by Allie Comeau on December 14, 2007 
1 comment
Has someone on your shopping list got you stumped? Never fear. Here are some great ideas for Christmas gifts under $75 from Paddy, our very own gift-giving guru…
Give the Gift of Gear:
North Face Mentor Daypack - $44.85 Everybody needs a daypack.
Swiss Army Farmer Knife and AAA LED Light (in Gift Tin) $39.95 Everybody may also need a knife and a flashlight.
For Him:
Cullen Lambswool Sweater - Crew Neck $39.95 Mmm… lambswool.
Marker Fleece Jacket - 200 Wt $58.50 Warm, studly.
Acorn Moccasin Slippers $24.95 Treat his feet.
Read more »
by Allie Comeau on December 13, 2007 2 comments
If you’re looking for a reason to get outside tonight, the Geminids meteor shower will be at its peak for viewing — and it’s going to be brilliant. According to astronomers…
“If you have not seen a mighty Geminid fireball arcing gracefully across an expanse of sky, then you have not seen a meteor.”
Gene Gardner, of the Smithsonian Institution’s Whipple Observatory, tells us that “on Thursday, December 13th, the meteor shower can be viewed as early as 8 - 10pm local time with the best viewing around 2am (on the 14th)”. The moon is in its new phase this year, making the 2007 Geminids shower appear exceptionally bright.
Read more »
by Allie Comeau on December 12, 2007 Leave the first comment
What is it that drives elite skiers like Seth Morrison, Chris Davenport, Ingrid Backstrom, Shane McConkey, Glen Plake, Bill Briggs, and Eric Pehota to risk their lives for adventure?
Filmed in the high peaks of Canada, France, Wyoming, Alaska, and Iceland, “Steep” is a new ski film that explores this question and highlights the thrills (and risks) associated with big mountain skiing. The film is centered around the tragic death of Doug Coombs, who, shortly after being filmed, died in a ski accident in France.
Read more »
by Allie Comeau on December 11, 2007 2 comments
If you’d like to take a special vacation this winter, consider heading south to Mexico. But not for the white sand beaches… for the butterflies. Millions of monarch butterflies have made their annual migration to the mountains of Mexico and you have until March to catch them in all of their glory.
Estimates put the number of monarchs at 4 million per acre in some of the butterfly reserves. Can you imagine?
“I have on many occasions seen Spaniards, Italians, Americans, Canadians, and Mexicans come into the butterfly colonies and literally weep,” said Lincoln Brower, a monarch expert at the University of Florida. “It’s such an overwhelming emotional experience to realize that you’re actually looking at these tens of millions of monarch butterflies that have come into this tiny, little area of Mexico.”
Read more »
by Allie Comeau on December 10, 2007 Leave the first comment
When it comes to insulation, down’s the best… right? Or is down insulation just the best for certain situations? Are synthetic fills every bit as warm and comfortable as down, but without the heavy price tag?
If you’re shopping for a jacket, sleeping bag, or even a comforter and are a little confused about the pros and cons of both down and synthetics, you’re in luck. We’ve created the Down vs. Synthetic Guide to compare the best (and worst) of the two.
Here’s an excerpt from the Down vs. Synthetic Guide… Read more »
