Happy Hammock Day!

Happy Hammock Day! Didn't know it was Hammock Day? That's alright, let me tell you what it's all about.

Hammock Day is strategically placed on July 22nd which is right in the middle of the Dog Days of summer (July 3rd-August11th). It's a day where everyone is supposed to sit back in their hammocks and relax. Getting up to get another cold drink with a little umbrella or some food is acceptable, but there's no other reason to get up. Mowing the lawn is definitely not allowed today. I have no idea who thought it up or who made Hammock Day official, but I do thank him/her.

Photo Credit: Adam Fricke

Flatland Training Part 4

Note from the writer: This is part 4 of a 5-part series about how to stay active in the outdoors through flatland training--essentially, training for the mountains without actually being in the mountains.

Well folks we're on the downhill stretch of this 5-part series. Speaking of downhill, that reminds me of how great a workout riding a bike gives you. That's why part-4 is to ride a bike.

I'm not talking about a motorcycle, I'm referring to a human-powered bicycle. There's a variety of different bike's you can use to train. The two I'll focus on the most is the road bike and mountain bike. Personally, i prefer a mountain bike, but you're not alone if you want to get into training on a road bike. There's a huge road bike community in the area where I live and on weekend mornings it's easy to find the pack of 50+ people riding around town.

The Holiday Weekend We Couldn't Stick To A Plan

Our plans kept changing, but we kept rolling with the punches and still had a great 4th of July Holiday. Like I said in my post a couple weeks ago, our plans changed from climbing to going to the beach with a trip to Tampa. While we were in Tampa our plans changed again, but I'll get to that a little later.

First off, I'm sorry for this late post, but I was sick last week, yuck, and didn't feel like doing much. But without further ado, here's the update of mine and Alison's 4th of July Weekend adventures.

ENO's ProFly Rain Tarp: The Best Way To Stay Dry and Cool

When I started blogging for ENO, I was elated that I could get the opportunity to write to their customers. As a token of their appreciation, they sent me an awesome lime green ProFly Rain Tarp and stakes to go with it.

The ProFly is an essential piece of equipment to any ultra-light hiker that's looking to shed some pack weight by hammock camping instead of tent camping. It's very compressible and weighs in at a mere 22 oz. making it a light, added luxury if you want to make sure you don't get wet.

Photo Credit: Adam Fricke

Oceans vs. Rivers

Over the past couple weeks we've compared rivers to lakes and lakes to oceans, so we're down to rivers and oceans. Two weeks ago we saw why lakes beat out oceans, but when it comes to oceans and rivers, I think oceans win. Here's why:

When Mother Nature ruins your plans, go on a road trip!

I had this awesome post ready to go for today and now I can't even share it with you. I guess that's what you get when Mother Nature has the final say. Alison and I were supposed to go up to Rocktown in Lafayette, GA for a bouldering/camping trip with some friends, but those plans changed thanks to Mother Nature and the rain she's bringing.

If you know me, you know I can't just sit around when I have time off work.

So we're going on a road trip!

Flatland Training Part 3

Note from the writer: This is part 3 of a 5-part series about how to stay active in the outdoors through flatland training--essentially, training for the mountains without actually being in the mountains.

When you're in the mountains you're typically going to have something on your back. Wether it's a boulder pad, a pack full of gear, or your kid, something's going to be adding some weight to your back. So my third suggestion for flatland training would be to start training with some weight on your back.

You could buy a lead vest, but that disperses the weight evenly across your upper body. You won't get the full effect of having to stand upright while having something on your back. It's also a perfect time for you to get your pack on your back and get re-accustomed to what it feels like.

Lakes vs. Oceans

Last week we looked at why a river is a more optimal swimming choice than a lake. This week we're going to compare lakes and oceans. When most people think of summer, they think of fun in the sun, at the beach. Unfortunately, lakes sometimes don't get credit for being a great swimming destination because everyone wants to hit the beach during the summer.

Flatland Training Part 2

Note from the writer: This is part 2 of a 5-part series about how to stay active in the outdoors through flatland training--essentially, training for the mountains without actually being in the mountains.

Last week we looked at training on loose sand at the beach, this week we're going to incorporate some water. If you're going to be trekking in the mountains, but aren't able to train in the mountains, swimming would be a great way to prepare.

How to Treat a Jellyfish Sting

When most people go to the beach they're concerned about running into a shark. No one really pays attention to the little jellyfish lurking in the water. If you've ever been stung by one of these fellas you know it's not pleasant, and if you haven't been stung, congratulations. The stinging sensation is painful and lasts for quite a long time, so what do you do?

Rivers vs. Lakes

The start of summer means it's time to splash down and cool off. Where's the best place to go to take a nice dip to cool off and relax? You can read why a lake is a better swimming choice than a pool on Eagles Nest Outfitters' (ENO) blog. But what about a river or the ocean?

Over the next 3 weeks I'll talk about 3 different scenarios and which swimming destination is the best. For this week here's 5 reasons why I'd pick a river over a lake to go swimming. Before I go any further, I'd like to put a disclaimer that when I'm talking about a river, I'm talking about the kind where there's no boats allowed. That just wouldn't be smart swimming in the middle of a river where boats are flying down the river as well.

Do What You Love

We've all heard the saying "Do what you love and the money will follow" (if that's you're first time hearing it, you're welcome). So what happens when that day comes, but the money actually gets in the way? What do you do? Would you say "yes" to the money and in turn hav a miserable time or would you turn down the money, the sweet gig, and keep living your life the way you want?

For those who don't know, Andy Lewis was faced with that question almost two years ago.

Andy Lewis at the Slackline World Cup

Flatland Training Part 1

Note from the writer: This is part 1 of a 5-part series about how to stay active in the outdoors through flatland training--essentially, training for the mountains without actually being in the mountains.

Training is an essential aspect of any sport. You can't simply go outside and run a marathon without ever having trained for one in your life. Your body doesn't know how to react and you have to develop the mental toughness to take on that long of a run.

The same goes for any other sport like hiking, mountain biking, climbing, etc. you need to train "outside" your sport. However, if you live in Florida (like yours truly), but want to spend some time in the mountains, you're going to be in for a fitness shock. Something Florida and a lot of other states across the country aren't known for are having mountains. So how can you build up the strength and endurance to do some physical activities in the mountains if your state doesn't allow for you to train in the mountains?

You make up your own training regiment to fit that style.

Top 5 Reasons You Should Slackline

Ever since the 2012 Super Bowl Halftime Show, the slackline community has started to gain more recognition. While walking on some sort of wire, rope, etc. has been going on for centuries, slacklining wasn't actually brought to the limelight until 1979 when two climbers, Adam Grosowsky and Jeff Ellington, who were going to school at The Evergreen State College, started walking around on loose chains and cables they found on campus. They quickly got the idea to string up 1" wide climbing webbing to walk on. This gave them more dynamic ability to jump and do tricks and walk with more than one person on the line. It was a great in-between class activity that started to attract crowds right away.

Since then, slacklining has progressed, with a lot of help coming from Andy "Sketchy Andy" Lewis. We now have 1"-2" wide webbing and different types of webbing. For instance: some webbing is great for only 1 person to walk on, another works best for more dynamic aerial tricks, and another works out well if you want to have more than 1 person on the line at a time. When you go to a climbing spot, you're almost destined to see some climbers on a slackline to keep them occupied on their rest day. Likewise, if you're in a surf town, you've got a really good shot at seeing some surf bums on a slackline on a flat day.

Should an Outdoorsman Grow a Beard?

This year is turning out to be "The Year of The Beard." While I wish I could grow a beard like Drew Holcomb or one like the boys from Duck Dynasty, I'm not sure that I would. It's not because I think girls like a clean shaven man, personally my girlfriend wishes I would grow one. For me, it comes down to functionality.

Drew Holcomb

Digital vs. Vinyl

Record players and vinyl records have started to emerge again, thanks to the presence of hipsters. Not many folks have them, but they were actually a hot commodity back in the day. I own a record player, have started my own record collection, and personally think vinyl is better than digital.

Photo Credit: Adam Fricke

Camping and Day Trips at Foster Falls

Stu getting tangled up by a dog
Photo Credit: Jessica Purvis

Tucked away in the Southeast corner of Tennessee, about 40 minutes Northwest of Chattanooga, you'll find Foster Falls in the little town of Sequatchie. Foster Falls makes for a great day trip or weekend camping trip if you're not into climbing (more on that in a later post). It's dog friendly, which means you don't have to bring a dog or own a dog for that matter, you can just play with other peoples dogs, which is what my friends and I do.

New Beginnings in a Sunrise

I took the picture below one early Saturday morning from the balcony at my parents beach condo in New Smyrna Beach, FL. I love it, not just for its beauty, but for what it represents. The sunrise, to me, represents the start of something new.

Maximizing Your Day Trips

Last week I posted a blog about how the girlfriend and I took a day trip up to Charleston, SC to see one of our favorite bands, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors open for NEEDTOBREATHE. That got me thinking about what made our trip so much fun.

A Day Trip to Charleston, SC

A couple weekends ago, the girlfriend and I took a day trip up to Charleston, SC (that's right, I said day trip) to see one of our favorite bands, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors open for NEEDTOBREATHE. The show was phenomenal and the trip was amazing. If you're ever in the Charleston area or planning a road trip on a budget, I highly suggest planning, but not over planning.

Georgia, South Carolina State Line

Chaco…A 3-Part Review…Part III…Zong

Finally, last, but not least…the Zong by Chaco.

The Zong is very lightweight and easy to slip on and off. The missing heel strap gives it a very loose and relaxed look and feel. Don't get me wrong, you can still tighten them down to give you that perfect fit. Let's face it, some days you don't want to Chac Up, look nice, and hit the town or trail. Some days it's a "long hair, don't care"kind of day. When you want comfort, but are in that chill mood, slide these on and relax. They're the perfect sandal for walking around town, going to the store, or the beach.

I personally prefer the added security of the toe strap since it's lacking the heel strap. Chaco's got you covered with the Mrap if you're not a fan of the toe strap like I am.

They provide great arch support and are very comfortable. I personally wear mine the most when I'm going to the beach or am in a quick rush to get somewhere and don't have time to Chac Up.
Chaco is always coming out with different webbing color options, so check their site often to see what they've come up with next.

What's your favorite Chaco style?

A Weekend on the Florida Trail

This past weekend was one for the memories. My buddy Bryan and I had a great time backpacking the Northeast Section of the FloridaTrail from Clearwater Lake to Juniper Springs. We made some good decisions, some bad decisions, and came across some things along the way.

Friday

Bryan boiling water to cook his Mountain House dinner

We got dropped off at the Clearwater Lake Trailhead around 7:30pm Friday night. We hiked through an amazing pine forest with palmettos and cacti. To my surprise, the trail was marked very well, went right past residential land, and was pretty wide. After hiking for a couple hours we set up camp, ate dinner, bear bagged our food, and hunkered down for the rainy night.

What to Bring on the Florida Trail

My buddy and I section hiked the Northeast section of the Florida Trail, from Clearwater Lake to Juniper Springs, in the Ocala National Forest this past weekend. Since the Florida Trail is a trail like no other, I thought I’d share with you the things we took and some things we learned along the way.

Backpack and Water

You’ll of course need a backpack to carry all of your stuff. I prefer a backpack with an H2O reservoir built in and side pouches for a Nalgene. You’ll need to carry plenty of water with you since Florida can get extremely hot and water filling stations can be few and far between…we found this out the hard way.

Sleep System

I prefer to sleep in a tent and sleeping bag, with a sleeping pad, but if you don’t mind spraying on some bug spray and dealing with the bugs, a fly and foot print would work. A hammock with a bug net and tarp is always a viable option as well, but sometimes the trees can be spread out too far.

Footwear

Chaco’s tend to be my everyday footwear of choice. They give great foot support and I prefer sandals over shoes. However, we found out the hard way that they’re not ideal for long-distance hikes. Hiking shoes/boots would be best because of the extra support you get and the protection they provide.

Clothing

Always carry rain gear with you because storms can form in an instant. You can usually get by with shorts and a t-shirt, but make sure they’re anti-microbial and sweat wicking, of course. The winters can be mild and chilly so some long pants and a base layer is helpful as well.

Navigation

When you’re hiking the Florida Trail, make sure to buy the map for the section you’ll be hiking and the data book. Both are essential to keep you from getting lost and they do a great job of showing you where campsites, water, and civilization can be found. A compass is always a great idea to bring as well, along with a safety whistle, in case you get lost.

Oddities

Bring some duct tape. Sounds odd, but seriously, have you seen what duct tape can do? It can help you in almost any situation. You don’t need an entire roll, just wrap some of it around your trekking pole a couple times and you should be fine. I also bring a needle and thread to help with blisters.

Here’s a list of obvious things to bring that really don’t need any explanation:

•    Bug Spray

•    Sunscreen

•    Headlamp

•    Food

•    Stove

•    Flint/Fire Starter

•    Water Purification System

•    Hat and Sunglasses

•    Toilet Paper

•    Knife

•    First-Aid Kit

Lastly, you should always plan ahead. Know the weather and dress appropriately, know what permits you need and precautions to take, like the dates for hunting season. Finally, make sure you tell people when you’re going, where you’ll be going, how long you’ll be gone, and when you’ll be checking in.

Bring these items, keep these things in mind and you should have a good time.

Happy Hiking!

Chaco…A 3-Part Review…Part II Z1

As promised a while ago, here are some of my thoughts about the Z1’s by Chaco. These sandals are at the top of my footwear list for a few reasons.

They have a heel strap

They lock your feet in tight with very little slippage. They work great for light trail hikes as well.

They don’t have a toe strap

I like to have a full range of motion for all of my toes. When I’m going to be on my feet for a long time, these are my preference for the security and free range of motion for all my toes.

They’re light

Unlike the Z2’s, the sole is slimmer, so they won’t weight you down.

The one disadvantage to these bad boys is the lack of a toe strap. Now, I know I said earlier that to me it’s an advantage. However, if you’re looking to go on some steeper and tougher terrain, these won’t be the best. The toe strap does help give more added security and reduces the risk of slipping.

I wore them to UCF’s Spirit Splash one year and they helped out a bunch. I got to protect my feet and keep my sandals on at the same time…not to mention they got a much needed cleaning.

I’d suggest wearing them to music festivals like Bonaroo or the Vans Warped Tour. You’ll be outside all day in the blazing hot summer sun. You’re going to want to wear sandals. You always run the risk of losing sandals, but if you have the Z1’s, they’ll provide: comfort, foot support, sole protection, and stay on your feet all day.