Author: Rick Mc

Career gymnastics coach who loves the outdoors, and the internet.
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Beartooths traverse, Montana

Peter Potterfield was searching for the best hike in Montana:

The state is so rich in extraordinary wilderness that it’s actually hard to choose: Glacier or Yellowstone? The Bitterroots? The Bob Marshall Wilderness? One can hardly go wrong, but I was determined to find something special. For expert input, I asked fellow writer Mike Harrelson, a gung-ho climber and skier based in Bozeman, to help me decide. He was up for the challenge and after a few weeks of research called me with the verdict.

“We’re going to do a traverse of the Beartooths,” he said, “right down to the northern boundary of Yellowstone.

Potterfield’s trip report sounds great: “outrageous wildflower gardens”, a scramble of 11,480ft Mt. Dewey, the Fossil Lake plateau, fly-fishing for Cutthroat trout”, …

Oboz

Bozeman is the gateway to Yellowstone country, but for the Beartooths, Billings is a viable option for staging. The drive to East Rosebud Lake will take approximately three hours from either city. For information on conditions and regulations in the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness, contact the Ranger District in Big Timber, Montana, 406-932-5155. or the Custer National Forest, 406-657-6200.

For a one way hike, you’ll need to stash one car at the Clarks Fork Trailhead near Cooke City before driving to the trailhead at East Rosebud Lake, or arrange a pick up. At the end of the hike, when you walk out of the Beartooths out to the trailhead on Highway 212, lodging options await a few miles to the west in Cooke City.

Read the trip report on Great Outdoors – Across Montana’s Beartooths

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South American trekking – best books

As usual, the best place to start is Lonely Planet.

Trekking in the Central Andes is brilliant, but has not been updated since 2003.

Lonely Planet Patagonian Andes has been updated:

This vast, varied region is home to some of the world’s great treks, with trails that take you through pristine forests to the rims of glaciers, under granite monoliths and over rickety suspension bridges, well beyond the crowds. Our expert author has chosen the best of Patagonia’s trekking, from the luxuriant rainforests of the Lakes District to the spectacular wildernesses of Tierra del Fuego.

Trekking in the Patagonian Andes (updated November, 2009)

Val Pitkethly’s book was updated, as well, September, 2008.

26 treks and 18 climbing peaks in the Andes, with coverage of the range from Venezuela in the north to Patagonia in the south. The treks included will introduce you to all aspects of the Andes, from the simmering volcanoes of Chile and Argentina to the high altitude Inca cities of Peru. Ranging between four days and two weeks, there is something for everyone.

The Andes: Trekking + Climbing

Leave a comment if you have other faves.

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JakPak = jacket, sleeping bag, tent combo

My Adventure Racing captain, Dave Adlard, wants me to test a DEMO model of this new product.

JakPak™, the world’s first all-in-one waterproof jacket, sleeping bag and tent, …

JakPak – Our Story

Looks very cool. I’m IN.

The specs aren’t definitive. But I’ve seen cited on other blogs an approximate weight of 2lbs. At that I’d carry it as survival gear even on day hikes.

Available late Spring 2010. Guesstimated price, $250.

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Copper Canyon Ultramarathon documentary

Often called the “greatest runners in the world”, Mexico’s Raramuri Indians currently wear these sandals handmade from rubber tires.

Photo courtesy of Barefoot Ted

They are much studied by researchers of the Running Barefoot or In Minimal Footwear movement.

Living in Mexico’s Sierra Madre mountain range, the Raramuri Indians are some of the best long distance runners in the world, but how far can they run in the face of problems like environmental damage, loss of native lands, and the drug war? An American ultra marathon runner known as Caballo Blanco is fighting to help the Raramuri preserve their culture and tradition of long distance running. The Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon is the result.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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best solar chargers for hikers

Trailspace posted a review of the new solar chargers on display at the Outdoor Retailer show 2010 in Vegas.

Bill Straka is sticking with this Brunton, for now:

Brunton Solaris 12 – Solar charger (approx. $239)

But Brunton has a new, more compact system coming out this year. And it’s much cheaper.

Click PLAY or watch a Brunton Restore (7.2oz) demo on YouTube.

There are more options reviewed on the original post on Trailspace – Solar power in small packages

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throw away your hiking boots?

More research on whether Nike has caused all your foot and leg injuries.

A word of caution from Dr. Ross Tucker and Dr. Jonathan Dugas:

… I guarantee that the media are going to be all over this and they are going to tell you that you should be running barefoot or in Vibrams. You will hear how science has proven that being barefoot will prevent injuries, and that those of you who are injured should blame your shoes as you lob them into the garbage bin. …

If you wish to guarantee yourself an injury, then go out for a 2km run barefoot on a hard surface, and you will be asking your calf muscles and Achilles tendons to do work that for perhaps 30 years, they haven’t had to do. …

read more – Science of Sport blog.

That article led me to some cutting edge research …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Click PLAY or compare a runner wearing shoes on YouTube.

More caution:

Disadvantages of Forefoot Striking Barefoot or in Minimal Footwear

* Thick-soled shoes are much more forgiving when running over glass, sharp objects, ice and so on.

* If you have been a heel striker, it takes some time and much work to train your body to forefoot or midfoot strike, especially because you need stronger feet and calf muscles. Runners may be at greater risk of developing Achilles tendonitis when they switch from heel striking to forefoot or midfoot striking …

Running Barefoot, Forefoot Striking & Training Tips

This comes from a new blog by Dr. Daniel E. Lieberman of Harvard University: Running Barefoot or In Minimal Footwear

That’s likely the best site of all for those who want to research this topic.

(via Full Twist – Running Barefoot – The Debate)

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gloves for the feet?

Previously I was thinking of these as something of a gimmick. … But I think I’ll buy a pair this summer and try them out.

click to see details on this Women's shoe

The second is a Men’s shoe. Click through to Amazon to see other models. And competitive products from other companies.

Five Fingers were named one of Time magazine’s Best Inventions of 2007.

The are getting a lot of love on the blogosphere from runners and hikers.

Leave a comment if you’ve worn them in the gym. Or have an opinion pro or con.

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interview – Aussie hiking author Frank Wall

by site editor Rick McCharles

Clayton Kessler of TracksAndTrails.ca posted an interview with Frank Wall, author of the Guide to Planning the Overland Track eBook.

Frank edits the often hilarious Our Hiking Blog, as well.

I’m a fan of both those sites and subscribe by RSS.

The Overland Track is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.

I was on Tasmania for only 2wks yet saw many poisonous snakes. I’m interested in how a Tassie vet like Frank assesses that risk:

Can you share any unique encounters with wild animals?

We don’t really have “wild” animals like bears in Australia. We do have lots of tiger snakes that can kill you. In Tasmania they are quite common and you learn to keep an eye out for them. They love to lie along the side of trail and bask in the sun. I always keep my eyes out for them and wear gaiters to at least protect my legs. The snakes, fortunately, are more scared of us then we are of them and usually disappear quickly. Bites are usually caused when someone (i.e. an idiot) tries to catch or kill one, which is illegal as they are protected species. …

read the entire interview on TracksAndTrails.ca

Tasmanian Tiger Snake

Frank has a new post discussing whether or not his favourite trail is getting too crowded …

… number of walkers had been trending up from 6360 in 2005-2006 to 7024 in 2008-2009 …

Click through to read his opinion – The Overland Track – hiking solo in season? Not likely

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thin jacket to climb Mt Everest

Would you wear this jacket to summit the world’s highest peak?

That’s what climber Jamie Clarke from my town, Calgary, Canada plans to do this Spring. He’s working with Champion Athletic Wear on a new technology that has “the potential to change the entire outdoor apparel industry.”

A big boast.

Jamie has tested the apparel and outerwear on Mount Pumori in Nepal.

This spring, Expedition Hanesbrands heads to Mount Everest. With good weather, hard climbing — and nanotechnology on their backs — Clarke and his crew are counting on the Supersuit to help them make it to the top.

Gear Junkie – Champion Supersuit Unveiled!

It’s super-insulating Zero-Loft Aerogel, more than 99 percent air, according to the company. The claim by Champion is that it’s four times as warm as goose down.

Details on Jamie’s Everest ascent is posted on ClimbeEverestWithUs – The Team

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want to hike Torngat, Labrador?

It ain’t easy …

Tourism Newfoundland and Labrador launched another ad in its already very successful ad campaign. This latest ad features Torngat Mountains National Park in northern Nunatsiavut. …

bluepeak.net – New Labrador ad

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

… The park, 9,700 sq.km, is probably one of the most difficult parks in Canada to reach. Even the parks in Nunavut are easier to get to. It’s not only the remoteness, but especially the weather and ferocious winds that make getting here an adventure in itself.

If the weather is good, then the park is about 1 hours’ flying or up to two days by fishing boat north of Nain, Labrador’s northernmost community. There are no scheduled flights or boats to the park, and once you arrive, there are no facilities.

Safety is a real concern, as polar bears roam throughout the park. Since only Inuit are allowed to carry arms, visitors should always be accompanied by an Inuit guide. A good idea in any case, as the area is also infamous for its quickly changing weather and strong “ghost” winds that can appear out of nowhere. …

bluepeak