New Rafting Trip Planned for 2012

I'm excited to announce a brand new rafting trip scheduled for September of 2012! The Lower Gauley River, during Gauley Season.
In the world of rafting, the Gauley River in West Virginia holds the number 5 spot on a long list of the biggest, hardest hitting, most technical, single day journey, heart-pounding runs in the entire world. The Gauley itself would then be split into two sections; the upper and lower. The Upper Gauley gets all the thunder due to it's spectacular class 5+ rapids. However, the Lower Gauley is not far behind.
I like to think of the lower section as the "little brother"... with spunk. For you Upper Gauley veterans out there that may consider this a cake walk - you still must stay focused on the rapids of the Lower Gauley. Long rollercoaster wave trains such as Upper and Lower Stairstep, big holes such as Backender and Hell Hole, and boulder gardens like those at Upper Mash will keep even the most accomplished rafters on their toes.
So get ready, get excited, for a great run this fall as we return to the world famous Gauley River!
Please visit WildXpeditions for more info on this trip, see you there!

Making a tinder bundle

Dried grasses work well and can be found almost everywhere but lack any accelerants. Most resins, or sap, will act as accelerants within the tinder bundle. Evergreen trees are full of resins to help ignite the spark, or coal, into a flame.

Cedar is by far my favorite material for making tinder bundles, or nest. Cedar’s can be found all over and are easily identifiable. It’s the bark of the cedar that makes the tinder, not the foliage. If you gently scrape across the bark with your fingernails or a knife, you can remove the loose, peeling, dry bark off without harming the tree. Once you’ve got a fist full then you will need to work the material into that bird’s nest shape. To “work” the material, simply ball the bark up in your hands and pull it apart, ripping and shredding it a bit in the process. Be careful not to overdo this and turn your tinder into dust.

Tinder is an easily combustible material used to ignite fires by rudimentary methods. Basically, tinder is the

How to Choose Hiking Boots: Expert Advice from REI

How to Choose Hiking Boots: Expert Advice from REI

From day hikes to long treks over many miles of rough terrain, this covers it all. Nothing trumps comfort when you're out on the trail - and it all starts with footwear. Click the link above for the complete guide to choosing the right hiking boots.