Plus: Camping Stove With Head-Turning Innovations
Camping stoves, such as the MSR Reactor ($140), that screw onto a canister of gas tend to work best when the canister is full, the air is mild and the planets are aligned. The Reactor has a bundle of tricks to combat those shortcomings. But the ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
This Is My Job: Mount Hood Rescuer
Mountaineer Steve Rollins figures he has worked nearly 100 rescues on the icy heights of Oregon's 11,239-ft. Mount Hood. He has dropped by rope from helicopters near the peak using night vision, slogged through whiteouts and climbed into ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Building Canada's Epic Ice Road
Earlier today, when Zigarlick and I left the gravel highway that ends about 40 miles northeast of Yellowknife and headed out onto the ice road, we frequently encountered long, inch-wide cracks. An hour in, as we crossed a small pond, we passed a ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Kings Of The Hill: Extreme Snowmobiles
Hill climbing became so popular that it spawned its own league, the Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Hillclimb Association, which today sanctions nine races. That series has, in turn, inspired circuits in western Canada and Alaska, with about 1000 ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Would You Survive? Live-Saving Gear, Know-How
If you're in the backcountry, skip the elaborate Daniel Boone-style log cabin and instead crawl inside a 55-gal. plastic sack to sleep. (In the desert, stay cool during the day by rigging the bag as a sunshade.) After making it through the first ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
New Scuba Re-Breather Tech: Test Dive
Frequent diving with a rebreather demands a considerable investment in time and energy ? one that I'm not sure I'm ready for, at least right now. Among other things, rebreathers require more maintenance than regular scuba gear because the ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Frivolous & Fun: Must-Make Recreational Projects
?People think the more they spend, the better it will work,? says Joel Suprise, impresario of the online store Spudtech.com. ?But that?s not necessarily true. Even a basic model that you can put together for 25 bucks will give you a range of 200 ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
This Is My Job: Slope Groomer
Grooming ski slopes--aka spending most evenings alone driving a tanklike vehicle over snow-covered mountains--is a perfect fit for Michael Christensen. In addition to getting to ski from first chair till noon, when the snow is the best, the rural ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
The Educated Explorer: Our Guide To The Best Gear For ...
Camping by boat or ATV will get you further afield than your standard park-and-play site without the austerity of hardcore backpacking. But being this far from civilization comes with its own concerns. First, water is both your best friend and ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
This Is My Job: High-Tech Rancher
New Mexico State University's Corona Range and Livestock Research Center is not your average ranch. An impressive array of remote sensors and systems helps manager Shad Cox monitor his elusive herds and their diets--once a far more laborious ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Westcomb Mirage Waterproof Jacket: Upgrade Wish List
Lots of zippers and mesh are great, but in a mountain shell these elements just add weight. The Westcomb Mirage ($379) is minimalist ? well, not the price ? but smart. For instance, the front zipper curves away from the chin for easier layering. ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Plans And Videos Of Spud Guns, Trebuchets, Gliders And ...
This is spudgun advice by Joel Surprise, who also sells spudguns through the Web, and here's a rough diagram of a solid, basic model for you to download. (And here's video of one of his more monstrous creations.) Major caveat: Spud guns are ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
