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Archive for 'May 2012'

Born to Run: Stray Dog Hoofs It 1,100 Miles Across China in the Company of Cyclists

Run, Little Sa, run. Meet the Forrest Gump of canines, a small white stray (breed unknown) that earlier this month latched onto a group of touring cyclists in China. Over 20-plus days, the pooch tagged along on a journey that covered 1,100 miles (1,700 kilometers) and climbed a dozen mountains, a few higher than 14,000 feet. As reported by ABC News (whose story includes a brief video clip), approximately 300 riders joined together to commemorate a graduation and undertook a cross-country ride ...

Posted by T.D. Wood on May 30, 2012 6:23 PM & Tagged Cycling, dogs and touring | permalink | Comments



New Permit Lottery for Yosemite's Half Dome Accommodates Short-Notice Climbs

The climbing cables on Half Dome in Yosemite National Park officially go up today. But what if you weren't able to snag a climbing permit reservation back in March? You have new hope: a 2-day-in-advance daily permit lottery system has been added for 2012. Permits have been required to climb Half Dome since 2010 when Yosemite officials, as part of a long-range management plan for the popular and long-studied trail, decided crowds on the cable route (steep, narrow, slippery in places) diminished ...

Posted by T.D. Wood on May 29, 2012 5:44 PM & Tagged Climbing, Half Dome, Yosemite, cables, national parks and permits | permalink | Comments



A Tip for a Better Camp Breakfast: Make-Ahead Muesli to Go

Looking for a simple, healthy breakfast that will fuel you for your hiking and camping adventures?   As an avid camper and a mother of 3 children, I've learned that what we eat plays a key role in our camping enjoyment. One of my simplest and most trusted recipes is this variation of muesli.   Originally invented by my father-in-law 17 years ago, this variation of the breakfast cereal features milk, plain yogurt, honey and instant oatmeal.  Made simply by stirring together the milk, yogurt and ...

Posted by Melissa Trainer on May 25, 2012 12:29 PM & Tagged Hiking, camping, food and muesli | permalink | Comments



New Infographic Serves Up Some Fun Facts to Know and Tell About Running Shoes

Some colleagues have assembled a one-sheet guide to the basics of running shoes, and it can serve as a handy quick-reference tool for people on the prowl for new running footwear. It's worth a look if you're curious about the answers to these questions: 1. Runners with high arches tend to: • Overpronate • Underpronate 2. On average, running shoes deliver optimal performance for up to: • 250 miles • 500 miles • 750 miles • 1,000 miles 3. The term for the stiffened threading tip of a shoelace is: ...

Posted by T.D. Wood on May 24, 2012 12:47 PM & Tagged infographic and running shoes | permalink | Comments



The Power of an Engaged Workplace

Studies show that engaged employees create an effective workplace. At REI, we want our employees to be motivated by their contributions, connected to our values and culture, and believe in our overall direction.  Each year, through an anonymous survey conducted by an independent firm, we ask all of our employees to candidly tell us about how they feel about working at REI.  The results of our 2011 survey are detailed in our recently released stewardship report. Our overall score, which is based ...

Posted by Kevin H on May 23, 2012 3:49 PM & Tagged Stewardship report, rei and stewardship | permalink | Comments