As 2009 and draws to a close, we’re getting excited about what’s in store for next year. We can’t believe we only launched back in November! It’s been a very busy two months, and we’re hoping that energy takes us right on through 2010. So what wisdom are we taking with us? Just a few thoughts that should hep clear our minds and keep us creative and cutting-edge.
1. Social media is here to stay, but change is on the way. In the last year we’ve seen all forms of social media take off at tremendous speeds, and don’t think that speed is anywhere near slowing down, but it might be changing direction. We’ve been reading up on social media predictions for 2010, and there are some great articles including Six Social Media Predictions for 2010 on TalentZoo.com and Social Media Experts Make Their Predictions for 2010 on Mashable. We certainly agree with Charlene Li, Founder of Altimeter Group “Social media in 2010 will cease being the shiny new object and instead become part of the everyday lexicon of business.”
2. New media will continue evolving and help people inspired to create positive change. The internet has allowed people around the world to share their stories, photos, videos and build communities with others that are excited about their cause. This isn’t going away for 2010, and we’re betting that new media is going to become an even stronger vehicle for positive change. That’s why we’ll be doing many more features for our Profiles series, so that you can learn who’s making a difference in the world of new media and how they’re doing it.
3. Social media is still not a replacement for real relationships and networks. We love our social networks, but we love face-to-face time even more. In 2010 we’re committing to doing more things in person, getting active on the ground, talking on the phone and maintaining relationships by sending meaningful emails instead of quick updates. Keep up your personal relationships; real coffee breaks with friends are better than virtual ones.
Now we’re off to pour ourselves a glass of bubbly and ring in what we hope will be our best year yet. We hope you do the same – Happy New Year!
We’re about to ring in a new year, and with only two more days left in good ole 2009, and you don’t want to miss out on the chance to win some sweet swag!
Our friends over at Klean Kanteen love winter, and know that you do too, so they’re accepting Winter Wonderland inspired photos for their December Flickr contest. All you have to do is upload your favorite wintry photos to the Klean Kanteen photo pool and you’re entered to win a killer reusable, BPA-free bottle! Be sure to get your photos in by the end of the 31st!
In need of a new wardrobe addition? Trying to make an effort to be more “mountainsexual” in the new year? You might want some Mountain Khakis. The Jackson Hole based company is trying to get 2010 fans by 2010 — if they achieve they’re goal, they’ll be giving away some free MK gear at random. Click here to take part. You don’t want to miss out, because these pants allow you to do just about anything. Here’s photographic evidence:
A little excerpt from this year’s Backcountry Film Festival. Sweet backcountry videos from well known production teams like Powderwhore and Sweetgrass. Oh, and did we mention that proceeds from the festival go to protecting beautiful winter backcountry spaces so that you can keep enjoying your seasonal human-powered adventures??
Here’s a list of tour dates so you can check it out for yourself:
Santa Barbara, California – January 7, 2010 – Victoria Theater
Talkeetna, Alaska – January 9, 2010 – (location coming soon)
Logan, Utah – January 22, 2010 – (location coming soon)
Victor, Idaho – January 28, 2010 – Wildwood Room
Buffalo, Wyoming – January 14, 2010 – Buffalo Theater
Bozeman, Montana – February 17, 2010 – Emerson Theater
Red Lodge, Montana – February 19, 2010 – (location coming soon)
Salt Lake City, Utah – February 25, 2010 – The State Room
We’re in high winter gear here at Under Solen HQ and so our eyes are ever intrigued by anything that features one of our favorite seasons. We can’t embed it here, but you absolutely must go and check out this time lapse video of the northern lights, documented over the Ringebu Fjell in Norway, part of the super cool project The World At Night.
Do you have any fantastic winter sky pictures? We want to see them! Leave the link to your photo in the comments below.
Now that you’ve consumed way too many Christmas cookies, it’s time to get outdoors. How do you plan to spend the next few winter days? We’re hoping it’s outside!
Need some help? Here are some great resources for planning winter adventures:
Backcountry Etiquette – Great tips from out friends over at Winter Wildlands Alliance. Also be sure to check out their great page of Huts/Shops/Guides which should help in all kinds of backcountry planning.
Snowshoe Magazine – Chock full of tips and information to help you plan out everything from a quick day trip to a more extended adventure.
She Jumps – A great network to get women in the outdoors. Check them out and get involved!
We love our Mountain Khakis, and we have always thought the rugged, toughness has made them uber hawt, but now the Urban Dictionary has made it official — these pants are MountainSexual.
It’s no new news to the folks at Mountain Khakis® that their premier collection of hips-down apparel has an air of sex appeal. So when Urban Dictionary, the ever-popular user-created slang dictionary, touted Mountain Khakis® as a prime example of the term MountainSexual, the folks at MK weren’t surprised…
Per Urban Dictionary’s definition, “Similar to metrosexual but one who lives in the mountains or otherwise pursues the outdoors adventure lifestyle. Kind of a cleaned-up granola, a Woodsy GQ kinda guy with a splash of bohemian. Knows that he doesn’t have to look or smell like a dirtbag to enjoy climbing, hiking, cycling, skiing (all forms), snowshoeing, etc. Probably reads Men’s Journal, Outside, Outside’s Go, National Geographic Adventure, even Wallpaper* and Dwell. Brands: Patagonia, Keen, Kuhl, The North Face, Mountain Hardwear, Marmot, Mountain Khakis. Strong environmental ethic. Drives a well-maintained truck, performance SUV, or cross-over when absolutely necessary but walks or rides a bicycle whenever possible. Works out gym but primarily to be in shape for outdoor pursuits. Shuns chain stores and shops in outdoor specialty stores such as The Trailhead in Buena Vista, Colorado. ‘For such an outdoorsy guy, that dude sure has great style.’”
To see the entire collection of MountainSexual Mountain Khakis® go to www.mountainkhakis.com
Thanks to the folks at Gadling for brightening up this cold, winter afternoon with a cheery post about Amsterdam’s Floating Flower Market. We love Amsterdam’s flowers!
Amsterdam’s Singel canal, which in the Middle Ages encircled the city as a moat, is home to the world’s only floating flower market, Bloemenmarkt. The stalls sit like large, partially-enclosed pontoon boats up against the street, and from the inside, they appear to be regular shops across the road from the touristy cheese and trinket traps. As you can see above, you’ll never notice the stalls are floating, so don’t worry about seasickness.
My good friend, and slackline master, Andy Lewis is heading up a group of Boulder slackliners to lobby the city of Boulder to allow the sport in Boulder Canyon, other open space areas and city parks.
Local slackline enthusiasts are lobbying the city of Boulder to relax its rules and allow the sport in
A boom in popularity and a community of about 100 slackline “addicts” has meant more people practicing the sport — and drawing more attention. Earlier this month, police were called about someone slacklining — walking on a narrow, flat nylon line that’s not pulled taut — in Boulder Canyon, but the person was down by the time rangers arrived.
Larkin Carey, with the Colorado Slackline Club, said Boulder’s law against attaching anything to trees in public places generally hadn’t been enforced. Slacklining on open space, where it’s not an “approved” use, also hadn’t been an issue in the past.
But this spring, with more people slacklining and highlining — slacklining up high — police got calls and people were asked to take down the lines, Carey said.
“Since it’s fairly new, people are trying to figure out if it’s a problem,” he said. “It looks dangerous, so people take notice. But it’s actually very safe.”
To see Andy and a few of the masters in action, check out the video below of them walking the highline in Dream Canyon.
Need some help with some last minute baubles this season? With the holidays in full swing (and being the incredible procrastinator that I am), I’m trolling the blogosphere for a few fun DIY gifts to give. This morning I stumbled across this one from the good folks at Photojojo:
Another holiday morning after:
You come to wearing a lampshade, mistletoe strewn everywhere, lying on a four-foot-high pile of empty airplane-size liquor bottles.
You’ll never remember that party, but at least you can remember the aftermath.
Turn those baby booze bottles to bauble: fill them with photos and hang them on your tree.
