Thursday 29 August 2019

  • In the middle of South Pacific, roughly 200 miles from the nearest speck of land, sits tiny Palmerston Island, population 35—an unlikely refuge with an even odder history and unsure future. (via Outside)

  • Think you know the most effective ways to curb climate change? This insightful quiz, based on the recent UN report and driven by Project Drawdown, can be both encouraging and enlightening. (via CNN)

  • The Faroe Islands are some of the most visually mind-blowing landforms on Earth. On these soaring cliffs and rocky fields runs Sverri Steinholm, an avid runner and the local pastor. The beautiful short documentary inspires with more than just pretty pictures. (via The Atlantic)

  • Why is Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, the climate activist that just arrived in NYC via sailboat, so damn good at pissing off conservatives? (via The Outline)

Thursday 22 August 2019

  • In April Canadian outdoor lifestyle brand Ten Tree created the 4th most liked Instagram post ever, with over 15.5MM likes, in the name of planting trees. This week they launched a second viral campaign, garnering over 353k comments and raising $20k for North American firefighters and the Canadian Red Cross. (via Ten Tree)

  • The trend of cold water surfing has officially gone mainstream. In this lengthy profile on surfing in Ireland, NYT writer Biddle Duke surveys the landscape—both literally and culturally—and decides this wild Atlantic coast might actually be a surfer’s paradise… when there are waves that is. (via New York Times)

  • Ever been to a local bike shop and been treated like you didn’t belong? You’re not alone. This op-ed argues bike shops need to change their attitude if they want to survive. A duh statement, but it's not so simple. (via Bicycling)

  • Chances are you saw the viral video of the tattooed guy with a Chicago accent thicker than a deep-dish pizza helping out a poor little coyote pup. It’s entertaining and heartbreaking. To learn the full story, The Cut caught up with the man himself, who happens to be a hobby botanist too. (via The Cut)

Thursday 15 August 2019

  • Sure, a vintage Land Cruiser FJ60 would be nice. But imagine the IG following you could amass with this safari edition 1975 Ferrari 308 GT4? The customized rig is for sale in Texas and fully ready to rip. (via Bring a Trailer)

  • You’ve heard of “third wave” coffee, but “third wave” outdoors? it. Vanishes, a new clothing project by designer Rob Darmour, who currently helms creative at Tanner Goods and previously worked with Kanye at Adidas, exists to bridge the gap between outdoor apparel and urban aesthetics. (via Tanner Goods)

  • A question we asked two years ago, and many have chimed in since. Is outdoor photography and geotagging ruining the outdoors? Katie Boué and REI consider the situation in this short film and article. (via REI Co-op Blog)

  • The urban outdoorsman vibe has finally caught the attention of The Gray Lady. From Virgil’s awful $1590 Luis Vuitton chalk bag to Prada’s mountaineering-inspired bags and apparel, fashion is looking to adventure sports for design inspiration more than ever. As stated, if you can get killed doing it, fashion wants it. (via New York Times)

Thursday 08 August 2019

Thursday 01 August 2019

  • As captain of the USWNT, Megan Rapinoe led her team to another World Cup win this past month in France. She earned the Golden Boot award for most goals, and Golden Ball for best player, and Trump’s ire for being an outspoken lesbian activist. In this new interview Rapinoe puts it all out there, and it's worth a read. (via The New York Times)

  • Style expert and all around enthusiast of finer things, David Coggins launched a new digital publication of sorts this week. It’s modest, reminiscent of media in the 2010s, with personal blog-like musings of varying lengths, covering topics like travel, style, drinking and… fishing. I’ve been saying blogs are coming back! (via The Contender)

  • Finally some good news. Data shows that a growing number of women are interested in fishing these days, with 17.7 million women participating in 2018. Numbers for Hispanic anglers are up too. More diversity in the outdoors will benefit everyone involved. (via Gear Junkie)

  • Our good pal Bernard coined the term “Everyday Carry” decades ago with his eponymous tumblr. Now, it’s a widespread—and lucrative—product category, and some would say, a lifestyle. This well reported story dives into how both design-driven techies and the prepper MAGA crowd manage to coexist within the EDC landscape. (via Vox)

Thursday 25 July 2019

  • Hipcamp, the annoyingly named startup that provides access to private lands for camping, clamping, or parking an Airstream on, recently closed on $25 million in additional funding from mega VC fund Andreessen Horowitz, bringing it’s valuation to $127 million. Seems like this whole “get people outside” thing is catching on. (via TechCrunch)

  • Until a few years ago Page, Arizona was a speck in the desert, a pitstop for folks on the way to nearby Lake Powell. Then Instagram happened. Now Antelope Canyon—located on Navajo land—is an internet sensation. This well reported op-ed by one reporter who made the journey herself, dives into how the burst of fame is transforming a tiny town, and a tribe. (via Vox)

  • Supreme. Love it or hate it, Supreme changed lifestyle marketing and fashion forever. And though there’s no shortage of reportage on the global phenomenon of a brand, our good pal Noah Johnson might have just published the definitive story of Supreme. (via GQ)

  • As Greenland’s glaciers melt, sediment pours into its waters. Sand too. Now researchers are asking, can this tiny island nation produce sand for billions worldwide? From shoring up eroded beaches to concrete mixtures—one of the world’s most-used commodities—there may be an a light at the end of the dark climate crisis tunnel for Greenland. (via New York Times)

Thursday 18 July 2019

Thursday 11 July 2019

Thursday 04 July 2019

Thursday 27 June 2019

Thursday 20 June 2019

  • Outdoor advocates and medical experts alike have long exalted the benefits of spending time in nature. Now, researchers have answered the long asked question of just how frequently we should experience the great outdoors in order to reap its benefits. (via New York Times)

  • Don Sheldon was a legendary Alaskan bush pilot known for servicing and rescuing climbers on and around Denali. He once delivered a baby in the back of his single-engine plane, one hand on his controls while the other did as a doctor instructed through the radio. He waited out an 11-day storm in the northern tundra, tying his plane to frozen whale ribs so it wouldn’t blow away. And he even once narrowly escaped an avalanche by using its power to lift his plane’s tail as he took off. Read more in this inspiring profile. (via Range)

  • Canadian footwear brand Native Shoes has released a unisex sneaker made entirely from plant-derived materials—including eucalyptus, pineapple husk, and dried hevea milk—that are fully biodegradable, compostable and vegan-friendly. (via Dezeen)

  • At 4’2” and weighing just 55 lbs, 10-year-old Selah Schneiter recently became the youngest person ever to climb the 3,000-foot Nose route on Yosemite’s iconic El Capitan. (via Outside)

Thursday 13 June 2019

Thursday 06 June 2019

  • An insightful and encouraging profile on Jenny Bruso of Unlikely Hikers and the other grassroots organization leaders like her helping to increase representation and encourage more diversity in the outdoors. (via New York Times)

  • Out Magazine deputy editor Fran Tirado does a service to everyone with a well considered twitter thread on how corporations can support Pride month, while avoiding capitalizing on marginalization for corporate gain. Worth a read, whether you work for a brand or not. (via Twitter)

  • Even the presence of phone—turned off—causes stress hormones to rise. This article rehashes what we all know about “smartphone addition” but also offers insight into how the term “addition” has been co-opted by everyone and how organizations are helping people combat the FOMO. (via Crosscut)

  • June 9th is a “day of action” to help support the environment. Join Obabika and the Sierra Club in taking a stand against old growth logging practices that are unsustainable, and damaging to our coastal communities and lands. Here’s how. (Via Sierra Club BC)

Thursday 30 May 2019

  • Nirmal Purja’s image of a wildly crowded “Death Zone” approaching Everest’s summit has inspired many to consider the detachment of Everest from real climbing and mountaineering due to commodification of the “trophy experience” and media coverage of a continual conquering of its peak by “conquistadors of the useless.” (via The Guardian)

  • In an effort to drum up publicity The North Face and ad agency Leo Burnett sneakily changed search Wikipedia image results for iconic destinations to boldly feature TNF products, and Wikipedia is pissed. Maybe you should be too? (via AdAge)

  • Photographer J. Henry Fair uses aerial photography to document environmental contamination not usually in the public eye. In this insightful interview, he discusses his vivid and surreal images—documenting industrial animal farms, drilling and coal extraction sites, paper mills, etc—and hopes that they inspire viewers to ask questions and consider the costs of everyday consumption. (via VICE)

  • Everyone’s favorite environmentally friendly outdoor brand Patagonia sues Anhuser-Busch over “Patagonia” branded beer that claims to plant one tree for every case sold. And the owner of Budweiser isn’t going down without a fight. (via Outside)

Thursday 23 May 2019

Thursday 16 May 2019

Thursday 09 May 2019

Thursday 02 May 2019

Thursday 25 April 2019

  • Writer and notable adventurer Blair Braverman beautifully outlines what the physically and emotionally exhausting experience of mushing the 1,000-mile Iditarod dog sled race. (via Outside)

  • Contemporary legend and artist Frank Ocean talks rock climbing, writing songs, and getting “deflowered” by the music business in this rare and insightful interview. (via GayLetter)

  • An intelligent takedown of the self-serving mentality social media perpetuates, and the exploitation of the great outdoors for private gain, by way of @PublicLandsHateYou. (via The New Republic)

  • Since #EarthDay this simple image of a tiny tree posted by Canadian apparel brand Tentree has garnered nearly 14 Million likes (and counting), making it the 5th most liked post on Instagram ever. Tentree is on track to plant 1 Million trees as a result. (via Instagram)

  • Seeing as it's Earth Day week (?) and all, we want to include a shout out to Obabika, a environmentally focused nonprofit design studio worth checking out.

Thursday 18 April 2019

  • In this touching short documentary film utrarunner Rickey Gates turns to the 7x7 mile city of San Franciso in a search for a different kind of wilderness, running 1303 miles while traversing literally every single SF street in 46 days. (via Trail Runner)

  • Last Year the founder of SF clothing upstart Everlane vowed to remove all new plastic from his brand’s supply chain by 2021. Now he’s assembled a serious team to make it happen. (via Fast Company)

  • Ahead of its IPO, Airbnb continues to evolve. But with personalized trips and offers of all-inclusive vacations, literal hotel rooms, and even culinary courses, what even is Airbnb anymore? (via Quartzy)

  • In this highly visual parallax article, the Times climate team takes on North America’s shrinking glaciers, and how the effects will trickle down from Alaska and the PNW to impact much more than you may think. (via The New York Times)

Thursday 11 April 2019

  • Could NYC's 'Rat Island' become the next urban glamping destination? (via Gothamist)

  • A visually beautiful deep dive into what remains of Bears Ears as politics continue to put one of Utah’s most stunning (and previously protected) lands in danger. (via Washington Post)

  • Equality at the Boston Marathon is long overdue, and finally on its way (via Women's Running)

  • Too fast to live, too young to die: How punk is still impacting graphic design (via AIGA)

Thursday 04 April 2019

  • Patagonia stops selling its iconic power vests to financial firms and tech startups, prioritizing mission-driven companies. (via BuzzFeed News)

  • Is the answer to burnout a weekend in the woods? Microcabin startup Getaway thinks so. (via Nylon)

  • Netflix's beautiful new documentary Our Planet forces viewers to acknowledge their own complicity in the decline of nature. (via The Atlantic)

  • How the notorious Pond Skim came to mark the end to ski season across America since the 1920s. (via The Colorado Sun)