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

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

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

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

We are currently working on promo swag for all of our contributors! Here is a sneak preview! FIND ADVENTURE WHEREVER YOU ARE – STICKER Have something to share!? Want to be a contributor? Please give us the Dirt. The Scoop. The Inside Track. Email us info@thewilddirt.com

By Alexander Kwapis Since March, I have been working from home (W.F.H.) for the first time in my career. Here are a few items I have found that have made my experience more enjoyable. Balanced Mind With not being able to get outside and clear my head as often, I have found myself following more guided meditations during this time of sheltering-in-place. Not that this is a revelation that meditation is helpful, but you might not be sure how to get into it. I have discovered The Pelton app as a useful tool. If you are a Pelton treadmill or spin bike owner already and looking for a great guided meditation, try Pelton’s Zen in Ten sessions. If not, I would suggest the popular HeadSpace app. Bring the Nature In A few weeks ago, I was listening to the podcast from Connecticut Radio’s Outside/In about How To Be A Backyard Birber while going on one of my daily dog walks in my neighborhood. It got me thinking about how much I love the sound of birds and the forest while outside. With all the science behind how our bodies react to forest bathing, I decided to play bird and nature sounds throughout the day. I have an open loft with a variety of Amazon echo and echo dots all connected as a group. On a low volume, I’ve been playing nature sounds, and they seem to softly fill my home with wild places I can’t reach right now. Perfect Posture Some days I feel like I have done nothing but sitting in front of the computer and having Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings all day. I’m sure many of you are in the same boat. As a person with a design background, I enjoy finding and refurbishing furniture. These last few weeks, I feel fortunate that years ago, I found and bought a Herman Miller Mira chair, a super ergonomic, airy, and comfortable office chair. Of course, not everyone has access to an amazingly supportive chair like this while at home, and as a result, end up working from their couch all day. Even with such a supportive chair sometimes, I change up my workspace location and end up on the couch. After a few hours, I regret it as my back seizes up, so I wanted to share two solutions I have for when that happens while working from home. Consult your doctor before performing any new exercise. Flow State Sometimes I am in meetings where it’s more informative, and I don’t need to present or be in mic so often. When those cases arise during the day, I like to grab my exercise resistance bands and get a short workout in. If I’m taking a lunch and have a little bit more time, I’ll bust out my TRX straps and follow their training app. I love both the resistance bands and the straps because you can use them for a large variety of exercises, and they feel more fun than using an exercise machine will. Finding That Trigger There are many foam rollers on the market, but I have found the Trigger Point Performance brand’s Grid Foam Roller to be a key piece of gear to channel oxygen and blood to repair my muscles after sitting at my couch for hours. Purchased initially to loosen my muscles after I have been exercising, I now find myself using it for a midday stretch while working from home. I love the compact size, patented hollow supportive core, and the quality constructed outer foam layer. Of course, you should always consult your doctor before performing any new exercise. I like Healthline’s article and accompanying videos showing you some excellent neck foam rolling moves as well as their post on foam rolling for the back. Getting The Blood Pumping I also use the Spoonk acupressure mat to stimulate endorphins, reduce pain spots, and generally get the blood flowing. This experience will be new for many of you, but I promise it is worth it. There is nothing more exhilarating than lying on a bed of 6,210 sturdy plastic acupressure points. Spoonk uses flame retardent US-made Eco-foam inside their GOTS certified 100% cotton fabric. And if you are having trouble getting back to a normal night’s sleep, it has been clinically proven to improve the quality of your sleep. I’ve had mine for years and swear by it. Try it, and you will be hooked. Comfy and Cozy As someone that lives in a loft with cement floors, I have found the importance while working from home wearing comfy shoes such as the Teva Ember Moc . Even if you have carpet or hardwood floors, you will love these slip-on footwear. With their collapsible soft heel, I wear mine like slippers, but you can pop on the heel and easily wear them like a sneaker. They’re soft quilted sleeping bag-like uppers with sturdy soles that are suitable for a variety of activities. I originally bought these for anything from car camping in the fall to airplane shoes for international trips to walking the dog around the block. Right now, they are keeping my feet cozy while working from home. Stabilizing Your Core Standing and working isn’t just an office fad. Because I have different areas in my house where I can work, I found that I enjoyed standing once in a while to change up my day and work on my overall posture. I purchased an anti-fatigue wooden balance board from FEZIBO . This wobble board is easy on the legs and feet with its ergonomic design. I’m a big guy, and I can appreciate a balance board that is rated to withstand 320lbs of weight. The wood and black rubber mat are not just functional but also look nice in the home office. I will be bringing this into the office once we are back from sheltering-in-place. #wfh #workingfromhome

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

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

Situated just South of the downtown Dallas farmers market, West of Fair Park, North of what is typically known as South Dallas, and East of the Trinity River Basin is the Cedars neighborhood. The neighborhood is home to what we like to say is WildDirt’s Southern Basecamp. Throughout the area are warehouses, wholesale food distributors, dive bars, grassy empty lots, galleries, old houses, vacant wildflower-strewn land, artists lofts, and new condo construction. During the pandemic, I have roamed the area with Esther, WildDirt’s resident dog, as we got our daily sunshine and exercise. The other day I realized there is a large grassy lot that’s away from people and has two trees perfect for a hammock or dog tether line. I set out to create a little picnic spot and relax locally outside. In my Barebones Harvesting & Gathering bag, I carried a few essentials. Here is what I tossed into it. Relaxing Locally Outside Gear List Ruffwear Knot-a-Hitch Dog Tether System Travel dog water bottle with water Dog treats Human treats Water in a travel thermos Helinox Chair One Festival Blanket Phone Charger and cord Bluetooth Speaker Kammock Roo Double Hammock and Python straps Between two 25ft trees that generously shaded the area, I strung my Ruffwear Knot-a-Hitch Dog Tether System. I looped each end of the line about 7 feet up the tree trunks so that it ran between the two trees to create a close-line like effect. A carabiner with an eyelet had the rope running through it and allowed Esther to move back and forth as the carabiner effortlessly slide on the cord. Instead of setting up my hammock, I opted to relax in my lightweight and collapsible Helonix chair that I also brought. Shoes off and legs stretched out on an old blanket purchased on the way to the Austin City Limits Music Festival I was finally ready to relax and enjoy a beautiful weekend afternoon. With everything that is going on, it’s essential to find ways to get outside safely. Just as we need to eat correctly and exercise to be healthy, humans also need to be amongst natural elements, whether this takes place in your backyard, an empty green lot, or a frontcountry hiking trail close to home. Humans need to listen to the birds chirp. Hear the rustle of the wind amongst the trees. See the sun shining through translucent green leaves and feel the earth under our feet. Keep it simple and find a way to relax locally outside while staying safe for you and others. #campchair #hammock #optoutside #relaxoutside

By Alexander Kwapis Shelter-in-place gotcha feeling like you’re on a boat out at sea? At times I feel a little self-contained like I’m on a sailboat. Then it got me reminiscing of sailing and scuba diving in the Florida Keys. Photo courtesy of Kwapis Family In 1998, four teenage Venture Crew scouts, of the Boy Scouts of America, and three adult advisors spent two weeks at The B.S.A. High Adventure Sea Base in the Florida Keys, in search of a high sea voyage, scuba diving, and helping build artificial reefs. The previous year I joined the Boy Scouts and quickly ran through the ranks, becoming Senior Patrol Leader. The same year as this high adventure trip entered into the B.S.A’s Order of the Arrow. Also that same year, our troop swelled from only five youths the year I joined to over fifty by the end of my second year in the troop. Needless to say, I was busy. Photo courtesy of Kwapis Family In the middle of all that, for months before shipping out to the Sea Base, I was working hard towards my PADI scuba diving certification. Studying after school and taking classes with my father and other adults who were getting their certificates too. This might be very normal for those youths living in warm weather coastal towns. However, I was in Michigan, and it was the middle of winter when I was taking my courses and learning to dive into swimming pools. Later as part of my final physical tests to receive my certification, I went down to a water-filled gravel quarry in Ohio. When I finally arrived at the Sea Base, I was officially a PADI certified scuba diver before I even had my driver’s license. We spent the first eight days of diving and building artificial reefs. I remember waking up early to the hot and humid ocean sun. The smell of salt and sunscreen. The taste of fresh seafood. The feeling of being in the vastness of the ocean. This was my first time diving in the open ocean, and it was magical and scary at the same time. A barracuda swam between my fins, I dove near nurse sharks and saw eels swimming amongst the coral. I scuba dived over ten times on the trip. One night we descended on what seemed like the cliff edge of an abyss. Octopi and other sea creatures were electric in the darkness of the ocean at night. Photo courtesy of Kwapis Family The second week started with meeting our Coast Guard-licensed captain, a retired white grandfather who owned our home away from home for the next week and chartered it to the Scouts. We boarded the forty-five-ish foot Antares, named after the brightest star in the Scorpius constellation, and we started our Coral Reef Sailing trip. While the Sea Base was located at Islamorada, Florida, at the end of Lower Matecumbe Key , we started and ended our trip at Bahia Honda State Park. All week we hopped from reef to reef with a mid-week stop in Key West. Our sailing yacht had a self-contained galley and dining area where we would cook our meals provided by the Sea Base. We snorkeled several times a day in the Florida Reef Tract within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. We also went lobster diving every day and ate fresh lobster for every meal on the tip. Our crew got really efficient at snorkeling around the reefs in search of lobsters. Going down in pairs, we would hunt for lobsters. Using the buddy system, we would use a stick to tap in front of the lobster to get their attention. We would position a net behind the creatures. As we taped the stick closer, the lobster would shoot backward away from the stick and inadvertently be captured in our net. Over and over again for a week, we had grilled lobster. I never ate lobster before this trip, and for ten years after, I didn’t either. And since eating lobster again, I’ve never tasted anything as good as my own fresh catch. Come back again for part two of Sailing the Open Seas Of My Mind where I continue reminiscing about my sailing trip. For everyone, its been a different way of life while sheltering-in-place, and I am glad I can look back on fond memories like this. #BSA #Florida #SCUBA #BoyScouts #Sailing

Have bike, Wanna ride? Are you looking for a low barrier to entry sport? Do you have a mountain bike? Let us answer some of your mountain biking (MTB) questions before you hit the trails. Photo by Tom Conway on Unsplash Your Top 8 Mountain Biking Questions Answered 1. Do I need a mountain bike? You want to get out and explore your local MTB trails and not sure if you need to spend hundreds of dollars on a new mountain bike. Photo by Jan Kopriva on Unsplash Answer: You probably shouldn’t ride dirt trails with a regular 10-speed, though anyone that had one as a kid most likely did once or twice. Maybe you still have an old mountain bike in their garage from when they were younger. Of course, you can ride that bike. That’s the beauty of mountain biking; it’s a low barrier to entry sport. After, you have gone on a few rides and start to get the hang of things head down to your local bike shop (LBS) and have them help you pick out and upgrade. Or see if your LBS rents bikes and try a few out to get a feel for the type of ride that will work best for you . 2. Do I need to wear lycra? Street bicyclists riding in groups early in the morning is a common sight in the suburbs and cities across America. While the peak of mountain biking was in the ’90s, it’s still a trending activity. However, in most cities, the public doesn’t see mountain bikers because the activity typically takes place off the beaten path. Because of this, the image of bicycling in most peoples minds is that of the street rider. As soon as you start to discuss bicycling, of any type, with the general public, the question about wearing lycra will always come up. Photo by Daniel Frank on Unsplash Answer: The majority of mountain bikers don’t wear lycra . Instead, you find them wearing an activewear shirt and shorts/pants. It’s also totally normal to see people wearing their favorite brewery shirt while on the trails. Because of the nature of the sport, you do see some cautious people wearing protective gear like knee pads, padded shorts, gloves, and always a helmet. 3. Do I need clip-in shoes? If you are familiar with cyclists whizzing past you on your favorite local paved pathway, you will notice they are wearing clip-in shoes . If you want to go for a fun ride on your local MTB trail, you may start to ask yourself if you also need special shoes. Photo by Thomas Schweighofer on Unsplash Answer: The short answer is no. You can ride with regular shoes using your bicycles existing pedals . Later after you find out how much you love mountain biking and want to get even more power out of every pedal, then you can upgrade to mountain bike clip-in shoes . MTB shoes are more fashionable and easier to hop off your bike and walk into your local brewery after an exhilarating mountain bike ride than the typical street cyclists clip-ins are. 4. Do I need to train? You might be stuck at home and came across articles or videos of mountain bikers sharing their shelter-in-place training routines, and as it starts to get nicer out, you have the itch to hit the trails on your mountain bike. However, you are not sure if you need to train for this new sport. Answer: With anything, if you want to get better, training will help . Also, there are certain tips , tricks , moves , etc. that, if practiced, you will get better at riding. Photo by Tim Foster on Unsplash 5. Will I fall a lot? No one wants to fall, and this is a new activity for you, so it should be expected that you won’t be perfect. What you might really be wondering is what is the potential risk for serious injury . Answer: Everyone falls. But just because your ride doesn’t mean you are going to end up sprawled out on the trail. Going back to the training question, you can practice how to position your body on the bike while going up or down hills can increase your coordination and reduce falling . Also, wearing the proper safety equipment can help to protect you when you do fall. Helmets, glasses, gloves, padded shorts, knee, and elbow pads are typical safety equipment seen on the singletrack. Throw on some old rollerblade knee pads the first few times you ride till you figure out what gear makes sense for you . 6. Is there trail etiquette? You don’t want to go on your first ride and stand out; we get it. You also want to make sure you are riding safely. Photo by Tim Foster on Unsplash Answer: A local group manages most mountain biking trails, and they usually post signs that tell you which way to go. That is a big part of biking etiquette. Often they will also have a map denoting the difficulty of the trail or sections of the track. You should ride within your level of experience . If you are new to the sport , you should start with the easier paths till you have your footing and then go up from there. Getting off the trail when not riding would be another rule for any considerate rider. Some singletracks are multiuse, so don’t be surprised if you see a hiker coming the other way. Always pay attention to your surroundings. Another tip is to ask your LBS about specific trails and local etiquette. 7. How do I find MTB trails to ride? Now you are excited to ride. You have done research. You have your gear in the car and bike on the rack. But you are not sure where to go ride. Photo by Tim Foster on Unsplash Answer: Check your local MTB group’s website or ask your LBS to help point you to the local singletrack . 8. Do I wash my bike after I ride? You just went on your first ride, and you’re hooked on mountain biking. There is dirt splattered all over your back, and you didn’t fall once. You are not sure if you should clean up after or toss your bike in the garage and call it a day. Photo by Razvan Chisu on Unsplash Answer: Like any outdoor sport, you should try to clean up as much as you can before getting into your car. It keeps dirt and debris out of your vehicle but also reduces the instances where you are accidentally transporting insects or plant seeds to new locations. Also, cleaning and reviewing your gear to make sure it’s in good working order before and after any activity where you are trusting it won’t fail on you is a no brainer. These are our Top 8 Mountain Biking Questions Answered. If you have any other questions, please, let us know through our socials! Here are some of our products that will help you to get ready for your first MTB trail:

looking for some tattoo inspiration .