Life is Short - Try Backpacking

****

This is a great article about that wonders of backpacking and  the opportunities it offers. Take a break from your normal life, and escape to the great outdoors! This is the message displayed in this article and it is enforced with many reasons. Getting away from the busyness of the city, the stress of work, and the commotion of everyday life, and explore some of the most beautiful places in the world. It will allow you to focus on the terrain and the beauty of your surroundings. The article also talks about some great backpacking locations lie the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. It talks about the vigorous terrain that is a never-ending challenge. 

This article has influenced me and made me  want to go backpacking in many great locations. I think this would be a great experience and I would be able to shut everything else out and just focus. This would be a excellent activity, and I would love to go to many beautiful mountains and just hike. Overall, this was a great article that is motivating and informational. 

- Liam Husen

http://www.americansportsmanoutfitters.com/article-library/backpacking-articles/life-is-short-try-backpacking

Snow Making at Ski Resorts Go High Tech

****

This article's focus is snow making at ski and snowboard resorts, and how it has improved in the recent years.  Because of the recent lack of snow, ski and snowboard resorts have had to improve their snow making techniques in order not to push away their customers.  And it was a huge success.  "'If I'm going down a run, I cant tell you if I just skied on natural or man-made snow,' said Bruce Lee, a Redondo Beach resident who has been skiing for 30 years.'"  The recent success in improving the man-made snow is music to the ears of all snowboarders and skiers who have been down due to the lack of natural snow.

As an avid snowboarder and skier,  I can personally say that this article made me feel better about the upcoming winters.  Last year was an awful year for skiing and snowboarding, and this year has already been an improvement.  It made me hopeful for the years to come, and it inspired me to keep boarding.  I learned that making snow isn't as easy as I had originally thought, and it taught me to be more appreciative of how far the ski resorts go to improve the hills for us.

Link to article: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-high-tech-snowmaking-20121213,0,3691980.story

Get a Grip

****

This article talks about ice fishing, and how the technological advancements in recent years have made it easier to be proficient in the sport.  It talks about the secret techniques and trick used in the sport for better success.  "Called the underhanded hold, this technique provides better balance and comfort and also has advantages for finesse jiggling.  Try this easy way to improve your ice-fishing game."  This technique is the focus of the article, and it explains the trick and gives an explanation on how to use the technique.

This article more or less introduced me to ice fishing.  And with a family of avid ice fishers, it helped me better understand the sport my family takes a part in.  It inspired me to ask my dad to take me on one of his trips, and now we have plans to go this winter.  It taught me to be less critical about the ice fishing sport, and that is it not as easy and simple as it may seem.

Link to article: http://www.ontariooutofdoors.com/icefishing/articles/?ID=304&a=read

Mud Run Wars

*****

The sport of obstacle racing has been recently introduced to the world, by new entrepreneurs creating races that test the limits of the human body and mind.  This article talks about three of such companies, Tough Mudder, Spartan Race, and Warrior Dash.  It focuses on the success these three companies have attained after only a few years.  "The obstacle course craze is taking over America.  This year some 1.5 million people will enter an event."  The article talks about how the companies got started.  What challenges did they go through in the creation of the races?  Questions like this are answered frequently in the article, and it is a great read for those interested in researching about the new sport and it's origins.

This article inspired me to sign up for a race this summer, and it inspired me to get more active and do something better with myself.  I learned that nothing can be gained without taking action, and it made me change my behaviour to a more lively, active lifestyle.

Link to article: http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/multisport/Mud-Run-Wars.html

Spartan Race Invades Time Square 

****

This article is about the kick-off of the popular obstacle race, known as Spartan Race in New York. It describes the types of conditions of the race and many of the obstacles. "There is fire, mud, water, barbed wire, and occasionally Hell on Earth. There WILL be obstacles to catch you off guard. Curve balls, so to speak. Get over it." This article also briefly discuses the new partnership between Reebok and Spartan Race, and how it will affect the race. This was a shorter race, as it was in downtown New York, but was still a great event for all participants.

This article has given me a little more insight on the race. Eric and I are doing one in June, so this article was very interesting to me. I have learned about the partnership between Reebok and Spartan Race, and am looking forward to what they can accomplish together. This article has made me even more excited for the race this year, and the challenges it beholds.

-Liam Husen

Link to article & pictures of race: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/01/17/times-square-was-taken-over-by-a-mini-spartan-mud-race-on-thursday-and-we-have-14-awesome-pictures-of-it/

Day Packs and What to Put In Them - Greg Vincent

****

This article discusses the types of packs available and what equipment to pack for a single day venture. It talks about the advantages to a standard backpack versus a fanny pack, as well as waterproofing options. More in-depth, water bottle access and women's packs are also touched on. The article finishes with a great list of equipment to pack, and I suggest taking a look at it before going hiking. 

From this article, I have learned many things about packs and what is important to have on one. I learned about many items that are key to carry in your pack when hiking, and the specifics about packs and their straps and padding. Reading this article has made me really want to go hiking, and I will probably check the list before I go. This is a great, quick article that has a lot of information and suggestions. 

-Liam Husen

http://www.execulink.com/~gvincent/TheRightStuff/packs.html

How can you know if your being ripped off?

Could you be getting ripped off on the outdoor gear you buy?

This article is about how many different companies have to oppertunity through smart advertising to  tak
advantage of your knowledge to get you to buy things you don't need or may not be fully useful
to you. 

The last thing you want to happen to you when you go camping is for your equipment to fail on you and
be left in the outdoors unprotected. Some companies will put an extremely high price on an item and 
promote the the product in a way witch makes you believe that you have to have it. Once you purcase
this product such as a tent, you go out camping and find that it collapses on you! This is what this article explains
which is not to buy things that you don't trust or may be at a high price range. 

In conclusion i would give this article 4 starts because it goes into detail about how not to buy things that may
seem out of you're price range and probably won't end up working out for you in the long run.  I believe that 
this article is very helpful and others should as well read it before making big price rang decisions. 

wanna know more? http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/gear-guy/What-gear-is-expensive-but-useless-.html

Dangers of hiking unprepared

This article explains the dangers of going hiking when not fully prepared. When you head for an exciting and dangerous journey of hiking you have to make sure that you are fully prepared and know what you are doing or you can get into serious trouble.

This article goes into detail about how three American hikers head to Iraq to hike the Zagros mountains and come into some trouble because they didn't know what they were getting into. These American hunters went hiking on the Zagros mountains which lie near the boarder of Iraq and Iran. The Americans went at the hight of summer and the path they chose to take was deserted. Through non preparation, ignorance and cultural misunderstanding they ended up straying off the path into Iran. They were brought to jail by the Iran boarder guards thinking that they were American spies.

What this article shows is that when going out into the wilderness without any preparation and knoledge of the outdoors it can make you end up in places you didn't want to be. In conclusion I would give this article three and a half stars for teaching future hikers about the dangers of hiking when poorly prepared.

"ENVIRONMENTALISTS, HUNTERS CLASH ON OUTDOORS BILL"

"ENVIRONMENTALISTS, HUNTERS CLASH ON OUTDOORS BILL"

This article explains about the concerns environmentalists and hunters have towards the "sportsmen's act of 2012" bill that is said to soon be passed. It explains the negative impact this bill will have on the environment and how it has nothing to contribute to society. 

The "Sportsman's act of 2012" is a bill that encourages the raise in cost of fish and wild life habitats as well as expand opportunities of hunters. The money that come out from the raised causesgoestowards enviromental issues. Now why are the environmentalists cosernd? Well, the bill initials the continuation of lead ammunition witch produces around 14,000 tons of lead in the environment each year. This also follows with many different types of material that may be harmful to the environment.

In conclusion I would give this article 4 stars for informing people about how the enviromental bill is more harmful to the enviromental than it is helpful and it gives a good reason to be concerned.