Get out there.
Archive | June, 2013
John Wesley Powell
This NPS-produced video about John Wesley Powell – the one-armed war vet that lead the first known expedition down the Colorado through that big ol’ Grand Canyon – is just so wonderfully cheesy. Watch it. Or just listen.
Topo x Cold Splinters
Jedd and Mark at Topo Designs are two of the sweetest guys you’ll ever meet. As soon as I heard about Topo a few years ago, I was so psyched that there was THAT kind of company making such great looking STUFF in Colorado. (The Topo Fleece rarely leaves my chest in the fall.) As I mention on this rag a lot, I went to college out in The Centennial State, and while I didn’t grow up there by any means, I still think of it as another home. (As my friend Trevor used to say, “Boulder Boy From Ill-inois.”)
Anyway, I’ve been a big fan of these guys and what they’re doing for a long time. I’ve written about them a bunch – on Cold Splinters and elsewhere – and am always excited to see them at all of the NYC/SLC/LV hoopla. So when we discussed doing a t-shirt together, I was all on it. K.I.S.S.
TOPO
COLO
RADO
The Topo Designs x Cold Splinters tee can be bought here.
PDX BOUND
Cold Splinters is off to Portland for a few days to hang with the good folks at Danner. Hit me if you’re around and have a fantastic week in the sunshine.
MP3: Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers – This Love Of Mine
Sylvester Graham
I’m not much of s’mores guy, but clearly that’s the first thing a lot of folks think of when camping is discussed. Hell, I think some people go camping because they get to make s’mores. Is that stupid? Sure, but why the hell not, right? And though I would never pack graham crackers for a long excursion (for obvious crumbly reasons), those things are REALLY FUCKING GOOD. (Seriously, when was the last time you had a graham cracker by itself? Go now.)
And who do we have to thank for the “bread” of our favorite camping dessert sandwich? His name is Sylvester Graham, a dietary reformer who preached an emphasis on a vegetarian diet as a cure for alcoholism and sexual urges.
Think he’d be happy that his claim to fame has now been turned into a vehicle for chocolate (aphrodisiac?) and marshmallow (not vegetarian)?
Baked Is The New Fried
While seeing a new baby cousin yesterday afternoon, we started talking about the Grand Canyon and a family friend’s recent trip there back in April. They had a great time, and while they knew it was nothing to complain about in the scheme of THE GRAND CANYON, they did mention how bad the food was. And while surfing around the ol’ interwebs today, I find out that the NPS is taking a little initiative to make their food a little bit…better.
I can’t remember the last time I ate a meal at NPS concession, but I’m sure that the food is pretty bad. Though I would imagine that a teenager who was hired for the summer thinking he was going to drop some fries in a basket all day wouldn’t be too psyched to find out he now has to make this shit:
To usher in the new Park Service food initiative, the White House sent over Sam Kass of the Let’s Move campaign, who noshed on almond-crusted baked chicken with a fennel salad.
“You know, baked is the new fried, so that looks delicious,” he told the chef.
Excuse my language NPS, but Sam Kass, you’re an asshole.
Trail Days 2013
I missed this a few weeks back, but apparently 60 people were injured at this year’s Trail Days, an annual Appalachian Trail celebration held in Demascus, VA. An elderly woman drove her car into the crowd during the Hikers Parade. No one was killed, thankfully, but what a tragic way to start off the thru-hiking season. If anyone has more info about what happened or the status of those injured, we’d love to know.
