Table of contents for May 2014 in Outside

TRASK BRADBURY Bradbury worked as an industrial rigger for 15 years, but he never had a project as interesting as this one: suspending a slackline between two hot-air balloons so “Sketchy” Andy Lewis, of 2012 Super Bowl halftime-show fame, could walk between them. “The first time we tried it, the weather was too dicey to set up the line,” says the Colorado Springs photographer, who captured this shot last February, 4,000 feet above a dry lake bed outside Las Vegas. “But by the second go-round, the conditions were flawless. We spent the whole day up there while Andy and his team traversed back and forth.” THE TOOLS: Canon EOS 60D, 15mm f/2.8 fish-eye lens, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/640 second KLAUS THYMANN Last August, while documenting glaciers in the Arctic Circle…

WHETHER YOU’RE HEADED TO NEPAL, HITTING THE ROAD WITH THE FAMILY, OR STRIKING OUT ON A SOLO WEEKEND, THESE TIPS WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU PLAY THE GLOBE-TROTTER >Stay Hydrated Stop buying bottled water abroad and filter tap water instead. The Grayl is like a French press for hydration: fill the stainless-steel cup and plunge the inner filter sleeve down to remove 99.99 percent of bacteria (and viruses, with an added purifier, $40). Drink straight from the cup or screw on the lid to keep for later. $70 with filter; thegrayl.com >Roam Smart The usual work-around for roaming fees is to buy a pre-paid SIM card incountry. But in most places, a $10 card will get you only about 30 minutes of talk time and 500MB of data. The better…

OUR FAVORITE ADVENTURER TALKS ABOUT HIS GO-TO CAMERAS (LESS IS MORE), CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER (FLEXIBILITY IS KEY), AND POSTING TO INSTAGRAM (SHOW SOME RESTRAINT) “THE MOST IMPORTANT experiences in your life are the ones that change how you look at the world,” says Jimmy Chin. He should know—the 40-year-old alpinist and filmmaker has had plenty of them. Fifteen years ago, Chin was living out of his Subaru. Then he traveled to Pakistan’s Charakusa Valley, took some astonishing photos of the expedition, and attracted the interest of North Face climber Conrad Anker. Before long he was sponsored by the gear maker and shooting for National Geographic, distinguishing himself as someone who could publish terrific photos and video in real time. In 2010, he cofounded Camp 4 Collective, a production group…

THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO SEE OUR NATIONAL PARKS THAN STARING AT OLD FAITHFUL OR CRAWLING IN YOSEMITE’S TRAFFIC Walk on Water GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, MONTANA This million-acre wilderness contains 131 named lakes—deep, sparkling remnants of the ice sheets that sculpted the park’s peaks and valleys. Ever since Sonny Schierl opened the first paddleboard shop here, you can actually get on the water instead of just admiring it from shore. Rent boards, life vests, and paddles from Great Northern Raft Company, near the park’s west entrance ($60; greatnorthernresort.com). Then ply the ten-mile lake’s open water and sheltered coves or navigate the mild Class I–II Middle Fork of the Flathead, which forms Glacier’s western boundary. To get into Glacier’s wild backcountry, rent an inflat able board ($60) and pack it three…

FROM TERMINATORSTYLE CYCLING SHADES TO EARPHONES THAT TRACK YOUR EVERY MOVE, WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY PROMISES TO CHANGE THE WAY WE TRAIN. BUT WHEN WILL THE REALITY LIVE UP TO THE HYPE? BUZZING ALONG in a feisty double pace-line on a Tour de France–worthy BMC on a crisp morning in Scottsdale, Arizona, the hump of Superstition Mountain looming on the horizon, the moment seemed right. I raised my finger to my sunglasses, gave a delicate swipe across the optical touch sensor, and began filming. Reviewing the footage later that evening, I witnessed one of the least epic cycling videos ever made: about seven seconds of the shadow of my passing finger, then my view repeatedly jerking over to Tyson Miller, the product director for Recon Instruments, riding on a neighboring bike, my…

THE VOLCANIC REMAINS AT THE HEART OF ANIAKCHAK NATIONAL MONUMENT—THE LEAST VISITED SITE IN THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM—ARE A TRIPPY MISHMASH OF POSTAPOCALYPTIC CINDER CONES, HARDENED LAVA, AND FLAMECOLORED WALLS. THE ONLY CATCH? DOING IT RIGHT INVOLVES DAYS OF TREKKING AND RAFTING THROUGH SOME OF THE PLANET’S TOUGHEST, MOST BEARHEAVY TERRAIN. CHRISTOPHER SOLOMON TAKES THE PLUNGE. J JIMMY’S STORE IN PORT HEIDEN, population 102, stocks all the staples of Alaskan bush life, at bush prices: $14 cans of Folgers, $7.50 packs of sunflower spits, something called the Jerky Master. And on the wall, hanging from a nail: very large steel leg traps, without price or explanation. “You’re goin’ up there today?” Jimmy asks from behind the counter, in what passes for a formal greeting. Jimmy’s gaze trails across the ample…

MINIMALIST? CHECK. MAXIMALIST? DOUBLE CHECK. FAST AND LIGHT? ALWAYS. TRAIL-RUNNING SHOES NOW COME IN A WIDER VARIETY THAN EVER. HERE ARE THE BEST OFF-ROAD PICKS FOR EVERY RUNNER. 1. Vasque Ultra SST $170 Think of it as a long-distance loafer. Vasque’s Ultra SST is a pullon, maximalist foam monger—it smothers sharp rocks underfoot but still boasts quick turnover. Despite the double-thick helping of cushion, the ride is firm, which also makes it a more efficient shoe. The bootie-like upper with a ratcheting cable lace couldn’t be more comfortable, but since it’s mostly braced by stretchy padding, it can feel insecure on tricky terrain. Where the Ultra scores big is on epically long, slow cruises on flat trails. 10.6 oz; 6 mm drop; vasque.com 2. New Balance Zero v2 $110 With…

“WHAT YOU GOTTA DO IS FILE THE TIP OF THE SIGHT OFF, SO IT WON’T HURT SO MUCH WHEN THE BEAR SHOVES IT UP YOUR ASS.” —AN ALASKAN NAMED JIMMY ON WHY A .44 MAGNUM IS INADEQUATE FOR DEALING WITH THE LOCAL WILDLIFE, PAGE 86 Hook-Up Culture In case you haven’t heard, wearable technology is having a moment. Wrist-based fitness trackers that monitor everything from your sleep patterns to your daily activity rate are everywhere. You can now buy ski goggles with heads-up displays that project your downhill speed and your latest texts as you carve fresh powder. And coming soon: running-shoe insoles and moisture-wicking shirts that chart your vital performance stats while you race. This month, we dispatched Tom Vanderbilt to try out one of wearable tech’s most hyped…

THE MODERN MINIMALIST’S GUIDE TO BUILDING A SECOND HOME —F.R. A DECADE AGO, creating your own permanent field dwelling meant calling in a construction crew or spending years felling logs and piecing together a cabin that was “rustic” at best. Then prefab homes expanded into the cabin space and everything changed. Today there are dozens of options at a range of prices. KitHaus is one of a growing number of companies making lodgings that can be moved around. Its prefab K4 requires no foundation and comes flat-packed in pieces small enough to be carried by hand to a secluded spot (from $25,000; kithaus.com). Made of recycled aluminum and sustainably harvested wood, the KitHaus can be assembled in a few days. Decks, canopies, louvers, air-conditioning, and a photovoltaic system for solar…

NOW MORE THAN EVER, IT’S NOT AN ADVENTURE UNLESS YOU CAPTURE IT ON CAMERA. HERE’S HOW TO DO IT RIGHT. —G.S. THE PERFECT SHOT is the one that makes you look like a badass and can be quickly posted on social media. Whether you’re snorkeling through powder, running rapids, mountain biking, or diving off a cliff, the principles for capturing the moment remain the same. And no one has mastered them quite like Lee Cohen, the 55-year-old Alta, Utah, photographer whose action images have graced countless ski-magazine covers over the past 30 years. (And let’s face it—the ski-hero shot is the best hero shot.) Here are Cohen’s rules to shoot by. Get the timing right. “You want to be out there when the light is not too bright,” says Cohen.…

IT’S A CONCRETE JUNGLE, BUT SNEAKING IN A WORKOUT IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK. HERE’S AN ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO THE BIG APPLE. TRAIL RUN Central Park Yes, it’s cliché. But the 1.5-mile cinder track around the reservoir is arguably the greatest urban run in the world, with majestic skyscraper views at every step. ROAD RUN Hudson River Greenway The five-mile stretch of smooth asphalt from Battery Park to 59th Street offers incredible people watching and a light breeze off the water to keep you cool. SWIM The Sports Center at Chelsea Piers The 25-yard pool has a wall of windows that look out on the World Trade Center. $50 per day for pool and gym access; chelseapiers.com ROAD RIDE Palisades Parkway Starting just south of the George Washington Bridge, the…

NOBODY GOES TO TIMBUKTU, RIGHT? PATRICK SYMMES DID, TO DISCOVER WHAT HAPPENED WHEN JIHADI REBELS SET OUT TO BURN ONE OF THE WORLD’S FINEST COLLECTIONS OF ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS. BOUNCING AROUND BY TRUCK, BOAT, AND BOOTS, HE GOT AN INTIMATE LOOK AT WEST AFRICA’S MOST MYTHIC LOCALE. P PEOPLE DRESS LIKE kings and queens in the capital of Mali, even in the dirt streets on the far side of the river. The women walk down mud lanes wearing immaculate gowns with puffed shoulders, gold detailing, and beadwork. The dudes are natty, too, in safari suits, crisp officeboy outfits, or the grand boubou, the national robing that makes any man walk like a giant. Only the heroic boys everywhere—young teens carrying loads, pushing groceries, directing trucks—go around in recycled jeans and T-shirts.…

THE BORDER BETWEEN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN IS A LAWLESS NO-MAN’SLAND WHERE VIOLENCE AND SUFFERING ARE RAMPANT, AND NO ONE HAS IT HARDER THAN THE REGION’S 21 MILLION PASHTUN WOMEN. THEIR MODE OF REBELLION? POWERFUL, OFTEN VICIOUS SHORT VERSES THAT EXAMINE LOVE, WAR, DEATH, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. JOIN ELIZA GRISWOLD ON A LITERARY RAID IN THE HEART OF TALIBAN COUNTRY. A A PLACE ONE CAN never return to grows in the mind. In mine, wind scours a scree field; a long-haired man peers down between the crenellations of a mud watchtower; a woman dozes on a wooden bed in an enclosed courtyard. The steep V of a mountain pass marks a half-remembered, half-imagined map. This is the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, where there are few roads and many bandits…

THE ULTIMATE FLY-FISHING STICKS FOR ALL KINDS OF ANGLERS BEST FOR: DRY-FLY CASTING 1. Scott Radian five-weight Hyperfast action rods—those that flex at the tip and load faster—are all the rage. With the Radian, Scott follows the trend without producing a finicky, fussy caster. The remarkable feel, along with titanium guides and a Portuguese-cork handle, allow for tight loops even in wind. 8’6", 9’, 10’; $795; scottflyrod.com BEST FOR: SALTWATER 2. Orvis Helios 2 ten-weight Orvis describes this rod as “a featherlight war club that defies the laws of physics.” That’s laying it on a bit thick, but during a test trip in pursuit of stripers off Montauk Point last fall, we found the Helios 2 a perfect choice for big, salty game—lightweight, easy to use, forgiving for its strength,…

THE $3.5 BILLION PEER-TO-PEER INDUSTRY HAS FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED THE WAY WE TRAVEL. WANT TO MOVE IN A BIG GROUP, SCORE A LAST-MINUTE DEAL ON A LAKE HOUSE, OR RENT A SWEET BIKE DIRECTLY FROM THE OWNER? USE THIS PRIMER. >Fly In the future, Clear, a private company that offers expe dited screening to get you through security checkpoints in minutes, will be the way to fly. But right now, it’s available in only nine airports nationwide. That’s why WhatsBusy, which crunches historical data to determine TSA wait times in 98 air ports, is the smart choice when catching a flight. whatsbusy.com Flight tracking, airport maps, and last-minute car rentals are available via GateGuru. The best tool, however, is a list of terminal restaurants and bars, their rankings, and a map…

TIMELESS SKILL Make a Gourmet Meal Over a Fire Just because you’re camping doesn’t mean you have to settle for mac and cheese. You can make an enviable wilderness paella with some planning and a little luck. All you need is a 17-inch cast-iron skillet, a fishing pole to catch three pan-size trout, a handful of mushrooms, a shotgun to rustle up some grouse breast… OK, that’s a lot. But the effort is worth it. 1. Heat enough water in the skillet to steam two packets of Rice-A-Roni, then set the cooked rice aside in a bowl. 2. Fry four pork andouille links, allowing the fat to coat the pan. Once cooked, move them to the side of the pan. 3. Coat three freshly caught trout in cornmeal. Add them…

WHETHER YOU’RE SKIING THE BACKCOUNTRY OR NAVIGATING A CITY BIKE LANE, STAYING SAFE IS A MATTER OF BEING AWARE AND HAVING THE RIGHT TOOLS. AND IT’S EASIER THAN EVER, THANKS TO THESE FIVE SMART NEW INVENTIONS. —F.R. 1. BLACK DIAMOND HALO 28 JETFORCE Target audience: skiers, snowboarders The Jetforce is a quantum leap over other avalancheair-bag systems for one simple reason: it uses a built-in fan rather than a oneshot gas canister for inflation. That means you can deploy the pack up to four times before the battery needs recharging. And since the Jetforce doesn’t use canisters, which explode under pressure, you can fly with it on powder-hunting trips. $1,100; blackdiamondequipment.com 2. ICEDOT CRASH SENSOR Target audience: cyclists, skiers Mount this Bluetooth-enabled, gyroscope-equipped sensor on the back of any helmet,…

THE BEST TOOLS FOR LEARNING ANOTHER LANGUAGE THERE ARE A FEW things at which Americans are decidedly bad. Among them: political cooperation, science education, and speaking languages that aren’t English. Only 18 percent of us are fluent in anything other than the native tongue. Meanwhile, half of our European counterparts are multilingual. The good news is that, contrary to popular belief, there’s no expiration date on the brain’s ability to add to its discursive stock—even if it’s just enough to order dinner. “It’s a myth that you stop learning a language effectively after your teenage years,” says Michael Geisler, vice president of Middlebury Language Schools. Here are three easy-to-use tools to help you get beyond “Estoy tonto.” How It Works Best For Downside Languages Cost DUOLINGO In this app and…

SOME OF THE WORLD’S SCARIEST WAVES ARE EXPLODING OFF THE COAST OF NAZARÉ, PORTUGAL, AN ANCIENT VILLAGE KNOWN MAINLY FOR ITS FISHING FLEET. LEADING THE CHARGE TO CONQUER THEM IS CONTROVERSIAL NORTH SHORE GUNSLINGER GARRETT MCNAMARA, WHO WON’T STOP UNTIL HE’S TAMED AN ELUSIVE MONSTER HE CALLS BIG MAMA. BY BILL GIFFORD A AT FIVE IN THE MORNING, there’s water in the streets of Nazaré. Dark and swirled with sand, it comes racing across the wide beach and into the town square, wetting the shoes of latenight revelers and lapping against the monument to the mulhers, the long-suffering women of this ancient Portuguese fishing village. You can’t see the waves yet, but the surf roars like a 747, echoing off the cliffs to the north. Big Mama is here. An…

PERFECTLY PACKABLE GEAR—STARTING WITH A TOUGH AND TINY SURFBOARD TRAVELING with surfboards is a chore. They’re bulky and fragile, and you have to bring more than one to accommodate whatever the ocean throws at you. Enter the Timbertek Baked Potato. Made from a standard EPS blank wrapped in three millimeters of sustainable paulownia wood, it’s both stronger and lighter than a traditional board. The Potato builds on the recent trend of highvolume, shorter boards designed for the average guy but ups the performance factor, so it can be surfed in waves from knee-high to overhead. Despite its chubby profile, the turned-down rails combine with a deep V in the bottom to allow for super-smooth rail-to-rail transitions. And a rounded diamond tail and wide-set fins give the board drive without letting…

FOUR SHELLS TO KEEP YOU AHEAD OF SHIFTY SHOULDERSEASON WEATHER BEST FOR: HIKING IN A STORM Mountain Hardwear Super Light Plasmic Even the most breathable hard shells trap moisture and, during extended outings, can make you feel like you’re wearing a slimy garbage bag. The Plasmic minimizes that effect with a system of channels that wick away sweat and speed evaporation. When skies clear, the 7.7-ounce jacket easily packs down to the size of an iPhone. $200; mountainhardwear.com BEST FOR: ROAD BIKING Sugoi HydroLite Anyone who’s been caught in a frigid deluge during a road ride will immediately understand the utility of the midweight (10.6 ounces) HydroLite. The stretchy fabric is laminated with polyurethane for extreme water resistance, while pit vents and an adjustable draw cord at the waist allow…