PHOTO BY BILLY BROWN / SPECIAL TO THE RECORD SEARCHLIGHT

Climbers on Mt. Shasta ascend Misery Hill. The 14,179-foot mountain is an hour away from Redding residents, but it’s best to prepare safely before climbs.

With the recent reports of injuries and air rescues coming from Mt. Shasta in the past few weeks, it can be easy to lose sight of the appeal of climbing the highest volcano in the lower 48 states.

At 14,179 feet above sea level, Mt. Shasta is hailed as one of the continent’s most accessible 14,000-foot mountains, Redding resident and mountaineer Jon Cadorin said.

“It’s a great entry level mountain, because it’s not too technical, and it’s easy to get to…”

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12 05 2010

“Sounds pretty sweet.”

That’s the most common phrase I hear when I tell people that I write about the outdoors for a living, and for the most part, I can’t argue. I work from home, make my own hours, take time off when I want, I get some free gear every now and then, and I spend all my time writing about my hobbies and about learning new ones. I can’t complain, really, without sounding like an ingrate.

HOWEVER-it’s still a job, and there are a few stresses that come along with the benefits. Allow me to vent for a second.

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I’ve got a nicely tweaked left knee that either works for 10-plus milers or devestates me within a mile. No idea when it’ll strike, but when it does, I’m not happy, so when I heard about Opedix’s R1 knee support system, I perked up. I’ve never been a ‘running tights’ kind of guy, but if they’d help, I was willing to convert.

Designed in conjunction with an orthopedic specialist in Vail, Colorado, Opedix’s R1 knee support tights use an anchor and sling design which is said to stabilize…

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Every year, Alberta’s Banff Centre puts on their Mountain Film Festival, which brings together some of the greatest professional and amateur outdoors films…

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Known for its lightweight outdoor performance gear, GoLite proves that its apparel is also at home in the concrete jungle with their Adventure Travel clothing line.

When looking for clothing that would be functional on a bike as well as in an office environment, I tried out GoLite’s Parapoa Longsleeve Travel Shirt and Wicklow Shortsleeve Travel Polo. Designed for lightweight travel, I thought that their quick-drying action and flexibility would come in handy while bicycle commuting, and they did not let me down.

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I got a chance to take the Osprey Raptor 14 out for a test ride this weekend, and while it handles the basics well, it’s the little touches of convenience that make the pack stand out.

Given their reputation, it’s expected that Osprey would do the basics right…

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For months now I’ve heard whispers of the ultimate outdoors vehicle, the four-wheel drive monster that serves as a second home while traversing the great outdoors, but until recently, I’ve never seen a picture. Until today, that is, when I found Sportsmobile’s website.

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Parapoa Travel Shirt

With a break from winter rain and warmer temperatures, it is no surprise that spring weather brings with it a resurgence of bicycle commuters. While many people can agree that the benefits of bicycle commuting are notable, many prospective bicycle commuters have trouble with challenges that come with it. 

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An mp3 player is a great partner when it comes to endurance training. Long runs and bike rides can fly right by when you’ve got an entertaining playlist or an engaging podcast to keep your mind busy. If you’re a swimmer, however, things can be a bit more difficult. I don’t know many people who’d risk dunking their iPods into the pool for a swim workout…

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