A funny, irreverent look at outdoor activities from rock climbing and mountaineering to kayaking and mountain biking, A Life Outside brings together a selection of non-fiction and fiction writings by Matt Artz. Former editor of mOthEr rOck and FunPig magazines, and contributor to TopRope, Dirt Rag, Vertical Jones, What's the Beta?, Rock & Ice, and other publications, Artz has never met an outdoor activity he didn't at least marginally enjoy (with the possible exception of golf).
"Slim Roamer recently embarked on a cross-country road trip of indefinite length and with no set itinerary. His goals are two-fold: to find the best rock in the southwest, and to find himself. He has promised to provide us with occasional updates on his quest for climbing enlightenment. Printed here is the first installment of his journey." Max Armpet. "Mad" Joe Jiminez. Merve the Perve. Randolph the Indifferent Circus Midget. The Mouth. A rotating cast of characters punctuates the pungent poetry of this climbing road trip to enlightenment gone psychotic. Now pop open an ice cold one and let's get this over with...
A funny, irreverent look at outdoor activities from rock climbing and mountaineering to kayaking and mountain biking, A Life Outside brings together a selection of non-fiction and fiction writings by Matt Artz. Former editor of mOthEr rOck and FunPig magazines, and contributor to TopRope, Dirt Rag, Vertical Jones, What's the Beta?, Rock & Ice, and other publications, Artz has never met an outdoor activity he didn't at least marginally enjoy (with the possible exception of golf).
The second volume in the A Life Outside series brings together 15 all-new essays and stories about the outdoor lifestyle. A Life Outside 2 maintains the trademark humor of the first volume while also looking more closely at the meaning of the experiences. But whether mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, mountaineering, fishing, or doing something else, the author reveals each activity for what it truly is--just an excuse to get outside, enjoy life, and maybe learn something along the way.
From scaling tall mountains to tiny boulders and everything in between, this short collection of rock climbing stories illustrates life's "little adventures"--weekend and other relatively short trips here and there designed to quench your desire for wildness. Because even the shortest outing can leave a lasting imprint and remind us all that it's not the size of the adventure that counts--it's how you enjoy it.
Exhilarating, delightful, disturbing, amusing, and overall intensely personal, Down to Africa is the story of an American teenager living in southern Africa in the 1970s. It was a time of change--the beginning of the end of the apartheid era, when the term Soweto became synonymous with discrimination and the repressive policies of the white minority South Africa government were exposed on the world stage. Incredible wildlife, breathtaking scenery, riots, and even war, the experiences capture a vivid picture of the time and place, and of an individual who comes back changed. And in the end, it's about a desire to return once again to that special place.
Lift yourself into the world of bouldering and teach the body and mind new extremes. Bouldering goes beyond being just a pastime, it is a sense of community that teaches you to challenge your physical and mental boundaries. Power, discipline, and pure focus that pushes you to new heights. Bouldern shows the different motifs behind bouldering and the inspirational figures of this high-performance sport. The joy of experimenting teaches perseverance and how to deal with failure, bouldering forces the body to new limits. Bernd Zangerl, known as the "naturalborn free-climber," guides this book through his expertise. Along with his bouldering colleagues, he shows the fascinating and challenging aspects of rock and indoor climbing and explains bouldering for every age.Experiencing bouldering through gripping photography and specialist knowledge, this book is both for newcomers and skilled individuals looking to reach new heights.