Gear Burger Serves Up Piping Hot Deals

If you're like me, you're probably always on the lookout for a great deal on new gear to add to your collection. Sometimes waiting for just the perfect sale can take forever and if you miss your opportunity, you could be completely out of luck.

That's where the new site GearBurger.com comes in. The site monitors 25 different online retailers, including sites like REI.com and Backcountry.com, and tracks over 2000 different brands, in order to find the best deals for you. Not only that, you can customize your search to look for the gear you are specifically looking for and have alerts sent directly to your e-mail so you'll never miss a sale. It's like having your own personal supper always standing by to find exactly what you need.

It is super easy to get started on the site, and you can even login using just your Facebook account, which means you'll be getting deals on outdoor gear in just a few minutes. After that, you're on your own, as I can't be held responsible for the damage that this site could do to your bank account.

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Driving Montana's Beartooth Highway

While visiting Montana a few weeks back I had the opportunity to take a drive along U.S. Route 212, better known as the Beartooth All American Road. I wrote about those experiences for travel sight Gadling.com today, but wanted to share some thoughts here as well, because if you're planning to head to Montana or Yellowstone in the future, you owe it to yourself to take this route.

The Beartooth Highway is just 69 miles in length, stretching between Red Lodge and Cooke City. But those are some of the most beautiful 69 miles you'll find anywhere on the planet. The scenery is breathtaking with deep valleys carved by glaciers, clear mountain lakes, rushing waterfalls, and unique rock formations lining the road. Luckily, there are plenty of scenic overlooks and pull offs along the way, giving you a chance to stop the car and capture the landscapes with your camera.

The road tops out at the Beartooth Pass at an altitude of 10,947 feet. At that altitude the weather can be of a challenge at any time of the year, which is why the road closes for the winter in mid to late October each year and doesn't re-open until Memorial Day Weekend the following year. Indeed, while I was there at the end of August, we had heavy snow on consecutive days, with whiteout conditions at the higher elevations. Those freak August blizzards are rare, but you'll want to dress appropriately no matter what time of the year you make the drive.

Outdoor enthusiasts will love the Beartooth Highway for other reasons as well. There is great hiking and backpacking along the route, and plenty of places to camp too. In the winter, the trails allow for snowmobiling, skiing, and snowshoeing too, making it an excellent, and not overcrowded, playground all year long.

Perhaps best of all, the road ends at the Northeast Entrance to Yellowstone, so while you'll lament the end of the drive, you'll have that spectacular park to offer consolation. This is one of the least used entrances to the park, and few even know it exists, so it's a perfect way to gain access without too much traffic getting in the way, and once inside, you'll have a whole new landscape to explore.

Next year is the 75th Anniversary of the Beartooth Highway, and celebrations are planned to commemorate the event. The best celebration of all however is to take the ride for yourself. I promise it's worth the trip.

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Grand Canyon National Park Faces Challenges, Embraces Opportunities

The National Parks Conservation Association is an organization dedicated to protecting America's national parks and ensuring that they remain the amazing environments that we all know and love, so that future generations have the opportunity to enjoy them too. Recently, the NPCA released their State of the Park report on the Grand Canyon, which outlines some of the challenges that that park faces, while also turning a spotlight on the opportunities for protecting it as well.

The Grand Canyon is one of America's first national parks, and it is certainly amongst the most iconic as well. Each year, more 4.5 million visitors, both foreign and domestic, travel to the park, which encompasses more than 1.2 million acres of land in Arizona. The place is a mecca for both adventure travelers and tourists alike, with many drawn in because of the spectacular scenery and options for outdoor fun, which includes hiking, paddling, camping, and much more.

In the report, the NPCA points to some serious threats to the future of the Grand Canyon National Park, including mining activities on the park borders, increased air pollution (coming from cities more than 100 miles away!), and one that I hadn't even considered –noise pollution. The threat from mining and air pollution are fairly self explanatory, as they can directly affect the health of the environment, including the plants and animals that live there and the visitors to the park. Noise pollution, on the other hand, is one of those things that you don't necessarily think about, but can still ruin the solitude and peacefulness that you feel while in a remote place. In the case of the Grand Canyon, the noise pollution is a result of so many commercial and scenic flights passing over head, having an adverse effect on those on the ground.

Perhaps the biggest challenge to the park operating as it should comes from the lack of funding that it is receiving. Considering the current state of the economy, this should be much of a surprise I suppose, but the NPCA says that the National Park Service could use an additional $6.2 million in its annual budget just to cover the park's day-to-day functions. Even more eye opening is the fact that there is a backlog of maintenance issues that is estimated to require $300 million to address. That is an awfully big hole to try to climb out of in an era when budgets are being cut across the board.

The report also cites some great opportunities to improve the natural environment in the park and protect the plants and animals that live there. Amongst the suggestions for protecting the Canyon is the suggestion that corrections to the course of the Colorado River may need to be made to help prevent the degradation of resources along its banks. Those changes would help to create a more sustainable environment moving forward, which can only be a good thing for the long term health of the park.

Other suggestions for improvements include allowing the Park Service to have direct control over the airspace above the Canyon, which would allow them to limit the number of aircraft in the area, thus reducing the noise level. There are also plans to declare the backcountry a wilderness area, which would help protect it more fully, while also annexing threatened lands that surround the park though an act of Congress. Increased permanent funding and more research on the impact of climate change are amongst the other suggestions as well.

To read the entire report, in .pdf format, click here. For the shorter, digest version click here.

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Outdoor Retailer Gear Preview

On the eve of the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, held twice a year in Salt Lake City, Utah, the Gear Junkie has posted a nice preview of some things that are in the works, and expected to make their debut at the show. As usual, the four day event will highlight the latest and greatest outdoor gear that will be draining our wallets later this year and into 2011.

Amongst the items in the preview article are a new ultralight tent from Terra Nova that weighs just 1 pound, 1 ounces and an "endurance vest" from Salomon that looks like a hydration system for minimalist triathletes and ultra-runners. Other items include the first sit-on-top kayak from Necky, a shoulder bag designed for the iPad courtesy of STM Bags, and a new tri-suit from Wacoal Sports Science.

Perhaps the most interesting items to me are the nPower PEG and a new line of backpacks from a company called Mile High Mountaineering. The nPower PEG is an intriguing new device that purportedly generates power while you walk, and stores it for later use. You can then use the device to recharge your iPod, cell phone, or GPS device. (Can't wait to see how well this works!) The backpacks from MHM are being touted for some new thoughts on design, including a side loading sleeping bag compartment and a new approach to the internal compression system.

Keep an eye out for other new, and innovative products, in the next few days. I'm sure they'll be plenty of gear on display.

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Rock Climbing in South Dakota

Last year I had the pleasure of going to South Dakota for Primal Quest and had a great time playing in the Black Hills and Badlands. I was especially impressed with the great hiking, camping, and mountain biking opportunities in the state, with plenty of scenic backcountry to explore just a short drive in any direction from Rapid City.

By virtue of having been chosen to host Primal Quest, I knew SD had to be a great destination for all of those activities. But what I didn't realize prior to going there was how great the rock climbing was as well. We set up a spectacular climbing course for the race, designed by climbing legend Jay Smith, and many of the teams noted that it was not only their favorite part of the race, but also the best climbing routes they had ever done. The video below captures some of what it is like to climb in the region.

Summer is slipping away quickly, but if you're still looking to make a great outdoor trip this year, definitely consider going to South Dakota. It'll definitely be worth your visit.

Thanks to April for sharing the video with me.

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Nature Valley and Author Patricia Schultz Work To Preserve The Parks

Earlier this year, Nature Valley launched their National Parks Program in which they announced a plan to help preserve the parks by raising funds for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). Nature Valley will donate as much as $600,000 to help fund three different preservation projects, and we consumers can help them reach that goal.

Between now and the end of August, for every specially marked Nature Valley granola bar wrapper that we send in to the company, they'll donate 10 cents to the NPCA, up to the $600,000 goal. You can find out more on the project, including where to send your wrappers, at PreserveTheParks.com. You'll also be able to donate directly to the NPCA there as well if you'd prefer.

The three projects that the company is donating the cash to include a plan to reestablish important plant life in the Grand Canyon, establishing free migration routes for Pronghorns in Yellowstone, and rebuilding coral reefs in Biscayne National Park as well. The funds will be put to good use working to reverse environmental damage that has been done over the years at each location.

Joining the cause is National Parks Spokesperson and best selling author Patricia Schultz. Patricia wrote the book 1000 Places To See Before You Die, which features many of the national parks quite prominently. She describes the parks as one of America's great resources, and is working to help preserve them for future generations of travelers to enjoy as well.

Nature Valley isn't just helping to preserve the parks however. Later this summer they'll also be giving away three trips to the Grand Canyon, one of the most spectacular parks in the entire system. Check back at PreserveTheParks.com and on the company's Facebook page for details on how you can win one of these trips too.

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Arizona State Parks In Trouble

I saw this incredibly depressing story over at the Daily Dirt, one of Backpacker Magazines blogs. It seems that the bad economy has begun to take its toll on our favorite outdoor destinations, as the state of Arizona has announced that it is closing more than a third of its 30 state parks.

Despite the fact that the parks generate some $250 million in revenue for the surrounding communities on an annual basis, the state elected to move ahead with the closures, with budget shortfalls getting the blame. An earlier plan had 21 of the 30 parks scheduled for shut down, but a fund raising campaign, which included some generous donations from the public, saved several of the parks from the chopping block.

I suppose this is one of those "sign of the times" stories, but it is still quite sad to hear about these great outdoor spaces being shuttered. Some of the places on the list for Arizona include Picacho Peak, a popular 1,500-foot tall "mountain" located between Tucson and Phoenix and Red Rock State Park, found near Sedona. Both parks will close at the beginning of June.

Unfortunately, this probably isn't the last time we'll be reading a story like this in the coming weeks either, as nearly every state in the U.S. is scrambling to cover budget shortfalls at the moment.

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The World's Best Hikes

We generally cover a wide variety of topics over at Gadling, a travel blog to which I contribute to on an almost daily basis. Everything from luxury to budget travel, and everything in between. Not surprisingly enough, I generally weigh in on adventure destinations and similar topics to what we discuss around here. But every once in awhile, someone writes a good article that I wished I had done. We have one of those today in the form of a list of the World's Best Hikes.

As the name implies, the article is the compilation of some of the best treks to be found anywhere in the world. There are the usual suspects in the form of The Appalachian Trail, Kilimanjaro, and Everest Base Camp, each of which more than deserves to be on the list. But there are some other great suggestions that are often overlooked, such as the Timberline Trail in Oregon, and the Cinque Terre in Italy as well.

The article was contributed to Gadling by Jason Heflin, who is one of the founders of Outdoorzy.com and writes that site's Outpost Blog. He's also recently done a great job of covering the Huairashinchi adventure race, which just wrapped up in Ecuador, for Adventure World Magazine as well.

The article also included the following video which is a great look at the Everest Base Camp trek that I'm eagerly looking forward to doing in a few months. Can't wait!

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Gear Box: Eureka Kotey Sleeping Bag

Sleeping bags are another piece of gear that are crucial to our comfort while out on the trail. Whether it's snuggling up inside one at the end of the day or carrying one in our pack, we all want a bag that is light, versatile, and works well in the weather conditions in which we use it. In other words, we want it to keep us warm and dry in what ever weather we encounter. I recently had the opportunity to test out the Kotey bag from Eureka, and found that it fits that description, and does so in a small package.

The first thing I noticed was how small and light the Kotey was. When stored properly inside it's included bag, it compresses down to a very small size, allowing it to fit neatly inside your backpack without taking up much room at all. On top of that, the bag weighs just a shade over 2 pounds, which means that it's not going to significantly impact the amount of weight you're carrying while lugging it around all day.

Made from synthetic materials, the Kotey is rated for temperatures down to 35ºF (2ºC), which makes it ideal for spring and fall camping, and cooler summer nights depending on your location. Obviously, for winter camping, you'll want something a bit warmer. While I didn't get the chance to test it in sub-40º weather, I did find that this mummy-style sleeping bag kept me comfortable and snug. There was also plenty of room inside for my longer 6'2" frame, despite the bag not being rated for my size.

Eureka is a company well known for its excellent tents, with great options for backpackers and families alike. Their line of sleeping bags displays the same high quality design and construction, showing that as a company they "get it" it in terms of what we want while out on the trail. Lightweight, high quality products that allow us to enjoy our time in the backcountry. Small, but highly appreciated touches, like an internal pocked, perfect for storing your iPod, are just one example of the conveniences that this bag has to offer. Those touches will help you to really like this bag a lot, but it's small size and weight will make you love it.

MSRP for the Kotey is $95 but it can be found online at discounts too. If you're in the market for a good 3-season bag, this is definitely a winner. Now does someone have any suggestions for a 4-season bag for the Himalaya this spring?

Disclaimer: The Kotey that I tested was proved by Eureka for this review.

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The Lure of the Long Trail Part 4

I've posted links to Trail Space's interesting articles on long distance hiking before. The four part series started some weeks back, and you can still find Parts 1, 2, and 3 online at their website.

The fourth, and final, part of the series has now been posted as well, wrapping up the series, and offering some final thoughts and advice for those thinking of making an epic trail hike, such as the Appalachian or Pacific Crest Trails. This time out, author Barbara Egbert reminds us to be educated about our hikes and be prepared for the unexpected.

The final portion of the the article has a nice list of books that are recommended reading for those thinking of tackling one of the big epic hikes, although most of them would be great reading for any outdoor enthusiast, even if they think a long hike is to the mailbox and back. There are a few classics on the list that are definitely worth adding to the bookshelf.

All in all, I felt the series was good one with some sound advice for anyone thinking of making a major hike. Others have criticized it for being mostly common sense, but sometimes that's all we need. It reminds us of things we take for granted or may have forgotten. And if it inspires one more person to hit the trail, and teaches someone something new, than the articles accomplished their purpose.

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Campsite El Huerto in Cusco

The place to parc and to camp you can see below. Big enough for more than twelve trucks.
There are showers and toilets, electricity and water to fill your tanks. There isn`t yet a place to get rid of your chemical toilet.
There is a barbecue to use, and there is "La Casita", to come together for a drink by the stove. Especially during the cold days and evenings in june and july, to ventilate your oversized stories.

... for bikers,

there is a kitchen with a fridge where you can cook your meals, and where one can digest his/her meal together. If you want to camp dry, it's also possible. You can pitch up your tent under a shelter, or else parc your bike there. If you want to store your equipement in a safe room, there is one. You get the key.

Services...

There is the possibility to buy your drinks. We have the world-famous Cusqueña and red and white chilean wines. We also sell mineral water per liter.
And of course, there is a washing-machine which you can use.
I forgot, there are a lot of good DVD's which you can borrow.

Wireless access to internet is possible all over de camping, if you are the owner of a laptop with wireless network card.


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This private eco reserve is situated between eucalyptus trees above Cusco. It has a marvelous view and you are out of the hassle of the town.
Earlier this year more long distance travelers visited us to stay a few days up to a few weeks and made this their base while they visited Cusco and its surroundings. They asked us why we didn't offer our meadow to a broader public. Since we like the stories about their journeys and their experiences on the road from Alaska to Tiera del Fuego vice versa. So we decided to open our land to these kinds of travelers.

As long as the ambiance is good, not much is necessary to offer travelers a peaceful and convenient shelter. There are facilities for laundry, hot shower.

So you are invited, and very welcome to stay with us.

To see us in Google Maps click here.

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Camping El Huerto en Cusco

Qué mejor lugar para comenzar la aventura de visitar Machupicchu que el Cusco, ciudad mítica en los Andes. El centro de camping privado más grande en la antigua capital Inca.

Servicios básicos necesarios:
* un amplio y seguro lugar para acampar
* servicios higiénicos.

Además en las noches realizamos Fogatas junto con una antigua ceremonia Inca de la Pacha Mama.

Una experiencia inolvidable, ya sea para iniciar tu viaje hacia Machupicchu ó terminarlo de una manera inolvidable.

Celebra tu visita al destino turístico más importante de América Latina junto con nosotros. Unete al grupo que vive al máximo su visita a esta tierra llena de energía donde aún está presente una de las más grandes culturas de América.

Informes al teléfono: (+ 51 1 ) 99 366 2043
Ó utiliza el chat en directo de la barra izquierda. <<< Puedes ver la ubicación en Google Maps haciendo click aquí.

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Woman Missing For 12 Years, Found Ultralight Camping

Here's a story, from the AP, that will leaving you shaking your head. It seems that a German woman, who went missing 12 years ago, has been found, alive and well, living in the woods in Switzerland.

The woman, whose name has not been discloses, is now 52 years old, and was discovered near the town of Bolligen, where she has been living for the past year. She was said to have been using nothing more than an umbrella and tarpaulin for her shelter, proving that people can, and do, go to great lengths to go "ultralight" in the back woods. No word if she had cut off the handle on her tooth brush, or stripped out the frame on her backpack.

All kidding aside, it's a remarkable story that someone who has been missing for this long has been found alive and well. Supposedly the wants no contact with her family, and has told authorities that she is on some kind of mission. (Okaaay!) Apparently she'll be evicted from the land she is currently camping on however, and it's uncertain as to what will happen to her going forward.

An interesting and sad story. Thanks to the Daily Dirt Blog over at Backpacker.com for this one.

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Beginner's Guide To Winter Camping

Now that winter is officially upon us, and we've all come to the sad realization that we're going to have to deal with it for the next three months (Except me! It's 70º in Austin today! Ha!), our minds start to turn towards all the fun things we can do out in the snow. Of course, we can always go skiing or snowboarding. Snowshoeing offers a great workout and a nice way to spend a winter day. Or better yet, how about going winter camping, which can be just as rewarding as during the warmer months, provided you have the right gear.

The fine folks over at Backpacker Magazine have put together a nice Beginners Guide to Winter Camping for their "The Pulse" Blog that's sure to have you ready to head out to experience the cold, but eerily quiet winter nights for yourself.

The guide is broken down into sections with easy to follow checklists on things that you should be aware of before you do any cold weather camping. For instance, the section on "Preparation" suggests that for your first destination you choose some place that's not too far off the beaten path in case you decide to make a hasty retreat in the night. Also, select a spot with plenty of readily available firewood as well.

Other sections include "On Your Hike", which offers tips on what to expect while you hike to your destination, while the one labled "At Camp" has great ideas on stay warm once you reach your campsite. Of course, the one we're all most interested in is the "Gear" section, which has plenty of ideas on what kind of stuff you should be bringing with you. If nothing else, you'll have good excuses to go to REI to pick up some new gear with all those gift cards you got for Christmas right?

All in all, this blog post is very informative and helpful for anyone who is considering taking up winter camping, and might even offer some helpful tips for the more experienced campers as well. Definitely worth a read.

The awesome photo that accompanies this post is from Jack Brauer (That's Brauer!!) and you can see more of his shots by clicking here.

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Cool Boat Design Concept

I spotted this cool new boat, called the Kahuna, while browsing the Wend Blog earlier. It's the brain child of industrial designer Mario Weiss and it combines your mode of transportation with your place to stay for the night.

Weiss says that his concept gets some of it's inspiration from the outrigger canoes that you find in the Polynesian islands, and that he thinks his design will be a hit with rental companies and outdoor enthusiast. The boat is powered by a pedal/crank drive, and a standard paddle is used to help maneuver the thing.

When it comes time to camp for the night, a durable cloth is strung between the two outriggers to create a base, and the tent is then erected over it. Add a camping bed, and you're all set for a good night's sleep.

Personally, I think this looks really cool. What a great way to explore certain areas of the world, and I think Mario might be onto something with his design.

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Two Knobby Tires!

Colorado residents will like this one in particular. Yesterday I was sent the link for the Two Knobby Tires Blog which has some really great first hand trail knowledge for hiking, biking, and camping in Colorado. The blog entries offer some excellent information on the highlighted trail, along with Google Maps to help find your way, with some nice photos from the locations as well. It seems the blog just kicked off this summer, but already their is a wealth of information on some excellent trails from all over the state. Just reading about them and looking at the photos makes me wonder why I live in Texas. Quick, someone remind me!

On top of the excellent blog, Two Knobby Tires is a great online gear store as well. The site is well designed, without having overbearing graphics and images, and it's laid out in a manner that makes it easy to find what you're looking for. On top of that, the prices are solid as well with some good deals on cycling gear, both road and trail, as well as a nice selection of hiking gear too.

Check out both the blog and online store. There is plenty of good stuff on both pages. Besides, you have to love the name! :)

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All National Parks Are Free This Weekend!

In a press release sent out yesterday, the National Park Service has announced that all 147 national parks the usually charge an entry fee will waive that fee this weekend.

The entry-fee free weekend will celebrate National Public Lands Day on Sept. 27th, and will honor all new U.S. citizens on the 28th. Furthermore, on Saturday, there will be special events and volunteer projects to further commemorate the 15th annual National Public Lands day.

In all, there are 391 National Park Services sites, but not all of the charge entry fees. These 147 parks that do range in price from $3 to $25 depending on the location.

This makes for an excellent opportunity to get off the couch this weekend and get outside. It's now officially autumn, and while the days are still warm, they are still comfortable and perfect for hitting a trail. Take advantage of this free weekend to visit your favorite park and take in the scenic wonders there. Or, better yet, visit some place new, and explore some new trails. Seems like the perfect time.

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Outside's Great Escapes for '08

Outside Online, the official site for Outside Magazine has post their Great Escapes 2008, listing suggestions for 50 great spots for a close to home getaway.

Accompanying the list is an interactive map of the United States allowing readers to click on various regions, and then zoom in on individual states to see the great escapes that are close to where you live. For instance, when I place my mouse on Texas, it allows me to click and zoom in on the entire Southwest. From there, I can click once again on Texas where our one and only "great escape" is listed. In this case, it's Padre Island National Seashore located near Corpus Christi, TX. Hmm... not bad, but I can think of a number of better places here in the state.

Some states have more than one, while others have nothing at all, but using the interactive map, you should be able to find interesting places within a fairly short drive from where you live. The Midwest States seem to be the ones most likely to be left out in the cold however. Clicking on a number of them reveals the message: "There are currently no great escape articles on this state".

Still, there are plenty of excellent choices for a wide variety of outdoor activities. And now that the summer days are fleeting, and autumn is swiftly approaching, it's as god a time as any to head outside and enjoy the fine weather. So, find a good "escape" close to you and head out next weekend. After all, with the price of oil dropping back below $100/barrel today, it's at least a little more affordable than it's been the past few months.

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Adventure Gives Us The Top Trails

To celebrate National Trail Day, which took place over the weekend, National Geographic Adventure has updated their website with a list of their 16 Best Trails.

The trails a are broken down into categories and displayed in a slick fashion using Flash. For instance, under "Weekend All-Stars" you'll find The Art Loeb Trail in North Carolina as well as the Northern Loop Trail near Mt. Rainier. Other categories include "City Wilds" with top trails in or very near to an urban area, "Classics" which is just what it sounds like, and includes the John Muir Trail. Finally, you have the National Parks, which highlights the best trails in the park system, with the likes of Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon taking these honors.

The page also has some other cool articles for hikers, such as an insider's guide to the great parks, the list of best national parks for 2007, and even a nice gear guide .

National Trail Day may be over, but that doesn't mean we still can't use these resources. After all, it's not even officially summer yet. So get out there and hit the trail.

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Return To The Outdoors: Yvon Chouinard

A month or so back I posted about the Return To The Outdoors initiative that Timex Expedition and The Conservation Alliance were sponsoring. The idea is to get us all to "return to the outdoors" and reconnect with nature and outside activities.

When the site launched they hosted a couple of cool videos, one from Conrad Anker and the other from Steph Davis, with both of them sharing their thoughts on why they love the outdoors, what draws them into the backcountry and compels them to pursue the activities that they love so much. Now the Return To The Outdoors website has been updated with another video, this time from Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia outdoor gear and an active environmentalist. You can check out the video below in which Yvon talks about his love for the outdoors, the Art of Fly Fishing, and a lot more.

And don't forget that you can win gear for yourself by writing about or video taping, what inspires you to go outdoors. Click on this page to write your story or upload your video.

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