“Sick Jumps” Capture the Imagination

The rise of freestyle ski and snowboard events that has culminated in the addition of new events for 2014’s winter Olympics is built on the audience’s insatiable desire for thrills. When a competitor has hurtled down a slope to catch “the big air”, the audience usually descend into a silent rapture, which only erupts once the jump has been landed. These so-called “sick jumps” are the cornerstone of events in the Winter Games New Zealand, which concluded last week, and are sure to be among the standout images when the Olympic roadshow touches down in Sochi in 2014.

Courage and Skill

Two of the biggest attributes of a successful freestyle skier are courage and skill. A quick and agile mind is almost as useful as a quick and agile body, as calculations of speed, wind, and distance are needed to ensure the jump is not only landed, but the required tricks and combos are pulled off. Such is the importance put on such events nowadays that nations such as China are providing former divers and gymnasts with ski goggles and ski wear to try to get their hands on some Olympic medals.

Have a Go Yourself

For those of us not fortunate, brave or mad (delete as appropriate) enough to be taking part in the Winter Games, the prospect of strapping on a pair of skis and having a go yourself is not too daunting. With quality ski facilities up and down the country, including flagship centres at Milton Keynes and Manchester, there is no excuse not to blast down a couple of slopes.

Teen’s Hiking Death Latest in a Long Line at Yosemite

A 17-year-old boy, Kao Kue, was last week rushed to hospital with severe head injuries after taking a plunge in his walking boots at Yosemite National Park – the world famous nature reserve in California, USA.

He was out hiking last Saturday when he lost his footing on the steep, rocky Mist Trail, which is renowned for its difficult terrain, despite its popularity amongst visitors.

After four days of fighting for life, the young man passed away at Doctor’s Medical Center in Modesto, Central California the following Wednesday.

Before Kao, 14 outdoors enthusiasts have died this year alone at Yosemite National Park. There have been six drownings, two falls resulting in death, a car accident that led to a death, and five deaths of natural causes, according to a park ranger.

Controversially, Yosemite will not be including the teenager’s death in its annual statistics for Yosemite fatalities as, although the accident took place within the park, the death itself occurred in hospital and not inside park boundaries, so the official total for 2011 still stands at 14 so far. The official total of deaths within Yosemite park boundaries in 2010 was 15.

Perhaps even more controversially, when interviewed, park officials say they do not feel it is necessary to install more warning signs and/or protective measures to safeguard their visitors.
"We are adamant about educating all of Yosemite's visitors about potential dangers, as well as ensuring that it remains a wild place," said the park ranger.

Hiker in Intensive Care After Rattlesnake Attack

A 47-year-old man from Fayette County, Pennsylvania, USA is currently in intensive care in Ruby Memorial Hospital in West Virginia after he crossed paths with an aggrieved rattlesnake whilst hiking in the picturesque Dunbar Mountains last Sunday with his wife and two teenage children.

The man, who is a resident of Perryopolis in Pennsylvania, was bitten on the hand as he bent over to pick up the walking stick he had just dropped in the undergrowth, according to the chief of Fayette County Emergency Medical Services, Rick Adobato. He was able to hike for another hour to return to his car with his family, who drove until they obtained a phone signal and dialled 911 at around 2.30pm.

The family then drove another mile to the county fairgrounds to meet an ambulance, by which point the injured man was beginning to lose consciousness.

About the incident, Abodato said, "Much longer and this guy probably wouldn't have made it. You got to add to the walking, you've been bitten. Your pulse rate goes up. The venom is circulating through your body even faster at that point.”

The ill-fated hiker, named Richard Lawson, is said to now be in a stable condition.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources have advised that, while timber rattle snakebites are certainly rare, it is always wise for hikers to take precautions in the form of high-topped leather walking boots and an eagle eye for snakes before sitting down or reaching to the ground around brushes, logs, or rocks. All of these simple measures are ones that may save your life.

Hiker in Intensive Care After Rattlesnake Attack

A 47-year-old man from Fayette County, Pennsylvania, USA is currently in intensive care in Ruby Memorial Hospital in West Virginia after he crossed paths with an aggrieved rattlesnake whilst hiking in the picturesque Dunbar Mountains last Sunday with his wife and two teenage children.

The man, who is a resident of Perryopolis in Pennsylvania, was bitten on the hand as he bent over to pick up the walking stick he had just dropped in the undergrowth, according to the chief of Fayette County Emergency Medical Services, Rick Adobato. He was able to hike for another hour to return to his car with his family, who drove until they obtained a phone signal and dialled 911 at around 2.30pm.

The family then drove another mile to the county fairgrounds to meet an ambulance, by which point the injured man was beginning to lose consciousness.

About the incident, Abodato said, "Much longer and this guy probably wouldn't have made it. You got to add to the walking, you've been bitten. Your pulse rate goes up. The venom is circulating through your body even faster at that point.”

The ill-fated hiker, named Richard Lawson, is said to now be in a stable condition.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources have advised that, while timber rattle snakebites are certainly rare, it is always wise for hikers to take precautions in the form of high-topped leather walking boots and an eagle eye for snakes before sitting down or reaching to the ground around brushes, logs, or rocks. All of these simple measures are ones that may save your life.

Body of Missing Skier Discovered in Washington

Paul Melby, a 40-year-old man from Lakewood in Washington, took his ski wear to the slopes of Crystal Mountain on March 1st and was last seen skiing by himself on the mountain's High Campbell area, a known spot for advanced skiers.

Repeated attempts were made by search and rescue teams to find the missing skiing enthusiast, however the searches were not successful. The mission was temporarily abandoned, but started again at the beginning of June as the deep snow began to melt.

Last Wednesday afternoon the body of the man was discovered in dense woods known to locals as the 'Mine Shaft' at an elevation of around 5,600 feet by an employee who was skiing through the woods and spotted Melby's skis and semi-buried body amongst the trees, said Crystal Mountain Ski Patrol director Paul Baugher.

His remains were discovered in a tree well and it is presumed he fell in whilst skiing and suffocated. The conditions on the day he went missing have been said to be treacherous: stormy and with heavy snowfall.

Baugher went on to say, "This didn't fit the profile where he would go, but the problem is when you're not with anybody you can be anywhere. A guy like that can ski anything.

“The message is not to ski alone. This could have had a different outcome if he'd had someone there," he continued. "When you're by yourself, there's no margin for error. Our thoughts are with all of Melby’s friends and family as they finally get to say goodbye. He will be deeply missed.”

Naked Hiking is a Hit in Germany

Just over a year ago, Germany opened its first ever 'nude hiking trail' near the town of Dankerode to cater for the country's growing network of outdoors loving naturists. It has been widely reported that this controversial attraction has been a popular hit with its visitors ever since its opening.

Walking boots and rucksacks will be just about all the outdoor wear you will need if you ever choose to take the 11 mile trek through this designated nudist area. Prepare to see signs warning you “Anyone who doesn’t want to see naked bodies may not proceed further!” as you enter the reserved trail, in a bid to protect any clueless, fully dressed passersby from an unexpected shock.

The move to create the country's first official naturist hiking trail came as a response to the growing number of altercations between clothed hikers and nude hikers encountering one another in the great outdoors. It is no great surprise that the trail, set against the beautiful backdrop of the Harz Mountains, has proved to be so popular, given that the German Society of Nudists sports an impressive membership base of 50,000.

Enthusiasts describe naked hiking as like being in paradise and state that the experience is one of freedom and one that floods you with happiness.

Nudist hiking is also a popular pastime in nearby Switzerland, however this country as of yet lacks any designated trails for the uninhibited naturists out there. This may be soon set to change, however, as the issue of nude hiking is set to be raised in Switzerland’s Supreme Court.

National Parks Good for the Economy and Public Health

Statistics have recently been released revealing that the UK's 15 National Parks receive more than 70 million visitors each year who spend over 160 million days visiting the parks, which contributes an impressive £4.5 billion to the economy annually. Some of the most sought after National Parks, entry to which is free of charge to the public, include (but are by no means limited to) the Peak and Lake Districts, Snowdonia, the Yorkshire Dales and the Cairngorms.

The chairman of the UK Association of National Park Authorities, Carl Lis, commented, "In such financially austere times it’s good to see the significant value and economic benefits that National Parks deliver for society as a whole and our figures support and reinforce the conclusions of the recently published National Ecosystem Assessment by Government.

"Together with others National Park Authorities make sure that National Parks are kept beautiful, open, and accessible so that everyone can take time out from the stresses of daily life to refresh mind, body, and spirit in stunning natural surroundings."

He also went on to note the many benefits that local businesses and communities see as a result of the tourism in the these unspoilt beauty spots in the form of revenue generated in B&Bs and hotels, shops, eating and drinking establishments and local services.

From the 25th to the 31st of July, it will be the annual National Parks Week again in Britain, in celebration of these awe-inspiring beauty spots and in an attempt to raise awareness of their existence and appeal. Various exciting events and activities will be on offer around the country, so why not strap on your walking boots, and get involved?