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I've decided that it should be a punishable crime to travel to a place as beautiful as Barbados for less than two full weeks. Sadly, I have 3 days to explore the island, find the coolest adventures and zero in on the hottest spots to soak up the vibe. I think have a serious argument for extending this trip...
After a morning on the resort, we hiked ourselves over to St. Lawrence Gap to sample the local culture. High Definition was invented to capture menageries of color found only in the tropics. And it's not only the landscape; the people here are just as vibrant. Not only does George(the dude on the left) love Canadians, he just doesn't understand the word no. We left with a cool hat and even cooler story.
When my video editor and I got back to the resort, we hightailed it for the beach. Justin (my eye candy from yesterday) had left already, but the waves were just getting started. We slipped into our swimsuits and hit the beach like two kids, jumping in the waves and riding them to shore - over and over and over.
 The Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean near Bougainvillea, so waves are moderately strong. I found out just how strong when a wave hit me from behind and dragged me below the surface. Before I could catch, my breath another one bowled me over. The tow pulled and pushed and yanked, and while I struggled to find the surface my swimsuit found my knees. Getting my suit back on took priority over oxygen.
I haven't had this much fun since I broke my arm skateboarding!
Gotta run - the steel drum band just started playing and I'm pretty sure there's a margarita with my name on it at the swim-up bar.
Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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Last week, as our team was gearing up for the Outdoor Adventure Show in Toronto, my boss asked me to accompany him to Barbados for a short research trip. Working trip or not, I love my job.
Like most people, I've always thought of the Caribbean as Shangri-la for winter weary travelers. But it's so much more. While the west coast is all about sipping a maiti on white sandy beaches, the east coast is a study in adventure travel and eco-tourism. I love that you can park yourself anywhere on the island and do it all – boogy boarding, horseback riding, hiking through lush, tropical forests.......Did I mention that I really love my job?
We've stationed ourselves at the Bougainvillea Beach Resort. It's close enough to the nightlife at St. Lawrence Gap but far enough away to enjoy being lulled to sleep by waves pounding the shoreline. Justin, the surfer dude with great hair who mans the water sports booth at Bougainvillea, wants me to go wake boarding and turtle snorkeling, but considering how big the waves are today, I might just try out some body surfing first and see how that goes.
We've only just arrived, but I'm already salivating at all that's available. While this is a research trip, I'm not above taking some time to explore – in the name of research, of course.
I love my job!
Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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Welcome Kim Bowerman
Unlike Britney Spears, we Nomadiks love to feel the love - it never scares us. And while we might shave our heads on a dare, we're not afraid to get up close and personal with like-minded Fanatiks who can't get enough of the outdoors.
Today we're welcoming Kim Bowerman, our personal trainer an all around cool adventurer. Kim has a degree in Human Kinetics, and currently serves as a corporate fitness trainer. But her real story takes place after hours. She's run competitively in cross country and track for 9 years and is currently training for her first triathlon.
She's backpacked Europe on her own. She's also trekked much of New Zealand and the Blue Mountains in Australia. She also spent half a year exploring parts of Asia (Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia) and climbing Mount Fansipan.
When she's not off exploring the world, she pursues outdoor adventures close to home at provincial, state and national parks in Canada and the United States. She's canoed Killarney Provincial Park, French River and the Spanish River and hiked Algonquin, the Adirondacks, the Bruce Trail and parts of Nova Scotia.
We're thrilled to have Kim here, sharing her adventures. To get us started, she's going to gear us up for some winter camping.
Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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Like all outdoor enthusiasts, we Nomadik Fanatiks know what it's like to confront faulty gear on the trails. We've got our fair share of stories to prove it, but sometimes enough, really is enough...
Unless you've hidden your head in an igloo for the past month, you've probably heard all the hoopla about our Great Gear Giveaway - our answer to getting the gear you need for all your adventures.
Like squirrels before a storm, we've been gathering and storing our gear - and we're almost ready to give it away! All this week we'll be sharing why we love Lowepro, Columbia and Adeo GPS devices to name just a few. But if you want the real dirt on what's hot in outdoor adventure gear, visit us this weekend in Toronto.
Charmian's going to get the ball rolling this morning with her inside scoop on Warmbat shoes from Australia.
Don't forget to register for you chance to win - time is running out. We'll be announcing the winners here at the end of February, so check back often!
Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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We Nomadiks feel a little like the Dixie Chicks at the Grammys - you love us, you really, really love us!
We've worked hard this year to bring you, our readers, what you've been asking for and we're pretty sure we're doing it right. Readership is reaching record levels and we have Nomadik Fanatiks knocking at our door - everyone wants to be one!
 This month, we're introducing two new Nomadik Fanatik bloggers. Today, I'd like you to meet Elizabeth Kricfalusi, blogger from EmbraceAdventure.com. I could go on and on about how great she is and how thrilled we are that she's here, but instead I'm going to let her introduce herself.
Welcome, Elizabeth. We're all looking forward to hearing more about your adventures!
Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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This Valentine's Day, think outside the box. Anyone can shell out for a dozen roses and box of bon bons, but there are other (more imaginative) ways to get cozy. Trust us, you'll get points for creativity.
Need some help spicing up the holiday for you and your honey? Have a look at our five outdoor favorites:
- Saddle up - Go horseback riding: Sometimes it is all about the ride, and who doesn't love a cowboy? All kidding aside, we can't think of a better way to enjoy a backcountry adventure.
- Come together for a cause - Habitat for Humanity: What better way to bond with your sweetheart than working together for a cause. And remember, good deeds have a way of coming back around.
- Learn some new moves - No matter how experienced you are, you can always learn a new skill. Before you get carried away, we're talking about skiing...
- Do it with a kiss - Keep it simple, stupid: After a hike through the wilderness spring for a spa appointment, an afternoon of body painting or a bubble bath - for two. Guaranteed winner.
- Go back to grade 5 - There's something sweet about roasting s'mores over an open fire after an afternoon of skating. And if you're lucky, it'll be cold outside and snuggling will be the only way to keep warm.
Have some unique Valentine's ideas you'd like to share? Send them to us and we'll post them here. After all, being an outdoor enthusiast doesn't preclude being hopelessly romantic.
Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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Face it. There are some things in life you just can't fake. Take the Alaskan tour guide, Wally Dean Jackson, who recently landed himself a two year sentence for falsely claiming he knew anything about wilderness survival. Apparently, he repeatedly took people to remote locations and left them there, claiming his mother had a stroke or there had been a murder in the family. His mother died more than six times...He also had a penchant for picking up bones along the Alaskan tundra and mislabeling them for his clients. We're not sure how you mistake a moose's pelvis for a skull, but he found a way. And of course, our favorite, not knowing which end of the boat points forward.
Thinking of hiring an outfitter to navigate a path through the wilderness? Read Charmian's article first!
Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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If you've got unrequited outdoor dreams, you're not alone. Paul took his dreams for a 10,000 bike-tour around the perimeter of the United States, and then he transformed his dreams into 8 wishes for kids with learning disabilities.
He's making progress, but it's a slow climb uphill.
If you want to help Paul reach his goal, put your money where you mouse is.
Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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According to the American Birding Association, bird watching is the number two outdoor activity for Americans. Before you complain we're being pedestrian, get real. Birding is a great excuse to get outside on a cold winter's day, enjoy the wilderness in a new way and teach kids about the environment. And if you're exploring a new trail, you can input waypoints into your GPS that you spot interesting birds. Talk about a great way to chart your discoveries.
So, what's your favorite outdoor activity?
Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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All compasses point due north, right?
Maybe not, according to Joseph Stoner, paleomagneticist at Oregon State University. He says the North Pole (magnetic minerals within Artic lake beds) is gunning for Siberia - at a rate of 25 miles a year. Apparently the pole has moved more than 700 miles since its discovery in 1831. The proof is the aurora borealis, the colorful halo around the pole; scientists predict it will soon be relocating from Alaska to Russia.
A natural shift or global warming? No one can be certain.
Stoner says movement of this magnitude would have wreaked havoc on primitive navigation devices, but for us it's just an annoying inconvenience. If you haven't made the leap from compass to GPS device, now may be the perfect time.
Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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ATVs may be a great way to enjoy a mild winter, but they can also wreak havoc on fragile plants resting just below a light snow covering. According to the Daily Register in Harrisburg, IL, ATV riders have been using and abusing the Shawnee National Forest.
And Mother Nature is ticked.
Apparently some irresponsible riders tore through a section of low growing vegetation yesterday and left nothing but churned up soil. So what's the big deal? That grassy area holds loose soil in place and prevents erosion during the spring thaw. So, an afternoon of doing doughnuts means less land to sustain vegetation and ultimately less wildlife that can survive here next winter.
Thankfully punishment is swift. If you're caught, fines begin at $200 and top out at $5000 - with a six month jail term. Not the best way to enjoy the outdoors.
And if you're planning on a day of ATVing, do it safely and with a conscience:
- Stay on the trails - Remember that while you're enjoying the trail for an afternoon, a cornucopia of wildlife and vegetation live here all the time.
- Pack your trash - Whatever you take into the forest comes out with you - no exceptions.
- Wear a helmet - Legs mend, but it's pretty hard to fix your brain. This one is a no-brainer - literally.
- Expect the unexpected - No one plans to run out of gas or hit a tree; preparing for every situation can save thousands of dollars spent on search parties.
- Teach your kids - Kids learn by example, so if you jump on your ATV after a beer, chances are they'll do the same thing a few years from now.
- If you see someone damaging federal forests, call the U.S. Forest Service at 1-800-MY-WOODS.
- Want to start ATVing but not sure where to start? Nomadik.com can help you with your ATV product search needs.
Want to see some winter ATVing?
Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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Want to see earth's future? Earlier today NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured the atmospheric structure of a planet (HD 209458b). Astronomers quickly noticed ultra-hot, dense hydrogen gas shooting into space like a kettle boiling over.
"The layer we studied is actually a transition zone where the temperature skyrockets from about 1,340 degrees Fahrenheit (1,000 Kelvin) to about 25,540 degrees (15,000 Kelvin), which is hotter than the Sun," said Gilda Ballester of the University of Arizona in Tucson, leader of the research team. "With this detection we see the details of how a planet loses its atmosphere."
Researchers speculate that the planet, 20 times closer to its host than the earth is to the sun, will live on for at least another five billion years with gas escaping three times the rate of water flowing over Niagara Falls. Talk about universal pollution concerns.
Researchers liken this study to fingerprint analysis - will earth follow the same path eventually? Earlier Hubble transmissions exposed carbon, oxygen and sodium within the planet's atmosphere as well as a massive hydrogen comet-like tail. Further images by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope captured the infrared glow from the planet's hot atmosphere.
The new study is the culmination of observations made in 2003 with Hubble's Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph by David Charbonneau of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass.
We Nomadiks really don't need anymore warning messages that it's time to stop kidding around when it comes to global warming. After all, we know hiking the glaciers just won't be as much fun when they turn to marshlands. If you weren't convinced before this, consider this a swift kick in the pants from the universe.
Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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Mountain sickness strikes the healthy and the fit just as swiftly as it levels the novice climber. What's troubling is that it can lead to the more serious pulmonary edema, the accumulation of fluid in lung tissue, and finally death.
According the February issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Departments of Physiology, Biophysics and Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Calgary in Canada showed in recent studies that Acetazolamide improves oxygen flow to the lungs.
"Acute mountain sickness is one of three major high-altitude-related diseases seen in people who rapidly ascend to altitudes higher than 3,000 meters or 9,843 feet," said Dr. Poulin. "Worldwide, an increasing number of sea-level residents - altogether several million a year-visit areas higher than 2,500 meters. Many of them develop symptoms of acute mountain sickness. Among these symptoms are insomnia, headache, lightheadedness, fatigue, breathlessness, lack of appetite and nausea. Acute mountain sickness can precede the more serious problem of high-altitude pulmonary edema."
While we Nomadiks are all for eating better and exercising when it comes to improving our health, we realize there are times when it's safer to look for help. If you're a high-altitude hiker, this is one study you'll want to watch unfold in the next few weeks.
Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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Tom Tom, the fastest growing GPS device choice in the U.S. uses TELEATLAS, but Magellan and Garmin, Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, MSN Maps, and MapQuest all prefer NAVTEQ.
What's the difference?
TELEATLAS, based in Europe, is considered the leader for European maps, but they rely almost solely on satellite imagery.
NAVTEQ, a U.S. based company, is also powered by satellites. Users who log onto their site can correct small, but annoying idiosyncrasies in real time. Like Dan said in his blog, it's this constant reality checking that guarantees accuracy.
Yesterday, GPS magazine pointed out the glaring differences between the two.
Here's a Gmap of New Jersey powered by TeleAtlas data: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?centerX=-74.03115749359131&c...
Here's the same map from Google powered by NAVTEQ: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=hoboken,+nj&spn=0.015104,0.027479&hl=en
So, if you feel like a meathead because your expensive GPS device gets you lost, maybe it's the mapping technology you should be blaming. While both companies are constantly changing how they map data, my priority is accuracy. And I'm willing to pay a little extra for that kind of piece of mind.
Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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According to NAVTEQ, a leading global provider of digital map data, GPS device users rank map accuracy as the number one indicator of user satisfaction.
No kidding.
Earlier today NAVTEQ made it easier for users to report discrepancies in their leviathan of a data base. The new, intuitive web interface addresses a global audience in 9 languages and allows users to attach images to clarify concerns. Apparently every submission is followed up individually by "map reporters" who monitor the database.
Experts estimate NAVTEQ maps are consulted more than 90 million times each day through vehicle navigation systems, portable navigation systems, Internet mapping sites and geographic information systems applications.
That kind of usage demands minute-by-minute reporting. There's only one thing we Nomadiks love more than getting outdoors and that's a GPS device that delivers on its promise.
Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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