Unlike summer or spring, winter adventures demand preparation. Whether I’m skiing groomers all day in Idaho, heading into backcountry powder in Whistler, or driving to ice skate on a lake in Colorado, I’ve learned this: the mountains and the collective great outdoors rewards preparation and punish carelessness. As I’ve gotten older and started thinking more about safety as well as fun, I’ve become more intentional about what goes into my winter pack, and this includes a knife. But not just...

Photo courtesy Renoun Like most, I’m a creature of habit, and this affects my ski life. I’ve used the same pair of skis (I’ll avoid...