NIVIUK HOOK3

NIVIUK HOOK3 from Michael Koeninger on Vimeo.

"SUMMER IN SAG HARBOR" BY PENFIELD

Penfileld's lookbook is titled “Summer in Sag Harbor,” the range of lighter outerwear, accompanies T-shirts, shirts and trousers designed for the upcoming warmer days, some of which sport bolder patterns and style. The collection as a whole offers varied options for the seasons, all of which still encapsulates the brand’s affection for “Rugged Outdoor Apparel.”

(click here for the complete lookbook)

Baked feta with fig & thyme compote.

Are you in search of the perfect dinner party appetizer? Well look no further, because this recipe for baked feta covered with fig-thyme compote is simple, delicious and definitely a crowd pleaser.

YOU WILL NEED:

1 cup of dried figs, quartered

1 cup of water

2 tablespoons of honey

3 springs of fresh time, plus extra for garnish

8 ounce block of brined feta cheese, drained and blotted dry

1 teaspoon of olive oil

Toasted baguette or crackers

***
Preheat the oven to 400°F.

In a pan over medium-high heat, combine the figs, water, honey and thyme and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Using a spoon remove the figs to a bowl. Boil the remaining syrup until it reduces to about 1/4 cup. Discard the thyme sprigs and then pour syrup over figs.

Meanwhile, rub olive oil over all surfaces of the feta and place the cheese in a small oven-proof dish. Bake for 15 minutes, until warm and quite soft, but not melted.

Spoon about 1/3 of the compote over the feta and garnish with fresh thyme springs and serve with toast or crackers. Cover and save the remaining compote in the refrigerator for future appetizers!

***

Serve with a glass of wine and enjoy with friends!

XO, Stef

delicious recipe found via thekitchn.com

I Will Fight No More Forever (1975)

          Although it’s so heavily skewed toward providing educational content that it plays more like a dry documentary than a lively feature, the TV movie I Will Fight No More Forever illuminates such an important chapter of American history that it’s possible to overlook the textbook presentation and enjoy the underlying narrative. The title emanates from a quote by Chief Joseph, who in 1877 helped guide his Nez Perce tribe from Oregon to Montana in a quest to escape the clutches of the U.S. government by slipping into Canada. While Joseph was neither the only leader of the Nez Perce nor the only Native American who engendered sympathy among whites, his determination and eloquence were unique—during his flight from Oregon, Joseph evaded the U.S. Cavalry for nearly 2,000 miles with minimal loss of life, and when he finally surrendered, he did so with such poetry that he shamed his pursuers.

          I Will Fight No More Forever tells the story of the Nez Perce exodus simply, and with a commendable degree of balance—some Nez Perce braves are shown as reckless, providing a counterpoint to Joseph’s rationality, just as Joseph’s main pursuer, Gen. Oliver Howard, is shown to sympathize with Joseph’s goals rather than hating the man. The story begins with a white civilian murdering a Nez Perce brave based on a false accusation of theft. As his people call for war, Joseph (Ned Romero) counsels patience and brings the matter to the attention of his friend, Howard (James Whitmore). Howard pledges to bring the killer to justice, but then he drops a bombshell by saying the U.S. government wants the Nez Perce moved onto a reservation. Appalled that a treaty designed to prevent exactly that outcome has been broken, Joseph walks away from his meeting with Howard and confers with his tribe. Reasoning that flight is wiser than open war, Joseph begins the journey to the Canadian border, with Howard’s troops in pursuit. As the chase spreads from days to weeks to months, Howard gains respect for his opponent’s strategic genius.

          Romero, a journeyman actor of partial Native American descent, makes up in presence what he lacks in skill, because he looks perfect in flowing hair and feathers, his face seemingly carved from granite and his voice a resonant instrument. Whitmore and costar Sam Elliot, who plays Howard’s aide (and sparring partner during moral debates), invest their scenes with feeling, often surmounting the limitations of stilted dialogue. The physicality of the movie is okay, with wide-open locations compensating for iffy makeup and too-tidy costuming, though a Native-themed music score lends texture. I Will Fight No More Forever is not the best tribute one might imagine for Chief Joseph, but it’s an honorable attempt.

I Will Fight No More Forever: GROOVY

World Cup Krushevo Zippy

World Cup Krushevo Zippy from Philippe Broers on Vimeo.

Finding a Happy Place

Ever since I quit my awful night job working at Vons (the local grocery here) I've felt...lighter.  I guess knowing that I don't have to work for a tyrannical rat-faced angry little man with a Napolean complex and a supervisor who resembles a busted version of a greaser Ichabod Crane has really done wonders for my spiritual health. 

Oh Glorious Disco Diva!! 

WEEEEEEE!

For starters, even though my time for climbing has shrunk dramatically I feel so much better about myself mentally, physically, and spiritually.  My new job is awesome and I love the fact that I get paid to be outside and interact with so many different kinds of people of all ethnicities, ages, and backgrounds.  The people I work with are all interesting, self-motivated, and outdoorsy types as well and a lot of them are deeply embedded in the outdoor community here.  Its nice to have a job where I get to work with people who are interested and inspired by the same kinds of things I am. 

Sending Dance the Night Away, activate trident penis!!  (inside joke)

Steph and I will definitely be heading back north to start jobs as kayak guides for a guiding company based out of Haines, Ak. called Alaska Mountain Guides.  We are super excited to start working for this company because they're a well known guiding outfit whose long term and more experienced guides get to travel all over the world and do some pretty neat expeditions.  We will have to play 'bottom-man-on-the-totem pole' for a while and shovel our way through the shit to get to the moist and fertile top soil but I think it will be worth it.  We leave Bishop officially on the 21st of April and start our training in Alaska on May 1st. 

Having a repeat burn on Therapy, this has to be a contender for coolest V.8 in the Happy's.  The combination of power and sequential/technical beta that unlocks the proper sequence for this rig is very awe inspiring.

Plus it has a pretty sweet traverse and finally the top out. 

Don't fret.  We will most definitely be back to Bishop starting in October of 2013.  We plan on returning next year to work at hte mountain again.  Steph has come into her own as a great ski instructor and i plan on doing the same next year (as soon as I learn how to ski). 

In the mean time we have been really busy this past week working almost 16 days in a row trying to keep pace with one of the busiest times of year for mammoth, President's day weekend (which spans an entire two weeks here).  The small amount of time that I have been able to get out has been less than fruitful on the sending front.  I am extremely close to sending two projects of mine, Bubba: The Legend and Standing Kill Order, both given the coveted grade of 8a.  However, as I talk with locals and try the problems over time I think that they will fall more in the range of solid V.10.  I have to send them first!!

Bubba: The Legend starts on Mr. Happy and traverses into Toxic Avenger. 

I have the dyno on Toxic absolutely wired, as well as the moves into the dyno, but for some reason the send just has not materialized.  I've had a couple of really close burns I just need some more consistent time to tackle this project and I know it will fall. 

Oh yeah, I sent Toxic Avenger! Which is why, you guessed it, I'm trying this contrived traverse into it. (Insert sheepish grin here).

Hope all is well with everyone reading this.  See you in the canyon, on the mountain, in the pub, or on the road.

Bookshelf envy.

We've been seeing a lot of really incredible homes online lately, and one thing we keep being drawn to is a good bookshelf! Do you have a favorite?

What a perfect nook for a desk and oh so many books!

You have to check out this incredible office, click here for more photos.

Such a great idea for a kids room!

There's a lot going on here, but we're kind of into it...

This library is what dreams are made of.

Riding a bike up the Skyline Trail towards Long Valley

A few years ago some bikers took their bikes up to the 6250 foot level from Palm Springs and rode them down.  It was hard to believe until I read this illustrated trip report

Also upcoming hikes with the Coachella Valley meetup hiking group - below

http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/ride-reports/34637-6-hour-6000-feet-hab-3-hour-down-chunk-part-1-2-a.html

=====================================================================

http://www.meetup.com/Hiking-Coachella-Valley/

https://www.facebook.com/#!/cyril.kaicener

Please visit my website
http://www.hiking4health.com

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)

          Clint Eastwood’s tough-guy screen persona had solidified by the mid-’70s, as had his stringent control over projects—even when he wasn’t also directing, Eastwood ensured that his films were brand-consistent and supremely efficient. Given this closely held authority, it’s interesting to look at the handful of ’70s pictures for which Eastwood gave other filmmakers more latitude than usual. A good case in point is Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, the directorial debut of Michael Cimino, whose subsequent films—notably The Deer Hunter (1978) and Heaven’s Gate (1980)—are known for their epic scale. Obviously, “epic” wasn’t going to fly with Eastwood, so Cimino, who also write Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, confined his ambitions to a tight storyline, although Cimino’s taste for big-canvas cinema is evident in the John Ford-style panoramic shots of various Montana locations.

          A straightforward crime picture with an undercurrent of fatalism, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot begins when exuberant young car thief Lightfoot (Jeff Bridges) encounters a country preacher (Eastwood) who is inexplicably running from a maniac with a machine pistol. After helping the preacher escape, Lightfoot learns his new pal is actually the infamous bank robber known as “Thunderbolt” because he once used a cannon to bust into a vault. The man trying to kill Thunderbolt is a former accomplice, Leary (George Kennedy), who mistakenly believes Thunderbolt stole the haul from a heist they committed together. Eventually, Leary catches up with Thunderbolt and Lightfoot and accepts Thunderbolt’s story that the money was lost, so the three men—together with Leary’s nervous wingman, Goody (Geoffrey Lewis), conspire to rob another bank and replace the missing cash. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot isn’t precisely a buddy movie or a heist picture, nor is it merely a car-chase flick or a thriller. Rather, it’s an ingenious amalgam of all of those genres, a sampler plate of manly-man tropes.

          Individualization is generally kept to a minimum so characters can function as archetypes, although Brudges’ buoyant performance distinguishes Lightfoot from everyone else—he’s brash and irresponsible, yet so full of life he makes even the worst situations feel like exciting adventures. Cimino avoids romanticizing the lifestyles of his characters, accentuating the collateral damage criminals inflict and illustrating the cost criminals pay for making dangerous choices. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is so offbeat and so well made, from the atmospheric production values to the painterly cinematography, that it’s tempting to read deeper meanings into the material, especially when Bridges’ vibrant acting raises Eastwood’s game in their shared scenes. Alas, this is really just an elevated brand of escapism, which means its virtues are, on close inspection, quite modest. That said, the picture is highly rewarding for viewers with appropriately calibrated expectations.

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot: GROOVY

OUTDOOR LIFE MAGAZINE - COVER ART

Outdoor Life is an outdoors magazine about hunting, fishing, survival and camping. Outdoor Life was launched in Denver, Colorado in January 1898. Founder and Editor-in-Chief (1898-1929), J.A. McGuire, intended Outdoor Life to be a magazine for sportsmen, written by sportsmen, covering all aspects of the outdoor arena. The first issue covered topics including a moose hunt in Alaska and advice about Native Americans. Some of the original sections were titled, "Photography", "Trap and Target" and "In the Game and Field".

I think those beautiful covers of the magazine from the 30s, 40s and 50s are worth to frame and hung on the wall as "menswear art". You can find them on Ebay where they change from owner from 10 till  more then 50 bucks.

felix rodriguez flx fire 002

flx fire 002 from felix rodriguez on Vimeo.

New Page on Summitpost Personal Websites 2/26

These are the latest mountaineering news sites as of today 2/29/2013

http://www.summitpost.org/phpBB3/personal-websites-t2819-2175.html

Kandersteg

Corey Rich

https://www.facebook.com/cyril.kaicener?ref=tn_tnmn

Please visit my website  http//www.hiking4health.com  incuding the Links and Banner Exchange

How to make the perfect cheeseboard.

For as long as I can remember I have had an immense love of cheese. Everyone that knows me, knows that the key to my heart is with cheese. In fact, on numerous birthdays friends and family have surprised me with cakes made entirely out of cheese (no, not a cheesecake but a cake of cheese.) I have made countless cheeseboards over the years to serve at dinner parties and I thought it might be fun to share some tips with you today on how to make the perfect cheeseboard:

First of all, you should chose a variety of different types of cheese. A well-balanced cheeseboard has one of each of the following categories: fresh, soft, semi-soft, hard, and blue. There are many examples of each type of cheese, but here are a few basics to get you started:

Fresh: feta, ricotta, mozzarella, mascarpone

Soft: brie, camembert, capricorn goat

Semi-soft: edam, havarti, taleggio, gouda

Hard: manchego, emmental, grana padano parmesan, aged cheddar

Blue: stilton, roquefort, gorgonzola, cambozola

Once you have decided on the cheeses you would like to serve, your next decision is the accompaniments. Here are a few examples of delicious things you can pair your cheeses with:

Fresh fruits: blackberries, strawberries, grapes, green apples, figs (if they are in season)

Dried fruits and nuts: apricots, cranberries, figs, various mixed nuts

Spreads: chutney, jam, mustard, olive oil & balsamic vinegar

And of course plenty of crackers and crusty french baguette.

(You can also add some cured meats to the plate as well, such as prosciutto and capicollo)

Next, take time to arrange the cheeses in a pleasing way and serve them on your favorite wooden platter or slate board. If you don't have either of those, you could also use a wood or plastic cutting board. Also, don't forget to include a knife or two for guests to help themselves.

*Tip: Take the cheeses out of the refrigerator an hour before you serve them so that they become room temperature. By doing this you are maximizing the flavor potential of the cheeses.*

For my cheeseboard I used: feta (fresh), soeur angele which is a brie made of both cow's and goat's milk (soft), douanier (semi-soft), 4 year aged cheddar (hard), and gorgonzola (blue). For the accompaniments I used fresh figs, dried apricots, green grapes and mixed nuts (and plenty of baguette of course!)

Have fun trying new cheeses and experimenting with different flavor combinations! I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!  XO, Stef

All information taken from the book World Cheese Book by Juliet Harbutt.

40 Carats (1973)

If Harold and Maude is the most interesting older woman/younger man picture released during the ’70s, then 40 Carats is quite possibly the least interesting. Originally produced as a stage play, the piece is painfully contrived and old-fashioned, its artificiality exacerbated by terrible casting. Liv Ullman, so great in Ingmar Bergman’s chamber dramas and other serious-minded European films, flounders delivering cutesy rom-com banter. Her costar, Edward Albert, the would-be leading man whose career sputtered from dubious promise to an indifferent level of accomplishment throughout the early ’70s, plays fluffy scenes with too much intensity and heavy scenes without enough substance. Together, they achieve supreme mediocrity. The story begins in Greece, where vacationing New Yorker Ann (Ullman) meets Peter (Albert), a young American roaming the Continent on a motorcycle. They enjoy an unexpected sexual tryst, and Ann withdraws the next morning, expecting never to see Peter again. Yet upon returning to New York, Ann discovers that by sheer coincidence, Peter has been fixed up for a date with her adult daughter (Deborah Raffin). Unfortunately, he still wants Ann. Meanwhile, a wealthy Texan (Billy Green Bush) is fixed up with Ann, but he secretly wants Ann’s daughter. The resulting slog of trite misunderstandings drags on for the better part of an hour. Eventually, the movie gets a smidgen of energy once Ann and Peter throw aside social conventions to pursue their relationship. For instance, a long scene in which Peter’s nasty father (Don Porter) tears apart his son’s romance has edge, so Ullman finally gets to showcase dramatic chops. Alas, far too much of the movie comprises limp dialogue like this exchange between Ann and her charmingly irresponsible ex-husband, Billy (Gene Kelly). “You are a multi-carated blue-white diamond,” he coos. Then the phone rings, so Ann says, “That must be Van Cleef & Arpels.” 40 Carats tries mightily to entertain, and watching the filmmakers exert so much wasted effort is exhausting. (Available through Columbia Screen Classics via WarnerArchive.com)

40 Carats: FUNKY

PPG Fly Australia - 1080p

PREPPY ESSENTIALS SS 2013

In the February issue of the American GQ, the band Fun. where asked to bring their spirit to the five essentials pieces of preppy clothing. The idea? Crank the go-to-hell attitude as loudly as possible:

nr. 1 the Cricket sweater

nr. 2 the Golf Jacket

nr. 3 the Sports coat

nr. 4 the Button down shirt

nr. 5 the Striped polo

Our cozy outfits for work.

With our temperatures rising and then dropping quickly, we've been having a hard time deciding what to wear! So lately we've been layering sweaters over most of our dresses, as well as toques, knee-highs and boots. Are you guys as ready for Spring as we are? We are officially over Winter.

Erin's outfit details:
Knit toque: Target
Brown sweater: Forever 21
Polka dot dress: Market in Bangkok
Brown tights: Target
Slate grey knee high socks: Market in Tokyo
Roper boots: Thrifted
Acorn necklace: Market in Bangkok (available in our shop Rhymes With Orange)

Stef's outfit details:

Navy sweater: Forever 21

Red polka dot peter pan collar dress: Forever 21

Knit toque: Thrifted

Navy knee-high socks: Market in Tokyo

Roper boots: Vintage from Etsy