We've been here working at the University Hospital in Port au Prince for nearly two full weeks, and it is shaping up. The care being delivered is remarkable given the circumstances since the earthquake. There are two operating rooms running 4 beds each, a tented medical unit for our sickest patients, a fully stocked pharmacy, a satellite pharmacy, an increasing laboratory testing capability, and...
Outdoors
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Medicine for the Outdoors
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from Haiti, January 27, 2010
27 Jan 2010 | 7:00 pm -
Haiti, January 26, 2010
26 Jan 2010 | 6:55 pmOn the 10th full day in Haiti, we find ourselves at the transition point where we must work extremely hard carrying out our duties, but beginning to transfer responsibility to the persons who will assume our roles upon our departure. Some of our team have begun to "hit the wall" physically and emotionally. I am fine emotionally, but these old muscles are aching for sure. However, every time I... -
from Haiti, January 25, 2010
25 Jan 2010 | 6:15 pmAt the end of our 9th full day working at the University Hospital in Haiti, I find myself beginning to lose my endurance by the end of the day. We have made remarkable progress in a little more than a week, and a hospital has emerged. The tents are full of injured and ill patients, many of whom have lost limbs or have undergone dramatic surgery for multiple injuries. It is quite hot outside, so... -
Haiti, January 24
24 Jan 2010 | 6:24 pmMy day began today just past midnite, when I was awakened with a notification that a media crew believed that they had located a group of children in the basement of a building, perhaps trapped by the earthquake. We mobilized a field triage and treatment team, which I sent out to find the kids. After a few hours they were not found, but we later learned that it was a false alarm. Children had... -
Haiti, January 23
23 Jan 2010 | 6:56 pmWe saw a lot of progress today at the hospital. The surgeons are seeing a decrease in the number of patients that need emergency surgery for crush injuries and fractures, but that doesn't mean that we are anywhere near a point where less-than-massive resources are needed. There are countless broken bones, deformities, facial injuries, burns and so forth, and we are encountering the sequelae of...
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Backpacking and Hiking Gear Reviews - CascadeGear.com
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Gear Review: High Sierra’s Sentinel 65 and Summit 45 Packs
If I'm playing outside, I don't want to get slowed down by realizing that I left something at home for lack of room and I go insane if I've got a piece of gear in my pack but can't find it because it's buried under every single other thing that ... -
Patagonia Footwear Huckleberry Approach Shoe - Men’s
Patagonia Footwear Huckleberry Approach Shoe - Men's Product Description Price: $110.00 Buy Now Patagonia made the Men's Huckleberry Shoes with all-natural and recycled materials to give you technical footwear for hikes and approaches. Green construction started from the ground up with Vibram Ecostep soles that use 30% recycled rubber .The ... -
Merrell Wilderness Backpacking Boot - Men’s
Merrell Wilderness Backpacking Boot - Men's Product Description Price: $249.95 Buy Now If you don't prefer the techy space-boot look, you'll appreciate the Merrell Men's Wilderness Backpacking Boots' sleek Italian style. Waterproof leather uppers and grippy Vibram Roccia soles protect your feet from the perils of planet Earth's backcountry surface ... -
Lowa Banff Backpacking Boot - Men’s
Lowa Banff Backpacking Boot - Men's Product Description Price: $234.95 Buy Now The Lowa Banff Backpacking Boot for Men is the product of history and technology. Like its predecessors, the Banff uses 2.5mm thick seamless leather for unbeatable durability and long life. Coupled with a Vibram sole with a shock ... -
Merrell Traverse Backpacking Boot - Men’s
Merrell Traverse Backpacking Boot - Men's Product Description Price: $224.95 Buy Now Your friend's pack fits only 45 liters, and it looks like you'll be carrying the heavy stuff. Outfit your feet with the Merrell Men's Traverse Backpacking Boot and count on excellent traction, support, and shock-absorption even under a ...
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New England & Northeast Skiing, Mountain Biking, Hiking Forums - AlpineZone Forums
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Google "Snowmobile" view
9 Feb 2010 | 11:05 amSimilar to Google's street view, get ready for the snowmobile view from Google as part of their Olympic coverage. http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/09/googles-street-view-snowmobile-takes-your-voyeurism-to-the-olym/ UJ4pgcrJU8c -
Real Soul Skiing
9 Feb 2010 | 10:34 amWhat place does it for you better than the others, Northeast only pls. -
For the Dis.....uh...I mean...Brownsville Brooklyn
9 Feb 2010 | 10:19 amEnjoy: RiuAkeJ56VY k9AhwVIOkg8 Is that what you mean by "The Institution"? :lol: -
RIP Jimmie Heuga
9 Feb 2010 | 10:00 amFormer Olympic skier Heuga dies By Sports Network Posted on Mon, Feb. 08, 2010 Former Olympic skier Jimmie Heuga, who earned a bronze medal at the 1964 Winter Games, died on Monday. He was 66. Heuga's death came 46 years to the day after his medal. Heuga won the bronze behind Billy Kidd's silver in the 1964 Olympic slalom. "Jimmie Heuga was a champion in every sense of the word," said U.S. Ski Team President and CEO Bill Marolt, who skied with Heuga on the 1964... -
Hand And Toe Warmers
9 Feb 2010 | 9:44 amAre back in stock at Waltham, Mass. Costco this week. I thought they only stocked them in the fall. Lucky me. I ran out of toe warmers. Box of 40 hand warmers are about $13 ~ 33 cents/pair Box of 30 toe warmers are about $14 ~47 cents/pair At Stowe they are $3 each. At the store across from the Matterhorn they are $1.23. BTW, I've noticed that the shelf life of these things is about 2 years.
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FeedTheHabit.com
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Dynafit Titan TF-X Alpine Touring Ski Boots Review
8 Feb 2010 | 12:45 amLike most people, my backcountry skiing days started out with standard alpine boots in tow. After a couple of seasons with that setup, I moved onto alpine touring ski boots for smoother walking and striding. But, I’ve still been reluctant to go for the many ultralight A/T boots on the market for fear they wouldn’t be able to drive today’s fat skis. I’ve been very satisfied with the performance of the Garmont Endorphin and Scarpa Skookum boots and now it’s time to test Dynafit’s comparable entry the Titan TF-X. Built as an alpine/backcountry crossover boot,… -
Scott Fix Ski Goggles Review
5 Feb 2010 | 12:07 amIt really goes without saying that all the fancy rockered skis, heated boots and Gore-Tex outfits can all be thrown in the trash if you can’t see well enough to make your next turn. Goggles are often the unsung heros of the ski hill. Still, you see kids wearing them around town or hanging them from their rear-view mirrors without much thought for the care they really deserve. Take care of your goggles, I say, and they will take care of you. As one of the oldest goggle manufacturers, Scott knows their stuff. I’ve been fortunate enough to flog the Scott Fix ski goggles and have… -
I/O Bio Merino Wool: Merino With an Attitude
4 Feb 2010 | 12:38 amAnother first for me at Outdoor Retailer was I/O Bio–purveyors of Merino Wool products with a slight edge. While they aren’t clad in hot pink and flaming skull and crossbones, their designs are slightly more hip than most Merino on the market. Fun tops and bottoms like track jackets, full-body base layers and hoodies with attitudes are just a quick highlight of their lineup. Not only are the pieces fun, but each is typically offered in a variety of colors–including the now-mandatory plaid. Turns out I/O Bio has over 75 years of Merino expertise (where have I been?) and has… -
New Balance MT910 Gore-Tex Trail Running Shoes Review
3 Feb 2010 | 12:31 amNew Balance is a household name and a staple in the running market for years. Their quality shoes have trod millions of miles on pavement and dirt, but did you know that they are still committed to designing, manufacturing and assembling their shoes right here in America? Well, not 100%, but they do say that 25% of their shoes are made or assembled right here in the good ol’ US of A. Learn more here. Anyway, the “Made in America” story is a great one, but only if the shoes keep up with their well-known running heritage. As is typical during the Winter, I still manage to slip… -
Polarmax Introduces TransDRY Wicking Cotton
2 Feb 2010 | 1:47 amWicking Cotton? For reals? Well, according to Polarmax and from what I’ve seen thus far, wicking cotton is indeed comfortable, soft and yes, wicking. The secret lies in the mixture of hydrophobic (water-resistant) and hydrophillic (water absorbent) weave in the fabric makeup. Rows of alternating absorbent and resistant threads are woven into the shirt to promote moisture movement and speed the drying process. While this still doesn’t provide as much of an insulative layer as other fabrics (Merino, Primaloft yarn, etc.), it does show promise when it comes to a comfortable and…
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Camping Survival Tips
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What to Consider Before Planning a Hiking Adventure
8 Feb 2010 | 12:45 amAre you looking for a fun and exciting way to spend a day off that you have or even a whole weekend that you may have free? If you are, have you ever thought about going on a hiking adventure? If you are like many other Americans, there is a good chance that the thought has at least crossed your mind before. Hiking is not only fun and exciting, but, for many, it is also a great way to relax. If you are interested in going on a hiking adventure, you may want to get started with the planning right away. While it is more than possible to do so, there are a number of important factors that you… -
Camping With Your Canoe
7 Feb 2010 | 3:39 amCamping with your canoe sounds so romantic. Camping with your canoe brings up images of Indians paddling their canoes across mist shrouded lakes. Camping with your canoe can take you to some very inaccessible places, but camping with your canoe can be very hard work. Camping with your canoe can be a leisurely paddle across a pond or a three week trek through the most remote back country. What camping with your canoe is to you depends on what you want from camping with your canoe. Do you want exercise? do you want beautiful scenery? Do you want to go deep into the wilderness? Camping with your… -
Camping With Your Dog
29 Jan 2010 | 10:49 pmCamping with your dog can be a lot of fun, but you need to be sure to safeguard both your own and your pet's safety. But with a little preparation and planning camping with your dog can be a great experience. When planning to go camping with your dog you need to consider your dogs needs and abilities. If your dog is big and strong and sure footed then you can go camping with your dog in more mountainous terrain. But consider the animals that might be in the area as dogs are vulnerable in cougar country and are safer if left at home. If your dog is old and frail for some reason, you might… -
A Tale of Teardrop Campers
26 Jan 2010 | 6:30 amWhen you own a teardrop, you are towing a little piece of history into the camper. Teardrop campers are compact trailers providing necessities of a sleep- in cabin and kitchen without the fuss and hassle of either towing a caravan or putting up a tent. It can comfortably sleep two people and is the perfect companion for the long weekend. The kitchen is accessed from the rear of the trailer and depending on the model can have a single shelf or pull-out for a stove or have a complete kitchen hidden under the bonnet. With minimal setup required, the kitchen works especially well for a quick meal… -
Backyard Camping
23 Jan 2010 | 4:43 pmBackyard camping can be a great introduction to the joys of camping. Depending upon where you live, it can be a safe way for your kids to get a taste of camping without having to be too far from your guidance and protection. Backyard camping can give you child the illusion of independence that will make it fun and a character building exercise. Backyard camping can make a kid feel like they are being brave and grown up. The backyard can get to be a pretty scary place lat at night when you are backyard camping with a friend and mom and dad are nowhere in sight. When you are backyard camping,…
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Camping News
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Easy Camping Meals
7 Feb 2010 | 11:29 amHere are some easy camping meals that you can make on your next camping trip. Camping is a fun and relaxing way to spend some time outdoors, but meals can be a chore. -
Camping out for Haiti appeal
5 Feb 2010 | 11:07 amTWO members of a schoola s staff are braving the cold weather to raise money for the Haiti disaster. -
Camper helps burning car mystery
4 Feb 2010 | 1:44 amPolice are keen to speak to a person who was camping near a man whose charred remains were found in a burning car in the NSW Southern Highlands. -
7 Things You Should Never Bring on a Camping Trip
3 Feb 2010 | 9:22 pmWhen I personally think of "camping", I think of a tent, a campfire, a cooler, and the bathroom next to a tree. -
Teens dead after camping tragedy
2 Feb 2010 | 9:21 pmA TEENAGE couple are both dead after being accidentally run over by a ute, driven by a friend at a camp site while they were sleeping in their swags during a school reunion, police have confirmed.
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News from The Outdoor Foundation
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New Report from The Outdoor Foundation Examines Youth Participation in Outdoor Recreation in the U.S.
2 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pmThe Outdoor Foundation® today released a Special Report on Youth-a new research report detailing youth participation in outdoor recreation. Focusing on youth ages 6–24, the report reveals, among other findings, the most popular outdoor activities among youth, the frequency of youth participation in outdoor activities, the motivations and barriers of young outdoor participants and the most underrepresented demographics in youth outdoor participation. -
American Hiking Society’s Hike the Hill 2010, February 20-25
31 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pmAmerican Hiking Society invites hiking and trails enthusiasts and leaders to Washington, DC February 20-25 for the 13th annual Hike the Hill: Trails Advocacy Week! During the week-long Hike the Hill, hikers and trails advocates from across the nation will share experiences and advice, learn grassroots lobbying skills and strategies, and advocate for increased funding, promotion and protection of our national system of trails and our natural heritage. -
Mountain Khakis® Presents the 2010 "MOG" Outdoor Fest & Bike Swap
31 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pm(Jackson Hole, WY – February 1, 2010) Mountain Khakis®, a premier outdoor-lifestyle apparel brand “Built for the Mountain Life”, proudly announces their title sponsorship of the 2010 MOG Outdoor Gear Sale & COPMOBA Bike Swap in Grand Junction, Colorado – the largest grassroots outdoor gear sale and bike swap between Denver and Salt Lake City. -
World Record Holder and X Games Gold Medalist, Simon Dumont, Hosts 2nd Annual Dumont Cup At Sunday River
26 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pmProfessional freeskiers Simon Dumont, Tom Wallisch, TJ Schiller, Peter Olenick and Jossi Wells come to Sunday River to compete with the East’s best amateur athletes -
Wisconsin Pharmacal Donates Water Purification Tablets to Haitian Relief Efforts
25 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pmWisconsin Pharmacal Company, the manufacturer of Potable Aqua® water purification tablets, has partnered with numerous worldwide relief organizations and the U.S. Army to assist those recently affected by the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
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NYT > Camps and Camping
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A Celebrated Scout Camp on Staten Island Is in Jeopardy
23 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pmFinancial woes may force the sale of Camp Pouch, 140 acres where generations have learned to rough it. -
Broadband, Yes. Toilet, No.
30 Dec 2009 | 9:00 pmAn Alaskan couple have turned a yurt into a home in the wild for them and their 11-month-old son. -
Caribbean Resort Option: A Tent on St. John
5 Dec 2009 | 9:00 pmThe island boasts an expansive national park and a few pockets of uninterrupted coastline, where one can set up camp. -
Happy Campers Command Stage in Macy’s Parade
27 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pmAt Stagedoor Manor, a Catskills theater camp, young performers spend four days in rehearsal to ride the float and perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. -
Cutbacks Will Affect State Park Enthusiasts
29 Oct 2009 | 9:00 pmPadlocked toilets are coming soon to California’s once-fabled state parks.
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American Camp Association - Latest News
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H1N1 Preparedness Tips and Facts for the Upcoming Camp Season
2 Feb 2010 | 1:56 pmInfluenza is generally not a summer ailment. Last summer's experience was atypical, which reminds us to keep protective behaviors alive and well at camp! It is critical to know the facts about H1N1 and know the resources to access for up-to-date information. -
20/20 Update: Accomplishments, Next Steps, and Important Dates
23 Nov 2009 | 11:45 amThe following letter from CEO Peg Smith addresses accomplishments of the 20/20 Task Force, next steps regarding the 20/20 initiative, and important dates for the Leadership Summit and Council of Delegates. -
URGENT CALL TO ACTION – International Camp Staff Issue
10 Nov 2009 | 10:34 amYour advocacy is needed by November 23, 2009! The U.S. Department of State has issued proposed changes to the J1 Visa program. J1 Visas are the most common type of Visa granted for international camp counselors. The proposed rule changes would have a negative impact on the camp community's ability to use international staff. Find out the details and advocate today. -
Open letter to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
4 Nov 2009 | 10:30 amRead open letter to Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, discussing camp's role in the "Race to the Top" -
Celebrate ACA's 100th Anniversary
3 Nov 2009 | 5:51 pmPreserving the rich history of the camp experience is essential for the future. The American Camp Association (ACA) is proud to celebrate our 100th Anniversary in 2010 and the 150th Anniversary of Organized Camping in 2011, and to honor our past with this Web-based tribute.
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Backpacking Light Magazine
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(M) Petzl Tikka XP2 and Tikka Plus2 LED Headlamp Reviews
1 Feb 2010 | 11:00 pmPetzl has been busy upgrading and gives us two new versions of an old stand-by. by Rick Dreher | 2010-02-02Petzl has been busy upgrading the Tikka-Zipka line, and as part of this suite of six new headlamps gives us two versions of the old Tikka XP: the Tikka Plus2 and the Tikka XP2. Physically, the new Plus2 and XP2 have more similarities than differences and each includes the following: Single, high-output, white, collimated LED Small, red, 5mm LED Single control switch, mounted top-center Ratcheted angle adjustment Hinged battery compartment Wraparound elastic headband The headlamp shells… -
(M) PHD Mountain Software Ultra Down Pullover Review
25 Jan 2010 | 11:05 pmThe ultimate down jacket for ultralight backpacking and lightweight cold weather pursuits. by Will Rietveld | 2010-01-26PHD (Peter Hutchinson Designs) Mountain Software is a small company in Stalybridge UK that manufactures sleeping bags and garments "from the lightest in the world to the ultimate in extreme expedition protection." Their garments are offered in standard or custom sizing, plus options for added fill or features at additional cost. All products are sewn in their small factory after the order is placed. This review covers their new Ultra Down Pullover, which is designed to… -
Be Prepared, Not Equipped
25 Jan 2010 | 11:00 pmThe main reason my pack got lighter was because I realized that being prepared had little to do with the equipment I carried. by Brad Groves | 2010-01-26The main reason my pack got lighter was because I realized that being prepared had little to do with the equipment I carried. I had first learned to backpack in the Boy Scouts, where fellow youth and adults alike took the motto "Be Prepared" to be synonymous with "Be Equipped." Truth be told, we weren't just equipped... we were equipped for just about anything. Socks and underwear for nearly every day. Full-size towel, washcloth, and toiletry… -
(M) Sierra Prime: Off Trail in California's High Country
18 Jan 2010 | 11:05 pmThe greatest rewards come when you choose to get off the beaten path and build a personalized hike that mixes challenge and fun at whatever level works for you. by Alan Dixon and Don Wilson | 2010-01-19Every time we walk out the door on a backcountry trip, we make choices: Where to go? How many days? How many miles? What gear and food to bring? How challenging will the trip be? We explore how planning and choices can help you create a very personal trip, one that can be far more rewarding than blindly sticking to the trail and following generic "cook book" directions from a guide book. The… -
(M) MontBell Ex Light Women's Down Jacket Review
18 Jan 2010 | 11:00 pmThe lightest down jacket to be found, but the womenâs version doesnât have as much loft and warmth as the menâs version. by Janet Reichl and Will Rietveld | 2010-01-19MontBell states that the Ex Light Down Jacket is "the ultimate in minimalist design" and it's hard to argue with that. It combines cutting edge materials - 7 denier (0.74 oz/yd2) shell, 900 fill-power down - and minimizes features to create the lightest down jacket to be found. It's claimed to provide more warmth than a fleece jacket with a fraction of the weight or bulk and is basically targeted to people like us…
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Campist
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The North Face VE 25 Camping Tent
9 Feb 2010 | 4:53 amFor times when you’re facing nature’s worse, take shelter in The North Face’s VE 25 Camping Tent. The durable three-person VE 25 stands up to severe conditions - thanks to its reinforced construction and multidirectional lift technology, it laughs in the face of the nastiest weather. Easy to set up, this North Face camping tent comes equipped with study DAC Featherlite NSL aluminum poles. And it lets in plenty of air – the VE 25 comes with internally adjustable zip vents with mesh screens, polyurethane windows and dual doors with dual vestibules. Other features include reflective… -
Trek Light Double Hammock
9 Feb 2010 | 4:51 amYou’ll find out why two’s company in the Trek Light Double Hammock. Measuring in at 6.5 feet wide and 10 feet long, the Trek Light Double Hammock gives you all the room you and a partner need to make yourselves comfy. If you’re by your lonesome, use the extra space to keep your backpack off the ground, or to wrap yourself up in a few blankets on those cold nights. Able to perfectly conform to your body, this Trek Light hammock holds up to 400lbs and only weighs slightly over a pound. It comes in a variety of different colors and folds up easily into a handy storage bag when it’s not… -
Light My Fire SeatPad
8 Feb 2010 | 5:19 amYou’ll never be stuck with a wet or cold bottom again while camping, thanks to the Light My Fire SeatPad. Made from stretchable water-repellant neoprene, the SeatPad protects you bum from hard, cold, warm, wet and slippery and insulates against both hot and cold. If it does get wet, just shake it off – the Light My Fire SeatPad lets the water just run off. When you’re not sitting on it, use the SeatPad to keep beverages cold or warm, protect fragile items when packing or even use it as a potholder. Once you’re done with it, it includes a rubber cord and hook for folding and easy… -
Yakima SkyBox Pro 21 Cargo Carrier
8 Feb 2010 | 5:17 amIf you’re hauling a lot of baggage around with you, you’d better get the Yakima SkyBox Pro 21 Cargo Carrier. Boasting 21 cubic feet of space, the SkyBox Pro 21 has enough room to fit all your camping gear, as well as an integrated track system, cargo net and base pad to help you organize and protect it. It’s easy to set up – this Yakima cargo carrier comes with quick-installation hardware mounts that fit to your crossbars without the use of any tools. Plus its lid is 50% stiffer, which makes for easier handling, and its lid shape gives you something to grab onto. Bring it all along… -
Asolo Men’s Fugitive GTX Hiking Boots
5 Feb 2010 | 7:37 amYou may not be running from the law, but when you put on the Asolo Men’s Fugitive GTX Hiking Boots, you’re sure to make a clean getaway! Great for hikers and campers looking for lightweight, comfortable footwear, the Fugitive GTX boots are responsive and snappy. Made from water-resistant split-grain leather and Cordura nylon uppers, these Asolo men’s hiking boots are guaranteed to be durable and will let you feet breathe. To make every step a comfy one, the Fugitive GTX boots come equipped with Gore-Tex liners and its DuoAsoflex midsoles combine a shock-absorbing soft layer with a…
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Getoutdoors.com Outdoor Blog
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The Boarding Company, Snowbeds - Hakuba
9 Feb 2010 | 9:22 amFinding good, functional gear in Japan is not easy. There are a couple blocks in Tokyo that are wall to wall snowboard stuff, but mostly crap. The youngsters seem to like the flashy shiznit, wild hair styles, and low hanging pants. Finding brands like Burton and Prior (for split boards) leads one to The Boarding Company in Hakuba. In my yearly sojourn to Hakuba to experience the white monster, I always visit the store and hang for a bit. Will, that rather good looking brotha there, or as the Japos would say, goor rooking, 'will buff you out, mate,' and indeed he does. A great… -
Maine Bill Would Keep Guns Out of Acadia National Park
9 Feb 2010 | 9:06 amA bill winding its way through the Maine legislature would return Acadia National Park's gun laws to the days before an enterprising senator tacked a provision onto the Obama credit card bill. That provision dictated that guns could be carried in national parks, and anyone with a conceal-and-carry permit would be allowed to carry concealed guns within the parks. The guns in parks bill also allows states to make their own rules, so if this bill(pdf) becomes law in Maine, the only guns allowed in Acadia would be unloaded, broken apart, and stored in car trunks. Now, I don't really care if… -
Bike Racks by David Byrne
8 Feb 2010 | 8:33 amDavid Byrne is worrying about the government. The musician and writer designed 11 bike racks to be placed in neighborhoods around Manhattan. The DOT apparently has the authority to put these things in place, but if they're going to stay for more than a year and be considered 'permanent fixtures,' the city's Design Commission gets final say. That year expired last week, and Byrne wrote a testy blog post about the Commission's decision. Seems the city accepted the 9 racks that had already been placed, but as a political move, they denied installing the last two. The decision to require that the… -
Big Wave Surfing in High-Def and Slow-Mo
5 Feb 2010 | 6:51 amShot in high-def and slow motion, big wave surfer Dylan Longbottom barrels down a 12-foot wave. This is the first shot of its kind, and offers those of us who paddle out only to get pounded into the sand a glimpse into what it's like. via Wend -
Are You the Memphis Crackhead Who Got Shot at While Riding Your Bike?
4 Feb 2010 | 6:34 amThe local Memphis Fox affiliate has run the most baffling news report I've ever read about a cyclist. A man was arrested at 4:30am on a Sunday for shooting at a suspected crackhead riding a bike. It sounds like the drunken man and his brother were watching a VHS copy of Boondock Saints, and they decided to go on a vigilante mission of their own. They loaded up their truck with an expandable baton, some brass knuckles, and a .45 with a box of ammo. The most interesting point in the article is that the Fox people seem to take for granted that the guy on a bike was indeed a crackhead. I'm not…
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GoBackpacking
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Faces From Around the World: Spain
9 Feb 2010 | 10:00 amEsther from Ibiza, Spain What is your first name: Esther What city are you from: Ibiza What country are you from: Spain What do you do: Physical Therapist If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why: Thailand because it’s so different then where I come from (with it’s traditions, peoples ect) and because I’m amazed at the nice pictures I seen of the places there. What’s your dream and why: Keep on being happy for the rest of my life and becoming a better person. (Note: because of short time, I didn’t get a real good answer on this one and… -
A Chance Encounter with the Dalai Lama
9 Feb 2010 | 6:00 amThis is a guest post by Stephen Barrett. If you want to guest post on Go Backpacking, please read more here. As part of a larger backpacking trip around the world, Stephen Barrett had the good fortune to be in McLeod Ganj, seat of the Tibetan Government in Exile, for the first day of a series of lectures given at his residence by Tenzin Gyatzo, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Tibetan restaurant in McLeod Ganj, India I wake up in The Lady’s Adventure Guesthouse in the small town of Mcleod Ganj, high in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh State in northern India. It is a short walk uphill to… -
Manila: The Forgotten City
8 Feb 2010 | 10:00 amThis is a guest post by Jerik de Guzman. If you want to guest post on Go Backpacking, please read more here. Re-discover Manila and be prepared for the surprises it’ll bring you. Less than P50 is all you need to ride public transportation: be it a jeepney, FX or a bus going to Manila where fun and good times meet. Manila is the city long forgotten by many because of the exciting, overly-secure and posh malls of Makati. Home to the President of the Republic, the glaring red light district and obscure menu is also the city that never sleeps. What once was the pride and glory of the country is… -
Win Free T-Shirts from Hostel Dog
8 Feb 2010 | 6:00 amGo Backpacking has teamed up with Hostel Dog, designer of travel-inspired apparel, to give away 2 free shirts! How to Enter 1. Click here to Become a Fan of Hostel Dog on Facebook. 2. Browse their funny and stylish t-shirt collection on HostelDog.com. 3. And leave a comment on their Facebook Fan Page Wall with your favorite design. Rules The contest will run from February 8 – 19, 2010. There will be 2 winners: 1 man, and 1 woman. The winners will be chosen at random from the people who posted on Hostel Dog’s Facebook Wall. The winners will be announced on Go Backpacking… -
How to Choose a Travel Rewards Credit Card
7 Feb 2010 | 10:00 amThis is a guest post by Kevin Fleming. If you want to guest post on Go Backpacking, please read more here. One of the best perks of credit cards these days, particularly for those who travel frequently for work or for pleasure, are the travel rewards points that can be earned for using the card. These travel rewards break down in very different ways. For example, some airline credit cards offer free airfare for an individual or family on hundreds of different airlines. Others allow you to accrue points to use toward “frequent flyer miles,” which may also be used on a number of airlines.
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Ecuador Adventures
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Waorani Expedition – February 13th to 16th, 2010!!!
25 Jan 2010 | 3:19 pmWAORANI EXPEDITION TRANSPORT QUITO –COCA/COCA – QUITO: Public Bus: The night bus from Quito to Coca leaves at 9:30 pm at the terminal of “Transportes Esmeraldas”on February 12th. The night bus back to Quito from Coca leaves at 8:30 pm or 9:30 pm on February 16th. (Recommendation: Please buy your tickets at least 3 days before the trip! If you prefer, we can buy the ticket for you!) By plane: The plane from Quito to Coca leaves at 7:30 am with VIP airlines on February 13th (cost: 69,58 USD). The flight back to Quito from Coca leaves at 5:30 pm with TAME Airlines on February… -
NUEVO: Curso Intensivo de Kayaking. Dos fines de semana por $269
11 Oct 2009 | 11:00 amEl curso tendrá una duración de dos fines de semana, en los que se estima los alumnos llegarán a ganar un nivel de principiantes, aptos para continuar avanzado el nivel por medio de entrenamientos. Objetivo: Contactanos hoy para reservar tu puesto. Contacta a Diego Altamirano de Barefoot Expeditions al diego@barefootexpeditions.com Desarrollar un curso el cual ayude a capacitar a las personas interesadas en la actividad de kayaking, con un enfoque turístico deportivo. Conformar el primer club de Kayaking en Quito con la finalidad de hacer crecer esta actividad y difundirla mucho más en… -
Video: What to expect in a whitewater rafting trip in Ecuador?
12 Aug 2009 | 9:26 am -
Anuncio: Curso de Rafting Para Rescates en Aguas Rapidas
16 Apr 2009 | 6:56 pmBarefoot Expeditions anuncia el Curso de Rafting Para Rescates en Aguas Rapidas: Se realizará en el el área de El Chaco, Ecuador. Un curso para quienes tienen experiencia en aguas rápidas y quieren estar listos ante cualquier emergencia en el rio. Si estas interesado/a llena esta forma y contactanos hoy mismo. AREA DE ENTRENAMIENTO: El Chaco Provincia del Napo. El rio está localizado en el camino a la Amazonia Ecuatoriana. El clima es templado y el agua un poco fria (utilizaremos wetsuits) Experiencia no es necesaria, Pero saber nadar es un requisito indispensable para aprovechar… -
Upcoming Trip: Rafting & Camping Trip in The Toachi and Blanco Rivers (Ecuador)
1 Apr 2009 | 9:21 amWeekend Rafting/Camping Trip in Ecuador’s Rainforest April 11th & 12th Join Barefoot Expeditions on this special discounted adventure tour. Overnight rafting and camping trip to the Toachi & Blanco rivers. We will depart from Quito on Saturday April 11th at 8:00 am. After arriving at the Toachi Alto around 10:30 am we will start the adventure, we will raft for 5 hours. Then we will stop at our camp area where we will set up our tents and enjoy a bonfire and food. The next morning after breakfast we will continue te rafting for 4 more hours until we get to the little…
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GoXplore - Blogs
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Short Story contest in Toronto
8 Feb 2010 | 11:07 amI’m about half way through my short story for the contest due by the end of February in Toronto. I really should be finishing my online accounting course but I still have about a year and a half to do that and I’m still setting up my ‘social networking’ network and don’t want to do it half baked. My book has all true stories, so I think that I’ll also continue with creating the short story as true. I was thinking of making it fiction but it’s about our ‘Spensors Gorge’ trip and I want to use it in the sequel to Friday on the Trail that will be out in 2011. It sure would be… -
Getting ready for spring
4 Feb 2010 | 5:32 amWell, I’m starting to put together my pack. Get everything cleaned up, and washed (happens once every year). Need a new filter for my water purifier and replenish my emergency bag (put back the duct tape that I swiped from it). Kim and I went over the Bruce Trail topo maps to see if we could find just the right trek for the May 24 long weekend. We have it narrowed down to about 8 or 10 areas. Sheesh! It’ll probably be really crappy weather but that’s ok. It makes for more interesting stories when we get together between hikes. Maybe someday we’ll have the time to do a ‘through… -
The favorite online store of mine !!
28 Jan 2010 | 4:19 pm[url]www.wow-nike.com[/url] This is my favorite online store ! There are a lot of products in it ! Good quality cheap price ! I am sure you will like it very much ! Now there are a lot of promotions in it ! The total amount more than $100 free shipping Accept all the payment ! Good chance only once ! I am sure you will not miss it ! -
Travel Away!
7 Jun 2009 | 6:21 pmI love traveling. I think you can know a lot about yourself if you tend to travel. It really opens up a new avenue for you. I've traveled to many places, and always find it as a really good experience. Though nowadays I'm really busy at work. I work for a Panama Offshore Corporation. So I've decided to document the various places I've been to and also read about the places that people have been to. -
Hello everyone!
27 May 2009 | 10:08 pmThis looks like a place for a travelers. And I'm an obsessive traveler. I love going from place to place. I love going to villages, go to countrysides. My other passions include Dahn Yoga, Religious Studies.
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Hip Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy
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Hoodoos -- Drumheller, AB -- May 25, 2009
8 Feb 2010 | 7:37 amJust to the east of Drumheller are the Hoodoos, geological structures that look like pillars with "hats". These formations are common in badlands areas, and are built when harder sediment exists on top of softer material. Over time the softer material erodes away, but the "pillar" is protected by the "cap" of the harder sediment. Over time the hoodoos will also erode away.Smaller hoodoos, or " -
Drumheller Trail -- Drumheller, AB -- May 25, 2009
5 Feb 2010 | 7:23 amExiting the main building of the Tyrrell Museum does not mean the fun is over. The museum also offers an interpretive path/trail. The land is so stark and dry it's tough to imagine what's left to see, but the 30-45 minute walk is well worth the trip.(Though on a sunny day, come prepared -- there is no shade at all on the trail and the sun is unforgiving at the best of times).One of the highlights -
Horsethief Canyon -- Drumheller, AB -- May 25, 2009
3 Feb 2010 | 7:15 amA few kilometers outside of Drumheller, just when you think you're hitting the bald prairie again, this massive expanse of land opens up as far as the eye can see.Horsethief Canyon. It's known for its spectacular view as well as the bright yellow canola fields that surround the area (unfortunately we were too early in the season). Just before the highway turnoff to the viewpoint, the oil pumps -
Tyrrell Museum -- Drumheller, AB -- May 26, 2009
1 Feb 2010 | 7:33 amThe Royal Tyrrell. If you're into dinosaurs, geology or natural history, this is the place to be. While this is technically not a "hike" or even outdoors, it's a must-see attraction in the area, and hey, it's educational! The museum was recently renovated and the exhibitions upgraded, and there is so much to take in it's sometimes tough to make sure you see everything. But first, let's meet the -
Horseshoe Canyon -- Drumheller, AB -- May 26, 2009
25 Jan 2010 | 7:15 amIt seems like we never get out to Drumheller enough. And we should, because it's a completely different world from what we're used to here in the foothills of the Rockies.Drumheller is just under 2 hours from Calgary, about 120 km east. It's best known for its dinosaur history -- an amazing amount of fossils have been recovered from the area, and one of the world's leading dinosaur musuems -- The
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Andy HoboTraveler.com Travel Journal
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Video on Making a Camping Bread Toaster
8 Feb 2010 | 11:05 pmSubscribe to Pro Travel Tips I wanted toasted bread I made a toaster using tin cans. Normally I hold bread over the flame, with this system I invented I do not burn my fingers. img src http www.hobotraveler.com b photos0 ... Read More -
Uniqueness of the Human Spirit
7 Feb 2010 | 10:24 pmSubscribe to Pro Travel Tips The good Gods gave me a gift I try not to squander it. They have allowed me to wander the planet aimlessly, whereby I see small daily glimpses of the human spirit. img src http www.hobotravele ... Read More -
This Old House or Hotel Room
6 Feb 2010 | 7:10 pmSubscribe to Pro Travel Tips Who is better prepared for perpetual traveler A. People who watches the TV show a href http www.thisoldhouse.com This Old House a where people remodel old homes. or B. People that reads ... Read More -
10 Skills Needed to Succeed with Internet Business
5 Feb 2010 | 7:31 pmSubscribe to Pro Travel Tips My site HoboTraveler.com has been in business for 10 years, for the last five years I have made between 35,000 and 55,000 Dollars. We are in the process of taking it to the next level. Whereby, I plan ... Read More -
Addicted to Writing Maybe Talking
4 Feb 2010 | 9:03 pmSubscribe to Pro Travel Tips HoboTraveler.com is having trouble with mail delivery of the Travel Journal this one is not being sent by email. Therefore, I am sitting here frustrated and angry with this black hole called the in ... Read More
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nomad4ever
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Gili Islands near Lombok – to go or to avoid?
21 Jan 2010 | 8:31 pmOver the years, the 3 Gili Islands in the north-west of Lombok have been famous with backpacker tourists. White sand, crystal-clear cyan-blue waters, no police on the islands and a carefree attitude and tolerance of the locals drew budget tourists in droves. Recently, the islands also attract a different crowd, disco or party seekers who didn’t find their place at the Full-moon parties of Thailand and even upscale developments change the face of those gems in the Lombok straight. Is it already too late to let your hair down here? Lombok as Bali’s sister island, did already many things… -
6 Months Philippines – the Best, the Good, the Ugly
24 Dec 2009 | 10:56 pmCan you really grasp a whole country by just staying a couple of months there? For sure not. That’s even more the case with the Philippines, guess I never felt the time passing faster than here – or is it maybe that I’m getting older? Either way, the Philippines is a beautiful island nation, a bit off the usual tourist trail of the rest of Southeast Asia. That is not necessarily a bad thing, more the opposite is true. You will meet less fellow travelers and have more chances to immerse yourself in a country with all its own values and characteristics. Let’s have a more detailed look… -
Wanted: Your very own beach paradise island – Bohol or Bantayan?
13 Nov 2009 | 12:33 amAside from Boracay, the famous island with the ‘whitest beach in Asia’, the Philippines have many more paradise islands with white sandy beaches to offer. 2 of them can be found in the Visayas, a region relatively protected from the onslaught of countless Typhoons, with the worst this year, Ketsana (Ondoy) and Parma (Pepeng) causing havoc in the Northern part of the country. Although both, Bohol or Bantayan could be your very own paradise-beach islands, they are quite different from each other. Let’s check how they compare to the traveler in search for his very own beach paradise… -
Is this the next President of the Philippines?
12 Oct 2009 | 2:31 amWith the current sitting-duck president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) trying to pull all strings to extend her 10 years in office by changing the constitution; a clear frontrunner emerges among the presidential candidates for the scheduled 10th of May 2010 election. His family heritage and legacy give hope to millions of ordinary Filipinos and big parts of the political elite also. But can he win and does he have he the guts and long-term stamina to overcome a climate of corruption, vote rigging and cronyism in a country long starved of the fruits of the labor of its people? To answer… -
Never again Asus Computers!
5 Oct 2009 | 4:10 amWhen I moved away from Singapore on to Thailand and Bali a few years ago, I also gave up on desktop computers. Until then I mainly used self-customized desktops with the graphic cards, mainboards and components I wanted. Asus always was close to my techie heart then, so I didn’t waste too many thoughts, when I made the switch from desktop to laptop computers just to be more mobile and flexible. Big mistake! I didn’t realize then, that Asus is basically a component vendor with a poor track record of assembling complete products. What I wanted to achieve was basically to substitute my…
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Outdoor.com
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Natural Poison Ivy Remedies For the Outdoors-person
29 Jan 2010 | 6:40 pmDeer season is over and the winter is beginning to recede. With springtime some of the most outdoor fun, but also some of the outdoor issues.Among the problems we see in the spring and summertime are the weeds, mosquitos and other things that can make us itch and be uncomfortable. Try to pay attention to where you’re walking and what kind of plants that you’re in. That’s step number one to treating poison ivy. Prevent it… The threat of things like poison ivy and poison oak return nearly as soon as things begin to grow in the summer time. No matter where you live,… -
Feeding Wild Turkeys
28 Jan 2010 | 9:03 amAlthough some folks are against feeding any wildlife, the fact is when you have ice on top of snow a turkey can sometimes not break through to get to any thing to eat. Supplemental feeding can be the only thing thing that keeps them going through these tough times. It is fairly cheap to do and can be a lot of fun. You will get to see a lot of different wild life. I even found shed deer antlers around my turkey feeders, so you know they are also coming in to help the turkeys with their supplied dinner. If you can find an empty wire spool and some square holed fence you can make a nice feeder… -
Hiking the Red Rock Canyon in January
27 Jan 2010 | 3:57 pmThe Red Rock Canyon, near Las Vegas is one of the few places in the world where you can enjoy an outstanding hiking experience within just a few miles of one of the most entertaining cities on earth. This past week the Red Rock was the scene of some wonderful weather. At least for us, it was wonderful weather. The scene was a winter wonderland. A few hiking trails were closed, but most remained open, making the trail an amazing sight that offered a glimpse of a northern lifestyle. Trekking across some of the pathways, the mountains in the distance covered in snow were breathtaking in their… -
Black Bear Hunting
7 Nov 2009 | 10:54 pmThere are many different ways to hunt bear from baiting,spot and stalk, with hounds or just picking a good looking spot and waiting or even driving them out. No matter how you choose to do it I think it is exiting. I shot one once that weighed 280 pounds dressed out and it was by far the most exiting hunt I’ve ever had. I was hunting with my older brother and a good friend of ours which made it even more memorable. I could not believe how quiiet and hard to see the bear was. He was twenty yards away and just stepped out of a shadow. I went from freezing cold to sweating instantly. -
Prime Time for Elk
7 Nov 2009 | 10:39 pmIf you like the screaming bugle of bull elk and watching these amazing animals now is prime time most any where they exist in the U.S. Of course you need to consider that hunting season may be open and take precautions. I know a lot of areas exist where there are no open hunting seasons. Where I used to go near Bennezette Pa. the elk were plentiful and you could bugle them in and get plenty of picture and video opportunities.On a few occasions we probably had elk in waaay to close, but it really got your heart rate up and made for good stories later on. Bear in mind that you need to respect…
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Outdoor Camping Survival
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Tips for a Successful Camping Trip
13 Jan 2010 | 9:46 amCamping is an excellent way to enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors, whether as a romantic weekend or a family vacation. Although some may consider camping easier than planning a traditional hotel vacation, much work goes into ensuring a successful outdoor excursion. Research. Although wandering aimlessly in the woods can lead to exciting adventures, research of the area where you plan to camp will help you to prepare an outline of the activities you’d like to do. Find out where nearby lakes and hiking trails are located. Maybe there are natural wonders or fossil excavation sites nearby. -
How To Split Firewood
22 Nov 2009 | 9:34 amFor anyone who lives in the countryside and has a wood burning fire or stove, knowing how to split firewood is an essential skill. Whether you get the wood delivered or fell it yourself you need to know how to split it into a usable size. Any task that involves a tool as dangerous as an axe should be approached with caution, but more importantly also with the knowledge of how to do the task safely and easily. Follow this simple guide and you'll soon know how to split firewood and have a full woodshed ready for winter. Step 1. Select a level block or stand, such as a tree stump, on which to… -
Know How to Build a Campfire for Cooking Campfire Recipes
5 Nov 2009 | 2:55 amWhen it’s your turn to be the camp cook, knowing how to build a campfire, and the right layout to use for your campfire recipes is critical. Veteran campfire cooks will tell you that a fire built for cooking is more than a pile of flaming firewood. If you are going to be doing more than just roasting hot dogs or marshmallows, you will need more than just an open flame fire. Most campfire recipes call for using some cooking techniques that use the even heat of hot coals too. When you are not restricted to a contained fire ring or other pre-made fire enclosure, and have flexibility in… -
USA Top Hiking Trails
25 May 2009 | 7:40 pmBesides camping, hiking is a great pastime for Americans but where to find the top USA hiking trails. There are hundreds, possibly thousands, of excellent hiking tracks in the USA, but which are the top of the list? This article dives in to show you five of the very top hiking trails in the US. Please note that these are MY personal favorites. Your hiking style may differ from mine but I can assure you that if its quality scenery and a great hike you're after, you won’t be disappointed with these locations. Hiking Trail 1 - Breakneck Ridge Trail This trail is located in Hudson Highlands… -
Different Types Of Camping Knives Perform Different Functions
7 Apr 2009 | 6:33 amCamping knives can be used in many ways, that depend on what plans you have and where you go. For example, if you’re in the woods, camping, you can use a knife to cut food, trim trees, but it depends on its size if you can do it. Most people use a single knife for all the tasks, instead of carrying different ones with them, so you have to pick your knife carefully. You can use knives that have serrations to cut loafs of bred, but they’re not as good to cut branches from trees. Others will use their camping knives to fillet fish, as task that is more complicated if the blade is serrated.
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Outdoor Hobbies
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Running's a Great Way to Stay in Shape
9 Feb 2010 | 9:50 amMost of you choosing to read this article are quite possibly people who run to stay fit, and are trying to improve the experience or find a less painful way to enjoy it. Some of these running tips might appear to be common sense, but we could all use a memory prompt on occasion. Another alternative might be SkyCaddie Golf GPS. Every time, you should stretch and warm up before setting out. Skipping some form of stretching or breathing before starting any exercise might lead to more harmful strain and many more microscopic injuries. Worse, you could fall or otherwise hurt something because of… -
When Learning Gets Tough
9 Feb 2010 | 4:47 amThe relationship between instructor and learner is one that is extremely important to both parties. Learning on your own can be possible, but nothing equals the kind of help that a knowledgeable expert can provide. There is a large difference between a good teacher and a talented person, however. Just because, for instance, a telluride ski instructor is in fact an excellent skier, does not necessarily mean they’ll be capable of giving quality telluride ski lessons. Someone who really knows what they’re doing as both a skier and as an instructor, though, can be an incredibly… -
How to Plan a Scotland Golf Tour
8 Feb 2010 | 5:18 amAlthough many golf lovers avail of Scotland golf tours, not all of them like what they get. Disappointment can happen regardless if they made all the arrangements themselves, or paid good money for a golf tour company to handle their golf vacation. So you can have a successful golf vacation, here is a mini check list you can keep in mind, while planning for your golf vacation. Budget. You need to have a clear figure that covers travel, accommodations, food, green fees, and other costs. Also, the Scotland golf tour package you paid for might not cover unlimited play time on the golf course. -
Online Game - Casino
7 Feb 2010 | 8:58 amPoker database is very important part of the game system for monitoring and administration day by day in poker to a room necessary for operation. We will consider poker database as in essence, the general storehouse and the dynamic data, such as game of records, financial operations etc., and the static data, such as a profile of the user, game etc. and properties which are widely used almost in each subsystem. The game system uses database Oracle. Database in poker has following prominent features: • The Scheme is developed so that to keep it flexible scaled and it is easy to serve,… -
Living With Robots
6 Feb 2010 | 11:26 pmRobotic machines are now an everyday part of our lives. Things such as computers, toasters and even baseball softball pitching machines are used to help us in our everyday life. It’s quite easy to stand inside a batting cage and face a round of balls that appear to be identical to those pitched by a real human. What kind of ethical questions do such creations bring out? Is it fine to be so reliant on machines? My worry is not with robots taking over our lives in any scary movie sense, I don’t predict batting cages to come to life and try to destroy us all, but our reliance on…
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The OutPost
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Wenger Patagonian Expedition Adventure Race
9 Feb 2010 | 7:47 amFor professional adventure racers the Wenger Patagonian Expedition is the first sizable event of the year. The race begins today and takes teams more than 600 km through the surreal Patagonian landscape. Race organizers have this to say about the race experience; "Every edition features a unique route. Past racers have found themselves in the Southern Continental Ice Field, the Straight of Magellan, Torres del Paine, Tierra del Fuego, the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn. The land is diverse, the challenge real, the adventure untamed." The 9-day race (yep, 9 days of 24 hour racing) includes all… -
North Face The Movie
8 Feb 2010 | 2:43 amSo the climbing (and blogging) community have been fired up this past week over getting their first glimpse of the new film North Face. I've included the trailer here so we can all see what the hype is about. Watching the trailer I can see that this does indeed look like it may prove to FINALLY be a well done and hopefully somewhat accurate climbing film (from a historical perspective and technically on the climbing aspect.) Touching the Void is about the only one we've had in recent years to keep mountaineers happy. The hullabaloo on this film is stirred up not over the fact that the film is… -
Huairasinchi - Covering the Highest Adventure Race on the Planet
5 Feb 2010 | 7:12 amHuairasinchi (War-uh-sin-chee) means "the strength of the wind" in Kichwa. For adventure racers around the globe it means "the highest adventure race on the planet." Taking place in the high country of Ecuador the race should prove to be challenging to say the least. I will be in Ecuador covering the race for Adventure World Magazine and posting updates and information as the event unfolds. Ecuadoran teams will be competing on the international stage in their own country during this three-day high altitude race February 13-15.Race disciplines will include mountain biking, trail running or… -
Valentines Gear Deals, Ideas, and Contests
4 Feb 2010 | 2:42 amOrdering now, you just might get that Valentine's gift in time. What kind of deals are roaming around out there on the web? What about contests? We've got you covered. Chaco Haiku Slam on Facebook and Twitter (Contest) Chaco Haiku Slam on Facebook and Twitter. Write Chaco a love haiku on their Facebook wall or Tweet (with photo is a bonus) and if they are inspired you could win on Vday! Nalgene (Idea) Looking for fun/eco-friendly #ValentinesDay gift ideas for friends & family?! Fill a pink or red Nalgene bottle w/ candy & other goodies Merrell Free Shipping (Deal) Free Shipping on… -
Top 10 Outdoor Adventure Grants - Get Funded!
3 Feb 2010 | 2:40 amThat trek in Bhutan, or the mountain biking trip to Bolivia would certainly require some coin and be nearly impossible for many would-be adventure travelers. Don't give up that dream though. There are companies out there that will fund your trip. Creative marketing and presentation skills combined with a little bit of luck might just take you around the world. Here is our top 10 list of companies and organizations that might be your ticket to the adventure of a lifetime. American Alpine Club Grant Program Currently hosting nine grants that help climbers take on new challenges around the…
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Rock Climber Girl - blogging by Sara, a pacific northwest woman who rock climbs
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The Season launched today!
29 Jan 2010 | 2:54 pmThe Season, a much-anticipated web TV show produced by Fitz Cahall (aka, the soul behind Dirtbag Diaries,) and filmmaker Bryan Smith launched today on arcteryx.com.I've been waiting with baited breath for The Season to kick off since I first saw the trailer. The first episode exceeded my expectations. I watched it stop and go the first time through, since I was chatting on Twitter with other viewers... then sat back, closed the door, cranked the volume and watched it a second time through uninterrupted. And, my eyes watered.Enjoy. 22 episodes are scheduled to go live this season, one episode… -
Mad Rock Trigger Wire Carabiner demonstration
26 Jan 2010 | 7:45 pmWhile I was down in Salt Lake City for the Outdoor Retailer show, I asked folks on Twitter if they had any questions I might be able to answer during my free time on the floor. One question,from @ryanmullins on Twitter, lead me to the new Trigger Wire carabiner from Mad Rock. The video above shows the action of the biner, and it's also here on YouTube. Basically, you set the wire gate to "open," and it's held until it's triggered to close. Mad Rock is pitching this as an add on to your normal rack of quickdraws, for steep and especially difficult sections of climbing; for me, I'm far more… -
What's coming up...
17 Jan 2010 | 10:29 pmThis will have to be snappy, since my sleep deprivation level is reaching critical, and I'm hitting the road again tomorrow early...I had a kick ass day in the climbing gym yesterday with Candace and Tiffany... wow, I am having some serious fun climbing with you two. I'm thankful that my list of girl climbing partners has expanded by several over the last few months. I'm still taking it a little easy on my back and neck after a little injury in December, but along with close to 75 friends I've embarked on a pull-up pyramid training program which is giving me something to do even when I'm on… -
Gear Reviews: Evolv XY and Crumpler Bags
4 Jan 2010 | 2:00 pmI've been so busy USING my stash of gear that I haven't kept up with my gear review write-ups! So, here are a few highlights from the items I've been putting through their paces over the last few months.A couple of changes in my product reviews... while I'm a user first and an outdoor industry worker second, in order to avoid any appearance of unfairness I'm going to cut back on the number of product reviews I do personally for a bit. I'm hoping to have some guest reviewers chime in, too. Also, the FTC has recently published final guidelines that require certain types of disclosure when… -
Please DON'T come to my party tonight!
31 Dec 2009 | 11:25 amWho: You and me.What: A Happy New Years Non-PartyWhen: From now until 11:59 PM on January 1st.Where: Wherever your bunny slippers take you.Why: To raise funds for Big City Mountaineers. I've pledged to raise at least $4,000, and to do my very best to climb Mount Rainier in August, to meet that fundrising goal. How: Please view the non-invitation for all of the details... or, keep reading if you're not on Facebook. You can also cut to the chase by visiting my Summit for Someone home page and making a tax-deductable donation today.What on earth am I talking about? Read on for the whole…
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sectionhiker.com
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Days 10-11: Braemar to Tarfside
8 Feb 2010 | 9:33 pmDays 10-11: Braemar to Tarfside The next few days will put my navigation skills to the test. I'll be passing over very wild, open country to get to Lochnagar, a cluster of magnificent Munros, south of the Royal Balmoral Castle and Estate. From there, I continue southeast to Tarfside past Loch Lee. Until now, I've relied on natural features, such as rivers, as navigational aides. It's hard to get lost if you follow the bank or keep the river valley in sight. NOLS, by the way, calls these navigational land features "handrails." But in this section of my hike, I will be… -
Days 8-9: Kingussie to Braemar
7 Feb 2010 | 9:36 pmDays 8 & 9: TGO Challenge Route Plan (2010) If the weather is good, Days 8 and 9 will be an incredibly scenic walk. My path on these days runs along Glen Feshie on the southwestern boundary of the magnificent Caringorm Mountains and is considered one of the top three mountain walks in Scotland. Day 8: Kingussie to River Eidart After spending the night at an Inn in Kingussie, I set out east past Ruthven Barracks (NN756997). From there, I continue along the B970 over the River Tomrie Bridge at 2.5 miles (NN798994) and turn north, walking along the River Tomrie and the B970 a short distance… -
Rocky Gore-tex Socks
4 Feb 2010 | 9:03 pmI'm pretty close to nailing down my footware system for crossing Scotland next May during the TGO Challenge. Hiking conditions in Scotland are notorious for being wet and boggy and leather boots are not going to fly for a 14 day cross-country hike. While I dearly love my leather Asolo TPS 520s, they take take 4-5 days to dry when they get soaked through. The only viable alternative is to wear a pair of trail shoes that are fast drying, and not lined with a breathable membrane like Gore-tex. Instead, I'm almost certainly going to hike in a pair of Inov-8 roclite 320 Trail Shoes. If the… -
Down in New Orleans
2 Feb 2010 | 9:52 pmDowntown New Orleans and The French Quarter look like they used to. My cabbie said the population is back up to 300,000. They wash bourbon street at 7am each morning with fire hoses. Mardi Gras has started. Go Saints! Related posts:How to Wash Gore-tex Clothing On my way out to work yesterday, my wife... Backpacking Gear Maintenance Checklist Backpacking gear is expensive and you need to... Camp Routine When I'm backpacking solo, I have a very well... Hilton’s Tent City in Boston, MA When I was growing up in Pittsburgh, PA, we... How I Got into Backpacking Last week, one of…
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Two-Heel Drive, a Hiking Blog
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Greenway gambolin’: Salem Creek Trail
7 Feb 2010 | 3:35 pmThe mud’s deep enough to bury a Buick around here, so I decided it was as a good a day as any to stroll the length of the Salem Creek Trail, a four-mile greenway that starts at a shopping center on the west side of Winston Salem and ends on the east side at Salem Lake. The trail has a lot going for it: almost entirely paved, passing through at least one construction zone, prone to flooding after strong rains, and home to a long line of utility towers. OK, so I was being sarcastic there. Like San Jose’s Guadalupe River Trail — strategically situated beneath a busy… -
Point of interest: Blowing Rock
6 Feb 2010 | 12:05 pmGambolin’ Man sent me an e-mail asking if I’d ever seen a movie set in Winston-Salem called “Goodbye Solo.” Turns out I’m such a movie geek that I had in fact seen it: the story goes like this: African cab driver meets bitter old white guy who offers to pay him $1,000 to take him to Blowing Rock in the Blue Ridge Mountains. One way. Solo is the name of the cabbie; William is his fare. Solo is convinced William plans to take one last leap off Blowing Rock, and the movie chronicles Solo’s quest to save William from himself. It’s a touching indie drama;… -
A couple winter scenes
6 Feb 2010 | 10:32 amWe’ve had two blizzards this year, the most recent arriving last weekend. Each produced a blanket of snow no more than 6 inches deep, which sounds like a pittance to those in colder latitudes but is plenty enough to paralyze travel in the north-central region of North Carolina. Deciding to travel in this kind of weather poses an ethical dilemma — as much as I’d love to be the first one digging my car out of the lot and heading out to document the winter wonders, our region isn’t really equipped to handle a lot of traffic when the weather gets icy and the roads get… -
Sauratown Trail, Sections 12-13
6 Feb 2010 | 9:38 amNobody asked me to document the Sauratown Trail, and I’m sure the last stragglers among my Bay Area readers wish I would move on to sexier terrain, but I feel like this stretch of dirt deserves bloggage. The trail itself is so-so, but the effort that went into getting it built is something else. As I mentioned last time, local hikers and horse riders just made up their mind to do it, then did it. I doubt these posts will inspire any decisions to explore the Sauratown Trail or die trying. Then again, maybe a few will stop by and think “hey, they built their own trail, why… -
Back on land from an ocean of gear
26 Jan 2010 | 7:04 amSo I spent last Wednesday through Sunday at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2010 trade show. There’s really only one reason for Winter Market: for buyers at retail outlets to decide what to put on their shelves next fall. If they make the right calls, they have a happy Christmas (wrong calls could put them out of business). The show’s planners also allow “working media” to cover the show in the hope of generating buzz/hype/interest for new products. Working media are hopelessly addicted to novelty, so it works for everybody (except the lowly gear buyer, who has to…
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Trailspace Blog
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Outdoor Retailer: Personal locator beacons in the backcountry
8 Feb 2010 | 5:35 pmCurrently, there are two main locators available to the backcountry traveler: the ACR 406 series and various SPOT devices. While ACR and SPOT share some capabilities (like new, non-emergency messaging functions), the ACR and SPOT units operate under significantly different paradigms, as discussed in my SPOT gear test article. ACR SARLink 406 View ACR's 406MHz personal locator beacons (PLB's) use the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system. In their current SARLink and AQUALink forms an emergency activation transmits the user's GPS-derived location through the GEOSAR (geosynchronous) and LEOSAR (low… -
Outdoor Retailer: Footbeds and Insoles
8 Feb 2010 | 5:11 pmSuperfeet Green Proper footwear can make or break any outdoor adventure, and most experienced people know that choosing appropriate, well-fitting, quality boots or shoes is essential. The first step is to make sure your boots fit properly, preferably using a trained boot fitter. However, many people don't realize the role quality footbeds (also called insoles) play. Odds are, the flimsy ones that came in your shoes or boots are designed to be replaced with an after-market pair that fits your foot and your usage. Third-party footbeds, along with a proper sock setup, can make a huge difference… -
Shackleton's Antarctic whiskey found
8 Feb 2010 | 6:24 amBack in November we reported on the Antarctic expedition that would drill for the 100-year-old whiskey that famed explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton left behind when forced to abandon his 1909 South Pole expedition. Here's the result: -
Sir Ranulph Fiennes and his goldfish went for a stroll
3 Feb 2010 | 11:18 amAdventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes is widely regarded as a living legend. His accomplishments abound, from demolition expert in the British army to record-setting expeditions around the world, literally: from 1979 to 1982 he and two companions journeyed around the world on its polar axis using surface transport only. The 52,000-mile trek made them the first people to visit both poles by land. How hardcore is Fiennes? In 2000 he suffered severe frostbite on a failed North Pole expedition. Back at home was told by his doctor he had to wait several months before amputation while the fingertips… -
More winter, says woodchuck
2 Feb 2010 | 9:28 amAn unnamed groundhog/woodchuck/marmot. Good news for winter lovers: the groundhog saw his shadow this morning, thereby "predicting" six more weeks of winter snowshoeing, skiing, climbing, and hiking. Personally, I think Groundhog Day and its ceremonial Punxsutawney festivities celebrated by men in top hats is all a bit odd. But, since the word from Phil is good, I'll happily pass along the positive winter news. Hey, Marmot should really get on board as "official outdoor sponsor" of this holiday. Then the guys down in Pennsylvania could ditch the top hats and long formal coats for something…
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Trailspotting
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Half Dome - Permits Now Required
29 Jan 2010 | 12:26 pmPlanning a weekend summit of Yosemite's Half Dome? Well, you're going to have to plan your trip in advance thanks to the National Park Service's new permit restrictions. But it's not all bad - it could mean an end to crowded cable ascents.Yosemite National Park have announced that beginning 2010, permits are required to complete the final cable ascent of Half Dome on Fridays, weekends and federal holidays. Weekdays remain unrestricted.Four hundred permits will be issued for each day, and you can apply for your permit up to four months in advance - maximum of four permits per request."Note:… -
Yosemite Inspiration Point
22 Dec 2009 | 1:56 pmRating: Area: YosemiteDistance: 2½ milesType: LoopDifficulty: EasyElevation gain: 1,000ft (from 4,400 - 5,400ft)If the Tunnel View crowds are getting between you and one of Yosemite's most famous viewpoints, consider the short hike up to Inspiration Point where you can admire this signature Yosemite Valley scene on your lonesome.Before the 1930s construction of the Wawona Tunnel and the adjacent parking area, the road from Wawona snaked precariously up and down the hillside. Now overgrown with manzanita and new pines, Inspiration Point is the former parking spot located on the old road.This… -
Upper Yosemite Falls
21 Dec 2009 | 11:58 amRating: Area: YosemiteDistance: 7 milesType: Out-and-backDifficulty: MediumElevation gain: 2,700ft (from 4,000 - 6,700ft)Conquer one of the largest waterfalls in the world on a steady and well maintained hiking trail through and experience some of the best Yosemite Valley views on the way.At last count Yosemite Falls was considered the seventh largest waterfall in the world, and since it's tiered, only the lowest 320 feet of falls can be viewed at close quarters without hitting the hiking trails. This trail takes you from the Lower Falls viewpoint to the top of the Upper Falls in 3½ miles… -
Ski Tahoe - Discount Tickets Calendar
12 Dec 2009 | 3:48 pmThe Trailspotting discount calendar is updated for the 2009/2010 season and is perfect for planning the best time to head up to the mountain. You can bookmark this page or alternatively add it to your own Google Calendar.Remember to check out the details for each event - offers can be limited, some tickets can only be purchased online, whilst others can only be purchased from local Tahoe stores.Our Ski Tahoe Special Feature investigates and compares all the Lake Tahoe resorts, and also provides GPS downloads to help you find your way to the next ski lift.Tangents:- More deals: Sliding On The… -
Las Trampas Rocky Ridge Loop
18 Oct 2009 | 5:55 pmRating: Area: East BayDistance: 4½ milesType: LoopDifficulty: Easy (some elevation gain)Elevation gain: 1,100ft (from 1,050 - 1,950ft)Wildflower lovers will love the springtime scenery of Las Trampas Regional Wilderness, but when the blooms have faded this East Bay park still has plenty to marvel at. Eagle-eyed hikers in autumn and winter will spot birds of prey amongst the gliding turkey vultures, and there's also the chance of a golden eagle sighting.You'll be immediately aware that there's some elevation gain to this trail, and in fact this clockwise route up the westerly slope gets all…
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Off Grid Survival - Wilderness & Urban Survival Skills
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Man VS Wild – How listening to Bear Grylls will get you killed
3 Feb 2010 | 10:08 pmWhy Discovery tries to pass Man vs Wild off as a survival show I will never understand. The guy is a complete fraud and 90% of the information that he gives is either wrong or just plain dangerous. It wasn’t bad enough that this fraud was presented to the public as a wilderness survival expert, but to pretend that he is now an urban survivalist (as shown on the newest episode of MAN VS WILD) is insane. This show is not about survival, it is nothing more than a stuntman preforming carefully choreographed stunts. In the latest so called “urban survival” episode Bear Grylls… -
4 powerful Traits of Survivors
31 Jan 2010 | 3:44 pmThere are some common personality traits that most survivors have in common. The following is a list of the 4 most common traits of people who have survived extraordinary situations. 1. Survivors stay Calm in the face of Danger. A survivalist has the ability to stay calm in the face of whatever life may throw at him. It’s not that the survivor is without fear, instead he has the courage to face his fears. To be able to stay calm in the face of danger requires preparation & training. The more information you have the easier it is to stay calm during any survival situation. 2. -
Emergency Car Travel Kit
26 Jan 2010 | 7:47 pmHaving a emergency roadside vehicle kit is an important part of being prepared for anything. Having the right kit can mean the difference of getting back on the road in one peace or being stuck in a situation that could turn ugly quick. Here are some of the top items that any good emergency vehicle kit should contain. Cellphone with Backup Cell Charger Quality Car Jack Tire Chains (great for extra traction in snow, mud & sand) Traction Matt (Great for getting unstuck in snow, mud & sand) Extra set of Warm Clothing (pants, socks, gloves, hat & rain gear) Couple Gallons of water… -
Ebook Reader for Survivalists – The Kindle
20 Jan 2010 | 10:46 pmIn a Bugout situation taking all of your survival books and manuals with is probably not very practical. With ebook readers becoming increasingly popular many survivalists are buying them to back up manuals, books and other survival materials. The newest Amazon Kindle can hold up to 3500 books, requires very little power and can easily be recharged with a small solar charger or hand crank. While I wouldn’t go betting my life on it, the Kindle is a great back up or supplement to your books and is a great way to store how to manuals and information that you may need in a long term… -
California storms causing possible evacuations and mudslides.
19 Jan 2010 | 8:02 pmA fast-moving storm is sweeping through California causing massive problems and raising fears of possible evacuations and mudslides. The powerful storm is drenching the area with rain,caused at least one tornado, four water spouts and wind with gusts as high as 80 mph. Forecasters are calling for as much as ten feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada’s. The powerful storm is the second of four expected to hit the state this week. Forecasters are warning that the worst is yet to come with a stronger storm set to hit California by Wednesday evening. With more storms on the way Los Angeles…
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Modern Hiker
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Out Until Feb. 21st
4 Feb 2010 | 12:20 pmTomorrow, I’ll be boarding a flight to spend two weeks on the South Island of New Zealand. Obviously, I won’t be updating Modern Hiker or responding to emails during this time, but should have plenty to talk about when I get back. I may be able to send updates toTwitter if I’m near any WiFi, but that’s not what I’m going there for in the first place, so don’t expect much! You guys have been great in the comments lately, helping out other hikers and having some good discussions, so I think I’m going to leave the comments open. Please excuse any spam… -
“The Season” Debuts
3 Feb 2010 | 11:08 amA 22-episode webshow called “The Season” hit the internets on the Arc’teryx website. It’s just a teaser trailer, but it seems pretty interesting – following 5 different outdoor athletes through a single season in the Pacific Northwest as they attempt to conquer their various realms of expertise. It’s by the same guy who did The Dirtbag Diaries, and looks pretty fantastic in high-def. Check out the short trailer below and sign up for the free video podcast in iTunes. The Season Trailer from Fitz Cahall on Vimeo. -
Whitney Clinic and Anza-Borrego Movie at A16
3 Feb 2010 | 8:17 amIn case you missed the last Whitney clinic at REI, our local outfitters at Adventure 16 will be holding their version in the West LA store on Friday, February 5th. Whitney expert Kurt Wedberg will be leading the informational session in store, and they’ll have permit applications on hand just in case you get extra inspired. If the desert’s more your thing, be sure to head back on February 24th, when they’ll be serving up wine, cheese, and popcorn and screening three short films showing off the beauty of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Anza-Borrego is one of my favorite areas… -
Backbone Trek 2010
2 Feb 2010 | 10:10 amThe Backbone Trail runs 67 miles through the Santa Monica Mountains, from the Pacific Palisades to the Pacific Ocean north of Malibu. When it’s completed, it will be a fantastic backpacking route, but as it stands right now there’s only one campground on the trail, and a few sections of unfinished trail that require walking along streets. It can still be done, with a bit of planning, or you can join up with the Santa Monica Mountains Trail Council for their annual Backbone Trek. From May 1-8, the group will take a very leisurely approach to the trail, but provide some… -
Reminder: It’s Whitney Permit Season!
31 Jan 2010 | 1:04 pmJust a quick reminder – if you’re considering hiking Mount Whitney this year, Feburary 1st marks the official beginning of “Permit Season.” All completed permit applications need to have a February postmark, so get your group together, get that envelope in the mail this week, and cross your fingers for the first drawings on February 16th. More information on the permit process is available here. Good luck everyone. Hope to see you up there!
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Divas Blog | outdoor DIVAS
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Will there be enough snow for the Olympics this winter?
8 Feb 2010 | 12:00 pmThey seems to be bringing in snow for the competitions! -
Their cute women's gear won the outback DIVAS a best dressed award at the Grand Lake Winter Carnival
8 Feb 2010 | 11:09 amWinter fun in the mountains.Say goodbye to cabin fever! Grand Lake knows how to have fun all winter long. This years winter carnival was Olympic themed which made for some very fun and festive winter outfits. Team outback DIVAS of Australia won best dressed in the tea pot curling. The outdoor DIVAS truck was a very prominent float in the parade along with the Jamaican Bob sled team and the nuns of team Vatican. The bed races down main street brought out the competitors in everyone as the Fighting Irish went against the Team Firefighters. Not to mention the human bowling and the flag football… -
Women's Ski Film Premiere
5 Feb 2010 | 10:39 ama rippin chicks ski flick for girls who kick assFlinga Means Snowflake in Swedish by Leah Fielding of SheJumps SEE THE MOVIE AT OUTDOOR DIVAS FEBRUARY 23rd, 7p.m. All of the pro ladies we’ve talked to agree: the best way increase in females on the slopes is to feature more on the silver screen. Across the board these ladies cited a desire to see more rippin’ chicks in ski and board movies and not just the “token” ski bunny hitting small cliffs and skiing the easier lines, but pro ladies getting just as much air as the boys. Timing is everything, Generation… -
Not much of a ski bunny, but more of a water goddes? Check out Liquid Descent.
4 Feb 2010 | 9:08 amCalling all you river DIVAS!Liquid Descent is owned and operated by experienced river professionals who are passionate about providing you with a fantastic river experience. You will notice their attention to detail in every aspect of their operation as you enjoy the best recreation Colorado has to offer. They love running rivers and cherish the opportunity to share the experience with others. Liquid Descent strives to provide customers with a fun, safe, and unforgettable river adventure. The guides are experienced river runners trained in First Aid & CPR, and Swiftwater Rescue… -
MBT 30 Reasons to Walk
3 Feb 2010 | 11:53 amReason #7 Reason #7 Therapy is Expensive. Even therapists recommend exercise to help with mental clarity and problem-solving. So make up your mind to sort through those conundrums while you're making tracks. Checkout some MBTs to enhance your daily walks: MBT M. Walk (Pink) MBT Tunisha MBT Chapa GTX - Gortex
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What's Happening?
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Keep Your Child Healthy
7 Feb 2010 | 12:41 pmOutdoor Industry News for the week of February 7th, 2010 -
This weeks Outdoor Family News:
2 Feb 2010 | 8:19 pmWeek of February 1st, 2010 -
Have you read the Paper Bag princess by Robert Munch? You should
30 Jan 2010 | 2:40 pmDo you remember when you fell in love with the outdoors? Or at least the first dirty, hairy, stinky boy you fell for? Or the twigs in hair, hemp necklaced, unshaved arm pits girl that took your breath away? How did we get so far away from this and emerged in a crazy world called the Winter Outdoor Retailer market? -
Companies/Brands: The Ten No-No list
27 Jan 2010 | 10:16 amAfter attending this year’s Winter Outdoor Retailer show (WOR) I realized that I needed to help out all these great outdoor companies. Some of the relationship and communication faux pas where really amazing, please read on! -
Nordic Skiing with an infant and a toddler
25 Jan 2010 | 2:28 pmEverything is possible, but not always seamless.
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Montana Outdoors
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Going my way?
8 Feb 2010 | 6:36 pmIt is said that a man is known by the company he keeps. Judging by the newer prints visible in my tracks of 5 days ago, I’m doing just fine. The snow lets one understand who his trail companions are. For a little perspective on the size of the wolf’s footprint, the distance from the rear sight of the pistol to the tip of the barrel is 6.25 inches. (137) -
Day eight
7 Feb 2010 | 7:58 pmDespite the gray sky today I made a follow-up visit to the ridge-top home of the Buttercup, and I guess now it’s official: this area’s first wildflower of 2010 is in bloom. < And the bad news: I perused my photo archives and found that while the Buttercups in that same area bloomed at about the same time last year the next wildflowers to appear were Yellow bells in late March. Go figure. (133) -
One thing leads to another…
6 Feb 2010 | 6:33 pmIt started with a photo of some bright colored winter moss, and then because some water drops on the moss just sparkled, taking some macro shots seemed to be the thing to do, and on, and on… The next time you see a guy crawling around among the rocks down by the river maybe you’ll understand. (131) -
Update
4 Feb 2010 | 6:03 pm -
Oregon Grape; then and now
3 Feb 2010 | 6:22 pm(April 20, 2009) (February 3, 2010) (122)
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10,000 Birds
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Birding Breezy Point, Queens, NY
8 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pmSunday was a rare day that I had a car (borrowed from Daisy’s sister), some free time, and nice weather for which Sunday was a reasonable description of the meteorological conditions, though, really, Sunnyday would have been a bit more accurate. Of course, when real-world conditions line up like that I am virtually compelled by the birding sickness to go out looking for birds. Even better, I could offer one of my Queens birding pals, Jean, a chauffeured birding trip as small recompense for one of the many times she has taken me chasing after rarities. Breezy Point was the choice… -
Dung Beetles of the Rio Grande Valley
8 Feb 2010 | 9:26 amI am so excited about the announcement of Ted C. MacRae’s new beetle-based blog carnival, An Inordinate Fondness that I delved into the vault for a special post for its inaugural issue on February 10. Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you… DUNG BEETLES! Yes, only the best beetles know their way around a dollop of dung. Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, which I visited in November 2008, is brilliant not only for birds, butterflies, and sometimes even birders, but basically every other kind of creature that creeps, crawls, slithers, or flies. For example, who knew that the Lone Star… -
He Makes It Sound So Easy
8 Feb 2010 | 5:00 amOver at Aimophila Adventures, Rick has a four-step post on How to See American Dippers. It seems so simple I’m not sure why I haven’t seen one yet. Maybe I need to get a dog? Copyright 2009 - For more of the same, visit 10,000 Birds -
It’s Kaufman ‘give-away’ time
8 Feb 2010 | 4:15 amNo, sadly, we’re not actually giving away either the bearded hunk that is Kenn nor the sparkling songbird that is Kim, birding’s best-known couple and the stars of many a bird festival, but - thanks to Kenn and Kim Kaufman’s fantastic generosity - we are able to away the full set of the wonderful and highly-rated ‘Kaufman’ field-guides: that’s the ‘Kaufman’ field-guide to Birds (including the Spanish language version), Mammals, Butterflies, and Insects. Not only that we have THREE full sets of all five guides! That’s right THREE lucky… -
Best Bird of the Weekend (First of February 2010)
7 Feb 2010 | 10:51 pmHow was your weekend? Any good birds? Don’t be shy… tell us about your best bird! My best bird was a Sharp-shinned Hawk in my front yard, stalking my bird-barren bird feeder. I wouldn’t even have noticed the hawk had it not been persuaded to abandon its perch by a crow, no doubt in an act of indirect vengeance against the local, crow-eating Red-tailed Hawks. The answer to both Corey’s best bird and photo of the weekend is “Ipswich Savannah Sparrow” which he spotted out at Breezy Point. Charlie is still up to his elbows in Great Bustard business. What was your…
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10,000 Birds
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Birding Breezy Point, Queens, NY
8 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pmSunday was a rare day that I had a car (borrowed from Daisy’s sister), some free time, and nice weather for which Sunday was a reasonable description of the meteorological conditions, though, really, Sunnyday would have been a bit more accurate. Of course, when real-world conditions line up like that I am virtually compelled by the birding sickness to go out looking for birds. Even better, I could offer one of my Queens birding pals, Jean, a chauffeured birding trip as small recompense for one of the many times she has taken me chasing after rarities. Breezy Point was the choice… -
Dung Beetles of the Rio Grande Valley
8 Feb 2010 | 9:26 amI am so excited about the announcement of Ted C. MacRae’s new beetle-based blog carnival, An Inordinate Fondness that I delved into the vault for a special post for its inaugural issue on February 10. Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you… DUNG BEETLES! Yes, only the best beetles know their way around a dollop of dung. Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, which I visited in November 2008, is brilliant not only for birds, butterflies, and sometimes even birders, but basically every other kind of creature that creeps, crawls, slithers, or flies. For example, who knew that the Lone Star… -
He Makes It Sound So Easy
8 Feb 2010 | 5:00 amOver at Aimophila Adventures, Rick has a four-step post on How to See American Dippers. It seems so simple I’m not sure why I haven’t seen one yet. Maybe I need to get a dog? Copyright 2009 - For more of the same, visit 10,000 Birds -
It’s Kaufman ‘give-away’ time
8 Feb 2010 | 4:15 amNo, sadly, we’re not actually giving away either the bearded hunk that is Kenn nor the sparkling songbird that is Kim, birding’s best-known couple and the stars of many a bird festival, but - thanks to Kenn and Kim Kaufman’s fantastic generosity - we are able to away the full set of the wonderful and highly-rated ‘Kaufman’ field-guides: that’s the ‘Kaufman’ field-guide to Birds (including the Spanish language version), Mammals, Butterflies, and Insects. Not only that we have THREE full sets of all five guides! That’s right THREE lucky… -
Best Bird of the Weekend (First of February 2010)
7 Feb 2010 | 10:51 pmHow was your weekend? Any good birds? Don’t be shy… tell us about your best bird! My best bird was a Sharp-shinned Hawk in my front yard, stalking my bird-barren bird feeder. I wouldn’t even have noticed the hawk had it not been persuaded to abandon its perch by a crow, no doubt in an act of indirect vengeance against the local, crow-eating Red-tailed Hawks. The answer to both Corey’s best bird and photo of the weekend is “Ipswich Savannah Sparrow” which he spotted out at Breezy Point. Charlie is still up to his elbows in Great Bustard business. What was your…
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zeitcam.com
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Alpental Summit Web Cam
<img src=http://zeitcam.com/data/alpental-summit/latest.jpg><br>Time-lapse animation of the Alpental Summit Web Cam. -
Lake Chapala Web Cam
<img src=http://zeitcam.com/data/lake-chapala/latest.jpg><br>Time-lapse animation of the Lake Chapala Web Cam. -
Canada Place Web Cam
<img src=http://zeitcam.com/data/canada-place-vancouv/latest.jpg><br>Time-lapse animation of the Canada Place Web Cam. -
BC Place Web Cam
<img src=http://zeitcam.com/data/bc-place-vancouver/latest.jpg><br>Time-lapse animation of the BC Place Web Cam. -
Badger Mountain Web Cam
<img src=http://zeitcam.com/data/badger-mountain/latest.jpg><br>Time-lapse animation of the Badger Mountain Web Cam.
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Wend Blog
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Women in Antarctica Talk Shackleton, Hut Conservation Work
9 Feb 2010 | 9:39 amClick here to view the embedded video. Remember all the fun cocktail conversations you initiated after being the first of your friends to read that polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton’s booze stash had finally been recovered after 100 years of being buried beneath the ice? Remember explaining, in painstaking detail, that the whiskey was still good and pontificating that some lucky sumbitch would get to take a nice long pull? Well it’s time to step out of the limelight and let some actual Shackleton experts take over. This video, by Mary Lynn Price of WomenInAntarctica.com,… -
Over $125,000 Up For Grabs For Environmental Nonprofits
9 Feb 2010 | 2:11 amEvery morning editors across the country sift through electronic piles of mostly boring press releases in hopes that we will stumble across a gem or two of information that will be of incalculable interest to our readers. Some frustrated editors will tell you that opening up their laptops to find a steaming pile of fresh turd would be preferable to the odorless mound of irrelevant press releases they have to spend the next hour deleting. I recently received not one, but two press releases for what was dubbed a “21st Century survival guide” titled, How to Avoid Getting Screwed… -
Surfing Ancient Irrigation Channels in Yemen
8 Feb 2010 | 11:44 amClick here to view the embedded video. [Via: TheCandyTrail] Follow me on Twitter @Kyle_Cassidy No related posts. -
Deadly Kashmir Avalanche Traps 53 Soldiers, Misses Peaceful Progress Ski Resort
8 Feb 2010 | 10:29 amA massive avalanche, which killed at least 17 soldiers and trapped 53 more under the snow and ice Monday, plowed into an Indian army training center near a popular ski resort designed to exhibit peaceful progress in the long-disputed state of Kashmir. The Associated Press reports the avalanche hit the army’s High Altitude Warfare School around 11 a.m., sweeping away the soldiers during a training session. An army spokeman told the AP it was “the worst avalanche in the area in many years.” The avalanche narrowly missed a ski resort at Gularg, situated a few miles away, where… -
The Face of the Olympics: Sasquatch
8 Feb 2010 | 10:22 amquatchi Softsquatch Sassy the Sustainable Sasquatch is packing his bags and leaving the Wend HQ for Vancouver for a while. Apparently, Sassy will be moseying around in the Great White North under the alias “Quatchi” to promote the 2010 Winter Olympics. The Wend crew has been giving Sassy a lot of crap for his childish appearance and sugar-coated bio on the Olympic website, which includes: favorite color – chill blue; dream – becoming a world-famous hockey goalie; and working hard and always doing his best. We all know Sassy’s real passions in life are smashing…
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sassy two socks
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There's no better way to say I love you [didn't I use that blog title before?]
22 Jan 2010 | 3:47 pmI came across this vulva portrait necklace in Cosmo magazine (!), as if it was completely normal... there was no mention of the fact that it's disturbing. Just the mere concept gave me a chill. I can't even bring myself to include a picture of the damn things here.Please note the fact that "Each piece is an original, one of a kind hand sculpted image of its owner to remind her that regardless of what the world and the people in it may tell her: she is beautiful."The fact that someone might actually have this made, let alone send pictures of their own vajayjay, is just mind boggling to me. -
Tim Burton and I may be soulmates
10 Dec 2009 | 12:27 pmI've always been into very macabre artistry, like Edward Gorey and Tim Burton. I don't know why. Perhaps it's because everyone has a dark side that wants to get out? Or perhaps not, and I'm just messed up?It's funny because I can't even throw a gum wrapper on the ground for fear of bad karma, but I delight in reading Edward Gorey's Gashlycrumb Tinies, about a class of schoolchildren dying in various ways.I recently visited the MoMa where there is an extensive Tim Burton exhibit, ranging from movie costumes (Edward Scissorhands, Beetlegeuse, among others), to sketchbook drawings, to paintings… -
O.M.G. Seriously?
2 Dec 2009 | 2:57 pm -
A great way to start my day...
17 Nov 2009 | 6:17 amDon't ask me why this prompted me to post for the first time in a month. Cause I have no answer for you...Let me set the stage for this morning's traumatic event.This morning I woke up exhausted. Couldn't sleep. No idea why. About once a week, I sleep like shit cause my mind is reeling and nothing I do (read, watch tv, count backwards) seems to help. So I wake up, after falling asleep at 3 or 4am) super groggy and tired. As usual, the cats are eager for breakfast and are mewing up a storm.I realize I'm a complete a-hole. I was supposed to work from home today because I have a mid-day doctor… -
If you think *YOU* got too drunk...
16 Oct 2009 | 10:52 amWatch this guy...Worst Shopping Run Ever - Watch more Funny Videos
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The Everything About RVing RVers Blog
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We have a new comment on The Black Water Tank On My RV Will Not Drain
8 Feb 2010 | 2:01 pmWe have a new comment on The Black Water Tank On My RV Will Not Drain -
What Is The Best Way To Mount Things To The Wall Of My RV?
8 Feb 2010 | 1:54 pmI have a 2005 Coachmen Freedom Class C Motorhome that we purchased last year. Now that we have spent some time in it, we want to make some minor upgrades, -
We Only Get Cold Water From Our RV's Hot Water Tank Why?
8 Feb 2010 | 12:29 pmHave cold water pressure but not hot, have tried flushing and replacing air pocket What next? ANSWER: Greetings thanks for submitting your question on -
What Are The Restrictions For Towing A 5th Wheel Recreational Trailer In The USA?
8 Feb 2010 | 11:03 amWe live in Canada and are looking forward to buying a trailer. I like the layout of 5th wheels. I am told if you want to use a fifth wheel camper in the -
How To Choose A Safe Campsite For Your RV
7 Feb 2010 | 12:01 pmThis article will teach you how to choose a safe campsite for your RV. Camping should be fun thats why it is essential to make your campsite a safe place for everyone.
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Simplifatico
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The Lone Ranger (Backcountry Skiing in the Beartooth Mountains)
8 Feb 2010 | 8:44 amThe Lone Ranger Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, 2004I'm a sucker for final scenes of old western movies.You know, the one where the cowboy's riding away from the camera on some dusty desert trail with a tired horse and bandaged head?Montana backcountry skiers know this feeling well.It comes after a long day of ducking tree branches, scraping edges, breaking bindings, and wondering if the slope is going to hold.However, most backcountry skiers will be nursing their wounds at the Ale Works by 8pm.It's when you add the weight of gear, the hostility of weather, deeper remoteness,… -
The Wilderness Day Planner
3 Feb 2010 | 8:27 amThe Wilderness Day PlannerUinta Mountains UT, August 2009In 2003, Chase and I were about on the same plane with respect to our obsessive-compulsive tendencies about organization. Once, he lined up about 200 Matchbox cars in a big sweeping curve across the living room. When he left the room to go pee, I snuck into the middle of his catenary highway and made one minor adjustment to a car - I flipped it around. I knew he wouldn't notice.But when he returned, the bad vibe hit him like a wave of katabatic air, and he knew instantly that something was awry. It took him 6.4 seconds to… -
Wild Places Here and Afar
2 Feb 2010 | 8:39 amThe Brooks Range from the Western Arctic Photo by Ryan Jordan, June 2006.I really miss the Alaskan Arctic because it's a Big Wild Place.I don't know that I've trekked anywhere else where I've discovered as much about who I am. Some of that was related to the challenges the Arctic delivered to me, but much of it was related to the magnitude of its sheer remoteness from the clutter of modern living in a first world country.And so, although I haven't been back since 2006, I still dream Arctic Dreams. Big ones. And I even have a pal who can live them for me!I think one… -
A Little Nordic Skier Among Big Aspens, Red Lodge Montana (Photo)
27 Jan 2010 | 7:53 amA Little Nordic Skier Among Big Aspens, Red Lodge Montana (Photo) Panasonic GF1, 20/1.7Our family spent last weekend at a cabin in Red Lodge, Montana, on sort of a family retreat. We played games, skied, snowshoed, took pictures, soaked in a hot tub, sat in front of the fire, watched Little House on the Prairie, baked cookies, slept in.In other words, we slowed down a little bit.The beauty of doing this is being able to declutter the mind and soul, for clarity.It's the simplifatico approach to making decisions, and our family has a few biggies to make right now.There is… -
Like a Kid in a Candy Store (Photo)
26 Jan 2010 | 7:31 amLike a Kid in a Candy Store, Red Lodge Montana, January 2010Panasonic GF1, 20/1.7
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the adventure life
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Review: Pong Cell Phone Case Dramatically Reduces Radiation Exposure
9 Feb 2010 | 10:35 amIs your cell phone killing you? Evidence increasingly points to yes. Studies show a higher incidence of tumors and brain cancer among heavy cell phone users, and authorities worldwide (though less so in the States) are beginning to recommend reducing mobile phone use and changing the way in which you do use yours. And while [...]
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CheapTents Blog
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Isle of Wight Walking Festival
9 Feb 2010 | 4:08 amIsle of White Coastline. Source: Wikimedia Commons by Barbara Murdter.If someone asked you where the best place to go walking or hiking in the British countryside is, whereabouts would you think of? In the UK we have lots of beautiful countryside and we are certainly spoilt for choice. The first place that I would think of would be one of our National Parks, probably the Lake District, or the Highlands of Scotland. For countryside which is less rugged, possibly the White Peak or the South Downs would come to mind. One place that would probably not spring to mind is the Isle of Wight. Yet the… -
Cyclists Fill that Hole
3 Feb 2010 | 5:15 amA Pothole. Cyclists watch out!About a year ago I was cycling home from work and came a cropper when I hit a pot hole in the road. The road in question is in the countryside, just on the edge of the city. There are no street lights and it was a dark, rainy winters night. I have a Cat-Eye Power Opti-Cube LED bike light, which I am very pleased with. It provides enough light to see where you are going when it is dark, but when faced with the glare of the headlights of on-coming traffic it is impossible to see the road surface. The wind was behind me so I was cycling at a fair pace, looking… -
Ironman Triathlon 2010 Bolton
28 Jan 2010 | 4:16 amIronman Triathlon BoltonIronman is a name that has become synonymous with the triathlon event:swimming, cycling and running. The first Ironman event took place in Hawaii in 1978. Since then it has become a global phenomena. In 2010 there will be 25 Ironman races held in 16 countries worldwide. “Swim 2.4 miles! Bike 112 miles! Run 26.2 miles! Brag for the rest of your life” Ironman registered trademark. Top athletes can compete the course in just over 8 hours, however to finish the race, participants must complete all three sections within 15 hours. All finishers are entitled to… -
Street View on Mountains with Google Sherpa-Cam
22 Jan 2010 | 9:11 amGoogle is constantly seeking new information which it likes to share with the online world. One of the best examples of this is mapping. Satellite images are available for all to see on Google Earth. Google Maps not only features maps and aerial views, but for many parts of the world we can see what it looks like at street level with Google Street View. An immeasurable number of miles of roads in western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the USA have been photographed at road level. This is done using cars with 360 degree cameras mounted on the roof. The Google cars simply drive… -
Run Across America with Abe Clark
19 Jan 2010 | 3:38 amWe were recently contacted by Living Water International about a running event called “Running Water” which is due to take place this year. Runner Abe Clark is going to run a staggering 2,860 miles across the entire width of the USA. Abe is taking on this challenge in order to raise money for the charity which helps to provide clean water for people in developing countries. For many people in Africa obtaining water can be a laborious and time consuming task. According to the UK Department for International Development (DFID)… Households in rural Africa spend an average of…
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Outdoors With Othmar Vohringer
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My Own Outdoor Column
28 Jan 2010 | 4:44 pm© By Othmar VohringerAfter weeks of negotiations I am finally contracted to write my own by-weekly outdoor column for our local newspaper, the Merritt News. Merritt, our hometown, is a small city with a population of 8’000 surrounded by cattle ranches and logging industry. I guess it would be a fair estimate to say that about 60% of the people living in Merritt are either hunters and anglers, or know somebody that a hunter or angler. This should come as no surprise to those that know that Merritt is situated smack in the middle of some of the best hunting and fishing British Columbia has… -
25 Jan 2010 | 7:05 pm
25 Jan 2010 | 7:05 pmTaking time out and regroup© Copyright by Othmar VohringerIt has been over two weeks, almost three, since I last posted on this blog. It’s not that I lost interest or abandon blogging. The reasons for neglecting “Outdoors With Othmar Vohringer” had to do with the resent events over Christmas and New Year. These events have taken a bigger toll on me than I had thought. I simply had to step back a bit and come to terms with it.Besides that I also was quite busy with organizing our 10th annual ice fishing derby held on January 17, 2010. The derby was a huge success and for me just what… -
How will I know when I am old?
29 Dec 2009 | 6:43 pm© By Othmar VohringerI asked my father the above question when I was about seven years old. My father replied, “When your friends die faster then you can make new friends then you know that you're getting old.”Over the past three weeks I was reminded of my fathers words in a painful way. Christmas and the weeks leading up to it have been an emotional roller coaster. Three weeks before Christmas I learned that a good friend of mine passed away in America. Then a week after that I received a message that a former professional colleague in Germany suffered a terrible work related accident. -
New Wisconsin State Record Buck
28 Dec 2009 | 5:29 pm© By Othmar VohringerIt’s official now. According to Wisconsin Outdoor News Wayne Schumacher, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin is the new state whitetail deer record holder. On Sept. 20 he arrowed a true monster buck with 29 scoreable points. On December 5, 2009 a team of four official scorers taped the monster rack at 2436/8 inches.Read the full story hereThis blog post has been brought to you by Othmar Vohringer OutdoorsTags: Wisconsin State Record Buck, Trophy Buck, Wisconsin Outdoor News, Wayne Schumacher Buck -
In the Top 50
27 Dec 2009 | 3:41 pm© By Othmar VohringerIt has been very hectic the last several months around here, but over Christmas I had time to take it a bit easier and relax. I spent a wonderful time with my wife and family and I even found time to visit a few of my outdoor blogging friends on the Internet. Imagine my surprise when I discovered on Dayne Shuda’s reputable blog Hunting Business Marketing that my blog column The Pink Wave was chosen as one of The Top 50 Hunting Blog Posts of 2009 on his blog.Thank you Dayne for that unusual Christmas gift and let me return the favor of this honor by saying that Hunting…
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Nessmuking
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The View from the Canoe Project
3 Feb 2010 | 7:40 amA guest post by Scott Schuldt of canoepost.blogspot.com. Tuesday, September 22, 2009 – You Can Tell I woke up early this morning. It was dark and I was in bed, but I was already in my canoe. Fall is here. It will be unusually warm today, maybe 15 or 20 degrees above normal. The thermometer will say summer. The simplest and easiest measurement will lead one astray, as simple and easy information often does, in all things. It is fall and while at the scientific level there are dozens of measurements that say so, it is the qualitative that tells me so. The light has changed. Gone is the… -
Lightweight Camping Cups
28 Jan 2010 | 2:29 pmI was walking through an REI store, and I noticed that they offer a plethora of different camping cups. They caught my eye, because when I’m traveling lightweight, I tend to just carry along lightweight platypus bottles, but I like to drink a cup of hot chocolate spiked with a little Baileys Irish Cream and in the morning, I like to start the day with Java Juice. I hate using my platys for this type of drink, because the bottles end up tasting like whatever you put in it, so I considered buying a lightweight titanium camping cup. I just couldn’t stomach the titanium options,… -
Winter Kayaking
21 Jan 2010 | 11:09 am“There is no bad weather, only the wrong gear.” -Minnesota Proverb Winter shorelines feature ice formations, ice caves, and a crystal clear air which allows you to see for miles. On a blue-sky winter day, I feel there’s no other place I’d rather be than on the water paddling. With the proper gear and precautions, winter needn’t be a reason to stay off the water. Luckily, for me I live on the north shore of Lake Superior, and its shores remain ice-free for most of the winter. Some winters, we have only a few weeks of ice, and during some, we have months of ice. If… -
How Far Away is the Horizon
9 Jan 2010 | 12:05 pmAPPARENT HORIZON: Where the sky appears to meet the Earth. (See also sea horizon.) Because of perspective effects, different observers generally have different apparent horizons. Because of refraction, even the sea horizon usually lies above the geometric horizon. -From the Atmospheric Optics Glossary. Knowing the distance to the horizon is handy when estimating how long it will take you to travel to a distant point. To accurately estimate to distance, understand that the apparent horizon changes based on the height of your eyes; the higher your eyes, the further you can see. That’s why… -
10 Paddling Books to Read in 2010
4 Jan 2010 | 9:24 amCanoeist and kayakers should start off the new year and a new decade by resolving to read a few books. In the past I’ve done round-up reviews of boat building books and paddling books, but it’s about time for a new round-up. These 10 stand out as the paddling books you should read in 2010. Kayaking Books Sea Kayak Rescue, 2nd: The Definitive Guide to Modern Reentry and Recovery Techniques (How to Paddle Series): First published in 2001 and updated in 2007, this guide presents the most up-to-date rescue, reentry, and recovery techniques for sea kayakers. The book is well-written,…
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CampingBlogger
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4 Ways to Keep Camping Food Cold
8 Feb 2010 | 10:48 pmVintage Coleman cooler (photo by Caffinara on Flickr) The year I was born, 1965, Coleman® introduced the popular steel-sided ice chest that I imagine many of us grew with, camping with our families. I imagine that it wasn’t all that great, compared to some of today’s high-tech plastic coolers, but it was as much a part of my early camping experience as the smell of kerosene from the camp stove and I kind of miss its retro-simplicity. Unlike 1965, we have a lot of choices these days, when it comes to keeping our camping food cold. There are coolers of all different shapes and sizes,… -
Busiest Family Camping Weekends for 2010
2 Feb 2010 | 5:36 amPhoto by North Cascades National Park on Flickr 2009 was a banner year for many popular family camping destinations. Parks in Maine, New York, North Carolina, South Dakota and Virginia all set attendance records last year, with big national parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite also putting in big numbers. There is a renewed interest, across the country, in family camping trips that offer more bang for consumer’s vacation buck. Vacation hours and holidays have also been under pressure during the economic recession as companies cut expenses, including employee benefits. All of this is leading… -
Three Secrets to Camping With Kids
31 Jan 2010 | 9:36 amOnline travel site Tripbase is putting together a project on “Best Kept Travel Secrets” and has asked me to contribute something from a family camping perspective. This sounds like it’s going to be a really great resource, as I’m just one of over a hundred sources contributing to the effort. I’ll be sure to give everyone a heads-up when they publish the series. Many parents we have met feel a bit overwhelmed at the thought of spending a weekend in the backcountry with their kids. Camping with kids is a great way for families to spend time together and have fun in a different… -
Full Day’s Camping Menu with Sausage
26 Jan 2010 | 11:20 pmI love sausage, but I also love getting the most mileage out of the food I pack for camping as I can, so planning a day’s camping menu around a common theme – in this case, sausage, makes a lot of sense. We camp a lot, so even though we like to keep our meals simple, a steady camping meal of pancakes, hamburgers and hotdogs gets old fast. Here is a quiche, a pasta dish and a calzone that will add a little pizzazz to your camping menu. Breakfast: Impossible Quiche Impossible Quiche (photo by Marylise Doctrinal on Flickr) 4 Eggs 1/2 Cup Chopped Onion 2 Cups Milk 1/2 Cup Bisquick® 2 TSP… -
Forest Service Proposes Cuts to Camping Discounts
24 Jan 2010 | 10:20 pmWhen is something that is good for a lifetime not good for a lifetime? Evidently when it’s issued by the United States Forest Service. That’s what some holders of the agency’s Golden Age and Golden Access passports are saying, in response to a proposal that would lower the card’s discount on camping fees. Since 1965 the Forest Service has offered three types of passes valid for free entry into federally-managed parks, throughout the country. The Golden Age Passport, for senior citizens and the Golden Access Passport, for disabled citizens, are both lifetime passes that provide the…
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Steel Valley Outdoors
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Malaba Farm Maple Family Festival Weekends March 6th-14th
6 Feb 2010 | 3:00 pmImage via Wikipedia LUCAS, OH- Discover the history of maple syrup making in Ohio at Malabar Farm State Park during the first two weekends in March (March 6-7 and March 13-14) from noon to 4 p.m. Sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), the 33rd Annual Maple Syrup Family Festival is free and features sugaring demonstrations, historic tours, horse-drawn rides and sweet maple treats. Learn how maple sap is transformed into maple syrup. A self-guided tour of the sugar camp and sugarhouse will reveal the evolution of sugaring to visitors. Ohio State Parks staff will lead… -
Ohio Wildlife Council Proposes Size Limit on 16 Lakes, Including West Branch
4 Feb 2010 | 4:06 pmImage by ronnie44052 via Flickr COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Wildlife Council is considering a proposal for a 15-inch minimum size limit on walleye, sauger and saugeye on 16 inland waterways according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife. The 16 lakes or reservoirs that are being proposed include Acton (Butler and Preble counties), Alum Creek (Delaware County), Atwood (Carroll and Tuscarawas counties), Buckeye (Fairfield, Licking and Perry counties), Caesar Creek (Clinton, Greene and Warren counties), Ferguson (Allen County), Findlay 1 & 2 (Hancock… -
Ohio Proposed 2010-2011 Deer Hunting Seasons
4 Feb 2010 | 4:01 pmImage by John Beagle via Flickr COLUMBUS, OH – Hunters in seven northwest Ohio counties will be given a higher deer bag limit if the proposed regulation is accepted by the Ohio Wildlife Council in April, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife. A proposed change to the deer zones includes moving seven northwest Ohio counties from Deer Zone A to Zone B. The counties are Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Paulding, Van Wert and Williams. A proposal to eliminate the requirement that hunters must purchase a regular deer permit before purchasing antlerless… -
PA Sportsmen and Hunting Clubs Urged to Participate in State Pheasant Chick and Egg Program
2 Feb 2010 | 4:15 pmImage via Wikipedia HARRISBURG — Sportsmen’s organizations with approved propagation facilities can augment local ring-necked pheasant stockings and increase localized recreational hunting opportunities by raising day‑old pheasant chicks supplied free-of-charge by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Applications to participate can be downloaded from the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), by clicking on “Self Help,” then “Forms & Programs” and then selecting “Pheasant Chick & Egg Program.” In order for Game Farm superintendents to plan and set hatches to… -
New Record Ohio Deer
2 Feb 2010 | 4:10 pmImage via Wikipedia DAYTON, OHIO – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife announced that another record setting deer has been harvested in southwestern Ohio. On Saturday, January 30, 2010, the 18-point nontypical (nonsymmetrical antlered) deer taken by Brian Stephens on November 30, 2009 with a muzzleloader in Highland County was officially scored. Brian Stephens with friends and family by his side excitedly awaited the official score Saturday morning in Xenia. The buck was scored by Mike Wendel, David Haney and Ron Perrine; certified scorers with Buckeye Big…
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The Great Skirt Hike
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From a Great (Virtual) Skirt Hike(r): Inspiration Leads to Perspiration
2 Feb 2010 | 9:00 amEditors’ Note: we’re thrilled to have our first guest post from our good friend and former Atlantan, Vanessa. We think she has a pretty good perspective on muscling through the winter... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
We Love Wacky Wonderful Wicking Wear!
28 Jan 2010 | 8:00 amWhen shopping for atheletic wear you may notice gear tagged with all sorts of technical terms such as base-layer, anti-odor, microfiber, performance tee, quick dry, tagless, compression, etc. But... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
Pimento Cheese is My Kryptonite
24 Jan 2010 | 7:02 amI know I’m not alone. Just when you think you have your will-power locked down, someone lays a tub of pimento cheese and crackers in front of you and all sense of portion control and moderation... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
10 Ways to Lower Grocery Bills and Improve Your Health
20 Dec 2009 | 10:53 amA couple weeks ago I was chatting with some folks on a Facebook thread about getting healthy, losing weight and money. In the long list of things that make it difficult to get into shape, being on a... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
The Right Socks: A Party in Your Boots
7 Dec 2009 | 2:19 pmThe Skirts have been hiking religiously for nearly seven months now and one thing I’ve learned is that we’re learning new things every day. You all may have picked up on the fact that one... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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The Mighty Sparrow
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A Mighty Photo- February 8
8 Feb 2010 | 11:32 amThe main prison hall on Alcatraz Penitentiary in San Francisco Bay, CA. The main prison hall on Alcatraz Penitentiary in San Francisco Bay, CA. -
Everything You Need To Know About Redwood National Park
5 Feb 2010 | 4:01 pmThe trees in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, which is part of Redwood National Park, which is one of the best national parks in the country. It’s easy to become overwhelmed during a visit to Redwood National Park, what with all of the big trees and prehistoric landscapes and wildlife and even bigger trees and big elk and….you get the point. Seeing that the Park has so much to offer, you can imagine how hard it is to fit everything the park has to offer in a 3 day trip, or even a 5 day excursion. Well, that’s why we’re here. Whether you are just driving through the… -
A Mighty Photo- February 5
5 Feb 2010 | 11:09 amThe lure demonstration tank at the International Sportsman's Expo in San Mateo, CA. I'm not quite sure why, but I think this picture is hilarious. The lure demonstration tank at the International Sportsman’s Expo in San Mateo, CA. I’m not quite sure why, but I think this picture is hilarious. Maybe, it’s the fish’s nonchalant nature. -
A Mighty Photo- February 4
4 Feb 2010 | 11:59 amRedwood trees in Big Basin Redwoods State Park. This grove is along the way back from Berry Creek Falls. Redwood trees in Big Basin Redwoods State Park. This grove is along the way back from Berry Creek Falls. -
Wildflower Watchers: Springs Looks To Be Perfect in Death Valley National Park
3 Feb 2010 | 3:21 pmSand verbena wildflowers bloom in many desert environments, including Death Valley. These flowers were spotted in California’s Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in March 2009. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times Death Valley is usually known for one thing and one thing only: hotness. But, there’s much more there. There’s diverse surroundings: Furnace Creek, The Racetrack, Snow-capped mountains, sand dunes and ghost towns. All in over 3 million acres of protected wilderness. The most precious treasure of Death Valley National Park, however, is its array of…
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the GearCaster
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Create Your Own Affordable Fixie
9 Feb 2010 | 7:00 amUK company Create Bikes is on a mission to take the fixie out of the hands of the high fashionistas and bring it back to its roots as an affordable bike that is easy to maintain. With simplicity yet style,... -
Zeal Optics GPS Integrated Winter Goggles
8 Feb 2010 | 7:00 amZeal Optics has partnered with Recon Instruments to bring you the Transcend winter goggles with integrated GPS and direct-to-eye communications display. Even though Recon did not win an ISPO Brand New Award for their technology, Zeal grabbed the ISPO Boardsports... -
Prevent Exercise Induced Asthma With ColdAvenger
7 Feb 2010 | 7:00 amA recent article in the New York Times stated that winter athletes are more likely to get exercise induced asthma, a side effect of continually breathing dry, cold air. Montana company Talus hopes to help prevent cold weather outdoor athletes... -
Gregg Treinish And Deia Schlosberg's New Expedition
6 Feb 2010 | 7:00 amBeing involved in the Outdoor Industry, I often get to meet some extraordinary people. I want to share with you the stories of some of the amazing people I meet such as Gregg Treinish and Deia Schlosberg. You may know... -
Fast Find Ortovox 3+ Avalanche Transceiver
5 Feb 2010 | 7:00 amIf you ski, snowboard or snowshoe in the backcountry, you know that you and everyone in your party should carry the essential pieces of safety gear: at minimum an avalanche transceiver (also called avalanche beacon), a probe, and a shovel...
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Winded Bowhunter
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Archery Accessories Support Conservation in Elk Country
9 Feb 2010 | 8:23 amMISSOULA, Mont.—Quality habitat, healthy elk herds and ample places to hunt them. Bowhunters can help make it real by buying two newly engineered accessories from New Archery Products (NAP). Each purchase of QuikTune 360° arrowrests and HellRazor broadheads supports the conservation work of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Brady Arview, vice president of marketing for NAP, [...] -
Sheep Management and Charlie Meyers
8 Feb 2010 | 12:19 pmDENVER, Colo. – The “Southern Delivery System Project,” Georgetown bighorn sheep management and a dedication to late Denver Post writer Charlie Meyers headline the agenda for the Colorado Wildlife Commission’s Feb. 11 workshop in Denver. The workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Hunter Education Building at Division of Wildlife Headquarters, 6060 [...] -
Plan Your Hunt!
5 Feb 2010 | 8:03 amLooking for information on how, when, and where to hunt in Colorado? Check out our new web page: http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/PlanYourHunt/ and get the inside scoop on planning a safe and successful hunt this year! Share/Save -
Bonsai Trip 1 for 2010
4 Feb 2010 | 11:20 amNow that I have had my new Hilleberg Soulo tent for a little over a month, I was chomping at the bit to give it a go! Since the holidays, my family and I have been either going to visit someone or attend an event every weekend! Now, Ciro’s 2nd birthday doesn’t count, as I wouldn’t [...] -
Yellow Tail Wine Gives Money to HSUS
4 Feb 2010 | 6:58 amYellow Tail Wine Gives Money to HSUS Sportsmen Urged to Voice Protest The Australian maker of Yellow Tail Wine has pledged $100,000 to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation’s largest anti-hunting organization. This partnership offers further proof of HSUS’ work to spin its animal rights message in a way [...]
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Gambolin' Man
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MARIN COUNTY OPEN SPACE DISTRICT: Waterfall Heaven Awaits / Cascade Paradise Found at Small Nature Preserves of Ignacio Valley and Pacheco Valle
8 Feb 2010 | 7:37 pmWarning - superlatives and hyperbole ahead! How else to communicate the flat-out wonderment and uncontained astonishment, the thrilling sense of adventure - normally reserved for “truly spectacular sights” - in discovering a new place? In this case, a series of waterfalls - fossil bedrock most of the year – in a long-ignored, nay, never once visited, part of Marin County. These nearby but remotely situated plungers are now flowing heartily thanks to the recent efflorescence of major rainstorms. They are now – just temporarily - pouring their ample cargo over sculpted volcanic shelves… -
CATARACT FALLS: Big Water Tumbling Down Mt. Tam Ravine Effects Mysterious Influence over Mind and Soul
28 Jan 2010 | 5:37 pmWith rainy weather abating, and skies clearing temporarily from the latest blasts of El Nino powered storms to hit Northern California, there's no better time to head for the hills and be blown away by how the recent downpours have transformed Mother Nature. And what better place to witness the miracle of drought vanquished - the dry and brittle landscape turning into a lush waterscape -- than at Cataract Falls, Marin County's premier destination for a nature outing during the wet season.Cataract Falls, where, as Thich Nhat Hanh put it, "water flows from high in the mountains, water runs deep… -
PT. REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE: A 9.4 Mile Hike to Fog-Cloaked Tomales Point, with a Brief Stopover to Visit Another Place of Power - McClure’s Beach
17 Jan 2010 | 5:26 pmAbout a mile in, atop a small crest known as Windy Gap, a swooning cleft in the hillside provides perfect pasturage for two dozen elk hanging out at one of their favorite spots – a tranquil and pastoral redoubt sheltered from wind and just far enough down slope to be sufficiently removed from the threats and hubbub of gawking humans. A big antlered adult bull, standing about five feet tall, measuring the length of an NBA center, and adorned with a massive set of antlers that must add thirty pounds to his third of a ton bulk, unleashes a piercing bugle cry - perhaps signaling his preference… -
ARBOREAL WONDERS OF CALIFORNIA AND THE BAY AREA: Contemplating the Magic and Mysteries of Why "Only God Can Make A Tree"
12 Dec 2009 | 10:48 amSomewhere in the area that is now Round Valley Regional Preserve, tribes from near and far gather in anticipation of the acorn harvest celebration. Maidu, Miwok and Ohlone peoples have made pilgrimages here to offer up for trade an abundance of abalone, fish, shells, feathers and arrowheads, and to share a cornucopia of acorn wealth. All year long, they have waited and marked off the days, in observance of the time when tiny buds, infinite and hidden, would pop out, followed by the magical appearance of leaves bursting forth to mark the miracle of transformation, and finally, as summer waned,… -
ALBANY BULB: Nature Sanctuary, Outdoor Art Museum, Homeless Encampment, Million Dollar Views Prevail at Spit of Land Jutting into San Francisco Bay
21 Nov 2009 | 8:42 amStanding a hundred yards away from a noisy, double-barreled, twelve lane freeway connecting Chicago to San Francisco - Interstate 80 – I have an unobstructed view of the mudflats and beyond, of the spit of land jutting into the water at the bayshore. The phantasmagoric frenzy of the nonstop freeway might as well be light-years away.Three lovely East Bay Area creeks – Codornices, Village and Marin – converge in this once pastoral debouchment, draining their springfed and run-off cargo from their hill origins into the ecologically sensitive bay, marsh and mudflats, depending on tidal…
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The Survival Spot Blog
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Don’t Mess with Me: Self-Defense Tips and Tools
3 Feb 2010 | 9:15 amBy: Sage Romano (View Profile) I used to bartend at a rough-and-tumble, punk-rock dive bar whose patrons specialized in energetic brawls and other combative physical exertions. While a bouncer was... **This is a summary only - to read the entire post please visit us at http://www.survival-spot.com/survival-blog -
30 Tips for Emergency Preparedness
2 Feb 2010 | 3:44 pmHere are 30 tips to help you and your family become better prepared for an emergency. [From DHS.gov] Preparedness Tip #1 Take a moment to imagine that there is an emergency, like a fire in your home,... **This is a summary only - to read the entire post please visit us at http://www.survival-spot.com/survival-blog -
Survivalism Lite
1 Feb 2010 | 9:14 amThey call themselves ‘preppers.’ They are regular people with homes and families. But like the survivalists that came before them, they’re preparing for the worst. Lisa Bedford is... **This is a summary only - to read the entire post please visit us at http://www.survival-spot.com/survival-blog -
Preparedness video series
1 Feb 2010 | 6:45 am#1 – Storing Water #2 – Storing Food #3 – Storing Knowledge #4 – Essential Equipment #5 – How To Purify Water **This is a summary only - to read the entire post please visit us at http://www.survival-spot.com/survival-blog -
Knife Making
31 Jan 2010 | 2:49 pm**This is a summary only - to read the entire post please visit us at http://www.survival-spot.com/survival-blog
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Camping Gear TV
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Episode 19 – Pelican 2400 Stealthlite
7 Feb 2010 | 10:36 amWe recently came across a new waterproof flashlight that just might beat them all, the Pelican 2400 Stealthlite Submersible Flashlight. This thing is sturdy as hell, a great flashlight for under water needs or simple every day stuff. The straight-up what what: “From a distance it looks like cheap plastic, but it feels pretty sturdy.” – Ben “I can see down the back of Ben’s pants.” – The Albino Whale The lowest price we found on the web is $23.75 at Markertek.com. Check it out, and leave a comment! -
Episode 18 – Waterproof iPod Case
3 Feb 2010 | 5:25 pmThe iPod has become a mainstay on campgrounds across the world. In this episode of Camping Gear TV, Ben and Josh review a couple accessories designed to keep your iPod protected from the conditions. Both the Pelican i1010 hard case, and the e-Pod (which has a soft case, also known as the clear jock strap) are reviewed. What You Need to Know: “If water gets in there, it’s not gonna damage anything. But maybe it might not work.” – Ben “You got me feeling emotions.” – Ben “You can’t use inappropriate words on the internet.” –… -
Episode 17 – Go Girl Female Urination Device
30 Jan 2010 | 12:57 pmBen and Josh don’t know much about female urination, so for this episode of Camping Gear TV we have a special guest, Mallory. Mallory tells Ben all about the Go Girl Female Urination Device, the pros/cons and all things female urination. Key Takeaways: “Peeing on your foot and on your hand, both are pretty bad.” – Mallory “No poopin’, this is just for the number one crowd. We’ll have to take a look at another product to find what to do for the number twos.” – Ben We found the best price for the Go Girl Female Urination Device at…
