Hiking News - January 2012

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The North Face Endurance Challenge Series

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

The North Face, the world’s premier supplier of authentic, innovative and technically advanced outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear, announced that registration will open at 12:00pm EST today for the 2012 The North Face Endurance Challenge Series, presented by Gore-Tex.

In its sixth year, The North Face Endurance Challenge series, hosted by internationally recognized ultrarunner Dea n Karnazes, offers a variety of distances from 5k to 50 miles and a unique running experience, welcoming people to push and exceed their personal limits on the trail and road. For the past several years, The North Face Endurance Challenge has sold out in almost all cities, with waiting lists for each distance.

From May through December 2012, six endurance events will be held across the country. The first of the year kicks off in Bear Mountain, NY, then to Washington, DC, Madison, WI, Atlanta, GA and a road event in Kansas City, MO. The Endurance Challenge will culminate at the championship in San Francisco, CA where men’s and women’s top 50-mile finishers will each be awarded $10,000.

Bear Mountain, NY - May 5-6 (Trail)
Washington, DC - June 2-3 (Trail)
Madison, WI September 15-16 (Trail)
Atlanta, GA October 13-14 (Trail)
Kansas City – November 17 (Road)
San Francisco, CA - December 1-2 (Trail)

Trail events will be held over two days, with the Gore-Tex 50 Mile, 50K, Marathon, Marathon Relay and kid’s races held on Saturday, and the Half Marathon, 10K and 5K races on Sunday. The Kansas City road event will be a one-day event, with the 50K, Marathon, Marathon Relay, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K and Kid’s Race all running on Saturday.

In addition to The North Face Endurance Challenge, The North Face global endurance events include The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (Europe), The North Face Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji (Japan) and The North Face Lavaredo Ultra Trail (Italy). For more information about The North Face global endurance events check out www.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge

Pacific Quest Wilderness Therapy

Monday, 30 January 2012

Pacific Quest Wilderness Therapy is a program that bucks the trend of traditional therapeutic hiking programs. Putting down the old survival kits of the past, and learning skills on how to plant seeds and care for the future; Pacific Quest has taken the best ideas from wilderness therapy and implemented them into a 7 acre therapeutic garden in Hawaii. Rather than hiking in the snow, or traversing a desert, each week students at Pacific Quest harvest food from the organic garden for a nearby farmers market with all proceeds going to a local charity for kids. In addition, every month a group of parents participate in a two day family workshop that includes several opportunities for families to plant and harvest in the garden leaving behind a legacy of sungold tomatoes, black beauty eggplants, curly kale, and giant sunflowers. Sound like wilderness?

When asked to describe the difference between wilderness therapy and garden therapy, Pacific Quest's Land Supervisor, Travis Slagle says, “The garden offers a safer environment, more transferable skills, and a broader sense of community stewardship than is possible in a backpacking program.” One example includes this past December, when Pacific Quest hosted a preschool field trip where teenagers and toddlers walked side by side in the garden. During the preschool visit, Pacific Quest students had the opportunity to teach an lesson on healthy eating and interact with the children as a milestone along their journey to adulthood. As a member of the Hawaii Organic Farmers Association, and the American Horticultural Therapy Association, Pacific Quest's wilderness programs utilize the latest evidence-based horticultural therapy practices to engage students in new perspectives on personal responsibility, healthy relationships, and sustainable life skills.

One truth about this particular garden in Hawaii is that it is naturally inspiring. Whether it’s the buttery avocados that dangle above a student while they write in their journal, the vast ocean that you can look at while harvesting a batch of sugar cane and sweet potatoes, or watching the sun rise behind the coconut trees during morning stretches; this place is unlike any other outdoor therapeutic program. Similar to other nature-based therapies like wilderness and equine therapy, horticulture therapy could arguably be considered one of the most ancient forms of mental health treatment dating as far back as the early Greek civilization.

Visit http://www.pacificquest.org/ for more information.

2012 Yeti Chase 5k and 10k Races

Friday, 27 January 2012

SummitCove Vacation Rentals will sponsor the Annual Yeti Chase for the 2nd year in a row. The 5k and 10k Yeti Chase is put on by Racing Underground, and will take place on Saturday, January 28th on the West side of metropolitan Denver at the Bear Creek Lake Park.

The Yeti Chase will span 2,500 acres with a combination of flat surfaces and rolling hills in each race. The race offers ple nty of entertainment for participants and observers alike. Those participating in the race will receive a commemorative shirt, goody bag, hot chocolate and post-race snacks.

Look for the Yeti in his SummitCove hockey jersey and be sure to snap a photo with him. Those who enter a photo in the SummitCove contest will be eligible to win a free summer stay in Keystone. Simply have a photo taken with the Yeti on race morning, and then tag the photo on the Summit Cove Facebook page no later than noon on Thursday February 2nd to be entered to win.

The winner will be announced on the SummitCove and Racing Underground Facebook pages the week after the race. The Yeti Chase photo contest winner can reserve Keystone lodging at anytime between April 15 and October 15, 2012. This is the perfect time to enjoy a getaway to the mountains, with miles of trails, hiking, biking, shopping, fishing, and more!

Mary Ann Kennedy at Fort William Mountain Festival

Thursday, 26 January 2012

The Fort William Mountain Festival, presented by the Outdoor Capital of the UK, will open with a unique launch event at Nevis Range's new Pinemarten Restaurant on Wednesday 15 February. Guests will be treated to a sumptuous four-course dinner inspired by and sourced from the waters, mountains and glens of Lochaber and enjoy an exclusive musical performance from award-winning Gaelic singer Mary A nn Kennedy.

Mary Ann is a multi-award winning singer, composer, classical musician, and radio and TV presenter. Originally from a Gaelic-speaking musical family in Glasgow, Mary Ann now lives and works from her base at Watercolour Music Studios, a residential recording studios and creative retreat developed by herself and husband Nick Turner, near Fort William.

Mary Ann and accompanying singers will perform a very special contemporary piece called Bliadhna an t-Sneachd Dhuibh, 'Black Snow'. This wonderful evening showcases the beauty and power of uplifting Highland music that's like no other.

Originally written for a commission giving the Scottish perspective on snow and ice, Mary Ann turned to her Gaelic-speaking background for inspiration to create a work contemporary in nature but informed and inspired by the relationship between Gaels and the natural world around them, as illustrated in poetry, song and lore. It interplays between a recorded background of natural, synthesised and manipulated sounds, and four female singers to dramatic effect. 'Black Snow' will be a tasty cultural treat to kick off the 2012 Fort William Mountain Festival in style.

Mary Ann Kennedy is also a well-known voice on BBC Radio Scotland and Radio 3. Her profile as a world/roots music presenter on radio and television was recognised in 2007, when she was named 'Radio Presenter of the Year' at the international Celtic Media Awards.

For full details of the commission 'Black Snow' and on Mary Ann Kennedy visit - http://www.mountainfestival.co.uk/programme/wednesday-15th-february/

To find out more about Mary Ann Kennedy's music visit www.maryannkennedy.co.uk

Tickets: £45 per person - ticket includes 4-course meal and concert (black tie event)

The 2012 Fort William Mountain Festival, presented by the Outdoor Capital of the UK, has now been announced and it's set to be a fantastic five-day celebration of mountain culture, based in the bustling Highland town of Fort William from Wednesday 15 - Sunday 19 February 2012. This year's festival includes a superb line-up of lectures from top climbers and mountaineers, mountain bikers, and mountain filmmakers; and film screenings from cutting edge outdoor athletes and adventurers.

To find out more and to buy your festival tickets go to - www.mountainfestival.co.uk/

Good Morning America Spotlights Mountain Mama

Wednesday, 25 January 2012

The unique, innovative and technical maternity apparel line, Mountain Mama, was featured today on ABC’s Good Morning America, highlighting the growing trend of today’s modern woman embracing an active and healthy pregnancy.

“Contrary to past recommendations to avoid starting new exercise routines or exercising too rigorously during pregnancy, modern studies reflect the many benefits of remaining active during pregnancy,” says Mountain Mama’s founder and president, Teresa Delfin. “Mountain Mama was born from the need for technical, trendy and functional clothing for the outdoor enthusiast, ideal for wear during and after pregnancy.”

Consumers piloted the trend and news outlets across the country are reporting on it. Today’s Good Morning America segment airs during one of the largest outdoor trade shows in the country, the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, which takes place each January in Salt Lake City. Hundreds of outdoor gear and apparel exhibitors, and thousands of retailers, partners and enthusiasts, gather at the mecca, the Salt Palace, to ogle at the latest and upcoming trends for the industry.

An Outdoor Retailer exhibitor and member of the Outdoor Industry Association, Mountain Mama offers an award-winning collection of clothes that make it possible for expecting women to continue to play throughout pregnancy without sacrificing the desire for stylish and high-performing apparel. A combination of innovative designs with technical fabrics yields high-quality apparel that moms can rely on throughout the many prenatal stages, as well as post partum and beyond.

The line’s recognition started with active apparel for pregnant women who hike, swim and enjoy the outdoors. Now, expanding on that foundation, Mountain Mama is preparing to release running and yoga wear for Spring 2012.

All Mountain Mama products are 100-percent American-made and produced with a minimal environmental footprint in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California. Designs employ Polartec® fabrics that comply with the independent bluesign environmental standard or plant-based fabrics such as Tencel, Bamboo or Modal whenever possible.

Source: www.outdoorindustry.org

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