Category Archives: Outdoors

General Aviation, Geocaching

International Space Station Travel Bug Mission Update

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

I just got an update from geocaching.com about the Geocaching Travel Bug that hitched a ride with astronaut Rick Mastracchio to the International Space Station. This is a great way to interest students (and us older folk who geocache about geography and science.

From the email:

Nearly 100 days have ticked by since geocachers cheered as a Travel Bug® rocketed toward the International Space Station. It’s in the capable hands of astronaut Rick Mastracchio. Like everything else on the space station, the Travel Bug has a mission. Mastracchio is using the Travel Bug to teach students back on Earth about geography and science. The Travel Bug’s page is the chatroom of a teacher’s or parent’s dreams. More than 1,200 posts have been logged so far, as classrooms (and even Geocaching HQ!) asked questions and Mastracchhio answered them from the weightlessness of low Earth orbit.

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Activities, Adventures

Loss of a truly great magazine – Sea Kayaker’s last issue

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

I’ve only been a kayaker (kayakist? yaker?) for a decade, but one of my favorite magazines about the sport has been Sea Kayaker.  I’ve yak’d the shores from San Diego to L.A., taken a trip (alone and stupid) from Newport Beach to Catalina, and chosen my gear based on personal recommendation and from what I’ve read in the pages of this magazine.

It’s unfortunate the the tides have turned for Sea Kayaker, and I can only hope that there’s some out there than will be able to fill the void left now that this magazine is no longer available to the sea kayaking enthusiast.

Fair winds and following seas, Sea Kayaker.

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Activities, Conservation

Sportsmen’s Priorities Included in 2014 Farm Bill

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

After three long years of debate, the United States Senate passed the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, also known as the 2014 Farm Bill. This bipartisan legislation enhances and strengthens vital polices important to sportsmen and women across the United States and has been a long time priority of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC).

The 2014 Farm Bill, which passed in the Senate with a vote of 68-32, includes critical provisions to enhance habitat for wildlife, increase access for hunters and anglers, encourage conservation stewardship and protect our forest health. This legislation includes the conservation and sportsmen’s community’s priorities of re-coupling conservation compliance to crop insurance and an important Sodsaver program.

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Activities

Ultra runners frustrated by Badwater race’s move away from Death Valley

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

James Rainey has written over at the L.A. Times about the Badwater Ultramarathon move.  From the article:

Athletes lament the relocation of ‘the toughest foot race in the world’ pending a safety review by the National Park Service.

For 27 straight summers, all that stood between runners and completion of the Badwater Ultramarathon was 135 miles of asphalt, a 13,000-foot elevation gain and late July temperatures that soared to 120 degrees and above.
They called it “the toughest foot race in the world.” And not too many people argued.

But this summer, the race from the depths of Death Valley to the shoulders of Mt. Whitney has been moved, while the National Park Service conducts a “safety assessment” of the run and other athletic events. Race organizers have reconfigured one of the marquee competitions in ultra-distance running and moved it to an alternate course that will criss-cross the Owens Valley, dozens of miles to the west. Continue reading →

Gear Reviews

Gear Review: New Balance 1569

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

I purchased the New Balance 1569 (“Mens Walking” MW1569BR) at the first of the year. I was looking for some hiking boots that were more than just ‘sneakers with off-road tread’ and less than ‘serious’ backpacking boots. I wanted something I could comfortably wear on the hiking I do in the local mountains, but versatile enough that I could wear on some of the higher, longer treks – like Mount Whitney. They had to be durable, waterproof, comfortable, and come with a warranty.

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