Book Review: Lou Ureneck's 'The Cabin,' Building the Perfect Backwoods Sanctuary

As long as I can remember, I've held the idea of building a little shed deep in the woods in the back of my mind. It's one of those wouldn't-it-be-nice ideas, something I don't know I'll ever do, but love to think about. It's a romantic idea, a beautiful idea, and a chance to live out my own version of Walden. Lou Ureneck took his dream to build a cabin in the woods and made it a reality.

The Cabin is a thoughtful, moving account of a man desperate to find something meaningful in an otherwise melancholy state of existence. We meet Lou during a period of near despair; he loses his job, his mother, his wife, and his connection with the outdoor world after having lived in Boston for ten years. Like many of us, Lou was in deep need of something to give his life a renewed purpose, something to shake him out of the rut he found himself in. To reawaken his passion and hopes for happiness, he turned to nature.

Guest Post: A Guide's Perspective on the Good, the Bad@ss and the Ugly from the 2012 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market

Guest post author JB. (E Sagalyn)

In today's post, SWS Mountain Guides Senior Guide James Brown (JB) reports back from his weekend at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Salt Lake City. In addition to a book signing for his co-authored Climbing Mount Shasta, due out soon, JB had time to look around and scout out some great gear.

For five days every winter, the entire outdoor gear world descends upon Salt Lake City, Utah in an annual ritual involving everything from testing out the latest in apparel technology to sustainability seminars.  The Outdoor Retailer Show draws all the equipment buyers and retail shop owners from across the country to see the latest and greatest for the upcoming year.  And then, we do it all over again in the summer.

Interview with Sean Conway: Why He's Cycling The Earth By Himself, Unsupported, and Hopefully in World Record Time

Sean Conway's world record attempt begins
on February 18, 2012. (S. Conway)

Sean Conway's website headline reads "18,000 miles. Two Wheels. 150 Days...plus a world record and £100,000 for charity." Basically, Sean wants to cycle around the world faster than anyone else has while supporting a cause near and dear to his heart. To complete this superhuman display of endurance, his legs will each make seven million rotations on his steel frame bike and he'll have to average at least 112 miles per day. No big deal, right? Sean's journey starts on February 18, 2012. In the meantime, he took time out of his busy training schedule to answer a few questions, namely, of course...

What on Earth possessed you to take on something like this? 

Sean: I am not really a cyclist at all. I cycled 1,000 miles up Britain, which took a painfully slow 25 days in 2008, and haven’t really cycled since. Cycling the world has always been on my bucket list though, along with Everest and swimming the English Channel. I figured I’ll get the cycling out the way first as it’s probably the hardest of the three.

Guest Post: Get Up, Get Out and Enjoy Winter’s Most Overlooked Activity

When was the last time you
went sledding? (D. Beach)

There are so many games we use to play as children, so many activities we used to love, that many of us lose touch with in our adult lives. Today, guest poster Daniel Beach of Share This Adventure reminds us there's space for all sorts of outdoor adventures in our lives, and we could all benefit from laughing a bit more.

I can't believe you forgot. How could you? The one activity in winter guaranteed to make you laugh, to make you cry, to make you feel free, to give you a delicious adrenaline rush…and the one activity that could also result in bruises and broken bones. Do you think you're too old to have fun?

"Wait, They Don't Salt the Roads Here?" Unique Things I Miss About Winter Living in Alaska

On the way back from Seward, stopping to take in the view
along the Turnagin Arm in February.

Sadly, it seems winter has thus far abandoned us here in southeastern Pennsylvania. Rather than continuing to pine for the fluffy white stuff, it seemed a good opportunity to reflect time in a place that redefined winter as I knew it.

I spent two summers working in Denali National Park after college and a full winter living in Anchorage exploring nearby. Alaska is an incredible place to live, and there are a few unique things that remain fresh in my mind about the winter season four years later.