All In the Outdoors posts

When traveling, you want to make sure you take the best pictures possible… especially if you’re headed out on a once-in-a-lifetime journey or expedition. But what makes a good photograph? This article from The Mountain World blog gives some great advice to follow to ensure you get an awesome photo every time.

Professional speaker, climber, and photographer Jake Norton lists 10 Tips to Take Better Expedition Photos. These 10 tips include the ever-helpful “rule of thirds”, advice for panoramic shots, how to shoot in the snow, and when to (and when not to) zoom in.

You don’t have to be a professional to take stunning pictures (though it does help). Just remember, no matter how badly you want to place your subject smack dab in the middle of the photograph, don’t do it! Experiment with placement, light and perspective… and come home with frame-worthy photographs every time.

Interested in a new challenge this winter? Ready for something different than traditional alpine skiing? If you picture yourself in high terrain, making the first tracks in pristine powder-filled bowls or gliding along deep forest trails on the lookout for wildlife, you might be ready to leave the ski lifts behind and embark on a Nordic skiing adventure.

Nordic skiing isn’t limited to leisurely cross-country excursions. Telemarking, alpine touring, and backcountry skiing are adrenaline-dumping, heart-pounding sports that can be done in the vast, wide-open wilderness… without a crowd in sight.

If you’re intrigued by, but unfamiliar with, Nordic skiing, check out our new Nordic Skiing Guide for insight and answers. Here’s a sneak peek at the guide…

Read More »

People are fascinated with dolphins. Always have been. And it’s not a one-way street — dolphins seem to feel a connection to us, too. For as long as men have been working or playing in the ocean, there have been tales of dolphins saving them from peril at sea. Here’s yet another one…

Read More »

When a cruise ship went down in the icy waters of Antarctica last week, all 157 passengers on board were saved by a nearby ship. But rising in the wake of the disaster are questions about the safety of the Antarctic tourism boom — both for people and the environment.

In the 1992-93 season, about 6,700 tourists visited the Antarctic, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. This season, that number more than quadrupled to 35,000.

Read More »

‘Tis the season… it’s time to get your Christmas tree. This weekend is the perfect time to choose your tree. But before you do, read on to make sure your Christmas tree isn’t only the color green, but that it’s environmentally green, too.

1. Chop down a tree at your local Christmas tree farm. Tree farms are sustainable. When you cut down your tree, it’s soon replaced by another one that will be for sale in the future. Until then, it’s there to filter carbon dioxide out of the air and provide habitats for animals. Keeping it local saves fuel that’s wasted importing trees. Call around to see if there are any organic tree farms in your area.

2. Get a living Christmas tree (with roots) from a nursery (or from a tree farm) and plant it in your backyard (or out in the woods) when Christmas is over. Only plan on having it indoors for a week, though, or it might not make it. If you live in Portland, OR, you could also rent a living Christmas tree that will be planted after Christmas.

Read More »