Out Your Backdoor - Featured Articles

New Pole-Cam and Scenic YouTubes

December 31, 1969 - I just uploaded several new touring-scenic videos at YouTube, username JeffOYB. (A month ago I put up a few how-to vids.) The new vids show... *Crust skating golf course -- taken using crazy POLE-CAM *Crust skating fields of local wildlife area -- helmet cam *Crust and corn skiing at local nature-area trails -- he...

Quietwater Symposium: Michigan's Indoor Outdoor Fest! 3/6

December 31, 1969 - It's tomorrow! The 15th annual QWS will be a great way to spend the day learning new things, making new friends. Bust up that cabin fever! (Spending the day XC skiing in a prime locale up north would have to come second to this, I'm afraid. Well, it might be a tie.) The QWS sounds like it might be just boating, but it's...

Liberate the Kayaks!

December 31, 1969 - The kayaks went into the back yard last fall when my brother built a new garage for us (using lumber from a tree that had fallen next to our house a month before). The day he finished and hauled away his tools -- about Thanksgiving -- it snowed and froze and everything in the yard has been bound up ever since. Well, we did ta...

Forest Skis in the House!

December 31, 1969 - I've long wanted to try out the Forest Ski concept. I've reported on it here before. I finally ran into my first pair that I've ever seen for sale and snapped 'em up. They're usually 240-280cm but these are only 210's. Still, they're definitely weird! They're very wide, at 2.75", and have a long, soft, narrow tip to floa...

Wallet Poem?

December 31, 1969 - So, do you carry any poetry in your wallet? ...Or any important -- to you -- writing in your pocket or purse (or in your car or on your bike). You can fold it down to a handy size. In your wallet it wouldn't be any bigger than a bill. It might be printed out small. This would be something that you could look at in a fr...

Indie Outdoor Magazines Grab-Bag!

December 31, 1969 - [$10 postpaid in the USA.] Enjoy an assortment of FIVE hard-to-find indie outdoor media. I'll mail you FIVE different goodies to sample and mix it up with. (Cover price + postage value of $30.) Cross-training the brain is a good thing. Year-round outdoor diversity seems to be a key ingredient in keeping any aspect from...

Gulf Specimen Lab Needs Help!

December 31, 1969 - Marine labs and aquariums are usually big places, funded by universities and vast enterprises. The Gulf Specimen Lab is the only independent lab on the Gulf Coast. It's run by Jack Rudloe, the guy who started the conservation movement down there---the only reason why that whole stretch isn't Disney already. Just one little guy i...

Pounding the Pow

December 31, 1969 - Today I got invited to tele-ski the many inches of fresh powder that we just acquired around here. I haven't been in 15 years but the shorty, curvy (Karhu Guide) teleboards I borrowed made it easy. My old leather tele-boots worked dandy. My hosts are the protectors of this local pow. It's only an hour away from here but i...

Barry Roubaix: Coming up 3/30!

December 31, 1969 - Don't forget---the first big bike event of the season is coming up on March 30! It's the infamous and ever-popular Barry Roubaix! ...A 30-mile loop of mostly dirt road action set in West Michigan. (Do it once, do it twice -- it's up to you!) It'll be cold, sure. And you won't be ready for it. Who cares! It's brought to you by Ri...

Nordic Skate Marathon Video in Slo-Mo with Music

December 31, 1969 - Here's a simple video, shot from the side in slow motion of the Vikingarannet Ice Skating Marathon. It has an atmospheric guitar soundtrack. It's all about the skaters. So many kinds and styles! Young and old, fast and slow. Solo and pack. With poles, or rucksacks, or tidy and aero. To me it shows a diverse culture. ...

JP's Latest Ski Touring YouTube Vids

December 31, 1969 - OK, I finally made a somewhat better Ski Touring Techniques video for Youtube. Martha came out and taped me. This time the view is from the side and it's wide open -- in a swamp behind my parent's house. As usual, I'm trying to give an idea of the Touring Stride and the Touring Doublepole -- the cornerstones for everyday-typ...

Robert Frost reading "Birches"

December 31, 1969 - Here's a great poem for the winter or icy time of year. And here's a link to the master himself reading his poem. There are several versions out there, some by other readers, one where Frost might be older and sloppier, but this one is the best: http://town.hall.org/radio/HarperAudio/012294_harp_ITH.html This good reading ...

"No Child Left Inside": seems like a good idea!

December 31, 1969 - I guess this quickly gets into nasty politics, unlike anything on OYB (true...and intentionally so, eh?). They say that the No Child Left Behind campaign has resulted in the slashing of Enviro Ed which in turn has created a huge enviro awareness gap between rich and poor schools. Or something like that. The Michigan DNR is...

Nordic Heritage Sport Club: onto something?

December 31, 1969 - Here's a place that seems onto something. They're not just a specialized ski club. It starts out first as a family-friendly place encouraging fresh air activities. Skiing is included. This seems based on the nordic ideas of friluftliv and idraet, though they don't spell it out. They do say that something new needs to be do...

Nordic Skating on Huge Glassy Lake in Sweden...music...

December 31, 1969 - Here's a YouTube showing a family Nordic tour-skating on the biggest lake in Sweden, which had great ice in February. It's ethereal. Nice soundtrack. There's a park of huge power-windmills in the center of the lake. That's how they roll over there.