Famous Hikers Who Went Missing
Getting lost is every hiker’s worst fear, even for those who religiously watch Survivorman, Bear Grylls, Dual Survival or any of the millions of lame spinoffs. If you do get lost, the best you can hope for is survival. Second best? To go down in such a horrible way as to be made famous for it. A living lesson to all those who come after you and to all those who are glad that they weren’t you.
Aron Ralston
It wasn’t how long he was lost that got Aron Ralston massively famous, it was the hijinks he got into while he was lost that got him attention. In a sudden accident that seems almost too perfect to be accidental, Ralston had his arm trapped between a rock and a hard place; in this case that hard place was, in fact, another rock. After a few hours of tugging, he did exactly what any normal person would do. He cried. Then he did something almost no one would do, he cut off his arm and walked out to get rescued. Continue reading »
Backpacking With Pets
One of the biggest reasons many travelers are not also pet owners is the responsibility of having your animals watched after while you are off seeing the world. But, some pet loving travelers can’t resist the loyal companionship or the wanderlust and manage to merge the two together.
Accommodation
Most hostels do not allow pets, so you’re options are going to get reduced to large, pet-friendly hotels and campgrounds. If you’re traveling during the summer, a campground is an ideal way to stay on a low budget and travel with your pet. Continue reading »
How to Score Free Gear: Shoes
There are better ways to get free shoes
Distance runners often spend more money on running shoes than on food. Running shoes can cost anywhere from 100 to 200 dollars and they need to be replaced every 250 to 300 miles. If you are logging 50 or more miles per week, that can put a serious dent in your beer fund. You might even find yourself faced with the decision between paying rent and buying new shoes.
What Exactly is a Wear Tester?
Different companies call it different things (wear tester, lab rat, etc). Basically, you test gear (running shoes, apparel, and/or other gear) and give the company your feedback and opinions about the product and in return, they will send you free gear. Sometimes the company will let you Continue reading »
World’s Largest Rope Swing
Remember the Human Slingshot video? The same guys now bring you the world’s Largest Rope Swing
How SAR Dogs Are Trained
For search and rescue (SAR) dogs, it’s all about the game. SAR dogs are trained their entire lives through intensive and vigorous training routines, such as playing hide and seek and fetch. Dogs already have the instinct to locate things through scent, but it’s up to their handlers to fine tune their skills, so they can find humans instead of balls.Not any dog can become a SAR dog. SAR dogs have to have a particularly good sense of smell and must be ready to travel long distances in some of the harshest climates. They start their training at around eight weeks old and retire at about age five. The ideal SAR dog can improvise in certain situations and are smart, loyal and love what they do; because to them, it’s just another game. Although training is a daily chore for the handler, for the right dog, everything from obedience and agility training, to learning how to bark on command, is all play time. Continue reading »
Tips for Filming with Your Helmet Cam
A lot people capture an epic powder day on HD, then show it off to every friend they have. Welcome to Awesometown, population: You (and only you). You’ve now joined the ranks of your parents, when they invited the neighbors over to watch the a family video of vacationing through Yellowstone.
You may be forever entertained watching your own radness. But if you want to keep sharing it, and keep your friends at the same time, consider these few simple tips: Continue reading »
Finding Love in the Outdoors
For outdoorsy folks, falling in love with another outdoorsy person can seem unlikely and intimidating, but if all outdoorsy folks want other outdoorsy folks, it shouldn’t be that hard to pair up right? Here are some of the best ways to help you find love in the outdoors, then figure out what to do once you’ve found it. Whether your love interest is a runner, a climber, or your tour guide, we hope these tips suit your outdoorsy love life.
Be Dirty
Imagine this scenario: you’re walking down the trail at Smith Rock, searching for a wall with enough 5.13s to get you moderately warmed up. You and your climbing partner come around a bend and suddenly, without warning, there she is: the woman of your dreams, her muscle-carved shoulders flexing as she flakes out a rope. The quickdraws and cams around her waste glimmer and flash in the sun, and for a moment you feel peace overtake you. If only you could stand here and watch her all day…
Pessimists Guide to the Outdoors: Why You Should Stay Inside
Some people are just naturally pessimistic when it comes to the outdoors. They don’t like the cold dry air, or bugs, or the foliage . They don’t like dirt or sweating. They don’t like the wildlife or any other numbers of things that have to do with being out in the wild. Some people are just plain afraid. Lots of nasty things can happen to those who don’t know what they are doing, or even to those who do. Unfortunately, the outdoors can sometimes find there way indoors. For those of you who are natural outdoor pessimists, this is for you; reasons why you should continue to avoid nature and stay in your safe little bubble. Continue reading »
5 Outdoor Visual Phenomena
We all know that the outdoors are enchanting and beautiful, often mesmerizingly so, but it is a passive beauty, stable and unrelenting. Actively stimulating displays are rare, but when the conditions are just right nature lifts her skirt and puts on a little show.
Aurora
Commonly called the northern lights or aurora borealis, aurora is a confluence of charged particles in high sections of the atmosphere, but how they form is not the point. Aurora is nature’s free acid trip. Neon reds, greens, blues and purples are wiped across the sky, often appearing to wave or shimmer depending on their intensity. Continue reading »
Save Yourself through Mountaineering Self-Arrest
Nothing sucks like falling off a mountain, especially when it could have been prevented. If the sport we choose holds a realistic possibility of plummeting to a certain and messy death, then we best not overlook the safety techniques involves. Self-arrest is one of those supremely important skills in which the proper application of our gear and the familiarity with the technique could save lives. There are many different positions in which your body could fall down a slope. With this post, we’ll address the self-arrest technique for two basic falling positions: on your front with your head uphill, as well as on your back, also with your head uphill. Continue reading »
