Posts filed under 'Outdoor News'
Demo Day is the day at the Outdoor Retailer show where the attendees get to play… and sweat. I think I sweat a gallon today. I heard the showing of vendors was probably half of what it has been in the past. Probably due to high fuel costs. Nobody wants to ship 200 canoes across the country, then ship them back 4 days later with these gas prices.
Anywho, I did see some interesting products today and met some cool people. One thing about this trade show that differs from others I’ve been too is the relaxed atmosphere. People were paddling kayaks down by the lake and drinking beer and eating turkey burgers up by the booths. All the while Reggae was playing in the background, and business was still getting done. It felt sort of like the Bonnaroo of trade shows.
Above is the paddle sports demo area. As you can see, loads of boats… and paddlers. There were some other booths at demo day, but most of the action was in the paddle sports area.
Here I am testing a new Bell Solo Canoe in what I like to call the Paddler Soup. The light literally shown through the walls of its kevlar mesh hull. It could turn on a dime which was great, and was light enough for one person to pack with ease. In the background you can see some “Stand-Up Paddle Boards.” I’m not sure how well these are catching on, but testers were having alot of fun with them.
This Airis inflatable kayak has a built in dry bag. No need to pack one. And it fits in a bag the size of a
backpack. Perfect for the apartment dweller or someone who wants to fit their kayak in their trunk without sawing it in quarters.
And I’m dubbing these two guys the Kayakillacs. They are from Epic Kayaks and really do seem to be the
Cadillac of kayaks. Their shell is much harder, they have nice cushy grab loops, roomy dry wells, and plush interior.
I saw plenty of other cool stuff today too, like some new innovations in backpacks Ergon is making, some cool quick dry technology, and some other stuff we’ll gear test for you guys down the road.
August 7th, 2008
As you may know I am at the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City.
This is the big outdoor industry trade show where all the outdoor companies will be shmoozing and showing off their latest and greatest products. AKA, the stuff you will want in your stocking this December.
I walked around a bit today and watched some of the madness that is a trade show set-up. I used to work for a company and worked the trade show circuit a bit. Let me tell you it is organized chaos. Sweaty people running to and fro with boxes of kayak paddles and trekking poles. Tow motors driving frantically with loads of who knows what outdoor-gear-joy packed away inside. Giant inflatables hovering above your head in anticipation of the next days activities, climbing walls sprouting up
out of cargo crates, CEOs of small outdoor companies sweating with the crew to get the booth looking just right.
Tomorrow I’ll be at Demo Day. This is where all the big gear gets demo’d. I’ll be watching people paddle kayaks, set up tents, roll out sleeping bags, and test harnesses. I’ll report back on the action there as well… stay tuned.
August 6th, 2008
A hiker on Sauk Mountain in Washington was shot and killed by a bear hunter this past weekend. This is a rare occurance but is still a real threat for backpackers who head in to the wilderness during hunting season. Another layer of tragedy to this story was that the hunter who shot the hiker was only 14-years-old. No charges have been filed yet, but I think the victims neighbor said it best; “You look into a scope you know what you are firing at — and really and truly that’s all I got to say.” We all share our public lands, hunters and hikers alike. Hunter safety courses are immensely important. Educating our young hunters is paramount to ensuring we don’t have any itchy trigger fingers out there. Young hunters must know what is in their sites every time they pull the trigger. They must be 110% sure.
The CDC did a study for 6 years in the early 90s. Out of 125 people shot by hunters that were mistaken for game, only 6 were wearing hunter orange. If you are hiking in hunting season, at least get yourself a brightly colored shirt or pack. Or wear a bright orange bandanna or hat.
Sierra Blogging Post provided some great tips we can all keep in mind when playing in the backcountry during hunting season…
1. WEAR ORANGE. Wear a blaze orange vest, cap, shirt, shorts, whatever. Wearing bright orange, the color hunters wear to avoid being shot, is the best way to make your presence known. This universal hunter safety color will dramatically reduce your chances of being mistaken for game. (Don’t forget to dress your dog in orange, too.)
2. Avoid wearing white during hunting season. A flash of white in the woods can be (and has been) mistaken for the white of a deer’s tail.
3. Avoid wearing dark colors, like black and brown. Humans dressed in brown or black can be mistaken for large game.
4. Stick to established trails. Hunters should be aware of trails popular with hikers and be extra cautious in those areas. (Obviously, as with this case, that doesn’t always mean they will be.)
5. Consider hiking in places unpopular with hunters. Check with your local wildlife official, Fish and Game department, or local sporting goods store to see where the hunters are/are not.
6. Make noise while you hike and don’t hike alone. Alert hunters to your presence by talking, whistling, singing, or carrying bear bells.
7. As always, make sure someone knows where you’re going and when you plan to be back.
August 5th, 2008
The one thing all of us that visit this blog, and Outdoorzy have in common is an appreciation for the outdoors. A love of being outside and taking part in an active lifestyle. We can all agree on that. But I believe one other thing that is a very close 2nd at binding us all is our love of the gear that gets us out there.
So this week I will be attending the Outdoor Retailer conference in Salt Lake City, UT. For the uninitiated this is the big trade show that the outdoor industry holds each year. All the new gear is debuted, new companies launch, the gear that was new this year is upgraded, and people shmooze.
My goal this week is to gain entry to this show, visit every booth (probably thousands), blog multiple times a
day, and keep all of you up-to-date on what is coming out for 2009. Just imagine, this year, you can be that one friend that is always like “..oh, did you say the Moutain Hardwear Goat Jacket? Yeah I know that one, has the fleece liner and the built in martini bar in the inside pocket.” Yes you! You’ll be the coolest Outdoorzy friend on your block. You can show your friends you’re the real deal, not Matthew McConaughey outdoorsy. No need to drive an old Land Rover Discovery, or leave your canoe on your roof rack all week. You’ll have the 4-1-1 and can talk the talk. 
Anywho, in celebration of this event we want to give you some Gear. The first 3 people to enter 8 gear reviews before Friday night will win one of three prize packs. The prize packs are like outdoorsy grab bags. They are each going to be a high quality daypack full of little gear items. Who knows what you’ll 
get… clothing, guidebooks, headlamps, solar chargers, mp3 players, t-shirts, shoes, water filter??? Gear freebies I pick up to review at this trade show will go into the 3 daypacks. You’ll be the first one to get your hands on some of these items.
So get hoppin! And your gear review doesn’t count if you half-ass it. Don’t review your new climbing harness and say “It was great, it kept me alive” We want more detail than that people….. work for it!
You may have also seen this contest on Contest Hound
August 4th, 2008
Seriously… Somehow I missed this when it happened a few weeks back.
Okay, here is the short and sweet…
Black Bear wanders into residential beach neighborhood. Fish & Wildlife comes to tranquilize the bear and relocate it to a remote wilderness area. After being shot, bear runs into the gulf of mexico. Bear swims out and shows signs of distress. Adam Warwick swims out to sea and rescues the 375 lb bear!
Adam, a Fish & Wildlife biologist, said “It was just the spur of the moment,” he said. “I’d never be able to live with myself if he drowned.”
All I can say is…. your a better swimmer than me dude.
Read all the details at Tallahassee.com
July 23rd, 2008
Yes folks, I’ve found it! I’d tell you, but I’m sworn to secrecy.
If you’d like to find it for yourself though just head up a trail on the nearest mountain. At lease that’s what a recent study suggests. Reuters did an article on this and here is what they had to say…
“Far from being a sport that just provides thrills for testosterone-fuelled risk-takers, mountaineering actually helps gives people perspective in their lives, according to Lee Davidson, senior lecturer at the University of Victoria’s museum and heritage studies program.
“It’s a way to look for meaning in life, it gives people a sense of focus, makes them see what’s really of value,” Davidson, a climber herself, told Reuters.”
I’d have to agree with the article. There is a serenity and peace that can be found in remote wilderness areas, in the mountains, that is difficult to achieve in a world of concrete and steel. Sitting and watching a sunset crawl below the snowy peaks with only one sound in your ear, wind, can be deep. When mountaineering or backpacking comes up in conversation, people think I’m some crazy Xtreme person for taking part. They simply don’t understand that it’s more about slowing down, clearing your mind, and pushing your body to reach a place that most people will never see. The view from a mountain is sort of like putting a chair in the corner of your bedroom and standing on it. Looking around you see everything from a different angle. You gain new knowledge and appreciation for everything.
Get out.
via Sierra Blogging Post
July 22nd, 2008
In the June issue of Backpacker Magazine you may have noticed a great story about pooping. Poo isn’t usually my favorite topic when reading but this story was educational. In 2007 the last toilets were removed from the 12,000 foot Trail Camp on Mt Whitney. Now lucky hikers get to poop in a bag and carry it out themselves.
In the backpacker article, the author Dougland McDonald, keeps a bag of poop at his desk for some time to test and see if it stinks. Well Douglands shit don’t stink… at least in a baggie it doesn’t.
McDonald talks about his experiences pooping up high here at the Mountain World blog. He talks about the two brands of bag you can use and how they perform. Enjoy your Monday…
July 21st, 2008
Primal Quest has teamed up with Blackwater Extreme Racing to put on a 24-hour race that, well, sounds like an ass-kicker. The Blackwater Escape and Evasion Race is scheduled to take place November 7th- 8th in Moyock, North Carolina.
“Blackwater E&E is unlike any other adventure race on the planet. This 24-hour race will test teams of two against one another as they run, mountain bike, paddle, swim, and climb their way across a challenging course designed to test them at every turn. Along the way, they’ll face the Blackwater obstacle course, the infamous SEAL team “log PT”, an optional orienteering course, and a few other surprises that could only come from Blackwater and the team behind Primal Quest, the “World’s Most Challenging Human Endurance Competition”.”
This would obviously be a good race for triathletes and other endurance athletes, but the organizers also recommend it to military personnel, police officers, firefighters, or anyone else looking to add a little adventure and challenge to their life. For more information and to register, go to http://blackwateree.com. Registration opened yesterday on the website.
July 16th, 2008
Karl Metzer won six of the world’s toughest ultra marathons last year. But apparently that wasn’t enough, now he’s headed to the Appalachian Trail to run it’s entire length. He starts on August 5th.
The site isn’t up yet, but www.whereskarl.com will track his success when he gets moving. Good luck buddy. And good luck to your knees.
And here is an interview with Karl, so you can get to know him a bit, and see what his strategy is when tackling ultras.
Karl Meltzer Interview
July 11th, 2008
Dara Torres is a 41-year-old mother who has had surgery on her shoulder and her knee in the past 8 months. She’s not someone you would think just qualified for the Olympics. Her fifth Olympics.
Torres will be competing in the 100 meter freestyle and 50 meter freestyle. While qualifying she overcame competitors half her age. Torres uses resistance training and focuses on her core. This strength training is what she and her doctors credit to her success. Most professional athletes are finished by her age, but she presses on.
Joel Stager, and exercise physiologist at Indiana University said, “It shows us what we can do. It’s just that most of us don’t.”
Via Sierra Blogging Post and CNN
Photo source Eyespyfilms.com
July 10th, 2008
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backpack. Perfect for the apartment dweller or someone who wants to fit their kayak in their trunk without sawing it in quarters.
