Outdoor Sports Blog

Classic Hikes of the World An excerpt from Peter Potterfield's new book on the world's best hiking routes By Peter Potterfield I am awakened at Dingboche by a sound drifting in from the edges of consciousness, soothing and exotic, but not identifiable. As sleep fades, my oxygen-deprived brain grinds on toward cognition, and finally recognition: yak bells. The mellow peeling rings out as the shaggy beasts forage among the sparse vegetation outside the tents. Lying inside the tent among the billowy folds of nylon and down, I relish the warmth, and the moment. Ahead is another day of wonder in the heart of the Himalaya. This part of Nepal, the Khumbu, is named for the glacier that tumbles down the flanks of nearby Mount Everest--Sagarmatha to the locals. This is the center of the Sherpa universe, and immersion in that friendly culture combines with Himalayan terrain to make this the quintessential mountain journey on the planet. Click here to read the full excerpt from Peter P

FEATURES: This loop hike traverses the ridge of Surebridge Mountain, passes by the historic Greenwood and Surebridge mines, and climbs through the narrow Lemon Squeezer. LENGTH: About seven miles. DIFFICULTY: Moderate to strenuous. TIME: About five hours. MAP: New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails Map #4. DOGS: Permitted on leash. Click here for a full and detailed trail description.

Climbers urged to stop scattering ashes on Scotlands peaks Grieving families of climbers and hillwalkers killed on Scotland's mountains were urged yesterday to stop scattering the ashes of their loved ones on the country's peaks. A code of practice was issued by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland after walkers' and climbers' groups complained about the growing number of memorials to the dead. Read full article by Frank Urquhart.

Winter Hiking With this post, I'm starting a mini-series about winter hiking. No matter what your activity is, every outdoor enthusiast who gets "out there" during the cold season must adapt to cold weather conditions. Otherwise he/she may face some unnecessary risks. It's obvious that there's cold and snow in winter. However, there are also a number of additional factors influencing your trip. You'll need more and different clothing than on summer trips. A warmer sleeping bag if you plan a multi-day trip. Your food and nutrition needs to be different. The body will burn more energy in cold weather conditions and therefore needs more fuel. The backpack will be heavier due to additional gear you'll need. Travel distances will be (sometimes significantly) shorter, depending on snow and weather conditions. Trails may become invisible, challenging your navigation skills. On the other hand, winter trips have their advantages too. Less cr

Ice-climbing clinics offered near Cody CODY, Wyo. - A series of ice-climbing clinics will be held in the South Fork Canyon this winter. The clinics, conducted by Jackson Hole Mountain Guides, will be held in conjunction with the 8th annual South Fork Ice Festival between Feb. 14-22. The canyon is located about 40 miles west of Cody. The South Fork of the Shoshone contains the largest concentration of natural frozen waterfalls in the continental United States. Frozen ice exists in nearly every drainage, ranging from easy grade 3 ice to grade 5 test pieces. "The clinics are intended for individuals with some previous ice-climbing experience who wish to bring their skills to the next level," said Rob Hess, chief guide for JHMG. "With a focus on modern ice-climbing techniques, participants will have opportunities to practice leashless climbing, multipitch ascension, rope management, descent tactics, v-threads, leading and rescue skills." Phil Powers, co

Here is an interesting article that reveals that children are more prone to high altitude, or mountain sickness than adults. The acclimatisation study carried out by Zurich University at the top of the Jungfraujoch - 3,540 metres above sea level - was the first of its kind involving children. A host of medical conditions can develop when you travel to altitudes above 2,500m. Read full article. Very interesting!

Aybody who travels mountainous back country in winter faces the risk of avalanches. Unfortunately, a relatively high percentage of outdoor enthusiasts has little or no education on how to... recognize avalanche danger, assess the risk involved, know safety equipment available, behave in case of an avalanche incident. A excellent starting point to educate yourself on the topic of avalanche safety is the Web site of the Cyberspace Snow and Avalanche Centre www.CSAC.org . You'll find valuable information like: Avalanche discussion forums Avalanche News Avalanche Conditions Avalanche Incidents Avalanche Education Avalanche Professionals Click here for more information on Avalanche Safety .

You hate winter, ice and snow? Snowshoeing and ski mountaineering is not for you? Ice climbing too dangerous? No problem! Take a hike in Africa. Here's a list of Africas greatest hiking trails (by Fiona McIntosh) Fish River Canyon, Namibia Malalotja, Swaziland Chimanimani Mountains, Zimbabwe Nyika Plateau, Malawi The Mountains of the Moon, Uganda Click here for more details on above listed hiking trails in Africa. Additional resources " Hiking in Africa "

Ouray Ice Festival Results Canadian Climber, Will Gadd, Takes Comp by OutdoorNewsWire.com Staff One of ice climbing's most popular competitions, the Ouray Ice Festival, took place at the Ouray ice park in southwestern Colorado recently. Many of the world's best ice climbers descended on the park, including Germany's Ines Papert and Will Gadd from Canada, who both won the speed and mixed comps. Click here for a detailed list of results.

Every winter numerous outdoor sports enthusiast die of ice-related incidents, and countless others fall through the ice and have a close brush with death. The LIFESAVING SOCIETY recommends these Ice Smart Safety Tips: Use designated ice surfaces. Many communities have designated ponds for activities such as skating that are maintained by knowledgeable personnel. Designated ice should be regularly tested to ensure that it is thick enough and strong enough for recreational use. Measure ice thickness in several locations. Local conditions such as currents and water depths can affect ice thickness. Consult knowledgeable local individuals. White ice has air or snow within it and should be considered suspect for recreational use. The recommended minimum ice thickness for new clear hard ice is: 3" (7cm) or less STAY OFF 4" (10cm) ice fishing, walking, cross country skiing 5" (12cm) one snowmobile or ATV 8"-12" (20-30cm) one car or small pickup 12"-15" (30-3

Path Of Least Resistance `The Moose Will Show You The Way' When Snowshoeing Through Maine's Wilderness, But A Guide Is A Good Idea, Too BY STEVE GRANT, The Hartford Courant RANGELEY, MAINE -- Perhaps six miles outside of town, we left the paved surface and turned onto a dirt road thickly covered with packed snow and ice. For five miles, we bounced along in a four-wheel-drive pick-up, seeing but one other vehicle before we pulled to a stop. A little wooden sign said, "West Kennebago Spur," where the remains of an old logging road, now becoming overgrown, ascended and disappeared into the forest. It would serve nicely as an access-point to even wilder country beyond. We would spend a good part of the day snowshoeing in the rugged western Maine mountains, and leading the way was a registered Maine guide. Read more...

Winter Trails Attendance Up in 2005 Events Atrract New Participants to Snow Sports by Snowtrade.org McLean, VA (January 13, 2006)—Organizers estimate that nearly 10,000 people attended Winter Trails Day on Saturday, January 7, based on preliminary reports from several "anchor sites" in various parts of the country. Last year, approximately 6,000 attended. Snow in the Pacific Northwest boosted numbers in Oregon and Washington State. Weston, in Massachusetts, reported a strong turnout partially because of coverage in the Boston Globe. The national, regional and local public relations campaign for Winter Trails generated more than 50 million impressions. Winter Trails Day, organized by SnowSports Industries America (SIA), Cross Country Ski Areas Association and the American Hiking Society, took place at nearly 120 locations in 25 states and Canada. A few Winter Trails Day events will take place later in the month and the largest one—Estes Park, CO—is scheduled for February 18, 2

Hiking Safety A Safe Hike Is A Happy Hike by Forrest Treker Hiking Safety Checklist Having made my share of mistakes in the wilderness over the years, I have compiled a list of gotcha's that can be applied to any outdoor adventure. I urge you to print this out and store with your outdoor gear. Hiking can be a most rewarding distraction from the daily grind, but safety should NEVER be taken for granted! Click here for full "Hiking Safety" article.

Brand new mountaineering handbook arriving in the next days! 44 year old mountaineer and climber Pete Hill from Aberlour, Moray (UK) spent six month writing on what he believes is the world's first ever A to Z of mountaineering skills. A unique manual of its kind. The " International Handbook of Technical Mountaineering " will arrive shortly. Amazon has a great introduction offer with a 34% discount! Click here now to learn more.

Erik Weihenmayer was born with a genetic eye disease. He lost his eyesight at age 13. Three years later, at a camp for the blind, he fell in love with mountain climbing. In 2001, Erik climbed Mount Everest. What an achievement! Read more about Erik Weihenmayer. Erik is author of the book " Touch the Top of the World : A Blind Man's Journey to Climb Further than the Eye can See: My Story - by Erik Weihenmayer ". Highly recommended.

Do you like backcountry skiing? Than you should know Lou Dawson. Lou, 53 is member of the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame since last October. He was the first to have skied down all 54 of Colorado's fourteeners, according to Vail Daily News . Dawson started with the descent of Castle Peak in 1978 and finished in 1991 with Kit Carson Peak in the Sangre de Cristo range. Backcountry skier Lou Dawson wrote some interesting books about his passion. If you are a mountaineer and backcountry skier, I recommend taking a look at them. Dawson's Guide to Colorado Backcountry Skiing Dawson's Guide to Colorado's Fourteeners Wild Snow

Sharpen your picks: All systems go for Ice Climbing World Cup (MountEverest.net) Sharpen your picks ladies and gents: The Ice Climbing World Cup is here! After two years of of local tournaments and a World Championship, ice climbing competition has finally made it to to the World Cup arena. The five-stage World Cup competition begins January 20-22 in Valle di Daone, Italy. Click here to read more about the Ice Climbing Worldcup in Italy. Learn more about Ice Climbing !

Did you ever want to know everything about snowshoes and snowshoeing? Then you should follow the link at the bottome of this post to Wikipedia. You will find: General information about snowshoes and snowshoeing Information on the development of snowshoes from the very beginning until now Information about modern snowshoes Links to well known snowshoe manufacturers And more... Here is the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowshoe

Famous Austrian mountaineer, explorer and bestseller author Heinrich Harrer died. He was 93. Read an detailed obituary about this extraordinary man. Here are Heinrich Harrer's most famous bestseller: Seven Years in Tibet The White Spider Tibet is My Country More books from Heinrich Harrer.

Michigan Author Declares Bigfoot Real When Toronto talk show host Glenn Pelletier asked Lisa A. Shiel, author of " The Hunt for Bigfoot: A Novel ," if Bigfoot exists, Shiel drew upon her years of research and analysis of documented sightings and declared, “I would say yes, definitely.” Lake Linden, MI (PRWEB) April 26, 2005 -- On April 20, 2005, Toronto talk radio host Glenn Pelletier of 570 News interviewed Lisa A. Shiel, author of " The Hunt for Bigfoot: A Novel ," concerning the April 16th alleged sighting and filming of a Bigfoot creature in Manitoba, Canada. When asked by Pelletier if Bigfoot exists, Shiel drew upon her years of research and analysis of documented sightings and declared, “I would say yes, definitely.” When pressed by Pelletier to explain how such a rarely observed creature could exist, Shiel replied, “People see it more often than you might think. Most of the sightings just don’t get reported to the media.” Shiel has a master’s degree, has stud

McLean, Va. (Ski Press)-For the first time since its inception 11 years ago, Winter Trails Day will take place at more than 100 locations in the U.S. and Canada. This international event offers those new to snow sports an opportunity to try snowshoeing and cross country skiing free at venues hosting a Winter Trails event. January 7, 2006 is the official Winter Trails Day, although some venues are hosting programs on a different date. Read more >>

As reported by the Associated Press there was another Bigfoot sighting. This time in the jungles of southern Malaysia. A search began after the sighting of three giant human-like Bigfoot. The sightings of two adult and one young Bigfoot occurred in Endau Rompin, a 800 square-kilometre National Park in Johor. Wildlife authorities may now set up cameras to see if these creatures really exist. Fish farm workers who saw the Bigfoot family alerted their employer who took photos of 45 centimetre footprints. Brown hair, smelling of body odour, was also recovered. Broken branches indicated that the beasts were some three meters tall. Obviously there were Bigfoot sightings in this area since decades. But officials never took them seriously due to lack of evidence. Here are some interesting Bigfoot resources: The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization News article of the Seoul Times with fotos of the Bigfoot footprints Bigfoot literature

Climbing a mountain of ice in nine weeks by Ashley Barnard Climbing a Mountain of Ice in Nine weeks Have you aver seen the documentaries of mountaineers and ice climbers well that's me! I have climbed some of the biggest mountains around the world and climbed some of the steepest ice of frozen water falls and glaciers. Why do I do it? Well, I get asked this all question the time and I always give the same, reply "because it is there" This however my not be the real truth, it is something about the challenge and being away from the crowds, being on the front of a 300 meter cliff with only a pair of crampons and ice axes between you and the ground, putting all your skills and strengths as an ice climber against the odds. It makes me feel alive, and to be honest when I am ice climbing, I am me! Me Ashley Barnard the ice climber, free from the rest of the world, nothing hidden, not pretending to be a better or worse person but just pure human spirit. Ice Climbing is

Mountain Climbing Instruction Offered By Oregon Alpine Club The Santiam Alpine Club is accepting registrations for a basic mountain climbing school for rock and snow. Salem Oregon, (PRWEB) December 31, 2005 -- A basic mountain climbing school, open to anyone, is offered beginning April 27 by the Santiam Alpine Club, an nonprofit mountaineering organization based in Oregon. The school is a prerequisite for persons without other mountaineering training and experience before they may join the club climbs. The school also serves as an introduction to the more advanced practice sessions offered by the club. Classroom sessions will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 27 and May 4 at Club Sport in Tualatin. Field sessions will be May 6 at Horsethief Butte in Washington for rock climbing and May 7 at Timberline Lodge for snow climbing. Register for directions. The school costs $50 and is open to the first 25 who enroll. Minors must have the signature of a parent or guardian. Anyone younger than 16