Camping Hiking & Backpacking — Gear, Equipment & the Latest Development

Views: 0

According to the oil company Shell, safety is the number one priority and with good reason. The lack of a safety system could eventually result in major financial losses or even worst the lost of lives.

You can never be too careful but safety doesn’t always make sense. This is the case for Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Sir Robin Know-Johnston when they were stopped from lighting up a camp stove because they were unsupervised.

Now wait a minute.

I’m sure these guys survived more dangerous situations than lighting a camping stove unsupervised. Sir Robin was the first man to sail single-handed and non-stop around the globe and he uses camp stoves to cook in his boat.

So why all this fuss?

To cover their asses as much as possible. Disasters cost companies billions of dollars and to protect themselves they have to take precautions so that when things does go wrong, they can’t be blamed for it.

A BBC spokesman said: “Health and safety is unequivocally a legal requirement and the BBC takes its responsibilities very seriously. Making programmes in hostile environments such as Afghanistan, Cape Horn and the Arctic inherently involves risks.”

The explorers complied with the safety regulations even when they thought it was absurd. They really have no choice.

Last year’s Zero Impact Challenge by Backpacker Magazine focused on eco-friendly backpacks. The challenge was to “create a trail-worthy 3,500-cubic-inch midsize with materials and manufacturing that entail minimal environmental impact.”

Seems pretty simple right? Not so. If you knew anything about pack design you’d understand the enormity of the task. An eco-friendly backpack needs to be light, simple and made of recycled material. Five companies that rose to the challenge were GoLite, JanSport, L.L. Bean, Mountainsmith and Osprey.

Key = Lowest impact (1, Green); Lower impact (2, Blue); Business as usual (3, Orange)

This year, the challenge is focused on something more interesting –  sleeping bags. The goal was to develop a dependable three-season sleeping bag with lower carbon emissions.

Five out of thirty companies rose to the challenge – Big Agnes, Feathered Friends, GoLite, Sierra Designs, and The North Face. The rules are simple:

“Send us a bag rated 20°F, plus an encyclopedia of data on materials, shipping, and energy use.”

This finished sleeping bags have to undergo a three-month evaluation by testers from Colorado, Vermont, Kentucky, New York and Utah. How much the bags impact the environment will be analyzed by Cooler, a pioneer in climate studies and product analysis, and endorsed by three major environmental organization.

Findings

• Recycled polyester produces 35 percent less emissions than virgin poly and 50 percent less than virgin nylon
• Goose down bags are not greener than recycled polyester
• Contestants cut emmissions by 10 percent

The results in alphabetical order:

Big Agnes Tumble Down 20
Less bag where many hikers don’t need it makes a big difference.

Feathered Friends Blue Heron 20
A winning combo: Make it light and local.

GoLite Starlite 20
Recycled materials and fewer trucking miles trim carbon weight.

Sierra Designs Verde 20
No bag in this challenge incorporated more recycled components.

The North Face Green Kazoo 15
How do you replace a legend? Cut its footprint without cutting warmth.

Women-specific sleeping bags as the name suggests are tailored to fit women a little bit better. The really big problem is that women vary is shape and sizes. Some are round, some athletic, some skinny, some curvy and more.

Sleeping bag manufacturers claim that their women-specific sleeping bag dimensions are based on the size of an average women. The problem is, most women I know are not the size of an “average woman”. So where do these “average women” come from?

Most athletic type women have problems with fitting women-specific sleeping bags because while it is made a little wider in the hips and a little narrow at the shoulders, these athlete women are a little narrow at the hips and a little wide at the shoulders.

So what am I saying?

Women-specific sleeping bags are still worth looking into despite the size problems. If it fits, why not?

I need a zero degree sleeping. Which one should I get that’s no more than $300?

Sierra Designs make really good women sleeping bags. The Winema 0 degree sleeping bag is highly recommended. Weighing 3 pounds, 12 ounces, it is made up coconut shell derivatives that are as soft as nylon. Insulation is made of the synthetic Primaloft Eco surrounded by EcoSensor recycled shell material that keeps you comfortable in damp conditions. It has got some of the features of a high end down sleeping bag.

If you want a down sleeping sleeping that is less than $300 then go for the Teton +0 by Marmot. The 600-fill goose down insulation makes it softer, warmer, lighter(3 pounds, 5 ounces) and more durable than synthetic sleeping bags. Considering that the price is about the same as the Winema, this one is a steal.

If the above two are out your range then a good cheap sleeping bag is L.L. Bean’s Katahdin Climashield Women’s Mummy. Despite the fact that the price is about half the maximum budget, this one is still a zero degree sleeping bag that’s highly rated by users. At 3 pounds, 5 ounces, it’s surprisingly light for a synthetic sleeping bag.

Also consider a sleeping pad or two to keep away the cold from the ground and for extra cushioning.

How do you find a partner when you don’t have anyone to go hiking with? You can try the cool site I just found. Meetup.com is about finding people on the internet to spend time with offline. You can find a lot of groups with a huge range interests from absailing to camping to soccer.

Go to Meetup.com and click sign up. All they ask for is your first name, an email address, password and location. Birth date, address and last name not required.

When you’re signed up, click on “find a meetup group.”

Under topics of internet, type in hiking (or something else) and your zip code. Now not all of these groups are going to be for you but can at least filter most by selecting the mile radius option.

To join, you click on the name of the group. On the group’s page, look for the button that says “join us.” Once you click it, some groups ask you to introduce yourself. You can, or you can skip it, your call.

Fashion and function don’t usually come together and the Nuu-Muu Exercise Dress is no different. It’s all about fashion and  no function. The female big guns at Backpacker Magazine comprised of Senior Editor Tracy Ross, Assistant Editor Elisabeth-Kwak Hefferan, and Senior Associate Photo Editor Genny Wright Fullerton had the opportunity to test the dress under rigorous conditions and a variety of terrain and weather.

All the girls agreed that it’s purely fashion and doesn’t help you do things faster and better. Yet everyone except Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan liked it. She said a few things about the hiking dress including:

“But when I’m hiking, I don’t want to do my hair, put my makeup on and wear a dress.”

“But  it’s so short—it’s hard to hike in without flashing anyone behind me.”

“I feel like we should mention that it looks ridiculous with hiking boots, and you could never wear a pack with it, because the dress would keep getting pulled up. I would also say it’s only for athletic bodies— (it’s) unforgiving and short.”

Everyone else liked it as a fun garment that can be worn almost anywhere.

This years’ Suburban Warrior Challenge is the third in a series of extreme fitness competition hosted by Mbody Strength, an unconventional fitness company based in Orange County.

This is the first time the event will be held on the beach, making it an exciting challenge. Also dubbed “The Sand Trek” the beach promises to give the participants a good workout.

Participants will have to hike 2 miles in the dry sand of Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach, California, while carrying a weighted backpack and a kettlebell in hand.

For every half mile, competitors are required to perform a hundred repetitions of either push ups, kettlebell snatches or kettlebell clean and presses. This will definitely test the participants’ strength and endurance to the limits.

For those who have never used a kettlebell before, there are trainers onsite that can train people hot to do the kettlebell exercises.

The main equipment is the MBody KettleBack™, the only backpack designed to carry kettlebells for weighted lifting. The heavy duty backpack is a result of  research in the field of effective, new strenght and conditioning training method.

The army uses weighted hiking to train their soldiers for combat duty. Soldiers are required to walk at a fast pace over rough terrain with a least 45 pounds in their backpack.

The four divisions in the competition are:

1. Men’s Division 1: 60lb Pack/18lb Arm Load/53lb Kettlebell for Exercises
2. Men’s Division 2: 40lb Pack/18lb Arm Load/35lb Kettlebell for Exercises
3. Women’s Division 1: 32lb Pack/9lb Arm Load/26lb Kettlebell for Exercises
4. Women’s Division 2: 25lb Pack/9lb Arm Load/18lb Kettlebell for Exercises

The competition will start on May 9th, 2009 from 8 in the morning to 12:00 pm in Bosla Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach, California. Entry fee is $15 and participants must be at least 18 years old. All necessary equipment will be provided.

All participants will receive a free Likida Stainless Steel Water Bottle and the winner of each division will recieve an Apollo Kettlebell.

Challenge yourself and be a part of The Third Suburban Warrior Challenge Fitness Competition.

Since April 10, building any type of fire including campfire, stove fire or barbeque fire acrosss Los Padres National Forest will only be allowed in recreation sites approved by the Forest Service. The reason given for this is to enhance public safety as well as protect the natural resources.

The move was made due to a significant increase in the number of visitors to Los Padres National Forest over the last 15 years. Dispersed camping and hiking activities and an increased use of campfires and camp stoves have finally pushed the Forest Service to enforce these restrictions.

Another reason for the move was a heightened risk of wildfire due to ongoing draught, heavy forest fuel loads and “fire season”. A wildfire is highly undesirable in this area due to the proximity to civilization, home to millions of citizens.

However, in the Santa Lucia Ranger District, the sites that do not require a permit any sort of fire are:

• American Canyon Campground
• Baja Campground
• Barrel Spring Campground
• Bates Canyon Campground
• Brookshire Campground
• Buck Spring Campground
• Cerro Alto Campground
• Colson Campground
• Cumbre Day Use Area
• Davy Brown Campground
• Figueroa Campground
• Friis Campground
• Hi Mountain Campground
• Horseshoe Spring Campground
• La Panza Campground
• Miranda Pine Campground
• Navajo Campground
• Navajo OHV Staging Area
• Nira Campground
• Pino Alto Day Use Area, and
• Wagon Flat Campground

and in the Santa Barbara Ranger District, they are:

• Cachuma Campground
• Falls Day Use Area
• Fremont Campground
• Live Oak Day Use Area
• Los Prietos Campground
• Lower Oso Day Use Area
• Middle Santa Ynez Campground
• Mono Campground
• P-Bar Flat Campground
• Paradise Campground
• Red Rock Day Use Area
• Rock Camp
• Sage Hill Campground
• Upper Oso Campground, and
• White Rock Day Use Area

The forest service also forbids the use or even possession of firewoks, even ones that are known to be safe. Violators will be subjected to either a $5,000 fine or six months in jail.

Forest visitors are encouraged to contact local offices for specific information on each district. This order will be in effect until further notice, according to forest service officials. For more information, contact the Santa Barbara Ranger District, Paradise Road, Santa Barbara, 805.967.3481, or the Santa Lucia Ranger District, Santa Maria, 805.925.9538.

I wonder how the hotel business is doing right now? More people taking up camping instead of staying in luxury hotels due to the economic crisis. I’m guessing they’re not doing very well.

Hotels are being replaced with camping tents and caravans in big numbers. While camping stores are getting richer, hotels are getting poorer. We are indeed in bad situation right now but people still need to take a break and camping is the obvious answer to their holiday needs.

Everywhere from the States to Australia people are in a craze for camping and fishing. According to Ray’s Outdoors media and marketing manager Jacques de la Porte, fishing gear, camping stoves, cookware, tents, sleeping bags and backpacks are hot sellers despite the economic slowdown. Even the wealthy are starting to take up camping.

More people are investing in caravans that would quickly cancel out in accommodation savings. Instead of spending $300 a night people are now paying $60 for a camping site that includes a pool and jumping pillow for the kids.

We see a lot of first time campers mostly made up of families with young children and retirees affected by the stock market crash. People are starting to go back to basics and the new lifestyle a go.

People who aren’t camping are staying in motels to save pennies. Dromana Holiday and Lifestyle Village manager Gloria Paice said bookings had steadily climbed in the past year. “We had a really busy month before Christmas and it really hasn’t let up,” Ms Paice said.

What started as an April Fools joke by Thinkgeek.com could actually become a reality. The site put up for sale a cute and rather appealing Tauntaun sleeping bag.

In case you’re not familiar with Star Wars, a Tauntaun is a furry warm blooded reptomammal (half reptile and half mammal) used as pack animals by the good guys.

The idea for the sleeping bag probably came from the scene when Han Solo slices open a warm Tauntaun carcasss and inserts the young Luke Skywalker to keep him from freezing to death.

The description says, “This high-quality sleeping bag looks just like a Tauntaun, complete with saddle, internal intestines and LED Luke Skywalker Lightsaber zipper pull. Use the lightsaber zipper pull on the Tauntaun sleeping bag to illustrate to your wee ones how Han Solo saved Luke Skywalker from certain death in the freezing climate of Hoth by slitting open the Tauntaun belly!”

Mind you, this sleeping bag is probably not the kind of sleeping bag suitable for camping but with a price tag of $39.95 it attracted a lot of buyers. But it wasn’t real and it created quite a big buzz on the internet. ThinkGeek.com soon realized that it wasn’t just a good idea for a prank.

Check out the message on their product page:

“ATTN Tauntaun Fanatics! Due to an overwhelming tsunami of requests from YOU THE PEOPLE, we have decided to TRY and bring this to life. We have no clue if the suits at Lucasfilms will grant little ThinkGeek a license, nor do we know how much it would ultimately retail for. But if you are interested in ever owning one of these, click the link below and we’ll try!”

But why stop there? My suggestion is to create more star wars related camping gear like crampons, tents, trekking poles, hiking backpacks and even boots. It could work especially for kids anyway.

Alternatively check out these kids sleeping bags.

Related post:

• Making of the Tauntaun sleeping bag – So it turns out that the maker of ThinkGeek’s most talked-about April Fool’s prank, the tauntaun sleeping bag, is actually a friend of CJ’s own Rach. She didn’t come up with the concept, but she did assemble it, and you can check out …

In an annual Fast and Sleep Out held on campus at Loyola College students began their 24-hour abstention and slept out in the open, simulating when the homeless go through every day. The event is aimed at establishing solidarity among students and those who are hungry and homeless and increase their awareness to the reality of millions thoughout the world.

Organized by the Centre for Community Service and Justice, the students were told to bring a sleeping bag, warm clothing and other essential gear. Most of the students slept on top of a tarp to protect themselves from the wet ground.

The conditions at the time didn’t go easy on the students. The ground was indeed wet from morning downpours. Even though the damp ground provided a cushion, the winds made it uncomfortably cold. Some complained of having difficulty sleeping because of the cold. A down sleeping bag or a lot of extra layers of clothing would have helped. But then again, that could be considered cheating because the homeless would not be able to afford such an expensive camping gear. Better use a camping tent while they’re at it.

Participants were briefed on the significance of the simulation after they gathered in groups for icebreakers.

One of the student coordinators of the event said that the event exposes students to the facts and realities about hunger and homelessness in Baltimore in a vivid way by experiencing some of the discomforts and hearing first-hand accounts.

Greg Sileo, the Director of Community Outreach for Baltimore Homelessness Services in the Baltimore City Mayor’s office was followed by a panel of individuals who suffered from homelessness, sharing their experiences on the street and in transition homes within the Baltimore community.

After the presentations, the students watched a movie called “Hidden America”, which follows one family’s struggle with poverty, unemployment and food insecurity.

Other activities throughout the night included making cards to be sold to raise money for the CARES Food Pantry, which serves the Govans neighborhood right near Loyola as well as letters to Congressman John Sarbanes, Governor O’Malley, and Mayor Dixon “to draw their attention to particular funding needs related to hunger, homelessness, and healthcare legislation.”

Backpacking is a good way to enjoy your holiday abroad without spending a fortune on the hotel. You learn more about the culture of the country you’re visiting and see the way of life. In other words you are connected to the people and how they live. It’s more than just a vacation, it’s an education.

You get to meet all sorts of people, some unusual and some just like you and me. The experience is a whole lot different than just going to tourist sites. You get to mingle with these people and hear what they have to say. You’d be surprised to know more about a country than you would otherwise.

There are about 100,000 backpackers travelling at any given moment. They’re all over the place but more concentrated in Europe. Other places that are popular with backpackers include Scotland, Holland and India. Some even take a whole year off for backpacking.

Backpacking around the world could be a very fulfilling experience and it could also be life-changing as you learn about each country in a deeper way. You’ll also meet a lot of friends from around the world which could also prove to be useful.

It’s not just for college students who don’t have the money to stay in hotels and do what other tourists do. Even middle-aged professionals like doctors, lawyers are enjoying the way of the backpacker. If you have a passion for travel, then backpacking is the way to go.

When you backpack, you need to take some precautions for your safety. Using an email account, you can scan “store” scans of your passport, visas and credit card numbers. Never take expensive electronics except maybe for a camera especially if the place you’re going to is known for it thieves.

You can also use a concealable money belt for your cash and credit cards. It’s important to note that not everywhere accepts travellers check so don’t count on it.

Internal frame backpacks that doubles as a travelling bag are very helpful.

It’s not that any falcon can close a park but for the protection of the peregrine falcons, officials have closed hiking trails on Precipice Cliff and all around it. This coincides with the pre-nesting period of these falcons.

The Precipice Trail is a popular destination for hikers who also love to watch these birds. They’re also a very challenging climb of up to 1000 feet and recommended only for experienced and physically fit hikers who have no fear of heights.

The closure will be on the side of the Champlain Mountain and is expected to last until late July or early August which is about 5 weeks after the new born falcons will take their first flight. The trail will re-open sooner if the nesting fails.

The Acadia National Park is one of the selected places for the recovery program for peregrine falcons and has been going on since the 1980s.

It is listed as an endangered species in Maine.

You’ve seen it in the Discovery Channel and you’ve heard people talk about it. This is one place every hiker should go. It’s a place of wonder, culture and beautiful sceneries.

It was first discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911 which was later dubbed the “lost city”.

“When Hiram Bingham stumbled upon Machu Picchu on a 1911 expedition, it took him days of travel by foot and mule to get from Cusco to the general vicinity. Then he crossed a rickety bridge on hands and knees before climbing several hours up a steep slope to reach the hidden ruins.”

Now you can get there in 3 1/2 hours, dining luxuriously on the famous Hiram Bingham train while listening to a pan pipe group and sipping pisco sours. While many take this option to get to the ruins of Machu Picchu, you can also hike all the way from Cusco and feel like an explorer making discoveries in the Andes Mountains. Much of the landscape you’ll see remains unchanged since the conquistadors arrived in 1532.

There are four hiking trail you can choose from to get to Machu Picchu by foot:

The Classic Inca Trail

This is the original used by the Incans to reach the Sun Gate of Machu Picchu. This trail is known as one world’s greatest travel experience.

If you take this route, you will be walking on stone paths built hundreds of years ago by the Incans and marvel at impressive ruins along the way that cannot be reached by any land vehicle. In 3 days and 3 nights you make the grand entrance to the main attraction at sunrise, a truly wonderful experience. You then explore the citadel in the early morning.

The trail is well maintained and hikers must follow the carry-in/carry-out rule meaning you must carry just about everything you have with you at the beginning of the trip, including garbage.

Since this is a highly popular hiking destination, you would need to book at least 4 months in advance. Only about 200 hikers and 300 porters are allowed per day. Since there are more porters than hikers, you can have someone carry your camping gear for you, set up you tent and cook for your group.

The Salkantay Trek

This is a totally different experience to the Classic Inca Trail. In some ways, the sights are more spectacular. Among the main attractions are the waterfalls, the glaciers and the view of the Salkantay peak.

This trail is much more physically demanding even though you don’t actually walk all the way to the entrance of Machu Picchu. At the end of the trail you need to take the local train a short distance to the entrance. Be prepared for high altitudes of up to 15,000 feet.

You can stay in comfort at lodges that provide hot showers and a comfortable bed if you want to avoid camping.

Choquequirao

This is a great mountain hiking experience for hardcore hikers only. Dubbed the “Ultimate Trek” through the Andes, it starts near the largest set of Inca ruins on the South American continent, Choquequirao. Only take this route if you are an experienced in good physical shape.

The Lares Trek

Take this route if you want to know more about the local people. This is probably the least demanding route and takes about two days to reach the end of the trail.

You can then take a train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu and spend the next day at the archeological site. There are no daily limits for this route and you can book it on short notice.

Sunday, 29th March, a young scout was injured when a tree fell on their camping site in south suburban Oak Forest.

There were twelve of them camping at a Cook County forest preserve n Saturday night. The tree fell on the kids camping tent where they were sleeping. One of the kids was taken to Palos hospital.

Fortunately, the victim only suffered minor injuries and was expected to fully recover by Sunday night.

Since the recession, a lot of people claim that camping is becoming more popular than ever. It turns out that even CNN is saying the same thing.

One 22-year old Susan Lanier says, “I’m in school and usually I’ll do some sort of trip, but usually I’ll go to a beach or something or I’ll fly to New York, but [finances have] just been tight, and this is a cheap way to get out of the city and do something fun.”

You may need to spend some cash on camping gear but most you would only have to buy once for at least a few years (like a tent, for example.)

I’ve seen reports coming from the United Kingdom saying that they have been seeing a rising trend in camping as well. This trend is true for hiking too. According to reports from the Sporting Goods Manufacturer’s Association, outdoor camping’s popularity rose by 7.4% from 2007 to 2008. Overnight backpacking rose by 18.5%! These are significant stats and it continues to increase in 2009.

It is also reported that sales of tents and sleeping bags are up 14% over 2008 and up 28% for sales in March compared to 2008 respectively.

State parks are also seeing an increase in the number of visitors even when the parks are having a hard time managing their park systems due to the recession.

Classes that teach basic camping skills are also seeing increased interest. Other parts of the industry are seeing increasing numbers as well.

Sleeping outside in a tent is no longer an activity favored by mostly “nerdy families, nature geeks and Boy Scouts.” With the economy now and the need for people to reconnect with nature it’s no wonder camping has become more popular. It’s good to get away from the city sometimes and get back to basics.

This list is made by Erin George at Examiner.com:

#10: Space Blanket (Mylar) – This is for emergency use only so why not keep it in your backpack all the time. Space blankets are used to battle hypothermia. People don’t use it to prevent hypothermia. Hypothermia can be prevented by wearing adequate clothing for cool conditions. A warning sign of hypothermia is prolonged and uncontrolled shivering. When this happens, action must be taken immediately to prevent fatalities.

#9: Compass and Whistle – These are definitely emergency essentials. A map would make the compass even more useful so can have an idea of where you are and where you’d want to go. Whether in a group or not, everyone should carry a whistle to get attention when needed, especially children.

#8: Intant Heat Warmers – It may be difficult to find a source of heat when you hike the mountains. There are no fuel around and you are in trouble if you don’t have a camping stove. Your sleeping bag may also be inadequate in keeping you warm and some people with cold feet may find it hard to sleep. Throwing in a couple of hand warmers at the bottom of your sleeping can probably help you sleep well at night.

#7: Waterproof matches and flint – You need these to build a campfire or a signal fire for emergencies. It is also used to light up the camp stove. Carry one or two extra just in case.

#6: Pitch Chunk – This is a good one to have. Pitch is very effective in starting fires. A small chunk of pitch makes a surprisingly big fire. Pick some up as you go through the woods.

#5: Rope – For hanging your food in bear sacks up high and out of reach from wild animals. You might also need it to rig up your camping tent or poncho. The rope is probably the most used tool in rescue efforts. Erin recommends that you carry 20 metres of a 5 mm nylon rope.

#4: Sweetwater filter pump – Even the clearest, coldest stream can yeild little parasites that will run havoc on your internals. Diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, fever, headache, fatigue are just some of the symptoms of waterborne diseases.

#3: Camelback: While I agree that something like the camelbak mule is very useful for keeping hydrated, I don’t think it is essential. You can use bottles to store water.

#2: Film canisters and Altoid – This one is interesting. It’s not essential you carry this but it is useful. You can put your small personal items here and keep them dry.

#1: Duct tape – This one works for undeveloped blisters and for general repairs for your sleeping bag, tent, boots or just about anything.

Dennis Quinn is a 24 year old graduate of Kutztown University who is preparing to hike the entire 2,175 miles of the Appalachian Trail as a tribute to his brother Kyle.

Dennis and Kyle Quinn are brothers who love the outdoors. They started at an early age as Indian Guides. Unfortunately, Kyle was murdered at the college they were both attending on September 2007. He was only 19.

Just four days before Kyle’s death, the brothers had trekked to a popular part of the Appalachian Trail called the Pinnacle, in Hamburg, Berks County. Dennis had been thinking about hiking the whole of the Appalachian trail for about five years now but he got more serious about it after his brother’s untimely death.

Dennis says that while he’s not a religious person, he’s  a spiritual person who finds the spirit outside. I’m  not sure what he means exactly but he adds that the minimalistic way of life on the trail, with nothing more the gear on your back, is kind of a romantic idea.

Dennis hopes to end his journey by September 7, the anniversary of his brother’s death. His trip is scheduled to start on March 28, from Georgia to the trail’s northern terminus on Mount Katahdin in Maine. Quinn estimates that the trip will cost $4000 and made thorough preparations to increase his chances of success.

Quinn will be traveling with longtime friend Geoff Grandfield for the first month. His Kutztown graduate friend, Brett White will join him part of the way. His family and friends will be able to see his progress with the help of a small satellite tracking device Quinn will be carrying. His goal is to hike 20 miles per day, depending on the terrain.

The series of white blazes painted on the trees that mark the way will guide Quinn through the Appalachian Trail. He also plans to use the three side shelters located at various stages in case of bad weather but he will also  carry a sleeping bag to get the whole experience.

According to Quinn, it’s more about the journey than the destination. He was in the middle of helping troubled youths see the beauty of the outdoors during the trial of the murder case.

The Appalachian Trail is known to be a tough trail to hike the whole way. According to the stats, 20 percent barely make it out of Georgia, only 10 percent make it halfway and out of that, only 10 percent finish.

I hope Dennis Quinn does go through to the end. If he does, I wonder what he’ll do next.

“There is no fever that a 10-mile hike can’t cure,” said Garrison Keillor, the host of National Public Radio’s Prairie Home Companion. HIking has long been considered a tonic for good health.

Until recently, there was very little done to support this belief. Researchers from Austria revealed the results of a fascinating study that proves that different types of hikes affects fats and sugars in the blood in different ways. The way they did it was by having one group of people hike up the ski slope and ride down the cable car and another group ride up the slope in a cable car and hike down. After two months of hiking the groups switched hiking programs and the experiment was repeated.

Hiking uphill was proved to be beneficial to the body but Vararlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment researchers found that hiking downhill has its unique benefits. The results are astounding:

• Both types of hiking lower bad cholesterol (LDL).
• Hiking uphill reduces triglyceride levels.
• Hiking downhill was nearly twice as effective as uphill hiking at removing blood sugars while improving glucose tolerance.

Hiking is not just good for your body. Your mind and emotions are also affected in a good way. Researchers from the University of Essex compared the benefits of hiking in different environments inluding in the woods, around a lake, in a nature park and an indoor shopping center.

The study concluded that in general:

• Hiking in the countryside reduces depression
• Walking in a shopping center increases depression
• Hiking in the countryside increases self-esteem
• Walking around a shopping center decreases self-esteem
• Hiking in the countryside improves your mood
• A stroll at the shopping center worsens your mood

Another surprising report which was published in Men’s Health magazine was that while trekking poles are designed to make hiking easier, it was found that “hikers using poles work out harder without feeling any extra effort.” They use 10 percent more oxygen and had heart rates 6 percent higher than hikers walking at the same speed without poles – yet they reported no perceived increase in exertion.

Mike Saunders, Ph.D says “They burned more calories without feeling the extra effort because possibly the workload is spread over the entire body, nut just he legs.”

Hiking for health has now become a trend. The message on the idea seem be everywhere from cereal boxes, candy wrappers and health magazines. Hiking spas which combines hiking with health-resort activities are more popular today than ever.

It’s small, lightweight and a lot of fun. It’s a great game for camping especially on the beaches. If you guessed Frisbee you’re spot on.

The Brunei Adventure Recreation Association (BARA) organized an Ultimate Frisbee event starting Tuesday  24th March 2009 from 7:30 pm onwards at Maktab Duli. The event will be held daily until the 27th March and depending on the response a final event on the 28th will be held too.

While I don’t know exactly what the event will be like and what the activities will be, I do know that there are a lot of frisbee games you can play. Here’s a small list courtesy of afda.com:

Beginners

• Throwing Race
• Captain Disc
• Disc Golf
• Bottle Guts

Intermediate

• Frisbee Rounders
• Discathon
• Flutter Guts
• Frisbee Tennis
• Five Hundred
• Frisbee Soccer
• Keepings Off

Advanced

• Goaltimate
• Double Box
• Hot Box
• Indoor Ultimate
• Double Disc Court

Throwing Race

12 players (6 teams of 2);6 discs;4 cones

Split up into pairs.  Each pair is competing against the other pairs of players.  Stand 10 metres apart and all pairs commence throwing at the same time.  The aim is to complete (ie catch) as many passes as possible in pairs.

If the disc has to be retrieved, then the receiver must return to their original position before the return throw.

Score 1 point for a completed backhand pass, 2 points for a forehand, the first pair to reach 20 wins.  Alternatively, give the pairs a limited time (like 2 minutes) to maximise their points.

Variations

For more advanced players, try these variations:

• Increase the distance apart
• Award 3 points for a hammer
• The receiver may not move their feet to catch the disc

Captain Disc

6 players; 1 disc; 3 cones

Line up in groups of six, have a disc placed 5 metres in front of the line, with the players facing it.  The playes need to be well-spaced, at least arms length apart.  On “go!”, the leftmost player runs out and picks up the disc.  They pass it to the first (rightmost) player, who passes it back.  Then to the second player and so forth until the end of the line is reached.  When the last player catches the disc, they run out the front to become the captain and the previous captain runs to the right-hand end of the line to become the first receiver.

If a player has to retrieve a disc, they must return to their place before throwing the return pass.  Continue until the original captain runs out the front again and the whole team sits down to finish.

Variations

Make all throws forehand.

Disc Golf

2 players; 1 disc

Canadian Pairs 3 pairs in each group

Disc golf is played just like ball & stick golf, except the targets or “holes” can be whatever is available.  Each shot must be taken from behind where the disc comes to rest, and the object is to minimise the number of shots to hit the target.  An innovative aspect of disc golf is to include mandatories, such as requiring the disc to go around a tree before hitting the hole.  If a tree is the hole, it is usual to make the target the trunk below the first branch, so that branches and leaves do not count.

Form into pairs, taking alternate shots.  After each hole have someone new choose what the next hole will be.  Encourage imaginative holes, eg “through the fork in the tree and hit the rubbish bin,” but keep it simple.

Bottle Guts

12 players; 6 discs; 12 cones

Bottle Guts involves two teams of six facing each other in a line, with each player having a cone in front of them (the bottle).  Give each team three discs.  The object is to knock over the opposition’s bottles.  Players must throw from behind their bottle, and may only throw when their bottle is upright.  Each player starts with three lives.  Each time a player’s bottle is knocked over, they lose a life.  When they have no lives left, they are out of the game and must sit down.  Any player may retrieve a disc from the “no-man’s land” between the teams, but cannot go behind enemy lines.  No goal-tending is allowed, a receiver cannot touch a moving disc until it passes the line of bottles.

Variation

For more advanced players, throwers lose a life if their throw is caught one-handed on the full.

Frisbee Rounders (Frisbee Baseball)

18 players (2 teams of 9); 1 disc; 7 cones

Set up a diamond, similar to baseball.  There is no pitcher (like teeball), otherwise the fielding positions are similar.  The “batter” simply throws the disc from homebase, and must rethrow if it is a foul or doesn’t travel at least 5m.  The batter may run up to throw, but if they release too late, then it is also a foul.  Three fouls mean the batter is out..  The batter is also out if their throw is caught on the full.  Runners are out if the disc reaches the base they are running towards before they do. Only the fielders on a base (the basemen) may run with the disc; everyone else must throw it to a baseman.  The batting team gets a run each time a runner reaches home base, when they get 3 outs the teams switch roles.  For safety reasons, the fielders should be required to be at least 5m away from the batter.

Discathon

4 players; 4 discs; cones; arrow signs

Use cones or (better) natural obstacles such as trees to mark out a course.  A park is the ideal setting.  Use arrow signs to indicate which side of trees etc the course runs.  Each player starts behind the start line with a disc.  The players must run around the course, making their disc follow the course exactly.  The players can run anywhere they like.  Each successive throw must be taken from behind where the disc last stopped.  If a throw misses a turn, the player must go back around that turn.  The winner is the player whose disc first crosses the finish line.

Variations

With older children, put the winners into a final.  Make the course difficulty match the throwing ability of the players.

Flutter Guts

6 players (2 teams of 3); 1 disc; 4 cones

This game can be used to increase eye-hand co-ordination.  Two teams of three players stand facing each other about 2 metres apart.  One team “serves” a slow, wobbly throw to the other team which must try to catch it with one hand.  The disc must pass between the head and the knees and must be soft or it is a no-throw and must be thrown again.

The disc may be bobbled and touched by any team member before it is caught, but no two hands or players may touch it at the same time.  Also, “trapping” is not allowed, where the disc is trapped between the hand and another part of the body.  The disc may be kept alive by hitting it with any body part as long as it is not a trap, and the receiving team may move anywhere they like to make a play on the disc.

After the disc hits the ground or is caught, the receiving team then serves the disc.  Score a point for a successful catch.  The first team to 11 wins.

Frisbee Tennis

12 players (2 teams of 6); 1 disc; 8 cones

This is really played similar to newcombe ball, with six players a side on either side of a tennis net.  There is a “dead zone” 2 metres either side of the net, which is out-of-bounds.  The receiving team scores a point if the disc lands out-of-bounds.  Dropping the disc, or taking more than three passes to get it over the net, scores a point for the opposition.  The game is to 15 points.

Use a cone to mark where the server serves from, making this the back of the court for advanced throwers.  This game can be played without a tennis court or net by setting up your own playing area.

Five Hundred

6 players; 1 disc

Two groups of three are separated by a distance of about 20m.  One group throws a high disc above the other group.  If someone catches it, that person scores 100 points.  That group then throws another high, floaty throw back and they get a chance to score points.  The winner is the first person to score 500 points.  The game is non-contact; no pushing or holding is allowed.  This game is very good for pracitising positioning, jumping and reading the flight of the disc.

Frisbee Soccer

12 players (2 teams of 6); 1 disc; 8 cones

In frisbee soccer, you are not allowed to run with the disc, but the disc is allowed to touch the ground, or roll along the ground.  Once the disc is on the ground, either team may pick it up, but maintain the non-contact rules, so once a player has picked it up, their marker must retire 1m away.  If two players pick up the disc simultaneously, then the offence retains possession.

The game can be played on a soccer or football field, or a similar field set out with cones.  Score by throwing the disc through the goalmouth.  Modify the number of players to suit the field size.

Keepings Off

8 players (2 teams of 4); 1 disc; 4 cones

Form a 20m square with the 4 cones.  The aim of the game is to retain possession of the discby passing to teammates for as long as possible.  As in ultimate, players may not run with the disc and have a stall count of 10.

Variations

• For more of a challenge, reduce the stall count to 7 or even 5.
• Use a scoring system where a team scores a point each time everyone on the team touches the disc.

Goaltimate

8 players (2 teams of 4); 1 disc; 6 cones

Goaltimate is played just like ultimate, but with the aim being to throw the disc into a goal (football or hockey) rather than catch it in an endzone.  A simple goal could be made between two cones.

Variations

A variation is to play half-court goaltimate, requiring a team to pass the disc outside a box before attempting to score (eg the penalty box around a soccer goal).

Double Box

10 players (2 teams of 5); 1 disc; 8 cones

This is a miniature game of ultimate, and more fast-paced.  There are 2 scoring goals, 5m x 5m boxes, separated by about 20m.  One teams starts with the disc in their box and is attacking the opponent’s box.  Each time a team scores, they immediately are attacking the other box.  Otherwise, the rules are the same as Ultimate.

Play games to 3 or 5.  Unlimited substitutions are allowed at any time.

Hot Box

10 players (2 teams of 5); 1 disc; 8 cones

Hot Box is like the half-court version of double box.  The field can be much more congested with both teams attacking the same goal.  The goal is a 5m x 5m square in the centre of a 20m x 20m square. Teams are 5-a-side on the court with unlimited subs.  The aim is to catch the disc in the goal to scor a point.  When a team gains possession of the disc, they must complete a pass outside the outer box before they can attack the goal.  Otherwise, the rules are the same as for regular Ultimate.

After scoring, the scoring team retains possession of the disc and must move the disc out of the outer box before they can score again.  Unlimited subs are allowed during play.   Play games to 3 or 5.

Variations

For more advanced players, reduce the size of the box to 3m-a-side and the number of players to 3 or 4 per team.

Indoor Ultimate

8 players (2 teams of 4); 1 disc

Indoor ultimate is played on a netball or basketball court.  The endzone is the goal circle (netball) or keyhole (basketball).  Each team has four players.  After a player catches a goal, they touch the disc to the ground and start again, attacking the opposite goal.  Each team has two substitutes.  Substitution can happen at any time by tagging the player on the sideline.  A game is usually played for 15 minutes.

Double Disc Court (DDC)

4 players ( 2 teams of 2); 2 discs; 8 cones

The court is two 10m x 10m boxes separated by a 5m wide no-man’s land.  The court can be outdoor or indoor.  A pair of players stand in each box, each pair with one disc.  Each team serves simultaneously and aim to land the disc in the other team’s court.  If the disc lands out or rolls out then the receiving team gets a point.  If the disc lands in and stays in then the throwing team gets a point.  If the receiving team catches the disc, then they can throw it back.  If the receiving team drops the disc, the throwing team gets a point.  If a team is touching both discs at once, that is a “double”, and the other team scores two points.

After a point is scored, the discs are returned to each end and the other players serve.  Change ends every 5 points.  The winning team is the first to reach 11.

Variations

Increase the size of the courts and spacing between them.  A full size court is 14m squares separated by 14m.  See the WFDF Rules for comprehensive rules.

Spring to a lot of people is the best time to hike and camp. It’s the time of the year when it’s not too hot and not too cold.

This is also the time when flowers are blooming and the landscape in filled with beautiful colors.

Spring is when I did my first hiking trip in Scotland. There were five of us and none have any experience hiking in the Great Glen Way where we first ventured out. What’s great about hiking in Europe is the variety of hiking accommodation you get to choose from.

The first day we set up a tent. The second we stayed at a backpacker’s hostel. The third, a lodge. The fourth and final day we camped again in the outdoors.

We went on the same trip again in winter. While it was a different experience, we all agreed that we had a better time in spring. In spring, the place is booming with life. There’s a show everywhere you look and a lot of the tourist destinations are open.

Expect just about every hostel, lodge or bed and breakfast to be full so be sure to book early. Just in case anything doesn’t go to plan, bring along a bivvy if you’re alone or a tent if you’re with a group.

Looks like good news for bears (a other wildlife) at least the month of March.

The U.S. District Court Judge blocked the rule which allowed visitors to carry concealed, loaded guns in national parks and wildlife refuges.

The ruling was issued by the Bush administration back in January as they were leaving office and was reviewed by former Colorado Senator Ken Salazar when he became the new Interior Secretary.

The Interior Department is expected to issue a statement about the gun rule in the next month.

It was never a good idea anyway to use guns as protection against wild animals. There are other ways to protect yourself like carrying a bear spray instead.

Jack Pomeroy is a 79 year old hiking leader who has taken at least 4,5000 people with him on hikes since 1989. Despite his age, he showed great energy and enthusiasm clambering over slippery boulders or scrambling on all fours up a steep granite boulder.

Many men half his age wouldn’t able to do what he did on that hike he did with a group of North County hikers on the way to the Bottle Peak Summit near Lake Wohlford. What’s special about this hike is that he only does it once a year and you need to have special permission because it’s on private land. Mr Pomeroy led 84 hikes to Bottle Peak and Bernardo Mountain. He also led 80 hikes with the Caballeros de Aventuras.

Pomeroy is a legend because he knows the place where he hikes really well. It’s like having a walking encyclopedia with you when he’s around. He is a U.S. Geological Survey retiree and spent most of his career mapping and spent 15 years making maps of potential landslide areas in the Appalachian Mountains.

While a lot of people in his age group would struggle going to the bathroom, Pomeroy is leading young men up mountains through the woods. He doesn’t believe in going the gym. Hiking is probably one of the best workouts you can do. When you get into the rhythm, you’d go further than you ever thought you could. The use of hydration packs like the Camelbak Mule can help you keep the rhythm while keeping you hydrated.

The old legend  is also a big promoter of protecting the environment.

Two girls from Brunei, Aniza (19) and Era (25), are currently undergoing training/selection in Scandinavia. Only one will go through for the Commonwealth Women’s Expedition to Antarctica.

If successful either Aniza or Era will become THE FIRST PERSON from Brunei to go to the South Pole.

However, the expedition is about more than national records. As well as marking the 60th anniversary year of the Commonwealth, the expedition hopes to demonstrate the potential of greater intercultural dialogue and celebrate the achievements of women Worldwide.

In case you didn’t know, Scandinavia is a historical and geographical region in Northern Europe including the Scandinavian Peninsula and consists of the kingdoms of Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

The training promises to be a tough one. It reminds me of my first time hiking the Great Glen Way in Scotland. It was a hundred something kilometer trip through the majestic mountains of Scotland along the coast of Loch Ness.

It’s nothing like the Appalachian trail but it was tough because it was my first time. Even though we had a boy Scout leader with us, we still broke a lot of rules like building a fire where we’re probably not supposed to, sleeping on a slope with a fire burning a meter or two from our makeshift tent, using cotton clothing that turned soaking wet when you’re on the move, sweating and more. A balaclava would have helped in dealing with the cold at that time.

It was tough experience but this one will be at least 10 times worse.

For one, the girls will be camping in tents ON ICE. When you sleep in a sleeping bag you will lose most of the heat you need from the ground. That’s why a lot of us use air mattresses or self-inflating pads some even use leaves for further insulation. There are no leaves in Antarctica from what I’ve heard.

What about fires? Well good luck in finding fuel for that. They’ll have to rely on camp stoves.

There’s a good chance though that Aniza will make the selection because she’s in pretty good shape and has a least some backpacking experience.

The other girl, Era, is said to have no experience backpacking at all but she ran the Brunei Marathon in 2005 and won 8th place at the Bukit Shahbandar Challenge. Still, both will require serious training, much more than probably anything they’ve undergone before. It will be one to remember.

The Brunei Adventure and Recreation Association (BARA) has done a lot in preparing these girls for the training and they’ve been instrumental in the girls’ fundraising efforts organized by Aniza and team.

There’s a lack of support though from local companies. Maybe they don’t believe that publicity is good for business.

The training will begin late evening Saturday in Hardangervidda, Norway.

The formal launch of the Commonwealth Women’s Antarctic Expedition will be held at the Royal Commonwealth Society on Tuesday 10th March where the final expedition team of 8 women will be announced and introduced.

Braving blizzards and sub-zero temperatures may not be your idea of fun but I’m sure that being the first person from a country to go to the South Pole is a big deal and will surely be an experience both girls will never forget.

Good luck Polar Girls and have fun!

Weird things sometimes happen on a hiking trip but in all my life hiking in the wild (fortunately) I have never come across a dead body much less a naked (almost) dead body.

On the morning on February 11, hikers found the body of a nearly naked man (he was only wearing a pair of blue underwear) lying across the Wahkeena Falls Trail near the junction with Multnomah Falls Trail in the Columbia River.

The man was described as a white male in his mid twenties, 5 feet 10 inches tall with receding brown hair and hazel eyes. Authorities are still trying to figure out the identity of this man.

No signs of trauma was found on the man but this incident is really suspicious.

One guy even went so far as to say that it might have something to do with aliens and the human cloning project that he says has been going on for many years in the BullRun watershed.

He suspects that there’s a deep underground facility somewhere near the gorge where genetic experimentations are conducted and communications with aliens are established.

But when he says that the poor guy was probably trying to escape from these ‘alien facilities’ or from some occult group that had made him a sex slave I began to laugh out loud.

Even if the guy was trying to escape from aliens there would at least some sign of struggle (which there were none). An escaped sex slave would probably show signs of trauma.

A more reasonable explanation would be that the guy was probably high on drugs. The Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s office will establish a positive identity and perform an autopsy.

Anyone with any information related to this incident should call the Sheriff’s Tip Line at 503-261-2847.

My advice would be to avoid Wahkeena/Multnomah Falls until everything is cleared. Who knows? There might really be aliens or some weird cult working in the area.

Stay safe!

One thing you might want to consider in planning your hiking trip is how muddy the trail is. In Boulder County Colorado there’s a website that tells you how muddy the trail is.

www.bouldercounty.org/openspace/muddy_trails_meter.htm

We all know that taking shortcuts around muddy trails keeps your boots clean but it’s bad for the environment because of increased erosion and damaged vegetation.

The trails listed are ones that are most used including Betasso Preserve, Hall Ranch, Mud Lake, Walker Ranch, Caribou Ranch, Heil Valley Ranch and Rabbit Mountain.

The Muddy Trails Report will be available from January through May of 2009 updated by noon every Friday.

If trail conditions are poor, consider a different trail that’s in better condition.