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. 

Thanks for visiting. Check our main site FitnessTravelGear.com for new reviews.

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.

Thanks for visiting. Check our main site FitnessTravelGear.com for new reviews.

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 ....

Thanks for visiting. Check our main site FitnessTravelGear.com for new reviews.

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.) 

Thanks for visiting. Check our main site FitnessTravelGear.com for new reviews.

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.
  

Thanks for visiting. Check our main site FitnessTravelGear.com for new reviews.

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

Thanks for visiting. Check our main site FitnessTravelGear.com for new reviews.

Check Out the Mountain Khakis Blog

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

Thanks for visiting. Check our main site FitnessTravelGear.com for new reviews.

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)


Thanks for visiting. Check our main site FitnessTravelGear.com for new reviews.

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

Thanks for visiting. Check our main site FitnessTravelGear.com for new reviews.

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.

Thanks for visiting. Check our main site FitnessTravelGear.com for new reviews.

New This Week

This week we added reviews of the Atle Stove & BBQ by Primus, the Kenosha Jacket by Sierra Designs, thermal beverage containers by Zojirushi and Thermos, and Uberlight dry sacks by Granite Gear.

Thanks for visiting. Check our site for new reviews.

Product Announcement from Magellan

From Magellan:

MAGELLAN® LAUNCHES EXPLORIST® GC HANDHELD GPS DEVICE DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY FOR GEOCACHING

Magellan Announces Exclusive Sponsorship of Geocaching.com’s 2010 Cache In Trash Out (CITO) Events

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (March 22, 2010) Magellan, a leading GPS brand, today announced the launch of the Magellan eXplorist GC, the first dedicated GPS device for geocaching that includes out-of-the-box paperless geocaching, pre-loaded with the most popular geocaches in the world, a brilliant color screen, rich graphics and an easy to use interface all packed into a rugged and waterproof device, that connects seamlessly to http://www.geocaching.com. The Magellan eXplorist GC will ship in April.

Geocaching is a high-tech version of a “treasure hunt,” where adventure seekers use GPS technology to hide and find physical objects, solve location-based puzzles, and share experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people of all ages and promotes a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

The Magellan eXplorist GC GPS receiver is made exclusively for geocaching with an intuitive interface and the ability to sort and search thousands of geocaches. The device has multiple fun and familiar graphics, such as smiley faces for logs and merit-based awards to show off your geocaching expertise.

“Magellan, a leader in GPS and navigation for more than 20 years, is pleased to introduce a dedicated GPS device for geocaching that exceeds the expectations of both novice and seasoned geocachers,” said Justin Doucette, Director, Outdoor Product Marketing for Magellan. “The Magellan eXplorist GC offers an amazing geocaching experience that includes a full end-to-end solution, from accessing geocaching.com to finding hidden treasures all around you to documenting your adventures and sharing with a growing user community of enthusiasts.”

Powered by two AA batteries, the device can provide up to 18 straight hours of outdoor adventure along with a highly-sensitive SiRFstarIII GPS chipset that provides 3-meter accuracy. Geocachers can easily mark finds and quickly add field notes. Additionally, the product comes pre-loaded with common outdoor GPS features such as waypoint creation, a worldwide basemap, active tracking and trip odometer.

The Magellan eXplorist GC GPS device will be introduced at an M.S.R.P. of $199.99. The unit will ship with a USB cable and 2 lithium disposable AA batteries. With the purchase of a Magellan eXplorist GC GPS device customers will receive a 30-day free premium membership to http://www.geocaching.com. Details and conditions of this offer are available at http://www.magellangps.com/exploristgc.

Magellan, the exclusive 2010 sponsor of Geocaching.com’s Cache In Trash Out (CITO), will host a CITO event in the San Francisco Bay Area in the month of April. CITO is an ongoing environmental initiative supported by the worldwide geocaching community, dedicated to cleaning up parks and other cache-friendly places around the world to help preserve the natural beauty of our outdoor resources. Details will be available soon at http://www.magellangps.com.

About MiTAC Digital Corporation
MiTAC Digital Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MiTAC International Corporation and promotes and sells products and services under the Magellan brand name. Magellan assists people to travel, work and play their way with leading portable navigation and positioning solutions across multiple consumer markets. Recognized as an industry innovator, the company is the producer of the award-winning Magellan RoadMate, and Maestro series portable car navigation systems, as well as the Magellan Triton outdoor handheld navigation devices. MiTAC Digital Corporation is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. For more information on Magellan, visit http://www.magellangps.com.

subscribe to our feed

Send A Kid to Camp

Here's some news from Mountain Hardwear

There are just three weeks left to click & raise $40K in Mountain Hardwear’s Send a kid to Camp promotion

We are only half way to our goal.

Your click can help Send a Kid to Camp! For every click on the Send a Kid to Camp button at http://www.mountainhardwear.com/GivesBack, Mountain Hardwear will donate $1 towards this program up to a total of $40,000. Help us spread the word. Between now and April 15th, you and your friends can click to Send a Kid to Camp. Don't forget to return every day to click and show your support!

Our 10 partner camps for 2010:

Big City Mountaineers – Denver, Colorado
City Wild – Denver, Colorado
Girl Ventures – San Francisco, California
Kismet Rock Foundation - North Conway, New Hampshire
Outdoor Outreach - San Diego, California
Sierra Club Inner City Outings - San Jose, California
Sierra Club Inner City Outings - St. Louis, Missouri
SOS Outreach - Avon, Colorado
Summer Search - New York, New York
Youth Enrichment Strategies (YES) - Richmond, California

subscribe to our feed

Purple Passion

Purple is the best color. It represents healing, it's magical, and it's just so groovy. This spring there's all sorts of cool street and trail gear in purple. In April, we'll be featuring some sweet titanium eyeglass frames from ProDesign. Buff Headwear, a company we've loved for a long time, now has some soothing purple patterned Buffs in their "originals" collection, Contourwear has a plum tunic top we love, Texture has purple knitmitts, Champion has sports bras and workout wear in various shades of purple, and this is just off the top of my head. Check out this purple gear, and write us and tell us about your favorite purple apparel for trail, gym, travel, or street.


subscribe to our feed

Wallaroo Hats

Hello, I know many of you are still living winter...but some people either live on the other side of the globe or plan mid-winter getaways to exotic, sunny destinations. So, these lucky people need protection from the sun.

A reader contacted us, wanting to know where to purchase a Wallaroo hat she saw on tv. Well, we don't know which hat that was, but here are links to two online retailers, Luggage Online and Sierra Trading Post, who sell Wallaroo hats:

Luggage Online - For all your travel needs.

Save big on Sierra Trading Post clearance items!


If you still can't find the hat you want, try the manufacturer's site, www.wallaroohats.com

subscribe to our feed

How to Buy Snowshoes

Learn How to Use Trekking Poles

subscribe to our feed

Learn Orienteering Basics

This is a very charming demonstration of orienteering made my a young boy in Britain. Complete with U2 music during the end credits....check it out.


subscribe to our feed

Travel Essay Contest

Are you a green traveler? Do you have a favorite eco resort? What's your favorite hiking trail? Write an essay about your outdoor and travel experiences and win lots of nice prizes from fancy outdoor companies.

See details at: FitnessTravelGear.com

Deadline -- August 15th. subscribe to our feed

Blind Mountain Climber

First, a blooper, next, a conversation about climbing Everest.....



subscribe to our feed