Alpanist Edurne Pasaban: Second Woman to Summit 14 Peaks

Edurne Pasaban of Spain becomes the second woman to summit all fourteen 8,000 meter peaks!  It took nine years and multiple attempts on many of the mountains, but her goal was completed on Shishapangma, China on May 17, 2010.  She was named National Geographic's Adventurer of the Year, 2010.

See photos and notes by Pasaban herself!

Death and Trees

What will become of us after we are gone from this life?  Some of us have family plots in cemeteries, some of us wish to be placed on a mountain top all alone, some still wish to be placed eternally above ground in a mausoleum.  But what if you could become another living thing?  To live for many years and bring enjoyment to future generations?

Well, You can!  Gerard Moline has designed the bios urn.  This is how it works:  After cremation, your ashes are placed in a biodegradable urn made of coconut shell, compact peat, and cellulose.  There is a seed inside which can be of your choosing; once the bios urn is planted, the seed begins to germinate and grow.

What was once your body, is now a young tree!  Just imagine..."cemeteries become forests..."

Take a look at the website!

Atlanta Outdoor Club

This Atlanta Organization brings outdoor enthusiasts together. Planning trips of varying lengths all over the region, all you have to do is to register for a space!

With an easy to use calender and registration system, clearly stated trip objectives, and many free opportunities...Atlanta Outdoors Club does the foot work, all you have to do is choose the right trip(s) for you and show up!

Take a look at their website here, and join today!

For Sale! Just in time for Spring!

Our first items are up!  Take a look and contact us with any questions at burningdaylightoutdoors@gmail.com!

Adidas Supernova Adapt, new without box-Men's 8.5
      See them on ebay!

Arcteryx Bora 40, lightly used-Size Medium
      See it on ebay!

Better Place: It's All In The Battery

Oil:  To use or Not to use?  This is a question on everyone's minds.  And from this question come dozens more.  Are we really depleting the ozone?  Why does fuel cost so much?  Should we drill here in America?  How do we influence our lawmakers to make the changes that need to be made? ...The list goes on and on.

So what's the solution, then?  A company called better place might just have one!  Operational first in Israel with more to come in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and China, Better Place is a forward thinking organization which is "...making electric cars make sense."  They have envisioned and implemented an infrastructure that supports fully electric vehicles across the country of Israel. 

How, you ask?  The key is the infrastructure.  Rather than creating a car with an internal battery, they've created a car which has a battery attached to the bottom.  The depleted battery is easily removed and replaced in an automated, 24-hour "switch station" (pictured below), thus making long car trips feasible.  One simply plans a trip and includes plans to stop at X or Y switch station to get a new, fully charged battery in just a few minutes.  Think of it as a "fuel stop," without the fuel!

We had the opportunity to test drive one of the prototypes, a Renault Fluence Z.E. in Tel Aviv, Israel a few years ago.  The station that we visited was meant to draw attention and explain the concept in a physical capacity to the residents of the country.  The cars are large and roomy, the size of your average American sedan, I'd say.  In fact, they are modern, former fuel driven sedans converted to run on batteries.  They are attractive, nearly silent, and quick. 

Being among the first visitors to arrive at the Visitor Center, we were proud to come home and share all of the amazing things we'd learned.  Now, though, looking back, it seems that not many of our family and friends "got it."  Here's your chance!  Check out better place now, and see what it's all about.  Maybe one day, we'll see a widespread presence in America! 

Outdoor Nation Moves to Attract Our Nation's Youth!

Who hasn't noticed how connected our youth are to technology?  As young as age 2, children know how to turn on and navigate items such as tablets, cellular phones, digital cameras, and the like.  Elementary school students can teach many of us a thing or two about our home computers.  Our young people have become more comfortable inside, on the couch, in front of a screen than out in the sunshine and fresh air.

But there's good news!  The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is working to change all of this!  OIA is a 501c(3) non-profit which studies and supports outdoor initiatives.  Industry research, education, nationwide advocacy, retail support, and sustainability are just a few from the list of items which this impressive organization champions.

Additionally, Outdoor Nation is an initiative to get our nation's youth back outdoors.  "...Sparked [by] a youth-led movement that is now empowering the Millennial generation to reconnect, redefine and rediscover America as an Outdoor Nation...."  they will host multiple 2-day summits this year to guide young people in leading others to care for our environment and enjoy the great outdoors.

Find information on applying as a delegate, and view the article Here.

Entrepreneurship and the Outdoors

How are small business and the outdoors connected?  As it turns out, they might be more connected than you think.  For every dollar spent on outdoor gear of various types, four more dollars may be spent on other items such as fuel, snacks/meals, or gift shop purchases.  This means that your money can go to work in your own communities:  Up to $646 BILLION per year!  That's what we call support!

Take a look at this article posted last month on the National Geographic Blog!