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Denver schoolteacher and Coleman ambassador Mike Haugen climbed to the top of the world last year to reach the growing number of children who spend more time indoors with electronic devices than they do exploring the outdoor world. To combat depressing rates of childhood obesity due to poor eating and exercise habits, The Coleman Company, Inc. made a Web game out of his successful summit of Mount Everest. Thousands of schoolchildren tracked his progress online, then progressed step-by-step on a map of their own virtual Everest by logging outdoor activities.
That was last year. This year Haugen, 31, will challenge himself even further to encourage kids to get outdoors. More days, more climbing, more travel. Infinitely more complicated logistics. Yet his quest takes place right in the nation's backyards. He'll attempt to reach the highest peak in each of the states during his 50 States in 50 Days Adventure.
These highpoints are an interesting collection of summits: some can be reached by car, some are an easy walk, while others require a more technical climb. The toughest is Alaska's Mount McKinley (Denali). The clock starts the minute Haugen tags the top of McKinley, the first peak.
He will summit by any means during his 24,000-mile journey. Regardless of its height, each highpoint will allow Haugen to tell a different story involving flora and fauna, geography, fitness and the simple pleasures of being outdoors.
The public can track Haugen in real time during June and July on Coleman's Web site (coleman.com). Photos, videos and a blog about his route, his equipment, the people he meets, and the nature surrounding each highpoint will be posted throughout the adventure. Information about these American "rooftops" collected by Haugen will eventually become part of an interactive Highpoints display at the new Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum in Golden, Colo.
In August, the 50 States in 50 Days Challenge launches with dozens of activities – from bicycling and jogging to hiking and camping – that kids can undertake as they earn their way from one state's virtual highpoint to another. What's more, teachers will be encouraged to include the challenge in their curricula so that entire classrooms can participate together as a team.
Each of the 50 segments is completed when a child reports being active at least 60 minutes (or 10,000 steps) for that day. In addition to tracking their virtual highpoint adventure on an online map, students can see photos and read a blog of Haugen's adventure and view a special video message from Mike prepared after each highpoint was reached. The online challenge will continue through December.
One of the most useful lights for any outdoor person is a headlamp. Yet, many folks who pursue activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, hunting and boating have yet to discover the value of these versatile lights and take full advantage of them. Once they do, they will wonder what took them so long to see the...obvious.
There are two simple virtues to a good headlamp – both hands are left free to carry something or do something; and, the light shines wherever one is looking. Just turn one's head and, voila, there's light right where you need it.
The concept is exceedingly elementary, which makes one question why it is sometimes overlooked. Perhaps the large size and appearance of yesterday's headlamps are partially to blame. Fortunately, the technology and design of headlamps are evolving quickly. New LED (light emitting diode) modules in combination with enhanced battery performance, contemporary design and materials are helping to change and improve headlamps.
Coleman's latest headlamp is small, but powerful. It addresses two issues sometimes raised with headlamps – weight and brightness. The latest Coleman Exponent Mini Headlamp weighs a mere 1.4 ounces including the battery, yet its LED produces 75 lumens of light on the highest setting. It also features a lower beam setting to conserve the battery plus a strobe mode for emergency.
The light housing itself is not much larger than a wedding broach, which is to say larger than a thimble but smaller than a jigger. An adjustable elastic headband makes fitting it to different head sizes or situations with and without hats a simple operation.
It operates on one CR2 lithium battery, which is included in the package with the light. On low, which is a very useful illumination for many purposes, the headlamp will run for up to seven hours. On high, run time is two hours.
Waterfowl hunters walking to the blind or setting out decoys may know how handy headlamps are, as do fishermen and boaters who have to get their rigs ready before the crack of dawn. Backpackers will find them handy when they have to walk a trail or set up camp after dark. Headlamps are surprisingly useful when cooking before sunup or after sunset.
Beyond myriad uses for headlamps in the great outdoors, travelers would be well-served to have one in their vehicles in case they need to change a flat tire at night, check under the hook or find something in the trunk. Homeowners will be surprised how convenient the lights can be for routine plumbing repairs under the kitchen counter or other dark places. This multipurpose headlamp can be handy for trips to the attic to retrieve holiday decorations or to check a breaker box in the basement.
For more information on this product or where it may be purchased, go to coleman.com. (Suggested retail price is $39.99.)
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