Chimani is busily creating a series of apps for National Parks and other outdoor gems for your smartphone. All were free when I last checked at the Apple App Store.  Apparently they are also free at Google  Play and the Amazon App Store. According to company founders, Kerry Gallivan and Shaun Meredith: “The concept was born on top […]

I recently spent some time at our local REI store getting some new boots for the Chief Scout. The people there were very helpful in narrowing down our selection then helping us choose the correct boot.  With this post,  I’ll share what we learned. Types of Hiking Footwear First,  there are four general categories of boots: […]

If you go boating, car camping, to the beach, to your kids’ athletic events or even flying an airplane,  you’ll probably be bringing at least one big cooler with you to keep your food and drinks cold.  The IcyBreeze is a new idea that lets you take one cooler that also provides cool dry air – […]

When I was a kid,  my family traveled from Wisconsin through the Badlands,  Yellowstone, Yosemite and more in an old Willy’s Jeep station wagon and a tent that attached to the rear of it.  With the tailgate down,  we kids would sleep in the Jeep while our parents would sleep in the tent.  Well, tents […]

If you are a cyclist that knows a disabled person that would like to share the joy of cycling,  you should look into the Duet Wheelchair Bicycle Tandem.  When ready to cycle,  it’s basically an adult tricycle with a wheelchair set in front of the handle bars.  As shown in the inset above,  the wheelchair […]

The designers at Nice Architects in Slovakia have been working on a new concept for sustainable living since 2008.  The tiny Ecocapsule was recently unveiled at Pioneers Festival in Vienna.  According to the designers: “Ecocapsule is a low-energy house packed into a compact form. It merges an energy efficient shape, compact volume and off-grid capabilities with […]

Technology for Competitive Hikers Whistler Blackcomb in Whistler BC, Canada began using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) technology last  winter.  Skiers  buy a pass that includes an antenna and their identifying information.  As they approach a chair lift, the gate reads the card and automatically opens to allow access. The same technology has created a new […]

Topographic Maps Explorers need maps.  The U.S. Geological Survey has been creating and updating these maps since its inception in 1879.  If you need a current map for your explorations,  you can download them for free or order them on paper using the “Map Locater & Downloader” at store.usgs.gov. Beyond current maps,  the U.S.G.S. now has […]

I got my first really good 10-speed bike in Albany, New York in 1975.  It was a Peugeot PX-10, a racing bike that had carried some great riders to success in the Tour de France. My first really good mountain bike arrived in 1988.  I was leaving Libby, Montana and closing the little bike repair […]

 Earth Day Facts and History Earth Day marks its 45th Anniversary in 2015.  What began in the USA on March 22, 1970 as an environmental education initiative, supported by Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-Wis.) and Congressman Paul McCloskey (R-Calif.), is now celebrated in nearly 200 countries around the world.  In many places it has expanded to Earth Week and […]