Julia Rosien

Life’s a Beach – Or at Least it Should Be!

Julia Rosien — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 13:38:00 GMT

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....(read more)

Barbados – My Ticket to Adventure

Julia Rosien — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:56:00 GMT

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...(read more)

Getting Fanatikal!

Julia Rosien — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 18:55:00 GMT

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....(read more)

Great Gear Giveaway

Julia Rosien — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 13:31:00 GMT

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...(read more)

Nomadik is Growing – Welcome Elizabeth!

Julia Rosien — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 13:39:00 GMT

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...(read more)

Fire up Your Valentine’s Day with Some Outdoor Adventures – We Dare You!

Julia Rosien — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:17:00 GMT

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

Everyone in the Boat – Motor Points Forward

Julia Rosien — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 13:56:00 GMT

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

Watch This Video -- Stay Inspired

Julia Rosien — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 09:37:00 GMT

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.

1st Wish Granted! Paul Orfalea - video powered by Metacafe

Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor

Favorite Outdoor Activity

Julia Rosien — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 14:00:00 GMT

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

Does Your Compass Point North?

Julia Rosien — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 13:21:00 GMT

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

Watch This Video: Winter ATVing – Play it Safe

Julia Rosien — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 15:07:00 GMT

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

A Telescopic Look into the Future

Julia Rosien — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 16:16:00 GMT

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

Acetazolamide for Mountain Sickness

Julia Rosien — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:20:00 GMT

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

NAVTEQ or TELEATLAS?

Julia Rosien — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 13:30:00 GMT

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

Getting it Right with Map Accuracy

Julia Rosien — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:07:00 GMT

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