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bear visits U.S. Senior Open Golf

The Broadmoor’s East Course was quite a bear Friday.

Difficult pin placements and faster, drier greens flustered the field and only five golfers managed to shoot below par, including Fred Funk, whose 1-under 69 gave him the lead at the halfway point of the U.S. Senior Open in Colorado Springs, Colo. …

Stealing the show, however, was a black bear that ambled out of the mountains in the morning and crossed the 13th fairway before checking out spectators outside the ropes.

Nobody was harmed, and neither was the bear.

“(Jack) Nicklaus isn’t here, so I guess that’s a substitute,” cracked Funk. …

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Associated Press

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Llama trekking in the Alps

Mellow mountain walking. But be careful not to get a stream of llama spit in the eye while on a narrow trail.

… The Eagle Way is a 1,480km trail through some of Europe’s most heart-stoppingly glorious scenery: distant clutches of chalets and spires engulfed by manicured, velvety meadows, verdant hillsides veined with tumbling glacial brooks and iridescent bursts of midsummer Alpine flora. And above it all a rearing backdrop of jagged, piebald peaks, among them Austria’s highest, the mighty Grossglockner. The sky was huge and blue, the air as crisp as apple strudel; it could not have been more Sound of Music. High on the hill with a lonely Guy-herd. …

read the article – Stick your neck out, Llama trekking in the Tyrol may sound like a joke but it’s seriously good fun, says Tim Moore -The Guardian

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Tim and his new friend go for a stroll in the Alps. Photograph: Jan Erik Burger

Dolomiten Lama Trekking … dolomitenlama@aon.at) runs three day llama treks with half-board accommodation in mountain huts from €240pp for a group of seven minimum. Day trips from €38pp.

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$40k prize money – climb Mt Washington, NH

Where do I sign up for the Seek the Peak fundraiser for the Mount Washington Observatory?

I could handle the media interview at the top:

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larger version

… Hikers came in droves to support the non-profit Mount Washington Observatory during Saturday’s annual Seek the Peak hike-a-thon, making the 2008 edition the most successful event in its eight-year history. 250 hikers from as far away as Texas, Colorado, Florida and the Carolinas, ventured to the summit of the tallest peak in New England, raising a total of $97,000 for the Observatory. That sum fell just short of the event’s ambitious $100,000 goal, but surpassed the event’s 2007 fundraising totals by more than $33,000 and more than doubled the 2006 effort.

Despite its reputation for being home to some of the most extreme conditions on Earth, Mount Washington was rather tame on Saturday, with sunny skies and pleasant hiking conditions. This was a welcome sight, after a week’s worth of torrential downpours and strong thunderstorms in the area.

…

Presented by Subaru and L.L.Bean, Seek the Peak is Mount Washington Observatory’s largest annual fundraiser. All proceeds from the event benefit the 76-year old organization’s ongoing efforts in weather observation, education and research. The cumulative total that this specific event has raised over its eight year history is now over $377,000. …

Mt Washington Observatory

Seek the Peak – official site of the fundraiser

unrelated post: walk up, ride down – Mt Washington, B.C.

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hike the Forbidden Plateau, B.C.

Easiest access to Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island.

I finally found the time to hike this very popular destination, only 1hr from my parents house in Parksville, B.C.

… The gently sloping sub-alpine terrain is broken by small, rugged hills and pitted with small lakes. Much of it is contained within Strathcona Provincial Park, and a network of trails facilitate hiking, cross country skiing, and access to Mount Albert Edward.

wikipedia – Forbidden Plateau

Highlights include lakes and alpine meadows (former lakes). In fact, the most popular trailhead is Paradise Meadows at Mount Washington Alpine Resort ski hill. Most famous for ski and mountain bike trails, the Forbidden Plateau draws thousands of hikers each year, as well.

I camped at Circlet Lake. This is the best campground basecamp for those who plan to scramble off-trail routes in Strathcona. (The most popular being Albert Edward and Castle Crag.)

I feared the trails would be tree locked. Not so. The views are quite open. It’s consistently pretty. A section close to the ski resort is even wheelchair accessible. There are good options here for hikers of all ability levels.

See the rest of my annotated photos on flickr – hiking Forbidden Plateau, B.C.

related post: walk up, ride down – Mt Washington, B.C.

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Therm-a-Rest NeoAir

I gots to get one of these.

neoairpad1w_2.jpgFor the past month, rumors have circulated among the outdoor-gear cognoscenti about a new minimalist air mattress that’d pack to the size of a one-liter Nalgene bottle while providing nearly as much warmth as a bulky pad stuffed with goose down.

Indeed, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Mattress, announced officially on July 17, is now touted as the “world’s lightest, most advanced three-season air mattress.” Manufacturer Cascade Designs Inc. cites the inflatable pad as being approximately three times warmer than any other un-insulated air mattress on the market.

While the pad isn’t yet available for testing — and it won’t ship to stores until April 2009 — …

WHAT! … WHY so long?

NeoAir pads will come in four sizes, but the smallest iteration — which measures 20 x 47 inches unrolled and packs to the size of the aforementioned Nalgene bottle — will weigh a scant 9 ounces, or less than the average trail-running shoe. …

NeoAir debuts next year for $120 – $170, depending on size. If all is as the company claims, this pad could be a panacea for backpackers looking to cut bulk and save weight while still sleeping cozy in a bag on the cold hard ground.

The Gear Junkie Scoop: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir – Outside

I’m loving my ExPed 7 — but it weighs 27.9oz (790gms). I usually leave it at home.

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walk up, ride down – Mt Washington, B.C.

I had a great half day on Vancouver Island. (Not at the much more famous Mt Washington in New Hampshire.)

Mt Washington is the home of the excellent Mount Washington Alpine Resort. It’s 25km from the Comox Valley, close to good hostels in Courtenay.

In summer the chair lift carries hikers and bikers. The view from the top is awesome.

The real highlight are the cheeky ‘Whiskey Jacks’ (Gray Jays) who happily alight on your hand, hoping for crumbs. (Don’t feed them.)

If you climb the mountain (45min) you can ride down for free. Otherwise, a trip is a reasonable $15.

Highly recommended.

more photos – flickr

Nearby is Paradise Meadows Trailhead, the best jumping off point for hiking the Forbidden Plateau. This is also the most popular trailhead of all in massive Strathcona Provincial Park.

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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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top 10 walkable cities in the USA

Well, if you live in San Francisco, New York or Boston you’re lucky enough to live in one of the top three. With Chicago, Philadelphia, Seattle, Washington D.C., Long Beach California, Los Angles and Portland .. rounding out the list.

Treehugger

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Things to Do in San Francisco

Top 10 Least Walkable U.S. Cities

1. Jacksonville
2. Nashville
3. Charlotte
4. Indianapolis
5. Oklahoma City
6. Memphis
7. Kansas City
8. Fort Worth
9. El Paso
10. Mesa

Treehugger

Indianapolis is not so bad. Let’s replace it with Phoenix.

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Chill Factor hats for hikers

Keep cool on the Trail.

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Kevin Pringles of Chill Factor Clothing emailed:

We have developed a cooling hat that keeps people cooler and safer in the heat, so it is perfect for hikers. The hats have a crystal material inside that absorb water and turn into a cooling gel. When soaked in ice water, the hats get very cold and they can protect people from heat related injuries. For more information, check out the following link:

Chill Factor Clothing – hydro crystal

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more hat styles – photo Gallery