100 YEARS OF L.L. BEAN
This year celebrates the 100th Anniversary of L.L. Bean. Love 'em or hate 'em (personally I trend further towards love than hate in regard to L.L. Bean products), L.L. Bean has been a name synonymous with the outdoors and outdoor sporting since its inception in 1912. Still operating out of Maine (proudly made in America in Freeport), it is a company that has withstood wars and financial depressions, finding solid footing in the real and imagined wilderness of our lives. Happy birthday L.L. Bean, and here's to another 100 years.
And if you're interested, detailing and commemorating the history of the company is Jim Gorman's book, Guaranteed to Last: L.L. Bean's Century of Outfitting America. It will definitely be finding it's way to my shelf, if only to look at past products and compare them to today's, and learn a bit more of the history surrounding a brand I've grown up with.
ATTACKED BY A MOUNTAIN LION, SAVED BY A BEAR
It was the only Bear v. Mountain Lion picture I could find...
Source: USA Today
Wow. I just came across the story (it's a couple of weeks old now, but amazing none the less) of a California Hiker, Robert Biggs, 69, who, while hiking Monday above Whiskey Flats (which from the name I can only surmise it to be some sort of old western gold boom ghost town) came across a mother bear, its yearling, and baby cub (yes, I DO like run-on sentences). Now, you and I would probably think ourselves in a touchy situation, but Biggs here decided to watch the bears from 40 feet away for a while. Satisfied that they were indeed bears, he made to leave when, from behind, he was pounced upon mercilessly by a mountain lion, digging into his backpack with all four clawed paws.
Biggs wrestled the mountain lion, stabbing it with a rock pick. The vicious beast wouldn't let up, however and tore into him, biting and scratching. It is thought that the mountain lion had been stalking the bear cub when our fearless hiker stumbled into the wrong place at the wrong time. Caught in the grip of terror, Biggs thought himself a goner when the mother bear intervened, ripping the big cat from its new prey. Biggs watched the ensuing battle for, he says, about 15 seconds, before the cat ran away in terror. The mother bear and her cubs then ambled away calmly. Biggs suffered bites, scratches, and bruises, but was otherwise unharmed.
What a story.
NEVERWET SUPERHYDROPHOBIC SPRAY-ON COATING
Ross Technology Corp, in an effort to reduce corrosion upon steel, have created a silicon-based spray-on coating that repels water and heavy oils called NeverWet. The potential to waterproof your tent (what rain fly?), your pack, even your clothing is amazing. When this product hits the market, potentially around mid-2012, expect a review from us on its effectiveness. Check out a demonstration video below:
How To Properly Adjust Your Backpack
I came across a short video online I thought some of you might find educational. Created by REI (a store I could spend hours, if not all day, in), here's a quick lesson on how to properly adjust your backpack.