Outdoors

• Most Topular Stories

• (M) Mountain Laurel Designs TrailStar Shelter Review

  Backpacking Light Magazine

  24 Jan 2012 | 1:10 am

  Simplicity and strength in an all-season shelter. by Ryan Jordan | 2012-01-24The 17-ounce (482-g) Mountain Laurel Designs TrailStar claims to be the "first shaped tarp with five low-angle sides and no doors that combines the performance of a traditional pyramid shelter with the open and multi-function pitching of a tarp" (manufacturer website on December 20, 2011). The primary purpose of this review is to push the TrailStar to its performance limits and find out under what scenarios this and other manufacturer claims start to break down. My first experience with the TrailStar came in the…

• Outdoor Retailer: Winter Market 2012 Roundup

  FeedTheHabit.com

  Jason Mitchell

  25 Jan 2012 | 4:45 am

  Twice per year, Salt Lake City becomes the center of all things gear. Winter Market 2012 seemed to be bursting at the seams with new products and expanded product lines. Take Salomon, for example… they are now using OR to showcase their backcountry-friendly skis, boots and the new Guardian 16 bindings. A handful of other merchants were participating in new and expanded ways. As always, I’m tasked with finding the best-in-show. Lots of great gear, but I’ve whittled it down to these. The North Face FlashDry With all the new latest waterproof/breathable fabrics on the market,…

• Wool Graduates From Base Layers To Insulation

  the GearCaster

  Amy Jurries

  27 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

  Wool is highly compressible, has a warmth to weight ratio comparable to down, stays warm when wet, is naturally thermo-regulating, manages moisture and odor control. With all this greatness, why hasn't wool been yet used as insulation? Both Ibex and Smartwool have decided to now give wool it's time in the sun, creating the perfect mid and even outer layers for cold weather adventures. Smartwool's PhD SmartLoft Divide (pictured above) is a form fitting mid-layer jacket that uses the company's new proprietary SmartLoft Wool insulation for the core, stuffed inside a quilted nylon front panel…

• How to read a map

  The Wilderness Backpacking Blog

  16 Sep 2011 | 3:56 pm

  Knowing how to read a map and a compass is a required skill for all wilderness travelers.

• Best Gear of 2011

  GearGuide

  Matt K @ GearGuide

  26 Dec 2011 | 6:38 pm

  We reviewed a lot of great gear in this past year. Of all the things we tried and used hiking, camping, running, skiing and fishing, there were some definite standouts. All of the products on our Best Gear of 2011 list met GearGuide’s criteria for delivering value, performance and elegance in design. Without further ado, here’s GearGuide’s Best Gear of 2011: Outerwear Hardshell – Patagonia Powder Bowl With the Powder Bowl, Patagonia sets the standard for hardshell jackets. It isn’t cheap at $399 MSRP, but man do you get what you pay for. See review. Softshell –…

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  New England & Northeast Skiing, Mountain Biking, Hiking Forums - AlpineZone Forums

• I know when the powder will come

  28 Jan 2012 | 1:35 am

  I'm moving on Monday, Feb 6th so skiing is out of the question. I'd watch for a big dump between the 5th and the 7th. The snow will make the moving process miserable and I'll be robbed of a powder day like I have been all year. You're welcome.

• High End Rental Question for Banff Trip

  27 Jan 2012 | 9:49 pm

  I am heading to Canada for about 10 days in February and plan to ski Revelstoke/Kicking Horse/Sunshine Village. I have already decided that I am renting because my current skis won't cut it out there. Has anyone been in this situation? Anyone who has any equipment recommendations or where to rent would be extremely helpful! Background info: I am a 30 yr old who is 5'11 - 170, very aggressive skier who will be doing a lot of advanced terrain like North Bowl, Delirium Dive, Wild West, etc....

• What Chairlift/Gondola/Tram in the Northeast can you reach the highest uphill speed?

  27 Jan 2012 | 8:37 pm

  Discuss. I know it's not the Snowdon Quad @ Kton.

• The snow has finally arrived in the West

  27 Jan 2012 | 8:05 pm

  Gotta be careful out there. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501363_162-57365158/weak-snowpack-heavy-snow-raising-avalanche-danger/

• I'll be praying for ya!

  27 Jan 2012 | 5:03 pm

  What's to come? Hopefully this 8-).

• 

  FeedTheHabit.com

• Outdoor Retailer: Winter Market 2012 Roundup

  Jason Mitchell

  25 Jan 2012 | 4:45 am

  Twice per year, Salt Lake City becomes the center of all things gear. Winter Market 2012 seemed to be bursting at the seams with new products and expanded product lines. Take Salomon, for example… they are now using OR to showcase their backcountry-friendly skis, boots and the new Guardian 16 bindings. A handful of other merchants were participating in new and expanded ways. As always, I’m tasked with finding the best-in-show. Lots of great gear, but I’ve whittled it down to these. The North Face FlashDry With all the new latest waterproof/breathable fabrics on the market,…

• Quick Review: Salomon Guardian 16 Bindings

  Jason Mitchell

  18 Jan 2012 | 4:23 am

  Last October, Salomon announced the new Guardian 16 touring bindings. Since that time, I’ve been anxious to see them in person. Heading into Outdoor Retailer, Salomon invited a handful of media to Alta Ski Area to test out the new binders. I joined the crew for a morning of skiing and came away impressed with the overall function and performance of the Guardian 16′s. In the shop, I gave the bindings a visual run-down. Some of the first things I noticed were: The torsion bars are much lower profile than any other similar bindings on the market Changing the bindings from ski to tour…

• Sugoi Resistor Shoe Covers Review

  Jason Mitchell

  16 Jan 2012 | 4:51 am

  Cold morning rides require proper gear to prevent your digits from freezing off. This Fall and Winter, I’ve been using the Sugoi Resistor Shoe Covers on both the road and dirt. While there are toastier options out there, these are pretty darn versatile and provide a surprising amount of warmth. Sugoi Resistor Shoe Covers Features: Piston 14o Fabric (76% Nylon 24% Spandex) features a smooth, buttery hand feel with uncompromised 360 degree stretch PU coated stretch lycra provides lightweight wind and waterproof protection Stretch bound edge fits snugly around shoe and positions cleat hole…

• Merrell Hoffman Shirt Review

  Donald Buraglio

  12 Jan 2012 | 7:56 am

  The early-morning 20-miler’s out of the way – now you’ve got the rest of your Saturday to relax.  But there’s no telling if your work is done for the day; better throw on Merrell’s Hoffman shirt just in case. Merrell Hoffman Shirt Features: 100% polyester flannel Merrell Opti-Wick fabric for moisture transfer Weight: 16 oz (size large) 30” center back length Single left chest pocket Three color options: Boulder (tested), Michigan, and Lava Plaids MSRP $65 Merrell Hoffman Shirt Review After a good hard winter’s workout, there’s nothing like slipping into a comfortable…

• Castelli Sorpasso Bibtight Review

  Jason Mitchell

  10 Jan 2012 | 4:48 am

  Riding in the Winter can be a great experience with the right gear. This year, I’ve been testing a handful of cold-weather riding gear from Castelli. This time it’s the Sorpasso Bibtights and I’m ready to spread the word on how they’ve performed. Castelli Sorpasso Bibtight Features: Thermoflex and Thermoflex Core Due fabric Progetto X2 seat pad for maximum comfort Giro++ straps on bib Giro++ ankle grippers position the tight and seal around shoecover Metallic ankle zippers with reflective ta pe for high visibility Rated Temp Range: 39-59 degrees MSRP: $179.95 Castelli…

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  Camping Survival Tips

• Where to Find Discounted camping gear

  Editor

  26 Jan 2012 | 2:15 am

  Camping has historically been a hobby that is meant to return a person to nature, but with the developments in technology that have made great advances in the types of camping gear that is available, it's only natural that the hobby could become rather expensive. However, it's not necessary to pay full price for camping gear, particularly until you are certain that camping is something that you are willing to dedicate time and money to. Discounted camping gear is available in a number of venues, and if you are careful in what you purchase, there is no reason that you can't save…

• Hiking Clubs

  Editor

  20 Jan 2012 | 4:30 am

  The best way to get introduced to hiking is a club. Being a member of a hiking club comes with several benefits, not least of which is to learn from the experience of the group. There are many things that fellow members of hiking clubs can teach you. For instance, they can tell you where the best local areas can be found and provide you with many tips. In addition, some of them may become your new hiking buddies (important when your significant other is more of a stay-at-home type or when you have just relocated). Hiking clubs can have many distinct personalities. Some of them may be more…

• Essential Camping Gear and Equipment for a Successful Outdoor Vacation:

  Editor

  11 Jan 2012 | 3:00 pm

  Ah, the great outdoors. What can be better than taking the family back to Mother Nature? Where the air is clear and, best of all, the phone finally stops ringing. Yes, the decision was made and we were going camping this year. Now the only thing to check was the state of my camping gear and equipment. Time to Go Shopping On close inspection I realized that as we had not been camping for a few years, it was time to upgrade our camping gear and equipment. First thing first – the tent. Our current tent was a huge monster with three bedrooms, a living area and a store room. On top of that…

• Hiking Boots UK: What Difference Does a Boot Make?

  Editor

  27 Dec 2011 | 8:00 am

  HI-TEC SPORTS was founded in 1974 in the (appropriately named) village of Shoeburyness, in Essex, England. Their first shoe was "the high-tec squash," which boasts sales of over 18 million pairs worldwide to date. The Hi-Tec Squash remains Britain's all time best selling sports shoe model to this day. The order of the day for hiking boots UK style is ultra light hikers that conform to the foot of the hiker. They are available in a wide variety of styles with prices ranging from approximately $75 to upwards of $200. Hiking boots UK, have such features as: * Waterproof (seam…

• Truck bed tent camping – the all-in-one vacation package

  Editor

  21 Dec 2011 | 1:15 am

  If you're looking for a simple, convenient and inexpensive way to enjoy the great outdoors, why not consider a truck tent? Truck bed tent camping is a relatively new innovation in outdoor vacationing, and it has all the benefits of camping without some of the traditional hindrances. Prices range from about $100 – $300, making this a very affordable way to get out there and enjoy the outdoors. A great alternative to relying on groundsheets and securing a traditional tent with pegs and weights, truck bed tent camping means that you simply set up a tent in the back of your truck. When…

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  Camping News

• Authorities to end camping at Occupy DC sites

  28 Jan 2012 | 7:09 am

  Federal park authorities in the nation's capital told Occupy protesters at two sites on Friday that they will begin enforcing park rules that prohibit camping -- a move seen by the activists as a "slow creep" aimed at whittling down their demonstration in Washington, DC.

• 4WD: On the go with gadgets

  28 Jan 2012 | 2:59 am

  There would be little argument from experienced off-road drivers that a well-set-up personnel carrier would have to be the most practical and popular vehicle for four-wheel-drive touring and camping.

• Firefighters battle the Caughlin Fire as it burns several home along...

  27 Jan 2012 | 10:45 pm

  Fire started 12:22 a.m., Nov. 18. Sparked by a branch falling into a power line in high wind, causing it to arc.

• Tribune Tribute: Dale Swofford

  27 Jan 2012 | 9:40 pm

  "You could've picked my chin up off the floor," Swofford said. "I really didn't anticipate it.

• KZN welcomes home South Pole man

  27 Jan 2012 | 5:30 pm

  There were scenes of joy at King Shaka International Airport on Friday, January 27, 2012 when scores of children welcomed the youngest black in the world to reach the South Pole.

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  Featured News

• 2012 January/February Camping Magazine

  American Camp Association

  6 Jan 2012 | 4:27 pm

  Convergence: Vision, Learning, and Innovation Access Digital Version read more

• Call to Action on Environmental Literacy

  American Camp Association

  2 Dec 2011 | 8:25 am

  Dear Colleagues, read more

• November 2011 Camp e-News

  American Camp Association

  16 Nov 2011 | 8:38 am

  What if you could give your child confidence, leadership skills, and resiliency, all in one fun package? What might that gift look like? It would take on the shape of an experience in nature, among caring role models and peers, where your child could discover new activities and take healthy risks. That gift is camp. With more than 2,400 ACA-accredited® camps, the American Camp Association® (ACA) will help you find the perfect camp experience for your children. Give them camp this year and every year!.Art WannlundPresident, American Camp Association read more

• ACA National Board of Directors Announces President-Elect

  American Camp Association

  8 Nov 2011 | 7:37 am

  Indianapolis, IN (November 8, 2011) — The American Camp Association ® (ACA) is pleased to announce Tisha Bolger as the president-elect for the ACA National Board of Directors. Bolger, a current member of the board, will assume the role of president in April 2012. read more

• 2011 Annual Report

  American Camp Association

  2 Nov 2011 | 9:14 am

  Find out about ACA's three new growth strategies, as well as the most recent efforts to promote camp through camperships, research, education innovations, and much more! The 2010 Annual Report also includes financial analysis and messages from CEO Peg Smith and president Peter Surgenor. Reports below are in PDF format. read more

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  Backpacking Light Magazine

• (M) Mountain Laurel Designs TrailStar Shelter Review

  24 Jan 2012 | 1:10 am

  Simplicity and strength in an all-season shelter. by Ryan Jordan | 2012-01-24The 17-ounce (482-g) Mountain Laurel Designs TrailStar claims to be the "first shaped tarp with five low-angle sides and no doors that combines the performance of a traditional pyramid shelter with the open and multi-function pitching of a tarp" (manufacturer website on December 20, 2011). The primary purpose of this review is to push the TrailStar to its performance limits and find out under what scenarios this and other manufacturer claims start to break down. My first experience with the TrailStar came in the…

• (M) Clikstand T2 Alcohol Stove System Review

  24 Jan 2012 | 1:00 am

  Can 100% titanium justify the $127 price tag? by David Chenault | 2012-01-24Alcohol stoves have long been a standard of contemporary ultralight backpackers. Their virtues are well documented. They can be somewhat to extraordinarily lightweight, typically have no moving parts to break, clog, or otherwise misfire, fuel is cheap and easy to purchase, they are silent while operating, and so forth. Aside from cold temperatures, the case for the utility of alcohol stoves need not be made. What might need some justification is an alcohol stove system that costs $127.00 and doesn't even include a…

• (M) Nemo Obi Elite 1P Tent Review

  17 Jan 2012 | 1:10 am

  Nemo becomes a serious player in the ultralight tent category. The Obi Elite 1P is a cutting edge one-person double-wall tent that matches the weight and roominess of many single-wall tents. by Will Rietveld | 2012-01-17The Obi Elite 1P is Nemo's lightest tent construction yet, and it sets a new standard for lightweight double-wall tents with 10 denier nylon fly and interior fabrics and weight-saving design. The minimum weight of this one-person double-wall tent is right at 2 pounds (0.91 kg) measured weight, which matches the weight of many poled single-wall tents (single-wall tents that…

• (M) Prospects for 2012: New and Noteworthy Gear

  17 Jan 2012 | 1:00 am

  News from the cottage industry is conspicuously absent from Outdoor Retailer, where even modest booths can be more costly than a serious gear-buying habit. So, here are a few new and noteworthy pieces of gear from smaller manufacturers that were either released late in 2011 or are coming in 2012. Keep these items on your radar as you prepare for the coming season! by Ryan Jordan | 2012-01-17As we enter a new year, we can't help but wonder when winter will release its grip, and we can once again replace our titanium crampons with zero drop shoes and leave the handwarmers at home as we begin…

• Ultralight Tip of the Week

  13 Jan 2012 | 1:00 pm

  Rotating feature with tips and illustrations from Mike Clelland!'s new book: Ultralight Backpackin' Tips by Mike Clelland! | 2012-01-13ARTICLE OUTLINE # WORDS: 240 # PHOTOS: 1 Read this article at BackpackingLight.comView All: Techniques & Best Practices > Techniques

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  Getoutdoors.com Outdoor Blog

• How To Put Chains On.....In A Bikini

  27 Jan 2012 | 1:41 pm

  A little Friday morning time waster. Enjoy.

• Note From A Rather Angry Victim Of Bike Theft In San Francisco

  26 Jan 2012 | 4:48 pm

  This photo was included in a article about a local bike thief finally getting getting. Great note. 

• New Rules Proposed for "Climbing" Half Dome

  26 Jan 2012 | 8:11 am

  Anyone who has "climbed" Half Dome in Yosemite, knows it's a bit of a zoo. OK, that's being kind, it's a f-ing mess. At peak times, 400 people use the cables installed  by the Park Service to march their way to the top, experiencing the solitude and beauty of Yosemite with 399 of their closest friends. Accidents happen and there have been accusations that the number of people not only decreases the quality of the experience, but increases safety concerns and incidents of accidents. So in a bid to better manage the throngs summiting Half Dome, Yosemite has proposed cutting the…

• Deal of the Day: Kid's North Face Tigger +20 Sleeping Bag $57.93

  25 Jan 2012 | 2:35 pm

  Both my boys have one of these. Great bag for kids. Have kept them warm camping on California Coast and the High Sierra. Excellent price. Usually cost about $100 a pop, so with your dividend refund, at only $57.93, you're talking +45% off. Make it happen.

• Another Outdoor App, Another Review

  25 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am

  Crap, two app posts in a row. I've been drinking the poison and it's clearly effecting me. This one, unlike yesterday's post, might actually be super useful…if it works.A new GPS enabled app promises the world, but can it deliver?  The ViewRanger app has been available in Europe since 2006, and is now available in the U.S. for Android and iOS devices (I'm not sure, but I think that's geek code for iPhones and iPads). The app combines GPS tracking and mapping capabilities with access to a full set of USGS topo or shaded terrain topo maps. Included with the maps are 250,000 miles of trails…

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  GoBackpacking

• Urban Tranquility: Abu Dhabi, UAE

  Dave

  28 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

  Video Montage: Urban Tranquility – Abu Dhabi, UAE (Canon EOS 7D) from mungkey. --------- Join Travel Blog Success today and learn to build a better travel blog. Membership includes 27 tutorials, 12 expert audio interviews, private support forum, and much more.

• Alpacas: Cute, Soft, and Delicious

  Dave

  27 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

  As I was looking around Cusco for a place to stay, I spotted this alpaca walking around freely A is for Alpaca. The most versatile, delicious, and nutritious creature in Peru. I became enamored with these soft and friendly, llama-like creatures during my stay in Cusco. For thousands of years, alpacas have been raised in Peru for two primary purposes: fiber and meat. Alpaca Fibers Alpaca fiber is used for knitting blankets and clothes. The finest fibers are referred to as baby alpaca, which come from the back of the animal. The term has nothing to do with the age of the alpaca. Baby alpaca is…

• Durian

  Dave

  26 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

  Durian, a fruit notorious for its strong smell, for sale in Singapore --------- Join Travel Blog Success today and learn to build a better travel blog. Membership includes 27 tutorials, 12 expert audio interviews, private support forum, and much more.

• 5 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Becoming an Expat in Australia

  Brooke Schoenman

  25 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

  Near Sydney Opera House in 2009 In March, Sydney will be my home for 3 years. Three years is a very long time for a person like myself to call one place their home, but really I’m beginning to feel as if the true meaning of “home” will never be applied to my life in Australia. As stated in my introductory post, I met my wonderful Australian boyfriend while traveling in the Baltics back in 2008. Because of him, I decided to try my hand at a working holiday in the land down under and see where the relationship went. Obviously, the relationship has gone well, and we are now…

• Melbourne Skyline

  Dave

  24 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

  Melbourne, Australia Every year, Melbourne plays host to the Australian Open tennis tournament. In 2008, I arrived just in time to buy a grounds pass so I could watch the men’s final from a jumbo screen right outside Rod Laver Arena. --------- Join Travel Blog Success today and learn to build a better travel blog. Membership includes 27 tutorials, 12 expert audio interviews, private support forum, and much more.

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  GoXplore

• I wanted a bigger bag

  Ant

  26 Jan 2012 | 10:36 am

  But did not want to buy a new bag, so instead, I picked up an 80l waterproof liner, then taking pair of sissors to an old no longer used 40l pack I cut off the lid and the sides and the result was this. With the dry bag in place it looks something like this and when in use it looks like this, no idea how much is in there but it's not full Attached Images IMAG0223.jpg (26.3 KB) IMAG0224.jpg (26.9 KB) IMAG0225.jpg (29.9 KB) IMAG0226.jpg (38.8 KB)

• The Northern Lights

  Helen M

  24 Jan 2012 | 12:21 am

  Anyone seen them in the past few days? Despite regularly checking the skies above Dumfries I haven't seen them - and am desperate to! I sign up to Aurora watch and everything! http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ So - make me jealous - share your experiences. H -x

• Dogs in the outdoors

  dogrob

  24 Jan 2012 | 12:06 am

  Who takes there dog out hiking or wild camping? I have a 7 month old labrador and walked him up on Dartmoor over the weekend and although he doesn't seem to much of a danger to me or anyone else he is without a doubt a danger to himself! I walked him up a tor and he had what I call a funny five minutes which most dog owners will recognise as them running around in large circles tearing up the grass running at you and dodging at the last minute! All of my previous dogs have done this but I must say not to the same level as my daft lab lol. I had to stick him on the lead for fear of him falling…

• Bargains

  dogrob

  23 Jan 2012 | 11:31 pm

  Thought it would be a good idea to have a thread people could post any bargains they come across, theres nothing worse than buying something for 150 quid and then being told you could have got it for £100 somewhere else.

• If money was no object

  dogrob

  23 Jan 2012 | 11:28 pm

  So what gear would you love to buy if money was no object? stuff that you may or may not need but would like to own. I will start the list off Stuff I don't need: Petzl Nao self adjusting headlamp (cool gadget, look it up on youtube) Gopro HD video camera (love these things but have an Iphone 4s so don't really need it) jetboil sol ti (already have a titanium pot and lightweight stove, the jetboil just looks cool) Stuff I do need: Decent socks (the go outdoors ones have seen better days) A comfortable pack between 50 - 60 litres (suggestions please) A paramo velez or gortex jacket (mine isn't…

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  Hip Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

• Snowshoeing -- Kananaskis Village Loop -- January 10, 2010

  1 Jan 2012 | 9:14 pm

  It was almost two years ago, but what we saw still applies today. This isn't a terribly popular trail, likely because almost every time we've set out, there hasn't been enough snow. We've learned to stick with the north side of the trail that leaves from the NW side of the village parking lot, and only attempt the south half of the loop when there's plenty of snow cover to be found.

• Fullerton Loop Trail -- Nov 16, 2009 - From the archives

  22 Dec 2011 | 10:57 am

  Every year I forget how late the snow comes to the mountains. Fall hiking is probably my favorite time of year. Once the snow hits, I'm barely able to wait until there's enough for snowshoeing, but it's always nice to sneak a late fall hike in a familiar spot and see the brown and yellow fall colouring for the last time that year...

• Putting the Hip in HipHiker...

  1 Dec 2011 | 10:23 pm

  While HipHiker the geek has been sucked into the Twitter vortex for some time, HipHiker the blogger hasn't really committed to it... until now. Find and follow us at @HipHiker. I think it could be a lot of fun....

• And... we're back

  23 Nov 2011 | 9:36 pm

  Hello old friends. It's been a while since I've last updated this site. Real life took over for a while. Family health issues led to a decline in available time, and blogging was something that had to be put on hold. That temporary hold led to a much longer one as my own medical issue developed, but that was a much nicer situation. Our twin boys were born in March of 2011. ;-) So for now the

• Grassi Lake -- October 18, 2009

  21 Apr 2010 | 9:39 am

  Grassi Lakes in fall. One last hike before the snow took hold in the Rockies.Nature photographers will tell you the best days for shooting photos are the overcast days. The gray tones will bring out the colours of your natural subjects so much more. The pools at Grassi Lakes show how true this tip really is:Looking back toward the town of Canmore, with the clouds hanging low over the valley, yet

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  Andy HoboTraveler.com Travel Journal

• Hobotraveler List Of Extreme Adventure Travel Destinations Visited By Andy Lee Graham Of Hobotraveler Com About Andy The Hobotraveler Com

  27 Jan 2012 | 12:30 am

  Subscribe to Pro Travel Tips Home Blog Photos Beaches Live Anywhere Retire Now Contact Advertise Meet Members   My Hobo Profile Hobo Community Add Photos Join Us Sign In Read the latest travel articles below. You could write one too. Submit an article. Share with 1000's of readers! Follow Andy via streaming video.. live! Watch Andy Live Video Streaming Video of January 26, 2012 Parade in the Village of Montellano Dominican Republic with Flags from Schools - Montellano Dominican Republic   List of Extreme Adventure Travel Destinations visited by Andy Lee Graham of…

• Hobotraveler Airlines Must Show Full Fares And Stop Being Tricky Cheats On January 26 2012

  26 Jan 2012 | 12:30 am

  Subscribe to Pro Travel Tips Home Blog Photos Beaches Live Anywhere Retire Now Contact Advertise Meet Members   My Hobo Profile Hobo Community Add Photos Join Us Sign In Read the latest travel articles below. You could write one too. Submit an article. Share with 1000's of readers! Follow Andy via streaming video.. live! Watch Andy Live Video Streaming Airlines Must Show Full Fares and Stop being Tricky Cheats on January 26, 2012   January 25, 2012 Andy Lee Graham is Moving to Puerta Plata or maybe Montellano Dominican Republic   Video Explaining How to Dry a Shirt in…

• Hobotraveler January 25 2012 Andy Lee Graham Is Moving To Puerta Plata Or Maybe Montellano Dominican Republic

  25 Jan 2012 | 12:30 am

  Subscribe to Pro Travel Tips Home Blog Photos Beaches Live Anywhere Retire Now Contact Advertise Meet Members   My Hobo Profile Hobo Community Add Photos Join Us Sign In Read the latest travel articles below. You could write one too. Submit an article. Share with 1000's of readers! Follow Andy via streaming video.. live! Watch Andy Live Video Streaming January 25, 2012 Andy Lee Graham is Moving to Puerta Plata or maybe Montellano Dominican Republic   Video Explaining How to Dry a Shirt in Less than Two Hours in a Hotel Room with a Fan   Video of Almond Tree with…

• Hobotraveler Sopa Explained To Mom How The Stop Online Piracy Act Will Allow Usa Censorship Of Internet

  24 Jan 2012 | 12:30 am

  Subscribe to Pro Travel Tips Home Blog Photos Beaches Live Anywhere Retire Now Contact Advertise Meet Members   My Hobo Profile Hobo Community Add Photos Join Us Sign In Read the latest travel articles below. You could write one too. Submit an article. Share with 1000's of readers! Follow Andy via streaming video.. live! Watch Andy Live Video Streaming Only 1 in 5 People in Dubai Was Born in Dubai 80 Percent Are Expats   Only 1 in 5 People in Dubai Was Born in Dubai 80 Percent Are Expats   There was a 5.1 Earthquake within 70 Miles of Sosua at Rio San Juan, Dominican…

• Hobotraveler Sopa Explained To Mom How The Stop Online Piracy Act Will Allow Usa Censorship Of Internet

  23 Jan 2012 | 12:30 am

  Subscribe to Pro Travel Tips Home Blog Photos Beaches Live Anywhere Retire Now Contact Advertise Meet Members   My Hobo Profile Hobo Community Add Photos Join Us Sign In Read the Latest Travel Articles Write about your favorite topic. Share with 1000's of readers! SOPA.explained to Mom - HOW the Stop Online Piracy Act will allow USA Censorship of Internet   Hang a Note on Door Handle of Exterior Door of House as Reminder to do Something - Organizational Skills   Wireless Webcam with Battery   Cultural Fatigue when Living Abroad is Not Paradise   What is the…

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  Section Hiker

• Raffle: Signed Copy of The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide by Andrew Skurka

  Earlylite

  26 Jan 2012 | 11:30 pm

  Andrew Skurka’s long awaited hiking gear guide was released last week by publisher National Geographic at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City. Named Adventurer of the year by Outside Magazine, Andrew has hiked more than 30,000 miles including the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail and the 4,700 miles [...]

• Walking in Circles – Common Bushwhacking Mistakes

  Earlylite

  25 Jan 2012 | 11:23 pm

  I got lost in the woods using a compass a few weeks ago when we were bushwhacking West Field, a seldom visited mountain peak near Crawford Notch in the White Mountains. I know how to use a compass quite well, so this experience was a real eye opener for me, and I’ve been thinking about [...]

• The History of Ventilated Backpack Frames

  Earlylite

  24 Jan 2012 | 11:23 pm

  When internal frame backpacks were first developed in 1967 by Greg Lowe (who later founded Lowe Alpine and LowePro), they were designed to be more formfitting than external frame packs, bringing the load closer to the wearer’s hips, and making it easier to scramble or go off trail. However, it wasn’t until 1984, that the [...]

• Easton Mountain Product’s Kilo 2P Lightweight Tent – Review

  Earlylite

  23 Jan 2012 | 11:23 pm

  The Easton Mountain Products Kilo 2P is lightweight double-walled tent, weighing just 2 pounds 8 ounces, that features Easton’s latest ultralight carbon fiber pole system and a redesigned exoskeleton over last year’s model. Designed for 2 person camping and backpacking, the Kilo 2P includes a mesh inner tent and built-in vestibule making it suitable for [...]

• Outdoor Retailer Show Roundup – Winter 2012

  Earlylite

  23 Jan 2012 | 12:06 am

  I spent this past weekend in Salt Lake City at the Winter Outdoor Retailer trade show meeting with a bunch of different companies to find out what new products they have in the pipeline for next year. Over 1000 gear and apparel manufacturers attend this event from all over the world to meet with their [...]

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  Trailspace Articles

• Black Diamond Icon-Polar lights up cold-weather climbing

  Seth Levy

  27 Jan 2012 | 2:15 pm

  Black Diamond took its professional-level Icon — a waterproof headlamp with impressive 200-lumen output — and for winter use moved the battery pack from behind the head and into a separate compartment. The resulting Icon-Polar headlamp is made for climbers and adventurers venturing into bitter-cold environments, and who prefer less weight on their heads. Black Diamond Icon-Polar headlamp with detached battery pack The Icon-Polar's battery pack features a long lead that enables it to be worn close to the skin, a welcome feature for cold-weather pursuits. It moves the battery pack…

• Brooks-Range offers water-resistant DownTek

  Seth Levy

  26 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

  Down, long regarded as the best weight-to-warmth insulator around, is getting some techy attention for fall 2012. To deal with its major drawback — susceptibility to moisture — Brooks-Range is one of two companies offering water-resistant down insulation for fall 2012 (see also Sierra Designs' DriDown). Mojave Jacket   The 800-fill Mojave Jacket with DownTek from Brooks-Range Unlike the down in most insulated jackets, each individual down cluster in the 800-fill Mojave Jacket is treated to make it water-resistant. Brooks-Range calls the proprietary nano-polymer treatment…

• Sierra Designs launches water-resistant DriDown

  Alicia MacLeay

  24 Jan 2012 | 6:49 pm

  Every backcountry enthusiast knows down and water don't go well together. Wet down loses its lofty insulating power and takes too long to dry, right? Not anymore, say Sierra Designs and Brooks-Range. Eleanor 20 HI sleeping bag with DriDown from Sierra Designs Both outdoor companies are launching insulation with water-resistant down for fall 2012. Brooks-Range will offer the 800-fill Mojave belay jacket with its DownTek proprietary technology. It plans to expand into sleeping bags in the next year (more to come on Brooks-Range separately). Sierra Designs has the broadest launch with five…

• Hi-Tec Pará Boot combines rain boot with hiker

  Seth Levy

  23 Jan 2012 | 9:43 pm

  The Hi-Tec Pará Boot is a rain-boot-hiker hybrid. Alien stormtrooper boot? Galosh? The Hi-Tec Pará Boot has both of these disparate species in its gene pool.  The Pará Boot's exterior is a seamless, slick, waterproof rubber mated to an aggressive Vibram tread. Under the rubber exterior lies 200 grams of Thinsulate synthetic insulation, a neoprene bootie, and a removable, contoured EVA sockliner. Hi-Tec says it wanted to marry the best of a standard rubber rain boot with the flexibility, comfort, and performance of a hiker. The result: a rain boot-hiker hybrid…

• Marquette Backcountry Ski offers easy winter access

  Alicia MacLeay

  22 Jan 2012 | 4:08 pm

  Marquette Backcountry Ski mounted with 3-pin binding Part ski, part snowshoe, the Marquette Backcountry Ski is intentionally more basic—and less expensive—than other backcountry skis on the market. The Marquette, a short, wide ski, with no camber, is made to be durable, simple, and, at $189 a pair, inexpensive. Most importantly, it's made to get more people outside and exploring the mountains and hills beyond their backdoors, says David Ollila, company founder. With that mission of access, the Marquette Backcountry Ski is easy to maintain. It's waxless, with scales on the…

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  The Wilderness Backpacking Blog

• Appropriate backpacking gear

  2 Jan 2012 | 11:57 am

  Learn how to choose the appropriate backpacking gear for a safe and enjoyable trip. . .

• Carry My Stuff For Me

  24 Sep 2011 | 1:53 am

  I know many of you long term hikers and back packers probably do this as well, but I thought I would still pass it on... Few years ago I desided it was

• Wilderness Backpacking trips

  17 Sep 2011 | 4:19 pm

  Backpacking trips are the most basic way to wilderness adventure and also an excellent opportunity to learn about the wilderness.

• Wilderness survival tips

  17 Sep 2011 | 4:02 pm

  Before you head into the backcountry some wilderness survival tips could be of value to you, read more . . .

• How to read a map

  16 Sep 2011 | 3:56 pm

  Knowing how to read a map and a compass is a required skill for all wilderness travelers.

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  Off Grid Survival - Wilderness & Urban Survival Skills

• VIDEO: Military Special Forces conducting Night Time Warfare Training over Downtown Los Angeles

  Off Grid Survival

  26 Jan 2012 | 3:07 pm

  Video footage of the U.S. Military conducting nighttime Urban Warfare training over the streets of Downtown Los Angeles.

• Zombie Zombies Everywhere…. SHOT SHOW Update

  Off Grid Survival

  26 Jan 2012 | 1:40 pm

  Update from this year's SHOT Show..... From zombie guns and ammo to zombie knives and killing tools it seems that the zombie craze has taken over the industry. Here is a quick rundown of some of the Zombie gear set to hit the market in 2012.

• Basic Training – Preparing to survive.

  Off Grid Survival

  25 Jan 2012 | 1:43 pm

  There is one thing that almost every survival situation has in common and that's the basics. The basics are often what separate those that survive from those that perish......

• U.S. Military conducting massive training exercise in the streets of Los Angeles

  Off Grid Survival

  24 Jan 2012 | 12:30 pm

  Maybe it's just the prepper in me, but when I heard the U.S. Military will be conducting a massive training exercise in the streets of Los Angeles I must say it made me feel a little uneasy. And how could it not? With the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act it makes one wonder why the military is conducting drills in Urban America.....

• You Can’t Count on 911 to Keep You Safe

  Off Grid Survival

  23 Jan 2012 | 2:27 pm

  It always surprises me how many people live under the illusion that nothing bad will ever happen to them. They take solace in modern enhancements in security and stupidly believe that 911 will always be there to keep them safe. Just look at the number of home invasions here in the U.S. and you’ll quickly realize that counting on someone else to keep you safe is not a wise bet.

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  Modern Hiker

• Stargazing at Las Virgenes This Friday

  Modern Hiker

  26 Jan 2012 | 12:21 pm

  If you want to do a bit of stargazing with your hiking this weekend, a volunteer Naturalist will be leading a 2 hour program this Friday evening at the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve. The short 1/2 mile hike begins at the Victory Trailhead at 6:30PM on Friday and the following program will last about two hours. The all-ages program is free, but parking does cost $3. No dogs allowed, unfortunately. Call 310-858-7272 x131 for more information.

• Tougher Weekend Parking Near Runyon

  Modern Hiker

  25 Jan 2012 | 1:45 pm

  Late last year, I noted the approved increase in permit parking areas near Runyon Canyon, a very popular hike in the Hollywood Hills that has long-suffered from a shortage of places to stow your 4-wheeled vehicle. Well, the new restrictions are in effect, and now drivers will not be able to park their cars on parts of Gardner Street and Franklin Avenue close to the park’s Vista Avenue entrance anytime other than Monday through Friday, 8AM to 7PM. Even then, parking is limited to two hours. Hopefully the city, hikers, and the neighborhood can come to some sort of a parking solution…

• Fall / Winter Sale at Patagonia

  Modern Hiker

  25 Jan 2012 | 12:30 pm

  For the next five days, Patagonia is having a 30% off sale on most of this season’s fall and winter inventory. Since we pretty much just got our first taste of the season, now is still a good time to stock up on any cold-weather gear, baselayers, or long-sleeved items you’ve had your mind on. The sale runs through January 30th, and good stuff will most likely get sold out quickly – so take a look!

• Hiking Towsley Canyon

  Modern Hiker

  24 Jan 2012 | 3:35 pm

  A 5.3 mile loop trail through some rugged Santa Clarita terrain. This hike features a decent workout in its elevation gain, some spectacular views of the Santa Susana Mountains and lots of geologic activity – including several small tar pits and natural asphalt in the nearby creeks. This route also has a few fun scrambling opportunities and an area called The Narrows – an area of stark uplift that the trail squeezes through in Towsley Canyon. A really fun and fascinating trail! The Basics: - Distance: 5.3 Miles - Elevation Gain: 1105 feet - Time: A little over 2 hours with a good…

• Gorgeous HD Yosemite Video

  Modern Hiker

  23 Jan 2012 | 12:14 pm

  OK, let’s face it – it’s pretty tough to head into Yosemite National Park and not come out with some great pictures – almost every part of that landscape is uniquely and completely breathtaking. The guys behind Project Yosemite just released their HD time-lapse video project and I’m willing to bet no matter how many times you’ve seen incredible shots of Yosemite, watching this is gonna make you want to head up north ASAP. Yosemite HD from Project Yosemite on Vimeo. KCET’s SoCal Wanderer has some more info on the duo, as well as a behind the scenes…

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  Divas Blog | outdoor DIVAS

• Top 3 Scarpa Boots

  24 Jan 2012 | 5:38 pm

  Innovation and tradition share equally deep roots at Scarpa, a performance footwear company based started in Northern Italy in 1938. Specializing in performance hiking boots, ski boots, climbing shoes, and everyday walking shoes, Scarpa has quickly grown to be one of the leaders in the outdoor shoe industry! We have chosen our top 3 favorite Scapra shoes and would like to share them with you!  1). Scarpa Charmox GTX Lady: This is the ideal hiking boot for female mountaineers. As one of the lightest alpine boots over 3lbs, the Charmoz GTX Lady will lighten your load as you adventure…

• Loveland Ski Passes for Sale

  18 Jan 2012 | 5:58 pm

  now available at outdoorDIVAS stores! For the first time EVER, outdoorDIVAS will be selling Loveland Area Ski Passes to the public at discounted prices. Stop into either of our two locations in Boulder & Denver to pick up your discounted pass before you make it out to Loveland. If purchased with us, your pass will be discounted $6 at $53.00 for an adult and $22.00 for a child. You could use that $6.00 towards a drink on the slopes or some extra gas money for your car.  Specs: Buy a Lift Ticket at Loveland and pay 59.00 ~~ Buy a Lift Ticket at outdoorDIVAS and pay $53.00  Also,…

• How to Choose the Best Downhill Ski

  13 Jan 2012 | 5:50 pm

  Choosing the correct ski can be both nerve-racking and exciting. The idea of spending hundreds of dollars on a pair of skis that you haven't had the chance to demo is the nerves speaking, while the thought of carving down fresh snow gets your blood flowing! We have all been there, we want to help you make an easy decision in order to find the BEST downhill ski that's right for you.  Step 1: Decide where you will be spending your time skiing.  One of the main factors you want to consider when choosing the best ski for you is where you will be using it. If you are skiing the front…

• 2012 Demo Skis On Sale!

  10 Jan 2012 | 5:24 pm

  Volkl Aura, Rossignol Tempation 88, Blizzard Black PearlDEMO Volkl Aura 163 w/ Marker M9 Binding: Looking for a big mountain ski that can also hold its own on groomed slopes? Then our Demo Volkl Aura 163 with a Z12 Salomon Binding is your gal! Built for days that take you all over the mountain, this ski excels on a variety of terrains. With a 96mm waist and tip-rocker, you can float over untouched powder while maintaining easy turn initiation. A great ski for all types of snow conditions and a wide range of skier abilities, the Aura is back with new and improved graphics that have helped to…

• Women's Demo Days at Loveland Ski Area

  5 Jan 2012 | 12:51 pm

  A great way to try our women's skis before you buy!Just in case you missed it, today was our second demo day at Loveland Ski Area. If you are just hearing about it or couldn't squeeze it into your busy schedule, we are having two more on the first Thursdays of February and March (2/2, 3/1). This is a great chance to try all of the latest and greatest in women's skis. We will be parked right at the base of Loveland mountain with our entire demo fleet for you to try! Our Divas will be there to answer any questions you may have. Oh, and did we mention that it is FREE? All you need is a valid…

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  Latest Activity on Outdoor Baby Network

• Geoffrey Sutton is now a member of Outdoor Baby Network

  27 Jan 2012 | 10:11 pm

  Geoffrey Sutton is now a member of Outdoor Baby Network

• Blog post by Granola Girl

  27 Jan 2012 | 7:43 pm

  Blog post by Granola GirlQuote of the Week: Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel SilversteinBeing outside with your kids are some of the greatest family moments.  So much can be experienced and seen through the beauties of nature and the exertion of outdoor athletics.  One of largest benefits is the bond a family can make together through shared wonder.  Talking with your kids about such moments can be a bit more difficult.  As children grow, those communications tend to get even more frazzled.  I can remember the awkward attempts my parents had whenever an important conversation was supposed…

• Lianne Clough updated their profile

  27 Jan 2012 | 12:21 pm

  Lianne Clough updated their profile

• Lianne Clough joined Heidi Ahrens's group

  27 Jan 2012 | 12:13 pm

  Lianne Clough joined Heidi Ahrens's groupRunning OutdoorsRunning is such a simple sport. Grab your sneakers and head out your door. It may be a very different scenario if you have a few children in tow. How can we keep running and share the sport with kids?

• Lianne Clough commented on oliviabuckwheat's group 'So Cal Outdoor Families'

  27 Jan 2012 | 12:05 pm

  Lianne Clough commented on oliviabuckwheat's group 'So Cal Outdoor Families'

• 

  Montana Outdoors

• Well, maybe not

  montucky

  24 Jan 2012 | 10:52 pm

• On a long winter walk

  montucky

  23 Jan 2012 | 10:46 pm

  The lookout on top of Eddy Peak, center, looked cold and lonely today.

• January sunrise

  montucky

  22 Jan 2012 | 10:02 pm

  (This was a lazy photo for me: it was taken from the deck this morning.)

• Digging out

  montucky

  19 Jan 2012 | 9:08 pm

  After waiting so long for La Nina conditions to finally make their effects known on northwest Montana, we finally had a significant snowfall and spent the morning digging out. It was impossible to accurately measure the depth of the snow because last evening a warm, wet air mass came in over colder air in the valley and for about four hours a freezing/frozen rain fell, packing down the snow that had already fallen. We measured 16 inches on the ground this morning, but the actual total was probably more like 20 – 24 inches. Tonight it’s still snowing after about 40 hours. What a…

• Winter moonrise

  montucky

  12 Jan 2012 | 12:15 am

  Tonight a cold front is moving in.

• 

  10,000 Birds

• Bird Photography and Flash

  Renato

  28 Jan 2012 | 5:06 am

  Some photographers seem a bit too anxious to get the perfect lighting for all their photos and go to great extents bothering the birds with extra light and flash for one perfect picture.  I have always tried to take my pictures without flash to prevent scaring the bird and also to get the most natural look to my pictures.  Also I can get multiple pictures (my camera can get some 5 to 10 frames per second) of the same bird in different positions and sometimes this leads to the one out of many shots that is really good.Under low light conditions the situation gets more difficult and the need…

• Madagascar: The Last Inheritor of Gondwana

  Carrie

  27 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pm

  Putting nature on TV is a tricky business. First there is the inherent irony of getting people to sit on their butts in front of a screen in order to show them the vast and beautiful world outside said screen. On top of that, every editorial choice not only says something, but says a million different things, some of which the creators may not even consciously intend. Is nature a place for solemn education and reflection? For adventure and danger? For renewal or just plain fun? Is the nature of nature a raw struggle for resources, or an elegant interlocking community in which every member…

• What is a Merganser?

  Mike

  27 Jan 2012 | 8:43 am

  One of the sweetest subsections of the duck family has to be the sawbills, formally known as mergansers. Mergansers are a family of diving waterfowl in Merginae, the seaduck subfamily of Anatidae. Ironically, only one of these seaducks is truly a seafarer, the others favoring rivers and lakes. The name ‘merganser’ is said to have originated with the German naturalist, Gesner in the mid-16th century. This comes from a combination of the Latin words mergus (diver) and anser (goose).Mergansers are sometimes referred to sawbills because of their long, serrated bills. These narrow…

• Where Are You Birding This Final Weekend of January 2012?

  Mike

  26 Jan 2012 | 12:13 pm

  This may read like something of a non sequitur, but have you ever seen a Rainbow Eucalyptus? Eucalyptus deglupta is a psychedelic beauty, with stunning, striated bark that spans nearly every color of the rainbow. Take a moment to check out how trippy this tree is. When you’re done, come back and we’ll talk birds.Nice, right? What else is nice is the prospect of seeing brand new birds in beautiful habitat. Corey will be experiencing birding bliss all weekend long at the mighty, mighty Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival. Lucky you if you’re there too! I, on the other…

• Who Says Digiscoping Isn’t Legit?

  Mike F

  26 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

  I am always intrigued by the multitude of opinions out there on various birding subjects, but lately none more than digiscoping. With all of the birding shows involved in my schedule I have the opportunity to hear many of these opinions. Often enough, I hear birders discussing digiscoping as if it were an after thought, just plain hard, or not a legit way of photographing birds. I, among some others, would beg to differ.Bill Schmoker, Nikon Birding ProStaff member, and I spent a day in the field testing the new Nikon EDG VR Fieldscope. A revelation amongst the optics people, this piece of…

• 

  10,000 Birds

• Bird Photography and Flash

  Renato

  28 Jan 2012 | 5:06 am

  Some photographers seem a bit too anxious to get the perfect lighting for all their photos and go to great extents bothering the birds with extra light and flash for one perfect picture.  I have always tried to take my pictures without flash to prevent scaring the bird and also to get the most natural look to my pictures.  Also I can get multiple pictures (my camera can get some 5 to 10 frames per second) of the same bird in different positions and sometimes this leads to the one out of many shots that is really good.Under low light conditions the situation gets more difficult and the need…

• Madagascar: The Last Inheritor of Gondwana

  Carrie

  27 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pm

  Putting nature on TV is a tricky business. First there is the inherent irony of getting people to sit on their butts in front of a screen in order to show them the vast and beautiful world outside said screen. On top of that, every editorial choice not only says something, but says a million different things, some of which the creators may not even consciously intend. Is nature a place for solemn education and reflection? For adventure and danger? For renewal or just plain fun? Is the nature of nature a raw struggle for resources, or an elegant interlocking community in which every member…

• What is a Merganser?

  Mike

  27 Jan 2012 | 8:43 am

  One of the sweetest subsections of the duck family has to be the sawbills, formally known as mergansers. Mergansers are a family of diving waterfowl in Merginae, the seaduck subfamily of Anatidae. Ironically, only one of these seaducks is truly a seafarer, the others favoring rivers and lakes. The name ‘merganser’ is said to have originated with the German naturalist, Gesner in the mid-16th century. This comes from a combination of the Latin words mergus (diver) and anser (goose).Mergansers are sometimes referred to sawbills because of their long, serrated bills. These narrow…

• Where Are You Birding This Final Weekend of January 2012?

  Mike

  26 Jan 2012 | 12:13 pm

  This may read like something of a non sequitur, but have you ever seen a Rainbow Eucalyptus? Eucalyptus deglupta is a psychedelic beauty, with stunning, striated bark that spans nearly every color of the rainbow. Take a moment to check out how trippy this tree is. When you’re done, come back and we’ll talk birds.Nice, right? What else is nice is the prospect of seeing brand new birds in beautiful habitat. Corey will be experiencing birding bliss all weekend long at the mighty, mighty Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival. Lucky you if you’re there too! I, on the other…

• Who Says Digiscoping Isn’t Legit?

  Mike F

  26 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am

  I am always intrigued by the multitude of opinions out there on various birding subjects, but lately none more than digiscoping. With all of the birding shows involved in my schedule I have the opportunity to hear many of these opinions. Often enough, I hear birders discussing digiscoping as if it were an after thought, just plain hard, or not a legit way of photographing birds. I, among some others, would beg to differ.Bill Schmoker, Nikon Birding ProStaff member, and I spent a day in the field testing the new Nikon EDG VR Fieldscope. A revelation amongst the optics people, this piece of…

• 

  Wend Blog

• Petition ‘The Lorax’ Speak for the Trees

  James Mills

  25 Jan 2012 | 8:03 am

  Mrs. Well’s 4th grade class doesn’t want the environmental message of the Dr. Seuss classic children’s book “The Lorax” to be lost when the feature film premieres in March. So the Brookline, Massachusetts 10-year-olds are circulating a petition through Change.org to prompt producers to include conservation education materials on the movie’s website and in the trailer. “Adding environmental education to The Lorax movie website is important because this is the message of the book and it should be honored. Dr. Seuss wanted people to be inspired by The…

• Wipeout Wednesday: Snow Falls and the People Follow

  Derek Pettie

  25 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am

  The snow has finally arrived so here are some freshie fails. From Jakob: (Maintenance fail.) Click here to view the embedded video. From Sean: (Is pole dancing next the next extreme winter sport?) Click here to view the embedded video. From Ziggy: (You should him see crash on the mountain, it’s even more epic.) Click here to view the embedded video. Related Posts Wipeout Wednesday: Parkour Pratfails Wipeout Wednesday: Pogo No Goes Wipeout Wednesday: They Weren’t Ready for Winter

• Protect Your Biggest Asset

  ActiveJunky

  24 Jan 2012 | 4:10 am

  Injuries are a fact of life for outdoor athletes. Breaks, bruises, sprains – you name it, come Monday morning there’s a fair chance that someone in our Active Junky office will come in ruffed up. When it happens to you, there is nothing to do but grin and bear it until you are ready to get back on the mountain. However, there is one thing that is very difficult – nay impossible – to fix with a splint: your brain. Wearing a helmet on the mountain is a must these days, but that doesn’t mean that you have to endure the bulky, heavy buckets that first came on the…

• Lost Snowshoer Burns Money to Survive

  Derek Pettie

  24 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am

  Some people burn money on fancy shoes or the latest gagdget for their endeavor of choice, but 66 year old Yong Chun Kim burned one and five dollar bills (and leaves, toothbrush and socks too) to stay warm while lost on Mt. Ranier. Kim became separated from the snowshoeing group he led after sliding down a steep embankment. Unable to climb back up he said he would rendevous with them further down the trail, but once he didn’t meet the group rescuers were called in. Nearly one hundred searchers and more than two days later he was found safe having survived blizzard like conditions with…

• Goggles to Ogle

  ActiveJunky

  17 Jan 2012 | 4:09 am

    When you’re skiing you want you eyes focused solely on the prize – shredding the nastiest lines, stomping moguls and feeling like you’re flying. However, when your vision is clouded by fog or muddled by flat light your chances of killing it on the mountain fall to zero. Plus, your sensitive little peepers are vulnerable to other dangers.  For example, we know that sun reflects off the snow with such intensity that it can fry your mug into bacon, so imagine what it does to exposed eyeballs! To keep you safe and seeing clearly, we’ve put together a list of the best goggles…

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  The Everything About RVing RVers Blog

• All alone in Paris In an RV

  27 Jan 2012 | 1:10 pm

  Editor's Note: This story was submitted on the Everything About RVing Funny RVing Stories Page. After over five years and fifty thousand plus miles we

• RVING BASICS 23: Getting An RV Loan? Your RV Loan Is Waiting For You, Here Is How To Find It.

  27 Jan 2012 | 12:49 pm

  The steps you take now to shop for a good loan will save you money in the long-run. Whether you are planning to buy a new or used RV, you should secure the loan inadvance of your purchase.

• New Mexico Green Chile Pork Stew (Crock Pot)

  26 Jan 2012 | 2:34 pm

  Editors Note: This recipe was submitted on our Favorite Camping Recipes Page. Ingredients 3-4 pork loins, cut in bite size pieces 1 medium sweet onion,

• Where's Eldo? On the Road RVing Full Time!

  26 Jan 2012 | 12:58 pm

  This story was submitted on our Why Do You Love RVing Page We started camping on the weekends while we were both still working. We bought a 38 foot Damon

• RVING BASICS 22: Getting An RV Loan? Can You Afford The Monthly Finance Payments?

  26 Jan 2012 | 12:25 pm

  Do Some Research Before Applying For An RV Loan. You might believe you can afford the monthly payments. But, you need to ask yourself if you can comfortably afford the monthly RV Loan payments and still have money left over to pay for the other costs of owning an RV.

• 

  CheapTents Outdoor Gear Blog

• Everest Challenger Matthew D Thornton

  Daniel

  26 Jan 2012 | 10:24 am

  What’s the best way to the summit of Mount Everest? You could answer that it is the south col route from Nepal or maybe that it is via the north east ridge from China. Either way, the journey really starts at a point somewhere else altogether. In order to stand a chance of reaching the [...]

• Hunger Project Seeks Walkers

  Daniel

  24 Jan 2012 | 9:55 am

  On the 12/13 May the London 2 Brighton Challenge will be taking place. Now in its third year, this 100 km event is extremely popular for charity fund raising. One of the charity partners is The Hunger Project, and they are looking for volunteers to take part in the event. You can choose to walk, [...]

• Trad Climber Paul Roberts

  Daniel

  18 Jan 2012 | 11:01 am

  Following on from our recent blog post, in which solo climber Mike Dunne talks about his loves and hates of the climbing in the Lake District, we are pleased to present a post written by a climber from the United States. Paul Roberts is from New York state and has spent the past 3 years [...]

• The North Face Decagon Jacket Review

  Daniel

  11 Jan 2012 | 10:54 am

  The Decagon Jacket is a hooded, waterproof jacket. Whilst it is primarily aimed at the skiing and snow boarding market, the Decagon is highly suitable for general outdoor wear too. It has a fashionable urban design and would look great on the street as well as on the slopes! Made from fully seam sealed HyVent [...]

• Crampons for B0 Walking Boots

  Daniel

  28 Dec 2011 | 5:58 am

  If you are thinking going mountaineering then you will need to get some crampons, this may also mean buying new crampon compatible boots. But what if you’re thinking of going hill walking in the winter? There may only be small sections of the hike where there is hard snow and ice. You may feel that [...]

• 

  Outdoors With Othmar Vohringer

• Show Time

  Othmar Vohringer

  22 Jan 2012 | 8:03 pm

  © By Othmar Vohringer It’s that time of year again, were I  am getting ready for the seminar and trade show tour. Starting of with the BC Boat & Sportmen’s Show on March 2nd to 4th in Abbotsford. This years seminars are on how to get better results with calling whitetail deer and in the second seminar we will replace commonly held whitetail deer rut myth with scientific facts. Keith Beasley from

• White Sturgeon’s Increase in Trail, BC

  Othmar Vohringer

  11 Jan 2012 | 7:51 am

  © By Othmar Vohringer It has long been known that the white sturgeon, a fish renowned for its primitive appearance, is under threat. Once abundant, it has declined drastically since the 1990s, with research showing that only 1,000 wild adult sturgeon currently exist in British Columbia’s upper Columbia River. The federal government consequently classified the upper Columbia white sturgeon

• Another Hunting Season Past

  Othmar Vohringer

  5 Jan 2012 | 7:25 am

  (Originally published in the Merritt News - Othmar Vohringer The Outdoorsman) © By Othmar Vohringer Taking my brother on his first hunting trip. As you read this the British Columbia 2011 fall and winter hunting season is closed with the exception of geese and coyotes. The reports I received from across North America suggest that this will be another of “those seasons”. It seems that the

• Winter Means Ice Fishing Is Here

  Othmar Vohringer

  3 Jan 2012 | 8:13 am

  (Originally published in the Merritt News - Othmar Vohringer The Outdoorsman) © By Othmar Vohringer When I moved from Europe to America and for the first time saw people huddled up in warm clothing sitting on a frozen lake fishing through a hole in the ice I thought “They are crazy.” Since then I’ve become one of those “crazy” people too. Not only do I like ice fishing, I look forward to it

• Headline News For Hunter And Anglers

  Othmar Vohringer

  19 Dec 2011 | 7:42 am

  © By Othmar Vohringer As an outdoor writer I spend a considerable amount of time researching news headlines on the internet to gather information about topics I want to write about. It’s a tedious job. On my research rounds I come across many newspaper articles that cover issues that are of importance to hunters and anglers, such as conservation issues, government regulations and many other

• 

  PaddlingLight.com

• Kayaking Lake Superior’s Shipwreck Coast (Skeleton Coast)

  Bryan Hansel

  26 Jan 2012 | 1:31 pm

  Tweet Lake Superior’s Shipwreck Coast, in the southeast corner of the lake, runs approximately 50 miles from the sand spit of Whitefish Point to the first safe harbor at Grand Marais, Michigan. As part of my Port Huron to Home trip in the spring and summer of 2011, I kayaked past this mainly undeveloped area. At the time, I wanted to paddle past it in two days to avoid getting stuck there during bad weather. In the end it took me five days, because of wind and waves. Out of the entire 800-mile trip, the Shipwreck Coast, also known as Superior’s Skeleton Coast, was the most…

• The Adventure Matrix: Ranking Trips on a Graph

  Bryan Hansel

  24 Jan 2012 | 10:43 am

  Tweet Last week, I wrote about the difference between an expedition, adventure and a trip. After many comments, I still don’t know if I have the perfect criteria for determining if a trip is an expedition, but I do think that we figured out that expeditions don’t necessarily need to be adventurous. In the comments of that thread, Roman Dial, author of Packrafting! An Introduction and How-To Guide, suggested that we could rank trips on a two axis chart. One axis would run between expedition and jaunt and the other between adventure and routine. I drew up the chart to see what…

• What’s the Difference between a Kayak or Canoe Expedition, Trip and Adventure?

  Bryan Hansel

  17 Jan 2012 | 4:37 pm

  Tweet It’s wintertime again, which means that I start to get all philosophical again. It’s probably from the lack of paddling. The only water time I’ve been getting lately is second rate, because it’s on the solid kind with cross country skis instead of the liquid kind with a kayak. Over the years, one topic that has interested me is a question of semantics and the intensity of multi-day paddling trips that we take. Truly, whatever the trip is, is whatever the trip is. But, I like to try and place a trip into some kind of category so that it registers in my mind correctly. One way of…

• The Tuilik: a Perfect Bit of Kit for Winter Kayaking

  Bryan Hansel

  11 Jan 2012 | 3:44 pm

  Tweet I love to winter kayak especially when Lake Superior starts to freeze over in late February and early March. It’s a time of the year when other paddlers stay home bundled up in front of the fireplace, and it’s a time of the year that the shoreline changes almost everyday due to the varied ice patterns. When the water and air temperature starts to drop, it’s important to have the right winter kayaking gear, and I covered that in my winter kayaking checklist. One item that I left off the list is a Tuilik. Note: Featured photo by photographer Paul Sundberg. What is a…

• How to Pack Camera Gear For Kayaking and Canoeing

  Bryan Hansel

  6 Jan 2012 | 1:27 pm

  Tweet For issue 28 of Ocean Paddler, I wrote an article about my approach to kayak expedition photography. In it I touched on the subject of how to pack camera gear for kayaking. I use a similar approach for canoeing. Essentially, my approach is based on the idea that if you can’t get to the camera, you can’t take the picture. There’s no ideal solution for every situation, but you have plenty of choices for waterproof camera cases. In the above picture (staring left and going clockwise): Pelican 1020 case, SealLine Baja 5 HD, Pelican 1400 case, Aquapac SLR case, Aquapac Mini…

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  family camping

• Changes to CampingBlogger

  23editor

  12 Jan 2012 | 9:14 pm

  Frequent readers may have noticed fewer postings on CampingBlogger recently (which will change in the coming weeks, so don’t worry about rare posting in the future). CampingBlogger has a new editor, Eric Ridenour. After running this site for several years, Roy has decided to pass the site on. I hope to continue this site in his spirit, offering camping news, tips, reviews, and plenty of guest posts. I look forward to sharing my travels, tips and experiences with you. I’m excited to take over this blog as I love the outdoors and camping. I’ve been all over the country and…

• Camping at El Capitan State Beach

  Thomas Neton

  2 Oct 2011 | 4:38 pm

  This is a guest post by Thomas Neton. If you would like to guest post on CampingBlogger, please see the guest posting page for more information. My son and I camp regularly. He’s a Boy Scout, so he’s a big help setting up our site and camping equipment . One of our favorite spots is El Capitan state beach, just north of Santa Barbara on the California coast. If you’re coming from LA or farther south, try to leave during the middle of the day or on the weekend. Downtown LA’s famous rush hour traffic is pretty brutal and can add an hour to your trip. It take us about two…

• New Self-Contained Coffee Maker

  Roy Scribner

  14 Jul 2011 | 12:19 pm

  I remember when Brunton® introduced the BrewFire™ back in 2008 and thought it was a great concept, at the time. No fire to start, no jockeying for room on the camp stove – just light the internal burner and let it do it’s thing. Now Coleman® has launched their own self-contained coffee maker and it is a lot cheaper than Brunton’s (now Primus™). Coleman propane coffee maker with stainless steel carafeThe Coleman looks like an effective unit, with a nice wrap-around windscreen in the back, and a stainless steel carafe. My current Coleman stop-top coffee maker has a glass…

• Putting the 52oz. bubba to the test

  Roy Scribner

  2 Jul 2011 | 6:26 pm

  The ginormous bubba® 52-ounce insulated mug was a Father’s Day gag-gift from the family, but with our Independence Day weekend temperatures well into the triple-digits, I decided to breakout the “bubba” and see what this thing could do. Surprisingly, pretty darn good! That's right, 107 degrees on July 2nd! I wasn’t kidding about the temps, here, in south San Jose. Our sensor is on the south side of the house but, still, 107-degrees is hot! Normally, we would be up in the mountains on this holiday weekend. This year, however, Mrs. CampingBlogger’s work…

• 7 Photography Tips for the Great Outdoors

  Karen Ho Fatt

  4 Jun 2011 | 10:32 am

  This is a guest post by Karen Ho Fatt, who publishes an outdoor fire pit review site. If you would like to guest post on CampingBlogger, please see the guest posting page for more information. Most of us are planning to head out to the National Parks this spring season. You will probably be making the most of your trip there; hunting, cooking and fishing are probably on the trailblazing menu. But most of us usually incorporate some kind of photography to document their trips into the great outdoors. But how do you create a more meaningful representation of these spectacular creations of…

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  the GearCaster

• Wool Graduates From Base Layers To Insulation

  Amy Jurries

  27 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

  Wool is highly compressible, has a warmth to weight ratio comparable to down, stays warm when wet, is naturally thermo-regulating, manages moisture and odor control. With all this greatness, why hasn't wool been yet used as insulation? Both Ibex and Smartwool have decided to now give wool it's time in the sun, creating the perfect mid and even outer layers for cold weather adventures. Smartwool's PhD SmartLoft Divide (pictured above) is a form fitting mid-layer jacket that uses the company's new proprietary SmartLoft Wool insulation for the core, stuffed inside a quilted nylon front panel…

• Polartec Adds High Loft For Increased Warmth And Breathability

  Amy Jurries

  26 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

  For 2012, Polartec has created new high loft version of their Power Shield fabric, adding 25% more warmth while taking away 25% of the weight. Two North American brands, The North Face and Outdoor Research, have picked up the fabric, creating hybrid jackets purpose built for your future cold weather ice or alpine climbing adventures. The Polartec Power Shield High Loft fabric combines the best qualities of insulation (warmth), softshell (weather protection), and fleece (moisture wicking) into a single highly functional layer. With a nylon softshell face and high loft fleece backing, Power…

• Climbers Rejoice: Gregory Updates The Classic Alpinisto

  Amy Jurries

  25 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

  For 2012, Gregory has improved upon the classic Alpinisto mountaineering pack, revamping the suspension, materials, and overall feature set. First released back in the 1980's, the Alpinisto has become a favorite amongst climbers ever since. Gregory updated the Alpinisto with their new Fusion Flex suspension system, allowing you to comfortably carry loads of up to 35 pounds without adding a ton of bulk or weight. A full side zipper, on the body of the pack, lets you get at your belay jacket that is most likely stuffed down at the bottom.  New to the Alpinisto, Gregory added a stowable…

• Suunto Ambit Combines Accelerometer And GPS Data For Accuracy

  Amy Jurries

  24 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

  Built with explorers in mind, the new Suunto Ambit watch is loaded with all the features and functionality you will need for both training and participating in your backcountry skiing, mountain climbing, or trail running adventures. Combining accelerometer and GPS data, the Ambit provides the most accurate and real time movement feedback.  The Ambit is built around Suunto's new FusedSpeed technology. Combining GPS data with that of the accelerometer, the Ambit is able to give you more accurate and precise pace and speed data. The watch reacts faster to your changes in speed, particularly…

• Powerful Self Adjusting Headlamp

  Amy Jurries

  23 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

  One of the show favorites by far, amongst all the attendees at Outdoor Retailer, was the new Nao headlamp from Petzl. Using an integrated light sensor technology, the headlamp beam instantly adapts to the changing conditions around you, giving you ideal lighting at all times with little manual intervention. Called Reactive Lighting, the new Petzl headlamp technology features an integrated light sensor that can automatically asses your proximity to an object, your current level of activity, and your desire to see in the distance, adjusting both the beam pattern and light output accordingly.

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  Camping Gear TV

• Headsweats Performance Hats and Beanies – Episode 267

  Josh

  20 Jan 2012 | 5:32 pm

  Performance headwear is often overlooked, but not by Headsweats. With hats made of various performance fabrics and fleeces, these hats, caps and beanies are made for the outdoors. Tracy took a look at a couple of their models and is here to report back! They have options for all seasons, and you’ll want to consider them for your next outdoor adventure for sure!  Check out headsweats.com for more info.

• Hilleberg Kaitum 2 GT All Season Tunnel Tent – Episode 266

  Josh

  13 Jan 2012 | 12:42 pm

  Hilleberg is known by gear heads for producing about the finest backpacking tents on the market. It really doesn’t get much better. We were fortunate to get our hands on their Kaitum 2 model and took it for a spin on a recent backpacking trip. The tent packs a ton of features, and a ton of space, in a very lightweight setup. Check this one out for sure, and stop by hilleberg.com for more!

• Gear Giveaway – Gear Aid Snow Play Sweepstakes

  Josh

  11 Jan 2012 | 9:15 am

  Gear Aid is giving away some great prizes right now over on their facebook page, at http://www.facebook.com/GearAidOutdoor?sk=app_121121694568521.  Up to 50 winners will take home some sweet gear, and 1 grand prize winner will get a really great prize.  Check out the video for more info, and head over to http://www.facebook.com/GearAidOutdoor?sk=app_121121694568521.

• Footbalance Insoles – Custom Footbeds Review – Episode 265

  Josh

  5 Jan 2012 | 11:44 am

  Footbalance has a truly unique approach to foot comfort and health, custom insoles molded to your feet. These aren’t your run of the mill, out of the box insoles. With footbalance custom footbeds, you get an insole that is exactly right for your foot. After months of use, we can vouch for these bad boys.  Check out the review, and stop by footbalance.com for more!

• Hi-Tec Sierra Canyon Thong Sandal Review – Episode 264

  Josh

  27 Dec 2011 | 4:10 pm

  Spring will be here before we know it, and you’ll need a pair of sandals for bummin’ around the campsite. Hi-Tec’s new Sierra Canyon thong sandals are about as comfortable as they come. And while being super comfortable, the Vibram soles also make them sturdy enough that you might even want to take them on a short hike. Check out the review, and be sure to stop by hi-tec.com for more info on these baller sandals.

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  DMOutdoors

• Mt. Washington via Tuckerman Ravine 1/16/12

  17 Jan 2012 | 1:12 pm

  After some sweet hikes lately, I've been feeling rather adventurous. If I'm going to be a hardcore mountain climber, I have to start somewhere! jk Having done Lion's Head three months in a row, I've had Tuckerman Ravine on my to-do for several weeks. It's always a must to take advantage of a long weekend when you have it. My adventure was chosen, and the weather gods provided me with the best weather I could have asked for.Looking up to the ravine from near Hermit Lake At the base of Tuckerman RavineThe lower Tuckerman Ravine trail is becoming like the Lincoln Woods trail to me. Its all…

• Mt. Osceola, East Peak & Mt. Osceola 1/14/12

  16 Jan 2012 | 5:54 pm

  It was another frigid adventure yesterday, this time back to where my 2011 Quest for NHs 48 all started for me about exactly a year ago on the Osceola's. I joined my friend Mike for this one, as we did some peakbagging shenanigans. He is working on the 48, and oddly, it was his 31st and 32nd on round 1 while this was number 31 and 32 on my second round, and my 38th Trailwright.We started up the Greeley Ponds Trail and it was a pleasant 1.3 mile stroll to the junction. The powdery snow snow was trampled from a couple of groups before us, but not packed solid. It was still nice…

• DMOutdoors - Top 10 Moments of 2011

  9 Jan 2012 | 11:38 pm

  2011 was full of awesome hikes, accomplishments and special moments. It's impossible to fit all of the great moments into this post, but I have wrestled with this list for over a week, changed it a few times, but here it is...the DMOutdoors Top Ten Moments of 2011. 10. First hike of 2011 and 1st time ever snowshoeing - The Osceola'sWe picked up some MSR Ascent Lightning snowshoes and set off for the Osceola's on my quest for the 48. We were rookies then. The hike took us well over 10hrs, and it snowed from dawn to darkness, and we battled -30 wind chills and frigid temps. We climbed…

• DMOutdoors YouTube Channel

  2 Jan 2012 | 5:05 pm

  At the end of September, I wrote a post about my outdoor videos, in which included an explanation of the circumstances with my previous channel and what I was planning to do to make it all flow together with my blog. If you didn't check out that post, it might be helpful to read it before continuing. CLICK HERE.Without further due, I am introducing the DMOutdoors YouTube channel, which contains all of the same videos that were uploaded to my other account, plus new ones, which have been uploaded correctly, in high definition. Although its still not perfectly set up how to how I…

• What's next for DMOutdoors in 2012?

  1 Jan 2012 | 11:50 am

  Happy New Year! In 2012, I am hoping to accomplish the AMC New England 4000 Footers and my 2nd round of the NH48. I have 18 left on round 2. I would also make good progress on the AMC New England 100 Highest.Not all, but close to all my hikes this year, I have been fortunate to add an "X" to my 48x12 Grid for the White Mountain 4000 footers, where one hikes the peaks in each month of the year. Including only a couple of hikes prior to 2011, I've completed 16% of the grid, and will continue to fill in the blanks.I've started to keep track of my redlining progress of the White Mountain…

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  Paddling.net News and Features

• In Southwest Florida, it's driest December in 73 years

  27 Jan 2012 | 3:00 pm

  If the Peace River gets much lower, most of the canoe runs will close, hurting business during the peak of tourist season. Other rivers, lakes and groundwater sources throughout the 16-county Southwest Florida Water Management District are dropping, with many rivers, including the Peace, nearing record low levels.

• Feature Kayak - Wisper XP by Feathercraft

  27 Jan 2012 | 11:29 am

• Video Clip: High & Low Bracing for Kayaks

  27 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

  Learn how to keep from tipping over in a kayak using high and low bracing techniques for balance. Presented by ACA instructor Janet Burnett Cowie and Expert Village.

• Feature Trip: Customized Kayak Trips to Africa

  27 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

  You or your group can design your African dream with Infinite Safari Adventures. Travel with experienced guides and stay at the most comfortable lodges and camps; kayak on a beautiful secluded bay with mangrove tributaries off the coast of Tanzania, Africa.

• Legacy Paddlesports to move operations

  26 Jan 2012 | 3:00 pm

  The company will continue production in Greensboro, NC until they complete their $4.5 million move to Fletcher, NC in late June or early July. All employees have been given the option to relocate with the company, but it is unsure how many will choose to do so.

• 

  GearGuide

• Things to See at OR Winter 2012

  Matt K @ GearGuide

  14 Jan 2012 | 10:28 am

  There will be a lot to see at the upcoming OR Winter Market this month in Salt Lake City. Tons of new gear will debut including footwear, apparel and much more. A few industry trends will also emerge. Here’s a few things that caught our eye at GearGuide while preparing for the show. Kids Stuff Baffin Lily Boot There should be no shortage of apparel and gear for the young outdoorsman or woman at OR Winter Market. Baffin – one of Canada’s big winter footwear brands – is introducing a new line of winter boots targeted at the little ones. See them at OR booth 5041. And GeoPalz (booth BR…

• Win a Coast MultiTool

  Matt K @ GearGuide

  8 Jan 2012 | 9:25 am

  Didn’t get everything you wanted for the holidays? Or need something to give your outdoor sweetie for Valentine’s Day? Here’s your chance to win one of the nicest multitools around — the Coast Model 5899 LED Pro Pocket Pliers. This bad boy has everything you need for a day on the trail or river including two built-in LED flashlights, spring-loaded pliers, serrated blade knife, scissors, screw drivers and much more. You can find the full review of the Coast LED Pro Pocket Pliers here. Thanks to the folks at Coast, GearGuide has a brand new pair of LED Pro Pocket Pliers…

• Coast LED Pro Pocket Pliers MultiTool Review

  Matt K @ GearGuide

  8 Jan 2012 | 8:59 am

  First Impressions Coast LED Pro Pliers MultiTool Multitools have been around in earnest since the mid-1980s. And in recent years, much of the innovation in the category has been targeted at reducing the weight, and adding style and color to these utility items. Coast went the other way with the LED Pro Pocket Pliers. Instead of slimming down, Coast kept the LED Pro Pocket Pliers hefty at 9.5 ounces. While others added multiple fashion hues to their lines, Coast stuck with just stainless and black. That doesn’t mean that Coast didn’t innovate however. In fact, the company added a range of…

• Best Gear of 2011

  Matt K @ GearGuide

  26 Dec 2011 | 6:38 pm

  We reviewed a lot of great gear in this past year. Of all the things we tried and used hiking, camping, running, skiing and fishing, there were some definite standouts. All of the products on our Best Gear of 2011 list met GearGuide’s criteria for delivering value, performance and elegance in design. Without further ado, here’s GearGuide’s Best Gear of 2011: Outerwear Hardshell – Patagonia Powder Bowl With the Powder Bowl, Patagonia sets the standard for hardshell jackets. It isn’t cheap at $399 MSRP, but man do you get what you pay for. See review. Softshell –…

• Brooks Infiniti ½ Zip Review

  Matt K @ GearGuide

  19 Dec 2011 | 3:55 pm

  Quick Take Review Brooks Infiniti 1/2 Zip There’s just something about an early morning run to start the day off right. But to tell the truth, I hate being cold. As the temps dip into the mid-to-low 40s, I need an extra layer. One of the go-to pieces in my closet is the Brooks Infiniti ½ Zip. Out of the box, the Infiniti ½ Zip looks sleek and feels plush. The long silhouette drops slightly below the waist and the mid-weight fabric stretches in every direction making for an extremely comfortable fit. Four features define the Infiniti ½ Zip. Chief among these, of course, is the high…

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  Campground Conversations

• Hometown’s Appalachian Trail Thru Hike

  admin

  28 Jan 2012 | 4:23 am

  The people I met during my 2008 thru hike of the Appalachian Trail.

• teardrop camper

  admin

  27 Jan 2012 | 10:57 pm

  Aussie Teardrop Campers on Brisbane Extra. Retro camping at its best.

• “SubZero Memories” by Nutnfancy (Snowshoeing Hike)

  admin

  26 Jan 2012 | 7:10 pm

  Sub-zero temperatures and a hard hike in with snowshoes. Funny how as time passes, you forget all the hard work and effort, and remember the fond memories of time well-spent in the snowy wild. Come on along for the memory with Nutnfancy,…

• Cheap Airfare – Secrets Of Ex Airline Travel Agent

  admin

  26 Jan 2012 | 2:18 am

  Cheap Airfare – Secrets Of Ex Airline Travel Agent Article by Tony Morrison Most middle class American families put off traveling, every year because they are either busy or very tired or because primarily they do not have enough money…

• Vintage Travel Trailer Time Capsule!

  admin

  25 Jan 2012 | 9:10 pm

  Footage of us entering the trailer in Southern Oregon for the first time after it had been locked up for thirty plus years.

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  Notes of a Globetrooper

• Globetrooper Weekly Trip Roundup January 12 2012

  Globetrooper Chris

  12 Jan 2012 | 5:20 pm

  Well we are in Mexico right now, flew out last week from sunny UK ( actually its not sunny at all ) and presently are hovering around the Riviera Maya area which is a little south of Cancun. More about this expedition to Mexico in a future feature article series on Globetrooper but lets say we are travel blogging here and there as far as the patchy hotel wi-fi permits, all great fun and a world away from the office back home. There are some pretty cool and original trip ideas listed on Globetrooper this week, it is clear that a lot of people are taking their 2012 travel plans and aspirations…

• Helsinki in Finland a City of Diversity

  Globetrooper Chris

  30 Dec 2011 | 11:24 am

  Helsinki is a fascinating historical European city with its very own archipelago, Helsinki is the capital city of Finland.  This modern city offers a cosmopolitan lifestyle that has something for every kind of twenty first century traveler. The seasons provide a fresh change from the days of summer with their seemingly endless days of sunshine and warmth to the days of winter and their blankets of ice and snow. Perhaps the best way to tour Helsinki is to acquire a Helsinki card, available in durations of 24, 48, and 72 hours. With this card, you gain free entrance into museums and other…

• The Berlin Underworld Tours

  Globetrooper Todd

  28 Dec 2011 | 4:57 am

  In the Berlin underground train system, there’s a particular green door. Thousands of people pass it everyday on the way to work, completely oblivious to what’s behind it. But here, where no one would think otherwise, you can get a taste of Berlin’s bizarre recent history. At the station named Gesundbrunnen, you can take a tour through the green door and into the underground bunkers that were used to avoid air raids from the World Wars and onwards. The bunker rooms are dank and claustrophobic with low ceilings and thin air. There are old tubes from the pneumatic dispatch…

• Globetrooper Weekly Trip Roundup 19th December 2011

  Globetrooper Chris

  20 Dec 2011 | 12:11 pm

  Some of the standout trips on Globetrooper this week include adventure travelers seeking trip partners for South American adventure trails, trans Siberian road trips and many more exciting voyages of global discovery. If you are interested in any of these trips you can join Globetrooper for free and engage with other travelers seeking travel partners. Peruvian Adventure Trails Tiff from Canada is planning to visit Peru and various other countries in South America. Enjoy the Peruvian AdventureTrails Hey adventurers! I’m looking for some travel partners to join me on a trip around Peru!

• Step off the Strip in Southern Nevada

  Globetrooper Chris

  19 Dec 2011 | 4:58 am

  The razzle, dazzle, glitz and glamor of the Las Vegas strip is an extraordinary spectacle to experience and behold. It’s exhilarating to drink in the lavish, extravagant visual displays, sounds and smells that come at you on a non-stop basis. However, the constant flashing lights, the ching-ching of the slot machines and the scent of cigarettes and air freshener in the casinos can quickly overload the senses. Vegas is a busy, bustling frenzy of human activity that attracts visitors from across the world but there is far more to see in the US state of Nevada than the city of Las Vegas. Move…

• 

  The Cows are Watching

• Watching others do adventure

  D. McMillin

  27 Jan 2012 | 11:00 am

  Every Sunday rowdy boisterous football fans park themselves in front of their TV sets to watch and cheer on their favorite and sometimes not so favorite teams.  Some even so go far as to become students of the game, knowing and understanding how the game is played the personalities and the egos and all the statistical minutia. They all lack one thing being in the game. The Same might be said about adventures.  How many people spend their time reading about other people doing adventure but never get out and have any of their own?  I like to read about other people going about…

• Learning Cross Country Skiing

  D. McMillin

  25 Jan 2012 | 11:00 am

  Here is a good video about some basics for Cross Country Skiing.  Learning these new skills gives me a chance to get outdoors and just enjoy a little fresh air.  In my case snow covered wheat fields of Eastern Washington.

• Skiing Japan's backcountry

  D. McMillin

  23 Jan 2012 | 11:00 am

  Here is a video just to encourage people to get out in the snow and enjoy a little fresh air. Backcountry skiing in Japan from Mitch Potter on Vimeo.

• The Sheffield Adventure Film Festival

  D. McMillin

  13 Jan 2012 | 11:00 am

  If you need a little inspiration to get out and find some adventure here a trailer for the 2012 Sheffield Adventure Film Festival held in the UK.  It looks like they even have a snippet of Flight of the Frenchies.  The clip just make me want to get out and do something exciting.

• Canoeing Coast to Coast

  D. McMillin

  11 Jan 2012 | 11:00 am

  Here is an adventure that apparently will be a first, at least in modern history.  Four men will be canoeing from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic by way of the northern provinces of Canada.   Pete Marshall, Winchell Delano, Steve Keaveny, and Matt Harren are preparing for the 2600 mile paddle across a vast wilderness, one of the largest in the world.  According the their website: 2012 Trans-Territorial Canoe Expedition they will be braving mountains and valley, dangerous lake crossings, and white water.  All very exciting.  Can you imagine a trans-continental…

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  Adventure Photos and Blog

• Full Moon Snowshoe Walk

  9 Jan 2012 | 1:30 am

  Full Moon Snowshoe Walk AMC Naturalist - Joe Dodge Lodge, Nicky Pizzo. Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center Route 16, Gorham, NH Location: 44.2885, -71.2258 I originally signed up for this for the month of February but at the last minute, changed my mind and signed up for the walk scheduled for yesterday. I'm glad I did, I really enjoyed the walk and found the games included to be very informative. The group is limited to a maximum of  10 snowshoe's. And we were to meet up at the Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center in Pinkham Notch by 7pm. I got there a bit early and got my credit card receipt…

• Mt. Tom - My 1st Winter Solo Hike

  30 Dec 2011 | 1:46 am

  Mt. Tom (4,057ft)Elevation Gain: 2,150ftTrail: Avalon, A-Z and Mt Tom SpurDistance: 5.8 miles roundtripDuration: 4.5 hrs (includes stops for breaks along the trail and at summit)My 4000+ Peak #16Listed 4000+: #40Difficulty: Moderate My very first official solo winter hike! And my third attempt to hike Mt. Tom. Couple days ago I was making my second attempt to solo hike Mt. Tom. But when I got to the trailhead around 915am, it was still foggy/cloudy and overcast. The folks at the AMC Highland Center told me that the sun was going to come out but they didn't know what time. I didn't want to…

• Mt. Pemigewasset - Hiking

  18 Dec 2011 | 1:45 am

  Mt. Pemigewasset (2,557ft)Elevation Gain: 1,557ftTrail: Mt. PemigewassetDistance: 3.6 miles roundtripDuration: 2.5 hrsDifficulty: Easy/Moderate Another NH 52 with a view mountain! Met up with the New England Over 50 Hiking group in the north parking lot of the Flume Gorge visitor center. I was so happy and excited about being on this hike, there had to be about 3-4 inches of snow in the parking lot alone! The trailhead is about 150 yards beyond the parking lot. We made our way up a wide bike path before turning onto the Mt. Pemigewasset trail. This took us through 3 small tunnels, the first…

• Mt. Willard - Solo Hike

  11 Dec 2011 | 1:32 am

  Mt. Willard (2,865ft)Elevation Gain: 900ftTrails: Mt. WillardDistance: 3.0 miles roundtripDuration: 1 hr, 45 minutesDifficulty: Very Easy My first solo hike in snow! Originally I had planned to hike to Mt. Avalon (3442ft), Mt. Field (4340ft) and Mt. Tom (4051ft) today, but I didn't get to the trailhead early enough. Sure, I could have run up and back down before sunset, but I'm quite attached to 3 pounds of camera equipment and prefer taking my time in order to take photos. If the weather is good and I get up early enough, I'm going to make next weeks hike to bag my 16th and 17th peaks atop…

• The Rattlesnakes - Hiking

  27 Nov 2011 | 1:50 am

  West Rattlesnake Mountain (1,231ft)East Rattlesnake Mountain (1,289ft)Elevation Gain: 900ftTrails: Old Bridle Path, Ridge, Col, Five Finger Point, Pasture Distance: 6.2 miles roundtripDuration: 4.0 hrsDifficulty: Easy An easy peasy hike and I loved the views on this hike! But I did get lost on my way to the trailhead, something that's become a bit of a habit lately. I've never lost my way on a solo hike, but put me behind the wheel and I'm sure to drive myself lost somewhere! I met up with the other members of the New England Over 50 Hiking group at the Old Bridle Path trailhead. I had…

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  Outward Bound: Outdoor Adventure Education Blog

• The Call of the Dogyard – Voyageur Outward Bound School Dog Sledding Program

  Mary Milodragovich

  24 Jan 2012 | 3:50 pm

  Walker- How can you say no to that face? You know that moment when you’re packing for a week long trip and you wonder, “which sleeping bag will I need” or “what pack should I bring?” You may consider size, weight, or sentimental attachment. Well, do you ever wonder which 12 dogs to bring? We do. At Outward Bound’s Minnesota dog sledding program, we have 63 options. From fast and light to powerful and burly. And each wants to come. As you walk into the dogyard, Walker will be the first dog on your right and looks the part of the husky with his gray and white nose, furry…

• Hurricane Island Handbook Series: Staying Warm in Winter

  Kim Young

  12 Jan 2012 | 5:23 pm

  This winter, if you plan any winter camping trips, snowshoeing, backcountry skiing/snowboarding or any other outdoor activity our Hurricane Island Outward Bound School Winter Handbook has some really helpful information and tips to keep you warm. Let’s discuss. Staying Warm in Winter Much of the concentration of camping and traveling in winter focuses on techniques used to stay warm and comfortable. By understanding your body’s own ability to regulate temperature, the mechanisms of heat loss, and techniques that minimize heat loss and maximize heat production, you will be able to ensure…

• Dogs to Dolphins: Outward Bound’s Minnesota to Florida Spring Semester

  Kim Young

  30 Dec 2011 | 5:15 pm

  No one knows more about the power of an Outward Bound course than our amazing instructors. Check out this blog post written by Diane Sternberg, an instructor on the Florida leg of Outward Bound’s Minnesota to Florida Spring Semester. Read about Diane’s experiences on course this past spring and why this course is so special to her and her students. Instructing Dogs to Dolphins was a significant highlight of my seven years working for Outward Bound’s Florida Sea Program. There are so many reasons why this course is unique and special. The students arrived, in Florida, already a cohesive…

• Make Your Holidays A Little Greener

  Kim Young

  22 Dec 2011 | 12:34 pm

  The holidays are in full swing and many of you probably have much of your shopping and holiday prep done, but just in case, the Sierra Club has put together this great infographic to help you make your holidays a little greener. We think it’s great and want to share it with you all. Take a look: Click on the image above for the the full-size infographic. Holiday Parties Unless you will be out on our Colorado skiing and snowboarding course next week, you probably still have some family gatherings or maybe a New Year’s party to plan? If so, make sure to use metal flatware and real glasses…

• Recalling An Outward Bound Winter Expedition in the Mahoosuc Range in Western Maine

  Kim Young

  12 Dec 2011 | 3:48 pm

  Below is an excerpt from the book ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: NOTES ON A DOZEN LIFELONG SPORTS, a collection of essays written by Outward Bound alum John Casey. The books contains two essay on his life-changing experiences with Outward Bound. In the excerpt below, the author describes his two-day solo on a winter cross-country skiing course in Maine. two-day solo I’d had a wonderful time by myself for four September days on a tiny island off the coast of Maine, daydreaming; gathering rose hips, sea- urchin roe, and mussels; sleeping on a bed of leaves and pine needles; and watching herons. This…

• 

  GearWeAre.com

• Nikwax – Travel Towel, ‘Beach’ Size

  Giles

  27 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

  The Nikwax offering uses Parameta S reversible directional fabric (commonly found in Paramo clothing), which does a great job of quickly absorbing and shifting water from the super-soft fleecy side (against the skin) to the other smooth surface on the reverse. Read more...

• Bobble – Water Bottle with Filter

  Jodie

  25 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

  It is important to note that this is just a carbon filter so it eliminates chlorine and other contaminants from tap water it is not suitable as a bug-purifier. Because it's carbon it does give the water a subtle taint at first, but personally I prefer this to the metal or plastic taint I was getting from other bottles. Read more...

• Pacific Outdoor – Peak Elite AC Sleeping Mat

  Giles

  24 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

  I tend to sleep right on through, regardless of temperature, but the first thing to become immediately clear on the first night was that this mat doesn’t offer a great deal of width either side of the body when you’re lying down. With restless sleepers in mind, Pacific Outdoor will tell you that the oversized outside tubes are designed to cradle you throughout the night; to my amazement, I guess this must be true because I actually didn’t slip off at all once settled down. Read more...

• Gelert – Women’s Hill Trousers

  Jodie

  23 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

  The trousers have lots of funky little features like a caribiner loop on the waist which is handy for attaching things securely. The main front pockets are nice and deep and I tend to chuck my keys/phone in those and have yet to loose anything. For added security the clever people at Gelert have also added a subtle side pocket featuring a zip which is great for carrying money in for those all important ‘refreshment stops!’ Read more...

• Falke – TR4 short women’s running socks

  A_Guest_Reviewer

  20 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am

  Great-performing socks with cushioning in all the right places and very good quality manufacture... Interestingly, the TR4 socks won a Red Dot design award last year, which is pretty impressive for a sock. Other winners were the BMW 5-series and the iPhone 4! Read more...

• 

  colemancooler.net

• For Sale Coleman 40-Quart Wheeled Cooler For Sale Online

  admin

  26 Jan 2012 | 6:02 pm

  Read More: goo.gl For Sale Coleman 40-Quart Wheeled Cooler For Sale Online The Coleman 40-Quart Wheeled Cooler features a comfortable tow handle and large, sturdy wheels, so one person can comfortably pull it even over uneven terrain. The 40-Quart Cooler holds 59 twelve-ounce cans. The hinged lid features 4 built-in beverage holders, and is designed [...]

• Coleman 100-Quart Xtreme Wheeled Cooler

  admin

  24 Jan 2012 | 1:38 am

  Read More: goo.gl The Coleman Xtreme 100-qt wheeled cooler is crafted with extra insulation for extended performance. It includes a comfortable tow handle and a large wheels for easy, 1-handed portability, even through rough terrain.Carry up to 160 cans with ease–and store ice for up to five days even when it’s 90 degrees outside–in the [...]

• HVAC (Condensate Drains)

  admin

  21 Jan 2012 | 8:26 am

  This video will show you a very simple way to clean the condensate drain on your air conditioner. IMPORTANT: BE SURE TO USE A VACUUM CLEANER THAT SPECIFIES THAT IT’S A WET/DRY VACUUM CLEANER.

• President Obama: Rally for Health Insurance Reform in Minneapolis

  admin

  31 Dec 2011 | 3:40 pm

  [We are experiencing audio sync issues on YouTube; this speech can be viewed properly at www.vimeo.com The President takes his case for reform from the heart of Washington out on the road to Minneapolis, MN, where an enthusiastic crowd shows a snapshot of the hunger all over the country. September 12, 2009 (public domain)

• Checking the pressure switch on a gas furnace

  admin

  19 Dec 2011 | 3:38 pm

  Measuring ohms on an energized 80% gas furnace

• 

  Gear Exposure

• Hydrophobic down floats at WOR

  Marie

  27 Jan 2012 | 10:02 am

  Down is awesome – it’s warm and light – but it suffers from one major drawback, wet, is all the opposite. Two brands have come out and shown at this year’s Outdoor Retailer Winter Market that it can be otherwise. Down Decor and Sierra Designs, both present at OR, were showcasing what could be called water repellent down. After applying a special coating on the down feathers they become hydrophobic, keeping their warmth and loft, even after after being completely socked. Sierra Design call it DriDown and are already offering it in some sleeping bags and jackets. Down…

• Vasque to lunch colourfull spring collection

  Marie

  19 Jan 2012 | 1:49 pm

  The hiking and trail running shoe manufacturer from Minnesota will be lunching its new spring collection very soon. Featuring a revision of the successful Velocity among other things, the excitement will undoubtedly come from the Rift. Up to now Vasque never really ventured into the colourful and retro style but when you look at the Rift you know that’s about to change. Marketed as a multisport shoe, it will come in no less than 11 colour combinations. Spec wise it’s a mix of super sticky Vibram Spider outsole, rubber toe and heel cap and nudbuck/suede upper in a low ankle shape…

• Review: Rab Microlight Alpine down jacket

  Ben

  11 Jan 2012 | 4:32 pm

  Rab is a UK-based manufacturer of high quality outdoor clothing. They started in 1981 in Sheffield and have been one of the top English brands ever since but I really got into their gear recently, specially with the awesome NeoShell jacket. But let’s get back to the subject, the Microlight Alpine down jacket. I was in need for an insulation layer/warm jacket and the guy at the store had that new jacket from Rab, last year’s model and some other more expensive options. The differences between the old and new Microlight Alpine are the added zippers on the hand warmer pockets, which I…

• Barefoot running shoes roundup

  Ben

  22 Dec 2011 | 1:31 pm

  I think it is safe to say that barefoot running has really taken off. Compared to the early days you now have a large choice of shoes, some with toes, some without, some from big brands and some from less known ones. Here you will find a selection of models on the market at the moment. This post is not a review of those different models however. I only own one pair of barefoot running shoes and I believe that you have to own the gear to be able to review it properly. When applicable, you will also find links to reviews on other blogs. Suggestions welcome in the comments, no affiliate links in…

• La Sportiva to debut in ski apparel next year

  Ben

  16 Dec 2011 | 10:06 am

  La Sportiva, Italian company well regarded for its excellent footwear, has announced in a recent press release its plan to branch out in the ski apparel market for winter 2012. This will mark the first effort of the brand to diversify and apply its knowledge to making great apparels. Stated to debut next winter and demoed at the 2012 OR Winter Market, this new range of products will include hard shells, soft shells, insulation mid layers as well as base layers. A complete collection said to take full advantage of existing partnership with waterproof-breathable membrane maker W.L. Gore. A few…

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  5 Star Campgrounds | RV Park Listings and Reviews

• Ailanto Campground

  5 Star Campgrounds

  27 Jan 2012 | 11:33 am

  Ailanto Campground | Costa Rica | is a perfect spot for hikers, bikers, bird watchers and everyone who enjoys being in contact with Nature. Here you can enjoy hundreds of species of butterflies while you walk around the campgroundsRating: 0/10 (0 votes cast)Original content provided by 5 Star Campgrounds | RV Park Listings and Reviews

• Costa Rica

  5 Star Campgrounds

  27 Jan 2012 | 10:51 am

  Campgrounds and RV Parks located in Costa Rica detailing amenities and guest reviews. Rating: 0/10 (0 votes cast)Original content provided by 5 Star Campgrounds | RV Park Listings and Reviews

• World Wide

  5 Star Campgrounds

  27 Jan 2012 | 10:41 am

  Campgrounds and RV Parks located around the World.Rating: 0/10 (0 votes cast)Original content provided by 5 Star Campgrounds | RV Park Listings and Reviews

• My quick generic post

  5 Star Campgrounds

  25 Jan 2012 | 3:48 pm

  Test Status Rating: 0/10 (0 votes cast)Rating: 0/10 (0 votes cast)Original content provided by 5 Star Campgrounds | RV Park Listings and Reviews

• Texas Lakeside RV Resort

  5 Star Campgrounds

  18 Jan 2012 | 1:13 pm

  Texas Lakeside RV Resort | Port Lavaca, TX | If you're looking for a RV Park along the Texas Gulf Coast, Texas Lakeside RV Resort is your number one choice.Rating: 0/10 (0 votes cast)Original content provided by 5 Star Campgrounds | RV Park Listings and Reviews

• 

  Northern California Hiking Trails

• California State Parks Foundation Defend What’s Yours Campaign

  John Soares

  10 Jan 2012 | 1:03 pm

  The California State Parks Foundation has just launched the Defend What’s Yours campaign to fight the closure of state parks: Seventy of your state parks are going to close. Become a defender, spread the word, volunteer, and join us in this fight to Defend What’s Yours! Please share this video and the other Defend What’s [...]

• Picture of Wolf OR7

  John Soares

  7 Jan 2012 | 12:09 pm

  No, I can’t post the picture of Wolf OR7 here because I don’t have permission to use the copyrighted photo, although I’m working on it. But you can see the photo and read all about how it was taken in this article by journalist Mark Freeman in the Medford Mail Tribune. Related Posts:Why You Need [...]

• More Budget Threats to California State Parks

  John Soares

  7 Jan 2012 | 8:22 am

  More bad news for hikers in California state parks in the latest proposed budget from Governor Jerry Brown. Here’s a January 5, 2012 press release about the cuts from the California State Parks Foundation (I’m a member): On January 5, Governor Jerry Brown released a Fiscal Year 2012-13 State Budget that contains dire cuts to [...]

• Single Gray Wolf OR7 Crosses Into California from Oregon

  John Soares

  30 Dec 2011 | 9:02 am

  Biologists confirmed that a single gray wolf crossed into California’s Siskiyou County from Oregon, the first confirmed wolf presence in the state since the last known wolf was killed in Lassen County in 1924. There have been unconfirmed reports of wolves in California’s Modoc County. Here are details from the California Department of Fish and [...]

• Climbing Mount Hilton in the Trinity Alps in Late December

  John Soares

  27 Dec 2011 | 2:01 am

  Not many people try to bag a major Trinity Alps peak like Mt. Hilton in winter, but Michael Kauffmann really loves to hit the high mountains, even when most people wouldn’t consider it. Granted, we’re way behind on snowpack, so he was able to do a lot of the walking on regular trail, which was [...]

• 

  BIRDINGBLOGS.COM

• The Greatest Lie Ever Told – chapter 9

  TomMckinney

  27 Jan 2012 | 11:14 am

  The Greatest Lie Ever Told by Morton Cubberd Chapter 9 Thick red fluid ran along the cracks in the ancient oak floorboards forming deep puddles, deep enough to see your reflection before the puddles dried. Shards of bone, sinew, flesh and bullet holes peppered the walls, spitting specks of deep crimson over centuries of priceless paintings. The parlour of Bramblebay Castle was now an abattoir. Detective Inspector Timmy Keen, only twenty-three years old, lay dead on the floor having saved the life of his superior Paddy Rogue, his matted intestines spilling out of his split guts like…

• Rwanda Sunbird Confusion

  Rich Hoyer

  26 Jan 2012 | 5:22 pm

  It’s come to my attention that the sunbird photo I put in my Gorillas in the Sunshine post was actually a Stuhlmann’s Sunbird after all. Since I don’t have time to work on this problem myself at the moment, I thought it would make a fun blog post to simply present all the photos I can dredge up from Rwanda and solicit opinions from you all. Here they are. These five are from Volcanoes National Park. These two birds are from Nyungwe Forest National Park. The first two photos and the blog’s title photo are of the same individual. So what do you all think? I look forward…

• The Greatest Lie Ever Told – chapter 8

  TomMckinney

  21 Jan 2012 | 11:10 am

    The Greatest Lie Ever Told by Morton Cubberd Chapter 8 Huggins the butler returned to the parlour with a dust pan and brush to clean up the shattered glass from Sir Wilkins Bramblebay’s monocle. Bramblebay was sat on an antique Louis XV bergeres chair, worth tens of thousands of pounds, and straightening out his crumpled top hat which had been damaged in the vicious and sadistic beating with a fire poker dealt out to him by his brother Erwin, the new head of the Bristow Chapter. After cleaning up the glass and pouring Wilkins and Erwin a cognac, Huggins lifted a huge log and…

• The Greatest Lie Ever Told – chapter 7

  TomMckinney

  18 Jan 2012 | 5:34 am

  The Greatest Lie Ever Told by Morton Cubberd Chapter 7 Tiny Lizzie McAubrey was running back from the shops. It was a Saturday morning and her mother had allowed her to spend her meagre three pence of pocket money in Skanky Stan’s sweet shop at the end of the road. By the time she got home she had already eaten two of her cola bottles, but, as profoundly generous and giftedly thoughtful as ever, she had saved one cola bottle for her mother. She hopped over the back fence in that profoundly athletic manner of hers, and ran into the kitchen holding out her hand with the cola bottle for…

• Tucson’s Sweetwater Wetlands – a Winter Snapshot

  Rich Hoyer

  17 Jan 2012 | 6:02 pm

  Sweetwater Wetlands is Tucson’s top birding location. A hundred years ago, this particular location was a rich mesquite woodland bordering a permanent river with cottonwood forest. Then with the development and disappearance of the river (a sad story), it became desert then a dusty wasteland. Then in early 1998, it was opened as a new wastewater treatment facility with shallow ponds, marsh vegetation, riparian trees and brush, and percolation ponds, and with the very first visits birders were finding rarities. It’s only a 25-minute bike ride from my home, but in recent years my…

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  Hiking Camping Gear Blog and Reviews

• Camping pot made of paper

  Jonsky

  7 Jan 2012 | 11:20 pm

  Camping pots don’t come any any lighter or more compact than the Hexa Pot and if you care so much about your pack weight and you only cook food with water like noodles, soup and pasta, it may... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• 7 New Gear to Look Forward to at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2012

  Jonsky

  5 Jan 2012 | 9:55 pm

  The Outdoor Retailer Winter Market is said to be “North America’s largest winter lifestyle and sports industry gathering in the world featuring big brand names like Timberland, The North... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Mo-Tools Multi-Function Axe

  Jonsky

  22 Dec 2011 | 8:46 pm

  The problem with most axes is that they’re too big and heavy to carry around all day. An axe is not something I’d carry on a backpacking trip. In fact, most people don’t. I find... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Is the Pocket Chair Ideal for Backpacking?

  Jonsky

  19 Dec 2011 | 12:28 am

  The reason most people don’t carry a camping chair for backpacking is because of its size and weight. There aren’t many camping chairs that you can easily carry on a backpacking trip so... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Columbia’s Omni-Heat battery-powered jacket a fire hazard

  Jonsky

  7 Dec 2011 | 1:34 am

    A cell defect on the battery pack, which causes overheating and pose a fire hazard, was found on three Omni-Heat™ Electric jacket styles: Omni-Heat™ Electric Wader Widgeon, Omni-Heat™ Electric... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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  The Unlucky Hunter

• The Sad Truth About Potassium Permanganate and Glycerin

  Timothy Borkert

  28 Jan 2012 | 6:30 am

  Perhaps you have seen this done on one of the popular survival shows: The lead actor pulls out a "first aid kit" and says that there are two common medicines that when combined will spontaneously combust. They are Potassium Permanganate and Glycerin. He proceeds to mix the two and almost immediately there is a roaring fire! This is one of those times that truth and Hollywood just don't match up. It's not just TV shows either, popular survival forums tout this as being an infallible fire starter. I doubt most of the people who preach its virtues…

• Jute - Another Great Natural Tinder

  Timothy Borkert

  27 Jan 2012 | 6:30 am

  A few days ago I thought I finished up my series on tinder. Lo and behold, I forgot one of the best tinders, jute! Jute is a natural fiber used to make all sorts of things. The only natural fiber that is used more in the world than jute is cotton. While jute is not as soft and cuddly as cotton, it is much stronger. Americans use jute mostly for ropes and string, but in other parts of the world it is commonly used for bags, curtains, seat covers, rugs, and other floor coverings. Like hemp, it is natural, easy to grow, biodegradable and generally good for the environment. It is also highly…

• A Magnifying Glass - The Power Of The Sun In Your Hand

  Timothy Borkert

  26 Jan 2012 | 6:30 am

  I've decided to make January fire month! What an awesome name for a month. I love fire! You cannot make fire without an ignition source. For the next few posts I am going to highlight the most popular ignition sources. I will also review a few fire making tools, show you some novel ways to make fire, and give tips for using all of them. One of my favorite toys as a kid was a simple magnifying glass. I did not use it for constructive purposes such as studying plants and bugs. I used it to burn things! My favorite thing to do was wreak havoc on an ant hill by burning the ants. They exploded…

• Fire From A Traditional Flint And Steel

  Timothy Borkert

  25 Jan 2012 | 6:30 am

  I've decided to make January fire month! What an awesome name for a month. I love fire! This is the second post in a series on ignition sources. You cannot make fire without an ignition source. For the next few posts I am going to highlight the most popular ignition sources. I will also review a few fire making tools, show you some novel ways to make fire, and give tips for using all of them. Flint and steel. Fire from a rock and a hunk or metal. This is how the Pioneers did it. It is also how the Vikings, Knights, and Romans made fire. Flint and steel fire making kits…

• Batteries and Steel Wool - Burning Metal!

  Timothy Borkert

  24 Jan 2012 | 10:14 am

  I've decided to make January fire month! What an awesome name for a month. I love fire! This is the third post in a series on ignition sources. You cannot make fire without an ignition source. For the next few posts I am going to highlight the most popular ignition sources. I will also review a few fire making tools, show you some novel ways to make fire, and give tips for using all of them. If you watch survival shows or read survival forums you have probably heard of starting a fire with a battery and some steel wool. If you haven't tried it you need to. It is a lot of…

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  Hiking The Trail

• Philmont Training Weekend #1 Update

  Adam

  25 Jan 2012 | 11:54 am

  This past weekend I head out to a local boy scout camp with the group that will be going to Philmont this summer.  From my earlier post Philmont Training Weekend #1 I explain what the plan was and... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Philmont Training Weekend #1

  Adam

  19 Jan 2012 | 11:07 am

  This weekend 4 adults and 7 boys head off into the back country of northwest Missouri for the first weekend of many in a 6 month training regiment to prepare for their 2012 Philmont Adventure.  This... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Best AT Thru-hike resource on the internet

  Adam

  17 Jan 2012 | 9:39 am

  Have you ever wanted to do an Appalachian Trail Thru-hike or maybe you just want to know what it is about. I frequent a website called Whiteblaze.net and one of the moderators there has written an... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Sleeping Bags Whats the difference Part 3 Wrap up

  Adam

  17 Jan 2012 | 8:35 am

  In my first post Sleeping Bags Whats the difference Part 1 Down Bags I discussed down sleeping bags.  Then we looked at synthetic bags in the second part of this series Sleeping Bags Whats the... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Sleeping Bags Whats the difference Part 2 Synthetic Bags

  Adam

  16 Jan 2012 | 10:24 am

  In my last post Sleeping Bags Whats the difference Part 1 Down Bags I talked about Down sleeping bags and the pros and cons for them. Now I would like to take a look at Synthetic bags. Over the years... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• 

  Appalachia & Beyond

• Guest Post from Amy and Nate of Marking My Territory

  Tim @ Appalachia and Beyond

  12 Jan 2012 | 9:39 am

  When we asked in earlier posts about guest posts, Amy and Nate of the blog Marking My Territory were happy to help us out with a post. Below is their guest post for Appalachia & Beyond and in our opinion is a great post that leads us to remember some of the essentials about hiking with our... This is a content summary only. Please visit Appalachia & Beyond for the full post, pictures and links.

• First Walk (Not quite a hike)

  Tim @ Appalachia and Beyond

  3 Jan 2012 | 8:11 pm

  On New Years Eve day, the weather was phenomenal, and considering it was likely going to be the last pretty day for a little while we decided to take full advantage of it and get out for a bit. Granted we've been out a couple times since the wee little one arrived almost two weeks ago, it's not... This is a content summary only. Please visit Appalachia & Beyond for the full post, pictures and links.

• She's Finally Here

  Tim @ Appalachia and Beyond

  23 Dec 2011 | 1:39 am

  Everyone, let us introduce our newest addition to the family. Miss Dinah Marie Bird made her entrance into this world and stole all our hearts in an instant, at 5:56am on the morning of December 20, 2011. She weighed in at a very healthy 8lbs. 14.2oz. (I don't know what those ultra-light folks... This is a content summary only. Please visit Appalachia & Beyond for the full post, pictures and links.

• Just Waiting on a Sign: FGR 12/9/2011

  Tim @ Appalachia and Beyond

  9 Dec 2011 | 8:41 am

  Well another week has come and gone and still our newest addition has decided she's not quite done yet. So we continue to anxiously await, with a certain nervous excitedness, her arrival. It won't be much longer now. Hopefully by the end of the weekend we will have the news posted somewhere,... This is a content summary only. Please visit Appalachia & Beyond for the full post, pictures and links.

• Happy December to All and Thank You

  Tim @ Appalachia and Beyond

  5 Dec 2011 | 7:40 am

  Happy December to all and once again thank you to all our readers and supporters for making Appalachia & Beyond what it is today. It's hard to believe that we just have under a month before 2011 is over and we'll be ringing in the New Year 2012. However, before I get to far ahead of myself and... This is a content summary only. Please visit Appalachia & Beyond for the full post, pictures and links.

• 

  Hiking with Impunity

• Hike #33 - Big Cypress Bend ; or, "Make Sure You Get a Shot of the Baby Gators!"

  Hiking Mike

  20 Jan 2012 | 7:26 pm

  Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk was another short, fun scenic hike that we took during our recent tour of South Florida.

• Hike #32 - Shark Valley at Everglades National Park; or, "My What Big Teeth You Have!"

  Hiking Mike

  17 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

  Hiking with Alligators The New Year has been kind to Hiking with Impunity thus far, providing us with ample opportunities to sample hikes outside of our native Pennsylvania (with even more along the way later this year!). This time, Hiking with Impunity would land in South Florida thereby making it our mission to head to the Everglades and experience even a little of what hiking in South Florida has to offer.

• Interviewing with Impunity - The Curt Ashenfelter Q&A, Part 3

  Hiking Mike

  10 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

  Curt Ashenfelter, the Executive Director of the Keystone Trails Association (KTA), recently participated in a Q&A with Hiking with Impunity. In the first part of our interview, Curt explained the importance of the KTA to Pennsylvania's trails and some of the opportunities available to hikers to help with trail maintenance. The second part of our interview consisted of the entire testimony Mr. Ashenfelter presented to the Pennsylvania House Game & Fisheries Committee. The following transcript is the last portion of our Q&A in which Mr Ashenfelter addresses topics such as hydrofracking.

• Hike #31 - "What Happened in Vegas..."

  Hiking Mike

  3 Jan 2012 | 1:09 pm

  Hiking with Impunity took a brief sojourn to Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area in Nevada over the New Years weekend. Red Rock Canyon is located near Las Vegas in the Mojave Desert, and is almost 196,000 acres. Knowing that we only had a short amount of time to fit in a hike and that we needed a route that would be relatively easy to accomodate our lack of appropriate gear, we visited the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area website...

• Hike #31 - "What Happened in Vegas..."

  Hiking Mike

  30 Dec 2011 | 7:04 am

  Hiking with Impunity flew cross country to celebrate one of their best friend's birthday, and was able to include a short loop in Red Rock Canyon on the trip. Ill-equipped and unprepared, we decided against a long hike. But the 1.1 mile loop we took (in addition to the fabulous scenic drive) was more than enough to give these hikers a taste of what can be seen and done in Red Rock while also whetting our appetite for more hiking in 2012! As usual, a full report on this hike (along with some great photos!) will be online soon. As this is our last post for 2011, we want to thank our family,…

• 

  Brian's Backpacking Blog

• Help Choosing a Camera for Backpacking

  Brian

  20 Jan 2012 | 2:26 pm

  I've been using my iPhone4 as my primary camera for the photos taken on my blog for the past 18 months now and am really quite impressed with the quality and clarity of the pictures it takes. I don't bother taking my old camera, a Nikon Coolpix S51, with me anymore on trips because the iPhone does such a good job at taking photos. As good as the iPhone4 is, there are things it simply can't do.... [ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

• Cleaning Out My Gear Closet | Free Stuff

  Brian

  14 Jan 2012 | 9:46 pm

  A Cuben Fiber backpack for free? Read on... As part of my New Year's resolutions I've decided to clean out my backpacking gear closet. Over the years I have acquired a considerable amount of backpacking equipment or varying type, much of which has been used very rarely, some of which has never been used at all. Well, it has to go. This is part of a larger personal goal that I have set... [ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

• Fisher Space Pen Refill | Ultralight Hack v2

  Brian

  6 Jan 2012 | 12:50 pm

  Make the ultimate UL all-weather ballpoint pen for taking notes along the trail with just a standard Fisher Space Pen refill (SPR4) and a short length of heat shrink tubing! The Fisher Space Pen and the associated SPR4 refill earned the reputation throughout the world for being able to write on almost any surface, at any angle, through grease, and even under water - and as so many backpackers... [ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

• Snow Peak Handle Grip Mod - Update

  Brian

  5 Jan 2012 | 11:03 am

  Several people have asked me how well the tool-dip modification that I made to the handles of my favorite Snow Peak 600 has stood the test of time, well the answer is not so well. It worked great for the first few months of normal use, providing a non-slip protective barrier for my fingers from the heat of the metal handles, but it all went pair-shaped in a flash. The very first time that... [ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

• Backpacking Stocking Stuffers

  Brian

  30 Dec 2011 | 2:56 pm

  It's been a slow week, not much going on outside and no hiking trips to speak of, so I thought I'd share some photos of a few funny little backpacking-related stocking stuffers that my wife bought for me this year. It's always fun to put things on my Christmas list that seem to make no sense at all. For example.. Heat Shrink Tubing - Not something I would normally want for day-to-day DIY... [ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

• 

  CampHacker.org

• Making Camp Programs Special – Camphacker TV

  Travis Allison

  19 Jan 2012 | 8:22 pm

  How do I give campers something they’ll remember? I dug up a couple of hand-made books from my days as Programme Director at Camp Kintail.  In this first video of my new CampHacker TV show, I talk about ways to give campers a momento that they will remember for all time. If you have any [...]

• Unplug at Camp from CampHacker Dan Weir

  Travis Allison

  17 Jan 2012 | 7:48 am

  Cell Phones at Summer Camp CampHacker Dan has just put out his new blog called Unplug at Camp.  In this space he’s going to take a scholarly look at the benefits of leaving the phones (and iPads, Kindles, etc.) at home. Congratulations, Dan!  We can hardly wait to see what else you put out.

• Brooke Salkoff from CampEasy.com – CampHacker Interview

  Travis Allison

  13 Jan 2012 | 5:35 pm

  Making Summer Camp Search Work for Parents Finding the right camp for a child includes many different factors for families.  One factor that many camps don’t take into consideration is the need for working parents to find a great camp for specific weeks of the summer.   When families need to have great people look [...]

• A Perfect Rainy Day Activity: Skallops

  Travis Allison

  13 Jan 2012 | 11:01 am

  Simple and Inexpensive Summer Camp Game Skallops is a brilliant looking new activity that has been funded through Kickstarter. It would be perfect for camp because it can be adapted for any age group and would be great for free-play time.  Kids could make up their own games or sculptures depending on their mood. Skallops [...]

• Working Well With Your Camp Board – CampHacker #30

  Travis Allison

  10 Jan 2012 | 9:59 am

  How Can I Have The Best Possible Camp Board? Welcome to the CampHacker audio podcast for summer camp directors and leaders. Download audio file (Working_for_a_Camp_Board_-_CampHacker_30.mp3) Working for a board of volunteers can be great… but it can also be very difficult. In this week’s CampHacker podcast we are joined by Dave Bell, Executive Director of [...]

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  Roamancing

• Meet Lucy Duck & Other New Travelers

  Emme Rogers

  26 Jan 2012 | 4:08 pm

  I’m a little overdue in introducing a few new travelers to our mix, including Lucy Duck, our first storyteller to join us from the UK.     Some of you may have noticed from facebook, twitter, youtube, and G+ that Lucy Duck joined us from Chasing Ducks Blog back in December and has been having all sorts of adventures with our travelers in Canada and Egypt thus far.   Satchmo roamancing the red boots from the Canadian wintery wilds. Other new storytellers to the site, include mainstream media travel writer, Jacqueline Swartz, who has shared a couple of tales from Vienna,…

• Snowy Canadian Flashbacks to the Tub at Le Chamois

  Emme Rogers

  20 Jan 2012 | 9:31 am

  What is life without indulgence from time to time. Indulgence can come in many different forms ~ a glass of exquisite wine, a rather scrumptious piece of chocolate, or simply stealing a quiet moment in the sunshine.  For me, one of my favourite indulgences is a good soak.  I love relaxing in hot water and wallowing all my worries away.   Wallowing away my worries.   It is for this reason and the a bit of Whistler inspiration that encouraged me to indulge in the column ‘The World’s Best Soaks‘. Tub Bliss at Le Chamois Whistler The inspiration came in the form of…

• Great Eats, Local Finds & the MUSEUMS in the MuseumsQuartier, Vienna’s Outdoor Living Room – Part 2

  Jacqueline Swartz

  17 Jan 2012 | 8:30 pm

  This is the second part of a 2-Part Series by travel writer Jacqueline Swartz on Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier. This second part focuses on the restaurants, shopping and museums. Here’s the first part in the Series: Celebrating a Decade of the MuseumsQuartier   MuseumsQuartier Wien, as photographed by Damien Roué   MuseumsQuartier’s (MQ) restaurants add to the artfully casual ambiance. On summer nights, the outdoor cafes buzz; when the weather turns grey, people head indoors. One popular place, Die Halle is in the former riding stables of the Emperor. With soaring…

• Celebrating a Decade of the MuseumsQuartier, Vienna’s Outdoor Living Room – Part 1

  Jacqueline Swartz

  15 Jan 2012 | 11:17 am

  This is the first part of a 2-Part Series by travel writer Jacqueline Swartz on Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier. This first part, introduces us to the MuseumsQuartier on the Celebration of it’s 10th Year.   Vienna, as photographed by Denis Todorut   Vienna, Austria has long had the reputation as a dreary city stuck in the past, getting by on Mozart and Sachertorte.  But, as I found out, anyone who has been there in the last few years will tell a different story. Vienna has transformed itself into a city humming with creative energy. The grand l9th century buildings that so…

• Vancouver Theatre: All the Way Home at Queen Elizabeth Theatre

  Alyzee

  13 Jan 2012 | 9:08 am

  There are some performances that give so much more than you could ever expect. The Electric Company‘s All the Way Home blew my small-minded idea of a night at the theatre so far away that I am fairly certain it will never return. All the Way Home renewed my faith in the power of theatre to alter an audience forever. I don’t think I could say this with as much conviction if I had seen Tad Mosel‘s play performed, however brilliantly, from one of the plush red seats in Queen Elizabeth theatre.   Jonathon Young & Meg Roe tell a story of love, hope, and transformation in…

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  The Good Badger

• Get YOUR NAME in MY BOOK: And More Delicious Appalachian Trials Info

  zachrd99

  24 Jan 2012 | 10:06 am

  Hi team, So, Appalachian Trials, is finished (official launch coming soon). Well, almost… I have every page written, except for the last. That’s where YOUR NAME goes.  Only your name. Yes, I’m serious.  No, I’m not drunk. Imagine flipping through the final pages of this soon-to-be-released Appalachian Trail super-book, and the last thing you see – the reader’s final impression – is your name.  That’s what’s happening. I’m going to auction off the last page of my book on eBay.  The highest bidder wins their name, and their name…

• 3 Learning Lessons from 2011

  zachrd99

  30 Dec 2011 | 2:27 pm

  Holy Moldy Mayo, Batman! 2011 has been a monumental year for Mr. Zach Davis; this is a simple fact. It all started with a post.  January 2011 I was suffering from a fairly severe case of life dissatisfaction.  As is a common scenario amongst the employed population, I was at odds with my boss.  So- I did what any over-worked, under-appreciated, and slightly over-confident employee does to their boss- tells them to shove it.  Unfortunately, in this particular scenario, I was the boss. So, in search of some life answers, I decided to shake shit up a bit.  Me, the class clown, computer…

• Santa Claus vs. Derrick Rose

  zachrd99

  25 Dec 2011 | 1:24 pm

  Merry Christmas and happy holidays* *I’m legally required to say this

• Lyme Disease on the Appalachian Trail

  zachrd99

  20 Dec 2011 | 7:01 pm

  Deer Ticks are assholes. I went into the Appalachian Trail with my share of premonitions. Most, turned out to be false. The crazy hillbillies in the southern part of the trail, just turned out to be crazy nice.  Even if you can’t make out what they’re saying, it’s perfectly clear all they want to do is help. That black bear that was going to leap out of tree for the sole purpose of eating my face- also turned out to be incorrect.  Black bears are big raccoons; they’re on a mission from God only to dig through trash.  They don’t seem to realize, or at the very…

• On Trial: Technology on the Appalachian Trail

  zachrd99

  10 Nov 2011 | 6:38 pm

  I recently received the following e-mail: “Hi, Zach Considering that you had your iphone with you the whole time, I was wondering if you’d given any thought to how truly disconnected you were?  Or to how truly connected you were to nature/outdoors/the AT because you were listening to music and audiobooks while hiking?  I’m not judging, I’m just wondering what a different experience hikers from 10 years ago would have had with no option for those kinds of distractions or entertainment on the trail. I don’t know if that was your intent while hiking (I came to the…

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  Seattle Backpackers Magazine

• Photos from Outdoor Retailers Winter Market 2012

  Erika Klimecky

  27 Jan 2012 | 8:54 am

  Tweet By now it’s no secret that Seattle Backpackers Magazine attended Outdoor Retailers Winter Market Conference. But here are some things that you might not know: There were over 21,000 attendees and it was the largest ever Outdoor Retailers Winter show. We were part of over 500 members who attended from outdoor media (though we really think of ourselves less as media and more as your hiking buddies). More than 1,500 tweets were sent using the hashtag #ORshow, we were a very fun part of that. We wrote  a recap of our experience, and here are a few of the photos.

• Guye Peak Snowshoe

  Jenni Denekas

  26 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

  Tweet If the recent snowfall in Seattle has you lusting for more frigid adventures, grab your ice ax and snowshoes for a trek up Guye Peak. This scenic portion of the Pacific Crest Trail is blanketed in rich powder and adorned with impressive ice formations, offering snowshoers a veritable winter wonderland—complete with stunning 360-degree views at the summit. Located just off I-90 near popular Snoqualmie Pass, the route is often surprisingly deserted, providing ample opportunity to enjoy the serene winter landscape. ©Jenni Denekas Because the PCT parking lot is currently buried under…

• The New MSR MicroRocket

  Jim Barbour

  25 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

  Tweet Attention PocketRocket owners! Time to put that old stove out to pasture and upgrade to the new MicroRocket… Well, maybe not quite, but MSR has just released the new MicroRocket, and it’s a pretty sweet little stove. The new MSR MicroRocket   Did I mention little?  That’s the big news here.  Yeah, it’s lighter, but the big deal is that it’s compact, really compact. The new MicroRocket is far more compact than the old PocketRocket   How compact?  Well, say you had a little 550 ml mug type pot.  With the PocketRocket, there’s no way you…

• Search and Rescue – Volunteer Opportunity

  Erika Klimecky

  24 Jan 2012 | 8:01 am

  Tweet Paychecks of the heart, also known as volunteer projects, are awesome and fulfilling! Volunteer work is a great opportunity to give back to your community. Luckily, you can volunteer while doing something you love – being on the trails! King County Search and Rescue is one of the largest SAR organizations in the country. The 4X4 team planning locations ©Michael Cline We’ve  described a few of their specialized units in detail and explained some of their functions around our area. The awesome part of all this is, they are accepting volunteer applications at this time.

• Hiking Through the Blisters

  Thom Schroeder

  23 Jan 2012 | 8:25 am

  Tweet Hiking and the art of needing to be uncomfortable. There was a week back end of July when it was hot. As in hot. Not humid because this is the Northwest, but it hit 107 apparently in town while the house hit ninety-one. Seemed everyone rushed out to scramble for every last window air conditioning unit at the local Home Depots and such. It lasted a week then it was back to normal. But it made me think I guess. So did our holiday to California the week before. There it was really hot. Yes, hot. Sacramento and Bishop hot. Even Yosemite Valley. Oliver (my little trusty blue Toyota Tercel)…