Fresh Outs 2009-11-21

Backpacking Dad Recommends: The Universal EveryTool. Go

"I received a package in the mail a while ago that contained probably the world’s greatest Universal EveryTool. The package was from Drew at Eden Fantasys and as befits free products sent from one man to another, the Tool was exactly what you’d have expected. Tthe Universal EveryTool comes packaged with a picture of a half-naked woman right there on the front. Basically, this is the cue that yes, this product has nothing to do with women and will only be of interest to men. Women would never buy a product with a picture of a half-naked them on the packaging."

HowStuffWorks: What exercises will prepare me for hiking Go

Mark's Daily Apple: Dear Mark: Primal Trail Food Go
AlmostFearless: Traveling Pregnant: Hiking and Tubing the Jaguar Reserve Go

You Had me at Idiot: Hiking -- The Stupid Recreational Choice Go

"Don't get me wrong, I've walked among trees before. I've been in wooded areas from time to time. But I've always been there because I'm trying to get my dog to poop. I've never grabbed a walking stick and just meandered around, climbing up and down hills for fun saying things like, 'Oh, look at the interesting growth under these leaves! Come, let us forge on and explore the bark over there.'"

Momma Bear: Laurel Highlands, PA Backpacking (photos) Go

Hiking Taiwan: Tapung Fort Go

Mountain Mama Marathoner: Buena Vista and Hartenstein Lake - Fall Colors and a Great Colorado Hike Go

Northern California Hiking Trails: Hike Of The Month Go

Japan with Jet: Hiking in Takashima, The Waterfall Hike Go

Her Side of the Mountain: I hike. I camp. I do it alone. You can too. Rules for Safety Go

Bear Bag Hanger's 2010: Florida Trail Journal Go

Barbara Martin: Hiking Trails - Saddleback Trail Go

The Saddleback Trail is located at Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta. Barbara Martin is currently writing dark fantasy novels, short stories and flash fiction in a variety of genres, articles on Canadian history, environment, book reviews, hiking.

Marlin and Sally: Frontline Stories from a Backwards Brain: Hiking the Land - Night 3 Go

"We know that a National Park named Bar’ am is nearby. Three of us have been there before. It is the place of an ancient synagogue, but also the home of Elias Chacour, Melkite Greek Catholic Bishop, famous for his book Blood Brothers."

The Amazing Trips: The journey of sixty miles begins Go

"The More The Merrier Walkers for Knockers team will be joining thousands of other walkers in a three day journey 60 miles around San Diego. We will be sleeping at night in little pink tents."

GlobalPost: Lebanese discover their own backyard, by Ben Gilbert Go

"A new trail that traverses Lebanon may dodge minefields and Hezbollah bunkers, but it, and a budding ecotourism business, is getting Lebanese out of the city and into the woods. The Lebanon Mountain Trail was built with a $3 million grant from the United States Agency for International Development during the last three years, and winds 227 miles through the country's rural interior, through 75 villages. It takes about 26 days to hike the length of the trail, which begins in north Lebanon and straddles the Mount Lebanon mountain range, where 6,000-foot peaks rise dramatically from the narrow Mediterranean coastline on one side and offer a view onto the Bekaa Valley on the other. Farther south the trail weaves through the rolling foot hills and olive orchards below Mount Hermon in South Lebanon."

Backpacker.com: Gear Test: GoLite Sarek Travel Hoody Go

Washington Examiner: Glaciers, cliffs no obstacle for peak-bagger, by Ben Giles Go

"Tristan Massie climbed up ice cliffs, slept on cold mountainsides and survived a near-deadly climbing accident on July 4 weekend, all in the name of hiking Mount Rainier. 'It's pretty dangerous, but it's better to die there than on the interstate,' Massie said."

Hiking in Finland: Interview: Fritz Handel from BushBuddy Go

The Art of Manliness: Go Small Or Go Home: In Praise of Minimalism Go

"And so I began going through each room of my house, searching for one item to throw or give away. It wasn’t life-changing, but it was a start. With each room I began to realize that many of the things I had purchased with such anticipation and fanfare had quickly been relegated to a dark corner of the closet as their novelty wore off, never to be touched again. I knew that possessions didn’t equal happiness, but it was apparent that I had been learning this lesson over and over again for the past several years. Each small step towards a life of less felt like a powerful blow to what had become a vicious cycle."

Hawksbill Cabin: G&H's AT Shake Down Hike - Part 3 Go

I'm continuing work on a new kind of backpacking site -- more than 800 terms defined over the last year, 6226 to go.

Ultralight backpacking stoves.