Hikers Explore

By Mark Kenyon

This week on the vlog I cover my plans for the 2018 hunting season in detail, then recap some of the work I’ve been doing over the past weeks to prep for the fall! On top of all that, I share footage from a potential sighting of my #1 target buck – Holyfield.

If you don’t have a gym membership or equipment at home, you can still maintain a strong draw weight on your bow with one piece of gear. FTK. Season 2. Episode 9.

Fit to Kill is brought to you by: Browning Trail Cameras and Plano Molding

Fit to Kill Products of the Week

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  Whether you’re an East Coast treestand hunter or a West Coast spot-and-stalk whitetail fanatic, deer hunting can be strenuous on your muscles, joints and cardiovascular system. Combine this with the fact that America’s hunting demographic is trending older, and it can be a recipe for disaster for the individual who doesn’t take the pastime seriously.

  Brittany Jill, a kickboxing instructor and personal trainer who happens to be an avid whitetail bowhunter, is the host of Fit to Kill. In this exclusive, new series, Brittany Jill will provide top-end information and instruction to help deer hunters become healthier, and ultimately more successful in the field.

  Some folks might think of deer hunting as simply an effortless spectator sport. But for many there’s often a lot more activity involved. Sitting in a treestand or ground blind from sunup to sundown is no walk in the park either. Especially several days in a row during the rut. Enduring extreme heat, cold, rain or snow and everything in between, on top of very early mornings and late nights, can all take a toll on a deer hunter’s body.

  We always hear about fitness and eating better and exercise. It’s all well and good, and sure it’s better for your health overall. Everyone can do something to become more fit and more healthy, even just a little at a time. It will benefit your life overall, it will certainly benefit your hunting and your ability to enjoy all of the activities involved with it.

  That’s where Fit to Kill comes in, as the show will explain and demonstrate simple, basic exercises related to hunting activities that take very little time and can be performed just about anywhere outside, at home or in a gym setting. Stick with it, and you will see improvements.

  Watch Fit to Kill videos at deeranddeerhunting.com, the DDH Facebook page and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/DDHONLINE.

  

Another quick book update.

I’ve mentioned previously that I’m in the process of having selected titles from my Footsteps on the Mountain Travel Diaries re-edited and published as revised editions. These revised editions are the first time ever that the diaries have been published as paperbacks.

The latest diary to go through this process is The Manaslu Adventure, about my expedition to Manaslu in Nepal in 2011. The book is a peek inside the workings of an 8,000m peak expedition. Manaslu is now considered one of the easier 8,000m peaks to climb, but it is also becoming increasingly dangerous, and the main climbing route has changed several times in the last few years.

Our expedition in 2011 was carried out just a couple of years after Manaslu was recognised as a suitable peak for commercial expeditions. Unlike most teams we opted to trek to the mountain up the dramatic Budhi Gandaki gorge. The book should appeal not only to mountaineers who are considering climbing Manaslu, but to all fans of trekking in Nepal.

Buy The Manaslu Adventure

The paperback of The Manaslu Adventure is available now from a number of online bookstores, price £5.99, €6.99 or $7.99, depending on your currency of choice. You should also be able to order it through any reputable bookstore.

To buy a copy, find out more about it, or read a free sample, visit my book page.

To read more about the evolution of the Footsteps on the Mountain Travel Diaries series, and find out why I’ve not had them properly edited until now, you might be interested in this blog post I originally wrote for the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi).

To receive my weekly blog post about mountains and occasional info about new releases, join my mailing list and get a free ebook.

-by Scott Semple

I loved The Matrix. In my favorite scene, Neo straps himself to an archaic dentist’s chair. He’s learning martial arts by downloading them into his brain. Once installed, he can use them in the digital world. To make the downloads, Neo’s colleague plugs a thick cable into the back of Neo’s skull. He taps a button on his screen, and Neo’s “training” begins.

Wouldn’t that be awesome? Instead of dedicating a slow, tedious decade to one martial art, we could plug in, download it, and be awesome.

But life isn’t like that, is it? To master something, a slow, tedious decade is almost mandatory.

What shysters sell

But a slow, tedious decade doesn’t sound very exciting. It’s a daunting, groaning prospect.

Everyone withers at the thought of devoting so much time and energy to such a long-term project at such a slow pace. It’s much more tempting to think that, just maybe, we’re special. Maybe we can find a secret shortcut to getting most of the benefit with very little effort.

The fantasy is rampant. Shysters build their businesses on it and capitalize on our laziness. We can get fat over a decade, but skinny in six weeks. We can be a couch potato, but transform into an Olympian in 20 minutes of high-intensity intervals. You can be everything you’ve ever wanted to be, even bulletproof, and it only costs $39.99.

Right? No, I’m afraid not.

As Greg LeMond said, “It doesn’t get easier. It just gets faster.”

Remember that: It doesn’t. Get. Easier.

The real winners

Several years ago, two friends were talking about what it takes to sport climb at a high level. My friend Greg had been climbing a long time, but he’s better built for rugby or football. He’d never climbed harder than 5.11. Will, a professional climber, told him, “Your biggest problem is that you don’t try very hard.”

When Greg was 18, he convinced his dentist to try a root canal without anesthetic. Old school and Eastern European, the dentist agreed. Greg completed the procedure, fingers like dragon claws digging into the armrests.

So telling Greg he didn’t try very hard was like telling a bull he doesn’t get very angry. Greg was taken aback, but took Will’s comment to heart. He buckled down and focused. Two years later, he climbed his first 5.13. That same year, he ran his first 50-mile ultra and set a deadlift PR of 500 pounds.

There is no secret ingredient

In Kung Fu Panda, Po receives some key advice from his father (who happens to be a goose).

The secret ingredient is… nothing.

Wait, wait. It’s just plain old noodle soup? You don’t add some kind of special sauce or something?

Don’t have to! To make something special, you just have to believe it’s special.

First, believing something is special is what the shysters want. They try and sell special all day long just as Po’s dad does with his soup.

Second, special isn’t necessary. We all have what we need to do what we want. The unknown variables are how far we can go and whether we have the will to do it.

Luckily for uphill athletes, the path to high-end endurance is well-known. If we can commit to a long walk down that path, progress is almost certain.

The question is not how far. The question is: Do you possess the constitution, the depth of faith, to go as far as is needed?”

~ Il Duce in The Boondock Saints

What does endurance demand?

In the field of endurance training, world-class athletes and their coaches know all the ingredients. The magic they create is in how they combine them. It’s not in discovering (or pretending to discover) something that’s never existed.

To be as good as you can be, you need to:

1. Be humble

Accept that it’s going to take years of hard work to get where you want to go. The only way to escape the work is to dumb down your goals or waste your potential. (To do the former, swim in small ponds. To do the latter, pride yourself on your off-the-couch performance.)

1. Stay healthy  

Health is the foundation of athletics. Training can become unhealthy, and when it does, fitness will deteriorate. Focus on health, and your long-term mileage will be a lot better.

1. Embrace constraints  

Everyone, even a professional, has constraints. Professionals have the luxury of human capacity as their constraint. The rest of us need to accept that kids and careers are ours. And they’re worth the sacrifice.

1. Start early

Chances are good that you’re at least six years from your potential, not six months. And certainly not six weeks. Even when training, people often get seduced by the first bump in ability, thinking that they’ve realized their potential. Not so. That’s just a white belt. If it takes ten years to get a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jutsu and the same to get an MD, why would anyone think physical actualization happens in one summer?

1. Be consistent and gradual  

Consistency, gradualness and modulation. Slow and steady wins the race. An approach that’s modest and regular will beat something more extreme that’s less consistent.

1. Take it easy  

Training volume is the dry sand you need to build a castle. Respect that. Over ninety percent of your training should be easy and below your aerobic threshold.

1. Be specific  

But being active isn’t enough. Make those low-intensity hours count. Your training should be as specific as possible to your goal event.

1. Add a small amount of intensity  

Only after the first seven are in place does it make sense to go hard. It’s safe to add a small amount of intensity–i.e. less than 5% of total volume–when your aerobic threshold is 90% or more of your anaerobic threshold.

Did I burst your bubble?

It’s too bad there isn’t a secret sauce, isn’t it?

Believe it or not, slow and steady is the secret sauce. With everyone else chasing fantasies, you can get miles ahead by just ignoring the nonsense.

As Tyler Durden said:

You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake. You are the same decaying organic matter as everything else.

Negative? Demoralizing? Not at all. It’s liberating. You don’t need a lottery ticket. Don’t search for something special that doesn’t exist. Just buckle down and get to work.

Mark Garcia is our first ever Rey Del Mar, the winner of the Offshore Division of the first annual Rey Del Mar Kayak Fishing Tournament.

The tournament, hosted as a collaboration between ACK and Fin Factory Kayak & Tackle Co, was one of the first of its kind, including both inshore and offshore fishing on the same weekend, combining over all weight.

Check out this quick interview with Mark!

Where are you from?

“Born in Brownsville but I have lived in San Antonio for 12 years now.”

Kayaking Experience?

“Bought my first kayak 2 years ago. I’ve been fishing since I was 10 with family and friends around the lower Laguna Madre and bought my first kayak 2 years ago out of the desire to explore more of the waters and inspiration of some creators in Youtube like Chris Castro.”

Why do you kayak fish?

“I wanted to go back to fishing and but this time I just didn’t want to do it from a dock, I wanted it to be more physically challenging, I wanted to our and about in nature. Some friends suggested getting a kayak. I got some inspiration from Texas RedFish Hunter; Drew Smith and Chris Castro and their youtube videos, that got me really excited. I’d be watching the videos and just feeling the desire to do that. I remember just telling myself… I want to do that, I want to do that.”

Why did you sign up for Rey del Mar?

“I have fished a few other inshore tournaments organized by Robert Rodriguez and the rest of the guys from TKFSA (Texas Kayak Fishing San Antonio) Facebook group. In fact a few weeks before Rey del Mar I won ‘biggest red’. There I had the opportunity to meet Chris in person and we talked about Rey del Mar. I thought about doing the inshore part since I had never been offshore but Chris insisted that I should participate. I didn’t have an offshore kayak, gear or experience but Chris offered his Viking GT and advice on what to get, how to rig and all the intricate details about fishing offshore from a kayak. Before this time I had really never considered fishing offshore. While big water, the surf and the ocean was not alien to me as I used to surf; taking a kayak, fishing from it and landing big fish in the middle of the ocean did make me feel a little nervous. I was still on the fence but Chris gave me enough motivation with his confidence-building …..“you’ll be fine”…haha. Anyway, so I decided to register for the tournament. I figured it would be an awesome experience to go offshore for the first time next to guys like Chris, Reuben and others.”

Expectations before the tournament?

“The expectations changed as the tournament got closer and even more so as my day on the water progressed. Initially, it was all about making out off the surf in one piece with all my gear. I also wanted to at least catch one fish. It didn’t really matter to me how big or small. Remember that I had never been offshore before so any fish caught would have been a first for me an nonetheless EPIC. The biggest thing that I wanted to gain out of this event is to experience the camaraderie and unity of the kayak fishing community. The guys who have helped me through the process of picking a kayak, learning the ins and outs, selection the fishing gear, etc. are some of the coolest dude I have known. They have been super welcoming to me and all my questions and meeting more of those guys in person and fishing with them was going to be super cool to me.”

The fishing story?

“I had been talking to Chris for weeks before the tournament on all the gear I needed. I bought a Penn Squall reel, line for it, a VHF radio, a new PFD and bunch of other equipment. We worked out a meeting location for the morning of the tournament but I still had to register. I didn’t do it online….don’t know why.. I should have because the Friday of the captains meeting I had to work, load up and then head to the coast to register in person. I showed up at Corpus at 11:45 and registered with Mike Morales. I think I was the last guy who registered. In retrospective it is crazy to think that I almost didn’t even make it to register since it closed at midnight.

I went to sleep or at least I tried, I dont know how many hours I slept, probably not many as I was so pumped and I could not stop thinking about fishing and the surf….oh the surf. I woke up that morning and the plan was to fish the Mustang Island rigs. Chris and all the rest of the crew was already there and that’s when he gave the Viking kayaks that I was going to use and learned that It didnt have seat but there was not turning back I was going out no matter what.

I got ready to launch and saw some of the guys go through the surf. Conditions weren’t ideal and even Chris admitted that if it wasn’t a tournament, he wouldn’t go out. My confidence level was low but my pumped gauge was at maximum!  By the time I decided to launch Chris and some of the guys were already past the 4th bar. I just kept telling myself to not overthink it and just do it, so I did.

The Viking rode so nice over the surf. Again, I have never done that and the crossing of the surf was so easy. It felt like I was a natural. The last swell felt like an 8′ wave, which of course wasn’t but to me it looked like a wall of water. As soon as I made it out past the surf I set up my rigs (ribbon) and I started paddling. I threw another lure out and then took it out of the water because I just didn’t like how it was swimming.

About 20 minutes later one of my rod goes off, drag screaming, line peeling and heart pumping out of my chest. The fish runs and runs and then a huge Tarpon jumps out of the water! What the hell! A tarpon! The fish made a couple more jumps and then the line went slack. The issue was that when I spooled that new reel with braided line, I didn’t pack hard and when the fish took off the line dug itself into the spool and on the next run, the line coming out of the reel wasn’t smooth and broke off. It sucked but oh my god I can’t believe that just happened! My emotions were racing as the same speed of the Tarpon taking off; First I was shocked that it happened,  then mad because I know I made a mistake when spooling the reel and a few seconds later I was perfectly fine with the outcome since I had accomplished my #1 goal of the day which was to get past the breakers in one piece.

Anyway, so I set up again but first let most of the line out of the reel and spool the line again to make sure its all packed nice and neat and to avoid the same issue. 30 minutes later I get another hit. This time the line was on check, the drag was also light and kept cranking it as I really didn’t want to lose the fish. I fought that fish for 15 minutes and when I first saw it I thought it was a shark and that got me a little nervous. I just didnt want to deal with a shark but as the battle continued and the fish got tired and closed and closer to the boat I got a peak of it and the flash confirmed that it was a king! Now to land this fish. I had the fish boat side and go to gaff it and almost gaff myself, in fact the gaff grazed my hand. I waited a little longer for the fish to get tired and relax and on my second attempt I got the gaff just right and nailed the fish. I took the time to remove the hooks and put the rod away. Throughout all this time the fish was still in the water and I was holding it with the gaff. I was stoked, taking pictures and just enjoying the fact that I had accomplished goal #2 of the trip, catch a fish. I wasn’t even thinking about the size of the fish, I mean it was my first king, I really didnt know what was a small kingfish vs a big kingfish. Once I gathered all my thoughts and finished taking in the moment and finished celebrating my accomplishment I started to work on actually landing the fish and loading it into the kayak and fish bag. I go to lift the fish off the water and swing it to my lap when the boat starts turning sideways and to the water I go! There I am, in the water, swallowing water ( I have my life jacket on though) trying to kick up my Penn rod so it wouldn’t sink when I see a beautiful silver fish floating away and sinking. Wait, that’s my fish! Throughout the commotion the fish got off the gaff and I was losing it. I had to leave my attempts to rescue my rod and let it sink to the bottom of the ocean. I grabbed the kayak with my hand and used my legs to hold the fish. It all happened so fast. I gained my composure while I had the kayak upside down next to me, in the water and holding the fish with my legs; Then it hit me, a little of panic! Im in the middle of the ocean with a big bloody fish between my legs.  I was FREAKING OUT! I had just spent that last week watching shark week on the discovery channel. I told myself, relax, just flip the damn kayak right side up, throw the fish on top and climb up the kayak. Amazingly it all went well and got back on the kayak with the fish.

I then see two guys coming close to me and they see me getting on the kayak. They asked me if I was ok and If I had the fish as they were able to see the battle from far away. I replied that I was able to save the fish and we all started yelling! It was so cool. I was so tired about the encounter and flipping the boat that I was ready to go out. I

had accomplished all my goals but I pushed deeper and paddled to the rigs. All that had happened still halfway to the rigs and I had never been there so there I went. At some point on my way to the rigs the adrenaline wore out and sea sickness kicked in with a vengeance. I made it to the rigs did a few passes and hooked another king which was smaller and turned out to be not so much o a challenge to fight and land. At that time it was about 12 so I decided to head out. As I got close to shore, sea sickness got worse and worse and I just couldn’t hold any liquids. Lets just say I was glad it was all going to be over. But not before dealing with the surf. I put all my gear away and even tied the fish to the kayak. I could have “turtled” and tumbled on the surf but I wasn’t going to lose the fish so close to the beach. Amazingly the Viking again, made me look like a pro, I surfed the whole way out bracing on one side as whitewater an powerful waves push me closer and closer to shore. Once on the beach I showed the fish to Chris and he was surprised on how big it was. It was then when it hit me that I might just have a chance to win this thing. We packed all of our gear and sped up to the weigh in. When I got there I guess someone had already told the guys there that there was a big fish going in because everyone was looking at me and the fish…something was going to happen.”

What were you looking to get out of the tournament?

“I really was just looking for some offshore experience and maybe a fish. As I said before, making out through the surf was my only goal. When I accomplished that, It was about catching a fish. It didn’t matter which fish. Then making it to the rigs and lastly back to the beach with all my gear. I got all that but more importantly I got to fish, learn and hang out with incredible kayak anglers. That’s what I was looking forward the most.”

What is what you enjoyed the most?

“The kayak fishing community is so welcoming. Everybody is willing to help and share their knowledge even with a rookie like me. Fish with Chris and Reuben was a hell of an experience. I used to watch their videos and now I had fished with them on the same waters. Crazy stuff. From this whole experience I couldn’t care less the kayak and the money.. bottom line I had a great time. I was more excited about fishing with Chris than just fishing. Winning the kayak and cash was the cherry on top.”

Who do you think this event is for?

“The event is for everybody or anybody that loves kayak fishing. My story is testament for any beginner can do well and more importantly still win by meeting amazing people.”

Would you participate again?

“You bet! I’ll be there next year for both the inshore and offshore divisions.”

Conclusion

“Am I happy that I won? Yes, But meeting people and fishing with the brotherhood of kayak fishing was the best part of the event. Not once I felt that there was somebody feeling negative that a rookie won. Everyone wanted to hear the story and congratulate me. That tells the overall story of who we are as a group and the quality of people you find on this event and the kayak fishing community as a whole.”

Among New England's wildest places, Maine's Lakes and Mountains region is an epic adventure waiting to happen. With high peaks, abandoned gem mines, ghost towns, and miles of trails, there’s plenty for hikers, bikers, and paddlers alike. For a place that feels a world away from Portland's bustling waterfront, though, it's a surprisingly quick trip (one of our favorite spots is just 30 minutes from downtown).

With so much to do, it can be difficult to decide where to start. This region claims 10 of Maine's highest peaks, and it seems like every small town's got a local swimming hole or a trail that leads to a waterfall. But for one perfect weekend in the Lakes and Mountains, these are our top picks for what to eat, drink, and explore.

Where to Get Caffeinated

Adventure might beckon, but first? Coffee. The tiny town of Norway is home to Cafe Nomad, one of the best stops for a deep woods cappuccino and breakfast burrito. Think stacks of blueberry pancakes dripping with locally-sourced maple syrup, while hearty bowls of granola are provided by Nezinscot Farm, Maine's first-ever organic dairy.

For country-style charm, keep driving to the Gingerbread House Restaurant in Oquossoc, near Rangeley Lakes. A cozy fireplace and expansive deck make this a good option year round, and the Oquossoc French toast is a legend: sourdough baguettes are infused with warm spices, then served under a blanket of powdered sugar.

Heading straight into the woods with a camp stove and coffee maker? Pick up a bag of freshly-roasted beans from Carrabassett Coffee Company, which turns out small batches of single-origin coffees from around the world.

Where to Find Adventure

Endless trails wind through the woods up here, including long sections of the iconic Appalachian Trail and the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, the longest paddling trail in the Northeast. The highlights? The Northern Forest Canoe Trail goes straight through the Rangeley Lakes, a cluster of six lakes linked by ponds and streams. A day-long paddle on any of the lakes is great for bird-watching and spotting moose in the early morning hours, or you can come to shore at the Hunter Cove Wildlife Sanctuary, a point of interest on the Maine Birding Trail.

While the 100 Mile Wilderness is among Maine's most famous Appalachian Trail sections, many hikers cite the more westerly Bigelow Range as one of the prettiest parts of the trail. For ultrafit hikers, the epic, 16.3-mile Bigelow Range Traverse is a goal worth training for. This rugged section offers great views of Flagstaff Lake.

Wrapping around the Bigelow Preserve and Flagstaff Lake is Maine Huts & Trails, where you can access a series of super comfortable, off-the-grid cabins on a beautiful trail network. They’re ready for cross-country skiing, fat biking, and snowshoeing in the winter, but ideal for hiking, birdwatching, and mountain biking in the summer months.

There’s also Flagstaff Lake, the largest artificial lake in Maine. Created by a hydroelectric dam on the nearby Dead River, the lake flooded the town of Flagstaff, whose granite foundations can be seen beneath the water on guided, historic boat tours of the ghost town site.

Where to Unwind

Right at the edge of the Rangeley Lakes, the Rangeley Tavern is a favorite for dinner or just drinks—in summer, snag a rum punch from the bar and then relax in one of the Adirondack chairs that overlook Haley Pond.

After a day in the woods or on the water, the region's breweries are a great spot to kick back with a locally-made pint. Named for the rock that underlies the northern mountains, Gneiss Brewing Company pours super-drinkable German-style beers (the tasting rooms are only open on Fridays and Saturdays, but joining the local crowd at the forest brewery makes it worth planning for).

In the historic town of Fryeburg, a jumping-off-point for kayak and canoe adventures, Saco River Brewing opens their doors for weekend tastings. Flights of pale ales, IPAs, and porters are served on canoe paddles, and 302 Riverside Drive-Up is just next door with beer-friendly burgers, seafood, and snacks.

Where to Get a Good Night's Rest

If your dream weekend escape involves your own tiny cabin, there's a lot to choose from. A stone's throw from a floating dock and sandy beach are Bayview Cabins, a cluster of lakeside cottages in Naples with canoes, kayaks, and paddle-boats for rent on site.

Linked to 80 miles of trails in the forest surrounding Bigelow Preserve, the four European-style cabins at Maine Huts & Trails are perfectly placed for overnight bikepacking trips or pedaling in for a weekend of singletrack. There is legendary trout and salmon fishing at the remote Grand Falls Hut, but if you opt for Flagstaff Hut, you can start every day by diving into the clear water of Flagstaff Lake. Despite being totally off the grid, the huts are stocked with plenty of creature comforts, including family-style meals served by hut staff. (Tip: even day visitors can ride or hike in for lunch on high season weekends!)

And with sites scattered through the pine forest that lines the Saco River, Woodland Acres Campground is ideal for paddlers—the laid-back campground provides a car shuttle to campers, so you can paddle or float downstream, then catch a ride back to your tent.

These are just a few of the many ways to spend a weekend in Maine’s Lakes and Mountains region. For more information, request a copy of our travel planner here.

Written by Jen Rose Smith for RootsRated in partnership with Maine’s Lakes and Mountains Tourism Council .

Realization of a need and quick thinking by crews fighting the South Fork Fire last year led to the use of new ground breaking fire technology, the use of drones to pinpoint hotspots and areas of concern.

Remember is it illegal to fly your UAS (drone) in or around active fire areas or in National Parks. This was a sanctioned activity with proper clearance by government personnel in an effort to help fight the fire. Flying your drone in fire areas could endanger not only yourself but air crews who are responding to the fire. Always fly responsibly and know before you fly.