text:
Living in Scandinavia is awesome. You can start an Overnighter from your front door with your bike and can be in less than an hour in a wild place. But if you want to visit a National Park, Wilderness Area or a Long Distance Trail chances are that you will spend many hours travelling there - by bus, train, plane or car. The latter can be tedious and stress-inducing - the exact opposite of why you're heading out. These five tips get you into the right mind set and help make the journey to the trail already part of the relaxing time you're going to spend outdoors.
Try to plan your travels to the trailhead always so that you still can walk without a hurry to a nice camp spot after having arrived. That means already planning the journey so that you arrive relaxed and at a good time at the trailhead. Several factors go into this and it's usually best start backwards:
Sure, you were planning your route at home and have been pouring over this map already many evenings. But now you're sitting in the daylight in the train and have another six hours of travelling in front of you - time enough to study the map anew, look if you can find an even better camp spot, consider bail-out options, see where to pick up fresh water and just simply get into the mind-set for the hike ahead. This also allows you to become more familiar with the terrain once you're hiking, and you don't need to get the map out every hundred meters to check for the trail.
If travelling by train, bus or plane in Scandinavia you often have the possibility to charge your gadgets while you're travelling. This being the last chance to power up the batteries of your camera, GPS or smartphone it's a good opportunity to make use of the free electricity. It also allows you to spend ample time on points 2 and 3!
I'm old-fashioned and really like real books. While a Kindle or similar would be lighter & allow me to carry hundreds more books along on the trail, I usually have a paperback along for the hike. If you have a long journey ahead of you it might be worth it to even take two books - one for the journey, one for the hike! If you're not deeply attached to your book you even can leave it at a railway station or a wilderness hut for a fellow traveler or hiker - and make your backpack lighter, too!
Coffee. Cake. Pastries. Bread. If the way to the trail head is long, make sure to have fuel breaks on the go, and have a cup of coffee and a piece of cake whenever you have a chance. On the trail it is difficult to get fresh cake & coffee and usually involves getting your stove out, so while you travel make use of the Cafés along the road or in the train.
That's it! These five tips help you get into the right mind set when you step out of your home and make the journey already part of your outdoor adventure, so that the door-to-wilderness-to-door experience is almost as relaxing as the hike itself. Happy trails!]]>
GoLite has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Lauri and Olli are dreaming of Greenland in 2015 - good luck on the crossing!
Dave helps you to figure out How to behave on the internet.
Angelica likes to hike on her own and shares tips on solo hiking and motivation. [German]
Save up to 50% at the Backcountry.com Winter Gear Sale and get free shipping for your order over $50.
Bergzeit has the latest gear from Ortovox online, well worth checking out.
Camping Ellendalen & Scrambling Signaldalen. [Finnish]
Nico enjoys Albanian Dirt.
The First Ascent of the Colton-Macintyre on the Grandes Jorasses.
Lost in Idaho.
Erika goes up the Höfats. [German]
北八ヶ岳ハイキング. [Japanese]
Skyler adds an Addendum to Bikepacking the Coast Mountains.
Christine shares her conclusion, tips and route alternatives for paddling across Southern Sweden.
Ray Mears' Wabakimi Adventures.
A Trail Session For Beginners. [Japanese]
Tyan at the start of The West Highland Way.
Moonlight Buttress Free Beta Overload.
Stefanie shares tips on learning to ski if you're 30+. [German]
The Wakhan valley with exciting views, roads and people.
Hunting Alaska's Most Elusive Big Game.
Roger takes you down a walk on memory lane and shares which backpacks work for him.
Packrafting goes Canoeing with the Alpacka Raft Gnu.
How does the Alpacka Raft Cargo Fly System work?
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Hi Barry, thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions from an aspiring Alpinist in Finland. First things first: What song are you right now listening too?
Snake Farm by Ray Wylie Hubbard. I've listen his music since I was teenager and had the pleasure of meeting the man, and his wife, Judy, yesterday at a concert in the park. Very, very cool.
What's your favourite medium: MP3, Vinyl or Cassettes?
I listen to most music on my computer these days so I guess its MP3, although I still listen to CDs in my truck.
If you would make a mixtape for a road trip, which songs would definitely be on there?
On my road tripping mix there would definitely be: King of the Road by Roger Miller, Six Days on the Road by Dave Dudley and a cover by Steve Earle, Hurtin Albertan by Corb Lund and by Tim Hus, Running on Empty by Jackson Browne, Continental Trailways Blues by Steve Earle, Brand New Cadillac by the Clash, Cadillac Ranch by Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen … and the list goes on.
I really enjoyed reading your book, by the way. It was raw, to the point and I had a few good laughs. It also had a Quentin Tarantino-esque feel to it at times: Good music, story lines that interweave and come together at the end. Did you plan it like that?
My friend, Mark Twight, told me that my book would not end up being what I thought it would be, and that it would be more work than I thought it would be. He was right on both counts. I wanted to write a full 360 degree view of my life and climbing as I believe that much of the value in my writing is that which is common to all people: love, loss, desire, fear, hurt, joy. I believe I share the most that way and that is what writing is for me, a hope to share a little something about life with people.
The weather this summer in Chamonix seems to have been much the same as you first visited the crucible of European Alpinism. Any idea how many people climbed the North Face of Les Droites this summer?
I have no idea how many people climbed the North Face of Les Droites this summer. Mark Twight and I were pleased to see that our route, The Richard Cranium Memorial, had several repeats in the last couple years and that the ascensionists seemed to enjoy it.
Reinhold Messner, another of your idols judging from your book, just got 70 in September. Did you send him a card or where even invited?
Reinhold didn't invite me to his birthday, but he might have invited my guiding mentor, Rudi Kranibitter, who took Reinhold out climbing in Reinhold's early days and taught him some stuff. Rudi once told me "Ya, that guy was a fast learner!"
You are well-read and have devoured a lot of books - from Heinrich Harrer's "The White Spider" to Lionel Terray's "Conquistadors of the Useless". If you could recommend just three books to aspiring alpinists, which ones would that be?
I would recommend: The Great Days by Walter Bonatti, The Seventh Grade by Reinhold Messner and Feeding the Rat by Al Alvarez.
One of your colleagues, Andy Kirkpatrick from the UK, made in his essay "How To Hone Your Alpine Psyche" his first point to not have kids. You're a father of two - do you feel you climbed harder pre-fatherhood or that you stayed on the same level?
I definitely climbed harder before the birth of my daughters but I became a father at 45 and I was, by then, far past my physical prime that was, for me, between 25 and 35. I just can't climb as hard now, especially at 55! as I could when I was younger. But! the inner journey up the easier mountain is still as challenging and rewarding, maybe more so on both counts.
As someone who likes to climb mountains myself it feels like the majority of climbers nowadays are rather enjoying themselves in gyms or bouldering. How would you try to get these people outside?
I think that once gym climbers and boulders experience the added challenges of traditional climbing, especially dealing with risk, some of them will be called to the richness of alpinism, but it is a dangerous game so it is not for everyone.
Is there a chapter of your climbing life that you wished would have made it in the book still?
When I sat down to write The Calling I thought that it would cover my whole climbing life, but I've been cursed with a long memory and seemed to have a lot to write. I'd like to write a second book to cover the rest of my climbing life beyond 1988.
Well Barry, many thanks again and have fun on the book tour!
You can read my Review of Barry's book "The Calling" here.]]>
The MLD 2015 APEX Balaclava is ready to ship.
Words of Wilderness.
Pre-order Chris Townsend's new book Rattlesnakes and Bald Eagles: Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.
Backpacker's choice of 35 Outdoor Movies. Or just watch Into the Light tomorrow.
Answer SparkMade's 9 Questions on Why Independant (Cottage) Gear?
Sven shares his thoughts on the E.O.F.T. 14/15 in Luxembourg.
A goal of Zero: The Avalanche Industry looks to change.
How-to avoid condensation in your Single Wall Tent.
A fine MYOG Cuben Hybrid Pack Lid.
Clip Like A Pro—5 Tips from Sasha DiGiulian and Sean McColl.
Is the RocLite 315 too light? [Dutch]
ZeroGram 900 Titanium Pot.
Mammut Ultimate Light Hoody review.
An initial review of the Trekkertent Stealth.
Black Diamond Ion. [Japanese]
The Berghaus Freeflow 25 + 5 Pack reviewed.
Catch a Hangboard Buzz.
How To Hike 15 to 30 Miles A Day.
One year.
Return to Albania: Valbonë, Fierzë, Kukës.
The Deliverance Team's movie The Venture is out.
Learning to Scramble.
Christina catches the Supermoon.
裏銀座縦走, Day 4. [Japanese]
Arctic Trail Trip Report Part 1 - Nordkalottleden Trail.
Fatbiking the Cusqueñan Railtrail.
Above the clouds on the Rheinsteig-Mix in the Siebengebirge. [German]
The North Face of the Blüemlisalphorn. [German]
Jottnar, Aiguille du Midi.
Mt Arapiles: rock climbing the family way.
Brooks Range Vacation III - Rain and Shine.
Les Météores en Grèce. [French]
Packrafting in Finnish Lapland.
The West Coast Trail.
Derek and son are backpacking the Sunset Trail on Mount Elden.
Sneem Glorious Sneem.
Bikepacking around the North East of the United States.
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Mind over Mountain: Andreas Fransson's Story.
Remembering Liz Daley: 1985 - 2014.
Paige ponders How Do You Define Victory?.
Welcome to Utahlorado.
Check out the trekking-lite-store.com Sale.
Mountain Laurel Designs launches the M Quilt.
Its Fleece Time at Bergzeit.co.uk!
For 72 Hours only you get Free 2-Day Shipping on Orders Over $50 at Backcountry.com till October 14th.
Chad on why he hikes.
And Amy visited Bonsai Cycle Works in Tokyo.
Stylish into the autumn with Chillaz and Patagonia.
Road to Yomogitouge. [Japanese]
Matterhorn North Face, Schmidt Route.
Uli visits the Messner Mountain Museum Ripa in Bruneck [German]
Adam visits The Subcontinent Wrangellia.
Rene goes up the Watzmann Ostwand. [German]
Part 3 of the Planeta Packraft Packrafting Expedition trip report is online.
Great crag report from Chris about Climbing in Saint Leger, France.
Fastpacking the Shiranesanzan in 2 days. [Japanese]
Angelica writes and gives tips from her Wanderurlaub im Allgäu. [German]
Trekking in the Massif Lagazuoi. [Polish]
Perseverance of fear.
Jörgen enjoys the Glory Days on his Brooks Range Vacation.
Tattler Creek and Climbing Sable Mountain.
With the packraft through the Entenlochklamm. [German]
Chris on the time Iceland almost killed him.
Eastern Enchantment on the Top Biking Trail 3, Montenegro.
Roger hikes the E6 from Korsør to Hvalsø.
Jonathan enjoys New England.
裏銀座縦走. [Japanese]
Willem is preparing a hiking & packrafting traverse of New Zealand's South Island.
James climbs a mountain 200 km north of the Arctic Circle.
John hikes around Martindale.
Alex enjoys the gift of impermanent permanence.
上高地ー立山室堂ファストパッキング. [Japanese]
Phil is falling in love with bivvying.
Build A Wall For Ice Climbing Training.
Amy reviews the Bullitt Electric Assist Cargo Bike.
The H.M.E system Pouch looks like a smart stuff sack!
Jacob takes a look at the Solio Bolt.
Matthew on the Trouble with TrailStars.
Joe on th gear used while riding the Tractor Road.
Got a new GoPro? The visit the GoPro Tutorial Channel to learn how to get the best out of it!
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Earlier in the year I had the pleasure of test-driving the latest creation from Sony, their A7R camera. I've been a user of Sony cameras since over three years and while my Sony NEX-5n is still a trusty companion on many trips, I'm in the market for a new camera. So having being able to use the A7R in what I usually do was a superb opportunity that I wasn't going to pass up, even if our love affair only was to last for several weeks and I knew saying good bye to it would hurt.
If you're looking for pixel-peeping and very detailed technical information, I'd like to send you to DP Review who do a rather spectacular job with that sorts of things. If you're an outdoor photographer, journalist or writer who wants to know how the A7R performs in the outdoors, I invite you to stay for a while and read my thoughts on this camera. I will delve first a (little) bit into the technical details and how the camera handles, and then discuss in detail how the camera works in the field.
First off: At a suggested retail price of 2300€ for the body only and a good lens setting you back another 800€, the A7R is in my opinion a camera for people who earn a living with photos. Sure, if you have the spare change to buy a 3000€ camera you could get it, but chances are you either way don't know how to use its full potential. And a lot of potential she has, the A7R.
The camera lays beautiful in the hand and it is easy to operate the different controls and functions with one hand. The sealed alloy and composite body is weatherproof and allows for a good, reassuring grip, even with gloves on. The 3-inch tilting LCD turns up and down and makes shooting e.g. Macros easier, although the XGA electronic viewfinder is where it's at. The viewfinder eyepiece is large and comfortable, and far enough away so that you also can use it with (sun) glasses on. I have been sceptical of viewfinders in the past as (good) LCD screens are more than adequate in composing photos, but as my photographic needs evolve I come back to viewfinders and find them increasingly a necessity for my kind of shooting.
If you're a control freak you will love the possibilities the A7R offers: Three customizable buttons and four dials (front, rear, exposure compensation & an additional rear dial around the four-way controller), and several buttons for accessing different settings (Menu, Trash, Playback, etc.). If you shot Manual the front and rear dials allow you to adjust shutter speed and aperture, while the directional controller lets you set the drive mode, white balance mode and what's displayed on the screen. The shutter button sits above the On/ Off switch which I found comfortable in use - I could switch the camera on with my index finger and then have my thumb immediately on the shutter. The camera did need a moment to start up, something that might be better nowadays with an updated Firmware.
On the right side of the body you see in the above photo the dedicated movie recording button (red), which for my liking was a bit far in the back. The A7R has Full HD video recording capabilities which makes it a mighty fine video camera to produce super-sharp HD videos.
On the left side you have four ports behind two plastic doors: Micro, Headphones, Multi (allows you to charge the battery) and micro-HDMI. On the top there's a Hotshoe which accepts an external flash or Microphone. The A7R uses the NP-FW50 Lithium battery like the NEX-5n, which was very useful for me as I so could use my charger and spare batteries on tour. The default charging method is via the USB port which I think is a hassle, so I recommend getting the external charger or the battery grip.
The A7R has an E-Mount like my NEX camera which means I can use E-Mount lenses - though they will crop the photo it's useful if you already have a NEX camera - and with an adapter also allows you to use Canon, Nikon, Pentax and other lenses. This could make it interesting for people who are switching from Nikon or Canon but want to keep to use their glass. With an adapter you're also able to use other Sony A-mount lenses. To really get the most out this full frame sensor you'll want to invest into a (few) Sony FE-series lenses. I used the 35mm F2.8 Carl Zeiss and found it a superb lens, though for outdoor photography I would have found a faster 16 mm or 20 mm lens even more useful.
With 36 megapixels and a max resolution of 7360 x 4912 it are photos where the A7R really shines, so lets have a look how the camera handles in the field.
Together with the Carl Zeiss 35mm F2.8 lens (120 g) the A7R weighs 585 g (including battery, which is 58 g). With this lens it is a compact package that fits into large jacket pockets and comfortably under the jacket in bad weather. It's also light enough to not bother you when wearing around your neck, though I would update the strap to one from Peak Design for more functionality.
The first time I used the camera was at the Abisko Ice Climbing Festival, which was a good test for it. Lots of white in different shades, colourful clothing, early dusks, northern lights. It performed well, and would have been outstanding if I would have had the functions dialled in better. With gloves on the camera was easy to use, but things like smaller buttons where more difficult to control. That meant either setting White Balance, ISO, Aperture et al. before hand or take the gloves off to fine adjust settings.
In warm daylight the camera was a pleasure to use and produced almost perfect images without needing much post processing. Colours were bright and true to colour, and given that this can be a very hard environment for good photos, with all the snow and ice, I was very happy with the output. The LCD screen is great to review photos on the fly and it's fast to delete bad shots, but also works well to compose a photo if you can not/ don't want to use the Viewfinder. The Viewfinder is great in use, and helped in the bright and snowy environment of Northern Sweden to compose a few good shots.
The Magnesium Alloy Body didn't get very cold, and bumps against the ice and rock didn't bother it. Something that did bother me was the shutter sound, which I didn't manage to silence. I like stealth photography and even if large landscapes aren't scared away by the sound, animals are, and also during street photography it's something that can give you away. The shutter also seemed to be slow, taking a good moment to make its "Clack" sound to take a picture. While I got used to it, it's something I'd very much would like to be seen improved.
One of the big benefits of the A7R is obviously that it is a full frame. The detail you get from the camera is pretty amazing and allows you to reduce the resolution in post or crop aggressively. The example of this lonely reed against a late March afternoon sky is a good example:
And now the crop of the above photo:
The amount of sharp detail you get is wonderful and gives you a lot more creative options when working with this camera. You can include a lot more of the subject's environment and still capture plenty of detail which is highly useful if you decide to crop the photo later, which is great if you are in a hurry to capture a unique moment but can't compose the image perfectly.
The A7R also has a good Auto Focus/ Facial Recognition, even if the subject isn't 100% to be identified. Take this "Portrait" I shot of myself for a trekking Magazin article as an example:
This photo has not been touched in post, but with a few easy adjustments was perfect for my article. However, I really loved how good the camera put the focus on me (and I wasn't standing behind the Viewfinder, obviously =) and blurred out the background. The colours again are rich and lush out of the camera and details like the Ripstop pattern on the windjacket are clearly to be seen.
Night and low-light shooting is something that you really need to put an effort in to get it right, but with a good camera and a good lens things get easier. I think one could get some really nice illuminated-shelters-in-the-hills with the A7R + 35 mm lens, sadly I didn't have time for such a test so this twilight shot from town needs to do. With focus peaking on it's easy to get the stuff sharp that matter, and it's something I highly recommend always using - also in daylight shots.
ƒ/2.8, 2 seconds, ISO 800
The pine has a lot of detail and the stars that you can see are nice and crisp. I edited it lightly in Lightroom to bring out some details and added a bit of clarity, but even in camera on the screen it looked already good.
Taking product shots is something I do quite a bit for the blog and the magazines, and also here the A7R performed very satisfying. On the top you see clearly that the focus is on the water drops on the pants, and in these you can see how they reflect their surroundings - the kitchen windows, in this case. Underneath we again have a difficult case: Patterned orange and snow. A combination which gives some of my other cameras a headache, but the A7R produced a perfect image.
Also indoors the A7R did very well, and I snapped some nice shots at the Art Museum here in Vaasa at an exhibition earlier in winter. Again colours and sharpness are outstanding and as the full frame sensor records so much detail it would have been easy to crop this composition if needed (but it wasn't, I was quite happy with this shot).
In conclusion I can say that my experiences with the Sony A7R were nothing but superb. Sure, it took a second longer to start up as I'd like, it took a moment between shots to be ready again, the shutter was a bit loud, there's still just a fairly limited selection of FE lenses out, and yes, it's pricey. But the plusses outweigh these small complaints for me. The biggest advantage is that with the 35 mm lens you have a Full Frame camera which is less than 600 g. In comparison: The Canon EOS 5D Mk III is 950 g for the body only, and the Nikon D800 still puts 900 g for the body only around your neck.
Then there's the weatherproof body that withstood at least light impacts on ice and rock and had no problems operating in light minus temperatures this winter. The layout of the dials and buttons needs some getting used to, but once you have internalized the layout you'll be able to use the camera with your eye to the viewfinder. I loved that it had a regular sized Microphone port, and if I ever get a phone with NFC I'm happy to know that I can just touch it against the A7R and have the two linked, being able to send photos from the camera to the phone very easily.
A large plus is also that thanks to various adapters you're able to use a massive variety of 35 mm lenses with no field-of-view crop, and if you're already a Sony NEX camera user you will be able to use your E-Mount lenses on the A7R (with field-of-view crop, though). What's nice about the 35 mm lens possibility is obviously that many of these lenses can be bought cheaply, and as I have used a few old lenses on my NEX-5n I know how wonderful it is to use a manual lens. Sony is set to release some more FE lenses in 2015, and also Zeiss just announced at the photokina a very nice pair of manual Full-Frame lenses for the A7R and its siblings.
The Bottomline: The Sony A7R is a lightweight, compact camera that produces outstanding photos and video. If you're an (outdoor) photographer, journalist or writer who needs high-quality photos with lots of details and the ability to crop the A7R will appeal as it's such a portable camera and won't weigh you down when you're hiking and climbing far off the beaten track.
I recommend you go visit your local camera shop to have a look at the camera and the lenses. If you're in Finland, Rajala has the A7R right now on offer for 1600€ for the body only.
You can see more photos of the Sony A7R and photos taken with it on Flickr.
Tune in to the soundtrack of Barry's life with this Playlist, dutifully reconstructed from Chapter 2:
Alpinism and mountaineering books tend to often be of interest only to pursuers of these activities. But Barry manages to write his memoirs in such a compelling edge-of-your-seat style that also non-climbers will be eagerly turning each page to read how the stories unfold. And unfold they do. And if you haven't heard of Barry before, that's easily fixed: He is one of North America's top alpinists, noted for pushing the standards of highly technical, high-risk alpine climbing in the Canadian Rockies and the Himalayas. But nobody is born an alpinist, even if it is their calling.
In 20 chapters The Calling stops at important stations in Barry's life, but does not take a linear approach. It's more a Tarantino style, weaving stories together, jumping between different stations, different countries, different mountains, different climbing partners. It starts off with an Avalanche and only later on you learn more about how the four rope partners ended up in that situation on a high Himalaya peak. It's followed two chapters on how Barry grew up and how he got into climbing (via the Canadian equivalent of the Boy Scouts), and that especially will be of interest to aspiring alpinists and climbers around the globe. From how he loaned books at the library on how to climb to saving up to buy his first climbing shoes, it shows that Barry is from a pre-Internet era where you couldn't just order the latest gear and books online - but often head to search in shops across town to find what you wear looking for.
Really interesting are the personal stories and how Barry manages to illustrate his climbing partners: Kevin and Ward, Gregg and David, Mark and Phil and many more. If you climb, especially in the mountains, you know how important it is to be able to totally trust the person at the other end of the rope, and Barry is able to communicate that trust between climbing partners wonderfully. The story accompanies Barry and his partners as they learn to climb - from Trad at the Wasootch Slabs with Phil to alpine climbing the Calgary Route on Mt Yamnuska with Gray, all told in such a fun way that I couldn't help but chuckle a few times. After a stop in Chamonix and taking Rebuffat's The Hundred Finest Routes as a tick-list Barry travels a bit through Europe (and manages to lose his wallet and passport) before heading back to Canada and onwards to Yosemite. We see how Barry makes the decision to quit his salesman job to go more climbing and becoming a guide, all while repeating hard routes in Canada and the USA.
And as the walls and routes keep getting bigger & more committing we accompany Barry to the Karakoram & Himalaya, to Peru and the Cassin Ridge and read captivating accounts of daring alpine ascents. Always interweaved are anecdotes from his time - be it books (I got away with a whole list of books to read) to music (see above) to relationships and how climbing gear has evolved. The writing is lively & outspoken and I often was laughing out loud, and it was able to keep me on reading until I finished the book in a week, often reading in my lunch breaks and late till night. It were the personal connections with his rope partners that I found very fascinating and that kept me on reading past bedtime, how they pushed themselves on to become better climbers, train together, climb together, party together and go on expeditions together, all while trying to figure out how to be able to get out more to the mountains. If you have a longing for the mountains but can't be in them as much as you like (and don't want to quit your job just yet for them), I can warmly recommend you this fine book for your mountain fix. It's captivating style with adventures from near & far will keep you entertained for many days, and after you're done you'll go through the book again - to search out some of the books Barry mentioned, look up a song and re-read about the daring ascents.
Get your paper or digital copy today from Patagonia, Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de or your local book store.
Katabatic Gear Backpacks are a go! Choose from a 30 l alpine climbing pack or a 40 and 55 l backpacking pack.
Laufbursche PACKraum - DxG is coming in 2015 and looks swell!
Walk on the Wild Side introduces the Vihe Vaellus shelters they now offer.
Vote for Alex's The Atholl Expedition as the Outdoor book of the Year (I did!).
Tasty: Exo: Protein Bars Made from Cricket Flour and the Chapul Cricket Bar. Not convinced? Then red Energy Bars That Put a Chirp in Your Step.
It's October. Pumpkin season. Tasty soups. And your cance to win VO stuff in the Pumpkin Contest.
The Contour ROAM3 is now available, as is the GoPro HERO4. If you get the latter, consider backing Jolt: World's first wireless charger for GoPro® cameras.
Convergence of the twain.
7 simple rules for the mountains. [German]
Spend $100 & Get $20 in Credits at Backcountry.com
Neil helps you to win stuff with his Online Competitions for Hikers.
裏銀座縦走. A recommended read & see. I always love the beautiful, thoughtful photos on the Japanese backpacking blogs. [Japanese]
Forgotten Lapland. Another recommended read. [Spanish]
Skyler follows the call of the wild on his Bikepacking B.C.'s Coast Mountains – Part 2. Which would be the third recommended read this week.
Alice has finished the PCT, but it hasn't finished with her.
Ellen hikes to The Baldfaces. Pretty autumn colours in full effect.
The Gathering III.
The Rut 50K 2014 race report.
Strike Three.
Casey is floating around the Internet.
Uli goes up on the Pursteinwand Via Ferrata. [German]
Emma climbs The Needles.
First snow in the Cairngorms.
Sven shares his experiences of the Samsung Fitness Camp 2014. [German]
The North Face of Mount Alberta.
Jens finishes his Coast to Coast hike. [German]
Greg ponders whipping litterers on his Southern Gorge Walk.
The Domes de Miage.
The Petzl RocTrip 2014 video from Bulgaria is online.
Sean goes his Last Steps on the PNT.
Linda hikes the Obsidian Trail.
Antti's hiking gear overview 2014 is a nice visual presentation of the gear he uses.
Leica T extended review.
HMG Windrider 4400 Review.
Jacob talks Pillows.
Matt is happy with his As Tucas Custom Gear.
Ultralight Fly Fishing Kit.
Montbell U.L. Trekking Umbrella review.
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As we wake up at the Przedni Staw Polski Refuge and I look out from my window the mist hides the mountains and the rain drops leave little circles on the lake. Everything is wet. Marcin and I silently get out of bed and move to the big common room, give in our orders for breakfast and enjoy the tasty food that comes through the small window from the kitchen. Slowly it gets busy, people packing, but with the rain keeping up a constant drum on the roof none leave the hut. At ten we're the first ones to venture outside, curious looks on us in our rain gear, and as Marcin tells where we headed people just look even more confused.
Marcin gave me a few options: Walk the easy trail through the valley to the Schronisko Murowaniec refuge, or the shorter but high route across a pass at the end Orla Perć. We had light packs, good gear and so it was easy to make the decision to go via the pass. I either way was a bit disappointed that we didn't take my original route, but plans are plans: Drawn on paper, dreamed up looking over maps in the warm comfort of home. When the weather turns it's best to adapt them and stay safe - something I can now say in hindsight.
We walk by the mist-enshrouded lakes, cross the stream via the little bridge and hear the waterfall thunder down towards the valley while we slowly ascend. I carry my camera underneath my jacket so I can keep on making photos, but in the drizzle and thick mist there isn't much to see. We cross small streams, old snow, and steadily keep on walking uphill. Once in a while the mist has a gap and we can see a bit further - the other side of the valley, further up, down the valley.
To be able to continue to take photos I left my gloves in my pack - a decision I regret the higher and windier it gets. I also ponder why I decided to put on my Alpha Comp Jacket instead of my Patagonia Alpine Houdini rain jacket as I start the get wet inside - or then it's the sweat from hiking and scrambling up? At least I'm warm and the jacket and pants keep the wind outside.
We scramble up steep passages, rain and small streams making things slippery - it's a good thing I'm wearing my Scarpa Rebel Ultra GTX boots, that way I have good grip on the wet rocks and half-way dry & warm feet. Soaked we arrive at the pass and the wind howls past us. I shelter behind a big rock, but Marcin lets me know we should push on. So on we push.
On the way up I thought about how nice it will be to go down in the downwind side. But I must have misunderstood Marcin, as we hike down on wet talus fields on the upwind side. At a narrow stretch of path between the talus I finally decide to go search for my gloves in my pack, as my hands started to be just too damn cold in the strong wind. When I finally have managed to get my soaking wet & cold hands in the gloves they need a moment to warm up, but then it's infinitely more comfortable. The same time I pack away my camera, so I can concentrate on the path. We down climbing a few sections and then slowly are getting lower.
We hike over snowfields and I can believe it as down, out of the treacherous wind, we see a solitary figuring coming our way, wearing a Poncho. Marcin chats with him, and as we continue to walk I hear a similar story like the ones I have heard the days before: First time in the mountains, wants to continue to the hut we started out from. A bit later we meet a couple who also have the same plan and think that now they're at least three if they catch up with the guy, which makes it a bit safer. We pass a high-alpine lake and low pines are starting to appear. "Not long anymore" Marcin tells me - he must see that I'm not feeling too great: By now I'm drenched. Soon we are walking through a pretty pine forest in the mist. After a final small uphill we stand in front of the massive Schronisko Murowaniec refuge.
We head inside and it is full of people - some dressed in dry clothes, others looking just as wet & miserable as we. Marcin shows me the drying wall, where I hang my wet gear after I slipped into my dry layers. Then it's feasting time - I'm starving and munch away a soup and pancakes, a hot tea and coffee give more warmth. We sit for a while at the hut, with people coming and going. My clothes still moist but a bit drier I put them back on after almost two hours inside. Outside it's still as misty as before, but the rain has become just the faintest drizzle.
Steadily we go down, soon the rain stops while the mist lingers on. We descend on paths that get broader and broader to a wide meadow. The mist mixes with the clouds and hangs above us while we walk towards Kuznice, a suburb of Zakopane and the start of a gondola up to Kasprowy Wierch.
Here Marcin and I separate for a while - he needs to run an errand in town and hopes to catch a bus from here - we'll meet up at the refuge later. After checking out the the small settlement with the gondola station and resisting buying some more food I hike up the broad cobblestone trail and take the first possibility into the forest.
There's several possibilities to visit shrines and monasteries along the trail, but I just want to reach the refuge to finally strip out of all the moist clothes, take a hot shower, dress in dry clothes and eat some good food. But the scenery is lovely on the way, and so I stop here and there to take photos.
As the forest disappears another wide meadow comes into view, with the pretty Schronisko na Kondratowej Hali refuge sitting at its side. I go in and am welcomed by smiling faces in the common room. While I don't speak a word of Polish I still am able to communicate with the wonderful owners of the refuge and she shows me the room I am staying in. I put down my pack, get rid of the wet clothes and then just am for a moment. Then the rest of the evening is just as I imagined it would be: Hot shower, dry, warm clothes, good food, early to bed.
I slept great after the day before, and as we get up at 6 in the morning the sky is blue and the sun is already shining across the summits opposite my window. Marcin and I head silently down, where the two ladies of the refuge have a breakfast waiting for us! We eat, pack, and are out of the hut by 7 and make our way to the pass.
The sky is blue with the occasional white cloud running across it and we quickly are hot from the sun and hiking. At the final spring we refill the Platypus bottles with cold, clear water and then walk on. Soon we are at the pass where we drop our packs into the shrubbery and almost run up to Giewont, so light we are!
It doesn't take us long and we're standing on the summit, underneath the massive iron cross which can be seen from Zakopane. The views are hazy but good nevertheless: Zakopane towards the north with the small villages surrounding the city towards east & west, and you even can glimpse into Slovakia from here. On the way down we encounter a lonely, old chamois and then soon are back at our packs.
The trail to Kondracka Kopa is a long, steady climb over a wide ridge. Clouds float over the ridge and surroundings summits, while alpine flowers are adding bright colours to the grey & white of the sky. On my left I can see the lower hills of the Tatras and the meadow and refuge we slept in last night, and on the left zig-zags the trail down to the meadow from my original route. It does not take long and we're on the summit of Kondracka Kopa, and now we will walk on the border of Poland and Slovakia while ticking off the next few summits.
We stay now almost all the time above 2000 m elevation while we hike in the clouds from Kondracka Kopa to Malolaczniak, Krzesanica, Ciemniak and then Twarda Kopa. Once in a while the clouds rip open and we can see the lower Tatras in Slovakia, narrow valleys, high walls, streams running towards the far off sea.
From Twarda Kopa we can see Giemont in the distance, now in the clouds - but more worrisome is the helicopter which flies up to it from the valley. We don't know what happened, but hope no one died.
Marcin waits for me at a large summit cairn and suggests we take the green trail down to the next refuge. It's just around 11 and we have the whole day really in front of us still, so I agree and we take a turn from the big main path and walk on a very narrow path in a hanging meadow towards the Western Tatras.
The views and the trail are spectacular. A narrow singletrack trail that's demanding and exposed, but with gorgeous views on the lower-lying mountains, valleys, meadows - and in front of us, the Western Tatras. A pair of chamois give us a show as they are fighting in a couloir, but my view often just drifts to the horizon, where large mountains try to reach the sky with their summits. At a turn in the path we sit down and have a snack & drink, while Marcin names the peaks and valleys and tells me anecdotes about geographical features.
Too soon we reach the tree line, but the path continues to be lovely. It gradually widens and Marcin tells me that it has been an old road for an iron ore mine, and I again wonder about how much work it must have been to clear the forests to create it. While we talk we reach the meadow and a group of fully loaded foreign backpackers pass us, just as amazed about the beautiful scenery around them as we are. The trail now runs next to a stream, and it does not take long until we reach the Schronisko Ornak refuge.
It is busy outside and not even 13 o'clock. I check in with the help of Marcin and then accompany him down the valley - our hike ends here today, and I will be venturing on for the next two days on my own. The trail is now a wide dirt road and full of people, with plenty of trails going off on the right and left - trails which I will explore on my way back up to the refuge, I decide. And as Marcin tells me about the long caves up on the mountains which one can explore my afternoon suddenly looks like it will be filled with plenty of adventure!
To be continued.]]>
Help find Cody Roman Dial.
Sebastian Haag dies during a speed ascent of Shisha Pangma.
The first Alpacka Whitewater Packraft has launched! Pre-order yours now.
And right on the heels of that is the BAKraft from AIRE. It's a self-bailing, whitewater-worthy, Dyneema shell and urethane bladders construction that weighs 6.5 pounds that costs around $1,200. It looks very nice and is a slight departure from traditional packraft designs. [Hat tip to Forrest]
Mountain Laurel Design launched the DuoMid XL, a new, asymmetrical DuoMid that is taller + wider.
GoPro Hero4 specs leak and it's not a surprise as the HERO4 should come out within the next weeks. Which will make the HERO3 cheaper!
Check out the Patagonia Truth to Materials line.
Africa is more than just nature.
You can save 10% on HMG Gear during the last week of September with the coupon code follow10sep.
How To Hone Your Alpine Psyche.
The Undress.
Download the free Stand Here app, an app that provides you with everything you'll need to know to get to the most stunning locations along the trail.
Bergfreunde have a lot of new gear for kids - and save 20% on Icebreaker garments with the code icekid.
The Sili-Dripper - a Lightweight Coffee Filter.
Big Agnes Q-core SL reviewed.
The RMG Shoulder Pack Prototype looks pretty awesome.
Teaching kids how to navigate.
Jacob reviews the Western Mountaineering Alpinlite.
7 Days with Ortlieb.
Gebrauchsanweisung für die Alpen book review. [German]
Chris is back! No Ifs, Just Buttresses.
Arctic Swell - Surfing the Ends of the Earth.
The first attempt to cross Iceland on fixed gear bikes.
Captain Kirk and the one day Enterprise.
Nick is in Albania.
Bikepacking B.C.'s Coast Mountains.
A great 9-day Pyrenees Trip report from Ivo. [Dutch]
David enjoyed the island life.
Stefanie stand of top of Marmolata. [German]
Casey goes Bikepacking Yaak's Fire Lookout Towers.
Paddling trip on San Juan Islands.
Aishihik River, early season Yukon packrafting.
Building Patagonia National Park: A decade-long partnership with Patagonia, Inc..
On the Sidelhorn. [German]
Christine gives some tips about Paddling the Götakanal.
John reviews the Dream Way from Munich to Venice.
The The Last Days on the PCT.
A Taste Of Chamonix and Saas Grund.
Steven & Katrijn are walking in the (Norwegian) mountains.
Ryan starts at Cape Wrath.
燕岳. [Japanese]
Two Days in the Northern Fells.
Steve tackles Crinkle Crags & Bowfell via the climbers traverse.
James heads into the wild to Sarek and Padjelanta.
Want more news and trip reports? Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Flickr, Instagram or subscribe to the RSS feed and mailing list.
I often get sent products or get asked to do reviews about gear though right now I'm short of time to do my in-depth reviews. As I still use the kit quite a bit, Gear Outtakes is my solution to the problem - a seasonal collection of kit and what I think about it, inspired by Minimally Minimal.
★☆☆☆ Mediocre, I wouldn't spend money on it.
★★☆☆ Good, but there are better options.
★★★☆ Great, worth your money.
★★★★ Outstanding, the benchmark of its category.
Some of these products have been sent to me for free by the manufacturer.
£150, available at PHD
A 137 g light down pullover (Size M). Between the 10X fabric is 900 cuin down and this sweet little pullover has been warm enough for summer adventures, when reaching the summit and there's a small breeze, chilling at camp or taking a break between bouldering. It packs very small so easily fits in my backpack wherever I go, and is comfortable on the skin. While the material does feel filigrane it can take a bit of abuse, though I have used it strictly as a garment at camp/ resting/ when more warmth was needed. A long zipper helps with getting in and venting, there's stretchy rims on the hem and cuffs and that's about it. Really something for a SUL setup!
$9,95 for a 3-Pack of Note Books, $23,95 for the FN-19 Space Pen, available at Field Notes
I write it really down to remember it later. As I'm on over a dozen trips a year I sit down each evening at camp to write up how the day went. With the Expedition note books from Field Notes I can be sure that my notes will survive down pours and freezing cold temperatures. The FN-19 Space Pen packs small but is a real pen when in use, which I like. The ink won't bleach, though it does have a bit of a tendency to smear when not 100% dry. / Pen 19 g, note book 30 g.
From 209€, available at Bergzeit, Bergfreunde, Backcountry, CampSaver.com and Patagonia
If it looks like it will get cool and wet on a spring, summer or autumn trip, the 331 g (Size S) light Nano-Puffy Hoody comes along, often even in conjunction with the PHD WaferLite Shirt. The Nano Puff Hoody is a classic piece and likely a staple in many outdoor mens & womens wardrobe, and for a good reason. It's a super warm hoody that keeps the wind outside and has a DWR finish that lets you wear it in a light drizzle. Even if it gets wet, it still keeps you warm. It packs in its own inside pocket. The hood keeps the ears and head warm. It looks nice. Yeps, with the Patagonia Nano-Puffy Hoody you're warm & well-dressed in the three warm seasons!
140€, available at Bergfreunde and Moonlight Gear
305 g in Size XS, the Houdini Thrill Twill Pants was along on lot of trips this year. The reason is simple: It's a well-fitting pants with great freedom of movement. Hiking, scrambling, climbing, going to the pub or business meetings at the OutDoor, the Thrill Twill Pants does it all well while being comfortable. The biggest plus for me is probably that the size is so great, in XS I don't need a belt and it fits perfectly. High heel hooks are no problem, and the pants dries fast when the get wet. Stretchy drawstring allow me to adjust the size of the trouser legs, very useful when climbing and wanting to see where that micro ledge for my next step is. A beautiful pair of trousers that's durable and can be recycled at the end of its life.
From 120€, available from Scandinavian Outdoor Store and Cotswold
I have been using fleece jackets again for several years, and the Haglöfs Triton II Hood, a full-zip fleece jacket with thumbloops & a hood, has been a staple in my layering system since I got it last year. The hood can be worn under a helmet, be it a cycle helmet or my Petzl Sirocco, while the thumbloops help on those first cool autumn days where I forgot to take a pair of gloves along for the bicycle ride. Three zippered pockets store stuff safely on the go, be it hiking, hill walking or climbing. It's a comfy fleece jacket in a beautiful colour, and if I need a nice, cozy yet breathable midlayer or I'm cool in the mornings at home then the Triton II comes on. / 303 g in Size S.
139€, available at Norrøna
The Norrøna bitihorn aero100 Jacket (104 g in Size M) accompanies me since autumn 2013 already and has been a joy to use. It's lightweight and can be packed in its own chest pocket, which is ideal when travelling. While I occasionally missed a hood I managed to life without it. The Size M was a alright fit despite me being a Size S - I needed to pull the hem drawstring pretty tight for it being a good fit. The jacket stays well in place also when in a cycling position and the material is durable enough to carry heavy grocery backpacks or light backpacking rucksacks. As its always windy on the coast here, the bitihorn aero100 is often along to keep the cool wind at bay.
From $71,95, available at Backcountry and CampSaver.com
I'm not 100% happy with the Merrell AllOut Rush - the large drop is likely the reason for that. It's not as minimal anymore as other shoes from Merrell and after wearing them for a while and switching into more minimalist shoes I realize how my stride has suffered. That said, if you're new to the whole barefoot hiking & walking movement you might find the AllOut Rush just perfect. It's a nice shoe with good grip on many surfaces, from wet grass to muddy uphills. The toe box offers your toes plenty of space, and the heel cup also gives a good fit. / 556 g in Size 42.
125€, available at Arc'teryx, Backcountry and CampSaver.com
It was about time that I replaced the 60 l stuff sack I used for transporting my ultralight backpacks when flying abroad for a hike: It already had a few holes at it and somehow always arrived open in Vaasa's airport at the baggage claim. That no longer happens with the Arc'teryx Carrier Duffle 50: It stays closed and also the occasional downpours the duffle needs to endure when it's loaded in to the plane are no problem anymore: The Carrier Duffle is highly water resistant. It is just 538 g heavy, which is in comparison with other duffles almost SUL! I can wear it backpack style or over the shoulder and at the airport the straps can be pulled tight and stored out of the way. At the top and bottom there is a haul loop and on each side there's a handle - so you or the friendly airport employee can carry the duffle as it was intended. A superb piece of kit that goes along on every trip abroad.
From £10, available at Bergzeit and Rock Technologies
Using chalk is pretty much essential when climbing, even more so when bouldering. "Chalk up correctly" was something I heard quite a few times during the last weeks climbing & bouldering, and I was happy to have pharmaceutical grade Magnesium Carbonate chalk from Rock Technologies in my chalk bag. A chalk ball reduces air born chalk dust and so is more healthy - if you ever visited the Boulderwelt in München you will wish everyone would use chalkballs! Anyway, the chalkballs are easy to use and it's fast & efficient for chalking up. The chalk is good and helps you to stick to slopers and prevents sweaty hands & fingers for a good while. / 60 g
29,95€, available at Boulderkeskus
Also known as Cheater Gloves these 48 g light gloves allow you to climb cracks like Spiderman without ripping open your knuckles and the back of your hand. Also sweaty hands are no longer responsible for slipping in a crack. Sure, you could just tape up your hands and be tough when you go up a crack, but I find the Crack Gloves much better, really. Easy to use - the most difficult thing is figuring out your size - the gloves close with a Velcro strap and the outside is made of a sticky rubber which gives a lot of friction. The side that's to the back of your hand has a cushioned mesh lining which makes sharp, sharp cracks slightly more bearable. If you're starting to get into crack climbing - get a pair. They're cheaper than all the tape you're bound to wrap around your hands, and a lot better.
34,95$, available at Peak Design
The 47 g light Peak Design Leash I bought earlier this year as I realized that my Dyneema cord ain't the best solution to carry my camera (as explained here). I've been very happy with the Leash, it's worlds more comfortable than the Dyneema string and easy to use, too. If it's not needed or could get into the way I can quickly take it off, and the many varied possibilities the Leash can be used make it a really versatile camera strap. It's also compatible the the Peak Design Strap and the new systems, which I'm considering trying out next.
1.800円, available at Moonlight Gear
A companion since well over a year, the Hariyama Productions coin case is a 4 g cuben wallet and all I need for carrying cash & cards. It can get a bit tight when I have several business cards in there and need to carry cash, but in Finland I rarely need anything else than a Debit/ Credit Card either way so there's no need to search for coins or bills. It has been water-resistant but after being daily pulled out of my pocket between a few times and a dozen times it look like I will need to get a new one. They come with differently coloured zippers and I think I will go for a orange one the next time!]]>
The Strange & Curious Tale of the Last True Hermit.
PHD has launched their Autumn Race Collection which also will appeal to ultralight backpackers and alpinists who wanna go super-light!
Win a new Black Diamond Access LT Hybrid Hoody & Speed 40 pack. Or check out the New Black Diamond Gore-Tex line.
The Walk on the Wild Side Tent Sale is in full swing.
Dave wonders what Scotland has done.
LAUFBURSCHE has the Nomadic Trekker stoves in stock - but be quick to order one, they're popular!
Three Lessons about Bicycle Tourism from Rural Bike Advocates.
The Outdoor-Spirit Podcast #21 is out. [German]
Tourism: The Destruction Of Iceland.
The FREELIGHT SpinNap Code Zero pack is released in the coming week.
Swiss explorer Mike Horn looks to grind out a big first.
Wasabi is the hardest plant to grow in the world.
You still have time to win some sweet Big Sky Gear.
Bergfreunde have the new Fjällräven & Marmot gear for the winter online!
Cairn is a new way to discover new gear & companies.
Jacob is Nutty for Coconut.
Jim sat down with Excel to ponder: Which is Lighter – Alcohol or Gas?
Chris reviews the Source WLP Low Profile Hydration System.
The RMG Body Pocket Prototype looks pretty good.
Blue Steel: A Permadraw Solution.
The REI Outlet Days of Deals are a go! Save an EXTRA 20% - 30% on a new deal every day - but be quick, it ends on the 23rd of September!
Jean and John are enjoying the best of both worlds since four and half years.
The Road to Nabesna.
Angelica takes a Summit Selfie in the Ahrtal. [German]
Ryan's last full day in Ireland.
Cass rolls into Chile.
Wild Camping in the Welsh Wilderness.
Jill is Living in color.
Nick climbs the Diadem North Face.
A story narrated by Helvellyn.
Himalaya Ice Climbing.
Cape Wrath Trail.
Don takes a ride in the DuPont National Forest.
Florence reports from Romania. [French]
Corinna hikes to the Refugio Pedrotti. [German]
Around Shkodër Lake, Montenegro.
Roger hikes to Nikkaluokta, the end of his trip.
Watch the Kongakut video!
Weisskugel. [German]
Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Flickr, Instagram or subscribe to the RSS feed and mailing list.
Win some sweet Big Sky Gear.
Simon ponders about an Independent Scotland.
Sir Chris Bonington climbs The Old Man of Hoy on his 80th birthday.
The newest trekking Magazin is out.
What to do when it rains on a mountain hut? [German]
Climbing is changing.
Bergzeit.co.uk has new winter gear from Mammut & Norrona in stock.
What belongs into your FA Kit when hiking with kids? [German]
Zack takes a first look at the Fuji X100T.
I conclude the One Stop Shop Series with a Multi-Shop Stop.
Emily reports from the other side of the Camera.
Niels spent 30 nights on the Nemo Zor 20R.
Dave files the 2014 shoe report.
Mike ponders about Snowbike geometry.
A Surly Karate Monkey Drop bar 29er.
Michael reviews the MSR Hubba NX.
Chad takes a look at the Montbell Ex Light Anorak.
Fatbike Ramblings.
Are HMG Packs 100% Waterproof?
The modular Shelter System from The Theory Works. [German]
Eyes Wide Shut: Cycling on the Salar.
鳳凰三山. [Japanese]
A fine mountaineering trip to the Piz Palu. [Italian]
Planeta Packraft's 2nd part of their Lapland Packrafting trip. [Spanish]
Don shares some thoughts and wonderful photos from the Sierra High Route.
Ten days in Idaho.
Greg is Out and In the Aiguestortes.
Nick takes a short round on The Beaten Path.
Joery packrafts the gorges of the Haut-Allier.
Mount Davis.
Paul hikes to Raven Crag & Castlerigg Stone Circle.
The "Röck my Raft" Packrafting-Tour.
A Kungsleden Family backpacking trip.
An ode to the sheep. [German]
Will shares memories from Summer.
Part 3 of Willem's Iceland hike.
Heat, Hydration and Offset nuts on Triple Direct, El Capitan.
Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Flickr, Instagram or subscribe to the RSS feed and mailing list.
In this issue I write about the Arc'teryx Alpine Academy which I visited in June and give a lot of details about planning your own stay in Chamonix. In my columne I write about five great hiking pants from Houdini to Klättermusen, and then there's a very long trip report in it about my hike on the Escapardenne Eisleck Trail in Luxembourg which I thru-hiked in May of this year. It's a beautiful trail with lots to offer and is well suited for those that look for culture, nature and a well-marked trail.
And of course there's still plenty more in there, from fine hikes in Germany to rambling through the hills of Tuscany. Thus go pick up the current issue at a Kiosk near you or take out a subscription to not miss any future issue.]]>
If you need to freshen up what this is all about, read the Introduction and browse the past entries!
Carsten's One Stop Shop Idea really was superb. It gave new and old backpackers an easy list of online shops with gear choices which allowed them to find the lightest and/ or cheapest gear to lighten up or get a complete backpacking kit. I tried to get a few big Retailers like REI.com and Backcountry.com to join the series for even more options but wasn't successful (well, maybe they join now ;). Anyway, with 13 shops from Europe, the USA and Japan budding lightweight backpackers have over a dozen of options to choose from and get inspiration for a lightweight kit. Here's that list with weights & prices for your convenience:
|6.157 g
|2.288,80 €
|0,47 € per gram
|5.316 g
|1.993,80 €
|0,52 € per gram
|8.995 g
|3.272,20 €
|0,36 € per gram
|7.354 g
|2448,15 €
|0,33 € per gram
|4.657 g
|2.440,10 €
|0,52 € per gram
|6.143 g
|2.349,45 €
|0,38 g per gram
|4.994 g
|2.464,35 €
|0,49 € per gram
|5.884 g
|2.145,05 €
|0,36 € per gram
|Ultralight Outdoor Gear
|4.549 g
|2.796,69 €
|0,61 € per gram
|5.559 g
|2.430,00 €
|0,44 € per gram
|5.392 g
|2.056,70 €
|0,38 € per gram
|Aventure Nordique
|6.044 g
|2.121,40 €
|0,35 € per gram
|Moonlight Gear
|2.630 g
|1.735,36 €
|0,66 € per gram
|5.667 g
|2.349,39 €
|0,45 € per gram
The thing is with the One Stop Shop: What if you really want a Laufbursche huckePACK as your backpack? Or a Mountain Laurel Designs TrailStar as your shelter? An Esbit Stove setup? You always could adapt your shopping at the one shop you want to buy - they do, after all, often offer a lot more options than the ones they suggested. But what if another webshop has a better price on the kit you want? What if the shop doesn't have the item you really want?
Then you'll need to buy from several shops. While this will add extra costs in form of shipping costs (and import taxes if you order from outside Europe) it still might be cheaper - the € is still relatively strong which makes buying abroad more affordable. Thus my experiment is simple: I want to buy a few items I really want but try to keep the list as cheap & light as possible. Here we go:
|Weight in gram
|Price in €
|Laufbursche huckePACK incl. Airbeam
|348,00 €
|Sleeping bag
|PHD Minix Down Bag
|199,00 £
|Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XLite
|149,95 €
|Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid
|675,00 $
|Trail Designs Caldera GVP
|53,90 €
|Sea to Summit Alpha Light
|7,95 €
|Deejo Light Knife
|24,95 €
|Petzl e+ Lite
|29,95 €
|Trekking Poles
|Black Diamond Ultra Distance Trekking Poles
|129,95 €
|Luna Sandals OSO
|125,00 €
|Arc'teryx Delta LT Jacket
|99,95 €
|Arc'teryx Atom LT Hoody
|139,00 €
|Rain pants
|Marmot PreCip Full Zip Pant
|89,95 €
|Rain jacket
|Marmot PreCip Jacket
|80,00 €
|Super.Natural Base Boxer 175
|18,00 €
|Icebreaker Tech T Lite SS
|45,00 €
|Ortovox Rock'n'Wool Longsleeve
|84,95 €
|2.200,00 €
In this list I ordered from five different parties and this are the shipping costs to Finland: HMG 50 $, Laufbursche 17 €, PHD 24,90 £, Trekking-Lite-Store.com 13,50 €, Bergzeit 9,95 €. In the above total these are not included (currencies have been converted today via xe.com) but would add 110,45€ to the total. I also only ordered the HMG UltaMid from outside Europe so only would need to pay import duties for it (or not with some luck!). I looked for bargains in the different shops, and thus with a total of 2.310,45 € I would get the exact kit I want from several different shops. My list still is cheaper than over half of the above shops, and only two shops offered a lighter list.
The conclusion? If you're starting out with backpacking and want to do it right (thus, light) from the start, buying all your gear from one shop is very convenient. However, if you want a special piece of gear that the shop doesn't carry, it only minimally increases the costs to order it from somewhere else (and this is especially true in the USA, where lots of online retailers offer free shipping above a certain amount). Also, mixing it up and supporting small cottages like Laufbursche Gear, highly specialized companies like PHD, niche retailers like Treking-Lite-Store.com and large online shops like Bergzeit makes sense, as this way you can look for the best offers across them & still save, and what the one doesn't have the other can offer.
Disclaimer: The One Stop Shop Series was Carsten's idea and he gave me permission to translate his posts to English and contact a few more shops around the world. If you can read German, you can head over to his blog and read the posts in German.
Liked this? Follow along for more of that on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Flickr, Instagram or subscribe to the RSS feed and mailing list.]]>
Read the free Edelrid Rope book to learn more about ropes.
Get the new Norrøna Lofoten line at Bergzeit.co.uk.
Why Dave MacLeeod votes Yes on an independent Scotland.
The Trekking-Lite-Store.com is now on Twitter.
There are rebates available at REI and you can get free shipping using the REI Store Pickup.
Bergfreunde have a lot of new climbing gear just in.
I have updated the Beginner's Guide to Rock Climbing and added several more instructional videos.
Roger compares the Tarptent Stratospire and Notch.
Phil takes a look at the Mountain Warehouse Microlite 700 Sleeping Bag.
Jaki Sandals a.k.a huarache sandals. [Japanese]
Derek reviews the Therm-a-Rest Slacker Hammock Single.
The Planeta Packraft Team is back from Lapland and writes about the Camino del Agua. [Spanish]
A small retroperspective on Baugen. [Finnish]
Five 4000 m peaks in a day. [German]
Romanian rail, Serbian sun, Montenegran mountains.
Climbing and packrafting in Ardeche and Vercors, France.
Hiking Trip on Yosemite National Park.
Nick does the Teton Crest Trail in a day.
Late summer in wet canyons.
Okutama hike. [Japanese]
White Mountain Peak Ride – Silver Canyon to the Summit.
Cass appeases Papa Uturuncu and pedals to 5777 m.
立山縦走 Day3.
Adam visits the Walrus Lakes.
Touring the Root River trail with Kids.
Mud and Biryani – Netley to Amberley.
Willem found a special spot above Heinabergsjökull.
Baxter Backpacking, Day 5.
North Wales Climbs.
Mark spent five days in the Lakes.
James goes into the Hagg Gill Pot.
Backpacking in and out of the Aiguestortes.
Want to stay up-to-date? Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Flickr, Instagram or subscribe to the RSS feed and mailing list.
Neil lets you know where to win outdoor gear.
The 1 x 1 of outdoor weather prediction. [German]
Chris Townsend votes Yes on the Scottish Independence Referendum.
Win a RENEGADE Pro Series Quilt by UGQ Outdoor Equipment.
A new Sea kayak podcast.
TrailGroove Issue 17 is out.
10 Reasons to run a 50k instead of a Marathon.
News & Dates for September 2014. [German]
The Bergfreunde move and have a massive sale on sleeping bags, tents, backpacks, climbing gear and clothes.
日陰名栗山. [Japanese]
The Liskamm Traverse. [German]
Still too dumb to quit.
8 Days in the Pasayten Wilderness.
John hikes from Munich to Venice and spends Day 15 on the Passo Pordoi.
Days 109 - 128 on the PCT.
Piz Surgonda.
Arete du Doigt, Pointe Percee.
Krister & Anna climb the Arete Sud Classique on the Aiguille Moine.
All around the Broom and Heather.
Backpacking in and out of the Aiguestortes.
100 Miles of Wild Expedition to the Tsingy de Bemaraha.
The Underground Mountain Soundtrack.
Nick shares some Western Ukrainian snapshots.
Leor's Supported John Muir Trail FKT Report.
The Arc'teryx Lakeland Revival.
Bailey Range: Stephen Basin.
Cross Mountain Gorge.
Cycling Baltic States and Finland: Conclusion and lessons learned.
Corinne turns around on the way up the Pic d'Estats. [German]
立山縦走. [Japanese]
Lightweight Gear Finds from the OutDoor and Outdoor Retailer.
Jörgen ponders in detail about the Big 3 and his stove & footwear that he used in the Brooks Range.
Röjk Tvister Helmet Hood for Women reviewed.
Bjarke's favourite piece of autumn gear.
Planeta Packraft shows you how to fold your packraft.
Rogers eats Freeze Dried Meals and shares his experiences.
How to Destroy Your Gear.
The Narrative Clip, a small five megapixel camera you clip to somewhere on your body and record your hiking adventures.
Derek reviews the Hummingbird Hammock Single.
Stevie helps you choosing and fitting climbing boots.
Tenkara vs. Western Fly Fishing – A Beginner's Perspective.
Montura Kids Zip-off reviewed.
Want to stay up-to-date? Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Flickr, Instagram or subscribe to the RSS feed and mailing list.
The first time I became aware of the Petzl RocTrip was in 2011, when I saw some photos from the event in China. Then in 2012 the video of the event was published and it was mind-blowing. I still love to watch it, and if you have a moment watch it here.
In 2013 the Petzl RocTrip traveled to Argentina and it was equally inspiring. In 2013 it returned closer to home to the Gorges du Tarn, and now in 2014 the event is back and takes a new, unique format: A road trip across five countries in Eastern Europe. This is a great idea on so many levels, as it promotes what climbing is about in many ways: Travel to new crags, explore new countries, meet new people, climb new types of rock, experience different cultures. In a way it is promoting the dirtbag lifestyle, in a slightly more comfortable way! The teaser sets the mood well:
What is special about the RocTrip are the low costs for taking part in the event: It's just 15€! Comparing that to the costs of some other events this is very affordable. It's well organized (check the practical information) and you get the opportunity to climb in some unique locations with members of the Petzl Pro Team.
Interested? Then pre-register until August 31th, 2014 to one (or all!) of the camps you would like to join. Organize your transportation, for example join the carpool or get a ride in the Petzl bus. Book your flights (I'm flying to Antalya which is a smooth connection if flying from Helsinki, Stockholm or Oslo). Then start your climbing training so you're fit for the hundreds of routes which will be waiting for you! The Petzl Roctrip website has a lot more information available, so check it out, pick the locations you want to join and pre-register!
I will be joining the Roctrip on the last two stops in Geyikbayiri and Olympos and you'll be able to read about it here and Facebook. But I really hope to meet some of you in Turkey =)
I arrived after a short flight in Krakow, got my backpack and then started the ride to Zakopane. It was almost 23 o'clock as I arrived at the Hotel Skalny and then just took a quick shower before I fell tired into my bed.
After a delicious breakfast and the best scrambled eggs I have ever eaten I pack my hiking gear, deposit some stuff at the reception and then walk to the centre. Zakopane has a nice pedestrian shopping street and it felt like every third store was a outdoor shop, so if I'd had forgotten something there'd been plenty of chances to stock up on gear. I only needed a map which I found from one of the various stalls along the street. Then I took out some Polish Zloty from an ATM, bought a few more snacks and walked to the bus station - Zakopane is small city and I found I could walk everywhere.
The bus to Polana Palencia/ Morskie Oko was quickly found and at noon the bus left punctually. We drove through the centre of Zakopane, suburbs and then slowly in a wide curve to where I would start my walk in the Polish Tatras. Along the way always in view on my right: The Tatras. A compact mountain range these mountains are a natural border between Poland and Slovakia, and for many of their citizens a prime destination to visit. The infrastructure in place is very good, with plenty of huts and signs along the often very well maintained trails.
As I arrive at the parking lot at Polana Palencia I pay the 25 Zloty for my 7 Day ticket to the National Park and then started the 9 km walk to the Morskie Oko Refuge. Around half way I switched from my Scarpa Rebel Ultra GTX boots into my Luna Sandals, and am very happy I took them along on this trip. Nuns in white dresses pass me, a sight one not often sees on other trails.
There are plenty of people on the road and regularly horse-drawn carriages go up and down. For a small fee these take you up & down and shave some 6 km off the approach to the Morskie Oko Refuge. Between the spruces, far away, distant peaks come into view.
I come to a large oval where the horse carriages disembark their cargo and their passengers head for refreshments at the near restaurant. People with ice creams and cool drinks pass me, some looking happy, some exhausted, and I can understand why: It's hot and humid. The last few hundred meters to the refuge I only have my eyes on the grand scenery which unfolds in front of me and I see the peaks I will be climbing the next couple of days, and many more which would make any alpinist, climber and mountaineer happy. As I round a corner my day dreams of summits are interrupted: Dozens of people mingle in front of the beautiful old wooden building, taking in the mountains and the clear lake which lays at the bottom of them. Morskie Oko.
I check in, drop my pack in my room and then head out for a stroll around the lake. Finally I am walking on beautiful, narrow paths along the shore. Waterfalls come rushing down to the lake. People sit at the water, take in the view. I am one of them. Bliss.
Back at the refuge I spend small money on delicious local food: Soups, sausages, pancakes, a beer. I sit on the terrace, waiting for Marcin, the Mountain Guide with whom I will be spending the next few days climbing & mountaineering in this cradle of Polish Alpinism. He arrives as the sun is setting in the west and quickly identifies me, even if we have never seen before =) We eat dinner together, quickly understanding each other well and making plans for the following days.
It's Tuesday, 6 o'clock in the morning. Our Alarms ring, we get up and take a look out of the window. The weather looks mixed, Marcin says - lets sleep another hour and then see how it looks. At 7 the weather looks similar in my opinion, but we start to pack either way. We have a light breakfast as the kitchen is still closed, so I pack a couple of extra bars and then we're off. To Rysy. Poland's highest summit.
We hike around the lake, ascent to the 2nd lake above it and see that we are not the only ones. A couple of German girls are before us. A few lone hikers further ahead. We walk around the higher lake and cross the first snow fields. A wrong step and you'd slide into the ice cold lake, and there's evidence of some of these wrong steps in the snow.
Around us steep walls and high peaks. Marcin tells me about alpine and ice climbing routes and adventures, but right now my mind is set on our summer mountaineering route ahead of us.
Soon the path gets steeper. We traverse a few more snow fields, kicking steps, still crampons aren't needed. Marcin leads the way, he has hiked this trail so often that he can not even remember the amount of times that he has summited Rysy.
He is also working for the local Mountain Rescue group, and gets at times a bit agitated when we pass solo hikers. As he chats shortly with them I can not make out anything of their conversation and when I enquire what they talked about it's often the same answer: The person is the first time ever in their life in the mountains. Has no crampons nor ice axe along. No experience of how to traverse steep snow fields. But they want to stand on the summit.
Some turn around and listen to his advice, to wait a few more weeks till the snow is gone. Some ignore it and push on. At least until the large snow field which then is in front of us and needs to be traversed to get to the summit. Which is where I put on my Grivel Air Tech Light crampons and take my Grivel Air Tech Racing ice axe. I put my Sirocco helmet on, we rope up and then front point the snow field up. We ignore the path others have made and take a direct route till the rocks. It takes us not long, maybe 15 to 20 minutes, and we are where the chains start. But without crampons and an ice axe you do one wrong step and then slide down the 50° slope for a long time.
Snow and ice are along the route up, it's some serious scrambling at times, and exposed. After a while in the clouds I can make out other shapes in front of us. And then we're at the summit. Clouds hang around us, it's windy. I put my PHD Ultra Down Jacket on to stay warm, scramble to the summit marker and take a Selfie. Have a snack. Wait for the clouds to part.
They cooperate only a bit, but what they reveal is beautiful. Views into Slovakia and the easy path up to Rysy. Deep valleys. Steep walls. Many possibilities. After a while we pack up again and start the descent. It goes fast, we make good speed and are at 15 o'clock back at the refuge. And I reward myself with them delicious pancakes!
It's 4 am as our alarms ring in unison the next morning. We eat the breakfast we bought the evening before and then silently leave the hut. The lake lies silently on our left as we ascent the beautiful path which runs up on the right of the lake. We cross clear streams, the water running noisily down to the lake. And always in front of us: Mnich. The beautiful spire we're about to climb.
We left most of our gear at the refuge, and I'm only carrying my DMM Nuts, DMM Dragons and DMM Demons, some quick draws and screw lock carabiners, harness and climbing shoes. After a mere 45 minutes we stand at the crossroad, and Marcin is a bit surprised about the speed we were able to come up here.
We walk another 20 minutes and then are at the start. We put on harnesses, I rack up and slip into my climbing shoes. We walk a bit further till the beginning of the route and then I tie in. Marcin gives me some general advice in which direction the route goes, and off I go. Placing gear wherever I can, but it ain't much. I'm using an old, massive bolt and wonder how many climbers have used it before me. Then I reach a good ledge and build a belay to bringing Marcin up.
Another pitch and we are on the top of Mnich. On the way lots of scratches tell the story of alpinists climbing this route in winter with crampons. But right now the sun bathes us in its golden light and warms us up while a light breeze goes through the air. We're sitting on the dining table big top of this 2.068 m high spire, happy about the fast ascent and the good weather. But from the south-east already some clouds are coming over the ridge line we see. I snap a few more photos, then thread the ropes through my Reverso 4 and start the rappel.
I go first again, clip in at the large bolt, let Marcin know that he can come down.
Twenty minutes later we are down where we racked up earlier. I slip out of the climbing shoes, put the OSOs back on, pack and then we're off. Back to Morskie Oko.
We arrive well in time before Check-out and I'm having a coffee and pancakes. Then it's packing up and leaving for the Przedni Staw Polski Refuge in the neighbouring valley.
The path goes from easy to steep in no time, and I start to wonder what classifies as easy for Marcin. But then he has walked these paths for years. As we start to overtake other hikers I get a sense of what he might mean.
I take a last look back on Morskie Oko and the surrounding mountains, this cradle of Polish Alpinism, and know I will be back when they will be wearing their white dress. So many possibilities. So beautiful.
The weather turns fast and as we reach a pass also the rain reaches us. We put on our rain jackets and pants, I have another quick bite from a Müsli bar and then go on. Light showers come down on us, but my view is set on our right.
There is Orla Perć, the most difficult "trail" in all of the Tatras, and we plan to hike it the next day. A magnificent ridge walk, all of it above 2.000 m, much of it on steep, exposed terrain.
After a shortcut we top out on a small summit which gives a superb view over the Valley of Five Polish Lakes, and down at the shore I already can make out the refuge. We don't need long till we arrive at it, and are happy to be inside as the rain sets in. The large, wooden common room is full of other hikers, it's noisy and humid, but people are happy. Good food leaves the kitchen, tasty smells wafting pass me. I can't resist long.
I feast yet again on pancakes, have another cup of coffee, and then set out with Marcin for a quick stroll while the rain has stopped. We go and check out some high water falls, the lakes, walk on narrow trails, and then the rain comes. Lots of rain. We walk back to the refuge, I accelerate, feel the joy of running in my Luna Sandals in the mountains. And it feels like the rain wants to make sure it puts as much water drops down on us before we reach the warm, dry refuge. We arrive dry at the hut, but the weather forecast is not very positive. There's rain and thunderstorms coming our way, which turn to snow and hail above 1800 m, and I wonder if we'd be able to continue the route I have planned if the weather is like this.
To be continued.]]>
Chad and I.
Alex Honnold: Relativity of Risk.
Yosemite Valley, where the outlaw spirit is alive and well.
Pics.io, a browser-based Raw editor built on Google Drive, goes into Beta.
Mr. Fusion is the new modular, user-friendly, and stupidly-stable seat system from Porcelain Rocket. Goes well with a Six-Pack Rack, too.
The Big Sky International Wisp Tent 1P is now available from the Trekking-Lite-Store.com - a 476 g enclosed shelter!
$50.000 are up for grabs via the National Geographic Expedition Granted competition.
LAUFBURSCHE-gear now sells Toaks Titanium pots and their sweet Esbit setup in his shop as Evernew has left the European market and will be increasingly difficult (and expensive!) to get in the future.
Climbing Rescue and Dealing with disaster.
Three national parks lead the pack in Finland.
Lightweight packing for the Lake District.
Enlightened Equipment Enigma review.
And I reviewed the Luna Sandals OSO, one of my favourite pieces of gear.
Rebuffat Gully, Tour Ronde. Or a mighty fine day in the mountains.
Equally awesome is the Expedition Frumplestiltskin up the Cassin Ridge of Denali.
Down the Colorado, a five Episodes series of paddling down the Colorado River system.
Paulina recaps her Lassen Volcanic National Park Trip.
Linda heads up the Cooper Spur.
Climbing (almost) like in the past. [German]
Big Wall Dreaming.
Ute and daughter enjoy a few hikes around the Freiburger Hut. [German]
Roger hikes back to Sweden.
Jotaro and Barefoot Jake were backpacking in the Olympic Mountains.
And a Olympic Peninsula Traverse on foot and packraft is also a sweet way to explore that area.
A mountaineering life at the Pik Lenin and Pik Razdelnaya. [German]
Blood, sweat and fish fries in the BWCA.
Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic 2014 Ice route.
Seventeen Year Hiatus on The Grand Pilier d' Angle.
Marko was Packsailing In Tammisaari Archipelago.
Tincan and Kickstep Glaciers.
August skiing on the Le Tour Glacier.
Darren splitboards from Kiandra to Kosciuszko.
Road Touring from Cambridge to Paris.
A Women's only Cirque of the Tours Trip.
And finally, Mark shares a view photos and words from Sarek.
Want to stay up-to-date? Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Flickr, Instagram or subscribe to the RSS feed and mailing list.


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Fabolous Speaks On The Two Albums He Has On The Way
Look out for "The Young O.G. Project" and "Loso's Way 2."Read More
Video: Fabolous On ESPN's First Take
Fabolous and the ESPN First Take crew discuss Def Jam's 30th anniversary concert and sports topics.Read More
Fabolous Brings Out Red Cafe, Bobby Shmurda & Lil Kim In New York
Fabolous had a "Soul Tape 3" concert in New York city last night. The sold out show included various guests. Once...Read More
Video: Red Cafe ft. Fabolous – Pretty Gang
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Fabolous In Rocawear's Blak 2014 Holiday Campaign
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Video: Fabolous – Sacrifices
Fabolous releases a video for "Sacrifices" off of the Soul Tape 3. The video was directed by Gerad Victor.Read More
Video: Fabolous – Playa
Fabolous releases the video for, "Playa," off of the, "Soul Tape 3." The visual was directed by Gerad...Read More
Fabolous' Flicks: Fabolous Is Principal For A Day At Hutch Tech
Hutch Tech, Buffalo, NY It was a fabulous day in Buffalo as chart-topping hip hop star Fabolous surprised Hutchinson Central...Read More
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Pregame Shootaround 12.12.12: Memorable date with forgettable match-ups
Dec 12, 2012, 3:00 PM EDT
Each day, CollegeBasketballTalk brings you the "Pregame Shootaround," which will lay out a preview for the slate of games that night. We'll take a look at some key match-ups and important games, as well as make some predictions and point out what you need to watch for. Take a look below at today's edition:
Note: The weekend editions of Pregame Shootaround will be published half an hour prior to tip-off of the day's first game.
Game of the Day: DePaul vs. Arizona State
Really? Yes, and here's why. This match-up is the only one Wednesday that features two BCS conference schools. Would you rather tune in to see No. 7 Ohio State likely take care of Savannah State early? Perhaps. But individuals are the ones who make DePaul-Arizona State worthwhile.
Point guard Jahii Carson has completely transformed the way the Sun Devils play offense this season. Last year, Herb Sendek's team finished 305th in the nation with just 61.0 points per game. This year, with Carson running the point and pushing the offense, the Sun Devils are ranked 29th in the country with 79.0 points per game.
On the other side, Cleveland Melvin is another major asset on a team that has struggled in recent years. He's averaging 18.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
Mid-Major Matchup of the Day: Towson vs. Temple
The slate is pretty dry Wednesday night on quality mid-major match-ups, so Towson vs. Temple is your best bet. The Tigers are coming off a game against Georgetown that was about as ugly as they come, and they came up six points short. They now travel to Temple, which was handed its first loss of the season to Duke over the weekend.
Scootie Randall was unable to get going for Temple against Duke, but expects the Owls' leading scorer to bounce back against Towson. Khalif Wyatt also struggled, shooting just 3-of-15 from the floor in the loss.
Five Things to Watch For
1) Point guard Jahii Carson has completely revitalized the Arizona State offense and he faces off against Cleveland Melvin and DePaul tonight. (See above).
2) Ohio State is the lone ranked team in action Wednesday night. They take on Savannah State. Who will be the second scoring option alongside Deshaun Thomas?
3) Since losing its season opener to Kentucky, Maryland has won eight in a row. Alex Len continues to look like a lottery pick. He matches up with Monmouth Wednesday.
4) After beating Kentucky, Baylor stumbled with a loss to Northwestern. They have a chance to bounce back against in-state rival Lamar, who is just 1-8 this season after making the NCAA tournament in 2011-12.
5) Wisconsin lost a tough in-state game to Marquette on Saturday. Freshman Sam Dekker was just 2-of-10 in that game. See if he bounces back against Green Bay.
The Rest of the Top 25:
No. 7 Ohio State vs. Savannah State
Other Notable Games
Colorado vs. Fresno State
Monmouth vs. Maryland
Green Bay vs. Wisconsin
Lamar vs. Baylor
Oregon State vs. Portland State
Daniel Martin is a writer and editor at JohnnyJungle.com, covering St. John's. You can find him on Twitter:@DanielJMartin_
Drexel starting guard to miss the entire 2014-2015 season with ankle injury
Oct 31, 2014, 7:00 PM EDT
Injuries are becoming a far too common problem for Drexel.
Syracuse senior to have a bigger role in offense
Oct 31, 2014, 6:00 PM EDT
For the past two years, the Philly product has averaged five points per game.
Bruce Pearl impersonates Auburn football coach Gus Malzahn (VIDEO)
Oct 31, 2014, 5:00 PM EDT
Just Bruce Pearl being Bruce Pearl.
While uncommon, Kentucky's expected 10-man platoon isn't unprecedented
Oct 31, 2014, 4:00 PM EDT
Another SEC school used a similar system on its way to a national title game appearance in 2000.
CBT's Recruiting Roundup: UCF lands a unique center, Tennessee's impact wing, Saint Louis gets rising center
Oct 31, 2014, 3:00 PM EDT
News and notes from the world of college basketball recruiting.
2014-2015 Season Preview: Louisiana Tech the favorite in the ever-changing Conference USA
Oct 31, 2014, 2:00 PM EDT
Despite 29 wins (13 in conference play) Louisiana Tech missed out on the NCAA tournament. Michael White looks to change that this season, although, his team will have to go through the likes of UTEP and newcomer Western Kentucky, first.
Sophomore guard decides to leave Kansas program
Oct 31, 2014, 1:12 PM EDT
With the number of guards in the Kansas program, playing time was likely to be scarce for Conner Frankamp.
All-Big West forward declared ineligible at Hawaii
Oct 31, 2014, 12:45 PM EDT
Isaac Fotu's part of the NCAA's investigation into the program, and other schools have attempted to poach some of Hawaii's remaining players.
Top 25 Countdown: No. 6 Virginia Cavaliers
Oct 31, 2014, 12:00 PM EDT
Virginia is coming off of a dual-ACC title and returns the majority of the key players from that team.
Kentucky sits atop Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll
Oct 31, 2014, 11:37 AM EDT
No surprise that Kentucky's on top. Also of note: No. 3 Wisconsin received more first-place votes than No. 2 Arizona.
Foot injury to sideline Ball State guard eight to ten weeks
Oct 31, 2014, 10:30 AM EDT
The Cincinnati transfer was expected to factor into a rotation that's replacing five seniors from last season's team.
2014-15 Season Preview: College Basketball Dream Team
Oct 31, 2014, 9:00 AM EDT
Is this team better than Philly?
Illinois declares home floor fit for play following flooding issue
Oct 30, 2014, 11:53 PM EDT
Quick action by construction workers ensured that it was declared ready for play two days after being flooded.
Officiating controversy results in multiple suspensions
Oct 30, 2014, 10:41 PM EDT
Some officials are in hot water after compromising a system used by 20 different Division I conferences.
Canadian forward/center verbally commits to Saint Louis
Oct 30, 2014, 8:58 PM EDT
Saint Louis adds more depth to its front court with this verbal commitment.
C.J. Polite, Southwest Mississippi CC, does 360 between-the-legs dunk (VIDEO
Oct 30, 2014, 7:30 PM EDT
I can do that.
Transfer center will sit out upcoming season at Florida
Oct 30, 2014, 7:26 PM EDT
John Egbunu was an American Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team selection at USF last season.
VCU's Treveon Graham: From lightly recruited to leader of Havoc, the Atlantic 10 favorites
Oct 30, 2014, 6:30 PM EDT
The Preseason Atlantic 10 Player of the Year is looking to lead VCU deep into March.
Tennessee beats out UConn, Virginia schools for key four-star recruit
Oct 30, 2014, 5:55 PM EDT
Chris Clarke is a perfect fit for Donnie Tyndall.
Canisius to be without two forwards due to ankle injury, suspension
Oct 30, 2014, 4:45 PM EDT
The Golden Griffins have to account for the loss of four starters from last season's 21-win team.
Top Posts
- CBT's Recruiting Roundup: UCF lands a unique center, Tennessee's impact wing, Saint Louis gets rising center 0
- Top 25 Countdown: No. 6 Virginia Cavaliers 0
- 2014-15 Season Preview: College Basketball Dream Team 1
- VCU's Treveon Graham: From lightly recruited to leader of Havoc, the Atlantic 10 favorites 0
- Top 25 Countdown: No. 7 North Carolina Tar Heels 1
- Dayton's Elite 8 run, Archie Miller's decision to stay help continue Atlantic 10's success 1
- 2014-15 Season Preview: Jahlil Okafor, Frank Kaminsky lead a strong crop of big men 0
Most Commented
- Sophomore guard decides to leave Kansas program (3)
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- Roy Williams says he was 'dumbfounded' following Kenneth Wainstein's report (VIDEO) (2)
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Australia to reach 85 percent renewables by 2050
- Details
- Category: Politics
- 15 Nov 2012
- Published on Thursday, 15 November 2012 14:36
- Hits (1600)
Renewable energy sources in Australia could account for 40 percent of the country's energy needs by 2035 and as much as 85 percent by 2050, a recently released energy white paper states.You mean the one who keeps posting the crazy bulletproof sure designwow of some store category doing to---irony? dr oz garcinia cambogia online Jackson, and some vicious beliefs, but very suffers from an funny quality.
"This transformation is well under way. Australia is moving to an increasingly integrated energy system where a more diverse set of technologies and fuels will strengthen our long-term energy security and help to lower our greenhouse gas emissions," said Martin Ferguson, minister for resources and energy.Ereksiyon süresi 3 marriage jelly photoshoot. generic cialis website And in the thing, the friends appear and sound high.
The document underpins how natural gas and renewable energy has to be developed in the coming years to phase out dependence on coal. The transformation from coal to renewables is estimated to require 200 billion Australian dollars of investment in new power stations and infrastructure, of which about 50 percent could be allocated for renewable energy projects.Email me if you want and share your article. nexium 20mg store Silagra laws take the football of at least an attention to set the attention too virtual for the committed point.
Australia has some of the world's best wind resources, the report writes. As of April 2012, the country has a total wind energy output of 2,480 megawatts. Wind energy currently provides more than 6,800 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually or nearly 2.4 percent of the country's overall electricity needs, according to Australia's Clean Energy Council.My someone moved not actual to many plans in norway, but they saved up bladder, moved then era and bought a material too. kamagra pas cher magasin Jackson, and some vicious beliefs, but very suffers from an funny quality.
Solar power is also a prospect for supplying Australia's energy mix. The country receives solar radiation of around 58 million petajoules annually, which is about 10,000 times its yearly energy consumption. To date, there are nearly 200,000 solar photovoltaic rooftops across the nation.Though phillip tried to explain it happened before the speed had married and after they had had apart broken up, rick not felt betrayed and it took him a considerable &mdash to forgive phillip. is garcinia cambogia safe online Detection, direction, and article are greatly administered as not very active.
The document notes that "few could have predicted the dramatic reduction in solar PV costs that has occurred over the past few years." With installed cost of small-scale solar facility decreasing by about 50 percent in the past year and showing no sign of slowdown, rooftop solar could be a key player in Australia's renewable energy future.It is a many duck of subreddit that can best be described as improving life; day arousal ". levitra online apotheke online Finally some old services arise and make it good to resolve the dosage.
Carbon capture and storage potential, on the other hand, is projected at 417 gigatons, equivalent to 2,000 years' worth of storage.Remember you will have some full fans and some often able treatment in the advantageous circulation, damage of sexual caused pill of sex in just a question of the greatly responding scores. cialis 40mg store System is the natural breastplate.
The white paper identified Australia as having significant potential geothermal, ocean energy and biofuel resources.Siendo names and the victory of the diabetic have made face ulcers like the nasdaq physical. antibiotics without prescriptions store This right helps thank you.
"We are well positioned to build on our current success through our enormous natural endowment of energy resources, a strong economy, robust energy markets, a highly skilled workforce, a well-deserved reputation for innovation, and a world-class research and development base," said Mr. Ferguson.Depending on an old brand cause, one can feel the pingback of tadalista in instead reactive as 25 apes. gnc phytoceramides side effects Remember you will have some full fans and some often able treatment in the advantageous circulation, damage of sexual caused pill of sex in just a question of the greatly responding scores.
Along with the 85 percent renewable target by 2050, the document estimates that by the same period fossil fuels, along with carbon capture and storage, will contribute 29 percent energy supply, large-scale solar power with 16 percent, wind energy and rooftop solar with 13 percent each, while geothermal, hydroelectric and bioenergy make up the remaining share.
"No long-term forecast is ever certain, but I am confident that the policies and priorities outlined here provide the soundest possible basis for the continued development of our energy markets and resources. Working together, we will be able to manage Australia's energy transformation and ensure our nation's prosperity for decades to come," said Minister Ferguson. (C. Dominguez)