Archives For kirkearl

How to Mount Cross Country Ski Bindings

December 9, 2013 — 6 Comments

How to Mount Cross Country Ski Bindings - Salomon Skate SNS

how to mount cross country ski bindings 14

Generally I’d leave the job of mounting cross country ski bindings to the pros, but there are situations when it is nice to break out the tools and take some risks. Maybe your local shop is closed, is non-existent, or in my case doesn’t deal cross country skate skis. Mounting your own cross country ski bindings is also a nice money-saving skill if your family picks up used ski gear and shuffles bindings around frequently. The following guide I am sure will make the most hardened ski techs weep (especially the video), but this has worked for me and if you measure often and pay attention to what you are doing, you’ve got a good chance of skiing soon. Continue Reading…

In Instructions and Skills, Skiing , , ,
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Link to Home Rock Climbing Walls

Want to build a home rock climbing wall, now or ever?

The Recreationalist has a new website dedicated exclusively to this single topic. If interested, go there and subscribe to the email notifications and Facebook page.

I want to build a home rock climbing wall!

Posted on December 4, 2013 In Climbing, Product Giveaway, Product Reviews , ,
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Salomon Wings Sky GTX Review - A Search for the Best Snowshoeing Boot

December 1, 2013 — 3 Comments

Salomon Wings Sky GTX Review

Salomon Wings Sky GTX Review - A Search for the Best Snowshoeing Boot

For the past three years a sad pair of Rossignol cross country ski boots have been my go-to winter footwear for everything from shoveling the driveway to earning crunchy patches of frostbite on both feet during an impromptu hunting excursion—plus a little skiing. Not terrible boots, but the Continue Reading…

In Outdoors Blog , , , , , , ,
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Avoid this One Costly Mistake with Your Sleeping Bag and Puffy Coat

November 24, 2013 — 1 Comment

Down Sleeping Bag Care

Care for your Sleeping Bag and Puffy Coat Between Trips

Remember that last backpacking trip? The one you got home from and were so tired that you never fully unpacked?

“I’ll be camping again soon anyway, right?” This is what I always think to convince myself that my gear will be happily waiting for me come the next trip.

“Thanks for leaving us in this tightly cinched pack with your unwashed pan and wore-it-three-days-in-a-row shirt,” sulks my sleeping bag and down jacket.

Continue Reading…

In Backpacking, Instructions and Skills, Outdoors Blog , , , , , , , ,
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The Secret to Taking Better Outdoor Photos: Instructional Interview with David Cox

November 20, 2013 — 4 Comments

Girl with SnailDavid Cox shoots a lot of his best photos with an iPhone, and he might be entirely alright with that.

“It may be sad, or maybe not, but the fact is, it’s what I have on hand at pretty much any moment,” David said when asked about equipment. “I think gear is secondary to vision and passion for expression. Sounds cliché, but oh well, it’s true. Continue Reading…

In Family Adventure, Inspiration, Instructions and Skills, Outdoors Blog, Photography , , ,
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PROBAR Review and Giveaway

November 18, 2013 — Leave a comment

probar-review-main-imageDon’t get hungry and bail on me, there is a PROBAR giveaway at the bottom of this post.

(Giveaway ended on November 23, 2013)

Lucky for me, a friend of mine is a PROBAR crusader and during most late-night cross country ski sessions or trail runs, if I travel slow enough (maybe a little whimpering) a PROBAR will often materialize out of his pack and into my hand. If I am really lucky, two. Continue Reading…

In Product Giveaway, Product Reviews , ,
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New Partnership with Atomik Climbing Holds

November 14, 2013 — Leave a comment

Atomik Logo

It Started With an Empty Space Next to the Lawn Mower

Having an abnormally high garage ceiling was bothering me one night, so I decided to build a home rock climbing wall. I probably sold the idea by saying it was for the kids, but I was equally excited about the prospects of honing my climbing skills in the dead of winter. The end result was a 16X8 overhanging plywood monolith and a lot of neighborhood kids in my driveway trying to look extra friendly. “That sure looks fun, mister!” Continue Reading…

In Climbing, Outdoors Blog, Product Reviews
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Worth Watching: Eye of the Beholder

November 12, 2013 — 1 Comment

I’ve already recommended Meghan J. Ward’s site in a recent post, The Adventures in Parenthood Project, but I can’t let that stop me from sharing her amazing collaborative video with Doug Urquhart. Continue Reading…

In Family Adventure, Inspiration, Outdoors Blog
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Two simple ideas to supercharge your family’s adventure schedule

November 11, 2013 — 3 Comments

hiking with daughterLife offers very few free lunches and most things that equate to a “good time” are heavily guarded by the debt of painstaking effort and possibly truck loads of cash. The good news is that once we get a little momentum going and defeat the temptation to sit idle, recreation starts paying big returns fast. Continue Reading…

In Activity Ideas, Family Adventure, Inspiration, Instructions and Skills, Time Management
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A Must-Follow Blog for Adventurous Parents

November 6, 2013 — 1 Comment

The Adventures In Parenthood Project

Only one article in, plus some impressive headline browsing, and I can’t wait to spend more time on this website. The Adventures in Parenthood Project explores the transition of outdoor adventurers to family life. I first stumbled onto an article titled The Kid Question: How an Adventurer Decides to Become a Parent and was stoked by its parallels with the primary goal of the The Recreationalist.

Continue Reading…

In Backpacking, Family Adventure, Inspiration, Outdoors Blog
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