ajtestbed Yvon Chouinard has gained a reputation as a radical all his life. He invented rigid crampons and perfected a drooped-pick ice axe that hurtled ice climbing out of its classic days of cutting endless steps (“stairways to the stars”) to clawing up vertical ice. I got swept along in its early days and am proud … Read more
“I never wanted to be a businessman. I started as a craftsman, making climbing gear for my friends and myself, then got into apparel,” says Yvon Chouinard. “As we began to witness the extent of global warming and ecological destruction, and our own contribution to it, Patagonia committed to using our company to change the … Read more
I suppose this is a very obvious piece of equipment, and, I suppose there are many other brands making these. Frankly, I’m not going to look around to find out. Because I already have what I know will be my fave piece of gear for the winter months going forward. The Ignite Backside Heated Pad … Read more
Ian Walsh is about as prepared and capable as a big-wave surfer can be. Mavericks, the premier cold water big wave on the planet, on the central California coast, does not remotely care. This is a chilling, thrilling re-telling of Walsh’s worst, and potentially fatal, beat-down at the place.
September still feels like summer in much of the US, but our feathered friends are already longing to head south. Many already are. Millions and millions more birds will take to the skies in the coming days, lured, driven, instinctually by cues telling them it’s time to head for warmer climes and brighter days. The … Read more
Did I know that Draculaura on Monster High is totally in love with Deuce Gorgon? I did not. Did I know that Lilia K likes to chase the boys around at lunch and that they totally hate that? I did not. Did I know that mother pigeons feed their babies a kind of milk that … Read more
We will never tire of Iceland trekking footage. And who better to escort us through Iceland than photographer and AJ friend Chris Burkard, who basically lives in Iceland these days. Rumor has it his Icelandic is coming along nicely. From the folks at Black Diamond.
Where I live, in the People’s Republic of Marin County, California, something like 90 percent of the population votes Democratic. But a quick Internet search shows me that Brevard County, Florida, home to some of Florida’s best surf (Sebastian Inlet, Spanish House, Melbourne Beach) overwhelmingly voted for Trump in the last presidential election. Presumably, a … Read more
Back in June, in New Hampshire’s Franconia Notch State Park, two hikers got into trouble and called for Search and Rescue. After a seven hour ordeal, both trapped hikers were rescued. Authorities, though, charged the two hikers with reckless conduct for being so ill-prepared for their adventure. Jason Feierstin, 22, of Lowell, MA, and Dylan … Read more
Well, the Silk Road Mountain Race, that is. 1,800 kilometers long and 30,000 meters of climbing(!) through the Tian Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan. Looks beautiful and absolutely punishing. Perfect.