Tech, nature, and real moments

I just wrapped up watching the replay of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference keynote. Embedded throughout the tech giant's rollout of new operating systems and features is this thread of nature and all things outside.  Not only does OS X Yosemite just sound super cool but it's extremely exciting to hear things like hiking and climbing talked about in the mainstream as cool and popular activities to do.  It wasn't long ago that if you told someone your hobby was not showering, sleeping on the ground outside and walking in the woods that you might have someone referring you to a good homeless shelter or worse a doctor.  Now it seems through inspiring photography, videos, technology like apps and even Apple's techie developer's conference people are getting more and more exposure to the outdoors... and liking it.

Watching Craig Federighi, Apple's senior VP of software engineering, talk about hikes up Half Dome and sending emails about camping trips just puts a smile on my face.  It tells me that as much as technology changes, the essence of beauty doesn't lie with our devices but with these natural, real experiences we enjoy.  

Part of my job as a writer and producer is working on articles and projects about outdoor adventures and issues.  I'm blessed enough to write for magazines that focus on unplugging and having real experiences instead of artificial interaction.  Granted do these outdoor focused companies use technology... absolutely!  That being said, there's an interesting blend our lives take with a mixture of technology and adventure.  Our devices should help us have a better experience but should not be the experience altogether.  When I open up maps on my phone or search for a great local place to eat, with Yelp or Google, while on a road trip in California I should use that technology to enable me to have a more rich, real moment.  Pictures taken and posted should be as a means to inspire and share with others.  I think in an essence that's why Apple gravitates toward nature and outside activities during presentations instead of video games, movies and other activities that involve sitting in front of a piece of tech.  

At the end of the day it's a blending of technology and real moments that shapes each of us. That's the world we live in and that's the balance each of us has to make.  Still, it feels good to see that hopefully, maybe society isn't gravitating toward just being a group of people sitting in front of a screen, brain dead, instead of interacting with the world around them and the people around them.

Now stop reading this and get outside.  

REI reevaluates its return policy

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REI revises return policy.  You can no longer return your 10 year old pair of underwear because you don't like the style.  

Ok, so we all have that old piece of gear which we've worn to death for the better part of five, 10, maybe 15+ years.  Maybe it's an old puffy down vest that served us well as a mid layer on many winter hikes.  Perhaps a stove, charred black on the burner from years of flames and use.  Maybe even a pair of tattered hiking boots with a missing shoe lace from when you had to strangle a bear with your bare hands because it tried to steal one of your kids.  Whatever the gear, It has seen better days and for whatever the reason REI, arguably the largest and most popular outdoor retailer in the world has taken it back.  That's because until recently REI's return policy has been return any merchandise, anytime, no questions asked.  However now the retailer is calling foul on the more than generous policy.    

Really?  You can take in a five year old pair of gaiters because you no longer like the style and some green vested kid behind the counter will give you store credit (which is worth its weight in gold to the avid gear junkie)?  Recently I popped into my local REI during one of their garage sales they do semi-frequently and watched the feeding frenzy.  This sale is member exclusive and offers patrons the chance to buy returned merchandise at deeply discounted prices.  What I saw reinforced why REI has changed its policy.  Boots from circa 1995 that looked like they had hiked around the world several times, jackets and shirts with stains (from your camping trip dinner... not from the factory) and underwear... yes... underwear.  Reading some of the tags with descriptions on why these items were returned was rather amusing.    

"Customer didn't like the color" 

 "Not the right style"

And my favorite...  

"Nothing wrong with the item" 

Now I understand that sometimes you get something home, pull it out of the box, try it on and think... this isn't what I had in mind.  That's when it goes back to the store, NOT FIVE YEARS LATER!  How do you buy a jacket in 2010 and in 2013 decide you don't like the color?  Sure that pair of whitey tightey technical underpants was in style... in 1995... what'd you expect 10 years later and who wants your decade old briefs anyway?  

Talking to one of the employees he said there have been several people upset by REI's decision to be more conservative about the policy change.  I for one think it's disappointing that some people would take advantage of this policy and ruin it for the masses.  This is a store which already strives to treat customers (and its members especially) pretty awesome with deals throughout the year.  Its new more "conservative" return policy is one year.  Compare that time limit to most stores which vary from 30 to 90 days. Why getting sweet gear at competitive prices isn't enough... I don't know.  I for one like to see how long I can keep my gear before it absolutely disintegrates.    

What are your thoughts?  Are you ok with REI's new return policy?   

No sport climbing in 2020

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​This looks cool... yet not cool enough to be in the olympics.  

Climbing lost out to baseball, wrestling and... wait for it... squash for inclusion in the 2020 olympic games.  Baseball is cool, I can deal with that, it's an American past time and all that.  You know... Puerto Rico is going to destroy us all in baseball... just hand them the gold now... done, NEXT!​

My two hang ups are squash and wrestling.  Is there going to be a certain brand of metal folding chairs approved by the International Olympic Committee?  Man, I'd love to have that pro deal.  C'mon, really?  In searching for pictures across the world wide web for this blog I had to look at a lot of men in tight leather underpants with tassels... THEY HAD TASSELS!  I will not soon recover from that experience.  Now I don't want to get into a back and forth over my professional athlete could break your athlete's face with a chair and all that non-sense but have you ever been to a WWF Monster Rally... whatever it is they call those "sporting events"?  It's pretty much the most ridiculous thing I've ever observed (no I have never been to one... my experience, with these events, comes from the 1.4 seconds it takes me to hit the channel up button on the remote when surfing for something to watch on a Tuesday night).  Oh well... you win my leather clad, over developed... acquaintances.  THEY HAD TASSELS... GROSS!

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​This is what squash (not the vegetable) looks like when it's played.  Wait... this might be a picture of the vegetable... I get them confused.

Oh and squash... no not the vegetable... climbing didn't lose to a vegetable it wasn't quite that disgraceful but squash the sport is still a pretty odd game.  It's played in a plexiglass box of sorts and you hit a ball against a wall over and over until someone misses and then the other person gets a point.  Don't we have enough sports that involve a ball going back and forth over and over until someone misses? ​ A las the OIC found this more intriguing than men and women at the top of their athleticism; climbing amazingly steep walls through a combination of balance, technique and strength.  Honestly who would want to watch that anyway... at least we have our dignity... and no tassels.   

​What are your thoughts?  C'mon I know I have some wrestling fans that read my blog!  Really... none?  I'm quite surprised by this.

Five things every backpacker needs that they don’t know they need.

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The greatest backpacking book of all time.  ​

Every trek I take, into the woods, usually begins with me remembering that one item I left off my pre-hike check list.  That one item I wish I was carrying.  That one item I’m going to think about the entire trip.  Gear lists can be thorough but I’ve compiled a few things often overlooked on most lists.  I hope this helps as you plan your next backpacking trip.    

1. Two tents, three sleeping bags or five jackets

When hiking you can only use one tent and one sleeping bag at a time, but multiple jackets (see layering), so it only makes sense to have a couple spare laying around.  You’ll be glad you did... especially as you get into camp and decide you want to use the green sleeping bag with the yellow tent.  Having color coordinated gear in the middle of no where is like having many leather bound books.    

2. Those little clippy things climbers use

I would recommend carrying at least five or six to be on the safe side.  They only add a couple pounds to your pack weight and you just never know when you’ll need to clip something to the outside of your pack or climb a cliff face on your trip.  Actually bring closer to 10...

3. A hand gun

Only the most serious of backpackers carry one of these when they go into the woods for a weekend outing or a two week expedition.  The space and extra weight it takes up in your pack will be well worth it when you need it to kill your dinner or a questionable “hiker” in the shelter during the night.  Carry one when you complete your through hike of the Appalachian Trail because it only takes two clips of direct hits to take down an 800 pound grizzly.  

4. Camping chair

After a long day of hiking in the wilderness, you want to be comfortable at night... right?  The more extravagant the better.  Honestly, if it doesn’t have an extendable foot rest what’s the point of bringing it.  One of those chairs with a little roof over it to keep you dry during a driving rain is also convenient.  

5. War and Peace (first edition)

After dinner but before bed there is usually a little time to get in some reading inside one of your many tents.  No one just wants to stare at the stars or watch the sunset before going to bed.  If War and Peace isn’t your thing a brick is just as interesting.      

If I’ve left off any vital items, please list them below... I want everyone to have the most extensive list possible.

Virtual hiking: let Google take the trip for you!

Google is an amazing thing.  I’m fairly certain they are going to map the entire world.  It’s all part of an elaborate scheme to take over the world... well the virtual world that is.  As someone who follows the trends in social media and search engine marketing there is a lot to be said about Google and their arsenal of web based products.  Gmail, maps, plus, drive, etc really are revolutionizing the way we search and think. 

So about this point you’re thinking “What on Google Earth does this have to do with hiking... or backpacking or traveling?”  That would be an excellent question.  As we run to the search engine that knows everything including where we are, where we are going and probably even where Jimmy Hoffa’s body is buried, it leads me to wonder if actually backpacking or traveling is even necessary?  About a year ago, the search giant announced plans to start adding street view to various trails and national parks.  We can  now walk down the streets of London (England & Kentucky) and hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, at the simple swipe of a screen or click of a mousepad and all without ever leaving the comfort of my extremely comfortable chair... although it doesn’t recline nor does it have a built in mini-fridge.  So are we a Google society?  Have we come to terms with the idea that who really needs to travel when I can see it in 360 degree views on my computer screen?

I’m of the mind set that some places are better left wild... the WILDerness is probably one of those places.  We’re a too plugged in society and we need areas that are still of the grid, away from all the dinging cell phones and sirens and distractions of living amongst the well... living.  People need to get off their backsides and get outside... and maybe walk off the Big Mac (without cheese) that we ate for lunch.  The Goog does a lot of ridiculously cool things that make my life a lot easier.  Virtually hiking trails probably doesn’t need to be one of them.    

If you feel different, please share.    

It takes a special person

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With every adventure... we're adding to our wall.  She looks happy in all our pictures (I think she's actually enjoying the crazy things we do).

When I met my wife, I will admit, one of the things I thought pretty soon after we started dating was ‘awesome, now I have a climbing partner’ - I didn’t tell her that... but that’s what I was thinking.  We dated and did a good deal of climbing. Even now, most of the time when I bring up the idea of taking yet another trip to go climbing her response is almost always positive.  Occasionally, she’ll even bring up the idea of taking a weekend trip, which makes me think she may actually enjoy our not-so-normal hobbies.

So what exactly does true love look like?  In my case, it looks like a woman who puts up with my crazy antics and ideas.  It’s a person who stands by and rolls her eyes when I suggest we take a five day hike as a way to celebrate our anniversary.  I’ve met some women who shutter at the thought of even standing outside for extended periods of time.  My wife didn’t shower for five days while we hiked in the 95 degree heat and slept on the ground... and we didn’t get a divorce after that trip was over, to me that’s true love.  

It takes a special person to hang off the side of a cliff and still smile at the end of the day and say ‘I had a good time’.  It takes a special person to sleep outside, get up at 6:00 a.m. and walk all day, on a Saturday, when she could be sleeping in until 10:00 in a climate controlled room.  I’m 100% sure I’ve found that special person.    

We have a wall in our house with photos from our big adventures.  It’s small now... but growing.  I often times find myself standing in front of it, as a I brush my teeth at night, looking at the pictures and smiling.  We’re happy in each one of them.  I think I’ve found a keeper. What’s true love look like to you?  It’s completely different for each person.