Outdoor- The Outdoor life is now becoming a norm

As part of my commitment to put down the computer keyboard and enjoy the outdoors this summer; I’m also trying to become more self-sufficient.� One of the cornerstones of self-sufficiency is growing your own produce. I was tired of paying … Continue reading →

I like to take advantage of nature’s bounty if possible when I’m camping.� A fish cooking on the fire, some wild greens, and various nuts & berries would be my ideal “living off the land” camp meal.� This perfect sampling … Continue reading →

There’s quite a commotion going on in the Rookery at the Noxubee Refuge these days. The wading birds are busy nesting.� They are squawking, flapping, and fighting like neighbors in some cramped tenement that just refuse to turn the stereo … Continue reading →

There’s an old railroad track running through the middle of my town.� The tracks haven’t felt the rumble of passing locomotives and freight cars in years.� This part of the C&G railway line is essentially abandoned. Some of the more … Continue reading →

There are a lot of commercial rod holders and storage boxes out there you can purchase for your fishing kayak.� The accessory market for kayaks is huge and growing. I try not to put money in someone else’s pocket when … Continue reading →

Waterproof shells with a minimalist design and four-way stretch fabric

by Danny Milks & Kristin Tennessen | 2012-05-15

OMM is a British company that has been hosting adventure races since 1968, hence the name OMM, which stands for the Original Mountain Marathon. OMM also makes a full line of adventure racing gear and clothing, tailored towards that activity and the weather conditions typical in the UK: cool, wet, and windy. The products are equally appropriate for runners and ultralight backpackers, even though OMM designed them with adventure racers in mind.

OMM created the Kamleika shells to handle rain and wind at a minimal weight. OMM calls these their waterproof breathable soft shells, due to the soft, stretchy nature of the Gelanots fabric. The fabric alone makes the shells stand out, but our testing shows that these shells are well designed racing suits.

ARTICLE OUTLINE

• Introduction
• Specifications
• Description
• Performance
• Assessment
  • Acknowledgement

# WORDS: 2370
# PHOTOS: 14

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View All: Reviews > Gear

"This kind of cycling actually brings you closer to the land than hiking... because you must read the landscape so closely in order to ride across it." -Drew Walker, “The Talkeetna Traverse” Adventure Cyclist (Jan/Feb 2001)

by David Chenault | 2012-05-15

It's called bikepacking. Backpacking while on a mountain bike. Multi-day mountain bike touring. As impresario of cycling culture Gerard Vroomen has written, 'Slow enough to see the trees, fast enough to get through the forest.' If you're a mountain biker and not much of a backpacker, bikepacking will open up new galaxies right out your front door. If you're a backpacker but not a mountain biker, bikepacking will allow you to explore new worlds in your pre-existing universes. And if you're neither a mountain biker nor a backpacker, but are reading this anyway, what took you so long? You've been missing out!

This article will provide an overview of contemporary bikepacking, discuss its origins and ways of sub-dividing the main approaches to traveling with bikes in wild places, and point out some places in which bikepacking might be enjoyed. Two companion articles will discuss bikepacking-specific gear in detail: one reviewing suitable backpacks, the other rackless on-the-bike carry systems (e.g. frame bags and seat bags). BackpackingLight has covered bikepacking before, but it's been five years since the trip on the North Umpqua trail that Doug Johnson discussed in the ninth issue of BackpackingLight magazine ('Singletrack on the Ultralight'). In that half-decade, a minor revolution has taken place with bikepacking gear, which in turn spawned a major revolution in the minds of bikepackers. The range of routes being bikepacked and the way in which these trips are approached are quite different as a result of these advances.

It's worth noting that this article will discuss lightweight bikepacking only. As with lightweight backpacking, ski touring, or packrafting, the 'light' part is only on the surface concerned with weight. No one has yet proposed a weight classification quite as rigorous as the base weights which have come to separate lightweight from ultralight and then superultralight (less than 20, 10, and 5 pounds, respectively). In this article I'll use a simpler method: lightweight bikepacking means multi-day adventure-based mountain bike riding with no trailers and no panniers. No trailers, no panniers! You eBayed your Arcflex Terraplane a decade ago, yes? Same thing here. Not only are seven-pound backpacks, Bob trailers, and panniers (and often racks) heavy, they allow you to carry even more gear, which is not only heavy on the body (SOMETHING is propelling that bike!), but heavy on the mind and soul. The superficial aspect of lightweight wilderness travel is having a light pack so you can use less energy, move faster, longer, easier, and so forth. The deeper reasons for lightweight have to do with mindfulness, personal growth, and a studied and respectful approach to the land and the human relationship with it. Bringing only the gear and food you need forces you to pay greater attention to both external and internal conditions. For virtually all bikepacking trips, a trailer with a huge load bespeaks of a problematic relationship with the world at large.

ARTICLE OUTLINE

• Three Types of Bikepacking
• Bikes for Bikepacking
  • Bikes for Dirt Touring
  • Bikes for Technical Bikepacking
  • Bikes for Hellbiking
• Places to go Bikepacking
  • Dirt Touring Destinations
    • The White Rim, Canyonlands National Park
    • The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
    • Back Roads Near You
  • Places to go Technical Bikepacking
    • The Maah Daah Hey Trail
    • The Colorado Trail
    • The Arizona Trail
  • Places to go Hellbiking

# WORDS: 5420
# PHOTOS: 10

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View All: Trend Reports > Trends

Planning like crazy to do a thru-hike doesn't quiet the fears: "Can I do this? Will my gear work? Will I stay motivated? Do I have the right food?" Only time on the trail would answer.

by Luke Schmidt | 2012-05-08

My grandfather's friend Jerry dropped me off at the Colorado Trail trailhead just as the sun was going down. With a rainstorm threatening I trotted off to find a campsite for the night. Like the entire trip, this drop off was last minute. I'd bought all my food, mailed my resupply packages, and packed all my gear over a weekend. Now after all the crazy planning I was finally going to do a thru-hike, or so I hoped. I'd been on dozens of trips from weekends to five days, I'd done even longer canoe trips, but I'd never been able to go hiking for more than five days at a stretch. The questions in my mind were "Can I do this? Will my gear work? Will I stay motivated? Do I have the right food?" Only time on the trail would answer.

ARTICLE OUTLINE

• A Last Minute Start
• Part 1: Racing the Clock
• Part 2: Rain
• Part 3: Boredom
• Part 4: Going Remote
• Part 5: Going High
• Things Go Wrong
• Final Thoughts

# WORDS: 5130
# PHOTOS: 40

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View All: Trip Reports > Places

Will it light the trails on fire?

by Brad Groves | 2012-05-08

The Blaze A.C. 60 is not born of blazon fireworks or Las Vegas-style, in-your-face theatrics. Its appearance is relatively unassuming, though not unattractive... techy enough to look like a contemporary pack, but without standing out, the Blaze reminds me of a good spy’s ability to blend in. It performs well in the field, too, and looks its role: solid, light, utilitarian.

ARTICLE OUTLINE

• Introduction
• Specifications
• Checking out the Basics
• Looking into the Finer Details
• Fire by Friction?
• Conclusion

# WORDS: 2150
# PHOTOS: 5

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View All: Reviews > Gear

"I've never been lost, but I was once a mite bewildered for a few days." - Daniel Boone

by David Chenault | 2012-05-01

Getting lost is not a black and white affair. I can't recall ever being fully lost, in the sense of having little idea where I was, but there have been plenty of times where I could only pinpoint my location to within a kilometer of a given point, and even more occasions when I knew exactly where I was, exactly where I wanted to go, but couldn't get between the two due to unforeseen cliffs, swollen rivers, and so forth. On one occasion years ago, two partners and I stood at midnight, the soft contours of the San Rafael Swell illuminated by all the earth's stars and a new moon, watching the passing, silent headlights of semi trucks on I-70 five miles to the north. We could see a fuzzy dirt road almost within spitting distance leading back to camp, but spent three hours finding a way down the 100 meter cliff to it. Did that count as being lost? On another occasion Chris Plesko and I hiked off our map (on purpose) and rather than picking up the human trail out of sight across a huge meadow, followed the bison-made highway deep into the head of an unknown valley. It took until noon the next day, a camp still off the map, some GPS extrapolation, and a bushwhack down a big hill covered in blowdown to find a human trail again. Many might consider that lost.

Neither of these misadventures were planned, and neither led to anything worse than sore feet and a good story, but both could have had far greater consequences. Descending a Windgate sandstone cliff system is dangerous enough in daylight, and when you know there's a route. Doing it in the dark, after a 60-kilometer day, and with one functioning headlamp for three is begging for a fall and broken bones. And had Chris or I slipped on the countless rain-snotted logs, rescuers would have been looking in the wrong place for days. Getting lost, in all its gradations, is thus something to be avoided. Or at the very least, entered into willingly and with proper preparations.

There are endless ways to make route finding on faint trails, both human and animal, easier and more predictable, and thus safer. What follows are a few of them. I'll discuss each idea in introductory form, before examining them in the context of both human and animal created trails. There will be occasions in the wilderness when you'll be forced to route find based on no established path of any kind, but those times are more rare than you might think. Most of the time in the wilderness, someone has gone there before, and finding and following the established trail is the most efficient way to go. A bonus section dealing with winter-travel on snow-covered trails is included as well.

Disclaimer: these are some ideas for route finding on human and animal trails. There are many more. I also take no responsibility herein for instructing on map and compass use. If you can’t adjust for declination or lack an intimate understanding of contour intervals, stop now. Learn that stuff and come back later.

ARTICLE OUTLINE

• Introduction
• Bring Enough Map
• Know your Trail Builder
• Look Up, Look Down
• Look for Sawn Logs
• Check Yourself
• Use the Force
• Bonus: Finding the Trail Under Snow

# WORDS: 5860
# PHOTOS: 26

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View All: Techniques & Best Practices > Techniques

Merrell hiking shoes are essential when hiking. They help protect your feet from rough terrain and sharp, jagged rocks on the trail. In addition, Merrell hiking shoes are water-proof and weather-resistant. That way, your feet won’t get wet and you won’t develop blisters as a result from too much walking.

Read more on Merrell Hiking Shoes…

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There was a time that camping was all about sleeping in a tent. These days, you can rent a mobile home and still be close to nature if you decide to go camping in France.

To rent a mobile home for your camping trip, you need to do some research first to find out how much it costs and what is available. You can do this by yourself and while online, you might be able to get special deals and rates if you make a reservation and pay the down payment. Take note that the rate changes depending on the season and this is all in Euro not US dollar.

If you don’t have time to look for a mobile home to rent, you can ask your travel agent who is already working on your travel arrangements. Since you are still across the Atlantic, keep in mind that reservations can only be made using a major credit card.

The size of the mobile home varies so you can find out that can house 4 people while there are bigger ones that can house double that number.

Part of what you pay already includes the electrical and water charges as well as a car. If the place you will be staying in is far from the airport, you can choose to have the car waiting in the parking lot with instructions of how to get to the mobile home.

What is not included in the price when you are looking around is are transportation, meals and personal expenses, the provision of bed linen and towels, the cleaning, local tax and bond which is payable on the spot and cancellation insurance.

Since the mobile home is empty, you can bring some of the items all the way from the US or buy it from hypermarkets or supermarkets along the way.

If you would like bed and linen, this is available for rent but you have to request for this while making your reservation.

To do that, make sure that your driver’s license is valid. You will be happy to know that you don’t have to get an international driver’s license since the American driver’s license will do in western European countries. So while you are still in the US, make sure this is still valid. If not, you better have it renewed before you leave so there won’t be any problems if ever you get pulled over.

To be safe, be aware of European street signs and driving laws before you get behind the wheel. It should be pointed out that the auto accident fatality rate in Europe is about four times higher than that in the United States.

Renting a mobile home is not very hard and you can do this on your own or with the help of a travel agent. In the end, you still save money because the rates are still much cheaper than staying in a hotel.

If you enjoyed staying a in a mobile home while camping in France, you are sure to do this again in the foreseeable future. With over 10,000 camp sites all across the country, you are sure to find another which is just as good as this one or maybe even better.

Read more on What to Expect When Renting a Mobile Home While Camping in France…

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France is short on being called a camping haven. With the great weather and numerous campsites in the country, more than 10,000 in fact, it is certain that you can locate your ideal camping ground here. From beautiful coastal sites to majestic and pristine mountain campsite, France has a lot to offer campers around the world.

From Europeans to Africans, from Americans to Asians, the vast number of tourist campers the go to France during the camping season shows how much they love the combination of rich natural resources and cultural heritage of the French camping scene. But there are a few things when camping in France, some details the campers ought to know.

Of course, if you’re a foreigner always bring the travel documents with you. Always carry with you your passport, insurances, and various identification cards. Be aware the campsites in France are pretty much like hotels where you booked and pay for your stay. Now identification would be required during these situations so it is imperative that you have something to show. If you will be renting a car, make sure you have your driving license and make certain that the car is well equipped with the necessary safety gadgets and devices like a warning triangle which is required by French law.

Speaking of French law, that’s another things that you should get yourself well acquainted. There will be some restrictions and guidelines that campers will have to follow when they pitched their tents in France. So familiarize yourself. It would be great if you could buy a camping guide since some guides will give you a run down of what and what not to expect from your camping experience in France.

The more popular sites in France is Normandy and Brittany but don’t think that they are the best ones the country has to offer. Depending on your taste, there are thousand others to choose from. Do your research including asking your pals or friends about their camping experiences in France. Take note that since these areas are the more popular ones, expect a lot of people especially during the July to August peak months. Explore inwards, towards the country’s farm campsites where vineyards and valleys with deep rivers flow.

A must try is the food. Another mental note that you should take is the fact that almost every region in France have their own specialties. Don’t leave unless you have tried their food. From seafood dishes to crepes, from pies to local cheeses, camping in France include enjoying the food. So get out of your tent and dig in.

As mentioned earlier, going inland will give you a closer look at the vast vineyards the line up the French countryside. You can have wine cellar tour if your campsite is nearby and have a taste of the various kinds of French wine, which are often famous around the world.

July and August are the peak months so it would be best to schedule a camping trip say between June to August. The camping season officially ends in September because the weather changes. The mid year is the best time to go camping because the weather during this time is just splendid, not too warm or too cold.

These are just a few of the details that you ought to know when you are preparing a camping trip to France. Although some might appear to be too unrealistic or too rigid, some are actually quite commonsensical and needs no further explanation.

But I do feel that in the rush to go an enjoy camping people tend to forget a couple of the important stuff.

Read more on Camping In France, Details You Ought to Know…

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Camping is perhaps the best way to be close with nature. If you have done it in different parts of the US and want something different for a change, do this abroad and see if you can get the same experience while camping in France.

When you go camping, it is only natural that you bring the equipment from your home to the campsite. But if are going to cross the Atlantic to do that, it will probably be better to rent some of the equipment rather than bringing these along in your carry on luggage.

One of the most important things you will have to rent is the tent. Once you get it, read the instructions and practice setting it up a few times so you won’t have any problems doing this later on. This will allow you to do it without any difficulty when you arrive at the campgrounds in the later afternoon or after dark.

Also check the other equipment that you will be using for the trip including the flashlight, compass, knife and GPS if you are able to borrow one. These things are essential for your survival in the event that you get lost.

It will be a good idea to get all the information you need about the camp ground before deciding to go. That way, you are sure that there are different activities for you and the kids to do especially when you are staying there for a few days.

To do that, you can go online and check out the most frequented camping sites in France. You might be surprised to find out that some of the camping grounds in France are situated inside large estates or have an amusement park inside.

With that, you are sure that there are plenty of activities to do and you can even get the assistance of the organizers.

If cars are not allowed inside the campground, that means you have to walk a bit to get there. Just be sure that the distance is manageable because you will only end up exhausting yourself carrying all the gear.

When you reach the camp ground, set rules for the safety of everyone. For instance, children should not wander off alone, they should never approach animals and they must not taste or touch any of the vegetation. Everyone should also learn some basic first aid and fire safety.

Since you don’t have a stove or an open in a campsite, it is best to bring food that is easy to cook and prepare. You may not find hotdogs or burgers here but you can surely make up for that by cooking sausages, marshmallows and a few other delicacies that you can only find in France.

After camping in France for a few days, clean up and make sure all the garbage that you have made is collected and store properly. That way, your children will learn to be responsible and so that other campers who will be visiting this site in the future will also be able to enjoy it.

The purpose of camping outdoors is to get away from the everyday comforts and be close to nature. By doing some planning, you will be able to enjoy that even if you decide to go camping in France.

Read more on How to Enjoy Camping in France…

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There are a lot of nice places to go camping in France. By staying in the outdoors, you get to save money rather than staying in a hotel.

One camping ground situated inside a 50 hectare manor is the Le Val de Bonnal. Despite the green grassy patches all around, this place is considered to be a heaven for water lovers as they have 4 lakes that allow you to go canoeing, swimming and wind surfing.

If you want to get some exercise, you can hike and visit the village of Bonnal. You will never get bored here because if you run out of things to do, you can check out unique activities organized for visitors.

Another camping ground is the Aluna Vacances in Ard�che that is near the town of Vallon Pont D’arc. It has a swimming pool with slides for you to cool off. For those that don’t want to swim, they can go on a canoeing trip. After dinner, you can sing your heart out at the karaoke, go dancing in the mini disco or sit and watch the live show.

Next is Le Ranc Davaine in Ardeche. As you explore the vast camping ground, you will notice the hidden valleys, majestic rocks and rivers hidden in greenness. If hiking is not your thing, you can fun and even meet new friends as you go to the aqua gym or participate in sports such as archery, volleyball and tennis.

Who said you can’t go camping near the beach? This is possible in France because of two great camping destinations to go to namely Les Sablons in Languedoc-Roussillon and Domaine de la Yole in Languedoc/Roussillon.

Both campsites have a sandy beach so your kids can make a sandcastle while you go out trying the various activities.

You can even do a little shopping as you go inside the various shops and find fruits, vegetables and excellent wine.

If you want a camping site that has the beach on one end and the mountains in another, you should go camping in Les P�cheurs in C�te d’Azur. Because it is so central, you can take a drive in any direction and engage in various activities.

If you happen to go camping in Southern France, you get to enjoy the great scenery, the beaches and the fishing villages which you will not find anywhere else. If you want to do some shopping, you can go to the cities of Cannes, Monaco and St Tropez.

You may even want to take pictures in the canyon of Gorges du Verdon or visit the perfume distilleries. If you are traveling with kids, let them have some fun in the Aquatica inside the Frejus.

For those who want to go camping in the north, Brittany is an ideal place to go as you can see the rugged coastline and rocky coves. Since you can’t swim here, go south where there are long stretches of sandy beaches.

As you can see, there are a lot of nice places go to camping in France. You just have to do some research and find out what your family likes to do so you will enjoy your vacation. If you want to get a discount in any of these places, you are advised to book in advance.

Read more on Nice Places to Go Camping in France…

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I read awhile back that somebody said you might learn more from climbing the same mountain 50 times than you would from climbing 50 individual mountains. Hiking trails are much the same. I was on my morning hike the other day and came across a couple Christmas tree bulbs somebody had hooked to a tree. I thought, “wow, that’d be cool picture” so I brought my camera long next time. First thing I realized: the bulb creates a fish-eye effect that makes it nearly impossible to photograph without having the camera in the picture. I shot this from a zillion angles and finally decided heck with it, I’ll stop fighting the urge to hide the camera and see what happens. Another novelty I happened to notice on this trail I’d walked a bunch of times before. Looks like any old fallen tree, but notice the park road in the background and the angle of the fallen stump: When this tree fell it most likely blocked that road completely. Another of those examples of nature’s seeming delight in bollixing the designs of mere humans. If you spend much time reading about wildlife you’ll come across the phrase “charismatic megafauna” — a [...]

I used to delude myself that going on hikes and encouraging others to do the same via my blog was the extent of my obligation to the planet that makes it all possible. The guiding philosophy of outdoor-oriented recreation is that being out there is the first step toward appreciating it enough to keep it around for our great-great grandkids. That’s true as far as it goes — but it does not go nearly far enough. Over the weekend I finished reading the biography of Steve Jobs, who was depicted as an occasionally reprehensible human being who had at least one redeeming quality: zero tolerance for lame excuses. Inspired by his famous reality-distortion field, I started thinking about how much good my hikes and my blog posts were doing for the planet. And I had to sneaking suspicion it was not a hell of a lot. And that’s what got me thinking the next thing I’d blog about is how being a hiker — or hunter, mountaineer or kite surfer — is better than nothing, but better than nothing is not going energize our species to stop trashing stuff faster than it’s being replaced. So you no doubt noticed that [...]

The winner of the Two-Heel Drive challenge to relate readers’ most extreme hiking experiences is one Thom Gabrukiewicz, who emerged bloodied but not bowed after a backpacking adventure in Northern California’s gorgeous Trinity Alps. Here’s the link to Thom’s original post. Here’s how the final voting shook out: You’ll notice that 59 votes were cast — it didn’t escape my notice that every time Thom posted a “please vote for my tale” plea to his Twitter feed, his vote count bumped up a few notches. See, that’s the kind of initiative that built this great nation of ours. Fifty-nine doesn’t sound like much, but bear a few things in mind: 1) This is the Internet, where amusement rules and anything which imposes any sort of difficulty triggers a mad rush to the “back” button. 2) This contest required voters to read five stories, then decide which one they liked best. People hate to read on the Web, so this drives down the vote totals in any “pick the best story” contest. 3) People had utterly nothing to gain from participating in the contest if they weren’t one of the finalists. All of which boils down to: Having nearly 60 people [...]

And now I can finally reveal the shocking truth behind the Tell Your Most Extreme Hiking Tale giveaway: it all started because somebody on the social media team for Pemmican Beef Jerky picked an opportune time to flatter my ego by interviewing me for their Blogger of the Week feature on their Facebook page (pretty much any time is opportune for this, actually). That happened way back in the middle of September. Questions were sent, answers were sent in reply, and an offer beef of jerky was presented as a thank-you. Normally I’m ethically opposed to accepting freebies, but I figure most of the terrible things in history have been the result of fanatical devotion to a belief, so now and again I relent. They mailed me the nifty gift box, but when it got here I realized something: I’ve never been a fan of beef jerky. A few weeks back the folks at Pemmican finally told me when my interview was actually going to be published, which, coincidentally, happened right when I was looking for an excuse to post something on the hiking blog that did not require actual hiking (I know, heresy). So I figured that the surest [...]

UPDATE: This contest expired Nov. 8, 2011 Extreme hiking stories inevitably boil down to: at which point did you decide to turn back? At the first sign of trouble — when it made sense — or after a string of mishaps left you scared, cold, wounded or in some other condition of extremity? For those who missed the first round, or who need a reminder: A couple weeks back I asked folks to submit their most extreme hiking stories. More than 30 replies poured in. I narrowed it down to my favorite five stories of the bunch. What’s next: Sometime between now and Nov. 8, read each of the entries (click on the link to read the full posts), then come back here and vote. There’s a poll box down below the summaries. On the 9th of November I’ll announce the winner. 1) J.K.: Wild night by a waterfall Sulking and with no other real options, I climbed into bed and hoped it could find a way to sleep through the night. Politely summarizing, I was freezing to death. However, this was quickly mitigated by one thing ? massive winds picking up my tent at about 1pm and standing it [...]