Travel | Adventure | Food
Sometimes the urge to take a long walk in nature is irritable. For years, I have had a really long walk on my list of thing I plan to do, thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. I’ve picked away at sections, and this was this was supposed to my summer to do the whole thing, but I [...]
A good daypack is like a friend on the trail. The right one will care for and nurture you. The wrong one is a burden. Geez, sounds a little like a relationship. Anyhow, I’ve hiked with many different models, even from the same manufacturers, and no two are the same. In fact, I’ve determined you [...]
A funny story leading to some big news…. It’s no secret that I’m passionate about the outdoors and outdoor gear. So when I heard Columbia Sportswear was trying to ship me a surprise, I was pumped. Just one problem…I just moved and THE BOX went to my old address. My dad tried to pry [...]
Outdoor recreation manufacturers converged on Salt Lake City recently for the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market (ORWM). They brought their newest and best products, some never seen on store shelves, to entice retail-store buyers. They also brought killer swag, costumes, elaborate booths, food, and a number of epic after-hours parties. The Active Explorer crew attended to [...]
Always looking for a new adventure, I decided to try producing video today. Okay, it’s not exactly an adventure, but it sure was a challenge. To help, I sought out the expertise of Rachelle Lucas, editor of The Travel Bite, whose video credits include the Travel Channel and more. Our first project was designed to [...]
No one learns well when distracted by shivering and numb fingers. Clothes can make a difference between enjoying the experience and being miserable. This post is a companion article to my Learning to Ski post published a couple of weeks ago. Frankly, the original post got too long so I had to chop this section [...]
There are countless ways to build a flashlight and the folks at Goal Zero have taken the time and really put some thought into the ‘Bolt’ and their take on this essential tool. Included with your Bolt are, a USB cable, A/C wall adapter and users guide. Billet aluminum with an abundance of machining and [...]
This post is both an account of our snowshoe trek along the North Fork of the Snake River and a preliminary review of Easton Mountain Products’ Woman’s Hike snowshoes. Falling face first into the snow, I guess I could have benefited from a pair of poles. Instead, I laughed it off and struggled to get [...]
I don’t like elbows in the ribs or being snuggled close by a tent-mate I don’t like that way…. Put simply, packing too many people into a tent is a good way to ruin a camping trip. Manufacturers label with the number of people they will fit – with no room to spare. Why? Tent [...]
Throughout the year, I receive items to test. Most are from large manufacturers or retailers. However, three times this year I received items from small businesses that have developed innovative, awesome products. I can’t help but get super excited when I get to be a part of what they are building – the American Dream. [...]
