Downhill Kilt Skiing Image via BBC

The Scottish certainly know how to celebrate in style. In honor of the best ski season in Scotland since 2001, over 200 skiers and snowboarders headed over to CairnGorm Mountain for a record-breaking run.

What, you might ask, made this run so memorable? All 235 intermediate-to-advanced skiers and snowboarders were dressed in kilts. CairnGorm Mountain spokesperson Colin Kirkwood said:

“It was an impressive sight and we wanted to do something to celebrate the great ski season we’ve been having and do something which could involve the public.”

Money raised at the event will benefit a local school skiing program.

[Via: BBC News]

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This weekend’s weather proved that spring is well on its way, as is the spring issue of Wend! Here is a shot from our Survival Kit photo shoot, which included gear from: GoLite, Columbia, Terramar, Keen, Saucony, Kuru, Exoficcio and Smartwool, among others. More photos will appear in the magazine this April, so be sure to check out our online subscription options, and get your hands on an issue — whether it’s digital or print.

Directed and shot by cinematographer Sean Mullens, Birthright is a humbling film that successfully tells a complex, thought-provoking story in less than six minutes. The character is engaging and the scenes are artfully shot and beautifully edited. This one is definitely good enough to warrant breaking your “I only watch 1-minute or shorter internet videos” rule.

[Via: Charleston Waterkeeper]

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After a west Colorado rancher reported his suspicion that wolves had been on his land, rumor quickly spread among local residents.

It has not yet been confirmed if a pack of wolves has indeed found a new home at High Lonesome Ranch in De Beque, Colo., but locals are concerned, considering that wolves haven’t resided in the state for over 70 years.

While wolves were exterminated from the state in 1940, the occasional lone wolf has been known to wander in from the Northern Rockies from time to time.

Two years ago when High Lonesome Ranch owner Paul R. Vahldiek Jr. hired experts to survey his land, the results were a bit shocking: the biologists found evidence of more than one wolf  (droppings, sightings, howling, etc.).

Vahldiek ordered a DNA analysis, in order to discern whether the scat came from a wolf or a wolf-dog hybrid. But even if it is indeed wolf poop, that doesn’t necessarily mean that a pack has taken up residence. Ed Bangs, wolf recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, told the LA Times:

“Wolf packs don’t let you miss them. They’re incredibly obvious.”

Some see the potential wolf-invaders as a positive change. Vahldiek suggested that it might be good for the ecosystem, and groups like the WildEarth Guardians have been fighting for wolf recovery in Colorado for years.

Yet ranchers are fearful. One such rancher, Joe Latham, worries that even if the present claims prove fruitless, that a pack will eventually move in. He said:

“Then you got 2,000 wolves, and they’re eating the elk and deer and livestock…If Paul Vahldiek wants them, he needs to build a fence around his ranch, but I don’t want them. Colorado’s got way too many people. There’s no room for wolves.”

Wolves are currently listed as an endangered species in Colorado, protecting them from hunting and trapping.

[Via: LA Times]

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Days before his tragic death while attempting to climb Mt. Edgar in China last June, renowned alpinist Jonny Copp tapped into his poetic side and penned his last poem, Border Country. The poem is strangely foreboding of the tragedy to ensue several days later.

Here it comes to take me down, take me down with a thunderin’ sound.
Here she comes with arms spread wide, calling me back from border country.
Inch by inch, step by step, shadows are runnin’ in both directions.
Cowerin’ down from the echoing sounds bring us face to face.
Tighten my boots, make a run, turn to see that my thoughts untied, standing still in the blazing sun, nowhere to hide in Border Country.
Grabbin’ at the earth, holding on tight, wishin’ for my momma and my sweetheart’s delight.
Pull out a pennywhistle, let the old man dance, buying my ticket outta border country.

Along with being an exceptional climber, Copp was also a passionate musician. Those who’ve climbed with him fondly recall Copp’s unique piece of climbing gear–his flute. When he wasn’t high in the mountains piping away, Copp could be found in drum circles keeping the beat.

Despite his passing, Copp’s musical presence still remains thanks in part to musician Tres Altman of the Paper Stars. As an ode to his friend, Altman set Copp’s final work to music, which can be purchased here with all proceeds going to The Jonny Copp Foundation.

Long live Jonny Copp.

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Sailing on an ancient junk boat in Vietnam, riding a rickshaw in Japan or seeing the pyramids on camels – there are thousands of odd and intriguing forms of transportation around the world. Here are some of the strangest:

1. Bamboo Train, Cambodia

Between Battambang and Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, you’ll find this interesting train, cobbled together with a wooden frame, bamboo planking, an upright engine and reused military tank wheels. As basic it looks, it can haul passengers and cargo from one city to the next. Known as ‘norry’ in Khmer, it uses the spur lines, which means when a real train comes puffing, get ready to jump off your ride!

2. Tuktuk, India

These motorized three-wheelers are used all over Asia – originally in Thailand, then spread to Laos, Cambodia, Pakistan and India. Although Bangkok is the pioneer in the tuktuk industry, it’s India where traffic-swerving drivers and chaotic road conditions make it a thrilling ride. Whether you are in Bangalore or New Delhi, hop on for some fun. A tuktuk can usually accommodation two persons and a suitcase.

Read the rest of this entry »

Scotland’s We Were Promised Jetpacks fuses indie, punk, and pop melodies throughout each of their songs, creating an album perfect for any Monday morning pick-me-up. Throughout the band’s newest album, The Last Place You’ll Look (hitting the U.S. on March 9th), soft guitar tones and chimes offset the meaty vocals while thought-provoking lyrics add another layer of depth. We Were Promised Jetpacks’ is coming to the U.S. soon. For the full list of venues check out their Myspace page.

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A few days ago, a Colorado family’s teacup dog went wandering — only to encounter a hungry mountain lion. Naturally, when the little dog decided to head home, the mountain lion followed, only to find four more “guard dogs” upon arrival. The family’s Jack Russell Terrier, as well as four Shih-Tzus, attempted to fight the mountain lion, but apparently, their guard dog skills weren’t quite honed enough — the mountain lion killed (just) one of the dogs, but managed to trap the three human family members in the house until the sheriff could come. After evacuating the humans, authorities opted to tranquilize the mountain lion, and subsequently euthanized it in the hopes of eliminating any further hunting of small domestic animals. Apparently, wild animals should know better than to go by their natural instincts — or else.

[Via: The Goat]

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There’s an old adage that eyes are the window to the soul, but we here at Wend HQ prefer the windows to the outside world (though, that’s not to say we don’t appreciate our eyes). When we have spent hours on end staring at our computer screens getting some work done, just one look out the glass pane and some sanity is restored to our lives.

Regardless of if they’re made of cast iron, old wood with peeling paint, or just a hole in a stone wall, windows can give us both a look into someone else’s life and an alternative way to see the world.

So whether your window gives you a view of an urban jungle with cars (and hopefully bicyclists) whizzing by, a mountain landscape, or a cracked desert floor, prepare to take a visual journey of Windows, ‘Round the World.

If you like our ‘Round the World series, you might enjoy some of the previous themes: truckin’, glasses, mohawks, authorities, fanny packs, Jesus, swimming, sweaters, mustaches, stairs, chess, foods, silhouettes, donkeys, outhouses, and cemeteries.

Click on the thumbnails to view the images. If you’d like to see more work by any of the photographers featured here then follow the link that appears below each photo.

Enjoy

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Great photo essay here from photographer Marcus Riga, who recently took a road trip down the west coast with Knolly team riders Curtis Robinson and Alan Crisp. This dispatch comes from the rider-built trails at Black Rock, near Salem, OR, where they camped out for a week getting to know the stunts and waiting for the perfect combination of action and light to bless their viewfinder.

The results are visually stunning and the story of their camping out in the rain and fending off both Sasquatch and Deliverance-style locals is more than a little entertaining.

Some highlights of Riga’s work are below, with the whole story including many more photos over at Pinkbike.