Winter OR 2007
This gear program is a report on the Winter 2007 outdoor Retailer’s Expo. When the outdoor industry gathers, it’s a major expedition for the folks at Backpack Gear Test; but it isn’t all about the toys. Jason Boyle1, Raymond Estrella2, and Rebecca Sowards-Emmerd3 report on the most interesting gear they hope to test for BackpackGearTest.ORG. They comment on products by: GoLite1, Snow Peak1, MSR1, Primus1, Fox River1, Injinji1, Sierra Designs2, Osprey Packs2, Blue Desert3, MontBell3, and Go Pro3. Backpack Gear Test has more gear to review than reviewers. You might be able to get free gear to review. Read: How to become a tester. As a wrap-up, we invited Kurt Repanshek to comment on a larger issue facing the outdoor industry. His commentary includes a statement by Peter Metcalf, president of Black Diamond Equipment. More of Kurt’s commentary is available on his web site, National Parks Traveler. Show number 75 [MP3 format; length 9:42; 2,331,316 bytes] Show number 75, extended version [MP3 format; length 11:16; 5,416,178 bytes] Show number 75 script Bonus segment, original reports from BGT [MP3 format; length 14:22; 1,724,628 bytes]
Sheephole Valley Wilderness
This wild places program profiles the Sheephole Valley Wilderness in the Mojave Desert. This may be the largest waterless wilderness in the 48 states. We hear from Steve Tabor, the president of the Berkeley, California based outings group, the Desert Survivors. Steve Tabor has extensive experience in the Sheephole Valley Wilderness, and may be one of the first in recorded history to cross it, unsupported, on foot. Dan Abbe, the Wilderness Specialist for the Needles Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management provides the official perspective on the area. If you’re considering visiting a desert wilderness, there are some things you should know. Steve Tabor got us started in our edition #34, Desert Backpacking Tips. Steve Sergeant visited the Sheephole Valley with the Desert Survivors last year, and produced our editions #35 & #36, Surviving the Desert, as a report on that trip. Show number 81 [MP3 format; length 9:59; 2,398,427 bytes] Show number 81, extended version [MP3 format; length 11:01; 5,294,581 bytes] Show number 81 script
Using All Fours, part 2
This skills program is part 2 of our look at the science and skills, myths and fact around trekking poles. Is hiking with poles a trendy gimmick, or a valuable skill? Julianne Abendroth-Smith talks about the results of research into the effects on the body of hiking with trekking poles. She’s a biomechanics professor at Willamette University in Salem Oregon. We hear from Jayah Faye Paley, an author and educator, and co-host of an educational DVD, POLES for hiking, Trekking & Walking. Jayah’s web site, Adventure Buddies, provides more information about her educational products and services. Jayah describes basic skills for using trekking poles. Trekking poles can have a destructive effect on the trails that shoes alone don’t have. Ben Lawhon, the education director of the Leave No Trace Center for outdoor Ethics, talks about those effects. Members of the WildeBeat can download an additional bonus segment, featuring Jayah Faye Paley in a beginner’s tutorial about proper pole use. Look for the link in our insiders newsletter. Show number 87 [MP3 format; length 9:47; 2,350,799 bytes] Show number 86 & 87, combined version [MP3 format; length 17:44; 8,520,813 bytes] Show number 87 script Show number 86 & 87 combined script
Indoor Snow camping
This skills program presents a way to try snow-camping without actually sleeping on the snow, but rather in a rustic backcountry ski hut. Steve starts out at a volunteer maintenance work-party at the Sierra Club’s Bradley Hut in the Tahoe National Forest. We hear from Dick Simpson, the volunteer coordinator for the four huts in the Sierra Club’s system. Steve then talks to Howard Weamer, the Hut Master of the Ostrander Lake Hut in Yosemite National Park. He wraps up by talking to Ben Dodge, the Executive Director of the Tenth Mountain Division Hut Association in Colorado. Ben mentions Vance’s Cabin as being a typical hut in the system. Show number 69 [MP3 format; length 9:53; 2,373,823 bytes] Show number 69, extended high-fidelity stereo [MP3 format; length 11:35; 11,123,274 bytes] Show number 69 script
Reprise: Staying On Top of the Snow
This skills program is a reprise of our February 2nd, 2006 introduction to avalanche safety. Gary Bard, an avalanche safety instructor for Mountain Adventure Seminars, talks about easy ways to stay out of avalanches, and describes a rescue. Brandon Schwartz of the Sierra Avalanche Center talks about avalanche forecasting and the Snow Condition Report. Tom Murphy, of the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), talks about avalanche safety education. There’s a lot of additonal information about avalanche-related organizations, and avalanche safety, under the To find out more… link, below. Show number 74 [MP3 format; length 9:57; 2,389,645 bytes] Show number 74, extended version [MP3 format; length 12:55; 6,203,212 bytes] Show number 74 script To find out more…
Orestimba Wilderness Updated
This wild places program revisits the Orestimba Wilderness of California’s Henry W. Coe State Park. It’s an amazingly remote wilderness surprisingly close to the San Francisco Bay Area. A new entrance to the park will make this remote wilderness more easily accessible. Steve rode with backcountry ranger Cameron Bowers on a patrol trip to the wilderness. Volunteer park historian Teddy Goodrich came along. They stopped for lunch and to talk along Red Creek, in the heart of the wilderness area. The Pine Ridge Association provides a lot of volunteer help to operate and maintain the park, and they maintain a comprehensive informational web site. Several years ago, the wilderness area was threatened by a proposal to route a high speed rail line through it. Traveling into the Orestimba Wilderness is a challenging trip. But no where is California’s inter-coastal range so well preserved and undeveloped. And you could have it all to yourself! This is an update of our edition number 44 of June 1st, 2006. At the time of our original story, the Ortestimba Wilderness was indeed difficult to get to. But as of next week, a new entrance will provide a trailhead much closer to the edge of the wilderness. Steve talks to C. L. Price, a sector superintendent for the California State Parks responsible Henry Coe State Park. He explains the new entrance that opens up on May 19th. Show number 85 [MP3 format; length 9:55; 2,384,449 bytes] Show number 85, extended high-fidelity stereo [MP3 format; length 14:00; 13,446,687 bytes] Show number 85 script Photo album
Base-Layer Shirts
This gear program presents reviews of three base-layer shirts. A lot of us don’t give much consideration to those layers we wear closest to our skin. Kevin Hollingsworth reviews the Drimove L/S Top by Go Lite. Coy Starnes reviews the outdoor Research Men’s Sequence LS Tee. Kathy Waters reviews the women’s version of OR’s Sequence shirt, the outdoor Research Women’s Essence LS Tee. If you’re interested in reviewing for Backpack Gear Test, read: How to become a tester. Manufacturers provide too much gear for the reviewers they have. Steve announced that we need to take a break to make some changes in what we’re doing. Please watch our web page for updates. Show number 83 [MP3 format; length 9:42; 2,331,316 bytes] Show number 83 script
Race in the Backcountry
This wild places program asks why ethnic minorities are even more in the minority in wilderness recreation areas. Steve interviewed Nina Roberts, Ph.D., in November 2005. Dr. Roberts is an assistant professor at San Francisco State University in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies. An expert on the demographics of National Park visitation, she previously worked for the National Park Service as an education and outreach specialist. The National Park Service has this web page on diversity issues and resources that Dr. Roberts originally developed while working with the NPS. She also conducted a major study of diversity issues in Rocky Mountain National Park, published in 2004. Update: (1/29/2007) Listen to Vox WildeBeat number 11 for some updated information provided by Dr. Roberts. Show number 73 [MP3 format; length 9:59; 2,399,945 bytes] Show number 73, extended version [MP3 format; length 11:58; 5,753,061 bytes] Show number 73 script
rv Road Trip – rv Membership camping Travelling launches
rv Road Trip – rv Membership camping Travelling, was launched today featuring blog, forums, image gallery, online shop, event calendar and more. rv Road Trip – rv Membership camping Travelling can be accessed at http://rvroadtrip.terapad.com/.
