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March 28, 2007

documentary – Ken Burns – The National Parks

Do you have any old home movies of National Parks in the USA?

Ken Burns wants to talk to you.

In the fall of 2009 PBS will air The National Parks, a major documentary film series produced and directed by Ken Burns and written and produced by Dayton Duncan.

But now they are asking for your help. Their film series is not a travelogue or a â€œnatureâ€ film; it will tell the very powerful, human story of how the parks came into being and what they have meant to Americans for more than a hundred years. It will be filled with major historical figures â€” from John Muir to Theodore Roosevelt to Ansel Adams â€” but it will also tell the stories of many lesser-known Americans, from cowboys to immigrant artists, wealthy philanthropists to dirt-poor farmers who turned their passion for a part of the American landscape into crusades for their permanent protection. …

To help them tell this story, they would like to collect home movies of visits to National Parks by families and individuals for possible use in the film. They are looking for home movies from the time period of the 1920s through the 1980s and are most interested in footage of families and tourists in the parks.

National Parks Traveler: Help Ken Burns Chronicle the Parks

March 28, 2007

documentary – Wonderland Trail in 24hrs

The Wonderland Trail is one of the best hikes in the world. Circling Mt. Ranier in Washington State normally takes 7 days, 6 nights for experienced hikers.

But in a day?

The Wonderland Project is the name two friends gave their shared goal: To run the Wonderland Trail, circumnavigating Washington’s Mt. Rainier, in a single 24 hour push.

Ultramarathon runners Skye Thompson and Zac West forged their friendship into a critical partnership over two years of training, but things took a bitter turn at mile 60, when one runner was forced to drop out.

In a difficult decision, the other decided to push on alone. Join us in watching the story of their partnership in the face of an immense physical and emotional challenge and their record-breaking attempt at the Wonderland Trail.

The DVD is available at LenticularPictures.com.

Click PLAY or watch it on Google Video.

(via the GreatOutdoors.com TV page.)

March 27, 2007

USA loses nuclear material in the Himalayas 1965

This is one of the great stories of the outdoors. And I had never heard of it until today via The Piton.

An award winning new book â€” An Eye at the Top of the World â€” details a CIA operation to plant a listening device atop Nandi Devi, one of the highest peaks in the world, in 1965.

That mission was a failure. The device and its nuclear core disappeared!

To get a quick overview of the story, check the trailer for a movie directed by Robert Schaller.

If that peaks your interest, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer published an excellent article written by CAROL SMITH: Spy Robert Schaller’s life of secrecy, betrayal and regrets.

Seattle PI also posted an excellent, short audio interview and slide show with Schaller.

I think I need to read the book. This is fascinating.

An Eye at the Top of the World: The Terrifying Legacy of the Cold War’s Most Daring C.I.A. Operation

Also recommended is Spies in the Himalayas: Secret Missions and Perilous Climbs by Kohli & Conboy. (2003)

March 27, 2007

hike Baffin Island

BluePeak tipped us to a new adventure in the far North.

Few people think of trekking in the high arctic, but Black Feather now offers a 60km trek through Katannilik Territorial Park on southern Baffin, not far from Iqaluit. There is a surprising abundance of flora, and also lots of wildlife. As a bonus, the trip ends with a country meal hosted by a local family, addding a cultural touch to the trip.

Bluepeak: Trekking in the high arctic

March 26, 2007

gear – hiking with kids

Many of our contributors stopped hiking nearly so much … AFTER they had children.

Others find a way to get out into the wild with their kids.

It’s getting easier. Stephen Gilfus let us know of a site catering to little hikers:

Taking your children with you into the backcountry can be an exciting and rewarding adventure for children and parents, alike.

… Most of the widely available products don’t meet the needs of little outdoor adventurers, kids backpacks are like book bags and most sleeping bags are for indoor use.

UpsideOver has worked hard to provide you with the best selection of kids camping gear and camping gear for kids!

You should equip your child with proper hiking footwear, socks like SmartWool, hiking poles for kids, and an appropriate outdoor kids sleeping bag. The quality of the pack for your child is also important. Think about other accessories like kids hiking poles and kids water bottles specifically sized for children.

UpSideOver.com

Actually, they are looking for family gear testers:

… recieve select gear at a fraction of the cost they would normally pay. … A huge discount (15% to 40% ) towards your purchase of the gear you are going to test and review.

Gear Reviews

And we like their impressive list of recommended books for hiking with kids including Best Hikes With Children in Arizona.

March 25, 2007

10 Most Magnificent Trees

Thanks to Modern Hiker for pointing us to a cool blog we’d never seen.

Neatorama posted the 10 most fantastic trees in the world. And a couple of bonus picks.

Needless to say, these kinds of lists are controversial. Read the comments for some great additions to the top 10.

Spoiler alert. The #1 tree is the …

Baobab.

March 24, 2007

South Coast Track, Tasmania – trip report

We’ve just posted another information page â€” The South Coast Track in Tasmania. It’s a classic, often compared often with the Kokoda Trail in Papau New Guinea. (They are both muddy.)

The best trip report we’ve found was not our own, but the photo journal posted by Evan of Getting There is Half the Fun.

Most hikers fly in to the trailhead at Melaleuca, as Evan did. (Most manage not to vomit up their breakfast, however.)

His group got the typical Tassie weather:

We spent 8 days in the bush, of which it rained for 7, sometimes heavily.

Soon we had our first of many creek crossings. Our boots stayed wet for the rest of the hike.

If you can handle rain and mud, Tasmania is a fantastic hiking destination.

You must be self-sufficient. There are no Rangers, huts or emergency phones. The South Coast Track is 83km (51.5mi).

This was the only day where it was hot enough to bring out the ‘muscle shirt’. The sun only lasted 2 hours though:(

Evan

Check the rest of his trip report and photos – Getting There is Half the Fun.

South Coast Track information page – besthike

March 23, 2007

gear – Brunton Optimus Nova Multi Fuel stove

When I first traveled overseas to hike I took an MSR Whisperlite International Liquid-Fuel Stove. Everyone did in the 1990s. It was really the only option.

And I didn’t forget the MSR WhisperLite and Whisper Lite Int. Expedition Stove Service Kit. I NEEDED it.

The WhisperLite was dirty and unreliable. (Is it any better now?)

I finally gave mine away after the time it turned into a Molotov cocktail in my hand. I threw it like a grenade.

In 2007 I’m trying to use the much acclaimed JETBOIL system though not without some problems.

I go to the trouble of finding and transporting canisters.

Next time I need a multi-fuel stove I’m leaning towards the Brunton Optimus. Especially after reading this endorsement on the Walking the Wall blog from China:

Our stove is a Brunton Optimus Nova Multi-fuel Expedition Stove, and it is a miraculous piece of equipment. I (Brendan) have been through more stoves in the last 20 years than I care to count, and I have never had a liquid-fuel stove that remotely compares. I still marvel at the thing every day. I just canâ€™t stop. …

As anyone who has used liquid-fuel stoves knows, they tend to clog. A lot. Most liquid-fuel stoves sold in Western countries burn white gas, which burns hot and is squeaky clean compared to fuels that are availabe in developing countries like diesel, petrol or kerosene. And still they clog.

In six months of continuous use, in temperatures from 40Â° Celsius to -20Â°, our stove has never clogged seriously. It rarely requires cleaning. And this is using regular old petrol, a filthy, inefficient fuel for camping-stove purposes.

Walking the Wall

Brunton Optimus Nova Multi Fuel Expedition Stove

Leave a comment if you have an opinion on the Optimus or any other multi-fuel stove.

March 22, 2007

10 day vehicle survival kit – $25

Jeffrey Yago posted a good reminder for outdoor enthusiasts.

Be ready in case of accident in the wilds. Or, more likely, in the event you are called on to help someone less experienced in the wild.

You MIGHT question his math, however.

It seems like every winter there are news stories of people getting stranded for weeks in bad weather while driving through the many remote areas of our country. In fact, this past winter, our nation held its breath waiting for news of James Kim and his family who got lost traveling the snowy roads of Josephine County in Oregon …

While his wife and daughters, who stayed with their vehicle, were eventually found alive, he succumbed to the cold as he hiked through snow looking for help for his family. And there are also many cases of people trapped for days in their vehicles after skidding over a bridge embankment, even though they were only a few hundred feet from a busy highway.

10 day survival pack for your vehicle for just $25

(via Lifehacker)

March 21, 2007

new podcast – TheOutdoorsStation.co.uk

Bob Cartwright started the first outdoor audio podcast in the UK. And it’s one of the best worldwide.

I’ve been listening to his BackPackingLight.co.uk podcast for about a year.

But Bob’s put that audiocast feed on hold (the previous 100+ old episodes are still posted) and podcasting new episodes out of TheOutdoorsStation.co.uk.

Though confusing to listeners, this is part of a move to “monetize” and expand his work. The new site (still under construction) will post both independent and manufacturer sponsored audiocasts.

A good sample of the NEW audiocast is an interview of Judy Armstrong just prior to her departure on a 3300mi continuous hike around the European Alps.

The easiest way to try it is using the free iTunes (or similar) software. Under PODCASTS, search for “The Outdoor Station”. And click SUBSCRIBE.

(All this can be very confusing if you are not familiar with how podcasts work. Get someone familiar with iTunes to subscribe for you if it’s too baffling.)

You can listen on any computer. You don’t need an iPod or MP3 player.

It’s all free.

We are great fans of Bob Cartwright and wish him the best on this new, much expanded project.