Altering Sports for Mankind
By Hikerpro | June 23, 2009
Sports are a significant part of human life and always have been. Sports can teach us a lot about the cultures they exist in. Sports are a great learning experience for children, and sports medals and custom ribbons can boost a child’s self confidence immensely.
The ancient Greeks were not the first people to appreciate sport, but are perhaps among the most famous. Afterall, the Olympics are still around 2000 years later. The brutal blood sports the Romans indulged in reflect the values of a culture steeped in violence and born of conquest. Some Native American tribes valued competitions testing the speed and accuracy with which they could use their weapons, as many aspects of their hunter gatherer culture depended upon this.
In our culture today we see the commercialization of sports in all levels. What has been a pastime in other cultures has become profession in ours. Better pay and winning are people’s only concern. What will future generations think when they look back at our sports and the way we play them? Perhaps they will see the ferocious fans getting into fights with each other in the stands and even with players on the court or field. Perhaps they will see athletes being bought and sold for outrageous sums of money to giant sports franchises. What will they think of drug use and drug testing?
Since winning is the only thing that matters in today’s sports, the poor conduct of so many of the people involved in sports is not surprising. What children ought to learn from sports is the value of competition and how to endeavor towards excellence. They should try to improve themselves, competing against themselves instead of others. We should shift the focus from dominating others to improving oneself.
Research has found many benefits to sports. From inclusion and the elimination of racism to increasing graduation rates,sports can be a positive influence of children. One study showed that high school students involved in sports earned higher grades, got into trouble less often, were less likely to drop out, had higher GPA’s, and were more likely to graduate than students who did not participate in sports. Attitudes in high school sports must remain positive though. Focus on winning and domination of the competition can make kids feel unwanted, unworthy, and unacceptable, one expert argues. We should not be teaching kids that they are failures, but teach them to handle failure, not to accept it, and to continue always to better themselves. If we continue the way we are going in sport, we will be training a generation of sore losers and cocky winners. We need to teach children the value of competition against oneself, in order that we can have generations of encouraging children who are always seeking to better themselves.
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Backpacking Light - Lower Your Shelter Weight
By Hikerpro | June 23, 2009
Backpacking light is now easier and more popular than ever. It seems that the less you carry without sacrificing the essentials, the more you enjoy backpacking. You feel free, unburdened, and close to nature. Choosing a lightweight shelter is a great way to lighten your backpack.
While a tent can be shared with a partner to reduce weight, there are also lightweight options for the tent itself. The weight of the tent can be split between the two of you. One carry some some parts and the other carry the rest.. However there are now more options for lightweight two person tents and older models simply don’t qualify as ultraweight anymore.
Tents that are too heavy are still produced even today. They usually make them out of cheaper and heavier material. Taking good care of your tent will make it last for many years. In the field of ultralight tents, specialty tent makers still outperform mainstream manufacturers.
With the introduction of ultralight silicone-injected nylon, 2 person shelters are now weighing as little as two pounds. One-person tents are less than two pounds. It’s not just the fabrics that got lighter. Poles went from aluminum to ultralight carbon fiber. A 45″ tent pole can now weigh less than two ounces. You can also use trekking poles are tent poles to save weight. This means that you don’t need to even carry tent poles anymore. To reduce the weight of the tent even further titanium stakes are used instead of aluminum ones.
If you want to really go ultralight why not take a tarp instead and save a lot more weight. It protects you from light rain if you set it up correctly but it’s also a good way to feel closer to nature. Poncho tarps double as rain gear if you want to go a bit further. To save on the total weight of gear use stuff that are multifunctional. If you like sleeping under a tarp, but want some extra rain protection, a lightweight bivvy or sleeping bag cover can be as light as six to seven ounces. Use a ground cloth to protect yourself from getting wet as a result of rain water on the ground.
If you need mosquito protection, use an insect repellent or a mosquito net. If the head net is too confining, a square yard of no-see-um netting is only about an ounce, and you can configure it in a number of ways to stay away from your face.
Bug bivvies are ideal if insects are your problem without having worry about weather too much.
Most ultralight tents are not freestanding like your old dome shelter. But they are easy to set up. The really light tents don’t have a separate fly, so that’s one less thing to set up. Instead the tents rely on well-designed ventilation on all sides.
If you sometimes hike solo, consider the advantages of having a separate ultralight one-person shelter for those times you go alone. Since there won’t be anyone to share the burden with, you would want your tent to be as light as possible. If you want one tent to cover all bases, the lightest of the two-person shelters provides a way to pack lighter whether you’re going alone or with a partner.
Look closely at all the new options for ultralight shelters. See which ones have the features to fit your needs.
An ultralight tent doesn’t necessarily sacrifice comfort and you can have comfort both comfort at camp and while hiking with the right kind of tent.
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Keep Your Kids Happy this Summer
By Hikerpro | June 19, 2009
Most parents don’t fully grasp that during the summer months they automatically get the job of cruise director for their family. Many kids have a short attention span and can get bored doing the same thing every day. That’s why parents need to be armed with a wide variety of options that are both fun and interesting. Whether the kids prefer outdoor recreation such as Cincinnati kayaking and Little Miami River canoeing or more structured activities like an art class, a little planning will keep the peace between parents and kids. Here are lots of great ideas to help parents begin to plan a memorable and less stressful summer.
A really helpful resource for finding summer activities is the local department of parks and recreation. Every season is set up to help meet the recreational and educational needs of families. They offer day camps where kids are kept occupied from the time mom or dad drop them off on their way to work until dinnertime. Or, your family might have a need for only a half-day camp experience. Daily activities might include board games, relay races, obstacle courses, lunch, arts and crafts, basketball, baseball, kickball, dodgeball and water fun.
There are plenty of other activities offered by the parks and recreation department. Kids can participate in acting and drama classes where they perform a play for the families at the end of the experience. Boys and girls alike are welcome to select from just about every sport to improve upon or learn new skills. There are beading and knitting classes as well as cooking and golfing. They also offer a wide selection of nature hikes that focus on looking for and learning about plants and animals that can be found in the local woods, lakes, ponds and streams.
The more outdoorsy crowd, a perennial favorite has always been sleep away camp. The length that kids day range from one night to one week or more. One can expect the usual camping activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, cooking over a campfire, archery, arts and crafts, and other fun games and sing-a-longs. Another type of camp that seems to be very popular with girls is horseback riding camp. Some offer overnight accommodations while others offer camps only during the day. Campers learn how to properly mount and ride horses at their own skill level and some even take part in helping to groom and care for the animals.
If there is a zoo in the area, it would be crazy not to look into what summer programs they offer. Kids love the idea of being a zoo keeper. The experience gives kids the opportunity to visit all the zoo’s regions and get an in-depth opportunity to learn about the natural world. Kids participate in a variety of fun activities and lessons designed to increase their knowledge about our environment. Campers will also learn and have fun when doing arts and crafts, songs, games, hands on animal experiences and group play.
Some kids are perfectly content hanging out at the pool. But if you need an action plan, then be sure to take advantage of the suggestions outlined here. You won’t be sorry.
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Search on for Missing Skier
By Hikerpro | May 25, 2009
With limited gear and a pair of skis, a climber is missing on Mount McKinley and an initial high-altitude aerial search produced no sightings this morning.
Gerald Myers, 41, of Centennial, Colo., is believed to have reached the 20,320-foot summit of North America’s highest peak Wednesday afternoon, according to National Park Service spokeswoman Maureen McLaughlin.
A group of climbers returning from the summit reported seeing Myers on the summit ridge, she said. But he has not returned to the 17,200-foot high camp or to the 14,200-foot camp from which he launched his solo summit attempt early Tuesday morning.
Park rangers think Myers may have elected to descend on a more difficult route other than the popular West Buttress, which he took to the summit ridge and perhaps beyond.
The fact he was carrying skis suggests he may have attempted to descend via the Orient Express or the Messner Couloir — both of which are ski descents, McLaughlin said. Descents on two other possible routes, the West Buttress and the Reserve Gully, can be done on snowshoes, skis or crampons, she said.
“There are many routes to come down and we do not know which one he was targeting,” McLaughlin said.
Myers was traveling light. Though he grabbed his skis from a cache at 17,200 feet on Tuesday morning, rangers believe he carried no sleeping bag, bivvy sack, thermal pad or stove. This guy is clearly not following the ten essentials for mountaineering.
He should know better than to go into the Chugach without gear as basic as this. His chances of survival are slim. You should never sacrifice the essentials for the sake of hiking light.
Now he would have to dig himself a shelter in the snow if he wants to stay alive. It is likely that he has injured himself which makes matters worst.
This morning’s search, by an Air National Guard HC-130 Hercules, was limited by high winds and cloud cover. A second search could happen this evening if there’s a break in the weather, McLaughlin said.
This is the third incident, and the first search, on the mountain this season, McLaughlin said. In separate incidents earlier this month, William Hearne of Fairport, N.Y., 61, collapsed on his approach to the 14,200-foot camp and died of apparent natural causes, and a man with pulmonary edema was evacuated from 14,200 feet.
Find Beth Bragg online at adn.com/contact/bbragg or call 257-4309.
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Shoshone Indian Ice Caves - Shoshone, Idaho
By Hikerpro | May 14, 2009
Idaho tourism has a few surprises in store for you and one of them is a visit to a lava cave called Shoshone Indian Ice Caves outside of Shoshone, Idaho. This 1,000 foot long lava tunnel is covered with ice on the floor year round. It isn’t beautiful like the limestone caves that you can tour, but it is fascinating in its own way.
There is a wooden bridge that goes the distance of the cave so that you can walk above the ice. The cave stays cold enough for the ice as long as the door to the tunnel is closed during the summer. It is cold enough in the cave that you will need a jacket, if you don’t have one with you there are some at the entrance that you may borrow for the tour.
When you arrive at the cave you will see some rather ugly statues along the way. They were put there by a former owner of the cave to generate some tourist interest, although they failed at that for adults the kids seem to think they are neat.
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The Types Hiking Packs
By Hikerpro | May 13, 2009
Backpacks are generally categorized into three: frameless, external frame, and internal frame. The main purpose of a frame is to support the backpacking pack and helps to distribute the weight across your whole body, mainly on the hips so that your shoulders are not bearing all the burden.
Frameless Backpacks
This is the simplest and most inexpensive type of backpack you can find. The most basic design consist of one main pocket and connected to a set of shoulder straps. They are more used for general stuff rather than hiking. However, some are suitable for outdoor activities like hiking. Some more advanced versions have a suspension system like waist strap, chest strap and padded shoulders.
External Frame Backpacks
This is an old favorite with backpackers because of its large capacity and strong frame. The frame is very rigid and it supports a sack made of cloth or other materials.
External frames allow for users to carry a heavier weight than a frameless pack could. It also gives the wearer more support and protection and better weight distribution. The frames have been made of wood until about the middle of the twentieth century.
This type of backpack is not very common today and the frames are now made of lightweight metal tubes, often aluminum and sometimes titanium or scandium. A system of straps and pads keep the sack and frame from contacting the body so you get reduced sweatiness.
It is normal practice to strap bulky items such as camping tents, sleeping bags and pads on the frame because some parts of the frame are not occupied by the backpack. The main compartment is usually small compared to internal frame backpacks to allow for these bulky items to be strapped.
The problem with external frame backpacks is the center of gravity is very high up and away from the body resulting in instability. Keeping your balance especially when climbing up hills is not an easy task with external frame backpacks.
Users also complain of getting bruises as a result of the uncushioned frame rubbing or hitting against the body. However, external frame backpacks are very durable.
Internal Frame Hiking Packs
Invented in 1967 by Greg Lowe, the internal frame backpack has replaced external frame backpacks as the standard pack for hikers. Greg Lowe later went on to found Lowepro, a company specializing in backpacks and other carrying solutions for various equipment.
The frame which consists of strips of metal or plastic is integrated into the pack. A system of straps works with the frame to distribute the weight.
An internal frame backpack is fitted closely to the body and therefore the load is more easily controlled and easily predictable. You have more freedom of movement and are ideal for scrambling over rocky surfaces and hiking uphill. However, the close fit presents another problem; poor ventilation and therefore sweatier backs.
Unlike external frame backpacks, there are only a few (if any) lash points for your tent or sleeping bag and there is a limit to the size of whatever you want strapped to the outside of the pack. Fortunately, modern internal frame backpacks have a large capacity so that all of your gear can fit inside.
Check out these internal frame backpack and bivvy bags which are great for backpacking because they’re compact, lightweight and easy to set up compared to tents.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonsky_Sicuna http://EzineArticles.com/?Backpack-Design—The-Three-Types-of-Backpacks&id=2317549
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Harrel Park CampFire - Summer Activities for Kids
By Hikerpro | May 13, 2009
CampFire is an organization that provides a national program for boys and girls from kindergarten to high school. This coed youth organization is open without exception to all youth.
The Camp Fire purpose is to encourage the development of the whole child for a satisfying life now and in the future. Learning by doing is key to the program.
Other than just learning how to light a backpacking stove or pitch a tent, or washing a sleeping bag, through projects and activities aimed at daily life, Camp Fire aspires to educate the whole child: self-development, social development and skill development. Learning is through fun with others of their age, and when projects are completed the youth get visible signs of their accomplishments through pins, emblems, and wooden beads.
With only a few weeks till summer, Camp Fire is opening up for registration at Harrell Park. Three sessions will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 8-12, June 15-19 and June 22-26. Last year more than 1,000 children and youth age kindergarten to eighth grade took part in the popular camping experience.
Camp is held each year in a beautiful 16 acre park in downtown Wichita Falls.
Among other activities offered are archery, swimming, canoeing, sports and games and nature studies.
There are a lot of fun activities for the kids to do and it promises to be the experience of a lifetime.
This year two new features will be added. Local 4-H members will introduce campers to an “exercise parachute”; campers must run to get the minichute to open behind them. A bicycle safety program will be presented by Dutton Funeral Home.
Campers are organized in groups of 10 to 15 that are supervised by a counselor and junior counselor.
Children can sign up for one, two or all three sessions. The fee for camp is $75 per week for Camp Fire members; nonmembers pay a one-time additional fee of $15. Those registered by May 20 will receive a free camp T-shirt.
For the convenience of working parents, for an extra $10 per week, children can swim in the pool as late as 5:15 p.m.
Applications are still being accepted for the camp’s high-school-age junior counselors.
To register for camp or submit a junior counselor application, stop by the Camp Fire office at 2414 Ninth St. For more information, call (940) 322-5209 or e-mail info(at)campfirentx.org.
Camp Fire’s Harrell Park Pool will have its free splash day May 23 followed by opening day May 24. Beginning May 30, the pool will be open to the public from 1 to 7 p.m. at a rate of $2 per person per swim.
Swimming lessons are scheduled for June 29 through July 3. Class One, for youth only, is from 7 to 8 p.m. Class Two, for babies, is from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Times for Class Three, for 2- to 4-year-olds, have not yet been announced.
Harrell Park facilities, which include the recently refurbished A.D. January Lodge and Gladys Marie Murph Building, play areas and pool facilities are available for rental year round.
For more information on the swimming lessons, pool programs or park rentals, call Camp Fire at (940) 322-5209 or e-mail info(at)campfirentx.org.
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New Style and Quality Comes to Spring Shoes with Merrell Outdoor Footwear
By Hikerpro | May 10, 2009
Merrell is a organization that has been in business for 26 years, and they bring superior quality shoes to the outdoor enthusiast. They have crafted their shoes to be contemporary in style, comfortable for the duration, and proven performance. Merrell believes that outside adventures provide a chance to bring a better self awareness, freedom, and fulfillment in this life. Wearing Merrell sandals during your summer outside activites is a choice you will not regret. With their recognized superior performance shoes, you are sure to be walking in ease for the length of your day, no matter if it is a shopping outing or a hike in the woods.
The ‘outside’ keeps changing as peoples activities have included new adventures and varying terrains and environments. Merrell sandals have kept up with this always happening world and strive to alter as people’s needs change. Their ability to keep up shows in their air cushion midsoles, supportive Trailspring & reg., footbed, Q-form & reg., Omni-fit & trade, technology, their lacing system and innovative outsole patterns. All of these provide ease and style in any natural or urban environment. Since day one of the company’s inception, they believed that the journey is as important as the destination and that is their driving force in staying current in technology, style and comfort.
Also see: Merrell women’s shoes
Merrell sandals are of the highest quality and have brought contentment to many consumers. Most of Merrell’s sales are from repeat customers and they’re sharing their enthusiasm of the product. This spring is no exception to the quality and style that Merrell brings to the table. Viewing their many styles will create a believer out of anybody.
The top 3 new styles of discounted Merrell shoes for spring include varying styles to meet the needs of many clients. The Dewberry sandal comes in 4 colors (red being one of them! Who can resist this!!) and has a feminine charm. It will emphasize your summer style with its 2″ heel and wonderful colors. The Senise is a slide on thong sandal for your casual summer days - everyone has these days and needs a pair of sandals to complete their summer wardrobe. This sandal comes in 7 colors - you can definitely have fun wearing these! The Siren Strap Sport sandal is a strappy, waterproof sandal that offers you great support while looking mighty casual. Splashing around in these on your fun, outdoorsy days will give you a comfortable and enjoyable day indeed!
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Find Out What a Bivy Bag is?
By Hikerpro | May 9, 2009
Bivvy is the non-standard name for a bivouac sack. It is a kind of shelter that looks like a loose sleeping bag. They’re easy to rig up, smaller than a one-man tent, lightweight and waterproof. They’re favored by solo hikers, mountaineers and the military.
Design
A simple bivy consist of a single layer of waterproof material. Early versions of the bivy sack made use of silnylon as the waterproof shell. It is a very light fabric that gives you about another 10 degree fahrenheit extra protection from the elements.
The problem with the earlier versions of the bivy sack is the humidity that condenses on the inside causing users to have wet sleeping bags in the morning. This still happens in some camping tents today. The use of the waterproof/breathable fabric, Gore-Tex, helps to remove some of the humidity while keeping out water from the outside.
Another way that this problem is addressed is by using an inner vapor barrier liner bag or VBL. VBLs prevent body moisture from entering the condensing in the sleeping bag.
Traditionally, bivvy bags have a small hole above the user’s face for breathing. Thanks to Gore-Tex Exchange Lite, an air permeable version of the fabric, the bivvy can be safely zipped up to cover the whole body including the head thus shutting out the elements completely. This new fabric allows both carbon dioxide exhaled by the user and moisture to escape.
Bivvy shelters
In biological terms, the bivy sack is a macroinvertebrate, meaning it has no spine or rigid structure. Bivy shelters on the other hand employs hoops over the head and feet so that the fabric is kept off the user resulting in more breathing room around the head. This also prevents the condensation from soaking into the sleeping bag.
Bivvy shelters weigh a bit more than bivvy sacks but the increased comfort justifies the additional weight. However, bivvy sacks are still favored among mountain climbers and backpackers or adventurers on dangerous expeditions as a compact emergeny shelter.
Popularity
Improvement in bivvy shelters has resulted in increasing demands for this compact shelter. Some like the Outdoor Research Deluxe Bivy have anticlaustrophobic features like a white interior with a shock-corded Delrin hoop for breathing room and 5-foot zippers that allow you to ventilate while keeping you dry.
Bivvies are also popular among carp fishermen who fish throughout the night. This tiny little tent alternative is becoming more advanced and user friendly as manufacturers scramble to make better bivvies in response to the increasing demands.
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How to Pack Your Backpacking Gear
By Hikerpro | May 8, 2009
Apart from having a checklist, nothing can be more important for your camping preparation than packing your backpack because you would not like to leave what is essential and weigh up you pack with unnecessary gear.
This would largely depend on the terrain and weather and whether special gear is needed. The more experienced you are in the field, the easier it is for you to pack because you would know which gear to include.
Each trip will bring insights to whether your backpacking gear were sufficient or whether you need something more. In the end it could make it easier for you to pack to the bare minimum and go ultralight hiking.
To keep your supplies dry, use three plastics inside your internal frame back pack. You can also use 3 large stuff sacks. At the bottom would be for clothing, fuel, stove and other heavy gear or stuff that don’t get used very often. The bag in the middle should be for food and the one on top for electronics like your phone, GPS and PDAs.
Try not to put your wallet in your pocket or you may learn the hard way like I did that it’s not wise. It took the whole day to dry the money and receipts. Exterior pockets are great for organizing your gear.
I use ziploc bags a lot to organize my gear. You can separate your food from your soap, utensitls, cellphone, and more with this useful plastic bag. A must-have if you want to ensure that your gear stays dry.
Don’t forget the first aid kit. Anything can happen in the outdoors. A mess kit, bugspray, waterproof matches and whistle are important items to have. If you need to quick access to a particular item then keep them in the outer side pockets. You must know where you put important items and try not change where you put them. Losing things is not fun especially when it happens on a camping trip.
You need to have enough food on a hiking and camping trip unless you can buy some along the way. You need a lot more food on a hiking trip than normal because you will burn a ton of calories. You can calculate how much food you need but the best way to estimate your food requirements is by trial and error and to be safe it’s better to have too much food than not to have enough. The same goes for water. Not having enough water can make life very difficult for you on a hiking trip. If you don’t know how much you actually need then carry more than you think you’d need.
A trail mix is one of the best things you can have on a hiking trip. You get a lot of energy from the natural fat in nuts and the dried fruits provide good fiber and nutrition. Energy bars and gels can also give you a boost. Chocolate will melt when it’s hot so avoid it in the hot summer.
If you can, try to avoid canned foods because they’re too heavy. You need to carry your rubbish until you can dispose of it properly.
Dehydrated foods are great for hiking because they’re lightweight yet very nutritious and they taste great. For cooking, you need a camp stove. If you want to use less fuel but won’t sacrifice on performance then use a liquid fuel camping stove. They still work well in extremely cold weather unlike propane stoves that can freeze at a certain temperature and you may have problems lighting it up.
Try to avoid cotton clothing because cotton absorbs your sweat and wet clothes can make you cold real fast. Synthetic or nylon fiber or wool clothing are good alternatives.
If you don’t want to miss out anything, prepare a checklist. First brainstorm what you might need then look at other references on the internet or from hiking clubs. Then you decide which ones get to be inside you pack.
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