Category: Information

What to do when your thru-hike is through.IT’S A WELL KNOWN FACT among backpackers that hiking only leads to more hiking. Sure, when you’ve spent the past five months on the Appalachian Trail, a quiet spell at home doesn’t look too bad. Still, it’s only a matter of time before the itch to travel comes back and you start looking for your next big challenge.

Exploring an endangered resource in Argentine Patagonia.1Perito Moreno GlacierPerito Moreno Glacier, viewed from nearby Bahia de las Sombras. Perito Moreno forms part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the world& 39;s third-largest reserve of fresh water. It is one of only three stable glaciers in Patagonia.

With Paul Robinson calling his new climb Lucid Dreaming a V16, the US now has two boulder problems at the top of the grade scale. We take a side-by-side look at them.Robinson’s problem follows Daniel Woods’ claim of V16 for The Game, which he climbed in February. While neither of the problems has been repeated yet, Chris Sharma visited Robinson’s project and reportedly backed the high grade.

With 64 matches, it can be a challenge to keep track of what’s going on in the World Cup. A Flash gadget from a Spanish soccer website takes some of the work out of the process.Marca.com’s World Cup calendar is a thing of beauty. It sorts matches by four different criteria (group or stage, stadium, team, or date) and displays results from past games.

Ruggers everywhere can start rejoicing: rugby is going to Rio.IN AN 81-8 VOTE this afternoon, the International Olympic Committee approved rugby sevens for inclusion in the 2016 summer games, giving another boost to one of the world’s most popular sports.Sevens, the variant of the game approved by the IOC, is a faster version of rugby played between teams of seven players, instead of the traditional 15.

Photo by peapodsquadmomHoliday Season is flu season and vaccines have been in short supply. If you’re in the United States and looking for information about where to get vaccinated, look no further.The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has set up and in partnership with Google, the CDC and state and local health departments, they’ve included a flu shot locator map along with their website’s search function to list locations and resources by state.

Prayers answered. Women. Photo: foilmanPope John Paul II apologized for being wrong about the trial of Gaileo. YHA might allow men and women to sleep in the same dorm room. Major advancements have been made in the past decade.THE GUARDIAN reported this week that YHA is considering the implementation of mixed dorms, in London at the very least.

This Friday Fun is about an ad from South African airline Kulula that managed to rouse the ire of FIFA — despite not mentioning it or the World Cup by name.THE AD, WHICH ran in mid-March, was part of a marketing campaign by Kulula that poked fun at both recent airline price-fixing scandals and FIFA’s strict control over the use of the World Cup name.

Once considered mere training for climbers, bouldering continues growing in popularity as a challenge unto itself. Here’s how to get started.THE APPEAL OF BOULDERING is clear: Relatively little equipment is needed, almost no technical knowledge is required, and access is usually simple. In addition to this, bouldering allows climbers to focus on specific techniques while challenging their physical strength and offering the opportunity for more dynamic styles of climbing.

As her son takes his first steps in his native country, Teresa Ponikvar reflects on the juxtaposition, the day-at-a-time progression, of living and working where you’re an outsider.ISAIAS BEGINS WALKING as we help our friends Herminio and Berta with an activity I’ve never had occasion to learn the word for in English: desgranando maiz, stripping the hard kernels of dried corn off the cobs.

Air New Zealand is to begin offering the “Air New Zealand Matchmaking Flight,” according to the New Zealand Herald and a website created by the airline. The stated goal is to “help single Americans find New Zealand dates with a themed flight headed toward a dual hemisphere singles party.” The maiden (maybe inaugural is more appropriate here) voyage is set to launch in October.

Adventure seekers used to comb the world’s windiest beaches in search of perfect windsurfing conditions. These days, they’re choosing kites to get their fix.KITEBOARDING IS A SPORT that uses a large kite to transfer an everyday thrill-seeker into a full-blown superhero, soaring through the air as high and far as the wind will allow.

Photo and Feature Photo: authorExpat Camden Luxford visits an indigenous celebration in Peru.“THE GROUND’S NOT as cold this year, and there’s twice as many people.”We stood and looked down at the sprawling city of tents that was Qoyllur Rit’i. The ground may have been warmer, but the cold still seeped up through heavy boots and three pairs of woollen socks, wrapping icy fingers around toes that had grown up wearing flip flops on Aussie beaches.

After returning from the west to take care of her brother’s property, N. Chrystine Olson finds her old home ground changing where she wants to live.MY BROTHER’S GHOST has been busy. Started when I pulled up on the property a couple days back, green hulled black walnuts pelting my rig from every angle no matter where I parked or whether any seed trees lived close by.

Photo:o0karen0oPOPPING CORN KERNELS off the cob without benefit of a knife involves more skill than I would’ve guessed—though by now, after a month of trading English classes for cooking classes with Doña Ludy, I should be used to this.My thumbs hurt—I can’t seem to get the right angle. My 11-year-old niece, Montse, has resorted to pulling off each kernel individually.

What should be the first thing that pops into your mind about India? Apparently, an expensive version of ‘The Biggest Loser.’HERE’S A NEW way to sell India: it’s like boot camp.Instead of your regular calming, relaxing (or at least eye-opening) yogic/meditative/slum experience in the country of Buddha, the Taj Mahal, and Bollywood, apparently the latest way to get Westerners into the country is to make it seem as if they have signed up at Gold’s Gym.

WITH CHRIS SHARMA just one move away from completing his hardest climb yet, it seems that sport climbing is about to take another step up.Modern sport climbers like Sharma have done more than just about anyone to take sending to the next level. With their full-out approach to the activity and increased emphasis on technique, they’re constantly mastering gruesome new projects that would have been unimaginable 30 years ago.

Jon Clarke’s ongoing quest for tubes takes him to the breaks of northern Peru.Pacasmayo, Thursday, 7:12 AM. I’m stumbling through the morning haze towards the lighthouse with my board under my arm when two mototaxis come buzzing around the bend like angry bees.The leading three-wheeler is piloted by an ample gentleman wearing a hat that looks like it used to be a cushion.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners have done exceptionally well in the Pan-American Championships and other international competitions – Photo: Ronald De Villa“Go on, hit me!” says Jairo, who lies flat on his back. I straddle his chest. “Don’t be afraid!” he says. “Just do it.” I ball my hand into a fist and strike.

Photo by magThe rivalry between these two libation titans is long-standing. Tea fanatics preach endlessly about the various health benefits of brewed leaves while coffee lovers consistently chronicle their endless appreciation for ground beans.WHAT’S A FENCE-sitter to do?While the taste debate is still heatedly contested, tea has been scientifically proven to be much healthier for the human body than coffee.