… some amazing footage of a fox listening for — then pouncing upon — its prey through a thick blanket of snow. …
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
hoverfly on your nose
My favourite insect is the hoverfly.
They can be found at altitude on trails most everywhere around the world.
… About 6,000 species in 200 genera have been described. Hoverflies are common throughout the world and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Hoverflies are harmless to most other animals despite their mimicry of the black and yellow stripes of wasps, which serves to ward off predators. …
Henry knows they are harmless. A great challenge is to try to get one to land on your nose. They like to lick up the salt in your sweat.
UPDATE: Turns out Kolby Kirk is a hover fly guy. Here’s one of his brilliant photos, this one from Joshua Tree.
Tom Mangan – hiking photos
Tom Mangan of Two-Heel Drive posted his favourite photos of 2009. Some from California. Some from his new haunt, North Carolina.
see the rest – Favorite pix of 2009
videos – embedded or on YouTube?
by site editor Rick McCharles
On this site I try to give you a choice between watching videos on the same page. Or by jumping to YouTube or another site.
It’s faster to watch the embedded video. AND embedded YouTube videos normally do not have those annoying overlay ads.
If you’re in a hurry, just watch the embedded video.
But when you jump over to YouTube you have the option of watching a higher resolution version. You can comment. Rate videos. And see more links to related videos.
It’s nice to have a choice.
The future looks bright. YouTube and Vimeo have begun replacing “memory hog” Adobe Flash format videos with the new HTML5 standard.
The sooner that happens, the better.
hiking electronics
by site editor Rick McCharles
You may find it surprising how much electronic gear I hauled on my recent 17-day trek in the Everest region.
I carried two iPods. … Overkill?
My iPod shuffle plays for about 10hrs on a charge. The iPod touch perhaps 20hrs. Both filled with audio podcasts and books on MP3.
Click on any of the images below for a description.
Recharging batteries en route was not always easy.
Comments?
hoaring
In Calgary the past few weeks we’ve had some amazing hoarfrost and ice fog. Very pretty!
Either on bike or on foot, I’ve been out often with Sasha in the winter wonderland.
Yesterday a hungry coyote tried to lure Sasha away from me, into the trees.
are running shoes ruining your feet?
UPDATE: Tony Rix recommends Vibram’s latest model, the KSO Trek. (see the comments)
That’s one of the themes of a fantastic book I’ve just finished:
Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen
I’m convinced that author Christopher McDougall is on to something.
For specifics, check this article: The painful truth about trainers: Are running shoes a waste of money?
His theory is that we evolved running barefoot. And became the dominant species on the planet because of that advantage.
Running barefoot … an advantage?
It seems counter intuitive. Yet the case laid out in his book seems irrefutable.
Shoe companies, especially Nike, seeking mad profits, have convinced us to buy technology that changes our natural technique.
In recent years I’ve been hiking and trail running in one of the cheapest pairs of shoes made by New Balance. I bought them because of bunions. Perhaps, by luck, this soft, flat-soled shoe is what I need.
I’m tempted to try hiking in Vibram Fivefingers. That’s what the author is using now for distance running.
… That might be going too far.
Instead, I’ll pull out my old sandals. I’ve hiked in those before, very comfortably. Those feel like “bare feet”, but keep the pebbles and grit out.
Leave a comment if you’ve experimented with tossing your hiking boots in the closet. And getting back to something more natural.
book review – Born to Run
On the insistence of my Adventure Racing buddy, Dave Adlard, I bought a book.
Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen
A fantastic read, even for non-runners. The author, Christopher McDougall, (video) is a master story teller. I was gripped by this true life story.
Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration, Born to Run is an epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt? In search of an answer, Christopher McDougall sets off to find a tribe of the world’s greatest distance runners and learn their secrets, and in the process shows us that everything we thought we knew about running is wrong. …
It’s available on Audible.com, as well as in a Kindle edition.
Get it!
Christopher Mcdougall reminds me of Jon Krakauer, another magazine scribe turned author.
Born to Run is as engaging as anything by Krakauer.
The culminating Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen is set in Mexico’s Copper Canyon. I visited as a tourist in 1999. Fantastic.
I’ve long planned to return for some serious hiking there. Unfortunately, as the book describes vividly, it’s very dangerous today as the Canyons are home to big marijuana plantations. You might get shot.
longest solo, unassisted walk ever
British Adventurer Ripley Davenport will attempt the first recorded solo and unassisted traverse across the vast landmass of Mongolia, on foot from east to west, starting in April 2010.
This effort to push the frontiers of human capabilities, challenge ecological values and inspire youth to reach beyond their perceived limits and engage their dreams.
The Expedition will involve walking 1700 miles / 2750 km’s across the Eastern Mongolian Steppe, Gobi Desert and the Altai Mountain Range, while hauling provisions and equipment weighing in excess of 200kg in a wheeled trailer, specifically designed for the journey, in 90 days or less. …
Kraig Becker posted an interview with Davenport, 90 days in advance of the start, on The Adventure Blog.
add GPS to your iPod Touch
If you’re looking for a GPS for hiking in North America, this add-on will soon be available for about $180.
The GPS Navigation & Battery Cradle provides a complete navigation solution for the iPod touch, including the NavAtlas® turn-by-turn navigation app with TTS technology, and the latest U.S. and Canada maps.
Click PLAY or watch a demo on YouTube.
The Cradle features a built-in GPS Receiver, Rechargeable Battery, Amplified Speaker, Audio Out connection and Mini USB port. An Adjustable Windshield Mount is included for in-car use.
The Cradle, which resembles a thin battery case, is super portable and can be used for in-car navigation (with the provided fully adjustable windshield mount) as well as for handheld use. The built-in GPS receiver provides GPS data to most location-based apps. The NavAtlas app, which works exclusively with the Cradle, will be available on the iTunes App Store for free.
Will the next generation Touch have GPS built in?
besthike.com 