Fall is here!
I'm still recovering from my knee surgery that I had in June and just haven't been able to get out hiking yet. My outdoor activities have been consisting of mainly walks around the block. Kinda lame.
But hopefully I'll be hitting the trails again soon! (At least for a test run with the knee) And with fall here it's a great time to get out and see the leaves! I'll post some trail ideas for going and seeing the colors of fall in the Seattle area.
There is even reports snow might be showing up in the mountains by next week. So until then, enjoy these wipeouts!
Team HTC-Highroad to disband after season
Top professional cycling team HTC-Highroad is folding after five years in the sport following an unsuccessful effort to secure a long-term sponsor.
Team owner Bob Stapleton announced the decision Thursday, urging riders such as 20-time Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish of Britain, top time trialist Tony Martin of Germany and up-and-coming American Tejay van Garderen to find new teams for 2012.
The American squad has been one of pro cycling’s most successful since it was formed, winning 484 races, including 54 grand tour stages.
Stapleton said the team’s “success has been based on our outstanding people” and he was making the decision to disband the team now so that they could find teams in 2012.
I hate to see any team disband but especially a extremely successful, American team.Bear Grylls Underneath Jimmy Kimmel's Desk
REI blog post
It's called:
Can a Video Game Improve Your Outdoor Survival Skills?
I talk about the new Man vs. Wild video game.
Please check it out and let me know what you think!
A Wild Year in Banff National Park
12 months. Four seasons. One revolution of the sun.
That's how long Banff National Park's remote wildlife camera project has been going and to celebrate, we've assembled a year's worth of images from one single location into a short Wild Images video timelapse.
Have a look -- you'll be amazed by how much goes on. And it all happened a short two-and-a-half-hour stroll from the hustle and bustle of downtown Banff!
It goes to show how alive the woods are and, if you get into them, what you might be lucky enough to see!
Jake Gyllenhall on Man vs Wild
I can't wait!
Tour de France stage 3 video
Tyler Farrar wins 3rd stage of Tour de France
To celebrate Tyler Farrar of Wenatchee, Washington won the 3rd stage of the Tour de France. He's my favorite rider and this was so awesome following the day after Team Garmin Cervelo won the team time trial.
As he crossed the finish line Farrar held up his hands to make a "W" with his fingers to honor his friend Wouter Weylandt. Weylandt died in a crash during the Giro d'Italia in May.

“It’s a dream to win today. I was close the past few Tours, second, third, second, so to win a stage is incredible,” Farrar said.
Impact of loss won't stop Tyler Farrar
TIFFAUGES, France -- Tyler Farrar is a sprinter disguised as a gentleman. He has all of the drive and passion but none of the abrasiveness often associated with the specialty. At 27, he is one of the most good-natured, composed presences in the peloton, and he is not one to wear his emotions on his jersey sleeve.
That was partly why it was so heartbreaking to see him grieve publicly. Farrar's dear friend Wouter Weylandt, a Belgian from the American rider's adopted home in Ghent, died after crashing in the Giro d'Italia on May 9, leaving behind a pregnant partner. Farrar learned the news in the most jarring manner possible, from a reporter at the team bus. His Garmin-Cervelo teammate David Millar tried his best to console an inconsolable young man that night.
The next morning, Farrar set off with the rest of the field, riding 134 miles at a deliberately neutralized pace to pay homage to Weylandt. It took more than six hours. A short distance from the finish, Weylandt's Leopard-Trek teammates went to the front and beckoned Farrar to join them. They wrapped their arms around each other's shoulders. The images of Farrar inclining his head slightly, making no effort to hide his raw, stricken face, are not easily forgotten.
You can read the rest of her article over on ESPN.
Here's to a great Tour for Farrar!
Happy Tour de France day!
Going-to-the-Sun Road may open later than ever this year
You can watch day one and day two of our adventure and of course, don't forget Brandon vs. the goat!
On our trip we headed up Going-to-the-Sun Road. But this year visitors to the park might not be able to make that trip.

The Great Falls Tribune ran an article yesterday about how the road may not open until very late this year.
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK — Only twice in the history of the Going-to-the-Sun Road has the scenic drive in Glacier National Park opened for the season after July 4.
This year will mark the third year the alpine section of the Sun Road isn't open on Independence Day.
In 1933, the road had its inaugural opening on July 15. In 1943, the road opened on July 10 because of reduced staffing during World War II.
It appears that 2011 will go down in history as one of the latest openings of the Sun Road.
The reason for the late opening this year is a heavy snowpack and cold, snowy weather late into spring.
You can read the rest of the article over on The Great Falls Tribune site.New Team Garmin-Cervélo kit features return of argyle
And I love it.
I was very disappointed in their kits this season when they got rid of the argyle. You can't be the Argyle Armada without argyle!
But the Team Garmin-Cervélo 2011 Tour de France kit brings the argyle back! It also switches the dominate color from black to white on the jersey. Which will be much cooler for the hot weather of the Tour de France.

The new jersey and shorts retain the distinctive Garmin and Cervélo logos, but reverse white with black on the jersey. The signature Slipstream Sports argyle is prominently displayed.
“We’re really excited about the Tour de France kit,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports and Director Sportif, Team Garmin-CervĂ©lo. “The lighter color is perfect for hot weather and our signature argyle is more prominent.”
This is the third time Castelli have introduced new clothing at the Tour de France. “We consider the Tour de France a very special event that deserves a special design,” said Steve Smith, Castelli Brand Manager.
“This team is rider-centric, and Castelli has done its part to make sure the riders have the most comfortable and technically advanced clothing for this big event. Racing in hot weather is physically demanding, that’s a given, and despite the fact that Castelli makes some of the lightest and coolest fabrics in existence, wearing a lighter colour will make a big difference, both psychologically and physically, to a rider’s well being,” explained Steve Smith.
2011 Tour de France Garmin Cervelo jersey
Today they released a blurry "teaser" photo with the real thing coming tomorrow.
I can only hope that there is more argyle then their current jersey.
Bear Smart PSA
Check out this awesome PSA about bear safety:
The rhododendron is the state flower of Washington for a reason
National Bike to Work Day 2011
So grab you're bike and head to work. And think you have a tough commute to work? Check out Danny MacAskill's commute. Now that's something.
Levi: A Documentary
Coming in the fall of 2012.
This film will take its viewers on a journey through Levi Leipheimer’s rise from the mining town of Butte, Montana to the podium of the Tour de France.
Scheduled to debut during the 2012 GranFondo in Santa Rosa, CA. Sign up on our mailing list to be informed of DVD pre-sales and other film related information.
2011 Amgen Tour of California

Tomorrow, May 15, the 2011 edition of the Amgen Tour of California kicks off and it's sure to be a great eight days of racing.
The Tour of California is the largest cycling event in America. And because of that many of the great riders from around the world will be taking part. And with 18 teams in the race there are bound to be some some great rivalries.
Here are the 2011 teams:
- Team Liquigas-Cannondale
- Team Rabobank
- Team HTC-Highroad
- Team RadioShack
- Team Saxo Bank SunGard
- BMC Racing Team
- Team Garmin-Cervélo
- Bissell
- Jelly Belly Presented by Kenda
- Kelly Benefit Strategies - OptumHealth
- Spidertech Powered by C10
- Team Type 1 -sanofi-aventis
- UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis
- Team Leopard Trek
- Team Sky Procycling
- Team NetApp
- Kenda/5-Hour Energy Pro Cycling presented by Geargrinder
- Team Jamis-Sutter Home
Tomorrow's Stage One starts in South Lake Tahoe and heads to North Lake Tahoe-Northstar at Tahoe Resort.
Start: Sun, May 15: South Lake Tahoe
Finish: North Lake Tahoe - Northstar at Tahoe Resort
Start Time: 10:30am Finish ETA: 3:12-3:36pm
The question is, what team and/or rider are you rooting for? Me, I'm still all about the argyle.
I'm a Runner: Bear Grylls
Occupation: Host of Man vs. Wild
Age: 36
Residence: Abersoch, U.K.
How did you get started running?
In the military. In the British Special Air Service, combat fitness is all about running. We would go until we ended up vomiting on the side of the road. Once I left the military, I gave up running for a while. It took me a while to realize it doesn't have to be like that. Running can be a great therapeutic way of training. These days I push myself hard, but I also slow down and take it easy sometimes. It doesn't have to be full-on hard all the time.
When did you get back into running?
After the military, I spent a year being really unhealthy, not exercising. I got back into running when I was offered my first commercial [for Degree deodorant]. I thought, If I'm going to have to take my shirt off, I'd better start doing sit-ups and start running.
Later, I got my first TV series [Escape to the Legion], which was about basic training for the French Foreign Legion out in the desert of North Africa. During that time, running was a part of everyday life. We were running two or three times a day. We always had to wear these terrible thin-soled pumps [sneakers]. We had horrific blisters. I just remember these blood-soaked white pumps [sneakers].
Check out the rest of the interview over at Runners World.