Listen up kids! Don’t let your parents tell you there’s nothing educational on television…

Last week 9-year-old Grayson Wynne became separated from his parents on a hike in Northern Utah and spent survived 18 hours alone in the forest. Wynne credits tips he learned from watching Bear Grylls’ Man vs. Wild on the Discovery Channel with his survival.

The young outdoorsman tore up his yellow rain jacket and tied the pieces to trees as he hiked toward safety, hoping that rescuers could find his path. He also remembered Grylls’ advice to follow a stream down to a larger body of water where there is a greater chance of finding civilization. Ultimately searchers on horseback spotted the child in a meadow where he was rescued. Fortunately he didn’t have to resort to eating bugs or drinking swamp water like Grylls often does

Now I’m not sure if REI invented the concept of “trailgating” but admittedly it’s the first I’ve heard of it and I gotta say trailgating sounds kinda cool. Just think: instead of setting up the grill and chairs in a hard, flat, asphalt parking lot you could “trailgate” in the great oudoors, just steps from your favorite trailhead or fishing site. Trailgating is a much smaller committment than, say, overnight camping but with many of the same benefits (grilled foods, cold beverages, and a social atmosphere).

I’m a big fan of the hiking day trip - driving a couple hours to an unfamiliar scenic trail and eating a picnic lunch on the trail or grabbing a bite in town nearby. But, with just a little extra planning I could be trailgating! The concept of trailgating also adds a social dimension that’s often missing from my hikes - enjoying the day with friends and other hikers is much easier when there is food and comfy chairs are set up.

Of course REI has plenty of trailgating products to get you all prepped but in reality you don’t need much. Just be sure to check local regulations wherever you decide to trailgate - many parks and forest areas don’t allow alcohol, for example. Happy trailgating!

Regular readers know I’m a bit of an outdoor guidebook junkie so I was stoked to get my hands on a copy of The Creaky Knees Guide: 100 Best Easy Hikes in Washington by Seabury Blair Jr. Although I haven’t hiked in Washington (yet), from what I can tell this book is a valuable resource for anyone who is looking for fun, scenic, and low-impact hikes in the state.

First of all, don’t let the name fool you: these hikes aren’t just for your grandparents. In fact many of the hikes in this book are entirely appropriate for families with young children and even four legged companions (dogs, though I suppose you could bring your cat along on a hike ). At the front of the book you’ll find a quick guide to the 100 trails with check marks next to hikes that are recommended for families and/or pets. Nice!

Some hiking guides I’ve used include very basic, almost cartoonish trail maps but the Creaky Knees Guide is different: it shows trails overlaid on topographic maps. The maps also include elevation profiles for those who aren’t well versed in reading topo lines, though in some cases you may need to get out the magnifying glass to see the details.

Each hike in the book includes the length, total elevation gain, estimated time to complete, an “effort index” to describe difficulty, and a recommendation for the best season to hit the trail. Of course you’ll also get a description of the hike along with directions to the trailhead. Trail descriptions are grouped by location and each book section features a photo from a trail in that group to give you a feeling for what the scenery is like.

Seabury Blair, the author of the book, has been described as “the Willie Nelson of the outdoors set” and has written several other hiking guide books covering the Pacific Northwest. Judging by the picture on the cover I see the resemblance to Mr. Nelson but I can’t help but wonder if that’s where the similarities end…

If you’re a beginning hiker or even an experienced hiker looking for the best easy trails to take your kids or pets hiking, pick up the Creaky Knees Guide to Washington. A quick read will make you want to get “On the Road Again” to hit the trails!

Photo of El Capitan I took a few years back using a simple Canon Powershot S45.

This summer Canon will be hosting free photography classes in select National Parks where visitors can even test the latest and greatest photography equipment. Along with the classes, Canon is also holding a photography contest with prizes including photography equipment (natch) and free trips to National Parks.

Photography sessions are held twice daily at the parks with an evening presentation as well. In June Canon will be at Yosemite; Grand Canyon in July; and Yellowstone and Acadia in August. Even if you can’t make it out to one of the free sessions, Canon has some photo tips posted online, along with more information about the program.

I recently had a chance to try out the Princeton Tec FUEL headlamp and I have to say… headlamps have come a long way since the old days. I remember winning a headlamp in Boy Scouts in the ’80s and back then it was pretty uncool to strap what looked like a car headlight to your head unless you were exploring a cave. Of course I was a cool kid so I only used my headlamp for spelunking trips Anyway, all of Princeton Tec’s headlamps have a cool factor that their bulkier predecessors didn’t have plus the FUEL is much more than a headlamp.

Princeton Tec Fuel

The Princeton Tec FUEL light retails for $19.95 to $24.95. It comes in three colors – pink, grey and green. According to Princeton Tec, the FUEL weighs 78g, emits 35 lumens of brightness and can last up to 160 hours on three AAA batteries. The light has three brightness settings and a strobe setting, allowing the light to be used for general outdoor hiking, reading in your tent, or as a beacon in case you want to attract attention in an emergency.

The three ultra-bright LEDs give off plenty of light. The most noticeable feature is the wide field of view or what Princeton calls “Focused Wide Beams.” The light uses three bright LED bulbs to send a beam in front of you and a beam to your left and right. Unlike a light with a single bulb pointed in one direction and a reflector that diffuses the light, the FUEL’s three LED bulbs produce a wide swath of bright light that fills your peripheral vision. As a result, I didn’t feel like I was walking down a tunnel.

You can easily adjust the direction of the light by rotating the base up or down. The head strap seems comfortable and is easy to adjust. Most importantly, the strap kept the light in place while walking. I didn’t try running with it, but I suspect it would stay put even while jogging.

Aside from the basic functionality of the FUEL, the one feature that really makes the FUEL more than a headlamp is the fact that you can easily remove the light from the elastic head strap and attach it to any 1″ webbing.

I was able to attach the light to the sternum strap of my backpack and illuminate the trail in front of me without wearing the FUEL on my head. I also attached the FUEL to some gear with Molle webbing, which kept the light out of the way but immediately accessible when needed. With its long battery life, compact shape, excellent wide illumination and overall versatility the FUEL light is a great addition to your kit. I anticipate using it in place of a regular handheld flashlight. Overall, I give the light two thumbs up!

I gotta admit it: I’m a big fan of flip-flops. They’re super convenient, take up very little space when packing, and are generally pretty comfortable. For these very reasons I probably wear them many times when I shouldn’t, like when walking in the woods or to formal occasions. Anyway, this spring I got myself a pair of Teva Elixer 5 flip-flops and they really improve on the advantages of the classic flip-flop while adding some impressive outdoorsy features.

I’m a form follows function kinda guy so I’ll start by talking about the features you’ll find on the Elixer 5 flip flops. The soles truly feel like they came right off a trail running shoe and provide great traction even in wet conditions. Speaking of wet conditions, you know how your foot slips off most flip-flops when you try to walk with them in the rain or across dewey grass? Not an issue with the Elixer 5s - the foot bed is extra grippy and comfortable. Teva knows how to design wet footwear and it shows.

I’ve been wearing my Elixer 5 flip flops on frequent hikes in the local nature preserve and I’ve found that sticks and rocks aren’t even noticeable underfoot. The toe area is also curled up slightly which is great at protecting toes from stubs and sticks on the trail. The uppers on these flops are constructed from suede and neoprene, making them feel solid and dependable - I’m sure I’ll be wearing these for years to come. The foot bed (or topsole in industry terms) is treated with Microban to control foot odor - too bad I can’t just douse my feet in the stuff

In terms of style, you won’t find a better, more outdoorsy looking flip flop. The suede leather almost gives these a sandal look and I’m almost tempted to wear my Elixer 5s to church this summer. These flip flops look so good I actually feel guilty for having such ugly feet - maybe a pedicure is in order

If you love flip flops but are looking for a more solid footwear choice for the campground or the river, do yourself a favor and pick up a pair of Teva Elixer 5s. Just don’t email me when your boss says you can’t wear them to work.

Okay, so I’m not sure how official this is since I couldn’t find anything about it on the Google but according to a press release I read, the North Face is promoting National Camping Month in June with free events and sweepstakes. The idea is to encourage and inspire Americans to get outdoors and camping is a certainly great way to immerse oneself in nature. Plus camping also requires finding and purchasing the right gear which seems to be right up North Face’s alley . Just looking for a place to camp? Check out our campground reviews.

Excerpts from the press release:

To kick off National Camping Month, The North Face and Travelocity are presenting the Explore Moab sweepstakes, which gives people a chance to win a grand prize trip for two to Moab, Utah, including airfare, lodging, meals, and guided hikes and tours, as well as a $2,000 The North Face gift card. Ten Runner-Up prizes include coveted national park passes and The North Face gift cards. Details are available at www.thenorthface.com. In addition, those who enter Explore Moab in June 2009 will receive free shipping for online orders of $125 or more at www.thenorthface.com.

“We are dedicated to fueling passion for the outdoors and encouraging appreciation of outdoor activities among individuals of all ages and abilities,” said Aaron Carpenter, vice president of marketing for The North Face. “The North Face sends expeditions to the world’s highest peaks and most remote locations, but the goal of National Camping Month is to get people outside anywhere - a summer-long backpacking adventure, a week-long camping trip, a one-night campground outing, or simply a backyard tent.”

“This is a great opportunity to teach others about the importance of respecting nature and proper outdoor ethics while having a great time,” said Carpenter. “Programs like National Camping Month are vital for life-long outdoor commitment and enjoyment.”

On Saturday morning I went out to Sope Creek to volunteer for National Trails day and I was blown away to see nearly 200 volunteers ready to work! For those who don’t know, Sope Creek is just a few miles outside Atlanta, GA and is part of the National Park Service Chattahoochee River Recreation Area. Thousands of trail users run, walk, hike, and bike the trails every week but unfortunately the trails weren’t designed for that kind of abuse. In fact, many of the park’s trails are old roads used more than 100 years ago to access various mills that operated on the river and have seen serious erosion over time.

Early stages of adding sticks and logs to a closed trail.

Where’d the trail go? Trail closure complete.

The local mountain bike club (SORBA Atlanta) organized groups of volunteers, many of whom registered through REI, to help complete trail re-routes and close down old trails. My group was picked for trail destruction and it’s pretty incredible what we were able to accomplish in just a few hours. The new trails were cut using a machine several weeks before and volunteers worked hard to put the finishing touches before the trails were officially opened Saturday.

New trail opened just in time for National Trails Day!

Volunteering at the local trails always feels good and it’s a great chance to meet and interact with other trail users. Contact your local hiking or biking club to get involved!

The American Hiking Society is promoting National Trails Day tomorrow and they’ve set up a website to help you find hiking events in your area. Even if you aren’t able to make it out to an official event, here are a couple ideas for celebrating trails tomorrow:

1. Volunteer at your local trail. Local hiking and biking groups around the country are hosting trail work parties this weekend but you can also help out just by clearing deadfall on the trails as you hike. Of course check applicable regulations and never remove anything living from the trail.

2. Take a child or beginning hiker on a trail. Getting more folks interested in hiking leads to stronger advocacy for new and improved natural areas for recreation. Way more fun that doing trail work but just as important

What are your plans for National Trails Day?

Last month we held a contest to see who could add the most new campgrounds, hiking trails, reviews, and photos by May 31 and although we were pretty underwhelmed by the response, we were still able to pick the first and second place winners.

HannaD715 added one campground and two reviews and won (!) a $50 gift certificate to Cabelas.com (thanks again to OutsideHub and Cabela’s). Now, don’t you wish you had added just a few more reviews to get the $50 prize?

Second place was actually a tie so we had to look at lifetime contributions to determine the winner: Mongoose from Melbourne, FL. Mongoose squeaked in on the 31st with a single campground and review but it was enough to win a $25 REI gift card.

So… we’re holding another contest this month (June) and hopefully this time you’ll be paying attention! Same rules as before, same point values - just add your information, reviews, and photos to Tripleblaze for a shot at one of two $25 REI gift cards this month! Contest ends @ midnight, June 30.

As if US National Parks weren’t already one of the best outdoor recreation values around, this summer the Department of the Interior is waiving entry fees at 147 parks one weekend each month. The idea is to boost local tourism and economies near the National Parks which are already preparing for a busy season as travelers look to spend less this year.

Of the National Parks that charge entry fees, prices range from $3 to $25 at popular destinations like the Grand Canyon. Each National Park I’ve visited has been worth every penny of the entrance fee so even if you can’t make it one of the free weekends this summer, know that you’re getting a tremendous value. The dates for free entry are as follows:

• June 20-21
• July 18-19
• August 15-16

Fees for things like campsites, concessions, rentals, etc. will still be charged during fee free weekends - only entry fees to parks will be waived. Where will you go on your free weekend?