Outdoor Brands Respond to President Trump's Immigration Ban

I try not to get too political on this blog, choosing instead to focus on exploration and adventure, and all of the things that lure us into the great outdoors. But, there are times when having a platform like this one means having the opportunity to speak your mind and share your thoughts on current events as well. This is going to be one of those times. 

As most of you no doubt know, last week President Trump used an executive order to block immigration into the U.S. from seven different nations that he perceives to be states that support and develop terrorism around the globe. This policy has sparked numerous protests across the globe, even as American lawmakers scramble to decipher the ruling and determine if it is even legal. Meanwhile, the President's actions have left thousands of people stranded in foreign countries, created challenges to determine who is allowed into the U.S. and who isn't, and have caused leaders both within the country and from abroad to condemn the action in the harshest terms possible. Amongst those speaking out against this action are prominent members of the outdoor industry as well, who like the rest of us see this as discriminatory, counterproductive, and down-right un-American. 

Yesterday, REI Co-op CEO Jerry Stritzke sent a letter to each and everyone of that company's employees sharing his stand on the Trump executive order. In that letter, Stritzke let it be known in no uncertain terms that he fears for the future of the U.S., if not the world, based on what he has seen from the Trump administration so far. In that letter, the CEO writes:

"Over the course of the first week alone, we’ve witnessed actions that conflict with our co-op values on issues including climate, the environment, women’s rights and the singling out of individuals based on nationality and belief. These issues are core to the health of the outdoors and the ideals of our nation."

He goes on to add:

"We know our employee base and our membership span the political spectrum on any given issue. And we embrace respectful dialogue and debate. But it’s important for me to be incredibly clear about the following—we are an organization, and a country, built on inclusion. We believe we are better when we come together, when we are open and when we are welcoming."

In the rest of the later, which can be read in its entirety here, Stritzke goes on to reaffirm REI's commitment to being open and accepting of all people, regardless of race, color, creed, or sexual orientation. The company is focused on applying its considerable philanthropic funding on opening up the outdoors to more people, and protecting it for future generations to follow, something that Trump's dangerous views on climate change could threaten.

REI wasn't alone in speaking out either. Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle also sent a memo to his employees yesterday as well, and he didn't mince words either. Boyle told Columbia staff that "We are here because the United States was open and tolerant enough to let us in." Which is a reference to the fact that his parents fled Nazi Germany in 1937, ended up in Portland, and founded the company a year later. Now, it is one of the biggest outdoor brands in the entire world.

You can read his entire letter by clicking here, but the gist of it is that Boyle – and Columbia – do not accept or condone the current direction that Trump is taking the country, and see it as being completely against the policies that this country was founded upon. In the note, Boyle reiterates his personal commitment for being open, tolerant, and accepting of all people, noting that those qualities seem to be in short supply at the moment.

These are powerful words from two major forces in the outdoor industry. I salute both REI and Columbia for taking a stand, and agree with everything they have said. As someone who has traveled the globe extensively, I can tell you that I have seen the best and worst that mankind has to offer. But, for the most part, travel opens your eyes, makes you more open to new experiences, attitudes, and ways of life. I am troubled, aghast, and ashamed of where my country stands on accepting immigrants and refugees at the moment, and can only hope that someone within the Trump administration sees the light and changes direction soon. This is not the country that I have grew up in, which has always had a rich history of accepting anyone with open arms.

These are troubling times, but for the other Americans that are enduring this with me, know that we are not alone. Many have already taken to the streets and protested, and more will follow. To my friends from abroad, please keep in mind that not all of us support what the President is doing, and the majority of us did not vote for him. We hope to navigate through the challenges ahead and come out in once piece on the other side. But there are indeed dark days ahead before we see signs of improvement. Lets get through this together and get back to being a country that can lead by example, rather than one that is afraid, intolerant, and close minded to the point of being closed off from the international community.

I'll close this post with another quote, this one from Emma Lazarus. I'm sure most of you have heard it before, but it is worth repeating now, more than ever.

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

More Gear From Winter Outdoor Retailer

Yesterday I posted a gear preview from the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, giving us a glimpse of new products that we'll all be wanting to add to our equipment sheds come next fall. Today, we have even more interesting gear to lust after, as manufacturers continue to unveil what they'll be offering in the months ahead.

First up, we have Outside magazine's picks for the best gear of the show, giving us their selection of five items that really stood out from the crowd. An innovative new jacket from the North Face earned a spot on Outside's list, as did an avalanche airbag from Black Diamond. A new fitness tracker from JayBird also gets a nod, as does the new energy-generating cook stove from BioLite. Scarpa's new ski boot rounds out the winners.

Our friends at Trailspace have posted a nice round-up of their second day at the show, giving us a first look at new ski packs from Osprey, Deuter and Gregory. They also share thoughts on new shoes from La Sportiva and various other great outdoor gear.

The OR gear show will go on for another couple of days, with plenty more to be revealed. Watch for a couple more "best of show" reports to come, with some thoughts on all the outstanding new products in our future.

Video: An Arctic Timelapse

Shot in the Arctic region of Finland, this video captures some of the stunning landscapes and scenery from that part of the world in a beautiful timelapse fashion. Covered in a blanket of snow, with the Northern Lights flashing brilliantly overhead, this clip makes Finland look like quite the destination for outdoor adventurers who don't mind a little cold weather as well. Simply mesmerizing.

ARCTIC | Timelapse from Riku Karjalainen on Vimeo.

Two Explorers Launch Arctic Extreme Expedition in Canada

Two ultrarunners are about to embark on a challenge expedition through the Canadian Arctic to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday. Today, ultrarunners Ray Zahab and Stefano Gregoretti set out on an adventure that will take them through three separate regions of the country, covering approximately 1000 km (621 miles) during the coldest, harshest conditions of the year.

Dubbed the Arctic Extreme Expedition, the two men will begin their journey in the Torngat Mountains of northern Labrador and Quebec, where they will traverse this amazing landscape – Canada's newest national park – on foot. The endurance runners will be running and fast packing their way through the wilderness, hauling all of their needed supplies behind them on sleds as they go. Along the way, they'll face Canada's brutal winter weather conditions, snow, winds, cold temperatures, and perhaps the occasional polar bear.

From here, Ray and Stefano will head to Unavut to traverse Baffin Island on skis. Once again, they'll carry their gear behind them on sleds, hauling all of their needed equipment and supplies with them as they go. During the heart of the winter, they'll face extreme weather once again, as well as very long nights and incredibly short days as they traverse one of the most remote and rugged places imaginable.

For stage three of the expedition, the two men will head to the Northwest Territories where they'll ride the length of the Arctic Ice Road on custom made fat bikes. During that stage of the journey they expect to face temperatures as cold at -60ºC/-76ºF as they travel along on a route covered in ice that will require studded tires just to keep them upright.

The expedition is set to get underway today – Feb 1 – with Ray and Stefano hitting the trail this morning. You'll be able to follow their progress – which will include live updates most days – on the team's official website for this adventure. If you like to follow challenging expeditions through extremely cold places, you won't want to miss this one.

Will Ueli Steck Attempt Everest-Lhotse Traverse in Spring of 2017?

When it comes to daring climbing expeditions in the big mountains, Ueli Steck always seems to be planning something interesting. Over the years, the Swiss climber has built an impressive reputation for going fast and light in both the Alps and the Himalaya. So, naturally when he shares plans for an upcoming expedition, it is usually something of interest to the mountaineering community. Ueli did just that in a recent interview with Stefan Nestler for his adventure sports blog.

Recently, Nestler caught up with Steck at the International Mountain Summit in the Dolomite mountains of Italy. They talked about what Ueli has been up to recently, which included a climb on Shivling in India to celebrate his 40th birthday. On that expedition he traveled with his wife, and kept the climb low-key, not even alerting media to their plans. While they were there, they also met and shared Base Camp with Polish climbers Grzegorz Kukurowski and Lukasz Chrzanowski, who ended up later perishing on that mountain.

In the interview, Ueli also talks about what it is like getting older, and that while he can still go fast ni the mountains, he finds that it takes him longer to rest and recover. He's also learned that he doesn't necessarily want to take the big risks that he has in the past, although he estimates that he has another five years of big expeditions ahead of him.

But perhaps the most interesting aspect of the story is when Nestler asks him about his plans for the future. Steck says that his next project is another attempt on making the Everest-Lhotse traverse which would involve a summit of the tallest mountain on the planet, followed by a daring crossing of the ridge that links it to its neighbor Lhotse, where he would nab another summit along the way. "The Swiss Machine" doesn't give any indication of exactly when he'll give this expedition a go, but it seems that it could be on his radar for the spring 2017 climbing season in the Himalaya. Naturally, he'll be making the traverse and both summits without oxygen.

Ueli tells Stefan that he'll make the climb as part of a two-man team, with only Tenji Sherpa joining him on the expedition. Tenji was with him in 2012 when Ueli summited Everest, and the two have enjoyed several other expeditions in the Himalaya together as well.

The 2016 fall climbing season isn't completely over just yet, but we already have something to potentially start looking forward to in 2017. As always with Ueli, it should be a fun expedition to follow. Stay tuned.

Video: The Last Rhinos - Would Legalizing the Sale of Their Horns Save Them?

Here's an intriguing video to say the least. It follows the efforts of John Hume, a man living in South Africa who happens to own five percent of the world's rhino population. Hume sued the government in South Africa to legalize the sale of rhino horns, arguing that if you sold them on the open market, it would bring the number of rhinos killed by illegal poachers down dramatically. It seems that when removed safely and properly, the horns will grow back, and the animal won't be killed. Could this be the answer to saving Earth's engendered rhino species?

National Geographic - The Last Rhinos from Brian Dawson on Vimeo.

Video: Paddleboarder Has a Close Encounter with a Whale

We've seen some close encounters with wildlife in some of the videos I've posted in the past, but this one just might be the most impressive of all. In this clip, paddleboarder Lukas Reilly is followed by an Orca whale, who is very curious as to what is floating on the surface of the water. So much so that it appears that the whale actually taps the back of the board that Lukas is standing on. Fortunately, this wasn't one of the larger Orcas out there, and it seems its curiosity was satiated very quickly. Still, quite an amazing experience for sure.