Going-to-the-Sun Road may open later than ever this year

Last July I visited Brandon in Polson, Montana and we took a trip to Glacier National Park while I was there.

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.

Bear Smart PSA

Since I've been laid up after my knee surgery (hence the lack of outdoor posts over the last few months) I've been watching a bit of tv.

Check out this awesome PSA about bear safety:

Happy Groundfrog Day!

Today was Groundfrog Day.

Not sure what that is? It's the Northwest's version of Groundhog Day.

Today the Northwest Frognostication Ceremony took place in Snohomish, WA.

Much like Punxsutawney Phil predicts the weather for the next eight weeks, so does Washington's very own Snohomish Slew the bullfrog. And Slew gets his prediction out a few days before Phil.

Snohomish Slew, who also goes by the title of Meteorologist Frognosticator extraordinaire, will come out tomorrow to make a prediction if the Northwest will be enjoying spring soon or another eight weeks of winter.

His predictions are of course announced by his scribes.

The question is, did he see his shadow?

Around my house in Issaquah we didn't. But then again it seems like spring has been here for a few weeks.

Oprah & Gayle's Ultimate Camping Adventure

See REI and first-time campers on The Oprah Winfrey Show on Friday, October 29 and Wednesday, November 3, as part of “Oprah & Gayle’s Ultimate Camping Adventure!”

Oprah and Gayle head out on a camping trip to Yosemite National Park. I'm sure it will be very interesting.

View the preview video on the page here.

Gerber Bear Grylls knife

Earlier this year I told you that Gerber and Bear Grylls were teaming up to make "the ultimate knife."

That knife is now available and Bear is promoting it. The thing does look very sweet. Check it out:



I haven't seen the knife in person yet but personally like a number of the features. I think the built in flint in the sheath is great. Saves you from having to bring your own. I also really like the two holes in the handle in the event you ever needed to lash it to a stick to make a spear.

Here's the specs on the knife:

• Open length: 10.0"
• Blade Length: 4.8"
• Weight: (with sheath): 14.7oz.
• Weight (no sheath): 11.2oz.

The knife will be available at Cabela's, Amazon.com, Dick's Sporting Goods and Academy Sports and Outdoors when the knife is released on November 15th. It will sell for about $60.

However the best pre-order deal I found while searching for the release date, was through a company called Rocky National and they are selling it for $50.

National Park free weekend

This weekend, August 14 and 15, the National Park Service will waive entrance fees to help encourage all Americans to visit the national parks.

"This fee-free weekend provides an opportunity for individuals and families alike to take an affordable vacation or to explore a nearby park they have never visited before," Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said. "I encourage everyone to take advantage of the free admission to visit not only our greatest natural wonders but also our nation's historic and cultural icons."

There are 391 national parks in our national and many offer views that can only be seen there. So if you haven't visited a national park lately, why not head out there for free this weekend?

Also, please note that the fee waiver is only for the entrance fees. Any camping fees, reservation fees and special bus tour fees are still in place.

Thank A Ranger Day

Today, July 29, is Thank A Ranger Day.

Thank A Ranger Day was initiated back in 2006 by RMNPforums.com and RMNPguide.com in memory of Jeff Christensen, a ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park who died in a fall on July 29, 2005, while on a backcountry patrol.

Many National Park travelers use this day to thank rangers that they come across in the park. But you don't need a special day to thank them for what they do.

Rangers provide a number of rolls within the parks that tourists visit. They answer questions, provide information and maps, offer suggestions on hikes or destinations, host campfire activities for children and also know first-aid and respond in emergency situations.

So the next time you see a Ranger in a park. Thank them. For if it wasn't for the work they did, you wouldn't have the parks that you love to visit.

Bear steals car

Bears do steal cars. And they are willing to do it for anything. Even a peanut butter sandwich.

Hilarious bear commercial

If you aren't afraid of bears now, you will be after this commercial.

Bigfoot sighting

I was watching the local news last night when a story from North Carolina came on about a Bigfoot sighting.

Now of course the Northern Rangers went Bigfoot tracking last year in the Ape Caves near Mount St. Helens last year.

But check out this guy's tale of the Sasquatch he saw:

Bear destroys camp

REI's co-op blog had a great post today on what a bear can do to a campsite that is unattended, sloppy and a just plain invitation to wildlife.

Each spring the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle sets up a demonstration to show what can happen if your camp looks like the above mentioned camp. They do this to educate the public on how we can camp and stay bear safe.

The video, which shows a previous year’s demo, offers a good reminder to secure your food and other scented items whenever you’re in bear country. While blueberries are typically a bear's favorite meal, they will make quick work of a campsite with poorly secured food.

Make sure that if you are in bear country that you either use a bear canister or a campground bear box and keep your tent away from your food.

For more information check out our earlier post about staying safe in bear country.

Glacier National Park turns 100

Today is the 100th birthday of Glacier National Park in Montana.

100 years is awesome. But will the park make it another 10? That's what an article in USA Today looked at.
The gorgeous million-acre park in northwestern Montana celebrated its 100th birthday on Tuesday. But many of its glaciers have melted, and scientists predict the rest may not last another decade.

The forests are drier and disease-ridden, leading to bigger wildfires. Climate change is forcing animals that feed off plants to adapt.

Many experts consider Glacier Park a harbinger of Earth's future, a laboratory where changes in the environment will likely show up first.

Average temperatures have risen in the park 1.8 times faster than the global average, said Dan Fagre, a U.S. Geological Survey scientist.

The change is visible to the naked eye, with the vast moraines left behind as the giant glaciers melt away. Climate change is blamed for the increasing size and frequency of wildfires, and lower stream flows as summer progresses.

You can view the rest of the article on the USA Today site.

Visit a National Park for FREE!

That's right, during April 17 to April 25 all 392 national parks will have free admission. This is in honor of National Park Week.

National Park Week, a program of the National Park Service, is an opportunity to engage families and communities in America’s Great Outdoors, reconnecting them with nature and creating close to home opportunities for people to get outside, be active, and have fun.

“National parks preserve our heritage, promote recreational experiences, and provide places of quiet refuge,” said National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis. “Most people live within a short drive of a national park so I encourage everyone to spend some time enjoying America’s Great Outdoors during National Park Week.”

There will be hundreds of family friendly events on Saturday, April 24, for National Junior Ranger Day. Each child participating in Junior Ranger activities will receive a certificate, patch, or pin.

So make sure to head out to a National Park. And if you do, let us know how it went.

The Ultimate Knife

Looking for that gift for the outdoors person who has everything?

Well, look no more. Because I guarantee that they do not have this.

Introducing the Wenger Swiss Army Knife Giant Multi-Tool. That's right ladies and gentlemen, for only $833.69 this beast of a knife (pictured right) can be yours.

Now the knife may weigh in at just about 2 pounds, but what would you expect from a knife that has 85 different features?

It's basically the Tim "the Toolman" Taylor of knifes.

My favorites of the features include:

• Removable tool for adjusting bike spokes, 10-mm hexagonal key for nuts
• Laser pointer with 300 ft range
• Mineral crystal magnifier with precision screwdriver
• Flashlight
• Golf club face cleaner
• Golf divot repair tool
• Keyring
• And of course a second keyring (why you need two is beyond me)
  

(Please note, the site where this knife is featured, outdoorgb, states that the knife is not meant for practical use but rather for knife collectors)

Still, it's pretty awesome.

National Geographic Adventure is back. Kinda.

A few months ago I posted about how National Geographic Adventure was closing.

Today I found out some great news though. While making my daily trip to The Adventure Blog, I saw that National Geographic Adventure has lived on. Just not in magazine form.

Instead, it has survived in blog form.

I was glad to see that at least the information that was in each issue would still be available.

And while browsing the site today I found that they had some great content on there.

I guess this is just another sign of the changing times of journalism. As more content moves from traditional print to online.

Ground Frog Day

Are you looking for something interesting and new to do tomorrow?

Why not head out for Ground Frog Day.

Everyone talks about Groundhog Day, but the Northwest has their very own version of this day.

Tomorrow, Saturday January 30th, the Northwest Frognostication Ceremony will take place in Snohomish, WA.

Much like Punxsutawney Phil predicts the weather for the next eight weeks, so does Washington's very own Snohomish Slew the bullfrog. And Slew gets his prediction out three days before Phil.

Snohomish Slew, who also goes by the title of Meteorologist Frognosticator extraordinaire, will come out tomorrow to make a prediction if the Northwest will be enjoying spring soon or another eight weeks of winter.

His predictions are of course announced by his scribes.

The festivities begin at Ferguson Park at 10:30 AM. This years GroundFrog Day will also feature a park bench dedication that honors Daryl Bertholet. Bertholet was the founder of Ground Frog Day five years ago, but passed away in July.

Following the weather forcast and the dedication ceremony, the festivities will continue at the National Guard Armory for lessons on living green, vendor booths, games, demonstrations and live entertainment.

For more information visit the official Ground Frog Day site.

Outdoor goals for 2010

My blogging friend Paul, over at Washington Adventures, had a great post the other day called adventure goals, dreams, plans for 2010.

In this post Paul listed a few of his goals for the year.

And that got me thinking, what are my outdoor goals for this year?

My big goal is to complete the Wonderland Trail this summer. But besides that, here's some of my list broken into groups:

Backpacking

• Complete the entire Wonderland Trail
• Complete 3 weekend trips prior to the Wonderland Trail

Hiking

• Go on a longer hike at least once a month
• Hike one day each week after work

Bicycling

• Mountain bike more
• Mountain bike at Galbraith Mountain
• Commute to work at least 3 days a week, each week

Kayaking

• Buy a kayak (I've always just used one of my dads)
• Make one trip a month even if it's just a day trip

Other (I'm going to Hawaii in September)

• Learn to surf
• Hike to lava flows
• Snorkel
• Kayak in Hawaii
• Take in a University of Hawaii football game (Hey, it's outside)

Oh, and of course film all of this for more Northern Ranger adventures!

Alright, well there is some of my list of things to do. I have many more, but don't want to ramble on. What's your goals for this new year? Hope you have your list made and can start checking items off.

Best stove for winter camping

I have said before that winter is my favorite season to camp in. Sure summer camping is easier as you need less gear. And if you fall in a river, you can easily dry out.

But winter camping. Now that is a great experience.

A popular question that is often brought up is what is the best gear for winter camping? I'll start going over the gear that I bring when camping in the snow over the next few weeks.

But lets start off this discussion with a great post by our blogging friend Scoutmaster Jerry.

He has a great post from yesterday discussing the best stove for winter camping.

You can view this post here, as well as the rest of his blog.

Outside Magazine Rocks

Ok Ok, I'll admit it, I have Outside Magazine as a friend on Facebook. That brings my grand total to 7 friends.

Well the magazine is staring a new feature in which they will be featuring the next months cover early.

I think it's a cool feature. View it here.

What do you think about this new feature?

How to make a campfire

Fire. Without it you can't roast marshmallows.

It doesn't seem like camping with one.

And as Bear Grylls always says, fire is an instant moral booster.

But how do you make a good, sustainable campfire?

You know, one without gas.

Well don't worry. The Northern Rangers are here! Check it out below: