Lone Eagle Peak - Indian Peaks Wilderness, CO

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Iditarod Footrace Champ on Running Down Depression https://ift.tt/2N9bj5m

Pete Ripmaster won the 1,000-mile 2018 Iditarod Trail Invitational footrace in 26 days, 13 hours, 44 minutes.

Along the way, he lost 30 pounds, a bunch of toenails — and a sense of clinging to life. Powering to the ITI Foot 1000 finish line in first place put his life, including crippling depression, into perspective.

“Winning the Iditarod solidified what I’d been doing up there all these years,” Ripmaster said of earlier attempts at mushing, then running, in the extreme location.

“I was a professional at beating myself up, but I never knew what I was searching for.”

Dead Last to First, Alive and Wide-Eyed

Most people associate the name “Iditarod” with the annual dog mushing competition. But a few hardy souls complete the trail on foot a week before the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. It’s an invitation-only trek over the Alaska Range from Knik Lake to Nome.

During the ITI 1000, athletes start at sea level and climb to 10,000 feet, braving sub-zero temperatures and winds that can whip over 30 miles per hour. It’s often described as the longest, toughest winter ultramarathon in the world.

Still, three years ago, accomplished ultrarunner Ripmaster, 42, of Asheville, North Carolina, read an article about the 1,000-mile race and decided he wanted in. He called the director the same day. His sheer enthusiasm secured him a spot.

But the first time Ripmaster tried he almost died. He ran with hypothermia for miles after falling through the ice. And he came in dead last. Making adjustments, namely lighter gear, Ripmaster returned twice more. And this past March, he won the whole thing.

But he also won an inner battle.

Suffering from lifelong depression, which he said started with bullying in elementary school, Ripmaster has gone longer and harder in a futile attempt to run it down. His personal 50 marathons in 50 states journey is just one example in a long list.

But Ripmaster could never outpace the sweeping yet erratic rush of depression. It affected his life as a husband, father, athlete, and man.

But if a race could change a life for good, Ripmaster says his epiphany was in Alaska this March.

Ultrarunner Pete Ripmaster’s Iditarod Epiphanies

At the culmination of a career in endurance pursuits, we caught up with Ripmaster to hear some lessons learned. A nearly impossible task, he tried to sum up his personal realizations in five thoughts below.

I’m good enough right now.

I’ve come to understand that I’ve got absolutely nothing to prove to anybody. I’m aware that no future race or adventure will bring me total contentment and no failure is permanent. I’ve learned to look at failures and disappointments as building blocks towards future successes and triumphs. Nothing in this life comes easy, and endurance is the key.

The deep, dark woods hold the key to beating depression.

Darkness seems to creep in for me when I bury myself inside. Life unfolds best outside where it’s an adventure and a giant mystery. Sometimes just getting out of bed and out the door is very hard for me. But it’s amazing how much better I always feel when outside and active.

Run, jog, walk, hike, bike, rollerblade, skate, ski, kick, climb, boat, swim, and proactively fight against your depression.

For me, running is the ultimate anti-depressant.

I’ve dealt with depression from a young age. I’ve lost both my parents and struggled with alcoholism, pornography addiction, and gambling issues — and faced many dark times because of these things.

Over the last decade, I’ve found running to be the only long-term, long-lasting counter to my depression. Medications didn’t work for me; they made me feel gray. And not experiencing life’s ups and downs was almost worse than being depressed. Find what works for you and don’t beat yourself up; it takes time.

The real power is in the now, not later.

I’ve spent way too much time beating myself up for past mistakes or missed opportunities. In the same vein, I’ve also spent entirely too much time thinking about where I’d like to be in the future. What I was completely missing was the present moment.

With the help of my trusty psychologist, I’ve started to unlock the power of today, not tomorrow. This has been a game changer for me and has caused me to start smelling the damn roses! The present moment is available to all who are willing to slow down a bit.

It takes a small village.

It’s funny to me: If somebody gets cancer, they are showered in love, fundraising, and meals. But there’s a stigma that somebody who suffers from depression chooses it. It’s absurd. No one would choose to walk through this world with depression.

I would highly encourage you to honestly open up to those you love about your depression. Open up to folks who are strong enough to go through troubled waters with you, without judgment. If it’s friends or family, great.

But if there is nobody to take that role in your current circle, or if you feel your problems are beyond their aid, seek professional help.

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As for Ripmaster’s next big undertaking, he got at least one 50-miler on the near horizon. But he’s in no kind of rush.

“It’s tough to do others when you’ve been to the mountaintop.”

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Better Mountain Bike Light: Mystic Devices Digitally Steers to Illuminate Trail https://ift.tt/2xJJyM9

Mountain biking at night could get a little better if a new light launched today can deliver on its promises. Mystic Devices, a small startup brand, introduces a light that predicts and shines in the direction you want to go.

As the days get shorter but ground stays dry, mountain bikers hoping to stretch their seasons will start turning to lighted rides. That means powerful lamps mounted to handlebars and riding in tunnels of light.

And for those die-hards getting after it at night, Mystic Devices aims for a new lighting innovation: the Hydra3.

Mystic Devices Hydra3

The Hydra3 bike light uses what the brand calls “terrain-adaptive technology.” In it, electronics and software “sense your motion and automatically steer the light around corners like the headlights on high-end luxury cars,” according to Mystic Devices.

The goal of the brand is to allow riders to possibly ditch their helmet-mounted lights. A lot of riders use both a helmet light and bar light to illuminate the trails because the helmet light definitely looks where you’re looking. In theory, this light could make one-light rides the norm.

Countersteering and Bike Lights

I know what you’re thinking: The bike light should point where you go when you turn the handlebars. But that’s not quite accurate. You don’t steer a bike by turning the bars. You steer it by leaning. This is called countersteering. The video below explains the concept pretty well.

We first learned about the Hydra3 at The Pitch, a startup competition GearJunkie sponsored at the Wayfinder Co-op in Denver. Mystic Devices won that event. A panel of expert judges, including gear designers and venture capitalists, chose it as the top prospect.

And today, the brand launched its Kickstarter campaign. It hopes to raise $75,000 to bring the Hydra3 to market.

Hydra3: Aiming Saves Battery Power

While the idea of a bike light that points where you’re going makes good sense, it has a somewhat hidden benefit: It also saves power.

This is because, according to the brand, the light can shoot a narrower beam than most lights. It doesn’t need as wide a flood because it lights up only what you need to see, thus using less energy. This saves weight, as a smaller battery will still provide sufficient illumination. The brand’s pitch video, below, goes into more depth.

As for brightness, the Hydra3 puts out the equivalent of 900 lumens. It has an IP64 water-resistance rating and runs for two hours on high using its internal battery. You can also run external battery packs to the light, which gives users the option to carry more batteries for longer rides.

So how does the light know where to project lumens? Here’s the brand’s explanation:

“Inside the Hydra3 is a micro-controller and a set of sensors that continuously estimate the motion of your bike. It’s able to detect smooth straight sections, tight switchbacks, fast corners, and extremely technical terrain where your handlebars are moving quickly. Based on the motion of the bike, the internal algorithms digitally steer the light to the most optimal part of the trail or road by smoothly blending the three different LEDs.”

Without using one of these (and GearJunkie has only briefly seen a prototype), it’s hard to guess how actual field performance would pan out. But the idea is promising.

If you’re into the concept and want to get on the front end of this new product, you can grab one for $149 on Kickstarter (about 15 percent off the retail price). We hope to get our hands on one soon to put it through the paces as daylight wanes this fall.

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Old Town Topwater 106 Angler: A Good Kayak in a Small Package https://ift.tt/2Ok9BCT

Sometimes, bigger isn’t better. I had the opportunity to take the new Old Town Topwater in its 10-foot 6-inch incarnation for a test spin, and it held its own on small water.

At 10 feet 6 inches long, the Topwater is designed for fishing those ponds and small lakes that may be more difficult to access with a larger fishing kayak. I’ve struggled in the past with the lack of portability of bigger, heavier kayaks.

The Topwater offers a solution for getting in and out quickly, even when the path to water isn’t clear.

On the water, the Topwater is maneuverable and extremely stable. Overall, the Topwater performed nicely getting in and out of tight spots. This kayak was made for the small lake or pond fisherman and holds its own in that environment.

Old Town Topwater 106 Specs

• Length: 10 feet 6 inches
• Width: 34.5 inches
• Weight: 73 pounds
• Max Capacity: 440 pounds
• Price: $899.99

Old Town offers the Topwater in three different models: The Topwater 106 Angler ($900), the Topwater 120 Angler ($1,000), and the Topwater PDL Angler ($2,000).

Small-Water Ready

The Topwater was designed for ponds and creeks, where skimming lily pads and scooting over shoals is a priority. I fished with it in several small farm ponds with cattails and shrubs choking the banks.

These ponds can be fished from the bank with traditional tackle and some patience, but a fly rod was out of the question. At just 73 pounds, the Topwater got me off the bank and fishing headache-free with ease.

On the water, the stability of such a small statured kayak stood out. I’m 6’5” and 230 pounds (give or take a few), so I was somewhat concerned about how the Topwater would handle standup fishing.

An assist strap and EVA foam on the deck made getting up and standing fairly comfortable. Once on your feet, the wide-bodied, tritoon hull design kept the wobbles to a minimum.

I also found the seat to be extremely comfortable, and the mesh back helped stave off the midsummer back sweat we’re famous for here in the Midwest.

I didn’t fish the Topwater with electronics, but when I do, there is a perfectly placed transducer mounting plate on the bow ready and waiting. Tracks along the left and right sides of the rails allow for customization of electronics needs.

Storage

Along with fishability, the Topwater has some nice touches to keep you focused on fishing and not looking for your stuff. You won’t find tons of self-contained storage, but the Topwater is designed to be small and light, and fishing a pond or creek doesn’t require a nine-tray behemoth of a tackle box either.

However, if you can’t decide which tackle box to bring, the Topwater has a total weight capacity of 440 pounds. That should cover you, your pup, and plenty of crankbaits.

Three built-in rod holders allow for the quick changeouts for the switch from largemouth to bluegill and back again. The forward-facing rod holder just to the right of the seat is a great addition — I found myself using it every time I unhooked a fish or tied on a new lure.

The space below the seat is a perfect spot for a small tackle box and the essential tools, and the large well just behind the seat gives you plenty of room to store more tackle, a net, and a small cooler for when the sun gets higher.

Portability

I’ve already briefly touched on this, but this kayak really shines in the portability department. I have a larger, pedal-drive kayak that is perfect for open water and longer distances. But it’s heavier and more difficult to maneuver in tight spaces.

The Topwater is much lighter at 73 pounds, and the small frame — 10 feet 6 inches long and 34.5 inches wide — make getting it off the truck and onto the water a much simpler task.

Besides the size, the Topwater is also easy to maneuver in the water. A small draft means better responsiveness, and the hull design glides over weed beds with ease.

Old Town Topwater 106 Angler: Best on Small Water

While the Topwater is very stable, it is definitely more at home on ponds, creeks, and small lakes where chop is at a minimum and the distances from A to B are shorter.

You probably won’t be winning any speed or distance races with the Topwater, but that’s not what it was designed for.

If you mainly fish larger bodies of open water, I would look at something built for that environment. A longer hull and a sleeker design would probably suit the average fisherman better under those circumstances.

An Arrow in the Quiver

Getting out on the lake and paddling from cove to cove definitely has its place. But few things are more fun than hitting the local farm pond and seeing nonstop panfish action on a summer evening.

If that’s your thing too, you’ll find the Topwater to be just right. It’s easy to put in, maneuver, stand up on, and get out of.

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Joel Mason is a “professional amateur” hunter chasing whitetails and bobwhites in the Flint Hills of Kansas. He likes to fling flies when it’s not hunting season and is a true small-game admirer and aficionado. He believes poison ivy exists to discourage morel hunters from finding his secret spots.

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Chania, Crete. Took this earlier today, lovely mix of different era's together.

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Cult Classic: ‘Mountain of Storms’ Re-Release Hits Patagonia Stores Nationwide https://ift.tt/2zDt49P

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic outdoor film — starring the founders of both Patagonia and The North Face — Patagonia will launch the first wide release of ‘Mountain of Storms’ at dozens of events.

Before they were magnates of the outdoors, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard and The North Face’s co-founder Doug Tompkins were true dirtbags.

And in 1968, they and three friends — now-famous rock climber Chris Jones, U.S. ski/snowboard Hall of Famer Dick Dorworth, and Mountainfilm founder Lito Tejada-Flores — set off on what became a legendary road trip.

The fated quintet set off from San Francisco in an old van with a then-obscure destination: the eponymous Patagonia region.

Along the way, these five friends stopped only to eat, sleep, ski, climb, and surf. To cap off the journey, the men put up a first ascent on Argentina’s Cerro Fitz Roy Southwest Buttress. Today, climbers know it as the “California Route.”

Best of all, they chronicled the entire adventure on a 16mm Bolex camera. “Mountain of Storms” has inspired and maintained a faithful fan base in the decades since. But Patagonia (the brand) will celebrate the movie’s 50th anniversary with a U.S. film tour and release it for purchase online. Check out the teaser trailer below.

Patagonia ‘Mountain of Storms’ Film Tour

Patagonia announced more than 30 tour events, all taking place at Patagonia stores across the nation. The tour begins Oct. 2, 2018, and the film will be available for digital purchase beginning Oct. 9, 2018.

Here’s the full tour rundown:

10/2/18 – Patagonia Vancouver – Vancouver, BC – 7 p.m.
10/2/18 – Patagonia Ventura – Ventura, CA – 7 p.m.
10/2/18 – Patagonia Salt Lake City – Salt Lake City, UT – 7 p.m.
10/3/18 – Patagonia Toronto – Toronto, ON – 7 p.m.
10/3/18 – Patagonia Washington DC – Washington DC – 7 p.m.
10/3/18 – Patagonia Atlanta – Atlanta, GA – 7 p.m.
10/3/18 – Patagonia Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA – 7 p.m.
10/3/18 – The Logan Theater – Chicago, IL – 6 p.m.*
10/4/18 – Patagonia Austin – Austin, TX – 7 p.m.
10/4/18 – Patagonia Boston – Boston, MA – 7:30 p.m.
10/4/18 – Patagonia Honolulu – Honolulu, HI – 6 p.m.
10/4/18 – Patagonia Cardiff – Cardiff, CA – 6 p.m.
10/4/18 – Patagonia Portland – Portland, OR – 7 p.m.*
10/4/18 – Patagonia Reno – Reno, NV – 7 p.m.
10/4/18 – Patagonia Palo Alto – Palo Alto, CA – 6:30 p.m.
10/5/18 – Rocktober – Red River Gorge, KY
10/5/18 – Vertical World Seattle – Seattle, WA – 6:30 p.m.*
10/5/18 – Old Depot Theatre – Dillon, MT – 6:30 p.m.
10/6/18 – Patagonia Haleiwa – Haleiwa, HI – 6:30 p.m.
10/7/18 – Patagonia Denver – Denver, CO – 5:30 p.m.*
10/8/18 – Patagonia Pasadena – Pasadena, CA – 7 p.m.
10/8/18 – Boulder Theater – Boulder, CO – 5 p.m.*
10/9/18 – Patagonia Freeport – Freeport, ME – 7:30 p.m.
10/9/18 – Patagonia Upper West Side – New York, NY – 7 p.m.
10/9/18 – Patagonia San Francisco – San Francisco, CA – 6:30 p.m.
10/11/18 – Patagonia Santa Cruz – Santa Cruz, CA – 7 p.m.
10/11/18 – Patagonia St. Paul – St. Paul, MN – 7 p.m.
10/11/18 – Patagonia Westport – Westport, CT – 7 p.m.
12/5/18 – Bozeman Ice Festival – Bozeman, MT
2/13/19 – Michigan Ice Festival – Munising, MI
* With special guest, Timmy O’Neill

For more information, check out the Patagonia climbing page.

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Get an Awesome Flannel ‘Shacket’ for Fall at Half Price https://ift.tt/2R4Bhul

I woke up this morning to 46 degrees and cloudy skies in Denver: flannel weather.

In much of North America, fall is in the air. Leaves have started to change, and the inevitable chill is on the way.

So it’s a perfect time to pick up a new flannel for the coming fall and winter seasons. Fortunately, Duluth Trading Company marked its awesome Flapjack Flannel Shirt Jac down by almost 50 percent (30 percent for women’s). Get one now for $45.

Shop Men’s (50% Off)Shop Women’s (30% Off)

The Flapjack Flannel Shirt Jac sits between a shirt and a jacket. It’s perfect to throw over a lighter shirt while splitting wood in the shed or shoveling light snow. It has cotton on the outside and a fleece lining that makes it snuggly and warm, yet tough. Duluth Trading makes some really good flannel borne out by many reviews. If you’re looking for a warm one, this will work great through the spring.

The women’s version is currently 30 percent off at $50.

50% Off: Go Fall Camping With These Patagonia Jackets

The Patagonia R1, Nano-Air, and Down Snap-T are awesome jackets for plummeting fall temperatures. And they're all on sale. Read more…

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North Dakota cuts bighorn licenses again as disease persists https://ift.tt/2R8B6OE

Is a hunt the answer when bears start getting bolder? https://ift.tt/2OXNAH4

Patagonia Houdini Air Gives Trail Runners a New Breathable Shell https://ift.tt/2NRxCCc

Patagonia’s ultra-lightweight jacket, the Houdini, receives a more breathable, softer, and better-fitting sibling. I reviewed this trail running model that hits the market in 2019.

If you ever find me in the mountains, odds are you’ll find the Patagonia Houdini stuffed in my pack or clipped to my harness.

However, as much as I love the Houdini, there are few downsides. For starters, it shelters from windy gusts well but doesn’t quite breathe enough during higher-effort bouts of exercise, causing me to overheat. I also find mobility to be somewhat restricted by the jacket.

 

Still, despite these drawbacks, it’s been hard to find better ounce-for-ounce protection from wind and light rain than the Houdini.

At least, until I got to test the all-new Houdini Air.

Patagonia Houdini Air Review: Trail Running Focus

The new Houdini Air is part of Patagonia’s all-new Long Haul Trail Running Kit, releasing in spring 2019. The trail running line includes 4- and 8-liter hydration packs, the Short Sleeve Aircasher tee, and the Strider Pro shorts.

And don’t worry, diehard Houdini fans. Patagonia isn’t replacing the original. Instead, it fills a gap in the ultra-lightweight jacket lineup. On a wind protection versus breathability continuum, the original Houdini sits on the wind protection end at the expense of breathability.

The Patagonia Airshed sits on the breathability side, offering the best breathability while sacrificing wind protection. And the all-new Houdini Air falls somewhere in the middle.

Weighing just under 5 ounces, the Houdini Air carries an air permeability rating of 20 CFM, compared to roughly 10 CFM for the Houdini and between 50 and 60 CFM for the Airshed.

The lower the CFM, the less breathable the fabric.

In a simple side-by-side air permeability test where I blew air directly on the jacket, I could clearly tell the Houdini Air allowed better airflow than the Houdini. To further enhance the jacket’s breathability, the interior is lined with raised micro-ribs. These barely noticeable ribs allow the jacket to sit slightly off the skin or layer, helping circulate body heat and allowing for better internal airflow.

While I never got to really compare the Houdini Air’s protection in environments with high wind exposure, I did get a few outings in the Sierras to test breathability. And again, for someone who heats up rather quickly, it was much better than the original Houdini.

Water Resistance

The fit has been updated with a gusseted design and slight stretch to the fabric, giving the Houdini Air a much more refined and comfortable fit, completely eliminating mobility restrictions I experienced with its counterpart, the Houdini. The waistline never lifted up, even with full overhead arm movement.  The polyester fabric is much softer and more accommodating against the skin versus the rather crinkly fabric on the original Houdini, yet just a water-repellant.

Patagonia Houdini Air: Stuff It!

A few features do remain the same as the original. The Houdini Air still offers a single chest pocket (albeit larger), which doubles as a stuff sack with carabiner loop. But it doesn’t pack down as small as the original Houdini. There’s still a single point rear adjustable hood attached to a more tailored and larger hood.

Durability?

My one concern with the Houdini Air is durability compared to the original. Specifically, I worry about high friction activities, such as climbing. Its softer, more air-permeable fabric feels less durable than that of the original Houdini. Patagonia does have a good guarantee program. The brand will fix any damaged item.

Since getting the Patagonia Houdini Air, my trusty go-everywhere old Houdini has not left the closet. While I’m not ready to part with my first Houdini just yet, there’s a good chance it could end up on Patagonia’s Worn Wear or REI’s used gear program in the near future.

The Patagonia Houdini Air will retail for $169.00. It hits stores on January 3, 2019. It comes in three men’s colors (Black, Blue, and Grey) and two Women’s colors (Dark Blue, Tate).

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Cory Smith, a former NCAA D1 runner, is the founder of Run Your Personal Best. It’s an online running coaching business that has helped hundreds of runners achieve personal bests in distances ranging from 800 meters to 100 miles.

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