Wend Blog

Indiana Kayakers Encounter 11-Foot Python, Save Its Hide for “Conversation Piece”

Sami Ewers — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:00:51 +0000

A small group of friends were fishing from their kayaks on the Wildcat Creek this Sunday, when Dave Neal noticed a snake wrapped around a tree trunk on shore. At first, Neal thought nothing of it, until he saw it start to slither up a hill. That’s about the time he noticed its size, and when he decided called 911. Police later told him the snake he spotted was an 11-foot long Burmese python.

Pythons such as these are native to parts of Asia, and certainly aren’t often found in Indiana, of all places. Josh Schoon, a conservation officer with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources suspects the snake was a pet that either escaped or was abandoned.

Schoon came to the scene at about 5:30 p.m., and after speaking with his sergeant, made the decision to put the snake down. Schoon says the snake posed a danger to small children, and explained that due to poor cell reception, he wasn’t sure how he’d have been able to bring out a rescue expert. “If it was a lot closer to town, and I had a lot more ways to contact people, it might have been within the question to try to get someone there to pick it up and not put it down, and hopefully get it a good home somewhere,” Schoon said. He shot the python three times in the head before it died.

Mark Denhardt, curator of the Tippecanoe County Exotic Animal Sanctuary agreed that the snake did pose a threat to nearby children, as pythons can be extremely aggressive and dangerous. However, he was disappointed that the snake was killed before he or anyone else was called to rescue it. “Every animal in the book is covered in this area, so there’s no excuse for something like this to happen,” he said.

After Schoon shot the snake, he told Neal he could keep it. Neal did just that–and is currently in the process of curing the python hide. He plans to hang it from his back porch some day, and says “It’ll always been a conversation piece,” adding, “I ain’t never seen anything that big in the wild before … it’s kinda cute, though.”

[Via: jconline]

[Photo Via: jconline]

Naked Biker! Call 911!

Sami Ewers — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:00:44 +0000

The 911 calls began at 2:31 p.m. on Monday when onlookers noticed a 20-year-old woman riding her bicycle, naked, along a highway in the state of Washington. A trooper was dispatched, but was unable to locate her. Later that afternoon, at 4:20, another call came in to police. The woman, it appeared, was near the Bremerton Airport, and was now wearing “pants and pasties.” A trooper located the woman about 15 minutes later, and asked her to put some clothes on. Whether or not he asked politely, we may never know. But we’re glad the naked offender was put in her place. Naked bikers could be dangerous, you know.

[Via: seattlepi]

[Photo Via: D'Arcy Norman]

The Joy Trip Project: The Last Man on the Mountain

James Mills — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:00:04 +0000

An interview with author Jennifer Jordan

In 1939, Dudley Wolfe was on one of the earliest expeditions to reach the summit of K2. An adventurer and one of the wealthiest men in the world, he was left for dead with a rescue team of Sherpa after a devastating avalanche. Some say he was the victim of his own foolishness, others say he was abandoned by the members of his climbing party as they fled the mountain to save their own lives. And even though his body has been found, there remains a great deal of controversy around Wolfe’s death that continues to this day.

Jennifer Jordan

In her book “The Last Man on the Mountain” Jennifer Jordan gives us a close look into life of an American adventurer and the first to die on K2.

This interview with the Jennifer Jordan was recorded on location at the Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride, Colorado. The book Last Man on the Mountain is now out in hardcover. You can find more information online, visit jenniferjordan.net.

Music this week by the Dave Mathews Band.

This podcast is brought to you thank to generous support of our sponsor Patagonia. We don’t take money from just anyone. Sponsors of the Joy Trip Project support our mission of an active lifestyle through outdoor recreation and community involvement. Support us by supporting them.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this podcast help spread the word by posting a link to it on your Facebook page. Or send it as a tweet to your followers on Twitter. Social media is vibrant exchange of ideas join the conversation by becoming engage. Post your comments the Joy Trip Project blog or send us an email to info@Joy Trip Project.com.

Share your stories. share your passion for outdoor recreation, environmental conservation, acts of charitable giving, and practices of sustainable living. You just might inspire our next Joy Trip together. But most of all don’t forget to tell your friends. Until next time take care.

Get a Two-Year Subscription this Month, Get a Wend Klean Kanteen!

Sami Ewers — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:00:31 +0000

Ever felt green with Klean Kanteen envy? You know, it’s a hot summer day, you’re resting at a lookout point on your 15-mile hike, and you see a woman standing 10 feet away, leaning gently against the back of a wooden bench, a shiny Klean Kanteen hanging from her right index finger. You try to look away, but she’s smiling wryly. And you just stand there, parched, hot, boiling, in fact… with envy. You slowly but loudly crush your nasty single-use plastic water bottle with your bare hands, and quickly remember: “Shoot. That’s all I had.” The woman across from you begins to cackle.

You, my friend, are in dire need of a Klean Kanteen of your own–a shiny, sleek, BPA-free stainless steel water bottle that you can fill, carry, refill, and feel good about using. Lucky for you, for the entire month of September, Wend is offering a free Wend logo-emblazoned 27 oz. Klean Kanteen Wide to every person who signs up for a two year subscription to the magazine. Subscribe here. Now! And you’ll never again feel the wrath of Klean Kanteen envy. Especially since yours will scream “Beyond Adventure” with every sip, gulp, or slurp.

September Friday Photo Contest: Sweet Surf

Sami Ewers — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:00:09 +0000

Surfing unites human and sea. It blends the two together in an energy-bound relationship for moments, or minutes, depending on the human and depending on the wave. To surf, it can be argued, is to feel the energy of Earth first hand, in its most untainted form. In the same way that a base jumper uses the energy of the wind to glide through the sky, a surfer utilizes the flow of the water’s wave to carry him forward in a flowing motion that’s exceedingly joyful and perpetually fun.

If you’ve ever surfed, you’ve felt the energy of Earth, and you’ve probably smiled as a result. If you’ve ever photographed a surfer, you’ve captured this movement, this relationship, this emotion, or a combination thereof. We want to see what you’ve shot.

The month of September beckons the last of the summer light, and retains the warmth of summer in a way that begs surfers around the country to get out and catch a wave. And so, September‘s Friday Photo theme is: ‘Sweet Surf’. Submit shots with this theme in mind; Shots of surfers catching waves, waiting for them, walking toward them, and smiling as a result of them. Submit creative, well-composed shots of your best friend surfing for the first time. Or of her wiping out… Or of your favorite break at your favorite surf spot.

Each week we’ll choose the shot that best exemplifies ‘Sweet Surf’ and our weekly winners will win a pair of OluKai shoes. ”Olu’ means “comfort” and ‘Kai’ means “Ocean,” which couldn’t be more fitting for this month’s theme.

Want your own chance at winning? Submitting is easy! Just fill out this submission form–with the theme ‘Sweet Surf’ and make sure to include a description of the photo you submit and the address of where you want your gear sent.

Good luck!

You can submit photos from anywhere in the world, but we will only ship prizes to addresses within the continental United States.

Feel free to submit as often as you’d like. We choose a winner every Friday. And help us spread the word–we have a new theme (and a new set of prizes) every month.

[Photo Via: Alexandra Campo]

Wipeout Wednesday – Animal Edition

Sarah Esterman — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:00:07 +0000

You know what they say about pets and their owners, about how we start to look like them. Or is it the other way around?

From Stephen: (All he needs is a surf board.)

Click here to view the embedded video.

From Katherine: (Why dogs are better.)

Click here to view the embedded video.

From Jeff: (This only looks like a terrible idea.)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Leave No Trace Caption Contest Winner Week 4

Sami Ewers — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:30:46 +0000

This week’s shot, “City Sleeping Bags,” got some hilarious captions (go here to read them), but there can only be one winner! And that winner is Elizabeth, who captioned the above shot:

Woman: Wow, is that a French pedi?
Man: It looks to be Brazilian from my angle.
All: Giggle!

Congrats, Elizabeth! You win a pair of Chaco sandals; a pair of Smartwool socks (not to be worn with said Chacos) and a base layer from Smartwool; as well a Base Camp Duffel bag from The North Face; and a Planet Explore reusable water bottle and seed card.

Subscribe to Wend magazine here and $5 dollars will be donated to Leave No Trace–but act quick! Today is the last day!

[Brought to you by:]

Fire Tornado Burns Through Brush in Hawaii

Sami Ewers — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:00:31 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

According to the Associated Press, the “fire tornado” shown in the above video was a result of “strong winds and brush fires.” The video was taken last week after firefighters attempted to contain a brush fire near the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island. Apparently, they didn’t get to the fires fast enough.

[Via: Huffington Post]

Music Monday: The Thermals

Ian — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:32:47 +0000

The Thermals probably spawned during some cold gloomy winter night in Portland, just like a thousand other bands have. But only the really good make it past playing at bike messenger parties, and only a few of the best get signed with Kill Rock Stars. If you are in Portland go see them, The Decemberists and many many more at MFNW in two weeks!

Music Monday: All We Grow

… Read the rest

Need S’more Caffeine?

Sami Ewers — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:48:05 +0000

Caffeine. Bzzzzzz! That’s the sound of your brain and the feeling of your body when you’ve welcomed caffeine into your system.

If you like the Bzzzzzz feeling you get from, say, a giant mug of coffee, you just might be enticed by these: Caffeinated Marshmallows–appropriately named “Stay Puft.” Each mallow contains 100 mg of caffeine, which means that popping a “Stay Puft” is about the equivalent of throwing back a small shot of espresso.

Each pack comes with 24 marshmallows, which should be just enough to make a batch of super S’mores ’round the campfire!

[Via: The Adventure Life]

Slackline Around the World Week 11: Oh Snap! No Peas for Me in NYC

Joe Mohr — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 11:00:50 +0000

I’m hungry and tired and arrived in NYC (the end of my U.S. tour!) without any type of fan fair. Yet my spirits lifted when my slackline passed a beautiful fire escape garden. Throughout, this cross country slacktour I ate a generous amount of burritos, consumed more beer than a cartoon man on a slackline should, and ingested countless bugs, a few bats, and a hawk (it was either him or me), but when I passed this garden and saw the juicy snap peas taunting me from within their iron sanctuary, it took all of my restraint not to snap into a snap pea.

After following Mike Lieberman’s (CanarsieBK) exploits as an NYC fire escape gardener I couldn’t get myself to take what was not mine and moreover, what was so beautifully and dutifully tended to and loved.

Hungry, tired, and without inner peas, I am done crossing our great country by slackline.
(Talk about not leaving a footprint.)

I’m heading across the Atlantic toward Portugal in a few days. I’ll include my updated Mean Joe Green SlackTracker next week sometime.

Peas.
MJG

MeanJoeGreen SlackTracker

Drinking Water ‘Round the World

Sarah Esterman — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 11:00:10 +0000

Water. It’s the stuff of life. And yet it is becoming the stuff of major crisis. What with the amount of potable water shrinking over time, the public conscious is finally beginning to grasp the consequences of its wasteful actions.

Overuse of the important resource, the pollution of streams and fresh waterways, and bottled water—among other major contributors—are instrumental in the fact that many parts of the world do not have enough clean water for all.

So sip some tap water, don’t judge the small child drinking out of the one-use water bottle in Senegal too harshly, and prepare to take a visual journey of Drinking Water, ‘Round the World.

If you like our ‘Round the World series, you might enjoy some of the previous themes: campsites, barbecues, scuba diving, sailing, slacklining, spelunking, trekking, water skiing, mountain biking, sand, gliding, kayaking, climbing, buses, skateboarding, surfin’, doorways, hats, boating, gas stations, bicycles, windows, truckin’, glasses, mohawks, beer, 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.

Base Jumping Meets Tree Hugging….

Patty Lenz — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 11:00:07 +0000

Wait for the ending… wait for it!

Base Jumping… Under Water
Wipeout Wednesday: Slipping on Slackline
Wipeout Wednesday: (Almost) Free Falling

Friday Photo: Salty Sweet

Sami Ewers — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:00:33 +0000

This week’s Friday Photo winner is Chris Perez for submitting this shot that shows a sweet taste of the Salt River.

“Pulled off for lunch on day two of the Upper Salt River run. Snapped this shot midway into my cool down plunge.”

Congratulations, Chris! You win your very own GoPro camera and a pair of Chaco sandals–both perfect for summer sun days.

Want your own chance at winning? Submitting is easy! Just fill out this submission form–with the theme ‘Take a Plunge‘ and make sure to include a description of the photo you submit and the address of where you want your gear sent.

Good luck!

You can submit photos from anywhere in the world, but we will only ship prizes to addresses within the continental United States.

Feel free to submit as often as you’d like. We choose a winner every Friday. And help us spread the word–we have a new theme (and a new set of prizes) every month.

U.S. Patent Issued to Apple–Smart Bike Coming Soon?

Patty Lenz — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:00:17 +0000




With what sounds like a cross between TRON and ‘that guy’ riding around town with the old ghetto-blaster tied to his seat rack–Apple looks to corner the market on entertaining technology via two wheels. According to the patent issued to Apple earlier this month, this Shred-Sled could come equipped with Wi-Fi, audio, video and even voice commands to control the device(s).

I can just imagine the potential for instant feedback from those creating GoPro videos on the fly. My words of wisdom–just watch out for trees.

[Via: Patently Apple, Huffington Post]

[Photo Via: Patently Apple]

84-Year-Old Adventurer to Cross Atlantic on Raft

Sami Ewers — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:00:04 +0000

“Fancy rafting across the Atlantic? Famous traveller requires 3 crew. Must be OAP. Serious adventurers only.”

…So read the ad 84-year-old British adventurer and author Anthony Smith placed in the U.K paper the Telegraph in the hopes of finding a sufficient crew to help him row the Atlantic–a dream he’s waited almost his entire life to complete.

Smith’s ad worked. And his dream will be realized starting in January 2011, with the help of his crew: 57-year old David Hildred (a “yachtsman”), 61-year old Robin Batchelor (a “hot air balloonist”), and Andy Bainbridge, 56 (an “sailor” and friend of Smith’s). Together, they’ll row the Atlantic on a raft that’s being built from 13-yard-long sections of sealed-off plastic gas pipes, a raft which will be replete with two small shelters, a fence lining the circumference of the craft, and a sign on the sail that will read, “Elderly Crossing.”

Smith and his crew will start in the Canary Islands next January, in the hopes of taking advantage of the season’s strong trade winds and completing the 2,800-mile journey, ending in the Bahamas, in just 60 days.

[Via: Gadling]

[Photo Via: The Telegraph]

The Most Isolated Man On Earth

Robb — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:00:31 +0000

The western Brazilian state of Rondonia contains some of the richest agricultural lands in the Amazon, attracting large numbers of ranchers, loggers, and farmers looking to capitalize on the areas resources. It’s also the home of a lone native man, who has been living on the run, in isolation for decades.

He is known by the media as the “Man in the Hole” because of the various holes he digs within his huts and throughout the forest for hunting and hiding. He needs them. He has been on the run from ranchers, loggers, scientists, and government officials since they first discovered the man nearly 15 years ago. He has resisted all attempts at contact, and has even put an arrow in the chest of an agent trying to get close.

While his situation is extreme, the likes of his plight are not uncommon. The Brazilian government has passed various laws attempting to protect the native tribes of the Amazon. Brazil’s 1988 Constitution gave Indians the legal right to the land they have traditionally occupied, and in the case of the ‘Man in the Hole’, it has cordoned off a 31-square-mile area of protection. These laws however, have created powerful incentive for ranchers, settlers, and loggers to chase such tribes from their native lands, and have effectively put a bounty on the heads of tribes-people. With the Brazilian government unable to patrol or protect the vast Amazon, the native tribes have faced repeated massacres as gunman have moved onto indigenous lands, and it is believed that this was the fate of the rest of the man’s tribe sometime in the 80’s.

None of the local ranchers claim any knowledge of the attacks, but most are outspoken about their disdain for the protection of this man. Ranchers argue that it’s absurd to protect 31 square miles of land for one man when that same land can be used to produce food and products for thousands. But support for the man is spreading across Brazil and throughout the internet, hoping to silence the land-hungry voices.

As Slate Magazine reports, “Some Brazilians believe that the rapid spread of technology itself might protect his solitude, not threaten it. The agents who have worked on the lone Indian’s case since 1996 believe that the wider the story of the man’s isolation spreads—something that’s easier than ever now—the safer he’ll be from the sort of stealthy, anonymous raids by local land-grabbers that have decimated tribes in the past. Technologies like Google Earth and other mapping programs can assist in monitoring the boundaries of his territory. Instead of launching intrusive expeditions into the tribal territories to verify the Indians’ safety, Brazilian officials have announced they will experiment with heat-seeking sensors that can be attached to airplanes flying high enough to cause no disruption on the ground.” Some local tribes have even started working directly with Google Earth as an attempt to insure the future of their tribes.

It’s a decades-long argument that has been taking place within Brazil, with various interest groups around the world joining the chess game and awaiting the ultimate outcome of the Amazon Rainforest. In today’s modern world there are new players, and new tactics, but it seems the pawns have remained the same.

[Via: Slate, Timesonline]

[Photo Via: Google images]

Washington Town Lowers Bike Speed Limit on Trail, Adds Yellow Centerline

Sami Ewers — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:00:31 +0000

In August 2008, reporter Adam McFadden wrote in an article about the Cedar River Trail in Renton, WA: “After exploring much of the Cedar River Trail, I came away with one impression: The trail is a great place to bike, take a stroll or just wander.” In April 2010, a local Renton resident, 83, died after being hit by a bike rider on the same trail. The collision between the Renton woman and the bicycle not only makes a subtle mockery of McFadden’s words, it has led to a campaign by the city of Renton to enhance trail safety. This August, Renton lowered the bike speed limit on the trail, and added a bright yellow centerline stripe to it, both in the hopes of making the trail a safer place for people to walk, bike, and “wander,” if they so choose. The city has also set up regular path patrols by police, who, according to the Renton Reporter, “have contacted more than 500 trail patrons and provided information on trail etiquette and safety. They have also noted 15 helmet violations, 31 speeding violations, 19 dismount violations” since June.

From the article:

The new lanes are making a difference and bikes are going slower,” said Renton Police Cadet Travis Gnehm. “At least three citizens have come up to me and expressed their appreciation and have mentioned that that our police-presence on the trail was a great help.” The city also plans to provide flyers and information on trail etiquette at kiosks and dispensers along the Cedar River Trail, post additional signage to promote trail etiquette, and work with local bicycling organizations to inform their members about the new rules and encourage trail safety.

[Via: Renton Reporter]

[Photo Via: Biking Bis]

Wipeout Wednesday: Sucks to be That Guy

Sarah Esterman — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:00:59 +0000

You know the story. You’re walking down the street one day, minding your own business, when a stray skateboard smacks you in the head.

From Jesse: (He’s going down.)

Click here to view the embedded video.

From Renae: (He’s going for a strike.)

Click here to view the embedded video.

From Gary: (He’s airborn…and he’s down.)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Filming a Buffalo One Minute, Getting Mauled by it Another

Sami Ewers — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:00:52 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

“Watch Donald get gored,” Cathy Hayes says playfully as she films her friend jogging closer to a buffalo in Yellowstone National Park. The words come out of her mouth just minutes before the buffalo she’s filming looks straight into her camera, starts bucking and kicking, and runs directly at her. As it turns out, her friend Donald was left unscathed. But Cathy was left with some serious bruises and cuts on her legs–and live footage of the buffalo charging at and attacking her.

This is just one instance of a technology-related accident. But, as reported by The New York Times, incidences such as these are on the rise in National Parks. According to the article, people today often rely too heavily on technology–from cell phones to satellite location devices–or find themselves distracted by cameras, which in both cases can lead to misguided decisions or place people in dangerous situations.

From The New York Times:

People with cellphones call rangers from mountaintops to request refreshments or a guide; in Jackson Hole, Wyo., one lost hiker even asked for hot chocolate.

A French teenager was injured after plunging 75 feet this month from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon when he backed up while taking pictures. And last fall, a group of hikers in the canyon called in rescue helicopters three times by pressing the emergency button on their satellite location device. When rangers arrived the second time, the hikers explained that their water supply “tasted salty.”

“Because of having that electronic device, people have an expectation that they can do something stupid and be rescued,” said Jackie Skaggs, spokeswoman for Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

[Via: The New York Times]

Get Your KEEN’s at the Garage!

Sami Ewers — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

We announced it last week and we’ll announce it again–the KEEN Garage (its first retail store) is now open for business. If you haven’t had a chance to look through the Garage, you’re missing out. The space itself is modest in size but chock-full of the KEEN culture that surrounds the brand. A chalkboard behind the register announces local community events in an unassuming fashion. All shoes are displayed “rotisserie” style, attached to recycled bike chains and gears. Bags, from messengers to purses, hang casually from old industrial-looking steel hooks, and the upcoming season’s shoes are showcased atop beautiful slabs of wood, moss intact.

The store is located at 926 NW 13th avenue, so next time you find yourself in NW Portland, stop by to see the coolest Garage in town.

Come See the Elements Tour & Baby the Bio-Fueled Wonder in PDX!

Sami Ewers — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 07:52:54 +0000

Tomorrow marks the finale of Grand Opening week for the KEEN Garage–and the week is ending with a bang! Thursday evening from 5 to 9 p.m., the entire block outside the Garage storefront (926 NW 13th Ave.) will be closed off to cars and open to the public. And it’s there that you’ll find The Elements Tour crew and Baby the famous bio-fueled wonder, accompanied by Gravity Free, who will be painting live the entire night. To top it all off, there will be live music, parkour demos, and tours of Baby herself.

Hope to see you there!

Traffic Jam in the Holland Tunnel? No Problem.

Ian — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:56:24 +0000

Mountain Unicycling by the Best of the Best
Wipeout Wednesday: Mountain Bikes Maim
Elliptical, Meet Bike…

Leave No Trace Caption Contest Week 4: City Sleeping Bags

Sami Ewers — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:08:16 +0000

Hot purple sleeping bags with a between-the-legs zip option and padded feet. Four funny people. A hot midsummer’s night in the city.

What do you get when you combine these elements? The above shot… ready for your silly/serious/snarky comments.

Submit a clever comment in the comments section below and hope yours is the best. Four lucky winners will receive a pair of their very own Chaco sandals; a pair of Smartwool socks (not to be worn with said Chacos) and a base layer from Smartwool; as well a Base Camp Duffel bag from The North Face; and a Planet Explore reusable water bottle and seed card. Here’s the weekly contest deal:

This is the last week of the Leave No Trace Caption Contest–so start submitting now! Next Tuesday, we’ll announce the winner. Submit using the comments section below. Good luck!

Subscribe to Wend magazine here and $5 dollars will be donated to Leave No Trace.

[Brought to you by:]

Leave No Trace Caption Contest Winner Week 3

Sami Ewers — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:44:12 +0000

This week’s shot, “Doggie Dash,” bore witness to several awesome captions, but there can only be one winner, and that winner is… Danielle, for submitting the caption that (we think) best captured this pooch’s character in words. According to Danielle, this is what this dog was thinking:

“Ooh ooh you need someone to collect firewood? I’ll do it I’ll do it I’m good at it oh let me let me let me! See how good I am at it see see see? You wait here I’ll go get more!”

Congrats, Danielle! You win a pair of Chaco sandals; a pair of Smartwool socks (not to be worn with said Chacos) and a base layer from Smartwool; as well a Base Camp Duffel bag from The North Face; and a Planet Explore reusable water bottle and seed card.

Check the site for our last Leave No Trace Caption Contest photo… and start thinking of captions! Next Tuesday we’ll announce the winning caption for this shot. Submit using the comments section below. Good luck!

Subscribe to Wend magazine here and $5 dollars will be donated to Leave No Trace.

[Brought to you by:]

Bears Guarding Cannabis Field too Mellow to Attack Police Raiders

Kyle Cassidy — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:06:06 +0000

Police raiding a marijuana farm in western Canada stumbled across a group of more than 10 black bears that appeared to have been lured there to guard it.

Over the years, marijuana farmers have developed some novel ways of protecting their crops. From “invisible” fishhooks hanging at eyelid level to dogs and small, homemade explosives, the organizers of big-money operations utilize painful but typically non-lethal booby traps to keep out unwelcome visitors. But bears? You can almost hear the bong bubbling.

According to BBC, five police officers had just arrived to the farm near Christina Lake, close to the US border, to wreak some good old-fashioned, authoritarian-style havoc on the plantation when the bears first emerged. The tables, it seemed, had turned. Frozen by the initial terror that anyone, cop or otherwise, might expect to experience in the presence of a dozen or so seemingly ferocious 500-pound animals trained to guard an illegal drug operation, the officers hesitated. In the moments that passed, one can imagine the two groups sizing one another up. Although reports don’t indicate this, I choose to imagine that the owners of the plantation had moved to the rooftop, where they munched Cheeze-Its while peering through binoculars in anticipation of the final, epic showdown: Cops versus bears. The battle would unfold in the leafy shade of their own $1-million marijuana plantation. The biggest YouTube sensation of all time…

But the battle was not to be. Far from being rabid man eaters with a taste for badges, the bears, which authorities believe had been lured to the farm with dog food, were actually docile to the point of lethargy. It wasn’t long before the officers emerged to, among other things, pose for photographs around the animals.

“They were tame, they just sat around watching. At one point one of the bears climbed onto the hood of a police car, sat there for a bit and then jumped off,” said Royal Canadian Mounted Police sergeant Fred Mansveld.

In Canada like pretty much everywhere else, it’s illegal to share food with bears, regardless of how much pot you’ve smoked. While authorities have no way of telling if the bears’ lethargy had anything to do with the crop they were purportedly guarding, from their actions it’s probably safe to assume that bears simply can’t be trusted around your stash.

Two people were arrested in the raid and now Conservation officers are deciding the fate of the bears. According to the National Post a global campaign has emerged to raise donations to pay for feeding stations or other solutions for the animals. The campaign has apparently already scored $1,300 from Canadian actor Jason Priestley.

[Via: BBC]

“Floatzilla” Participants Attempt to Create World’s Largest Raft

Sami Ewers — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:37:37 +0000

This weekend in Rock Island, Illinois, participants in about 1,200 canoes and kayaks linked hands and paddles together for 30 seconds in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest collective canoe and kayak raft. The standing record was set in 2008 in New York.

This Saturday’s event was aptly named “Floatzilla,” but despite its grandiose name, reports have yet to announce whether or not “Floatzilla” accomplished its goal of becoming the largest raft in the world.

[Via: abc7]

Music Monday: All We Grow

Sami Ewers — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:19:06 +0000

If you’re in the mood for mellow, you’ve come to the right Music Monday selection. Today, we bring you the soothing sounds of S. Carey from his first solo album, All We Grow. As the drummer for the American Indie folk band Bon Iver, S. Carey has no need to prove his musical talents to promote his solo endeavor. But it’s not just his musical chops that set him up for success in his solo career, it’s the fact that All We Grow is sweet-sounding, soothing, and an altogether relaxing combination of natural sounds, soft instrumentals, and streaming vocals.

Click on the video below to listen to the track “We Fell,” in which the constant keying of the piano serves as a sort of path for the vocals to walk along, enabling the song itself to come to life and then, inevitably, to fade away.

["We Fell" from S. Carey's album All We Grow]

Click here to view the embedded video.

Male Pole Dancing as Art, Sport, Entertainment

Sami Ewers — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 11:00:06 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

Another unique form of pole dancing that we have felt inclined to feature. We rate it right up there with bear pole dancing.

‘Victor’-y

Robb — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 11:00:24 +0000

What do you get when a design student from Montreal with a propensity for sustainable development descends upon the biking industry? Meet the ‘Victor’, a single speed concept bike created by Christophe Robillard for his final college project. Robillard set out to reframe the bicycle and has clearly accomplished exactly that. The Victor, with its matte black finish, brown leather Brooks seat, stylish fenders, white wall tires, and low bars, has the attitude and charisma of a vintage Indian motorcycle.

But Robillard’s objective was greater than mere styling, he set out to create a bike that was a reflection of the sustainable lifestyle that biking has come to represent. As Robillard explains in his blog:

“Reducing the material weight, optimising the manufacturing process, using recyclable and recycled materials, simplifying the disassembling and the separation of materials at the end of life are technical points which have to be respected during the development of a sustainable product. I believe in Mr. Jonathan Chapman’s philosophy — EMOTIONALLY DURABLE DESIGN — where the object presenting the best environmental qualities are the ones that we love, to whom we become attached and the ones we preserve.”

Robillard admits in his blog that he didn’t have the time or the budget for all of the necessary mechanical tests. So as for the structural integrity of the bike, the jury is still out, but if this bike makes it to production rest assured it will be gracing our streets and recycling its way into the hands of this nation’s single speed mania.

[Via: Robillard Victor]

[Photos Via: Design Boom]