The Don Ho Solution
Published January 25, 2012 | 
Now here’s a bit of interesting news. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Makers of great big ships among other things.) has come up with this cool, efficient, and dare I say, “fun” way to cut up to 25 percent of CO2 emissions from large cargo carriers. Heck, they’ll even go a bit faster as well! The big idea? Blowing bubbles!
The Real 2012 Outdoor News From CES?
Published January 23, 2012 | The coolest news for paddlers and other outdoor enthusiasts may have come not from Outdoor Retailer’s 2012 Winter Market, but from the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show where new nano-technology was introduced that may soon bring us all waterproof smart phones and tablets. It’s hard to imagine another innovation that has such potential to actually change how we do what we do when it comes to exploring our wild outdoors.
Let’s face it, most of us are getting pretty tech savvy these days and our electronic gizmos are becoming an important part of our outdoor experience. Like it or not, we’ve followed the curve from paper maps, charts & compasses to GPS to smart phones and tablets without much of a hitch. We also know that when it comes to navigation, charts, weather and even photography these days, there’s gizmo and an app out there just perfect for our needs. The problem is that it’s pretty risky taking a smart phone or tablet out in inclement weather, let alone on our kayak! Experience has taught us that even electronics designed and advertised as “water proof” rarely are, no matter what they say on the box. Dry bags work, but are not a great solution either. They often just get in the way, either being too bulky or too thick for our sensitive touch screens to work properly. Well, things might be about to change.
At the recently held Consumer Electronics Show a company called HzO demonstrated its new “WaterBlock” system that basically covers every part of your electronic gadget in a thin, waterproof nano-coating. At the show they demonstrated how treated iPhones and Android devices will still function when under water. (See the video above) How cool is that? This may be the first step toward a world where we can bring our smart phones and tablets out into our watery world with out a second thought…. Well, that is until we realize we can’t get a signal… Keep your compass handy!
More:
Posted in More Gear Reviews, Outdoor Recreation, Paddle Gear, Paddling | 
electronics, HzO, waterproof | 
4 CommentsThin Ice & The Forward Stroke
Published January 3, 2012 | 
I’m no forward stroke guru. Thank the gods! We’ve got too many of those types already! Still, I’m happy to share what I’ve learned along my never-ending path to paddling enlightenment. Like, if you want to learn to have a great catch, paddle in thin ice. What’s the catch? Continue reading
Something In The Water
Published December 30, 2011 | 
Each year when the ice is beginning to form on inland lakes there is still time for the hearty paddler to get in a few good days on the water. You simply need to be more cautious. Not only should you be properly dressed for the occasion, but you also need to keep your eye out for nearly transparent floating obstacles. Paddling along at a good clip, floating ice can be nearly invisible. An awkward run up the side of one of these floating chucks or even a direct hit can quickly send an unprepared paddler right over. Most of us would call that a bad day at best. Continue reading
Frog Bay Tribal National Park
Published December 28, 2011 | 
The Red Cliff Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa are creating a nearly 90 acre Tribal National Park on the northern tip of Wisconsin with a quarter-mile beach looking out on to the Apostle Islands. Kayakers & hikers alike will of course be celebrating access to a new section of shoreline, of course they may need to wait a while. According to reports the park will not open to the public until August of 2012 at the very earliest. Still, good news all around.
More:
- Map
- Public National Park Is A Tribal First – Wisconsin State Journal
- State’s Red Cliff Chippewa to open park to public – Green Bay Press Gazette
On this last day
Published December 27, 2011 | 
The morning dawn of December 25th broke coldly over the southeastern horizon just as it should. It is winter after all! I know the days are getting longer now, but that doesn’t provide much comfort… or heat for that matter. Still, the forecast was calling for a nice sunny day, near 40f. If it hadn’t been Christmas I’d have been tempted to complete my hundred miles around Devil’s Lake in the warmth of the afternoon sun. As it was, I needed to get back home before the family started arriving to open those packages. Continue reading
“Is it worth risking your life for a fish?” Good question from a spokesman for the Virginia Marine Resources Commission a day after authorities rescued 6.. Let that sink in… 6, Again, 6! capsized fisherman from Chesapeake Bay a couple weeks back. [ Read the full story here. ] No wonder there are so many folks who think kayaking is crazy. Well, no. What’s crazy is going out into potentially dangerous situations without any clue how to deal with it if something goes wrong. In the vernacular of the day, “Really?” Continue reading →