Update: It has been brought to my attention that this video is older than the February 15 posting date to YouTube and likely dates back to 2007. It was originally used in a BBC documentary entitled Tiger: Spy in the Jungle which was broadcasted in 2008. The footage is still remarkable and the story remains the same, but wanted to clarify that this isn't completely new after all.
25 Şubat 2013 Pazartesi
Video: First Ever Footage Of Baby Tigers In The Wild (Updated!)
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Tigers are notoriously reclusive cats that have gotten rarer as their species has continued to shrink in numbers. But recently the BBC was able to capture the first ever footage of a mother tiger with her cubs in the wild. And just how exactly did they manage to do this after years of trying? Simple! They strapped cameras to elephants! It seems the pachyderms and big cats are not exactly mortal enemies, so the tigers don't flee when the elephants wander by. As a result, the BBC was lucky enough to capture this footage. Narration provided by Sir David Attenborough of course!
Update: It has been brought to my attention that this video is older than the February 15 posting date to YouTube and likely dates back to 2007. It was originally used in a BBC documentary entitled Tiger: Spy in the Jungle which was broadcasted in 2008. The footage is still remarkable and the story remains the same, but wanted to clarify that this isn't completely new after all.
Update: It has been brought to my attention that this video is older than the February 15 posting date to YouTube and likely dates back to 2007. It was originally used in a BBC documentary entitled Tiger: Spy in the Jungle which was broadcasted in 2008. The footage is still remarkable and the story remains the same, but wanted to clarify that this isn't completely new after all.
Winter Climbs 2013: Weather Keeps Everyone Stationary
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Reports out of Pakistan are starting to sound a bit like a broken record. The entire region is stuck in a bad weather pattern and it is keeping the climbers locked in place while they wait and watch the skies. The forecast doesn't look particularly good over the next few days, which means that one team will remain in Base Camp waiting for an opportunity to go up, while another waits to discover what has become of a lost climber.
On Broad Peak there is little news from the Polish team that is hoping to make the first ascent of that 8051-meter (26,414 ft) mountain. They were forced back from the summit early last week and have been in BC ever since. They are still hoping that conditions will improve and give them a shot at completing their climb, but the forecasts indicate that bad weather will remain over their position late into this week. If that holds true, they'll be unable to move up for another couple of days and they'll have to hope that their high camps remain in position when they start their next summit bids. One thing is for sure, they'll certainly be rested and ready to give it another go if a weather window does actually open.
The weather report on Nanga Parbat isn't any better as that mountain is expecting heavy snows throughout the week. Considering nearly everyone has left Nanga for the season, that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. But search and rescue teams remain on the Rupal Face where they have been searching for missing French snowboarder Joel Wischnewski and the poor weather conditions are not helping their cause any.
Wischnewski set off on a solo summit bid nearly three weeks ago and hasn't been heard from since. The SAR team has gone has high as Camp 2, which was his launching point on February 6, but there has been no sign of the climber. Since he was traveling in alpine style there is little gear to be found and because the weather has been so awful, no one has been able to go above C2 in their search. It could be another three or four days before they'll have the opportunity to go up, but at this point we have to wonder if they'll ever find anything at point.
I've tried to remain optimistic about Joel's wellbeing over the past 2+ weeks, but it seems the writing is on the wall. It seems nearly impossible that he could still be alive and healthy after this long on the mountain. At this point it seems the search teams are simply looking for his remains to try to figure out exactly what happened to him. I no longer believe that this story will have a happy ending.
My condolences to Joel's friends and family. It must be awful to simply sit and wait for news. Stay strong.
Reports out of Pakistan are starting to sound a bit like a broken record. The entire region is stuck in a bad weather pattern and it is keeping the climbers locked in place while they wait and watch the skies. The forecast doesn't look particularly good over the next few days, which means that one team will remain in Base Camp waiting for an opportunity to go up, while another waits to discover what has become of a lost climber.On Broad Peak there is little news from the Polish team that is hoping to make the first ascent of that 8051-meter (26,414 ft) mountain. They were forced back from the summit early last week and have been in BC ever since. They are still hoping that conditions will improve and give them a shot at completing their climb, but the forecasts indicate that bad weather will remain over their position late into this week. If that holds true, they'll be unable to move up for another couple of days and they'll have to hope that their high camps remain in position when they start their next summit bids. One thing is for sure, they'll certainly be rested and ready to give it another go if a weather window does actually open.
The weather report on Nanga Parbat isn't any better as that mountain is expecting heavy snows throughout the week. Considering nearly everyone has left Nanga for the season, that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. But search and rescue teams remain on the Rupal Face where they have been searching for missing French snowboarder Joel Wischnewski and the poor weather conditions are not helping their cause any.
Wischnewski set off on a solo summit bid nearly three weeks ago and hasn't been heard from since. The SAR team has gone has high as Camp 2, which was his launching point on February 6, but there has been no sign of the climber. Since he was traveling in alpine style there is little gear to be found and because the weather has been so awful, no one has been able to go above C2 in their search. It could be another three or four days before they'll have the opportunity to go up, but at this point we have to wonder if they'll ever find anything at point.
I've tried to remain optimistic about Joel's wellbeing over the past 2+ weeks, but it seems the writing is on the wall. It seems nearly impossible that he could still be alive and healthy after this long on the mountain. At this point it seems the search teams are simply looking for his remains to try to figure out exactly what happened to him. I no longer believe that this story will have a happy ending.
My condolences to Joel's friends and family. It must be awful to simply sit and wait for news. Stay strong.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes Pulls Out Of Antarctic-Crossing After Contracting Frostbite
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One of the biggest upcoming expeditions that I have been anticipating is the first-ever winter crossing of Antarctica led by Sir Ranulph Fiennes. The 3200km (2000 mile) journey would test even the heartiest of explorers, exposing them to temperatures as cold as -90ºC/-130ºF as they battled incredibly high winds and massive snow storms in what some consider the most challenging polar adventure left to do. Today we learned however that Fiennes has now been forced to pull out of the expedition after contracting severe frostbite while training.
Fiennes and his teammates have been in the Antarctic for several weeks now, putting the final touches on their preparations to launch their trans-continental trek. He and his companions were on a training exercise when Fiennes took a spill, damaging his ski bindings in the process. The famous explorer than proceeded to remove his gloves to fix the bindings in -30ºC/-22ºF temperatures which caused the frostbite. He is now waiting evacuation from the Antarctic to return to South Africa to receive treatment.
This isn't the first time that Fiennes has had to deal with frostbite. The veteran polar explorer has contracted it in the past on his numerous expeditions to the cold regions of our planet. In 2000, while traveling solo to the North Pole he had to be evacuated for the same reason. It was not long after that that he famously amputated his own finger tips to remove the necrotic area after his doctor urged him to wait until they were more fully healed. It is likely that that incident had an impact on him contracting frostbite once again.
The rest of the team is still proceeding ahead with their plans. They will depart on the Antarctic crossing on March 21 with several members of the team on skis, while others drive support vehicles behind them. We'll be able to follow their progress at the Coldest Journey website.
The BBC article linked to above indicates that Fiennes is absolutely devastated that he won't be able to join the team on this trek. Some believe that he saw this as a possible swan song to his career, capping an already impressive resume with one last grand adventure. Unfortunately that isn't going to happen. As soon as the weather clears, he will be on a plane back to South Africa.
One of the biggest upcoming expeditions that I have been anticipating is the first-ever winter crossing of Antarctica led by Sir Ranulph Fiennes. The 3200km (2000 mile) journey would test even the heartiest of explorers, exposing them to temperatures as cold as -90ºC/-130ºF as they battled incredibly high winds and massive snow storms in what some consider the most challenging polar adventure left to do. Today we learned however that Fiennes has now been forced to pull out of the expedition after contracting severe frostbite while training.Fiennes and his teammates have been in the Antarctic for several weeks now, putting the final touches on their preparations to launch their trans-continental trek. He and his companions were on a training exercise when Fiennes took a spill, damaging his ski bindings in the process. The famous explorer than proceeded to remove his gloves to fix the bindings in -30ºC/-22ºF temperatures which caused the frostbite. He is now waiting evacuation from the Antarctic to return to South Africa to receive treatment.
This isn't the first time that Fiennes has had to deal with frostbite. The veteran polar explorer has contracted it in the past on his numerous expeditions to the cold regions of our planet. In 2000, while traveling solo to the North Pole he had to be evacuated for the same reason. It was not long after that that he famously amputated his own finger tips to remove the necrotic area after his doctor urged him to wait until they were more fully healed. It is likely that that incident had an impact on him contracting frostbite once again.
The rest of the team is still proceeding ahead with their plans. They will depart on the Antarctic crossing on March 21 with several members of the team on skis, while others drive support vehicles behind them. We'll be able to follow their progress at the Coldest Journey website.
The BBC article linked to above indicates that Fiennes is absolutely devastated that he won't be able to join the team on this trek. Some believe that he saw this as a possible swan song to his career, capping an already impressive resume with one last grand adventure. Unfortunately that isn't going to happen. As soon as the weather clears, he will be on a plane back to South Africa.
Video: GoPro Goes Speedflying In Alaska
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Speedflying is a unique melding of skiing and paragliding. Those who take part in the activity climb up a mountain then proceed to ski back down, using their parachute to gently lift them over obstacles or see them down particularly steep slopes. It is an interesting mix of outdoor sports to say the least and the results are often spectacular.
Recently the GoPro BombSquad went to Alaska to put their skills to the test. The result is the short but excellent video below that captures them skiing through fresh powder and sailing through the air. They make it look effortless and fun, but I don't think you'd ever catch me trying this.
GoPro: BombSquad Alaska TV Commercial from GoPro on Vimeo.
Recently the GoPro BombSquad went to Alaska to put their skills to the test. The result is the short but excellent video below that captures them skiing through fresh powder and sailing through the air. They make it look effortless and fun, but I don't think you'd ever catch me trying this.
Jim Whittaker Reflects On 50 Years Of Changes On Everest
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On May 1, 1963 Jim Whittaker became the first American to summit Mt. Everest. His successful expedition was a result of months of preparation and weeks of hard work in the Himalaya that culminated with him reaching the highest point on the planet. Back then, Everest was a very different place than it is today, something that Whittaker reflects upon in an Op-Ed piece that he wrote for The Seattle Times that was published over the weekend.
In the article Whittaker talks about the massive changes that have come to the mountain since he made his historic climb five decades ago. He mentions that when he climbed Everest his team had to hire 32 Sherpas and 909 porters just to help get all of their gear and supplies to Base Camp, which was a 100-mile (160 km) trek back in those days. Today, a short flight puts you into the Khumbu Valley, making the walk in a mere 40 miles (64 km).
That isn't the only change however. Whittaker laments the fact that the crowds on Everest have grown so large, with some climbers lacking the proper skills, training and experience to take on such a massive peak. Whittaker's son Leif made his second ascent of Everest last year and we're told he had to wait at 28,700 feet (8747 meters) for more than an hour thanks to the traffic jams going up and down the mountain. The elder Whittaker feels that those crowds could be a disaster waiting to happen should extremely bad weather move in unexpectedly.
As we get closer to the start of new season on Everest I expect we'll see more pieces like this one. The 50th anniversary commemoration will no doubt also bring other media attention to the current climate for climbing on the world's tallest peak. But I doubt any of them will be written by anyone who has the same unique perspectives of Whittaker who really has seen the mountain evolve and change since he stood on top. This is definitely an interesting read from a man who knows what he is talking about.
Thanks to Bill Snyder for passing this my way. Much appreciated my friend!
On May 1, 1963 Jim Whittaker became the first American to summit Mt. Everest. His successful expedition was a result of months of preparation and weeks of hard work in the Himalaya that culminated with him reaching the highest point on the planet. Back then, Everest was a very different place than it is today, something that Whittaker reflects upon in an Op-Ed piece that he wrote for The Seattle Times that was published over the weekend.In the article Whittaker talks about the massive changes that have come to the mountain since he made his historic climb five decades ago. He mentions that when he climbed Everest his team had to hire 32 Sherpas and 909 porters just to help get all of their gear and supplies to Base Camp, which was a 100-mile (160 km) trek back in those days. Today, a short flight puts you into the Khumbu Valley, making the walk in a mere 40 miles (64 km).
That isn't the only change however. Whittaker laments the fact that the crowds on Everest have grown so large, with some climbers lacking the proper skills, training and experience to take on such a massive peak. Whittaker's son Leif made his second ascent of Everest last year and we're told he had to wait at 28,700 feet (8747 meters) for more than an hour thanks to the traffic jams going up and down the mountain. The elder Whittaker feels that those crowds could be a disaster waiting to happen should extremely bad weather move in unexpectedly.
As we get closer to the start of new season on Everest I expect we'll see more pieces like this one. The 50th anniversary commemoration will no doubt also bring other media attention to the current climate for climbing on the world's tallest peak. But I doubt any of them will be written by anyone who has the same unique perspectives of Whittaker who really has seen the mountain evolve and change since he stood on top. This is definitely an interesting read from a man who knows what he is talking about.
Thanks to Bill Snyder for passing this my way. Much appreciated my friend!
24 Şubat 2013 Pazar
Become An Outdoor Gourmet With CampingRecipes.co
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Are you the kind of person who spends more time cooking over a campfire or backpacking stove than you do in your own kitchen? If so, there is a new website you'll definitely want to checkout and add to your bookmarks. It's called CampingRecipes.co and it is sure to become a popular resource for the outdoor crowd.
As you would expect from an online cooking site, Camping Recipes has a database filled with all kinds of suggestions for things to eat while out on the trail. It features hundreds of suggestions for healthy and tasty snacks and meals for when you're out on the trail. It even features full meal plans designed to provide plenty of calories for extended trips.
The site offers a solid search tool for finding new versions of your favorite recipes but it also provides plenty of categories to explore as well. For instance, there are vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options. There are also suggestions for car camping , backpacking and ultralight trekking, as well as recipes that don't require any cooking at all. Camping Recipes provides excellent choices for kids, low carb selections and even gourmet meals for the talented trail chef.
But what really sets this site apart from others is the wealth of information in provides specifically for backpacking. Not only does it provide the full recipe for the meals but it also provides calorie counts too. It also offers an estimated weight for carrying all the ingredients in your pack, which is helpful for those who want to know exactly what they're carrying with them when they hit the trail.
If you're looking to add some new options to your outdoor cooking repertoire, then head over to CampingRecipes.co now. While you're there, sign-up and join the community. You'll be abel to share some of your favorite trail-menu options, interact with others and review recipes.
Now if you'll excuse me, I suddenly find myself very hungry.
Are you the kind of person who spends more time cooking over a campfire or backpacking stove than you do in your own kitchen? If so, there is a new website you'll definitely want to checkout and add to your bookmarks. It's called CampingRecipes.co and it is sure to become a popular resource for the outdoor crowd.As you would expect from an online cooking site, Camping Recipes has a database filled with all kinds of suggestions for things to eat while out on the trail. It features hundreds of suggestions for healthy and tasty snacks and meals for when you're out on the trail. It even features full meal plans designed to provide plenty of calories for extended trips.
The site offers a solid search tool for finding new versions of your favorite recipes but it also provides plenty of categories to explore as well. For instance, there are vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options. There are also suggestions for car camping , backpacking and ultralight trekking, as well as recipes that don't require any cooking at all. Camping Recipes provides excellent choices for kids, low carb selections and even gourmet meals for the talented trail chef.
But what really sets this site apart from others is the wealth of information in provides specifically for backpacking. Not only does it provide the full recipe for the meals but it also provides calorie counts too. It also offers an estimated weight for carrying all the ingredients in your pack, which is helpful for those who want to know exactly what they're carrying with them when they hit the trail.
If you're looking to add some new options to your outdoor cooking repertoire, then head over to CampingRecipes.co now. While you're there, sign-up and join the community. You'll be abel to share some of your favorite trail-menu options, interact with others and review recipes.
Now if you'll excuse me, I suddenly find myself very hungry.
Winter Climbs 2013: First Winter Ascent Of Laila Peak, Hopes Fading On Nanga Parbat
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It has been another difficult year for the winter climbers in Pakistan where the weather conditions have once again been extremely difficult to overcome. But the season isn't over just yet and one team has found success by putting up the first winter ascent of a mountain in the Karakoram.
ExWeb is reporting that Alex Txikon and Jose Fernandez were successful in their bid to climb Laila Peak, topping out on Monday, February 18. The 6096 meter (20,000 ft) mountain located in the Hushe Valley didn't make it easy on them however. The two men battled high winds and snow that was chest deep at times just to reach the summit. Their final push took ten hours to complete, with the descent requiring another four.
Alex and Jose say that wind speeds on the final push were in excess of 60 km/h (37 mph) and temperatures were hovering around -35ºC/-31ºF before taking into account the windchill. Exhausted from their efforts, the climbers spent the night in Camp 2 with two teammates who turned back earlier in the day due to injuries. All four have since descended to Base Camp where they are resting and preparing to head home.
Congrats to Alex and Jose on a job well done.
On Nanga Parbat search and rescue teams continued to look for missing French snowboarder Joel Wischnewski. It has been two weeks since we last heard anything from him as he started a summit push up the Rupal face that was expected to take three days to complete. The SAR team reached Camp 2 yesterday but still found no trace of the man. The rescue effort had to be halted however as bad weather prevented them from going any higher. Heavy snow and high winds are now expected over the next few days, so it will likely be the weekend before they can even think of proceeding higher.
After so long on the mountain without word, it is getting increasingly more difficult to see a happy ending on this one. Supplies would have to be running very low at this point and if he was capable of coming back down, he probably would have by now. I'm still hoping for the best, but reality is setting in.
Finally, the Polish team on Broad Peak has returned to BC to wait for another weather window. They had made a summit push over the weekend and into the first part of the week, reaching as high as 7800 meters (25,590 ft), but once again it was the poor weather that turned them back. The team has posted a recap of that "attack" on the summit, which you can read here.
For now, the entire squad will rest and watch the forecasts closely. They still have a few more weeks of winter left and with most of the work done, they simply wait for an opportunity to go up. All of their ropes are fixed, they're acclimatized to the weather and altitude and they're regaining their strength for another push. Lets hope they get the opportunity to have another go.
It has been another difficult year for the winter climbers in Pakistan where the weather conditions have once again been extremely difficult to overcome. But the season isn't over just yet and one team has found success by putting up the first winter ascent of a mountain in the Karakoram.ExWeb is reporting that Alex Txikon and Jose Fernandez were successful in their bid to climb Laila Peak, topping out on Monday, February 18. The 6096 meter (20,000 ft) mountain located in the Hushe Valley didn't make it easy on them however. The two men battled high winds and snow that was chest deep at times just to reach the summit. Their final push took ten hours to complete, with the descent requiring another four.
Alex and Jose say that wind speeds on the final push were in excess of 60 km/h (37 mph) and temperatures were hovering around -35ºC/-31ºF before taking into account the windchill. Exhausted from their efforts, the climbers spent the night in Camp 2 with two teammates who turned back earlier in the day due to injuries. All four have since descended to Base Camp where they are resting and preparing to head home.
Congrats to Alex and Jose on a job well done.
On Nanga Parbat search and rescue teams continued to look for missing French snowboarder Joel Wischnewski. It has been two weeks since we last heard anything from him as he started a summit push up the Rupal face that was expected to take three days to complete. The SAR team reached Camp 2 yesterday but still found no trace of the man. The rescue effort had to be halted however as bad weather prevented them from going any higher. Heavy snow and high winds are now expected over the next few days, so it will likely be the weekend before they can even think of proceeding higher.
After so long on the mountain without word, it is getting increasingly more difficult to see a happy ending on this one. Supplies would have to be running very low at this point and if he was capable of coming back down, he probably would have by now. I'm still hoping for the best, but reality is setting in.
Finally, the Polish team on Broad Peak has returned to BC to wait for another weather window. They had made a summit push over the weekend and into the first part of the week, reaching as high as 7800 meters (25,590 ft), but once again it was the poor weather that turned them back. The team has posted a recap of that "attack" on the summit, which you can read here.
For now, the entire squad will rest and watch the forecasts closely. They still have a few more weeks of winter left and with most of the work done, they simply wait for an opportunity to go up. All of their ropes are fixed, they're acclimatized to the weather and altitude and they're regaining their strength for another push. Lets hope they get the opportunity to have another go.
Adventure Tech: Google's Project Glass
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One of the expected next big things in terms of tech gadgets is wearable technology. Smartwatches are starting to get a lot of buzz, especially since Apple is rumored to be making one, and Google's Project Glass has been building some momentum for quite awhile now. For those who aren't familiar with Glass, it is a high-tech device that mounts a lightweight and tiny LCD screen right on the edge of your peripheral vision that can provide all kinds of information as you need it. The device pairs with your smartphone via BlueTooth, which allows the wearer to read and send text messages, get directions, take photos and video, and of course make Google searches.
Up until now, the exact functionality and how it looks has been a bit of a mystery. But Google is holding a developers conference at the moment and more information about Glass is starting to filter out, including the video below which gives us a real sense of what these things can do.
I have to admit, I wasn't completely sold on this technology when I first heard about it. I took a wait and see attitude because I wanted more information out of Google before I formed an opinion. But looking at the video, this looks like really exciting stuff. I like the idea of having a language translator ready to go at all times and the ability to get directions, with routing information right before your eyes, looks very promising. Sending texts with photos and interacting with friends over video calls could be a great deal of fun too. On top of that, the built in camera could be the first real challenge to GoPro in terms of the action cam market.
Right now Glass is only available to developers, with a new round of applications just opening, but Google is hoping to make this available to the general public sometime next year. It should be fascinating to see how it evolves in the months ahead.
One of the expected next big things in terms of tech gadgets is wearable technology. Smartwatches are starting to get a lot of buzz, especially since Apple is rumored to be making one, and Google's Project Glass has been building some momentum for quite awhile now. For those who aren't familiar with Glass, it is a high-tech device that mounts a lightweight and tiny LCD screen right on the edge of your peripheral vision that can provide all kinds of information as you need it. The device pairs with your smartphone via BlueTooth, which allows the wearer to read and send text messages, get directions, take photos and video, and of course make Google searches.Up until now, the exact functionality and how it looks has been a bit of a mystery. But Google is holding a developers conference at the moment and more information about Glass is starting to filter out, including the video below which gives us a real sense of what these things can do.
I have to admit, I wasn't completely sold on this technology when I first heard about it. I took a wait and see attitude because I wanted more information out of Google before I formed an opinion. But looking at the video, this looks like really exciting stuff. I like the idea of having a language translator ready to go at all times and the ability to get directions, with routing information right before your eyes, looks very promising. Sending texts with photos and interacting with friends over video calls could be a great deal of fun too. On top of that, the built in camera could be the first real challenge to GoPro in terms of the action cam market.
Right now Glass is only available to developers, with a new round of applications just opening, but Google is hoping to make this available to the general public sometime next year. It should be fascinating to see how it evolves in the months ahead.
Video: Mountain Of Greatness Trailer - Trail Running Around Kilimanjaro
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Tanzanian ultrarunner Simon Mtuy has always wanted to raise awareness of his homeland's fantastic trail running opportunities and in 2012 he finally got his chance. Last year, Simon led a group of endurance athletes that included ultrarunning legend Krissy Moehl on an 8-day, 160-mile run around Kilimanjaro. The group crossed through difficult terrain, dealt with plenty of heat and ran trails that see very little traffic as they completed the first circumnavigation around Africa's highest mountain. They also encountered breathtaking scenery and the interacted with the wonderfully friendly Tanzanians that live along the base of the mountain.
While they were off on their trail running adventure a film crew captured the experience from start to finish. The film, which is entitled Mountain of Greatness, is set to make its debut at the Trails In Motion Film Festival in March, but you can check out the trailer below. It gives us a sneak peek at what the runners experienced while on this epic run along the base of Kili.
If after watching this trailer you should happen to find yourself motivated to make this run for yourself, you're in luck. Simon is organizing another Kilimanjaro Stage Run for 2013. It will take place from October 19-29 and comes with an all-inclusive price of just $2125 per person. Seems like a bargain for this kind of adventure.
Thanks to Andrew King for sharing this great story and video!
Mountain of Greatness - Teaser from D4 PRODUCTIONS | Andrew King on Vimeo.
While they were off on their trail running adventure a film crew captured the experience from start to finish. The film, which is entitled Mountain of Greatness, is set to make its debut at the Trails In Motion Film Festival in March, but you can check out the trailer below. It gives us a sneak peek at what the runners experienced while on this epic run along the base of Kili.
If after watching this trailer you should happen to find yourself motivated to make this run for yourself, you're in luck. Simon is organizing another Kilimanjaro Stage Run for 2013. It will take place from October 19-29 and comes with an all-inclusive price of just $2125 per person. Seems like a bargain for this kind of adventure.
Thanks to Andrew King for sharing this great story and video!
Video: A Mountain Guide's Take On The Garmin fēnix
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Judging from the amount of traffic that this series of videos from Garmin has gotten over the past few weeks, I think it safe to say that you are enjoying learning more about the fēnix GPS watch and how it can be used in our outdoor pursuits. The latest video features German mountain guide Christof Schellhammer, who worked closely with Garmin int he development of the fēnix. Christof shares how he uses the device to navigate through the mountains and the role it plays in helping him be a safer guide.
The more I see of these videos, the more I think I need one of these watches, which is kind of the point huh?
The more I see of these videos, the more I think I need one of these watches, which is kind of the point huh?
23 Şubat 2013 Cumartesi
Team Adidas-Terrex Prunesco Wins 2013 Patagonian Expedition Race
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I haven't written much about the 2013 edition of the Patagonian Expedition Race in large part because it has been difficult to get much information about what was happening. For a decade this has been the first big adventure race of the year and it is notoriously challenging with unpredictable weather always playing a role. This year was no different and we even had familiar faces at the top of the leaderboard.
For the fourth year in a row, Team Adidas-Terrex Prunesco has claimed victory in Chile. The team, which is made up of Mark Humphreys, Nick Gracie, Sally Ozanne and Chris Near, crossed the finish line yesterday after nine days of non-stop racing. They beat out ten other teams, most of which are still out on the course. It appears that Team Eastwind will claim second place today.
It seemed that the only way to follow the race this year was on Facebook and Twitter. The website for the event has typically provided live tracking, an up-to-date leaderboard and regular news posting on what was happening out on the course. Those things were absent this time out, which made it a lot more challenging to figure out what was going on. Hopefully next year's version of the race will bring those tools back for us fans to follow.
Congrats to the champs once again. It seems that over the past few years they've made Patagonia their home turf. Well done!
I haven't written much about the 2013 edition of the Patagonian Expedition Race in large part because it has been difficult to get much information about what was happening. For a decade this has been the first big adventure race of the year and it is notoriously challenging with unpredictable weather always playing a role. This year was no different and we even had familiar faces at the top of the leaderboard.For the fourth year in a row, Team Adidas-Terrex Prunesco has claimed victory in Chile. The team, which is made up of Mark Humphreys, Nick Gracie, Sally Ozanne and Chris Near, crossed the finish line yesterday after nine days of non-stop racing. They beat out ten other teams, most of which are still out on the course. It appears that Team Eastwind will claim second place today.
It seemed that the only way to follow the race this year was on Facebook and Twitter. The website for the event has typically provided live tracking, an up-to-date leaderboard and regular news posting on what was happening out on the course. Those things were absent this time out, which made it a lot more challenging to figure out what was going on. Hopefully next year's version of the race will bring those tools back for us fans to follow.
Congrats to the champs once again. It seems that over the past few years they've made Patagonia their home turf. Well done!
Deadline Passes For Lance Armstrong To Deal With USADA
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Yesterday was the deadline for Lance Armstrong to come forward and fully cooperate with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency if he hoped to get his lifetime ban from competition reduced to eight years. The deadline came and went without Armstrong meeting with USADA officials, leaving many to wonder what the next move is for the disgraced cyclist who seems embattled on numerous fronts at the moment.
Following his much publicized interview with Oprah Winfrey last month, in which he admitted to doping while riding in the Tour de France, the USADA asked Armstrong to testify under oath about his use of performance enhancing drugs. The organization dangled the carrot of removing the lifetime ban if he came clean on the subject and shared his information on which doctors, coaches, trainers and cycling officials facilitated his doping over the years. In other words, they were willing to reduce the ban provided Lance named names.
Armstrong's lawyers say that he is willing to cooperate and share more details, but the cyclist fears opening himself up to more lawsuits. He also says that the USADA should be a part of a larger investigation conducted by WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency. Lance believes that WADA has more jurisdiction over the sport because cycling is so Euro-centric. Lance has always maintained that the USADA's efforts were too narrowly focused on only select American riders when the entire sport needs to be cleaned up.
For its part, the USADA now says it'll move forward with its own investigations. After extending the deadline for Lance already, they don't seem too thrilled with the idea of delaying further. The organization still has a lot of work to do in terms of tracking down everyone who was involved in the widespread use of PED's in cycling. As we all know by now, that is a rabbit hole that runs quite deep.
Personally, I believe Lance is hoping to get his ban reduced even further. A lifetime ban from competition is pretty clear cut and an eight-year ban isn't much of an improvement. For an athlete, eight years is an eternity. Most can survive a two or three year band and get back to a competitive level, but eight years might as well be a lifetime. The chances of us ever seeing Lance competing in a race of any kind again seems fairly remote at this point.
Yesterday was the deadline for Lance Armstrong to come forward and fully cooperate with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency if he hoped to get his lifetime ban from competition reduced to eight years. The deadline came and went without Armstrong meeting with USADA officials, leaving many to wonder what the next move is for the disgraced cyclist who seems embattled on numerous fronts at the moment.Following his much publicized interview with Oprah Winfrey last month, in which he admitted to doping while riding in the Tour de France, the USADA asked Armstrong to testify under oath about his use of performance enhancing drugs. The organization dangled the carrot of removing the lifetime ban if he came clean on the subject and shared his information on which doctors, coaches, trainers and cycling officials facilitated his doping over the years. In other words, they were willing to reduce the ban provided Lance named names.
Armstrong's lawyers say that he is willing to cooperate and share more details, but the cyclist fears opening himself up to more lawsuits. He also says that the USADA should be a part of a larger investigation conducted by WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency. Lance believes that WADA has more jurisdiction over the sport because cycling is so Euro-centric. Lance has always maintained that the USADA's efforts were too narrowly focused on only select American riders when the entire sport needs to be cleaned up.
For its part, the USADA now says it'll move forward with its own investigations. After extending the deadline for Lance already, they don't seem too thrilled with the idea of delaying further. The organization still has a lot of work to do in terms of tracking down everyone who was involved in the widespread use of PED's in cycling. As we all know by now, that is a rabbit hole that runs quite deep.
Personally, I believe Lance is hoping to get his ban reduced even further. A lifetime ban from competition is pretty clear cut and an eight-year ban isn't much of an improvement. For an athlete, eight years is an eternity. Most can survive a two or three year band and get back to a competitive level, but eight years might as well be a lifetime. The chances of us ever seeing Lance competing in a race of any kind again seems fairly remote at this point.
Video: A Mountain Guide's Take On The Garmin fēnix
To contact us Click HERE
Judging from the amount of traffic that this series of videos from Garmin has gotten over the past few weeks, I think it safe to say that you are enjoying learning more about the fēnix GPS watch and how it can be used in our outdoor pursuits. The latest video features German mountain guide Christof Schellhammer, who worked closely with Garmin int he development of the fēnix. Christof shares how he uses the device to navigate through the mountains and the role it plays in helping him be a safer guide.
The more I see of these videos, the more I think I need one of these watches, which is kind of the point huh?
The more I see of these videos, the more I think I need one of these watches, which is kind of the point huh?
Video: First Ever Footage Of Baby Tigers In The Wild
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Tigers are notoriously reclusive cats that have gotten rarer as their species has continued to shrink in numbers. But recently the BBC was able to capture the first ever footage of a mother tiger with her cubs in the wild. And just how exactly did they manage to do this after years of trying? Simple! They strapped cameras to elephants! It seems the pachyderms and big cats are not exactly mortal enemies, so the tigers don't flee when the elephants wander by. As a result, the BBC was lucky enough to capture this footage. Narration provided by Sir David Attenborough of course!
Winter Climbs 2013: Search Continues On Nanga, Winds Howl On BP
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Just a couple of short updates from Pakistan this morning as we head into the weekend. Not much has changed in the past few days, but I wanted to share what little information we have at the moment.
On Nanga Parbat the search continues for missing French snowboarder Joel Wischnewski. After being forced down by poor weather earlier in the week, the team of high altitude porters who have gone looking for him had hoped to climb back up to Camp 2 yesterday and possibly go higher. There has been absolutely no sign of Wischnewski who now hasn't been heard from in more than two weeks. Because he was climbing in alpine style however, there are no fixed camps to search for. He had all of his gear with him when he set out for his summit push on February 6. That means he could be stuck in a tent, high on the mountain and currently out of reach. If that is the case, he has to be running low on food and fuel by now, regardless of his health.
I'm sure friends, family and the mountaineering community that has been following his climb are still hoping for a miracle, but the chances of him coming down safely now seems incredibly small. Over the past two weeks the weather hasn't been good on Nanga and he would have had to endure that at altitude. Not impossible of course, but highly unlikely during the bitterly cold winter. I think everyone should be preparing themselves for bad news at this point.
Over on Broad Peak the Polish team continues to sit and wait in Base Camp. After being turned back on a summit bid last weekend, they'll now rest and prepare for another window that could give them access to the top of the mountain once again. The problem is, the weather forecast indicates that high winds have now settled over BP and are expected to remain there well into next week. That means it could be the first March before the Poles get another shot at going up. And this being winter in Pakistan, that next weather window may never come. Still, they'll wait it out until the bitter end, hoping to nab the first winter ascent of the mountain and with a month to go until spring arrives, they should get at least one more chance. For now, we all wait and watch the skies.
That's all for today. Hopefully there will be some more news next week.
Just a couple of short updates from Pakistan this morning as we head into the weekend. Not much has changed in the past few days, but I wanted to share what little information we have at the moment.On Nanga Parbat the search continues for missing French snowboarder Joel Wischnewski. After being forced down by poor weather earlier in the week, the team of high altitude porters who have gone looking for him had hoped to climb back up to Camp 2 yesterday and possibly go higher. There has been absolutely no sign of Wischnewski who now hasn't been heard from in more than two weeks. Because he was climbing in alpine style however, there are no fixed camps to search for. He had all of his gear with him when he set out for his summit push on February 6. That means he could be stuck in a tent, high on the mountain and currently out of reach. If that is the case, he has to be running low on food and fuel by now, regardless of his health.
I'm sure friends, family and the mountaineering community that has been following his climb are still hoping for a miracle, but the chances of him coming down safely now seems incredibly small. Over the past two weeks the weather hasn't been good on Nanga and he would have had to endure that at altitude. Not impossible of course, but highly unlikely during the bitterly cold winter. I think everyone should be preparing themselves for bad news at this point.
Over on Broad Peak the Polish team continues to sit and wait in Base Camp. After being turned back on a summit bid last weekend, they'll now rest and prepare for another window that could give them access to the top of the mountain once again. The problem is, the weather forecast indicates that high winds have now settled over BP and are expected to remain there well into next week. That means it could be the first March before the Poles get another shot at going up. And this being winter in Pakistan, that next weather window may never come. Still, they'll wait it out until the bitter end, hoping to nab the first winter ascent of the mountain and with a month to go until spring arrives, they should get at least one more chance. For now, we all wait and watch the skies.
That's all for today. Hopefully there will be some more news next week.
22 Şubat 2013 Cuma
Video: Garmin fēnix For The Trekker
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Okay, I promise this is the last video I'll post about the fēnix GPS watch but I didn't want the hikers and backpackers to feel left out on the fun. This latest video from Garmin features German trekker Ferdinand Thies who thru-hiked the 2200-mile (3500 km) Appalachian Trail and used his fēnix to share his adventures with friends and family along the way. Ferdinand likes the watch because it is lightweight and helps him navigate through areas he hasn't been to before without the bulk of a traditional GPS device.
The most intriguing thing to me about the fēnix is that I pretty much do everything that Garmin has showed us in the video. Climbing, hiking, trail running and so on. That makes this one very versatile watch as far as I'm concerned. I haven't decided if I'll pick up the fēnix or Suunto's Ambit, but both are definitely on my "wish list" at the moment.
The most intriguing thing to me about the fēnix is that I pretty much do everything that Garmin has showed us in the video. Climbing, hiking, trail running and so on. That makes this one very versatile watch as far as I'm concerned. I haven't decided if I'll pick up the fēnix or Suunto's Ambit, but both are definitely on my "wish list" at the moment.
Alan Arnette Interviews Richard Salisbury - The Man Behind The Himalayan Database
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As I've mentioned before, Alan Arnette is the best source of news and information on Everest, both leading up to the start of the spring season and while it is in full swing. As usual, Alan is getting us all ready for another year on the Big Hill by sharing some insightful interviews prior to the start of this year's expeditions. One of those interviews, posted earlier this week, is with a man you've probably never heard of, but whose impact on Himalayan mountaineering is undeniable.
The subject of Alan's latest interview is Richard Salisbury who works closely with the one and only Miss Elizabeth Hawley. For those who don't know Elizabeth Hawley, she is the preeminent expert on mountaineering the Himalaya, having spent more than 50 years in Kathmandu cataloging climbs and verifying just who has, and who hasn't summited. Quite frankly, if Miss Elizabeth says you haven't summited, no one else in the world is going to believe your story either.
Salisbury first met Hawley back in 1991 when he was planning a climb up Annapurna IV. At the time, he shared a spreadsheet he was using to keep track of the details of his climb, and he suggested that Hawley should start using a database to track all of the records that she was keeping of the big climbs in the Himalaya. She told him that she already had a grad student on that very project, but when the student moved to the U.S. to attend university, the project hit a wall. In 1992, she and Salisbury reconnected and he began working on what would become the Himalayan Database, the most comprehensive expedition archive of the region.
This database has become the definitive work and lasting legacy of Elizabeth Hawley and it is used by climbers, guides, media outlets, writers and numerous other people to keep track of what happens on Everest and the other big Himalayan peaks each year. In the interview, Richard talks about the origins of the project, problems with false summits, how Everest has become increasingly safer to climb and a whole lot more.
For Everest junkies this will be a fascinating read. Lots of good insight and statistical information from a man who has a long history of climbing and trekking in the Himalaya and working with a woman who knows more than probably anyone else on the subject.
As I've mentioned before, Alan Arnette is the best source of news and information on Everest, both leading up to the start of the spring season and while it is in full swing. As usual, Alan is getting us all ready for another year on the Big Hill by sharing some insightful interviews prior to the start of this year's expeditions. One of those interviews, posted earlier this week, is with a man you've probably never heard of, but whose impact on Himalayan mountaineering is undeniable.The subject of Alan's latest interview is Richard Salisbury who works closely with the one and only Miss Elizabeth Hawley. For those who don't know Elizabeth Hawley, she is the preeminent expert on mountaineering the Himalaya, having spent more than 50 years in Kathmandu cataloging climbs and verifying just who has, and who hasn't summited. Quite frankly, if Miss Elizabeth says you haven't summited, no one else in the world is going to believe your story either.
Salisbury first met Hawley back in 1991 when he was planning a climb up Annapurna IV. At the time, he shared a spreadsheet he was using to keep track of the details of his climb, and he suggested that Hawley should start using a database to track all of the records that she was keeping of the big climbs in the Himalaya. She told him that she already had a grad student on that very project, but when the student moved to the U.S. to attend university, the project hit a wall. In 1992, she and Salisbury reconnected and he began working on what would become the Himalayan Database, the most comprehensive expedition archive of the region.
This database has become the definitive work and lasting legacy of Elizabeth Hawley and it is used by climbers, guides, media outlets, writers and numerous other people to keep track of what happens on Everest and the other big Himalayan peaks each year. In the interview, Richard talks about the origins of the project, problems with false summits, how Everest has become increasingly safer to climb and a whole lot more.
For Everest junkies this will be a fascinating read. Lots of good insight and statistical information from a man who has a long history of climbing and trekking in the Himalaya and working with a woman who knows more than probably anyone else on the subject.
Europe's top 10 golf courses beyond Great Britain
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Today I found interesting course rankings from Golf World Magazine. Golf World Magazine's top 100 courses in Europe ranks those within mainland Europe, leaving out those in Britain & Ireland. The top 10 of the rankings are as follows:
1. Les Bordes Golf Club
2. Golf de Morfontaine
3. Royal Hague Golf & CC
4. Royal Zoute Golf Club
5. Le Golf National
6. Valderrama Golf Club
7. Kennemer Golf & Country Club
8. PGA Golf de Catalunya
9. Noordwijkse Golf Club
10. Bro Hof Slott Golf Club
And so it is Les Bordes Golf Club that is the top course for continental Europe. Not a golf course that I've heard much about, but it's a large one that stretches approximately 7,000 yards. The course is set in the forests of Sologne, in France, alongside the River Loire. As such, this golf course's holes are combined with both water and the birch forest.
A number of other French golf courses are included on the list. Among them the Le Golf National which is a future venue for the Ryder Cup, and the Golf de Morfontaine is another of France's gems which ranks in at second. Both climb above more famous courses such as the great Valderrama Golf Club, a golfing mecca that has formerly hosted the Ryder Cup. Set alongside the Pyrenees, on the eastern Spanish coastline, is the PGA Catalunya Golf Course which is another PGA Tour course in Spain ranked among the top 10.
I'm not sure how many of these courses are public ones, but if membership is not required they are certainly worth noting for a golfing vacation in Spain and France. Check out the Planet Golf site for the full rankings of Europe's finest courses. Additional Golf Digest course rankings for the USA can be found in previous posts on this blog.
1. Les Bordes Golf Club
2. Golf de Morfontaine
3. Royal Hague Golf & CC
4. Royal Zoute Golf Club
5. Le Golf National
6. Valderrama Golf Club
7. Kennemer Golf & Country Club
8. PGA Golf de Catalunya
9. Noordwijkse Golf Club
10. Bro Hof Slott Golf Club
And so it is Les Bordes Golf Club that is the top course for continental Europe. Not a golf course that I've heard much about, but it's a large one that stretches approximately 7,000 yards. The course is set in the forests of Sologne, in France, alongside the River Loire. As such, this golf course's holes are combined with both water and the birch forest.
A number of other French golf courses are included on the list. Among them the Le Golf National which is a future venue for the Ryder Cup, and the Golf de Morfontaine is another of France's gems which ranks in at second. Both climb above more famous courses such as the great Valderrama Golf Club, a golfing mecca that has formerly hosted the Ryder Cup. Set alongside the Pyrenees, on the eastern Spanish coastline, is the PGA Catalunya Golf Course which is another PGA Tour course in Spain ranked among the top 10.
I'm not sure how many of these courses are public ones, but if membership is not required they are certainly worth noting for a golfing vacation in Spain and France. Check out the Planet Golf site for the full rankings of Europe's finest courses. Additional Golf Digest course rankings for the USA can be found in previous posts on this blog.
Needs Based Selling - Reading Your Customer's Mind
To contact us Click HERE
... there is no subsitute for paying attention.
- Diane Sawyer
Trip
WALKING into the local grocery store the first week in January, I nearly tripped over a pallet of Slim Fast. I smiled at this excellent piece of "prophetic marketing" - knowing what the customer wants before she wants it.
The owner of this store knows that with each New Year nearly every American resolves to lose weight. The diet related products are in place on New Year's Eve. And he follows this marketing strategy all year long. In February, ice chests will line the high traffic areas within their stores. Outdoor accessories are on display weeks before spring arrives. School supplies are on the shelves by the end of June. This business owner anticipates each season months before its arrival.
How can you adapt prophetic marketing to your business? What seasons do your customers follow? Are they sports oriented? Do they own a boat? Do they follow the hunting seasons? Answering questions about your customers' seasonal inclinations will offer clues that enable you to anticipate their personal needs.
Another way to anticipate your customer's needs is to be sure you have everything required to use your product. For example, my wife went into a store to buy a mailbox. She picked out one made out of wood. An alert salesman pointed out that she would need to weatherproof the mailbox. He then proceeded to take her to each location for the other products she needed - sealant, sandpaper, brush, paint thinner.
Identifying what your customer wants before she wants it can place you in an invincible position. Any business can furnish customers what they want when they want it, but to give a customer what they want and how they want it before they actually want it, is Customer Service that knows no equal.
TURNAROUND TIP: This level of Customer Service is all about strategy. Below are three more ways you can learn to "read your customer's mind."
1.Help customers to identify their needs. Some people don't plan for their needs until they become urgent. Convince them of the value of pre-planning. Understand in detail your customer's business to see where your product fits in.
2.Make it a group effort. Get together with your colleagues and share information about customers and their product or service requirements. Cooperation is the key to making your business successful. Discuss ideas on problem prevention. Share current resources of information about each cust-omer.
3.Explore all of the capabilities of your products in relation to each customer. You may find that your service or product can help customers in ways they hadn't imagined. Be sure your clients fully understand all of the uses for your product or service.
By using these strategies, you will gain loyal customers, increased sales and less stress from unforeseen problems.
Needs Based Selling - Reading Your Customer's Mind
ike Dandridge md@theperformancepro.com Mike is the founder of High Voltage Performance, a consulting firm that specializes in designing customer experiences for the industrial marketplace. He is a keynote speaker and a seminar leader with 25 years experience in electrical wholesale distribution. Dandridge is author of, The One Year Business Turnaround, a book based on his years in wholesale, containing a year’s worth of ideas for improving your customer service. You may reach Mike at 254-624-6299. Visit his Website at http://www.highvoltageperformance.com. Subscribe to his blog at http://www.businessturnaround.blogs.com.
A Character Analysis of Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown
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What created Goodman Brown? A man so tormented by what even he considered to be a dream that it changed his life in a profound negative way forever. Goodman Brown was man plagued by his own conscious; he was someone who believed himself to have committed grave sin by meeting with the devil and participating in a witches meeting in his dreams. This spoke of an era where people were overcome with religious guilt and superstition. As a result of Brown's dream he suspected everyone in the town of being cohorts with the devil, in addition his superstition and questioning of his own self overcame his ability to trust or believe in anyone else. He died a bitter, unhappy, miserable man.
In order to fully understand the character of Young Goodman Brown we must first understand the era he comes from. Although Hawthorne does not state directly whether or not the plot of this story takes place in Salem in the seventeenth century, his references to other characters clearly imply it does. His references to Martha Carrier, Martha Cory, and Sarah Cloyse, all women hanged as witches in 1692; as well as his reference to King William who ruled England from 1650-1702 tell of this horrid time where people killed, tortured, burned, executed and suspected that everyone from their sister to there neighbor might be in contact with the devil. As a result of this environment of suspicion and paranoia Goodman might have felt as though his dream was in reality a lack of faith on his part. He may have felt so guilty for experiencing this dream that he thought he, as well as the people in his life were guilty of coercing with the devil.
Journey
Goodman Brown might have been Hawthorne's expression of his own struggles with his faith in humanity and himself. Hawthorne was a guilt ridden person and I believe that he had many instances when his faith was tested. Brown is Hawthorne to a lesser extent. Goodman Brown starts out as a good, happy, decent man; he seems very content. All of this changes when he decides against the advice of his wife faith (the symbolism is obvious here) that he should go out on a journey into the woods to meet with the devil. I believe path in the woods to be his continued decent into metaphorical as well as literal darkness. As he continues down the woods he reaches the pinnacle of his journey when he comes upon the witches meeting. Once Brown reaches this point he loses his faith despite his last ditch effort to save his wife. He never knows if he was able to save her. This doubt is what destroyed him.
Brown's motivation for meeting with the devil is never made absolutely clear and can only be speculated by the devil's references to others that have come into his fold. He speaks of the King, Goodman's father and grandfather, the deacon, minister and mayor. The devil makes it appear that everyone with any power, success or for that matter anyone that means anything to Goodman is in fact allied with Satan. Although Goodman resists the devils temptations at first; as more and more people are brought to his attention as being followers of the dark one, the idea becomes more acceptable. I believe Brown's motivation to meet with the devil was power; he wanted an advantage over others to achieve his goals. This may have contributed to his last ditch effort to save faith when he shouted "Look up to Heaven, and resist the Wicked One". When he arrived at the witches meeting he discovered that everyone already had the advantage of being on the wicked side and had already sold there souls for money, power, or prestige. He was able to see that nothing would put him ahead of anyone else by following through with his original task. He had nothing to win and everything to lose by making an alliance with the devil. Unfortunately for Young Goodman Brown it was too late for his soul to be saved. He reached the point of no return and not only didn't he reap any benefit from his ordeal but lost every bit of happiness he previously possessed.
Goodman Brown was a man destroyed by his own obsession. He lived a miserable life as a result of the guilt he felt for embarking on a dark journey in his dreams; which resulted in his suspicion of everyone and a lack of trust for individuals in his community, himself and humanity. The only way Goodman Brown would have been able to save his faith would have been to never embark on the dark path.
by John Schlismann
A Character Analysis of Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown
John Schlismann has an interest in American Literature.
To read Young Goodman Brown goto:
http://www.online-literature.com/short.php/158
21 Şubat 2013 Perşembe
Video: Walk On Water - The Greg Mallory Story
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18-years ago a skiing accident left Greg Mallory paralyzed from the waist down. For most of us, that would be a life-altering event that would probably end our ability to enjoy the outdoors, but Greg turned to kayaking to continue his adventurous pursuits. Today, he is an expert paddler who routinely runs Class V waters with ease. The video below tells his story, which includes a deeply personal connection with the water.
Amazing and inspiring stuff, beautifully shot by Andy Maser.
Walk on Water from NRS Films on Vimeo.
Amazing and inspiring stuff, beautifully shot by Andy Maser.
Filmmaker Set To Sail The Pacific In Search Of Adventure And "Guapo"
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I have to admit, I have a soft spot for expeditions that plan to set off in search of nebulous adventures. The kind that don't have a lot of concrete goals per se, but are just looking for adventure in what ever form it arrives. That happens to be exactly what three filmmakers have in mind when they launch their "Finding Guapo" voyage later this year. The team is setting off to shoot a documentary on what they say will be "about life, adventure, nature, sailing, diving, freedom, but mostly about madness."
The men will be joined on this voyage by a mysterious adventurer who is simply named "Guapo." I don't know a lot about Guapo, but from what I have heard, he sounds a bit like he Dos Equis Most Interesting Man In the World. In addition to being both a scuba and sky diving instructor, he is also a mountaineer who has climbed the big mountains of the Americas. A few years ago he also sailed solo from New York to New Caledonia, a tiny island located in the South Pacific, which he ended up making his home. In short, he is a free-spirited adventurer who goes where his wanderings take him.
It turns out, Guapo was planning on being in Mexico for a short time later this year and our intrepid filmmakers at KRAKEN decided they wanted to make this documentary with him during which they would be sailing across the Pacific Ocean. The current plan is for them to set sail for Australia, but as you'll see in the video below, those plans are in flux. They four men are going to see where their whims, and the tides of the Pacific, take them as they go looking for the adventure of a lifetime in the hopes of making a film about their travels.
To help fund this endeavor the men have set up an Indegogo campaign. They hope to raise $15,000 towards creating the project, although they're off to a bit of a slow start at the moment. With nearly a month to go however, they'll hopefully reach their goals.
Good luck to Guapo and the rest of the crew!
Finding Guapo - Indiegogo from Kraken Productora Tentacular on Vimeo.
I have to admit, I have a soft spot for expeditions that plan to set off in search of nebulous adventures. The kind that don't have a lot of concrete goals per se, but are just looking for adventure in what ever form it arrives. That happens to be exactly what three filmmakers have in mind when they launch their "Finding Guapo" voyage later this year. The team is setting off to shoot a documentary on what they say will be "about life, adventure, nature, sailing, diving, freedom, but mostly about madness."The men will be joined on this voyage by a mysterious adventurer who is simply named "Guapo." I don't know a lot about Guapo, but from what I have heard, he sounds a bit like he Dos Equis Most Interesting Man In the World. In addition to being both a scuba and sky diving instructor, he is also a mountaineer who has climbed the big mountains of the Americas. A few years ago he also sailed solo from New York to New Caledonia, a tiny island located in the South Pacific, which he ended up making his home. In short, he is a free-spirited adventurer who goes where his wanderings take him.
It turns out, Guapo was planning on being in Mexico for a short time later this year and our intrepid filmmakers at KRAKEN decided they wanted to make this documentary with him during which they would be sailing across the Pacific Ocean. The current plan is for them to set sail for Australia, but as you'll see in the video below, those plans are in flux. They four men are going to see where their whims, and the tides of the Pacific, take them as they go looking for the adventure of a lifetime in the hopes of making a film about their travels.
To help fund this endeavor the men have set up an Indegogo campaign. They hope to raise $15,000 towards creating the project, although they're off to a bit of a slow start at the moment. With nearly a month to go however, they'll hopefully reach their goals.
Good luck to Guapo and the rest of the crew!
Video: A Mountain Guide's Take On The Garmin fēnix
To contact us Click HERE
Judging from the amount of traffic that this series of videos from Garmin has gotten over the past few weeks, I think it safe to say that you are enjoying learning more about the fēnix GPS watch and how it can be used in our outdoor pursuits. The latest video features German mountain guide Christof Schellhammer, who worked closely with Garmin int he development of the fēnix. Christof shares how he uses the device to navigate through the mountains and the role it plays in helping him be a safer guide.
The more I see of these videos, the more I think I need one of these watches, which is kind of the point huh?
The more I see of these videos, the more I think I need one of these watches, which is kind of the point huh?
Needs Based Selling - Reading Your Customer's Mind
To contact us Click HERE
... there is no subsitute for paying attention.
- Diane Sawyer
Trip
WALKING into the local grocery store the first week in January, I nearly tripped over a pallet of Slim Fast. I smiled at this excellent piece of "prophetic marketing" - knowing what the customer wants before she wants it.
The owner of this store knows that with each New Year nearly every American resolves to lose weight. The diet related products are in place on New Year's Eve. And he follows this marketing strategy all year long. In February, ice chests will line the high traffic areas within their stores. Outdoor accessories are on display weeks before spring arrives. School supplies are on the shelves by the end of June. This business owner anticipates each season months before its arrival.
How can you adapt prophetic marketing to your business? What seasons do your customers follow? Are they sports oriented? Do they own a boat? Do they follow the hunting seasons? Answering questions about your customers' seasonal inclinations will offer clues that enable you to anticipate their personal needs.
Another way to anticipate your customer's needs is to be sure you have everything required to use your product. For example, my wife went into a store to buy a mailbox. She picked out one made out of wood. An alert salesman pointed out that she would need to weatherproof the mailbox. He then proceeded to take her to each location for the other products she needed - sealant, sandpaper, brush, paint thinner.
Identifying what your customer wants before she wants it can place you in an invincible position. Any business can furnish customers what they want when they want it, but to give a customer what they want and how they want it before they actually want it, is Customer Service that knows no equal.
TURNAROUND TIP: This level of Customer Service is all about strategy. Below are three more ways you can learn to "read your customer's mind."
1.Help customers to identify their needs. Some people don't plan for their needs until they become urgent. Convince them of the value of pre-planning. Understand in detail your customer's business to see where your product fits in.
2.Make it a group effort. Get together with your colleagues and share information about customers and their product or service requirements. Cooperation is the key to making your business successful. Discuss ideas on problem prevention. Share current resources of information about each cust-omer.
3.Explore all of the capabilities of your products in relation to each customer. You may find that your service or product can help customers in ways they hadn't imagined. Be sure your clients fully understand all of the uses for your product or service.
By using these strategies, you will gain loyal customers, increased sales and less stress from unforeseen problems.
Needs Based Selling - Reading Your Customer's Mind
ike Dandridge md@theperformancepro.com Mike is the founder of High Voltage Performance, a consulting firm that specializes in designing customer experiences for the industrial marketplace. He is a keynote speaker and a seminar leader with 25 years experience in electrical wholesale distribution. Dandridge is author of, The One Year Business Turnaround, a book based on his years in wholesale, containing a year’s worth of ideas for improving your customer service. You may reach Mike at 254-624-6299. Visit his Website at http://www.highvoltageperformance.com. Subscribe to his blog at http://www.businessturnaround.blogs.com.
A Character Analysis of Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown
To contact us Click HERE
What created Goodman Brown? A man so tormented by what even he considered to be a dream that it changed his life in a profound negative way forever. Goodman Brown was man plagued by his own conscious; he was someone who believed himself to have committed grave sin by meeting with the devil and participating in a witches meeting in his dreams. This spoke of an era where people were overcome with religious guilt and superstition. As a result of Brown's dream he suspected everyone in the town of being cohorts with the devil, in addition his superstition and questioning of his own self overcame his ability to trust or believe in anyone else. He died a bitter, unhappy, miserable man.
In order to fully understand the character of Young Goodman Brown we must first understand the era he comes from. Although Hawthorne does not state directly whether or not the plot of this story takes place in Salem in the seventeenth century, his references to other characters clearly imply it does. His references to Martha Carrier, Martha Cory, and Sarah Cloyse, all women hanged as witches in 1692; as well as his reference to King William who ruled England from 1650-1702 tell of this horrid time where people killed, tortured, burned, executed and suspected that everyone from their sister to there neighbor might be in contact with the devil. As a result of this environment of suspicion and paranoia Goodman might have felt as though his dream was in reality a lack of faith on his part. He may have felt so guilty for experiencing this dream that he thought he, as well as the people in his life were guilty of coercing with the devil.
Journey
Goodman Brown might have been Hawthorne's expression of his own struggles with his faith in humanity and himself. Hawthorne was a guilt ridden person and I believe that he had many instances when his faith was tested. Brown is Hawthorne to a lesser extent. Goodman Brown starts out as a good, happy, decent man; he seems very content. All of this changes when he decides against the advice of his wife faith (the symbolism is obvious here) that he should go out on a journey into the woods to meet with the devil. I believe path in the woods to be his continued decent into metaphorical as well as literal darkness. As he continues down the woods he reaches the pinnacle of his journey when he comes upon the witches meeting. Once Brown reaches this point he loses his faith despite his last ditch effort to save his wife. He never knows if he was able to save her. This doubt is what destroyed him.
Brown's motivation for meeting with the devil is never made absolutely clear and can only be speculated by the devil's references to others that have come into his fold. He speaks of the King, Goodman's father and grandfather, the deacon, minister and mayor. The devil makes it appear that everyone with any power, success or for that matter anyone that means anything to Goodman is in fact allied with Satan. Although Goodman resists the devils temptations at first; as more and more people are brought to his attention as being followers of the dark one, the idea becomes more acceptable. I believe Brown's motivation to meet with the devil was power; he wanted an advantage over others to achieve his goals. This may have contributed to his last ditch effort to save faith when he shouted "Look up to Heaven, and resist the Wicked One". When he arrived at the witches meeting he discovered that everyone already had the advantage of being on the wicked side and had already sold there souls for money, power, or prestige. He was able to see that nothing would put him ahead of anyone else by following through with his original task. He had nothing to win and everything to lose by making an alliance with the devil. Unfortunately for Young Goodman Brown it was too late for his soul to be saved. He reached the point of no return and not only didn't he reap any benefit from his ordeal but lost every bit of happiness he previously possessed.
Goodman Brown was a man destroyed by his own obsession. He lived a miserable life as a result of the guilt he felt for embarking on a dark journey in his dreams; which resulted in his suspicion of everyone and a lack of trust for individuals in his community, himself and humanity. The only way Goodman Brown would have been able to save his faith would have been to never embark on the dark path.
by John Schlismann
A Character Analysis of Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown
John Schlismann has an interest in American Literature.
To read Young Goodman Brown goto:
http://www.online-literature.com/short.php/158
20 Şubat 2013 Çarşamba
Europe's top 10 golf courses beyond Great Britain
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Today I found interesting course rankings from Golf World Magazine. Golf World Magazine's top 100 courses in Europe ranks those within mainland Europe, leaving out those in Britain & Ireland. The top 10 of the rankings are as follows:
1. Les Bordes Golf Club
2. Golf de Morfontaine
3. Royal Hague Golf & CC
4. Royal Zoute Golf Club
5. Le Golf National
6. Valderrama Golf Club
7. Kennemer Golf & Country Club
8. PGA Golf de Catalunya
9. Noordwijkse Golf Club
10. Bro Hof Slott Golf Club
And so it is Les Bordes Golf Club that is the top course for continental Europe. Not a golf course that I've heard much about, but it's a large one that stretches approximately 7,000 yards. The course is set in the forests of Sologne, in France, alongside the River Loire. As such, this golf course's holes are combined with both water and the birch forest.
A number of other French golf courses are included on the list. Among them the Le Golf National which is a future venue for the Ryder Cup, and the Golf de Morfontaine is another of France's gems which ranks in at second. Both climb above more famous courses such as the great Valderrama Golf Club, a golfing mecca that has formerly hosted the Ryder Cup. Set alongside the Pyrenees, on the eastern Spanish coastline, is the PGA Catalunya Golf Course which is another PGA Tour course in Spain ranked among the top 10.
I'm not sure how many of these courses are public ones, but if membership is not required they are certainly worth noting for a golfing vacation in Spain and France. Check out the Planet Golf site for the full rankings of Europe's finest courses. Additional Golf Digest course rankings for the USA can be found in previous posts on this blog.
1. Les Bordes Golf Club
2. Golf de Morfontaine
3. Royal Hague Golf & CC
4. Royal Zoute Golf Club
5. Le Golf National
6. Valderrama Golf Club
7. Kennemer Golf & Country Club
8. PGA Golf de Catalunya
9. Noordwijkse Golf Club
10. Bro Hof Slott Golf Club
And so it is Les Bordes Golf Club that is the top course for continental Europe. Not a golf course that I've heard much about, but it's a large one that stretches approximately 7,000 yards. The course is set in the forests of Sologne, in France, alongside the River Loire. As such, this golf course's holes are combined with both water and the birch forest.
A number of other French golf courses are included on the list. Among them the Le Golf National which is a future venue for the Ryder Cup, and the Golf de Morfontaine is another of France's gems which ranks in at second. Both climb above more famous courses such as the great Valderrama Golf Club, a golfing mecca that has formerly hosted the Ryder Cup. Set alongside the Pyrenees, on the eastern Spanish coastline, is the PGA Catalunya Golf Course which is another PGA Tour course in Spain ranked among the top 10.
I'm not sure how many of these courses are public ones, but if membership is not required they are certainly worth noting for a golfing vacation in Spain and France. Check out the Planet Golf site for the full rankings of Europe's finest courses. Additional Golf Digest course rankings for the USA can be found in previous posts on this blog.
The First Floating Golf Course
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Golf courses up mountains and in deserts are one thing, but now the first floating golf course is to be constructed. It is at the Maldives, a low elevation island chain in the Indian Ocean, that plans have been drafted for a new floating golf course that will be surrounded by sea water. Forget about Pebble Beach, as this will be more than a mere coastal course.
This golf course is just a part of a wider plan in the Maldives to replace sinking, or flooded, islands with a network of new artificial islands. The Maldives have turned to the Dutch Docklands International to construct a series of new man made islands. Among them will be the floating golf course that will consist of three small interconnected floating islands, and that is supposed to pave the way for the construction of further islands in the Maldives. One of the architects stated, "When it comes to the golf course, the islands will be floated into position first and then the grass will be seeded and the trees planted afterwards."
The golf course's islands will be interconnected with a series of underwater tunnels. The underwater glass tunnels will be a little like some of those aquariums you might find. Check out the images from Daily Mail's report. The course's clubhouse will also be connected underwater, via elevator.
The more specific destination for this new golf course will be just off the Maldive capital, that of Male. It is expected that a short speed boat ride will be required to reach the course from there. The course is scheduled to be complete sometime in 2013, and the overall resort by 2015. Then you can play at the first floating golf course!
 |
| An island in the Maldives. |
This golf course is just a part of a wider plan in the Maldives to replace sinking, or flooded, islands with a network of new artificial islands. The Maldives have turned to the Dutch Docklands International to construct a series of new man made islands. Among them will be the floating golf course that will consist of three small interconnected floating islands, and that is supposed to pave the way for the construction of further islands in the Maldives. One of the architects stated, "When it comes to the golf course, the islands will be floated into position first and then the grass will be seeded and the trees planted afterwards."
The golf course's islands will be interconnected with a series of underwater tunnels. The underwater glass tunnels will be a little like some of those aquariums you might find. Check out the images from Daily Mail's report. The course's clubhouse will also be connected underwater, via elevator.
The more specific destination for this new golf course will be just off the Maldive capital, that of Male. It is expected that a short speed boat ride will be required to reach the course from there. The course is scheduled to be complete sometime in 2013, and the overall resort by 2015. Then you can play at the first floating golf course!
Golf in the Maldives
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So it's clear that the floating islandgolf course is set to put the Maldives on the golfing map. But that'snot exactly set to be the first golf course in the Maldive islandchain. In actual fact two golf courses are already there.
One of the golf courses can be found atthe Kuredu Island Resort. You can reach the Kuredu Island viaseaplane, and here there are some lovely tropical beaches. Thisresort has also added it's very own golf course.
However, that golf course has just sixholes. All the holes included here are par-3s. The averageyardage of the holes is approximately 55 yards, and so it is more of a pitch and putt golf course. But the resort does includea range as well.
At Shangri-La's Villingili Resort there isan altogether larger golf course. That is a new golf course which islocated across seven and a half hectares of land. This is a nine holegolf course with holes that average 123 yards. If that is so then itshould be 1,107 yards. The course has a variety of exotic plants,palms and pandanus scattered alongside the holes and adjacent beachcoves.
I checked the course map, and the moreexciting holes here could be the ninth and third. Those holes seem tohave the most distance, and also play alongside the coastline. Theninth finishing hole includes the most bunkers, and also has a smalllake (or possibly pond) located just ahead of the green. Check outthe course's website for further details, photos and the map.
So, you can now play golf in theMaldives at these golf courses. Even if the courses lack distance,they still have some great landscapes alongside the sea. When thefloating golf course becomes the first full sized 18 - hole course inthe Maldives who knows what could follow with additional man madeislands.
One of the golf courses can be found atthe Kuredu Island Resort. You can reach the Kuredu Island viaseaplane, and here there are some lovely tropical beaches. Thisresort has also added it's very own golf course.
However, that golf course has just sixholes. All the holes included here are par-3s. The averageyardage of the holes is approximately 55 yards, and so it is more of a pitch and putt golf course. But the resort does includea range as well.
At Shangri-La's Villingili Resort there isan altogether larger golf course. That is a new golf course which islocated across seven and a half hectares of land. This is a nine holegolf course with holes that average 123 yards. If that is so then itshould be 1,107 yards. The course has a variety of exotic plants,palms and pandanus scattered alongside the holes and adjacent beachcoves.
I checked the course map, and the moreexciting holes here could be the ninth and third. Those holes seem tohave the most distance, and also play alongside the coastline. Theninth finishing hole includes the most bunkers, and also has a smalllake (or possibly pond) located just ahead of the green. Check outthe course's website for further details, photos and the map.
So, you can now play golf in theMaldives at these golf courses. Even if the courses lack distance,they still have some great landscapes alongside the sea. When thefloating golf course becomes the first full sized 18 - hole course inthe Maldives who knows what could follow with additional man madeislands.
Needs Based Selling - Reading Your Customer's Mind
To contact us Click HERE
... there is no subsitute for paying attention.
- Diane Sawyer
Trip
WALKING into the local grocery store the first week in January, I nearly tripped over a pallet of Slim Fast. I smiled at this excellent piece of "prophetic marketing" - knowing what the customer wants before she wants it.
The owner of this store knows that with each New Year nearly every American resolves to lose weight. The diet related products are in place on New Year's Eve. And he follows this marketing strategy all year long. In February, ice chests will line the high traffic areas within their stores. Outdoor accessories are on display weeks before spring arrives. School supplies are on the shelves by the end of June. This business owner anticipates each season months before its arrival.
How can you adapt prophetic marketing to your business? What seasons do your customers follow? Are they sports oriented? Do they own a boat? Do they follow the hunting seasons? Answering questions about your customers' seasonal inclinations will offer clues that enable you to anticipate their personal needs.
Another way to anticipate your customer's needs is to be sure you have everything required to use your product. For example, my wife went into a store to buy a mailbox. She picked out one made out of wood. An alert salesman pointed out that she would need to weatherproof the mailbox. He then proceeded to take her to each location for the other products she needed - sealant, sandpaper, brush, paint thinner.
Identifying what your customer wants before she wants it can place you in an invincible position. Any business can furnish customers what they want when they want it, but to give a customer what they want and how they want it before they actually want it, is Customer Service that knows no equal.
TURNAROUND TIP: This level of Customer Service is all about strategy. Below are three more ways you can learn to "read your customer's mind."
1.Help customers to identify their needs. Some people don't plan for their needs until they become urgent. Convince them of the value of pre-planning. Understand in detail your customer's business to see where your product fits in.
2.Make it a group effort. Get together with your colleagues and share information about customers and their product or service requirements. Cooperation is the key to making your business successful. Discuss ideas on problem prevention. Share current resources of information about each cust-omer.
3.Explore all of the capabilities of your products in relation to each customer. You may find that your service or product can help customers in ways they hadn't imagined. Be sure your clients fully understand all of the uses for your product or service.
By using these strategies, you will gain loyal customers, increased sales and less stress from unforeseen problems.
Needs Based Selling - Reading Your Customer's Mind
ike Dandridge md@theperformancepro.com Mike is the founder of High Voltage Performance, a consulting firm that specializes in designing customer experiences for the industrial marketplace. He is a keynote speaker and a seminar leader with 25 years experience in electrical wholesale distribution. Dandridge is author of, The One Year Business Turnaround, a book based on his years in wholesale, containing a year’s worth of ideas for improving your customer service. You may reach Mike at 254-624-6299. Visit his Website at http://www.highvoltageperformance.com. Subscribe to his blog at http://www.businessturnaround.blogs.com.
A Character Analysis of Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown
To contact us Click HERE
What created Goodman Brown? A man so tormented by what even he considered to be a dream that it changed his life in a profound negative way forever. Goodman Brown was man plagued by his own conscious; he was someone who believed himself to have committed grave sin by meeting with the devil and participating in a witches meeting in his dreams. This spoke of an era where people were overcome with religious guilt and superstition. As a result of Brown's dream he suspected everyone in the town of being cohorts with the devil, in addition his superstition and questioning of his own self overcame his ability to trust or believe in anyone else. He died a bitter, unhappy, miserable man.
In order to fully understand the character of Young Goodman Brown we must first understand the era he comes from. Although Hawthorne does not state directly whether or not the plot of this story takes place in Salem in the seventeenth century, his references to other characters clearly imply it does. His references to Martha Carrier, Martha Cory, and Sarah Cloyse, all women hanged as witches in 1692; as well as his reference to King William who ruled England from 1650-1702 tell of this horrid time where people killed, tortured, burned, executed and suspected that everyone from their sister to there neighbor might be in contact with the devil. As a result of this environment of suspicion and paranoia Goodman might have felt as though his dream was in reality a lack of faith on his part. He may have felt so guilty for experiencing this dream that he thought he, as well as the people in his life were guilty of coercing with the devil.
Journey
Goodman Brown might have been Hawthorne's expression of his own struggles with his faith in humanity and himself. Hawthorne was a guilt ridden person and I believe that he had many instances when his faith was tested. Brown is Hawthorne to a lesser extent. Goodman Brown starts out as a good, happy, decent man; he seems very content. All of this changes when he decides against the advice of his wife faith (the symbolism is obvious here) that he should go out on a journey into the woods to meet with the devil. I believe path in the woods to be his continued decent into metaphorical as well as literal darkness. As he continues down the woods he reaches the pinnacle of his journey when he comes upon the witches meeting. Once Brown reaches this point he loses his faith despite his last ditch effort to save his wife. He never knows if he was able to save her. This doubt is what destroyed him.
Brown's motivation for meeting with the devil is never made absolutely clear and can only be speculated by the devil's references to others that have come into his fold. He speaks of the King, Goodman's father and grandfather, the deacon, minister and mayor. The devil makes it appear that everyone with any power, success or for that matter anyone that means anything to Goodman is in fact allied with Satan. Although Goodman resists the devils temptations at first; as more and more people are brought to his attention as being followers of the dark one, the idea becomes more acceptable. I believe Brown's motivation to meet with the devil was power; he wanted an advantage over others to achieve his goals. This may have contributed to his last ditch effort to save faith when he shouted "Look up to Heaven, and resist the Wicked One". When he arrived at the witches meeting he discovered that everyone already had the advantage of being on the wicked side and had already sold there souls for money, power, or prestige. He was able to see that nothing would put him ahead of anyone else by following through with his original task. He had nothing to win and everything to lose by making an alliance with the devil. Unfortunately for Young Goodman Brown it was too late for his soul to be saved. He reached the point of no return and not only didn't he reap any benefit from his ordeal but lost every bit of happiness he previously possessed.
Goodman Brown was a man destroyed by his own obsession. He lived a miserable life as a result of the guilt he felt for embarking on a dark journey in his dreams; which resulted in his suspicion of everyone and a lack of trust for individuals in his community, himself and humanity. The only way Goodman Brown would have been able to save his faith would have been to never embark on the dark path.
by John Schlismann
A Character Analysis of Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown
John Schlismann has an interest in American Literature.
To read Young Goodman Brown goto:
http://www.online-literature.com/short.php/158
19 Şubat 2013 Salı
Video: Garmin fēnix For Trail Running
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While we're on the topic of trail running today, here's another video in the new series from Garmin that extolls the virtues of their fēnix GPS watch. This time out we hear from French trail runner Sebastien Camus who competes in utramarathons and other endurance runs. He loves this watch because of how well it helps him train and since he once ran across New Caledonia for three days, non-stop and without sleep, he appreciates the long battery life too.
Gear Closet: Osprey Volt 60 Backpack
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Backpackers and adventure travelers in the market for a high quality, yet cost effective, pack for their next adventure have a serious new contender to consider in the form of the Volt 60 from Osprey. This durable, versatile and lightweight pack is well suited for everything from weekend trips to local trails to weeks long excursions to the far corners of the planet.
As with all packs from Osprey, the Volt is very comfortable to wear and carries a full load quite nicely. Of course, comfort is a relative thing of course but it always starts with getting a good fit. At first glance, it is easy to be intimidated by the Volt's various belts, clips and straps, but once you pull the pack on, it's a breeze to adjust everything to your liking. Admittedly, I have a lot of experience adjusting a backpack, but even taking that into account, it takes just a minute or two to get the Volt locked in for your body type.
Adjusting the exact fit of the Volt extends to the torso as well, with the length being adjustable just as quickly and easily as the rest of the pack. A quick tug on a velcro attachment allows the back panel to slide more than five inches up or down, making it possible for this one pack to work well for people of a variety of heights. Out of the box, my Volt was far too short for me, but once again I was able to adjust it and find the right fit in a matter of moments.
I happen to be an unabashed fan of Osprey packs but even I was impressed with how thick the Volt's padding is on both the shoulder straps and the hipbelt. That padding helps to make carrying a heavy load much easier and at the end of the day you won't feel quite so sore. The hipbelt also comes with two surprisingly spacious pockets which are perfect for a point and shoot camera, energy bars, GPS device or what ever else you want to keep close at hand.
The interior of the pack doesn't disappoint either providing an ample 60L of storage. Osprey says that's enough for 2-5 of travel, although I've found if you know how to pack properly and don't mind going a bit light, it is enough to go well beyond that. The top pocket on the Volt is large and spacious as well, providing a nice option for storing small but essential items. A dedicated sleeping bag compartment provides access from both the interior of the Volt or through a zippered wide-mouthed access port at the bottom. A mesh pocket on the back is perfect for overflow storage, while two more on the sides serve as bottle holders.
Other features include a hydration sleeve that can accommodate up to a 3-liter bladder, sleeping pad straps, ice axe loops and trekking pole storage. In short, Osprey has hit all of the important points with the Volt, delivering a product that continues the company's legacy of high quality in simple, well designed and compact package.
First time backpack buyers will find the Volt to be a great option, particularly because it comes with a price point that is easy to swallow. Considering everything that this pack delivers, the $179 cost seems like a real bargain. And since it is built with durable, high quality fabrics it should be an investment that will last for many years to come.
That's not to say veteran adventure travelers won't find a lot to love here as well. This is a comfortable, well built pack that can easily carry a heavy load without missing a beat. It has everything that we look for in a backpack and then some.
I happen to love the 60L size, which for me seems to be the sweet-spot for "just enough" storage for a trip. But if you find that is a bitt too confining for your needs, the Volt also comes in a 75L version as well. That pack shares its little brothers quality and comfort with just a bit more storage.
If you have big camping, backpacking or adventure travel plans for the year ahead, and you need a pack to see you through, the Volt is a great choice.
Backpackers and adventure travelers in the market for a high quality, yet cost effective, pack for their next adventure have a serious new contender to consider in the form of the Volt 60 from Osprey. This durable, versatile and lightweight pack is well suited for everything from weekend trips to local trails to weeks long excursions to the far corners of the planet.As with all packs from Osprey, the Volt is very comfortable to wear and carries a full load quite nicely. Of course, comfort is a relative thing of course but it always starts with getting a good fit. At first glance, it is easy to be intimidated by the Volt's various belts, clips and straps, but once you pull the pack on, it's a breeze to adjust everything to your liking. Admittedly, I have a lot of experience adjusting a backpack, but even taking that into account, it takes just a minute or two to get the Volt locked in for your body type.
Adjusting the exact fit of the Volt extends to the torso as well, with the length being adjustable just as quickly and easily as the rest of the pack. A quick tug on a velcro attachment allows the back panel to slide more than five inches up or down, making it possible for this one pack to work well for people of a variety of heights. Out of the box, my Volt was far too short for me, but once again I was able to adjust it and find the right fit in a matter of moments.
I happen to be an unabashed fan of Osprey packs but even I was impressed with how thick the Volt's padding is on both the shoulder straps and the hipbelt. That padding helps to make carrying a heavy load much easier and at the end of the day you won't feel quite so sore. The hipbelt also comes with two surprisingly spacious pockets which are perfect for a point and shoot camera, energy bars, GPS device or what ever else you want to keep close at hand.
The interior of the pack doesn't disappoint either providing an ample 60L of storage. Osprey says that's enough for 2-5 of travel, although I've found if you know how to pack properly and don't mind going a bit light, it is enough to go well beyond that. The top pocket on the Volt is large and spacious as well, providing a nice option for storing small but essential items. A dedicated sleeping bag compartment provides access from both the interior of the Volt or through a zippered wide-mouthed access port at the bottom. A mesh pocket on the back is perfect for overflow storage, while two more on the sides serve as bottle holders.Other features include a hydration sleeve that can accommodate up to a 3-liter bladder, sleeping pad straps, ice axe loops and trekking pole storage. In short, Osprey has hit all of the important points with the Volt, delivering a product that continues the company's legacy of high quality in simple, well designed and compact package.
First time backpack buyers will find the Volt to be a great option, particularly because it comes with a price point that is easy to swallow. Considering everything that this pack delivers, the $179 cost seems like a real bargain. And since it is built with durable, high quality fabrics it should be an investment that will last for many years to come.
That's not to say veteran adventure travelers won't find a lot to love here as well. This is a comfortable, well built pack that can easily carry a heavy load without missing a beat. It has everything that we look for in a backpack and then some.
I happen to love the 60L size, which for me seems to be the sweet-spot for "just enough" storage for a trip. But if you find that is a bitt too confining for your needs, the Volt also comes in a 75L version as well. That pack shares its little brothers quality and comfort with just a bit more storage.
If you have big camping, backpacking or adventure travel plans for the year ahead, and you need a pack to see you through, the Volt is a great choice.
Winter Climbs 2013: Summit Bid Halted On BP, Search Continues On Nanga
To contact us Click HERE
More news from Pakistan this morning where weather has once again put a temporary halt to a summit attempt and the search continues for a missing climber who hasn't been heard from in two weeks.
Yesterday I posted that the Polish team on Broad Peak was in the middle of a summit push as they strove to take advantage of an open weather window. It turns out that window didn't last as high winds moved over the summit of the mountain. Two climbers got as high as 7820 meters (25,656 ft) before turning back as visibility decreased and the already frigid temperatures began to drop further.
Two other two-man squads were standing by to make their attempts but as conditions worsened, the entire team decided to return to Base Camp. All are safely in BC now and will wait to make another attempt as the forecast permits. There is no word yet as to when that might possibly happen.
Meanwhile, the search continues on Nanga Parbat for missing French snowboarder Joel Wischnewski. According to ExWeb, the SAR team has now climbed as high as Camp 1 but they still haven't seen any signs of Joel. They reached that point yesterday and hoped to climb higher today, although the weather forecasts indicate heavy snows moving into the region over the next three days.
The last we heard from Wischnewski he was climbing above Camp 2 in an attempt to make the summit in a three-day push. That was on February 6. Unfortunately, that doesn't bode well for the man who was climbing solo and already quite sick before he set out. Hopes have to be growing dim at this point, but he was well supplied and it is possible he is still holed up somewhere without any way to communicate. That seems increasingly unlikely to me at this point, but it isn't beyond the realm of possibility. Hopefully we'll know more soon.
More news from Pakistan this morning where weather has once again put a temporary halt to a summit attempt and the search continues for a missing climber who hasn't been heard from in two weeks.Yesterday I posted that the Polish team on Broad Peak was in the middle of a summit push as they strove to take advantage of an open weather window. It turns out that window didn't last as high winds moved over the summit of the mountain. Two climbers got as high as 7820 meters (25,656 ft) before turning back as visibility decreased and the already frigid temperatures began to drop further.
Two other two-man squads were standing by to make their attempts but as conditions worsened, the entire team decided to return to Base Camp. All are safely in BC now and will wait to make another attempt as the forecast permits. There is no word yet as to when that might possibly happen.
Meanwhile, the search continues on Nanga Parbat for missing French snowboarder Joel Wischnewski. According to ExWeb, the SAR team has now climbed as high as Camp 1 but they still haven't seen any signs of Joel. They reached that point yesterday and hoped to climb higher today, although the weather forecasts indicate heavy snows moving into the region over the next three days.
The last we heard from Wischnewski he was climbing above Camp 2 in an attempt to make the summit in a three-day push. That was on February 6. Unfortunately, that doesn't bode well for the man who was climbing solo and already quite sick before he set out. Hopes have to be growing dim at this point, but he was well supplied and it is possible he is still holed up somewhere without any way to communicate. That seems increasingly unlikely to me at this point, but it isn't beyond the realm of possibility. Hopefully we'll know more soon.
Video: Freediver Catches Ride On A Great White Shark
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The woman in this video, the aptly named Ocean Ramsey, is most certainly braver than I am. Not only is she a freediver but she also seems to have no fear of sharks. Freedivers swim to impressive depths without the use of scuba gear and in this video she's doing just that when she decides to grab a passing great white shark to go for a ride. Despite the fact that she's flirting with one of the more impressive predators on the planet, the video is oddly tranquil to watch.
Thanks to the Goat for the recommendation.
Thanks to the Goat for the recommendation.
Video: Climbing Nanga Parbat's Mummery Face - Round 2
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Daniele Nardi and Elisabeth Revol have just returned home from their attempt at a winter ascent of Nanga Parbat in Pakistan and now have shared another video from the mountain. The duo were attempting to climb the Mummery Face but like everyone else, were turned back by high winds, deep snow and bitterly cold temperatures. In the video, they spend the first minute and half explaining their route using a photo from a book. After that footage from the climb takes over giving us an idea of just how difficult the climb really was. It is some very impressive footage from the peak and indicates what the climbers were dealing with there the past few months.
Nanga Parbat Winter - videonews 07 - Mummery attempt 2 from Daniele Nardi on Vimeo.
18 Şubat 2013 Pazartesi
Schwinn Has Your Perfect Rendezvous For Valentine's Day
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Just in time for Valentine's Day, Schwinn Bicycles is launching their Perfect Rendezvous Sweepstakes during which they're looking to give you, and that special someone in your life, a great night out on the town, plus a couple of bikes too. To enter the contest, simply go to the Schwinn Facebook page between today and February 28 and share your perfect rendezvous with either a picture or a brief description.
The winner will be selected at random and will receive quite a nice prize package. In addition to scoring a gift card to their favorite restaurant and movie tickets to catch a show, they'll also go home with a woman's Rendezvous bike and a men's 4 One One. Two nice bikes that will provide hours of fun and exercise.
Entering the contest couldn't be easier, so head on over to the FB page and share your idea of a great date. Who knows, maybe your romantic side will earn you a new set of wheels for you and your sweetie.
Just in time for Valentine's Day, Schwinn Bicycles is launching their Perfect Rendezvous Sweepstakes during which they're looking to give you, and that special someone in your life, a great night out on the town, plus a couple of bikes too. To enter the contest, simply go to the Schwinn Facebook page between today and February 28 and share your perfect rendezvous with either a picture or a brief description.The winner will be selected at random and will receive quite a nice prize package. In addition to scoring a gift card to their favorite restaurant and movie tickets to catch a show, they'll also go home with a woman's Rendezvous bike and a men's 4 One One. Two nice bikes that will provide hours of fun and exercise.
Entering the contest couldn't be easier, so head on over to the FB page and share your idea of a great date. Who knows, maybe your romantic side will earn you a new set of wheels for you and your sweetie.
Winter Climbs 2013: Summit Push Underway On Broad Peak
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It was a very busy and active weekend on Broad Peak where the Polish team has launched their summit bids amidst forecasts of better weather ahead. As is typical with this squad, they have been taking a methodical and focused approach with two-man teams alternating going up higher as they fix ropes and build camps. One of those teams is hoping for a successful summit push today. If that happens, it'll be the first winter ascent of the 8051 meter (26,414 ft) peak.
Over the weekend, two members of the team, Adam Bielecki and Artur Małek, were able to push as high as 7820 meters (25,656 ft) in their push but returned to Camp 3 after completing their work. Another temporary camp is now in place at 7400 meters (24,278 ft) which is where summit bids are being launched today. The hope is that with three or four rotating squads, they'll continue to assault the summit while the weather window remains open.
Keep your fingers crossed for the team. They've been working very hard this season and their goal is now in sight. Lets hope they get up and down the mountain safely.
Over on Nanga Parbat, the whereabouts of Joel Wischnewski remains a mystery. Last week I reported that he had been in contact with his support team and that everything was fine, but if you missed the update to that story, it turns out that report was in error. There still has been no word from Joel, who was incredibly sick the last time we heard from him. That was nearly two weeks ago, which doesn't bode well for the French snowboarder, who claimed that his summit push would be three days in length. Now ExWeb is reporting that a search and rescue operation is underway with a team of local climbers now on the Rupal Face searching for the missing climber. Lets try to hope stay positive and hope for the best.
It was a very busy and active weekend on Broad Peak where the Polish team has launched their summit bids amidst forecasts of better weather ahead. As is typical with this squad, they have been taking a methodical and focused approach with two-man teams alternating going up higher as they fix ropes and build camps. One of those teams is hoping for a successful summit push today. If that happens, it'll be the first winter ascent of the 8051 meter (26,414 ft) peak.Over the weekend, two members of the team, Adam Bielecki and Artur Małek, were able to push as high as 7820 meters (25,656 ft) in their push but returned to Camp 3 after completing their work. Another temporary camp is now in place at 7400 meters (24,278 ft) which is where summit bids are being launched today. The hope is that with three or four rotating squads, they'll continue to assault the summit while the weather window remains open.
Keep your fingers crossed for the team. They've been working very hard this season and their goal is now in sight. Lets hope they get up and down the mountain safely.
Over on Nanga Parbat, the whereabouts of Joel Wischnewski remains a mystery. Last week I reported that he had been in contact with his support team and that everything was fine, but if you missed the update to that story, it turns out that report was in error. There still has been no word from Joel, who was incredibly sick the last time we heard from him. That was nearly two weeks ago, which doesn't bode well for the French snowboarder, who claimed that his summit push would be three days in length. Now ExWeb is reporting that a search and rescue operation is underway with a team of local climbers now on the Rupal Face searching for the missing climber. Lets try to hope stay positive and hope for the best.
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