Outdoors | UltraRob's Adventures

Lunar Eclipse

December 21st, 2010

How many stayed up or got up to see the total lunar eclipse last night?

We had great clear skies and really enjoyed seeing the eclipse. We got the kids up around 1 AM so they could see it. They thought it was very cool!

I clearly need more practice taking lunar eclipse photos. One of the biggest issues is my tripod is so terrible I want to throw it very far whenever I use it. I got it because it easily fits in my backpack but it’s nearly impossible to keep the camera from moving when I push the trigger. Of course if I had a remote trigger, that shouldn’t happen.

I did manage to get the photo above without the camera moving. It was before I got the camera settings right so it’s really grainy and a bit over exposed. Maybe Santa will bring me a usable tripod and remote trigger for my Nikon D80. Most likely I’m getting a lump of coal instead.

For much better photos taken locally, go over the Jeff Abel’s blog.

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Tags: lunar eclipse, moonlight
Posted in outdoors | 2 Comments »

Christmas Spirit in the Outdoors

December 10th, 2010

Last night I hiked up the Manitou Incline. It’s only a mile but climbs 2,000 feet with a steepest grade of 68%.

When I got to the top, I noticed something hanging in one of the small spruce trees. It was dark and I generally hike up without using my headlamp. That way my eyes adjust and I can see more than what’s in my light beam.

When I switched on my headlamp, I saw a tree beautifully decorated with probably 100 ornaments and a star on top. The photo above doesn’t do justice since the only camera I had was my phone. In the background, you can see the city lights 2,000 feet below.

I’ve seen trees decorated for Christmas along trails in the past but they only had a few ornaments on them. Have you seen any good Christmas decorations out in the wild?

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Tags: hiking, holidays, Manitou Incline
Posted in Hike, outdoors | No Comments »

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Deals 2010

November 25th, 2010

Update: 2012 Black Friday/Cyber Monday Bike and Outdoor Deals

Here’s a list of outdoor and cycling related deals for Black Friday and through the weekend to Cyber Monday. Some of the deals are already available and some are just on Black Friday or Cyber Monday so check the details. I still have more deals to post so check back for more. I expect I’ll find more throughout the weekend and will post them as I find them.

If you need some gift ideas, I have gift guides from last couple years and most of the items will still make great gifts. I plan on posting updated gift ideas soon.

AlsSports

Starting on Monday save big on a huge selection of items storewide: Smith Ski goggles 70% off, Scott Alias Goggles $19.99, North Face Clothing 40% off, Nike Clothing and socks 50% off, ALps Osage 2 Person Tent – $26.99, 40% off all footwear,Smith Sunglasses up to 80% off, Nike Lebron James Basketball $5.99 – Regularly $19, Black Diamond Skis 50% Off, Scott Skis 60% off, Slumberjack Latitude 0 Degree Sleeping Bag $24.99. Ends 11/30

Altrec

Six Days of Deals kicks off on Friday. Coupon BLACKFRIDAY10 gives an extra 10% off on Friday and Saturday.

Backcountry.com

Get up to 50% off select items from brands like Mountain Hardwear, Patagonia and Oakley. In addition to the outstanding deals, get free shipping on all orders (no minimum threshold). Expires 11/29

Bicycle Touring Pro

Black Friday Special get 4 bike touring products for just $47 (normally priced at $85). Valid 11/25-11/28.

Bike Nashbar

20% Off orders of $75 or more through Friday with code TURKEYDAY.

Commuter Bike Store

5% Off all products with a coupon code 5OFFCBS. Expires 12/31
Save 8% Off all Garmin products with code 8GPS. Expires 12/21

Department of Goods

Get at least 72% off select items for 72 hours. This includes outdoor gear from Oakley, Mountain Hardwear, Arc’terx and more. Free shipping on orders over $50. Expires 11/29

Dogfunk

50% off select items from brands like Volcom, Element and Special Blend. In addition to the outstanding deals, get free shipping on all orders (no minimum threshold). Expires 11/29

Eastern Mountain Sports

Black Friday Sale – Save 20% OFF Almost Everything at EMS.com from 11/24 thru 11/29. Free Shipping over $125!
Save 20% OFF Thule Racks from 11/26 thru 12/5
Additional 20% OFF Clearance at EMS.com thru 11/29
PowerDeals: A New Steep Gear Deal Every Three Hours – thru 11/29

evo

Thanksgiving Weekend Sale: Extra 20% Off ALL Outlet with code superbig2.

GearX

From Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday they’ll be featuring: Most Packs, Sleeping Bags, & Tents at least 10% off. Discounts up to 50% off on select models. Gloves & Mittens at 25-53% off. Extra discounts on Skis, Skins, Tele, & AT Boots. Hundreds of skis priced below $300. Skins up to 70% off.

HaberVision

Now through Sunday, save 60% off retail on all Polarized Goggle and Eliminator Fan Goggles with promotion code BLACK at checkout
Monday Only, save 65% off retail on all Sunglasses, Goggles, and Bags with promotion code CYBER at checkout

Huck N Roll

Get up to 70% off select mountain bike gear, shorts, helmets, jackets and more Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

Icebreaker

Black is the New Black. Friday Only get 30% off all Black items at Icebreaker. 15% off everything else. Use code BLACK10. Excludes outerwear.

Jenson USA

Big price drops at midnight Thursday night.

KL Sport

All Patagonia gear on sale. Ends 11/28
All Mountain Hardwear gear on sale. Ends 11/30

Makais

Great deals on bikes, treadmills and much more Friday through Monday.

Masseys Outfitters

Lots of outdoor gear on sale. Click here for the list of sale items.

Modells

Black Friday Sale – 20% off orders at Modells.com. Valid 11/26 – 11/28. Exclusions Apply.
Cyber Monday Sale – 25% off any single item + Free Shipping with no minimum at Modells.com. Valid 11/29 only. Exclusions Apply.

Moosejaw

Free $31 eGiftCard with any jacket purchase over $149 from The North Face, Arcteryx or Moosejaw with code 31CARD. Valid 11/25 – 12/4
Monday Only: Earn 5X Rewards Points on Almost Every Purchase – Excludes Patagonia and Marmot Products

NRS

10% off all orders Thursday through Monday. They carry kayaking, rafting, canoeing gear and apparel.

outdoorDIVAS

15% off all PrAna product through December 31. Enter coupon code 5991 at checkout.

Performance Bike

Great deals on many items.

Poppy Sports

20% discount for a week with coupon code BIGTWENTY. Ends 12/3

Pro Boardshop

96 Hours of Saving with deepest discounts on 50 of their top products. Valid Friday through Monday.

Real Cyclist

Get up to 70% off select jerseys, bibs, complete bikes, components and more from Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

Sierra Trading Post

25% off $125 or 30% off $150. Use code: ALBLACKFRI2KX Valid 11/25 – 11/28.

SKECHERS

Get $20 Off Your $100 Footwear Purchase From SKECHERS with code GIFT200 11/25 – 11/29
Get $30 Off Your $150 Footwear Purchase From SKECHERS with code GIFT300 11/25 – 11/29
Get $40 Off Your $200 Footwear Purchase From SKECHERS with code GIFT400 11/25 – 11/29

Skis.com

Additional 20% OFF thousands of select items. Friday through Monday.

Snowboard Connection

Up to 40% OFF the top brands in Snow, Skate, and Surf. Free Shipping and No Sales tax on orders over $99. Black Friday – Cyber Monday Only!

Snowboard.net

Get an additional 20% OFF thousands of items through Monday.

Sports Authority

Cyber Monday Sale. 20% off Orders at SportsAuthority.com! Exclusions Apply. Valid only on Monday.

Tahoe Mountain Sports

10-30% Off All Patagonia clothing including down sweaters, nano jackets and powder bowl jackets through Monday.
Get a Free Adventure Kit worth $50 plus a 15% Service Discount Code with the purchase of any Spot Satellite Messenger. Until sold out or 12/15
Get a free spare battery with every ContourHD Helmet Cam through 12/3.

Teton Village Sports

Receive 15% off with code gravy15. Valid 11/25 – 11/30. Brands Volkl, Yeti, Loudmouth Golf, Marker, Sage, Arc’teryx and The North Face are excluded.

The House

96 Hours of Saving with deepest discounts on 50 of their top products. Valid Friday through Monday.

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Price: $268.44

Scarpa Zen Pro Mid GTX Hiking Boots

Price: $159.94

Hi Tec Penrith Mid Jr. WP Hiking Boots

Price: $38.73

Tags: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, cycling, gear, outdoor gear
Posted in Bike, Camp, Climb, gear, Hike, outdoors, Ski, Snowshoe | 2 Comments »

When Worlds Collide

November 11th, 2010

Yosemite Valley by Aram K, on Flickr

The outdoors has been featured prominently in entertainment news lately.

Last week, Oprah Winfrey and her friend Gayle visited Yosemite on her first-ever camping trip and first-ever trip to a national park. She was invited by park ranger Shelton Johnson, who has made it a personal goal to increase the number of African-American people visiting the national parks.

The pair embarked on an Oprah-style shopping spree (no spending limit) at a California REI store before they went, stocking up on supplies, and arrived at Yosemite with a stuffed Coleman camper and enough gourmet food (sea bass, anyone?) to feed the entire campground. I have to admit it was entertaining TV. Oprah built a respectable campfire, but then had to wait until after dark for the coals to be ready for cooking; Gayle started her camp slipper on fire; Oprah wore pajamas that matched her sleeping bag (who wears pajamas when they’re camping!?)

Johnson was prominently featured in the segment, and he got to make his case for getting African-Americans to visit the outdoors. It’s been a goal of his for a long time. He’s the only black park ranger in Yosemite and he told a newspaper reporter a year ago that he’s trying to increase the number of black Yosemite visitors (less than 1 percent of the total).

“It’s bigger than just African Americans not visiting national parks,” he said. “It’s a disassociation from the natural world. I think it is, in part, a memory of the horrible things that were done to us in rural America.”

Oprah is back in one of her homes, but Johnson’s campaign hasn’t stopped. Now, he wants another high-profile visitor: rapper Snoop Dogg. Johnson and change.org have teamed up to lure Dogg into the park. “All Snoop Dogg has to do is go camping in Yosemite and it would change the world,” Johnson says. There’s a petition to Snoop Dog’s PR firm, 5W Public Relations, calling on the rapper to go camping. Check it out here.

But wait…that’s not all.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Forest Service presented their newest honorary forest ranger with a badge and ranger hat to Betty White. White, who is 88, said she wanted to be a forest ranger when she was a young girl, but that women weren’t allowed into the agency then.

“Wilderness is harder and harder to find these days on this beautiful planet, and we’re abusing our planet to the point of almost no return,” she said. “In my heart I’ve been a forest ranger all my life, but now I’m official.”

– Deb Acord

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Tags: Betty White, camping, National Parks, Oprah, Yosemite
Posted in Camp, outdoors | No Comments »

Photo Op

October 21st, 2010

This hasn’t been the best fall for leaf-peepers, but there were still some stunning views in the land of aspens. And if you haven’t ventured out with your camera yet, there’s still time.

Todd Caudle, noted Colorado scenic photographer who produces the Colorado Mountain Club calendars and whose work is featured in his own books (check out www.skylinepress.com) offers these tips for the best aspen shots

Avoid shooting in the harsh light of midday, but..
…if you must shoot in midday, try to shoot fall colors with side lighting (with the sunlight coming from the side rather than straight onto the foliage).
As an alternative, shoot with fall colors backlit by the sun. With the sun out of the image frame, you can use your hand or a hat to try to block the sun’s rays from striking the front of the lens to avoid lens flare. Backlit foliage absolutely glows in any season, more so in fall.
Bad weather makes good photographs. If it’s cloudy and rainy, or better yet, foggy, this is a great opportunity to catch fall scenes at their most transitory.
Look down! Some of the prettiest scenes are those intimate little wonders on the forest floor, where a single red plant is poking through a carpet of gold aspen leaves, or when fallen leaves are accented with dew drops.
Look up! There’s nothing quite as vibrant as a ceiling of gold aspen leaves against a blue Colorado sky. Add some puffy white clouds and you’ve got the makings of a real beauty.
Trees and shrubs don’t have to be completely covered in perfectly colored leaves to make for striking images. Sometimes the tail end of the color season, perhaps a lone aspen holding onto its last leaves amidst a forest of bare trees yields a stark, but no less beautiful scene.
Change lenses from time to time, or even frequently. Whether you’re shooting a digital SLR camera with interchangeable lenses or a point-and-shoot camera with a good zoom range, experiment with different lens focal lengths, from wide-angle to telephoto, for the utmost in variety in your photos.

– Deb Acord

Related Link

Fall Colors Bike Ride to Cripple Creek

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Tags: fall colors
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Should You Rent or Buy Your Outdoor Gear?

October 19th, 2010

Are you planning on outdoor adventure in the near future? If you’re trying out a new activity, you may not already own the gear you need. While your first thought may be to head to your local outdoor store or order online, you have another option as well. In addition to buying your own camping and other outdoor gear, you may also be able to rent it.

Both buying and renting have their own pros and cons. When it comes to determining whether you should buy your own camping gear or just rent the camping gear that you need, you may have a difficult time deciding what to do. Below, the advantages and disadvantages of buying your own outdoor gear and renting your outdoor gear are outlined.

Pros to Buying Outdoor Gear

You will find that there are a number of pros or plus sides to buying your own outdoor gear. One of these plus sides is the convenience of having it available whenever you decide to head out for an adventure. If it’s something like a pack it’ll already adjusted the way you like it. For something like a tent, you’ll know how to put it up and not need to read the instructions unless maybe if you don’t use it often enough.

Having your own gear also means that you can use it as little or as often as you would like and it won’t cost more. If you’re are planning to the activity frequently, you will find that it is easier, as well as cheaper in the long run, to buy your own outdoor gear.

It is also important to note the many options you have when buying your own outdoor gear. When buying your own outdoor gear, you can buy whatever you want. For instance, if you would like a camping tent that has lots of ventilation, you can find ones that have lots of vents. When you buy your own outdoor equipment, you have the ability to be picky if you want to be. With the huge selection of outdoor gear to choose from and many online retailers, the decision as to what you want to buy is yours to make. Here on UltraRob.com, you can search for outdoor gear from over 80 online retailers.

Cons to Buying Outdoor Gear

Although there are a number of positives, like convenience, to buying your own outdoor gear, you will find that the biggest downside to doing so is the cost. Depending on what you need to buy, it can get pretty expensive to purchase your own outdoor gear. With that in mind though, there’s some outdoor gear like camping tents or sleeping bags, that can be purchased for affordable prices especially if you don’t have to have the lightest available. If you are on a budget, you can still buy your own outdoor gear, but you just need to know where to look and watch for sales or buy used from somewhere like eBay.

Pros to Renting Outdoor Gear

When it comes to renting outdoor gear, you will also find a number of pros and cons. As for the pros or plus sides to renting your outdoor equipment, instead of buying it, you will find that the cost is much more affordable. Despite being relatively affordable, different rental stores charge different rental fees. You will also find that outdoor gear can typically be rented for as little as one day or as long as a couple of weeks. Renting your outdoor gear is nice if it’s your first time using a particular piece of outdoor equipment and if you are unsure as to whether or not you would be interested in doing so again.

Cons to Renting Outdoor Gear

As for the cons of renting your camping gear, you may find that you are faced with a limited selection of outdoor gear to choose from. Many outdoor stores only rent the basic items, like tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, skis and snowshoes. While you may have some choices, you will mostly find that your selection is limited. To increase your selection you may want to look at renting online at somewhere like LowerGear.com or GoGITTO.com.

Also when you rent, you will be using a piece of outdoor equipment with which you aren’t familiar. Unless you rent the item a few days early, you won’t have much time to try it out and make sure it meets your needs before you head out on your wild adventure.

I rented snowshoes and backcountry telemark ski equipment a few times before I bought my own. Renting gave me a better idea of what I wanted to buy. As often as I have used them, it has made more sense to own them plus I can go on the spur of the moment without the hassle of renting.

For a couple comparisons between renting and buying outdoor gear, I checked a couple tents. At our local REI store, their Half Dome 2 Tent currently is $199 but can be rented for a week for a bit under $40. Online the MSR Hubba Hubba 2 person tent rents for $39 a week from LowerGear.com plus for where I live 2-way shipping adds another $18.70 for a total of $57.70. It retails for around $329.

Depending on your plans, renting or buying may be your best option. In addition you may also want to think about borrowing outdoor equipment from someone that you know.

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Tags: camping, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing
Posted in Camp, Hike, outdoors | 1 Comment »

Wingsuit Video

October 18th, 2010

Here’s a video of Jeb Corliss flying over some incredible terrain in a wingsuit. I’ve seen other wingsuit videos but this has the best scenery. The closest I’ve come to sky diving is bungee jumping. I think a wingsuit would be even more of an adrenaline rush than regular base jumping or skydiving since you’re flying so close to terrain. I’m not a fan of the music but that’s why there are volume controls.

via The Adventure Blog

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Tags: base jumping, outdoors, skydiving
Posted in outdoors | No Comments »

Independence Pass Grottos

August 27th, 2010

The Sunday after the Leadville 100, my wife and I drove over Independence Pass to see the Grottos along the Roaring Fork. I’ve long known about the Grottos and been over Independence Pass many times but never stopped to explore.

There are 3 main trails in the area. One stays on the highway side and is wheelchair accessible. The other 2 are on the other side of the Roaring Fork. The longest is Old Stage Road and goes up to Lincoln Creek. The trail to the cool Grottos area takes off from the Old Stage Road after a few hundred yards and looked more like a social trail at the junction.

The Grottos area is less than a half mile from the parking lot. There’s the Ice Cave that is a slot carved into the granite from an old stream channel. There wasn’t any ice in it when we were there but I’d guess ice could stay in it through early summer. There are also waterfalls on the Roaring Fork with a maze of trails for exploring.

High Resolution Photos

[View with PicLens]

– UltraRob

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Tags: Colorado, hiking, Independence Pass
Posted in Hike, outdoors | No Comments »

Harrowing Escape on Film

August 19th, 2010

Colorado climber Aron Ralston made headlines in 2003 after he freed himself from a boulder in a Utah canyon by cutting off his arm. Now, he will be immortalized on the big screen. Actor James Franco has been cast as Ralston in “127 Hours,” a film directed by Danny Boyle (“Slumdog Millionaire”). The movie will open in November. For a look at Ralston and how he has lived his life since his harrowing escape, go to Entertainment Popwatch

– Deb Acord

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Tags: Aron Ralston, hiking, Utah
Posted in Climb, Hike, outdoors | 1 Comment »

Make tracks to Picketwire

August 17th, 2010

You know what they say – big feet, big…

That’s footprints. As in really big. And really old.

Dinosaur footprints left 150 million years ago are the main attraction of the Picketwire Canyonlands on the Comanche National Grasslands south of La Junta. The area is protected, and can be accessed on foot or on bikes or horses. Several times a year, the U.S. Forest Service offers guided auto tours into the area as well.

Fall tours begin the first Saturday in September and run through October. During the tours, guides will point out hundreds of dinosaur tracks made by the mighty Brontosaurs and ferocious Allosauruses, as well as prehistoric, historic and natural features of the canyon.

All-day tours (from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) are offered on Saturdays; cost is $15 per adult and $7.50 per child; visitors must use their own four-wheel-drive vehicles on the rough roads.

For more information or to make reservations, call the U.S. Forest Service at 1-719-384-2181 or go to http://fs.usda.gov/goto/psicc/com

– Deb Acord

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Tags: Colorado, hiking
Posted in Hike, outdoors | No Comments »