, Emilio Previtali, Guilia Monego and Johnny Collinson set out on March 8 to climb and ski the 6000m White Sail peak in Northern India's Manikaran Valley. The following is a first hand account of their travels and adventures during their expedition. March 12 - Anjin, Jonny and myself took off from the Himachal lodge in Manali first thing in the morning. The flight lasted about 20 minutes and by 7:40am we had feet on the snow, on the Chota Shigri glacier at about 14000ft. We were in charge to recon the glacier... Continue reading

Ultrarunner Lizzy Hawker had a great article today in the New York Times which showcases her ability to run and succeed at the world's toughest races. From April 15th: Ultrarunner Competes on Far Side of Extreme Lizzy Hawker had just finished running a nine-stage race through some of Nepal’s wildest trails when she learned that her flight back to Katmandu, about 200 miles away, was canceled because of bad weather. In August, Hawker won the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, a 104-kilometer race that included 6,000 meters of climbing. So instead of waiting for the next flight, she ran there. There were... Continue reading

To learn more about the Explore Fund visit www.ExploreFund.org, applications for 2013 grants are open until May 1st. Urban Peaks supplements funding for underprivileged, urban youth to participate in rock climbing and challenge course activities. In just under two years, Urban Peaks has been able to fund climbing programs for over 400 students, introducing youth from low income, often single parent homes, and/or students with behavioral or social disabilities to the world of climbing, offering these youth an opportunity they might otherwise not have. Thanks to the North Face Explore Fund Grant, Urban Peaks was able to enrich these youth’s... Continue reading

The Lake Sonoma 50 is taking place this weekend and several top athletes from The North Face are competing, including Hal Koerner, Timothy Olson, Devon Yanko and Rory Bosio. To learn more about the event, along with the preparation and mindset it takes to compete, we checked in with Timothy and Rory. These two incredible athletes are a testament to the fact that there isn’t one right way to train, compete and succeed at this level. 1) What excites you most about this race? The course? The competition? The close proximity to great wine? T: Lake Sonoma was my first... Continue reading

The North Face Global Team athletes Hilaree O'Neill, Emilio Previtali, Guilia Monego and Johnny Collinson set out on March 8 to climb and ski the 6000m White Sail peak in Northern India's Manikaran Valley. The following is a first hand account of their travels and adventures during their expedition. The idea looked simple on paper; fly in with a helicopter, climb and ski the objective, ski out. But after the first meeting with the heli company, any thought of simplicity was squelched. Getting seven people plus their gear, food for everyone, group equipment, and camera/filming equipment to 14,000 ft +... Continue reading

To learn more about the Explore Fund visit www.ExploreFund.org, applications for 2013 grants are open until May 1st. Mentoring the next generation of America’s public lands stewards The Montana Wilderness Association, in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the U.S. Forest Service, and with support from the North Face Explore Fund, leads monthly outdoor adventures for Montana’s underserved youth. A dozen "Bigs" and "Littles" gathered at Pattee Canyon Recreation Area to try out cross country skiing, most of them for the first time. Only a few miles from downtown Missoula, Montana, this popular locals spot on the Lolo National... Continue reading

The First ever Junior Freeride World Championships presented by The North Face kicks off tomorrow The best juniors from Europe will join their North American friends to compete at the Junior Freeride World Championships by The North Face tomorrow at Snowbird in Ski Resort in Utah. Freeride Junior events were organized in Europe in Chamonix Mont-Blanc, FRA (January 26), Fieberbrunn-Pillerseetal, AUT (March 9) and Verbier, SUI (March 23). In addition to excellent on-site viewing, a live webcast of the event will be available HERE on Saturday April 5th and Sunday April 6th. Continue reading

Photo of White Sail, the highest peak just right of center. Our proposed ski line descend from the summit, down and left, roughly 2000ft. the summit height is nearly 22,000ft. The North Face Global Team athletes Hilaree O'Neill, Emilio Previtali, Guilia Monego and Johnny Collinson set out on March 8 to climb and ski the 6000m White Sail peak in Northern India's Manikaran Valley. The following is a first hand account of their travels and adventures during their expedition. Himachal Pradesh. India. Helicopters. Himalayan powder. Soaring Peaks. It all sounds very romantic. That’s what India is, or at least, my... Continue reading

Big City Mountaineers changes the lives of under-resourced, racially diverse urban youth through wilderness mentoring experiences that instill critical life skills. Our proven curriculum is delivered in partnership with a vibrant network of youth-based agencies and adult volunteer mentors. Through outdoor mentoring, mentors guide youth to overcome challenges, illuminate the meaning of their accomplishments and highlight their strengths. Our youth improve self-esteem, self-awareness and personal responsibility, and return home better equipped to make critical career, educational and healthy lifestyle decisions. The North Face and Big City Mountaineers partner to get kids outdoors and instill critical life skills! TNF sponsors approximately... Continue reading

The North Face today announced the opening of the 2013 Explore Fund grant-giving program, which will provide $250,000 in grants to support non-profit organizations that are connecting youth to the outdoors. In previous years, Explore Fund grants have been awarded of up to $2,500, but the 2013 grant cycle is upping the ante by offering grants of up to $25,000. This year, The North Face will introduce Facebook crowdsourcing later this summer to the grantee selection process, which will give the top 10 grant applicants the opportunity to vie for $10,000 - $25,000, and The North Face fans a chance... Continue reading

Michael Wardian had a great race at the USATF 50k National Championships. Here are his thoughts about the 50k: March 3, 2013-USATF 50K National Championships My mind is focused as I step to the line on the course I know so well. I have run this race ever year since 2008, won it a few times and hold the course record. 10 laps of 5K (3.1 miles), can I do it? Will my body allow me the ability to do what I love? I think so, but don't know. I am nervous, the butterflies are in the pit of my... Continue reading

Due to a storm predicted to hit the Verbier St Bernard region on Saturday, the SWATCH XTREME VERBIER 2013 BY THE NORTH FACE® has been rescheduled to take place one day earlier than announced on Friday, March 22. The final confirmation of the new schedule, including exact competition and live feed timing will be announced on Wednesday morning on www.freerideworldtour.com. Verbier and the fabled “Bec des Rosses” is considered the pinnacle of freeride competitions. The contest was originally scheduled for Saturday, but with a southwest front coming in predicted to stay over the next week, organizers today decided to advance... Continue reading

In January Sam Elias went to the 18th annual Ouray Ice Festival. Here's what he had to say: It’s always the very first climbing event of the New Year, and one that I have had the privilege to attend 5 times now. This one seemed the coldest and the busiest for me. I arrived on Wednesday night, and on Thursday I had a 30 minute time slot to preview the first half of the difficulty competition route, as did all the competitors. In addition, I gave the evening presentation that night, which is known as “local’s night.” I am grateful... Continue reading

Matt Segal in Crimea wearing the Verto Climb Collection, which you could win by entering the Gear Up + Get Out Sweepstakes The North Face wants people to get outside and they are giving away the gear to help make it happen. The “Gear Up + Get Out” Sweepstakes launches today, and to celebrate, The North Face is giving people across the country a chance to win great gear packages up to a $1,000 value. Beginning today through October 31, sign up by visiting thenorthface.com/getout and be entered for a chance to win and Winners will be announced on the... Continue reading

Rory Bosio had a great race at Way Too Cool 50km and sent us this race report. I started the Way Too Cool 50km race on saturday not knowing what to expect. It was my first race of the season and my longest run by far for 2013. I use this race more as a long training run since it's too early to expect much in terms of running fitness. After a few months of mostly cross country and backcountry skiing, I wondered how my legs would do. Turns out not too bad, until the last mile, but I'm jumping... Continue reading

Please enable Javascript to watch this video The fourth and final 2013 season stop of The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series (PPOS) will take place March 8-10 at Northstar California Resort in Lake Tahoe March. Top professional and upcoming freeskiers will battle it out in two days of slopestyle qualifiers March 8 & 9 before the finals on Sun., March 10. Sunday’s competition will be webcast live starting with the men’s semifinals at 9:30am PST and available for viewing right here! The stream will also be broadcast on Lake Tahoe Television, which is on channels 12, 13, 14,... Continue reading

I’m Ryan Hudson, born and raised in sunny San Diego, CA. My story is far from fairytale. Since childhood, memories as far back as 4 years old serve as nothing more than nightmares. A victim of severe poverty since birth, I grew up living in and out of homeless shelters, sleeping in cars, the streets, at the park, or anywhere my family and I could lay our heads. When my family would find a home it would be in neighborhoods riddled with gang and drug activity. Such was my life until the age of 14 when I found the Toussaint... Continue reading

The fourth and final 2013 season stop of The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series (PPOS) will take place March 8-10 at Northstar California Resort in Lake Tahoe March. Top professional and upcoming freeskiers will battle it out in two days of slopestyle qualifiers March 8&9 before the finals on Sun., March 10. Sunday’s competition will be webcast live starting with the men’s semifinals at 9:30am PST and available for viewing on http://thenorthfaceppos.com/. The stream will also be broadcast on Lake Tahoe Television, which is on channels 12, 13, 14, 219 and 220 South Lake Tahoe, CA. Media outlets... Continue reading

The North Face is one of the largest supporters of the Access Fund Land Conservation Campaign, a revolving loan program that ensures the Access Fund has capital on hand to purchase private climbing areas under threat of closure. The North Face contribution to the Land Conservation Campaign has allowed the Access Fund to save 12 climbing areas since 2009 and will continue to help us purchase many more climbing areas for years to come. Top 10 Climbing Access Victories in 2012 Saved Holy Boulders in Southern Illinois from development by securing temporary ownership of the property while locals fundraise to... Continue reading