Sean Penn the (Doomed) Sailor

by Erik Olsen on

We’ve bashed Sean Penn enough here that we almost feel
bad for giving him a hard time for his recent efforts to help the folks in New Orleans, but hey sometimes he brings it
on himself.

Turns out Savior Spicoli set out to do “whatever I
can to help”, by launching a boat in the drowned city of New Orleans. Unfortunately, he did not have his sea legs about
him enough to realize that there was a hole in the rescue vessel, which promptly started sinking as he furiously
scooped water out of the boat with a plastic cup (but not before finishing his rum and Coke…just kidding. I added that
part).  Onlookers who apparently knew better warned Penn that there were already too many people in the boat,
including his personal photographer. One of them quipped, “How are you going to get any people in that thing?” Sean, we
love you, we really do, and any day you want to invite us out for a surf with Eddie and yourself, we’ll be there, but
my goodness at least bring some duct tape next time. It works wonders.

Volunteer Vacations

by Karen Walrond on

The latest issue of Transitions Abroad is out, and although our focus in the States is very close to home this difficult holiday weekend, we can’t forget that there is, and always will be, ways to help out elsewhere.

Volunteer Vacations is the theme of the September/October special section. There are articles with tips on how to pick the best organization, why the costs to volunteer are worth it, and ways to do it on a tight budget. Examples of volunteer travel experiences featured in the issue include: caring for cubs in a South African Lion Park, working as a health intern in Tanzania, assisting on an ecovillage outside Buenos Aires and volunteering for a environmental clean-up project on Ile D’Hoedic.

You’ll have to subscribe to the print publication to read these articles, but here’s a peek at some bonus articles available online: How to Make the Most of Volunteer Vacations, stories of volunteer travel in Dharmsala and Lima, and a list of key resources for volunteering abroad. Volunteer vacations are an excellent option to consider before planning any trip, and the TA staff are pros at pointing us to the best programs and places looking for assistance from willing travelers.

Wikitravel

by Erik Olsen on

Watch out Lonely Planet.

 

If you’re a fan of the whole collaborative Wiki movement, you might be interested in checking out
Wikitravel. The site provided an extensive list of countries and
continents with, as far as I can tell, just about every country covered, if in just a small way. It’s all done in a
nicely organized classic sorta Wiki format with the ability to go deeper and deeper into a subject (be careful…I went
in to look for one thing about an upcoming trip to Armenia and spent an hour clicking around…not because I was lost,
but just kept finding new interesting thigs to read). You can not only improve your knowledge of a particular country
— learn about the political situation, geography and so on — but you’ll also find tips on etiquette,
events, things to buy, and travelogues.

There is also an events section and even a fairly comprehensive phrase book covering NUMEROUS languages (how about
picking up a little Afrikaans?). I am very bullish on this
site and the Wiki concept in general. I use Wikipedia for a good deal of research, even though I am aware of it’s
shortcomings (as should you) and always try and double check various facts. But over time, as this thing grows out, as
Wikipeia has, I bet you it will become one of the more valuable resources on the Web.

The Poop Kit

by Erik Olsen on

Gadling readers might remember the story we posted
about the poop problems at Mt. McKinley. Namely, that due to high-altitude and the lack of organisms up there to
biodegrade feces, the mountain is becoming increasingly littered with poop. Other mountains are having similar
problems, and one of them, Mt. Shasta in CA, is doing something about it. According
to this peice,

Climbers are now required (in addition to the $15 summit permit) to acquire a “poop kit” from the various ranger
kiosks on the mountain before they ascend. The kit includes two brown paper bags and (nice touch!) a place mat sized
piece of paper with a target printed on it. The effort is part of a sensible and sanitary No Turd Left Behind policy
that should help protect our peaks from  the unnecessary accumulation of feces. Here
is a site that sells poop kits, should you be in need. So
next time you’re heading up your favorite mountain, do us all a favor, pack out your poop.

Laird Hamilton on Protecting Jaws

by Erik Olsen on

Uber-surfer, pectoral personage, Amex ad hunk Laird Hamilton is speaking out. In
this Outside Magazine piece Hamilton
says that the whole tow-in scene at the mega-wave surf spot
Peahi (a.k.a. Jaws), is becoming
increasingly over-crowded, and increasingly dangerous as a result.

Comparing the situation to the crowding problems at Everest (remember Into Thin Air) Hamilton says that new measures
like requiring Jet Ski licenses are not enough, and that someone is going to get hurt if something is not done to
control the crowds at the now-legendary surf spot. The problems are discusses in
another article in Outside whereby
several dangerous collisions have occurred due to the presence of surfers, photographers and observers in boats and
aboard jet skis, crowding the area. He’s right. This is dangerous stuff, folks. The waves at Jaws can reach a
mind-blowing, bone-crushing 60 feet. Someone needs to step in and assume control of the situation.