Bookshelf 2016

Like many things in life, such as a daily workout, if you don't focus on it, it will get left out.  So this post is really for my own accountability to continue to have a list (or pile) of books to read and to actually read them.  Personally, when I find a book I want to read, I usually go ahead and get it and add it to my books to read pile, my antilibrary (books in my library that I haven't read).  That way I just move to the next one.

What I read in 2016:

 

 

 

Colorado 14er's

A few shots of my Colorado 14er trip a few years ago.

 

Can't Wait To Use This Gerber Strong Arm!

Just got a Gerber StrongArm from Amazon and I can't wait to use this thing on the next trail or camping trip I take.  I was able to get some time at least to post some initial thoughts for now.

 

9/11 Memorial GORUCK

A little late but everyone had a great time with lots of "good living" at the GORUCK 9/11 Memorial event in Dallas.  My 2nd event and first Light has jump started me back into rucking.

Pearl Harbor Day - Dec 7th, 70 Years Ago

Hawaii is near the top of my Life List.  The combination of mountains, beaches, volcanoes, culture, and adventure sports makes it a destination I have always wanted to see.

 via cnn.com

Christmas Gifts For The Adventurous Gent 2011

Christmas Gifts for the Adventurous Gent

Gift Guide 2011


I consider myself a Gentleman, Scholar, Athlete and Adventurer, and pick things I would like to get under the tree on Christmas morning.
 
Be sure to check out last year's post:

Christmas Gifts for the Adventurous Gent 2010.


I hope this list inspires some great ideas or at least a related gift.  If so, let us know!
Thanks and Merry Christmas!

Brad Thor - Full Black - Christmas Gift Guide 2011

Christmas Gift List 2011

Brad Thor - Full Black

If you haven't read a Brad Thor book, you are missing a great active author.  Hurry and get started reading him before all his books are made into movies.  The first will be out in the next year or so.

I recently finished his newest; Full Black: A Thriller (Scot Harvath).  

All of Thor's books are action packed and based around a special operator named Scot Harvath who defends America from our modern threats and Full Black is no exception.

I highly recommend Full Black for almost anyone on your gift list this year. ($16)

Waypoints - August 2011 - Travel Tips

Including:
Travel rules no one tells you.
Overnight cruise liner coming back to Memphis.
And remember to prepare for the unexpected when traveling abroad.

Travel Author - Paul Theroux

It seems that the list of books I want to read grows weekly.  I finally got started on Born To Run after reading the free preview in Google books.  Now I have another one on the list.  It seems there is never enough time in the day to read them all. 

Inspirations - "The Good Girls Guide to Getting Lost"

My Field Notes Notebooks Customized Dry Transfer ___Edition

Some of the best experiences while traveling can be the ones that weren't planned.  Although most people don't take it to the extreme this author did. This self-proclaimed 'good girl' took off after college to a place she had never been, which ended up being a year long adventure spanning multiple continents.

"Natural" Running - Travel and Trail Footwear

Every shoe company is getting in on the natural running kick these days.  And if you know of one that doesn't have a shoe that fits this category currently, you can probably bet they are working on one.

There was a very interesting article on this topic on The Art of Manliness this week that discusses how we as humans need to exercise to be healthy and that a long list of ailments was unknown to our ancestors who had to do physical work every day just to survive.  They mention some of our anatomical features that suggest we were made to run and run fast for a long time.  The book Born to Run($10) goes into this deeper and is about a hidden tribe of Indians in Mexico who are said to be the best runners in the world.   And judging by the reviews on Amazon it looks great and I'm ordering it. 

John James Audubon's Birthday

If you logged onto Google this week, Tuesday April 26th to be exact, you saw the most recent version of the Google Doodle.

This was to signify the birthday of John James Audubon (1785-1851), who was the first person to attempt to paint and identify all the birds of North America and the inspiration for the founding of the National Audubon Society.  

Adventure Gear of the Year 2011

For those that are into the camping adventure side of travel, National Geographic Adventure (RIP paper magazine version, NG Traveler is just not the same) has just released their 2011 Gear of the Year list.

Some of my favorites from the list:



The Nikon Coolpix P300 point and shoot looks like a good option, although its not water and dust proof as is the Fujifilm FinePix XP10 12 MP, which, for an adventure traveler, is a must.

a Traveler's Links

Photographic Inspiration:  Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Via google

Click below for the links:

Books To Travel With

"The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."
- Mark Twain

Last year I wrote a synopsis of a list of books I was deciding to read next.

Here are some new options:

Colonel Roosevelt - The last in the biographical trilogy of Theodore Roosevelt.  I have read and enjoyed Theodore Rex and am looking forward to reading the new installment also.

First-Person Chilean Urban Downhill BMX...Crazy

I've been through some tight and steep trails on a mountain bike, but doing it in an urban environment with these jumps is wild.

Spring and Summer Travel Gear

My first travel essentials list for the year has got to include the very useful Field Notes Brand notebooks.  They are the go-anywhere, pocket-sized, American-made, no-electricity-needed, way to jot down your important thoughts on all your travels this year that I reviewed in a previous post.  And if you watch their site, their new quarterly color version - Field Notes Spring 2011 edition - may be coming out soon!   But, make sure I get one first or we really might have a problem!

Pictured is the standard version as well as the recent Winter 2010 Color edition.

I have a goal of reading a classic book this year.  I think that is one of those things one should do every year.  Like watching the sun come up at least once a year when you don't have to be up already for work.  I had a couple very good experiences doing this last week before the time changed. 

Life Lessons, Inspirations and Survival Tips From Bear Grylls

I have to admit, when their respective survival shows first began airing I was anti Bear Grylls (Man vs.Wild) and pro Les Stroud (Survivorman).  Due to the fact that Bear used a camera crew and had rescue teams on call all the time.  Les Stroud, on the other hand, carried all his own camera equipment and at least seemed to be a lot more isolated during filming than Bear was.  But now as I read and learn more about his story and life philosophy I have become a fan of the Bear also.

 Man vs. Wild with Bear Grylls on Discovery

Another Good Review of the Bear Grylls Survival Knife

The ultimate challenge of approval:  a child.  This reviewer's son seems to be a big fan of the Bear Grylls Survival Knife.  (Which is still on my wish list if anyone is interested)

See the review here over at the field and stream blog.  

Starting a fire in the snow is something I definitely need to practice.  Especially if this increased snow pattern keeps up in the coming years.

Travel Inspirations: Fire & Ice

I know the last thing anyone around here, and many parts of the US thanks to La Nina, wants to think about right now is ice, but hear me out.

The Fire & Ice trip:

 (pic via Alaska.gov)

(pic via best.berkley.com)

Get the details below: