Human powered sports, travel, and adventure.
When traveling in a minivan camper, one of your biggest challenges is where to go when you don’t have a convenient place to go. Not where to go as far as a destination, but where to go to the bathroom. Sometimes public restrooms simply aren’t available or convenient. There are few options when it...
Solitude Sports official T-shirts are now available! Classic Guys / Unisex Tee $26.99 This heavy cotton t-shirt is made of durable, 5.3 oz, pre-shrunk, 100% cotton material and is perfect for a graphic print. This best-selling, classic fit is ideal for men and women who prefer a little more room in their shirt. Due...
Minivan Camper Conversion For some time now I’ve been wanting to travel out west. For this I wanted a vehicle that would allow me to sleep inside, carry a variety of outdoor equipment, camera gear, and get decent gas mileage. Initially I was considering a Sprinter, Promaster, or Ford Transit to convert. All of...
Paddling under the Mackinac bridge and through the Straits of Mackinac in general can present several dangers. Currents in the straits can be very treacherous! Do not attempt this without an appropriate sea kayak, proper safety equipment, and training! A few years ago, on our return from the Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium and...
I've had my Klean Kanteen Wide 40 oz. single wall water bottle since 2008. It's not sexy, it's not expensive, and it's not the item that most gear heads would ever brag about. But it is reliable, durable, and trustworthy. Exactly what you want in a backpacking partner. Of all of the backpacking and...
South Manitou island is located in Lake Michigan about seven miles from Leland, Michigan and is part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It was once inhabited and home to farming and logging and was an essential re-fueling stop during the steamship era on the Great Lakes. During the 1970’s it became part...
Handlebar grips serve two main functions: comfort and control. Both functions are closely related to each other. A well-designed handlebar grip provides sufficient friction to prevent your hand from slipping. The surface should also allow for easy changes in position. This also allows your forearm and finger muscles to be in a more...
Beaver Island is an amazing sea kayak destination. With the addition of the new Beaver Island Water Trail, it just gets better! It’s rather special to me since it is where I had my first sea kayak lessons. Being a remote island in Northern Lake Michigan, the water is clear (and cold), the...
Recently a Facebook group member posted an angry response to how bike clothing manufacturer, VOmax Apparel responded to a comment on one of their Facebook ads. This particular group is a private group for former cycling industry members. The member was aghast that a cycling company would suggest mutual respect and cooperation with drivers...
Symposiums are a great way to learn kayaking skills. Taught by experienced paddlers, typically, ACA or BCU certified coaches; one can learn an incredible amount of useful information in a fun, safe, hands-on environment. 31st Annual WMCKA Symposium Montague, MI 22nd TO 25th, 2020 Port Austin Kayak Symposium Port Austin, MI Friday, June 19...
Tom Ritchey is best known for building mountain bikes and mountain bike components. He was at the birth of mountain biking way back in the 70's. Tom however also has a lengthy history in road bikes. After all, Tom was a Cat 1 bike racer and USA National Team member. I decided to...
Are you working on your own bike and you need a tool to do the job? Or maybe you are looking for information on bicycle tools? We recommend Bike Tools Plus. Billed as “An Encyclopedia of Bike Tools and More!’, it is an exhaustive listing of bicycle tools, you can find almost any tool....
Firearm deer hunting season begins today in Michigan. On average, around 50,000 hunters will descend upon Michigan looking to bag a deer. A few of the hunters may be on the twitchy side - Not an ideal time to go mountain bike riding.A few years ago, my buddy, The Joe Holmes (Yes…”The”) and I,...
I was waiting at the dock on North Manitou Island waiting for the ferry to take me back to the mainland when I overheard a conversation between two national park rangers. They were talking in hushed tones about how, the night before, another ranger on South Manitou island had apparently went berserk, brandished his...
This past weekend, the Northern Lights or properly, the Aurora Borealis, were predicted to be visible in much of Northern Michigan. Having been fortunate to have seen the Northern Lights on a few occasions and having been lucky to photograph them last year, I gathered my camera gear and headed out to the Sleeping...
Tom Ritchey builds good bikes. Seriously. The Ritchey Ultra is however beyond good. It should be, as Tom has building mountain bikes since the dawn of mountain biking. The Ultra is the newest distillation of Ritchey’s more than 40 years of experience. Between geometry and tubing selection, the Ultra serves up a bike that...
From May 5, 2018. Taken at the tip of the Old Mission Peninsula on the 45th parallel. This is actually the phenomenon known as STEVE....
(Updated May 13, 2018) North Manitou Island is a popular backpacking destination due to its easy access and being one of only a few designated wilderness areas in the Midwest. Many backpackers who visit North Manitou try to hike as much of the island as possible and to see as many attractions as possible....
It's April 14 and we're getting another foot of snow here in Traverse City. I'm thinking that there has to be some redeeming quality to this. Maybe not. Seems that at least in the Northeast, this winter hasn't had an impact on ticks. Ugh. A nice thick blanket of snow seems to insulate the...
North Manitou Island is located eight miles off the coast of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. To get there requires a ferry ride, an overnight stay, and planning. With that in mind, visitors often ask, “What are the things to do on North Manitou Island?”Backpacking and Hiking on North Manitou IslandNorth Manitou Island is...
Companies like Mountain House make great dehydrated meals. Yes, I said great. Some folks may have had bad experiences or perhaps recall their days in the service eating MRE's. Well, dehydrated meals don't have to be bad. Serious. Add a little extra water than called for. An ounce or two is all. Especially for...
What are Hiking Crampons? Hiking crampons are designed to add traction to hiking boots. Unlike mountaineering crampons, they are flexible to permit long distance walking. Strictly speaking, in the mountaineering world, hiking crampons don’t exist but rather they are called “traction devices”. But for the rest of us we call them crampons, trails spikes...
In some circles, trekking poles are considered “Nerdy”. The fact is that they can help make your hiking or backpacking safer and easier on your body. Why You Need Trekking Poles More stability on ice, snow, mud, wet leaves, loose sand gravel, scree. Added power going uphill. Safer when descending hills, steps, and drop-offs....
The Altra Lone Peak NeoShell is the water resistant, insulated version of the Lone Peak. While billed as a trail running shoe, the Altra Lone Peak has become a popular favorite in the ultralight backpacking community. Speaking of favorites, see how and why Altra became my favorite shoe. Using a waterproof yet breathable membrane...
The Michigan DNR has agreed to convey 40 acres to Garfield Township. This lands adjoins the Grand Traverse Commons and will allow for official expansion of the trail system as the trails on the DNR land are already in use but are not sanctioned by the DNR. Garfield Township plans to integrate the land...