VIDEO: "LIFE RECLAIMED" Trailer 1

Here it is! The first trailer from the HSA Documentary "Life Reclaimed". "Life Reclaimed" is an inspirational adventure documentary based on the premise that "Nature is Greater than Therapy". It covers the story of a man who lost everything he worked a lifetime to aquire and his fight to reclaim his life from depression, devestation, and lonliness by getting back to his roots in adventure sports.






 
HSA Trailer1B from Sirfur Productions on Vimeo.

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DESTINATION: ADVENTURE - Recap

Photo: HSA

HSA Expedition Recap

Our adventure to the Oklahoma outback was exciting, fun, beautiful, and at times, quite grueling.
We started off leaving our home in Corpus Christi at about 2:00PM on Friday June 14 and drove straight on through to our destination in the Arbuckle Mountains.

We arrived at approximately 1:00AM and slept for a few hours in the jeep waiting for first light to set up our camp. As the first signs of light began to glow, just before the yellow ball peeked it's head above the horizon, we sat up our base camp and prepared for a long hike to the waterfall.

After several hours of hiking we reached our destination. There we found a beautiful 77' waterfall with an inviting natural swimming hole. As it was extremely hot out, I took a dip in the hole while 2 of my companions waded in the shallow stream created by the overflow.

After the swim, we ate lunch and began the trek back to base camp... all the while capturing footage for the HSA documentary. The hike back to camp was equally grueling. Once we were back, we sparked the fire and began cooking our dinner before laying our weary heads to rest.

The following morning, I sat out on an extreme hike to find the source of the creek that eventually lead to the waterfall. It was an arduous journey, full of rugged and steep cliffs, rocky ledges, and thick overgrowth that I had to climb and bushwhack my way through. The end result was worth the 3 day round trip as I was left with a sense of accomplishment, blessed with beautiful scenery, and the euphoria that can only come with being at one with nature.

On the 5th day, it was time to restock supplies and recharge the electronics. Shooting footage for a documentary deep in the middle of nowhere poses certain challenges, like hiking certain areas 2 or 3 times in order to place cameras, get the proper footage and angles. Afterward a break was much needed With my Dad living in Oklahoma, it was a natural choice to rest at his house before embarking upon the second part of the adventure.

READ MORE (and see photos) AFTER THE JUMP...

Phase 2 had us planning for boating, fishing, snorkeling, and various other water sports at Lake Eufaula. Lady Luck would only be with us up to a point however, as the recent heavy storm activity and rain run off filled the lake with Oklahoma's famous red clay.

There was no visibility for snorkeling and the runoff affected the fishing as well. We were still able to catch a couple of good blue cats and enjoy leisurely boat rides along the lake.

After 2 days at the lake, we returned to my dads house to rest up for the long drive back to Corpus.

It was a great adventure. One that left me craving more. As I drove down the highway Monday morning on my way to work in my coffin of glass and steel, I realized how much I miss being in the wild and at one with nature... it hasn't even been a week since my return... gotta get back out there... soon!

Base Camp - Photo: HSA

My son and daughter at base camp - Photo: HSA

Me at the falls - Photo: HSA

My Companions at the Falls - Photo: HSA

Base Camp at Nightfall - Photo HSA

Chilling on the Boat - Photo: HSA

Catch of the Week - Photo: HSA

Another good fish - Photo: HSA

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DESTINATION: ADVENTURE - Update

Photo: Human Spirit of Adventure

After 4 long days in the rugged backcountry, we are back to civilization for a day. We need to restock supplies and recharge all of the electronics... shooting footage for a documentary deep in the middle of nowhere poses certain challenges. It has been a great experience so far and looking forward to the rest of the journey.

Thus far we have hiked miles and miles of rugged terrain, done 4 river crossings, and been bitten by every bug known to mankind. Tomorrow we should reach our final destination and enjoy the serenity and watersport action of Lake Eufaula.
We will have a full journey update upon our return, so stay tuned...

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DESTINATION: ADVENTURE... 5 DAYS AWAY

5 Days and Counting...

In five days, we here at HSA will set of on a week long adventure. An adventure that will encompass multiple adventure sports.

On the agenda is miles and miles of rugged backpacking,  hiking, climbing, cave exploration, and freshwater snorkeling... topped off with rivers, waterfalls and spectacular views.

This adventure will be filmed on GoPro cameras as part of HSA's upcoming documentary tentatively titled "Life: Reclaimed"

We are gearing up and beginning the final week of preparation for this adventure. We will try to post some photo's along the way on our Facebook page and have a full blown recap right here on the blog upon our return.

See you then!

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DOUBLE DISAPPOINTMENT... BRITAIN'S OMM CANCELED

Photo: prlog.org

Original Mountain Marathon A NoGo...

STORY BY: MICK LORD

Last weekend I was all packed, tent, rucksacks packed with the lightest gear I could find, car ready to go bed early on Friday evening for a very early start Saturday to arrive at the Original Mountain Marathon Lite early on Sat morning ready to go.

Checked the website for any last min stuff as I got up on the Saturday to find the following message posted on the site:-

Dear Friends

It is with great regret we announce the cancellation of this weekend's OMM Lite and OMM Bike.

We will provide a full refund to all participants, however, for those of you who wish to join us the camping is free for the weekend and the meal for Sunday is also free. Hopefully you can then enjoy this beautiful part of the country as individuals rather than as an organised event.

All of us at OMM are incredibly disappointed that this has happened and wish to extend our sincerest apologies to all of you who have been inconvenienced.

We are in he process of personally calling all entrants to fully inform them of the situation. If you have any questions then please place a comment and we will answer as soon as possible.

Thank you for all your support

The OMM family,

Andy, Tom, Matt, Stu, Iain and Giles


We were really disappointed, but know that cancelling any event is not an easy decision, so we were left with a free weekend at the last moment.

On the Sunday we went to participate in a 3hr navigation trail race in the South Yorkshire Hills so all was not lost, we covered a very hilly 22k and would have been a bit more had it not been for a big dog that didn't want to let us through his field. Our course for the 3hr event http://connect.garmin.com/activity/314915831.

I had also arranged during the week to take a flight in a hot air balloon but this was also cancelled due to the high winds :(

Myself and Jack have another 2 day mountain marathon coming up in early July in the beautiful Lakedistrict area of the UK, we will let you know (hopefully) how we progress on that one. http://www.slmm.org.uk/ We will be doing the BEDAFELL CLASS for parents and their children.

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CAMPING - The Rite of Passage

CAMPING – The Rite of Passage

Ahhh summer is drawing near. The air is getting warm, school will soon be out, and millions of families will answer the call of the wild and brave the great outdoors in the ritual known as camping.

Growing up, my mom and dad would gather us up; load up the car and off we would go on an exciting journey. As kids we looked forward to cooking hotdogs and roasting marshmallows on the open flame, hiking all day to a nice and cool swimming hole, and tell ghost stories around the fire.

As adults, when we look back, we forget the snakes, scorpions, bugs, and mosquitoes, but we remember the time that dad fell in the water and mom forgot the popcorn. Summer camping is a ritual, a rite of passage that is fun, memorable, and at times disastrous.

So as summer descends on us, whether we are backpacking through the outback, or car-camping in a campground, let us not forget certain essentials that will make the trip more bearable and fun, and give great memories that will last a lifetime.

Below, we have compiled a list of some essentials… this is a broad list that can be narrowed down for solo backpacker, or expanded for the car-camping family of city-slickers... Oh yeah, don’t forget the popcorn!

CAMPING LIST AFTER THE JUMP...

Camping Equipment Checklist

Standard Camping Equipment

____ Tent - Spring / Summer Camping: Standard Tent
____ Tent - Fall / Winter Camping: 3 or 4 Season Tent
____ Folding Chair(s)
____ Cooler
____ Sleeping Bag
____ Air Mattress or Camping Mat
____ Blanket
____ Pillow
____ Lantern / Flashlight (extra mantles for lanterns and batteries for flashlights)

Tools

____ Camping Hatchet or Machete
____ Handsaw
____ Swiss Army Knife or Multi-tool
____ Fixed Blade Knife
____ Hammer
____ Rope or Paracord

Cooking Equipment
____ Propane or Charcoal Stove / Cooking Grill / Grate (for campfire cooking)
____ Propane Cylinders, Liquid Gas or Charcoal
____ Pots & Pans
____ Utensils
____ Can Opener
____ Coffee Pot
____ Cutting Board
____ Kitchen Knife

Food & Water

____ Condiments: BBQ Sauce / Ketchup / Mustard / Mayo
____ Butter
____ Cooking Oil
____ Cereal
____ Bread
____ Packaged Bagels
____ Packaged Cold Cuts / Cheese
____ Beef, Chicken, Pork, Fish or Dehydrated Foods
____ Eggs (use a plastic egg container for real eggs or bring powdered eggs)
____ Bacon
____ Sausage
____ Pancake Mix
____ Canned Goods
____ Fruit
____ Water - 1 gallon of water per person, per day (*2 gallons per day in hot climates)
____ Milk (in plastic container)
____ Soda / Juice / Other Drinks
____ Coffee / Tea / Hot Chocolate
____ Chips / Pretzels / Popcorn
____ Snack Bars / Dried Fruit
____ Granola Bars

Personal Hygiene / Toiletries

____ Toilet Paper
____ Napkins
____ Paper Towels
____ Biodegradable Camping Soap (can be used for washing pots, pans, dishes, hair and body)
____ Sponge
____ Toothbrush & Toothpaste
____ Collapsible Water Bucket
____ Collapsible Water Carrier
____ Feminine Products

Clothing / Shoes / Linen

____ Jeans
____ Shorts
____ Shirts
____ Bathing Suit
____ Sweatpants
____ Socks
____ Underwear
____ Sandals
____ Sneakers
____ Boots
____ Hand Towel
____ Bathing Towel
____ Sheet (useful for using inside of sleeping bag to reduce moisture)

Misc

____ Emergency Rain Poncho
____ Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil
____ Can Opener / Bottle Opener / Cork Screw
____ Paper Plates / Cups or Washable Plates & Cups
____ Tablecloth / Clips
____ Camera / Film
____ Batteries
____ Tarp(s) (good for placing under tents to reduce moisture and for make-shift shelters)
____ Sunscreen
____ Bug Spray
____ Lighter / Waterproof Matches
____ First Aid Kit

____ "Ziploc" bags
____ Garbage Bags (*many natural camping areas require that you take ALL of your garbage with you! Carry In - Carry Out!)

List additional or personal items you may want or need to bring:

____    ______________________________
____    ______________________________
____    ______________________________
____    ______________________________
____    ______________________________
____    ______________________________
____    ______________________________
____    ______________________________ 

Camping Tips and Tricks:

  (1) Use a re-sealable container for storing food and cooking utensils to avoid having your food spoiled by ants or animals. Consider storing your container in a separate tent or vehicle to keep away any "unwanted guests"… particularly bears.

  (2) Block ice works best for extended cooling. It usually lasts for 2-3 days in a standard cooler, 4-5 days in an extreme 5-day cooler. Split the block in half and put a block on each side of the cooler. Add your food and drinks, and then fill in the remaining space with bagged ice. Keep your cooler in the shade when possible.

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Backpack Review - Gama 8.0 Internal Frame Pack

So I finally decided to retire my 25 year old Army issue ALICE pack and get myself a new bag for 1-to-3 day hikes. I was skeptical about buying a budget-pack from Wal-Mart, but so far, I’ve been pleasantly surprised with its performance. The Outdoor Products Gama 8.0 Internal Frame Pack is designed to provide a great pack for hiking or shorter backpacking trips. It has all of the modern conveniences that a good pack should have. For anyone who wants to use this pack as a street bag, you may not be happy with it. It has an over-sized waist belt and comes in 2 ugly colors… olive green (shown) and orange. I chose the olive green because I’m not thrilled about standing out on the trail… however I do live in Texas and the orange one might be better for protecting me from drunk, gun-toting rednecks (That was a joke so lighten up people). I took this 39.1L pack for a 2-day tryout and I must say that it met the test. I've not tried it on a longer trip or in overly rugged terrain, but for a low-budget pack I still feel pretty good about it.


For my overall assessment of this pack, READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

This bag features a suspended mesh back panel for maximum airflow and deluxe back padding with molded texture for added comfort.

After 2 days of lugging it around carrying about 25 pounds worth of food and gear, I must say that it is quite comfortable. While it does sit closer to the back versus other packs like the Osprey, it still has good airflow... This Gama Pack is equipped with a lightweight aluminum internal stay to stabilize large loads and a padded, ergonomically designed waist belt that comfortably supports heavy loads...

It also features articulated yoke-style shoulder straps with sliding sternum adjusters to get the chest strap in the position that's best for you.

The shoulder straps come with top and bottom adjustment straps for your comfort and convenience. The ends of all adjustment and compression straps are doubled back on themselves which is helpful when wearing heavy gloves or mittens.
The shoulder straps also feature webbing to attach M.O.L.L.E type gear or to run your hydration hose through as seen in the photo...

The very roomy Internal Frame Pack has a large capacity main compartment with a sleeve for a 2 liter hydration bladder (not included). At the top, there is a small Velcro strap that attaches to the bladder to help hold it high and keep it from sinking into the sleeve.
On my trip, there was plenty of room in this compartment for a tent, extra clothing, food, heavy jacket, and a few other odds and ends...

The Pack has a front stash-pouch that stores quick-access gear...

On the outside of the stash-pouch is yet another pouch for carrying your shovel, rain gear, or whatever...

The top flap has yet another zippered pocket perfect for stuffing your rain-fly (not included)...

This pack has double side pockets. The inner pocket is great for storing you water bottles and the gusset pocket can hold your sun screen, snacks, or whatever you choose...

In addition to compression straps, the bottom has D-rings that are handy for attaching a sleeping bag or other bulky items...










Pros:
Suspended mesh back panel
Compression straps galore
Roomy
Budget friendly
Sturdy build and stitching

Cons:
No pockets on waist belt
Zippers could be higher quality
No rain-fly included

Overall Assessment:
This is an excellent pack for day hikes and shorter camping trips. It is very comfortable, breathable, and has lots of pockets. I would definitely recommend this pack for day-hikers and weekend warriors.

Manufacturers Specifications:

Outdoor Products Gama Internal Frame Pack:

• Lightweight aluminum internal stay to stabilize large loads
• Suspended mesh back panel for maximum airflow
• Deluxe back padding with molded texture for added comfort
• Extra padded, ergonomically designed waist belt comfortably supports heavy loads
• Articulated yoke- style shoulder straps with sliding sternum adjusters
• Backpacker organizer located in front pocket
• Left and right accessory pockets with zipper closure
• Fits most 2L reservoirs (hydration reservoir not included)
• Vertical and bottom compression straps
• Large capacity main compartment with zipper closure

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