Inspired by Adam Kachman ( @adamkachman ) who augmented his MIIR cup I decided to pick up a RESIST sticker to add to my everyday carry camp cup. I picked up my sticker on Amazon for about $7.00. I like the idea of customizing your stuff instead of buying a new object. Finally, I am inspired by the Coffee Outside gatherings that MIIR talks about on their blog. Apparently, there is a group of rad bicyclists in Portland that get together in the little nooks and crannies of nature around town for coffee and comradery. Seems so simple and a great early morning weekend routine I would like to incorporate into my days in the summer when it gets blazing hot our by 9am. #coffee

Light and Fast Alpinism Written by Alexander L. Kwapis Photos by Dennis Fiore and Alexander L. Kwapis What I learned during my all day CAMP USA presented Light and Fast Alpinism clinic at the 2018 Michigan Ice Festival. The course was taught by seasoned athletes Nate Smith and Ben Erdmann. Normally CAMP USA presents this technical field clinic as a two day course but for the Michigan Ice Festival it was a one day compressed class. Besides watching ice climbers the day before this class was truly my introduction into ice climbing. And thankfully it was described as a course for everyone from beginner mountaineers to experienced alpinists. As a backpacker that has drank more than his fair share of lightweight backpacking koolaid I was all for starting off my ice climbing career from the point of view of being as light and fast as possible. I liked how they equatited being fast to safety and being light to having more energy. Bag Dissection Bring Only What You Need After everyone had all our gear we went around the room and got to know one another a bit. Then we jumped right into dissecting the contents of Nate’s backpack to better understand what you should and shouldn’t be carrying in your pack to the summit. I was totally aligned with Nate and Ben as they then went on to explain how everything should fit inside your pack. To have helmets and crampons or what have you hanging out of your pack is more than messy they can swing around and hit people or trees and cause hang-ups as you are trying to move quickly. ——- First Aid for Light & Fast – Nate Smith is currently credentialed as an Aspirant Alpine & Ski Guide with aspirations of completing his full IFMGA in the future. At the time, he was partnered with Mountain Education & Development Alliance (MED Alliance) “We believe that outdoor recreation can provide some of the most meaningful educational experiences and that these opportunities should be made accessible to anyone who wishes to learn more. “ To read more – https://www.mountained.com/who-we-are During this one day class, Nate discussed rescue practices and first aid as applied to Mountaineering. He had a Three Day First Aid Guide Kit readily available. More on this when we get his direct quotes. ——— ““On Belay!”, “Belay On!”” After the bag review we loaded into a transport van and headed out to Pictured Rocks National Park. The roads are seasonal up there so we then had to transfer to a six person Kawasaki Mule with snow tracks that also pulled a six person sled behind it. After a breezy forty five minute ride we made it to the trailhead for the Potato Patch. A cliff face that featured both a frozen waterfall fall column with a flowing waterfall at its core and a ice cliff face. This allowed us to experience a couple different types of ice and allowed for a protected ice cave to teach in. Ben tossed down two ropes and we got to work. “On Belay!”, “Belay On!” rang out as our class of nine made quick work of the ice. Nate and Ben were there giving encouragement and lessons along the way as teachable moments presented themselves. After a few climbs we got together and discussed different types of gear that can help you move quickly and safely up and down the mountain. Everything from the different types of carabiners and quickdraws to use and when to the merits of hydrophobic rope and different rope types and thicknesses depending on the climb you are doing. It was some eye opening stuff for an inexperienced climber, for sure. But, it seemed equally helpful for the more experienced ice climbers in the group including one gentlemen that has summited Everest. Just like with lightweight backpacking your entire kit has to work together. Carry complimentary gear and gear that is specific for the job at hand but also make sure you have gear that can serve multiple functions and then look for places to make substantial cuts in what you have. “Light is Right” Next we were on to learning about ice screws and the proper anchoring techniques using the ice screws. We also learned V thread anchors which just goes to show how strong ice is. If you want to see what I am talking about check out this video that demonstrates V thread anchors. After practicing placing ice screws while hanging off an ice axe I really had a new respect for ice climbers. Later, Nate really hit home why the Light and Fast method makes such as difference. Imagine you are doing a a nine pitch climb and after you climb each pitch you fumble around for ten minutes with anchoring and ropes and who is climbing next and what have you. That’s an hour and a half of standing on ledges being unproductive. Now, imagine that you also waste ten minutes after each rapple as you move back down the mountain. That’s another ninety minutes. In total you spent three hours of your climb/repel standing around. Okay, now imagine if you can cut that ledge time as you move up and down to just five minutes. You just saved an hour and a half. This can be the difference between success and failure or at least the difference between repelling down in the dark if nothing else. Then we packed it all up and headed back out to the four track and headed back to basecamp. The advantage I am sure with the two day course is way more hands on time putting into practice the things you have learn and also we didn’t so much get to the Fitness aspects of the normal two day CAMP USA Light and Fast Alpinism course. And I would be interested in learning more about preparation and planning so that I could better understand route logistics and wayfinding. I think I see another Light and Fast Alpinism class in my future. I got so much out of it I dont know why I wouldnt. loading the Kawasaki four track and heading home #alpinism #lightandfastalpinism #climbing #iceclimbing #lightweight

By Michaela Winterbottom For most riders, mountain biking (MTB) is all about staying balanced while kicking some butt at a race. It seems simple, right? Just like any other sport, mountain biking is not for everyone. Beginners can find it daunting while the experienced riders find it exhilarating. Think MTB might be for you? Here are some basic techniques to get you started: Finger Trigger Let’s start simple. Practice pulling on the brake levers using only one finger on each brake lever. Doing this keeps you from clutching the brakes while attempting a halt and causing an accident, especially on a downhill section/steep drop off. Open those knees While riding, we tend to grab onto our bikes or seats with our knees, especially when we’re nervous or tired. Practice loosening up your body and opening your knees freely, to help shift your weight and center of gravity. Shift your weight Corners, straights, downs, ups, they all require you to shift your weight, and you’ll figure this out while you loosen up your body and just ride. As a general guide: Lean back while going down, lean forward while going up, and lean on your side/s through corners. Hover the booty While descending a hill, you should stand and shift your weight to keep a center of gravity. Use your bum to hover over your seat or even behind your seat to get your weight back. Doing this allows you to keep a balanced position on the bike and increases speed too! Heels down Riding with your heels down may be uncomfortable at first, but keeping your heels down allows you to transfer power from your legs to the pedals, and trust me, it helps. For more tips, training, and crazy cool rides, contact Courageous MTB. Instagram: @courageous_mtb Facebook: Courageous MTB #bicycling #training #mountainbike #MTB #MountainBiking

Light and fast alpinism is a growing trend and is gaining massive popularity these days. But what does it actually mean? The now-ubiquitous phrase in the mountaineering world exactly means what it says. It is the act of navigating a pre-decided route to climb a mountain using technical skills and specialized equipment but with a “light and fast” approach. Here you pack ultra light, move quickly, reach the summit, descend fast, and reach back where you started. A different approach to traditional mountaineering, light and fast alpinists ditch their heavy packs to carry a lighter one and move swiftly. They do thorough planning, make a dash for their objective, and get back to base camp before the weather moves in. Packing light definitely has its own advantages. A lightly-packed mountaineer conserves a lot less energy with every step as they move. In harsh weather and terrain conditions, it is more comfortable when you are constantly in motion. It’s mentally and physically more taxing when you are walking at a snail’s pace with a bulky and heavy packing that hinders and restricts your movements. A lighter pack enables you to be fast. To an extent, being expeditious equates directly to your safety when as mountaineers, you’re trying to navigate hazardous terrain with speed. You are spending less time getting exposed to the risks of being in the mountains. With all its advantages, there are also caveats to Light Alpinism. This approach suits highly experienced climbers who are well aware of all kinds of risks. The climbers should be in top physical shape too. It is not just about their pack. It’s equally important that the climbers are fast and light themselves. They should be super fit, skilled, and agile. They should have seen enough and done enough climbing to nail this approach. Their years of experience must have improved their decision-making abilities, which is very crucial in stressful situations and extreme conditions when things don’t go as planned. A beginner must be confident in conventional mountaineering and alpine climbing before turning to this approach. One reason being they may not be able to do the correct tradeoff in choosing and packing items. The last thing you want is not packing those mission-critical items only because you wanted to reach a summit fast. Good skillful alpinists will use proper judgment on how to pack because certain weight savings may prove very costly at the end. Also, if you’re climbing in a pair or more, all members need to be in perfect coordination with similar levels of fitness and physical abilities. If a member falls far behind or if they struggle to quickly put on crampons or to rope-up for glacier travel, for example, the entire plan may fall apart, and consequences may be deadly. For someone who is already a good mountaineer, a lighter pack will make them more agile and quick. Modern gear and technical equipment have made monumental strides and high-end technology has not only improved our performance but also enabled us to reduce our pack weight drastically. For Light and Fast alpinism, you must check the market for lighter alternatives of all kinds of gear. Choose the lightest carabiners and slings for example. One lighter carabiner may not seem a big reduction, but when you combine several of them, the difference in weight is real. Ropes, quickdraws, ice axe, helmet, harness, headlamp, crampons, bivy sack, all have lighter alternatives available now. It’s good to test them out to keep improving your packing performance. Pack Selection is super important too. It’s good to train for this approach with smaller lightweight backpacks, so when you decide to take a stripped-down kit, you are still keeping all non-essentials behind. The sleeping and meal system items such as the sleeping bag, pad, shelter, stove, and fuel are often the bulkiest items. Depending on the length of route, conditions, and weather forecast, ensure you take only what’s needed and also their lighter alternatives. Bulky, lighter, and nonessential items should be packed at the bottom, heaviest ones in the middle attached to the back, and essential items at the top and accessible areas. Always remember to eliminate dead space and make the backpack as compact as possible. If you’re an experienced climber, versatility plays a part in the items you are packing. The gear which could be used for multiple purposes is your prized possession. Also, from your training trips and previous mountaineering expeditions, if you find items in your backpack that you never end up using, it’s good to chuck it out (obviously, this is not applicable for your first aid and safety kit). Calories are important too and your past climbing sessions will give you an idea of how much calories you need throughout the day. Accordingly, take quality food and carbs making sure they are not heavy and bulky. In the Light and Fast approach, every single item and every single gear will matter. The more you research, the more you climb and the more you apply your learning, the better you will get in packing light. For light alpinism, a climber must be well trained in all the conventional mountaineering and ice climbing techniques. The fundamental climbing techniques and the best practices will not be drastically different.. This kind of approach is more about all the pre-climbing preparations, judgments, decisions, and how you apply your knowledge, skills, and experience to craft a wholesome plan properly. Be it techniques of roped glacier travel, or ice climbing in a way to conserve energy or navigating crevasses, for example, techniques will be more or less similar to what you have always used. What is different in the light way is how mountaineers judge their abilities before heading out. And how they are ruthlessly efficient right from packing to planning to ultimately climbing. What’s different here is how you move and perform these actions with speed without any room for error. It’s all about speed and finesse while following a proper plan. Weather forecast, physical ability, route conditions, awareness of the consequences, and tradeoffs will matter a lot in this approach. Of course, your plan must include all emergency and evacuation plans in case things go south. Even in that case, the idea is to quickly make a decision, pivot to Plan B as fast as possible, and act rapidly, ensuring everyone is safe. In our quest to climb fast, it’s important to remember safety is always the cardinal objective! That’s the challenge of this kind of climbing: how can we pack light and act super fast in an extreme high-altitude environment without compromising safety. Mountaineering experience and wisdom matters here the most. Mountain lovers who love using this kind of alpinism, do not view it as a new fad of mountaineering. They treat it as a lifestyle. #alpinism #climb #mountaineering #lightandfastalpinism #climbing #lightandfast #iceclimbing #iceclimb

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First, let’s hear for our viewers! How should we donate? There is two simple options setup on the Toledo Zoo’s Conservation site. Donate Now & Sponsor A Species Tag. Update: The Wild Dirt just picked Monarch Sponsorship ! You can donate too! https://www.toledozoo.org/donate Each year, tens of thousands of monarch butterflies make their annual voyage from northern breeding grounds to overwintering sites, high in the forests of Mexico. [2] More about The Toledo Zoo’s Conservation… “The Zoo sends dozens of employees across the globe to conduct research, participate in animal rehabilitation and implement conservation programs to better the lives of animals and ecosystems. The Zoo doesn’t forget about its own backyard though, as our Wild Toledo program does unique conservation work in northwest Ohio. As a visitor, member, volunteer or employee at the Zoo, it is easy to see and appreciate the world-renowned conservation efforts put forth by the Toledo Zoo.” [1] The Toledo Zoo is currently closed but it is offering some great online resources. My daughter and I watched a Live Feeding of a pair of Tasmanian Devils! We are reaching out to The Toledo Zoo to build a partnership. Looking forward to visiting our zoo as soon as it reopens! [1] https://www.toledozoo.org/conservation [2] https://connect.toledozoo.org/events/9795 @thetoledozoo – http://www.toledozoo.org

On a beauty day in Hong Kong I traveled with two coworkers out to Lantau Island to see the Tian Tan Buddha at Po Lin (Precious Lotus) Monastery. I travel to China for work a few times a year and I always find after running all around Shanghai, Ningbo, Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Shenzhen for seven days a weekend in Hong Kong is a great way to finally get over your jet lag, have a great western meal, and either go big and stay out partying or commune with nature and take advantage of the many parks and wild areas that the islands of Hong Kong have to offer. We were staying in Soho area of Central Hong Kong Island at one of my favorite boutique hotels on the island, Madera Hollywood , and found that getting to Lantau Island was very manageable. We rode the outside escalators that cut up and down through Central HK down to the central train station and purchased Octopus cards for $150 HKD (which is generally about $19-$20USD). This was more than enough money on it for us to take the subway system for the weekend. Because I am familiar with Hong Kong I felt really comfortable taking the subways but if you are new to the Island you could also pay about $300-$400 HKD and have a guide for the day. I'd check out Trip Advisor or some similar website to look for guides. We rode the Orange line from Central station towards Tung Chung station. It is super easy and difficult to get lost. At Central station the train only goes one way and you get off at the last stop which is Tung Chung station. I would suggest purchasing your tickets for the Ngong Ping cable car before getting to Tung Chung. I found that when I tried to book on Trip Advisor I needed to book one day prior to the trip. So I headed on to the Ngong Ping website and purchased tickets for the Crystal Cabin for later that day. When I booked I did have to estimate arrival time and just choose ninety minutes since its about a forty-five to sixty minute subway ride and then a short five to ten minute walk, depending on how lost you are, from the Tung Chung station to the cable car. Once we redeemed our tickets we waited about twenty minutes in line or so. The Crystal Cabin is a little more expensive but you get this rad clear bottom cable car to ride in. In the fully enclosed cable cars you can sit on the bench seats or stand to get better shots while on the roughly fifteen minute cable car ride. The car is spacious, seats eight, has lots of venting so it stays cool with the breeze coming off the ocean, and most importantly it looks and feels safe.  We only headed over to the Tian Tan Buddha (Big Buddha) but if you also purchase the Fun Pass or the 360 Lantau Culture and Heritage Pass and tour around the island, seeing dolphins, theater, and even a classic fishing village. I hope to get out to that next time. The Buddha is an amazing copper sculpture that was completed in the eighties. the sculpture sits on a two story building that is at the top of a hill with about hundred or so stairs. Take your time and enjoy the view on the way up.  When we were done we took the Cable Car back and paid extra for the expressed ticket which helped us to jump the line of people waiting about sixty minutes to get back. If you are feeling up for it you can also hike from Tung Chung all the way to and from the Buddha. Looks like a great day hike. In the video you can see the walking paths below us.

By Alexander Kwapis 2018 Michigan Ice Festival Nestled on the edge of Lake Superior’s frozen south coast, surrounded by cliffs and foothills blanketed in snow is the home of Michigan’s premier outdoor ice climbing. The nearby city of Munising, which hosts the yearly ice festival, sits at the edge of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (@picturedrocksnps) and the giant Hiawatha National Forest. After my trip, as I told friends and strangers alike, I realized that many people don’t even know what ice climbing is. So here is a quick explanation. Ice climbing is a sport where an individual or small team use a variety of gear such as ropes, ice axes, and crampons ( basically daggers on your boots) to climb their way up frozen waterfalls and ice walls just so they can then repel back down and repeat as they wish. The Michigan Ice Climbing Festival (@michiganicefest) is the largest festival of its kind. Climbers travel from all over the world, including a far as India. This year the Festival ran five days in the middle of February. During the day the fest is a great place to get outside and learn to ice climb on naturally occurring ice walls and frozen waterfalls, as I did, or hone your current ice climbing skills with guides and instructors. Before my class I visited several climbing routes with names like Dryer Hose, the Curtains, and the Amphitheater, were ice climbers of a variety of skill levels were making their way up the ice. Over twenty five well known climbing gear and clothing manufacturers, such as the festival’s title sponsor Black Diamond (@blackdiamond), abound at this event. You can check out their latest products, chat up their reps, or demo gear for about $50 a day. You can literally demo everything from harnesses, ice axes, boots to jackets, gloves and more. Welcome to the Space Station If you are lucky, as I was, you could also hang out with the good people at Mountain Hardware (@mountainhardwear) in their 15 person Space Station Domed warming hut. Get toasty next to the fireplace, have some hot chocolate , and enjoy some great convos with fellow climbers. If you are feeling peckish you can head down to the Curtains demo climbing area for a RedBull (@redbull) and a kielbasa from Mountain Hardware as well. New this year with admission to the festival are free courses such as yoga for climbers and Belay Station Transition And Multipitch training. Paid half and full day classes range from Into To Ice, to Rigging For Rescues And Photography, to A Backcountry Adventure training. There are even women taught all women courses for a variety of experience levels. I took the full day Light And Fast course which was instructed by two great alpinist; Nate Smith and Ben Erdmann. I learned how to properly pack our bag for speed and peppered throughout the course were loads of little tips and tricks these two seasoned climbers have learned over the years. After a fourth five minute ride on a Kawasaki four track machine. Nate and Ben had us hike into a route called the Potato Patch which consisted of wall ice climbing and a frozen waterfall column with a moving core. We had some practical crampon training, ice screw demonstrations and a variety of gear and anchoring conversations. It was a blast and really lit a fire under me to learn more about ice climbing. Besides for lots of classes and demo climbing during the day the fest boasts a great evening program as well. The festival brings well known sponsored athletes to present after the sun sets. World Climbing Champion Sasha Digiulian (@sashadigiulian) was one of the big names brought in this year. She showed her journey in a RedBull sponsored video that documented her progression as she learned to ice climb in the area with the amazing Angela Vanwiemeersch (@angela_vanwiemeersch). If you are a fanboy you can wait in line for signatures from these fine climbers after their presentations. I got a poster that Freddie a Wilkinon (@freddiewilkinson) autographed after he spoke on Friday about his upcoming article in National Geographic. If you are feeling social you can rub shoulders with great climbers while getting a free beer during the after parties each night from one of the local breweries. If that’s not your style you can have a beer and a dip in a hot tub after a long day in the cold and hang out with other sore muscled fellow climbers. This was my tactic and I shared a cold beer and a soak with Jesse Huey, one of the sponsored athletes that presented Friday night. This is my take away from the Festival. No matter if you have Climbed Mt. Everest, as one of my classmates In the Light And Fast Alpinism class had, or you have never held an ice axe in your life this Ice Festival is a lot of fun and very inspirational. #climbing #iceclimbing #Michigan

If you’ve gone camping at a state or national park anytime in the last twenty-plus years, I am sure you have seen or heard the words Leave No Trace (LNT). What you might not know is all the other things that the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics provides. They are a resource for proven research, education, and protection of the outdoors. Nine out of ten people who visit the wilderness are uninformed about minimizing their impact on the land. I first experienced Leave No Trace shortly after joining the Boy Scouts. I care so deeply about the wild places we visit that I took an LNT Trainer course. The trainer course was a two-day program that is a condensed version of their Master Educator Course. It was not only an in-depth course on the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace, but it always gave me skills on educating others on ways to reduce our impact on the natural world around us. With that knowledge, I became a leader to anyone that would listen on the ways of the Leave No Trace. When I go backpacking, I still carry these plastic LNT tags that describe the principles, and I will give them away to those I meet on the trail as a gesture for them to also take care of the places we are visiting. Seven Principles of Leave No Trace plan ahead and prepare, travel and camp on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, minimize campfire impacts, respect wildlife , be considerate of other visitors. I’m recommitting to my knowledge of the LNT Principles by taking their Online Awareness Course . The training will freshen me up on ways to better understand recreation-related impacts, the Seven Principles, and how LNT skills and ethics protect the wild places I visit. Here is a breakdown of what the course covers: Learn why Leave No Trace is an important program that protects the environment. Be able to identify ways you can apply the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace. Learn how Leave No Trace addresses issues in your region so that you may take action to minimize the impact, where you are. Learn how the mission and approach of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics (The Center) helps to promote people to responsibly enjoy the outdoors. Recognize the different educational programs offered by the Center to find out the best way to get involved with the Leave No Trace program. The natural world is facing severe threats. Making sure people know and practice Leave No Trace is critical, so we all can enjoy these places today and in the future.

Yoga can benefit climbers in so many ways: increasing the core strength and full-body flexibility and facilitating mindfulness and body awareness. But does it work the other way around? Can those who practice yoga on a daily base benefit from occasionally replacing their mat for a cliff? Certainly! In general, yogis can significantly benefit from varying their routines with different forms of exercise. However, they often can’t connect to the primarily aesthetic focus of, e.g., strength training. That’s why a performance-based activity, such as climbing, can be a more suitable choice. But that’s not the only reason. Let’s see some other significant benefits yogis could have from learning and experiencing climbing. Though yoga and climbing can mistakenly seem like entirely opposite activities, they have a lot in common. Firstly, they focus on the collaboration of the mind and the body. Both activities require building body awareness and maintaining mental clarity to be performed safely and to their full capacity. On the physical aspect of things, both yoga and climbing incorporate advanced movements and positions, that can take years to master. Unlike cardio and strength training, these activities focus not only on how you look but also on how you perform your training. Though yoga and climbing have many things in common, another fantastic thing is that each of these activities provides what the other one lacks. Climbing And Yoga Perfectly Complement Each Other As we mentioned before, yoga complements climbing by building greater flexibility and mindfulness. And climbing can boost your yoga practice by building a different kind of strength, as well as getting you out of the comfort zone of your mat. Let’s take a deeper look at these benefits. Building Strength Practicing yoga can strengthen your body and improve your endurance. Climbing also does that – but in a different way. Yogis can benefit from climbing primarily by building upper body strength with pulling motions. Though yoga does increase upper body strength, it’s all through push-focused positions. Looking at the Vinyasa flow positions incorporated in most classes, such as Chaturanga, Down Dog, and Plank, allows you to see these all involve pushing the floor away from you. This predominantly activates your push muscles, including your pectorals, shoulders, and triceps. If you only work on these movements, you can develop muscle imbalances. Though your front body gets stronger every day, your back muscles don’t progress as much. Pulling movements are predominant in climbing, making it a great way to avoid this imbalance – while also being infinitely more fun than simply lifting weights. In climbing, you’re literally pulling yourself up a vertical wall or a cliff. You’re mainly activating your forearms, biceps, and back muscles – the exact opposite of where the focus lies in yoga. Additionally, climbing strengthens your hamstrings and wrists, which can often get overstretched in yoga. Once you start incorporating climbing, you will notice your posterior chain is stronger, your posture is better, and your endurance has begun to increase. Breaking Barriers Except for the empowering strength building aspect of climbing, the practice also encourages you to face your fears. While yoga also has ways to get you out of your comfort zone with all the inversions and hand balancing postures, climbing, again, does it differently. Climbing challenges your body and mind in ways no other type of exercise does. You have to face your fear of losing control and falling. You don’t get the chance to have a wandering mind – you need to concentrate to safely reach the top. Climbing is challenging and can be dangerous, but is in a way, also a type of moving meditation. Once you overcome the first challenges, you will see that climbing is no different in yoga. When it comes to mind-and-body connection, using your breath to focus on each move, and finally, helping you to become more aware and at peace with yourself and the world that surrounds you. Therefore, if you want to complement, grow, and balance your yoga practice, try climbing, and observe the profound impact it has on your body and mind. #climb #climbing #yoga #yogis

With gyms, parks, and other recreational areas closed people, we are all feeling locked inside our homes. Nature is peace and tranquility. In these times of turmoil, uncertainty, fear, and depression, it is essential more than ever to get in touch with nature and bring peace to our mind and body. The stay at home order has exempted trails and hiking as long as we maintain social distancing. Hiking close to home is an excellent, fun, and low impact activity. Photos by Josh Willink , Gantas Vaičiulėnas , Josh Willink , Amanda Klamrowski There are a few tips you must keep in mind and be a responsible citizen to protect others and yourself from this virus as well as enjoy it! For those that are new to hiking, you should always bring some essential items while hiking. We have organized this list for those hiking in a Frontcountry (trails close to roads such as city parks) area. One last thing to keep in mind; public restrooms are closed so, come prepared for nature’s call. Frontcountry Hiking Essentials 1. Water – Bring more than what you think you will need 2. Navigation – Bring a map or screenshot a map encase you use signal 3. Flashlight – Bring a flashlight, or you can use your phone’s flashlight 4. Trash bag – For your trash and to pick up litter while you are hiking 5. First-aid supplies – Not just for yourself but also to help someone else 6. Sun protection – Sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat 7. Snacks – You don’t want to get hangry 8. Extra clothes – Weather appropriate spare clothing 9. Protective equipment – Mask, gloves, sanitizer 10. Call of the wild – have a plan and make sure you pack any waste out #block-yui_3_17_2_1_1589129443401_25996 .sqs-gallery-block-grid .sqs-gallery-design-grid { margin-right: -20px; } #block-yui_3_17_2_1_1589129443401_25996 .sqs-gallery-block-grid .sqs-gallery-design-grid-slide .margin-wrapper { margin-right: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; } Photos by JACK REDGATE , Maël BALLAND , Tobi , Darius Krause Here are some other things to consider when hiking. Hiking during COVID These two items are must apart from other necessary hiking gear. You should wear the mask if you see crowded areas also sanitize your hand every half an hour, even if you didn’t touch anybody. As soon as you get back home, wash your hands thoroughly. If you have symptoms of COVID, do not go out for hiking. And if you are not COVID positive, maintain social distancing. Choosing location Choose the location that is close to home. You should consider your strength and stamina while selecting the path. You must also choose the track or trail that is less crowded and are wide enough. If people are coming back and you are going up. As you reach the parking lot, guess the crowd. If you think it’s crowded, don’t bother heading in. Before heading out, tell someone that isn’t going on the hike that you are going and message them when you are back, so they know you are safe. Hiking is an excellent mind refreshing activity, but you must follow all these tips to be on the safer side and enjoy the infinite beauty and serenity of nature. Stay safe ad keep others safe. Hiking partner Hike with someone you already know. Hiking with a partner keeps you moving forward and helps to keep you safe. Right now, it is not a good time to make new friends on the trail. Try to keep yourself and others safe. Check weather Before heading out, check the weather conditions. You would not like to get stuck during hiking with lousy weather. If it’s already raining or hot outside, don’t go on hiking as this is not the time to call and bother rescue officials. #covid #hike #hiking #womenhiking

Choosing the right bike for you can be a challenging process. There are different wheel sizes, frame styles, and riding styles that can affect what kind of bike you need. Getting the right bike can affect your experience on the trails and should be considered with care. Unless you know what you’re looking for, the bike market can be a tangled mess of Enduro, Cross Country, Trail, and Downhill bikes that can be difficult to sort through. Here are some aspects to help you in choosing your bike. Budget To begin, set a clear budget, and make it firm. Do some research on what parts you’d like to include; this could be air suspension, a 1x drivetrain, or a dropper post, to mention a few. Other things you also need to include in your budget are proper gear. Consider what gear you want, such as shoes, riding gloves, a helmet, and a hydration backpack. All of these should be in your budget along with the bike. Ride Style Secondly, know what bike you need. For this, either research the trails you’ll be riding or contact your local bike shop. Looking at what other people ride is a great way to see the features that are important to you. If the trails are mostly flat without many technical features, you may want to look at a cross country bike or a hardtail. If the features are large, or if there are more jumps and drops, you should consider the range of travel. On a mountain bike, your front fork supports the wheel and can compress to dampen shock when riding. A good range of travel is around 140-160mm of travel. If you’re in an area riding lift-served downhill trails, you should then consider a downhill bike with 200mm of travel and a double-crown fork. If you want a mix of all of these options, then get a 160-170mm of travel bike to handle a variety of trail options. Photos by Flo Maderebner , Pixabay , Flo Maderebner , Hessel Geriet Wheel Size Another thing to consider is tire size. While 2in was the old standard, tires are getting bigger with the introduction of 27.5in and 29in tires. 29in tires can roll faster and conquer bigger obstacles easier than the smaller 27.5in and 26in tires, but they are also heavier. I think a 27.5in tire is well balanced option. If you are unsure, try to demo a bike to learn what you want. Brands Choosing which bike brand to pick is a hotly debated topic amongst riders. Consider what brands your local shop is a dealer of, as they can get parts for that specific bike easier. You should also ask your local bike shop (LBS) for their thoughts as well as local riders you meet at the trailhead. Buy Used Finally, buying used is a great idea; it’s a great way to get a nice ride, and the price could be close to a third of the MSRP. Facebook Marketplace, Pinkbike, Craigslist, and eBay are all great places to find your next bike. I suggest you see the bike in person before you buy it, and make sure to ask plenty of questions before and while there: “When was the bike last serviced?” “How old are the tires?” “Are you the first owner?” All of these are great questions to ask when looking at a bike. #block-yui_3_17_2_1_1589243334393_85347 .sqs-gallery-block-grid .sqs-gallery-design-grid { margin-right: -20px; } #block-yui_3_17_2_1_1589243334393_85347 .sqs-gallery-block-grid .sqs-gallery-design-grid-slide .margin-wrapper { margin-right: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; } Photos by Markus Spiske , Pexels Daniel Frank , Pexels Daniel Frank , and Irene Lasus By simplifying the process, we hope that you find a great mountain bike and hit the trails soon. #trailhead #mountainbike #MTB #MountainBiking #downhill #enduro