Wonderful aurora display in Michigan's Upper Peninsula via Aaron Peterson.
Unless you’ve been living in a deep, dark cave… You may have noticed that there is a lot of cool stuff going on out there. So, we thought it was high-time we started rounding up some of our faves each Friday. Every month, we’ll be choosing a theme that fits with the Osprey lifestyle. Now that it’s October, we find ourselves looking up at the sky looking, waiting for signs of winter… so we’re dedicating this month to that big, beautiful sky. Welcome to the Osprey Friday Round-Up!
This week one of our reps turned us on to this awesome photo of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern lights, up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Thanks to a massive solar storm on Monday, the sun is in an active phase right now, leading to displays of Northern lights as far south as Alabama. The Northern lights are caused by charged solar particles colliding with atoms in the upper atmosphere near the North Pole.
Here’s a few more images of this spectacular light show in action this week… along with some words of wisdom via Grist.org: “Just a little reminder that there’s no point in trying to save the planet if we don’t occasionally pause to enjoy it.”
And because they mention “The Northern Lights” in their song…
As an athlete, I try to be in control of almost every aspect of my life, from when I go to bed, to what I eat, so on race day, I know exactly what I can bring to the table. Starting a college career is a little mindboggling. Midterms, papers, and extraordinary amounts of reading call for late (or) sleepless nights and classes demand an early wake up. When you combine those together with the fact that all your friends are present as distractions at any and all times, you have a seriously unpredictable existence.
The nice thing about colleges these days is that they have great methods for introducing you to this organized chaos – freshman outdoor orientation trips. I showed up for check in as overwhelmed as any, and was relieved when the trip leaders called us into our specific groups so the awkward mulling around could end. After introductions and some entertaining sleepaway camp styled games, the trip leader, Jeremey asked if anyone knew the time. In sync, a few of us pulled up our sleeves and informed him of the time, but to our surprise, instead of ending there, he took our watches. The first rule of trips, Jeremy informed us, was that there was no time.
Time was my anchor, my sensation of control. How I would function was something that was way beyond me. I had camped before, but always with the security blanket of my watch. Taking away my watch not only exposed an untanned stripe, but it also exposed my distrust of my own body clock. Throughout the next week, I learned how to let time go. Even though the sun might be directly overhead, if I wasn’t hungry yet, I didn’t feel compelled to eat. Or if we were at camp and I was exhausted, I took a nap. By the time I got back from our orientation, I didn’t know whether I wanted to cover up my newly sunburnt wrist, and even though all the midterms, papers and readings might have me dependent on my watch once again, I definitely plan on going watchless more often. If only for an overnight or just a lazy Sunday hike with friends.
23 feet is film about a community of people who have made the conscious choice to live simply in order to do what they love in the great outdoors. Three women set out across the west in their 23-foot-long, 1970 Airstream to search for the stories of people who have turned their backs on the creature comforts of society to live in school buses, vans, and other small spaces. From an inspiring campfire chat with legendary Yosemite climber Ron Kauk, to hearing the powerful story of a woman who changed her whole life for surfing, 23 feet gives an intimate look at the ups and downs of dedicating your life to your outdoor passion.
Buy your copy over on Red Reel’s website. If you buy today, you’ll be entered to win a hot, new Flap Pack!
We’re working with American Whitewater to protect a river close to home — the Dolores River. But today, we’re pretty excited to celebrate with them on a momentous victory in the Northwest. Today at 1p.m. Mountain Time, Condit Dam’s de-construction will begin with a boom when crews blast a tunnel through the 95-year old, 125-foot dam.
Boaters, flyfishermen, and long-time community members are looking forward to a White Salmon River that once again flows freely. Documentary film-maker Andy Maser is tracking the story of Washington’s effort in his beautiful “Year of the River” series.
Stay tuned to Andy Maser’s website for first images from the blast, and you can also watch the main event live on the American Rivers website.
In February, Nate Damm stepped out in Lewes, Delaware and started his walk across America. On October 15, he reached his destination: San Francisco, California.
I did my best to approach the trip without expectations, to just walk and see what happened if I kept an open mind. Since getting home about a week ago and having some time to reflect, I’ve realized that whatever expectations I didn’t shake were greatly exceeded by how much I enjoyed the trip. It changed everything for me… Here are a few big realizations about America that I got out this trek…
People are good.
Everyone has a story.
America is full of beauty.
It may not take a walk across America to find those things, but Nate’s story serves as a good reminder to keep exploring, listening and taking in the beauty of whatever place it is that you call home.
Life is pretty short and sharing a Himalayan summit with good friends is rare — coveted even. Especially when an avalanche expedites your descent as the series ending reveals in Season 3 of Ski The Himalayas. Such is the nature of adventure sometimes. I grew up listening as GI Joe said “knowing was half the battle”… well, sometimes we see the other half, and we learn more from that “knowing”.
For me, it’s how you get there, how you get back and what you experience in between. That’s why I like sharing these videos — so that others can learn from our mistakes! In this dialogue-driven episode, the outcome of our original plans becomes murky as we figure out that this will be no routine expedition. As the team stages for trekking to the region of Mustang from Jomosom, Nepal, we see how too many cooks in the kitchen and not enough translation can change travel direction quickly when you leave Kathmandu in the trekking high season.
Unless you’ve been living in a deep, dark cave… You may have noticed that there is a lot of cool stuff going on out there. So, we thought it was high-time we started rounding up some of our faves each Friday. Every month, we’ll be choosing a theme that fits with the Osprey lifestyle. Now that it’s October, we find ourselves looking up at the sky looking, waiting for signs of winter… so we’re dedicating this month to that big, beautiful sky. Welcome to the Osprey Friday Round-Up!
Shot in South Dakota in early February with most nights sub zero with -25 F wind chill, this video is a beautiful prelude to the coming winter months… though we’re not quite ready for this kind of cold.
What a spectacular span of 7 days in Colorado. The first weekend of October, I made a quick dash to Aspen for the “Meeting”, a gathering of ski film makers and athletes that come together to share the bounty of their film efforts the previous season. On Saturday, October 1, the weather was perfect and I headed up to Maroon Bells to get in a hike and check out the colors. It was 70 degrees and I was very comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt. The colors were spectacular and every trip to the Bells is amazing.
After a solid weekend I came home to Durango and got in a couple great mountain bike rides taking advantage of the tacky singletrack and sunny days. On Wednesday the weather turned and Indian Summer gave way to winter overnight. By Thursday it was dumping and heavy snow was accumulating in the mountains. By Friday, Wolf Creek announced they would be opening Saturday the 8th of October — their earliest ever. Other resorts around the country had yet to fire up the snow guns and Wolf Creek was going to open with 44″ of goodness. John Trousdale and I rallied early and made it to the hill before the contingent of front rangers. Another 8″ of blower snow Friday night teed up truly epic conditions for any month, but off the chart conditions given the date. In the parking lot it was blustery as I pulled on the puffy and inhaled my first crisp air of the season.
At the top of a mountain, under the hot sun stands a tall eucalyptus tree. Under the tree sit children packed tightly together on stones, dusty earth beneath their feet, no protection from the afternoon heat. There are no desks or books. Yet every day the teacher carries in the one village blackboard and begins a new lesson. And every day the children arrive, some after walking for over two hours, eager to learn.
imagine1day is a group of movers, shakers and change-makers committed to the next generation of leaders who will carry Africa into a new era of prosperity — with a goal to give all Ethiopians access to quality education funded free of foreign aid by 2030 — in a world where all people are connected to their greatness.
Ethiopia is one of the world’s poorest nations, but despite this it remains full of promise and its government is cooperative and committed to education for all. Our good friend Majka Burhardt recently landed safe and sound in Addis, Ethiopia with a slew of Osprey Packs for scholarship recipients at imagine1day. Thanks to Majka for her passion and for bringing this incredible story to us here at Osprey. Stay tuned for updates from Majka when she returns from here adventure…
Learn more about imagine1day and how you can help send children to school in Ethiopia here.
I ran in the dark hollow coolness of the Telluride valley this morning, winter’s bite is slowly settling in and the shadows of dawn are arriving much later now. Thumping foot after foot on frosted pavement, I ran with my wife and at the mercy of our galloping Tibetan Terrier, Blitz. I’m happy to call this place home. It’s a transitional season and a pleasure to watch time pass this way — as the mountains change form and winter takes shape.
I’m still loaded with anticipation of adventure — my endorphins sizzle as I gaze up valley and see Bridal Veil falls freezing and windy chutes filling. I expect to take my skis up into the mountains this weekend for the first time since July, It’s nice to spend a fall in the home mountain range and enjoying time with my family. Mountaineering in the San Juans can be really great training any time of year.
A year ago this week, I found myself at the mouth of the second deepest gorge in the world, my next three weeks in the hands of a horseman’s bridle. Ski The Himalayas Season 3, Episode 2 chronicles the day that occurred, this episode tops my list on most shocking cultural misunderstandings I’ve ever had!
