Joshua Tree National Park to Support Climb Smart 2011 and 75th Anniversary Celebration

Here's a press release the Climb Smart Festival at Joshua Tree:

JOSHUA TREE, Calif. - July 20, 2011 - Joshua Tree National Park and nonprofit group Friends of Joshua Tree (FOJT) invite climbers of all skill levels and fans of Joshua Tree National Park to 'Save the Date' for the 2011 Climb Smart Festival, to be held October 21-23, 2011 in Joshua Tree, Calif. This year's event celebrates the 75th anniversary of Joshua Tree National Park and kicks off the climbing season with fun, education, service and support for key services around the Park.  Event registration available at www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=220907.

The 2011 Climb Smart festival, including climbing clinics, camping, park projects, multimedia and athlete presentations, vendor fair and more, is the perfect event for kicking off the climbing season, connecting with kindred spirits and giving back to the park.  Presenting sponsors are Black Diamond, prAna, adidas Outdoor, Evolve Sports, Sterling Ropes, Joshua Tree National Park and Adventure 16.

Clinics for all abilities will be led by American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA) accredited guides from Wilderness Outings, Uprising and Vertical Adventures as well as top sponsored and legendary climbers of yore.

During the Climb Smart festival, climbers and park supporters will also have the opportunity to learn about and shape Park policy as the Park's long term General Management Plan goes under review this year.  Park policy toward climbing nationwide is heavily influenced by Joshua Tree, one of the world-renowned climbing destinations in the United States. 

A one-time fee, $105 ($85 early bird), will give attendees an all-access pass to the weekend event's festival, clinics, camping and fun at the new festival location, Joshua Tree Lake Campground. To register for Climb Smart 2011, register at www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=220907.

About Friends of Joshua Tree
Friends of Joshua Tree (www.friendsofjosh.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the historical tradition of climbing in Joshua Tree National Park. Friends of Joshua Tree advocates, communicates, and encourages ethical and environmentally sound climbing practices, and works to shape park policy on climbing and climbing-related issues. Toward that end, Friends of Joshua Tree acts as the liaison between the climbing community and the National Park service. 

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Bike Share for Greener Cities

After reading about the cool bike share program in Minnesota, I had to find more.  What a great idea.  Save $, reduce the number of cars on the road, reduce pollution, get in shape.  Take the bus to the museum, pick up a bike there for the ride home!  Cool.

There are programs in  D.C., Capital Bikeshare, as well as Denver,  San Antonio, Nashville, and, coming in 2012,  New York.

Check out the Bike Sharing Blog for more info on bike share programs around the world. And read this NY Times article about successful programs across Europe.

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Nice Ride Minnesota Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary

Think back one-year. Nice Ride launched its 65-station system in downtown Minneapolis. People wondered about who would ride the bikes, whether vandalism or accidents would undermine the program in a U.S. city, and how the pricing system would work for Minnesotans. A year later, we're proud to answer those questions and report on the success of the program.

Who will ride the bikes? Everybody.

More than 100,000 trips were taken on Nice Ride bikes in just five operational months in 2010. Since we put the stations back on the streets in early April 2011, more than 37,000 trips have been taken. And the pace is heating up. Almost 3,000 trips were taken last week-end alone. Last year, riders were people between the ages of 16-75, from all over the United States and even from several foreign countries! Most of last year's trips were taken by 24-hour subscribers but usage has shifted. Our subscriber base has more than doubled from 1,300 in December 2010 to 3,200 today. That means more people are incorporating Nice Ride into their everyday lives - to shop, to get to work, to meet friends for a meal, and to get to great destinations in the Twin Cities. 

Click to continue reading ....

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Safety Tips From the National Parks Service

Here's some hiking safety information from the National Parks Service:

Wilderness Hiking Safety Tips

Park visitors need to accept wilderness on its own unique terms. Proper preparedness and hazard awareness can prevent hiking injuries.

Be prepared

Wear sturdy boots that are broken in and are comfortable and know how they respond to wet slippery surfaces. Get in trail shape before the trip--fatigue often leads to injuries. Traveling with at least one hiking companion adds to your safety margin.

Wear pants, wind or rain pants, and a long sleeve shirt during more hazardous hiking conditions, such as after a rain The extra clothing can reduce the degree of any injuries from a fall.

A hiking pole or walking stick can be very helpful in maintaining your balance in hazardous conditions. Stay aware of your surroundings, and preplan your approach to more hazardous areas.

Extra weight wears you down and reduces your agility over uneven terrain. Pack as light as possible. Leave the extras behind.

And aware

Anything wet (from dew, rain, frost, snow) can be a hazard and even more so if it's on a slope - water bars, tree roots, bare rock, stepping stones, tree branches, loose pebbles/fine rocky soils, muddy ground, board walks. A moose with a calf; bulls in rut, and Yellow jacket nests in the ground near the trail can also be hazards while hiking.

Know how to hike avoid hazards

Step over water bars, logs, or tree roots rather than on them. These surfaces are often slippery, and your feet may slide sideways, especially on a slope.

Board walks can be very slippery when wet. Slow your pace, keep your steps shorter, and your weight over your feet. (Do not slide into your step.) When stepping on stepping stones, keep your weight centered over your step to avoid sliding or slipping.

When faced with barren rock on a slope, you may find there is a better option just off to the side where people have traveled. Look for it.

Think ahead of time what you'll do if you start to slide or fall so you are prepared for it. If falling, do not try to catch yourself; try to avoid landing on your hands, elbows or knees. Landing on the side of your body is much safer. If you start to slide, sometimes you can stop the slide, (with a hiking pole, or hanging on to a tree). If the slope is such where you know you are going to slide, lowering your center of gravity, by sitting down and sliding on your feet or bottom, is safer. If sliding while standing up keep your weight over your feet and bend your knees--do not lean back or forward while sliding.

If you come upon moose, don’t get too close. Give them enough distance. Use binoculars or zoom lens to get a closer look. Watch for Yellow Jacket nests in the ground near the trail, and make sure you carry an emergency sting kit if you are allergic to bees.

And how to avoid becoming fatigued

Fatigue slows your awareness and preparedness to hike safely. Avoid fatigue by following these guidelines: Stay hydrated - drink plenty of water, even on cool, wet days.Ensure adequate calorie intake - don't wait until you feel hungry. Take more frequent rest brakes, but not so long you begin to stiffen up. Stay warm. Becoming cold reduces your awareness. Watch out for other members of your party getting fatigued and take appropriate action and care.

Your wilderness experience can have a happy ending if you stay aware and come prepared. (Source: National Parks Service, click for link.) 

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Leave No Trace in Your Backyard

Boulder, CO - April 1, 2011 - The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics has introduced a new series of Backyard Sessions, designed to support communities increase Leave No Trace programs on the ground as well as environmental stewardship efforts. The free Sessions comprise of fun, social and educational events conducted around the country through 2011, with the goal of inspiring communities to learn more about and incorporate Leave No Trace on their public lands, in their schools, outdoor clubs, youth organizations, and more. Click to continue reading.
  

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JOBY Updates GorillaMobile Ori and Yogi with Hands-Free Camera Features for iPad 2

JOBY Updates GorillaMobile Ori and Yogi with Hands-Free Camera Features for iPad 2

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Check Out the Mountain Khakis Blog

Enter to win a pair of Mountain Khakis pants.  Click here for details.  

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New Reviews on FitnessTravelGear

We've just posted some new reviews, including Moshi's iVisor screen protector for MacBook Pro computers, a sweet bikini by Carve Designs, and lightweight packs by Sierra Designs (Herald 30) and Granite Gear (Meridian Vapor)


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Tourism Cares for Conservation Volunteers International Program

Santa Barbara, CA- May 23, 2011- Conservation Volunteers International Program of Santa Barbara, CA, has been awarded a prestigious Tourism Cares Worldwide Grant to fund construction of the Grey Glacier Quebrada Suspension Bridge on the Circuit, a major hiking trail in Torres del Paine National Park, in the Patagonia region of Chile. This 140 foot pedestrian bridge across a deep gorge will improve public safety and will provide excellent views of the spectacular Grey Glacier. It is expected that the $7,500 grant from Tourism Cares, together with other individual donations received by Conservation VIP for this project, will enable completion of construction before December 2011.

Conservation Volunteers International Program is dedicated to conservation and preservation of some of the world’s greatest landscapes and cultural sites. Staffed entirely by volunteers, the organization provides opportunities for ordinary citizens to do extraordinary volunteer service by participating in“voluntourism” expeditions. Conservation VIP is recruiting volunteers for its December 2011 volunteer trip to Patagonia to help with trail construction and restoration on sections of the Circuit in the area of the new suspension bridge. Volunteers are also needed for projects in Machu Picchu (Peru) and Yosemite National Park (California).
 

Torres del Paine National Park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which has exceptional ecological significance and receives 120,000 visitors annually. “The Tourism Cares Worldwide Grant will allow us to protect resources and provide safe access to a beautiful area in Torres del Paine National Park in the Patagonia Region of Chile. It will enable us to help park rangers begin to bridge some of the dangerous ravines that cross major trails,” said Richard Tobin, of the Conservation Volunteers International Program. He added, “We are excited about this grant and very grateful to Tourism Cares for helping us make this project possible.”
 

Tourism Cares is the tourism industry’s premier charitable organization for preservation,
conservation, restoration and education in tourism. “Tourism Cares has long been an advocate of the conservation, preservation, and restoration of places that are meaningful to people wanting to experience authenticity when they travel,” said Bruce Beckham, Executive Director of Tourism Cares. “The worthy recipients of the Tourism Cares Worldwide Grants have demonstrated goals that are in line with Tourism Cares and we are excited that our mission continues to expand its reach both here in the United States and overseas.”

Conservation Volunteers International Program
P.O. Box 61912, Santa Barbara, California 93160 USA
www.conservationvip.org
Tel: 805.698.6915 Fax: 805.964.8612
A Non-Profit 501c3 Tax Exempt Organization CST 2089890-40

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Take a Hike, Plant a Tree: Every hike plants a tree and every hiker can win Oboz footwear

Oboz invites you to lace up your shoes or boots, and get out and take a hike.

The Bozeman, Montana outdoor footwear company has put forth a challenge:  simply go for a hike between May 23^rd and July 8^th, and Oboz will plant a tree for every hike logged on BOLDER—a website devoted creating a collective community around positive challenges and rewards benefiting health, fitness, the environment, community and education.

At the end of the challenge, every hike logged on BOLDER will mean one more tree planted through Trees for the Future, an international organization dedicated to improving livelihoods through beneficial planting of trees. Oboz plants a tree for every pair of boots or shoes it sells.

“We always enjoy hearing stories from people getting outside and are especially excited to see what stories emerge from this Bolder Challenge,” said Taylor Keeley of Oboz.  “These hikes will put a few more trees in the ground and get a few more pairs of feet in Oboz, too.” 

Here’s how the “Take a Hike, Plant a Tree” challenge works:

1.     Go for a hike, walk, trail run, ski or snowshoe between May 23rd and July 8th, 2011.  If you’re outside and moving under your own power on your feet, that counts!

2.     Go to bolder.is, log in and record your hike.  Add pictures, a short story or any other creative twist to get a chance to win Oboz shoes.

3.     Share your hike on Facebook and encourage your friends to give it the thumbs up. The most shared and liked hike—the people’s choice—will win shoes.

Every hike or ‘action’ recorded on bolder gets a reward:  Oboz—through Trees for the Future—will plant a tree.  Additionally, three people will win a pair of Oboz shoes for their response to the challenge: 

-       People’s choice—the action or hike that gets the most Facebook ‘likes’

-       Coolest photo—best photo, judged by the Oboz team

-       Most creative—the most interesting or creative response, judged by the Oboz team. 

After the challenge is complete, winners will be contacted on how to obtain their prizes.  The winners, and their stories, may also be featured on the bolder.com and Oboz blogs.

For more information, contact Oboz at info@obozfootwear.com.

About Oboz

Oboz (www.obozfootwear.com) creates ‘True to the Trail™’ outdoor footwear inspired by the wild environs surrounding the company’s Bozeman, Montana home. ‘The Oboz’ is a place for exploration, play and work, as well as a state of mind that has deep respect for the area’s rich natural heritage. Oboz shoes—which debuted in stores in 2008—are designed to have meaningful innovation, steadfast performance and recognizable quality. Oboz plants a tree for every pair of shoes it sells through Trees for the Future (www.treesftf.org), an international organization that improves livelihoods in developing countries through beneficial tree planting.

About Trees for the Future

Since 1988 Trees for the Future has given communities around the world the gift of trees through seed distribution, agroforestry training, and hands-on assistance. More than 50 million trees later, life is restored to land that was degraded, abandoned or unproductive. Trees empower and sustain people with food, fodder, fuel, fertilizer and medicine as well as creating beneficial biodiversity for the landscape.

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