Author Archives: Neds Job of the Week

“The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.”

~ Leonardo da Vinci

Your Very Next Step newsletter for March 2008 (Part II)

“Your Very Next Step” newsletter, published by Ned Lundquist, is a cooperative community, and everyone is invited, no…encouraged, no…urged to participate.

“The longest journey begins with a single step, not with the turn of an ignition key.”

– Edward Abbey

Subscribe for free. Send a blank email to:

yourverynextstep-subscribe@topica.com.

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*** In this issue:

*** Travel News

*** The snowshoe is on the right foot

*** Trip Report – Ned and family are back from France

*** Is it too noisy at an NBA game?

*** Interesting freelance travel writers URL.

*** 25 trekking poles

*** Keeping the bugs off

Travel, Outdoor and Adventure Jobs and Volunteer Opportunities

*** Captain – Whale Watching Vessel, San Juan Safaris, Harbor WA

*** Assistant Marketing Manager, Jumeirah Emirates Towers Sales & Marketing,

Dubai, UAE

*** 2008 FIELD TEAM MEMBERS, Maine Conservation Corps, Augusta ME

In this edition of “Your Very Next Step,” Ned visits Paris, and plans for Dubai.

In the next issue edition of “Your Very Next Step,” Ned plans for Dubai and Djibouti.

Travel news:

*** Baggage burden: Searching for a solution to airlines' costly habit of losing luggage

http://www.atwonline.com/channels/indepth/index.html

*** Tired of being tied up in Chicago? Try Gary, Indiana:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-03-11-gary-mexico_N.htm

*** Aloha:

Aloha Airlines is back in bankruptcy, but is continuing to operate: It may be for sale.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ga9YVbP2rNFvWcpNL8lXKQ_frrpQD8VICMJG0

*** You are now free to use your cell phone:

Emirates said that the “first authorized mobile phone call made from a commercial flight” occurred yesterday aboard one of its A340-300s flying at 30,000 ft. en route from Dubai to Casablanca, marking the launch of its $27 million program to equip its fleet with the AeroMobile system that will allow passengers to use their own cell phones in flight. Air Transport World reports:

http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=12137

Bernie Wagenblast’s Transportation Communications Newsletter reports that British Airways will require fingerprints and photos of all passengers in new Heathrow terminal.

Beware: Big Brother has Got You Fingered

Link to column in The Times:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/article3576592.ece

To subscribe to Bernie’s free newsletter, send an e-mail to: TCNL-subscribe@googlegroups.com.

*** Tell us about your recent travel adventure. Send to Ned at lundquist989@cs.com.

*** The snowshoe is on the right foot:

Hi Ned,

I liked the article…especially the way you communicate how easy, accessible and healthy snowshoeing is. Your perspective aligns with what we say here at L.L.Bean with regard to projecting the sport as being easy to get into, with a very shallow learning curve, terrific exercise and great for the whole family…plus you can do it almost anywhere. The benefits of snowshoeing are numerous and you captured this quite well. In addition as a side note, L.L.Bean works with TSL and Tubbs.

Speaking of making snowshoeing easy, this past winter L.L.Bean became the first retailer in the world to market a recreational 'step-in' snowshoe. I have attached a press release for your reference, as well as a link to the product.

L.L.Bean Trailblazer Step-In Snowshoe Package

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&categoryId=50851&sc1=Search&feat=sr

This revolutionary designs makes snowshoeing even easier and more accessible…there are no bindings to fiddle with when you have cold hands, so it can make snowshoeing much more enjoyable. We sell this as a package and it should be noted that the boots can be worn for everyday winter wear, whether it be shoveling your driveway, going snowshoeing or heading to the grocery store! We have received excellent press from these shoes and the customer feedback has also been awesome! If you need more information on these shoes or hi-res images, let me know…take good care and please let me know if you have any questions, or if I can be of further assistance!

Mac McKeever

Senior Public Relations Representative

L.L.Bean, Inc.

*** From TalkMail:

Checked Amtrak's fare prices lately? godivabrit has and is wondering how anyone can justify taking a long train trip when they could fly and stay in a hotel for less. Is this kind of journey it's own reward, or is it just one big romanticized rip off?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=799293

*** Ned and family are back from France. The populace of Paris was very friendly, welcoming, and warm. My kids could live on crepes and Nutella.

The children of the gypsies that pestered me 20 years ago pestered me this trip. I know this, I can win a staring contest with a gypsy girl, and she doesn’t like it. I won the contest, but she issued a curse upon me and my descendants in a Roma dialect that I couldn’t translate literally but could comprehend the basic meaning and intent.

I was in a bookstore where an attractive woman was reading a copy of “Why do men love bitches,” and wondered what she was thinking.

Our hotel, the Saint James et Albany, has a new buffet (installed at the hotel during our visit) for le petite dejeuner. We watched the French equivalent of the Three Stooges get it into the hotel and down the stairs to the basement level. The basement is where you will find the pool, and spa. There is a glass vase containing a fish on the desk of the receptionist at the spa. The fish is named “Ruby.” Or, “Robby” in English. Or Rooby? I asked her if Rooby was a boy or a girl? She shrugged, and smiled. I asked her if Rooby spoke French or English. “Neither,” she said. “Arabic.” She (the receptionist) is from Fez in Morocco.

The Hotel St. James et Albany is a four-star property, which I think requires a doorman in a fancy uniform. This was not always present, however, and so the two pairs of double sliding doors were configured such that if the out doors were open, the inner pair would remain closed, like the airlock on the space shuttle. If people were walking out, and I was following behind, the front doors wouldn't open until I stood back far enough to deactivate the door sensors. The elevators were tiny, and original equipment back in 1779 when the Marquis de Lafayette was married there, and Marie Antoinette was appearing in Dancing with the stars. The elevators claimed to carry no more than four people. But that never happened while I was there. I usually made the trip with just one other person, and that would max out the weight limit. In fact, the elevators were frequently on the blink. The hall way leading to our rooms was very French, or so I should imagine, what with all the engravings of English manors adorning the wall. You had to walk down several stairs to get out of my room, and I bonked my noggin on the overhead again and again.

We visited the Orsay, and had lunch there. A couple saw us in the café line. She was a Red Sox fan, and he was a Cubs fan. We talked about growing up imbued with the fatalism, hope and disappointment. “Do you go to bed in the 7th ahead 12-3, or do you know you can still lose,” she said.

You could buy fresh-made crepes on just about any block. Tom and Barbara liked Nutella smeared all over theirs, where as I liked Grand Mariner, the orange liquor similar to Triple Sec or Cointreau.

We bought large meringues at Maison Auvray boulangerie, in the Latin Quarter (I think). Barbara got chocolate, and I got the coffee. It was ginormous.I still have some.

There was a conference going on at the hotel. I never saw any of the delegates, but the woman manning the desk in the lobby seemed to be on duty the entire time we were in Paris.

I used the “Business Center” in the hotel to check emails. I purchased an access card. I was going to get a 60 minute card, but they didn’t have any, so they sold me a 180 minute card for the same price. It still has about five minutes left.

Our hotel had a terrific location on the Rue de Rivoli, right across from the Lourve, and down a block or so. We could walk to the Musée d'Orsay or the Lourve in the cold and windy rain without getting too wet.

We purchased four-day museum passes, good for most museums in the area, in advance. This also entitles one to avoid the lines to purchase tickets or to get inside.

We enjoyed the La Fontaine de Mars on rue Saint Dominick, not far from the Eiffel Tower, on two occasions. Our waiter looked like a refugee from Flock of Seagulls, or Kajagoogoo perhaps. On our first visit, Barbara and Tom had the grilled top loin of beef. Barbara has the escargots as a starter. It came with Béarnaise sauce, which Tom left untouched on the side. Laura had the roast baby lamb with a glass of Gaillac, from the southwest of France. There were some large containers of herb-like substance behind the bar. Mint, for infusing into the tea, I was told. “It’s not marijuana,” my waiter whispered to me.

About midway through the flight coming back from Paris to Dulles, the person sitting behind me said, “Aren’t you Ned Lundquist?”

Turns it it was Rob Martin, now with E-Corpernicus and a member of IABC/Washington. He was attending a conference in Paris and stayed at the Westin, a block or so away from the Saint James et Albany. We’ll have to ask Rob for a trip report. Upon arrival, in the Passport Control line at Dulles, Rob introduced me to Norman Mineta, who had attended the same conference as Rob. He introduced himself and his wife to my family, and I explained to my family that he used to be the secretary of the Coast Guard.

*** Is it too noisy at an NBA game?

Ned asked the Washington Wizards why it was so noisy at the games at Verizon Center. Turns out they heard, and are tuning it down:

This is a follow-up to our conversation a few weeks ago at the gate at O'Hare, where he met Zack Bolno. In turn, Danny Zollars, Director of Game Operations, answered my questions:

Ned: I understand that the Wizard's have toned down the noise and hyperactivity at games? Were the games getting a little too frantic? Why is that?

Danny: We have decided that we didn't want to have constant music during play so we cut back on that. Across the league, teams play music while the ball is in play and we thought this got a little repetitive and annoying game after game.

What kind of feedback were you getting?

Danny: I wouldn't say the games were too frantic but there was too much noise throughout the game. We got a lot of feedback from our fans and they wanted to hear the sneakers squeak and the coaches talking to the players. We have a very knowledgeable fan base so basketball comes first and the promotions come second.

Ned: Are you trying to be more family-friendly? How have things changed? Are the changes working? How do you know?

Danny: The fans have responded in a positive way and enjoy the games this season. This is something the league is trying to move towards but we are one of the first to drastically cut the noise down. We still have a ton of promos during timeouts but its more about the constant music during play and cutting it back.

Ned: Does it bother the players to have that blaring music all the time?

Danny: We asked Gilbert Arenas that last summer and he said they don't even notice it when they are on the court. They are focused on defense and running through the plays.

*** Careful is my middle name:

Ned,

I know you are very careful with things like this. However, I'd love it if you would consider an appeal to Your Very Next Step readers for a very special cause. Last month, in the course of my public relations duties I met a wonderful, inspiring young man.

About a year ago, Jeremy Schmidt, an avid outdoorsman and search and rescue volunteer went blind – in less than one month. Jeremy lost his vision to an extremely rare genetic condition that severed the connection between his eyes and his brain. There is no cure. Instead of a sob story, Jeremy’s is one of amazing triumph, courage and service to mankind.

This remarkable 27-year-old wants to lead youngsters from the Arizona School for Blind Children on hikes so they can learn to appreciate nature, enjoy the outdoors and hone their senses and skills. It is the outdoors that Jeremy loves most.

We are hoping you will read the attached articles and consider donating 25 trekking poles (or gift cards to REI, L.L. Bean, Sierra Outdoor Traders or other outdoor outfitters) so these children can follow trails and climb safely. The lightweight red and white canes that the vision impaired use in normal activities are not sufficient for hiking.

To communicate with Jeremy directly, email him at searchrescue111@yahoo.com.

Thank you for your consideration,

Heather Murphy

Director, Communications & Public Affairs

Pinal County

Owner, Southpaw Fine Photos

heather@southpawfinephotos.com

*** From Janet Ochs Lowenbach:

Here’s an interesting freelance travel writers URL.

http://main.travelwriters.com/writers/marketnews/list.asp

*** Advice for Stephanie?

Hi Ned,

Do you know of any great resources for Americans to find a job abroad. I'm in my mid-twenties and still have the travel bug. I recently quit my desk job and am working on a cruise ship until May but would love to get a job abroad. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Stephanie

*** This being March Madness, I found these McGuireisms while I was watching Marquette beat Kentucky:

McGuire phrase Translation

go barefoot in the wet grass enjoy the moment

congratulate the temporary live for the moment

carnival gates are closed game's over

salt and pepper coach X's and O's coach

cupcakes easy opponents

white knuckler close game

French pastry a showy move

cracked sidewalks bad part of town

sand fights hard-fought games

yellow ribbons and medals success in recruiting

tailenders walk-ons or complementary players

Dunkirk an extremely poor performance

dance hall player short on talent, but long on effort

memos and pipes university administrators and professors

two loaves of bread under their arms good jobs

seashells and balloons victory and happiness

curtains game's over

tap city game's over

aircraft carrier big center

cloud piercer player who jumps well

ballerina in the sky player who jumps well

*** When you're outside and want to avoid mosquitoes, sand fleas, or other pests, an insect repellant with DEET is recommended. This is important to me with some upcoming travel in known sand flea and mosquito territory. What is DEET?

DEET is the common name for N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide, which is the active ingredient in the most widely used insect repellents applied to the skin.

According to S. C. Johnson, which makes OFF and related products:

DEET is the active chemical ingredient in most insect repellents available in the United States. It is used to repel such biting pests as mosquitoes and ticks-including ticks that may carry Lyme disease. DEET was registered in the U.S. for the general public to use in 1957.

Generally, the higher the percentage of DEET, the longer the repellent works.

Higher concentrations of DEET are recommended for activities that keep you outside all day in geographic regions with large populations of insects and ticks.

Lower concentrations are acceptable when you are planning to be outdoors for only a few hours.

Mary Beth Adler, a nurse practitioner with a PhD in infectious diseases, recommends a good daily application of an insect repellant with at least 30% DEET. Normal OFF doesn't have that concentration, but the small pump bottle of Deep Woods Sportsmen OFF does:

http://www.offprotects.com/deet/

DEET is produced by Morflex, Inc. and sold to companies who make consumer insect repellents.

http://www.deet.com/deet_fact_sheet.htm

Why are sand fleas a worry, and what is Leishmaniasis?

According to the CDC:

Leishmaniasis (LEASH-ma-NIGH-a-sis) is a parasitic disease spread by the bite of infected sand flies. There are several different forms of leishmaniasis. The most common forms are cutaneous (cue-TAY-knee-us) leishmaniasis, which causes skin sores, and visceral (VIS-er-al) leishmaniasis, which affects some of the internal organs of the body (for example, spleen, liver, bone marrow).

Leishmaniasis is spread by the bite of some types of phlebotomine sand flies. Sand flies become infected by biting an infected animal (for example, a rodent or dog) or person. Since sand flies do not make noise when they fly, people may not realize they are present. Sand flies are very small and may be hard to see; they are only about one-third the size of typical mosquitoes.

The best way for travelers to prevent leishmaniasis is by protecting themselves from sand fly bites. Vaccines and drugs for preventing infection are not yet available.

Apply insect repellent on uncovered skin and under the ends of sleeves and pant legs. Follow the instructions on the label of the repellent. The most effective repellents are those that contain the chemical DEET (N,N-diethylmetatoluamide). The concentration of DEET varies among repellents. Repellents with DEET concentrations of 30-35% are quite effective, and the effect should last about 4 hours.

Leishmaniasis is found in parts of about 88 countries. Approximately 350 million people live in these areas. Most of the affected countries are in the tropics and subtropics. The settings in which leishmaniasis is found range from rain forests in Central and South America to deserts in West Asia. More than 90 percent of the world's cases of visceral leishmaniasis are in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sudan, and Brazil.

http://www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/DPD/parasites/leishmania/factsht_leishmania.htm#what

*** Captain – Whale Watching Vessel, San Juan Safaris, Harbor WA

This is a perfect position for someone who either has winter work or does not need year-round work.

Summary:

Perform daily tours. Captains are responsible for safe operation & safety features, basic maintenance, accurate logs, overseeing first mate/naturalist duties and setting a good example for wildlife viewing ethics &methods on the water. Season: Mid-April to October. Must be available Saturdays, Sundays and evenings.

Major Job Duties:

1. Conducting daily tours

2. Perform ethical &responsible wildlife viewing practices

3. Oversee the upkeep and maintenance of vessels

4. Oversee 1st mate duties

5. Maintain a high standard of quality for our tours

6. Maintain positive relationships with staff

7. Abide by Whale Watch Operators Northwest Best Practices Guidelines for wildlife viewing and adhere to company standards

8. Maintain a daily ship's log

Special Certifications & Skills

1. 50 to 100 ton USCG Masters License

2. Strong single screw boat handling skills

3. Detail oriented. Safety oriented work ethic

4. Must be team oriented and enjoy working with others

5. Capable of working long hours/flexible hours

6. Capable of lifting 60 pounds

Other:

1. Well versed on local & federal laws regarding wildlife viewing. Must be familiar with the Whale Watch Operators Association North West (WWOANW) ( www.nwwhalewatchers.org/guidelines.html ) guidelines and adhere to them strictly. (Our resident Orca whales and Chinook salmon are on the endangered species list. The federal and local governments have instituted a law that further protects our local whales. San Juan Safaris is serious about setting a good example for viewing etiquette. The techniques necessary to observe whales without interfering with their life processes takes time to learn and requires additional skills apart from just captaining a boat.)

2. Background in eco-tourism preferred, special training in marine ecology recommended. Position is for a dedicated person who understands and respects marine mammals and our company's philosophy. Please read our position paper prior to applying www.sanjuansafaris.com/whale_state_of_orca.html

Requirements:

1. must adhere to company dress code

2. Must be first aid and CPR certified

3. Subject to drug testing

4. Land line or cell phone with voice mail

5. E-mail address and check daily

6. Non-smoker

7. Transportation

Rewards &Benefits:

Up to $20 – $25 per hour DOE, plus tips. Work in a world class, outdoor marine environment with fun, caring people, bald eagles, great blue heron and other birds, river otter, wild mink, orca, humpback, gray & minke whales. Discounts on outdoor gear and local restaurant. Free kayak and whale watching tours on a “space available” basis, discounts for family and friends. Make life-long friendships

http://www.sanjuansafaris.com/jobs.html

*** Assistant Marketing Manager, Jumeirah Emirates Towers Sales & Marketing,

Dubai, UAE

http://www1.sniperhire.net/sniperhire/careers/jumeirah/VacancyDetail.aspx?CompanyID=14&VacancyID=9662

*** 2008 FIELD TEAM MEMBERS, Maine Conservation Corps, Augusta ME

MAINE CONSERVATION CORPS

2008 FIELD TEAM MEMBERS

“Bringing Dreams to Reality”

The Maine Conservation Corps is dedicated to accomplishing outdoor recreation and conservation projects. MCC engages teams throughout the State of Maine.

May 21 to August 15, 2008

May 21 to November 14, 2008

Rebuild the Appalachian Trail

Improve trails throughout Maine

Build Great Things with Great People

MCC crews:

•Have fun and make new friends.

•Live in some of Maine’s most beautiful places.

•Learn outdoor living skills.

•Build experience in the field of Natural Resources.

•Improve fitness through rugged and satisfying outdoor service.

•Help maintain and restore Maine’s Park and Public Lands.

Qualifications: Have the ability to live and perform strenuous work under challenging conditions, have the desire to learn and serve with others to make a difference, be at least 18 years old, and must be a US citizen.

Benefits:

$240 per week and health insurance

$1250 or $2360 AmeriCorps education award if eligible

For information and application:

Brenda Webber

Maine Conservation Corps

124 State House Station

Augusta ME 04333

207-624-6085 & 1-800-245-5627/ in Maine

corps.conservation@maine.gov

Application Deadline April 4, 2008

The Maine Department of Conservation provides equal opportunity in employment and programs. Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request

If you enjoy the outdoors and want to explore Maine's beautiful places, take a closer look at the Maine Conservation Corps. Whether you're backpacking to remote Appalachian Trail worksites, patrolling trails at Acadia National Park, building mountain bike trails around Portland or constructing a wheelchair path, MCC will provide field team members and leaders with valuable outdoor and trail skills over a 3-9 month period. Benefits include a living allowance ranging from $240 to $475 per week, health insurance, an AmeriCorps education award (if eligible) and training that includes wilderness first aid and chainsaw certification, teambuilding, communication, conflict resolution, leadership, trail rigging, stone working and timber construction. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 (20 for leadership positions), physically fit, have the desire to learn and serve, and be motivated to work with people of all ages and backgrounds. For more information contact Brenda Webber or call 207.624.6085.

*** Your Very Next Step is a service of the Job of the Week Network LLC

© 2008 The Job of the Week Network LLC

Edward Lundquist, ABC

Editor and Publisher

Your Very Next Step

7813 Richfield Road

Springfield, VA 22153

Home office phone: (703) 455-7661

lundquist989@cs.com

www.nedsjotw.com

Subscribe for free. Send a blank email to:

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“I am—really am—an extremist, one who lives and loves by choice far out on the very verge of things, on the edge of the abyss, where this world falls off into the depths of another. That’s the way I like it.”

– Edward Abbey

Your Very Next Step newsletter for March 2008 (Part I)

“If the waitress has dirty ankles, the chili should be good.”
–  Al McGuire

Your Very Next Step newsletter for March 2008 (Part I)

“Your Very Next Step” newsletter, published by Ned Lundquist, is a cooperative community, and everyone is invited, no…encouraged, no…urged to participate.

Subscribe for free.  Send a blank email to:
yourverynextstep-subscribe@topica.com.

You are now among 437 subscribers.

Ned plans to issue the second part of the March edition when he gets back from Paris:

***  In this issue:

***  Travel News
***  Bowling and Milwaukee
***  Ned compares the Westin La Cantera Resort with the Navy Lodge Corpus Christi
***  Larry Bearfield compares the Westin anywhere with the Navy Lodge anywhere
***   Carl Dombek on Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort
***  To what extent will the Japanese go to relax at a ski resort?
***  Ned interviews Eric Bergman, ABC, APR, MC, RP (Ringette Parent):
***  “If you can walk, you can snowshoe”
***  Travel, Outdoor and Adventure Jobs and Volunteer Opportunities

In the next edition of “Your Very Next Step,” Ned visits Paris, and plans for Dubai.

Tell us about your recent travel adventure.  Send to Ned at lundquist989@cs.com.

***  From Susan Burnell, APR:

Hi Ned,

Before you head out of town you might want to take the following security
measures…from an e-mail that's been circulating:

Subject: HOME SECURITY SYSTEM

HOW TO INSTALL A HOME SECURITY SYSTEM IN THE SOUTH

 1. Go to a second-hand store and buy a pair of men's used size 14-16
     work boots.
 2. Place them on your front porch, along with a copy of Guns & Ammo
    Magazine.
 3. Put a few giant dog dishes next to the boots and magazines.
 4. Leave a note on your door that reads:

 'Hey Bubba,

Big Jim, Duke , Slim, & I went for more ammunition. Back
in an hour. Don't mess with the pit bulls – they attacked the mailman this
morning and messed him up real bad. I don't think Killer took part in it but
it was hard to tell from all the blood. Anyway, I locked all four of 'em
in the house. Better wait outside.

 'Cooter'

 
Enjoy Paris,

Susan

Susan H. Burnell, APR

***  From Air Transport World:

Now for something completely different: flight search that rates the 'pain points'
News from Travel Technology Update: Online travel agencies have done a great job of delivering flight search results based on price, number of stops and schedule. Meanwhile, passengers feel the pain of late flights, long connecting times, lost bags, old aircraft and other frustrations.
http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=11926

SIA to bring all-business-class service to Pacific on A340-500s

Singapore Airlines will open a new front in the increasingly heated competition for premium travelers, announcing yesterday that it will reconfigure its five A340-500s with 100 lie-flat business class seats for use on transpacific routes to the US.

http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=11943

***  Bowling and Milwaukee:

From Mike Maloney:

http://www.npr.org:80/templates/story/story.php?storyId=39286288&sc=emaf

***  The dirty truth:
 
Vacation travel lately has meant golf clothes, a nice outfit for a dinner out and a bathing suit. We've stayed in a place where there was a laundry in the house. Truth be told, where we stayed was a house at Sea Pines Resort on the south end of Hilton Head Island in S.C. We won the opportunity five years ago at the Joe Gibbs “Youth for Tomorrow” auction held every year in late Sept./early Oct. at the school in Bristow, Va. The house, which belonged to a board member, was one of the items in the live auction portion. Some deranged woman stuck her hand in the air and kept it there until she won it, believing that the phrase “world class golf” and the association with the Washington Redskins would make her husband happy. It did. We did it for four years and just bought our own house – not quite in the same neighborhood but still – very close to the “world class golf.”
The excess packing was books, a laptop NOT for work and our stock of adult beverages. Sister and brother-in-law were much more minimalist, being the dedicated “beach bums” they are.
 
In my camping days a few years ago, packing meant two pairs of baggy heavy cotton shorts with lots of pockets, a few well-traveled T-shirts, a couple of heavy sweatshirts (camping was near Mount St. Helens – we had no responsibility for that event), a pair of long jeans, sneakers and hiking boots, enough relevant undergarments, a swim suit and an Indiana Jones hat on which to pin souvenir traveling pins. We were sure to pick up more souvenir T-shirts and sweatshirts and we drove into the campsite, so the challenge was only packing for those of us who flew cross-country to camp. Those were the days when I carried my backpack on the plane with the requisite camping Swiss Army pocket knife and other now-banned tools, although the fishing tackle always went in the carry-on duffle bag.
 
I am probably an excessive packer – accessories more than clothing. But I am fairly sure, if need be, I could live in one each baggy shorts, shirt, bra, sweater, hat, hiking boots, two pairs of socks and knickers and my knife – at least until I got to a body of water uninhabited by man-eating residents.
 
Winter festivals: The most spectacular one I've ever been to was the annual Hokkaido Snow Festival on the northern island of Japan. It's beautiful. People make huge snow sculptures along the streets and there are festive lights and entertainment and roast chestnuts and ears of corn. It's great!
 
That's all I've got for now.
Gwyneth

***  Ned compares the Westin La Cantera Resort with the Navy Lodge Corpus Christi:

Parking:  La Cantera has expensive valet parking or free parking at a distance.  Navy Lodge parking is free and very close to the covered entrance.
Edge:  Navy Lodge.

Check-in:  The valet must take your keys at the La Cantera.  Fire Marshall regulations.  Parking in the entrance to the Navy Lodge while moving your bags is no issue. 
Edge:  Navy Lodge

In-house shopping:  There are some expensive stores in the La Cantera, and none in the Navy Lodge.  I found the vending machine on my floor in the Navy Lodge to be out of my selection, so I had to go to the next lower floor.  La Cantera has a Starbucks (Martinez was my barrista), and Navy Lodge has free Navy coffee in the lobby. 
Edge:  La Cantera

In-room coffee:  La Cantera has single cup-Starbucks coffee you brew yourself.  The coffee is maker is on top of the TV and must be relocated some place to plug in and brew.  You are provided three packets, one being decaf, of Starbucks coffee filter singles.  It is wretchedly bad, and can barely be tolerated except for the fact that you can buy real Starbucks down below, and after all the in-room coffee is complimentary, right?  Paper cups provided.  Navy Lodge serves free “Coffee Well” brand Navy Lodge coffee in a four-cup Mr. Coffee maker.  This is okay coffee, actually pretty good, and your pot makes four cups.  Navy Lodge has real ceramic coffee mugs.
Edge:  Navy Lodge.

Location:  La Cantera is on a ridge overlooking a quarry with the Fiesta Texas amusement park stuffed inside, and is surrounded by a golf course and Texas Live Oaks.  The lights of San Antonio sparkle to the south.  The view from my window is a very impressive pool area.  The Navy Lodge is on the edge of Corpus Christi Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, next to an air station.  I like airplanes.
Edge:  Navy Lodge.

Big thick bathrobes in closet:  The Navy Lodge does not have these.  I noticed my big thick bath robe folded in my closet at La Cantera just as I was checking out.
Edge:  La Cantera.

Room:  Both rooms are about the same size.  My Navy Lodge room has two queen beds, and the La Cantera room had one king bed.  Both are comfortable.  Having two beds let me plop my bags up on the spare.  The light over my table in the Navy Lodge is a bit on the bright side.  The light switches in La Cantera were hard to twist on and off.  La Cantera local calls are free (included in the “resort fee” as it turns out.)  Navy Lodge local calls are free.  The desk in my room at La Cantera didn’t have enough outlets, where the Navy Lodge has plenty of outlets, wherever you might need them.  La Cantera has a mini-bar, but I didn’t take the key.  La Cantera has plastic cups.  Navy Lodge has real glasses.  The Navy Lodge has a full-size refrigerator and a microwave oven in the kitchenette.  However, the Navy Lodge has a posted sign in the kitchen that says “Cleaning a storing of seafood is prohibited.”
Edge:  Navy Lodge

Internet:  La Cantera charges about $10 a day to use the Internet in the room.  Navy Lodge is free, and they give you an easy-to-set up Telkonet iBridge that plugs into any power outlet and then into your Ethernet jack on your laptop.
Edge:  Navy Lodge.

TV.  Both rooms had big TVs.  I never watch TV in my room, so I don’t know which was better.  I know the Navy Lodge has lots of movies (on DVD) you can check out in the lobby.  I think they are free.
Edge:  Navy Lodge.

Price:  Westin La Cantera resort is $139 a night with a mandatory $10 per night resort fee to pay for the complimentary coffee and free local calls.  Plus taxes, plus taxes upon the mandatory resort fee to pay for what is otherwise considered free.  Navy Lodge is $65 per night.  No tax.
Edge:  Navy Lodge

*** Larry Bearfield compares the Westin anywhere with the Navy Lodge anywhere:

Allowed to stay: As long as you can pay, the Westin will let you stay at any of their facilities anywhere in the world. Major credit cards are your ticket. Navy Lodge has strict eligibility requirements as detailed on https://www.nexnet.nexweb.org/pls/nexlodge/faq_form

Who is eligible to stay at a Navy Lodge?

Reservations are accepted for all eligible personnel on an as-received basis. Official guests and visitors of the command may stay at Navy Lodges. Reservations are to be made by and guaranteed by the sponsor. Family members, staying at Navy Lodges without the military member, are required to show their identification at check-in. Guests of military personnel may stay at Navy Lodges provided the military member is present at check-in. Once a reservation is made it will be firm and you cannot be bumped. Reservations and room assignments are made without regard to rank or rate, or time of reservations. You may make advance reservations based on your classification.
Edge: Military personnel and those meeting the strict classification requirements – Navy Lodge
The rest of the world: Westin

Larry Bearfield
Proprietor
Ferns Country Store

***  Carl Dombek on Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort :

Over the past couple of years, “aging parent” issues have taken me to Phoenix frequently, so I've had the opportunity to try several hotels in the metro area. After my most recent two-night stay, the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort is my new favorite. It’s an “all-suite” property with lots to recommend it.

Our plane landed just before noon and, after a couple of grueling flights, my wife and I wanted to freshen up and eat a decent meal before seeing my folks.  When I called the hotel, the front desk clerk was very helpful and confirmed that the suite they'd set aside for us was indeed ready, so we headed straight for the resort.

Upon check-in, which was handled very smoothly, we were informed of the “resort option package,” which provides a number of amenities (including fitness center access, spa discounts, and local phone calls) for $2.25 a day. As Hilton HHonors members, we were also given two complimentary bottles of water.

After freshening up, we headed to the Hole in the Wall Restaurant for lunch.  This was a bit nostalgic for me, as I grew up in Phoenix and friends and I had frequented the Hole in the Wall at its original location in its early days. The food was (and still is) basic burgers, sandwiches, and quesadillas, but well prepared and reasonably-priced (especially considering it’s in a resort).  The service was also excellent.

Thus fortified, we set off to see The Parents.

Over the next several days, our two-room suite became our sanctuary. It included a separate living room and bed room, robes (without having to ask), a very comfy bed, the fluffiest towels I have used in a long time (at home or away), a balcony, a well-stocked mini-bar, and some of the best in-room coffee I've in a long time. While our room was in one of two multi-story buildings, the resort also offers “casitas” – single story structures away from the larger buildings and adjacent conference center.

While the property has four restaurants, we only ate at the Hole in the Wall. However, we did use room service, which was also prompt, polite, and provided well-prepared fare.

There are several pools available, including a small water park adjacent to the Hole in the Wall. And even though a fair number of kids were present at the hotel, it was overall very quiet.

Plenty of free parking and easy access to the rest of Phoenix make this a winner in my book. Without a doubt, we will be back.

***  To what extent will the Japanese go to relax at a ski resort?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BtNN6M97q8

***  From Anne-Marie Boels:

Hi Ned,

This is perhaps a late reaction, but I saw that you are travelling to Dubai.
Just wanted to say that your choice for Qatar Airlines looks like by far the
best option to me. Swiss has considerably dropped in quality since it went
broke a couple of years ago and Zurich-Airport is, to my feeling, a
nightmare. And with evolutions at United you never know…

Just want to say also that Your Very Next Step Newsletter is a great idea
and even if I do not always react, I enjoy it fully!

Thanks!
Anne-Marie

Anne-Marie Boels
Boels Consulting BVBA
International Marketing & Communications
www.boelsconsulting.com
Brussels, Belgium

***  The Dallas Morning News is reporting that American Airlines has discussed the possibility of merging with another carrier with the leaders of its three major unions.

A Virgin Atlantic jumbo jet powered by a blend of biofuel and conventional jet fuel on Sunday completed a flight from London to Amsterdam. The biofuels blend was 20% neat biofuel and 80% conventional jet fuel, the AP reports.  Virgin CEO Richard Branson thinks algae is a likely future source of renewable fuel for the airlines.

Say goodbye to paper tickets on June 1, according to a group that represents carriers. The Washington Post says that Airlines will stop issuing paper tickets and switch to 100% electronic tickets to make issuing tickets easier and less expensive for the airlines.

***  I have recently completed a survey of the 10,000 Job of the Week subscribers, with a ten percent response rate.  The results are interesting.

http://www.nedsjotw.com/blog/_archives/2008/2/18/3530564.html

***  Ned interviews Eric Bergman, ABC, APR, MC, RP (Ringette Parent):

Ned:  What is Ringette?

Eric:  A game developed nearly 50 years ago to enable young women to play a sport on skates. At the time, women's hockey was unheard of.

Ned:  Who plays it, and where?

Eric:  It is played in Canada and a number of Scandinavian countries, like Sweden and Finland.

Ned:  Is it a “real” sport?

Eric:  Yes, there are rules and score is kept.  

Ned:  I see.  So that’s what constitutes a sport.  I guess dating is a sport, too.  How did the sport get started?

Eric: According to:  http://www.etobicoke-ringette.com/History.htm
Ringette is a Canadian game that was first introduced in 1963 in North Bay, Ontario.  For ten years, play centred in Ontario and Quebec.  However, the sport quickly spread across Canada and is now played in all ten provinces and the Northwest Territories.  In fact, the sport has become one of Canada's favourite activities for females, with over 50,000 participants across Canada – a remarkable growth rate for such a young sport.
In March 1975, the very first Provincial Championships in Ontario were held in Etobicoke, then known as Eringate Ringette.   Ontario only had four regions at that time – Central/East, North East, Niagara, and West. Tournament Structure was a “Double Knockout”.   Teams from Eastern and Central Ontario had to compete against each other for the right to attend.
There are currently more than 9,000 certified Ringette coaches are registered in the National Coaching Certification Program, and 2,866 registered referees trained under Ringette Canada's National Officiating Program.  In addition, there are thousands of volunteers who administer clubs, leagues, and tournaments across Canada.
This explosive growth is continuing internationally with the formation of associations in the U.S.A., Finland, Sweden, Estonia, and France.  In addition, Ringette Canada has been instrumental in demonstrating the game in the Netherlands, Switzerland, West Germany and Japan.  Ringette is turning out to be one of Canada's fastest growing exports!
Ringette Canada has been following a well planned strategy for development and is now responding to an increasing interest from boys who want to try the game.  It is expected that this trend will continue in the future, and when combined with the increasing enrolment of girls and women, Ringette will become a very popular sport in Canada and internationally.
Ned:  How is it different than hockey, or lacrosse or field hockey?  How is it similar?
Eric:  It is played on ice with skates, stick and pads, like hockey. 

Ned:  Do they have leagues and tournaments?

Eric:  Yes.

Ned:  What's the best thing about playing Ringette?

Eric:  It is a team-oriented game.  You cannot carry the ring across either blue line in any direction, whether attacking or defending.  By definition, therefore, you must pass. 

Ned:  What's the hardest part of playing the game?
 
Eric:  Fitness.  These girls can skate.

Ned:  Do you have penalties?

Eric:  Yes, mostly two minute penalties (similar to hockey).

Ned: Is the game played with three 20 minute periods?

Eric:  Two 15-minute periods, except at the very elite levels, which are two 20-minute periods. 
 
Is there anything different about a Ringette rink and a hockey rink?

Nothing different between a ringette rink and a hockey rink.  The use of the ice is a bit different (i.e. cannot carry the ring over the blue line). 

Ned:  How many people play the sport today?

Eric:  No idea how many people play the sport.  But the world ringette championships have been covered on TSN.

Ned:  Is it fun to watch?

Eric:  Yes, unless you happen to be the goalie's parent.  Then it's very stressful.  

***  “If you can walk, you can snowshoe”
Put on your snowshoes and follow a new path to adventure

By Edward Lundquist
Publisher – “Your Very Next Step” newsletter

”Snowshoeing an easy sport to get involved with,” says Arnie Kinnunen, community outreach coordinator at Portage Health in Hancock, Michigan, on the Upper Peninsula’s Keweenaw Peninsula, a place that gets about 300-inches of thick “lake effect” snow each year.  “All it requires are snowshoes and a good pair of winter boots.  Snowshoeing requires less athletic ability, technique and skill versus skiing. On the other hand, snowshoeing is more demanding as far as energy output.  You cover more distance on your skis than you would on snowshoes.”

According to Ryan Alford of www.snowshoemag.com, snowshoeing has some big advantages.  “It’s a cost-effective sport,” he says, “cheaper than most.  Snowshoes are generally sold with a lifetime warranty, and you can snowshoe with a group.  It's more suited for hiking-like activities, but the fitness benefits are numerous.  Plus, cross country skiing is awkward (my personal opinion) and you're limited to trails.  If you can walk, you can snowshoe – it's pretty simple.  And, if there's enough snow…go for it.  Anywhere is game. 

Alford agrees with Kinnunen that getting involved is a simple proposition.  “All you need is a pair of snowshoes, the right winter clothing and a sense of adventure. Go to your nearest snowshoe retailer (or buy them on the Web, Backcountry.com has a nice selection) and go out with a friend.  Never snowshoe alone, unless you're an experienced outdoorsperson.”

“If you can walk, you can snowshoe,” says Alex Faber of Faber Snowshoes in Quebec City, Quebec.  “Cross country skiing and snowshoeing are two great winter sports. The can both be really physical or you can just go out for an easier ride.  The benefits of snowshoes are once you have a pair, you are free to go anytime and anywhere there is snow. You can go out with friend or on your own and enjoy all the beauty of winter and its wildlife.  The best part about snowshoeing is that you don’t need any special talent.  Snowshoeing is an easy sport to get involved, you can only go out for a few kilometres on flat ground or go for days. The only limit is your physical limit, you will find all sort of places for all levels of snowshoeing, from the easy trail around your house or ski area to the wild forest or steep hills with unpacked snow condition.”

“Snowshoeing can burn up to 1,000 calories per hour and is a low impact, heart healthy sport that builds strength and endurance, while toning major muscle groups, says Kathy Murphy with Tubbs Snowshoes, a Stowe, Vermont company that made snowshoes for Admiral Richard Byrd’s Antarctic expedition in 1930.  “Unlike cross country skiing, snowshoeing's learning curve is 'flat'. If you can walk, you can snowshoe. In a matter of steps, adults and children 'master' the sport.”

”Snowshoes enable you to go anywhere – from powder to packed snow, uphill and down, side hill traverses and steep pitches, the snowshoes are designed to provide flotation, and secure traction, to enable you to explore anywhere. No 'tracks' are required and many find snowshoers more versatile when snow/trail conditions are challenging. Additionally, you need just 6-8″ of snow to snowshoe, and can typically access community trail systems, public lands, nature centers, urban parks, etc. at no charge. Even at cross country ski and/or alpine resorts, the trail fees for snowshoers are typically reduced,” Murphy says.

Alford says the initial expense is modest.  “For a pair of snowshoes, you're looking at about a $200 to $300 investment.  For all other gear – jacket, shell pants, long underwear, etc. – it's really up to the buyer.  You can shop expensively or thrift-like – choose your brand.  But, snowshoeing is all about layering smart.  It's easy to get overheated quick (and in cold weather), so buy clothing that's breathable and tough.  You're almost guaranteed to take stuff off than put stuff on.”

Ted McGuinness, president of TSL Snowshoes, which makes its products in Williston, Vermont, , says it’s important to be prepared.  “Really all you need are snowshoes.  Most consumers already have a descent pair of winter boots in the closet!  All snowshoe brands offer products with a universal binding that will fit many sizes and shape of winter boots.  Like most winter outdoors activities whether it is Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, Ice fishing, snowmobiling, etc…, there are certain ‘tools’ you need to access the goods.  Unlike these other activities the number of “tools” necessary to gain access is much smaller.  As with any winter outdoor activity being prepared for the elements is and should be the #1 priority.”
Conrad Dickinson has trekked on foot to the North and South Poles.  But beginners can snowshoe with just the snowshoes attached to outdoor boots.  “A pair of ski poles give you more stability and support,” he adds.
”I would suggest going to your nearest REI, EMS, or other outdoors retailer and ask a sales associate,” says Alford.  “However, nothing is better learned than by experience.  Get a pair snowshoes, go to your nearest trail (or Nordic Center) and just do it.  You'll learn quickly.  I do suggest buying waterproof boots, wool socks and gaiters.  The rest is up to the shoer.  I generally take a pair of gaiters, waterproof boots, shell pants over long underwear (depending on how cold it is), a softshell jacket over a warm base layer (again, based on how cold it is), sunglasses, warm hat and gloves, and a backpack full of survival gear (for that in-case-of-emergency situation).”

”With snowshoeing, most places allow you to rent before you buy so you can experiment with different models, brands, etc. to find the right fit for you,” says Kinnunen.
 
Alford says that not all snowshoes are equal.  “You can buy a pair of beginner snowshoes, recreational, running and backcountry.  However, the beginner pairs of shoes are not always the best quality.  Cheaper doesn't always mean better.  I would buy a pair of recreational shoes.  I own a pair of Redfeathers and love them.  Atlas, Tubbs, Northern Lites, MSR, Crescent Moon and a few others make great shoes.  It also depends on your weight.  There are different lengths of shoes, based on your weight.  And, if you plan to use a backpack filled with goodies, compensate for your weight gain.” 
“There are three main families in snowshoes:  the high-tech models, the traditional models (wood and rawhide) and the hybrid models (wood and plastic technology),” Faber says.

“Most companies offer Aluminum framed snowshoes with a decking material to add flotation,” says McGuinness.  “The main difference between manufacturers is the binding system.  Some are real good, some are real bad!  At TSL we offer a complete line of aluminum snowshoes (with good bindings!) and complete line of composite snowshoes.   As a general rule aluminum offers more flotation and composite offers more grip.”

Next, McGuinness  says, it becomes an issue of what size.  “All manufacturers have recommended weight guidelines.  You will notice there are very large overlaps in the weight range.  The general rule is if you are going to spend most of the time on packed trail go to the smaller size.  If you are going to spend more time in powder go to the large size.”

TSL offers junior snowshoes for $39 – $69; adult recreational for $89 – $139; adult backcountry for $149 – $199 and adult mountaineering for $200 and up.

“If it's good gear, it's more fun,” says Bob Dion of Dion Snowshoes in Readsboro, Vermont. “A $200 Mountain Bike is NOT fun. A $50 Snowboard is dangerous.  The faster, farther or more you use it the more the equipment matters. Good snowshoes run around $200.”

“Most people think that if you weigh THIS, you need THAT,” Dion says.  “The type of snow matters as much (or more) than your weight. Also, how far, how fast, etc matters. If you are walking on groomed trails, a 400 lb. guy can use a kids snowshoe.”

McGuinness suggests bringing poles to increase balance and also to work upper body; gaiters to go around you’re the tops of your boots to keep snow out; a backpack to carry your water, food, camera etc., and a good friend to accompany you.

“Snowshoes are also maintenance free and require no special storage off season,” says Murphy.

While there may be a variety of snowshoes, and lots of different places to use them, there are not a lot of different styles or techniques.  However, says Alford, snowshoe running is a sport that's gaining popularity by the minute.  “Visit www.snowshoeracing.com for the United State Snowshoe Association Web site,” he suggests.  “That will give you the basics.” 

“The more advanced users develop technique, but beginners just have to remember to keep their legs a little bit apart,” says Dickinson.

But Kinnunen says there are many ways to enjoy the sport.  “There is hiking, running, climbing, groomed trails vs. bushwhacking and snowshoeing with poles vs. snowshoeing without poles.”

McGuinness says that staying comfortable is important, but that “there is a misconception with most beginning snowshoers is since I am going out in cold weather I should bundle up.  Snowshoeing is an aerobic activity; therefore, your body generates a lot of heat even when the mercury is below zero.  The key is layering.  Everyone should start with high tech base layer which wicks the moisture of perspiration away from the body.” 

Alford says snowshoeing is like hiking, but with snow.  Allow for more time, he says, but don't take chances.  “You'll get tired quickly and it's safe to listen to your body and how far you can take it.  Do some online research first.  Pick an area you're familiar with and go with a friend (or a dog).  But, be a smart planner.  You never know what you'll encounter when in the backcountry.  With skiing and boarding, resorts are filled with people – not a lot of trouble you can get yourself into.  With snowshoeing, you're out in the middle of nowhere sometimes.  There aren't a lot of people around.  So, bring a GPS device and a cell phone.  And, if you can afford it, an avalanche beacon is smart too.”

Alford says you don't have to purchase an over-priced lift ticket and you don't have to commit to a certain experience level.  “Everybody goes in the same direction and at the same speed (pretty much).  You can snowshoe for the day, a weekend or for an extended week trip.  It's up to you.  One of my favorite things to do is stay at a Bed and Breakfast and snowshoe around the property…visit the local settings and just enjoy being away from the city.  Don't take chances and be safe.  Also, join a snowshoe club in your area.  If there isn't one, start it up.  Or, participate in a snowshoe race in your area.  Or, take a snowshoe full moon tour at a local resort.  There's so much to enjoy about snowshoeing.”

“I love snowshoeing even though I don't get much of a chance to do it here in DC. I've got a great pair of snowshoes and poles from LL Bean. I'm waiting for the big storm so I can clomp around on Capitol Hill, says Washington, D.C.-based communicator Laura MacLean.  She says snowshoeing is not big a production.  “Just throw your gear in the car and go – you don't need a special roof-rack, etc. My snowshoes and collapsible poles also fit in a suitcase, so I can easily take them with me (unlike skis where you need the special bag or have to pay extra, etc.).” 

Murphy says that if you plan on snowshoeing in steep or icy back country trails, you may need crampons.  “Crampons are designed to provide traction and the type of material and overall tooth design is paramount to getting a good grip in all types of terrain and snow conditions. Crampon materials range from aluminum to stainless steel to titanium; tooth length below the frame is how to measure penetration and overall shape and position of crampon teeth should be evaluated in terms of the intended use or experience desired. Backcountry snowshoes typically feature stainless steel crampons, which should be positioned under the snowshoer's toe and heel, as the binding pivots the crampons should “bite” into the surface and “pull” through the full stride. Trail walking snowshoes' crampons are often lighter weight aluminum or carbon steel that offer good penetration on packed trails.”

”The beauty of snowshoeing is it does not have to be a destination based activity.  All you need is snow and some open space such as the local park.  Many Nordic touring centers now have trails dedicated to snowshoeing.  In summary, unlike some of the other activities I listed above, snowshoeing is truly an entry level activity anybody can enjoy.  There is basically no learning curve.  It is a great family activity and is an easy opportunity to get outside and enjoy winter,” say McGuinness.

***  Travel, Outdoor and Adventure Jobs and Volunteer Opportunities:

Guest Services Shift Leader, Highland Center, The Appalachian Mountain Club, Bretton Woods, NH

The Guest Services Shift Leader provides top quality public service and a positive first impression in fulfilling the needs of guests to this busy outdoor program center. This includes the check-in of guests, ability to make or modify reservations for multiple AMC facilities and programs, providing accurate information and education, fulfilling concierge requests, selling souvenirs and basic backcountry equipment. The position ensures that daily operations during their shift are professional, guest-oriented, and well coordinated with the other staff on-site.

The Guest Services Shift Leader is involved in the offering of daily interpretive programs at the center focusing on site amenities and opportunities. AMC facilities are critical providers of high-quality education, safety, outdoor recreation and conservation services to tens of thousands of outdoor enthusiasts annually. The AMC’s visibility and well-known public service mission demand an extremely high level of customer service. The Guest Services Shift Leader will work with employees and volunteers to ensure this end.

Responsibilities

Welcome, check-in, and assist center day and overnight visitors and guests.
Accurately manage, create, or modify guest reservations for any AMC facilities as required.
Accurately and reliably handle cash and credit card transactions.
Accurately create and manage meal counts for the Highland Center dining room.
Provide supervision and guidance for seasonal employees and volunteers during shifts to ensure high standards of service and productivity; respond to any problems or special requests with a professional and friendly demeanor, communicate changes in policies, accounting errors, or other problems through appropriate means.
Answer all incoming phone calls and respond or transfer appropriately and professionally. Ensure the prompt and professional handling of information requests by both volunteers and employees through a variety of means from public (phone, e-mail, in person, etc.)
Actively promote and provide up to date information on the services and programs of the AMC and encourage membership to support the club’s public service efforts.
Provide accurate and knowledgeable information and advice on a variety of topics such as seasonal backcountry conditions, White Mountain National Forest opportunities and policies, backcountry supplies and equipment, and area points of interest.
Assist in the maintenance of the center’s appearance including informational brochures and resources at the main desk and associated areas and kiosks. Assist the custodial staff in cleaning windows, vacuuming, snow removal, restroom and parking lot maintenance as needed or requested.
Work with other staff to provide rescue services using established procedures and protocols working with our partners, the NH Fish and Game Department and the US Forest Service. Provide communication, transportation, and supplies and equipment needed to respond to backcountry emergencies. Accurately complete required post incident paperwork. Safely respond to emergencies (fire alarm, medical, illegal activities) at the center by calling 911 while providing security for our guests, visitors, and employees. 
Lead or assist in the delivery of guided site tours, “Dinner Talks”, and evening programs including greeting and orientation to visitor center opportunities and AMC programs and mission.
Other duties as assigned.
Employment Qualifications

This position requires exceptional customer service skills and ability to be a team player within a detail-oriented, fast-paced environment.
Must be a person who is enthusiastic and enjoys working with the public.
Computer competency (MS Word and Excel) coupled with effective typing skills is required.
Prior hotel, lodge, or visitor center experience is desirable.
Familiarity with the White Mountain National Forest and proactive attitude regarding AMC programs and mission is strongly preferred.
Must be willing to work weekends, holidays, and evenings.
Ability to work in an standard office setting, operate computers, stand & sit.   Ability to travel safely on unpaved trails carrying 40 lbs or more in all weather conditions.
To Reply

Send Resume and Cover Letter to Sara Woodstock, Lodge Manager, AMC Highland Center, General Delivery Route 302, Bretton Woods, NH 03575  or email to swoodstock@outdoors.org.  Call 603-278-4453 x 2005 for more information.

Benefits of Working With the AMC

The AMC offers a great benefits package! Here is a partial list that highlights some benefits offered for our regular full-time employees.  Benefits may vary based on position.

Group Health Plan, 75 percent employer paid.
Group Life Insurance, 100 percent employer paid
Long-Term Disability Insurance, 100 percent employer paid
Vacation, three weeks accrued each year
Holidays, 13 paid holidays/year
Use of AMC Facilities, free and discounted rates
Free AMC membership
The Appalachian Mountain Club is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes diversity in the workplace.
http://www.outdoors.org/about/employment/fulltime/guest-services-shift-leader.cfm

***  Program Coordinator, Environmental Resource Center, Sun Valley/Ketchum ID

The Program Coordinator is responsible for identifying, organizing, implementing and evaluating the Environmental Resource Center's diverse community project and outreach efforts (program set). S/he is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the program set including working with Executive Director to set goals, objectives and evaluation criteria, draft program budgets and coordinate with overall fundraising efforts. This position has the short-term potential to advance into a director-level staff position.

For a full description please visit www.ercsv.org. To apply, please send a resume and letter of interest to craig@ercsv.org.

DUTIES

Participates in developing community program goals that further the ERC's mission, along with the Board, Executive Director and/or Program Committee.
Drafts work plans to accomplish these program goals.
Coordinates all aspects of project planning and implementation for delegated programs, including grant-specific projects focusing on solid waste and recycling
Develops and implements marketing strategies for the ERC's delegated programs. This includes taking a lead responsibility for coordinating all communications with the press and public such as press releases and flyers.
Comfortable working with the media
Coordinates with fundraising staff members to ensure that adequate funding exists to support the programs.
Provides regular updates to the Board and Executive Director on the program status and development.
Evaluates each program to ensure compliance with and assess value to the ERC's mission.
Coordinates with other staff members to ensure that the program set dovetails with other organizational goals, such as fundraising.
REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor's or advanced degree, preferably in education or an environmentally related field or 3 years successful experience working in project management or outreach capacity.
Demonstrated interest and creativity in marketing and community outreach a plus.
Ability to deal effectively and personably with a variety of people, including members, directors, staff and the general public.
Excellent organizational skills. Ability to set priorities, manage time, work under pressure and manage multiple projects/deadlines efficiently.
Demonstrated ability to develop and address strategic priorities. Attention to detail and ability to organize and manage diverse activities, set priorities, and remain flexible under pressure.
Ability to work independently and efficiently with a minimum of supervision.
Ability to actively problem-solve using sound judgment and critical thinking.
Ability to work in a dynamic work environment that, at times, demands flexibility.
Excellent sense of humor a plus.
Passion for the mission and goals of the Environmental Resource Center and a desire to be a leader and team player.

http://www.ecojobs.com/jobs_details.php?sec=1EW&AID=19153

***  Environmental & Science Educator, Coyote Point Museum for Environmental Education, San Mateo, CA

Full Time: Non-exempt w/benefits; $14-18/hr
Deadline for Application: March 14, 2008 @ 5:00pm
Coyote Point Museum for Environmental Education's mission is, “To educate and inspire people to take care of our earth wisely.” An Environmental & Science Educator delivers environmental education and science in a way that is engaging, based on observation and inquiry, includes art, and teaches not “what” to think, but “how” to think. An Environmental & Science Educator works with other Education Department staff on curriculum and program development for school services, public programs, exhibits, and other environmental education events and activities. They maintain supplies and materials for programs, occasionally supervise volunteers, and assist with other projects or programs within the Education Department or Coyote Point Museum.
Examples of Job Duties:
 Teach onsite and offsite environmental education and science programs in accordance with Education Department phenomena based education philosophy and principles. Programs include school group classes, day camp, after-school classes, and weekend and/or special programs.
 Develop and coordinate phenomena-based environmental education programming and curriculum.
 Responsibility for a summer camp program. Responsibilities include preparing appropriate camp curriculum/activities, development of seasonal staff, assisting with program administration and supervision/mentoring of teen volunteers.
 Transport, present and interpret live animals to the public as trained and approved by the Museum's Wildlife Department. Provide ongoing care of Education Department invertebrates, which may include: feeding, hydrating, and cleaning enclosures.
 Prepare for program delivery, including materials preparation, contacting teachers, confirming Instructional Assistants (Volunteers), submitting onsite room setup sheets, etc.
 Effectively positively communicate with school educators and parents.
 Supervise and/or work with adult/teen volunteers as appropriate to programming. Examples: Instructional Assistants, Leaders-in-Training, Office Angels, and special project/event volunteers.
 Actively participate in Staff Meetings, Staff Retreats, Coyote Crunch (all Museum staff meetings), and other committee meetings as scheduled.
 Provide for positive visitor experiences (onsite & offsite).

Coyote Point Museum
1651 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo, CA 94401-1097
(650) 342-7755
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*** Your Very Next Step is a service of the Job of the Week Network LLC
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Edward Lundquist, ABC
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Your Very Next Step
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“…if you do follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life you ought to be living is the one you are living.”
– Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth

This is the “Early Edition”
Published: Thu 06 Mar 2008 06:11 AM EST

Your Very Next Step newsletter for February 2008

Your Very Next Step newsletter for February 2008

“Your Very Next Step” newsletter, published by Ned Lundquist, is a cooperative community, and everyone is invited, no…encouraged, no…urged to participate.

Subscribe for free.  Send a blank email to:
yourverynextstep-subscribe@topica.com.

“You know what charm is: a way of getting the answer yes without having asked any clear question.”

Albert Camus

You are now among 426 subscribers.

***  A merger agreement between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines could be announced within two weeks, and negotiations between Continental Airlines and United Airlines have become more serious, according to media reports.  What will consolidation mean to us travelers?

“It's never crowded along the extra mile.”
– Dr. Wayne Dyer

***  Ned asks for your comments and feedback to share in this newsletter.

Topics for discussion in the next issue:

***  It looks like United and Continental will merge, and that Delta and Northwest will merge.  What are your thoughts on this industry consolidation, and how will it affect all of us as travelers, and yourself in particular.

***  From Bugman, on airline mergers:

Irrespective of the reasons proffered, can it get any worse?

***  I have recently completed a survey of the 10,000 Job of the Week subscribers, with a ten percent response rate.  The results are interesting.

http://www.nedsjotw.com/blog/_archives/2008/2/18/3530564.html

***  Ned has some upcoming travel.  He’s thinking about getting some sound-canceling headphones.  What do you recommend?

And he’s looking for the best way to get to Dubai.  Right now, Qatar Airlines looks like the best bet, non-stop from Dulles, and connecting at Qatar to Dubai.  United also has a connection with Swiss in Zurich.

Ned will be in San Antonio this weekend, followed by Corpus Christi, Texas and then Tucson, before arriving in Chicago on the 27th for a presentation on the 28th.

In this issue:

***  Face-to-face with Elephant Seals
***  Keeping Clean
***  Belgrade in the Winter
***  Exclusive interview on Road Bowling
***  Travel and Adventure Job Opportunities

***  The path that leads off the beaten path:

Hi Ned –
 
I recently enjoyed an outing to Año Nuevo State Reserve in Pescadero,
(Northern) California. Año Nuevo SR, located on Highway 1 between
Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay (50 miles south of San Francisco), is
where the Northern Elephant Seals migrate to give birth and breed each
year. A docent led our group on a four mile walk, over sand and
sloping terrain, on a glorious winter day.

The sounds and sights of Año Nuevo SR included male elephant seals'
war calls that sound like beating drums; mom and baby elephant seals
calling out as this is how they recognize each other; crashing waves;
crying birds; the croaking of frogs and toads; and a coyote that
stopped in its tracks to size up our tour group.

I highly recommend this tour to your readers as it is educational,
affordable and a great stopping point along our beautiful coast road.
The cost is $5.00 per person and reservations are required. Please
visit http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=523 for more information.
 
Thanks for the service that you provide
 
Rosemary Barnes

(Where do you meet up with the docent?)

Hi – at the Visitor Center where you pick-up the reserved tix. They
lead groups of 20 people.

***  Where credit is due:

Hi there,
My friend has a credit card she uses exclusively for online purchases so she isn't entering her “main” credit card number and security code everywhere, thus increasing her risk of it being captured and cloned. My husband minimizes risk by checking our statements online every day to see what's been posted. Me? I just have to deal with his occasional phone calls and emails at work: “HOW much did you spend on that leather journal?” And “Who is So-and-so and why is there a charge for $150?” A small price to pay for peace of mind!

Cindy Lieberman

***  My fiend and Navy colleague Don Gabrielson is awaiting the ice to open on Lake Michigan so he can take his transformational warship to sea (I use that term figuratively) for the first time.  So he took some time away from preparing the ship and crew for delivery to take part in a 135 road race that starts in International falls, Minnesota. 

This video will give you an idea of what Don accomplished, and where (no cell phone coverage), but maybe not why.

http://www.living-fast.blogspot.com/

***  Winter Carnivals:

Quebec City (http://www.carnaval.qc.ca/en/)

Saint Paul (http://www.winter-carnival.com/)

Saranac Lake (http://www.saranaclakewintercarnival.com/)

***  From Vera C. Panchak:

Hi, Ned:

As an unashamed Chicago booster and art lover, I highly recommend an
outdoor art exhibition on display through the end of February:

Museum of Modern Ice (www.museumofmodernice.com) is a free large-scale
public art project made entirely of ice, located in downtown Chicago's
Millennium Park, February 1-29, 2008.

And, after the exhibit ends, the project will be allowed to melt, which
should create even more interesting images.

Regards,

Vera

Vera C. Panchak
Communications & Editorial Consulting

***  From K. Utterback:

Ned,
I leave for Africa Feb. 21 and am having a devil of a time packing!  I will be doing a camping safari, a marathon in Moshi, and then climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Trying to stuff gear for all those activities into one bag is driving is driving me nuts.  I am taking one large duffle with a smaller one that will be used separately for the safari and the climb.  I've eliminated clothes down to just 2 pair of convertible pants, two convertible shirts, 2 t-shirts, and then all the bulky cold weather gear I will need for the 3 or 4 days at the top of the climb.  Camera gear is another matter!! Especially since I have no way to charge the batteries and my camera uses it own special battery, not AAs.

When I travel I've always used my American Express but on my last trip, I found some merchants would only take Visa or Mastercard so now I'm revising my methods.  My Visa/Mastercards are tied to airline rewards.  My American Express has cash back rewards.

The one sad part of my upcoming trip is that I will miss your presentation on the accreditation survey to the IABC Chicago chapter on Feb. 28!

(That’s so sad.  Can’t you postpone your trip?)

I'll be in the Serengeti being chased by lions/elephants then.  I get back March 11.  I know your presentation will be spectacular

***  Bill Ainsworth puts his advice in plastic bags:

Observe Rope Yarn Sunday in Europe

In the Navy, Rope Yarn Sunday is one day of the week at sea when sailors take care of their laundry, get haircuts, run personal errands or catch up on sleep.  The term originated when sailors would use individual strands of fiber (or yarn) from ropes to mend their clothes and hammocks.  Because it was an afternoon off, sailors referred to it as a “Sunday” although it’s always observed on Wednesday.  (No, it doesn’t make sense, but a lot of things in the Navy don’t make sense.)

When traveling in Europe, it’s good to schedule an afternoon at least once a week for this activity, assuming that you pack enough clothes to last a week.

Hotel laundry services are terribly expensive, especially for dry cleaning.  And, the turnaround time can be a couple of days.  Washing clothes in a hotel bathroom is no fun and the results are often unsatisfactory.  (In Japan, Hong Kong and other Asia-Pacific cities, hotel laundry service is same-day and affordable.)

But, if you can spare a few hours, there’s usually a Laundromat nearby (or worth the fare if you have to take a taxi).  This is especially important if you buy clothes while traveling – you always need to wash new garments before you wear them.  So, figure on taking about two hours to wash, dry and fold.  True, it’s not romantic, but it is time and cost effective. And if you want to iron something, hotels provide irons and ironing boards at no charge. 

Typically, I pack socks and underwear in small Ziploc bags, to keep these items dry and clean.  Larger bags are handy for shirts and trousers.  Save the bags and use them to repack clean clothes.  This may seem like a lot of unnecessary effort, but it will pay off the first time something leaks inside your luggage or if a backpack or cloth bag is left in the rain or splashed by a wave.  It’s happened enough times to make me a believer.

As for what to wear, try to be inconspicuous and respectful of your surroundings.  Don’t wear a Hawaiian shirt to Notre Dame in Paris, or Bermuda shorts to Harry’s American Bar in Venice.  Wash and wear is always best, unless you need a suit or formal wear for a meeting or special event.  Always take an extra pair of walking shoes, also packed in a zip bag.  Wet shoes can ruin an otherwise perfect day, anywhere in the world
 
***  Travel clothing:

Hi Ed:

I believe in taking a minimalist approach to dressing while I'm traveling.
I usually tote reversible jersey pants, CoolMax washable tops, and
reversible jackets for extra wardrobe mileage.
Since I've built my wardrobe around neutral tones like black, taupe, and
white, it's easy to mix and match individual pieces.
To minimize clutter, I pack travel-sized cosmetics and grooming items in
plastic bags.

Traveling is stressful enough–paring down my wardrobe allows me to relax
and enjoy the trip without having to worry about keeping track of ten pieces of luggage.

Rachelle

***  Lori Ozzello packs practically:

Ned —

When packing to travel, I follow a simple rule handed down to me by a veteran globetrotter: Take only what you can carry at a dead run for 100 yards.

(My best friend's mom, Bernice, aka Oma, had stumbled onto riots in foreign cities more than once after she became a grandmother. Twice she and Opa were tear gassed.)

I taught Oma's rule to my daughters, now 18 and 21, when they were small. That's also when they had to start carrying their own luggage. They're now excellent packers and travelers.

Lori

***  Clean living:

The minimalist approach works, but you don’t have to smell bad. Take a small bottle of CampSuds, and quick-drying clothing, whether you are traveling or camping. As for business travel, I always mix and match and use the hotel laundry.

Dina

Dina Horwedel, Director of Public Education
American Indian College Fund

***  The Dirty Truth, and the real dirty truth, and more on the issue of credit cards:

Hi, Ned —

Here's the dirty truth:  For my first-ever trip to Europe, I bought some dry-wicking underwear and t-shirts for my family.  Sierratradingpost.com offers some nice ones by Terramar that are comfortable and reasonably priced.  I found dry-wicking socks on Ebay.  They are easily washed in the hotel sink & they dry overnight.   For the t-shirts, it helps to roll them up in a hotel towel, stomp the water out of them, and then hang them up to dry.  The real dirty truth:  I also packed some nearly worn-out lingerie that now dot the landfills in London, Paris and Rome. 

For extra-neat packing, I swear by Eagle Creek's packing cubes and folders.  They keep everything nice and neat, and I seem to get more in a suitcase if everything is folded properly.  For city hopping, I think it's best to pack 2-3 pairs of microfiber pants in black and khaki.  They travel well, take up less space than other fabrics, look neat, and match just about any top you have with you.  My guys like the dry-wicking shirts that you can buy at Travelsmith, Royal Robbins, or similar places.  I must admit that I brought along more tops than I really needed.  The guys had no problem wearing the same shirt for several days, but two days is my limit for tops.  For shoes, I'm partial to Ecco shoes.  I bought their Fresh tie shoes for my European vacation, but if I had it to do over again, I'd bring the slip-ons.  That would have made going through airport screening a little easier.  I also found that a good pair of walking sandals (think Teva's leather ones) are nice to have in the hotter climates.  I have small feet, and it was no easy feat finding size 35 sandals on the road.  I think I got the only pair they had in Rome. 

Re: credit cards, like you, I have the NFCU card and a USAA card.  I carried one, and my husband carried the other.  That way, if one of us had a card stolen, we had a backup card. 

I hope this helps!

I haven't worked since I retired from the Air Force five years ago, but I keep getting your newsletter.  For now, I'm enjoying my volunteer work.  But, who knows?  One of these days I may decide to re-enter the job market.  In the meantime, I enjoy your JOTW newsletter, and I'm sure I'll come to rely on your new travel one.  Thank you for all that you do!

Linda Leong

(I'll bet you could have sold your nearly worn out dainties on eBay, which would have paid for the socks.)

LOL.  But you are probably right! 🙂

***  Susan Burnell tells Ned it’s okay to wear his skirt more than once:

From Susan, who has been known to get an “overweight” tag slapped on her
suitcase at check-in: Skirts, slacks and jeans can be worn a couple of
times, but I like clean shirts & blouses. I like to pack a few lightweight
blouses that can be hand washed and air dried. I'd rather not have to do a
lot of laundry on the road but will use hotel laundry service or dry
cleaners when necessary. And since I hate to iron, I pack a small can of
“Wrinkle Free” spray, which works pretty well. (The Container Store sells
it.) A mini lint roller comes in handy too.

Uh, camping? Y'all are on your own out there.

Cheers from sunny Texas,

Susan H. Burnell, APR
Imagination Ink – Business Writing & Public Relations

***  It all goes in one bag:

One piece of luggage for an entire week!
Everything that I pack can be rolled up–it's all wrinkle-free and washable.

Rachelle

(Are you one of those people who tries to jam their put a giant steamer trunk into the overhead compartment?)

No– it's a medium sized leather duffle bag!

Rachelle

***  Skivvies don’t weigh that much:

Ned,

I do a lot of hiking with the Appalachian Mountain Club up in the mountains of New Hampshire.  As part of the informational material (fondly called the “Poop Sheet”) that the hike leaders send to participants prior to the hike, they almost always include a recommended gear and clothing list.  I find it interesting that even for extended multi-day hikes, the clothing list might indicate, “change of underwear.”  While I have no problems wearing the same synthetic hiking pants, shorts, and jerseys for several strenuous (and yes, even sweaty) days in a row while traipsing through the mountains from AMC hut to hut, I prefer to pack a clean pair of underwear, T shirt, and sock liners for each and every day that we'll be on the trail.  Hey – they don't weigh all that much!

But maybe that's just me…

Best regards,

Paul Miller
North Attleboro, MA

(Which huts have you been to?  What are your favorite trails up in the White Mountains? 
I'm particularly fond of the Pemi.)

I've overnighted at Madison, Lakes of the Clouds (Crowds), Mizpah, and Carter Notch Huts several times and have also visited the Greenleaf and Lonesome Lake huts in the Franconia Notch area.

I'll be hiking or snowshoeing back into Carter again next month with a group from my AMC Southeast Mass. Chapter (for which I volunteer as the Communications Chair).  Looking forward to it!  Just did the Welch-Dickey loop up in the Waterville Valley area with the chapter earlier in the month.  Very, very interesting and pretty hike.  I also did Mt. Pierce with the club in January.  It was a beautiful day with great views up the Crawford Path to Mts. Eisenhower, Monroe, and Washington.

I've been meaning to get into the Pemi but have not yet had the opportunity.  Perhaps this summer…

My favorite White Mountain paths to date are the Crawford Path, Franconia Ridge Trail, and anything that starts in Pinkham Notch (my idea of heaven on earth).  I'm also partial to the Pumpelly Trail up at Monadnock.  I can't recall being on a trail any where in NH that I didn't get excited about.

Thanks and best regards,

Paul

(I love the Franconia Ridge Trail.  My above-the-timberline knife-edge hiking
than anywhere else I know of for the altitude.

I like the Wilderness Trail and the Franconia Brook Trail that heads up
towards Lafayette and Garfield.  I also like the Nancy Pond area, where Mike
Maloney and I rescued a couple of newlyweds and the dachshunds.

One of the most challenging day hikes is Moosilauke.  My wife is 5'-1″.
That trail is “cut” for people with very long legs.  If you look at the topo map, you’ll se the approaches are very steep.  http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=44.0358&lon=-71.80595&s=100&size=l&u=0&datum=nad27&layer=DRG25.)

Ned,

The Gulfside Trail which follows the spine of the northern Presidentials from Madison Hut to the summit of Mt. Washington is very, very dramatic (assuming that you're not socked inside the clouds, a not infrequent occurrence), but it's kind of hard on my 57- year-old ankles and knees, since you're hiking on jagged rocks the whole time.  The Crawford Path which goes over the Southern Presidentials is much kinder and the views are almost as good.

Thanks for the tips on the Pemi trails, perhaps I'll make it there this summer…

Best regards,

Paul

***  Ned interviews O’David O’Powell about Irish Road Bowling:

David:  Ned, I’m delighted to see your interest in Irish Road Bowling.
 
Ned:  Wait, I’m doing this interview.  I go first.  That’s the way it works.  Now, where were we?  Oh, yes.  What is Irish road bowling? 

David:  It is an ancient sport that has a long history in rural Ireland going back at least 325 years. It is a popular sport of the Irish soldier, played all over the world wherever they have served. An 28-ounce iron and steel “bowl” (not ball), about the size of a tennis ball, is hurled down a one to two mile road, the team or individual with the fewest shots from start to finish wins. There are no pins or targets except the optimal path down the road. The “pitch and camber” of the road is read carefully before each shot, much like reading a green before a putt. A really good shot can go over 200 yards, which seems unbelievable when witnessed by a newcomer. One slightly downhill shot in West Virginia carried 422 yards.
 
Ned:  How did you find out about it? 

David:  I saw it for only a minute or two on ESPN or another cable network back in 1993. It struck me instantly, what a perfect sport for the scenic and winding country roads of West Virginia. A year later on a holiday in Ireland, I purchased the first bowls, not in a sporting goods store but in Murphy's Hardware, Main Street, Cork City, County Cork, Ireland. The strongholds of Irish road bowling in Ireland are west County Cork, and south County Armagh, where two separate, distinctive throwing styles have evolved. In 1995, some friends and I began the sport as a new event in a St. Patrick's Day/ Irish Spring Festival in Ireland, West Virginia. In 2008, we host 16 tournaments from March to November in West Virginia fairs, festivals and state parks. Everyone plays, entry is free.   
 
Ned:  How many road bowlers are there in the USA?

David:  There are three organized clubs, in Irish communities in south Boston, the Bronx/Riverside in New York City, and our club in West Virginia. Additionally we have sent “Starter Packs” to many new groups all over the USA who are experimenting, learning and getting organized to set up regular schedules, I would estimate perhaps 400 – 500 bowlers in USA now. 
 
Ned:  Is this just an excuse to get together and party, or is it a serious sport?

David:  For most people it is just a “roll and stroll” with a lot of laughs and a leisurely walk down a beautiful country road. For that smaller 20% it is a fierce competition, where every shot is very important. A good bowler can make nearly every shot an accurate and long roll, and high level matches are decided by the slightest mistake by evenly matched players, each one throwing long shot after long shot. It is exciting to watch. There is a North American Region Championship each year, the winners advancing to the hallowed All Ireland Championships in Ireland under the auspices of Bol~Chumann na hEireann, the international governing organization. In 2007, a Boston bowler, Brendan Fleming, brought back an All Ireland Championship to North America. Big matches in Ireland can draw 20,000 spectators in the road.
 
Ned:  Can anyone play?

David:  It has plenty of excitement with very long shots for younger players, but it is especially suited to middle-aged and older folks who appreciate the walk and scenery of the road. Becoming absorbed in the techniques of the game itself, it is easy to walk a mile or two without even thinking about it. In our tournaments in West Virginia we have players as young as 5 to as old as 85 years old. Women are often better at first because men tend to try to overpower their throws. 
 
Ned:  What does a serious road bowler wear to an event?

David:  Old comfortable shoes. And a West Virginia Irish Road Bowling T-Shirt. That's all you need.
 
Ned:  Who is the best road bowler in America? 

David:  Probably Adrian Lappin of the New York Club. He is the current Junior C champion, the highest grade in North America. Also, Con O' Callaghan, Roger O' Riordan, Mike Fleming and Brendan Fleming of Boston, Fergal Carr and Mossy Dore of New York. In West Virginia Travis Craig of Ireland, WV has dominated, # 1 bowler and state champion for six of the last seven years. Also Jerod Putnam, state champion in 2006, and Mark Whitt. Shannon Gear of West Virginia is probably the best woman Irish Road Bowler in North America.  
 
Ned:  Do you test for steroids?

David:  This sport has been called bocce on steroids, and you have to be long and strong to get a 250 yard shot, but we drink Guinness for our strength. (Afterward in the pub – never in the road).
 
To learn more about Irish Road Bowling, see www.wvirishroadbowling.com
 
Thanks Ned!   O David O' Powell

***  From our European Correspondent:

YVNS Contributor Mike Klein shares a two part story of his encounter with the Serb capital of Belgrade from his romp through the Balkans last December.  Now based in Delft in the Netherlands, Mike is a veteran European traveler whose personal blog (http://FlightKL18.blogspot.com) covers travel, sports, personal development and Europe’s finest brews.

Belgrade Part One: This is not America

Belgrade lived up to its lawless reputation with my arrival in town.  After being greeted cheerfully by the driver, a man with extensive stubble who claimed to be the former coach of the Egyptian National Karate Team and a former Yugoslav Olympian, I was then given a rather lengthy ride through the city–one at odds with my hotel's protestations of proximity to the center.

That I was being screwed by Belgrade Taxi Driver 2697 was not surprising.  The magnitude of the screwing was to be believed, however: 4400 Dinars, or about 80 USD for a trip that should have been a mere 800 metres. If the replacement cost of the contents of my luggage would have been less, I'd have made a run for it.  Alas, one not-so-small contribution to this burg's reputation for criminality.  I gave serious thought to heading out the following night if a sleeper berth for Vienna was available.

The visit to the train station was no happier.  No sleeper car berths either for tomorrow or Saturday.  After a bit of stunned silence and a trip to the station timetable, the option of a Saturday night spent on a carpeted plank seemed slightly more palatable than a day train leaving at 6:45 AM. So, I commit myself to two days and nights in Beograd.  But some signs of improvement beckon.  The couchette is 2500 Dinars cheaper, mitigating more than half the damage inflicted by the cabbie.

Dinner at the Hotel Beograd is proving an intriguing form of time travel-indicative of this city being one that retains a socialist mindset in the face of a Western world that thinks little of its national identity or ambitions.  Hospitality here is old-school socialist, from the front desk clerk at the Hotel Rex whose only recommendation was…the grim looking restaurant at the Hotel Rex, to the crew at the more salubrious-looking restaurant of the Hotel Beograd, clad in traditional suits and aprons, and giving me a thick menu consisting largely of dishes that were unavailable.  When I told the waiter of my unwillingness to feast on my little pink piggy friends, he replied “we can put some chicken on the grill.”.

Beer, as usual, accelerated Belgrade's redemption process.  Bg, short for Beograd, the local brew, was balanced and tasty, a bit of extra maltiness for flavor…

Breakfast at the Hotel Rex was an exercise in contradictions.  The buffet was strange at best, a few puff pastries and baguette-like rolls combined with some unrecognisable dishes (couldn't tell whether one dish was of egg or pancake origin) and wieners that looked like they'd lost a fight with a microwave.  Also, unlabelled cans I was able to distinguish as sardines only when reading the tiny electronically printed “Maroc” for Morocco next to their sell by date.

But ALL of that was compensated for by the coffee.  The cup of black, crude-oil thick Serbian Coffee (Turkish-style, but produced in bulk) may well be the best cup of coffee I've ever had.  And coming off the best night of sleep I've had for the duration of the trip, I was set to experience Beograd on friendlier terms.

But first, more coffee at the unassuming but well-decorated Mani Prag cafe near the Hotel Prag.  I am coming to think Belgrade has more than a few things to teach Seattle.  Serb coffee has Turkish flavor and quality but is served in American quantities. And, looking at the grounds at the bottom of the cup, I asked them the question : “Do you make the best coffee in the world?”  In unison, they replied: “Our sediments exactly.” The proprietor, not speaking Engelska, was bemused when I pronounced his black brew tops on the planet.  But I think he appreciated the sediment.

At long last, the dreariness of the outskirts of the commercial center give way to a vibrance, cold notwithstanding, reminiscent of the pedestrian districts of Buenos Aires or Barcelona.  Only here there is the added dimension of the residual battle between West and East literally being waged on a door to door basis.

I still haven't learned the protocol for when one uses Cyrillic or “Latinica”, though as Serbian is largely identical to Bosnian or Croatian (which use Latinica exclusively), import and competitive local businesses opt for Latinica, and it seems to be the choice for those embracing modernity.  Cyrillic, in turn, is used for those embracing tradition and the eastern identity into which many have sought solace in the face of wrenching change. Unfortunately, it is used for all street signs, which, while I know enough Cyrillic from the otherwise failed efforts of childhood caretaker Loren Shlaes' efforts to teach me Russian, required me to constantly check my map to make sure I was headed in the right direction. (It was also used for most political posters from the then-in-progress election campaign between Democratic President Boris Tadic and Tomislav “The Undertaker” Nikolic of the aptly named and pro-Russian Serb Radical Party.)

The direction in which I was headed was the Boar's Breath, the city's lone Scottish Pub. I have come to appreciate British/Irish-theme pubs in foreign towns not as oases from the local culture, but as places where the local and English-language cultures connect.

In Nashville, it is common to see fried pickles.  But until Belgrade, I'd never seen fried olives.  The common principle is largely the same-a thin breading encasing something brined and vegetal.  Can't say the frying adds much, but I can claim to have tried them.

The Boar's Breath has relatively competent service and attractive decor.  It looks like I'll return after dinner.  Meanwhile, it becomes apparent that this part of town, though looking nearly as weathered as the area near the Rex, is a posh end of town.  Serb Coffee gives way to anemic servings of espresso at venues with other themes from Western Yurp, most bizarrely a Caffe Pastis (sic), a French-themed wine bar with Turkish Efes beer on draft.

As the 4pm nightfall beckoned, the quest for Serb Coffee resumed, landing me after about a km at the cavernous Park cafe-restaurant, another relic.  Again, I was greeted by suited waiters, one of whom served me a cup of the black gold immediately after I asked after its availability.  This evening, I will refrain from the heavy nightlife and indeed from Balkan cuisine.  Instead, a Korean dinner and a return to the Boar's breath beckon.

Belgrade Part Two: This is not Seoul. Nor is it New Jersey

The Dju Dju will be the second Korean restaurant I've eaten at in Eastern Yurp, the first being the Seoul in Budapest in 1992. As a Jew, I've always considered oriental food a Gift of the Creator, to be sampled in all climes and locales. Additionally, it offers two additional benefits-a well-earned pause from schnitzels, cutlets, and heavy breads, and also a pricetag which while high compared to local favorites, is generally fair compared to comparable venues in western towns.

Tonight will be an attempt to encounter expats and English-speaking locals, people who have largely eluded me this trip. (alas, they remained elusive-mk)

A number of years ago, I participated in a personal development program called the Landmark Forum. The course was a three day session, held in a large conference room with two hundred participants. The course, to put it simply, was about getting the participants to use value-neutral language as a filter through which to understand their own past experiences and the comments of others. But one additional concept from the “LF” rings particularly true: “time is non linear”.

This trip has been a testament to the nonlinearity of time. I've been travelling on my Interrail pass for less than a week. But in that week, I've slept in three hostelries and a train. I've eaten in more than a dozen restaurants, and tasted (and photographed) at least as many kinds of beer (Croatia's Tomislav the best so far). Part of this is a testament to travelling alone. When it's cold and there's no one to talk to, filling the time simply isn't a function of cramming in more sights. It's just too cold to stay out more than an hour or so at a time, and museums (other than Sarajevo's Jewish Museum) either held little interest or were open inconveniently. So I spent lots of time in restaurants, bars and cafes, watching and listening to the people around me. Thoughts of my real life intrude, including those of a certain someone…

But otherwise, ‘home’ in the Netherlands is a planet away from here, its cleanliness, affluence and order a memory distant in space and very seemingly in time. A key to this feeling of nonlinearity is the nature of travel. I've had two substantial overland daytime journeys, the surreal rail trip from Zagreb to Sarajevo, and the bus trip from Serb Sarajevo to Belgrade. It was possible for me on neither journey to check out and sleep but for a few moments..

If I had done these legs by air (a feasible if pricier option), the trip would likely have felt faster, but seeing the red cinderblock homes, steeples, minarets and the dueling latin and Cyrillic advertising signs of Republika Srpska in particular gave me a lot more context for this part of the Balkans.But tonight, I've come to a bit of a Balkenende, a cheap take on the surname of Holland's dull-as-dishwater Harry Potter-looking prime minister. With three full days yet to go (Belgrade day two, and possibly one each in Vienna and Budapest) plus a potentially backbreaking night on a couchette beckoning, I'm opting for first-world comforts instead of second-world excess tonight.

Which brings us back to Dju Dju, a place billed as Japanese-Korean, but far more Japanese in refinement, presentation and flavors. Under normal circumstances I prefer the more in-your-face Korean BBQ to the flat-grilled chicken and beef I had here, but the subtlety has been a real plus. Add similarly mild kimchee (the usually fiery Korean take on sauerkraut) an unusual if substantial seaweed salad, and, best of all, a melodic, jazzy Japanese pop track, and you can forget you are in a city that was once a leading recipient of NATO military hardware. Which is the idea.

Back to the Boars Breath Scottish Pub, which is now packed to the extent that I am unable to discern between conversations in Serbian and English. The women are well coiffed and stylish, the men look as if they'd look comfortable on the set of the Sopranos. Actually, if they were on the set, the Sopranos might look less comfortable.

Again, prices are high by local standards (which keeps the true riff raff out) while reasonable by Western standards, thus ensuring a seemingly peaceable crowd. A duo playing American-style Bluegrassy and Jazzy and Elvis tunes holds court in a venue that wouldn’t be too kitschy by Edinburgh standards, forgiving the kilted waiters.

I opt for a mug of LAV beer, a nice, malty number brewed by Carlsberg here, one with more personality than Carlsberg Croatia's PAN. Excepting Tuborg. I can proudly say I've avoided import/licensed beer the entire trip. To be sure, the majors are gobbling up these local breweries so it's tough to truly buy local, but I think the likes of LAV, PAN and Inbev Croatia’s Ojujsko will be around for as long as locals are willing to pay extra for local versions of Stella, Heineken and Tuborg.

Meanwhile, the local version of Careless Whisper and Smooth Operator emanate from the front of the pub, the duet having added a singer wearing a green sweater with a sequined neck. On later examination, the singer is an utter dead ringer for Meadow Soprano. In general, the women here look as feminine as the men look tough. I would guess Mockba probably has a similar dynamic. But listening to sweet-voiced pop music with an endless supply of hearty local beer is hardly the worst way to spend an evening in a highly foreign city.

Watching the crowd here I put two and two together. How does one stay slim on a diet of fried pork and Johnny Walker? Smoke like flipping chimneys!!! A non-smoking venue is as rare as a pork-free menu. Interestingly, cigarette advertising is common, and the lurid half-pack health warnings of the EU give way to tiny admonitions in Cyrillic on packs. In Bosnia, local “grits” were a dollar a pack, and western brands less than two. Here, they are probably cheaper. Hint to Balkan Governments: Raise your cigarette taxes now. The breakthrough in productivity your nicotine-addled masses would have to generate to avoid withdrawal should be enough to get you into the EU in less than a generation.

What is amazing about the capitals of Former Yugoslavia is the extent to which they parallel other cities elsewhere. Ljubljana, capital of an increasingly affluent mini-state, is evocative of Luxembourg. Zagreb, Catholic, Slavic and rustic, speaks to Prague, albeit the Prague of the late 1990s. Sarajevo: a snowbound Istanbul with Austro-Hungarian and socialist touches. And Belgrade? Clearly Moscow on the Danube!

The duet turned trio now plays “without love, where will you be now”. But given my choice of beers, the question, “without LAV, where would you be now?” becomes more pointed. LAV is proving an excellent “session” beer-something to lubricate an evening unsullied by conversation. The band switches to local faves as midnight beckons. A shapely Serbess starts boogieing (?) in a tight paisley dress, only to be drawn in by her fearsome beau. One thing better in Belgrade than in Sarajevo-the slivovitz. I indulged in a shot as I prepared to head for the Hotel Rex. Kept cold at the Boar's Breath, it still had a plummy taste.

Belgade Part 3: This Time With Guidebook
As I'll be leaving by train tonight, the noon hour leaves me with a renewed sense of purpose. For, not having benefit of a hotel, I need to keep myself entertained for nine-plus hours before rolling into Austria-Hungary on a carpeted plank.

While yesterday I was content to drift through this cacophonic city with little more than a map and restaurant guide, today I'll be more of a disciplined tourist. This city has three can't miss sights, all of which I missed yesterday: the Kalmegdan fortress where the Sava meets the Danube, the St Sava Orthodox Cathedral, and the infamous Marakana, home stadium of the Red Star Belgrade soccer club. Of course, they are on opposite ends of the centre of town.

The Serb Coffee arrives with fizzy water on the side at an old-school cafe called Mali Stadion. One key to happy travelling is to NEVER drink tap water in a new country. Brush your teeth with bottled water. Fizzy is better as the fizz is added insurance. Bottled water is cheap in most places, and you have one fewer vehicle for getting sick. Even if the guidebook writers say it's ok in one country, drinking local tap water is a bad habit as it becomes easy to make mistakes about its permissibility in one location or another.

Of course, most of the people around me are forgetting the water and having a noontime Slivovitz. I'll pass this time. Perhaps a Unicum in Budapest, in homage to a book I read a few years ago about expat life in the Magyar capital. Fittingly, the book was called “Prague”.

And speaking of Prague, I was soon beckoned by the sight of Mani Prag, home of quite possibly the best coffee on the planet. My return was greeted by a smile and a handshake. The coffee didn't disappoint. No sugar required.

Following the recommendations of the guidebook, I headed for Skadarska street, a street filled with clearly upscale traditional Serbian restaurants. I settled on Ema Dana for lunch, and once again, I succumbed to menu delights that were unavailable. A desire to have a virtuous turkey steak gave way to a wiener schnitzel after the waiter's vouching for it's non-porkness.

First glass of wine of the trip yields unexpected delight. A small bottle of Crnogorski Vranac from Montenegro. A red with some balance, fruitiness and flavor akin to a good California Zinfandel, a grape rumored to have Adriatic roots. I'd bring a bottle back but I'm laden down already. I overpacked weightwise–indeed, I barely touched the components of my backpack. But the contents of my big shoulder bag were well used, and high hotel laundry costs left me to do some sink washing.

As it happened, my sightseeing today was uneventful, with the unshovelled steps defying me to enter the Kalmegdan fortress, and the unfinishedness of St. Sava's Cathedral rendering it an impressive but shortlived detour as night descended. The Marakana after dark seemed too big a risk for limited payoff (what's the point of visiting a dark stadium?), and by the time I finished posting my previous updates at an internet cafe in the crumbling Tito-era Slavija Hotel, I was exhausted. I'd had my fill of cyrillic and cold, and even risked hailing a cab to a more tourist friendly final meal in this burg. McDonalds tempted me. But then I saw the Hotel Moscow (or as it's spelled on the building, Xotel Mockba). I thought, what better place to close this visit than in a place named for Mockba.

The place did not disappoint. A four star hotel, the Mockba was clearly a cut above the Rex or the Beograd. When I ordered an all-smoked supper of smoked beef “prsut” and smoked trout with honey-mustard sauce and peanuts, the tuxedoed waiter said “absolutely”, instead of “how about some chicken on the grill.”. And the beer, the legendary Niksicko Pivo from Montenegro, is considered by many experts the region's best lager. I still preferred LAV, for one doesn't forsake one's true LAV, but the Niksicko was robust and hoppier than the others I've tried here.

The beef was good, but the trout was absolutely divine. The smoked trout filets were delicately sauteed and served with chopped peanuts, which upon examination are no more silly to serve on trout than sliced almonds. Absolutely fabulous, easily the best sit-down meal I've had in the Balkans. And Nikola is certainly the most professional waiter I’ve seen in the region.

Still, listening to the old silly American song “These are the days, my friend..the nights will never end” in an opulent, marble-floored dining room is surreal beyond belief.

In two hours, I will pull out of Belgrade. Tomorrow, I will be back in “civilisation”, or at least the EU's more sanitised version. Belgrade is the least photogenic European city I've seen, the least polished, and certainly the least affluent. But it's a young, edgy place, and there's a resilience, pride and independence rarely seen elsewhere on this continent.

Oh, they still drive Yugos here. Tons of them. While my efforts to find limo-length stretch Yugos carrying Serbian politicos fell vainly, I discovered a number of four and five door versions as well as the legendary boxy three door. The Yugo is a great metaphor for Belgrade. It's a combination of socialist style, socialist infrastructure, and the sheer human perseverance required to own and drive one. But they speak to higher aspirations. The Yugo models sold here are called the Koral and the Florida. As the ice on the sidewalks firms up, such aspirations are only natural.
(Mike Klein is JOTW research guru and a communications consultant based in Delft in the Netherlands.  When not communicating or guruing, Mike tends to be either traveling or tasting various beers in the Benelux region.)

(Why not send Ned your travel experiences?  Send them to lundquist989@cs.com.)

***  Travel news:

United To Charge Domestic Passengers For Additional Bags

United Airlines this week said it would charge customers $25 to check a second bag if they are flying on a nonrefundable domestic ticket and do not have Mileage Plus or Star Alliance status.  The new policy impacts bookings for travel beginning May 5.  (From Business Travel News)
http://www.btnmag.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003706170

I am told American is matching this practice.

***  USAirways will no longer award a minimum of 500 miles for a flight.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-usair15feb15,0,3842413.story

***  A merger agreement between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines could be announced within two weeks, and negotiations between Continental Airlines and United Airlines have become more serious, according to media reports.

***  Germany's nude airline takes off
http://travel.iafrica.com/flights/836743.htm

***  Northwest Airlines plans to phase out its fleet of DC-9s and is meeting with aircraft manufacturers to consider options for replacing the planes. The airline said it will reduce the number of DC-9s in its fleet to 68 from 103 by the end of 2008.

***  Virginia Conservation Police Notebook:
The “Virginia Conservation Police Notebook” provides an overview of the variety of activities encountered by our officers, previously called game wardens, who protect natural resources and people pursuing outdoor recreation in the fields, woods and waters of Virginia. The Notebook entries are listed by Region..
***  Travel, Outdoor and Adventure Jobs and Volunteer Opportunities:

Quetzaltrekker Guides, Casa Argentina, Guatemala
http://www.quetzaltrekkers.com/guatvols.html

Volunteer English Teachers, Nepal Himalaya, International Mountain Explorers Connection, Kathmandu and Phaplu, Nepal
http://www.hec.org/volunteering/teaching.htm

Trip Leader, Camp Assistant, and Camp Chef, Backroads, Berkeley, CA

29 years ago, I was inspired to start Backroads by the belief that traveling actively, under one's own power, was the most rewarding way to experience the world. Researching and leading those first trips was an education and a challenge. But most of all, it was fun. And it's still fun. After more than a quarter century of being intimately involved in the growth of Backroads into the world's #1 active travel company, I'm more excited than ever about where we're headed. In 2008, we're adding our new Insider Trips which feature a special emphasis on the unique cultural and regional connections. Our quest is an escalating level of excellence, based on a passion for creating an extraordinary guest experience.

Backroads exists to treat our guests to a style of travel that is unparalleled in the travel industry. The foundation of our extraordinary guest experience is legendary service – and we go so far as to guarantee the quality of our trips. This is where you come in. Fulfilling this commitment is not an easy job, and it's not for everyone. It may be for you, however, if you can share our passion for this unique mode of travel and the quality of experience for each Backroads guest. Both the challenges, and the rewards, are abundant.

Do you have “the right stuff” to be a Backroads leader? Although leaders enrich each trip with unique personality, they all bring certain critical qualities along as well. A love for the beauty of the natural and cultural world. The joy of interacting actively with the outdoors – biking, walking, kayaking, rafting. Appreciating the elegance of dining in a 16th-century chateau as well as sleeping beneath the stars. Possessing a zest for life and a desire to share it with others. Connecting with each and every guest, and appreciating them for who they are. Showing compassion, patience and an unwavering sense of humor. Thinking on your feet and communicating with your head. Sustaining energy and motivation through long days and myriad tasks. Taking the initiative to discover the best an area has to offer. Sharing your knowledge intelligently and generously. Always searching for smarter ways to get the job done. Helping to create an even better work environment. Never losing sight of the big picture while focusing on the details. Being forever flexible. Delivering the highest level of service. Loving what you do.

Our goal is to accommodate guests’ individual needs and desires for their vacations in a personal and flexible manner. Every employee at Backroads, myself included, works toward this goal. As the company grows, we're looking for more natural leaders who can do a world-class job with style and professionalism. Please study the information packet. If you feel that you're a match for the challenges and opportunities of being a Backroads Trip Leader, please follow the instructions on our website to apply.

We are currently hiring for the 2008 season. Please read the information below and the information packet on the sidebar that applies to your work eligibility prior to applying. We look forward to receiving your application!

Requirements
We can only accept applications from candidates that are eligible to legally work in the United States, Canada and the following European countries (European candidates must have an EU or Swiss passport and citizenship): Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

Skills and Schedules
The trip-leading schedules available in 2008 will primarily be in North America and Europe during the spring, summer and fall. Winter schedules may be available in the U.S. and Latin America. We are especially interested in hiring applicants who have foreign language skills, experience working with families, and rich backgrounds in cultural and/or natural history. We encourage those of you with these talents in particular to highlight them on your application.

New leaders’ schedules will be assigned after you have completed the training process. Schedules will begin, in most cases, within 5-30 days after finishing training. Trip leading schedules will vary and may include camping, casual and premiere trips, as well as Insider, biking, walking, or multisport trips, for groups of families, solos, or couples.

Qualifications
The following list of qualifications serves as our guide as we search for exceptional Trip Leader candidates. You’ll see that we have very high expectations of our leaders – so do our guests! Being a world-class Trip Leader requires a rare combination of talents. Do your skills, experiences, and aptitudes enable you to answer “yes” to most of the questions below?

Are you committed to delivering the highest level of quality and service to our guests?

Do you possess superb people skills? Do you have a dynamic personality? Are you a sophisticated conversationalist? Are you confident, caring, warm, and friendly? Do you have a zest for life?

Are you good at anticipating, troubleshooting, and solving challenging problems?

Do you have in-depth knowledge of any of our regional destinations and/or cultural activities—art, natural and cultural history, food and wine, etc.?

Do you speak other languages fluently? (Italian, French, Spanish, and German are extremely desirable, but language skills for any of our destinations are helpful.)

Are you comfortable working long hours? Are you physically fit and capable of lifting bikes and luggage?

Are you passionate about—and experienced in—active traveling and the outdoors? Do you enjoy camping, hiking, and cycling?

Do you have a valid driver’s license and an excellent driving record? Are you mechanically inclined? (All applicants must have significant driving experience; Canadian applicants must also have the ability to obtain a Class 4 Commercial Drivers License). 
Are you over 21 years of age? (If not, please see our Camp Assistant position or Camp Chef position for more information.)

We are currently hiring for the 2008 season. Please read the information below and the information packet on the sidebar that applies to your work eligibility prior to applying. We look forward to receiving your application!

Requirements
We can only accept applications from candidates that are eligible to legally work in the United States, Canada and the following European countries (European candidates must have an EU or Swiss passport and citizenship): Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

Skills and Schedules
The trip-leading schedules available in 2008 will primarily be in North America and Europe during the spring, summer and fall. Winter schedules may be available in the U.S. and Latin America. We are especially interested in hiring applicants who have foreign language skills, experience working with families, and rich backgrounds in cultural and/or natural history. We encourage those of you with these talents in particular to highlight them on your application.

New leaders’ schedules will be assigned after you have completed the training process. Schedules will begin, in most cases, within 5-30 days after finishing training. Trip leading schedules will vary and may include camping, casual and premiere trips, as well as Insider, biking, walking, or multisport trips, for groups of families, solos, or couples.

Qualifications
The following list of qualifications serves as our guide as we search for exceptional Trip Leader candidates. You’ll see that we have very high expectations of our leaders – so do our guests! Being a world-class Trip Leader requires a rare combination of talents. Do your skills, experiences, and aptitudes enable you to answer “yes” to most of the questions below?

http://www.backroads.com/leaders/

“Grace is the beauty of form under the influence of freedom.”

Friedrich von Schiller

*** Your Very Next Step is a service of the Job of the Week Network LLC
© 2008 The Job of the Week Network LLC
Edward Lundquist, ABC
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Your Very Next Step
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“The secret to a rich life is to have more beginnings than endings.”
– David Weinbaum

Your next adventure begins with “Your Very Next Step!”

Published: Tue 19 Feb 2008 04:54 AM EST

Your Very Next Step newsletter for January 2008

Your Very Next Step newsletter for January 2008

www.nedsjotw.com

“Your Very Next Step” newsletter, published by Ned Lundquist, is a cooperative community, and everyone is invited, no…encouraged, no…urged to participate.

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“What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.”
– T.S. Eliot

In this issue:

***  Backpacking Lightweight:
***  What’s the most unusual thing you’ve encountered on the trail? 
***  Tips for travel
***  Sports to try in 2008
***  Travel News
***  Slavic Switzerland?
***  Outdoors Enthusiasts are an economic force
***  Outdoor/travel/adventure jobs

***  Backpacking Lightweight:

Packing light is important, especially when you have a lot to carry on your back for a long way.  But for some, packing light is an obsession.  Does anyone have any lightweight backpacking tips.  Here are some links:

http://www.backpacking.net/

***  What’s the most unusual thing you’ve encountered on the trail?  Turns out this is a good question:

***  From Jim Parsons:

My most interesting trail “meeting” experience came many years ago when I hiked Sourdough Mountain in Washington's North Cascades Park.  That hike taught me that when the trail guides out west say “steep and strenuous,” they mean it!

Anyway, I was on my way down from my overnight stay when I met a somewhat older gentleman slowly making his way up.  We chatted only briefly (neither of us wanted to lose our respective momentum), but he told me that he'd backpacked this mountain about 20 years ago and was going to give it his best shot.  I gave him the 411 on the trail conditions, wished him luck, and continued on toward the welcome embrace of my rental car.

Well, about 20 years have passed, and I'm contemplating tackling ol' Sourdough Mountain again.  Can't help but wonder–as my aging Baby Boomer bones creep up that trail wondering how the heck nature could have made it any steeper, will I encounter some younger version of myself bounding his way downhill?  And if I do, what should I say to him?

Jim P.

(Will you be there to find out?)

***  From Jeff Peters:

Ned,

The most unexpected thing that ever happened to me while traveling was when I realized I needed to break up with my girlfriend during a short camping trip at the Grand Canyon. I had thought (I still do) that it was okay for couples to have separate interests. In our case, I went camping and kayaking with certain friends (she told me point blank she would never sleep in a tent), and she enjoyed participating in community theater (I think it's creepy when people suddenly burst into song). I got invited to a friend's wedding in Sedona, Arizona, which was beautiful. Since I was so close, after the wedding I drove my rental car up to the Grand Canyon. This was in August, and Grand Canyon village was teeming with people from all over, which was not why I had come to the Grand Canyon. So I drove to the East end of the park, and rented a campsite for the night. There wasn't much to do by myself that night, so I got to bed early and woke up a few minutes before sunrise. I jogged a few hundred yards to the rim of the canyon and watched the sun rise over the Painted Desert. The canyon looked entirely different every few minutes as the sun got higher and illuminated more of the walls beneath the rim. The canyon is huge and I felt like me and any of my concerns were small and insignificant comparatively. It was for me a spiritual moment, and I knew then that I couldn't continue to date someone who would never be interested in sharing a moment like that.

Travel tip: bring zip-lock bags. They're light and take up hardly any space, but great for keeping the ants out of your food, keeping your still-damp bathing suit from getting the rest of the clothes in your suitcase or pack wet when it's time to fly home, or keeping that leaky lotion bottle from leaking all over your other stuff. You just never know what you'll run into that having those bags can solve.

–Jeff Peters

(What size zip-loc bag did your ex-girlfriend fit into?)

***  From Rosemary Swantek:

My best hiking experiences have occurred in the amazing Red Rock Country
area around Sedona, AZ.  There are amazing, beautiful vistas from all
the dozens of great trails, but my best experience occurred while hiking
on and around the massive Bell Rock formation.  It was there that I
understood what some refer to as the Earth's “vortexes” — areas of
incredible energy and peace — present at certain Red Rock sites.  After
hiking, and just sitting and contemplating in the quiet Bell Rock
splendor, my husband and I decided to buy a vacation/future retirement
home in this area.  That was four years ago.  We haven't retired yet,
but we get back there at every opportunity, to get another dose of Red
Rock energy and peace.  Try it!

Rosemary V. Swantek

(Is that an invitation?  Actually, I'll be in Tucson the evening of 26 Feb.  Is that near Sedona?  No, I see that it is not.)

***  From Mark Oswell:

Horsetooth reservoir, Ft. Collins, CO (1990) – a large black bear following us down the trail for about 10 minutes, casually following behind about 50 yards or less.

***  From K Utterback:

The most startling and funny thing was when I was camping for the night on the Antarctica peninsula and there was a snoring seal on the beach about 10 feet from our sleeping bags.

***  From Jim Stewart:

Ned,

The most unusual thing on the trail was not a rattlesnake, scenery, or
weather, but “Flash”.  It just so happens that you were with me on this
particular backpacking trip with the Boy Scouts as we were heading south
towards Harper' Ferry on the Appalachian Trail.  We passed many
northbound through-hikers that particular weekend and enjoyed learning
their trail names as well as why they had those names.  Some we
privately gave nick-names, such as toe-nail man (collector of … you
guessed it).  Back to the story, as we headed south we saw approaching a
young man backpacking north without a shirt on, something scrawled on
his chest, and carrying a bag of oranges just below his waist.  When
close enough to read, we could read “Happy hike naked day” and he asked
us if anyone wanted an orange.  Ned, being the adventuresome one, said
sure.  He was tossed an orange (thankfully the bag did not move from its
critical coverage area), and the young man happily sang out as he passed
on his way, “everything is better when it is peeled”.  Needless to say,
we did not want to look north to see his southern exposure.  We did not
learn his name until we got to the AT headquarters in Harpers Ferry
where we learned his handle was “Flash” and that no one there thought he
would actually go bare on “National Hike Naked Day” (even though he
signed their log encouraging all to do so).  We did not get the full
story behind his trail name, but one can wonder.  Anyhow, Ned enjoyed
peeling and eating his orange, and we have a story for the ages.

Jim Stewart

(Jim is correct.  Jim and I have shared several most interesting trail – and other outdoor – experiences.  Flash was one of the most memorable.  He had decided to hike the “Four State Challenge” on the AT on the Summer Solstice, which, as luck would have it, is National Hike naked Day.  The four state challenge is to start in Virginia, cross in to West Virginia at Harpers Ferry, and cruise up to Pennsylvania, a distance of 40 miles, in one day.)

***  From Gwyneth Saunders:

A bunch of us [women] decided in homeport from deploying to Antarctica that we would spend a week camping with one woman's sister and her best friend who are campoholics.
Definition?: Instead of toasters, perfume and lingerie, their families gave them camping gear for birthdays and holidays.

All we had to do was lend a hand cleaning up and the two campers would do everything else. They had EVERYthing including – by the time we were at seven years doing this – the Barbie camping kitchen sink!

We camped at Beaver Lake near Cougar under Mt. St. Helens – post-blowup.
I was always the early bird so I would get up light the campfire for coffee from wood and kindling I had chopped the night before – most of which we brought in – and then take my fishing rod and go to the edge of the lake.

I know people brag about the fishing in the Northwest, but I swear by my two tackle boxes and filetting knife that the fish aren't in the lakes!

Anyway, one morning I am sitting down with line in the water attempting as usual to catch more than rocks and branches. Something that sounded very much like taking an open ream of 8.5×11 paper and flipping one end of it came in my direction.

I looked up just in time to see a flock of about a dozen Canada geese fly just about two feet off the water flap by me from the lake feeder out over the larger body of water.
Sometimes being still has its great rewards! It was something Tory Petersen would have painted.
Gwyneth

***  From Kris Gallagher:

Ned –

Roughly a dozen years ago, I and two friends were hiking in the woods in
central Wisconsin– primarily pines and other tall trees with a
relatively clear under-story. Without warning, a turkey vulture rose
from what we later discovered was a deer carcass, less than 50 yards
from us. The bird spread enormous wings and, without seeming to move
them, sailed away from us. He never gained more than a foot or two in
altitude and never beat his wings, yet was able to turn nearly
perpendicular to the ground to cruise between two trees. Silently, he
disappeared from sight.

My friends and I were stunned, not only by the suddenness, but also by
the grace and power displayed by a bird widely characterized as garish
and awkward. I will never again disparage a vulture.

While this is not an unusual thing for a hiker to encounter on a trail,
I will never forget it. I can still picture him slipping sideways
between those trees.

Kris Gallagher, ABC
DePaul University

***  From Tom Carney:

Ned:
 
In my case two polarities spring to mind:
 
1. On an assignment up in the Arctic,  watching with amazement a pilot, waving over his head the private parts of a bull walrus, chase a laughing stewardess across the ice, and wondering  “Carney, what the heck are you doing here? Your life depends on that man!”
 
 
2. Another assignment, only several years later, spending 10– sun-burning–hours in a 12-foot, open boat, crawling up an equatorial river, in Kalimantan; during the whole trip  about four feet in front of me, in the prow of the boat, was this sturdy, serious- looking chap in full battle fatigues with a machine gun:  this was bandit country….I had the same  thought, ‘Carney, what are you I doing here?’  This vision is still seared in my memory as the absurdity struck me: for the rest of the trip  I had to suppress the strongest desire to giggle.
 
(Man, how foolish can one be –stuck in  the middle of nowhere, laughing and giggling  at a serious fellow holding a machine gun…. Who’d know? I had to avoid looking at him which was difficult to do in the circumstances).

Tom Carney
Gillies Bay
Texada Island B.C. Canada

(Guns are not always to keep the riff raff out.  Usually it’s to keep the humans in until they’re paid for.  Did the pilot catch the flight attendant?  Where’s Texada Island?)

Hi Ned:
 
In my experience flight attendants were not hard to catch….as a Kiwi lady friend told me, too much competition to be demure….

Texada Island is a beautiful, little known 300 square mile island between Vancouver Island and Canada's west coastal mountains. We only have 1,200 permanent residents but a full health clinic, good bistro etc. and busy busy community, with e.g. Saturday 4-hour hikes (same route never repeated in the same year)  followed by a wine and cheese party, summer jazz festivals, active old age pensioners association, a Canadian Legion, folk dancing and gardening clubs, things like crokinole tournaments, and with a good social mix–retired CEOs, lots of artists, two active quarries which supply limestone for all of Greater Vancouver and much of Seattle etc.'s concrete in the current building boom down there–the urban life which most of us on Texada fled from.
 
A city of 40,000– Powell River– is a 20 minute drive and a half hour ferry ride away–it has all the usual big  box stores and a good general hospital. On Island we have a nine hole golf course,  a fine country general store, with PO, liquor etc. and my wife and I (in our late 60s) acquired in October a beautiful, vintage, classic 17 foot ocean going kayak–a “Klepper”–complete with two seats and sails.
(The web site says the record for assembling one of these (fold up) things is two minutes: it did not say where/when that record was set–I suspect in mid Atlantic on 1942 on the deck of a sinking U-boat.)

Neighbours here in their gardens have banana trees, Australian tree ferns, and last summer my wife and I planted an olive tree, with an artist friend immediately offering a large screw to make an olive press (I put him off for five years)

Because of its “remoteness” during prohibition Texada Island had the largest distillery west of Winnipeg, with the rum runners travelling down the coast to the USA.
 
Living here is like living in a BBC T-V soap opera.
 
I actually have started the restoration of my old disassembled 1950 Jaguar drop head 3.5 convertible which I ran as a daily during the 1960s and 70s….I have a fine large workshop with wood stove and water.
 
Regards, a great new year and let's banish health problems…
tom carney

(Wow!  All the limestone you can eat!  What are crokinole tournaments?)

Hiya Ned (again)
 
     I should have mentioned we also have thousands of deer–in summer drought people put water out for them, then when hunting season starts six weeks later….ample venison, .which I found odd.
 
  But we have no bears or cougars as predators here so they have to be culled;  some island fish species and an island lizard are unique, found nowhere else…..
 
Crokinole is a parlour game you may have played as a kid, especially in the first half of the last century. Some people from the interior of the Province (B.C.) drive 300 miles each way just to compete in an annual championship tournament. Jeez! Wife wants to take it up but I am dodging…
 
  In addition to the quarries there is active logging….big trucks booms, tugboats etc. Now someone in Washington wants to locate an LNG superport on this island, which has islanders in an uproar–I suggested they name the anti LNG alliance the Better Energy Alternatives Now Organization because of the acronym but there seems sparse jocularity in that group at the moment. At least on that issue.
tomc

***  Here are several sports to try in 2008:

* Noodling:

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/general/columns/story?columnist=sutton_keith&page=g_col_sutton_noodling

http://www.okienoodling.com/

* Ba'
The Old Ba' Game
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/why-we-compete/2007/12/tradition.html

* Afghan Sport: Buzkashi
http://www.afghan-network.net/Culture/buzkashi.html

* Irish Road Bowling
The Sport of Road Bowling in Ireland
http://www.terracetalkireland.com/articles/road-bowling.htm

What recommendations do you have?  Send to Ned at lundquist989@cs.com.

***  Travel Tips from Suzanne Salvo:

Top Ten Salvo Safe Travel Tips:

10. Spend as little time as possible in airports, train stations and other means of foreign public transportation. Statistically, these places have a higher percentage of occurrences. And don’t walk around looking lost, even if you are. The idea is to keep a low profile while appearing confident.

9. Use a money belt. They are cheap insurance and are comfortable to wear. I forget I have one on. Keep your passport, airline tickets, special permits and extra money in your money belt and keep your money belt on you at all times. REMEMBER – the only thing you really, really have to have to get home is your passport – guard it well.

8. Use a fanny pack for your belongings, not a shoulder bag, and wear it in front, leaving your hands free. Warning – fanny pack has a different connotation in the UK and is not something you talk about in polite company there.

7. Learn about the culture and current politics of the area before you go. Knowledge of the specific problems and hot spots will help you avoid them. Knowing the local customs will make your trip more enjoyable and keep you from inadvertently offending someone. In parts of Asia pointing with your index finger is considered rude. A thumb to index finger gesture does not mean OK in some cultures. It means you think the other person resembles a certain unmentionable small round body orifice.

6. Make an effort to blend in and not draw attention to yourself. Don’t wear loud clothing and don’t talk loudly either.

5. Double-check all travel and clearance requirements before you leave home. Most places have substantially increased their security, adding requirements and making visas, permits and clearances harder to come by and take longer to get.

4. Make 2 copies of your Vital Travel Documents. These include your passport, airline tickets, permits and other essential travel documents. Tuck one set in your luggage and leave the other at home where someone can get to it easily at 3:00 a.m. – which is most likely the hour it will be back home when you call desperately needing it. Don’t leave it locked in your desk drawer!

3. Carry a detailed electronic equipment list (with serial numbers) as well as a copy of the bill of sale for all camera and electronic gear. This includes your laptop, cell phone, GPS, etc. The equipment list is required in some places and has smoothed our border crossings many times. We treat the list as part of our Vital Travel Documents.

2. Stay healthy and well rested. Jetlag saps your mental capability as well as making you feel physically drained. Learn how to avoid jetlag's ill effects.

And the number one Salvo Safe Travel Tip is:

1. Stay alert to your surroundings at all times. Once several years ago while happily lost in the narrow streets of Paris’ Latin Quarter, Chris decided it was time to study the map. First we moved up the sidewalk about a half block to put a little distance between us and a nearby group of people. With our backs to a shop wall, Chris concentrated on the map while I casually kept an eye on the area. Suddenly and completely without warning, a car veered at high speed into the group where we had been less than 30 seconds before. Horrified, we watched it rundown several people before it hit a wall and bounced back to the street. Not knowing if it was an accident or intentional, we didn't wait around to see what would happen next. With the sound of French police whistles growing louder, and extremely shaken and upset, we quickly walked away.
http://salvophoto.com/lifestyle.html

Suzanne Salvo
SALVO SHOOTS PEOPLE
<http://www.salvophoto.com/>             website
<http://www.salvoatlarge.blogspot.com/>  travel blog

713.721.5000            USA studio
832.293.5448            USA mobile
+39.335.175.8089        EU cell
salvophoto                    VOiP Skype name
713.893.5227                USA to Italy direct line

***  A travel tip from John Peters:

Never pack more than you can carry in one trip through the airport

***  Travel Tips from Bruce:

Tip:  Bring a trashbag(s) with you. 
 
The simple solution to many common travelers problems, they take up little space and you can use them as:
a) trashbags!
b) a handy-dandy raincoat in a pinch
c) a seat cover when there's no place to sit that isn't wet
d) to separate wet or other unclean laundry in your luggage if necessary
e) or even an unglamorous but potentiallly useful “carry-on” piece of lugggage if you need one.
 
There are plenty of other potential uses too–but you won't come up with them until you need them, and the “aha” experience of realizing that you both need and have a trashbag with you is a fun extra. 
 
– Bruce Blake

***  Travel news:

Three flights a day between Rutland and Boston:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-01-08-jetblue-capeair-vt_N.htm

British Airways To Launch U.S.-European Carrier

http://www.btnmag.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003694371

***  Outdoors Enthusiasts are an economic force:

According to a report by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), Virginia's 857,000 hunters and anglers are among the most prominent and influential of all demographic groups, spending more than $1.3 billion a year on hunting and fishing, according to a new report produced by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. The Report, “Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy – A Force as Big as All Outdoors,” spotlights the immense impact hunters and anglers have on the economy at the national and state level.

In Virginia, spending by hunters and anglers directly supports 24,000 jobs, which puts $683 million into the pockets of working residents around the state. Of course, government coffers also benefit – spending by sportsmen in pursuit of these outdoor activities generates $128 million in state and local taxes.

***  Trip Report, from Mike Klein:

Slavic Switzerland?

I expected Ljubljana to be a disappointment after Zagreb and after abandoning plans to visit the Slovenian alpine lakes of Bled and Bohinj. But the low cloud that impeded my view of the hills rising above the Sava River along which the Zagreb-Salzburg express rolled portended that an alpine excursion would be less than inspiring on this crisp cool day.

So, I detrained in Ljubljana, the capital of Republika Slovenija, the most recent entrant to the Eurozone and, as of late December, the southeast front of the EU's Schengen zone. Coming off the train in a newer section of town, I had little inkling of what was to await me: a pristine old city below an ancient castle, a place with the halls decked with ribbons and lights for the holidays, where thousands were milling about drinking mulled white and red wine (or was that mulling about drinking milled wine?).

Old Ljubljana has become an instant favorite–up there with some other favorites like Lyon, Namur, Edinburgh–places where topography and architectural grandeur combine with an abundance of cozy cafes and watering holes and an attractive local population.Slovenia was the most prosperous republic in the days of its coerced union inside Josip Tito's Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, which also included Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Hercegovina, and Serbia.

It has also made the most of its independence, won after a ten day invasion by the Serb-led Yugoslav army in 1991. To walk across the Triple Bridge from the new to the old town is to walk into a wonderland that could just as easily be at home in Luxembourg or Switzerland. Though prices remain reasonable (seemingly more so than in the less polished Croatia) Ljubljana has clearly and convincingly made the transition from the Second World to the First. Zagreb reminded me of the Prague I knew ten years ago-in a bit of a time warp.

Ljubljana is alive and in the present, knowing its day has come.What's startling is the newness of the infrastructure. From the stainless steel of the food stalls in the Christmas Market to the clearly brand new funicular up to the historic Ljubljana Castle (whose 3D movie tour through the city's history is well worth the EUR 3.30) and to the well-appointed cafes and bars, the effect is compelling-Slovenia has found its home in The West.

One unforgettable pub is the Rugby Pub across the Ljubljanica River from the Old Town. I happened upon it while heading back toward the station for my return trip to Zagreb. Entering, I was struck by the old British advertising, the soft green carpeting, and the friendliness of the staff. The protagonist was Boris, a one-time “hooker” for the Slovenian National Rugby team, who, as it turns out, opened the pub one week earlier. I am willing to take bets about how long the pub's English hotel-like ambiance will withstand the arrival of many rugby tourists. Perhaps Slovenian rugby could learn a thing or two about making their country into a rugby destination from my friend Alec Byrne in Bariloche, Argentina, who has put Patagonia on the Rugby map through his business, Rugby Patagonia (http://www.rugbypatagonia.com.ar).

It was probably best that I hit Ljubljana after Zagreb. Zagreb is an Eastern European city, that while looking west (to the point that its Parliament flies the EU flag while the country remains clearly in the membership queue) is still Slavic in mindset and rustic in its soul (evidenced most poignantly by women standing in prayer in front of roadside altars). Ljubljana is a western city that speaks an eastern language. The difference-despite the two-hour travel time between both cities-is profound.

Mike Klein is JOTW research guru and a communications consultant based in Delft in the Netherlands.  When not communicating or guruing, Mike tends to be either travelling or tasting various beers in the Benelux region.

***  Here are some outdoor/travel/adventure jobs:

GRAPHIC DESIGNER, Liquid Force Apparel, Irvine, CA
http://malakye.com/asp/front/sendmail.asp?Recor=0&sm=any&keywords=&ID=4563

Wildlife Expert, African Union, Kenya, Africa
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-79ZAWE

ASSOCIATE EDITOR, EXPN.com, New York City, NY
http://malakye.com/asp/front/sendmail.asp?Recor=0&sm=any&keywords=&ID=9219

*** Your Very Next Step is a service of the Job of the Week Network LLC
© 2008 The Job of the Week Network LLC
Edward Lundquist, ABC
Editor and Publisher
Your Very Next Step
7813 Richfield Road
Springfield, VA 22153
Home office phone: (703) 455-7661
lundquist989@cs.com
www.nedsjotw.com

Subscribe for free.  Send a blank email to:
yourverynextstep-subscribe@topica.com.

“The secret to a rich life is to have more beginnings than endings.”
– David Weinbaum

In this issue:

***  Backpacking Lightweight:
***  What’s the most unusual thing you’ve encountered on the trail? 
***  Tips for travel
***  Sports to try in 2008
***  Travel News
***  Outdoors Enthusiasts are an economic force
***  Outdoor/travel/adventure jobs
***  Slavic Switzerland?

Published: Mon 21 Jan 2008 07:49 AM EST

Your Very Next Step newsletter for December 2007

Your Very Next Step for December

“Adventure must start with running away from home”
– William Bolitho

“Freedom is just CHAOS with better lighting.”
– Alan Dean Foster

“The fundamental law of human beings is interdependence. A person is a person through other persons.”
– Desmond Tutu

Since the first 140 of you adventuresome charter subscriber received issue number 1, another couple of hundred of you have subscribed.  So, I need to make all of you aware of the fact that “Your Very Next Step” newsletter is a cooperative community, and everyone is invited, no…encouraged, no…urged to participate.  In the first announcement for the newsletter I mentioned a few topics I thought we might like to discuss.  Those are still good topics.  So please go and read the promo and the first newsletter, and see where you can contribute to the discussion.

You are now among 358 subscribers.

Help Ned launch “Your Very Next Step” Newsletter
http://www.nedsjotw.com/blog/_archives/2007/11/16/3363298.html

Your Very Next Step Newsletter – November 2007
http://www.nedsjotw.com/blog/_archives/2007/11/22/3369433.html

Maybe you recall some of these:

Outhouse surprises

Tips for sanitation sanity

Technology on the trail

Packing light

Staying dry

Staying warm

Best airports for layovers

Off-season surprises

I don't want this anymore. Would you like it?

The most amazing place I've ever been

Most interesting uses of duct tape

Emergency repairs

Product Reviews – by both you and I (sleeping bags; hiking boots; rain gear; travel luggage; hydration equipment; lights; sunglasses; cameras; noise canceling headphones; and anything that helps us take another step on a new adventure)

Here are a few more…

Describing that “mountaintop” experience

Longest flight

Strangest airline

Prettiest view

Most interesting thing you discovered in your campsite

Coolest souvenir

Most unusual place you could buy a beer

Your December issue is being posted to you far from Ned’s Global Operations Center in Springfield, Virginia.  This issue of “Your Very Next Step” Newsletter is being transmitted to you from “the Garden Isle,” Kauai, Hawaii.  I spent the last two days out at the Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands, described as the remotest beach in America (south of Alaska).  Because of the protection it receives from being a super-secret test facility, endangered wildlife such as albatross, monk seals and Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles have a safe habitat.

Tell me about the remotest place you’ve ever been.  Send your contributions to Ned at lundquist989@cs.com, and make sure you indicate that the contribution is for “Your Very Next Step,” because I get lots of email.

***  Jobs listed in this sissue (see below):
1.)  River Apprenticeships, Canyonlands Field Institute, Moab, Utah
2.)  Part Time Naturalist Guide, Pacific Coast of Katmai National Park, Hallo Bay Wilderness, Homer, Alaska
3.)  Fish and Wildlife Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Department Of The Interior, Cheyenne, WY
4.)  eCom Marketing Coordinator, Ibex Outdoor Clothing, Woodstock, Vermont
5.)  Communications Director, Environment America, Washington DC
6.)  SUBARU/LEAVE NO TRACE TRAVELING TRAINERS, Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Boulder, CO
7.)  Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Requests
Proposals for Assistance with the Alaska Cruise Ship Ocean Ranger
Program
8.)  Hang Gliding Instructor, Lumber River Hang Gliding, Lumberton, NC
9.)  Rock Climbing Guides (and other opportunities), Mountain Adventure Guides, Pisgah National Forest, Erwin, TN
10.)  Campaign Coordinator – Missouri River Breaks, The Wilderness Society, Bozeman, Montana
10.)  Membership, Regional Development, and Special Events Coordinator
Texas Wildlife Association, San Antonio, Texas

***  I stumbled across this on the Internet:

To order a set of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Outreach Trading Cards, please contact Jerry_Wells@fws.gov.

***  I need to buy Laura some new boots.  I need some, too, but first things first.  If you want your spouse to hike with you, satisfy those basic needs first, like a good pair of boots.  When Laura and I were first married I stopped into “The Mountain Shop” in Wellesley, Mass., because, well, because I like looking around in stores like that.  I mentioned how I had never climbed Mount Washington, and she made a deal with me, that if I bought her a new pair of good hiking boots she would climb Mount Washington with me.  As expensive as those boots were (much more than I had paid for my boots at EMS in Boston a few years earlier—on sale, I would consider them a bargain to this day.  Several pairs of boots later, I will still think of a new pair of boots for Laura as a great deal today.

But great deals can be deceiving.  I was looking at bargains at www.campmor.com and found a pair of Technica boots for $19.99, marked down on sale from something much, much more than that.  There must be a catch, I thought.  And I was right.  They only had them in one size.  But guess what?  It was my size!  They were much lighter than my big Italian leather boots, and I really liked them.  They fit perfect, and stayed laced up, where as the tongue on my Fabiano “The Alps” boots kept slipping off to the sides.  At some point, while hiking sections of the AT in northern Virginia, I started to feel like something was poking me in the undersides of my socks, like a pin or something.  It nagged me, but didn’t stop me.  This persisted until I finally noticed something sticking through the sole: the metal shank.  While I could pad the protrusion as a temporary fix, I knew those boots were shot.  And I was prepping for a long haul trek In New Mexico where I would need good boots, and they needed to be broken in.  A friend suggested going on eBay and getting a pair of Vasque boots.

I did that as soon as I got home.  I went online, searched for Vasque boots, and there they were, in my size, at a very reasonable price, with an hour to go in the auction.  I won, the boots were shipped, they were virtually new but somewhat broken in, and they were great, except for one thing.  They seemed to be just a tiny bit too small.  I made do on my trip, and still wear them today.  But I wish they were a little larger, which means I will try extra hard next time to get a pair that’s really fitted for me.

I found this web page about fitting boots to be interesting. 

http://www.ems.com/products/boot_fitter_search.jsp

I’d be interested in any thoughts you all have about foot wear selection and fitting.

***  From The Commonwealth of Virginia Outdoor Report:

Have you Checked – Rechecked Your Batteries?
If you made it through the first week (of hunting season) without finding (usually at the most critical time) that your batteries in your flashlight, radio, camera, GPS, 'fill in the blank' gadget died… check and replace with fresh batteries before going out again. A battery meter to check power levels is a great gift idea!
Do You Have ICE on Your Cell Phone?
No, not the frozen stuff. Most outdoor enthusiasts carry a cell phone with them on their outings. They are a great safety item. But what if you are injured and cannot operate your phone to communicate? Emergency responders remind you that for safety purposes you should enter the numbers of at least two people that can be contacted In Case of Emergency (ICE). Program the numbers in your phone under ICE, so if you are injured and unable to communicate with rescuers, they can use your cell phone ICE numbers to contact a friend or family member about your situation. Do this for all your cell phones in the family.
***  Ned’s current adventure:

***  Trip Report:
I ask my cab driver where he is from.   He wants me to guess.   I say, “West Africa.”  He smiles, and nods.  Then I say, “It would be too easy to guess Nigeria, so I will say ‘Ghana.’”  I am right again.  “Accra,” I say.  In three guess, I have named my cab driver’s hometown.  You try that in Washington, DC.

We talk about Africa and how the nations came to be after the colonial era and how most nations have had such despotic leaders.  His native tongue is Twi, actually classified as a dialect, but most everyone speaks English, the national language, he says.  He is Ashanti.  His Christian name is Eric, but his Ghanan name is Kojo.  His Daddy’s name is Kojo, too.  His wife calls him Kojo.  So, I will call him Kojo.

I check in at the wrong kiosk.  I didn’t read the sign that discretely mentions that if you have bags to check to go over to the kiosks at the counter and use them.  So I do that, and get my two claim checks on my bags which I then have to carry over to be placed in line for screening.  I pretend to throw them at the guy, and he smiles.  The other guy isn’t too happy as many people have huge carts full of bags and he’s yelling at them to leave the bags on the cart and bring them up close to the xray machine.  Maybe he’ll have a better day.  I have time for a cup of Starbucks.  I have three Starbucks Cards, and have registered two.  I couldn’t register the third because I couldn’t read the number.  So I wonder if the number gets printed on the receipt.  There is a reference number on the slip I get from Almaz. 

At Phoenix I get another cup of coffee, this time from Abdrizak,  but the “reference number” on my receipt isn’t the same, quashing that theory.  I see several people traveling with dogs, large ones on leashes, and small carriers with dogs and cats.  I reclassified on cat as a dog when the cat inside the carrier barked. 

Many families are on vacation, traveling to the islands for the holidays.  There is much changing of seats as families try to be seated together.  The couple next to me are from Kansas City.  The family in the two rows next to me fills six seats.  Mom and dad in 11DEF with the baby, and three monsters behind them in 12DEF. As we take off, the boy in the second row says I want juice.  Mom shouts back, No, water.  The reply:  “I want juice.  I want juice.  I want Juice.  I want Juice.  I want JUICE.  I want JIUCE.  I WANT JUICE!  I WANT JUICE.  (Then, the chant is accompanied by pounding on the tray table.)  “JUICE.  JUICE.  JUICE!”  Okay.  You get the idea. The kids don’t stop screaming except for one surreal moment of silence for the entire six hour flight.  The wife shouts at the husband in an animate one-way conversation for at least four of the six hours.  I hardly hear the husband reply.  He did startle me at one point when he loudly flattened his soda can with his boot.  When we get off the plane in Lihue, the boy tells mom to hold his coat.  “You do it.  Take some responsibility for yourself.”  This was the first correct parental response I’ve heard her make in seven hours.  “No, I don’t want it.”  So, he gives it to his father, who is otherwise occupied with getting all of their crap together and off the plane, and he takes it without comment.

Our 757 lands to an empty Lihue airport, but within minutes of touching down we are joined by an Aloha 737, a Hawaiian 717 and a GO CRJ.  I collect my bags and take the shuttle to the National Car Rental lot.  Kauai is overrun with poultry and I hear my first rooster before I get out of the rental car lot.  The road is lined with pink hibiscus and white oleander.  The drive into the Kauai Beach Resort is covered by Banyon trees.  The surf is heavy on the windward side of Kauai.  In fact it is blustery, with some rain.  The tradewinds are constant here, so the prevailing winds are almost always ENE (060) at about 13 mplh.  Right now they are 17 mph, gusting to 25.  That doesn’t keep the faithful away from the free mai tais, and it doesn’t stop the couple from having their wedding photographs taken poolside.  She’s wearing white. 

The torches are lit and we have a little music and hula dancing.  I can see and hear just fine from my room.  By 6:15 p.m. it is dark.  The wind is noisy, and the hotel creates somewhat of a wind tunnel effect, so even with the sliding glass doors shut I get a howling noise.

I go to church at Immaculate Conception.  As a guest, I receive a shell lei.  The choir consists of a singer, bass guitar, drummer (snare with brushes and a conga drum) and two ukuleles, both electric, one five string and one four string.  They sound wonderful.

Mid-day snack:  A cream puff at Tip Top Bakery.
http://mobiltravelguide.howstuffworks.com/tip-top-cafe-bakery-lihue-hi-restaurant.htm
Dinner:  Hamura Saimin.  I had the special, plus a barbecue beef.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60623-d493044/Lihue:Kauai:Hamura.Saimin.Stand.html
Here’s where I’ve been the previous two days. 
PMRF Barking Sands:
http://www.pmrf.navy.mil/support_systems.html
Here’s why:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/16/america/NA-GEN-US-Missile-Defense-Japan.php
You can see the target launch photo here

***  Finish:

I had only a short time to explore Yosemite: one October weekend sandwiched between two business trips. The park drive is awe inspiring, but I am the type to explore trails and discover quiet places, seeking out wildlife and collecting my favorite souvenirs – photographs. Overwhelmed by the beauty and all there was to see in such a short period of time, I almost made a life-changing mistake.

I set out alone on an early morning hike with a daypack containing a bottle of water and a camera.  I traipsed the trail with optimism that it would be a great day. I took many opportunities to enjoy the scenery, reflect on the sights, take photos and soak in all that Yosemite had to offer. After hiking several miles on this icy morning, my stomach and my thoughts suddenly turned to breakfast. For this hastily put-together trip, I hadn’t packed my usual trail snacks.

While I hadn’t reached the end of the trail, I had experienced some lovely views. I had already engaged in a sensual feast and I had found moments of silence in which no man-made sound was audible, only birdsongs, the chatter of small mammals, the beating of my own heart in reaction to the splendor of this place. It had been a good hike and I felt complete…at least enough so that I was ready to turn back for breakfast before setting out anew on another trail. Since I had reached a point of having to scramble over rocks to complete the hike, I decided to call it quits and head back. 

But something urged me to push myself just a bit farther. “Finish,” the voice said. So I climbed up the rocks toward an apparent summit. I could not have been more thankful that I did. Those last few yards gave me a lifetime moment that remains forever etched in my soul. Out of a crack in this large rock grew a twisted pine, which had weathered the winds of time for hundreds of years. While it had recently died, the tree had a grace that was amazing to me. The harsh conditions it had endured…the cold, the wind, the lack of soil, the ages. But the Jeffrey Pine was not the half of it. At the top of those rocks was a 360-degree view encompassing Half Dome, El Capitan and the Yosemite Valley. It was a chilling experience…both breathtaking and life giving.

I have remembered this experience, though it has been many years since I lived it. I continue to discover life metaphors for this experience. I know that life and beauty can exist in the harshest conditions. When I have moments in which I am ready to quit, I urge myself forward…I finish. I also pack granola bars.

Jocelyn Canfield, ABC
Communication Results
Writing | Graphic Design | Photography
215-887-4806
comresults@aol.com

(Jocelyn designed the masthead for the website.  Those are her boots.)

***  What’s a coyote go for these days?

Multi-state Investigation Uncovers Illegal Trade in Foxes and Coyotes
A multi-state covert investigation involving the illegal buying, selling, possession and transportation of foxes and coyotes is unfolding with arrests being made across the Southeast and Midwest. In Virginia, Conservation Police Officers with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) have conducted a statewide inspection of 41 foxhound training facilities, shutting down 35 for violations of their permits. Charges are pending.
The investigation in Virginia began in 2006. VDGIF covert agents soon realized that the scope of the criminal activity reached far beyond the Commonwealth's borders. Foxes and coyotes were apparently trapped and sold in western states and illegally transported to Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia for use in foxhound training facilities. VDGIF covert agents infiltrated the illegal interstate market, buying and selling foxes and coyotes and gaining access to foxhound training facilities.
Foxhound training facilities are used for training dogs on pursuing foxes and in evaluating that training. In Virginia, the permits were established in 1996 in an attempt to regulate these fenced enclosures. VDGIF issues the permits and conducts inspections of the sites. The permits require that foxes be provided with adequate shelter, food, water, and escape dens beyond the reach of dogs being trained in the facilities and that operators maintain documentation on the foxes used in the facility and other records.
VDGIF Chief of Law Enforcement, Col. Mike Bise, said, “We had long suspected that permits were being violated, but it took some time to gather sufficient evidence to launch a full-scale investigation. Once we got in, we saw that the problem was more serious and more widespread than suspected. Some of the closures were for minor violations, but others may result in criminal charges.” Investigators found that careless management of the fox hunting operations was leading to animal deaths, and the capture of more wild animals. The investigation is continuing.
VDGIF Chairman James W. Hazel commented, “I have been impressed with the hard work of our covert agents and conservation police officers in conducting this investigation. From what I learned, this is a closed society with access to the facilities limited to a very few people. Even the dog owners are often not allowed inside where their dogs are training or being scored.” Hazel continued, “After being briefed on this case, I am deeply concerned about what may be going on inside some of these sites. Let me be clear that the activities inside these fenced enclosures are outside of traditional hunting.”
***  I had no idea…

I had no idea what Telemark skiing is.  So Jaclyn Bailey with CGPR in Marblehead, Mass., explains:

Telemark skiing is a term used for skiing using the Telemark turn, which is a technique first popularized by Sondre Norheim. It is also known as “free heel skiing.” Unlike alpine skiing equipment, the skis used for telemarking have a binding that only connects the boot to the ski at the toes, just as in cross-country skiing. Telemark turns are led with the heel flat on the outside ski, while the inside ski is pulled beneath the skier's body with a flexed knee and raised heel. The skis are staggered but parallel, and 50% to 80% of the body weight is distributed on the outer ski, depending on snow conditions. The relationship between the two skis often is metaphorically understood as one longer, but curved ski. The reason for this metaphor is that it is this curve that makes the turn ratio of the skier and defines the relationship between the two skis. Check it out here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telemark_skiing

***  A legend in the Mediterranean:

http://www.daiquiripalace.com/

The website seems out of date.  Is the Daiquiri palace still open?

***  For the outdoorsman who has everything, including $90.00:

https://www3.dgif.virginia.gov/estore/proddetail.asp?prod=VW407

***  I saw some electric socks at REI.  Anyone have any experience with them?  They seem like a great idea.
***  Brake for Moose: It Could Save Your Life
New Hampshire is famous for its moose, but having these massive mammals in abundance can also lead to dangerous and costly moose-vehicle collisions. Each year, there are roughly 250 moose-related accidents in the Granite State, many resulting in injuries or death to drivers and passengers. N.H. Fish and Game wildlife officials and law enforcement officers urge drivers to use caution when on the roads, especially at dusk and dawn, for your safety and that of the moose. Here is some important information to keep in mind when driving in New Hampshire:
• New Hampshire's moose herd is approximately 7,000 strong.
• The average moose weighs 1,000 lbs.
• Moose are hard to see at night. They are 6 feet tall at the shoulder and your headlights will often only reveal their legs, which are the same color as the pavement. Their height also means that if you hit one, the bulk of a moose will fall on your windshield and roof.
• Don't count on seeing “eye shine.” Moose eyes do reflect light, but your headlights won't reach that high.
• From April to November, moose are very active and the highest numbers of moose-vehicle collisions occur. In spring, yearlings have just been separated from their mothers and are apt to show up anywhere at anytime. In fall, moose are on the move because it's their mating season.
• Moose are attracted to salt licks caused by winter road management, so it is not surprising to see them on or very near the road.
Fish and Game Moose Project Leader Kris Rines offers up some tips for safe driving in moose country:
• Most collisions happen at dawn or dusk, but they can happen at any time of day. Stay alert!
• Collisions occur statewide and on all types of roads, from highways to backroads.
• Try not to drive faster than 55 mph. There is a strong correlation between speed and the severity of an accident.
• Wear your seatbelt.
• Scan the sides of the roads.
• Use high beams whenever possible.
• Don't count on moose stopping when they see you. They are very unpredictable. Stop the car if necessary and wait.
• Be particularly attentive and drive slowly where moose road crossing signs are posted. But remember moose cross the road wherever they like!
Residents and visitors both love to see these New Hampshire denizens, so please make sure you take all necessary precautions when out on the roadways. Remember: Brake for Moose!
Improving Our Chances
After a request from Littleton Regional Hospital emergency room physician Dr. Campbell McLaren to investigate methods for preventing moose-vehicle collisions, the N.H. Fish and Game Department, N.H. Department of Transportation and State of New Hampshire Highway Safety Agency have developed a comprehensive outreach plan to reduce both the number and severity of these accidents in the Granite State. The plan includes increased highway lighting; placement of scrolling-message highway signs; the production of a driver-education video; distribution of “Brake for Moose” bumper stickers; public service announcements and news releases. The partnering agencies are working toward raising awareness and teaching ways to reduce motorists' chances of hitting a moose on New Hampshire roads.

CLICK HERE to listen to a short Outdoor Almanac radio commentary on moose road safety, from Peter St. James and Dr. Campbell McLaren.
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/OA_brake_for_moose.mp3
New Hampshire's award-winning “Brake for Moose” campaign is a collaborative effort of the N.H. Fish and Game Department, N.H. Department of Transportation and State of New Hampshire Highway Safety Agency.
 

Helpful Links:
• N.H. Fish and Game website for moose profile, hunting and research information: www.wildlife.state.nh.us
• N.H. Moose Conservation License Plate Program: www.mooseplate.com

***  Travel a lot, and hate those air travel delays?  What’s the fix?  The Air Transport Association conducted this spot poll:

What is the single best way to reduce delays?
 Congestion pricing designed to raise fares and thereby limit demand — 9%.
 Where appropriate, add runway capacity — 11%.
 Limit business jet operators to non-peak times — 12%.
 Begin transformation to a satellite-based air traffic control system — 64%.
 Hire more air traffic controllers — 4%.
What is the single most important safety issue to be addressed?
 Frequency of runway incursions — 12%.
 FAA oversight of foreign repair stations — 13%.
 Aging aircraft — 5%.
 Lack of a modern air-traffic control system — 70%.
***  Career and employment opportunities:

1.)  River Apprenticeships, Canyonlands Field Institute, Moab, Utah
Offered Mid March through April 30 (6 weeks) followed by entry level guide employment through contract season (late October) with 2 week break in July. These are for a outdoor educators who do not yet have river rafting/guiding skills. We prefer applicants with college degrees in related fields. These instructor-guides will initially be hired as “Apprentices” and will benefit from intensely mentored rafting skill development, river and land based school program curriculum, and river rescue training. They will be involved in some raft repair and other operations in between field trips. You will be offered continued employment as entry level naturalist-guide on contingent basis.
Must have prior to start date:
• Minimum of 8 hour standard First aid and CPR courses (strongly prefer 40 hour Advanced first aid or Wilderness First Responder)
• Minimum age 21, good driving record to meet vehicle insurance requirements
• Physical exam to meet DOT requirements, be able to lift 50 lbs, drive manual transmission.
• Secure Motor Vehicle report from home state and bring with you.
• Have proof of Social security number (passport, other)
Apprentices will be exposed to our primary river stretches which will qualify them for paid work after the apprenticeship. Apprentices will receive an intern stipend of $150/per 2 week pay period through regular payroll ($450 total, subject to wage taxes), receive free use of bunkhouse or field camp for lodging, and are provided meals during overnight training trips. Training on all CFI operations, vehicles/driving and teaching lesson plans will be provided. Initial 3 weeks of training will include 1 day off/ week, and 2 days off/week thereafter (schedules will vary as to days of week due to assigned river launch dates that vary each year.) Detailed schedule will be available March 1. Apprentices will be secure apprentice guide license upon completion at CFI expense and be fully prepared for paid Naturalist-guide work.
Apprentices will be hired for EMPLOYMENT for the balance of our spring season (May 1 through early July) on a salary basis of $1400/20 day work month (with 4 additional standby days) plus housing and benefits below; pay will increase to $1600 month starting August 1; additional increases may be awarded for exceptional skill and leadership development. Housing will continue to be provided in exchange for 8 hours/month work trade . End of season award of $100 will be made for completion to help reimburse costs in guide supplies and med exam and $100 travel assistance provided at vacation break and upon return and at end of season ($300 total). CFI to provide scholarships for Westwater River Rescue Workshop, Utah Food Handlers Course, Educator Clearance, Leave No Trace Trainer Course and training river trips as well as “starter” boat rigging kit. Training to include: Introduction to Colorado Plateau ecology, geology, history, native cultures, ethnobotany, regional issues, outdoor education teaching techniques.
http://www.canyonlandsfieldinst.org/about_cfi/3about_employ.html#anc_riverapp

2.)  Part Time Naturalist Guide, Pacific Coast of Katmai National Park, Hallo Bay Wilderness, Homer, Alaska

Summer Season: June 1 to September 25
Salary Range; $200-$225 per day DOE
Typical Day: 10-12 hours
Provided: Private furnished cabin, prepared meals and bush plane transportation.
Duties: Duties include guiding guests on naturalist tours around the camp area, teaching and informing
the guests about the wildlife, plant life, flowers, geology, volcanoes, glaciers and the conservation and environment of the coastal brown bears. Duties also include assisting in cleaning cabins, cleaning washroom
and shower facilities, cleaning the camp area and hauling freight from the bush plane up to the camp.
Additional Information on the above listed positions may be obtained by calling our office
between the hours of 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM Alaska Standard Time at 907-235-2237.
How To Apply:
1) Fill Out Application Form Hallo Bay Job Application Form
2) Provide a cover letter with your application describing why you desire this position.
3) Additional Note*
The nature of the remote Wilderness Camp employment positions and bush plane transportation
will require the following information:
*Physical condition including height-weight-photo.
*Health and/or medical condition.
*First Aid and CPR certification required.
4) You may email, mail or fax your Application.
Email:  hallobay@acsalaska.net
Fax:  907-235-9461
Mail:
Hallo Bay Wilderness
P.O. Box 2904
Homer, Alaska 99603

http://www.hallobay.com/Employment_Opportunities.html

3.)  Fish and Wildlife Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Department Of The Interior, Cheyenne, WY
Job Announcement Number: R6-08-162606-D
SERIES & GRADE: GS-0401-09/11
SALARY RANGE: 43,731.00 – 68,787.00 USD per year
Closes December 20, 2007
http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=66063461

4.)  eCom Marketing Coordinator, Ibex Outdoor Clothing, Woodstock, Vermont
Job Description:
Ibex’s eCom Marketing Coordinator is the critical organizational, implementation, and results reporting individual responsible for making the company’s marketing plan a reality. Working closely with the Marketing and eCom teams, this position is best suited for a person who loves the details and has an analytical mind. With responsibilities focused on our eCom efforts, this person should also have a working knowledge of current web based marketing initiatives, as well as an aptitude in budgeting and organization.

Responsibilities:
Overall implementation of the eCom marketing plan as delivered by the Director of Marketing
Daily tracking of Ibex.com metrics. Sales, margin, traffic, conversion, etc.; and reporting the results.
Customer database management
Email implementation and results reporting
Implementation and management of our SEO, SEM, and Affiliate programs
eCom budget management
Physical eCom systems and hosting
Be an active and self-starting participant in the company’s overall eCom success
How to Apply:
Email cover letterand resume to:
Keith Anderson [kanderson@ibex.com]
Ibex Outdoor Clothing, LLC
2800 Westerdale Cut-Off Rd.
Woodstock, Vermont 05091
(800) 773-9647
This job listing expires on: December 20th, 2007.
http://www.outdoorindustry.org/classifieds.php?job_id=2058&display_range=1
5.)  Communications Director, Environment America, Washington DC
http://www.ecojobs.com/jobs_details.php?sec=1EW&AID=18229
6.)  SUBARU/LEAVE NO TRACE TRAVELING TRAINERS, Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Boulder, CO

Leave No Trace is seeking a dedicated, savvy, dynamic team of educators (only teams of two are accepted as applicants) for seasonal traveling positions. Leave No Trace is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and active stewardship of natural lands worldwide by all people. The Traveling Trainers travel throughout the U.S. teaching and promoting minimum impact techniques to outdoor enthusiasts of all experience levels. The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers reach millions of individuals annually, promoting stewardship of the outdoors, and supporting active lifestyles. The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers program is an established, well-respected education and outreach program that is in high demand across the country.

Couples and pre-paired teams only apply. We will not place individuals in a team.

The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers, sponsored by Subaru, represent the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics as goodwill ambassadors. The teams will present special programs for diverse groups such as youth serving organizations, land managers, students, hiking, bicycling, climbing and other user groups, outdoor retailers, and general public. Scheduled stops include trade and consumer shows, special events, trail projects, volunteer events, and other related events. Throughout the season, the team will keep a monthly on-line journal and communicate regularly with those interested in learning more about Leave No Trace. Teams must represent the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer program, and Subaru of America in a positive and professional manner at all times.

Team members will be outfitted with apparel, equipment and supplies necessary for teaching and camping, as well as communicating electronically. Compensation package includes food and lodging expenses, and monthly salary. Part time employment (6.5 months) and travel will begin without exception, March 14th, 2008 and run through September 2008.

Education and Technical Requirements
* Bachelor Degree in a related field and at least two-years of teaching experience
* Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
* Recommended outdoor recreation skills set include: hiking, backpacking, canoeing/kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, winter sports, trail running, travel with pack stock, etc.
* Current Basic First Aid and CPR certification (Wilderness First Responder or WEMT preferred)
* Formal Leave No Trace Training (Master Educator preferred)
* Availability to travel without exception, continuously from early to mid March 2008 through September 2008
* Personal budgeting and expense tracking skills
* Macintosh computer and digital camera proficiency

Leadership and Interpersonal Requirements:
* Direct experience teaching, guiding and instructing (outdoor settings preferred)
* High level of motivation, energy, creativity and professionalism
* Charismatic and entertaining public speaking and verbal communication skills
* Ability to deal with an evolving and sometimes unpredictable itinerary
* Excellent time-management skills

For more information, visit www.LNT.org

To apply please submit the following by 1/8/08
1. A joint cover letter, 2 page maximum
2. Resumes for each team member, 2 page maximum per person
**other information and/or material are not necessary or accepted

Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Program
C/O Leave No Trace
PO Box 997
Boulder Co, 80306

No calls please
Leave No Trace is an equal opportunity employer.
How to Apply:
To apply please submit the following by 1/8/08
1. A joint cover letter, 2 page maximum
2. Resumes for each team member, 2 page maximum per person
**other information and/or material are not necessary or accepted

Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Program
C/O Leave No Trace
PO Box 997
Boulder Co, 80306

No calls please
Leave No Trace is an equal opportunity employer.
This job listing expires on: January 8th, 2008.
http://www.outdoorindustry.org/classifieds.php?job_id=2063&display_range=1

7.)  Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Requests
Proposals for Assistance with the Alaska Cruise Ship Ocean Ranger
Program

Proposals must be received in a sealed envelope no latter than 3 P.M.
Alaska time December 20th.

There is a pre-proposal conference Tuesday December 11th at 2PM Alaska
time. The full public notice has contact information on attending the
teleconference.

Budget:

The Department estimates a budget of between $1.2 and $4 million dollars
per State Fiscal Year. The contract includes one fiscal year with the
option to extend for two additional fiscal years. 

Full text of the public notice and contract information;
http://www.dec.state.ak.us/public_notices.htm

DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Division of
Water, is soliciting proposals for assistance with the implementation of
the Ocean Ranger program established under Alaska Statute 46.03.476. The
selected contractor will recruit and hire U.S Coast Guard licensed
marine engineers to serve as Ocean Rangers on large commercial passenger
vessels1. Based upon guidance provided by the DEC Department, the
contractor will develop the “Inspection and Verification Guide and
Checklist”. The “Inspection and Verification Guide and Checklist” will
serve as the backbone of the Ocean Ranger program. The contractor will
also develop and conduct a training course for the Ocean Rangers. The
contractor will administer the program and manage the logistics of
placing Ocean Rangers on most large commercial passenger vessels during
each visit to Alaska.
 
For more information, please contact
Margarita (Margie) Vasquez
Phone No. (907) 465-5037
Fax No. (907) 465-5099
margarita.vasquez@alaska.gov

 
8.)  Hang Gliding Instructor, Lumber River Hang Gliding, Lumberton, NC

Lumber River Hang Gliding is currently seeking a hang gliding instructor. This is a full-time position. For information, call the shop during business hours.  Lumber River Hang Gliding is open M-F from 8:00 to 4:00 and from 6:00 to 10:00 PM on Tuesdays. Weekends and other evenings are by appointment. We are located in historic downtown Lumberton, North Carolina, on Interstate-95, 17 miles from the South Carolina border.
Lumber River Hang Gliding
116 W. Fourth St.
Lumberton, NC 28358
(910) 618-9700
http://hometown.aol.com/lholmes230/prof/index.htm

9.)  Rock Climbing Guides (and other opportunities), Mountain Adventure Guides, Pisgah National Forest, Erwin, TN
Mountain Adventure Guides is looking for raft guides, summer adventure camp guides and camp counselors, rock climbing guides and support staff for the 2008 season.
Mountain Adventure Guides has guided many thousands of clients in western North Carolina. We are committed to providing clients, guests and campers with the highest quality adventure programming, guides and equipment. MAG holds commercial outfitter and guide licenses with the United States Forest Service, Pisgah National Forest – Pisgah, Appalachian and French Broad Ranger Districts.
We're looking for seasonal, committed/responsible guides with strong people skills, a good attitude and a willingness to provide our clients with a great day on the rock. You should lead traditional multipitch to 5.10  and have at least 4 years of personal climbing experience. We require rock guides to be at least 21 years old and WFR/CPR certified. We require that you have previous experience guiding for at least 2 seasons in WNC and have completed training with NOLS, Outward Bound and/or climbing courses in a University we know. If you meet these min. requirements and are interested in being a rock climbing guide with MAG please email us at guide@mtnadventureguides.com .
Mountain Adventure Guides
2 Jones Branch Road
Erwin, TN 37650
http://www.mtnadventureguides.com/sitepages/pid36.php

10.)  Campaign Coordinator – Missouri River Breaks, The Wilderness Society, Bozeman, Montana

The Wilderness Society (TWS) is a national, non-profit, membership organization dedicated to preserving wilderness and wildlife.  We are seeking an experienced leader to implement and expand our campaign to protect the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument and the prairies of Northeast Montana.

Working closely with the Northern Rockies team, the Campaign Coordinator will focus on influencing the final management plan for the Breaks through a combination of political pressure, targeted outreach and mobilization, implementing a strategic communications plan and marshaling science and other relevant data. The Campaign Coordinator will work closely with and help coordinate the efforts of coalition staff, conservation partners and citizen advocates to secure strong protection for the National Monument.

In addition, the Campaign Coordinator will help develop and implement a landscape-level conservation approach to protect public lands in Northeast Montana including the public lands near the National Monument and the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge. This will require building relationships with stakeholders in local communities including elected officials, business owners, ranchers, tribal leaders, land managers and a wide range of conservation partners.

Responsibilities

The Campaign Coordinator will direct and implement a multi-faceted campaign designed to protect the public lands in Northeastern Montana using a varied and dynamic range of strategies and tactics.  This will require the following responsibilities:

Lead TWS' campaign to protect the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument.
Develop strong working relationships with opinion leaders in local communities, the local Resource Advisory Committee and select officials with state government and BLM.
Collaborate with conservation partners, provide leadership to coalition efforts and support coalition staff.
Marshal and direct TWS resources and expertise in science, policy and law to influence targeted decision makers within state government and BLM.
Lead the Northern Rockies team in the development and strategic implement of a media strategy designed to increase public demand for the protection of the Breaks.
Initiate the expansion of our Missouri Breaks campaign into a broader, landscape level approach, including the development and implementation of strategies to affect the Malta Resource Management Plan and the Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge.
Incorporate the findings of scientific research in the government planning processes and the public debate.
Qualifications

Must have demonstrated the ability to act strategically and creatively to advance a landscape-level campaign;
Minimum of three years experience working to secure stronger protect of our public lands;
Must be a highly motivated self-starter with a proven ability to manage multiple demands and deadlines;
Demonstrated ability to work successfully in coalition with diverse groups and individuals;
Familiarity with BLM processes a plus. Proven ability to work constructively with a wide range of interests including rural community leaders, ranchers, tribal leaders, local elected officials, local, state, and federal land managers and conservation organizations;
Must be able to lead and work in a team environment;
Excellent analytical and communication skills, ability to write and speak concisely and persuasively.
Bachelor's degree or comparable work experience in natural resource management or related field.
Frequent travel with some evening and weekend work is expected.
We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including health and dental insurance and a pension plan.

The Wilderness Society is an EOE and diversity is a core value.

Submit resume, cover letter, writing samples and reference to:

Anne Rockhold
The Wilderness Society
503 W. Mendenhall
Bozeman, Montana 59715
http://www.wilderness.org/AboutUs/careers.cfm?TopLevel=Careers#blmacc

10.)  Membership, Regional Development, and Special Events Coordinator
Texas Wildlife Association, San Antonio, Texas
http://www.execsearches.com/non-profit-jobs/jobDetail.asp?job_id=14318

***  “The splendid discontent of God With CHAOS made the world. And from the discontent of man The worlds best progress springs.”
– Ella Wheeler Wilcox

*** Your Very Next Step is a service of the Job of the Week Network LLC
© 2007 The Job of the Week Network LLC
Edward Lundquist, ABC
Editor and Publisher
Your Very Next Step
7813 Richfield Road
Springfield, VA 22153
Home office phone: (703) 455-7661
lundquist989@cs.com
www.nedsjotw.com

“Adventures don't begin until you get into the forest. That first step is an act of faith.”
– Mickey Hart, Grateful Dead Drummer

December Leaves
The fallen leaves are cornflakes
that fill the lawn's wide dish.
The night and noon, the wind a spoon
and stirs them with a swish.

The sky's a silver sifter,
a-sifting white and slow
that gently shakes on crisp brown flakes
the sugar known as snow.
-Kaye Starbird

This issue of “Your Very Next Step” Newsletter is being transmitted to you from “the Garden Isle,” Kauai, Hawaii.

Published: Tue 18 Dec 2007 09:32 AM EST

Your Very Next Step Newsletter – November 2007

Your Very Next Step Newsletter

November 2007

–^———————————————————————————————-

Experience the planet!

–^———————————————————————————————-

A journey starts with a single step.  This is my very first step for my very next journey.  You are a charter subscriber in a new cooperative network venture, and this is the first issue of Ned Lundquist’s “Your Very Next Step” newsletter.  As I said, it represents the first step of a new adventure for me, and an adventure I hope that we can share together.  You are one of 140 charter subscribers to this newsletter. You’ll be able to tell your grandchildren.

There is something beautiful in everything.  I stood on my front steps this morning with the sky still slate grey with dawn twilight, and the air still.  My maple tree had dumped a fair percentage of its leaves.  But I looked up at it and watched one more leaf fall.  I thought about this one leaf, when another fell, not stirred into action by breeze, but of its own volition.  And in the course of the minute that I stood there, perhaps 40 or 50 yellow leaves came down.  When I came home later, the tree was almost bare.

What did you see today?

I will establish a website in 2008 for this newsletter and increase the newsletter to a weekly. But for now, the next two issues will be monthlies as I try to develop a personality for this community and this attempt to bring us together to share ideas, encouragement and direction to help us all step off on paths to new places.

Anyone can join.  It’s free!  To be a subscriber: Send a blank email to:
yourverynextstep-subscribe@topica.com.

What will “Very Next Step” focus upon?

Travel: From Fais to Firenze; from Singapore to Sigonella; from
Tasmania to Tetuon…your journey there starts with the very next step.

Outdoors: From hiking, climbing, camping, canoeing, kayaking, biking
and bird watching to fishing, floating, flying and festival-attending.

Adventure: That can be just about anything. From skydiving to snorkeling; from white water rafting to rump bumping; from body surfing to bobsledding.

People we met along the way: You meet the most interesting people off the beaten path. And when you listen, you hear the most interesting stories.

So here are some of the topics we'll be covering, maybe, perhaps, in no particular order. And remember, this isn't about me and my life, it's about you, your's and all of our experiences on this planet.

Outhouse surprises

Tips for sanitation sanity

Technology on the trail

Packing light

Staying dry

Staying warm

Best airports for layovers

Off-season surprises

I don't want this anymore. Would you like it?

The most amazing place I've ever been

Most interesting uses of duct tape

Emergency repairs

Product Reviews – by both you and I (sleeping bags; hiking boots; rain gear; travel luggage; hydration equipment; lights; sunglasses; cameras; noise canceling headphones; and anything that helps us take another step on a new adventure)

If you have something to share in the newsletter, send it to me at
lundquist989@cs.com. Please indicate “Your Very Next Step” so I keep it sorted out from the other email traffic I get.

And don’t for get to include the email address in your white list of authorized emails so it doesn’t get crushed in the spam crusher.

The Lundquist’s most recent albeit tame outdoor adventure is reported below.

I had actually completed most of the first issue when my hard drive crashed on Sunday night.  I’ve reconstructed most of it here.  Let’s just think of it as one of life’s adventures.

Sign up for your free subscription. Send a blank email to
yourverynextstep-subscribe@topica.com.

Until the www.yourverynextstep.com website is created, you can read the newsletter at www.nedsjotw.com.

If you represent a company with a product, place or service you would like to have myself or our network review or consider, contact me at:

Edward Lundquist, ABC
Editor and Publisher
Your Very Next Step
7813 Richfield Road
Springfield, VA 22153
Home office phone: (703) 455-7661
lundquist989@cs.com

***  From Laura Zurowski:

Hey Ned,
 
Neat idea – looking forward to the first issue. Here's a brief piece for your technology section if you're interested.
 
Picasa Web Albums: the Coolest Way to Scrapbook Your Trip (or anything else for that matter)
 
Let me start this review by saying that I am not a Google shareholder (although if I had been smart enough to join the IPO I could be writing this from my villa in the south seas instead of on my lunch hour in Poughkeepsie…). Regardless, I have been a huge fan of Google applications over the years with Picasa, Google's photo editing tool, being one of them. When I saw that Picasa had a built in photo album feature I was intrigued and decided to give it a test drive during my recent trip to Jordan.  After playing around with it for several hours and creating a travel photo album of my own, my opinion is that this is a fantastic, easy-to-use, and creatively fun tool. 
 
While Picasa isn't available for Macs, the Web Albums feature is free and available for all operating systems. Once you've edited your photos and stored them on your computer, creating your album is as simple as navigating to the Picasa Web Albums page where you can upload your images, arrange them, create titles and captions, and design your album's home page. Two features of the Web Albums I really like is the ability for viewers to post comments about your photos and the Google Maps mash-up which allows viewers to see a map of where you traveled to (which you can make as detailed as your heart desires).  True, this is kind of geeky, but the Googlers have made geek the new black, so you better get used to it.
 
If you'd like to see Picasa Web Albums for yourself, stop by my creation at:
 
http://picasaweb.google.com/lzurowski/LauraSAdventuresInJordan
 
Laura Zurowski
Director of Corporate Outreach
Marist College
Poughkeepsie, NY

(Is this different or better than SnapFish or KodakGallery?)

Both – functionality is exponentially increased. Click the link and view the album to see for yourself. 🙂

(I’ve used Kodak Gallery and SnapFish.  I’ve only recently learned about Picasa.)

***  From Allison Chandler:

Remind me when you do a backpacking or South American edition — I'd be happy to send a note or two.

I spent 5 months of 2002 living out of a backpack and following the
“gringo trail”. (In case you are interested, photos and notes home at http://southamerica.alisonchandler.com )

Favorite travel sites for investigating hotels and what to do
www.virtualtourist.com
www.tripadvisor.com

Alison Chandler

(What luck!  That’s this issue and next!  And maybe the one after that.)

***  From K. Utterback:

WOW!  I've always enjoyed your JOTW newsletter, but now you've hit on something that is my true passion.  Can't wait to see all the tidbits you get on these subjects.

My next step will be to run the Kilimanjaro marathon and then climb Kili in Feb/March 2008.  The marathon will make my 4th continent in trying to run a marathon on all 7 continents.  I've already done Antarctica, Asia (Great Wall marathon), and of course, North America.  I've not done any mountain climbing and although Kili isn't a technical climb I welcome any suggestions for gear, training, etc. I just got a Nikon SLR digital camera for the safari before the marathon and am wondering if I should try to take it up the mountain or leave it behind and only take a point and shoot.

I'm a lot further away from the goal of a marathon in all 50 states — only at 14 at the moment.

I've done a bit of hiking internationally — Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, portions of the W trail in Torres Nat'l Park in Chilean Patagonia, etc.

My other big sport is racing sailboats where I've done 18 Chicago-Mackinac races and one Newport to Bermuda. I've also travelled around the country and to New Zealand and England to participate in various regattas.

(Have you ever sailed from Bluff Harbor across the Tasman Sea with a belly full of oysters and beer in really rough seas?)

***  Gwyneth finds the yellow flags:

Now you KNOW I was going to contribute to THIS one!

The most amazing place I've ever been:
                  
Lucy Glacier, Geologists Range, Antarctica

I was there taking photos of a repair job on an LC130. It's the most amazing place. Take the largest white tablecloth you can find, lay it out flat with one corner in the corner of the [gym], put a single peppercorn about an inch from the corner and stand and look at it from the opposite corner.

That's what it looked like from the jump seat of the aircraft that delivered me. It was figuratively as well as literally cool.

One night I got up and walked to the bathroom facility, so to speak. Now, this was 24-hour daylight so night is all relative, but it was the middle of the night. I stood there looking at the view I had of that section of the glacier and the only things I could hear were the tiny flags marking certain spots around the camp and my heartbeat.

And, yes, I will go there:

Chocolate bars stuffed in my backpack from the ship's store before I left: about 50 cents a piece

Damart Thermolactyl four-bolt undergarments: about $15-$20 each item.

A solo panoramic view of the Antarctic Alps: priceless!

Outhouse surprises

The seat in the outhouse dug out of the snow was made of some miracle material. I suspect advanced styrofoam. One night it happened to snow a little. Not much snow falls – it just seems to appear blown in from somewhere else. I brushed the majority of it off the seat and settled in. The seat had not gotten nor did it ever get cold.

Staying warm

1. A small lighted candle will keep people warm in an enclosed area. At “Happy Camper School” on the Ice, we learned how to make several kinds of shelters. (OK, more precisely, it was called the U.S. Antarctic Field Safety Training and was run by professionals who knew how to get along in extreme climates.)  One of the dwelling methods was making a snow igloo without cutting the blocks. It helps if you have a tarp. Stack everyone's bags into a large dome-like pile, throw the tarp on top and start piling up snow. Since no one brought bottles of perfume and the Glenfiddich has already been pulled out and set aside, pound the snow down as you build it up.  (Alcohol really is not very good for you if you are in a desperate way in the cold, though.)

Keep piling up the snow until you have about a foot all over the entire pile of bags. Once you have determined it is thick enough and pounded down enough, dig an entry way big enough for the biggest person in the party who will be inside. Go all the way through til you reach the tarp. start pulling out the bags and then use the tarp as the floor. When you go to sleep inside, set a place in the middle for the candle, light it and it should keep you fairly warm. Body heat is good, too, but the candle generates sufficient to take the edge off, especially at first. (Second hand knowledge on the scene.)

2. If you set up tents on snow, dig a stairstep entry at the door. Dig down about two “steps” worth.  When the wind blows, especially if it tends to blow in your front entrance no matter how you set it up, the heavier, colder air will sink into the “steps” below the level of your floor and it will keep your tent warmer. (First hand knowledge on the glacier.)

3. Whatever you do, if you bring along containers of water, gatorade, etc., do not leave them in the storage crate, out in the open or hanging from the tree. If you have a storage tent, that may be OK, but better is to bring those goods into the tent with you. Unless, of course, you want to wake up and have ice instead of coffee, tea, cocoa or oatmeal. The body heat in an occupied tent will keep the containers from freezing. (First hand knowledge at Happy Camper School.)

4. Layers, layers, layers.  Cotton is not the best thing to wear when it is cold, especially next to your skin. Notice the difference between thermals and jeans …Loose-fitting clothing always.
If you cut off circulation because you're wearing tight pants, gloves, etc., that limb will have poorer blood circulation and that will make it get colder faster. Colder means frozen sooner, which means higher potential for frost bite. 
Always wear a hat, preferably a knitted hat that can be pulled down over your ears.

5. One thing impressed upon us, which some people chose to ignore and suffered greatly for it, was never leave town (McMurdo) without your cold weather gear – no matter what the weather looked like!!! If you're going on a trip in the winter and you live in those kinds of places that get cold, are cold, have been cold, carry a space blanket of some sort, an old quilt would be handy, good walking shoes, some spare socks. You know: what you'd prefer to have other than those Italian leather shoes, that pair of silk stockings and the thin and fashionable jacket. If your car breaks down, it could be a while before someone comes by to rescue you. And do NOT leave your car.  It's a bigger landmark than you are.

Emergency repairs:

Paper clips work well holding a button on a uniform until you get home.

Staying dry:

Big black plastic trash bags.

Don't get wet in the first place.

Do NOT touch the sides of your tent when it is raining or that spot will drip straight down onto whatever is directly beneath it.

Product review:

Ray-Ban Cats (they don't make them anymore or I'd have my ear-pieces repaired by now.) are fabulous to ward off snow blindness because they also had little leather shields on the sides.

Cabella's: I can't remember what model they are. I wore them on the Ice and they are so sturdy I still wear mine and they look almost as good as the day they were handed out.  Lovely warm, cushioned, tough little boots.

OK, I've written enough. I can't believe I had all that to say, but then again – I'm a journalist. And then I think of it every November when the cold descends upon us and threatens snow and ice.

I don't know how I will survive in South Carolina. Other than drinking lots of water, wearing tons of sunblock, using a/c and dressing coolly, I know very little about keeping cool. How about adding that to your list of things to share or are they self-evident?

Gwyneth

(I appreciate your sharing.  I should make you a cheesecake.  That would be an adventure.)

It's merely a minor challenge. You could be a big hit at one of your PR gatherings.

You might add about being on the Ice or in any cold weather environment that drinking fluids is very important. As odd as it might seem, you can get dehydrated outdoors in the winter, especially if you are in as dry a climate as Antarctica is. VERY low humidity until January when the breaker cuts the ice in the sound. And yes, you may have to find a yellow flag frequently, but you won't go crazy or faint from lack of water. You can keep the bathroom runs down by drinking room or body temp fluids. Cold liquids will merely run through as fast as they go in.

It has something to do with the speed with which
the body's cells move when they are cold. They vibrate faster to keep
the body warm – the law of friction or something. When you become truly cold, they move faster and the fluids which cushion every cell get lively and want to move – generally in an outward direction! That's kind of how it was explained to us.

My first tour was at COMONE Boston. You're from
Massachusetts – you know how cold it can get.

But for all the precautions, I love snow and
winter and cold. I just do not like to BE cold, hence the care I took to learn as much as I could when I was stationed with NSF Antarctica.

BTW, at Beth King's recommendation, I have just
joined SPJ – again. Nothing like a bunch of reporters when they start
talking.

Gwyneth

(Yellow flag?)

Yellow flags are, shall we say, restrooms for guys. Keeps the camping area sort of tidy. There were other colored flags, too, on that glacier, but they marked, if I remember correctly, the parameters of the camp site – the tents and the work area. The yellow flags weren't all over the Ice. It's tough being a woman in those situations because there are no trees to hide behind. That was the only concern I had about going out to the repair site – what did they do for a head.

And I didn't mind going. In fact, I lobbied to go when I found
out there was a desire to record it. My troops were less than inclined to go, two of them were sick, anyway, and I'd just finished Happy Camper School a month or so earlier. Went out, spent a week living on the glacier, came back, could not wait to take a hot shower or dress standing up! Not that I didn't keep clean, but that's another story.

Gwyneth

***  From Heather Murphy:

This is a bit long but I love the concept behind “Your Very Next Step.”  I offer this tale for consideration.  Also a possible new categories:  Adventurous Misadventures or A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to…
 
Heather
 
Adventures to Newfoundland or How to Land on the TSA Watch List for Life
 
It was time for another photography expedition.  The 'where' was the hard part.  So many choices.  Cooler weather was a priority as the trip would provide a welcome escape from the Phoenix heat.  A fellow photographer and I settled on Newfoundland (newfin-LAHND, not new-FOUND-land or new-FIND-land, if you want to get it right).  Why Newfoundland?  Even the Newfoundlanders asked that.  Repeatedly.  And yet the country, landscape and scenery is beautiful.  Perhaps some of the best whale watching, too.  My biggest takeaway from that journey was how easy it is for us to take the beauty of our own surroundings for granted.
 
The trip to Newfoundland was an adventure and odyssey in itself.  Photographer 1 (me) traveling from Phoenix to Montreal, then to St. John's, Newfoundland.  Or so I thought.  Photographer 2 (Holly, from Norfolk, VA) had booked the trip.  As a courtesy to me, Holly also sent me all the coordinates for the best fares and timing so we could meet at our destination and get on with the adventure.  I booked my own airline ticket —  a matter that will become relevant shortly.
 
Arriving in Montreal, I claim my bags, proceed through Customs and decide to turn on my cell phone.  I almost didn't bother.  Three frantic text messages followed.  First:  “Check your ticket.  Does it say St. John or St. John's?”  Second:  “I booked to the wrong destination.”  Third:  “Where are you?  I have to get fr St. John to St. John's.  Call ASAP.”  Checked my ticket.  Of course, it also said St. John.  Trouble is, St. John is in New Brunswick.  St. John's is in Newfoundland.  The two destinations are, if I recall correctly, about a 6 hour drive and a 8 hour ferry ride apart.  Oh, you'd think an apostrophe and an “s” are the only thing separating ordinary mortals from making this mistake?  Not so.  The airport code for St. John is YSJ and for St. John's it is YYT.  Now we have an apostrophe, the letter “s” and two consonants separating ordinary mortals from making this mistake.  Air Canada's website does not alert mere mortals to the potential confusion.  Had we used a travel agent, we might have had someone to blame.
 
At the ticket counter, Air Canada was more than happy to sell me a day-of-travel (read: obscenely priced!) ticket to St. John-apostrophe-s but all the flights into and out of St. John-apostrophe-s were cancelled due to heavy fog.  Alas, there was a solution.  Buy a day-of-travel ticket to Toronto — there are more flights to/from St. John-apostrophe-s from Toronto so I had a “better chance of arriving eventually” — and then I could take a flight the next day to St. John-apostrophe-s when the fog should be gone.  Should.  The next day's flight was delayed 6 hours, due to fog!  As I sat in the airport getting travel and sightseeing tips from locals, I was regaled with stories about how mere mortals like an entire World Cup soccer teams and student marching bands had made the same mistake.
 
Holly also bought an obscenely priced day-of-travel ticket.  We eventually arrived in St. John-apostrophe-s for our trip, a day and a half late, with some stories to tell about the people we saw or met in the airport.  Trouble was, Holly's suitcase was held hostage by Air Canada and didn't arrive until the day before we were scheduled to leave.  Good thing we photographers are hardy souls who are able to improvise (read: shop!) on short notice.
 
The trip?  Fantastic!!!  Once we got to our destination, we enjoyed so many beautiful places.  The people are sincere, genuine, curious — especially about where we were from and what drew us there — and lead an interestingly simple life.  Consumerism has not reached the island nation and some villages were 30 minutes or more from a gas station or general store.
 
PS — The TSA was very happy to add Holly and me to the watch list after we both purchased international tickets on the day of travel!
 
Please visit www.SouthpawFinePhotos.com

***  From Susan Burnell, APR:

Very cool. What fun. Will look forward to watching (The Very Next Step)  evolve. I'll be happy to link from American Travel Sampler when it's live.

A pic from our recent trip to Phoenix, taken at White Tank Mountain Regional Park west of the city. http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/white_tank/. Admission
was free that day, Veterans Day, which tickled my father-in-law, who served in the Army. And Ryan, 18, was thoroughly amused by the “happy guy” saguaro cacti. Now wants to grow them in our front yard in Houston! (You are welcome to use the pic if appropriate.)

Cheers from sunny Texas,

Susan

Susan H. Burnell, APR

(Photos will be posted when website is up on 1 January 2008.)

***  Sanitation Sanity from Dina Horwedel:

My Afghan Bathroom
 
I was working in Afghanistan, and my bathroom in Kabul was a horror show.  I was never really sure where the waste went after we flushed the western-style toilet in our rental house. Outside the gate to our garden, open sewers lined the street, clogged with dead animal parts from butcher shops, refuse from the green grocers, knots of plastic bags that littered the streets, plastic bottles, paper and other cast-off refuse, topped with stagnant rainwater slicked with a greasy ooze, upon which hordes proliferated.  I have never seen so many flies in my life (prompting me to make the observation that I preferred to live in a country where the sewers were covered and the women were not).

Fortunately, when the gate swung shut to our courtyard, the stench seemed to stay outside of the barrier.  But, if the waste from our house joined and commingled with that effluvium, I reasoned we were in trouble when the sewers backed up, as they regularly did after a rain.
 
The dreaded day came when I flushed and water was flowing at my feet the toilet overflowed, but instead of flowing over the top of the toilet, water was seeping out from under the “seal,” where the toilet was affixed to the floor. The mess also began to back up into the shower. I called our trusty guard, who set off to find the landlord, shaking his head and muttering, “Bisyar mishkel!” (Many problems!)
 
When I returned that night, workers had begun digging in the garden and it was strewn with pipes.  Apparently we had a septic tank on the premises, so my fears about sewer backup were unfounded. However, the septic tank had never been emptied since its installation, sometime before the Soviet invasion.  We wouldn¹t be able to use the bathroom for a few days.
 
In the interim, we used the Turkish toilets in the guardhouse.  The guardhouse didn¹t have electricity, so at night I wore my REI headlamp to tromp across the garden to the facilities.  Several encounters with rats and cockroaches the size of Manhattan later, I learned not to be surprised at what lurked there as I pulled the creaking door shut, usually waking the whole house.
 
Knowing that all roads led to Rome, or in this case, all pipes led to the same septic tank, I reckoned that sooner or the guardhouse loo would back up, despite the assurances of the landlord who repeatedly said, “No problem!” I was sick with Giardia and my only solace was I could take enough Imodium and antibiotics to keep me from having to live there. I was headed to India in a few days for a vacation, and I was looking forward to hotel bathrooms. To my immense satisfaction, the guardhouse bathroom held until we departed. I later learned that the dreaded back-up there happened as well, the day after we left.
 
When I returned to Afghanistan, all was fixed, except that after flushing our toilet, water still gushed out around the base of the toilet, not because of the septic tank backing up, but because the plumber didn’t replace the seal.
 
The plumber, who arrived on his bicycle wielding a plunger after I called to complain, couldn’t find a seal to fit. I also learned with a nasty shock that when I leaned to unroll the harsh pink crepe paper that doubled as toilet paper (“Lucky,” a brand from China, emblazoned with a horse’s head haloed by a horseshoe. I didn’t feel lucky at all when using the sandpaper-like substance), I almost capsized because the plumber hadn’t re-bolted the toilet to the floor. But in a country where we were lucky to have indoor plumbing, I decided to be thankful that it flushed and there was no longer sewage backing up on our floor.

Dina

(Laura and I both had Giardiasis after a swing through Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Luxemborg, Switzerland and back home to Italy.

http://www.cdc.gov/Ncidod/dpd/parasites/giardiasis/factsht_giardia.htm.

Very nasty.)

***  “Tips for Sanitary Sanity.”

I have been to New Orleans several times to help with Katrina Relief.  The first time I went there on a team, the “facilities” consisted of an area between the house that we were gutting and a brick wall.  I don’t think the men on the team complained, but I wasn’t happy.  In comparison, we had 5-star facilities the next time I went to NOLA.  It consisted of a drywall bucket filled with kitty litter (no splashing!), and a toilet seat on top of the drywall bucket.  We also had a roll of toilet paper and hand sanitizer next to the bucket.  The only problem with our bathroom was that it was not hidden very well.  We were working in the Lower 9th, and even though there wasn’t that many people in the vicinity, we were on the street that the tour buses liked to drive down.  My friend Joy was using the kitty litter toilet when a tour bus happened to come by.  The people on the bus could only see the top half of her, but I’m sure they were asking, “Why is she just sitting there?”  Sanitary?  Yes.  Private?  Not exactly.

M.E. Siegfried
Communications Specialist
PA Credit Union Association
Harrisburg, PA

(Did she around in the scratch the litter box when she was done?)

No scratching was necessary.  Actually, the plan is to add more kitty litter to cover your recent deposit.

***  From Bill Ainsworth:

Excellency,
 
Here's my two-cents' worth for your new website.  As always, there is a 100 percent money back guarantee.
 
All the best,
 
Bill Ainsworth
Houston
 
Think local when you go global
 
In every large European city, mass transit is efficient and economical.  The time it takes, to learn how to use it, is well worth the effort.  And, you’ll experience the ‘real’ people and neighborhoods that are sometimes just as interesting as the major tourist attractions.
 
Combining a practical knowledge of local transportation with a sense of adventure, you can also save on hotel accommodations by selecting outlying 2- and 3-Star hotels that are located along the bus/metro/tram routes that go to all the major attractions you want to see.
 
In Paris, for example, the Ideal Hotel (2-Stars), at the Porte d’Orleans end of the #4 Metro line, is ‘ideal’ in the sense that it's cheap, clean and friendly.  A double will run 80-90 Euros, about half what you'd pay for a 3-Star hotel.  From the Metro station across the street, you can reach Notre Dame, the geographic center of town, in less than 10 minutes. 
 
In Mestre, the city on the mainland side of Venice, Hotel Kappa (3-Stars) is located on the #2 city bus route that runs between the front door of the hotel and the main dock on the Grand Canal in Venice.  It’s a 20 minute bus ride for one Euro.  A double room, with private bath and a/c runs between 70 and 110 Euros a night, depending on the season.  You won’t find any hotel in Venice for less than triple that rate.
 
As always, pack light.  Take only what you are willing to schlep all by yourself.

(We are planning a trip to Paris in March with the family.)

Captain,
 
I mentioned the cheap 2-Star hotel in Paris because I used it on a family vacation when I had to book two rooms, one for the kids.
 
Otherwise, my wife and I always stay at the 3-Star Hotel Bastille Speria (Room 610 a favorite), one long block from the Bastille Memorial, along the #1 Yellow Metro route.  Its a very hip neighborhood (and very gay) with great restaurants and a Harley-Davidson dealer(!) if you want to rent a Hog and try your riding skills in Paris traffic.
 
A tip: Take some Euros with you (or get them from an ATM at the airport), so you can buy the RER “B” train tickets (CDG to town) from the vending machines in the airport train station, rather than stand in line at the ticket counter.  There is only one train, and it only goes to Paris (and on to Orly).  Adult fare is 8 Euros and change.  You'll probably get off the B train at the Metro hub in the Chatelet Les Halles station to catch a local Metro line to your hotel.
 
Great Metro website: http://www.paris.org/Metro/.
 
Option B: If you have a lot of luggage (not recommended), take the Air France bus into town.  It's 15 Euros and it goes to five or six places, from which you can catch a cab.  A cab/limo from CDG into Paris is wonderful, but around 60-70 Euros (ouch!).  But that's what you would pay for four people to take the Air France bus, so it might work for your family.
 
Option C: If you've been to Paris before, and seen all the major attractions, rent a car and head out to the countryside.  You can get to Versailles by train from Paris, but you need a car to get to Fountainebleau.  The Normandy beaches are a few hours to the west of Paris.
 
It will be cold in March.  Great for museums and restaurants, but castles aren't heated.
 
Let me know if you want specific information about a certain attraction in Paris.  I may be able to help.
 
Best,
 
Bill Ainsworth

***  From Phillip Raskin in Korea:

Well, it wasn't Mt. Everest (actually, at about 1300 feet elevation, more like 1/22 of Mt. Everest), but it does take about an hour to get up to the top of Mt. Gyeyangsan in Incheon, to the west of my most recent hometown of Seoul, South Korea.  You get a good view of the city, some other mountains and even can see some of the airport.  

Someone else's pictures here: http://izsak02.com/KoreaMtGyeyangsan.html

Anyway, we're sitting on a rock overlooking the scenery, and a nice Korean fellow offered some of his leftover snacks to me and my companion.  Dried squid and some rice cakes (ttuk).  Mmm, baby!  Luckily, my (Korean) friend took the squid — it's a bit, well, squid-dy smelling, and is slightly less chewy than those things you buy for the dog.   Survivable … but why?  Feel free to order your own here: http://www.koamart.com/shop/12-1387-dried_food-dried_squid_5_pcs.asp.   Remember, it's a great snack for children!

***  Ned, Laura, Barbara and Venture Crew 4031 camps at Prince William Forest Park in Triangle, Virginia.

If the Saturday started out cool and cloudy, it warmed up and cleared up so that the afternoon and evening were close to perfect for an autumn day in this 15,000 acre park, part of the National Park system, so close to Washington, DC.  We got on the HOV lanes towards Richmond and the exit for the park was right where the HOV lanes end, and the entrance to the park is very close to the exit at mile 150 on Interstate 95. 

Once extensively farmed for tobacco, the soil gave out and it has reverted to forest, mostly beeches and oaks along with tulip poplars, black walnuts, butternuts and hemlocks.  The oaks and beech trees are the largest, with the smooth-bark beech trees providing the most fall color.  Our campsite had plentiful acorns crunching under our feet.  There were many holly trees, with smooth trunks and thick, dark green shiny and prickly leaves.  American holly is diecious, meaning that both male and female plants are needed for fruit production.  The familiar red berries appear on the female plants.  Looking at the two of them side by side, I contemplated the fact that holly trees mate for life.

We saw an old cemetery, still in use and still well maintained, festooned with flags for veteran’s day.  Most of them were American Flags, but there was one Confederate flag.  The ranger told us that there are 54 known gravesites within the park, so of which are still maintained as family plots. 

We walked around the Farms-to-Forests trail which led us alongside Quantico Creek, which eventually leads to the Marine Corps base and the Potomac River.  We could often hear the Marines conducting firing exercises in the distance.  Mostly it was very quiet.  There are the nearby remains of a pyrite mine.  If you wonder why they sought to mine “fools gold,” I’m told it was for the sulfur content and it was used to make gunpowder.  The Cabin Branch Mine, now closed, operated from the 1890s to the early 1920s, at one time employing up to 300 people working the mine, which extended 2,400 feet under the surface.  In 1933, the property was acquired by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the park was built.  The Oak Ridge campground was not wholly unoccupied, but we felt pretty much alone in our three campsites.  There were two Eagle Scout Service projects underway, one to replace the fire rings and the other to repair and repaint the campsite markets.  The restroom was heated for the winter, so they can take visitors year round (this is a great place to stay if you want to visit the nation’s capital while camping across country, although the traffic getting into the district on a weekday can be annoying).

Dinner was “hobo meals” in foil, as well as Ned’s Black Forest Dump Cake and an apple crisp cobbler, and – of course – s’mores.  Shane played the guitar.  Breakfast was omelets made in plastic bags and boiled in water.  The crew also devised a way to place apples dipped in the packaged instant cider mix and bake them in foil or on sticks over the fire.  Yes, the drought-induced county-wide outdoor fire ban had been lifted the day before.

I brought three tents.  Laura and I set up the two-person Eureka Timberline only to find that the two junction tubes that hold the poles together were not in the bag (no doubt our other two-person Timberline has four instead of two).  Luckily, I brought my 2-person Sierra Design Sirius 3.  It’s a good backpacking tent, lightweight and easy to set up.  I could use a little more headroom because my feet touch one end and my head touches the other.  There’s a door on each side which is good, so you don’t have to crawl over your tent mate.  The doors open from the top down, but that means you can’t sneak out the bottom to go to the head at night, you must unzip the entire door to get out.  It has a fly that creates two vestibules, one on each side, but there isn’t much room in the vestibules for anything more than your boots.  The Sirius 3 is easy to set up.  It has a half single-wall, half double-wall design, which means the fly only covers half of the tent, something I didn’t realize when I bought it.  It does save weight, but I think my next backpacking tent will have a fly that covers it entirely for adverse weather.

Before we left on Sunday our crew conducted a solemn flag-burning ceremony to properly dispose of two weathered American flags.  The ashes were presented to me (as a veteran) and I will dispose of them in my garden.  Maybe I’ll plant forget-me-nots on top of them.

***  Your Very Next Step is a service of the Job of the Week Network LLC
© 2007 The Job of the Week Network LLC
Edward Lundquist, ABC
Editor and Publisher
Your Very Next Step
7813 Richfield Road
Springfield, VA 22153
Home office phone: (703) 455-7661
lundquist989@cs.com
www.nedsjotw.com

November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.

The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring.
–  Clyde Watson

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Experience the planet!

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A journey starts with a single step.

Published: Thu 22 Nov 2007 06:30 AM EST