We are now in the middle of winter. Grab a warm beverage, pull up your electronic device, and see what is so serious (and not so serious) in the outdoor world.
- Cam Honan of The Hiking Life wrote an article about the importance of sweat equity in giving back to the outdoors rather than just talking about it.
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- And speaking of Cam Homan, Ultralight Jerk’s guest interviewer asks this world-famous hiker some pointed questions.
- Not all memories of long hikes are necessarily good ones!
- Ultralight Jerk’s view of cubicle life is a bit too accurate.
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- Skis are older than the wheel?
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Scientists say the Altai hunter’s lifestyle extends back thousands of years, as evidenced by this ancient rock engraving of a skier chasing an ibex. photo: npr
- And speaking of melting ice and the changing environment, Backpacker Magazine’s article of places to hike before permanent changes occur makes for interesting reading.
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Ancestral Pueblo dwellings, such as the Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde, among these areas.
- With more satellite launches, more widespread connectivity is not just from the realm of science fiction. That means an impact on the night sky and the potential for accidents, too.
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The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) has a roughly 1-in-1,000 chance of colliding with another defunct satellite Jan. 29, according to tracking data from LeoLabs. Credit: NASA/JPL
- And finally, some sobering news about the state of how many Americans participate in outdoor recreation. Spoiler: Few than half. I’m not surprised. With Americans working longer hours, and taking fewer vacation days than other nations, going outdoors is a lower priority. Never mind the outdoors part, I think it is just a reflection of many trends that have been going on for decades (financially, culturally, technology-wise). I’ll probably write some more detailed thoughts on this topic later this week.