For many of us, the word "Niagara" is synonymous with "big". You've got Niagara Falls, of course, but the mountain climbers among us will be more impressed with Niagara Peak. It might not be the highest point in the country, but it's nothing to sneeze at.

This 13er (13,786 feet, to be exact) is located in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, not far from several other ambitious summits. The triangular shape of Niagara Peak combined with the beautiful view climbers enjoy at the top make it a pleasurable climb as well as technical.

Both the approach and the face of Niagara Peak are rocky and pitted, making for slow climbing if you aren't used to the terrain. A pair of sturdy hiking boots with high ankles for extra support and a set of thick gloves are absolutely essential for this climb.

Additionally, make sure you check the weather before you attempt to climb Niagara Peak. The weather here is unpredictable, offering snowfall and rain on the unlikeliest of days. The last thing you want is to get stuck on the side of a treacherous mountain with thunder ringing in your ears.

The great thing about climbing Niagara Peak, however, is that you're within close proximity of several other summits. For example, many expert climbers traverse both Niagara Peak and Jones Mountain on the same hike. There are also a few unnamed peaks in the vicinity that you might want to try if you're feeling adventurous.

There are two basic approaches to Niagara Peak. The most difficult is to approach via the saddle between Niagara and Jones, which is marked by heavy tundra and often difficult to cross in the early winter. However, you can also approach on the northeast side directly opposite Jones, which offers a sheer face but less brush on the ground to deal with.

In addition to the amazing climb offered at Niagara Peak, there is also some beautiful hiking to be done in this region. Abandoned mines, beautiful woods and a few scattered streams and ponds make for lots of wildlife, and you can easily spend an entire week exploring on foot or horseback.

For the outdoorsy type in need of some stylish gear, a pair of calf-length pants with a rugged design are a must. The Prana Nemesis Knicker is designed with super-strength seams and stretch fabric so any climber, hiker or sailor can roam freely and comfortably through their latest adventure. Theses pants are designed for ultimate comfort and extra protection during inclement weather; a convenient climbing brush holder, angled pockets and an adjustable waistband make it perfect for the outdoors - and you can look fashionable in the process.

One of the biggest benefits of these pants is their superb drying abilities. You can head out on a boat, trek through rain showers or just play in the mud without worrying about getting completely soaked. The pants dry within minutes, and when you work up a sweat on your trails, they will also soak up excess moisture in a flash. No need to fret about loose material from a poor fit, either; the adjustable waist band and generous cut in the hips and thighs provide a custom-fit look.

Making sure your outdoor wardrobe is made up of loose and comfortable clothing is essential for performance. You don't have time to tug on too-tight pants or fret about adjusting and pulling on pants and shorts to stay comfortable. Loose-fitting, versatile and lightweight clothing is the best match for dressing your adventurous side, and these pieces are easy to pack, wash, dry, and stay in good shape for the long-run. To put things into perspective, look at your outdoor gear as an investment; you need these basics to perform at your best, and when you're not playing the weekend warrior, you can even let some pieces do double duty as weekend wear or for working out.

The stretch nylon fabric makes the Prana Nemesis Knickers a comfortable pair for day-to-day wear, and a versatile addition to your wardrobe. You can wear them to the gym, when running errands, or just kick back and relax on the weekends with the cargo-inspired style. The Nemesis Knickers are available in four neutral colors to coordinate with almost any color top, jacket or vest.

The experienced wilderness survivor knows the joys of winter camping, like silence and solitude. You already know how to dress; next, is to prepare for a winter storm. A winter storm can come out of nowhere in the mountains. So, let's set up your base camp so it's storm-ready.

Make your camp in a sheltered spot, like the down-wind side of a group of trees. Check them for dead branches and pull down any you find. Trample the base for your tent wearing your snowshoes or skis; make it as level as possible.

Start with an insulating footprint for your tent. The best tents are shaped to shed snow, like a dome tent., and also provide plenty of space. A tent fly can keep your tent walls freezing. Erect the tent on the footprint with the entrance away from the prevailing wind. Build a packed snow wall three to four feet high and a foot away from your tent walls along the back and around the sides to the entrance as a windbreak and for extra insulation.

Place a tarp or space blanket, like the one inside your first aid kit, on the tent floor for more insulation. Keep a brush just outside your tent (or in the vestibule) to knock off any snow on your clothes and boots, and keep it outside your tent. Use warm sleeping pads under a good winter sleeping bag like this one from Sierra Designs that's good to 30 degrees. Sleep in your baselayer top and bottom, and bring your outer clothes inside your sleeping bag to warm up before you put them on. Wear a hat or balaclava for warmth while you sleep as well as when you're outside, and make sure you're breathing outside your sleeping bag to avoid humidity building up.

Use your stove to cook and to melt snow; keep waterbottles upside down. Cook outside your tent; fuel fumes can be deadly. Eat plenty of carbohydrates, and make warm drinks throughout the day to help keep your core warm and to avoid dehydration.

Now that you've set up a storm-sturdy camp, your next big danger is hypothermia.

( Sources: http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/winter/wintcamp.shtml#Winter%20Shelters, http://www.backpacking.net/wintertips.html, http://www.eHow.com/how_2136526_winter_tent_platform.html )

Before extreme sports added a new level of danger to athletic competitions, bicycle messengers in urban areas such as New York City risked their necks just to make a paycheck. Because a cyclist can navigate through the worst Manhattan traffic jam, many companies employed these urban daredevils to deliver important documents.

Hot off his success in "Footloose," Kevin Bacon hung up his dancing shoes to star in the 1986 urban adventure "Quicksilver." Bacon played Jack Casey, a cocky 1980's stock broker who bets everything he, his clients and his parents have on a risky deal. When that deal goes sour, Jack loses just about everything, including his self-respect. Still hungering for the thrills and speed of Wall Street, Jack buys a bicycle and becomes an employee of the Quicksilver Messenger Service. When a former stock market colleague asks him why he works as a messenger, Jack says it's because "When I'm on the street, I feel good, man. I feel exhilarated." After he befriends a new messenger named Terri (a cute-as-a-button Jamie Gertz), Jack cycles into trouble once again. Terri unknowingly delivers narcotics for a drug dealer and Jack puts himself in harm's way trying to help her. Jack's affection for Terri leads to the ultimate life-or-death showdown for this messenger.

An often overlooked film from the 1980's, "Quicksilver" pays homage to bicycle messengers who go as fast as they want. The highlight of the film is a head-to-head competition between Jack and another messenger on the New York streets, with Roger Daltrey's memorable "Quicksilver Lightning" playing in the background.

Besides a good puncture repair kit and strong legs, a bicycle messenger needs a reliable messenger bag. For Jack Casey, a good choice would be the appropriately-named Jack Pack by OGIO. With its audio pocket, Jack could listen to hits by Roger Daltrey as he made his deliveries.

An underrated movie from the 1980's, it's worth going for a ride with Kevin Bacon in this bicycle adventure. "Quicksilver," rated PG for violence, adult situations and language, is available on DVD.

The Kaweah Range of the Sierra Nevadas is home to numerous magnificent summits, but none so high as Red Kaweah. It is one of 250 popular peaks in the Sierra Nevadas and is considered a worthy challenge for many California climbers. If one thing characterizes the Red Kaweah, it's rocks. Big rocks, small rocks, every shape and size of rock, which can make the ascent somewhat difficult even if it weren't for other technical challenges. The area is surrounded by varying degrees of arroyos and the approach is almost as difficult as the climb itself.

As far as the face of Red Kaweah, rubble is encountered at every turn and sure footholds are never a guarantee. Make sure you give foot and hand placement serious consideration when climbing this mounting, paying close attention to areas of loose rock.

The best time to climb Red Kaweah is between June and September when residual snow from the winter is at a minimum and rainfall is less frequent. The Kaweahs are all fairly busy during the summer months, however, so you might want to wait until September if you prefer climbing in solitude. Although some people do climb Red Kaweah as a day hike, overnights are far more fun and give you an opportunity to explore the rest of the range. Camping is available in several spots around Red Kaweah, so make sure to bring your sleeping bag and perhaps a comfortable tent. Note, however, that permits are required to spend the night around Red Kaweah.

There are several lakes, streams and other bodies of water near Red Kaweah, which makes the scenery beautiful regardless of the time of year. Climbing on the east face, for example, requires some rappelling and grants a gorgeous view of the rest of the Kaweah range.

Experienced climbers can also consider blazing new trails up Red Kaweah. There are several undocumented routes that have been attempted by veteran climbers and although this type of trailblazing can be dangerous, it is worthwhile for the avid summit collector. Don't forget to watch out for coyotes and bears, both of which are prevalent in the area.

Last week our very own Bill J. from the merchandising department took us on an outdoor adventure. We knew there would be some off-roading involved so we delightfully accepted his invitation to enjoy some awesome four-wheeling fun, and we actually learned something at the same time. In this installment of "Enjoying the Outdoors", Bill J. shows us how to shoot a bearing with a map of the area, a compass and a plastic ice chest.

One of the most important things you'll learn when taking on that next outdoor challenge is the art of layering. Layering with lightweight jackets, tees, and hoodies helps you stay comfortable during inclement weather and gives you options if things start to heat up. Whether you're hitting the campsite in the tropical rainforest or gearing up for an ice fishing trip in the mountain tundra, layering up with an all-weather jacket can help you make the most of your outdoor adventure and stay cool, calm and comfortable no matter what nature throws at you.

The Columbia Waypoint II Shell fits the bill with its ultra-performance shell that keeps you warm and dry no matter what the forecast has in store. The jacket is designed with a waterproof shell and extra seams to keep water out. The sleeves have adjustable cuffs for extra protection, and the drawcord adjustable hem means you can look forward to a custom fit. You'll also find small zippers in the underarm area; these help you stay cool without having to take off the entire jacket and it works as a venting system that circulates extra air - any time you need it.

The jacket is made with a recycled polyester blend with Shangri-La ripstop and Omni-Tech fabrics. This gives you an extra layer of protection and keeps you dry even when you're sweating it out in the humid rainforest or jungle. The jacket sizes run large, so you'll have plenty of space to layer with fleece jackets underneath, a lightweight sweatshirt or even a button down flannel shirt or top. A stow-away hood keeps you looking sharp when you don't need to hide from the wind, and the simple, clean-cut design is a great addition to any outdoor wardrobe.

One of the most innovative features of the Columbia Waypoint II Shell is the interchangeable liner; you can switch out the liner with most 3-point Columbia Interchange System liners to use it in almost any type of environment. Plus, this versatile piece is easy to clean; just throw it in the washing machine for a cold rinse and tumble dry on low to freshen it up in a flash.

No matter how experienced you are, there's always the risk of slipping and falling when you're in the wilderness. But what if you fall and break your bones? The first thing you need on any outdoor excursion is a first aid kit. This one includes a guide to wilderness and travel medicine, along with some supplies for a broken limb. If you love the wilderness, you should also consider taking a basic first aid class.

Examine the injury to make sure it's a break, not a sprain. You'll need a splint on both sides of a broken leg; if you have a tent, you can use the poles. If not, look for two sturdy long sticks. If you can't find anything, use a bandage wrap from your first aid kit to splint the broken leg to the other leg, and make sure the splint is secure the entire length of the leg. If the fracture is compound (bone breaks through the skin), pull it straight so that the bones align, clean the wound, apply an antibiotic cream, dress and bandage the wound firmly, then splint the leg.

Splint an arm with a rolled up magazine or newspaper, or with shorter poles or sticks. Put the arm in a sling, made from any fabric you have. Whether the break is an arm or leg, give the injured person pain killers from the kit, and make sure you can see fingers or toes so you can tell if the splint is too tight – if the fingers or toes turn red or purple, then it's on too tight. The limb needs circulation.

Step two is to get the injured person to real medical help. If he has a broken arm, he can probably still walk. If it's a leg, and you have two uninjured people, make a litter with the tent fabric or a sleeping bag and two tent poles or two long sticks. If there's only one of you to help, make a travois instead, and keep the leg elevated at the high end of the travois. Keep the injured person warm to avoid shock.

Stay calm, know what to do, and you can survive a fracture in the wilderness.

(Sources: http://www.firstaidweb.com/broken_bone.html , http://life.familyeducation.com/emergency/first-aid/48245.html , http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-fractures-basic-information )

Traveling on the open road gives you an intoxicating feeling of freedom, no matter if you are a jogger, hiker or bicycle enthusiast. For high school graduate Dave Stoller (Dennis Christopher), the lead character in 1979's Breaking Away, his bicycle also gives him the freedom to be someone totally different than himself.

Living near Indiana University in Bloomington, Dave becomes obsessed with competitive bicycling racing and Team Cinzano, the Italian bicycling team. Not content to be himself, Dave reinvents himself as an Italian exchange student to impress a pretty co-ed, even adopting a fake foreign accent. Eventually, though, Dave learns who the true heroes are in his life, especially after a painful encounter with Team Cinzano. He starts to embrace his status as a "Cutter," the cruel nickname given to townspeople by the wealthy college students. The term refers to the men and women who spend their lives cutting and shaping the limestone blocks harvested from the quarries in Bloomington.

A simple, yet moving story about family and friends, "Breaking Away" features some impressive footage of "The Little 500," an annual bicycle race held at Indiana University in Bloomington. Jackie Earle Haley, who plays the masked vigilante Rorschach in the "Watchmen" movie, does a great job here as the scrappy Moocher. What Moocher lacks in size, he more than makes up in attitude.

Dave does a lot of serious training in "Breaking Away," including riding in the rain and racing down the highway next to a long-distance trucker. Director Peter Yates also shows the physical dangers of bicycle racing, especially when competing against unscrupulous opponents.

Though Dave favored a simple t-shirt and shorts while riding his bike, he could have improved his performance by wearing an Ultra LS Cycle Jersey. This product from Zoot Sports helps keep a competitive bicyclist warm and dry even under the harshest road conditions.

One of the best sports-themed movies of the 20th-century, Breaking Away is a story about finding your way in the world and embracing the freedom of the open road and the outdoors.

Eagle Mountain is one of the most elusive highpoint peaks in the United States, not because it is the hardest to climb or because it is concealed by some sort of mystical camouflage spell either. Rather, Eagle Mountain in Minnesota is difficult to summit because most people think they've hit the top before they actually arrive.

Eagle Mountain is one of those peaks where the summit plateau tricks your eyes. The actual summit isn't reached until you find the plaque, so climbing this mountain can sometimes seem like a particularly cruel scavenger hunt. Not only that, but the journey to the Eagle Mountain trail head brings you across the path of several bogs, a type wetland that usually has a starring role in horror movies rather than in picturesque mountain villages. Fortunately, wooden bridges help prospective climbers pass the bogs to get to the good part.

Although Eagle Mountain reaches an elevation of only 2,301 feet, the actual climb is little over three miles, most of which is forested. Unlike many other mountain peaks, however, the most difficult part of the climb is in the first 1,000 feet, where woods and rocks can impede your journey. If you'd like to camp out at Eagle Mountain, you'll find a perfectly serviceable campsite at the neighboring Whale Lake, which is not, despite popular misconception, shaped like a whale. You'll also need to register at the trail head before you start your climb, so make sure to bring proper identification.

Eagle Mountain is also one of those peaks that can be summitted all year round. Snow makes the going difficult in the dead of winter, but a pair of hardy snow boots will get the job done. Regardless of the time of year, you'll want a warm, flexible jacket, especially if your climb will extend into the evening.

Eagle Mountain is lots of fun and a great way to get in shape for more dangerous hikes. In fact, the local climbing enthusiasts often summit this mountain every week before they head out in search of bigger challenges.

Whether you're heading off on a trekking adventure, kayaking through new territory or hitting the campgrounds for an overnight stay, you'll need the right gear to enjoy happy trails. Layering is every outdoor enthusiast's strategy for keeping cool winds and chills at bay, especially in areas where temperatures drop after sundown. Layering up with fleece jackets, moisture-wicking shirts and thermal pants is a surefire way to trap in much-needed body heat on cooler days, and when you do it right, you have the freedom to take off or put on just one or two garments so that your body temperature stays on the level.

Make this process easier with jackets like the Merrell Spring Iso. It's a super lightweight and slightly fitted polyester jacket designed with Merrell® Aeroblock™ technology, which blocks out harsh winds and chilly temperatures. It's your shield of resistance when you're hiking through the woods or setting your sights on an overnight trek across the Arizona dessert.

Not only does this jacket ward off ugly weather, but it also protects your skin when you're roughing it in the great outdoors. The jacket's designed with raglan shoulders that provide extra support for those heavy backpacks you're lugging around on your trail, so there's less pressure on your upper body throughout your trip. Two small zip pockets make it easy to ditch the fanny pack and store your basics safely and securely. And the seamless, flattering cut makes this a must-have cover up for any campsite party.

A few more layering tips for any avid outdoor enthusiast:

• Stick with the lightweight, zipper-free pieces whenever possible for easy layering and less bulk.
• Avoid wearing too much fleece; fleece can warm up very, very quickly when you're on the run so you could end up overheating and get tired early in your trip.
• Wear a lightweight t-shirt made with moisture-wicking microfibers under shirts and jackets for extra comfort.
• Drink more water than usual; your body needs to be well hydrated in order to conserve energy on its own, so drink as much as you comfortably can throughout the trip.
• Keep hands and feet warm overnight with hand warmers and a pair of quality socks.

Planning to hike and camp in the North Dakota badlands this summer? For the last few years, the number of cougars has been increasing there. So plan your trip, and plan to stay safe.

Head for the North or South Unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, or the Little Missouri Grasslands. There are primitive campgrounds and a paved driving loop in the South Unit, but the North Unit is wilderness area, and if it's adventure you want, that's your destination. The buttes are taller, the trees are denser, and the wildlife is more abundant.

Take a light backpack for a day trip, or a sturdier pack for camping. There are hundreds of good sleeping bags out there; pick one that's light and not too warm for summer, like the North Face Kilo. You have a wide choice of tents but consider a light and eco-friendly tent like this one by Sierra Designs. If you're in the North Unit, you're a long hike from help, so be sure to take a good first aid kit, one that allows you to treat injuries - or bites - so you have time get to help.

The best way to survive an attack is to avoid one. Keep your food in zipper-closed plastic bags in your pack, and don't leave crumbs around. Along with that medical kit, carry water and add a good filter for water you may find along the way. Make a lot of noise as you hike, even if you're wearing lightweight boots. Keep your tent zipped when you sleep, and carry a good flashlight; use it all night if there's a burn ban while you're there. A heavy flashlight can also make a good weapon.

If you do come face to face with a cougar, make yourself look big, and be as loud as possible. Don't run, or you'll look like prey. Watch for tracks, and if you see them, head the opposite direction. Avoid creeks at dawn and sunset, "happy hour" for cougars.

Take these few steps, and be the (camera) hunter, not the prey.

A big part of the enjoyment that comes with exploring the great outdoors is doing it your own way, not the way that everyone else thinks you should. This fierce sense of outdoor independence dominates "The Straight Story," a big screen adventure that also focuses on some of the most gorgeous areas of the United States.

The late, great actor Richard Farnsworth stars as Alvin Straight, the real life Iowa farmer who rode a lawn mower nearly 300 miles to visit his ailing brother in Wisconsin. Not a person who liked to take charity from anyone, Straight spent a good portion of the summer of 1994 traveling the back roads at a blazing 5 miles per hour. At night, the proud and stubborn Straight would cook and camp out under the stars, paying for supplies out of his own pocket. When a kindly husband and wife offered Alvin the use of their telephone, he left cash by the phone to pay for the call. Most people would have given up along the way and accepted a ride or a bus ticket, but the stubborn Straight kept on going like a true outdoorsman.

Director David Lynch, known for such edgy material as "Blue Velvet," makes "The Straight Story" a virtual love letter to the great outdoors. As he shows Alvin Straight's long journey from Iowa to Wisconsin, Lynch captures some unspoiled wilderness on film.

Part biography and part documentary, "The Straight Story" is a film that will entice viewers to explore the great outdoors, but make sure to gas up your car and not the riding mower before hitting the road.

If you're an adventure reader, you'll realize that I borrowed the title from a story by Jack London. One of his arctic tales, it's about an adventurer caught in the wilderness in temperatures as low as -70 degrees, which London says will freeze your spit before it hits the ground. If the adventurer can't make a fire, he'll freeze.

You don't have to be in -70 degree weather to bite the big one from cold. If you're unprepared, temperatures in the 50s can do it. A key to survival in the wilderness, and in some shelters, is the ability to make a fire to keep warm. (Obviously, if you're in an area that has a burn ban, you should have survival gear appropriate to any possible weather conditions; starting a wildfire is not the best way to avoid frostbite.)

Especially in areas like Alaska, northern Washington, the Boundary Waters of Minnesota and Ontario, and anywhere with water, trees and a tendency for precipitation, you need to be prepared with waterproof matches and small kindling such as small sticks and dry leaves. Paper burns too quickly to be of much use unless you have a lot of it, and it's not convenient to carry. Pick up items you can use for kindling and put them in your pack. If you can't find waterproof matches, then carry a waterproof pack for your matches, kindling and any gear that needs to be dry.

Before you start a fire, clear the area of loose material that could carry embers to surrounding vegetation. Use your pile of kindling and have slightly larger sticks and some larger branches or firewood at hand. Ignite the kindling and feed the larger sticks into it gradually to make sure they catch and stay lit. Once you have a good fire of sticks going, make a tripod over it of large branches or firewood. The tripod allows airflow, a key ingredient to a good fire, to surround the branches and keep the fire burning longer. Add wood as needed.

Stay warm out there!

The Adirondack Wilderness area of New York draws thousands of people each year for agri-tourism, fishing, hunting and - you guessed it! - mountain climbing. There are several mountains in this area, each of which poses unique challenges.

The highpoint of New York is a rugged and heavily forested peak called Mount Marcy, and although it doesn't rival the height of mountains in the west, it is still a main attraction. Mount Marcy is an excellent climb for beginner and advanced climbers alike. There are several routes to the peak, ranging from easy to technically difficult, so amateurs can try different routes in a progression until they get comfortable.

Unlike many of the other state highpoints in the U.S., Mount Marcy is extremely dense, with only the top few hundred feet relatively clear of trees. This makes for a beautiful and somewhat sheltered climb, allowing you to focus on your hands and feet rather than the surrounding vistas. The peak of Mount Marcy, by contrast, is very sandy with scattered rocky outcroppings, which means that footing can be shaky. If you're going to climb this mountain, make sure to wear a pair of boots with adequate ankle support.

Also popular on Mount Marcy is skiing and snowboarding, both of which are available from October through mid-March. If you'll be visiting New York during the winter, it might be safer to try snowboarding and leave your climbing activities for warmer months. All of Mount Marcy routes can be completed in a single day, so you don't have to worry about camping if you're going to make this climb. However, it is important to grab a map on your way out so you know where to find the trailhead; climbers have gotten lost on the mountain, and the forest makes it more difficult to get your bearings.

You'll also want to be careful of wildlife on Mount Marcy. Poisonous plants, black bears, coyotes and wolves are found in this area, and you might not hear them coming if they approach under the cover of trees.

One of the most important things to take with you into the wild, if not the most important, is water. You can survive for days or even weeks without food. Without water, you may not even make it two days.

Make sure you're completely hydrated before you start your trek or ride. Our bodies aren't very good at letting us know when we need water; in fact, by the time you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated, so drink while water is available. If you note symptoms of dehydration, like confusion, weakness and a general slowing, rest in the shade and drink.

Carry a day pack that holds up to 3 liters but be aware that amount won't last you much more than half a day if you're exerting yourself in an arid environment. Consider carrying a hip pack below your backpack for longer trips and plan your trip around water sources, which are usually marked on USGS maps.

If your trek is planned for several days, you won't be able to carry enough water with you. Add things like water purification tablets and a good filter to your pack. Most available hydration packs have PureFlow TM technology, but while that may take care of most "common bacteria and fungi," it won't help with the Giardia and other parasites found in outdoor water supplies. A purification tablet in a liter bottle of water from a stream should take care of those.

If you can't find a stream, look for trees and a dry streambed near them. Carry a collapsible shovel in your pack and dig into the streambed; you'll probably find water less than 12 inches down. No trees? Look for succulents, like prickly pear cactus or agave. A multi-blade knife allows you a variety of tools to cut off pieces of these plants, pull out spines and peel off the skin, so you can suck the moisture from the interior of the plant. Vegetation and berries can provide moisture; dried foods just increase dehydration.

Want to be a survivor? Use these tips to stay hydrated - and alive.

Source:
www.survivaltopics.com/survival/how-long-can-you-survive-without-water

A few years before Kevin Costner danced with wolves on the big screen, he starred in an interesting little film called "AmericanFlyers." Here, Costner plays Dr. Marcus Sommers, a sports physician who invites his estranged brother David (David Marshall Grant) to train with him for a grueling bicycle race called the "Hell of the West."

Because their father died years earlier from a cerebral aneurism, his mom is worried that David may have inherited the same genetic defect. At his mother's urging, Marcus invites David to visit him at the sports medicine clinic where he works. Marcus puts his brother through his paces and, when David exceeds the doctor's expectations, Marcus tells him he has the "cardiovascular system of King Kong's little brother."

Marcus also encourages David to join him in "The Hell of the West," slowly bonding with his brother as they bicycle through the mountains. Along the way, David meets an attractive young lady (Alexandra Paul from "Baywatch") who joins their racing team. As the race progresses, however, Marcus starts to have difficulty keeping up with his little brother.

Largely ignored during its initial release in 1985, "American Flyers" focused on competitive bicycle racing long before Lance Armstrong started breaking records in the Tour de France. Kevin Costner, known for the classic baseball film "Field of Dreams," does a decent job here as Dr. Sommers, but it is not his best role by any means.

The real selling point of "American Flyers" is, of course, the race itself. Director John Badham ("War Games,") and his camera crew captured some beautiful shots of Colorado mountain roads for the racing sequences. The plot is pretty standard stuff, but the scenery truly is unforgettable.

If you want to try your legs at racing through the mountains like Marcus and David, the best place to start is with your shoes. Before you begin training, invest in a good pair of Merrell Moab Ventilators, which are tough enough to handle the punishment of a stage race like "The Hell of the West."

Dangerous mountains earn their well deserved reputations after climbers challenge their summits and fail miserably. Mount Vesuvius, on the other hand, has claimed the lives of thousands of people who never set foot on its slopes, and the mountain shows no sign of giving up its murderous ways.

In 79 A.D., during one of the greatest natural disasters ever recorded, Vesuvius erupted, covering the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum with lava and volcanic ash. The preserved ruins of Pompeii have since given historians an unprecedented look at life two millennia ago, including grisly plaster casts of people covered by ash. Nearly 2,000 years later, Vesuvius is still hungry, though, and casts its ominous shadow over Naples, an Italian city filled with millions of people. Even though the last recorded eruption was in 1944, this volcano still could turn deadly at any time.

Despite its lethal reputation, Mount Vesuvius attracts quite a few tourists and climbers each year. If you want to tackle a real killer of a mountain, the best option is to fly into Naples and find accommodations in that city. From there, you can drive or take a bus to Mount Vesuvius National Park. There's plenty to see and do around the mountain, but if you want to get a good look at the crater, there are trails leading up to the rim. These trails don't require a lot of technical skill, but you will be doing quite a bit of walking up to the summit. For that, you definitely need a good pair of hiking shoes such as the Five Ten Guide Tennie, which provide good foot support on long hikes.

Because Vesuvius is an active volcano, the Italian government does have an action plan in case of an eruption. Unfortunately, the plan assumes that the residents and tourists will have plenty of warning before the volcanic ash starts to fly once again. If your timing is bad when you summit Mount Vesuvius, you might get a really, really good look at an eruption.

Sources:
http://geology.com/volcanoes/vesuvius/
http://www.nsa.naples.navy.mil/disasterprep/vesuvius.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28032-2004Oct12.html

Whether you're heading out on a walking trail or running errands across the city this spring, do it in style with a chic and versatile trench coat. The classic trench coat continues to be one of spring's ultimate must-have accessories, a necessary transition piece between chilly winter days and the warm months ahead. The season's most coveted coats are designed in bright and bold colors and simple, classic styles that flatter your figure and give you just enough coverage to ward off chilly winds and the occasional rain shower. Easy to pack, clean and maintain, the trench works with cropped pants, jeans, skirts and even dresses.

The Patagonia Women's Negril Trench Coat is a stylish and sassy addition to your spring and summer wardrobe, the best way to enjoy cooler days and nights without bulking up with sweaters and extra layers. The double-breasted trench coat is designed with a slimming, fitted cut with stretch cotton for extra support and feminine shaping. Trench coats are a versatile jacket for almost any body shape, and even the loose and comfortable fitting can turn any basic outdoor ensemble into something a little more sharp and stylish.

Both the front and the back of the Patagonia Trench are designed with contoured seaming for the perfect fit; use the wide belt to emphasize your waistline and create an even more flattering effect. This coat also features hip pockets on the princess seams, printed binding and trim on the inside, and the coat falls right above the knee for maximum coverage. Plus, the high-quality materials allow you to machine wash and dry at home - no extra trips to the dry cleaners necessary. The wrinkle-free materials will make this coat a low-maintenance addition to your spring closet.

Get this one for casual weekend days, running errands after office hours or even as a versatile coverall for leisurely walks and hikes in the backcountry. The Patagonia trench coat is available in "Afterglow," an eye-catching burnt orange that looks great with jeans, black pants and other basics, and "Sesame," a light khaki color that works especially well with skirts, summer dresses and capris.