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11 Of The Most Beautiful Places In Canada To Visit On Your Next Vacation
By: Science News
Tags: Backpacking, Hiking, Advanture, Travel, Outdoors

Canada is one hell of a country if I do say so myself. Canada famous for its stunning lakes, mountains and natural scenery. Canada is a huge country (in fact, the 2nd biggest country in the entire world) with a giant list of things you can do here. While there are plenty of reasons to visit Canada it can sometimes be difficult to figure out where to start off a trip in Canada hence this list! I’ve reached out to some fantastic fellow travel bloggers to get their opinion on the most beautiful places in Canada that you can use as your starting base for your own trip to Canada! Here are the top places to visit in Canada.

EDITH CAVELL MEADOWS IN JASPER NATIONAL PARK

Edith Cavell Meadows is one of the most stunning day hikes you can tackle in the Rocky Mountains. Located in beautiful Jasper National Park, Alberta, this hike takes you right to the edge of a stunning glacier fed lake called Edith Cavell Pond. From the waters edge you can look up and marvel at Angel Glacier, hanging precariously off the edge of Mt Edith Cavell… READ MORE

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The camping trip By Sophia Glynn
By: Sophia Glynn
Tags: Camping, Outdoors, Scary

The camping trip By Sophia Glynn

He heard scratching outside his tent. He immediately regretted going camping alone. There was an eerie silence. All he could hear was crickets. He saw a huge monster-like shadow in the moonlight. All of a sudden, a knife looking claw poked a hole in the tent, and started cutting a big circle.
Indian Creek
By: Daniel Kay
Tags: Indian Creek, Climbing, Travel, Photography, Outdoors

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
What It’s Like Owning a Wetsuit II
By: Sarah Miller
Tags: Swimming, Cold Swimming, Gear, Wetsuit, Outdoors

What It’s Like Owning a Wetsuit II

Now that I have stopped putting the thing on backwards my wetsuit life is really taking shape. My wetsuit journey is all I imagined and more. It’s amazing that these things exist. They really work. People are like “wow you’re swimming in a cold lake in December” and I certainly don’t want to dissuade people from being impressed with me but I do have to give credit to the wetsuit. It’s pretty snug in there.

And yet although wetsuits do work it’s interesting the ways that they don’t totally work. They haven’t figured out a way to get a little zip-up crotch door so you can pee, sort of like dirty lingerie, but functional. I know, you can pee in the suit. I have peed in it. I am not against it, but I like to have the option of wearing my wetsuit home if it’s just too cold to get it off at the dock and I want to just peel the top down and hightail it home.

What else is wrong with wetsuits? They leak at the back, and the wrists can leak, especially if you have delicate dainty feminine wrists, as I do.

To this end, I have updated my gear. I got a pair of gloves that I can pull up to better seal off my arms. I got some booties that go all the way up my ankles and similarly seal up my legs. I can see why people really can get really into perfecting their wetsuits and chasing a dream of just being immune from the cold.

I have this idea that if my wetsuit was dialed in enough I could just drive up to the lake in the middle of January at midnight if I wanted. Now, please understand I am way too much of a baby to actually do something like that — a tree branch would snap and an owl would hoot and I would start crying. But that’s the fantasy.

My new gloves, in particular, really kick ass. They are from a company called Synergy and not only are my hands completely warm in them, the shape and texture of them make my stroke more powerful. I am a machine with my new gloves. That is an exaggeration. I guess I will say I feel like a machine at odd moments.

My wetsuit removal technique has improved. I never oiled myself up — seems like a lot of bother, thought if anyone does this, that’s great, I am just bad at …doing things — but now that I’ve taken the thing on and off maybe twenty times the process moves along much faster. How fond I am of my wetsuit. Now I just need a special hook for it, that I can install on the wall right over the grate heater that says “WETSUIT.” I thought such a thing might already exist, indeed, it does not. Perhaps someone should invent it. Perhaps that someone is me.
Making My Own Ultralight Backpack Prototype
By: Debra Howell, Chilly Bin
Tags: Backpacking, Travel, Blog, Hiking, Outdoors

Hiking & Backpacking

Making My Own Ultralight Backpack Prototype

The backpack prototype in action (photo credit to the author)

I have decided that I would like to try and get a set of backpacking gear which is as close to 100% home made as I can. Some things I know won’t be possible, but I’m going to try and see how much I can make.

One of my first projects was to put together a prototype of a backpack design for Raiden and I to use. I based it off a readily available pattern (the Mountain Flyer 35L), and made lots of modifications to get what I want. It’s made from Tyvek homewrap for the main body, polyester spandex for the pockets, and a chopped up CCF pad for the padding in the straps.

The final product is not perfect. I don’t think I like the vest style straps very much — but Raiden seems to like them. The plan is to load it up and take it on a trip, then make two versions the real thing for Raiden and I including any adjustments we decide we want.

This project took be around 4.5hrs to make over several evenings, working on it a little bit at a time. I’m pretty happy with how it came out.
BACKTRACKING 2020, Part One — SIGHTSEEING
By: David Raymond
Tags: Nature, Cycling, Hiking, Photography, Outdoors

BACKTRACKING 2020, Part One -- SIGHTSEEING

Some of the worst accidents I've ever had on my mountain bike were due to the fact that I was "sightseeing" instead of…
Black Lake West Gully — RMNP. Some ice climbing.
By: Daniel Kay
Tags: Sports, Climbing, Rmnp, Photography, Outdoors

The Details

West Gully is a 3-pitch ice climb in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. It is located above Black Lake, roughly a 5.5-mile hike from the trailhead. It’s pretty far back there.

Still, worthy prey justifies the hunt!

West Gully RMNP

Where: Black Lake Ice. Start at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead.

Approach: Long.

De-proach: Way longer.

Grade: WI4, III

This report: 12/9/2020

Approaching the start of the route. Note the person at the base of the boulders for better scale.

The Equipment

I took a GoPro Hero 8 camera out on this expedition, but did not use a helmet mount. So no action shots. Still, I found the little camera packs quite a punch! I have included a few 4K videos. (affiliate link).

As far as climbing gear, we used 2x 70-meter 8.1 Beal Ice Line Ropes. The axes shown in the video are Cassin X-Dream Alpine ice tools.

The Pics
Public Lands to the Rescue for this Parent of a Toddler
By: National Wildlife Federation, Our Public Lands
Tags: Public Lands, Explore, New Mexico, Fatherhood, Outdoors

The author’s three year old son races across the sandstone at Mesa de Cuba badlands.

Public Lands to the Rescue for this Parent of a Toddler

My three year old son scrambles up sandstone and shale in the Mesa de Cuba badlands. White lunar mounds of earth, striped with gray and rust as far as his eyes can see. I can make out the juniper clumps along arroyos and the red tops of mesas at the horizon, think about how this landscape was the bottom of an ocean once. I can consider what it will become, long after humankind is gone. But Finn has summit fever. When he reaches the top of a mound, he waves his arms in triumph and smiles as big as the sky.

The desert in this part of New Mexico hides vast expanses of rock formations sculpted by wind and water into hoodoos, precarious boulders and tent rocks. You won’t notice from the road, but petrified wood, or “petra-wood” as my son calls it, fills the washes. We try to tell him the whitest rocks are dinosaur bones and he will not have it. “Petra-wood,” he identifies.

I often wonder what Finn comprehends of the pandemic. An adult brain uses experience and memory to organize and understand situations. Toddlers do not have this ability. He knows everything changed. He knows he can’t go to museums, libraries, preschool or playgrounds anymore. This is a significant loss for a curious child as well as the parents who rely on them for mental stimulation and physical exertion.

Parenting a toddler in a pandemic can feel like walking along a cliff in a blindfold. With daily struggles, tantrums, and boredom, one misstep can send you reeling. This is why we’ve spent nearly every weekend of the pandemic exploring our public lands in New Mexico and coming to understand that every landscape has something to teach us.

Today a storm swept over us in the badlands. Finn learned what rain smells like, and how to count the time between a burst of lightning and clap of thunder. We watched the clay-rich soil under our feet turn to a skating rink and squealed when we slid in mud. The color of the ground changed, the shapes of the hoodoos changed, and the land shifted with erosion as it has done for millions of years. Today, we were fortunate to see it for ourselves.

…………………………………………………………………………………….

So many of our country’s parks and public lands written about in these love notes would not exist but for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). This important conservation program was permanently funded when Congress passed the Great American Outdoors Act earlier this summer. You can learn more about the Land and Water Conservation Fund here.

Would you like to write about public lands that you cherish? Please email Mary Jo Brooks at brooksm@nwf.org for guidelines.
About Eureka Gear
By: Eureka Gear
Tags: Health, Gear Review, Fitness Equipment, Fitness, Outdoors

Eureka Gear recommends the best sports, fitness, health, outdoor and travel gear at www.eurekagear.com.

We are passionate about promoting sports, fitness, the outdoors, adventure and travel, by making it quick and easy for our readers to find the best gear.

Eureka Gear is just starting its journey. Take the first steps with us.

Gear Guides

Eureka Gear might be new, but we already have gear guides on:

We also have many more gear guides, and list the best Amazon Prime Day discounts, Black Friday sales and Cyber Monday deals each year.

Follow Eureka Gear

We’d love to hear how Eureka Gear helped you experience a #eurekamoment.
Safari = Pilgrimage (in South Africa’s Kruger National Park)
By: András Tóthmihály
Tags: Nature, World, Travel, South Africa, Outdoors

Taking photos

Wildlife photography (especially birds) is much harder than landscape photography. Often the subjects are small, they don’t stay still for long, and when you get near enough for a wonderful shot, they disappear. Amazingly frustrating!

And I brought just a cheap pocket camera with me to South Africa. But under ideal conditions (close and static objects and a lot of sun) even this camera could capture quite decent photos. Of course, sometimes I had really reached the limitations of my gear so the pictures became pretty blurry.

If you have a more expensive intermediate camera, I think that a 300mm objective (400mm for birds) is the best all-round lens for the park. You should use camera support, for instance a bean bag, with this telephoto lens so that your grip stays steady.

Grey heron wading in a waterhole of Kruger National Park

Spotting with binoculars

No matter how good camera you own, the most important gadget in Kruger is still a pair of decent binoculars: 10x42 are ideal (8x32 for birds).

Without binoculars, you can forget about spotting small birds that aren’t 10 meters in front of you. Forget about appreciating details on other wildlife — the gash on the lion’s hind leg, or the intricate way the elephant’s trunk picks out the best leaves, for example.

I’ve noticed that many park visitors solely use cameras. They want to take photos above everything else.

Sure, it’s great to capture moments to look back on. But I would argue that it’s more valuable to be in the moment and simply savor what you are witnessing. Besides, unless you are a professional photographer, chances are your photos will never do justice to what you actually see.

Small birds such as weavers are hard to spot without binoculars

Stargazing

One of the joys in Kruger is to study the night sky without the interference of city lights. It’s a humbling experience to consider our insignificance against the immensity of the universe.

Our home galaxy, the Milky Way alone contains about 100 billion stars. Scientists estimate that it would take 100,000 light-years to travel from one end of it to the other.

Meeting fireflies

The night doesn’t only bring bright stars but also fireflies. Before my visit, the summer months had delivered ample rains to the savanna and they had transformed the dry bush into a lush wonderland. Consequently, in the summer evenings, the unusual number of fireflies had transformed the darkness into dazzling displays of light.

After one dinner, these beetles — trying to attract mates — lit up my path back to the bed. Lying in a hide, the only sounds were natural ones and the only lights were from the scattering of stars and the fireflies in the riverbed. I was in a special piece of Kruger, for my eyes only.
Low Tide
By: Kara B. Imle
Tags: Poems On Medium, Nature, Poetry, Outdoors, Thankfulness

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

We go out into the cold

and black of a new-moon night

climbing down slick boulders

to feel our way toward the sea,

three women seeking treasure.

We are blind except for the lamps

arrowing through curtains of fog

we make with our breath.

We follow instinct toward the water’s edge

which has receded so far

we cannot reach it.

The smell of her, though: brine

and blood, seaweed and salt

tells us Ocean is near. She

mirrors our own scent and soul

and we cannot steal from her

without stealing from ourselves.

We set our buckets down and begin to dig

standing on the spades to pierce

the skin of the earth: gravel meets us

then mud

then at last, water wells up like blood

and the treasure waits there.

Little glowing half-moons rise

to our questing fingers

most whole, but some broken open

showing pale flesh that glows

like dying pearls in the lamplight.

Forgive me, little ones.

I will give thanks as I eat

your brothers and sisters

your children, your mothers.

I will not take too many. I will not tell

where to find you.

Before leaving, we fill every hole

repairing the earth where we wounded her.

We give thanks.

Climbing up the rocks

we sing the clams to sleep in their buckets:

sirens in the night

making clouds with our breath.
Take Yourself For a Walk
By: Marisa Hoenig
Tags: Health, Work, Exercise, Neuroscience, Outdoors

I quarantined alone in New York City for two months. I forgot what grass looked like. Green? Kinda blade-like?

There were weeks when I barely saw the outdoors, just gazing through my foggy window on the brownstone-lined street. I stared at a computer all day for work and then stared at it some more as I watched movies or video chatted with friends.

Information overload reigned over my brain— too many things to get done, too many people messaging, and too little time. It seemed like nothing helped until I walked outside and felt the fresh air and warm sun.

Taking a walk is a proven way to clear your brain and feel energized about your day. When you feel stuck on a problem — like caught in writer’s block or unsure about a decision to make — go for a walk. It seems simple, but often the simplest solution is the best solution.

One small step for you, one giant step for your brain.

Go for a walk.
The Kilominator — Poem. Kilominating through Essex County
By: Matthew St. Amand
Tags: Cycling, Poetry On Medium, Mental Health, Fitness, Outdoors

Primordial morning. Photo credit: Matthew St. Amand

Kilominating through Essex County

Gathering kilometers like a thief in the night.

Let the others rise before the sun,

Pierce the dark and wake the roosters,

Trace esoteric shapes across rural roads

That conceal the bones of settlers and centuries.

Spinning spoked spectacles

Looking back, looking back

Thumbing through the tectonic flipbook.

The kilometers as runes, landscape as language.

Tires reading the Braille of the broken pavement.

Landmarks and totems:

Colchester North Public School.

The unnamed church where the patron saint looks like Paul McCartney

in agony.

Wind turbines like marooned castaways

Waving their arms in the distance.

There’s enough land out here to start a cult.

Broken yellow lines mark the road like Morse code.

Dark, sleeping fields, mantled with maiden veil mist.

Kilominating in the dark and in the light.

The rising sun like a startled homeowner

Groggy-eyed and squinting, befuddled,

Following my progress along the concession roads.

Like Irish turf torn from the moist earth,

Kilometers shrink to a morsel of their original size.

Returning home, stashing them in my garage

Where I construct a scale model of the county,

Piecing them together like Popsicle sticks.

Shoe box theater.

Divining the secrets below the surface

the subterranean rumblings.

(Some say they’re blasting in the salt mine.

Maybe it’s the dead clamoring within their coffins.)

Surveying my work,

Assembling the puzzle of me, of everything,

Until, one day, I observe

A tiny figure on a bicycle, in a high visibility vest and helmet

Kilominating my creation.
7 Lessons Adults Can Learn From the Young Adult Book, *Wishtree*
By: Aimée Gramblin
Tags: Ideas, Culture, Books, Reading, Outdoors

7 Lessons Adults Can Learn From the Young Adult Book, *Wishtree*

Source: Author photograph of book cover.

“Trees have a rather complicated relationship with people, after all. One minute you’re hugging us. The next minute you’re turning us into tables and tongue depressors.” — Red, the oak tree narrator of Wishtree

Wishtree is a beautifully crafted and lyrical YA chapter book by popular children’s book author, Katherine Applegate. It has received many accolades, including being a 2017 New York Times bestseller.

As a self-proclaimed Nature Witch, meaning I love the outdoors, commune with nature, and think nature has a lot to teach humans, Wishtree speaks volumes to me. I highly recommend adults and children alike read this fun and wise book.

Wishtree’s narrator is a wise, 216-year-old oak tree named Red. People in Red’s diverse neighborhood have nicknamed Red “Wishtree” and each 1st of May they adorn its limbs with scraps of paper, fabric, and other symbols. They represent wishes. Applegate bases Wishtree on the historical Irish tradition of the raggy tree.

Applegate’s chapters are short. Each word and line serves a purpose. It’s a fast read with a deep message. Applegate infuses wit with overarching themes of friendship and acceptance, xenophobia and racism. Applegate’s prose reads like a delicious, lyrical poem. Black and white illustrations of birds, trees, and other animals break up the text. The use of white space to slow down the prose along with the illustrations helps the reader savor each chapter.

Do you ever wonder what animals are speaking or wish your pets could talk? Do you ever wonder what stories an old tree has to tell? I do. Applegate is known for using nonhuman narrative devices to explore humans in her body of work. She explains:
Decorate Trees In The Soil
By: Nanda Jurela
Tags: Christmas, Decor, Holidays, Trees, Outdoors

Bird house tree by Thomas Dambo, in Denmark. Find the cheerful artist at https://thomasdambo.com/

Holiday decorations look much better on leafless trees than on evergreen trees.

Evergreen trees are already decorated — with their saturated green colours, their needles, their vitality.

I don’t know why that couldn’t be a new trend: decorate trees that have lost their leaves and root in the soil. I just walked through my neighbourhood and saw many colourful decorations made from light recycled objects, small painted bird houses and bird feeders hanging from branches. It was really uplifting to see those little touches of caring that beautify the place.

Most trees like human attention, and thrive from it, so by decorating a tree that is already there and is transitioning into winter mode, you might stimulate it to grow better next year and give you a richer harvest.

1 December 2016

….

Also published on my blog:
A beautifully told, sad story about the loss of a dear friend.
By: Aurora Eliam
Tags: Trees, Birds, Photography, Outdoors

A beautifully told, sad story about the loss of a dear friend. May many more healthy trees grow in its place.
登山、露營裝備放在倉庫都沒用？他建置二手平台，讓戶外用品都能循環再利用
By: 社企流 Ilab
Tags: Social Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship, Circulareconomy, Startup, Outdoors

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
Thank you, Aurora.
By: Louise Peacock
Tags: Trees, Birds, Photography, Outdoors

Thank you, Aurora.

Not a day goes by that we do not mourn the loss of this tree. When we look out of our front windows, there is a such a big empty space.

I know that eventually, there will be another tree, but the lack of this one is being keenly felt by all of us, in particular the birds that used to use its branches as an intermediate perch before visiting the bird bath.

It’s interesting how important having an intermediate perch is for them. I hope that they will take to the tree we plan to put there — a native Canadian small tree called a Saskatoon Berry. Flowers in the spring, human and animal friendly berries in early summer, and brilliant colours in the fall.

We find that the nesting birds flock to the berries as soon as they ripen.
Just Another Grey Morning
By: Deborah Barchi
Tags: Nature, Wildlife, Winter, Poetry, Outdoors

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
Winter Hiking Tips
By: Chris Plaford
Tags: Winter, Outdoors, Hiking

Winter hiking can be a great way to combat the inaction and depression that may accompany the colder, darker months of the year, but safety concerns must also be considered. Early darkness is one of the first things to keep in mind when planning a winter hike. Starting earlier in the day will help you make the most of the daylight. People should also be aware that they will probably not travel the same distances that they would in summer and plan accordingly.

There are several other factors specific to winter weather that will affect planning. The body needs more calories to stay warm in winter. If there is snow, it may cover trail markers. A trail map and a compass can help with navigation in these situations. Snacks that are easy to eat on the move can keep hikers’ energy up.

Winter hiking means being prepared to call it a day early and turn around rather than pressing on in uncertain or unsafe conditions. Weather conditions should be checked before heading out, and if there is a snowstorm coming, it is best to stay home.

It is crucial to stay warm and hydrated while hiking in the winter. This means buying the right clothing and the right gear. The right shoes can be especially important since they need to keep feet warm and dry and keep hikers upright in snow or ice. Crampons, microspikes, and snowshoes are all options.

A thermos full of a hot drink or soup can help keep hikers warm. People should know the signs of hypothermia so they can act quickly if it begins to set in. Being cold, wet, and exhausted are all dangerous conditions that could lead to hypothermia, which causes slurred speech, poor judgment, lethargy, and uncontrollable shivering.

Even for a short winter hike of just a couple of hours, people should bring necessities such as snacks and water and take safety precautions. Winter hikes can be beautiful and refreshing, and people should not let the weather keep them inside. However, they should be cautious and plan for potentially truncated outings and should not hesitate to end the hike early if necessary.

Originally published: https://chrisplaford.com/winter-hiking-tips/
Your Complete Guide to the Survival Rule of Threes
By: Citizen Upgrade
Tags: Survival, Health, Hiking, Camping, Outdoors

Disclosure: This article contains Amazon affiliate links to products. Purchasing via these links supports our writing at no extra cost to you!

You can survive up to 3 Minutes Without Air

Photo by Christian Sterk on Unsplash.

Clean, breathable air is the first requirement in this survival pathway. You can only survive up to three minutes without air. This could include submersion underwater (no air around you) or if you are choking (unable to breathe in the air around you). If the problem is related to air quality, you might last longer depending on the cause. Poor quality air could be the result of fire, tear gas, or any other cause of environmental pollution.

How to prepare: Firstly, you can learn some key medical skills by taking a “heartsaver” course by the American Heart Association. This course will teach you how to administer rescue breaths to others and how to perform the heimlich maneuver to assist choking victims. If you find yourself choking while alone, this handy youtube video reviews the procedure and demonstrates how to do this maneuver on yourself (skip ahead to minute 1:58).

For your gear preparation, you can pack the following items in your go-bag and car emergency kits: N95 respirator masks, goggles (for tear gas protection), and pocket resuscitator masks.
Every Step in the Dirt is a Prayer — Day 10 of Simplicity
By: Mike Rusert
Tags: Advent, Freedom, Hiking, Outdoors, Spirituality

Day Ten — Notice — 25 Days of Simplicity

I’ve always loved hiking, but lately it doesn’t seem like an option. The trail is my church. It is the place I can take a deep breath, literally and figuratively. On the trail, everything I’ve been holding onto releases without even trying to make it happen. I simultaneously feel completely free and connected to everything. The words below capture that feeling and hopefully guide you towards feeling it as well.

This is church.

No need to fold your hands to pray.

Every step in the dirt is a living prayer.

Breathe your whole body into that prayer.

Every breath out a release of the weight you’ve been holding.

Every breath in a renewed sense of freedom.

Breathe out release.

Breathe in freedom.

Breathe out release.

Breathe in freedom.

Notice as your body gets lighter with every step in the dirt.

Notice as your face lifts towards the sun without even trying.

Notice as the radiance shining on you becomes radiance shining within you.

Notice.

Breathe.

Pray.

This is church.

- Reflection and photo by Heather Whelpley (Intertwiner, author of “An Overachievers Guide To Breaking the Rules,” and Campfire Song Enthusiast)



Now get outside. Get creating. Get free! Get you to church!
An Unexpected Visitor
By: Megan Nicole Morgan
Tags: Poem, Nature, Haiku, Poetry, Outdoors

The best publication about poetry, health, relationship,life style and business. Everybody has right to be listened and grown.
Industrial And Commercial LED Lighting Market Worth $165.91 Billion By 2022
By: Gaurav Shah
Tags: Commercial, Industrial, Electronics, Architecture, Outdoors

The global industrial and commercial LED lighting market is expected to reach USD 165.91 billion by 2022, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The high efficiency of LED lights combined with government regulations to ban incandescent lamps is estimated to drive demand over the forecast period.

The increasing shift towards the implementation of cost-effective systems is expected to proliferate demand. Concepts such as smart lighting which offer several benefits including comfort, safety, and security are projected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for the industry. For instance, the prevalence of various smart city schemes across the U.S. and Europe to reduce the consumption of energy and peak power demand is estimated to positively impact sales.

Stringent government regulations and ban on incandescent lamps and set up of minimum efficiency standards by various governments across the globe is further estimated to propel industrial and commercial LED lighting market. For instance, Brazil has banned 60-watt+ and 100-watt incandescent lamps since 2012. Additionally, various legislative actions taken to support these systems and the implementation of various energy-efficient programs are expected to be the critical parameter affecting the industry.

Click the link below:

https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/industrial-commercial-led-lighting-market

Further key findings from the report suggest:
Should You Shovel Snow? Age Isn’t the Only Risk Factor
By: Sam Randolph
Tags: Health, Fitness Tips, Aging, Fitness, Outdoors

Should You Shovel Snow? Age Isn’t the Only Risk Factor

Photo by Anna Hill on Unsplash

Shoveling snow can be as hard as a challenging workout at the gym. Regardless of your age, health and fitness should be your most significant consideration when deciding if you should shovel snow or hire it out.

According to an article published by BBC News in 2017, “Every winter, about 100 people in the US die while shoveling snow.”

Cardiologist Barry Franklin is an expert in the hazardous effects of snow removal. He advises that adults over 55 should avoid shoveling snow altogether. Franklin also acknowledges that “people at greatest risk are those who are habitually sedentary with known or suspected coronary disease, who go out once a year to clear snow.”

Unfortunately, many people under the age of 55 are dangerously out-of-shape. Focusing on the risk factors and what you can do to exercise and shovel snow safely are the keys to reducing injuries and deaths every winter.
Antelope Canyon
By: Keri Lynne
Tags: Mindfulness, Outdoors, Travel

Our very first stop in Arizona was the city of Page. Antelope Canyon has been tagged on my Google Maps for awhile now, so coming here was a must. Due to COVID-19 the park has been closed, but after doing some research we found that the only way to access the canyon right now is to kayak or paddle board in. Those inflatable paddle boards that are taking up 90% of our garage in the van are finally coming to good use! Less than two hours of paddling and we were surrounded by these magnificent canyons, towering all around us. We parked our paddle boards on the sand when Lake Powell had come to an end. As we hiked through the slot canyon it was as if I had a new breath for life, I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. Novo Amor was playing in my head as I hiked, appreciating all of this beauty. I am beyond thankful to be here, to be pursuing this dream that I’ve had for years now. There are a great deal of times that I struggle to live in the moment, to stop living in the past or worrying about the future and just be present. Here, where I am surrounded by the beauties of this world I can be present, my mind quiets, I exhale.

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged us, especially when we needed it the most. The love we feel from you is encompassing.

If you would like to see more photos of this marvelous place…
Few things You Should Know Before Buying a Camping Tent
By: The Adventure Outside
Tags: Camping Tent, Ultralight, Camping Gear, Camping, Outdoors

There are a few things I wish I’d known before splurging money on expensive camping essentials like tents. Here are some factors to consider before making a purchase decision.

Tent size

The tent size or space you would need will depend on the number of people in your camping journey. A solo camper can comfortably live in a one person tent. If it is two people, a two person tent will do and so on. The ceiling height of a tent also is important when considering buying a tent.

Most tents have a ceiling height under 6 feet, so if you are taller than that, you can look into buying a taller tent, which may be a bit more expensive. If you have a lot of gear to store, a bigger tent would be much better.

Weather

Weather is another factor that should influences buyer decision. All tents don’t work so well in most weather conditions. Most tents won’t work in cold weather and a winter camping tent could come really handy there. Four season/all season tents are great for winter camping as they provide extra insulation by design and are made to protect against wind and snow. However, they usually are heavier and less portable than other types of tents. They will hold up comfortability in all weather conditions as long as it’s not extremely harsh. Camping Lane is a good resource for extra camping info about picking the right type of tent best suited to your tastes.

Tent Types

There are more than 14 tent types of tents available in the market like dome, cabin, pyramid, tunnel and popup. Each tent type has its own specific pros and cons, and it would take a separate post of its own to go over them in detail. Ridge tents and dome tents are are very commonly used for camping and good for beginners due to their cost effective and easy-to-use nature.

Fabric Material

The three most commonly seen fabric material for tents are Polyester, Nylon and Canvas. Polyester and Nylon is synthetically made, light weight and usually are cost effective than Canvas tents. Canvas tents are natural, provide good insulation but expensive and prone to rips from usage and require maintenance to function adequately over the years.

Making the decision

The type of tent you would need will also depend on the type of camping you are undertaking. Just to make an example, It would be a bad idea to take a heavy tent for an ultralight or hiking trip. A lightweight nylon tent would be much more suitable. You would be better equipped to buy the right camping tent using the short guide above. Happy Camping!
Everything that you need to know about frostbite
By: Darren Gaspar
Tags: Seasons, Cold, Winter, Frostbite, Outdoors

Do you feel parts of your body numbing when you step outside during the winter season? Chances are, you’re experiencing frostbite. This week’s blog is going to cover what you need to know about frostbite with the help of Medical News Today & Healthline. We are going to inform you what frostbite is, the symptoms, risks, and how to avoid it. The coldest months of the winter season are upon us and we need to be prepared.

What is Frostbite?

Frostbite occurs when living tissue freezes and your skin is exposed to the cold temperature. You might want to watch out for your fingers, toes, ears, and nose as these parts of the body are where frostbite mostly occurs. Blood flow can drop on certain body parts if the person is exposed to the cold for an extended period of time. If this happens, tissues and cells may die. In the most severe cases, it could cause gangrene — the death of body tissue. Amputation may be necessary to prevent the spread of the dead tissue.

Symptoms — Stages of frostbite

First-degree (Frostnip) — The first-degree deals with pain, itchiness, and only affects the surface of the skin. Frostnip is mild and does not cause permanent damage to your skin. During frostnip, your hands may feel numb and cause your skin to turn red.

Second-degree (Superficial frostbite) — Signs of second-degree frostbite may include swelling and hardening of skin as tissues start to become damaged. At this stage, your skin may turn blue or purple and blisters can also occur. Rewarming should happen as soon as possible to avoid further damage to your tissue.

Third-degree (Deep frostbite) — Deep frostbite causes muscles, tendons, blood vessels, and nerves to freeze. This stage is the most severe stage which affects both the outside and inside of your skin. Signs of third-degree include blisters and the affected area might look blue or splotchy. In the most severe cases, blood clots may develop in the affected area or may require surgery. In order to prevent the spread of the dead tissue, amputation may be required.

Prevention

To avoid frostbite, be sure to be prepared and cover-up! Make sure to layer up and dress appropriately for the cold weather. Wear items such as gloves, mittens, toques, and thick socks to prevent your skin from freezing. Aside from wearing the right accessories, you also want to make sure to stay hydrated and eat nutritious meals. As soon as you recognize the symptoms of frostbite, seek warmth immediately.

Now that you have information on everything that you need to know about frostbite, call us and we’ll give you a few recommendations regarding your branded winter gear, such as our leather gloves lined with Thinsulate™. Be sure to keep your clients and employees warm during the longest season of the year! — Team MOBO
Get Outside- Nature x Health Benefits
By: Dashayna Brown
Tags: Nature, Natural Medicine, Wellness, Go Outside, Outdoors

Are you making time to be outside? I know that may sound a bit bold during these times but it really is important. I’m not talking about running errands, essential work, or non-essential activities ( minding my business, but be safe out here). I’m referring to time outdoors spent in nature, studies show this can improve our overall wellbeing. With social distancing and quarantine, options are limited, but not eliminated. Like many of us, this year has caused me to become hyper-aware of my health: physically, mentally, emotionally. One of my favorite additions to my everyday life has been making more time to be immersed in nature.

In my last piece I spoke about keeping our immune systems high and honestly, spending time outside could aid in that as well (safely ofc)! Spending time in nature is proven to help reduce stress-related hormones, improve mood, increase vitamin D absorption, and overall heal. Natural light, fresh air, stillness, thriving ecosystems, and life all contribute to these benefits.

Getting up and out in the morning is my personal favorite for spending time in nature because it feels extra peaceful and I can still get back home early. Usually only a few people are up, mainly just animal sounds and vibes. I enjoy it!

Most of our senses will be stimulated when we take the time to get out there. There’s something about hearing birds chirp, wind whistling, or water rippling. The sight of plants growing, trees aging, the sun shining, clouds passing, and animals being in communion is a reminder that life is beautiful. The smell of flowers, someone’s cooking, or even freshly cut grass keeps us present. It’s the little things.

** Continue reading full post on my site Days with Dash here: get-outside-nature-x-health-benefits

Originally published at http://dayswithdash.blog on December 8, 2020.
50 Breathtaking Panoramic Pictures of Nature in All Her Glory
By: Jack Shepherd
Tags: Nature, World, Photography, Outdoors

50 Breathtaking Panoramic Pictures of Nature in All Her Glory

The winners of this year’s 11th Epson International Pano Awards were selected from 5,859 entries from 1,452 professional and amateur photographers in 96 different countries, a record for the competition. Created to highlight achievements in panoramic photography, this year’s awards celebrated photos of natural landscapes as well as built environments.

The selection, from the winners and runners up in the “Nature” category, comprises a breathtaking array of panoramas from the frigid coast of the Barents Sea in Teriberka, Russia, to the stunning reefs of Hon Yen Island in Vietnam to the beautiful Quiver Tree Forest of Namibia. Each photo is a testament to the grandeur, majesty, and variety of the natural world.

You can find more winning photographs, including highlights from the “Built Environments” category at The Pano Awards website.

1. ‘Spring Hibernation’ by Matt Jackisch | First Place Overall
Enjoying Snowshoeing in Lansing, Michigan
By: Robin Lea Laurain
Tags: Snowshoeing, Winter Sports, Outdoors

The City of Lansing has many urban delights to offer visitors, as well as more serene activities, such as snowshoeing. Lakelands Trail State Park is located near Lansing, Mich., and is one of Michigan’s most active rail-trails. Many people of all ages visit Lakelands Trail State Park because it is within a short driving distance from major cities, such as Ann Arbor, Detroit, Lansing, and Jackson.

The trail takes the snowshoer through 26 miles of beautiful central Michigan, exposing the adventurer to farmland, marshes, and wooded areas full of interesting, animal sightings. Twenty miles of snow-covered, soft, limestone surface (with minimal elevation gain) is what the snowshoer can expect to encounter from Stockbridge to Perry. The elevation at center point is 945 feet (288 meters), and 6 miles from Perry to Hamburg Township is snow-covered asphalt.

Along the way, you will pass through a town named Gregory, which has cafes, pubs, and eateries where you can stop for a rest and a bite to eat on your journey.

If you can walk, you can snowshoe, and this is a relaxing trail to walk on. Expect to see people of all ages on this trail, as snowshoeing is a popular sport in Michigan and this trail is a well-known snowshoe trail. I started to snowshoe myself last winter because I wanted to participate in a winter sport that required little equipment and training. Getting used to walking in the shoes and turning seemed a bit awkward at first, but I soon was walking without getting tired. Snowshoeing is like anything — you need to get used to it. I also kept thinking I would fall through the snow, but the shoe prevents this by distributing your weight equally. Snowshoeing is great exercise and costs less than most other outdoor winter sports.

If you want to find a winter sport less intimidating than skiing, snowshoeing may be what you are looking for, and I suggest you try out the Lakelands Trail State Park in Lansing, Mich.

Happy Trails!

Sources:

Lakelands Trail State Park Website

Personal experience
30 Ft. Christmas Tree Ready to Ship Today
By: Temple Display
Tags: Holidaydecor, Christmastree, Mondaymotivation, Outdoor

Looking for an AMAZING Commercial #ChristmasTree or just Love Christmas — this is the Tree for You! #MondayMotivation We have a 30 ft. Panel Tree Lamped with Warm White LED Lights — In Stock & Ready to Ship! These Trees are Commercial Grade & can be increased in size in 4 ft. increments 🎄😍1–800–722–2501 #outdoor #holidaydecor https://www.templedisplay.com/commercial-christmas-decor/trees/
It feels underappreciated
By: H Peter Ji
Tags: Adventure, Desert, Photography, Outdoors, California

Sunrisre at Salton Sea

The morning at Salton Sea was quite chilly. It was still dark when I stepped out. I trudged across the field of salt deposits toward Three Sisters with both cameras on the tripods in my hands. The sound of the salt crust crunching under my feet was a delight.

I quickly set up my cameras. Shortly after, Earth’s Shadow slowly faded in. I always loved this particular moment of the day. It feels underappreciated than it should be. But then maybe that is a good thing. Not a whole lot of people get up early to crowd the scenes at this hour, so to speak.

Only downside of it is that it doesn’t last long. The sunrise glow slowly made its way across the barren field while my warm lungs were still getting filled with the chilly air.

Salton Sea, CA

Sony A7RIV

Sony FE 24mm F1.4 GM

24 mm / 1/160 sec at ƒ/1.4 at ISO 100

Taken 11/26/2020

This photo can be also viewed on Instagram, EyeEm, Twitter, 500px, Flickr, ViewBug, Ello and LinkedIn.

You can purchase this and other photos on my website.

© 2020 H Peter Ji

#24mm, #A7RIV, #barren, #California, #Californiadesert, #deadtrees, #desert, #earthsshadow, #landscape, #landscapephotography, #saltlake, #SaltonSea, #SonyA7RIV, #SonyAlpha, #sunrise, #tranquilscene, #tranquility, #trees, #winter
When Mother Nature Is the One In Charge
By: Kristy Lynn
Tags: Nature, Society, Self, Climate Change, Outdoors

Mother Nature Is Actually In Charge

I am telling you this so you can understand something vitally important for the rest of your life as we humans live out the ramifications of our planetary abuse.

Never underestimate the power of Mother Nature, of our Earth.

If you’ve somehow lived into the beginning stages of climate change this far and have yet to experience the tragedy of a natural disaster, consider yourself blessed. But don’t take it for granted.

The odds are good that you’ll have your trying time too.

The wildfires are out of control. The hurricanes are out of control. The flooding is out of control. The climate is totally out of control.

The scientists have warned us.

But, we didn’t listen. Not enough of us listened. We still haven’t drastically changed our ways. And who do we think will pay for that misguided step?

Inevitably, each one of us — at some point.

You cannot deny it any longer. You must prepare yourself. Not out of fear, but out of respect. Respect for your life. And, respect for the power of the planet.

With 2 natural climate disasters under my belt now, I can tell you this much. Amidst the throes of Mother Nature’s fury — in the desperate moments of panic and chaos mixed with a dash of terror—one has no choice but to deeply, humbly, acknowledge the immense power of our planet.

There is no denying who is in charge when it’s happening to you, to your home, and your family.

And no, it’s not you. It’s not me. When it comes down to this, it’s not even the government.

Our Earth is in charge: the beautiful planet we mistreat daily.

May she be gentle with us, even as we commit daily acts of climate negligence without a moment of remorse. And may you ready yourself for the impending effects of climate change that almost certainly will arrive at your doorstep in the coming years, if they haven’t already.