Photo courtesy safeboatingcampaign.com

1. practice safe and responsible boating, 
2. always wear your life jacket, and 
3. be alert and aware while on the water. 

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Lions, Tigers, Leopards, Jaguars, and Cougars, Outdoor Life has tangled with them all. Check out our best covers of big cats here!

Photograph by Jon Barr

This week I sat down with my coworker David Weinstein, who—despite somewhat limited mountaineering experience—is attempting to scale Mount Rainier in a few weeks. Now, let me be perfectly clear: climbing Rainier is not for the faint of heart. If you’ve ever flown to Seattle, you’ve probably seen this massive mountain rising through the clouds—its domed, icy summit dominates the skyline at 14,411 feet. Rainier is the most glaciated mountain in the lower 48, making it a very technically challenging climb.

To reach the summit, you have to hike nearly 18 miles round trip; climb 9,000 vertical feet with a 40-pound pack; navigate rock walls, snow fields, crevasses, and steep ice; endure bitter cold and howling winds; and hope that the weather gods shine on you. Last year, only half of the people who attempted Rainier actually summited. It’s a mountain worthy of substantial respect. And it’s considered a suitable proving ground on the path to tackling higher, harder peaks.

David is heading to Rainier as part as part of the annual JanSport Rainier Climb Seminar. In 1972, the company started bringing employees, retailers, industry partners, athletes, and guides on an annual climb to gather product feedback. Now in its 40th year, JanSport’s expedition is the longest consecutive group climb on the mountain. Pretty cool.

So is David a supreme adventurer or a glutton for punishment? Well, as it turns out, he’s a little bit of both.

Avery Stonich: Just how much mountaineering have you done?
David Weinstein: Not much, actually. I’ve climbed about half of Colorado’s fourteeners. I’ve traversed plenty of snowfields, done some ice climbing, and have climbed couloirs. But I haven’t done a ton of technical climbing.

A.S.: What are you looking forward to most?
D.W.: Everyone here at Outdoor Industry Association connects with the outdoors in some way. That’s why we’re in this industry. Every place I’ve been in the world, there’s a different feel, a different flavor, a unique connection with the landscape—I find adventure in these connections. I’m excited to be reminded of that timeless feeling that comes from being out in the world in a new and beautiful setting.

A.S.: What are you doing to prepare—physically, mentally?
D.W.: I’m really looking forward to the physical challenge. It will be tough. But I definitely suffer from a masochistic love for exercise, so it should be fun. I‘ve been hiking a lot, carrying a 40-pound pack up some of our local peaks here in Boulder.

Mentally one thing I’ve been preparing for is the fact that I’ll be on a team, and you rise and fall with the strength of the team. I have to be prepared for possibly having to turn around because one of us is sick or hurt or can’t go on.

A.S.: Are you nervous?
D.W.: No, but it’s been said that all Coloradans underestimate Rainier. That’s definitely in the back of my mind. But I’ve got a pretty strong sense of will. I can put one foot in front of the other for a long time.

A.S.: What does being outdoors do for you?
D.W.: Well, I think of fly fishing because it’s one of my favorite activities. It’s a Zen state of mind. You’re so focused on weather, bug hatches, water levels, the landscape, time of day. It’s such a serene experience. Then you have those moments when all you can hear is the sound of a river. You feel remarkably connected and insignificant—insignificant compared to the longevity of our Earth. All trivialities of your life fall away completely. That feeling of inconsequentiality is one of my favorite parts about being outside.

A.S.: How will this expedition feed your sense of adventure?
D.W.: It’s taking me out of my element. I look forward to a new challenge and perhaps being a bit humbled. I’m excited about experiencing a new and wonderfully different place on the Earth. And it’s such a huge mountain. I’m excited to explore such a huge mountain.

A.S.: Do you see this as a gateway to doing bigger, harder climbs?
D.W.: I didn’t think so before, but I’m pretty excited about this. I’m anxious to learn how much I enjoy roping up, climbing with a team, and dealing with those kind of harsh elements. I think it has potential. I’ve been to Alaska enough to be very intrigued by Denali. I don’t have preconceived notions. Ask me again in a month!

A.S.: What do you do at Outdoor Industry Association?
D.W.: I’m the outreach and advocacy manager for OIA. I promote the economic benefits of outdoor recreation to government leaders, and work with the outdoor industry to engage on federal, state and local policy.

Here’s what most Americans don’t realize: We have an amazing national outdoor recreation system in this country. Our hope is that lawmakers and agencies begin to think about and manage public lands and waters as places for recreation experiences in order to enhance this system.

Historically our public lands have been managed for resource extraction and conservation. Recreation has always been secondary. But getting people outdoors inspires them to want to protect these natural places. And recreation has a huge economic benefit as well—to the tune of 6.5 million jobs and $289 billion in retail sales and services annually. We need help our elected officials and government leaders understand how important outdoor recreation is to our economy. This message is carried best by business owners, and it’s my job to recruit more of the outdoor business community to promote the link between ample, accessible public lands and waters and their businesses.

A.S: Are there similarities between your government policy work and mountain climbing?
D.W.: Of course. Moving government policy and climbing mountains both take a lot of preparation, dedication, and work. And the only way to reach your goal is to take it one step at a time. The outdoor industry has a great story to tell. We’re committed to keep plugging away to ensure that we protect America’s natural places and provide outstanding places for people to play.

And of course, with mountain climbing or public policy work, when you achieve your goal, there’s a tremendous sense of accomplishment—and hopefully a lasting legacy for years to come.

A.S.: So there you have it. I think David’s pretty brave. Rainier will be quite an adventure. We’ll check back with him after the climb and let you know how it went. Stay tuned.

The world ends not with a bang but a whimper? Some Mayan cataclysm? Ha! Judging by the following events, I’m guessing the world meets its doom in 2012 via crazy plagues of animals. Doubt my prediction? Behold the invasion thus far! (Ok, we don’t really think the world is going to end due to animal invasion, but you have to admit, these occurrences are pretty weird).

Several months ago I had a business trip that took me to a really cool place called Honey Lake Plantation (www.honeylakeplantation.com).  The plantation is towards the southern end of the Red Hills region that spans South Georgia through North Florida.  The towns of Thomasville, Monticello and Tallahassee are well known to sportsmen as well as athletes.  Although it needs no introduction, ACC powerhouse Florida State University is in Tallahassee.

I had a number of meetings that spanned a few days, and when we were done I had the opportunity to step out for a little R and R courtesy of the plantation’s owner, Bob Williamson.  Williamson has been an entrepreneur his entire life and business is important to him.  But he’s a life-long sportsman, too, so spending a morning in the field followed by an afternoon on the ponds and lake were of equal importance.  The adage of you’ll never know who you’ll run in to” was true that day, and when I left my room for breakfast, I encountered two legendary athletes who I remembered playing pro ball when I was a kid.

The first was former Atlanta Falcon’s quarterback Steve Bartkowski.  I was a 7^th grade middle linebacker and remember everyone going crazy when Bartkowski was signed #1 in the NFL draft (which was ahead of Walter Payton, 1975).  Bartkowski wasted no time in picking apart defensive secondaries, and at Honey Lake Plantation, he showed no mercy in the trophy bass department either.  While athletics were an integral part of his life, Bartkowski grew up as an avid sportsman and conservationist.  He’ll fish for anything anywhere anytime, and is comfortable with a wide variety of tackle.  Check out this good bass, one of several he caught.  He caught a number of really big bream, too.

The other retired athlete was former Pittsburgh Pirate Bob Svetich.  My uncle lived outside of Pittsburgh, and when I visited him we used to go to games at the old Three Rivers Stadium. Bob and his twin brother Ronn were playing in the Iron City in the mid-late 1970’s, too.  After retiring, Bob launched an outdoor travel business called the Outdoor Group (www.theoutdoorgroupinc.com). His brother stayed in baseball and is currently a coach for the Colorado Rockies.  Bob spends a significant amount of his year fishing.  Whether it’s for trout in the Colorado rivers and streams, walleye through the ice, or bonefish in the Bahamas, it doesn’t take much convincing to get Bob to hit the water.  Like Bartkowski, he’s got an incredible focus and made short work of a number of plate-sized bream and a few big bass.

These two guys are great ambassadors for our sport.  They told me that hard and consistent work is their friend, and that they spend as much of it on their angling as they did their athletics.  We had some friendly competitions for sure, but in the end they were both team players which made for a terrific day on the water.

Tom Keer is an award-winning freelance writer who lives on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He regularly writes for over a dozen magazines, and is the contributing editor of Fly Rod and Reel and Fly Fish America and a columnist for The Upland Almanac. His book a “Flyfisher’s Guide to the New England Coast” was published by Wilderness Adventures Press in 2010. Visit him at www.tomkeer.com or at www.thekeergroup.com.

Testing the Altai "skishoes" in Washington's Cascades; Photograph by Steve Graeppel

I’m lazy.

That is, I’d rather run 50k than ski it. The simplicity of lacing up and heading out has always been my bias. The rub? I like to play in my sandbox all year long. So I’ve got a small army of skis ranging from AT to Nordic to touring that help me cope until spring. But I still loathe the weight, the amount of gear, and particularly, the time-sucking ritual of strapping and stowing skins.

But I recently had a chance to try out a new pair of boards—Hoks, from Altai skis—that may have me changing my mind. Billed as a combination of snowshoes and cross-country skis, “skishoes” are short (125 cm or 145 cm for the clydesdale or deep powder), wide, and noticeably light (under five pounds for a pair with bindings). The sides have a slight parabolic-cut with a metal edge for durability, but it’s the integrated skin that catches your eye. The theory is you get enough traction to climb, but enough glide to cover ground efficiently. In short, it’s my kind of niche gear.

Altai Hok ski, front and back; Photograph by Steve Graeppel

The skis come with threaded inserts for two binding options: 75mm that fits a 3-pin boot, or a universal binding that can accommodate any boot that has a flexible sole. You can purchase an adapter plate that fits other 3rd party backcountry bindings. Which you choose depends on the boots you have and the terrain your covering; the more serious the terrain the more happy you will be in a boot that can appropriately respond.

Before I took my pair out, I watched videos of people effortlessly genuflecting through backcountry woods. I also watched skiers sitting way back in the saddle, dragging a big pole behind them. Nils Larsen, the co-owner of Altai skis, has spent years researching the birth of skiing. He’s narrowed in on northern Asia—the Altai Mountains, where the Tuwa people have been skiing for thousands of years. Skiers use a long pole (called a Tiak) like a third leg: for balance on the up and as a tripod’s third leg on the down.

My interest was piqued (but I reached for my Lekis instead); I packed my Hoks and headed to the Cascades to give them a try. I had a day to play in the spring mountain snow, so I chose familiar territory. The 30-mile Loowit trail that orbits Mount St. Helens.

Because of my all-day requirements, I mounted the 75mm bindings and reached for my lightweight plastic touring boots. To save time, I packed my skis and boots and ran the solid surface up to the 4800′ mark—passing several backcountry skiers along the way. At timberline, I swapped my trail runners for the boots and snapped into the skis. The skins did indeed slow me down, but the metal-edged, wide base gave me enough speed to zip through the trees with a smile on my face.

On climbs, their shorter length maneuvered easily around tree wells and securely across exposed slopes. When traversing, instead of lifting each step, I simply slid my foot forward. And when I had to dismount to cross the snowless ‘blast zone’, I was able to do so quickly and the skis carried securely without catching a lot of wind.

While the skis had enough float for soft snow, they also had a lot of flex. This was limiting a day prior on Rainier, where skiing through deep powder blanketing sun cupped snow with a 30-pound pack was painfully unpredictable. We ultimately fought with the skishoes more than we hoped. Perhaps the longer, 145 cm would have made the difference.

Finally, they are reasonably priced. At about $200 for the pair and another $50-100 for bindings (depending on if you select 3-pin or universal), they are significantly less than a good AT set up but on par with a quality pair of snowshoes.

Likely geared towards the snowshoer who wants a controlled glide (over the devoutly committed backcountry skier), I’d also reach for them on fast and light trips that start and end low, but bridge spring snow left in the mountains. I’ll certainly be looking for opportunities to broaden my playground.