Outdoor Adventure Blog

I'll Strike Where I Want by Andy 05/01/2012 05:28:48 P.M.

Everyone has heard the ol’ saying “there is more than one way to skin a cat”. That saying plays pretty true for most situations.  There is no black & white, there is more than one way to do things. I attempt to use this type of reasoning for most every part of my life but it doesn’t always happen that way. Sometimes I get a little tunnel vision and think that one way is the only way. Most recently, I have had to use this reasoning with my running style, more specifically; I have learned that there is not always one way to strike the ground.  

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How to Plan an Overnight Hike by Krispy Kritter 04/17/2012 05:49:54 P.M.

To any experienced hiker there is one thing that is most important before even the first boot imprint is left on the trail: planning. Now, if the trip that is being planned is a multiple overnight hike - there can be so many details, that preparation can quickly become a jumbled mess of complexities.

Not only is it imperative, but - it’s also fun. Seasoned hikers, including myself, will use planning as a way to lengthen the pleasure of the hike. Through this stage we can extend the euphoria of the hike by thinking and re-thinking about the adventure, days, weeks, even months before actually being on trail.*

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Go Pro HD Hero II Analysis by Dirk 04/06/2012 05:08:30 P.M.

Nothing gets me more excited to go on another adventure than browsing through old photos and videos of a previous trip. Not only do they inspire me to relive some old memories, they motivate me to experience the things that I never had a chance to. The sole purpose of any adventure is to live it, love it, and then hopefully remember it. That is why the GoPro HD2 has become my newest travel companion. Not only does it help me document the fun activities that I can later show to my friends, it’s the next best thing to reliving ‘that one amazing moment in time’ again.

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A Beginner's Look at Adventure Racing by Andy 03/21/2012 10:49:40 A.M.

The easiest way to explain a Pangea Adventure Race is; a off-road triathlon mixed with a scavenger hunt on steroids. If you’ve ever enjoyed running and exploring things in the woods then it’s pretty safe to say that you’d enjoy a Pangea race.  On top of everything, you get dirty, you get sweaty, you might get a scratch or two, but you have a hell of a story to start work Monday morning with.

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My First Half-Marathon Trail Run by Andy 03/02/2012 11:45:13 A.M.

On a warm winter’s morning I found myself in an unfamiliar place: lined up next to 300+ ambitious souls preparing to begin an organized trail run. My buddy Brian and I were running in a half marathon trail race. Our benevolent employer, Travel Country, sponsored us and we were outfitted with the latest gear (Brian in the New Balance Minimus and me in Inov8 F-Lite 195).

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Adventure Racing Primer by Bryan 02/10/2012 01:04:34 P.M.

There’s something primal about adventure racing. It’s basic. Natural. One step above breathing; two above sleeping. Combining orienteering and all-out speed, adventure racing is like being a 'hunter-gatherer' who’s chasing down dinner. The only difference; dinner is a checkpoint and survival is (generally) expected.

Pangea Adventure Racing has pioneered this exciting sport in Central Florida for years, and Travel Country was lucky enough to be a part of their Super Hero AR event held in Apopka, Florida on September 17th. Participants for this race were encouraged to dress up to add to the ambiance, which was fun; however, the most “super” things about the event were the amount of heat and the size of the ticks. 

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"Holy Smokies...Tennessee is Rad" by Andy 12/27/2011 05:16:58 P.M.

That’s the message I sent to some friends upon my family’s arrival to the Volunteer State. I already have an affinity for the mountains that was birthed in me when I grew up in Oregon, and as November began, with the leaves turned a beautiful golden yellow color, the air carried a crisp - almost cedar tasting - feel to it – and I was loving life. Add to that, the fact that it was my 31^st birthday and we were in town for a wedding – and it’s clear to me that the galaxy had offered me a most radical weekend adventure.

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Transcendent Warmth by Richard 12/05/2011 02:54:41 P.M.

Last winter, I picked up an Outdoor Research Transcendent Sweater for the cold season.

Unfortunately, I also inherited the most thorough sickness I’d had in the last ten years. The doctor said it was flu and that I must simply wait it out, however long that may take. Begrudgingly, I saddled my car and headed back home to patiently wait for the illness to relinquish its grip on my preferences and time.

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An Exposition on the Gregory Z55 Backpack by Dirk 11/30/2011 10:16:13 A.M.

Explaining the functionality of my internal framed Gregory Z-Series (Jade Series for the ladies) backpack is like trying to explain the resourcefulness of a pocketknife on the trail - it's essential. The versatility is broad, no matter where you find your destination.

My experience with the Gregory Z 55 has resulted in me falling in love with it…as well as a professional butt kicking to my ego because my backpack has proven to be more rugged and resilient than me! Now I know you could be thinking “there’s no way that an inanimate object can possibly throw punches…” but I kid you not, it very well might be able to do so with all its advantageous features. (It’s these) that help make it the ultimate companion on any domestic or international adventure!

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BIC ACS Stand Up Paddle Board by Andy 11/25/2011 02:37:00 P.M.

The Bic ACS 11’4” is a polyethylene stand up paddle board that is both, easy to ride and tough as coffin nails.  Drop it, run it into the ground, hit it with the paddle, it really doesn't matter; this board takes the beating and keeps asking for more.  This is why I've become BIC SUP's newest fan.

I rode the ACS for the better part of an afternoon and that was all it took to win me over.  It was extremely sturdy, good weight disbursement, and easy to paddle.  I almost have a hard time saying this because I come from a surfing background and Bic surfboards are not something you want to be seen riding. Im not saying Bic makes a bad board just that they don’t receive the respect I (now)think they deserve.  

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