Category: humour

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Nude Mountaineering Society

In 2006 a climber disrobed on the summit of Mt. Everest. Ang Tshering, president of Nepal Mountaineering Association, was not amused.

I assume the highest nudist in history was inspired by the example of George Mallory.

Howard Somervell (left), without trousers, Arthur Wakefield (centre) without boots and George Mallory (right) naked after fording a stream en route to Everest. Mallory was known by team members to favour nude bathing!

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Artist / photographer: George Finch. Date: 1922 – source

Mallory was the inspiration for the Nude Mountaineering Society. Here’s the President, the unfortunately named Hank Wangford.

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Wangford in Yosemite – Strippers with altitude – Guardian

Actually, Wangford is a stage name for an English comedian and country and western songwriter. His actual name is Dr. Samuel Hutt.

(via Get Outdoors)

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great gifts for hikers

Check this page on the Life is Good site:

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category – camp and hike

not-all-who-wander.jpgMy own personal favourite: Not all who wander are lost. (I have 3 of these.)

Life is good Inc. is doing well:

Last year, the company sold 4.2 million of its $25 T-shirts and had sales of roughly $107 million, said Bert Jacobs, who along with his brother, John Jacobs, founded the business in Needham, Mass., in 1994 with only a handful of styles and a van.

They were trying to create “a symbol about what was right in the world,” he said

NY Times

(via Wicked Outdoorsy)

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hike while working on your computer – Walkstation

Perfect for the hiking blogger.

… It’s a stand-up desk integrated into a treadmill. …

I tried it and it’s not as awkward as you might think. You have to get the speed on the treadmill just right, so you can walk without thinking, but once you do it is actually possible to read and type while walking.

Addicted to the Web? Walk it off

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Walkstation

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does Tom Mangan walk the talk?

Tom Mangan’s Two-Heel Drive is the most popular hiking blog on the Google.

But does Tom Mangan actually carry Tom Mangan’s 10 Essentials for Day Hiking the Bay Area on the trail?

I’ve assembled my version of the 10 things I need for a happy hike in the Bay Area, where the notable absence of such climate annoyances as blizzards and hurricanes means we don’t have to dwell on the 10 Essentials for Wilderness Survival unless we really, really screw up.

1. A water supply
2. A reliable map
3. Comfortable socks
4: Comfortable shoes
5. Underwear that doesn’t chafe
6. Something to keep crud out of your shoes
7. Nylon hiking pants
8. Something to block the sun
9. Nourishment
10. The real 10 Essentials

I’d love to tell the world that Tom actually hikes barefoot — with only a Diet Coke for provisions. But it was not so on our hike last weekend.

Tom Mangan hiking
Tom Mangan

Unfortunately for me, Tom walked the talk on the first 9 of 10. (I’m only assuming his underwear were comfortable.) Tom even had healthy snacks. (I stopped at Rotten Ronnie’s on the way to the trailhead.)

Once again, Tom Mangan makes me, the best hiker, look bad by comparison.

Dang.

Here are a few of the 10 real essentials Tom left at home:

3. INSULATION.
4. ILLUMINATION.
5. FIRST-AID SUPPLIES.
6. FIRE.
7. REPAIR KIT AND TOOLS.
10. EMERGENCY SHELTER.

Mangan’s 10 Essentials for Happy Hiking – Two-Heel Drive

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George Bush on Re-Arming Our Wilderness

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There’s a move under way in the U.S. Senate to have Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne reverse the National Park Service’s ban against the public carrying concealed weapons in the national parks. …

National Parks Traveler

The president of the Association of National Park Rangers responded that Kempthorne’s rationale is “hypocritical in some cases and just plain wrong in others,” …

There is a very amusing audiocast currently playing on The Official Parody Site of George Bush’s Weekly Radio Address. Playing only for 1wk.

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things white people like – Outdoor Performance Clothes

This blog is going crazy on the interwebs right now:

#87 Outdoor Performance Clothes

… When white people aren’t working, they generally like to wear Outdoor Performance Clothes. …

When you see white people wearing these, it is important that you do not discuss business matters. Instead you should say things like “where did you get that fleece?” and “what’s that thing holding your keys to your shorts?” White people will be more than happy to talk to you about their sustainably produced possessions.

The main reason why white people like these clothes is that it allows them to believe that at any moment they could find themselves with a Thule rack on top of their car headed to a national park. …

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If you plan on spending part of your weekend with a white person, it is strongly recommended that you purchase a jacket or some sort of “high performance” t-shirt, which is like a regular shirt but just a lot more expensive.

things white people like

Faux outdoors people.

What are you going to do?

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best hiker messing with Texas

For the first time ever, I made it to Texas for hiking.

Adventure Blogger Kraig Becker, had recommended in 2006 the new Government Canyon State Natural Area which, very close to San Antonio, has 40+ miles of hiking trails, ideal too for mountain biking and trail running.

Unbeknownst to Kraig and my good self, the Park is CLOSED in February except on weekends.

The wilderness closed?

That’s an oxymoron to a besthiker. I parked in a nearby residential development and headed cross-country to intersect with the official trails.

Unfortunately, turned out I was bushwhacking through PRIVATE PROPERTY. This was my first clue:

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original

I had visions of dumb redneck Texans, fiercely protecting their fences with weapons. I kept one eye open for Dick Cheney.

I did manage, finally, without getting shot, to reach the Park and had a great run on Lytle’s Loop Trail.

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Tim and Karen Hixon Visitor Center – GreenSource

Recommended – Government Canyon State Natural Area – official website