Outside Monthly Film Series: Solitaire

A few weeks back Outside Online hosted a very successful, and fun, online premiere for the mountaineering film Cold. The event was so well received in fact, that they have now decided to screen an independently produced documentary once a month on their website, with the second film debuting tomorrow night. That film will be the backcountry skiing movie Solitaire by Nick Waggoner and featuring skiers Kim Havell and Stephan Drake.

The screening will begin at 6PM Mountain Standard Time, and an online Q&A session with the filmmaker will take place from 7-9PM MST. Should be a fun and interesting event. Check out the trailer for the film below.

Outside To Premiere Cold Online

The mountaineering film Cold has been getting a lot of positive buzz lately, picking up awards at various festivals and earning climber/filmmaker Cory Richards recognition as one of Nat Geo's Adventurers of the Year. The film follows Richards, along with climbers Simone Moro and Dennis Urubko, as they make the first winter ascent of Gasherbrum II, an 8035 meter (26,362 ft) peak located in Pakistan, hence the title "Cold."

Now, the film is set to make its online debut thanks to Outside Magazine. Tomorrow night, December 8, the magazine's website, OutsideOnline.com, will present the entire 19-minute film starting at 7 PM Mountain Standard Time. The site will also host a Q&A session afterwards with Richards, Moro, and filmmakers Anson Fogel and Kelly Cordes.

This is a great opportunity to catch a film that the entire mountaineering community is buzzing about. Check out the trailer below to get a glimpse at what makes this film special and then make plans to attend the online premiere tomorrow night from the comfort of your own home. It looks like it should be well worth watching and I'm looking forward to seeing the whole thing for myself.



COLD - TRAILER from Forge Motion Pictures on Vimeo.

More of Outside's Favorite Blogs

Last week I shared links to Outside Magazine's picks for their favorite Gear, Bike, Environmental, and Adventure blogs, the latter of which I was fortunate enough to earn a spot on. Since then, the editors at Outside Online have also posted their top picks for their favorite climbing, running, and fitness blogs as well.

Making the list of the top climbing blogs on the Internet were sites such as Climberism and PlanetMountain, both of which I enjoy reading regularly. But Outside's top pick in this category is one that I whole heartedly agree with, as Climbing Narc is always a great read to keep up with what is happening in the climbing scene.

The top 10 running blogs is filled with plenty of great options as well, and if you're not already a runner, reading these sites will probably motivate you to start. I've always been partial to iRunFar and enjoy reading Peak Performance as well, as both offer plenty of inspiration for my own running. The top blog on this list is Science of Sport, which is a new one to add to my daily web activities.

Finally, we have the top 10 fitness blogs, which includes Runblogger, which is curiously listed here and not under the running blogs, and Sweat Science, which is always a good read when you're looking for the latest news and analysis on fitness trends. The New York Times Well Blog tops the list in this category thanks to its excellent writing, breadth of topics, and practical advice.

Between all of these lists, you should find at least a few new bookmarks to add to your browser of choice. There really are some excellent blogs listed amongst the 70 websites that Outside has recommended across all of these lists. They'll definitely keep you informed on what ever topic they focus on.

Outside Online Lists Their Favorite Gear, Bike, Environmental and Adventure Blogs

The staff over at Outside Online has been spending a lot of time on the Internet lately. The site, which is the web companion to Outside Magazine, has been posting lists of their favorite blogs and websites in a variety of categories, including gear, bikes, the environment, and adventure. The lists will have some very familiar sites for regular readers of this blog, especially since I was lucky enough to be named to one of the list as well.

The Top 10 Environmental Blogs features such sites as Treehugger and The Cleanest Line, both of which are favorites of mine. That particular list is topped by the The New York Times Green Blog, which just should be an indication of the overall level of quality of the websites on this list. The Top 10 Bike Blogs includes Fat Cyclist and Bike Snob NYC, which I enjoy as well, with Red Kite Prayer getting top overall honors.

The Top 10 Gear Blogs was definitely a hotly contest category, as there are a number of good gear blogs on the Internet. But these are definitely the best of the best, featuring our friends over at the Gear Caster and The GearJunkie as well. Outside's top gear blog honors goes to the Outdoor Gear Lab, which is an excellent source of information on a dizzying array of products.

Finally, the Top 10 Adventure Blogs is practically a list of my favorite sites on the Internet. Some of the familiar names on this list include National Geographic Adventure and The Goat, which I link out to frequently, as well as Adventure Journal, which it tops in this category. That is impressive enough in and of itself, but the gang over at AJ also scored top ten listings on the Gear and Bike blog lists too! Well done to Steve and crew.

Finally, I'd like to thank the editors over at Outside for including my humble little slice of the Internet. I managed to rank 5th on the list of Adventure Blogs, and I'm excited and honored to be mentioned in the same breath with the other great sites on the list.

Cycling News From Outside Mag

With the professional cycling season coming to an end for another year, fans of the sport are already looking ahead to 2012, when new teams, riders jumping ship to different squads, and a full schedule of races should keep things interesting. With that in mind, Outside magazine has a couple of interesting articles for us to think about.

First up, we get a nice first look at the just announced routes for both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. Both races will offer very different course from this year, which will have an impact on the peloton and just who has a legitimate chance of winning the race. The Giro, for instance, has done away with some of the long post-stage transfers that have bothered racers in the past, and now a more logical and liner route for the most part. The race will start out flat, but in the later stages it shifts into some very tough mountain stages, which will no doubt favor the climbers in the General Classification.

In contrast, the Tour will favor riders with outstanding time trial experience, offering three times as much TT action in 2012 then it did in 2011. That's not good news for the Schleck brothers, Andy and Frank, who have been in contention the past few years, but have not been able to keep pace in the individual time trials in particular. There will still be plenty of climbing of course, including some never before seen routes, but there is one fewer mountaintop finish this time out, and the course seems to favor the more skilled all around riders, like this year's winner Cadel Evans or three-time champ Alberto Contador.

Speaking of Contador, Outside also scored an interesting interview with the Spaniard, which you can read by clicking here. Contador is still awaiting a hearing over a pending drug suspension for a positive test of the banned substance clenbuterol in last year's Tour de France. In the interview, which is quite short, he touches upon how he got started in the sport, what he does to relax in the off season, and how it felt to finish off the podium in this year's Tour.

As of now, Contador's drug hearing is scheduled for November 22.

Get Your Gear Fix!

If you've been looking for a gear fix in recent days, I have a couple of articles that are sure to help out. First up, we have this story, over at Outside Online, that comes our way via the Gear Junkie himself, which lists the best equipment for adventure racing. Some of the items that make the list include the USA AS-1 Backpack from Out There which has been called the best AR pack ever (My review is coming soon!), and a new watch from Suunto that GJ calls "mandatory gear." He also gives a nod to his pick for the best shoes, helmet, jacket, and more. Definitely a must read for fans of AR or those considering getting into the sport.

The other gear article that comes our way today is the Nat Geo Adventure Blog's picks for Gear of the Year for Fall-Winter 2011.  Gear items earning that distinction include jackets from the North Face, Mammut, and Eddie Bauer, as well as a nice sleeping bag from Sierra Designs and boots from Danner. That's really just scratching the surface however, as there is plenty of other gear for playing in the snow as well.

These lists arrive in time to not only tempt us to go shopping for new gear for ourselves, but also to buy for the outdoor adventure enthusiasts on our holiday shopping lists. With all of the great gear, there is sure to be something to please even the pickiest person.

Outside Expands Our Bucket Lists

Earlier today, Outside Magazine posted their latest edition of the Life List, 50 things we can all add to our bucket list of items we want to accomplish before our time on this planet runs out. The list is filled with big trips, new skills, and a variety of other things to aspire to in our adventurous lives.

Some of the items that make the list include going climbing in the Grand Tetons, learn to kayak, and get into the best shape of your life. You'll also be challenged to trek the Himalayas, master a second language, or simply just take a risk.

Of course, there are literally dozens of other things on the list as well, and I simply love the number one item, which is Get A Passport. This may be the easiest thing on the list to accomplish, and yet many people don't have a passport. That one simple document really does open the world to you, and through travel, many adventures can follow.

This is a wonderful list and while it is a real challenge to accomplish everything on it it, there are a lot of things that are simple and easy to pursue in our normal lives as well. Give it a glance and I'm sure you'll find plenty of new things to put in your bucket too.

Outside Magazine's 50 Best Places To Work

Face it. The economy is rough right now, and a lot of us wish we were working somewhere else. Fortunately, Outside Magazine has come along with their annual list of the 50 Best Places To Work, and it is full of outdoor and adventure related companies.

Each of the companies on the list are hot linked to a page explaining who they are, what they do, and where they're located. The listing also gives us the best perks of the job and tells us if the company is hiring or not. That's only the beginning however, as the in depth profile also shares the company's approach to fitness, flextime, employee recognition, and oh so much more. It is a great resource for anyone looking for a job in the outdoor industry at the moment.

Some of the companies on the list are perennially in the top 50. Companies like Osprey Packs and Patagonia. Others are rather new, like Virgin Galactic, the company working to commercialize space travel. All in all though, this is a pretty great list of places to work and I think we'd all love to have a job at any one of these companies.

Once you're finished perusing the best places to work, check out Outside's other work related articles today. For instance, they also tell you how to find your dream job, as well as the six best jobs out there at the moment. Finally, they talk to ten different people who quit their regular jobs to pursue their their dream jobs as well. They share ideas on how we can all do the same.

Excellent stuff. Now, excuse me,  I need to go update my resume...

Outside Has The Cure For The Post TdF Blues!

With the 2011 Tour de France in the books, it is easy to let a post-race malaise set in as we wait patiently for 2012 to get here so we can cheer on our favorite riders once again. This is the time that we console ourselves with our own long rides while day dreaming about our own days in the Yellow Jersey. Fortunately, the post-Tour cycling coverage over at Outside Online can help ease the pain of not getting our daily fix of Paul Sherwen and Phil Liggett.

First up, Outside says that we can fight our annual "Tour withdrawal" by drooling over all the new bikes that made their debut there and will be arriving in our stores soon. In this article, they preview some of those hot new bikes, which includes offerings from Cannondale, Cervelo, Pinarello, and more. These are state of the art bikes, and as you would expect, they come with hefty price tags. Some of them are approaching $10,000, which is out of the price range for most cyclists, but it is still fun to dream. Plus, by the time the 2012 Tour is over, features from these bikes will start to trickle down to something a bit more within our budgets.

Late July also happens to mark the start of RAGBRAI, one of the biggest cycling events in the world .The name stands for the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, and each year more than 20,000 riders take part in the annual event. The ride kicked off this past weekend, and even Lance Armstrong dropped by for a spin. Outside takes a look at some of the statistics from this event, which is hugely popular back in my home state. For instance, more than 700 cases of beer are sold nightly at the camps for the event, making RAGBRAI as much of a party as it is a challenge. There are also an estimated 1500 support vehicles following the Peloton as well. It is a fun, not-too-serious event that I'd recommend to any cyclist.

Finally, have you ever wondered what kind of food the riders eat to keep them powering on the road for 3+ weeks? Outside also has one of the favorite recipes of Team HTC-Highroad. The simple, yet tasty-sounding, Potato Gnocchi Tourmalet includes two pounds of potatoes, eggs, zucchini, garlic, and more, and is guaranteed to power you through a mountain stage. Sounds good to me!

So how do you combat the Post-Tour Blues?

The Risks and Rewards of Extreme Adventure

Over this past weekend I had the opportunity to go to Aspen, Colorado and enjoy a few days in the mountains while attending the Outside in Aspen event. For those who aren't aware, Outside in Aspen is an annual festival, sponsored by Outside Magazine, during which outdoor enthusiasts get together to take part in some of their favorite activities in a fantastic mountain setting. For example, there was rock climbing, hiking, mountaineering, cycling, paddling and more. There were also a couple of good parties, a gear "base camp," and lots of other stuff to do as well.

One of the highlights of the weekend was a symposium that consisted of a panel of adventure athletes who discussed their thoughts on the risks and rewards of extreme adventure, such as climbing mountain, whitewater kayaking, skiing, and so on. The panel consisted of some very well known names in the adventure community, including three time Everest summiteer Melissa Arnot, mountaineer and filmmaker Michael Brown, telemark skier Nick DeVore,  and kayakers Brad Ludden, and Ben Stooksberry. The panel was moderated by a couple of editors from Outside, who asked the usual questions about why these athletes do the things they do, what motivates them, and what keeps them going back for more.

Listening to the group talk about the things they do, there were several common themes that cropped up. For instance, it was clear that when they feel most happy and content with their lives while out on the mountains or rivers. But that said, there is almost always a level of discomfort, if not out right suffering, while they're on their expeditions, and that often served as a motivation to accomplish what they set out to do and get back home to a more comfortable existence. Once home however, all they can think about is their next adventure and planning for when they can get back out into the wild and do the things they love.

Each of the panelist also talked about what it felt like to not successfully complete an expedition, turning back before reaching a summit or portaging around a particularly challenging piece of whitewater for instance. In those cases, they often have to weigh the risks of going on versus the rewards that they'll receive for doing so. Each of them has had to make that decision at some point, and while they all said that it can make you question whether you did the right thing, you have to learn to not dwell on it for too long. Coming home safe is always the first priority, and when you do that, you've always made the right decision.

The issue of risk vs. reward is a tough one, as the risks generally come in a very tangible fashion, while the rewards are often much more ethereal. The possibility of getting hurt, or even killed, is something that is a part of all extreme adventures, but the rewards are often more personal and internal. They may be something as simple as a great sense of accomplishment or satisfaction, which can't be seen or heard, and is only felt on an individual level. For the athletes on this panel, those rewards often outweighed the risks, and drive them to pursue the challenges that they desire.

Sitting in the pavilion listening to these adventurers, I couldn't help but think that they were preaching to the choir. After all, we had all come to Outside in Aspen to take part in our own outdoor activities, albeit on a less extreme level. But there are a lot of people who will never understand what motivates someone to take what are perceived to be undue risks just to stand on top of a mountain. Those people feel more comfortable living a life that is safe, predictable, and controlled.

A person with that approach to their life would probably never understand what motivates someone to climb into an 8000 meter peak or make the first descent of a remote river somewhere. But listening to this distinguished panel, it was easy to see that they love what they do and that brings them a sense of happiness and contentment to their lives.

In the end, those are the greatest rewards that anyone can ask for.

Cycling: Contador To Ride TdF, Lance and Tyler Hamilton Come Face-to-Face

In what should come as no surprise to cycling fans everywhere,  it was announced yesterday that Alberto Contador will ride in this year's Tour de France, despite a looming hearing with the International Cycling Union and World Anti-Doping Agency over allegations that he may have taken a banned substance. You may recall that the three-time defending Tour champion tested positive for the drug clenbuterol during last year's race and has claimed that the trace amounts detected in his system were a result of eating tainted beef.

According to ESPN, Contador is scheduled to appear at the hearing on August 1st, just a week after the Tour ends. That hearing has been called to investigate the positive test after the Spanish cycling federation elected to clear Contador of all charges. If the UCI rules that the failed drug test violates their standards, Contador could face a ban from international competition.

Clenbuterol is an anabolic drug that can be used to improve performance, and it is available by prescription in some countries. The substance has been used in cattle as well in effort to get beef cows to bulk up much more quickly. In Europe, the drug is banned for that use as well, although some still use it. Contador has always maintained that he ingested it accidentally.

It has been a good year for the Spanish rider thus far, and he has already won the Giro d'Italia, which is considered one of the grand tours of the sport. He is the odds on favorite to win the Tour again this year as well, which would make him the first man to win both the Giro and the Tour in the same year since Marco Pantani back in 1998.

Meanwhile, the Outside Blog is reporting that Lance Armstrong and Tyler Hamilton came face-to-face for the first time since Hamilton told 60 Minutes that Armstrong used performance enhancing drugs while riding in the Tour as well. Apparently, the two men ran into one another in Aspen, Colorado this weekend, where Hamilton was on hand for the Outside in Aspen event and Lance has a home.

According to the story, the two men were having dinner at Cache Cache, a local Aspen favorite, when depending on who you listen to, a confrontation went down. According to Hamilton's people, Lance started to berate him and get in his face a bit, while Armstrong says it was just an awkward moment between two guys who use to be friends. Either way, it sounds like things got very frosty, very quickly, with the manager telling Tyler that he could finish his meal, but wasn't welcome back in the restaurant.

Ah... the soap opera continues!

Outside In Aspen This Weekend! Who's Going?!?

This weekend is the second annual Outside in Aspen event in Aspen, Colorado of course. For those that haven't heard about it before, this is a weekend of outdoor fun and parties, sponsored by Outside Magazine, that brings some of the top adventure athletes in the world together with regular Joe's like you and me, for a host of activities, including rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, and much more.

This year I'm going to be attending the event and sharing my thoughts on everything that is happening. On Saturday, I'll be taking part in the Climb A Fourteener event and on Sunday I'll be mountain biking. Most of the rest of the time, I'll likely be hanging out in Base Camp, connecting with the gear companies and sponsors there, and taking in the scene. Both days I'll be using my twitter account to share thoughts and updates, and probably more than a few images as well.

It looks like it is going to be a really fun weekend and I was curious if anyone else was planning on being there as well? If so, give me a shout and maybe we can hang out and enjoy the scene together. I've been told from attendees last year that it is a lot of fun, and expect the second edition will be just as good.

For a full list of activities going on this weekend, click here. There really is something for everyone!

Outside Has Seven Questions For Conrad Anker

The Outside Blog has posted an excellent little interview with Conrad Anker, one of the best known climber/mountaineers in the U.S. Anker, as you probably recall, was part of the team that discovered George Mallory's body on Everest back in 1999, and he shared a lot about that story in the wonderful documentary The Wildest Dream.

Outside took the opportunity to chat with Anker, quizzing him with seven questions that range from how he got started as a professional adventurer, what it was like discovering Mallory's remains, and how we can still find adventure, even in the 21st century. It's a an excellent read, and definitely worth your time on a slow Friday.

I had a chance to meet Anker back in 2008 while I was in Bozeman, Montana for Primal Quest. He is an interesting guy who is very approachable and humble about his accomplishments. Definitely one of the most down to Earth people you'll ever meet.

Outside's Cycling Issue 2011

Just in time for the warmer weather of spring, Outside Magazine has released the 2011 edition of their Cycling Issue, which takes a look at the hot new trends in bikes and gear for both on the road and on the trail. And if you're in the market for a new bike, they even off up some great suggestions on what to look for when you head to your favorite bike shop.

Amongst the online articles for this year's Cycling Issue are separate articles on the best new Road, Mountain, and Commuter bikes for 2011. These three articles offer up some very drool worthy rides, to say the least, but they don't come cheap. Outside's road bikes started at $2460 and the mountain bike selections began at $1500. Those prices don't sound like a lot for hardcore riders, but I think the "Cycling Issue" could have used some affordable suggestions for beginners and weekend warriors who don't want to drop a couple of paychecks on a bike they'll every few weeks.

That said, if you are a cyclist who finds riding is just part of your life, you'll be in heaven as you gaze longingly at some of the bikes on display. This is pure bike porn, and each of the mini-reviews that accompany the selections will have you wondering how soon you can upgrade your current ride for something new.

On a personal note, I've been doing a lot of riding myself the past week or so. I've got a bit of a foot injury that is keeping me from running at the moment, so I'm working out on the bike instead. Last week I had four hour-long rides on my road bike and over the weekend I hit the trail on my mountain bike. While I miss the running, at least for now, I'm having a blast battling the Texas winds on two wheels.

Outside Gives Us 10 Things To Watch On Everest This Year

The Outside Blog has an interesting list up today of 10 things to watch on Everest this season, featuring a brief run down of some of the fun, and crazy stories from the annual circus that surrounds the world's tallest mountain.

Amongst the items to make the list are Alan Arnette's Memories Are Everything expedition, in which he is climbing to raise funds for the Cure Alzheimer's Fund. Alan is a frequent contributor to the Outside Blog and I have been following his dispatches from the mountain closely as well. Other climbs of note include Edurne Pasaban's no-oxygen climb on the South Side and Nick Rice's attempt to do the same on the North.

A couple of the items on the list aren't actually on Everest, but its neighbor Lhotse instead. Spanish climber  Carlos Soria Fontan is attempting that peak at the age of 72 as his on going effort to climb all 14 of the world's  8000 meter peaks. Similarly, another team of climbers will attempt Lhotse and then ski down the West Face.

At the moment, most of the teams on the mountain are building their high camps and acclimatizing. Some have spent a night or two at Camp 2, and most are waiting for the Sherpa teams to fix the ropes up to C3, C4, and eventually the summit. This is all standard procedure on the mountain, and everything is on schedule for an expected mid-May summit window, weather permitting of course.

Outside's Top 10 (+2) Mountain Bike Videos

Outside Online has posted ten great mountain biking videos (plus two bonus clips) in a couple of posts to their blog. The clips include all kinds of different rides with action galore of course, including everything from big jumps, fast downhill, and craze wipeouts. Some of the videos have been seen on this blog before, but they're also worth a second look. Especially on a Friday!

You'll find the first five clips, plus bonus video, in Part 1 of the blog post, and the second group of five, plus one more bonus clip, in Part 2. While I'm not nearly in the same league as most of the riders in these clips, they sure do make me want to blow off the rest of the day, and go hop on my bike for a ride. Who's with me?

Outside Profiles Miss Elizabeth Hawley

In just a few short days, hundred of climbers will begin to descend on Kathmandu where they'll collect their gear, finish last minute preparations, and then depart for a variety of Himalayan peaks. Each of them will be focused on reaching their respective summits, often spending weeks toiling away on the mountain just to stand on top for a few minutes. But as Outside Magazine notes in their profile of Miss Elizabeth Hawley, the summit doesn't count until she says so.

For those that don't know, Miss Hawley is a fixture in the Himalayan climbing community. The 87-year old woman has been in Nepal for 60 years, documenting and recording every climb up every peak. Many climbers stop by to pay homage and discuss their climb before they set out, then again on their return to Kathmandu, where they are often quizzed about their expedition. To say she has an encyclopedic knowledge of the Himalaya is almost selling Miss Hawley short.

The Outside article talks about her meticulous record and how the are the definitive source for all climbs that take place in the Himalaya. They also quote climbers like Reinhold Messner who even defers to Hawley and her impressive stockpile of information. All told, she has conducted more than 15,000 interviews in her illustrious career, and it doesn't appear that she'll stop anytime soon.

As the 2011 Himalayan Season dawns, this article is a great place to kick off the coverage. After all, Miss Hawley remains the Queen of the Mountains, even though she has never climbed one herself.

Outside Investigates The Death Of Hendri Coetzee

Back in December, the outdoor adventure community was stunned by the news that paddling guide Hendri Coetzee was killed while guiding a team of professional kayakers down the Lukuga River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Coetzee, along with American paddlers Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic, had just completed a tough section of whitewater, when a large crocodile approached them from behind. In an instant, the croc attacked, pulling Coetzee from his boat, and pulling him under the water, never to be seen again. It was a shocking and brutal reminder of how deadly Africa can be, but it still came as quite a shock.

In the latest issue of Outside magazine, the entire incident is explored in detail, and the article is quite a story to read. What we didn't know back in December was that Coetzee was planning on hanging up his paddle and bring an end to his very productive career as a guide and professional paddler with some very impressive first descents under his belt. But as the story says, a predator in the water had a different ending to the story.

The article is entitled Monster in the River, and the entire thing can be read online here. The story is more than just about the tragic end of Hendri's life, but it also about the way he lived it with a passion for what he did, exploring Africa's most spectacular rivers and finding adventure in many different ways. He was truly an inspirational person who just happened to have met an untimely end in a most unexpected way. I highly recommend this story, as it is well told and offers a lot of insight into the man himself.

Another great job from the staff at Outside.

22 Essential Adventure Skills We All Need

Outside Online has a great article on their website listing the bare essential skills that all adventurers should have in their arsenal, no matter where they are headed. They are designed to be a baseline for any outdoor enthusiast who finds themselves off the beaten path from time to time and on adventures, both planned and unexpected.

This list really does have a little of something for everyone, from the backpacker, long distance trekker, or adventure traveler. The skills vary greatly, but they all have one thing in common – making us all safe while we're on the go and making our journeys a lot easier.

In total, there are 22 skills listed on this "bare essentials" list and even if you already know most of them inside and out, it's nice to have a reminder. Most of the entires on the list include anecdotes or stories that explain when and why they are necessary, as well as some helpful tips on how to brush up your own skills in that particular area.

Examples of these essential skills include "Never Get Caught Empty-Pocketed" which means make sure you have the gear you need to survive on you at all times. The "Pack Like A Pro" section offers helpful hints on selecting the right clothing for your trip and packing it all properly, while the "Pull Off a Big Trip" section gives advice on how to organize that adventure you've always wanted to take.

Some of these things may seem elementary upon first glance, but as I said, reminders are always a good thing, and even if you're an old pro, you may find some new tips in this list. Apparently this is just part 1 of a four part series on "essentials" so we'll have plenty more to come it seems.

Nice tips from a great source and an especially helpful article for beginners or those just in the planning stages of their first big adventure.

Join the Outside Adventure Film School in Fiji

Aspiring filmmakers have a fantastic opportunity to join Outside Adventure Film School when it gets underway this April on the isle of Fiji in the South Pacific, where they'll spend ten days rafting, diving, kayaking and more. They'll also be joined by filmmaker Michael Brown who will teach them the art of making adventure films while capturing the not only the aquatic action but also the unique culture of the island.

The film school will run from April 9th through the 19th and begins with a rafting trip through the famous black lava canyons of the Upper Navua Gorge. From there, students, instructors, and Teva sponsored athletes will transfer to a 140-foot sailing vessel known as the Tui Tai, which will be their home and base of operations for the days ahead.

Over the past few years, the Outside film schools have earned themselves a reputation for providing excellent instruction for those looking to get into the business while also providing opportunities to have a little fun and adventure along the way. The 2011 edition looks to continue that legacy with plenty of things to see and due in that tropical paradise.

To learn more about the school and to view the full itinerary, click here. And to fill out the application form, click here.