Flight Network Contributions

I've added another outlet to the sites that I am contributing for and for the past few weeks, I've been posting to the Let's Roll Blog over at FlightNetwork.com. My postings to the site are more travel related with a slant towards adventure travel and a mix of a few gear reviews as well. The site is still relatively new but it is ramping up quickly and the editors have big plans for where they would like to go.

Here is a sampling of some of the posts that I, and others, have written to the blog recently:

• Kilimanjaro Guide Prepares for 50th Summit
• 7 Reasons Iceland is Quirky and Awesome
• Antarctic Travel Season Begins
• Polar Bear Attacks In Popular Canadian Tourist Town
• Airlines Being Allowing Passengers To Use Electronics Gate To Gate

Just a few articles to give readers an idea of what the blog is all about. If you're a traveler, you'll probably find a lot to like over there. Add it to your list of favorites and give it a go every once in awhile. 

Outside Interviews Alan Arnette

For years Alan Arnette has been our go-to source for information related to Everest. Each spring he provides the most comprehensive updates and reports from the mountain, diligently tracking all of the teams as they make their way up and down (and back up and down) the slopes. Alan also does a great job of providing plenty of preseason coverage as well, providing insights into what it is like to climb the world's tallest mountain and interviewing the personalities that are in the Himalayan community.

Because of all this excellent Everest coverage, not to mention his own extensive personal climbing resume, Outside magazine decided it was time that someone interviewed Alan instead. That interview went online yesterday and it is an excellent read for anyone who has wanted to know more about the man behind AlanArnette.com.

In the article, Alan talks about what got him interested in climbing in the first place, how his site evolved from a page about his personal adventures into something more and why he works hard to raise funds and awareness about Alzheimer's. That is a cause that is particularly near and dear to his heart and has played a big role in his motivations for climbing today.

If you're a regular reader of this blog you know that I link out to Alan's content on a regular basis, in part because I think he does outstanding work and in part because I love his approach to adventure and climbing in general. I've been fortunate enough to connect with Alan on occasion through the Internet and he has always provided great insight, advice and knowledge. Reading this article you'll get a sense of who he is as person and it'll make your visits to his website have a little more meaning as well.

Thanks to Outside for spotlighting Alan. I can't think of anyone who deserves it more.

Become An Outdoor Gourmet With CampingRecipes.co

Are you the kind of person who spends more time cooking over a campfire or backpacking stove than you do in your own kitchen? If so, there is a new website you'll definitely want to checkout and add to your bookmarks. It's called CampingRecipes.co and it is sure to become a popular resource for the outdoor crowd.

As you would expect from an online cooking site, Camping Recipes has a database filled with all kinds of suggestions for things to eat while out on the trail. It features hundreds of suggestions for healthy and tasty snacks and meals for when you're out on the trail. It even features full meal plans designed to provide plenty of calories for extended trips.

The site offers a solid search tool for finding new versions of your favorite recipes but it also provides plenty of categories to explore as well. For instance, there are vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options.  There are also suggestions for car camping , backpacking and ultralight trekking, as well as recipes that don't require any cooking at all. Camping Recipes provides excellent choices for kids, low carb selections and even gourmet meals for the talented trail chef.

But what really sets this site apart from others is the wealth of information in provides specifically for backpacking. Not only does it provide the full recipe for the meals but it also provides calorie counts too. It also offers an estimated weight for carrying all the ingredients in your pack, which is helpful for those who want to know exactly what they're carrying with them when they hit the trail.

If you're looking to add some new options to your outdoor cooking repertoire, then head over to CampingRecipes.co now. While you're there, sign-up and join the community. You'll be abel to share some of your favorite trail-menu options, interact with others and review recipes.

Now if you'll excuse me, I suddenly find myself very hungry.

Get Your Gear Reviews From The Gear Institute

Are you looking for new gear for your next outdoor adventure? Than your first stop should probably be  to GearInstitute.com. The site is populated with reviews and insights of everything from boots and sleeping bags to tents, backpacks, base layers and so much more.

The Gear Institute takes some of the top outdoor professionals and gear testers in the U.S. and assigns them a particular category to cover for the site. For instance, you'll generally have all the reviews o say cycling shoes or climbing harnesses from the same person. Using a clearly defined rating system, the reviews are written to be easy to understand and simple for consumers to digest, with an expressed goal of helping people to buy the best gear they can possibly get for their money.

The site has actually been around for sometime, but went through a relaunch back in early August, right around the time of Outdoor Retailer. The new layout makes it easy to comb through the numerous gear categories and reviews to find exactly what you're looking for in just about every kind of category including running, camping, backpacking, skiing and so on. If you don't see a particular category that you're looking for on the site, and you  happen to be knowledgeable on the subject, you can even apply to join the GI Faculty.

On a side note, I contributed a piece to the site, writing this article on some of the best hydration packs for trail running. I put four good packs through their paces and rated each of them in a variety of categories. If you're in the market for just such a pack, you'll definitely want to check out my thoughts on the matter.

Also, if you have a gear hound on your list for holiday gifts, you may want to bookmark the Gear Institute as well. It'll come in handy when you're trying to find just the right piece of kit in a few months time.

Heading To ATMEX In Veracruz, Mexico

It's a short week for updates on the Adventure Blog as I'm headed to Veracruze, Mexico today to attend the ATMEX Conference. Over the next few days the focus will be completely on adventure travel in Mexico, which has a lot to offer outdoor enthusiasts. The country has fantastic mountain biking, sea kayaking, climbing, whitewater rafting and more and the conference is designed to help tour operators connect with travelers and market their options more fully.

I'm honored to be taking part in a couple of panel discussions at the conference mostly focused on blogging and how tour operators can work with the online community to get the word out on what they have to offer. I, and my fellow panelists, will be speaking about how we work with various brands in the travel industry and how online travel writers and those brands can work together to promote their destinations. It should prove to be a fun and interesting experience and I'm so happy that the Adventure Travel Trade Association asked me to be a part of the event. If you happen to be attending as well, be sure to track me down and say hello.

I'm not sure what kind of Internet access I'll have while I'm away. If I have a reliable connection I'll try to post some updates. Otherwise we'll be back to the usual routine next Monday. While I'm away, everyone have a great few days and be sure to get outside and enjoy some adventures of your own.

Buy And Sell Surplus Expedition Gear With Ice Warrior

Now here's a post that I'm sure will be of interest to more than a few readers. The team over at Ice-Warrior.com has come up with a great way to find new homes for old or unused expedition gear. They're launching a new service via their Twitter account in which they'll be listing any gear that they have for sale on the 15th of each month. Better yet, they're allowing others to list their gear as well.

You'll find more details about this option for finding new or selling your old gear by clicking here. The page also allows you to submit your email address to receive the gear listings directly in your inbox as well. This is particularly helpful for those who aren't on Twitter or can't always follow the feed that closely.

Additionally, the Ice Warrior crew has also created a form that allows you to advertise any extra gear you may want to unload as well. You'll find that page by clicking here. The form asks for a brief description of the item, whether or not it is new or used, the size and quantity available and how much you want to sell it for.

This seems like a great way for adventure professionals to connect with one another and not only find good deals on gear that they can use but also possibly unload some of the equipment they no longer need. If you're a guide, expedition leader or adventurer you'll definitely want to subscribe to the list. Who knows what kind of bargains you'll find!