National Geographic – America’s Wild Spaces: Appalachian Trail

You can never go wrong with the cinematography of a National Geographic Documentary, and this film is no exception.  I would suggest finding a friend with the largest and highest-def TV to watch the breathtaking panoramic views that will inspire anyone to get out on the Appalachian Trail, also known as the AT.

The film divides the AT up into its regions starting in the Southern Appalachians, working its way northward through the Virginia Highlands, the Mid-Atlantic Lowlands, and finally to the Northeast. Along the way you will learn the history, culture and secrets of the AT. You will be introduced to the hikers and individuals who are the heart and soul of the Trail while getting rare a glimpse into their lives.

I was surprised to learn a few things from this documentary such as the term “trail magic,” a random act of kindness one experiences along the trail. This is something you cannot truly appreciate until you have actually been on the trail and once you do, it’s something that sticks with you the whole trip.

Overall this film is great for anyone, from the experienced outdoorsman to the novice, this film will inspire you to get out on the trail. This is a great introduction to the AT and may be helpful if you know someone who has, or will be embarking on a pilgrimage into the wilds of the Eastern United States.

As the film states, the Appalachian Trail is about overcoming obstacles, from our personal challenges found out on the trail to trail preservation. Whatever the obstacle, we can overcome it one step at a time.

America’s Wild Spaces: Appalachian Trail. National Geographic. 2009. (50 min)

The “quest” for the perfect backpacking boot has led me down several paths.  First was a pair of Merrell boots; I thought those boots were great because they didn’t slip or rub on my heels.  Still, by the end of an 8-mile hike in Canyonlands National Park (the Needles District) I was limping.  My pinky toe kept getting squeezed under the toe beside it.  Both pinky toes had blisters on the bottoms of them and my big toes were slammed into the front of the boots on the downhill portions of the hike.  Ironically, my spare pair of shoes for that trip, which I still wear to this day, were another pair of Merrell light hiking shoes.

Next up in the quest for the perfect backpacking boot was a pair of Vasque Breeze GTX boots.  These lasted me through several backpacking trips.  They were sturdy and warm, they stayed dry when crossing creeks, and they weren’t too heavy.  Still, I had to wear latex toe protectors to protect those poor pinky toes – and painful blisters were a part of every trip.  I just assumed that’s how my feet were going to be.  We didn’t backpack this past year (2011) so when I put those boots on in November for a long day hike it was the first time I’d worn them in almost a year and a half.  One foot in and I thought How did I ever wear these? I’m sure these boots work great for a lot of people but not me.

So in late January we took a trip to the big city of Salt Lake and I was able to look for boots at an REI store with a large selection.  My feet are pretty flat and wide so I could just wear the shoebox itself and probably be more comfortable than I am in a lot of shoes.  However, I have a narrow heel.  You see the issue?  Nothing can be simple with my feet.  I’d picked out three brands with “wide” shoes to try:  Oboz, Lowa, and Salomon.  The Oboz felt okay, but I could tell my toes would still get pinched in them.  Next I put on the Salomon Quests.

Boots on (though not fully laced) and ready for the hike.

It felt like my feet had finally found their sole mates.  I wiggled my toes.  Plenty of room there.  I laced the boots up.  A little high, but then again I haven’t worn boots in a while.  I walked a few steps.  Ahhhhhh.  I stepped up on the slanted rock provided at the store for the very purpose of checking how boots handle steep ups and downs.  No heel slippage on the up.  I can’t even feel the heel! I stomped down the rock trying to slam my toes into the front of the boot.  Wow.  My foot did not slip at all!

I got off the rock, took off the boots, and tried on the Lowas.  They were supposed to be a “wide” width, but felt way more narrow than the Salomons.  I put the Salomons in the box, hugged the box to my chest, and ran for the register.  These babies were mine!

This past weekend I finally had a chance to get out in my new boots.  I brought them in to work so I could change before heading to the trails.  Co-workers stopped to look at them and one even said, “They look heavy.”

“Pick them up,” I countered.  She did.

“Holy cow!  Those are so light!”  (they weigh 1lb. 6 oz. each.) Salomon attributes this and the comfort and stability of the boot in part to “our most advanced trail running technologies.”  Whatever it is, it works.

As I got dressed for my hike, I have to admit it took a bit to get used to the height of these boots.  They’re not mid-cut or low-cut, they are straight-up, high-cut boots.

My friend and I met at the trail head and headed through a rocky drainage and up a steep switch-backing trail.  On the steep uphills the heel didn’t slip.  As odd as this may sound, somehow the boot cups your heel without really touching the heel.  I never felt as if anything was loose or shifting, but I also never got a hot spot, never felt a rub, nothing.

These boots have great grip too.  We were on loose and sandy soil at times and I felt stable.  This is great news for when I’ll be backpacking with an extra 30lbs, heading down steep and rocky terrain.  I also noticed that, when going downhill, that high cut ankle part was really flexible front-to-back.  Side-to-side it was nice and stiff, so I didn’t worry about twisting an ankle, but the boot was really comfortable when flexing going downhill.  As with my test in the store, my toes didn’t hit the front of the boot either.

View from "Andy's Loop" at the Tabeguache trails.

For me, one last important feature is the toe bumper.  We were on super rocky trails and more than once I didn’t pick my foot up high enough and my boot slammed into rocks.  I felt no pain.  That toe bumper is solid!

I had one issue with some soreness on the side of my foot, but I really think that was because I had them laced too tight.  Also, the boots are warm – but they’re Gore-Tex so I expected they wouldn’t be quite as breathable as some others.

Overall I’m excited for backpacking season with these boots!  No more toe protectors!  No more tape!  No more hobbling around camp at night!

You can tell by the toe bumpers these are now officially MY boots! Broken in and ready for backpacking.

A Walk in the Woods chronicles author Bill Bryson’s  hope of rediscovering America through the Appalachian Trail after living abroad for two decades. His goal is to hike the 2,146 mile trail from Maine to Georgia but his adventure does not meet the idea of a typical through hike approach. The stories of Bryson, his friend Katz, and the many wild characters they encounter along the trail kept me reading and laughing late into the night.

Bryson’s goal was simple: “I wanted a little of that swagger that comes with being able to gaze at afar horizon through eyes of chipped granite and say with a slow manly sniff ‘Yeah, I’ve shit in the woods.’” From a fellow hiker that wouldn’t stop talking to arming himself with toenail clippers to fight off a bear, Bryson found a way to turn every moment into something that would make you really laugh.

Bryson’s attention to detail in this book stood out. At the end of the book, he offers a list of suggested reading material which he also references throughout the book. Information about the geology, ecology, and history of the Appalachians leaves the reader not only understanding Bryson’s personal adventure, but also the factors that have shaped the trail into what it is today. At times he takes on hard issues, such as the Department of Interior’s land usage and preservation policies and at other times he shares his fear of bears by quoting selections of Bear attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance (Stephen Herreos. Harmony Books, 1992), a book I will not be reading anytime soon!

Overall I think A Walk in the Woods is a great book and may even be a great primer for through hiking the AT as it provides insight into the politics, the geologic and more recent history, and what it means to be on the trail. I give it two thumbs up and suggest it to anyone who wants a good laugh and an introduction to the Appalachian Trail.

I don’t normally come across great outdoor adventure books at my local library but earlier this month I got lucky. Blind Descent, by James M. Tabor, tells the story of two adventurers seeking to discover the deepest cave on the planet and it’s a fascinating read for cavers and no-cavers alike.

The book starts off chronicling several Mexican super cave expeditions undertaken by American Bill Stone, giving a good background on the risks of super cave exploration. The author makes the point on many occasions that exploring a “super cave” is like climbing Mount Everest – in reverse (and in the dark). Cavers find themselves facing the most difficult portion of the adventure AFTER reaching the bottom of the cave unlike mountaineers who can descend a mountain on their way back to safety.

During Stone’s super cave explorations, the team often encountered underground pools known as sumps. With no way to walk around these pools, cavers are forced to dive in to seek passage to lower portions of the cave. Reading the descriptions of these underground dives gave me a sense of claustrophobia every time and it’s incredible to consider how difficult it must be to carry SCUBA equipment so far underground where the chances of rescue are slim.

While Bill Stone’s team was busy exploring deep caves in Mexico, Alexander Klimchouk and his team explored Krubera, a super cave located in the Republic of Georgia. Krubera is very different from the Mexican caves in that it’s mostly vertical with little water and freezing temperatures (as if complete darkness wasn’t enough).

The whole idea of discovering “the deepest place on earth” makes for a good subtitle to the story but the reality is a bit more complicated. I was surprised and a little disappointed to read that both teams had to remove rock at some points to make passages large enough to navigate (isn’t that just mining?). And the “deepest place on earth” label isn’t really accurate; cave depths are measured from the entry rather than a fixed point like sea level for example.

Blind Descent does a good job explaining caving and diving techniques but I would have liked to have learned more about how the caverns are actually surveyed. This is sort of an important point since the depths the cavers ultimately reach determines where “the deepest place on earth” actually ends up.

Overall I highly recommend Blind Descent for anyone interested in adventure stories or caving in particular. This book will keep you on the edge of your chair as you follow these explorers racing to the deepest place on earth.

Ready to explore your own cave? Check out the new cave section here on Tripleblaze.com.

If you’re like me, you’ve probably day-dreamed about what it must be like to hike for months on end or to complete a “thru-hike” of one of the major hiking trails like the AT or PCT. For many of us, reading about thru-hikes satisfies the urge for a while, at least until the next time we feel the call of the trail. David Miller’s book, AWOL on the Appalachian Trail, guides the reader along the trail and offers a glimpse into the reality of quitting work and pursuing a lifelong dream.

A 41-year-old computer programmer with a wife and three daughters, Miller finds himself living a life that’s “precariously normal” and decides it’s time for him to fulfill his dream of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. After his company declines his request for a leave of absence, he resigns, more determined than ever to get on the trail. Before hitting the trail, Miller choose a trail name: AWOL.

Initially Miller’s hike seems lonely and I found myself wondering why he would leave his wife and family for the pain and boredom of the trail. I’ve hiked much of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia (where Miller begins his hike) and at times it feels claustrophobic and even depressing, a reality that can be at odds with the mental picture built in the minds of would-be thru-hikers. But Miller is resolved to keep going and throughout the hike he pushes himself to keep a quick pace, undoubtedly because he knows his family is waiting at the end. Throughout the book Miller seems honest about his emotions without coming across as overly analytical or self-absorbed.

While some thru-hikers hit the trail seeking solitude, others do it for the camaraderie and the cast of characters Miller meets along the way are entertaining to say the least. I found Steve O to be particularly interesting and was amazed at how he kept popping up at seemingly random points. Miller also meets some incredibly kind people along the trail – trail angels and family friends – who support him on his epic journey and give him the mental boost he needs to soldier on.

While plenty of thru-hikers have written books (many of them in mid-life crisis at the time), AWOL on the Appalachian Trail has a decidedly unique feel to it. Part guidebook, part memoir, this book is an interesting read from start to finish. And unlike other thru-hike books I’ve read, AWOL on the Appalachian Trail is well paced – descriptions from the end of the trail are just as detailed as those in the beginning.  The depictions of the trail through Vermont and New Hampshire were particularly well written and provide a good contrast to the scenery experienced in the southern section of the trail.

Beyond descriptions of the trail, Miller also fills us in on gear choices, injury prevention and treatment, logistics, and food along the trail. By the middle of the book it was obvious that Miller had become much more comfortable living the life of a thru-hiker and the tips he offers are invaluable. For example: staying in hostels and cheap motels every few days is a good way to avoid bad weather while cleaning up and getting a good night’s sleep. And one of the best ways to load up on calories (and give yourself a mental boost at the same time) is to eat at restaurants whenever possible.

David Miller’s book, AWOL on the Appalachian Trail, is a great read for anyone who’s ever considered putting their work on hold to pursue a dream. And for the hiker, this book offers wonderful descriptions and tips for hiking one of the most well known trails in the world!

Last week I got a chance to watch the film 127 Hours, the true story about hiker Aron Ralston’s ordeal in the Utah desert in 2003. For those who don’t already know the story, Ralston was hiking/climbing solo in Blue John Canyon, Utah when a boulder fell and pinned his arm, trapping him for days without food or water. [spoiler alert] In the end Ralston ends up cutting off his own arm to free himself and makes it home alive.

I have to admit I didn’t want to see this movie at first. I mean, I had already seen the in-depth interview with Ralston shortly after the accident so I knew how the movie would end. Plus I wasn’t sure I could stomach watching the film’s climax. But then last week a friend asked if I wanted to go and my curiosity about the film’s treatment of Ralston’s ordeal got the better of me.

127 Hours was directed by Danny Boyle who also directed Academy Award winning Slumdog Millionaire. The film starts with Ralston excitedly packing and driving out to the trailhead by himself for a weekend adventure. He jumps on his mountain bike and makes his way to the trailhead and you really get the felling this is an experienced outdoor enthusiast who is comfortable in a variety of situations. Along the way he meets some other hikers and shows us he’s a social guy, not some survivalist-type out to get away from everyone.

The director does a great job helping the audience imagine themselves in Aron’s situation. As the boulder dropped onto Aron my own heart sank with dread. What can he do to free himself? How can he use the items he has within reach? Then there’s also the “if only” thoughts that creep into the audience’s mind: if only he had told someone where he was going, if only he had been more careful, if only he had chosen a different route through the slot canyon… Clearly those thoughts were also going through the head of the real Aron Ralston.

From this point forward the movie has sort of a “Castaway” feel to it – an uncomfortable view into the world of a man who is trapped and alone. It’s a scary place for anyone to be alone and I learned some things from the way Ralston dealt with the situation (reminding himself at one point not to freak out, for example). By the end you can clearly see Ralston is getting desperate and you’re really rooting for him to do the deed and get it over with, no matter how painful it is to watch (let alone experience). I’m not going to lie: some viewers may want to close their eyes for this part of the movie (though fortunately the director doesn’t belabor it in any way).

Surprisingly the movie has a happy ending to it, despite Ralston’s loss. It’s an affirmation of life really and I came away wanting to hug my family and to live my own life more fully.

The cinematography is great and a real treat for outdoor lovers. The desert scenery is top notch and was actually filmed on location (or at least pretty close by). While 127 Hours isn’t playing in wide release you should be able to find a showing in most major cities. If not, definitely look out for the DVD!

Here’s a super cool product for 2010 that we’re filing under why-didn’t-someone-think-of-this-before: GearPods. GearPods is essentially a modular adventure gear system that’s perfect for outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, or even trail running. The “pods” are interlocking tubes that sorta look like those vacuum tubes they use at the bank or Home Depot and can be purchased as full kits or empty containers.

The Backcountry GearPods kit is packed with enough survival gear to sustain any adventurer for days in the wild and features items in the following categories: first-aid, basic survival, and even cooking. We’ve seen plenty of compact and portable first-aid kits but the Backcountry takes things to an entirely different level with matches, fuel, a CookMug, purification tablets, fishing tackle, whistle, compass, mini saw and knife, flashlight, and much more. Everything fits into a modular and durable package that’s roughly 9.5 inches high and 3 inches in diameter – the perfect size for an adjustable diameter bike bottle cage or side sleeve on a daypack. Fully stocked the Backcountry kit weighs in at just 18 ounces.

GearPods are water-resistant which means your important survival gear should stay dry even if you don’t. Although GearPods aren’t entirely waterproof (don’t drop yours in a lake, for example), you can enhance the water resistance by sealing the screw connections with duct tape (which is actually included!) or bicycle tubes and rubber bands. Before GearPods I often used zip lock bags for keeping things dry and organized but I found they often punctured inside my pack. GearPods are constructed of polycarbonate so they’re tough plus you can see what’s inside just like a plastic bag.

Beyond being insanely useful, GearPods are simply beautiful. From the iconography to the tight and neat packaging you can see that a lot of thought went into creating each GearPods kit. The orange caps and connectors make it easy to spot the kit inside a pack and the simple labels let you know what’s inside each compartment at a glance. There’s a raft of compatible kit components from aerated caps (for drying damp gear) to the GearPods Barista which turns your CookMug into a French press coffee maker.

Contents of the survival kit. The first-aid kit contains standard first-aid items.

As with any survival or first aid kit, it’s important to periodically check your kit to make sure things aren’t expired or broken. Even more important, check to make sure you replace any items you may have used in your last trail “emergency” – kits are only useful when they’re complete!

One GearPods enhancement I’d like to see is the addition of a simple survival guide. Many of us are probably already familiar with outdoor basics but in an emergency situation it’s important to make the most of your resources. I for one could probably start a fire using just one match but I’d struggle to use the included fishing equipment successfully. Some items, like the spool of thin wire, may require a little explanation. Should it be used for building small game snares? Fixing broken equipment? If it’s the former, I’ll need a primer, preferably with diagrams. The Backcountry does include instruction cards on signaling and CookMug operation but I could definitely use a little more info in the field.

Now that I have the Gear Pods Backcountry kit I sorta hope I get lost on my next epic hiking or mountain biking trip. Even if I don’t have to use my kit, at least I’ll be more confident when I head out into the woods, ready for any situation. Besides, I can think of worse things than turning a day hike into a 3 day adventure!

Thanks to the folks at Gear Pods for providing the Backcountry kit for review. If you’re looking for more info, check out the video review below.

It is not every day that new gear catches me by surprise for its usefulness and simplicity, but that is exactly what happened when I started using the X-Bowl, manufactured by Sea to Summit.

The X-Bowl, and its companions — the X-Plate and X-Cup — are collapsible food-grade bowls and plates made out of a hard, cut-resistant nylon base and a flexible silicon wall. This innovative design allows the X-Bowl to collapse from about 2″ to about a ½” thick.

I have been using the X-Bowl for about four weeks now, and I have to admit that I like it so much that its found its way into my backpack (and briefcase) along side my spork.

Here’s what I like about the X-Bowl. When extended, the sides of the X-Bowl are high enough to create a very functional bowl. When collapsed, the X-Bowl is super easy to pack. You can use a sharp knife against the bottom without causing damage, which make it easy to cut up your meal including meat, fruits, and veggies. The sides can handle hot food (up to 300 degrees according to the manufacturer), and you can compress the walls to make it easy to pour liquids. This makes it perfect for pasta, soup or cereal. You can toss it into the microwave to heat up leftovers and its easy to clean by hand or in a dishwasher. There are easy-to-read measurements on the inside walls so you can use the X-Bowl to mix freeze-dried food. The nylon base and silicon walls are BPA-free. In other words, it does it ALL!

I like gear that is simple and useful and there’s nothing worse than trying to eat cereal or soup out of a cup or pot. For backpacking, I’ve always wanted a “real” bowl that didn’t take up a lot of space. The X-Bowl and X-Plate are no-brainers. They’re easy to pack, lightweight and functional. I have to hand it to Sea and Summit. I think their “X” products are real winners. I’ll be getting the X-Plate and X-Cup.

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.

If you’re a serious hiker or backpacker and you use a GPS, you know it can be frustrating to manage your trail and map data using the free software included with your GPS. We’ve tested half a dozen GPS and mapping software packages and our favorite is still TopoFusion. In fact, TopoFusion is really three products in one: mapping software, photo management & publishing software, and activity logging/training software. The crazy thing: it does all three better than virtually any other product we’ve seen.

Mapping

Of course TopoFusion is first and foremost an outdoor mapping program and it includes all the features you’d expect like support for GPX files, USGS topo maps, and elevation profile charts of your GPS tracks. But TopoFusion goes way beyond what you’d expect, starting with the inclusion of black and white or color aerial photos, satellite imagery, GIS data from TIGER, and even maps and imagery covering Mexico and Canada. My personal favorite is the “Combo” map setting that blends USGS topo maps with aerial photos – an amazing feature I haven’t seen anywhere else.

TopoFusion also features tools for visualizing trails and routes in 3D to give you a totally new perspective on familiar trails. The best part is you can view any map in 3D – topographic, aerial photo, satellite, even Combo! Simple and intuitive tools allow you to rotate, zoom, and flip 3D maps and the latest version is super responsive even on my slow 3-year old eMachines desktop.

Hiking and backpacking are all about motion along a trail and TopoFusion includes powerful tools for dynamically visualizing GPS tracks. Plug in a GPS track from your latest adventure and TopoFusion adds arrows to the map showing the direction of travel – a helpful and seemingly obvious feature that’s missing from other mapping programs I’ve used. Even cooler than that: you can play back tracks as they were hiked. TopoFusion calls this ‘multi-track playback’ and you can use the feature to show the progression of multiple hikers along the same trail or even play back hikes of the same trail on different days to see how your pace compares (see video below). I can seriously sit and stare at replays of my own hikes in TopoFusion for hours…

Trail Photo Management

Topofusion includes a feature called ‘PhotoFusion’ that dynamically places photos onto your maps. Now I’ve been hesitant to try this myself for a while – geo-tagging photos just seems too geeky and time consuming. Topofusion actually makes the process dead simple: open a GPS track, click on PhotoFusion and point to a directory with photos taken on your hike. TopoFusion then matches the timestamps on your photos with track point timestamps and places the photos where they belong on your route. Even if your GPS and camera times don’t match up, Topofusion attempts to help you resolve differences using time offsets – incredible! Photo thumbnails appear on the map as waypoints and can be moved around plus you can zoom in on pics with a click of the mouse.

Building photo maps on your computer is cool but what good is a slick photo map if you can’t share it with your friends? TopoFusion understands this and allows you to export your photos and maps to post on the web and even writes the complex HTML for you at the click of a button. Here’s my interactive photo map from a mountain bike ride at Heritage Park last month. Amazing!

Endurance Training / Activity Tracker

If you’re preparing for a big backpacking or multi-day hiking trip, TopoFusion has some great features to keep track of your training data.  ‘Log Book’ is a feature that saves your hiking, running, or riding data to a calendar summarizing your workouts: clicking on a date reveals distance, time, total climb, and speed data PLUS it includes difficulty and effort scores that allow you to compare workouts of varying length, elevation, and intensity. Log Book also computes summary statistics based on a date range so you can see, for instance, how many miles you hiked last week.

TopoFusion activity tracking tools also work great with data from other sports like running. I imported runs from my Forerunner and using the Run Analysis tool was able to compute a GOVSS Score, Lactate Adjustment Power, Average Power, and calories expended. TopoFusion also allows you to switch units from miles per hour to more runner-friendly minutes per mile.

The current version of TopoFusion includes support for direct connection to the most popular Garmin GPS units including the GPSMap series, Edge series, and of course the Forerunner series. With this support, TopoFusion also includes the ability to view heart rate, cadence, and power data, depending on your GPS unit’s capabilities. With support for multiple file formats including GPX, TCX, KML, and even ESRI ShapeFiles you can be sure that no matter what brand or model GPS you own you can use TopoFusion to view, edit, and catalog your data.

Power User Tools and Functions

Beyond the features most users will find helpful, TopoFusion also includes a few power-user functions that map geeks will find especially cool. The ‘Make Network’ tool transforms messy GPS trail data full of backtracks and dead ends into clean, easy to follow trail segments. TopoFusion also includes a tool to fix elevation profile data from GPS units with unreliable or even non-existent elevation tracking – a feature that honestly borders on voodoo magic. You can even use TopoFusion to move or delete waypoints and trackpoints to clean up errant GPS data points before sharing with friends.

Bottom Line

TopoFusion is the best GPS mapping software we’ve used – hands down – and perhaps this is why:

TopoFusion is written by Alan and Scott Morris. Brothers, outdoor enthusiasts, mountain bikers and former wilderness rangers. Both hold Master’s degrees in Computer Science. (Scott Morris) logs his adventures at topofusion.com/diary.

There are two versions of TopoFusion available for sale and immediate download at TopoFusion.com – the Basic and Pro version – but take it from us: the Pro version is well worth the additional investment. Many of the features mentioned in this review are only available in the Pro version and at less than $70 it’s still much cheaper than software from Garmin, DeLorme, and National Georgraphic – with way more features!

Even if you don’t own a GPS yet, TopoFusion is a great tool for viewing topographic and trail maps created by others and posted online. Get it today and start planning your next trail adventure!

It was about time to upgrade my six year old hooded sweatshirt and I decided to give Dri Duck’s heavyweight Wildfire hoodie a try.  The Dri Duck Wildfire beefs up the traditional sportswear piece with 11 oz heavyweight powerfleece to create the optimal cold weather work wear and play wear.

The Wildfire’s inner thermal lining gave me extra warmth while doing yard work outside and also on an early morning hike.  I can zip this roomy hoodie all the way up and cinch the hood in place without feeling constricted.  Thanks to the gusseted elbows I still feel like I have a full range of motion through my arms – an unexpected feature for such a thick hoodie.

The Wildfire fleece hoodie is roomy and warm, without the bulkiness of wearing an oversized men’s sweatshirt or heavy jacket.  The women’s sizing provides a smaller fit in the arms and in overall length.  Plus, the Wildfire comes in a happy Sunset pink color or neutral colors that can be layered with almost anything.

The Wildfire hoodie is perfect for staying warm on the trail or hanging out at the campground.  For hiking and lounging, I found this hoodie to be both cozy and functional.  The front pockets are softly lined and large enough to hold outdoor essentials like your wallet, GPS, or a snack.  There is also a hidden pocket inside the hoodie’s liner to carry your cell phone or ipod.

For outdoor work and play I’ve ditched my old sweatshirt and heavy winter jacket for the warmth and freedom of the Dri Duck Wildfire hoodie.  Dri Duck has an extensive line of outdoor workwear and lifewear for men and women.  From anti-static nano-fleece pullovers to teflon-coated waterproof jackets, you’ll definitely find a piece that matches your outdoor lifestyle.

I’m a bit of a fanatic when it comes to outdoor GPS units and over the past 7 years I’ve owned nearly a dozen different models. I recently got a chance to use the Earthmate PN-40 from DeLorme and I have to say it’s one of my top 2 choices for camping and hiking.

The PN-40 is a color-screen, palm-sized GPS that uses 2-AA batteries. At first I was hoping for the unit to use a rechargeable battery but it turns out serious trekkers prefer the portability of replaceable batteries (no where to charge up on the trail!). The PN-40 has a rugged, rubberized case and it’s waterproof to IPX 7 standard meaning you can dunk it under 1 meter of water for 30 minutes and it will still work. The screen is readable in all but the brightest sunlight though some map images were harder to read than others (more on that later). The buttons on the PN-40 give you quick access to the most commonly used functions like marking waypoints and searching for points of interest but can be difficult to press with gloved hands.

Since the PN-40 was designed for hikers and bikers it comes with an incredible set of topographic maps via the DeLorme Topo USA software. I’ve been a fan of Topo USA for a while now – well before I tried the PN-40 – because it includes some of the clearest, most detailed outdoor maps available. You can transfer detailed topographic maps to the PN-40 to take on the trail, though unfortunately the process can be a bit tiresome using the slow serial-USB connection. The PN-40 comes with plenty of memory to fit detailed map coverage and you can add up to 32GB of additional memory though the SDHC slot.

Once you’ve loaded detailed maps on your PN-40 you can start using it as soon as you walk out your door thanks to its ability to provide driving directions. It won’t talk to you like your Nuvi or Tom Tom but it will help you navigate to an unfamiliar trailhead. Once you’re at the trailhead you can queue up a downloaded GPS track of the trail (Topo USA and the PN-40 support GPX formatted files) and follow it just as you would a road. The PN-40 even chirps like a bird when it’s time to turn – pretty outdoorsy if you ask me.

The PN-40 also has the (fairly) unique ability to view satellite and aerial imagery on the GPS itself. You’ll need to download the imagery before you head out and the imagery isn’t free (about $30 a year last I checked) but once you’ve loaded the images it’s like having Google Earth in the palm of your hand! Some satellite images were hard to read in direct sunlight and the images aren’t nearly as clear or detailed as some online services like Google Maps. Satellite images can certainly come in handy but at times I at times felt like it ruined some of the suspense and adventure of hiking. Instead of being surprised to find that the top of the mountain is bald, now I can see it before I’m out of the trees…

Of course the PN-40 also includes all the functions you’ve come to expect from an outdoor GPS – time, distance, speed, etc. but it also includes some helpful functions like a digital compass, barometric altimeter, and fishing and hunting functions. If you’re looking for a good all-around GPS to use in the great outdoors and you’re tired of paying for extras like detailed maps (ahem, Garmin) the DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 is a good choice that won’t break the bank. Just don’t forget to bring extra batteries

Over the years I’ve tested nearly a dozen GPS units from Garmin and Magellan and I thought I’d share my personal recommendations for the best GPS units for hiking and outdoor activities. These GPS units are great for hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, canoeing, mountain biking – you name it – and many of them pack the same navigation features you’ll find in expensive vehicle navigation systems.

The Garmin GPSMap 60CSx was built just for outdoor enthusiasts meaning it’s rugged, reliable, and ridiculously feature rich. This GPS unit is water resistant and beefy enough that you can get a good grip on it even with gloved hands in cold weather. Unlike some GPS units, the GPSMap 60C uses standard AA batteries making it a great choice for extended trips away from electrical charging opportunities. And talk about outdoor-specific features: the GPSMap has functions to tell you when the sun will set based on your location, the best times for hunting and fishing, and even tells you when to expect the next full moon! All of these features are in addition to the color screen, the ability to load and view topographic and road maps, basic navigation information (speed, distance, elevation, etc.), and the ability to mark and navigate to stored waypoints. Yep, the GPSMap 60C series is a great choice for the outdoor enthusiast looking for a dependable, feature-rich GPS for a reasonable price.

If you don’t need a color screen on your outdoor GPS, consider picking up a Magellan eXplorist 400. The eXplorist includes a rechargeable battery PLUS the ability to utilize AAA batteries in a pinch and has a memory card slot for loading detailed topographic maps. The buttons on the front of the eXplorist make it easy to mark waypoints and zoom in on areas of interest and the on-screen menus make navigation simple. My biggest complaint about the eXplorist 400 is the clunky serial PC interface – most new units use USB for maximum compatability. The eXplorist is a great value though and it’s one of the cheapest GPS units you’ll find with the ability to load detailed topo and road maps.

The eTrex series from Garmin is another popular choice with hikers and the original yellow eTrex is the first GPS I ever owned back in 2000. All the eTrex units are fine for geocaching and are great for beginning and younger users alike. The eTrex Vista comes with built-in base maps covering major US highways and even tells you what restaurants can be found at interstate exits. Some eTrex units include color screens, the ability to use more detailed maps, and other more advanced features that beginning users may not find all that useful initially. Luckily the original yellow eTrex GPS is perhaps one of the most affordable outdoor GPS units and you can usually find one on sale for less than $100.

Finally, if you’re looking for an ultraportable GPS for hiking and other activities like running, consider the Forerunner series from Garmin. These GPS units aren’t great for navigation, though they can certainly help out if you’re off track. Otherwise, the Forerunner series includes all the features you’d expect from a recreational GPS unit (distance, speed, breadcrumb map, elevation, etc.). I like to use my Forerunner for running or backpacking so I can analyze my route on a more detailed map once I get home without a lot of fuss while I’m outside. The included USB connection makes it easy to download your hikes to your computer for more in-depth analysis of your route and elevation profile.

Yep, a good GPS unit is a welcome companion for hiking and these days I honestly don’t know what I’d do without mine on the trail. Whether you decide to go high tech with all the bells and whistles of a GPSMap 60C or lean and mean with a Forerunner, you’ll certainly appreciate how a GPS can enhance your next hiking experience.

The BlueproofBikes Motorcycle Adventures blog posted a detailed review of the Juniper campground at Mt. Diablo State Park in California this month. The review includes some great pics as well including one of the local nighttime wildlife

I’ve never been Motorcycle camping myself but I imagine that it’s not unlike backpacking due to the limited packing space constraints. All the better if you ask me, camping light means a real sense of freedom and roughing it that can be fun (sometimes). Of course if you get caught in a downpour when motorcycle camping you can just zoom to the nearest hotel unlike on a backpacking trip

I’ve been reading about the Garmin Edge over the weekend and from what I’ve read, the Edge should be the heat. It promises to fix many of the limitations with eTrex and Forerunner lines and appears to be designed with cyclists in mind.

One of the most tantilizing features I read about is the SiRF chip technology that improves satellite reception in the trees. When I was riding in Colorado this wasn’t a big deal but getting good GPS data here in North Carolina is nearly impossible on most of the bike trails. Almost sounds too good to be true, I’ll be interested to see how much better the Edge handles this situation.

The Edge also gets rid of the clunky PC serial interface and instead sports a sexy USB connection PLUS it’s rechargeable. Hopefully you will be able to use batteries as well for those long trips when you’re away from electrical connections. The trackpoint capacity of the Edge is also expanded to 13,000 points which is 3,000 points more than the top of the line eTrex Vista. This should allow you to keep even the most epic rides in memory long enough to get back to your PC.

Another new addition on the Edge is the use of “Courses” which sound very similar to tracks on older units. The main advantage of Courses over tracks seems to be the way the unit handles the Course; when calculating estimated time to arrival, the Edge will take into account both distance and elevation (instead of just distance). Seems pretty minor to me, it’s still just estimating and has no idea how fast (or slow) you climb (or descend).

With Courses you will now be able to “virtually race” others by sharing their Course data for a particular ride. For those of you who have been using Singletracks.com over the past year KNOW that we started offering virtual bike racing more than a year ago using routes instead of tracks or Courses.

The other unknown with the new Garmin Edge is how proprietary the data storage will be. Courses may be difficult to share with others who don’t use Garmin products and may even require current Garmin users to upgrade their hardware in order to play. Based on Garmin’s previous offerings, I’m definitely skeptical about over promised features and proprietary data schemes. Guess we’ll have to wait until November to see…

So I finally got myself a road bike after 11 years or so of mountain biking (actually Leah got it through Performance). It’s a Giant OCR-C2 and it’s a sweet ride. Leah had it weighed and the sucker barely tips the scale at 20 pounds. The wonders of modern materials science…

Once when I was in middle school I borrowed a kid’s 10-speed road bike and cruised it up and down the block. I had never ridden a bike with gears or hand brakes and I immediately fell in love with the speed and the ease of pedaling. I asked my parents for a 10-speed for Christmas that year but on Christmas morning I found a 10-speed mountain bike under the tree. At that point I don’t think I knew the difference between mountain and road bikes and I was happy to get the bike but in the back of my mind I knew I still wanted to be a roadie.

In high school mountain biking was the cool thing to do among my group of friends so I stuck with the fat tires and upgraded my Western Auto brand bike to a used Bridgestone MB-5. It was a great bike, though that was in the days before any kind of suspension. I think some people did have front shocks on their bikes but it was ultra expensive and I only paid $200 for my whole bike!

This morning I took the Giant out for a spin around the country roads outside Duke University into Orange County. Before I knew it I had ridden almost 30 miles in an hour and 45 minutes! While I was riding I was thinking about the things I like about road biking as compared to mountain biking. For one thing I got to experience some new scenery since I’ve mountain biked every legal (and some illegal) trail within a 250 mile radius of my house. This morning I saw a roadside tomato stand in front of a house and an RV park I never knew existed. Road biking also presents a better opportunity for using a GPS in training. I’ve been having problems getting good GPS signals on the local trails due to tree cover; on a road bike, you’re almost always able to get a good signal. Road biking is also much faster than mountain biking, though I think the sensation of speed is comparable for both (since you have trees whizzing by in close proximity on your mountain bike). One of my least favorite things about mountain biking is worrying about my gear and keeping it well maintained. With a road bike, your ride isn’t as exposed to dirt and mud that sucks so much of the life out of your drive train.

I’m certainly not ready to give up the mountain bike yet and I’m still dedicated to finding the best, most scenic singletrack in the world. Some of the things I’ve been able to see on a mountain bike are completely inaccessible on a road bike. But for now, while living in North Carolina with a limited set of new and exciting trails, I think I might just get into road riding for a while. Save the singletrack for vacations to more exciting destinations…

Leah recently showed me a report on the top 100 sporting goods retailers in the US and I wanted to write about some of my thoughts about the data. All the facts and figures I’ll be referencing in my post come from this report, put out by Sporting Goods Business, just so ya know.

First of all, it is no big surprise that Wal-Mart is at the top of the list of sporting goods retailers but it really is surprising how big Wal-Mart is in this space. With $17.1B in sales (sporting goods + toys) they blow away #2 Target ($2.6B in athletic goods only) and all the “Big Box” sports retailers like The Sports Authority and Dick’s. While many sporting goods retailers would like to believe they “own” their particular sport, no one can outsell the big chains. Take for example Performance, Inc, owners of the Performance, Nashbar, and Supergo retail operations. Performance comes in on the list at #47 and clearly they are the 800 lb. gorilla in the retail bike industry. But I would wager that with $200M in estimated sales in 2004 that Performance is way behind Wal-Mart who could easily sell over $1B in bikes and accessories without breaking a sweat. Wal-Mart = the 8,000 lb. baseball bat wielding gorilla in the sporting goods industry.

I also found it interesting that Bass Pro Shops weighs in at #5 overall in the retail sporting goods sector with just under $2B in sales. The most amazing thing about this is that Bass Pro does this with just 26 stores! Just think about all the Foot Lockers (1,448 stores, $1.7B revenue) and Dick’s (235 stores but just $0.15B more in sales) out there that manage to sell just a fraction of what a single Bass Pro Shop sells. I remember reading that the original Bass Pro is the #1 tourist attraction in the state of Missouri with millions of customers each year. Wow. Cabela’s is also doing well with just 10 stores and $1.55B in revenues (even beating Bass Pro on a revenue per store basis).

Coming in at #15, Nike was estimated to have $1B in retail sales in 2004. This is not surprising since Nike is easily the biggest name is sports; but wait! Isn’t this a list of sporting goods retailers? Yep, it is and yep, they are. Nike has over 100 Niketown and Nike “outlet” shops around the country where customers can buy the latest gear at suggested retail prices. But what if you’re a retailer who sells Nike shoes? Isn’t this a little unfair for your vendor to sell directly to the public? Of course plenty of other suppliers have chosen this path (most notably Apple Computer) but the magnitude of this arrangement becomes evident when you look at the size of the stores below Nike on this list: REI, Champs Sports (probably huge buyers of Nike products), The Athlete’s Foot ($400M in sales), and Footaction (also $400M in sales). Seems like a tough business when your #1 product (shoes) is being offered directly by your #1 supplier (Nike). Plus Nike will never run out of the hot products while you beg for the scraps. Reebok and Adidas are also in on the action, coming in at #45 and #53 respectively.

There were lots of mergers and acquisitions in 2004 as Foot Locker snatched up Footaction (#31), EastBay (#37), and part of Athlete’s Foot (#31). Now maybe they can stay ahead of their biggest competitor/supplier (Nike). Dick’s bought Galyan’s (which I always liked better than REI, hopefully Dick won’t screw it up) and the VF Corporation bought Vans. VF, if you don’t know, has been snatching up distressed brands and now owns North Face, Jansport, Eastpack, and Reef to name a few.

One glaring omission in this year’s report is Sports Endeavors, Inc., #69 in the 2003 report. I’m actually doing an internship at Sports Endeavors (producers of the Eurosport soccer catalog, the Great Atlantic Lacrosse catalog, Soccer.com, and Lacrosse.com) this summer and I’m pretty sure that their 2004 revenue would place them squarely in the top 70 again this year. The only reason I can figure they weren’t included is that they don’t have any brick-and-mortar stores (which makes their business all the more impressive in my opinion). Since the report doesn’t mention having physical stores as a criteria for inclusion, it leaves me questioning how accurate this report really is since they are missing such a large player (and who knows how many others were similarly overlooked?).

All in all this is a great (if not somewhat incomplete) report for understanding the retail sporting goods industry and for identifying opportunities for the future.