This week in climbing: Three senior citizens who would stomp your ass up Everest, Sharma enjoys another enormously long sport route that no one else can climb, Alex Honnold and Sean Leary have a fun play day in the Valley, and a 12-year-old girl who climbs harder than you ever will.
Not sure how we're going to settle it. Saran seems like the easy winner. Then a tarp tent. Then, well, hell lets give it to these folks over at Terra Nova who claim to Photo Elite is the "lightest tent in the world", weighing in at a slim 1 lb. 7 oz.; a little more than 4 quarter pounders at McDonalds.
The new Laser Photon is set to break our own record for the lightest two-skin tent commercially available. With a packed weight of just 790g the Laser Photon beats all comers, in the lightweight tent stakes, hands down. With the same shape and dimensions of the Laser Competition user comfort is not compromised and the Laser Photon will still sleep two on an event such at the OMM. New fabrics and pegs create the bulk of the weight saving after painstaking research by Terra Nova. Our new Titanium skewer weighs just 1g and is exclusively available on the Laser Photon. In another first for Terra Nova the Laser Photon features a silicon coated groundsheet, which allows lighter weight fabrics to be used and still maintain waterproof performance
You remember Injinji, the company we wrote about a couple of years ago that makes those toe socks? They're coming out with a new over-the-calf compression sock that "fuels circulation to promote faster muscle recovery and prevent fatigue during and after exercise." Yay, another entry into the "compression" athletic market:
“The Performance Compression Toesock’s lower-leg graduated compression system coupled with Injinji’s patented design, which provides unmatched mobility for the toes, offers optimal circulation for runners and other performance athletes,” explains Jan Kimbrell, vice president of sales for Injinji. “It’s an all-in-one system that negates the need for other devices.”
Graduated compression has been proven to prevent blood from pooling in the lower extremities, thus reducing swelling and the onset of muscle fatigue. The Injinji Performance Compression Toesock’s patented Anatomical Interface System (AIS) Technology, which separates each toe with a thin layer of anti-friction fabric, provides a unique advantage in that the wearer benefits from compression and enhanced circulation starting from the tips of the toes. Part of Injinji’s popular Performance Series, the sock is ideal for running, walking, cycling, cross-training and other performance activities.
Regardless of whether there are any benefits to the compression, we're liking the over the calf look. We're seeing this as clipping into our garters when we hit the town cross dressing. And the separate toes? We tell you about our foot fetish? Forgetabout!
Coming in a century too late, National Geographic in their "Next Big Things" discover fixies and features SWOBO's Del Norte. Good for the boys across the bridge. But wow, we really scratch our head on some of the other picks. The Creative Labs Vado HD? Seriously? SIGG bottles? Wow. Golf clap for the MSM.
Matthew Lee of North Carolina was again the hit of his own party yesterday morning, arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border at Antelope Wells, N.M., finishing this year's 2,745-mile unsupported Tour Divide from Banff in 17 days, 23 hours and 45 minutes. Do the math on that, and don't get depressed when you figure out that he averaged more miles in one day than you rode in all of last month. Lee, a veteran of the Great Divide Race and creator of the Tour Divide, called this year's weather "Some of the toughest ever." He also won last year's inaugural TD with a time of 19 days and 12 hours, and will this year take home the Tour Divide grand prize of nothing.
Bonus: Here's a trailer for Mike Dion's upcoming documentary, Ride The Divide.
We kept looking around for a way to pay our respects to these two icons, but within the context of some kind of outdoor activity. We bring you two American heroes outside, skating and skiing.
Specialized's spun off, Globe Bicycle Brand, made it's interweb debut over the weekend. The site is live with a full spectrum of "urban" bikes, from the cruiser (Carmel - $390 to $500) to the fixie (Roll - $610 to $830) to the cargo bike (Haul - $660 to $1,00 & Live - $550 to $1,550). In other news, GetOutdoors will be rolling out their own brand of "urban" bikes in 2010 called GoBlixie. Keep checking back for updates.
Oregonian, Hal Koerner, a 33-year old running shop owner from Ashland won his 2nd consecutive Western States 100 over the weekend. He ran the 100 mile course in 16 hours, 24 minutes. In other news, the GoBlog editorial team drank a 6 pack of Coors Light and ate 4 bags of corn nuts in about 38 minutes. Not too shabby huh? So congratulations to Hal, but to us as well. High fives! Neither feats were as easy as they sound.
What can you really say about Kevin Bacon climbing Pikes Peak with his band, then playing a concert tribute to Farrah Fawcett at the summit? This at least proves that he's still in as good of shape as when he filmed Quicksilver in 1986. Also, the guy from the Colorado Springs Gazette decided to try to write a story entirely in the present tense about the whole thing. [Photo by Cole W. Eberle, Colorado Springs Gazette]
Lovewell State Park KS United States Lovewell State Park in northcentral Kansas is a haven for outdoor recreationists who look for variety in their vacations.
Join the GetOutdoors Outdoor Network and meet others to exchange trail information, to recount your favourite climb, to borrow gear from a friend. It's easy, fun, and free, so sign up now. If you're already signed up, log in and start getting in touch with your network.
Women: Hiking Boots Hiking boots come in a variety of choices from day hiking to extended backpacking trips. Getting the proper boot is as essential as planning the trip.
“ In the search for up-to-date information about a particular river or trail, the best sources can be hard to reach. But now GetOutdoors, a Web site based in Berkeley, has started making such communication easier. ” The Oakland Tribune
This week in climbing: Three senior citizens who would stomp your ass up Everest, Sharma enjoys another enormously long sport route that no one else can climb, Alex Honnold and Sean Leary have a fun play day in the Valley, and a 12-year-old girl who climbs harder than you ever will.
You remember 
Oregonian, Hal Koerner, a 33-year old running shop owner from Ashland 
