Outdoor Sports Blog

If you're interested in mountaineering sports and/or culture than you should check out the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival. February 17 - 26, 2006 For program details visit the VIMFF web site . The Festival's goal is to approach the outdoor communities of the Pacific North-West, and to offer them films and slide presentations dealing with mountain culture and mountain sports. The Festival will also create a platform for the exchange of ideas between filmmakers, outdoor activists, and the public, while at the same time it will support the most artistic and effective ways of communicating outdoor related issues.

According to WhistlerBlackcomb.com - the official web site for Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort in Whistler, BC Canada, avalanche accidents are on the increase. Most are the result of avalanches triggered by the victim. Many could have been avoided had those involved been more knowledgeable and better prepared. Here are a few excellent resources to read more about avalanches and how to avoid them. For everyone traveling in the backcountry in the winter it is a must to be prepared. Train the use of avalanche beacons on a regular base. Know what to do in case you or someone else gets buried by the snow masses. Be prepared! These web resources are a good starting point: http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com http://www.avalanche.org http://www.abc-of-snowboarding.com/avalancheawareness.asp Avalanche Prevention

Dogsledding for dummies ELY, Minn. - The immense vault of cobalt sky shimmered with the thousands of stars you can only see when the closest city is five hours away. Swirls of powdery snow chased one another over the frozen lake, and the lanky spruce trees along the shore turned bluish in the last afterglow of dusk. Four Canadian Inuit dogs panted as they pulled a sled swooshing in the distance - too much distance, I suddenly realized, shaking myself from my reveries and breaking into a run to catch up. Read full article >> Additional Dogsledding Resources.

Five quick tips on how to behave in storm and winterly cold: Prevent your body from loosing body heat by wearing windproof but breathable clothing suitable for winter trips. Instead of wearing one thick piece of clothing, wear multiple layers (“Onion Principle”). This way it’s easy to adjust to changing conditions and avoid overheating or cooling off too much. Constant movement can prevent frostbite. Avoid exposed terrain whenever possible. Instead, choose your route on the side turned away from wind. If you are caught in a storm or bad weather, break off your trip in time. Eventually build your camp or bivouac before you are exhausted. Click here for recommended Winter Survival literature.

I just came across some news about a young Colorado man who died in an avalanche near Grays and Torreys peaks while snowshoeing with his friend. Tragically, the pair had already realized the dangerous snow conditions and was leaving the area when they triggered the avalanche. He and his friend (who was only partially and able to free himself) did not wear avalanche beacons. However, the incident got me thinking. Especielly since I’m a former member of a Mountain Rescue Service and rescue dog trainer and know a thing or two about winter mountaineering, avalanches etc. Why do people hike in the winter without proper preparation? Why did the young men not wear avalanche beacons? Is it because snowshoeing is so easy and nearly everybody can do it? Of course, without knowing these folks, the details and circumstances, one can only guess what really happened. An Austrian proverb brings it to the point: “It’s easy to become a good mountaineer, but it’s mu

Nutcrackers, secret dreams, and faraway lands... May the sugarplum fairy dust your dreams with magic this year. Happy holidays Erich A.

If you are looking for ideas on winter outdoor activities, like candlelight skiing and hiking or snowshoeing in Minnesotas wonderful Wild River State Park, the following article may interest you. Here's the link to web site of the Wild River State Park . Beside lots of general information you'll find constantly updated info about current weather conditions as well as trail conditions and snow depth. Very helpful for planning your trip. And here you'll find some helpful literature for Wild River State Park .

Accomplished US film producer, author and mountaineer, David Breashears, 50, has been honored by the Nepal Tourism Board, according to The Rising Nepal . Breashears had publicised the importance of Nepal’s adventure mountaineering by making a film on mountaineering and live-broadcast of activities of the climb of Mt. Everest . He had made films and documentaries on Nepal, and publicised them in Europe and America and had climbed Everest twice in 1985 setting the record of being the first American to climb the peak twice in a year. Click here for more info.

Drowning polar bears worry researchers Evidence hints that bear populations are on thin ice. Reports this week claimed that polar bears were being forced by climate change into cannibalism and attempting suicidal swims. Experts say it is too early to be sure, but that these are the kind of impacts expected as melting sea ice leaves the bears with longer distances to travel. Read the article from Tom Simonite.

Are you planning to hike the Pacific Crest Trail next summer? Emily, 29 years old, followed her dream. She took on the trip that proved to be anything but a simple walk. For five month she hiked the 2,655 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. Click here to read the full article by Erica Hampton. Additional resources " Pacific Crest Trail ".

Book Recommendation: Snow Walker's Companion Winter Trail Skills from the Far North In these last wildlands of North America, the nomadic, indigenous people have perfected ways of living and traveling in winter using elegant and sophisticated snowshoes, toboggans, and sleds that make it possible for trekkers to carry heavy weights-wood stoves, wall tents, and real food-with far less effort than with the ultralight backpacking equipment more often associated with the winter camper. This important book brings the skills and philosophy of the snow walkers of the north woods to a new generation of outdoorspeople, and shows today's wilderness traveler how to adopt these Native American techniques and enjoy winter in a comfort nothing short of extraordinary. Snow Walker's Companion

Looking for some ideas what you and your family can do outdoors in the winter? The following article - found on MinnesotaTrails.com - talks about how winter activities can shorten the winter. Snowshoeing, Candlelight Skiing, Winter Camping, Wildlife Watching, Maple Syrup making... Family fun Shorten Winter: Be Active Enjoy winter in the state parks By Dave Simpkins Trails Editor Shorten winter; be active! That’s the message from Pat Arndt, Public Affairs Director at Minnesota State Parks. “Winter offers people an entirely different outdoor experience from skiing, and snowshoeing to wildlife watching and winter camping. There is a quiet peacefulness to winter that I just love, and I’ve learned that the more I can do outdoors, the shorter winter becomes,” said Arndt. >> Click here for full article. >> More resources on Winter Activities

Kawartha Zone Ski Patrol Is Recruiting! Kawartha CSPS offers something different to do this winter. (PRWEB) September 1, 2005 -- The Kawartha Zone Ski Patrol is launching their 2005/2006 recruitment campaign this coming week. Recruitment nights are scheduled for Tuesday, September 6th (Wismer Public School, 171 Mingay Avenue in Markham) and Friday, September 9th (Community Room at Loblaws, 481 Gibb Street in Oshawa). The recruitment nights will run 7pm until 9pm on their respective date and location. For more additional information log onto www.kawartha.skipatrol.ca . About the Kawartha Ski Patrol A division of the Ontario Division of the Canadian Ski Patrol System (CSPS), the Kawartha Zone provides services to a number or regional ski facilities. Included in the Kawartha Zone is Dagmar Ski Resort, Devil's Elbow Resort, Kawartha Trails, Lakeridge Ski Resort, Oshawa Ski Club, Sir Sam's Ski Resort, and Skyloft Ski Resort. History of the Canadian Ski Patrol In 1940, Dr. Douglas Fi

Antarctic Ice core samples reveal 2,000 years of climate history PRESS RELEASE Date Released: Monday, December 12, 2005 Source: The Antarctic Sun By Emily Stone, Antarctic Sun staff The five tents sitting on the white expanse of the Clark Glacier look more like a winter camping site than a scientific field camp. Skis stick out of the snow. A pot on the propane stove holds melted snow to make tea. An MP3 player pipes music into the cozy dining tent. The camp's real purpose becomes clear inside the largest of the tents, where an ice-coring drill hums away, taking a 160-meter sample from deep inside the glacier. Principal investigator Karl Kreutz will use the ice core to study the climate of the McMurdo Dry Valleys over the last 2,000 years. He'll compare that to climate data from different spots around the world during the same time period. This will help scientists better understand how changes in one region affect the climate in another, with the ultimate goal being to use info

Canada, home to an estimated 20 per cent of the globe's fresh water, has some of the world's best ice climbing. Though the Canadian Rockies are North America's premier winter-climbing destination, the West Coast has its share of frozen wonders, depending on weather and temperature conditions. Read the following article by Andrew Findley: The crazy, scary rush of ice climbing Click here for additional ice climbing resources.

Discover Top Trails in the Atlanta Area ATLANTA (Dec. 11) - Within a short distance from the city center, Atlanta offers a tremendous variety of hiking trails. From urban hikes to suburban parks and rural wilderness, 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Atlanta shows readers how to quickly drive to and enjoy the best area hikes. The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area offers a wide range of outdoor activity, including several scenic hikes. Hikes from the Georgia mountains, Stone Mountain Park, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Sprewell Bluff, and locations in between provide Atlantans a diverse combination of hikes in length and difficulty. In addition to scenic charm, many hikes have great historical appeal, such as Burnt Hickory Loop and Cheatham Hill Trail. Other trails, such as Grant Park Loop ad the Atlanta Ramble, feature major Atlanta attractions. >> Full article >>

This Winter, Provide Water For The Birds by Wild-Bird-Watching.com Even the most novice bird watcher places a bird feeder out in winter, what strikes me, is the number of experienced bird watchers who do not provide water for the birds during winter. The energy expanded looking for a fresh water source could be better used for staying well and surviving the winter. All wildlife needs water, Summer or Winter. Birds, like humans, need water all year. By investing in a heated bird bath or by adding a bird bath heater to your existing bird bath, you'll be providing the greatest resource birds need in order to survive. Bird bath heaters are usually available wherever bird feeding supplies are offered. Check local hardware stores, large discount stores, and online. Heated bird bird baths are most commonly found on-line . These are complete bird baths with the heater built into the bath. When using either of these types, make sure your power source is safe. If you are unsure, hire an ele

Volunteer Hiking Vacations Give Back to the Trails You Hike by Shirly Hearn Explore America's Great Outdoors while giving back to the trails that take you there. Silver Spring, MD, November 28, 2005 – American Hiking Society, the national voice for America's hikers, announces an exciting new season of its popular Volunteer Vacations program. Volunteer Vacations is a series of week-long trail maintenance projects that improve the condition and enhance the beauty of hiking trails on public lands. Entering its 28th season on the trail, there are 112 Volunteer Vacations projects scheduled in 30 states beginning in January 2006 and running through November. "Volunteerism and improving our nation's hiking trail infrastructure is at the core of American Hiking's mission," states the organization's President, Dr. Gregory Miller. "Each year our vacationers contribute upwards of 30,000 volunteer hours of sweat equity to keep our trails open, safe and enjoyable.

Is that you, Bigfoot? A Washington-state backpacker came home with startling images that just might show the legendary Sasquatch lumbering through the snow atop Silver Star Mountain in Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization has just published the eerie photographs online. The hiker, identified only as "RC," reportedly snapped the digital photos on Nov. 17. Both show a dark figure moving along the mountaintop, with the landscape obscuring the body from the waist down. Someone hiking or snowshoeing across the peak would be wearing gear that could be easily identified, the Bigfoot research group says. But no parka, hat, sunglasses or backpack can be seen in the pictures. Instead, the images seems to show a very tall creature wearing nothing but dark fur. Researchers interviewed the backpacker last week and found him credible. >> Full Story >> More information on Bigfoot !

WHAT MAKES AN ICE CLIMBER? by Ashley Barnard WHAT MAKES AN ICE CLIMBER? Ice climbing is not for the faint at heart. This exhilarating and dangerous sport takes participants into some of nature’s fiercest and most beautiful elements and requires strength, stamina and the willingness to stay outside for long periods of time in below-freezing weather. Many ice climbers describe the experience as electrifying and exhilarating. The danger involved in scaling vertical cascades of ice can create an amazing adrenaline rush, and reaching the top of a difficult and steep ice or snow formation can leave a climber with a tremendous sense of personal achievement. Ice climbing often is done in a surreal ice world of frozen waterfalls, huge icicles and compacted snow slides. Ice climbers, even those one-day experimenters, need to have a basic level of physical fitness. Ice climbing requires brute force and good technique, as climbers uses ice picks and crampons, which are sharp steel claws that attac

Planning a backpacking trip to Austraila? Then think twice if you want to watch this movie... A while ago a reported about the upcoming movie " Wolf Creek " on my web site OutdoorSportsAdviser.com (in the News section). Here's an excellent update. Read Daniel Bernardi's movie review: Wolf Creek There is a very common dream that many people (including myself) have had where something terrifying is happening to them, they go to scream and nothing comes out. No noise at all! Well it seems that mine and other peoples worst nightmares have been realized and recreated in “Wolf Creek”, because if you scream in this film the sound exists but no one is there to hear it. If your screams are not met by human ears, does this mean the situation is not real because no one else can attest to it? Not at all! “Wolf Creek” is a seminal Aussie horror film in a time where the word seminal is only used to describe legends or great achievements of the past. “Wolf Creek” is the story of th