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When it comes to investing in your own pair of scuba fins, you have a plethora of choices from a number of manufacturers who continue to advance the engineering they use to produce the most durable, efficient fins possible. While the original, traditional full foot scuba fins are still popular among some people, there are many more styles available now. Most of the new styles of scuba fins are designed by using technical and involved mathematical angles and engineering so that the fin works to the divers advantage as far as efficiency and ease of use.

Some people find themselves being turned off by the complex and technical features of these efficiently advanced scuba fins, leaving them to be content with basic, traditional fins, which is not a bad thing. The main point to remember when purchasing your own scuba fins is comfort. If you are uncomfortable or awkward in a pair of fins, they aren’t going to work for you as intended. The specialized angles or split fins used to create greater kicking efficiency are only effective if you are comfortable wearing the fin and using it in the water. Comfort is important because only when you are fully satisfied with you fins will you be able to use them properly.

To help you choose which type of scuba fins will work best for your intended use you should research each style. First are the traditional paddle fins. Paddle scuba fins can be either full foot or have an adjustable heel strap. For scuba diving purposes, people most often use the adjustable heel strap fins of any style. Full foot fins are commonly used as snorkeling fins. Traditional paddle fins work to move water up and down as you kick and they are complimented by divers as being useful when free diving or in currents.

Several major scuba equipment companies have released a new, specially engineered paddle fin that provides much more move for you kick. Dacor and Tusa both have scuba fins with the optimized pivoting blade which is a design that angles the fin so every time you are kicking upward or downward the fins are at the most efficient angle for getting a more forceful kick. The specialized angles of these scuba fins alter the angle traditional paddle fins have, which makes you loose full force during part of the kick.

The next type of scuba fins are all altered in some way with splits, cutouts or vents that the manufacturers say enhance the kicking force and efficiency. The most prevalent of these are the split fins, also known as “Bio-fins” by some companies. These scuba fins divide the paddle of the fin into two parts with a sliver taken out of the middle vertically. Many people have come to appreciate the efficiency and forceful strokes split fins have been proven to allow you. The modification to these fins is supposed to minimize the number of kicks needed to get a set distance. Some divers still believe the most capable scuba fins are the basic ones. Again, the fins you choose should be primarily based on comfort and how easily you function in them.

Other types of split fins have horizontal splits or cutouts and vents at strategic places on the paddle. The Apollo Bio-fins are split scuba fins engineered to push water back, as opposed to up and down, like most fins. The Bio-fin acts like a propeller instead of a paddle, allowing you a much easier kicking task.

Force fins are an additional style you have to choose from. This type of scuba fins is considerably smaller than others, but if you are comfortable using them, they can provide equal kicking force. Force fins mimic a small scale whale tail, which is part of the reason they are claimed to have successful kicking efficiency.

Choosing between these broad types of scuba fins is only the beginning. Within each type there are several other designs to pick from and choosing which brand can be difficult too. Most people limit their selection by having a budget or price range not to exceed. Limiting yourself to a budget will not spoil a large selection though, because there is a variety of scuba fins in every price range. Obviously, the basic and simple scuba fin designs will be the least expensive and as the fins advance in efficiency technology and specialized features, the price will rise.

If you are an avid diver, owning pair of durable and efficient scuba fins is a must, so it would be wise to spend a little extra money on fins with some of the advanced features. At asudoit.com there equipment sold for many adventure sports, including several brands and styles of scuba fins. Here you can look through the features of all the broad types of scuba fins such as force, split, full-foot, heel strap and traditional paddle fins. DiversDiscount.com also has a large selection of scuba fins of all types. At this site you pay less than half the original price for the Tusa Platina fins, which have dual blade fins for greater propulsion force. These Tusa scuba fins are high-performance and available at a cheap price at the discount site.

As for shopping by specific brands, you may want to start with the most commonly know names in scuba equipment such as Apollo, Dacor, Oceanic, Sherwood and Tusa. Some scuba equipment companies are conglomerates, which means some of the less known and less expensive brand names you see may actually be made by one of the larger companies. This is a plus for you because often the branch off brand equipment will be cheaper price wise, but with quality and durability nearly equal to that of the more expensive, better known brands. Each of these manufacturers will have scuba fins for all types. Brand name preference is a personal choice, but each of the above brands are well known, reliable names in scuba fins.

Choosing scuba fins is a matter that is based on personal preference and each individual’s selection will be different, but none of them are wrong. Because of this, it is helpful to have the wide selection available so that everyone’s preferences are accommodated. Whatever your choice, know that you are comfortable in the fins before you purchase them and look in to the quality and durability of the fins, as it will determine the fins life span and help you decide if they are worth the money.

About The Author

Laura Cain is a freelance author that writes regularly on items pertaining to scuba diving and snorkeling. You can find many of her articles at http://www.1-scuba-diving-gear.com/.

The site also features tips on budgeting for scuba equipment ( http://www.1-scuba-diving-gear.com/scuba_equipment.htm ) as well as a scuba gear checklist ( http://www.1-scuba-diving-gear.com/scuba_gear_checklist.htm ) .

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Snowcats have made backcountry skiing accessible to intermediate skiers.

Backcountry skiing offers vast expanses of soft, consistent powder snow in remote and spectacular high-mountain settings. Often considered the domain of hardy and self-reliant ski touring enthusiasts, or of proficient and deep-pocketed helicopter skiers, backcountry skiing is now easily accessible to intermediate-level snowcat skiers.

Snowcat skiing is typically much more affordable than helicopter skiing and can be more adaptable to skier ability. Also, it requires no special equipment or backcountry experience. However, good physical fitness is desirable, especially in skiers with little powder snow experience.

Snowcat skiing operators offer full-service tours into remote, high alpine areas. Guests stay in comfortable lodges offering double-occupancy bedrooms with private baths, excellent food, and outdoor hot tubs, complete with bar service. Guests’ needs and comfort and safety comes first, both inside the lodge and on the hill. Everyone has a good time.

Western Canada boasts many backcountry lodges, where intermediate and expert skiers alike use snowcats to access the very best of backcountry skiing. One such lodge can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.backcountrywintervacations.com/vertebrae-lodge.html.

Guests ski in groups of 12. Each group has a dedicated snowcat, two highly qualified guides and a driver. Groups can be assembled according to ability, and because the snowcat and guides move at the pleasure of the group, the whole party enjoys terrain and a pace of skiing that best suits them. There is never pressure to maximize the utilization of the equipment. Snowcat skiing is equally enjoyable for experts and strong intermediates alike and for both skiers and snowboarders.

On the hill, the lead guide sets the track and the guests follow, with everyone skiing in fresh, untracked snow. The guide stops periodically to regroup and to give people a chance to rest, to take pictures and to share their experiences. The frequency of stops depends on the ability and strength of the group. Strong groups may ski non-stop to the bottom; 1800 to 2000 ft. of pure joy! Other groups may have a few stops along the way. The guests determine the pace, not the guide.

The lead guide keeps his flock together and sees that no one falls too far behind. The second guide, called the “tailgunner”, is always the last person down the hill. If a guest falls or has difficulty, the tailgunner will be at their side to assist.

Snowcat skiing offers a special experience for family groups (children aged 19 and older)*, ladies groups, groups of business associates or groups of friends. In a diverse social group, everyone can feel relaxed and “part of a team”. Companions can be enjoyed, not only in the lodge in the evenings, but also on the ski hill. Groups keep together and interact while skiing and, on the ride back up the hill, share jokes and conversation. The snowcat rides allow guests to unbutton, warm up, dry out, enjoy some lunch and to take more pictures.

Many guests arrive in prearranged groups of 12, organized by one of the group members. These groups fill a single snowcat and can be very compatible, with everyone skiing well together.

However, individual guests can be assured of just as good a time as members of pre-arranged social groups. The tour operator will usually try to place individuals in a suitable group and they will quickly make new friends and fit in to a very sociable environment.

Guides are expert in finding “lines” for skiers of differing ability. Better skiers might enjoy some “steeps” or “pop” off bumps while others in the group are guided on a more “mellow” line. Everyone has ample opportunity to challenge themselves.

As the end of the day approaches, and guests may start to tire, they are welcome to sit out a run and ride back down the hill with the snowcat driver. A slower skier may occasionally “sit out” a run to allow the rest of the group to ski a little faster. If a guest wants to “call it a day”, a staff member will drive them back to the lodge on a snowmobile. Staff is committed to service and want to make guests as comfortable and relaxed as possible.

Safety is the primary concern in the backcountry. Snowcat skiers are always led by fully trained guides. The guide not only selects safe terrain, but also the safest track through the terrain. When the snow is unstable in the alpine regions, above the tree line, skiing will be restricted to more stable slopes at lower elevations. The first line of defense is prudence and even in periods of high stability, guides will always “play it safe”.

“Tree skiing” is a fixture of all backcountry skiing. Snowcat skiers never hesitate due to weather. On stormy days, snowcat skiers just head to the trees, where the snow’s best and the visibility is good.

The smooth consistency of the snow and short, fat “powder” skis allow intermediate skiers to master terrain they would not normally attempt. There are no moguls and lumps of snow to contend with. The snow is soft and light and helps control speed. Skiers who rarely “ski the trees” not only find they can do it, but that it’s fun! The sense of accomplishment and delight after a first “tree run” is enormous.

Snowcat skiing offers a welcoming, fun-filled and comfortable experience to skiers and snowboarders having a wide range of abilities. It’s an experience that’s nice to share with friends and family, but single individuals can be assured of enjoying themselves, having wonderful skiing and of making new friends.

Many snowcat operators recommend that skiers be at least “strong intermediates” and some snowcat operators prefer expert skiers only. However, physically fit intermediate skiers of lesser ability can also do well at many snowcat skiing venues, especially if they are part of a specially organized group of 12. Skiers who are unsure of their ability should discuss their concerns with a tour operator, who will be pleased to make recommendations.

*Children younger than 19 may often accompany their parents. However, more mature offspring will better enjoy the other guests and life in the lodge. Guests in their 20’s will relate well to many of the staff.

About The Author

Lockie Brown lives in Vancouver, Canada and skis on Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. For many years he has organized cat skiing trips for groups of friends. In 2004, he will take a group of 36 friends to Chatter Creek Mountain Lodges. Chatter Creek operates a remote lodge located about 120 km north of Golden, BC., in a snow belt in the Canadian Rockies. The Chatter Creek Web site is at http://backcountrywintervacations.com/

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We’ve all done it before. Sportscenter is on showing the highlights off the latest Expos game and they show a snap shot off the bare bleachers. Of course the jokes follow like “It’s easier to grab a foul ball at an Expos game than at a Little League game.” But hey, who are we to talk?

To underline this point I ask you another question: When was the last time you saw somebody with a “You Gotta Believe” poster at Yankee Stadium? I’m going to go ahead and assume the awnser is not for a while. It is easy to be a Yankees fan. You don’t have to believe. They know every year they will have the talent to contend.

It is not like that in Montreal. Their slow start is something that you just hope won’t get worse and they’ve started bad and I mean real bad. They are the first team to score four runs or less in its first 16 games since the 1968 Chicago White Sox. They may or may not be in Montreal next year depending on what offers the owners of the team, Major League Baseball, recieve.

So how did it get like this? Is Montreal just not the place for a baseball club? The awnser is Montreal is just as good as any other location. Heck, Montreal finished second in the National League in attendence in 1983 and barely missed a chance to go to the World Series by losing game 7 to the Dodgers in 1981.

Then baseball started to move into the modern era where you have two types of teams. Insert team type one, where the owner takes risks to put more money into the team to keep and bring in talent hoping that wins will increase attendence and revenue. Then there is team two where the owner doesn’t keep his talent and puts less money into the team to make a profit.

Obviously today in our profit motivated economy we are going to have most managers picking the latter half of the two types and that is what happened to the Expos. They saw their talent getting moved throughout the 80’s. Gary Carter and Andre Dawson went to larger markets and ranked 1st and 15th in salary in 1988. This is the time when the MLBPA gained power by striking in 1981, a two day strike in 1985, a strike in spring training of 1990, and the strike of 1994. Players knew they could get more money and wouldn’t let the owners do anything about it.

MLB had essentially already lost the struggle with the players association. The effect was that GM’s were forced to start putting in money and change with the times. If one didn’t the effect was losing the star players who brought the fans to the stadium.

After having over 2 million in attendence in 1983, the Expos would never reach that again. Their attendence woes were highlighted in the end of 1991 when a giant beam collapsed in Olympic Stadium. This forced the remaining games of Expo’s schedule to be played away from Montreal. Interest in the Expos was at significantly low levels despite still being a decent team.

Plus, they were still losing plenty of good young talent. Among the names were Pedro, Larry Walker, and Moises Alou. Tim Raines said,”I feel for the fans more than anything. I think the fans got fed up with having good teams and then losing all their good players. Montreal fans were so used to winning, with the Canadiens there. Then there was this whole series of things that just kind of turned fans away.” However in 1994 the Expos looked to be a top notch team with a record of 74-40, the best in majors. Of course we all know that 1994 ended up to a bad year for every team in baseball. The next year the Expos would of have lost Larry Walker and screwballer Ken Hill, who had won 16 games in the previously shortened season and the team finished with just 68 wins in 95.

The attendence continued to drop as it was clear the Expos were just going through the season playing meaningless games. In 1998 they dropped under 1 million in attendence for the season, the lowest in the league. It continued to get worse and went below 650,000 in 2001 amid the contraction talks.

Major League Baseball then took over the Montreal Expos saying that baseball could never succeed there. Despite this the Expos kept on playing there games although there was obviously conflict of interest. This conflict of interest was really brought out when Major League Baseball had them play part of their home games in San Juan. Despite now playing in three different cultures French, English, and Spanish and having a low salary Montreal pressed for the wild card in 2003 but ultimately fell short.

The longer Major League Baseball keeps owning the Expos the more they are killing the value and perception of it. Of course any good young player is going to leave a team where the future of where they are playing is uncertain. That is the situation right now with Jose Vidro and Orlando Cabrera and sure to be issues in the future if something isn’t done soon.

It seems symbolic that the first home game for the Montreal Expos in 2004 was in San Juan. However 16 games into the season it is finally the “home opener” for the Expos in Montreal. They fail to sellout for the game but the hardcore fans say it is because of a Montreal Canadiens game, hopeful that if the Expos make the playoffs some local businessman will come forth and keep the team in Montreal.

Second year stud Marlon Byrd starts the game off with a hit for Philadelphia. Then 2B Placido Polanco follows it up with another single. The slow start brings the Montreal fans into their traditional cheering method where they bang there bodies against the plastic seats and also in many cases the empty ones next to them. The noise is so loud you forget your not at a domed version of Fenway park. The pitch from Claudio Vargas is then crushed into the seats for a three run blast by Bobby Abreu, leaving the stadium to all of a sudden get death quiet. Amidst the stands you can see a proud fan instantly stand up with a large sign that reads, “You Gotta Believe!”

About The Author

David Ferraro is a writer for http://www.sportznow.com.

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With Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Greg Maddux and Matt Clement on his staff, Carlos Zambrano has been over-shadowed by other household name pitchers. After todays (May 13th) start, in which Zambrano pitched 8 innings giving up 0 ER and striking out 11 hitters, Carlos Zambrano is now 4-1. On May 7th, Zambrano pitched a 2-hitter against the Colorado Rockies and threw just 97 pitches in the shutout. In Zambrano’s last 3 starts (24 IP) he hasn’t given up an earned run. In 2 of his 3 starts during May, Zambrano has striken out more than 10 batters. Zambrano hasn’t always been this good however.

Signed as a non-drafted free-agent by the Chicago Cubs in 1997, Zambrano was the first player born in the 1980’s to play a game for Chicago. In his rookie season he was 1-2 with a 15.26 ERA which is not something to call home about. He then improved on his rookie season with a 3.66 ERA after joining the Cubs in July of 2002. Despite the good ERA, Zambrano only had a 4-8 record. Finally, last season, Zambrano broke out. He posted a 13-11 record with a 3.11 ERA. Zambrano solidified his part in the Cubs staff, and began his quest for stardome.

The Venezuela native has come a long way from being an un-drafted free agent in 1997, and is now a key part of one of the best staffs in baseball. Zambrano’s 1.82 ERA is 2nd in the league right now, behind future hall-of-famer Roger Clemens. He has become one of the NL’s more dominant strikeout pitchers, and his 46 strikeouts rank 8th in the NL. Zambrano is one of only 6 NL pitchers to have a shutout so far in the season.

Even with these great stats, and even though he has probably been the most impressive starter for the Cubs this season, Zambrano still isn’t getting the attention he deserves. If Carlos Zambrano can keep up this amazing start to the season, he will have a great chance to make the all-star team. Soon, fans from all over will know of Carlos Zambrano, and they will mention his name right along-side fellow pitchers like Kerry Wood, Mark Prior and Greg Maddux.

About The Author

Kevin Bourassa is a sports-writer for http://www.sportznow.com

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Much has been written about deer movement in hunting magazines and I have been intrigued by differences in deer activity over the years myself. We have all been in the woods or maybe just while driving to or from work and noticed large differences in deer activity. You will have some days when you see many deer from your tree stand and other days when, from that same stand at the same time of day, you won’t see a single deer. It is also most obvious when you drive to and from work at similar times each day and see large swings in deer activity. After thinking about these changes in deer activity, reading several articles and my hunting observations over the years I’ve found several situations that effect deer movement.

The Rut

Some would say that the rut causes the demise of more mature bucks than any other factor. There’s no doubt that deer are very active during the rut. It is an exciting time to be in the woods. The woods can explode around you at any time during the rut and at about any time of the day. All deer hunters have stories of seeing bucks on the prowl. One year a spike buck let me take three shots at him. The doe that this buck was following ran right by me. When the buck ran by I got him stopped and he just stared at me. After my first shot missed he moved a few feet and let me miss another shot. When the doe saw that I had missed, she ran him back by me again. I think that she was trying to use me to get rid of him. Fortunately I’ve learned a thing or to about shooting a bow since this episode almost twenty years ago.

Weather

I have noticed that weather conditions and upcoming storms have an effect on deer activity. Warmer than average temperatures during hunting season definitely minimize deer activity. I also have found that wind makes deer very skittish. It seems that wind messes up all of their senses. The wind causes everything in the woods to move confusing their sight as well as both masking and making noise. I would also think that their great sense of smell is also confused as well. I have spent many days out hunting on windy days where I couldn’t hear anything or tell what was or wasn’t moving it’s no wonder that the deer lay low on these days. Deer don’t seem to mind a mild rain, but when the rain is falling heavier I’ve seldom seen a lot of activity.

Changes in the weather definitely cause the deer to move. Most likely it is the change in barometric pressure that triggers deer before large storms arrive. On several occasions I have noticed deer out feeding at odd times of the day in the hours preceding a storm.

The Moon

There have been articles written on the effects of moon phases and moon position on deer activity. I haven’t figured this one out yet but I think that there must be something to it. I have seen increased deer activity on days when I can’t use the rut or weather to explain it. Research has been conducted in an effort to determine the effects of the moon phases in relation to the start of the rut. What I have read of this information seems promising as far as predicting the start of the rut and the intensity of the rut. A few years ago there was some research into the effects of moon positioning, or in other words when the moon was high in the sky, on deer activity. I haven’t seen any further discussions on this theory in the past couple of years. I have to believe that if the oceans tides can be predicted with the moon than we might also expect the animals to be effected as well.

Most of us only have a limited number of days that we can hunt each year and the best that we can do is to take full advantage of this time. If you can plan your hunting time in advance and you want high deer activity you should plan your hunt during the rut or pre-rut when moon prediction gurus say activity will be at the heaviest and pray for the right weather. In the end, the best way to handle changes in deer activity is to be in the woods as much as possible.

About The Author

I have been deer hunting in West Virginia for close to 30 years. Now I am teaching my children to hunt and enjoy it more each year.

Please visit my web site at www.whitetaildeer-management-and-hunting.com

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The deer management techniques that we use on our property have changed a lot over the past thirty years in relation with the changing deer herd. Whitetail deer numbers in the entire state of West Virginia have grown considerably and our land has been no exception.

We started shooting does in 1997 after the pictures from our scouting camera revealed that we were overloaded with does. Since then we have shot 22 does and only 7 bucks. Three of these bucks, two 8-points and one 10-point are the three largest antlered bucks that we have taken in the last thirty years. We had noticed that there were larger antlered bucks when the deer population had just started to climb in the eighties and then antler sizes began to decrease as the deer numbers grew too high and we were shooting the young bucks each year.

All of this made us realize that we needed to lower the deer population by shooting does and letting the young bucks grow up.

We are currently doing several different things in an attempt to have a well-balanced, healthier deer herd on our farm. These include:

Harvesting does.

Letting young bucks grow up.

Planting food plots to help boost the nutrition.

Mineral licks.

Keep records on the deer harvested and a log of the bucks seen during hunting season.

Leave an area of sanctuary during the hunting season so that the deer are not pressured.

Provide a limited amount of shelled corn with automated wildlife feeders.

On some occasions we also cut down trees to provide browse in the winter and fertilize plants growing along the edges, especially the honeysuckle.

The Results

Since changing our hunting strategies we have noticed some changes for the better. We have seen bucks fighting, which we had seldom seen in past years and bucks have started reacting to calling, particularly grunting. We are finding shed antlers now; sheds are hard to find when they’re just spikes. Also the numbers of bucks as compared to does caught on our scouting camera pictures has increased dramatically. This tells us that our buck to doe ratio is improving.

On the other hand, we still feel that our total deer numbers are too high. The body weights of the deer we are shooting are still low. The body weights of the three does that we shot in 1997 ranged from 65 to 85 pounds while the weights of the four does in 2003 varied from 55 to 82 pounds. Although we are not deer aging experts we do look at tooth wear to determine the approximate age of the deer. We usually look at the lower front teeth. A couple of the does that we’ve shot have had these lower front teeth worn all the way to the gumline.

Record Keeping

I believe that the records that we keep have given us a lot of valuable information. We record every buck that we see during hunting season. We include the date, time, number of points, location, person who saw buck, time, and rack width and characteristics. During the season of 2003 we recorded 87 buck sightings, of course many of these bucks showed up several times. It is neat to look back and see the bucks grow up that we have recorded. The rack characteristics are similar from year to year and allow us to identify many of the deer that we see. Most years I am able to look at this list and figure out an approximate number of different bucks that we have seen.

We have also kept deer harvest data since 1997 and I wish that I had started doing this earlier. This data includes the time, date, number of points, location, hunter, dressed weight, inside antler spread and approximate age. I think that we can tell a lot from the weight data and wish that we had kept track of the weights from the bucks that we had shot several years ago when we first got our scales. The weights of the bucks that we have shot since 1997 have ranged from 72 to 130 pounds. The 72 pound deer was a spike that my 9 year old son shot in 2002. The 130 pound buck was an 8-point that I killed in 2000. I knew that this buck was at least three and one-half years old and most likely a year or two older. I had watched this buck for the two previous years when he was a nice wide 6-point and had found one of his shed antlers in 1998. We also had a few pictures of him from our scouting cameras.

One suggestion that I would have for every deer camp would be to buy a set of scales. They provide a lot of information for the relatively cheap cost.

Whitetail deer management is not difficult, is good for the overall health of your deer herd and a lot of fun.

About The Author

I have been deer hunting in West Virginia for close to 30 years. Now I am teaching my children to hunt and enjoy it more each year.

You can read more about our deer management at my website www.whitetaildeer-management-and-hunting.com.

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For downhill skiers, “powder snow” provides the ultimate skiing experience. For most skiers however, good powder skiing is a short-lived and infrequent event. Ski areas in some geographic areas enjoy fairly frequent “powder days” but in most areas, powder days are rare and the dryness and depth of snow is often marginal.

In most ski areas too, when powder snow does occur, it is only a matter of hours before it is completely “tracked out”, lumped up and beaten down. Only those few early birds that ride the first chairs in the morning get the ultimate run of the day, in deep, consistent, smooth, untracked snow.

For years, diehard powder snow enthusiasts have headed for the backcountry to “ski the powder” among remote alpine peaks, far from crowded ski areas. Many enjoy the peace and quiet of ski touring and move and ski at a pace governed by their own physical fitness.

Others who may be less ambitious or have less time, but who have ample disposable funds, have headed for the backcountry in helicopters. For about $1000 per day or more, heli-operators offer small groups of proficient skiers 5 to 7 days of guided skiing on huge pristine slopes, high in the mountains. Guests stay in comfortable lodges and spend their days being shuttled back and forth with their guides, with each run on a fresh untracked slope. Heli skiing has its problems. There are “down days” when storms make flying impossible and there is always the inherent risk of all backcountry skiing: avalanche.

Avalanche risk depends on many factors. All reputable backcountry operators provide highly qualified guides who choose areas for skiing and a safe route down the hill. On days of poor weather or unstable snow, guides may avoid alpine areas and restrict their groups to “skiing the trees”. Tree skiing is a fixture of all mechanized backcountry skiing and is preferred by some skiers to the more open “alpine” skiing.

In recent years, a new type of mechanized backcountry ski operator has emerged. Snowcat skiing operators use snowcats to transport skiers and snowboarders into backcountry regions. Snowcats are fitted with a large cab that seats clients in a warm, comfortable environment. A snowcat typically carries a group of 12 clients, two guides and a driver.

Of course, snowcats are much slower than helicopters. They are also much less expensive and guests can expect to pay between $500 and $600 a day, including transportation, lodging, meals, and guiding. As slow as snowcats may be, most clients will wear themselves out every day and get just as much skiing as their group can handle.

The great advantage of cat skiing is that “down” days almost never occur. Clients ski every day and bad weather can often mean extra-good snow. Cat skiing is more relaxed and “laid back” than heli skiing as there is no need to share equipment between groups or to maximize equipment usage. Cat skiing is very “client-friendly”. Each group has a dedicated machine and it moves at the group’s pleasure. Weaker skiers can feel at ease and not “pushed”.

Snowcats provide a relatively quiet, comfortable, warm and relaxed environment in which the trip back up the hill can be almost as much fun as the run down. Guests can “unbutton”, dry out, warm up, converse and browse on sandwiches, cookies, cake and drinks. If a guest gets tired, it’s easy to “sit out” a run and ride down to the next pickup with the cat driver.

Snowcat skiing is more restricted geographically than heli skiing. However, that has a drawback. Since they can operate in a larger area, heli-operators may sometimes be less familiar with changing snow conditions and risk factors than snowcat operators who work in a more restricted area.

Most snowcat operators have ample terrain to consistently provide good snow, even in periods of drought, and to ensure that clients exhaust themselves every day. Chatter Creek Mountain Lodges Ltd. operates in a 95 sq. km area and ski between the elevations of 5400ft and 9500 ft. Monashee Powder Adventures advertises an area of 66 sq. km and operate between the elevations of 7800 ft and 3,000 ft.. Baldface Lodge uses over 140 sq km. Guests need not worry about running out of terrain!

Snowcat skiing provides a wonderful holiday for intermediate and advanced skiers alike. Individuals, family groups, groups of friends, business associates can have a “trip to remember”. Operators with remote lodges offer a real “backcountry” experience, usually with good food and very comfortable accommodations.

About The Author

Lockie Brown is retired and lives near Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He has cat skied for about 10 years, taking groups of 12 and 24 friends to different cat ski venues in British Columbia. He now takes his groups to Chatter Creek Mountain Lodges near Golden, B.C.

For more information, please refer to the Chatter Creek Web site at http://backcountrywintervacations.com/

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To start with, I want to state that I am not a professional framer, and many of the tips I am about to give are things I have learned from other people, and I have not necessarily had a chance to try them all myself.

Frames are extremely easy to find, and they can be very cheap as well. In my opinion, the best places to find them are at yard sales. People are always trying to sell old pictures that they no longer like, and you don’t need to like them either, as long as the frame is nice. Often you can get them for under a dollar! Thrift stores are another good place to look; I love going to dollar stores just to see what I can find. If you’re in a rush, you can always go to Wal-Mart of K-Mart and pick up something for a couple dollars too. It isn’t necessary to have glass in the frame, but if you’re not going to use glass, make sure to Scotchguard your work to prevent staining.

The first step in framing is to decide whether you want to use either a padded or non-padded mounting board (I have heard that if you’re not using glass, a padded mounting board looks great). Then cut the mounting board about 1.8 in. smaller than the back inside measurements of the frame. This gives you room to fold over the fabric. Next you need to center your needlework. There are a few different ways to do this. One is to eye the center and pin the fabric to the board, then count the fabric threads between the edge of the design and the pin you placed. This will make it very accurate, but some people would find it too time consuming. Another way to do it is to measure the mounting board and stick a pin into the very center; then put the center of the needlework on the pin too.

There are two main ways to mount your needlework. The first one is the easiest, but also has more of a chance of damaging your work over time. The other option takes more time, but is relatively risk free. To start with, I will explain the easy way. It involves using a sticky mounting board. There is also a great trick to save you some money. You can use the cardboard backing that came with your frame and just put some spray adhesive on it. There are two kinds of spray adhesive, repositionable and permanent, so be careful if you use the permanent, because you can’t move it once it’s in place (hence the name). Once it’s in place, remove the excess fabric so it is only 1.5 in. over the edges of the board, and use masking tape to fold it over to the back. This keeps the fabric from fraying.

The second way to mount your needlework takes a lot more time, but can be worth it. Some stitchers have found that when using the first method, the spray adhesive has yellowed their work, sometimes in as little as six months. Lacing the needlework down is a popular way to attach it to the mounting board, I would suggest that if you are going to do this, to machine stitch around the sides about 1/4 inch in from the raw edge as this will help prevent the fabric threads from tearing out when you are pulling the lacing. To lace the back of the needlework, you will need a tapestry needle and strong thread. I generally recommend lacing the longest side of the fabric first. To start, make several small stitches at the top, right where the long side meets the top edge of the mounting board (about 1/4 inch in from the raw edge). This will anchor your thread. You then draw the thread all the way across to the opposite side about one inch below where you came from, so it’s not completely straight across. I’ve heard it compared to lacing a shoe with one lace instead of two. Work your way down the sides, going back and forth, stopping every three to five stitches so you can pull it uniformly tight. Make sure you don’t break the fabric! When you’re finished the two long sides, again anchor your thread by making several small stitches in the fabric. You’ll then want to do the same thing on the short sides of the fabric. This will make the fabric stay on and ensure that it is tightly pulled so no wrinkles will show up on the front.

When your mounting is finished, just put your needlework in the frame, put the backing on, and enjoy your finished project!

About The Author

Katrina Renouf is the owner and webmaster for www.matkailuxstitch.com

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On Good Friday, March 27, l964 approximately 12,000 square miles of the Alaskan seafloor shifted causing one of the worst earthquakes in US history. When the shock waves subsided and the massive tsunami receded, loss of life and injuries were compounded by yet another tragedy — a total communications blackout.

Then at last, a lone Ham Radio Operator managed to send a message — a cry for help that was repeated by other Hams and sent all over the world.

History is rich with stories of Hams - 1996 a fierce lightning storm in Oregon/California, 1998 Flooding in Texas and Hurricane Bonnie, 1998 Ice Storm in Canada, 1999 Hurricane Floyd/Earthquake in Taiwan - and the list goes on.

So what happened to Ham (Amateur) Radio Operators and why don’t we hear about them anymore? Believe it or not, they still live among us and they’re still responding to cries for help, up to and including 9/11 and the 2002 fires in Colorado.

The world wrongly assumes that with the Internet and cell phones, we no longer need Hams. But disasters cut electricity and cell phones need working towers every three miles. Yet Internet search engines list Amateur Radio sites under “hobbies,” a classification totally unwarranted and highly resented.

Hams are a lot more than high school kids fiddling with radios. They are a network of highly trained people — men and woman of all ages who are willing to drop whatever they are doing to look for a lost child or aid overworked emergency personnel. Like an old-fashioned fire brigade, they pass the information bucket from one to another warning of severe weather conditions, hazardous spills, railroad disasters and much, much more.

Ham Radio Operators are indeed forgotten heroes, but they shouldn’t be. Every year they meet in groups all over the world to train for the next major disaster. Yet sadly, their numbers are dwindling - in evidence on hospital “help wanted” bulletin boards all over the America. Sad indeed will be the day they aren’t there when we need them.

About The Author

Marti Talbott is the author of: “A Shattered City - Earthquake in Seattle” - available at Amazon.com

Dedicated to Ham Radio Operators http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/09709286291

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If you think you need new bearings for your inline skates, it’s best to check your bearings for wear using the tests provided in this article. Your bearings are at the core of your wheels and reduce friction so you can skate smoothly and efficiently. Hence, they need to be maintained properly from season to season.

Checking for Wear

The following are indications of major, bearing wear from a no-load, finger-flick, spin test:

One or more of your wheels stick(s) periodically
One or more of your wheels (is) are seized
One or more or your wheels require(s) a lot of force to spin
One or more of your wheels spin(s) freely for only a second or two

In addition, the following are signs of major, bearing wear from a spin test with the skater as the load:

While out skating you hear a loud, grinding noise from your bearings
It takes a lot of effort to pick up and maintain speed when you skate
Your bearings are hot to the touch after a roll

You may also want to replace your inline skate bearings if you decide to switch to a different type of bearing. You may want to change from shielded bearings to sealed or racing bearings.

Learning the ABEC Scale

Bearings are rated on the Annular Bearing Engineering Council (ABEC) scale. Ratings are numbered 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 on the ABEC scale. The higher the number is, the greater the manufactured precision of the bearing.

However, there are no required materials to meet the ABEC specifications. The bearings only have to be made to a certain precision. That’s all!

Servicing your Bearings

Inline skate bearings usually come in sets of four to eight. Before you head out to your favorite sporting goods store, write down the information that’s shown on the outer shields of your bearings. Don’t forget to flip the bearing over and include the text that’s inscribed on the other side.

If you’re happy with the original bearings that came with your skates or the last set you installed, by all means buy the same bearings. If you have serviceable bearings like TwinCams or YAKs and you don’t mind doing your own cleaning and lubrication than you may want to stick with the double-shielded type, especially if they are the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) that your skate manufacturer recommends.

On the other hand, if you have non-serviceable or sealed bearings and are squeamish about doing your own cleaning and lubrication, even periodically, you may want to stick with this type of bearing and just replace them when they need to be changed.

In addition, if you have shielded bearings with pop-out caps, like Powell Swiss or Black Hole brands, and like them for their ease of maintenance, it’s probably best to go with this kind of bearing again.

Buying new Bearings

My K2 skates have 8-mm, TwinCam, ABEC-1, double-shielded bearings with the following inscribed on the casings:

TwinCam

ABEC-1

608 ZZ

Normally, the manufacturer or brand doesn’t make a lot of difference within the three categories of shielded, serviceable bearings, shielded, serviceable bearings with pop-up caps, and sealed, non-serviceable bearings. A bearing size of 8 mm and
the 608 designation are fine for recreational, inline skaters. The ABEC rating is another story!

ABEC-1, 3, and 5 are the most common bearings that come with inline skates, as well as the newer ABEC-7s, which are gaining in popularity. Whether a skater can go faster with ABEC-5 bearings versus ABEC-1 bearings has never been proven, scientifically or otherwise.

Furthermore, the higher precision may not make a significant difference for the recreational skater who travels in the 10 to 20 mph range. The average skater doesn’t require a higher-rated bearing because the difference in performance is so minimal that it would only become apparent at speeds an inline skater never attains.

In addition, the higher precision eventually deteriorates down to ABEC-3 or 1 due to dust, dirt, and regular wear and tear. To increase your skating speed, you’d be better off to improve your technique and learn how to cut down on wind resistance. These are proven ways to make you a faster and more efficient skater.

So, get the most affordable ABEC-1 or ABEC-3 inline skate bearings you can find, clean and lube them with oil or grease on an annual basis, and you’ll be just fine.

Summing Up

When it comes time to purchase new bearings for your inline skates, make sure you write down the information that’s inscribed on the outer casing of your bearings before you head to your local, skating shop. In addition, beware that an ABEC rating is nothing more than a bearing precision. If you find a set of bearings at the right price that are suited for your skates, but they have a lower ABEC rating, go for it anyway! You’ll probably never notice the difference.

About the Author

Jim Safianuk is the writer and publisher of the three-part, inline skating series entitled Skating Lessons, as well as the two-part, maintenance series named Skate Maintenance. He is also the developer and owner of the Inline Skating Center, a site which serves as a hub for the adult, recreational, inline skating community. To visit their Skate Maintenance department, click here: http://skatemaintenance.inlineskatingcenter.com/

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