Helmets And Boots And More

We still have this Rossignol youth ski/snowboard helmet.

It is a beautiful girls helmet that is filled with hearts, flowers and pinkness, and it is in perfect condition.

Last October a friend of ours came out from Alabama.

One of our local friends took the guy out on a packing trip deep in the mountains in the Northfork.

Our southern friend had little experience horse back riding and spent the entire trip terrified of falling off his beautiful horse Buddy .  In his typical redneck Alabama accent our friend spent an hour after returning safely to the house, excitedly talking about the narrow trails, the steep mountains, the fear of rolling down the side of the mountain if Buddy lost his footing.

The guy was on an adrenaline high for the rest of the evening.

He took this picture of Buddy looking out over the mountains while he was sitting on a rock on the side of the trail, eating a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch. 

A good, solid pair of Lacrosse insulated boots.

They're tough, rugged and in very good shape.

About a month ago a lady brought a slew of fleece neck warmers and hats in and asked us if we wanted to sell them in the store.

They are all hand made and come in a variety of colors and patterns ranging from hunters orange to camo to happy faces and plaids.

Look great and stay warm with one of these great fleece pieces.

We have a wide selection of great looking womens' technical clothing at OAR.

This includes a great selection of sleeveless tops.

They're great for all your warm weather outdoor activities.

But they are also great for those ladies who choose to take their workouts indoors when the wind blows, the snow flies, and the temperature drops.

If you love your spin and yoga classes, love your indoor track and treadmill workouts, and look forward to daily elliptical workouts through the winter, stop by and see what we've got.

The one-of-a-kind table is still sitting in the store.

Made entirely of reclaimed driftwood, antlers, and rope, and topped with brand new clear Plexiglas, it is a beautiful table.

The guy who made it brought it into OAR a few weeks ago, and has sold similar tables all over the western section of the United States.

We're happy to have it at our store (but would really love to give it a new home!).

Stop by the store soon and see what great gear we have in stock.

Let your next adventure begin at OAR!

Island Of Misfit Gear

After 8 weeks in business, OAR is quickly turning into The Island Of Misfit Gear

We've got everything from gun holsters and bow cases and fishing rods, to base layers and Columbia jackets and sleeping bags.

We've got skis and boots and fleece tops. 

In baskets and on stands we've got neck warmers and ear warmers and gloves and hats.

I picked up a Columbia down hunting jacket the other day (reversible - camo and hunters orange, full zip and storm flap). 

It is now hanging on a rack beside a Winchester hooded and fleece lined camo hunting jacket, and a Cabelas camo hunting jacket.

And that's only a small sample of what we are beginning to collect.

When I think back on the past couple of weeks, we have sold a variety of gear that included ice skates, antique snow shoes, an elk cook book, a gun rack, a Campmor fleece, and a Columbia winter jacket.

Pictured above are the following:

1.  Pair of Fischer cross country skis

2.  Tsunami sweater

3.  Oxygen Element 580 snowboard (152) - without bindings, has a few scratches but no major dings, and graphics on both sides are still in great shape

4.  Large framed black and white picture

Drop by the store to check us out, and if you have gear just gathering dust in your garage that someone else could make use of, consider consigning it and giving it a new lease on life. 

Our winter hours are Wednesday through Saturday 9am-5pm.

Dana Design Pack

A Search and Rescue guy came into the store today and was talking to me about his long-owned and beloved Dana Design pack.  He told me that the internal padding had crumbled and wondered if it could be repaired.

After discussion he told me that he would bring it into the store for me to look at, because I knew someone locally who "may" be able to repair it.

After he left I took a look on the Dana Design website and yes.........sure enough they have a lifetime warranty on their packs.

I didn't get our visitors name but he did grab one of our OAR business cards, and told me that he would check out our website and blog.

So......if "Search and Rescue Guy" sees this post, please contact Dana Design directly to see if they will repair or replace:
http://danadesign.com/

It may not work, but it's definitely worth a shot.  If you don't have any luck with them please bring your pack into the store and we'll see if we can get it repaired locally.

New Life For Gear In 2013

I picked this guy up just today.

He is a 100th Anniversary Teddy Roosevelt bear.  When you press his paw a voice tells you the history of Roosevelt's hunting trip, that was the inspiration for the very first "teddy bear".  He is absolutely adorable.

These Walls Blizzard Pruf coveralls are in excellent shape.

I bought these Cat Eye bike lights many years ago.  They were the first set of lights I bought when I started Adventure Racing back in the early 2000's and they still work perfectly (although the black shells on the lights have a few nicks and scratches).   

Handlebar brackets are included.

This familiar icon makes up part of the base of a metal candle holder, and the Trek youth bike helmet has been in the store since the day we opened.  It needs to GO already!   Somebody please come buy this thing!

We have lots of great gear at OAR and we're accepting consignments from outdoor adventurers.

Packs, trekking poles, hiking boots, bikes, boats, hunting gear, and more - we are accepting gear related to anything people love to do when they head outside.

If you received great new gear for Christmas, bring your old stuff to OAR. 

Please consider sharing your old (but still functional and in great shape) gear with someone else in the community.

Give your old gear new life in 2013, rather than letting it sit and collect dust in your attic, closet or garage! 

Undertrained And Running A 50K - A True Story

I had been trail running consistently for a few years as one component of adventure racing training. 

After a tough year of illness, serious injury and divorce I decided to run a trail 50K.

I had never run that distance before and although I had spent a lot of time on trails it had been too sporadic.

I was under trained for that distance and weak mentally from too many "life hits" that had happened in such a short period of time.

And in reality that was why I needed to run the 50K.

Because I WAS under trained.

Because I was still sick.

Because I was mentally weakened.

Because it would hurt.

And I wanted to know if I could find the mental and physical energy to dig deep enough to finish the run.

Was I tough enough to finish it?

Or wasn't I?...................

I was making good time and felt solid and strong, but kept trying to hold myself back anyway not wanting to go out too fast.

Not wanting to implode.

I was totally in the zone, enjoying the run, life was good.

 I was fine for the first 18 miles.

By the time I hit 19 everything in my lower body began to cramp.

I was on medication and could not take anything for the cramping and everything only continued to tighten up more and more with each passing mile.

Over the next few miles running became shuffling became limping became walking.

Everything in my lower body was one continuous tight muscle and my good and solid run became a thing of the past.

People passed me and I continued to struggle to walk.

One step in front of the other one step in front of the other one step in front of the other...........

Runners had eight hours to complete the course if they wanted to be counted among official finishers.

I had to cross a field, maneuver across a shallow stream and then hit the final section of single track to the finish.

I made it to the single track, looked up and through the trees I could see the very large digital clock at the finish line counting down the time.

With alarm I saw that I had 1:47 left to go.  One minute forty seven seconds to make it an official finish.

I started to kick it in and something that I could only call magical happened.

I started to run faster and then faster and then faster still until I was sprinting.

I was running just as fast as I could and I saw people at the finish line clapping and cheering me on.

I crossed the finish line, slowed down, stopped and then leaned forward and rested my hands on my thighs, trying to catch my breath.

I had no idea if I had made it or not.

As I was still trying to breathe a guy came running down the hill yelling at me so excitedly you would have thought he had just won the lottery.

"Do you know what your time was??  Do you know what your time was??"

I looked up at him breathlessly and said "No - what was it?

7:59:59

True story............

A few pictures of my favorite trails.

They are located in middle Tennessee and I spent many years trail running, navigating and mountain biking on these trails in every kind of weather.  I knew every inch of that place.

Across the road from the extensive trail system is a huge reservoir and I also spent many years exploring every single cove by kayak..............

I surreptitiously left this trail gnome one day at the entrance to the mountain bike trails, because in middle Tennessee it is almost tradition for all trails to have a gnome (to bring safety and good luck to those who travel the trails) and I thought that my trails needed one too.

This little guy has sat in exactly the same place for the last four years............

Jamie

Me and my very sweet pup Jamie during a hike at Elk Fork Campground a couple of weeks ago.

My dog is 12 1/2 years old and I've had her since she was about five months old when she just showed up on my doorstep out in the country in the middle of winter.

She LOVES to hike trails.

James has hiked extensively in Tennessee, Alaska and Wyoming with me, and although she is beginning to slow down just a bit these days, she is still my very best and favorite hiking buddy!

1.  For anyone who catches this in time, I'm being interviewed on KODI 1400 AM tomorrow morning (8:40am-9am).

A great opportunity to keep getting the word out about OAR!

2.  Thanks so much to the Park County Nordic Ski Association for inviting me to speak at their board meeting on Monday.  It was great to meet these wonderful folks, who are committed to providing quality Nordic ski opportunities for people of all ages in our area.

http://www.nordicskiclub.com/

3.  Thanks to Pizza On The Run for graciously offering to place fliers about OAR on their next 400 pizza boxes!

http://pizzaontherun.com/

4.  Finally thanks to the Absaroka Outdoor Fellowship.  I met with one of their folks when she dropped by the store yesterday and spoke with their coordinator last night.  So good to meet and touch base with like-minded, outdoor loving people.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Absaroka-Outdoor-Fellowship/161993147264620

It's very exciting to meet people in Cody who are so welcoming and supportive of our new business.

We appreciate everyone so much and hope that OAR can find ways to continue to partner with these great organizations.

A link to the upcoming Winter Hiking seminar.  It's scheduled for next Wednesday January 16:

http://outdooradventuresrevived.weebly.com/special-events-and-promotions.html

If you want to learn how to safely hike during the winter please give us a call to register for this free seminar.

Choosing The Right Snow Skis

 

A great beginner article on choosing the right skis.  Learn more at Customskis.com: http://www.customskis.com/2011/09/Buying-Snow-Skis.html

How To Choose the Right Snow Skis

Shopping for Skis Can Be Mind Boggling.
Choosing the snow skis for first-time skiers can be intimidating, but with the right guidance and assistance, purchasing one can be easily pulled through. It is very important to note that there are different snow skis for different type of skiers.

Taller and heavier skiers may require different ski as with lighter and shorter ones. Back in the old days, skis can be so large making it difficult to get you the right balance. But nowadays, snow skis are made to fit the person who is going to use them, smaller skis are known to be faster and more stable.

Snow Skis for Different Ages and Gender

If you are a man, then pick snow skis that are made for your gender. This is the basic consideration to think about when buying the skis. Men and women have different ski types to use because of the difference in body built.

Women's skis are built lighter and flexible to compensate for body weight, the same with children who need to get equipment that matches their own height and weight. The height and weight of the skier is the determining factor in getting the right and proper ski length, they need to be proportionate so that everything is well distributed.

Skills And Styles

The type of snow skis also differ depending on what level the skier is, and it is not practical to get one that is beyond or below the skill level you are currently in.

Try to stay away from the thought that you can buy a ski that is beyond your level thinking that you might improve later on.

For beginners, for instance, the ski needs to be at least shorter by an inch or two than the body. Intermediate skiers need a ski that is closer to their height, while those advanced skiers must choose a ski with an added length, from five to ten centimeters.

For the expert skier, you might consider Custom Skis that are manufactured to your exact specifications and the type of skiing you will be performing

Longer skis move faster so that if you need speed, go for the longer one to help you float during skiing. Below is a guide to be used in getting the right skis:

- Skis should be just tall enough to hit the skier's chin or eyes or in between.
- Mountain skis should stand between the nose and forehead.
- Free ride skis should be eye level or a little taller.
- Freestyle skis must be nose level.
- Back country skis are the widest and biggest and the size depends on skiing level

OAR has great quality skis, ski boots, helmets, and ski/snowboard clothing from base layers to jackets, gloves and hats.  We also have a great Main Frame snowboard (with Salomon bindings) for sale.  Check us out!

                                   

Winter Hiking

Last weekend my Mountain Boy, my sweet old dog Jamie, and I walked trails at Elk Fork Campground in Wapiti.  The trail on one side of the river follows the ridge line and we stayed on it for about 90 minutes before bushwhacking (yes.....through the snow, while at the same time encouraging, cajoling and dragging our doubtful pup) down to the river.  We crossed over the mostly frozen river and picked up more trails on the opposite side. 

The day was unbelievably sunny and freezing cold, but we had an awesome time hiking and exploring in the mountains.  With so much snow, we could see animal tracks everywhere - big horn sheep, elk, mule deer, wolf, even buffalo tracks.  This was one of the most beautiful hikes I have taken since we arrived in Wyoming well over a year ago.  Elk Fork Campground is only about 25 miles from downtown Cody, but it felt so isolated it could just as easily have been hundreds of miles from town.  What a GREAT day!

If you want to learn more about how to hike safely in the winter, plan on attending our free seminar in a couple of weeks.  The details:

QUIT HIBERNATING - HEAD OUTSIDE THIS WINTER
An Information Seminar
With all of the outstanding trails in the area, if you're spending the winter bundled up indoors you are missing out on something special!  Plan on attending our seminar on how to safely hike in the winter.  Info will include clothing (as the old saying goes, "there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices!"), gear you shouldn't leave home without, safety, fitness, food, hydration and more.
Whether you want to hike for an hour or all day, this 90 minute seminar will arm you with the information you need to safely enjoy the outdoors even when it's cold outside!

COST:  donation of canned or dry foods - All goods collected will be donated to the Cody Cupboard:  http://codycupboard.com/ 
DATE:  Wednesday January 16
TIME:  5:30pm-7pm
REGISTRATION:  Those planning on attending must register by Saturday January 12 (just call, email or drop by the store to let us know you plan on attending - it's that simple!)
LOCATION:  At the OAR store
WHAT TO BRING:  A chair to sit on and lots of questions