The Mountaineers Books has just published CLIMBING: Training for Peak Performance, 2nd edition, by Clyde Soles. This is a classic fitness manual for climbers. The book is written for climbers of all ages, abilities and interests, and covers the latest advances in the sciences of nutrition and fitness, includes tips for preparing mentally and physically, preventing injury, and rehabilitation, and...
Outdoors
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Medicine for the Outdoors
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CLIMBING: Training for Peak Performance
21 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am -
Essential Oil Candles as Mosquito Repellents
18 Nov 2009 | 5:00 amFrom the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association comes an interesting article by BC Muller and colleagues (J Am Mosquito Control Assoc 2008;24:154-160) entitled “Ability of Essential Oil Candles to Repel Biting Insects in High and Low Biting Pressure Environments.” Anyone who has spent much time outdoors, whether on a camping trip or enjoying a backyard picnic, has encountered the... -
Thanks to the Exhibitors at the WMS Annual Meeting
14 Nov 2009 | 5:00 amAt the Wilderness Medical Society Annual Meeting held in Snowmass, Colorado from July 24-29, 2009, there were a number of exhibitors. In thanks for their support of the WMS and because they had interesting products and services that I believe might be of interest to you, I'm going to mention a few of them here. The first is Katabatic Consulting and Technical Services. Katabatic offers special... -
Thank You to CRZEGRL, FLIGHT NURSE for Grand Rounds
11 Nov 2009 | 2:32 pmThank you to CRSEGRL, FLIGHT NURSE for mentioning my post about using recombinant factor VIIa for rattlesnake envenomation in this week's Grand Rounds. Grand Rounds is a weekly compilation of health care posts from around the web compiled by a host, who goes to great lengths to make the collection informative and entertaining. -
Evidence-Based Management of Wilderness Injuries
11 Nov 2009 | 5:00 amThis is the next post based upon a presentation given at the Wilderness Medical Society Annual Meeting held in Snowmass, Colorado from July 24-29, 2009. The presentation was entitled “Evidence-based Management of Wilderness Trauma with Case Studies from Vermont Search & Rescue.” It was delivered by Tim Burdick, MD, who is a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine, Assistant Professor 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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Possible Nor'easter for 11/27
21 Nov 2009 | 5:01 amThis is 6 days away but there may be a coastal storm primed to hit interior New England late next week. -
WikiProject Ski- anybody participating in this?
20 Nov 2009 | 8:17 pmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Ski any of you going under the name 'DebateLord'? or 'Shaggorama? how about 'BigBadBogie'? seems to me some of AZers could add useful knowledge.... -
Hot Tub Time Machine
20 Nov 2009 | 4:03 pmLooks like John Cusack is bringing back the 80's ski comedy: http://www.trailerspy.com/trailer/4719/Hot-Tub-Time-Machine-Red-Band-Trailer So the idea more or less is these guys get in a Hot Tub at a ski resort and it transports them back to 1986 ... -
Trade 172cm Legend 8000 for 178cm
20 Nov 2009 | 1:39 pmI've got a pair of 172 cm 08/09 Fluid 8000s that I'd like to trade for 178s. I bought them lightly used and am estimating 30 days of use on them. They are in good condition. It's a long shot that someone out there has a set too long for them but you never know. I don't mind a flat mounted set and will consider a different year. -
The Future of Resorting
20 Nov 2009 | 1:33 pmCheck it out. www.eb5burke.info/Welcome.html
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FeedTheHabit.com
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Gary Fisher Rumblefish II 29er Quick Review – Interbike 2009
20 Nov 2009 | 12:02 amI had heard a little about the new Gary Fisher Rumblefish from the Fat Cyclist’s post from the Trek Media Camp, so when I got a chance to ride it, I thought I’d give it a whirl to see if my impressions were different than his. After all, he is a leg-shavin’ singlespeed-loving machine and I tend to love the downhill a bit more, so here goes. About the 2010 Gary Fisher Rumblefish 29er Built to compete with the other long-er travel full-suspension 29ers on the market, the new Rumblefish sports the typical suspension technology from the Trek/Fisher camp including ABP, G2… -
Truth in Motion: U.S. Ski Team’s Road to Vancouver
19 Nov 2009 | 10:26 amLeading up to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, the U.S. Ski Team is amped for a killer year. With Lindsey Vonn continuing her dominance on the hill and the other team members not far behind, this could be a great Olympics for our team. Along for the ride through training camps to the first World Cup event in Sölden, Austria is renowned filmmaker Brett Morgen–capturing the heart and soul of the athletes, competition, training and adventures leading up to the Olympics. I’m psyched to see it and anxious for our team’s performance at this year’s Olympics. The… -
Swobo Merino 753 Long-sleeve Bike Jersey Review
18 Nov 2009 | 12:53 amWool is your friend… repeat after me… WOOL IS YOUR FRIEND. Good… nice work! Well, with all the synthetic fabrics on the market these days, sometimes I have to convince people that natural fibers are their friend. Thanks to Merino Wool purveyors like Swobo, Ibex, Icebreaker and others, Merino use is on the upswing. At hand is the new Swobo Merino 753 long-sleeve jersey. Definitely a keeper and definitely a great cool-weather MTB jersey to have on the shelf. The new Merino 753 jersey uses a unique blend of polyester (77%) and Merino Wool (23%) for the perfect combination of… -
Powder Addiction Snowcats to Serve Winter Park, CO
17 Nov 2009 | 4:07 pmI just got word that a new snowcat skiing operation will begin operations in Jones Pass, just outside Winter Park, Colorado. At only 45 minutes from Denver, this just might be one of the most accessible snowcat operations around (yes, Alta offers snowcat service, but it doesn’t compare to the terrain here). Run by the former Ski Boss at Berthoud Powder Guides, Jamie Wolter, Powder Addiction Snowcats will be serving up powder and smiles this season starting December 10. Here’s a bit more info: When Mary Jane’s not enough…there’s Powder Addiction. New to the ‘09/10 Winter… -
Sierra Designs Kenosha Jacket Review
16 Nov 2009 | 12:03 amAn athletic shell is key to 4-season trail running. Even in the dead of winter, a variety of thin layers is much preferred over anything thick and heavy. The Sierra Designs Kenosha Jacket is a great option for cool, windy weather and can be layered for even colder temps. About the Sierra Designs Kenosha Jacket Built lightweight for athletic pursuits, the Kenosha Jacket is ready for windy and cool conditions year-round. The 100% polyester exterior with DWR keeps wind and water at bay while remaining breathable. Add on top of that a Cocona Lite wicking liner for moisture management and…
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Camping Survival Tips
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Coachmen Campers
19 Nov 2009 | 1:30 amThe Coachmen Recreational Vehicle Company is the largest division and cornerstone of Coachmen Industries, Inc. and continues to be one of the fastest growing companies. Coachmen is one of the industry's best-known brand names of RVs (recreational vehicles). Many qualities explain Coachmen camper trailers remarkable popularity. It might be because of its designs that are built to stand up to real life or because it comes in so many shapes and sizes, just like families. There are Coachmen camper trailers model that would match your needs, lifestyle and budget. Here are some top of the list… -
Hiking Tours
18 Nov 2009 | 2:30 pmHiking tours are the best way to enjoy the outdoors. Just ask anyone who has put on hiking boots and went backcountry backpacking in the wilderness. A big measure of risk is involved, but the fun and excitement and appreciation of nature you get in return is worth it. Many hikers have come back from hiking tours feeling rejuvenated after spending a few days in the wilderness. Perhaps, you can, too. And don't worry about your lack of hiking and outdoors survival skills. The truth is these skills can be learned on the trail and as you go through the whole experience. But if you want a… -
Wilderness Camping
15 Nov 2009 | 9:40 amAll types of camping are fun, but wilderness camping holds a special place in the hearts of true campers. wilderness camping pits a man against the elements. When wilderness camping, you must live by your wits. When wilderness camping, you are out on your own. Wilderness camping requires self reliance and fortitude. Wilderness camping tests your survival skills and your creativity. Wilderness camping can be a real challenge. So why the heck would anyone go wilderness camping? Especially when they could just drive into a campsite, pitch their tent ten feet from the car and enjoy all the… -
A Camping Resort Can Be A Relaxing Way To Fish and Hunt
10 Nov 2009 | 9:30 amA camping resort is a little bit more expensive than the usual types of camping trips, but then again, the benefits that come with the package are exceptional. You get full access all day long to hunting and fishing, then get to return to a hot meal that has been prepared for you. A camping resort is designed to keep your comfort in mind and be more of a vacation spot than just a camping spot. Picture the beautiful autumn leaves, hanging in colors of red, yellow and orange and the beautiful sunshine beaming down on a chilly, fall day. This picture alone you are painting inside of your mind is… -
How To Make The Most Out Of Your Next Camping Trip
7 Nov 2009 | 7:24 pmAre you interested in going camping? If you are like many other campers, you may be looking to go camping for a more than a day. If you are interested in doing so, you are doing more than just going camping; you are actually taking a camping trip. Unfortunately, extended camping trips give many opportunities for boredom, but there are many steps that you can take to make the most out of your camping trip. When it comes to making the most out of your next camping trip, you are advised to examine what your intended goals are. For instance, are you looking to have your camping trip double as a…
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Camping News
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Camping at Big Bend Ranch State Park
20 Nov 2009 | 7:42 amAustin's a fit city. There's no doubt about it. Journey along with Pamela LeBlanc as she explores all that's out there for the fitness-minded. If you use an RSS reader, here is feed for Fit City: XML . -
W. Pa. police say 3 beat homeless man in tent
19 Nov 2009 | 7:41 amState police have been searching for three men who allegedly beat a homeless man with poles and clubs as he slept in a tent in a wooded area of western Pennsylvania. -
Tents4CampingUSA - The Best Camping Tents, Sleeping Bags & Camping Equipment
18 Nov 2009 | 9:32 amThis story was previously titled "Tents4CampingUSA - The Best Camping Tents, Sleeping Bags&Camping Equipment" Tents4CampingUSA - The Best Camping Tents, Sleeping Bags & Camping Equipment >> Posted By cturner4 23 hours, 6 minutes ago in Sports Tents4CampingUSA has all the best camping tents and camping equipment to buy including 2 man tents, family ... -
Body of missing camper found in Ore. lake
17 Nov 2009 | 9:23 amThe body of a missing 19-year-old has been recovered from southern Oregon's Iron Gate Lake. -
Camping at Watoga State Park in West Virginia
16 Nov 2009 | 9:19 amWatoga State Park is a West Virginia State Park that offers a large amount of camping for tent and RV campers in their campgrounds as well as rental cabins.
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News from The Outdoor Foundation
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Fifty “Eco-Friendly” Ways to Experience the Unforgettable Nature of an O.A.R.S. Adventure
19 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pmBeyond the stunning photography and the robust selection of nature-based adventures, what is most remarkable about the new O.A.R.S. catalog is the company’s demonstrated commitment to reducing their impact on the environment. This year O.A.R.S. downsized their print run and reduced the number of pages in their catalog in favor of better paper rather than more paper and introduced an easy-to-navigate online version of their catalog. -
OIWC Opens Intuition and Ingenuity Product Showcase Registration
18 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pmThe OIWC is continuing with this successful program by hosting a winter edition at ORWM and adding a physical product showcase and raffle. -
Third Annual Hudson Charity Golf Tournament Raises $23,800 for Children’s Cancer Research and Support
16 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pmLEGACY PARTNER 180S LEADS EVENT DONATIONS FOR PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY AT JOHNS HOPKINS -
Big City Mountaineers Summit for Someone
15 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pmParticipants in Backpacker Magazine's Summit For Someone mountaineering fundraiser will have one more incentive this year: a chance to win round-trip airfare to their climb, courtesy of Summit for Someone sponsor Mountain Gear. -
Anchor Replacement Initiative Hits New Heights
13 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pmSkram Media, a leading publisher of special interest outdoor magazines and websites, today announced that the Anchor Replacement Initiative (ARI) has surpassed last years total of routes upgraded by 20%. With 2 months of the year remaining and a number of ARI projects underway and scheduled to be completed before the year ends, 2009 is guaranteed to be the ARI’s most productive year ever.
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NYT > Camps and Camping
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Cutbacks Will Affect State Park Enthusiasts
29 Oct 2009 | 9:00 pmPadlocked toilets are coming soon to California’s once-fabled state parks. -
Backpacking Made Easy, With 4-Footed Friends
29 Aug 2009 | 9:00 pmFor a family camping in Colorado’s backcountry, llamas act as playmates, guards and furry 325-pound porters to lighten the load. -
Two for the Road
29 Aug 2009 | 9:00 pmWith limited time, a tight budget, and a minivan as overnight lodging, a couple make their way across the country, fulfilling a dream for both. -
Do-It-Yourself RV
29 Aug 2009 | 9:00 pmA Toyota Sienna minivan converts easily into a smaller, stripped-down version of the old Volkswagen Vanagons from the 1970s. -
Campsites the Great Depression Created
29 Aug 2009 | 9:00 pmTrails, campgrounds, lodges -- you name it, the “C.C.C. boys” made it -- and their heartland was a swath of Virginia centered on the Blue Ridge of the Appalachians.
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American Camp Association - Latest News
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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. -
The Fall 2009 Issue of The Campline Is Accessible Online
22 Oct 2009 | 7:14 amThe CampLine provides camp-specific knowledge on legal, legislative, and risk management issues and is published three times a year covering topics such as: legal perspectives, regulatory matters, risk management, personnel management, and current legislative issues. The digital issue of The CampLine is not only environmentally friendly but allows you to utilize The CampLine resources more readily. Click any of the links throughout The CampLine to be sent directly to a Web browser where you can research and learn more about specific topics. It's just one more way The Campline can help you. -
Reframing the Issue: ACA’s Messages to Parents Regarding the Year Round Education Reform Debate
2 Oct 2009 | 11:05 amThe American Camp Association® (ACA) believes the organized camp experience is a vital component in the development and education of the whole child. ACA supports year-round educational opportunities and actively supports the extension of organized camp experiences to all children.
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Backpacking Light Magazine
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Comfort and Moisture Transport in Lightweight Wool and Synthetic Base Layers
An in-depth comparison of the properties of wool and synthetic fabric for base layers yielded some surprising results. by Read this article at BackpackingLight.comView All: Test Reports > Technology -
24: Nine Months 'til Summer
16 Nov 2009 | 11:00 pmEpisode 3: The first big snowfall of the season (in September!) had us traversing the Hyalite-Cottonwood divide for snow hiking and camping. by Ryan Jordan | 2009-11-17Snow comes to the mountains of Montana intermittently throughout the summer. I usually see more serious snow arrive in September, but even those storms are usually pretty short and kept to the higher elevations. October is where it's at if you're a snow junkie, but in some years, even October in Montana can make you feel like you've been erroneously displaced. In other words, until the snow really comes to the Rockies (usually… -
(M) GoLite Footwear Competition and Fire Reviews
16 Nov 2009 | 11:00 pmGoLite Footwear has developed a unique underfoot suspension system that largely accomplishes their intentions. The shoes are comfortable, but there are durability concerns for the soles. by Darin Banner | 2009-11-17I haul myself out of my packraft and onto the rocky shore, wet from the tops of my farmer johns down to the GoLite shoes on my feet. Grasping my paddle with one tired arm, I reach down with the other and grab the pack, strapped to the bow of my packraft, and pull both it and the raft out of the water and onto the rocks. Looking down the river at the souse hole I narrowly avoided… -
(M) Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 Sleeping Bag Review
9 Nov 2009 | 11:02 pmA warm, refined sleeping bag, but not the lightest in its class. by Will Rietveld | 2009-11-10A three-season down sleeping bag is a core item for ultralight backpacking because it offers the best combination of warmth, light weight, and seasonal versatility. I prefer a mummy style bag rated at around 30 F for mountain backpacking. The mummy design eliminates drafts, I can wear extra clothes inside and "mummy up" to extend the bag's warmth on cold nights, and I can open it up and use it as a quilt on warm nights. The popular Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 sleeping bag (with a temperature rating… -
Backpacking: Baby on Board
9 Nov 2009 | 11:00 pmHiking through the French Pyrenees is challenging for any young couple hoping to enjoy some relaxation and romance in between climbing passes and breaking camp. The afternoon heat - often ending in a violent thunderstorm - brings more than one overloaded backpacker to boiling point. Now enter a six-kilo, breast-fed, three-month-old baby. Great family trip or a bad idea? by Nick Meynen | 2009-11-10It all started long before our first child arrived, with the simple idea to walk the Pyrenees from coast to coast, a distance of about 900 kilometers (560 miles). Previous experiences in the same…
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Campist
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Tazlab Aqua-Fur Silicone Bowl
25 Oct 2009 | 1:58 pmDogs need water, even in the woods and trails – and that’s why there’s the Tazlab Aqua-Fur Silicone Bowl. Made from FDA approved food grade silicone, the Aqua-Fur doesn’t contain any BPEs nor does it have any nooks for bacteria to breed in. One of the best features of this Tazlab bowl is its ability to fold up so it fits neatly away in your backpack, saving precious room for other supplies. Able to hold 1 liter of water, the Aqua-Fur is dishwasher safe, so it’s easy to clean when Fido gets it dirty. Pick one up here for around $15. -
GoLite Valhalla Camping Tent
23 Oct 2009 | 10:10 amAfter a long day of trekking, you need your space – and that’s where the GoLite Valhalla Camping Tent comes in. A roomy, two-person shelter, the Valhalla is full featured and offers amazing space-to-weight ratio. Made with 1000mm waterproof Nextec EPIC silicone-encapsuled ripstop nylon fabric, this GoLite camping tent promotes exceptional air flow, thanks to its large vestibules, dual directional No-See-Um Mesh doors and wall vents. It’s also sturdy – let the winds blow, because the Valhalla is kept in place by its DAC Featherlite poles, eight Y-stakes and reflective guy-lines. Other… -
Western Mountaineering Apache GWS Sleeping Bag
22 Oct 2009 | 12:43 pmBuilt with attitude to spare, the Western Mountaineering Apache GWS Sleeping Bag is ready to take on the cold temperatures. Equipped with a full 3-dimensionally sewn down filled collar, there’s no way that the Apache GWS is letting any heat out. Designed to be lightweight (it tips the scales at 2 lbs. 6 oz.) so it’s easier to carry around, this Western Mountaineering sleeping bag is filled with 19 oz. of high lofting down that pumps up a durable 6 inches of loft. Surrounded by a Gore Windstopper shell, the Apache is weather resistant and breathable, protecting you from external moisture… -
Inno FlexTop 10 Rooftop Cargo Bag
21 Oct 2009 | 8:08 amExtra space on your next camping trip is in the bag, thanks to the Inno FlexTop 10 Rooftop Cargo Bag. Offering 10 cubic feet of storage, the FlexTop 10 attaches quickly and simply to most factory and aftermarket crossbars, making it the perfect fit for any vehicle. This metal-framed Inno cargo bag has all the features of a box without the difficulty of storage – just fold it up when you’re not using it. On the ride there, your cargo will stay safe and dry, as it’s made with weather resistant material, and it’s easy to load and unload since it opens on both sides. Get more space for… -
Evergreen Outback Gourmet Camp Stove
19 Oct 2009 | 4:42 pmForget ever roughing it again – with the Evergreen Outback Gourmet Camp Stove, you can prepare and enjoy all of your favorite meals in the great outdoors! Indoors or out, the Outback Gourmet is a handy gadget that looks as good as it works – its stainless steel exterior is combined with a high-temp porcelain interior, while its oven door seal ensures efficient operation. Giving you 3500 BTU to cook with, this Evergreen camp stove heats to 425ºF and runs on a standard 20-lb. propane tank or disposable 1-lb. propane tank. Other features include tempered glass see-thru window, two upper…
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Getoutdoors.com Outdoor Blog
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The Week In Outdoors
20 Nov 2009 | 12:01 amWell, the world's still going to hell, more new evidence this week as Breckenridge decriminalizes small amounts of marijuana, which should probably not effect Ullr Fest in the least. A cruise ship helps rescue a couple on a fishing boat, creating a tiny amount of good karma for cruise ships. An architect proposes a German city make an enormous man-made mountain (maybe we can fly over some mountaintops from the Appalachians?) National Geographic Adventure announces its Adventurers of the Year, and "Sky Flier Dean Potter" makes the list. Breckenridge More Or Less Legalizes The… -
Sarah Palin for Icebreaker
19 Nov 2009 | 12:09 amIt's wonderful to see Sarah Palin finally getting the media attention she deserves. Apparently some of that $150k the Republican Party spent in Minneapolis getting the former beauty queen dolled up for TV was spent buying Icebreaker tops from Midwest Mountaineering. In her Newsweek cover photo (originally shot for Runner's World) the unemployed former half-term governor of Alaska is wearing an Icebreaker top. Icebreaker responded with a fair and balanced blog post on the topic, seeing as how they likely don't want to alienate their conservative customers by bashing the woman Newsweek labeled… -
Have You Heard About Cyclocross Racing?
18 Nov 2009 | 12:01 am"When I won the New York State World Alleycat Championship of the Universe, I wore jeans." Via Bike Hugger. -
Worst Vacation Ever: Titanic Memorial Cruise
17 Nov 2009 | 6:55 amHoly crap. A tourism company out of England is running an actual Titanic Memorial Cruise that will commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the world's largest metaphor. There's been some critical response, but people who were teenagers when the blockbuster "Titanic" came out seem to think it's a wonderful idea. The trip will include a memorial service at the spot where the giant boat sank and then a stopover where survivors were dropped. It will conclude in New York City, where the Titanic was supposed to end up, but it likely won't pull into the pier where the boat… -
Gear Hall Of Fame: Little $3.00 Plastic Coil Keychain
16 Nov 2009 | 12:01 amThe nut tool, in the entire history of its existence, has pretty much been an incomplete piece of climbing equipment. Manufacturers provide the tool, basically a narrow hook that can withstand frustrated climbers beating the shit out of it while trying to push, pull and yank stubborn chocks and cams out of cracks while following climbs and cursing their partner. But until recently, they've always left it up to you to figure out how to not lose it, should you drop it. I'll tell you, few things are worse than coming up on a stopper that your partner placed, then set, in an awkward stance, or a…
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GoBackpacking
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Friday Flashback – India’s Golden Temple & Pakistan Border Ceremony
20 Nov 2009 | 11:00 am_ As my time in India drew to a close, I made a mad dash from McLeod Ganj to a few special sites further west. The Golden Temple in Amritsar is literally a temple made of gold, and the number one pilgrimage site for Sikhs. Despite the overcast weather, it was still a sight to behold. Later in the afternoon, I attended the India-Pakistan border crossing ceremony which I had first seen on Michael Palin’s “Himalaya” TV series. It was one of the coolest experiences of my entire trip. Sikhism’s Golden Temple in Amritsar The Surreal India-Pakistan Border Ceremony My… -
Backpack Boomerang: The Traveler’s Lost and Found
20 Nov 2009 | 5:30 amBackpack Boomerang website We’ve all been there: Things got a little rowdy on your last night in (insert location here). What was meant as a farewell toast transformed into a memorable, though fuzzy evening, and with daylight imminent, you frenetically pack your bags, hand over cash for the room you called home, and sprint to make the train time scribbled on the back of your hand. Breathing that sigh of relief when you claim your seat, heavy bags safely stowed, you dig into your luggage to check the time on your phone. Wait. You packed your phone, right? That sense of hopeless and… -
Destination Asia: Packing Ultra-Light
19 Nov 2009 | 5:30 am“You’re an idiot,” was the exact reaction I got from my mom when I told her that I would be packing ultra-light. What do I mean when I say I’ll be packing ultra-light? Well I’m trading in my 65 litre Eagle Creek Explorer LT for a Futura 28 Day Pack, and that is the only bag I’ll be taking on my 4 month trip to South-East Asia. OK, so now you think I’m an idiot too, don’t you? It’s not an original idea and it has been done successfully before. I first heard of this style of travel through a series of blog posts on Gadling called Life Nomadic. I was intrigued to the learn… -
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
18 Nov 2009 | 11:00 amInto The Wild by Jon Krakauer Thanks to my love for his masterpiece, Into Thin Air, I was already on Krakauer’s side before I even picked up its predecessor, Into the Wild. I knew it would be a story that would tempt, scare, and awe me. The Storyline Starting from the book’s cover, the outcome is apparent to the reader: the protagonist, a 24 year-old Emory graduate, dies. Where does the story unfold from here? McCandless' Letters to his Road Friends Krakauer reveals the perspectives of the people who became integral parts of McCandless’ quest: the electrician who… -
One to One: Teaching (and Gossiping with) Individual Students
18 Nov 2009 | 5:30 amPrague, Czech Republic When glancing through the makeshift syllabus on the first day of my TEFL certification course, I distinctly remember one title catching my attention. ”1-2-1: Teaching Individuals.” I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or grimace at the nineties-era number speak. The abundance of flannel and male ponytails often made Prague feel firmly rooted in 1995, perhaps proudly hanging onto the country’s first decade of self-governing freedom. So, abbreviating “to” with “2,” while cringe-inducing, was probably appropriate. My course instructor informed us…
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Hip Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy
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Fenland Trail -- February 16, 2009
20 Nov 2009 | 7:14 amFenland Trail in February. Fenland is little more than a pleasant walk, but it's a great trail for when the winter has been dragging on too long and you hope for signs of warming weather.Spring was still a long way off, but the firm hold of winter was starting to loosen in small ways. The layers of the ice from months of varying temperatures were starting to show through...... the trail was worn -
Snowshoeing in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park (RED trail) - February 8, 2009
18 Nov 2009 | 7:23 amFirst time snowshoeing since our guided tour in Kimberley, BC a couple of weeks prior. Path finding is so much different in snow, especially for random snowshoe trails, but it was worth it: -
Rawson Lake -- January 18, 2009
16 Nov 2009 | 7:19 amRawson Lake at the height of winter. Another one of those hikes I'd heard so much about, but never got around to doing thanks to the crowds in the summer, long drive, whatever other reasoning I could think of.This was where Nat and I had attempted a few weeks back as we hiked along Upper Kananaskis Lake and were turned back by treacherous ice on the trail. Hopefully in the thick of winter, there -
Sundance Canyon -- January 10, 2009
12 Nov 2009 | 7:03 amAnother beautiful hike to Sundance Canyon, this time deep in winter. Unbelievably, here in Banff the snow at the trail head wasn't deep enough to support cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, but it was just enough for a pleasant winter hike.Closer to the canyon itself, these low bushes with the leaves still attached made for a contrast with the rest of the forest floor:The snow was a little -
Chester Lake -- November 29, 2008
9 Nov 2009 | 6:58 amSometimes the overcast days are more interesting than the blue sky days. This holds especially true in winter, when the clouds meld with the snow and anything with colour or light stands out that much more.Chester Lake, as I've mentioned before, is renowned for deep snow early in the season. In late November, when parts of the mountains were still waiting for the first real accumulation, Chester
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LightBackpacking.com
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Winter’s Coming — One More Chance to Backpack
28 Oct 2009 | 6:19 pmThis is my 12th season as a backpacker and — I hate to admit it — the first season I haven’t had a pack on my back. Several trips started out with packs packed, but turned into camping / day hiking-into-the-wilderness-trips, covering sections of the PCT. Still, I am hoping for one more chance to [...] -
Sinkyone Wilderness: Elk on Bear Harbor Road
21 Sep 2009 | 10:25 pmWild Bill, the Duke and I just spent three days in the King Range, that 4,000 foot mountain range that forms the backdrop to the 28-mile Lost Coast Trail. On Saturday we topped King Peak at 4,200 feet and spent two hours having lunch and enjoying the incredible view. On Sunday, we drove down to [...] -
iPod Nano 5th Generation: The Best Backcountry Companion Yet
14 Sep 2009 | 8:05 pmIf you’ve read my posts about technology, you know I love iPods as trail companions. I’ve struggled lately on the trail: do I bring my iPhone (with camera, movies, music, GPS app - 5 ounces) or just go with my Flip Ultra (video camera that easily uploads to YouTube). To complicate matters, the new iPhone [...] -
Kennedy Meadows - Hiking Without the Pain of the Pack
6 Aug 2009 | 9:02 pmFrom the California Gold Rush town of Sonora, follow Highway 108 east for 30 miles, and before you hit Sonora Pass (9,600), you come to one of the most beautiful spots on Earth: Kennedy Meadows. Because of swarming mosquitos, our three days of backpacking and two days of car camping turned into 5 days of [...] -
A Walk in the Near Woods
22 Jun 2009 | 8:59 amI happen to live in a rural area of Northern California where a 10-minute drive and 20-minute walk will take me to a 40-foot waterfall among redwoods and ferns. This setting is as beautiful as you will find in the most remote wilderness areas. A great trek can merely be a walk in the near [...]
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nomad4ever
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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… -
Which San Miguel Beer type are you? Poll is up…
3 Sep 2009 | 12:42 amBeer is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in Asia. Travelers, Expats and Locals alike are known to happily give it a rest and enjoy a cold one, when leaving the office, sitting in their hang mats, a lively bar or at the many beaches in the region. The Philippines are blessed with one of the best breweries in Asia. The San Miguel brewery is around for ages, they steadily bolstered their grip on the local market, acquiring more and more rivals until they now have an almost monopoly-like strength in the country. Here is a introduction about their most well-known products, which target… -
3G/UMTS Internet – SmartBro or Globe Tattoo in the Philippines?
17 Aug 2009 | 2:51 amThe Philippines were one of the first countries in Southeast Asia to embrace wireless 3G or UMTS technology for internet access. Blessed (or punished) with more than 7.000 islands, digging and laying down landlines was naturally a big endeavor for this developing country. So all the way until the mid 90’s the country was one of the laggards in regards to internet access, with Dial-up speeds and slow dedicated lines ruling the access options. Due to the high penetration rates of mobile phones, business leaders soon recognized the great potential for mobile phone based or wireless…
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Outdoor.com
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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… -
Elk Viewing in Autumn
29 Sep 2009 | 11:07 amIf you like the screaming bugle of bull elk and watching these amazing animals now is prime time. That is going to hold truemost 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. We don’t normally hunt the elk, given that it’s a lottery but that doesn’t stop us from creeping in as closely as we can and getting… -
Bear Hunting Pennsylvania
29 Sep 2009 | 10:53 amBear hunting, there are many different ways to hunt bear. You can 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 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. Granted, the nay-sayers are going to tell you that hunting is a male thing, but I’ve got female friends who do it too and we’re not… -
Kayaking Idaho Whitewater
16 Sep 2009 | 8:41 pmIdaho is blessed with over 3,000 miles of whitewater ranging from Class I to Class V in difficulty, challenging kayakers from all across the nation to come to Idaho to test their skills against the cold rushing water and slick rock channels that demand constant attention and stamina. There are areas on the Snake, Boise, Salmon Rivers that are less challenging with class I and II rapids that allow the kayaker to enjoy the scenery, gain confidence and skill. These areas offer little difficulty with easy self rescue when necessary. In the northern part of Idaho, near Coeur d Alene lake and river…
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Outdoor Camping Survival
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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 TrailThis trail is located in Hudson Highlands State… -
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. -
Arriving Home After Outdoor Camping
7 Nov 2008 | 5:58 pmArriving Home After Outdoor Camping.The ride back home after outdoor camping may be psychologically arduous.The allure of a hot shower and relaxing home bed become irresistible.Before fulfilling that desire, one has to complete the following chores after coming back from the outdoor camping trip:-Unpacking the camping gear• Unload the gearAll the gears to be unloaded from the car, truck or camper and separated out the used one in the camping trip.• Empty the CoolerThe cooler to be emptied and all food removed to be packed in the refrigerator. The cooler to be rinsed and allowed to dry.•… -
Some Interesting Aspects Of Outdoor Camping
29 Oct 2008 | 5:00 pmSome Interesting Aspects Of Outdoor Camping.One can have nice family reunion and have lot of fun in outdoor camping.Obviously, one has to plan out properly. One must explore state by state campgrounds available in state parks and national forests.Also, there are some private campgrounds that may be having facilities more to someone’s liking.After identifying the campground, one should contact them through all possible means like email, fax, phone and postal mail to ensure proper reservations.It may take some time in the complete exercise and patience to make it a successful venture.Some…
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Outdoor Hobbies
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Find Helpful Information about Poker Lessons
21 Nov 2009 | 2:20 amYou like intimidating people in the poker rooms. There is something more exciting about to sit down and have seen your hand. But the reality is most people have problems to learn how to play poker the right way, a path that will lead them to go home with their fair share of the casino winnings. However, sometimes that trust is fleeting when you sit down to play in poker tournaments for various reasons, such as not getting good at mastering the rules for poker games. In fact, when before the tournament Sometimes your confidence instantly shrink and you start making dumb plays. Is there… -
Choosing And Using Fillet Knives
20 Nov 2009 | 8:52 pmOne source of confusion about filet knives comes in when we discover that they come in a variety of sizes. Not only do you have to have the right sized knife for the job, but the knives for a large fish and a small fish are so much different that having the wrong one could make an otherwise fairly simple task much more difficult. Typically, for most fishermen, a variety of knives are the solution. For those who catch fish from small trout which require a four inch blade to those who are landing large striped bass which require the substantially larger seven to nine inch blade, the answer is… -
Golf Holiday Suggestions
20 Nov 2009 | 12:05 pmIf you and your friends love to golf, a great way to enjoy the sport best is by taking a golf holiday tour. With prestigious golf courses around the world, you could choose the one you want to play and then plan a special trip or if you prefer, you could golf at some of the nearby elite courses in your area. For instance, in the United States, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, and California are known for boasting some of the finest golf courses and resorts in the country. However, if you prefer traveling abroad, then Scotland, Spain, or Portugal are considered top destinations. Take Scotland… -
Weightlifter Pictures
19 Nov 2009 | 3:20 pmWomen weightlifters may seem like a rarity, but it is definitely a false idea and a prejudice to assume that force training is just for men. Well, this opinion may be shattered pretty soon if the number of female weightlifters increases; in fact, according to statistics women are more committed weightlifters than men. A study has even revealed that one woman in five trains twice per week, which proves a lot. Improved health condition, fitness and beautiful body shape are the direct results of weightlifting workout. Furthermore, women weightlifters are less exposed to osteoporosis, a bone… -
Poker Lessons
19 Nov 2009 | 8:26 amSo you have decided to poker supplies poker games in your next home. You need poker cards, poker chips, and possibly rack poker and poker table. But where you have to get all your needs in poker? The question of whether you should buy these items has become particularly important with regard to factors such as globalization. Nevertheless, here are some questions that you should definitely consider the following questions: 1. Poker was born in the United States Although it can be assumed that poker was born in Texas, actually occurred around New Orleans during the 1800's first few…
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The OutPost
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Skurka Goes for Alaska
21 Nov 2009 | 1:19 amSaw this on the Mountain World last week and had to rub my eyeballs. Most of you know who Andrew Skurka is, a great long-distance hiker and record setter. I interviewed Andrew 2 years ago after he finished The Great Western Loop. Andrew is a very gracious guy but always sets his sites on bigger and better things. Now he has his sites set on “The Great Alaskan Yukon Loop”??? “What in the world is that?” you say… Well I think he just made it up. Seriously. According to his site: “The Great Alaskan-Yukon Loop (GAYL) is a 4,500-mile wilderness adventure… -
The Visual Miscellaneum
20 Nov 2009 | 6:38 amIf you are anything like me you like burritos and Kate Beckinsale. But if you are even more like me, you enjoy reading facts and figures and appreciate good design. The Visual Miscellaneum: A Colorful Guide to the World’s Most Consequential Trivia pulls those last two together perfectly. Every day we are bombarded with facts and statistics that quickly become meaningless sound bites amidst the cacophony of the Information Age. It occurred to David McCandless, an award-winning London-based writer and graphic designer, that the best way to absorb this barrage of random information is by… -
Outdoorbaby.net…for those that love the outdoors and babies.
19 Nov 2009 | 6:56 amWe here at Outdoorzy don’t have any children to drag with us through the woods or push in strollers as we run 5ks. Personally I think kids are good for the same thing I was good for when I was growing up, manual labor. However we appreciate that many of you out there do have children and want to spend some good clean outdoor fun with them. If this is the case for you, you may want to check out Outdoorbaby.net. This site contains stories, tips, and tricks for those doing a little outdoor adventuring with the whole family. Check’ em out. Links on Outdoorzy.com: Join Outdoorzy.com… -
Two kite surfers jump over pier
17 Nov 2009 | 7:43 amBalls…of…steel. Two kite surfers from West Sussex took advantage of strong winds on the south coast to realise an ambition to jump over Worthing pier. Jake Scrace, 25, and Lewis Crathern, 24, had been planning Monday morning’s jump for three years but had to wait for perfect weather conditions. They took off from Goring to the west of Worthing in gusts of wind that were more than 40mph. Mr Scrace described the build up to the jump as “terrifying”. story and image via BBC News Links on Outdoorzy.com: Join Outdoorzy.com Today! Similar Posts: Canada Part 3: Does… -
Chaco Sandle Spa
13 Nov 2009 | 2:50 amWe all love a good pair of sandals, but nothing is worse then when those beloved key piece of outdoor gear start to get worn out. Well Chaco customers have just got a brand new lease on life for their prized foot coverings. “Chaco’s repair/warranty program replaces outsoles and webbing straps that wear with the extended use that Chaco fans are known to give their sandals, both on the water and on the town. Chaco provides resoling and rewebbing (plus a number of other adjustment and repair services) for all of its sandals, for as long as the owner has them. This is a key reason that so…
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Rock Climber Girl - blogging by Sara, a pacific northwest woman who rock climbs
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Index Lower Town Wall Acquision Fundraisers, THIS week!
10 Nov 2009 | 11:50 amI've been out of the loop so a huge thank you to Jon for emailing me today about this event... Please join cascadeclimbers.com for "Sausage Fest 2009" this Sunday, November 15th... pre-funk at 5pm and slideshows by Steve Swenson, Joe Puryear, Sky Sjue and maybe more (any volunteers?) starting at 7pm. Where? Shultzy's on the Ave, 4114 University Way, in Seattle. There's a gear raffle, and the event benefits the Index Town Wall acquisition that's well under way but needs YOUR help! Here's the link on cascadeclimbers.com, for more information.Also, on Wednesday of this week (November 11th),… -
Meet my Expedition Hanesbrands family...
10 Nov 2009 | 3:16 amRe-entry continues. I'm actually feeling okay... starting to understand that the trip is going to take some time to digest, and appreciating the support and advice from friends who've done big trips, and gone through adjustments when they've gotten home. I think, if I didn't have you all sending me such wonderful little tidbits and advice, I'd think I was going nuts. I had a great short afternoon in the climbing gym on Sunday, which turned out to be just the ticket -- it was crowded, and loud, and both of those things made me feel at home. I was also surprised by the sensation of climbing... -
The re-entry...
8 Nov 2009 | 7:01 amI'm home! I got into Seattle after the long trip home from Kathmandu a couple of days ago, for some time with my parents and sister, then came home to Kitsap yesterday. Everyone's anxious for the trip report, but that has three complications: I have literally hundreds of photos to go through. Here's a taste of what I'm up against, just taking into account pictures from our quick trip down:I edited, and deleted, as I went, and I still came home with two memory cards of images and video. It's bittersweet to look at, at the moment, so we'll see how long it takes me to go through.The trip, for… -
Guest Blogger Rebecca: Gore-Tex Summit - How The Stuff Works
4 Nov 2009 | 9:15 pmFrom RCG HQ: Here's Day 2 of Rebecca's adventures at Gore-Tex Bloggers summit!One of the most interesting parts of the Gore-Tex Blogger Summit was learning about the core science behind what makes a garment waterproof and breathable. This actually is important information for the outdoor consumer. It’s not unique to Gore-Tex and the science applies to all kinds of outerwear, manufacturers, and sports.What exactly makes a jacket waterproof and breathable? What does breathable mean? Why do I get wet inside my Gore-Tex or eVent or other waterproof/breathable material jacket? In order to… -
Guest Blogger Rebecca: Gore-Tex Summit
2 Nov 2009 | 4:48 pmHi Everyone, RCG HQ here. Rebecca from calipidder.com has posted her take on the recent gathering of outdoor bloggers at Gore-Tex. Enjoy!The Gore-Tex Blogger Summit was a short whirlwind of tours, education, entertainment, and fun with fourteen other outdoor bloggers and many Gore associates. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this event but it was clear from the beginning that it would be an interesting 48 hours with a great group of people. In the spirit of full disclosure, I should mention that Gore provided the travel and expenses for this trip.Everyone arrived throughout the day on…
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sectionhiker.com
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Pack Goats, Ham Radio, and the 10 Essentials
20 Nov 2009 | 9:32 pmI give in. I'm finally going to publish a list of the 10 hiking essentials on my blog. But you have to watch this video my hiking partner Chris sent me. It's got these great pack goats in it named Peanut and Rooster and some ham radio operators, who were the original social network in my book. It's not that I think the 10 essentials are bad or misleading. The problem is that there are never 10. People are always trying to sneak extra things on the list. So, here is Peanut's list of 10 Hiking Essentials: Map, compass, GPS Water (water bottle) Flashlight, headlamp Extra food… -
The Summit is Optional
19 Nov 2009 | 9:17 pmThis past Tuesday, I heard a great talk on Winter Hiking Safety given by Mohamed Ellozy, a leader with the Boston AMC Winter Backpacking Program and former Appalachia Magazine accidents editor. I thought I'd summarize the key points he made during his talk and the accident summary he related us to drive home his points. I've been thinking about them all week. The Key Points The summit is optional, but getting back to your car is not. If the weather forecast is bad, go someplace else that's safer or just go home. If you have made a plan, but get new information that your plan is… -
Restoring the DWR on a Gore-tex Jacket
18 Nov 2009 | 9:02 pmWhen I went backpacking last weekend, I experienced ideal conditions for developing hypothermia. I was hiking through heavy mist and light rain, which grew heavier as the day wore on. Temperatures were in the low 40's F and the wind was blowing at about 20 miles an hour. After a few hours of this, I got soaked and cold. The durable water repellent (DWR) coating on my Gore-tex shell had stopped shedding rain. Gore-tex clothing is made by sandwiching a Gore-tex layer between two moderately porous fabrics. A DWR coating is applied to the external layer to prevent it from absorbing water. The… -
A Bear Encounter in the North Country
17 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pmI had a benign bear encounter this weekend at Lower Gentian Pond on the Mahoosuc Trail, way up in the northern part of New Hampshire, near the Maine state line. I stupidly left some beef jerky in my rain jacket which was hanging inside my tent vestibule overnight. At about 4am, I felt a big nose poke me in the back through the vestibule wall and the inner tent. I made some noises, thrashed about in my sleeping bag, and then heard a big animal trot away. At first I thought it was a moose, but when I woke up in the morning, I didn't see any moose tracks around my tent. We had a lot of rain… -
How to Build a Quinzhee Snow Shelter
16 Nov 2009 | 9:05 pmThis is a guest post by Mark Warren, an instructor with the Boston AMC Winter Hiking Program that I'm attending this year. Mark authored an article on sectionhiker last year about MREs. As I was following the discussion of the expense and weight of winter tents, I thought of a shelter I used for an overnight backpack I did a couple of years ago. The total weight of everything I needed for my shelter was less than two pounds and it cost less than twenty dollars. Basically, all that I needed to build my Quinzhee shelter was an collapsible shovel. For about a decade now, I have been…
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Two-Heel Drive, a Hiking Blog
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Mount Mitchell and points north
16 Nov 2009 | 8:23 am“It ain’t Mount Tam,” the guy tells me in his distinct Carolina brogue. Seems he’d lived in Sacramento awhile and had dirtied his boots on a few Bay Area trails. I had just clambered through the gnarliest mile in recent memory (dating to last week at Linville Gorge, holder of my previous gnarliest-mile record). Two sections had fixed ropes to help keep hikers upright; it’s all above 6500 feet, just to keep the heart muscles occupied. I averaged precisely 1 mile per hour over four miles. By the time I paused to gab with Former Sacramento Guy (at least 10 years my… -
First hike at Linville Gorge Wilderness
8 Nov 2009 | 9:41 amLinville Gorge Wilderness is high on all the must-hike lists for the southern Appalachians. The terrain is so ragged and remote that there was never much prospect of cutting down the trees and putting up swanky resorts. It’s all protected wilderness now, and once you leave the roads you’re on your own. Trails are generally unmarked, except for major junctions and one section of the Mountains to the Sea Trail. Most of the hiking at the gorge starts high on the rim and dives down to the Linville River at the valley floor. The most interesting hikes are, of course, 14 miles into the… -
Need a new pair of snowshoes?
3 Nov 2009 | 6:36 pmI just finished an article at my day job highlighting all the new ones out this year. You might be amazed that this is all I have to show for the several weeks since I started my new job. Well, writing about groovy new gear is a mere fraction of my responsibilities. Job No. 1 is maintaining Trailspace’s massive gear catalog so users looking for a new pair of gloves or boots can see prices, reviews and descriptions of stuff combined in a single Web page. Part of it is automated, but each of the more than 34,000 items in the DB had to be double-checked by a human to minimize garbage… -
Gore-Tex advertising enters 21st century
1 Nov 2009 | 6:20 pmLast week’s Gore-Tex blogger summit offers a compelling illustration of how advertising will happen in the years to come. Here’s what happened: GTX hosted 15 outdoor bloggers for a two-day pow wow designed to do two things: Burnish the company’s brand and build positive vibes online at very low cost. Of course the company had a cover story about wanting feedback from actual users, but please: 15 is a pretty scant sample size. Back of the napkin calculation: roundtrip airfare for 15 people: $7,500; two days food/lodging: $4,500. Gore-Tex would have to pay twice that for a… -
Latest hike: Moore’s Knob, Hanging Rock State Park
25 Oct 2009 | 8:08 pmThe great thing about getting lost on the way here three weeks ago and having to turn back: returning when fall colors are going full-blast. This is where your intrepid hiking blogger is forced to admit that he hasn’t done a fall-colors hike in a locale with actual fall colors since his college days at Giant City State Park in far southern Illinois, and he was very drunk at the time. The contrast in just three weeks is mind-boggling at first blush. Way back on the third of October we had a few trees doing a bit of orange and yellow, but green still ruled. By the 25th, the green was…
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Trailspace Blog
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Vertical Limit: The Guide to Climbing
20 Nov 2009 | 11:14 amIf you watched the 2000 "climbing" movie Vertical Limit and wondered — like me, and every other viewer with at least a basic understanding of climbing, physics, or common sense —why the characters kept doing inane things (like climbing K2 with nitroglycerin or that crazy chasm leap by Chris O'Donnell) then this video is for you. via American Alpine Institute - Climbing Blog -
What are the best hiking songs?
17 Nov 2009 | 9:01 pmThankfully this is not a video of me singing. Recently I was hiking with my toddler. We were having a nice time looking at trees, touching boulders, eating snacks, when for some unknown reason she was suddenly and furiously done with the hike. Food, drink, walking, carrying, warm clothes, none of it made a difference. The problem was, we still had a mile and a half to go back to the trailhead, a short but suddenly monumental distance. So, I stuffed her back in the carrier and speed hiked/jogged as fast as one can with 25+ pounds of crying kid on your back, while navigating a rocky,… -
Whose land is this?
17 Nov 2009 | 7:02 amHikers and backpackers know there are a lot of different land management agencies out there: National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Army Corps of Engineers, state parks, local municipalities, and so on. Then there are various land designations: Wilderness, national park, national preserve, wild and scenic river, national monument, to name a few. It can seem confusing, and you might be tempted to say, "who cares? I just want to hike." As users of these lands, we all need to care, because the rules of the land determine what… -
Drilling for Shackleton's well-chilled whiskey
16 Nov 2009 | 5:17 amA vintage McKinlay's bottle of the same era. Shackleton's may a bit worse for wear. Shackleton buffs take note. Two crates of McKinlay's “Rare Old Whiskey” have been buried in the Antarctic ice for a century, 97 miles shy of the South Pole. Adding to the aptly-named Scotch 's prestige is the fact that it was left behind by legendary explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton when he was forced to abandon his South Pole expedition in 1909. The crates originally were found in January 2006, encased in ice under the floorboards of the Nimrod Expedition hut Shackleton built, but were not moved at… -
Recommend good gear repair services
15 Nov 2009 | 12:44 pmNeed to resole your backpacking boots or rock shoes, fix a broken tent zipper, modify a backpack, sharpen some ice screws? Once you have the right outdoor gear you still need to maintain and occasionally repair it. And sometimes that calls for a professional. If you know of a company or individual who offers high quality gear repair or maintenance services, please share their info with other Trailspace community members. I've set up a thread just for that purpose at the top of the Gear Repair and Maintenance forum. How to maintain and repair outdoor gear is a popular topic in the Trailspace…
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Off Grid Survival - Wilderness & Urban Survival Skills
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Survive & Prevent being Carjacked
16 Nov 2009 | 10:07 pmCarjacking has become one of the top crimes in the country. Learn how experts say you can prevent or survive being carjacked. Carjacking Facts: The Department of Justice reports that there are about 49,000 per year. Ninety-three percent occur in cities or the suburbs. 92% of carjackings are committed when the victim is alone in their car. 90% of carjackings involved the use of a weapon. Most happen near the victims home or work. Approaching your Vehicle When approaching your vehicle awareness is your best weapon. Stay alert – Stay alert to what is going on around you Keep your keys… -
Can America Survive?
10 Nov 2009 | 11:04 pmAfter hearing the morons on T.V. over the last couple of days responding to the Terrorist Attack on Fort Hood it makes me wonder…… what happened to America? I know this is a survival site, and I usually try to stay away from politics, but I think what’s going on in our country is a matter of survival. The survival of our liberty, our way of life, and our traditional American values. Can America Survive? Let’s take a look at where we came from and where we are today. AMERICAN HEREOS OF THE PAST OUR LEADERS TODAY Sure, we want to go home. We want this war over with. The… -
Holiday Deals for Preppers – Leatherman Multi-Tools
8 Nov 2009 | 6:30 pmFYI for Preppers Amazon has some great great holiday deals on Leatherman Multi-tools. Check it out: Leatherman Multitool Sale -
7 Rules of Self Defense
8 Nov 2009 | 12:25 pmSELF DEFENSE HAS NO RULES - In a life or death situation rules go right out the window. You need to use everything at your disposal to stop your attacker. eye gouging, biting , throat strikes, & groin attacks are all fair game when trying to defend your life. Do whatever it takes to win! Don’t Put yourself in Bad situations – Avoiding conflict is just common sense, but all to often people seem to forget this most basic of rules. To trully defend yourself means to avoid the confict in the first place. Confidence - Believe it or not an attacker can smell your fear from a mile… -
How people respond to an emergency situation.
1 Nov 2009 | 2:07 pmEmergency situations can cause extreme amounts of physical and emotional stress. Understanding how to deal with this stress will help to reduce it’s impact and can greatly increase your chance of survival. Your response to a Emergency situation: The worst thing that you can do is lose your will to survive. Statistics show that 95% of people who die with psychological trauma do so within the first three days. How you respond in a emergency situation will determine your chances of survival. Common Reactions to a disaster: ANXIETY: Anxiety & Panic are both a direct result of fearing…
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Modern Hiker
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Hike to the Hollywood Sign
20 Nov 2009 | 12:57 pmIf you’re one of the few non-natives who actually stick around Los Angeles when Holiday Season hits, and you want to try to work off some of that Thanksgiving turkey, you might want to join up on a ranger-led hike to the Hollywood Sign in Griffith Park. On the mornings of November 27th and 28th from 8 to 11AM, Ranger Ernie Ybarra will lead groups on a moderate 4-6 mile hike to the giant wooden letters. It’s actually illegal to get right up next to the Hollywood sign, and this trek will lead hikers to a spot above the sign itself. However, Ranger Ybarra assures me that the view… -
Great Los Angeles Walk 2009
18 Nov 2009 | 9:58 amIf you like your hiking mixed with a bit of urban exploration, civic pride, and the occasional rest stop at a cafe, then you might be interested to know that the Fourth Annual Great Los Angeles Walk is on-schedule to take place this Saturday, November 21st. The annual event takes hikers on a long-distance urban hike through the streets of Los Angeles, usually singling out one main thoroughfare to explore. It’s a great way to see what’s in our city, as Angelenos spend so much more time whizzing past neighborhood storefronts than actually exploring them on foot. In the past,… -
Time-Lapse Northern Lights
17 Nov 2009 | 8:26 amIf you couldn’t make it out to somewhere dark last night, but still wanted to see some cosmic phenomena, worry not – National Geographic has you covered. The Goat dug up this hypnotic video of a time-lapse of the Northern Lights in Norway, and it’ll make you want to book the next flight to the arctic circle to try to see them for yourself. -
Kilimanjaro Talks and Sales at Adventure 16
16 Nov 2009 | 4:10 pmIf you’re at all interested in learning more about joining an expedition to Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, you’ll want to head to your local Adventure 16 this week. The local chain will be hosting slideshow presentations by Kurt Wedberg, the founder of Sierra Mountaineering International and a veteran climb leader on Kilimanjaro. Each presentation begins at 7PM, and is preceded by a “Happy Hour.” Audience members will also get a coupon for $20 off a purchase of $100 or more of Icebreaker gear. The schedule for the stores is as follows: November 16th… -
Up Late? Catch the Leonids!
16 Nov 2009 | 1:07 pmIf you’re a night owl, insomniac, or just a SoCal resident who relishes the opportunity to dust off those warm clothes, you’ll want to head out to remote, dark place tonight to catch a glimpse of the Leonid meteor shower. Tonight’s show is expected to start around 1AM Pacific Time, and should produce 20-30 meteors per hour over North America. Central Asia gets the good view this year, with 200-300 per hour on their side of the globe. The best views will be anywhere away from light pollution – which can be a bit tough, depending on where you’re living in L.A.
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Divas Blog | outdoor DIVAS
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Big City Mountaineers; getting inner city kids in the wilderness.
16 Nov 2009 | 1:45 pmThe trip leaders get just as much out of the camps as the kids do, read this Summit Story to see why. Story by Jessica Downing The first day is always a bit intimidating. I've arrived at headquarters and met the trip leader and the other volunteers. We start sorting gear and loading a car. Then the van shows up. Five teenage girls tumble out (yes, tumble would be extremely accurate). After more sorting and passing out gear, we're on the road to the Medicine Bow National Forest in Wyoming. And so starts one of the most rewarding week of my summers. This past August was my third Big City… -
outdoor DIVAS present a Snow Sports Panel on women's gear with a snow-studded panel
12 Nov 2009 | 11:41 amLets talk women's alpine, tele and snowboard gear!The Snow Sports Panel was very well received. With a snow-studded cast of panelists consisting of Heather Paul of the K2 alliance and Ultimate Groove Tele tours, Krista Crabtree founder of Sheskis and a professional ski tester, Lindsay Yaw of the K2 Alpine Alliance, Leslie Ross founder of Babes in the Backcountry, Leslie Betts representing Burton and Nicole Burkhold of Freeskier magazine the crowd was treated to their keen inside knowledge of snow sports. The audience has great questions on gear, women’s specific marketing and being a… -
outdoor DIVAS featured on the examiner.com
6 Nov 2009 | 9:46 amfriend of outdoor DIVAS, Spice Jones had many nice things to say about us"When it comes to looking great while playing hard women in Boulder get all the luck. Outdoor Divas, located at the heart of the Pearl Street Mall has become a favorite for active women in Colorado. Living according to the motto “Women are not small men!” they have mastered the perfect mix of the best fashions with the latest innovations in active apparel and equipment to give women a chance to express some individuality while performing at their best..."See Alsoclick here to read the… -
Deb Benson of Girlz on Edge talks stance balancing, alignment and women's gear with us.
29 Oct 2009 | 12:52 pmGet balanced, buy good women's ski gear and smile more!Outdoor DIVAS: We know you are a huge fan of Biostance. Can you tell us more about it and why you love it so much? DEB: A couple of season’s back I was introduced to Biostance at outdoor Divas. A great product/procedure that really points out & corrects the obvious and not so obvious alignment,canting and ramp issues. There are many things available to correct alignment issues but Biostance is absolutely the icing on the alignment cake! The goal: We want our boots, bindings, skis & skeleton to allow us to stand in a balanced… -
Free Lift Tickets
23 Oct 2009 | 2:20 pmBurton Get LiftedGet a Free Lift Ticket with the purchase of ANY Burton Snowboard. Get Lifted Terms & Conditions The GET LIFTED lift ticket (the "Offer") is open to Burton customers who are at least eighteen (18) years old at the time of redemption of the Offer. Customers under the age of 18 must get permission from a parent or guardian to participate. Offer valid only with the purchase of the following Burton snowboards: Method, Vapor, Custom X, Custom, Custom V-Rocker, The Hero, Joystick, Jussi, The Operator, Deuce, Mayhem, X8, Jeremy Jones, Fix, Twin, Dominant, Con-dom,…
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Heidi's Blog
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FTC guidelines
20 Nov 2009 | 7:54 pmA quick note before I do more research and post an official blog -
Playing in the campground
19 Nov 2009 | 2:23 pmby Melynda @ www.yourwildchild.com -
The Big Book of Parenting Solutions, Michele Borba
19 Nov 2009 | 2:08 pmBook Review By Casey Sievila -
Walk at the rest area in Glenwood canyon Colorado
17 Nov 2009 | 2:02 pmA rest stop off of the I-70 may not seem like the best outdoor destination, but for this family it was quite entertaining. -
Going to the park
15 Nov 2009 | 9:28 amA simple activity like going to the park may be all your child needs to feel grounded and connected to nature.
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Montana Outdoors
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Reminded
20 Nov 2009 | 6:54 pmOn a hunt today, as I hiked along the Murr Creek trail and looked at the creek splashing and cascading through its canyon far below and wished it were easier to get down there (and that I had lashed my tripod to my pack), I remembered that I hadn’t posted this photo taken a couple weeks ago on Spring Creek, 50 miles away, but still in the Cabinet Mountains. It will have to do for now until the weather clears. (I’ll probably hunt in snow tomorrow.) (1205) -
Overlooking the Clark Fork Valley
16 Nov 2009 | 9:44 pmThese photos were taken on an elk scouting hike today on the ridge between Weeksville Creek and Buffalo Bill Creek in the Cabinet mountains. It was a fairly stiff hike up from the valley on a brush-covered game trail, but the scenery made it worth it and it’s excellent elk habitat up there. (1189) -
They’re not elk, but…
13 Nov 2009 | 5:26 pmReturning from an elk hunt during which we saw no elk, we saw three Bighorn rams not far off the road and they were kind enough to let me get some photos of them. (1177) -
Wet staircase
12 Nov 2009 | 9:12 pmSpring Creek in western Montana’s Cabinet Mountains. (1171) -
“Hi, my friend!”
10 Nov 2009 | 6:24 pmIt took over a year for us to tie this three-note greeting to it’s maker, and we’ve loved this little bird every since. The Chickadees bring cheer and optimism to us winter and summer and we hope the seeds that we keep always available help make their lives more cheerful too.
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10,000 Birds
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Saving the Floreana Mockingbird
21 Nov 2009 | 6:35 amSince mockingbirds are such a perennial favorite here at 10,000 Birds, I would be remiss if I didn’t draw attention to Gunnar Engblom’s comprehensive look at efforts to restore the critically endangered Floreana Mockingbird. Seems like quite a challenge. Copyright 2009 - For more of the same, visit 10,000 Birds -
Poverty, Corruption, and a Migratory Flyway…
20 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am…combine to create a disaster for birds in China’s Guangdong province. An estimated 10,000 birds are being slaughtered every day in the province, despite laws meant to prevent such behavior. Though there are campaigns to stop the killing it seems that corruption makes enforcement difficult, with “local rich business people and even government officials” patronizing restaurants that serve the illegally-hunted birds, according to a local restaurant manager. China Daily has the story. Copyright 2009 - For more of the same, visit 10,000 Birds -
Baz Hughes, Slimbridge, and the Great Crane Project
20 Nov 2009 | 4:40 amI spent the afternoon of Wednesday 25th at Slimbridge, the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust’s (WWT) HQ, in the company of Dr Baz Hughes, WWT’s energetic and enthusiastic Head of Species Conservation. I’ve known Baz on and off for a number of years, though I hasten to add he moves in far more rarefied circles than I do and I haven’t seen him since 2006. Nevertheless, he was - as always - very welcoming and open to my questions. Which questions would those be then, I hear someone (perhaps myself?) ask? Well, as regular readers know we occasionally post ‘conservation… -
An Owl and Some Mice in Brooklyn
19 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pmThe Queens County Bird Club field trip this past Sunday to Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn was relatively well-attended, with eleven people present, and loaded with some of the more common species that one would expect in November. Great Blue Heron, Green-winged Teal, Cedar Waxwing, Dark-eyed Junco, Common Loon, American Kestrel, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Belted Kingfisher, and Purple Finch were just some of the many species that we came across on our thorough exploration of the ex-airport. But, despite our best efforts, we had not managed to track down a bird sufficiently rare or unexpected… -
Do You Know a Male Birder?
19 Nov 2009 | 5:36 pmWell buy this for them. Right now. That is all. Copyright 2009 - For more of the same, visit 10,000 Birds
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10,000 Birds
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Saving the Floreana Mockingbird
21 Nov 2009 | 6:35 amSince mockingbirds are such a perennial favorite here at 10,000 Birds, I would be remiss if I didn’t draw attention to Gunnar Engblom’s comprehensive look at efforts to restore the critically endangered Floreana Mockingbird. Seems like quite a challenge. Copyright 2009 - For more of the same, visit 10,000 Birds -
Poverty, Corruption, and a Migratory Flyway…
20 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am…combine to create a disaster for birds in China’s Guangdong province. An estimated 10,000 birds are being slaughtered every day in the province, despite laws meant to prevent such behavior. Though there are campaigns to stop the killing it seems that corruption makes enforcement difficult, with “local rich business people and even government officials” patronizing restaurants that serve the illegally-hunted birds, according to a local restaurant manager. China Daily has the story. Copyright 2009 - For more of the same, visit 10,000 Birds -
Baz Hughes, Slimbridge, and the Great Crane Project
20 Nov 2009 | 4:40 amI spent the afternoon of Wednesday 25th at Slimbridge, the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust’s (WWT) HQ, in the company of Dr Baz Hughes, WWT’s energetic and enthusiastic Head of Species Conservation. I’ve known Baz on and off for a number of years, though I hasten to add he moves in far more rarefied circles than I do and I haven’t seen him since 2006. Nevertheless, he was - as always - very welcoming and open to my questions. Which questions would those be then, I hear someone (perhaps myself?) ask? Well, as regular readers know we occasionally post ‘conservation… -
An Owl and Some Mice in Brooklyn
19 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pmThe Queens County Bird Club field trip this past Sunday to Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn was relatively well-attended, with eleven people present, and loaded with some of the more common species that one would expect in November. Great Blue Heron, Green-winged Teal, Cedar Waxwing, Dark-eyed Junco, Common Loon, American Kestrel, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Belted Kingfisher, and Purple Finch were just some of the many species that we came across on our thorough exploration of the ex-airport. But, despite our best efforts, we had not managed to track down a bird sufficiently rare or unexpected… -
Do You Know a Male Birder?
19 Nov 2009 | 5:36 pmWell buy this for them. Right now. That is all. Copyright 2009 - For more of the same, visit 10,000 Birds
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zeitcam.com
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Alyeska Web Cam
<img src=http://zeitcam.com/data/alyeska/latest.jpg><br>Time-lapse animation of the Alyeska Web Cam. -
Mont Blanc Web Cam
<img src=http://zeitcam.com/data/mont-blanc/latest.jpg><br>Time-lapse animation of the Mont Blanc Web Cam. -
First Beach Web Cam
<img src=http://zeitcam.com/data/first-beach/latest.jpg><br>Time-lapse animation of the First Beach Web Cam. -
Mer de Glace Web Cam
<img src=http://zeitcam.com/data/mer-de-glace/latest.jpg><br>Time-lapse animation of the Mer de Glace Web Cam. -
Canadian Rockies Web Cam
<img src=http://zeitcam.com/data/canmore/latest.jpg><br>Time-lapse animation of the Canadian Rockies Web Cam.
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CANOEING.COM NEWS
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Winnipeg-to-New Orleans Paddlers Forced to Change Plans
18 Nov 2009 | 10:56 amNick Turnbull and Murray Jowett, two University of Winnipeg students who were attempting to canoe from Winnipeg to New Orleans this fall, have changed their plans due to an accident last week. The pair had their canoe swamped by high winds and waves on the Mississippi River near Muscatine, Iowa. The duo lost much of their gear in the accident and needed to be rescued from an island in the river, Fargo, North Dakota’s KFGO radio reports HERE. Turnbull and Jowett are now heading to the Big Easy on foot and by bus. The Winnipeg Free Press talked to the pair, HERE, when they reached… -
New Factory in Old Town
12 Nov 2009 | 10:15 amOld Town Canoes & Kayaks, a storied name in North American canoe-building, has moved its operation into a single new factory, Johnson Outdoors, Old Town’s parent company, has announced. Previously, Old Town built boats in two facilities in Old Town, Maine, work which will now be carried out in a new 136,000 square-foot facility. In addition, a Johnson kayak-building unit — the makers of the Necky and Ocean Kayak brands — will move to the new Old Town facility as well. Old Town, Maine, a hub of canoe and boat-building since the late 19th-Century, is now firmly established… -
Paddler Discovers Mastodon Tusks
5 Nov 2009 | 9:56 amYou never can tell what you might discover on a canoe outing. Mastodon tusks, however, rank fairly low on the list likely finds. But for paddler Glen Keeton of Mount Hope, New York, tusks of the extinct mammal were exactly what he found one year ago on a canoe outing with a friend down New York’s Wallkill River. Keeton spotted what looked like a stump protruding from the earth. When he stopped to investigate, he was confident he was looking as mastodon tusks. Keeton, an archaeologist, quickly brought experts to his find. While the tusk he spotted — and a second one… -
Maori Artist Restores 1822 Canoe
28 Oct 2009 | 1:35 pmMaori artist George Nuku is restoring an early 19th century war canoe known as a “waka” at the National Museum of Scotland. As the BBC reports, HERE, Nuku, a carver and sculptor from New Zealand who is tattooed with traditional Maori facial markings, is restoring the boat with a blend of traditional and contemporary designs — including a thistle to denote its Scottish residence. The boat in question is believed to date to 1822. It is thought to have belonged to Sir Thomas Brisbane who was Governor of New South Wales in Australia and for whom an Australian city is named. The… -
Canoe-Builder Walter Walker Dead at 101
20 Oct 2009 | 12:20 pmRenowned Canadian canoe-builder Walter Walker of Lakefield, Ontario died on Monday. He was two weeks shy of his 102nd birthday. Walker was inducted as the first “Canoe Builder Emeritus” in the Canoe Builders Hall of Fame established by the Canadian Canoe Museum. He received numerous awards and certificates for his work in the canoe industry. Walker’s death marks the end of an era; he was the last orginal link to the heyday of wooden canoe-building. Walker, who was born in Ancaster, Ontario on November 4, 1907 and who began his career as a furniture-maker, worked for boat and…
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Wend Blog
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Silhouettes ‘Round the World
21 Nov 2009 | 4:30 amPakistan While tooling around the internet trying to choose a theme for this week’s ‘Round the World post I stumbled across this beautiful photo of cyclists in Pakistan. I was captivated by the paper-cutout emptiness of the figures in the foreground. It’s interesting that, as silhouettes, the living people in this photo create the ambiance to the natural world behind them, instead of the other way around. I’m not a photographer by any stretch so some of the photos below might not technically be considered silhouettes. I apologize in advance if that’s the case. If… -
Extreme Trainsurfing Trainrider Not Dead After All
20 Nov 2009 | 3:00 pmClick here to view the embedded video. Extreme trainsurfing was pioneered in Germany by a masked man known only as “the trainrider.” This legendary disguised lunatic once surfed Germany’s Inter City Express (ICE), which reaches speeds of 205 mph. The first video makes the sad claim that the trainrider is dead (from Leukemia of all things). According to the video, he spent the last year of his life doing what he loves most, surfing trains, an announcement that elicited several eulogies in the comments section: jaunius9999 be free my friend… be free… reast in… -
Woman’s Season Pass Revoked for Criticizing Ski Resort
20 Nov 2009 | 11:00 amPhoto credit: PaulYork2004 via Flickr This article from The Ski Channel Television Network has been buzzing around the Tweetosphere today. What you think? Did Durango Mountain ski resort do the right thing here? Or should they apologize and still allow the woman to ski there? Durango, Colorado resident Lauren Slaff wrote an article in the Durango Herald publicly criticizing Purgatory at the Durango Mountain ski resort for their lack of weekday openings in the beginning and the end of the season. She was concerned that their new operating schedule would reduce the number of ski days during the… -
Are You a ‘Good’ Traveler?
20 Nov 2009 | 4:12 amIn Elizabeth Gilbert’s biography of rediscovering life in ‘Eat Pray Love’, a particular paragraph evoked some thoughts in me, as she defines a ‘good’ traveler: ‘Truthfully, I’m not the best traveler in the world. I’ve met people who are great at it. Real naturals. I’ve met travelers who are so physically sturdy they could drink a shoebox of water from a Calcutta gutter and never get sick. People who can pick up new languages where others of us might only pick up infectious diseases. People who are the right height and complexion that they kind of look halfway normal wherever… -
Friday Photo: Bend Snow Surprise
20 Nov 2009 | 4:00 amSometimes the first snow of the year begins to drop when you’re least expecting it. This week’s winner, Jennifer Levo, found this out the hard way during a mountain biking trip outside of Bend last month. Here’s what she had to say about the event: During the first weekend of October my friends and I drove down to Bend for a little mountain biking camping weekend. The weather called for upper 50’s. “Great,” we thought. “That will be perfect.” But Saturday of that weekend we woke to a bitter chill and grey skies. Figuring it’d warm up, we went…
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sassy two socks
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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 -
All the single ladies! You're prayers are answered!
3 Oct 2009 | 7:31 am -
Parkour! done wrong
2 Oct 2009 | 7:27 amI nearly pissed myself when I saw this.Do any of you know the movie House of 1,000 Corposes, directed by Rob Zombie? It was his first movie (and unfortunately, his worst) and the kid who played Fishboy was Dwight! Who knew that Rob Zombie discovered Dwight... -
Where's Sassy???
1 Oct 2009 | 2:00 pmHonestly, I have no idea.Mr. T says I don't *write* anything on my blog anymore. That I merely post obscene pictures and cat videos. To that I say, eff off. You try and work a bazillion hours a week, keep your fat ass in shape, be a wife, a good cat-mommy, AND blog about cool shit!!!!Ok, it *IS* possible. I think.So the real question is: Where *IS* Sassy??? (I'm picturing Where's Waldo? from when I was a kid).So the answer is... I'm trying to find some sense of balance in my life and not doing a great job at it. My work life is insane, though I do love my job and coworkers, almost to the…
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The Everything About RVing RVers Blog
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RV Shows, Your Fix for the Wintertime RV Blues
20 Nov 2009 | 4:42 pmYour RV is parked for the winter, now what do you do? Go to some RV Shows to shake off the winter blues. -
Traveling Around the Country in a Bus For a Year Taught 2 Shrinks Not to Settle
20 Nov 2009 | 4:14 pmA few years ago, my husband and I took a life-changing trip traveling around the country by RV. It turned out to be a great lesson in refusing to settle -
What Type of RV is Best For Working Or Volunteering on the Road?
20 Nov 2009 | 2:19 pmWhat Type of RV is Best For Working Or Volunteering on the Road is partly a matter of preference and partly epends on the type and amount of RVing you plan to do -
Lessons Learned From Full-Time RVing
20 Nov 2009 | 2:14 pmAfter eight years of full-time RVing, what have I learned? These seven lessons can help you make a decision about whether the full-time RV lifestyle is for you. -
Full-time RVing - How Do You Get Your Mail?
20 Nov 2009 | 2:06 pmIf you decide to go full-time RVing, how do you ever get your mail? That is the most common question asked of us. Here is the answer.
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Simplifatico
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Winter is Killing Me
20 Nov 2009 | 10:30 pmPhoto: Secret Creek, Sigma DP2.Now, don't get me wrong. I'm a big fan of winter in the context of outdoor recreation. The snow opens up a lot of really good terrain that you'd normally have be mental to travel on during the rest of the year.I was browsing through my 2009 photos today, in preparation for making our family Christmas Card Collage, and I came across this.It's basically a documentary shot that was to serve as a reminder to myself: "gotta come back here, mid-June, with a packraft".This was a stretch of a mountain creek that I found in June that offered… -
Tenkara Hane: The Fly Fishing Rod for Ultralight Hikers
20 Nov 2009 | 4:20 pmClick Here to Learn More About the BPL Tenkara-Hane We are preparing for the arrival of one of the most exciting products for which I've been able to participate in the development of: the Tenkara Hane fly rod, to be available initially in a one time purchase lot only at Backpacking Light. The Hane is Backpacking Light's signature model, manufactured exclusively for us by TenkaraUSA. Hane means "feather" in Japanese, and we kind of like that. The way this rod feels, casts, stows, yeah, it's got the right name I think. It's unique features include: It's the… -
Last Barn Standing
20 Nov 2009 | 8:00 amPhoto: Panasonic DMC-GF1, Lumix G-Vario 7-14/4 ASPH, 7mm f/7.1, 1/1000 sec. ISO 100.Last Barn StandingWe pass this barn every day (sometimes four times a day!), because it's on the way to school, and looking at it makes me a little sad, reminding me of the song by Chris Cunningham and John Hermanson, Paradise Lost. In fact, that song was inspired by Bozeman's rampant development.The ParadoxI've lived in Bozeman since way before the condos here were built, or even the streets around this barn were put in! I'm sure I live in a neighborhood that once looked like this, and heck,… -
Pak-Rifle Review Video
19 Nov 2009 | 8:00 amHere's a short video highlighting some of my experiences this fall with the new .22LR Pak-Rifle, a 16-oz small game and utility rifle. I mistakenly reported earlier here that the rifle weighed 22 oz - sorry about that (bad scale). My full review of the Pak-Rifle will be published at Backpacking Light during the first week of December. Here's the introduction from my review, and the video follows: The Pak-Rifle weighs 16 oz and shoots 0.22LR shells, which weigh less than 0.11 oz apiece. If one is trekking through areas where upland bird and small game abounds, then adding 20 oz of rifle and… -
Winter Color: Mammoth Hot Springs, WY
18 Nov 2009 | 9:19 amPhoto: Sigma DP2, ISO 50, f/4, 1/1600 sec.I'm deep into reviewing the technical performance of a number of mid-sensor compact cameras right now for Backpacking Light. I just put the Olympus E-P1 review to bed, and you'll see it published there next week.In addition, I'm looking at the Panasonic GF-1 and the Leica X1, and comparing them all to my baseline high-image-quality-compact, the Sigma DP2.That means I've been using the Sigma DP2 a lot more lately, so I can really understand what we're comparing here. It's pretty easy to shelve an old camera and say that the…
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the adventure life
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Everything You Need to Know About the Hip New Sport of ‘Cyclo-Cross Racing’
20 Nov 2009 | 11:26 amI don't care if I'm the last person on the planet to discover this. It's too good not to share...CONTINUE> -
The Adventure Life Interview: Ukulele Hero Jake Shimabukuro
20 Nov 2009 | 8:36 amDepending on who's doing the talking and how deep their musical reference points go, Jake Shimabukuro is described as either "the Jimi Hendrix of ukulele" or "the Eddie Van Halen of ukulele". It's a simple way to wrap your head around the magic that transpires between Shimabukuro and this small, four-string instrument--and a lot stronger sell than "guy alone on stage with ukulele". But it doesn't do Jake justice. -
Looking For Your Next Adventure? Here’s 15 Reasons Why Norway Rocks
19 Nov 2009 | 7:34 amIf you have only a vague sense of Norway as fjords, cruise ships, snowflake sweaters, and dried fish, it's long past time to update the internal wiki. Norway, as the talented cover blurb writers at National Geographic recently put it, is "Europe's Next Adrenaline Capital". In fact, Norway will blow you away with its beauty, its open space, and, most of all, its potential for adventure...CONTINUE> -
Guinness Video is Filled with Hubris, But It Sure Is Purty
18 Nov 2009 | 9:04 amThis new promo video for Guinness is confounding. Whether you believe in a creator or simply that mankind needs some humility in the face of nature, it might (probably will) strike you as arrogant or even sacrilegious. Who was the marketing genius who decided that Guinness-drinking bohunks made the world? On the other hand, the combination of live action and special effects is impressive and it's fun to watch just for the scenery. And I like to think that one of its (mixed) messages is that the earth could use a little restoration after all we've done to it. Well, whatever--watch and decide… -
The Ultimate Ski Area Snow Report List
17 Nov 2009 | 7:37 amHey, it snowed. Chairlifts are running. Get on it! And here's something to add to your life list: Start by skiing every state with a ski hill. Then ride every hill with a lift. Hey, there's only 481--it's doable...CONTINUE>
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CheapTents Blog
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Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team Teddies
13 Nov 2009 | 5:24 amWasdale Mountain Rescue Team have put together a very cute little video to promote the sale of “Mountain Rescue Teddies” as part of their fund raising efforts. The video which is posted on You Tube is embedded below. It shows the teddy mountain rescue team embark on a heroic mountain rescue typical of the type of rescue the real Wasdale team embark upon in real life. Two teddy bear climbers need to be rescued in this typical Lake District rescue scenario. One climber has fallen sustaining head injuries, the other cannot move after seeing his climbing partner fall. The Wasdale… -
Climber and Urbex Legend Stepping Lightly : Exclusive Interview
6 Nov 2009 | 6:50 amStepping Lightly on his climb up Blackpool Tower, August 2009. In August this year, climber and urbex legend “Stepping Lightly” hit the headlines in the national press following his covert ascent of Blackpool Tower. Stepping Lightly has climbed many structures including one of Battersea Power Station’s iconic chimneys, Willington Power Station cooling towers and the famous Angel of the North in Gateshead. He also likes bridge climbing and has climbed the Forth Rail Bridge, and the Humber and Severn Bridges. But its not just climbing structures…Stepping Lightly is also… -
RSPB Birds of Prey Campaign Interview
19 Oct 2009 | 3:59 amA red kite By Sue Trantor, courtesy of rspbimages.com Being out in the countryside hiking, camping and climbing often gives us the opportunity to see wildlife. A most impressive sight is that of a bird of prey circling high above, in the clear blue sky, sightings such as this have at times been rare, but thanks to the hard work of individuals and societies such as the RSPB something is being done to conserve an important factor in our ecology. The RSPB is currently running a campaign to protect birds of prey by creating more awareness and hopefully more respect for these creatures. -
Mobile Roaming for 999 Calls
16 Oct 2009 | 8:56 amOfcom, the Government body that oversees communications in the UK, has agreed to ‘roaming’ for emergency calls. This means that when a caller has no signal from their provider, the mobile phone system will switch them to any other provider’s emergency signal if there is one available. This move will hopefully lead to increased safety on the mountains as it should increase the chances of being able to dial 112 or 999 from your mobile in an emergency. The move of course does not guarantee that you will get a signal as there are areas which are not covered by any operator. Mountain… -
Wild Camping – A Personal Opinion
16 Oct 2009 | 4:13 amWe always encourage our readers to get in touch and share their views when they feel strongly about something. Freddy Phillips did just that and got in touch to respond to our article on wild camping. You can read Freddy’s response below. Wild Camping On the matter of wild camping, I do this routinely on multi-day walks and now that I have disengaged myself from the restrictions of a working life I have time to tackle the many long distance walks that excite the imagination and itch the footfall. Freddy Phillips High Street summit - Freddy Phillips © Personally, I quickly worked out…
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Ocean and Fishing Kayaks
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Floatation Vest
2 Nov 2009 | 7:35 amTeaching children to swim, Getting Past with a "vest float '? I am teaching 2 ½ years old boy swimming. We are going almost every week at the pool and he did very well wear a flotation vest. In the vest, he kick around in the deep water will jump (assisted) in the pool. However, I am not sure how to cross using the jacket. I feel it has become depending on the jacket and May are the promotion of some bad habits (for example, he made a 'coup' walk 'to move through deep water, rather that a butterfly kick). I am having a difficult time teaching him the things he needs to…
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Outdoors With Othmar Vohringer
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Maine Trappers 1 - Animal Rights 0
11 Nov 2009 | 2:49 pm© By Othmar VohringerToday I received a press release from the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation that I would like to share with my readers. Ones again sportsmen and the supporting organizations have proven that when we stick together and argue with facts we win against animal rights. Read on!Trappers in Maine won a major victory as the state’s Federal District Court upheld the state’s trapping practices and blocked the establishment of a precedent that could be used by anti-hunting and anti-trapping groups nationwide.In 2008, the Animal Welfare Institute and the Wildlife Alliance… -
A happy day for Canadian gun owners
8 Nov 2009 | 3:57 pm© By Othmar VohringerI am a bit late with this news but thought that my American readers would like to know that Canada’s gun owners finally can sigh a breath of relieve. The Firearm Registry is finally to be killed off.The Firearm Registry required that every gun owner had to register any firearm they owned or acquired. Failing to do so was a criminal offence and could lead to having the guns taken away by the police. Canadian firearm owners had to endure the firearm registry for over a decade. The registry was introduced as a cosmetic touch in response to the December 1989 massacre of 14… -
Two new states are added to the concealed handgun reciprocity list
1 Nov 2009 | 10:59 am© By Othmar VohringerThe Sunday Gazette Mail reports that two more American states, Delaware and North Dakota, have added West Virginia to the concealed handgun reciprocity list. According to Managing Deputy Attorney General Tom Smith the signed agreement with Delaware should be back any day now. Once the deal with Delaware is final, West Virginians with valid concealed weapons permits will be able to legally carry a hidden gun in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania,… -
Wings over Canada – How ducks became a prominent feature of Canada
22 Oct 2009 | 9:38 am(Originally published in the Merritt News)By Othmar VohringerWe take it for granted when we see large numbers of ducks of all shapes and sizes congregating in city ponds, marshes, wetlands, and lakes or geese flying overhead in their characteristic “V” formation on their journey south.So much so that it may be hard to imagine for the younger generation that this has not always been the case. About 60 years ago waterfowl were on the brink of extinction due to rapid urban expansion, pollution and the creation of agricultural croplands, which contributed to the disappearance of much of our… -
Zing Outdoors Productions Introduces New DVD
20 Oct 2009 | 4:54 pmBy Othmar VohringerI had the opportunity to watch volume I and II of Zing Outdoors new DVD releases. Follow the Zing Outdoor Production team as they pursue wild game in Montana, Alberta, British Columbia and many other places. Witness the success and frustration of real hunting, filmed as it happened in some of the most stunning landscapes North America has to offer.Here are just some of the hunts that stand out for me. Jason Matzinger scouted hard and long to find a particular Big Horn Ram he named the “Copper King”. Watch as the hunt unfolds. First Jason tries to hunt the “Copper…
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Nessmuking
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Sulfide Mining Near America’s Most Used Canoe Wilderness Area
17 Nov 2009 | 11:26 amPhoto: NASA I live near the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) and on the shore of Lake Superior. Both locations are among the most pristine locations in the world. When paddling on Lake Superior, I can see what seems like forever into its depths–it looks cleaner than a swimming pool. On the inland lakes, I can paddle for weeks without seeing any of the adverse effects of mankind. There is no pollution to be seen. The wildlife is abundant. Fishing is world-class. When camping in the BWCA, the only sounds heard are the natural sounds of a clean healthy wilderness:… -
Boundary Water’s Route: The Hunt for the Viking Dolmen
10 Nov 2009 | 8:28 amExperts believe fifth-century Vikings placed a dolmen—a large stone perched upon three small rocks—somewhere in the Boundary Waters. Join us while we hunt for the Viking dolmen. Kelso River Boundary Waters Route Lakes Used: Sawbill Lake, Kelso River, Kelso Lake, Kelso River, Kelso Lake, Alton Lake, Sawbill Lake Length: 1 to 2 days Distance: 9 to 10 miles Elevator Pitch: A short scenic day trip, that works as an overnight. Paddle along varied terrain including birch forests, bogs, small and large lakes. The highlights include many large beaver lodges and the mysterious Viking dolmen. -
Free Cedar Canoe Plan: Modern Malecite St. John River Canoe
31 Oct 2009 | 7:17 pmThis cedar canoe drawing is taken from Edwin Adney and Howard Chapelle’s The Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America–it appears on page 79. Adney surveyed the original in 1895. He notes that the boat shows moderate sheer and low ends. For this set of free plans, I left the station shape and stem shape alone, and I modified the rocker and sheer. The original drawing shows the canoe with little to no rocker–I prefer a canoe that has some rocker–so I added a similar amount of rocker as seen in Prospector canoes. When I changed the rocker, I changed the sheerline,… -
Paddle to Seattle Kayaking Film
25 Oct 2009 | 3:58 pmJ.J. Kelley and Josh Thomas built a couple of plywood kayaks. Then they paddled from Alaska to Seattle via the Inside Passage in the plywood kayaks that they built. During the trip, they filmed everything. After the trip, they whittled all the footage down to an 80-minute movie. Everyone from Paddler Magazine to Outside Online is raving about this new movie. You’ll see why after watching the trailer. Paddle to Seattle What intrigues me is that they took the time to build their own kayaks, invested the extra work into filming the movie, they got sponsorships, but they come across as just… -
Great Gift Ideas for Paddlers 2009
16 Oct 2009 | 1:57 pmThe end of 2009 approaches and the holidays are almost upon us. This means it’s time to start thinking about holiday gift ideas for the canoeist and kayakers in the family. This year, I’ve used and fell in love with a bunch of gear. Some of the gear I’ve fallen in love with appears on this year’s list. I think most paddlers would enjoy seeing these items under their Christmas or holiday tree, and I expect they’d fall in love with the gifts too. Sea Kayak With Gordon Brown DVD: Two years ago I got Gordon Brown’s book, Sea Kayak: A Manual for Intermediate and…
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CampingBlogger
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Most Hyped Pop-up Ever?
18 Nov 2009 | 9:26 pmSeveral weeks ago, I started seeing stories about this stylish tent trailer designed by Belgian architect Axel Enthoven. The stories kept coming; Treehugger on November 2nd, Gizmag on November 3rd, Gadgettastic on November 4th – everyone is fawning over the pop-up that, “takes obvious cues from the Sydney Opera House in Australia.” (Dvice, October 30th). Despite all of the excitement, there is scant little tangible information available on the ‘Opera’ tent trailer, other than its lavish accoutrements. Evidently, those are real hardwood floors and there is a wine cabinet in there,… -
Reluctant Camper to Responsible Parent
16 Nov 2009 | 4:53 amI just spent the weekend in Fayetteville, NC with a dozen of my fellow Paratroopers, who served with me in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. They had seen CampingBlogger.net and several commented on how once they had vowed never to sleep on the ground again, once they had gotten out of the Army. Interestingly, I too shared this attitude when I returned to civilian life. Understand that in the five years I served (some of my friends are still serving, which is amazing), we had been bitten by ants in the jungle, bitten by flies in the desert and bitten by the bitter cold in the Arctic. Five… -
Win a Panasonic Lumix Ruggedized Digital Camera
12 Nov 2009 | 5:25 amThe Lumix DMC-TS1 is a 12.1 Megapixel camera that not only takes great pictures and HD video, it is also designed to withstand five-foot drops and it’s even waterproof to ten feet. Just as important, the Lumix weighs less than six ounces and is small enough to fit in your pocket, so it’s perfect for all kinds of backcountry family adventures. Best of all, the Lumix DMC-TS1 can be yours for the low, low price of Free! Like always, entering the contest couldn’t be easier and there are no hidden agendas, other than building-up my newsletter subscriber-base which helps me get these great… -
No Charge at Park Service Sites Tomorrow
10 Nov 2009 | 5:37 amIn honor of Veterans Day, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has announced that parks and areas managed by the department will not charge entrance fees. “Visitors to national parks are invited to take a day to honor and reflect on what our service men and women have done to maintain our freedom and keep peace around the world,” Salazar said. If you ever needed an excuse to call in sick tomorrow, this is it. The kids have Veterans Day off, but for many of us in corporate life it is just another business day. Here in Silicon Valley I am fortunate enough to have numerous parks to choose… -
5 Products to Keep You Warm during Fall Camping
8 Nov 2009 | 7:45 amFor much of the country, Labor Day does not have to mark the end of the camping season and you can still venture into the backcountry if you have some additional gear for the cooler evening temperatures. Here are five items that can help you extend your camping season into the winter. Moisture Wicking Baselayer Growing up we called these “long johns” but today’s high-performance baselayer garments, like the Capilene® 3 from Patagonia®, do a great job of keeping your skin dry and when the temperature drops, staying dry is an essential part of keeping warm. Warm Hat We lose a…
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Steel Valley Outdoors
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Ohio Deer Gun Season Begins November 30th
16 Nov 2009 | 3:16 pmImage via Wikipedia COLUMBUS, OH- Ohio’s popular deer-gun season opens statewide on Monday, November 30, offering hunters a full week to harvest a whitetail. The upcoming season will again include an extra weekend of gun hunting on December 19-20, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Deer can be hunted with a legal muzzleloader, handgun or shotgun from one half-hour before sunrise to sunset through December 6 and December 19-20. With a pre-hunting season population estimate of 650,000 white-tailed deer, the ODNR Division of Wildlife… -
Ohio Division of Wildlife Extends Hotline Hours
14 Nov 2009 | 6:33 amImage via Wikipedia COLUMBUS, OH – Individuals seeking information about the upcoming youth gun and white-tailed deer hunting seasons, or to report violations of state wildlife laws, can take advantage of extended call center hours from November 21 to December 6, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The 1-800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) general hunting information hotline will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22, for the seventh annual youth deer-gun season. Staff will also be available to answer calls… -
Ohio Deer Archery Harvest Numbers
14 Nov 2009 | 6:12 amImage by jesuscm via Flickr COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio bow hunters killed 53,959 deer during the first six weeks of the state’s archery season. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, this year’s early archery season harvest is 4 percent higher than last year’s kill of 51,976 deer. Pursuing deer with a bow continues to grow in popularity among Ohio hunters. The season started September 26 and will carry on through February 7, 2010. Counties reporting the highest numbers of deer brought to check stations were: Licking – 2,334,… -
PA Bear Hunting Forecast
5 Nov 2009 | 4:28 pmImage via Wikipedia Last year’s black bear harvest was the second highest on record, and weather permitting, the Pennsylvania Game Commission expects hunters to have similar opportunities afield in the upcoming bear seasons. “Pennsylvania’s black bear population has numbered near 15,000 for almost a decade,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “Because our bear population now covers more than three-quarters of the state – and includes a number of world-class trophy bears – Pennsylvania is recognized as one of the top states for bear hunters. Every year, we have… -
Ohio Youth Deer Season Nov.21-22
5 Nov 2009 | 4:26 pmImage via Wikipedia COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio’s youth deer-gun hunting season will be held Saturday and Sunday, November 21-22, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. “The youth deer-gun hunting season provides young hunters the chance to experience the challenge of hunting and enjoy the outdoors with their families,” said David M. Graham, chief of the division. Young hunters killed 9,852 deer during last year’s two-day season. The Division of Wildlife anticipates more than 40,000 young hunters will participate in the…
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The Great Skirt Hike
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The Great American Smoke Out
17 Nov 2009 | 4:50 amIn addition to it being National Epilepsy Awareness Month, there are a few other things being celebrated in November including Lung Cancer Awareness, AIDS Awareness, Georgia Pecans, Pet Cancer... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
All shook up: Talk About Epilepsy!
6 Nov 2009 | 7:14 amUp until about 16 months ago, I probably would not have been so enthusiastic about climbing Machu Picchu. I would have been terrified that at some point during the journey, I would have a seizure on... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
Totally Tuber: Eating in Peru
2 Nov 2009 | 11:39 amLucky for Jill, we will be carbo-loading for most of the time we are in Peru. With 2,000 varieties of potatoes (one of her favorite foods), it’s only natural that Lima is home to the... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
My scale is stuck – an uneasy plateau.
22 Oct 2009 | 10:31 amWe made some noble claims about cardiovascular health and shaping up for hiking that big hill in Peru, but I think it would be rather dishonest if we didn’t talk a bit about weight loss here.... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
After the Flood: hiking the Hooch
18 Oct 2009 | 1:40 pmJust a short update to let you know that the Chattahoochee River Trails are, for the most part, back open. This press release is the most up to date information I have found about specific parks and... [[ 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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Planet Green’s Planet 100
20 Nov 2009 | 4:23 pmAre you sooooooooo pressed for time during the work week that you only have 100 seconds per day to devote to the current environmental news? I can’t possibly imagine this because I spend my work week only on the environment, but you may be yearning for a extremely condensed package of nature news. (For now I will try and ignore the fact that that appetite should be easily fulfilled by the, ahem, MIGHTY SPARROW, and assume that you only have exactly 100 seconds.) Well yearn no longer. Planet Green and Treehugger, both part of the Discover family, have recently introduced the Planet 100:… -
Video: The Office’s Recycling Program
20 Nov 2009 | 10:44 amSince this week is NBC’s green week, The Office debuted their recycling program… -
Book Review: The Golden Spruce
19 Nov 2009 | 6:09 pmLately, I’ve been on this bizzare kick: All of a sudden I’m completely enthralled by the rise and fall of the outdoor-obsessed alpha male. Never before have I been even remotely interested in the triumph and tragedy of the man’s man and now it seems I can’t get enough of it. I’ve been reading books and articles about people like Randy Morgenson, the ranger who disappeared in Kings Canyon in 1996 (book review coming shortly), and Chris McCandless, the iconic figure of Into The Wild, but no matter how many books I read or how many biography shows I watch, I come no… -
Project Headlands: How It Will Affect Your Travels To the Marin Headlands
19 Nov 2009 | 1:11 pmThe areas of the Marin Headlands that will be under construction in 2010/11. Courtesy of Project Headlands. Slated to start in 2010, and to continue through to 2011, The Marin Headlands and Fort Baker Transportation Infrastructure and Management Plan proposes to make “improvements to 11 miles of historic roads in the Marin Headlands and Fort Baker”. The proposed project, which is outlined very impressively in a new website (this is becoming a trend), is set to improve the majority of the roads in the most heavily visited portion of the Marin Headlands, with most of those roads… -
New Website Proves The National Park Foundation is Cool…and Sleek
18 Nov 2009 | 6:02 pmFern Canyon in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. If you are a dinosaur-o-phile, or just a regular person who likes beautiful things, this is the perfect place for you. I’m not saying the National Park Foundation was never cool; just that when you think of the National Park Foundation the first thing that springs to mind isn’t cool. Actually it probably isn’t the 200th word that comes to mind. They don’t fulfill any of the requirements to be considered cool (the best litmus test being pop culture relevance), but they easily fulfill one of the ones to be considered…
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Diving List
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App Store, Free Seminar, and 7 Prizes.
28 Oct 2009 | 8:46 pmDive Junkie Contest Triple Post… It’s been a while to make an entry as we gather overwhelming information, but you get triple post today. Free Seminar MDA Guam is holding the Free Intro to Tech Academic Seminar on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 8pm. Only 12 more seats available as of this Monday. For more information, visit: http://www.mdaguam.com/ and contact them directly. App Store? We had overwhelming hits on our previous post, There’s an App for That (Scuba Version) on the Blog Action Day. We thought it was great way to share what we gathered in one place. Up and coming website,… -
Win a Liveaboard for 2 by Fourth Element
20 Oct 2009 | 6:54 pmFourth Element Adventure From Reader Tips: Fourth Element did it again. Yes, they did. Not only did they release a new website for Fourth Element Adventure, but they are giving away a Liveaboard trip for 2 to Red Sea! This promotion is run in conjunction with Scuba Travel (http://www.scubatravel.com). A lucky winner will receive a line of Fourth Element product in addition to this luxeury trip, which includes a 5mm Proteus wetsuit, thermocline vest and shorts and hydroskin rash guard for two people. Awesome! To enter, go to: http://www.fourthelement.com/adventures/ and enter your e-mail on… -
Blog Action Day: There’s an app for that. (Scuba Version)
15 Oct 2009 | 8:56 pmFrom Blog Action Day Action: This year’s Blog Action Day topic is… Climate Change. You as a scuba diver may not think that it may directly affect you. But there are a lot of small factors involved, and as a whole, it may come to affect all of us in a big way. We did some researches. We also borrowed ideas from this website, Center for American Progress. (Actual Article HERE) Based on the ideas, we put some thoughts out there. You might wonder why the title of today’s post is “There’s an app for that.” Well, we’re sharing some “app” ideas and how scuba divers can utilize them… -
Blog Action Day:Climate Change — Are You In? #bad09
14 Oct 2009 | 11:22 amBlog Action Day: Climate Change From Our “Action” List: We took some time off in preparation for tomorrow — Blog Action Day. We don’t know how many people are aware of this program, but it is an annual event that all the bloggers in the whole wide world post an entry about the same topic on their own blog on the same day — sponsored by Change.org and hundreds of partners. This year’s topic is “Climate Change.” DivingList will be posting “something” interesting for readers some time tomorrow. (can’t tell you when, okay?) To support this good cause and to raise the… -
FREE £15 TDI/SDI Training Voucher on Travelling Diver Guide
9 Oct 2009 | 7:32 pmTravelling Diver Guide From Random Search: We have been a bit away from the post as we have been preparing for the next big thing, but we did run into this website this evening. Also, we hardly ever speak about the Agencies in our post — this is because it’s one of our goals to share the “find” (usually local dive shop or operation). In this post, we do speak about TDI/SDI UK just because the actual promotion is run on TravellingDiver.com. What’s interesting about Travelling Diver is that they sell a log book that is actually a travel guide. Who would’ve thought of that! The…
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the GearCaster
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Winter Goggles With Integrated Direct To Eye Display
20 Nov 2009 | 7:00 amVancouver, Canada based Recon Instruments is about to bring you those Mission Impossible winter goggles you always dreamed of. Recon's patent-pending technology platform integrates a Head Mounted Display system directly into a pair of winter goggles. With state of the... -
Makboard 100% Recyclable Invisible Snowboard
19 Nov 2009 | 7:00 amMakboard is a new California company that has developed the first 100% recyclable, invisible snowboard. Truckee resident Bob Candler, inventor of the Makboard, wanted a snowboard experience closer to that of surfing. He enlisted his cousin Bob Ryan, to help... -
Rottefella's Progressive NTN Telemark Bindings
18 Nov 2009 | 7:00 amNorwegian company Rottefella has updated their progressive new NTN telemark bindings that redefine free heel technology. The NTN telemark bindings offer the simplicity and security of an alpine binding and give riders unparalleled edge control, all without sacrificing the freedom... -
Timberland Pushing For A Sustainable Future
17 Nov 2009 | 7:00 amFootwear and apparel company Timberland is trying to push the outdoor industry and even the country towards a sustainable future. Timberland announced yesterday that they will launch "Don't Tell Us It Can't Be Done," an online effort to get the... -
Newton Running Moves Into Trail Shoes
16 Nov 2009 | 7:00 amBoulder, Colorado company NewtonRunning is set to launch their first line of trail shoes. In their third year of business, Newton now offers 16 different shoe models to accommodate runners of all abilities who want to improve their form, speed...
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Winded Bowhunter
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Cabela’s Announces Holiday Gift Guide 2009
20 Nov 2009 | 11:14 amSIDNEY, NEBRASKA - Hunting for the perfect gifts for the outdoor enthusiasts on your list? Look no further than Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear. Cabela’s comprehensive selection of clothing and equipment includes holiday values for the friends and family on your list, whether they’re hard-core hunters, avid anglers or [...] -
FWP’s Foys Bend Property To Open To Limited Public Hunting
20 Nov 2009 | 7:18 amMontana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ recently acquired 245-acre Foys Bend Fisheries Conservation Area east of Kalispell will be open to limited permission-only public hunting starting Friday November 27 th. Deer, upland bird and waterfowl hunting will be available through the end of the big game season on November 29. Deer hunting is limited to use [...] -
New Opportunity For Nonresident Hunters
19 Nov 2009 | 6:31 amThe Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission has tentatively adopted a new rule for the sale of nonresident big game combination licenses that increases opportunities for resident and nonresident family members to hunt together. The new rule implements HB 585 passed during the 2009 legislative session to help promote the state’s hunting heritage. It makes an [...] -
Outdoor Life Honors Elk Foundation Founders
18 Nov 2009 | 12:49 pmMISSOULA, Mont. Outdoor Life has named two founders of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to a list of 25 people who’ve had the greatest positive impact on hunting, fishing and conservation. RMEF icons Bob Munson and Charlie Decker are part of the magazine’s third annual O.L. 25 list honoring leaders, innovators, conservationists and unsung heroes. Photos and [...] -
Front Elk Harvest Up, Deer Average And Below
18 Nov 2009 | 11:01 amElk hunters on the Rocky Mountain Front are doing well three weeks into Montana’s five-week, big game season, according to data collected by Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The elk harvest as collected at FWP’s Augusta check station is about 25 percent above the 10-year average. Through the third week of the five-week deer and elk general season [...]
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Canoeing Tips - Canoe Camping Gear and Equipment - Wilderness Canoeing Techniques
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A Holiday Gift for Campers: Try Camping Cookware
13 Nov 2009 | 12:43 pmCamping cookware might be the perfect holiday gift. Many newbie campers begin their outdoor hobby by purchasing gear based on cost savings over quality but as they spend more time in the outdoors they see the difference higher quality gear can make in the experience. If your outdoor enthusiast does any type of cooking in the [...] -
A Handheld GPS Unit Makes a Great Christmas Gift
13 Nov 2009 | 8:10 amWhether canoeing, kayaking, hiking, camping or hunting the handheld GPS is a very useful piece of technology that has been highly adapted for use in the outdoors. And today’s new waterproof and shockproof characteristics make them perfect for outdoor use because they are built for all types of rugged conditions. With GPS units you can actively log information for later [...] -
Camping Safety - Burn Risk and First Aid
12 Nov 2009 | 10:17 amWe all know there is a certain amount of risk involved when we play in the outdoors and for the most part I feel confident that most of the people I enter the woods with are aware of the dangers and risks. Some of the common risks we prepare ourselves for are insect bites, sunburn, cuts, illness, and [...] -
LED Flashlight, LED Headlamp - A Christmas Gift for the Outdoors
3 Nov 2009 | 3:11 pmPerfect for around the camp, on the hiking trail or around the house, a high quality flashlight or headlamp makes an excellent gift for the outdoor enthusiast and for nearly anyone. A camper or hiker will generally prefer a smaller LED flashlight with adjustable beam and a clip-on feature to attach to a hat, pocket, belt or to the inside [...] -
A Camping First Aid Kit as a Holiday Gift
29 Oct 2009 | 8:46 amHow about a camping first aid kit for your outdoor enthusiast? The first aid kit is one of the most important items to take with you on your camping trip but is often one of the most overlooked or neglected items, and campers often don’t realize how essential they are until it’s too late. A good first [...]
