The local Sole Boutique here in San Antonio recently linked up with the brand for this limited edition Shadow 5000 that looks great. The black/grey suede and mesh upper is counterbalanced with hits on neon on the stitching and outsole while the boutiques branding is seen along the upper too in the form of the tongue tag and the bear logo. Look for these to drop in July but be ready, there are only 100 pairs to go around.

The New Balance MR2002 isn’t a model that receives much attention but the shoe is a top tier running sneaker that rivals the best. The kick’s feature all of the New Balance corporations best technology: Full length N-ergy: A resilient engineered elastomer designed to provide shock absorption and responsiveness for the optimal ride, Dual Density Collar Foam: Added cushioning and durability, Full grain nubuck upper: For a soft, plush feel, USA made open air mesh: Lightweight upper with increased breathability, Stability Web: Superior, lightweight midfoot support, Ndurance outsole: Rubber compound for maximum durability in high-wear areas, and a Blown rubber outsole for Lightweight and cushioned ride.

Now in stock–Goodsports.com

Rips, tears and leaks call for hard-nosed measures.

Use Tenacious Tape to patch up and repair all sorts of outdoor gear, including tents, rain flys, sleeping bags, packs, jackets, rainwear and paddling gear. With super-aggressive stick and clean adhesive technology, and made from the same fabric as high quality tents, Tenacious Tape takes duct tape to the mat. Tenacious Tape is part of a comprehensive line of Care and Repair products from Gear Aid. With Gear Aid, anyone can be a master of gear repair. Works on nylon, vinyl, netting, plastic, and breathable fabrics.

Tenacious Tape uses real tent fabric and high-strength adhesive to provide fast, permanent, nearly invisible repairs. Clean adhesive technology allows Tenacious Tape to be removed without leaving duct tape’s ugly gluey mess. Ideal for repairs on tents, tarps, mosquito netting, rain gear, backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads and mattresses, seat cushions, soft coolers, boat covers and more.

Tenacious Brand repair tape is ideal for fast in-field repairs on tents, tarps, rain gear, fishing gear and more.  Instantly seals leaking seams, tears and pinholes, stops rips from spreading and acts as an abrasion-resistant shield on high-wear areas.

Can be used in conjunction with McNett Urethane Adhesives for ultra strong repairs. Includes one 3″ x 20″ (50cm x 7.5cm) strip of tape, 60 sq. inches (375 sq. cm).

• • Super-aggressive adhesive for long lasting repairs
• • Clean Adhesive Technology – Leaves No Sticky, Ugly Residue
• • Lightweight and Compact – Easy to Carry in the Field
• • Clear, nearly invisible adhesive

Although the sequels to Grease and Caddyshack may deter you from ever wanting to improve on a classic, The North Face managed to beat the odds and upgrade their best-selling Paramount Peak Convertible Pant.  They retained all of the staples of a dependable pair of hiking pants, while also taking the time to improve details wherever possible.  The fit strikes a nice balance between being relaxed enough to comfortably allow high stepping through steep talus, yet athletic enough to avoid billowing like a pillowcase on a clothesline in a strong breeze. 

The material itself was upgraded with TEX40 thread for increased durability.  During testing at Channel Islands National Park, the pants handled abuse with aplomb.  Scraping across the diverse geology of Santa Cruz Island left the fabric unfazed, and the DWR finish repelled ocean spray on a morning scramble just as well as spilt wine at sunset.  In addition, the fabric is bluesign ® approved (a standard for environmentally-friendly production methods), which helps reinforce the concept that you can both be green and tough.

If you’re the sort who likes to stay organized from the waist down, the myriad pockets provide ample opportunity.  The side cargo pockets are big enough for large maps, the hip and back pockets remain accessible with a pack on, and a secure, zippered stash pocket on the right hip protects important items.

Personally, the real coup de grace on these pants is their actual performance as shorts.  Other convertibles have notoriously emphasized the ‘short’ in shorts; fortunately for all parties, the 10” cut gets close enough to the knees to be acceptable in more social situations than just night hikes.  As a bonus, The North Face color coded the zippers to avoid the seemingly inevitable confusion that stems from trying to reattach the pant legs in a hurry.

Bottom Line: Fortunately for users and The North Face, these pants are more Indiana Jones than Grease 2.  If you’re looking for a dependable pair of hiking britches that will confidently get you through most three-season hikes, the Peak Paramount pants are tough to beat.

Via-Backpacker.com

If you’re shy about talking to strangers or self-conscious when people stare at your feet and whisper to their friends, the Vibram Five Fingers line of shoes will help you overcome your fears. You will find yourself in conversations in the supermarket checkout line or with random passersby on the street. Everyone wants to know, “Are those shoes?” (Answer: Sort of.) “Are they comfortable?” (Answer: yes.)

The deal with the Vibram Five Fingers KSO Trek is that it’s designed to trick your feet into thinking they’re naked. The proponents of barefoot running claim all sorts of benefits to going sans shoes. Enhanced leg and foot strength, reduced injuries, improved posture and balance, the list is fairly extensive. The hypothesis is that our bodies were designed to be barefoot and to run around on uneven surfaces. But shoes and the flat floors we walk on have weakened our muscles and connective tissues, dulling our reactions and agility. Think of barefooting like going organic for the shoe crowd.

I’m a regular runner and believer in compound, body-weight exercises, so I was intrigued by the idea of barefoot running. But I also have soft, baby-like feet completely devoid of calluses, and the thought of running around trails barefoot filled my imagination with nightmarish visions of imbedded twigs and infected cuts.

I promise you this: The KSO Treks are unlike any other shoes you’ve ever worn. Instead of supporting your foot, they simply protect it from sharp things and let your foot move naturally. Most noticeable, they have a small pocket for each toe, like gloves for your feet, to let your toes move individually. It’s as close to being barefoot as you can get without risking your skin to the ground. The thin rubber sole provides just a bit of cushion, enough to take the jarring edge off from walking on concrete, but doesn’t feel that different from wearing regular shoes.

The first thing you’ll notice is that the Five Fingers are a little harder to put on than normal shoes. With a little practice I was able to do it in about 1 minute, but getting each toe into its little slot took a little concentration. Sizing is very important, and if your second toe is a lot longer than your big toe you might be out of luck.

Via-Backpacker.com

Five days after his 1933 inauguration, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called an emergency session of Congress to install one of his most popular New Deal programs, the Conservation Civilian Corps.

The program targeted unemployed young men, veterans and American Indians hard hit by the Great Depression. The CCC boys received free education, healthcare and job training and were required to send a portion of their wages home to their parents. The boys also

Throughout its nine-year existence, the program put millions to work on federal and state land for the ‘prevention of forest fires, floods, and soil erosion, plant, pest, and disease control.’ Nationwide, enrollees planted three billion trees and came to be known as the Tree Army.

The photos above are from the Oregon Public Broadcast’s Oregon Experience: CCC. Oregon hosted dozens of CCC camps all over the state, where enrollees fought fires on the Tillamook Burns, helped build ski areas on Mt Hood, built telephone and electrical wires, and improved farm lands.

If you don’t know too much about the CCC, start here. Thanks ColdSplinter.com for the post.

Legendary mountaineer, environmentalist and founder of the National Outdoor Leadership School, Paul Petzoldt, died Oct. 6, 1999, after a lengthy illness.
“This was a man to match our mountains,” said former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson. “That was Paul. Earthy, warm, wise, witty, a bear of a man with a heart as big as his body and a smile as big as both of those.”

The Early Expeditions
Petzoldt grew up in southern Idaho with a great love of the outdoors and nearby mountain ranges, particularly the Tetons. In 1924, at the age of l6, Petzoldt made his first ascent of Wyoming’s Grand Teton, wearing cowboy boots. As the result of this nearly disastrous expedition, Petzoldt recognized the need to have better training and better preparation. He became a pioneer in a number of mountaineering techniques. He was the first to use a voice signal system for climbers and developed the “sliding middleman” technique for snow climbing and travel. In the early 1930s, Petzoldt started the first guide concession in Grand Teton National Park.

In 1938, Petzoldt was selected to join the first American expedition to K2 in the Himalayas. While on this climb, he set a record for the longest continuous time at an altitude of more than 20,000 feet without artificial oxygen.

During World War II, Petzoldt served with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale, Colo., teaching the ski troops safety and preparation techniques. In the spring of 1942, Petzoldt worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was responsible for the buying and shipment of food to Russia with the Lend Lease Program.

The Rise of the National Outdoor Leadership School
Throughout his life Petzoldt worked to preserve and protect wild lands. In 1963 he testified before Congress in favor of the Wilderness Act.

Also in 1963, Petzoldt helped establish the first American Outward Bound program in Colorado. While working at Outward Bound, he recognized the need to teach people how to safely enjoy and conserve the outdoors. His vision was to train leaders capable of conducting wilderness programs in a safe and rewarding manner and the result was the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).

He founded NOLS in Lander, Wyo., in 1965. After being featured in a documentary on the Alcoa Hour and in Life magazine, Petzoldt’s school rapidly grew and today, the school he started more than 40 years ago is the leading nonprofit outdoor education school, with more than 120,000 alumni. Paul Petzoldt later went on to found the Wilderness Education Association in 1977, and it is said he considers NOLS and WEA to be his two most lasting and important contributions to society. NOLS has 14 locations around the world and educates more than 3,000 students annually.

“Paul’s contribution to the youth of America, to wilderness and to the development of leaders is unparalleled,” said John Gans, executive director of NOLS. “Paul developed the concept of outdoor education, forever giving the world a gift.”

Thirty years(and a few days) after the blast.  The level of devastation is remarkable and the pictures are surreal.  Nice post from Boston.com

Welcome to summer South Texas, the lazy days of 100 degrees and dripping humidity are gaining traction on us as we pass mid May.  Unless you live under a rock in the running community you have seen these hats and headbands on a growing amount of athletes.  Made of Coolmax that dries 3-4 times faster than cotton and blocks the sun with 20SPF.  For less that $25 its a steal.  Actual stock may very from picture.