Gadling Family: Paddling With Kids

by Erik Olsen on

Tom Bol had the perfect life. He moved about like an outdoorsy hobo doing odd jobs from Alaska to Mexico, no
mortgage, cheap food, an easy life of outdoor splendor. He never thought he’d be married, let alone have kids.

Oh, how the best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry.

Now Tom has a boy, Skyler, and all of life is dominated by the Sky factor.  But having a kid did not stop Tom
from enjoying an outdoor life. Oh no. And as he writes in this story
about tackling a river trip with his family in tow, things can be more complicated, but not necessarily less fun.

The Bol family headed out from Moab, Utah and then to
Mineral Bottom, where the trip would begin.
Then, after five days of paddling, they’d find themselves at the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers. The
rapids were small, but the floating life was easy. A blissful retreat from the day-to-day suburban drudgery. If you’re
in serious need of some outdoor bliss and are worried about having the kids in tow, give Tom’s article a read. It might
help make the whole idea seem a bit more possible.

Skinny Dipping in the Drakesnberg

by Erik Olsen on

Pat Walker
heads
off to South Africa not knowing what to expect. She heads to a place little known among Americans called
Drakesnberg, which means dragon mountain in Dutch, and
discovers a South Africa of “rushing rivers, trickling creeks, plunging waterfalls and shimmering lakes”. The lakes
boast some of the finest trout and bass fishing in Africa. Hiking to a swimming hole called the Blue Grotto (isn’t this
what all swimming holes are called?) she sits and watches her friends do a bit of skinny dipping and fantasizes that
she has found the Garden of Eden. Not bad for a day’s trek.

A nice little story.

NOW: No Opportunity Wasted

by Erik Olsen on

Here’s a new show I was unaware of…it’s called No
Opportunity Wasted and jumps on the whole “Lifelist” concept that is so popular now. I think Men’s Journal had a
big series on Lifelists recently.

The point of the lifelist, if you don’t know, is to sit down and thoughtfully put together a list of all the things
you want to do in your life, from learning another language to climbing Everest. This is true gadling kinda stuff. In
fact, very soon, today perhaps, I’m going to start a lifelist feature where we highlight one cool thing to add to your
lifelist. I should note that the lifelist concept was largely popularized by a friend of mine,
John Goddard, who lives in my hometown. I’ve visited
Goddard and can tell you he is one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. A true hero of mine.

Now that said, thiis new show does exactly that. Sort of. The host Phil Keoghan asks people what they would do if they
had 72 hours and $3000 and could do something they’ve always wanted to do. Then they follow them as they do it. I
haven’t seen the show yet, but apparently it airs on Fit TV and Discovery HD TV. I’ll try to tune in and will post a
review.

Hiker Survives Five Days in Lava Field

by Erik Olsen on

A hiker in Hawaii who disappeared was found in a lava field where he survived by drinking the
water he squeezed from moss that grew in the scarce nooks in the lava.

Gilbert Gaedcke was crossing a series of desolate lava fields near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park when he got lost
amid vast miles of blackened volcanic rock. He was rescued when a passing helicopter caught the glint from a mirror
that he used to get their attention (good thinking, Mcguyver). 

Kilamanjaro Interactive

by Erik Olsen on

Great Outdoors.com has got a really cool
interactive Flash feature on
Kilamanjaro. Called “Crown of Africa” the package is loaded with info about the climb, including routes, history,
geology and some very good-looking photos. Another section provides info on how to gear up and where to go to find the
best outfitter. It is well done, not overwrought or over produced. Give it a look.