Ski gloves are the connecting point between athlete and poles as well as a major source of potential heat loss for skiers and riders alike. Some days call for maximum protection in the middle of massive cold fronts and ridge-blasting winds. Many more can be enjoyed with moderate protection and should be suitable for less-expensive glove options, even those under $50.

The snow has started falling! Keystone begins making snow tomorrow, and the North facing peaks already have some great coverage. The Active Junky team took a trip up to the top of Keystone to check out the progress and talk with the snowmaking team.

With the rise in backcountry skiing has come a proliferation of options in all gear categories. DynaFit, showcased in one of a series of season kick-off events held in Denver, Colorado, puts sidecountry and backcountry within reach of more skiers with new products like the TLT5 boot and Radical FT step-in bindings.

Press Release: With more and more skiers looking for escape in the mountains, seeking untracked snow and an intense way to experience nature, Salomon and Atomic are excited to introduce a new backcountry binding in the fall/winter of 2012, poised to become the benchmark for all snow adventurers.

What happens when the world's two leading winter sports brands bring together their most creative experts and athletes to develop a backcountry binding? The result is the next generation of freeride performance. The new SALOMON Guardian 16 and ATOMIC Tracker 16 feature unique advantages for every outing into the backcountry.

Eric Larsen, the famous polar explorer, has said, "I'm not the strongest, I'm definitely not the fastest and for sure I was never the smartest. I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin completely average in every way." But we disagree, not a bone in Larsen's body is average. In a video of one of his expeditions he comes into view, eyelashes heavily crusted with ice, after battling temperatures 30 degrees below zero, howling winds, and thin ice threatening to crack at any minute. He's clearly exhausted, and he admits that it has been a tough couple weeks, but yet he still pushes on.

This determination has helped him dedicate the last 15 years of his life to exploring some of the most inhospitable places on earth. In fact, he just recently completed a feat that few can even imagine possible. He reached the South Pole, the North Pole and climbed Mount Everest all within 365 days. He named it The Save the Poles Expedition, and the goal of his hard work was to raise awareness for our delicate polar regions threatened by global warming. We were able to chat with Larsen and he gave us some insight into overcoming exhaustion and fear, the warmest gear out there, and his relationship with the bitter cold.

Arapahoe Basin opened for the 2011-2012 season yesterday, and it was an absolutely gorgeous day to get back on skis. The sun was out, the snow was great, and there was plenty of hooting and hollering. Before the first skiers took to the hill, the A-Basin staff held a brief memorial service for Arapahoe Basin founders Marnie Jump and Max Dercum, who passed away this year. After two chairlifts with ribbons tied to each rode up for one last time, the rope dropped and the weekday warriors took to the mountain.

Selle San Marco, the venerable maker of road cycling saddles, remains relevant to today's rider with a line-up of three, can't-miss leather saddles. While priced higher than some synthetic production saddles, the comfort and lasting value of each is complemented by style even single-speed riders will envy.

Picture yourself driving down a dusty, hot road trying to get to the trailhead to start mountain biking, backpacking, or hiking. You are so, so lick-your-cracked-lips thirsty and the dry cotton feeling in your mouth is killing you. Naturally you unscrew your wide-mouth water bottle and as the car hits a bump your entire face and body get drenched. You try to take another sip and it happens again. And again.

Enter the Camelbak Groove Bottle. This inspired invention (who thought of a wide-mouth bottle in the first place?) will keep you hydrated without the endless struggle. You just flip the bite valve to open and sip from the spill-proof silicone top. Simple, easy, and you can do it with one hand.

Whether it's your first season venturing into the terrain park or you have been skiing in the orange zone for years, a good park ski is invaluable when it comes to learning new tricks and stomping clean landings. We have compiled the best of the best from the Freeskier, Powder, Skiing, Ski, and On The Snow buyer's guides to bring you this comprehensive look at the 2012 hard goods.

Whether it's your first season venturing into the terrain park or you have been skiing in the orange zone for years, a good park ski is invaluable when it comes to learning new tricks and stomping clean landings. Now more than ever, girls are capable of taking their skills in the park to new heights because the skis they are riding are designed to meet their needs. We have compiled the best of the best from the Freeskier, Powder, Skiing, Ski, and On The Snow buyer's guides to bring you this comprehensive look at the 2012 hard goods.