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Hiking News - April 2009
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Thursday, 30 April 2009TourNatur expands consulting offers
Many hikers consider the hiking and trekking trade fair TourNatur in Düsseldorf a destination in itself. This year, hiking fans should mark their calendars for the weekend of 04 – 06 September 2009. On that weekend, 275 exhibitors showcase a broad range of products and services for hiking holidays. The offers are clearly segmented and distinguish be tween touristic and equipment-related topics.
Hike the world – discover 5,000 hiking destinations
With over 5,000 hiking destinations, all conveniently showcased in one hall, TourNatur offers a unique overview of hiking destinations on all five continents. Individual travelers who like to discover new regions on their own will find lots to choose from, as will those who prefer organized tours or group vacations. Of course, the classic hiking destinations, such as the Alps or the German low mountain ranges, the European pilgrim trails, the Canary Islands or the Himalayas, are also represented. But there are also destinations off the beaten track, for example Lapland, Tierra del Fuego or La Reunion. Exhibitors do not only supply basic hiking needs such as maps and accommodation but also offer modern hiking services such as luggage transport and GPS data. The presentations on the "Rastplatz" stage introduce some of the trails and regions in greater detail. This stage is also the place where hiking trails are awarded distinctions.
Background knowledge and individual advice at the equipment centre
Many TourNatur visitors especially appreciate the opportunity to test equipment before purchase and to receive individual advice. Messe Düsseldorf provides the following offers at TourNatur 2009: At the equipment centre, independent experts offer information on the features of various materials and explain advantages and disadvantages of individual fabrics, technologies and developments. Detailed and easy-to-understand background knowledge aids in the decision-making process when it comes to purchasing new clothing or equipment for hiking or Nordic sports. Models present new functional clothing, the materials may be touched, and weather-proofing may be tested. In addition, there will be a consultation booth where experienced product testers and hiking experts address the issues of individual visitors. They also provide tips and offer advice on the choice of new equipment. The popular hiking boot test course is also located at the equipment centre. Tent City, featuring various tent types, is close by.
Traveling to TourNatur: easy and affordable
TourNatur visitors will again this year be able to take advantage of two very special travel and accommodation offers: A two-day ticket to TourNatur, one night's accommodation with breakfast at a comfort-class hotel and one evening meal, including one glass of Altbier beer, at a traditional brew house in Düsseldorf's famous old town are available starting at € 89.00. This offer comes with a Düsseldorf info package including a city guide and map. In addition, Deutsche Bahn offers return train tickets to TourNatur from all German cities from € 109 (plus € 5 processing fee). Details are available at www.tournatur.com. Both offers may be booked with Düsseldorf Marketing & Tourismus agency, ph: 0211 17202-839, messe@dus-mt.de.
One ticket – two trade fairs
TourNatur is open daily 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, from Friday through Sunday, 04 to 06 September 2009. Tickets for TourNatur are also valid for CARAVAN SALON and cost € 12.00 for adults. Children, pupils and students pay reduced admission fees. Tickets are available as of August at the customer centres of the VRR. ADAC automobile club members can get their tickets at the ADAC branch offices, as well. Advance tickets also include free transportation to and from the Exhibition Centre on all VRR transit services on the day of the trade fair visit (DB, 2nd class). Tickets purchased at the ticket office include a free return trip in the VRR region. An overview of regional sales offices and further information on TourNatur is available at www.tournatur.com.
Thursday, 30 April 2009The Camping and Caravanning Club is now able to offer a free information portal through Site Wi-Fi across its UK Club Sites network.
Powered by Wicoms Ltd, the majority of Club Sites already have wireless broadband (Wi-Fi) installed but by providing multiple services over a single network, the latest move enables the Club to offer valuable information to its members.
This free portal – yabadabadoo.tv™ - runs alongside Site Wi-Fi and is easily accessible via a laptop or other network devices.
The portal will include region specific weather and travel depending on which Site a member/non-member is logging on from together with educational games for all the family, social-networking, competitions as well as Club functions and services such as SiteSeeker®.
An online forum which will allow Club members to interact with each other and post Site reviews and share information is also planned.
The Club's Marketing & Communications Director Matthew Eastlake said: "The Wicoms platform allows us to target our audience in a variety of new and exciting ways."
"We are in the process of developing a community around our members whilst helping to generate a real buzz across the network."
"In time we hope to be able to offer the same kind of entertainment options on holiday as there are at home."
"A lot of our members like to remain in touch even when they are enjoying the outdoor adventure on one of our 109 Club Sites."
Campers can access the wireless 'hotspots' at each Site securely for a small fee ranging from £7 for a day to £125 for a seasonal pass that covers all Wi-Fi enabled Sites.
Wednesday, 29 April 2009The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources State Lands Division will hold the annual Spring Outdoor Festival on Saturday, May 2, 2009, at the Wehle Land Conservation Center near Midway, Ala. in Bullock County. The festival is free and will take place from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The Spring Outdoor Festival will feature educational exhibits and demonstrations of interest to all ages. Activities and displays will include wildflower woods rides, insect diversity, draft horse plowing, dog agility and obedience, gourd and pumpkin planting, bird nests and nest boxes, and pine needle basket making. Hiking, biking and horse trails will be open along with fishing ponds (Alabama freshwater fishing license required). Bonnie Plants will be giving away small plants, and vendors will be selling handcrafted goat milk soap, barbeque and kettle corn.
The Wehle Land Conservation Center is located approximately 5 miles southeast of Midway, Alabama in Bullock County on County Road 47. Take U.S. Hwy. 82 from either Montgomery or Eufaula to Midway and follow the "Nature Center" signs.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR visit www.outdooralabama.com.
Wednesday, 29 April 2009Vacationers from across Canada and the US seem to have decided that if the current economic atmosphere is going to keep them from flying, then it most certainly isn't going to keep them at home. Western Canadians and Americans from the Pacific Northwest in particular are planning to use this year's summer vacation to enjoy some of the natural beauty in their own "backyards." Mark Waldbillig, owne r of Sea to Sky Expeditions, has seen the tourism market change frequently over the years and he notes that this summer is truly setting up to be the year of the local "rubber-tire" guest.
"British Columbians have always been aware of how special their province is because of its natural beauty," says Mark. What is different this year is that locals are finally planning those wilderness adventures nearer to home that they had been putting off for years in favour of overseas vacations. It's amazing really, we have some guests driving to Vancouver from as far away as Oregon and Manitoba to join us on one of our kayaking or West Coast trail hiking trips."
Driving to the wilderness from the city is nothing new for Sea to Sky Expeditions. "We always provide van transportation for our guests, from the city to our canoe or kayak put-ins or our hiking trailhead. It gives everyone a chance to get to know their travel partners before the activity even starts and it certainly makes trip planning a whole lot easier."
Regardless of how much fun the drive can be, it's the outdoor experience that people have really come for. "In the end the road is just a way to get to your goal of Canadian wilderness where you can kayak with the orcas, canoe past grazing moose or hike some of the most unique coastal areas anywhere in the world."
Source: www.prlog.org
Tuesday, 28 April 2009Red Wing, MN — High performance outdoor footwear manufacturer, Vasque, is extremely pleased to announce the selection of these powerful athletes to the 2009 Vasque Trail Team: Krissy Moehl, Duncan Callahan, Shiloh Mielke, Bryan Dayton, Debbie Livingston, and Dan Dehlin. These impressive endurance runners were hand-selected for their extraordinary athlete prowess, as well as their relentless dedic ation to the sport, trail preservation, and their respectable reputation locally, nationally, and even internationally. In addition to competing in major trail running events throughout the United States and abroad, the team members will serve as Vasque representatives and educators, product testers, clinic instructors, and as the face of Vasque's biggest sponsorship initiative to date, the 2009 Vasque PROJECT.
Together, this roster holds an unbeatable number of high-profile podium finishes, record race times, and challenging race schedules. Moehl, a player in the trail running community for nine years, is known in the ultra running community for her win (3rd place overall) and course record at the 2007 Hardrock 100 and as the youngest female Grand Slam finisher holding the second fastest female completion time (second to legendary Ann Trason). In 2008 she took first place overall at the Bellingham North Face Endurance Challenge 50K and won the first annual Grindstone 100, taking fourth overall, and placed as the second female in the Where’s Waldo 100K Trail Championships. This season, Moehl has her sights set on Leona Divide 50, Pocatello 50, the Western States 100, and the Tour Du Mont Blanc in France. If all goes well, she will also take a stab at the North Face Endurance Challenge Championships in California. "I am excited about a year of racing and racing hard." notes Moehl. "I hope to push new limits and see what I am capable of."
Callahan a relative newcomer to the ultra running circuit is already building upon his stellar 2008 results. Posting his first win of the season at the Moab 100 on Sunday, March 29th in a time of 18:51, Callahan also clinched a second place victory last month at the Rocky Raccoon 50 miler. His additional goals for the 2009 season include top finishes at the Sage Burner 50k, the Teva Mountain games, and a repeat victory at the Leadville 100.
Mielke, a world-class mountain runner, plans to compete in the Mount Washington Road Race, the Cranmore Hill Climb (also the U.S. Mountain Running Championship), and, if all goes according to plan, the World Mountain Running Championship in Campodolcina, Italy. Mielke also plans to cut time and improve his already event record at the Shut-In Ridge trail race in Asheville, North Carolina.
Dayton, training in the mountains of Colorado, will focus his season on the Pikes Peak Marathon as well as setting course records at the Leadville Marathon and ½ Marathon. Dayton set the course record at the difficult Leadville ½ Marathon last season. Dayton plans to also compete at the popular, but difficult StumpJump 50K in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he also currently holds the course record.
Livingston, a well known athlete in not only the trail but fitness and yoga communities, will base her season around several events in the New England area, including the Northern Nipmuck Trail Race, the Mount Greylock Trail Race ½ Marathon, and the People's Forest 10K in Barkhamsted, CT.
Rounding out the impressive roster is Dan Dehlin, a Vasque sales representative in the upper Midwest. Dehlin took second place at last season's Grand Island Trail Marathon in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and was the top finisher the previous two years. This year, Dehlin plans to not only compete in several high profile trail events such as the Free State 100k and Leadville 100 miler, but also host clinics to help broaden consumer knowledge around the sport and the product.
Each member of the trail team, says Vasque director of marketing, Sarah Pitts, was chosen not only for his or her athletic resume, but even more importantly, for the fact they are inspiring people and leaders in the outdoor community. "The simple fact that Krissy works with the Conservation Alliance, Duncan coaches and helps kids learn to ski in the off season, Debbie is a role model for new and active moms, just to name a few, displays the depth of each of these individuals. It is a special type of person that uses their success positively, becoming an influential spokesperson in their sport and community."
This trail team exemplifies and parallels Vasque's continuous dedication to being a leading technical performance brand. "Vasque is devoted to producing performance footwear that harnesses the natural forces of the body and the terrain," notes Pitts. "It is essential that our products withstand the most extreme and hardcore elements, therefore these athletes will be our most valuable product testers. Their experiences and suggestions will help the brand to continue to develop high quality performance driven shoes with meaningful innovation."
The trail team will be training, testing, and racing in Vasque's award-winning trail collection including the Aether Tech, the newly released Celerator and Momenta, and the second-generation Blur SL. The Aether Tech, Outside Magazine’s Gear of the Year in 2008, offers a blend of comfort and technology while utilizing the BOA® Technology closure system for those interested in a faster, cleaner lacing system. Blur SL (for super light) offers a cushioned, yet stable midsole to go the distances without the extra weight. The Celerator and Momenta, Vasque's lightest trail shoe to date, includes high-performance EVA landing zones and a tenacious Aether outsole for superior cornering and gripping on rough terrain.
The 2009 Vasque Trail Team begins its season in late April with a two-day retreat at company headquarters in Minnesota. For more information about the team, athletes' schedules, Vasque PROJECT events, or for a full list of Vasque products and retailers, visit www.vasque.com.
Source: www.outdoorindustry.org
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