Before we even left the hotel room, we got gifts in the form of wicking hats and pedometers from Montane. We can register the pedometers at their booth later to enter the Outdoor Retailer Winter Marathon, and whoever walks the most can win prizes.

Today was All Mountain Demo Day. We headed up to Solitude Mountain Resort for the morning. I was working for OR Daily for the day, the daily magazine put out during the show. My assignment was the “Question of the Day” feature, and to also find foreigners who traveled here just for the show.

DSC04888

But first, Helly Hansen was doing a baselayer trade to promote their new baselayer technology. If you stripped down and gave them your old baselayer, you got one of their new ones for free! (Actually they asked for a $10 suggested donation for a charity, but these are $90 shirts!) I knew about this event ahead of time so I brought two silk baselayers that were too small and they let me trade both. Their sizing is super small so I had to go up, but the sleeves and body are so long! I love it! They are donating all the traded in baselayers to charity as well.

Once done with that, I wandered around the demo area, chatting with people, checking out new products, and picking up a few small freebies here and there. Yaktrax saved the day with their giveaways of what else, Yaktrax, and hand and toe warmers. MSR gave away insulated mugs and had hot tea and coffee to fill them with. PROBAR had new flavors to try and Crunchies Food Company had some delicious dried fruits and vegetables to taste.

DSC04890

After completing my assignment, some of us met up to head back to the city and the newsroom. Lunch was waiting and there I edited my photos and put together my article, which I am excited to see in the magazine tomorrow morning. We stopped by the hotel briefly before heading back out to meet some Backpacker editors for drinks. Next it was on to a party thrown by Icebreaker to celebrate snowshoe artist Simon Beck. You may have recently seen his work shared on social media.

They had a little table filled with fake snow where you could make your own design, share a picture of it to Instagram, and possibly win a prize if you get the most likes. I thought my design turned out well, although the picture did not so much due to poor lighting. Go like it on Instagram and help me win!

And I got more socks on my way out the door. I want to do this forever.