Outdoor Schools

by Erik Olsen on

When you spend most of your life in
the city, the idea of going to an "outdoors" school is about as far out as the idea of studying
Serbo-Croatian. To be honest, I don’t know a lot of New Yorkers who have taken the time, say a week or two, to
challenge themselves in the outdoors with an organization like Outward Bound. But I’ve long wanted to enroll myself in
one of these courses, to take one of their epic paddle trips in Baja or a survival class in the wilderness. But words
are weak. I’ve yet to actually enlist.

But you can. And to help you make your decision which outdoor school
might be right for you, the good folks over at Stellar Magazine, one of my favorites,
have got a solid little piece on how you ca get started. They really only cover the big two: the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and Outward
Bound, providing links and some of the basics about what these schools offer,. Your best bet, really, is to go to
the sites themselves and browse the catalogs, considering which type of sports you are most interested in, and avoiding
those you might not be suited for (i.e. agoraphobics might avoid rock climbing courses).

One of these days, I
am definitely going to take one of these courses. In the meantime, I’d love to hear what others experiences have been.
Anyone taken a NOLS or Outward Bound course out there? Let us know what you thought.

Killing Santa Cruz Island's Pigs

by Erik Olsen on

I’ve got a few photos around here somewhere of a very good friend
of mine stalking a feral pig on Santa Cruz Island. He has a machete like object in his hand, and he looks very
determined to go "Lord of the Flies" on us. The picture comes from a trip I took with some fiends to Santa
Cruz Island in the Channel Islands some 8 months ago. Of course, no pigs were hurt. They were far too fast for him. The
islands are a blast, though. We set up camp on the island and hung out for a few days of outdoor recreation and, well,
let’s say sedentary recreation.

Anyway, I
was amused to learn that the campsites on the island were recently reopened after being closed so that National park
Service gunmen could go in and try to wipe out the feral pig population on the island. There were LOTS of feral pigs out
there. We saw several families of them, running about, squealing, and generally looking both cute and disgusting. But
you knew just watching them, that they’d have to be gotten rid of eventually.

And so it goes.

Officials say the hunters have eliminated the pigs from about 85 percent of the land, and about 4,800 of them
have already been killed. My guess is they will never get all of them, but that once a year, they should open the
island up to fathers and sons who can go in with guns and kill as many pigs a they like. That way you both foster
family values and get rid of the pigs.

One for the Road: Dances With Marmots

by Erik Olsen on

There aren’t many great expeditions left. Maybe the Amazon still needs exploring. Or the undersea world.
But what’s a regular guy to do who has burning ambition, strong walking legs, and a lot of time on his hands?

Well, what about walking across America? Well, that is exactly what George Spearing, a firefighter from Auckland, New
Zealand, who had never hiked much before, decided to do. he took a ‘leave of absence’ and, yes, walked the
length of America. The Great Walk is chronicled in a new paperback book called  “Dances With Marmots
– A Pacific Crest Trail Adventure”. The book follows his journey along the Pacific Crest Trail from
Mexico to Canada. Personally, I’ve always wanted to walk the Pacific Coast Trail. I figured this is something I’d do
with my son some day, just father and boy on the trail, growing agitated with each other every step of the way. If you
want to learn more about the book and the man behind it, you can go here.

Virtual Lewis and Clark

by Erik Olsen on

It was arguably one of
the most epic American adventure trips of all time. Heading into the gaping American West to document it’s wildlife,
indigenous peoples and (hopefully) to discover the Northwest Passage. Alas, no Northwest Passage was found, but the
team of explorers led by Lewis And Clark did sent home animals and plants that no one had ever seen before (OK, the
Indians had seem them before) and traversed the American continent, making known an area that to most people was as
forbidden as the edge of the sea.

Well,. now you can relive the Lewis and Clark expedition without leaving
your office chair. National Geographic has got a very
cool, comprehensive site dedicated to the famous Lewis and Clark expedition. With galleries, maps, logs, video and a
whole lot more, you can really delve into the history of the expedition and learn more than you thought possible. Very
cool, and worth a look, perhaps with your kids.

Spring Break: Adventurous Family Vacations

by Neil Woodburn on

Spring break is just around the corner.

If you haven’t booked your vacation yet, and don’t fancy entertaining the kids at home, The Sunday Times has come up with an impressive list of family vacation options that promise to be adventurous and exciting. Be warned, however; these are not your ordinary Disneyworld-type of family getaways. We’re talking about camel safaris in Egypt, dune riding in Namibia, Kayaking in Malta, exploring Incan ruins in Peru, and a variety of others that are guaranteed not to feature Mickey Mouse. This is the very first list of “Family Vacations” I’ve ever come across where I would love to go on every trip mentioned–and I don’t even have kids. It is truly a remarkable selection of adventures.

The descriptions accompanying each of these trips include costs, tour outfitters, and the minimum age required f children.