The Dirtbag Diaries

Imagine a This American Life dedicated to stories about the outdoors and you'd get something similar to The Dirtbag Diaries. Fitz Cahall's podcast is one of the best on the internet. Couldn't be more entertaining. You can now listen to his latest and greatest, "Episode 38: The Accidental Journalist" right here:

As a child, Freddie Wilkinson was fascinated by K2 and the adventure narratives from 8,000 meter peaks. It led to an incredible career as an alpinist seeking out difficult routes on obscure peaks across the globe, but his interest in climbing the trophy peaks waned. In August 2008, 11 climbers lost their lives on K2. The ensuing media frenzy was just that -- a frenzy. Facts were hazy and right from the start people began making broad generalizations even though the details had yet to emerge. Something about it pissed Freddie off and stirred his curiosity. What really happened up there? Freddie started asking questions and in the process he found himself chasing an incredible story. You don't need a journalism degree or a press pass to be a reporter. All it takes is a little New England "Can Do Spirit" and curiosity that won't rest.

Fredda Paul

Fredda and Leslie were both unpacking their things from a beat up Rav 4 when we arrived at the Deer Isle Hostel. Fredda didn't say much when Dennis, the owner of the hostel, introduced us all, and after an awkward handshake and a silent understanding that we'd probably be spending a lot of time together in close quarters during the next day, I went off with Kalen on a hike before the sun went down and dinner was to be served.When we got back from the hike, we washed up, had a few beers, played half a game of Scrabble and walked a few hundred feet from the hostel over to Dennis' cabin. We brought a bottle of wine, a loaf of bread from Blue Hill, ME and one of many small jars of jalapeño jelly that Kalen had bought for me at Reny's the previous day.Leslie was standing at the wood stove, heating up a half-opened can of sardines in tomato sauce and cooking a mess of greens from Dennis' garden. Dennis and Fredda sat at the kitchen table smiling and quietly laughing. When I plopped the bread and jelly on the table, Fredda's face lit up. "AH! JALAPENOS! YUP!"I sat in between Kalen and Fredda, and before we ate the massive spread of food that had been waiting for us, we all joined hands and sat in silence. When Dennis finally spoke and told us to eat, I made a comment about how much I enjoyed a canned sardine and Fredda whispered and chuckled through a long story about his life as a sardine fisherman in the 60s. We finished dinner, ate a disgusting homemade cream puff that someone had given Leslie for their drive down to Deer Isle from the reservation, did the dishes and read in bed until we passed out.The following morning, I woke up around 5 am to the rooster crowing outside my window, walked downstairs and saw Fredda sitting at the table, looking out the window, cane in hand. We made coffee together, talked about his life on the reservation, the smell of sweet annie at Common Grounds, my life in Brooklyn and how he had won several habenero pepper eating contests. ("I like spicy things. Like the jelly. YUP!") We walked down to the trees so he could smoke a cigarette, a habit that he claimed his wife didn't know about. He told me the names of plants in Dennis' garden and which ones you could eat and which ones made the kids on the reservation sneeze. Fredda and Leslie had driven to Deer Isle to give a seminar on native medicinal plants at the hostel that day, so after a few hours of talking and walking, we went back to the house so he could start setting up.At 7 a.m., Dennis woke up and took me down to the beach and taught me how to dig for clams. An hour or two later, we walked back to the hostel with two big buckets full of the slimy creatures, packed our stuff and started our descent back down to the coast.Visit Fredda and Leslie's website and order some red willow bark, that when smoked, helps a man get some sleep.(I'm pretty sure this is one of the first pictures of myself I've ever posted in these parts, so enjoy it.)

Solitudes Volume 8: Sailing to A Hidden Cove

From Dan Gibson's Solitudes Volume 8:

The tug of the waves at the helm, the boat heeling until the lee rail slashes the surface, the workaday world far behind. And then, the sound of the winch, as the genoa is trimmed to a new course heading between land and a few small reefs, where gulls scream at our passing. Up ahead is a small island. When we sail close, we can hear the waves crashing on the rocks. An explosion of wings and cries tells us we are intruding on pristine territory. When we change course again, a following wind drives us through the narrow mouth of a long fjord-like bay. The boat slows as we move into protected waters, and we see the cove, hidden now by sheer cliffs and a rocky point. Driftwood rises in tortured shapes from the small sand beach. On a low hill above the cove, a beaver dam and the sounds of wildlife everywhere. We drop anchor and row ashore, towards the sounds - sounds from the trees, from the pond, from the sky. Superb digital recording, as true to life, will help you recognize each creature of the hidden cove.

Download the tracks at Closet Of Curiosities

Cold Splinters + Aquarium Drunkard

After months of emailing, I finally met Justin Gage in Austin, Texas, while sneaking him and his wife, Melissa, into a show at the FADER Fort. I was/am a huge fan of Aquarium Drunkard because, let's be honest, it's the best music website that the Internet has. The Internets was made so sites like Aquarium Drunkard could exist. At the time, I was still working in music, and while I can't remember the exact moment that Justin and I decided that we liked each other, I'm sure it started around one of the many times I would apologize for emailing him about whatever crap band I was being paid to email him about. That was almost four years ago.Since then, Justin and I have stayed friends, seeing each other when we're down in Austin and getting together whenever he visits the East Coast. A few years ago, Justin stayed with my girlfriend and I for a night in the Chinatown closet we called home, where he so willingly woke us up by finding my Europe '72 vinyl and blasting "Ramble On Rose." If that's not the best damn alarm clock in the world, then I don't know what is.Several weeks ago, Mr. Gage and I were talking about his wife's cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains, a place her father built with his own two hands. After the conversation, he emailed and asked if I would contribute to his mixtape series on that wonderful SIRIUS show that he does. I calmly said "YES," put together a few songs that I've posted on Cold Splinters and a few songs that I haven't, went on over to the SIRIUS offices in midtown Manhattan and sat in a booth making fun of myself and this website while recording the transitions for the show. "This is Jeff from Cold Splinters, a camping website you've never read and probably never will, and you just heard Paul McCartney's 'Big Barn Bed.'"It'll be on this Friday, but the tracks can be downloaded on AD this very instant.Thanks Justin. You're the goddamn best.MP3: The Monkees - As We Go Along

The Whip

I love me an old Wagoneer. I'd have killed for a first generation, two door Montero. A 60 series Land Cruiser is just about the most beautiful car ever made. As I looked for these cars and started test driving a few, I realized I wanted something smaller. Better on gas. More reliable. Just as handsome. And I made a damn fine choice.Above is my "new" 2000 Impreza Outback, complete with "SPORT" on its side and a GOOD OL' COLD SPLINTERS sticker on its butt, sitting in front of the Appalachian Trail. Mother nature's quite a lady, but you're the one I need. (To get to Mother Nature.)MP3: Bruce Springsteen - The E Street Shuffle

Max and Brian/The Rising Storm

(via)There aren't many music sites better than The Rising Storm. And not that those guys are ever in a slump, but good lord have they been killing it as of late. Everything's a gem. Go visit and stay as long as you can. Make yourself a mix and play it loud while your dog (Max or Brian? I say Max is the dog) is sticking his head out the window.MP3: Hoyt Axton - Have A Nice Day MP3: Manfred Mann - Part Time Man

Mountain Bike Hall Of Fame

The sun is-a-shining out east, which means getting your bike out of the closet and cutting up an old pair of pants to make shorts for the spring and/or summer. A co-worker came in this morning talking about the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame after seeing it on an episode of Globetrekker last night. The museum, located in Crested Butte (good lord, what a town) has a fabulous website full of history, pictures (there are a few more after the jump that are way better than the one above), old Mountain Bike magazines and bike race posters.Have at it.

Wall Drug

If you've been to the Badlands/Mt. Rushmore, you know Wall Drug. If you've ever taken a road trip anywhere from Minnesota to Montana on Interstate 90, you know Wall Drug. (Wall Drug spends an estimated $400,000 on 500 miles of billboards a year.) And if you live in the Midwest and pay any attention to the backs of cars, you've probably seen one of the stickers above. Worth the stop, I promise. If only for the free cold water.

Heimo's Arctic Refuge On VBS

In 1980, when Jimmy Carter created the 19 million acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, only six families of white settlers were allowed to keep cabins there. Heimo Korth and his wife, Edna, are the only ones left. If you've ever read The Final Frontiersman, a book that chronicles author James Campbell's visits with Heimo in 2002, 130 miles above the Arctic Circle, 250 miles from the nearest road and another 300 miles to the nearest hospital, then you should be very excited right now. And if you haven't read the book, you should still be very excited.A few months ago, when the guys at VBS returned from their 10 day visit with Heimo and quickly told me some of the details, I couldn't wait to see the footage. Today, VBS is finally debuting the first of a five part series about Heimo, titled Heimo's Arctic Refuge. The first episode shows is about where and how Heimo lives, and after looking through the pictures that VBS was kind enough to just send me, one of them pictured above, there is some amazing/brutal stuff to come. Watch it here and make sure you go back everyday this week. I'll remind you, don't worry.

Video: 1976 Grand Canyon Hang Gliding Test

On May 9th, 1976, Grand Canyon National Park permitted a NPS approved Hang Gliding Feasibility Test that you can watch HERE. Amazing footage. There's no sound, so try using the song below. (Thx BTBN)Above are photos from the Arizona Hang Glider's Association's archive (not taken during the GCNP test). There are loads of old photos and newspaper clippings there, so go and take a peak.MP3: Black Mountain - Stay Free