The sky flashed white, and in a single instant, the whole herd dropped dead. So did their caretaker. Mike Morgan, a longtime Colorado rancher, was feeding his cattle at the time of the strike on Saturday, May 25, and did not survive. While these kinds of lightning-induced mass-casualty incidents are fairly common, the tragedy was the first of its kind in Colorado.

Morgan was standing in the back of a trailer, and the cattle had bunched around him to feed. The close proximity of the animals likely made them particularly vulnerable. Morgan鈥檚 wife was leading horses to the trailer at the time, while her father was driving the trailer鈥檚 tractor. Both individuals remained uninjured.

George Crocket, a local coroner, that it was the worst lightning strike he鈥檇 ever seen in the area. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen horses get killed, but it鈥檚 usually one at a time,鈥� he said.

How Can a Single Bolt Take So Many Lives?听

This isn鈥檛 the first time a lightning strike has instantaneously dropped an entire herd. In fact, lightning accounts for about 80 percent of accidental livestock deaths, according to USDA data.

鈥淚t is not unusual to have a large group of animals felled by lightning,鈥� Steven Clark, the president of the Lightning Data Center at Lakewood鈥檚 St. Anthony Hospital, said in a . 鈥淢ore often than not, it will be a ground current. In other words, the lightning will hit an object on earth, and the current will flow through the ground and kill the animals.鈥�

Ground currents happen when lightning strikes the landscape and then continues to travel along the surface of the earth. Since human and animal bodies conduct electricity better than soil does, lightning tends to travel through their bodies instead of the ground whenever possible.

Farm animals like cows are among the likely to be affected. For one thing, they鈥檙e four-legged. That orientation means a current can travel through the ground, up the creature鈥檚 forelegs, and down its rear legs. Along the way, the electrical current must pass through the animal鈥檚 heart.

Cows also tend to huddle together, which increases the chances that a bolt of lightning flowing through ground will be able to before the electrical charge has time to disperse and weaken.

Lightning-induced livestock deaths aren鈥檛 always reported. But reports that do come in usually include 10 to 30 animals. Sometimes, cases are even more extreme. In 2016, a herd of more than likely lost their lives to lightning in Norway. Since lightning generally strikes the earth as opposed to a specific target, ground current was the likely cause.

What鈥檚 the Takeaway for Hikers?听

Agricultural workers鈥攊ncluding ranchers, migrant workers, and fieldworkers鈥攁re more vulnerable to lightning than almost any other population on the planet. This is especially true in areas of the world where there鈥檚 little to no shelter from storms. While the Colorado incident is a sobering reminder of the dangers farm workers face, it also bears some important takeaways for outdoor recreationists.

Hikers are often told they鈥檙e safe from lightning as long as they鈥檙e not standing on a ridgeline. That鈥檚 one of many . This strike took place on flat ground鈥攁 reminder that nowhere outdoors is entirely risk-free during a storm. The strike also happened on a summer afternoon鈥攁 time notorious for thunderstorms in the Rockies. This critical 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm window is when of injurious lightning strikes happen in Colorado.

The other takeaway is the danger of ground strikes as opposed to direct strikes. In this case, the bolt probably didn鈥檛 come down on Morgan鈥檚 head. Instead, a ground current was the likely culprit of the deaths. Ground currents are hard to predict or control, and yet they鈥檙e responsible for of lightning deaths and injuries. So, just because you鈥檙e not standing next to a tall object, doesn鈥檛 mean you鈥檙e safe.

Lightning strikes only kill about 10 percent of the people they hit. Still, often comes with its own challenges. So, if you hear or see a storm coming, do your best to get out of the open and under tree cover as soon as possible. And remember, the only way to guarantee safety is by taking cover in a hard-sided building or a vehicle.

The post A Single Lightning Bolt Just Killed 34 Cows in Colorado appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Free dog treats are usually a welcome gift for pet owners鈥攂ut a recent sabotage attempt in Pennsylvania marks a notable exception to that rule. At least a dozen fish hooks were found embedded in treats along the Appalachian Trail yesterday, in an apparent attempt to injure or kill unsuspecting pets. Officials made the discovery in the Lehigh Gap area near Slatington, Pennsylvania, and immediately issued a warning via social media.

鈥淎ll treats that were found have been removed, and authorities have been notified,鈥� wrote the Lehigh Gap Nature Center in a recent . 鈥淗ikers with pets should use caution on the Appalachian Trail around the Lehigh Gap.鈥�

The post was shared more than 7,000 times in 24 hours, and Lehigh Gap Nature Center disabled the comment section after conversations became heated.

In a , Chad Schwartz, executive director of the nature center, said this part of the trail sees heavy traffic this time of year. He expressed surprise at the apparently malicious intent behind the planted dog treats and said this is the first time any such activity has occurred within the Lehigh Gap Nature Center. He remains hopeful that this will be an isolated event.

Unfortunately, this isn鈥檛 the first time that malicious booby traps have been set along the Appalachian Trail. In 2016, a hiker discovered a along the Pennsylvania State Game Lands 305 section of the Appalachian Trail. The board seemed to have been set as a trap to harm visitors to the area. In 2019, in Wilkes-Barre, a different part of Pennsylvania, when he rode into a rope, which had apparently been slung across the trail to flip cyclists.

This also isn鈥檛 the first case of trailside attacks targeting pets. In 2022, hikers discovered hidden along a trail in Idaho. In previous years, poisoned meatballs, contaminated ground beef, and other forms of bait have taken out pets in nearby areas.

Right now, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is keeping an eye out for further incidences of fish-hook-filled dog treats, and authorities are actively searching for the perpetrators. No dogs have been reported injured at this time. They鈥檙e encouraging anyone with additional information to report it to 1-888-PGC-WILD.

In the meantime, locals are encouraged to keep pets on the leash鈥攁nd to regard any freebie treats with caution.

The post Someone鈥檚 Setting Booby Traps for Dogs on the Appalachian Trail appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

We all know that running makes humans healthier. Lace up a pair of shoes and, before you know it, you鈥檙e experiencing a boosted , stronger body, higher bone density, and enhanced overall wellness. In many ways, running provides athletes with a fountain of youth.

But running with your dog further maximizes those perks, allowing you to further capitalize on your time on the trail. It鈥檚 easy to write this idea off, claiming that , so, of course we鈥檇 love our doggy trail runs more than our solo runs. However, current research shows that owning and recreating with a dog not only boosts mental health, it also boosts your physical strength and fitness. After looking into the details, here鈥檚 what else we know about the benefits of running with your dog.

1. Dogs Create Accountability to Get You Out the Door听

that spending time outside has largely positive impacts on the human mind, helping to calm anxiety and depression while boosting concentration and attention. It turns out that owning a dog increases the amount of time that you spend outside. In fact, dog owners have been shown to spend the amount of time exercising than non-dog owners. Plus, your running gets a huge boost when you grab your pet and hit the trails.

British runner and coach Holly Stables, a former elite international marathoner and mountain runner, said that sometimes the UK鈥檚 weather makes her want to train inside, but being a dog owner forces her to get outside. 鈥淪ometimes I want to go on the treadmill,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut I can鈥檛 because I have to take the dog out.鈥�

She added that running with your dog is likely to make the pet stronger, which can be both a blessing and a curse. Once they reach that peak level of fitness, they need to more regularly blow off steam, making you even more accountable to getting outside.

Stables said that her dog is easily as excited to get out the door as she is (more on this later), a sentiment he conveys by sitting at the bottom of the stairs while she puts her running shoes on, which makes it really difficult to choose to leave him at home. However, finding the balance between taking your dog on a run and prioritizing your training can be tricky.

鈥淚 think having a dog to run with, especially if you run a few times a week, is perfect. If you鈥檙e training really hard, it can be tricky,鈥� she said.

For some runners, owning a dog might be just what they need to create a regular routine. Those who operate on a strict training schedule might find balancing doggy runs with training to be challenging. Or, in Stables鈥檚 case, sometimes she鈥檒l take her dog out for the first few miles before dropping him off at home and continuing her journey.

Jeffrey Stern, a California-based runner and coach, agrees that owning dogs is more likely to get him out the door. 鈥淚n my experience, most dogs want to get out and play and walk. It definitely keeps you active,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he daily walk, or even the daily double, is pretty non-negotiable. One of [my dogs] doesn鈥檛 like the rain; the other doesn鈥檛 mind the rain. But they鈥檝e gotta get out. So even if we鈥檙e not running we鈥檙e walking or hiking. That鈥檚 definitely one of the benefits of having dogs鈥攜ou can only be lazy to a point.鈥�

RELATED:

2. Dogs Can Positively Impact Your Speed

Dog breeds and personalities vary widely, which means the effects of running with them may vary, too. Some dogs might be willing to sustain a fast pace for large chapters of time, while others might struggle with pacing or simply refuse to speed up.

Stern finds that his dogs increase the fun factor, and they often drive him to run faster. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 run with them every day, but on the days I do we鈥檙e definitely moving,鈥� he said. They add to his motivation, which can be a helpful tool on speed runs. 鈥淥n days when I want to run fast, I鈥檒l take them. They kind of know one speed until they drop (which is kind of the opposite of my training principle). I don鈥檛 think pacing is their strong suit.鈥�

Stern鈥檚 dog鈥檚 relentlessness can be both a powerful tool and an Achilles鈥� heel. While the quality helps him increase his pace in some situations, it can be difficult to get his dogs to slow down their pace, which is why he鈥檒l leave them home on moderate runs.

RELATED:

3. Having a Dog Improves Your Heart Health

Dog lovers almost immediately experience the feel-good release of oxytocin upon seeing a pup. Being around dogs not only makes many people happier, it also has a positive impact on their cardiovascular health.

A that evaluated 3.4 million people between the ages of 40 and 80 with no history of heart disease found that dog owners had a 15 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Additionally, dog owners are less likely to die of heart-related conditions like strokes and heart attacks.

Not only do dogs seem to have a direct impact on heart disease, but they鈥檝e also to decrease heart rate and blood pressure in humans, meaning that they likely reduce stress and anxiety in conjunction with reducing heart disease risk factors.

Many of these benefits are reciprocal, meaning that dogs that run also experience a reduction in cardiovascular disease, too, while boosting joint health, respiratory function, and immune strength. And since dogs are also highly attuned to their owners, reducing your own anxiety and stress levels can help you to lower your dog鈥檚 levels, as well.

RELATED: How Running with My Dog Makes Me Feel Braver

4. Dogs Experience Runner鈥檚 High, Too

Finally, you鈥檙e not the only one that experiences the runner鈥檚 high. Dogs also , according to a study that was published in the Journal of Experimental Biology. Like the human endocannabinoid high, the dog鈥檚 runner鈥檚 high can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, leaving them in a better state of both physical and mental health, which can lead to longer lives.

Additionally, running with your dog not only makes them feel good, but it also seems to increase the human-pup bond. 鈥淢y first pointer was the love of my life from the time he was a pup. They鈥檙e very willful. They can really test you. When I started running with him, he just clicked. He wanted to be with you. It was so cool to see,鈥� said Stables.

While, admittedly, there isn鈥檛 a wealth of research that evaluates whether people who are more inclined to own a dog are simply more active, there does seem to be a link between dog ownership and wellness. The benefits of running with your dog extend beyond the experience of joy. They encapsulate everything from enhanced fitness and health, to more feel-good chemicals and positive mental health outcomes.

Do you want to hold yourself accountable to spending more time on trail? Are you looking for ways to improve your overall health? Chances are that taking a pup out might help. Although the specific benefits of running with your dog are varied, the movement certainly contributes to better overhaul health, consistency, and accountability for both you and your furry friend.

RELATED:

The post Running with Your Dog Is Good for Your Health, According to Science appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

There鈥檚 a line of toddlers riding the magic carpet to the top of the bunny hill in front of me, and I feel out of place. I鈥檓 six times their age, and I probably know less about skiing than they do. But I don鈥檛 feel comfortable riding the lift to a green run yet, so I stagger into line, crossing my skis as I go. Being a beginner at 30 years old and learning to ski as an adult is slightly embarrassing, but I鈥檝e been cooped up in the cabin for way too long.

For most of my life, I鈥檝e sprinted inside at the first sign of snow, knowing that I鈥檇 spend the coming months living at a slow pace. But last year, after a few weeks of hibernation, I decided I needed a hobby that gets me outside if I鈥檓 ever going to tolerate the sub-freezing temperatures of the Rocky Mountains. I headed to Eldora鈥攖he closest ski resort to my Colorado cabin鈥攐n a warm winter morning.

I鈥檇 been hesitant to get into skiing after watching听friends听rehab serious injuries for six-plus months, and I wasn鈥檛 sure the fun was worth the risk. However, as a rock climber, I knew that risk is often calculated and that I could take my time on the slopes.

The snow was like glass, glimmering under the sun and causing me to gain momentum faster than I wanted to as I attempted my first run down the bunny slope. Unsure how to stop, I bailed and fell on my side. My face turned pink when I noticed a few adults looking at me, but I managed to swallow my pride and go again. After a few runs on the bunny hill, focusing on balance and making mellow turns around the kids, I started to get the hang of the motions. I decided to test myself on a green run soon after, managing to ride the lift without incident. Peering down the slope, I wasn鈥檛 so sure I could make it to the bottom in one piece. But I had committed to giving it a shot, so I started sliding. I made my first turn, looking out for speedsters behind me. Then I made another, and started to catch some speed as the wind whipped through my hair. After just a few minutes, I had done it, and I was over the moon. For the first time all day, it felt like I was in control of the skis instead of the skis being in control of me. Just like that, I was hooked. And I suddenly understood exactly why Coloradans can鈥檛 wait to see the sky erupt with flakes of fluffy snow.

Over the following months, I went skiing as many times as possible. Whenever a friend asked, I tossed my gear in my rooftop box and headed to the resort, where even on the busiest days I found joy on the mountain. Mountains have always brought me solace, and I felt so lucky to learn听a new skill among the pine trees.

With every visit to the resort, I fell down less. I started to love the perspiration that beaded on听my forehead in between runs. The ice that formed in my hair made me feel like a mountain goddess.听I started to recognize the workers at the resort, waving as I swiped my pass. By the end of the winter, I was also way less fatigued from each day of skiing.

I never expected to find myself here, in love with this sport. I was also surprised by how comfortably I adapted to the culture of skiing. It feels like my skis are a secret key to a community of people that prioritize fun and exploration. While some people use the weekends as a restful opportunity, skiers recharge by hitting the slopes. And I just feel like a strong, happy version of myself while on my skis鈥攅ven when it鈥檚 freezing.听I still don鈥檛 care for the cold, but I can tolerate it if it means that I get to participate in an activity that I like. And, while I never expect to master the sport, I know that it gives me something to look forward to doing when the temperatures dip again. This winter, I鈥檒l see the snowflakes falling from the sky as an opportunity instead of the bane of my existence.

Learn to Ski As an Adult: 3 Tips to Get Into It

Getting into skiing as an adult is really hard. Most of my friends were either already competent skiers or they had no desire to ski at all, so being a beginner definitely felt lonely at first. But it was so worth it鈥攂ecoming a skier has totally shifted my perspective on the winter, giving me something to look forward to doing instead of preparing to hibernate. Here are a few strategies I implemented to make the process easier.

Don鈥檛 Underestimate the Value of Ski Lessons

Adults simply aren鈥檛 as fearless as kids. While you can spend many hours learning about the basics of skiing on YouTube or TikTok, how-to videos won鈥檛 replace the one-on-one engagement a ski lesson provides. A single ski lesson will teach you the basic movements required to get you down beginner slopes safely. And it鈥檒l likely dive into control and teach you how to slow down. While some athletes may be able to learn some of these key movements outside of a lesson, it typically takes longer and can result in poor technique. Buying a package of lessons could be a good strategy if you鈥檙e truly looking to become an expert, but most people find that just one lesson does the trick.

I didn鈥檛 take a real lesson before my day of flailing around the bunny slope, but after that I harnessed a friend who鈥檇 previously taught ski lessons to help me get the basics under control. And I would absolutely recommend working with someone who knows what they鈥檙e doing to avoid injury.

Get Proper Ski Gear

Skiing is expensive. If you鈥檙e not certain that you want to dedicate the next decade to improving your skills, renting your gear can be a good strategy. This also allows you to try out multiple models of boots and skis, which can also be helpful if you decide to get your own setup.

Just because older generations suffered through ski days while wearing jeans and cotton T-shirts doesn鈥檛 mean that you have to. I started to ski with the intention of making my way to the backcountry once I felt competent and safe, so after I knew I was committed to skiing, I splurged on gear that would keep me warm everywhere and last for many years. My first shell and pants set was the JackWolfskin 听and pants, which easily function in both a resort and backcountry setting and weigh much less than the similar options from competing brands. I also found that investing in an extra-warm pair of mittens like the went a long way when it came to staying comfortable in extreme temperatures.

A helmet like the is a must-have asset for those who want to protect their most valuable resource. This helmet uses a lightweight protective system to disperse energy away from the head in the event of impact, while also optimizing comfort during use. And, of course, there are goggles. As one of the more affordable pieces of ski gear, most new skiers are quick to buy a pair of these (even if they intend to rent everything else). The key is finding a product that doesn鈥檛 fog up, and that protects your eyes no matter the weather conditions. One good entry-level pair of goggles is the , which comes without the frills, and gives you that well-loved anti-fog coating. While fancy goggles might give you better optical enhancement and more versatile lens options, the Dragons are all that most beginners need to get started.

Eventually, I also landed on the Elan Ripstick Skis for the same reasons that I gravitated towards backcountry-enabled clothing. This is a ski that can handle both resort and backcountry skiing, which was my priority. But if you simply want to get really comfortable skiing at a resort, you might opt for a slightly more affordable but bulkier clothing setup and a sturdier ski. Don鈥檛 be afraid to find an expert in a shop to answer any additional questions you might have. 听are great resources for those who feel overwhelmed about finding the right system to accommodate all-season use.

Skiing Has a Steep Learning Curve. Don鈥檛 Get Discouraged.

Not everyone is quick to fall in love with skiing. It鈥檚 a really challenging sport, and adults have a tendency to think they鈥檙e terrible at something if they don鈥檛 get it the first time. While you don鈥檛 necessarily need to become a ski master to enjoy recreating in the winter, I found that skiing felt more gratifying that dabbling in sports like snowshoeing because of its fast pace. Before you know it, you鈥檒l be riding the lift from first thing in the morning until the resort closes, leading you to liking (or even loving) the winter.

The post I Hated Winter Until I Learned to Ski appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Runners are known for putting their gear through the wringer, pushing items like shoes, socks, and clothing to their limits. Thus, durability can often be a main factor driving runners鈥� consumer behavior. A current trend across the outdoor industry is investing in gear that uses sustainable manufacturing alternatives and eco-friendly recycled materials to create a greener industry. But it鈥檚 here, at this intersection of durability and eco-conscious production, where tests have shown that recycled products are , often turning out to be less 鈥渟ustainable鈥� than manufacturers intend because of how quickly they have to be thrown away. How do we, as runners, navigate this?

Longevity Versus Recyclability

In order to support truly green trail running gear, some manufacturers have begun to focus on longevity in conjunction with recyclability. Because, while recycling is used as a strategy to reduce the industry鈥檚 carbon footprint and keep materials out of the landfill, recycled materials aren鈥檛 always necessarily made to last and, therefore, aren鈥檛 sustainable. As with most everything, it鈥檚 complicated.

鈥淚t is proven that longevity is a crucial factor within circularity. Keeping durable products in use for longer helps reduce the environmental footprint caused by new production,鈥� says Martina Lux-Arenz, global footwear strategic marketer for GORE-TEX.

While 100 percent recycled products often in durability compared to their virgin counterparts, one way to change this reality is by using material blends. 鈥淥rthoLite insoles contain a range of recycled content, from 5 percent up to 98 percent,鈥� says CB Tuite, chief sales officer for OrthoLite, a company that produces high-performance running insoles. 鈥淩eusing post-production waste is part of our 鈥榮ecret sauce鈥� With our recycled formulations, our head chemist has found a way to effectively blend both virgin and recycled chemistry to deliver the highest-performing sock liner technologies.鈥�

The main drawback with this strategy is that some blended materials are much harder to recycle, which therefore causes disruptions to true sustainability downstream.

The Costs of Eco-Friendly Production

If you go to your favorite running brand鈥檚 website and compare the cost of a recycled pair of socks or shoes with virgin ones, you鈥檒l notice that there isn鈥檛 much of a price difference.

Often it costs manufacturers more to create recycled products than virgin products, so many of them are taking a hit on profits to create greener alternatives. Recycling is extremely labor and energy intensive. Recycled materials have to be cleaned, shredded and melted. Virgin materials, on the other hand, skip a few of these steps, making them more affordable to make.

鈥淰ariability of raw [recycled] materials vary to a greater degree when compared to virgin material. This requires more testing and also requires us to build in some additional buffers to compensate for possible variability of such raw materials. This additional effort in quality control increases the cost of making the products, but we strongly believe there is value to include this in our product strategy,鈥� says Lux-Arenz.

鈥淭he demand is increasing for recycled raw materials, so the supply is still lagging which can cause modest pricing differences,鈥� says Alex Lauver, senior director of Materials Innovation and Sustainability for Outdoor Research. 鈥淲hen creating a new product, this small difference is easier to mitigate but established, legacy collections sometimes see a bit of a cost increase that needs to be offset. We either take a bit less margin or we have to slightly increase the retail [cost].鈥�

What鈥檚 more is that many brands assume the risk of adopting recycled products. Brands like GORE-TEX apply their 鈥済uaranteed to keep you dry鈥� promise, even their recycled running jackets, meaning that the consumer doesn鈥檛 assume the financial risk of supporting recycled products.

To better understand the relationship between eco-friendly and durability, we put three product categories鈥攕hoes, socks, and insoles鈥攈ead to head to see how they differ.

Shoes, Socks, and Insoles

SHOES: AllBirds Trail Runner SWT Versus Brooks Divide 3 Trail Runner

Running shoes are one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions in the outdoor space. The typical pair of running shoes produces of carbon emissions from its inception to the end of its life. The manufacturing process is the largest contributor to this figure. (Comparatively, the standard pair of socks produces of CO2.)

While brands like Brooks have been able to reduce that figure by nearly , by turning to bio-based solutions, there鈥檚 still a significant problem; most recycled running shoes still end up in the landfill because they are manufactured in a way that makes it impractical to recycle them.

Brands like AllBirds take things a step further by manufacturing carbon-neutral products that offer a consistently high performance. And since AllBird shoes are made with merino wool, eucalyptus, and sugar cane, it鈥檚 easier to break the shoe down after it鈥檚 reached the end of its life. They also intend to double the lifespan of their shoes by 2025, reducing the need for further production. While attempting to reduce overall production isn鈥檛 exactly the most intuitive business model, it does seem to support sustainable running solutions.

The Trail Runner SWT is one of AllBirds鈥� most durable shoes, and it manages to achieve a lifespan of 8-10 months of moderate use depending on the number of miles athletes put on them. The Brooks Divide 3, while not specifically known for its sustainable properties, takes a classic shoe and allows runners to get about 500 miles out of it, leaving us with a potentially longer-lasting shoe. The price point of the AllBirds Trail Runner is slightly higher than the Divide, too, costing $140 instead of $100. But it doesn鈥檛 lack in quality or integrity that would contribute to premature deterioration. Due to their carbon-neutral practices and simple material construction, the AllBirds Trail Runner SWT has a slight edge over the Brooks Divide 3 when it comes to sustainability.

SOCKS: Darn Tough Quarter Ultra-Lightweight Running Sock Versus Girlfriend Quarter Crew

Darn Tough socks are famous for their lifetime guarantee; they鈥檙e arguably the most durable sock option on the market. With sustainably sourced wool, these socks can last for thousands of miles. But since they utilize a blend of wool, nylon, and lyrica, they can be somewhat difficult to recycle.

Comparatively, the Girlfriend Quarter Crew Sock is made out of plastic bottles and a small amount of spandex. Pricewise, the virgin fiber Darn Tough socks are slightly more expensive than the Girlfriend socks, costing $19 per pair as opposed to $14. They can also be swapped out for a new pair at no cost to the consumer. And they will likely outlast the Girlfriend socks in a high-performance environment.

While materials like wool are highly recyclable on their own, it becomes more impractical to recycle those materials when they鈥檙e blended with something like polyester, unless they are repurposed or upcycled for things like cushion filling. Both Darn Tough and Girlfriend socks use blends, so the difference boils down to longevity and cost, even if the marketing campaigns claim that their socks use 鈥渉ighly recyclable materials,鈥� which makes Darn Toughs a top contender.

INSOLES: Tread & Butter Versus Superfeet Run Support High Arch听

Tread & Butter is a climate-neutral certified brand that鈥檚 best known for its cork running insoles. The brand鈥檚 insoles are made in Portugal at a plant that uses cork dust to partially run the plant. These insoles, though lesser known among runners, are both built for performance and marketed to the sustainably-conscious, eco-friendly consumer. Compared to petroleum-based plastics and EVA, cork is far less energy intensive. But as a lightweight material, these insoles could wear faster than plastic alternatives.

Comparatively, Superfeet Run Support High Arch insoles come with durable components like a carbon fiber cap. They also have a lifespan of about a year, depending on the level of activity. Since the average insoles last anywhere from , Superfeet鈥檚 Run Comfort insoles do a good job of pushing the limits of durability.

Tread & Butter insoles cost $39.95 to $49.95 while the Superfeet Run Support High Arch insoles cost $54.99. Tread & Butter insoles are likely easier to recycle, but Superfeet鈥檚 Run Comfort insoles may take the take when it comes to longevity.

The Bottom Line:

Most consumers are willing to shell out a bit of extra cash for a plant-friendly, eco-friendly product, but even we have limits. Studies show that when a product cost becomes 20 percent higher than the industry standard鈥檚 cost, only about of consumers will opt for the recycled option.

In the end, labeling gear as 鈥渟ustainable鈥� suggests that manufacturer鈥檚 have made it to the end of the road, and greenwashing is too often used to motivate buyers to invest in a specific product. Without having access to a brand鈥檚 transparent manufacturing and recycling processes, it can be difficult to determine whether or not recycled gear is truly sustainable.

鈥淐onsider second听use or donating your shoes rather than throwing them away,鈥� says Lux-Arenz. 鈥淭ry to maximize the longevity and durability of your shoes through regular wash and care in order to minimize the carbon and environmental footprint.鈥�

The post Can 鈥淓co-Friendly鈥� Running Gear Also Be Durable? appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Last week a 200-foot hand crack appeared overnight near Yosemite鈥檚 Royal Arches cliff. The splitter was quickly climbed and named 鈥淪uper Natural鈥澨齜efore park officials closed the classic area.

The park鈥檚 closure notice : 鈥淩ock climbers recently reported a new crack in a cliff on the western side of Royal Arches, near the climbing route 鈥淪uper Slide鈥�. Subsequent investigation revealed that this crack has partially detached a large pillar of rock, and that cracking was actively occurring. As a precautionary effort to reduce risk from rockfall, the National Park Service is implementing a temporary area and trail closure while the area is investigated further.鈥�

the eastern part of the Ahwahnee Hotel Parking area, extending to the east side of the Royal Arches Creek, the Serenity Crack and Super Slide areas, including Peruvian Flake to the Rhombus Wall, and the Ahwahnee Boulders east of and including the Ahwahnee Boulder.

Jesse McGahey, a Supervisory Park Ranger at Yosemite National Park, told Climbing: 鈥淲e learned about this [new crack] from a Yosemite Mountain School guide who had climbed up there on August 6th and did not see the crack. And then he climbed it on August 20th and the crack was there. And it was a finger-tips to one-inch sized crack 200 feet long or so.鈥�

Initially, park officials put a notice on Mountain Project but didn鈥檛 issue a formal closure until the area could be further evaluated: 鈥溾�he following week a climbing ranger and a geologist observed it firsthand and they could hear it cracking like a frozen lake that wasn鈥檛 consolidated,鈥� McGahey said. 鈥淎nd there were pieces of rock rattling down the crack without touching it. The park geologist said they鈥檇 never seen anything like this. He鈥檚 never been able to observe that in his 15 years in Yosemite.鈥�

Previous reports from park officials , 鈥淕reg Stock, the park geologist, is currently working on a monitoring plan to see if any more shifting or movement happens with this newly formed crack. Greg and a seasonal climbing ranger recently climbed Super Slide to observe the new crack and heard continuous creaking noises and witnessed many rock chips falling out of the crack. Since its FA, it has expanded over an inch in the past week. It鈥檚 hard to predict if this massive piece of stone will fall in the next week, this winter, or last many years. We will keep everyone updated through the climbing stewards Instagram account and other park media platforms with the most current information and results of the geological surveying.鈥�

As of this morning, the crack had grown in length by an additional 12 feet. 鈥淚t also widened. In a lot of places where you had a tip finger crack, it had widened into baggy ring locks,鈥� said McGahey.

Rockfall is relatively common in the Yosemite Valley. The park鈥檚 records show that more than 1,000 significant rockfall incidents have taken place over the past years. It is partially due to this natural process that the park has its unique features. Factors like changing temperatures, moisture levels, and vegetation shifts can contribute to rockfall. Associated injuries and deaths are rare, but not impossible.

According to McGahey, there have been several rock-fall related incidents this year: 鈥淲e鈥檝e had a fatality, and at least three other accidents that required rescues involving rock failure 鈥揳ll human caused, induced either from people pulling a block off or someone leaning against a block.鈥�

In , two visitors were struck by rockfall after debris came loose just below Union Point and tumbled to the valley floor. And a nearly 50,000 cubic feet slab of rock came loose on Middle Brother, accounting for the largest incident of the year.

Yosemite鈥檚 scientists regularly study the threat of rockfall within the park boundaries, utilizing tools like high resolution photography, and laser mapping to assess risks.

McGahey reminds visitors that: 鈥淚t鈥檚 an evolving and ongoing situation and we will continue to monitor it. It鈥檒l remain closed due to the fact that it鈥檚 an active crack, and we are observing further propagation or growth of the crack. And also keep in mind that climbers can encounter rockfall on any route in any area of Yosemite.鈥�

The post Rangers Scramble to Restrict Access to a New Crack That Appeared Overnight in Yosemite appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Chafing often happens when you least expect it, causing distress and irritation on runs that are typically enjoyable. Ranging from mild to severe cases, failing to tackle the issue as it arises can cause infections without treatment. For this reason, it鈥檚 usually better to stop and deal with the problem before it grows.

I’ll never forget the first time I dealt with chafing. I was on a long run following the Appalachian Trail, and the air was thick with humidity. By the time I stopped to look at my irritated skin, it was already red and inflamed. After stubbornly fighting my way to the top of another peak, I gave in and asked my friend to lend me their maximum-strength a popular household product used for infants with diaper rashes that old-school runners have adopted as their own.

They鈥檇 been using it for miles, swearing by its ability to soothe the chafe. I squished the contents of the tube into my palm and slathered the cream all over my hips and thighs. In seconds, parts of my body that were previously swampy and covered in salt were dry and cool. It was the perfect cure for the endurance chafe, drying my skin long enough to churn out a few more miles.

This was my first run-in with raw hips, but it wouldn鈥檛 be my last. Although I usually scraped by on short trail runs without any serious chafing, I continued to struggle with friction on longer days. I quickly found a stick of Body Glide and found that it wasn鈥檛 long-lasting enough for me to love it.

The burn haunted my dreams, driving me to find lasting solutions by trying everything, from coconut oil to soothe the burn after long days in the wilderness to deodorant when I鈥檇 forgotten the magic butt paste. Some solutions worked, while others only made the situation worse.

Here鈥檚 what you need to know to prevent desperate chafing mishaps:

Four Chafe Fails, and How to Avoid Them

Chafing is a condition of the skin that occurs with repeated skin on skin contact. The friction of the rubbing can cause small abrasions in the skin, worsening in effect with moisture and the wrong fabrics. The result of this type of rubbing is painful, and it鈥檚 often difficult to continue running once the chafe has begun.

Chafing happens at the worst possible time, leaving you desperate to find solutions. To manage the problem, you might start out by ignoring it. When that doesn鈥檛 help, you start to wonder if slathering a packet of goo on the problem area might provide enough relief until you can make it home. But the sting of the solution only worsens the pain, driving you to hate the sport that brings you joy. So don鈥檛 get caught doing these things if you want to avoid the worst run of your life.

Chafe Fail #1: Use Peppermint Chapstick

A few years after my Appalachian Trail run, I found myself jogging down the Colorado Trail when the chafe appeared. My thighs rubbed together, screaming in rage, but I was still ten miles away from my car. I pulled the material of my shorts over the chafed area, hoping that it would reduce the friction on my thighs. It kept creeping upwards, leaving my skin unprotected. Then, I changed my gait, attempting to reduce the skin-on-skin contact.

Finally, I pulled a little tube of chapstick out of my pocket and slathered it on my thighs. I figured it鈥檇 work like Body Glide, reducing the friction on my thighs. But then my skin started to tingle. The peppermint scent glided into my nostrils, and I knew I鈥檇 made a huge mistake. The faint burn turned into a raging fire, furthering my misery.

Do This Instead:

Try Body Glide. The first Body Glide was originally developed in 1996 by a surfer who got tired of the neoprene neck of his wetsuit rubbing against his skin. This irritation drove him to develop a plant-based product that would tackle the neck discomfort without damaging his suit.

Today, Body Glide can be found in most sports shops, giving runners access to an hour reprieve from chafing. It鈥檚 a great option for short, wet runs since it works effectively for about an hour before it needs to be re-applied. (Some testers found it lasted longer than an hour.)

Adopt Fancy European Products. If you鈥檝e never heard of , it鈥檚 time to give it a test. Not only does this solution help to reduce friction and rehydrate the skin, but it also lasts two to three times as long as products like Body Glide. This Swiss-based product was first released in the 1940s for cyclists, but due to its effectiveness, it has been adopted by endurance athletes across the world.

Invest in Butt Paste, Baking Products, or Anti-Monkey Butt Powder. Chafing occurs because of repeated skin-on-skin contact and moisture, causing small abrasions in the skin. Since babies experience the same type of rubbing from diapers, manufacturers have been searching for 鈥渄iaper rash鈥� solutions since disposable diapers first appeared on the shelves.

The first diaper rash creams were developed in the early 1900s, and they typically used some form of petroleum jelly. Desitin, the first widely used diaper cream, hit the shelves in 1919. About 20 years later, Johnson & Johnson started adding zinc to its own diaper rash cream to enhance its healing properties.

Today, babies and runners alike rely on products like , which helps to dry you out while creating an added barrier over the skin to reduce additional irritation and prevent moisture from accumulating in the area. And it takes just a small amount of the solution to begin to treat the problem.

Another potential chafing solution can be found in most household baking cabinets. Mothers and grandmothers have been using cornstarch on babie鈥檚 bottoms for decades. And now runners do, too. Cornstarch helps to reduce moisture in both food and on your skin, aiding in the treatment of your discomfort. even suggests that cornstarch has antibacterial properties, which could prove helpful in the elimination of infections.

Finally, the is a beloved anti-chafing product because it helps to reduce moisture in the impacted area, but it also contains calamine to help the chafed skin begin to heal. While most anti-chafing products deliver short-term results, the Anti-Monkey Butt Powder is designed to provide relief long after you鈥檝e applied it.

Pack Deodorant. This might sound silly but some runners find that applying a layer of deodorant to chafe-prone areas helps to reduce friction, resulting in less chafing. Although this strategy isn鈥檛 likely to produce long-lasting results, it may help runners in a pinch.

Chafe Fail #2: Wear Highly Absorbent Clothing Like Cotton

We鈥檝e all heard the adage that 鈥渃otton is rotten.鈥� When it comes to chafing, this concept certainly applies. Cotton can be a great material in dry environments because it鈥檚 airy and loose. But it can also absorb 24 to 27 times its own weight in fluid, which makes it a poor companion on humid or wet runs.听 And the more swampy your clothing becomes, the more likely you鈥檒l end up with raw thighs and hips.

Do This Instead:听

Use the Right Fabrics. Instead of wearing cotton, chafing-prone athletes often benefit from using moisture-wicking materials like wool, nylon, and polyester. These materials are naturally moisture wicking, which supports long-term dryness even on the longest trail runs. And fabrics like nylon and polyester can also enhance movement by reducing friction, leaving your skin feeling comfortable and fresh.

RELATED: How To Run Through A Hot Summer

Chafe Fail #3: Choose Jean Shorts

While some looney toons might be confident enough to run a race while wearing jean shorts or canvas, most runners find that this type of attire is quick to cause chafing. As the skin moistens, it becomes soft and more pliable than usual. Regular rubbing from those cute cowboy shorts can then slice through the skin like warm butter.

Do This Instead:听

Wear Protection. Every runner鈥檚 body is different, which means that no single fix will cure chafing for all. But many runners find that changing their clothing choice and testing it before their long runs helps to reduce chafing. Some of the most effective clothing types may include moisture-wicking clothes, anti-chafe bands that can be placed around chafe-prone areas of the body, and longer shorts with anti-slip technology. For example, the , comes with interior silicone grippers to keep the legs from sliding up as you run. Some runners also swear by nipple guards.

Get Creative with KT Tape. Although most of us think of Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape (KT Tape) as a tool that鈥檚 used for swelling and muscle support, it can serve another function. Those who experience bra or shorts chafing can apply a layer of KT Tape to the affected area, to reduce additional friction while they run. Since the material of your clothing is likely to just absorb butt paste and body glide, KT Tape may be a better solution in these situations.

Chafe Fail #4: Jump into a Body of Saltwater or a Hot Shower

Chafing rashes are basically a combination of abrasions and heat burns, which can create a lot of post-run discomfort. Without proper treatment, they may get infected, impacting your training regimen over the following weeks. Jumping into a saltwater or taking a steamy shower after your run will likely exacerbate the symptoms.

Do This Instead:

Take a Cold Shower. Apply substances like aloe vera, coconut oil, and rash creams to the affected area to provide additional relief after runs. And switch to cold showers to reduce skin irritation while the chafe begins to heal. This helps to minimize the pain while the body does its magic.

Bottom Line?

After a decade of trail running, I鈥檝e found a few strategies that kick the burn when I start to feel it. I pack Butt Paste any time I know I鈥檒l be out for a long day. But every once in a while, the chafe catches me unaware, leaving me wondering why I didn鈥檛 come prepared with one of these no-fuss chafing solutions, since I know it could save me from misery.

The post How to Absolutely Chafe on Your Next Run (and What to Do Instead) appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

On Sunday, the mercury rose to the first triple digit temperatures of the season in Phoenix. This weekend鈥檚 102-degree measurement is the earliest in eighty years.

Triple-digit temperatures are not uncommon in Arizona, but averages in Phoenix usually stay below 100 degrees until early May. The last time Arizona saw 102-degree temps this early in the year was in 1943. Arizona鈥檚 early-season highs could indicate that the state is in for a warm summer, which could make the hiking season a particularly treacherous one.

Over the weekend, the state鈥檚 temperatures and high winds led to a fire warning for most of southern Arizona. The heat didn鈥檛 keep hikers away from popular trailheads, though. Instead, they piled into the Piestewa Peak and Camelback Mountain parking lots, filling them by 7:30 A.M. Although the day passed without incident, hiking these popular trails in triple-digit temperatures often results in rescues.

In 2021, the city of Phoenix to close these popular trails during excessive heat warnings issued by the National Weather Service. The program ran from July to September and results were almost immediate. Over the course of the 2021 season, rescues in the region decreased to 81, a 19 percent decline from 2020. In 2022, they decreased by an additional nine percent.

Closing down these popular trailheads seemed to help to keep more hikers safe: 鈥淟ast year, in the first full summer of our trail closure program, during excessive heat days, we only had 18 days where the trails were closed. Since the pilot program, we have seen a decline in the number of rescues,鈥� Adam Waltz, the public information officer for the city鈥檚 parks and recreation department, . It isn鈥檛 yet clear whether the heat closure program will begin early this year.

Waltz has some words of advice for those who love to hike in every condition: 鈥淧lease know your limits. Maybe turn around, do an easier hike. Hydration starts the day before. Really make sure you鈥檙e drinking lots of water.鈥�

Hiking in hot conditions doesn鈥檛 only risk the health of hikers; it also puts first responders in danger. Taking steps like checking the forecast, bringing extra water, and wearing sun protection can help to limit some risks associated with heat exposure.

These triple-digit temperatures come just weeks after the due to snow damage. While some hikers hoped to delay their Rim to Rim trips until later in the spring, local outfitters and park officials suggested that the Rim to Rim season might be a wash due to Arizona鈥檚 quickly rising temperatures.

Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that Phoenix typically doesn鈥檛 record a 100掳F day until June; in fact, the average first 100-degree day is in early May, according to the National Weather Service.

The post Temperatures Are Already Soaring on Arizona Trails appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

This article was first published by .

One couple even landed a helicopter in a field to check out the flowers.

Located 60 miles east of Los Angeles, the town of Lake Elsinore decided the coming super bloom was such bad news that it closed one flower-peeping hotspot鈥攁nd all of the trails running through it鈥攗ntil the natural phenomenon subsides.

Located in Riverside County, Walker Canyon is an Instagram-ready flower-peeping hotspot in spring, when fields of orange-red California poppies blanket its slopes and miles of trails. During the 2019 super bloom, visitors who were hoping to snap photos of the display swarmed the canyon and Lake Elsinore, parking along narrow roads and blocking traffic. Hordes of visitors wandered off-trail and picked flowers, causing damage that still hasn鈥檛 regenerated. It wasn鈥檛 long before officials began referring to the situation as a 鈥渟afety emergency.鈥� because of issues like . Amplified traffic forced city employees to increase their workload, straining personnel. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told a news conference that his office had to conduct 鈥渕any rescues鈥� of unprepared and inexperienced hikers

reported Mayor Natasha Johnson said that while the 2023 bloom wasn鈥檛 shaping up to be nearly as brilliant as the one in 2019, the town would still close the canyon and cite anyone found entering or parking in the area.

鈥淭he last time was like out of a movie,” Johnson said. “There was not a neighborhood that wasn’t impacted by the gridlock. Our five freeway exits into the city were jammed. The freeway was completely stopped, with people getting out of their cars. Our first responders were having challenges getting through traffic. Our residents did not have a quality of life for several weeks. The flowers were beautiful, but the scene was a nightmare.”

Superblooms, though often referred to as once-in-a-decade events, may be becoming more frequent. They have the tendency to draw crowds of all levels of outdoor experience, which often spells trouble for the local environment. Many less-experienced hikers contribute to plant trampling in their attempts to get in on the wildflower selfie action. On one occasion, a group of visitors even in a field of poppies to get in on the action.

If a superbloom does occur this year, there are some ways that hikers can reduce the impact that higher numbers of visitors will put on these destinations. Taking steps like following principles鈥攊n particular planning ahead, walking only on designated trails, and packing out garbage and human waste鈥攁re vital to the preservation of these places.

Going out of the way to respect local infrastructure is another way visitors can take steps to reduce their impact. Superblooms often appear in multiple parts of the state of California during wet years; Instead of heading to over-traveled hotspots similar to Lake Elsinore, visitors can follow the superbloom as it travels north to towns that are either more equipped to handle an influx of visitors or less traveled. Crucially, following local rules around parking and camping can help ensure access restrictions like those in Lake Elsinore don鈥檛 become more commonplace.

The post The Super Bloom Is Returning to California. One City Has a Plan to Curb the Selfie Seekers. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Earlier this month, an unidentified 54-year-old-man died in an apparent fall in Death Valley National Park. Leading up to the discovery, a campground host first noticed a tent that remained standing past its due date. Rangers left a note in the tent, attempting to contact the tent user. A day after failing to connect with the visitor, officials returned to remove the property from the site and found technical gear within the tent.听

After the discovery, the rangers recalled seeing a vehicle at the Mosaic Canyon trailhead a few days earlier. Officials returned to the trailhead, and ran the plates on the vehicle. The plates matched the campsite registration information, prompting a rescue attempt.听

The National Park Service, Inyo County SAR, and the Inyo County Sheriff鈥檚 Office teamed up to search for the missing man. Eventually, they located his body within the west fork of the Mosaic Canyon canyon.听

At the time of the extraction, rangers and SAR members noticed that the man鈥檚 rope was too short for his rappel. A spokesperson, Abby Wines, told Climbing, 鈥淭he rope was not long enough for the doubled ends to reach the ground. What he did when he was part way down the rappel was he had webbing in his pack and he tied it to the ends of the rope to make a loop. So it鈥檚 still double strands but there were two knots to pass. It appears that in passing that knot, that鈥檚 when he fell.鈥� Officials estimate that he fell about 30 feet.听

Wines added:鈥淚t鈥檚 really rare for single canyoneers to come to Death Valley. And it鈥檚 not a good idea. Having another couple people with him probably would鈥檝e prevented this. [A group] probably would鈥檝e had more than one rope.鈥�

While the death was canyoneering related, rappelling off the end of the rope is one of climbing鈥檚 constant killers. In the Death Valley accident, the rope ends were knotted, but the rappeller had to unclip from the rappel to pass the knots to get to the tied-on slings. Adding slings to lengthen a rappel rope is a tactic that can be used with success, but the rappeller has to stay attached to the rope鈥攖ying a prussik around both rope strands might have worked, but it鈥檚 impossible to know whether the victim had a sling suitable for a prussik. Alternately, if he had had prussik material and enough slings to fashion a foot look, he might have been able to prussik up the rappel rope and find an alternate route.

The Death Valley accident wasn鈥檛 the only recent incident of its kind. Last year, at least four canyoneering deaths took place in the United States. while rappelling in Arizona鈥檚 Sierra Canyon after the rock anchor blew, which resulted in a 25-foot head-first fall. Andrew Arvig rappelled past an anchor in Utah鈥檚 Heaps Canyon and was unable to ascend back to the anchor. Cassy Brown lost her life to a fall after her rope got stuck in Utah鈥檚 Mystery Canyon. Evidence suggested that she attempted to ascend the stuck rope, which came undone. And in January of last year, Justin Ibershoff lost his life in Death Valley鈥檚 Deimos Canyon after being struck by a canyon slide.听

In a news release, Wines stated: 鈥淲e recommend that anyone going into the backcountry lets someone know their plans. The park doesn鈥檛 track the 1.7 million people that visit each year.鈥� She added: 鈥淭his man was not reported overdue, and the search did not start in time to save his life. A satellite communication device also could have been a lifesaver.鈥�

The official cause of death of the man has not yet been determined, but will be evaluated by the Inyo County Coroner鈥檚 Office.听

The post A Fatal Accident in Death Valley Prompts Officials to Warn Solo 国产吃瓜黑料rs appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.