Archive for the 'Video' Category

Bears on Film

Published on July 2, 2008 in National Forests and Recreation Areas, The Great Outdoors, Video and in the media. 1 Comment

nullFor whatever reason, bears appear to be all over the news lately. In the past month, they’ve been caught plowing into bikers, heading into town for Big Macs, and taking dips in the Gulf of Mexico. Now they’re showing up everywhere on camera, too.

The USGS has been setting up bear-proof cameras all over the National Parks and Forests along the Continental Divide for almost a decade, and now they’re releasing the footage to the public.

The extensive and growing collection of videos show bears and other wildlife in various states of adorable, and include many instances of behavior never before seen in the wild.

Of course, because the video was released to the public — which includes The Internets — it didn’t take long for someone to make a version of the videos with bears performing seductive bark-dancing for their human audiences.

Oh, Internet. You irrepressible scamp, you.

Image by dbarronoss

ZOMG Heights

Published on April 30, 2008 in Video, climbing and hiking. 0 Comments

For a hiker, I have a few issues with heights — mainly where sheer, death-creating drops are involved.

I’m getting better — while I still have trouble making the descent on Strawberry Peak’s Mountaineer’s Route, I only had moderately severe leg-shaking while going down the Mooney Falls ladder in Havasu. One trail I will probably never do, however, is the Camino Del Rey in Spain.

Besthike dug up this first-person video tour of the hundred-year-old crumbling cliff-side walkway, and it’s guaranteed to give you at least two or three “OMG, no!” moments while you’re watching it.

… or maybe it will make you a little more confident in tackling those less terrifying ascents you’ve been putting off.


Breaking News: Plight of Missing Hikers Will Make Great Movie

Published on April 8, 2008 in Video and Web Sites and Apps. 0 Comments


Breaking News: Plight Of Missing Hikers Will Make Great Movie

Courtesy my fine friends at The Onion.

Garmin Colorado Review

Published on March 26, 2008 in GPS, Video and product reviews. 6 Comments

On Easter, I took a short hike into Bear Canyon. The purpose was two-fold: 1). to get into some of that icy water on a hot day 2). to take a fancy new Garmin Colorado 400t GPS unit onto the trail for a short test.

I clipped my trusty eTrex Legend Cx onto its normal position on my left shoulder, and used a carabiner included with the Colorado packaging to attach the newer unit to my right shoulder. I wanted to compare the two units’ receptions and interfaces … and I wanted to go onto the trail knowing I looked like a total dork.

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Welzenbach Explained

Published on March 5, 2008 in Joshua Tree National Park, Video, climbing and hiking. 0 Comments

If you’ve ever been reading a trail write up and come across a phrase like “class-three bouldering,” you may have stopped and asked yourself, “What the hell does that mean?”

Well, it’s called the Welzenbach System.

“OK,” you say. “Now what the hell does that mean?”

Tom dug up a clear, short, and wonderful video from BackpackingVideos that sets the whole thing straight with footage from Joshua Tree to illustrate exactly what these terms mean.

Now feel free to throw ‘em around when you want to intimidate other newbie hikers.

Via the venerable Two-Heel Drive.

Hiking Santa Anita Canyon

Published on February 17, 2008 in Angeles National Forest, Trail Write-Ups, Video and hiking. 5 Comments

A loop on multiple trails through one of the most picturesque and popular canyons in the San Gabriels. Multiple stream crossings, river cascades, shaded canyons and a 50 foot waterfall give way to thick forests, vine-covered trails, Jeffrey Pines, and eventually chaparral slopes of the front range. A beautiful trail with varied landscapes and plenty of places to extend your stay - either by camping or taking spur trails deeper into the mountains. A highly-recommended trail.

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Hiking The Maze

Published on February 1, 2008 in Joshua Tree National Park, Trail Write-Ups, Video and hiking. 0 Comments

A newly-designated trail near the West Entrance, this loop encompasses parts of the North View, Maze, and Window Rock trails. A fantastic route that winds through large boulder formations, desert washes, slot canyons, and Joshua Tree forests, this path encompasses just about everything people love about Joshua Tree in one lightly-traveled trail. Highly recommended.
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Hiking Sunset Peak

Published on January 24, 2008 in Angeles National Forest, Trail Write-Ups, Video and hiking. 1 Comment

A winding fire-road hike to one of the front peaks near the Mt. Baldy Area. This is the longer but less strenuous of two routes, and offers outstanding, panoramic views of the Baldy Bowl and - on clear days - the seemingly never-ending sprawl of Rancho Cucamonga. At the peak itself are the remains of an old fire tower that burned down years ago.

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