relax outside!

I haven't dedicated many posts to outdoor gear and I know I should. So, when I came across Backpacker's Apparel Guide 2007, I thought this would be a great time to start.

The magazine asked 30 students from the Northern Arizona University's Park and Recreation program to test out more than 100 items of clothing, ranging from jackets to t-shirts. The testers wore the clothes while they participated in outdoor activities from backpacking to skiing.

Here's what they deemed the best:

Most Versatile [50-75°F]
Ibex Woolies Crew
“It's like there's a hidden thermostat inside,” commented one tester on this top's outstanding natural temperature regulation. We stayed comfortable across a gamut of conditions, ranging from snow (worn under a shell) to a sunny 70°F. The 100% merino is as smooth and soft as a baby kitten; it wads up small enough to fit in a front pants pocket, yet provides as much warmth as a synthetic fabric twice as thick. When the mercury rose, testers said the Woolies wicked and breathed like a second skin, and only started to feel hot in the upper 70s. Flat seams and a body-hugging fit make it comfortable under a pack. And thanks to wool's natural odor resistance, testers on extended backpacking trips reported that their bagels got moldy before their shirts started to stink.

Wicking Champ [30-50°F]
Duofold Varitherm Expedition Weight Zip Mock
“Cozy as my favorite blanket,” said one tester after a rainy, snowy spring snowshoeing trip in the Sierra. The polyester-Lycra Varitherm has two layers of fabric sewn together, which boosts warmth and sucks up moisture like a two-ply paper towel. “I've never worn such a thick baselayer that wicks so well,” said another tester. The ample four-way stretch allowed us to reach out (”for ridiculous handholds,” wrote one climbing fanatic), and the neck zipper aided venting. It's versatile, too: Some testers used the Varitherm as an outer layer over a tee when backpacking in 40°F temperatures.

Photo

See full article.

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(original article)

Is Antarctic is jeopardy? On the heels of a sunken cruise ship in the area, with three others swiftly coming to the passengers and crew rescue, people are wondering if Antarctic's tourism boom is harmful to the environment and the tourists. According to published reports, travel to the bottom of the world has increased from 6,700 tourists in 1992-93 to over 29,500 this year.

“Under the environmental protocol of the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat, the whole of Antarctica is supposed to be a reserve,” said Jim Barnes, executive director of The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition. “It's supposed to be dedicated to science and to protect the wilderness and the environment.”

“Because of management principles that (the association) has put in place, we've managed environmental impact,” said Denise Landau, the association's executive director. “The concern is that companies outside the membership are not playing with the rest of the operators.”

See full article.

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(original article)

Talk about an expedition. In 2009, Arctic explorer Eric Larsen will attempt to summit Mount Everest, and visit both the North and South Pole. In one year! This has never been completed in 365 days and only 15 people have been to all three poles.

Here are his objectives:

* Complete the first-ever expedition to Mt. Everest, the North Pole and South Pole in a continuous 365-day period
* Promote clean energy solutions, advocate strategies for reducing carbon emissions post Kyoto 2012 and collect relevant scientific data.Produce a documentary film, book and educational CD-ROM that focuses on global warming, teamwork and the spirit of adventure
* Develop a post expedition multi-media lecture series

Read more about his expedition here.

Mount Everest and the North and South Poles represent the harshest and most extreme environments on the planet. Yet as inhospitable as these places are to humans, they are also the areas most affected by people. By summer 2040, the Arctic Ocean will be ice-free. Recently, the 1,250 square mile Larsen B Ice Shelf collapsed off of Antarctica and disintegrated into the Southern Ocean. Snow and ice once stretched to Edmund Hillary's Everest base camp but now ends five miles above.

The polar regions of the world are home to an amazing variety of life. Seemingly desolate and vacant, these areas support vital ecosystems and are integral to regulating and maintaining world climate. The polar ice caps reflect heat energy back into space. As more ice melts, less energy is reflected creating a positive feedback loop, and melting more ice. The North and South Poles play an in important role in cooling water in the global ocean conveyor belt. Home to the polar bear and penguin, these far away places are the front lines of Global Warming. The Himalayan glaciers on the Tibetan plateau are also endangered. They contain 100 times as much ice and more than half of the drinking water for 40% of the world's population. The 'Save the Poles' expedition will journey to these last frozen places in attempt to tell their amazing story.

See full article.

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(original article)

Do you read National Geographic Adventure magazine? If not, you should be. It's one of my favorite travel magazines and one I hope to write for someday. While catching up on my magazine reading, I noticed they devoted a good portion of the magazine to the “Best Places to Live & Play”. This piece is a long feature of their typical short department, “Adventure Town”.

In the September 2007 issue, the magazine listed 50 adventures town in the United States. The criteria was based on outdoor activities, terrain, and adventure opportunities. They also categorized the places by the best mountain, coastal, wilderness, and small towns. Did your town make the list? If not, do you think it should? Email me and I'll tell you how you can make that possible.

Here are a few highlights. View the entire list here.

Top Wilderness Towns:
Homer, Alaska
Cody, Wyoming
Flagstaff, Arizona
Valdosta, Georgia
Medora, North Dakota
Rochester, Minnesota
Alexandria, Louisiana
Valentine, Nebraska
St. George, Utah

Top Mountain Towns:
Bishop, California
Gunnison, Colorado
Missoula, Montana
Hanover, New Hampshire
Wenatchee, Washington
Hood River, Oregon
Boone, North Carolina
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Montpelier, Vermont
New Paltz, New York

See full article.

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(original article)

U.S. lawmakers reached an agreement to boost fuel-economy standards of the nation’s cars and light-duty trucks for the first time in more than 30 years.(original article)

I love gatorade, especially for long hikes. So, when I learned (albeit, late) the inventor of the popular I was taken aback.

Dr. Robert Cade died on Tuesday at the age of 80. According to the University of Florida (where he invented the multi-million sports drink), announced he died from kidney failure. Dr. Cade and other researchers created the drink to help athletes replace carbohydrates and electrolytes lost while playing. Little did he (or anyone else) know that Gatorade would be adored by athletes and non-athletes for years to come.

A question from former Gator Coach Dwayne Douglas sparked their research, Cade said in a 2005 interview with The Associated Press. He asked, “Doctor, why don't football players wee-wee after a game.”

After the Gators beat Georgia Tech 27-12 in the Orange Park, Tech coach Bobby Dodd told reporters his team lost because, “We didn't have Gatorade … that made the difference.”

See full article.

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(original article)

I'm a bit of a history buff so I found this to be amazing. While preparing the ground for the London 2012 Olympic Park site, construction workers have found Roman pottery and a coin. Apparently, the construction site is located on a former Iron Age settlement. The Museum of London is working with London Olympic officials to make sure all artifacts are handled correctly.

Digs on the Olympic Park site have discovered evidence of Iron Age settlement, including 4th-century pottery and a Roman coin from the time of Emperor Constantine II.

The pottery and Roman coin, dated between A.D. 330-335, was found buried behind a wooden river wall. One side of the coin features a picture of two soldiers and two standards, and the other has inscriptions representing Constantine II, Caesar and Illissimus.

Photo

See full article.

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(original article)

This week in outdoor history features the discovery of Antarctica and the first person to fly over both the North and South Pole.

November 18, 1820: Captain Nathaniel Palmer discovered Antarctica.

November 29, 1929: American explorer Richard Byrd passes over the South Pole, becoming the first man to fly over both poles.

Thanks Infoplease!

See full article.

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(original article)

Do you secretly want to become a travel writer? Well, here is your chance. Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel is celebrating their 10-year anniversary by turning over the entire June 2008 issue to their readers. Which means all the content and photos will be provided by amateur writers and photographers. Can you write? Have your friends ever said you should be a professional photographer. Well, here's your chance to land your articles and/or pictures in a major national travel magazine.

Budget Travel is looking to send a few readers out to report a story. That means you will be paid to travel! They are also looking for someone to take their cover photo, expert collectors, and much more. So, get off your butt and start writing. As outdoor and adventure travel enthusiasts, I know you have some great stories to share.

For details, including submission requirements, click here.

See full article.

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(original article)

Scientists have revealed an important discovery that raises doubts concerning the viability of plans to fertilize the ocean to solve global warming, a projected $100 billion venture.(original article)

More than one quarter of the bird species found in the United States are imperiled, reports a new survey by the National Audubon Society and the American Bird Conservancy. Overall 178 species in the continental U.S. and 39 in Hawaii are listed on WatchList 2007, which is based on a comprehensive analysis of population size and trends, distribution, and threats for 700 bird species in the U.S.(original article)

The global carbon market could play a key role in saving the Amazon from the effects of climate change and economic development, which could otherwise trigger dramatic ecological changes, reports a new paper published in Science. The authors argue that a well-articulated plan, financed by carbon markets, could prevent the worst outcomes for the Amazon forest while generating economic benefits for the region’s inhabitants.(original article)

European Union countries likely require an old ally — Mother Nature and her forests — to meet an ambitious post-Kyoto goal for cutting greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2020, according to new research.(original article)

A few days ago, I wrote a post about giving adventure/outdoor magazines for the avid traveler on your list. If magazines are not their cup of tea, consider buying them a great travel book to help inspire them to travel. As an avid reader and traveler, I love receiving books as gifts. They are inexpensive and thoughtful.

Stumped? Here are a few ideas:

Travel + Leisure's “100 Greatest Trips” ($20) offers offbeat itineraries in otherwise familiar places. In New York City, go shopping in Harlem at Atmos, the Japanese sneaker store, and N, a designer emporium. In Mexico, follow the tequila trail in Jalisco, where the agave plant used to make the drink is grown. And in London, take the tube to the London Bridge stop and eat your way around Borough Market, where you can grab a venison burger at Westcountry Venison and a house ale at Brew Wharf.

Lonely Planet's “Bluelist: The Best in Travel 2008″ ($23) is a planner, an inspiration and ultimately, a conversation, since fans can visit http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bluelist to submit their own lists of must-see places. The book includes a section on events around the world by month, like thue mimosa festival in January in Montenegro and the snow rodeo in Essex, Mont., in March. A “Golist” of places includes profiles of Mumbai, India; Chengdu, China; Cordoba, Argentina, and in the U.S., Miami, Colorado and Glacier National Park.

See full article.

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(original article)

I don't normally associate fishing with winter, in less its ice fishing. But, according to Field & Stream magazine, winter fishing is both fun and cheap.

The editors at the magazine recently listed their top 10 destinations for winter destinations. And to no surprise southern states, Texas and Louisiana, made the list. However, to my surprise three spots in Arkansas, New Mexico, and California shocked me.

Seven of the 10 destinations offer average January high temperatures of 60 degrees or above, with some well into the 80s, the magazine said. The three spots with lower temperatures - Bull Shoals State Park, in Arkansas; San Juan River, in New Mexico; and Lake Amistad, Texas - are worth the chill, according to the magazine, because of the quality of winter fishing.

Two sites outside the U.S. on the magazine's list are Long Island in the Bahamas and East Cape Baja, Mexico.

See full article.

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(original article)

Sty dry and comfortable in these Men’s Ski Pants from Arcteryx, Cloudveil, Columbia, Spyder and The North Face.

Arcteryx Stinger Bibs - The Arc’teryx Men’s Stinger Bibs use Gore-Tex Pro fabric for total protection against the gnarliest storm yet still offer plenty of breathability to keep you cool on a backcountry ski trip. The Stinger Bibs have two front and two thigh pockets. The gusseted crotch and articulated knees give you flexibility and freedom of movement whether skinning up or ripping down. MSRP: $450

The North Face Varius Guide Pants - The North Face Varius Guide Pants are made with bomber 70D dobby HyVent fabric to stand up to abuse and still keep you dry, as well as be a bit lighter on the wallet then your typical gore-tex pants. When it heats up, cool off with the full length side zips. MSRP: $150

Spyder Davos Pants - The Spyder Davos Pants are the top of the line ski pants from Spyder. The Davos pants combine extremely weather-resistant fabric, 40g of Thinsulate insulation and all the little touches only Spyder could come up with to create a warm, dry and stylish ski pant. MSRP: $500

Columbia Snow King Cargo Pants - Columbia believes that you don’t need to break the bank to have a great pair of ski pants. The Columbia Snow King Cargo Pants will allow you to dominate the slopes on all but the absolute worst winter storm days. Columbia outfit the Snow King with 6 pockets to carry all your accessories and inseam vents for when it gets too hot out. MSRP: $100

Cloudveil Koven Pants - The Cloudveil Koven Pants’ waterproof Cloudburst Stretch EV3 fabric offers complete weather protection while breathing before excessive sweating happens, making it less likely that you’ll overheat and get damp. The Koven has 4 pockets including an overflow cargo pocket large enough to store sunscreen or an afternoon snack. MSRP: $280

(original article)

Scientists have revealed an important discovery that raises doubts concerning the viability of plans to fertilize the ocean to solve global warming, a projected $100 billion venture.(original article)

Dr. Tim Georoff, a veterinarian for the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo, handles this venomous lizard with great care as he prepares this female for an radiograph (X-ray).(original article)

A lifecycle analysis of biodiesel by Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) shows that using palm oil derived from existing plantations can be an effective biofuel feedstock for reducing greenhouse gas emissions relative to conventional diesel fuel. However, palm oil sourced from rainforest and peatlands generating emissions 8 to 21 times greater than those from diesel.(original article)

The fourth, and final, report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) painted the most irrefutable and sobering picture yet of global warming. Two thousand scientists from over one hundred countries agreed to the statement that “warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level”. The report also stated that it was more than 90% certain that global warming is due to human activity. This report, released last week, will hopefully set the tone for the two week meeting in Bali, Indonesia on climate change and create the rapid and strong responses that are required.(original article)